Ditching the big brother thing

This weekend New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is hosting his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard in Queenstown for an annual leaders' meeting focusing on the future of the two countries' Closer Economic Relations. Bruce Munro examines the business, cultural and psychological ties that bind our two nations and discovers New Zealand's relationship with its ''big brother'' is less than healthy.

It was the ultimate, public Aussie put-down by none other than the New Zealand architect of transtasman Closer Economic Relations.

In 1980 New Zealand's short in stature but larger-than-life Prime Minister Robert Muldoon met his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Fraser, in Wellington. Neither liked the other. But both agreed their countries should ''co-operate more closely in their own trading relationship''.



Many New Zealanders also thought there were gains to be had by getting closer to Australia. By the time the Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement was signed on March 28, 1983, more than 103,000 Kiwis had shifted permanently to Australia in just five years.

Mr Muldoon's reaction to questions about the exodus - delivered with characteristic wry smile and gruff voice - was sharply derogatory of all Australians, laced with barbs for those crossing the Ditch.

''New Zealanders who leave for Australia raise the IQ of both countries,'' he retorted.

Three decades later, much has changed. Meeting a month before the 30th anniversary of the signing of CER, present-day Prime Ministers John Key and Julia Gillard lead countries which have become among the world's most closely integrated economies. But just as much, it seems, has remained the same. Not far below the surface of the smaller nation, a little brother's spite seems to simmer unabated.

We love to discriminate against Australians, psychologist Dr Jackie Hunter says.

The University of Otago lecturer studies the interplay between discrimination, self-esteem, sense of belonging and identity. He has conducted experiments showing New Zealanders, given the chance, deprive Australians of resources and give them unpleasant experiences.

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