1 Tonight ` a chilling case of animal abuse. Totally disgusted. I just couldn't believe it. They thought they were buying healthy calves and got delivered this. These were just the pits. It was black and white cruelty. So where's the compensation? I think it was a bully tactic. Disgusting. And ` taking the plunge for consumer rights. Dad must have put me in the water before I could walk. But technology has left her vulnerable. How do you set your alarm, Myra? Well, first of all, you open the flap. Right. And then I have no idea. (LAUGHS) Plus ` kapa haka koha. Aaa! They've seen the best and worst of people. Broke my heart that somebody could rip our kids ` our Maori kids off. But tonight it's a big shout-out to Kiwi generosity. It's just unbelievable, and quite an emotional day, to be honest. Kia ora. Welcome to the show. We lead tonight with a story of animal abuse. It cost 12 calves their lives and left a Wairarapa farmer badly out of pocket. Now, this case highlights the pitfalls of buying livestock over the internet. And it proves that convictions and compensation don't always go hand in hand. And a warning ` some people might find aspects of this story disturbing. It was just after New Years three years ago. Jane Donald and her husband, Mark Johnson, went up to the gate to get their late Christmas present. They'd spent $12,900 on 30 calves, bought on TradeMe and delivered on a truck. And when they saw them, they were... Totally disgusted. I just couldn't believe it. They've farmed all their lives, but they'd never seen this. I know you get sick calves, and I know it's soul-destroying, but these were just the pits. Take a look at what starving baby cows look like. I think the worst was about 56 kilos. That's not much heavier than a newborn; these calves were 3 months old. They called in the vets, who in turn alerted the Ministry of Primary Industries, who tested the animals. And it showed gross malnutrition. I think the bone marrow was just full of gel. One vet called it 'the worst case of production animal malnutrition I have been involved with.' Up to 24 of the 30 cows had been ill-treated; 12 of those could not be saved. So, they hold the little gun against their head and then a bolt just ` doing-doing. Yeah. The calves were killed by a government animal welfare officer; they were too starved to save. It was awful, seeing 12 calves lying dead in a heap. Oh god. Oh, that's right ` it's under` Yep. Three years later, this little manila folder tells the story of a Dispute Tribunal hearing, a court case, lawyers' letters, emails, all in an effort for Jane and Mark to get their money back. I was gonna burn it. Jane does most of the talking for the family. Just as well I didn't, wasn't it? The woman who sold the starving calves is Lucy Richmond, through her company Snitz and Gigglez Farming Ltd. Present day, she runs this equestrian shop in Waipawa. Back then, she sold calves on TradeMe. She wanted 40% plus GST up front,... Which was $5934. ...and the rest before the calves were delivered. So she had the money to buy the calves and start feeding them. When the calves arrived, Jane called and then emailed her this ` READS: We're really disappointed with them, and would never have bought them if we'd seen them. What is the story re money that we have paid you in good faith? Lucy Richmond sent back an email talking lawyers. READS: It is well known calves can lose condition during transport if they are stressed or if transported in poor conditions. I am prepared to seek legal advice if this matter should carry on. They were actually on the truck for four hours. I think it was a bully tactic. Jane sent a letter from her own lawyer, but got no refund, so took Lucy Richmond to the Disputes Tribunal, where, halfway through the hearing, according to Jane, this happened. Then Lucy said to the arbitrator she was going out of the room to seek other advice. And he said, 'You can't do that,' but she did. (CHUCKLES) And she came back in and said that it wasn't Lucy Richmond, it was Snitz and Gigglez Farming Ltd that were the respondent. Which our lawyer had said don't go down that track, because she will just fold it. So, here's where it gets tricky. By saying the company Snitz and Gigglez Ltd sold the cows, rather than Lucy Richmond, it means she can fold the company and not pay a cent. So when the Disputes Tribunal ordered them to pay $9600, guess what happened. Mm. The Disputes Tribunal got this letter from Lucy Richmond saying Snitz and Gigglez Farming Ltd had ceased trading. Disgusting. So then Jane contacted the Ministry of Justice to see if they could help her get that $9600 refund paid. They said that they had rung her and she said that there was no money left in the Farming Ltd, so that was all they did. So I was very, very grumpy. (CHUCKLES) We caught Lucy Richmond on the phone one Friday afternoon. I had a call from Jane Donald. Does that name ring any bells? 