World Trade Organisation director-general and former Labour prime minister Mike Moore says the directive for New Zealand to become a republic must come from the people, not the government. "Any changes could last for a hell of a long time -- we can't change just because people are pissed off with the current situation."
Anna Fifield, August 1997
If New Zealand is to become a republic, the directive must come from the people, not the government, says World Trade Organisation director-general and former prime minister Mike Moore.
Republicanism has to be owned by the people, not by a politician, Moore says, arguing that support for republicanism dropped off after Jim Bolger supported it. "This is beyond government -- it must come from a people's convention."
Although he believes the decision must ultimately be made by referendum, he does not see a citizens' initiated referendum as the answer. "Any changes could last for a hell of a long time -- we can't change just because people are pissed off with the current situation. We have to look at the future of MMP, the Treaty of Waitangi, and biculturalism and multiculturalism. If republicanism is seen in isolation it is subject to mistrust and misunderstanding, especially by Maori."
He says republicanism must be considered in a wider context, as part of a substantial constitutional package. "We need a multi-racial constitution, incorporating the Treaty."
Moore suggests the issue be dealt with by a leadership council made up by leaders of the elected political parties. This council would appoint an 'eminent person's council' of about 20 leading New Zealanders, such as Sir Paul Reeves. The leadership council and eminent persons group would consider the issues then prepare the way for a people's convention. "There's a tremendous amount of work to be done," he says. "The constitution would be superior to parliament, so we can't take that lightly.
"It would have to discuss a republic and treaty issues. But before all those things are done, we have to reach agreement on the fundamentals -- that parliament is the supreme law maker; the rejection of violence against people and property. The Treaty is central to this, and the need to discuss the future of biculturalism and multiculturalism."
Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore's predecessor as prime minister, recently said that New Zealand couldn't become a republic before Australia. And without Paul Keating, he said, Australia won't be a republic until well into the 21st century.
Moore rejects this. "It might be true in that what Australia does impacts on us, but we don't necessarily follow them. Yes, we are modelled on Australia to a certain extent, but we have no moral or legal obligation to follow Australia and I find it quite colonial and precious to say that we do.
"Any change must come from the people -- it's okay for us to jack it up but people have got to own it. Changes of this magnitude shouldn't be done without majority support." And for this reason, Moore thinks a minimum number of people must vote in order to make the change to republicanism. "It's not something you do because you are bored with the current situation.
He is not too worried about building up a large membership for the Republican Movement: "The SPCA doesn't have a lot of members but that doesn't mean people don't love animals. It's the nature of these sorts of organisations to have an agenda which people can philosophically support, so I don't see numbers as fundamental."
