KEY POINTS:
Advertisers tell us all publicity is good, but for many of our news-makers in 2007, exposure wasn't everything.
While Prime Minister Helen Clark could have expected to be in the news more than any other New Zealander, rugby player Doug Howlett will rue incidents that put him high on the list of All Blacks news-makers, after his post-world cup escapades.
And while New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will relish being in the news almost as much as National leader John Key, David Benson-Pope, Tame Iti and Brent Todd would probably have been happy with less exposure.
The notorious, the merely famous and the nearly famous made the news.
United States President George W. Bush topped the list, featuring in 5745 stories. His former nemesis Saddam Hussein kept himself in the news 1430 times - despite being executed in December 2006 - and Osama Bin Laden was mentioned in 773.
Two new boys on the international block, British PM Gordon Brown and his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd, were in 1192 and 934 stories respectively. Mr Rudd's predecessor John Howard was in 1939 and Britain's Tony Blair 1567.
Closer to home, former police assistant commissioner Clint Rickards was recorded 190 times, Iti, the activist arrested in police terrorist raids, was in 97 stories, and Todd, league star-turned-convicted fraudster, 16.
In world issues, global warming and climate change exercised our attention the most, with a combined total of 4618 news stories. Birdflu was in 435 and Sars 132.
In politics, Helen Clark topped the list for New Zealand, appearing in 2145 stories. And while her biggest political rival, Mr Key, may be ahead in the political polls, he has a long way to go in the news files, featuring in 850 stories. Mr Peters showed he still has the gift of the news grab, appearing in 762.
Mr Peters and Mr Key were overwhelmed by Michael Cullen, who featured in 1001 stories.
Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill saw her feature in 332 stories, dozens more than her Green Party colleagues, co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman, who were in 178 and 90 respectively.
Madeleine Setchell, the woman whose dismissal from the Environment Ministry led to David Benson-Pope's fall from grace, was in 147 stories, while the former minister himself was in 283.
David Bain, convicted of murdering his family in Dunedin in 1994, had his convictions quashed by the Privy Council and was granted a retrial. He was in 105 stories.
New Zealand models were not terribly prolific in mainstream news: Rachel Hunter featured in 11 stories and Nicky Watson 16.
The woman at the heart of the police rape scandal, Louise Nicholas, was in 190 stories and was named the Herald's New Zealander of the year.
Apart from Clint Rickards, the other men acquitted of raping her, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, appeared in 194 stories and 185 respectively.
Kiwis in Hollywood made a small mark. Former Shortland Streeters Martin Henderson featured in six stories, Karl Urban eight and Temuera Morrison four. Martin Csokas didn't get a mention.
Young mum Keisha Castle-Hughes was in 12 and up-and-comer Emily Barclay six. Sam Neill made it into 13, Cliff Curtis three and Melanie Lynskey only one.
Kiwi comedy duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement may have earned the praise of Jerry Seinfeld and Eric Idle, but they featured in only seven stories.
Peter Jackson, who is to produce two movies based on The Hobbit, by far topped the list with 107 mentions.
The royal family's presence in stories was topped, appropriately, by the Queen, who was in 834 stories. Heir to the throne Prince Charles was in 268, the late Princess Diana 375, Prince William was in 223 and his brother Harry was in 133.
In a spiritual vein, Jesus Christ made it into 556 stories, Buddha 100 and Allah 142. Pope Benedict XVI was in 479.
The most-lauded New Zealander of all time, Sir Edmund Hillary, was in 100. Author Lloyd Jones, who was nominated for the Booker Prize for Mister Pip (but lost out to a morose Irish tale), was in 188.
New Zealand music was dominated by the ladies, with Hollie Smith in 32 stories, Brooke Fraser 38 and Hayley Westenra 29.
It was also a year of musical comebacks.
The re-formed Crowded House featured in 54 stories and Rage Against the Machine, who are headlining the 2008 Big Day Out in Auckland, were in 17. Led Zeppelin's acclaimed show saw them in 56.
But all were overshadowed by pop extravaganza the Spice Girls, who were in 188 stories - though this will be due in part to mentions of Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham in association with her soccer hero husband.
The rippled David Beckham graced the streets of Wellington last year and was in 497 stories.
The failed campaign for the Rugby World Cup saw coach Graham Henry in 408 stories, team captain Richie McCaw in 288, golden boy Daniel Carter in 328, and Carl Hayman 225. Winger Howlett was in 283 - in part due to his car-squashing antics in London following a drinking bout after the team lost to France in the quarter-finals.
Aussie rugby legend George Gregan was in 287 stories and England star Jonny Wilkinson was in 368.
Former All Blacks aren't sheltered from the public eye either. Tana Umaga, made it into 215 stories, man-toppling legend Jonah Lomu 79, Fairfax chief executive David Kirk 63 and spokesman for mental health John Kirwan 81.
The Silver Ferns also suffered a World Cup defeat - though at least they made the finals. Star shooter Irene Van Dyk was in 109 stories, Julie Seymour - making her big comeback - was in 70 and Laura Langman 89. Team captain Adine Wilson, who sparked headlines by playing while three months pregnant, was in 59.
Kiwi golfer Michael Campbell had no big wins but featured in 370 stories, while world No 1 Tiger Woods was in 777.
Racing driver Scott Dixon was in 108 with his USA Indycar endeavours. Retired legend Michael Schumacher featured in 160, and Britain's promising Lewis Hamilton was in 486.
Boxer David Tua, who still seems set on another try at the world heavyweight title, was in 13 stories, and newcomer Shane Cameron, who came out the victim of a bloody bout with Las Vegas-based Nigerian Friday Ahunanya, was in 23.
Several high-profile people faced court.
Paul Holmes' daughter Millie, who was in the press after her arrest for drugs and receiving stolen goods - not to mention the new love interest - featured in 22 stories.
Brent Todd was sentenced to a year's home detention after pleading guilty to fraud charges and featured in 16 stories.
In the United States OJ Simpson, who released a book entitled If I Did It - a supposedly fictional account of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend - may finally do jail time after being arrested for armed robbery. He featured in 88 stories. Former music producer Phil Spector, famous for his "Wall of Sound" recording technique, faced trial for murder and featured in 126 stories. The jury was hung after 12 days.
Streaker, successful businessman and former All Black Marc Ellis stayed out of the courts last year after his earlier brush with the law over drug use, but was still in 35 stories. His TV buddy Matthew Ridge was in 13.
- NZPA
