mess with us and chances are we will apologise and send flowers.



Why peaceful NZ leads the world

4:00AM Wednesday Jun 03, 2009
By Isaac Davison
New Zealand is a world beater. Photo / Alan Gibson


New Zealand has been judged the most peaceful nation in the world.
An Australian thinktank recognised our stable political situation, relatively low rate of violence and decrease in military spending.

The Institute for Economics and Peace list was created after the start of the global recession, finding the financial meltdown was dragging the world toward political instability and conflict.

It laid out its key findings ahead of the publication of its annual Global Peace Index, a report prepared with the Economist Intelligence Unit.
The report, which surveyed 144 countries, says New Zealand's rise to first is partly explained by the election of a National-Act coalition last year.

"The centre-right National Party has a strong popular mandate and a robust parliamentary majority by New Zealand's standards, putting the new Prime Minister, John Key, in a good position to push through his agenda."

It also says New Zealand received the best possible scores for the likelihood of violent demonstrations, the homicide rate and the level of respect for human rights.
The rise to first position is also related to the fall of Iceland from the top spot last year, which reflected the increase in violence following the banking collapse that engulfed its economy in September.

Professor Kevin Clements from the University of Otago, who was on the panel of experts for the index, told the Herald: "The index is a pretty good reflection of countries people want to live in, because on bicultural issues and a variety of factors we are scoring well.
"If you look at the top 20, they are all small nations based on strong welfare principles, all with good and relatively uncorrupt governance."

Professor Clements, who is director of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, said the National Government faced a challenge in preserving New Zealand's top ranking.
"The question is whether the current Government will be as committed as the last ... a role for New Zealand as a conflict-resolving nation. I will be interested to see if we rank as high, but I can't imagine we'll slip far."

He said the greatest threat to New Zealand's peacefulness would be a more severe economic downturn or an increased sense of grievance toward Treaty of Waitangi issues.
Top 10 most peaceful nations
1. New Zealand
2. Denmark
2. Norway
4. Iceland
5. Austria
6. Sweden
7. Japan
8. Canada
9. Finland
9. Slovenia
Ten least peaceful
1. Iraq
2. Afghanistan
3. Somalia
4. Israel
5. Sudan
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo
7. Chad
8. Pakistan
9. Russia
10. Zimbabwe
Click here for the full list.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA

Perhaps I should move to New Zealand...


Oh, and congratulations!

Where does the USA fit???? LOL..

Originally Posted by Rob Henderson

Perhaps I should move to New Zealand...


Oh, and congratulations!

Yeah I am just worried those pesky Danes and Nowegians will find a way of being more peaceful.

They are dodgy like that, we are looking at a campaign that involves telling them that the others beer has more alcohol in order to start an alcohol fueled war thus maintaining our rightful place at the top of the heap.

Hey it says we were peaceful not that we weren't devious.

Originally Posted by sky2979

Where does the USA fit???? LOL..

83rd.

I mean it had to happen SOMEHOW! Hahaha...


Yeah, sky, US falls into the "not so peaceful" part of the equation...l

Listen here you smug Kiwi pr*ck.

If you don't start recognising that Oz is more peaceful we're gunna declare war on the Chatham Islands,.... once we find a big sharp stick an some other bad stuff.

Ahahahahaha. I'm going to enjoy reading this thread IMMENSELY. Hahaha.

Pretty sure if we sent all those Maori bouncers back to NZ it wouldn't be the most peaceful. And lastly, are you already thinking up your excuses when you choke again in 2011.

Ah cmon guys, it's not like Australia was CLOSE... Can't you just be happy for him?

Originally Posted by senojekips

Listen here you smug Kiwi pr*ck.

If you don't start recognising that Oz is more peaceful we're gunna declare war on the Chatham Islands,.... once we find a big sharp stick an some other bad stuff.

On second thoughts, maybe not. I'm told that there is a fishin' boat in,... I don't think we'd really wanta annoy some of them Kiwi fishermen.

We might invade when they go back to sea.