Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia - also known as the Coathanger.
From Colonies to Regional Powers For many in the northern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand are seen as being virtually indistinguishable. Both are antipodean, i.e. positioned “down under”, separated only by the Tasman Sea (although “only” means about 1000 miles apart), and both are English-speaking, “western” democracies and former British colonies. Aussies and Kiwis, as they are popularly called, seem to be constantly playing each other in the same sports, notably cricket and rugby, and seem to have much the same accent. We associate both countries with magnificent scenery, wide-open spaces and seemingly endless herds of cattle and sheep. However, as Swedes and Norwegians can vouch for, countries that from the outside seem indistinguishable feel very different from the inside. In the following the aim is to look more closely at these differences – historical, political, cultural – as well as at some of the issues that divide the countries internally.
indistinguishable som ikke kan skjelnes / som ikkje kan skiljast frå kvarandre
From colonies to independence The first part of this chapter focused on the experiences of the indigenous populations as they became marginalised minorities in the new nations of Australia and New Zealand. Their status at the very bottom of the colonial Chapter 5: Pacific Perspectives
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