It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles of governance, and establishes the powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state.

Ministers hurriedly constructed an argument to convince Muldoon to comply, drawing on the ethos of past transitions, as there was no convention.

A press statement was made on 17 June outlining the behaviour of outgoing governments, which was dubbed the "caretaker convention".

This left New Zealand as the only original Dominion from 1931 that still had residual constitutional links to the United Kingdom.

A bill was introduced into Parliament during mid-1986, and was passed unanimously with the support of both the Labour and National parties on 13 December 1986.

This provision requires that any amendment to section 17 can be made only by a majority of three-quarters of all votes cast in Parliament, or by a referendum.