Media Release – 28 September 2001

The Republican Movement has criticised the postponement of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to New Zealand as an example of our head of state’s lack of interest in New Zealand.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were to have arrived in two weeks time, but have postponed their visit because of the postponement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Brisbane.

Republican Movement president Dave Guerin said the postponement of what would have been the Queen’s 10th visit to New Zealand demonstrated that she saw New Zealand and her “subjects” here as irrelevant.

“This visit was seen as a consolation prize for the dwindling numbers of New Zealand monarchists who were upset that the Queen failed to make it across the Tasman after her visit to Australia last year. Now she has let those few Union Jack-waving loyalists down again.

“But for the rest of us in New Zealand, it simply reminds us ¯ more now than ever ¯ that New Zealand is irrelevant to the Queen, just as she is now irrelevant to New Zealand.

The Republican Movement notes that Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison said today that “I am not aware of any security details that would cause (postponement). But I must say that if leaders decide not to come to Australia for their own reasons we can't help that. It's beyond our control.''

“New Zealand no longer wants as its head of state an ageing English heiress who cannot be bothered even coming out here for a visit; who has little knowledge and no interest in the things that make us tick as Kiwis.

ENDS

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