Royal Titles Act 1974

The Royal Titles Act 1974 changed the New Zealand title of the monarch of New Zealand to 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.'. The Queen's original title in New Zealand described her as 'Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith'.

The Act was part of a program of nationalism on the part of the third Labour government. However it was unanimously supported in parliament and, unusually, all three stages of the bill were passed in a single sitting.