Day one in Auckland has been fun. We presented the necklace to Lisa Brandon, who was delighted, and I got to catch up with jeweller and goldsmith Ken Robinson and his son Michael, who designed the piece. I picked up the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and it’s a head-turner. Before I even left the gate, a young woman photographed the car exiting. Earlier this evening, Nigel Dunn took some pics of the car which will likely appear on his blog. This car turns heads. Fortunately, it is not yellow.
   I’m back at Mollie’s, one of the hotels to stay at in Auckland. Which is ironic that the rumour mill, I have heard from Wellington, is saying that Lucire is going bust.
   It’s about as far from the truth as I have ever heard in 19 years of business. I have increased my staff numbers. The team is getting new cellphones. If I didn’t have the Aston I would still have the Mercedes company car in this city. I have a suspicion that members of the MSM fear us: one regional publishing firm recently subscribed, and I suspect it is due to a sudden dose of fear. One colleague already had rumour kill her business, which is not hard to do in a small country like New Zealand; and I do know that one broadsheet attempted to publish a hatchet piece on me and our editor-in-chief. We declined the interview.
   Fortunately, I have enough people who know the truth who hear these rumours and (a) report them to me, and (b) tell those who have heard it that they have just been handed a crock of BS.
   The minute you think the establishment may have accepted you because you have proven yourself in two media and two continents over nine years, the ugly head of the antipodean tall poppy syndrome rears itself.
   I’m afraid this is actionable in law, and I don’t think I should be dignified about it and move on. To that end, I have put out a few feelers to see who has been issuing these rumours. People forget I have a law degree and have never lost a case. Ten to one I am in the city of origin. Posted by Jack Yan, 12:29  permalink

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