New poll results reveal Queen’s possible fate

A new poll carried out by New Zealand Republic has revealed the majority of New Zealanders would prefer to do away with being ruled by the British monarchy and to have an independent head of state instead.

The poll showed 59 per cent of people voted in favour of having an independent head of state, while 34 per cent of people said they would prefer to keep the monarchy when the next head of state is named.

The poll shows an increase in favour of independent rule since March 2014, when 47 per cent of people said they would not keep the monarchy.

Peter Hamilton, chair of New Zealand Republic and the former deputy secretary of foreign affairs and trade said he believed Brexit, the flag debate and the Queen’s age had contributed to the outcome of the vote, Stuff reported.

But Dr Sean Palmer, chair of the organisation Monarchy New Zealand, questioned the result.

The group polled 1,000 people over the age of 18 and were asked: “What is your preference for New Zealand’s next head of state?”.

Of the 59 per cent of people who voted for an independent head of state, 44 per cent of people said they wanted one directly elected, while 15 per cent said they would be happy for the country’s next representative to be parliamentary elected, reports The Independent.

Dr Sean Palmer highlighted that the votes of these two groups had been added together “despite the fact that those two groups may not see eye to eye on anything”.

He told the New Zealand Herald: “They lump them together and declare a great victory.”

Is 1,000 people really enough to make such a decision? Would you ever want to see this happen in Australia?