A secular head of state is vital

In a nation as diverse as New Zealand, with hundreds of different ethnicities and a multitude of political affiliations and religious beliefs, it is vital the office of head of state becomes independent.

In a New Zealand republic, the head of state's commitment to neutrality and independence will articulate the fundamental right of all Kiwis to be treated fairly and equally, both by the state, and by their fellow New Zealanders.  The person who occupies that role will have their own political allegiances and religious affiliations but they will set such matters aside in order to serve the interests of all New Zealanders.

No one will occupy the role indefinitely. By choosing a new head of state, each new term of office will nake it clear that, symbolically, all New Zealanders occupy the role. No one group will ever dominate our highest public office to the exclusion of all others. New Zealanders will all share in the office. We will all be welcome at Government House.

Our current head of state falls far short of these important democratic ideals. One family alone is eligible. One person is chosen according to birth order and the Monarch is obligated to be part of the Anglican faith. Our head of state privileges one part of our heritage and excludes all others. It gives priority and privilege to one faith.

Today, the heir to the British throne is demonstrating another reason why we must have our own head of state. By attending St Paul's Cathedral in Dunedin today the Monarchy is making it clear that they are Anglicans and that one day William will be head of the Anglican church.

For the people sitting alongside him it is no doubt an exciting and memorable day. For head of state campaigners, Christian and non-Christian alike, it is a reminder of why New Zealand deserves a secular head of state and why we ll carry on with our campaign for change. 

The campaign continues

We've launched our campaign under the banner Time for a Kiwi Head of State and yesterday Aucklanders had a chance to see it fly past.

It also featured in the news media and while that's helpful the campaign is first and foremost about communicating directly with New Zealanders. To win a referendum we need to let as many Kiwis as possible know about what we're proposing and why it's the better option.

Stuff were the first to pick up the story,  the Herald and Newstalk ZB covered it briefly, TVNZ Seven Sharp covered it in depth.  The international media has also picked up the story. Radio Australia,  The Telegraph, The Mirror, and the BBC all covered it, as did news sites in PNG  and Japan.

Thanks to all the people who have sent us their messages of support and thank you for donations which are continuing to roll in.

The royal visit will be over in 5 days, and when it's over we will still be here spreading the word that change is better. You can donate to the campaign at the givealittle or here on this website.

As the many news article's reported, "It's important people understand there is more to the royal visit than just photo opportunities, that there's actually an ongoing constitutional debate about what is best for New Zealand."

Campaign Take off! Our sky banner over Auckland today

New Zealand Republic's long term Campaign for a Kiwi Head of State starts today and what better way to kick it off with some high profile advertising in the skies above Auckland.

We've hired a sky banner to proclaim the central message of our campaign and it will be out flying over the city today. Keep your eye on the sky (and send us your photographs and video footage!) Media are already taking an interest and you can hear our campaign chair, Savage, discussing the plans on Morning Report.

The sky banner is there for Aucklanders to see our message. In a city as diverse as Auckland we know that there are plenty of people who understand its time for an independent head of state.

The donations have been coming in but we want to keep the plane flying so please give what you can and be part of the campaign. The more donations received the more times we can fly the banner and the more cities we can visit. If you want to see the plane flying over your city then send us your donation today.

This year we will be getting out and spreading the message loud and clear. Time for a better head of state!

Building a bigger campaign

Two years ago, members, supporters and would-be supporters alike were wanting to see more detail. People wanted to know how change would happen and what type of republic would work best in New Zealand. It was the start of an increasing need to see change sooner rather than later.

The campaign policy statement available on this website is now central to the widening debate over having a fair and  independent head of state.  It is a clear, alternative vision for a New Zealand republic. A clear plan of what is best for our future as a democracy. 

The priority now is people. The more members of the campaign there are, the more people who donate and give their time to help the cause, the wider the debate will become.  When people hear the reform plans they can see the sense in them. When the myths and misunderstandings about how our current head of state are addressed people are no longer reluctant to let go.

There are still plenty of people demanding to know what the campaign stands for and how the reforms will be achieved. Join the campaign and help spread the message that an independent head of state is best for New Zealand. Invite the people you know to join as well. The more of us working together for change the sooner it will happen.

Make a donation today. Join or renew your membership today at our Membership page.

Keep your eye on those plunket babies!

New Zealanders should note the names of the ten plunket babies chosen to be part of today's royal event. One of them may very well grow up to be New Zealand's head of state.

The New Zealand republic campaign is all about having a New Zealander as New Zealand's head of state. That does not mean only someone born in New Zealand. To be eligible for selection a person would have to be a citizen and live here in New Zealand.

Baby George is as cute as any other baby and he is the focus of a lot of media attention but unfortunately he cannot be New Zealand's future head of state. Not unless one day he moves to New Zealand and becomes a citizen.

Plunket is a distinctly New Zealand organisation and the four Kiwi boys and six Kiwi girls attending the event today at Government house with their parents are all New Zealanders. We are campaigning for reform because we want all of them to enjoy the benefits of growing up in a New Zealand where the head of state is chosen in a fair and open way.

In the New Zealand of tomorrow, the head of state will still be New Zealand's highest public office. To be selected for that office will be the highest accolade any New Zealander could be given.

We wish all the families attending todays event well. One family will leave New Zealand next week and not be back for many years. The rest will grow up in New Zealand and be part of life in an increasingly diverse and dynamic country.

Change is on its way

The PM has said that change is inevitable and there are plenty of people who agree with him. We certainly agree, which is why we are doing what we can to promote our reform plans and let people know the solution to the head of state debate is relatively straight forward: Develop the alternatives then let people vote on what they prefer.

The royal visit this week is a good opportunity for people to discuss the pros and cons of change. Certainly we know that when people hear how it would all work and have their questions answered about the details that they can start to see the sense in it.

If you support the changes we are promoting then why not join us and become a member? Increasing our fundraising and membership is important and we are committed to delivering the best to all New Zealanders.

The news media have been interested to hear more, and talkback yesterday was filled with people debating their experiences and thoughts on our head of state. Visit our fundraiser page at givealittle.co.nz and help us improve our democracy.