Thanks for the comment Chris Roberts. We all need to be reminded of history at times.
I was one of those investors in the original float of NZO in 1981. I have never regretted it. The oil floats at the time were where the action was - Petro Taranaki, Horizon etc - and they were highly sought after. I think the orginal maximum NZOG allocation (highly scaled back) was 400 shares for the mum-and-dad investors.
I've never sold a NZO share and between my wife and I have now built up what is a large number for us over the intervening thirty years. I'm way ahead, and think the company and its staff have done well for all shareholders to be where they are in 2010. I am always an optimist when a well is being drilled, but realistic enough to know that they don't always deliver. I never complain at the result - smarter people than me have chosen the target - if I didn't like it I'd move on.
I now see an exploration company become a long term producer. Tui excites, but Kupe (and, yes, I remember when it was discovered) is what will put this company in a great position to be even greater - regular income for years to come. Whether NZO use it to pay dividends or find more oil or both - I'm happy to leave it to them to decide.
Be happy :-)