Tigy’s Blog

I find it strange that things like this, these defining events in a nations identity and therefore the identity of its citizens, are not taught in schools. Or at least weren’t taught when I was there. But for those of you who care November 25th is officially the date New Zealand became independent of Britain. Yay!

The independence of New Zealand and the other dominions, was recommended by the 1926 Balfour Declaration and implemented in the 1931 Statute of Westminster which was ratified on November 25, 1947.

The last barrier to complete legislative freedom was also removed in 1947 with the passage through the British Parliament of the New Zealand Constitution (Amendment) Act, giving the New Zealand Parliament the power to modify its own constitution.

The act also created New Zealand an independent constitutional monarchy, with the monarch of the United Kingdom remaining the monarch of New Zealand. New Zealand’s monarchy is legally separate from that of the United Kingdom.