Welcome
Since the arrival of the British in New Zealand, we have had a strong link to Britain and the Royal family. We were once a colony and later a dominion. Now, our country is a fully-fledged constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II, reigning as Queen of New Zealand but recent events and changes in society have led people to question whether a monarchy is the best option for us. The other option is a republic which would see the end of the Queen and links to Britain and the start of a truly independent country with its own president.
A republic would foster a sense of nationhood through a New Zealand head of state, steer us away from a inegalitarian society and provide constitutional safeguards.
However, our monarchy is still viable and important. It acts as an important guardian of our heritage and is deeply embedded in our culture. We must not forget that our country, people and values were shaped by a monarch, not a president.
The debate over republicanism is very interesting and extremely significant as our constitution will shape the future of New Zealand. The aim of this site is introduce you to each side of the argument so you can draw your own conclusions.
Throughout the site, you'll hear about our monarchy, be introduced to the idea of a New Zealand republic, find out why we should change or stick with the status quo and see the opinions of others. To get started, use the navigation links on the left.
Using the Site
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Glossary
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