Dunedin, Dunedin, The New-Minted Eden

Dunedin has taken to advertising itself in national publications. Unfortunately, the main message the ads convey is a rather striking note of desperation. Models with manic smiles earnestly testify as to their teensy commutes and to the glorious abundance of wildernessy goodness in which they find themselves.

It's all remarkably unconvincing. Dunedin isn't necessarily a terrible place to be (this ringing endorsement brought to you by an Aucklander), but any place trying so hard to persuade you of its all-around wonderfulness can only lead to assumptions in the opposite direction. Methinks the city doth protest too much.

Perhaps they'd be better off trying to strike another note altogether. How about "Dunedin. At Least It's Not Hamilton"?