CAN YOU MOVE OVER A LITTLE BIT? YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR EARPIECE ON/ DON'T YOU BE ALL NICE/ JOHN HASN'T GOT HIS EARPIECE IN. WHAT A DICK! I AM FULLY IN THE HOUSE. ALL MORNING I HAVE HAD TO LISTEN TO CLASSIC HITS. THE CAPTAIN AND TENILLE. I HAVE HAD FUN. THAT IS THE MAIN THING. JENNY MAY IS HAVING A BOOKIE. JOHN WALKING IN. OH GOD. DO I SOUND LIKE PRINCE CHARLES? HERE WE GO. THIS TAKES ME BACK. THAT IS WHEN WE HAD GARAGE PARTIES. RENEE GEYER IS JOINING US. IT'S THURSDAY THE 11TH OF MARCH. KIA ORA. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WHY IS MATTY ON THE COUCH? THE WEST COAST ARE IN LEVEL ONE. BIG MORNING THIS MORNING. IS OUR PRIORITISING RIGHT? HUI LAST NIGHT AROUND THE LEAD LEVELS. SOUNDS LIKE MOSTLY GOOD NEWS, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS FOR SOME FAMILIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES. WE WILL DELVE INTO THAT. WE WILL SPEAK TO THE DUNEDIN MAYOR. HOW MUCH RESPONSIBLE HE DOES HE TAKE? ALSO BILL BAILEY THE COMEDIAN IS JOINING US. HE IS ON THE BRITISH DANCING SHOW. STRICTLY COME DANCING. HE IS EXTRAORDINARY. UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. SO GOOD. THAT IS COMING UP IN THE NEXT THREE HOURS. NOW INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. RESIDENTS OF THREE OTAGO TOWNS WHO WERE DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER HAVE BEEN TOLD LONG-TERM LEAD EXPOSURE IS UNLIKELY. THE GOOD NEWS WAS DELIVERED AT A PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT IN WAIKOUAITI. IT COMES AFTER RESIDENTS WERE TOLD TO STOP DRINKING THEIR TAP WATER IN FEBRUARY AFTER LEAD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE SUPPLY, DESPITE ITS PRESENCE BEING SIGNALLED MONTHS EARLIER. LAST NIGHT OFFICIALS SAID BLOOD-TEST RESULTS WERE SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER PART OF NZ, AND VERY FEW RETURNED LEAD LEVELS ABOVE THE NATIONAL THRESHOLD. HOWEVER A NO-DRINKING ORDER WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS AS INVESTIGATORS TRY TO WORK OUT WHAT CAUSED THE SPIKE. THERE'S STILL NO WORD ON WHETHER OUR SPORTS STARS WILL BE VACCINATED BEFORE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. IT FOLLOWS THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON WHO'S NEXT IN LINE TO RECEIVE THE JAB. SPLIT INTO FOUR GROUPS, THE VACCINE IS BEING ROLLED OUT FIRST TO BORDER WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS AND PEOPLE LIVING IN HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS, AND THEN PRIORITY POPULATIONS. THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE THEIR FIRST JAB FROM JULY. TWO OTHER GROUPS BEING CONSIDERED FOR A MOVE UP THE QUEUE ` THOSE ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS AND THOSE REPRESENTING NZ. DECISIONS AROUND THESE CATEGORIES HAVE NOT YET BEEN TAKEN, BUT WILL BE TAKING MORE DETAILED PROPOSALS ON THAT TO CABINET IN THE COMING WEEKS, AND WE WILL SHARE THOSE AS SOON AS DECISIONS ARE MADE, SO PEOPLE CAN TRANSPARENTLY SEE WHO IS GETTING A VACCINE AND WHY. MEGHAN, THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX, MADE A COMPLAINT TO BROADCASTER ITV OVER PIERS MORGAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH, ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS. MR MORGAN HAS NOW LEFT 'GOOD MORNING BRITAIN' AFTER HE PERSISTENTLY DOUBTED WHETHER MEGHAN WAS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING SUICIDAL. HIS NETWORK RECEIVED MORE THAN 41,000 COMPLAINTS. HE HAS STUCK BY HIS COMMENTS. I DON'T BELIEVE ALMOST ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF HER MOUTH. I THINK THE DAMAGE SHE'S DONE TO THE BRITISH MONARCHY AND TO THE QUEEN, AT A TIME WHEN PRINCE PHILIP IS LYING IN HOSPITAL, IS ENORMOUS AND, FRANKLY, CONTEMPTIBLE. HE IS RUMOURED TO BE JOINING AN UPCOMING NETWORK. AUSTRALIA'S BORDER FORCE HAS GRANTED MEDIA ACCESS TO A PLANELOAD OF DEPORTEES HEADED FOR NZ. THE REPORTER IN THE STORY QUESTIONED THEM AS THEY CROSSED THE TARMAC. THE FLIGHT FROM BRISBANE BOUND FOR AUCKLAND WAS REPORTEDLY FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAD COMMITTED CRIMES IN AUSTRALIA. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENDERS HERE, AND OUR COUNTRY'S SAFER FOR HAVING DEPORTED THEM. IT'S TAKING THE TRASH OUT. THEN WE CAN MAKE AUSTRALIA A SAFER PLACE. THE ISSUE OF AUSTRALIA DEPORTING ITS CRIMINALS TO NZ HAS DOGGED TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONS IN RECENT YEARS. TODAY MARKS 10 YEARS SINCE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EARTHQUAKES EVER RECORDED TRIGGERED A MASSIVE TSUNAMI ACROSS JAPAN, KILLING THOUSANDS. AND JUST A WARNING, THE IMAGES IN THIS STORY COULD BE CONFRONTING FOR SOME VIEWERS. THE MAGNITUDE 9 QUAKE STRUCK OFF THE NORTH-EASTERN COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN'S MAIN ISLAND, CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ON LAND AND CREATING A SERIES OF TSUNAMI WAVES, DESTROYING COASTAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. THE TSUNAMI ALSO TRIGGERED A MAJOR NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT A POWER STATION ON THE EAST COAST. IT IS ESTIMATED NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE DIED IN THE DISASTER. TWO MEMORIAL EVENTS WILL BE HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY TO MARK THE TRAGEDY. TO SPORT NOW, AND THREE BLACKCAPS HAVE EARNED MAIDEN ONE-DAY CALL-UPS FOR THE THREE-MATCH SERIES AGAINST BANGLADESH STARTING NEXT WEEK. DEVON CONWAY'S STRONG PERFORMANCES IN THE T20 AND IN DOMESTIC CRICKET HAVE BEEN REWARDED. HE IS THE PERFECT REPLACEMENT FOR KANE WILLIAMSON, WHO WILL MISS THE SERIES WITH AN ELBOW INJURY. WILL YOUNG HAS ALSO BEEN CALLED UP, ALONG WITH DARYL MITCHELL. TOM LATHAM WILL CAPTAIN THE SIDE IN PLACE OF WILLIAMSON. AND THERE'S NO AMERICA'S CUP RACING TODAY, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS NOT PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT AFTER YESTERDAY'S THRILLING OPENING TWO RACES BETWEEN TEAM NZ AND LUNA ROSSA. THE SERIES IS 1-1, AFTER THE ITALIANS SURPRISED MANY WITH A GUTSY WIN IN RACE TWO. HELMSMAN JIMMY SPITHILL SAYS THEIR PERFORMANCE IS PROOF THAT TALK OF A NZ WHITEWASH WAS PREMATURE. THAT'S THE SERIES WE WANT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, TOO. AFTER THE FIRST ONE, I'M SURE THERE WERE PROBABLY STILL QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT... BUT AGAIN, WE CAME OUT, WE EXECUTED, GOT IT DONE. NOW WE'VE GOTTA GO TO WORK TOMORROW, WE'VE GOTTA BUILD ON IT. THE TEAM THAT DEVELOPS THEIR BOAT DURING THIS SEASON` SORRY, DURING THIS SERIES, BETTER THAN THE OTHER TEAM WILL WIN THE CUP. I LIKE JIMMY SPITHILL. HE HAS THE QUALITY THAT RICHIE MCCAW HAS, WHICH IS THAT HE IS SO GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES. YOU WOULD NEVER COUNT AMOUNT. EVEN AFTER THAT FIRST RACE, TWO NEW ZEALANDERS LOOKING GOOD. AND THEN WHAT HE DID IN THE SECOND ONE. IT WAS VERY EXCITING. I AM INTO IT. ME TO. I WAS THE SAME. HE CAN'T HELP BUT GET CAUGHT UP. IT IS A LONG TIME. THE SECOND RACE, THE LAST MINUTE WAS EXCITING. THEY WENT FROM 12 SECONDS DOWN TO 7. IT WAS 21 AT SOME STAGE. IT WAS. 400 M LEAD AT THE LARGEST. WHO KNEW YOU COULD MAKE UP SO MUCH TIME? ONE MORE LAP, MAYBE THEY COULD HAVE GAINED. THERE SHOULD BE 1/5 QUARTER IN NETBALL. I MOSTLY WALK TO WORK. YESTERDAY I PACKED UP AFTER I FINISH THE SHOW AND WALKED OUT THE BUILDING. I GOT ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY HOME BEFORE I REALISED I HAD DRIVEN TO WORK. I HAD TO WALK ALL THE WAY BACK TO WORK. YOU ARE LOOKING SVELTE. THAT WAS THE DEAL CLINCHER. IT IS ANNOYING. WHEN YOU FINALLY REMEMBER. WHEN YOU GET THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY HOME. ALSO ANNOYING WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR KEYS. YOU HAVE LEFT THEM AT HOME. WE HAVE ALL DONE IT. WE HAVE HAD THOSE MOMENTS WHEN WE WALK INTO A ROOM AND GO, WHY AM I IN HIM? I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. I PUT FLY SPRAY IN THE FRIDGE. I HAVE WASHED THE POTATOES WITH DISHWASHER. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? I DON'T MEAN WASH WASH. AS THIS EARLY SHIFT. LOTS OF YOU EXPERIENCE THINGS LIKE THAT. BRAIN FART. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOURS. IT WILL MAKE US FEEL BETTER. THIS IS WHAT YOUR THURSDAY'S LOOKING LIKE. THERE'S LIKELY SOME HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, BUT BY MID-MORNING THAT SHOULD EASE TO THE ODD SHOWER, AS THOSE GUSTY NOR'WESTERLIES DIE AWAY AS WELL ` 23 DEGREES FOR AUCKLAND AND KAITAIA, 24 FOR THE REST. YOU'LL HAVE THOSE HEAVY FALLS FIRST THING THROUGH HERE, BUT AGAIN THAT SHOULD PULL BACK TO LIGHTER SHOWERS BY LUNCHTIME, ALTHOUGH THIS SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHING THROUGH HERE LATER ON COULD DELIVER SOME HAIL ` 20 DEGREES IN ROTORUA, 24 FOR HAMILTON AND TAURANGA. YOU'RE IN FOR HEAVIER DOWNPOURS FURTHER EAST, AND THEY'LL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY. IN FACT, THERE'S A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE RAIN IN HAWKES BAY. MASTERTON'S RAIN, THOUGH, SHOULD CLEAR LATER THIS AFTERNOON. 18 THE EXPECTED HIGH THERE, 21 IN NAPIER AND GISBORNE. SHIFTING WEST, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN'S HITTING MOST OF YOU EARLY ON, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD EASE TO SHOWERS AS THE MORNING CONTINUES. BUT IF YOU'RE IN WELLINGTON, THE DAY'S MORE OVERCAST, WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. ALL OF YOU WILL SEE THESE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTH, THOUGH. 17 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL, 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI. BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FINE UP THIS MORNING ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH AND ALONG THE WEST COAST. THERE'S SUNSHINE FOR MOST PLACES. KAIKOURA IS LOOKING MORE OVERCAST, THOUGH, WITH POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO SHOWERS UNTIL TONIGHT. 20 DEGREES FOR HOKITIKA, GREYMOUTH AND BLENHEIM. THE REMAINDER OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THAT CLOUD COVER SHOULD CLEAR THIS MORNING FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT EAST, AND THE REST OF THE DAY LOOKS MUCH FINER. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DIE OUT THIS AFTERNOON TOO. 16 THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR ASHBURTON, TIMARU AND OAMARU. AND THERE'S SUNNIER SKIES THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. SOME OF YOU WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MORNING CLOUD TO LIFT, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S SMOOTH SAILING. BIT CHILLIER, THOUGH ` 16 DEGREES FOR DUNEDIN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S CONTINUED RAIN AROUND GISBORNE AND HAWKES BAY, AND A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTHWEST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S MOSTLY FINE ACROSS AOTEAROA. A BIT OF RAIN TODAY BUT THEN INTO THE WEAK AND SUNNY SKIES. GOOD FOR RACING. EXACTLY. NICE. COMING UP ` THE OTAGO TOWNS AFFECTED BY LEAD FOUND IN WATER ARE STILL UNABLE TO DRINK WATER FROM THEIR TAPS. NEXT ` A RESIDENT AND FATHER OF A NEWBORN VENTS HIS FRUSTRATIONS. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPANY. WE WILL GO TO OTAGO SHORTLY. IT'S A SPECIAL MORNING AT EDEN PARK TODAY, AS THE STADIUM'S NEW TURF IS BLESSED. LAST YEAR THE 17-YEAR-OLD TURF WAS REMOVED TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW PLAYING SURFACE. OUR VERY OWN VICTOR WATERS IS AT EDEN PARK AHEAD OF THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING THIS MORNING. MORENA. GOOD MORNING, SPORTS DEPARTMENT. I TELL YOU WHAT, IF THE STANDS HERE COULD TALK, THE HISTORY THEY HAVE SEEN. NEW HISTORY WILL BE WRITTEN HERE AT EDEN PARK ON A NEW CANVAS THE NEW PLAYING SURFACE, NEW TURF HAS BEEN INSTALLED. JUST BEHIND ME THEY ARE BLESSING THE NEW TURF, WHICH HAS SUBTLE DIFFERENCES TO THE PREVIOUS ONE WHICH HAD BEEN AT EDEN PARK FOR 17 YEARS. IT IS A HYBRID GRASS THAT IS 5% SYNTHETIC THAT WILL MAKE THE GRASS MORE DURABLE, AS THEY HAVE NOT JUST BOUGHT BUT CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS AS WELL. THIS GROUND, THIS NEW PLAYING SURFACE WILL BE DEBUTED THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS MEANT TO DEBUT IN THE SUPER RUGBY PRESEASON, THE BLUES AGAINST THE CRUSADERS, WHICH WAS CALLED OFF. THE BLUES WILL DEBUT IT THIS WEEKEND. LET'S HOPE THE NEW SURFACE RUBS OFF ON THEM AND HELPS THEM WHEN THE ELUSIVE SUPER RUGBY TITLE THIS YEAR. IS HAYLEY ON CAMERA? THIS SOUNDS REALLY NEAT. THIS IS LIVE FROM EDEN PARK. IT IS A REAL MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF THE STADIUM. LEST WE FORGET, TO RUGBY WORLD CUP FINALS HAVE BEEN PLAYED THERE IN 1987 AND 2011. A SPECIAL MORNING FOR VICTOR WATERS, OUR SPORTS DEPARTMENT. THE TURF MEANS A LOT TO SOME OF THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED ON IT. WHEN THEY WERE SELLING THE TURF, I HEAR BRIAN WILLIAMS BOUGHT SOME OF IT AND PUT IT IN HIS FRONT YARD. IT IS NOT UNTIL YOU SAID THAT THAT I THINK, YES, FOR A LOT OF PLAYERS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME THEY PUT ON THE AUCKLAND JERSEY, OR THE ALL BLACKS JERSEY AND PLAYED THEIR. IT HAS SOME SPECIAL MEMORIES FOR SOME PLAYERS. BLOOD TESTS FOR RESIDENTS IN EAST OTAGO HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF LEAD LEVEL EXPOSURE. FOR MORE THAN A MONTH RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRINK TANK WATER, AFTER THE WATER IN WAIKOUAITI AND KARITANE WAS FOUND TO HAVE 40 TIMES THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF LEAD, WHICH OF COURSE MEANT ALL RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO BE TESTED THEMSELVES. AND THAT INCLUDES TODDLERS AND NEWBORN BABIES, WHICH FOR PARENTS LIKE RICHARD OLSEN HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A NIGHTMARE. HIS FIRST BORN CHILD, GRETEL, WAS BORN ON THE 28TH OF JANUARY. ONE WEEK LATER SHE GOT HER TEST, WHICH INITIALLY REVEALED A LEVEL OF 0.1 ` AND WHILE THIS IS A LOW LEVEL, IT'S NOT SOMETHING ANY FIRST-TIME PARENT WANTS TO DEAL WITH. AND RICHARD JOINS US NOW. MORENA, RICHARD. HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? NOT TOO BAD. PRETTY GOOD. HAVE YOU HAD A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF GRETEL? ONE OR TWO. ENJOYING IT ALL, TAKING IT ALL IN. I WOULD SAY ONE OR TWO. IT IS NOT EASY. IT IS BEAUTIFUL BUT CARING FOR A NEWBORN ISN'T EASY. WITH WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH THE LEAD IN THE WATER, GRETEL BEING TESTED, HOW HAS THIS LAST SEVERAL WEEKS BEEN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? THAT HAS BEEN VERY TRICKY. SHE WAS OUT OF HOSPITAL SHE WAS BORN ON THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY WE WERE OUT OF HOSPITAL ON THE SUNDAY, AND THEN TUESDAY WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM WITH ALL OF THIS, REALLY. ALL OF THE UNKNOWN, AND WITH THOSE LEVELS, WE WERE DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH OURSELVES AND KNEW WE WOULD KNOW MUCH UNTIL BLOOD TESTS. WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD SHE HAD 0.1. ME AND MY WIFE HAD 0.1 AS WELL. WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE 0.1 FOR HER, SHE WAS ONLY 12 DAYS OLD, WAS STILL VERY TRICKY TO GET OUR HEADS AROUND. