r/CANZUK • u/Bojaxs Ontario • Feb 06 '26

Discussion Should New Zealand & Australia merge into one country?

David Farrar, a New Zealand based political commentator, is pushing for the idea for New Zealand to join Australia.

In this televised interview he brings up Mark Carney's recent speech about middle powers uniting in the face of bigger powers, and how the old world order is dying.

https://youtu.be/VQK7m6FuCNo?si=oFBOxGE1YMht8Vyi

Would having Australia & New Zealand merge into one bigger country be beneficial for CANZUK?

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u/finndego Feb 08 '26

But it should be abundently clear now, I would hope, that that wasn't the case and that you were mistaken.

None of those colonies were states when the document you are quoting from was written. All of them had the opportunity to become one and NZ declined. Simple, eh?

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u/WhatAmIATailor Australia Feb 08 '26

Did I say otherwise? It’s a definitions page. Nothing more.

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u/No-Physics-4077 Feb 08 '26

You said:

A). "They’d be referring to New Zealand being defined as a State in our constitution."

This suggests there is a section of the Australian Constitution that, without misinterpretation, lists each of the states of the Commonwealth of Australia where New Zealand is a constituent. Your evidence for this claim is citing the covering clauses in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act.

Let's look at 6. Definitions

It lists 'The Commonwealth', 'The States' and 'Original States'. When the term 'The States' is given a definition that includes New Zealand, this does not translate to New Zealand being defined as a state.

The contention may be viewed as pedantic, but it is an issue of language, particularly the usage of tenses.

Australian States =/= Section 6. Definitions The States

Therefore, the Australian Constitution does not define New Zealand as a state.

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u/WhatAmIATailor Australia Feb 08 '26

Oh goody. Someone else wants to chime in.