Perhaps the true test of love is being able to see faults in the beloved, but still to accept it/her/him. This applies to my feelings for NZ: I can see the faults, and with an election just around the corner, they are even more glaring than usual, but overall I am happy here. And I can try to get involved in issues I care about, say my piece and vote for those who put the country and her inhabitants before the acquisition of personal financial gain.
I recently went to a concert by a ukulele trio who sum up all that I love about NZ: but better still, their music is quintessentially Kiwi. You need to live here to understand some of it, but that is why it's so true. Most of it is loving, but occasionally they voice their concerns, and when they do, they don't pull their punches. See if you can get to hear some of it. The Nukes are virtuoso instrumentalists - you never knew the humble uke could sound like this - inspired songwriters and brilliant performers. They have made two albums and you can download a track, The Last Kauri from their most recent one, for free.
