It sounds funny, but the Republic of New Zealand Party has put out something on New Zealand becoming a republic. But it's not actually funny because despite the party's name, the policy is not included in the party's constitution policy information, nor is it included in their "5 Ways Forward" platform for this year's election. Most of the party's media releases relate to "men's rights" issues, the Electoral Finance Act, and not republicanism.

The Republic of New Zealand Party, much unlike the Republican Movement, is a political organisation which only has republicanism as a small part of it's platform. Nonetheless, the party's Constitutional Spokesman Wayne Hawkins articulated the party's policy position in the speech just posted on their website.

The Republic of New Zealand Party's policy is that:

• New Zealand will become a Presidential republic: "An elected Presidency will replace the Head of State" (even though the President would be the head of State);
• The President will be checked by the legislature (probably Parliament) and Supreme Court, which will check both the President and the legislature.

The party is also trying to combine the issues of a written constitution and Maori greivances with republicanism will put a republic on the back-burner. Instead of discussing the merits of what sort of head of state New Zealanders want - which is what the republic debate is really about - the issues around the Treaty of Waitangi and what should and should not be entrenched in a constitution will dominate.