Resolution Passed to Constitute as a Dominion

On 26 September 1907, Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward stood on the steps of Parliament in Wellington and formally declared New Zealand a dominion of the British Empire. This marked a significant shift in New Zealand’s political status, as it ceased to be a colony and gained greater autonomy while remaining loyal to the British Crown. Background & Significance New Zealand had been a British colony since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. By the early 20th century, the idea of self-governance had gained momentum, influenced by a growing sense of national identity and the broader trend of political evolution within the Empire. Australia had become a federation in 1901, and Canada had been recognized as a dominion in 1867. The term "Dominion", rather than colony, symbolized greater self-governance, though it did not mean full independence. New Zealand would still rely on Britain for foreign affairs and defense, but internal matters were increasingly under its own control. The move reflected Joseph Ward’s vision of New Zealand as a distinct nation, proud of its British heritage but capable of standing on its own. The Proclamation Ceremony On 26 September 1907, Ward proclaimed the change outside Parliament in Wellington. The event was marked by official ceremonies, flag-raising, and public celebrations. The move was largely symbolic but carried important political and nationalistic meaning. The change from "Colony of New Zealand" to "Dominion of New Zealand" was primarily a symbolic assertion of nationhood, but it encouraged a stronger national identity. The Statute of Westminster in 1931 (adopted by New Zealand in 1947) later granted full legislative independence. New Zealand continued to evolve politically, eventually adopting the Constitution Act 1986, which severed the last remaining ties to British governance. This declaration was an important milestone in New Zealand’s path toward full sovereignty, laying the groundwork for the independent nation it would become. #NewZealandHistory #DominionStatus #JosephWard #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife