THAT EXTRA PACKET OF HOT CROSS BUNS MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU CROSS OFF YOUR SHOPPING LIST BECAUSE LIKE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, THE PRICE IS WELL UP ON LAST YEAR. SO WHAT'S GOT THE TRADITIONAL EASTER TREAT MAKING SUCH A HOLE IN YOUR WALLET? LAST EASTER, WE DID A SEGMENT ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL HOT CROSS BUN VARIETIES. I'M A SUCKER FOR THE TRADITIONAL. BECAUSE WHETHER THEY TASTE TRADITIONAL OR NOT, FLAVOUR ISN'T THE MAIN HOT CROSS CONCERN TODAY. COST IS. INDIVIDUALLY BOUGHT HOMEBRAND SUPERMARKET BUNS ARE $3 EACH, AND GOURMET BAKES AS MUCH AS $6.50 APIECE. YES, HOT CROSS BUNS ARE A SIGN OF TIGHT ECONOMIC TIMES. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE BUNS ` IT'S THE BUTTER AND EASTER CHOCOLATE TOO. AND IT'S NOT ONLY HERE ` IT'S OVERSEAS AS WELL. BUT WHERE AND HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? AND ECONOMIST SHAMUBEEL EAQUB IS HERE NOW. GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, SHAMUBEEL. NOW WE KNOW WE'RE IN A RECESSION. ARE PRICE RISES LIKE THIS PART AND PARCEL OF THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS? LOOK, THE CURRENT RECESSION IS UNUSUAL. NORMALLY, WHEN THINGS ARE SLOWING, WE TEND TO SEE PRICES COMING DOWN. THERE IS MORE DISCOUNTING. BUT THESE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN REALLY UNUSUAL. WE'VE SEEN BIG INCREASES IN PRICES ` ALMOST EVERYTHING. AND A LOT OF IT'S BEEN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN GLOBAL IN NATURE. ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, SHOCKS FROM THE PANDEMIC, THE WAR IN UKRAINE, ALL THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE MIDDLE EAST. THAT'S ALL FED INTO QUITE A LOT OF THE INFLATION THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BIG SURGE IN INFLATION IS FADING. IT'S NOT QUITE OVER YET. BY NEXT EASTER, I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT INFLATION IS NOT THAT BIG A PROBLEM ANY MORE. WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE AFFECTING PRICES RIGHT NOW? SOMETIMES, THEY'RE QUITE SPECIAL THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, INSURANCE PRICES HAVE JUST SKYROCKETED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING GLOBALLY, BUT BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE ` OUR FLOODS, OUR CYCLONES ` THOSE THINGS HAVE INCREASED INSURANCE LOSSES, AND THAT'S INCREASING INSURANCE PRICES. PEOPLE ARE, OF COURSE, PAYING MUCH HIGHER MORTGAGE RATES. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ABOUT $200b OF MORTGAGES REFINANCING THIS YEAR ALONE, AND IT'S GONNA HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO, YOU KNOW, THESE COST SHOCKS ARE AFFECTING DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AND IF I CAN URGE ONE THING ` YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE OUR FRIENDS, IT'S GONNA BE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR NEIGHBOURS WHO ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THIS STUFF. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR EACH OTHER. THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH TIME FOR SOME PEOPLE. OK, LET'S TALK BROADER ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. AND THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S LIPS ` MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES. DO YOU THINK THEY'RE FINALLY PEAKED? WELL I DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE MUCH CHEAPER, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'LL BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. SO WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD PRICES, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THESE BIG INCREASES IN FOOD PRICES. BUT I THINK OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, WE'LL SEE A SIDEWAYS MOVEMENT. I BELIEVE MORTGAGE RATES HAVE PEAKED. AROUND THE WORLD. WE'RE SEEING CENTRAL BANKS SAYING INFLATION IS MODERATING. THINGS ARE GENERALLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT'S TOO SOON, BUT VERY SOON, WE WILL BE CUTTING INTEREST RATES. SO MY EXPECTATION IS MORTGAGE RATES WILL SLOWLY DRIFT LOWER. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO 2.5%, BUT PLAN FOR 5.5.% OR 6%. SO DO YOU THINK THOSE RATES MIGHT COME DOWN IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, OR ARE WE TALKING SIX TO 12 MONTHS? LOOK, MORTGAGE RATES ARE ALREADY EDGING DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE THAT FEAR OF HIKES IS GONE. BUT THE RATE CUTS ARE NOT QUITE HERE YET. SO I EXPECT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE'LL START TO SEE MORTGAGE RATES EASING BACK. ARE OTHER COMPARABLE COUNTRIES FEELING THE SAME PINCH AS WE ARE? LOOK, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THIS IS A GLOBAL INFLATION SHOCK. AND THIS IS A GLOBAL INTEREST RATE SHOCK. AND THEY'RE ALL KIND OF MOVING UP AND DOWN IN SIMILAR KIND OF TIME FRAMES. SO THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIA. SAME THING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE UK. THE SAME THING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE U.S. SO WE'RE NOT ALONE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY MUCH COMFORT. WHEN IT HURTS, WHEN YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS GO UP, WHEN YOU CAN'T PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE ` THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY QUITE DIFFICULT. SO, YES, IT'S NOT US ALONE, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE FELT INDIVIDUALLY. THANKS SO MUCH, SHAMUBEEL. GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. THANKS, HILARY. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER, TOM CLARKE AND LELE SIMEON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TODAY IS MY FIFTH FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR ` INTERNATIONAL CHEESE DAY. IT'S A DAY TO CELEBRATE ALL THAT'S GOOD ABOUT EATING MOULD. IT'S ALSO A DAY TO CELEBRATE NEW ZEALAND'S AWARD-WINNING CHEESEMAKERS, LIKE CATHY LANG, WHO TURNS TARANAKI MILK INTO TASTY TREATS. HERE'S CAROLYN ROBINSON. (BRIGHT MUSIC) ELTHAM IS A TOWN OF FIRSTS. IT WAS THE FIRST TO EXPORT BUTTER, HAD THE FIRST CONCRETE POWER POLE, AND THE COUNTRY'S FIRST TAR-SEALED ROAD. IT'S A REAL LITTLE HIDDEN GEM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN. SO IT'S NO WONDER IT'S HAD PLENTY OF FIRSTS WITH ITS CHEESE TOO. KAPITI KIKORANGI BLUE ` THAT'S THE KING OF OUR BLUE CHEESES, REALLY. IT'S CONTINUOUSLY WINNING AWARDS IN NEW ZEALAND AND OVERSEAS. CATHY LANG IS THE BIG CHEESE. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED WITH MOULDS AND FUNGI (CHUCKLES) AND THINGS RIGHT FROM BEING SMALL, REALLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST REMARKABLE. ALL THEY ARE REALLY IS TINY WEE MUSHROOMS GROWING ON YOUR CHEESE, AND THEY'RE HELPING TO BREAK DOWN THE PROTEIN IN THE CHEESE AND FLAVOUR IT. UNDER HER CAREFUL WATCH AND KEEN NOSE, THIS FACTORY'S TURNING OUT ALL MANNER OF CREAMY GOODNESS. THIS IS A WHITE MOULD CHILLER OR MATURATION ROOM, AND IT TAKES ABOUT NINE TO 10 DAYS FOR THE MOULD TO GROW AND COVER THE WHOLE CHEESE. IT'S KIND OF A MIXTURE OF BOTH SCIENCE AND A CRAFT. SO YOU'RE RELYING ON BACTERIA AND ENZYMES AND MOULDS AND THINGS TO DO THEIR JOB IN THE MILK. BUT YOU'RE ALSO RELYING ON A CRAFT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD. (REFLECTIVE MUSIC) THE BRIDGE STREET CREAMERY HAS BEEN GOING SINCE 1919. IN THE '50S, IT BEGAN MAKING SPECIALITY CHEESES, NOTCHING UP ANOTHER FIRST ` NEW ZEALAND BLUE CHEESE. WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS JUST RUBBING OFF THE MOULD THAT'S GROWING ON THE SURFACE SO IT DOESN'T GET TOO THICK AND FURRY. SO NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. IT'S ALL PART OF A NATURAL PROCESS. UP TO 60,000 LITRES OF FARM-FRESH MILK IS DELIVERED HERE EACH DAY. THE MILK IS COMING PROBABLY LESS THAN 30 MINUTES AWAY, YOU KNOW? SO THE TANKER WILL STOP AT VARIOUS FARMS AROUND THIS AREA HERE AND JUST DELIVER US FRESH MILK, WHICH IS REALLY AMAZING BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A CHEESEMAKER, WHAT YOU WANT IS FRESH MILK FROM PASTURE-FED COWS. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER VITAL COMPONENT, ONE THAT'S MADE A MUCH LONGER JOURNEY. THIS IS THE FAMOUS SOUTHLAND BLUE MOULD... WHICH IS GROWN ON YARROWS BREAD. IT'S PENICILLIN ROQUEFORT, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY FROM FRANCE, WHICH THEY FOUND IN THE CAVES HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO. SO WE'VE BEEN GROWING OUR PARTICULAR STRAIN SINCE 1951. THAT'S PROBABLY OUR UNIQUE SELLING POINT, REALLY, IS THAT WE'RE GROWING UP OUR OWN VARIETY OF BLUE MOULD HERE. IT'S SO IMPORTANT, THERE'S PROVISION IN CASE IT SHOULD DISAPPEAR. WE DO HAVE A MOTHER CULTURE SITTING AT PALMERSTON NORTH JUST IN CASE THAT HAPPENS. IT'S WORTH PROTECTING. THEIR BLUE CHEESE IS THE MOST AWARDED CHEESE IN THE COUNTRY AND BEEN JUDGED SECOND BEST IN THE WORLD. THAT CHEESE KNOCKED EVERYBODY OUT OF THE PARK. THEY JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN AMAZING CHEESE ` NEVER TASTED ANYTHING LIKE IT. AND TO MARK INTERNATIONAL CHEESE DAY, THERE'S SOME MORE GOOD NEWS FOR ELTHAM. THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER TROPHY CABINET. WE'VE JUST HEARD THAT WE'VE GOT TWO GOLDS FOR KIKORANGI BLUE, AND WE'VE GOT GOLDS FOR OUR NEW MAINLAND SPECIAL RESERVE CHILLI AND GARLIC BRIE, WHICH IS A BRAND NEW CHEESE THAT WE JUST CREATED RECENTLY. NOT TO BE CHEESY, BUT CATHY SAYS BRIDGE STREET IS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, OUR FACTORY IS FULL OF COMMUNITY ` PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY OF ELTHAM, SO IT'S MADE BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED HERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS. 140 OF THEM MAKE THEIR LIVING HERE, BUT THE WHOLE REGION ENJOYS THE PERKS. WE HAVE LOTS OF CHEESE THERE FOR SALE, SO YOU ALWAYS FIND A GOOD BARGAIN. HAVE A GOOD DAY. RIGHT, THANK YOU. THANKS, BYE. AND THOUGH IT MIGHT BE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, IT'S IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT SPOT. TARANAKI IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES FOR DAIRY FARMS IN NEW ZEALAND, AND IT'S REALLY THE RICH PASTURE THAT GROWS ON THE VOLCANIC SOILS HERE