To aptly sum up the last few weeks: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. NZ Monarchy must give its kudos to Lewis and his lot for having a successful wee while.
It is NZ Monarchy's indention to grab a copy of the RM handbook in the foreseeable future and offer a review. Lets see what on offer.
NBR reports that Attorney-General Chris Finlayson has told the recent Just Law: Minds Wide Open conference that Senior Counsel “may yet be Queen’s Counsel again. Watch this space". This follows on from the much celebrated decision to return knights and dames to the ranks of the New Zealand Royal Honours System. I for one would welcome any return.
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy have commented upon the RMANZ commissioned poll, relased on Her Majestys Birthday. I shall quote parts of the post below:
At some no doubt inconvenient time, one thousand and eighteen unfortunate New Zealanders were telephoned by a pollster with the question as to whether at some indeterminate time in the distant future they would prefer “Prince Charles becoming King of New Zealand or New Zealand to becoming a republic?”
Some would have said anything to end the call, but were too polite to hang up. Many of course would have not answered or had their answering machines on.
Thirteen per cent wouldn’t say or didn’t know. Our experience is that they overwhelmingly vote No. Forty five per cent said Prince Charles. Forty three per cent said “a republic” without asking what sort of republic. When they actually see the model, a good proportion would vote No.
If there is not overwhelming support early in the piece, a referendum is doomed. Even with strong early support, this falls away after people have heard the arguments. But this poll did not have strong support. The level of support was increased artificially by the vagueness of the question which offered " a republic".
Having so significantly lost this poll, the wonder is that the republicans published it.
Opinion polls on how we will vote at the next election will often be wrong. Things change, even in a few months. If you were asked how you will vote at some indeterminate time in the future, say, two decades away, you might wonder what the pollster had been taking.
We predicted at that time that once the sort of matrimonial problems that affect many families today had passed, Her Majesty and the Royal Family would grow in stature and prestige. That has happened.
When republicans put all their hopes in Prince Charles’ marriage being unpopular we predicted that once Camilla had emerged from the shadows, her qualities would be seen, the support of Prince William and Prince Harry duly noted, Prince Charles’ considerable and untiring contributions to the environment and the disadvantaged observed , support would return . Having seen the enormous respect that Prince Charles is now held around the world, it can be said that this prediction has also come to pass.
So let us now make a prediction as to the future. When that sad day comes and this reign ends, the Commonwealth and the world will pass through a period of mourning during which the great virtues and the work of our Sovereign will be recorded with great respect. The curtain will have come down on an age which will be seen as remarkable, and one personified by our Queen – truly a second Elizabethan age.
The Prince of Wales will immediately ascend, and there will be no question that he will also become Head of the Commonwealth, notwithstanding idle speculation to the contrary. Within the twinkling of an eye he will be King of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, the United Kingdom and his other Realms and territories.
There will be worldwide interest and fascination in the new Prince of Wales, presumably William, who by that time will be married and have children.
The monarchy will be once again at the height of its popularity. The idea that a goverment would hold a referendum in the period of mourning or as the Coronation approached is not realistic. This is particularly so when it is likely that even two decades hence, the republicans will still not know what they want.
Monarchy is the one system of government where power is exercised for the good of all.Aristotle, 322-384 BC.
2007 has been a year of records, triumphs, and tribulations. September 26, Dominion day; 100 years since New Zealand become a Dominion in the British Empire. The Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their sixtieth (Diamond) wedding anniversary on 20 November. The 60th of the Statute of Westminster Adoption on the 25 November. And of course, the Queen on Saturday became the oldest monarch Britain (and hence the Commonwealth) has had, in an event that will pass into history without fanfare or public celebration.
However Her Majesty still has another eight years to go before she can overtake Queen Victoria as longest serving monarch.
The principle of constitutional monarchy is the notion that at the very summit of our complex system of governance is a person who, by the same accident of birth that created each of us, is deemed, by providence, to represent and protect us. For all the bureaucracies, intrigues, economies, records and politics, a human being sits atop and rallies our best collective values.
So much has been made of making a New Zealand identity separate from that of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and treating the Queen as a foreigner, that we are missing the opportunities to participate with our cultural and historical allies in upholding our values and making the world a better place. The fact that we share the Queen who believes and encourages us in the best of national endeavour (she truly does!) with many other nations ought to be celebrated. The fact that we are united with other nations in the Commonwealth, including many republics, that share our history, is our unique place to enjoy. While we cosy up to other, truly foreign nations that participate in human rights abuses, and place the power of the state at the expense of the individual, New Zealand has common threads of culture with our Commonwealth friends that are being ignored. New Zealand is not some isolated island in a cultural vacuum, we share a rich culture and identity with many other people and a Queen who represents this. Her title in New Zealand reflects this unique situation: Queen of New Zealand... Her other Realms and Territories... Head of the Commonwealth. We mustn't separate them.
Not every New Zealander, or Canadian, or Australian is culturally British, but the values that make these countries so desirable are. Let's stop attempting to define oursleves apart from our brothers and sisters. We share our history with them and we can share a future. Monarchists ought to embrace these notions before our mumbo-jumbo loses the argument. It is not enough to have tea parties and complain about the media. The future of our great tradition rests on what we can achieve as brothers. This is the weave that unites, and indelibly printed on that priceless cloth is the monarchy, ancient and sublime.
I’ll like to take this opportunity to wish readers a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Best Wishes for a prosperous year in 2008! Our sincere hope is that you and yours will enjoy good health and much joy during these Holidays, and in the New Year.
For those that do not observe Christmas, I am sorry. I hope you have a great holiday season too!
I’ll be spending time with family and friends over the Christmas/New Year Break, before flying out to the UK on 6th of January, thus updates of this blog with new postings will be less frequent in 2008.
Put in your diaries: Christmas Day: 1845: Her Majesty The Queen's Christmas Message 2007 - TVONE.
Then join HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh for the 79th Royal Variety Performance (December 31, 9pm), from the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, featuring a host of musicians, comedians and dancers.
I have finished school. It's over. Except exams. And we shall be starting exams next week. Oh dear.
My final school prize-giving yesterday was, quite good. I was named as my School Dux for 2007! Congratulations to everyone who received something!
Our guest speaker this year was Lawyer Greg King (Mr King was named barrister of the year just last week, and is a former student of the High School, that was merged in 2004 with the local Primary Schools to form our current Area School), his speech was very good. And I am sure the School Board of Trustees Chairperson has used the same speech each year!
The year 2007 has been an interesting year, gosh it has passed fast, well onwards and upwards. Now, I should really be getting around to studying…
Elizabeth the Second, By the Grace of God, Queen of New Zealand and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
