The New Zealand Constitution Act of 1852 established the framework for New Zealand's government, creating a system of representative democracy. It provided for a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council, and outlined the powers of the Governor, who represented the British Crown. Over time, the Act was amended and eventually became less relevant as New Zealand developed its own legal identity. Key changes included the Statute of Westminster in 1931, which granted legislative independence, and the Constitution Act of 1986, which consolidated New Zealand's constitutional framework.