A NZ FRIEND SAID NZ PAPER RUNNING ADDS TO BE PREPARED..JUST CHECK THIS PAPER..HERE IN A STORY I FOUND..http://www.press.co.nz/1999/51/991220n13.htm

CHREES VIC

-- VICTOR (WORRIED@IN THE VALLY.COM), December 24, 1999

Answers

Yes, they're being "honest" with the public, with the message: Prepare for 3 days. What if it's more than 3 days?

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 24, 1999.

Months ago my husband and I bought a generator. I asked the vendor if there were increased sales due to Y2K. He said no, but he sold a lot to people who lived in rural areas who commonly experienced power outages. I think the Auckland power failure was a real wake up call for a lot of people. Quite a few people were able to go back "home" to rural farms and stay with family. Enough people got a taste of life without power that they seem to be a little more clued in. People in NZ seem to be generally better prepared, probably because of the "close to the farm" lifestyle. There has also been the "Ken the cockroach" campaign, and more recently large signs went up along a road near us saying "Prepared for Y2K?" with a # to call. Unfortunately, when I called the person seemed unaware of the signs and could only offer to send out the same brochure that was sent out with the "Ken" campaign. Messages do seem to mixed here, however, as in the US. On the one hand, info warning to prepare, on the other, the new MP saying she wasn't buying more baked beans and the media glossing over/downplaying Y2K failures. Of the places to be for Y2K, NZ is on my short list. Water collection tanks and septic systems are common outside of the city, and hopefully their oil refinery won't be out of service for too long. I'm very glad I'm not at home in the US right now.

-- pilotrn (pilotrn@hotmail.com), December 24, 1999.

pilotrn:

When you say "the 'Ken' campaign", would that be the same as "Ken the Cockroach"?? On this forum, we have also had a similar campain, except that our Ken tends to be so slimey it seems to resists all attempts to squish. Also is known for chirping latin.

BTW, do you mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), December 24, 1999.