Most making plans for Y2K

By ADAM GIFFORD

A public education campaign the Government did not want is proving the key factor in preparing the country for January 1, 2000.

The Y2K Readiness Commission has found 75 per cent of people are preparing for possible interruptions caused by the Y2K computer bug.

Already 55 per cent have made plans and a further 19 per cent say they will do so before the year ends.

The commission's chief executive, Clare Pinder, said that similar surveys overseas showed people were not as aware.

"When you put it in context, historically only 10 to 15 per cent of New Zealanders are prepared for natural disaster," she said.

"The result shows our campaigns have been effective in getting people to prepare for Y2K and [have] also been reassuring for them."

She said 92 per cent of the sample said they were aware of the campaign when prompted, and 71 mentioned the campaign unprompted, "which is very high for our media spend."

The commission has spent $723,000 on television advertising out of the $2.5 million it won for the public information campaign after persuading the Government not to turn down the Y2K Taskforce's recommendation for such a campaign.

"The commission believed it was the public's right to know any known risks and how to prepare for them," Clare Pinder said.

The survey shows the well-prepared are laying in torches, food, first aid kits, something to cook on, personal medication, battery-operated radios, spare batteries, pet food and stored water.

Fears they might also stockpile cash are fading. The Reserve Bank will have almost twice as much currency as usual in circulation, but it would still be stretched if everyone decided to empty their accounts.

A spokesman for the Bankers Association, Colin MacDonald, said customer surveys by several banks indicated "people are saying they won't take out more than they usually would for a long weekend."

Most people are more confident that essential services such as utilities and banks will continue to function than at previous surveys.