There are encouraging signs that New Zealand may be on the way to freeing itself from the grasp of the Windsor clan and recognising the sovereignty of the people.
The New Zealand Labour Party voted last weekend for a referendum when Liz Windsor dies which would allow citizens to decide that their country should be a republic with a New Zealander as their head of state.
After a meeting with Charles Windsor former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clarke declared that “My view has always been that at some point, New Zealand will become a republic because the longer we go on not having a head of state in New Zealand itself, it becomes more quaint, if you like.”
In a Herald on Sunday opinion poll in January only 37.4% of participants said they wanted the junior Windsor to become their head of state. 44.3% rejected the widely-disliked man.
The Australian Republican Movement responded to the NZ Labour Party vote in a spirit of friendly rivalry. National director David Morris said that “In Australia we pride ourselves on
our love of country and the fair go, but it just won’t be fair if the Kiwis beat us to full independence as a nation. Don’t let the Kiwis beat us to it. Let’s show the world we back Australia.”
The Australian Labour Party declared for a republic in 1981. Most Commonwealth nations are republics.