Republicanism in New Zealand: Difference between revisions

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{{Politicsshort ofdescription|Political movement in New Zealand}}

{{about|the political position|the campaign group|New Zealand Republic}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}

{{Politics of New Zealand |expanded=Ideology}}

{{Republicanism sidebar |expanded=By country}}

'''Republicanism in New Zealand''' is the political position that [[New Zealand]]'s system of government should be changed from a [[Monarchy of New Zealand|constitutional monarchy]] to a [[republic]].

New Zealand [[republicanism]] dates back to the 19th century, but it was only a fringe movement until the late 20th century. The main current republican lobby group, [[New Zealand Republic]], was established in 1994.

'''Republicanism in New Zealand''' is a movement to replace the country's current status as a [[Commonwealth realm]] and [[constitutional monarchy]] with that of a [[Commonwealth Republic]]. New Zealand public opinion is split between those who support the monarchy, and those who support a republic<ref name="republicpoll">A [[Sunday Star-Times]] poll, published 20 January 2006, revealed 47% support for a New Zealand republic, and 47% support for the monarchy.</ref>.

Contemporary republican debate in New Zealand focuses on the issues of [[constitutional reform]] and [[independence of New Zealand|New Zealand's independence]]. The matter of [[the Crown]]'s obligations under the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], and the [[Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements|treaty settlement process]], is cited as a constitutional issue for a New Zealand republic.<ref name="jb_rnz" /> Most proponents of a republic support a [[parliamentary republic]] with the [[head of state]] separate from the [[head of government]], with the head of state having limited power.

==The debate==

===Arguments for change===

Supporters of a republic generally divide their case for a republic between constitutional and symbolic reasons:

Because [[Constitution of New Zealand|New Zealand's constitution]] is uncodified, a republic could be enacted by [[statute]], as a simple [[New Zealand Parliament|act of parliament]].{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=314}} It is generally assumed that this would only occur following a nationwide [[referendum]].{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=315}} Several [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|prime ministers]] and [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governors-general]] have identified themselves as republicans, but no government has yet taken any meaningful steps towards enacting a republic.

'''Symbolic''' arguments include:

* New Zealand should have a New Zealander as its [[Head of state]];

* New Zealand should have a "resident for President";

* New Zealand needs to assert its independence and maturity to the world;

* New Zealand already maintains a [[de facto]] Head of state, the [[Governor General of New Zealand|Governor General]].

==History==

'''Constitutional''' arguments include:

The term "republic" in New Zealand has been used as a protest and a pejorative against the central government and/or royalty, to describe an area independent of the central government.

* The role and powers of the Head of state should be clarified;

* Because the Governor-General and Sovereign have little real power, they are not an effective check on the Parliamentary executive (the Prime Minister and Cabinet);

* The [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] should not have the power to dismiss the Governor-General at will<ref name="dismissal">The Prime Minister may advise the Queen to recall the Governor-General at any time, so long as the Prime Minister enjoys the support of the House of Representatives. The Queen is bound by convention to implement the advice of her Prime Minister.</ref>;

===19th century===

Many republicans believe that the notions of hereditary, primogeniture, sexual discrimination and religious discrimination inherent in the succession of the throne have no place in New Zealand's democratic and egalitarian society. They also emphasise that government devolves from the consent of the governed, not from an abstract concept such as "the Crown".

The first use of the term "republic" to connote an independent state in New Zealand came in 1840 when Lieutenant-Governor [[William Hobson]] described the [[New Zealand Company]] settlement of Port Nicholson ([[Wellington]]), which had its own constitution and governing council, as such.<ref name="hobson-republic">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HobsonWilliam/HobsonWilliam/en| title= Te Ara - William Hobson | access-date=2006-07-12}}</ref> The existence of the council prompted Hobson to declare British sovereignty over the entirety of New Zealand on 21 May 1840, despite the fact the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] was still being signed throughout the country.{{sfn|Hamer|1990|p=167}} Hobson dispatched the Colonial Secretary, [[Willoughby Shortland]] along with some soldiers to demand the settlers disband their "illegal association" and remove the flag of the [[United Tribes of New Zealand]].{{sfn|Hamer|1990|p=167}}

Later, Wellington became the centre of agitation by settlers for representative government, which was granted by the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]]. [[Samuel Revans]], who founded the [[Wellington Settlers' Constitutional Association]] in 1848, advocated a New Zealand republic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1R5|title=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - Samuel Revans|access-date=25 January 2010}}</ref>{{sfn|Hamer|1990|p=93}}

===Arguments against change===

In response, supporters of the [[Monarchy in New Zealand|monarchy in New Zealand]] say:

* "If it ain't broke, don't fix it": our current system works well; there is no need to change it. Constitutional monarchy is tried and proven system of government, some of the most politically stable nations in the world are constitutional monarchies; whereas some of the most unstable and repressive regimes have been republics.

* New Zealand is already an independent, sovereign nation;

* The monarch is Queen of New Zealand, not Queen of the United Kingdom;

* The monarch is "above politics" and is a symbol of national unity rather than division;

* The monarch costs New Zealand virtually nothing; there is only the cost of maintaining the Governor-General;

* The monarch has little real practical political powers and is a protector of and not a threat to democracy;

* The monarch protects the people of New Zealand from the excesses of Parliament;

* The monarch has served New Zealand well: providing leadership "above" politics, with great integrity and dedication to duty; and as a personal living symbol.

In 1879 the people of [[Hāwera]] declared themselves the "Republic of Hawera," due to a campaign by Māori leader [[Te Whiti o Rongomai|Te Whiti]] against European settlement.<ref name="Hawera">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HaweraRepublicOf/HaweraRepublicOf/en| title= Te Ara - Hawera, Republic of | access-date=2006-07-12}}</ref> They formed their own volunteer units to oppose Te Whiti. In 1881 government troops invaded [[Parihaka]] and arrested Te Whiti, bringing the "republic" to an end.

Some supporters of the monarchy defend hereditary selection of the Sovereign arguing that it is the most "natural" way to choose a non-partisan leader.

===20th century===

{{seealso|Independence of New Zealand}}

In the [[1911 New Zealand general election|1911 general election]] Colonel [[Allen Bell]], the [[Reform Party (New Zealand)|Reform Party]] candidate for the [[Raglan (New Zealand electorate)|Raglan]] seat, advocated the abolition of the monarchy. The armed forces considered that Bell had broken his Oath of Allegiance. He was asked to resign his commission, which he did in January 1912.<ref name="dnzb">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/DNZB/alt_essayBody.asp?essayID=3B24|title=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - Allen Bell|author=J. A. B. Crawford}}</ref>

In 1966 [[Bruce Jesson]] founded the [[Republican Association of New Zealand]], and later the [[New Zealand Republican Party (1967)|Republican Party]] in 1967. The party had a stridently nationalist platform.<ref name="republic_party">{{cite web|title=The way we were|author=Jonathan Milne|date=April 1996|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/node/29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725185928/http://www.republic.org.nz/node/29|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-07-25|access-date=2008-03-21}}</ref> Republican Party activity petered out after the [[1969 New Zealand general election|1969 general election]] and the party wound up in 1974.

==Constitutional Issues==

Were New Zealand to move towards becoming a republic, the change would occur with far more ease than in Australia. This is because New Zealand is a [[unitary state]] and has no written constitution, unlike Australia, where constitutional change must not only be approved in a referendum by a majority of voters, but also by a majority of states. New Zealand has made radical constitutional changes without difficulty in the past, such as the abolition of its [[New_Zealand_Legislative_Council#Abolition|upper house of parliament]] in [[1951]], the introduction of [[Electoral reform in New Zealand|proportional representation]] in [[1996]] and most recently the creation of the [[Supreme Court of New Zealand]] as the court of final appeal.

