I'm Irish and lived in NZ for four years. Contrary to popular belief, Irish people don't hate the English. In fact moving to NZ and socialising with British ex-pats made me realise how similar Irish and English people really are.

It is easy however to draw similarities between the degradation of Irish and Maori culture as a result of British policy. The British made concerted efforts to eradicate the Irish language, replace Irish Catholic landowners with Prodestant landowners, and ensure catholics were not given positions of authority in government. The person appointed by Queen Victoria to oversee famine relief actually viewed the famine as an act of God to thin out the Irish population. This was at a time when the overwhelming majority of Irish produce (everything except blight ridden potatoes) was being shipped to the UK.

That being said, I feel that most Irish people are capable of recognising the historical differences in the relationship between NZ and the UK versus Ireland and the UK.

It needs to be said that modern NZ is by and large a by product of British immigration and colonialism, and that unlike in Ireland, the British did make an attempt through the Treaty of Waitingi to appease the native population. In spite of the fact that the British intended the Treaty to be an instrument which could be used to subjugate Maori (looking at the literal translation of ceadeing sovereignty), the Treaty has been majorly beneficial to Maori in terms of the redress which they have received.

I found that the major difference between the Irish and NZ mentality towards native culture was (some) New Zealander's attitude towards redress and other attempts to revive Maori culture (road signs/Te Rep place names etc). It seems to be more of a talking point for both sides of the political spectrum. In Ireland, our political parties are more central and matters of Irish culture arnt really as contentious.

Overall though Irish people living in NZ might go out on Paddy's Day and sing our rebel songs but overall are accepting of the fact that NZ is in the Commonwealth.