June 09, 2022
Racism expected in republic debate
Crown Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis expects any debate about cutting ties with the monarchy will be tough – but it’s worth having,
Talk of a republic has resurfaced as people look beyond the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Mr Davis says he has nothing against Queen Elizabeth, but she lives on the other side of the world and her activities or those of her family have little to no relevance to him or most people in his whānau.
He says the debate over changing New Zealand’s flag showed the sort of heat constitutional issues can generate, especially when the future status of the Treaty of Waitangi is a factor.
“It’s not a conversation that will be full of common sense and rational argument. It will be full of hyperbole, it will be full of racist rhetoric. It will be full of attachment to the British Empire and all that sort of carry on. That’s not an excuse for shying away from the conversation. We’ve just got to be prepared,” Mr Davis says.
Becoming a republic is a way to bring the country together as a mature nation- though he expects Opposition parties to sow division.