TANGI KETEKETE MAI ANA TE TANGI A TE KURA TOROHAI, KAEAEA I UTA, KAEAEA I TAI, MARIPITIA TE RANGI, HAEHAEA TE RANGI, KA MAIEA TE TIPUA O TE RANGI I TONA RUA KUA AO, KUA AO KUA AWATEA A LOT OF MAURI IN THE STUDIO THIS MORNING. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK. IT FEELS VERY WEIRD TO BE HERE. IT'S THURSDAY THE 25TH OF WHIRINGA A RANGI ` NOVEMBER. KIA ORA, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US. AHEAD ` GET READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD. MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE STAGED REOPENING OF THE BORDER. WHOO-HOO! AND WHAT UPCOMING REUNIONS MEANS FOR FAMILIES SEPARATED BY THE PANDEMIC. AND JUDITH COLLINS DEMOTES SIMON BRIDGES AFTER AN ALLEGATION OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT. WE'VE GOT MORE ON THAT SHOCK NATIONAL PARTY NEWS OUT LATE LAST NIGHT, AND WHY SOME ARE CALLING IT POLITICAL MAYHEM. JUST WOW. PLUS ` THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR ON RAISING THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE. THE HUGE CHUNK OF BORROWING AFFECTED BY RISING INTEREST RATES, AND HOW MUCH IT COULD COST YOU. AND MATTY IT IS HERE TOO. MATTY IN A T-SHIRT. DO NOT LET JOHN CAMPBELL SEE THIS, HE WILL HAVE A CONNECTION. I HAVE NOT SHAVED AND I HAVE A T-SHIRT ON. I FEEL LIKE I AM LIVING THROUGH A PULP MUSIC VIDEO. ANYWAY, IT IS NICE TO BE HERE, NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE, SCOTTY. AND INDIRA, NICE TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR THAT NOT SO NICE WELCOME THIS MORNING. UPSTAIRS AND MAKE UP, I AM GOING, WHERE IS MY SISTER AT? WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AND MAKE UP AT 5 O'CLOCK. WHAT HAPPENED, INDIRA? OH, I SLEPT IN, I AM ON MY WAY NOW! I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH! I AM STILL GETTING DRESSED ON THE ROAD. BUT YOU CAN RELY ON ME. WE WERE SET TO CUT TO YOU AND YOU WERE NOT THERE. SAD GUYS! I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE RELIEVED TO SEE ME, BUT MATTY, HE SAID OHH! CAN I SAY, IF THAT IS HOW GOOD YOU LOOK AT GETTING DRESSED IN A CAR, I AM DOING THIS WRONG. I HAVE GOT TO GIVE CREDIT TO GREER AND VANITA. I DID NOT WAKE UP LIKE THIS. YOU LOOK AMAZING. I WILL TELL YOU WHY I SLEPT IN BECAUSE I WAS UP LATE. FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER SIMON BRIDGES HAS BEEN DEMOTED AND RELIEVED OF ALL HIS PORTFOLIOS FOLLOWING AN ALLEGATION OF 'SERIOUS MISCONDUCT'. 1 NEWS UNDERSTANDS IT'S CLAIMED BRIDGES MADE A VERBAL COMMENT OF A SEXUAL NATURE TOWARDS FELLOW NATIONAL MP JACQUI DEAN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. NATIONAL LEADER JUDITH COLLINS SAYS THE DECISION TO DEMOTE BRIDGES WAS MADE WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARTY BOARD OVERNIGHT. BRIDGES IS YET TO COMMENT, WHILE COLLINS WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10am IN RELATION TO THE MATTER. WELCOME NEWS FOR KIWIS ACROSS THE DITCH ` FROM JANUARY 17th NEXT YEAR, FULLY VACCINATED NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS CAN TRAVEL FROM AUSTRALIA TO AOTEAROA. THEY WON'T NEED TO STAY IN MIQ; INSTEAD SPEND SEVEN DAYS IN HOME ISOLATION. OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE SENT THIS REPORT. THIS IS THE NEWS THAT MANY KIWIS IN AUSTRALIA HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN WAITING FOR. IT HAS BEEN MONTH AFTER MONTH OF BATTLING THROUGH THE MIQ BOOKING SYSTEM. NOW, THOUGH, THE HOME QUARANTINE FROM MID-JANUARY, WHICH IS CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS, ALBEIT IT, THOUGH, NOT A QUARANTINE-FREE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING MANY WERE HOPING FOR. THE BIG HASSLE IS GOING TO BE GETTING YOUR PROOF OF VACCINATION. HERE, IT'S DONE THROUGH THE MEDICARE SYSTEM ` THAT'S THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. WHILE THOSE VACCINATIONS WILL CERTAINLY BE RECOGNISED IN NEW ZEALAND, YOU WON'T AUTOMATICALLY BE ISSUED A VACCINE PASS LIKE YOU ARE IN AOTEAROA; YOU'LL STILL NEED TO EMAIL IN YOUR DIGITAL CERTIFICATE TO THE HEALTH MINISTRY, AND IT WILL TAKE THEM AROUND TWO WEEKS TO PROCESS THAT. TODAY MARKS AUCKLAND'S 100th DAY IN LOCKDOWN. SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF THE OUTBREAK WAS DETECTED IN AUGUST, 7484 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. 5009 ARE STILL CONSIDERED ACTIVE. 87 CASES ARE IN HOSPITAL, EIGHT IN INTENSIVE CARE. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 7.3 MILLION DOSES OF THE COVID VACCINE HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED. JUST UNDER 19,000 DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED YESTERDAY; 12,000 OF THEM SECOND DOSES. 84% OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION IS NOW FULLY VACCINATED, AND 92% HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE. AUCKLAND HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS HAVE A HAIRY TASK AHEAD ` REOPENING TODAY TO PRIMP AND PRIME THREE MONTHS' WORTH OF LOCKDOWN LOCKS. ALL STAFF MUST BE VACCINATED AND ONLY VACCINATED CUSTOMERS ARE ALLOWED. MASKS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE TAKEN. THEY'LL BE THE FIRST SECTOR TO TRIAL VACCINATION PASSES BEFORE THEY BECOME WIDELY USED WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM KICKS IN NEXT WEEK. SOME SALONS STARTED CUTTING HAIR AS EARLY AS MIDNIGHT, WITH A FLOOD OF BOOKINGS EXPECTED. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SAYS EUROPE IS ONCE AGAIN 'THE CENTRE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC'. MORE THAN 60% OF THE WORLD'S COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS WERE IN EUROPE OVER THE LAST WEEK. IT COMES AS THE NETHERLANDS HINTS TIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED; THE COUNTRY RECORDING MORE THAN 23,700 COVID CASES. IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER THEY'VE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. THE MERKEL ERA WILL OFFICIALLY COME TO AN END IN GERMANY. A THREE-PARTY COALITION HAS BEEN FORMED TO TAKE POWER ALMOST TWO MONTHS AFTER OLAF SCHOLZ'S SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY CAME OUT ON TOP OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS BUT WITHOUT A MAJORITY. THE COALITION WITH THE GREENS AND THE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY FREE DEMOCRATS HAS PROMISED BROAD PLANS FOR GERMANY'S TRANSITION TO A GREEN ECONOMY. IT BRINGS AN END TO 16 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT LED BY ANGELA MERKEL. TO SPORT ` AND THE BLACKCAPS WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENCE BEGINS TONIGHT AGAINST INDIA IN KANPUR. THE TOP-RANKED BLACKCAPS ARE LIKELY TO FIELD A TWO-PRONGED SPIN ATTACK AGAINST THE NUMBER TWO RANKED INDIANS. CAPTAIN KANE WILLIAMSON SAYS THE TEST SIDE ARE RELISHING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THAT FINAL, WHICH WAS A SPECIAL MEMORY, BUT WE KNOW WE'RE AGAINST A VERY STRONG SIDE AND THEY'RE FORMIDABLE, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR OWN CONDITIONS AS WELL, SO THE CHALLENGE IS A BIG ONE, BUT ONE THAT THE TEAM ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING. WORLD RUGBY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TWO NATIONS. FROM THE 1st OF JANUARY, ANY PLAYER WANTING TO REPRESENT ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO STAND DOWN FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FOR THREE YEARS. THE PLAYER MUST EITHER BE BORN IN THE COUNTRY OR HAVE A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT BORN THERE. EACH CASE WILL ALSO BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY WORLD RUGBY. AND FINALLY, IT'S BEEN A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY AS A COLLEGE PRANK DIDN'T QUITE GO TO PLAN IN THE U.S. AHEAD OF THE ANNUAL ARMY-NAVY FOOTBALL CLASH, CADETS AT WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY ATTEMPTED TO KIDNAP NAVY'S MASCOT, BILL THE GOAT. BUT RATHER THAN NAB THE CURRENT GOAT, BILL NUMBER 37, THE CADETS GRABBED A RETIRED MASCOT, BILL NUMBER 34. PRANKS BETWEEN THE ACADEMIES HAS BEEN A TRADITION FOR DECADES, THOUGH THE MASCOTS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY OFF-LIMITS SINCE THE 1990s. BILL NUMBER 34 HAS SINCE BEEN RETURNED TO HIS PADDOCK. IF YOU KNOW ANY HISTORY ABOUT THE CURRENT TEAM, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THAT IS RETIRED. NOT THE FIRST TIME THE AMERICAN MILITARY HAS GOT THE WRONG TARGET. I FORGOT, SCOTTY IS IN THE HOUSE. SO MUCH TO COME OFF THIS MORNING. 100 DAYS IN LOCKDOWN. WE GET TO HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS COME HOME FROM AUSTRALIA AS OF NEXT YEAR, AND OF COURSE, THIS HOLD THE BUCKLE WITH THE NATIONAL PARTY. WE WILL CATCH UP WITH JESS JUST BEFORE 7 O'CLOCK. PICKED THE WRONG DAY TO COME OUT OF LOCKDOWN. MATTY, I LOVE THAT GREEN. I AM DOING GOOD, I DON'T EVEN DRINK COFFEE, BUT I NEED A COFFEE. WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE. I HAVE BEEN THERE. HAVE EVER RUN LATE TO A LIVE TV SHOW? NO. SOME PEOPLE WHICH I HAVE. WHEN YOU SAID, I HAVE GOT YOUR NEWS COVER, I THOUGHT THEY ARE SO SUPPORTIVE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THREE HOURS OF CHEAP GAGS. DO YOU NOT KNOW THE SHOW AT ALL? I MADE IT WITH AIRINGS TO SPARE. NO ONE CAN EVER BEAT HAYLEY HOLT WHO MISSED AN ENTIRE SHOW. SLEPT THROUGH. SHE WOKE UP AT ABOUT 830 AND MESSAGED OUR BOSS AND SAID DO YOU WANT ME TO COME IN? AT LEAST SHE ASKED. LET'S CHECK OUT YOUR FRIDAY FORECAST. NICE TO SEE YOU, MATTY. OH, YOU TOO (!) IT'S A MIX OF FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD COVER IN THE UPPER NORTH. IT SHOULD STAY DRY AROUND WHANGAREI AND RUSSELL, BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN EXPECT A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS DURING THE DAY TOO. 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE. MAINLY FINE, BUT WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF SOME BRIEF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AROUND TAUPO, TOKOROA AND ROTORUA. 22 DEGREES FOR THE THREE OF YOU, 20 ALONG THE COAST. THERE'S CLEAR BLUE SKIES OUT EAST WITH REALLY NOTHING TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PERFECT DAY. WARM TOO. 20 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN HAWKE'S BAY, 26 FURTHER SOUTH IN MASTERTON. THAT LOVELY, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES AS WE SHIFT WEST, UNTIL SOME CLOUD ARRIVES TONIGHT. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THOSE NORTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP AROUND WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST AFTER LUNCH. 19 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL, 23 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND WHANGANUI. IT'S LOOKING GORGEOUS ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH. WARM TOO, WITH THOSE STRONGER NOR-WESTERLIES. 24 DEGREES IN KAIKOURA, 25 IN BLENHEIM. BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ALONG THE COAST, BUT WITH SOME FINE SPELLS LATER ON, ALTHOUGH THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SOME LATE EVENING RAIN. YOU'LL LOVE THE SUNSHINE OUT EAST ONCE THAT LOW MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF, ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THOSE WINDS FROM THE NORTH WILL PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY. 23 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMARU, 27 FOR ASHBURTON. AND IT'S NICE AND FINE THROUGH QUEENSTOWN, BUT THE REST OF THE LOWER SOUTH LOOKS A BIT MORE OVERCAST, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SETTING IN TONIGHT. 21 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY ` TOMORROW, THERE'S A BIT OF MORNING DRIZZLE IN THE NORTH-EAST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S FINE. THERE'S RAIN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST, SPREADING TO THE LOWER SOUTH LATER IN THE DAY, BUT IT'S FINE EVERYWHERE ELSE. TODAY, SOME GORGEOUS BLUE SKIES AROUND. GET OUT AND ENJOY IT. THANK YOU. COMING UP ` RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR ON WHY MOST PEOPLE WITH MORTGAGES COULD BE ABOUT TO PAY MORE. AND LATER ` THE LEGACY OF JONAH LOMU LIVES ON. THE STUDENT AWARDED A SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN HIS NAME. MORENA. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH BREAKFAST. WE'RE HEADING TO OTTAWA CANADA NOW, WHERE FOREIGN MINISTER NANAIA MAHUTA IS WRAPPING UP HER FINAL LEG OF HER FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP. U.S. CORRESPONDENT ANNA BURNS-FRANCIS IS FOLLOWING THE MINISTER ` NOT IN A STALKING WAY THOUGH (!) MORENA, ANNA. YOU LOOK VERY COLD, SO LET'S RUSH THROUGH THIS. WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A BUSY MORNING FOR YOU.. WHAT'S ON THE MINISTER'S AGENDA TODAY? BUSY MORNING FOR THE MINISTER. SHE HAS AN ENGAGEMENT AT THE EMBASSY HERE. WE DO HAVE AN EMBASSY HERE IN OTTAWA. SHE SHOULD HAVE JUST WRAPPED UP THE MEETING WITH HER CANADIAN COUNTER PART. IS AN INTERESTING VISIT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL PURPOSE OF THIS OTHER THAN SOME FACE-TO-FACE DIPLOMACY BECAUSE SHE IS UP THIS WAY ANYWAY FROM THAT MEETING IN DC YESTERDAY. OTHERWISE WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE OTHER THAN A BIT OF A PR EXERCISE. IT IS CERTAINLY COLD, YOU JUST REALISE AS SOON YOU SEE I AM FOLLOWING SOMEONE, THEY LOOK AT YOU FUNNY. IT HAS WARMED UP, IT IS 2 DEGREES. I AM DRESSED LIKE THE MECHELEN MAN BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A LOT WARMER THAN THE -12 WITH WINDCHILL THEY SAID THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR STALKING AND PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE COLD FOR US. AS YOU HAVE JUST SAID, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF TODAY'S MEETING WAS, OR IS. THERE ARE STILL MEETINGS FOR THE MINISTER TO ATTEND TOMORROW AS WELL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE ABOUT THREE. AND THIS IS THE FINAL STOP FOR THE MINISTER? SHE HAS QUITE A FEW MEETINGS IN CANADA, MORE THAN I THOUGHT SHE WOULD HAVE ON A SHORT TRIP. INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS, SHE CAME AND VISITED IN 2018 ON INDIGENOUS AND AFFAIRS AS WELL. IT SEEMS LIKE MORE GOOD RELATIONS. BOTH CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND WERE LEFT OUT RECENTLY OF THAT INDO PACIFIC SECURITY PACT THAT US MADE WITH AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. MAYBE A BIT OF A TALKING POINT FOR CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND FOR THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD. SHE HITS HOME TOMORROW. IT'S THANKSGIVING TOMORROW SO SHE IS CHOOSING ONE OF THE BUSIEST DAYS TO HIT HOME. GOOD LUCK TO HER. TALK ABOUT THANKSGIVING. IT IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES IN THE US. IN TERMS OF COVID RESTRICTIONS, ARE THERE ANY? UM... (LAUGHS) PROBABLY, TO A NEW ZEALANDER, NO. IF YOU ARE HERE AND YOU LIVE IN AMERICA, YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK ON A PLANE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN BIDDING AMERICANS TO GET TESTED BEFORE THEY TRAVEL THIS THANKSGIVING. THE PROBLEM IS UNLIKE OUR COLLEAGUES IN AUSTRALIA AND THE UK WHERE THEY CAN EASILY BUY KITS, AND THE UK THEY GIVE YOU TEST KITS, I HAVE HAD SOME SENT TO ME BY THE UK, BECAUSE IN AMERICA, YOU CANNOT GET A TESTING KIT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO GET A HOLD OF. THE FDA HAS STILL NOT APPROVE THEM FOR EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD USE. THE VACCINATION RATE IS NOT GREAT IN MANY PARTS OF AMERICA AND IN THOSE SAME PARTS THERE IS LOTS OF TRAVEL GOING AROUND. THANKSGIVING IS MASSIVE IN AMERICA, FUN FACTS, AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR 13 MILLION TELEGRAMS OF FRESH PRODUCE IS SOLD EVERY DAY AS PEOPLE BUY ALL THE SWEET POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS FOR THE CASSEROLES. