A Republic for New Zealand? A Modest Approach

Abstract

Many of the arguments in favour of New Zealand becoming a republic are trivial or no longer relevant. This is particularly the case for the argument that republican status will enhance New Zealand’s national identity. More relevant are concerns about the Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand’s economic sovereignty. Nonetheless, it seems inevitable that New Zealand will one day become a republic. Some of the values of the monarchy are no longer relevant to New Zealand and the monarchy’s links to New Zealand have become more distant over time. A modest proposal for change on the death of the present Queen, where a referendum is held on whether the monarch’s powers should be transferred to a new head of state, elected via a super-majority vote of the Parliament, is therefore proposed. An alternative is to legislate that the Governor-General would become the head of state on the death of the Queen.

Before retiring from a 27-year political career in 2008, Dr Cullen held the positions of New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister (2002–2008), Minister of Social Welfare (1987–1990), Minister of Finance (1999–2008), Minister of Revenue (1999–2005), Minister of Tertiary Education (2005–2007), and Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations (2007–2008). He also twice held the position of Attorney-General. Dr Cullen is now the Deputy Chair of New Zealand Post and acts as an adviser to a number of Māori iwi on a range of matters.