Monarchy of New Zealand
| Queen of New Zealand | |
|---|---|
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| Incumbent | |
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Elizabeth II since 6 February 1952 |
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| Details | |
| Style | Her Majesty |
| Heir apparent | Charles, Prince of Wales |
| First monarch | Edward VII |
| Formation | 26 September 1907 (from Dominion status) |
The monarchy of New Zealand—also referred to as the Crown in Right of New Zealand or the Queen in Right of New Zealand—is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of New Zealand. The Crown is the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the New Zealand government, which is a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy.
While Royal Assent and the royal sign-manual are required to enact laws, letters patent and Orders in Council, the authority for these acts stems from the New Zealand populace and, within the conventional stipulations of constitutional monarchy, the sovereign's direct participation in any of these areas of governance is limited. Most of the related powers are exercised by the elected parliamentarians, the ministers of the Crown generally drawn from amongst them, and the judges and Justices of the Peace.
The New Zealand monarchy has its roots in the British Crown, from which it has evolved to become a distinctly New Zealand institution, represented by unique symbols. New Zealand's monarch—since 6 February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II—is today shared equally with 15 other countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, all being independent and the monarchy of each legally distinct. For New Zealand, the current monarch is officially titled Queen of New Zealand and she, her consort, and other members of the Royal Family undertake various public and private functions across New Zealand and on behalf of the country abroad. However, the Queen is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role. While several powers are the sovereign's alone, because she lives predominantly in the United Kingdom, most of the royal constitutional and ceremonial duties in the Realm of New Zealand are carried out by the Queen's viceroys: the Governor-General in New Zealand proper and Niue and the Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands.
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