Press Release
Press Release of the Monarchist League of New Zealand
4th April 2001
The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwrigh, PCNZM DBE was sworn in today as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand.
Dame Silvia is the 18th Governor-General, and the 33rd representative of the Crown in New Zealand. As Governor-General she is the latest in a long line of men and women who have embodied the permanent, non-political and non-sectarian monarchy.
Being appointed, not elected, the Governor-General can act solely from conscience, without fear of intimidation, and without having to win the transient favours of voters or politicians.
When she is not in New Zealand, her Governor-General exercises the Queen's prerogative powers. He or she acts both as the Queen's representative in New Zealand, and as a channel of communication between the Prime Minister and the Queen. The Governor-General has an extremely important role. Neither Queen Elizabeth nor the Governor-General takes an active ooriginating role in the executive functions of government- by binding convention, the head of State almost always acts on the advice of Ministers of the Crown.
Governors-General regularly communicate with the Queen, keeping her informed about New Zealand. The actual responsibility for government remains in the hands of the viceroy, as was shown by the response of Buckingham Palace to the Australian crisis of 1975, and the 1987 coups in Fiji.
The office of Governor-General is not an empty one. Sir David Beattie, who had had discussions with the then Governor-General of Australia (Sir Ninian Stephen), and two former holders of that office (Sir John Kerr and Sir Zelman Cowen), has spoken about the so-called "reserve powers" of the office.
The Governor-General (and the Sovereign when she is present) performs three main functions- constitutional, ceremonial, and as a unifying symbol for the nation. The Governor-General and the Sovereign are embodiments of the Crown. In its role of providing a unifying influence, the Crown is above party and politics. This role is, in normal circumstances, more important than the constitutional role, and more important than the ceremonial one, whose place in New Zealand is limited.
Despite the cynical manipulation of poll results by those who would abolish the New Zealand constitutional monarchy, support for the system remains strong. Most people appreciate the separation of the formal and political parts of government, and the existence of an impartial national leader.
We can be sure that Dame Silvia, whose concern for the ordinary person is well known, will continue in the great tradition of New Zealand Governors-General.
Dr Noel Cox
Chairman