Since we clearly have no issues claiming New Zealand’s icons as our own, why the fuck shouldn’t we have the kiwi? They are crazy cute and would look pretty great cuddling a koala on a postcard and/or souvenir tea towel.
Australian scientists from Flinders University have found fossils on the South Island which may contradict the accepted theory that the kiwi bird came from the extinct giant moa and could suggest that they are, in fact, a closer relation to the Australian emu.
Expat New Zealander / Palaeontologist, Trevor Worthy (guys, even Trevor is ours now), has said “If, as the DNA suggests, the kiwi is related to the emu, then both shared a common ancestor that could fly.” So, they believe an emu x kiwi bro capable of flight made its way over to New Zealand from Australia millions of years ago. Sry NZ (not sry).
Will we regret stealing the kiwi’s national identity (potentially throwing them into a countrywide soul-searching personal journey, probably involving peyote, to rediscover themselves)? Sure. But it will be a bit hard to hear their protests of “aw’ neu! they’re stealeng our burd, bro” over our smug chants of “AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, Ours Ours Ours!“
via Independent