'She told us she was surprised she owed Jane money.' Yeah. Do you have any plans to pay her? 'That was her explanation for not paying the Disputes Tribunal judgement.' And that wasn't the end of Lucy Richmond's legal troubles. MPI also took the case to court. These documents show Lucy Richmond's company Snitz and Gigglez Farming Ltd, now operating under a new name ` Ma Belle Contracting ` was fined $5000 in the Hastings District Court for mistreating the calves They were also ordered to pay Jane Donald $7313. The animals ` were they mistreated, or was that wrong too? 'Lucy Richmond still maintains her innocence.' But they... But they prosecuted you in the court. No, but they prosecuted ` as in they took you to court for maltreatment. So they wouldn't say it's fine. No, they did. MPI. MPI took you to court for mistreating the animals. Having been awarded by the court $7000, Jane Donald was expecting $7000. But instead we got a cheque for $220. It was a bit gutting. So I rang the Ministry of Justice, and they said that she had done a budget, or they had done a budget and she was gonna be paying us $220 a month, which lasted for four payments. So Jane went back to the Ministry of Justice again. And they said she'd folded the next company, which was Ma Belle Contracting. Hi, Lucy. Hadyn Jones calling from the Fair Go programme. Hi, how are you? 'Lucy Richmond still swears the cows were fine when they left her house. 'But by her logic they must have then lost a lot of weight on one four-hour truck ride. 'She promised to produce documents supporting her case.' Hey, I'm just actually driving. Can I give you a call in probably 20 minutes? Yeah, that'll be fine. 'Lucy never produced any documents and didn't call back.' But we did get an email saying she'd had a baby, a family member was very sick and she wanted privacy. She did, though, pay Jane Donald $1100, which is four months' missed reparation payments of $220 a month. Jane was amazed and surprised. The money will help Jane feed her new calves, which are thriving on a bit of green grass, fresh air and some care and attention. And you'll be pleased to know Lucy Richmond is up to date with her payments. Another $220 went through at the end of August. We will be checking September's goes through as well. OK, changing pace now. It's time to test your consumer knowledge. If you're planning on shifting, you really should know the answer to tonight's true-or-false challenge. It's the birthplace of the World of Wearable Art and home to the WOW Museum, where there's no shortage of spectacular sights. We're in Nelson, to put your consumer knowledge to the test. And we've come prepared for a lot of correct answers. 'That's right ` $20 for anyone who gets all five questions correct. Today, question three `' if you're moving house, your contents insurance will cover any damage to your stuff in transit. True or false? I'll put true for that. False. Both sound reasonably confident there. Yeah. They'll get out of anything. Maybe. (LAUGHS) It should do. It should do. You might have to notify them. I think it's true. Yes. I'd say true. I'm saying false. False. False. True. Uh... I'll go with true. You're gonna go with true? Yeah. But I don't know. (CHUCKLES) Wouldn't have a clue. (LAUGHTER) I have no idea! Wow. That's a tricky one. True or false? We'll let you know soon. Obviously your insurance contents policy is a really important document, so I haven't read it at all, but I'm gonna say false. OK. So you've gotta get separate insurance by your mover... Ooh! ...to make sure nothing happens while you're moving. Am I right? You'll find out soon enough. Come on. I wanna know. No. Coming up after the break ` age is no barrier when it comes to fighting for your consumer rights. I want them to take the damn thing out. She's a hard case who's been hard done by. He didn't show me, he just did it himself and turkeyed off. A technological upgrade has left her cut off. It was absolutely hopeless. And ` # Haere mai. # ...they've got a new kit and a lot to shout about. Aaa! These smiles are all thanks to you. It's just unbelievable, and