IT'S SEVEN SHARP. TONIGHT ` A KIWI FIRST... IT'S LIKE A BIONIC EAR. ...THAT'S CHANGING LOUIS' LIFE. SOMETIMES KIND OF DIFFICULT TO HEAR. WE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. PLUS,... KIWI AS, BROTHER. HONEST FOOD. ABSOLUTE HONEST FOOD. ...A CALIFORNIAN COLONY OF KIWI CUISINE. WHEN YOU ENTER OUR RESTAURANT, YOU'RE ENTERING NZ SOIL. AND... OOH, THIS PLACE ` IT'S RAUNCHY. OK, SO I WAS ENJOYING MYSELF AT THE RSA, BUT WHAT IF I TOLD YOU IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO FIND FREE MONEY? FIRST I'VE EVER HEARD OF IT. ONE NEWS CAPTIONS BY IMOGEN STAINES AND JESSICA BOELL. 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. Good evening. You might have seen Heather at the RSA. Commencing us of the benefits of having an older husband or wife. . By the time you get to them. They learn how to pick up their stuff. It's about the money? I wasn't surprised that the reporter was you. . What is Kiwi cuisine? There is a guy in LA and we going to visit him. HERE'S WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE TODAY ` THE DEFENCE MINISTER'S BEEN FORCED TO ADMIT KIWI TROOPS ARE PREPARING TO HEAD OFF TO IRAQ TO FIGHT ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS. THE OPPOSITION'S REALLY NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, WHICH IS A NEW BUMP FOR THE RECENT AGREEMENT OVER INTERCEPTING TERROR THREATS. IF YOU'VE EVER WRITTEN OFF MEDITATION AS A WASTE OF TIME, HARVARD UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS SAY YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER. THEY'VE FOUND TAKING PART IN AN EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAMME CAN POSITIVELY ALTER PARTS OF YOUR BRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH MEMORY, EMPATHY AND STRESS. AND FROM OUR 'DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME' FILE ` FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THOUSANDS OF FIRECRACKERS WERE SPREAD ON THE GROUND IN CHINA AND THEN SET OFF, WITH PEOPLE AND RUBBISH WAY TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. It does look spectacular. It's ironic and fireworks debate of the last few weeks. WE'RE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU ONE OF THOSE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME MOMENTS ` THE MOMENT A YOUNG BOY FINALLY GETS TO HEAR. WE REALISE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS AREN'T NEW HERE, BUT LOUIS CHEFTEL IS THE ONLY BOY IN NZ TO GET ONE FOR DEAFNESS IN ONE EAR ONLY. YOU MIGHT NOT THINK THAT BEING DEAF IN ONE EAR WOULD CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS, BUT IT DOES. LEARNING DIFFICULTIES, POOR SOCIALISATION, AND UNLIKE KIDS WHO ARE DEAF IN BOTH EARS, THESE CHILDREN GET HARDLY ANY FUNDING TO HELP. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS IMPLANT EVEN MORE SPECIAL. GILL HIGGINS HAS THE STORY. FIND YOUR MAGNET. IT COMPLETELY STICKS. THIS CUTE LITTLE LAD LOUIS, AT THE AGE OF 7, IS ABOUT TO MAKE HISTORY. # THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CALL A GROUND-BREAKER. # HE'S THE FIRST IN NZ TO HAVE A COCHLEAR IMPLANT FOR SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS. IT'S LIKE A BIONIC EAR. WE HAVE TO MAKE A CALL AS TO HOW WE ACTUALLY PROGRAMME HIM. SWITCH ON IS JUST MOMENTS