LJ Holden's blog

Monarchists: most republicans "very angry"

Posted 9 March, 2010 - 13:36 by LJ Holden
Monarchy New Zealand, responding to Matt McCarten's article from the Herald on Sunday, says:

BlueLibs: Constitutional Review on Maori Seats Only

Posted 9 March, 2010 - 13:20 by LJ Holden
The classical liberal advisory group of the National Party, BlueLibs, reports on this year's Constitutional Review:
The current idea is that it will consider the future of the Māori seats.

Prince Charles "could be denied the role of Head of the Commonwealth"

Posted 9 March, 2010 - 12:49 by LJ Holden
The Telegraph reports that Prince Charles could be "denied" the position of Head of the Commonwealth.

A Christian republican perspective

Posted 7 March, 2010 - 11:20 by LJ Holden
Symon Hill writes at Ekklesia on why he supports a republic, as a Christian:

Matt McCarten: "Mrs Windsor wouldn't miss our outpost colony"

Posted 7 March, 2010 - 11:14 by LJ Holden
Matt McCarten writes in the Herald on Sunday on Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill:

When will we stop pretending we are a South Pacific outpost of the Windsor family who reside in London? Betty Windsor is the Queen of England.

Twilight of the monarchist elites

Posted 6 March, 2010 - 09:37 by LJ Holden
David Flint of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy takes aim at Sir Robert Jones' support for a republic, making the predictable arguments against his status as an "elite", his knighthood and Sir Bob's view that New Zealand should change its name.

Canterbury University Debate Update - 11th March

Posted 5 March, 2010 - 22:09 by LJ Holden
It's just under a week until the first debate at Canterbury University. The debate will now be held in law lecture theatre 108 in the law building - see the event page for a map.

So far, Canterbury law lecturer David Round and UCSA President Nick McDonnell are confirmed for the negating (i.e. monarchist) side.

A challenge to Monarchy New Zealand

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 20:39 by LJ Holden
Monarchy New Zealand says the Head of State Referenda Bill is:
"A silly idea, put forward in a silly way, by a man with too much time and taxpayer money on his hands."
At least they deigned to comment on the first piece of legislation to directly challenge the monarchy's hegemony. Of course, there's nothing wrong with a bit of celebration on their part that the Bill may be voted down - however, we do wonder what they mean by "put forward in a silly way". Our challenge to the monarchists is to explain how they'd put the question of a republic to the New Zealand people - irrespective of the fact they think it's a "silly" idea, or that it might cost the taxpayer one tenth of the price of the Royal tour...

Kiwiblog: National should allow conscience vote

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 16:05 by LJ Holden
David Farrar takes aim at John Key's decision not to support the Head of State Referenda Bill, arguing that because there are both republicans and monarchists within National and Labour, the sensible course of action is to allow a conscience vote.

Dunne: Nats need public say on next Governor-General

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 16:03 by LJ Holden
Peter Dunne takes aim at John Key's decision not to support the Head of State Referenda Bill:
Mr Dunne said National’s decision is doubly disappointing given a new Governor-General has to be chosen next year.

Govt Will Oppose Republican Bill, Key Says

Posted 1 March, 2010 - 09:41 by LJ Holden
John Key has stated the Government will oppose Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill. There's no surprises there - we've known for a while the National Party's caucus voted against supporting the Bill through its first reading. That doesn't mean there isn't support within National for a republic - just that there isn't enough yet. This isn't the end of Keith's Bill either.

UPDATE: Keith Locke has remarked to the NZPA:

Mr Locke told NZPA he understood Mr Key's view was that New Zealand would one day be a republic but that it would not be for a while.

"It is disappointing that if by that statement he means that he's opposed to it passing the first reading," he said.

"I'd really welcome him supporting the bill going through the first reading, have a proper discussion at the select committee and then, if he wishes to oppose it at the third reading, well fair enough, that's his decision."

Mr Locke was confident National would allow its MPs to cast a conscience vote and, on that basis, he believed it would progress to select committee stage.

"I don't accept his (Mr Key's) position `we're' opposed because there are some National members who support the bill and, at the end of the day, I'm sure they will vote the way they think," he said.

Monarchy hands power to bureaucrats II

Posted 27 February, 2010 - 11:31 by LJ Holden
Public Finance has an article on Britain's globetrotting bureaucrats, who are currently creating the rules for what to do if the upcoming general election results in a hung parliament:

Irony

Posted 27 February, 2010 - 11:14 by LJ Holden
The Canadian monarchists are holding a poll on who should be Canada's next Governor-General.

Realising Secularism

Posted 24 February, 2010 - 14:24 by LJ Holden
Realising Secularism: Australia and New Zealand is to be published in March 2010.

2011: the Irish elect a president, John Key appoints a GG

Posted 24 February, 2010 - 12:23 by LJ Holden
In 2011, for the seventh time since 1948, the citizens of Ireland will go to the polls to elect a new president. Meanwhile in New Zealand our new de facto head of state (the Governor-General) will be tapped on the shoulder by the Prime Minister, following a brief cabinet discussion (undocumented, of course) and perhaps a note to the leader of the opposition.
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