Why did New Zealand adopt the Statute of Westminster in 1947?

New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster in 1947, a significant step that occurred long after the statute was originally enacted by the United Kingdom in 1931.12

While the statute established the equality of the British dominions and recognized their sovereign right to control domestic and foreign affairs, New Zealand’s political leadership at the time showed little interest in the principle of Commonwealth autonomy. Consequently, New Zealand took a passive role during the conferences leading to the 1931 legislation and delayed its formal adoption for 16 years.312

Despite this delay, New Zealand had already been enjoying the substance of autonomy in practice for some time prior to 1947. The formal adoption of the statute served to codify this status within the constitutional framework of the nation.123