Why Prince Charles should not be King

Green MP Keith Locke has consistently pushed the republic issue since becoming a member of parliament in 1999. In 2001 he put the Head of state (Referenda) Bill into the ballot. Locke states plainly his thoughts on a future King Charles: "Hes quite a greenie, with his own organic garden - and he's dead against GE foods. But he shouldnt be King of New Zealand."

By Keith Locke MP, Green Party - Published in the Sunday News, 13th March 2005

Prince Charlie has a lot to commend him. Hes quite a greenie, with his own organic garden – and hes dead against GE foods. But he shouldnt be King of New Zealand.

Surely, were big enough and old enough to have our own head of state. Its embarrassing that our proud, independent nation in the South Pacific is still an appendage of Mother England. Why not just cut our tie to the British monarchy?

Its not difficult to do. I have drafted a Private Members Bill (which is not a Green Party Bill) called the Head of State Referenda Bill which would allow New Zealanders to make a choice between the present system and a republic.

The bill gives you three options: the present monarchy, a directly elected head of state, or one appointed by 75% of Parliament. I am not suggesting an all powerful American-type President, just a Kiwi head of state with the same powers as our current Governor General.

Royalty runs against the grain for many New Zealanders. The Kiwi way is to treat everyone the same. Its not in our nature to glorify someone just because they have the right Mum or Dad. In some ways I pity Charlie because he has to live up to some mythical idea of how a Prince or King behaves. He cant do it. At bottom, he is just an ordinary person, with his own shortcomings and foibles.

Prince Charles, an upper-class Brit, hardly symbolises our vibrant multi-cultural nation. Even many Britons think the monarchy, as an institution, is a bit weird. According to the Laws of Succession, Catholics are forbidden to sit on the throne, and women rarely get a look in. Even if Princess Anne had been older than Charlie she wouldnt have become Queen.

The present monarch is first and foremost Queen of England, not Queen of New Zealand, as we found out during the Iraq war. Queen Elizabeth went off to a military barracks hailed the British troops going off to Iraq. She didnt back our governments opposition to the invasion. One Queen (or King) cant serve two masters.

At bottom, being tied to the monarchy offends my sense of nationhood. I want New Zealand, a confident multi-cultural nation, to make its own way in the world. My father migrated here from London, and I respect our British heritage. But in the 21st century we have to move and become fully independent.