Just sheep

“Why would you like to go to New Zealand? There are nothing but sheep!”

This was a comment of my Australian friend when I told her that I was planning a trip to New Zealand and Down Under. As said already before in this blog, the relationship between these two countries can be seen as “friendly rivalry”, as a brotherhood with sibling rivalry. The former prime minister Mike Moore has even said that Australians and New Zealanders have more in common than New Yorkers and Californians.

These two lands are also very much depending on each other and the economic ties are strong. They tied a special agreement on free trade called Australian New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) 1983. Australia is exporting for example minerals to New Zealand and New Zealand gives Australia fisheries and agriculture (for example mutton).

As also is mentioned before in this blogg, these two countries nowadays found themselves working with same international organizations. There have been discussions if Australia and New Zealand should take better advantage of their different natural resources and integrate their economies in the future.

1973 countries formed Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement that allows the citizens of New Zealand and Australia move to and work freely in one another’s country. For example, in the financial year 2008-2009, In, 47 782 New Zealand citizens came to Australia as permanent and long-term arrivals. The migration from New Zealand to Australia has though recently been more significant than moving from Australia to New Zealand.

Which country you find more interesting, more tempting? The New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes presented in the movie Lord of the Rings, or Australia with kangaroos and koala bears? Or how about having both, the distance between Wellington and Sydney is still "only" 2218 km .

And by the way, there are about 4 million inhabitants and 40 million sheep in New Zealand.

Written by Akviliina