By KEVIN TAYLOR
The Prime Minister's venture into the troubled territory of a common New Zealand and Australian currency sparked a political storm yesterday.
But Helen Clark's musing is not new, and Kiwis just have to look around to see signs of transtasman merger everywhere.
That great Australian icon the kangaroo now graces our skies in the form of Qantas New Zealand.
Passports are still needed for transtasman travel but anyone can go to work in Australia - and thousands do every month.
The "lucky country" has great allure to Kiwis and about 40,000 are expected to shift across the Ditch this year.
Closer Economic Relations have made doing business easier. The common market has brought a flood of Australian products on to New Zealand shelves.
Both Governments have agreed to look at coordinating company law to make doing business even easier.
Put your money card into an Australian ATM machine and it will access your account - it is like you never left home.
The Warehouse and Telecom have expanded into Australia, Telstra-Saturn is doing the same in New Zealand, and the ASB is now fully owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Head offices of Kiwi firms such as Lion Nathan have shifted across the Ditch, and there is a push to merge sharemarkets.
The typical New Zealand shopping centre is now filled with Australian chainstores such as Country Road, Katies and Kmart.
Besides CER there is CDR - Closer Defence Relations.
The two countries have the same frigates (Anzac), the same rifles (Steyr) and will soon have similar armoured personal carriers.
One of the Air Force's Skyhawk squadrons is based in New South Wales, and our two infantry battalions are designed to slot easily in with the Australian Army.
The Anzac tradition runs deep in the military of both countries.
Nowhere is it more evident than in East Timor, where the northern half of the increasingly volatile border with Indonesia is patrolled by the Australians while the Kiwis try to keep the southern half secure.
War and the legendary transtasman sports rivalry have bound Australia and New Zealand more tightly than anything else.
On the common dollar there are mixed views.
Former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves thinks a common currency is "basically a good idea."
Maori may wonder whether this is "one step towards other agendas" such as a shared constitution, Sir Paul says, but he is not scared of this provided it has enough safeguards.
Comedian Mike King, who sports a tattoo of the New Zealand flag, says a common currency seems inevitable, but an important question would be what to call it, and who should feature on banknotes.
He suggests using the faces of Kiwis who are claimed as Australians, such as actor Russell Crowe or pop group Split Enz.
If the value of the New Zealand dollar is to be a factor in naming the new currency, it should be called the peso or lira, he says.
Aboriginal Australians should receive some benefit of closer relations with New Zealand, perhaps enjoying the protection of the Treaty of Waitangi, says King.
"Perhaps Tame Iti could be put on the $5 note."
Former squash world champion Dame Susan Devoy also believes a closer relationship with Australia is a good idea.
"There are more pros than cons to it, because basically we're struggling here. If it means the dollar goes up, then I would be delighted."
New Zealand and Australia will always be arch-rivals on the sports field and it makes sense to have some common ground, Dame Susan says.
Experience in Europe shows countries retain their own identity despite closer economic relationships.
Former Finance Minister Sir Roger Douglas says Helen Clark is "grasping for straws"in raising the possibility of a common currency with Australia.
There is no point in even talking about the issue while NZ's economy is in such poor shape, he says.
A persuasive argument can be made for a common currency, but it will make no difference while "economic mismanagement" leaves the dollar at 41USc.
Shared dollar would be cosy in copycat lands
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