Don't like the return of Knighthoods and Damehoods?
Step 1. Get a piece of paper.
Step 2. Write "I, xxx, request that a citizens initiated referendum be held to ask the question - 'Should New Zealand become a republic?'.
Step 3. Get 400,000 registered voters to sign your piece of paper within twelve months.
Step 4. Lodge your referendum with the Clerk at Parliament.
Step 5. Wait until the next election.
Step 6. Vote 'Yes', and get as many people as possible to vote 'Yes' as well.
Step 7. Wait for a republic to be formulated, and titles will be abolished forever.
In the meantime, don't say bringing back Sirs and Dames is stopping the eventual move to a republic - it's not. The Republican movement is holding it back by not having the support to request a CIR.
Step 2. Write "I, xxx, request that a citizens initiated referendum be held to ask the question - 'Should New Zealand become a republic?'.
Step 3. Get 400,000 registered voters to sign your piece of paper within twelve months.
Step 4. Lodge your referendum with the Clerk at Parliament.
Step 5. Wait until the next election.
Step 6. Vote 'Yes', and get as many people as possible to vote 'Yes' as well.
Step 7. Wait for a republic to be formulated, and titles will be abolished forever.
In the meantime, don't say bringing back Sirs and Dames is stopping the eventual move to a republic - it's not. The Republican movement is holding it back by not having the support to request a CIR.
posted by Michael at
6:24 PM
1 Comments:
Umm, no. First of all, there's a number of republics around the world that have titular honours. If New Zealand becomes a republic, then we'll be able to keep Knighthoods and damehoods if we choose. A referendum on a republic is not a referendum on whether we have titular honours.
As for a non-binding referendum, the Republican Movement isn't holding back. We don't want to be in the same position the NZ Flag Trust or the 99 MP group are - ignored by the politicians despite of having significant (c. 40% of the voting public) support. What would be better would be a process of rigorous public discussion then perhaps a non-binding referendum on the type of republic, along the lines of Keith Locke's Head of State (Referenda) Bill.
By
Lewis, at 7:58 PM
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