As an Australian, I’ve always felt somewhat inspired by New Zealand’s rugged independence and forward thinking.
In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, and while it is not a treaty as recognised by international law (according to the Brooklyn Journal of International Law), it’s a step Australia is yet to take.
A bit later, in 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote. Aussies were the second country to do that in 1902.
In the late 1890s, NZ turned down an offer to join the Australian Federation, and instead became an independent Dominion in 1907.
Why be at the apron strings of another colony?
New Zealanders are courageous
Over the years, New Zealanders have shown themselves to be courageous in the face of powerful interests, namely the US.
Unlike Aussies, they have taken a principled stand against the war/death industry. Since 1984, NZ has been a nuclear free zone.
US nuclear-powered ships are not allowed to dock. The sinking of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior by the French in 1985 demonstrated the price of nation state independence.
Fast forward to last week, and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was in NZ. A joint press conference was held.
Obligatory motherhood statements were made, such as ‘shared vision’, ‘tremendous friend’, and ‘advancing economic engagement’.
When Blinken was asked about NZ’s interest in the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS), he said the door was open for NZ to join.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, then said what Australia should say – she said no thanks.
New Zealand not prepared to compromise or change
She said, ‘New Zealand is not prepared to compromise or change our nuclear framework position’.
In the same week, Blinken was also in Australia, and the contrast couldn’t be wider, as Labor MPs and the PM revelled shamelessly in the US death-cult-military-industrial-complex.
Highlighting our unhealthy US military relationship, former Labor leader, Bob Carr, wrote in the SMH of the US submarine deal, ‘Australia will make the largest transfer of wealth ever made outside this country. This $368 billion is a whopping subsidy to American naval shipyards, and to the troubled, chronically tardy British naval builder BAE Systems’.
Local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, supports this madness.
Also this week, SMH reported that, ‘Australia is set to begin manufacturing its own missiles within two years’.
Meanwhile, federal Labor have been trying to convince the yanks to release imprisoned Aussie journalist, Julian Assange.
Yet Blinken dismissed the request. According to www.theguardian.com, he told reporters Assange ‘risked very serious harm to our national security’.
What would the Kiwis do if Assange was one of theirs?
They seem to know that ‘real friends’ don’t just lay down and get walked all over.
It’s an unhealthy relationship if you do whatever you are told to do, yet federal Labor is doing just that.
Thankfully, NZ is an example of a nation that looks after the interests of its citizens.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
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