Martin
TFF's Token Imp

I like to think that I confuse a lot of people.
I'm here to entertain myself and to find out how people react to crap that I say when they don't know what I look like.
It's too easy to have people agree with me no matter what I'm talking about.
Its good to see some honest reactions. I'm figuring out what people would say when I'm not around. Understanding that will allow me to conquer the world all the more quickly.

I don't usually do this... but I felt compelled to tell you something...

looking forward to this sequel?? lol

HI! I'm so glad to hear you and your lady are doing well. It's so lovely! Where do you guys live? If you don't mind me asking haha. Just having a sticky beak. I live near Ipswich. You seem like a really awesome guy. I wish you and Priscilla all the best!!!!

He totally would! No worries, if it happens I'll video tape it for documentation. It'll be the most awesome thread ever.

Until then I may feel like I'm in a glass case of emotion (I wanted to say something SO BAD) cause I'm trying to get my warnings clear; I already used Snow White to get me in trouble.

You're welcome. I really want to punch him in the ovary.

How romantic, haha.
Thats actually quite awesome that you two are still together. How long were you seperated for before you moved here?

Just saw your rep. It's been a wild ride, but I don't really have any regrets. How's everything going with you?

Haha don't worry I'll act as a reference for hahaha

As long as it doesn't rain to much

Family

How long do you have to be here before you can get citizenship?

Heading to Coloundra for the weekend actually. Haha yeah they hang off her every wave. So are you here on a visa or citizenship.

Haha, and there you hit the nexus of our current problems. You have passed NZECON 101. Most of our graduates are leaving for Australia. The Opposition uses the term 'Wellington to Wollongong' on a daily basis. I can see myself doing it, and most of my graduate friends have made the move.

But that's just the thing -- we simply do not have large internal markets. Australia and (moreso) Indonesia could possibly pull it off. Malaysia did import substitution pretty well. But it's the nature of a small country. We ride the back of China. Just as most Pacific Island nations in turn are riding the backs of New Zealand and Australia. I think we could perhaps have higher-value exports (the amount of unprocessed plantation timber I see leave Wellington everyday depresses me), but we're never going to have 60 million people in a domestic market.

Having a small population puts the onus more squarely on having a productive and skilled workforce. For that we need capital. Foreign investment is more important than our export/import ratios.

How are you and Priscilla spending the long weekend sir? I'm not really much of a Royalist but I appreciate the public holiday for this I commend the old girl.

invoking the name of bananas. like, woah. (kidding but whatevvvverzzzz)
Martin? is it? nice to meet you, i'm weird.

How do you mean regulated? Protectionism went out of fashion here in the 1980s, and was dismantled by the political left. Australians are the ones with the issue still -- it's only been a short while since you couldn't find a New Zealand apple in Australian grocers, and if there's another flood in the northeast, be prepared to pay like A$20 for a kilo of bananas.

(All the disease control measures mentioned in that article are still considered trade barriers here... those diseases do not riddle our fruit.)