MEDIA RELEASE: 22 February 2014  

The campaign for a New Zealander as our head of state has a new leader. Savage, a writer and painter from West Auckland will be the campaign's new leader. Savage, who has only one name, was a founding member of the Republic campaign and has been involved with the campagin's executive since 1999.

Former leader Lewis Holden said "I've had a great time over the past seven years aschair, but it's time to move on. We've achieved a lot, we have developed clear policy statement on what we stand for, we've published a book explaining why a New Zealander should be our head of state. We've created greater public awareness about the benefits of change and made the issue central to the wider constitutional debate. I'm still very much a supporter of the campaign and wish Savage all the best - his commitment to the campaign has been invaluable to me and the organisation as a whole."

Savage is looking forwarding to recruiting new supporters and working hard to raise the issue wherever he can. "I am part of this campaign because I want NZ to have the best possible Head of State. I have dual NZ and UK citizen citizenship, so this is not an anti-British thing in any way. This is all about making New Zealand a stronger democracy."

"We re advocating a clear set of reforms and we're confident that once New Zealanders see the proposals they will see the sense in having our own democratically selected head of state. Our vision for New Zealand is  to have a head of state based fairness and equality. No more half way measures where we kind of have a Governor-General who is almost like our own head of state."

"We changed our electoral system for the better and the next logical step is to improve the way we choose the head of state. This is not a radical change. It is simply an inevitable and sensible step in the story of New Zealand" concluded Savage.

ENDS

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