IT'S SEVEN SHARP. TONIGHT ` HOW RICH IS TOO RICH? NO ONE IS ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, AND SOMEBODY HAS TO. HOW MUCH CASH CHARITIES AREN'T GIVING BACK. DO YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH CHARITIES POSTING LARGE SURPLUSES? PLUS THE PERFECT RETREAT... GORGEOUS. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. AND BLUE SKY. ...TO DEAL WITH A LESS-THAN-PERFECT SITUATION. THAT'S LIFE, EH. IT'S A GLITCH. I DISCOVERED I HAD BREAST CANCER WHEN MY MUM RANG TO SAY SHE HAD BREAST CANCER. AND ` DO YOU MIND IF WE SIT UP? COS MY BACK IS KILLING ME. (LAUGHS) SURE. RIGHT. WELL, IMAGINE HOW HERS FEELS. I REMEMBER MY TEACHERS LOOKED AT ME AND THEY SAID, 'THAT'S NOT NORMAL.' ONE NEWS CAPTIONS BY ALANA CRUIKSHANK AND TOM WILSON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2014 DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF SEVEN SHARP, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. Welcome to 7 sharp. We've had an impostor sitting here next to me this year. Not Mike Hosking. He has been sitting next to me. I found out mics middle name and his title on the end. Are you taking the fun out of my whole family are you? I didn't realise you came from a whole line of people. What happened was they couldn't think of any other names and couldn't be bothered. Are you okay with me calling you Noel? Do you know what happened? Tell me about the juju. She turned 2. She's gone to the dark side and unleashed Blickling which. I can't say it. Good to see you. STICKING WITH FIRES. AUCKLAND IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BANNING OPEN FIRES AND OLDER MODEL WOOD BURNERS AFTER THE COUNCIL APPROVED A DRAFT BYLAW THAT'LL AFFECT MORE THAN 80,000 HOMES. BLOKES, GRAB A BEER AND A STEAK. IT COULD MAKE YOU MORE FERTILE! AMERICAN DOCTORS HAVE FOUND MEN WHO EAT MEAT AND DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION HAVE BETTER SEXUAL FUNCTION THAN VEGETARIANS AND TEETOTALLERS. AND BEFORE YOU ASK, NO, WE DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE DOING IT, BUT THESE ARE THE FINALISTS AT THE UNDERWATER PUMPKIN-CARVING CHAMPS. JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY YOU DONATE TO CHARITIES? COS A LOT OF US GIVE BECAUSE THEY SHAKE A BUCKET IN FRONT OF OUR FACES DOWNTOWN, AND ONE OF THE GREAT DEBATES IS HOW MUCH THEY KEEP, AND IN DOING THAT, THEY ACTUALLY END UP MAKING A PROFIT. NOW, WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE CHARITIES FEATURED IN THIS STORY DON'T DO GREAT WORK, AND WE'RE NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING IRREGULAR ABOUT THEIR FINANCES. IN FACT, MANY OF THEM ARE FINANCIALLY VERY RESPONSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOW SO RICH. YOU'LL REMEMBER HADYN JONES LOOKED AT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE CLASSED AS A CHARITY, THEREFORE NOT PAYING TAX EARLIER THIS YEAR. TODAY HE QUESTIONS HOW RICH IS TOO RICH WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A CHARITY. HERE'S HADYN JONES. REFLECTIVE MUSIC NZ'S TOP 50 CHARITIES MADE $1B IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR. THAT'S $1000 MILLION THE CHARITIES DIDN'T SPEND ON THOSE WHO NEEDED IT. THEY KEPT IT INSTEAD. IN MONOPOLY TERMS, YOUR MAYFAIR AND PARK LANE OF PROFITABLE CHARITIES ARE IWIS. IWIS ARE CHARITIES TOO. # HEY, HEY. # TAINUI MADE $200M; NGAI TAHU $160M. AND REMEMBER ` CHARITIES DON'T PAY INCOME TAX. AMD SOME REALLY PROFITABLE CHARITIES YOU MAY HAVE GIVEN MONEY TO ` THE SALVATION ARMY MADE $24M; AUCKLAND CATHOLIC CHURCH $13M. YOUR CHEAPER REAL ESTATE IS THE ROYAL FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND. THEY MADE $7.7M PROFIT. ALL UP, 15,000 CHARITIES POSTED A COMBINED PROFIT OF $2.3B. THERE'S GOOD MONEY IN BEING A CHARITY. IF I AM CONFRONTED IN THE STREET BY A CHUGGER ` A CHARITY MUGGER, TO USE THE ENGLISH TERM ` IF I'M CONFRONTED, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, 'DO YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT I CAN HAVE A LOOK AT 'TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU DO? 