IT'S WEDNESDAY, THE 23RD OF AUGUST. MORENA, THIS IS BREAKFAST. IT IS REALLY NICE TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY. I LOVE IT YESTERDAY, PLEASE GUYS, GOT OUT, WALKED. IT IS GOOD. . I'M HAPPY. PATIENTS AT BULLER'S HEALTH CARE FACILITY SAY THE SYSTEM IS AT A BREAKING POINT AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. STAFFING SHORTAGES MEANS THE HOSPITAL HAS HAD TO OCCASIONALLY CLOSE OVERNIGHT, WITH THE NEAREST ONE IN GREYMOUTH AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT AFTER 7.00. THE MAJORITY OF NEW ZEALANDERS WOULD SUPPORT A WEALTH TAX. IF IT WOULD PAY FOR UNIVERSAL FREE DENTAL CARE, ACCORDING TO OUR LATEST 1NEWS VERIAN POLL. BUT BOTH LABOUR AND NATIONAL HAVE RULED OUT INTRODUCING A WEALTH TAX. WE'LL PUT THIS TO NATIONAL PARTY LEADER CHRISTOPHER LUXON AFTER 7. MAKING HEADLINES THIS MORNING. MAKING HEADLINES THIS MORNING ` A MAJOR RESCUE OPERATION IS UNDERWAY IN PAKISTAN AFTER A CABLE CAR GOT STUCK 900FT IN THE AIR. AS WE GO TO AIR, ALL EIGHT PEOPLE INSIDE HAVE BEEN RESCUED, INCLUDING SIC CHILDREN. MORE ON THAT IN YOUR NEWS. AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TURNING THEIR EARS FROM THE BIBLE TO THE STARS ACCORDING TO RESEARCH. 62% OF GEN Z'ERS SAY THEY BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK INTO WHY THIS IS THE CASE JUST BEFORE EIGHT. AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO GET IN TOUCH THIS MORNING. DO YOU KNOW YOUR MOON? DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY? LET US KNOW, EMAIL US AT breakfast@tvnz.co.nz. CHRIS, WHAT ARE YOU? I AM AN ARIES. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MOONS, THOUGH. YOU ARE A TYPICAL ARIES. ARE CLASSIC AREAS. NOW CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. NO MOONS HERE, JUST STARS. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS PAUSING THE USE OF FEMALE PELVIC SURGICAL MESH PRODUCTS, USED TO TREAT STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY RECOGNISE THE ONGOING PAIN IT HAS CAUSED SOME PEOPLE. PARLIAMENT'S HEALTH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED INVESTIGATING A PAUSE AFTER CONSIDERING A PETITION AND A DECADE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE. FURTHER STEPS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO MINIMISE HARM, INCLUDING TAILORED TRAINING FOR SURGEONS, AND A MORE STRUCTURED INFORMED CONSENT PROCESS FOR PATIENTS. MORE THAN 200 HOUSEHOLDS WERE LEFT WITHOUT POWER IN WELLINGTON THIS MORNING DUE TO AN OUTAGE. WELLINGTON ELECTRICITY RECEIVED THE REPORT AROUND 4am THIS MORNING. IT AFFECTS CUSTOMERS IN AKATARAWA, BIRCHVILLE, BROWN OWL, CLOUSTON PARK AND CRAIG'S FLAT. THE POWER HAS BEEN PARTIALLY RESTORED TO SOME AREAS, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE BACK ON FULLY JUST AFTER 7am. ALL EIGHT PASSENGERS TRAPPED IN A CABLE CAR IN PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN RESCUED. THAT IS DANGLING ALMOST 300M ABOVE A RIVER IN PAKISTAN. THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN A CABLE SNAPPED. MILITARY HELICOPTERS AND RESCUERS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FREE THOSE STUCK IN THE CABLE CAR THE BBC'S CAROLINE DAVIES REPORTS. HANGING OVER A PERILOUS DROP WITH JUST A ROPE TO SAFETY. AS AN ARMY HELICOPTER HOVERS OVER THE CABLE CAR, A LEAP THEN SWEPT AWAY TO SAFETY AS THE CROWD CHEERS. (CHEERING) THIS WAS THE MOMENT MANY HOPED FOR ` THE FIRST RESCUE AFTER HOURS. MAKESHIFT CABLE CARS ARE COMMON IN THE RURAL MOUNTAINS OF PAKISTAN, TAKING MINUTES OVER RAVINES, WHILE ROADS TAKE HOURS. CHILDREN WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN ONE CABLE SNAPPED. AT FIRST, ARMY HELICOPTERS COULDN'T RESCUE THEM, BUFFETED BY WINDS, SCARED THE DOWN RUSH FROM THE BLADES COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE. ON THE GROUND, FRUSTRATION. THIS MAN SAID THAT HIS BROTHER AND SON WERE INSIDE THE CAR. (SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: DOESN'T THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THESE INNOCENT CHILDREN? IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SO HELPLESS, THEN IT SHOULD SEEK HELP FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. LOCAL TV MANAGED TO SPEAK TO ONE MAN INSIDE THE CABLE CAR, RISING PANIC, BEFORE HIS PHONE DIED. (SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE) I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A REQUEST, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF HUMAN LIVES. TRI DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A REQUEST, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF HUMAN AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD RESCUE ALL OF US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! OFFICIALS TRIED TO REASSURE THE GROWING CROWDS. (SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: NOW A SPECIAL UNIT IS COMING. THE LOCAL RESCUE TEAM ARE ALREADY ON STANDBY. WE ARE TRYING BUT REALLY DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES HERE. AFTER THE FIRST RESCUE, SAVING THE OTHERS INSIDE BECAME MORE COMPLICATED. AS THE LIGHT WENT, THE HELICOPTERS LEFT, AND INSTEAD, LOCALS AND RESCUE OFFICIALS USED A ZIP LINE, PULLING ANOTHER CHILD TO SAFETY. STILL MORE TO RESCUE AS THE NIGHT SETS IN. THE FIRST OF TRUMP'S CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE GEORGIA ELECTION CASE HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES IN TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. TRUMP, ALONG WITH EIGHTEEN ALLIES WERE CHARGED LAST WEEK TRUMP, ALONG WITH 18 ALLIES WERE CHARGED LAST WEEK WITH ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN HIS 2020 ELECTORAL DEFEAT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. JOHN EASTMAN, TRUMP'S FORMER LAWYER AND ONE OF THE MANY CO-DEFENDANTS NAMED IN THE INDICTMENT, FACES NINE COUNTS OF RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY. TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO SURRENDER ON FRIDAY ON THE 13 CHARGES AGAINST HIM. JAPAN WILL START RELEASING TREATED RADIOACTIVE WATER FROM ITS FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT INTO THE PACIFIC ON FRIDAY. ABOUT 500 OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS' WORTH OF WASTE WATER HAS ACCUMULATED SINCE THE 2011 TSUNAMI DESTROYED THE PLANT. THE DECISION TO RELEASE THE WATER COMES WEEKS AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS' NUCLEAR WATCHDOG APPROVED THE PLAN, DESPITE CONCERNS FROM JAPAN'S NEIGHBOURS. THE DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE FOR INTERISLANDER CUSTOMERS WITH THE KAITAKI FERRY'S SAILINGS CANCELLED UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. THE SHIP WAS DAMAGED BY A LARGE WAVE ON MONDAY NIGHT AND IS NOW UNDERGOING REPAIRS TO THE BOW DOOR. ANOTHER OF THE INTERISLANDER'S FERRIES, THE KAIARAHI, IS CURRENTLY IN SINGAPORE FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THAT LEAVES JUST THE ARATERE, WHICH WILL RUN AN ADDITIONAL FREIGHT-ONLY SAILING ON THURSDAY TO HELP ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS. DEMAND AND SUPPLY IS COOLING IN THE NEW ZEALAND RENTAL MARKET, LEADING TO A QUIETER WINTER THAN NORMAL. NEW DATA FROM TRADEME SHOWS THE AVERAGE WEEKLY RENT IN JULY WAS STILL $620 THAT'S UP $40 ON THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. TRADEME SAYS IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF LANDLORDS RESPOND TO A LACK OF DEMAND WITH LOWER RENTS. TO SPORT ` AND THE SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER HAS WEIGHED IN ON THE CONTROVERSIAL KISS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ON A PLAYER AFTER THE WORLD CUP FINAL. PM PEDRO SANCHEZ BELIEVES IT SHOWS THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF EQUALITY AND RESPECT TOWARDS WOMEN IN SPAIN. HE SAYS THE APOLOGIES MADE BY LUIS RUBIALES DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE SAW WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE GESTURE. TRANSLATOR: I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE SAW WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE GESTURE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE APOLOGIES MADE BY MR RUBIALES ARE NOT ENOUGH. I EVEN BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOT ADEQUATE, AND, THEREFORE, MR RUBIALES MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS TO CLARIFY WHAT WE ALL SAW THROUGH THE MEDIA. THE PLAYER INVOLVED, JENNY HERMOSO, SAID SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE ACTIONS, BUT A STATEMENT RELEASED LATER PLAYED DOWN THE ACTIONS. AND FINALLY, SOME MIGHT SAY MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE BEST JOKE HAS BEEN CROWNED AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL. THE ONE-LINERS WERE VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC, SO WE THOUGHT WE'D GO THROUGH THE TOP THREE. IN THIRD ` IN SECOND ` AND THE TOP JOKE OF THE FESTIVAL ` THE JOKE COMING FROM SCOTTISH COMEDIAN LORNA ROSE TREEN. IN THAT IS MY SORT OF JOKE. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN WHITIANGA. FURTHER SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FROSTY START FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY. 14 THE HIGH FOR WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A PARTLY CLOUDY START TO YOUR MORNING FOR YOU GUYS. THIS WILL THEN CLEAR TO A FINE DAY HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 14 THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` A FINE START, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH. LIGHT WINDS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. 13 THE HIGH FOR LEVIN. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, BEFORE TURNING TO FINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 12 THE HIGH FOR GREYMOUTH. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 13 IS THE HIGH FOR TIMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'LL A MAINLY FINE START FOR YOU GUYS, WITH SOME RAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THOSE IN MILFORD SOUND. 15 THE HIGH FOR GORE. IN EDEN, YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD TODAY. DUNEDIN* THE USE OF A SURGICAL MESH USED TO TREAT A COMMON INJURY WOMEN SUFFER DURING CHILDBIRTH IS BEING SUSPENDED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THE MESH IS A NET-LIKE FABRIC OR TAPE USED IN OPERATIONS FOR STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH PUSHING THE PAUSE BUTTON AFTER DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS OVER THE PAST DECADE. SHORTLY, WE'LL SPEAK TO A WOMAN WHO'S SPEARHEADED THE CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT INJURIES SUFFERED BY MANY WOMEN, INCLUDING HERSELF, BUT FIRST, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DOCTOR, JO BOURNE, JOINS US TO EXPLAIN THE MOVE. IN WHY HAVE YOU PUT A PAUSE ON USING THIS MESH? THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THE PAUSE HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HARM HAS BEEN CAUSED TO MANY WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE USE OF THIS SURGICAL MESH. AS A GP MYSELF, I HAVE SPENT TIME TALKING WITH WOMEN, PATIENTS, WHO ARE CONSIDERING` BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE IMPACT CAUSED BY THE CONDITION CAN BE DISTURBING BY THEMSELVES. WHEN WE ARE GIVING OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. WILL ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE HAD INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED, AND THEY HAVE REALLY SUPPORTED OUR PROCESS AND HELPING US TO MAKE THE SYSTEM SAFER. ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PAUSE ON THE USE OF THIS MESH FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION, STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE? YES, THE THE MESH IS STILL SAFE TO BE USED FOR OTHER PROCEDURES SUCH AS HERNIAS. WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MESH STILL IS SAFE FOR USE WITH HERNIAS. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN USEFUL STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE, HOW FAR BACK ARE WE TALKING? THE FIRST OPERATIONS USING THIS MESH OCCURRED IN THE MID-1990S, AND IT HAS BEEN USED SINCE THEN. WHY A PAUSE AND NOT A BAN? WE ARE SURE THAT THE PRODUCT IS NOT INHERENTLY HARMFUL, AND THERE ARE MANY WOMEN ACROSS NEW ZEALAND AND THE WORLD WHO HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS, SO THERE ARE A WHOLE LOAD OF FACTORS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION DOES NOT GO WELL. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS PAUSE? HOW LONG IS THIS PAUSE FOR? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SOME TIME FOR INTRODUCING SOME SAFEGUARDS AND HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A SERVICE TE WHATU ORA RUN SUPPORTING WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED, WE ARE ALSO RUNNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR GPS AND SPECIALISTS TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEASURES THAT WE STILL NEED TO INTRODUCE, AND WE WILL WORK TOWARDS INTRODUCING THEM OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO THIS PAUSE IS UNTIL THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? AND THEN POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE USED AGAIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR SURGERY? ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL NOT BE REVERSING THE PAUSE UNTIL WE ARE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE, BUT ONCE THEY ARE IN PLACE, WE WILL BE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN USE THIS MESH SAFELY. PETITION WAS LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHITE THE PAUSE NOW? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AREA FOR SOME TIME. WE HAVE PUT IN A JOB INTO RIM SAFEGUARDS IN ORDER TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE USE OF MESH, BUT AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN WE UNDERTOOK THE CREDENTIALLING OF SURGEONS, WE IDENTIFIED THAT WITHOUT A REALLY SYSTEMATIC IMITATION OF ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE TO MAKE THE SAFE, WE SIMPLY DID NOT HAVE ASSURANCE TO MAKE TO USE THE SAFE. AND THAT HAMAS STILL OCCURRING TO WOMEN. THANK YOU. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY 75% OF WOMEN WHO'VE HAD THE PROCEDURE HAD GOOD OUTCOMES, BUT SOME PATIENTS SAY THEY'VE HAD TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES, AMONG THEM, SALLY WALKER ` AFTER BEING SEVERELY INJURED BY THIS PROCEDURE HERSELF, SHE BECAME AN ADVOCATE FOR DOZENS OF WOMEN, EVEN LAUNCHING A PETITION CALLING FOR THIS VERY SUSPENSION. SALLY JOINS ME NOW, MORENA. WHAT YOU THINK OF THE PAUSE? I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY. I'M QUITE EMOTIONAL, SORRY. I'M PLEASED FOR ALL OF THE WOMEN. THIS IS GOING TO GIVE THEM BACK HOPE AND BUILD BACK THE TRUST. AND JUST MAKE THEM BELIEVE THAT.. THAT IT IS NOT IN THEIR HEADS, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE AND THEY HAVE GOT A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF THEM. AND I HOPE THIS WILL BE THE START. CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE SURGERY WHEN THE MESH WAS USED? AND HOW LONG AGO WILL BE TALKING? I HAD MINE PLANTED IN 2009, AND AS SOON AS IT WAS IMPLANTED, I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I HAD A LOT OF BLEEDING, PAIN, AND EVERYTHING. AND FOR THREE MONTHS, I KEPT GOING BACK TO THE SURGEON WHO DID IT AND COULDN'T GET IN. HE PROMISED ME AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS ANYTHING I COULD HAVE AND IT WAS GOLD STANDARD, WHICH WAS THE NORMAL CONVERSATION THAT SURGEONS HAD WITH US, AND THAT IT WOULD BE THE BE ALL AND END ALL AND HELD MY DOUBLE PROLAPSE. AS TIME WENT ON I WAS TOLD IT WAS IN MY HEAD. SO I GOT ON WITH LIFE, AND I DIDN'T GO BACK TO HIM. I BECAME INCONTINENT, AND I COULD NOT PEE. AND SO AFTER A VERY, VERY LONG JOURNEY, I WENT TO A UROLOGIST THEY THEN REFERRED ME TO A DOCTOR. I WENT THROUGH 10 OPERATIONS WITH HER TO TRY AND SAVE MY BLADDER. THEY THOUGHT THAT I HAD CANCER, BUT IT WAS THE MESH THAT HAD GONE ROTTEN. AFTER THOSE OPERATIONS, THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT MY BLADDER WOULD HAVE TO , OUT BECAUSE IT WAS SO ROTTEN. SO I HAD MY BLADDER REMOVED, IT WAS HORRIFIC OPERATION; I NEARLY LOST MY LIFE. I HAVE STILL GOT MESH INSIDE ME, BUT BECAUSE I HAD HAD SUMMARY OPERATIONS, MY INSIDES WERE STARTING TO FALL OUT. SO I HAD TWO MORE OPERATIONS. STAND THEN I HAD MY VAGINA SEWN CLOSED, BECAUSE EVERY THING WAS DROPPING OUT. I NOW HAVE A FIBROSIS OF THE LUNGS, BECAUSE MY BODY BEGAN ATTACKING ITSELF, AND I HAVE A MUSCLE CONDITION, SO WHAT I'M DOING FOR THESE LADIES IS KEEPING ME GOING. I AM VERY EXTREME, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE WHO HAVE GOT... REALLY SERIOUS HARM. I ADVOCATE FOR 80 WOMEN AND HELP THEM. AND OUT OF THOSE 80, THERE ARE ANOTHER FIVE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR BLOOD IS REMOVED. IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, SALLY. SO TODAY'S DECISION IS AMAZING. I AM THANKFUL TO ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND-THE-SCENES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND HELPED US GET THERE. BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT IS ABOUT THESE ONE, SOME OF WHOM ARE IN THEIR 20S. TALK ABOUT THE SUPPORT THAT WAS AVAILABLE/ FOR THE 80 ALSO WOMEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH ` THESE 80 WOMEN, WHAT SUPPORT HAS THERE BEEN FOR THEM? THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT. THEY JUST HIDEAWAY. FRIENDS DON'T UNDERSTAND. AND FOR THIS, I HAVE BROUGHT IT OUT INTO THE OPEN, AND HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY TO ME THANK YOU, BECAUSE IT HAS MADE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ISN'T A LOT OF SUPPORT AND THEY FEEL VERY ALONE, AND UNHEARD, SO WHEN THEY DO HAVE AN OPERATION TO TRY AND REPAIR THEM, THAT IS THE FIRST THING THEY SAY ` IT ISN'T IN OUR HEADS. SALLY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M SO SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO YOU. LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORIES AS WELL. IT'S A BURNING ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT US HERE. AS MAJOR WILDFIRES BLAZE AROUND THE GLOBE, OUR FIRE SERVICE REVEAL THEIR FEARS AND GAME PLAN FOR WHAT COULD BE A SIZZLING SUMMER. THAT'S AFTER THE BREAK. (FUNKY MUSIC) THE U.S., CANADA, EUROPE, THEY'RE ALL FIGHTING WILD FIRES, CAUSING IMMENSE DESTRUCTION AND FORCING MASS EVACUATIONS, BUT IT'S NOT LONG AGO THAT WE WERE TACKLING BIG BLAZES OF OUR OWN, AND NOT LONG NOW TILL WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE A LONG HOT SUMMER. SO TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE AND OUR FIREFIGHTING FRONTLINERS CAN DO ABOUT IT, WE'RE JOINED BY FIRE AND EMERGENCY'S TIM MITCHELL. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. ARE WE EXPECTING A LONG HOT SUMMER? YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AHEAD AT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. YES, THE WILDFIRE SEASON THAT WE HAVE GOT COMING IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT TO THE LAST TWO OR THREE, AND THAT IS A RESULT OF A CHANGE IN THE CLIMATE DRIVERS. NIWA HAVE BEEN TALKING TO IS REGULARLY AND TELLING US THAT A CHANGING CLIMATE DRIVERS GOING TO MEAN THAT THIS COMING SEASON WE WILL EXPECT A HOTTER, DRIER, AND WARMER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS IN BOTH OF OUR ISLANDS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO PICK UP ON ` TWO OF THEM QUITE WORRYING. HOTTER THAN NORMAL AND WINDY THAN NORMAL, AND IT IS THE WINDY AND DRY THAT IS REALLY GETTING BLAZES TO GO ALONG WAY. IT IS THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO CONDITIONS THAT REALLY DOESN'T DRIVE THE FIRE AND DANGER UP. ALTHOUGH, ALTHOUGH IT DRIVES IT UP, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE END UP WITH FIRES. THAT IS DEPENDENT UPON THE ACTION THAT THE PUBLIC TAKES. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF RAIN. AFTER YOU SEEN THOSE DEVASTATING PICTURES OVERSEAS AND JUST HOW LONG THEY HAVE GONE FOR, I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO WAS IN CANADA YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE EXPECTING IT TO KEEP GOING UNTIL IT SNOWS HERE, HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT BE FACING? CERTAINLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF FILES THAT ARE BURNING OVERSEAS, IT CERTAINLY SHOWS THAT FIRES TO HAPPEN AND IN AREAS THAT WE DON'T USUALLY EXPECT, SUCH AS HAWAII ` WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT HAWAII WOULD HAVE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT FIRE RISK? THE KEY THING IS THAT WHILE WE ARE SEEING THOSE BIG FIGHT OVERSEAS, BIG FIRES ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE ONLY FIVES THAT WE NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT. SMALL FIRES CAN BE EQUALLY AS CONSEQUENTIAL WAS. ESPECIALLY THAT OF YOUR HOUSE, YOUR PROPERTY, YOUR BUSINESS THAT IS IMPACTED BY THAT. SO WE REALLY NEED FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE REALLY PREPARED NOT JUST FOR THE BIG FIGHT, BUT FOR THE SMALL ONES AS WELL. IN TERMS OF PROPER WORK, WHAT ARE THE FIRE SERVICE ABLE TO DO IN ADVANCE? AND OURSELVES AS WELL? IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD OUR PREPAREDNESS WORK, ANTICIPATING THAT THE SEASON WILL BE BUSIER THAN NORMAL. WE HAVE STARTED OUR SEASON OUTLOOKS EARLIER. WE ARE STARTING OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN EARLIER. WE ARE STARTING OUR PROJECTS AND SEASONAL PREPAREDNESS EARLIER ` THAT IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SEASON, BUT THIS SEASON WE ARE TRYING TO BRING THAT EARLIER SO THAT WE ARE WELL PREPARED AND THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE. HOW MUCH EARLIER ARE YOU CERTAIN YOUR PREP WORK? THAT I STARTED ALREADY. THE FIRST SEASONAL OUTLOOK WAS ON MONDAY THIS WEEK. AND A LOT OF THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT IS WELL UNDERWAY. TIM MITCHELL FROM FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND, THANK YOU. THAT IS MY COUSINS HUSBAND THERE. HI TIM! CATCH UP WITH YOU SOON! ME U TONU MAI. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, THE TERRIFYING WARNING OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF A KEY CARE FACILITY CAN'T SORT ITS STAFFING SHORTAGES. THAT'S AFTER 7. 'TODAY IS A HAPPY DAY' ` THAT'S HOW A WOMAN AFFECTED BY THE USE OF SURGICAL MESH IN A PELVIC SURGERY HAS WELCOMED A PAUSE ON THE PROCEDURE. SALLY WALKER HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE EVER SINE HER SURGERY TO ADDRESS PROLAPSE IN 2009. THE PROCEDURE CAUSED HER EXTREME PAIN AND 'ROTTED HER INSIDES', RESULTING IN THE REMOVAL OF HER BLADDER. SUSPENDING THE PROCEDURE, SHE SAYS, WILL GIVE WOMEN TRUST IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AFTER THEIR PAIN WASN'T BELIEVED. I AM VERY EXTREME, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE THAT HAVE GOT REALLY SERIOUS HARM. I ADVOCATE FOR 80 WOMAN. OUT OF THOSE 80, THERE ARE ANOTHER FIVE THAT A PET THE BLADE IS REMOVED. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS THE PAUSE WILL TAKE PLACE WHILE STEPS ARE PUT IN PLACE TO MINIMISE HARM ` THESE INCLUDE TAILORED TRAINING FOR SURGEONS AND A MORE STRUCTURED INFORMED CONSENT PROCESS FOR PATIENTS. POWER LINES ARE DOWN AND DELAYS ARE EXPECTED AFTER A CRASH IN THE WELLINGTON SUBURB OF KHANDALLAH. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH AROUND 5am. KHANDALLAH ROAD IS NOW PARTIALLY CLOSED AND MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE AREA. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. 18 BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN AN AREA OF NORTHERN GREECE HIT BY WILDFIRES FOR THE PAST FOUR DAYS. GREECE HAS BEEN RAVAGED BY FIRE IS THE SUMMER FUELLED BY HIGH WINDS AND TEMPERATURE CLIMBING ABOVE 40 DEGREES. IT COMES AS COUNTRIES BRACE FOR ANOTHER HEATWAVE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. AS BLAZES CONTINUE TO RAGE IN THE U.S., CANADA AND EUROPE, NEW ZEALAND IS STARTING TO PREPARE FOR ITS WILDFIRE SEASON. THE LAST OF THE KIWI FIREFIGHTERS DEPLOYED TO CANADA HAVE RETURNED HOME AHEAD OF OUR SEASONAL DRY CONDITIONS. FIRE AND EMERGENCY'S TIM MITCHELL SAYS THEY'RE ALREADY PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR'S FIRE SEASON. THE CHANGING CLIMATE DRIVERS GOING TO MEAN THIS COMING SEASON, WE ARE EXPECTING HOTTER THAN NORMAL, DRIER THAN NORMAL, WINDY AND THE NORMAL CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN AREAS OF BOTH OF OUR COUNTRIES. AUCKLAND ACCOUNTED FOR THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF WILDFIRES FOR EACH OF THE LAST TWO SEASONS FOR THE WHOLE OF NEW ZEALAND. ANIMALS AT CHRISTCHURCH'S ORANA WILDLIFE PARK ARE SUFFERING 'SERIOUS INJURIES' AFTER GETTING SPOOKED BY BOY RACERS. POLICE SAY DRIVERS HAVE BEEN DOING SKIDS AND BURNOUTS OUTSIDE THE ZOO ` WHICH ALSO POSES AN EXTREME FIRE RISK TO THE PARK. 'OPERATION GUMTREE' HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO TARGET THE BEHAVIOUR. POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED 16 VEHICLES INVOLVED AND HAVE IMPOUNDED 10 OF THEM SO FAR. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS, LIVE FROM ORANA WILDLIFE PARK, LATER IN THE SHOW. AUSTRALIAN COACH EDDIE JONES HAS BROKEN HIS SILENCE ON HIS OLD MATE SIR STEVE HANSEN. THE FORMER ALL BLACKS COACH RATTLED THE NATION WHEN IT WAS REVEALED HE WOULD BE HELPING AUSTRALIA BEFORE THE RUGBY WORLD CUP. JONES SAYS HANSEN'S THERE TO LOOK AT THE YOUNG AUSTRALIAN SIDE. THERE ARE TWO MAIN AREAS` TRAINING QUALITY, WHICH IS OUR MAIN WAY OF IMPROVING. STEVE AS HAVING A LOOK AT THIS AREA, AND EVERY TIME HE SPEAKS, PEOPLE LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS. THE WALLABIES PLAY FRANCE NEXT WEEK IN THEIR FINAL WARM-UP MATCH BEFORE THE WORLD CUP. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN WHITIANGA. 14 THE HIGH FOR RUSSELL. FURTHER SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FROSTY START FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY. 14 THE HIGH FOR WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A PARTLY CLOUDY START TO YOUR MORNING FOR YOU GUYS. THIS WILL THEN CLEAR TO A FINE DAY HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. PRETTY CHILLY TO START WITH. OVER TO THE WEST ` A FINE START, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH. LIGHT WINDS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. 13 THE HIGH FOR LEVIN. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, BEFORE TURNING TO FINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 12 THE HIGH FOR GREYMOUTH. IT'S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 14 DEGREES FOR ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'LL A MAINLY FINE START FOR YOU GUYS, WITH SOME RAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THOSE IN MILFORD SOUND. 13 DEGREES FOR QUEENSTOWN. 15 DEGREES AND SUNNY FOR DUNEDIN. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ASTROLOGY. IT'S USING ASTROLOGY TO INTERPRET AND DECIPHER YOUR FUTURE. THIS IS OFTEN INTERVIEW LATER IN THE SHOW. 62% OF GEN Z SAY THEY BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY. THEY BELIEVE IT! BUT ARE THEY COMMITTED TO IT? IT'S, I BELIEVE THIS, I'M GOING TO READ THIS EVERY DAY, I'M GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND INTERPRET IT AND LIVE BY IT. YOU WANT IN YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR TODAY? YOU WILL WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE DOES, DON'T THEY? YOU COULD TAKE A BREAK AND PLAN A SHORT TRIP TODAY. THAT IS GOING HOME TO HAVE A NAP, ISN'T IT? IF YOU PLAN ON STARTING SOMETHING NEW, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, TODAY IS IDEAL AS THE STARS WILL BRING YOU FRUITFUL RESULTS IN YOUR ENDEAVOURS. TIME TO BRING THE GUITAR OUT! IT'S STILL SITTING IN THE BOOT OF THE CAR. AND THEN EVERYONE SAID, IT'S A YEAR OLD. IT'S NEARLY 2 YEARS OLD, THE GUITAR. DO YOU BELIEVE IN STAR SIGNS? BARRY SAYS 62% OF GENERATION Z ARE MORONS. JULIE SAYS I BELIEVE UP I'M GLAD THEY'RE BELIEVING IN SOMETHING. I WONDER IF IT'S JUST THE CASE OF PEOPLE WANTING TO HOLD ONTO SOMETHING. CONFUCIUS SAYS... CHLOE SAYS I READ THEM REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY THE ONE THING I'M GOING TO WIN BIG. PLEASE GIVE ME $1 BILLION. THE ONLY TIME I WILL LOOK AT A HOROSCOPE IS OF A LOOK AT A PAPER, WHICH IS NOT VERY OFTEN, BUT SECONDLY, IF LIFE DOESN'T SEEM THAT FAIR, IT WILL GIVE ME SOME HOPE. THAT IS WHY GENERATIONS IT BELIEVING IN THIS BECAUSE THEY NEED SOME HOPE. WE NEED TO GET SOME GENERATION Z PERSPECTIVE. AS WELL AND GOOD FOR US POOH-POOHING IT, BUT WE NEED TO GET A BELIEVER ON. WE GOING TO BE TALKING TO A YOUNG ASTROLOGER WHO TOUCHES BASE WITH GENERATION Z. YOU ARE A MILLENNIAL ANNA. COULD TRY. GOOD THING I DIDN'T LIKE AVOCADO. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR FEEDBACK COMING THROUGH. BREAKFAST@TVNZ.CO.NZ. INSTAGRAM, WE ARE RUNNING A POLL. DO YOU BELIEVE IN STAR SIGNS? EVERYONE KNOWS THE STAR SIGN, RIGHT? REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO A BAR UNDERAGE AND THEY LOOK AT YOUR FAKE ID. I DON'T KNOW ANNA, BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. KEEP YOUR FEEDBACK COMING. AS A SHOW GOES ON. HOW A TROUBLE-TORMENTED FERRY SERVICE IS HURTING A CHIEF MONEY-MAKER. CANCELLATIONS HAVE PLAGUED THE INTERISLANDER LATELY. SO HOW BADLY IS TOURISM SUFFERING? FIND OUT AFTER THE BREAK. IT HAS BEEN HEADACHE AFTER HEADACHE FOR THE INTERISLANDER. EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS A GEARBOX ON THE KAITAKI FERRY THAT DISRUPTED SAILINGS FOR MONTHS. THEN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, PASSENGERS ON ONE OF THE CROSSINGS HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT ONBOARD THE FERRY AFTER A FAULT WITH THE STEERING. WE SPOKE TO THE INTERISLANDER BACK IN APRIL ABOUT THE ISSUES. HERE'S WHAT THEY TOLD US. AND AS I'VE SAID, WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT FLEET SO THEY'RE RELIABLE FOR CUSTOMERS. LOOK, WE ARE GETTING NEW SHIPS AND TERMINALS ` AND THE FIRST NEW SHIP IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN 2025. SO WE'RE ADDRESSING THE LONGER-TERM ISSUES, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE HIGHLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING OUR CURRENT FLEET REMAIN SAFE AND RELIABLE. BUT NOW, MORE ISSUES ` THIS TIME, DAMAGE TO ONE OF THE BOW DOORS ON THE KAITAKI. IN A STATEMENT, THE INTERISLANDER SAID TO BREAKFAST, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE PASSENGERS THAT ARE AFFECTED, THE RIPPLE EFFECT IS MUCH BIGGER. JOINING US NOW IS ROB BURN, BUSINESS OWNER OF THE VILLA ACCOMMODATION IN PICTON. MORNING. HERE WE ARE AGAIN. THAT'S RIGHT. THE ONLY SAVING GRACE IS THAT IT'S THE QUIETEST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR PEOPLE TRAVELLING. WE HAVE HAD SOME DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS AND WE HAVE MADE THAT UP BY PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ACROSS. WE ARE ETERNALLY HOPEFUL THAT THE INTERISLAND ARE GOING TO DO THE MAINTENANCE AND MAKE SURE IT'S RELIABLE FOR THE SUMMER. THE WORST THING NOW IS THE FREIGHT THAT CAN'T GET ACROSS. WHERE ALL HITS TO THE PUMP. THE FLOW ON EFFECT IS HUGE I IMAGINE, ANNUAL THE ONES THAT FEEL THAT OFTEN BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES AT THE CENTRE OF THE TOWN OF PICTON. PICTON IS A FABULOUS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE LOTS OF ACCOMMODATION ON OFFER. WE CAN COPE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE STUCK IN STRANDED. IT'S ONLY ONE OR TWO DAYS A YEAR IN THE PEAK TIMES THAT WE ARE CHOCK FULL. NO MATTER WHAT IS THROWN AT US, WE WILL DEAL WITH IT. THE INTERISLANDER WE WOULD RATHER BE SAFE WITH THE DOOR. AT ONE OF THE WORST CROSSINGS IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF ROUGHNESS. PEOPLE WILL FORGIVE THE INTERISLANDER BECAUSE NATURE IS A FICKLE BEAST, AND IT IS A ROUGH CROSSING AT THE BEST OF TIMES. BUT HOW FRUSTRATING IS IT FOR THE CUSTOMERS? YOU'RE THE ONES WHO ARE TO DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT OF PEOPLE CANCELLING BOOKINGS, OR EXTEND THEIR BOOKINGS AT THE VILLA BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET FROM PICTON TO WELLINGTON. THAT IS TRUE. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THERE IS A BIT OF TRAFFIC FLOWING, INTO BE FAIR, AND OUR BUSINESS WE ARE NEAR DOUBLE THE TURNOVER FROM THIS TIME OF LAST YEAR. THAT IS FOR MORE PEOPLE TRAVELLING. I GUESS PEOPLE ARE RESIGNED TO IT, THEY KNOW ANYTHING RELATED TO THE SEA AND WEATHER, THAT'S WHAT MAY HAPPEN. I THINK IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO... I STARTED WORKING IN THE FREIGHT INDUSTRY 1987 BASED IN LONDON, ARE NOT LONG BEFORE THAT, THE FERRY CROSSING FELL OVER BECAUSE THE BOW DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT. AS THE INTERISLANDER SAY, SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. ABSOLUTELY AS IT SHOULD BE, BUT I WONDER WHAT YOUR ASSESSMENT IS FOR THE WAY THINGS ARE OPERATING AT THE MOMENT IN TERMS OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE TO HANG ON. WE KNOW THAT THE NEW FAIRIES ARE COMING AND WORKS STARTED ON THE NEW FERRY TERMINALS. MY WISHES THE TREASURY AND WHOEVER INCOMING GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE GIVES THE MONEY TO KIWIRAIL TO MAKE SURE THE FAIRIES ARE DELIVERED ON TIME, TO MAKE SURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS DELIVERED IN A TIMELY MANNER SO THAT WE HAVE SAFE, EFFICIENT TRANSPORT GOOD FOR OUR EMISSIONS, GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY, AND THEN THEY MOVE ON TO MAKE A BETTER ROAD FROM PICTON TO CHRISTCHURCH. FOR THE TOURISTS AS WELL, THINKING ABOUT INTERNATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR PEOPLE THEY GET OFF THE PLANE. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE OFFERING IS GOOD ENOUGH. IT'S A LITTLE GRIM AND PATCHES AT THE MOMENT. BUT WE WILL GET THERE. HOW ARE THINGS IN PICTON? IT'S A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. THE COFFEE IS GOOD, THE WEATHER IS GOOD. THE FISHING IS GOOD. THERE IS PLENTY TO DO AND IT'S A LOVELY LITTLE PLACE TO BE. EVEN IF PEOPLE ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH FOR A DAY OR THREE, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE. IF YOU'RE STUCK HERE, ENJOY IT, EMBRACE IT. FAIR CALL, ROB. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. E HAERE AKE NEI, UP NEXT ` WE'RE FAILING NEW PARENTS AT A CRITICAL TIME. THE NEW REPORT REVEALING WHERE WE COULD BE DOING MUCH BETTER ON PARENTAL LEAVE. MORE ON THAT NEXT. LOOKING TO GET OUT IN NATURE? LOOK NO FURTHER. FROM THE FLOWING WATERS TO SCENIC FORESTS, ROTORUA HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. AND THANKS TO LEGEND OF THE PEAKS, YOU COULD BE HEADING THERE. THE TEAM FROM LEGEND OF THE PEAKS AND THEIR PARTNERS HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN AMAZING TREAT WEEKEND AWAY IN ROTORUA, PERFECT TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE OUR BACKYARD. ALONGSIDE ENTRIES TO THE EVENT OF CHOICE IN THEIR TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL, YOU AND A FRIEND COULD BE HEADING TO ROTORUA FOR THREE NIGHTS, CHECKING OUT THE GEYSERS, POLYNESIAN SPA, SKYLINE, AND EVEN MOUNTAIN BIKING. TO ENTER, HEAD TO legendofthepeaks.com/win. WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER LIVE ON-AIR THIS FRIDAY. PARENTAL LEAVE IS A HOT TOPIC LEADING UP TO THIS YEARS ELECTION, WITH BOTH LABOUR AND NATIONAL PROPOSING CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM. BUT NOW A NEW REPORT IS SUGGESTING THAT DESPITE THESE PROMISES, WE'RE STILL FALLING SHORT. TO EXPLAIN WE'RE JOINED BY CRAYON'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEPHANIE POW. MORENA. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE SHOW. WHAT WERE THE INSIGHTS FROM THIS REPORT? WE BUILT THE PARENTAL LEAVE REGISTER. COLLECTIVELY, THEY EMPLOY OVER HALF A MILLION KIWIS. IT'S ONE EVERY SIX EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTRY. 9/10 OFFER PAID LEAVE ABOVE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. THEY ARE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO KIWI SAVER, THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT RETURN TO WORK TRANSITION HOW THEY CAN UP EMPLOYEES COME BACK. WITH THAT IS EXTRA LEAVE BECAUSE KIDS ARE SICK A LOT IN THOSE EARLY TIMES. EMPLOYERS ARE BECOMING MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT AND PLOY EASE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER. WE ARE IN THE BOTTOM QUARTILE FOR PAID PARENTAL LEAVE. WHERE ONE OF THREE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WITH NO PAY PARTNER LEAVE WHATSOEVER. WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND. BOTH NATIONAL AND LABOUR ANNOUNCE THEIR POLICIES RECENTLY, LABOUR ADDING FOUR WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE, IN NATIONAL IS PROPOSING SIX MONTHS. THAT SHOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO. HOWEVER, YOU AS PARENTS DECIDE WHEN TO TAKE THE LEAVE. IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT IS FAR FROM EFFICIENT. 70% OF KIWI MUMS END UP GOING BACK TO WORK BEFORE THEY WANT TO BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS. FATHERS WANT TO TAKE THREE MONTHS OF PARENTAL LEAVE, AND ARE GETTING TWO WEEKS. IT IS ALSO PAID AT LESS THAN FULL-TIME WAGES. IS SITTING A LOT OF FAMILIES RIGHT NOW. EVERY EMPLOYEE ON THE REGISTER HAS EXPLICIT CONDITIONS EMPLOYEES NEED TO REACH. HOW ARE WE GOING? IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT 6/10 EMPLOYERS REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO BE PERMANENT TO ACCESS THOSE BENEFITS, AND ALSO THAT THERE ARE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. NORMALLY IT IS 6 TO 12 MONTHS, BUT SOMETIMES 24 MONTHS. IT IS GEARED TOWARDS PEOPLE IN STABLE JOBS. IT CAN BE HARD IF YOU HAD AN INDUSTRY THAT IS POSSIBLY MORE CASUAL. OTHER ANY COMPANIES ON THIS REGISTER LEADING IN THE SPACE. 1/4 OF THE EMPLOYERS ON THE REGISTER OFFER EQUAL PAPER RENTAL LEAVE. IT'S THE SAME BENEFITS WHETHER YOU ARE THE PRIMARY CARER OR THE PARTNER. IS TAKING THE LEAD OF OTHER COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY THE NORDIC'S, WHERE THEY ARE FOCUSING ON SHARED PARENTING. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS RESEARCH AROUND THE FIRST 1000 DAYS OF A CHILD'S LIFE AND HOW PACK THAT WE CAN BE ON THEIR LIFE. CAN WE DO BETTER? WE CAN. WE KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS ARE GETTING THE TIME THEY WANT WITH THEIR KIDS. I HOLD NO JUDGEMENT ABOUT HOW LONG YOU WANT TO TAKE PARENTAL LEAVE, BUT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THEIR PREFERENCE. AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR KIDS DURING THIS FIRST 1000 DAYS. IT HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON LIFELONG OUTCOMES. SO GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE PROGRAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR NEWS, HERE'S A TASTE OF WHAT'S COMING UP AFTER 7am. PATIENTS IN WESTPORT SAY THAT BULLER HEALTH STAFFING LEVELS ARE AT BREAKING POINT. ONE GRANDMOTHER SAYS IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. SHE JOINS US NEXT, FOLLOWED BY TE WHATU ORA. NATIONAL M.P. MICHAEL WOODHOUSE HAS COME OUT AGAINST HIS OWN PARTY THIS MORNING. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES, HE ACCUSED THE PARTY OF ABANDONING DUNEDIN AND THAT HIS LOW LIST PLACING WAS DUE TO HIM BEING A MAN. WOODHOUSE HAD ALREADY PULLED HIMSELF OFF THE LIST AND IS DUE TO STAND IN DUNEDIN, WHICH IS A SAFE LABOUR SEAT. NATIONAL LEADER CHRISTOPHER LUXON JOINS US TO RESPOND AFTER 7.30. AND MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR FAITH IN ASTROLOGY. NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF GEN Z'ERS ARE NOW TURNING TO THE STARS FOR LIFE ADVICE. WE'LL FIND OUT WHY JUST BEFORE EIGHT. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. A PAUSE ON THE USE OF MESH IN FEMALE PELVIC SURGERY WILL VALIDATE THE PAIN AND STRUGGLE OF MANY NEW ZEALAND WOMEN AFFECTED BY THE PROCEDURE. THAT'S ACCORDING TO SALLY WALKER, WHO PETITIONED FOR CHANGE AFTER HER OWN SURGERY TO ADDRESS PROLAPSE IN 2009. THE PROCEDURE CAUSED HER EXTREME PAIN AND QUOTE 'ROTTED HER INSIDES,' RESULTING IN THE REMOVAL OF HER BLADDER. WALKER SAYS, LIKE MANY WOMAN, HER PAIN WASN'T BELIEVED. SHE NOW SUPPORTS 80 WOMEN HURT BY THE SURGERY. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS OUT INTO THE OPEN AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY TO ME THANK YOU, BECAUSE IT HAS MADE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT AND THEY FEEL VERY ALONE AND UNHEARD. SO WHEN THEY DO HAVE AN OPERATION TO TRY AND REPAIR THEM, THAT IS THE FIRST THING THEY SAY ` IT IS NOT IN OUR HEADS. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS THE PAUSE WILL TAKE PLACE WHILE STEPS ARE PUT IN PLACE TO MINIMISE HARM ` THESE INCLUDE TAILORED TRAINING FOR SURGEONS AND A MORE STRUCTURED INFORMED CONSENT PROCESS FOR PATIENTS. WE HAVE HAD INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED, AND THEY HAVE REALLY SUPPORTED OUR PROCESS AND HELPING US TO MAKE THE SYSTEM SAFER. ACCORDING TO TE WHATU ORA, PROCEDURES USING MESH HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME FOR 75% OF WOMAN. POWERLINES ARE DOWN IN THE WELLINGTON SUBURB OF KHANDALLAH AFTER A SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH THIS MORNING. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE INCIDENT AT AROUND 5am AND ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO EXPECT DELAYS. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IS IN PLACE WITH KHANDALLAH ROAD PARTIALLY CLOSED. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. ONLY ONE OF THREE INTERISLANDER FERRIES WILL BE RUNNING THIS MORNING, WITH ONE BROKEN AND ONE UNDERDOING SCHEDUELED MAINTENANCE. THE KAITAKI FERRY WAS HIT BY A LARGE WAVE ON MONDAY NIGHT AND IS STILL BEING REPAIRED. PICTON ACCOMMODATION OWNER ROB BURN SAYS THE ONLY SAVING GRACE IS THIS IS A QUIET TIME OF YEAR FOR TRAVELLERS. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT INTERISLAND ARE GOING TO DO THE MAINTENANCE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS RELIABLE FOR THE SUMMER. IT IS NOT SO BAD NOW. THE WORST THING NOW IS THE FREIGHT THAT CANNOT GET ACROSS. THE LAST REMAINING FERRY, THE ARATERE, WILL BE RUNNING AN ADDITIONAL FREIGHT-ONLY SERVICE TOMORROW TO HELP WITH DEMAND. A REPORT FROM A PARENTAL LEAVE REGISTER SAYS NEITHER LABOUR OR NATIONAL'S POLICIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT SHARED PARENTING. LABOUR IS PROMISING FOUR WEEKS PAID PARTNER'S LEAVE EITHER AT THE SAME TIME OR AFTER THE PRIMARY CARER'S LEAVE, WHILE NATIONAL SAYS THEY'LL ALLOW PARENTS TO DIVIDE EXISTING PAID LEAVE BETWEEN THEM. STEPHANIE POW HAS BEEN EXAMINING THE STATE OF PARENTAL LEAVE IN NEW ZEALAND AND SAYS PARENTS WOULD STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY UNDER BOTH POLICIES. I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY FAR FROM EFFICIENT. WE KNOW IN NEW ZEALAND THAT 70% OF KIWI MUMS GO BACK TO WORK BEFORE THEY WANT TO BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. ALSO, ON AVERAGE, FATHERS WANT TO TAKE THREE MONTHS OF PARENTAL LEAVE AND ARE GETTING 2 TO 3 WEEKS. EVEN WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSALS IT IS STILL NOT GETTING OTHER. MS POW SAYS ADEQUATE PARENTAL LEAVE POLICIES HAVE IMMENSE AFFECT ON A COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS. AFTER 14 HOURS TRAPPED IN A CABLE CAR, 8 PEOPLE INCLUDING CHILDREN, HAVE BEEN RESCUED IN PAKISTAN. THE GROUP WERE LEFT STRANDED IN THE CARRIAGE OVERNIGHT, DANGLING ALMOST 300m ABOVE A RIVER. THE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN ONE OF THE GONDOLA'S CABLES SNAPPED. THE MILITARY WAS FORCED TO PAUSE ITS HELICOPTER OPERATION AS NIGHT FELL, BUT TEAMS ON THE GROUND WORKED AFTER DARK TO BRING THOSE STUCK TO SAFETY. THE BLACKCAPS COACHING STAFF WILL BE JOINED BY TWO FORMER ENGLAND INTERNATIONALS IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS OF TOURING. FIVE-TIME ASHES WINNER IAN BELL WILL JOIN THE TEAM AS AN ASSISTANT FOR THE T20 SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND LATER THIS MONTH, AND JAMES FOSTER WILL ARRIVE FOR THE ONE-DAY SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND AND STAY FOR THE TEAMS WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN WHITIANGA. 14 THE HIGH FOR RUSSELL. FURTHER SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FROSTY START FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY. 14 THE HIGH FOR WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A PARTLY CLOUDY START TO YOUR MORNING FOR YOU GUYS. THIS WILL THEN CLEAR TO A FINE DAY HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 14 THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` A FINE START WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH. LIGHT WINDS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. 13 THE HIGH FOR LEVIN. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, BEFORE TURNING TO FINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 12 THE HIGH FOR GREYMOUTH. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 13 IS THE HIGH FOR TIMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'LL A MAINLY FINE START FOR YOU GUYS, WITH SOME RAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THOSE IN MILFORD SOUND. 