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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/22/new-zealand-six-degrees-of-separation-experiment-reaches-pm-jacinda-ardern
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| New Zealand 'six degrees of separation' experiment reaches PM Jacinda Ardern | New Zealand 'six degrees of separation' experiment reaches PM Jacinda Ardern |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Prime minister receives 18 letters from school children whose messages were only allowed to pass through a maximum of five sets of hands | Prime minister receives 18 letters from school children whose messages were only allowed to pass through a maximum of five sets of hands |
| Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin | Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin |
| Mon 22 Jan 2018 01.51 GMT | Mon 22 Jan 2018 01.51 GMT |
| Last modified on Tue 23 Jan 2018 00.25 GMT | |
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| A New Zealand school experiment to prove the six degrees of separation theory has outdone itself by getting 18 letters hand-delivered to the prime minister using only personal contacts. | A New Zealand school experiment to prove the six degrees of separation theory has outdone itself by getting 18 letters hand-delivered to the prime minister using only personal contacts. |
| Jacinda Ardern posted a picture of one of the letters she has received via the experiment, which found its way to her by being passed on through fellow New Zealanders. | Jacinda Ardern posted a picture of one of the letters she has received via the experiment, which found its way to her by being passed on through fellow New Zealanders. |
| The experiment stipulates that a maximum of five people can aid in passing the letter on, but with New Zealand’s population of just 4.7 million, Ardern said it took far fewer than five people for the letters to reach her. | The experiment stipulates that a maximum of five people can aid in passing the letter on, but with New Zealand’s population of just 4.7 million, Ardern said it took far fewer than five people for the letters to reach her. |
| “Hello Jacinta Ardern,” the letter to the prime minister read, slightly mispelling her name. | “Hello Jacinta Ardern,” the letter to the prime minister read, slightly mispelling her name. |
| “If you’re reading this it means our experiment has worked. We are testing how connected New Zealanders are, regardless of their place in the world. To reach you this letter has passed through only the hands of people who know each other.” | “If you’re reading this it means our experiment has worked. We are testing how connected New Zealanders are, regardless of their place in the world. To reach you this letter has passed through only the hands of people who know each other.” |
| The prime minister’s office said Ardern had so far received 18 letters and had replied to each one. Most of the letters asked questions about what it was like to lead the country and what she liked best about her job. | The prime minister’s office said Ardern had so far received 18 letters and had replied to each one. Most of the letters asked questions about what it was like to lead the country and what she liked best about her job. |
| The furthest a letter had travelled was more than 1,000km to Parliament House in Wellington from Tokanui at the bottom of the South Island and home to less than 200 people. | The furthest a letter had travelled was more than 1,000km to Parliament House in Wellington from Tokanui at the bottom of the South Island and home to less than 200 people. |
| Sarah Austen-Smith, Ardern’s press secretary, said a number of students had their letters to the PM passed on via the same connections. | Sarah Austen-Smith, Ardern’s press secretary, said a number of students had their letters to the PM passed on via the same connections. |
| “One student’s uncle works for the prime minister and several students came via the prime minister’s old school teacher,” said Austen-Smith. | “One student’s uncle works for the prime minister and several students came via the prime minister’s old school teacher,” said Austen-Smith. |
| “And one student came via the deputy prime minister [Winston Peters] – a wonderful demonstration of how close-knit Kiwi communities can be!” | “And one student came via the deputy prime minister [Winston Peters] – a wonderful demonstration of how close-knit Kiwi communities can be!” |
| Rebecca Smith, the director of New Zealand Story which organises the experiment, said it was designed to demonstrate how accessible even the most successful New Zealand men and women could be. It also aimed to encourage children to “pursue your dreams no matter where you’re from”. | Rebecca Smith, the director of New Zealand Story which organises the experiment, said it was designed to demonstrate how accessible even the most successful New Zealand men and women could be. It also aimed to encourage children to “pursue your dreams no matter where you’re from”. |
| “Kids are realising that the six degrees of separation is real for them, and that with a little effort you can connect to whomever you need or want to,” said Smith. | “Kids are realising that the six degrees of separation is real for them, and that with a little effort you can connect to whomever you need or want to,” said Smith. |
| “This is a very unique trait of New Zealanders – we simply know how to get in touch with people from all over the world through our super connectivity.” | “This is a very unique trait of New Zealanders – we simply know how to get in touch with people from all over the world through our super connectivity.” |
| Smith said one student had got a letter to the singer Lorde, while others reached the Wellington mayor Justin Lester, the professional footballer Chris Wood and the fashion designer Trelise Cooper. | Smith said one student had got a letter to the singer Lorde, while others reached the Wellington mayor Justin Lester, the professional footballer Chris Wood and the fashion designer Trelise Cooper. |
| Jacinda Ardern | Jacinda Ardern |
| New Zealand | New Zealand |
| Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
| news | news |
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