Mike Wilkinson's blog

Letters to the editor, 26 April 2012

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 26 April, 2012 - 13:07
We've had another letter to the editor about republicanism appear this morning in the The Dominion Post.  This one also discusses NZ becoming a republic in connection with the passing of Queen Elizabeth.

Republicanism and women's suffrage

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 23 April, 2012 - 16:01
Is New Zealand becoming a republic comparable to our giving women the right to vote?  Some time back, Lewis and I discussed how this question related to a post I'd just written, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Letters to the editor, 20 April 2012

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 20 April, 2012 - 13:11

In this morning's DomPost, I was fortunate enough to get a reply published to the letter we described here, which appeared on Tuesday.  My letter reads:

No offensive stuff about the Queen or Royal Family

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 19 April, 2012 - 13:06

From our Facebook page, we recently banned a user who persistently posted derogatory and insulting comments about Queen Elizabeth.  Following that, we decided to warn our readership, the bulk of whom we love having on here, not to post anything offensive about the Queen or Royal Family. 

Letters to the editor, 17 April 2012

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 17 April, 2012 - 13:06
This interesting letter to the editor made it into The Dominion Post this morning.  The seems to be much focus on what's to come after the passing of Queen Elizabeth.

A republic and a written constitution?

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 2 April, 2012 - 14:35
For those who are familiar with constitutional law, a common problem with the creation of a New Zealand republic is our constitution.  Do we need to codify it, or write it all down in one place, before becoming a republic?  No is the answer to that question.  Should we codify our constitution?

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 26 March, 2012 - 12:39

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"  This is a retort we often hear when New Zealanders come across arguments in favour of a republic.  Yet, it ignores that, while we may have little current need to become a republic, the country may shortly have to face up to it: it's like we're reaching an age when we should consider leaving home.

The monarchy: a parent of our democracy, not its guardian

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 22 March, 2012 - 11:29
Many of the opponents of a republic love to say that the British monarchy is a guardian of our democracy.  Given the monarchy's complete lack of involvement in NZ politics, however, we find these statements just plain ludicrous.  Yet, they still regularly get made.

Former Monarchy NZ leader admits a constitutional weakness of the monarchy

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 16 March, 2012 - 10:20
Regular readers will know Professor Noel Cox, former chair of Monarchy New Zealand, has long been an opponent of a New Zealand republic.

Our process for a republic: the Movement's endorsement

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 10 March, 2012 - 13:27

This is my eight and final post summarising the process we recommend for the country to become a republic.  In my last one on our timeline for a republic, I admitted that our process is a complicated one: it involves a n

Our process for a republic: a timeline

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 9 March, 2012 - 14:00
In this series of posts, I've discussed the specifics of the process we propose for New Zealand to become a republic.  As may be obvious, it is not a simple process that will be achieved quickly.  How long exactly?  Well, there are a myriad of things it depends on.

Our process for a republic: our transformation into a republic

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 9 March, 2012 - 12:44
Under our process for New Zealand to become a republic, the country will transform itself into a republic if voters support it doing so in an indicative referendum and then in a binding referendum.  As I mentioned yesterday, this will be a joyous time for us here at the Movement, although we'll well aware that we're a long from it, yet.  Today, I'll describe briefly what we believe the transformation shall involve.

Our process for a republic: the binding referendum

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 8 March, 2012 - 10:35
Under our process for New Zealand to become a republic, if voters support a republic in an indicative referendum, which I summarised in my last post, we call for the country to hold a binding referendum.

Our process for a republic: the indicative referendum

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 7 March, 2012 - 15:07
I now want to summarise the two referenda that underpin our process for becoming a republic.  This post looks at the first of these, an indicative referendum for a republic.  This will gauge its initial support and for two alternative models that could underlie it.

Our process for a republic: matters for the Commission

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 7 March, 2012 - 12:15
In my last post, I introduced the Constitutional Commission, which is to help New Zealand through the process of becoming a republic.  In this post I'll summarise what we propose the Commission looks at.
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