15 THE HIGH FOR GORE. IT IS 7:06. A WESTPORT GRANDMOTHER SAYS SOMEONE WILL DIE SOON IF STAFFING LEVELS AT BULLER HEALTH AREN'T SORTED OUT. DESPITE THE NEW MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR HOSPITAL, STAFF SHORTAGES ARE FORCING THE FACILITY TO OCCASIONALLY CLOSE OVERNIGHT. THE NEAREST HOSPITAL IS AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY IN GREYMOUTH. LOCAL AMANDA LOVERSIDGE JOINS US NOW. THIS IS A STRONGER STATEMENT FROM YOU. DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WILL DIE BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN BULLER AT THE MOMENT? YES, I DO. THE HEALTH SITUATION RIGHT HERE IS NOT STABLE. IT IS QUITE WORRYING. I THINK IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE HAVE A DEATH. WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT? WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO KEEP THE HOSPITAL RUNNING, SOMETIMES, AT ALL. SOMETIMES WHEN THERE ARE STUFF THERE, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF ON THE FLOOR TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IN PATIENTS. SO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH GREY MOUTH. MY EXAMPLE IS MY NEIGHBOURS GRANDDAUGHTER COULD HAVE DIED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE ADMITTED TO WESTPORT HOSPITAL DUE TO BRONCHITIS, WHICH THEN TURNED INTO RSV VIRUS. SHE COULDN'T BE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL, THIS IS YOUR NEWBORN GRANDDAUGHTER, WHAT HAPPENED? SHE HAD TO COLD THAT DID NOT GO AWAY, SO SHE ENDED UP BEING TAKEN INTO HOSPITAL BY MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE WAS STRUGGLING TO BREATHE, AND THEY COULD NOT ADMIT HER, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CLOSED, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF ON THE FLOOR TO REMIT ANOTHER PATIENT. SO THEY SUGGESTED THAT MY DAUGHTER TAKE HER HOME, WHICH SHE DID. THROUGH THE NIGHT, SHE DETERIORATED, SO MY DAUGHTER TOOK HER BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND SAID THAT SHE WAS GETTING WORSE, AND THEY SAID THAT SHE WAS GETTING WORSE, THEY AGREED, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TWO GO THROUGH TO GREY MOUTH BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT BE ADMITTED TO OUR LITTLE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH STAFF ON THE FLOOR, SO MY DAUGHTER TOOK HER THROUGH TO GREY MOUTH ` AND THAT IS WHERE SHE STOPPED BREATHING. AND A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT SHE WAS DRIVING VERY FAST WITH A BABY ON HER KNEE AND CONSTANTLY HONKING HER HORN, SO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CALLED INTO THE POLICE AND SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. THE POLICE CAUGHT UP WITH MY DAUGHTER AND PULLED HER OVER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG. SHE SAID HER DAUGHTER WAS NOT BREATHING. THE POLICE CALLED AN AMULET AND THEY MET THEM THERE AND GOT THEM THROUGH TO GREY MOUTH. SHE NEEDED TO BE PUT ON OXYGEN IN THE AMBULANCE, BECAUSE HER OXYGEN SATURATION HAD DROPPED. SO THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE. HOW TERRIFYING IS THAT? IT IS VERY, VERY SCARY. MY DAUGHTER ALSO HAS A SON WHO HAD WHOOPING COUGH WHEN HE WAS A SON, AND HE WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS, AND THAT ALL MOST TOOK HIS LIFE, AND WE ALSO LOST A DAUGHTER DUE TO BREATHING DIFFICULTIES WHEN SHE WAS A BABY. WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL TOWN IN A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION, BUT IF ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENS HEALTHWISE, YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE TO GET THE CARE THAT YOU NEED ` THAT IS VERY, VERY SCARY. WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO TE WHATU ORA SOON, THEY HAVE VERY PROVIDED A STATEMENT ` THEY SAY THAT RECRUITMENT IS A WELL DOCUMENT IT CHALLENGE ACROSS THE HEALTH SECTOR AND IS OFTEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE RECRUITING INTO RURAL AREAS LIKE THE WEST COAST. THERE IS AN ADDED SHORTAGE OF TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS ` IS THAT A FAIR POINT, DO THINK? IS A FAIR ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS REALLY TOUGH TO STAFF OUR HOSPITALS? IT IS. WE DO NOT PUT ANY FAULT WITH THE HOSPITAL STAFF. WE PUT NON ON THEM. THE GOVERNMENT NEED MORE FUNDING AND MORE STUFF. KEY THING IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, GIVING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT MANDATES DROPPED, WHY AREN'T WE DROPPING THE BACK STATE MANDATES FOR THE DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO DID NOT WANT TO HAVE THE VACCINE, WHY CAN THEY NOT COME BACK? WHY? YOU THINK WE CAN GET ON TOP OF THIS, AMANDA? WE NEED TO GET ON TOP OF THIS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE. THE COVENANT HAVE TO SORT THIS. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT RISK. WE ARE NOT 1/3 WORLD COUNTRY, WE ARE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, AND PEOPLE NEED GOOD HEALTHCARE. THANKS, AMANDA. THE STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE YET ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF A HEALTH SYSTEM IN CRISIS. SO FOR MORE ON WHAT ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, WE'RE JOINED NOW BY TE WHATU ORA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DOCTOR GRAHAM ROPER. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THIS MORNING, BUT NOT A GOOD ASSESSMENT FROM AMANDA. USING HER FEARS AND CONCERNS ARE VALID? TO THINK PEOPLE COULD DIE? WITH HER CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. IT IS A TOP RARITY FOR THEM. I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY WITH OUR RECRUITMENT, AND I FEEL THAT OUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE AND PROVIDE THE CARE THEY NEED. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MEANTIME? BECAUSE I PRESUME IT WILL NOT BE A QUICK FIX, AND YOU HAVE STORIES LIKE AMANDA WHERE SHE SAYS SHE HAD TO DRIVE HER NEWBORN GRANDDAUGHTER ALL THE WAY TO GREY MOUTH WHERE SHE STOPPED BREATHING HALFWAY THROUGH THAT HOUR AND 1/2 TRIP ` IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SHE IS NOT CONFLATING THINGS HERE BY SAYING SOMEONE COULD DIE BECAUSE OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGES. I AM REALLY CONFIDENT WITH OUR PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL TO GET HEALTHCARE. RARE AND OCCASIONAL EVENTS DO HAPPEN. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS CASE BECAUSE OF PRIVACY ISSUES, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PROCESS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY TO GET THE CARE IN THE RIGHT FACILITY. THE POINT, THOUGH, IS THATI USE A THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GET HEALTHCARE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUT THIS IS A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN A TOWN WITH A HOSPITAL WHO WAS SENT AN HOUR AND 1/2 AWAY WITH A BABY WHO STOPPED BREATHING, SO YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT A LOT OF RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE FAITH IN THE SERVICE AT THE MOMENT. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. OUR SYSTEM INVOLVES FULLY ASSESSING SOMEONE WHO COMES INTO A FACILITY BEFORE THEY ARE MOVED TO ANOTHER FACILITY ` AND THAT IS A REALLY KEY POINT IN THE PROCESS. WE HAVE GOOD QUALIFIED STAFF THAT UNDERTAKE THE ASSESSMENT OF PEOPLE, AND THEN THE DECISION AROUND THE RIGHT PLACE AND MODE OF TRANSPORT TO LAPLACE IS BASED ON LEGAL JUDGEMENT, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT OUR STAFF ARE FOLLOWING THAT PROCESS WELL. HOW LONG BEFORE YOU THINK YOU ARE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN ADEQUATELY STAFF OF THE HOSPITAL? I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY IS WORRIED ABOUT FOR FACILITY, AND THE STAF. WE HAVE MADE GREAT INROADS WITH RECRUITMENT OF OUR NURSING STAFF. WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECRUIT AND GROW OUR OWN MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF, AND THAT IS ALL HAVING POSITIVE EFFECTS RIGHT NOW. I WAS STAFF MOVE AROUND FROM THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES AROUND THE COAST TO HELP WITH COVERING ROSTERS AND PROVIDING THAT CONTINUITY OF CARE. SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR, WE HAVE ONLY HAD TO CLOSE OVERNIGHT ON 12 OCCASIONS AT WESTPORT, AND THAT IS DUE TO ACCOMMODATION OF SICKNESS, LEAVE AND CARING VACANCIES. I AM AGAIN, CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR COMMITTED PARTNERS, PROVIDE ACUTE OF A HIGH QUALITY TO THE PEOPLE OF WESTPORT. THAT IS THE TE WHATU ORA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER JOINING US THIS MORNING. THANKS, MATTY. E HAERE AKE NEI, UP NEXT ` SO HOW WOULD THE NATIONAL PARTY FIX HOSPITAL STAFFING LEVELS? WE ASK ITS LEADER NEXT. THE NATIONAL PARTY'S ON THE WAY TO WIN THE UPCOMING ELECTION ` THATS ACCORDING TO OUR LATEST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL. BUT THERE'S ONE MP WHO'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO BE RIDING THE WAVE BACK TO PARLIAMENT ` DUNEDIN'S MICHAEL WOODHOUSE. HE SAYS A DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY HAS COST HIM A PLACE WITHIN THE PARTY, ACCUSING NATIONAL OF ABANDONING THE CITY HE REPRESENTS ` HAS IT?O LET'S ASK NATIONAL PARTY LEADER CHRISTOPHER LUXON WHO JOINS ME NOW. FIRSTLY, WITH A LOT OF TALENTED WILL OF THE TALENTED PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL PARTY. I THINK WE FOUND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN SEASONED AND EXPERIENCED MPS AND A LOT OF NEW TALENTS AS AND EXPERIENCES. OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T RATE MICHAEL WOODHOUSE AS HAVING THE DIVERSITY YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. MICHAEL MEADORS OWN DECISION TO WITHDRAW. I HAVE TO RESPECT THAT DECISION, I THINK HE'S HAD AN INCREDIBLY FANTASTIC CAREER. HE'S BEEN A MINISTER IN THE KEY AND ENGLISH GOVERNMENTS. THAT'S UP TO HIM. HE WITHDREW BECAUSE YOU OFFERED A LOW PLACE. WHAT PLACE DID YOU OFFER MICHAEL WOODHOUSE? I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS. THERE ARE 31 PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS ON THE LIST RANKINGS. THE LIST RANKINGS, JUST SO WE CLEAR, IS ABOUT THE TEAM THAT WE WANT TO TAKE INTO THE ELECTION. DECISIONS AROUND CABINET ARE MADE AFTER THE ELECTION, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT AS BIG OF A TEAM AS I POSSIBLY CAN, AND HAVE ALL THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE IN GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE THE BALANCE ABOUT RIGHT. I ASSUME THAT YOU ARE IMPLYING YOU DIDN'T WANT MICHAEL WOODHOUSE ON THE TEAM. MICHAEL MEADORS OWN DECISION HE SAID THE POSITION HE WAS OFFERED WAS UNLIKELY TO SEE HIM RETURN. YOUR POLLING QUITE STRONG AT THE MOMENT. YOU POINTED OUT THAT MAKING YOUR LIST, IN PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS, IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE IS DIVERSITY WITHIN THE LIST. THERE A NUMBER OF ELECTORATES SAFE SEATS WHICH WILL PRESUMABLY BE WON BY MEN. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT YOU BRING INTO PARLIAMENT, RIGHT? WE HAVE 75 CANDIDATES. IT'S A REALLY TOUGH JOB BECAUSE OF A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE BRINGING TALENTED THINGS TO OUR TEAM. WHAT I'VE SAID CLEARLY IS THAT WE HAVE SEASONED, EXPERIENCED MPS, AND I WANT TO AUGMENT THAT WITH FRESH TALENT. FROM THAT, WE WILL SELECT A CABINET AFTER THE ELECTION. WE HAVE GOT A BALANCE RIGHT. WE HAVE SOME SEASONED MPS, AND SOME NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH. YES, WE HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING IN SEATS WE EXPECT WHEN BUT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE BRING NEW SKILLS TO US. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU YOU WILL HAVE A DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF NEW ZEALAND IF YOU GET INTO PARLIAMENT? IF YOU GO THROUGH THE 87 YEARS IN THE NATIONAL PARTY, WE ARE WHAT I CALL A NATIONAL, NATIONAL PARTY. WE ARE TALKING TO ALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW ZEALAND. THAT IS WHAT I THINK WE WILL END UP HERE AS WELL. THE RESULTS OF OUR LATEST POLLS SHOW THE SORTS OF PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT WANTS A WEALTH TAX, BUT YOU'RE SAYING NO TO THAT. A WEALTH TAX WOULD BE DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR ECONOMY. WHERE THE ONLY ECONOMY AND A RECESSION IN THE ASIAN PACIFIC. WHAT IS INCREDIBLY WORRYING IS THAT YOU HAVE GOT PARTY SAYING THEY WANT IT. YOU GOT CHRIS HIPKINS SAYING HE WON'T DO IT, BUT AFTER THE ELECTION, HE WILL BEND TO THE WILL. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THOUGH, DO YOU? WE DO, AND A COALITION OF CHAOS YOU CANNOT TELL ME THAT CHRIS HIPKINS WON'T WANT TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WITH GREENS AND TE PATI MAORI. IT'S A DANGEROUS LINE TO BE GOING ON ABOUT A COALITION OF CHAOS WHEN NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT WHO YOU WOULD PARTNER UP WITH. NEW ZEALAND FIRST, IN OR OUT? THERE IS TIME STILL WITH 52 DAYS TO GO TO CLARIFY SOME OF THESE. THE CHOICE AND COULD WE START TO NEW ZEALANDERS. IT IS MORE OF THE SAME WITH THE COALITION OF CHAOS. WHAT WE'RE SAYING VERY CLEARLY TO NEW ZEALANDERS IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO GUARANTEE CHANGE TO THE GOVERNMENT, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO DO WHICH IS PARTY VOTE NATIONAL. WE ARE REPRESENTING OUR IDEAS TO NEW ZEALANDERS. THAT IS THE COST OF LIVING, LAW AND ORDER, EDUCATION. THEY WANT ANSWERS. 63% OF PEOPLE WANTS A WEALTH TAX. WE DON'T HAVE A TAX PROBLEM IN NEW ZEALAND, WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM. THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT IS SPENDING $1 BILLION EXTRA EACH AND EVERY WEEK. WITH HAD AN 80% GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING, WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM, AND WE NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE TAX RELIEF. HARD-WORKING SQUEEZED MIDDLE FOLK. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY WANT SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING THEM. IF IT INCLUDES DENTAL, THEY WANT IT. THE REALITY IS WHAT THEY WANT IS STRONG ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING IS ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT ON A SCALE OF NEVER GOT BEFORE. THIS IS CAUSING PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD FOOD, THEIR PUMP, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE, THEY ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION. THIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES HAVE CREATED DOMESTIC INFLATION THAT IS SITTING HIGHER FOR LONGER. THEY HAVE PUT THE COUNTRY INTO A RECESSION, AND WITH THAT COMES OF RISK OF RISING UNEMPLOYMENT. THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND WANT TO CHANGE, THEY KNOW WE'RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. WHAT THEY WANT TO STRONG ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT SO WE CAN AFFORD THE PUBLIC SERVICES WE DESERVE. ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT WILL RELY ON WHEN THE TAX POLICY COMES. IT WILL COME VERY SHORTLY ANNA. IF YOU WOKE UP AT 7 AM THIS MORNING, AND YOU GOT IT UP INTO HIGHER TAX BRACKET AND PAYING HIGHER TAX. PEOPLE NEED RELIEF, THAT IT WILL PROVIDE FOR THEM. 52 DAYS, ONE OF THE DAYS OF YOUR TELL US YOUR TAX POLICY? WILL COME TO YOU VERY SHORTLY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TOO MUCH LONGER. NEXT WEEK PERHAPS? WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT VERY SHORTLY, BUT IT WILL BE VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND WELL COSTED. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF SCAREMONGERING FROM THE OTHER SIDE, BUT WE CAN MANAGE IT. WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE THE PAIN THAT ARE GOING TO RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA, AFTER THE BREAK ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, WE'LL GET TO MORE OF YOUR SUPERMARKET FEEDBACK. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT'S JUST GONE 730. WESPORT LOCALS SAY THE STAFFING SITUATION AT BULLER HEALTH IS 'GETTING SCARY'. STAFF SHORTAGES HAVE FORCED THE FACILITY TO OCCASIONALLY CLOSE OVERNIGHT, DESPITE THE NEW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HOSPITAL. ONE GRANDMOTHER SAYS SOMEONE WILL DIE SOON IF THE ISSUES AREN'T SORTED OUT. MY NEWEST GRANDDAUGHTER COULD HAVE DIED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE ADMITTED TO WESTPORT HOSPITAL, DUE TO BRONCHITIS WHICH THEN TURNED INTO RSV VIRUS. DR GRAHAM ROPER SAYS TE WHATU ORA WEST COAST IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO RECRUIT HEALTH WORKERS INTO THE REGION. I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY WITH OUR RECRUITMENT. AND I FEEL THAT OUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE ALL HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THE CARE THEY NEED. SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR, BULLER HEALTH HAS HAD TO CLOSE OVERNIGHT ON 12 OCCASIONS. AN ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN AFFECTED BY THE USE OF MESH IN FEMALE PELVIC SURGERY SAYS THERE CAN NOW BE REGAINED TRUST IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM, THANKS TO A PAUSE ON THE PROCEDURE. SALLY WALKER PETITIONED FOR CHANGE AFTER HER OWN PROLAPSE SURGERY IN 2009. THE PROCEDURE CAUSED HER EXTREME PAIN AND 'ROTTED HER INSIDES', RESULTING IN THE REMOVAL OF HER BLADDER THAT NEARLY TOOK HER LIFE. WALKER SAYS, LIKE MANY WOMEN, HER PAIN WASN'T BELIEVED. FOR THIS, I'VE BROUGHT IT OUT INTO THE OPEN WHAT I'M DOING FOR THESE LADIES IS ACTUALLY KEEPING ME GOING. SO YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH YOURSELF. IT MAY BE EXTREME, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE WHO HAVE GOT REALLY SERIOUS HARM. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS STEPS WILL NOW BE PUT IN PLACE TO MINIMISE HARM BEFORE THE USE OF MESH RESUMES. POWER LINES ARE DOWN AND DELAYS ARE EXPECTED AFTER A CRASH IN THE WELLINGTON SUBURB OF KHANDALLAH. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH AROUND 5am. KHANDALLAH RD IS NOW PARTIALLY CLOSED, AND MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE AREA. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. 18 BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN NORTHERN GREECE, WHERE WILDFIRES HAVE RAGED OVER THE PAST FOUR DAYS. IT'S BELIEVED THOSE WHO WERE FOUND DEAD, NOT FAR FROM THE TURKISH BORDER, MAY HAVE BEEN MIGRANTS. GREECE HAS BEEN SCORCHED BY FIRES THIS YEAR, FUELLED BY HIGH WINDS AND TEMPERATURES CLIMBING ABOVE 40 DEGREES. THE FLARE UP OF FIRES IN RECENT DAYS COMES AS MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES BRACE FOR ANOTHER HEATWAVE EXPECTED TO SET IN THIS WEEK. NEW ZEALAND FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR A 'HOT DRY SUMMER' AS WILDFIRE SEASON NEARS. FIRE AND EMERGENCY'S TIM MITCHELL SAYS THEY'RE EXPECTING A WARMER, DRIER WINDIER AND BUSIER SEASON. WE'RE STARTING OUR SEASON OUTLOOK EARLIER. WE'RE STARTING OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN EARLIER. WE'RE STARTING OUR PRE-CHECKS AND SEASONAL PREPAREDNESS EARLIER. AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SEASON, BUT IN THIS CASE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT EARLIER SO THAT WE ARE WELL PREPARED AND ALSO THAT THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. FROM JULY 2020 TO JUNE 2021, LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS TACKLED OVER 4500 FIRES, WITH OVER 13,000ha BURNT. JAPAN WILL START RELEASING TREATED RADIOACTIVE WATER FROM ITS FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT INTO THE PACIFIC FROM TOMORROW. ABOUT 500 OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS WORTH OF WASTE WATER HAS ACCUMULATED SINCE THE 2011 TSUNAMI DESTROYED THE PLANT. THE DECISION TO RELEASE THE WATER COMES WEEKS AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS' NUCLEAR WATCHDOG APPROVED THE PLAN, DESPITE CONCERNS FROM JAPAN'S NEIGHBOURS. AS THE RENTAL MARKET COOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CANTERBURY AND MALBOROUGH HAVE BUCKED THE TREND WITH AN INCREASE IN LISTINGS AND ENQUIRIES. NEW DATA FROM TRADEME FOR JULY SHOWS NATIONWIDE SUPPLY HAS DROPPED BY 3% AND DEMAND BY 2%. BUT THE WEEKLY RENT REMAINS STABLE AT $620. TRADEME SAYS THE DEMAND FOR CITY LIVING CONTINUES TO INCREASE, INCLUDING APARTMENTS, TOWNHOUSES AND UNITS. TO SPORT, AND AUSTRALIAN COACH EDDIE JONES HAS BROKEN HIS SILENCE ON SIR STEVE HANSEN'S ROLE WITH THE WALLABIES. THE FORMER ALL BLACKS COACH IS HELPING AUSTRALIA AHEAD OF THE RUGBY WORLD CUP. JONES SAYS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HANSEN GOES BACK A FEW YEARS. YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE COACHED AGAINST STEVE SINCE I THINK 1998, SO WE'VE GOT A LONG RELATIONSHIP, ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY, SO WE'VE BROUGHT IN STEVE TO HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND IT'S PURELY LIKE A MATE COMING IN, HAVING A BEER, 'WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHERE CAN WE IMPROVE?' JONES SAYS HANSEN WILL BE LOOKING AT THE QUALITY OF THE TEAM'S TRAINING REGIME AND LEADERSHIP. ALL RIGHT, LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN WHITIANGA. 14 THE HIGH FOR RUSSELL. FURTHER SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FROSTY START FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY. 14 THE HIGH FOR WHAKATANE. 13 FOR ROTORUA. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A PARTLY CLOUDY START TO YOUR MORNING FOR YOU GUYS. THIS WILL THEN CLEAR TO A FINE DAY HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 14 THE HIGH FOR NAPIER, 1/13 AUGUST AND ANNE HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` A FINE START WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH. LIGHT WINDS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. WELLINGTON, YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD BY THE AFTERNOON. 12 AS YOU'RE HIGH. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, BEFORE TURNING TO FINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 12 THE HIGH FOR GREYMOUTH. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 13 IS THE HIGH FOR TIMARU. AND 11 IN CHRISTCHURCH. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'LL A MAINLY FINE START FOR YOU GUYS, WITH SOME RAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THOSE IN MILFORD SOUND. 15 THE HIGH FOR GORE. AND ALSO DUNEDIN. I HAD THAT FRINGE FESTIVAL TOP JOKE FOR YOU AT 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU THE SIXTH BEST JOKE. HOW DO COELIAC GERMANS GREET EACH OTHER? GLUTEN TAG. ANNA, DON'T GET ANNOYED AT ME. IT IS TOO SPECIFIC. WHO STARTS OFF WITH A COELIAC'S GERMAN? LET ME KNOW WHAT TIME AND I'LL JUST MAKE SURE. WE ARE HEADING TO THE FRINGE FESTIVAL AFTER 8 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. WE ARE CATCHING UP WITH A COUPLE OF KIWIS PERFORMING THERE. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY? 62% OF GEN Z SAY THEY LIVE BY IT. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU, DO YOU BELIEVE IT. BECKY I BELIEVE IN HOROSCOPE. IN 1999 I WAS TOLD I WOULD MEET SOMEONE WHO CHANGED MY LIFE. I MET HIM, WE MOVED TO NEW ZEALAND AND HE CHANGED MY LIFE. THE NEXT DAY? IN AND AROUND THAT TIME. WHAT IS YOUR SIGN, MATTHEW? LIBRE. THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. YOU ARE SENSITIVE SOUL. OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME YOUR WAY. MAY OR MAY NOT COME YOUR WAY. SORRY, THIS IS LIKE BETTING AGAINST YOURSELF AT THE TAB. BECAUSE I WROTE THAT FIVE MINUTES AGO. NICE, CHENEY. IT IS RIDICULOUS. CAN YOU WRITE OURS? IF YOU WANT TO PERSONALISE HOROSCOPE, JUST HIT ME UP AND I WILL DO ONE. WE SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE IF IT IS REAL OR NOT. IN THE MEANTIME, KEEP YOUR FEEDBACK COMING DO YOU BELIEVE IN THEM OR DO YOU NOT? WE WILL BE BACK AFTER THE BREAK. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT IS 7:45. WOOLWORTHS HAS PLEDGED TO SPEND $45m ON SECURITY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AFTER A RISE IN THEFTS AND SECURITY INCIDENTS, INCLUDING PHYSICAL ASSAULTS. THE NEW ZEALAND SECURITY ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE DECISION, SAYING THEY'VE WITNESSED A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN THEFT OVER THE RECENT YEARS. OFFENDERS ARE OFTEN WILLING TO USE AGGRESSION, AND THEY SAY IT IS INEVITABLE THAT INNOCENT PARTIES WILL BE SEVERLY INJURED BY THESE ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE. HERE FOR MORE IS WOOLWORTH'S NEW ZEALAND HEAD OF HEALTH AND SAFETY DENVA WREN. MORENA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOUR STAFF ARE ENCOUNTERING ON A DAILY. MORENA, JENNY MAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. WE ARE HAVING DAILY OCCURRENCES WE ARE TEAM ARE BEING YELLED AT AND ABUSED BY OFFENDERS WHEN THEY ARE SHOPLIFTING. AND EVEN INSTANCES WHERE OFFENDERS WILL COME WITH TROLLEYS. WHEN THEY ARE CONFRONTED, THEY ARE ABUSED. WEAPONS, BOLT CUTTERS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO THREATEN OUR TEAM. HOWEVER STAFF FEELING, BECAUSE AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING ON A DAILY FOR THEM, RIGHT? CORRECT. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR TEAM AND IT IS PROBABLY THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THESE EVENTS THAT IS TAKING ITS TOLL. WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPECIAL AS WE ARE ROLLING OUT THESE NEW INITIATIVES. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOSING STOCK, IT IS ABOUT KEEPING OUR TEAM SAFE AND FEELING LIKE WE HAVE THEIR BACKS. OUR TEAM, OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. WHAT CAN STAFF DO IN INSTANCES WHERE THEY SEE THAT PEOPLE LIKE CONCEALING GOODS OR THEY HAVE SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE SHIRT OR PERHAPS DOWN THEIR TROUSERS, OR PERHAPS BRAZENLY WALKING OUT OF THE STORE WITH A TROLLEY LOAD OF GROCERIES? WE HAVE TRAINED A NUMBER ABOUT HIM RIGHT ACROSS THE BUSINESS TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND ASSESS THE SITUATION AND WHETHER IT IS SAFE TO APPROACH OR NOT. OBVIOUSLY THESE EVENTS CAN ESCALATE OUT OF CONTROL VERY QUICKLY. OUR TEAM SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE AND THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WE REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM. THEY'RE OFTEN NOT TOO MANY OPTIONS ARE TEAM CAN DO AND WE DO SEE TROLLEY LOADS OF GOODS BEING PUSHED OUT OF STORES. ALSO IN CLOTHING AND PUSHCHAIRS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN ACTUALLY TELL US ABOUT IT, BUT YOU TALK ABOUT VERBAL ABUSE THAT YOUR STAFF ARE TAKING BUT ALSO THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF THINGS. WHAT PHYSICALLY IS HAPPENING TO SOME STUFF? LOOK, JENNY MAY, WHETHER IT IS OFFENDERS, AND REALLY THIS ISN'T CUSTOMER CONFLICT, THIS IS OFFENDER CONFLICT. WE HAVE AN OFFENDER PROBLEM AND THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS NEW ZEALAND UNFORTUNATELY. OUR TEAM MAY EVEN STEP THE WRONG WAY WHEN A TROLLEY IS BEING PUSHED OUT AND THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE TROLLEYS ARE BEING PUSHED INTO THEM. THERE MIGHT BE PHYSICAL ASSAULT, PUNCHES, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AND GONE TO HOSPITAL. IT IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING IT. WHAT THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS AND THE COST OF FOOD, IT IS AFFECTING PEOPLE RIGHT ACROSS THE NATION. WHAT IS THE MONEY GOING TO BE SPENT ON SPECIFICALLY? WE HAVE A RANGE OF INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL BE ROLLING THROUGH. WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC TECHNOLOGY TROLLEY LOCKS, RADIOS. WE ARE EVEN LOOKING AT TEAM SAFETY CAMERAS AS OPTIONS THERE. INCLUDING NEW CAMERA TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SELF CHECKOUT. I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO MUCH INTO THE DETAILS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO REVEAL THAT SO MUCH. BUT IN TERMS OF HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS WORKED OVERSEAS, IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THESE MEASURES TO KEEP STAFF SAFE? IT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING ON THIS JOURNEY AND WE HAVE BEEN TAKING LESSONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE AUSTRALIA, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE AND OTHER RETAILERS AND LOOKING TO SEE WHAT IS EFFECTIVE AND WHAT WE SHOULD ROLL OUT FURTHER ACROSS OUR BUSINESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. SITES THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT MEASURES LIKE THIS FOR THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BOTH PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ASSAULT. SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. HEAD OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT COUNTDOWN. THANK YOU. E WHAI AKE NEI. COMING UP ` OUR FUTURE'S IN THE STARS. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEANING INTO ASTROLOGY MORE THAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS. WE'LL FIND OUT WHY NEXT. # I'M A BELIEVER # NOT A TRACE OF DOUBT IN MY MIND # BECAUSE IN A SKY FULL OF STARS... WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. LOOKING TO GET OUT IN NATURE? LOOK NO FURTHER. FROM THE FLOWING WATERS TO SCENIC FORESTS, ROTORUA HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. AND THANKS TO LEGEND OF THE PEAKS, YOU COULD BE HEADING THERE. THE TEAM FROM LEGEND OF THE PEAKS AND THEIR PARTNERS HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN AMAZING TREAT WEEKEND AWAY IN ROTORUA, PERFECT TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE OUR BACKYARD. ALONGSIDE ENTRIES TO THE EVENT OF CHOICE IN THEIR TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL. YOU AND A FRIEND COULD BE HEADING TO ROTORUA FOR THREE NIGHTS, CHECKING OUT THE GEYSERS, POLYNESIAN SPA, SKYLINE AND EVEN MOUNTAIN BIKING. TO ENTER, HEAD TO LEGENDOFTHEPEAKS.COM/WIN WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER LIVE ON AIR THIS FRIDAY. IT IS 7:54. TO OLDER PEOPLE, IT SOMETIMES SEEM LIKE GEN Z ARE TALKING IN RIDDLES, SAYING THEY'RE TIRED BECAUSE 'MERCURY IS IN RETROGRADE' OR TO NOT DATE SOMEONE BECAUSE THEIR SUN IS IN CANCER. THAT'S BECAUSE MORE OF THEM ARE INTERESTED IN ASTROLOGY, ACCORDING TO TREND FORECASTING AGENCY 'WGSN', 62% OF GEN Z BELIEVE IN HOROSCOPES, DESPITE NO SCIENTIFIC BACKING. SO, TO HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT, WE'RE JOINED BY ASTROLOGIST HANNAH CRERAR. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I AM REALLY WELL, THANK YOU. IT IS SO LOVELY TO BE HERE. ARE YOU DEEP IN THE WOO HOO? THE WOO HOO? THAT KIND OF VIBE? THERE IS A BIT OF THAT. THERE ARE SOME GROUNDLESS IMPRACTICALITY TO ME AS WELL. HOW DID THE START FOR YOU? WHAT REALLY CAUGHT YOUR INTEREST OR YOUR EXCITEMENT TO BEGIN WITH? ASTROLOGY REALLY HELPS PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUENESS AND THEIR OWN SENSE OF PURPOSE AND REALLY HELPS TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS, AND FOR ME, MY OWN JOURNEY INTO AUSTRALIA BEGAN IN 2016 WHEN I RECEIVED MY FIRST REAL DEAL ASTROLOGY READING, AND IT WAS SUCH A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ME THAT I ACTUALLY DECIDED TO LEAVE MY FULL-TIME LEGAL CAREER THAT YEAR AND PURSUE THIS PATH, SHARING THESE TOOLS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WHAT WAS IT THAT WAS SO TRANSFORMATIVE? IT WAS ESSENTIALLY THE WAY THAT THIS ASTROLOGY WAS ABLE TO ARTICULATE MY EXPERIENCE IN A WAY THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD SOMEONE ELSE DO, AND I THINK THAT FORM OF SELF-AWARENESS IS SO TRANSFORMATIVE, AND THAT IS WHY I AM SO EXCITED TO OFFER THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE. I AM VERY TORN, BECAUSE ON ONE HAND, I LOOK AT MY HOROSCOPE IN THE NEWSPAPER, AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME IS UNIQUE TO ME OR MY SITUATION. BUT EVERY TIME I HEAR SOMEONE TALK ABOUT TRAITS THAT MAKE UP A LIBRA, I DO GO, THAT IS VERY ME, SO I DO NOT KNOW WHERE I SIT ON THE SPECTRUM. CAN YOU SELL IT TO ME AND EXPLAINED TO ME WHY YOU BELIEVE IT SO DEEPLY? I THINK THAT THE MESSAGES THAT WE GET DELIVERED, WHETHER EDITORS IN THE BACK OF A MAGAZINE OR NEWSPAPER, ARE VERY OVERLY SIMPLIFIED, AND WE LOOK AT ASTROLOGY, AND THERE ARE 12 SIGNS, AND IT CAN BE KIND OF THROWN AWAY THAT THERE ARE NOT JUST WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. ASTROLOGY IS ACTUALLY VERY COMPLEX AND LAYERED, AND WHILE YOU MIGHT SAY IT IS NOT A SCIENCE, THERE ARE CYCLES, AND THERE IS PREDICTABILITY IN THE WAY THAT PLANETS MOVE, AND THESE PLANETS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND THERE IS CORRELATIONS BETWEEN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ON EARTH AND THE WAY THAT THESE PLANETS ARE MOVING. AND SO, YES, THERE ARE CERTAIN TRAITS THAT YOU MIGHT READ ABOUT YOURSELF AS A LIBRA, AND YOU ARE CHARMING, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE PEACE AND TO REALLY BRING THAT WARMTH AND SENSITIVITY AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU HAVE ALSO GOT SOMETHING CALLED YOUR MOON SIGN, WHICH REPRESENTS YOUR EMOTIONS AND YOUR RISING SIGN WHICH IS THE WAY THAT YOU PRESENT TO THE WORLD. I HAVE HAD A BIT OF A LOOK AT YOUR CHART, AND YOU ARE A GEMINI RISING, SO IT IS ALL ABOUT LEADING WITH CURIOSITY AND A STORY. YOU MIGHT SEE THIS LITTLE SNIPPET OF BEING A LIBRA, AND IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING THAT RESONATES, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU WERE TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH AN ASTROLOGER AND HAVE A ONE-TO-ONE READING, YOU WOULD FIND IT SO MUCH MORE, AND I WOULD SAY THERE IS VALIDITY IN THOSE LITTLE HOROSCOPES IN THE BACK OF A MAGAZINE, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME, PEOPLE CAN TURN THEIR NOSES UP AT IT, BECAUSE IT IS SO OVERLY SUBDIVIDED. WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS CONNECTING SO MUCH WITH GEN Z? I THINK THEY AS A GENERATION ARE INCREDIBLY CURIOUS ABOUT THEMSELVES. THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR UNIQUE PERSONALITIES AND EMOTIONS AND BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS AND THAT OF THEIR PEERS. AND I THINK THEY ARE ALSO VERY WILLING TO DISCUSS PERSONAL ISSUES AND TALK ABOUT THEIR MENTAL CHALLENGES AND ASTROLOGY PROVIDES A BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE FOR THAT, AND IT REALLY CELEBRATES THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE UNIQUENESS WITHIN PEOPLE, AND HAVING THAT LANGUAGE CAN JUST BE QUITE USEFUL, SO I THINK THAT IS WHY THEY ARE SUCH BIG PROPONENTS OF ASTROLOGY. IS IT ALSO THAT IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A BIT OF HELPLESSNESS IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, AND HOLDING ONTO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY YOUR TRADITIONAL RELIGION IS SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A BELIEF IN SOMETHING? ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK THAT THAT GENERATION ARE REALLY BEARING THE BRUNT OF WHETHER IT WAS THE PANDEMIC OR THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT IS GOING ON ALL THE LOOMING RECESSION, I THINK THAT ASTROLOGY DEFINITELY OFFERS A SENSE OF COMFORT AND HOPE AND THIS BIGGER PICTURE, SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE WHEN TIMES ARE UNCERTAIN OR CHAOTIC. I LOVE IT. I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT WHAT I BELIEVE IN OR WHETHER I BELIEVE IT, BUT I LOVE YOUR PASSION FOR IT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THIS MORNING. I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO LEARN MORE. I MIGHT CONTACT YOU. I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW A BIT MORE ABOUT MY AURA. I WILL SAY THAT MARCH NEXT YEAR IS A VERY BIG MONTH FOR YOU, SO YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL IF THERE ARE BIG SHIFTS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOME AND FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. I WILL, HANNAH. MY MUM IS GOING TO BE HOLDING ONTO THAT VERY TIGHTLY. THANK YOU, HANNAH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I FOUND THAT REALLY QUITE FASCINATING. SO DID I. NOW YOU KNOW THAT IT IS MARCH, A GOING TO BE LIKE, YES, I WILL BUY THAT HOUSE ON MARCH 1? IT WILL BE FEBRUARY 28, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE, NO, JUST A FEW MORE DAYS. I AM IN NO WAY MAKING A CONNECTION BETWEEN MAORI AND ASTROLOGY, BUT... THERE PROBABLY IS SOMETHING. ASTRONOMY. YES, AND I'M NOT MAKING THE CONNECTION, BUT WHAT I AM MAKING THE CONNECTION WITH AS HOW MANY TIMES WAS MAORI KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT CAME TO ASTROLOGY JUST PUT TO THE SIDE, NO, THERE IS NO SCIENCE THAT BACKS THAT UP. THE REALITY IS THAT WAS THE ONLY KNOWLEDGE THAT WAS OUT THERE, AND THE ACCEPTANCE THAT THERE IS OTHER KNOWLEDGE WAS NOT TOLERATED WITHIN OUR SOCIETY. LISTENING TO HANNAH, I THINK, GO YOU, SISTER. AS I ALWAYS SAY, DO NOT YUCK SOMEONE'S YUM. WHAT WAS THAT? DO NOT YUCK SOMEONE ELSE'S YUM. WOW. DO NOT SCREW YOUR NOSE UP, ANNA. IT IS VERY PROFOUND. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. AFTER NATIONAL MP MICHAEL WOODHOUSE ASKED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE PARTY'S LIST DUE TO A LOW RANKING, CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS HE HAS TO RESPECT THAT DECISION. WOODHOUSE WILL STAND IN THE DUNEDIN ELECTORATE, CURRENTLY HELD BY LABOUR, AND SAYS, IN HIS CASE, DIVERSITY WAS CHOSEN OVER EXPERIENCE. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS THEY'VE HAD TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN SEASONED MPs AND NEW SKILLS. MICHAEL MADE HIS OWN DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM THE LIST. I HAVE TO RESPECT THAT DECISION. I THINK HE HAS HAD AN INCREDIBLY FANTASTIC CAREER OVER 15 YEARS IN PARLIAMENT. HE HAS BEEN A MINISTER IN THE KEY AND ENGLISH GOVERNMENTS, AND HE HAS A CAREER TO BE ULTIMATELY PROUD OF. BUT THAT IS HIS DECISION. THE NATIONAL LEADER SAYS A TEAM OF MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE DETERMINED THE LIST RANKINGS. SOME WESTPORT LOCALS ARE WORRIED SOMEONE WILL DIE SOON IF THE STAFFING ISSUES AT BULLER HEALTH AREN'T ADDRESSED. STAFF SHORTAGES HAVE FORCED THE FACILITY TO OCCASIONALLY CLOSE OVERNIGHT, DESPITE THE NEW MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR HOSPITAL. BUT DR GRAHAM ROPER SAYS TE WHATU ORA WEST COAST IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO RECRUIT HEALTH WORKERS INTO THE REGION. I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY WITH OUR RECRUITMENT. AND I FEEL THAT OUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE ALL HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THE CARE THEY NEED. SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR, BULLER HEALTH HAS HAD TO CLOSE OVERNIGHT ON 12 OCCASIONS. ONE PICTON BUSINESS OWNER SAYS HE'S ETERNALLY HOPEFULLY ONE PICTON BUSINESS OWNER SAYS HE'S ETERNALLY HOPEFUL INTERISLANDER MAINTENANCE IS DONE IN TIME FOR SUMMER. ONLY ONE OF INTERISLANDER'S FERRIES ARE RUNNING THIS MORNING, WITH ONE BROKEN BY A LARGE WAVE AND ANOTHER UNDERGOING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. VILLA OWNER ROB BURN SAYS THEY'RE HANGING ON TO THE FACT NEW FERRIES ARE ON THEIR WAY. MY WISH IS THAT TREASURY AND WHOEVER THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE GIVES THE MONEY TO KIWIRAIL TO MAKE SURE THE FERRIES ARE DELIVERED ON TIME, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND THEM IS DELIVERED IN A TIMELY MANNER SO THAT WE'VE GOT SAFE, EFFICIENT TRANSPORT. THE KAITAKI FERRY IS EXPECTED TO RESUME SAILINGS THIS AFTERNOON. SCIENTISTS BELIEVE CLIMATE CHANGE MADE THE EXTREMITY OF CANADA'S WILDFIRES TWICE AS LIKELY. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN CANADA'S WORST WILDFIRE SEASON ON RECORD, WITH NEARLY 14 MILLIONha BURNED. THAT'S AN AREA LARGER THAN THE NORTH ISLAND. THE FIRES ` MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE PREVIOUS RECORD ` HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE AND PROMPTED THOUSANDS OF EVACUATIONS. A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS HAVE NOW FOUND THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRES, AND THE WEATHER THAT FUELED THEM, WERE DRIVEN BY THE CLIMATE CRISIS. A PERSON HAS BEEN KILLED IN A HOUSE EXPLOSION IN THE U.S. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE PROPERTY, WHICH WAS VALUED AT MORE THAN $5 MILLION, WAS REDUCED TO RUBBLE IN THE EXPLOSION, THE CAUSE OF WHICH IS STILL UNKNOWN. ONE PERSON WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE DEBRIS, WHILE ANOTHER WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH NON LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. TO SPORT, AND ENGLAND CAPTAIN OWEN FARRELL WILL MISS THE FIRST TWO POOL GAMES OF THE RUGBY WORLD CUP AFTER A FOUR-GAME BAN. FARRELL'S RED CARD WAS OVERTURNED BY AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMITTEE AND THEN SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED BY WORLD RUGBY THIS MORNING. THE SKIPPER WILL MISS GAMES AGAINST ARGENTINA AND JAPAN WITH TWO WARM-UP MATCHES INCLUDED. SPAIN'S PRIME MINISTER HAS WEIGHED IN ON THE CONTROVERSIAL KISS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ON A PLAYER AFTER THE WORLD CUP FINAL. PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ BELIEVES IT SHOWS THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF EQUALITY AND RESPECT TOWARDS WOMEN IN SPAIN. HE SAYS THE APOLOGIES MADE BY LUIS RUBIALES DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH. TRANSLATOR: I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE SAW WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE GESTURE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE APOLOGIES MADE BY MR RUBIALES ARE NOT ENOUGH. I EVEN BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOT ADEQUATE, AND, THEREFORE, MR RUBIALES MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS TO CLARIFY WHAT WE ALL SAW THROUGH THE MEDIA. THE PLAYER INVOLVED, JENNI HERMOSO, SAID SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE ACTIONS, BUT A STATEMENT RELEASED LATER PLAYED DOWN THE ACTIONS. AND FINALLY, THE INFAMOUS 'FYRE FESTIVAL' THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A FRAUDULENT FLOP IS GETTING A REBOOT. THE LATEST ATTEMPT AT THE EVENT COMES SIX YEARS AFTER THE FIRST LANDED ORGANISER BILLY MCFARLAND IN JAIL FOR FRAUD. THE ORIGINAL FESTIVAL WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE BAHAMAS IN 2017 BUT CAUSED MORE THAN $43 MILLION IN LOSSES WHEN IT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND WATER. TICKETS FOR A SECOND EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL ARE ON SALE NOW FOR NEARLY $840. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN WHITIANGA. FURTHER SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FROSTY START FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY. 14 THE HIGH FOR WHAKATANE. 13 IN ROTORUA. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A PARTLY CLOUDY START TO YOUR MORNING FOR YOU GUYS. THIS WILL THEN CLEAR TO A FINE DAY HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 14 THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. LOOK AT THIS. LOOKING GOOD FOR THE AFTERNOON. OVER TO THE WEST ` A FINE START WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH. LIGHT WINDS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. 13 THE HIGH FOR LEVIN. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, BEFORE TURNING TO FINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 12 THE HIGH FOR GREYMOUTH. 14 IN BLENHEIM. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 13 IS THE HIGH FOR TIMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'LL A MAINLY FINE START FOR YOU GUYS, WITH SOME RAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THOSE IN MILFORD SOUND. 15 THE HIGH FOR GORE. ANIMALS AT CHRISTCHURCH'S ORANA WILDLIFE PARK HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY BOY RACERS DOING BURNOUTS AND SKIDS OUTSIDE THE ZOO. NATHAN HAWKE FROM ORANA WILDLIFE PARK JOINS US NOW FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. THIS SOUNDS TERRIBLE. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY. WE ARE LOCATED JUST BEHIND CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT, SO WE'RE SORT OF A SEMIRURAL LOCATION, SO IT IS VERY QUIET OUT HERE, SO ACTIVITY IS REALLY NOISY AND QUITE SUDDEN, AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF THAT CAN SPLIT THE ANIMALS WHICH CAN LEAD TO SOME INJURIES. ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES IS THAT THE ANIMALS THAT WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HOLD, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT NOT NECESSARILY SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF DISTRESS RIGHT AWAY, SO THEY CAN INTERNALISE DRESS, WHICH CAN MANIFEST LATER. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE AMAZING NATIVE BIRDS THAT WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO RELEASE TO THE WILD, AND THE IMPACT ON THEM COULD WELL BE IT IMPACTS THE BREEDING SEASON OR EVEN THE QUALITY OF THE EGGS PRODUCED. THERE IS QUITE SOME IMPACT FROM THIS BEHAVIOUR, BUT IT IS REALLY SUDDEN AND NOISY, AND IT SCARES THE ANIMALS. WITH BURNOUTS AND THE LIKE, THERE IS ALWAYS SOME EVIDENCE LEFT BEHIND. IS THAT WHAT ALERTED YOU THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM? OR WAS IT GOING ON IN DISCOVERING THE ANIMALS WERE INJURED? WE HAVE WATCHERS HAPPENING, SO WE ARE AWARE OF WHEN IT CAN HAPPEN, AND WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE POLICE, AND WE REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM THROUGH THIS FOR CRACKING DOWN ON THIS ACTIVITY, BUT WE CERTAINLY NOTICE THE INJURIES THE NEXT DAY. THERE IS RUBBLE LEFT AS WELL, WHICH ALSO LEADS US TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRE HAZARD OF THIS ACTIVITY AS WELL. WE ARE 185 HA, AND WHERE WE ARE LOCATED IS VERY DRY. THE FIRE RISK WOULD THREATEN THE HOLD THOUGH. WE HAVE HAD THE FIRE SERVICE ON THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING SUMMER AND THEY ARE READY STARTED PREPPING FOR IT, SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS. WHAT CAN YOU DO OR WHAT ARE YOU WORKING TO DO TO TRIANGULATE THEM TO NOT COME AND DO IT OUTSIDE YOUR PARK? WE DO FULLY RECOGNISE THAT IF THEY MOVE FROM HERE THAT THEY ARE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO THAT IS STILL AN ISSUE. BUT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, ANIMAL WELFARE IS THE KEY CONCERN. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE, AND NEXT UP IT IS US MAKING PROVISIONS TO MAKE SURE THE ANIMALS MAY BE OKAY IN THEIR BENT ABOUT. IT IS HARD TO PLAN FOR IT. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO COME. LASTLY, WE'RE QUITE A DIVERSE OPERATION, AND OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS THAT WE ARE CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH WILDLIFE HERE AND CONTRIBUTING TO KEY RELEASE RECOVERY PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A CALL NEW CONSERVATION PROGRAM UNDERWAY ON THE GROUNDS WHICH IS ACTUALLY BORDERING WITH SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY HAPPENS, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDRAISING TO EXTEND THE BOUNDARY FENCE TO PROTECT THAT SITE, THAT MAY HELP US TRY AND DEFER THE ACTION ELSEWHERE AS WELL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS, SOME MECHANICAL AND SUMMER POLICE, BUT THIS ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RAISE AWARENESS OF WHAT THE IMPACTS ACTUALLY ARE AND PERHAPS PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE IMPACT ON THE ANIMALS AND HOW IT CAN HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS. THIS ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH UP. IT IS NOT PARTICULARLY CHEAP. I WAS JUST SAYING I HAD THIS PARK ON LATER, AND THEY SAID THAT A SURGICAL PLACE, AND I HAVE BEEN THERE MYSELF, AND IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GO AND SEE ANIMALS LIVING LIFE IN A WILDLIFE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DAMAGE TO THESE ANIMALS, IF YOU HAD ONE OF THESE GUYS IN FRONT OF YOU, I AM PRESUMING THEY ARE GUYS, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, DOING BURNOUTS IN THE PARK IN FRONT OF YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? IT IS JUST COMPLETELY DISTRESSING FOR OUR TEAM AND THE ANIMALS. OUR TEAM ARE HIGHLY COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE, AND WE ARE HERE FOR THE ANIMALS BUT ALSO THE REAL CONSERVATION WORK THAT WE DO, SO THE IMPACT THE LONG LASTING, AND IT COULD IMPACT THE WHOLE ZOO, SO WE REALLY REACH OUT TO GO, THIS IS HAVING A REALLY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR OPERATION AND PARTICULARLY THE WELL-BEING OF OUR PRECIOUS ANIMALS. PERHAPS THEY KNOW SOMEONE THAT VISITS THE ZOO, PERHAPS THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN HERE THAT DOES LIKE WHAT WE DO, SO PERHAPS WE CAN REACH THEM ON THAT BASIS. THERE IS CERTAINLY A LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THIS ACTIVITY. WE REALLY DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE OF POLICE ON THIS. IT HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT WHAT THE ISSUE IS, AND ALSO IT HAS RESULTED IN SOME ACTION. HAVE POLICE GOT ANY LEADS? ARE THERE ANY NUMBERPLATES YOU WANT TO READ OUT ON AIR? (CHUCKLES) NOT THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR. MAYBE ALL COME TO LIGHT SHORTLY. HERE IS HOPING. WE HOPE THERE IS A SOLUTION BOUND. LIKE YOU SAY, THEY WILL GO SUMMARISE, BUT IF YOU CAN MINIMISE THE IMPACT ON THE ANIMALS, THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. ALL THE BEST. KIA ORA. THANK YOU. ME U TONU MAI, STAY WITH US. ICE HOCKEY HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR SPORTS. BUT IS IT ON THE RISE HERE TOO? MORE ON THAT NEXT. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. AUCKLAND ` PARTLY CLOUDY. THE CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON SHOWER. SOUTHERLIES, EASING THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH OF 14 DEGREES. HAMILTON ` FINE WITH MORNING FROSTS. LIGHT WINDS. LOOKING A LITTLE BIT GREY, BUT NOT TOO BAD. YOU ARE FINE. HIGH OF 14 DEGREES. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? WE GOT THERE. HERE WE GO. NOT THE BEST DAY IN WELLINGTON, BUT YOU CANNOT BEAT IT ON A SORT OF OKAY DAY. MAINLY FINE WITH MORNING FROSTS AND CLOUD. LIGHT WINDS. HIGH OF 12 DEGREES. NOT THAT HIGH. CHRISTCHURCH ` FINE WITH MORNING FROSTS. CLOUDY PERIODS ABOUT BANKS PENINSULA AND THE PORT HILLS. NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING THIS MORNING. HIGH OF 11 DEGREES. DUNEDIN ` MAINLY FINE WITH HIGH CLOUD. AREAS OF MORNING FROST. HOW WARM ARE YOU GOING TO GET TODAY? 15. THAT IS NOT BAD. TAKE IT. IT IS 8:18. ICE HOCKEY IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNITED STATES, BUT NEW ZEALAND HAS ITS VERY OWN COMPETITION. THE AUCKLAND STEEL HAVE JUST BEEN CROWNED CHAMPIONS AFTER BEATING 2022 CHAMPIONS THE QUEENSTOWN WAKATIPU WILD IN THE FINAL. TO TALK MORE ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS THEY JOIN US ON THE COUCH. MORENA, TEAM. BRITNEY IS THE HEAD COACH FOR THE TEAM, AND THE COCAPTAINS. YOU BEAT THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS. TALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE TO BE NATIONAL CHAMPS. WE HAD A SEASON THAT HAD UPS AND DOWNS, SO WE WENT INTO THE WEEKEND WITH GOOD HOPES, BUT WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH WITH QUEENSTOWN BEATING US IN THE SEASON, SO WE WENT INTO THE SEMI-FINAL, AND WE WON 5-4, SO THAT WAS A NAILBITER. THAT WAS AGAINST DUNEDIN. AND WE WERE LIKE, WE HAVE MADE THE FINAL, SO ON SUNDAY NIGHT, WE PLAYED IN THE FINAL, AND WE WERE DOWN 2-0. WE WENT TO THE CHANGE ROOM, AND WE WERE HAVING A CHAT, SAYING WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND WE KNOW WE CAN COME BACK FROM IT. WE WERE DOWN 3-1 WITH ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES TO GO. WE SCORED. AND THEN WE SCORED ANOTHER ONE. HELEN SCORED WITH 50 SECONDS TO GO TO TIE THE GAME. IT WAS A VERY INTENSE, EXCITING MATCH. WE WENT TO OVERTIME, AND DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT ICE HOCKEY? NO, NOTHING. IT IS NORMALLY FIVE ON FIVE, BUT FOR OVERTIME, THEY DROP IT DOWN TO 3 ON THREE TO MAKE IT MORE EXCITING. WHOEVER SCORES FIRST WINS THE GAME. IT SOUNDS LIKE TOUCH RUGBY. TELL ME ABOUT HOW IT FELT TO SCORE THAT GOAL IN THE LAST 50 SECONDS. BUT ALSO WHAT YOU THINK PUSHED YOU GUYS TO THAT POINT OF ACTUALLY, WE CAN DO THIS? THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING TEAM. WE PLAY FOR EACH OTHER AND AS SUCH A GREAT VIBE. WE GOT DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE, AND EVERYONE WAS PUSHING AS HARD AS THEY COULD TO TRY AND GET THERE. WE KNEW WE HAD IT IN US. IT WAS ALL A BIT OF A BLUR. I JUST OVER FORWARD AND HIT THE PUCK IS IT CAME ACROSS. I DO NOT KNOW I HAD SCORED UNTIL IT HIT THE BACK WALL. IT WAS SO EXCITING. BRITNEY IS THE HEAD COACH. HOW PROUD ARE YOU? YOU CAN TELL BY MY VOICE THE AMOUNT OF CHEERING I DID. PROUD IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. YOU HAVE BEEN SCHOOLING ME ON HOW ICE HOCKEY ROLES HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, BECAUSE YOU ARE CANADIAN. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT ONLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SPORT FOR TWO YEARS. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IT FOR MY WHOLE LIFE, BUT ONLY WITH THIS TEAM FOR TWO YEARS. HOW WAS THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LOOK FOR HERE? IT WAS THE FIRST THING I LOOK FOR. NOW THAT I WAS WORKING HERE, I HAD TO GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY SOMEHOW. YOU GUYS ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL TEAM AS WELL, AND YOU ARE AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS EARLIER THIS YEAR. HOW IS ICE HOCKEY IN OUR COUNTRY? THERE ARE ONLY FOUR TEAMS ON A NATIONAL COMPETITION. WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY LIKE VICE HOCKEY HERE? IT IS REALLY TIGHT. THERE ARE NOT MANY OF US IN THE WOMEN'S GAME. IT IS GROWING. THERE IS A LOT OF YOUNG TALENT COMING THROUGH, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. I THINK WE PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT IN THE WORLD STAGE. THERE ARE COUNTRIES WE COMPETE AGAINST THAT A MUCH BIGGER THAN US IN TERMS OF SIZE, AND THEY HAVE A LOT MORE ICE RINK THAN WE DO. WE ARE A REALLY DEDICATED GROUP OF PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND. WE HAVE BEEN TO 9 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NOW. IT IS TOUGH. YOU HAVE TO FUND RAISE AND PAY YOUR OWN WAY TO GET TO THE TOURNAMENTS. BUT IT IS WORTH IT TO WHERE THE PHONE AND TO BE OUT THERE REPRESENTING YOUR COUNTRY. THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING. AGAIN, YOU HAVE BEEN TO A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE GAME FOR A LONG TIME, SO HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED? I STARTED WITH IN-LINE HOCKEY AND HAMILTON WHEN I WAS ABOUT 12. THEN IT WAS NATURAL TO GO TO ICE HOCKEY WHEN I WAS 15. I TRAVEL TO AUCKLAND EVERY WEEK. I STILL TRAVEL TO PLAY FOR AUCKLAND STEEL, WHICH IS HARD, BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT. YOU LOVE THE SPORT. IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY, HOW DO YOU GROW ICE HOCKEY WITH A NEW ZEALAND? BEING VISIBLE. IT IS BEEN FIBRES, SEEING THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP AND HOW AMAZING THAT WAS AND WITH THE RUGBY AS WELL, NOW WE HAVE US GOING AND WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP. I THINK OUR LIVE STREAM HAD ABOUT 3000 PEOPLE WATCHING, WHICH IS AMAZING COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WHEN MAYBE THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED. I'M ASSUMING EVEN THOUGH THE COMPETITION IS FINISHED, THIS IS A GAME YOU CAN PLAY ALL YEAR AROUND AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A RINK TO PLAY IN. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON YOUR RECENT SUCCESS. WHEN IS THE NEXT NEW ZEALAND MATCH OR GET TOGETHER? WE ARE TRAINING NOW. WE WILL SELECT A SQUAD IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TO ATTEND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TURKEY IN APRIL NEXT YEAR. THAT IS ON THE HORIZON, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. ALL THE VERY BEST FOR SELECTIONS. ALSO FOR FUNDRAISING. JESUS. KA PAI. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA, AFTER THE BREAK ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, WE WILL GET TO MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. STAY WITH US. # I SAY HEY, I BE GONE TODAY WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT'S THE SEGMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. IT IS NOT A BREAKFAST NEWS SHOW; IT IS A BREAKFAST HOROSCOPE SHOW. 62% OF GEN Z BELIEVE IN HOROSCOPE. WE SPOKE TO AN ASTROLOGER'S JUST BEFORE 8 O'CLOCK. I ASKED IF SHE WAS DEEP IN THE WOO HOO AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I QUITE MEANT. IS NOT COMMON FOR THE NEWSREADER TO GO DEEP INTO THE WOO HOO BUT I HAVE THIS MORNING FOR YOU. SCORPIO WAS THAT, ANNA? BEWARE THE STING OF THE SCORPIO'S TAIL. SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO GIVE AS GOOD AS THEY GET. YOU ARE REALLY A MARSHMALLOW FILLED TEDDY BEAR. BE PREPARED WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS. OR IS THAT JUST SOMEONE AT THE DOOR? JENNY MAY COMPASSIONATE HEART. BE PATIENT AND KEEP THE FAITH. YOUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY WILL BE REWARDED. CONSIDER A HOROSCOPIC NAME CHANGE JENNY MAY OR MAY NOT. UP THE WAHS. WE WOULD LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK TO CONTINUE TO COME AND BECAUSE WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. NO FORESIGHT NEEDED. IT IS 830. HERE IS CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. AN ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN AFFECTED BY THE USE OF MESH IN FEMALE PELVIC SURGERY SAYS THERE CAN NOW BE REGAINED TRUST IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM, THANKS TO A PAUSE ON THE PROCEDURE. SALLY WALKER PETITIONED FOR CHANGE AFTER HER OWN PROLAPSE SURGERY IN 2009. THE PROCEDURE CAUSED HER EXTREME PAIN AND 'ROTTED HER INSIDES', RESULTING IN THE REMOVAL OF HER BLADDER THAT NEARLY TOOK HER LIFE. WALKER SAYS, LIKE MANY WOMEN, HER PAIN WASN'T BELIEVED. WHAT I'M DOING FOR THESE LADIES IS ACTUALLY KEEPING ME GOING. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET AROUND WHAT YOU GO THROUGH YOURSELF. I AM VERY EXTREME, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE THAT HAVE GOT REALLY SERIOUS HARM. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS STEPS WILL NOW BE PUT IN PLACE TO MINIMISE HARM BEFORE THE USE OF MESH RESUMES. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS DEFENDED THE PARTY'S RECENT LIST RANKING WHICH HAS SEEN MICHAEL WOODHOUSE ACCUSE NATIONAL OF CHOOSING DIVERSITY OVER EXPERIENCE. THE MP WILL STAND IN THE DUNEDIN ELECTORATE, BUT ASKED TO BE PULLED FROM THE LIST BECAUSE HIS RANKING WAS SO LOW. CHRISTOPHER LUXON WOULDN'T SAY WHAT THE NUMBER WAS. THAT'S A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS. THERE'S 31 PEOPLE ON OUR LIST-RANKING COMMITTEE WITHIN OUR PARTY THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS ON THE LIST RANKINGS. THE LIST RANKINGS, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, IS ALL ABOUT THE TEAM THAT WE WANNA TAKE INTO THE ELECTION. AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, DECISIONS AROUND CABINET ARE THEN MADE AFTER THE ELECTION. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'VE GOT AS BIG A TEAM AS I POSSIBLY CAN; I'VE GOT ALL THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES THAT WE NEED IN GOVERNMENT. THE NATIONAL LEADER SAYS MICHAEL WOODHOUSE HAS MADE HIS OWN DECISION TO WITHDRAW AND HE HAS TO RESPECT THAT. A PARENTAL LEAVE REGISTER SAYS PARENTS WILL CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY UNDER BOTH LABOUR AND NATIONAL'S POLICIES. LABOUR IS PROMISING FOUR WEEKS PAID PARTNER'S LEAVE EITHER AT THE SAME TIME OR AFTER THE PRIMARY CARER'S LEAVE, WHILE NATIONAL SAYS IT WILL ALLOW PARENTS TO DIVIDE EXISTING LEAVE BETWEEN THEM. STEPHANIE POW SAYS MOST PARENTS WOULD STILL GO BACK TO WORK DUE TO MONEY CONSTRAINTS UNDER EITHER PARTY. I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY FAR FROM EFFICIENT. WE KNOW IN NEW ZEALAND THAT 70% OF KIWI MUMS END UP GOING BACK TO WORK BEFORE THEY WANT TO BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS A LOT OF THE TIMES. AND ALSO THAT, ON AVERAGE, FATHERS WANT TO TAKE THREE MONTHS OF PARENTAL LEAVE AND ARE GETTING ONE TO TWO WEEKS. SO EVEN WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSALS, IT WON'T GET US THERE. MS POW SAYS ADEQUATE PARENTAL LEAVE POLICIES ARE KEY TO A COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS. DUE TO AN OUTAGE, CUSTOMERS IN WELLINGTON'S AKATARAWA'S VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE WITHOUT POWER UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING. 73 CUSTOMERS ARE AFFECTED. WELLINGTON ELECTRICITY SAYS DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT WAS CAUSED BY A NATURAL DISASTER. AT ITS WORST THIS MORNING, THE OUTAGE WAS AFFECTING OVER 200 HOUSEHOLDS. ANIMALS AT CHRISTCHURCH'S ORANA WILDLIFE PARK ARE SUFFERING 'SERIOUS INJURIES' AFTER GETTING SPOOKED BY BOY RACERS. POLICE SAY DRIVERS HAVE BEEN DOING SKIDS AND BURNOUTS OUTSIDE THE ZOO, WHICH ALSO POSES AN EXTREME FIRE RISK TO THE PARK. NATHAN HAWKE FROM ORANA WILDLIFE PARK SAYS THE EFFECTS COULD BE LONG-TERM FOR SOME OF THE ANIMALS. WE HAVE AMAZING NATIVE BIRDS THAT WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BREED FOR RELEASE TO THE WILD. THE IMPACT ON THEM COULD WELL BE THINGS LIKE, IT IMPACTS BREEDING SEASON AND QUALITY OF EGGS PRODUCED. SO THERE ARE QUITE A PACK FROM THIS BEHAVIOUR. 