Republic Of New Zealand Newsletter

PM: No Republic Debate "At this time"; Australian Senate Hears
Republic Bill; Opinion: An Issue of Vision by Barrie Cook; Republican Movement
News.Spoken

"It is inevitable that our constitutional status as a monarchy will also
change - it's a question of not if, but when."

- Former Prime Minister
Helen Clark [1]

"Coming from a Pacific prospective I would certainly like to see NZ become a
Republic as this would indicate to neighbouring countries that there is no
longer any need to belong under the wing of the British monarchy."

- Fale Andrew Lesa [2].

"As I have always said in the past one day it's likely New Zealand will
become a republic but, I don't think anything is going to happen under my
watch."

- Prime Minister John Key [3].

Monthly Poll

Last Month's Poll:

Will Gordon Brown's succession law changes affect the republic debate here? [4]

Yes: 55%

No: 29%

Don't know: 17%

This Month's Poll:

Should the government discuss constitutional issues during a recession? [5]

Results will be published in the next edition of Republic. Join our website.
[6]

PM: No Republic Debate "At this time"

Monarchist League Chair Noel Cox and Republican Movement Chair Lewis Holden
debate the monarchy on TV3 [7], 29 April 2009.

PRIME MINISTER John Key has deferred any debate or referendum on a republic,
telling NewstalkZB [8] "I don't support New Zealand becoming a republic at this
time". The Republican Movement has responded by accusing Mr Key of sitting on
the fence [9] on the republic issue. Mr Key's statement followed a call by
United Future leader Peter Dunne for a referendum on a republic [10] to be held
at the same time as the 2011 general election. Mr Dunne noted that both the
current and previous Prime Minister were happy to say that a republic is
inevitable, but were unwilling to progress the issue.

The debate arose from the release of a poll by Republican Movement [11] and
published on the Queen's 83rd birthday. The poll of 1,018 New Zealanders shows
the public are increasingly looking to the future as a republic - although
Prince Charles is winning the race by a nose.

43% of those surveyed in the poll stated they wanted New Zealand to become a
republic, and did not want Prince Charles to become New Zealand's head of State
when the Queen's reign ends. 45% supported Charles as King, with 13% stating
they wouldn't answer or didn't know. The poll had a margin of error of 3.1%.

In response to the debate, the New Zealand Herald and Otago Daily Times ran
editorials which highlighted an apparent North - South divide. While the Herald
was mildly supportive, the Otago Daily Times put itself in the monarchist camp.

Australian Senate Hears Republic Bill

THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE is hearing arguments about the future of Australia as a
republic at the inquiry into Greens Senator Bob Brown's republic plebiscite
Bill. The monarchists appearing attacked the process, and even made comparisons
with Nazi Germany.
The republican submitters were generally supportive. Some complained over the
wording of the question, a contentious issue at the 1999 republic referendum.

The first submitter was Sir David Smith, the official secretary to then
Governor-General Sir John Kerr in 1975, when the Whitlam Labor government was
dismissed. Sir David argued the case against this new move towards a republic.

Later, the Australian Monarchist League put their case against a republic. They
claimed the outcome of a plebiscite would be "legally uncertain" and even
"dangerous". Referencing Nazi Germany, National Chairman Philip Benwell argued
"A plebiscite can have very serious implications to the stability of our
constitutional arrangements as did occur in Germany with the 1934 plebiscite."

Major-General Michael Keating for the Australian Republican Movement said the
nation is crying out for strong political leadership. "We seem content for
leaders to be vaguely supportive of the concept of a republican Australia, to
comment on the so-called inevitability of us becoming a republic and yet to find
a myriad of excuses for inaction."
The hearings will continue through May.

Opinion: An Issue of Vision

By Barrie Cook

I CAN UNDERSTAND Key's sentiment to the extent that there are more pressing
issues at hand. What I find disappointing is his and others inability to pick
up on the notion that becoming a republic is part of the overall development of
New Zealand, including economic development. Essentially it is a lack of
vision.

A true visionary leader would understand the role of identity (personal,
community, national) in how all of us approach the world around us (including
work and business).

I guess, given his family background, his career overseas, and the
nature of what he actually did, he is a boy of the global village and not a
nationalist (in the nice sense of the word) like me.

Any member of the Republican Movement may submit an opinion to be published in
this column - just contact [12] us. All opinions expressed in this column are
those of the author, and do not reflect the views and policies of the Republican
Movement.

Republican Movement News

OUR CAMPAIGN is off to a great start - a couple of members have already come
forward with their ideas for creating republics in their local area. If you're
interested in turning your own patch of Aotearoa into a republic before the rest
of the country, please contact us [13].

Republican Movement "Heart NZ" T-shirt in Black

T-shirts in Black

New black t-shirts are in the works - this time in a slimming black. We've
already got some orders ready to go, so get in quick and buy yours. See the
Republican Movement's Store [14] for more details.

Take The Republic Quiz And Win

REGISTER [15] on the Republican Movement website and take the Republic Quiz
[16] - and if you get at least 8/10 questions right, we'll send you a free
republic.org.nz bumper sticker [17].

Get involved [18] and contribute to the republic debate: Join the Republican
Movement [19], get your brochures, fact sheets and pamphlets [20] to promote a
New Zealand republic, debate in our public forum [21] or join our social
networking groups:

Sign up to take part in the republic debate - get a free copy of New Zealand
Republic.

ends

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