作為主權獨立之立憲民主國家，紐西蘭的歷史是由當地原住民
族與主要來自歐洲及世界其他地區的墾殖者所共同締造的。其憲政
發展和其他大英國協成員國的發展經驗類似，首先由殖民母國英國
移入君主立憲體制，然後在往後的國家發展中逐漸建立起一套融合
地方色彩的政治制度，並且慢慢切斷與殖民母國的政治依存關係。
雖保有君主立憲體制，紐西蘭的國家主權由人民所共享，國家組織
根據三權分立原則所建立，為一施行單一國體制之中央集權國家；
其憲政秩序除落實法治國之原則外，亦肯定司法審查制度之實踐。
紐西蘭政府還致力於社會弱勢團體與毛利原住民特殊優惠性權益之
保障，使該國被視為當代立憲民主國家中，肯認與落實多元文化主
義理念之典範國家。

New Zealand’s history as a sovereign and democratic constitutional
state is influenced both by her indigenous population as well as by
settlers coming primarily from Great Britain, but also from other
countries. The development of the constitutional system of this country
shows similarities with those experienced by member states of the British
Commonwealth. These countries retained the system of monarchy from
their colonial mother country and then, during the process of further
national development, established new political systems, taking into
account all the specific characteristics of their respective situations. This
evolution led to a slow weakening of dependence on the motherland.
Although the system of monarchy still exists, the sovereignty of the state
rests in the nation of New Zealand, in the people. The institutions of the
state are oriented by the principle of the division of power. Such a
political system not only guarantees the principle of a state under the rule
of law and the possibility of judicial review, but also safeguards the basic
rights of its citizens, especially those belonging to weaker social
groupings, including the aboriginal Māori. All these constitutional rules
make it clear that New Zealand is a country which recognizes, accepts
and realizes the ideals of cultural pluralism.