25 March 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monarchy Succession Updated
Chair of Monarchy New Zealand, Dr Sean Palmer, welcomes the enactment of the Royal Succession Act.
Today, at a special meeting of the Executive Council, the Governor-General of New Zealand promulgated the Royal
Succession Act Commencement Order 2015.
The Royal Succession Act 2013 was passed in December 2013 to implement several important changes needed to modernise the
monarchy. These changes included the introduction of gender equality and removed religious discrimination. However, the
provisions of the legislation were left to be bought into force by an Order in Council at a later time. This was to
ensure that the new laws were introduced simultaneously, so that the rules determining who assumes the Crown remained
the same in all the Commonwealth Realms.
All of the countries which share Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state have now completed the necessary steps to
bring the succession changes into force. These important updates will take effect from 1 pm on 26 March 2015 (New
Zealand daylight time).
“These much-needed changes to the royal succession remove gender discrimination by allowing women equal right to the
throne of New Zealand,” says Dr Palmer. “It is fitting that the nation which led the charge for women’s suffrage is now
ensuring that men do not receive any special preference in the succession order. This means that, from now on, there
will always be a 50/50 chance that our head of state will be a woman. That kind of parity is hard to find in any other
nation.”
“New Zealand’s monarchy is an incredibly important part of our constitution and society. Removing sexist, old elements,
and making sure that it reflects modern kiwi values is common sense.”
The Act also ends the centuries-old prohibition on heirs to the throne marrying Catholics.
“This requirement came out of 17th century European conflicts and is completely unnecessary today. The religious
divisions of the old world have no place in New Zealand. Anything that can be done to remove this discrimination is a
positive step.”
“New Zealanders can be proud of the changes that come in to effect on 26 March. They have modernised an ancient
institution and will help keep our monarchy relevant far in to the future.”
- ENDS –
Editor’s notes:
All of the Commonwealth Realms, the countries which share Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch, are making the same
changes. As a fully independent nation, New Zealand was not actually obligated to make any changes and could set any
succession rules it wished. However, to preserve the present arrangement, in which one monarch is shared by several
countries, it is not only making the changes, it is coordinating the changes among the other realms.
Women have reigned as Queen in New Zealand for 70% of the time since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. New Zealand
has long been at the forefront of women’s rights and this change to the succession rules demonstrates that we value men
and women equally.