|
|
|
|
Monarchy in New Zealand
|
| |
|
| |
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch since February 6, 1952. As such she is the de jure head of state, though she does hold several powers that are hers alone, while the Governor-General is sometimes referred to as the de facto head of state.
In New Zealand, the Queen's official title is: 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.
The Realm of New Zealand comprises New Zealand, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency, and the self-governing states of the Cook Islands and Niue.
The heir apparent is Elizabeth II's eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales.
International versus domestic role
New Zealand is a shared monarchy, one of the 53 independent sovereign states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the "British Commonwealth"), an association of mostly former British colonies or dependencies of these colonies (the exceptions being the United Kingdom itself and Mozambique).
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Monarchy in New Zealand' Start a new discussion about 'Monarchy in New Zealand' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch since February 6, 1952. As such she is the de jure head of state, though she does hold several powers that are hers alone, while the Governor-General is sometimes referred to as the de facto head of state.
In New Zealand, the Queen's official title is: 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.
The Realm of New Zealand comprises New Zealand, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency, and the self-governing states of the Cook Islands and Niue.
The heir apparent is Elizabeth II's eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales.
Constitutional monarchy of New Zealand
International versus domestic role
New Zealand is a shared monarchy, one of the 53 independent sovereign states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the "British Commonwealth"), an association of mostly former British colonies or dependencies of these colonies (the exceptions being the United Kingdom itself and Mozambique). Sixteen of these countries are Commonwealth realms that recognize the same sovereign, separately, as their head of state.
Queen Elizabeth II is the current monarch's conventional title for all her Commonwealth Realms, but is generally regarded as "Queen of New Zealand" only when she is actually present in New Zealand or when she otherwise performs duties relevant to New Zealand, on the advice of her New Zealand ministers. Some examples are conferring New Zealand royal honours while in the United Kingdom.
Most of the sovereign of New Zealand's domestic duties are performed by the Governor-General of New Zealand.
There are few duties which must be performed specifically by the sovereign; one example is signing the Letters patent appointing the Governor-General). However, on occasion the monarch must personally act directly in partisan affairs (this is yet to happen in New Zealand).
In addition to the sovereign's role in each realm, the last two monarchs have been the Head of the Commonwealth. While this title does not automatically belong to the monarch, George VI and Elizabeth II are the only people who have ever held the title. The title Head of the Commonwealth does not imply any political power over member nations.
Development of shared monarchy
Although Elizabeth II is also the queen of the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries, each nation–including New Zealand–is sovereign and independent of the others.
The Balfour Declaration of 1926 provided the dominions the right to be considered equal to Britain, rather than subordinate; an agreement that had the result of, in theory, a shared Crown that operates independently in each Realm rather than a unitary British Crown under which all the dominions were secondary. The monarchy thus again ceased to legally be an exclusively British institution.
On all matters of the New Zealand State, the Monarch is advised solely by New Zealand ministers. No British or other Realm government can advise the Monarch on any matters pertinent to New Zealand.
In addition to the Monarch's role in each Realm, the New Zealand Monarch is also the nominal Head of the Commonwealth. Though this title does not imply any political power over member nations, and does not automatically belong to the monarch, only the shared monarch of the Commonwealth Realms has ever held this title.
Finance
Contrary to common misconception, New Zealanders do not pay any money to the Queen, either for personal income or to support the Royal residences outside of New Zealand. Only when the Queen is in New Zealand, or acting abroad as Queen of New Zealand, does any New Zealand government support her in the performance of her duties. This rule applies equally to other members of the Royal Family.
Usually the New Zealand governments pay only for the costs associated with the Governor-General in their exercising of the powers of the Crown on behalf of the Queen, including travel, security, residences, offices, ceremonial occasions, etc.
Constitutional role
New Zealand's constitution is made up of a variety of statutes and conventions that are either British or New Zealand origin. Part one of the Constitution Act 1986 describes "The Sovereign", as the reigning Monarch who is New Zealand's Head of state. Section 2(1) of the Act declares "The Sovereign in right of New Zealand" as Head of state, section 5(1) describes the Sovereign's successor as being "...determined in accordance with the enactment of the Parliament of England intituled The Act of Settlement". This means that whoever is Head of State of the United Kingdom under the Act of Settlement 1701 shall be Head of state of New Zealand.
This legislation lays out the rules that the Monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic, nor married to one, and must be in communion with the Church of England upon ascending the throne.
