TONIGHT ` TAX AND HOUSING. TWO POLITICAL LEADERS, TWO VERY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES. LABOUR FORCED TO BACKTRACK ON HOUSING TARGETS AS NATIONAL REVEALS ITS TAX PLAN. THE OUTCRY OVER THIS SO-CALLED LAMB-SCAPE ` A SACRED MOUNTAIN SUFFERS ANOTHER INDIGNITY THAT HAS SOME MAORI SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. AND SELLING A VIRTUAL REALITY VERSION OF WELLINGTON ` THE $300,000 COMPUTER GAME AIMED AT DRAWING VISITORS TO THE CAPITAL. CAPTIONS BY MICHAELA CORNELIUS AND CHELSEA BRADY CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2019 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. IT WAS A BOLD PROMISE THAT NOW WON'T STAND. LABOUR NOW TRYING TO COOL EXPECTATIONS OVER ITS TROUBLED KIWIBUILD PROGRAMME, WITH ANOTHER BACKTRACK ON THE NUMBER OF NEW HOMES PROMISED IN THE COMING YEARS. POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY HAS THE DETAILS. THE SUITS ARE OFF FOR THE SUMMER RETREAT, BUT THE MESSAGE TO MPs ` IT'S TIME TO DELIVER. THERE IS A LONG LIST OF AREAS WHERE WE ARE NOW RIGHTLY IN DELIVERY MODE. BUT CRITICALLY ON THE KEY POLICY KIWIBUILD, THE GOVERNMENT'S ALREADY BEHIND. IT PROMISED 1000 HOMES BY JULY THIS YEAR. LAST WEEK, THAT WAS DOWNGRADED TO 300, BUT NOW WE'VE NOW LEARNED THE PLAN TO BUILD 5000 HOMES BY JUNE 2020 AND 10,000 BY JUNE 2021 IS SCRAPPED TOO. THOSE INTERIM TARGETS HAVEN'T BEEN A USEFUL WAY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR DELIVERY PROGRAMME, AND THAT'S WHY THE MINISTER IS LOOKING AT THAT AGAIN. SO THEY ARE NOW SCRAPPED? AS WE'VE ALREADY SAID, THAT HASN'T BEEN A USEFUL WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE DELIVERY OF OUR PROGRAMME. I WOULD REGARD IT AS A RECALIBRATION. LOOK, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY EMBARRASSING. I THINK IT SHOWS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T EVEN BELIEVE IN KIWIBUILD ANY MORE. THE MINISTER IS GOING BACK TO CABINET AFTER RETHINKING THE PROGRAMME, AND HE'S NOT SURE IF THEY'LL SET NEW TARGETS. I'M JUST COMPLETELY FOCUSED AT THE MOMENT ON THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET KIWIBUILD BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES. THE PRIME MINISTER IS CLEAR THAT THE END GOAL REMAINS THE SAME. OUR 100,000 OVER 10 YEARS IS UNCHANGED. IT'S NOT EASY. IF IT WAS EASY, MAYBE THE FORMER GOVERNMENT WOULD'VE DONE IT. BUT NATIONAL SAYS IT'S ANOTHER FAILURE FOR KIWIBUILD. THEY'RE SAYING, 'LOOK IN A DECADE. LOOK BACK, AND WE MIGHT GET THERE.' WELL, NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WON'T GET A DECADE TO IMPLEMENT KIWIBUILD. A BUG INTERRUPTING PROCEEDINGS. WERE YOU CREATING A DISTRACTION? I CAN'T TELL IF IT WAS A BUG OR A BEE, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING DOWN MY FRONT. THEY BOTH HOPE KIWIBUILD WON'T CONTINUE TO BE A DISTRACTION AS THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO DELIVER IN 2019. SO THE GOVERNMENT'S GOT A LOT TO DEAL WITH RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE POLITICAL YEAR. NOT ONLY THIS HEADACHE AROUND KIWIBUILD AND THE TAX WORKING GROUP, BUT IT'S ALSO GOT TO ORGANISE ITS RESPONSE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH REPORT AND ALSO HOW IT'S GOING TO DEAL WITH THE FAIR PAY