E kore ratou e kaumatuatia penei i a tatou kua mahue nei. E kore hoki ratou e ngoikore. Ahakoa pehea i nga ahuatanga o te wa, I te hekenga atu o te ra. Tae noa ki te aranga mai i te ata, ka maumahara tonu tatou ki a ratou. Welcome to The Hui ` Maori current affairs for all New Zealanders. E taro ake nei ` 20% of New Zealanders have experienced energy poverty, and that number is on the rise. Have to live through our winter here without power. In Taumarunui, the locals are charged not once but twice for power, and they're having to sacrifice the basics to survive. It does feel like we're in our own prison in our own home. Why are so many New Zealanders still being left out in the cold? The government has a duty to protect its people, and it hasn't done that. It's failed in its duty. And she's taking on some of the strongest on the planet at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Festival. It's really cool lifting crazy stuff around. Yeah, I really love it. (CHUCKLES) And she's impressing them ` not just with her physical strength but with her courage, because 39-year-old Leehane Stowers has terminal cancer. She's actually the strongest one here, and nobody knows except us. And that's OK. We're just so proud of her. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2019 Karahuihui mai. A decade ago, New Zealanders hadn't heard of energy hardship. But a new government report released shows more than 100,000 households are now experiencing energy hardship and paying more than 10% of their income on electricity. That number is expected to rise, and nowhere is the hardship keener felt than in the King Country, where the locals pay not one but two energy bills ` one for power and another for the lines that carry it. Despite big promises made during the last election, many in the area are bracing themselves for another bitter winter where switching on the heater is not an option. Anei te purongo a Billie Jo Ropiha. BILLIE JO ROPIHA: It's a cold, bleak day in the railway town of Taumarunui, but the welcome is still warm. Kia ora. Come in. 'For 18 months now, Sona Selwyn has lived with no electricity, 'and at 62 years old, that makes life really tough.' Oh, matua, it's freezing in here. 'Like so many others here, Sona had been carefully managing his power consumption 'to minimise the cost of his two monthly power bills ` 'until his lines were physically cut off.' If you have a look here, they've disconnected my cable out there and hung it on the front of the house, if you wanna have a look. So actually disconnected you? Yep. I mean, why did they go to that extent? How much did you owe? Uh, about $300. And I believe that that was an incorrect,... uh, price that they were charging me. Yeah. They'd been overcharging me for at least two to three years. Yeah. And, uh... And I refused to, uh,... accept the bill. He says he knows the bills were wrong because he was a registered electrician for over 30 years. So you know the system? I know the system. Right. OK? I know exactly what I use and what I don't,... Yeah. ...and I know they were overcharging me for at least two to three years. That lines company is TLC, and it operates 4500km of powerlines throughout the King Country, Ruapehu and Central Plateau region. Many of its 18,000 customers have been complaining about the cost of lines charges, which are often more than their power bills ` customers like 81-year-old Kakahi resident Theresa Stephens. They've been high. I couldn't pay them. How high? Well, one of them was $800. That` That's just for the lines? Yeah. My power was lower than` That was only, like... Oh, I think my power was $59. Mm. But it does` it does feel like a prison. We're in our own prisons in our own homes. At a time when she should be enjoying her retirement, Theresa's having to go without. That's your hot water cupboard? That's the hot water, yup. I turn it on. And then at 7.30, I turn it off. You turn it off? We've got enough hot water in there for the day... and half the night. And then 11 o'clock that night, I go and turn it back on again. Is that a normal thing to do? Not normal. Not a normal thing you do... in a daily routine. So that's the extreme things that you have to do? It's extreme, yeah, but it's a thing we have to do. (SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC) The National Party's power reforms of the late '90s split up the government-owned ECNZ. Local councillor Jacques Windell believes that's turned his community into second-class citizens. We're the only area in New Zealand that pays two power bills. In the whole of New Zealand. Why were we discriminated against? And it says very clearly in the Human Rights Manifesto of the United Nations that discrimination is a violation of our human rights. So our human rights are being violated by this government, knowingly, and they're doing nothing about it. So what needs to happen? We have to regulate the lines companies, because if we don't, abuses are going to occur. And that's exactly what's happened. And it's because the government haven't put in regulations enough to stop a... essential service like power... from being abused by greedy corporates. That is what's happened here. The hardship people like Theresa face hasn't gone unnoticed. It made rich pickings for politicians during the last election, including the deputy prime minister. You've got 50,000 people here in the King Country and Turangi who are paying an excessive amount for their electricity. And worse than that ` at the very peak time when it's freezing, when you need peak power, they then put their charges up. So somebody's ripping you all off! You're being ripped off, ladies and gentlemen. But you have to do something about it ` that cannot take any more of it, that you want change. I thought that I'd brought this to the attention of the Right Honourable Winston Peters. He