Replacing King's Birthday

New Zealand should replace King's Birthday with a more meaningful celebration. It has lost what little cultural meaning it had and we need to fill the gap between Matariki and Labur weekend. The British King had nothing to do with deciding which of the 178 New Zealanders were honoured in the ‘King’s Birthday Honours’ and as a long weekend it is largely renowned for delivering a lot of rainy weather.

We are continuing our call for the holiday weekend it to be replaced with a long weekend in early September. 

Campaign Chair, Savage, commented today "King's Birthday has been surpassed by Matariki as a long weekend to mark the start of winter”.

“We all know it is not the actual King's birthday and the only reason it is at the start of June is because it is the start of the British summer. In 1748, mad King George II decided his actual birthday on 14 December was too dark and rainy to being out the crowds so he moved it to coincide with the trooping of the colour ceremony”.

“Even the British don't recognise it as a holiday”.

"The many months between Matariki and Labour weekend is far too long. Last year the vast majority of New Zealanders went over four months through the winter without any public holiday. The only public holidays celebrated in the four months are both regional”.

“Hawkes Bay celebrate on the Friday before Labour Monday which is a pretty smart move. South Canterbury Day have the last Monday in September. A day to mark Dominion Day 26 September 1907 when New Zealand achieved partial independence from the old British Empire”.

"We’d be better off letting go of an empty celebration like King's Birthday and choosing a far more significant day in September. The two strongest contenders for a day that has real significance to Aotearoa are 6 September, the anniversary of New Zealand citizenship, when we Kiwis stopped being British subjects, and Suffrage Day on 19 September celebrating New Zealand women winning their campaign for voting rights”.  

“Few New Zealanders will mourn the loss of King's Birthday weekend but long weekends are an important part of staying connected to family and friends. So we can do what South Canterbury does and choose a Monday in September. With South Canterbury day on the last Monday in September the first Monday in September is a strong contender to replace the pretend birthday holiday we have on the first Monday in June”. 

“Citizenship Weekend would be a time to celebrate all New Zealanders no matter where they are from or where they were born.  Citizenship Day would be the perfect time to hold local citizenship ceremonies celebrating recent migrants achieving citizenship.  Instead of King’s Birthday honours we would propose Matariki honours. On both of our New Year’s days, leading New Zealanders would be honoured for their commitment to their fellow New Zealanders”.

Our Head of State and their Head of State.

In Aotearoa, we call it 111 years since Gallipoli. In Türkiye they call it the 111th anniversary of the Çanakkale Land Battles. When our Governor-General travels to countries like Türkiye on diplomatic visits she is doing all the important work of being NZ’s Head of State. Extending the diplomatic hand of friendship and co-operation with an important European partner. Bridging the gap between two proud nations.

Meanwhile in Washington DC, two other Heads of State meet. King Charles who is never once referred to as anything other than Britain’s Head of State meets with President Donald Trump. That visit is of course all about just two countries. Charles will address the US Congress as part of a visit to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from the UK. Charles announces that “time and again our two countries have always found ways to come together”. It is clear that despite being our Head of State he is not talking about NZ (or Canada or Australia or any other of his ‘realms’).

The King’s speech will have been written for him by the UK government. He may be our Head of State on paper but when he visits other countries he is never visiting as our Head of State. Its a diplomatic sham that continues to go on because we haven’t got around to fixing it.

In the USA Trump and Charles exchange platitudes and hyperbole and make grand statements about their respective nations in an effort to patch up the obviously strained relationship. Meanwhile, our Governor-General will go about the business of representing New Zealand with the honesty and dignity we expect of our highest constitutional office.

The Arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

New Zealand needs an office of Head of State that is authentic, effective and accountable. Not one tainted by corruption and scandal. Our Governor-General pays a dignified visit to the New Zealand citizens of Tokelau while Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is arrested on suspicion of corruption. His brother Charles and nephew William are under scrutiny for their role in appointing him to a trade envoy position that allowed him access to so much sensitive information. Both of them knowing he was close friends with two convicted sex offenders.

The Office of Governor General is already fulfilling the role of Head of State but it is in need of several improvements. We need to democratise the method of selection, clarify the reserve powers, and ensure proper transparency and public accountability. Our constitutional processes are still being tainted by our association with the British monarchy. Removing Andrew from the line of succession is a process that 15 other countries will have to agree to. We have an ineffectual and out-dated approach to appointing our most important diplomatic and constitutional role. So we need to finalise the cultural and constitutional transition from realm to republic.

The answer to the monarchy problem is very simple. Transition our Governor-General to being our actual Head of State by 2040. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Te Tiriti having made that change. So that Britain’s Head of State and New Zealand’s Head of State can meet as equals. Two sovereign and distinct nations.

Vision 2040: NZ's Head of State and UK's Head of State meet as equals by Waitangi Day 2040

Vision 2040:  New Zealand's Head of State and Britain's Head of State meet as equals by Waitangi Day 2040

On the eve of Waitangi Day, campaign group New Zealand Republic is calling for New Zealand to transition the role of Governor-General to being our actual Head of State.

"We have a clear vision for 2040. New Zealand's Head of State and Britain's Head of State meet as equals on Waitangi Day 2040" said campaign spokesperson Savage. "It will be a day to celebrate. Each nation’s sovereign Head of State meeting together for the first time as equals at the treaty grounds".

"As we celebrate and discuss the importance of the Treaty we need to be honest about our constitutional future. Toitu Te Tiriti - the treaty is important but so is having a proper Head of State".

"We can't keep pretending that the British Head of State is our head of state. Successive Governors-General have brought sustained mana and dignity to the office. We just need to make that final transition. To clearly define its constitutional importance, to confirm what the reserve powers should be and decide how the office holder should be selected".

“But we should not wait for fourteen years. We need to be ready before 2040. Our constitutional progress has been measured by how independent and democratic we have become since 1840. But until we make the final step and have our own Head of State we cannot in all honesty call ourselves a sovereign nation.”

"This year voters need to decide who will choose our next Governor-General. At present the Prime Minister gets to do it. What we really need is to let all of parliament decide. From there it would be a straight-forward process to shift from parliamentary selection of the Governor-General to parliamentary selection of our very own Head of State".