As New Zealand's rules of succession are identical to those of the United Kingdom (by the Statute of Westminster) see Succession to the British Throne for more information.
All powers of State are constitutionally reposed in the Monarch, who is represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand.
The Governor-General is appointed by the Monarch upon the advice of the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Duties
Most of the Queen's domestic duties are performed by the Governor-General.
As in the UK, the Monarch's role, and thereby the viceroy's role, is almost entirely symbolic and cultural, acting as a symbol of the legal authority under which all governments operate, and the powers that are constitutionally hers are exercised wholly upon the advice of the elected government. The monarch "reigns" but does not "rule".
There are also few duties which must be performed specifically by the Queen (e.g. signing the appointment papers of Governors General), or require assent specifically by the Queen.
It is also possible that if the Governor-General decided to go against the Prime Minister's or the government's advice, the Prime Minister could appeal directly to the Monarch, or even recommend that the Monarch dismiss the Governor-General.
The Queen has formally opened Parliament in the old Legislative Council Chamber on five occasions, in January 1954, February 1963, March 1970, February 1986 and February 1990. On each occasion the Royal Standard was flown from the central flag pole while the Queen was in Parliament House.
Royal Assent
Royal Assent and proclamation are required for all acts of Parliament; usually granted by the Governor-General.
Representation of the State
At one time the Monarchy was considered a purely British institution, when most New Zealanders still continued to be both legally, and by personal view, British subjects. However, paralleling the changes in constitutional law, and the evolution of New Zealand nationalism, the cultural role of the Monarchy in New Zealand altered.
Title
One of the first post-war examples of New Zealand's status as an independent monarchy was the alteration of the Monarch's title, by the Royal Titles Act 1953.
For the first time, the official New Zealand title mentioned New Zealand separately from the United Kingdom and the other Realms, to highlight the Monarch's role specifically as Queen of New Zealand, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the Realms: The Royal Titles Act 1953 first introduced a New Zealand royal title for use by the sovereign in right of New Zealand, in this case "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith". With the passage of the Royal Titles Act 1974 by the third Labour Government Queen Elizabeth II's royal title in New Zealand has been “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.”
Although the Queen's New Zealand titles include "Defender of the Faith ," neither the Queen, nor the Governor-General has any religious role in New Zealand; there have been no established churches in New Zealand. This is one of the key differences from the Queen's role in the United Kingdom where she is Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Symbols
References to the monarchy are commonplace in public life in New Zealand. Her portrait is often found in government buildings, military installations, and schools. There are references to St Edward's Crown, on the New Zealand's Royal Coat of Arms, on various medals, and awards.
These latter cases reflect the monarch's place as the ceremonial head of the New Zealand honours system. As such, only she can approve the creation of an honour, which she does as requested by the government of New Zealand. Although, the Governor-General administers most responsibilities relating to New Zealand honours on the Queen's behalf.
The use of the term 'Royal', as in the Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force, and oaths taken by politicians, judges, members of the armed forces and new citizens are to the Queen. The Queen's portrait appears on some postage stamps, the obverse (front) of New Zealand coins, and all banknotes feature the portrait of the Queen as the watermark. However, only the $20 banknote bears her image as the main feature.
In New Zealand, unlike in the United Kingdom, the Queen's Official Birthday is a public holiday and is celebrated in the first Monday in June.
God Save the Queen remains one of the National Anthems, along with God Defend New Zealand.
Royal presence
Though all of the Royal Family currently lives abroad, members are still regular visitors to New Zealand.
These events are often marked with a variety of ceremonies, the granting of honours and general celebrations, even though these events are not always official holidays.
The Queen regularly undertakes tours of New Zealand to celebrate New Zealand culture, milestone anniversaries, military remembrances, etc. Other Royals will perform the same tasks in the Queen's place, from time to time, usually on a less grand scale or for events of a lesser importance. These tours are at the invitation of, organized, and paid for by the New Zealand government, hence, they are called "official tours" or "official visits."
Since 1869, there have been over fifty visits by a member of the Royal Family to New Zealand, though only five of those came before 1953.
Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch of New Zealand to set foot on New Zealand soil, during her 1953-54 Royal Visit, when she also delivered her Christmas Day message from Wellington.
Other visits of Queen Elizabeth II:
- 6-18 February, 1963: During this tour the Queen attended celebrations at Waitangi and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council was established as New Zealand's gift to the Queen.
