Editorial: They'll want to join us instead

OPINION: Opinions are never alone.

One person holds one view, while another has a convincing argument on the opposite side of the debate.

Usually most are valid in some way or another, but some opinions feel more right than others.

A good example is the debate about whether New Zealand should join Australia. We touched on in this debate in yesterday's editorial, with a mischievous slightly tongue-in-cheek piece about the prospect of New Zealand becoming a state of Australia.

Forty per cent of us are in favour of joining our larger cousin across the ditch, according to a recent UMR poll, while our best and brightest emigrate to Australia in their droves every year.

But there's one person who is not a native of these shores who would think us extremely foolhardy if we opted to join Australia.

His name is Gwynne Dyer and he is well known to readers of the Taranaki Daily News.

Mr Dyer gave a lecture in New Plymouth a couple of years ago hosted by this newspaper.

Much of his talk centred on climate change and its effects on the world's dwindling food and water supplies. Towards the end of his talk, he gave a bleak forecast of life in Australia in the next 50 years.

In a word – dry.

Australia is facing a dire water shortage and it is unlikely to be resolved other than by importing water from countries such as ours.

Mr Dyer went on to say that the biggest crisis facing New Zealand in the next 20 years would be dealing with waves of refugees from Australia. Such is the magnitude of the problem.

So while it might make short-term economic sense to merge with Australia, it doesn't look like a good bet long-term.

We will be the coveted country that has enough water to hydrate the nation, as well as feed our agricultural and industrial sectors.

And if we manage it correctly, we will have enough left over to sell to needy nations such as Australia. What we need to consider now, is how to keep the Aussies out.

Mr Dyer was adamant that they would be arriving on our shores in their dehydrated droves at any moment.

As a nation, we should take stock of what we do have in Aotearoa and be thankful for it.

There's little point staring whimsically at the Western horizon and dreaming of a better life in Australia, unless living in a giant desert appeals.

It's time to enjoy our lives here, celebrate our own culture and be happy with our lot.

We should be proud to be living in this lucky country.

- © Fairfax NZ News