The Republic of New Zealand Party is an unregistered New Zealand political party which seeks to end monarchy in New Zealand. It was a registered party from 2005 to 2009, contesting two general elections in that time and each time receiving the lowest share of the party vote. After deregistration, some members continued in politics under the party name as recently as 2017.
Policies
A 2005 New Zealand Herald article said: "The party's aim is simple: to cut all ties with the British monarchy and install a New Zealander as head of state. A president, elected at large by the citizens, would replace the Governor-General as a figurehead, with parliament continuing as normal." The party also sought to strip the Treaty of Waitangi of any constitutional status, replacing it with a new constitution. It also supported binding referendums, wanting to hold one every six months, and wanted to mend relationships with the USA and allow nuclear-propelled ships into New Zealand waters. It identified most strongly with New Zealand First of all the parliamentary parties.
Creation
The Republic of New Zealand Party was formed in April 2005 through the merger of two republican groups. Its first leader was John Kairau. In August 2005, the party claimed to have 3,000 members.
Time as a registered party
In the 2005 elections, the party won 344 party votes or 0.02%, the lowest party vote count of any registered party. The party also did not win any electorate seats, so did not meet the threshold required to enter parliament. In the 2008 elections the party polled even worse; it received 313 party votes or 0.01%, which again was the worst party vote result. The party's registration was cancelled in 2009.
After deregistration
Despite deregistering, a handful of the party's members remained active under its name, including burning the New Zealand flag at parliament in a protest in March 2010. The party's former deputy leader Jack Gielen, who had run for Mayor of Hamilton in 2007, did so again in 2010. He placed last with 404 votes. During the campaign doubts were raised over Gielen's claims that he was "New Zealand Republicans Spokesperson for Mental Health and Suicide prevention." Lewis Holden, chair of New Zealand Republic, said Mr Gielen had nothing to do with the Republican Movement and was "trying to piggyback off" the group. Gielen responded that the Republic of New Zealand Party was trying to get its membership together, saying "we have 200 members. Provided we get 500 members we can be re-registered for the next election. We are the real Republicans because I burnt a flag and told Prince Wills to go home. We look at them as a poser because they are not the real deal." In September 2011, just before the election, the party announced it would merge with the OurNZ Party. However, the merger did not go ahead, and the party issued media releases as an independent entity after that. The Republic of New Zealand Party did not register for the 2011 general election and did not run any candidates. In 2012, media releases indicated the party was working with the Human Rights Party. In the 2017 election, Jack Gielen ran for the Hamilton East electorate, under the Republic of New Zealand Party banner. He came last, getting 65 votes. The party did not apply for a broadcasting allocation for the 2020 election.