AWAY. MY FEAR WAS THAT IT WOULDN'T WORK. PART OF ME IS CONCERNED THAT THAT NERVE HASN'T BEEN STIMULATED FOR A LONG TIME, SO WE DON'T WANT TO OVERLOAD IT. LOUIS HAS BEEN DEAF IN HIS RIGHT EAR FROM BIRTH. HE WAS BORN PREMATURE. THIS WAS ME. YOU WERE TINY, WEREN'T YOU? EVERYTHING THERE WAS PERFECTLY FORMED. THERE'S JUST NOT REALLY ANY EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAS CAUSED THE UNILATERAL DEAFNESS. WE MIGHT THINK ONE EAR IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT TWO'S REALLY IMPORTANT? IT'S LIKE HAVING ONE EYE VERSUS TWO. SOMETIMES KIND OF DIFFICULT TO HEAR. HE WAS STRUGGLING, SOCIALLY SPEAKING, WITH ONE EAR, BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT MIX WITH OTHER FRIENDS BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LOUD FOR HIM. THERE'S VERY LITTLE FUNDING FOR KIDS WITH ONE-SIDED DEAFNESS. WITH NO SOLUTION, LOUIS GOT LOST IN A WORLD OF BOOKS ` CRAZY BOOKS. READS: THE DAY MY BUM WENT PSYCHO. (LAUGHS) WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? NOTHING. BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM ` HIS SCHOOLING WAS STARTING TO SUFFER. CHILDREN WITH UNILATERAL HEARING LOSS POTENTIALLY DO WORSE DEVELOPING LANGUAGE, SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR. AMAZING, REALLY, HOW HEARING ON ONLY ONE SIDE CAN HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT. THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO ACT AND HEARD AN IMPLANT COULD HELP. IT'S WELL-DOCUMENTED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF IN TWO EARS, BUT VERY NEW FOR THOSE DEAF IN JUST ONE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO PUT LOUIS THROUGH ALL THIS SURGERY PROCESS, BUT WE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS RIGHT THING TO DO. WE INSERT A LITTLE ELECTRODE THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT INTO THE COCHLEAR AND THAT BRINGS THE ELECTRODE CLOSE TO THE NERVE. MAJOR SURGERY ` LOUIS HAS THE STERI-STRIPS TO PROVE IT. AND AFTER TWO OR THREE WEEKS WE PUT AN EXTERNAL DEVICE ON. WHICH IS THE EXCITING MOMENT WE'RE SEEING HERE. YOU JUST TELL ME WHEN THE BEEPS ARE COMFY, LIKE YOU COULD LISTEN TO THEM ALL DAY? THE BEEPS ARE SENT VIA A CABLE. ONLY LOUIS WILL HEAR THEM AND ONLY IN HIS DEAF EAR. HE'S PLAYING WITH HIS CAR, AND THEN HE STOPS PLAYING AND LOOKS UP. AND WE KNEW THEN IT DID WORK. A DIFFERENT SOUND NOW, OK? ANYTHING? NOT YET. YES! I WAS THERE AT SWITCH ON. IT WAS QUITE AMAZING. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO IT. IF I GO LIKE THIS, IS IT TOO NOISY? TOO LOUD! AT ONE STAGE, HE DID SAY, 'THE VOICE IS BURSTING INSIDE MY HEAD.' OK, LOUIS, YOU'RE OUR STAR TODAY. NOW NOISY CLASSROOMS SHOULD BE EASIER TO COPE WITH. IT'S EARLY DAYS, OF COURSE, BUT I CAN SEE DEFINITELY A CHANGE. I THINK JUST BEING ABLE TO HEAR AND TALK MORE CONFIDENTLY MEANS HE CAN INTERACT MORE WITH THE OTHER CHILDREN. AND HE'D WANT THAT TODAY ` AS OFFICIAL STAR, HE GETS TO HEAR HIS CLASSMATES SING HIS PRAISES. YOU'VE BEEN REALLY BRAVE, DESPITE ALL THINGS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND YOU'RE STILL A HAPPY BOY. LOUIS IS A TRAILBLAZER, SHOWING THAT IMPLANTS CAN HELP KIDS LIKE HIM. IT JUST MEANT A HEAP OF FUNDRAISING TO COVER THE COSTS, BUT THE DONATIONS CAME FLOODING IN. IT'S JUST AMAZING. WE WERE OVERWHELMED. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR IMPLANT COST? UM, $30,000. I WAS THINKING, 'WOW, THERE ARE SOME VERY GOOD PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET.' AND THEY'VE MADE THIS LITTLE BOY VERY HAPPY. STILL NOTICING IT WHEN IT'S QUIET? YES! ALL CHUCKLE NEVER MIND HIS PARENTS! Doesn't he have the cutest smile? . It was a worrying book collection. . To clarify the funding issue ` when you're Deaf from both sides, you get all incentives. COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` I DIDN'T WANT TO BE 49 AND GOING ON A PENSION. THAT SOUNDED REALLY ODD. IT SOUNDS ODD, BUT IT CAN ALSO SOUND AWESOME WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. PLUS ` KIWI AS, BROTHER. IT'S STUFF WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE, BUT WHAT DO THE FANCY LA CROWD THINK? HERE'S A LITTLE FACT MOST OF US PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ` YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE 65 TO GET THE PENSION. THAT'S RIGHT. HEATHER AND I COULD GET THE PENSION AS WELL AS LONG AS WE MARRY SOMEONE OVER 65. IN FACT, AT LAST COUNT 12,000 'YOUNG PEOPLE' ARE DOING JUST THAT. SO I WENT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE OLDS THINK. MARVIN GAYE'S 'LET'S GET IT ON.' FORGET ONLINE DATING, LADIES. THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO PICK UP YOUR NEXT MAN. # ...FOR SO LONG... HI. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I'M HEATHER. YOU NEED TO PREPARE YOURSELF, THOUGH. THERE IS SERIOUS BLING, STACKS OF CASH. AND THIS LOT, WELL, THEY KISS RIGHT ON THE MOUTH. OOH, THIS PLACE ` IT'S RAUNCHY. UGH. ISN'T IT? BUT, LADIES, IT'S WORTH IT. BECAUSE IF YOU MARRY YOURSELF A PENSIONER, DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE ` OR YOUNG ` YOU TOO WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE PENSION. FREE MONEY! FIRST I'VE EVER HEARD OF IT. RAY DOES NOT BELIEVE ME, BUT IT IS TRUE. WENDY HERE MARRIED HERSELF A PENSIONER, AND SHE'S ABOUT TO GET SUPER TOO. SHE FELT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AT THE START. YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE 49 AND GOING ON A PENSION. IT SOUNDS REALLY ODD. SHE'S 51 NOW, SO IT'S OK. AND CHECK THIS OUT ` 12,000 UNDER 65S ARE ALREADY PENSIONERS. THEY'RE OFFICIALLY CALLED 'NON-QUALIFYING SPOUSES'. THEY CAN'T SIGN UP FOR SUPER IF THEY'RE EARNING HUGE AMOUNTS OF BLING ALREADY. AND HERE'S AN INTERESTING THING ` 37% ARE IMMIGRANTS, MOSTLY FROM SAMOA, CHINA, THE PHILIPPINES AND THE UK. DO YOU THINK IT'S FAIR THAT PEOPLE UNDER 65 CAN GET THE PENSION? WELL, I THINK IT'S FAIR THAT WE HAVE A POLICY, YEAH. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WELL, I THINK IT'S FAIR THAT WE HAVE A POLICY, YEAH. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY, MINISTER. I LOVE SOME FREE MONEY. BUT SOME GUYS WHO'VE PAID TAXES THEIR WHOLE LIVES TO GET THE PENSION ` THEY DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR. NO. GET OUT AND GET A JOB. BUT, HEY, LET'S NOT MAKE TROUBLE. LET'S MARRY A PENSIONER INSTEAD! THEY'RE KEEN. YEAH, I'M INTO ORAL SEX NOW. ALL I DO IS TALK ABOUT IT. WELL, WITH THAT, ANDY SET OFF BETTY, WHO NOW WANTS YOUNG MEN ALSO TO VISIT AS WELL. WHY