| King ofNew Zealand | |
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| Te Kīngi o Aotearoa (Māori) | |
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| Incumbent | |
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| Charles III Tiāre te Tuatoru (Māori) since 8 September 2022 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty (Māori:Te Arikinui) |
| Heir apparent | William, Prince of Wales |
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Themonarchy of New Zealand[n 1] is theconstitutional system of government in which ahereditary monarch is thesovereign andhead of state ofNew Zealand.[3] The current monarch,King Charles III, acceded to the throne following the death of his mother,Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022 in theUnited Kingdom.[4] The King's elder son,William, Prince of Wales, is theheir apparent.
TheTreaty of Waitangi betweenQueen Victoria andMāori chiefs (rangatira) was signed on 6 February 1840. This laid the foundation for the proclamation ofBritishsovereignty over New Zealand on 21 May 1840; theBritish monarch became New Zealand's head of state. The country gradually becameindependent from Britain and the monarchy evolved to become a distinctly New Zealand institution, represented byunique symbols. The individual who is the New Zealand monarch is currently shared with14 other countries (realms) within theCommonwealth of Nations, in each of which the monarchy is legally separate. As a result, the current monarch isofficially titledKing of New Zealand (Māori:Kīngi o Aotearoa) and, in this capacity, he and other members of theroyal family undertake various public and private functions across theRealm of New Zealand. The King is the only member of the royal family with any constitutional role.
Allexecutiveauthority is vested in the King, andhis assent is required forparliament to enact laws and forletters patent andorders in council to have legal effect. However, the King's authority is subject to theconventional stipulations ofconstitutional monarchy, and his direct participation in these areas of governance is limited.[5] Most of the related powers are instead exercised by the electedmembers of parliament, theministers of the Crown generally drawn from amongst them, and thejudges andjustices of the peace. Other powers vested in the King, such as dismissal of aprime minister, are significant but are treated only asreserve powers and as an important security part of the role of the monarchy.
Since the monarch resides in the United Kingdom (the oldest Commonwealth realm), most of the royal constitutional and ceremonial duties within the Realm of New Zealand are typically carried out by his or her representative, thegovernor-general of New Zealand.[6]
The role of the monarchy is a recurring topic of public discussion.[7] Some New Zealanders think New Zealand shouldbecome a republic with a New Zealand resident as the head of state, while others wish to retain the monarchy.[8]
The Realm of New Zealand is one of theCommonwealth realms, 15 independent members of theCommonwealth of Nations that share the same person assovereign and head of state, and have in common the same royal line of succession. The monarch, currently KingCharles III, resides in the oldest and most populous realm, theUnited Kingdom; however, he and his family have toured New Zealand on occasion.[9][10]
This arrangement emerged during the course of the 20th century. Since the passage of theStatute of Westminster in 1931,[n 2] the pan-national Crown has had both ashared and separate character,[11][12] and the sovereign's role as monarch of New Zealand has been distinct to his or her position as monarch of the United Kingdom.[13] The monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution and has become a separate establishment within New Zealand.[13][14] Nonetheless, for historical reasons, the monarchy and monarch are termed "British" in both legal and common language;[15][16] this conflicts with not only the New Zealand government's recognition of a distinctly New ZealandCrown,[17][18] but also the sovereign's distinct New Zealand title.[19]
On all matters pertaining to the New Zealand state, the monarch is advised solely by New Zealandministers of the Crown,[9] with no input from British or other realms' ministers. One of the state duties carried out on theformal advice of theNew Zealand prime minister is the appointment of thegovernor-general. As the monarch lives outside of New Zealand, the governor-general personally represents the monarch and performs most of his or her domestic duties in their absence,[20] in accordance withLetters Patent 1983.[21] All royal powers in New Zealand may be carried out by both the monarch and governor-general and, in New Zealand law, the two offices are fully interchangeable, mention of one always simultaneously including the other.[22] As of 2021[update], the current Governor-General isDame Cindy Kiro.[23]
Before 1953, the sovereign's title was the same throughout all realms and territories. It was agreed at theCommonwealth Economic Conference in London in December 1952 that each of the Commonwealth realms, including New Zealand, could adopt its own royal titles for the monarch.[24][25] The New Zealand Parliament enacted theRoyal Titles Act in 1953,[19] altering the style borne by QueenElizabeth II and giving her the title ofElizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.[26] Subsequent to the passage of theRoyal Titles Act 1974, the monarch's title in New Zealand is currentlyCharles the Third,By the Grace of God King of New Zealand and of His Other Realms and Territories,Head of the Commonwealth,Defender of the Faith.[27]
