'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
[1][2].
History
Traditionally, the term "republic" has been used in New Zealand to describe a sub-state independent of the central government. For example, residents of the tiny
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 to be 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
[3]. 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
MÄori prophet
Te Whiti founded the passive resistance village of
Parihaka [4], which has been variously described as a "republic"
[5].
In 1879,
Te Whiti and his followers launched a campaign of ploughing up European farms. Alarmed at the campaign against European settlement in
Taranaki, and the lack of government response to this campaign, the people of
Hawera declared themselves to be the Republic of Hawera
[6], and formed their own volunteer units to oppose
Te Whiti. The republic was superseded in
1881 when government troops invaded
Parihaka and arrested
Te Whiti.
20th century
It was not until the
1960s that republicanism resurfaced. Left-wing activist
Bruce Jesson founded the anti-royal
Republican Association of New Zealand in
1966, later moving to Auckland and forming a political party (the original
Republican Party) to push the republic issue in
1967. The party had a stridently nationalist platform
[7], included in its ''Manifesto of the New Zealand Republic'' the desire to legalise all forms of drugs. Activity in the Republican Party soon petered out, 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 general left-wing issues rather than republicanism per se. In
1979 the
Mana MÄori Motuhake Party included republicanism as part of its policy platform. However, the issue was never raised as Mana MÄori Motuhake became a member of the
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 republic debate did not begin in New Zealand until
1994.
National Prime Minister Jim Bolger caused surprise by suggesting in his opening speech to the
44th Parliament in the Address In Reply debate that
New Zealand become a
republic. Bolger claimed that New Zealand's traditional links with Britain were in decline, and that the country should acknowledge that "the tide of history is moving in one direction".
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".
The
Republican Coalition of New Zealand was formed that year to promote the move to a republic as a response to the Prime Minister. The following year, the now defunct
Republican Party was established with the aim of creating a republic, along with the
Monarchist League of New Zealand which was established to defend the constitutional monarchy.
However, 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
MMP electoral system in
1996 which created a certain 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
[8]. His government ended the awarding of
British honours in
1996, introducing a
New Zealand Honours System. Bolger's successor,
Jenny Shipley, did not share his enthusiasm for republicanism. 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: "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."
[9].
1999 Australian referendum
In
1999, under the presidency of Dave Guerin, 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 the issue was getting as a result of the
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
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
[10].
'Constitutional' arguments include:
★ New Zealand already maintains the
Governor General - who is in the words of historian
Gavin McLean a "virtual head of state"
[11]. 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 the executive;
★ The
Prime Minister should not have the power to dismiss the Governor-General at will
[12];
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
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"
[13].
★ 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.
Support for a republic
Opinion polls
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
MÄori support a republic than
PÄkehÄ[14], despite concerns over the Treaty of Waitangi. These polls may be misleading, however, as there has been little debate on the issue to date.
Current party political positions
None of the major
political parties currently in
Parliament have a policy of creating a republic.
Labour
Support for a republic is fairly strong within the governing
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"
[15] should New Zealand become a republic. Other ministers, such as
David Cunliffe[16], 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"
[17].
National
The
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 members of the party voting. National MPs
Richard Worth and
Wayne Mapp have been some of the most vocal members of their party to defend the monarchy.
Minor parties
Similarly, the socially conservative
New Zealand First party and the
ACT party generally oppose moves toward a republic, whereas support for a republic appears to be strongest amongst the supporters of the
Green Party, though it is not the party's policy. For some years Green MP
Keith Locke has had a
Private Member's Bill, the ''Head of state (Referenda) Bill'', waiting to be drawn from ballot on the issue.
Co-leader of the
Maori Party,
Tariana Turia, has previously supported moves to a republic
[18], although her party has no declared position on the issue.
Peter Dunne, leader of the
United Future Party is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic. Dunne argued that "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
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?"
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".
[19] The small
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
Republican Party of New Zealand had been dissolved in 2000 after having failed to obtain any 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"
[20]. 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 MÄori people have for the Queen - probably more intense than many people of European descent. This is a history that's never going to die."
[21].
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
upper house of parliament in
1951, the introduction of
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
[22][23].
The Treaty of Waitangi
Many
MÄori see the Crown as a guarantor of their legal rights under the
Treaty of Waitangi, which was an agreement signed between the MÄori tribes and the British Crown, not with the New Zealand Government. Monarchists have thus frequently argued abolishing the monarchy would "complicate" MÄori relations. In response, republicans have argued that the partner to the Treaty has changed before (from the monarch of the United Kingdom to the Queen 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 MÄori, including constitutional lawyer
Moana Jackson.
Models of a republic
There is no agreed model of how a New Zealand republic might be constituted. Under the Head of state (Referenda) Bill, a member's Bill sponsored by
Green Party MP
Keith Locke, 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 model proposed in Australia;
★ Election of the head of state directly by the New Zealand electorate using the
Single Transferable Vote electoral system.
