Sorry.

So often Australians think of New Zealand as a younger sibling - the little island on the side that is always trying to compete, trying to catch up.

But when I first came to Australia, I often felt like I had slipped into a time warp, back to before the Waitangi Comission, before Te Reo in schools, before I was born. Australian race relations were stuck in the 60s, in a knot of denial and bitterness. It was almost as if the government thought it could wait aboriginality out.

It's funny how one little election changes so much. Tomorrow, a beautifully written 300 words or so will be presented by the Australian Government (and even the Opposition, after the obligatory posturing) to all the people of Australia. It says that you're sorry for the things you've done to each other.

Being sorry isn't a sign of weakness. Carrying the burden of the terrible things done in this country's history (as in my own) weighs everyone down. Until regret is expressed, how can forgiveness be given? And to remain unforgiven is a terrible thing.

These are 300 words not just for the stolen generation but for everyone with a history in this place. And you can feel pride that you've brought Australia to this point together, to the beginning of what will be a long process of reconciliation and healing.

It will take years. But as the wrongs are slowly uncovered and you try to make things right, you'll feel this love for your country that has nothing to do with sporting achievements or wearing your flag as a cape. It's a fierce and slow-burning pride in the way things are headed, the way you do things now, which is a million miles away from blind patriotism.