Although the King's New Zealand title includes the phrase 'Defender of the Faith', neither the sovereign nor the governor-general has any religious role in New Zealand; there has never been anestablished church in the country.[28] This is one of the key differences from the King's role inEngland, where he issupreme governor of the Church of England.[29][n 3]
As the King's elder son,William, Prince of Wales, is the first in line to the throne.[31] Succession is, for persons born before 28 October 2011, governed bymale-preference cognatic primogeniture and, for those born after 28 October 2011, by absolute primogeniture—wherein succession passes to an individual's children according to birth order, regardless of sex.[32]
Laws governing theline of succession, including theAct of Settlement 1701 andBill of Rights 1689, restrict the throne to the biological,legitimate descendants ofSophia of Hanover, and stipulate that the monarch cannot be aRoman Catholic and must be in communion with (i.e. a member of) theChurch of England upon accession. Through theadoption of the Statute of Westminster (later repealed in New Zealand) and theImperial Laws Application Act 1988, these constitutional laws as they apply to New Zealand now lie within the full control of theNew Zealand Parliament.[33] Nonetheless, New Zealand agreed not to change its rules of succession without the unanimous consent of the other realms, unless explicitly leaving the shared monarchy relationship—a reciprocal arrangement applied uniformly in all the other realms, including the United Kingdom, and often likened to atreaty amongst these nations.[34] In that spirit, the Commonwealth realms reached thePerth Agreement in 2011, committed to repeal theRoyal Marriages Act 1772, which gave precedence to male heirs and excluded from succession a person married to a Roman Catholic. In New Zealand this was accomplished through theRoyal Succession Act 2013.[35]
Upon ademise of the Crown (the death orabdication of a monarch), the late sovereign's heir immediately and automatically succeeds, without any obligatory need for affirmation or further ceremony[36]—hence arises the phrase "The King is dead. Long live the King!" It is customary, though, for the accession of the new monarch to be publiclyproclaimed at a ceremony attended by the governor-general and senior state officials.[37][38] Following an appropriate period ofnational mourning, the monarch is alsocrowned in the United Kingdom in an ancient ritual, but one not necessary for a sovereign to reign.[n 4] Other than a transfer of all royal powers and functions to the new monarch from his or her predecessor, no other law or office is affected, as all references in legislation to previous monarchs, whether in the masculine (e.g. "His Majesty") or feminine (e.g. "the Queen"), continue to mean the reigning sovereign of New Zealand.[40] After an individual ascends the throne, he or she typically continues to reign until death, being unable to unilaterally abdicate.[n 5]
Regency Acts allow forregencies in the event of a monarch who is a minor or who is physically or mentally incapacitated. When a regency is necessary, the next qualified individual in the line of succession automatically becomes regent, unless they themselves are a minor or incapacitated. TheRegency Act 1937 is a British law, not a New Zealand law, and as such has no direct applicability to New Zealand.[42] However, the New ZealandConstitution Act 1986 specifies that should a regent be installed in the United Kingdom, that individual will carry out the functions of the sovereign of New Zealand.[43]
The sovereign draws from New Zealand funds for support in the performance of their duties when in New Zealand or acting as monarch of New Zealand abroad. New Zealanders do not pay any money to the King or any other member of the royal family, either towards personal income or to support royal residences outside of New Zealand. Normally, tax dollars pay only for the costs associated with the governor-general as instruments of the King's authority, including travel, security, residences, offices, ceremonies, and the like. Supporters of the monarchy argue it costs New Zealand taxpayers only a small outlay for royal engagements and tours and the expenses of the governor-general's establishment.Monarchy New Zealand states "[t]his figure is about one dollar per person per year", about $4.3 million per annum.[44] An analysis byNew Zealand Republic (a republican advocacy group) of the 2010 budget claimed the office of governor-general costs New Zealand taxpayers about $7.6 million in ongoing costs and $11 million forGovernment House upgrades,[45][46][47] figures Monarchy New Zealand claimed had been "arbitrarily inflated" by New Zealand Republic.[48]
The sovereign of New Zealand also serves as monarch toCook Islands andNiue, territories infree association with New Zealand within the largerRealm of New Zealand.[49][50] The New Zealand monarchy is unitary throughout all jurisdictions in the realm, with theheadship of state being a part of all equally.[51] As such, the sovereignty of Cook Islands and Niue is passed on not by the governor-general or parliament of New Zealand but through the overreaching Crown itself as part of executive, legislative and judicial operations in all three areas.
