Viva la Presidente

Before getting stuck into whether New Zealand (or more correctly Aotearoa) should be a republic I'd like to break down the significance of MY flag.  The design is based on the black flag with Silver Fern seen around the world being wielded by sports mad kiwis.  The top bars (Red, White and Black) signify Tinorangatira tanga, the principle Treaty partner.  The Red white and blue bands at the bottom signify the Crown as full partner and is reflective of the old flag.  The Southern Cross on blue background is also endemic of the old flag and gives us direction as a nation.

For a number of years now, New Zealand has been debating about republicanism.  Now being a former Navy man and honouring the flag every morning and night, and paying due deference to the Monarchy I'd be firmly in the Monarch Camp.  But alas I'm not.  Instead, after leaving the Navy, my thoughts have been leaning more towards self determination as a country.  One of the reasons I feel this way is that when New Zealand needed "The Mother Country" to stand up for it during the seventies with EEC quota's we were locked out.  Sure this was a political thing at the time, but some would say the Monarchy back the English parliament and vice versa, so this decision was more than political..  Then when New Zealand stood up and said No Nukes, we were shunned again.  Add to that the poor track record of the Monarchy in the past twenty odd years (Divorces, scandals, etc) and the picture gets a lot murkier.

Now if we look at one of the things we need as a society we'd see that good positive role models are the order of the day.  A popular monarch, or a popular president that a majority would favour.  Seeing as how (to my own eyes) the Monarchy hasn't been as such, then it's time to look within and have our own populist leader (or head of state) to give guidance as the Southern Cross does.  I'll explore that more.

Currently the Governor General (GG) is the pseudo Head of State (HoS).  He or she is selected by the then current government to represent the Queen in our country, further known as The Crown.  Now this job is more in keeping as a Presidential role, so why don't we cut ties with the Monarchy and have a President?  The Business in parliament will still be the same, but there will be a little more power given to the president in veto etc.  Just a small ask.  And instead of the Prime Minister being the titular head of state in foreign visits a fully briefed President will represent the country overseas (a job the current GG doesn't do as far as I am aware).

Now electing a President.  I see it that Parliament (not the government) puts up a list of names for the public to vote on.  The voting would be done in  conjunction with a four year term.  But what I'd really love to see is this format.  Year one (and every second term onwards) the Maori Monarch sits as Head of State, with every alternate year an elected (by the people) HoS.  This will firmly entrench Aotearoa in the Treaty principles.

Two other things need to happen.  The first is a Constitution.  Using the Treaty of Waitangi as a founding document, the people of this country and the parliament need to propose, agree and ratify a finalised Constitution.  The process may be long and drawn out, but it has to be done right so all are in agreement.  I'd say a majority of around 70% is needed to ratify that important document.

The other thing is the National Anthem.  It's widely reported that there are about 20% of New Zealanders that are active churchgoers or attend religious activities regularly.  So why do the majority have to stand and sing "God defend etc.".  It's high time we went the way of our neighbours and find an anthem that better reflects not only our current status as a society, but a way ahead for those to come.

I see a republican state in the next 30 years.  If we want to get our heads around all I have stated and start the ball rolling, the first moves will need to be made from about 2016 onward.

My thoughts. Please post your thoughts!!