AGREEMENT. I WAS THERE WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER WAS GIVING HER OPENING REMARKS TO MPs, TELLING THEM HOW TO PLAN FOR 2019. SHE SAID THIS IS CRUNCH TIME. IT'S ABOUT GETTING STUFF DONE. DON'T FORGET, NEXT YEAR IS ELECTION YEAR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE JUDGED ON HOW MANY THINGS THEY CAN TICK OFF THE TO-DO LIST. NATIONAL'S UNVEILED A NEW PLAN FOR TAXES. ITS RELEASE IS AHEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN TAX WORKING GROUP REPORT WHICH IS DUE NEXT WEEK. BENEDICT COLLINS EXPLAINS WHAT THE NEW POLICY COULD MEAN FOR YOU. GIDDAY. I'M SIMON. CARTOON SIMON BRIDGES LAUNCHING NATIONAL'S TAX ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. COSTS LIKE PETROL, RENT AND ELECTRICITY ARE GOING UP, AND THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE A PLAN TO REDUCE THE HIT ON YOUR BACK POCKET. IN CHRISTCHURCH, THE REAL SIMON WAS EXPLAINING HIS PLAN. INCOME TAX THRESHOLDS WILL INCREASE EVERY THREE YEARS TO STAY IN LINE WITH THE COST OF LIVING. ONE TAX BRACKET EXAMPLE ` AT PRESENT, IF YOU EARN BETWEEN $48,000 AND $70,000, YOU'RE TAXED AT 30%. UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, IF INFLATION INCREASES 2%, THE TAX THRESHOLD IS ADJUSTED, RISING TO $50,900 AND UP TO MORE THAN $74,000. NATIONAL ESTIMATES THE FIRST ADJUSTMENT WILL COST THE CROWN $650M IN TAX REVENUE. AND THE POLICY CAME IN FOR CRITICISM TODAY. I NOTICED THEY DIDN'T DO IT IN THE NINE YEARS THEY WERE IN GOVERNMENT, AND THEY'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS EXPLAINING TO DO ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO AFFORD THIS. IT'S GIVING GOVERNMENT LESS FREEDOM TO PERIODICALLY RESET RATES AND THRESHOLDS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS AT THE TIME. UNDER NATIONAL'S PLAN, TREASURY WOULD REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT EVERY THREE YEARS AND TELL IT HOW THE INCOME TAX THRESHOLDS SHOULD BE ADJUSTED. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO VETO THAT ADVICE IF IT DECIDED TO. NATIONAL SAYS TOO MANY KIWIS ARE ENTERING THE TOP TAX BRACKET. AND THEY'RE NOT RICH. THEY ARE MECHANICS; THEY ARE TEACHERS; THEY ARE NURSES WHO ARE DOING ALL MANNER OF THINGS. SIMON BRIDGES IS PROMISING ROADS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BUT NO PETROL TAX. NIKKI KAYE IS PROMISING TO INCREASE TEACHERS' SALARIES, BUT AMY ADAMS SAYS WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE DEBT BY TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP. THE ECONOMIC PLAN IS THE FIRST OF MANY NATIONAL'S HOPING TO ROLE OUT THIS YEAR. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND TO HONOUR SLAIN CHINESE MOTHER XI WANG. THE 34-YEAR-OLD WAS ALLEGEDLY STABBED TO DEATH IN HER FLAT BUSH HOME LAST MONTH AS HER SON (4) WATCHED. HER EX-HUSBAND HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HER MURDER. THIS EVENING, SUPPORTERS LIT CHINESE INCENSE IN AOTEA SQUARE. THE VIGIL'S ORGANISERS, CHARITY 'SHAKTI', SAY THE DEATH HIGHLIGHTS A NEED FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR MIGRANT WOMEN WHO MAY FACE EXTRA BARRIERS IN SEEKING HELP FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. MANY WOMEN FROM MIGRANT BACKGROUNDS AND OF ALL BACKGROUNDS BEING