(SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) HOW ARE YOU GOING THIS MORNING? GOOD. IT IS HUMP DAY. GINNIE MAE AND I WERE HERE WITH TIME TO SPARE THIS MORNING. THAT'S BECAUSE THE 23RD WAS MY BEST FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY THAT I FORGOT. SORRY, KATH. LOVE YOU. SHE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND, YOU SHOULDN'T FORGET THAT. SHE WON'T BE WATCHING ANYWAY. WE HAVE A HUGE SHOW. THE HUGEST SHOW AFTER THE LAST HUGE ONE. WE ARE ALL OVER THE HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT. BUT WILL IT BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR YOU? WILL BE CATCHING UP WITH THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND DR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD WITH THE LATEST THAT HAS COME OUT FROM THE MIQ WORKER. HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET IN AN UPDATE ON GENOME SEQUENCING. RESULTS FROM GENOMIC SEQUENCING TO HELP FIGURE OUT HOW A BORDER WORKER BECAME INFECTED WITH COVID-19 ARE EXPECTED BACK TODAY. A CLEANER AT AUCKLAND'S GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL, WHO'S RECEIVED BOTH DOSES OF THE VACCINE WAS IDENTIFIED AFTER A ROUTINE SWAB TEST ON MONDAY. A FAMILY CONTACT OF THE CLEANER RETURNED A WEAK POSITIVE RESULT YESTERDAY AND IS BEING RETESTED. THREE OTHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE AND ARE SELF ISOLATING AT THEIR AUCKLAND HOME. GENOMIC SEQUENCING IS ALSO BEING RUN ON THE FAMILY MEMBER. THEY WILL HELP US DETERMINE WHAT IF ANY LINK THERE, IS BETWEEN THE MIF WORKER TO RECENT CASES AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL. SINCE THE FIRST OF MARCH THERE HAVE BEEN EIGHT CASES OF PEOPLE IN MANAGED ISOLATION AT THIS HOTEL. IT IS OUR LARGEST MANAGED ISOLATION FACILITY. NEW MEASURES TO COOL THE PROPERTY MARKET COULD MEAN RISING RENTS. CHANGES TO THE BRIGHT-LINE TEST WERE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY AS A PART OF A SCHEME TO ACCELERATE HOUSE BUILDS AND HELP FIRST-HOME BUYERS. NOW IF YOU SELL A PROPERTY WITHIN 10 YEARS, YOU'LL BE TAXED ON THE PROFITS. SOME ARE CALLING THE MOVE A CAPITAL GAINS TAX IN DISGUISE, AND PROPERTY INVESTORS ARE WARNING RENTERS COULD PAY THE PRICE OF THE NEW MEASURES. IT WILL MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR RENTERS. THERE WILL BE LESS SUPPLY COMING UP IN THE FUTURE. LESS INVESTORS WILL GIVE IN TO THE MARKET. LESS INVESTORS WILL KEEP PURCHASING MORE INVESTMENTS BECAUSE THEY'LL NEED MORE CASH TO ACTUALLY GET INTO THE INDUSTRY. SO IT'LL JUST SLOW EVERYTHING DOWN AND JUST MAKE IT HARDER FOR RENTERS TO FIND A PROPERTY TO RENT. INVESTORS MAKE UP THE LARGEST CHUNK OF NEW ZEALAND HOME BUYERS, THERE ARE CALLS FOR AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE ABUSE CLAIMS AGAINST THE MARIST BROTHERS AFTER AN APOLOGY FROM THE CHURCH YESTERDAY. THE RELIGIOUS ORDER HAS ADMITTED MULTIPLE FAILINGS AS THE ABUSE IN CARE INQUIRY HEARS FROM ITS FIRST CATHOLIC WITNESSES. THEY'VE PAID OUT MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION TO NEW ZEALAND VICTIMS SINCE THE MID-90s, AND ADMITTED PRIOR TO 2016 THERE WAS NO CLEAR POLICY FOR DEALING WITH THOSE RESPONSIBLE. ONE EXPERT WITNESS WANTS AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO GET INVOLVED. THIS MYTH THAN AN INSTITUTION CAN INVESTIGATE ITSELF IS A MYTH. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT DEMOCRATIC BY NATURE. IF IT WERE, THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE THEN THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO COULD LOSE THEIR SKIN IF THEY MESS IT UP. THE MARIST BROTHERS ALSO ADMITTED THE CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF BROTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY MAY HAVE HELPED HIDE THEIR OFFENDING. MASS EVACUATIONS ARE CONTINUING ON NEW SOUTH WALES' SOUTH COAST WITH MORE THAN 19,000 PEOPLE MOVED SO FAR. THERE'S NO LET UP IN SIGHT, WITH A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM, BRINGING STRONG WINDS AND MORE FLOODING. MEANWHILE, TWO PREGNANT WOMEN RECEIVED A SPECIAL AIRLIFT. JUST A LITTLE BIT NERVE-RACKING KNOWING THAT IT COULD HAPPEN ANY DAY NOW. WHILE THE CHOPPERS WERE KEPT BUSY ON RESCUE MISSIONS, IN SOME DEVASTATED AREAS, THE ONLY WAY TO GET ESSENTIALS IN WAS BY BOAT. TO SPORT ` AND AN UNBEATEN CENTURY FROM TOM LATHAM HAS LED THE BLACK CAPS TO A ONE-DAY SERIES VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE STAND-IN SKIPPER STEERING HIS SIDE TO THEIR TARGET OF 272, HITTING THE WINNING RUNS TO SEAL AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 SERIES LEAD. THERE IT GOES. TOM LATHAM OUT OF THE MILL FOR BAT. HE RUNS AWAY FOR FOUR. HE WINS THE GAME FOR HIS COUNTRY. LATHAM CONCEDES HIS MATCH WINNING KNOCK WAS NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMED ON HIS HOME PITCH. YEAH. IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY, YOU KNOW, EXCITING TO HAVE THAT SHORT OF MATCH-WINNING CONTRIBUTION. AND OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE UNDER A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE WHEN I CAME IN WITH THE BAT. BUT FOR ME, IT WAS JUST ABOUT SORT OF WORKING WITH DEV THROUGH THAT MIDDLE TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP. THE THIRD AND FINAL ODI WILL BE PLAYED IN WELLINGTON ON FRIDAY. THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME GROUND ON THE A-LEAGUE LADDER WHEN IT FACES THE MELBOURNE VICTORY IN WOLLONGONG. HOWEVER, THEIR TEMPORARY HOME HAS BEEN INUNDATED BY THE WILD WEATHER THAT'S HIT NEW SOUTH WALES. YEAH, IT WOULD'VE BEEN TERRIBLE. SO AT THE MOMENT WE'RE CHOPPING AND CHANGING, FINDING PARTS OF THE FIELD WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY, UH` DO A PROPER SESSION, SO I'M HOPING THAT THE FIELD HOLDS UP THIS MORNING SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GET ON TO THE PARK AND DO THINGS. OTHERWISE, WE'LL HAVE TO USE SOME INDOOR FACILITIES WELLINGTON WILL GO INTO THE CLASH, BOOSTED BY THE RETURN OF FORMER SKIPPER STEVEN TAYLOR, WHO HAS COMPLETED HIS TIME IN MANAGED ISOLATION AFTER A STINT PLAYING IN INDIA. WHOA. I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS IN INDIA. GOOD FOR HIM. I FEEL LIKE I SUPPORT YOUR TEAM, DRESSED LIKE THIS. YOU LOOK LIKE ONE. I DON'T DRESS MYSELF. (CHUCKLES) I AM JUST TOLD WHAT TO WEAR. I'M SURE THEY WILL BE REALLY IMPRESSED THAT YOU HAVE DISPLAYED SUCH SOLIDARITY. THANKS, INDIRA. REALLY BIG MORNING COMING UP. AND WE ARE ON THE ROAD. WHERE ARE YOU MATTY? I AM IN A VERY LITTLE TOWN CALLED NASEBY. ANYONE BEEN NEAR? I HAVE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TOWN. IT'S INCREDIBLE. WE DROVE THROUGH IN OUR CAMPERVAN ON OUR ROAD TRIP, AND IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. CLEAR BLUE SKIES. IT WAS FANTASTIC. THIS PLACE IS BREATHTAKING. A LOT OF HISTORY IN THIS PLACE. AN OLD GOLD MINING SETTLERS TOWN IN THE 1800S. IT GETS VERY COLD. THERE IS A SPORT THAT IS VERY, BURY FAMOUS HERE WHICH I WILL TRY LATER ON THIS MORNING. BUT FOR NOW, WE HAVE STARTED HERE ` THE ROYAL HOTEL, ESTABLISHED IN 1863. THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY IN NASEBY. THIS BECOMES THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, THE PUBS. IT DOES. WE THOUGHT WE WOULD START HERE THIS MORNING. THEY HAVE LET THE FIRE. BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY OF THAT, WE'D BETTER LOOK AT THE WEATHER THIS WEDNESDAY. IT'S MOSTLY FINE AND UPPER NORTH TODAY. AUCKLAND HAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL DAY, WHEREAS NORTHLAND A BIT MORE OVERCAST AT TIMES. WATCH OUT FOR A CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR TWO IN WHITIANGA AND KAITAIA. 23, 24 DEGREES FOR ALL OF YOU. LOVELY AND SUNNY THROUGH HERE WITH NOTHING REALLY TO DISRUPT IT, APART FROM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH AROUND ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. 23 DEGREES TAURANGA, 26 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HAMILTON. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FURTHER EAST WITH JUST SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN LATER IN THE DAY, AND THAT COULD DELIVER SOME BRIEF RAIN TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THIS EVENING. 21, THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR HAWKE'S BAY. 22 IF YOU'RE IN MASTERTON. YOU'LL SEE A MIX OF SUNNY SKIES AND CLOUD COVER SHIFTING WEST, BUT IT IS MOSTLY FINE FOR ALL OF YOU. JUST WATCH OUT FOR SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CAPITAL. 19 DEGREES THERE. 22 IN LEVIN, WHANGANUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH. YOU'RE LOOKING MOSTLY OVERCAST IN THE UPPER SOUTH WITH OCCASSIONAL DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH THROUGH. BUT ALONG THE WEST COAST, IT SHOULD BE FINE ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS. 19 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 21 IN BLENHEIM. IT'S A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY OUT EAST WITH A BIT OF DRIZZLE ATTACHED ALONG THE COAST THERE, WHEREAS ALEXANDRA, DESPITE THE GREYER SKIES, SHOULD STAY DRY. 17 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. AND MUCH OF THE LOWER SOUTH WILL HAVE CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH DRIZZLE ATTACHED AS WELL. MORE LIKELY THIS MORNING. WHEREAS FOR QUEENSTOWN AND MILFORD SOUND, IT'S MOSTLY FINE ONCE THE CLOUD FIRST THING LIFTS. 19 DEGREES FOR THE TWO OF YOU. 17 IN INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR THURSDAY ` TOMORROW, IT'S OVERCAST IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS WITH A FEW SHOWERS ATTACHED. THERE IS POSSIBLY SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AS WELL. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A MOSTLY FINE DAY. THE FIRE IS LIT. BEAUTIFUL IN SUMMER. LOVELY CLEAR BLUE SKIES. VERY HOT. BUT IN WINTER, IT GETS VERY CHILLY. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE HERE IS -20DEGREES. VERY COLD. IT'S STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT CRISP IN THE MORNING. ADRIAN ` HOODY ` HAS LIT THE FIRE FOR US. HOW ARE YOU GOING, HOODY? VERY GOOD. THIS IS A PRETTY NEAT PLACE TO LIVE, RIGHT? IT'S FANTASTIC. IT'S A FANTASTIC PLACE TO BE. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL FOREST, GREAT MOUNTAINS, BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, AND FOR SEASONS, WHICH IS QUITE AMAZING. 2000 FEET ABOVE A WORRY LEVEL. I LIKE THAT. THAT'S A GREAT SLOGAN. WE ARRIVE THIS TODAY AND WERE VERY WARMLY GREETED BY THE LOCALS. WE HAVE A POPULATION OF ABOUT 100 BUT SWELL TO 2000 AND THE SUMMER. IT'S VERY MUCH A FAMILY DESTINATION. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY PARK HERE. WE HAVE LOTS OF RENTAL HOMES AND ACCOMMODATION FOR FAMILIES TO COME AND ENJOY THEMSELVES. AND MOUNTAIN BIKING. THAT'S A BIG THING. HUGE. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE. IT IS A WORKING FOREST, AND THE OWNERS GRACIOUSLY GIVE US THE RIGHT TO USE IT. PERFECT. I'LL ADMIT A LOCAL YESTERDAY AND SOMETHING SHE SAID STUCK TO ME, NASEBY IS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT YOU CAN VENTURE OUT IN THE DAY AND LOSE YOURSELF. I LOVED THAT. IT SUMMED UP THE AREA AND THE PLACE. I THINK IT'S WHAT BRINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING. PLUS THERE IS A BIT OF FUN TO BE HAD IN NASEBY BECAUSE IT IS FAMOUS FOR A SPORT. FOR KILLING. ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE THE ONLY PURPOSE BUILT CURLING RINK IN AUSTRALASIA. IT HAS FOUR TRACKS, AND IT IS A LOT OF FUN. YOU KNOW ME. I AM PARTIAL TO SOME COMPETITION. I WILL BE LEARNING MYSELF SOME CURLING A LITTLE LATER ON THIS MORNING. YOU DID PRACTICE, DIDN'T YOU MATTY? THAT IS TRAGIC. YOU DON'T WANT TO APPEAR ON NATIONAL TELEVISION WHEN YOU ASK IT AS COMPETITIVE AS I AM WITHOUT AT LEAST GIVING IT A LITTLE BIT OF A GO. GOOD ON YOU. CLASSIC. AND WE CAN BRING YOU HERE AS WELL. WE HAVE AN AMAZING COMPETITION EVERY DAY THIS WEEK TO SEND YOU WILL TO 1 OF THE REGIONS WE ARE IN. TODAY YOU COULD COME TO THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL OTAGO. GO TO THE FACEBOOK PAGE AND CLICK ON THE LINK. NICE, MATTY. NICE SHIRT, BY THE WAY, TOO. COMING UP ` WHAT THE EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO COOL THE HOUSING MARKET. AND WHETHER IT'LL ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS. EACH WEEK I PAY $565 IN RENT. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY DOES NOTHING TO HELP MY SITUATION. RENTING MEANS THAT I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO SAVE FOR A DEPOSIT. AND I HAVE BEEN A TRAPPED RENTER FOR OVER TWO DECADES. SO FOR ME WHAT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY DOESN'T EVER` WON'T BE CHANGING THAT. WE CAN'T GET AHEAD. WE'VE TRIED. WE'VE TRIED, WE'VE TRIED, WE'VE TRIED. WE'VE WORKED HARD. WE'VE WORKED LONG HOURS. WHAT DID THE ANNOUNCEMENT MEAN TO ME? MORE STRUGGLE. I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH TOGETHER FOR A DEPOSIT ON A HOUSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE TODAY BY GOVERNMENT WERE TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. I THINK TODAY'S HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOWS ME THAT THIS GOVERNMENT, LIKE THE SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS BEFORE IT, ARE QUITE HAPPY TO SEE HOUSING CONTINUE TO BE A REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT OVER BEING A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. THAT WAS SOME OF YOUR FEEDBACK YESTERDAY AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT. IT UNVEILED A MAJOR PACKAGE, WHICH WILL POUR CLOSE TO $4b INTO INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW HOUSING, EXTEND THE BRIGHT-LINE TEST TO 10 YEARS ON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, AND REMOVE DEDUCTIBILITY ON MORTGAGE INTEREST ON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES. FIRST HOME BUYERS WERE GIVEN A LIFELINE IN THE FORM OF LIFTING THE FIRST HOME GRANT CAPS, ALTHOUGH MANY OF YOU ARE TELLING US IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. YESTERDAY ON BREAKFAST, WE WERE JOINED BY A SERIES OF GUESTS AS WE PREVIEWED THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, AND NOW WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME TWO OF THEM BACK TO THE SHOW TO RESPOND TO IT. ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COMMENTATOR BERNARD HICKEY, WHO WRITES SO WELL AT THEKAKA.SUBSTACK.COM, WHICH YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO. AND BERNIE O'DONNELL, CHAIR OF THE MANUKAU URBAN MAORI AUTHORITY, WHO ALSO JOINED US YESTERDAY, AND TALKED ABOUT THOSE STRUGGLING TO FIND ANY HOUSING AT ALL. WELCOME BACK, BERNARD AND BERNIE. WELCOME BACK. AND WE'RE ALSO BRINGING IN STACEY MENDONCA, WHO IS THE CHIEF ESTIMATOR AT PACIFIC DOORS SYSTEMS AND IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION NEW ZEALAND. GOOD MORNING! MAKE MY DINNER. WE WILL START WITH YOU. THAT MORNING. YOU HAVE 30 YEARS UNDER YOUR BELT THE INVESTMENT IS A GOOD START, RIGHT? IT IS A POSITIVE START. DOING NOTHING WASN'T AN OPTION. I THINK THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOME CONCERNS FOR SUPPLY. THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT, BEING IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AND WHO IS GOING TO DO IT ` SOME OF THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE EXTENSION OF THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING SCHEME CARRIED ON. THAT'S A GOOD WAY OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE. FOR THE CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD, WE HAD A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL WORKERS COME AND HELP US. WE HAVE THE BORDER CLOSURE NOW. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE DISPLACED FROM COVID-19. WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF SKILLS IN ONE HAND AND AN UNTAPPED LABOUR SOURCE IN ANOTHER. WE NEED TO INCORPORATE BOTH WOMEN AND IMMIGRANTS INTO THE SOLUTION. YOU DID TOUCH ON THE APPRENTICESHIP BOOSTER SCHEME WHICH HAS BEEN EXTENDED. THAT IS TO HELP EMPLOYERS TAKE ON NEW APPRENTICESHIPS. WE KNOW THAT THAT IS GOOD NEWS. YOU TALK ABOUT SUPPLY. WILL THAT HELP IN ANY WAY IN TERMS OF THE WORKFORCE? IT CERTAINLY WELL ASSESSED. BUT I THINK WE NEED THOUSANDS MORE, AND WE NEED DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAINING COURSES, NOT JUST FOR TRADIES. WE THINK ABOUT THE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT A LOT OF WOMEN AND IMMIGRANTS CAN BRING TO THE INDUSTRY. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO ENCOURAGE THEM IN. OPEN TALKING TO FRIENDS AND A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS IN HER EARLY 40S AND WAS A LANDSCAPER FOR YEARS, SHE HAS DECIDED TO TAKE UP A CARPENTRY APPRENTICESHIP. I HAVE COLLEAGUES AT MY WORK WHO WANT TO TRAIN TO BE QUANTITY SURVEYORS. ONE OF THEM, HIS MOTHER IS SO IMPRESSED THAT SHE HAS DECIDED IN HER LATE 50S THAT SHE WILL ALSO RETRAIN AND SHE IS GIVING HIM A BIT OF A RUN FOR HIS MONEY ON THE ASSIGNMENTS. THE NEED TO BE GREATER NUMBERS. GREATER NUMBERS AND WE WILL ALSO NEED SOME TIME. HER OTHER WINNERS AND WHO MISSED OUT ON YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT? POTENTIAL WINNERS OUR FIRST HOME BUYERS. IN THEORY, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO INTO OPTIONS AND TENDERS WITHOUT SO MANY RENTAL PROPERTY INVESTORS COMPETING AGAINST THEM. THAT IS THE THEORY. WE WILL SEE WHETHER IT TURNS OFF THOSE LANDLORDS. THE LOSERS ARE OBVIOUSLY THE LANDLORDS WHO WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE TACKS AND THE OTHER LOSERS HERE REALLY ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOPING FOR A LOT MORE STATE HOUSES. IN ALL THE NOISE YESTERDAY, THERE WAS NO NEW ANNOUNCEMENT A NEW STATE HOUSES. THERE WAS MONEY FOR LAND FOR KAINGA ORA TO ORGANISE MORE HOUSES THE OTHER ONE YEAR WAS POTENTIALLY COUNCILS WHO CAN BID FOR THE $3.8 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS REALLY SERIOUS IT WOULDN'T BE $3.8 BILLION, IT WOULD BE $38 BILLION TO GET THINGS GOING. WE DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION TO THIS NAGGING SITUATION BETWEEN CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING THE PIPES BUT ALSO THE MAINTAINING OF THE PIPES. THERE IS NO TALK ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND THE ONGOING COSTS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. BRIGHT-LINE TEST WAS EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS. TREASURY SUGGESTED 20. WHY DIDN'T THE GOVERNMENT TAKE THAT SUGGESTION? THEY SAID IT WAS TOO MUCH OF A MOVE. ALREADY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CRITICISED FOR CREATING A CAPITAL GAINS TACKS BY STEALTH. IT HELPS FOR LABOUR THAT NATIONAL ORIGINALLY PUT ON THE BRIGHT-LINE TEST. 20 YEARS MAY HAVE SEEMED LIKE, ACTUALLY, THAT LOOKS LIKE A CAPITAL GAINS TACKS. (CHUCKLES) THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED INDEFINITELY. I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH 20 YEARS MYSELF, BUT POLITICALLY, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED 10 WAS WHERE THEY COULD GO. ABOUT HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE HOMELESS PEOPLE USE OR SLEEPING ROUGH WHEN YOU CYCLED INTO THE STUDIO, WHAT ABOUT THEM? THERE WASN'T MORE MONEY FOR THAT IN YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. YOU WOULD HAVE TO HOPE IN THE BUDGET COMING UP IN LATE MAY THAT THERE IS MORE CAPITAL FOR ACTUAL NEW HOUSES AND FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT AT THE MOMENT, THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING $1 MILLION A DAY ON MOTELS AND ACTUALLY IT IS SPENDING FOUR OR $5 MILLION A DAY ON SUPPLEMENTS. THAT'S THE PAIN POINT HERE. THAT IS PROVIDING MONEY TO LANDLORDS AND MOTEL OWNERS. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. BERNIE, FOR THOSE WALKING THROUGH YOUR DOORS ON A DAILY BASIS, WHAT WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THEM YESTERDAY? IS A GOOD START, AND THEY ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS, AND THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT THE REALITY FOR OUR PEOPLE IS THAT WE EXIST IN THE RENTAL MARKET SPACE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DETAIL AROUND MAORI SPECIFIC STRATEGIES OR MET MARLENE TARGETED FUNDING THAT IS GOING TO GET OUR WHANAU EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO PARTNERSHIP WITH IWI AND WITHOUT URBAN MAORI COMMUNITIES. I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE DETAIL AROUND THAT. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY COME OUT WITH SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WHEN IT IS TIME FOR THE RUBBER TO MEET THE ROAD, IT NEVER INEVITABLY HAPPENS. I THINK IF WE COULD HELP THE GOVERNMENT DESIGN A COLLABORATE PARTNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH AUCKLAND THERE ARE MARAE THAT ARE EITHER CLOSE TO OR ARE ON POCKETS OF GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND. I'M SUGGESTING WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IS UTILISING THAT LAND, BILL HOUSING ON IT, BUT THEN JUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE HOUSING THAT WILL MAKE THE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE THAT WE KEEP ON BANGING ON ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT HAVING THOSE PEOPLE IN HOUSES BUT THEN USING THAT AS AN ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR MARAE THAT WILL DELIVER CARE, WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO BEGIN A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AND TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHAT THE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE LOOKS LIKE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BUILDING HOUSES FOR US, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING SAFE AND WELL COMMUNITIES. OUR WHANAU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO ALWAYS EXPERIENCE THAT. IF WE START FROM A PLACE FROM MANA, NOT ONLY FAST BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR MANY GENERATIONS AND THEN TALK ABOUT A CYCLE CHANGE THAT GOES FROM DEPENDENCY TO INTO INTERDEPENDENCY THEN WE WILL SEE THE CHANGES THAT WE WANT. THE CHANGE NEVER REALLY HAPPENS UNLESS YOU WORK WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, IT WILL BE A DREAM THAT IS NEVER REALISED FOR OUR PEOPLE. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL INVEST ACROSS KAINGA ORA. BUT YOU WANT TO SEE DETAIL AND ACTION, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR DRIVING IN ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH AUCKLAND. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TIME. MORENA. JUST HOW A BORDER WORKER BECAME INFECTED WITH COVID-19 COULD BE KNOWN BY LATER TODAY. A CLEANER AT AUCKLAND'S GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL, WHO'S RECEIVED BOTH DOSES OF THE VACCINE WAS IDENTIFIED AFTER A ROUTINE SWAB TEST ON MONDAY. A FAMILY CONTACT OF THE CLEANER RETURNED A WEAK POSITIVE RESULT YESTERDAY AND IS BEING RETESTED. THREE OTHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE AND ARE SELF ISOLATING AT THEIR AUCKLAND HOME. GENOMIC SEQUENCING IS ALSO BEING RUN ON THE FAMILY MEMBER. THEY WILL HELP US DETERMINE WHAT IF ANY LINK THERE, IS BETWEEN THE MIF WORKER TO RECENT CASES AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL. THE MIF WORKER TO RECENT CASES AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL. SINCE THE FIRST OF MARCH THERE HAVE BEEN EIGHT CASES OF PEOPLE IN MANAGED ISOLATION AT THIS HOTEL. IT IS OUR LARGEST MANAGED ISOLATION FACILITY. MEANWHILE, BRITAIN'S MARKING ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN. A MINUTE'S SILENCE WAS HELD AT MIDDAY OBSERVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BRITAIN'S DEATH TOLL A YEAR AGO WAS 364. IT'S NOW MORE THAN 126,000. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE WE HAVE LOST DURING THE YEAR, WHATEVER THE CAUSE OF THEIR DEATH. WE'VE SUFFERED SO MANY LOSSES. AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, OUR GRIEF HAS BEEN MADE MORE ACCUTE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE OUR LOVED ONES IN THEIR DAYS, TO HOLD THEIR HANDS OR EVEN TO MOURN THEM TOGETHER. (BELL TOLLS) THE QUEEN MARKED THE DAY BY SENDING FLOWERS TO A LONDON HOSPITAL, PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS. TOMORROW MARKS A YEAR SINCE NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST DAY IN LEVEL 4 LOCKDOWN. COOLING THE PROPERTY MARKET BY INJECTING $3.8b INTO INFRASTRUCTURE MEASURES, THE GOVERNMENT'S DUBBED THIS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HOUSING INVESTMENT SINCE THE '70s. BUT ONE EXPERT SAYS IT HASN'T ADDRESSED HOW MORE HOUSES BUT ONE PROPERTY EXPERT SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR SOCIAL HOUSING. THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING SOME THINGS ON HOMELESSNESS AND TRANSITION HOUSING, BUT THERE WASN'T MORE MONEY FOR THAT IN YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. YOU'D HAVE TO HOPE IN THE BUDGET COMING OUT IN LATE MAY THAT THERE IS MORE CAPITAL FOR ACTUAL NEW HOUSES AND FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT AT THE MOMENT, THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING $1 MILLION A DAY ON MOTELS, AND ACTUALLY IT IS SPENDING FOUR OR $5 MILLION A DAY ON ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENTS. TO SPORT ` AND THE BLACK CAPS WILL BE AIMING FOR AN ODI SERIES SWEEP AGAINST BANGLADESH ON FRIDAY AFTER GOING 2-0 UP IN CHRISTCHURCH LAST NIGHT. THE TIGERS PROVIDED A MUCH STERNER TEST IN THE SECOND ONE-DAYER, SETTING A TARGET OF 272 TO WIN. BUT STAND-IN SKIPPER TOM LATHAM WAS UP TO THE CHALLENGE, SCORING A FIFTH ODI CENTURY. WILL IT GO? WILL IT GO? WILL IT GO? THAT'S TOM LATHAM. NUMBER FIVE FOR HIM. LATHAM'S MAN OF THE MATCH EFFORT DELIVERING NEW ZEALAND AN UNASSAILABLE SERIES LEAD. GOOD KNOCK. VERY FINE CAPTAIN'S KNOCK. WHAT IS IT... CURLING. I` I AM STILL LEARNING THE LINGO, SO I WILL GET THAT ONE FOR YOU A BIT LATER ON, AS THEY TRY TO SHOW YOU MY CURLING SKILLS. THEY WILL COME LATER ON THE SHOW. BUT FOR NOW, WE ARE LIVE IN NASEBY, A LOVELY TOWN IN CENTRAL OTAGO. THIS IS A REPLICA OF THE GILCHRIST AND SONS STORE. THERE SO MUCH HISTORY IN NASEBY, AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WEE TOWN. YOU'VE GOT TO COMPOSITE IF YOU'RE AN AREA. LET'S SEE HOW YOUR WEATHER IS LOOKING AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT'S MOSTLY FINE AND UPPER NORTH TODAY. AUCKLAND HAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL DAY, WHEREAS NORTHLAND A BIT MORE OVERCAST AT TIMES. WATCH OUT FOR A CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR TWO IN WHITIANGA AND KAITAIA. 23, 24 DEGREES FOR ALL OF YOU. LOVELY AND SUNNY THROUGH HERE WITH NOTHING REALLY TO DISRUPT IT, APART FROM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH AROUND ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. 23 DEGREES TAURANGA, 26 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HAMILTON. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FURTHER EAST WITH JUST SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN LATER IN THE DAY, AND THAT COULD DELIVER SOME BRIEF RAIN TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THIS EVENING. 21, THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR HAWKE'S BAY. 22 IF YOU'RE IN MASTERTON. YOU'LL SEE A MIX OF SUNNY SKIES AND CLOUD COVER SHIFTING WEST, BUT IT IS MOSTLY FINE FOR ALL OF YOU. JUST WATCH OUT FOR SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CAPITAL. 19 DEGREES THERE. 22 IN LEVIN, WHANGANUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH. YOU'RE LOOKING MOSTLY OVERCAST IN THE UPPER SOUTH WITH OCCASIONAL DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH THROUGH. BUT ALONG THE WEST COAST, IT SHOULD BE FINE ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS. 19 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 21 IN BLENHEIM. IT'S A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY OUT EAST WITH A BIT OF DRIZZLE ATTACHED ALONG THE COAST THERE, WHEREAS ALEXANDRA, DESPITE THE GREYER SKIES, SHOULD STAY DRY. 17 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. AND MUCH OF THE LOWER SOUTH WILL HAVE CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH DRIZZLE ATTACHED AS WELL. MORE LIKELY THIS MORNING. WHEREAS FOR QUEENSTOWN AND MILFORD SOUND, IT'S MOSTLY FINE ONCE THE CLOUD FIRST THING LIFTS. 19 DEGREES FOR THE TWO OF YOU. 17 IN INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR THURSDAY ` TOMORROW, IT'S OVERCAST IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS WITH A FEW SHOWERS ATTACHED. THERE'S POSSIBLY SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AS WELL. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A MOSTLY FINE DAY. THIS IS THE MANIATOTO SETTLERS MUSEUM. A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCOTTISH HERITAGE. THERE IS A LOT TO DO HERE, INCLUDING CURLING WHICH WILL BE DOING LATER. WE HAVE AN AMAZING COP ADDITION. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HEAD TO A FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK ON THE LINK AND YOU COULD BE WINGING YOUR WAY HERE AS WELL. IT IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. GET OUT AND SEE YOUR OWN BACKYARD. WE WILL BE BACK WITH MATTY AND NASEBY THIS MORNING. EARLIER ON BREAKFAST WE HEARD FROM BERNARD HICKEY, MUMA'S BERNIE O'DONNELL, AND STACEY MENDONCA, WITH THEIR VIEWS ABOUT THE HOUSING POLICY PACKAGE ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY. AFTER THE 7 O'CLOCK NEWS, WE'LL BE JOINED BY FINANCE MINISTER GRANT ROBERTSON, AND WE'LL ALSO HEAR MORE FROM YOU. BUT NOW, WELCOME TO BREAKFAST, NATIONAL PARTY AND OPPOSITION LEADER, JUDITH COLLINS, WITH HER TAKE ON YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE. MORENA. NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. GOOD MORNING. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT? WE THOUGHT SOMETHINGS WERE GOOD AND POSITIVE. ONE OF THOSE THINGS WAS HAVING SOME MONEY SET ASIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING, BUT THERE ARE NO DETAILS ABOUT IT. IT IT IS A LOT OF MONEY AROUND $3.8 BILLION WITH NO DETAILS. SO I DO NOT THINK IT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO SAY HERE IS A GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY, NO DETAIL. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS THE WORST IS IS THAT IT IS GOING TO MAKE A WORSE FOR RENTERS. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE LETTY OF MORTGAGE ALSO THE BRIGHT LINE TEST. THE EXTENSION ACTUALLY NOW WORKS AS A CAPITAL GAINS TAX. IT ALSO MEANS THERE IS NO EXCEPTION FOR SOMEONE WHO BUYS A HOUSE, SO YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER, YOU BUY A HOUSE IN AUCKLAND, YOU GET TRANSFERRED TO DUNEDIN, YOU STAY THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOUR HOUSE, IF YOU WITNESS OUR OR YOU ARE NOT LIVING AND IT, YOUR HOUSE IS NOW GOING TO BE CAUGHT BY THIS CAPITAL GAINS TAX. THAT MEANS THERE IS NO SUCH EXEMPTION FOR A FAMILY FROM IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE OUT FOR A YEAR OR IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB. IN MANY CASES, THEY WILL HAVE TO SELL THE HOUSE. HOW DO WE GET THIS RIGHT? NO ONE IS FORGETTING THAT THE BRIGHT LINE WAS A NATIONAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION. ' THE PASSING OF A BRIGHT LINE LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT IN ASSURING THAT LENTILS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAX.' THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH SPECULATING. THOSE WHO WANT TO FLIP HOUSES INTO YES, YES. IT IS NOW MOVED TO 10 YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW SAYING THAT IF YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE AFTER NINE YEARS, YOUR FAMILY HOME... THEY NOT SAYING THE FAMILY HOME. SUE HAVE TO STAY IN YOUR HOUSE FOR 10 YEARS. IF YOU BUY YOUR HOME, AND THEN WENT OUT FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME OVER THE YEAR, AND YOU THEN SELL IT UNDER 10 YEARS, THEN YOU WILL END UP PAYING THIS CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND THAT IS THE HUGE DIFFERENCE. GOING FROM TWO YEARS TO 10 YEARS AS A MASSIVE INCREASE. HOW DO WE GET THIS RIGHT THOUGH? IF WE LOOK AT THAN NUMBERS, 15,000 PEOPLE BOUGHT HOMES LAST YEAR THAT ALREADY OWNED BY PROPERTIES. THEY ARE DRIVING THE MARKET UP AND THEY ARE KEEPING PEOPLE WHO OWN NO PROPERTIES OUT OF IT. HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS? THEY ARE ALSO RENTING THE HOUSES OUT. THEY ARE PROVIDING BIGGER RENTAL ACCOMMODATION FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T OWN HOUSES. BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING THAT PHILANTHROPIC LEASE ARE THEY? THEY DO THIS TO MAKE MONEY. WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS AS YOU WOULD RATHER LEAVE RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE HANDS OF PROPERTIES COULD BE SPECULATORS. NOT HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS? I HAVE MADE THIS CLEAR. THIS ALSO AFFECTS MUM AND DAD INVESTORS. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THEY CAN PUT THEIR MONEY INTO. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A NEXT HAS PUT THE MONEY INTO. IT CAUSE THEM SPECULATORS WHEN THEY OWN A HOUSE THAT THEY WENT OUT FOR ANYTHING LESS THEN 10 YEARS. IT TREATS THEM AS IF THEY HAVE ONLY BOUGHT A HOUSE OF ON. THAT'S NOT FAIR. RENTERS WILL PAY FOR THIS. THERE IS SOME THINGS GOVERNMENT COULD DO, LIKE INCREASE SUPPLY. WHY DIDN'T YOU INCREASE SUPPLY WHEN YOU WERE IN GOVERNMENT? WE DID INCREASE SUPPLY. THE NUMBER OF HOUSES FELL IN THE LAST TERM OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE NOT TAKING STEAKHOUSES, ARE WE? *STATE HOUSES WE HAVE GOT AN AN INCREASE NOW UNDER THIS PACKAGE. LAST QUESTION. IF I AM LOOKING BACK AT WHEN JOHN KEY WAS PREMISED, I AM QUOTING VERBATIM, '... YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE BEING LOCKED OUT OF MARKET. HOW DO WE GET GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS THIS? I'VE WRITTEN TO THE PRIME MINSTER. NOW I AM GETTING SICK OF WRITING THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE GETTING OFF A FLICK OF RESPONSE. HE SAID LET'S BRING IN EMERGENCY LEGISLATION LIKE WE DID AFTER PRICE CHURCH AND GET HOUSES CONSENTED AND GET THEM BUILT. WE KNOW THE TIME TAKEN FOR CONSENTING IS A MASSIVE COST OF MONEY TO DEVELOPERS. THIS MEANS A GOES ON TO THE COST OF HOUSING. WE SHOULD DO FOR AUCKLAND BUT WE DID FOR CHRISTCHURCH. INCREASE THE SUPPLY BE REALISTICALLY AND YOU DON'T PUT THE BIG COSTS ONTO RENTERS. THAT IS WHAT THIS PERVERSE OUTCOME IS. THAT YOU WILL JOIN US THIS MORNING. GRANT ROBERTSON IS GOOD TO JOIN US AFTER SEVEN. WE ARE GOING TO RAISE ALL OF THIS WITH WARREN ROBERTSON AFTER SEVEN. COMING UP ` WE'VE GOT AN UPDATE FROM DR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD AFTER A BORDER WORKER, WHO'S BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST THE VIRUS, TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. IT IS 6:51. ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH REPORTED A MANAGED ISOLATION WORKER AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL IN AUCKLAND HAD RETURNED A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST. AMONG THE NEW INFORMATION OFFERED YESTERDAY WAS THAT THE WORKER REMAINED ASYMPTOMATIC. THEY'D RECEIVED THEIR TWO PFIZER JABS BEFORE TESTING POSITIVE, AND ONE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS HAD ALSO RETURNED 'A WEAK POSITIVE', AND WITHOUT GENOMIC SEQUENCING COMPLETED, THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION REMAINED UNKNOWN. JOINING US NOW FROM WELLINGTON WITH, WE HOPE, SOME MORE INSIGHT INTO THIS NEW CASE IS DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH DR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD. MORENA. THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. DO WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE GENOMICS SEQUENCING? MORENA. YES, TO USE FOR DEVELOPERS OVERNIGHT TO REPORT. WE HAVE GOT THE GENOME SEQUENCING BACK THAT HAS SHOWN THAT THE GENOME WAS THE FIRST IDENTIFIED IN THE UK. THE B1 17 VARIANT. MATCHES THE VARIANT OF A RETURNEE OF THE HOTEL. HE WAS THERE FROM 15 MARCH, AND THAT PERSON THERE PICK THAT UP ON DAY ZERO TESTING. THAT WAS BEFORE A NEW CASE HAD THEIR SECOND VACCINATION, SO THAT'S THE FIRST USEFUL INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED. SECONDLY, THE ROUTINE TESTING OF THE HOUSEHOLD WORKER OF THE PERSON WHO HAD RECEIVED A WEAK POSITIVE, THEY WERE BOTH NEGATIVE. SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PUZZLE, BUT IT SUGGESTS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FALSE POSITIVE, COULD HAVE BEEN AN EARLY INFECTION, BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS KEEP THEM AS A CASE UNDER INVESTIGATION AND PROBABLY DO SOME FURTHER TESTING AND THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. NO SUGGESTION OF ANY FURTHER ONSPREAD. AS YOU SAID EARLIER, THAT THE CASE REMAINS ASYMPTOMATIC. SHE IS CONTINUING TO DO WELL. THIS IS PROBABLY IMPACT OF THE VACCINE. WE FIND THIS WITH MANY OF THEM. THIS IS THAT THING. IF THE VACCINE DOESN'T STOP THE SPREAD ACT AGAINST THE VIRUS, BUT IT STOPS PEOPLE GETTING SICK. SHOULD WE BE AWARE OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THOSE VACCINATED, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS BUT THEY COULD BE SPREADING THE VIRUS WITHOUT KNOWING? THE VACCINE DOES PROTECT MOST INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY WILL FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO IT. SECONDLY, OUR CASE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO GET AN INFECTION WHO IS DETECTABLE, THE ILLNESS IS MUCH MORE MILES SO THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BECOME UNWELL. VERY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING SERIOUS ILLNESS OR DEATH. THIRDLY, THERE IS INCREASING EVIDENCE ABOUT DECREASING ONGOING TRANSMISSION. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS YOU POINTED OUT, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED, WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, MAY BE TRANSMITTING. THAT IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO DO THE REGULAR TESTING OF A BORDER WORKFORCE. THAT WILL CONTINUE, AND OTHER MEASURES WILL CONTINUE, IN ADDITION TO THE VACCINATION. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IS MORNING. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO RUN. DR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH. WE WILL BE BACK AFTER THE BREAK. CAN I BORROW YOUR HIGHLIGHTER FOR A SECOND? (LAUGHTER) IT'S BRILLIANT. EXCELLENT. THAT'S HOW COORDINATED WE ARE HERE ON BREAKFAST. AND NO OTHER SHOW WITH A HIGHLIGHTER MATCH THE OUTFIT. SOMEONE HAS TO, EH? WE WILL TALK WITH GRANT ROBERTSON AFTER THE BREAK. BUT BEFORE THE BREAK AS THE NEWS. NATIONAL'S CALLING FOR EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY. THE PARTY HAS CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT, LABELLING THE EXTENSION OF THE BRIGHT LINE TEST A CAPITAL GAINS TAX IN DISGUISE AND ASKING FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE $3.8b SET ASIDE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS. JUDITH COLLINS SAYS HOUSES NEED TO BE BUILT QUICKLY. LET'S BRING IN EMERGENCY LEGISLATION LIKE WE DID AFTER CHRISTCHURCH AND GET HOUSES CONSENTED AND GET THEM BUILT. WE KNOW THE TIME TAKEN FOR CONSENTING AS MASSIVE COSTS OF MONEY FOR DEVELOPERS, WHICH MEANS IT GOES ON TO THE COST OF HOUSING. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO. AND THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL ACCORDING TO BERNIE O'DONNELL FROM THE MANUKAU URBAN MAORI AUTHORITY WHO'S DISAPPOINTED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOESN'T ADDRESS MAORI, MANY OF WHOM ARE RENTERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DETAIL AROUND MAORI-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES OR MAORI-TARGETTED FUNDING THAT IS GOING TO GET OUR WHANAU EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY. WE KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT STUFF THAT WE NEVER DELIVER. THE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE NEVER REALLY HAPPENS UNLESS YOU WORK WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. THOUSANDS IN NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE HAD THEIR POWER CUT THIS MORNING GENOME SEQUENCING IS BACK FROM THE NEWEST CASE, IDENTIFYING IT AS THE UK STRAIN OF THE VIRUS, MATCHING IT FROM A RECENT RETURNEE FROM THE UK AND IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THE SECOND DOSE OF THE VACCINATION. SOME QUESTIONS REMAIN. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PUZZLE. BUT IT SUGGESTS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FALSE POSITIVE OR EARLY INFECTION. WE WILL KEEP THAT PERSON AS A CASE UNDER INVESTIGATION INTO SOME FURTHER TESTING AND THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THOUSANDS IN NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE HAD THEIR POWER CUT THIS MORNING AS THE FLOODING DISASTER ACROSS THE STATE SHIFTS GEAR. AUTHORITIES ARE MOVING THEIR FOCUS SOUTH, WITH FLOOD RISKS REMAINING EVEN AS THE RAIN EASES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REMAIN AFFECTED BY EVACUATION ORDERS DUE TO BURST RIVERS AND LANDSLIPS. WE'VE GOT HOUSES GOING UNDER, WE'VE GOT ROADS GETTING CUT OFF, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET ACCESS IS VIA BOAT OR HELICOPTER AT THIS POINT. SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS REMAIN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL REGIONS. TO SPORT, AND AN UNBEATEN CENTURY FROM TOM LATHAM HAS LED THE BLACK CAPS TO A ONE DAY SERIES VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE STAND-IN SKIPPER STEERING HIS SIDE TO THEIR TARGET OF 272, HITTING THE WINNING RUNS TO SEAL AN UNASSAILABLE 2`0 SERIES LEAD. LATHAM CONCEDES HIS MATCH WINNING KNOCK WAS NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMED ON HIS HOME PITCH. HE WINS THE GAME FOR HIS COUNTRY. FINN ALLEN SAYS HE'S STILL PINCHING HIMSELF AS HIS METEORIC CRICKETING RISE CONTINUES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE 21 YEAR OLD WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE RADAR FOR MOST CRICKETING FANS. NOW HE'S GOT AN IPL CONTRACT AND A MAIDEN BLACK CAPS CALL UP FOR THE UPCOMING T20 SERIES AGAINST BANGLADESH. DEFINITELY NOT. (CHUCKLES) LIKE I'VE BEEN SAYING TO A FEW PEOPLE, I THINK IT'LL PROBABLY KICK IN WHEN I SORT OF GET ON THAT PLANE TO SHOT OVER. AND NOW PROBABLY WHEN FIRST SORT OF WARM-UPS AND SORT OF TAKE IT ALL IN WITH THE CROWDS AND EVERYTHING, I THINK THAT'LL SORT OF BE WHEN IT KICKS IN FOR ME. BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, I'M JUST HONESTLY SO STOKED TO HAVE IT ALL UNFOLD. VERY COAL AS A 21 YEAR OLD. HE IS SO COLD. IT MUST BE COOL WHEN HE GOES TO THE BANK WITH HIS IPL CHEEK FROM INDIA. LOVE IT. I'LL TELL YOU WHO I AM MISSING. I DO MISS YOUR ENERGY IN THE STUDIO, MATTY. I MISS YOU TOO, BUT I'VE GOT TO SAY IT IS PRETTY SPECIAL BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL AROUND THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF OURS. I AM IN NASEBY THIS MORNING. IT IS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR PARTS OF THE WORLD, I THINK, ESPECIALLY IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE ARE SO SPOILED FOR CHOICE. THE THING ABOUT NASEBY IS HOW MUCH THEY HAVE PRESERVE THEIR HISTORY. HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BUILDINGS BEHIND ME. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A MOVIE SET. IT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I LOVE IT HERE. IT IS SO CUTE AND FUN. WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE FUN LATER ON THIS MORNING. IT'S MOSTLY FINE AND UPPER NORTH TODAY. AUCKLAND HAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL DAY, WHEREAS NORTHLAND A BIT MORE OVERCAST AT TIMES. WATCH OUT FOR A CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR TWO IN WHITIANGA AND KAITAIA. 23, 24 DEGREES FOR ALL OF YOU. LOVELY AND SUNNY THROUGH HERE WITH NOTHING REALLY TO DISRUPT IT APART FROM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH AROUND ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. 23 DEGREES TAURANGA, 26 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HAMILTON. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FURTHER EAST WITH JUST SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN LATER IN THE DAY, AND THAT COULD DELIVER SOME BRIEF RAIN TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THIS EVENING. 21, THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR HAWKE'S BAY. 22 IF YOU'RE IN MASTERTON. YOU'LL SEE A MIX OF SUNNY SKIES AND CLOUD COVER SHIFTING WEST, BUT IT IS MOSTLY FINE FOR ALL OF YOU. JUST WATCH OUT FOR SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CAPITAL. 19 DEGREES THERE. 22 IN LEVIN, WHANGANUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH. YOU'RE LOOKING MOSTLY OVERCAST IN THE UPPER SOUTH WITH OCCASIONAL DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH THROUGH. BUT ALONG THE WEST COAST, IT SHOULD BE FINE ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS. 19 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 21 IN BLENHEIM. IT'S A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY OUT EAST WITH A BIT OF DRIZZLE ATTACHED ALONG THE COAST THERE, WHEREAS ALEXANDRA, DESPITE THE GREYER SKIES, SHOULD STAY DRY. 17 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. AND MUCH OF THE LOWER SOUTH WILL HAVE CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH DRIZZLE ATTACHED AS WELL, MORE LIKELY THIS MORNING. WHEREAS FOR QUEENSTOWN AND MILFORD SOUND, IT'S MOSTLY FINE ONCE THE CLOUD FIRST THING LIFTS. 19 DEGREES FOR THE TWO OF YOU. 17 IN INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR THURSDAY ` TOMORROW, IT'S OVERCAST IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS WITH A FEW SHOWERS ATTACHED. THERE'S POSSIBLY SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AS WELL. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A MOSTLY FINE DAY. SO VERY SHORTLY I'M GOING TO HEAD TO THE CURLING RINK TO TRY MY HAND AT CURLING. YOU KNOW HOW COMPETITIVE I AM. FINGERS CROSSED I WILL DO OKAY. YOU CAN WHEN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE TO COME TO THIS INCREDIBLE PART OF THE COUNTRY YOURSELF. YOU CAN WHEN A CURLING LESSON FOR YOURSELF IN NASEBY PLUS A GORGE YOURSELF BIKE TOUR AND A HIGHLANDS RACE TOUR, BOTH OF WHICH I WILL SHOW YOU LATER ON THIS MORNING AS WELL. THAT'S ALL FOR FOUR PEOPLE. THANK YOU, ADRIAN. LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN EAT. THIS IS A WHITEBAIT FRITTER. OH, NO. COME ON. CUT OFF HIM. CUT AWAY. OH. DON'T YOU DARE. HE JUST DID. WHOA. (CHUCKLES) IT'S SO GOOD. MATTY IS TALKING ABOUT GOING CURLING LATER ON AND HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICE. I SPOKE WITH HIM THIS MORNING AND HE SAID, OH, I'M OK. COMING UP ` THE FINANCE MINISTER EXPLAINS THE THINKING BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW HOUSING POLICY PACKAGE. WE'RE GOING TO RETURN NOW TO THE GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING PACKAGE, RELEASED YESTERDAY MORNING. WE PREVIEWED IT EXTENSIVELY YESTERDAY, AND THEN HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT LIVE. AND WE'VE RECEIVED AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK FROM YOU. STANDING BY, FINANCE MINISTER, AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, GRANT ROBERTSON. AND WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY PLAYING HIM SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE SAID. MORENA, JOHN. THIS IS FANTASTIC TELLY HERE. WE ARE GOING TO PICK BY PLAYING YOU SOME OF OUR VIEWERS SAID. EACH WEEK I PAY $565 AND RENT. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY DOES NOTHING TO HELP MY SITUATION. RENTING MEANS THAT I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO SAVE FOR A DEPOSIT. I HAVE BEEN A TRAPPED RENT OF OVER TWO DECADES, SO FOR ME WHAT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY WON'T BE CHANGING THAT. WE CAN'T GET AHEAD. WE TRIED. WE'VE WORKED HARD, WE'VE WORKED LONG HOURS. WHAT DID THE ANNOUNCEMENT MEAN TO ME? MORE STRUGGLE. I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH TOGETHER FOR A DEPOSIT ON HOUSE. UNFORTUNATELY THE ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE TODAY BY GOVERNMENT WERE TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. I THINK TODAY'S HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOWS ME THAT THIS GOVERNMENT LIKE THE SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT IS PERFECT FOR IT ARE HAPPY TO SEEK HOUSING BE A REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT OVER A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. I WANT TO PICK UP ON TWO HEARTBREAKING US FROM THERE. ONE OF THEM SAYS WE'VE TRIED, WE TRIED... WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THEM YESTERDAY? YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PACKAGE. I ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THE STRUGGLE OF PEOPLE BOTH IN THE RENTAL MARKET AND THOSE LOOKING TO BUY HOUSES. THIS IS A BIG COMPLEX, LONG-TERM PROBLEM. I ACTUALLY AGREE THAT HAS BUILT UP OVER DECADES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALLY OF THE PACKAGE, WE ARE SHIFTING THE MOMENTUM TOWARDS FIRST-TIME BUYERS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE AROUND THE INTEREST ADAPTABILITY AND THE BRIGHT LINE TEST. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT BUILDING FAR MORE HOUSES THAT WILL MEAN THAT PEOPLE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS A LONG-TERM ISSUE THAT REQUIRES A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, SO WE SYMPATHISE WITH PEOPLE IN THE MOMENT , BUT THERE ARE PARTS OF THIS PACKAGE THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO BUY HOUSES. YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY MORE HOUSES? KNOW YOU ARE NOT. WHERE WERE THE NEW HOUSES YESTERDAY? THAT THERE WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY VIRTUALLY EVERY LOCAL COUNCIL FROM NEW ZEALAND IS THAT THEY NEED OUR HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT IS BILLED READY LAND. WE COULD CHANGE ALL THE PLANNING LAWS IN THE WORLD, BUT UNTIL WE GET THE PIPES, THE ROADS... THIS DOESN'T STAND ALONE, JOHN. WE HAVE PUT HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO BUILD STATE HOUSES. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE UP TILL NOW. TOMORROW WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE COULD LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT 10 YEARS, HAVE A PIPELINE OF THOSE HOUSES BEING BUILT. OTHERWISE,... IT IS A LONG PIPELINE THOUGH. WE HAVE GUESTS AFTER GUEST AFTER GUEST THIS MORNING SAYING HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT? WHO IS GOING TO DO IT? WHERE ARE THE BUILDERS COMING FROM? IT IS NOT THAT THERE'S NO HOUSEBUILDING RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE ELUDED YOURSELF THERE TO 1 OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE GOT, WHICH IS CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS. THE NUMBER OF BUILDERS. THE OTHER CONSTRAINT IS BILLED READY LAND. THIS IS SOLVING A CRITICAL PROBLEM IN MAKING SURE WE GET THAT SUPPLY OF HOUSING GOING. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE NOT BUILDING THAT HOUSING. HOW ARE YOU BUILDING AS OPPOSED TO PURCHASING EXISTING STOCK? THERE IS SOMEWHERE WE ARE BRINGING STOCK AND BECAUSE WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE WHO WANT AND NEED A PUBLIC HOUSE, BUT WE ARE ALSO BRING SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS. IN TOTAL IT WILL BE ABOUT 18,000 OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE BUILDS. BUT IF THE ISSUE IS ON THE SUPPLY SIDE, WHO IS SOLVING IT? IT IS ACTUALLY A COLLECTIVE ISSUE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID YESTERDAY, INCREASING THE BRIGHT LINE TEST, TAKING AWAY INTEREST THE DUCT ABILITY, THOSE TWO THINGS DON'T APPLY IF YOU ARE BUILDING NEW STOCK, AND THAT'S WE WANT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INVEST IN PROPERTY TO GO. WE BUILT THAT IN TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THOUGH. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS A LONG-TERM PROBLEM. PEOPLE HAVE CALLED ON US TO PULL THE LEVERS. YOU ARE HEARING FROM OTHERS IN THE PROPERTY MARKET SAYING THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A BALANCE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING MORE HOUSES, WE ARE MAKING IT IS THE FULL FIRST-TIME BUYERS AS WE HAVE OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS. BOY, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. AIM TELLING YOU IN GOVERNMENT THAT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. $4-5 MILLION SPENT ON ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENTS. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR SOLUTION IS AS PRESCRIBED YESTERDAY FOR THEIR INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE OR EVEN DREAM OF PARTICIPATING. WELL, SEVERAL THINGS. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW` AGAIN, YOU CAN'T TAKE YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON ITS OWN. AN EXAMPLE FOR SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE IS THE PROGRESS OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME. THIS IS DESIGNED TO BRING PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE MARKET INTO IT. YESTERDAY YOU SAW THE CHANGE AND INCOME CAPS. THIS MEANS YOU ONLY NEED A 5% DEPOSIT, SO BEAR IN MIND FOR A FIRST-TIME PRODUCTS, YOU ONLY NEED A 5% DEPOSIT. THE ARE A NUMBER OF MEANS BY WHICH WE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE MARKET. THE OTHER ISSUE IS SUPPLY. WE ARE TRYING TO DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE HERE. DO YOU THINK POWER SPACES WILL FALL AS A RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM INVESTORS WHO WANT TO AVOID THE BRIGHT LINE TEST? WHAT WAS HE IS MORE OF THOSE FIRST-TIME BUYERS AT THOSE OPTIONS RATHER THAN INVESTORS, THAT IS A GOOD THING. BUT I'VE SEEN A RANGE OF PROJECTIONS OF WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN. WE ARE TAKING THE POLITICS OUT OF HOUSING. A NORTH CANTERBURY TOWN IS TAKING MATTERS INTO ITS OWN HANDS TO HELP EASE THE HOUSING PRESSURES AND TO HELP ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE REGION. WAIAU RESIDENTS HAVE LAUNCHED A SHARED EQUITY HOUSING SCHEME, CALLING IT THE HURUNUI DEVELOPMENT TRUST, WHICH AIMS TO BUILD 10 NEW HOMES WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SO TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SCHEME WE'RE JOINED BY WAIAU LOCAL AND MEMBER OF THE HURUNUI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST REBEKAH KELLY. MORENA! GOOD MORNING. LOOK AT THAT. GORGEOUS. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE SKIN THIS MORNING, TELL US ABOUT WAIAU, SOUTH-EAST OF HANMER SPRINGS. WAIAU IS A RURAL COMMUNITY, A SMALL TOWN, A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU AND IT IS GREAT TO BE KNOWN. IT IS JUST A GREAT PLACE TO BRING UP CHILDREN, IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE INVOLVED IN. IT IS A GREAT PLACE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOURSELF. AS A COMMUNITY YOU HAVE LAUNCHED A SHARED EQUITY HOUSING SCHEME. YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE TO GO THERE. TELL US ABOUT THE SCHEME AND HOW THIS WILL START IT. AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE CARE FOUR YEARS AGO. WE LOST A LOT OF OUR HOUSING STOCK. WE ALSO TOOK THE CHANCE AS A CUE MANAGING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DO WAS BUILD HOUSES THAT FAMILIES COULD COME AND LIVE IN AND THAT THAT COULD AFFORD TO BUY. THE SCHEME IS ABOUT OWNING YOUR OWN PROPERTY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EVEN THINK ABOUT OWNING THE PROPERTY BEFORE. WE WANT TO COME BE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY, THE CHILDREN CAN COME TO A LOCAL SCHOOL WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE HERE. WE THINK WILL BE A WIN FOR THEM, AND IT WILL BE A WIN FOR US. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL IDEA. BUT IT IS ANOTHER THING TO MAKE HAPPEN. HOW ARE YOU MAKING THIS HAPPEN? IT HAS BEEN IN THE PIPELINE FOR FOUR YEARS. JUST TURNED OUT THAT WE ANNOUNCE OUR COOL THING WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES THEIR COOL THING. WE HAVE JUST HAD THE MOST AWESOME LOCAL BOARD TO FINANCE THE BUILD OF THE FIRST HOUSE. WE HAVE GOT OUR FIRST TWO SECTIONS, SO WE ARE ACTUALLY READY TO GO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. HAVING HAD ANY INTEREST? I KNOW YOU HAVE ONLY JUST STARTED. HAVE YOU HAD ANY BITES? YES, WE HAVE. ACTUALLY, AS SOON AS WE LAUNCHED, WE'VE HAD A FEW EMAILS ALREADY FROM FAMILIES WHO ARE INTERESTED, AND AT THIS STAGE WE HAVE JUST SAID THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY, ANYBODY WATCHING, ANYONE WHO HAS HEARD ABOUT THIS, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US. WE WOULD BE KEEN TO TALK AND SEE WHAT WORKS FOR FAMILIES, WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM ENTER THEIR FIRST HOUSE AND BECOME OF THIS WICKED RURAL COMMUNITY. THIS IS ABOUT COMMUNITY INVESTING IN LOOKING AFTER INTO THE COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE HAD TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THE TIME THRIVE. YES. AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE, PEOPLE HAD TO MOVE AWAY. HOUSES WERE SMASHED UP AND THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE TO LIVE. THIS IS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE A CHANCE AT WAIAU AND SEE IF IT WILL WORK FOR THEM. HOW DOES THE SCHEME WORK? PEOPLE CAN OFFER WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO THIS HOUSES, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A FOUR BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM HOUSE ON A 700 M QUEST ACTION FOR AROUND $350,000. THAT'S WHAT THE HOUSE IS WORTH, BUT THEY CAN SORT OF DECIDE HOW THEY CAN AFFORD TO BUY, WHETHER IT IS A RENT TO OWN ARRANGEMENT, WHETHER THEY JUST BUY SHARES IN THE HOUSE, BUT EVENTUALLY OUR AIM IS THAT THEY WILL OWN AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE HOUSE. WE ARE JUST GOING TO WORK AT THE CASE-BY-CASE AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO. BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE HERE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE PROPERTY LADDER, WE KNOW HOW MUCH POWER IT IS TO OWN A PROPERTY. TALK TO US AND WE WILL WORK IT OUT. I AM IN. I AM MOVING TO WAIAU. YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, THERE IS A LINK TO THE TRUST AND IT WILL GIVE YOU INFORMATION, AND GIVE YOU THE WEBSITE YOU CAN HEAD TOWARDS. WE CAN GO FROM THERE. COMMUNITIES INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. GOOD LUCK. EITHER FEELING YOU ARE GOING TO BE INUNDATED. ME TOO. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IDENTIFIES THE STRAIN LINKED TO LATEST COVID-19 CASE. MORE ON THAT AT 7.30. ALSO AHEAD ` WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT NEW ZEALAND'S MILITARY HISTORY AS OUR ARMY COMMEMORATES 175 YEARS OF SERVICE. 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. THE LATEST BORDER CASE OF COVID-19 REMAINS ASYMPTOMATIC, WITH DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH DOCTOR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD SAYING IT SHOWS THE VACCINE IS WORKING. GENOME SEQUENCING RESULTS CONFIRM IT'S THE UK STRAIN OF THE VIRUS, MATCHING THAT OF A RECENT RETURNEE. THE WORKER GOT INFECTED BEFORE THEIR 2ND DOSE OF THE VACCINE, ENOUGH TO MAKE THE INFECTION LESS SEVERE. OUR CASE HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, WHO DO GET INFECTION THAT IS DETECTABLE. IT MAKES THE ILLNESS MORE MILD, SO THEY'RE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BECOME SEVERLEY UNWELL, TO BE HOSPITALISED, OR DIE. VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, MAY BE GOING ABOUT THEIR NORMAL WORK, AND POTENTIALLY ABLE TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS. I'LL SAY POTENTIALLY BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING THAT EVIDENCE THAT IT DOES REDUCE TRANSMISSION. THE FINANCE MINISTER IS DEFENDING THE GOVERNMENT'S $3.8B INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AIMED AT INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY. GRANT ROBERTSON ACKNOWLDEGES THERE IS NO QUICK FIX BUT INSISTS THE FUNDING WILL OPEN UP MORE LAND TO BUILD HOUSES. THE THING WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY VIRTUALLY EVERY LOCAL COUNCIL AROUND NEW ZEALAND IS THAT THEY NEED OUR HELP TO MAKE SURE THERE IS BUILD READY LAND. YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS, HAVE A PIPELINE OF THOSE HOUSES BEING BUILT, OTHERWISE WE DON'T SOLVE THE SUPPLY PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, NATIONAL SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING. THERE ARE NO DETAILS ABOUT IT. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, AROUND $3.8B WITH NO DETAILS. AT THINK IT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO SAY THERE IS A BIG TRUCK BODY WITH THE DETAIL. OFFICIALS HAVE NAMED THE 10 VICTIMS KILLED IN YESTERDAY'S MASS SHOOTING AT A COLORADO SUPERMARKET. THEY'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE GUNMAN. A LOCAL MAN (21) WHO'S BEEN CHARGED WITH 10 COUNTS OF MURDER. POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING INTO A MOTIVE. THIS IS A PAIN THAT WE NEED TO SIT WITH. WE CAN'T LET OURSELVES EVER BECOME NUMB TO THE PAIN BECAUSE WE SIMPLY CAN'T LET THIS BE ACCEPTED AS ANYTHING CLOSE TO NORMAL OCCURRENCE. UNITED STATES VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS DESCRIBED IT AS ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC. IT'S THE COUNTRY'S SECOND MASS SHOOTING IN A WEEK. CARTERTON RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE BOILING THEIR WATER FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE DAYS, DESPITE A THIRD CLEAR DAILY ECOLI TEST. A BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS FIRST ISSUED FOR THE WAIRARAPA TOWN ON THE 12TH OF MARCH AFTER LOW LEVELS OF THE BACTERIA WERE FOUND IN THE WATER SUPPLY. THE NOTICE WAS LIFTED AFTER THREE DAYS BUT THEN REINSTATED LAST WEDNESDAY AFTER ANOTHER POSITIVE TEST. COUNCIL STAFF SAY THEY WANT TO ENSURE THE NETWORK HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY TESTED TO PREVENT ANY MORE WATER BOIL NOTICES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. TO SPORT, AND THE BLACK CAPS WILL BE AIMING FOR AN ODI SERIES SWEEP AGAINST BANGLADESH ON FRIDAY AFTER GOING 2-0 UP IN CHRISTCHURCH LAST NIGHT. THE TIGERS PROVIDED A MUCH STERNER TEST IN THE SECOND ONE-DAYER, SETTING A TARGET OF 272 TO WIN. BUT STAND-IN SKIPPER TOM LATHAM WAS UP TO THE CHALLENGE, SCORING A FIFTH ODI CENTURY. THAT IS TOM LATHAM, HE IS SO GOOD AT THIS GROUND. LATHAM'S MAN OF THE MATCH EFFORT DELIVERING NEW ZEALAND AN UNASSAILABLE SERIES LEAD. HOPEFULLY WE CAN WIN THE SERIES 3-0, AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THE T20 BOYS WILL COME IN TO PLAY. SO, THE SEASON'S COMING TO AN END PRETTY QUICKLY, SO A COUPLE OF GOOD PERFORMANCES WOULD BE GREAT. STILL WITH ONE-DAY CRICKET, AND INDIA HAS DRAWN FIRST BLOOD IN THEIR SERIES OPENER WITH ENGLAND. THE TOURISTS UNABLE TO CHASE DOWN INDIA'S SCORE OF 317, LOSING BY 66 RUNS. STANDBY. THAT WAS A NICE CATCH. THANKS, INDIRA. WE ARE HEADING DOWN THE COUNTRY NOW WITH MATTY. YOU ARE CURLING THIS MORNING? I HAVE A BROOM! A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF BROOM THAN WHAT I USUALLY USE ON THE SHOW. AS A TRADITIONAL CURLING BROOM, THEY HAVE GOT A BIT MORE MODERN THESE DAYS. THEY ARE GOING TO BE TEACHING ME HOW TO CURL. LET'S SEE THE SKILLS. ZOE HAS COMPETED IN THE WORLD YOUTH OLYMPICS. LOOK AT THAT, SLIDING ALONG. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU DO THAT, MATTY. I HAVE HAD A SLIGHT PRACTICE. SLIGHT! THE ENTIRE AFTERNOON YESTERDAY, WE HEAR. I HAVE NOT QUITE GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF SOMEONE TEACHING ME HOW TO SLIDE YET. I'M SURE YOU HAVE GOT THIS. AND NOT QUITE AS LIMBER AS ZOE. I MIGHT TEAR MY HAMSTRING I GET OUT THAT LOW. IT'S MOSTLY FINE AND UPPER NORTH TODAY. AUCKLAND HAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL DAY, WHEREAS NORTHLAND A BIT MORE OVERCAST AT TIMES. WATCH OUT FOR A CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR TWO IN WHITIANGA AND KAITAIA. 23, 24 DEGREES FOR ALL OF YOU. LOVELY AND SUNNY THROUGH HERE WITH NOTHING REALLY TO DISRUPT IT, APART FROM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH AROUND ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. 23 DEGREES TAURANGA, 26 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HAMILTON. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FURTHER EAST WITH JUST SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN LATER IN THE DAY, AND THAT COULD DELIVER SOME BRIEF RAIN TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THIS EVENING. 21, THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR HAWKE'S BAY. 22 IF YOU'RE IN MASTERTON. YOU'LL SEE A MIX OF SUNNY SKIES AND CLOUD COVER SHIFTING WEST, BUT IT IS MOSTLY FINE FOR ALL OF YOU. JUST WATCH OUT FOR SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CAPITAL. 19 DEGREES THERE. 22 IN LEVIN, WHANGANUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH. YOU'RE LOOKING MOSTLY OVERCAST IN THE UPPER SOUTH WITH OCCASIONAL DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH THROUGH. BUT ALONG THE WEST COAST, IT SHOULD BE FINE ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS. 19 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 21 IN BLENHEIM. IT'S A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY OUT EAST WITH A BIT OF DRIZZLE ATTACHED ALONG THE COAST THERE, WHEREAS ALEXANDRA, DESPITE THE GREYER SKIES, SHOULD STAY DRY. 17 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. AND MUCH OF THE LOWER SOUTH WILL HAVE CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH DRIZZLE ATTACHED AS WELL, MORE LIKELY THIS MORNING. WHEREAS FOR QUEENSTOWN AND MILFORD SOUND, IT'S MOSTLY FINE ONCE THE CLOUD FIRST THING LIFTS. 19 DEGREES FOR THE TWO OF YOU. 17 IN INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR THURSDAY ` TOMORROW, IT'S OVERCAST IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS WITH A FEW SHOWERS ATTACHED. THERE'S POSSIBLY SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AS WELL. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A MOSTLY FINE DAY. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH FUN ON THE ROAD SO FAR. I'M GOING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE CURLING AS THE MORNING GOES ON. I WILL BE AN ABSOLUTE PROBE BY THE END OF IT. THERE IS A MUCH MORE TO DO AND SEE IN CENTRAL OTAGO. ONE THING I HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE WAS THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE. (ROCK MUSIC) WHERE ARE WE? YOU'RE AT HIGHLANDS IN CENTRAL OTAGO, CROMWELL. THIS IS INCREDIBLE. TELL US ABOUT THIS PLACE. LOOK, WE'RE THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES, REALLY. THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. WHETHER YOU'RE GOING THROUGH OUR LOOS, OUR NEW LOO WITH A VIEW, THE GO-KARTS, THE MUSEUM, THE VIRTUAL REALITY ROOM, THE CAFE, THE BALANCE BIKES, THE MINI GOLF ` WE'VE REALLY GOT IT ALL FOR FAMILIES. THIS IS A REAL ADVENTURE PARK, RIGHT? YEAH, IT IS, ACTUALLY. IT'S KIND OF LIKE DISNEYLAND ON STEROIDS, NEW ZEALAND VERSION. (ELECTRONIC MUSIC) (ELECTRONIC MUSIC) (ELECTRONIC MUSIC) WELL, TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU` WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH THE FAMILY JOURNEY, SO YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT IN OUR PORSCHE TAXI, SO FOUR OF YOU CAN GIVE THAT A GO. THEN YOU'RE GONNA GO DOWN ON TO THE GO-KARTS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BIT OF A PLAY IN THE MUSEUM, HAVE A GO IN THE VIRTUAL REALITY ROOM. HOW FAST ARE WE GONNA GO? AS FAST AS YOU LET ME. (LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) WE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE AT HIGHLANDS. WE DO THE TAXI, WHICH WE'RE IN NOW, THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY ONE, AND TWO LAPS AROUND THE TRACK, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT HIGHLANDS, AND THEN WE DO THE FAST LAP. OOH! (LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) MAYBE THAT CHEESE TOASTIE WAS A BAD IDEA. (LAUGHS) (BRIGHT MUSIC) YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT IN OUR PORSCHE GT3, OUR SUPERCAR FAST DASH. HOW FAST? FAST. (LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) OH MY GOD. (LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) OH MY GOD. DO YOU HAVE TO BE INTO CARS, DO YOU THINK, TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THIS? OH, NOT AT ALL. I THINK YOU NEED TO BE INTO LETTING YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD, AND THE CARS ARE KIND OF THE WIDGET. LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, YOU NEED TO COME, GIVE IT A GO, AND WE CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU'LL LEAVE GOING, 'I'M SO GLAD I GAVE THAT A GO.' HONESTLY SO MUCH FUN, AND THAT IS PART OF THE AMAZING PRICE PACKAGE THAT WE HAVE ON OFFER THIS WEEK. HIT A FACEBOOK PAGE, HEAD TO THE LINK, AND YOU COULD BE HAVING AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT. RIGHT, CURLING. I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TALKED IT UP. GO ON, MATTY! DOWN LOW. OH, NOT BAD. MAY BE A LITTLE TOO HARD. WHAT WE WANT TO SEE WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU AS YOU ACTUALLY SLIDING. THAT'S NOT BAD. WHAT? THAT'S REALLY NICE. OH! IT GOT DOWN THE END! THEY GOT THERE! I GET THE THUMBS UP! I WANT TO SEE THE SLIDE, MATTY. I WILL WORK ON THE SLIDE FOR YOU. WHAT IS IT, IS IT TO GET TO A GOAL LINE? AS SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T NO CURLING, IT'S LIKE BOWLS. SUCH FUN. WHAT YOU CALL THE THING AT THE END? I CAN'T REMEMBER, THE CIRCLES. MATTY, ARE YOU AIMING AT A JACK OR A CIRCLE? I'M NOT SURE. PETER, WHAT YOU CALL THE CIRCLES AT THE END? A HOUSE! TWO HOUSES, ONE AT EITHER END. HE IS GOING TO BE THE MASTER LATER ON, IS GOING TO TEACH ME A THING OR TWO. HE LIKES MY LAST THROW, SO THAT IS GOOD, STARTING WELL. LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO YOU. WE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED TALKING. COMING UP ` YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. LAST YEAR MARKED 175 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDING OF WHAT WE KNOW TODAY AS THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY. FROM THAT FIRST CALL TO ARMS, KIWIS HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR COUNTLESS CONFLICTS, TWO WORLD WARS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS AND HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS. BUT COMMEMORATIONS LAST YEAR WERE PUT ON HOLD DUE TO COVID, SO THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY IS MARKING THE MILESTONE THIS MORNING WITH A CEREMONY AT PUKEAHU NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL PARK IN WELLINGTON. JOINING US NOW IS ARMY CHIEF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN BOSWELL. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING. HOW'S YOUR MORNING BEEN? I HAVE HAD A GREAT START THIS MORNING. THE DAWN CEREMONY, A SMALL CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR. HAS REALLY SET THE SCENE, LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR TODAY'S COMMEMORATIONS. TELL ME ABOUT THE CEREMONY AT 5 O'CLOCK. THERE IS A HISTORIC CEREMONY, AT ORIGINS ABOUT THE 1700S. IT MARKS THE END OF THE DAY'S FIGHTING, IT'S WITH THE SOLDIERS WOULD PARADE, THEY WOULD REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED IN BATTLE THAT DAY BEFORE THEY RETIRED AT END OF THE NIGHT. WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US, AND THE SACRIFICE OF SOME 125,000 MEN AND WOMEN IN SERVICE IN THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY. AND IS A HUGE NUMBER, AND WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SIZE OF A POPULATION OVER THE YEARS, IT IS REFLECTED IN THE MEMORIALS AROUND OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO PAUSE TO REFLECT AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US. IT IS A CONFUSING BUSINESS, LOOKING BACK ON 175 YEARS, BECAUSE THE BEGINNING OF THE ARMY AS WE NOW KNOW IT WAS NOT ITS FINEST HOUR BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, IT WAS OFTEN THE MILITIA, BUT NOW THE ARMY HAS A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH MAORI, AND THERE ARE NOW MORE MAORI IN THE ARMY AS A PERCENTAGE OF OF THE POPULATION. TELL ME ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ARMY AND MAORI. IT WAS A COMPLEX, SAD, DIVISIVE TIME IN OUR HISTORY IN 1845 WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PAST THE MILITIA ACT, WHICH WE TRACED OUR ORIGINS OF AN ARMY BACK TO. WE DON'T CELEBRATE THAT, WE REMEMBER THAT. BUT WHAT WE DO CELEBRATE IS THE DEVELOPMENT TO THE ARMY AS IT IS TODAY. A CULTURE WHICH LOOKS TO MIXED THE VERY BEST OF BRITISH ARMY TRADITIONS WITH THE MAORI TRADIITONS. IS THAT THE ARMY'S REPUTATION IN THE WORLD AT LARGE? AND WE SEEN AS DISTINCT AND UNIQUE? I THINK IN THAT REGARD, WE ARE. IT IS A REAL POINT OF DIFFERENCE FOR OUR PEOPLE. IT IS OUR CULTURAL EMPATHY, THAT AS AN ARMY, WE ARE ABLE TO DISPLAY. EVEN DOMESTICALLY, NEW ZEALAND, RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 700 NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS WORKING AND MANAGED ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE FACILITIES AS PART OF OUR NATIONAL COVID RESPONSE. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ITS ORIGINS, WHICH WERE NOT GREAT. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GREAT. AS YOU LOOK BACK ON THE 175 YEARS, WHAT SHOULD WE BE PROUD OF? THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, BUT ARE THERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WILL STAND OUT? I DON'T WANT TO PICK OUT ONE PARTICULARLY EVENT, BUT TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD TALK TO WOULD BE OUR SERVICE AND I SACRIFICE. SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD, THROUGHOUT OUR REGION ON SECURITY, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF. AND SERVICE DOMESTICALLY IN TERMS OF EARTHQUAKES FIRES, AND COVID. AN SACRIFICE, THAT SACRIFICE OF 125,000. WHAT TIME IS THE BEATING OF RETREAT? IT WILL START OUT AT ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK. IT WILL BE VERY MOVING, WON'T IT/ REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENTS AND ACROSS THE ARMED SERVICES AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW ZEALAND. AND IS AN INCREDIBLY SPECIAL DAY, IS A DAY OF GREAT REFLECTION. WE CAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL DAY THAT, THANK YOU. CHEERS, HAVE A GREAT DAY. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` THE VACCINE IS WORKING, DECLARES THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH AFTER THE LATEST COVID-19 TEST RESULTS COMES IN. MORE ON THAT 8. ALSO AHEAD ` THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE POLITICAL DIVIDE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. IT IS COMING UP TO 8 O'CLOCK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING IT THIS MORNING, BUT ALSO WE GOT A BIT OF FEEDBACK YESTERDAY AROUND THE GOVERNMENTS HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME OUT AT 9 O'CLOCK. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF GUESTS JOIN US THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. WE HAD THE FINANCE MINISTER GRANT ROBERTSON ON AFTER 7 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. BERNIE O'DONNELL, AND STACEY, PRESIDENT FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN AND CONSTRUCTION, GIVING THEIR FEEDBACK. ALONGSIDE YOUR FEEDBACK, YOU ARE SAYING IT IS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FOR MANY OF YOU, INCLUDING TRACY. SHE SAYS SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO BUY A HOME FOR 20 YEARS AND AS A SINGLE PERSON IT IS NOW POSSIBLE. WE NEED OTHER TYPES OF HOUSING FOR THE ONES WHO FALL THROUGH THE FAMILY CRACKS. THIS IS WHAT BERNIE O'DONNELL WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND A NUMBER OF YOU WHO HAVE WRITTEN INTO US. SINGLE MOTHERS, BACHELORS, DIVERSE GENDER, MIXED FAMILIES WHO ARE MISSING OUT BASED ON WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY. SO MANY OF YOU ARE TELLING US WHAT YOU EARN, AND HOW MUCH OF THAT GOES ON RENT AND HOW HARD IT IS TO SAVE A DEPOSIT. AS YOU ARE TRYING TO SAVE A DEPOSIT, DOING EVERYTHING THAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU, HAVING JOBS, LIVING FRUGALLY AND PUTTING MONEY ASIDE, THE PROPERTY MARKET KEEPS GOING UP AND DISAPPEARING AWAY FROM YOU. YOU ARE RUNNING TO STAND STILL. THERE IS A SENSE OF THAT. SOME OF THIS FEEDBACK IS, FRANKLY, HEARTBREAKING. THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE AS WELL. DONNA SAYS AND THIS IS WHAT JUDITH COLLINS WAS SAYING, WHY ARE WE BEING PENALISED FOR HAVING ONE INVESTMENT PROPERTY? WE DO NOT CONSIDER OURSELVES PROPERTY INVESTORS WHEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO HOLD SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIOS. SINGLE PROPERTY LANDLORD FOR FIVE YEARS BEING PUNISHED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEARING YOUR SOUL, MANY OF YOU ABOUT THE SITUATION YOU CURRENTLY FIND YOURSELVES IN. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. PRAISE THE LORD. GENOME SEQUENCING RESULTS ARE BACK FOR THE NEWEST COVID-19 CASE IDENTIFYING IT AS THE UK STRAIN OF THE VIRUS, MATCHING THE GENOME OF A RECENT RETURNEE IN OUR MANAGED ISOLATION FACILITY. AND IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THIS CASE HAD THEIR SECOND DOSE OF THE VACCINATION. WHILE THERE'S NO SUGGESTION OF A COMMUNITY OUTBREAK, SOME QUESTIONS REMAIN. THE RE-TESTING OF THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBER WHO HAD RETURNED THAT INITIAL WEAK POSITIVE, THE RE-TESTING THERE, AND THE SEROLOGY TESTING WERE BOTH NEGATIVE. SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PUZZLE, BUT IT SUGGESTS THAT IT COULD'VE BEEN A FALSE POSITIVE, IT COULD'VE BEEN EARLY INFECTION. BUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT PERSON AS JUST A CASE UNDER INVESTIGATION, AND PROBABLY DO SOME FURTHER TESTING IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. MEANWHILE, BRITAIN IS MARKING THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ITS COVID-19 LOCKDOWN. A MINUTE'S SILENCE WAS HELD AT MIDDAY, OBSERVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BRITAIN'S DEATH TOLL A YEAR AGO WAS 364. IT'S NOW MORE THAN 126,000. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE WE HAVE LOST DURING THE YEAR, WHATEVER THE CAUSE OF THEIR DEATH. WE'VE SUFFERED SO MANY LOSSES, AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, OUR GRIEF HAS BEEN MADE MORE ACUTE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE OUR LOVED ONES IN THEIR FINAL DAYS, TO HOLD THEIR HANDS, OR EVEN TO MOURN THEM TOGETHER. THE QUEEN MARKED THE DAY BY SENDING FLOWERS TO A LONDON HOSPITAL, PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS. TOMORROW MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST DAY IN LEVEL 4 LOCKDOWN. THE FINANCE MINISTER IS URGING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING PACKAGE AS A WHOLE, AFTER CONCERNS THAT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE FROM RENTERS AND THOSE TRYING TO ENTER THE MARKET. BUT GRANT ROBERTSON ACKNOWLEDGES THE HOUSING CRISIS IS A LONG-TERM PROBLEM. I ACTUALLY AGREE THAT IT HAS BUILT UP OVER DECADES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF THE PACKAGE, WE ARE SHIFTING THE BALANCE TOWARDS FIRST HOME BUYERS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE INTEREST DEDUCTIBILITY AND THE EXTENSION OF THE BRIGHT-LINE TEST. BUT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD FAR MORE HOUSES, TO BRING ON THE SUPPLY OF HOUSES THAT OVERALL, WILL MEAN PEOPLE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES. AS IF MASS EVACUATIONS ON NEW SOUTH WALES' SOUTH COAST AREN'T DISRUPTIVE ENOUGH, THOUSANDS OF HOMES HAVE HAD THEIR POWER CUT. THERE'S NO LET UP IN SIGHT, WITH A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BRINGING STRONG WINDS AND MORE FLOODING. MEANWHILE, TWO PREGNANT WOMEN RECEIVED A SPECIAL AIRLIFT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT NERVE-RACKING KNOWING THAT IT COULD HAPPEN ANY DAY NOW. WHILE THE CHOPPERS WERE KEPT BUSY ON RESCUE MISSIONS, IN SOME DEVASTATED AREAS, THE ONLY WAY TO GET ESSENTIALS IN IS BY BOAT. TO SPORT, AND AN UNBEATEN CENTURY FROM TOM LATHAM HAS LED THE BLACK CAPS TO A ONE-DAY SERIES VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE STAND-IN SKIPPER STEERING HIS SIDE TO THEIR TARGET OF 272, HITTING THE WINNING RUNS TO SEAL AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 SERIES LEAD. THERE IT GOES. TOM LATHAM, OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE BAT. IT RUNS AWAY FOR FOUR. HE WINS THE GAME FOR HIS COUNTRY. LATHAM CONCEDES HIS MATCH-WINNING KNOCK WAS NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMED ON HIS HOME PITCH. YEAH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY, VERY, YOU KNOW, EXCITING TO HAVE THAT SORT OF MATCH-WINNING CONTRIBUTION. WE OBVIOUSLY WERE UNDER A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE WHEN I CAME IN WITH THE BAT, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS ABOUT WORKING WITH DEV THROUGH THAT MIDDLE TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP. THE THIRD AND FINAL ODI WILL BE PLAYED IN WELLINGTON ON FRIDAY. SEAN O'SULLIVAN WILL MAKE HIS WARRIORS DEBUT ON SATURDAY AS NATHANIEL BROWN NAMED HIS SIDE TO TAKE ON THE RAIDERS. THE AUSTRALIAN HALFBACK IS IN FOR CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA, WHO IS OUT FOR THE NEXT 12 WEEKS WITH A FOOT INJURY AND WILL GO UNDER THE KNIFE. BUNTY AFOA ALSO COMES INTO THE STARTING SIDE FOR SUSPENDED PROP JAMAYNE TAUNOA-BROWN. NICE, INDIRA. I AM VERY HOPEFUL FOR THE WARRIORS. 11, ONE LOSS. ONLY THE START OF THE SEASON, IT IS ALL GOOD. VERY HOPEFUL FOR MATTY, AS WELL AND SHOWING US HOW TO SLIDE. OH, JEEPERS. I GOT THE TAMMY ON. THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE IN KILLING, ISN'T IT, CHARLIE? THIS IS MAISIE, SAM, AND CHARLIE. GOOD MORNING. THEY HAVE COME DOWN ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL TO ATTEMPT TO SEE THE CURLING. HOW DO YOU THINK I WILL GO? I THINK YOU WILL GO WELL IF YOU CAN GET IN. ANY TIPS FOR ME BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE THE SLIDE. AIM FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE AND TRY AND GET THE MOST ZONES. AND DON'T FALL OFF. IT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. YOU LOOK LIKE THAT DUDE AND AC/DC. WE LOOK LIKE EACH OTHER, THE SAME COLOUR HERE AND EVERYTHING. A GOOD WAY TO BE, SAM. I HAVE TO GO SLIDING VERY SHORTLY, WISH ME LUCK. LET'S LOOK AT THE WEATHER AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT'S MOSTLY FINE AND UPPER NORTH TODAY. AUCKLAND HAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL DAY, WHEREAS NORTHLAND A BIT MORE OVERCAST AT TIMES. WATCH OUT FOR A CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR TWO IN WHITIANGA AND KAITAIA. 23, 24 DEGREES FOR ALL OF YOU. LOVELY AND SUNNY THROUGH HERE WITH NOTHING REALLY TO DISRUPT IT, APART FROM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH AROUND ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. 23 DEGREES TAURANGA, 26 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HAMILTON. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FURTHER EAST WITH JUST SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN LATER IN THE DAY, AND THAT COULD DELIVER SOME BRIEF RAIN TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THIS EVENING. 21, THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR HAWKE'S BAY. 22 IF YOU'RE IN MASTERTON. YOU'LL SEE A MIX OF SUNNY SKIES AND CLOUD COVER SHIFTING WEST, BUT IT IS MOSTLY FINE FOR ALL OF YOU. JUST WATCH OUT FOR SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CAPITAL. 19 DEGREES THERE. 22 IN LEVIN, WHANGANUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH. YOU'RE LOOKING MOSTLY OVERCAST IN THE UPPER SOUTH WITH OCCASIONAL DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH THROUGH. BUT ALONG THE WEST COAST, IT SHOULD BE FINE ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS. 19 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 21 IN BLENHEIM. IT'S A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY OUT EAST WITH A BIT OF DRIZZLE ATTACHED ALONG THE COAST THERE, WHEREAS ALEXANDRA, DESPITE THE GREYER SKIES, SHOULD STAY DRY. 17 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. AND MUCH OF THE LOWER SOUTH WILL HAVE CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH DRIZZLE ATTACHED AS WELL, MORE LIKELY THIS MORNING. WHEREAS FOR QUEENSTOWN AND MILFORD SOUND, IT'S MOSTLY FINE ONCE THE CLOUD FIRST THING LIFTS. 19 DEGREES FOR THE TWO OF YOU. 17 IN INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR THURSDAY ` TOMORROW, IT'S OVERCAST IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS WITH A FEW SHOWERS ATTACHED. THERE'S POSSIBLY SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AS WELL. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A MOSTLY FINE DAY. YOU SAW MY EFFORTS EARLIER AT SLIDING... THE GENERAL DELIVERY. AND IT GOT INTO THE HOUSE, AS WELL. BUT NOW I HAVE TO TRY THE SLIDE. PETER, YOU HAVE BEEN CURLING FOR A WEE WHILE. A FEW HAIRCUTS BACK. A LONG TIME AGO. PETER HAS BEEN HIS WHOLE LIFE IN THIS REGION, AND ALL THREE OF YOUR KIDS ONE SILVER AT THE WORLD CHAMPS. YES, AND RUSSIA IN 2010. IF YOU CAN TEACH ME TO SLIDE, I THINK IT IS THIS MAN. WHAT DO I DO? BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT-HANDED, BUT YOUR LEFT FOOT ON THAT ONE. IT IS VERY SLIPPERY. WHAT IS IT MADE OF? GO INTO A CROUCH ON WHAT WE CALL THE HACK, WHICH IS THOSE TWO THINGS THEY ARE. YOU HAVE A STABILISER AND A STONE. WHEN YOU KICK OUT, YOU GO INTO THAT SORT OF POSITION. AND THEN SLIDE. HOW FAR DO I GO? YOU CAN GO TO THE RIDGELINE BEFORE YOU LET THE STONE GO BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WILL GET THAT FAR. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. RIGHTY-O. HERE WE GO. OH, GOD. THAT IS PRETTY GOOD. HANG ON, HANG ON. LOOK AT IT GO. GO IN THE HOUSE. IN THE HOUSE! (CHEERING) GOOD STONE, MATTY. WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT? VERY GOOD. YOU GOT IN THE HOUSE. WORLD CHAMPS, HERE I COME, IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. ANYBODY CAN PLAY THIS GAME. I AM NOT BEING DEROGATORY. ANYONE CAN DO IT. GREAT FAMILY GAME. IT IS SO MUCH FUN. I MIGHT HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN A BIT OF A COMPETITION WITH YOU FELLAS SHORTLY. YOU CAN WIN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL OTAGO, INCLUDING A LISTEN HERE AT THE CURLING RINK IN NASEBY. THERE IS AN AMAZING PRICE BACK UP TO GRABS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HIT TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK ON THE LINK AND TRACK IN YOUR DETAILS AND YOU COULD BE HERE. THEY SHOULD COME, SHOULDN'T THEY, PETER? WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND ENJOYING IT. YOU HAVE TO COME AND CHECK IT OUT. THAT WAS SO GOOD. FIRST SLIDE IN THE HOUSE. WHAT CAN'T YOU DO? WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED ANYTHING LESS. IT'S THE 24TH OF MARCH, AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING WITH YOU, AOTEAROA. TODAY'S THE DAY JACKSON IS CELEBRATING HIS FIRST EVER BIRTHDAY. JACKSON WAS BORN THE NIGHT BEFORE LOCKDOWN LAST YEAR, SO HIS FIRST FEW MONTHS ON EARTH WERE A WEE BIT QUIET. WE'RE TOLD HE'S AN ABSOLUTE WATER BABY, AND IS SO LOVED BY ALL HIS WHANAU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LOVELY PHOTO. AND TODAY'S THE DAY CONAN'S CELEBRATING A VERY BIG BIRTHDAY ` HE'S TURNING 73. WE'RE TOLD CONAN'S A RELIGIOUS BREAKFAST VIEWER. WE ARE SO DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY EVERY MORNING. HE HAILS FROM THE MIGHTY HAWKE'S BAY, WHERE HE'S A VERY MUCH LOVED DAD, GRANDAD, BROTHER AND UNCLE TO THE WHOLE WHANAU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. FROM ALL YOUR MATES ARE AT BREAKFAST, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. TODAY'S THE DAY FOX IS TURNING FOUR. HIS WHANAU SAY HE'S THE MOST ENERGETIC WEE MAN. THEY JUST LOVE HIS CRAZINESS, AND THEY WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY OTHER WAY. HARI HURITAU, FOX. AND FINALLY, TODAY'S THE DAY THIS LITTER OF VERY GOOD DOGS VERY GOOD DOGS. ARE HEADING OFF TO THEIR FUR-EVER HOMES. THEY'RE TURNING EIGHT WEEKS OLD TODAY, AND LEAVING THEIR DANNEVIRKE HOME TO HEAD AS FAR AS AUCKLAND, RIGHT DOWN TO NELSON. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TRAVELS. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR VERY EXCITED NEW FAMILIES. I AM JUST CHECKING THAT OUT BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP STARING. THEY ARE PRETTY CUTE, AND THEY? WE DO THIS EVERY DAY, USUALLY AT FIVE-MINUTE'S PAST EIGHT. IT MOVES AROUND A LITTLE BIT . EMAIL US AT BREAKFAS@TVNZ.CO.NZ AND USE 'TODAY'S THE DAY' IN YOUR SUBJECT LINE. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE. COMING UP, THEY SPENT THEIR POLITICAL LIVES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE DEBATING CHAMBER. NEXT, FIND OUT WHAT'S UNITING SIR JOHN KEY AND HELEN CLARK JUST AFTER THE BREAK. I HAVE TO STOP THESE TWO FROM GAS BEGGING ON THE COUCH. THE WORLD OF POLITICS IS OFTEN A DIVISIVE ONE, AS OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS KNOW BETTER THAN MOST. BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT BRINGS NEW ZEALANDERS TOGETHER, IT'S OUR ICONIC NATIONAL BIRD. NOW FORMER PRIME MINISTERS HELEN CLARK AND SIR JOHN KEY HAVE TEAMED UP IN KIWIS FOR KIWIS. KIA ORA, YOU TWO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. MISS CLARK, I CANNOT CALL YOU BY YOUR FIRST NAME. YOU CAN. YOU WORK, YOU ARE A NIGHT SHIFT WORKER AS YOU WERE JUST CHATTING. LATE NIGHT LAST NIGHT. MOST THINGS I DO A GLOBAL THINGS, AND THE NEW ZEALAND TIME ZONE IS NOT WHAT THEY ORGANISE THROUGH, SO YOU GET CAUGHT WITH MEETINGS THAT START AT MIDNIGHT AND END AT THREE IN THE MORNING. THEN THE NEXT ONE MAKE START AT SEVEN. IT IS FULL ON WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO OPERATE OUT OF A KIWI BASE ON A GLOBAL BASIS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US. SIR JOHN, HOW ARE YOU? VERY GOOD. DANGEROUSLY GOOD FORM. THAT IS GOOD. LET'S TALK ABOUT KIWIS FOR KIWIS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE REASON YOU ARE BOTH HERE THIS MORNING. TALK ABOUT WHY YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE JOHN ASKED ME TO. HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY HIS NEIGHBOUR WHO SAID WOULD YOU BE A PATRON AND JOHN SAID MAKE IT BY PARTISAN, ASK HELE. I GREW UP ON THE EDGE OF A FOREST PARK IN THE WAIKATO, AND IT WAS ALWAYS A SILENT FOREST BECAUSE OF THE PREDATOR PROBLEM WITH THE BIRDS. I HAVE HAD AN AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ALL MY LIFE, BEEN A MINISTER OF CONSERVATION FOR MANY YEARS. THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE KIWI, A NATIONAL BED, WHY NOT? SIR JOHN.. DON'T TRY, YOU ARE FINE. WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO BE BIPARTISAN? HELEN HAS BETTER CREDENTIALS THAN I DO, FESTIVAL. WE HAVE DONE A BIT AND PIECES TOGETHER, AND WHEN YOU ARE PRIME MINISTER, YOU WERE IN THIS INCREDIBLE BUT IT WENT TO HOPEFULLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE COUNTRY. WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER PREMISED, THAT DOES NOT STOP. YOU HAVE A PASSION AND I BELIEVE, AND CAPACITY THROUGH THAT FORMER ROLE TO DO SOMETHING. I THOUGHT, THERE'S NOTHING MORE ICONIC THAN THE KIWI. WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD AN ENDOWMENT FUND TO SAVE IT FROM EXTINCTION. THERE WAS A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING EITHER WHILE THEY ARE LIVING OR AS PART OF THEIR WILL WHEN THEY DIE. IF PEOPLE SEE US COMING TOGETHER, THEY THINK IF THEY ARE WORKING ON IT, I CAN WORK ON IT. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO SOLELY BEFORE KIWIS. AS WE WERE SAYING AT THE EVENT LAST NIGHT, THERE IS A TRADITION IN THE UNITED STATES FOR PRESIDENTS JOINING HANDS TOGETHER FOR ISSUES THAT ARE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COUNTRY. IN TERMS OF THE FUND, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO RAISE AND WHAT WILL IT GO TOWARDS? THE BIGGER THE CAPITAL FUNDS, THE MORE CHANCE YOU HAVE OF GETTING INCOME OFF IT. THAT CAN SUSTAIN THE KIWIS FOR KIWI CONSERVATION EFFORT FOR THE LONG-TERM. THEY HAVE JUST HAD QUITE A GOOD CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT COVID RESPONSE SCHEME. THAT WILL HELP PAY FOR CONSERVATION. BUT THAT IS A ONE OFF, YOU NEED LONG-TERM SUSTAINED EFFORT TO STOP WHAT HAS BEEN A STEADY DECLINE OF KIWI NUMBERS. WE ARE REASONABLY CLOSE WITH THE SUSTAINED EFFORT TO SEE AN INCREASE, BUT YOU CANNOT RELAX YOUR GRIP ON IT. DOING THE TRAPPING AND THE OTHER WORK, THE INTENSIVE HATCHING AND BREEDING, WHICH WILL ENABLE THE KIWI TO SURVIVE. SIR JOHN, WHY IS AS IMPORTANT TO YOU? IMAGINE ON YOUR WATCH, THE KIWI BECOMING EXTINCT. THE ISSUE OF THAT FOR A NATIVE SPECIES HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME. WITH IT IS MAUI DOLPHINS OR WHAT. IS PRIME MINISTER ROB FENECH WHO WAS CHAIRMAN FOR KIWIS FOR KIWIS WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED LATER THE CHALLENGE WHEN I WAS PRIME MINISTER TO SAY WHY DON'T WE BECOME PREDATOR FREE? WE HAVE TO STOP THIS 2% DECLINE. WE STARTED DOING SOME WORK AND PUTTING SOME MONEY INTO THAT SPACE. YOU REALISE QUICKLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT PUT IN ALL THE MONEY. IT HAS TONS OF OTHER DEMANDS ON RESOURCES. IT WORKS WELL WHEN IT WORKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY IN THIS PROGRAM THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WE BOTH CAN TALK TO, LIKE SIMON HALL, WHO A LOT OF NEW ZEALANDERS MIGHT NOT KNOW. HE HAS BOUGHT FOR ENORMOUS PROPERTIES FOR KIWIS. GARY LANE, STEVE LOCKWOOD, THEY HAVE BUILT HATCHERIES, AND GARY HAS PUT A PREDATOR FREE FENCE AROUND. THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS, AND THERE ARE LOTS MORE. THERE WERE SO MANY IN THE ROOM LAST NIGHT WHO HAD DONE SO MUCH FOR CONSERVATION. LET'S JOIN THAT TOGETHER, IF YOU LIKE. WE HAVE TO STOP THE DECLINE AND GET AN INCREASE IN POPULATION. I AM SURE YOU HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT YESTERDAY OR A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, YOU WERE ABLE TO RELEASE A KIWI INTO THE WILD. THAT WAS AMAZING. WE WENT BY HELICOPTER SOMEWHERE THAT NAPIER TAUPO VICINITY AND RELEASED SEVEN KIWIS. IT IS QUITE EMOTIONAL. YOU TAKE THIS KIWI... YOU DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT. THE X ARGON FROM THE FOREST, INTO A HATCHERY. THEY HAVE BREACHED THE BIRD INTO A WEIGHT WE AT CAN COPE IN THE WILD. YOU CLUTCH IT WITH ONE HAND, BE CAREFUL. AND THEN YOU SHOVE IT INTO THE BURROW. YOU THINK, IT WILL IT SURVIVE? IT IS A BIT LIKE SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR KIDS. WILL IT SURVIVE OUT HERE WITH THE PREDATORS? IT WAS FANTASTIC. THERE IS A SAYING, ONCE A POLITICAN ALWAYS A POLITICIAN. IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME NOT TO ASK ABOUT THE HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT IS TODAY. WAS A TRANSFORMATIONAL, MISS CLARK? WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DO YOU THINK TO KIWIS? I HOPE SO. I HAVE BEEN MORE FOCUSED ON KIWIS FOR KIWIS IN THE LAST 24-HOUR IS BUT I HOPE SO. IS A RELATIVELY YOUNG PERSON I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A HOME AND I GUESS IT IS EVERYONE'S DREAM TO HAVE A HOME, SO LET'S HOPE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. SIR JUNKIE, I'LL BE IN A HOUSING CRISIS? WE HAVE HAD RAPIDLY ESCALATING HOUSE PRICES. WE HAVE HAD THEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAD THEM AT A LEVEL THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO. IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE. I AM CHAIRMAN OF ANZ, AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT LOW INTEREST RATES ARE WHAT IS FUELLING THIS PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. IN A WAY, THAT IS A GOOD THING STOP NOT THE HOUSE PRICE IS COLLATION, BUT LOW INTEREST RATES BRING LOTS OF PEOPLE AND THAT CAN AFFORD TO BORROW THE MONEY TO BUY, SAY FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRST TIME. SOME KIWIS WILL REMEMBER WHEN INTEREST RATES WERE 19 OR 20%. THE CONCEPT OF PAYING A MORTGAGE AT THOSE RATES IS RIDICULOUS. THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS THE THING WITH HOUSING AS WE ARE A PROPERTY OWNING DEMOCRACY. THERE ARE LOTS OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH PAPERS THAT SHOW YOU THAT IT IS A GOOD THING TO OWN A HOME, STABILITY FOR CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY. WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET PEOPLE INTO A HOME IF THAT IS THE ASPIRATION. AND FOR MOST NEW ZEALANDERS, IT IS. I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH ANSWERING THE QUESTION. WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER TOPIC, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. KIWIS FOR KIWIS. THANK YOU BOTH. HELEN CLARK, AND SIR JOHN KEY. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` CLAIM AND COUNTER CLAIMS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW HOUSING PACKAGE. MORE ON THAT AT 8.30 ALSO AHEAD, SARAH TUCK'S HERE THIS WILL BE RATHER LOVELY. WITH THE BEST DESSERTS TO KEEP YOU WARM THIS AUTUMN. IT'S 8.30. HERE'S YOUR NEWS. THE FINANCE MINISTER IS DEFENDING THE GOVERNMENT'S $3.8B INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AIMED AT INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY. GRANT ROBERTSON ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS NO QUICK FIX, BUT INSISTS THE FUNDING WILL OPEN UP MORE LAND TO BUILD HOUSES. THE THING WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY VIRTUALLY EVERY LOCAL COUNCIL AROUND NEW ZEALAND IS THAT THEY NEED OUR HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS BUILD-READY LAND. YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY, LOOKING AHEAD OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS, HAVE A PIPELINE OF THOSE HOUSES BEING BUILT, OTHERWISE WE DON'T SOLVE THE SUPPLY PROBLEM. BUT ONE HOUSING EXPERT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO MORE FOR SOCIAL HOUSING. THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING SOME THINGS ON HOMELESSNESS AND TRANSITION HOUSING, BUT THERE WASN'T MORE MONEY FOR THAT IN YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. YOU'D HAVE TO HOPE IN THE BUDGET COMING UP IN LATE MAY THAT THERE IS MORE CAPITAL FOR ACTUAL NEW HOUSES, AND FOR OTHER THINGS. BUT AT THE MOMENT, THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING A MILLION DOLLARS A DAY ON MOTELS, AND ACTUALLY, IT'S SPENDING $4M OR $5M A DAY ON ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENTS. THOUSANDS OF HOMES IN NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE HAD THEIR POWER CUT THIS MORNING AS THE FLOODING DISASTER ACROSS THE STATE SHIFTS GEAR. AUTHORITIES ARE MOVING THEIR FOCUS SOUTH WITH FLOOD RISKS REMAINING, EVEN AS THE RAIN EASES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REMAIN AFFECTED BY EVACUATION ORDERS DUE TO BURST RIVERS AND LANDSLIPS. WE'VE GOT HOUSES GOING UNDER, WE'VE GOT ROADS GETTING CUT OFF, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET ACCESS IS VIA BOAT OR HELICOPTER AT THIS POINT. SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS REMAIN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL REGIONS. AN UNLIKELY PAIRING FOR A NATIONAL CAUSE. FORMER PRIME MINISTERS HELEN CLARK AND SIR JOHN KEY HAVE TEAMED UP IN A PROGRAMME TO INCREASE THE POPULATION OF OUR MOST ICONIC BIRD. THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T PUT IN ALL THE MONEY, IT'S GOT TONES OF OTHER DEMANDS ON ITS RESOURCES. SECONDLY, IT WORKS REALLY WELL WHEN IT WORKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTORS. WE HAVE TO STOP THE DECLINE, AND WE HAVE TO GET AN INCREASE IN THE POPULATION. TO SPORT, AND AN UNBEATEN CENTURY FROM TOM LATHAM HAS LED THE BLACK CAPS TO A ONE-DAY SERIES VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE STAND-IN SKIPPER STEERING HIS SIDE TO THEIR TARGET OF 272, HITTING THE WINNING RUNS TO SEAL AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 SERIES LEAD. THERE IT GOES. TOM LATHAM, OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE BAT. IT RUNS AWAY FOR FOUR. HE WINS THE GAME FOR HIS COUNTRY. LATHAM CONCEDES HIS MATCH-WINNING KNOCK WAS NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMED ON HIS HOME PITCH. FINN ALLEN SAYS HE'S STILL PINCHING HIMSELF AS HIS METEORIC CRICKETING RISE CONTINUES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, ALLEN (21) WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE RADAR FOR MOST CRICKETING FANS. NOW HE'S GOT AN IPL CONTRACT AND A MAIDEN BLACK CAPS CALL-UP FOR THE UPCOMING T20 SERIES AGAINST BANGLADESH. DEFINITELY NOT. (CHUCKLES) LIKE I'VE BEEN SAYING TO A FEW PEOPLE, PROBABLY KICK IN WHEN I SORT OF GET ON THAT PLANE TO SHOOT OFF, AND NOW, PROBABLY, WHEN THE FIRST SORT OF WARM-UPS, AND TAKE IT ALL IN WITH THE CROWDS AND EVERYTHING, I THINK THAT WILL SORT OF BE WHEN IT KICKS IN FOR ME. YEAH, I'M JUST HONESTLY SO STOKED TO HAVE IT ALL UNFOLD. YEAH! GO YOU! I WAS JUST LOOKING UP HOW MUCH HE WAS GOING TO GET HIS EFFORT, $38K. THAT'S NOT TOO BAD. SOME PEOPLE EARN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE IPL. HE IS ONLY 21. IT WILL GO TO THE HEALTH DEPOSIT. HOW NEAT WOULD THAT BE? PLAYING ALONGSIDE THOSE GUYS WOULD BE PRETTY GOOD. WE ARE WITH MATTY, WHO DID THE SLIDE. THIS IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. THANK YOU. I HONESTLY WASN'T SURE HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO. YOU KNOW HOW COMPETITIVE I AM, SO I DO NOT HALF-ARSE IT. SO NOW I AM GOING TO LEARN THE OTHER PART, THE SWEEPING. THE SWEEPING IS TO HELP THE PERSON ON YOUR TEAM GET A BIT FURTHER. MERV IS GOING TO THROW THE STONE. OH, WE GOTTA GO! LET'S GO, LET'S GO! COME ON! GET GOING, MATTY! INTO THE HOUSE! OUT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOUSE! (LAUGHTER) IT JUST TOOK OFF! WE OVERSWEPT, APPARENTLY. I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE GO, SEE BAKER MAKE IT A HAT TRICK INTO THE HOUSE. IT'S MOSTLY FINE IN THE UPPER NORTH TODAY. AUCKLAND HAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL DAY, WHEREAS NORTHLAND A BIT MORE OVERCAST AT TIMES. WATCH OUT FOR A CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR TWO IN WHITIANGA AND KAITAIA. 