GEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK

Basic Politcal Structure

The politics of New Zealand take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The basic system is closely patterned on that of the Westminister System, although a number of significant modifications have been made. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor-General and the head of government is the Prime Minister who chairs the Cabinet drawn from an elected Parliament.

Coat of Arms of New Zealand (1956-Present)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_New_Zealand.svg

New Zealand has no formal constitution; the constitutional framework consists of a mixture of various documents, inluding the Treaty of Waitangi and constitutional conventions. The Constitution Act in 1852 established the system of government and these were later consolidated in 1986. Constitutional rights are protected under common law and are strengthened by the Bill of Rights Act 1990 and Human Rights Act 1993, can be overturned by Parliament with a simple majority. The Constitution Act describes the three branches of Government in New Zealand: The Executive (the Sovereign and Cabinet), the legislature (Parliament) and the judiciary (Courts).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_New_Zealand

New Zealand's role in the Oceania and Native Rights

New Zealand is the oldest independent state, along with Australia, created in the 20th Century (1907). Today it debates on whether they want to complete teir formal political separation from Britian. It wasn't until 1947 that formal legislative links were not broken. The country is not inclined to give up their oceanic possessions, they still control substantial territories in Polynesia, including the Cook Islands, Tokelau, and the island of Niue. New Zealand has emerged to play key political roles in the South Pacific. They often involve themselves in peace setllements when politcal and ethnic conflicts arise elsewhere in the Oceania. They also enjoy their close political and strategic relations with Australia, as well as mitlitary forces.

The country's true battle today involves the native rights of the indigenous people of New Zealand, Maori. The Maori have used the politcal process to gain more control over land and resources in the past. They constitute a far larger proportion of the overall population. Events in the past have excelled to protests that included civil disobedience and demonstrations, growing Maori land claims over much of North and South islands. Another right the Maori are fighting for is the right to return the country's name to the indigenous Aotearoa, meaning "Land of the Long White Cloud".

Above is a video when New Zealand announced that it will support the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, April 19, 2010, a key date in history of the Maoris.