AFTER THE BIGGEST SLUMP IN HOUSE SALES SINCE 1983, IT SEEMS THE PROPERTY MARKET HAS DEFINITELY HAD THE HEAT TAKEN OUT OF IT. BUT WITH SALES ON THE UP, COULD WE BE NEARING THE END OF THE DOWNTURN? INTEREST RATES GOING UP AND UP MEANT HOUSE VALUES AND SALES WENT DOWN AND DOWN. BUT FINALLY, THE BOTTOM MAY BE IN SIGHT, BECAUSE THE LATEST HOUSING STATS FROM CORELOGIC SHOW SALES INCREASED 7.5% COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. IT'S THE FIRST TIME SALES HAVE GONE UP IN TWO YEARS. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THOSE WANTING TO BUY AND PEOPLE WITH PLACES TO SELL? AND FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY CORELOGIC'S CHIEF ECONOMIST KELVIN DAVIDSON. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, KELVIN. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT AND WHY? SO WE'RE JUST STARTING TO SEE, I THINK, THE SIGNS OF AN EARLY TURNAROUND IN THE PROPERTY MARKET. CERTAINLY SALES ACTIVITY IN MAY WAS UP COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, AND THAT'S THE FIRST INCREASE IN SALES THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. SO JUST THE FIRST HINTS WERE THERE, WE'RE SEEING LISTINGS TIGHTEN UP A LITTLE BIT. SO THAT CHOICE FOR BUYERS IS TIGHTENING. AND I THINK THE PRICE FALLS ARE COMING TO AN END, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WELL. SO WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT BOTTOM. I THINK THERE'S A FEW KEY FACTORS THAT THE PEAK FOR MORTGAGE RATES IS OBVIOUSLY A KEY ONE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. EMPLOYMENT'S STILL PRETTY STRONG. NET MIGRATION IS HIGH. SO THAT'S A LOT OF EXTRA PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, AND CREDIT RULES HAVE BEEN LOOSENED A LITTLE BIT, SO A FEW MORE PEOPLE CAN GET INTO THE MARKET NOW WITH A REDUCED DEPOSIT. SO SOME OF THOSE FUNDAMENTALS ARE SHIFTING, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IN THE MARKET INDICATORS. SO DOES THIS MEAN THAT RISING INTEREST RATES HAVE WORKED IN COOLING THE PROPERTY MARKET? YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S PROBABLY TWO SIDES TO THAT. THEY CERTAINLY HAVE REDUCED HOUSE PRICES ON AVERAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PRICES ARE DOWN SORT OF 12 TO 15% DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT NATIONAL FIGURE'S AROUND THAT 12 OR 15%. BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, OF COURSE, YOU MIGHT BE SAVING MONEY ON THE PURCHASE PRICE, BUT WHEN YOU'VE ACTUALLY GOT THAT MORTGAGE, YOU'RE PAYING A MUCH HIGHER INTEREST RATE. AND KEEP IN MIND, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEY WERE 2.5%. NOW THEY'RE 7%. SO THERE'S KIND OF TRADE-OFFS THERE. YOU KNOW, IT'S MADE HOUSES CHEAPER, BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET THE LOAN, IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE. SO I THINK IN SOME WAYS YOU CAN SAY, YES, THEY'VE WORKED, BUT STILL PRETTY EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE ONCE THEY'RE SERVICING THAT DEBT. AND KELVIN, WILL PROPERTY PRICES START GOING UP SOON? THERE'LL BE SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT I THINK WILL SEE SOME GROWTH, AND PARTICULARLY AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON HAVE SEEN BIG FALLS. SO THERE'S