- 12-30 March, 1970: The Queen participated in the James Cook bicentenary celebrations and introduced The Prince of Wales and The Princess Anne to New Zealand. This tour marked the first 'walk-about' in a Royal visit.
- 30 January - 8 February, 1974: The Queen attended, and indeed closed the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch and participated in New Zealand Day events at Waitangi.
- 22 February - 7 March, 1977: This was a Commonwealth tour designed to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
- 12-20 October, 1981: A short visit which followed a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Melbourne.
- 22 February - 2 March, 1986: A routine visit which coincided with the centennial of the New Zealand Police.
- 1-16 February, 1990: The Queen closed the Commonwealth Games in Auckland and took part in the events marking the sesquicentennial of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- 1-10 November, 1995: The Queen attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Auckland and the opening and refurbished of Parliament Buildings (2 November 1995).
- 22-27 February 2002: The Queen visits New Zealand as part of the commemoration of her 50th Jubilee.
Further, other members of the Royal Family tour New Zealand either on official state duties, or at the request of charitable organizations, military regiments, and the like. For example, The Princess Royal visited in 1990 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on Anzac Day, and Prince William visited in 2005, representing the Queen of New Zealand at VE and VJ Day commemorations. The Earl of Wessex, who also visited in 1990, with the Queen, to open the Commonwealth Games, spent two terms as a house tutor and junior master at the Collegiate School, in Wanganui, in 1982.
Prince William began his first official visit to New Zealand on June 30, 2005, staying in the country for an 11 day tour. While there he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to mark the end of the second World War, and met with war veterans. William also attended an All Blacks practice, lunched with them, and watched a match against the British and Irish Lions, where the Prince was reported to have supported the Lions. He was supposed to visit a primary school in Arrowtown but his flight was unable to land due to fog so instead he returned to Christchurch and visited Christchurch Boys High School, and later represented his grandmother at a wreath laying ceremony in Auckland.
On November 11, 2006, the Queen dedicated the New Zealand war memorial in London's Hyde Park, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, The Duke of York, and The Princess Royal, as well as the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair. The Queen reviewed a Royal Guard of Honour, formed by the largest contingent of New Zealand forces seen in the UK since Her Majesty's Coronation in 1953.
Legal role
In New Zealand the legal personality of the state is sometimes referred to as "Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand", although the term "the Crown" more often associated with the government acting as a legal entity.
Similarly the oath of allegiance to New Zealand, sworn by new citizens, the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police officers, and parliamentarians, is an oath of allegiance to the monarch as sovereign of New Zealand, and to his/her heirs and successors according to law.
The Oath taker places their allegiance to the continuing State, its laws, etc., as embodied by the Monarch. As the legal personality of the State, the Monarch has obligations to the Oath taker. The Monarch's acceptance of her responsibilities to her subjects is symbolised by the Coronation Oath.
In addition the Monarch also serves as a symbol of the legitimacy of Courts of Justice, and of their judicial authority. An image of the Queen or the Coat of Arms of New Zealand is always displayed in New Zealand courtrooms.
The Crown and the Maori
Many New Zealanders consider the Treaty of Waitangi to be the "Magna Carta" of New Zealand, and as the founding document of the nation. The treaty, signed between over five hundred Maori chiefs and the then British Crown, is often viewed today as an agreement directly between the indigenous peoples and the New Zealand government. Maori constitutional lawyer Moana Jackson has stated that, because the New Zealand government (identified as "Kawanatanga" in the Treaty text) is the body politic enforcing the Treaty and making settlements, "Kawanatanga" is the actual party to the Treaty, not the Crown, despite the fact that the Crown alone holds the executive authority of government.
In the Maori language, the Queen is sometimes referred to as 'Te kotuku-rerenga-tahi', meaning "the white heron of a single flight"; in Maori proverb, the rare white heron is a significant bird seen only once in a lifetime. In 1953, for her Coronation, she was given a kiwi feather Korowai (cloak). The Queen wears this cloak, and also speaks partly in Maori, when attending a powhiri or Maori welcoming ceremony.
Maori petitions to the Crown
Following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a number of petitions were made by Maori directly to the Crown in London. The first such petition occurred in 1882 by northern Chiefs, but was referred back to the New Zealand Government. In 1894, a second petition was made by King Tawhiao of the Kingitanga (Maori King Movement) to Queen Victoria. Maori felt they had a special relationship with their Treaty partner, Queen Victoria, in person, but in this case they met instead with Lord Derby at the Colonial Office who referred the petition back to the New Zealand Government, on the grounds that the Imperial Government no longer had responsibility for such matters. The New Zealand Government dismissed it.