told us, he promised us ` he said, 'I will sort this out for you.' Will you make power distribution a non-negotiable before any coalition government can be formed if you become kingmaker? I'm gonna come back after the election and show you that I have done what I said I'm gonna do. So now he's the deputy prime minister, he knows that we're being ripped off, yet nothing is happening. What the government has done is introduce a winter energy payment, but at $400 a year, it doesn't go far in this neck of the woods. And so how do you cook up? You've got...? This is my cooking here, with the gas. Cook my feed up here. So you've turned your lounge into a kitchen, because it's... Yeah, just because it's, uh, crowded in here... Crowded in there. ...where the old electric stove is. At night, I'll just use candles. Candles, little tea light candles. Bit of light. And I also have, uh,... little battery lights over there, solar battery lights as well. Yeah. So what do you do to power up your phone? Oh, with that, I go and visit, uh,... down at McDonald's, or I'll go down to my local church, and I'll charge up down there. Or I'll charge up at a friend's place. Yeah. No problem at all. I was doing it in the car, but then the old battery don't like that much in the car. (CHUCKLES) And it's not just residential customers who are affected. The line costs are also hitting local businesses hard, including third generation Kakahi store owner Manu Lala. $469. Now, that's the lines charges. Just the lines charges. Yeah. Now, for the power, including my house and the shop, it was... $317. So well less than your... Well less than the lines charges. 'Please yourself ` if you don't pay your account, we will switch your power off.' So we've got no option. We've got no option. The government's commissioned a review to investigate whether the electricity market is delivering a fair and equitable price to consumers. It's due to report back to government in mid-year, but Jacques says his community can't afford to wait that long. I'm just pleading ` please, help us, because this is a massive problem in the King Country. It's affecting economic development; it's affecting mental health; it's affecting child poverty, energy hardship ` all these things are happening to our people, And I'm asking you. You've come here. You know what's going on here. Help us. Joy out of that. So has living without power affected your health in any way? I wrap up, you know? If I'm in bed, I'll wear my long johns. I'll wear my hat and gloves. So... Play your music? Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm a keen musician. Yeah. Instruments that need power to work. (PLAYS GUITAR RIFF) In his freezing house with no power, the only thing Sona will be playing is the blues. Na Billie Jo Ropiha tera korero. We invited the CEO and the board of The Lines Company to be interviewed, but they declined. However, we have received a statement from its chief executive, Sean Horgan, which says... Kia mau tonu mai ra te titiro ` the little lady achieving big things. We're at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Festival with Rongowhakaata pocket rocket Leehane Stowers. Auraki mai ano. Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in Aotearoa, with over 3000 women being diagnosed every year. That's nine women every day. Leehane Stowers is one of those women, but she's determined to live her life to the fullest despite her diagnosis. Anei te purongo a Rewa Harriman. REWA HARRIMAN: It's the event where brute strength, force and power combine. The Arnold Schwarzenegger Festival in Melbourne is where the strongest on the planet go head to head. And amongst the action is a pocket rocket from Auckland. It's really cool lifting crazy stuff around. I really love it. (CHUCKLES) Leehane Stowers might be small, but she has everyone in awe. You know, she's a real go-getter, positive kind of person. So she'll just keep smashing the goals and reaching for the stars. I feel pretty proud already, yep, and happy. It's a massive achievement for anybody to compete at this competition, but it's even more impressive for Lee, because she has terminal cancer. She's actually the strongest one here, and nobody knows except us, and that's OK. For 39-year-old fitness fanatic Leehane, this South Auckland gym is her happy place. I've always loved sport. I've played touch rugby, indoor netball. Yeah, I like feeling fit. Four years ago, the event coordinator was in the best shape of her life when she went to the doctor for a collarbone injury. But what seemed a minor problem turned out to be a devastating diagnosis. The doctor walked in the office, but he had a whole heap of pamphlets ` um,... cancer pamphlets. So I just saw those, yeah, and he didn't have to say anything. I just` I knew straight away. At just 35, Leehane was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and continued to train and, three years on, was given the all-clear. Relieved, Leehane booked in for reconstructive surgery and a trip overseas. That was supposed to be my celebration trip of getting through it and being cancer-free. But the celebration soon turned sour. There was a week where I just felt really sick, and I actually had a swollen abdomen. This was the day before I was meant to go in for reconstruction, and the radiologist said, 'I don't think you'll be going into surgery. The breast cancer had come back ` so there was breast cancer cells on my liver. And so that's secondary metastatic cancer. And then he said that there was no cure. Leehane's brother says their whanau are still in shock. It's just` It's really hard to find words. Like, just to be told, actually, it's back again, and it's worse this time ` it's so, so hard. But like her first diagnosis, Lee wasn't going to let cancer stop her. She made a plan ` hormone treatment, multiple supplements, eating a