Republicanism in New Zealand 1717053 225290267 2008-07-12T22:28:58Z Lholden 229041 /* National */ Add John Key quote, reference '''Republicanism in New Zealand''' is a movement to change the country's current status as a [[Commonwealth realm]] and [[constitutional monarchy]] to that of a [[Commonwealth republic]]. New Zealand public opinion is split between those who support the monarchy, and those who support a republic<ref name="republicpoll">A [[Sunday Star-Times]] poll, published 20 January 2006, stated there was 47% support for a New Zealand republic, and 47% support for the monarchy.</ref><ref name="TVNZ">{{cite web|author=A TV3 poll, published on the 5 February 2007, found only 48% of NZers support the status quo|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425825/979252|title=Waka launched, MPs hit Waitangi - Republic Support|date=[[5 February]] [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>. ==History== The term "republic" has been used in New Zealand to describe a state independent of the central government. For example, residents of the [[Taranaki]] town of [[Whangamomona]] declared their town a "republic" in [[1989]] to protest at the government's re-drawing of regional administrative boundaries, a protest group in [[Aramoana]] declared their town the [[Independent State of Aramoana]] in protest against proposals for an aluminium smelter in that town. ===19th century=== The first use of the term "republic" to connote an independent state in New Zealand came in [[1840]] when Lieutenant Governor [[William Hobson]] described the [[New Zealand Company]] settlement of Port Nicholson ([[Wellington]]), which had its own governing council, as such <ref name="hobson-republic">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HobsonWilliam/HobsonWilliam/en| title= Te Ara - William Hobson | accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>. Later, Wellington became the centre of agitation by settlers for representative government, which was finally granted by the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]]. In particular [[Samuel Revans]], who founded the Wellington Settlers' Constitutional Association in 1848, advocated a New Zealand republic. In [[1845]] Ngapuhi chief [[Hone Heke]], allegedly inspired by the [[United States of America]], cut down the flagpole flying the [[Union Flag]] at [[Kororareka]] in the [[Bay of Islands]]. Heke was disgruntled at what he saw as the British Crown's failure to honour the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], and he repeated this symbolic act of defiance three times, despite the armed resistance of British troops. In [[1867]] the [[Māori]] leader [[Te Whiti o Rongomai]] founded the passive resistance village of [[Parihaka]] <ref name="Parihaka">{{cite web|url=http://www.history-nz.org/parihaka.html| title= History NZ - Parihaka | accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>, which has been variously described as a "republic" <ref name="Parihaka2">{{cite web|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/lib-arch.htm#Parihaka%20-%20New%20Zealand's%20First%20Republic?%20(December%201996)| title= Republican Movement - Parihaka - New Zealand's first republic?; by [[Evan Roberts]]| accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>. In 1879, Te Whiti and his followers launched a campaign of ploughing up land that had been confiscated. Alarmed at the campaign against European settlement in [[Taranaki]], and the lack of government response to this campaign, the people of [[Hawera]] declared themselves the Republic of Hawera <ref name="Hawera">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HaweraRepublicOf/HaweraRepublicOf/en| title= Te Ara - Hawera, Republic of | accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>, and formed their own volunteer units to oppose Te Whiti. In [[1881]] government troops invaded [[Parihaka]] and arrested Te Whiti, bringing the republic to an end. ===20th century=== In [[1966]] left-wing activist [[Bruce Jesson]] founded the anti-royal [[Republican Association of New Zealand]], later forming a the original [[New Zealand Republican Party (1967)|Republican Party]]) in [[1967]]. The party had a stridently nationalist platform<ref name="republic_party">{{cite web|title=The way we were|author=[[Jonathan Milne]]|date=April 1996|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/node/29|accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref>. Republican Party activity petered out after the [[New Zealand general election 1969|1969 general election]], and Jesson wound up the party in [[1974]]. He continued to publish a pro-republic broadsheet entitled ''The Republican'', although the topics covered related to left-wing issues, not republicanism. In [[1979]] the [[Mana Motuhake|Mana Māori Motuhake]] Party included republicanism as part of its policy platform. However, the issue was never raised as Mana Māori Motuhake became a member of the [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance Party]]. ===Bolger initiates debate=== Despite the republic issue rising to prominence in neighbouring Australia in [[1992]] with [[Australian Labor Party]] Prime Minister [[Paul Keating]] initiating the debate, the debate did not begin in New Zealand until [[1994]]. [[New Zealand National Party|National]] [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Jim Bolger]] caused surprise by suggesting in his opening speech to the [[44th New Zealand Parliament|44th Parliament]] in the Address In Reply debate that [[New Zealand]] become a [[republic]]. Bolger stated that New Zealand's links with Britain were in decline, and that the country should acknowledge that "the tide of history is moving in one direction"<ref name="republic_party" />. [[Trevor Mallard]] interjected that "the Prime Minister has been reading Paul Keating's speeches", to which Bolger retorted: "I do not read Labor Party speeches". That year, the [[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand|Republican Coalition of New Zealand]] was formed to promote the move to a republic, and the following year the now defunct [[New Zealand Republican Party (1995)|Republican Party]] was established with the aim of creating a republic, along with the [[Monarchist League of New Zealand]], established to defend the constitutional monarchy. Public opinion did not respond to Bolger's call for a republic and most of Bolger's political opponents labelled the issue a distraction. Bolger's call came before the move to the [[Electoral reform in New Zealand|MMP electoral system]] in [[1996]] which created trepidation for further constitutional reform that was not present in [[Australia]] at that time. Bolger, the son of Irish immigrants, denied that his views relate to his Irish heritage<ref name="bolger_book">{{cite book|title=Bolger: A view from the top - my seven years as Prime Minister|author=Jim Bolger|publisher=Viking|year=1998|ISBN=0670883697}}</ref>. His government ended the awarding of [[British honours system|British honours]] in [[1996]], introducing a [[New Zealand Honours System]]. Bolger's successor, [[Jenny Shipley]], did not share his enthusiasm for republicanism, although she did support changing [[Flag of New Zealand|New Zealand's flag]]. Shipley noted during a visit in [[1999]] of the Princess Royal, "I am an unashamed royal supporter, along with many New Zealanders." At a conference on the "Bolger years" in 2007, Bolger recalled speaking to the Queen about the issue of New Zealand becoming a republic: {{quotation|"I have more than once spoken with Her Majesty about my view that New Zealand would at some point elect its own Head of State, we discussed the matter in a most sensible way and she was in no way surprised or alarmed and neither did she cut my head off."<ref>{{citeweb| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10436441|title=Bolger told Queen monarchy's time numbered|author=Maggie Tait|publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]]|accessdate=2007-04-27}}</ref>.}} ===1999 Australian referendum=== In [[1999]] the Republican Coalition of New Zealand relaunched itself as the [[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]], similar to the [[Australian Republican Movement]] to take advantage of increased coverage of the issue as a result of the [[1999 Australian republic referendum]], although it received relatively little media coverage in New Zealand. However, during the campaign Richard Nottage, the outgoing Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, took the unusual step of calling for New Zealand to consider becoming a republic. ==The debate== ===Arguments for change=== {{rquote|right|The New Zealand monarchy... is broken. It is broken in this important sense: that it is one of a raft of wrong symbols| [[Colin James (journalist)|Colin James]]| Political analyst}} Supporters of a republic generally divide their case for a republic between constitutional and symbolic reasons: '''Symbolic''' arguments include: * New Zealand should have a New Zealander as its [[Head of state]]; * New Zealand should have a "resident for President"; * New Zealand needs to assert its independence, nationhood and maturity to the world; * New Zealand's constitution - and indeed the attitudes of New Zealanders - are republican in their outlook <ref name="colinjames">{{cite web|author=[[Colin James (journalist)|Colin James]]|title=[[The New Zealand Herald]], 19 February 2002|url=http://www.colinjames.co.nz/herald/Herald_2002/Herald_column_02Feb19.htm|accessdate=2007-05-03}}</ref>. '''Constitutional''' arguments include: * New Zealand already maintains the [[Governor General of New Zealand|Governor General]] - who is in the words of historian [[Gavin McLean]] a "virtual head of state"<ref name="Governors">{{cite |title=The Governors|author=Gavin McLean|page=50|publisher=Otago University Press|date=2006}}</ref>. The Governor-General is a New Zealander and does everything the head of state should do; * The role and powers of the head of state should be clarified; * Because the Governor-General and Sovereign have little real power, they are not an effective check on the Parliamentary executive (the Prime Minister and Cabinet), an elected or appointed head of state would be a more effective check on the executive; * The [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] should not have the power to dismiss the Governor-General at will<ref name="dismissal">The Prime Minister may advise the Queen to recall the Governor-General at any time, so long as the Prime Minister enjoys the support of the House of Representatives. The Queen is bound by convention to implement the advice of her Prime Minister.