We're a nation of immigrants, at least Durante and Wynn have string connections to the country.
Durante has the least strongest connection of anyone (I put parents' birthplace above 'playing for a pro team in the country for 5 years)
He has one of the strongest connections. He has chosen to make this country his home, his daughters were born here, and he seems to want to continue to live here after he retires.
Someone's parents being born here but have otherwise never spent any meaningful time here is no connection in my book.
My mum was born in the UK, she's never lived there. I'm eligible for UK citizenship and I've spent some time over there but not too much. No way do I feel any connection to that country.
On the other hand, I was brought up in the Coromandel, spent some time in Auckland, and have been in Wellington off and on for about a third of my life. I have more of a connection to Wellington than the Coromandel despite living in the later more than here simply because this is where I've chosen to make my home.
I'd put only those who actually grew up in NZ having stronger connections than Durante, Durante certainly has a stronger connection than the Ingham brothers, Themi, Smith, etc. Probably more than Reid as well, seeing as Reid has spent the vast majority of his life overseas, including all of his tertiary and footballing education.
Nonsense.
Plus its not up to you to define how strongly someone feels about their country
It's not up to you to dismiss rational arguments as nonsense. :P
You have a person who chose to live here, has raised a family here, and has said that he would like to stay here when he retires. Then you have players who have left at a young age or have never lived here, and have expressed no interest of returning in their post footballing career.
The original question was how many players were born in NZ, and it's spiraled a bit, but can you see Tommy Smith choosing to live in NZ after he retires from football? There is what you say you feel and what your actions prove.