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Former deputy prime minister and self-proclaimed "token monarchist" Michael Cullen says if New Zealand is to wash its hands of the Queen and become a republic it had better start planning now.
The republic debate was reignited by Cullen ahead of a conference called Reconstituting the Constitution held in Wellington today.
"I don't think many people want to change that position while the Queen is alive... So the answer is quite obvious - we should be signalling change that doesn't occur for quite some years to come," Cullen told the conference.
Across the Tasman an argument was made during the election campaign about moving away from the motherland when the Queen dies.
"I am far from certain that at least in our lifetimes there's likely to be any significant change," said Tony Abbott, the Coalition leader.
But Prime Minister Julia Gillard disagrees.
"I think there's every chance that she will live a long and happy life but I think [when she dies] that's probably the appropriate point for a transition," she said.
Gillard's stance is the exact one being touted in New Zealand today - don't wait for the day Prince Charles or William takes the throne.
"Do we now decide to depose the king? It seems to me you don't have to be a monarchist or a traditionalist - and I'm still somewhat both of those - to feel a slight queasiness around the notion of deposition," said Cullen.
Earlier in the day Cullen told TVNZ's Breakfast programme said that while most people support the current Queen, it's unclear whether that support would be transferred to her successor.
As more migrants from countries such as India and China make their home in the New Zealand, the population doesn't have the same sense of "natural affinity to some kind of loyalty to a monarch residing in London", he told Breakfast.
But Prime Minister, John Key, who while in opposition said the transition was "inevitable", is nailing our flag to the royal mast.
"I have no interest in making New Zealand into a republic. That may happen one day but it won't be happening in my time as Prime Minister," said Key.
Next week, Key will visit the 84-year-old monarch, who is close to marking 60 years in the job, in a private visit to Balmoral, her royal residence in Scotland.
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Post new commentdnmcya0 said on 2010-09-03 @ 21:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
Becoming a republic will produce nothing tangible for us. Everything will still be same and the only difference is that there will be much money spent on changing the current system. NZ is already an independent nation; its actions are independent of mother England. It does not need a republic status to define that.
sadroneru said on 2010-09-02 @ 21:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
People need to appreciate that it is completely wrong to suggest that our monarchy is not an "apron-string" attached to the motherland. Ever since 1947, New Zealand has been independent and had her own monarchy - one that merely shares the same royal family with 15 other states.
davidjh said on 2010-09-02 @ 21:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Before we decide, what type of Republic will we get? Polititions want to appoint a President not have them elected by the citizens of NZ. We only need a person to sign in our laws as an administrator like as present, A President would feel he must do something, as we would still have a Prime Minister running the Country. It would cost a lot more than present setup.
Barnes said on 2010-09-02 @ 20:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
I respect Cullen but New Zealand should become a rebublic.
Patricia Roberts said on 2010-09-02 @ 20:11 NZDT: Report abusive post
The monarchy is our global family. There are the cousins we know well and the ones we don't, with the odd relation who's a bit cranky or eccentric. It's normal for children to grow up to be independent adults, but they don't normally ditch the wider family. A new flag would be good to show our independence, but I see no real need to become a republic. Canada is a good example. The monarchy is not harming us in any way, and achieves a lot of good in the world, whether it's the Queen or her heirs. We should support that.