CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013 DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF SEVEN SHARP, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. Welcome to Thursday. IF THERE WAS EVER A DAY TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY SPIRIT... A SPECIAL STORY FROM PUKEKOHE. I'VE NEVER SEEN THE COMMUNITY GET BEHIND SOMEONE AS THEY HAVE FOR ROBBIE. ALL: THIS IS FOR YOU, ROBBIE! ALL CHEER HERE FOR SPEEDSHOW. ALL THINGS FAST AND POWERFUL. HE TALKS ABOUT LIFE OUTSIDE RACE CARS STILL THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN ` GREG MURPHY LIVE. BIG PARTY. RED CARPET, BLACK TIES, WHITE TEETH. THE OPENING NIGHT AT THE NZ FILM FESTIVAL. I'm going to head down there now AS A MAJOR DOCO HITS THE SCREEN, DEAN BUTLER MEETS A GUY WHO'S A LITTLE BIT ADDICTED. WE ARE A BIT LIKE THOSE SMOKERS. YOU SAY, 'I KNOW I CAN DO THAT, COS I'VE QUIT SEVERAL TIMES.' IT'S THURSDAY NIGHT. WELCOME TO SEVEN SHARP. Nelson Mandela is 95 today. He's sitting up in bed. Today in South Africa is Mandela Day NO BETTER DAY TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY SPIRIT. THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. UPBEAT MUSIC THIS COULD BE A SAD STORY. IT IS A SAD STORY. WOMAN: EVERYBODY'S DOING A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE THAT LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFERENCE. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC BUT NO ONE, LEAST OF ALL HE, THE DAD AT THE CENTRE OF IT ALL, WANTS IT THAT WAY. BEAUTIFUL. SO, ENOUGH OF THE SOFT MUSIC. NEEDLE SCRATCHES THIS IS ROBBIE'S STORY. PUKEKOHE HILL SCHOOL... CHILDREN CHEER (CHEERS) THE OVERWHELMINGLY GOOD... THE WAY ROBBIE APPROACHES LIFE IS GUTSY. ...BORN OUT OF ` AND LET'S NOT DWELL ON IT TOO MUCH ` THE OVERWHELMINGLY BAD. YOU PROBABLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME AND MY FAMILY. IN THE SAME WAY AS ROBBIE RITCHIE'S JUST STARTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH HE MEANS TO THEM ` THOSE IN HIS COMMUNITY. IT'S SIMPLY TO JUST HELP ROBBIE. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL WE ARE DOING IT FOR. COS HE'S ONE OF US, SO I THINK WHEN THERE'S THAT PERSONAL TOUCH, PEOPLE GET BEHIND IT. COIN CLINKS, APPLAUSE PUKEKOHE AND THE WIDER FRANKLIN AREA, AND A GRITTY DISTRICT IT IS, SHOWING ITS SOUL FOR A BLOKE IN HIS EARLY 30S WHO DESPERATELY NEEDS TO GET TO GERMANY... TO GET HIS BRAIN FIXED. I'VE NEVER SEEN... MY BRAIN THIS BIG BEFORE. THAT'S PRETTY COOL, EH? LAUGHTER THAT'S PRETTY COOL. RIGHT FRONTAL PARIETAL ARTERIO VENOUS MALFORMATION. THAT'S THE CLINICAL NAME. IT'S ENLARGED BLOOD VESSELS AND ARTERIES ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY BRAIN. THOSE ENLARGED ARTERIES ARE CAPABLE OF BURSTING AT ANY TIME, WITH POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THEY EXPAND LIKE A BALLOON EXPANDS. AS THE SKIN GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER ON A BALLOON, IT CAN POP ONCE IT GETS TOO TIGHT. THAT'S WHERE THE IMMEDIATE RISK OF DEATH COMES IN. NEUROSURGEONS HERE REPEATEDLY TOLD ROBBIE... 'THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. YOU'VE JUST GOTTA LIVE WITH IT. 'SORRY, THAT'S IT.' AND THAT SEEMINGLY WAS IT, UNTIL THE RITCHIES HEARD OF GROUND-BREAKING SURGERY IN HANOVER. AND AFTER AN EXCHANGE OF MRIs, ROBBIE WAS ACCEPTED BY THE GERMAN SPECIALISTS. THERE WERE BIG HUGS, AND... (CHEERS), YOU KNOW. AND THEN TERROR. (SHRIEKS, LAUGHS) < BECAUSE IT COMES AT A COST? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. $5700. THE COUPLE WERE GIVEN JUST SEVEN WEEKS TO RAISE $200,000 AND GET THEMSELVES TO EUROPE. IT'S ALL GO, IT'S ALL EXCITING, AND IT'S ALL FAST AND HAPPENING, AND I'M SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, AND IT'S LIKE... ALL AROUND ME. CHEERING ALL OF FRANKLIN AT ITS FAST AND FURIOUS BEST. THINGS POPPING UP LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTRE. 'WE'VE GOT THIS TO DONATE,' AND, 'WE'VE GOT A CAR WASH,' AND, 'HERE'S A CAKE STALL.' FOR THE TOASTIES WE MADE $180, AND FOR THE HOT CHOCOLATES, INCLUDING MRS GREEN'S RICE BUBBLE BUMBLES, WE MADE $370. THERE WAS OVER 160 CARS WASHED THAT DAY, AND THAT'S A LOT OF CARS TO WASH. (LAUGHS) IT WAS ALL GOING ON AT 'JUST BLOODY GREAT CARS'. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE. (LAUGHS) WE KNEW THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, PEOPLE WILL HELP. UM, WE DID NOT EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN SO FAST. THE WAY PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN THE AREA IS JUST MIND-BLOWING. KIDS SING: # WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO HELP OUR FRIENDS IN NEED. ALL ADDING UP TO THREE-QUARTERS OF THE MONEY RAISED WITH A BIG BENEFIT CONCERT STILL TO COME IN PUKE ON SATURDAY NIGHT. ALL: THIS IS FOR YOU, ROBBIE. IT'S ALMOST AS IF THIS COMMUNITY IS GIVING YOU A GINORMOUS GROUP HUG. IT IS, YEAH. COMPLETELY. UM, AND I WANT TO GIVE EVERY HUG BACK, YOU KNOW. HOW DO YOU SAY THANK YOU ON SUCH A GRAND SCALE? IT'S LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A BIGGER WORD THAN THANK YOU. CHEERING Just a reminder ` Jesse is running down to the Civic as we speak. He's coming to us live from the opening of the film festival. IN TWO AND A HALF WEEKS THEY KISS THEIR TWO BOYS GOODBYE AND HEAD TO HANOVER. THE HARDEST PART IS THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RISKS. This is serious stuff. GIVING BACK'S A THEME. The people doing it ` how cool must feel knowing that you are part of this? They are all into it. ROBBIE'S WIFE JACKIE FOUNDED BELLYFUL, WHICH SENDS MEALS TO NEW MUMS ALL OVER NZ. They see this as a bit of a blueprint for people who need to raise money for things. BACK TO THE IDEA BEHIND MANDELA DAY. The idea is that you spend 67 min giving back to your community in some way. JESSE AND I DID OUR BIT AT CHURCHILL PARK. WE WANTED GREG TO COME, BUT HE WAS OFF DOING GOOD WORK ELSEWHERE SO WE GOT TIM WILSON TO COME INSTEAD. UPBEAT MUSIC I'M GOING TO GO FOR THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF 'GIVE IT A CRACK AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW...' GOT THE GLOVES. YOU WANNA DIVE IN? YEAH, SURE. I THINK THEY ARE ONE SIZE FITS ALL, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR LITTLE LADY HANDS. ALL LAUGH I'M NOT SURE I HAVE LITTLE LADY HANDS. I WAS TALKING TO TIM, ACTUALLY. ALI LAUGHS TIM, HOLD IT LIKE A MAN. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO SPOON HUMMUS OUT WITH IT. YOU'VE TAKEN THE MAN OUT OF HIS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. I DON'T` I DO NOT DO THIS. YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT THIS IS NATURAL. WHAT SORT OF MAN SAYS, 'WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING GARDENING TODAY. 