Your views: NZ joining Australia

Historian Kathryn M Hunter has asked what would have happened if New Zealand had joined Australia in 1901.

What do you think it would have been like? And should we join now, or at least look at some kind of union? Or is New Zealand's independence too valuable to give up?

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Here is the latest selection of your views:

Ken Thackeray

I think the obvious answer to this question is Australia should join New Zealand. We have already, a North and South Island and a West Island could be accommodated quite simply.

Sam Marshall

We have more in common with Australia than any other nation on earth. Most New Zealanders have family and friends in Australia. I for one have a Victorian Mother and NZ Father. We are tied together through a common history, bloodlines and culture. New Zealand through becoming a state of Australia would gain over time a stronger economy, a refreshing state of mind and a better future for our children. Unfortunately we will still have our average weather. Long Live the ANZACs and God Bless Australasia.

Geoff Morell

Not being snobbish, but immigrating New Zealanders paid their way to come to come to this country, Australians as we know were sent there, so the core thinking is different. We are good neighbours from a distance. It is my belief each country can be self sufficient, and we as an island nation, have everything here to make it as such. The prosperity of New Zealand was evidenced when we came out of the 30s depression faster than any other country, and we had a way of Life without extremes, between the haves and the have nots. Stay Solid NZ.

Russell Campbell

You only have to go over the Tasman for a visit to get the feeling of a go ahead population with a can do positive attitude. I visited the Northern Territory a while ago and met the friendliest people one would find anywhere. With the way the countries of the Eastern block of the former Soviet Union have welcomed their integration into the EU, you can see that eventually we will join with the Commonwealth of Australia. There is really no choice.

Lewis Holden

New Zealand has almost all of the advantages of being a state of Australia, without actually being one. We can freely travel and work across the Tasman, our exports enter Australia freely and we enjoy a close defence relationship with Australia. Joining the Australian federation would not change any of these things. It would relegate New Zealand to Australian stateship, and more than likely make little different to the outlook of New Zealands economy, save billions of federal funds being spent here (which New South Wales and Victoria more than likely wouldn’t want to provide).