In 2010, the University of Otago's Centre for Research on National Identity organised a Colloquium entitled "Symbolising New Zealand", which aimed to encourage debate about the symbols associated with New Zealand identity, especially in regards to official symbols such as the national flag, but also in terms of representations of New Zealand in the visual arts. The papers were subsequently edited and collected in a book under the same title, published by the Centre for Research on National Identity. Mark Stocker's paper took the form of a review of a recent book by Francis Pound, "The Invention of New Zealand" (AUP, 2009). Pound's book discussed issues of nationalism in relation to New Zealand art of the period c1930-70. "But what has all this to do with Nationalism?" was a response to Mark Stocker's paper. It sought to acknowledge the contribution made by Francis Pound to New Zealand art history, particularly his critique of the tendency of New Zealand art historians to evaluate examples of New Zealand art on the basis of whether or not they are "true" to New Zealand. However, it also sought to point out the problems with Pound's argument, which centre around his use of the word "nationalism", and his failure to define or critically discuss the term. The paper concludes that art is inevitably influenced by its context, the environment in which it was produced, while maintaining that this belief does not necessarily mean a belief in the idea that New Zealand art is wholly unique or separate from art produced elsewhere.