</ref>; Many republicans believe that the notions of hereditary, primogeniture, sexual discrimination and religious discrimination inherent in the succession of the throne have no place in New Zealand's democratic and egalitarian society. They also emphasise that government devolves from the consent of the governed, not from an abstract concept such as "the Crown". ===Arguments against change=== {{rquote|right|The Monarchy is just as much a part of our national tradition as it is in Britain...[it] provides a symbol, a figurehead, with which New Zealanders can identify...every nation needs to have something which all its citizens can look to as representing their fundamental beliefs and values...the world has seen a tremendous change... but Her Majesty remains as a symbol of stability and continuity - a symbol of those values which are worth preserving| [[Keith Holyoake|Sir Keith Holyoake]]| Former Governor-General of New Zealand}} Supporters of the [[monarchy in New Zealand]] say: * The current system works well; there is no need to change it. Constitutional monarchy is tried and proven system of government, some of the most politically stable nations in the world are constitutional monarchies; whereas some of the most unstable and repressive regimes have been republics. In the words of former Governor-General Sir [[Michael Hardie Boys]] "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"<ref name="ggsupport">">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3610094| author= [[Jonathan Milne]]| title= Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald | accessdate=2006-08-02}}</ref>. * New Zealand is an independent, sovereign nation; * The monarch is Queen of New Zealand, not Queen of the United Kingdom; * The monarch is "above politics" and is a symbol of national unity rather than division; * The monarch costs New Zealand virtually nothing; there is only the cost of maintaining the Governor-General; * The monarch has little real practical political powers and is a protector of and not a threat to democracy; * The monarch protects the people of New Zealand from the excesses of Parliament and the Cabinet; * The monarch has served New Zealand well: providing leadership "above" politics, with great integrity and dedication to duty; and as a personal living symbol; Some supporters of the monarchy defend hereditary selection of the Sovereign arguing that it is the most "natural" way to choose a non-partisan leader. {{seealso|Independence of New Zealand}} ==Support for a republic== ===Opinion polls=== {{rquote|right|Most people much prefer to have a Queen as head of state rather than a broken-down old prime minister. I would certainly like to see a continuation of the monarchy. The present situation is a very satisfactory one and I certainly support it.| [[Edmund Hillary|Sir Edmund Hillary]]|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1841600.stm| title= BBC: Everest hero backs Queen in NZ; Tuesday, 26 February, 2002| accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref>}} Most polls on the republic issue show that the New Zealand public supports by a majority the status quo. There is, however, a trend of increasing support for a republic. Generally, more younger New Zealanders tend to support a republic over the monarchy, whereas the reverse is true for older New Zealanders. Ethnically, more [[Māori]] support a republic than [[Pākehā]]<ref name="poll1">A [[New Zealand Herald]] poll published 26 December 2000 showed 62% support for a republic amongst Māori, as opposed to 41% support for a republic from Pākehā</ref>, despite concerns over the Treaty of Waitangi. A One News Colmar Brunton poll in 2002 found that 58% of the population believed the monarchy has little or no relevance to their lives<ref name="bbc_poll">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1837083.stm|date=23 February 2002|title=NZ premier denies royal snub|publisher=BBC news|accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref>. These polls may be misleading, however, as there has been little public debate on the issue in recent decades. ===Current party political positions=== None of the major [[Political parties in New Zealand|political parties]] currently in [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] have a policy of creating a republic. {{-}} ====Labour==== {{Rquote|right| "I think it's inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic and that would reflect the reality that New Zealand is a totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom"| Prime Minister Helen Clark|<ref name="clarkrepublic">[[The Evening Post]] 23 February 2002</ref>}} Support for a republic is fairly strong within the governing [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]]. Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] has previously expressed her support for a republic, stating that she thinks a republic is "inevitable" and describing the role of the monarchy as "antiquated". Critics of Clark's government have often derided her support for a republic, claiming that the Prime Minister desires to be "President Helen"<ref name="clarkrepublic2">'President Helen' in the Huskings, [[The New Zealand Herald|New Zealand Herald]] editorial, 29 March 2005</ref> should New Zealand become a republic. Other ministers, such as [[David Cunliffe]]<ref name="quotecunliffe">{{cite web|url=http://www.cunliffe.org.nz/6.news/articles/detail.asp?id=41| title= David Cunliffe: Address-In-Reply speech| accessdate=2006-08-01}}</ref>, have expressed their support for a republic. Deputy Prime Minister [[Michael Cullen]], however, has declared that he supports the monarchy. In 2004, Cullen said he was "a sort of token monarchist in the Cabinet these days"<ref name="quotecullen">{{cite web|url=http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/Hansard/Final/FINAL_2004_12_16.htm| title= Daily Hansard: Clerk of the House of Representatives, Thursday, 16 December 2004| accessdate=2006-08-01}}</ref>. {{Rquote|right|Helen Clark is anti-monarchist; she is a republican. She cannot get her way, so she does it by stealth...|[[Winston Peters]]|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/Hansard/Final/FINAL_2003_08_26.htm| title= Daily Hansard: Clerk of the House of Representatives, Tuesday, 26 August 2003| accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>.}} ====National==== The [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]]'s constitution specifies that the Party desires "Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles and our Sovereign as Head of State". However, a vote to remove reference to the Sovereign was held in April [[2003]] as part of the party's constitutional conference. It was not however motivated by republicanism, but rather as part of a reduction of the core principles of the party. It was defeated by only three votes, with over 200 conference delegates voting. National MPs [[Richard Worth]], [[John Carter]] and [[Wayne Mapp]] have been some of the most vocal members of their party to defend the monarchy. National Party leader [[John Key]] has said he is "Not convinced it [a republic] will be a big issue in the short term".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1866364|title=Strong backing for MMP referendum|publisher=[[TVNZ]]|date=23 June 2008|accessdate=2008-07-13}}</ref> ====Minor parties==== {{Rquote|right|Royalty runs against the grain for many New Zealanders. The Kiwi way is to treat everyone the same. It's not in our nature to glorify someone just because they have the right Mum or Dad.| Green MP [[Keith Locke]]|<ref name="lockequote">{{cite web|url=http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/other9114.html| title= Why Prince Charles Should not be King - Sunday News, 13 March 2005 | author = [[Keith Locke]] | accessdate=2007-04-19}}''</ref>}} Similarly, the socially conservative [[New Zealand First]] party and the [[ACT New Zealand|ACT]] party generally oppose moves toward a republic, whereas support for a republic is strongest amongst the supporters of the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]], it is not the party's policy. Since 2001 Green MP [[Keith Locke]] has had a [[Private Member's Bill]], the Head of state (Referenda) Bill, waiting to be drawn from the members' ballot on the issue. Co-leader of the [[Maori Party]], [[Tariana Turia]], has previously supported moves to a republic<ref name="turiacomment">{{cite web|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/documents/00-12rep.pdf| title= Republic: Turia yes, Myers no | author = [[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]] | accessdate=2007-04-19}}</ref>, although her party has no declared position on the issue. [[Peter Dunne]], leader of [[United Future New Zealand]] is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic. The party has a policy of creating a Royal Commission into New Zealand's constitution, which should include "...questions of whether New Zealand should become a republic and whether there should be a written constitution".<ref name="ufnz_policy">{{citeweb|url=http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/default,75,constitution.sm|title=United Future New Zealand - Constitution Policy|publisher=[[United Future New Zealand]]|date=|accessdate=2008-05-05}}</ref> {{Rquote|right|We don't lose the Commonwealth link, we don't lose our collective history ... I think we have a president now in all but name. We've had our own head of state, our own Governor-General since the days of [[Arthur Porritt|Sir Arthur Porritt]]... if we've effectively got our own head of state, why not just take the next honest step of describing them accordingly?|UnitedFuture leader [[Peter Dunne]]|<ref name="dunnesupport">{{cite web|url=http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3383/features/3592/for_queen_or_country.html;jsessionid=5DADD8834A268E8067B3FD5B8FCF68B0| author=[[Gordon Campbell]]| title= For Queen or Country?: New Zealand Listener - March 2005| accessdate=2006-08-02}}</ref>}} ====Parties outside of Parliament==== Outside of Parliament, a republic was opposed by the former [[Christian Heritage New Zealand]] party, which stated in its policy information that it would "[r]etain New Zealand's position as a constitutional monarchy and oppose any moves to make New Zealand a republic". <ref name="chppolicy">{{cite web|url=http://www.chp.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=40| title= Christian Heritage New Zealand: Policy | accessdate=2006-07-21}}</ref> The small [[Libertarianz|Libertarianz Party]] produced a written constitution seeking a "Republic of New Freeland" to replace the constitutional monarchy. In April [[2005]] [[The Republic of New Zealand Party]] was founded by [[Men's movement]] activist [[Kerry Bevin]]. Despite its name, the goal of creating a New Zealand republic is only one of the parties' policies, and it tends to emphasise social issues. The previous [[New Zealand Republican Party (1995)|Republican Party of New Zealand]] had been dissolved in 2000 after not obtaining seats in Parliament. ===Governors-General=== Former Governor-General Dame [[Catherine Tizard]] said publicly in 2004 that the monarch should be replaced by a New Zealand head of state, along with Sir [[Paul Reeves]] who has indicated that he would not oppose a republic. Sir Paul has since indicated that he did not wish to become involved in any debate on the matter. However another former Governor-General, Sir [[Michael Hardie Boys]], has supported the status quo stating "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"<ref name="ggsupport">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3610094| author= [[Jonathan Milne]]| title= Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald | accessdate=2006-08-02}}</ref>. On 29 July 2006, outgoing Governor-General Dame [[Silvia Cartwright]] has stated that she has no views as to whether New Zealand becomes a republic, noting: "I'm the Queen's representative in New Zealand ...we often overlook the intense loyalty and love the Māori people have for the Queen - probably more intense than many people of European descent. This is a history that's never going to die."<ref name="cartquote">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10393582| author= [[Carroll du Chateau]]| title= Dame Silvia Cartwright's majestic presence: New Zealand Herald | accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref>. ==Constitutional issues== Were New Zealand to move towards becoming a republic, the change would occur with far more ease than in Australia. This is because New Zealand is a [[unitary state]] and has no written constitution, unlike Australia, where constitutional change must not only be approved in a referendum by a majority of voters, but also by a majority of states. New Zealand has made radical constitutional changes without difficulty in the past, such as the abolition of its [[New Zealand Legislative Council#Abolition|upper house of parliament]] in [[1951]], the introduction of [[Electoral reform in New Zealand|proportional representation]] in [[1996]] and most recently the creation of the [[Supreme Court of New Zealand]] as the court of final appeal. Academics, such as Professor [[Jock Brookfield]] have backed the view that the legal changes required for a republic are not complex<ref name="jb_rnz">{{cite book|author=FM (Jock) Brookfield|title=Republican New Zealand: Legal Aspects and Consequences|date=[[1995]]|publisher=[[New Zealand Law Review]]|page=310}}</ref><ref name="bh_rnz">{{cite book|author=Bruce Harris|title=The Constitutional Future of New Zealand|date=[[2004]]|publisher=[[New Zealand Law Review]]|page=267}}</ref>. {{seealso|Constitution of New Zealand}} ===The Treaty of Waitangi=== {{Rquote|right| In strict legal terms, if New Zealand became a republic tomorrow it would make no difference to the Treaty of Waitangi. Speaking as a lawyer, it's a long-established principle that successive governments take on responsibility for previous agreements| Monarchist League Chairman Professor Noel Cox|<ref name="coxquote">{{cite news|title=The People vs the Crown|author=[[Jonathan Milne]]|publisher=[[Sunday Star-Times]]|date=May 30 2004}}</ref>}} Many [[Māori]] see the Crown as a guarantor of their legal rights under the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], which was an agreement signed between the Māori tribes and the British Crown, not with the New Zealand Government. Monarchists have thus frequently argued abolishing the monarchy would "complicate" Māori relations. In response, republicans have argued that the partner to the Treaty has changed before (from the monarch of the United Kingdom to the monarch of New Zealand), and thus the move to a republic would not change the status of the Treaty of Waitangi. This view is shared by many Māori, including constitutional lawyer [[Moana Jackson]]. {{seealso|Treaty of Waitangi}} ===Models of a republic=== There is no agreed model of how a New