AND THE COASTAL PLAINS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAND AND THE ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE. LITTLE OLD ELTHAM, EH? YEAH. AMAZING ISN'T IT? YEAH. I STILL STOP PEOPLE IN THE SUPERMARKET, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAYING, 'I WANT TO BUY A LOCAL CHEESE' AND THEY MIGHT BE PICKING UP A KAPITI CHEESE, I TELL THEM, 'WELL, IT IS LOCAL. IT'S JUST MADE DOWN THE ROAD.' ELTHAM ` THE LITTLE TOWN OF FIRSTS. SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF HERE. THERE YOU GO. YOU HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING TONIGHT. KAPITI AND MAINLAND SOFT CHEESES ARE NOT MADE IN KAPITI OR ON THE MAINLAND. THEY'RE HAND-CRAFTED AT THE ELTHAM SITE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN BRENT CHEESE BEFORE EITHER. THAT IS THE WAX. THE CHEESE IS INSIDE. HOW DOES A TASTE? NOT VERY NICE. NOW, WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE SOMETHING GREAT AND DESERVE A BIT OF RECOGNITION, AND THAT'S WHY WE PARTNER WITH ASB TO BRING YOU GOOD AS GOLD. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE DOING SELFLESS THINGS FOR OTHERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? SHE'S REALLY LOOKED AFTER PEOPLE ALL HER LIFE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE KNOWS JUST HOW APPRECIATED HE IS. OR MAYBE THEY'VE HAD A TOUGH TIME AND DESERVE A TREAT. ON BEHALF OF ASB... ...WE'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU $10,000. WELL, WHY NOT NOMINATE THEM FOR OUR ASB GOOD AS GOLD AWARD? UNREAL. GO TO asbgoodasgold.co.nz AND TELL US THEIR STORY. # I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU. # FOR GOODNESS SAKE. I CAN'T GET IT OFF MY TEETH. E WHAI AKE NEI ` COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE UNEXPECTED HERO SAVING OUR KIWI. PLUS, THE COMPETITION THAT PUSHES OUR SOLDIERS TO THEIR ABSOLUTE LIMITS IN JUST A MOMENT. NAU MAI HOKI MAI. WELCOME BACK. NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. IN THE CONSTANT FIGHT TO SAVE OUR NATIONAL BIRD, THERE'S A NEW FACILITY THAT'S GIVING NUMBERS A HUGE BOOST. THE NATIONAL KIWI HATCHERY'S NEW HOME WILL GIVE BABY KIWI A PLACE TO PREPARE FOR A LIFE WITH PREDATORS. LUCAS DE JONG HAS MORE. IT'S THE BIGGEST OPERATION OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD. A NEW CUSTOM-BUILT FACILITY WITH A TEAM DEDICATED TO OUR NATIONAL BIRD. KIWI HERE ARE GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. THEY JUST WIND YOU INTO THEIR LITTLE HEARTS. THEIR LEADER IS EMMA. WE CALL HER 'THE BEAN'. IF YOU SPEAK OF THE BEAN, SHE'S ONE OF A KIND. EYES AND EARS ARE LOOKING GREAT. WHISPERS: SO HE'S REALLY USING THOSE SENSORY PITS AT THE TIP OF HIS BILL. BY VISITING US, YOU ARE ACTUALLY HELPING SAVE KIWI. IF SOMETHING SOUNDS OFF, IT'S PROBABLY THAT THIS KIWI-LOVING CONSERVATIONIST... WHEN YOU START WORKING WITH THESE BIRDS, THEY GET IN YOUR BLOOD. ...ISN'T A KIWI AT ALL. BACK IN 2007, I WAS LIKE YOU GUYS, AND SO WHEN I HOST GROUPS, I ALWAYS PUT A CAVEAT ON IT THAT YOU MAY ALSO END UP NOT LEAVING THE COUNTRY AS WELL. HAD YOU EVER HEARD OF KIWI BEFORE YOU ARRIVED IN NEW ZEALAND? I DON'T THINK I HAD. NO IDEA? I DON'T THINK SO. I, UM... TURNED UP ON THE SHORES OF NEW ZEALAND THINKING THAT I'D JUST BE HERE FOR THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAD MY VISITOR VISA AND, UM... WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO START VOLUNTEERING WITH KIWI. WITHIN THREE MONTHS, SHE WAS AT THE HATCHERY. (WHISTLES) AND SHE NEVER LEFT. YOU DIDN'T GIVE YOURSELF MUCH TIME TO TRY OTHER THINGS, DID YOU? (BOTH LAUGH) WELL, WHEN YOU FIND WHAT YOU LIKE, THEN, YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD YOU? 18 YEARS LATER, AND SHE'S NOW THE BRIT IN CHARGE OF IT ALL. WE CAN HAVE 30 OR MORE KIWI CHICKS IN THIS ROOM AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SEASON. 