Hypothetical Should Australia and NZ merge?

[andrewmillman]

My first thought was a retort, but then I actually explored the claim a little.

Irish convicts | National Museum of Australia

www.nma.gov.au

Turns out, only 12% of convicts were Irish, with the majority of Irish settlers coming between 1788 and 1921. Bear in mind that the religious and cultural differences - severe enough to create flashpoints in Northern Ireland pretty recently - were sufficient to create the 'them vs us' mindset you see in a lot of our colonial narratives between Irish settlers and the establishment. And we supposedly love an underdog.

Still, useful to have a look at my biases.

I appreciate the research.

 

[Power Raid]

Lets not overdo the amount of credit the Irish deserve. The vast majority of settlers were English (majority from southern England), with a relatively small number from the other 3 home nations.

Broader comment - Why is there always this bizarre attempt to overstate the Irish contribution and minimise the English contribution to Australia? I notice this in America too. I guess people like to feel "unique" by identifying with the beleaguered "other".

It isn’t about over or understating English, Irish or Scottish. Rather it was a reference to relative influence which resulted in different accents and culture.

There are also many other contributing factors to be acknowledged including free settlement, religion, industry, racism and other nationalities.

 

[medusala]

Broader comment - Why is there always this bizarre attempt to overstate the Irish contribution and minimise the English contribution to Australia? I notice this in America too. I guess people like to feel "unique" by identifying with the beleaguered "other".

The first law of pride, the less you have to be proud of the more you say how proud you are. It really is quite pathetic.

You dont hear the poms bang on about how proud they are.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

No thanks, we already have Tassie.

 

[Hoops]

NZ do have their gold coin sizes sorted, unlike Aus with a smaller $2 coin v the $1 coin. WTF?

 

[kranky al]

As a wa boy id advise against it.

the federation is all about nsw and vic

they would quickly be shunted to the third tier with sa wa and tas

at best they would make second tier with qld

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Broader comment - Why is there always this bizarre attempt to overstate the Irish contribution and minimise the English contribution to Australia? I notice this in America too. I guess people like to feel "unique" by identifying with the beleaguered "other".

Because the English were genocidal colonialists and the Irish were loveable underdogs.

You dont hear the poms bang on about how proud they are.

Are you taking the piss? They never seem shut up about their empire.

 

[medusala]

Because the English were genocidal colonialists and the Irish were loveable underdogs.

Lol.

Are you taking the piss? They never seem shut up about their empire.

Well it was certainly the greatest empire the world has known.

Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life.

 

[Doss]

We’d finally have decent mountains.

 

[mill204]

We’d finally have decent mountains.

A skier I see.

Beautiful country. Pity about the major fault lines.

 

[Fire]

Yes, but blind parochialism will ensure we don't so something as sensible as that.

 

[Doss]

A skier I see.

Beautiful country. Pity about the major fault lines.

Nope, hiker.

 

[HurleyHepsHird]

NZ wouldn't want it.

They have a strong national identity.

See us as socially retrograde and obnoxious, plus are fine economically.

 

[Caesar]

No real advantage to NZ, they would never vote for it unless at some point their economy goes down the toilet.

 

[tandino]

NZ is more or less a state with an airline as it is.

 

[Mara Singha]

NZ was founded with a Scottish mindset and Australia Irish. Scottish was conservative and engineering focused, whilst the Irishvrisk taking. Thus we ended up with very different outlooks and cultures.

We'd have become a republic in the 1950s if the Irish influence was a foundational as you think. British ethnicity was always stronger until sectarianism petered out. Difference to New Zealand is they had less Irish moving there (I assume because the cities were fewer and smaller).