MURDERED BY MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY, AND WE WANT THAT TO STOP, AND WE WANT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO GET ON BOARD AND PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING. MS WANG'S FORMER HUSBAND IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT NEXT MONTH. IT'S A CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SITE FOR MAORI, BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED A BUSINESS FROM DISRESPECTING TE MATA PEAK IN HAWKE'S BAY. FIRST A WALKING TRACK, NOW AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR LAMB IS CAUSING ANGER. THE EXPORTER HAS PULLED ITS AD, WHICH IT DESCRIBES AS A LAMB-SCAPE, AFTER COMPLAINTS. SEAN HOGAN EXPLAINS. THIS IS TE MATA PEAK IN HAWKE'S BAY ` REPRESENTED AS A RACK OF LAMB BY LOCAL MEAT COMPANY OVATION. INSENSITIVE. CULTURALLY UNSOUND. AND I FELT QUITE HOT UNDER THE COLLAR. I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH. THE LANDMARK IS SACRED TO LOCAL MAORI. MANY ANCESTORS ARE BURIED HERE. WE CALL THAT WAIHI TAPU. IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE FOR US. WE DON'T MIX FOOD AND TAPU OBJECTS TOGETHER. OVATION EXPORTS HAS AN OFFICE IN BRITAIN. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S TURNED A MOUNTAIN INTO A PIECE OF MEAT, BUT THE IMAGE HAS ANGERED IWI. WHEN YOU PUT A COMMODITY ON TOP OF SOMETHING, THAT IS AN INDICATION THAT THEY DON'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE. THE AD HAS BEEN IN A PRIME POSITION OVERLOOKING THE BAGGAGE CAROUSEL AT HAWKE'S BAY AIRPORT. 60,000 PASSENGERS PASS THROUGH HERE EVERY MONTH. IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE, TOTALLY. TRY PUTTING THAT ON STONEHENGE OR A WAR MEMORIAL. YOU WOULDN'T PUT IT ON THERE. TE MATA PEAK WAS AT THE HEART OF A STORM LAST YEAR WHEN WINERY CRAGGY RANGE BUILT A WALKING TRACK ON THE EASTERN FACE WITH RESOURCE CONSENT. LOCAL IWI HADN'T BEEN CONSULTED AND THE TRACK IS NOW DUE TO BE REMOVED. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE JUST TAKEN A HUNDRED STEPS BACK AGAIN. IT WOULD BE HARD TO LIST A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT HAS GONE DOWN WITH TE MATA OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS. I JUST THINK THAT COMPANIES NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. 1 NEWS STARTED ENQUIRING THIS MORNING, AND BY MIDDAY THE AD HAD BEEN PULLED. HOWEVER, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMAGE HAS BEEN USED IN OVATION'S OVERSEAS MARKETING FOR YEARS. THE COMPANY HAS APOLOGISED AND SAYS IT NEVER INTENDED TO OFFEND. IT'LL NO LONGER DISPLAY THE IMAGE, BUT SAYS IT'LL TAKE TIME TO ELIMINATE THE 'LAMBSCAPE' FROM ALL EXISTING PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL. SEAN HOGAN, 1 NEWS. THE HOT SPELL CONTINUES WITH A FOURTH DAY OF NEAR-RECORD TEMPERATURES. DOZENS OF CENTRES HIT OVER 30 DEGREES, WITH THE NORTH CANTERBURY TOWN OF CHEVIOT REACHING 36 ` THE WARMEST TEMPERATURE OF THE SUMMER. SAM CLARKE REPORTS. WHEN THE GOING GETS HOT, THE HOT GO SWIMMING. IT'S REALLY HOT. YOU GET REALLY SWEATY. IT'S PERFECT ALREADY. IT'S BETTER IN THE POOL, BECAUSE IT'S COLD. DAY ONE AT SWANNANOA SCHOOL IN NORTH CANTERBURY COMBATING POST-HOLIDAY BLUES AND TEMPERATURES IN THE RED. IT