Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947
From Open Encyclopedia
The Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 was a constitutional Act of the New Zealand New Zealand Parliament that formally granted New Zealand full external autonomy. By passing the Act, New Zealand ratified the Statute of Westminster 1931, an Act of the British Parliament, which enabled the Parliaments of the Dominions to leave the British Empire.
New Zealand didn't adopt the Statute of Westminster 1931 until 1947 on account of a desire not to foster separatism in the British Empire. However, in the wake of the failure to stem the Japanese advance across the Pacific during WWII, it became increasingly clear to New Zealand that it couldn't rely on the UK for protection, probably resulting in its adoption of the Statute.
The Act was passed on November 25 1947.
See also: The New Zealand constitution