23, 24 DEGREES FOR ALL OF YOU. LOVELY AND SUNNY THROUGH HERE WITH NOTHING REALLY TO DISRUPT IT, APART FROM POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH AROUND ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. 23 DEGREES TAURANGA, 26 FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HAMILTON. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FURTHER EAST WITH JUST SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN LATER IN THE DAY, AND THAT COULD DELIVER SOME BRIEF RAIN TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THIS EVENING. 21, THE EXPECTED HIGH FOR HAWKE'S BAY. 22 IF YOU'RE IN MASTERTON. YOU'LL SEE A MIX OF SUNNY SKIES AND CLOUD COVER SHIFTING WEST, BUT IT IS MOSTLY FINE FOR ALL OF YOU. JUST WATCH OUT FOR SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CAPITAL. 19 DEGREES THERE. 22 IN LEVIN, WHANGANUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH. YOU'RE LOOKING MOSTLY OVERCAST IN THE UPPER SOUTH WITH OCCASIONAL DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS THOSE SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH THROUGH. BUT ALONG THE WEST COAST, IT SHOULD BE FINE ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS. 19 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 21 IN BLENHEIM. IT'S A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY OUT EAST WITH A BIT OF DRIZZLE ATTACHED ALONG THE COAST THERE, WHEREAS ALEXANDRA, DESPITE THE GREYER SKIES, SHOULD STAY DRY. 17 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. AND MUCH OF THE LOWER SOUTH WILL HAVE CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH DRIZZLE ATTACHED AS WELL, MORE LIKELY THIS MORNING. WHEREAS FOR QUEENSTOWN AND MILFORD SOUND, IT'S MOSTLY FINE ONCE THE CLOUD FIRST THING LIFTS. 19 DEGREES FOR THE TWO OF YOU. 17 IN INVERCARGILL. AND THEN CHECKING OUT YOUR THURSDAY ` TOMORROW, IT'S OVERCAST IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS WITH A FEW SHOWERS ATTACHED. THERE'S POSSIBLY SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AS WELL. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A MOSTLY FINE DAY. THERE ARE SO MET FUN TO BE HAD IN CENTRAL OTAGO, SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS TO DO, LIKE CYCLING. HAVE A LOOK AT THIS. WELCOME TO THE ALWAYS GORGEOUS CENTRAL OTAGO. INCREDIBLE COLOURS, BEAUTIFUL LAKES AND RIVERS. IT'S THE KIND OF PLACE YOU NEED TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE NATURE. AND I HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT WAY TO DO THAT. STEVE, THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS SO BEAUTIFUL. STEVE, THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS SO BEAUTIFUL. YEAH, NO, IT ABSOLUTELY IS. YEAH, WE'RE REALLY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE AND TO WORK HERE. I HONESTLY RECKON EVEN THE AIR'S FRESHER HERE. MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE. TOTALLY, TOTALLY. IT MAKES YOUR FINGERS TINGLE SOMETIMES TOO. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU GUYS DO? SO, WE'RE A CYCLE TOURISM OPERATOR IN CENTRAL OTAGO. SO, WE HELP PEOPLE GET ON TO THEIR BIKES. IT'S GOT INCREDIBLE SERVICES, AND IT'S GOT THAT SOUTH ISLAND FEEL, YOU KNOW. IT'S PRETTY LOW-KEY. EVERYONE SORT OF ENJOYS THEMSELVES AND ARE QUITE WELCOMING. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. THIS HAS REALLY BECOME KIND OF THE HUB FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AND DO SOME BEAUTIFUL CYCLE TRACKS. I THINK IT'S SPACE, YOU KNOW. LIKE, YOU'VE GOT THIS INCREDIBLE NATURAL LANDSCAPE. YOU GOT QUIET. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW. SO IT'S JUST, LIKE, YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM THAT, SORT OF, RAT RACE IN THE CITIES. COME OUT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SORT OF, I SUPPOSE, GE IN TO WHAT BEING A HUMAN BEING IS AGAIN. AND AFTER ALL OF THIS EXERCISE, YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT WAY TO GET BACK. (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE ,RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY, YEAH, CENTRAL OTAGO. CENTRAL OTAGO INDEED. YOU CAN WIN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING THE BIKING, PLUS A LESSON HERE AT THE CURLING CENTRE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HIT TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO ENTER. ARE YOU READY? CAN I MAKE IT THREE FROM THREE? YOU PROBABLY WILL. GO, MATTY. FOCUS. COME ON, COME ON! IN THE HOUSE, AND THE HOUSE! MAY BE TOO HARD! (GROANS) TWO OUT OF THREE, IS NOT BAD. TRAJECTORY WAS GOOD, BUT MAYBE THE EXECUTION WAS A LITTLE TOO VICIOUS. THIS IS BEEN SO MUCH FUN. YOU KNOW WHEN THEY DO THE BROOM PART, AT WHAT POINT DO THEY DECIDE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE THEY LEFT FOR A WHILE, AND THEN THEY WERE DOING A BIT OF BRITAIN, AND THEY LEFT IT AGAIN? I'LL HAVE TO BRING SOMEONE INTO ANSWER IT. AS YOU ARE CURLING, YOU FIGURE IT OUT. IT IS A HARD THING TO LEARN, A LOT OF PRACTICE. USUALLY, THE SKIPPER WILL YELL AT YOU TO SWEEP. INSTINCT. A LITTLE BIT, YEAH. I SEE. DID YOU GET THAT? IT WAS WELL EXPLAINED, ZOE. IS BEAUTIFUL THERE. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO DO, BUT THE SCENERY AND THE TRANQUILLITY IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE TO COME HERE, YOU HAVE GOT TO COME AND CHECK OUT FOR YOURSELVES. HIP HIP HOORAY! YOU WOULD LIKE US TO FINISH EVERY MORNING WITH THREE CHEERS. NOW YOU KNOW, WHEN I COME BACK TO THE STUDIO, I WANT THREE CHEERS. WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE DEEP SOUTH TODAY, TOMORROW, HAYLEY WILL BE LIVE FROM THE HAWKE'S BAY REGION. IT HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC TRIP SO FAR, THERE IS MORE TO COME AS WELL. THANK YOU TO YOUR LOVELY MATES IN NASEBY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AS WELL ` MATTY, ONCE A BROOM MAN, ALWAYS A BROOM MAN. YOU KNOW THOSE GRAHAM SYDNEY LANDSCAPE, THAT IS THAT COUNTRYSIDE. THE INFINITY OF THE SKY IS STUNNING. WHEN WE HAVE MATTY AND HAYLEY OUT AND ABOUT, IT MAKES YOU REALISE HOW MUCH OF A COUNTRY WE HAVE NEVER SEEN. AS A KID, WE NEVER REALLY TRAVELLED. THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT, SIX KIDS, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO DO A HECK OF A LOT. MUM AND DAD WERE STILL WORKING, SO IN TERMS OF TRIPS, WE NEVER REALLY TOOK THEM. AND A NETBALL, YOU WENT TO BIG TOWNS. PLACES LIKE CENTRAL OTAGO, I HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE. I HAVE TO SAY, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FACT THAT I HAVE A JOB HERE, MAKES THE ENVIOUS OF SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES WHO LIVE THERE. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, AND I JUST LOVE SEEING PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND CHEERING, IT IS BEAUTIFUL. AND STAY WITH US ` WE'LL BE BACK WITH SARAH TUCK AND SOME OF HER DELICIOUS PUDDINGS. WE'LL BE BACK WITH SARAH TUCK AND SOME OF HER DELICIOUS PUDDINGS. YAY, SARAH! This could be you. I've lost 28 kilos with the help of Jenny Craig. The food was tasty, the variety available to you is great. VOICEOVER: Start today and save $30 on your first weekly menu on our Rapid Results weight loss plan. Call Jenny Craig now. UNFORTUNATELY, SUMMER'S COMING TO AN END AND AUTUMN IS HERE. BUT THE PLUS SIDE OF THIS ` IT'S TIME FOR SOME COMFORT FOOD, AND THAT MEANS DESSERT! A GREAT FRIEND OF THE SHOW, DISH EDITOR SARAH TUCK, IS WITH US TODAY WITH SOME OF HER FAVOURITE EASY DESSERTS, PERFECT FOR THE COOLER WEATHER, AND EVEN BETTER WITH EASTER JUST AROUND THE CORNER. IT IS OUT NEXT MONDAY. THIS ONE, NEXT MONDAY. AT HAS ALL THROUGH AUTUMN DISHES, ITALIAN, EASTER WEEKEND AWAY, THESE COMFORT SORT OF PUDDINGS AND DESERTS FOR OVER EASTER. IT IS ONLY SPECTACULAR BECAUSE YOU CAME UP WITH IT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS DESERTS YOU BOUGHT ALONG WITH YOU. WHAT HAVE WE GOT? HOT CROSS BUN AND BUTTER PUDDING. YOU ARE JOKING! YOU HAVE TO BUY DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF HOT CROSS BUNS FOR EASTER, SO YOU WILL WANT TO MAKE THIS. IS INCREDIBLY EASY TO MAKE. ALL YOU DO IS CUT THEM IN HALF AND PUT THEM A BIT OF BUTTER ON THEM, STICK THEM IN A BOWL, BEAT SUGAR AND CREAM AND MILK AND EGGS, AND SOME ORANGE ZEST, AND A LITTLE BIT OF WHISKEY, AND POUR IT ON TOP. THEN YOU STICK THAT BOWL AND AN OVEN TRAY WHICH HAS A BOILING WATER IN THE BOTTOM, AND MAKES A CUSTARD SET REALLY NICELY AROUND IT. IS SO EASY! SENSATIONAL. THAT ONE IS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT SAD, IT WAS ALL PUFFY AND GLORIOUS AT ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH A RECIPE LIKE THAT? WHAT WE USUALLY DO, MOST RECIPES, LIKE MOST THINGS IN LIFE, HAVE GOT SOME SORT OF HERITAGE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE. EVERYTHING IS DERIVATIVE IN SOME WAY. BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER. THE LOVELY THING ABOUT BRITAIN BUTTER PUDDING, LIKE SO MUCH GOOD FOOD, LIKE IT IS IT ABOUT CHEAP INGREDIENTS CARRY THE DISH. BUT BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING IS DELICIOUS. WITH A BIT OF WHAT CREAM OR ICE CREAM AS WELL. HOT CROSS BUNS ARE AMAZING, BUT YOU CAN DO THIS WITH JUST WHITE TOAST BREAD, AND JUST MARMALADE, JAM OR THINGS ON AS WELL. DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUITS AND IT. IS HER SULTANAS AND DARK CHOCOLATE, BUT YOU CAN MIX IT UP WITH ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS. IS THERE AN ENGLISH DISH? I'M SURE A LOT OF PLACES HAVE A VARIATION OF IT. HAS BEEN SITTING AROUND. THIS IS NOT SAD AT ALL. IF THE NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION IS WATCHING, YOU MAY WANT TO GO FOR A WALK. THIS IS SO GOOD, I AM GIVING IT A TICK. AMAZING, IT IS SO EASY. WHAT IS THIS ONE HERE? I DID A LITTLE VARIATION OF THE COVER RECIPE, BECAUSE WE DID A TART USING HAZELNUT AND FIGS, SO WE HAVE PUT IT VARIATION WHERE YOU CAN PUT OTHER FRUITS, SO I USED BLACK DORIS PLUMS. ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS, HAS SUCH A WONDERFUL NOSTALGIA. BUT YOU COULD USE TINNED OR FRESH PEARS. THIS IS BROWN HAZELNUTS, YOU MAKE A WET MIXTURE, THEN YOU JUST ADD IN THE GROUND HAZELNUT AND SOME FLOUR. AND TUCK SOME FRUIT ON TOP, AND THERE YOU GO. THESE RECIPES ARE IN YOUR LATEST ADDITION. ALL OF THEM ARE IN THE LATEST EDIITON, BUT JENNY MAY'S TRAY BAKE IS ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL. I THINK YOU GET A LOT OF VALUE FOR JUST GOING TO YOUR WEBSITE, THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD RECIPES ON IT. I LOVE THE DISH RECIPES, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE VERY EASY TO DO AND ARE NOT EXPENSIVE EITHER. THE WEBSITE, IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING EIGHT, I THINK TO BE ABLE TO SIMPLY SHARE SOME STUFF. IT IS ABOUT MAKING FOOD LOOKS GREAT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE. THERE IS A LOT OF CONTENT THAT IS FREELY AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. THAT WE DO KEEP IF YOU WANT THAT ARE EXCLUSIVE TO THE MAGAZINE. THE LOVELY ALICE INTERVIEWED JENNY MAY. ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I AM HOPELESS IN THE KITCHEN. WHEN YOU READ THE INTERVIEW, YOU GET A SENSE OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE LIKE, RATHER THAN JUST BEING ABOUT FOOD. I HAD CHICKEN AND FAMILY TO GO ON, AND NOT SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE KITCHEN. AND WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE MY HOME, MAKING SURE THEY ARE FULL. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, WHICH IS WHY WHEN I SAW THIS RECIPE, IS AMAZING. IT IS THE KIND OF THING TO FEED A CROWD, YOU KNOW? ANYONE WHO COMES TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER WILL SAY THIS SAME THING, THEY CAN'T EAT FOR THREE DAYS AFTERWARDS. THIS ONE, OR YOU DO, IS GET THE CHICKEN THIGHS AND DRUMSTICK ON THE BONE, IT IS CHEAP TO BY IT ON THE BONE. YOU RENDER SOME OF THE FAT OF THE CHICKEN, GET SOME OF THAT GOLDEN CRUST EXTERIOR TO IT, AND ADD JUST A TINY BIT OF BUTTER, PUT IN LEEKS, ONIONS, AND A LITTLE BIT OF GARLIC. IT ALSO HAS TIME, BUT YOU COULD USE SAGE AS WELL. YOU PUT CREAM, CHICKEN STOCK, MUSTARD, RISOTTO RICE, BRING IT TO THE BOIL, THEN YOU JUST POUR IT ONTO A TRAY, COVER IN TINFOIL AND PUT IN THE OVEN. WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT, YOU WILL THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RECIPE BECAUSE IT LOOKS REALLY WET. THE RICE JUST ABSORBS ALL OF THE MOST WELL IT COOKS. SO GOOD. YOU DO A CHICKEN AND LEEK PIE AS WELL? IT IS A GREAT COMBINATION. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU COME INTO THE STUDIO, THIS WILL NOT LAST VERY LONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH. STAY WITH US. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK. GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING. WILL BE BACK TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY KRISTIN WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE PHAN, ELLEN SINCLAIR AND STEFFI DRYDEN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.