Editorial: Flying the flag of unity

OPINION: It's 2030, a flag with black, yellow and green vertical stripes bearing a kangaroo flanked by silver ferns flutters over The Beehive.

Strewth mate, come off it, you scoff? Well, flight of fancy it may be but the debate about New Zealand becoming a state of its near neighbour is on again. And it seems the concept has a sizeable following.

A recent UMR Research poll found 40 per cent of New Zealanders support a debate about becoming a state of Australia.

The survey covered 1000 people on both sides of the Tasman. About a quarter of Kiwis favoured the country becoming part of the Australia with 71 per cent opposed to the idea, while 37 per cent of Australians supported the merger, compared with 52 per cent against it.

And if that makes you snort with derision, no less a heavyweight than former Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon believes a merger with Australia is inevitable.

It will be people-driven as people see the benefits, he argues, noting half a million New Zealanders live in Australia. It will evolve because "by the time the next generation comes around, with technology and the movement of people everywhere, New Zealanders won't want to be in the situation of paying taxes in both countries and all the time going through immigration and Customs".

The two countries are already closely integrated economically and a merger would complete the process.

The naysayers include Labour leader Phil Goff, who says it will never happen because New Zealanders won't want to give up their national identity. Prime Minister John Key is similarly dismissive of the idea.

But what do we stand to lose? The case for being part of Australia was debated – and rejected – back in colonial times. It could now be argued New Zealand would be more secure economically as part of a greater unit, in a globalised world of trading blocs preaching free trade but practising protectionsim whenever it suits them.

Why not merge as a United States of the Pacific? After all, both countries are moving in the same direction in other areas, for example becoming republics.

Loss of identity need not be of concern. The All Blacks could still represent New Zealand by tradition, just as Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland field their own national soccer sides.

There are downsides, though. Will "Strine" join English and Maori as an official language? The Aussie "underarm" problem and other liberties taken in sport will become our embarrassment.

But we should have no problem with adopting the Australian national anthem, Advance Australian Fares. Because that's what so many Kiwis have been doing; snapping up advance deals on cheap air fares to fly there for good. Indeed, if we can't beat them, we might as well join them.

- © Fairfax NZ News