Theself-government provisions for the Cook Islands within the Realm of New Zealand allow the King to be directly represented as head of state in Cook Islands affairs by theKing's representative, while the governor-general of New Zealand represents the monarch in matters pertaining to the entire realm.[49][52] The governor-general (themselves represented by state services commissioner[53]) represents the monarch in Niue,[50][54] carrying out all the monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties of state on their behalf. Theadministrator of the territory ofTokelau is a government official appointed by New Zealand'sminister of foreign affairs to represent the New Zealand Government—not the monarch personally.[55][56]
As the livingembodiment ofthe Crown, the sovereign is regarded as thepersonification, orlegal personality, of the New Zealandstate,[9] with the state therefore referred to asHis Majesty The Kingin Right of New Zealand,[n 6][57] orThe Crown[58] (Māori:Te Karauna[59]). As such, the monarch is the employer of all government staff (including judges, members of the Defence Force, police officers, andparliamentarians), as well as the owner of all state land and buildings (Crown property includingCrown land),[60] state-owned companies and agencies (Crown entities),[61] and thecopyright for all government publications (Crown copyright).[62]
I, [specify], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her [or His] Majesty [specify the name of the reigning Sovereign], Her [or His] heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.[63]
— Oath of Allegiance to the Sovereign
As the embodiment of the state, the monarch is the locus ofOaths of Allegiance,[64] required of many employees of the Crown,[65] as well as by new citizens, as per theOath of Citizenship laid out in theCitizenship Act. This is done inreciprocation to the sovereign'sCoronation oath; at thecoronation of Charles III he made a "solemn promise" to "govern the Peoples of" his realms, including New Zealand, "according to their respective laws and customs."[66]
New Zealand's constitution is made up of a variety ofstatutes andconventions that are either British or New Zealand in origin,[2][33] and together give New Zealand aparliamentary system of government wherein the role of the King is both legal and practical. The Crown is regarded as acorporation sole,[67] with the sovereign, in the position of head of state,[3] as the centre of a construct in which the power of the whole is shared by multiple institutions of government acting under the sovereign's authority.[68]
The vast powers that belong to the Crown are collectively known as theRoyal Prerogative,[21] the exercise of which does not require parliamentary approval, though it is not unlimited; for example, the monarch does not have the prerogative to impose and collect new taxes without the authorisation of anAct of Parliament.[2] The consent of the Crown must be obtained before parliament may even debate a bill affecting the sovereign's prerogatives or interests, and no Act of Parliament binds the King or his rights unless the Act expressly provides that it does.[69]
TheNew Zealand Government (formally termedHis Majesty's Government[70]) is defined by the Constitution Act as the monarch acting on theadvice of theExecutive Council.[71] One of the main duties of the Crown is to ensure that a democratic government is always in place. This involves appointing a prime minister to thereafter head theCabinet, a committee of the Executive Council charged with advising the Crown on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative,[72] and legally required to keep the governor-general up to date on state affairs.[73][74]
In the construct ofconstitutional monarchy andresponsible government, the ministerial advice tendered is typically binding, a situation described as "The [King]reigns, but the governmentrules, so long as it has the support of the House of Representatives."[75] The Royal Prerogative belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers,[68] and the monarch or governor-general may unilaterally use these powers in exceptionalconstitutional crisis situations,[68][73][76] thereby allowing the monarch to make sure that the Government conducts itself in compliance with the constitution. There are also a few duties which must be specifically performed by, or bills that require assent by, the sovereign; these include applying theroyal sign-manual andSeal of New Zealand to the appointment papers of governors-general, the confirmation of awards ofNew Zealand royal honours,[5] and the approval of any change in is New Zealand title.
