Story: Self-government and independence

Charter of 1840

The 1840 New Zealand charter vested the power of the British government in a governor. This ornate document was hand-written and is headed by the royal coat of arms. Representations of Britannia (a symbol of Britain) and Justitia (justice) are situated on either side of the arms. Absent from the document are images of New Zealand.

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How to cite this page:

W. David McIntyre, 'Self-government and independence - Crown colony', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/32913/charter-of-1840 (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by W. David McIntyre, published 20 Jun 2012