Ye olde cost debate

Submitted by LJ Holden on 22 January, 2013 - 07:16

The President's House

On Thursday we published our second media release on the cost of Prince Charles November 2012 publicity tour - the cost to New Zealand taxpayers now making it over the $1 million dollar mark. Our media release made it on to TVNZ and Radio New Zealand. Our second release covered the cost of transporting Charles, Camilla and his entourage of about 25 around the country, including flights from Canberra in Australia and then on to Singapore. The fact that this tour cost four times as much as the 2005 one is now in the public consciousness - and the opponents of a New Zealand head of State aren't happy.


The amount of outright anger and vitriol I've received has been, sadly, typical of the monarchy's declining band of apologists. While the myth that the monarchy costs New Zealand "virtually nothing" is still persistent, it is not nearly as strong as it used to be. In its place I've received a pathetic series of justifications, arguing the US President would cost us more (irrelevant) or that a New Zealand head of State would cost us more (ridiculous). As myths like this crumble, our ability to articulate what the alternative looks like increases. It's no wonder the monarchy's supporters and public relations people are frustrated by the cost issue, and go to great lengths of obfuscation to prevent the costs being published.

Like all things, the truth is slowly coming out. And the truth is, a New Zealand head of State won't cost anymore than the Governor-General currently does. Tours by foreign dignitaries like Charles and Camilla (yes, they'll still happen) will be much cheaper, as the New Zealand taxpayer will only have to meet the cost of security - much unlike the status quo, where we pay for everything from their VIP transport to seconding PR people from Government House to run a "visit office". 

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