Prime minister receives 18 letters from school children whose messages were only allowed to pass through a maximum of five sets of hands

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

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.

One of the letters that reached the prime minister Photograph: Facebook, Jacinda Ardern

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.

“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.”

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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.

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.

“And one student came via the deputy prime minister [Winston Peters] – a wonderful demonstration of how close-knit Kiwi communities can be!”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper with a letter from school children. Photograph: Facebook, School Kit

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.

“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.