Indeed, New Zealand actually tops most rankings of freest countries in the world, with its long history of tolerance for gay people, giving women the vote before literally anyone else, and not oppressing their native population even while everyone else was indulging in some baby snatching and forced removal. On more practical matters of democracy, Middle Earth’s real-life twin scores highly, too. Government generally functions, minorities are represented, the leader is female (Jacinda Ardern), and the scenery is beautiful. Yeah, we know that last one has absolutely nothing to do with democracy, but give us a break, huh? We’re too busy drowning in jealousy and Vegemite to worry about little mistakes like that.