In May 1973, a remit was proposed at the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] national conference to change the flag, declare New Zealand a republic, and change the national anthem (then only "[[God Save the Queen]]"), but this was voted down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/John%20Moody.pdf|title=Past Attempts to Change New Zealand's Flag|author=John Moody|publisher=New Zealand Flag Association}}</ref>

{{seealso|New Zealand constitution}}

[[File:Jim Bolger ONZ 2018 (cropped).jpg|upright|thumb|Jim Bolger, Prime Minister 1990–1997 and leader of the National Party, raised the republic issue in 1994.]]

===The Treaty of Waitangi===

In March 1994 the [[New Zealand Republic|Republican Coalition of New Zealand]] was formed to promote the move to a republic. The following year, the Monarchist League of New Zealand (now [[Monarchy New Zealand]]) was established to defend the constitutional monarchy.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yang |first1=Unity Elias |title=Last Great Queen? |date=2014 |publisher=Author House |isbn=978-1-4918-9515-3 |page=192 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHtwAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA192 }}</ref>

{{Rquote|right| In strict legal terms, if New Zealand became a republic tomorrow it would make no difference to the Treaty of Waitangi. Speaking as a lawyer, it's a long-established principle that successive governments take on responsibility for previous agreements| Monarchist League Chairman Professor Noel Cox|<ref name="coxquote">''The People vs the Crown'', [[Sunday Star-Times]], May 30 2004</ref>}}

In 1994 [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Jim Bolger]] suggested to the [[44th New Zealand Parliament|44th Parliament]] in the [[Speech from the throne|Address In Reply]] debate that New Zealand should move to become a republic by 2001. Bolger stated that New Zealand's links with Britain were in decline, and that the country should acknowledge that "the tide of history is moving in one direction."<ref name="bolger_book">{{cite book|title=Bolger: A view from the top - my seven years as Prime Minister|author=Jim Bolger|publisher=Viking|year=1998|isbn=0-670-88369-7}}</ref> He denied that his views relate to his [[Irish New Zealanders|Irish heritage]].<ref name="bolger_book" />

Many [[Maori]] see the Crown as a guarantor of their legal rights under the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], which was an agreement signed between the Maori tribes and the British Crown, not with the New Zealand Government. Monarchists have thus frequently argued abolishing the monarchy would "complicate" Maori relations. In response, republicans have argued that the partner to the Treaty has changed before (from the monarch of the United Kingdom to the [[Queen of New Zealand]]), and thus the move to a republic would not change the status of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Bolger spoke to [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]] about the issue of New Zealand becoming a republic when he was prime minister and recalled "I have more than once spoken with Her Majesty about my view that New Zealand would at some point elect its own Head of State, we discussed the matter in a most sensible way and she was in no way surprised or alarmed and neither did she cut my head off."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10436441|title=Bolger told Queen monarchy's time numbered|author=Maggie Tait|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=2007-04-27|date=27 April 2007|archive-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111081401/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{seealso|Treaty of Waitangi}}

In 1998, Richard Nottage, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)|

===Models of a republic===

Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade]], called for New Zealand to consider becoming a republic, arguing that the position of the "British monarch" {{sic}} as head of state "looks strange in Asian eyes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/noelcox/New_Zealands_Monarchy.htm|title=National Business Review, 27 March 1998, cited by Noel Cox in ''Future of the Monarchy in New Zealand'' New Zealand Politics in Transition|author=Noel Cox|publisher=Oxford University Press, Auckland, 2001|access-date=2008-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022120220/http://geocities.com/noelcox/New_Zealands_Monarchy.htm|archive-date=2009-10-22}}</ref>

{{wikisource|Head of state (Referenda) Bill}}

There is no agreed model of how a New Zealand republic might be constituted. Under the ''Head of state (Referenda) Bill'', a member's Bill sponsored by [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] MP [[Keith Locke]], two models of a republic (along with the status quo) would be put to a referendum:

* Election of the Head of state indirectly by a super-majority (75%) of Members of Parliament, similar to the [[Bi-partisan appointment republican model|bi-partisan appointment model]] proposed in Australia;

* Election of the Head of state directly by the New Zealand electorate using the [[Single Transferable Vote]] electoral system.

Both models would make New Zealand a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[republic]], such as [[Germany]], [[Ireland]], [[Iceland]] or [[Malta]], rather than a [[Presidential system|Presidential]] republic such as the [[United States]] or [[France]]. Thus, the constitutional changes required would not be radical.

In 1999 the Republican Coalition relaunched itself as the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand, similar to the [[Australian Republican Movement]], due to the [[1999 Australian republic referendum]], and again renamed itself in 2014 as New Zealand Republic.{{sfn|Holden|2009|p=42}}

Other proposals have been mooted from time to time - such as appointment by a council consisting of members of the [[New Zealand Order of Merit]].

===21st century===

==Commonwealth membership==

Though becoming a republic does not automatically require a change to Commonwealth membership, [[Commonwealth Realm]]s that become republics must still obtain the permission of other members to remain in the organisation after becoming a republic. Though this is usually only a formality, any member(s) against the proposal can block the membership of a republican New Zealand in the Commonwealth. However, the rejection of membership is often due to racial policies (as with [[Apartheid]] [[South Africa]] in 1961, who did not re-apply for membership) pursued by the government, not republicanism. [[Fiji]] and the [[Maldives]] did not apply for continued membership after becoming republics, and thus lost their positions in the Commonewalth.

In November 2004, Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] announced the formation of a parliamentary committee of inquiry, the [[Constitution of New Zealand#Constitutional Arrangements Committee|Constitutional Arrangements Committee]], chaired by [[United Future New Zealand]] leader [[Peter Dunne]]. In its final report, the committee recommended wider education on the constitution and included a note on the republic issue, asking "Is the nature of New Zealand's head of state, as a monarch, appropriate to New Zealand's evolving national and constitutional identity?".<ref name="constinqconc">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/files/constitutional_review_2005.pdf|title=Final Report of the Constitutional Inquiry|date=11 August 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514164545/http://www.elections.org.nz/files/constitutional_review_2005.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2010}}</ref>

:''Further information: [[Commonwealth of Nations#Other termination|Commonwealth of Nations: Other termination]]''

{{Wikisource|Head of state (Referenda) Bill}}

==History==

[[Keith Locke]]'s Head of State Referenda Bill for a referendum on the republic issue was drawn from the members' ballot and introduced into Parliament on 14 October 2009.<ref name="order_paper">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7B3B73E3-47FC-456C-83D3-8BA19D6A5BAC/115528/00HOH20091015_orderpaper1.pdf|date=15 October 2009|title=Parliament of New Zealand Order Paper, Thursday 15 October 2009}}</ref> The bill focused on reforming the [[governor-general of New Zealand]] as a ceremonial head of state, creating a [[parliamentary republic]].<ref name="nzh_republic_bill">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=940393|title=Republic Bill near|access-date=2007-09-19|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|author=NZPA|date=21 February 2002|author-link=NZPA}}</ref> Two models of a republic along with the status quo would have been put to a referendum:

Traditionally, the term "republic" has been used in New Zealand to describe a sub-state independent of the central government. For example, residents of the tiny [[Taranaki]] town of [[Whangamomona]] declared their town a "republic" in 1989 to protest at the government's re-drawing of regional administrative boundaries.

* Election of the head of state indirectly by a [[supermajority]] of members of Parliament, similar to the [[Bi-partisan appointment republican model|bi-partisan appointment model]] proposed in Australia;

* Election of the head of state directly by the New Zealand electorate using the [[Single Transferable Vote]] electoral system, similar to [[President of Ireland|Ireland]].

On 21 April 2010 the bill was defeated at its first reading 53–68<ref>(21 April 2010) 662 [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/0/5/0/49HansD_20100421_00001343-Head-of-State-Referenda-Bill-First-Reading.htm ''New Zealand Parliamentary Debates''] 10373.</ref> with voting recorded as Ayes 53 being [[New Zealand Labour Party|New Zealand Labour]] 43; [[Green Party of New Zealand|Green Party]] 9; [[United Future]] 1 and Noes 68 being [[New Zealand National Party|New Zealand National]] 58; [[ACT New Zealand]] 5; [[Māori Party]] 4; [[Jim Anderton's Progressive Party|Progressive]] 1.