quite an emotional day, to be honest. Welcome back. In today's oh-so-wired world, it's hard to avoid the march of progress. Yes. Now, here's a fun fact, in case you wanted one ` it's now 30 years since the country's first mobile-phone network was launched. Back then, of course, you needed some deep pockets and strong arms, because a mobile weighed 2kg and cost $6000. Wow! Well, technology has come a long way since then ` too far for some, who long for the days when the world responded to a simple on-off switch. Here's Hannah. (LAID-BACK MUSIC) Don't call 90-year-old Myra Larcombe a little battler or a plucky pensioner. No labels ` Myra just wants to get on with it, living a big life. I've always, always swum. I think I` Dad must've put me in the water before I could walk. In summer, Myra teaches swimming to local schoolkids. I love teaching the kids. They're, they're lovely kids ` all the schools. The kids are lovely. (CHUCKLES) Yeah. And for decades she's been a star at the Masters Games. Nowadays, though, metal in her hip and a dodgy shoulder affect her swimming style. I mean, I swim like a hairy goat now, I suppose, because of my metal problems. (CHUCKLES) Well, I think we'll be the judge of whether you look like a hairy goat or not. 'So, bit of a swimming legend is Myra.' She even opened the local pool. Competing in Masters Games has meant lots of travel, and ` here's the Fair Go bit ` it's also meant having a home alarm system. Well, you just pushed a button, put your code in, and it was alarmed. 'He pihi keke. 'But ADT Security needed to update Myra's 15-year-old system with a new alarm.' And when he left, I realised he'd cut off my phone ` my landline, it was cut off. Do you have a cell phone? No, of course I don't have a cell phone; I'm too flaming old. (LAUGHS) I don't know how to use them. The technician came back and fixed the phone, but then Myra's computer troubles began. The computer kept saying it was unresponsive. Infuriating, because Myra uses the computer every day; she's writing a book about her incredible life, as the first ever policewoman in Northland, and running kayak adventure tours in Hawaii, travelling the world with the Masters Games. Her mokopuna asked her to write it. Kids have no idea what it was like in those days. 'No electricity, Nana? How did you manage?' (LAUGHS) 'So, the computer was on the blink. And the fancy new alarm? A real headache.' OK, show me ` how do you set your alarm, Myra? Well, first of all, you open the flap. Right. And then I have no idea. (LAUGHS) It's gobbledegook. That's a really good start (!) You have no idea. No, I have no idea what to push. OK, so, we've got a lot of buttons here. Yeah. And what do they all mean? Yes. There's a little house with no one in it. And there's a top hat, for God's sake. There's a top hat! Well, that's for when you're going out, of an evening. I honestly have no idea. Totally and utterly unsuitable. 'Myra says she did ask ADT for help.' So they sent this guy back again to show me how to use it, but he didn't go by the manual; he just said, 'Oh no, you just do this, and you do that, and you do that.' He didn't show me, he just did it himself and turkeyed off. (CHUCKLES) Yeah, well. That's my new favourite saying, Myra. (LAUGHS) 'Myra also rang ADT Security.' And the person on the other end of the telephone would try to talk me through it. But it still wouldn't work, so they'd hand me on to somebody else, then they'd have a go. It was absolutely hopeless. 'Now we've got the computer not working properly, the alarm's complicated, 'and Myra also finds her downstairs phone's been cut off ` and when we say cut off...' It's just been cut right off, hasn't it? Yeah. 'Myra says the technician damaged the junction box and then just taped it back together. 'It's still pretty loose and wobbly, and, to get the most reliable internet connection, 'Myra puts this bit of black plastic under the box. It's pretty Micky Mouse. 'But otherwise...' It affects my computer and my page goes unresponsive and it makes me angry. (CHUCKLES) And we don't want that. No. (LAID-BACK MUSIC) I get so cross, I go outside and work off my bad temper doing some gardening or something. 'As you can tell from Myra's DIY watering can, she's one to look for solutions, not stoushes.' Let's go back to ADT. You rang them, you said, 'Your mate's been round. He's broken the junction box. He's disconnected my downstairs phone.' Yes. 