Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand
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The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand is a non-partisan organization formed in 1994 whose object is to support the creation of a republic in New Zealand. As of 2007 the President of the Movement is Lewis Holden[1]. The Patron of the Movement is Keri Hulme, a New Zealand writer famous for her 1985 Booker Prize winning novel The Bone People.
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[edit] Aims and principles
The Movement's constitution specifies the following aims and principles:
- Involving all New Zealanders in the debate;
- Providing relevant and reliable information;
- Focusing on ideas, not personalities;
- Winning a referendum to establish the republic;
Creating a republic does not require any change to the Treaty of Waitangi, Flag of New Zealand[2] or Commonwealth membership.[3]
[edit] History
The orgainization was formed in March 1994 following then National Prime Minister Jim Bolger's call for New Zealand to become a republic by the year 2000. The movement's membership was drawn from many political quarters, and so the orgainization was called the "Republican Coalition". Some of the movement's members had been involved in the electoral reform referendum on whether to change the electoral system in 1993. In 1996, writer Keri Hulme became patron of the group.
[edit] Name change
The Movement changed its name from the Republican Coalition of New Zealand in 1999, coinciding with renewed interest in republicanism in New Zealand, and an unsuccessful Australian referendum on the same issue. The Republican Movement is not to be confused with The Republic of New Zealand Party or the now defunct Republican Party, or the much earlier Republican Association of New Zealand.
[edit] Head of state (Referenda) Bill
In 2001, Green Party MP Keith Locke put forward the Head of state (Referenda) Bill as a members' Bill, which if drawn and passed would bring about a referendum on the question of whether New Zealand should become a republic, with three choices put to the New Zealand public:
- A republic with direct election of the Head of state;
- A republic with indirect election of the Head of state by a three-quarters majority Parliament; and
- The status quo.
If no model gains a majority, a second referendum will be held between the two highest-polling options. If one of the two republican options is supported by the New Zealand public, New Zealand will become a Parliamentary republic (as opposed to a Presidential republic), with a Head of state with similar powers to the Governor-General and serving for one five year term. In 2002, the Republican Movement endorsed this Bill and its process[4].
[edit] National Council
The National Council of the Movement as of 2007 is:
- Lewis Holden (President)
- David Farrar
- Dave Guerin
- Savage
[edit] Presidents
- Savage (1994)
- Simon Sheppard (1994 - 1996)
- Dave Guerin (1996 - 2006)
- Lewis Holden (2006 - )
[edit] Common Cause
In April 2005 the Movement became a founding member of Common Cause, an alliance of Commonwealth Republican Movements.
[edit] See also
- Republicanism in New Zealand
- Commonwealth republic
- Monarchy in New Zealand
- Monarchist League of New Zealand
[edit] External links
- The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand Official Website of the Republican Movement
- Keri Hulme's blog Keri Hulme's blog
[edit] References
- ^ Press Release: New Republican Movement President 29 December 2006
- ^ This would not be unprecedented, as the Flag of Fiji, a Commonwealth republic, still contains the Union Flag
- ^ New Zealand would be required to apply to remain in the Commonwealth at the next CHOGM, should the country become a republic. See: Republicanism in New Zealand: Commonwealth membership
- ^ Republican Movement: Republic, January - February 2002: Locke’s republic bill heads for ballot
