Tributes flow for Elizabeth's record-breaking reign

The Queen, wearing a traditional Maori cloak, arriving at Rehua Marae in Christchurch with the Duke of Edinburgh and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, 2002. Photo / Mark mitchel

Queen Elizabeth II first visited NZ more than 60 years ago.

A Queen who stuck with her own style over a period extending from the Turing machine to the Samsung Galaxy - New Zealand's record-breaking monarch is being hailed as an emblem of stability in an era of change.

Queen Elizabeth II has become the longest-reigning monarch in British history - her 23,226-day reign eclipsing that of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

Sheep were spray-painted in red, blue and white by enthusiastic locals during her inaugural visit in 1953-54 and, although the Union Jack could now be dropped from the flag, Parliament formally congratulated the Queen yesterday.

Labour leader Andrew Little, who recalled as an 11-year-old meeting the Queen during her walkabout in New Plymouth, said she provided stability during a period of unprecedented change.

"From [Winston] Churchill to [David] Cameron, from the Turing machine to the Samsung 6, 7 or 8 ... from Elvis to Ed Sheeran. And yet, after more than 63 years on the throne, the monarchy in Britain has never been more accepted, never been more secure and never been more respected."

Dame Cath Tizard, New Zealand's first female Governor-General, told the Herald the Queen "has given her whole life to it and done a magnificent job, and I wish her well".

"I think she has her own style and her own standards, and she sticks to them. We have had a few laughs between us, particularly when the Duke is around."

Queen Elizabeth, now 89, took the throne at the age of 25. During the first of her 10 visits to New Zealand she was greeted by adoring crowds.

About three out of every four New Zealanders saw the Queen as she visited 46 centres and attended 110 functions. Tirau's population of 600 swelled to 10,000.

"Roads were sealed so she could drive along them," former Prime Minister David Lange, who sang for the Queen as a schoolboy, later recalled.

"Or in the case of the road from Kaikohe to Whangarei, the half she drove on was sealed and the other half finished many years afterwards."

Dr Sean Palmer of Monarchy NZ said the Queen had visited most of the country multiple times.

"I think the Queen has been much closer to the people of New Zealand than she has ever been able to get with crowds in the UK [because of] security concerns and formality and protocol.

"The monarchy ... is less formal, it is less focused on protocol here, even though it is made up of the same people."

Republic one day, but not yet

New Zealand should one day become a republic but most people are not ready for that step, Labour leader Andrew Little says.

"I think most New Zealanders are comfortable with where we are, and I think largely because of the Queen we've got," Mr Little said.

In November 2013, delegates at Labour's annual conference agreed to a remit on a proposal to hold a binding referendum on whether to ditch the monarchy on the death of the Queen.

But, Mr Little said, "it is certainly not something that we are thinking about".

Labour now opposes a flag change - Mr Little said he did not believe it was appropriate to remove the Union Jack without also changing New Zealand's constitution.

Lewis Holden, former chairman of the Republican Movement and Change the Flag campaigner, said he personally felt the flag change process was a good opportunity to examine our constitution.

"But there are quite a few people who see it differently, as just a symbol," Mr Holden said.
"Canada changed its flag but kept the monarchy."