Japanese Adopt New Zealand Lambs - Cyber Style

Media release

Friday 26 October 2001

Japanese adopt New Zealand lambs - cyber style

Up to 100 lambs from the Buller district in New Zealand are set to become cybercitizens complete with personal domain names and web sites as Japanese school children go on-line to adopt their own New Zealand pet lambs over the Internet.

The Pdom LambsOnline project is a joint venture between the Amagase District Council in Japan, the Buller District Council and St Canices School in Westport, New Zealand and www.Pdom.com a global personal domain name and personal website company.

Fluffy.co.nz, Poppy.co.nz, Lambchop.co.nz and Bunter.co.nz, are just some of the domain names Pdom has registered for the lambs 'adopted' by Japanese school children, and 'fostered' by eleven-year-old school children from St Canices primary school in Westport.

Buller District Council Economic Development Officer, Garry Howard, said the idea first arose when a delegation of visiting Japanese, including the Mayor of Amagase City, said they would be interested in adopting New Zealand lambs.

"The idea has taken off with the help of Pdom who have registered the domain names and built a personal web site for each lamb. Using the Internet, school children from Amagase can check the progress of their lambs as often as they like by using email or visiting the lambs' web sites at (www.lambsonline.co.nz).

"Emails will be cleared and responded to (on behalf of the lambs) by Form One pupils from St Canices, who will also update the lamb web site with pictures and information. The children will be able to interact directly in Japanese and English with each other with the help of translators. I guess this is the modern day take on being a pen pal!"

Dan Moloney, St Canices' Principal believes the lambs online programme offers the children a unique educational opportunity.

"The children are on a pretty steep learning curve. As well as learning about personal domain names, personal websites and the Internet, they will build relationships with their peers in a Japanese school and develop a better understanding of each other's cultures. At St Canices we will also be using this opportunity to teach some Japanese to our students. All this and at the same time we are promoting the Buller region and New Zealand to the world."

Pdom CEO Robert Wiles said the www.lambsonline.co.nz provides children with an innovative opportunity to gain a greater understanding of how the Internet impacts on people's lives.

"Pdom makes global communication between people instant and easy with a personal web site and email address on the internet.

"Pdom's focus is helping people secure their very own Internet identity. Research shows that within three years more than 50 million people will have secured their own Internet domain name eg www.KennethHoran.com, and they will use this address for their personal email address and ultimately a personal website. A personal website or 'cyber identity' is still a
relatively new concept but within the next few years most people will have one. Pdom is the only global Internet company to focus on personal domain names and personal web sites."

As for registering pet names in Cyberspace, Wiles says he does not know how many enthusiastic owners have indulged their pets with this latest accessory, but claims pet websites are becoming increasingly popular. However, when it comes to children, "What is clearly apparent is that many parents are registering personal domain names based on the names of their children to secure their children's future Net identity."

A trade delegation from the Buller District Council leaves for Amagase City on Saturday 29 October where they will launch the foster lamb project at the Amagase Flower Festival.

Ends

For more information contact:

Pdom:

Jo Coughlan, VP Public Relations 021 522 142

or Robert Wiles, CEO

04 470 7835 St Canices:

Dan Moloney, Principal

03 789 7467 Buller District Council:

Garry Howard

03 789 7239

© Scoop Media