Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: The Best Country in the World: Selling fast! https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/ en-us Copyright (c) 2026 Public Address Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38220#post38220 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38220#post38220

I said it! Perhaps I didn't say it to you

IIRC A lot of people said such things at the time but I was supprised no-one mentioned it in relation to the Mallard/Henare fiasco.
They say a week is a long time in politics but a year is, well err,…

]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:24:58 +1300 dc_red https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38218#post38218 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38218#post38218 Craig said:

Oh, FFS, could it just be even marginally within the realms of possibility that:

1) New Zealand Herald readers aren't all a pack of fuckwit drones utterly incapable of independent thought?

Who has said, or implied, that all (or even most) NZH readers are mindless drones?

The point…

]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:23:04 +1300 Kyle Matthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38213#post38213 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38213#post38213

Bill English, on the other hand, took part in "the Fight for Life" and everybody thought it either cool or pathetic. Nobody, to my knowledge, came out and said he was promoting violence but for him and his cohorts to vilify Mallard was just another Govt. beat up.

I said…

]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:09:36 +1300 Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38209#post38209 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38209#post38209 Time for me to chip in again.
First (no Russ I'm not saying I got to post first ;-) )
Mallard was under stress and got his buttons pushed, yes no excuse but we all F**K up occasionally and the fact is they were both grown men able to look…

]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:40:43 +1300 Jackie Clark https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38180#post38180 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38180#post38180 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:04:55 +1300 tussock https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38179#post38179 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38179#post38179 Psst, Craig, there's this thing called the Fallacy of the Excluded Middle.

Money matters (thus all the spending), press matters (remember the worm?), policy matters (because some of us care), personal magnetism matters (because he looks honest), community support matters (because Bob explained it to me) and everything else gets…

]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:14:53 +1300 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38150#post38150 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38150#post38150

Well, there was that lack of money thing, but oops, I forgot, money doesn't buy elections.

Actually, Don, I think that's another fatuous cop out – but if there are some people in the National Party who want keep wallowing in that particular river denial, so be it. Lots of…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:21:27 +1300 Don Christie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38141#post38141 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38141#post38141

It would be nice if I could blame the media for the 2002 election result, when National received its lowest share of the popular vote ever – but the only problem is that it just wasn't true.

Well, there was that lack of money thing, but oops, I forgot, money…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:44:54 +1300 Shep Cheyenne https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38134#post38134 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38134#post38134 A little off topic but thought the Mallard Guilty plea a totally just outcome.

He pleads guilty & pays $500 to the Sallies but doesn't get a criminal record but looks the prat he was.

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:21:30 +1300 rodgerd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38132#post38132 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38132#post38132

The issue is then that people simply can't afford to pay the rental price.

Only to get worse, with a Westpac economist noting that in Westpac's view landlords should be upping rents 36% over the next 5 years to compensate landlords for expected lower capital gains. But, said economist added,…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:53:12 +1300 Jim Cathcart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38130#post38130 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38130#post38130 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:42:31 +1300 InternationalObserver https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38125#post38125 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38125#post38125

(I do agree the conference Russell writes about is crass and some attendees a bunch of hypocrites)

dey is not Hypocrites, dey is Capitalists!
I recently got a letter from Westpac invitiing me to participate in a great new investment offer: perpetual, deeply subordinated notes from giant French Bank__ Credit…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:56:40 +1300 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38121#post38121 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38121#post38121 Well I don't (and haven't) lived in Australia, so whatever media you might be referring to aren't my 'local' media. And if they ran an anti-government campaign as virulent as that run by the NZH over the last few weeks, please feel free to point us all in the right… ]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:38:24 +1300 Don Christie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38119#post38119 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38119#post38119 The headline reads like an NZ First press release.

