IT'S MONDAY THE 18th OF MARCH. MORENA. THIS IS BREAKFAST. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. ON THE PROGRAMME THIS MORNING, DENTAL CARE IS COMING TO NORTHLAND BUT NO THANKS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE. IN FACT, IT'S ALL DOWN TO ONE ENTERPRISING LOCAL COUPLE WHO TRAVELLED MORE THAN 8000kms TO FIND A DENTIST WHO'D BE WILLING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND. NOT QUITE THE END OF THE EARTH, BUT HOW RIDICULOUS IS IT THAT A COUPLE OF LOCAL FARMERS CAN SORT OUT NORTHLAND'S TOOTH TROUBLES, AND THE DHB CAN'T? WE''LL FIND OUT HOW THEY'VE DONE IT, JUST AFTER 7 THIS MORNING. 'OFFENSIVE TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED AND THOSE WHO SURVIVED IN THE HOLOCAUST.' THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE OF NEW ZEALAND CALLS OUT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WINSTON PETERS' STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH WHERE HE COMPARED LABOUR'S USE OF CO-GOVERNANCE TO 'RACE-BASED THEORY', AS SEEN IN NAZI GERMANY. WE DISCUSS AND DELVE INTO THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER'S SPEECH WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL. THAT'S AROUND 7.40 THIS MORNING. HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THE PROFOUND GRIEF OF LOSING A BELOVED PET? IMAGINE SAYING GOODBYE TO A LOYAL COMPANION, YET RETURNING TO WORK THE NEXT DAY EXPECTED TO CARRY ON AS USUAL. BUT WHAT IF THERE WAS A SOLUTION? SHOULD EMPLOYERS BE MORE COMPASSIONATE OR DO GOVERNMENTS NEED RULES TO ACKNOWLEGDE THE BONDS MANY OF US HAVE WITH OUR ANIMALS? WHERE DO YOU SIT ON THIS? IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER, HAVE YOU HAD TO NAVIGATE THIS REQUEST FROM ONE OF YOUR STAFF? HOW DID YOU MANAGE? TELL US AT breakfast@tvnz.co.nz WE'LL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND DELVE INTO YOUR FEEDBACK IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES TIME. WE'VE ALREADY GOT ONE PIECE OF FEEDBACK. YES FOR CATS, NO FOR DOGS. IT'S THE FINAL DAY OF THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN EXPECTED TO BE HANDED A FIFTH TERM IN OFFICE. RUSSIANS HAVE BEEN HEADING TO THE POLLS ALL WEEKEND IN THE THREE-DAY ELECTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROTESTS, THOUGH VOTERS ARE FACED WITH FEW ALTERNATIVES TO PUTIN ` HIS SERIOUS RIVALS ARE EXILED, JAILED OR DEAD. THIS ELECTION WILL LIKELY SEE PRESIDENT PUTIN EXTEND HIS RULE FOR SIX MORE YEARS. A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN SOUTHERN ICELAND AFTER ANOTHER VOLCANIC ERUPTION. THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES OF THE VOLCANIC HILL SUNDHNUKUR ON THE REYKJANES PENINSULA, THE FOURTH HERE SINCE DECEMBER. THE ERUPTION, BELIEVED TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL FLARE UP SO FAR, BEGAN YESTERDAY MORNING. LAVA IS NOW SPILLING TOWARDS THE EVACUATED TOWN OF GRINDAVIK. ANOTHER WIN FOR CYCLIST AARON GATE ON THE TRACK. HE'S CLAIMED GOLD IN THE MADISON WITH CAMPBELL STEWART AT THE LATEST CYCLING NATIONS CUP EVENT IN HONG KONG. THE PAIR SCORED POINTS IN 17 OF THE 20 SPRINTS, WINNING FOUR OF THEM TO FINISH TEN POINTS CLEAR. THE SERIES HAS ONE MORE STOP IN CANADA NEXT MONTH. THE LOCAL RIDERS HAVE MADE A STRONG START TO THE CRANKWORX MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL IN ROTORUA. THE FIRST BIG EVENT OF THE WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL WAS THE TANIWHA DOWNHILL. LACHIE STEVENS MCNABB TOPPING THE MEN'S STANDINGS BY JUST OVER A SECOND AND A HALF. ...GIVING IT EVERYTHING IN HIS HOME TOWN RACE HERE IN ROTORUA! HERE HE COMES! WILL HE BE FASTEST? STEVENS-MCNAB GOES FASTEST! UNBELIEVEABLE RUN! OH MAN, I WANT A REPLAY OF THAT! THAT WAS INSANE! IT WAS A KIWI SWEEP IN THE WOMEN'S RACE. 16 YEAR OLD ELIANA HULSEBOSCH FENDING OFF LAST YEAR'S CHAMP JESS BLEWITT FOR THE WIN. DOWNHILL SKIER ALICE ROBINSON HAS PICKED UP ANOTHER PODIUM ON THE WORLD CUP CIRCUIT. ROBINSON FINISHED SECOND IN THE GIANT SLALOM AT THE SERIES' FINAL STOP IN AUSTRIA LESS THAN 1.5 SECONDS OFF THE WINNING PACE. THE KIWI FINISHES THE SERIES FOURTH IN THE GIANT SLALOM STANDINGS AND 10th IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS. THE DOLPHINS HAVE SECURED THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NEW NRL SEASON IN STYLE, SMASHING THE DRAGONS 38-0. IT WAS A MEMORABLE RESULT FOR THE DOLPHINS, THEIR HIGHEST EVER SCORE, BIGGEST EVER WINNING MARGINS AND FIRST TIME THEY'VE KEPT A TEAM SCORELESS. THEY'RE ALL AWAY. BOSTOCK NOW. HERE COMES THE HAMMER ON THE INSIDE. HE KICKED EARLY. TABUAI-FIDOW'S GOT THE SPEED... AND SCORES A TRY. THE RAIDERS, COWBOYS, SHARKS AND SEA EAGLES MAKE UP THE TOP FOUR AFTER TWO ROUNDS. UP THE WAHS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` CLOUDY PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, BLUE SKIES AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE IN AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. A HIGH OF 21 TODAY IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` SIMILAR HERE. SOME EARLY CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH THE REGION. THE ODD SHOWER THIS AFTERNOON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF YOU. WHAKATANE, YOU'RE GETTING A HIGH OF 24. TO THE EAST COAST ` YOU'LL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO BLUES SKIES TODAY. PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AFTER MIDDAY. 23 THE HIGH IN HASTING AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` CLOUDY MORNING ACROSS THE REGION. SOME SHOWERS EARLY ON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH. 20 THE HIGH FOR TAUMARUNUI. TO TE WAIPOUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY START FOR THOSE IN KAIKOURA AND WESTPORT, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. OTHERWISE A FINE DAY FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH. NELSON WITH A HIGH OF 21. HEADING SOUTH ` SOME MORE CLOUD OVER HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH SOME MORNING SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS EVENING. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 17 HERE. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` ITS LOOKING PRETTY GREY HERE ALSO. SHOWERS AND RAIN ACROSS THE REGION TOO, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON IN MILFORD SOUND, WITH A HIGH OF 17. IF YOU NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION AFTER MIDNIGHT, WELL, YOU COULD BE OUT OF LUCK IF YOU LIVE NORTH OF AUCKLAND. AS OF THIS MONTH, THERE ARE NO MORE OVERNIGHT GP SERVICES BETWEEN WHANGAREI AND AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE. THAT'S AFTER THE LAST OPTION, WELLSFORD'S COAST TO COAST CLINIC, SHUT THE DOORS TO OUT-OF-HOURS SERVICE CITING CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING. CHAIRMAN AND GP DOCTOR TIM MALLOY JOINS US NOW. WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY? FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, WHAT CAN THEY DO? WE OFFER AN AFTER-HOURS TRIAGE SERVICE WHERE THEY CAN GET MEDICAL ADVICE, THEY CAN GET OFFERED OPTIONS INCLUDING SEEING A DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY. IF THEIR PROBLEM IS MORE SIGNIFICANT, THEY MAY BE OFFERED THE OPTION OF GOING TO HOSPITAL. THAT MEANS WAITING FOR THE AMBULANCE. HOW FAR TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL WOULD THAT BE? ABOUT AN HOUR. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR LATE AT NIGHT OUR EMERGENCIES AND THEY ARE GOING TO NEED THAT SERVICE ANYWAY. THE STUDY OF OUR OWN FIGURES INDICATE THIS IS RARELY USED AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS INEFFICIENT. IN TERMS OF INEFFICIENCIES, WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT'S USEFUL TO HAVE OPTIONS LIKE THIS AND A FUNCTIONING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW OUR ED DEPARTMENTS ARE CHRONICALLY UNDERSTAFFED AND OVER UTILISED. ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IF THIS WAS A PUBLICLY FUNDED SERVICE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT. IT IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED SERVICE. WE CANNOT MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE SERVICE WITH THE FUNDING WE RECEIVE. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE MORE CONFRONTING. IN PARTICULAR THE WORKFORCE. OUR WORKFORCE IS STRETCHED AND IS DUE TO A NUMBER OF REASONS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN TRADING ENOUGH MEDICAL STAFF FOR YEARS AND AS A CONSEQUENCE I WORKFORCE IS AGEING AND OUR AGEING WORKFORCE GETS TO A POINT THAT GIVING UP THEIR NIGHTS FEELS TOO MUCH. AND AFTER-HOURS CALLS, YOU OFTEN DOING IT ON YOUR OWN IN A DIFFERENT PLACE TO WHERE YOU LIVE SO YOU ARE TAKING YOURSELF AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY. A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH OUR HEALTH SERVICEYOU'VE NAMED A COUPLE OF YOU'VE NA ISSUES THEY WILL BE AN OVERHAUL IN 12 TO 15 MONTHS. DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS TERM OF GOVERNMENT. I WILL REMAIN CYNICAL HAVING BEEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE FOR YEARS. I AM NOT CONVINCED WE ARE LIKELY TO GET A LONGER TERM SOLUTION IN THAT TIMEFRAME. WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO RESUSCITATE AND IF WE WAIT 15 MONTHS I AM CONCERNED THIS IS THE WILL OF DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE THAT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE. THE REALITY IS WE NEED SOME SHORT-TERM MEASURES RIGHT NOW. WE NEED AN INJECTION OF FUNDING TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE MODELS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY OR THE REALITY IS, BY THE TIME WE GET THE PROBLEM SORTED IT IS GOING TO BE WORSE. YOU ARE DESCRIBING A HEALTH SERVICE ON THE PRECIPICE. EVERY TAXPAYER ONLY SITTING AT HOME GOING, EVERYTHING NEEDS MONEY AND EVERYONE IS ASKING FOR MONEY. WHAT WILL MONEY DO? YOU CAN LOOK AT THE WAY YOU CONFIGURE YOUR WORKFORCE INCLUDING ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BEING UTILISED MORE EFFECTIVELY IN A COORDINATED SENSE. SECONDLY, YOU COULD RETAIN THE STAFF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO OFFER THEM AN ELEMENT OF SUPPORT THAT THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY GET. THERE METHODS EVEN IF THEY ARE ONLY SHORT-TERM. RETAINING LOSSES GOING TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL. IS THIS A CASE OF MIGRATION FILLING THOSE GAPS? DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT BRINGING IN STAFF OVERSEAS? WE ARE ALREADY TRYING TO DO THAT. EVERY TIME WE HAVE A NET IMMIGRATION OF 100,000 PEOPLE, WE NEED TO HAVE 100 OF THEM TO BE GPS. LAST YEAR, THERE WERE TWO. IMMIGRATION DOES NOT MAKE REGIONAL NEEDS. WHEN IMMIGRATION POLICIES CHANGE, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR HEALTH WORKFORCE UNDER THAT PARTICULAR MODEL. WHAT YOU SAY TO PATIENTS WHO COME THROUGH THE DOORS AND SAY I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'VE LOST THE SERVICE? SADLY WE HAVE TO FRONT BUT I NEVER COMES OUR ISSUE WHILE WE ARE THE ONES TRYING OUR BEST TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AT THE COALFACE. FRANKLY, THE DECISION-MAKERS NEEDS TO FRONT BUT EXERCISE. DR SHANE HAS SPENT THE DAY INSIDE OUR GP CLINIC, TIME IS NOT A LUXURY WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US. WE NEED SUPPORT NOW OR PATIENTS WILL SUFFER. IT'S NOT WE WHO SUFFER, IT IS OUR PATIENTS WHO SUFFER AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. ALL THE BEST WITH DEALING WITH THE INFLUX OF DEMAND AND THE LACK OF ABILITY TO OFFER A SERVICE. IT WAS NOT TOO LONG AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A HOSPITAL WHERE THEY HAD TO SHUT DINE THERE AFTER I WAS SERVICE FROM 5 AM THROUGH TO 8 AM SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE STAFF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS THERE. THEY NEED SOMETHING TO FIX THIS SHORT-TERM BUT LONG-TERM WE NEED TO BE TRADING MORE DOCTORS. TIM SAID EVERY HUNDRED THOSUAND PEOPLE, WE NEED 100 MEDICAL STAFF. IT'S THE PUBLIC WHO SUFFER. E WHAI AKE NEI ` PETS CAN BE A PART OF OUR LIVES FOR DECADES. SO WHEN THEY DIE, IT'S LIKE LOSING A LOVED ONE, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. SO SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO? WE'LL ASK A PSYCHOLOGIST NEXT. LOSING A PET CAN BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST EXPERIENCES THAT SOMEONE CAN GO THROUGH. BUT