The three reasons for a republic sets out the main the arguments for why New Zealand should become a republic. They are more in depth than we have set out here, but for the sake of simplicity they have been shortened. We expand on the points below throughout this website. If there's something you'd like to comment on, or dispute, contact us and tell us what you think.
1. A New Zealand republic means a New Zealand head of State
New Zealand is an independent, sovereign country, and yet does not have a head of State of its own. Currently, we have a head of State that can only represent a token link to our history as a colony of Britain. New Zealanders with British ancestry do not need token links to their history, any more than Dutch, German, Japanese or Irish New Zealanders need such links. Nor should history alone determine New Zealand's future - we must adopt to our changing global circumstances.
All of the Sovereign's work as head of State of New Zealand is undertaken by their local representative, the Governor-General. The Sovereign only ever represents Great Britain when overseas, for example. Whenever the Sovereign visits New Zealand, they must ask for permission from the British government to leave that country. Yet the Governor-General is not a proper head of State. While the Governor-General may be increasingly acting in a way that befits a head of State, the reality is that New Zealand is not regarded as being fully independent of the United Kingdom.
The Governor-General is a de facto head of State. Creating a republic is a symbolically important and legally simple change to make, which involves reforming the office of Governor-General into a proper head of State.
2. A republic affirms New Zealand's nationhood
Even though reform the Governor-General's office and electing or appointing our own head of State is a simple step, it is an important one because it fosters a sense of nationhood. Civic republicanism is an affirmation of the ideas and values that bind us together.
New Zealanders believe in appointment by merit, not birth. The monarchy discriminates on the basis of gender, religion, birth, nationality and indirectly race. There is little support for reform of the archaic succession laws governing the selection of the monarch.
How we see ourselves in the world is crucial to New Zealand's success in an increasingly global world. Our current constitutional arrangements cause confusion overseas as to whether New Zealand is a colony, or part of Australia: a republic will signal our independence to the world, and it is an expression of confidence in New Zealand.
3. A republic means a democratic, accountable constitutional safeguard
The head of State should be an effective constitutional safeguard. The Sovereign and Governor-General are not effective constitutional safeguards. The Governor-General is unable to resolve constitutional crises because the Prime Minister holds the power to dismiss and replace them at any time, and the monarch will never get involved in New Zealand politics, choosing to remain "above politics".
A republic would create a head of state that could act in times of constitutional crises. A head of state that is better able to act in times of crises works as a much better restraint on the power of the executive - the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
With a republic the role of the head of state will be clearer. It would add certainty to gray areas in our constitution. Monarchy represents the belief that the authority of government devolves from a single individual (the Sovereign). Republicanism is based on the principle that the authority of government is gained through the consent of the governed.
