The office of King's Counsel was established in New Zealand in 1907. During the reign of a male sovereign, appointees are called King's Counsel, and this applied from 1907 to 1952 during the reign of Edward VII (1907–1910), George V (1910–1936), Edward VIII (1936), and George VI (1936–1952). During Elizabeth II's reign (February 1952 – September 2022), new appointees were called Queen's Counsel and living King's Counsel became Queen's Counsel. Forty-three King's Counsel had been appointed before 1952. When King Charles III ascended the throne on 9 September 2022 (New Zealand Time), living Queen's Counsel became King's Counsel.