All subsequent petitions taken to the United Kingdom were referred back to the New Zealand Government on the grounds that the Imperial Government no longer had the responsibility for such matters; after the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, which divided the Crown and ended the right of the United Kingdom Parliament to legislate for New Zealand without the latter's consent, this concept became law. In 1977, a group of Wanganui Maori unsuccessfully petitioned the Queen over their claims for the Whanganui River. In 1981, an attempt by the Mana Motuhake Party to directly petition the Queen to "honour the Treaty" was refused by the New Zealand Government. In response, Maori activist Dun Mihaka offered a traditional rebuke by baring his buttocks at the Royal Family.
The Crown and the New Zealand Defence Force
The Crown retains a prominent place within the New Zealand Defence Force, which consists of the New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Navy. Section 5 of the Defence Act 1990 says: "The Governor-General may from time to time, in the name and on behalf of the Sovereign, continue to raise and maintain armed forces, either in New Zealand or elsewhere..." However, section 7 vests "general responsibility" to the Minister of Defence for the power of control of the New Zealand Defence Force, exercised through the Chief of Defence Force.
The Sovereign is head of the armed services. The Governor-General is styled Commander-in-Chief in and over New Zealand, although no specific duties attach to the latter office that does not belong to the office as representative of the Queen. The Sovereign's position and role in the military is reflected by New Zealand naval vessels bearing the prefix Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) (consequently His Majesty's New Zealand Ship during the reign of a king), and all members of the armed forces must swear allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and successors. This means total and unconditional loyalty to the New Zealand Government and the Crown. This reaffirmation of loyalty to the Sovereign, as Head of State, also ensures that the loyalty of servicemen and women as serving members of the Armed Services, regardless of their personal political beliefs, is not given to any one political party, but to the country in the form of the Head of State.
Saluting by soldiers is recognition of the Queen's Commission, being indirectly a salute to the Sovereign through the individual holding Her Majesty the Queen's authority. By returning the salute; it is not only acknowledgment of a salute to the officer personally, but recognition of the fact that through an officer, members have given an outward sign of their loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen, New Zealand and the New Zealand Defence Force.
Members of the Royal Family have presided over many military ceremonies, including Trooping of the Colours, inspections of the troops, and anniversaries of key battles. Whenever Her Majesty is in Wellington she lays a wreath at the New Zealand War Memorial.
Members of the Royal Family have personal experience of life in the British Armed Forces.
As Princess Elizabeth, The Queen joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to be a full-time active member of the Armed Services.The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales have served in the Royal Navy. The Prince of Wales also trained in the Royal Air Force as a pilot. Prince William and Prince Harry have both undergone Army officer training at Sandhurst.
The Duke of York served for over twenty years as an officer in the Royal Navy before leaving the Service in 2001. He is the most recent member of the Royal Family to see active service.
Members of the Royal Family are Colonel-in-Chief; of many New Zealand regiments including: Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers; Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment; Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment; Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals amongst many others. For a more comprehensive list see: List of New Zealand organisations with royal patronage:Honorary Military Appointments
The Queen's husband [His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh] is an Admiral of the Fleet in right of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Field Marshal of the New Zealand Army. He holds these positions as distinct from similar positions held in the United Kingdom and Australia. The offices are not honorary, but neither are they within the normal command structure of the NZDF.
New Zealand Royal Family
The New Zealand Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the New Zealand Monarch; it is a non-resident royal family, those who comprise the group live in the United Kingdom. They carry the style His or Her Majesty (HM), His or Her Royal Highness (HRH), or sometimes The Right Honourable.
Members of the Royal Family in the direct line of succession owe allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand. As such, they are New Zealand subjects, although not strictly New Zealand citizens, and thus do not have an automatic right of abode in New Zealand.
The current New Zealand Royal Family are members of the House of Windsor. The New Zealand Crown is recognised as legally separate from the UK Crown and the two countries along with the sixteen other Commonwealth Realms share the same Monarchy. Thus all the members of the New Zealand Royal Family also comprise the British Royal Family.
Awards
Aside from awards which are personal gifts of the Sovereign, members of the Royal Family are commonly awarded New Zealand honours on a substantive, though sometimes additional (e.g. above the statutory limit) basis (e.g., Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was an additional, not honorary, member of the Order of New Zealand, and various members of the Royal Family are substantive companions of the Queen's Service Order), reflecting the fact that, in theory, all the Queen's subjects, not just New Zealand citizens, are eligible for New Zealand honours:
History
Monarchy in New Zealand dates back to the first half of the nineteenth century.