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO READ THAT TEST. WE GOT A BIT OF A FOLLOW-UP CALL A WEEK LATER TO SAY HER TEST WAS 0.02. THAT WAS MORE OF A RELIEF. IT WAS SCRAMBLING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD GIVE GOOD ADVICE AND PUT OUR MINDS AT EASE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION. THERE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATION FROM A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS. YOU HIT ROCK BOTTOM. TELL US WHAT THAT WAS LIKE, NOT KNOWING WHETHER THE LEAD IN THE WATER WOULD AFFECT YOUR BABY. IT WAS HORRIFIC. AFTER THE FIRST MEETING, FINDING OUT WHAT LEAD CAN DO. THE TOXICOLOGY SPECIALIST WAS GREAT, BUT HE WAS TELLING US IF AN INFANT HAS BEEN POISONED WITH LEAD, THEY MIGHT BE FINE UNTIL SEVEN OR EIGHT, AND THEN SUDDENLY THINGS GO DOWNHILL. HE WAS AMERICAN, SO HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IQ SCORES WOULD DROP, AND ANGER ISSUES COULD BECOME APPARENT. WE STARTED TO HERE THIS, AND IT WAS THE WORST FEELING YOU CAN IMAGINE. HOW IS GRETEL AND RACHEL? THEY ARE DOING WELL. SHE IS SIX WEEKS TODAY, GRETEL. SHE IS PUTTING ON A BIT OF WEIGHT. STARTING TO GET SOME OF THOSE NEWBORN SMILES, WHICH IS REALLY COOL. AND RACHEL IS DOING REALLY WELL. I THINK SHE IS ENJOYING HAVING A BIT OF TIME OUT FROM WORK. SHE HAS A YEAR OFF, SO SHE IS LOVING IT. ALONG WITH THE STRESS THAT YOU HAVE JUST TALKED TO US ABOUT, THERE HAS BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF FRUSTRATION AND CAN I EVEN SAY ANGER ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION OR LACK OF? TELL US ABOUT THE FRUSTRATION IN TRYING TO GET SOME ANSWERS. THE BIG ONE FOR ME WHICH GOT ME SO RILED UP WAS A NEW BACK IN JULY ABOUT THESE SPIKE LEVELS. TO GO FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND NOT COMMUNICATE OR BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT WAS WHAT TICKED A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF, ME INCLUDED. IF THEY HAD BEEN TRANSPARENT AND SAID WE HAVE DISCOVERED LEAD, IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT, BUT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IT, WE ARE SAYING IT IS SAFE TO DRINK, BUT MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND. IF THEY GAVE US THAT OPTION, THERE WOULD BE LESS ANGER. BUT TO GO EIGHT MONTHS AND HAVE THESE SPIKES, AND THEY KNEW, IT IS JUST RIDICULOUS! WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE THAT. EIGHT MONTHS OF THAT, IS TELLING US. VERY FRUSTRATING. A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE WRAP UP. DID YOU GO TO LAST NIGHT'S MEETING? I WAS DOWN AT THE MEETING. WHAT WAS THE FEELING AT THE END OF THAT HUI? UM... A WEE BIT BETTER THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME ANSWERS. THEY COMPARED OUR LEAD LEVELS TO LEVELS OVERSEAS AND LEVELS AROUND NEW ZEALAND WHERE THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY TESTED, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE LED TO GET INTO YOUR SYSTEM, SO YOUR OCCUPATION AND KIDS PUTTING THINGS IN MOUTHS. IT TOOK THE FOCUS AWAY FROM WATER. THERE IS NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION IN LEAD IN YOUNG CHILDREN. NOT A LOT COULD BE SAID ABOUT TODDLERS' LEVELS, BUT THERE WERE TWO KIDS WHO TESTED ABOVE THE SAFE THRESHOLD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE EXACTLY, BUT I FEEL GUTTED FOR THOSE FAMILIES. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. AND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS FOR THOSE KIDS WILL BE. THEY WILL BE MONITORED FOR SOME TIME AND WATCHED CLOSELY. IT IS JUST NOT IDEAL. WE WILL TALK TO A DOCTOR FROM THE SOUTHERN DHB LATER ON. WILL ALSO TALK TO THE MAYOR. RICHARD, AND YOUR OPINION, HOW HAVE THE COUNCIL HANDLED THIS? AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THE DUNEDIN MAYOR TO KNOW? I GUESS JUST THE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT. THAT IS THE MAIN THING. LET US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. I JUST THINK THE FACT ABOUT THE WHOLE EMAIL ISSUE, WHERE SOMEONE WAS AWAY ON HOLIDAY, IT IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. IF IT WAS SOMETHING MINOR, OK. BUT POISON IN PEOPLE'S WATER IS NOT MINOR. AND FOR THE FACT THAT CAN SHOOT 40 TIMES ABOVE THE SAFE LIMIT, AND THAT IS NOT PICKED UP AND WE KEEP DRINKING IT, IT IS JUST HORRIFYING. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY REAL OWNERSHIP. I HAVEN'T FELT THAT THEY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE. EVEN SOME OF THE SPEECHES HE HAS DONE, TO ME, IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT GENUINE. JUST THE OWNERSHIP. IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, OWN IT, MOVE ON, AND PEOPLE HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR YOU. IT IS PASSING THE BUCK ONTO PUBLIC HEALTH SOUTH. WITHOUT PUTTING YOUR HAND UP AND SAYING WE HAVE MADE A MISTAKE. THAT IS HOW I FEEL. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. YOU ARE A NEW DAD. YOU HAVE A NEWBORN, AND LACK OF SLEEP, SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. LOVE TO YOU, GRETEL AND RACHEL. THANK YOU. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` MILLIONS OF KIWIS ARE SET TO GET A COVID VACCINE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLLOUT PLAN AT 6.30. ALSO AHEAD, HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS ` AND HASN'T ` BEEN MADE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S VACCINE ROLLOUT PLAN. AND BREAKFAST WAS LIVE FROM ONE OF THE LOCATIONS ON TUESDAY. NOW FOUR WEST COAST HOTELS WILL GO INTO HIBERNATION. WHAT EFFECT WILL THAT HAVE ON THE ALREADY STRUGGLING LOCAL ECONOMY? EAST OTAGO RESIDENTS WHO WERE DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD HAVE BEEN TOLD LONG-TERM EXPOSURE SEEMS UNLIKELY. HUNDREDS GATHERED FOR A COMMUNITY MEETING IN WAIKOUAITI LAST NIGHT, WITH VERY FEW SAID TO HAVE RETURNED BLOOD TESTS WITH LEAD LEVELS ABOVE THE NATIONAL THRESHOLD. DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAD CONTAMINATION AND SAYS A NO-DRINK ORDER WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO MONTHS. ONE LOCAL PARENT'S CALLING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY. THEY KNEW BACK IN JULY ABOUT THESE SPIKE LEVELS. TO GO FOR EIGHT MONTHS, AND NOT COMMUNCATE OR BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT TICKED A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF. ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS, SOME 40 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S SAFE LIMIT, WERE FOUND LAST YEAR, BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN UNTIL EARLY FEBRUARY. MORE THAN TWO MILLION NZ ARE IN LINE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, AFTER ANNOUNCING ITS VACCINATION PLAN. SPLIT INTO FOUR GROUPS, THE VACCINE IS BEING ROLLED OUT TO BORDER WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEN FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS AND PEOPLE LIVING IN HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS. THE THIRD GROUP TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE WILL BE PRIORITY POPULATIONS, WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN EXPECT TO GET THEIR FIRST JAB FROM JULY. AN OVERHAUL OF THE MIQ ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM IS BEING CALLED FOR AGAIN AFTER UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND CAUSED THE SITE TO CRASH. THERE WERE 1 MILLION HITS ON THE BOOKING SITE LAST FRIDAY, WITH 10,000 SUCCESSFUL LOGINS PER HOUR ` 25 TIMES THE NORMAL RATE. THE HEAD OF MIQ SAYS SHE'S HAPPY WITH HOW THE SYSTEM IS WORKING, BUT KIWIS TRYING TO GET HOME AREN'T AS PLEASED. I GOT BOUNCED OFF BOOKINGS. I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN DAYS; SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ONE HOUR. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THERE'S NO ACTUAL ORGANISATIONAL SEQUENCE. EXPERTS ARE CALLING FOR A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SEE HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO SECURING A VOUCHER. AS DEMAND FOR MIQ SPOTS GROW, THE WIGGLES ARE SETTLING INTO MANAGED ISOLATION AHEAD OF THEIR KIWI TOUR. THE ENTERTAINERS TWEETED LAST NIGHT, 'THE FUN NEVER STOPS, EVEN IN QUARANTINE.' IN JANUARY, 12 MIQ SPACES WERE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THEM, THEIR CREW, AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THE TOUR COULD GO AHEAD LATER THIS MONTH. ONCE A TWO-WAY TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE GETS GOING, IT'LL BE CHEAP TO GET AROUND. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S HALVING THE PRICE OF ALMOST 800,000 DOMESTIC AIRLINE TICKETS, HOPING TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO SPEND ON HOLIDAY. IT'S POURED $1.2B INTO SLASHING THE COST OF SERVICES BETWEEN APRIL AND JULY. A FLIGHT FROM MELBOURNE TO THE GOLD COAST COULD BE AS CHEAP AS $60. BACK HERE, CONTROVERSIAL PLANS TO TURN WANAKA'S COMMUNITY AIRPORT INTO A JET OPERATION HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY OPPOSED BY THREE LOCAL COUNCILLORS. STATEMENTS FROM COUNCILLORS CALUM MACLEOD, NIAMH SHAW AND QUENTIN SMITH FOLLOW THOUSANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS' CALLS TO STOP THE OPERATION. THE COUNCILLORS SAY THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH AIRPORT CAPACITY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. CONCERNS ALSO INCLUDE THE EFFECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PROVISION OF MORE INFRASTRUCTURE. TO SPORT, AND THE BREAKERS CONTINUE TO TURN THEIR SEASON'S FORTUNES AROUND, THIS TIME INSPIRED TO VICTORY BY TOM ABERCROMBIE. WEBSTER. BLOCKED. ABERCROMBIE! OH! TOM ABERCROMBIE! STARING DEFEAT IN THE FACE. TOM ABERCROMBIE, NEW ZEALAND THROUGH AND THROUGH, DELIVERS WHEN HIS TEAM NEEDS HIM MOST. THE CAPTAIN'S BUZZER BEATER SEALING A 76-73 VICTORY OVER THE CAIRNS TAIPANS IN A THRILLER. THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS YOU TRAIN FOR AS AN ATHLETE. I LOVE THAT TOM. 73 ALL AT THAT STAGE. UNBELIEVABLE. LOVE TOM ABERCROMBIE. LOOKED DOWN, THERE WAS A BLOCK OF BUTTER IN HER BAG. THERE WAS THE PHONE. GOOD STORY. I LOVE IT. CAN RELATE. WE'RE GETTING SOME GREAT FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SOME REAL BRAIN FART MOMENTS. I WALK TO WORK YESTERDAY BEFORE REALISING I HAD DRIVEN TO WORK. THIS IS WHAT YOUR THURSDAY'S LOOKING LIKE. THERE'S LIKELY SOME HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, BUT BY MID-MORNING THAT SHOULD EASE TO THE ODD SHOWER AS THOSE GUSTY NOR'WESTERLIES DIE AWAY AS WELL ` 23 DEGREES FOR AUCKLAND AND KAITAIA, 24 FOR THE REST. YOU'LL HAVE THOSE HEAVY FALLS FIRST THING THROUGH HERE, BUT AGAIN, THAT SHOULD PULL BACK TO LIGHTER SHOWERS BY LUNCHTIME. ALTHOUGH, THIS SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHING THROUGH HERE LATER ON COULD DELIVER SOME HAIL ` 20 DEGREES IN ROTORUA, 24 FOR HAMILTON AND TAURANGA. YOU'RE IN FOR HEAVIER DOWNPOURS FURTHER EAST, AND THEY'LL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY ` IN FACT, THERE'S A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE RAIN IN HAWKES BAY. MASTERTON'S RAIN, THOUGH, SHOULD CLEAR LATER THIS AFTERNOON ` 18 THE EXPECTED HIGH THERE, 21 IN NAPIER AND GISBORNE. SHIFTING WEST, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN'S HITTING MOST OF YOU EARLY ON, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD EASE TO SHOWERS AS THE MORNING CONTINUES. BUT IF YOU'RE IN WELLINGTON, THE DAY'S MORE OVERCAST, WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. ALL OF YOU WILL SEE THESE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTH, THOUGH ` 17 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL, 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI. BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FINE UP THIS MORNING ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH AND ALONG THE WEST COAST. THERE'S SUNSHINE FOR MOST PLACES. KAIKOURA IS LOOKING MORE OVERCAST, THOUGH, WITH POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO SHOWERS UNTIL TONIGHT ` 20 DEGREES FOR HOKITIKA, GREYMOUTH AND BLENHEIM. THE REMAINDER OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THAT CLOUD COVER SHOULD CLEAR THIS MORNING FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT EAST, AND THE REST OF THE DAY LOOKS MUCH FINER. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DIE OUT THIS AFTERNOON TOO ` 16 THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR ASHBURTON, TIMARU AND OAMARU. AND THERE'S SUNNIER SKIES THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. SOME OF YOU WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MORNING CLOUD TO LIFT, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S SMOOTH SAILING. BIT CHILLIER, THOUGH ` 16 DEGREES FOR DUNEDIN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR FRIDAY ` TOMORROW THERE'S CONTINUED RAIN AROUND GISBORNE AND HAWKES BAY, AND A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTHWEST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S MOSTLY FINE ACROSS AOTEAROA. DON'T FORGET MISSPOKE WHETHER JUST AFTER 8 O'CLOCK. IT IS NO YOU LIVE IN A PLACE THAT DOESN'T QUITE MAKE IT TO OUR WEATHER MAP. SEND US A PHOTO. TELL US WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT IT. I AM LOSING IT. CAN YOU PLEASE STAY OVER THERE? HIS WHISPER WAS, JUST SHUT IT OFF. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I WAS READY TO THROW MY PEN. COMING UP ` A SAD AND SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE WEST COAST'S GLACIER COUNTRY. THEY ARE CRACKING THEIR. THE HOTEL WE CAME ALIVE FROM IS GOING INTO HIBERNATION. WE ARE GOING TO CROSS BACK THERE AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THIS COMMUNITY. VOICEOVER: Your spare pair, your glare pair, the flying-through-the-air pair. We could all use a second pair. (WHIMPERS) At Specsavers, get specs and shades for $169, including single-vision lenses. