A letter to the editor regarding the cost of the Governor-General's office to the taxpayer:

Dear Sir,

Your article ($46.6m for Gov-Gen extreme makeover, 23 May) highlights the cost to the New Zealand taxpayer of the Vice Regal office. According to the 2008 Budget, the Queen's representative now costs the NZ taxpayer $10.95m per year. By way of contrast, the 2008 Irish budget shows the President of Ireland costs a mere NZ$6.7m per year.

The President is constitutionally empowered to act as a check on the prime minister and cabinet, is democratically elected and is always regarded as Ireland's head of state when she travels overseas. Our Governor-General does and is none of these things yet costs us more, only causing confusion overseas, and is constitutionally hog-tied even in times of crisis. It’s time taxpayers got value for money and created a head of state of our own. We might just save some money in the process.

Regards,

Lewis Holden

Chair, Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand