New name for New Zealand republic campaign
The Republican Movement is re-naming its entire campaign to make it clear that reforming New Zealand's head of state is
its number one priority. From now on the group will be campaigning under the banner 'New Zealand Head of State'.
The new campaign Chair, Savage, said "the name-change will focus the wider debate on the specific reforms the group is
advocating."
"A republic can mean different things to different people so we've decided to make it very clear we are advocating a New
Zealand republic and that a New Zealand republic involves taking the position of Governor-General and transitioning it
into a democratically selected and politically neutral office".
"We will not leave the Commonwealth, we won't be like the United States and it won't change the legal status of the
Treaty. Having our own head of state will resolve the contradictions inherent in having a foreign head of state. Most
importantly it will make us constitutionally independent nation for the very first time.
"I have dual UK/NZ citizenship and it is a common mistake to see the Monarchy and Britain as somehow one and the same
thing. This campaign is about celebrating our connections to the UK without relying on the British people to supply us
with a head of state.
"The flag debate has got people talking about what New Zealand stands for and to us that is a positive thing. As a group
we also support changing the flag but we focus our efforts on the more substantial move of first becoming
constitutionally independent. Symbolism is important but a head of state is not just symbolic. They have a practical
every day role in New Zealand's constitution.
"The whistlestop visit by the royal couple next month only highlights the emptiness of having a head of state who
doesn't live here and who has no real connection to New Zealand beyond a series of photo opportunities."
"Our criteria for a head of state is very clear. Only a New Zealander can be a New Zealand's head of State and the only
fair way to choose that person is through democratic selection. New Zealand deserves better than what we currently have
and we will never stop working to deliver a head of state that represents all New Zealanders."
ENDS