American culture, then, does play a part in the lives of Eketahuna teens. You won't find a McDonalds or a Burger King here, but when the kids journey into the city, you can be assured that they'll make a beeline for the nearest American fast food outlet, to be followed by an immersion in Hollywood's latest entertainment offerings. Eketahuna has no movie theater, so a visit to the town's one video outlet is the only way to keep up with the latest movies. Music is also influenced by what's hot on the American scene. The local radio station pumps out of nearby Masterton and dishes up the familiar pop fare of Britney and company.
British pop is also really big.
One or two talented New Zealand bands manage to squeeze themselves onto the radio play list, too. Among rural teens, the most popular local bands are Stella and Zed. Teens in Eketahuna generally look toward the large cities when it comes to employment. After completing their school certificate examinations at around age 16, many will leave mom and dad and find accommodation in Wellington where they will attend Polytechnic or University. Careers of choice include information technology, journalism, and tourism.