After Captain Cook's exploration of New Zealand in the late eighteenth century, an increasing number of European settlers came to New Zealand. In 1833, with growing lawlessness amongst traders and settlers, the British government appointed James Busby as British Resident to protect British trading interests.
Despite Busby's presence, trouble increased. In 1840, the British Government sent Captain William Hobson to New Zealand as Lieutenant Governor, to acquire the sovereignty of New Zealand, by way of a treaty with the native Maori chiefs.
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. Over five hundred Maori chiefs signed the treaty as it was taken around the country during the next eight months.
Following the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, the islands of New Zealand became a British colony.
In 1907, New Zealand achieved the status of Dominion, which meant it was a country of the British Empire and later the Commonwealth of Nations, with autonomy in domestic and foreign affairs. The term fell into disuse after the Second World War.
In 1917, letters patent of George V set out the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Governor-General (as the Sovereign's representative) and the Executive Council.
In 1926, the Balfour Declaration at the Imperial Conference in London confirmed the status of New Zealand, along with that of Australia, the Irish Free State, Canada, South Africa and Newfoundland, as self-governing Dominions under the British Crown.
The Statute of Westminster in 1931, an act of the British Parliament, gave legal form to this declaration. It gave New Zealand and other Dominions the authority to make their own laws. New Zealand ratified the Statute in 1947, after the passing of the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947
The Royal Titles Act 1953 first introduced a New Zealand royal title for use by the Queen, and the Royal Titles Act 1974 altering the style borne by the Queen in New Zealand.
A personal flag for use by the Queen in New Zealand was adopted in 1962. It features the shield design of the New Zealand coat of arms in the form of an oblong or square. Superimposed in the centre is a dark blue roundel bearing an initial E surmounted by a Royal crown within a gold chaplet of roses.
More recently, the Constitution Act 1986 has become the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitution. This Act recognises that the Queen, the Sovereign in right of New Zealand, is the Head of State of New Zealand and that the Governor-General appointed by her is her representative. Each can, in general, exercise all the powers of the other. However the appointment of the governor-general is only done by the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Monarchs of New Zealand
For the main article see List of New Zealand monarchs.
A list of monarchs of New Zealand:
Debate
Unlike in Australia, where republican sentiment has been stronger, there is little agitation for ending the role of the monarchy in New Zealand. There was some reduction in support for the monarchy during the 1990s.
None of the major political parties currently in Parliament have a stated policy of creating a republic, although some Members of Parliament have publicly expressed their opposition to New Zealand remaining a monarchy. The former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, opined that New Zealand will become a republic eventually. Current Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key has said he is "Not convinced it [a republic] will be a big issue in the short term", and that he thinks a republic is "inevitable".
New Zealand has two special-interest groups representing both sides of the debate, who argue the issue in the media from time to time: The Monarchist League of New Zealand and Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The New Zealand public are generally in favour of the retention of the monarchy, with recent polls showing it to have between 50 and 60% support. Polls indicate that many New Zealanders see the Monarchy as being of little day-to-day relevance. A One News Colmar Brunton poll in 2002 found that 58% of the population believed the monarchy has little or no relevance to their lives.
However, the institution still enjoys the support of many New Zealanders, particularly older ones (those born before the Second World War). With the popularity of the current Monarch, and the position of the Treaty of Waitangi under a republic remaining a concern to many Maori and other New Zealanders alike, as well as the question of what constitutional form a republic might take unresolved, support for becoming a republic is still the view of only around a third to 40% of the population. On 21 April 2008 the Republican Movement released a poll of New Zealanders showing 43% support the monarchy should Prince Charles become King, and 41% support a republic under the same scenario.
New Zealand organisations with Royal Patronage
To receive Royal Patronage, an organisation must prove to be long lasting, and to be of the highest standard in their field. These organisations such as the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association, have received patronage from various monarchs and their families.
See also
Other realms
New Zealand
Other
Bibliography
- Cox, Noel; "The control of advice to the Crown and the development of executive independence in New Zealand"; Bond Law Review; Vol. 13, No. 1; 2001
Footnotes
External links
- website, main page of section deovted to the Queen's constitutional role, symbols, visits and photos in New Zealand
- by Noel Cox published in Monarchy magazine.
-
-
-
|
| |
|
|