POTENTIALLY PARTS OF THOSE CITIES THAT ARE POISED FOR SOME GAINS. BUT I THINK I'D BE CAUTIOUS OF THE VIEW THAT WE'RE SUDDENLY GOING TO SEE ANOTHER UPTURN, BECAUSE WE'VE STILL GOT HIGHER MORTGAGE RATES. THEY MIGHT HAVE STOPPED INCREASING, BUT THEY'RE STILL QUITE HIGH. AFFORDABILITY IS STILL A CHALLENGE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON MORTGAGE LENDING EARLY NEXT YEAR IN THE FORM OF DEBT TO INCOME RATIOS, WHICH WILL CAP HOW MUCH DEBT YOU CAN BASICALLY HAVE IN RELATION TO YOUR INCOME. SO I THINK THAT'LL PUT A BIT OF A HANDBRAKE ON THINGS. SO I THINK THERE IS A REASONABLY GOOD CASE FOR THINKING THAT PRICES ARE BROADLY FLAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM HERE ON. OK, THEN WHAT IS THE DEAL THEN FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS? WELL, TWO SIDES TO THE STORY, OF COURSE, AND ASPIRING BUYERS WOULD LOVE PRICES TO KEEP FALLING, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SAVE A BIT OF MONEY. AND ANYBODY WHO OWNS A PROPERTY WOULD PROBABLY BE A BIT HAPPIER IF PRICES WEREN'T FALLING. SO I THINK THE MARKET WILL SHIFT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN FAVOUR OF SELLERS, BUT IF I'M RIGHT AND PRICES DO STAY FLAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEN YOU COULD PROBABLY SAY IT'S SIX OF ONE HALF, DOZEN OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'LL BE GOOD FOR EVERYONE. FIRST-TIME BUYERS WILL HAVE A BIT MORE TIME TO SAVE THAT DEPOSIT, AT LEAST EXISTING HOME OWNERS WON'T BE SEEING VALUES FALL ANY FURTHER. SO YEAH, MAYBE YOU COULD CALL IT A GOLDILOCKS SCENARIO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT ACTUALLY THE NEXT FEW YEARS COULD BE A BIT QUIETER AND PEOPLE CAN JUST TAKE THEIR TIME AND MAKE A REALLY INFORMED DECISION. THANKS SO MUCH, KELVIN. GREAT TALKING TO YOU. THANK YOU. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH, JAMES BROWN AND KITTY WASASALA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 THE SHORTEST DAY, OR WINTER SOLSTICE, IS CAUSE TO CELEBRATE, PARTICULARLY IN ANTARCTICA, WHERE THEY ARE ENDURING 24/7 DARKNESS AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. AMONG THE SMALL TEAM WINTERING OVER AT SCOTT BASE IS AN AUSTRALIAN WHO'S BECOME AN UNLIKELY SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR TO THIS, IT'S NO SURPRISE TO FIND THE INSTANT NOODLES ARE SNAP FROZEN; AND LIQUIDS HOT AND THE FIZZ. TODAY IN ANTARCTICA, IT'S -57 DEGREES. AND I TRIED TO POUR A CAN OF COKE. THAT DIDN'T GO SO WELL. MATTY JORDAN IS AN AUSSIE PROJECT MANAGER LEADING A TEAM OF TRADIES TIDYING UP THE BUNK ROOMS AND BATHROOMS AT SCOTT BASE. HIS CONTENT OUT OF THE FROZEN CONTINENT IS ANYTHING BUT BOG-STANDARD... AND THE WORLD IS LAPPING IT UP. MATTY'S ONE OF 17 PERSONNEL WINTERING OVER. SO WHAT'S ON THE MENU FOR MIDWINTER CELEBRATIONS? AND JOINING US NOW IS PROJECT MANAGER AND TIKTOK SENSATION, MATTY JORDAN, AND SCOTT BASE WINTER LEADER GREG KUKUTAI. LOVELY TO SEE YOU BOTH. GREG, WE'LL START WITH YOU. HOW IS SCOTT BASE MARKING MIDWINTER? ARE WE MARKING MIDWINTER? WE HAVE A CELEBRATION HERE AT SCOTT BASE WITH 43 INVITED GUESTS FROM MCMURDO STATION. SO OUR CHEF IS PREPARING A FIVE-COURSE MEAL FOR TOMORROW NIGHT. AND GREG, HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE EVENTS FOR MORALE DOWN