Find out about the New Zealand republic debate in this section - why we need a republic, the arguments for change, the facts, frequently asked questions, arguments against change.
The transition to a republic is a relatively straight-forward legal and political process. Before we as New Zealanders make that decision, however, a national discussion needs to take place. It is essential that people are well informed and are aware of the reasons why becoming a republic is the best option for New Zealand.
The reasons for a republic sets out the main the arguments for why New Zealand should become a republic. They are more in depth than we have written below, but for the sake of simplicity made them shorter.
The arguments for a republic fall into three categories:
We believe that we need a republic, because a New Zealander should be our head of state. They should be elected democratically and be accountable to all New Zealanders.
These ideas are the heart of republicanism, where power comes from the people. New Zealanders are increasingly supporting a republic. Support has doubled in the last decade, as people realise that our system must change.
The cost of the monarchy is meant to be one of its advantages. It is claimed by supporters of the Monarchy that the institution costs New Zealanders "virtually nothing". This is not true. The monarchy requires the New Zealand taxpayer to maintain the Governor-General, pay for Royal tours, and lots of other pointless Royal trappings such as 21-gun salutes for Prince Phillip.
The Monarchy New Zealand puts forward ten great reasons in its defence of the monarchy. This page responds to the "Just the facts" page, and puts forward our ten great reasons for a republic.
Opponents of a republic have made a number of disingenuous suggestions that a republic brings about questions on the place of a Treaty, the restoration of an upper house, New Zealand's Commonwealth membership or a written constitution.
This page identifies the arguments against a republic. Some are well thought out; others are factually incorrect. They all fall down on close scrutiny. This chapter looks critically at the arguments supporters of the Monarchy have used so far.
This page compares the different republican models of governments around the world to New Zealand's current constitutional status quo. None of these examples are definitive models of what a New Zealand republic might look like - every republic is different and created by its citizens out of its circumstances - but the models presented here are a guide to the model a New Zealand republic could follow.
This page presents the key facts about republicanism in New Zealand, and the questions we're often asked. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us and we will try to include it in the future.
On this page, we look at some of the arguments put forward against a republic, and answer the claims made by Monarchy New Zealand.
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