"The Government is way too smart to do anything dumb here." Former Telecom boss Theresa Gattung, March 2006
"In our view the Government has thrown the regulatory book at Telecom and in doing so has realised our worst concerns and more. We expect the share price to tradesharply lower and see a sub-$5.00 share price as a distinct possibility." Goldman Sachs JBWere analyst Andrew White, May 2006
"It is so un-Kiwi to tax people on something they haven't got." GPG director Tony Gibbs on the capital gains tax proposal, April 2006
"While it looked strange to begin with, I got it. I actually think it's a really good idea." Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall on the Right Hemisphere loan, December 2006
"In a funny way, Navman was seminal in some of our thinking, because it's something that looked pretty flash at the time." Trevor Mallard, September 2007
"The risk is that, over time, we will become Fiji with snow." New Zealand Institute head David Skilling, August 2007
"I say to them: 'You might not like Paula Rebstock but she's got a bazooka and what are you going to do about it?'" Public law maven Mai Chen, June 2008
"I've been prepared to test, question and push the boundaries - inevitably there will be those who criticise." Contact deputy chairman Phil Pryke, October 2008
"We're not going to be the Switzerland of the South Pacific and we're not going to be a Nordic haven. In truth that was always bullshit." Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton, April 2008
"If the Canadians weren't good enough to own an asset, and that was only 40 per cent, how come the Chinese are good enough to own 100 per cent of an asset?" Shareholders' Association chairman Bruce Sheppard, July 2008
"They're crying and they're falling into my arms, and they are howling literally on my shoulder. And that's what's making the old men cry - it's the fear." Finance company victims' lobbyist Suzanne Edmonds, August 2008
