If it's inevitable, lets get on with it: Republican Movement

MEDIA RELEASE 2 Septemer 2010

"The Republican Movement urges the government to implement Dr Cullen's proposal for the next Governor-General to be elected by a three-quarters majority of parliament, before Anand Satyanands term ends in 2011" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

Dr Cullen put the proposal to the Reconstituting the Constitution Conference in Wellington today, stating that 'inevitabily' New Zealand will 'drift' towards a republic. Dr Michael Cullen and senior law lecturer Dean Knight both put forward papers calling for "soft republicanism"; gradual moves towards patriating New Zealand's head of state, starting with parliament electing the Governor-General by a three-quarters majority.

"The Republican Movement will continue to run its own citizens process for choosing the next Governor-General at www.gov-gen.org.nz, and will put nominations to our MPs to see who they think our next Governor-General should be" concluded Mr Holden.

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