Divergent views on the monarchy
As Britain and the Commonwealth prepare for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, dissenting views on the strength of feeling about the monarchy and its ongoing role in New Zealand are emerging.
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Monday, September 19, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: sale of McCahon breaks record; majority of mayoral candidates willing to spend ratepayers’ money on climate change; new poll on Wellington mayoralty; but first, views diverge on national grief in UK and republic debate in NZ.
Jacinda Ardern told BBC that any move towards beoming a republic would not be “quick or soon” (Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro)
Vast chasm between traditional media and social media response to Queen’s death
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will take place tonight (NZT). 1News, Newshub and RNZ will carry it live. It will also stream on the Herald. There are currently 146 people waiting for the stream to start on YouTube. I imagine many of you will join millions around the world in watching it. There will be no surprises, the plans carefully laid out for years. Simultaneously there will be an entirely expected and also very volatile response to it all online. If the last ten days have been characterised by anything for me, it has been the marked contrast between an adherence to protocol by traditional media and the total abandonment of it on social media. I’ve been so struck by it, perhaps because it’s the most significant death of a member of the royal family in the age of social media that I’ve written about it on The Spinoff this morning.
Coverage of the queue and a dissenting view
British broadcasters are gearing up for what some are picking will be the biggest television event in British history. Broadcasters from smaller countries are desperately trying to secure space. Apparently there’s been “demand for stereotypically plummy voiced British “royal experts” who can explain various traditions to overseas viewers.” Stuff’s Andrea Vance has a report from the most famous queue in the world at the moment, while this perspective from social psychologist Stephen Reicher offers an alternative view. Reicher outlines some reasons why people might be gathering that aren’t about a nation united by a singular sentiment or national grief.
The rumblings of the republic debate
Appearing on the BBC last night, prime minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about New Zealand becoming a republic. “My observation is that there will continue to be an evolution in our relationship. I don't believe that it will be quick or soon, but over the course of my lifetime," Ardern said. Various points of view are being proffered here in New Zealand with Ben Thomas making the case for retaining the monarchy as a lesser of two evils, while Thomas Coughlan (paywalled) takes a look at the likely political pathways to even starting the process. In Australia, some are wondering if Anthony Albanese’s commitment to moving the country towards becoming a republic is being dimmed by the response to the Queen’s death. He’s now said there will be no referendum on the matter in his first term. Malcolm Farr writes “The pageantry of the royal succession process has all but eliminated debate on an Australian republic.”
The role of Te Tiriti in the republic debate
The latest episode of RNZ's Focus on Politics is worth a listen for a broad range of perspectives on how we might handle both the debate and process around becoming a republic and the role of the Treaty in it. Former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, says if Australia becomes a republic, New Zealand will likely follow suit although he notes that the “process of decolonisation, or the shadow of it, is not yet quite complete in this country and I think you ought ... to be seen to be in charge of your own system." Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi says New Zealand as a nation just needs to be mature enough to have those conversations about the Crown and the Treaty of Waitangi. Te Matahiapo Safari Hynes was part of the Māori Constitutional Convention last year and raises concerns about what impulsive calls for a republic would mean for Te Tiriti.
Catch up with Ngā Kōrero Whai Take
Created in partnership with Massey University, Conversations that Count –Ngā Kōrero Whai Take offers insight and information on a range of topics impacting Aotearoa and te ao whānui. The final episode of our third season is out this Wednesday, looking at the purpose and challenges of the movement to revitalise te reo Māori. Subscribe to get the episode in your podcast feed on Wednesday, and listen to the earlier episodes on your preferred podcast platform today.
Sale of McCahon from BNZ art collection breaks record
Yesterday, a work from the BNZ art collection, Colin McCahon’s 1982 painting Is There Anything of Which One Can Say, Look, This Is New? broke the record for the most expensive artwork sold at auction in New Zealand, selling for $2.45m. The entire collection is going to auction and as the Herald’s Jane Phare reported (paywalled) on Saturday, there are questions being raised about whether it should be being sold in this way in the first place. The collection was purchased when the bank was state-owned and is a culturally significant collection, curated by the late Peter McLeavey. We don’t have incentives for cultural gifting in New Zealand, which in countries like Australia and the UK, provide tax deductions if work is gifted to museums or galleries. Proceeds from the sale of the collection will be used to establish the BNZ Foundation.
Mayoral candidates supportive of spending on climate change initiatives
A survey sent out by Local Democracy Reporting has found that 71.8% of mayoral candidates would be willing to spend ratepayers' money on doing something about climate change. Candidate support for better public transport, electric vehicles (EVs) and kerbside compost collection ran across political and urban and rural divides. Rural candidates were more supportive of these initiatives than urban candidates. The survey was sent out to all 291 mayoral candidates and garnered 202 responses, representing a 69% response rate.
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Wellington mayoralty poll results make race too close to call
Back in May, former mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast said her gut feel about the Wellington mayoralty was that it would be a two-horse race between the incumbent, Andy Foster and current Labour MP Paul Eagle. TVNZ’s Q&A poll was released on Sunday and Eagle and former green party chief of staff, Tory Whanau are ahead of Foster. The poll of 500 Wellingtonians has Eagle and Whanau in a “statistically too close to call” race, although it's worth noting the number of undecided voters is high, at 35%. Those polled were able to rank their preferences in keeping with Wellington’s use of the single transferable vote system (STV). Please enjoy these pitches for the job from Foster, Eagle and Whanau in poem form.
Click and collect
First direct, non-stop flight from Auckland to New York lands where it was meant to.
Study underway to evaluate efficacy of Pfizer Covid vaccine in New Zealand.
Workers returning to Kawerau mill this morning after lockout.
How much supermarkets could be fined for not complying with proposed government rules (paywalled).
New rules to protect NZ's most-productive farmland welcomed.
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Netball test to go ahead minus one game and only in Auckland
The netball series between the Silver Ferns and the Jamaican team will go ahead but with one less game. Passport issues prevented the Jamaican team being able to travel in time for the scheduled game on Saturday night in Hamilton. Both games will now take place in Auckland. The first test is on Wednesday night on the North Shore and the second test will be played at the Pulman Arena in South Auckland on Thursday night.
Would now be an appropriate time to do away with Queens Birthday as a public holiday, as Matariki will mean the number stays the same as previous years to 2022.