Waitangi Day time to ask: where is New Zealand headed?

Saturday, 4 February 2012, 1:23 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Republican Movement

MEDIA RELEASE 4 February 2012

"This Waitangi Day is an important time to start thinking about where New Zealand is headed as a nation - not just where we've been" said Republican Movement chair Lewis Holden.

The Queen's Ascension Day coincides with Waitangi Day, something which Jock Philips of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage describes as an "accident of history".

"The Queen has been our head of state for 60 years this year. While there will be plenty of reflection on the past, the Republican Movement's focus remains on New Zealand's future, especially with the forthcoming consitutional review" continued Mr Holden.

On Waitangi Day, the Republican Movement will publish its draft policy statement for public discussion. This statement will form the basis of its campaign to start New Zealanders thinking about who our head of state is.

"The transition to a New Zealand republic is a simple, but important step in New Zealand's progression to full and unambigous independence. Whether we think the Queen has done a great job as our head of state for the last 60 years or not, the reality is New Zealand is a very different place than it was in 1952. What will the next 60 years bring us as a country?

A New Zealand republic can still retain our historical links as a former part of the British Empire while asserting our nation on the world stage. It's time to ask: where are we headed?" concluded Mr Holden.
NOTES
• The Republican Movement's draft policy statement will be published on Waitangi Day here: www.republic.org.nz/policy
ENDS
The Republican Movement is a network of New Zealanders who want our head of state to be elected by New Zealanders - either directly or indirectly.
We are committed to:
• involving all New Zealanders in the republic debate;
• focusing on ideas, not personalities;
• winning a referendum to establish the republic;
Creating a republic does not require any change to the Treaty of Waitangi, flag or Commonwealth membership. For more information, see our website: www.republic.org.nz

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

Elections: Time Running Out to Take Part in Electoral Commission’s MMP Review

Time is running out to have your say on improvements you’d like to see made to our MMP voting system. With only two weeks to go until the first consultation period of the MMP Review closes, the Electoral Commission has received more than 3700 submissions ... More >>

Christchurch: More Green Zoning And More Red Zoning

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced the final decision in almost 11 months of flat land residential zoning in Canterbury…

“It brings the number of residential properties zoned red because they are unsuitable for residential occupation to 7256.” More >>

Gerry Brownlee also announced the green zoning of 421 residential properties in the Port Hills, leaving 1679 houses still under review. More>>

ALSO:

CERA - CBD Red Zone Cordon Reduction
Labour - Southshore: A Divided Verdict
Christchurch - Council Endorses Pausing Cathedral Demolition
Awa Press - Christchurch protests for new leadership will continue
Campbell - On The Government Is Ducking Responsibility For The Needs Of Christchurch
Rutherford Foundation - New techniques used to investigate Port Hills rock falls

Budget 2012: Squeezing Every Drop Out Of A Zero Budget
The Government is trying to squeeze every drop of publicity out of its ``Zero Budget’’ ahead of its delivery next Thursday.More >>

Gordon Campbell On the Politics of Austerity: Later this month, New Zealand will be subjected to its second austerity Budget in a row. Zero budgeting is being presented as the only path of virtue. This is despite the fact that - elsewhere in the real world - it has been a very bad week indeed for the politics of austerity.More >>
Also

Business.Desk - Smokes, booze and property tax breaks prime targets for Budget

Labour - User Pays Plan Confirms Failure

Labour - Cuts to classes result of government failure

ACT - Performance Based Pay for Teachers Long Overdue

Budget 2012: Recovery of Canterbury on Track

Budget 2012 - Prescription Charges Help Fund Health

Budget 2012: Education – Larger Classes For More Money

Budget 2012: $144m more for disability support

Housing: Social Housing Money Handed Out
People in need will get the most benefit from Government funding for new housing projects, to be developed by non-government providers. Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the successful applicants to the $25.3 million Social Housing Unit ... More >>

ALSO:

Greens - Social Housing need – A ticking time bomb
Labour - Housing a non-event on National’s policy calendar

Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. More >>
Also:

Announcement - PM's Post Cabinet Press Conference Held In Hospital
Gordon Campbell - On the Rise in Prescription Charges
Labour - User Pays Plan Confirms Failure
Otago University - Public Health Expert Questions Prescription Charge Move
Labour - Minister of Illness Misses the Mark
NZ First - Don’t Increase Prescription Charges
Govt - Budget 2012: $101m for Surgery, Cancer Services
Govt -Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
Medicines New Zealand - Additional Investment in Health Welcomed
Cancer Society - Good News for Cancer Patients!
Pharmacy Guild - Payment Increase Expected
NZMA - Extra funding for Surgery, Cancer Services Welcomed