The Royal Prerogative also extends to foreign affairs: the governor-general conductstreaties, alliances and international agreements on the advice of the Cabinet.[77] Prior to theLomé Convention in 1975, the monarch, rather than the governor-general, would sign treaties on behalf of New Zealand. Following the signing of the convention, it was decided that the governor-general could sign such instruments.[78] The governor-general, on behalf of the monarch, also accredits New Zealand high commissioners and ambassadors, and receives similar diplomats from foreign states. Theletters of credence and recall were formerly issued by the monarch, but now are issued in the name of the incumbent governor-general (instead of following the usual international process of the letters being from one head of state to another). The issuance of passports falls under the Royal Prerogative, and allNew Zealand passports are issued in the monarch's name and remain his property.[79]
| External videos | |
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 Queen Elizabeth II opening a session of the New Zealand Parliament, 12 January 1954 | |
 Queen Opens New Zealand Parliament (1954) Source:British Pathé.[80] |
The sovereign is one of the two components of theNew Zealand Parliament.[76] The monarch and governor-general do not participate in thelegislative process save for the granting of theRoyal Assent, which is necessary for a bill to be enacted as law; either figure or a delegate may perform this task; this is now a matter of convention. The Crown is further responsible for summoning anddissolving the parliament,[81] after which the governor-general usuallycalls for a general election. The newparliamentary session is marked by either the monarch or the governor-general reading theSpeech from the Throne;[82] as they both are traditionally barred from theHouse of Representatives (the elected component of parliament), this ceremony takes place in theLegislative Council Chamber.[83] Queen Elizabeth II personally opened parliament on seven occasions: January 1954, February 1963, March 1970, February 1974, February 1977, February 1986, and February 1990.[84]
Despite the sovereign's exclusion, members of parliament must still express their loyalty to him and defer to his authority, as theOath of Allegiance must be recited by all new parliamentarians before they may take their seat.[64] Further, theofficial opposition is traditionally referred to asHis Majesty's Loyal Opposition,[85] illustrating that, while its members are opposed to the incumbent government, they remain loyal to the sovereign (as personification of the state and its authority).[86][87]
The sovereign is responsible for rendering justice for all his subjects, and is thus traditionally deemed thefount of justice.[88] He does not personally rule in judicial cases; instead the judicial functions of the Royal Prerogative are performed in trust and in the King's name by judges and justices of the peace. Themonarch is immune from criminal prosecution, the notion in common law being that the sovereign "can do no wrong";[89] the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his own courts for criminal offences. The monarch, and by extension the governor-general, also grants immunity from prosecution, exercises theroyal prerogative of mercy,[21] and may pardon offences against the Crown, either before, during, or after a trial.
Members of the royal family have been present in New Zealand since the late 1800s, their reasons including participating in military manoeuvres or undertaking official royal tours.[90][91] Usually important milestones, anniversaries, or celebrations ofNew Zealand culture will warrant the presence of the monarch, while other royals will be asked to participate in lesser occasions. Official duties involve the sovereign representing the New Zealand state at home or abroad, or their relations as members of the royal family participating in government organised ceremonies either in New Zealand or elsewhere.[n 7] An invitation from the Prime Minister of New Zealand is the impetus for royal participation in any New Zealand event,[94] with informal consultation occurring beforehand. A committee of the BritishCabinet Office, theRoyal Visits Committee, then coordinates the visit schedule and details with the Visits and Ceremonies Office (VCO).[95][96] Such events have included centennials and bicentennials;Waitangi Day; the openings ofCommonwealth and other games; anniversaries of Māori treaty signings; awards ceremonies; anniversaries of the monarch's accession; and the like. Conversely, unofficial duties are performed by royal family members on behalf of New Zealand organisations of which they may bepatrons, through their attendance at charity events, visiting with members of the New Zealand Defence Force ascolonel-in-chief, or marking certain key anniversaries.