'Things aren't working, what are you gonna do?' Well the, the girl on the other end of the phone said, 'Oh, look, we'll have to get back to you,' because, well, she couldn't answer me could she? But nobody ever did. Nobody ever did. You just go ahead. I'll just freestyle it. You do that, OK, but use the right notes. (LAUGHS) OK, I'll try and remember that. 'Myra's a very patient woman ` I know this after getting a quick piano lesson from her.' (BOTH PLAY TUNE) 'But the alarm issues have gone on a year now. 'Myra just wants a refund of the monthly payments she's already made ` that's around $500 ` 'and she wants the alarm removed at no cost.' I want them to take the damn thing out and fix my junction box and pay me what they owe me. Oh. Myra ` she's a peach, isn't she? Isn't she cool? And 'turkey off'? New favourite saying. We think it's gonna trend wherever those things end up trending. Exactly. Now, look, ADT Security have been back in touch. They told us... Myra agreed to the upgrade. The phone was cut off by a 'local third party subcontractor', who did a 'courtesy' re-visit, after which, ADT understood the problems had been fixed. They will develop a more user-friendly guide for the alarm, and had written off Myra's charges prior to Fair Go becoming involved. That's great, but it was a surprise visit from a couple of ADT staff that got Myra really excited. I was staggered, absolutely staggered. They came and repaired the junction box and put on my downstairs phone and took away the alarm system. Isn't it amazing? A phone call from Fair Go and wow ` everything's all go, all gone, all done ` finito. Brilliant. Pleased about that? Oh, am I`? Are you kidding? Of course I'm pleased! The visiting technician ` a different one ` glued this back together. He assured me that it was perfectly stable, and I did tutu with it, and it didn't come apart, so I guess he's right. And the computer's also working. It's a wee bit slow, but hey, at least I know that it's not gonna go unresponsive. Where the alarm used to be, there's just holes. I'm not worried about the holes. No, not at all. Oh, I feel lovely now. I am so glad it's gone. (CHUCKLES) (PHONE RINGS) While we were talking, ADT Security phoned to say... They're going to improve their customer relations. Which just leaves the downstairs phone. Myra, have you got dial tone? I've got a dial tone, yep, so that's choice. Why the heck couldn't they have done that a year ago? They wouldn't listen to me. It took Fair Go before they even got off their butts. (GASPS) Sorry. (LAUGHS) Ooh, no 'butts' on this programme. (LAUGHS) But, we are` I've said 'butt' too! We are gonna turkey off. And after the break, we're gonna be singing the praises of some very generous Fair Go viewers. Broke my heart that somebody could rip our kids ` our Maori kids off. They've seen the worst of people... Tremendous, just to see the smiles on the kids. Lovely. ...and the absolute best of people. I think now they realise that there's more people out there with a heart - more people that care. Kapa haka koha brings a tear to the eye. Welcome back. Now, we all love a happy ending, and this one has been a couple of months in the making. Yes. Over the past year, Glen Taylor School's kapa haka group has seen the worst and absolute best of people. Tonight, they pay tribute to the best. Here's Matt. (CHANTS AGGRESSIVELY) Aaaa! GIRL: # Haere mai. Good things, they say,... # Haere mai. # ...come to those who wait. (ALL CHANT) And after a long and frustrating year holding fire, Glen Taylor School's kapa haka kids are finally performing in their flash new kit. I think these are really gangsta gangsta cool. (LAUGHS) Swag! (LAUGHS) Do you wanna explain that for our older viewers? Yeah, sure. (LAUGHS) Like, you're cool, you're swag, you're, confident, you're brave... in my own meaning. # E karanga e te iwi e. That confidence, that courage,... # Kua eke mai nei... # ...all thanks to you, our viewers. To see the outcry of support from the nation, to get to the point where we are today, it's just unbelievable, and quite an emotional day, to be honest. (SINGING CONTINUES) Before we see more of that emotion, let's take you back to how we got here. This hard-working decile one school community raised $3500 for stylie new kapa haka uniforms. Fundraisings, like discos, sausage sizzles,... Bake sales. ...all sorts. And after nearly a year of waiting, the woman paid to make the new kit delivered nothing but broken promises and excuses,... I feel like we've been let down and we've been used. ...which infuriated many of you. TEARFULLY: Broke my