Both models would make New Zealand a
parliamentary republic, such as
Germany,
Iceland,
Ireland,
Italy or
Malta, rather than a
Presidential republic such as the
United States or
The Philippines. In the opinion of legal academic Andrew Stockley (who is also a republican), the constitutional changes required by such a model would not be major
[24]. The Bill is supported to
Select Committee stage by the Republican Movement.
The Republic of New Zealand Party has stated it supports a
Presidential republic[25].
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, 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[26]. This would not be a legal hurdle to a New Zealand republic as such, 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 Realms. However, a New Zealand republic would present the issue of independence to the Cook Islands and Niue.
Commonwealth membership
Though becoming a republic does not automatically require a change to Commonwealth membership,
Commonwealth Realms 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 can block the membership of a republican New Zealand in the Commonwealth. However, the rejection of membership is often due to racial policies (as with
Apartheid South Africa in 1961, who did not re-apply for membership) pursued by the government, not republicanism.
Fiji and the
Maldives did not apply for continued membership after becoming republics, and thus lost their positions in the Commonwealth.
:''Further information:
Commonwealth of Nations: Other termination''
Recent developments
The election of the present
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
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''
[27] 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
In
1996, the Bolger government proposed to end the status of the
Privy Council as the country's highest court of appeal. This policy was the same as that of the previous
Labour government. Upon the re-election of the current
Labour government in
2002, as part of that party's manifesto, the government introduced legislation to abolish appeals to the
Privy Council. In
2003 the law was passed, despite calls from
New Zealand First,
National and
ACT for a referendum to be called on the issue. Appeals to the
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 leader
Peter Dunne. Both the
National Party and
New Zealand First refused to participate, however, calling the committee a "political stunt", accusing the Prime Minister of using the inquiry as a distraction from the subject of the "grievance industry" of MÄori land claims under the Treaty of Waitangi
[28]. Dunne has said that he supports New Zealand becoming a republic
[29]. In its final report, the committee recommended wider education on the constitution.
[30]
Replacement of Queen's Counsel
In March
2006 Parliament passed the ''Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill'' which, among other things, replaced the title of
Queen's Counsel, given to senior
barristers, with that of
Senior Counsel. These changes have already occurred in some Australian states, where they have been criticised by supporters of the status quo as "republicanism by stealth".
In response the Republican Movement noted
[31] 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 Oaths. The ''Monarchist League'' called the change 'republicanism by stealth'. In response, the ''Republican Movement'' argued that removing references to the Queen was not 'republicanism by stealth' but simply reflected New Zealanders' contemporary values
[32]. 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
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.
See also
New Zealand
★
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
1. 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.
2. Waka launched, MPs hit Waitangi - Republic Support A TV3 poll, published on the 5 February 2007, found only 48% of NZers support the status quo
3. Te Ara - William Hobson
4. History NZ - Parihaka
5. Republican Movement - Parihaka - New Zealand's first republic?; by Evan Roberts
6. Te Ara - Hawera, Republic of
7. The way we were, Jonathan Milne, April 1996 source
8. Bolger: A view from the top - my seven years as Prime Minister, Jim Bolger, , , Viking, 1998,
9. Bolger told Queen monarchy's time numbered Maggie Tait
10. The New Zealand Herald, 19 February 2002 Colin James
11.
12. 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.
13. "> Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald Jonathan Milne
14. A New Zealand Herald poll published 26 December 2000 showed 62% support for a republic amongst MÄori, as opposed to 41% support for a republic from PÄkehÄ
15. 'President Helen' in the Huskings, New Zealand Herald editorial, 29 March 2005
16. David Cunliffe: Address-In-Reply speech
17. Daily Hansard: Clerk of the House of Representatives, Thursday, 16 December 2004
18. Republic: Turia yes, Myers no Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand
19. Christian Heritage New Zealand: Policy
20. Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald Jonathan Milne
21. Dame Silvia Cartwright's majestic presence: New Zealand Herald Carroll du Chateau
22. Republican New Zealand: Legal Aspects and Consequences, FM (Jock) Brookfield, , , New Zealand Law Review, ,
23. The Constitutional Future of New Zealand, Bruce Harris, , , New Zealand Law Review, ,
24.
25. The Republic of New Zealand Party, Allegiance to whom? Scoop
26. David McIntyre, The Strange Death of Dominion Status, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 1999 pp 193, 196
27. National Business Review, March 24 2000
28. ''National refuses to take part in constitution review'' The New Zealand Herald, 14 November 2004
29. For Queen or Country?: New Zealand Listener - March 2005 Gordon Campbell
30. ''Final Report of the Constitutional Inquiry'', 11 August 2005
31. Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand Press release 18 March 2006
32. Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand Press release 18 February 2004
External links
★
Res Publica : New Zealand international anti-monarchy Web directory
★
The Monarchist League of New Zealand
★
The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand
★
Elizabeth the Last? Monarchist website
★
A Constitution for New Freeland A proposed constitution by the
Libertarianz Party for a "New Freeland" republic.
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