The Realm of New Zealand is the entire area in which the Queen of New Zealand
is head of state. The Realm comprises New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue,
Tokelau and the Ross Dependency in Antarctica, and is defined by the 1983
Letters Patent constituting the office of Governor-General of New Zealand.
Governor-General The Governor-General of New Zealand
represents the head of state in the area of the Realm. Essentially,
Governors-General take on all the dignities and reserve powers of the head
of state. As of 2011 the Governor-General is Rt Hon Sir Jerry
Mateparae. Sovereignty within the Realm
= Cook Islands and Niue= Both the Cook Islands and Niue are
self-governing states in free association with New Zealand. The
Parliament of New Zealand is not empowered to unilaterally pass
legislation in respect of these countries. In foreign affairs and
defence issues New Zealand acts on behalf of these countries but only with
their advice and consent. As the Governor-General is resident in
New Zealand, the Cook Islands Constitution provides for the distinct
position of Queen's Representative. This individual is not subordinate to the
Governor-General and acts as the local representative of the Queen in right of
New Zealand. Since 2013, Tom Marsters is the Queen's Representative to the Cook
Islands. This arrangement effectively allows for the de facto independent
actions of internal and most external areas of governance.
According to the Niue's Constitution of 1974, the Governor-General of New
Zealand acts as the Queen's representative.
In the Cook Islands and Niue the New Zealand High Commissioner is the
diplomatic representative from New Zealand. John Carter is the New Zealand
High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. Mark Blumsky was the New Zealand High
Commissioner to Niue from 2010 until he was replaced by Ross Ardern in early
2014. Despite their close relationship to New
Zealand, both the Cook Islands and Niue maintain some diplomatic relations in
their own name. Both countries maintain High Commissions in New Zealand and have
New Zealand High Commissioners resident in their capitals. In Commonwealth
practice, High Commissioners represent their governments, not the Head of
State. = New Zealand=
New Zealand proper consists of the following island groups:
the North Island, South Island and neighbouring coastal islands, all
contained within the 16 regions of New Zealand
the Chatham Islands to the east, contained within the Chatham Islands
Territory the Kermadec Islands to the north and
New Zealand Subantarctic Islands to the south, all outside local authority
boundaries and inhabited only by a small number of research and conservation
staff = Tokelau=
Tokelau has a lesser degree of independence than the Cook Islands and
Niue have, and had been moving toward free association status. New Zealand's
representative in Tokelau is the Administrator of Tokelau and has the
power to overturn rules passed by the General Fono. In referenda conducted in
2006 and 2007 by New Zealand at the United Nations' request, the people of
Tokelau failed to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to attain a system of
governance with equal powers to that of Niue and the Cook Islands.
= Ross Dependency= The Ross Dependency is constitutionally
part of New Zealand. The Governor-General of New Zealand is also
the Governor of the Ross Dependency. The Ross Dependency includes McMurdo
Station, operated by the United States, which does not recognise New Zealand
sovereignty of Ross Dependency. The application of Sovereignty within the
Dependency is subsequent upon the enforcement of terms found within the
Antarctic Treaty. = Summary table=
^ The current New Zealand Parliament is unicameral with its sole chamber House
of Representatives. ^ a b The Governor General of New
Zealand is also the Representative of the Queen of Niue and the Governor of
the Ross Dependency, but they are separate posts.
^ Legislation for the Ross Dependency is enacted by the New Zealand Parliament
although actually, its powers are limited due to the Antarctic Treaty
System. Future of the Realm
Within New Zealand there exists some support for a New Zealand republic.
Should New Zealand become a republic it will retain the Ross Dependency and
Tokelau as dependent territories and the Realm of New Zealand would continue to
exist without New Zealand, the Ross Dependency and Tokelau. This would not
be a legal hurdle to a New Zealand republic as such, and both the Cook
Islands and Niue would retain their status as associated states with New
Zealand, as New Zealand shares its Head of State with the Cook Islands and Niue.
However, a New Zealand republic would present the issue of independence to the
Cook Islands and Niue. Thus, a number of options for the future of the Realm of
New Zealand exist should New Zealand become a republic:
A New Zealand republic with the Cook Islands and Niue remaining in free
association with New Zealand, but retaining the Queen as their head of
state; A New Zealand republic with the Cook
Islands and Niue having a new republican head of state as their head of state and
becoming independent states; A New Zealand republic with the Cook
Islands and Niue having their own heads of state, but retaining their status of
free association with New Zealand. See also
Dominion of New Zealand History of Samoa - a country formerly
under New Zealand administration as League of Nations mandate and UN Trust
Territory History of Nauru - a country where New
Zealand was nominal co-trustee during a period of League of Nations mandate and
later UN Trust Territory Monarchy of the Cook Islands
Monarchy of New Zealand Monarchy of Niue
Pitcairn Islands The "Kingdom of the Netherlands" refers
to a similar situation involving the metropolitan Netherlands and various
overseas territories. The "French Republic" refers to the
entirety of the areas under its rule, including both Metropolitan France and
Overseas France. The "Danish Realm" refers to the
combination of Denmark proper, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
References External links
Letters Patent constituting the office of Governor-General of New Zealand —
gives explanation for "Realm of New Zealand"
"Cook Islands" "Niue"
"New Zealand and the Tokelau Islands" "Ross Dependency"