The Dominion Post reports on the plans for upgrades to the Governor-General's residence, the main driver of the rising cost of the office. As we revealed in May, the Governor-General now costs the New Zealand taxpayer $11m a year, far more than the President of Ireland, who has a budget of NZ$6.7m.

The article notes that Prime Minister Helen Clark said in May that Government House was "ripe for conservation work". Reports at the time - such as some of the upstairs bathrooms not working - confirmed this. Clark also saidL

"It is a nationally significant heritage building and the Cabinet is in no doubt that, despite the significant capital costs, it's essential that it be preserved and enhanced to support the work of a 21st century governor-general."

Dame Cath Tizard, former Governor-General, responds to the Monarchist League's Treasurer Chris Barradale in this week's edition of The Listener:

Outgoing Aussie Governor-General Sir Michael Jeffrey.

So much for Governors-General staying "above politics": the outgoing Australian Governor-General, appointed by the staunch monarchist Prime Minister John Howard, has waded into the republic debate by declaring that Australia becoming a republic is "too risky". In particular, Sir Michael Jeffrey focussed on the prospect that Australia might adopt a directly elected president to replace the Governor-General. In his interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Sir Michael said:

The History of Republicanism in New Zealand page has now been updated to include the gradual changes to the Governor-General's office to become the "virtual presidency" we have today. For example:

Since the Governor-General got a new flag for Queen's Birthday, one reader suggested a republican alternative - just remove the Crown. Looks good.

At Eureka Street, John Warhurst takes apart Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffrey's arguments for the monarchy:

"On several occasions recently Jeffery has proclaimed a very conservative view of Australian constitutional arrangements. In his view the Australian constitution of 1901 has made Australia a stable country. Not only is there no evidence of this relationship between constitution and society (it is a post hoc ergo propter hoc argument), but his view stresses a static version of Australian history that makes the task of all reformers, not just republicans, doubly difficult."

For the Queen's birthday, Governor-General Anand Satyanand got a new flag. This one, at least, looks like it actually represents New Zealand - although it still had to be approved by Buckingham Palace.

Update: TV3 has a video.

TV3 news has a video on the Government House upgrade. It's mostly about the cost itself rather than the cost of the office, which has been the Republican Movement's emphasis. As such they didn't put in much of what I said about not being opposed to the upgrade per se, rather that the Republican Movement takes issue with the office itself. Not easy to squeeze that into 5s of air time though.

As part of Budget 2008, the government has announced a major program of upgrades for Government House in Wellington. The Dominion Post puts the figure at $46.6 million, with $6.7 million set aside for the first phase. Meanwhile, the Governor-General has moved to the Hutt valley, and has knocked Jim Anderton out of Vogel House. The Hutt City Council is happy.

Australia's Daily Telegraph reports outgoing Australian Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, is undertaking a 'farewell tour' around all the 200 organisations and charities of which he is a patron.

The Australian Republican Movement's own Major General, Mike Keating, noted that the tour highlights the fact that the Governor-General is not actually Australia's head of state:

When asked when Australia's Governor-General should be replaced by a head of state, Mr Keating said the "sooner the better."

Meanwhile, Aussie Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has refused to say whether the next Governor-General might be the last:

The Government's commitment to a republic was "clear cut" but a move to a republic was "not a top order question", Mr Rudd has said.