UNLIKE IF A FAMILY MEMBER DIES, THERE'S NO BEREAVEMENT LEAVE IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR DOG, CAT OR EVEN BUDGIE. AND SO IT'S UP TO YOUR EMPLOYER IF YOU'RE ALLOWED ANY TIME OFF. ITS CAUSED DEBATE AMONGST OUR TEAM ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTRODUCE PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. HERE FOR MORE IS PSYCHOLOGIST LISA COHEN WHO JOINS ME THIS MORNING. MORENA. TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HUMANS AND THEIR PETS. IT IS AN ENORMOUS QUESTION. WE ALL SEE THEM AS FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT IT IS WHAT IS THE CONTEXT? PEOPLE MIGHT NOT SEE THEIR PATS AS THEIR PATS CHILDREN BUT DEFINITELY AS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. IS PAT BEREAVEMENT LEAVE A GOOD THING? IS THERE A SPACE FOR PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE? PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR PETS. FOR SOME THEY COULD BE THEIR ONLY FAMILY MEMBER. THEY GO HOME TO THEIR DOG, CAT OR BIRD IT'S SOMEBODY WHO'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM. AND THEN IF THEY GO TO THE BOSS AND SAY, LOOK MY PET HAS JUST DIED AND IT WAS COMMONLY KNOWN THERE ARE THESE DEEP CONNECTIONS PERHAPS IT WOULD BE A NO-BRAINER. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT BECOMES COMMON PRACTICE. WHEN PET DOES DIE, WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAPPEN HUMANS IN THEIR LIFE? IT IS HUGE. I'VE HAD MANY PETS DIE AND I'VE GOING TO WORK BECAUSE IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THEY WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION. IT IS SADNESS AND GRIEF AND LOSS. I'M NOT SAYING BUSINESSES OR EMPLOYERS ARE LIKE THIS, BUT SHOULD THERE BE MORE COMPASSION WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE WHO LOSE THEIR PETS OR FAMILY MEMBERS FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS? I THINK IT IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING. SOME PEOPLE THINK A PET IS A PET. IT IS MORE ABOUT ACCEPTANCE AND KNOWING ONE PERSON'S VALUES MIGHT DIFFER FROM ANOTHER'S. I WONDER WHETHER YOU WANT TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IN THE WORKPLACE AND HOW PEOPLE MIGHT PERCEIVE THAT. ABSOLUTELY, THAT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON AND THAT WORKPLACE UNKNOWING WHETHER IT'S AN OPEN WORKPLACE. OVER THE 43 YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING, I'VE SEEN SO MANY CHANGES IN WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE, WHAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE AND A LOT OF COMPASSION HAS OPENED UP. SPEAKING ABOUT OVER THE YEARS, WE WENT THROUGH A PERIOD WITH COVERT AND AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF COVID, YOU HAD TO TAKE LEAVE IF YOU HAD ANY SYMPTOMS, IS THIS A HANGOVER FROM THAT UNBELIEF WE WERE TAKING? THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT ASKING FOR LEAVE. FROM WHAT I HEAR, BECAUSE I CAN ONLY TALK ABOUT WHY HERE, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN CHANGES IN THAT. AND THERE HAS BEEN MORE FLEXIBILITY WHICH IS GROWN. I'M SITTING HERE AND I CAN ALMOST HEAR MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE NOT SAID A WORD DURING THIS INTERVIEW WHO HAVE THEIR OWN THOUGHTS JUST LIKE YOU ALL AT HOME ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. GO YOU LOT. QUESTION FROM THE FLOOR LISA, WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE WITH WHAT IS CALLED A PET? MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAMSTERS OR RATS AS PETS, SO WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE WITH THAT? IT IS NOT FOR ME TO DRAW THE LINE. A PERSON HAS A GOLDFISH AND THAT MIGHT BE THEIR ONE ONLY POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A PET BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A FLAT. YOU MIGHT BE SEEING AND TALKING TO YOUR GOLDFISH FOR MANY HOURS. THAT'S WHAT I FIND HARD TO COMPREHEND, I FIND IT RIDICULOUS YOU WOULD TAKE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE BECAUSE YOUR GOLDFISH HAS PASSED AWAY. I BEING INSENSITIVE? YES YOU'RE BEING VERY INSENSITIVE. IN WHAT