A representative of the foreign monarchy is visiting New Zealand next month, in a visit which is already attracting controversy over the refusal of the government to say how much it will cost. But now its hit the news again, with the Department of Internal Affairs desperately trying to cover up the fact that the foreign monarchy is in fact foreign:
"Attempts to ban the use of Union Jacks during Prince Charles tour of Aotearoa shows the British monarchy's desperation to not be seen as an irrelevant, foreign institution" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.
The Department of Internal Affairs has sent an e-mail to organisers of events for Prince Charles' tour in November stating that there is to be "no use of Union Jacks or bunting."
(Emphasis added)
This is simply pathetic. Everyone knows that the monarchy is a British institution, not a kiwi one. But DIA thinks they can cover up this inconvenient fact for propaganda purposes. Meanwhile, the mere fact that it is a royal visit shows that the monarchy doesn't live here and has nothing to do with the daily life of our country.
OTOH, the fact that the government is trying to tell those-who-still-give-a-shit how they are allowed to celebrate the presence of their feudal overlords perfectly illustrates the fundamentally oppressive nature of the monarchical system, and why we should get rid of it.
