What are the cultural and political differences between Australia and New Zealand?
Not a huge difference really, especially to an outsider. Politically, economically and culturally Australia is very much within the American sphere of influence with tight integration at all levels. Australia has a mutual defence treaty with the USA (the ANZUS alliance), and close military and intelligence co-operation. Australia has a free trade agreement with the United States, adjusts its laws to comply with American laws and American culture is extreemly prevelent (in clothing, film and television, music, etc…). New Zealand has developed an independent pro-European culture, and has withdrawn from the ANZUS military alliance, effectively banning American warships from its territorial waters and limiting other co-operation with the USA – e.g. it has not participated in the war of terror or the attack against Iraq. The difference in received accent is usually only distinguishable to locals, i.e. Australians and New Zealanders can tell the difference, but visitors from other countrie