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING FOR THANKSGIVING DAY? IT IS GOING TO TAKE ME SIX HOURS TO GET TO THE AIRPORT IN MONTREAL TO GET HOME TO NEW YORK. I AM GOING TO HAVE PUTIN AT THE AIRPORT MAYBE? AWW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMISERATIONS. WE APPRECIATE YOU, ANNA, WE KNOW IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH MORNING. GET YOURSELF INSIDE. WAS A PLEASER TO SEE YOU. I WOULD LIKE SOME PUTIN, ACTUALLY. ECONOMIC EXPERTS SAY WE NEED TO BUCKLE UP IN ANTICIPATION OF INTEREST RATES CONTINUING TO RISE FOR THE NEAR FUTURE, FOLLOWING THE RESERVE BANK HIKING THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE AGAIN YESTERDAY FROM 0.25% TO 0.75%. JOINING US FROM WELLINGTON TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S FUELLING THE INFLATION IN OUR ECONOMY AND HOW MUCH HIGHER WE CAN EXPECT IT TO GO, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR ADRIAN ORR BACK TO BREAKFAST. GOOD MORNING. KIA ORANA. Y .25? WHY NOT GO FURTHER YESTERDAY? WE HAVE GOT TIME. WHILST THE INFLATION RATE RIGHT NOW IS CLEAR AND EVIDENT, WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PRESSURES ARE NEAR TERM. THEY WILL EASE. THEY ARE DRIVEN BY COST FROM ALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHANGE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME. WE CANNOT LEAN INTO THOSE. THERE IS NO POINT IN DOING THAT. SO WE ARE LOOKING MORE AT THE MEDIUM TERM AND WE WILL TAKE OUR TIME AND OBSERVE. THERE ARE RISKS EITHER SIDE. TO THE OUTSIDE YOU HAVE GOT RISING CAPACITY PRESSURES AND NEW ZEALAND. YOU HAVE GOT THIS INTERNATIONAL ABLATION CHALLENGE, BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE COVID UNCERTAINTY AND ALREADY, RECENTLY HIGH MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES RELATIVE TO THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE. WE HAVE GOT OURSELVES INTO A GOOD POSITION, WE HAVE SIGNALLED THERE IS MORE TO COME BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE AS WE GO. A LOT TO UNPACK. FIRST OF ALL OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURE. WHERE IS IT TODAY AND HOW HIGH DO YOU SEE A CLIMBING? YOU HAVE CLAIMED AROUND 5% YOU CAN SEE A PIG. IS THAT A BIT OPTIMISTIC GIVEN THE CHALLENGES OF THE SUPPLY CHANGE, FULL APPOINTMENT AND THE DEMAND OF THE ECONOMY? THE NEAR-TERM INFLATION WE SEE PEAKING AT ABOUT 5.6 OR 5.7%. IF IT DOES SO, THAT'S GREAT. AROUND THAT IS THE USUAL BANDS OF UNCERTAINTY. A LOT OF THAT IS ALREADY IN THE 10. AROUND GLOBAL OIL PRICES, SHIPPING COSTS, ALL OF THE PRICE PRESSURES WE ARE SEEING. THOSE ARE ONE OF PRICE PRESSURES. WHAT WE ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THOSE PRESSURES LEADING TO MORE GENERALISED INFLATION. THE ENVIRONMENT IS RIGHT FOR THAT HAPPENING. THAT'S WHY WE ARE MOVING IN ADVANCE. THE ECONOMY IS WORKING ABOVE ITS POTENTIAL AT THE MOMENT. EVERY SINGLE MEASURE OF CAPACITY SAYS HEY, THINGS ARE RUNNING RED-HOT. EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT FILE THEREFORE PEOPLE, THERE ARE SOME DEEP POCKETS OF SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS HARDSHIP, BUT AN AGGREGATE LABOUR SHORTAGES, COST PRESSURES, ALL OF THE MEASURES OF ASSET UTILISATION ARE BEING USED UP. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING MARKET. THE RETAIL BANKS HAVE PUT UP THEIR MORTGAGE RATES. FOR ACCIDENT INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN THE CASH RATE OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 24 MONTHS. THEY HAVE DONE THAT QUICKLY, SAVING RATES HAVE CERTAINLY NOT CLAIMED IN REPORTED TO LENDING RATES. WHAT IS THIS MEAN FOR BORROWERS RIGHT NOW. $220 BILLION IN MORTGAGES BY YOUR ESTIMATIONS UP FOR RENEWAL OR REEF FIXING OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. 70% OF ALL HOUSE BORROWING IN THE MARKET. SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED AT A TIME WHEN YOU ARE LIFTING THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE? YES. PEOPLE SHOULD NOISE BE CONCERNED WHEN YOU ARE BORROWING MONEY, PARTICULARLY FOR A HOUSE. THAT IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. THE PRICE YOU MIGHT STRIKE AT THE TIME WITH THE INTEREST RATE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WILL MOVE UP AND DOWN THROUGH TIME. WE HAVE BEEN SHUTTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS FOR QUITE SOME TIME MAKING SURE THAT BANKS ARE STRESS TESTING THEIR CUSTOMERS, BUT A BIT HEALTHY MARGIN OVER AND ABOVE THE CURRENT LENDING RATE AND SEE IF PEOPLE CAN STILL AFFORD TO MANAGE THAT, OTHERWISE DON'T LEND THE MONEY. LIKEWISE FOR PEOPLE ENTERING THE MARKET, SEE THIS AS AN HISTORICALLY LOW INTEREST RATE, IT'S NOT AVERAGE OR NORMAL. EVEN WHEN WE HAVE THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 2.6% BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, THAT IS OUR SOME OF THE YEAR AT THE MOMENT, EVEN WITH THAT, THAT'S ONLY AROUND AVERAGE LEVELS OF WHAT I WOULD CALL A NEUTRAL INTEREST RATE. CAN I PUT TO YOU, YOU TOOK ABOUT WARNING THE BANKS, AND USE IT AS REPEATEDLY YESTERDAY IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE. YOU SAY YOU HAVE BEEN WARNING BORROWERS AND LEADERS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT YOU REMOVED LVR, YOU PRINTED MONEY, YOU KEPT INTEREST RATES HISTORICALLY LOW FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, YOU MADE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR BANKS TO BORROW, IT WAS LIKE PUTTING THE LEDGER AND THE ROOM AND SAYING DON'T TOUCH. ON SOME PARTS, YES, WE LOWERED INTEREST RATES DELIBERATELY TO ENCOURAGE SPENDING AND INVESTMENT. AND THAT IS WHAT MONETARY POLICY IS ABOUT. ALL IT DOES IS SHIFT DESIRE TO SPEND OR INVEST OVER TIME. YOU KNEW FULL WELL THAT THE ONLY INVESTMENT IS ILLNESS REALLY MAKERS AND HOUSES. KNOW, THAT IS PROBABLY WRONG, THE MAIN INVESTMENT IS IN HOUSING. BY THE WAY, I AM NOT STEPPING AWAY FROM THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE. LIKEWISE, INTERNATIONALLY THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE. ASSET PRICES HAVE RISEN GLOBALLY, HOUSE PRICES HAS RISEN AS ONE OF THE ASSETS. WE HAVE RISEN MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD AN EXTREME SUPPLY SHORTAGE. WHEN YOU DROP A PEOPLE INTO A BUCKET IT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENED. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SUPPLY IS NOW FINALLY, RAPIDLY INCREASING AND WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THE SIGNS THAT HOUSE PRICES WILL MODERATE. THE MESSAGE TO 1ST HOME BUYERS IS THAT HIGH LEVERAGED LEADS TO LONG-TERM CHALLENGES. LIKEWISE, ASSET PRICES GO UP AND DOWN. THERE IS NO INCENTIVE, REALLY, IN THE SAVINGS MARKET IS THERE? SO PEOPLE WILL STILL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE IN VESTMENTS. I KNOW YOU CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA BUT THEY HAVE SAID THEY ARE NOT TOUCHING THEIR INTEREST RATES. THEY HAVE ALSO PREDICTED THE HOUSING MARKET WILL SOFTEN OF ITS OWN ACCORD. DO YOU AGREE? THEY ARE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION TO US. WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS AND OUR ECONOMY. WE WERE RUNNING VERY HOT PRIOR TO THE COVID CHALLENGE. OUR EMERGENCY CUTS WERE EXACTLY BECAUSE OF THE GLOBAL HOLD WE HAVE FALLEN INTO. AUSTRALIA WERE RUNNING AT A SLOWER PACE, SO THEY HAD MORE ROOM TO WAIT TO WATCH, TO MONITOR. ACROSS THE GLOBE, EVERY CENTRAL BANK IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN AND BY HOW MUCH THEY MAY NEED TO RAISE INTEREST RATES IN THE NEAR TERM BECAUSE EVERYONE IS COMING OUT OF THIS EMERGENCY.. WHEN WE CUT INTEREST RATES, THE NATION WAS IN 100% BLOCKED OUT AND THERE WAS NO VACCINE. SINCE THEN, WE ARE THE FIRST NATION IN THE WORLD TO STOP AND WE ARE UP THERE IN THE FRONT AROUND MONETARY TARGET. AUSTRALIA HAS MORE SPACE. THERE ARE RISKS FOR THEM AS WELL, ON THE INFLATION FRONT, LIKEWISE FOR THE US, THEY ARE UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE TO SEE WHAT ARE YOU DOING? FINALLY, WE HAVE GOT TO GO, BUT ONE LAST QUESTION, NOT A QUESTION, BUT DO YOU FEEL LARGELY OPTIMISTIC AROUND WHERE THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY IS RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE BORROWING RATES ARE RIGHT NOW AS MORTGAGE HOLDERS OR HOMEOWNERS? THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT. I FEEL INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGED. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO RAISE INTEREST RATES. ERASING THEM BECAUSE GROWTH IS STRONG, UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT RECORD LEVELS, LABOUR IS SCARCE, PEOPLE AND DEMAND. THAT IS THE ECONOMY WHERE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. HOUSE RISES HAVE RISEN, YES. THOSE WHO OWN HOMES FEELING SLIGHTLY WEALTHIER. THOSE WHO WANT TO OWN HOMES, WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. ADRIAN ORR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US SO EARLY THIS MORNING. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER SIMON BRIDGES HAS BEEN DEMOTED AND RELIEVED OF HIS PORTFOLIOS FOLLOWING AN ALLEGATION OF 'SERIOUS MISCONDUCT'. 1 NEWS UNDERSTANDS IT'S CLAIMED BRIDGES MADE A VERBAL COMMENT OF A SEXUAL NATURE IN FRONT OF FELLOW NATIONAL MP JACQUI DEAN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. NATIONAL LEADER JUDITH COLLINS SAYS THE DECISION TO DEMOTE BRIDGES WAS MADE WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARTY BOARD OVERNIGHT. BRIDGES IS YET TO COMMENT, WHILE COLLINS WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10am IN RELATION TO THE MATTER. AUCKLAND HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS HAVE A HAIRY TASK AHEAD ` REOPENING TODAY TO PRIMP AND PRIME THREE MONTHS' WORTH OF LOCKDOWN LOCKS. ALL STAFF MUST BE VACCINATED, AND ONLY VACCINATED CUSTOMERS ARE ALLOWED. MASKS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE TAKEN. THEY'LL BE THE FIRST SECTOR TO TRIAL VACCINATION PASSES BEFORE THEY BECOME WIDELY USED WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM KICKS IN NEXT WEEK. SOME SALONS STARTED CUTTING HAIR AS EARLY AS MIDNIGHT, WITH A FLOOD OF BOOKINGS EXPECTED. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SAYS EUROPE IS ONCE AGAIN 'THE CENTRE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC'. MORE THAN 60% OF THE WORLD'S COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS WERE IN EUROPE OVER THE LAST WEEK. IT COMES AS THE NETHERLANDS HINTS TIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED; THE COUNTRY RECORDING MORE THAN 23,700 COVID CASES. IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER THEY'VE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. A NUMBER OF MIGRANTS HEADED TO THE UK HAVE DIED AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY THERE COULD BE MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE DEAD. THE MIGRANTS HAD SET OFF FOR ENGLAND FROM THE CITY OF CALAIS IN NORTHERN FRANCE. FRENCH AND BRITISH AUTHORITIES ARE CONDUCTING A RESCUE OPERATION IN THE CHANNEL BY AIR AND SEA. EXPECT INTEREST RATES TO KEEP ON RISING. THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM ECONOMIC EXPERTS AFTER THE RESERVE BANK HIKED THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE YESTERDAY FROM 0.25% TO 0.75%. RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR ADRIAN ORR SAYS THIS PUTS OUR ECONOMY IN A GOOD POSITION AND HAS SIGNALLED THERE'S MORE TO COME. THE ECONOMY IS OPERATING AT ABOVE IT'S POTENTIAL AT THE MOMENT. EVERY SINGLE MEASURE OF CAPACITY SAYS, HEY, THINGS ARE RUNNING RED HOT. EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THAT FOR PEOPLE. THERE ARE SOME DEEPER POCKETS OF SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS HARDSHIP. NANAIA MAHUTA HAS BEGUN MEETINGS IN OTTAWA, ON THE THIRD LEG OF HER FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP AS FOREIGN MINISTER. ANNA BURNS-FRANCIS IS WITH THE MINISTER IN OTTAWA, AND TOLD BREAKFAST EARLIER WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA. SHE HAD AN ENGAGEMENT THIS MORNING AT THE EMBASSY. NEW ZEALAND DOES HAVE AN EMBASSY AND TO WORK. SHE SHOULD HAVE JUST WRAPPED UP HER MINISTERIAL MEETING WITH A CANADIAN COUNTERPART. THEY CALL THEM THE GLOBAL AFFAIRS MINISTER HERE IN CANADA. AN INTERESTING VISIT IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY WHAT THE PURPOSE IS ABYSS OTHER THAN SOME FACE-TO-FACE DIPLOMACY, BECAUSE SHE IS UP THIS WAY ANYWAY FROM THAT MEETING IN DC YESTERDAY. TO SPORT, AND INDIA WILL BE WITHOUT A NUMBER OF THEIR BIG NAMES WHEN THE FIRST TEST AGAINST THE BLACKCAPS GETS UNDERWAY. VIRAT KOHLI, ROHIT SHARMA, RISHABH PUNT AND JASPRIT BUMRAH WILL ALL BE MISSING FROM INDIA'S LINE-UP. AJINKYA RAHANE WILL CAPTAIN THE SIDE. WE'LL DEFINITELY MISS ALL THESE THREE GUYS. BUT, AGAIN, BY SAYING THAT, AGAIN, GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE YOUNGSTERS WHO PLAY. WHOEVER'S GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BAG THEMSELVES PLAYING WITH FREEDOM. AND THEY ARE BACKING EVERY INDIVIDUAL. THIS TEAM IS ALL ABOUT BACKING EVERYONE, PLAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND AS I SAID, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE GOING TO PLAY TOMORROW. WORLD RUGBY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TWO NATIONS. FROM THE 1st OF JANUARY, ANY PLAYER WANTING TO REPRESENT ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO STAND DOWN FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FOR THREE YEARS. THE PLAYER MUST EITHER BE BORN IN THE COUNTRY OR HAVE A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT BORN THERE. EACH CASE WILL ALSO BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY WORLD RUGBY. SO, AS THEY COULD USE? I JUST SAID THE SAME THING TO SCOTTY. THREE YEARS OF SOMEONE'S INTERNATIONAL CAREER AS A LIFETIME. THE AVERAGE INTERNATIONAL CAREER IS LESS THAN THAT. YOU ARE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO WAIT THREE YEARS IN ORDER TO GET THE CHANCE TO REPRESENT ANOTHER NATION. IT IS A TYPICAL WORLD RUGBY COPOUT. THE NO ONE WOULD EVER TAKE IT UP? IF THEY WANT TO PLAY, LET THEM PLAY. IS THIS ABOUT THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE FROM NEW ZEALAND AND THEN THEY GO OVER AND LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND THEN THEY END UP PLAYING FOR THEM WHEN THERE IS NO BLOODLINE. THAT IS THE RULE AT THE MOMENT. THEY WANT TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AND SAVE IT AS FOR SWAPPING NATIONS. I DO NOT THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE. THIS IS THE BIG NATIONS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE. LET'S JUST KIND OF JUMP AND BE CELEBRATORY THIS MORNING, SHALL WE? CAN WE? 100 DAYS OF LOCKDOWN. WE HAVE DONE MORE TIME THAN A WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL. YOU DO NOT LOOK TOO BAD, SCOTTY. WE SAW YOU WEARING A CHEESE. I HAD TO GET THINGS FIXED UP THIS MORNING IT WAS PRETTY GRIM. PEOPLE CAN COME HOME MID-JANUARY. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHO IS COMING HOME. BRING THEM HOME. I AM CELEBRATING MATTY'S GET UP. NOT EVEN HUMBLE ABOUT IT. IT IS NEW, ISN'T IT? IT IS BRAND-NEW. I LOVE IT. APPRECIATE IT. LET'S CHECK OUT YOUR THURSDAY FORECAST. IT'S A MIX OF FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD COVER IN THE UPPER NORTH. IT SHOULD STAY DRY AROUND WHANGAREI AND RUSSELL, BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN EXPECT A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS DURING THE DAY TOO. 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE. MAINLY FINE, BUT WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF SOME BRIEF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AROUND TAUPO, TOKOROA AND ROTORUA. 22 DEGREES FOR THE THREE OF YOU, 20 ALONG THE COAST. THERE'S CLEAR BLUE SKIES OUT EAST WITH REALLY NOTHING TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PERFECT DAY. WARM TOO. 20 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN HAWKE'S BAY, 26 FURTHER SOUTH IN MASTERTON. THAT LOVELY, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES AS WE SHIFT WEST, UNTIL SOME CLOUD ARRIVES TONIGHT. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THOSE NORTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP AROUND WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST AFTER LUNCH. 19 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL, 23 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND WHANGANUI. IT'S LOOKING GORGEOUS ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH. WARM TOO, WITH THOSE STRONGER NOR-WESTERLIES. 