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Since 1869, whenPrince Alfred, one of Queen Victoria's sons, arrived on New Zealand's shores,[97] dozens of tours of New Zealand by a member of the royal family have taken place, though only five of those occurred before 1953.[91] After Alfred came the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (laterKing George V andQueen Mary) in 1901;[98] The Prince of Wales (laterKing Edward VIII), in 1920;[99] the Duke and Duchess of York (laterKing George VI andQueen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) in 1927;[100] andPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, from 1934 to 1935.[101] Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch of New Zealand to tour the country, becoming suchwhen she arrived during her 1953–1954 global tour; she broadcast fromGovernment House inAuckland her annualRoyal Christmas Message.[102]
Queen Elizabeth II also toured New Zealand on a number of other occasions: between 6 and 18 February 1963, she attended celebrations atWaitangi and theQueen Elizabeth II Arts Council was founded as the nation's gift to the monarch;[103] from 12 to 30 March 1970, the Queen, accompanied byPrince Charles andPrincess Anne, participated in theJames Cook bicentenary celebrations;[104] between 30 January and 8 February 1974, and she attended and closedthat year's Commonwealth Games inChristchurch and participated inNew Zealand Day (now named Waitangi Day) events at Waitangi.[105] As part of a Commonwealth-wide tour forher Silver Jubilee, Elizabeth was in New Zealand from 22 February to 7 March 1977; she made a brief visit, between 12 and 20 October 1981, following aCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) inMelbourne; marked the centennial of theNew Zealand Police during a tour from 22 February to 2 March 1986; the Queen closed theCommonwealth Games in Auckland and, with her son,Prince Edward, took part in events marking thesesquicentennial of the Treaty of Waitangi between 1 and 16 February 1990; between 1 and 10 November 1995, she attended the CHOGM in Auckland and opened the newly refurbished parliament buildings; and, as part of her global tour forher Golden Jubilee, Elizabeth was in New Zealand from 22 to 27 February 2002.[104][106]
Some of the royal tours undertaken by more junior members of the royal family include the 1990 visit of Princess Anne to commemorate the 75th anniversary of theGallipoli landings onAnzac Day,[107] and whenPrince William represented the Queen of New Zealand atVE andVJ Day commemorations in 2005, as part of an 11-day tour,[108] and opened the newSupreme Court of New Zealand building in early 2010.[109] Prince Edward spent two terms of the 1982 academic year as a house tutor and junior master at theWanganui Collegiate School.[10]
I want to show you that the Crown is not merely an abstract symbol of our unity but a personal and living bond between you and me.
— Queen Elizabeth II,Christmas Message, New Zealand, 1953[110]
Apart from New Zealand, the King and his family regularly perform public duties in the other 14 Commonwealth realms of which he is head of state.[111] This situation can mean members of the royal family will be promoting one nation and not another. On some occasions Queen Elizabeth II had represented the United Kingdom, while her governor-general represented New Zealand, with both in attendance at the same event.[112]
The Crown sits at the pinnacle of theNew Zealand Defence Force. The governor-general iscommander-in-chief and under theDefence Act 1990 is authorised to "raise and maintain armed forces",[113] consisting of theNew Zealand Army,Royal New Zealand Navy, andRoyal New Zealand Air Force. The sovereign's position ashead of the armed forces[114] is reflected inNew Zealand's naval vessels bearing the prefixHis Majesty's New Zealand Ship (Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship in the reign of a female monarch), and in the requirement that all members of the armed forces swear their allegiance to the sovereign and his or her heirs and successors.[115] The governor-generalcommissions officers to command the forces.[76]
Allegiance [by Defence Force personnel is to] the Sovereign, [however] loyalty [is] to the Government of the day... The Defence Force and the disposition of those Forces are at the decision... of Her Majesty's Ministers for the time being.[116]
— State Services Commission, December 2001
Though the monarch and members of his family also act as colonels-in-chief of various regiments in the military,these posts are only ceremonial in nature, reflecting the Crown's relationship with the military through participation in military ceremonies both at home and abroad.[n 8] The country's only currently rankedAdmiral of the Fleet,Field Marshal andMarshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force isCharles III.[118] The ranks were also formerly held byPrince Philip, the consort ofQueen Elizabeth II.[119] Various regiments have also received aroyal prefix, such as theCorps of Royal New Zealand Engineers, theRoyal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, and theRoyal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment.
Māori interaction with the Crown dates back to 1832, when KingWilliam IV appointedJames Busby asBritish resident. On 28 October 1835, Busby oversaw ahui held atWaitangi, at which a flag was selected for New Zealand anda declaration of independence written by Busby was signed by 36 Māorichiefs. Both were acknowledged the following year by the King in a letter fromLord Glenelg.[120]
As a result, the declaration's ratification by the British Parliament in 1836, officials in the Colonial Office determined in 1839 that a treaty of cessation would need to be signed with Māori for theBritish Crown to acquire sovereignty over New Zealand.[121] TheTreaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs,[122] It is considered to be a founding document of government.[123] The Treaty identifies the Crown's right tokāwanatanga, or "governorship", leading one Māori academic to argue thatkāwanatanga, or His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, is party to the treaty.[124]
Since the treaty's implementation, a number of petitions have been made by Māori directly to the sovereign in London, whom they felt they had a special relationship, the first coming from northern chiefs in 1852. This and all subsequent appeals were directed back to the sovereign's New Zealand ministers for advice on how to proceed.[125] The results were not always favourable to Māori, who have communicated their discontent to the monarch or other royals; in response to a refusal by the Executive Council in 1981 to allowMana Motuhake direct access to the Queen, Māori activistDun Mihaka offered a traditional rebuke by baring his buttocks at thePrince andPrincess of Wales. In a later incident Mihaka attempted to crash into the Queen's motorcade; he was intercepted by police before this happened.[126]
In theMāori language, Queen Elizabeth II is sometimes referred to aste kōtuku-rerenga-tahi, meaning "thewhite heron of a single flight"; in Māori proverb, the rare white heron is a significant bird seen only once in a lifetime.[9] In 1953, forher coronation, Elizabeth was given a kiwi featherkorowai cloak,[127] which she wore when attending apōwhiri, or Māori welcoming ceremony, also speaking partly in Māori.[10]
References to the monarchy are commonplace in public life in New Zealand and represent one of the most recognisable ways the head of state is incorporated into New Zealand'snational identity. Royal symbols may specifically distinguish institutions that derive their authority from the Crown (such as parliament), establishments with royal associations, or merely be ways of expressing loyal or patriotic sentiment.
