Life before Lotto? Not for 18-year-olds

In the world of those starting university this year, New Zealand has always been nuclear-free, unleaded petrol has always been available and there was never a time when "cut and paste" involved scissors.

A 2006 "mindset" study shows that, for today's 18- and 19-year-olds, Americans have always been dying in Iraq, parents have always been afraid to let their children walk to school and New Zealanders have always played Lotto.

Created by academics at Massey University, the 2006 New Zealand Mindset List is a cultural snap-shot of people born in 1987 - most of the first-year university intake.

The study illustrates the world in which the students have grown up - not their beliefs - and is designed to help lecturers understand the historical, social and economic mindset of their students.

"Their mindset is different and we need to be aware of this in our teaching and our interaction with them," said Professor Dennis Viehland, leader of the team behind the study.

"Our students have grown up in a world different from our own."

Most items in the list reflect New Zealand events, such as the nuclear-free law and the inaugural Rugby World Cup. But there are also items derived from global events, such as the first military coup in Fiji and the beginning of American and Soviet disarmament.

The idea came from a similar list published annually by Beloit College in Wisconsin, focused on US events.

The New Zealand version includes items such as: posting a letter has always cost at least 40c, swimming pools have always been fenced and there has always been a TV3.

Professor Viehland said it was particularly useful, as many members of the team were not in New Zealand in 1987 - something common among university staff.


The new student world

* Parents have always talked about the stock market crash.
* There has always been a TV3.
* Property has always been a better investment than shares.
* Voicemail has always been available.
* New Zealanders have always been buying cheap used cars from Japan.
* There have always been plans for a tunnel under Auckland harbour.
* "Cut and paste" has never involved scissors.
* New Zealand has always been nuclear-free.
* Bill Gates has always been worth at least $1 billion.
* Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over has always been a hit.