Timelines

Question 1

1215

Answer 1

Magna Carta was introduced. Said the King ruled in consultation with others. Created the right to a jury.

King wanted to take back territories lost in France, needed funds to wage the war. Therefore, he raised taxes to nobles very high.

As a result, nobles became increasingly disgruntled. Some came together and formed a rebellion. King worried. Wanted to come to an agreement with them- hence the Magna Carta.

Question 2

1769

Answer 2

• New Zealand sighted by Captain James Cook
• Declaration of possession for Britain

Question 3

1814-1820

Answer 3

Extension of New South Wales jurisdiction by treatment of New Zealand as a “dependency”

Question 4

1831

Answer 4

Māori chiefs (13) sent a letter to the King about lawlessness and European settlers. Implied that they wanted the King’s protection, but people don’t know if they just wanted them to take over Pakeha. Hence fucked up translation in the Treaty

Question 5

1832

Answer 5

James Busby appointed New Zealand Resident

Question 6

1835

Answer 6

Declaration of Independence signed. Declared the Māori chiefs had a bit more mana, authority. More symbolic than anything else. More time on an international stage- disputed fact that they were a “scattered population,” which undermined the discovery argument. Stopped other countries attempting to come and take over their land. Said they were sovereign. Got a flag. First flag of New Zealand nation. If not for this, there would be no need for a Treaty

Question 7

1839

Answer 7

Letters Patent. Annexure of New Zealand to New South Wales by extension of boundaries

Question 8

1840

Answer 8

○ 6 February - Treaty of Waitangi signed
○ 21 May - Proclamations of sovereignty. Gazetted 2 October.
○ New South Wales Continuance Act (Imp):
* acknowledged New Zealand as a separate colony
* authorised issue of Letters Patent
○ Letters Patent- “the Charter”:
* were issued creating NZ as a Crown colony, separate from New South Wales. The creation of new legal system began in earnest
* established primary organs of government
* established the Legislative Council
William Hobson declared Governor

Question 9

1846

Answer 9

○ Act of the Constitution of Government in the New Zealand islands (the Constitution Act 1846) (Imp)
* created an elaborate form of government with an elected provincial government and bicameral legislature;
* never implemented, and suspended 1848

Question 10

1852

Answer 10

○ New Zealand Constitutional Act (Imp) passed, establishing New Zealand’s constitutional structure. An Act of the English Parliament:
* established representative government;
* created provinces and an elected provincial government;
* created central government comprising the Governor, an elected House of Representatives and an appointed Legislative Council;
* granted power to make laws for “Peace, order, and a good government of New Zealand”;
limited higher law status

Question 11

1858

Answer 11

The English Laws Act (NZ) was passed by NZ Parliament. Stated that NZ inherited all the laws of England the month before signing the Treaty (inherited on 14 January 1840)- confirmed that all English laws in existence on 14 January 1840 applied to New Zealand. NZ had been operating on this assumption since Feb 1840. Māori customary law was swept aside. In its place, NZ inherited the English common law and statutory law

Question 12

1865

Answer 12

Colonial Laws Validity Act (Imp) passed. Gave NZ Parliament power to pass laws contrary to British law (except for British law specifically extending to NZ)- granted power to New Zealand legislature to pass laws inconsistent with UK legislation, save where UK legislation applied specifically to the Country

Question 13

1875

Answer 13

○ Abolition of Provinces Act (NZ):
* abolished provincial government;
* maintained central government in bicameral form

Question 14

1907

Answer 14

Became a dominion- however, NZ’s constitutional independence didn’t come until much later

Question 15

1931

Answer 15

○ Britain passed the Statute of Westminster Act 1931 (Imp). Could be adopted by any Commonwealth dominion, making it self-improving. However, took NZ 16 years to adopt (took so long since NZ had very strong cultural and economic ties to Britain. Provided British dominions with complete self-government):
* declared Colonial Laws Validity Act to have no application to dominions;
* declared no dominion law would be invalid because of inconsistency with UK law;
* established request and consent procedure;
* granted extraterritorial law-making powers to dominions;
declared statute would take effect in NZ only if adopted by NZ legislature

Question 16

1947

Answer 16

○ We became self-governing, when our Parliament adopted the Statute of Westminster Act 1931 (by passing the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947- this was the authorisation for it)
○ We became able to amend the NZ Constitution Act 1852 (our Parliament passed the NZ Constitution Amendment (Request and Consent) Act 1947
○ New Zealand Constitution Amendment (Request and Consent) Act (NZ)- NZ requested and consented to Britain passing law so NZ could alter its constitution:
* This requested that the UK Parliament legislate to provide that the New Zealand Parliament had powers to amend NZ’s constitution
○ New Zealand Constitution (Amendment) Act (Imp)- granted powers to New Zealand Parliament to amend own constitution.
○ We were effectively a fully independent nation. Interestingly, it was Britain, not NZ, that initiated this

Question 17

1950

Answer 17

Legislative Council Abolition Act (NZ)- abolished New Zealand’s upper house, creating a unicameral system

Question 18

1973

Answer 18

○ New Zealand Constitution Amendment Act
- clarified the power to pass extraterritorial laws

Question 19

1975

Answer 19

○ Treaty of Waitangi Act:
* Established Waitangi Tribunal to consider Māori claims against the Crown for actions inconsistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (at this time the Tribunal could consider claims for contemporary breach of the Treaty only)
○ Ombudsmen Act:
provided an avenue for complaints about administrative decision-making

Question 20

1986

Answer 20

Parliament repealed the NZ Constitution Act 1852 and replaced it with its own Act, the Constitution Act 1986- no power for Britain to make law for New Zealand