'AND, SECONDLY, WHAT'S YOUR CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER?' IN MOST CASES, THE ANSWER IS, 'NO, I DON'T HAVE ONE, 'AND NO, I DON'T KNOW IT.' DR MICHAEL GOUSMETT IS THE COUNTRY'S LEADING ACADEMIC ON CHARITIES AND THEIR FINANCES. DR GOUSMETT HAS RUN A CHARITY. ONLY ABOUT $200,000 OR SO FLOWS OUT IN DIRECT DONATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. NOW HE TEACHES TRAINEE ACCOUNTANTS AT CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY THE WHYS AND WHEREFORES OF CHARITABLE TRUSTS. ARE WE JUST GROWING EMPIRES RATHER THAN PROVIDING CHARITABLE PURPOSE, WHICH IS, AFTER ALL, THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANISATION, NOT TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH. OVER HALF OF ALL CHARITIES POSTED A PROFIT IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR. DR GOUSMETT SAYS TOO MANY ARE MAKING TOO MUCH. THE FINANCIAL THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE SALVATION ARMY IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION. THE SALVATION ARMY IS ONE OF NZ'S RICHEST CHARITIES. THEY HAVE NEARLY A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENTS; POSTED A SURPLUS OF $24M. THEIR SURPLUS IS USUALLY $3M TO $4M, BUT LAST YEAR, SOME INVESTMENTS MATURED, AND THERE WERE INSURANCE PAYOUTS FROM BUILDINGS LOST IN CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE. SENIOR MANAGER LYNETTE HUTSON SAYS PROFITS GET INVESTED. THE REVENUE FROM THOSE INVESTMENTS SUBSIDISES MANY OF THE GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PROGRAMMES THEY RUN. IN MOST CASES, IN MOST OF THE SERVICES WE DELIVER, THE SALVATION ARMY PUTS ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN. THE SALVATION ARMY IS CERTAINLY FRUGAL. AS A SENIOR MANAGER, LYNETTE HUTSON GETS PAID $28,000 A YEAR. SHE DOES GET FREE ACCOMMODATION. SHE SAYS EVERY DOLLAR GIVEN TO THE SALVATION ARMY GETS SPENT THAT YEAR, BUT OTHER FUNDS ARE SAVED FOR THE FUTURE. I THINK TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT TO THINK MORE BROADLY THAN JUST TAKE THE MONEY. SPEND IT IMMEDIATELY. < DO YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH CHARITIES POSTING LARGE SURPLUSES? WELL, I THINK BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT, I DON'T, BUT I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR US IN THAT WE WANT TO BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC BUT REALISE THAT PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT. WHEN THEY HEAR THESE FIGURES, THEY'LL SAY, 'GOODNESS GRACIOUS.' NOW, THE CHARITY SECTOR IS CERTAINLY A GROWTH INDUSTRY. AROUND 2000 ORGANISATIONS EVERY YEAR SUCCESSFULLY APPLY FOR CHARITABLE STATUS. THAT'S AROUND FIVE NEW CHARITIES EVERY DAY. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS ONE OF OUR RICHEST RELIGIONS. THE CHURCH IN AUCKLAND, DUNEDIN AND CHRISTCHURCH MADE BETWEEN $12M AND $14M DOLLARS EACH LAST YEAR. THE AUCKLAND DIOCESE HAS NEARLY $1B IN ASSETS, INCLUDING THE BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL IN AUCKLAND. THAT'S WHERE WE FOUND AUCKLAND DIOCESE SPOKESWOMAN DAME LYNDSAY FREER. PEOPLE, OF COURSE, ALWAYS SAY, 'OH, LOOK AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 'WITH ALL THEIR BUILDINGS AND ALL THEIR ARTWORK 'AND ALL THE REST OF IT.' BUT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BUILDINGS, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GATHER