The main symbol of the monarchy is the sovereign—Queen Elizabeth II, as of 2025[update], is still depicted on allcoins and thetwenty-dollar banknote.[128][129]Postage stamps sometimes include the sovereign, such as the Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp.[130] There are references toSt Edward's Crown, onNew Zealand's coat of arms,[131] on various medals, and awards.[132] These latter cases reflect the monarch's place as the formal head of theNew Zealand royal honours system. As such, only he can approve the creation of anhonour, which he does as requested by the New Zealand Government.[133][134] Though the monarch himself formally appoints members to the various orders,[135] the governor-general administers most other responsibilities relating to New Zealand honours on the sovereign's behalf (such as investitures).[133]
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Similar to coats of arms, flags are utilised to represent royal authority. Apersonal flag for use by the Queen in New Zealand was adopted in 1962.[136] It features the shield design of the New Zealand coat of arms in the form of an oblong or square. Superimposed in the centre is a dark blue roundel bearing an initial 'E' surmounted by a crown, all within a gold chaplet of roses.[136] The current monarch, King Charles III, has not adopted a personal flag for New Zealand.
Music and song are utilised in various ways as reminders and identifiers of the sovereign. New Zealand inherited the anthem "God Save the King" (or, alternatively, "God Save the Queen") from Britain.[137] It remains one of thetwo national anthems, along with "God Defend New Zealand", but has been generally restricted to official occasions where the monarch, a member of the royal family, or the governor-general is in attendance for a particular purpose. The right to declare a song a national anthem currently rests with the sovereign.[137]
As in other Commonwealth realms, theKing's Birthday is apublic holiday and, in New Zealand, is observed on the first Monday in June (not on the date of the monarch's actual birth).[138] Celebrations are mainly official, including theBirthday Honours list and military ceremonies.[139][140]
To receivepatronage, an organisation must prove to be long lasting, and to be of the highest standard in their field. These organisations, such as theRoyal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, signified by the prefixroyal, have received patronage from various monarchs and their families. Royal patronage is the royal individual's decision to make, though theMinistry for Culture and Heritage will help organisations to seek patronage.[141]
Despite a similar level of political involvement by the monarchy in both countries, there is less agitation for ending the monarchy of New Zealand and creating aNew Zealand republic than in neighbouring Australia, where the republicanism movement is stronger. Past public opinion polls have shown that while the majority of Australians are in favour of a republic, New Zealanders on average favour retaining the monarchy.[142] Supporters of the monarchy claim that for New Zealand, "...monarchy summarises the inheritance of a thousand years of constitutional government and our links with a glorious past".[143]
NeitherNational norLabour, the two majorpolitical parties currently in parliament, have a stated policy of creating a republic. The National Party's declared principles include "Loyalty to... our Sovereign as Head of State".[144] In 2008, former Prime MinisterJohn Key, then Leader of the Opposition, said he is "not convinced [a republic] will be a big issue in the short term,"[145] but does believe that a republic is "inevitable."[146][147] Former Deputy Prime MinisterMichael Cullen declared that he supported the monarchy, stating in 2004 he was "a sort of token monarchist in the Cabinet these days."[148] In 2010 he repudiated that stance, taking the view that New Zealand should move towards a republic once the Queen's reign ends.[149] There are two special-interest groups representing both sides of the debate in New Zealand and arguing the issue in the media from time to time:Monarchy New Zealand andNew Zealand Republic.[150]
There are a number of legal issues to be addressed in order to abolish the monarchy,[151] though individuals on both sides of the argument take a different view of the level of difficulty faced.[152] Much of the unsurety involves the reserve powers of the sovereign; the relationship between the various regions of the Realm of New Zealand sharing the same sovereign (the absence of these matters from republican arguments having been criticised as a "self-centredness of republican discussions in New Zealand"[50]); and effects on the relationship between the Crown and Māori, specifically, the continued legal status of the Treaty of Waitangi andits claims and settlements.[153][154][155] Some academics expressed concern that governments could use republicanism to evade treaty responsibilities,[156] while others, such as ProfessorNoel Cox, Chairman-Emeritus of Monarchy New Zealand, have argued a republic would not absolve the Government of its obligations under the treaty.[157]
