Let Australia become the West Island

NO offence to that miserable lot over the Tasman, but wouldn't it suck to be called an Australian?

Once upon a time New Zealand and Australia were joined, as Gondwanaland. Then one of the greatest things happened - we split up - causing us to be two completely different countries.

Since having this marvellous split these two countries have had, do have and always will have a healthy rivalry, honoured past history, and our own native peoples.

A recent survey showed that 51 per cent of New Zealanders have thought about or are planning to move to Australia within the next five years.

Now the idea has resurfaced that New Zealand should become a seventh state of Australia, which I believe is absolutely ridiculous. If we were to be become a state of Australia all of our rivalry, history and culture would slowly but surely dissolve into nothing, leaving very little attraction for the big "get with the Aussies" campaign.

Sure, our economy might look a little brighter if we were a state of Australia, but that wouldn't compensate for the morale and sense of identity as Kiwis that we would lose.

Our biggest rivalry is in sport: rugby's Bledisloe Cup, ANZ netball champs, ANZ basketball champs, and the list goes on.

There would be no more test matches between New Zealand and Australia, matches that attract world attention. This would take away the pride of going out representing your country, going out in black.

Like many others, I aspire to represent New Zealand, but how can we do that if our country doesn't exist; it would be their country too.

To unite us as one country would be taking away all of these things that mark out an Aussie from a Kiwi - no more great "Blacks versus Wallies", "Ferns versus Diamonds", "Kiwis versus Roos", we would just be one big old boring country, with arguments over a national side, bigger issues over the colour of the jersey and complications over whether to do the haka or sing Waltzing Matilda.

New Zealand was discovered and founded by inquisitive explorers who came here by wooden canoe, and most New Zealanders are proud to say that they are connected to those great explorers.

Once settled, our two different cultures made a treaty that is celebrated on what is considered to be our national day, Waitangi Day. Then our proud history moves forward to the war years, when we fought alongside Australians - not with Australians, but alongside - hence the most respected day of the year, Anzac Day.

Fighting alongside another country shows that we are our own independent country. New Zealand's history proves that we are capable of doing great things as a nation and that New Zealand can work with many different countries, building positive relationships and helping each other out.

For New Zealand to become a part of Australia would mean the loss of our positive relationship with countries like the United States and the United Kingdom - which respect us for being strong and independent despite being small - and would suggest that New Zealand cannot survive on its own, which we know we can.

Most importantly, it would take away our hard-fought and honourable history. Anzac Day would merely turn into AAC day.

New Zealand is also able to sustain the integration and merging of two cultures, Maori and European. Maori fight hard to sustain their language and their traditions. They are, mostly, well supported by the government. Maori have their own political party, and the government provides funding for Maori education; we have kohanga reo and kura kaupapa Maori.

Because of this integration Maori culture is strong and we are proud of our indigenous culture.

We have Maori TV and radio stations, and our national anthem is sung in Maori before it is sung in English. Maori, as it should be, is an official language of New Zealand.

In Australia there have been, and still are, huge problems with stereotypes for their own native people, the Aborigines. They have been beaten in the streets, stormed off their land and their traditions and culture have had little support.

Their languages are dying out and slowly the Aboriginal race is becoming marginalised. In time all that will be left is nothing but bloodlines to the Aborigines.

If we become a part of Australia would they have any consideration for our native people? I think not, knowing that they can't look after their own.

New Zealand is arguably the best country in the world in the treatment of its indigenous people and Australia doesn't possess the same consideration for theirs. So why would we want to become a part of a country that does not treat its indigenous people as well as we do? It's almost guaranteed that Maori will become lost; all our traditions and language lost because we want to be Aussies.

Remaining an independent country will leave us more power in terms of trade and exchange with other countries. Being a state of Australia would by definition soak up the strong agriculture industry New Zealand has. We can preserve our powerful image as 100 per cent pure New Zealand and continue to successfully market our fresh dairy products, top-quality meat and tasty fruit all around the world.

For a long time Australia even refused to import New Zealand apples, so why would we let them have our apples now and rebrand them as Australian? Would kiwifruit become known as kangaroo fruit? We are proud of our produce, which we work hard for and label as our own.

I strongly disagree with becoming a seventh state of Australia as it will take away our pride, our honour and our culture. We have Northland and Southland so why can't they become New Zealanders and be Westland?

There is nothing wrong with our beautiful country, so why change, if we are happy just the way we are?

Jonty Hooson, Year 12, Bay of Islands College