The Time Someone Actually Tried to Sell New Zealand on eBay

In May 2006, Isaac Butterfield from Newcastle, Australia, decided to do something absolutely bonkers: he listed the entire country of New Zealand for sale on eBay. Not a piece of land in New Zealand. Not a New Zealand souvenir. The whole damn country.

The starting bid? A single cent. One Australian cent.

Somehow, this ridiculous listing didn't get immediately flagged. It stayed up long enough to attract about 6,000 curious onlookers and 22 actual bidders who were apparently in on the joke—or genuinely confused about how international real estate works. The price climbed steadily until it hit $3,000 AUD, at which point eBay's managers finally noticed and pulled the plug.

Why eBay Said "Yeah, Nah"

Daniel Feiler, a spokesman for eBay Australia, had to issue what must have been a delightfully awkward statement: "Clearly New Zealand is not for sale." He explained that while eBay occasionally allows quirky and unusual listings, they draw the line at items that cannot legitimately be sold. Apparently, sovereign nations fall into that category. Who knew?

The listing violated eBay's policy against selling things you don't actually own or have the right to sell. Revolutionary concept, really.

The Man Behind the Madness

Isaac Butterfield wasn't just some random prankster—he's now a professional comedian known for, among other things, relentlessly making fun of New Zealand. This eBay stunt was basically the opening act of his comedy career. In 2019, over a decade later, he tried to revive the gag on other platforms after eBay's killjoy policies ruined his fun the first time around.

The whole incident perfectly captures the early-to-mid 2000s internet: a lawless frontier where someone could almost sell a country before anyone with authority noticed.

The Trans-Tasman Rivalry Lives On

For context, Australia and New Zealand have a long-standing sibling rivalry. Australians love to mock New Zealand (sheep jokes are a national pastime), and New Zealanders return the favor by pointing out that their country is objectively more beautiful and didn't lose a war to emus.

Butterfield's auction was peak Australia-New Zealand banter. It's the equivalent of trying to sell your neighbor's house on Craigslist because their lawn gnome collection is an eyesore. Except the neighbor is an entire nation of 5 million people.

The bottom line: For a brief, glorious moment in 2006, New Zealand was worth exactly $3,000 AUD on the open market. The Kiwis have never let Australia forget it.