Property investment in NZ and Australia is not driven by the savings of Kiwis and Aussies. It's largely funded by domestic banks borrowing from international institutions. It's essentially a Ponzi scheme

Bingo. Plus the fact that like it or not, most…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:24:25 +1300 Stephen Judd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38118#post38118 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38118#post38118 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:05:58 +1300 BenWilson https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38117#post38117 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38117#post38117 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:46:30 +1300 Jim Cathcart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38114#post38114 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38114#post38114 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:47:23 +1300 InternationalObserver https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38113#post38113 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38113#post38113

Did you know that in this blessed land, you'll still find homes, "and we mean proper houses you can move into — for less than US$50,000!"?

Sure, the houses are in Tokanui — but the people of rural eastern Southland are even friendlier that the people who live in cities.…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:25:12 +1300 dc_red https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38112#post38112 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38112#post38112

Slightly more seriously, the last time I saw the local media turn so toxic towards an incumbent government, run free daily publicity for the opposition {yadda, yadda, yadda}...

You've opened an Australian newspaper at random this year? Just saying... Please, dc red, on the partisan tip I'm gagging for the…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:20:00 +1300 Gareth Ward https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38111#post38111 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38111#post38111

The only solution is to put a capital gains tax on investment property.

Or enforce the existing one! If you buy a second property for capital gain (pretty accurate definition of investment property), you are liable to pay tax on that gain once it's realised. Just doesn't seem to be…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:15:23 +1300 BenWilson https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38110#post38110 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38110#post38110

a new pool for Avondale

Bastards. That would have actually helped bring my property value up, and would absolutely certainly have been used a hell of a lot – there's an awful lot of kids in Avondale. I'd settle for something as choice as Pt Erin is right now in…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:10:54 +1300 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38109#post38109 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38109#post38109

Since what has been happening is fairly clearly based on "hope" with regard to future prices continuing to go up, it's a bubble- encouraged by easy access to loans. Unless someone- Mr Key?- can significantly improve the average wage and salary take, it's gone past sustainable already.

And what certainly…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:54:04 +1300 InternationalObserver https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38103#post38103 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38103#post38103 re: property

I'm predicting a huge 'price correction' in housing this year — but I've been saying that for the last 3 years. The difference now is that interest rates are up and that is making investment properties unprofitable for those on low/middle incomes. These are the people who bought…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:11:49 +1300 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38101#post38101 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38101#post38101

Slightly more seriously, the last time I saw the local media turn so toxic towards an incumbent government, run free daily publicity for the opposition {yadda, yadda, yadda}...

You've opened an Australian newspaper at random this year? Just saying... Please, dc red, on the partisan tip I'm gagging for the…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:56:16 +1300 Robyn Gallagher https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38099#post38099 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38099#post38099

What should you do if you suspect Farrar is using your teen?

Check under your teen's bed for John Key's "Enthusiastic for New Zealand" DVD.

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:24:31 +1300 Joanna https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38094#post38094 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38094#post38094

what you should do if you suspect your teen is using' Farrar"?

What should you do if you suspect Farrar is using your teen?

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:03:51 +1300 dc_red https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38093#post38093 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38093#post38093

...easy access to loans

Que? Access in a formalistic sense, perhaps, not in the sense of "being able to make the repayments"?

And given that the Reserve Bank is on record as saying that it thnks tax cuts will be inflationary, I don't see Mr One Key Policy doing a…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:55:54 +1300 Rob Stowell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38091#post38091 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38091#post38091 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:47:33 +1300 dc_red https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38087#post38087 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38087#post38087

Oh, like "David 'P or pure or crystal methamphetamine or crystal or meth or ice or tina or burn or crank or yaba and what you should do if you suspect your teen is using' Farrar"?

What are you trying to say, Robyn? ;-)

I'm sure DPF's usual commentators would…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:03:39 +1300 Gareth Ward https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38086#post38086 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38086#post38086

They have to be "associated" more than this, tho.

