Tomorrow When the War Began, but in NZ

while the country invaded is assumed to be Australia, this is never mentioned - in fact he purposely includes things like non- Australian public holidays to cast some doubt on this.

There are many specific mentions of Australian cities and themes. It is 100% Australia.
 
I don't know both the book and the film, but i can guess a hypotetical WW3 where China invaded most of SE Asia and Pacific and then from New Guinea lauched an invasion of NZ to isolate Australia...

For other ages i will suggest a futuristic Front Mission like scenery (if i'm remember well Australia and NZ were important regions of the OCU, right?)
 
In short, no one could care enough to take out NZ, and tbh I think your story idea is more of a fictious adventure than an Alternate History scenario. Hope this all helps. :):):)

Yup pretty much. I don't want it to be a specific alternate history and I plan on playing the rule of cool a lot more than the plausibility card. Thing is my respect for New Zealand has grown a lot recently, from a time where I hated this country due to the stupidity of some of the people in it (the majority, it seemed, in some ways).

I want to write a story that would allow me to show how New Zealanders are just as capable as anyone else in defending and loving their country. The AH side is merely a background for me more than the story so that I have something to go off of.

Any comments on my sort-of fascist victory scenario?
 
Another idea would be the rise of an ultra nationalist Anglo nation - where somehow someone decides to unite all English speaking countries into one racist nation - where Britain or the US is the instigator
 
None. Both are members of the Commonwealth under the British monarch and are subject to the ANZUS treaty.

You don't seem to understand that the Commonwealth is not set in stone, nor is the ANZUS treaty. In fact, NZ backed out of the treaty with the US after refusing to allow the Yanks to dock their nuclear bombs...er....subs in NZ.

Another idea would be the rise of an ultra nationalist Anglo nation - where somehow someone decides to unite all English speaking countries into one racist nation - where Britain or the US is the instigator

Like it! Ties in with my fascist victory scenario too. There's no end to crazy dictatorships!
 
Commonwealth not set in stone, nor is ANZUS. NZ backed out of treaty after refusing nuclear bombs in NZ.

Still, aside from an ASB ATL, there'd be no reason for either the the USA or AUS to invade NZ (makes about as much sense as USA invading UK IOTL). Nor any other country, for that matter in the time period and timeline given (early 2000s to early 2010s, OTL). It would be easy to say that the PRC's PLA/PLAN/PLAAF might and could have the capabilities to launch an invasion of both AUS and NZ, but then again, even they'd have no real reason to; nor would they want to. Although, it would be interesting to see the ADF and NZDF square off in the ring. ;)
 
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You don't seem to understand that the Commonwealth is not set in stone, nor is the ANZUS treaty. In fact, NZ backed out of the treaty with the US after refusing to allow the Yanks to dock their nuclear bombs...er....subs in NZ.



Like it! Ties in with my fascist victory scenario too. There's no end to crazy dictatorships!

Just so long as the King Emperor, Albert II of the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Ireland, Nova Scotia, Canada, America, Australia, NZ etc ends up with a statue of his noble royal visage carved into the Moon, so it can be mock the residents of Paris, Berlin and Neo Moscow every night I'll be happy
 
There are many specific mentions of Australian cities and themes. It is 100% Australia.

I agree that it is obviously Australia, in particular the landscapes are specifically Australian. I just found it interesting I can't remember the word Australia being used - maybe I am mistaken it has been a while since I read the book. By comparison think of the number of times the words "America" or "USA" were used in Red Dawn. I also remember that the invasion occurred on some weirdly named public holiday (Commemoration Day?) that was celebrated with military parades. I think Marsden did this on purpose to put the experience of the teenagers in an Australian geographic and social context but have the political context completely undefined.
 

Cook

Banned
Isn’t Murray Ball’s cartoon Quentin Hankey: Traitor based on a defiant Kiwi farmer fighting a guerrilla war against an American invasion?
 
Although, it would be interesting to see the ADF and NZDF square off in the ring. ;)

I doubt it would be all that interesting. Just looking at the respective TO&Es makes it seem that the NZDF is on a hiding to nothing in any kind of stand-up fight. The ADF has qualitative and quantitative advantages and I'd be surprised if they give anything away to the Kiwis in terms of tactics and experience.
 

Cook

Banned
The ADF has qualitative and quantitative advantages and I'd be surprised if they give anything away to the Kiwis in terms of tactics and experience.

NZ has the same tactics and procedures, being regularly fully integrated with Aust. Task forces on operations.
 
Invading NZ...

I'm struggling to come up with anything non-ASB on this. I do think you've got to go down the zombie, apocolyspe or even zombie apocolypse route.

In the 20th Century, could the Japanese have landed a force having successfully destroyed the US carriers at an alternative Pearl Harbor ?

The 19th Century is more interesting - could the French have tried a military option to counterbalance the British in the north ? IF a French force larger than the one which landed in the Banks Peninsula could establish a presence over the South Island, could we have seen no NZ at all but instead a north island linked to and administratively part of Australia and a South Island connected to France and the French polynesian colonies ?
 
To be honest, I feel like the lack of identity of the invaders in Tomorrow, When The War Began probably improves the story. It's not a Tom Clancyesque war-porn thriller, and it's not really about "what if this particular country invaded Australia?". It's about war, and adolescence, and lost innocence. It always frustrates me to see people trying to criticize the books on the basis of a lack of realism.

As such, I think you really need to consider what you are trying to say. It's perfectly reasonable to make it "generic invaders" if that suits the story. The risk of going with a fascist Australian invasion is that the tale may slide into the humorous side of the Australia-New Zealand rivalry. Mind you... I'd still read it.
 
It always frustrates me to see people trying to criticize the books on the basis of a lack of realism.

Oh god, this. I saw the movie, and despite it being very good, it left me wanting for a more realistic experience. There were times when the characters in the movie did some things too well, whereas in the book a more realistic presentation of teenagers turned guerrillas is provided. Also, this simply isn't trying to be Red Dawn, or anything that is heavy on action.
 
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