Paul Smith is in Wellington for David Beckham's flying visit, the buildup to Saturday night's LA Galaxy clash with Phoenix and the match itself.
KEY POINTS:
There was no escaping Beckham today, even before I got to Wellington my cab driver to the airport was Serbian, so he had plenty to say about football.
Despite having abandoned his home country's football teams after their quality plummeted and taking up Liverpool instead, he hadlots of good things to say about Beckham, who made his name at rivals Manchester United.
He agreed that anyone, such as England managers, who leave him out of the side is clearly mad.
Radio stations all seemed to be predicting a frenzy when he arrives shortly.
The people next to me on the plane were reading the Herald, and the story about Beckham in Sydney took most of their attention.
The reference to women in the crowd carrying placards saying "Bend me, Beckham" causing great amusement to the female passenger. The Qantas magazine was also in on the act, featuring an ad for the one-man brand's fragrance near the front.
It would be difficult so far, however, to say that the Beckham-mania seen in Sydney has taken hold in Wellington.
A small crowd, some of them in LA Galaxy shirts, is gathering but is almost matched by the number of media at the moment.
With an hour to go until the man arrives, perhaps they're timing their run late.
