Brexit for bad-egg Brits

Brexit. We know how they feel. Britain has made a right mess of its desire, expressed by a little over half of the population, to leave the European Union.

Theresa May thought she might have a way; her political colleagues told her in no uncertain terms that she was wrong.

Getting out, it seems, can be messy.

Half a world away, we wonder about the possible future impacts on trade and travel, but we have a more immediate problem with our own messy Brits needing an exit.

And sooner rather than later, please.

We’re trying to negotiate a form of Brexit for an ‘‘unruly’’ family of trouble-making tourists allegedly careening around the country in a travelling caravan of crime and carnage.

Next stop the South Island. In their wake they are leaving rubbish, countless allegations of wrong-doing, and a bad taste in the mouth about the impact of tourism on the beloved places Kiwis used to call their own.

Some of which has exposed elements of racism seen in previous concerns about freedom campers.

If there is something good to take from this whole sorry mess, which will hopefully soon end with a successful Kiwi version of Brexit, it is the reaction of a nation to this particular national tour of trashtalking, fly-tipping and singlefinger saluting.

Our now unwelcome travelling family has encountered plenty of police officers and other upset officials. But beyond the thin blue line has been a thicker wall of condemnation from many Kiwis willing to stand up and declare some defence of this country and its values.

Often to the faces of these burdensome guests.

Perhaps only in a country such as New Zealand would a story about one family’s hellish holiday capture the news cycle for a week and inspire such widespread animosity and hounding.

That demonstrates that, while our size can sometimes bring feelings of claustrophobia and envious glances abroad, it also inspires pride in our fauna and flora, from Kaitaia to Bluff, and a collective response to its denigration, especially if that comes from outside that national collective.

A slight against one is a slight against all.

Kiwis travelling abroad might have noticed that pride in one’s country, city or centre seems to have a correlation with size: unless there are strict rules in place, generally the bigger the place the more likely it is to be less cared-for, its infrastructure and points of interest disrespected or even trashed. And not just by visitors.

Some of the world’s greatest cities and landmarks have become monuments to indifference and dirty decline. It appears that the greater a centre or society grows, the harder it is to maintain the discipline and decorum at its core.

New Zealand’s size means we have retained some semblance of those collective values. We do take pride in our country, even if we do not always demonstrate that ourselves, and we expect those making such a significant trek south, to our little slice of paradise, to share that pride and respect what inspires it.

That’s why we are so appalled when tourists use our environment as their personal bathroom or rubbish bin.

It is disturbing to see such behaviour; it is refreshing to see the backlash. Now bring on Brexit.