- g overn ment ▁to ▁the ▁Col ony ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁but ▁it ▁was ▁never ▁fully ▁implemented . ▁ ▁The ▁Act ' s ▁long ▁title ▁was ▁An ▁Act ▁to ▁make ▁further ▁Pro vision ▁for ▁the ▁Government ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Islands , ▁and ▁it ▁received ▁the ▁royal ▁ass ent ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁August ▁ 1 8 4 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁Act ▁formally ▁remained ▁part ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁constitution ▁until ▁it ▁was ▁repe aled ▁by ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Constitution ▁Act ▁ 1 8 5 2 . ▁ ▁Background ▁ ▁The ▁Char ter ▁of ▁ 1 8 4 0 ▁Prior ▁to ▁the ▁Act , ▁the ▁basic ▁document ▁setting ▁out ▁the ▁govern ance ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand ▁since ▁the ▁signing ▁of ▁the ▁Tre aty ▁of ▁Wait ang i ▁was ▁the ▁Char ter ▁of ▁ 1 8 4 0 , ▁which ▁specified : ▁▁▁ ▁The ▁three ▁principal ▁islands ▁of ▁New ▁Zealand ▁were ▁to ▁be ▁known ▁as ▁New ▁Ul ster , ▁New ▁Mun ster , ▁and ▁New ▁Le in ster . ▁▁ ▁The ▁Governor ▁was ▁to ▁sum mon ▁an ▁Executive ▁Council ▁to ▁advise ▁and ▁assist ▁him . ▁This ▁Council ▁compr ised ▁the ▁Col onial ▁Secretary , ▁the ▁Att orney - General , ▁and ▁the ▁Tre as urer . ▁▁ ▁A ▁Legisl ative ▁Council ▁of ▁seven ▁people ▁– ▁the ▁Governor , ▁the ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Executive ▁Council , ▁and ▁three ▁nominated ▁Just ices ▁of ▁the ▁Peace ▁– ▁was ▁to ▁make ▁laws ▁and ▁ordin ances ▁" for ▁the ▁peace , ▁order , ▁and ▁good ▁government "