===19thThe century=debate==

The first use of the term "republic" to connate an independent state in New Zealand came in [[1840]] when Lieutenant Governor [[William Hobson]] described the [[New Zealand Company]] settlement of Port Nicholson ([[Wellington]]), which had its own governing council, as such <ref name="hobson-republic">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HobsonWilliam/HobsonWilliam/en| title= Te Ara - William Hobson | accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>. In [[1845]] Ngapuhi chief [[Hone Heke]], allegedly inspired by the [[United States of America]], cut down the flagpole flying the [[Union Jack]] at [[Kororareka]] in the [[Bay of Islands]]. Heke was disgruntled at what he saw as the British Crown's failure to honor the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], and he repeated this symbolic act of defiance three times, despite the armed resistance of British troops.

===Arguments for change===

In [[1867]] the [[Maori]] prophet [[Te_Whiti_o_Rongomai|Te Whiti]] founded the passive resistance village of [[Parihaka]] <ref name="Parihaka">{{cite web|url=http://www.history-nz.org/parihaka.html| title= History NZ - Parihaka | accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>, which has been variously described as a "republic"

Supporters of a New Zealand republic have said:

<ref name="Parihaka2">{{cite web|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/lib-arch.htm#Parihaka%20-%20New%20Zealand's%20First%20Republic?%20(December%201996)| title= Republican Movement - Parihaka - New Zealand's first republic?| accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>.

*New Zealand should have a New Zealander, or more correctly a New Zealand citizen resident in New Zealand, as its [[head of state]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/35255/new_zealanders_dismiss_becoming_a_republic|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720153821/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/35255/new_zealanders_dismiss_becoming_a_republic|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=New Zealanders Dismiss Becoming A Republic|publisher=Angus Reid Global Monitor}}</ref> a "resident for president";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/20100217|title=Nine to Noon&nbsp;– interview with Dean Knight|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]]|date=17 February 2010}}</ref>

*New Zealand needs to assert its independence, nationhood and maturity to the world;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://executive.govt.nz/96-99/minister/morris/youth-parliament/hansard/tuesday5.htm|title=Anna Davidson, Speech to Youth Parliament, 1999|access-date=17 April 2010|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063135/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*New Zealand's constitution—and indeed the attitudes of New Zealanders—are republican in their outlook.<ref name="colinjames">{{cite web|author=Colin James |title=The New Zealand Herald, 19&nbsp;February 2002 |url=http://www.colinjames.co.nz/herald/Herald_2002/Herald_column_02Feb19.htm |author-link=Colin James (journalist) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020606010738/http://www.colinjames.co.nz/herald/Herald_2002/Herald_column_02Feb19.htm |archive-date=6 June 2002 }}</ref>

*New Zealand already maintains the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor-general]]—who is described as a "virtual head of state".<ref name="Governors">{{Cite book|title=The Governors|author=Gavin McLean|page=50|publisher=Otago University Press|year=2006 |author-link=Gavin McLean}}</ref> The governor-general is a New Zealander and does everything the head of state should do;

*Because the [[sovereign]] and governor-general have little real power, they are not an effective check on the parliamentary executive (the prime minister and Cabinet), the argument that the sovereign or governor-general "denies power" to politicians and is politically neutral yet can fire a prime minister is contradictory;<ref name="fischer">{{cite news|url=http://www.republican.co.nz/Empire%20Strikes%20Back.html|title=Empire Strikes Back|date=19 August 2010|author=Geoff Fischer|work=The Republican}}</ref>

*An elected or appointed head of state would be a more effective check on the executive;

*A republic does not necessarily mean withdrawing from [[the Commonwealth]]. As of June 2022, 36 out of the 56 member states (65 per cent) are republics.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Commonwealth |url=https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-security/the-commonwealth/ |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=4 February 2023 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

*The prime minister should not have the power to dismiss the governor-general at will and vice versa.{{sfn|Holden|2009|p=23}}

Other republicans have focused on the principles of a monarchy: many disagree with the [[Hereditary monarchy|hereditary]] principle (based on a form of [[primogeniture]]) that determines [[Succession to the British throne|succession of the throne]]. They argue that in a modern and democratic society no one should be expected to defer to another simply because of their birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.republic.org.uk/What%20we%20want/In%20depth/The%20Case%20for%20a%20Republic/index.php|title=The case for a republic|publisher=[[Republic (political organisation)|Republic]]|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> Some assert that the hereditary monarch and unelected governor-general have no mandate to dismiss an elected government.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Cunningham|url=http://salient.org.nz/2010/03/royal-retreat-or-sovereign-sanctuary-the-monarchy-versus-republic-debate-in-new-zealand/|title=Royal retreat or sovereign sanctuary? The monarchy versus republic debate in New Zealand.|publisher=Salient|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref>

In 1879, [[Te_Whiti_o_Rongomai|Te Whiti]] and his followers launched a campaign of ploughing up European farms. Alarmed at the campaign against European settlement in [[Taranaki]], and the lack of government response to this campaign, the people of [[Hawera]] declared themselves to be the Republic of Hawera <ref name="Hawera">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HaweraRepublicOf/HaweraRepublicOf/en| title= Te Ara - Hawera, Republic of | accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref>, and formed their own volunteer units to oppose [[Te_Whiti_o_Rongomai|Te Whiti]]. The republic was superseded in [[1881]] when government troops invaded [[Parihaka]] and arrested [[Te_Whiti_o_Rongomai|Te Whiti]].

At the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] of October 2011, the leaders of the 16 [[Commonwealth realm]]s agreed that they would support change to their respective succession laws regarding male primogeniture, and allow the monarch to marry a Roman Catholic. The ban on Catholics from being the monarch would remain, because the monarch has to be in "Communion with the [[Church of England]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15492607|title=Girls equal in British throne succession|date=28 October 2011|access-date=28 November 2011|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

===20th century===

It was not until the [[1960s]] that republicanism resurfaced. Left-wing activist [[Bruce Jesson]] founded the anti-royal [[Republican Association of New Zealand|Republican Association]] in [[1966]], later moving to Auckland and forming a political party (the original [[New Zealand Republican Party (1967)|Republican Party]]) to push the republic issue in [[1967]]. The party had a stridently nationalist platform <ref name="republicparty">The way we were, Jonathan Milne, April 1996 [http://www.republic.org.nz/lib-arch.htm#The%20way%20we%20were source]</ref>, included in its ''Manifesto of the New Zealand Republic'' the desire to legalise all forms of drugs. Activity in the Republican Party soon petered out, and Jesson wound up the party in [[1974]]. He continued to publish a pro-republic broadsheet entitled ''The Republican'', although the topics covered related to general left-wing issues rather than republicanism per se. In [[1979]] the [[Mana_Motuhake|Mana Maori Motuhake]] Party included republicanism as part of its policy platform. However, the issue was never raised as Mana Maori Motuhake became a member of the [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance Party]].

===BolgerArguments initiatesagainst debatechange===

Supporters of the [[monarchy in New Zealand]] have said:

Despite the republic issue rising to prominence in neighbouring Australia in [[1992]], the republic debate was not initiated in New Zealand until [[1994]]. [[New_Zealand_National_Party|National]] [[Prime_Minister_of_New_Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[James_Bolger|Jim Bolger]] caused surprise by suggesting in his opening speech to the [[44th New Zealand Parliament|44th Parliament]] in the Address In Reply debate that [[New Zealand]] become a [[republic]]. Bolger claimed that New Zealand's traditional links with Britain were in decline, and that the country should acknowledge that "the tide of history is moving in one direction". [[Trevor Mallard]] interjected that "the Prime Minister has been reading [[Paul Keating]]'s speeches", to which Bolger retorted: "I do not read [[ Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] speeches" ([[Paul Keating]] was the pro-republican Prime Minister of Australia at the time).