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The institution enjoys the support of most New Zealanders, particularly those born before the Second World War.[158] With the popular approval of Queen Elizabeth II, and the position of the Treaty of Waitangi under a republic remaining a concern to Māori and other New Zealanders alike, as well as the question of what constitutional form a republic might take unresolved, support for a republic has been no higher than one third to 40 per cent of the population.[158][159] Polls indicate that many New Zealanders see the monarchy as being of little day-to-day relevance; aOne News/Colmar Brunton poll in 2002 found that 58 per cent of the population believed the monarchy has little or no relevance to their lives.[160]National Business Review poll in 2004 found 57 per cent of respondents believed New Zealand would become a republic "in the future".[161] On 21 April 2008, New Zealand Republic released a poll of New Zealanders showing 43 per cent support the monarchy should Prince Charles become king of New Zealand, and 41 per cent support a republic under the same scenario.[162] A poll byThe New Zealand Herald in January 2010, before a visit byPrince William to the country, found 33.3 per cent wanted Prince Charles to be the next monarch, with 30.2 per cent favouring Prince William. 29.4 per cent of respondents preferred a republic in the event Queen Elizabeth died or abdicated.[163]
On 14 October 2009, a bill put forward in parliament byKeith Locke to bring about a referendum on the monarchy was drawn from the ballot ofmembers' bills and introduced into the legislative chamber.[164] It had been presumed that this bill would have been binding in New Zealand only, having no effect in theCook Islands orNiue.[50] On 21 April 2010 the bill was defeated at its first reading 68–53,[146] and did not continue through toselect committee.
On the eve of a royal tour by Prince Charles andCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 10 November 2012, a One News/Colmar Brunton poll reported 70 per cent of people questioned responded they wanted to "keep The Queen as head of state", while only 19 per cent supported a republic.[165][166] Following the tour, a poll by Curia Market Research commissioned by New Zealand Republic found 51 per cent of respondents wanted Charles as King once the Queen's reign ends, while 41 per cent supported a republic.[167]
Support for the monarchy in New Zealand tends to increase during times where there is considerable focus on the royal family, whether this be due to royal tours or significant events such as aroyal wedding.[168]
In the early 19th century, some Māori who visitedLondon were introduced to British royalty.Moehanga (or Te Mahanga) ofNgāpuhi, the first Māori to visit England, claimed to have met KingGeorge III and QueenCharlotte in 1806.[169] Other chiefs (rangatira) to meet the monarch includeHongi Hika, who met KingGeorge IV in 1820.[170]
LieutenantJames Cook first sailed to New Zealand in 1769. There he mapped the entire coastline and tentatively claimed the land for King George III of the United Kingdom.[171] Beginning in 1790, an increasing number ofEuropean settlers came to New Zealand.[171] In 1833, with growing lawlessness amongst traders and settlers, the British government appointedJames Busby asBritish resident to protect British trading interests. Despite Busby's presence, trouble increased and further action was needed. On 15 June 1839, the governor of theBritish colony of New South Wales, SirGeorge Gipps, issued a proclamation extending the boundaries of New South Wales to include such territory in New Zealand as might be acquired in sovereignty.[172][173] The British government despatched CaptainWilliam Hobson to New Zealand to belieutenant-governor under Gipps; Hobson was instructed to obtain sovereignty for theBritish Crown with the consent of Māori chiefs.[122][173] The resultantTreaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840, atWaitangi in theBay of Islands.[122][174] This laid the foundation[174] for the later proclamation of British sovereignty over New Zealand on 21 May 1840. Following that declaration, Britain decided to make New Zealanda separate colony, and a Charter for Erecting the Colony of New Zealand was issued on 16 November 1840.[173][122]Queen Victoria thus became New Zealand's head of state.[122][8]
In 1852, theNew Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was passed, establishingresponsible government in New Zealand. It also provided for the governor to grant the Royal Assent in the name of the sovereign.[175]
Queen Victoria's second son,Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, became the first British royal to visit New Zealand. He landed inWellington on 11 April 1869, aboard his shipHMS Galatea.[97]
In 1907, New Zealand achieved the status of 'Dominion', which denoted that it was a country of theBritish Empire (and later theCommonwealth of Nations) with autonomy in domestic and foreign affairs.[176] In 1917, letters patent of KingGeorge V set out the powers, duties and responsibilities of the governor-general and the Executive Council.[177] The governor-general remained an appointee of the British Crown on the advice of the British Cabinet.[178]
