Do you think New Zealand will become a Republic?

Question

Is Republicanism a significant issue in New Zealand, is there any talk on holding a referendum in the near future? I take it that it's not as big of an issue in NZ than it is in Australia. I get the impression that there is less of an anti-British (English) sentiment in NZ than there is in Australia, could this be a reason for the lesser feeling of Republicanism in NZ, they don't have a chip on their shoulder about the UK and don't feel they need to separate themselves as much as they can from the UK?

Also, has there been any significant debate on flag change in NZ like there has in Australia?

Thanks

Answer 1

nah it will never happen   it would make more sense to combine aussie and nz and have one unit of currency  which might help bring nz economic state up

the flag will never change same as national anthem   it will just go on as it always does choking at the business end of world cups  winning bugger all medals same old treaty of waitangi arguments  and same old bitching from the farmers   wouldnt be nz otherwise

Answer 2

Noooooooooo.

Answer 3

Eventually. It would have to be agreed by both Maori and Pakeha and I suspect Maori are more royalist as they hold strongly with their partnership with the Crown. As a minority, they might also like the thought a third and more independent party holds the position of constitutional Head of State,

Changing to a republic would mean a new agreement on power sharing. The thought of starting that debate is the biggest hurdle for both Maori and Pakeha.

Answer 4

if it means they wont have to work they will jump at it

Answer 5

"Is Republicanism a significant issue in New Zealand"

Depends what you mean by "significant". It's a significant constitutional issue - whether or not the New Zealand public discuss it is up to them. Around 30 - 40% of New Zealanders support a republic, which is about 20% less than in Australia (most recent poll there put support at 60%). About 50-60% of New Zealanders support the monarchy, depending on the poll and the question. Usually when the Queen is mentioned support for the monarchy increases, which shows many supporters of the monarchy are simply pro-Queen Elizabeth.

"is there any talk on holding a referendum in the near future?"

Yes - Green MP has a members' Bill to hold a referendum, but it's not been drawn from the ballot of members Bills. The United Future Party has a policy of holding a referendum "on the head of State" before 2012.

"I get the impression that there is less of an anti-British (English) sentiment in NZ than there is in Australia"

Republicanism in New Zealand and Australia is not based on anti-British sentiment. It's more to do with articulating our own sense of national identity, independent of our former colonizer.

"...don't feel they need to separate themselves as much as they can from the UK?"

Again, republicanism isn't about separation from the UK, it's more to do with signaling our independence to the world.

"has there been any significant debate on flag change in NZ like there has in Australia?"

Yes there has, there was a petition back in 2005 by a group called NZFlag.com, which gained 100,000 signatures. This was not enough to prompt a referendum on the issue (which requires 250,000 signatures under New Zealand law).

Answer 6

If Australia becomes a republic NZ will follow being the good little sheep they are.BAABAA

Answer 7

One difference between Australia and New Zealand is that NZ was originally settled by Europeans who came of their own free will whereas Australia started out as convict settlements and this may be a reason for the anti-British feeling there. I don't think NZ will be in a hurry to change the sovereignty of the country we are more interested in beating the Aussies in sports.

Answer 8

I don't think that it's a significant issue in NZ, although it does come up from time to time. The idea just hasn't really taken off.

Most Kiwis tend  be of the "If it aint broke, don't fix it" variety when it comes to NZ being a republic.

There doesn't really seem to be any huge advantages for us to go down this path. We rarely see the Queen or have a huge amount of contact with Britain, so not many people are discontented with how things are in NZ as it stands.

Most people don't have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to the British. They tend to save their racist antics for Asian tourists here.

TChanging the flag has been floated a few times. Again it didn't really hold peoples interest for very long, but you never know what might happen in the future. Kiwis are never in a rush about these things!  

Answer 9

One day. Australia will do it first though. And it will be another generation away before all the babyboomers and older generations who have the pro-british sentiment ect pass on.

Answer 10

There has been talk about becoming a republic but the idea hasn't caught on very well. There has been more talk of a flag change but no-ones in a hurry

Answer 11

i don't blame them if they do, so long as it's the opinion of the people who live there , and not just the opinion of a few individual anti british types, most people in the uk. don't have a problem with ozzies or kiwi's , in fact there very well liked, and if you were to become a republic, either of you australi or new zealand, it would be of no significanse what so ever to the people of the uk. we have enough  on our plate to sort out,rather than bother with something so meaning less, but of course it would bother a few polticians and royalists who think we should still rule the world, to me personally the only thing you would gain is a new flag probably, it's something the people in britain don't even think about , if it happened tomorrow no one would give a stuff