Agree that the prices /income/rental/capital-growth association is out of whack at the moment but that could be "balanced" by significant rental increases – unfortunately house prices could still be out of line with average incomes if this happens... e.g. the wealthier…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:55:46 +1300 Robyn Gallagher https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38085#post38085 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38085#post38085

David 'What does the P stand for' Farrar

Peter.

Darn, I was hoping a game would ensue.

Oh, like "David 'P or pure or crystal methamphetamine or crystal or meth or ice or tina or burn or crank or yaba and what you should do if you suspect your teen…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:45:13 +1300 dc_red https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38083#post38083 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38083#post38083

David 'What does the P stand for' Farrar

Peter.

Darn, I was hoping a game would ensue.

RB – I appreciated your cheerful headline and the ensuing report on this cheerful country. The thwacking of cricket balls indeed. I can only assume the august Herald is saving such reportage…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:40:30 +1300 Rob Stowell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38081#post38081 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38081#post38081 They have to be "associated" more than this, tho. The wealthy investors need a return on their money, and if rents can't pay the mortgage, and everyone's relying on capital gains, it's an untenable spiral. Which it is.
Of course wealthy off-shore investors make it worse. But buying into the…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:33:09 +1300 Gareth Ward https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38078#post38078 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38078#post38078

Amazing. Is this the peak of a trend that will unwind, or a permanent change?

You would like to think that average incomes should buy average houses in the longer term (supply and demand would match them up) but I guess that's based on a bit of a dream that…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:22:35 +1300 Robyn Gallagher https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38077#post38077 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38077#post38077

Amazing. Is this the peak of a trend that will unwind, or a permanent change? I don't know, but sometimes I think I'll stay in the renting classes forever.

Wait a decade or so – all the baby boomers with investment properties will start to sell them to free up…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:19:58 +1300 Stephen Judd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38072#post38072 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38072#post38072 ...an average New Zealand worker on a single income now cannot afford to buy an average house, even with a 20 per cent deposit, in any region in the country.

Amazing. Is this the peak of a trend that will unwind, or a permanent change? I don't know, but sometimes…

]]> Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:55:28 +1300 Jackie Clark https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38051#post38051 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38051#post38051 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:16:00 +1300 Robyn Gallagher https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38050#post38050 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38050#post38050 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:15:27 +1300 rodgerd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38049#post38049 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38049#post38049

I could buy a lodge in the Japan Alps or a decent villa in Argentina for a lower price ticket than a suburban weatherboard in NZ.

Hell, I could buy a small apartment in Paris for the price of apartments in Oriental Bay. And that's inner city Paris, not some…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:48:12 +1300 Graeme Edgeler https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38048#post38048 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38048#post38048

David 'What does the P stand for' Farrar

Peter.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:29:26 +1300 Felix Marwick https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38047#post38047 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38047#post38047 Cheers for the beer Russell.

In fact I think it'll be exactly what I need after the fun and games that are coming in the House tomorrow.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:54:10 +1300 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38041#post38041 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38041#post38041

Not an avid listner, but I have to say, his stuff on blogging was not exactly legendary, he sounded positively...Clarkish.

Think you've got Colin Peacock – who presents and produces Mediawatch – with the political editor of The Press. Admittedly, I've never seem 'em in the same room at the…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:51:41 +1300 Hadyn Green https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38040#post38040 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38040#post38040

I think this may be a first: both Russell 'Hard News' Brown and David 'What does the P stand for' Farrar reading and praising a new blog on the same day!

Not just one new blog, two!

From DPF over on Emma's post discussion:

A really entertaining first post. I…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:33:18 +1300 paddy free https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38038#post38038 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38038#post38038 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:59:27 +1300 Paul Brislen https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38037#post38037 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38037#post38037 I think this may be a first: both Russell 'Hard News' Brown and David 'What does the P stand for' Farrar reading and praising a new blog on the same day!

I find it hard to believe Poneke won't explode in an overwhelming annihilation of left/right love not unlike a…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:44:48 +1300 Gabor Toth https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38031#post38031 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38031#post38031

A slice of paradise for a song? More like a small fortune.

