New Zealand did not adopt the Statute of Westminster 1931 until 1947 on account of loyalty to the British Empire . At the opening of the 1930 Imperial Conference which drafted the Statute of Westminster , the Prime Minister of New Zealand , George Forbes stated : " New Zealand has not , in any great measure , been concerned with the recent development in the constitutional relations between the members of the British Commonwealth of Nations . We have felt that at all times within recent years we have had ample scope for our national aspirations and ample freedom to carry out in their entirety such measures as have seemed to us desirable . " Following its re-election at the 1943 general election , the First Labour Government of Peter Fraser had proposed to adopt the statute in its Speech from the Throne in 1944 ( two years after Australia adopted the Act ) . During the Address-In-Reply debate , the National opposition passionately opposed the proposed adoption , claiming the Government was being disloyal to the United Kingdom . National MP for Tauranga , Frederick Doidge , argued " With us , loyalty is an instinct as deep as religion " . The proposal was buried for the 1943-1946 term of parliament , but re-emerged following the 1946 general election , which was again won by Labour
1930 Imperial Conference
1930 Imperial Conference
Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947