*"Constitutional monarchy is tried and proven system of government, some of the most politically stable nations in the world are constitutional monarchies; whereas some of the most unstable and repressive regimes have been republics."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchy.org.nz/|title=Monarchy New Zealand - Monarchy for the 21st Century|access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> In the words of former Governor-General Sir [[Michael Hardie Boys]], "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".<ref name="ggsupport">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3610094| author=Jonathan Milne| title= Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald | access-date=2010-08-02| work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]| date=14 November 2004}}</ref>

*For New Zealand, "monarchy summarises the inheritance of a thousand years of constitutional government and our links with a glorious past,"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/mar/09/monarchy.tobymanhire|title=What the New Zealand press said about ...... Prince Charles|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=9 March 2005|access-date=23 September 2011|___location=London|first=Toby|last=Manhire}}</ref>

*New Zealand is already an independent, sovereign nation with a national identity of its own;<ref name="fischer" />

*The monarchy is a symbol of unity between New Zealand and the other Commonwealth realms that share the same person as monarch; part of a "global family".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchy.org.nz/shared.html|title=A shared monarchy|access-date=21 August 2010|publisher=[[Monarchy New Zealand]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204044847/http://www.monarchy.org.nz/shared.html|archive-date=4 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*The monarch is politically neutral and is a symbol of national unity rather than division;<ref name="fischer" />

*The monarch has "little real practical political powers and is a protector of and not a threat to democracy";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchy.org.nz/reserve.html|title=Emergency reserve powers|access-date=21 August 2010|publisher=Monarchy New Zealand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204045051/http://monarchy.org.nz/reserve.html|archive-date=4 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

*Hereditary selection of the sovereign is the "most natural" non-partisan way to choose a leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchy.org.nz/hereditary.html|title=Hereditary?|access-date=21 August 2010|publisher=Monarchy New Zealand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602120339/http://monarchy.org.nz/hereditary.html|archive-date=2 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cost===

The [[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New_Zealand|Republican Coalition of New Zealand]] was formed to promote the move to a republic as a response to the Prime Minister. The following year, the now defunct [[New Zealand Republican Party|Republican Party]] was established with the aim of creating a republic, along with the [[Monarchist League of New Zealand]] which was established to defend the constitutional monarchy.

Supporters of the monarchy have argued that it costs New Zealand taxpayers only a small outlay for royal engagements and tours, and the modest expenses of the governor-general's establishment. They state "[t]his figure is about one dollar per person per year", about $4.3 million per annum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchy.org.nz/cost.html|title=Cost of the Monarchy|publisher=Monarchy New Zealand|year=2009|access-date=2010-09-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204044924/http://www.monarchy.org.nz/cost.html|archive-date=4 December 2010}}</ref> An analysis by New Zealand Republic in 2010 wrote that the office of governor-general cost New Zealand taxpayers about $7.6 million in ongoing costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.republic.org.nz/defendingthemonarchy#cost|title=Defending the monarchy - the cost|publisher=[[New Zealand Republic]]|year=2010|access-date=2010-09-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501025508/http://www.republic.org.nz/defendingthemonarchy#cost|archive-date=1 May 2010}}</ref> They compared this cost to the [[president of Ireland]], a head of state of a country with a similar population size, who cost €3.4 million – NZ$6 million on the exchange rate at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00221.htm|title=Governor-General more expensive|date=20 May 2010|publisher=[[Scoop.co.nz]]|author=New Zealand Republic}}</ref> Monarchy New Zealand said that republicanism supporters arbitrarily inflated the costs on the governor-general, instead stating that the Irish President's cost was closer to NZ$12.8 million once the extra costs were included.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.monarchy.org.nz/images/documents/press/28%20October%202010.pdf |title= MONARCHY NEW ZEALAND CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF REPUBLICAN CHAIR |publisher=Monarchy New Zealand |date= 28 October 2010 |access-date= 19 July 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110722215545/http://www.monarchy.org.nz/images/documents/press/28%20October%202010.pdf |archive-date= 22 July 2011}}</ref>

==Public opinion==

However, public opinion did not respond to Bolger's call for a republic and most of Bolger's political opponents labelled the issue a distraction. Bolger's call came before the move to the [[New Zealand Parliament#Parliamentary elections|MMP electoral system]] in [[1996]] which created a certain trepidation for further reform that was not present in [[Australia]] at that time.

{| class="wikitable"

!Date

!Participants

!Firm

!Republic

!Monarchy

!Neutral/Undecided

!Lead

!Notes

|-

|6 February - 23 March 2023

|2,012

|[https://lordashcroftpolls.com/2023/05/uncharted-realms-the-future-of-the-monarchy-in-the-uk-and-around-the-world/#more-17010 Lord Ashcroft]

|34%

|{{no2|44%}}

|6%

|{{no2|10%}}

|

|-

|29 September – 6 October 2022

|1,016

|[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/battle-of-the-polls-internal-poll-has-labour-equal-with-national/N5U5D3MQYLJSHF7ZWPBBXZYYBM/ Talbot Mills]

|27%

|{{no2|38%}}

|36%

|{{no2|11%}}

|

|-

|17–21 September 2022

|not stated

|[https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/09/27/half-of-kiwis-say-no-to-aotearoa-becoming-a-republic-poll/ 1News Kantar]

|27%

|{{no|50%}}

|23%

|{{no|23%}}

|Not stated if weighed

|-

|November 2021

|not stated

|[https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/11/20/third-of-kiwis-want-nz-republic-47-favour-keeping-monarchy/ 1News Kantar]

|33%

|{{no2|47%}}

|20%

|{{no2|14%}}

|Not stated if weighed

|-

|22–26 October 2020

|1,003

|[https://researchnz.com/assets/resources/NationalIdentity.pdf Research New Zealand]

|20%

|{{no2|44%}}

|36%

|{{no|24%}}

|Online poll

|-

|8–24 April 2019

|1,000

|[http://www.republic.org.nz/latestblog/2019/5/15/media-release-opinion-poll-new-zealanders-want-a-new-zealand-head-of-state Curia]

|{{yes|55%}}

|39%

|6%

|{{yes2|11%}}

|Non-standard question

|-

|26 November – 3 December 2008

|500

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100513093139/http://www.researchnz.com/pdf/Media%20Releases/RNZ%20Media%20Release%20-%2022-08-08%20Kiwis%20divided%20over%20monarchy.pdf Research New Zealand]

|42%

|{{no2|48%}}

|9%

|{{no2|6%}}

|Non-standard question

|}

{{As of|2010}}, the New Zealand public were generally in favour of the retention of the monarchy, with polls showing it to have between 50 and 70 per cent support.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.nzes.org |title=NZES data, 1990 - 2008 |publisher=New Zealand Election Study |access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> Polls indicate that many New Zealanders see the monarchy as being of little day-to-day relevance; a [[1News|One News]]/[[Colmar Brunton]] poll in 2002 found that 58 per cent of the population believed the monarchy has little or no relevance to their lives.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 February 2002 |title=NZ premier denies royal snub |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1837083.stm |access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref> ''[[National Business Review]]'' poll in 2004 found 57 per cent of respondents believed New Zealand would become a republic "in the future".<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 August 2004 |title=New Zealanders Resigned to Their Fate |work=[[National Business Review]]}}</ref>

The institution still enjoys the support of New Zealanders, particularly those born before [[World War II]]. Some show a majority of younger New Zealanders support a republic.<ref name="researchnz_2008">{{Cite book |url=http://www.researchnz.com/pdf/Media%20Releases/RNZ%20Media%20Release%20-%2022-08-08%20Kiwis%20divided%20over%20monarchy.pdf |title=Kiwis Divided Over Monarchy |date=23 December 2008 |publisher=Research NZ |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513093139/http://www.researchnz.com/pdf/Media%20Releases/RNZ%20Media%20Release%20-%2022-08-08%20Kiwis%20divided%20over%20monarchy.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> With the approval of the current monarch, and the position of the Treaty of Waitangi under a republic remaining a concern to Māori and other New Zealanders alike, as well as the question of what constitutional form a republic might take unresolved, support for becoming a republic is still the view of around a third to 40 per cent of the population.<ref name="researchnz_2008" /> On 21 April 2008, New Zealand Republic released a poll of New Zealanders showing 43 per cent support the monarchy should [[Charles, Prince of Wales|the Prince of Wales]] become King of New Zealand, and 41 per cent support a republic under the same scenario.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 April 2008 |title=Opinion divided on NZ becoming republic |publisher=TV3 |url=http://www.tv3.co.nz/OpiniondividedonNZbecomingrepublic/tabid/209/articleID/53205/cat/41/Default.aspx |access-date=21 April 2008}}</ref> A poll by ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' in January 2010, before a visit by [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince William]] to the country found 33.3 per cent wanted The Prince of Wales to be the next monarch, with 30.2 per cent favouring Prince William. 29.4 per cent of respondents preferred a republic in the event Elizabeth II died or abdicated.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kara Segedin |date=19 January 2010 |title=Charles and William evens for throne |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/royalty/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500905&objectid=10620934 |access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>

