Governor-General Bill good start at reform: Republican Movement

MEDIA RELEASE 20 July 2010

"The government's Governor-General Bill is a positive step towards reforming the office into a full head of state" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

In reaction to the move, the Republican Movement has today launched a website to find New Zealand's next Governor-General, www.gov-gen.org.nz, to start a citizen's process for choosing the next virtual head of state, which is what some people describe the Governor-General as.

"The Republican Movement believes the office of Governor-General is unsatisfactory for New Zealand. Even so, to further the Governor-General's evolution from Queen's representative to head of state, Prime Minister John Key should give New Zealanders the right to choose who occupies Government House" continued Mr Holden.

Nominations for candidates worthy of being our next Governor-General are open now via the website, and will be followed by a knock-out electoral process.

"In 2011 the people of Ireland, another country following the Westminster parliamentary system, get to choose their head of state. The Republican Movement believes it is time we were able to choose our own head of state - and this website will show that New Zealanders are more than capable of doing so" concluded Mr Holden.

NOTES

The website can be found at: www.gov-gen.org.nz

ENDS

Media contact: Lewis Holden 027 699 1350 (m)

The Republican Movement is a network of New Zealanders who want our head of state to be elected by New Zealanders - either directly or indirectly.

We are committed to:

• involving all New Zealanders in the republic debate;
• providing relevant and reliable information;
• focusing on ideas, not personalities;
• winning a referendum to establish the republic;

Creating a republic does not require any change to the Treaty of Waitangi, flag or Commonwealth membership. For more information, see our website: www.republic.org.nz