If New Zealand became a republic its membership of the Commonwealth of Nations would be unaffected . Since the creation of the modern Commonwealth in 1949 , republics are able to be members of the Commonwealth , recognising the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth . Following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007 , the Kampala Communiqué stated " Heads of Government also agreed that , where an existing member changes its formal constitutional status , it should not have to reapply for Commonwealth membership provided that it continues to meet all the criteria for membership . " In November 2004 , Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the formation of a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the constitution , chaired by United Future New Zealand leader Peter Dunne . In its final report , the committee recommended wider education on the constitution and included a note on the republic issue , asking " Is the nature of New Zealand 's head of state , as a monarch , appropriate to New Zealand 's evolving national and constitutional identity ? "
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007
Republicanism in New Zealand