Sure, Gilbert had edited a film shot in Australia depicting Americans that was directed by an Australian, but that suddenly doesn't make the Wellingtonian an Australian.

Also this week, Fox Sports Australia called Kiwi born and raised UFC superstar Mark Hunt an 'Aussie' five times in one short sequence.

Hunt grew up on the streets of south Auckland, and fights under the New Zealand flag. While he may train and fight occasionally in Australia, the 42-year-old is about as Kiwi as it gets.

So why do they do it? Why does Australia pick and choose what Kiwis it sees fit of being worthy enough to earn the title of being an 'Australian'?



Australia has appropriated our best and brightest for decades, in fact it goes all the way back to World War I.

Two of Australia's so-called 'true-blue' Aussie war heroes, Victoria Cross recipients Alfred Shout and Thomas Cooke were - you guessed it - Kiwis through and through.

It's estimated up to 2000 New Zealanders served in Australia's armed forces during WWI because they joined up across the Tasman.

Shout, a Wellingtonian, served with the Kiwi forces in the South African war in 1900, and was mortally wounded in the Lone Pine trenches at Gallipoli in August 1915 while serving with the Australians.