1. Competition is good
Just as Roadrunner wouldn't be the same without Coyote, so Dean Barker wouldn't be the same without Jimmy Spithill - our enemies define us, and bad guys make the heroes shine brighter.
2. We're in it together
When was the last time New Zealanders laughed, cried and cheered as one? Neither the royal baby, nor the Hobbit nor even the Rugby World Cup unified us in quite such a positive, nation-building way. We're all on the same team for once, and I can't think of another way you could spend $36 million and achieve that.
3. Even if we lose, we win