Union with NZ is an issue way off the agenda but if Rudd was willing to hold a Blanchettprop 2020 Conference then Union appears to be a much more sensible and substantial concept.

The author has a firm and found grasp of A-NZ in history and also the present. He avoids trite, superficial, banalities about our slightly differing cultures.

He makes some reasonable predictions/projections of a future union of our two countries.

If NZ were to be more heavily represented in an A-NZ Senate by having 9 to 12 Senators (not the usual 6 in Aus States) then Kiwis may be more likely to accept union.

Pete
(married to a Kiwi)

No thank you.

Aren't there all ready more of them over here, than over there?

Talk about yankee go home. [Smile, if I knew how]

New Zealanders would expect to form four states and two territories (one for each crucket team). They would also expect continuing improvements to Austrayeleeean accents.

More seriously, they would require substantial changes to the Australian constitution, and the passage of a bill of rights. (They would not accept detention without trial, nor the use of secret evidence in trials, nor the extension of judicially determined sentences by new legislation.) They would expect fairer treatment of refugees.

They would probably require a new treaty be signed with Maori and with Indigenous Australians, that is acceptable to both groups.

plantagenet,

Please stay in the real world. All Australian states have 12 senators in parliament, not 6.

That said, it is impossible for NZ to ever join the federation, as the kiwis would want to retain their identity. As the first failed state (from 1901), they did us the enormous favour of relieving us from the need to to deal with the maori problem, and as for their currency, what can I say?

Anyone in favour of union would first have to get past the chicken desk at Auckland airport.

(translation: for those not used to the strange speech on the other side of the Tasman, for chicken desk read check-in desk)

Unbelievable pettiness. What a fantastic opportunity for Australians and New Zealanders alike, yet I read parochial quips about the Kiwi accent.

Ozbib is correct and I acknowledge what a lucky dude Pete is.

I agree with Fester.

Shuddup Hasbeen.[smile]

What exactly can Aussie offer NZ? Are the penguins planning an invasion or something?