Why Isn't New Zealand a Part of Australia? (Short Animated Documentary)

It might seem odd to ask why New Zealand is an independent nation but in the late nineteenth century, its inclusion in Australia was seen as a certainty. Yet, as you'll know, it never joined the Commonwealth of Australia. But why? To find out watch this short and simple animated documentary.

A special thanks to all of these Patrons below, without whom the show wouldn't be possible:

Kevin Sanders
Ian Jensen
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Christine Purvis
Seth Reeves

Sources:

A Concise History of Australia by Stuart Macintyre.

A Concise History of New Zealand by Philippa Mein Smith.

Breed, culture, and economy: The New Zealand frozen meat trade, 1880-1914 by Rebecca J. H. Woods

[HistoryMatters]

Hi all, I re-uploaded because there was a graphical issue. It's on YouTube's end and there's nothing I can do about it. Sorry about all of this.

[cringefairy]

New Zealand: "There're only two things I can't stand in this world: racism, and the Chinese."

[elmerofairo]

Calling Western Australia "the other one" demonstrates a keen understanding of Australian culture

[o-mauler-o]

I really love the pronunciation of Western Australia as 'The other one'.

[mikedangerdoes]

As a New Zealander, I have never heard that joining up with Australia was an option. All our history and politics classes make out that, whilst part of a community (the Commonwealth), we were pretty happy on our own.

[adimaibolewaqainabete]

And for any one wondering, Fiji also decided against federalisation and worked real hard to stand on their own as a separate economy. Becoming independent in 1970.

[yuCantHandle]

The main reason Australia & New Zealand aren't one county is because they can't resolve a long standing dispute over who invented the Pavlova cake

[l.r]

"Whilst New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the other one" ~ History Matters 2020

[darwinism]

"New Zealand, alongside being the current reigning champion of places that people forget to put on maps.."
What an entrance, deserves the subscription.

[peterstamatiou]

Any country with a small population: exists

History matters: why tf is this a thing

[afterburnerfox]

Remember the good ol days when after James Byzanet we had Party Boyko

[colehartel]

How could there be no mention of Richard "King Dick" Seddon, New Zealand's Premier at the time Australia was formed? His ambitious expectation that under his leadership New Zealand could grow powerful enough to be the dominant force in the South Pacific was a major reason he rejected the offer to join the Australian federation.

[fzzy]

the half-closed "tired of your shit" eyes on the characters never fails to amuse me

[navaryn]

i like how the colony of "south australia" literally goes coast to coast on a perfect north-south axis

[fordernPL]

o'meter was the best, still can't stop laughing.

[jordanhenare]

Kia ora e hoa! Loved this video and learned a lot, am indigenous Maori myself. For future reference, pronounciation of "pakeha" isn't "pah-kay-ha", its more like "paa-keh-ha". Emphasis is on the pAkeha not the pakEha. Hope that makes sense! Its also "why-tongue-ee" for 'waitangi'.

Nga mihi nui kia koe!

[thegreatders]

New Zealand: "well join if you stop being racist"
Australia: "alright sounds good"
New Zealand: "actually you got quite a bit of Asians soooo...well pass"

[nujabeslistener]

Because Australia's rulers (the Emus) and New Zealand rulers (the kiwis) have had centuries of unresolved conflict

[hatac]

There are three reasons why some in Australia opposed it: 1. The Maori and their treaty stood a good chance of leading the Australian aborigine's to organize and demand an equivalent treaty. While the Australian Founding Fathers were OK with this, some were opposed in the state parliaments. 2. There was a debate in both countries about whether New Zealand would be one state or two. North and south islands. This was heavily favored by the south islanders. It terrified Wellington and Auckland. It also was opposed by some in Australia as it would mean 8 states not 7. The problem was the even number tie problems in state votes and Senators were not elected early on so a tie mattered. The 3rd problem was the Irish. New Zealand's Irish was from a different era in Irish history. The were monarchist, conservatives with many protestants. Australian Irish were often republican, labor supporters and Roman Catholics. The two groups were politically powerful but culturally rivals.

[Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

As an Australian, I feel that both Australia and New Zealand both greatly benefit from being separate sovereign independent nations. There are many reasons for this. While there has historically been some state based parochialism in states like Western Australia (which has a fair claim to separatism given the distance from Southwest Western Australia to any other major population centre or capital) and Queensland (Sir Joh), even the extremities of the Australian mainland and Tasmania still have the "same" geology, biogeography (eg kangaroos, eucalyptus) and related Aboriginal people, not to mention the shared modern colonial and Federation history.

Perhaps there is an argument for a new clause in the Constitution granting Western Australia greater autonomy. But it would have to be carefully constructed Pareto Optimally.

But New Zealand is actually a part of a different continent (Zealandia) hence with a different geology and biogeography; its Indigenous people are completely unrelated; and its colonial and post colonial history, while similar, are distinct.

Plus as culturally predominantly European nations, being far away from Europe, we keep each other company and being independent from each other, we can do things our own way without being dependent on the approval of the other, so we can look across the ditch and see what the other has done and decided if that innovation has inspired us or not.