A look back at 2009 for NZ's celebrities

Most shocking break-up: Ali Mau and Simon Dallow
It's not often that stalwart Kiwi couples (read: none involving Nikki Watson or Matthew Ridge) call it quits, so when Ali Mau and Simon Dallow announced they were over, Kiwi-land went into a state of shock. Being a wedding-ring stalker, I had noticed a few weeks earlier that Si wasn't rocking the bling on the nightly news and wondered just what was going on. Then came the announcement — the news-reading king and queen were O-V-E-R after a bunch of years, two kids and numerous women's mag covers. Sad stuff.

Best hole-digger: Paul Henry
You either love him or you hate him. Over the past year he has managed to offend everybody from Greenpeace worker Stephanie Mills, who he said had a moustache, to the IHC after he called singing star Susan Boyle "retarded". Sure he's arrogant and he refuses to apologise to anyone … ever … but I'm thinking there's a reason that TVNZ don't sack him. Hello good ratings.

Saddest dumping: Rachel Hunter
You really do have to feel for Rachel Hunter. She has been so unlucky in love since her split with Rod Stewart we thought she might actually make it down the aisle with Jarret Stoll (despite him being quite a bit younger than her). But when he walked out less than two months before the wedding and Rach had to e-mail guests saying the nuptials were off, we all threw up our hands and cried "men suck".

Most unexpected death: Shanti
So you flicked on the telly one day and Shortland Street's Shanti had a bout of the flu and an ectopic pregnancy — then she was dead. I thought I'd blinked and missed something. Usually they're a bit of a drawn-out process; you have a chance to prepare. Not this one. This one was in the middle of the week with no warning for people to My Sky the ep if they were out for tea. Poor Shanti. Where's the love?

Best ad: Instant Kiwi Mexi-Doug 'Get a Perm'
Sorry Fair Go, but the best ad absolutely has to go to the Instant Kiwi Mexi-Doug "Get a Perm" series. The ads got an immediate cult following which led to a Facebook group, a line of T-shirts and "instant" fame for Filipino-turned-Mexican actor Leand Macadaan … Plus they crack us up every time!

Most talked-about man: David Bain
NZ ground to a halt the day the David Bain verdict was announced. After months, no, years of speculation, appeal after appeal and a long and costly retrial, everyone wanted to know — did he do it? It was the biggest not guilty verdict of the year.

Biggest letdown: Tua vs Cameron
For all those who missioned it to Mystery Creek in Hamilton or stayed up glued to the TV, the David Tua vs Shane Cameron "Fight of the Century" was quite simply laaammmeee. Tua knocked out Cameron in the second round after 13 blows to the head and that was it, game over. Time to go home. More like the Fail of the Century.

Happiest moment: Stan Walker wins Australian Idol
Nothing makes a Kiwi happier than getting one over the Aussies so when our own Stan Walker took out the Australian Idol title, we couldn't help but smile (and smirk a little). Oh and Gin Wigmore and Ladyhawke are ours too, so don't get any ideas.