This feels like such a weird proposal to me. We're separate countries... Internationally we get conflated a lot, I guess because we're both in the same corner of the world and we don't come up much in the news, but on the ground AU and NZ are quite different countries.

I don't think there's any problem with the current state of affairs. Trying to merge into being a different country would be so much administrative overhead when we have bigger problems within the country we have to solve.

I guess it might also negatively impact Maori people since there's a greater chance of them losing their special affordances and being socially "merged in" with the rest of AU's indigenous population?

If the reason for this proposal is for trade deals and such, we already have those. NZers and AUians can travel back and forth without a visa, attend university without paying international fees, work abroad, etc.

I don't really get it. If there's a good argument for it, I could have easily have my mind changed, but right now it just sounds bizarre.

[–] BalpeenHammer@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 year ago

NZ population is roughly the same as Melbourne. For us it would be a benefit to have access to the vast resources and wealth Australia has at their disposal. Honestly I don't know what they would get out of the deal. We would be an albatross across their neck.

[–] terraborra@lemmy.nz 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Only if the aussies are willing to rename their landmass to the West Island and admit that NZ created the lambington, the pav, and the flat white.

[–] MaungaHikoi@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 year ago

Yeah if the West Island wants to take on our superior culture then I say give them a chance.

[–] evanuggetpi@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 year ago

It doesn't seem like it.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Short answer? No.

[–] ZaphodHarkonnen@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago

Long answer?

Heelllllllllll, no.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:

In the final sitting block of the New Zealand parliamentary term this month, legislators have been offering free and frank advice to their colleagues during their valedictory speeches.

There have been calls for greater bipartisanship, for Kiwis to wake up to security threats, for vast population growth, and hard truths served up to their own parties.

Todd Muller, who led a 2020 coup to become National party leader only to resign after 53 days after suffering a breakdown, called for greater compassion around mental health.

“One: that this country is being radicalised by the Māori-fication of our society, and the other is that we are very slowly, but inexorably, moving to a treaty [of Waitangi] centred future which was imagined in 1840,” he said.

Former Pacific peoples minister Aupito William Sio broke new ground by appearing topless for his valedictory, dressed in ceremonial Samoan finery as a way of showing his respect.

Hamilton-based MP David Bennett urged future government to embrace migration to double NZs population, particularly upper North Island cities of Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.

The original article contains 644 words, the summary contains 177 words. Saved 73%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] liv@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

Um, yeah that guy seems to live up to his name.

[–] BalpeenHammer@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I mean OK but do they even want us? What's in it for them?

[–] nick@campfyre.nickwebster.dev 5 points 1 year ago

They can't say no. It's in their constitution.

[–] foiledAgain@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A legit claim to pavlova

[–] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Savage!

[–] ciaocibai@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago

I would have said a winning rugby team but I’m not sure we can claim that any more. I guess we’d be pretty solid at cricket, league and netball at least.