20 Facts About the Monarchy of New Zealand

The Royal Standard of New Zealand.

1. The New Zealander tradition of monarchy in its present form goes back to 1840 when over 500 indigenous Maori chiefs signed on to the Treaty of Waitangi, which placed New Zealand under the sovereignty of the British Crown. Since the mid-20th Century, it has been governed under a Crown (as an independent kingdom) in its own right.

2. In 1907, New Zealand became the third self-governing dominion within the British Empire, and its independence was affirmed at the 1926 Imperial Conference and in 1931 by the Statute of Westminster.

3. The first reigning monarch to step foot on New Zealander soil was Queen Elizabeth II, who toured the country with Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1953-54, during which she opened the parliamentary session and gave her 1953 Christmas broadcast to the Commonwealth.

4. Throughout her 62 year reign, the Queen has toured New Zealand 10 times, with the most recent tour being in 2002 during her Golden Jubilee. Other members of the Royal Family have made numerous visits over the past 150 years. 

5. At her coronation, the Queen swore an oath to govern the peoples of New Zealand and her other realms "according to their respective laws and customs."

6. Newly-minted New Zealand citizens recite the following Oath of Citizenship: I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfill my duties as a New Zealand citizen. 

7. Legally speaking, Elizabeth II's role as Queen of New Zealand is separate and distinct from her role as Queen of the United Kingdom, as well as her other realms. 

8. Elizabeth II is represented in New Zealand by a Governor-General, who usually serves a term of five years. 

9. The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the New Zealander Prime Minister. 

10. The Governor-General visits foreign nations as the Queen's representative and serves as Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand for Her Majesty’s New Zealand Armed Forces. He or she also accepts Letters of Credence from newly-appointed ambassadors / high commissioners. 

11. The Governor-General has duties that cover a broad range of responsibility - including the summoning and dissolution of Parliament, the swearing in of public officials, the reading of the Speech from the Throne at the opening of parliamentary sessions, the granting of Royal Assent, the use of reserve powers, and the awarding of honors to New Zealander citizens. 

12. Sir Jerry Mateparae is the current Governor-General. 

13. John Key is the Queen's 14th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand. 

14. The Queen and other members her family are not foreign royals in New Zealand. When resident in the country (or performing duties elsewhere on its behalf), they are members of the New Zealander Royal Family, owing to the Crown of New Zealand being separate and distinct from the Crown of the United Kingdom.

15. In the Māori language, the Queen is referred to as Kōtuku, meaning "the white heron."

16. At Maori welcoming ceremonies, the Queen dons a ceremonial Korowai cloak, made from prized kiwi feathers, and speaks a few words of Maori.

17. Although the Queen has no formal religious role in New Zealand and the country has no state church, among her titles include the phrase,"Defender of the Faith."

18. Aside from the Queen, other members of the New Zealander Royal Family do not have New Zealander titles. Instead, they use their British titles as courtesy titles while in New Zealand.

19. Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir-apparent to the New Zealander Crown.

20. The Queen's full New Zealander title and style 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.