MAKES SCHOOL A BIT MORE FUN, A BIT MORE ENJOYABLE, AND THE TEACHERS CAN SURVIVE THAT LITTLE BIT BETTER. DAYS OF UNINTERRUPTED HEAT HAVE TAKEN ITS TOLL ON MARLBOROUGH RIVERS ` FISH AND GAME FILMING THESE TROUT STUCK IN A SMALL POOL AFTER PARTS OF THE RIVER DRIED UP. I'M EXPECTING A LOT MORE FISH KILLS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNLESS WE GET RAIN, COS THE RIVERS ARE RECEDING PRETTY RAPIDLY. FOR OTHERS STUCK WORKING OUTSIDE, ITS BEEN A LONG WEEK. THE HEAT'S REALLY STARTING TO GET TO THEM A LITTLE BIT AFTER DAY FOUR NOW. BUILDERS, ROAD WORKERS, SCAFFOLDERS ` ALL NEEDING TO DUCK OUT OF THE MIDDAY SUN. SO WE'VE JUST TOLD THEM MORE BREAKS, GET IN THE UTES FOR A BIT OF AIR CONDITIONING AND WATCH EACH OTHER. THE HEAT ALSO PLAYED HAVOC WITH CARS. IT'S BEEN A BIG ONE WITH THIS HEAT. THE AA HAS SEEN A SURGE IN CALLOUTS, WITH MANY BATTERIES UNABLE TO STAND THE HEAT. LEAD ACID BATTERIES DON'T LIKE A LOT OF HEAT. ABOUT 27 DEGREES IS THEIR OPTIMUM TEMPERATURE, AND WE'VE DEFINITELY HAD MORE THAN THAT. EVEN THOSE USED TO THE HEAT TRYING TO COOL OFF. AT ORANA PARK OUTSIDE CHRISTCHURCH, ICE BLOCKS HAVE BEEN THE TREAT OF THE DAY. YOU'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE COPING IN THIS WEATHER AND SORT OF RELATE THAT BACK TO HOW THE ANIMALS ARE AS WELL. SO IF WE'RE FINDING IT PRETTY HOT, I'M SURE THEY ARE AS WELL. BUT SCIENTISTS SAY THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A HOT SPELL. IT IS CLIMATE CHANGE IN ACTION. YESTERDAY, BOTH WELLINGTON AND HAMILTON CRACKED RECORD TEMPERATURES. I'M AFRAID THAT BREAKING RECORDS IS PART OF LIVING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, AND IT JUST MAKES IT MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT WE'LL BREAK TEMPERATURE RECORDS. AND WITH MORE HOT DAYS ON THE HORIZON, THAT'S A PROMISE LIKELY TO BE KEPT. MEANWHILE, FORECASTERS HAVE ISSUED A STARK WARNING AS PARTS OF THE U.S. PREPARE FOR SOME EXTREME WEATHER. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SINK AS LOW AS MINUS-53 DEGREES CELSIUS. WEATHER OFFICIALS IN IOWA SAY PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID TAKING DEEP BREATHS AND MINIMISE TALKING IF THEY GO OUTSIDE. THEY'RE WARNING FROSTBITE COULD OCCUR IN AS LITTLE AS 10 MINUTES. BRITAIN IS HEADING FOR A NEW SHOWDOWN WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AFTER THERESA MAY BOWED TO PRESSURE FROM UK LAWMAKERS WHO DEMANDED SHE RE-NEGOTIATE HER BREXIT DEAL. IN A SHARP REVERSAL OF POLICY, THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAS AGREED TO RETURN TO BRUSSELS AND RE-OPEN TALKS TO REMOVE THE IRISH BORDER BACKSTOP. CHANNEL NINE'S MICHAEL BEST REPORTS FROM LONDON. CROWD CHANTING: WE ARE THE PEOPLE! A NATION SEARCHING FOR CERTAINTY... CROWD CHANTING: WE ARE THE PEOPLE! ...NOW KNOWS WHAT MPs WILL SUPPORT. ORDER! A MAJORITY VOTED FOR THERESA MAY TO GO BACK TO THE EU AND RENEGOTIATE HER DEAL. THE AYES TO THE RIGHT ` 318. THE NOES TO THE LEFT ` 310. TRYING TO GET RID OF THE HATED IRISH BACKSTOP ` THE BACK-UP PLAN TO KEEP THE BORDER ON THE EMERALD ISLE OPEN. TONIGHT, A MAJORITY OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE SAID THEY WOULD SUPPORT A DEAL WITH CHANGES TO THE BACKSTOP. JEREMY CORBYN SAYS HE WILL NOW MEET WITH MRS MAY, AND SHE