New Zealand:
Part of the Oceania Region which also consists of the Pacific Islands...
(not Melanesia, which is a part of the region of Sahul, along with Australia and half of Indonesia)
...Central America and the Caribbean Islands (Windies, Cuba, Bahamas) - Hawaii is also part of this Region and thus wishes 'Independence' from the 'North Americans'.
New Zealand is culturally much like the USA (small amount of rich, a lot of poor) but definitely 'Southern Hemisphere' in its ways.
Of the Sahulian States: New South Wales is as close to New Zealand as Australia can get - culturally, as NSW is very Oceanian (QLD is Namerican, VIC is Samerican, etc)
...so in essence, New Zealand (Oceania) can claim NSW as its own.
New Zealand is progressively more 'imaginative' and 'innovative' than Australia as it is not bogged down by OH&S/WH&S restrictions based upon 'financial' rewards via lawsuits. It has a 'medical assistance' outcome, rather than big payouts.
It also has a better Medical system than Australia.
New Zealand is equal 1st in the World for Tourism (with West Coast Canada) - which is outstanding as it doesn't rely heavily on 'historical' sites to attract Tourists.
Queenstown is the REAL 'cultural' Capital of New Zealand.
With Wellington the much faded 'political' capital and Rotorua as the 'Maori' capital (to compensate for the Boers having a capital in South Africa
).
Travel 10kms in New Zealand and you see 100 things!
Travel 100kms in Australia and you just see 10 things - at thrice the price!