Another factor is that whereas Australia has large populations of [[Ireland|Irish]] [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] and [[Mediterranean Europe]]an descent, most ''Pakeha'' (New Zealanders of European origin) are of British descent. However, [[James Bolger|Jim Bolger]] was the son of Irish immigrants, and as in Australia, people of British origin are not united on the issue, with many regarding the monarchy as an irrelevance or an anachronism. Bolger since has denied that his views relate to his Irish heritage. His government ended the awarding of [[British honours system|British honours]] in New Zealand, introducing a [[New Zealand Honours System]]. However, Bolger's successor, [[Jenny Shipley]], did not share his enthusiasm for republicanism. Shipley noted during a visit in [[1999]] of the Princess Royal, "I am an unashamed royal supporter, along with many New Zealanders."

An October 2011 survey of 500 business professionals asked "What Is Your Level Of Support For New Zealand Becoming A Republic?". 27 per cent said not at all, 24 per cent said somewhat opposed, 23.1 per cent were neutral, 14.8 per cent said moderately in favour and 11.1 per cent said strongly in favour.<ref name="sacred_cows">{{Cite web |date=17 October 2011 |title=The Main Report Sacred Cows Survey Results |url=http://www.themainreport.co.nz/home/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/sacred-cows-survey-results.pdf |access-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=The Main Report}}</ref>

===1999 Australian referendum===

In [[1999]], the Republican Coalition of New Zealand relaunched itself as the [[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand|Republican Movement]], similar to the [[Australian Republican Movement]] to take advantage of increased coverage the issue was getting as a result of the [[1999 Australian republic referendum|Australian republic referendum]], although it received relatively little media coverage in New Zealand. However, during the campaign Richard Nottage, the outgoing Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, took the unusual step of calling for New Zealand to consider becoming a republic.

On the eve of a royal tour by [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] (later [[King Charles III]]), and [[Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall]], in November 2012, a ONE News/Colmar Brunton poll reported 70 per cent of people questioned responded they wanted to keep the Queen as head of state, while 19 percent supported New Zealand becoming a republic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2012 |title=Prince Charles and Camilla arrive in New Zealand |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/monarchy-reigns-ahead-royal-arrival-5208394 |access-date=12 November 2012 |website=TVNZ One News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2012 |title=One News 10 November 2012 |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/one-news/2012-11-10-video-5208659}}</ref> Following the tour, a different poll by Curia Market Research commissioned by New Zealand Republic found 51 per cent of respondents wanted Charles as King once the Queen's reign ends, while 41 per cent supported a republic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2012 |title=Poll finds Prince Charles' popularity unchanged by visit |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/poll-finds-prince-charles-popularity-unchanged-visit-5298327 |publisher=[[TVNZ]]}}</ref>

{{seealso|1999 Australian republic referendum}}

On 17 July 2013, a televised debate on TV3's ''The Vote'' held three polls, two separate votes by the studio audience at the start and end of the programme, and one via Twitter, Facebook, web and text voting, on the question "Should we ditch the Royals?" The first studio audience vote before the show was 43 per cent yes, and the second after the show was 65 per cent, while the public vote result was 41 per cent yes and 59 per cent no.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Vote: Should we ditch the royals? |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/The-Vote-Should-we-ditch-the-royals/tabid/1789/articleID/305337/Default.aspx |publisher=TV3}}</ref>

==Recent developments==

The election of the present [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]]-led government in [[1999]] under [[Helen Clark]] has seen a number of alleged moves to a republic, such as the abolition of appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]].

From 8 to 24 April 2019, a nationwide poll of 1,000 randomly-selected voting-age New Zealanders was conducted, which showed that 55 per cent of New Zealanders want a New Zealander as the country's next head of state, while 39 per cent want the next British monarch. Support for a New Zealander being the country's next head of state was recorded strongest among [[Māori people|Māori]] respondents, with 80 per cent in support, and respondents aged 18–30, with 76 per cent in support.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2019 |title=Media release: Opinion Poll - Majority of New Zealanders want a New Zealand head of state |url=http://www.republic.org.nz/latestblog/2019/5/15/media-release-opinion-poll-new-zealanders-want-a-new-zealand-head-of-state |access-date=25 May 2019 |website=New Zealand Republic}}</ref>

===New Zealand Honours===

The [[New Zealand Honours System]] previously awarded Knighthoods and Damehoods, but these were removed in [[2000]]. A poll conducted by the ''[[National Business Review]]''<ref name="poll-honours">[[National Business Review]], March 24 2000</ref> in February 2000 revealed that 54% of New Zealanders thought the titles should be scrapped. Technically, New Zealanders could still receive a Knighthood and Damehood directly from the Queen.

Following the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]], an online poll of 1,003 New Zealanders aged eighteen and over found that 20 per cent agreed that "New Zealand should become a republic", with 36 per cent of the respondents remaining neutral and 44 per cent disagreeing outright. The poll also found that 19 per cent wanted to change the national flag, and ten per cent wanted to change the country's name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2020 |title=Media release: Research New Zealand poll on NZ National Identity |url=https://researchnz.com/assets/resources/NationalIdentity.pdf |access-date=11 November 2020 |website=Research New Zealand}}</ref>

===Supreme Court===

In [[1996]], the Bolger government proposed to end the status of the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]] as the country's highest court of appeal. This policy was the same as that of the previous [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] government. Upon the re-election of the current [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] government in [[New_Zealand_general_election_2002|2002]], as part of that party's manifesto, the government introduced legislation to abolish appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]]. In [[2003]] the law was passed, despite calls from [[New Zealand First]], [[New Zealand National Party|National]] and [[ACT New Zealand|ACT]] for a referendum to be called on the issue. Appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]] were replaced by appeals to the new [[Supreme Court of New Zealand]] from [[1 July]] [[2004]]. There is no link between abolition of appeals to the Privy Council and the possibility of New Zealand becoming a republic. However, some advocates of abolition were motivated by republican sentiment.

A ''[[1News]]''/[[Kantar]] poll conducted shortly after the [[death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|death of Queen Elizabeth]] in September 2022 found increased support for the monarchy: 50 per cent of respondents wanted to retain the monarch, with 27 per cent supporting a republic.<ref>{{cite news |title=Half of Kiwis say no to Aotearoa becoming a republic – poll |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/09/27/half-of-kiwis-say-no-to-aotearoa-becoming-a-republic-poll/ |date=27 September 2022 |access-date=5 February 2023 |work=1 News |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

===Constitutional Inquiry===

In November [[2004]], Prime Minister Clark announced the formation of a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the constitution, chaired by [[United Future New Zealand|United Future]] leader [[Peter Dunne]]. Both the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] and [[New Zealand First]] refused to participate, however, calling the committee a "political stunt", accusing the Prime Minister of using the inquiry as a distraction from the subject of the "grievance industry" of Maori land claims under the Treaty of Waitangi. Dunne has said that he supports New Zealand becoming a republic. In its final report, the committee recommended wider education on the constitution.

