Royal visit

BEING a ‘‘hardened curmudgeon’’ with an overdose of ‘‘egalitarian tendencies’’, there is much I would take issue with in your editorial about the latest royal visit, ‘‘An engaging and delightful visit’’ (3.11.18).

But if spending $1 million of taxpayers’ money on polishing the institution of the monarchy is acceptable to those who are fans of royal celebrity, then I ask that $1 million be spent promoting Aotearoa New Zealand becoming a republic with a New Zealander as head of state.

The hard thinking has been done by, amongst others, Geoffrey Palmer and Andrew Butler (‘‘Towards Democratic Renewal’’), now we need dialogue and engagement at all levels of civil society, including in the press. David Mayhew

Queenstown