Well since the early 1990's most people thought of it all as a tie, since the nation is founded under a "TREATY". The Treaty is also the only treaty in the world, written in the Indigenous Language between an Imperial power and a native one. This being because it was drafted by Maori Authorities to allow British to coexist. They signed a contract giving them sovereignty in the regions they had already settled in.
With new summary online like Wikipedia and a National Party in office, the history has become quite twisted. One thing though, on the very top right of every Wikipedia page, you'll find the "History" of the page link. Click that and go to around and before 94-95 editings, and you'll see the drastic changes in historical interpretation.
The true name of the British Empire is : The British Trading Empire.
In all regions where British trading center were, there was an allaince with an Indigenous Authority, who usually was in competition with another Indigenous Authority or neighboring nation or religion.
By no means did Britian have the power to subject the vast regions under the Crown law. In almost all cases when Crown law was introduced, the British Imperialists were swiftly..kicked out.
