Replacing Queen's Birthday weekend

Queen's birthday weekend is slowly turning into something else. The actual day doesn't coincide with anyone's actual birthday or commemorate any actual event. Neither is it celebrated on the same day by any other 15 commonwealth realms. The only reason it is held on the first Sunday in June is because in 1908 it was moved to June to take advantage of better summer weather in the UK. This year it will happen on June 14th in the UK.

Some royalists stage an annual dinner but to most New Zealanders is little more than a long weekend at the start of winter. Last year Waterfront Auckland staged a 'Best of British' event on Queen's Wharf. This year they have re-themed it as Queen's Birthday on Queen's Wharf and made a conscious effort to include Irish cultural events as well. Their event is not about just about the UK. It celebrates all the cultures and languages of the entire British Isles including the Republic of Ireland. It is still only small but one day it may compliment larger cultural festivals like Diwali and Chinese New Year.

The Queen's Birthday Honours will of course be announced on Monday but the Queen has no say in who is awarded them. The weekend is clearly no longer about New Zealand's links to the British Monarch. It is simply a marker of winter in the southern hemisphere.

It seems likely that once New Zealand achieves its own head of state, Queen's birthday weekend will be replaced or renamed as an event. The two leading contenders for a winter weekend or public holiday are Matariki and the Winter Solstice (on June 22nd). This might hinder the marketing of Queen's Wharf but it is unlikely to put a dent in Waterfront Auckland's plans to promote it self as a leading venue for civic events.

What happens to Queen's Birthday is not central to the issue of having an independent head of state but it is one of the smaller decisions to be made as we make the transition. Whatever happens it is hard to imagine New Zealanders giving up the chance for a long weekend. It may be that events in Auckland will grow and spread in popularity and that the first Sunday in June will simply transform itself into larger celebration of our European heritage.

If Matariki becomes a public holiday it may well add one more to the annual calender. If it Either development would be yet another reason to celebrate life in New Zealand.

Harre supports Head of State reform

Newly appointed Internet Party leader Laila Harré supports having a New Zealand head of State. She argued in favour of reform on TV3's The Vote last year. You can watch the entire programme online here or read the transcript here.

In Part Two of the programme she made it clear " this debate isn’t about how we feel about the Royals, or any particular Royal, it’s about how we feel about ourselves as New Zealanders"

Support for change exists across the political spectrum and it is heartening to see yet another party leader looking to make the change. Laila Harré is not in parliament yet but her willingness to address the issue and articulate the core issues marks her out as someone willing to work with any person who shares a commitment to improving our Head of State.

New Zealand Republic is not aligned with any political party and we are actively working to ensure all political parties have a clear policy on New Zealand's highest public office. A New Zealand Head of State needs to symbolise and represent the interests of all New Zealanders regardless of who they are, whether they vote and who they vote for.

Post visit and the debate continues

The royal visit has come and gone and, as expected, it increased discussion as to how best reform our head of state. 

While the carefully choreographed visit led to an outbreak of royal hyperbole from some it is unlikely to have had much effect on how people address the far more important question of democratic reform.  Royal celebrity and the personal popularity of any one person is not really what the debate is all about. It is about the principles and practices underlying New Zealand's highest public office.   

Kim Gillespie Editor of the Rotorua Daily Post made his views clear with his succinct editorial Time for a Kiwi Head of State. Herald Deputy Editor John Roughan reiterated his ongoing support for royal celebrity while Gordon Raynor , writing in The Telegraph, pointed to just how carefully arranged the royal appearances are in his article Why Duchess wore red in Wellington. 

Police dog puppies may have the cute factor, America's Cup yachts might look impressive but we need a head of state who lives in New Zealand and who isn't concerned about always looking good in photographs. The role is more important than being popular and being seen in all the right places. If anything it is about casting aside the trappings of celebrity and glamour and remaining connected with all New Zealanders regardless of their lifestyle or income level.

Our campaign carries on irrespective of who is visiting New Zealand.  Help us make it happen. Be part of creating a new era in New Zealand democracy.  Be part of creating a New Zealand republic.

