We need NZMac.com

Congratulations to Phil Roy, whose NZMac.com website has just celebrated 5 years of being an excellent focus for Mac activity in New Zealand.

Phil’s site provides forums, articles, links — a whole heap of stuff and is a real service to local Mac users. It’s well supported by people who use Macs, but it’s sad to hear that it’s not well supported by vendors, developers and others who you’d think want to reach Mac users. Phil explains in 2007 – The year two words took over:

There are two words that for me will forever sum up 2007 on the NZMac.com website. I know you’re probably expecting me to say something like iPhone and Leopard, but the two words I’m about to use couldn’t be any further from the Mac or Apple-related field. 2007 will always be about two words I never expected to utter on this site – Russian Porn!

It has been a heck of a year (more on the porn later) and an amazing struggle financially, with NZMac.com never coming closer to being closed down than it did this year. It’s disappointing that with the exception of the actual site users and a group of 4 regular advertisers on this site, NZMac.com gains little advertising or support within New Zealand from Mac-related companies. It also disappoints me that in order to develop a birthday event, I ultimately had to turn (with a couple of exceptions) to support from software companies overseas.

Phil goes on to explain how he’s had to move the site to ever more expensive servers, thanks to the porn merchants, and he pays the costs from his own pocket.

Earlier this year I purchased a coffee mug I didn’t need as a small expression of support. It turns out that mug is now my favourite.

With the birthday comes a survey, and an opportunity (for Kiwis) to win some most excellent prizes: 5th birthday site survey – Be in to win!:

NZMac.com is 5 years old today and kicks off the year with a site survey and a chance for you to get your hands on an incredible prize package worth hundreds of dollars, with 7 consolation prizes on offer also! The site survey and contest will stay open until midnight on January 31st, 2008. Only one entry per postal address. Those outside of New Zealand or those who do not wish to be considered for the prizes are most welcome to complete the survey anyway, as all feedback helps.

If you’re a New Zealand Mac user go visit NZMac.com, participate in the survey, buy from the vendors who support Phil’s (unpaid) work, buy your Mac gear through Phil’s Apple Store, and use the site to participate in the local Mac community. The benefit flows back to all of us.