The concept of afully independent New Zealand sharing the person of the sovereign with the United Kingdom and other countries only emerged gradually over time through constitutional convention. A series ofImperial Conferences held in London, from 1917 on, resulted in theBalfour Declaration of 1926, which provided that the United Kingdom and the Dominions were to be considered as "autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate to one another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown".[179] The governor-general of New Zealand, as with all the othergovernors-general of the Dominions, became the direct representative of the monarch in person, rather than a diplomatic channel between the New Zealand and British governments.[180]
The Crown was further separated amongst its Dominions by theStatute of Westminster in 1931, an Act of the British parliament, which gave New Zealand and other Dominions the authority to make their own laws in all matters, while requiring them all to seek each other's assent for changes to monarchical titles and the common line of succession.[181] The British Parliament specifically gave up any claim to legislate for a Dominion, save at its own request.[182] New Zealand ratified the Statute in 1947, after the passing of theStatute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947.[183] A convention persisted that New Zealand prime ministers consulted the British government on the appointment of governors-general until 1967.[184]
Although the New Zealand monarchy is now independent, there remains a strong association with the British monarchy andits history. For example, there are many portraits of earlier (pre-1840) English kings and queens in New Zealand government buildings, includingGovernment House, Wellington. Several royal portraits were gifted by Governor-GeneralLord Norrie.[185][186]
I look forward to continuing to serve to the best of my ability in the years to come. It fills me with great pride to stand before you here today to express my lasting respect and deep affection for this country and for New Zealanders everywhere.[187]
— Queen Elizabeth II, 25 February 2002
One of the first post-Second World War examples of New Zealand's status as an independent monarchy was the alteration of the monarch's title in 1953.[26] For the first time, the official New Zealand title mentioned New Zealand separately from the United Kingdom and the other realms,[19] to highlight the sovereign's role specifically as king/queen of New Zealand under the concept of the 'divisible crown'.[188] Elizabeth II's title at that time wasQueen of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories.[26] Accordingly, the name of the country in official usage was also changed to theRealm of New Zealand.[176] TheRoyal Titles Act 1974 further revised the monarch's New Zealand title to remove the reference to the United Kingdom.[188]
More recently, theConstitution Act 1986 has become the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitution. This law formally establishes that the sovereign (in Right of New Zealand) is the head of state of New Zealand and that the governor-general is his representative; each can, in general, exercise all the powers of the other.[21][n 9]
Listed here are the seven monarchs who have reigned over New Zealand[189]—the Britishcolony of New Zealand, from 1840; followed by theDominion of New Zealand, beginning in 1907; and finally the present-daysovereign state of New Zealand. Originally, these monarchs reigned in their right asBritish sovereigns.
Many New Zealanders are content to have the British monarch as head of state
She reigns as Queen of New Zealand independently of her position as Queen of the United Kingdom.
[T]here has been passed in the present session of the Parliament of New Zealand the Royal Titles Act 1953, which Act recites that it is expedient that the style and titles at present appertaining to the Crown should be altered so as to reflect more clearly the existing relations of the members of the Commonwealth to one another.
New Zealand has never had an established church.
During her first eagerly awaited tour over the summer of 1953–4 Parliament was summoned for a special short session in January to allow her to open Parliament and deliver the Speech from the Throne. She again opened a special session of Parliament in February 1963. She also opened Parliament in March 1970 and February 1974. In February 1977 she opened another special session at the same time as formally opening the Beehive (the Executive Wing). More recently she has opened Parliament in February 1986 and February 1990.
Gallipoli veterans received 1990 Commemoration medals from Princess Anne at the Beehive yesterday.
The Queen's portrait appears on New Zealand's banknotes and coins (though no longer on most issues of postage stamps).
St Edward's Crown, shown above the shield, was used in the Coronation ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The crown symbolises Her Majesty as Queen of New Zealand under the New Zealand Royal Titles Act 1953.
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