New Governor-General settles in, settles scores

No surprises that our new Governor-General, Sir Jerry* Mataparae, won't express a view on the transition to a New Zealand republic:

After such a long time in the public service, he is adept at avoiding tricky questions. Asked if New Zealand should become a republic, he responded: "That's not a choice for me. That's a choice New Zealanders will make." Challenged further, he added "like a lot of a things, I have a view," but politely declined to share it.

This is the same position that our former Governor-General, Sir Anand Satyanand, took. I suspect Sir Jerry's view is that we should keep the monarchy, but he's politically savvy enough to know that he shouldn't express a view on the issue, otherwise he would bring his office into disrepute.

On the other hand, here's Sir Jerry taking Nicky Hager to task:

''[Defence Force personnel] are working in quite trying circumstances, trying to bring peace and stability in that troubled land and especially delivering aid and development up in Bamiyan,'' he told Radio New Zealand.
''I trust what they say and what they've done.''
The notion that senior military officers quietly undermined the Government's policies and decisions was ''abhorrent''.
''That sort of notion just doesn't sit with being a New Zealander and the constitution that we follow.''

Not that I'm making any comment on Sir Jerry's viewpoint - however the fact he readily expressed it, ironically, appears to breach the neutrality of his new office. Of course, I think it's silly that the Governor-General has to keep his or her mouth shut irrespective of their views - but that's the nature of the constitutional monarchy. In order to give politicians legitimacy, the head of state (which I've pointed out to The Dominion Post once again is not the Governor-General, although it's easy to understand why they get confused) stays "out" of politics.

*Isn't it funny that we say "Sir Jerry". Formally it should be "Sir Jeremiah". Just goes to show we're not really pedants in this country for silly formalities, which is a good thing.