'OPERATION GUMTREE' HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO TARGET THE BEHAVIOUR. POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED 16 VEHICLES INVOLVED AND HAVE IMPOUNDED 10 OF THEM SO FAR. THE FIRST OF DONALD TRUMP'S CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE GEORGIA ELECTION CASE HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES IN TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND 18 OTHERS WERE CHARGED LAST WEEK WITH ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN HIS 2020 ELECTORAL DEFEAT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. JOHN EASTMAN, TRUMP'S FORMER LAWYER AND ONE OF THE KEY CO-DEFENDANTS NAMED IN THE INDICTMENT, FACES NINE COUNTS OF RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY. WHILE TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO SURRENDER ON FRIDAY, HIS FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF HAS ASKED FOR AN EMERGENCY COURT ORDER TO PREVENT HIS ARREST IF HE DOESN'T TURN HIMSELF IN THIS WEEK. AFTER 14 HOURS TRAPPED IN A CABLE CAR, EIGHT PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, HAVE BEEN RESCUED IN PAKISTAN. THE GROUP WERE LEFT STRANDED IN THE CARRIAGE OVERNIGHT, DANGLING ALMOST 300m ABOVE A RIVER. THE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN ONE OF THE GONDOLA'S CABLES SNAPPED. THE MILITARY WAS FORCED TO PAUSE ITS HELICOPTER OPERATION AS NIGHT FELL, BUT TEAMS ON THE GROUND WORKED AFTER DARK TO BRING THOSE STUCK TO SAFETY. TO SPORT, AND ENGLAND CAPTAIN OWEN FARRELL WILL MISS THE FIRST TWO POOL GAMES OF THE RUGBY WORLD CUP AFTER A FOUR-GAME BAN. FARRELL'S RED CARD WAS OVERTURNED BY AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMITTEE AND THEN SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED BY WORLD RUGBY THIS MORNING. THE SKIPPER WILL MISS WORLD CUP GAMES AGAINST ARGENTINA AND JAPAN, WITH TWO WARM-UP MATCHES INCLUDED. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN WHITIANGA. 15 THERE AND 14 FROM KITE HIRE TO AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FROSTY START FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY. 14 THE HIGH FOR WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A PARTLY CLOUDY START TO YOUR MORNING FOR YOU GUYS. THIS WILL THEN CLEAR TO A FINE DAY HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. OVER TO THE WEST ` A FINE START WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH. LIGHT WINDS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. 13 THE HIGH FOR LEVIN AND PALMY. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, BEFORE TURNING TO FINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON. 12 THE HIGH FOR GREYMOUTH. AND 14 FOR SUNNY BLENHEIM TODAY. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES FOR MOST OF YOU TODAY, WITH SOME MORNING FROST FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 14 IS THE HIGH FOR TIMARU. CHRISTCHURCH STARTING OFF ON -1. YOU WILL GET TO 11 . TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'LL A MAINLY FINE START FOR YOU GUYS, WITH SOME RAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THOSE IN MILFORD SOUND. 15 THE HIGH FOR GORE. AND TO NEED AND, YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD TODAY. 15 FOR YOU TOO. WE'RE GONNA GO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK ON ASTROLOGY THIS MORNING. I THOUGHT THIS WAS QUITE AN INTERESTING POINT I AM A BIG ASTROLOGY BUFF BUT NOT IN THE HOROSCOPE SENT. I HAVE BEEN ASKING PEOPLE WHAT THIS STAR SIGN IS FOUR YEARS NOW JUST TO COLLECT DATA AND INTERPRET PATTERN. DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY YOU INSTANTLY LIKE OR GET ALONG WITH SOMEONE? PROBABLY BECAUSE THEIR STAR SIGN MATCHES WITH YOURS. MATTY IS A LIBRA. I AM AN ARIES SO I GET ALONG WITH MATTY. I DON'T THINK MY STAR SIGN HAS EVER PROMISED THAT I WILL GET ALONG WITH ANYONE. BUT I LIKE YOU GUYS. SO ONE WAY IS FINE WITH ME YOU ARE A SCORPIO. YES, WE ALL KNOW. IT IS IN THE NAME. IT IS A NO SURPRISES POLICY. BECAUSE I PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU LIKE ME WE'RE GOING TO GET ALONG REALLY WELL. IT FILTERS QUITE NICELY. YES, IT MIGHT BE ALL CRAP, BUT IT IS OLDER THAN CHRISTIANITY. PEOPLE ARE ENERGISED AROUND THE FULL MOON WHICH AFFECTS THE TIDES. IT COULD AFFECT US. I JUST FINISHED READING THE SEVEN SISTERS BOOK SERIES. AND WHAT IS SO FASCINATING ABOUT THAT IS THAT SO MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES OVER TIME, AND A TIME WHEN THEY COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, HAD VERY SIMILAR, UM, DESIGNS OF WHAT THE STARS MEANT AND HOW THEY RELATED TO IT. MATARIKI. EXACTLY. THE ABORIGINALS HAD SOMETHING. THE GREEKS HAD SOMETHING. IT GOES SO FAR, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT. THERE IS SOMETHING THERE. YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IT BEING WOO HOO. MAYBE I AM WOO HOO. IT WAS GORGEOUS THIS MORNING. THE STARS ` DID YOU SEE YOUR FUTURE? THE ASTROLOGERS SAID THAT MARCH 2024 IS GOING TO MEAN BIG CHANGES IN MY FAMILY. I KNOW THAT TRACY MACLEAN WAS SITTING AT HOME GOING, COME ON. I AM READY. KEEP YOUR FEEDBACK COMING IN. I SURE KNOW MY MOON. GEMINI MOON IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. I HAVE BEEN STUDYING ASTROLOGY FOR YEARS AND IT IS NEVER WRONG. TELL CHRIS HIS KIDS WILL ENJOY HOW FUN AND PLAYFUL HE IS WITH THEM BEING AN ARIES. I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM ANY GOOD HOROSCOPE. YOUR STARS WILL ALIGN IF YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, AND TIDY UP YOUR ROOM AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK. GOOD THINGS ON THE WAY IF YOU GET AN A. E WHAI AKE NEI, COMING UP ` THEY ARE CREATING QUITE THE BUZZ AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE COMEDY FESTIVAL. LASER KIWI ARE WITH US NEXT. # REAL LOVE - Hey, Toyota. Got something that's not... new? - Yeah! Have you seen what's on Toyota.co.nz? - What are the chances you actually have what I'm looking for? - Pretty good! - Will it have any quirks? - Only if that's what you're into. - Uh, how do I know if it's any good? - Well, you are buying from Toyota, so there's that. - But I need something that comes with a warranty. - Well, Signature Class and Toyota Certified vehicles do. - That's a relief. # WATCH ME DANCE, DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY # MY HOPE COULD BE BURNING BUT YOU WON'T SEE IT ON MY FACE WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THE FRINGE FESTIVAL IN SCOTLAND IS ON AT THE MOMENT, AND KIWI COMEDIANS HAVE BEEN KILLING IT, REVELING IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS 'THE EDINBURGH EFFECT'. JOINING US NOW TO TELL US ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE FRESH OFF THE FRINGE STAGE IS LASER KIWI'S DEGGE, ZANE AND IMOGEN, ALONGSIDE COMEDIAN SACHA COPLAND. MORENA, YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. IT IS VERY EXCITING TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW. WHAT IS THE EDINBURGH EFFECT? EDINBURGH IS THE LARGEST ARTS FESTIVAL IN THE WHOLE WORLD. SO IT IS BASICALLY WHEN EVERYONE CONVERGES. AND YOU GET TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. IT IS A BIG DEAL TO BE THERE, RIGHT? YES. I AM DELIGHTED TO BE PART OF THIS DELEGATION OF 17 NEW ZEALAND ARTIST. WE ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY THE BRITISH COUNCIL AND CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND TO BASICALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ART IN THE WORLD AND REALLY CONNECT WITH THE WORLD AFTER THE PANDEMIC. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PERFORMING THERE. FIRST OF ALL, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT LASER KIWI IS. TELL ME ABOUT THE GROUP. WE BILL OURSELVES AS THE WORLD'S ONLY REAL SKETCH CIRCUS. IT HAS BEEN GOING ABSOLUTELY AWESOME WITH MASSIVE AUDIENCES. IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. I WAS READING SOME OF THE REVIEWS LASER KIWI IS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL SHOWS AT THE FRENCH, SAYS ONE REVIEWER. LASER KIWI UNDOUBTEDLY STANDS OUT AS OUR SHINING GYM, SAYS ANOTHER. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO GET THAT KIND OF RECOGNITION? A SHINING GEM. IT FEELS AMAZING. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HEAD TO EDINBURGH TO PERFORM. SO TO STAND UP, YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE SPECIAL. IT IS CRAZY. THERE ARE 3500 SHOWS, I THINK. SO YES, YOU HAVE TO COME IN WITH A HOOK AND A GOOD SHOW. DOES THAT HELP BEING KIWI? DO WE HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION AT FRINGE OR DO PEOPLE APPRECIATE US? I THINK BACK TO THE FACT THAT ROSE MATAWHEO WON BEST FRINGE A FEW YEARS AGO. DOES THAT HELP? THERE IS A HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND ARTIST DOING REALLY WELL HERE. FLIGHT OF THE CONCORDE STARTED HERE. THERE IS SOME MAORI AND PACIFIKA WORK. I THINK THE UK AND NEW ZEALAND SENSE OF HUMOUR IS VERY WELL ALIGNED. THE AUDIENCES AND OUR SHOW JUST CONNECT WITH US REALLY QUICKLY. WHAT DOORS DOES THIS OPEN MOVING FORWARD? A LOT. LIKE SHE SAID, IT IS A MASSIVE PLATFORM. THERE ARE ARTISTS, PERFORMERS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORS. IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG WAY TO COME BUT THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE POLICY GET THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU CAN FROM THIS FESTIVAL. HAVE YOU LEARNT A LOT? ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE TAKING AWAY FROM THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCES THAT WILL MAKE YOU GUYS BETTER PERFORMERS? I THINK JUST SEEING SO MUCH WORK. YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TAKES ON LIVE PERFORMANCE. THAT IS WHAT I WILL TAKE AWAY FROM SEEING THAT. WHAT ABOUT YOU, SASHA, DO YOU SEE A NEW CREATIVITY AND RENEWED PASSION FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING A PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO? ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE I PERFORMED HERE QUITE A BIT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND NOW ADJUSTING WHAT HAS CHANGED AND EVERYTHING THAT IS NEW. I THINK I AM GOING TO CHANGE A COUPLE OF THINGS ON MY SHOW WHEN I GET HOME TO HOPEFULLY BRING IT BACK NEXT YEAR. IT IS JUST REALLY EXCITING TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS MAKING. AND ALSO, HOW WELL NEW ZEALAND WORK STACKS UP AGAINST EVERYTHING AS WELL. AND WHAT DO WE STACK UP WELL? BOY, DO WE. WE ARE GOOD AT STACKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND ALL THE BEST FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. CHEERS. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE BIG SING COMPETITION IS HERE. MANUREWA HIGH SCHOOL IS COMPETING FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY JOIN US AFTER THE BREAK. FOR A VERY SPECIAL TREAT. STAY WITH US. # JUST LET ME SING TO YOU. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THE BIG SING IS A SECONDARY SCHOOLS CHORAL FESTIVAL WHERE STUDENTS SING THEIR HEARTS OUT AND AIM TO TAKE OUT THE COMPETITION. IT BRINGS AROUND 8000 VOCALISTS FROM OVER 200 SCHOOLS TOGETHER TO SING THEIR HEARTS OUT AND WIN TOP HONOURS. FOR THE FIRST TIME, MANUREWA HIGH SCHOOL IS IN THE FINALS, AND THEY'RE HERE TO SHOW US WHY. J-MAY IS IN OUR ATRIUM WITH THE SCHOOL'S CHOIR DIRECTOR. SERIOUSLY, WE ARE IN FOR AN ABSOLUTE TREAT. THE CHOIR IS JUST BEHIND ME. JOINING ME AS THE CHOIR DIRECTOR. JUST BEAUTIFUL. TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN PRACTISING. WE HAVE BEEN PRACTISING SINCE TERM TWO OF THIS YEAR. AND THAT IS AFTER THE POLY FEST, AND WE HAVE BEEN REHEARSING FOR THREE DAYS A WEEK, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EVENT. YOU HAVE 36 STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PERFORMING. TELL ME ABOUT THIS WEEKEND AND WHAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT TO THIS POINT, AND HOW DOES IT ALL ROLLOUT? IT IS HUGE FOR US. IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE A CHOIR FROM OUR SCHOOL HAS GONE INTO THE FINALE. IT IS VERY SPECIAL. WE ARE JUST HUMBLED TO BE IN IT. WE CANNOT WAIT. YOU PERFORM ON FRIDAY, AND HOW MANY ITEMS DO YOU DO? AND THEN YOU PERFORM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY? THE OPENING CEREMONY IS ON FRIDAY, AND WE PERFORM THREE OF OUR SONGS THAT WE PERFORMED AT THE REGIONALS ON SATURDAY, BUT THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO MORE SONGS ON SUNDAY. AND THEN WE HAVE THE GALA CONCERT ON SUNDAY NIGHT AS WELL. WE ARE PRETTY PUMPED. HOW SPECIAL IS THIS FOR YOUR STUDENTS GOING THROUGH THIS AND THROUGH TO THE FINAL? VERY SPECIAL. SOUTH AUCKLAND, THAT IS WHERE SOLE MIO HAS COME FROM, AND THEY HAVE INSPIRED OUR KIDS AS WELL TO GET THIS FAR. IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS, 2003 WAS THE LAST TIME THE CHOIR WAS IN THE FINALS. WE ARE VERY HUMBLE TO BE IN THIS COMPETITION. WE ARE HUMBLED TO HAVE YOU HERE ON THE SHOW. WE WILL HEAR YOU GUYS PERFORMED SHORTLY. I WILL LET YOU GO AND GET READY, AND I WILL THROW BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE STUDIO WHILE WE GET THINGS PREPARED HERE, BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, MAN, HAVE WE GOT A TREAT FOR YOU. I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, BECAUSE I WENT AND GOT US COFFEE BEFORE, AND I HAD THE WARMUP, AND IT SOUNDED BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE VERY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. LOOKING TO GET OUT IN NATURE? LOOK NO FURTHER. FROM THE FLOWING WATERS TO SCENIC FORESTS, ROTORUA HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, AND THANKS TO LEGEND OF THE PEAKS, YOU COULD BE HEADING THERE. THE TEAM FROM LEGEND OF THE PEAKS AND THEIR PARTNERS HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN AMAZING TREAT WEEKEND AWAY IN ROTORUA ` PERFECT TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE OUR BACKYARD, ALONGSIDE ENTRIES TO THE EVENT OF CHOICE IN THEIR TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL, YOU AND A FRIEND COULD BE HEADING TO ROTORUA FOR THREE NIGHTS, CHECKING OUT THE GEYSERS, POLYNESIAN SPA, SKYLINE AND EVEN MOUNTAIN BIKING. TO ENTER, HEAD TO LEGENDOFTHEPEAKS.COM/WIN. WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER LIVE ON AIR THIS FRIDAY. NOW WE ARE GOING TO HEAD BACK TO THE ATRIUM FOR A PERFORMANCE BY MANUREWA HIGH SCHOOL. ALL THE BEST FOR THE UPCOMING COMPETITION. (ALL SING IN SAMOAN) (ALL SING IN SAMOAN) CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE, DREW WELSH, COURTNEY SOLE AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023