24 DEGREES IN KAIKOURA, 25 IN BLENHEIM. BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ALONG THE COAST, BUT WITH SOME FINE SPELLS LATER ON, ALTHOUGH THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SOME LATE EVENING RAIN. YOU'LL LOVE THE SUNSHINE OUT EAST ONCE THAT LOW MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF, ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THOSE WINDS FROM THE NORTH WILL PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY. 23 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMARU, 27 FOR ASHBURTON. AND IT'S NICE AND FINE THROUGH QUEENSTOWN, BUT THE REST OF THE LOWER SOUTH LOOKS A BIT MORE OVERCAST, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SETTING IN TONIGHT. 21 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY ` TOMORROW, THERE'S A BIT OF MORNING DRIZZLE IN THE NORTH-EAST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S FINE. THERE'S RAIN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST, SPREADING TO THE LOWER SOUTH LATER IN THE DAY, BUT IT'S FINE EVERYWHERE ELSE. WE'VE GOT AN AMAZING PRIZE UP FOR GRABS THIS WEEK, THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT NEW WORLD. YOU COULD WIN THE FULL NEW WORLD KITCHENAID PREMIUM OVENWARE RANGE, A KITCHENAID ARTISAN MIXER AND THOUSANDS WORTH OF NEW WORLD GIFT CARDS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT EVERYONE FOR THE STICKERS THAT YOU GET. TO ENTER, HEAD TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. THAT WILL BE A GOOD CHRISTMAS PRESENT. WE WILL CALL THE WINNER TOMORROW. THAT IS AN UPGRADE FROM BRICKS, ISN'T IT? COMING UP ` THE LATEST ON JUDITH COLLINS DECISION TO DEMOTE SIMON BRIDGES LAST NIGHT. AND LATER ` WHAT REOPENING OUR BORDERS MEANS FOR FAMILIES SEPARATED BY THE PANDEMIC. # GO EASY ON ME, BABY. # I WAS STILL A CHILD. G'DAY. THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE INAUGURAL JONAH LOMU SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE LEGACY OF THE LATE RUGBY GREAT JONAH LOMU LIVES ON, THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT DAVID KOLIBASOGA. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS A FULL-FEES BOARDING SCHOLARSHIP AND IS AWARDED EACH YEAR TO AN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MAN ENTERING YEAR 11 IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. LAST YEAR, DAVID RECEIVED PRAISE FROM THE POLICE AFTER HE HELPED A WOMAN IN DISTRESS AND ESCORTED HER HOME. HE SAYS THE SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE LIFESAVING FOR HIM, WITH HIS HOPES TO RECEIVE A RUGBY CONTRACT HIMSELF WHEN HE FINISHES SCHOOL, AND HE JOINS US NOW. BULA VINAKA. CONGRATULATIONS FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, I KNOW WHAT A CHALLENGING YEAR IT HAS BEEN FOR YOU. HOW ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? THANK YOU. RIGHT NOW I AM ALRIGHT. IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY CHALLENGING YEAR. YOU STARTED AT ROTORUA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL AS A YEAR NINE. THE DEATH OF YOUR MOTHER SAW YOU HAD TO RELOCATE TO AUCKLAND TO LIVE WITH YOUR UNCLE. THE SCHOLARSHIP GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO RETURN TO THE SCHOOL THAT YOU LOVE. IT HAS A GREAT RUGBY PROGRAM. I AM SURE YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THAT SCHOOL? IT MEANS THE WORLD. THE SCHOOL, I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF IT IS MY HOME. I KNOW IT IS A DEEPLY CARING ENVIRONMENT, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT A FUTURE WITH RUGBY HOPEFULLY AS WELL. HOW MUCH IS PLAYING RUGBY GIVE YOU JOY AT THAT SCHOOL, AND FOR A SCHOOL LIKE ROTORUA BOYS HIGH THAT HAS HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS? PLAYING RUGBY FOR A SCHOOL LIKE ROTORUA, IT IS GOOD, BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF SKULLS THAT COME AND WATCH US BOYS PLAY, AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD TO PLAY ALONGSIDE THE BOYS THAT I HAVE BEEN GROWING UP WITH. TALK TO US ABOUT THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE SCHOOL THAT YOU RESPOND TO? I RESPOND TO THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE SCHOOL. I HAVE JUST GROWN UP KNOWING THIS PLACE ALL OF MY LIFE. YOU ARE THE RECIPIENT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP. I KNOW YOU KNOW WHO HE IS. YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN HIGHLIGHTS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN NOW TO HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP WITH THAT LEGIONS NAME ATTACHED? I JUST THINK IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SCHOLARSHIP, TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY. IT IS A HECKUVA LEGACY, ISN'T IT? YES. I GOT TO KNOW JONAH AND MY TIME WITH COVERING RUGBY, AND HE WOULD HAVE AN ABSOLUTE THRILLED THAT A YOUNG MAN LIKE YOU WOULD CARRY ON HIS NAME THROUGH THE SCHOLARSHIP. WHAT HAS YOUR FAMILY SAID TO YOU ABOUT WINNING THE SCHOLARSHIP? THEY JUST DID THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF ME AND THAT MY MUM WOULD BE SMILING DOWN ON ME RIGHT NOW. I GUARANTEE SHE WILL BE. ARE YOU GOING TO GET USED TO BOARDING SCHOOL FOOD? IT IS GOOD, BUT IT IS NOT AS GOOD AS A HOME-COOKED MEAL. HAVE YOU GOT THE FOOD PARCELS ARRIVING? I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS MYSELF, SO I KNOW WHAT BOARDING SCHOOL IS LIKE. HAVE YOU MADE SURE THAT THE FAMILY HAS GOT AROUND YOU AND WILL BE SENDING YOU THE CARE PACKAGES? EVERY SUNDAY, SOME OF MY AUNTIE'S, DROP ME OFF SOME FOOD. THAT IS AWESOME. HOW HAS THIS YEAR BEEN FOR YOU? IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR SO MANY KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HAVE YOU MANAGED TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR ACADEMIC WORK AS WELL AS YOUR SPORTING LIFE? I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO KEEP THEM BOTH BALANCE. I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED FOR YOU, AND I KNOW NADINE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT VERY HARD ABOUT WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORTHY RECIPIENT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP. DAVID, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARDING OF THE SCHOLARSHIP, AND ENJOY YOUR TIME AT THE SCHOOL HOPEFULLY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE FIELD SOON. CHEERS, MATE. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` GOOD NEWS FOR PACIFIC RUGBY, WITH WORLD RUGBY CHANGING ITS ELIGIBILITY RULES TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TWO NATIONS. MORE ON THAT AT 7. ALSO AHEAD ` THE FAMILIES COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TILL THEY CAN BE REUNITED WHEN OUR BORDER OPENS. AND NEXT ` AN UPDATE ON JUDITH COLLINS' DECISION TO DEMOTE SIMON BRIDGES. WHAT IS GOING ON? ALL OF THE LATEST. MORENA. WELCOME BACK INTO BREAKFAST. LATE LAST NIGHT, FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER SIMON BRIDGES WAS DEMOTED AND RELIEVED OF ALL HIS PORTFOLIOS FOLLOWING AN ALLEGATION OF 'SERIOUS MISCONDUCT'. FOR MORE, POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY JOINS US FROM THE BEEHIVE. MORENA, JESS! CARNAGE. CARNAGE TODAY. WHAT IS GOING ON? CAN YOU BRING US UP TO SPEED FOR THOSE WHO ARE JUST WAKING UP TO THIS NEWS, WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST NINE OR 10 HOURS? GOOD MORNING. YOU ARE RIGHT. WHAT A MESS. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO DOWNLOAD TO YOU TO UPDATE YOU ON ALL OF THIS. FIRST OF ALL A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO I GOT A MESSAGE FROM SIMON BRIDGES. HE IS GOING TO BE DOING A STATEMENT OUT THE FRONT OF PARLIAMENT SHORTLY. WE WILL BE GOING TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THE LATEST. HE SAYS THAT HE WILL JUST GIVE A STATEMENT SAYING HIS RESPONSE TO THESE ALLEGATIONS, AND THEN HE WANTS TO GO AND TALK TO HIS CAUCUS. YOU CAN IMAGINE IT WILL BE A PRETTY INTENSE CAUCUS MEETING THIS MORNING. WHAT IS GOING ON AS WELL AS AT 10 AM JUDITH COLLINS AND SHANE RETI AS WELL AS JACKIE DEAN WHO IS THE NATIONAL MP THAT THE ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE AGAINST IS GOING TO GIVE A PRESS BRIEFING AS WELL. THE STORY IS GOING TO DEVELOP IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. I WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN TO SPEAKING TO CONTACTS BEHIND-THE-SCENES. IT WAS AT A NATIONAL EVENT AND THE COMMENT WAS MADE OF A SERIOUS NATURE I AM TOLD AROUND JACKIE DEAN. IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD SIMON BRIDGES'S RESPONSE TO THAT YET. WE WILL BE GETTING BACK SHORTLY. JUDITH COLLINS HAS ACTED ON THOSE COMMENTS, AND IT COMES OF COURSE AMIDST A LOT OF CONTEXT WITH ALL OF THIS. I WILL PAUSE FOR BREATH SO YOU CAN ASK SOME QUESTIONS IF YOU LIKE. YOU HAVE DONE WELL. THERE IS SO MUCH TO UNPACK. A COUPLE OF BASIC QUESTIONS. DO WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT WAS SAID? WHAT DID SIMON BRIDGES SAY? AND WAS IT DIRECTLY TO JACKIE? OR WAS SHE IN THE PRESENCE OF THAT COMMENT? THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF DETAILS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN, EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT ARE THERE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MPS PRISONERS WERE TOLD AND IT WAS MADE, I UNDERSTAND, THAT IT WAS MADE TO HER. THAT IS THE IMPRESSION OF WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE REPORTING ON WHAT WAS SAID. WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY THOSE DETAILS. I THINK THOSE WOULD LIKE TO COME FROM JACKIE DEAN WHEN WE TALK TO HER AND WHEN SHE FRONTS UP TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY. SHE HAS BEEN A POLITICIAN FOR A LONG TIME, AND THESE ARE COMMENTS THAT SHE FELT LIKE SHE NEEDED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST. WE WILL BE HEARING FROM HER ON THOSE COMMENTS SHORTLY. THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE IS THAT LAST WEEK WE HAD OUR 1 NEWS POLITICAL POLL WHICH TALKED ABOUT LEADERSHIP ISSUES FOR JUDITH COLLINS. SIMON BRIDGES'S NAME WAS IN THE MIX. CHRISTOPHER LUXTON WHO IS THE OTHER PERSON WHO IS A POTENTIAL FUTURE LEADER IS NOT THERE IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE AT PARLIAMENT YET. SIMON BRIDGES HAS BEEN THE ONLY NAME THAT MY POLITICAL SOURCES HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. WE THEN HAD THE NEWS FROM THE POLE ON MONDAY. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO WEEKS, OR A WEEK-LONG OF INTENSITY AROUND THE LEADERSHIP ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND THAT JUDITH COLLINS FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ALLEGATION FOR THE FIRST TIME ON WEDNESDAY LAST WEEK, SO THE DAY AFTER ALCOHOL. THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BUBBLING AWAY IN THE BACKGROUND FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. I GUESS ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IS ONE, ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT MS COLLINS DID NOT ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS INCIDENT? BUT ALSO, I KNOW THAT SHE SAID TO YOU DIRECTLY WHEN YOU TALK TO HER ABOUT HER LEADERSHIP, WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT SIMON BRIDGES, HER RESPONSE WAS HE WILL NOT BE LEADER. THAT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT ANYTHING OUT THERE, BUT IT IS INTERESTING, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, IN TERMS OF TIMING. LET'S BE HONEST, THAT IS THE ONLY RESPONSE THAT A LEADER CAN GIVEN THAT POSITION. WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT, MY QUESTION WAS, IF SIMON BRIDGES WAS ON A 5% AND THE ROLES WERE REVERSED, WOULD YOU BE ROLLING HIM IN THIS POSITION? AND SHE SAID WELL, HE IS NOT LEADER AND HE NEVER WILL BE. THAT WAS A VERY FIRM, DIRECTOR STATEMENT. I THINK THAT WE CAN READ INTO THAT NOW KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW TODAY. BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF THAT LEADERSHIP, THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT SIMON BRIDGES, HE WAS LEADER OF COURSE, AND THEN WE HAD ALL OF THE MESS WITH TODD MULLER. HE WAS THE ONLY NAME THAT WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT. WE HAVE TO TAKE JUDITH COLLINS AT HER WORK, BUT THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING TO HER. THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE. WE KNOW THAT JUDITH COLLINS WANTS THIS LEADERSHIP AND WANT TO HOLD ONTO IT. BUT THIS IS JUST SO MESSY AND THERE ARE SO MANY LAYERS TO IT. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THIS COULD BACKFIRE ON MISS COLLINS? THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE STORY WILL DEVELOP. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY UNUSUAL TO THINK THAT SIMON BRIDGES WILL GO DOWN QUIETLY WITHOUT HAVING HIS MISTAKE ON ALL OF THIS. AND I THINK THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS SUCH SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. WE ARE HEARING THAT THE STATEMENT FROM SIMON BRIDGES IN JUST A FEW MINUTES TIME, AND THEN I WOULD IMAGINE WE WILL HAVE HIM COMING OUT SWINGING. THE CAUCUS HAVE NOT MET ON THIS ISSUE, SO GETTING ALL OF THE MPS TOGETHER WILL BE IMPORTANT, AND WHETHER THE QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP IS RAISED VIA WILL BE DEFINITELY KEEPING THE PHONE LINES RINGING HOT WITH ALL OF OUR NATIONAL CONTACTS ON THAT. BUT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT WE COULD SEE IF NOT A LEADERSHIP SPILL, THEN AT LEAST A LEADERSHIP VOTE. THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY ABOUT THIS, BUT THESE ARE ALL DETAILS THAT WE WILL NEED TO CONFIRM ONCE WE HAVE HEARD THE INSIDE FROM SOME OF THOSE MPS. THE JOB. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. HOPEFULLY WE CAN PICK UP ON THE SIMON BRIDGES CONFERENCE THIS MORNING. FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER SIMON BRIDGES IS ABOUT TO SPEAK AT PARLIAMENT SHORTLY, FOLLOWING HIS DEMOTION LATE LAST NIGHT BY PARTY LEADER JUDITH COLLINS. 1 NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY SAYS THE DEMOTION FOLLOWED AN ALLEGATION OF 'SERIOUS MISCONDUCT.' TODAY MARKS AUCKLAND'S 100th DAY IN LOCKDOWN. SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF THE OUTBREAK WAS DETECTED IN AUGUST, 7484 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. 5009 ARE STILL CONSIDERED ACTIVE. 87 CASES ARE IN HOSPITAL, EIGHT IN INTENSIVE CARE. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 7.3 MILLION DOSES OF THE COVID VACCINE HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED. JUST UNDER 19,000 DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED YESTERDAY, 12,000 OF THEM SECOND DOSES. 84% OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION IS NOW FULLY VACCINATED, AND 92% HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SAYS EUROPE IS ONCE AGAIN 'THE CENTRE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC'. MORE THAN 60% OF THE WORLD'S COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS WERE IN EUROPE OVER THE LAST WEEK. IT COMES AS THE NETHERLANDS HINTS TIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED; THE COUNTRY RECORDING MORE THAN 23,700 COVID CASES. IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER THEY'VE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. AT LEAST 31 MIGRANTS HAVE DIED AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. THEY HAD SET OFF FOR ENGLAND FROM THE CITY OF CALAIS IN NORTHERN FRANCE. UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON IS EXPECTED TO CHAIR AN EMERGENCY COBRA MEETING THIS AFTERNOON IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATHS. THE MERKEL ERA WILL OFFICIALLY COME TO AN END IN GERMANY. A THREE-PARTY COALITION HAS BEEN FORMED TO TAKE POWER ALMOST TWO MONTHS AFTER OLAF SCHOLZ'S SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY CAME OUT ON TOP OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS BUT WITHOUT A MAJORITY. THE COALITION WITH THE GREENS AND THE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY FREE DEMOCRATS HAS PROMISED BROAD PLANS FOR GERMANY'S TRANSITION TO A GREEN ECONOMY. IT BRINGS AN END TO 16 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT LED BY ANGELA MERKEL. TO SPORT ` AND THE BLACKCAPS AREN'T READING ANYTHING INTO A WEAKENED INDIA SIDE AHEAD OF THE FIRST TEST MATCH TONIGHT. INDIA WILL BE WITHOUT A NUMBER OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS, INCLUDING VIRAT KOHLI. CAPTAIN KANE WILLIAMSON SAYS THE TEST SIDE ARE RELISHING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, BUT THE WORLD TEST CHAMPIONS AREN'T READING INTO THE 'FAVOURITES' TAG. I DON'T THINK WE'RE FAVOURITES. YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG STRENGTHS OF INDIAN CRICKET IN ANY FORMAT IS THEIR DEPTH, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS OVER THE YEARS. AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR OWN CONDITIONS IS SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE UNIQUE FOR TOURING TEAMS AS WELL, SO WE KNOW THE CHALLENGE IS A BIG ONE. WORLD RUGBY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TWO NATIONS. FROM THE 1st OF JANUARY, ANY PLAYER WANTING TO REPRESENT ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO STAND DOWN FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FOR 3 YEARS. THE PLAYER MUST EITHER BE BORN IN THE COUNTRY OR HAVE A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT BORN THERE. EACH CASE WILL ALSO BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY WORLD RUGBY. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. HERE'S MATTY WITH THE WEATHER. THANKS, INDIRA. WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH SIMON BRIDGES AS WELL. IT'S A MIX OF FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD COVER IN THE UPPER NORTH. IT SHOULD STAY DRY AROUND WHANGAREI AND RUSSELL, BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN EXPECT A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS DURING THE DAY TOO. 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE. MAINLY FINE, BUT WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF SOME BRIEF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AROUND TAUPO, TOKOROA AND ROTORUA. 22 DEGREES FOR THE THREE OF YOU, 20 ALONG THE COAST. THERE'S CLEAR BLUE SKIES OUT EAST WITH REALLY NOTHING TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PERFECT DAY. WARM TOO. 20 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN HAWKE'S BAY, 26 FURTHER SOUTH IN MASTERTON. THAT LOVELY, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES AS WE SHIFT WEST, UNTIL SOME CLOUD ARRIVES TONIGHT. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THOSE NORTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP AROUND WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST AFTER LUNCH. 19 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL, 23 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND WHANGANUI. IT'S LOOKING GORGEOUS ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH. WARM TOO, WITH THOSE STRONGER NOR-WESTERLIES. 24 DEGREES IN KAIKOURA, 25 IN BLENHEIM. BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ALONG THE COAST, BUT WITH SOME FINE SPELLS LATER ON, ALTHOUGH THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SOME LATE EVENING RAIN. YOU'LL LOVE THE SUNSHINE OUT EAST ONCE THAT LOW MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF, ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THOSE WINDS FROM THE NORTH WILL PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY. 23 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMARU, 27 FOR ASHBURTON. AND IT'S NICE AND FINE THROUGH QUEENSTOWN, BUT THE REST OF THE LOWER SOUTH LOOKS A BIT MORE OVERCAST, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SETTING IN TONIGHT. 21 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY ` AS YOU SAID, WE ARE WAITING FOR SIMON BRIDGES. HOPEFULLY WE GO LIVE TO THAT SHORTLY. COMING UP ` HOW FAMILIES SEPARATED BY THE PANDEMIC FEEL ABOUT THE BORDER REOPENING. AND COVID-19 RESPONSE MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS WITH MORE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS. MORENA. BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS NEXT INTERVIEW, WE ARE WAITING FOR SIMON BRIDGES TO RELEASE A STATEMENT. IF HE DOES THAT, WE WILL BE CUTTING STRAIGHT TO THAT. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YESTERDAY THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE CHANGES THAT WILL BE HAPPENING TO OUR INTERNATIONAL BORDER OVER THE COMING MONTHS, ALLOWING HOPEFUL KIWIS TO REUNITE WITH THEIR LOVED ONES ONCE AGAIN. FROM JANUARY 17th, FULLY VACCINATED NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS IN AUSTRALIA CAN COME HOME WITHOUT NEEDING TO DO MIQ. ON FEBRUARY 14th, NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS CAN VISIT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, AND FINALLY, ON APRIL 30th, FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS ARE WELCOME TO AOTEAROA. IT'S WELCOME NEWS FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN SEPARATED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. CRYSTAL MASON CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HER SON, TE AHU TAMA MEIHANA-HOSKING, IN PERSON. HE LIVES IN ADELAIDE WITH HIS PARTNER AND THEIR BABY, CRYSTAL'S GRAND DAUGHTER, WHO SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO MEET YET. TAMA HAS TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO COME HOME, INCLUDING WHEN HIS GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY, BUT THAT'S ALL DUE TO CHANGE NEXT YEAR, AND CRYSTAL AND TE AHU TAMA MEIHANA-HOSKING JOIN US NOW. MORENA! THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. MUM, I WANT TO COME TO YOU FIRST. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT YOUR BOY BEING ABLE TO COME HOME, HOW HARD IS IT BEEN FOR YOU? MORENA. THAT HAS BEEN REAL HARD. AND EMOTIONAL TIME. I REALLY WANT TO MEET MY MOKO. I'M SO EXCITED THE BORDERS HAVE BEEN OPENED. IT'S AWESOME. I LOVE HOW YOU SAID YOU WANT TO MEET YOUR MOKO. AND TAMA? ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR BOY? I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MUM AND DAD AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. ALL MY FAMILY. ESPECIALLY FOR MY BABY AS WELL. THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ONLINE. TAMA, WHAT IS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU BEING A PART. THERE IS THAT MAMAE, MISSING MUM AND DAD. YOU HAVE YOUR BABY THAT YOUR PARENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET. TALK TO US ABOUT THE HARDEST PART OF THIS? IT IS A DIFFERENT FEELING, NOW THAT I BECOME A FATHER. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT EASIER AT FIRST FINDING MY OWN SPACE. NOW THAT I HAVE MY OWN BABY, YOU REALLY APPRECIATE FAMILY. YOU WANT EVERYONE TO BE AROUND HER. YEAH... I JUST MISSED MY FAMILY. MUM, CAN COME BACK TO YOU. WHAT'S IT LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE YOUR SON AT HOME WHEN HIS GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY? IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. MY HEART WAS ALREADY BREAKING ANYWAY FROM HER PASSING, BUT IT BROKE EVEN MORE THAT MY SON COULD NOT BE WITH US. TAMA, WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU? HORRIBLE. YEAH. I WAS PRETTY UPSET ABOUT THAT. JUST WANTED TO BE HOME WITH EVERYONE. ALL MAMAE AND THAT AND I WAS OVER HERE. I DID FEEL LIKE I WAS ALONE, GRIEVING, OVER HERE. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE GOOD STUFF? YEAH! JANUARY 17, WE KNOW THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE OPEN. YOU CAN COME HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO GO INTO MIQ. WE NEED GOD TO COME HOME? ASAP! ON THE DAY I WILL BE HOME. HAVE YOU ALREADY BOOKED? I WILL BE RIGHT IN THEIR. I LOVE IT. WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR YOU, TO HAVE YOUR BOY FINALLY COME HOME? YOUR GRANDCHILD, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE! I JUST WANTED TO SEE THE BABY. THAT HAS ALL CHANGED NOW, TAMA! WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHEN YOU GET HOME? OH... TAKE A DEEP BREATH. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND PROBABLY TEAR UP TO BE HONEST. BUT, FIRST THING I DO, I DON'T KNOW. GO AROUND AND SEE MY PARENTS, KICKBACK. JUST BEING HOME, THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT. CRYSTAL, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT WHEN YOU SEE YOUR BOY WHEN HE LANDS. I MIGHT JUST BYPASS AND GRAB MY MOKO. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU BOTH TO BE ABLE TO REUNITE WITH ONE ANOTHER. DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER FAMILIES OR FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN IN A SIMILAR SITUATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE MIQ, ALL OF THAT SORT OF STUFF. I DO. I KNOW A FEW FAMILIES IN AUSTRALIA THEY CAN'T MAKE IT OVER. HOW WAS THAT MEAN FOR THEM? SAME AS US. THEY HAVE GRANDCHILDREN OVER THERE THAT THEY HAVE NOT MET EITHER. TAMA, I GUESS IT WOULD BE THE SAME FOR YOU, BUT ON THE FLIPSIDE, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET HOME FOR TANGI, ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. FRIENDS AND FAMILY OVER IN AUSTRALIA, HOW HAVE THEY BEEN DEALING WITH THOSE SORTS OF THINGS? WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT HERE. A FEW OF US HAVE TRIED THE MIQ LOBBIES. A FEW OF US, JUST BEFORE THAT WAS INTRODUCED, BOOKING TICKETS AND THE SAME THING, TICKETS HAVE BEEN CREDITED. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET HOME TO OUR FAMILIES. AUNTIE MARY AND IN PERTH IS TRYING TO GET HOME. WHAT IS THE PROCESS BEEN LIKE? IT'S TERRIBLE, TO BE HONEST. IT IS DEFINITELY FLAWED. I CAN SEE THE STRESS THAT EVERYBODY IS UNDER. THE GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY. IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS TO BE FIXED. I AM GLAD IT'S CHANGING, ON THE 17TH. I RECKON THAT IS THE BEST PLACE TO LEAVE IT. JANUARY 17, YOU ARE GOING TO BE REUNITED. ACTUALLY, TAMA, WHERE IS YOUR BABY? SHE IS HAVING A MOE. I WAS HOPING WE WOULD GET TO SEE HER. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AWAY, A FEW WEEKS YET, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ON 17 JANUARY. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES. GREAT STUFF. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM REUNITED. SEVEN DAYS OF SELF ISOLATED FROM JANUARY 17 FOR THOSE VISITING FROM AUSTRALIA. STAY WITH US. COVID-19 MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS IS STANDING BY WITH MORE ON THE REOPENING. YOU ARE BACK WITH BREAKFAST. SIMON BRIDGES IS DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE IN RESPONSE TO HIS DEMOTION. LET'S GO TO THAT LIVE NOW. DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THIS WAS HAPPENING? ANY INKLING THIS IS GOING TO GO DOWN? ALL RIGHT. OBVIOUSLY THAT STATEMENT IS GOING TO BE READ LIVE BY SIMON BRIDGES. BUT I IMAGINE HIM ONLY JUST ARRIVING, IT IS GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE HE GETS TO THE PODIUM TO ADDRESS THE WAITING MEDIA. IF WE HAVE A SMALL COMMERCIAL BREAK, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY. WE COULD HEAR THE LINE OF QUESTIONING. ONE OF THE LINES WAS, WASN'T THE START WITH FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS? IT IS A GOOD QUESTION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PARTY DEALT WITH THAT AT THE TIME. PETER GOODFELLOW IS STILL THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. AS JESSICA REPORTED EARLIER, JUDITH COLLINS SAID SHE WAS ONLY MADE AWARE OF THESE COMMENTS JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. SO SHE HAS DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS INCIDENT AND THE FACT THAT IT TOOK PLACE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO AS AN IMPORTANT DETAIL. WE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT WHEN WE CAN. FOR THOSE JUST WAKING UP TO THE NEWS, SIMON BRIDGES WAS DEMOTED LAST NIGHT BY JUDITH COLLINS FOLLOWING ACCUSATIONS OF A COMMENT MADE TO A PALO NATIONAL MP. WE WILL GO TO PARLIAMENT. IN FACT, WE WILL GO TO CHRIS HIPKINS. YESTERDAY, THE GOVERNMENT FINISHED RAMMING THE LEGISLATION TO ENABLE ITS TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM THROUGH PARLIAMENT, COMPRESSING A PROCESS THAT USUALLY TAKES MONTHS INTO A RECORD-BREAKING, CONVENTION-BUSTING TWO DAYS ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A MUCH MORE LEISURELY PACE WITH REGARD TO REOPENING OUR BORDERS APPARENTLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE TOLL OF HUMAN MISERY FELT BY FAMILIES SEPARATED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. JOINING US FROM WELLINGTON TO JUSTIFY LABOUR'S APPROACH IS COVID-19 RESPONSE MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. IT IS A BIT OF A CRAZY DAY IN PARLIAMENT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A BUSY DAY. MAYBE NOT SO MUCH FOR US. IT IS STILL BUSY. THERE IS STILL A LOT GOING ON. YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED THE REOPENING OF THE BORDERS. WHY ARE WE WAITING UNTIL JANUARY 17? WE KNOW THAT THE CASES FROM AUSTRALIA INTO NEW ZEALAND THROUGH THE MIQ SYSTEM HAVE BEEN NEGLIGIBLE. SURELY YOU COULD OPEN THE BORDERS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. ULTIMATELY, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE REOPENING NEW ZEALAND IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND THAT WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD. OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TRIED TO DETER MUCH TOO SOON TO QUICKLY HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE ENDED UP WITH BIG SURGES IN CASES AND HOSPITALISATION, AND THEY HAVE EVER GOING BACK AND RE-IMPOSING SOME OF THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT THEY WERE AIMING TO EASE. WE WANT TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD. NEXT WEEK WE OPEN UP AUCKLAND AT THE RED TRAFFIC LIGHT LEVEL. A LOT MORE WILL BE ABLE TO HAPPEN. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT WE REMOVE THE BOUNDARY AROUND AUCKLAND, AND WE END UP SEEING A LOT MORE TRAVEL IN AND OUT OF AUCKLAND. AND THEN EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, WE ARE OPENING UP TO PEOPLE COMING FROM AUSTRALIA. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, WE OPEN TO PEOPLE FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHANGES ARE STEPPED OUT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP OUR CASE NUMBERS AT A MANAGEABLE LEVEL. WE DO NOT END UP WITH THOSE BIG SURGES AND SLUGGISH AND THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SEEN. YOU MADE THE POINT YOURSELF AT THE CASES COMING OUT OF AUSTRALIA ARE NEGLIGIBLE THROUGH THE MIQ SYSTEM. WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INHERENT DANGER OF A TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE RIGHT NOW? THE CASE NUMBERS IN AUSTRALIA REFLECT THE FACT THAT ACTUALLY VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM AUSTRALIA. WE HAVE TIGHT CAPS AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE OF THE CAPACITY IN OUR MIQ SYSTEM. WHEN WE DO THIS, WE HAVE A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY EACH WEEK FROM ACROSS THE WORLD TO HAVING MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING IN EVERY DAY JUST FROM AUSTRALIA. AND THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE EXTRA WORK. WE WILL HAVE EXTRA RISK BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE ISOLATING AT HOME AMONGST THEIR FAMILY. IT WILL BE A RELATIVELY LIGHT TOUCH MONITORING REGIME, SO THERE WILL BE MORE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NATION. YOU HAD TO PASS LEGISLATION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU NOW ABOUT THE BILL. IN PARTICULAR, ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH THE NEW ZEALAND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT. OBVIOUSLY THIS BILL HAS BEEN RUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT UNDER URGENCY. DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT THE WAY YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS HANDLED THIS LEGISLATION THROUGH THE HOUSE? IN AN IDEAL WORLD, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO DIFFERENTLY. IN DEALING WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC YOU OFTEN HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH SHORTER NOTICE PERIOD AND MORE QUICKLY THAN YOU OTHERWISE WOULD. IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WOULD WE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEND A BILL OFF TO A SELECT COMMITTEE FOR SIX MONTHS AND RUN IT THROUGH A REALLY THOROUGH SCRUTINY PROCESS? YES WE WOULD. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS. HANG ON. YOU HAVE BYPASSED PRETTY MUCH ALL STANDARD PROCEDURES HERE, EVEN THEIR OWN LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTY GEN SAID, AND I WILL QUOTE, THE RECEIPT OF THE BILL WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH CABINET OFFICE GUIDANCE. YOU HAVE ASKED THEM TO GIVE YOU ADVICE ON A CRUCIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND HAD GIVEN THEM ALMOST 0 TIME TO DO SO. AND THE REALITY IS WE COULD HAVE SLOWED THE PROCESS DOWN AND AUCKLAND COULD HAVE WAITED LONGER AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COULD HAVE WAITED LONGER TO MOVE TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT FRAMEWORK SYSTEM. WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER THAN THEY HAVE TO. I AGREE. NO ONE WANTS TO WAIT LONGER. BUT THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. IS IT THAT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS OPENING UP AUCKLAND? IN FACT, MORE SO I WOULD SUGGEST. I THINK WHEN YOU ARE DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS IN A PANDEMIC, WHICH THERE IS NO QUESTION WE ARE, YOU NEED TO BUILD EXTRA SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE. THIS BILL HAS THOSE. EVERY DECISION MAKERS MADE UNDER THIS ACT IS SUBJECT TO PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY. IT THEN HAS TO BE CONFIRMED BY A MAJORITY VOTE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE BILL ITSELF HAS TO BE PERIODIC WE RENEWED BY PARLIAMENT THROUGH A MAJORITY VOTE IN THE HOUSE. AND THE BILL ITSELF EXPIRES AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE EXTRA SAFEGUARDS PUT IN PLACE TO RECOGNISE THAT THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY POWERS AND THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES. WILL YOU ALLOW THIS BILL TO BE PROPERLY SCRUTINISED AFTER IT COMES INTO EFFECT? AS I SAID, EVERY DECISION THAT GETS MADE UNDER THIS BILL IS SCRUTINISED BY A PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE AND IS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY PARLIAMENT. IF PARLIAMENT DOES NOT VOTE TO CONFIRM THEM, THEN THOSE ORDERS NO LONGER APPLY. THERE ARE EXTRA SAFEGUARDS BUILT IN BECAUSE WE RECOGNISE THAT THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. ONE SPECIFIC PART OF THIS BILL, THE CONCERN HERE ON BUSINESS OWNERS IS THAT YOU HAVE MADE THEM THE DEFECT THOUGH POLICE OF ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS, PASSPORT, AND IN TERMS OF COMPLYING WITH THE AXE. IS IT FAIR ON BUSINESSES AND THOSE UNDERTAKING THOSE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO APPLY THIS LAW AT EVERY TURN? IS THIS JUST NOT MORE BUREAUCRATIC HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH AT A TIME WHEN BUSINESS REALLY NEEDS SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE GOING FORWARD? I THINK BUSINESSES WANT TO REOPEN, AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM BUSINESSES AS IF THIS IS THE WAY THAT THEY GET TO REOPEN, THEN THEY ARE ON BOARD AND THEY WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. SO PEOPLE RECOGNISE THAT HAVING VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO BE IN CERTAIN PLACES IS THE WAY THAT THEY KEEP THEMSELVES AND THEIR STAFF AND THE CUSTOMER SAFER, AND SO THEY WANT TO GET ON WITH IT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WILL BE AN EXTRA PULSED ON BUSINESS. THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. JUST AS WHEN WE ASKED BAZAN VELEZ PATEL BUSINESSES TO CHECK PEOPLE'S IDEA TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OVER THE AGE OF 18. IT IS ONE OF THE REALITY IS AT THE MOMENT THAT WE ALLOW BUSINESSES TO OPEN UP MORE AND YOU HAVE MORE FREEDOM TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS AS NORMAL. WE CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS AS NORMAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. AND LET'S GO BACK TO SIMON BRIDGES' SHOCK DEMOTION, AND THE STATEMENT HE MADE TO MEDIA MOMENTS AGO. WE SAW YESTERDAY WAS TRULY DESPERATE STUFF FROM JUDITH COLLINS. I THINK IT SHOWS ACTUALLY THAT SHE WILL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO HOLD ONTO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND HOW WRONG IT WAS. AND I ASSURE YOU I WILL, BUT I WANTED TO TALK TO MY CAUCUS FIRST AND BE VERY CLEAR WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT I THINK AND WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY. BUT I ASSURE YOU I WILL DO A FULL PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ARE YOU GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU TO COLLINS? I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER?. I SAID MY PIECE, BUT I ASSURE YOU I WILL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AFTER CAUCUS WHICH IS HAPPENING AT 9 AM THIS MORNING, AND I SAW TWO CAUCUS YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY EVENING, JUDITH COLLINS WAS STILL AT PRESENT, BUT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE A CAUCUS YESTERDAY. FINALLY WE HAVE ONE THIS MORNING. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING TIME COME 9 AM AT THAT CAUCUS MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL AND THAT ONE. SIMON REGISTERS REPEATING HIS STATEMENT. THIS IS A TRULY DESPERATE MEASURE. THIS ALL WENT DOWN LAST NIGHT AROUND 9:30 IN THE EVENING. VERY LATE. SIMON BRIDGES LESLAIN BAIRD JUDITH COLLINS DENIED A CAUCUS MEETING YESTERDAY. THEN WE HAD THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED A JOURNALIST OVER NICE. SIMON BRIDGES BE FOR THE FIRST TIME WOULD NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS BUT IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIS CAUCUS. I DO NOT KNOW IF LOOKING FORWARD IS THE RIGHT WORD THERE. THERE WILL BE A CAUCUS MEETING AT 9 AM. IF YOU ARE JUST CATCHING UP ON EVERYTHING, THIS IS GOING BACK ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE A COMPLAINT WAS MADE AT THE TIME BY JACKIE DEAN, NATIONAL MP. IT WAS OF A SEXUAL NATURE AND TERMS OF A COMMENT. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS MADE TO HER OR IN HER PRESENCE. ALL OF THAT WILL BE REVEALED AT SOME POINT IN TIME. JUDITH COLLINS IS TELLING US THAT THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD HEARD A SERIES OF WHAT WAS YESTERDAY, AND SO LAST NIGHT SHE DEMOTED SIMON BRIDGES AND STRIPPED HIM OF ALL OF HIS PORTFOLIOS. THIS IS ALL UNFOLDING OVERNIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. 1 NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY JOINS US NOW. JESS, WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US? IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES, WE HAVE HAD SIMON BRIDGES COME THROUGH. HE MADE A SHORT STATEMENT. HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO INSIDE AND TALK TO HIS COLLEAGUES BEFORE HE MADE ANY FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT HE WAS VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE STANCE THAT JUDITH COLLINS IS TAKEN. HE WAS MEASURED AND VERY CALM IN HIS APPROACH AS HE WALKED IN. I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP, AND HE SAID HE WANTED TO TALK TO HIS CAUCUS COLLEAGUES FIRST. THAT IS HAPPENING AT 9 O'CLOCK. ANOTHER INTERESTING TWIST THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE ON THE FORECOURT OF PARLIAMENT IS THE NATIONAL MP SIMON O'CONNOR HAS WALKED IN. WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION, HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO HAND OVER HIS PORTFOLIOS, HE COULDN'T WORK WITH JUDITH COLLINS ANY MORE. HE HAS BEEN AN MP FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. HE HOPES HIS OTHER COLLEAGUES FELT THE SAME WAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE IF NOT SPELL AT CAUCUS AT 9 AM. WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10 AM, WITH JUDITH COLLINS AND SHANE RETI. AROUND THE SAME TIME, AN UPDATE FROM SIMON BRIDGES. IT REALLY IS ALL ON HERE AT PARLIAMENT THIS MORNING. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS THE MORNING GOES ALONG. THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAST TRACK LEGISLATION TO ENABLE ITS TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM, COMPRESSING A PROCESS THAT USUALLY TAKES MONTHS IN TODAY'S. THE COVID 19 RESPONSE MINISTER SAYS EXTRA SAFEGUARDS TO PUT IN PLACE. THE BILL ITSELF HAS TO BE PERIODICALLY RENEWED BY PARLIAMENT THROUGH A MAJORITY VOTE IN THE HOUSE. THE BILL ITSELF EXPIRES AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE EXTRA SAFE HAS PUT IN PLACE TO RECOGNISE THAT THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY POWERS AND EXTRAORDINARY TIMES. AT LEAST 31 MIGRANTS HAVE DIED AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. THEY HAD SET OFF FOR ENGLAND FROM THE CITY OF CALAIS IN NORTHERN FRANCE. FRENCH AND BRITISH AUTHORITIES ARE CONDUCTING A RESCUE OPERATION IN THE CHANNEL BY AIR AND SEA. UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON IS EXPECTED TO CHAIR AN EMERGENCY COBRA MEETING THIS AFTERNOON IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATHS. MY THOUGHTS AND SYMPATHIES ARE FIRST OF ALL WITH THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND IT'S AN APPALLING THING THAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS DISASTER UNDERSCORES HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO CROSS THE CHANNEL IN THIS WAY. THE MERKEL ERA WILL OFFICIALLY COME TO AN END IN GERMANY. A THREE-PARTY COALITION HAS BEEN FORMED TO TAKE POWER, ALMOST TWO MONTHS AFTER OLAF SCHOLZ'S SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY CAME OUT ON TOP OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS. BUT WITHOUT A MAJORITY, THE COALITION WITH THE GREENS AND THE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY FREE DEMOCRATS HAS PROMISED BROAD PLANS FOR GERMANY'S TRANSITION TO A GREEN ECONOMY. IT BRINGS AN END TO 16 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT LED BY ANGELA MERKEL. TO SPORT, AND THE BLACKCAPS WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENCE BEGINS TONIGHT, AGAINST INDIA IN KANPUR. THE TOP-RANKED BLACKCAPS ARE LIKELY TO FIELD A TWO-PRONGED SPIN ATTACK AGAINST THE NUMBER TWO RANKED INDIANS. CAPTAIN KANE WILLIAMSON SAYS THE TEST SIDE ARE RELISHING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THAT FINAL, WHICH WAS A SPECIAL MEMORY, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AGAINST A VERY STRONG SIDE, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FORMIDABLE, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR OWN CONDITIONS AS WELL. SO THE CHALLENGE IS A BIG ONE, BUT ONE THAT THE TEAM ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ON. WORLD RUGBY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TWO NATIONS. FROM THE 1ST OF JANUARY ANY PLAYER WANTING TO REPRESENT ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO STAND DOWN FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FOR THREE YEARS. THE PLAYER MUST EITHER BE BORN IN THE COUNTRY OR HAVE A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT BORN THERE. EACH CASE WILL ALSO BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY WORLD RUGBY. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. THANK YOU. MATTY, YOU WERE SLOWLY GETTING OFFICE COUCH. I NEED A BOWL OF POP CORN. AND TEA. IT IS ALL ON THIS MORNING. INTERESTING TIMES. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY. SIMON O'CONNOR WHO HAS BEEN AN MP FOR 11 YEARS, SPOKESMAN OF THE NATIONAL PARTY, SAYS HE WILL RESIGN THOSE PORTFOLIOS IN DEFIANCE OF JUDITH:. I WAS SURPRISED. WE SAW SENIOR, EXPERIENCED NATIONAL PARTY MPS WALK OFF WHEN THE LEADERSHIP CAME. IT WAS A MESSY TWO YEARS, AND HERE IS ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT. IS THE WEATHER MESSY? THE WEATHER IS VERY NICE AND CALM. SOMETHING IS. THE ONE CALM THING YOU CAN RELY ON TODAY, BECAUSE THERE IS MORE TO COME ON THE STORY. LET'S CHECK OUT YOUR THURSDAY FORECAST. IT'S A MIX OF FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD COVER IN THE UPPER NORTH. IT SHOULD STAY DRY AROUND WHANGAREI AND RUSSELL, BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN EXPECT A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS DURING THE DAY TOO. 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE ` MAINLY FINE, BUT WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF SOME BRIEF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AROUND TAUPO, TOKOROA AND ROTORUA. 22 DEGREES FOR THE THREE OF YOU. 20 ALONG THE COAST. THERE'S CLEAR BLUE SKIES OUT EAST, WITH REALLY NOTHING TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PERFECT DAY. WARM, TOO ` 20 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN HAWKE'S BAY. 26 FURTHER SOUTH IN MASTERTON. THAT LOVELY, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES AS WE SHIFT WEST, UNTIL SOME CLOUD ARRIVES TONIGHT. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THOSE NORTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP AROUND WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST AFTER LUNCH. 19 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 23 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND WHANGANUI. IT'S LOOKING GORGEOUS ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH. WARM, TOO, WITH THOSE STRONGER NORTH-WESTERLIES ` 24 DEGREES IN KAIKOURA. 25 IN BLENHEIM. A BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ALONG THE COAST, BUT WITH SOME FINE SPELLS LATER ON, ALTHOUGH THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SOME LATE EVENING RAIN. YOU'LL LOVE THE SUNSHINE OUT EAST ONCE THAT LOW MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF. ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THOSE WINDS FROM THE NORTH WILL PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY. 23 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMARU. 27 FOR ASHBURTON. AND IT'S NICE AND FINE THROUGH QUEENSTOWN. BUT THE REST OF THE LOWER SOUTH LOOKS A BIT MORE OVERCAST, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SETTING IN TONIGHT. 21 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S A BIT OF MORNING DRIZZLE IN THE NORTH-EAST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S FINE. THERE'S RAIN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST, SPREADING TO THE LOWER SOUTH LATER IN THE DAY, BUT IT'S FINE EVERYWHERE ELSE. WE WILL DO BESPOKE WEATHER UPDATE O'CLOCK. THANK YOU. COMING UP ` WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON ALL THAT NATIONAL PARTY DRAMA THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB, HANMER MIGHT BE THE PLACE FOR YOU. NOW WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNISE THE YOUNG SPORTING TALENT BY REVEALING THIS YEAR'S SUPREME COLLEGE SPORT AUCKLAND YOUNG SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR. THE AWARDS HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR 30 YEARS, AND PAST WINNERS HAVE INCLUDED JONAH LOMU, LYDIA KO, DAME VALERIE ADAMS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. A SHORTLIST OF 10 GIRLS AND SIX BOYS WERE REVEALED YESTERDAY, AND THIS MORNING WE ARE LUCKY TO ANNOUNCE ` DRUM ROLL, PLEASE ` COLLEGE SPORT AUCKLAND'S YOUNG SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR FOR 2021 IS LEWIS BOWER FROM WESTLAKE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE SPORT AUCKLAND'S YOUNG SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR FOR 2021 IS FRANCES JONAS FROM BARADENE COLLEGE OF THE SACRED HEART. THEY BOTH JOIN US NOW. MORENA, KORUA. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH! THANK YOU FOR APPEARING ON TELEVISION THIS MORNING. FRANCES, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE NAMED AS SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR FOR THE AUCKLAND REGION? IT IS GENUINELY SUCH AN HONOUR TO BE UP WITH THE NAMES THAT HAVE ALREADY WON IT, SUCH AN HONOUR, I AM SO HAPPY. OBVIOUSLY THE THINGS YOU HAVE ACHIEVED HAVE GIVEN YOU THIS HONOUR. LEWIS, HOW DOES IT FEEL? BEING UP WITH NAMES LIKE JONAH LOMU IS SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL, SOMETHING I HOLD HIGH AND MY ACHIEVEMENTS. THIS YEAR WE CAN'T ALL BE TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE BOTH OF YOU IN ONE ROOM, WITH ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCES. LEWIS, WITH YOUR CAREER, YOU HAVE REPRESENTED NEW ZEALAND AT THE ICU ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP. TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INFLUENCED YOU AND YOUR CYCLING CAREER. DEFINITELY WOULD BE MY OLDER BROTHER WAS A BIG INFLUENCE, ALWAYS WANTING TO BEAT HIM AND SPORT. HE STARTED CYCLING A YEAR EARLIER THAN ME, AND AS SOON AS HE STARTED, I WANTED TO GET INTO IT. MY BROTHER WOULD BE A BIG ONE. MY COACH, DION SMITH, WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL WRITER FOR NEW ZEALAND. HE HAS BEEN A LOCAL HERO. A BIG INSPIRATION FOR ME. HE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, SO HE HAS HELPED ME GET WHERE I AM NOW, AND MY COACHES AND PARENTS, MY MUM AND DAD, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN A BIG INSPIRATION TO ME. I LOVE YOU WANTED TO FOLLOW AND YOUR BROTHER'S FOOTSTEPS. FRAN, NEW ZEALAND UNDER 19 WOMEN'S TEAM, NEW ZEALAND WHITE FERNS 50 OVER SQUAD TO PLAY ENGLAND. TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCES. DEFINITELY MY PARENTS, MY OLDER BROTHER, PLAYING CRICKET WITH HIM IN THE BACKYARD. AND DEFINITELY GROWING UP WATCHING CRICKET ON TV AND WATCHING THE WHITE FERNS, DEFINITELY A BIG INFLUENCE FOR ME, AND MY COACHES, EVERYONE. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE, BEING GIVEN THE CALL UP, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND? IT WAS UNREAL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT, BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A GOOD EXPERIENCE. EVERYONE WAS SO LOVELY. IT WAS SO GOOD. SHE HAS TO SAY THAT. LEWIS, THIS YEAR, THIS HAS BEEN A FUNNY OLD YEAR, NOT ONLY WITH SPORT, BUT ALSO WITH SCHOOL. HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU. ARE YOU YEAR 12 OR YEAR 13? YEAR 12. ARE YOU ON STUDY LEAVE AT THE MOMENT? YES ON STUDY LEAVE. I HAVE ONE MORE EXAM. AND HAS BEEN PRETTY TOUGH, I GUESS. NCEA HAS HELPED A BIT, SPREADING ACROSS THE YEAR WITH INTERNALS. WHEN I LEFT EUROPE TO COMPLETE AT WORLDS, I HAD ALREADY GOT ENOUGH CREDITS TO PASS THE YEAR. LEAVING THE DAY BEFORE LOCKDOWN WAS LUCKY. WHEN I GOT BACK, I WAS ON THE SAME PAGE AS MY CLASSMATES. I GOT LUCKY WITH THE LOCKDOWN. I RETURNED TO SCHOOL ALMOST THE SAME TIME AS EVERYONE ELSE. I GUESS YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY ORGANISED. WITH YOUR SPORT, YOUR OVERSEAS. IN TERMS OF SCHOOLWORK AND CYCLING, HOW DO YOU FIT EVERYTHING IN? TIME MANAGEMENT, I GUESS. GET UP EARLY, DO THE TRAINING, GET IT OUT OF THE WAY AND FOCUS ON SCHOOL, THEN TRY TO GO TO WORK AFTER SCHOOL. THREE THINGS A DAY, REALLY. JUST THROW IN SOME WORK AMONGST ALL OF THAT. FRAN, WHAT HAS THIS YEAR BEEN LIKE YOU, SCHOOL, PLAYING INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. HOW DO YOU MANAGE IT ALL? THERE WILL BE PARENTS LISTENING, THINKING I WILL GIVE THAT TO MY KIDS. IT WAS DIFFICULT, BECAUSE I WAS AWAY FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO I MISSED OUT ON QUITE A BIT. BUT MY TEACHERS WERE GREAT AND HELPED ME SO MUCH TO CATCH UP, AND I MANAGED TO PASS THE YEAR, SO I THANK ALL MY TEACHERS WERE HELPING ME THROUGH EVERYTHING. YOU ARE YEAR 13? THIS IS IT. I KNOW YOU HAVE ENDED UP WITH A CONTRACT, BUT WHAT IS NEXT YEAR LOOKING LIKE FOR YOU? I AM TAKING A GAP YEAR, TO FOCUS ON CRICKET AND WORK A BIT, HAVE A BREAK. GOOD ON YOU. LEWIS, I IMAGINE IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL FOR YOU. BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU. WELL-DESERVED. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. LEWIS BOWER FROM WESTLAKE AND FRANCES FROM BARADENE. SEE YOU AROUND THE CRICKET FIELD, FRAN. IS BEEN TOUGH FOR FRAN WITH CRICKET SEASON STARTING ALREADY, BUT AUCKLAND BEING ON LOCKDOWN. SUPER SMASH STARTS ON FRIDAY. 40 GAMES ON TVNZ. MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` AT LEAST 31 MIGRANTS HAVE DIED AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. MORE ON THAT AT 8. ALSO AHEAD, IT'S ALL ON AT PARLIAMENT. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JUDITH COLLINS' DECISION TO DEMOTE SIMON BRIDGES AND WHETHER OR NOT A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE IS ON THE WAY. AND THE VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS IF YOU WANT TO VISIT HAMNER SPRINGS HOT POOLS UNDER THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM. HOW IS THE TOWN PREPARING FOR TOURIST? WILL THERE BE ANYONE HERE TO MEET THEM? YESTERDAY, THE POPULAR HANMER SPRINGS HOT POOLS ANNOUNCED IT WOULD ONLY ALLOW VACCINATED CUSTOMERS TO ENTER, ONCE NZ MOVES INTO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM, IN JUST OVER A WEEK. THE POOLS ARE A MAJOR DRAWCARD TO THE VILLAGE, FAMOUS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH ISLAND. FOR THE SECOND MORNING IN A ROW, OUR REPORTER ISAAC GUNSON IS LIVE AT A CANTERBURY HOT POOL CENTRE. MORENA, E HOA. GOOD MORNING. LET'S MAKE IT 343, LET'S VISIT THE NEW BRIGHTON HOBBLES. IF YOU ARE WANTING TO VISIT HERE, THE RULES ARE IF IT IS VACCINATION, YOU ARE GOING TO BE TOO POOR TO AT LEAST, BEING FULLY VACCINATED. HOW YOU THIS MORNING? GOOD. WELCOME BACK TO HAMNER/ THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE WAS FROM THE WINTER FESTIVAL. TELL US HOW THAT WENT. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. EVENTS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR, THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND TEETHING ISSUES, BUT THE EVENT WAS FANTASTIC. THE VISITORS TO HAMNER HAD A FANTASTIC TIME. TELL US ABOUT THE VACCINATION REQUIREMENT BEING BROUGHT IN. WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION? IT IS TO KEEP OUR STAFF AND OUR CUSTOMERS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO UNDER THE GOVERNMENT TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM, BY TAKING THE POSITION AND ONLY ALLOWING VACCINATED ONTO THE COMPLEX, WE ARE ABLE TO OPEN AND OPERATE AS NORMAL. WE CAN HAVE NO CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPLEX. THAT MEANS IT SHOULD BE A BIG SUMMER FOR US. IT MEANS WE CAN HELP THE VILLAGE AND REGION FIVE WELCOMING VISITORS. AUCKLAND HAS HAD IT TOUGH BEING IN LEVEL 3 FOR SO LONG. WHAT LEVEL TWO RESTRICTIONS HAVE MEANT HERE? LEVEL TWO RESTRICTIONS HAS MEANT THAT ON WEEKENDS, , SCHOOL HOLIDAYS , OFTEN OUR BUSIEST TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO REDUCE NUMBERS AND HAVE CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS. IT HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH SLOG AT LEVEL TWO. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED. HOW ABOUT THE TOWN IN GENERAL? HOW HAS THE TOWN BEEN COPING? AUCKLAND, LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF FOUR MONTHS AND LOCK FOR THEIR BORDER LIVES, WHAT IS THE EFFECT ON THE TOWN? THE TOWN IS POSITIVE. , WE HAVE HAD COMPARED TO OTHER TOWNS AND REGIONS, PRETTY GOOD VISITORS. LEVEL TO, THE RECENT RESTRICTIONS THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN TOUGH, BUT WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE. THANKS TO THE NEW ZEALAND KIWIS HELPING US OUT. WHAT ABOUT ACTUAL PEOPLE HERE TO MEET? THE STAFFING HOW IS THAT GOING? THAT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. THE POOLS, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR STAFF NUMBERS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE ARE TRYING TO FILL A COUPLE OF POSITIONS, AROUND HAMNER, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. THERE ARE BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR STAFF. WHY IS THE TOWN FACING A STAFFING SHORTAGE? OVER SUMMER, HAMNER WE HAVE MIGRANT WORKERS, WORKING VISA WORKERS. WITH BORDERS CLOSED, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE WORKERS. WE CAN'T RELY ON THEM, AND WE HAVE HAD TO TRY AND FIND WORKERS ELSEWHERE. HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE AUCKLAND BORDER BEING OPENED AND SOME OF THAT IS BACK TO RELATIVE NORMALCY? WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. IT HAS BEEN HARD ON AUCKLAND. WE FEEL FOR THEM. WE ARE HOPING TO WELCOME THEM DOWN HERE WITH OPEN ARMS. FOR US AS A COUNTRY, IF WE CAN HAVE A SUMMER THAT IS CLOSE TO NORMAL, AND SOME SORT OF BREAK, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING TO THE HOSPITALITY SET IN THE VILLAGE AS WELL LATER ON ABOUT THOSE STAFFING SHORTAGES, THE ROLL-ON EFFECTS THAT THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO THE TOWN AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR TOURISTS VISITING, JOB OPPORTUNITIES. IF HAMNER SOUNDS LIKE A PLACE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THE SUMMER. GREAT SALES PITCH. THIS IS TINY. THERE IS NO DEPTH HERE. NOT THE SHALLOW END. THERE WE GO. THE BIG SPLASH. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE SHOW. STAY WITH US. WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH YOUR NEWS. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. WE ARE JUST TAKING A BREATH. IT HAS BEEN A ROLLERCOASTER. WE ARE FEELING IT HERE IN THE STUDIO. NATIONAL PARTY MEETING AND ONE HOUR, WITH MORE INFORMATION TO COME AT 10 AM. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. THE NATIONAL PARTY CAUCUS IS MEETING AT 9AM TO DISCUSS THE MATTER OF AN ALLEGATION OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT FROM SIMON BRIDGES. 1 NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH-MCKAY IS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT NOW. JESS, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? THE COMMENT WAS MADE AROUND JACQUI DEAN, AND NATIONAL MP FIVE YEARS AGO. SIMON BRIDGES HAS SAID HE IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE TACTICS OF JUDITH COLLINS, DEMOTING HIM, AND STRIPPING HIM OF HIS PORTFOLIOS. IT HAS BEEN ALL ON HERE OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT, WITH THE MPS ARRIVING HERE AT WORK. WE HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF MPS BEHIND-THE-SCENES. WE HAVE THE CAUCUS MEETING AT 9 AM. WE EXPECT SOME KIND OF LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT DEVELOPING. THIS STATEMENT CAME AS A SURPRISE TO MANY AT 9.30 LAST NIGHT. COMES WITH POOR POLLING FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK. THIS IS WHAT SIMON BRIDGES HAD TO SAY. I THINK IT SHOWS, ACTUALLY, THAT SHE WILL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO HOLD ON TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND HOW WRONG IT WAS, AND I ASSURE YOU I WILL, BUT I WANT TO TALK TO MY CAUCUS FIRST. JESS, HAVE WE HEARD FROM ANY OTHER NATIONAL MPs YET? WE ARE STANDING OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT ON THE FORECOURT IN FRONT OF THE STEPS, FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS PARLIAMENT, WE ARE ASKING NATIONAL MPS WHAT THEY THINK ON THEIR WAY IN. WE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE FROM ONE OF THE MPS, SIMON O'CONNOR. ONE THING IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME, AND THAT'S JUDITH COLLINS MUST RESIGN. HER ACTIONS... ARE JUST DOWNRIGHT APPALLING, THE WAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED. THAT IS A VERY STRONG CALL FROM ONE OF HER OWN MPS. HE HOPES THAT HIS OTHER COLLEAGUES WILL FEEL THE SAME. FOR SOME OF THE OTHER MPS COMING IN THIS MORNING, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF NO COMMENTS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON, TOUTED AS A FUTURE LEADER, HAS SAID NO COMMENT. THERE IS A SENSE FROM NATIONAL MPS THAT THEY WANT TO MEET, ME AS A CAUCUS, THEN COME OUT TOGETHER. WE WILL HAVE JUDITH COLLINS SPEAKING AT 10 AM. THERE MAY BE A CONFLICTING PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE SAME TIME WITH SIMON BRIDGES. THINGS ARE HAPPENING MINUTE BY MINUTE, AND WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED. THANKS, JESS. AUCKLAND HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS HAVE A HAIRY TASK AHEAD, REOPENING TODAY TO PRIMP AND PRIME THREE MONTHS' WORTH OF LOCKDOWN LOCKS. OUR REPORTER LARISSA HOWIE IS AT AN AUCKLAND BARBER THAT'S WELCOMED IN THEIR FIRST CUSTOMERS. LARISSA, HOW ARE THINGS GOING? IT IS THE LIVELIEST THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN HERE AT THE GENTRY FOR A LONG TIME. THE FIRST HAIRCUT IS JUST WRAPPING UP BEHIND ME. THAT IS THE FIRST HAIRCUT THIS PERSON HAS HAD AND THREE MONTHS. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. AUCKLANDERS ARE DESPERATE TO GET RID OF THEIR AUCKLAND LOCKDOWN HAIR. IT HAS BEEN 100 DAYS IN LOCKDOWN HERE IN THE CITY OF SAILS, AND PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO GET BACK TO SOME SORT OF NORMALITY. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER JUST A SHORT TIME AGO. HE SAYS IT IS NOT QUITE GOING TO BE BACK TO NORMAL YET, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE. THIS SECTOR IS ONE SECTOR THAT ARE BEING TRIALED OUT BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM. HE SAYS IT IS GOING TO BE A STRESSFUL FEW MONTHS AHEAD. I HAVE HARDLY SLEPT LAST NIGHT. IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS AGAIN, BUT NOT CHRISTMAS. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE. WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO IT AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO TODAY, AND FOR THE NEXT RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS, LOOK AFTER OUR CLIENTS. SO NOT QUITE BACK TO NORMAL. THERE WILL BE RULES IN PLACE, INCLUDING WEARING MASKS, SCANNING IN. AND ALSO THE TRIALLING OF THAT VACCINATION PASS. THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY HICCUPS BUT ALL EYES WILL BE ON THIS SECTOR IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE WE SHIFT INTO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM. ALL THREE MEN CHARGED WITH THE KILLING OF AHMAUD ARBERY IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER. THE 25-YEAR-OLD WAS JOGGING IN THE CITY OF BRUNSWICK WHEN HE WAS FATALLY SHOT IN 2020, SPARKING NATIONAL OUTRAGE, AFTER A VIDEO OF HIS SHOOTING WAS MADE PUBLIC. GREGORY McMICHAEL, TRAVIS McMICHAEL AND WILLIAM BRYAN JUNIOR EACH FACED FIVE MURDER CHARGES. AT LEAST 31 MIGRANTS HAVE DIED AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. THEY HAD SET OFF FOR ENGLAND FROM THE CITY OF CALAIS IN NORTHERN FRANCE. FRENCH AND BRITISH AUTHORITIES ARE CONDUCTING A RESCUE OPERATION IN THE CHANNEL BY AIR AND SEA. UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON IS EXPECTED TO CHAIR AN EMERGENCY COBRA MEETING THIS AFTERNOON IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATHS. TO SPORT, AND THE BLACKCAPS AREN'T READING ANYTHING INTO A WEAKENED INDIA SIDE, AHEAD OF THE FIRST TEST MATCH TONIGHT. INDIA WILL BE WITHOUT A NUMBER OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS, INCLUDING VIRAT KOHLI. CAPTAIN KANE WILLIAMSON SAYS THE TEST SIDE ARE RELISHING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, BUT THE WORLD TEST CHAMPIONS AREN'T READING INTO THE 'FAVOURITES' TAG. I DON'T THINK WE'RE FAVOURITES. YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG STRENGTHS OF INDIAN CRICKET IN ANY FORMAT IS THEIR DEPTH. AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS OVER THE YEARS. AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR OWN CONDITIONS IS SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE UNIQUE FOR TOURING TEAMS AS WELL, SO WE KNOW THE CHALLENGE IS A BIG ONE. I LOVE IT. SCOTTY IS THINKING THIS IS NORMAL. IT WOULDN'T BE THE WEATHER IF YOU DIDN'T SEE MATTY RUNNING FOR HIS BROOM. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU ALL MORNING SITTING ON THE COUCH. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT GOING ON. WE HAVE HAD PROFESSIONALS STEPPING IN FOR YOU OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS - RENEE AND ERIN. AS SOON AS THEY HAVE SPORT, THEY GET OFF THE COUCH. IT IS A HUGE DAY IN POLITICAL NEWS. MATTHEW IS ENGAGED. SITTING ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. I BELIEVE THAT BROOM IS REQUIRED IN THE CAUCUS ROOM. SWEEP UP THE MESS. I AM HERE NOW AND WE ARE READY TO GO. IT'S A MIX OF FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD COVER IN THE UPPER NORTH. IT SHOULD STAY DRY AROUND WHANGAREI AND RUSSELL, BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN EXPECT A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS DURING THE DAY TOO ` 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. OUR BESPOKE WEATHER IS HUNUA. 