Republicanism in New Zealand

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Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implimentation of which would result in changing the country's current status as a Commonwealth realm and constitutional monarchy to that of a republic. Traditionally few New Zealanders supported a republic. However public opinion is increasingly evenly split between those who support the monarchy, and those who support a republic.^[1][2]

Contents 1 History 1.1 19th century 1.2 20th century 1.3 Bolger initiates debate 1.4 1999 Australian referendum 2 Support for a republic 2.1 Current party political positions 2.1.1 Labour 2.1.2 National 2.1.3 Minor parties 2.1.4 Parties outside of Parliament 2.2 Governors-General 3 Constitutional issues 3.1 The Treaty of Waitangi 3.2 Models of a republic 3.3 Realm of New Zealand 4 Commonwealth membership 5 Recent developments 5.1 Constitutional Inquiry 6 See also 6.1 New Zealand 6.2 Other Commonwealth Realms 7 References 8 External links

[edit] History

The term "republic" has been used in a pejorative sense in New Zealand to describe an area 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.

[edit] 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 granted by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852. Samuel Revans, who founded the Wellington Settlers' Constitutional Association in 1848, advocated a New Zealand republic.

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" ,^[4] 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.

[edit] 20th century

In 1966 left-wing activist Bruce Jesson founded the Republican Association of New Zealand, and later the Republican Party) in 1967. The party had a stridently nationalist platform.^[5] Republican Party activity petered out after the 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 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 Party.

[edit] 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 issue was not seriously considered 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 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".^{[citation needed]} 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".^{[citation needed]}

That year, the Republican Coalition of New Zealand was formed to promote the move to a republic, and 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, established to defend the constitutional monarchy.

Bolger, the son of Irish immigrants, denied that his views relate to his Irish heritage.^[6] Bolger's successor, Jenny Shipley, did not share his enthusiasm for republicanism. She noted during a visit in 1999 of the Princess Royal, "I am an unashamed royal supporter, along with many New Zealanders."^{[citation needed]}

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."^[7]

[edit] 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, the previous year, Richard Nottage, the outgoing Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, took the unusual step of calling for New Zealand to consider becoming a republic, arguing that the position of the British monarch as head of state 'looks strange in Asian eyes' ^[8].

[edit] Support for a republic

[edit] Current party political positions

None of the major political parties currently in Parliament have a policy of creating a republic.

[edit] Labour

“	"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, [9]

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark had expressed her support for a republic, stating that she thought a republic is "inevitable" and describing the role of the monarchy as "antiquated". Other ministers, such as David Cunliffe^[10], expressed their support for a republic. Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen, however, declared that he supported the monarchy. In 2004, Cullen said he was "a sort of token monarchist in the Cabinet these days"^[11].

“	Helen Clark is anti-monarchist; she is a republican. She cannot get her way, so she does it by stealth...	”
—Winston Peters, [12].

[edit] 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". National MPs Richard Worth, John Carter and Wayne Mapp have been some of the most vocal members of their party to support 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",^[13] and that he thinks a republic is "inevitable".^[14] However he has not been recorded as supporting a republic.

[edit] Minor parties

The ACT party generally opposes moves toward a republic.

“	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, [15]

Support for a republic is strongest amongst the supporters of the Green Party, though 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. The Maori 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".^[16]

“	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?	”
—UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne, [17]

[edit] Parties outside of Parliament

Outside of Parliament, the New Zealand First Party supports the current constitutional arrangements, and a republic is opposed by the former Christian Heritage New Zealand party, which states 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". ^[18] 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 republic is only one of the parties' policies, and it tends to focus on men's rights. The previous Republican Party of New Zealand had been dissolved in 2000 after not obtaining seats in Parliament.

[edit] 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. Her predecessor as Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, has stated 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".^[19] On 29 July 2006, outgoing Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright stated she had no views as to whether New Zealand becomes a republic, noting: "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."^[20]

[edit] 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. New Zealand has made 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. Legal academics have espoused the view that the legal changes required for a republic are not complex.^[21][22][23]

[edit] The Treaty of Waitangi

“	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, [24]

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.

[edit] Models of a republic

There are a number of proposals for how a New Zealand republic might be constituted. Most focus on making the Governor-General of New Zealand a ceremonial head of State, creating a Parliamentary republic. Under the Head of State (Referenda) Bill,^[25] 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 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, similar to Ireland.

In the opinion of legal academic Andrew Stockley the constitutional changes required by such a model would not be major.^[26] The Bill is supported to 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."^[27]

The Republic of New Zealand Party has stated it supports a presidential system.^[28]

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.

[edit] 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^[29]. This would not be a legal hurdle to a New Zealand republic,^[30] 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.

[edit] Commonwealth membership

“	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 [31].

If New Zealand becomes a republic its Commonwealth membership is not affected. As of 2007, a Commonwealth realm that becomes a republic no longer needs to apply for membership.^[32]

Further information: Commonwealth of Nations: Other termination

[edit] Recent developments

[edit] 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 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^[33]. In its final report, the committee recommended wider education on the constitution^[34].

[edit] See also

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] References

[edit] 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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