'I'LL WEAR MY BEST TWILL SUIT'? I WORE MY GARDENING ATTIRE, JESSE. LIVELY MUSIC READS: 'AT MIDNIGHT, WHEN THE INTERNET IS KILLED, 'CITIES HELD FAST WITH IMAGINARY FLAMES.' WE'VE COME ACROSS A PROBLEM HERE. YOU CAN'T SACK A VOLUNTEER. (LAUGHS) READS: RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO BE ALONE. IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE NICE BEING SERENADED BY POETRY, DARE I SAY IT, WHILE YOU'RE DIGGING. WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT WILSON WOULD BE USEFUL? HEY, TIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MATE? JUST RECITING A BIT OF POETRY TO THE COW. TIM... WHAT? TAKE A LOOK BETWEEN ITS LEGS, MATE. IT'S NOT A COW. IS IT REALLY? OH MY GOD. (LAUGHS) HANG ON. THERE'S A GOOD BIT HERE. LIVELY MUSIC Good on you guys. This is his first time. IF YOU WANT TO GET IN ON THAT AND DO YOUR BIT, THERE'S A PUBLIC PLANTING DAY THIS SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL PARK. YOU CAN FIND DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE. PLENTY TO COME AFTER THE BREAK. JESSE'S DOWN AT THE RED CARPET OPENING OF THE NZ FILM FESTIVAL. He still running down there. JOURNALIST: WHY ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION? < YOU'RE SO OLD. I'M NOT THAT OLD. IT'S NOT A BLOCKBUSTER, BUT IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT LIVING LIFE RIGHT TO THE END. AND THE KING OF THE ROAD GREG MURPHY'S IN THE STUDIO FOR A CHAT. NZ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNDERWAY TONIGHT IN AUCKLAND. Welcome back. NZ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNDERWAY TONIGHT IN AUCKLAND. AROUND 170 FILMS UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY. I want to see the Liberace film. I can't wait to see it. The trailers look fantastic, Jesse is at the civic. This is the exciting night for you. Yes. 2000 people pouring into the cinema to see a great movie. Why should I go see a film festival movie when man of steel is on? It's out of your comfort zone. It's hard to get a film that isn't man of steel up and running these days. You're not just in Auckland? No. This is New Zealand answers to Liberace. Did you meet Liberace? When I went to Las Vegas to judge a dog show, I did. There was a lady was a multimillionaire heiress ` Lee ` we hopped into her car and went down to his house. We went inside and it was Liberace. Was he a nice guy? Lovely. A bit chubby. He was running around. I judged the dog show the next day and his dog was in it. Is this a special place For you? I first came here when I was four years old. So many memories here. Nice talking to you. Best place to watch a movie. Makes you want to go watch one. I love that that that's a Kiwi redcarpet premiere. There were no gowns or tiaras. SPEAKING OF FILM, THIS ONE'S WORTH A LOOK. A NEW DOCO CALLED 'PING PONG' FOLLOWS CONTESTANTS AT THE VETERANS' TABLE TENNIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. THAT COMPETITION'S COMING HERE NEXT YEAR. DEAN BUTLER MET A KIWI HOPING TO SMASH THE OPPOSITION. DRAMATIC MUSIC FOR YEARS SCIENTISTS HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE SECRET TO ETERNAL YOUTH ` A SERUM TO STOP AGEING. WELL, SOME ELDERLY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY'VE FOUND THE ANSWER TO NEVER GROWING OLD. PING PONG. # GOLDEN YEARS. GOLD. # A NEW DOCUMENTARY CALLED 'PING PONG' FOLLOWS SEVEN OVER-80-YEAR-OLDS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AS THEY COMPETE IN THE WORLD VETERANS' TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CHINA. THE TAXI RIDE SHOULD BE ABOUT 10-15 RENMINBI, NO MORE. ALWAYS USE A METER. