Your thoughts on whether NZ should become Australia’s seventh state
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
OPINION: Wellington pollster and political commentator David Farrar has set out his reasoning why now is time for New Zealand to take up the 125-year-old invitation to become a state of Australia. He argues that as the world moves from a rules-based order to a might is right order, joining Australia will protect New Zealand, enhance Australia and benefit us all.
Here’s a selection of your responses, some enthusiastic, some less so, complete with your pen names:
Wonky Walker: I HAVE HAD THIS OPINION FOR SOME YEARS. GO FOR IT
Enzed70: It’s definitely fun to bat this old chestnut around. Not being opposed on principle would definitely love to hear “the offer”. But huge hurdles exist and the ‘No’ campaign would have the best arguments I imagine. Also, nothing from the author on how the Treaty would be respected or incorporated into the Aussie constitution. Maori should have little confidence based on Australia’s record on indigenous rights and outcomes.
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Grumpy56: Two name a few bad points. New Zealand will lose it nuclear free status, when Australia’s first nuclear submarine is commissioned early 2030 . Our Border Security from pests how will at work at the customs? Will there still be border check when people arriving from Australia? And the list will go on and on.
Good points: Having Australia’s health system vs our health system, and the list will go on and on.
Flaneuse: I also believe we need to align more closely with Canada and the coalition of the willing and find a way to disentangle ourselves from involvement with the US - looking very specifically at Five Eyes - and the involvement of our military with Peter Theil's Palantir. I'm sure that will be purposefully difficult but we need to do it, and fast.
Trebor Noodlum: Tell em ya dreaming.!
My Voice Too: No thanks! I prefer to be independent of the Australian Federal Government. They are far too close to the US government and far too out of touch with the Australian people on this matter.
KymonH_1 A brilliant idea. I am all for it.
Manchanda: What David Farrar says has been true for a while. New Zealand has been sliding backwards for a while. The only losers will be politicians without vision - those who want to be prime minister. But that is short-sightedness - they can dream of being pm of Australia or Aus-NZ. There are more upsides than down. Thinking heads can even find a solution for the tiriti in the union. Sooner the better.
TakeAmoment: Having lived and worked in NZ where I was born, and also lived and worked in both WA and Vic, I support NZ becoming part of Australia. To not do so exacerbates the obvious decline we now find ourselves in over the past three decades.