AS CATHOLICS. < WHAT WAS THE PROFIT? $13M? YES, 13. <YEAH, THAT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY BIG FIGURE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT, IT BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE AHEAD, IT'S PEANUTS, REALLY. THERE IS JUST SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. DAME FREER SAYS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DOESN'T ASK FOR MONEY. THERE'S NO TITHING. SHE SAYS THE PROFITS WILL PAY FOR EARTHQUAKE STRENGTHENING OF CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL WORKS COMING UP AND ALWAYS PEOPLE TO HELP. I WOULD SAY IT'S HEALTHY ENOUGH, CERTAINLY, TO FUND THE CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT. DR GOUSMETT SAYS CHARITIES NEED TO REPORT WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE WITH THE WEALTH THEY'RE CREATING. IT'S A REQUIREMENT IN THE UK. HE ALSO WANTS MORE ANSWERS TO MORE QUESTIONS THAN HE'S EVER GOING TO GET. NO ONE IS ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, AND SOMEBODY HAS TO, AND I'M MERELY RAISING QUESTIONS FOR DEBATE AND SUGGESTING WE NEED TO THINK MORE DEEPLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES. SO HOW BIG SHOULD OUR COMMUNITY CHEST SHOULD BE? SHOULD A CHARITY BE WEALTHY SO IT CAN HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE? OR IS IT RUDE TO ASK FOR MORE WHEN YOU HAVE PLENTY ALREADY? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER NEXT TIME YOU ARE ASKED TO GIVE GENEROUSLY. That's a good piece. What I worry about and have for years is all those aid agencies in the same place and all asking for money. There must be a crossover in administration. We've said it before that we needed all the pamphlets in the mail, how much does it cost? These people are doing good work. They could argue that the next year recession hits and they still need money. 27,438 charities in New Zealand. Over 15,000 posted a profit. COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` WE GOT HIM! AW, YEAH, WE CAUGHT A BIT OF NZ AGAIN. IT SEEMS THE MOST CATCHING THING ON THIS TRIP IS LAUGHTER. (LAUGHS) BUT IT'S FOR A SERIOUS REASON. WE ACCEPT THEM ANY AGE AND STAGE. BUT FOR SOME OF THEM, THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE LAST FUN THINGS THEY DO. AND IS IT ALL ABOUT MANA OR MACHO? MEN CHANT HAKA WHY CULTURE'S CAUSING CRINGE. Quick calculation with those charities. These the charity for every 163 people in this country. The doesn't work. You shake the bucket, don't you? I do for the doggies. There is no government funding for the doggies. WE SHOULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THE HAKA BECAUSE, AGAIN, OUR SYMBOL OF SPORTING PRIDE AND POWER HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A BIT OF AN EMBARRASSMENT. YES, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT OVER THE WEEKEND, IT ALL GOT TERRIBLY AWKWARD WHEN THE JUNIOR KIWIS AND THE JUNIOR KANGAROOS FACED OFF. SO WE'VE COUNTED DOWN THE SEVEN MOST AWKWARD HAKA EVER. IT'S 1973, AND THE ALL BLACKS ARE AT CARDIFF, ABOUT TO PLAY THE BARBARIANS. BUT, FIRST, THEY SCARE THE OPPOSITION WITH A DANCE LESSON ` THE HOKEY TOKEY AND SPIRIT FINGERS ALL IN ONE. CROWD EXCLAIMS HARD TO KNOW IF THOSE ARE CHEERS OR JEERS FROM THE CROWD. STAYING IN THE UK, IT'S 1998, AND PENSIONERS AT THE DEVON BOWLING CLUB GIVE US THEIR ZOMBIE VERSION. ALL CHANT: OOH-GAH, OOH-GAH! CAR GIANT FIAT COPPED FLAK FOR USING KA MATE IN ITS ADS. AHH! ALL CHANT: KA MATE, KA MATE, KA! THEN THERE'S THE DRUNK HAKA. SO MANY OF THEM. WAEWAE TAKAHIA! ALL GRUNT OH, KA MATE, KA MATE. AARGH! OH, KA MATE, KA MATE. AARGH! THATS NOT TE REO, BY THE WAY. THAT'S