At Sunday night’s 2011 ARIA Awards, Melbourne-based singer Kimbra took out the gong for Best Female Artist. The fact Kimbra is a New Zealand native scoring kudos at a ceremony specifically designed to honour cross-Tasman adversaries was not lost on the Kiwi press, with the New Zealand Herald penning an article titled “Aria triumph – but are the Aussies trying to steal Kimbra?”
Subtlety is an art that those sheep-fuckers obviously aren’t too familiar with.
KIDDING! But in all seriousness, the accusatory sentiment is completely understandable considering Australia’s long history of claiming some of New Zealand’s most impressive people and things as our own.
Take Phar Lap, “Australia’s Wonder Horse”. He was actually born (foaled? horsed?) in New Zealand. Phar Lap’s true historical legacy was ultimately honoured (albeit grotesquely) when his body parts were distributed between the Melbourne Museum, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
The ARIAs in particular has a tainted history of appropriating Kiwi-made music and passing it off as Australian. Let’s look at a few examples.
JENNY MORRIS
Low down Jenny Morris is Kiwi enough that when she refers to “six ducks” it’s time to cover your children’s ears. That didn’t stop her for winning back to back ‘Best Female Artist’ ARIAs in 1987 and 1988 – years before she became a citizen of the country in 2003.
Why we claim her? “Break In The Weather” is a great song. Can we give NZ back the video though? It’s fucking scary!
DRAGON
Low down Dragon formed in Auckland before making the move to Australia in the mid-Seventies. They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2008 – by Richard Wilkins no less!
Why we claim them? Four words: April. Sun. In. Cuba.
Note: New Zealand reclaimed “April Sun In Cuba” at this year’s Rugby World Cup when it was played after the All Blacks won the title.
LADYHAWKE
Low down Ladyhawke (AKA Pip Brown) grew up in Wellington and relocated in Australia in the late 2000s. At the 2009 ARIAs she took out the awards for Breakthrough Album and Breakthrough Single.
Why we claim her? Her shameless homage to Eighties-era synthpop went so massive Australians were quick to label her “our greatest export since Russell Crowe”.
SHIHAD
Low down Alternative rock band (temporarily renamed ‘Pacifier’) are based in Melbourne but originally hail from Wellington, NZ. Shihad and album The General Electric received three nominations at the 2000 ARIA Awards (Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album) but went home empty handed.
Why we claim them? Moshing was massive once.
SPLITZ ENZ
No explanation necessary – just sit back and enjoy this classic ‘Aussie’ hit.
