It's that time of the year when we reflect on the big (and not so big) events of 2009 and dole out a few brickbats and bouquets. This is not a serious affair, as can be seen by last year's awards. We welcome your suggestions, comments and mild abuse in the comments section below.
We wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year, although we'll be here until Thursday because Stats NZ is publishing GDP statistics on Wednesday (grrrrrrr...better be a positive figure)
Best dive from the 10 metre platform with a double twist, several pikes and big, slappy bellyflop Allied Farmers' share price.
Best recreational use of a failed property development backed by a finance company 'Sohole' Beach party in March in the stagnant pool at the base of the Soho development in Ponsonby
Most persistent and least published issuer of press releases New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. (Harcourts came a close second)
Best audit by a large accounting firm PwC's 'Fudge This' accounts for NZ Farming Systems Uruguay (HT Cactus Kate)
Best audit by a small accounting firm Timaru-based Woodnorth Myers for its audit of South Canterbury Finance's accounts for the six months to December 2008, which allowed through a related party transaction after the balance date to buy "various farming properties" from an unnamed related party for NZ$67.2 million or 27% of its equity. It turned out the related party was Southbury Holdings owned by Alan Hubbard. The cash was then 'injected' back into South Canterbury by Hubbard as equity and described as Hubbard boosts support for South Canterbury."
Most inventive explanation by a Big 4 bank for raising mortgage rates more than official rates Westpac Australia's Banana Smo0thie video
Worst reaction by banking customers to an emailed video Westpac Australia's customers reacting to the banana smoothie video
Best landlord of the year Housing Minsiter Phil Heatley and Finance Minister Bill English (to himself) tied for first
Highest consumption of gummy bears in any one day period Roger Thompson
Best performance by a monetarist finger puppet on an international stage John Key
Best performance by a monetarist finger puppet on a domestic stage Bernard Hickey
Most persistent and unwanted commenter Ugg boots
Most persistent and wanted commenter (for 2 years in a row!) Iain Parker
Central banker of the year Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono, who has remained in his post despite the abandonment of the worthless Zimbabwean dollar on April 12 after he devalued the currency 8 times. He was granted immunity from prosecution in November. (US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was a close runner up. His inability to print enough money to generate inflation meant he came second. He was however named Time Magazine's Man of the Year).
Comment of the year (song lyric version) Miguel on a Crafar Farms article on September 9
The photo, the banjo comment"¦who could resisit:
Come and listen to a story about a man named Al A dodgy dairy farmer, the council weren't his pal, Then one day he was milkin' for some food, And out of the udder came a bubblin' crude.
Milk that is, white gold, great with tea.
Well the first thing you know ol' Al's a millionaire, Bank-folk said Al move away from there Central North Island is the place you ought to be So they loaded up the truck and moved the family.
Reporoa, that is. Swimmin holes, twinkin' stars.
The Crafar Hillbillies!
Comment of the year (drug reference version)
Mouse commenting on Infometrics' forecast of a 24% rise in house prices in the next 3 years "It looks like Infometrics have been Smoking some "Green Shoots"
Comment of the year (finance company version) Alan Stewart commenting on Allied Farmers' bid for Hanover Finance
"Tying two cripples together to stop them falling over is only a short term answer"
Best Business News Website of the Year (Qantas Media Awards Version) Interest.co.nz (We couldn't resist a bit of bragging)
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