January 2010 newsletter

IN THIS EDITION: The Tour, Majority Don't Want Charles, Opinion: A "Full Democracy" Movement?, A Sharpe Stick.

The Tour

Prince Charles visits Auckland, 1966 - with adoring crowds. The New Zealand Herald reported Charles was the future of the monarchy...

PRINCE WILLIAM'S tour of New Zealand has been and gone. Much like his father's 1966 tour, most of New Zealand's media outlets were quick to praise Prince William for his performance while on tour. Time will tell if William's tour will be remembered, or forgotten as his father's has been.

Despite stridently claiming the tour was not a public relations exercise, several members of the British press - who followed William to Australia and New Zealand - openly pointed to this fact. There was also comment on the fairly poor turnout, despite the tour being widely advertised and publicised. This included an Australian journalist handing out self-made "We Love You William" signs to  a small crowd of bemused onlookers at Auckland Airport.

The Victoria University Republican Movement group held a demonstration at the opening of the Supreme Court, the purpose of William's visit. The irony of William opening our highest court of appeal which replaced appeals to the British Privy Council in 2003 was not missed. Unfortunately  the Republican Movement's demonstration was confused with two members of the Republic of New Zealand Party, who used loudhailers.

Majority Don't Want Charles

A POLL CONDUCTED just prior to Prince William's tour by the New Zealand Herald has found 59.6% of New Zealanders do not want Prince Charles to be their head of state.

The poll asks what should happen when Queen Elizabeth II's reign ends. 30.2% of those surveyed want Prince William as their next head of state, while 29.4% want a republic.

"While the result is devastating for Charles, it shows the great flaw of the monarchy. No-one gets to choose who our head of state is. Even if one in three New Zealanders want Prince William as their head of state, they don't get a choice either way. Prince Charles will be our King, and the popularity of the monarchy will inevitably decline" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

The Herald Readers' Panel poll surveyed 2,000 people and was conducted by the Nielsen Company between December 10 and 17.

Opinion: A 'Full Democracy' Movement?

Tauranga member Roger Hey asks if the Republican Movement should consider a name-change

OK YOU LEGAL BEAVERS, historians and political aficionados. There’s a thought rattling around in my cranium, and I’d welcome some enlightenment. Are we agreed the goal of the Republican Movement is for full democracy, where the management of NZ/Aotearoa is completely in the hands of the people of this country? Can I assume we are? That gets my vote. So why don’t we call ourselves by a name that reflects this goal?

The Full/Complete/Total/Entire/etc Democracy Movement? The Pro-Democracy Movement? Whatever. You might argue that we do already. We don't. Republicanism is a means to an end, not the end in itself. We support the Republican movement, presumably, because it takes this nation to full democracy. Why don’t we say so when identifying ourselves ? And would we achieve wider support from the public if we were identified by this chosen goal ? Maybe people would understand more clearly who and what we are.

So I’m inviting us to consider a different mindset – to change how we identify ourselves, and our image. If we were identified as a pro-democracy movement, who would argue against that ? The words “The Republican Movement”, for all their proud history and international associations, don’t advertise what we’re aiming for, unless people are reasonably well informed.Are they ? Have you asked your neighbour what the word “Republic “means ?

I don't believe we're advertising ourselves clearly, and enabling strangers to understand who we are and what we are seeking. We want a republic - so what ? what does that mean ? It has to be explained. I wonder what PR types could do for us.

Note I'm not recommending we change our name from the Republican Movement to the Democratic Movement. There's confusion enough out there over the word Republican, and there's bound to be some people already who align us with the GOP of the USA. But I'll buy a compromise – The Republican Movement – People for Full Democracy.

That states who we are, where we want to go, and how to get there. Still, my concern is so obvious, you seasoned campaigners in the Republican Movement must have considered this and have a ready answer why this or something similar hasn’t been implemented. Do tell.

Roger Hey (Rev.)
Tauranga.
Member, Republican Movement

Any member of the Republican Movement may submit an item to be published in this column - just contact us. All opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not reflect the views and policies of the Republican Movement.

A Sharpe Stick

Savage Profiles Republican Movement Victoria University Group organiser Kurt Sharpe.

Kurt Sharpe is the organiser of the Victoria University Group of the movement. Reformed in 2009, the group surely has the record for the fastest achievement in Student Union History. Forty five minutes after forming they achieved their first democratic success with a resolution passed at a SGM that the Victoria Students Association support New Zealand becoming a republic.

Kurt was also the organiser of this month's successful demonstration during the Opening of the Supreme Court. While not covered well by the news media in New Zealand, the banner, hung from the TVNZ building on Lambton Quay, then taken down into the crowds of Monarchy supporters below, achieved international attention for our campaign.

With four different members of the executive giving interviews here and overseas it was also a clear sign that we are developing a strong team of spokespeople who are comfortable talking in the media about the movement's work.

The Australian and UK republic movements were very happy with events and with Kurt's work. Alf's Imperial Army have taken up the challenge for some street theatre. 2010 is already a good year to be a republican in Wellington.