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For a country that doesn't get too excited about celebrities, the Beckham epidemic that struck when the mega-star jetted into the capital caused an unexpected frenzy.
Perhaps it is not that we aren't excited by celebrity, but more that we don't have any celebrities to get excited about?
The visit by David Beckham changed all that. He of the Hollywood tan, chiselled jaw and sweet smile has all the bases covered - he's a football star who is married to a pop star and hangs out with film stars. What's more, he seems like a decent bloke.
When Beckham jetted in with his LA Galaxy team for a match against Wellington Phoenix, Becks-mania took the nation in its grip.
Women screamed, kids cheered and people were generally star-struck, all before he even took to the field.
Becks came, he scored, he took his shirt off and he left again, leaving us to haggle over his food scraps on Trade Me.
But what of our local personalities and their antics last year?
In a country where well-endowed model Nicky Watson's missing dog made national news it is little wonder Beckham got the reception he did. We are a nation starved of A-listers.
In more hard-hitting celebrity happenings last year it was the next generation making waves for all the wrong reasons, with three offspring from well-known families in court on drugs charges.
Fashion designer Trelise Cooper's stepdaughter Nadia appeared in Auckland District Court in late November on methamphetamine charges.
Broadcaster Paul Holmes' 19-year-old daughter Millie Elder also went to court and admitted possessing P, possessing a pipe and allowing premises to be used for drugs.
She said later she formerly had a drug habit worth $1000 a day.
Keita Nobilo, of the Nobilo Wines family, and former girlfriend of former All Black and Kiwi Matthew Ridge, is also facing methamphetamine and cannabis charges.
Another celeb to fall foul of the law last year was former rugby league star Brent Todd, who was sentenced to one year's home detention and 190 hours of community work for fraud relating to gaming machine money.
It was the second bad year for Todd, who was declared bankrupt in February last year and later fined $500 after admitting procuring cocaine.
His fall from grace was complete when it was reported the former high flyer had resorted to washing cars at friend Ridge's carwash business.
Speaking of Ridge, his relationship with Rebecca Loos, famous for claiming to have had an affair with Beckham, went down the loo last year. But unfortunately not before the pair made British tabloid headlines for getting down to business in business class on an Air New Zealand flight from London to LA.
When Ridge first began getting fast and Loos in London it seems he neglected one small detail, apparently failing to tell his then-girlfriend Nobilo, who was back home in New Zealand.
The British tabloid that outed Ridge and Loos' relationship referred to him as a "Z-lister ... who used to play rugby for the All Blacks".
Harsh but fair.
Back home local larrikin Marc Ellis was often in the news.
When a nearly naked woman streaked at the Beckham match, it seemed Ellis was clearly behind it - his company logo written clearly on her behind. But he later said he had no knowledge of the prank and disowned it.
Ellis attracted the ire of conservationists when a publicity stunt for his new company sent plumes of smoke from the summit of fire-sensitive Rangitoto.
He also attracted the ire of the fire service with a TV ad glorifying "the good old days", featuring children blowing up a letter box with fireworks and firing sky rockets at each other.
On a more mature note last year's instalment of Dancing With the Stars was won by infomercial queen Suzanne Paul, who beat reality TV princess Megan Alatini.
Chalk one up for experience over youthful exuberance.
The show always features one truly cringe-worthy contestant - think Tim Shadbolt and Rodney Hide in seasons one and two - and last year, Paul Holmes took that role, with his version of Michael Jackson's Thriller a real horror show.
Of course by now the buzz is all about who will take part in next year's Dancing With the Stars?
Will Richie McCaw team up with rumoured girlfriend Hayley Holt who has previously partnered sportsmen turned dance contestants Brendon Pongia and Danyon Loader on the show? Could dancing take big man Jonah Lomu's mind off his reported recent separation from wife Fiona?
And what about newly married Doug Howlett? It's a pity he's headed to Ireland, as his fancy footwork would have made him a frontrunner for Dancing With the Stars.
Perhaps after his antics in London following the All Blacks' World Cup loss he could star in his own spin off version, Dancing on Cars.
But the less said about rugby the better last year.
Fortunately, thanks to Beckham's fleeting jaunt down under, we had a new sport to focus on and a new hero to worship, even if it was just for one night.
- NZPA
