Albertaboy, don't be fooled. Australia is in no way a mother country to New Zealand. it is, in fact, a largely uninhabitable desert, full of poisonous insects, snakes, spiders and jellyfish. There is a reason that the REAL mother country chose Australia to be a prison colony, whereas New Zealand was chosen to be a prosperous farming and trading centre.
Sometimes Kiwis do go over to the West Island, as we call it, but only to take their money. By and large we only allow the dregs of our society to go and live there, thus raising the average IQ of both countries.
There was a time when Aussie sports teams tried to raise the reputation of their penal colony, but they all pretty much suck now and are easily beaten. Even the Canadian cricket team could thrash the Ozmates these days.
No, you have chosen wisely. We look forward to assimilating you into our collective...