AHC: War between Australia and New-Zealand

[Kaiser Tito]

With any pod after 1918, how can we have relations breakdown between Australia and New Zealand to the point where both countries are at war with each other in the late 30's or early 40's? Part of the challenge is that neither country had and actually fascist movement so are there any disagreements between the two that could've snowballed? Perhaps the US and Japan can be dragged into this by supporting opposing sides to support their own aims in the Pacific?

 

[Gunnarnz]

Disputes over the origin of the pavlova become heated, and by 1932 both nations are ramming each other's merchant ships to prevent vital supplies of fruit and sugar arriving. Although the presence of the RN makes all-out war appear impossible, Australian sympathisers make their way into positions of power on several important ships stationed in Singapore, and at the appointed time they move to Sydney and begin a naval blockade of New Zealand. NZ Prime Minister George Forbes, stirred out of his apathy, requests aid from the UK but is turned down while the RN deals with this rare mutiny in their ranks. Undeterred, he then turns to Japan, allies from the previous war, who seize the opportunity and rapidly send a powerful squadron to break the blockade. Although the Australian blockade is quickly disposed of, it proves impossible to prevent Australian ships landing parties of determined saboteurs and irregular forces. The farcical struggle continues until 1942, by which time everyone is heartily sick of the whole thing. A diplomatic breakthrough occurs when FDR offers to host a peace conference, which leads to an agreement by both sides to destroy all records relating to pavlova and to forswear future conflict over it.

In the 1970s an Australian separatist group, who call themselves the meringue-outans, try to revive the conflict as a form of gorilla warfare against NZ participation in Vietnam. By this stage, however, society has moved on - gelatine is clearly the superior foodstuff, and the insurgency collapses due to failures of internal consistency.

 

[Ramontxo]

Disputes over the origin of the pavlova become heated, and by 1932 both nations are ramming each other's merchant ships to prevent vital supplies of fruit and sugar arriving. Although the presence of the RN makes all-out war appear impossible, Australian sympathisers make their way into positions of power on several important ships stationed in Singapore, and at the appointed time they move to Sydney and begin a naval blockade of New Zealand. NZ Prime Minister George Forbes, stirred out of his apathy, requests aid from the UK but is turned down while the RN deals with this rare mutiny in their ranks. Undeterred, he then turns to Japan, allies from the previous war, who seize the opportunity and rapidly send a powerful squadron to break the blockade. Although the Australian blockade is quickly disposed of, it proves impossible to prevent Australian ships landing parties of determined saboteurs and irregular forces. The farcical struggle continues until 1942, by which time everyone is heartily sick of the whole thing. A diplomatic breakthrough occurs when FDR offers to host a peace conference, which leads to an agreement by both sides to destroy all records relating to pavlova and to forswear future conflict over it.

In the 1970s an Australian separatist group, who call themselves the meringue-outans, try to revive the conflict as a form of gorilla warfare against NZ participation in Vietnam. By this stage, however, society has moved on - gelatine is clearly the superior foodstuff, and the insurgency collapses due to failures of internal consistency.

You have forgot the Emu fifth column inside Oz...

 

[Cryhavoc101]

I cannot think of a more perfidious, heinous or disgraceful act than the awful 'thing' you will see in the attached video - and if that could not start a war between these 2 nations than nothing would

 

[Kaiser Tito]

Admittedly wasn't one of the more plausible AHCs but at least we all had a good laugh over pavlova and Australians cheating at cricket.

 

[Riain]

Maybe early in the century the federation issues turn very sour, so that by ww2 Australia and New Zealand are basically hostile to one another. Then when the F111 enters service with the RAAF we use it to bomb New Zealand.

 

[Jellico]

Biggest disagreement along these lines I can think of would be future China policy. But that goes in the Politics thread.

 

[Sam R.]

Part of the challenge is that neither country had and actually fascist movement

Cathcart. Defending the national tuckshop.

 

[Retro_Reaction]

Through poor fiscal policy New Zealand is reduced to South American levels of development and develops a corrupt government that fails to address Maori land right issues. This culminates in a much worse 2016 earthquake leading to severe devastation in the South Island of New Zealand, with a government that is either incapable or unwilling to perform relief efforts. A UN taskforce with Australia at the head is sent in to support the current New Zealand government, with Australian troops having to fight anti-government militias.

 

[Tabs]

Perhaps New Zealand could intervene to protect the emus in the war? Then again, it’s not like they needed much help…..

 

[Scerus]

Through poor fiscal policy New Zealand is reduced to South American levels of development and develops a corrupt government that fails to address Maori land right issues. This culminates in a much worse 2016 earthquake leading to severe devastation in the South Island of New Zealand, with a government that is either incapable or unwilling to perform relief efforts. A UN taskforce with Australia at the head is sent in to support the current New Zealand government, with Australian troops having to fight anti-government militias.

