Trans Tasman Rivalry

Yes I'm taking about the sibling like rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. 

The bit of water that seperates us is the Tasman Sea, it is affectionately called 'the ditch' by both Aussies and Kiwis alike.

Now we do share many cultural things with each other like:

vegemite, cricket, meat pies (yum), rugby, rugby league (a much better game - but one still played by thugs), netball, milo (yum) and pavlova.

 (brag moment - this is my sister  ) Rugby leagueInterestingly, the Aussie women's netball team love playing in NZ because of the media coverage they get here (netball is hugh here), apparently they don't get much coverage at home.  Of course some of these games are enjoyed elsewhere too. YUM YUM

Pavlova is a yummy meringue cake decorated with cream and fruit and for some with lollies, if it takes your fancy.  It is named after the famous ballerina and New Zealand and Australia are always scraping over who invented it.  At last count it was us - woot woot, as proven by a letter, containing the recipe, dated in the 20s sent from someone in NZ to Australia.  hehe Aussies are always pinching things from us - Pavlova, Pharlap (a race horse), Spilt Enz, Dragon, Russell Crowe they can keep (the traitor now calls himself an Aussie *hurrumpf* ).  I'm surprised they haven't taken chocolate fish and pineapple lumps too.

JOKES - we are often the butt of each other's humour, even at diplomatic levels, during the 1980s, then Prime Minister of New Zealand Robert Muldoon was asked about the increasing exodus of New Zealanders leaving the country to work in Australia. His comment was that by doing so, they were raising the average IQ of both countries.

In general terms, Australians are stereotyped in New Zealand humour as being brash, boorish, and more than a little stupid. New Zealanders, in return, are seen by Aussies as being dull, unsophisticated yokels.  Examples: "You know it takes an IQ of 60 to tie your shoe laces - thats why Australians wear thongs (flip flops)" - of course the counter is "and Kiwi's wear gumboots".  OR " How long does it take an Australian women to have a shit - 9 months".

Sheep jokes, yes these abound, are generally crude and are more prevalent in Australia about Kiwi's but it happens conversly too (much the way the English reserve sheep jokes for the Welsh).

ACCENTS - though to many people our accents are similar to us the difference can be marked - For instance when six (6) is said by a Kiwi, it sounds like 'sux' to an Aussie, conversly when said by an Aussie, it sounds like 'sex' to us.   Fish & Chips - Fush & Chups and Feesh & Cheeps is another example.

ANZAC - but despite all this, we get on very well and share an annual public holiday (ANZAC day - Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) to remember our fallen soldiers who fell together in war.  It occurs on April 25 to commerate the landing of troops at Gallipolli in the first World War.  It also commerates our fallen soldiers at other wars.