'TWO BOB' IS ONLY 8 DAYS OLD. WHISPERS: WE REALLY WANT TO GIVE THEM THE BEST START TO LIFE. THE NURSERY IS WHERE HE'LL TAKE HIS FIRST STEPS AND TRY FOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHISPERS: SO IT'S A BALANCING ACT OF KEEPING HIM INTERESTED AND ENCOURAGING HIM. BUT NOT PUTTING HIM OFF EITHER. WHISPERS: SO IT REALLY IS JUST LIKE A REAL BABY. (SOFT, POIGNANT MUSIC) I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN, BUT I GUESS THIS IS WHERE I HAVE THAT MATERNAL, UM, INSTINCT ABOUT IT. THEN THEY PREPARE FOR THE REAL WORLD... THERE'S HIS LITTLE WING. CLEAN IS AWESOME ` BEAUTIFUL. ...IN THE NEWLY COMPLETED KIWI ORCHARD. SO, THIS CHICK IS THE SIBLING OF OUR 2500TH CHICK. SO, 2500?! ANOTHER HUGE MILESTONE. SO SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, UM... WE'RE REALLY LUCKY. WE'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED THE THREAT STATUS OF KIWI. AND NOW THEY ARE, UM... CONSERVATION DEPENDENT. WE'RE ABLE TO STOP LIMITING THE NUMBERS OF EGGS THAT PROJECTS BRING TO US, YOU KNOW? WE'RE DOUBLING OUR HATCHING CAPACITY AT THE NEW LOCATION. FOR MUM AND DAD BEAN, HAVING A DAUGHTER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD MEANS HAVING THOUSANDS OF GRANDCHILDREN TO BE PROUD OF. DID YOU HAVE A MOMENT WHERE YOU REALLY KNEW THAT YOU'D LOST HER TO THE KIWI? MM, UM... I THINK PROBABLY SHORTLY AFTER SHE ARRIVED. (LAUGHS) WE CAME IN 2009. I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE REALISED THAT THIS WAS HER DESTINY, REALLY. IF THEY WERE A REALLY UGLY LITTLE THING YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW... YOU MIGHT HAVE GOT HER BACK EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. YES. SHE DID HAVE A TURKEY AT ONE TIME ` A PET TURKEY ` AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE UGLIEST THING GOING. THEY'VE ALWAYS SAID, 'FOLLOW YOUR HEART. 'DO A JOB THAT YOU LOVE. THAT'S ALL WE WANT FOR YOU.' IT'S BEEN NEARLY TWO DECADES OF LEARNING THAT SHE'LL SHARE WITH ANYONE WHO'LL LISTEN. IN THE WILD, ONLY 5% OF KIWI CHICKS MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD, WHEREAS BY KEEPING THE CHICKS SAFE WHEN THEY'RE MOST VULNERABLE, WE INCREASE THAT SURVIVAL TO 65%. THIS IS THE SIZE THAT WE WANT KIWI TO GROW TO. THAT'S STOAT-PROOF ` 1 KILO. DO YOU EVER FIND PEOPLE SAY NOT BEING A KIWI MAKES YOU LESS QUALIFIED TO BE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL KIWI HATCHERY? I GUESS... I MEAN, I KIND OF FORGET THAT I'VE GOT AN ACCENT AS WELL. (LAUGHS) SO IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A KIWI, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT NATIONALITY YOU ARE. WE SHOULD ALL BE SAVING KIWI. YOU KNOW? WE'VE GOT, UM, MYSELF A BRIT. WE'VE GOT, UM, GERMAN, FRENCH, SRI LANKAN, CANADIAN, UM, LOTS OF NATIONALITIES ON OUR TEAM. A VILLAGE STAFFED BY THE WORLD THAT'S SAVING A NATIONAL ICON. IT'S BEING PART OF THIS HUGE NATIONAL AND GENERATIONAL GOAL. WHAT'S THE NEXT 18 YEARS GOT IN STORE FOR US? 18 YEARS ` MORE THAN 2500 BIRDS AND A WOMAN WHO WAS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. THIS IS HOME FOR ME. I'M A` I'M A KIWI. I THINK YOU'VE EARNED IT. I THINK YOU'VE EARNED IT. (LAUGHS) YEAH. GREAT WORK. THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE'S 'SKILL AT ARMS' COMPETITION PUSHES SOLDIERS TO THEIR LIMIT. