Former Member of Parliament and National Party Leader, dyljam, addresses a large crowd at the University of Auckland. He speaks on the need for New Zealand to become a republic.

“Hello everyone and thank you for this humbling opportunity to be speaking in front of you here today.”

“New Zealand is a proud and independent nation, however perhaps not as independent as we would like. For the fact is, we have been unable to let go of our British imperialist past. I am not suggesting that we forget our past, or the history we’ve endured, but I do find it uncomfortable and i appropriate that in the 21st century, our Head of State remains the Queen of England.”

“Our Head of State resides over 18,000km away, in a foreign nation. Occasionally, she may visit us briefly, before returning to her palace in the United Kingdom. Now, I do not seek to dishonour the Queen, but I do wish to draw your attention to the absurdity of our current situation.”

“New Zealand is a fair and free democracy, besides the fact that our Head of State is an unelected person, awarded the position simply because she was born to a particular family. And she only has the top job in New Zealand because two hundred years ago the British sought to establish an empire with itself at its core, and invade as many nations as it could get its hands on.”

“So why do we put up with this? Why do we refuse to make progress? Why shouldn’t a New Zealander be the New Zealand Head of State?”

“Well currently, our politicians in Wellington don’t see it that way, for whatever reason. But I do believe that we need a ‘resident for president’, so to speak.”

“I think it’s important to detail what a republic would involve. Our current Westminster-based system would not change. The Prime Minister would remain Head of Government. However, instead of the Queen appointing a Governor-General, the Governor-General, or President, or whatever we would like to call the position, would be elected by the New Zealand people.”

“To achieve such reform, we require grassroots support. We require a public conversation, to encourage discourse. We need to present the facts of the matter, and ensure that mistruths are not used to sway public opinion. This debate must be won on the facts of the matter.”

“We can achieve this monumental change, but it will require hard work. To all of you who support such a change, I urge you all to start a discussion. With your friends, families, neighbours, and the person sitting next to you. We need a national discussion, because it is only with this that we can achieve such an important democratic reform that is so desperately overdue.”

dyljam leaves the stage to rounds of applause and cheers, and stays around to speak to members of the public.