THERE, GIVEN THAT YOU'VE BEEN LIVING IN TOTAL DARKNESS FOR A WHILE NOW? WE PLANNED TRIPS. OUT AND ABOUT. AND SOMETIMES IT'S SEEING THE AURORAS. SOMETIMES IT'S SEEING WHAT THE STARS ARE DOING. THE TEAM JUST CAME BACK LAST WEEKEND FROM VISITING THE NASA SCIENCE DOME, AND ANOTHER GROUP WENT DOWN TO THE WEATHER STATION, HAD A LOOK AND LAUNCHED THE WEATHER BALLOON. SO IT'S JUST THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DO AFTER WORK THAT KEEPS OUR MORALE HIGH. AND I'M SURE MATTY'S VIDEOS ARE HELPING BOOST THE SPIRITS, TOO. MATTY, ARE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW POPULAR THEY ARE PROVING? I DEFINITELY AM. YEAH, I STARTED IT JUST TO KIND OF GIVE NEW ZEALAND AND THE REST OF THE WORLD A BIT OF AN INSIGHT INTO THE WORK THAT WE DO DOWN HERE AND SOME OF THE SCIENCE THAT WE SUPPORT. BUT THE RECEPTION HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. MATTY, ARE YOU RUNNING OUT OF ITEMS TO FREEZE? NOT AT ALL, JEREMY. BUT I'M OPEN TO IDEAS IF YOU'VE GOT ANY MORE TO THROW MY WAY. SO, YEAH, IT'S A FUN WAY ` A FUN WAY TO SPEND THE EVENINGS AFTER WORK JUST TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DOWN HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN. GREG, HOW DO YOU ALL COPE WITHOUT SUNSHINE? ARE THERE SUN LAMPS, OR DO YOU TAKE VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS? YEAH, ALL OF THE ABOVE, JEREMY. WE HAVE LAMPS DOWN IN THE LIBRARIES, SO YOU CAN SIT DOWN, TURN A LAMP ON, READ A BOOK. AND OUR MEDIC THAT'S ON BASE AT THE MOMENT, ONCE A MONTH WE'LL GO AND GET OUR ISSUE OF VITAMIN D, AND WE'LL TAKE THOSE. BUT IT'S ALL TO DO WITH THE GROUP. IF YOU'VE GOT A GREAT GROUP. AND WE CHECK IN ON WELFARE OF EVERY PERSON BASICALLY EVERY DAY. REMEMBERING THAT SCOTT BASE ISN'T JUST OUR WORKPLACE, IT'S OUR HOME. IT'S OUR WHARE AWAY FROM NEW ZEALAND. AND WE'RE LIKE BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL GETTING ALONG. WELL, WE KNOW IT'S THE SHORTEST DAY TODAY. WHEN WILL YOU START TO SEE A GLIMMER OF DAYLIGHT AGAIN? SO THE FIRST SUNRISE IS ON THE 19TH OF AUGUST, SO WE'VE STILL GOT A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GO BEFORE THAT STARTS HAPPENING, BUT WE WILL GRADUALLY START SEEING MORE TWILIGHT AS THE DAYS PROGRESS. SO TOMORROW WE'LL GET ONE MINUTE OF EXTRA NAUTICAL TWILIGHT, ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD TODAY, AND IT WILL SLOWLY START GETTING LONGER FROM THERE, UNTIL THE FIRST SUNRISE ON THE 19TH OF AUGUST. SO ANOTHER BIG CELEBRATION IN THE ANTARCTIC CALENDAR TO MARK THE END OF WINTER, SO TO SPEAK. SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING REALLY TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GREG AND MATTY, FOR JOINING US. STAY WARM, AND HAPPY MIDWINTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE PERM ` THAT BIG BOOFY HAIRSTYLE OF THE '80S ` IS MAKING A COMEBACK. AND PERHAPS WHAT'S EVEN MORE SURPRISING IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT'S GIVING IT A WHIRL. # YOUR BEAUTY IS BEYOND COMPARE... WHO CAN FORGET THE COCKER-SPANIEL STYLE 'DO THAT HIJACKED A DECADE? # JOLENE, JOLENE... # DOLLY HAD ONE. SO DID KYLIE... # I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY... # DEIRDRE, BON JOVI AND MOST OF THE MALE ROCKERS. # IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. # BUT