Why New Zealand Must NOT become a Republic
THE MAJORITY OF NEW ZEALANDERS SUPPORT THE MONARCHY
A majority of New Zealander’s support the monarchy, and oppose this country becoming a republic. Support for a republic has remained consistent over many years, despite persistent agitation by republicans. Mainstream public opinion favours the status quo - support for a republic remains marginal;
IT IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
The very term Republic implies the will of the people (res publica means literally of the people). The peoples' will is that New Zealand shall remain amonarchy. Not only is a monarchy compatible with democracy, but it is anti-democratic to try to force New Zealand to become a republic against the wishes of the majority;
PARTNERSHIP OF CROWN AND MAORI
This country is unique in being founded upon a partnership between the Crown and the Maori people. The Crown is one of the cornerstones of the nation; it represents and embodies both Pakeha and the people, and provides constitutional legitimacy through the Treaty of Waitangi. Its removal would fundamentally damage the body politic, and call into question the very basis of our constitution and nation;
COMING TOGETHER OF CROWN, MAORI, AND PAKEHA
A three-party alignment of Crown, Maori, and Pakeha, is the basis of our constitutional structure and social compact. The removal of one element would destabilise the entire system. The removal of the Crown would be symbolically as significant as the removal of either of the other elements;
THE QUEEN IS THE PARAMOUNT CHIEF
To many Maori the Queen is the paramount chief of all the tribes. The Queen is owed traditional allegiance. The loyalty of many Maori to the Crown is deep-seated, and fundamental to their view of the country. The Queen occupies a significant place within Maori culture, both for her position, and as the descendant and representative of Queen Victoria. Many Maori regard the Treaty of Waitangi as a compact directly between the Crown and Maori, and the Queen to be directly party to the treaty;
MONARCHY PART OF OUR CULTURE
The monarchy is a fundamental element of the cultural and political inheritance of the people of New Zealand. It is as much as part of New Zealand’s identity as Maoritanga, rugby, and the English language. All New Zealander's may regard the monarchy as a shared heritage, whatever their ethnic or cultural background. It would be culturally unsafe to attack the monarchy, or remove it from its central place in our culture;
NATURAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT
New Zealand has always had a monarchical form of Government, since traditional Maori tribal governance began. A republic is an alien, foreign concept. An attack on the monarchy can be seen as an attack on traditional concepts of authority, particularly those of Maori. The mana of the Crown is unsurpassed;
IMMIGRANTS AND NEW NEW ZEALANDER'S CHOSE TO COME TO A MONARCHY
Immigrants have chosen to live in New Zealand. They chose this country because of its unique lifestyle, culture, system of government, and environment. The monarchy is a part of the system which they have chosen to embrace. They join existing New Zealander's in feeling pride in our constitutional monarchy. They could have chosen to live in a republic. They did not, and we can embrace them for that;
RISKS OF CHANGING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS NEEDLESSLY
Because the constitution of the most politically stable and democratic country in the world shouldn't be tampered with without a very good reason. Our system of government works well. Too many countries have suffered from chronic political and economic instability after drastic changes to their constitution;
MONARCHY NURTURES DEMOCRACY
A constitutional monarchy is not inconsistent with democracy. In fact it was the monarchy that created and sustained our democracy. With Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom we have the most democracy system of government in the world, largely due to the moderating influence of the shared monarchy;
A republic is not inevitable. The remote possibility that New Zealand may one day become a republic is not an argument for a republic. It is not a reason to end the monarchy now, any more than the inevitability of death is a justification for suicide;
PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE ABUSES OF POLITICIANS
The monarchy strengthens the democratic process by denying absolute power to politicians. Although neither the Quenn nor the Governor-General exercises political power, they do have a significant role in the constitution. The strength of their position derives from the power they deny to others, rather than the power they exercise directly. The lesson of most republics is that an rxecutive president would be more likely to be a cause of abuse than a safeguard against abuse by others;
PROTECTS AGAINST UNELECTED ELITES WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN SPEAK FOR THE NATION
A military coup or social revolution is less likely in a monarchy where the military swear allegiance to the Crown, than in a republic where they swear allegiance to either the state or the governing party. There are many instances of military forces or political factions in republics seizing power on the pretence of acting to defend the "Constitution", or the "State", or to protect the "People". No such false claim to legitimacy can ever be raised in New Zealand. The Crown provides the constitutional continuity and authority. This is lacking in most republics.
REINFORCES LINKS WITH THE COMMONWEALTH
The monarchy is central to the Commonwealth grouping of nations. The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth, and has led and inspired its people for over 50 years. A decline to republican status denigrates the place of the Commonwealth, and the role of the Queen. It is a step towards isolationism and insularity. In a time of increasing internationalism we should be embracing cross-continental and cross-cultural links, not cutting them;
ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR A REPUBLIC
The republicans have failed to give even one good reason for a republic. There are many reasons to retain the status quo; to be a monarchy; and not to become a republic. There are no good reasons for becoming a republic;
THE MONARCHY IS NOT IRRELEVANT
Those who suggest that the monarchy is irrelevent could not be more wrong. The Crown is symbolically of far greater significance than many people realise. Its cultural place in New Zealand life is profound, as is its influence on the way this country has evolved and continues to grow.
A REPUBLIC IS MORE EXPENSIVE
A republic is likely to be much more expensive to operate than the monarchy. If a president was directly elected by the people the cost could be huge. The costs of advertising alone in the 2004 American elections amounted to a billion dollars. The process of creating a republic would be very costly.
MONARCHIES ARE GENERALLY BETTER OFF THAN REPUBLICS
An OECD survey has established that monarchies are on average wealthier, and more stable, than republics. Futhermore, the disruption caused by a change from a monarchy to a republic could cause adverse effects on trade, currency values, and overseas investment. The indirect cost to New Zealand of a republic could be enormous.
REPUBLICANS HOPELESSLY DIVIDED OVER OPTIONS
There is no simple choice between monarchy and republic. If put to the public in a referendum the questions asked would have to be - he monarchy; OR an executive presidency; OR parliamentary government. The 1999 referendum in Australia showed that the republicans cannot agree on a model, and could not get a majority for change, even if there were in a majority overall;
WE ARE NOT AUSTRALIAN PAWNS
The major impetus for a republic appears to come from the largely Australian-controlled press. The Murdoch and Fairfax-owned newspapers have long lead a campaign for a republic in Australia, and theses conglomerates are now using their papers in this country to bolster republicanism. They are using the people of this country as unwitting pawns in their elitist campaign to force Australia to become a republic;
CHOSSING TO REMAIN A MONARCHY IS A SIGN OF MATURITY
Many republicans argue that New Zealand must abandon its links to the Crown in order to show that we are mature. Becoming a republic is no more a sign of national maturity than was abolishing Area Health Boards. We are a democratic, independent state. How we govern ourselves is our own business. We do not make changes to our constitution just to demonstrate that we are independent.
A REPUBLIC IS NOT INEVITABLE
A republic is not inevitable. Nor is the possibility that New Zealand may one day become a republic an argument for a republic. It is irrelevant. It is not an argument for ending the monarchy now, any more than the inevitability of death is a justification for suicide.
MANY REPUBLICANS ARE MOTIVATED BY ENVY, OLD-FASHIONED CLASS-HOSTILITY, OR ANTI-BRITISH SENTIMENT
Many republican activists are seemingly motivated by intolerance, class-envy, or anti-British prejudice. These are features of the failed republican campaign in Australia. Many republican diatribes were marked by their viciousness, crudeness, racism, and intolerance. There are already signs of this in New Zealand. It would be unfortunate if we were to be influenced by such elements.