DRUNK GIBBERISH. ALL GRUNT BUT NO ONE DOES DRUNK HAKA LIKE OTAGO SCARFIES. ALL CHANT: A, UPANE! KA UPANE! A, UPANE, KA UPANE, WHITI TE RA! ALL GRUNT HOW ABOUT THIS? NOT A HAKA EXACTLY, BUT LEN BROWN CLAIMS ITS THE POLYNESIAN WAY OF SAYING SORRY. WHOO, WHOO, WHOO, WHOO! OK, LEN. THEN THERE'S DAVE CURRIE, NZ OLYMPIC CHEF DE MISSION. HE'S A SERIAL HAKA OFFENDER. THERE HE IS, AND THERE HE IS AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE HAKA JUST BECAME A... A JOKE. AND THE LATEST CONTENDER FOR MOST CRINGEWORTHY HAKA ` THE JUNIOR KIWIS' FACE-OFF AT THE WEEKEND AGAINST THE OZZIES. ALL CHANT: TANGATA KIA RERE URE? DISPLAYS LIKE THIS MAKE THE HAKA MORE FARCE THEN FIERCE. Is it bad that I like to see a bit of that argy-bargy? I don't think it was that cringe. You can't tell me people watching that went like this is exciting. Maybe it's just me. A GOOD DAY'S FISHING CAN CURE MANY THINGS, BUT THE LADIES WE'RE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU ARE LIVING WITH A DISEASE THAT COULD VERY WELL KILL THEM. THEY'VE ALL GOT BREAST CANCER AND ARE PART OF A GROUP ESCAPING TO THE RIVERS AROUND NZ, PROVING THAT A WEE HOLIDAY CAN WORK WONDERS. GILL HIGGINS HOOKED UP WITH THEM FOR THE WEEKEND. QUIRKY MUSIC A SUNHAT. GOT. NOTHING HOLDS SANDRA BACK, NOT EVEN BREAST CANCER. LAST CHRISTMAS EVE I RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT I HAD SECONDARY CANCER. SO` BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIFE, EH. IT'S A GLITCH. SO A FLY-FISHING RETREAT FOR WOMEN WITH THE DISEASE? SHE WAS WELL KEEN. NOW SHE'S GOING WELL PREPARED. AREN'T THEY JUST PRICELESS (?) YUCK. PUT A LITTLE MORE GOLD AROUND HERE. ACROSS TOWN ANOTHER SLIGHTLY MORE NERVOUS RECRUIT. I DON'T REALLY EVEN DO FISHING. (CHUCKLES) I'VE NEVER HELD A FISH, SO THAT COULD BE EXCITING. SHEREE'S ON HER SECOND BOUT OF CANCER TOO. I DISCOVERED I HAD BREAST CANCER WHEN MY MUM RANG TO SAY SHE HAD BREAST CANCER. AND I WAS ONLY IN MY 30S. AND THEN THREE YEARS DOWN THE TRACK GOT IT AGAIN. AND YOU JUST THINK, 'I'VE GOT TO BE AROUND FOR MY CHILDREN.' IT'S FRIGHTENING. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN TO LIKE YOURSELF AGAIN ` HOW YOU LOOK. AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO DRESS THEM UP IN WADERS AND TEACH THEM HOW TO FISH. THERE IT IS THERE. LOOK. GOD. ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL? RIGHT, STRAIGHT TO THE PUB. BOTH LAUGH ALL RIGHT! GILL, I'D BE SERIOUSLY WORRIED. NO, SAFETY COMES FIRST, BUT FUN IS A VERY CLOSE SECOND. I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO BE HER SLAVE, ACTUALLY. WE'VE BEEN PAMPERED. WE'VE BEEN SO SPOILT. AND YOU GET TO SPEND A WHOLE MORNING WITH THIS GUY! > YES, I KNOW. (LAUGHS) HER LUCK HAD TO RUN OUT SOMEWHERE. ALL LAUGH MAN: I GET LUCKY SOMETIMES. WE ACCEPT THEM ANY AGE AND STAGE. BUT FOR SOME OF THEM THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE LAST FUN THINGS THEY DO. IT'S RELAXING AND GOOD EXERCISE ` JUST ASK THE TEAM PHYSIO. IT'S VERY GOOD BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY CAN USE THEIR ARMS. AND IT HELPS WITH LYMPHEDEMA. AND THE CATCHING BEGINS STRAIGHT AWAY. JUST NOT THE RIGHT KIND. OH, WE'RE IN! WE'RE IN! WE GOT HIM! AW, YEAH. WE CAUGHT A BIT OF NZ AGAIN. YOU'VE DONE A BIT OF FISHING. SO IS THIS HARDER OR EASIER? OH, MUCH HARDER. HOW IS SHE DOING? SHE'S DOING REALLY WELL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DUCK DOWN AS MUCH AS YOU DID EARLIER ON. BOTH LAUGH SO IT'S JUST A NICE, LOVELY, RELAXING SPORT WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS, YEP, GOING ALL HAYWIRE. IT'S REALLY NICE OF PETER TO FALL IN TO MAKE YOU LAUGH. (LAUGHS) TWICE, TOO. NOW, IF I WAS A TROUT, I'D EAT THAT. BUT THE TROUT AREN'T BITING. NOT THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FISH. NO. IT'S ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND DOING IT AND PRACTISING IT. YOU DON'T MEAN THAT, DO YOU? IT IS ABOUT THE FISH, ISN'T IT? YEAH, OK. (LAUGHS) THIS RETREAT IN KAWERAU'S NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A FEW RETREATS, BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, THIS MEANS QUITE A LOT TO YOU. IT'S SPECIAL FOR ME. I GREW UP HERE. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS TOWN. IT'S GOOD TO SHOW IT IN A GOOD LIGHT. PEACEFUL MUSIC GORGEOUS, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. AND BLUE SKY. PERFECT DAY. EXCEPT WE HEAD HOME EMPTY-HANDED. HMM. WOULD BE NICE JUST TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS CAUGHT SOMETHING. BACK AT THE MOTEL, TURNS OUT THEY DID. IT WAS ABOUT THAT BIG. BIG LITTLE. (LAUGHS) NICE WORK. THE TEAM PHOTO'S A LITTLE REMINDER OF THE GREAT WEEKEND. BUT IT'S SOBERING, TOO. THERE WERE NINE LADIES, BUT THERE SHOULD'VE BEEN 10. ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY SURGERY, SO SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT. FOR THOSE THAT DID, THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S ALL WORTHWHILE. IT'S AMAZING. I'LL NEVER GIVE IT UP. (CHEERS) IT WAS ONLY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE HOTEL. WE SHOULD'VE STARTED HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE! I fished for a while and I couldn't stand killing them. Not a hunter gatherer type. NEXT ON SEVEN SHARP ` ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. < AT WHAT STAGE DO YOU THINK, 'I'M PRETTY BENDY'? HM. WELL, SHE APPEARS TO BE SCARILY FLEXIBLE NOW. SO WHAT WAS HER FIRST CLUE? I REMEMBER MY TEACHERS LOOKED AT ME, AND THEY JUST SAID, 'THAT'S NOT NORMAL.' PIETRO MASCAGNI'S 'REGINA COELI LAETARE' (EASTER HYMN) FROM CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA CLASSICAL MUSIC CRESCENDOES Make it yours. When you find the home you want, talk to an ANZ expert about Buy Ready. DYNAMIC MUSIC What was the word she used? My mother is looking at me right now saying don't you dear. It's my husband's fault. LUCIA CARBINES WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY, LITERALLY. SHE'S A CONTORTIONIST. THE CANTERBURY NATIVE'S BACK IN HER HOMETOWN TO WOW THE CROWDS AT THE SPIEGELWORLD EMPIRE SHOW. FIRST, THOUGH. SHE WOWED OUR MIKE THORPE. HYPNOTIC MUSIC HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS? IN THIS SHOW? FOR ONE YEAR EXACTLY. AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BENDING AROUND LIKE THIS? CONTORTION-WISE, PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW. DO YOU MIND IF WE SIT UP? COS MY BACK IS KILLING ME. SURE. AS A CHILD, LUCIA DREAMED OF RUNNING AWAY AND JOINING THE CIRCUS. < AT WHAT STAGE DO YOU THINK, 'I'M PRETTY BENDY'? WELL, FOR ME, I DIDN'T REALISE I WAS SO FLEXIBLE. I HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD ON GETTING LEG FLEXIBILITY, COS MY LEGS WERE NOT NATURALLY FLEXIBLE, BUT I WAS BORN WITH A NATURALLY BENDY SPINE, AND THEN ONE DAY WE WENT INTO A BRIDGE, AND MY SPINE JUST SORT OF GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER AND CLOSER UNTIL MY BOTTOM WAS PRESSED AGAINST MY HEAD. # CALL 9-1-1 NOW! # AND I REMEMBER MY TEACHERS LOOKED AT ME, AND THEY JUST SAID, 'THAT'S NOT NORMAL, AND YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO CONTROL THAT.' AND SO I TAUGHT MYSELF CONTORTION FROM YOUTUBE, AND THEN OVER THE YEARS` NATURALLY, AS YOU DO, EH? WELL, THERE'S NOT MANY CONTORTION TEACHERS AROUND. HYPNOTIC MUSIC WHEN THE TIME CAME, SHE DIDN'T SO MUCH RUN AWAY AS SHE DID FLOAT. AND CIRCUS? WELL, IT'S KIND OF AT THE LUXURY