Britain's High Commissioner to New Zealand says the two countries will continue to have shared values and important connections regardless of Aotearoa's constitutional arrangements.
The appointment this week of Dame Cynthia Kiro as New Zealand's next Governor-General again raised the question of whether Aotearoa will one day transition into a republic.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern believes New Zealand will become a republic in her lifetime but has "never sensed an urgency" from Kiwis about it.
"I'm not of the view that in the here and now, in my term of office, that this is something that New Zealanders feel particularly strongly about. I don't know that I've had one person actually raise with me, generally, day to day, the issue of becoming a republic."
In an interview with Newshub Nation this week, British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke said local constitutional arrangements "are not any of my business" and are instead something Kiwis will need to decide on.
"I think what New Zealand does in terms of its head of state is going to be up to the New Zealand Government and the people of New Zealand," she said. "It is really for them to decide what fits best with what they want in modern New Zealand."
But if it was to happen, she doesn't believe it would take away from New Zealand and the United Kingdom's shared values and connections.
"I think the relationship with Britain is so deep and broad. It is based on those historical ties, it is based on all the family and the people-to-people connections, the sporting rivalry. It is based also on shared values and a shared view of the world and a shared vision for the future, I would say," Clarke told Newshub Nation.
"None of those things are changed if New Zealand changes its constitutional arrangements. Those connections remain really important."
When she takes on the Governor-General role in October, Dame Cynthia will be the Queen's representative in New Zealand, a largely ceremonial position. Part of her job includes appointing and dismissing ministers on the Prime Minister's advice as well as summoning Parliament at the start of the term.
Asked on Monday if she thought it was appropriate for Queen Elizabeth II to still be New Zealand's head of state, Dame Cynthia gave a very diplomatic answer.
"Clearly I accept the Queen as the head of State of the Commonwealth and I'm here to support her and I'm here to act in a role as the Governor-General to perform the duty, which is around uniting the country," she said.
"This is the constitution we have, and I look forward to, basically, using it to serve the country."
Dame Cynthia said she wouldn't have taken the role if she wasn't committed to it.
"I'm here and totally committed to fulfilling the constitutional duty that this role recognises and the opportunity to use it while it's available, while it's here, and, as the constitutional head of State, to use it as a unifying message for the country."
