MEDIA RELEASE: Winston Peters wrong on Commonwealth membership

"Winston Peters is wrong implying that a New Zealand citizen as our head of state means New Zealand would have to leave the Commonwealth, or that our membership of the Commonwealth would be degraded," said Lewis Holden, campaign chair of New Zealand Republic.

During TVNZ’s multi-party election debate last night, Mr Peters responded to a question on the future of the monarchy after the end of the Queen's reign by saying "Look on the monarchy, when you are going to a vote at the UN you are halfway there by just having the Commonwealth on your side" wrongly implying that as a republic, New Zealand would not be a member of the Commonwealth, or that our membership would be degraded.

"As our Minister of Foreign Affairs, you'd think Mr Peters would know that the majority of members of the Commonwealth now have their own heads of state. The majority are republics and a few, such as Tonga and Malaysia, have their own monarchs. New Zealand’s membership would not change - the Commonwealth itself confirmed this under their 2007 rule changes" concluded Mr Holden.

ENDS

Media contact: Lewis Holden, phone: 09 889 8426