Key warns Aussies

AAP reports John Key is having fun with Australia:

“It’s totally ridiculous for Australians to claim that they have pavlova or Phar Lap or any of those iconic New Zealand items,” Mr Key said today.

“Everybody knows that they’re ours and for Australians to claim ownership of them is quite inappropriate.”

Indeed.

But Mr Key says there’s no doubt that New Zealand can lay claim to the Finn brothers’ band, Crowded House.

“Absolutely,” he said, adding: “On a bad day we’ll lend you Russell Crowe.”

Heh heh. Or on a good day.

He said he didn’t agree with Rove McManus’s recent dig that New Zealand was the “cousin at the party with the short trousers” but conceded his country would always be the younger sibling in the family.

“We’re always going to be the little brother, but a little brother that can play rugby well.”

Nice dig.

Asked if he shared the famously controversial view of former New Zealand prime minister Rob Muldoon that “New Zealanders who emigrate to Australia raise the IQ of both countries,” Mr Key was more coy.

“It would be most impolite of me to confirm or deny that proposition,” he said, laughing.

A small amount of diplomacy amongst the sledging.

And is our little neighbour ready to forgive us for that unsportsmanlike underarm bowl of 1981 that stopped New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie from hitting a six to tie the match.

“We’ve certainly stopped the counselling sessions,” the Prime Minister said.

“But we are convinced that Brian McKechnie, with a decent bowl, would have hit a six.”

I’m not sure who this interview was with, but am trying to get it on You Tube if it was recorded.