Qantas chief Margaret Jackson’s plan for a common Australian-New Zealand currency deserves investigation.
Ms Jackson makes a valid point that the countries have much in common.
The geography is obvious and our war history exemplary.
But the strongest similarities may well be the ability of both countries to punch above their weight.
In business, sport, academia and the arts, Australia and New Zealand have excelled, regularly at the expense of more populous nations.
Tourism is an obvious area where we have jointly embraced the world and the world has thrown its arms around the Anzac countries.
Our bond – and prosperity – may well be cemented if we were to trade under the same currency.
If old foes France and Germany can do it, why not old mates Australia and New Zealand?
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th June 2004 at 07:43
If you want to be in a team, you should be a team player.
Hahaha… yeah like when a Japanese company put up some money and New Zealand and Australia got together and held the first Rugby World Cup but the second time around when we were supposed to hold it together Australia decided to hold it themselves… aided by the IRB which has taken over the competition they said wouldn’t work.
Or perhaps the nice new free trade agreement the Aussies have with the US that Australian ministers have stated they will make sure New Zealand companies with head offices in Australia can’t get involved in…
We are more Neighbours than Brothers. If anyone actually threatened to invade Australia New Zealand would help, without being asked and without any formal treaty to say so, and the reverse is true to, but like a big brother little brother relationship we may never get along on the little things and shouldn’t be planning to live together… it isn’t natural.
If you want to be in a team, you should be a team player.
If you are suggesting we don’t pull our weight regarding defence then you obviously know little about what is happening down here. At any time in the year we generally have more than 30% of our army overseas clearing landmines or keeping the peace in some country where life is no where near as good as it is here. Sure we dumped our fighter jets and our trainer jets but would really like to hear from you what difference a dozen Skyhawks would do? Being 2,500km from Australia the only armed force capable of getting here would be the USN and I doubt a dozen Skyhawks had them worried. New Zealand is a long narrow country so if you think they could patrol our skies and keep us safe from OBLs terrorist highjackers the juiciest target in NZ is probably the hydro electric Dams in Central Otago… during their farewell displays the Skyhawks didn’t come further south than Christchurch… because Dunedin and Invercargil were “too far”. Even if we had Mig-25s they still wouldn’t make it on time unless they were kept on constant alert.
By: Geforce - 9th June 2004 at 17:38
Yes but the Euro was not meant for practical use either. In fact, monetarian unions aren’t that new, they existed already in the 19th century (Zollverein, Germany). If Australia and NZ can manage to make an agreement, why not? I think it’ would be a lot more easy between Aus and NZ than it was in Europe. Same language, no cold war (and 1000 years of constant war before).
By: Arthur - 9th June 2004 at 09:38
What would be the use? A combined currency policy might be interesting for international trade, but i don’t think Oz and Nooz are close enough to give the people any benefit from a common currency. It’s not that Aussies hop in their car and cross the border with New Zealand to buy some cheap booze, while Kiwis take their lunch break to fill up their car’s fuel tanks with cheap Australian fuel.
By: EN830 - 9th June 2004 at 08:48
You could always introduce the ANZAC Euro 🙂
By: Jorgo - 9th June 2004 at 07:54
While the Kiwi dollar is low in value compared to the Aussie Dollar, then it is great for New Zealand and poor for Australia.
New Zealand would also have to seriously listen to the Australian Government’s concerns about it’s participation in certain areas (eg. defence).
If you want to be in a team, you should be a team player.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th June 2004 at 07:50
I really don’t see any benefits, and the cost will likely be control of the value of the joint currency in Canberra. Will they listen to us if we want it devalued? I don’t think so.
We have managed fine with seperate currencies so far, and really don’t see the sudden need to change.
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June 9, 2004 at 7:19 am