The Govt has announced with a fanfare that "free to air digital tv" will be available sometime next year despite the fact this has already been available for a number of years as long as you have the right set-top-box. The box is the big trap which people may fall into and a factor which early adopters of technology may need to examine before leaping into a purchase.
I live in a remote area which can only receive satellite signals. We've chosen to go with Sky rather than use a free to air decoder. The main drawback is that you cannot record and watch at the same time. Even more limiting is the fact our radio signals are received through the same decoder as well. The only solution is to either rent another decoder or use the Sky My TV set top box which has two decoders incorporated into it. The cost of this box is $600 and is purportedly being sold at near cost.
Existing "free to air" decoders have only 1 decoder channel which is fine as long as you have a normal TV aerial to pick up the present analogue signal to enable you to record and watch another programme at the same time. The limitations of those boxes will not become apparent until the broadcasters turn off the analogue signal and you will be faced with either having to buy a second decoder or upgrade to a multi channel decoder which no doubt by that time will be readily available.
Be wary of the hype and it may pay to sit back and examine the functonality of the equipment available before leaping into a set-top purchase. As we are well behind other countries in adopting this technology, there is no doubt a lot of outdated hardware ready to be off-loaded on to our shores. You could end up with some expensive fishing sinkers on top of your tele!

I agree with country-dweller, wait. Technology is evolving at aspeed, there are major updates in the hardware and the software every six months.
The "My-TV" box was six months later than the original advertised availability, never rush into new stuff. The old adage, when the version number is greater than the programme release number most of its bugs have been ironed out and the price is about right. The rpice of teh new digital box is a one off, but wether the channels are worth it yet is any ones guess. Sky gives me what I want including concert radio, to a remote area with very poor coverage. The unwatchable still exists in a ration greater then the watchable, its the number of choices that makes the difference. Most days.

I have just posted a contribution under the DIY section on , to give some indication of what viewing choices are available now as free-to-air from half a dozen satellites. There are thousands of satellite receivers in use in New Zealand already, with choices of excellent picture quality programmes and news.
We hope that TVNZ/BCL will come up with the goods next year of several new free channels, to add to what we can view right now.
A DVD/Hard Drive recorder is useful for recording programmes at unusual times.

This is a bit off the subject of NZ TV, but if you are curious, have time to spare, and a reasonable internet connection, check out http://wwitv.com/. There is nothing to install, just click on the link and you have access to 1845 TV channels from every corner of the globe.
Interesting

Interesting site, but as I would be crippled by my broadband data cap, wouldn't be able to watch much of it.

Hi rowal
Just buzzed into said site,Tis very interesting.Parliament will be up and running next Tuesday,for those who wish to check it out.I will be,to see more hows your father antics.

Hi,
Has anyone experienced this problem?
My computer wont print a page when in e-mail program but it will print out ok in all the other programs on my computer.
Quirkey little things computers.

You would be better to start a new discussion, it will be noticed more, call it 'Printing Problem' or the like.
I often print emails so it should work.