Peter Dunne challenges politicians to create New Zealand republicHENRY COOKE/STUFF Peter Dunne delivers his speech: "Seize the moment now and begin the process of wider constitutional reform by committing to our next head of state being the first president of the Republic of New Zealand." Peter Dunne has used his final speech in Parliament to challenge politicians to make the next governor-general the first president of aNew Zealand republic. This made it a golden opportunity to "sever the umbilical cord" and become an independent Commonwealth republic, he said. The way to do this, Dunne believed, was to take the non-partisan governor-general selection process and use it to select a non-executive president. Earlier in his speech Dunne preached the virtues of serious political work and "stubbornness" over showmanship or identity politics.

Source: Stuff December 05, 2017 23:03 UTC