Independence of New Zealand - Independence in The Republic Debate

Independence in The Republic Debate

The British Monarchy still enjoys majority support for retention as the ceremonial and symbolic Head of State of New Zealand. Some New Zealanders see the monarchy of New Zealand to be a final hurdle to full independence. In 1994, National Prime Minister Jim Bolger initiated a debate on the possibility of New Zealand becoming a republic. Bolger argued New Zealand needed to focus more on the Asia-Pacific region, and noted that such a move would be part of a desire to be "independent New Zealanders". Bolger later argued that he did not believe the "Queen of England" should be New Zealand's head of state. Bolger's republicanism met little public enthusiasm, however, and three of his own ministers disowned the policy.

Unlike Australia, where republican sentiment has been relatively strong, there has been little agitation for a New Zealand republic. Neither National or Labour, the two major political parties currently in parliament have a stated policy of creating a republic, although Peter Dunne's United Future does and some Members of Parliament have publicly expressed their personal support for a republic. Presently, Prime Minister John Key has said he is "not convinced will be a big issue in the short term," but does believe that a republic is "inevitable." There are two special-interest groups representing both sides of the debate in New Zealand, and argue the issue in the media from time to time; Monarchy New Zealand and the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The New Zealand public are generally in favour of the retention of the monarchy, with recent polls showing it to have between 50 and 60% support. Polls indicate that many New Zealanders see the monarchy as being of little day-to-day relevance; a One News Colmar Brunton poll in 2002 found that 58% of the population believed the monarchy has little or no relevance to their lives. National Business Review poll in 2004 found 57% of respondents believed New Zealand would become a republic "in the future".

However, the institution still enjoys the support of many New Zealanders, particularly those born before the Second World War. Others show a majority of younger New Zealanders support a republic. Support for becoming a republic is still the view of around a third to 40% of the population. On 21 April 2008, the republican movement released a poll of New Zealanders showing 43% support the monarchy should Prince Charles become King of New Zealand, and 41% support a republic under the same scenario. A poll by the New Zealand Herald in January 2010, before a visit by Prince William to the country found 33.3% wanted The Prince of Wales to be the next monarch, with 30.2% favouring Prince William. 29.4% of respondents preferred a republic in the event The Queen died or abdicated.

On 14 October 2009, a Bill put forward in parliament by Keith Locke to bring about a referendum on the monarchy was drawn from the ballot of members' Bills and introduced into the House of Representatives. It was presumed that this bill would be binding in New Zealand only, having no effect in the Cook Islands or Niue. The Bill was defeated on 21 April 2010 68 – 53 with one abstention.