-
Labour leader Phil Goff - Source: Q + A -
Watch Video
-
Related
Labour leader Phil Goff says he is not surprised by strong public support for a debate on a union between Australia and New Zealand.
Market research firm UMR has conducted the first trans-Tasman poll on a union between Australia and New Zealand , with a thousand people in each country asked whether New Zealand should become Australia's seventh state.
The poll shows more Australians (37%) were in favour of the idea than Kiwis (24%).
However, 41% of New Zealanders' were prepared to open a debate on the topic.
Goff says that's because Kiwis love to have a debate about anything.
"The important figure is the figure that 3 to 1 are against New Zealand losing its national identity and being swallowed up as a seventh state of Australia."
He says New Zealand would be at risk of losing its national identity if a union was to happen.
"We can't imagine a world without going along cheering for the Kiwis or the All Blacks. Why would we give those things up?"
Former Prime Minister Mike Moore says New Zealand and Australia are already close enough
"New Zealand governments of the past 30-years have got it right by building a closer economic relationship .... so we're getting all the benefits."
Don McKinnon, former Commonwealth Secretary-General and head of the trans-Tasman Business Circle, says no political leader in New Zealand is going to win an election advocating the issue.
"I believe it's inevitable, but it's probably the next generation"
He says the income gap between the two countries may explain why some support a union.
"Maybe a lot of people are thinking, if we are going to get that poor in relation to Australia, maybe we should be catching those coat-tails."
The survey, which has a margin of error of 3%, found New Zealanders believe a union would bring big improvements in the ease of travel to Australia and to the defence status.
New Zealand nearly became a state of Australia in 1901 when the six colonies of Australia federated into the Commonwealth of Australia.
The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory were later added.
The Australian constitution provided for New Zealand to join, however the country decided to remain separate.
The UMR research was conducted in the week beginning February 15, 2010.
