Maybe when the Aus govt honors open skies so Air NZ can have a shot at domestic Austrailian flights then history wouldn't need to repeat itself. NZ is at the end of a long supply chain when it comes to getting people into the country and the long term effect of Aus airlines having a seamless operation in both countries while NZ airlines cannot can only be bad for Air NZ. So they are taking one of the few options they can and cementing a long term relationship by buying a stake in V Aus. How can you blame them for that?