heart that somebody could rip our kids ` our Maori kids off. Eddie Brown from Papakura's Kapa Haka Makers took on the contract ` 50 brand spanking new uniforms free of charge. As soon as I saw it on Fair Go, I thought, 'These kids need help.' Before the end of the show, we decided we're gonna make their gear for them. Fast-forward two months, and after Papa Big's blessing,... Our brand-new kapa haka kit. (CHILDREN CHEER) ...it's out with the old and on with the new. You look amazing. How are the nerves today? I'm pretty nervous. Nervous. (LAUGHS) Worse comes to worst, there's only about 400,000 or 500,000 people watching. OK. (LAUGHTER) # Kua eke mai nei... # But finally kitted out in the school's red and blue, Glen Taylor's kapa haka kids were flawless, delivering a high-spirited, sparkling performance, as they gave back to some of those generous souls who came to their rescue. Oh, it's just tremendous, just to see the smiles on the kids. Lovely. I feel proud of them So you should. Good on ya. Thank you. While viewers also hooked the school up with $8000 in cold, hard cash, together, Eddie, Jenny Campbell and Marie Cotter donated about $10,000 worth of new uniforms. Showing people who we truly are as a kapa haka group. Costumes that were a hit with both the performers and the audience right off the bat. # Ru ana te whenua pakipaki hi! # We were all crying just around the corner. You were crying before it started. LAUGHS: Yeah, I know. I saw... I saw our babies in their uniforms, and I just... I could feel... I could feel it. (BOYS PERFORM HAKA) Energy that only grew with time on the stage. BOYS: Ringaringa pakia! I think now they realise that there's more people out there with a heart more people that care. So where do they go now? Oh, look, it's there for them. They've got their uniforms. I wanna to see them go into competition now. I want them to learn. They can, and they will. BOYS: Hi! Pukana! Aaa! This, as you'd expect, music to a very proud principal's ears. Words can't explain the pride that I have in the group. I've never seen the passion or the excitement or the smiles on their face as I've seen today. Is it fair to say things have actually turned out all right? Every cloud has a silver lining. To see the support from throughout New Zealand, yeah, it's amazing. Yes, this is the 100% pure New Zealand, the kind of society we all want to live in. Good on ya, Aotearoa. For all those people who couldn't come and arrive here, on behalf of kapa haka, I would like to say a big thank you. We wouldn't have been here without you guys, so thanks for helping us. Oh, I could feel my cold heart melting away there. Aw! And didn't they look amazing? Now, we should point out ` the designer who took the school's money and failed to deliver has made a full refund. Great stuff. OK, time for the moment of truth. If you've been following the true-or-false challenge, like I have, you'll know... work affecting the structure or weathertightness of a home should be done ` or supervised ` by a licensed practitioner. And, you are allowed to bid on your own home at an auction, as long as it's below the reserve and you've declared it, which is a really weird rule. (CHUCKLES) Well, it's time to head back to Nelson for tonight's answer. Question three in our Fair Go true/false challenge, and we're asking, if you're moving house, your contents insurance will cover any damage to your stuff in transit. Only if you've actually arranged it, I think, so I'll say 'false'. You'll go false again? And that's a good call, because false it is. In the world's stingiest television competition, I've gotta get five questions for 20 bucks. Yes! I've got three. Yes. You're $12 away there. But we're not always stingy, because remember ` great prizes. Ah, yes. Just three weeks left to get those Kids' Ad Award entries polished to perfection. Now, the maximum duration is 30 seconds and the deadline is Friday the 29th of September, so you better get cracking. Mm-hm. All entries have to be submitted online. Go to our website ` tvnz.co.nz ` and search Fair Go, or head to our Facebook page. That's the show for tonight. We'll be on Facebook for the next half-hour to answer your questions. So get tapping; we'll be right there. Yes, our programme is all about your problems, your thoughts; we do love to hear from you. We're on Facebook, or you can email us ` fairgo@tvnz.co.nz or you can still write to us ` Private Bag 92038 Auckland, postcode is 1142. That's our show. Until next week,... BOTH: Po marie.