EmpowerNZ's constitution
The New Zealand Herald reports on the presentation of EmpowerNZ's "Draft Constitution for the 21st Century", published online on Friday. The draft constitution was written by a group of 40 law, history and politics students from across New Zealand at a workshop run by the McGuiness Institute. Our constitutional adviser, Dean Knight, took part - albeit as a facilitator.
We create a Republic of Aotearoa New Zealand.
3.4 All obligations owed to Maori by the Crown under Te Tiriti o Waitangi are now transferred to the state of the Republic of Aotearoa New Zealand.
3.5 The Prime Minister shall be appointed by Parliament, and will be known as Tumuaki.
3.6 The Tumuaki will be a member of the Government.
3.7 The Tumuaki is head of the Executive branch of government.
Unsurprisingly, the workshop decided to declare a parliamentary republic. The head of State, to be known as the Kaitiaki, would be elected by a three-quarters majority of parliament:
3.15 The Head of State is the Governor-General and will be known as the Kaitiaki. They shall:
a. Be elected by 75% majority of the House of Representatives; and
b. Exercise the existing powers of the Governor-General not otherwise expressly revoked by this Constitution on behalf of New Zealand.
Of course there's one or two who are grumpy and bitter about this.
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- LJ Holden's blog
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Wow a conference with a republican facilittir came up with a republic. Replete with PC Maari names for things everyone knows.
That's the only way you losers win. Set up a kanjaroo cort because NZers love our Queen and wint sell out.
What's a Kanjaroo?
But seriously, I'm not sure questioning Dean's professionalism is such a smart move.
There's nothing to suggest Dean did anything to get a result. You understand a facilitator does just that - facilitate...
There is a precedent for using the Maori concept of 'Kaitiaki' and extending it to the political/constitutional sphere. The office of the ombudsman is Nga Kaitiaki Mana Tangata (Guardian of the people). I think it makes sense that the office of Ombudsman works closely with any Head of State given that both will work to oversee and protect citizens rights.
Kaitiaki/Guardian sounds good...but in the spirit of the bipartisanship of Te Tiriti/Treaty perhaps the McGuinness workshop should have suggested an English/Maori double title as opposed to a sole Maori title. The President- Kaitiaki to be known as The PK. The Tumuaki perhaps should be the Prime Minister-Tumuaki or PMT.
Last century, the Australian Constitutional Convention suggested parliamentary appointment of the president ...which got them nowhere despite republicanism there enjoying a majority support in polls at the time.
Maybe the other anon meant to say Ganja roo court.
Ganja Roo!?
It's interesting the amount of attention the titles issue has got.
Bilingual monikers for the new office of Head of State is a given I think. The Governor-General's other title is Te Kaawana Tianara o Aotearoa but few people would know that without looking it up (me included). It is for Maori to collectively decide what the title will be but the workshop certainly pointed the way.
The initials PMT might not catch on due to its medical connotations but you never know. Either way I look forward to the day when we lose the archaic deference shown to the Head of State . In particular the idea that we should refer to him or her as 'His/Her Excellency' and the ridiculous idea that the person's spouse should assume a title and hold office alongside them like some wannabe Royal couple.