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. ON TUESDAY MORNING, WE CAME TO YOU LIVE FROM FRANZ JOSEF, WITH A VERY SPECIAL PROGRAMME ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE WEST COAST'S ECONOMY, AND THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THAT ECONOMY, WHICH IS EVERYONE THERE. THE LOCATION WE WENT LIVE FROM, JOINED BY UP TO 200 LOCALS, WAS A 'SCENIC HOTEL GROUP' HOTEL, TE WAONUI. THIS IS THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE, BUT I'M ESTIMATING ROUGHLY 100. BEAR IN MIND THIS ENTIRE GLACIER REGION HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 1100 OR 1200. SO THIS IS A HUGE TURNOUT. AND THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE THEIR JOBS AND THEREFORE THEIR COMMUNITY ARE UNDER REAL THREAT. THAT WAS TUESDAY MORNING. THAT WAS TUESDAY MORNING. YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, LESS THAN 36 HOURS LATER, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE SCENIC HOTEL GROUP SAYING THEY HAD MADE, 'THE TOUGH BUT STRATEGIC DECISION TO PLACE 'THEIR FOUR WEST COAST PROPERTIES INTO EXTENDED HIBERNATION.' THAT INCLUDES TE WAONUI. HAVING MET THE STAFF THERE, AND HAVING TOLD THE STORY OF JOBS ALREADY LOST IN TOWNS LIKE FOX AND FRANZ, AND THE IMPACT ON THOSE COMMUNITIES, THE THREE OF US WHO HAD BEEN DOWN FOR THE SHOW, TALIA MIMILO, MIKE FITZGERALD AND ME, FOUND THAT NEWS PRETTY HEARTBREAKING. SO THIS MORNING, JOINING US TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY HAVE HAD TO MAKE THIS MOVE AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO REOPEN THEIR FOUR WEST COAST ESTABLISHMENTS IS SCENIC HOTEL GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR BRENDAN TAYLOR. BOY, THIS IS SAD NEWS. YES, IT IS, JOHN. IT IS PRETTY DEVASTATING. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YEP. I'M NOT BEING GLIB ABOUT THIS, BUT I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE UPSET, BECAUSE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THIS MATTERS, RIGHT? THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN SPEAKING TO A CEO AFTER A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LAID OFF, AND THEY LOOK RELAXED, BECAUSE IT IS NOT RELAXED. OBVIOUSLY YOU GIVE A DAMN. TELL US WHY YOU HAD TO DO IT. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOW FOR PROBABLY SIX, SEVEN WEEKS ON THE PLIGHT OF THE WEST COAST. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR HOTELS. IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES AT FOX AND FRANZ JOSEF. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE MR OF FINANCE AND ALSO THE TOURISM MINISTER. WITHOUT GETTING TOO MANY RESPONSES. IN FACT, I GOT AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ON MY EMAIL FIVE WEEKS AFTER FROM THE MINISTER OF TOURISM THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. WE WERE PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WHEN HE ARRIVED ON THE WEST COAST AND MADE STATEMENTS THAT THE COUNTRY NEEDED TO GET BACK TO 70% HERD IMMUNITY WITH THE VACCINE, AND THE LIKELIHOOD WOULD BE THAT THE BORDERS TO AUSTRALIA WOULDN'T BE OPEN TILL NEXT JANUARY. ALL WE NEEDED WAS THE AUSTRALIAN BORDERS TO OPEN TO SAVE US AND SAVE THE WEST COAST. THEN WE LOOKED AT IT FROM THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE WEST COAST IN THE NEXT 8 TO 9 MONTHS. YOU WERE THERE. YOU HAVE SEEN THE DEVASTATION OF THE COMMUNITIES. OUR APPROACH WAS WE WOULD RATHER TRY TO SAVE THE COMMUNITY AT THIS STAGE AND HIBERNATE OUR HOTELS. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE, BUT IN BROAD TERMS, REVENUE, LET'S GO BACK TWO YEARS, HOW MUCH ARE YOU DOWN, IN TERMS OF NIGHTS, PEOPLE STAYING, REVENUE? SO, OUR PROPERTIES ALONE ON THE WEST COAST GENERATE CLOSE TO $20 MILLION OF REVENUE, WHICH IS PROBABLY A GST TAKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF $3 MILLION. WE HAVE TURNED OVER JUST UNDER $2 MILLION THIS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE LOST $2 MILLION. IT IS WORTH REITERATING THE MATHS. BEFORE COVID-19 YOU WERE DOING 20 MILLION, LAST YEAR YOU DID 2 MILLION, IN YOU RAN AT A LOSS OF 2 MILLION. YOU HAVE THESE PROPERTIES. TE WAONUI IS A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL. TVNZ PAID FOR US TO STAY THERE. THERE WAS NO FREEBIE. IT WAS HAPPENSTANCE WE WERE THERE AT THE SAME TIME YOU DECIDED TO CLOSE IT. HOW MANY PROPERTIES ARE YOU PUTTING INTO HIBERNATION? YOU ARE PLANNING TO REOPEN WHEN TOURISTS COME BACK. AS A COMPANY, WE CAN SURVIVE. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS, AND YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IT, A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE AT FRANZ AND FOX CAN'T SURVIVE. SO WE WOULD RATHER GIVE ALL OUR BUSINESS TO THEM AND HELP THEM SURVIVE THIS PERIOD. THERE ARE MORE BEDS THAN I NEEDED AT THE MOMENT. SCENIC CIRCLE HOTELS CAN SURVIVE, SO LET'S GET THE FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING AND SEND THEM TO LOCAL HOTELS AND MOTELS THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T SURVIVE. THE REALITY IS, THE LOCALS CAN'T PIVOT. THEY HAVE HAD EVERYTHING TAKEN AWAY OVER THE YEARS, WITH FORESTRY. FARMING AND TOURISM IS ALL THAT IS LEFT. FOR THE MINISTER TO TELL EVERYBODY THEY HAVE TO PIVOT IS IRRESPONSIBLE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONS OF PEOPLE. HOW MANY STAFF ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE 180 STAFF WORKING IN BOTH OF THOSE TOWNS. AT THE MOMENT WE ARE DOWN TO 40 OR 45 STAFF. WE HAVE STARTED DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN REGARDS TO ARE THERE ANY AVAILABILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE NEED TO LEAVE A SMALL TEAM TO LOOK AFTER THE ASSETS. IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AT THE MOMENT. THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE US UNTIL EARLY MAY. WE WON'T LOOK TO CLOSE UNTIL MAY. WOULD AUSTRALIA, IF WE HAD AN ACTUAL BUBBLE WITH AUSTRALIA, WOULD THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THEY WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. WE WOULDN'T DO THIS IF THE AUSTRALIAN BUBBLE WAS OPENED. WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA WHO SUPPLY US WITH ALL OUR BUSINESS. THEY SAID EVERYBODY IS ALL BANKED UP AND EAGER TO COME TO NEW ZEALAND, BUT THEY CAN'T GET HERE. THE WEST COAST, EVERYBODY WOULD BE IN A LOT HAPPIER SITUATION IF THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET WAS OPEN. WE KNOW THE BUSINESS IS THERE AND WAITING TO COME. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US THIS MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE STAFF AT TE WAONUI, THEY WERE REALLY LOVELY PEOPLE AND REALLY GOOD AT THEIR JOBS. WE WILL TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IT AFTER THE BREAK. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` THE ROYAL FALLOUT CONTINUES AFTER MEGHAN AND HARRY'S EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THAT AT 7. ALSO AHEAD ` CAN EAST OTAGO RESIDENTS REALLY BREATHE EASIER AFTER BLOOD TEST RESULTS SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF LEAD EXPOSURE? THE SOUTHERN DHB'S MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH JOINS US JUST AFTER 7. AND NEXT, WHY WEST COASTERS ARE DESPERATE FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. BEFORE THE BREAK, WE HEARD ABOUT THE CLOSURE, ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, OF FOUR SCENIC HOTELS ON THE WEST COAST, INCLUDING THE HOTEL WE CAME TO YOU LIVE FROM WITH OUR FRANZ JOSEF PROGRAMME ON TUESDAY, TE WAONUI. SCENIC CIRCLES TOLD US WHAT MANY PEOPLE IN FRANZ JOSEF TOLD US ` THAT THE DROP-OFF IN TOURISM REVENUE HAS BEEN SO SEVERE THAT BUSINESS IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNSUSTAINABLE. SO WE WANT TO PICK UP ON WHAT THIS LATEST NEWS MEANS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL, REMOTE, SPECIAL PLACE. AND TO DO THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK ROB JEWELL, HELICOPTER PILOT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF GLACIER GUIDING, CO-CHAIR OF THE GLACIER COUNTRY TOURISM GROUP, AND A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF BREAKFAST. MORENA, ROB. YOU ARE ALMOST COHOSTING THE SHOW, YOU ON SO OFTEN. I SAID HOW MANY GUESTS HAVE THEY GOT, AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 11 ROOMS OCCUPIED. THEY WERE MOVING EVERYONE ACROSS, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE TO KEEP TO HOTELS GOING. WHAT DO YOU SAY? IT IS DEVASTATING. IT IS NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE SCENIC HAS HAD TO MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THROUGH THIS. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR BUSINESSES RUNNING AT 10, 20% OF NORMAL VOLUME. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERM. THEY WILL WAIT FOR BORDER. IT IS DISAPPOINTING, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDABLE AT THE SAME TIME. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. BRENTON MADE A BIG PICTURE POINT, WHICH IS THAT SCENIC ALL SURVIVED OVER 19, THAT THERE ARE INDEPENDENT OPERATORS THAT HAVE ONE PROPERTY. PEOPLE WHO DON'T STAY AT THE SCENIC HOTELS WILL STAY AT THE SMALL OPERATORS. THERE ARE BED AVAILABLE IS. WE WILL COME. ABSOLUTELY. THE TOWNSHIPS OF FOX AND FRANZ JOSEF ARE OPEN. FOX GLACIER, DESPITE THOSE TWO HOTELS HIBERNATING, WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND BED ACROSS A RANGE OF HOLIDAY PARK, MOTELS, AIR B&B. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES AVAILABLE, OVER A THOUSAND BEDS. THERE ARE OVER 1400 BEDS STILL AVAILABLE, DESPITE THOSE TWO HOTELS GOING INTO HIBERNATION. THERE IS PLENTY OF ACCOMMODATION. THEY ARE ALL TAKING BOOKINGS. WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE COME THROUGH. WE WANT TO THANK THOSE NEW ZEALANDERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH AND VISITED WITH US. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME MORE COME THROUGH. QUEENSTOWN WILL SAY THE SAME THING. WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY. WHAT MAKES COMMUNITIES LIKE TE ANAU MORE THAN USUAL EXPOSED IS THAT THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE BESIDE THIS BUSINESS. YOU USED TO MINE AND DO NATIVE FOREST LOGGING, BUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DOESN'T LIKE THAT. YOU GOT A LOT OF BETS ON TOURISM. YOU ARE REALLY EXPOSED TO IT. ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE OVER 80% ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS HERE. MOST OF THE DOMESTIC TOURISM IS TAKING PLACE TWO OR THREE HOURS FROM THE METROPOLITAN CENTRES. WE ARE FIVE HOURS FROM CHRISTCHURCH, SEVEN HOURS FROM DUNEDIN. IT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH. WHAT WE ARE REALLY HOPEFUL, EASTER IS COMING UP, THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP, SO GREAT TIME TO GET OUT THERE AND DO A ROAD TRIP AND COME AND VISIT US. WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WORLD. WHOA. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. 13 K OFF THE MAIN ROAD FROM YOU IS STUNNING. IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL SPOT. FOR LAGOON THERE, THEY HAVE GREAT ACTIVITIES OPERATING TO SEE THE HERONS. IT IS A FANTASTIC SPOT. WE WISH YOU WELL. A LOT IS RIDING FOR THIS COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE STAFF MATTERS WE MET, HIS DAUGHTER WAS IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL, SO IF HE HAS TO LEAVE, THE CLASSES GET SMALL, THEY LOSE TEACHERS. THANK YOU FOR FRONTING FOR BREAKFAST AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN. IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION, BUT WE WILL KEEP GOING. WE WISH YOU WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MORE THAN TWO MILLION NZERS ARE IN LINE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, AFTER ANNOUNCING ITS VACCINATION PLAN. SPLIT INTO FOUR GROUPS, THE VACCINE IS BEING ROLLED OUT TO BORDER WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEN FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS AND PEOPLE LIVING IN HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS. THE THIRD GROUP TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE WILL BE PRIORITY POPULATIONS, WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN EXPECT TO GET THEIR FIRST JAB FROM JULY. MEANWHILE, REMAINING COVID-19 TEST RESULTS ARE EXPECTED BACK TODAY FROM CONTACTS OF THE AIR NZ CREW MEMBER WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS ON SUNDAY. SO FAR, ALL CONTACTS HAVE RETURNED NEGATIVE RESULTS. RESIDENTS OF THREE OTAGO TOWNS WHO WERE DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER HAVE BEEN TOLD LONG-TERM LEAD EXPOSURE IS UNLIKELY. THE GOOD NEWS WAS DELIVERED AT A PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT IN WAIKOUAITI. IT COMES AFTER RESIDENTS WERE TOLD TO STOP DRINKING THEIR TAP WATER IN FEBRUARY AFTER LEAD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE SUPPLY, DESPITE ITS PRESENCE BEING SIGNALLED MONTHS EARLIER. LAST NIGHT OFFICIALS SAID BLOOD TEST RESULTS WERE SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER PART OF NZ AND VERY FEW RETURNED LEAD LEVELS ABOVE THE NATIONAL THRESHOLD. HOWEVER, A NO-DRINKING ORDER WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS AS INVESTIGATORS TRY TO WORK OUT WHAT CAUSED THE SPIKE. FOUR WEST COAST HOTELS ARE SET TO CLOSE FOR UP TO A YEAR AND A HALF, IN YET ANOTHER BLOW FOR THE REGION, AS ITS ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF COVID-19. SCENIC HOTEL MANAGING GROUP, WHICH OWNS THE FOUR ESTABLISHMENTS, SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN PLEADING FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MEDICATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOW FOR PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS ON THE PLIGHT OF THE WEST COAST. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR HOTELS. IT IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES. WITHOUT GETTING TOO MANY RESPONSES. I GOT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY EMAIL FIVE WEEKS AFTER FROM THE MINISTER OF TOURISM. AND ONE TOURISM OPERATOR IN THE AREA SAYS THE SITUATION IS DEVASTATING. OBVIOUSLY NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED, BUT SCENICS HAD TO MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION IS JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR BUSINESSES CURRENTLY RUNNING AT 5% 10%, 20% OF NORMAL VOLUMES. MEGHAN, THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX, MADE A COMPLAINT TO BROADCASTER ITV OVER PIERS MORGAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH, ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS. MR MORGAN HAS NOW LEFT 'GOOD MORNING BRITAIN' AFTER HE PERSISTENTLY DOUBTED WHETHER MEGHAN WAS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING SUICIDAL. HIS NETWORK RECEIVED MORE THAN 41,000 COMPLAINTS. HE HAS STUCK BY HIS COMMENTS. I DON'T BELIEVE ALMOST ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF HER MOUTH. I THINK THE DAMAGE SHE'S DONE TO THE BRITISH MONARCHY AND TO THE QUEEN, AT A TIME WHEN PRINCE PHILIP IS LYING IN HOSPITAL, IS ENORMOUS AND FRANKLY, CONTEMPTIBLE. HE IS RUMOURED TO BE JOINING AN UPCOMING NETWORK. TO SPORT NOW, AND THREE BLACKCAPS HAVE EARNED MAIDEN ONE-DAY CALL-UPS FOR THE THREE-MATCH SERIES AGAINST BANGLADESH STARTING NEXT WEEK. DEVON CONWAY'S STRONG PERFORMANCES IN THE T-20 AND IN DOMESTIC CRICKET HAVE BEEN REWARDED. HE IS THE PERFECT REPLACEMENT FOR KANE WILLIAMSON, WHO WILL MISS THE SERIES WITH AN ELBOW INJURY. WILL YOUNG HAS ALSO BEEN CALLED UP, ALONG WITH DARYL MITCHELL. TOM LATHAM WILL CAPTAIN THE SIDE IN PLACE OF WILLIAMSON. IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO HAVE ONE-DAY CRICKET BACK WITH THE BLACKCAPS. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVEN'T PLAYED FOR A LONG TIME AS A GROUP TOGETHER. