New Zealand, Earth

Two (Or Three?) Islands, And Nobody Knows Which Is Which

by Joerg Rhiemeier (rhiemeir@ips.cs.tu-bs.de)
written 14 Oct 1993

This article is classified "Real"


New Zealand is known to be one of the less warlike of the many warlike
nations of the planet Earth.  It consists of two remote islands commonly
referred to as North Island and South Island.  But these are not the real
names of the islands.  The real names of the islands are Mainland and Pig
Island.  The problem with these names is that nobody really knows which of
the two islands is Mainland and which one is Pig Island.  There are two
theories about this.  One theory states that Mainland is North Island and
Pig Island is South Island.  The other theory states that Mainland is
South Island and Pig Island is North Island.  Interestingly, most
inhabitants of North Island support the first theory whilst most
inhabitants of South Island support the second theory.  This is, as anyone
can see easily, quite confusing.  But to make it even more confusing, some
New Zealanders (apparently from both islands) object to the second sentence
of this article.  They say that New Zealand consists of *three* islands,
of which the third (and, by far, largest) is named West Island.  Most
people in West Island, however, support neither of the theories discussed
above, which makes the whole thing again more confusing.  They say there
were *two* Pig Islands:  North Island and South Island.  Furthermore,
they don't name West Island West Island, but call it Australia, and object
to being New Zealanders at all.

The entire matter is considered to be the final proof that there is no such
thing as an absolute space.

See also:
  • Australia, Earth
  • Earth

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