NOT? IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE OLD GUYS, WHY NOT? IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE OLD GUYS, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR OLD WOMEN. AND ME? WELL,... ARE YOU ASKING ME TO MARRY YOU? NOT TONIGHT. YEAH, I'M NOT ON THE PENSION YET. Have you had a call since then? To clarify . My husband is 62. You don't automatically get that you have to have a salary of less than 50,000. How did you get on to that story? NOW, AS THE SAYING GOES ` IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN. BUT IF YOU CAN STAND IT AND THRIVE UNDER IT, WELL, HERE'S AN IDEA FOR YOU. YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET A KIWI CHEF WHO'S BOWLED INTO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST KITCHENS IN THE WORLD AND GIVEN IT A HEALTHY SERVING OF KIWI ATTITUDE. HERE'S MICHAEL HOLLAND. IN THE LAND OF ALL THAT IS FAST AND FAT,... EVERYWHERE YOU GO, SOMEONE WANTS A BURGER. ...IT'S AUDACIOUS, DARN RIGHT CHEEKY, EVEN. FOOD SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN DEFINITIVE FLAVOUR. IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE JAMMED BETWEEN TWO BITS OF BREAD. YEP, HE WITH THE DELICIOUSLY DISMISSIVE TONGUE... APPLE CHUTNEY, CHEF. IS ONE OF US, DARING TO BRING A TASTE OF HIS ROOTS... LOOK AT THAT. NICE MEDIUM RARE ` YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THAT. ...TO REFINED PALATES IN AN UPMARKET SUBURB OF NORTH LA. KIWI AS, BROTHER. BORN AND RAISED. WHEN THEY COME IN THE DOOR, DO THEY KNOW WHAT NZ CUISINE IS? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I HAVE NO IDEA. NONE. HONEST FOOD, HONEST FOOD. I TELL PEOPLE VENISON IS FROM NZ ` IT'S FARM BRED DEER FROM NZ ` THEY ARE LIKE, 'REALLY?' I'M, LIKE, 'YEAH, LOOK AT IT. GOING WITH THE VENISON. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I THINK, BUT I CAN SWITCH. GWITH THOMAS AND HIS CALIFORNIAN WIFE, JUSTINE, MET WHEN SHE WAS DINING WITH HER FAMILY AT A TOP AUCKLAND HOTEL. HER SUITOR IN WAITING WAS SERVING TEPPANYAKI AT A NEIGHBOURING TABLE. I'M HER DAD, SO I SAW GWITH LOOKING OVER AT JUSTINE, AND I CAUGHT JUSTINE LOOKING OVER AT HIM. THREE YEARS LATER, THEY WERE MARRIED. NORTH ISLAND. I'M ONE OF THE OTHER IMPORTED INGREDIENTS IN THIS RESTAURANT. SHE IMPORTED ME OUT HERE. PEOPLE HAVE SAID, 'YOU ARE 26, AND YOUR WIFE IS 23. YOU GUYS ARE OPENING A RESTAURANT?' 'REALLY?' I WILL GIVE ANYTHING A TRY ONCE. WE WERE JUST JOKING ABOUT WHEN WE WERE IN OUR 20S WHAT WE WERE DOING, AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T RUNNING A RESTAURANT. WHAT'S THE NAME ON THE COVER? AH-ROHA. ONE MORE TIME? AH-ROHA. AH-ROHA, NO? KIWI AS, BROTHER. WHEN YOU ENTER OUR RESTAURANT, YOU'RE ENTERING NZ SOIL. HELP ME OUT. I'M JUST AN AMERICAN HERE. I'M ENJOYING YOU JUST BEING AN AMERICAN. THIS IS A SIGN OF GRATITUDE THAT WAS GIVEN BY THE NZ CONSULATE WHEN THEY CAME TO DINE AT THE RESTAURANT. YOU'VE HAD THE TOP NZ DOGS HERE ALREADY? YES. YES, WE HAVE. THEY WERE THE FIRST TO DINE IN THE RESTAURANT. LAMB SIRLOIN. IT'S THE TOP SIRLOIN. TOO MANY PEOPLE USE THE RACK OUT HERE. IT'S SUCH A WASTED CUT OF MEAT OUT HERE, THE SIRLOIN. IT'S WHAT WE USED TO USE A LOT OF BACK HOME. AND THAT WARM SENSE OF BACK HOME... BRANDY SNAPS ` THAT'S THE HONEST TRUTH. ...IS EXACTLY WHAT'S BROUGHT THIS