WAY AM I BEING INSENSITIVE? IF YOU CAN'T DRAW THE LINE ON WHICH PET... BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE ANIMAL OR THAT PET. I WOULD ARGUE WORK HAS ALL THESE ENTITLEMENTS, ANNUAL LEAVE, BEREAVEMENT LEAVE, SICK LEAVE... TAKE ONE OF THOSE. WE HAVE LOTS OF FEEDBACK, MANY DISAGREE WITH ME. I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE, SHARON SAYS. INTERESTINGLY, THIS FEEDBACK IS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, ARE THERE NO MEN WHO HAVE PATS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM ENOUGH TO TAKE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE? THEY DEFINITELY ARE. BUILDERS IN THEIR TRUCKS, WHO HAVE THEY GOT SITTING BESIDE THEM? WILL BE SAID GOODBYE TO OUR 12 YEAR OLD DOG, NO MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY WAS FIT ENOUGH TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. YOU ARE NOT MUCH USE AT WORK IN AN EMOTIONAL STATE. BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE SITTING IN FRONT OF YOUR COMPUTER AND PRESENT, IS THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING DANIEL? I CAN'T GET MY HEAD AROUND HOW YOU CAN HAVE AN EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO A GOLDFISH. WHAT ABOUT A CAT OR DOG, FORGET THE GOLDFISH? THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP A CAN OF WORMS, IF YOU SAY YOU CAN TAKE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR PETS. THAT'S GOT TO MEAN ANY PET. THAT'S THE ISSUE IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY PETS IT HAS GOT TO BE FOR EVERYTHING. PERHAPS IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE FORM DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH CREATURES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY HUMAN. THE SHOW HAS GONE TO THE DOGS. THE FEEDBACK IS COMING IN. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, WE WILL GET TO MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. STAY WITH US. We got a new car you have to plug in. It goes for two wee stops. (DOG BARKS) One masterpiece. And four unlucky possums! Five! VOICEOVER: Fast charge on the road and pay like you're at home. With Genesis at charge net stations. 'WE NEED SUPPORT NOW OR PATIENTS WILL SUFFER' IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE GP OWNERS ASSOCIATION AFTER ANOTHER OVERNIGHT SERVICE SHUT DOWN. COAST TO COAST HEALTH CARE HAS REDUCED ITS AFTER HOURS SERVICE IN WELLSFORD DUE TO CHRONIC UNDERSTAFFING, AN AGING WORKFORCE AND COMPROMISED DOCTOR SAFETY. IT MEANS PATIENTS BETWEEN WHANGAREI AND AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE WILL NO LONGER HAVE A OVERNIGHT DOCTOR. WE NEED SOME SHORT-TERM MEASURES RIGHT NOW. WE NEED AN INJECTION OF FUNDING TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE MODELS WE HAVE CURRENTLY. OR, REALITY IS, BY THE TIME WE GET THIS PROBLEM SORTED, IT IS GOING TO BE WORSE. MALLOY SAYS WITH GPs CLOSING, PEOPLE WILL GO TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WHICH ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED AND AT 'BREAKING POINT'. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS DOUBLED DOWN ON PLANS TO LAUNCH AN OFFENSIVE IN SOUTHERN GAZA. THE BORDER CITY OF RAFAH IS SHELTERING AROUND ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED THE WAR IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STRIP. THE U.S. AND THE UN HAVE BOTH WARNED OF THE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES OF A FULL-SCALE ASSAULT ON RAFAH. WITH THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING IT IS YET TO SEE A CREDIBLE PLAN TO PROTECT CIVILIANS. DESPITE THIS, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAYS NO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE WILL STOP ISRAEL. THE CLEAN UP IS UNDERWAY FOLLOWING DEADLY TORNADOES THAT TORE THROUGH THE CENTRAL U.S. THE STORM'S KILLED THREE, INJURED DOZENS, AND SHATTERED COMMUNITIES IN FOUR STATES. THE ABC'S ALEX PRESHA HAS MORE. THIS MORNING, THE SOUND OF CHAINSAWS AND TRASH REMOVAL ECHOING THROUGHOUT LAKEVIEW ARE HIGHER. RESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET IN THE WAKE OF A TORNADO THAT KILLED