New Zealand - brown noser?

**Storm** · 14th December 2004, 17:24

Go the Royal New Zealand Engineers- Ubique !!

The gunners are also a Royal unit, as well as others I cant recall right now

**Hitcher** · 14th December 2004, 18:27

Originally Posted by Storm

Go the Royal New Zealand Engineers- Ubique !!
The gunners are also a Royal unit, as well as others I cant recall right now

Durr, maybe all of the Army's corps start with or have the word "Royal" in their official title? Funny that...

**MikeL** · 14th December 2004, 20:05

JR is right. The whole Republic/Queen thingy has become a big yawn. Considering all the other challenges this country faces, trivial constitutional niceties have become irrelevant. So has Britain, for that matter...

**James Deuce** · 14th December 2004, 20:10

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

individual units do though I think!

"Elizabeth the Second, by Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the commenwealth, Defender of the Faith-"

this is what it states on my commisioning parchment as the Navy is Royal. I like the defender of the faith bit.

The Navy and Air Force have Royal warrants, hence RNZN, and RNZAF. The NZ Army is just that. NZ Army.

There used to be units, such as EME who had a unit warrant, but I don't believe that is the case anymore.

Officers have the option of swearing allegience to the Queen of New Zealand, however, ultimate responsibility for the decision making process of the NZ Army rests with the PM's office, not the Governor General.

When I worked for the Army as a civilian, this was drummed home fairly hard in the familiarisation course I had to do.

**Wellyman** · 14th December 2004, 20:16

Originally Posted by spudchucka

I'm all for dumping the Monarchy and having a fancy new flag but the thought of Aunty Helen as our first "President" is very disturbing to me.

Aunty Helen

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th December 2004, 20:53

Well I love the British empire, but maybe I'm just an oldschool knob

(I am a pom just in case you did'nt know)
But I would love New Zealand to become a republic for the sole reason for the treaty to go out the window, no crown, no treaty

-Indy

**MikeL** · 14th December 2004, 20:57

You Helen-haters need to be more specific. What exactly gets up your collective nose?

Is it that she's more intelligent than you?

Or perhaps because she's a woman. But some of you must have raved over Ruth Richardson with her pathetic attempt to mould herself in the Thatcher image, not to mention her "mother of all budgets". And you would at least have tolerated Schoolmarm Shipley.

Or is it because she's had the balls to bring in controversial legislation that National wouldn't touch with a barge-pole because it might alienate a few voters?

Or just her consummate political skill (how many National party leaders will come and go while she still leads Labour??).

Is it personality or policies??

**jrandom** · 14th December 2004, 21:03

I think people (and have you noticed it's almost ALWAYS men?) don't like Helen because she's, well, *Helen*. The ultimate threatening, intellectually dominant female that makes our testicles want to just keep on recedin'...

*I* think she's a great polly. I've never seen her do or say anything that significantly lowers her in my estimation. If she's a slimy dodgeball, she's a slimy dodgeball with the world's best PR department.

Of course, I'm not in any way implying any personal position in relation to Labour's policies by making that statement. But then, isn't it interesting that all the Helen-bashers never do, either?

**Indiana_Jones** · 14th December 2004, 21:05

Well she's too lefty for me, but I'm just a right wing dick. The only thing I liked about her was locking Zowie up.

-Indy

**avgas** · 14th December 2004, 21:10

Originally Posted by MikeL

You Helen-haters need to be more specific. What exactly gets up your collective nose?

Is it that she's more intelligent than you?

Or perhaps because she's a woman. But some of you must have raved over Ruth Richardson with her pathetic attempt to mould herself in the Thatcher image, not to mention her "mother of all budgets". And you would at least have tolerated Schoolmarm Shipley.

Or is it because she's had the balls to bring in controversial legislation that National wouldn't touch with a barge-pole because it might alienate a few voters?

Or just her consummate political skill (how many National party leaders will come and go while she still leads Labour??).

Is it personality or policies??

I sort of agree here, dont hate the player, hate the game
Bring in communism
No wait that didnt come out right.
But either way we have more political members then we have law abiding citizens. At least the queen acts like royalty.
Shame about princess di, she was a lovely lady.
Lets see our PM hug a lepur
Thats my random thoughts for the night

**James Deuce** · 14th December 2004, 21:12

Originally Posted by avgas

I sort of agree here, dont hate the player, hate the game
Bring in communism
No wait that didnt come out right.
But either way we have more political members then we have law abiding citizens. At least the queen acts like royalty.
Shame about princess di, she was a lovely lady.
Lets see our PM hug a lepur
Thats my random thoughts for the night

Clever people don't hug lepers.

**MikeL** · 14th December 2004, 21:22

Originally Posted by Jim2

Clever people don't hug lepers.

It's a common fallacy that leprosy (or Hansen's disease, as we politically-correct, non-Bible-quoting progressives prefer to call it) is highly contagious.
In fact years of close contact are often required for the disease to be transmitted. I doubt that Lady Di was in any real danger. I'm sure that Helen would cheerfully hug a leper if she thought it expedient...

**James Deuce** · 14th December 2004, 21:25

Originally Posted by MikeL

It's a common fallacy that leprosy (or Hansen's disease, as we politically-correct, non-Bible-quoting progressives prefer to call it) is highly contagious.
In fact years of close contact are often required for the disease to be transmitted. I doubt that Lady Di was in any real danger. I'm sure that Helen would cheerfully hug a leper if she thought it expedient...

Thanks for stomping on the point Mike. Remind me to return the favour. Irrespective of contagion, it's disquieting to give someone kiss and end up with 3 lips.