New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with The Queen as Sovereign.
The Sovereign and the House of Representatives together make up the Parliament of New Zealand.
As a constitutional monarch, The Queen of New Zealand acts entirely on the advice of New Zealand Government Ministers. She is fully briefed by means of communications from her Ministers, and has audiences with them where possible.
The Queen is responsible for appointing a Governor-General for New Zealand, which she does on the advice of the country's Prime Minister.
This is The Queen's personal representative in New Zealand, who usually serves for a term of five years.
The Queen recognises events affecting in New Zealand - for example, sending messages for national celebrations or tragedies. She also honours New Zealand achievements at events in the UK - for example, holding a reception for members of the All Blacks rugby team at Buckingham Palace in 2005.
As Head of the Armed Forces, The Queen holds colonelcies in a number of New Zealand regiments, and commemorates the service of New Zealanders in various conflicts throughout the past century.
When The Queen visits New Zealand, she performs many of the duties normally delegated to the Governor-General - for example, presiding over the opening of Parliament.
She also makes a pointing of travelling widely throughout the islands, meeting New Zealanders from as many different walks of life as possible.
The Queen of New Zealand's formal title is: 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.
In the Maori language, The Queen is known as Kotuku, which means "the white heron", a cherished bird rarely seen in New Zealand.