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS, THEY FOUGHT IT OUT IN WAIOURU. (EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE) IT'S CALLED THE OLD CHINESE CURSE ` 'MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES'. BUT WHATEVER THE TIMES MAY BRING US, OUR MILITARY IS GEARING UP FOR ACTION, THE SKILL AT ARMS. WHAT IS SKILL AT ARMS? IT'S A LOADED QUESTION, MATE. (LAUGHS) HAS IT BEEN GOING FOR EVER AND EVER? BEEN GOING SINCE THE FIRST WORLD WAR. (OFFICER SHOUTS ORDERS) (GUNFIRE) IF WE SUM IT ALL UP, IN 42 HOURS, THEY'VE WALKED CLOSE TO 40KM WITH CLOSE TO 30 KILOS TO 35 KILOS. IN THOSE 42 HOURS, THEY'VE DONE 13 HOUR-LONG STANDS; THEY'VE SURVIVED ON A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FOOD, OPERATIONAL RATION PACKS. ITS COLD, AND THEN IT GETS HOT, AND THEY HAVE TO MANAGE A WHOLE RAFT OF THINGS, RIGHT, THINGS WE DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IN EVERYDAY LIFE, BUT THESE ARE THE REALITIES THAT OUR SOLDIERS FACE. YOU WON ONE OF THESE ONCE RIGHT? MANY YEARS AGO AS A YOUNG BAGGY IN THE FIRST BATTALION, 1R, THEY CALLED IT. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE WITH MY TEAM-MATES, AND WE WON A 'SKILL AT ARMS'. YOU WERE TESTED. YOUR ABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY, WAS TESTED. YOU'RE ALL GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. YOU ALL, AT TIMES, WANT TO PULL IT OUT, BUT IT'S THAT MATESHIP. YOU WORK WITH EACH OTHER, YOU PUSH EACH OTHER TO GET THAT GOAL. (CURIOUS MUSIC) FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, THE NZDF HAS PRIORITISED PEACEKEEPING, HUMANITARIAN RELIEF ` RECENTLY COVID, CYCLONE GABRIELLE ` BUT THERE'S BEEN A PIVOT. DEFENCE DOCUMENTS RELEASED LATER LAST YEAR EMPHASISED THAT THE NZDF NEEDS TO BE 'COMBAT-READY'. ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR COMBAT? ABSOLUTELY, AND IT'S OUR CORE BUSINESS. KIA ORA. MY NAME IS COLONEL BEN BAGELY, COMMANDER OF THE FIRST NEW ZEALAND BRIGADE, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY HERE IN WAIOURU CONDUCTING A 'SKILL AT ARMS' COMPETITION. WE DO THIS TO CONTINUALLY STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE READY AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE COMBAT CAPABLE. BUT PEOPLE LEAP AT THE CHANCE, RIGHT, COS THERE'S A LOT OF CORPS PRIDE, THERE'S A LOT UNIT PRIDE. (ALL SHOUT ENCOURAGINGLY) COMPETITION STARTS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND ENDS VERY LATE AT NIGHT. (MACHINE-GUN FIRE) SO THEY'LL COME OUT TO A RANGE, AND SO SOME CLOSE-COMBAT SHOTTING WITH REAL GUNS, LIVE BULLETS, AND SO SOME CLOSE-COMBAT SHOOTING WITH REAL GUNS, LIVE BULLETS, AND THEY'LL ALMOST REPLICATE SOME OF THE SKILLS THEY LEARNT UNDER THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT. LIKE WHAT WE SAW TODAY? EXACTLY. LADS, WATCH AND SHOOT! THE TASK THEY'LL PERFORM IS A LIVE, SO THEY'LL BE USING LIVE WEAPONS LIVE AMMUNITION SECTION ASSAULT. FINDING THE ENEMY, LOCATING THE ENEMY, FIXING THE ENEMY AND DESTROYING THE ENEMY. WE'RE DOWN TO ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE GEOGRAPHICAL SPOTS IN NEW ZEALAND ` AND THAT'S THAT LAKE YOU JUST WENT IN. (UNEASY MUSIC) AH, YES, ABOUT THAT. