NB: A summary can never be as nuanced as a full discussion - if time permits please read the whole document here, or at least the bits that may interest you the most!
Why Go Principality?
Strategic benefits:
- allowing a better cultural and legal fit and a stronger sense of regional identity
- providing a mandate for national development for better support, growth and governance, with the support of local high-level Officers to actively boost recruitment, retention and operations
In-game benefits:
- local representation and inspiration with local, known Royalty
- greater equity by spreading Royal activity across groups and enabling better access to Royalty
- grow greater confidence/experience in newer groups through handling Coronet events to be able to host Crown events
- making a Royal role more attractive and attainable, through having significantly-reduced financial, energy and logistical demands compared to Crown
Administrative benefits:
- lessening the administrative burden and costs on Kingdom by spreading the load and reducing managerial complexities
- addressing increasing complexity and demands as a result of mundane law changes, minimising side-effects of changes across the Tasman
- resources invested to achieve better results, providing encouragement, planning and growth
What’s needed according to Corpora?
- have at least 100 members
Between 2012-2017, NZ had a stable subscribing adult membership of around 160-170; by early 2020 this had grown to 214 and by late 2023 it was 249, in spite of Covid effects during that period. Allow around 25% for non-member participants, that brings us up to roughly 300 fairly regular players. (On debut, the Crown Principality of Lochac had about 95 members; a decade after going Principality, Insulae Draconis had 205.)
- fill all required Officer positions
We have maintained and grown our own groups for over 40 years and, for the past 20 years have also staffed SCANZ and contributed a great many Kingdom Officers. During the latter period, we've also more than trebled our membership. Six Principality Officers would be needed; some equivalent roles have already been in place for many years (eg NZ Exchequer) and some could be combined. That is, in a Principality, an officer is permitted to hold other offices, provided it makes sense and workload permits. (See the main document for an extended discussion of concerns and responses.)
- have a name and device registered with the College of Arms
Proposed names and devices could be polled for acceptance and one or more adopted as regional populace names and badges or simply held for when/if actually required. See the winnowed set of name and device ideas recommended and informally surveyed in 2023.
- demonstrate a consensus favouring advancement across the relevant membership
An informal survey in 2023 with 137 responses (about 55% of SCANZ's subscribing membership count) showed more than 80% support from respondents for the idea of forming an NZ Principality. This followed an earlier informal survey in 2020 which indicated 57% support with 23% neutral and 20% opposed. If/when further work proceeds and most ducks are lined up, a formal poll would be conducted by the Kingdom Seneschal - only that formal poll would be binding. (See Informal Survey Analysis)
- demonstrate a record of well-attended events together with regular study or guild meetings, demonstrations, and other educational activities for the benefit of the members and the community at large
New Zealand groups have done this for over 40 years.
- have sufficient members of the orders conferring Patents of Arms to foster the development of those orders and the skills they represent within the Principality
As of October 2020, NZ had 48 Peers (24% double+); around 92% active to various degrees. They are evenly spread north-south. (On debut, the Principality of Lochac had 16 Peers.) Kiwis have served as Clerks of every Order, and NZ has second-generation Peers.
- have sufficient fighters of such calibre as to provide appropriate competition
(Updated Mar '21): NZ currently has 33 authorised heavy fighters, around 10-20 regularly attend fighters’ practices across our four groups. (cf Crown Tourney lists range from 7-15; the 2017-2019 average was 12; Darton Crown 2019 fielded 7 NZ fighters out of 12 total in the lists).
For reference, the Principality of Insulae Draconis (UK/Ireland/Iceland) has 37 authorised fighters and typically 10-12 contest the Coronet tourney, though it has been as low as half a dozen.
- a body of Principality Law which provides for the maintenance and succession of the Coronet, and for any other matters delegated or permitted by the parent Kingdom
There are plenty of models to work from and plenty of capability to create this.
Can we have an Alternative Selection Process other than/in addition to rattan combat?
Widespread support to date for an alternative selection process has been based on the desire for a more inclusive, broader-based method of choosing a Coronet, to attract new people, energise current members and chart a more culturally-appropriate way forward. The SCA (US)-SCANZ affiliation agreement specifically delegates to SCANZ the ability to …authorize a branch or group of branches to experiment with a non-standard class of organization. This or current Kingdom-led initiatives may open a door but considerable local and international consultation would also be needed.
Some possible alternative selection processes (or combinations thereof):
- Champion format: permitting a heavy fighter to represent a couple
- Triple prowess: rotate tourneys sequentially through heavy, rapier and target archery forms over each term
- A&S championship
- A voting system or a lottery or combination (see Venetian Voting in main doc)
- Auction
- Wait-listed
- Lottery-Champion format - a combination of the best features of both
See this comparison table (PDF) of possible formats.
Will going Principality affect our relationship with the Crown and Kingdom?
There’s nothing to stop Kiwis hosting or entering Crown events (a Principality might strengthen our capabilities for both). Interaction with Crowns always depends primarily on individual Crowns. Experience in Insulae Draconis (UK, Ireland, Iceland) over the past decade has suggested increased interest from Crowns after they went Principality, rather than the opposite.
Reign Period
Strong recommendation to consider a nine-month term - the model adopted in Insulae Draconis - most especially to cycle Coronet selection through the year to avoid group/event capture, and to make Coronet travel/projects more manageable. Also strong suggestions to have a combined Coronet selection plus Investiture ("Coronetiture") event rather than having two separate events; this is the practice in Insulae Draconis for example. (NB: a Crown has a Coronation, a Coronet has an Investiture).
Do we have the resources to support a Principality?
As of 31 March 2020, NZ group balances totalled $49,000 and SCANZ had almost $27,000 (both roughly doubled during the past decade). NZ can well afford to support likely establishment and running costs and has the skills needed to create worthy regalia, heraldry, ceremonies, awards...
Can one group go it alone while the rest join a Principality?
Such a decision would ultimately rest with the Kingdom Seneschal based on the results of a formal membership poll - but one group being able to opt out when the rest are keen to go ahead is not likely to be an option.
The main factors requiring an all-or-none move relate to the need for contiguous geography, viable numbers, regional coherency and national jurisdiction.
Depending on the poll results, such a scenario might be addressed by attempting to tackle/mitigate any major concerns raised; postponing or delaying any move for further discussions; or going ahead if the consequences of abandoning a transition are seen as too severe when the idea is well-supported everywhere else.
Where do we go from here?
The first informal survey in 2020 indicated sufficient interest to consider further work on the concept. This led to more discussion, formation of working groups, feedback and iterations with the aim of developing a widely-consulted, acceptable Principality bid. The 2023 informal survey confirmed ongoing support and thus is likely to lead to future discussion and development work and possibly further informal surveys.
If or when that process comes to fruition, we can then request a formal poll administered by the Kingdom Seneschal to gauge overall support for an active move to Principality status.
For more details on the discussion and formation process, see Bartholomew's Roadmap.