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ARGUE, TELL THEM TO BUGGER OFF. I'LL TRY AND FIND THE CHINESE WORD FOR THAT, BUT... WOMAN: IN SCHOOL I ALWAYS HAD TO BE NUMBER ONE. (CHUCKLES) I LIKE IT. (LAUGHS) < COULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF PLAYING? AS IRREGULAR AS MY DRIVING. (LAUGHS) ONE OF THE STARS OF THE DOCO IS THE THEN-100-YEAR-OLD DOROTHY DE LOW. I LOST MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. AND I WAS PLAYING TABLE TENNIS, AND I THINK THAT SAVED ME. < WHY ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION? YOU ARE SO OLD. I'M NOT THAT OLD. LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE THE NEXT WORLD VETERANS' TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS IS HERE NEXT YEAR, AND I CAUGHT UP WITH A MAN REPRESENTING NZ, ALAN TOMLINSON. FIRST COMPETED IN 1950. SO I'VE RETIRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. YEAH, I'M A BIT LIKE THOSE SMOKERS WHO SAY, 'I KNOW I CAN GIVE UP COS I'VE QUIT SEVERAL TIMES.' I DO KNOW DOT DE LOW. OH, DO YOU? > THE LADY WHO COMPETED WHEN SHE WAS 100 YEARS OLD. WE TRAVELLED ALONG THE RHINE, AND I HAVE A PHOTO TAKEN WITH HER. SHE'S ABOUT UP TO MY ARMPIT. SHE'S BEEN AWAY 11 TIMES TO THE WORLD TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE SECOND LAST OF HER TRIPS SHE WAS GOING TO RIO. SO THIS DOCTOR WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT SHE NEEDED, WHILE IN SOUTH AMERICA, TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF UNPROTECTED SEX... LOUD LAUGHTER ...AND INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE. LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE THANK YOU, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR COMING, FOR BEING SO KIND TO ME. AND TABLE TENNIS HAS BEEN MY LIFE, AND IT'S HELPED ME. That's pretty sweet. I love a good game of table tennis. KING OF THE MOUNTAIN ` ONE OF THE BEST TOURING CAR DRIVERS AND HIS NEXT ASSAULT ON BATHURST. YOU CAN WATCH US THROUGH THE BREAK ON OUR ALTERNATIVE CAMERA. JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE SEVENSHARP.CO.NZ. Welcome back. He has conquered the hardest event in motorsport four times. Greg Murphy. You are here for speed week. That Is on this weekend. I've also got a New Zealand legends of speed thing going on. I'm not full-time this year in the championships, but to work again with them is special. How hard is something like that? Mentally, that's the hardest. The focus that you have that period. You get up early in the morning in the race starts at 10.30. I was watching that footage and thinking I'm so proud to be an Australian watching that. How do you feel about boy racers? At a stereotype. They represent a very small proportion of the motoring public yet get so much press. A large percentage of the carnage on our roads is by people who make mistakes or do stupid things. What else do you do out of the race carts? My wife is very busy with my kids. I travel a lot. I do a lot of road safety stuff here in New Zealand. I have a 15-year-old who is on the verge of learning how to drive. How do you educate them? There is a lack of education that is a big problem. We all think it's our God-given right. We havne't changed their attitude. There is no compulsory training. DO YOU REMEMBER AMY CAMPBELL? SHE'S THE KIWI DISTANCE RUNNER WE MET IN MAY PREPARING FOR THE HARDEST FOOT RACE IN THE WORLD ` BADWATER, DEATH VALLEY. 217KM, 55 DEGRESS NOT A GOOD START Five degree. She had no air conditioning the night before in a hotel. AND THE FASTEST KIWI EVER ` 36:32:38. CONGRATS, AMY. That's the equivalent of climbing three mountains. SPEAKING OF AWESOME KIWI ATHLETES, SARAH WALKER. THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT. SEE YOU TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND JESSICA BOELL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013