The Governors is an excellent book on the little known office of Governor and Governor-General in New Zealand. The book is well researched, and covers the history of the office right from the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, when Hobson was declared Lieutenant-Governor of Britain's newest colony, to the most recent appointment of Anand Satyanand as Governor-General of the Realm of New Zealand.
McLean balances commentary on each of the lives of Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand with constitutional developments during their terms, visits by the Queen and other useful information. Most interesting for the republic debate is the gradual development of the office from the enforcer of Colonial Office policy to de facto Heads of state (McLean calls the Governor-General a "virtual head of State").
The only disappointing part of the book is McLean's fleeting analysis of the republic debate. McLean states that support for a republic in New Zealand is in decline, but can only cite on study to back his claim, despite a number of polls and surveys showing otherwise. Further, he quotes the poor performance of "The Republic of New Zealand Party" (a small party that officially embraces republicanism) at the 2005 general election as proof that New Zealanders don't support republicanism. This one flaw lets down an otherwise very good book. Reviewed in the February 2007 edition of Republic.
Publisher: Otago University Press
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 1 877372 25 0
Pages: 416
Table of contents
PART 1 Soldiers and Engineers of Empire (1840-53)
1 Empire's shock-absorbers - Gipps, Hobson, FitzRoy & Grey
2 'Take away the key' - Browne & Grey
3 Humbugs and memorandums - Bowen, Fergusson, Normanby & Robinson
4 'Presiding at charity dinners and entertaining large parties of stupid people' - Gordon & Jervois
PART 2 Vice-regal Ceremonial (1860s-1970s)
5 'He looked at all the men's boots to see that the heels were cleaned' - Governors and ceremonies
PART 3 Holiday Jobs or Outdoor Relief for the Aristocracy? (1889-1920)
6 'A governor's life is not a bad one except when he has constitutional questions to debate' - Onslow, Glasgow & Ranfurly
7 Knights of the Round Table - Plunket, Islington & Liverpool
PART 4 A New Imperial System (1917-31)
8 Winds of change or gentle zephyrs?
PART 5 Whisky and Soda Warriors (1920-72)
9 'Soldiers of good fortune' - Jellicoe & Fergusson
10 Nation within empire - Bledisloe
11 Whisky and soda warriors - Galway, Newell & Freyberg
12 The last ten thousand pound Poms - Norrie, Cobham, Fergusson & Porritt
PART 6 Home-Grown (1972-)
13 Kiwis become 'the Queen in drag' - Blundell, Holyoake & Beattie
14 Nominal heads of state? - Reeves, Tizard, Hardie Boys & Cartwright
15 Conclusion
Appendices