THREE. THIS MAN SURVIVED THE STORM HUDDLED WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE CENTRE OF THE STORM. NOW, LIKE MANY, HE IS TRYING TO SALVAGE WHAT IS LEFT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THE CLEANUP. I SEE PEOPLE PICKING UP OUT OF THE GARDEN, BUT WHEN YOU START? THE CLEANUP HERE IS UNDERWAY, BUT FOR SO MANY OF THE HOMES ALONG THE STREET, IT IS THE TOTAL LOSS. IT LEFT TRAILS OF DESTRUCTION IN ITS WAKE. OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ALSO EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER, WITH A HEAVY HAILSTORM IN TEXAS FORCING PEOPLE TO RUN FOR COVER. THIS HAIL PUNCHING HOLES IN WINDOWS. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH THE ROOF, THAT IS HOW LOUD IT WAS. A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN SOUTHERN ICELAND AFTER ANOTHER VOLCANIC ERUPTION. THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES OF THE VOLCANIC HILL SUNDHNUKUR ON THE REYKJANES PENINSULA THE FOURTH HERE SINCE DECEMBER. THE ERUPTION, BELIEVED TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL FLARE UP SO FAR, BEGAN YESTERDAY MORNING. LAVA IS NOW SPILLING TOWARDS THE EVACUATED TOWN OF GRINDAVIK. A PSYCHOLOGIST DOESN'T BELIEVE COMPANIES SHOULD BE MANDATED TO PROVIDE PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. CURRENT LEGISLATION AROUND BEREAVEMENT LEAVE CAN ONLY BE TAKEN IF A HUMAN DIES AND NOT FOR THE DEATH OF AN ANIMAL COMPANION. LISA COHEN THINKS PEOPLE HAVE BECOME MORE USED TO ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL LEAVE FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO, A PET IS A PET. YES, IT IS A FAMILY MEMBER, BUT THEY DIFFERENTIATE FROM, IT'S NOT A HUMAN. IT MIGHT NOT BE AS IMPORTANT. SO IT IS PROBABLY MORE ABOUT ACCEPTANCE. LISA COHEN SAYS THERE SHOULD BE MORE COMPASSION AROUND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE'S CONNECTION TO THEIR PET. TO SPORT, AND CYCLIST AARON GATE'S SCORED ANOTHER BIG INTERNATIONAL WIN. HE'S CLAIMED GOLD IN THE MADISON WITH CAMPBELL STEWART AT THE LATEST CYCLING NATIONS CUP EVENT IN HONG KONG. THE PAIR SCORED POINTS IN 17 OF THE 20 SPRINTS, WINNING FOUR OF THEM, TO FINISH 10 POINTS CLEAR. THE SERIES HAS ONE MORE STOP IN CANADA NEXT MONTH. THIS MORNING'S FA CUP TIE BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER UNITED HAS GONE INTO EXTRA TIME. JUST BEFORE FULL-TIME, THE RED DEVILS DREW LEVEL. HE HAS AND THERE. IT IS 242. AND A SUBSTITUTE STRAIGHT. STRIKES* AND CHELSEA BOOKED THEIR PLACE IN THE SEMI FINALS WITH A 4-2 WIN OVER LEICESTER CITY. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` CLOUDY PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, BLUE SKIES AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE IN AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. 22 DEGREES THERE. FURTHER SOUTH ` SIMILAR HERE. SOME EARLY CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH THE REGION. THE ODD SHOWER THIS AFTERNOON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF YOU. 19 FOR TAUPO. TO THE EAST COAST ` YOU'LL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO BLUES SKIES TODAY. PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AFTER MIDDAY. 23 THE HIGH IN HASTING AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` CLOUDY MORNING ACROSS THE REGION. SOME SHOWERS EARLY ON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH. 20 THE HIGH FOR TAUMARUNUI. AND 16 IN WELLINGTON. TO TE WAIPOUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY START FOR THOSE IN KAIKOURA AND WESTPORT, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. OTHERWISE A FINE DAY FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH. 17 DEGREES ON THE WEST COAST. HEADING SOUTH ` SOME MORE CLOUD OVER HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH SOME MORNING SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS EVENING. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 17 HERE. CHRISTCHURCH, YOUR HIGH IS 16. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` ITS LOOKING PRETTY GREY HERE ALSO. SHOWERS AND RAIN ACROSS THE REGION TOO, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON IN MILFORD SOUND, WITH A HIGH OF 17. AND QUEENSTOWN WITH A HIGH OF 15. WE ARE DOING PET FEEDBACK. PEPPER EASEMENT LEAVE FEEDBACK. WELL, IT IS FEEDBACK ON WHAT EVEN AS A PET AT THIS POINT. SHOULD YOU GET SPECIAL LEAVE IF YOU'RE TREASURED, BELOVED ANIMAL PASSES AWAY? THERE IS NO LEGISLATION IN NEW ZEALAND. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BEREAVEMENT LEAVE... FOR YOUR ANIMAL. FOR YOUR PET. IT COULD BE TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES. IF YOU SAY, I LIVE ON MY OWN, AND MY DOG OF ` HOW LONG DOES A DOG LIVE, 10 YEARS ` I NEED A DAY OFF. NO WAY SHOULD WE HAVE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. PEOPLE WILL ABUSE THE SYSTEM. I LOVE HOW THAT IS THE FEEDBACK STRAIGHTAWAY ` PEOPLE WILL ABUSE THE SYSTEM. BECAUSE THEY WILL! IF IT IS TWO DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR. IT IS NOT PER EASEMENT LEAVE. I'M SORRY, I AM INSULTED THAT PEOPLE WOULD COMPARE THE VALUE OF A PIT TO THE VALUE OF A CHILD. I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT CHILDREN. I KNOW THEY CERTAINLY FEEL CLOSE TO THAT. BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM AS FAMILY MEMBERS ` THEY ARE PART OF THE FAMILY, THEY GO EVERY WHERE. THAT IS STILL OK. NOT THE SAME VALUE AS LOSING A CHILD. SHARON DISAGREES ` YES, WE SHOULD HAVE PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. PETS ARE LIKE A CHILD TO SOME PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN. PETS BECOME LIKE A CHILD TO SOME PEOPLE. NO. HAVE A HEART. I WOULD COMPROMISE AND SAY YOU CAN WORK FROM HOME IF YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE FACING PEOPLE FOR A DAY. I THINK ANY BOSS WOULD BE SYMPATHETIC. THEY WOULD SAY, TAKE A DAY OFF OR USE YOUR ANNUAL LEAVE. WE DON'T NEED TO INTRODUCE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. BECAUSE THE REASON IS WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS AND GOLD FISH AS PETS. PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR GOLDFISH OR HAVE ONE ON ONES WITH A GOLDFISH, AND I JUST SAT THERE THINKING, ARE YOU KIDDING? YOU CAN SAY, IT IS REALLY SAD THAT MY DOG DIED BUT IT WAS REALLY OLD, AND WE KNEW IT WAS COMING, AND I AM GOING TO TURN UP TO WORK AGAIN. AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE SAYING, I CAN'T WORK FOR FIVE DAYS BECAUSE MY GOLDFISH DIED. IT MAY BE JUSTIFIED DUE TO EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. THE DISRUPTION MAY CAUSE IN THE WORKPLACE MAY CREATE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE PETS AND THOSE WHO DON'T. WHAT ABOUT FARMERS WHO HAVE SEVERAL PETS ` COWS, HORSES, SHEEP, DUCKS, CHICKENS? SOME OF THEM EAT THEIR PETS? THEY WANT TO MOURN THEM BEFORE COOKING UP A ROAST. IF WE CAN HAVE A DAY OFF FOR A QUEEN WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET, WE CAN HAVE A DAY OFF FOR A DEAD MOGGY. THAT ACTUALLY JUST TAKING THE MICKEY. WHAT ABOUT OUR PET ROCK? A PET IS A PIT. YOU FORM AN EMOTIONAL BOND. THEY CAN'T DIE, SO THAT ARGUMENT IS NEXT STRAIGHTAWAY. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. NIXED* ME U TONU MAI ` IT'S THE FINAL DAY OF RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. AND THERES NO PRIZES FOR GUESSING WHO IS EXPECTED TO WIN. WE'LL LOOK AT HOW VLADIMIR PUTIN PLANS TO GOVERN FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS. (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) IT IS ALMOST 6:45. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT'S THE FINAL DAY OF RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WHICH VLADIMIR PUTIN IS ALL BUT CERTAIN TO WIN WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE IN A FEW HOURS. PROTESTS HAVE BROKEN OUT OVER THE THREE-DAY ELECTION BUT PRESIDENT PUTIN FACES NO REAL OPPOSITION WITH HIS RIVALS IN EXILE, JAILED OR DEAD. FOR MORE, I'M JOINED NOW BY GLOBSEC RESEARCH FELLOW ROGER HILTON. ROGER, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, DANIEL. GOOD MORNING, NEW ZEALAND. IT IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. WHY IS THE KREMLIN GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS? WE ALREADY KNOW THE OUTCOME. