New Zealand Republic Inc. is an organisation formed in 1994 whose object is to support the creation of a New Zealand republic. The campaign chair is Lewis Holden, an Auckland political activist and businessman. The organisation is not aligned with any political party, its members and supporters are drawn from across the political spectrum. Aims and principles New Zealand Republic's constitution specifies the following aims and principles: Involving all New Zealanders in the debate; Providing relevant and reliable information; Focusing on ideas, not personalities; Winning a referendum to establish the republic; Creating a republic does not require a codified constitution or any change to the Treaty of Waitangi, Flag of New Zealand or Commonwealth membership. History The organisation was formed in March 1994 and incorporated in February 1995, following National Party Prime Minister Jim Bolger's call for New Zealand to become a republic. Its membership was drawn from many political quarters (including journalist Jonathan Milne and New Zealand First Member of Parliament Deborah Morris), and called the Republican Coalition of New Zealand. Some of the group's members had been involved in the successful campaign of the Electoral Reform Coalition for electoral reform at a referendum in 1993. In 1996, writer Keri Hulme became patron of the group. The group changed its name in 1999, coinciding with an unsuccessful Australian referendum on the same issue, to the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa is a Māori name for New Zealand), and again in 2014 to New Zealand Republic. It participated in the Building the Constitution conference held in 2000, putting forward three recommendations: greater civics education, considering republicanism as an option and continued facilitation of the republic debate. The group was unrelated to the former Republican Association of New Zealand (sometimes called the Republican Movement as well), although Bruce Jesson was a member of New Zealand Republic until his death in 1999. The group attracted controversy in 2008 by expressing disappointment that no member of the Royal Family attended the state funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary. On 21 April 2008 the group released a poll of New Zealanders showing 43% support the monarchy should Prince Charles become king, and 41% support a republic under the same scenario. In October 2008, one week before the general election, the group released the results of an online poll held through a website named "The President of New Zealand". The poll allowed visitors to