It has been interesting reading the conceited tone of political commentary in New Zealand. The media, having long ago predicted John Key will return triumphant in November, can't for the life of them come to terms with any other possibility. Consequently, Phil Goff has been lampooned, pilloried, and just generally spoken of between gritted teeth.
It's all so transparent. This government's plans for New Zealand will see our country emerge as a working farm for the Australian economy. All of "matey" rhetoric doesn't seem to count for much when hundreds of millions flow from New Zealand across the Tasman. Working Kiwis, blinded by racism and fear, have been looking to China, expecting that sleeping giant to buy up large (and, thanks to Jenny Shipley and Bill English, they soon will), but the real coup occurred years ago and the Aussies are guilty.
They own our power companies, our banks, our supermarkets, transport firms, and most of our retail. They have been using Kiwis for our cheap labour and relatively backward industrial rights since John Key was making millions speculating on currency movement. They might invoke the ANZAC spirit once yearly, in April, but otherwise their focus has always been on maximising profits before maximising mateships. And who can blame them...
It wasn't that long ago that the tories used the "gap" between average Kiwi:Aussie incomes as a yardstick for the success (or otherwise) of a [Labour-led] government's economic management. The mission was to close the gap, although quite how was never articulated beyond the soaring political language of improving productivity, exploring innovation and supporting entrepreneurship. Now, the fact Kiwi workers earn as much as 30% less than their Aussie counterparts is viewed as an asset. We're reliable, cheap, close to home and apparently don't mind being farmed.
Kiwis and Australians are different. Friends of mine who have ditched Godsown for the Lucky Continent observe the hard Australian character, horrifically racist underbelly, and the merciless view of their Kiwi "mates" and shudder. They might make more there, but they sacrifice more too. We're not the same - and we're not mates.
"Mates" wouldn't use their mates and dispose of them when times are tough. Kiwis arriving in Australia since a law change in 2006 are okay so long as they have work. Thereafter, they're on their own. New Zealanders can no longer access social security entitlements open to Aussies. Instead, they're expected to bugger off.
"Mates" wouldn't drain their mates of money by laundering Ponzi-type business schemes through Kiwi shores to maintain the price at home.
"Mates" wouldn't experiment on mates.
Julia Gillard isn't our mate. Her country is no mate of ours. We're on our own in this big, scary world. The sooner we realise it, the better.
