New Zealand as two countries.

[The Rat]

EDIT

Okay. I was posting early after not sleeping all night so I've looked into it and modified the scenario just a bit.

The Dutch claim one island in the 17th century, simultaneously another (European?) colonial power lands on and claims the other. Given the logistics of trying to carry on a protracted war at such a distance from the homeland, a tense peace ensues, and lasts until the early 20th century, when transportation and communication become fast enough for things to heat up.

Run with it.

[sideshowbob9]

While an  interesting premise,  I'm sorry to say my first thought was that if a combined NZ maxed out with Douglas Skyhawks, half a NZ maxes out with something more like a Cessna Skyhawk.

Maybe if each side has a ideological sponsor state you could get superpower hand-me-downs? Leahy vs Krivak prowling the strait?

[The Rat]

While an  interesting premise,  I'm sorry to say my first thought was that if a combined NZ maxed out with Douglas Skyhawks, half a NZ maxes out with something more like a Cessna Skyhawk.

Maybe if each side has a ideological sponsor state you could get superpower hand-me-downs? Leahy vs Krivak prowling the strait?

A 172 would turn inside an A-4 easily, and shoot him down as he comes back! 

[Old Wombat]

Australia (both the nation & HMAS) sidles across the Tasman ca. 1912 & annexes both islands.

[Madhatter]

HA! In NZ itself, it's already considered that there are two countries: 1) Auckland and 2) - everything else south of the Bombay Hills 

[sideshowbob9]

A 172 would turn inside an A-4 easily, and shoot him down as he comes back! 

Well, it's not impossible....wouldn't be my first choice of ACM platform though!

[Scotaidh]

Using Microsoft Flight, I pitted a Sopwith Camel against a MiG-15;  I played both sides, and it was a wash - the Camel easily turned inside the MiG, but the MiG was too fast for the Camel to get a shot off.  I tried a high-speed turbulence run against the Camel, but it got out of the way ...

[PR19_Kit]

Try loading 'winders on the Camel. 

[Nick]

What you want is a French North Island (Zélande)  and a German South Island (Seeland).

WW1 breaks out and a UK led Australian army takes Seeland with Japanese naval help - big battleship guns vs coastal artillery. At Versailles in 1919 the island is ceded to the UK and put under Australian rule. The German born locals are not happy but an influx of UK settlers works a little to balance it out.

At the start of WW2 the tiny RAN are left to hold the sea lanes across the Tasman Sea. The Vichy French forces on the North Island cause major trouble for the RAN and UK by providing the German natives to the north with weapons and ammo for a guerrilla uprising. Naval and aerial hijinks ensue too - Brewster Buffalo vs MS.406 or Potex 630 etc
Hawker Demon vs IJN Mitsubishi A5M 'Claude' 

The Vichy govt on Zélande cause concerns by hosting Japanese naval forces for a visit in December 1941. Then the shooting starts. The first job for the Allies is to consolidate the South Pacific and Indian Ocean by removing all Vichy forces. The Japanese get involved at a large naval battle in Coral Sea and base a few squadrons of fighter and bombers on Zélande .
The US Marines get blooded in their first major battle during the liberation of French Zélande.



You could mix it up how you like. How about a Dutch vs Scottish battle - where Tasman's claim gets taken up for the South Island and the Darien expedition succeeds allowing the Scots to remain independent and settle the world in their own right?

[zenrat]

How about Portugese and Dutch islands both settled in the 17th Century?  Bring religion into it as well...

Or what if one of them was a French penal colony run under contract by Maoris?

[rickshaw]

There are conspianuts who believe that New Zealand was originally discovered by a wildly off course bunch of Vikings.   Apparently there is plenty of "evidence" to support this claim.  How about the Vikings living on and defeating the Maoris when they first arrive?  They could take many Maoris as captives turning them into slaves.   That would take care of the difference between the islands.  The South could quite happily be Viking, the North Maori when the British arrive.  The Vikings are fearsome, so are the Maori.   The Vikings see the British as more powerful and submit to them and become a part of the British Empire.  The Maoris are conquered and a Treaty of Waitagangi occurs.  The North island becomes a part of the British Empire after some protracted warfare.

[zenrat]

My niece returned from a trip to NZ a while back with a gift of a tee shirt for me.
It reads "New Zealand. 40.9ºS. 1642".
She bought it thinking it was a good souvenir little realising it is actually a coded message from kiwis to 'strayans.
What it really says is "New Zealand.  Further South than you.  Discovered first."

[sideshowbob9]

Vichy idea is interesting. Now I'm thinking of Graf Spee in the Coral Sea.

Portuguese has interesting ramifications for the de-colonization period and beyond. Cuban intervention in New Zealand?

[zenrat]

One island occupied by Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves and Men.  The other by Goblins, Orcs, Trolls and Lawyers.

[sideshowbob9]

Sauron is a lawyer. Now it all makes sense!

Golgoroth, dear, pick up the palantír would you? Morgul, Morgul & Smythe, how may I direct your call?

The next movie just writes itself.