LONG TRANSPLANTED KIWI COUPLE HERE WITH THEIR CURIOUS AMERICAN COBBERS IN TOW. I JUST WANTED TO COME AND HAVE A TASTE OF NZ. I HOPE HE SUCCEEDS. THIS IS AN AREA PEOPLE LOVE TO GO OUT AND TRY NEW RESTAURANTS. I JUST WANT TO SHOWCASE WHAT NZ HAS TO OFFER MY RULE IS IF ANYONE WANTS A VENISON THAT'S OVER MEDIUM, I ACTUALLY GO OUT THERE AND SAY, 'I WOULD RATHER SERVE YOU MY CLOG ON A PLATE, 'BECAUSE ITS GOING TO BE SO CHEWY,' HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CLIENTELE IN THESE PARTS? DISCERNING? OH, VERY DISCERNING AND VERY HIGH END. HIGH MAINTENANCE, WEALTHY. WHINING. DEMANDING. FOR ALL THAT, THOUGH, THEY'RE NOT BEYOND APPRECIATING DOLLOPS OF KIWI BRASHNESS WITH THEIR FARE. THIS IS A LABOUR OF LOVE. I AM GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LONG LONG TIME. IT'S FANTASTIC. HE'S VERY BRAVE. I LOVE HIS ENERGY. WHAT NEXT? IF THIS WORKS OUT WELL, I WANT TO OPEN A SEAFOOD RESTAURANT AND I WANT TO CALL IT KAIMOANA. ANOTHER MOUTHFUL FOR OUR STATESIDE FRIENDS TO BOTH ENJOY AND GET THEIR TONGUES AROUND. AROHA. AND IT MEANS? AND IT MEANS LOVE. LOVE ` IT'S GOT A HEART. BANG ON THE MONEY. IT MEANS LOVE. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. One of Kiwi cuisine? . Lamb, BBq. Steak and cheese pie? . That's one of the things on my cookbook. Those patrons will tell if the food wasn't up to it. COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` THERE WILL BE RIOTING IN THE STREETS. POSSIBLY A BIT OVER THE TOP, TIM, BUT DO WE CARE ABOUT THE POTATO SHORTAGE? STREETS OF LAREDO'S 'GIRLFRIEND' No matter when the decision was made, it's always taken guts to up sticks and call NZ home. We were never the near neighbour or the obvious choice. So we have a maverick streak, an inbuilt desire to avoid the predictable and find our own path. This is what Kiwibank was born from. We started a revolution to bring this independent spirit to banking. A bunch of Kiwis making Kiwis better off ` that's what we get up for. And in 12 short years, we've already helped thousands and thousands pay off their loans, get into their first home, grow their dream business, save for their retirement. Helping Kiwis achieve their ultimate goal and the reason we all came here in the first place ` true independence. 'GIRLFRIEND' CONTINUES Every revolution needs a leader. 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. JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, THERE'S A POTATO FAMINE IN NZ ` A MASSIVE SHORTFALL. SOME CROPS ARE DOWN 40% AND THE PRICE OF CHIPS IS UP BY A FIFTH, AND THIS HAS GOT TIM WILSON IN A PANIC. IS CHRISTMAS POSSIBLE WITHOUT SPUDS? SANTA CAN WAVE HIS FAT DUMB HAND ALL HE LIKES. CHRISTMAS IS UNDER ATTACK FROM MOTHER NATURE, AND THE FIRST CASUALTY OF THIS WAR IS SPUDS. TOO WET IN THE NORTH; TOO DRY IN THE SOUTH. THE HARVEST IS PUCKAROOED. THERE'S A POTATO SHORTAGE. OH NO. IN WHICH COUNTRY? MAYBE THEY'LL HAVE TO EVACUATE THE ISLAND. THAT'S HORRIBLE. (CHUCKLES) NAH, IT'S PRETTY BAD. POTATOES ARE GREAT. I MIGHT JUST START, LIKE, BUYING ALL THE POTATOES AND, LIKE, STORING THEM UP. THE POTATO FAMINE, EH? THERE'LL BE RIOTING IN THE STREETS. UM. YEAH, I HAVEN'T ORGANISED ANYTHING YET. GOT A GUY AT WORK WHO CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIS CHIPS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? NO CHIPS. NO CHIPS. BOTH LAUGH IN THE FRIDGE, A BOWL OF DIP WAITS. NOW, IF YOU SAID THERE'S A VODKA SHORTAGE, NOW, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT SAD. WHAT TO DO AT CHRISTMAS? (SIGHS) I'LL HAVE TO HAVE PAVLOVA AND TRIFLE. YAMS. SWEDE. ARE WE ON FILM? NO. OK, GOOD. THAT'S NOT ROLLING. GOOD. MIGHT HAVE TO SWITCH TO KUMARA. PARSNIPS. TARO. TARO? YEAH? ANY GOOD? OH, YEAH. HAVE YOU SEEN JONAH LOMU? YEAH. YEAH, HE'S A BIG BOY. TARO? TARO. DO YOU WANT AN OFFERING OF HOPE? WHAT'S THE OFFERING OF HOPE? # HOT POTATO, HOT POTATO. # OH, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN! THANK YOU. BOTH LAUGH # HOT POTATO, POTATO, POTATO. # THANKS, MATE. THANK YOU. That guy was great. Tim is worried because of wife is pregnant and craving potatoes. That's making a little but sad ` no potatoes. . We have something better to spend money on. HORSE DOODLES FOR NZ RIDING FOR THE DISABLED. To be clear ` drawing a picture. This was Mike's one. Mike didn't draw it. It was a collaboration. It's at $19. This is my one. This is child or baby's nursery. It's running at $52. It's a more refined ones, mark TODD ` $450. FRIZZELL $3800. I have to beat Mike. There is one that is beating Toni. It's done by a horse. As depicting one across the grass green fields. SO FAR, SO GOOD. THE ALCOHOL LIMIT ALMOST HALVED YESTERDAY, AND JUDGING BY THE NEWS STORIES OR LACK OF THEM, WE'RE DOING OK NOT BREAKING THAT RULE SO FAR, GRANTED IT WAS A MONDAY NIGHT. THIS NEW LIMIT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING THAT NORMALLY GETS US GRUMBLING ABOUT THE NANNY STATE, SO I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING MY HUSBAND POINTED OUT TO ME. 30 YEARS AGO ` 1985 ` 669 PEOPLE DIED ON OUR ROADS. LAST YEAR THAT WAS DOWN TO 254. IT MORE THAN HALVED. YES, OUR CARS ARE STURDIER AND WE'RE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT WE ARE WAY MORE CAREFUL ABOUT DRINK-DRIVING AS WELL. SO TO KEEP THE ROAD TOLL HEADING SOUTH, I THINK I'LL HAPPILY TAKE THIS NANNY STATE RULE. IT'S NOT EVERY NIGHT WE ACKNOWLEDGE SOMEONE FOR A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY. TONIGHT I THINK IT'S WARRANTED. SUSAN COUCH TURNS 50 TODAY. YOU'LL REMEMBER SHE WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE HORRIFIC RSA MURDERS IN 2001. NEXT WEEK MARKS 13 YEARS SINCE THAT DAY. SHE WAS IN HER 30S AT THE TIME. THE SAVAGE BEATING MEANT SHE'S SPENT THE LAST 13 YEARS LEARNING TO WALK, TALK AND EAT AGAIN, AND TO THIS DAY STILL SUFFERS FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. THE THING THAT KEEPS HER GOING IS HER SON, JACKSON, AND SLOWLY SHE'S RECOVERED AND CAN NOW DO THINGS LIKE TEXTING. SHE CAN DRIVE AND CLIMB STAIRS. I'M TOLD SHE NEVER COMPLAINS, DOESN'T FEEL SORRY FOR HERSELF AND IS A WARM, BRAVE AND AN INSPIRATIONAL MUM. MANY PEOPLE DREAD TURNING 50, BUT FOR SUSAN COUCH, IT SIGNIFIES SURVIVAL. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUSAN. WE HOPE YOU'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY. YOU CERTAINLY DESERVE IT. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. SEE YOU TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY PIPPA JEFFERIES AND ANNA BRACEWELL-WORRALL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2014