Coronavirus: Map of Australia as ‘New New Zealand’ goes viral

A map of “New New Zealand” is going viral as Australians dissatisfied with the government’s response to coronavirus beg our Kiwi cousins for help.

Australians dissatisfied with the leadership of Prime Minister Scott Morrison are banding together to call for New Zealand to annex Australia so the country can be under Jacinda Ardern's leadership.

A map dubbing Australia “New New Zealand” has gone viral on social media, alongside a call for Australia to “surrender to New Zealand immediately”.

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“Due to appalling lack of leadership here, and superb leadership over there, let's surrender Australia to New Zealand immediately,” Scott Battersby, from Australia, posted on Facebook, the New Zealand He New Zealand Heraldrald reports.

Due to appalling lack of leadership here, and superb leadership over there, let's surrender Australia to New Zealand...

Posted by Scott Battersby on Friday, March 27, 2020

“Have them annex us and take control of our government. North Island, South Island, Big Island #newnewzealand Share away everyone … let's get this done.”

The post has been shared more than 23,000 times since it was first published on Friday.

It has also received more than 7000 reactions.

In the comments, Australians support the move to become part of New Zealand, although many say they would rather rename Australia “West New Zealand” or the “West Island”, as many already refer to it as that, in jest.

New Zealanders in the comments seem, for the most part, welcoming of their Australian brothers and sisters.

Jacinda Ardern’s handling of the coronavirus crisis in New Zealand has impressed Australians.

The post sparked further debate about how Australia is treating New Zealanders in the wake of the pandemic.

New Zealanders in Australia have been shut-out of the COVID-19 welfare package, despite many of them working and paying taxes in the country for years.

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Last week, the Federal Government unveiled a raft of measures in a bid to stimulate Australia’s coronavirus-hit economy, including a $750 payout and a “coronavirus supplement” of $550 a fortnight for those who've recently lost their jobs.

But New Zealand citizens aren't eligible for these payouts, even if they've been in Australia for years.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has asked Scott Morrison to grant Kiwis in Australia the same rights New Zealand grants Australians living here.

Her request has so far not been granted but Ms Ardern says she will continue to monitor the situation.

This article originally appeared on the New Zealand Herald and was reproduced with permission