WILL HEAD BACK TO THE CONTINENT TO TRY AND CHANGE EUROPEAN MINDS THAT SO FAR AREN'T BUDGING. (SPEAKS FRENCH) 'THIS EXIT AGREEMENT IS THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE 'AND IS NOT RENEGOTIABLE,' SAYS EMMANUEL MACRON. ORDER! THE COMMONS ALSO VOTED AGAINST A NO-DEAL BREXIT, BUT IT ISN'T LEGALLY BINDING, MORE AN INDICATION OF MEMBER'S THOUGHTS. BY MPs SIGNALLING HERE IN THE COMMONS THAT THEY DON'T WANT A NO-DEAL BREXIT, IT MAY ACTUALLY MAKE NEGOTIATING WITH THE EU NOW EVEN HARDER. BRITAIN HAS LOST A BIG BARGAIN CHIP ` THE THREAT OF A NO-DEAL AND THE RESULTING ECONOMIC CHAOS THAT ALSO HURTS THE EU. TWO MONTHS UNTIL BREXIT AND STILL NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. (CROWD SINGS) IT'S THE CAPITAL CITY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE IN WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE A WORLD-FIRST ` WELLINGTON HAS TURNED ITSELF INTO A VIRTUAL REALITY GAME IN A BID TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO VISIT WORK, PLAY, AND EVEN LIVE. MICHAEL CROPP REPORTS. TA-DA! THIS IS WELLTOWN. HERE WE ARE. QUITE THE VIEW, ISN'T IT? HERE YOU CAN SLING COFFEES AT ZOMBIFIED COMMUTERS OUTSIDE THE TRAIN STATION, BOB ABOUT WITH A VISITING SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE OR EXPERIENCE THE DAWN CHORUS WITHOUT EVEN PUTTING YOUR SHOES ON. DON'T WORRY. THIS WILD AND WONDERFUL CITY HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A DOSE OF THE GOOD LIFE. SO WHY DID WELLINGTON SINK $300,000 OF PUBLIC MONEY INTO A GAME? CITIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD ARE TRYING TO COMPETE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA HELP GROW THEIR ECONOMY. AND IN COMPARISON TO MOST OF THOSE PLACES, WELLINGTON IS PRETTY SMALL, SO WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY TO STAND OUT. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE HEADSETS AT JOB FAIRS, TRAVEL SHOWS, AND WHEN RECRUITING STUDENTS. WE'RE THINKING OF IT REALLY AS, I GUESS, THE MOST HIGH-TECH FORM OF A DESTINATION BROCHURE. THE FIELD OF VIRTUAL REALITY ` OR VR ` GAMES IS RELATIVELY NEW AND USUALLY REQUIRES A MUCH BIGGER BUDGET. THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO VR DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN YOU'RE SOLVING THESE SOLUTIONS, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY ANSWERS YET, AND YOU'RE FIGURING OUT THE ANSWERS AS YOU GO ALONG. SUCH AS USING AN iPHONE TO CAPTURE THIS ACTOR'S MOVEMENT. THAT HELPED US TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT` YOU KNOW, LIKE, BLOCKBUSTER FILMS USUALLY GET TO DO, WE WERE ABLE TO DO OURSELVES. AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF CREATIVITY AND TECHNOLOGY AND TRYING TO INNOVATE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE GAME'S ALREADY BEEN DOWNLOADED BY NEARLY 1000 GAMERS SINCE ITS RELEASE EARLIER TODAY. SO, WHAT'S IT LIKE? I'VE JUST BEEN PLAYING THE DRUMS RATHER POORLY ON CUBA STREET ` SOMETHING I'D HOPEFULLY NEVER DO IN REAL LIFE. THIS GAME OFFERS A FUN PERSPECTIVE ON THE CITY I LIVE IN. BUT I'M NOT THE TARGET MARKET ` THAT'S PEOPLE OVERSEAS. BUT WILL THIS 3D VERSION INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE OFF THEIR HEADSETS AND VISIT THE CAPITAL? MICHAEL