Anzac Day: Remembering the fallen

Anzac Day is for remembering those who died in the service of their country. It is for honouring and remembering the suffering of those who have endured the misery of war.

From April 25th 1915 onward, a terrible trauma spread across Aotearoa. Suffering and grief was felt in every corner of New Zealand as family after family realised they would never see their loved ones again.  Throughout the nation the true horror of war became fully evident. 

There are many reasons why the men went to fight at Gallipoli and in all the wars and battles since. They did it for 'God, King and country', they did it for for the empire. They went with a sense of duty , they longed for adventure. Some went because they were fighting for "freedom and democracy". Many simply went because it was expected of them. Some went because they lacked the courage to say no. 

Regardless of why any person went to war, it is not for us to judge what their personal motivations were.  

Today is simply a day to acknowledge that irrespective of why they went to war they paid for it with their life.  They went and they never came back. 

Today is a day to remember  We do not forget those who died and we honour and remember all of those who suffered because of war.

Press Release: Republic campaigners positive after royal visit

"Campaigners for a New Zealand Head of State are feeling inspired after ten days of royal events" says NZ Republic Chair, Savage. "We have a long term vision for improving democracy in New Zealand and this royal visit was an important step toward realising that vision." 

"Nothing gets Kiwis talking about the pros and cons of having an overseas Head of State more than a royal visit, and it was gratifying to hear so many people joining in the debate in the news media, on talk back, in letters to the editor, via online forums and amongst their family and friends."

"As a nation we have to talk about this issue and make up our minds. As a group we are confident that once people read our policy statement and our plans for a two stage referendum process they will see the sense in changing to a democratically selected head of state."

"It was Kate's first ever trip to New Zealand and thousands of people lined up to catch a glimpse of her. To us that is just part of life in New Zealand. We expect such visits to still occur even after we change to having our own head of state. Royal watchers will still be able to enjoy the excitment of seeing two world famous Royals."

"We are simply campaigning so that people with the mana of Sir Jerry Mateparae or Dame Silvia Cartwright can become our head of state rather than just a representative of the head of State.  We would like to see the British head of state and a Kiwi head of state standing side by side as equals.  Two representatives of two sovereign nations." 

"People make the mistake of thinking we are anti-British just because we don't want to share a head of State with Britain.  Wanting a democratic nomination and selection process and wanting a New Zealander to be New Zealand's head of state is not anti-British. It is simply about looking out for the best interests of all Kiwis regardless of where their family comes from. Fair play is a very British value" 

"The visit is over but we will just carry on spreading the word that reform is needed" he concluded.

Head of State debate widens further

A republic with our own head of state has to happen but this campaign is about it happening sooner rather than later and we are not the only people saying it.

The contradictions inherent in how we choose our head of state have to be resolved and the right of Kiwis to participate in nominating and selecting the office-holder cannot be ignored . Our democratic system is based on fairness and democracy and our head of state must embody those principles. 

The office of head of state is falling short of its potential and no longer serves our needs.

Younger New Zealanders overwhelmingly want it to happen and the ethnic and religious diversity now  evident across New Zealand makes the current arrangements look even more out of date.  Five of the other 16 Commonwealth realms are making similar moves and today the UK's republic campaign opens yet another new branch in Birmingham. There is a clear shift away from hereditary head of states. We are on the road to a New Zealand republic.

Here the debate is widening. Newstalk ZB host Rachel Smalley has called for us to get on with it. Campaign Chair, Savage, writes that 'now is the hour' in today's NZ Herald and  last week Herald columnist Brian Rudman pointed to our poll to promote the need for change.  The weekend saw commentator Morgan Godfery writing in the Herald on Sunday that 'the monarchy has lost its meaning'  and appearing on the Sunday Morning show on Radio New Zealand to discuss the need for reform.

Yes, change is inevitable but only because republic supporters are pushing for it. Be part of making it happen. Join the campaign for a New Zealand head of state today.