Submitted by LJ Holden on 26 January, 2012 - 18:58
Submitted by Savage on 6 December, 2011 - 16:12
New Zealand has been ranked first on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2011 and has strengthened our claim that Monarchy New Zealand are deluding themselves and their supporters with weak and misleading arguments.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 27 November, 2011 - 17:14
The New Zealand Herald reports the debate over the relevance of Queen's birthday holiday has flared again in Australia. This could have an impact in New Zealand, if enacted. I commented:
Submitted by LJ Holden on 14 November, 2011 - 21:55
(Click on the image for a closer look)
Submitted by LJ Holden on 19 March, 2011 - 17:17
The Republican Movement executive decided last week when Prince William's two-day disaster tour was announced that we wouldn't comment, out of respect for the people of Christchurch and the victims of the February earthquake.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 7 March, 2011 - 13:40
Buckingham Palace has announced the emblem for the Queen's 2012 Diamond (60 years on the throne) jubilee. Strangely, Monarchy New Zealand (nor any of the other monarchist groups) have announced the emblem.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 17 February, 2011 - 19:09
A silly claim to make, isn't it - New Zealand isn't in the middle east, has a long history of democracy and strong democratic traditions, and a well education and (often) well informed populace. In short, we have a democratic ethos. Bahrain, by contrast, is a constitutional monarchy yet has had five elections since the British left in 1971, none between 1973 - 2002. Women have only had the right to vote since 2002 (New Zealand was the first country to grant women the right to vote, in 1893). Bahrain has deep-seated economic and social divisions, not just between the dominant al Khalifa Royal family, but also between Islamic and secular members of parliament. In short, you can't compare Bahrain, and its current troubles, to New Zealand.
This is why we're derisive, perhaps a bit unfairly, when monarchists suggest Iran, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Algeria are examples relevant to the New Zealand republic debate. They aren't.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 15 February, 2011 - 15:44
Monarchists like to go on about the cost of a republic versus the monarchy, often claiming without any actual evidence that a republic would be more expensive. One of their favourite claims used to be that if we become a republic, the taxpayer would have to pick up the tab for a new "Presidential Palace".
Submitted by LJ Holden on 13 February, 2011 - 22:08
These comparisons are getting tiresome, but they shed light on the thinking of those who oppose a New Zealand republic.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 31 January, 2011 - 18:13
Well, that didn't take long. Over at Monarchy New Zealand, Peter Dickinson-Starkey says:
Those who argue they want a republic,should watch Egypt and Tunisis [sic] and then realise how fortunate we have the Queen and the Crown.
Sadly, ridiculous statements such as these are common amongst opponents of a New Zealand republic. Simon O'Connor, chair of Monarchy New Zealand, previously gave Lebanon and the US as examples of republics that have faltered - and by extension, countries New Zealand would end up like. You don't ever see republicans claiming that keeping the monarchy will mean New Zealand will end up unstable like Tonga, Thailand or Morocco, because that would be stupid. As is the comparison with Egypt and Tunisia.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 24 January, 2011 - 13:03
Why does Monarchy New Zealand push the fantasy that the monarch or Governor-General has the ability to keep politicians in check? Just look at the Horizon Poll: politicians aren't popular. They're detested.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 19 January, 2011 - 10:48
New Zealand Monarchy writes:
Any attempt to replace the Queen of New Zealand as Head of State, to some other system, requires a lot more than the minimalist republicans would have us believe.
Of course, it suits opponents of a New Zealand republic to make this argument. Making change seem more complex, dangerous and risky will keep the public supporting the status quo even if they understand that the monarchy is constitutionally useless and symbolically irrelevant.
As evidence, New Zealand Monarchy cites both Sir Geoffrey Palmer and the late Lord Cooke of Thorndon, from his 1994 essay The Suggested Revolution Against The Crown. Neither source actually backs the contention made above: both Cooke and Palmer are arguing against a "simple" act of Parliament to abolish the monarchy. The article makes it appear that Lord Cooke said a New Zealand republic would "require" a revolution. Actually he said nothing of the sort. While the use of the term "revolution" gets monarchists all excited (think: they want another French Revolution! Republicans with guillotines!) there was a word before it that might've just let on that the late privy counsellor might've meant something entirely different. Lord Cooke actually said that a New Zealand republic would be a "legal revolution". Not the same thing.
As for Dean Knight, his paper, with napkin-based amendments is here.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 5 January, 2011 - 04:57
As mentioned back in November last year, we sent an Official Information Act (OIA) request to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on the cost of the Governor-General, specifically the cost of advice to the Governor-General. At the end of last year the DPMC finally responded.
Submitted by LJ Holden on 14 December, 2010 - 20:14
Monarchy New Zealand states on their Facebook page:
It is often mis-reported, but New Zealand does have a written constitution. It is just not written in one place!
Submitted by LJ Holden on 20 November, 2010 - 18:39
It has been been intriguing to hear the increasingly tenuous arguments as to why the engagement of two 28 year olds has any constitutional relevance to New Zealand, or any other Commonwealth realm for that matter.
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