Zealand republic might be constituted, but most proposals focus on reforming the [[Governor-General of New Zealand]] as a ceremonial head of state, making New Zealand a [[Parliamentary republic]]. Under the Head of state (Referenda) Bill<ref name="nzh_republic_bill">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=940393|title=Republic Bill near|accessdate=2007-09-19|publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]]|author=[[NZPA]]|date=21 February 2002}}</ref>, two models of a republic along with the status quo would be put to a referendum: * Election of the head of state indirectly by a [[Supermajority]] (75%) of Members of Parliament, similar to the [[Bi-partisan appointment republican model|bi-partisan appointment model]] proposed in Australia; * Election of the head of state directly by the New Zealand electorate using the [[Single Transferable Vote]] electoral system. {{wikisource|Head of state (Referenda) Bill}} In the opinion of legal academic Andrew Stockley the constitutional changes required by such a model would not be major<ref name="stockley">{{cite|author=Dr [[Andrew Stockley]]|title=Republicanism in New Zealand|publisher=Dunmore Press|date=1996|page=119}}</ref>. The Bill is supported to [[Select Committee (Westminster System)|Select Committee]] stage by the Republican Movement. In February 2008, the Republican Movement suggested electing the Governor-General as an interim step to a republic, arguing "Electing the Governor-General allows for easier transition to a republic, because the populace is used to electing someone as a ceremonial de facto head of state."<ref name="rm_gg_elect">{{cite web|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/node/211|title=Republic newsletter|date=February 2008|accessdate=2008-05-05}}</ref> [[The Republic of New Zealand Party]] has stated it supports a [[Presidential system]]<ref name="repmodel">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0704/S00302.htm| title= The Republic of New Zealand Party, Allegiance to whom? | author=Scoop | accessdate=2007-04-24}}</ref>. Other proposals have been mooted from time to time - such as appointment by a council consisting of members of the [[New Zealand Order of Merit]]. ===Realm of New Zealand=== Currently, the [[Realm of New Zealand]] consists of New Zealand proper and two states in free association, [[Niue]] and the [[Cook Islands]]. Should New Zealand become a republic, the Realm of New Zealand would continue to exist without New Zealand, the Ross Dependency and [[Tokelau]]<ref name="realm_status">{{cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/nz/journals/VUWLRev/2003/34.html|author=David McIntyre|title= The Strange Death of Dominion Status|publisher=Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History|date=1999|page= 193, 196 | accessdate=2006-12-07}}</ref>. This would not be a legal hurdle to a New Zealand republic, and both the Cook Islands and Niue would retain their status as associated states with New Zealand, as New Zealand shares its Head of state with the Cook Islands and Niue in the same way the United Kingdom shares its head of state with the other [[Commonwealth realm]]s. However, a New Zealand republic would present the issue of independence to the Cook Islands and Niue. ==Commonwealth membership== {{Rquote|right|A New Zealand where we journey together towards maturity as a nation, and to the [[Commonwealth republic]] I personally believe we will become before the Treaty turns 200|[[David Cunliffe]] <ref name="republicquote2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cunliffe.org.nz/6.news/articles/detail.asp?id=41| title= David Cunliffe: Address-In-Reply speech 4 September 2002| accessdate=2006-11-11}}</ref>.}} Though becoming a republic does not automatically require a change to Commonwealth membership, [[Commonwealth realm]]s that become republics must still obtain the permission of other members to remain in the organisation after becoming a republic. Though this is usually only a formality, any member(s) against the proposal could block the membership of a republican New Zealand in the Commonwealth. However, the rejection of membership is often due to policies at odds with the [[Commonwealth of Nations membership criteria]] (as with [[Apartheid]] [[South Africa]] in 1961, which did not re-apply for membership) pursued by the government, not republicanism. :''Further information: [[Commonwealth of Nations#Other termination|Commonwealth of Nations: Other termination]]'' ==Recent developments== The election of the present [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]]-led government in [[1999]] under [[Helen Clark]] has seen a number of alleged moves to a republic, such as the abolition of appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]]. ===New Zealand Honours=== The [[New Zealand Honours System]] previously awarded Knighthoods and Damehoods, but these were removed in [[2000]]. A poll conducted by the ''[[National Business Review]]''<ref name="poll-honours">[[National Business Review]], [[March 24]] [[2000]]</ref> in February 2000 revealed that 54% of New Zealanders thought the titles