By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor
Jim Anderton has made a strong pre-election pitch to patriotic sentiment by suggesting Pokarekare Ana be given similar status to God Defend New Zealand and opposing any merging of the kiwi dollar with the Australian dollar.
In his first speech as leader of Jim Anderton's Progressive
Coalition Party, he said it was time to ensure that national pride was not based solely on whether New Zealand sports teams were winning or losing.
"One of the distinctive sounds of New Zealand is Pokarekare Ana. For New Zealanders overseas to hear it playing is spine-tingling," he told the Museums' Business Forum in Wellington yesterday.
"I would support giving Pokarekare Ana some status as our national song alongside our national anthem."
Mr Anderton said New Zealanders needed to take control of their destiny.
"That is why establishing the locally owned Kiwibank, with 300 branches, has been such an important step. All the profits from the Kiwibank stay in New Zealand."
Bringing Air New Zealand back into public ownership had been another important step.
The lobby for currency union with Australia had grown much stronger over the last two years. It needed to be stopped in its tracks.
"I believe we need to oppose merging the kiwi dollar with the Australian dollar.
"As well as being economically naive, it would be a cultural step backwards."
Mr Anderton also suggested a "national interest test" on foreign trade agreements and investment.
* According to the New Zealand Folk Song website, Pokarekare Ana emanated from the north of Auckland at the start of World War I. About 1917 it reached Hawkes Bay, where it was modified into an action song telling of Paraire Tomoana's 1912 courtship of Kuini Raerena from Tokomaru Bay.
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