===ReplacementPolitical ofparty Queen's Counselpositions===

{{As of|2013|}}, three [[Political parties in New Zealand|political parties]] with members in New Zealand's parliament had a policy of holding a binding referendum on the republic issue.<ref name="labour_policy">{{Cite news |last=Steve Kilgallon |date=3 November 2013 |title=Labour agrees vote on Queen |work=[[The Sunday Star-Times]] |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9356094/Labour-agrees-vote-on-Queen |access-date=2016-10-20}}</ref>

{{Rquote|right|[The renaming has] been done as part of the move by certain members of the Government to remove references to the monarchy, without having a popular mandate to do so|The Monarchist League of New Zealand|<ref name="mlqcquote">[[Monarchist League of New Zealand]] [http://www.geocities.com/cox_nz/180306.htm Press release] 18 March 2006</ref>}}

====Labour====

In March [[2006]] Parliament passed the ''Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill'' which, among other things, replaced the title of [[Queen's Counsel]], given to senior [[barrister]]s, with that of [[Senior Counsel]]. These changes have already occurred in Australia, where they have been criticised by supporters of the status quo as "republicanism by stealth".

The [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] adopted a policy of holding a binding referendum on the issue at their 2013 conference.<ref name="labour_policy" /> Then-leader [[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]] supported a New Zealand republic, saying "when it comes to our constitutional arrangements in New Zealand I have a firm view that our head of state should come from New Zealand."<ref name="andrew-little-quote">{{Cite news |title=Andrew Little not 'fan-girling' birth of royal baby |work=TVNZ |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/andrew-little-not-fan-girling-birth-of-royal-baby-6306134.html |url-status=dead |access-date=30 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820145232/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/andrew-little-not-fan-girling-birth-of-royal-baby-6306134.html |archive-date=20 August 2015}}</ref> Former Labour Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]] states that she is a republican, and that she would "encourage national debate over cutting ties with the royal family".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasha-Robinson |first=Lucy |date=7 September 2017 |title=Jacinda Ardern: Politician likely to become New Zealand's next PM wants to ditch the Queen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-prime-minister-next-pm-republican-queen-elizabeth-a7934086.html |access-date=11 November 2019 |website=Independent.co.uk}}</ref>

In response the Republican Movement noted <ref name="rmqcquote">[[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]] [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00157.htm Press release] 18 March 2006</ref> that the change is simply to acknowledge the independence of such lawyers, who are often called upon to investigate matters for the government.

In 2002, Labour Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] stated:

===Modernisation of Oaths===

:"…the idea of a nation such as New Zealand being ruled by a head of state some 20,000&nbsp;km away is absurd. It is inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic. It is just a matter of when the New Zealand people are bothered enough to talk about it – it could be 10 years, or it could be 20 years, but it will happen."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bates |first=Stephen |date=22 February 2002 |title=Republican pledge greets Queen |work=The Guardian |___location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/22/jubilee.monarchy |access-date=1 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="clarkrepublic">{{Cite news |date=23 February 2002 |title=Clark - republic "inevitable" |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]]}}</ref>

In May [[2004]] the Minister of Justice, [[Phil Goff]], announced a review of New Zealand's Oaths and affirmations. The review suggested that New Zealand could follow the experience of Australia by removing references to the Queen from the Oaths. The Monarchist League called the change 'republicanism by stealth'. In response, the Republican Movement argued that removing references to the Queen was not 'republicanism by stealth' but simply reflected New Zealanders' contemporary values <ref name="rmoathquote">[[Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]] [http://www.republic.org.nz/mr040218.htm Press release] 18 February 2004</ref>. One year after the review was announced, Phil Goff released the new forms the Oaths were to take, with references to the Queen being retained, and the Oaths Modernisation Bill was introduced into [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]].

Then-Deputy Prime Minister [[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]] declared that he supported the monarchy, stating in 2004 he was "a sort of token monarchist in the Cabinet these days."<ref name="quotecullen">{{Cite book |title=Daily Hansard: Clerk of the House of Representatives |date=16 December 2004 |publisher=Clerk of the House of Representatives}}</ref> In 2010 he repudiated that stance, taking the view that New Zealand should move towards a republic once the Queen's reign ends.<ref name="cullen_2">{{Cite news |date=29 August 2010 |title=Cullen: New Zealand should be republic |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald#Herald on Sunday|Herald on Sunday]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10669598 |access-date=2010-08-29}}</ref> Former Prime Minister [[David Lange]] expressed support for a New Zealand republic, stating: "Do such things matter? They certainly do. We suffer in this country from a lack of emotional focus... New Zealand will become a republic just as Britain will be blurred into Europe".<ref name="cuttings">{{Cite book |last=David Lange |title=Cuttings - God Save Us All |date=18 July 1994 |publisher=Jonathan Hudson & Associates |isbn=0-473-02953-7}}</ref>

In 2023, Prime Minister [[Chris Hipkins]] stated that although he favoured a republic, he did not intend to pursue New Zealand becoming a republic during his premiership: "Ideally, in time, New Zealand will become a fully independent country, will stand on our own two feet in the world, as we by and large do now ... I don’t think that swapping out the governor general for some other form of head of state is necessarily an urgent priority right now, though."<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClure |first=Tess |date=1 May 2023 |title=New Zealand will 'ideally' become a republic one day, says Chris Hipkins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/01/new-zealand-will-ideally-become-a-republic-one-day-says-chris-hipkins |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

After passing its first reading and going to the Government Administration Committee, the Bill is currently waiting to be voted on for its second reading.

====National====

{{seealso|Oath of Allegiance (New Zealand)}}

The [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]]'s constitution specifies that the party's visions and values include "Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles and our Sovereign as Head of State". In 2001, a constitutional policy task force recommended holding a referendum on the monarchy after the reign of Queen Elizabeth came to an end, along with referendums on the future of the [[Māori seats]] and the number of MPs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 April 2001 |title=National to debate policy proposals |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425825/37476 |publisher=[[TVNZ]]}}</ref> Only the policy on Māori seats was passed by the party's regional conferences. Former MPs [[John Carter (New Zealand politician)|John Carter]], and [[Wayne Mapp]] and [[Richard Worth]] have been among the most vocal supporters of the monarchy within the party. At the 2011 elections, former Chair of [[Monarchy New Zealand]] [[Simon O'Connor]] was elected as MP for Tamaki and his Deputy [[Paul Foster-Bell]] was later elected a List MP in 2013 and both were re-elected at the 2014 election.

At the 2014 election the former Chair of New Zealand Republic, Lewis Holden, was nominated as candidate for the Rimutaka electorate but failed to enter Parliament with incumbent Labour MP [[Chris Hipkins]] retaining the electorate, and Holden holding a list ranking too low (at 66 on the National list) to enter parliament. Among the 2014 caucus of new National Members of Parliament, a number of portraits of the Queen have been placed in their Wellington offices through an initiative led by Monarchy New Zealand. In 2009, former Prime Minister [[John Key]] said he was "not convinced it [a republic] will be a big issue in the short term",<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2008 |title=Strong backing for MMP referendum |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1866364 |access-date=2008-07-13 |publisher=[[TVNZ]]}}</ref> but that he thinks a republic is "inevitable"; since this statement he has affirmed his support for the monarchy and made it clear that while he was prime minister a republic would not happen "on his watch".<ref name="johnkey2">{{Cite news |date=1 September 2008 |title=Key knocking on door of government |work=[[Financial Times]] |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4cc53226-77bc-11dd-be24-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1 |access-date=2008-09-04}}</ref>

==Support for a republic==

{{Rquote|right|Royalty runs against the grain for many New Zealanders. The Kiwi way is to treat everyone the same. It’s not in our nature to glorify someone just because they have the right Mum or Dad.| Green MP [[Keith Locke]]|<ref name="lockequote">''Why Prince Charles Should not be King'', [[Sunday News]], 13 March 2005 [http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/other9114.html source]</ref>}}

Most polls on the republic issue show that the New Zealand public supports by a majority the status quo. There is, however, a trend of increasing support for a republic. Generally, more younger New Zealanders tend to support a republic over the monarchy, whereas the reverse is true for older New Zealanders. Ethnically, more [[Maori]] support a republic than [[Pakeha]]<ref name="poll1">A [[New Zealand Herald]] poll, published 26 December 2000 showed 62% of support for a republic amongst Maori, as opposed to 41% of support for a republic from Pakeha</ref>, despite concerns over the Treaty of Waitangi. These polls may be misleading, however, as there has been little debate on the issue to date.