Court of Appeal: Govt Should Pay Family Caregivers
The victory in the Court of Appeal for families caring for disabled family members should be taken notice of by the Government says Green MP Catherine DelahuntyMore >>

ALSO:

NZ First - About Time For Landmark Disability Decision
Labour - Government Should Drop Legal Action and Support Carers

Warm Up: Insulation programme reaches 150,000 houses
The Government’s programme to help insulate New Zealand homes has now reached the milestone of 150,000 insulated homes, Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley announced today. More >>

Also:

Greens - Sensible Policy
Maori Party - Proud to celebrate success of the Warm Up NZ

Police: 120 Positions Axed In Fine Tuning
The New Zealand Police budget will not be cut this coming financial year but the organisation is planning some modest reductions in non-sworn support staff to live within its means, the Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall, said. More >>

Also:

Police Association - Cutting Staff Doesn’t Make Work Go Away
Labour - Be Honest About Police Budget
Labour - No front line cuts – pull the other one
Green Party - Green Party comment on police staff cuts
NZ First - Frontline Policing To Suffer Under Latest Cuts

Water: Call For Quality Bottom Lines
The Land and Water Forum has called for national bottom lines to be set for the state of New Zealand’s rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and aquifers. In a report issued today, the LWF, a group representing iwi and key freshwater stakeholders, ... More >>

Also

Ministers - Government welcomes new fresh water report
Forest And Bird - Forum report important step towards better water
Green Party - Supports For New Water Rules
BusinessDesk National fresh water regime takes another big step forward
Water New Zealand - Circuit breaker for improving freshwater management?
Fed Farmer - Farmers redefine agriculture’s land and water interface

MFaT: Cuts Scaled Back, Embassies Closed
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced the closure of the Stockholm embassy in Sweden as part of $10 million of savings in the Ministry’s European posts.
The Stockholm post was opened by the Clark government in 2008 and downsized by the current government in 2009.More >>

Also

MFat - Final Decision on Change Programme
Unions - Scaled back MFAT restructure no cause for celebration
Labour - Botched MFAT cuts hurt NZ’s reputation
NZ First - MFAT Cuts Stupid In The Extreme

Budget 2012: Education – Larger Classes For More Money
I’m here today to talk about our education plan. Education is a subject that’s dear to my heart and head - and indeed yours, as future employers and business associates of the generation of young New Zealanders who are coming through our education system ... More >>

ALSO:

Govt - Budget 2012: Extra $511.9 million for education
QPEC- Cream for Private Schools – Skim Milk for Public Schools
Principals Federation - Bigger Classes Blow for Battlers
Labour - Cuts to Classes Result of Government Failure
Principals' Federation - Education Wrong Place for Performance Pay

Industrial Relations: New Laws Proposed
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has announced a package of measures that will extend workers’ rights to request flexible working hours and ensure a fair and flexible collective bargaining environment. More >>

ALSO:

Govt - Improvements to Employment Law Announced
Labour - Employment Relations Don’t Have to be Lose-Lose
Labour - Call for Community to Lead Employment Debate
First Union - Employment Proposals Signal End to Catching up with Aust
Employers And Manufacturers Federation Employment Law Changes Positive
EPMU -No Surprises Over Government’s Law Change Agenda
CTU - Government Undermines Bargaining to Reduce Pay, Conditions

Parliament Today: Gambling Bill’s Chaos
Parliament tied itself up in procedural knots last night over whether there should be a conscience vote over a gambling bill.
The Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill first reading was proceeding with most parties indicating support, when Labour’s Trevor Mallard suggested prior to the end of debate that individual MPs should cast conscience votes on the issue, instead of a party vote.
More >>
Also

Questions for Oral Answer: May 10 - Environment Commissioner Appointment - Conscience Vote Issue Ties MPs Up In Knots - Secret Ballot Bill Passes Into Law - Govt Attacked Over Record Emigration To Australia-Child Support Will Be More Balanced: Dunne - Questions and Answers: May 8 - Dotcom And Contraception - Petitions, Papers, Reports And Bills- Questions for Oral Answer: May 8 - Child Support And The IMF - Committee Chaos & Farmer Dissatisfaction - Govt Pressured On Banks-Dotcom Saga

Waitangi Day time to ask: where is New Zealand headed?

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

ALSO:

ALSO:

ALSO:

Also:

Also

Also

ALSO:

ALSO:

Get More From Scoop

LATEST HEADLINES

Politics Section Blogroll

Politics Blogs

Politics Info Websites

Newspaper Blogs

Politics Party Websites

Other Links

Scoop Newsagent


Search latest Jobs Positions $150k+ NZ Govt Jobs	Media & Ent. Jobs NZ IT Positions Salary Advice