Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Let's get on with it


A Republic is inevitable and we do need to get on with it. It is time to overcome our awkward adolescence.

Speaking to people before the 2008 elections it is clear that a groundswell of republican sentiment is growing here. According to the BBC, 42% of New Zealanders think we should be a republic.

The galvanizing is already coming from the bottom up. It will not develop from the top down because both Labour and National have a vested interest in delay. Key has just leapt backwards with the reinstatement of royal honours to placate his conservatives. Goff supports Maori separatism and the development of a nation within a nation.

New Zealanders are signalling a New Start with a centrist vision. They are tired of the same old left to right seesaw. We need
  • A Constitution that makes all equal in law
  • Prompt reconciliation of Maori grievances
  • A new flag without the union jack
  • Direct democracy with binding referendums
  • Our families restored
  • Our assets protected
  • Incentives for innovation and hard work
  • And full on concentration on alternative energy.

We don't need Clayton's Republicans like Peter Dunne. He simply wants to replace the Governor General with a New Zealand Head of State and leave everything else as it is. This is not a republic. The problem with our present system is the unchallengeable power of the Executive to ramrod things through. If you don't believe me, look at what National is doing now with the Supercity Bill. They rammed it through Parliament under urgency, even though 80% of Aucklanders oppose it. Labour's retrospective legislation to wipe away its breaches of electoral law is another example. That legislation was unchallengeable in the courts because we don't have a written constitution. We so blindly believe in the superiority of the Westminster system and arrogantly criticise the Americans. Yet they have a constitution and a court that can review legislation. They also have the separation of powers, a unique system where the executive, the legislature and judiciary watch each other. Did Congress force Nixon to resign? You bet it did. We have no such protections here.

It is time for New Zealand (Aotearoa) to claim maturity as a nation. It's time to say bye bye to the monarchy, bye bye Governor General, bye bye to Westminster and hello to the democratic Republic of New Zealand.

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