ketogenic diet and her latest addition, intravenous vitamin C. This is number three, and I come in once a week. It's given me more energy throughout the day, and it's complemented the other things I am taking as well, so I'm taking quite a lot of supplements. So I think they're working together. Lee hasn't taken a step back with her training; in fact, she's going even harder. I mean, that was` yeah, that was a big shock for us, finding out she had cancer. But just her will... to, you know, see it through, just her determination, that... nothing's going to beat her. For the past eight weeks, Lee has been preparing to compete at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Festival in Australia with her coach, Afa Paea. He says just to qualify is an accomplishment, and they're keeping their goals achievable. Her main thing was not to come last at the Arnold. So I said, 'You're not going to come last.' Yeah. But she's preparing well for it. She's on track, you know. So, what's Lee doing here? 130. This one here will be another good PB for her. Yep. Double her body weight. Yeah. Wow. Power! Power! Up, up, up! (CHEERING) Lee makes it look easy, but I can tell you it's not. Yeah, you wanna come have a feel what it feels like? Oh, shit! Yeah. I can't take it. Yeah. (CHUCKLES) It's the morning of the event in central Melbourne, and the nerves are building. How are you feeling this morning, Lee? It's game day. Yes, it is. Butterflies, butterflies to the max, but real excited as well. I think I'm ready to just do me. Yeah. We managed to have a look at the equipment setup and stuff, and, yeah, I feel pretty comfortable. It looks awesome in there. You've got such a big korowai of aroha all around you ` can you feel it? Yeah, definitely. There are, like, a whole bunch of people that have been there and believed in me and got me here. We're all here together, so, yeah, holding them right here when I'm out there. The wait is now over for Lee. It's time to leave it all on the floor. Lee is up against Australia's best 65kg women, all 16 of them vying for a spot in the Arnold Amateur World Championships. The ladies have to compete in five different disciplines, lifting double and sometimes triple their body weight. The under-65 women are ridiculously strong. They're fierce in a good way, so you could kind of get a feel for their vibes and just the grunt and the crazy starts and stuff. So I've learnt stuff from that. Lee ended up achieving a personal best of 150 kilos... Go! Up, up, up! ...before this lift got the better of her. Yeah, I'm so grateful. I'm so lucky. I definitely felt the love, and it's like we were out there together. It's a bittersweet moment, especially for Lee's mum, Sheree. So proud. I don't think I tell her enough how awesome she is. Emotional for you today, or you held it together? (CHUCKLES) No, emotional,... just because of the goals that I had for myself and hitting those personal goals. It was me versus me. I'm so lucky to have a coach like Afa who's able to just hold my hand through it, and the emotional ups and downs as well. The bigger picture is that it was just my journey, and everyone was here for me. In a competition full of strong women, Leehane proves that real strength comes from the heart. Na Rewa Harriman. And if you want to koha towards Leehane's ongoing treatment, you'll find a link to her Givealittle page on our Facebook. Ka hoki mai Te Hui akuanei. Kei te matakitaki koutou i a Te Hui. Hei tera wiki he kaupapa tamoko. The story of one woman's journey to wear the mark of her tupuna in a town where moko kauae is rarely seen. I don't want people to see me and feel horrified or... I don't know. I want people to have understanding and love for it. And to be part of the revival of this special taonga. I knew in my heart I was always gonna have one. It was just a matter of when. 39-year-old Christchurch mum Teresa Butler has decided the time is now. It's OK. You don't have to be worthy; you are worthy. It's your birthright. It's part of who you are. I feel inspired that... if my friend can do it, then actually, so can I. Kua hikina te hui mo tenei ra. You'll find links to our stories on our Facebook and Twitter accounts or at newshub.co.nz. We leave you this week with a clip in honour of our Maori soldiers ` ko Nga Hoia te ingoa o te waiata na Grove Roots. Pai marire ki a tatou katoa. (MILITARY SNARE DRUM MUSIC) (HORN BLOWS) (UPLIFTING REGGAE MUSIC) (MUSIC CONTINUES) (GROVE ROOTS' 'NGA HOIA') # This is a dedication to our soldiers... # of this here nation. # Amba Holly, tell them! (SINGS IN MAORI) (ROOTS REGGAE MUSIC CONTINUES) (SINGS IN MAORI) (ROOTS REGGAE MUSIC CONTINUES) (SINGS IN MAORI) (SINGS IN MAORI) (RAPS IN MAORI) (RAPS IN MAORI) (ROOTS REGGAE MUSIC CONTINUES) # ...o nga iwi tangata. # Nga mahara ana kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Hoki nga mahara kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Nga mahara ana kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Hoki nga mahara kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Nga mahara ana... # kinga hoia. # Nga mahara ana... (SINGS IN MAORI) (SINGS IN MAORI) (ROOTS REGGAE MUSIC CONTINUES) (SINGS IN MAORI) (SINGS IN MAORI) (RAPS IN MAORI) (RAPS IN MAORI) # Nga mahara ana kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Hoki nga mahara kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Nga mahara ana kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o Aotearoa. # Hoki nga mahara kinga hoia. # Kinga hoia o... Aotearoa. # Nga mahara ana... # kinga hoia. # Nga mahara ana... (ROOTS REGGAE MUSIC CONTINUES) # Haere... # Haere... # Haere... # Haere mai. (RAPS IN MAORI) (SINGS IN MAORI) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2019 (MUSIC CONTINUES) (MUSIC ENDS) ALL: He mea tautoko na Te Mangai Paho. The Hui is made with support from New Zealand On Air.