Motions — His Majesty King Charles III—Coronation

A further point of order, Mr Speaker. Following a Business Committee discussion, I seek leave to move a motion without notice congratulating His Majesty, following his recent coronation.

💬 SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.

I move, That this House congratulate His Majesty the King on the occasion of his coronation.

On 6 May, I was privileged to attend the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. It was a rare and special event. The previous coronation, of Queen Elizabeth II, took place 70 years ago, in 1953. The world is a very different place now to what it was in 1953, and the coronation provided an opportunity to reflect on history as well as to look ahead to the future.

King Charles automatically became the King of New Zealand on 8 September last year, following the death of the late Queen. The coronation was a celebration of his accession to the throne not just of the United Kingdom but as head of State of 15 nations around the world, including our own. Those nations span across three different continents. It was a great source of pride to see New Zealand’s Defence Force personnel marching in the procession and to have New Zealand represented among the guests.

Attending in London and being able to meet personally with the King reinforced to me his genuine interest in our people and his awareness of our place in the world. The King and other members of the royal family have been closely following our recovery from the recent Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, and King Charles’ passion around environmental issues, including climate change, was clearly very evident in our discussions.

King Charles has visited New Zealand 10 times, and he has a strong personal commitment to Aotearoa. The themes he selected for his coronation were youth, diversity, and sustainability—themes which also resonate strongly with New Zealanders.

While not everyone in our nation, or even in this House, shares similar views on the role of the monarchy in a modern society—and public debate will, undoubtedly, continue on that topic—I’m sure that everyone will join with me in congratulating His Majesty on this significant milestone. The coronation was a moment where the King publicly took oaths of service and duty. I know that he takes those oaths seriously and deeply personally. I wish King Charles well in his role, and I send the warmest wishes and congratulations to His Majesty and to the Queen for the lives of service that they have committed to, on behalf of all New Zealanders.

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Point of order. Kia ora—[Interruption]

Members, I was informed this morning that all parties had agreed to that by Te Paati Māori. I was subsequently informed by a number of parties that that was not the case. Given that it happened anyway, I have limited ability to address it except Rawiri Waititi will leave the Chamber.

Rawiri Waititi withdrew from the Chamber.

And Debbie Ngarewa-Packer will leave the Chamber as well.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer withdrew from the Chamber.

It is a pleasure, on behalf of the National Party, to support this motion congratulating New Zealand’s head of State, His Majesty King Charles III, on his coronation. Like the Prime Minister, last Saturday I had the privilege and honour of attending the King’s coronation in Westminster Abbey, and it was a historic occasion in a very beautiful and ancient building. The coronation reminded me once again of that acknowledgment that New Zealanders so often make after watching a royal event, and that is that no one can do it quite like the British. All of it was spectacular, from the carriages and parades outside the abbey, to the magnificent choristers and flowers inside, and both inside and outside there was a real sense of joy and celebration. But I also agree with the sentiments of the Prince of Wales. Prince William said, “For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: service.”

Almost all King Charles’ life has been about service—first, as Britain’s longest-serving Prince of Wales, giving support and strength to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, but he has been serving Britain and the Commonwealth for a long time. In 1952, at the age of three, he became heir apparent, the next in line to the throne. At 16, he undertook his first official royal duty and he has not stopped serving since. He has been patron or president of more than 800 causes that matter to him, and the coronation also symbolised King Charles’ role as head of the Church of England. His Christian faith is important to him, but the coronation included roles for all major faiths, and that message of religious acceptance and inclusion is so important.

King Charles is also a conservationist, an accomplished artist, a musician, and an equestrian, and I’m sure all these interests will shape his regency. He is a husband, a father, and a grandfather, and he has stepchildren and step-grandchildren. Like with every family everywhere, things don’t always run smoothly, and his family has the added burden of being unrelentingly in the public eye. But throughout it all, his service to his late mother, the Queen, and to Britain and to the Commonwealth, which he now heads, has been unwavering. He has made many visits to New Zealand, and the royal family closely follow events here. I am sure the King understands the significance of the Crown’s relationship with Māori as signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi.

I have said publicly that I believe that at some point New Zealand will become a republic, and, should we step away from the monarchy, it will not be a negative reflection of whoever is on the throne at that time; in fact, it will be a sign of the monarchy’s success in having helped shape the successful, tolerant, open, and independent country that New Zealand is today. But that is not a here and now discussion. Here and now is the celebration of our new King. He is and will continue to be an important presence in all of our lives, and I feel sure he will serve New Zealand, Britain, and the Commonwealth well, as did his mother before him and her father before that.

So, on behalf of the National Party, I offer my warmest and most sincere and heartfelt congratulations to King Charles and to Queen Camilla on their coronations. Long live the King.

Debate interrupted.