Mark Prain, Christchurch’s Y2K Community Readiness Spokesperson, will launch the Y2K Community Action Study, a preparedness guide for community agencies and small businesses today at 12:30 in City Mall Ampitheatre.

The launch is part of a sausage sizzle promotion for Y2K Be Ready Kits and preparedness in the home. Sausages will be given away between 11am and 2pm at the amphitheatre in City Mall. A Y2K Be Ready Kit will be on display and members of the City Council’s Y2K Project team will be on hand to give advice about preparedness in the home.

The results of the study, undertaken by Mr Prain’s organisation Sustainable Cities, and the Canterbury Development Corporation, highlight the need for a co-operative, community response to the Y2K problem, says Mr Prain.

"The key finding of the study was that the issues are not so much technical as human. They are also most likely to be localised and insufficient in scale to mobilise a Civil Defence level of response. The onus therefore is on a community response strategy."

 A survey released by the Y2K Readiness Commission last week showed that an increasing number of people are preparing for Y2K and there is more understanding of the problem.

Christchurch City Council Y2K Project Manager John de Zwart says he hopes the increased understanding of the problem will encourage Y2K preparedness in the home.

"The message about preparedness in the home seems to be getting through. A Be Ready Kit is easy to assemble and does not need to be expensive. For those on a tight budget items can be bought individually between now and the end of the year."

The City Council’s essential services water and waste had been found Y2K ready by the Council and this verified by independent consultants over two months ago.

"We are confident that water and waste services are ready but because this is a problem never before encountered we have contingency plans to ensure minimal disruption to Council service provision if a problem does occur.

"However, people should not become complacent. It is important that every household have a Be Ready Kit by the end of the year," he said.

This promotion is bought to you by the Canterbury Y2K readiness team and is supported by the Canterbury Development Corporation, Sustainable Cities, the Canterbury Regional Council, the Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Dialogues and the Radio Network.

For further information

Michael Eng 9416 483

Acting Media Adviser 025 220 7248