It's a small world after all, thanks to Shortland St

Shortland Street is at the centre of the universe. Sound ridiculous?

The popular "six degrees of separation" theory reckons everyone in the world is linked through just six people. But in New Zealand it could be more like two degrees.

That's the view of British social networks expert Professor Rob Allen, who moved here from England 18 months ago to become Dean of the Faculty of Applied Humanities at the Auckland University of Technology.

Normally, he would expect it to take years to build social networks, but within months of their arrival, he and his wife invited more than 60 people to their housewarming.

The speed at which they made friends made him realise New Zealanders were excellent networkers.

Our keen interest in sports, Auckland's cafe culture, and casual 'drop-in' lifestyle also encourages wide-ranging social networks, he said.

Six degrees of separation is a global measure, he said, "but here it seems more intense."

So does the theory work? Well, in New Zealand it seems all roads lead to Shortland Street.

Prime Minister Helen Clark achieves a double hit. She appeared in Shortland Street and attended the premieres of the Lord of The Rings movies with actor Karl Urban (also in Shortland Street). He was in the Chronicles of Riddick with Vin Diesel, who was in The Boiler Room with Kevin Bacon, who directed Sandra Bullock in Loverboy, who was in Speed 2 with Temerua Morrision, who was in Shortland Street.

Theory proven.