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SMALL SAMPLE OF ONE DAY CRICKET THIS SUMMER HERE IN NZ. SO I'M SURE THE GUYS WILL BE READY TO GO AND BE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO IT ON SATURDAY. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. THANKS. WE ARE GETTING FEEDBACK ABOUT BRAIN FART MOMENTS. JEFFREY, AFTER LOTS OF BUSINESS TRAVEL, PUT HOTEL BODY LOTION ON MY TOOTHBRUSH. SOMEBODY PUT FOUNDATION ON THE TOOTHBRUSH. IMAGINE THEIR SMILE LATER IN THE DAY. CHRISTY WAS TRYING TO ZOOM INTO A PAPER MAP WITH HER FINGERS, GETTING CROSS SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT BIGGER. ZOOMING INTO A PAPER MAP? BRILLIANT! YOU PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACE. I WAS WATCHING YOU YESTERDAY, AS HE WERE PLEADING FOR CHAMPAGNE. I WAS ROARING WITH LAUGHTER. THREE HOURS, I WAS PLEADING FOR CHAMPAGNE AND GOT NONE. TO BE FAIR, THE VILLAGE WAS CLOSED. THERE WAS NOBODY THERE. WE ARE IN LEVEL 2 IN AUCKLAND. ONE GLASS IS ALL HE WANTED. THIS IS WHAT YOUR THURSDAY IS LOOKING LIKE. THERE'S LIKELY SOME HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. BUT BY MID-MORNING, THAT SHOULD EASE TO THE ODD SHOWER, AS THOSE GUSTY NOR-WESTERLIES DIE AWAY AS WELL. 23 DEGREES FOR AUCKLAND AND KAITAIA. 24 FOR THE REST. YOU'LL HAVE THOSE HEAVY FALLS FIRST THING THROUGH HERE, BUT AGAIN THAT SHOULD PULL BACK TO LIGTER SHOWERS BY LUNCHTIME. ALTHOUGH THIS SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHING THROUGH HERE LATER ON COULD DELIVER SOME HAIL. 20 DEGREES IN ROTORUA. 24 FOR HAMILTON AND TAURANGA. YOU'RE IN FOR HEAVIER DOWNPOURS FURTHER EAST, AND THEY'LL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY. IN FACT THERE'S A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE RAIN IN HAWKE'S BAY. MASTERTON'S RAIN, THOUGH, SHOULD CLEAR LATER THIS AFTERNOON. 18 THE EXPECTED HIGH THERE. 21 IN NAPIER AND GISBORNE. SHIFTING WEST, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN IS HITTING MOST OF YOU EARLY ON, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD EASE TO SHOWERS AS THE MORNING CONTINUES. BUT IF YOU'RE IN WELLINGTON, THE DAY IS MORE OVERCAST, WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. ALL OF YOU WILL SEE THESE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTH, THOUGH. 17 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI. BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FINE UP THIS MORNING ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH AND ALONG THE WEST COAST. THERE'S SUNSHINE FOR MOST PLACES. KAIKOURA IS LOOKING MORE OVERCAST, THOUGH, WITH POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO SHOWERS UNTIL TONIGHT. 20 DEGREES FOR HOKITIKA, GREYMOUTH AND BLENHEIM. THE REMAINDER OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THAT CLOUD COVER SHOULD CLEAR THIS MORNING FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT EAST, AND THE REST OF THE DAY LOOKS MUCH FINER. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DIE OUT THIS AFTERNOON TOO. 16 IS THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR ASHBURTON, TIMARU AND OAMARU. AND THERE'S SUNNIER SKIES THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. SOME OF YOU WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MORNING CLOUD TO LIFT, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S SMOOTH SAILING. A BIT CHILLIER, THOUGH ` 16 DEGREEES FOR DUNEDIN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S CONTINUED RAIN AROUND GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY, AND A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTH-WEST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S MOSTLY FINE ACROSS AOTEAROA. DON'T FORGET THE SPOKE WEATHER JUST AFTER 8 O'CLOCK. SEND US YOUR PHOTOS. IF YOUR PLACE IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO GET TO OUR WEATHER MAP. BREAKFAST@TVNZ.CO.NZ LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO LEAD FROM WATER IN THE EAST OTAGO TOWNS OF WAIKOUAITI AND KARITANE IS UNLIKELY. THAT COMES FOLLOWING THE BLOOD TESTS RESULTS FROM THE RESIDENTS AFTER IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE 40 TIMES THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF LEAD. IT'S FORCED RESIDENTS TO ONLY DRINK WATER FROM TANKS ` SOMETHING THEY'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SOURCE OF THE LEAD IS KNOWN. THE LATEST RESULTS FROM THE TESTING, WHICH WERE SHARED AT A PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT, SHOWED NO ONE HAD A BLOOD LEVEL THAT CAUSED ACUTE HARM, WITH VERY FEW LEVELS ABOVE THE NEW THRESHOLD OF 0.24. TO DIGEST THE RESULTS AND TELL US WHAT THEY MEAN WE'RE JOINED BY THE SOUTHERN DHB MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH DOCTOR SUSAN JACK. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. GOOD NEWS FOR MANY OF THE RESIDENTS, RIGHT? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MOST PEOPLE HAD BLOOD LEAD LEVELS WELL BELOW THE NEW THRESHOLD OF 0.24 MOL PER LITRE. RELIEF FOR MANY, BUT TWO CHILDREN AND 36 ADULTS WERE ABOVE THE NOTIFIABLE LEVELS. HOW FAR ABOVE THE ACCEPTED LEVELS WHERE THE ADULTS, AND A RANGE, AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE TWO CHILDREN? MOST OF THE ADULTS WERE BETWEEN 0.024 AND 0.048 WHICH IS THE LEVEL AT THE MOMENT. WE HAVE DONE FURTHER INVESTIGATION, AND THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ASSESSED BY A PAEDIATRICIAN AND THEY WILL BE MONITORED AND FOLLOWED. WE HAVE MET WITH THE FAMILIES AND DOING AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE THE POSSIBLE SOURCES OF EXPOSURE TO LEAD. FOR THE VAST MAJORITY, WE FOUND THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OTHER THAN DRINKING WATER. HOW CONCERNING IS THIS? I AM SURE THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO LEAD, AND AS YOU POINT OUT, THERE ARE OTHER EXPOSURES, IN YOUR MEDICAL OPINION, HOW CONCERNING IS THIS FOR THEM? IF WE TOOK BLOOD TESTS FROM 1500 PEOPLE FROM ANY COMMUNITY IN NEW ZEALAND, WE WOULD SEE SIMILAR RESULTS. IT IS REASSURING, BUT IT HAS SHONE A LIGHT THAT IN NEW ZEALAND, WE ARE EXPOSED TO LEAD THROUGH OUR NORMAL EVERYDAY LIFE, THROUGH OUR WORK OR HOBBIES. A LOT OF US LIVE AND OLD HOUSES THAT MAY HAVE LEAD PAINT. WE LIKE TO DO HOME RENOVATION. SOME KEY MESSAGES ARE FOR ALL OF US, TO MAKE SURE IF WE ARE STRIPPING OLD PAINT OR DOING HOME RENOVATIONS, WE TAKE PRECAUTIONS, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN. CHILDREN, BECAUSE OF THEIR SMALL BODY MASS, THEY WILL ABSORB MORE LEAD THEN WE WOULD AS ADULTS. KEY FOR THEM, IF THEY ARE PLAYING OUTSIDE, MAKE SURE THEIR HANDS ARE WASHED, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A GOOD DIET WITH ADEQUATE CALCIUM AND IRON, BECAUSE THAT STOPS THE ABSORPTION OF LEAD. IF YOU HAVE TOYS OR DUMMIES, ESPECIALLY OUTDOORS, CLEAN THEM REGULARLY. THE USUAL HAND WASHING MESSAGES, ESPECIALLY BEFORE YOU EAT, KEEPING OUR HOUSES NICE AND CLEAN. LET'S TAKE THIS BACK TO LEAD IN THE WATER. EARLIER WE SPOKE TO RICHARD OLSEN. HAS BABIES SECOND RESULT RETURNED 0.02. BUT THERE IS NO COMPARABLE DATA, BECAUSE A NATIONAL STUDY DIDN'T HAVE ANY DATA ON CHILDREN UNDER FIVE. CAN YOU BE CERTAIN THERE ARE NO REAL CONCERNS FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE BABIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO LEAD? WE WERE VERY CLEAR WITH THAT AT THE MEETING YESTERDAY, THAT FOR CHILDREN UNDER NINE AND VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, WHERE THERE IS NO COMPARABLE DATA, WE CAN'T BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS NO SLIGHT AND PACKED IMPACT FROM THE INTERMITTENT SPIKES OF LEAD IN THE WATER. HOWEVER, REASSURINGLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESULTS CAME BACK WELL BELOW THE THRESHOLD, SO THAT DOES GIVE US SOME REASSURANCE. NOT MUCH REASSURANCE FOR THOSE WITH BABIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EFFECTS ARE. AS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SAYS, THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF LEAD. WE DON'T USE LEAD IN OUR BODIES FOR ANY BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES. BUT THAT SAID, THE THRESHOLD IS SET, AND THAT IS A LEVEL OF CONCERN. IF ANYONE DOES HAVE A BLOOD LEAD LEVEL ABOVE THAT, THEY ARE NOTIFIED TO US AND OUR STAFF INVESTIGATE, TALK WITH THE FAMILIES, SEE WHAT THOSE EXPOSURES MIGHT BE. THE KEY MESSAGE IS TRYING TO REDUCE OUR EXPOSURE. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTAGO THE SOURCE FROM THE WATER HAS BEEN STOPPED. THERE AS THEY DO NOT DRINK NOTICE. NOW WE ASK PEOPLE TO LOOK AT OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES. HOW CERTAIN ARE YOU, THAT FOR THOSE RESIDENTS WHO TESTED BELOW THE NOTIFIABLE LEVELS, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LONG-TERM ISSUES TO WORRY ABOUT? WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT. WE ALL ABSORB LEAD IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE A SIMILAR LEVEL WITH NO IMPACT. OTHERS IT MAY HAVE AN IMPACT. THE LEVEL OF CONCERN IS, IF YOU HAVE A LEVEL ABOVE .24. IF ANYONE HAS CONCERNS, TALK WITH THEIR GP, AND THEY CAN BE MONITORED THROUGH THAT. YOU TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE NOT DRINKING THE WATER, THE ADVISORY IS STILL IN PLACE. WHAT INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONTINUING? ARE YOU AWARE OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEY ARE LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED TO TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THESE INTERMITTENT SPIKES. I WILL LEAVE THEM TO EXPLAIN THAT. DR SUSAN JACK, WE WILL SPEAK TO THE DUNEDIN MAYOR A BIT LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM. THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES AROUND COMMUNICATION, AND WHY THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO GET TO THIS POINT. I KNOW THAT THOSE LIMITS THAT EARLY ON THERE WERE REAL FEARS ABOUT HOW BAD THIS WAS. AND THE TEST RESULTS HAVE COME IN LOWER. BUT THAT LITTLE BABY, FIVE WEEKS OLD, SHE WASN'T STRIPPING PAINT. COME ON, BUREAUCRATS. OR PUTTING THINGS IN HER MOUTH. OR EATING PENCILS FROM 1957. I THINK SOMETIMES ACTUALLY WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WRONGDOING AND FAULT. AND IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO SAY THERE IS GENERAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD. THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC EVENT HERE. DON'T CONDESCEND TO THESE COMMUNITIES. RICHARD OLSEN FELT THERE WAS MORE EMPHASIS BEING PUT ON THE OTHER THINGS WHERE THEY COULD BE EXPOSED TO LEAD, AS EXPOSED TO TALKING ABOUT THE WATER. WE WILL PUT THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE DUNEDIN MAYOR AROUND 7.40. COMING UP ` HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS, AND HASN'T, BEEN MADE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S VACCINE ROLLOUT PLAN. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER PEENI HENARE IS WITH US NEXT. YESTERDAY, THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED A FEW MORE CRUCIAL DETAILS ABOUT ITS ROLL-OUT OF THE COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN, ANNOUNCING WHO'S GETTING THE JAB AND WHEN AND WHY VARIOUS PARTS OF THE POPULATION ARE BEING PRIORITISED. THIS IS BIG, AND IT WILL SAVE US, THE LIVES THAT MAY OTHERWISE BE LOST, THE JOBS THAT WILL OTHERWISE BE LOST, THE COMMUNITIES UNDER REAL PRESSURE, LIKE THOSE IN PAPATOETOE TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THOSE ON THE WEST COAST, THAT WE'VE BEEN VISITING. SO IT MATTERS THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT. ARE WE? JUDITH COLLINS SAYS IT LOOKS HALF-BAKED. IS IT? JOINING US NOW FROM WELLINGTON TO DISCUSS THE PLAN IS ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER PEENI HENARE. TENA KOE. MORENA. IS IT HALF BAKED? WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO SINCE THE PROCUREMENT OF THE VACCINE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PLAN WELL, WE HAVE IT SET UP SO THAT AS WE LOOK AT THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, WE CAN VACCINATE THE LARGE POPULATION. ALL THE LOGISTIC ARE IN PLACE TO DO IT PROPERLY. YOU SAY YOU HAVE IT SET UP. WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO WORK. I HAVE ENGAGED WITH PROVIDERS, THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATING BORDER AND FRONTLINE WORKERS, AND THEY ARE HAPPY WITH HOW IT IS GOING, BUT THEY SEE THE CHALLENGES WITH THE LOGISTICS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THAT IT MUST BE STORED IN COOL STORES. WE DON'T HAVE COOL STORES IN PLACES, SO WE NEED TO GET THE SYSTEM RIGHT IN ORDER TO DO THE MASS ROLLOUT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. I AM COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE TRACKING. YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT PRIORITISES SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A GOOD MOVE. THIS COMES BACK TO WHAT THE PRACTITIONERS ARE SAYING, OF HOW AND WHY NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR VACCINE? WILL YOU TRAVEL OR WILL THERE BE A ROADSHOW THAT GOES TO THEM? THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS WE ARE CONSIDERING. I CAN USE MY OTHER PORTFOLIO AS MINISTER OF DEFENCE. THE DEFENCE FORCE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN LOGISTICS AROUND HOW WE ROLL THE VACCINE OUT. WE KNOW THAT THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN TIMES OF CIVIL EMERGENCY, SO WE ARE USING ALL OF THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO MAKE SURE AND TO LOGISTICALLY PLAN HOW WE MIGHT GET TWO DIFFERENT PLACES OR IS IT MORE EFFICIENT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TO KAITAIA. ALL OF THAT PLANNING IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. IF DEFENCE ARE INVOLVED, AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE CONSIDERING, ALL OF THIS TAKES TIME. LET'S STAY WITH NORTHERN COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT SMALL TOWNS IN NEW ZEALAND. WHEN WILL THEY KNOW> THE SEQUENCING THAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE TIMEFRAMES WITH RESPECT TO PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2. WE WILL NEED TO START ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES. IF WE HAVE AN EYE TO THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR TO VACCINATE THE WIDER POPULATION, I EXPECT THE HEALTH OFFICIALS AND OUR HEALTH PROVIDERS WILL BE ENGAGING WITH OUR FAMILIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN NORTHLAND. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PROVIDERS TO WORK WITH OUR WHANAU IN THE HOPE THAT AT THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, WE CAN ROLL IT OUT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITISING. THIS IS COMPLEX. YOU ONLY DO ONE PERSON AT A TIME. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE FIRST AND SOMEONE WILL BE LAST. WHY NOT ALL OF SOUTH AUCKLAND, GIVEN THE BURDEN THAT THAT COMMUNITY IS CARRYING, GIVEN THE AIRPORT AS THEIR, WHICH IS THE BORDER, GIVEN THAT THE M IQ FACILITIES ARE THERE. WHY DON'T YOU DO ALL OF SOUTH AUCKLAND? I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY WE CAPTURED QUITE A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTH AUCKLAND. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OUR KAUMATUA, PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS, A FOCUS ON THE COUNTIES MANAKAU. WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY BY MINISTER HIPKINS WAS THE NEED AND INSTRUCTION FROM US THAT THE APPROACH TOWARDS VACCINATION MUST TAKE A WHANAU- CENTRED APPROACH. THE ASSESSMENT NEEDS TO BE MADE BY THAT PERSON WHO IS DOING THE VACCINATION TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT NOT ONLY NANNY, BUT THE WHANAU. WEEVIL CAPTURE HIGH RISK. WHEN WILL THE LAST NEW ZEALAND TO HAVE THE JAB? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THAT. WE ARE AWARE OF THE CHALLENGE, THE LOGISTICS AND THE INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. I WON'T BEAT AROUND THE BUSH. WE HAVE ONE HELL OF A JOB AND ONE OF US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. KIA ORA. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` FOUR WEST COAST HOTELS ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS. MORE ON THAT AT 7.30. ALSO AHEAD ` EAST OTAGO RESIDENTS ARE FRUSTRATED AT THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP OVER THE LEAD-CONTAMINATED WATER ISSUE. DUNEDIN MAYOR AARON HAWKINS JOINS US. AND THE FRIGHTENING SIGNS THE NUMBER OF NEW ZEALANDERS STRUGGLING TO ACCESS FOOD AND SHELTER HAS SKYROCKETED POST-COVID, AND WHY IT'S ONLY EXPECTED TO GET WORSE. Sarah! VOICEOVER: Jenny Craig works. I've lost 28 kilos with the help of Jenny Craig. I can honestly say that I've loved every moment of being on the program. The food was tasty, the variety available to you is great. On Rapid Results... Start today and save $30 on your first weekly menu on our Rapid Results weight loss plan. Call Jenny Craig now. HERE IS YOUR 730 NEWS. MORE THAN 2m NEW ZEALANDERS ARE IN LINE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN EXPECT TO GET THEIR FIRST JABS FROM JULY UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S VACCINATION PLAN ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER PEENI HENARE SAYS THE MILITARY WILL LIKELY BE INVOLVED IN GETTING THE VACCINE TO ISOLATED COMMUNITIES. THE DEFENCE FORCE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE LOGISTICS INVOLVED AROUND HOW WE ACTUALLY ROLL THE VACCINE OUT. WE KNOW THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN TIMES OF CIVIL EMERGENCY, SO WE ARE USING ALL OF THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO MAKE SURE WE CAN LOGISTICALLY PLAN HOW WE CAN GET TO THE FAR NORTH, OR DO WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEM TO COME TO KAITAIA. EAST OTAGO RESIDENTS WHO WERE DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD HAVE BEEN TOLD LONG TERM EXPOSURE SEEMS UNLIKELY. HUNDREDS GATHERED FOR A COMMUNITY MEETING IN WAIKOUAITI LAST NIGHT. DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAD CONTAMINATION, AND SAYS A NO-DRINK ORDER WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO MONTHS. 36 ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN RETURNED TESTS SHOWING BLOOD LEAD LEVELS ABOVE THE SAFE LIMIT. FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 9, AND VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ` YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE IS NO COMPARABLE DATA. WE CAN'T BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS NO SLIGHT IMPACT FROM THESE INTERMITTENT SPIKES OF LEAD IN THE WATER. HOWEVER, VERY REASSURINGLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESULTS CAME BACK WELL BELOW THE THRESHOLD. A WAIKOUAITI RESIDENT IS CALLING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY FROM THE COUNCIL. THEY KNEW BACK IN JULY ABOUT THESE SPIKED LEVELS. AND TO GO FOR, WHAT? EIGHT MONTHS AND NOT COMMUNICATE OR BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY OUT HERE ` THAT'S WHAT TICKED A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF. AND DUNEDIN MAYOR AARON HAWKINS WILL JOIN US ON BREAKFAST SHORTLY. A TRANS-TASMAN TRAVEL BUBBLE WOULD HAVE SAVED FOUR WEST COAST HOTELS WHICH ARE SET TO CLOSE FOR UP TO A YEAR AND A HALF. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE SCENE HOTEL GROUP, WHOSE FOUR HOTELS IN THE REGION WERE GENERATING $20m IN REVENUE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. NOW THEY'RE BRINGING IN $18m LESS. WE WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF THE AUSTRALIAN BUBBLE OPENED. I MEAN, WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA WHO SUPPLY US WITH ALL OUR BUSINESS, AND THEY SAID THAT EVERYBODY IS ALL BANKED UP AND EAGER TO COME TO NEW ZEALAND, BUT THEY CAN'T GET HERE. TODAY MARKS 10 YEARS SINCE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EARTHQUAKES EVER RECORDED TRIGGERED A MASSIVE TSUNAMI ACROSS JAPAN KILLING THOUSANDS. AND JUST A WARNING ` THE IMAGES IN THIS STORY COULD BE CONFRONTING FOR YOU. THE MAGNITUDE-9 QUAKE STRUCK OFF THE NORTH-EASTERN COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN'S MAIN ISLAND, CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ON LAND AND CREATING A SERIES OF TSUNAMI WAVES DESTROYING COASTAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. THE TSUNAMI ALSO TRIGGERED A MAJOR NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT A POWER STATION ON THE EAST COAST. IT'S ESTIMATED NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE DIED IN THE DISASTER. TWO MEMORIAL EVENTS WILL BE HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY TO MARK THE TRAGEDY. TO SPORT, AND THERE'S NO AMERICA'S CUP RACING TODAY. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT AFTER YESTERDAY'S THRILLING OPENING TWO RACES BETWEEN TEAM NEW ZEALAND AND LUNA ROSSA. THE SERIES IS ONE-ALL AFTER THE ITALIANS SURPRISED MANY WITH A GUTSY WIN IN RACE TWO. HELMSMAN JIMMY SPITHILL SAYS THEIR PERFORMANCE IS PROOF THAT TALK OF A NEW ZEALAND WHITEWASH WAS PREMATURE. THAT'S A SERIES WE WANT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TOO, AFTER THE FIRST ONE, I'M SURE THERE ARE PROBABLY STILL QUESTIONS OF WHETHER OR NOT, BUT AGAIN, WE CAME OUT, EXECUTED, GOT IT DONE. NOW WE'VE GOT TO GO TO WORK TOMORROW. WE'VE GOT TO BUILD ON IT. THE TEAM THAT DEVELOPS THEIR BOAT DURING THE SERIES BETTER THAN THE OTHER TEAM, WILL WIN THE CUP. MELBOURNE STORM LEGEND CAMERON SMITH SAYS HE ONLY MADE THE DECISION TO RETIRE A WEEK AGO. DESPITE A PLAYING CAREER WHICH STRETCHED NEARLY TWO DECADES, SMITH SAYS HE STILL FELT LIKE HE HAD IT IN HIM TO PLAY ON AFTER HELPING THE STORM TO A TITLE VICTORY LAST YEAR. BUT, SUMMER WITH HIS FAMILY MADE HIM REALISE IT WAS TIME TO HANG UP THE BOOTS. I'VE ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOYED HAVING MY OWN TIME TO DO MY OWN THING. THAT'S NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE CAREER THAT I'VE HAD AND THE DEMANDS THAT THE NRL HAVE ON PLAYERS AND THE COACHES AND ALL THE STAFF, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN QUITE REFRESHING FOR ME, AS A PERSON. SMITH'S CAREER NOW IMMORTALISED IN BRONZE, ALONG WITH STORM GREAT, BILLY SLATER. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. THE MAN. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT AND ENJOY YOUR FAMILY. WE ARE HAVING SUCH A BRAIN FAT MOMENTS. ARE YOU LOOKING AT DIANA? KNOW I AM LOOKING AT KIMIORA AND THEIR FEEDBACK. READ DIANA'S. SHE WENT TO WORK, GOT A RIDE TO WORK, SOMEONE HAD STOLEN HER CAR. SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD IT STOLEN BUT SHE HAD DRIVEN TO WORK THE PREVIOUS DAY AND FORGOTTEN. THAT IS AN AWKWARD CALL TO MAKE. YOU KNOW ALL THAT TIME YOU SPENT? IT WAS FOR NOTHING. I ONCE WENT TO MAKE FISH, I DID A CRUMB, I DIPPED THE FISH AND FLOUR. I COOKED AND SERVED IT TO MY FLATMATE. SHE SAID, IT WAS VERY SWEET... ICING SUGAR. WHAT WAS LIKE? HORRIBLE. ANYWAY. IF THAT WAS ME, EVERYONE WOULD BE LIKE.. OH YEAH. I LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH IT. ANYWAY, KEEP SENDING THEM THROUGH. GREAT ENTERTAINMENT THIS MORNING. THIS IS WHAT YOUR THURSDAY IS LOOKING LIKE. THERE'S LIKELY SOME HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. BUT BY MID-MORNING, THAT SHOULD EASE TO THE ODD SHOWER, AS THOSE GUSTY NOR-WESTERLIES DIE AWAY AS WELL. 23 DEGREES FOR AUCKLAND AND KAITAIA. 24 FOR THE REST. YOU'LL HAVE THOSE HEAVY FALLS FIRST THING THROUGH HERE, BUT AGAIN THAT SHOULD PULL BACK TO LIGHTER SHOWERS BY LUNCHTIME. ALTHOUGH THIS SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHING THROUGH HERE LATER ON COULD DELIVER SOME HAIL. 20 DEGREES IN ROTORUA. 24 FOR HAMILTON AND TAURANGA. YOU'RE IN FOR HEAVIER DOWNPOURS FURTHER EAST, AND THEY'LL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY. IN FACT THERE'S A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE RAIN IN HAWKE'S BAY. MASTERTON'S RAIN, THOUGH, SHOULD CLEAR LATER THIS AFTERNOON. 18 THE EXPECTED HIGH THERE. 21 IN NAPIER AND GISBORNE. SHIFTING WEST, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN IS HITTING MOST OF YOU EARLY ON, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD EASE TO SHOWERS AS THE MORNING CONTINUES. BUT IF YOU'RE IN WELLINGTON, THE DAY IS MORE OVERCAST, WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. ALL OF YOU WILL SEE THESE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTH, THOUGH. 17 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI. BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FINE UP THIS MORNING ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH AND ALONG THE WEST COAST. THERE'S SUNSHINE FOR MOST PLACES. KAIKOURA IS LOOKING MORE OVERCAST, THOUGH, WITH POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO SHOWERS UNTIL TONIGHT. 20 DEGREES FOR HOKITIKA, GREYMOUTH AND BLENHEIM. THE REMAINDER OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THAT CLOUD COVER SHOULD CLEAR THIS MORNING FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT EAST, AND THE REST OF THE DAY LOOKS MUCH FINER. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DIE OUT THIS AFTERNOON TOO. AND THERE'S SUNNIER SKIES THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. SOME OF YOU WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MORNING CLOUD TO LIFT, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S SMOOTH SAILING. A BIT CHILLIER, THOUGH ` 16 DEGREES FOR DUNEDIN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S CONTINUED RAIN AROUND GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY, AND A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTH-WEST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S MOSTLY FINE ACROSS AOTEAROA. EAST OTAGO RESIDENTS ARE FRUSTRATED AT WHAT THEY SAY HAS BEEN A LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN THE REGION OVER THE ISSUE OF LEAD-CONTAMINATED WATER. RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE DRINKING WATER FROM TANKS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER WATER IN KARITANE AND WAIKOUAITI WAS FOUND TO HAVE 40 TIMES THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF LEAD. AND MANY RESIDENTS SAY THE DIRECTION FROM LOCAL COUNCIL HASN'T BEEN STRONG. SO FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY DUNEDIN MAYOR AARON HAWKINS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. DID YOU FRONT LAST NIGHT AT THE MEETING? YES. I WAS THERE WITH A DELEGATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL INCLUDING OUR CE AND SENIOR LEADERS WITHIN OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM. WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO SAY? THIS HAS CLEARLY BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME. WE THANK THE RESIDENTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR PATIENTS, AND FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION WITH THE BLOOD TEST REGIME THAT THE DHB HAS ROLLED OUT. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET A SOLID SAMPLE SIZE TO GET A POPULATION LEVEL IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. DID YOU FRONT AT THE LAST MEETING? I WAS THERE, YES. SO YOU WERE THERE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU SAT AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING, AND MANY OF THEM THINK YOU DIDN'T SHOW LEADERSHIP ON THAT OCCASION. WHY DID YOU FEEL THE NEED TO NOT FRONT THEM? THAT IS NOT QUITE ACCURATE. I SPOKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT MEETING ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AGO TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT WE WERE DOING TO TRY AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP SHOWN BY YOURSELF AND THE COUNCIL. WE ARE CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THIS? DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCOMFORTS ABOUT THE WAY YOU HAVE HANDLED THIS, THE COMMUNICATION, AND YOU ACCEPT THERE ARE FRUSTRATED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE KEPT OUT OF THE LOOP? I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS AS AN ISSUE FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES SOONER THAN I DID. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS THE SAME DAY THAT DO NOT DRINK WARNING WAS ISSUED. THAT IS NOT IDEAL. CERTAINLY, AROUND THE TIME OF THE DO NOT DRINK NOTICE, WE ACCEPT THE WAY WE COMMUNICATED WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT WE WERE DOING, WASN'T IDEAL, AND IT AND TO WHAT WAS ALREADY A CONFUSING AND ANXIOUS TIME. HAVE YOU SAID THAT, HEAVY SAID THOSE WORDS TO THE COMMUNITY? WE DID NOT GET IT RIGHT. THERE IS A FEELING THAT THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF SHOPPING OFF TO THE SIDE OF RESPONSIBILITY. YES. I MADE THOSE COMMENTS AT THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING THAT WAS HELD A PROXIMALLY FIVE WEEKS AGO AND IT IS GIVEN LAST NIGHT. ALL THE WAY THROUGH WE HAVE BEEN UPFRONT AROUND THE TIME OF THE DO NOT DRINK NOTICE, THE HEIGHT OF COMMUNITY CONCERN, THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE COUNCIL WEREN'T IDEAL, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT WE WERE DOING. THE EMAIL THAT NOTIFIED THE PEOPLE THAT THE LEAD LEVELS WERE 40% HIGHER, WAS NOT OPENED TILL MID JANUARY. HAS THAT SYSTEM NOW BEEN SORTED OUT? THAT WAS ONE SAMPLE THAT WAS TAKEN OVER THAT SIX-MONTH PERIOD. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THROUGH THAT SIX-MONTH PERIOD. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DOING A INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF OUR PROCESS THAT LED UP TO THE DO NOT DRINK NOTICE THAT WILL FOLLOW UP TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S CURRENT REVIEW. SOME OF THOSE PROCESSES INCLUDED IN HOW WE INTERACT WITH TESTING LABS HAVE ALREADY CHANGED, BUT TO GIVE THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT LOOKED AT END INDEPENDENTLY. TESTING WAS BEEN DONE MONTHS BEFORE. WE RESIDENTS ARE WHERE YOU ARE TESTING THE WATER? KNOW, IT WAS NOT RANKING WATER RELATED. THESE WERE TESTS FOR CHOLERA 70 IN THE WATER AS PART OF ASSET MANAGING PLANS TO SEE WHAT CONDITION THE PIPES WERE IN. WE ARE NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE CURRENT TREATING WATER STANDARDS TO REGULARLY TEST FOR LEAD AND THAT WATER CATCHMENT. THE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS ARE BEING REVIEWED BY GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE WATER SERVICES BILL AND I ANTICIPATE THAT WILL CHANGE THROUGH THE WORK THEY ARE DOING AND TAUMATA ARA WAI THE NEW REGULATOR INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE REFORMS, LARGELY DUE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN HAVELOCK NORTH. WHEN THE DO NOT DRINK THE WATER NOTICE COMES OFF, WILL YOU DRINK THE WATER? YES. ALL THE WAY THROUGH, WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES. THE REALITY IS, WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE INTERMITTENT SPIKES WE HAVE SEEN. AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT AND INVESTIGATING ANY NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CAUSES. BUT WE MAY NEVER FIND THE ANSWER TO THAT. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ELIMINATING RISKS WHERE THEY EXIST, EXHILARATING THE ALREADY PLANNED REPLACEMENT OF COPPER PIPES IN THAT PART OF THE NETWORK, WE HAVE ORDERED FROM BELGIUM AND ONLINE REAL-TIME LET METRE THAT WE CAN INSTALL. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE ABLE TO LET US, IF REQUIRED, TO SHUTDOWN THE SYSTEM, SHOULD INTERMITTENT SPIKES OCCUR AGAIN. WE WILL NOT LIFT THE DO NOT DRINK NOTICE UNTIL WE ARE SATISFIED IT IS SAFE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DRINK THAT WATER. THANK YOU FOR FRONTING, I REALLY APPRECIATED. COMING UP ` THE NUMBER OF KIWIS STRUGGLING TO ACCESS FOOD AND SHELTER IS ON THE RISE. NEXT, WE TALK TO THOSE PUTTING IN THE HARD MAHI ON THE FRONTLINES. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 HAS BEEN FELT, WITHOUT QUESTION, BY ALL OF US. NO SECTOR, NO GROUP OF SOCIETY HAS BEEN LEFT UNSCATHED. BUT FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN JUST GETTING BY, THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY PUSHED THINGS OVER THE EDGE, AND THERE'S STAGGERING EVIDENCE TO BACK THAT UP, WITH ONE VOLUNTEER GROUP WORKING WITH OUR HOMELESS AND AT-RISK COMMUNITIES SEEING THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE DOUBLING SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. AND IT'S ONLY EXPECTED TO GET WORSE. BUT THEY'VE RISEN UP TO MEET THAT NEED, WITH MORE THAN 160 VOLUNTEERS NOW PROVIDING SUPPORT IN BOTH AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON. TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL MAHI THEY'RE DOING WE'RE SO PLEASED BE WELCOME TO THE SHOW ORANGE SKY'S OPERATIONS MANAGER EDDIE UINI, AND CLAYTON JOEL BROWNING, A FRIEND OF ORANGE SKY WHO'S BEEN RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM THE ORGANISATION. TENA KORUA. SO NICE TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US. GOOD MORNING, BROTHER. I AM DELIGHTED TO BE YOUR BROTHER, EDDIE. YOU DO SPECIAL WORK. TELL US WHAT ORANGE SKY DOES. FOR SURE. AS YOU SEE BEHIND US, THIS IS OUR BEN. IT HAS TWO WASHING MACHINES TO DRYERS AND A SHOWER IN THE BACK. WE GO AROUND TO HELP FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT TOUGH. WE PROVIDE THE SERVICE FOR FREE WITH THE VOLUNTEERS ALL AROUND AUCKLAND. WE ALSO HAVE A VAN IN WELLINGTON. CJ. WE HAVE JUST MET. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ORANGE SKY AND HOW THEY HAVE HELPED YOU. IT HAS GIVEN ME HOPE THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES RECENTLY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT YOU'VE GOT. YOU LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE IT'S YOUR LAST, AND HOPE THAT THINGS WILL STILL BE NORMAL. CJ, HAVE YOU USED HUGO, BEHIND YOU? YES, HUGO IS ONE OF THE BEST MACHINES IN THE COUNTRY. IT IS BY FAR... THE BEST MACHINE IN THE COUNTRY. IT DOES ANYTHING ANYTHING CAN DO AND IT IS A LOT FOR EVERYONE. IT DOES MIRACLES. IT RESTORES TRUST AND FAITH IN THE PEOPLE, AND GIVES THEM NEW FAITH IN HUMANITY AND IN SOCIETY. THROUGH COVID IT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO GO ON AS THERE WAS HAVE. CJ, DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SEEN AND THAT YOU MATTER AND THAT SOMEONE GIVES A DAMN? MOST CERTAINLY. IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. IT BRINGS EVERYONE FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE TOGETHER AND MAKES US FEEL LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY. YOU FEEL SEEN AND NOT LIKE YOU'RE JUST A HOME IN LOCKDOWN AND STUCK TRYING TO GO THROUGH IT ON YOUR OWN. IF YOU LIKE A FAMILY GOING THROUGH IT TOGETHER. YOU HELP EACH OTHER OUT, AND YOU TRY AND GET THROUGH THE REST OF IT. IDEOLOGICALLY COUPLE WHAT CJ SAME BECAUSE IT IS LOVELY. YOUR ORGANISATION IS WHAT CJ IS TALKING ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT NOTICING PEOPLE AND CARING ABOUT THEM, AND MAKING THEM KNOW THAT YOU SEE THEM AND THEY MATTER. THERE IS THE LITERAL, WHICH IS HAVE YOUR CLOSE WASHED AND HAVING A HOT SHOWER AND COMING OUT FEELING LIKE A PERSON AGAIN. BUT THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING HARDER TO DESCRIBE, WHICH IS KNOWING THAT SOMEONE CARES ABOUT YOU. 100%, I THINK FOR ME I THINK THE WASHING SHOWERS IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONNECTIONS WE MAKE, EVERYONE WHO USES OUR SERVICES, AND I KNOW FOR ME, I SPEAK FOR ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS WHEN I SAY IT IS MORE THAN JUST A WORD. WE GET TO KNOW PEOPLE. I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD REFER TO ME AS A FRIEND. THE MOST POWERFUL PART AS I WAS IN THE CONNECTIONS IN A SAFE PLACE. AS SOON AS WE PULL UP WE BRING CHEERS AND IT IS A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT. IT IS AMAZING THE PEOPLE I'VE GOTTEN TO MEET. I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY I HAD COME OUT OF THE VAN. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO GET IN. BUT I WANT TO GET IN THE VERY IMPORTANT DETAILS THAT DEMAND HAS DOUBLED. DESCRIBE IT TO ME, AND DESCRIBE THE FACT THAT I SUSPECT YOU NEED SOME SUPPORT, RIGHT? DO YOU NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT? YEAR. BEFORE LOCKDOWN WE WOULD DO EIGHT OR NINE SHIFTS A WEEK. THIS MAN HERE IS DOING 16 SHIFTS A WEEK. WE GOT EVERY DAY, TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY. WE HAVE NOTICED A LOT MORE OF A NEED OUT WEST. SOUTH AND WEST, WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE FAMILIES. WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEALS AND MOTHERS OF FATHER'S, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HOME BUT NEED TO SAVE $10 ON A WASH. WE SEE THEM EVERY WEEK. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON A SHIFT IN THE NUMBER OF SHIPS THEMSELVES HAVE GONE UP. IT IS HEARTBREAKING, BUT IT IS GOOD AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT, EVEN A SMALL ONE. SO IF PEOPLE HAVE A SPARE 10 OR $20, WE CAN THEY GO? CHECK US OUT ON ORANGE SKY.ORG.NZ OR GO ON A FACEBOOK PAGE. IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER OR DONATE, YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS THERE. IT HAS BEEN SO NICE TO MEET YOU CJ. HOW HAVE THE PAST 12 MONTHS BEEN FOR YOU? IT HAS BEEN A TURBULENCE RIGHT. I HAVE FAMILY ABROAD, SO IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING. YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO BE SAFE. YOU TAKE EVERY DAY AS IT COMES. YOU HOPES THAT THERE IS ANOTHER NOT ANOTHER LOCKDOWN COMING. YOU HAVE TO TRY AND FIND A WAY THROUGH AND BE HOPEFUL. I THINK YOUR SPEAKING BEHALF OF US ALL THEIR WOMEN HOPE THAT THINGS GET BETTER. WHAT IS THAT NOISE? IS A HUGO OR SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON? I PICKED A BAD SPOT. IT IS THE ROADWORKS ACROSS FROM US. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK WHICH IS VERY MEANINGFUL. LOVELY TO MEET YOU CLAYTON, AND THANK YOU EDDIE FOR THE WEEK YOU DO. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` MILLIONS OF KIWIS ARE SET TO GET A COVID VACCINE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLLOUT PLAN AT 8. ALSO AHEAD ` WORKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW AOTEAROA CAN FOSTER INCLUSION, AND JUST WHERE WE'RE FALLING SHORT. HERE IS YOUR 8 O'CLOCK NEWS. MORE THAN 2m NEW ZEALANDERS ARE IN LINE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT AFTER ANNOUNCING IT'S VACCINATION PLAN. SPLIT INTO FOUR GROUPS, THE VACCINE IS BEING ROLLED OUT TO BORDER WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEN FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS AND PEOPLE LIVING IN HIGH RISK SITUATIONS. THE THIRD GROUP TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE WILL BE PRIORITY POPULATIONS, WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN EXPECT TO GET THEIR FIRST JAB FROM JULY. AND THE ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER SAYS DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY INTO HOW AND WHERE THE REST OF THE POPULATION WILL BE VACCINATED. WE WILL NEED TO START ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES. IF WE'VE GOT AN EYE TO THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR TO VACCINATE THE WIDER POPULATION, I EXPECT THAT THE HEALTH OFFICIALS AND OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS WILL BE ENGAGING WITH OUR FAMILIES STARTING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I UNDERSTAND IN AUCKLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S ALREADY STARTED. MEANWHILE, REMAINING COVID-19 TEST RESULTS ARE EXPECTED BACK TODAY FROM CONTACTS OF THE AIR NEW ZEALAND CREW MEMBER WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS ON SUNDAY. SO FAR ALL CONTACTS HAVE RETURNED NEGATIVE RESULTS. THERE ARE CALLS FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THE MIQ BOOKING SYSTEM SO PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO SECURING A VOUCHER. IT COMES AFTER UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND CAUSED THE SITE TO CRASH, WITH 1m HITS ON THE WEBSITE LAST FRIDAY. ONE COMPUTER PROGRAMMER SAYS SETTING UP BOOKINGS WOULD BE A SIMPLE SOLUTION. I DONT THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SET UP A QUEUING SYSTEM ` SHOULDN'T REALLY DIVERGE TOO MUCH FROM WHAT'S ALREADY THERE. RATHER THAN ONLY BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM DATES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, YOU COULD CHOOSE FROM, SAY, ANY DATE IN THE FUTURE. THE HEAD OF MIQ IS HAPPY WITH HOW THE SYSTEM IS RUNNING, BUT SAYS MBIE IS CONSTANTLY WORKING ON IMPROVEMENTS. RESIDENTS OF EAST OTAGO TOWNS WHO WERE DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD HAVE BEEN TOLD LONG TERM EXPOSURE SEEMS UNLIKELY. A COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD LAST NIGHT TO INFORM LOCALS FROM KARITANE AND WAIKOUAITI ABOUT BLOOD RESULTS FOLLOWING MASS TESTING. THE MAYOR OF DUNEDIN SAYS ` THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY COUNSEL FAILED TO COMMIT A KICK CLEARLY. AROUND THE TIME OF THE DO NOT DRINK NOTICED, WE ACCEPT THAT THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS NOT IDEAL, AND IT ADD TO WHAT WAS ALREADY A CONFUSING AND IT JUST TIME FOR THEM WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATE. AUSTRALIA'S BORDER FORCE HAS GRANTED MEDIA ACCESS TO A PLANELOAD OF DEPORTEES HEADED FOR NEW ZEALAND. THE REPORTER IN THE STORY QUESTIONED THEM AS THEY CROSSED THE TARMAC. THE FLIGHT FROM BRISBANE, BOUND FOR AUCKLAND, WAS REPORTEDLY FULL OF PEOPLE WHO'D COMMITTED CRIMES IN AUSTRALIA. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENDERS HERE, AND OUR COUNTRY'S SAFER FOR HAVING DEPORTED THEM. IT'S TAKING THE TRASH OUT ` THEN WE CAN MAKE AUSTRALIA A SAFER PLACE. THE ISSUE OF AUSTRALIA DEPORTING ITS CRIMINALS TO NEW ZEALAND HAS DOGGED TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONS IN RECENT YEARS. TO SPORT, AND THE BREAKERS CONTINUE TO TURN THEIR SEASON'S FORTUNES AROUND, THIS TIME INSPIRED TO VICTORY BY TOM ABERCROMBIE ` INSIDE! BLOCKED! YES! STEER TO DEFEAT IN THE FACE AND TOM ABERCROMBIE DELIVERS WHEN HIS TEAM NEEDS IT MOST. LOOK AT ALL THAT HUGGING. THE CAPTAIN'S BUZZER-BEATER SEALING A 76-73 VICTORY OVER THE CAIRNS TAIPANS IN A THRILLER. FINN ALLEN MAY'VE MISSED OUT ON TODAY'S BLACK CAPS SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT BUT HE'S MADE IT INTO THE LUCRATIVE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE. THE WELLINGTON CRICKETER GOT A LATE CALL UP INTO THE ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE. HE'S IN THE SIDE AFTER ANOTHER PLAYER PULLED OUT OF THE SEASON DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS. IT'S THE SAME TEAM THAT SPLASHED OUT $2.8m ON KYLE JAMIESON. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. HIS PUBLIC GOING, IT IS OKAY NOW.A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A LITTLE BIT OF WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. 50 YEARS AGO I WILLED MY FIRSTBORN TO OUR LOCAL SHOPS, BOSSA MEET IN WARTIME THEN REALISED I HAD LEFT THE PRAM IN THE BABY OUTSIDE THE SHOPS. THERE ARE SO MANY NEW PARENTS WHO HAVE DONE EXACTLY THAT. IT IS OK. I LOVE THAT. SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOUR PSYCHE AFTER YOU GIVE BIRTH. ALL SORTS OF WEIRD STUFF. JOE F7 47 IT IS A DELIGHTFUL STORY. WENT TO THE SHOPS TO GET EGGS, JUMPED IN HER BAND, WENT HOME. THE HUSBAND WENT, WEARS A BAN? REALISE THAT WE HAD TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE'S VAN. EVERYONE LIKE DIED OF LAUGHTER. THE LOVELY THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT IS SO TONGAN. THEY HAD LEFT THE KEYS IN THE EVENT. THERE ARE NOT MANY CAR IMPORTS SO EVERYONE HAS THE SAME FAN. TALKING ABOUT SLEEP DEPRIVATION, WHEN I FIRST CAME BACK TO COACHING AFTER HAVING THE BOYS, IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT THREE WEEKS, I SET ON THE SIDELINE. I REMEMBER LOOKING DOWN THE HEAT OF THE COURT AND GOING, I CAN'T SEE. I ACTUALLY CAN'T SEE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY EYES. THE COACH SITTING NEXT TO ME SAID, YOU HAVEN'T SLEPT. MY EYES HAVE NOT RETURNED YET. EVERYTHING IS BLURRY. IT'S A REAL THING. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IS TODAY. WALKED THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY HOME AND THEN REALISED I HAD DRIVEN TO WORK. YOU STARTED THIS THING ABOUT BRAIN FARTS. THE SPOKE TIME. YOU WILL KNOW THIS PLACE, JAMIE. PRESSURE. THIS IS WHAT YOUR THURSDAY IS LOOKING LIKE. THERE'S LIKELY SOME HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. BUT BY MID-MORNING, THAT SHOULD EASE TO THE ODD SHOWER, AS THOSE GUSTY NOR-WESTERLIES DIE AWAY AS WELL. 23 DEGREES FOR AUCKLAND AND KAITAIA. 24 FOR THE REST. YOU'LL HAVE THOSE HEAVY FALLS FIRST THING THROUGH HERE, BUT AGAIN THAT SHOULD PULL BACK TO LIGHTER SHOWERS BY LUNCHTIME. ALTHOUGH THIS SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHING THROUGH HERE LATER ON COULD DELIVER SOME HAIL. 20 DEGREES IN ROTORUA. 