Andrew Dickens: We don't need to separate from the Crown

Andrew Dickens Afternoons

As this is my first time on ZB since the death of Elizabeth the Second, may I add my gratitude to the many who have praised her exceptional service.

In the days since the expected but still devastating news I have been struck by how history is unfolding before our eyes.

History is made up of milestones and crossroads and we are in the middle of an astounding period of change that we will all point to in the future.

We are at the end of the Second Elizabethan age. A 70 year period of incredible progress and modernisation, where technology has aided and abetted more individuality and self-determination than ever before.

In coincides with the greatest pandemic for 100 years. The most impactful war since the World conflicts of last century. Brexit and other economic developments changing world trade patterns. A worldwide inflation outbreak. And a climate that is becoming increasingly volatile.

I feel people in the future will look back to this point as a significant point in this planet's history and here we are right in the middle of it.

So change is in the air.

And one of things that may change is the identity of our head of state.

Already, many are saying why is a 73 year old Brit 12,000 miles away our head of state. And I get that.

But my feeling is if it ain't broke, why fix it.

We have a sophisticated political, constitutional and legal system that has evolved from our links with the Crown.

As Head of State the King has no real power over our direction as a nation. We are fully self-governing and autonomous.

What he and his system does is provide is an impartial tool for when things go very wrong as they did in Australia in the Gough Whitlam years.

For those unaware of the story the Australian Senate ended out in an impasse that crippled the country constitutionally. Eventually the Governor General Kerr dissolved the Whitlam government, put opposition leader Malcolm Fraser in charge, and called a new election which Fraser won.

To take such drastic action requires impartiality and a position beyond impunity. You can't be seen to have a dog in the fight.

The Crown has that position for countries like New Zealand and Australia. Political neutrality.

The Armed Forces are also responsible to them which distances the Forces from accusations of political influence.

And we get all this for next to nothing.

To set up a President or a New Zealand Head of State would take a mountain of money and and bureaucracy.

Add to all that the Maori point of view that the deal over nationhood and governance is with the Crown, then it's removal creates a wealth of issues over the Treaty which could become very fractious and further disadvantage Maori or settlers.

Some say that we need to separate from the Crown to prove our national identity. To that I say our national identity is strong and independent.

And so, if it ain't broke, why fix it?

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