CROPP, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ` ARE KIDS PREFERRING PHONES OVER FRIENDS? WHAT OUR KIDS GET UP TO ONLINE, AND SHOULD THERE BE MORE PARENTAL CONTROL? PLUS, THE MOONWALK AND THE HARLEM SHAKE HAD TO BE CREATED SOMEHOW. THE PERFORMERS SHOWING US WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN EXPERIMENTAL DANCER. (LAID-BACK, LILTING JAZZ MUSIC) (WOMAN SINGS) # I'm kicking on # I got places to be # Band's playing # And someone's looking for me... # (BOTH CHAT SOFTLY) (SINGER SCATS BREEZY MELODY) VOICEOVER: With a seek profile, it's easy for employers to find you. Be seen with a seek profile. (SINGER CONTINUES SCATTING MELODY) WELCOME BACK. TWO MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH STEALING A VALUABLE GNOME STATUE THAT VANISHED FROM AN AUCKLAND ART GALLERY. IT DISAPPEARED FROM ITS OUTSIDE PERCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND IS WORTH MORE THAN $50,000. THE STATUE WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND DUMPED OUTSIDE A SALVATION ARMY OUTLET. TWO MEN IN THEIR 40s AND 50s ARE NOW FACING THEFT CHARGES. A UK STUDY FOUND KIDS ARE NOW SPENDING AROUND 20 MINUTES MORE A DAY ONLINE THAN THEY DO WATCHING TV, AND THAT'S SPARKED CONCERN CHILDREN ARE PREFERRING TO BE ALONE WITH THEIR DEVICES RATHER THAN SOCIALISE WITH FRIENDS. HERE'S THE BBC'S RORY CELLAN-JONES WITH WHAT KIDS ARE WATCHING. GOOD MORNING. I HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A GOOD WEEKEND. CAN YOU JUST GET YOUR DEVICES OUT, PLEASE? IN A MEDIA STUDIES LESSON AT SOUTHBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH LONDON, PUPILS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THEIR OWN PHONES, TABLETS AND LAPTOPS. AND NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THIS GENERATION USE THEIR DEVICES TO TAKE CONTROL OF WHAT THEY WATCH. ON MY CHROMEBOOK AND PHONE, I'M IN CHARGE, BUT ON THE TV, IT'S NORMALLY MY PARENTS. I LIKE TO WATCH, LIKE, FOOTBALL VIDEOS AND OBVIOUSLY PLAY, LIKE, FIFA AND STUFF. I LIKE WATCHING ENTERTAINING VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SUCH AS INSTAGRAM AND SNAPCHAT. WHAT'S ENTERTAINING? IT'S MOSTLY COMEDY VIDEOS THAT PEOPLE FIND FROM ONLINE ` LIKE, MEMES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND THERE ARE, LIKE, SPORT HIGHLIGHTS AS WELL ON SOME SPORT PAGES ON INSTAGRAM. OFCOM'S ANNUAL SURVEY OF CHILDREN'S MEDIA HABITS SHOW THEY SPEND AN AVERAGE OF... THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. BUT THEIR DAILY TV TIME AT ONE HOUR 52 MINUTES IS DOWN EIGHT MINUTES. YOUTUBE IS THEIR FAVOURITE ONLINE DESTINATION. 80% USE IT. AND NEARLY HALF OF ALL CHILDREN WATCH STREAMING SERVICES SUCH AS NETFLIX AND AMAZON PRIME VIDEO. WHAT OFCOM'S RESEARCH SHOWS IS THAT THIS GENERATION REALLY APPRECIATE BEING IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN SCREENS. THEY CAN DECIDE WHAT TO WATCH AND WHEN. WHEREAS WITH THE MAIN TV AT HOME, IT'S THEIR PARENTS WHO ARE IN CONTROL. BUT HOW SHOULD PARENTS VIEW THIS TREND IN THEIR CHILDREN'S MEDIA HABITS? ONE CONSEQUENCE OF THERE BEING ALMOST LIMITLESS AMOUNTS OF CONTENT AVAILABLE IS THAT SOME OF THAT CONTENT MAY WELL RAISE CONCERNS AND IS INDEED HARMFUL. AND SO I THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT