MEDIA STATEMENT Y2k Commission
Good Work Pays Off - No significant problems for February 29 (Leap Year)
“It appears as if the good work undertaken by New Zealand organisations has paid off,” says Basil Logan, Chairman of the
Y2K Readiness Commission.
“No significant problems to computers or equipment relating to 29 February have been reported.”
February 29 was a date many experts thought might cause problems because computers might not recognise 2000 as a leap
year.
“The low level of incidents is not surprising,” Basil Logan, said. “We know that organisations tested for 29 February
when they undertook their initial testing for year 2000 computer problems and that work seems to have paid off. “
However, the Y2K Readiness Commission will monitor the situation again tomorrow, the first day of March, ” Mr. Logan
said.
“A minor problem has been reported by the banking sector as a result of the changeover of computer systems to the 29th
of February (leap year). The problem is not widespread and affects a few merchants using electronic banking transaction
systems. The banking sector is managing the issue and we have been advised that there is no impact on cardholders or
individual transactions.
“The Y2K Readiness Commission believes that date problems with computer systems and equipment are now unlikely to cause
many widespread problems. Any problems that do occur over the next 12 months are likely to be organisation specific and
capable of being handled by normal management processes, Mr. Logan said.
ENDS