Oaths and affirmations

Blog posts on Oaths and affirmations. See Swearing to the Queen for more on the Republican Movement's work on oaths and affirmations.

Another Oaths Amendment Bill

Submitted by LJ Holden on 28 April, 2012 - 10:56

Mangere MP Su'a William Sio has put forward a new Oaths and Declarations (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill, which is now up on parliament's website.

Absurdistan

Submitted by LJ Holden on 20 December, 2011 - 21:40

Václav Havel, leader of the Velvet Revolution, 1936 - 2011

The late former president of Czech Republic, Václav Havel, often described the Soviet system in Czechoslovakia as "Absurdistan" - a country where absurdity was the norm.

Oaths: a challenge to new MPs

Submitted by LJ Holden on 10 December, 2011 - 10:06

During the last term of Parliament, a number of MPs challenged the oath they are required to swear in order to take their seat. Most replaced references to the Queen with the Treaty of Waitangi, others referred to the people of New Zealand - the ones who actually elected them.

Sworn in

Submitted by LJ Holden on 4 August, 2011 - 08:44

As you've probably seen, Hone Harawira has been sworn in (again) as a Member of Parliament. Instead of his amended version, Harawira recited the oath legally required by the Constitution Act.

Swearing at... the Treaty?

Submitted by LJ Holden on 14 July, 2011 - 23:34

Oaths and affirmations are a perennial issue for republicans. Republican Movement member Will de Cleene articulates his view the latest skirmish with Hone Harawira today in parliament.

New Green MP critical of oaths

Submitted by LJ Holden on 16 February, 2010 - 20:21
Newly sworn-in Green MP Gareth Hughes takes on our feudal Parliamentary oaths, which require our elected representatives to swear allegiance the Queen, not the citizens of New Zealand:

Are republican MPs breaking their oath of allegiance?

Submitted by LJ Holden on 25 November, 2009 - 13:14
Journalist Graeme Hunt takes on Hone Harawira and republican MPs in a bizarre press release:

Swearing fealty to a mere fallible mortal

Submitted by LJ Holden on 29 October, 2009 - 19:24
The New Zealand Herald reports that Destiny Church requires its supporters to swear an oath to its "spiritual father" Bishop Brian Tamaki. Herald columnist Garth George takes issue with "swearing fealty to a mere fallible mortal".

Victorian MPs don't want to swear allegiance to Victoria?

Submitted by LJ Holden on 23 October, 2008 - 20:34

The Herald Sun reports that State MPs in Victoria will continue to swear allegiance to the Queen:

"The oath has been amended to include recognition of an MP's duty to serve the people of Victoria, and is similar to wording used in other states.

"Victoria would not support changes to the oath of allegiance that removed reference to the Queen without there being change at a national level."

To which you could probably say fair enough. But if there's an acceptance that things might change at the national level, why not make a statement as to where the state government stands on the issue?

British MPs challenge oath

Submitted by LJ Holden on 10 August, 2008 - 12:48
The late Tony Banks swears allegiance to the Queen, with his fingers firmly crossed
Labour MP Tony Banks swears allegiance to the Queen, with his fingers crossed.

Republic in the UK responds to a Daily Mail article revealing their campaign to Challenge the Oath of allegiance to the Queen. So far, 22 MPs from four parties have signed up to change the oath of allegiance.

The Guardian's treatment of the issue is much more balanced, and notes former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Tebbit is against the move, calling it an "attack on the state itself", while Tory MP Geoffrey Cox called it "uncomprehending constitutional vandalism". The Monarchist repeats these comments.

Nonetheless, Norman Baker's proposal for MPs to swear allegiance "to their constituents and the nation" makes sense in a modern democratic country. It's intriguing that supporters of the monarchy revert to labeling any elected representative who wants to change the oath as "disloyal". Clearly, there is no actual justification for swearing allegiance to the Queen.

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