>I see both our governments want a common regulatory banking authority. Hundreds of thousands of both citizens already live on the opposite side of the ditch. We've already got Closer Economic Relations, similar flags, similar economies. IMHO we'll see ever-closer relations until we end up effectively one nation. The only obvious downside is the All Blacks won't be a national side any more!

I think that there would be a lot of Kiwi sports fans who would be a tad put out by that eventuality .. I saw a number of people in (different parts of) NZ that had t-shirts with the slogan "I barrack for 2 teams - New Zealand and anyone playing Australia."

I don't mind being closer - it means I can claim Queenstown as part of my own nation :)