Kōrero: Kiwis overseas

The cartoonist plays on the widespread view that New Zealanders are dole-bludging surfies on the Gold Coast or Sydney’s Bondi beach. In fact, New Zealanders’ employment rates are similar to those of other groups in Australia. Nevertheless there are unemployed Kiwis in Australia and the New Zealand government has agreed to pay a portion of their welfare bill. When this cartoon was published in February 2000, one New Zealand dollar was worth 80 Australian cents.