UNLIKE THE MUSIC, THE PERM IS HAVING AN UNLIKELY REVIVAL. YEAH, THE BOYS CAUGHT ON TO THE FAD. GET OUT OF THE RUGBY RUCK AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS AND WALK AWAY. (LAUGHS) THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S BIG WITH TEEN BOYS. AND HOW DO THEY EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE PERM? THE SAME WAY THEY KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING ` TIKTOK. SOCIAL MEDIA AND TIKTOK HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER TO. THE MALE PERM'S BECOME SO MUCH OF A TREND, THEY'RE TEACHING IT. HERE'S THE PLACE. MANUKAU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TE PUKENGA, AT THE CUTTING EDGE. YOU'RE DOING IT GOOD COS YOU'RE OVER-PROJECTING IT, AND SO YOU GET A NICE ON-BASE. NICOLA ROCKED A SPIRAL PERM IN THE '80S ` NOW SHE'S SHOWING THEM HOW TO DO IT. THE BOYS ARE COMING ACROSS AND WANTING TO HAVE THE LOOSER CURLS, JUST TO GIVE THEM A DIFFERENT STYLE. SO YEAH, WE HAVE EVOLVED. WE'VE TAKEN THAT PERM THAT WE USED TO DO ON CHICKEN BONES AND OUR ROLLERS HAVE GOT BIGGER. SHE'S BEEN IN HOT DEMAND ON THE HOME FRONT. MY SON AND HIS MATES, THEY'VE ALL GONE THROUGH THAT CURLY STAGE. FRIENDS OF FRIENDS HAVE COME TO ME WANTING THEIR BOYS TO HAVE THE PERMS. IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF, ESPECIALLY PACIFIC ISLANDERS, ARE REALLY EMBRACING, YOU KNOW, THAT NATURAL CURL. IT'S TRENDING NOW, ALL OVER TIKTOK. YOU KNOW, YOU SEE BOYS JUST WANT TO GET PERMS JUST TO GO WITH THE TREND. WHAT'S COOL NOW, WE USED TO MAKE FUN OF, LIKE IN THIS OLD LOTTO AD. YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK I MIGHT TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. GOOD FOR YOU, DOUGLAS. GET A PERM. GET A PERM. YOU GET MORE SCREEN FOR YOUR MONEY AND A BETTER PICTURE QUALITY. HOWEVER, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE, INCLUDING HOW LONG THE WHOLE THING TAKES. SO THE WHOLE PROCESS, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF HAIR, CAN BE UP TO TWO HOURS. A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR MALE BEAUTY. THEY'RE RIGHT INTO THE PERMING, THE BLEACHING, BRIGHT COLOURS. NOTHING LIKE SEEING A NICE, WELL-GROOMED MALE. ANY TIPS FOR HOME PERMERS? GO TO A SALON. (LAUGHS) ALL JOKES ASIDE, IT DID GET ME THINKING. I'VE BEEN UPSKILLING. # THIS IS MY PRAYER THAT I'LL DIE LIVING JUST AS FREE AS MY HAIR. # I'VE HAD ENOUGH, THIS IS MY PRAYER, GET A PERM. GO ON. GET A PERM. # LIVING JUST AS FREE AS MY HAIR. # I'VE HAD ENOUGH, THIS IS MY PRAYER, # THAT I'LL DIE LIVING JUST AS FREE AS MY HAIR... # LUCKILY I LOST THAT BEFORE THE SHOW. THE TWO MOST FAMOUS PERMS IN NEW ZEALAND. GRAHAM THORNE, FORMER ALL-BLACK, AND SECOND MOST POPULAR... HILARY PANKHURST. 1986 HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR. CUT OUT OF THAT NOW. THERE WILL BE WORDS IN THE CONTROL ROOM LATER. E WHAI AKE NEI, COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` STATE OF ORIGIN. WHY IS IT SO POPULAR HERE? PLUS THE SELF-TAUGHT SINGING SENSATION WHO'S NOW EYEING THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF NASHVILLE. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI. WELCOME BACK, LOVELY TO HAVE YOU WITH US. HERE AT SEVEN SHARP, WE'RE ALWAYS KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR RISING STARS, AND THIS TIME WE THINK WE'VE FOUND A SUPERNOVA IN NELSON. 