Is New Zealand a Part of Australia?..
There are many people who think that New Zealand is a part of Australia, and once upon a time it was…..
In 1840 the colony of New South Wales extended its jurisdiction to encompass areas in New Zealand, and New South Wales laws then applied to New Zealand, and any new laws passed by the New South Wales Legislative Council also took effect in New Zealand.
However, it was short lasted, as, in 1841 Captain William Hobson became the became Governor of New Zealand, being directly answerable to the British Colonial Office, and not Australia.
The Charter for Erecting the Colony of New Zealand was created on 16 November 1840. Stating that the Colony of New Zealand would be established as a Crown colony separate from New South Wales on 1 July 1841.
The Colony of New Zealand was in effect from 1 July 1841 until 26 September 1907, when New Zealand was declared a dominion.
The next major change was in 1947 when the General Assembly of New Zealand enacted the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947. This Act received the Royal assent on 25 November 1947, and allowed New Zealand to gain its own full independent status.
There was just one tiny technicality, which was removed in 1987 when the New Zealand Constitution Act of 1986 (effective 1 January 1987), “unilaterally revoked all residual United Kingdom legislative power”. Thus, removing the last remaining power that the UK parliament had over New Zealand.
New Zealand Monarchy
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with The Queen as Sovereign.
The Sovereign and the New Zealand House of Representatives together make up the Parliament of New Zealand.
As a constitutional monarch, The Queen of New Zealand acts entirely on the advice of New Zealand Government Ministers.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchandcommonwealth/newzealand/thequeensroleinnewzealand.aspx
The Queen of New Zealand’s formal title is: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
In the Maori language, The Queen is known as Kotuku, which means “the white heron”.
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