4 Feb 2026

Becoming Australia

From Nights, 8:10 pm on 4 February 2026

Should New Zealand become the seventh state of Australia?

It's a debate that's been sparked by political commentator David Farrar who thinks we should. He was on The Panel earlier with Wallace Chapman saying a change in the world order over the last decade means it's now time for us to take up the 125-year-old invitation.

He says we are a minnow country that will never have the economic or military might to defend our interests.

So, should we join our Australian cousins across the ditch? Well, lawyer and political commentator Liam Hehir thinks not and joins Emile to explain why.

The Australian (R) and New Zealand flags fly during the dedication of the Australia ANZAC memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, New Zealand on APRIL 20, 2015.   AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

Photo: AFP