24 FOR HAMILTON AND TAURANGA. LEONIE SENT THIS IN. WE ARE GOING HERE. OUR GORGEOUS SUNSET UNDER MT PIRONGIA FROM OUR PLACE, NGAHINAPOURI. SHE LIVES IN NGAHINAPOURI. WHICH IS CLOSE TO YOU, SORT OF. CLOSER TO HAMILTON THAN HOPE, BUT I DRIVE THROUGH THERE ON THE WAY BACK TO AUCKLAND. IT IS A WAS REALLY BUSY AND VERY BEAUTIFUL. IT S ONLY A SMALL VILLAGE TOWNSHIP, BUT IS THE BACK MAIN ROAD FOR ALL TRAFFIC HEADING SOUTH ON SH39 ESP TO THE SKI FIELDS DURING WINTER. IT IS THE DEED OR. SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE. PEOPLE GOT SO THROUGH QUICK. VERY BEAUTIFUL AND USUALLY VERY PEACEFUL AND LOVELY. SHE SAID IT'S A NICE MIX OF RURAL LIFE, BUT STILL CLOSE ENOUGH TO TRAVEL TO HAMILTON OR TE AWAMUTU DAILY FOR MAHI. THE TRON. PRETTY SPECIAL. RAIN TURNING TO SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS AND HAIL POSSIBLE. SHOWERS EASING EVENING. STILL WARMER, THOUGH. 24 DEGREES. THE SHOWERS OR EVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR SENDING LETTER. YOU'RE IN FOR HEAVIER DOWNPOURS FURTHER EAST, AND THEY'LL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY. IN FACT THERE'S A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE RAIN IN HAWKE'S BAY. MASTERTON'S RAIN, THOUGH, SHOULD CLEAR LATER THIS AFTERNOON. 18 THE EXPECTED HIGH THERE. 21 IN NAPIER AND GISBORNE. SHIFTING WEST, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN IS HITTING MOST OF YOU EARLY ON, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD EASE TO SHOWERS AS THE MORNING CONTINUES. BUT IF YOU'RE IN WELLINGTON, THE DAY IS MORE OVERCAST, WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. ALL OF YOU WILL SEE THESE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTH, THOUGH. 17 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI. BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FINE UP THIS MORNING ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH AND ALONG THE WEST COAST. THERE'S SUNSHINE FOR MOST PLACES. KAIKOURA IS LOOKING MORE OVERCAST, THOUGH, WITH POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO SHOWERS UNTIL TONIGHT. 20 DEGREES FOR HOKITIKA, GREYMOUTH AND BLENHEIM. THE REMAINDER OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THAT CLOUD COVER SHOULD CLEAR THIS MORNING FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT EAST, AND THE REST OF THE DAY LOOKS MUCH FINER. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DIE OUT THIS AFTERNOON TOO. 18 IN CHRISTCHURCH. 16 AND THE REST OF THE COST. AND THERE'S SUNNIER SKIES THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. SOME OF YOU WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MORNING CLOUD TO LIFT, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S SMOOTH SAILING. A BIT CHILLIER, THOUGH ` 16 DEGREES FOR DUNEDIN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S CONTINUED RAIN AROUND GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY, AND A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTH-WEST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S MOSTLY FINE ACROSS AOTEAROA. WHILE LAUGHING? ONE OF OUR PRODUCERS SAID THAT WHEN I PUT THE WORDS BIT CHILLY TOGETHER SOMETIMES IT SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER WORD. IT MADE ME GIGGLE WHEN I SAID IT JUST THEM. WAS THAT GREG? NO, TALIA. BIT CHILLY. IT IS A BIT CHILLY ENDING IN 20 IN QUEENSTOWN. IT STARTS A BIT CHILLY, AND THEN GETS A BIT AND CHILLY. CAN YOU IMAGINE, MATTY, AT SCHOOL. HE WOULD BE SO WELL-BEHAVED. I WAS WELL-BEHAVED, BUT I DID HAVE A NAUGHTY STREET BECAUSE I FELT LIKE BECAUSE I WAS SO WELL-BEHAVED, I COULD PUSH THE BOUNDARIES WITHOUT TOO MANY CONSEQUENCES. I BET YOU DID NOT YOUR CRUSTS. WHILE STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME. IT IS 813. IT'S THE 11TH OF MARCH, AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING WITH YOU, AOTEAROA. TODAY'S THE DAY MURPHY TURNS 11. AOTEAROA. TODAY'S THE DAY MURPHY TURNS 11. GOOD DOG! GOOD DOG! HE'LL BE CELEBRATING IN STYLE WHILST ON HOLIDAY IN BANNOCKBURN, AND HOPEFULLY GETTING A FEW EXTRA TREATS! HE IS THE BEST GOOD DOG WHO IS SO LOVED BY HIS FAMILY. GLASS OF PINOT NOIR FOR MURPHY. ONLY ONE THOUGH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MURPHY. TODAY'S THE DAY DOREEN TURNS 90! SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN, 6 GRANDCHILDREN, 14 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN AND ANOTHER GREAT-GRANDCHILD DUE TODAY! THAT IS PRETTY SPECIAL. HER FAMILY DESCRIBES HER AS A PERSON WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HARD WORKER, DEDICATED TO HER FAMILY, AND AN EARLY FEMINIST WITH HER INDEPENDENT CAN-DO ATTITUDE TO LIFE. GO DOREEN! ORIGINALLY FROM TE AROHA, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS MOVED TO HAMILTON WHERE SHE IS AN OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF BOWLS AND RUMMIKUB. WHAT IS THAT? SUCH A GOOD GAME. YOU HAVE TILES AND IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE RUNS OF TILES. DOREEN SMASHES IT. I WILL TAKE YOU ON DOREEN. TODAY IS THE DAY HEATH TURNS ONE! HIS MUM AND DAD SAY HE'S A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE IN THEIR LIVES. HEATH LOVES WATCHING BREAKFAST WITH MUM BEFORE DAY-CARE, ESPECIALLY BOPPING AWAY TO ALL THE DIFFERENT MUSIC AND WAVING TO MATTY WHEN HE DOES THE WEATHER. THEY LOVE ME. EVERYONE LOVES YOU. INTERESTING THAT YOU FEEL THE NEED TO POINT THAT OUT ALL THE TIME. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MUM AND DAD FOR MAKING IT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR! TURN UP THE MUSIC FOR HEATH. THE GO. TODAY'S THE DAY THAT 'NED THE THIRD' TURNS NINE. NED IS A MUCH TREASURED WHANAU MEMBER WHO IS FUNNY AND CLEVER. HE REALLY DOES LOVE HIS FAMILY. HERE HE IS WITH HIS NEW COUSIN MAIA. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NED! BEAUTIFUL. LOVE THIS. WE CELEBRATE YOU, AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE YOU LET US KNOW. AND MIGHT BE A BIRTHDAY OR A FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, ANNIVERSARY, ANYTHING. EMAIL US AND PUT TODAY'S THE DAY OF THE SUBJECT LINE. I LIKE POPPING ALONG TO THE MUSIC TO. WE KNOW. YOU TOO ALL RIGHT? WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE NON-BOPPING SHAMED. IT IS OKAY TO NOT POP. IT'S OKAY TO BE UNCOOL, UPTIGHT... YOU HAVE BEEN BOPPING SINCE 530. WE JUST WANT TO DO IS SHUT OUT TO OUR FRIENDS AT ORANGE SKY BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS LOVELY. IMAGINE IF YOU ARE SLEEPING ROUGH AND SOMEONE TURNS UP AND SAYS WE WILL WASH YOUR CLOTHES. WE GOT THE LINK WRONG BUT HERE IT IS` YOU WILL BOW TO READ ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND MAKE A DONATION. COMING UP ` JUST HOW INCLUSIVE IS AOTEAROA AND HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? THAT'S UP NEXT. NGA MIHI, WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. BELONGING AND INCLUSION ARE FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS TO HELP US FEEL CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH YOU BELONG, WHICH IS SOMTHING SO MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED. SOME IT MUST BE SAID, MORE THAN OTHERS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, INCLUSIVE AOTEAROA COLLECTIVE TAHONO HAVE SPOKEN WITH OVER 800 PEOPLE FROM RIGHT ACROSS AOTEAROA, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCES OF BELONGING, AND JUST HOW OFTEN WE, AS A COUNTRY, ARE FALLING SHORT. TO EXPLAIN MORE, WE'RE SO THRILLED TO WELCOME INCLUSIVE AOTEAROA COLLECTIVE'S PROJECT LEAD, ANJUM RAHMAN. MORENA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. DRIVING UP FROM HAMILTON. WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID YOU ASK THOSE THAT TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY? WE WANTED TO GET BOTH SIDES, SO WE WANTED TO ASK THEM ABOUT WHEN THEY DID FIELD THAT THEY BELONGED AND WHAT WERE THE THINGS THAT MADE THEM FEEL THAT WAY, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEY BELONGED. WE TRUST PEOPLE AND THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED IN THEIR LIVES, SO WE WANTED TO GET THAT FROM THEM. I HAVE READ SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WERE TOLD. CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THOSE? BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE, IS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE STILL BEHAVE THIS WAY? SOME OF THE STORIES ARE VERY SHOCKING. WE HAVE TO DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF ALSO THE POSITIVE, WONDERFUL PEOPLE THERE ARE. THERE ARE STORIES OF BEING KICKED OUT OF A RESTAURANT, BEING TOLD YOU WON'T BE SERVED BECAUSE YOU ARE A GROUP WITH DISABILITIES, BEING MISDIAGNOSED, BEING TOLD YOU ARE A BAD PARENT, RACISM, BULLYING. THEN WE WENT TO THINGS LIKE LACK OF ACCESS TO HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT WAS A BIG ONE, THAT SPACE OF TRYING TO GET A JOB, HAVING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS RECOGNISED. WE HAD ONE STORY OF ONE MAORI WOMAN, BECAUSE HER NAME DIDN'T IDENTIFY HER IN HER JOB APPLICATION, WHEN SHE TURNED UP AT THE PLACE, THEY ESCORTED HER OUT AND SAID WE DO NOT WANT THE LIKES OF YOU HERE. YEAR, SO THERE WERE THOSE KINDS OF STORIES. HOW WE STILL HEAR WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF EMPATHY, COMPASSION AND HUMAN DECENCY? IT IS SAID THAT IT IS. WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF STRIDES, BUT THERE ARE STILL SO MUCH OF PEOPLE STARTING TO HUNKER DOWN AND REALLY, THAT DIVISIVENESS, IS COMING GLOBALLY. WE SEE THAT WITH THE BRICKS THAT VOTE AND AMERICAN POLITICS. SOMETIMES IT IS THE POLITICAL RHETORIC, LOOKING TO DIVIDE PEOPLE TO DRUM UP FEAR SO THEY WILL VOTE FOR A PARTICULAR PARTY. THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS KEEPING US IN THE SPACE. AND A LOT OF ENERGY PUT INTO DIVIDING US. THAT IS WHY WE WANTED TO DO THIS PROJECT, TO START GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WORK AGAINST THAT. HOW DO WE CHANGE PEOPLE, HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT? WAS THE FEEDBACK YOU GOT BACK FROM THEM? A LOT OF IT WAS ABOUT EDUCATION. SO MANY PEOPLE SAID, IF I COULD JUST TELL PEOPLE, WHEN I START SCHOOL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OR WHEN I GO TO MY WORKPLACE, JUST EXPLAIN TO THEM, THIS IS WHO I AM AND WHAT MY NEEDS ARE, SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND AND VALUE THAT. THAT CAME UP A LOT. THEN THERE WITH OTHER THINGS, SOME PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR HOLD CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, WE DON'T NEED THIS TYPE OF PARLIAMENT, WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND SOME MAORI MODELS CAME OUT WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING. WE ARE DOING A FEW THINGS, IN PARTICULAR, I AM RAISING THEM IN PLACES WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE, WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE STORIES OUT THERE SO THEY ARE HEARD. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS AN ORGANISATION, IS DEVELOPED COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS. BASICALLY WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO START WORKING ON THESE ISSUES. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ENOUGH OF THIS HAPPENING, THERE IS TOO MUCH WORKING INDIVIDUALLY. AND IS ABOUT HOW DO WE SIT WITH THIS FEELING OF DISCOMFORT? A COMMITMENT TO A COMMON GOAL. TO PUT IN PLACE THE THINGS WE AGREE ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO WRAP THINGS UP, BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION YOU ARE DOING SOME OTHER WORK WITH THE ISLAMIC WOMAN'S COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND. THAT IS A SERIES OF POSTERS OF MUSCLE AND WOMAN'S THAT IS BEING PREPARED FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES. IS ABOUT BREAKING DOWN THE STEREOTYPES OF MUSLIM WOMAN. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, I KNOW I SPOKE TO YOU LAST WEEK BUT IT IS LOVELY TO HAVE YOU IN HERE IN PERSON. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` ANOTHER DEVASTATING BLOW TO THE REGION ` FOUR WEST COAST HOTELS ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS. WE'LL HAVE THE REACTION ON THAT AT 8.30. ALSO AHEAD ` YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS. ALSO AHEAD ` YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS. INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED COMEDIAN BILL BAILEY JOINS US. PLUS ` AUSSIE MUSIC LEGEND RENEE GEYER IS BRINGING HER 80S BANGERS TO AOTEAROA. (COMPUTER BLIPS) (PHONE RINGS) (PHONE CONTINUES RINGING) (LID POPS) (QUIRKY PIANO MUSIC) (BICYCLE BELL RINGS) (ALLURING PIANO MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRP) VOICEOVER: How far will you go to make a little me-time? MORE THAN 2 MILLION NEW ZEALANDERS ARE IN LINE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN EXPECT TO GET THEIR FIRST JABS FROM JULY, UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S VACCINATION PLAN ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER PEENI HENARE SAYS THE MILITARY WILL LIKELY BE INVOLVED IN GETTING THE VACCINE TO ISOLATED COMMUNITIES. THE DEFENCE FORCE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE LOGISTICS AROUND HOW WE ACTUALLY ROLL THE VACCINE OUT. WE KNOW THAT THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN TIMES OF CIVIL EMERGENCY, SO WE'RE USING ALL OF THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO MAKE SURE, AND TO LOGISTICALLY PLAN, HOW WE MIGHT GET TO TE KAO, OR IS IT ACTUALLY MORE EFFICIENT FOR US TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THERE, TO BRING THEM TO KAITAIA, WHICH IS THE NEAREST TOWN CENTRE. FOUR WEST COAST HOTELS ARE SET TO CLOSE FOR UP TO A YEAR AND A HALF, YET ANOTHER BLOW FOR THE REGION, AS ITS ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF COVID-19. SCENIC HOTEL MANAGING GROUP, WHICH OWNS THE FOUR ESTABLISHMENTS, SAYS THEY'VE BEEN PLEADING FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. WELL, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOW FOR PROBABLY 6-7 WEEKS ON THE PLIGHT OF THE WEST COAST. AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT OUR HOTELS, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES OF FOX AND FRANZ. WITHOUT GETTING TOO MANY RESPONSES. IN FACT, I GOT AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY EMAIL FIVE WEEKS AFTER FROM THE MINISTER OF TOURISM THAT HE'D ACTUALLY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. AND ONE TOURISM OPERATOR IN THE AREA SAYS THE SITUATION IS DEVASTATING. OBVIOUSLY NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED, BUT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN SCENIC'S HAD TO MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION ABOUT WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO RIGHT NOW TO GET THROUGH THIS. LOOK, IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR BUSINESSES CURRENTLY AT 5%-20% OF NORMAL VOLUMES. ONCE A TWO-WAY TRANS TASMAN BUBBLE GETS GOING, IT'LL BE CHEAP TO GET AROUND. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S HALVING THE PRICE OF ALMOST 800,000 DOMESTIC AIRLINE TICKETS ` HOPING TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO SPEND ON HOLIDAY. IT'S POURED $1.2b INTO SLASHING THE COST OF SERVICES BETWEEN APRIL AND JULY. A FLIGHT FROM MELBOURNE TO THE GOLD COAST COULD BE AS CHEAP AS $60. TO SPORT NOW, AND THREE BLACK CAPS HAVE EARNED MAIDEN ONE-DAY CALL-UPS FOR THE THREE MATCH SERIES AGAINST BANGLADESH STARTING NEXT WEEK. DEVON CONWAY'S STRONG PERFORMANCES IN THE T20 AND IN DOMESTIC CRICKET HAVE BEEN REWARDED. HE'S THE PERFECT REPLACEMENT FOR KANE WILLIAMSON, WHO WILL MISS THE SERIES WITH AN ELBOW INJURY. WILL YOUNG'S ALSO BEEN CALLED UP, ALONG WITH DARYL MITCHELL. TOM LATHAM WILL CAPTAIN THE SIDE IN PLACE OF WILLIAMSON. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. NICE, THANKS INDIRA. WE'RE GOING TO THE WEATHER NOW, CHILDREN MATTY. SORRY. MY GIDDY AUNT. 8.35. I WAS SITTING THERE GOING, HURRY UP, INDIRA, MATTY IS NOT HERE YET. I'D LIKE TO SAY I WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT... WHAT WERE YOU DOING? NOTHING. THEY DROPPED YOU, MATTY. IT'S THIS WHOLE LEVEL 2 THING. I'VE BASICALLY BEEN PUT OUT IN THE BASEMENT. IT'S HARD. ANYWAY... THIS IS WHAT YOUR THURSDAY IS LOOKING LIKE. THERE'S LIKELY SOME HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. BUT BY MID-MORNING, THAT SHOULD EASE TO THE ODD SHOWER, AS THOSE GUSTY NOR-WESTERLIES DIE AWAY AS WELL. 23 DEGREES FOR AUCKLAND AND KAITAIA. 24 FOR THE REST. YOU'LL HAVE THOSE HEAVY FALLS FIRST THING THROUGH HERE, BUT AGAIN THAT SHOULD PULL BACK TO LIGHTER SHOWERS BY LUNCHTIME. ALTHOUGH THIS SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHING THROUGH HERE LATER ON COULD DELIVER SOME HAIL. 20 DEGREES IN ROTORUA. 24 FOR HAMILTON AND TAURANGA. YOU'RE IN FOR HEAVIER DOWNPOURS FURTHER EAST, AND THEY'LL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY. IN FACT, THERE'S A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE RAIN IN HAWKE'S BAY. MASTERTON'S RAIN, THOUGH, SHOULD CLEAR LATER THIS AFTERNOON. 18 THE EXPECTED HIGH THERE. 21 IN NAPIER AND GISBORNE. SHIFTING WEST, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN IS HITTING MOST OF YOU EARLY ON, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD EASE TO SHOWERS AS THE MORNING CONTINUES. BUT IF YOU'RE IN WELLINGTON, THE DAY IS MORE OVERCAST, WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. ALL OF YOU WILL SEE THESE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTH, THOUGH. 17 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI. BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO FINE UP THIS MORNING ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH AND ALONG THE WEST COAST. THERE'S SUNSHINE FOR MOST PLACES. KAIKOURA IS LOOKING MORE OVERCAST, THOUGH, WITH POSSIBLY ONE OR TWO SHOWERS UNTIL TONIGHT. 20 DEGREES FOR HOKITIKA, GREYMOUTH AND BLENHEIM. THE REMAINDER OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THAT CLOUD COVER SHOULD CLEAR THIS MORNING FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT EAST, AND THE REST OF THE DAY LOOKS MUCH FINER. THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DIE OUT THIS AFTERNOON TOO. 18 IN CHRISTCHURCH. 16 ON THE REST OF THE COAST. AND THERE'S SUNNIER SKIES THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. SOME OF YOU WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR THE MORNING CLOUD TO LIFT, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S SMOOTH SAILING. A BIT CHILLIER, THOUGH ` 16 DEGREES FOR DUNEDIN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S CONTINUED RAIN AROUND GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY, AND A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTH-WEST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S MOSTLY FINE ACROSS AOTEAROA. THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. THANKS FOR COMING. THANKS TO THIS MAN FOR COMING. INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED COMEDIAN BILL BAILEY IS DOWN UNDER, AND SET TO GET KIWI AUDIENCES ROARING WITH LAUGHTER AS HE HITS THE ROAD FOR HIS NEW TOUR 'EN ROUTE TO NORMAL'. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WE'RE ALL KEEN ON AT THE MOMENT. IT'S HIS FIRST INTERNATIONAL TOURING DESTINATION POST-COVID, AND WHILE MOST OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN IN LOCKDOWN, AND WHILE MOST OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN IN LOCKDOWN, HOW MAY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO NEW ZEALAND? I HAVE LOST COUNT, BUT I HAVE BEEN COMING FOR 25 YEARS. WHAT YOU MEMBER FROM THEN? I WENT TO AUCKLAND, CHRISTCHURCH AND WELLINGTON. I REMEMBER MY WIFE CAME WITH ME AND WE HIRED A CAR AND EXPLORED A BIT OF NEW ZEALAND. WE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. CAN I TALK ABOUT YOU WITH BIRDS? WHEN DID YOU GET INTO OUR BIRDS? I DEFINITELY DID. IT WAS A BIT ABOUT IT BUT I HAVE WRITTEN BOOKS ABOUT IT AND THEY SEEM COMMON GARDEN BEDS TO YOU, BUT THEY ARE VERY EXOTIC TO ME. TO THE AMAZING ISLAND OF EVOLUTIONARY ODDITIES. EXACTLY. I WAS READING A THING ABOUT YOU AND THE GUARDIAN AND IT WAS LOVELY AND HOW THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER. AT THE END THEY CALLED TRUE SANTA. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID IS THAT YOU NEVER PUNCH DOWN AS A COMEDIAN. THAT IS A VERY CONSCIOUS CHOICE. IT IS. IT WAS MADE BECAUSE IT WAS AT AN ATMOSPHERE AT THE TIME OF WRITING OR TALKING ABOUT THAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMEDY THAT WAS BASED AROUND SOMETIMES GETTING QUITE MEAN. IT CAN BE QUITE TOXIC. I THINK, COMEDY FOR ME IS ALWAYS ABOUT AS IF THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PUNCH, PUNCH UP AT AUTHORITY OR POWER. I THINK COMEDY WHERE WHERE YOU ARE BELITTLING PEOPLE I DO NOT LIKE IT. YOU DO PUNCH UP WONDERFULLY, BUT THEN YOU DO WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT MUSICAL LANGUAGE. YOU ARE SO BRAINY BUT ALSO VERY DRIVEN AND SINGULAR AND YOU WORK HARD. I WAS REALLY STRUCK BECAUSE YOU ON THAT SHOW STRICTLY COME DANCING. I AM JUST NOT REMOTELY INTERESTED IN DANCING SHOWS PLUS WATCHING LAST NIGHT AND I WANT TO SHOW, NOT JUST BECAUSE ABOUT THE DANCING BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE AIMING TO BE THIS GOOD. WHAT THE HELL! MOST OF THE MEN WHO DO THIS ARE KIND OF BEWILDERED. THAT AUSTRALIAN MIRROR THEIR PARTNER. LOOK AT YOU GO. THE BEAT DON'T STOP TO THE BREAK OF DAWN. DOESN'T THIS TELL US ABOUT YOU? TO BE FAIR, YES. THAT WAS THE RESULT OF HOURS AND HOURS OF PRACTICE. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, ISN'T IT? WE REALLY PUT HOURS AND THEN I THOUGHT IF I'M GOING TO DO THIS, I'M GOING TO GO HARD. YOUR SHOW WILL BE DIFFERENT AND NEW AND CONSIDERED, AND IT WILL BE A RESULT OF INTENSE BILL BAILEY ARCHITECTURE. IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD TIME OF THE LOCKDOWN TO THINK ABOUT IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND NEW IDEAS AND SONGS. THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN EVEN MORE OF A CREATIVE SORT OF SURGE OF MATERIAL AND IDEAS JUST BROUGHT ABOUT BY COMING HERE, WHICH OF COURSE, THIS COUNTRY HAS GOT A HANDLE ON THIS IN A WAY THAT MOST OF THE WORLD HAS NOT. FOR ME COMING FROM BRITAIN WHERE IT HAS BEEN SHAMBOLIC, THERE IS A REALLY AN ANGLE THERE. PLUS THERE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME DURING LOCKDOWN STRANGE DREAMS, THE MUSIC. THE EMOTIONS THEY HAVE COME OUT THROUGH IT. PEOPLE ARE EMPATHISING MORE. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THIS THING WILL REMAIN. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE EMPATHY WOULD. THE FEELING THAT IF WE ALL RESPOND, WILL RESPOND BETTER. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SHOWED. THE SHOW STARTS WELLINGTON ON THE 13TH. IT IS MY HOMETOWN AND IT IS HARD TO MAKE A WELLINGTONIAN LAUGH. I SEEM TO HAVE OVER THE YEARS. THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO LAUGH YET BECAUSE THE LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED, IT WAS NOT RIGHT. I SEE, SO THEY GET SELF-CONSCIOUS. DO YOU NOTICE DIFFERENT CROWDS? SOMETIMES IT IS TRUE, THERE IS A BIT OF THAT. THERE IS A BIT OF IT ARE WE ALLOWED TO LAUGH OR SHOULD WE LAUGH? I THINK GENERALLY, I HAVE FOUND OVER THE YEARS THAT THERE IS A REAL COMMONALITY BETWEEN OUR SENSES OF HUMOUR. I THINK PERHAPS IT IS JUST MY STYLE THAT IS LESS CONFRONTATIONAL. IT FEELS LESS LIKE THE JOKE AND A GAG AND MORE ENGAGING PEOPLE IN A CONVERSATION. AND ALSO TAKING US TO PLACES WE HAVE NOT BEEN BEFORE. AND ALSO THE SURPRISES YOU PULL. JUST WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, OFF YOU GO. WE TAKE A BIT OF A LEFT TURN. THE BIT OF THAT. WHAT IT IS LIKE WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT THEM? I BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE THE ME, EVERY GIG IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. EVERY PERFORMANCE A SITUATION IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND INCREMENTAL IN DIFFERENT. I WAS THINK THAT, FOR ME, GREAT COUGARS WHEN EVERYONE IS ENGAGED. I FILE THE AUDIENCE IS ENGAGED, I AM HOPEFULLY ENTERTAINING PEOPLE, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CREATE TOGETHER. THERE'S A BIT OF ALCHEMY THAT GOES ON BETWEEN A PERFORMER AND AN AUDIENCE, AND THAT'S WHEN I THINK THIS IS HAPPENING NOW. WE ARE CREATING SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T HAVE EXISTED WITHOUT ME THERE OR THE AUDIENCE THE. LETTER IS THE PERFECT CAKE. I AM AIMING FOR THAT SWEET SPOT. THAT'S WHEN I THINK, THIS IS WORKING PROPERLY. IT HAS MAGIC. IT IS A WONDERFUL TIME WE ASK QUESTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY AND THAT CAN LEAD TO OTHER THINGS. AND THEN WE THINK, HOW DID WE GET HERE? THIS IS WHY I DO THIS. AND I'M DELIGHTED YOU DO IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL COMPANY. BILL BAILEY GOING TO HAMLEY LOCATIONS? I'M GOING ALL OF THE COUNTRY. LOOK UP, GOOGLE HIM. BILL BAILEY. THERE ARE STILL SOME TICKETS LEFT. AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SOME STUFF FOR US. I AM KEEPING IS A. NOT TO OBJECTIFY YOU, BUT YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD. IT IS THE DANCING. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TOUR. COMING UP WE HAVE AN 80 STAR. SO MANY BANGERS. ( MUSIC BY RENEE GEYER) NOW THAT'S AN '80S BANGER. YOU MAY REMEMBER RENEE GEYER AS THE AUSSIE MUSIC LEGEND WHO SANG HER WAY UP THE CHARTS IN THE '70S AND '80S WITH HITS LIKE THIS ONE, 'SAY I LOVE YOU' AND 'IT'S A MAN'S MAN'S WORLD'. SHE'S JUST CLOCKED UP AN IMPRESSIVE 50 YEARS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, AND IS NOT SLOWING DOWN YET. RENEE IS SET TO TOUR AROUND AOTEAROA IN NOVEMBER. SHE'S BEAMING INTO US THIS MORNING FROM MELBOURNE. MORENA, RENEE! HOW ARE YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US? KIA ORA! HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? 67 ROCKING IT. DO YOU THINK THAT THESE ARE YOUR BEST YEARS? ALL OF THEM OF THE BEST YEARS, LOVE THEM ALL. CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 IS AN INDUSTRY. I THINK IT IS PROBABLY LONGER THAN THAT, BUT WE WON'T GO INTO THAT. IT IS A TOUGH BUSINESS. HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO KEEP YOURSELF IN IT? MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN WHO YOU ARE IN THE INDUSTRY? BASICALLY, I DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT STUFF. YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND YOU JUST DO IT. WHILE YOU DO IT, THE FACT THAT YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO AS A BONUS. IT IS JUST GREAT. SORRY, I AM TALKING OF YOU. I'M RIGHT. WHERE ARE YOU? OBVIOUSLY AT HOME BUT WHAT ROOM? THAT IS A SECRET. I'M NOT TELLING. I CAN SEE A DOOR BEHIND YOU. THAT IS THE DAUGHTER THE OFFICE, IT'S AN OFFICE DOOR. I READ A REVIEW OR A REPORT ABOUT YOUR CELEBRATIONS OF BEING AN INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT WAS WRITTEN BY PAUL KASHMIR. AND HE SAID THE ONE THING HE NOTICED ABOUT WATCHING YOU LIVE WAS THAT YOUR VOICE IS AS STRONG AS EVER. HAVE USED MANAGED TO MAINTAIN THE TONE AND THE POWER IN YOUR VOICE? I THINK THE FACT THAT A DAUGHTER OF THE TIME IS WHAT DOES IT. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS... USING YOUR VOICE BY` ALSO HAVING A VOICE THAT IS GREY BECAUSE IS NOT AN INSTRUMENT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAD TO HOLD, IT'S IN MY BODY. I USE IT WHEN I TALK EVERY DAY AND THAT HELPS TO. I JUST LOVE WHAT I DO, I'M REALLY LUCKY THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LOVE. IT IS THE LUCK OF THE DRAW. HAS EVER BEEN A TIME AND ALL THOSE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE GONE, I AM DONE I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE I AM OUT? NOT REALLY. EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU GET A BIT OF A BAD VENUE OR A BAD STAGE A TRIP. THAT'S ABOUT THE WORST. IT IS PRETTY SMALL POTATOES. BASICALLY, NO. THE MUSIC STARTS AND EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT AGAIN. I MUST CONFESS THAT YOU ARE PART OF MY TEENAGE YEARS, AND YOU CONTINUE TO BE BECAUSE YOU'RE ON MY PLAYLIST. DARE I SAY IT, I WENT TO A LOT OF GARAGE PARTIES. I'M SURE YOU'RE OLDER RELATIVES ARE KEEN TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT I DO. SAY I LOVE YOU, HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IT ONLY HAPPENS. I'M HOPING I MIGHT HEAR ONE OF THOSE IN YOUR UPCOMING CONCERTS. OF COURSE YOU WILL. THE THING IS THAT IN THE 70S, IT WAS A RATHER BIG THING THAT I HAD COMPLETELY MADE MY AUDIENCE WAS MAINLY A MAORI AUDIENCE AND WHEN I WOULD COME OVER EVERYONE WOULD GO HOW COME IS THAT? AND I WOULD GO I DON'T KNOW. I GO TO NEW ZEALAND AND A LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE AND IT IS 95% MAORI AND THE REST ARE WHITE NEW ZEALANDERS. I'M THINKING, WHERE THE REST OF THEM? I WAS THINK MY LUCKY STARS WHENEVER WHERE EVER I AM I AM RECOGNISED BY MAORI EVEN IN AUSTRALIA. THEY WILL SAY MY MUM, OR EVEN MY GRANDMA` I HATE WHEN THEY SEEM MY GRAMMAR WOULD PLAY FOR ME. YOU'RE A GOOD TIME PLATED ARE PARTIES. BIT OF A BUMMER THAT THE TOUR HAS BEEN SHIFTED FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER, BUT STILL BE GOOD. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW I AM REALLY DEVASTATED TO HEAR THEY PUSHED IT BACK BUT THE COVID HAS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS BUT WE WILL BE THERE IN NOVEMBER. THE PROMOTERS ARE THREE BROTHERS ENTERTAINMENT. SEE ON FACEBOOK THE DATE DETAILS OF EVERYTHING. I CAN'T WAIT TO BE THERE. CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOU RENEE GEYER THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE. KIA ORA! CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR TOUR GOING TO FUN TODAY, HAMILTON, WELLINGTON, LIVE IN/// IMAGINE KAWERA IT WILL GO OFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WILL BE BACK WITH YOU. IT HAS BEEN SO NICE TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY AND OPEN WITH YOU ALL MORNING. SEE YOU BRIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. FRIDAY! SEE TOMORROW HAVE A GREAT DAY. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN, FAITH HAMBLYN, JORDAN WAETFORD, AND LILLIE BALFOUR.