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS. ITS COLD, AND COLD WEATHER IS A REAL THING. WHOO! YOU'LL BE USING YOUR PACK TO AID IN BUOYANCY TO MOVE ACROSS THE WATER. THE PACK WILL PROVIDE YOU COVER OR CONCEALMENT IF THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT'S NOT SO THAN ON YOUR SIDE. WHAT DO YOU RECKON THE TEMPERATURE IS RIGHT NOW? IT'S COLD. (BOTH LAUGH) IT'LL BE PROBABLY SOME OF THE COLDEST WATER YOU'VE EVER SWAM ONE OF THE QUIETEST REPORTERS I'VE EVER HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH. DID YOU GUYS EVER PANIC? NO, NEVER. OF COURSE WE DID. WE ALL PANICKED. WHEN YOU TRAIN IN THE ARMY, RIGHT, ITS ABOUT INOCULATING YOUR RESPONSES TO YOUR ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S THE TRUE VALUE OF TRAINING. I DID PANIC. YOU DIDN'T REALLY PANIC; YOU LISTENED. WE SAW YOU. WHEN WE SAID BREATHE AND COME OFF IT AND RELAX, YOU DID IT. YOU'RE SITTING IN THE WATER IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES, YOU GET IN IN THE WATER, YOUR BODY STARTS TO SHUT DOWN. THIS IS WHERE YOUR MENTALITY HAS TO CHANGE. YOU HAVE TO GET INTO SURVIVAL MODE. YOU CANT LET IT SHUT DOWN. JUST SIMPLE THINGS LIKE BREATHING TECHNIQUE, RELAXING. HEY, JULIAN! WHERE YOU GOING? AFTER THE FLOATATION, OUR SOLDIERS, OUR TEAMS, WILL GO TO THE WEAPONS TRAINING SIMULATION CENTRE AGAIN AND PERFORM TWO SIMULTANEOUS TASKS THAT REPRESENT, ONE, CALLING IN ARTILLERY ORDINANCE; AND TWO, DEFENDING THAT LOCATION THAT IS CALLING IN THE ORDINANCE. AND, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS... OUR JOB IS DANGEROUS. PEOPLE DO GET HURT, AND WE WANT TO LOOK AFTER THEM AS BEST AS WE CAN. WHERE YOU AT, REUBEN? (SCREAMS IN PAIN) YO, CAN YOU PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THAT ARM, MATE? I'M TRYING! JUST GONNA PUT A TOURNIQUET ON YOUR LEG. AT THE END OF THE COMPETITION, WE BRING THEM ALL INTO ONE LOCATION AND CONDUCT A FALLING PLATE SHOOT. IT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT IS. IT'S A RUNNING RACE WITH GUNS. (SIREN BLARES) I THINK, LIKE MOST OF THESE GUYS AND GIRLS, WHEN THEY DO IT, THEY'LL FEEL LIKE THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEMSELVES. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR TEAM, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE GOAL OF WINNING AND HOPING EVERYTHING ALIGNS. (BULLETS PING OFF METAL) NOT EVERYONE IN THE ARMY DOES SKILL AT ARMS, AND NOT EVERYONE FINISHES IT, EITHER. EVEN JUST FINISHING IT IS PURE ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE BEST VERSIONS OF OUR VERY, VERY BEST, ARMED WITH ALL THE TECHNICAL, PHYSICAL AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, MENTAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER THE WORLD DECIDES TO THROW AT US NEXT. I TOLD YOU JULIAN WOULD BE GOOD IN AN ARMY SITUATION. YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. HE CROSSED THE RIVER AND SURVIVED. WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT. ON THE SHOW TOMORROW, WE MEET STRATFORD'S SECRET WEAPON IN THE UPCOMING MASTERS GAMES IN TARANAKI.TO IT'S TABLE TENNIS PLAYER HAZEL (75), AND LOOK OUT, BECAUSE SHE'S GOT A NEW PADDLE. THOSE WERE OUR PEOPLE TODAY. THAT WAS SEVEN SHARP TONIGHT. 'CELEBRITY CHASE' IS UP NEXT. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. PO MARIE. CHEERIO. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER, TOM CLARKE AND LELE SIMEON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024