18-YEAR-OLD SELF-TAUGHT GUITARIST ZAC GRIFFITH IS QUICKLY TURNING INTO A COUNTRY MUSIC STAR, CLEANING UP AT THE GOLD GUITARS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS IN GORE. AND NOW HE'S GOT HIS EYES ON NASHVILLE. JULIAN LEE REPORTS. (PLAYS LILTING COUNTRY MELODY) ZAC IS, ON PAPER, HIGHLY TYPICAL OF AN 18-YEAR-OLD RURAL NELSONIAN. I WORK AT THE WAKEFIELD BAKERY, THE BEST BAKERY IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. THE BEST PIES, THE BEST SLICES, THE BEST EVERYTHING. YOU'VE GOT A DRIVING TEST LATER TODAY. I'VE GOT MY FULL DRIVING TEST LATER ON ` FULL LICENCE DRIVING TEST. NERVOUS ` MORE NERVOUS THAN THIS, RIGHT NOW. (CHUCKLES) WHY? OH, I'M TERRIBLE. I DRIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY, ONE HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL, GUMBOOT UP ON THE DASH. # ONLY TIME I FEEL AT HOME... # IS WITH YOU. BUT ZAC IS NO FOUR-CHORD WONDER. AT THE LATEST GOLD GUITARS IN GORE, HE ENTERED 10 SECTIONS, GOT TO EIGHT FINALS, WON SEVEN OF THEM, AND OF COURSE THE OVERALL TITLE ` AT 18 YEARS OF AGE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING, BEING ABLE TO WIN WITH A SONG THAT YOU WROTE. A LOVE SONG, THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW... I'M TRYING TO FIND THE PERSON THAT IT'S ABOUT, COS IT MUST BE ABOUT SOMEONE. I WAS JUST OVER THE MOON, REALLY. THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT, REALLY. I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. (UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC) ZAC FIRST HEARD JOHNNY CASH WHEN HE WAS 7. THAT SORTA LIT THE SPARK IN ME. AND THEN THERE'S A COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB AT TAPAWERA, WHERE I LIVE, DOWN AT THE PUB. AND I WENT DOWN, AND I GOT UP AND SANG A JOHNNY CASH SONG, AND THEY'VE BEEN BACKING ME EVER SINCE. HIS GRANDMA, SUSAN, IS NOW HIS 'NANAGER'. IT'S INCREDIBLE TO HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE IN AN 18-YEAR-OLD. YEAH, HE'S AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN. HE'LL SPEAK TO ANYBODY. IT DOESN'T MATTER. HE'LL JUST APPROACH PEOPLE AND SPEAK TO THEM, AND HE'S KIND. MM. GOOD GUY. I CAN TELL YOU'RE CONNECTED TO YOUR GUITAR, COS EVEN WHEN WE WERE TALKING BEFORE, YOU'D DO LITTLE RIFFS NOW AND AGAIN. I HOLD ON TO IT MOST OF THE TIME. IT'S EITHER A GUITAR OR A FISHING ROD IN MY HAND. WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD NIGHTS AT HOME THAT HE'S PICKED UP THE GUITAR AND MADE SONGS UP AS HE GOES, ABOUT US ALL. AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T ALL THAT GREAT... (LAUGHS) WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT US, BUT HAPPY TIMES, LAUGHING TIMES ` YOU KNOW, REALLY GOOD. # AND I CAN'T TURN IT OFF, ONCE I TURN IT ON. AND I REMEMBER OUR FIRST ASSEMBLY THAT WE HAD FOR ALL OF YEAR NINES TOGETHER, AND ZAC PERFORMED. AND IT TOTALLY THE TRANSFORMED THE WHOLE YEAR GROUP. EVERY TIME I TRIED TO GIVE HIM SOME WORK, HE WOULD RATHER PLAY THE DRUMS ON THE DESK AND SING A SONG. I'D JUST SIT THERE AND BANG ON THE TABLE AND SING HER SOME KENNY ROGERS, SING A BIT OF 'THE GAMBLER' FOR HER IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS. AND SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME OFF, COS SHE LIKES THAT SONG. DO THE TEENAGERS RESPOND WELL TO HIS MUSIC? THEY LIKE THE COUNTRY? YEP, DEFINITELY. COS, THEY LIKE ZAC, SO THEY LIKE THE COUNTRY. COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE GARIN GROUPIES? UM... (CHUCKLES) # YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM... I'VE GOT A FOLLOWING OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT COME AROUND TO GIGS AROUND THE PLACE, AND I JUST LOVE HAVING THEM THERE. ZAC'S FORMER PRINCIPAL, JOHN. WE HAD THIS REAL OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, A BIT OF A FUNDRAISER FOR ZAC, TO GET HIM AWAY OVER TO AUSTRALIA. AND WE HAD A FULL CONCERT THAT EVENING, AND I WAS INVITED UP TO HAVE A JAM WITH THEM. CAN WE HEAR A WEE BIT? I'LL FOLLOW YOU. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, COS I'M NOT... # HELPLESS, HELPLESS, HELPLESS. # HELPLESS, HELPLESS, HELPLESS... # UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK I'LL STILL BE AT THE BAKERY WORKING THERE FULL-TIME NEXT YEAR ` EVEN THOUGH I'D LOVE TO. BUT, YEAH, I THINK I GOTTA TRY TO PUSH THIS MUSIC THING NOW. AND THEN NASHVILLE? NASHVILLE ` THAT'S THE GOAL. GRAND OLE OPRY STAGE, IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. I HOPE HIS DREAMS COME TRUE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FOR HIM, THAT HE DOES GET TO SING ON THE GRAND OLE OPRY. MEANWHILE, HE'LL BIDE HIS TIME AT PUB GIGS IN NELSON. I'LL RIP OUT SOME AC/DC AT A PUB GIG FOR SOME ROWDY COUNTRY GUYS, BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME OUT COUNTRY, WITH A COUNTRY TWANG TO IT. SO EVERYTHING I DO IS COUNTRY, AND I AM COUNTRY. (BOTH LAUGH) BIG THINGS FOR HIM. A REAL STAR. LAST NIGHT WAS GAME TWO OF THE STATE OF ORIGIN SERIES BETWEEN RUGBY LEAGUE RIVALS QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES. BUT WHY DOES A SPORTING SERIES THAT HAS NO NEW ZEALANDERS OR NEW ZEALAND TEAMS ATTRACT SO MUCH INTEREST ON THIS SIDE OF THE TASMAN? BEN HURLEY REPORTS. # YOU'RE SIMPLY THE BEST. # STATE OF ORIGIN STARTED OVER 40 YEARS AGO; A COLOSSAL CLASH BETWEEN THE TWO GREAT RUGBY LEAGUE STATES OF AUSTRALIA ` THE QUEENSLAND MAROONS AND THE NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES. IN WHAT IS UNIQUE IN PROFESSIONAL SPORT, PLAYERS ARE SELECTED BASED ON THEIR ORIGIN STORY ` WHAT STATE THEY WERE BORN IN, OR WHERE THEY FIRST PLAYED FOOTY. I AM AT A STATE OF ORIGIN WATCH PARTY ` IN SYDNEY OR BRISBANE? NO, HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. ALMOST EVERYBODY HERE IS A NEW ZEALANDER. SO WHY ON EARTH DO THEY SUPPORT EITHER QUEENSLAND OR NEW SOUTH WALES? MAROONS SUPPORTER, QUEENSLAND. WHY QUEENSLAND? PROBABLY BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LOT OF FAMILY THERE. RIGHT. THAT'S IT? YEAH. AND I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED MAROONS, AND I LIKE THE COLOUR. I'M SUPPORTING NEW SOUTH WALES. OK. NOW WHY NEW SOUTH WALES? I HAVE GOT FAMILY IN SYDNEY. OK. THAT SEEMS TO BE QUITE A COMMON ONE. DO YOU LIKE THE FAMILY? YES. BIT TOO MUCH OF A PAUSE THERE. BIT TOO MUCH OF A PAUSE. DON'T WORRY, WE DON'T SCREEN OVER THERE, SO YOU'RE ALL GOOD. PERFECT. THAT'S MY LOVELY WIFE, SO OBVIOUSLY I NOW HAVE FAMILY IN SYDNEY. OH, UNDERDOGS, BROTHER. UNDERDOG. REALLY? UNDERDOG. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, QUEENSLAND IS ALWAYS SAYING THAT THEY'RE THE UNDERDOGS. WHO ARE YOU SUPPORTING TONIGHT? QUEENSLAND TONIGHT. QUEENSLAND. OK. AND WHY DO YOU LOVE QUEENSLAND? WHEN I WAS YOUNGER IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE IN AUSTRALIA I'D BEEN TO. THAT'S WHY I CHOSE THEM. LIKE, FAMILY HOLIDAY TO THE GOLD COAST? YEAH, PRETTY MUCH, YEAH. NEW SOUTH WALES. OK, NOW WHY DO YOU SUPPORT NEW SOUTH WALES? BECAUSE I'M NOT A REDNECK. SO DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE NEW SOUTH WALES SUPPORTERS ARE MORE ERUDITE IN SOME WAY? THAT'S AN INTERESTING WORD THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE. YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN. ERUDITE, EDUCATED. YEAH, I FEEL A BIT MORE CIVILISED. YES, TOTALLY. YEAH. QUEENSLAND. AND WHY IS THAT? I WAS BORN THERE. OH, THAT HELPS. THIS IS THE FIRST LEGITIMATE EXCUSE I'VE HEARD SO FAR. WELL, THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER REASON, IS THERE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR MATE HERE CALLING YOU ALL REDNECKS? OH... I DON'T RESPECT HIM AT ALL. HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ERUDITE MEANT. I WAS GOING TO QUIETLY TELL HIM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE RUDE. YOU'RE A BLUES FAN. WHY? BECAUSE I HATE BILLY SLATER. SO BASED ON MY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, KIWIS CHOOSE ONE TEAM OR THE OTHER BASED ON FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES ` FAMILY; THEY LOVE OR HATE A CERTAIN PLAYER; THEY WENT ON HOLIDAY SOMEWHERE ONCE; THEY THINK THEIR TEAM IS THE UNDERDOG. OF COURSE, WITH ANY RESEARCH, THERE'S ALWAYS AN OUTLIER. IF I HAD TO CHOOSE, IT'D BE THE MAROONS. OK. NOW WHY IS THAT? I THINK THE GUYS ARE HOTTER. SO THAT'S LITERALLY IT? IS IT A SUM TOTAL? YEAH. I'M NOT REALLY A LEAGUE FOLLOWER, SO IF I'M WATCHING IT, I'M WATCHING IT FOR A REASON, YOU KNOW? # WHAT'S MY SCENE? # WHAT'S MY SCENE? # WHAT'S MY SCENE? # TELL ME, WHAT'S MY SCENE? # OK, 10-0 DOWN AT HALF TIME. DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE SIDES? NO, NEVER. BUT THE WAY THEY'RE PLAYING IS INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING, I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. MY OLD FRIEND, 10-0 DOWN AT HALF TIME. HOW DO YOU FEEL IT'S GOING? OH, STILL GOING ALL RIGHT. STILL HALF A GAME TO GO. YEAH. YOU DON'T WANT TO CHANGE SIDES? NO, BRO. IT'S PICKED UP BY TAULAGI. AND YOU CAN SHINE THE SHIELD AND PUT IT BACK IN THE CABINET. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AS THE FINAL WHISTLE BLOWS, THE RESULT IS SORT OF IRRELEVANT. THE REAL WINNER ON THE DAY IS TRIVIAL, ARBITRARY REASONS TO SUPPORT AN AUSTRALIAN SPORTS TEAM. # WHAT'S MY, WHAT'S MY SCENE? # WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT. ON THE SHOW TOMORROW, IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, BUT IS THE COUNTRY REALLY SAYING GOODBYE TO PIES? SURELY NOT. THOSE WERE OUR PEOPLE TODAY, THAT WAS SEVEN SHARP TONIGHT. R.P.A. IS UP NEXT. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. PO MARIE, CHEERIO. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH, JAMES BROWN AND KITTY WASASALA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023