Anna Davidson was a member of the Youth Parliament in 1997 for Wellington Central MP Richard Prebble. Her speech to the gathering covers all of the essential issues for republicanism in the New Zealand context.
ANNA DAVIDSON (Wellington Central): It is time for us all to leave home, and exactly the same can be said of New Zealand in relation to the UK. New Zealand should become a republic. Some people might argue that this step is too dramatic and would bring about earth-shattering changes. This is just not true. Switching from recognition of the monarchy to a republic will bring about no practical change other than the election of a domestic head of State, whether that person be called the President or something else.
In every sense, New Zealand has long been recognised as an independent power in the community of nations. This would be the final step. Neither our domestic nor international policies are influenced in any way by Britain. If New Zealand had a special relationship with Britain before it joined the European Community in 1970, that relationship certainly disappeared long ago. When we had a special relationship with Britain, it was formed of three things: blood ties to the UK, battle, and trade. New Zealand is now standing alone in world markets.
It derives no assistance from the UK just because we share the same monarch. Britain looks after our trade interests now only when they coincide with its own, but not otherwise. In fact, if our trading success poses a threat to Britain that country treats us disgracefully.
Look at what is happening right now in the British criminal courts to successful New Zealand Dairy Board initiatives in that market! Is the Queen protecting our sales of spreadable butter in the UK? No, through the British criminal courts she is prosecuting us. Some people might think that if we cease to recognise the Queen as our head of State, we might lose some tangible benefits such as those deriving from membership of the Commonwealth. That is not so.
Look at Canada and India. Those countries are full members of the Commonwealth but independent nations in their own right. Choosing our own head of State would not automatically take us out of the Commonwealth and the benefits that flow from its membership. These include a forum to exchange international views, trade, and aid.
When talking about our becoming a republic, it is important to remember the Treaty of Waitangi and the significance that many Maori place on the role of the Queen in relation to the treaty today. Maori remember that they entered into the treaty in 1840 with the British monarch. Many still see Queen Victoria's successor, Queen Elizabeth II, as having a significant role to play. Sadly, the real position is quite different. All decisions made by the New Zealand State affecting the treaty are made by the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Parliament.
No treaty settlement is paid for by London. The Queen cannot and does not influence recognition of the treaty in modern-day New Zealand. This is the reality. The retention of the Queen as head of State has no bearing on the sanctity of the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1990 New Zealand had its coming of age 150 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. It is high time we were given the keys to the door of independence.
