Southern Sky

I'm a New Zealander married to an Australian. We've been married twenty eight years and during that time we have lived in each country several times. There can't be any two countries on earth that have the close relationship that Australia and New Zealand have. Citizens are free to come and go in each country as they desire. We can live in either place and claim government support and healthcare. We swap emergency services staff when disaster strikes (Australian police and fire services staff are still in Christchurch now helping with the earthquake recovery). New Zealanders created a unique word for this kind of relationship - 'cuzzybro'. More than a cousin, almost a brother. It's a word that has kind of fallen from favour now, shortened back to 'cuz' or 'bro'. Kiwis are quick to call you 'bro'.

For all that, we do have many differences. One of the most obvious differences is the landscape. Each time I travel to between countries I am struck by the change in palette. Australia has big, big, blue skies and dusty vegetation. New Zealand often has greyer skies but the foliage is green - often brilliant green.

Here we are then, a gum leaf and a fern frond. Sharing the same sky but with a slightly different light.