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. JUST SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. OUR BESPOKE WEATHER IS HUNUA. BEAUTIFUL SPOT SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. JOHN ALLEN SENT THIS IN. SUNRISE OVER THE HUNUAS, BEAUTIFUL BUSHWALKS THERE. I HAVE BEEN ONCE. IT IS ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM HOME. THAT YOU JUST WALK OUTSIDE? YOU JUST WALK OUTSIDE? BEHIND YOUR FENCE. JOHN SAID THEY GET THE MOST AMAZING SUNRISES, LIVING ON THE EDGE OF PAPAKURA ONLY FIVE MINUTES FROM TOWN, WE HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. THE RURAL, QUIET PEACEFUL BUT ALSO WITH TOWN FIBRE 10 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTO, JOHN. THEY HAVE A SERVICE STATION AND A DAIRY. THAT IS ALL YOU NEED. TODAY, A MIX OF SUNSHINE AND CLOUD COVER THERE TODAY, POSSIBLY JUST A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS LATER ON. HEADING FOR A HIGH OF 22 DEGREES. SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE ` MAINLY FINE, BUT WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF SOME BRIEF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AROUND TAUPO, TOKOROA AND ROTORUA ` 22 DEGREES FOR THE THREE OF YOU, 20 ALONG THE COAST. THERE'S CLEAR BLUE SKIES OUT EAST, WITH REALLY NOTHING TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PERFECT DAY, WARM, TOO ` 20 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN HAWKE'S BAY. 26 FURTHER SOUTH IN MASTERTON. THAT LOVELY, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES AS WE SHIFT WEST UNTIL SOME CLOUD ARRIVES TONIGHT. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THOSE NORTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP AROUND WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST AFTER LUNCH ` 19 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 23 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND WHANGANUI. IT'S LOOKING GORGEOUS ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH, WARM TOO, WITH THOSE STRONGER NORTH-WESTERLIES ` 24 DEGREES IN KAIKOURA. 25 IN BLENHEIM. A BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ALONG THE COAST, BUT WITH SOME FINE SPELLS LATER ON, ALTHOUGH THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SOME LATE EVENING RAIN. YOU'LL LOVE THE SUNSHINE OUT EAST ONCE THAT LOW MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF, ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THOSE WINDS FROM THE NORTH WILL PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY ` 23 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMARU, 27 FOR ASHBURTON. AND IT'S NICE AND FINE THROUGH QUEENSTOWN, BUT THE REST OF THE LOWER SOUTH LOOKS A BIT MORE OVERCAST, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SETTING IN TONIGHT ` 21 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY, TOMORROW THERE'S A BIT OF MORNING DRIZZLE IN THE NORTHEAST, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S FINE. THERE'S RAIN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST, SPREADING TO THE LOWER SOUTH LATER IN THE DAY, BUT IT'S FINE EVERYWHERE ELSE. WE LOVE HEARING ABOUT YOUR TOWN IN BESPOKE WEATHER, AND NOW BESPOKE WEATHER COULD BE COMING TO YOU. IN FACT, WE'RE HEADING BACK ON THE ROAD THIS MONTH. OUR GOOD FRIEND MATT GIBB IS LENDING US A HAND. TO ENTER, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HEAD TO BREAKFASTWEATHER.CO.NZ AND SHARE A PHOTO OF YOUR TOWN. AND THANKS TO SKODA, BREAKFAST COULD PAY YOU A VISIT. AT THE END OF EACH MONTH, WE'LL CHOOSE A FAVOURITE AND DO THE WEATHER LIVE FROM THAT LOCATION. SHKODA. THANK YOU, MATTY. YOU ARE THE WORST TOURISM BROCHURE OF ALL TIME. HUNUA - IT HAS GOT A SERVICE STATION AND A DAIRY. MATTY TALKED IT UP, THE WALKS ET CETERA. I AM SAYING YOU CAN GET PETROL THERE AND A DRINK OF WATER. A PICTURE SPEAKS 1000 WORDS. ARE YOU GOING ON THE SKODA ROAD TRIP? NO, MATT GIBB IS, BECAUSE I CAN'T. I AM PLEASED SOMEONE IS GOING. WE HAVE PICKED A NEAT SPOT FOR MATT TO HEAD TO. COMING UP ` THE POLITICAL FALLOUT OF NATIONAL'S DEMOLITION DRAMA, AND THE IMPENDING LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE COMING LATER THIS MORNING. LATE LAST NIGHT, FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER SIMON BRIDGES WAS DEMOTED AND RELIEVED OF ALL HIS PORTFOLIOS, FOLLOWING AN ALLEGATION OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT. HE MADE A SHORT STATEMENT TO THIS MEDIA THIS MORNING. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY WAS TRULY DESPERATE STUFF FROM JUDITH COLLINS. I THINK IT SHOWS, ACTUALLY, THAT SHE'LL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO HOLD ON TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. THERE'S ARE HUGE AMOUNT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND HOW WRONG IT WAS, AND I ASSURE YOU, I WILL, BUT I WANT TO TALK TO MY CAUCUS FIRST AND BE VERY CLEAR WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT I THINK AND WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY. BUT I ASSURE YOU, I WILL DO A FULL PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THAT SOON AS POSSIBLE. ARE YOU GOING TO CHALLENGE JUDITH COLLINS FOR THE LEADERSHIP? I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW. I'VE SAID MY PIECE. BUT I ASSURE YOU, I'LL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AFTER CAUCUS, WHICH IS HAPPENING AT 9AM THIS MORNING, IN WHICH I'VE SOUGHT A CAUCUS YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY EVENING. JUDITH COLLINS WAS STILL IN THE PRECINCT, BUT SHE WOULDN'T HAVE A CAUCUS YESTERDAY. FINALLY, WE HAVE ONE THIS MORNING, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THANKS VERY MUCH. FOR SOME POLITICAL ANALYSIS, WE'RE JOINED BY COMMENTATOR BEN THOMAS. MORENA, BEN. KIA ORA. HOLY MOSES. THIS HAS BEEN A HECTIC MORNING FOR POLITICS FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY. SIMON BRIDGES DEMOTED LAST NIGHT, JUST AFTER 9 PM. HE SOUGHT A CAUCUS MEETING LAST NIGHT. THAT MEETING WAS DECLINED, DENIED BY JUDITH COLLINS. THE MPS THIS MORNING, MARK MITCHELL SAYING THEY WERE BLINDSIDED BY THIS DECISION, SIMON O'CONNOR SAYING THAT JUDITH COLLINS MUST RESIGN. DEEPLY DISRESPECT WILL HAS BEEN ONE DESCRIPTION OF THE MOVE TO DEMOTE SIMON BRIDGES. WHAT HAS GONE ON AND WHY? THE FIRST THING THAT WE SHOULD NOTE IS THAT ANY ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION, WHICH IS WHAT WERE MENTIONED IN JUDITH COLLINS QUEST RELEASE HAVE TO BE TREATED SERIOUSLY, WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARTY, WITHIN PARLIAMENT, WITHIN SOCIETY. THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE HAS JUDITH COLLINS TREATED THESE ALLEGATIONS AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY SHOULD BE. WE HAVE SEEN COMMENTS IN THE PUBLIC AS STILL WHAT THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE ABOUT. FROM THOSE COMMENTS, IT SEEMS TO FALL FAR SHORT OF WHAT WE REGARD AS HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION. IT PROBABLY MEETS THE THRESHOLD OF CRASS. IT IS NOT CLEAR. WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS SAID AT THIS FUNCTION TO MP JACKIE DEAN OR IN HER PRESENCE BY SIMON BRIDGES? THE VERSION THAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT BRIDGES MADE A CRASS, VULGAR STATEMENT ABOUT TRYING TO CONCEIVE A DAUGHTER IN THE WAYS THAT VARIOUS FOLK REMEDIES WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU CAN TIP THE ODDS. THAT WHETHER THAT IS TRUE OR NOT WE DO NOT KNOW. THAT IS THE ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE TRAVERSED AT THIS CAUCUS. WHAT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT IS WHAT WAS SAID, THE FAX OF THE SITUATION. JUDITH COLLINS SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND MISCHARACTERISATION THE POSITION OF THE NATIONAL PARTY LAST NIGHT. SHE SAID IT WAS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR HER DECISION TO DEMOTE BRIDGES. THAT APPEARS TO NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY CLAIMS THAT THE BOARD SUPPORTED HER DECISION UNANIMOUSLY DEMOTE SIMON BRIDGES. THAT BOARD IS SAYING THAT IS NOT TRUE. SOURCES HAVE SUGGESTED IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS. THE BOARD WAS MEETING LAST NIGHT AFTER THE PRESS RELEASE WAS PUT UP. THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION. THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE THRASHED OUT IN CAUCUS. SIMON BRIDGES WAS APPROACHED WITH THE ALLEGATIONS. THE ALLEGATIONS WERE DEALT WITH BY BILL ENGLISH AT THE TIME. SIMON BRIDGES ISSUED AN APOLOGY. IN HIS BOOK, THE ONLY TIMES HE HAS STRUGGLED WITH FITTING IN WITH THE BOYS AND HAS BEHAVED IN WAYS HE IS NOW NOT COME FULL WITH. YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE FACTORS, BECAUSE THESE ARE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. THE OVERALL PICK OF THE NATIONAL PARTY IS A MESS. YOU KNOW THIS PARTY, THE POLITICIANS WELL. JUDITH COLLINS HAS BEEN IN THE NATIONAL PARTY CAUCUS FOR A LONG TIME. THIS INCIDENT ALLEGED TO HAVE HAPPENED FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO UNDER BILL ENGLISH IS READERSHIP. PETER GOODFELLOW WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PARTY THEN. HE STILL IS. JUDITH COLLINS HAS BEEN WITH THE PARTY THE WHOLE TIME. SHE SAYS YESTERDAY SHE WAS MADE AWARE OF HOW SERIOUS THE ALLEGATION WAS. DO YOU BELIEVE JUDITH COLLINS THAT SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ALLEGATION BEFORE A DAY AGO? THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ALLEGATIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T DECIDE ON HERE WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL FACTS, BUT WHAT WE CAN SAY IS THAT THE TIMING IS EXTREMELY CONVENIENT FOR JUDITH COLLINS, LOOKING AT LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE FOR THE TROUBLED LEADERSHIP, MOST LIKELY FROM SIMON BRIDGES. IN THE PAST SHE HAS DEALT WITH DISLOYALTY BY PUBLICLY TEARING INTO PEOPLE IN CABINET, DEFTLY EXECUTED THE EXIT OF NICK SMITH FROM PARLIAMENT. FOR ALL APPEARANCES, UNLESS SHE CAN PUT UP THE GOODS AT THIS CAUCUS MEETING, IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS ON A RAMPAGE AND TRYING TO END CAREERS FOR THE SAKE OF IT. HOW CONCERNED SHOULD THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY, JUDITH COLLINS, BE THAT SENIOR MPS LIKE SIMON O'CONNOR HAVE COME OUT STRONGLY CRITICAL OF HER ACTIONS, MARK MITCHELL, A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY CAUCUS HAS CALLED IT DEEPLY DISRESPECTFUL. SIMON BRIDGES HIMSELF HAS SAID IT IS TRULY DESPERATE. CHRIS LUXTON IS NOT RULING OUT A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE. CHRIS BISHOP HAS MADE NO COMMENT AT THIS STAGE. HOW CONCERNED SHOULD JUDITH COLLINS BE THAT HER LEADERSHIP IS UNDER THREAT THIS MORNING? UNLESS SHE CAN PRODUCE SOME REALLY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS MISCONDUCT IN TERMS THAT SHE FRAMED IN HER PRESS RELEASE AND THAT IT WAS NOT DEALT WITH AT THE TIME AND THAT SHE FOLLOWED PROCESS, SHE WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CONCERNED. THE CHANCES OF HER BEING THE NATIONAL PARTY LEADER AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10 AM. YOU BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A LEADERSHIP CHANGE THIS MORNING FOLLOWING THIS CAUCUS MEETING? AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL FACT. IS A SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE TREATED SERIOUSLY. IF SHE HAS INFORMATION THAT THE REST OF US DON'T, AND SHE CAN MAKE THAT CASE TO CAUCUS, MAYBE THEY WILL DECIDE THAT SHE DID THE RIGHT THING IN DESPITE BYPASSING THEM, WHILE THEY WERE TRAPPED IN THE PRECINCT UNDER URGENCY AND AVAILABLE FOR CAUCUS MEETING. IF THIS IS JUST BRINGING TO A HEAD ALL OF THE LONG-STANDING ISSUES UNDER JUDITH COLLINS IS TURBULENT LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS A REIGN OF TERROR OF TRYING TO SINGLE OUT HER ENEMIES AND ANY THREATS TO HER LEADERSHIP AND SHOWING THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE THAT IS CHARACTERISED HER LEADERSHIP, THE GOVERNMENT IS TRAMPLING DUE PROCESS UNDER ALL STAGES URGENCY, WHEN THE PUBLIC DON'T HAVE A SAY; THIS IS RIGHT FOR NATIONAL TO CRITICISE, AND INSTEAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SHAMBLES OF JUDITH COLLINS LEADERSHIP. IT IS AN EXTRA ORDINARY TIME. I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE POINT OF TIMING. WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHY A CAUCUS MEETING WAS REQUESTED LAST NIGHT? DO YOU THINK THAT JUDITH COLLINS LEADERSHIP WAS TO BE QUESTIONED LAST NIGHT BY OUR KABBALAH OF MPS AND THAT NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE? JUDITH COLLINS HAS CHOSEN THE TIME OF HER OWN LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE. THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO QUESTION HER LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY AS THE GOVERNMENT IS IN TURMOIL OVER ITS COVID 19 RESPONSE. THE POLLING IS DROPPING. PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM. THAT SHOULD BE MANA FROM HEAVEN FROM A STRUGGLING OPPOSITION. INSTEAD THEY ARE ENGAGED IN TURMOIL. JUDITH COLLINS IS BRINGING THE TEMPLE DOWN AROUND HER LIKE SAMSON. WE WILL LEAVE YOU ON THAT RATHER DESCRIPTIVE NOTE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. BEN THOMAS ON THE ONGOING SAGA OF THE SIMON BRIDGES DEMOTION BY JUDITH COLLINS LAST NIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` AUCKLAND HEADS WILL LOOK A LITTLE TIDIER, AS HAIRDRESSERS REOPEN. MORE ON THAT AT 8.30. ALSO ` HOW TO MAKE A RESTAURANT THRIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE NATIONAL PARTY CAUCUS IS MEETING AT 9 THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THE MATTER OF AN ALLEGATION OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT FROM SIMON BRIDGES. 1 NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH-MCCKAY IS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT NOW. JESS, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING AS WE SPEAK. WE HAVE NATIONAL MPS GOING IN FOR THE 9 AM PRESS CONFERENCE. FROM MY SOURCES, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE COMMENT THAT BRIDGES ALLEGEDLY MADE WAS OF A SEXUAL NATURE, BUT NOT DIRECTED AT JACQUI DEAN. IT WAS MADE FIVE YEARS AGO, SO IT HAS RESURFACED AFTER FIVE YEARS TIME. JUDITH COLLINS, SHANE RETI, AND JACQUI DEAN ARE SET TO SPEAK AT 10 AM. SOME OF THE MPS GOING IN TODAY SAY A LEADERSHIP CONTEST IS ON, THEY WILL BE DOING THE NUMBERS AT 9 AM, AND WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO JUDITH COLLINS LEADERSHIP, WHETHER SIMON BRIDGES IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB. THAT COMES AMID A LOT OF TALK AND CHATTER THAT SIMON BRIDGES MAY HAVE ANOTHER TILT. POLLING LAST WEEK BY ONE NEWS SHOWED HE WAS THEREABOUTS WITH JUDITH COLLINS. HER NUMBERS WERE POOR. ANOTHER POLE THIS WEEK REFLECT THAT SIMILAR RESULT. I THINK IT SHOWS, ACTUALLY, THAT SHE'LL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO HOLD ON TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. ARE YOU GOING TO CHALLENGE JUDITH COLLINS? I HAVE SAID MY PIECE, BUT I WILL ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS AFTER CAUCUS AT 9 AM. HOW ARE NATIONAL MPS FEELING? A LOT ARE SAYING NO COMMENT, SAYING THEY WANT TO TALK TO THEIR CAUCUS. WE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY COMMENT FROM SIMON O'CONNOR ON HIS WAY INTO PARLIAMENT, WHICH SET THE CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS HE WILL HAND OVER HIS PORTFOLIOS IF SHE STAYS. THE NATIONAL PARTY MUST GET RID OF JUDITH COLLINS AS THE LEADER. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. THERE IS A LOT AT PLAY HERE. WE HAVE THE ALLEGATION OF THE COMMENT FROM FIVE YEARS AGO AND COLLINS COMING DOWN HARD ON THAT. WE HAVE SIMON BRIDGES SAYING IT IS A PLOY TO GET RID OF HIM, BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO BE CONTESTING HER LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE THE CAUCUS MEETING AND UNHAPPY. WE HAVE QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER SIMON BRIDGES IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB. QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT IS CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S TURN. HE HAS ONLY BEEN IN PARLIAMENT FOR ONE YEAR, AND SOURCES SAY HE IS NOT READY TO HAVE A TILT YET. THIS HAS BEEN BREWING FOR A LONG TIME. WE DID STORIES ON IT LAST WEEK WHEN A POLL CAME OUT, AND IT HAS ADDED FUEL TO THE FIRE. MPS ARE TRICKLING AND AS WE SPEAK. WE WILL KEEP YOU RIGHT UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS. CAUCUS IS MEETING AT NINE. AUCKLAND HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS HAVE A HAIRY TASK AHEAD, REOPENING TODAY TO PRIMP AND PRIME THREE MONTHS' WORTH OF LOCKDOWN LOCKS. OUR REPORTER LARISSA HOWIE IS AT AN AUCKLAND BARBER THAT HAS WELCOMED THEIR FIRST CUSTOMERS. LARISSA, HOW ARE THINGS GOING? PEOPLE IN AUCKLAND ARE DESPERATE TO SORT OUT THEIR LOCKDOWN HAIR. SOME BARBERS OPENED AT MIDNIGHT TO DEAL WITH THAT DEMAND FOR HAIRCUTS AND APPOINTMENTS. HERE AT THE GENTRY, THEY ARE ONTO ABOUT THEIR THIRD HAIRCUT. I SPOKE TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO CAME THROUGH. HE HAD HAD HIS HAIR DONE FOR THREE MONTH. HE GAVE IT A HIMSELF, BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING. THE OWNER SAYS IT IS GREAT TO BE OPEN AGAIN. BUT WITH A WHOLE LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN STRESSFUL. HE SAYS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDING TO SORT OUT THEIR HAIR IN AUCKLAND I HARDLY SLEPT LAST NIGHT. IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS AGAIN, BUT NOT CHRISTMAS. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE. WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO IT AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO TODAY, AND FOR THE NEXT RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS, LOOK AFTER OUR CLIENTS. THERE ARE OF COURSE A WHOLE LOT OF RULES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, INCLUDING VACCINATION PASSES. WHILE BARBERS AND HAIRDRESSERS ARE USED TO HAVING SOME COVID PROTOCOLS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS AND STAFF SAFE, VACCINATION PASSPORTS ARE NEW, AND THEY ARE THE GUINEA PIGS HERE FOR USING THAT NEW TOOL. CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO GET A CHOP WILL HAVE TO PROVE THEY HAVE HAD BOTH JABS. SO FAR THEY SAY THERE HAVE BEEN NO HAIRCUT. *NO HICCUPS ALL THREE MEN CHARGED WITH THE KILLING OF AHMAUD ARBERY IN U.S. HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER. THE 25-YEAR-OLD WAS JOGGING IN THE CITY OF BRUNSWICK, IN GEORGIA, WHEN HE WAS FATALLY SHOT IN 2020, SPARKING NATIONAL OUTRAGE AFTER A VIDEO OF HIS SHOOTING WAS MADE PUBLIC. GREGORY McMICHAEL, TRAVIS McMICHAEL AND WILLIAM BRYAN JR EACH FACED FIVE MURDER CHARGES. AT LEAST 31 MIGRANTS HAVE DIED, AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. THEY HAD SET OFF FOR ENGLAND FROM THE CITY OF CALAIS, IN NORTHERN FRANCE. FRENCH AND BRITISH AUTHORITIES ARE CONDUCTING A RESCUE OPERATION IN THE CHANNEL BY AIR AND SEA. UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON IS EXPECTED TO CHAIR AN EMERGENCY COBRA MEETING THIS AFTERNOON IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATHS. AND THAT'S YOUR NEWS. HERE'S MATTY WITH THE WEATHER. FLAWLESS. IT'S A MIX OF FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD COVER IN THE UPPER NORTH. IT SHOULD STAY DRY AROUND WHANGAREI AND RUSSELL, BUT EVERYONE ELSE CAN EXPECT A COUPLE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS 19 DEGREES IN WHITIANGA, WITH EARLY 20s FOR THE REST OF YOU. A SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE ` A SIMILAR STORY THROUGH HERE ` MAINLY FINE, BUT WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE OF SOME BRIEF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AROUND TAUPO, TOKOROA AND ROTORUA. 22 DEGREES FOR THE THREE OF YOU. 20 ALONG THE COAST. THERE'S CLEAR BLUE SKIES OUT EAST, WITH REALLY NOTHING TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PERFECT DAY. WARM, TOO ` 20 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN HAWKE'S BAY. 26 FURTHER SOUTH IN MASTERTON. THAT LOVELY, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES AS WE SHIFT WEST, UNTIL SOME CLOUD ARRIVES TONIGHT. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THOSE NORTHERLY WINDS PICKING UP AROUND WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST AFTER LUNCH. 19 DEGREES IN THE CAPITAL. 23 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND WHANGANUI. IT'S LOOKING GORGEOUS ACROSS IN THE UPPER SOUTH. WARM, TOO, WITH THOSE STRONGER NORTH-WESTERLIES. 24 DEGREES IN KAIKOURA. 25 IN BLENHEIM. A BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ALONG THE COAST, BUT WITH SOME FINE SPELLS LATER ON. ALTHOUGH THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SOME LATE EVENING RAIN. YOU'LL LOVE THE SUNSHINE OUT EAST, ONCE THAT LOW MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF. ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THOSE WINDS FROM THE NORTH WILL PICK UP LATER IN THE DAY. 23 THE EXPECTED HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMARU. 27 FOR ASHBURTON. AND IT'S NICE AND FINE THROUGH QUEENSTOWN. BUT THE REST OF THE LOWER SOUTH LOOKS A BIT MORE OVERCAST, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SETTING IN TONIGHT. 21 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. AND THEN IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR FRIDAY, SORRY, THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY. THERE IS FOOD! WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN A MOMENT. # I'M HAPPY... IT'S THE 25TH OF NOVEMBER, AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING WITH YOU, AOTEAROA. TODAY'S THE DAY DANIAH'S LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE TURNS 1. DANIAH SAYS THEY WAITED A WHILE FOR HER TO COMPLETE THE WHANAU, BUT IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. SHE IS ABSOLUTELY A DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL AND HAS HIM WRAPPED AROUND HER LITTLE FINGER. AND TODAY'S THE DAY MERCY TURNS 5. MERCY LOVES FIRE TRUCKS AND ONE DAY WANTS TO BE A FIREMAN. HE'S ALSO COOK ISLAND AND WILL BE HAVING HIS FIRST HAIRCUT CEREMONY TODAY. YOUR NAN AND GRANDAD WANT TO SEND YOU ALL THEIR LOVE. HARI HURITAU KIA KOE, MERCY. TODAY'S THE DAY COURTNEY TURNED 67. HIS DAUGHTER LOUISE SAYS COVID HAS HINDERED HIS RETIREMENT YEARS, SO DEFINITELY DESERVES A SPECIAL RECOGNITION. HE'S A HUGE WAIKATO CHIEFS FAN AND IS AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL TO HIS GRANDSONS. FROM LOUISE, THE BOYS AND THE TEAM AT BREAKFAST, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COURTNEY. AND FINALLY, TODAY'S THE DAY GAZZA CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY. GARRY IS IN NEW PLYMOUTH, AND MOST OF HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE IN AUCKLAND, SO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM A BIG SHOUTOUT FOR HIS BIRTHDAY. HARI HURITAU, GAZ. IF WE DIDN'T GET TO YOUR TODAY'S THE DAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE CELEBRATING. WE DO THIS EVERY DAY. EMAIL US ON THE SAME DAY BREAKFAST@TVNZ.CO.NZ AND USE 'TODAY'S THE DAY' IN YOUR SUBJECT LINE. OUR NEXT GUEST IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW BUSINESSES HAVE MANAGED TO THRIVE WHILE OPERATING DURING THE PANDEMIC. YESHI DESTA IS THE CREATOR OF POP-UP RESTAURANT 'MY MOTHERS KITCHEN', SERVING DELICIOUS AND TRADITIONAL ETHIOPIAN FOOD TO HER LOYAL CUSTOMERS. YESHI RUNS HER BUSINESS BY BORROWING SPACE FROM OTHER RESTAURANTS TO CUT DOWN ON COSTS AND HAS EVEN ROPED IN HER FAMILY TO HELP KEEP UP WITH HER GROWING POPULARITY. WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE YESHI JOIN US NOW. YESHI, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOUR FOOD SMELLS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. SHOULD I TAKE THE LID OFF THIS? YES, PLEASE. OH YEAH! NOW THIS IS INJERA. INJERA, THAT IS FERMENTED FLATBREAD, BASICALLY. IT TAKES THREE DAYS TO 5 DAYS IF IT IS REALLY COLD, SEVEN DAYS TO FERMENT. IT IS GLUTEN FREE. IT IS MADE FROM TEFF FLOUR, AND ALSO RICE FLOUR. IT SUCKS THE FLAVOUR REALLY WELL. I LOVE IT! THERE ARE OTHER DISHES ON THE TABLE AS WELL. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US THE DISHES? ETHIOPIAN CUISINE, AS A RULE, IT IS A LOT OF VEGETARIAN FOOD, BUT ALSO SELECTED MEETS. NO SHELLFISH, NO PORK, AS A RULE. NO PORK. IN ETHIOPIA, WE ARE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN, SO WE FAST A LOT THROUGH THE YEAR. YEA WE FAST OVER 220 DAYS A YEAR, THAT WE ARE TOTALLY VEGAN. LOTS OF LENTILS AND VEGETABLES. WE EAT MEAT FOR CELEBRATIONS. YOU DON'T NEED TO EAT MEAT EVERY DAY. WE EAT MEAT ON EASTER AND CHRISTMAS, CELEBRATION DAYS. OUR DAY IS VERY BALANCED BETWEEN HAVING A GOOD AMOUNT OF VEGETARIAN, AND MEAT WHEN YOU NEED IT. JENNY MAY HAS NOT WAITED FOR YOU TO STOP TALKING. SHE IS STRAIGHT INTO THIS. I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE. TELL US ABOUT MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN - HOW ALL THIS BEGAN, AND HOW YOU ENDED UP IN A POP-UP RESTAURANT. I HAVE BEEN IN HOSPITALITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I WAS WANTED TO OWN MY OWN RESTAURANT, BUT THINGS NEVER WORK OUT HOW YOU WANT. I BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR SOME TIME. OUR CULTURE OF FOOD IS VERY DELICIOUS. OUR CULTURE IS ALL ABOUT SHARING FOOD. YOU NEVER EAT ALONE. I WANTED TO BRING OUR CULTURE AND THE WAY WE EAT. I KNEW NEW ZEALAND WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. IT IS SO GOOD AND THE BEST WAY TO EAT. YOU HAVE A BIT OF EVERYTHING, LOTS OF FLAVOUR, LOTS OF DIFFERENT TEXTURES. IT IS YUMMY! HOW HAVE YOU GONE ABOUT THE RESPONSE. YOU ARE COOKING AND OTHER RESTAURANTS, SO PEOPLE PICK UP FROM DIFFERENT VENUES. HOW HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN, FEEDBACK ON THE FOOD ITSELF? AMAZING. I KNEW MY FOOD WAS GOOD, BUT I WAS SUPER SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE LOVE IT. ESPECIALLY VEGAN AND GLUTEN FREE AS WELL. VEGAN FOOD DOESN'T NEED TO BE BORING. OUR VEGAN FOOD IS DELICIOUS, TASTY. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PLAIN. I WANTED TO START, AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO START MY BUSINESS, SO I COULD DO A LOT FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALL THE TIME. THEY ALWAYS SAID, PEOPLE WOULD LOVE THIS. I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT BEING A PROPER BUSINESS FOR ME, UNTIL I STARTED SLOWLY WITH MY FRIENDS. AND THEN STARTED BASICALLY GETTING IT OUT THERE, I GO TO RESTAURANTS AND SAY I HAVE NO SPACE, SO THE DAY THEY ARE CLOSED OR QUIET, I SAY ARE YOU FREE TO HAVE ME? A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE, LOTS OF LOVE AND SUPPORT. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. HERE IS THE PATCH. HOW DO PEOPLE GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO TRY YOUR FOOD? EVERYTHING IS THROUGH INSTAGRAM. IT IS A ONE-WOMAN SHOW A LOT OF THE TIME. I NEED TO PLAN A LOT OF THINGS. AT THE MOMENT, IT IS JUST THROUGH INSTAGRAM, MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN. YOU WILL FIND ME PRETTY EASY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SMELL THE SPICES SMELL THE SPICY CLARIFIED BUTTER, ETHIOPIAN BLACK CARDAMOM. THAT IS AMAZING! I HAVE LOVED LISTENING TO YOU AND LEARNING ABOUT THIS FOOD, BUT I AM WAITING FOR THE MOMENT I CAN HAVE ANOTHER BITE. PLEASE DO. HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. DON'T WORRY! I INTEND TO. YOU DON'T NEED TO ASK US TWICE. YESHI, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL THE RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE HELPED ME TO COME THIS FAR. KRISHNAN AND TONY HAVE BEEN AMAZING. RENEE FROM COCOS CANTINA. ALL THE GUYS HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE. I AM SO GRATEFUL, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE KIWIS TRY MY FOOD. YESHI, CREATE OF MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN. COMING UP ` THE BEST SPOT IN THE COUNTRY FOR A SUMMER JOB. AND LATER HOW YOU CAN WIN A $5000 NEW WORLD PRIZE. I was` ...taking it` ...slow. Stealth as. Pretty chill. Hung a right. Left. Boom. (SIREN WHOOPS) (BRAKES WHINE SOFTLY) SOFTLY: Oh no, no, no, no, no. (BREATHALYSER BEEPS) OK. That is a fail. (SIGHS SOFTLY) (EXHALES SHARPLY) (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION) (SCOFFS SOFTLY) RT: We're just gonna go 4Q. (SIGHS SOFTLY) POPULAR HOLIDAY HOTSPOT HANMER SPRINGS IS GEARING UP FOR A SHARP UPTICK IN TOURISTS, BUT THERE'S A SERIOUS CONCERN THERE MAY BE NO ONE THERE TO MEET THEM. BUSINESSES ARE URGENTLY SEARCHING FOR WORKERS, WITH SOME OPERATORS ALREADY FORCED TO REDUCE OPENING HOURS, GIVEN THE LACK OF STAFF. LET'S GO LIVE TO ISAAC GUNSON, WHO'S IN HANMER SPRINGS. ATA MARIE. MORENA. WE ARE JOINED BY NABBIE. TELL US ABOUT HOW HAMNER HOSPITALITY HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY STAFF SHORTAGES. TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE 70 STAFF. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ARE DOWN TO 60 AT THE MOMENT. COMING INTO OUR CHRISTMAS TRADING, WE NEED 80. WE ARE RUNNING 20 STAFF SHORT. REASONS FOR THIS IS WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF STAFF TRADITIONALLY BEING BACKPACKERS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE HERE, AND THERE ARE NONE COMING THROUGH. WE ARE RELYING ON KIWIS MOVING HERE TO LIVE HERE IN THE CARE. WHAT IS YOUR SALES PITCH TO THEM, PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING AND THINK THAT IS A FUN WAY TO SPEND SUMMER? WE HAVE THE BALLS, WE HAVE OUTDOORS, POOLS. WORK IS WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR. ON TOP OF THAT, WE ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE. YOU CAN TURN UP HERE ON YOUR OWN AS INDIVIDUALS AND LEAVE WITH HEAPS OF MATES. WE ARE KNOWN AS THE HAMNER FAMILY. IT IS AWESOME, IT IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO LIVE. I MOVED HERE 14 YEARS AGO, NEVER INTENDING TO LIVE HERE, AND I AM STILL HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME WITH YOU THIS MORNING, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR MESSAGE ABOUT STAFFING SHORTAGES. IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE KEEN ON, THEIR JOBS GOING HERE. FEEL FREE TO HAVE A LOOK AT SOME THING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SUMMER PLAN. WE MIGHT HAVE SOME CANDIDATES AFTER 10 LOOKING FOR NEW WORK. SCOTTY STEVENSON. STAY WITH US. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK, WITH MORE ON THE EPIC NEW WORLD PRIZE UP FOR GRABS. Whether it's your "new style of hair" pair or your "ex is over there" pair, at Specsavers you can treat yourself from our wide range of stylish pairs with any two from just $169. For double the style at one low price, should have gone to Specsavers. OUR FRIENDS AT NEW WORLD HAVE BEEN HELPING MATTY OUT IN THE KITCHEN THIS WEEK, HI, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO MATTY'S MEALS. COME INTO MY KITCHEN. NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I HAVE A REAL SWEET TOOTH. SO I FIGURED WE'D BETTER MAKE AN EPIC DESSERT. OUR FRIENDS AT NEW WORLD GAVE US THIS PIE DISH FROM KITCHENAID. AND I WAS THINKING, WHAT CAN I MAKE IN HERE? AND THEN I THOUGHT, PERFECT ` CHEESECAKE! OK, FIRST THINGS FIRST. I PUT ALL OF THE PLAIN DIGESTIVES ` ABOUT 350g ` INTO THE BLENDER. I MIGHT NEED TO DO THIS IN TWO LOTS. (WHEEZES) AND IT'S A BLITZ UNTIL IT'S A STANDING CONSISTENCY ` STANDING. HALF A CUP OF COCONUT. MELTED BUTTER ` ABOUT 200g. WE'VE PRESSED IT IN, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS IN OUR FRIDGE ` OR IN MY CASE, MY BLAST FREEZER ` WHILE WE MAKE THE REST OF THE CHEESECAKE. SO NOW I'VE PUT TWO BLOCKS OF CREAM CHEESE IN THE FOOD PROCESSOR WITH TWO-THIRDS OF A CUP OF CASTER SUGAR, A TEASPOON OF VANILLA ESSENCE, A THIRD OF A CUP OF CORNFLOUR. I'M GONNA ADD THREE EGGS AS WELL. OK, SO I'VE GOT MY MELTED WHITE CHOCOLATE. I'VE GOT A WHOLE THING OF SOUR CREAM! PERFECT. AND NOW, I ADD THIS TO THE OVEN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES. I NEED TO ADD WATER AND CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A WATER BATH AROUND IT. AND NOW SHE BAKES. (GASPS) HAVE A LOOK AT THIS! IT WORKED! I'M GONNA FINISH THIS OFF WITH A GARNISH OF SOME FRESH BERRIES. HEAT TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, BY THE WAY, TO GET THE RECIPE ` BREAKFAST ON ONE. I CANNOT WAIT TO DEMOLISH THIS, MY VERY FIRST CHEESECAKE. AND THANKS TO NEW WORLD, YOU CAN WIN A $5000 KITCHEN AIDE PRIZE PACK. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HEAD ALONG TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO ENTER, AND TOMORROW WE'LL CALL THE WINNER LIVE ON-AIR. KEEP YOUR PHONES ON. HE IS VERSATILE. AND LOOKS GOOD, BUT HE NEVER BROUGHT US ANY. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, SCOTTY. SAFE TRAVELS TO THE CRICKET TOMORROW. CRICKET STARTS TOMORROW IN CHRISTCHURCH. CAPTIONS BY JORDAN WAETFORD, JULIE TAYLOR, FAITH HAMBLYN AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. 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