New Zealanders Get Behind Head of State Bill
MEDIA RELEASE: 28 February 2010
"The broad range of supporters of Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill in today's Sunday Star-Times shows growing republican sentiment in New Zealand" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.
Endorsers include businessman Sir Bob Jones, author and presenter Peta Mathias, novelist CK Stead and sportsman Rob Hamill.
"The Republican Movement urges all of New Zealand's political parties to support the Bill to Select Committee. While the referendum itself might not go ahead before the next election, at least New Zealanders will have a chance to express their views at Select Committee" concluded Mr Holden.
"The broad range of supporters of Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill in today's Sunday Star-Times shows growing republican sentiment in New Zealand" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.
Endorsers include businessman Sir Bob Jones, author and presenter Peta Mathias, novelist CK Stead and sportsman Rob Hamill.
"The Republican Movement urges all of New Zealand's political parties to support the Bill to Select Committee. While the referendum itself might not go ahead before the next election, at least New Zealanders will have a chance to express their views at Select Committee" concluded Mr Holden.
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Comments
The royal warrant system in the UK you are referring to I think.
Does the NZ monarchy have a warrant system?
Anyway, what sort of justification (of celebrity endorsement) is it when reference is made to an institution you wish to abolish.
Yes. I have an old NZ Heraldry magazine from the 60s that lists companies in NZ who have Royal warrants. Most of them have gone out of business... then there's all the associations that hold them (e.g. the Royal Returned Services Association aka the RSA).
I really don't see why we would need to justify celebrity endorsement when the Royal family does it; the comparison to XT is rather laughable - after all, Sam Neill endorses KiwiBank, which remains profitable. What I'm really interested in is people taking issue with the views of Sir Robert Jones - you know, actual rational debate.
...or CK Stead, one of NZ's old style left-wingers - surpise surprise he's a republican! Why should we take issue with Bob Jones in particular except in relation to his views on republicanism. Some would have more objections to the views of Karl Stead. Rob Hamill, the youngest in the list of celebs that I have seen, added his name as a supporter of the Bill without necessarily being a republican.
There is hardly an Earth-shattering array of celebrities so far. I imagine Bob Jones is there to show that the Bill's supporters come from across the political spectrum.
"Yes. I have an old NZ Heraldry magazine from the 60s that lists companies in NZ who have Royal warrants." Were they NZ companies given warrants by the Queen of NZ?
There is hardly an Earth-shattering array of celebrities so far. I imagine Bob Jones is there to show that the Bill's supporters come from across the political spectrum.
Of course. As I point out, they've not published the whole list.
"I really don't see why we would need to justify celebrity endorsement when the Royal family does it"
Even some monarchists say that the overt display of royal patronage to gain some type of advantage is one of the less desirable aspects of monarchy. So why should republicans not need to jusify continuing with celebrity endorsement.
Oh ...it looked like you were taking ownership of the policy when you said:
"I really don't see why WE would need to justify celebrity endorsement "
Even if we did do it, I don't see what's wrong with it. Unless you're actually taking issue with Bob Jones/CK Stead/Peta Mathias' views, their celebrity endorsements no different from the Wizard of New Zealand or Sir Michael Hardie-Boys spouting about why the love the monarchy so much... or of course Royal patronage granted to products and associations.
Post new comment