And the good news is? If we were really coming out of the recession, I'd expect a reasonable amount of good news, instead its still mostly bad if not awful. Im glad Ive left the UK, it looks dire there and the EU looks more and more like a bad experiment gone wrong.......Im always glad I came to NZ and now even more so.

I see Crafar is going to defend himself...based on his past successes he might find he faces the noose....is treason still a hangable offence?

:)

How's this for an incompetent finance minister rooted in failed conventionalism. Bill English in the Herald commenting on his latest begging adventure.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602846

"Our pitch to them simply was that we are coming out of recession better than most, we need to borrow $40 billion over the next three to four years, we have got a high credit rating and we are willing to adapt to the market needs to make the debt attractive."

That is a reference to a few technical conditions that appeal to lenders.

Mr English was confident New Zealand would have no trouble raising the debt, though it would be paying a fair amount for it.

At least two potential sources were big investment funds trying to diversify away from United States debt, and the fact that other countries rates were so low made New Zealand look good - 5.5 per cent on a 10-year Government bond looked attractive.

The point of the trip and another to New York and Tokyo last month was "to get on their radar screen".

"It has been worthwhile to let them know we are there, tell them what we are doing, stimulate interest in buying our debt because the more of them who want to lend to us, the cheaper it will be."

Mr English also met British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, who Mr English said "had a bit of wisdom about him

Bill, the way to fix a crisis caused by too much debt is not with more debt! They either don't get it or are too scared/gutless to break ranks. Saying Darling had a bit of wisdom about him was surely being sarcastic. And what were those "few technical conditions that appeal to lenders"