By doing so it gained the ability to create New Zealand citizenship and issue passports without the approval of the British Government.

That Act created Commonwealth citizens as a replacement for the legal status of "British subjects".

[7] The Bill was read in the Legislative Council, the then upper house of New Zealand's parliament, on 1 September 1948.

[2] The Treaty of Waitangi is an agreement signed between representatives of the British Crown and Māori in 1840.

Article three of the English language version of the Treaty states that Māori are granted all the rights and privileges of British subjects.