The Colony of New Zealand continued until 26 September 1907 , when , as a result of a decision by the 1907 Imperial Conference and by request of the New Zealand government , King Edward VII declared New Zealand to be a Dominion . On the same day , the King issued another Royal Proclamation granting the Colony of Newfoundland the status of Dominion of Newfoundland . The 1907 change from Colony to Dominion was largely symbolic , and New Zealand did not become independent until the General Assembly of New Zealand enacted the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 , which applied the Statute of Westminster 1931 to the Dominion of New Zealand ( although the United Kingdom retained the right to legislate for New Zealand at its request ) ; certain colonial enactments survived for sometime after — the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was finally replaced by the Constitution Act 1986
1907 Imperial Conference
1907 Imperial Conference
Colony of New Zealand