PARENTS SHOULD TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN WHAT CHILDREN ARE WATCHING AND THEIR MEDIA HABITS. TODAY'S RESEARCH SHOWS PARENTS FIND IT HARD TO CONTROL OLDER CHILDREN'S SCREEN TIME. PERHAPS THAT'S BECAUSE MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF 12- TO 15-YEAR-OLDS ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE THEIR PHONES TO BED. 25 ARTISTS FROM HERE AND OVERSEAS WILL BE SHOWCASING A RANGE OF EXPERIMENTAL DANCES IN AUCKLAND NEXT WEEK. THERE'LL BE LIVE PERFORMANCES, TALKS AND WORKSHOPS HELD AT THE BASEMENT THEATRE. CARLA PENMAN WENT ALONG TO A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR ONE OF THE ACTS. (INTRIGUING ELECTRONIC MUSIC) MAKE OF IT WHAT YOU WILL. THIS IS EXPERIMENTAL DANCE. EACH DANCER BRINGS SOMETHING SPECIAL, LIKE DAVID YATES, WHO'S AN ENGINEER BY TRADE. FOR HIM, IT'S ALL ABOUT MOVEMENT. I THINK OF FLUID DYNAMICS AND FLUID MECHANICS AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD, AND THIS PERSPECTIVE IS QUITE UNUSUAL. THIS IS JUST THE TRIO'S THIRD REHEARSAL AND ONLY A SMALL CHUNK OF THE 20-MINUTE PIECE THEY'LL BE PERFORMING IN AUCKLAND. THERE'S SORT OF A BIT OF A DANCE BATTLE, A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO. AND MY CHARACTER'S SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT ` THIS ORBITING CREATURE THAT EVENTUALLY, LATER IN THE PIECE, JOINS THE TWO OF THEM. I'LL LET THE TRACK RUN THIS TIME. AND THAT IS CHOREOGRAPHER TRU PARAHA. SHE'S CREATED THIS ROUTINE, BUT SAYS THIS IS NOT ABOUT HER AND IS DETERMINED TO REMAIN, IN HER WORDS, 'FACELESS'. OFF-CAMERA, TRU PARAHA SAYS THE DANCE IS DELIBERATELY 'POINTLESS', SAYING IT'S NOT ABOUT LOVING IT OR UNDERSTANDING IT, BUT EXPERIENCING IT. THE GROUP IS ONE OF 25 ARTISTS TAKING CENTRE STAGE OVER FIVE DAYS NEXT WEEK. THE PERFORMANCES WILL BE, LIKE, HUGELY DIVERSE, REPRESENTING A HUGE RANGE OF DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS AND, YEAH, STYLES. EVERYTHING IS EXPERIMENTAL, WHICH REALLY JUST MEANS, LIKE, IT'S TOPICAL; IT'S RELEVANT. AN UNCONVENTIONAL DANCE EXPERIMENT BUILT ON THESE BARE BACKS ` ONE THAT'S SET TO CHALLENGE AUDIENCES. CARLA PENMAN, 1 NEWS. WHO NEEDS A BIRDS EYE VIEW WHEN YOU CAN GET A KITESURFER'S VIEW? THE 21-YEAR-OLD PULLING OFF THIS INCREDIBLE STUNT ` JUMPING 200M OVER A SAND BANK IN DEVON IN THE UK. OLLIE BRIDGE HAD BEEN EYEING THIS CRAZY JUMP FOR MONTHS BUT SAID IT WAS FINALLY POSSIBLE DUE TO THE PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS. JUST AHEAD ` ANOTHER HOT ONE FOR THURSDAY'S WEATHER, BUT RELIEF IS IN SIGHT. PLUS, A PRECIOUS AND RARE DISCOVERY ` A DIAMOND THE SIZE OF AN EGG. WELCOME BACK. THE LARGEST DIAMOND EVER FOUND IN NORTH AMERICA HAS GONE ON DISPLAY IN NEW YORK. THE DAZZLING 552 CARAT YELLOW DIAMOND WAS UNEARTHED IN CANADA'S NORTH WESTERN TERRITORIES. IT'S THE SEVENTH LARGEST DIAMOND EVER FOUND AND THE SIZE OF A CHICKEN EGG. THE STONE, WHICH IS WORTH MILLIONS, HAS EXISTED FOR AN ESTIMATED 3.1 BILLION YEARS. TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER NOW, WITH SISTER NANCY AND 'BAM BAM'. (SISTER NANCY'S 'BAM BAM') THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY MICHAELA CORNELIUS AND CHELSEA BRADY CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.