should be scrapped. Technically, New Zealanders could still receive a Knighthood and Damehood directly from the Queen. ===Supreme Court=== Appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]] were replaced by appeals to the new [[Supreme Court of New Zealand]] from [[1 July]] [[2004]]. There is no link between abolition of appeals to the Privy Council and the possibility of New Zealand becoming a republic. However, some advocates of abolition were motivated by republican sentiment. ===Constitutional Inquiry=== In November [[2004]], Prime Minister Clark announced the formation of a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the constitution, chaired by [[United Future New Zealand]] leader [[Peter Dunne]]. Both the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] and [[New Zealand First]] refused to participate, with Opposition leader [[Don Brash]] calling the committee a "political stunt", accusing the Prime Minister of using the inquiry as a distraction from the issue of Māori land claims under the Treaty of Waitangi<ref name="brashconst">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3610831|title=National refuses to take part in constitution review|publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]]|date=[[14 November]] [[2004]]|accessdate=2008-01-16}}</ref>. In its final report, the committee recommended wider education on the constitution<ref name="constinqconc">{{cite book|title=Final Report of the Constitutional Inquiry|date=11 August 2005}}</ref>. ===Queen's Counsel=== {{Rquote|right|[The renaming has] been done as part of the move by certain members of the Government to remove references to the monarchy, without having a popular mandate to do so.|The Monarchist League of New Zealand|<ref name="mlqcquote">[[Monarchist League of New Zealand]] [http://www.geocities.com/cox_nz/180306.htm Press release] 18 March 2006</ref>}} In March [[2006]] Parliament passed the ''Lawyers and Conveyancers Act'' which, among other things, replaced the title of [[Queen's Counsel]], given to senior [[barrister]]s, with that of [[Senior Counsel]]. These changes have already occurred in some Australian states, where they have been criticised by supporters of the monarchy as "republicanism by stealth". In response the Republican Movement noted <ref name="rmqcquote">[[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]] [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00157.htm Press release] 18 March 2006</ref> that the change is simply to acknowledge the independence of such lawyers, who are often called upon to investigate matters for the government. ===Modernisation of Oaths=== In May [[2004]] the Minister of Justice, [[Phil Goff]], announced a review of New Zealand's Oaths and affirmations. The review suggested that New Zealand could follow the experience of Australia by removing references to the Queen from the [[Oath]]s. The Monarchist League called the proposed change "republicanism by stealth". The Republican Movement argued that removing references to the Queen simply reflected New Zealanders' contemporary values <ref name="rmoathquote">{{cite web|publisher=[[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]]|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/mr040218.htm|title=Press release - Oaths|date=18 February 2004}}</ref>. One year after the review was announced, Phil Goff released the new forms the Oaths were to take, with references to the Queen being retained, and the Oaths Modernisation Bill was introduced into [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]]. After passing its first reading and going to the Government Administration Committee, the Bill is currently waiting to be voted on for its second reading. {{seealso|Oath of Allegiance (New Zealand)}} ==See also== ===New Zealand=== * [[New Zealand constitution|Constitution of New Zealand]] * [[Independence of New Zealand]] * [[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]] * [[Monarchist League of New Zealand]] * [[Monarchy in New Zealand]] ===Other Commonwealth Realms=== *[[Commonwealth Realm]] *[[Commonwealth Republic]] * [[Republicanism in Australia]] * [[Republicanism in Canada]] * [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom]] * [[Australian Republican Movement]] * [[Australians for Constitutional Monarchy]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== * [http://makepeace.ca/respublica/nz.html Res Publica : New Zealand] international anti-monarchy Web directory * [http://www.geocities.com/cox_nz/ The Monarchist League of New Zealand] * [http://www.republic.org.nz/ The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand] * [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/2094/index2.html Elizabeth the Last?] Monarchist website * [http://www.freeradical.co.nz/content/constitution/preamble.php A Constitution for New Freeland] A proposed constitution by the [[Libertarianz]] Party for a "New Freeland" republic. {{Republicanism}} [[Category:Constitution of New Zealand]] [[Category:Politics of New Zealand]] [[Category:Republicanism]] [[Category:Republicanism in New Zealand]] [[fr:Républicanisme en Nouvelle-Zélande]]