All week this week we feature tangata whenua writing to mark Waitangi Day on Wednesday. Today: in this extract from a book of essays, Morgan Godfery wonders exactly what the point is of New Zealand bowing to a monarch “of a rain-soaked island off the north-western coast of the European mainland”. One of my earliest memories is, for … Read more
Ben Thomas studies and salutes the newly minted coat of arms for the mighty former governor-general. Of New Zealand’s 21 governors-general, the recently departed Lieutenant General Sir Jeremiah “Jerry” Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, KStJ was the most assuredly One of Us. What highlights can we remember of the governor-general who retired in August this year? Alas, … Read more
With recent efforts at drafting a constitution for New Zealand stalled, a new and engaging approach is called for. Geoffrey Palmer introduces a fresh project and its core principles. “A constitution is a human habitation. Like a city, it may preserve its life and its beauty through centuries of change. It may, on the other … Read more
A new poll suggests appetite for a divorce from the monarchy is on the rise. But before we move to a referendum, there are a few things to get in place first, write Lewis Holden. Two months ago the result of Britain’s EU referendum was fresh and I wrote that despite Britain’s apparent move away … Read more
Don’t bet on special treatment for Kiwis in post-Brexit UK. The time remains ripe for a New Zealand republic, writes Lewis Holden It’s no coincidence that the idea of a New Zealand republic first entered mainstream political debate in 1973. That year the United Kingdom joined what was then known as the European Economic Community … Read more