The accusations of national bankruptcy under Muldoon were fabricated by Rogernomes to justify their policies prescriptions, same when National won in 1990 and embarked on savage spending cuts.
I could see something like this happening if Douglas convinced Lange of the merits of a flat tax (big ask) but Lange refuses to address spending resulting in a huge budget deficit and IMF receivership in the early 1990's thanks to BNZ failing as OTL.

Maybe that results in even harsher spending cuts and more user pays in health and education but I can't see the Bolger government surviving that, even with their huge 16-seat majority. Particularly with how divided the caucus and cabinet were by mid 1991.

 

[Sam R.]

A Monash Protected White Australia with a radical labourite/wobbly NZ that manages to defeat the NZ men on horses will get you there.

 

[Dorknought]

 

[Devvy]

Maybe a side point, but given that troops from both sides have their allegiance to the same person (Her Maj), then is this even possible without some form of change of political system first? Republicanism in Australia, or perhaps some form of native monarchy by taking a younger sibling of the royalty as the official monarch?

 

[Kaiser Tito]

Maybe a side point, but given that troops from both sides have their allegiance to the same person (Her Maj), then is this even possible without some form of change of political system first? Republicanism in Australia, or perhaps some form of native monarchy by taking a younger sibling of the royalty as the official monarch?

How interested would Edward VIII be in ruling New Zealand as a possible combination?

 

[Board 3659]

Disputes over the origin of the pavlova become heated, and by 1932 both nations are ramming each other's merchant ships to prevent vital supplies of fruit and sugar arriving. Although the presence of the RN makes all-out war appear impossible, Australian sympathisers make their way into positions of power on several important ships stationed in Singapore, and at the appointed time they move to Sydney and begin a naval blockade of New Zealand. NZ Prime Minister George Forbes, stirred out of his apathy, requests aid from the UK but is turned down while the RN deals with this rare mutiny in their ranks. Undeterred, he then turns to Japan, allies from the previous war, who seize the opportunity and rapidly send a powerful squadron to break the blockade. Although the Australian blockade is quickly disposed of, it proves impossible to prevent Australian ships landing parties of determined saboteurs and irregular forces. The farcical struggle continues until 1942, by which time everyone is heartily sick of the whole thing. A diplomatic breakthrough occurs when FDR offers to host a peace conference, which leads to an agreement by both sides to destroy all records relating to pavlova and to forswear future conflict over it.

In the 1970s an Australian separatist group, who call themselves the meringue-outans, try to revive the conflict as a form of gorilla warfare against NZ participation in Vietnam. By this stage, however, society has moved on - gelatine is clearly the superior foodstuff, and the insurgency collapses due to failures of internal consistency.

10/10

 

[Simreeve]

When the Australian colonies federate, New Zealand accepts the offer to join with them; later on, considering its interests neglected by the federal government, it secedes; the federal government (now effectively of Australia only) does not take this well...

 

[Board 3659]

Disputes over the origin of the pavlova become heated, and by 1932 both nations are ramming each other's merchant ships to prevent vital supplies of fruit and sugar arriving. Although the presence of the RN makes all-out war appear impossible, Australian sympathisers make their way into positions of power on several important ships stationed in Singapore, and at the appointed time they move to Sydney and begin a naval blockade of New Zealand. NZ Prime Minister George Forbes, stirred out of his apathy, requests aid from the UK but is turned down while the RN deals with this rare mutiny in their ranks. Undeterred, he then turns to Japan, allies from the previous war, who seize the opportunity and rapidly send a powerful squadron to break the blockade. Although the Australian blockade is quickly disposed of, it proves impossible to prevent Australian ships landing parties of determined saboteurs and irregular forces. The farcical struggle continues until 1942, by which time everyone is heartily sick of the whole thing. A diplomatic breakthrough occurs when FDR offers to host a peace conference, which leads to an agreement by both sides to destroy all records relating to pavlova and to forswear future conflict over it.

In the 1970s an Australian separatist group, who call themselves the meringue-outans, try to revive the conflict as a form of gorilla warfare against NZ participation in Vietnam. By this stage, however, society has moved on - gelatine is clearly the superior foodstuff, and the insurgency collapses due to failures of internal consistency.

Australia is going to struggle with the Emu's, Zealand and Japanese

 

[Board 3659]

When the Australian colonies federate, New Zealand accepts the offer to join with them; later on, considering its interests neglected by the federal government, it secedes; the federal government (now effectively of Australia only) does not take this well...

What year is this going to happen?

 

[Simreeve]

Federation at the OTL date: Secession due to a actions during a Great Depression that's even worse than in OTL (and with Britain crippled by Leftist unrest, perhaps even the outbreak of a Marxist revolution, so that it can't intervene...).