request. New Zealand ratified the Statute in 1947, after the passing of the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947. A convention persisted that New Zealand prime ministers consulted the British government on the appointment of governors-general until 1967. Although the New Zealand monarchy is now independent, there remains a strong association with the British monarchy and its history. For example, there are many portraits of earlier (pre-1840) English kings and queens in New Zealand government buildings, including Government House, Wellington. Several royal portraits were gifted by Governor-General Lord Norrie. Recent developments One of the first post-Second World War examples of New Zealand's status as an independent monarchy was the alteration of the monarch's title in 1953. For the first time, the official New Zealand title mentioned New Zealand separately from the United Kingdom and the other realms, to highlight the sovereign's role specifically as king/queen of New Zealand under the concept of the 'divisible crown'. Elizabeth II's title at that time was Queen of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories. Accordingly, the name of the country in official usage was also changed to the Realm of New Zealand. The Royal Titles Act 1974 further revised the monarch's New Zealand title to remove the reference to the United Kingdom. More recently, the Constitution Act 1986 has become the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitution. This law formally establishes that the sovereign (in Right of New Zealand) is the head of state of New Zealand and that the governor-general is his representative; each can, in general, exercise all the powers of the other. List of monarchs Listed here are the seven monarchs who have reigned over New Zealand—the British colony of New Zealand, from 1840; followed by the Dominion of New Zealand, beginning in 1907; and finally the present-day sovereign state of New Zealand. Originally, these monarchs reigned in their right as British sovereigns. Timeline of kings and queens regnant See also Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand Māori King Movement Monarchy of the Cook Islands Monarchies in Oceania List of monarchies Royal Succession Act 2013 (Bill 99-1 in New Zealand) Royal Train (New Zealand) References Footnotes Citations Bibliography External links New Zealand press releases at The Royal Household website Monarchy New Zealand Royal visit to NZ in 1953–54 Constitution of New Zealand New Zealand, monarchy in