During a post-Cabinet press conference on Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden said that while there might be debate about New Zealand’s future status as a republic, with the British monarch no longer the country’s head of state, she does not see any urgency in the discussion.

“I believe [the transition] is likely to occur in my lifetime. But I don’t see it as a short-term measure or anything that is on the agenda any time soon.” She proceeded to say that New Zealand faces many challenges and therefore such a transition would not occur quickly.

Her comments come just a day after Charles III was officially accepted as the “head of state” of New Zealand, as provided in the constitution of New Zealand.

The Republican debate was initiated in 2016 when 1,200,003 (56.6 percent) of New Zealand voters decided that the state should keep the Union flag-centered emblem, while 915,008 (43.2 percent) opted for the proposed new design by Kyle Lockwood featuring a silver fern.

The question around transition to a Republic also comes after the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda announced intentions to hold a referendum on the respective country becoming a republic within three years.

New Zealand’s Maori Party also recently called for the separation from the monarchy and removal of the British Royal Family as the country’s head of state in February this year, during the 182nd anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi, also known as Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The death of Queen Elizabeth II may therefore reignite demands for New Zealand to transition.