Agreed.
I have recently been checking out property prices in those parts of the United States that I know reasonably well from previous visits (a diaspora from Hungary on both sides of my family after the 1956 revolution…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:22:08 +1300 Jim Cathcart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38027#post38027 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38027#post38027 No doubt Dan Denning will be pushing his interesting assortment of small-cap, energy, mining service and clean tech stocks.

A slice of paradise for a song? More like a small fortune. I could buy a lodge in the Japan Alps or a decent villa in Argentina for a lower price…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:46:18 +1300 Don Christie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38025#post38025 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38025#post38025 Mel's blog. ]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:42:01 +1300 Don Christie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38023#post38023 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38023#post38023

Colin's been owning all year.

Not an avid listner, but I have to say, his stuff on blogging was not exactly legendary, he sounded positively...Clarkish.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:34:01 +1300 Hadyn Green https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38022#post38022 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38022#post38022 W00T!*

Fuck I love New Zealand. With our cobalt waters, honeybees, and cheap Pacific beachfront land. Not to mention our "chinks of glasses" and "thwack of balls".

But does Southland face the Pacific or the Antarctic?

*as the kids and the dictionaries say these days

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:27:35 +1300 Jeremy Andrew https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38020#post38020 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38020#post38020

Mind you, land is cheap in the US itself. A person I know has acquired a full section (which in the western US is one square mile) on the Nevada/California border for a remarkably small amount of money.

With less greenery than the average kiwi quarter acre I'd imagine...

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:20:53 +1300 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38015#post38015 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38015#post38015 I could see that if I was a cashed-up American of a certain age with no need to earn a real living, then a crib in Southland might appeal as something to do with a spare $100k.

Mind you, land is cheap in the US itself. A person I know…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:56:15 +1300 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38000#post38000 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=38000#post38000

Even when folks like Clark and Tony Blair have a point (and they do), I just think it hard to swallow folks who've been quite happy to profit from the status quo crying foul when it suits.

Of course. I just enjoyed hearing it discussed in greater depth than a…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:20:16 +1300 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37999#post37999 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37999#post37999

Very near to Australia there is a country which all testimony concurs in describing as the fittest in the world for colonization, as the most beautiful country with the finest climate, and the most productive soil; I mean New Zealand.

Edward Gibbon Wakefield
to House of Commons committee 1836…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:14:01 +1300 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37997#post37997 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37997#post37997

a look at the story behind the "Helen Clark attacks journalists" headlines (Mediawatch also had a useful report on that last issue)

Yes, Mediawatch was fascinating – and sorry if this wounds your ego Russell :), but Colin has done some bloody excellent work even if I totally disagree with…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:05:33 +1300 Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37993#post37993 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37993#post37993 Bum, and a double post.
Now I feel really silly.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:42:21 +1300 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37992#post37992 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37992#post37992 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:41:58 +1300 Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37991#post37991 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37991#post37991 First ;-)
Well someone had to do the lame thing, it's Christmas.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:41:13 +1300 Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37990#post37990 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37990#post37990 First ;-)
Well someone had to do the lame thing, it's Cristmas.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:41:02 +1300 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37986#post37986 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37986#post37986

I know I shouldn't bite the hand that feeds ... but are you trying out for a job at the Beeb?

If I'd been doing that I'd have created a fictitious ID and awarded it to them, rather than actually telling you ...

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:38:47 +1300 Graeme Edgeler https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37983#post37983 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37983#post37983

I haven't been able to find a $500 post in the Word of the Year thread, so I've decided to retain the Ezi-Pay Gift Station voucher and divvy the proceeds amongst the Public Address crew, who haven't had much from me late.

I know I shouldn't bite the hand that…

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:33:02 +1300 Public Address https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37982#post37982 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-best-country-in-the-world-selling/?p=37982#post37982 Discussion from blog post.

]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:33:02 +1300