Jack Gielen: nothing to do with us

The Waikato Times interviewed me yesterday regarding Hamilton Mayoral candidate Jack Gielen, who earlier this year burnt a New Zealand flag outside parliament. Jack has perennially claimed to be a spokesman for the "republican movement" despite never being a member of the Republican Movement. He is, however, deputy leader of the "Republic of New Zealand Party", which was de-registered last year.

We have written to Jack and the party a number of times, asking them to try and avoid confusion between our two groups. While it's good to have New Zealanders speaking out in support of a republic, the Republic of New Zealand Party's rhetoric and methods (such as burning the New Zealand flag and calling on Prince William to go home) are totally counter-productive, and they have not put much thought into their support for a presidential-style system of government in New Zealand.

Their underlying problem is that they are a political party, not a campaign group as we are. I suspect though that republicanism is simply a side issue tacked on to their wider "men's rights" agenda. Republicanism is simply being used as a way for Jack to push his other agendas, of which there are many.