===Current party political positions===

None of the major [[Political parties in New Zealand|political parties]] currently in [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] have a policy of creating a republic. The [[New_Zealand National Party|National Party]]'s constitution specifies that the Party desires "Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles and our Sovereign as Head of State". However, a vote to remove reference to the Sovereign was held in April [[2003]] as part of the party's constitutional conference. It was not however motivated by republicanism, but rather as part of a reduction of the core principles of the party. It was defeated by only three votes, with over 200 members of the party voting. National MPs [[Richard Worth]] and [[Wayne Mapp]] have been some of the most vocal members of their party to defend the monarchy.

====Green====

Similarly, the socially conservative [[New Zealand First]] party and the [[ACT]] party generally oppose moves toward a republic, whereas support for a republic appears to be strongest amongst the supporters of the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]], though it is not the party's policy. For some years Green MP [[Keith Locke]] has had a [[Private Member's Bill]] waiting to be drawn from ballot on the issue.

Support for a republic is strongest amongst the supporters of the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]], and it is party policy to support a "democratic and participatory process, such as referenda".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full Policy - Constitutional Reform |url=https://www.greens.org.nz/policy/constitutional-reform |access-date=4 November 2013 |publisher=[[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand]]}}</ref> Former Green MP [[Keith Locke]] had a [[member's bill]] drawn on the issue, the Head of State Referenda Bill, for a referendum on the issue, but it was voted down at its first reading in parliament in 2009.<ref>{{Citation |last=House of Representatives |title=Order Paper |date=15 October 2009 |volume=71 |publisher=[[Parliamentary Counsel Office (New Zealand)]]}}</ref>

====Minor parties====

Support for a republic is fairly strong within the governing [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]]. Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] has previously expressed her support for a republic, stating that she thinks a republic is "inevitable" and describing the role of the monarchy as "antiquated". Critics of Clark's government have often derided her support for a republic, claiming that the Prime Minister desires to be "President Helen"<ref name="clarkrepublic2">'President Helen' in the Huskings, [[The New Zealand Herald|New Zealand Herald]] editorial, 29 March 2005</ref> should New Zealand become a republic.

During a debate for the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 election]], [[John Tamihere]] of the [[Māori Party]] voiced support for New Zealand to become a republic after the death of Queen Elizabeth (which had not then occurred), saying, "it's about time". [[Winston Peters]] of [[New Zealand First]] stated that the question of a republic should be resolved through a two-step referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-08 |title=John Tamihere wants New Zealand to become a republic once the Queen dies |work=1 News |publisher=TVNZ |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/john-tamihere-wants-new-zealand-become-republic-once-queen-dies-v1 |access-date=2020-10-10}}</ref>

Former [[United Future New Zealand]] leader [[Peter Dunne]] is a supporter of a New Zealand republic. The party had a policy of "a public education process on constitutional matters, leading towards consideration of New Zealand as a republic within the Commonwealth in the future."<ref name="ufnz_policy">{{Cite web |title=United Future New Zealand - Constitution Policy |url=http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/default,75,constitution.sm |access-date=4 November 2013 |publisher=[[United Future New Zealand]]}}</ref>

Former Governor-General Dame [[Catherine Tizard]] has said publicly that the monarch should be replaced by a New Zealand head of state and Sir [[Paul Reeves]] has indicated that he would not oppose a republic. Sir Paul has since indicated that he did not wish to become involved in any debate on the matter. However another former Governor-General, Sir [[Michael Hardie Boys]], has supported the status quo.

===Governors-general===

Outside of Parliament, a republic is opposed by [[Christian Heritage New Zealand]],which states in its policy information that it would "[r]etain New Zealand’s position as a constitutional monarchy and oppose any moves to make New Zealand a republic". <ref name="chppolicy">{{cite web|url=http://www.chp.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=40| title= Christian Heritage New Zealand: Policy | accessdate=2006-07-21}}</ref> The small [[Libertarianz|Libertarianz Party]] produced a written constitution seeking a "Republic of New Freeland" to replace the constitutional monarchy.

In 2004 former Governor-General Dame [[Catherine Tizard]] said publicly that the monarch should be replaced by a New Zealand head of state. Her predecessor, Sir [[Paul Reeves]] has stated that he would not oppose a republic. Sir Michael Hardie Boys has supported the status quo.<ref name="ggsupport" /> On 29 July 2006, outgoing Governor-General Dame [[Silvia Cartwright]] stated she had no views as to whether New Zealand becomes a republic, noting: "We often overlook the intense loyalty and love the Māori people have for the Queen – probably more intense than many people of European descent. This is a history that's never going to die."<ref name="cartquote">{{Cite news |last=Carroll du Chateau |date=29 July 2006 |title=Dame Silvia Cartwright's majestic presence: New Zealand Herald |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10393582 |access-date=2006-09-11}}</ref>

==Constitutional issues==

In April [[2005]] [[The Republic of New Zealand Party]] was founded by [[Kerry Bevin]] with the specific aim of creating a New Zealand Republic. The previous Republican Party of New Zealand had been dissolved in 2000 after having failed to obtain any seats in Parliament.

{{See also|Constitution of New Zealand}}

New Zealand is a [[unitary state]] and does not have a [[Codification (law)|codified]], entrenched constitution. Some have argued New Zealand is a ''de facto'' republic.<ref name="clarkrepublic" /><ref name="hos_first_reading">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/mi-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/0/1/7/49HansD_20100421_00001343-Head-of-State-Referenda-Bill-First-Reading.htm|title=Head of State Referenda Bill – First Reading|date=21 April 2010|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]}}</ref> New Zealand has made constitutional changes without difficulty in the past, such as the abolition of its [[New Zealand Legislative Council#Abolition|upper house of parliament]] in 1951, the introduction of [[Electoral reform in New Zealand|proportional representation]] in 1996 and most recently the creation of the [[Supreme Court of New Zealand]] as the court of final appeal. Legal academics have espoused the view that the legal changes required for a republic are not complex.<ref name="jb_rnz">{{cite book|author=FM (Jock) Brookfield|title=Republican New Zealand: Legal Aspects and Consequences|year=1995|publisher=New Zealand Law Review|page=310}}</ref><ref name="bh_rnz">{{cite book|author=Bruce Harris|title=The Constitutional Future of New Zealand|year=2004|publisher=New Zealand Law Review|page=267}}</ref><ref name="building_const">{{Cite book|title=Building The Constitution|editor=Colin James|year=2000|publisher=Institute of Policy Studies, [[Victoria University of Wellington]]|page=269|editor-link=Colin James (journalist)}}</ref><ref name="stockley">{{Cite book|author=Andrew Stockley |title=Republicanism in New Zealand|publisher=Dunmore Press|year=1996|page=119}}</ref> Some have argued that the changes required are less radical than the [[Electoral reform in New Zealand|move to MMP]] in 1996.<ref name="stockley_mmp">{{cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/1998/11.html|title=Of Conventions and Constitutional Change: Lessons for New Zealand|access-date=25 January 2010|year=1998|publisher=UNSWLawJl 11; (1998) 21(3) - University of New South Wales Law Journal 936|author=Dr Andrew Stockley|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105203212/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/1998/11.html|archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref>

===Type of republic===

Most proponents of a republic, such as Sir [[Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]] and Andrew Butler, support a [[parliamentary republic]], that is, a republic where the head of state and head of government are kept separate.{{sfn|Palmer|Butler|2016|p=256}} Alison Quentin-Baxter and Janet McLean argue that republican advocates in New Zealand show "...a strong preference for constitutions based on the parliamentary system of government as being a more stable basis for democratic government than those based on a presidential system."{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=312}} A head of state in such a system would have the same [[reserve powers]] as the sovereign and governor-general.{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=314}}{{sfn|Knight|2011|p=107}}

===Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi===

{{main|Treaty of Waitangi}}

The [[Treaty of Waitangi]] ({{langx|mi|Te Tiriti o Waitangi}}) is an agreement signed between [[Iwi|Māori tribe]]s and representatives of the British Crown, signed in 1840. Because of the relationship between Māori and the Crown, the Treaty of Waitangi is often cited as a constitutional issue for a New Zealand republic.<ref name="jb_rnz" /> Some academics expressed concern that governments could use republicanism to evade treaty responsibilities.<ref>{{Cite book| title=Republicanism in New Zealand| last=Tunks| first=Andrea| editor-last=Trainor| editor-first=Luke| page=117| publisher=Dunmore Press| ___location=Palmerston North| isbn=978-0-86469-256-6| year=1996}}</ref> With the division of the Crown between the United Kingdom and New Zealand following the passing of the [[Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947]],{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=65}} the "Crown in Right of New Zealand" became party to the Treaty.{{sfn|Quentin-Baxter|McLean|2017|p=333}} Legal academics state that the Treaty would be unaffected by New Zealand becoming a republic, as the new head of state would inherit the Crown's responsibilities. In 2004, Professor Noel Cox argued "In strict legal terms, if New Zealand became a republic tomorrow it would make no difference to the Treaty of Waitangi. Speaking as a lawyer, it's a long-established principle that successive governments take on responsibility for previous agreements."<ref name="cox_treaty">{{cite news|title=The People vs the Crown|author=Jonathan Milne|work=[[The Sunday Star-Times]]|date=30 May 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/1998/11.html|title="Of Conventions and Constitutional Change: Lessons for New Zealand" [1998] UNSWLawJl 11; (1998) 21(3) University of New South Wales Law Journal 936|publisher=University of New South Wales Law Journal|author=Dr Andrew Stockley|year=1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105203212/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/1998/11.html|archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref>

===Realm of New Zealand===

The [[Realm of New Zealand]] consists of New Zealand proper and two states in free association, [[Niue]] and the [[Cook Islands]]. Should New Zealand become a republic, the Realm of New Zealand would continue to exist without New Zealand, the Ross Dependency and [[Tokelau]].<ref name="dominion_status">{{cite book|author=David McIntyre|title= The Strange Death of Dominion Status|publisher=Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History|year=1999|pages= 193, 196}}</ref> This would not be a legal hurdle to a New Zealand republic,<ref name="realm_status">{{cite web |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/nz/journals/VUWLRev/2003/34.html |title=The Strange Death of the Realm of New Zealand: The Implications of a New Zealand Republic for the Cook Islands and Niue by Andrew Townend (2003) VUWLRev 34 |access-date=2006-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426092605/http://www.austlii.edu.au/nz/journals/VUWLRev/2003/34.html |archive-date=26 April 2009}}</ref> and both the Cook Islands and Niue would retain their status as associated states with New Zealand, as New Zealand shares its head of state with the Cook Islands and Niue in the same way the United Kingdom shares its head of state with the other [[Commonwealth realm]]s.

==Commonwealth membership==

{{See also|Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations}}

Following the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007]], the Kampala Communiqué stated "Heads of Government also agreed that, where an existing member changes its formal constitutional status, it should not have to reapply for Commonwealth membership provided that it continues to meet all the criteria for membership."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/CHOGM_2007_Communique.pdf|title=Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Kampala, Uganda|publisher=[[International Trade Union Confederation]]|date=23-25 November 2007|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref>

==See also==

{{Portal|New Zealand|Politics}}

* [[New Zealand constitution|Constitution of New Zealand]]

* [[IndependenceConstitution of New Zealand]]

* [[Republican MovementIndependence of Aotearoa New Zealand]]

* [[Monarchist League of New Zealand flag debate]], a related issue

* [[Republicanism in Australia]]

* [[Republicanism in Canada]]

* [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom]]

* [[Australian Republican Movement]]

* [[Australians for Constitutional Monarchy]]

*[[Commonwealth Realm]]

*[[Commonwealth Republic]]

;Lobby groups

==External links==

*[[New Zealand Republic]]

* [http://www.geocities.com/cox_nz/ The Monarchist League of New Zealand]

*[[Monarchy New Zealand]]

* [http://www.republic.org.nz/ The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand]

;Former political parties

* [http://www.sirhumphreys.com/wiki/New_Zealanders_in_the_republic_debate TopSpin: New Zealanders in the republic debate]

*[[New Zealand Republican Party (1967)]]

* [http://www.headofstate.org.nz/ Head of State]: Website supporting [[Keith Locke]]'s Head of state (Referenda) Bill

*[[New Zealand Republican Party (1995)]]

* [http://www.freeradical.co.nz/content/constitution/preamble.php A Constitution for New Freeland] A proposed constitution by the [[Libertarianz]] Party for a "New Freeland" republic.

*[[The Republic of New Zealand Party]]

==References==

===Citations===

<div class="references-small">

{{Reflist}}

<references/>

===Bibliography===

</div>

{{refbegin}}

*{{Cite book| last=Cox| first=Noel| title=A Constitutional History of the New Zealand Monarchy: The evolution of the New Zealand monarchy and the recognition of an autochthonous polity| publisher=V.D.M. Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. K.G.| year=2008| ___location=[[Saarbrücken]]| isbn=978-3-639-00877-7| ref=CITEREF_COX_2008}}

*{{Cite book| last=Holden| first=Lewis| title=The New Zealand Republic Handbook - a guide to creating the New Zealand republic| publisher=New Zealand Republic| year=2009| ___location=[[Auckland]]| url=http://www.republic.org.nz/republichandbook| isbn=978-0-473-15257-4}}

* {{cite book |author-link1=Alison Quentin-Baxter|last1=Quentin-Baxter |first1=Alison |last2=McLean |first2=Janet |title=This Realm of New Zealand: The Sovereign, the Governor-General, the Crown|url=http://www.press.auckland.ac.nz/en/browse-books/all-books/books-2017/this-realm-of-new-zealand--the-sovereign--the-governor-general--.html|date=2017 |publisher=Auckland University Press |isbn=978-1-869-40875-6}}

* {{cite book|last=Hamer|first=D.A.|title=The Making of Wellington, 1800-1914|publisher=Victoria University Press|date=1990|isbn=978-0864732002}}

* {{cite book|last=Knight|first=Dean R.|chapter=Patriating Our Head of State: A Simpler Path?|pages=107–120|date=1 August 2011|title=Reconstituting the Constitution|publisher=Springer|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-21572-8_7|isbn=978-3-642-21571-1|s2cid=150918595 |url=https://ssrn.com/abstract=3066317|editor-first1=Caroline|editor-last1= Morris|editor-first2=Jonathan|editor-last2= Boston|editor-first3= Petra|editor-last3= Butler}}

* {{cite book|first1=Geoffrey |last1=Palmer|first2=Andrew|last2=Butler|author-link1=Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician)|url=https://teherengawakapress.co.nz/a-constitution-for-aotearoa-new-zealand/|title=A Constitution for Aotearoa New Zealand|isbn=9781776560868|publisher=Victoria University Press|year=2016}}

* {{cite book|last1=Whelan|first1= Alan|last2= Cook|first2= Barrie|date=1997|title= New Zealand Republic|publisher= Niu Pacific Limited|___location= Wellington|isbn=0473047802}}

{{refend}}

==External links==

{{Oceania in topic|Republicanism in}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070813204606/http://makepeace.ca/respublica/nz.html Res Publica : New Zealand] international anti-monarchy Web directory

*[http://www.monarchy.org.nz/ Monarchy New Zealand]

*[http://www.republic.org.nz/ New Zealand Republic]

{{Republicanism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Republicanism in New Zealand}}

[[Category:Republicanism in New Zealand| ]]

[[Category:Constitution of New Zealand]]

[[Category:PoliticsPolitical ofmovements in New Zealand]]

[[Category:Republicanism inby country|New Zealand]]

[[Category:Republicanism in the Commonwealth realms|New Zealand]]