END. YOU KNOW THERE'S CAMPING AND GLAMPING? I LIKE TO SAY THIS IS THE GLAMPING VERSION OF CIRCUS. THE SPIEGEL TENT IS A WONDER OF ITS OWN. IT JUST CREATES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE, THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S SO CLOSE AND INTIMATE. IT IS CLOSE. LOOK HOW CLOSE THESE SEATS ARE, YOU KNOW? YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH THEM. AMONG THE AUDIENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH, LUCIA'S FAMILY, WHO HAD ONLY EVER SEEN HER LIKE THIS ` NO BOB, NO BUBBLE, NO BENDING. THE CANTABRIAN IS BACK IN THE GARDEN CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE QUAKES DESTROYED IT. MY NANA AND POP AND MY COUSINS, THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ME PERFORM BEFORE, SO IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE HERE FOR A SET AMOUNT OF TIME, AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SHOW THEM ALL WHAT I DO. ALSO CLOSE IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OTHER PERFORMERS ` THE CIRCUS FAMILY. EVERY PERFORMER IN THIS SHOW IS SO INSPIRING, IS SO TALENTED, THAT YOU JUST LOOK AT THEM AND IT MAKES YOU WANT TO GET AS GOOD AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN AND WORK REALLY HARD. NINE ACTS, ONE SMALL STAGE, AND THERE PERCHED HIGH ABOVE IS LUCIA ` MISS A IN A BUBBLE. AND YOU'RE UP HERE. YOU'RE LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN AT THEM. YOU CAN SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES, SURELY? I LOVE BEING IN THE BUBBLE, ABOVE PEOPLE'S HEADS, AND AS IT SPINS AROUND, JUST TRYING TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS IN THE ROOM, AND THEN, WHEN THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR TRICK THAT I DO, I ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK AROUND TO TRY AND FIND THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO PULL THAT 'UGH' HORRIFIED FACE. IF LUCIA DOESN'T MAKE YOU PULL THAT FACE, HER CIRCUS FAMILY WILL. Freaky. DO YOU REMEMBER THE OLD 'BLUE LIGHT' DISCOS? WELL, 'BLUE LIGHT', THE CHARITY THAT USED TO ORGANISE THEM, IS NOW WORKING WITH NZ POLICE. THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING AN AD COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS. THE PRIZE IS A SHARE OF $4000, AND THIS YEAR'S BRIEF WAS TO CREATE AN ANTI-BULLYING TV COMMERCIAL. TONIGHT WE CAN REVEAL THE WINNERS OF THE CONTEST. 55 SCHOOLS ENTERED. PUTARARU COLLEGE WAS THIRD, RAUWHITORA SECOND, AND FIRST, QUEENSTOWN PRIMARY. HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT THEY DID. Electronic music music continues CONGRATULATIONS TO QUEENSTOWN. Do you want to revisit the drum roll? IT'S ONLY TUESDAY, AND ALREADY THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A SERIES OF NUMBERS, DATA AND STATS THAT SHOW HOW WELL THIS COUNTRY IS GOING. THE SERVICES SECTOR NUMBERS ARE OUT. IT'S THRIVING. THE SERVICES SECTOR ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF OUR ECONOMY. MIGRATION NUMBERS ARE OUT TODAY. NEVER IN OUR HISTORY HAVE THEY ARRIVED IN THE NUMBERS THEY CURRENTLY ARE. THE CONSTRUCTION NUMBERS ARE OUT TODAY. CONSTRUCTION IS ON FIRE, AND THERE ARE JOBS GALORE, WHICH IS WHY, AS PART OF THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT TODAY, THE GOVERNMENT OUTLINED ITS PLANS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND PART OF THAT PLAN? JOB FAIRS IN OZ. SO SHORT OF SKILL AND TALENT ARE WE NOW, SO GREAT ARE THE OPPURTUNITES IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'RE NOW ACTIVELY LOOKING TO BRING TALENT HERE. IF THAT'S NOT A COUNTRY ON A ROLL, WHAT IS? CAPTIONS BY JESSICA BOELL AND JOHN LING CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2014