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REITERATE THAT, AS YOU SAY, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE MOTION, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM A JUST A MESSY STANDPOINT TO SHOW THE OUTSIDE WORLD, NUMBER ONE THAT PUTIN IS IN CHARGE, NUMBER TWO THAT A LARGE SWATH OF RUSSIANS SUPPORT HIM. IT IS ALSO TO REINFORCE THAT HE IS HERE FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IS THERE ANY EXCITEMENT IN THIS ELECTION, GIVEN WE KNOW THAT OUTCOME? IT DEPENDS WHAT YOU MEAN BY EXCITEMENT. PUTIN REALLY IS SACRIFICING THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA RIGHT NOW. GIVEN WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY AND IN UKRAINE. ALTHOUGH CAMPAIGN RALLIES ` THINGS ARE REALLY NOT AS GOOD AS THEY APPEAR TO BE AT THE MOMENT. I THINK THAT FEAR, WHETHER IT IS NEW TAXES AFTER THE ELECTION OR GLOBALISATION, THEY ARE ALL ON THE MIND OF AVERAGE RUSSIANS. YOU MENTIONED VOTER TURNOUT IS HIGH. DO YOU THINK THE NUMBERS WILL MATCH THE VOTER TURNOUT IN 2018 WHICH WAS MORE THAN 67%, AND WHY? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY CLOSELY GUARDED EXERCISE, ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT. ONE AREA WAS ALREADY AT 75%. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE POLLS IN OCCUPIED AREAS OF UKRAINE WITH ARMED GUARDS GOING INTO THEIR AND ASKING PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE VOTING FOR. SO IT IS A BIT FARCICAL. 67% OR 80% IS NOT IN DOUBT. IT DOESN'T MATTER AT THIS POINT. YOU SAID IT FARCICAL. WHAT IS LEFT OF DEMOCRACY IN RUSSIA? THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. THE RUSSIAN ELECTION COMMITTEE STRIPPING THE OPPOSITION POLITICIAN. OR WHETHER IT IS ALEXY NAVALNY, I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A VERY HIGH EXPECTATION FOR IT. AT THE MOMENT, THE CHIEF OF STAFF IS THEN LITTLE WEIGHTIER. HE WAS ASSAULTED AT NATO STATE. SO PUTIN WILL BE TRYING, AT HOME AND ABROAD, TO SNUFF OUT ANY OPPOSITION AND PUSH FORWARD THIS REGIME SURVIVAL AFTER THE PRIGOZHIN ERA. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF THIS, HOW THEY OVERSEE IT, AND HOW IT TIES INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE? SORRY, I DIDN'T GET THE QUESTION. WHAT ARE THE MECHANICS OF THIS ELECTION? HOW DO THEY OVERSEE IT AND WHAT ARE THE CANNOCK'S OF THE KREMLIN INFRASTRUCTURE? IT IS RUN BY A WOMAN. SHE HAS BEEN QUITE OUTSPOKEN AFTER THREE DAYS OF PROTEST, CALLING IT THE SPOILING OF THE BALLOT. I AM NOT SITTING IN THE KREMLIN, UNFORTUNATELY, SO I KINDLY GIVE YOU THE TAKE ON WHETHER IT IS REALLY DOWN TO THE LAST SECOND OR IF IT IS MORE OF A COMMITTEE THAT IS GIVING THE DETAILS TO THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, BUT AS YOU RIGHTLY SAID, THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, THERE IS NO DOUBT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL AS MANY POSITIVE STORIES ABOUT THIS FOR INTERNAL CONSUMPTION WITH THE NEXT SERIES AHEAD, AND EVERYTHING IN UKRAINE, THIS IS A VERY CONTROLLED, COSMETIC ELECTION. YOU MENTIONED ALEXY NAVALNY'S WIFE ` SHE IS CALLING ON WESTERN POWERS NOT TO RECOGNISE THE SELECTION. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? THIS ELECTION* YOU GO THROUGH WITH THE HOPE THAT THE WEST HAD AFTERWARDS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH HIM IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA WHEN IT COMES TO NATO. AND DESPITE ALL THE HORRIFIC THINGS HE DOES, WHETHER IT IS THE INFILTRATION OF CHILDREN IN UKRAINE, POISONING OF DISSIDENTS ABROAD, IT IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION TO AVOID AN ESCALATION SPIRAL, AND OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN BRANDISHING A LOT OF NUCLEAR RHETORIC AT THE MOMENT. WHILE A LOT OF IT I THINK IT'S SIGNALLING HIS STATECRAFT, I WOULD NOT ADVISE CUTTING RELATIONS WITH HIM JUST LIKE THAT, PUTTING HIM IN A CORNER WHERE HE FEELS PRESSURE TO REACT. MORE THAN 112 MILLION ELIGIBLE VOTERS ` WHAT WILL 1/5 TERM WITH PUTIN IN POWER LOOK LIKE? THERE IS TRUTH PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE ` PUTIN, I STILL THINK, AFTER THE PRIGOZHIN SCARE, AND HE HAS A LONG MEMORY OF 2011. HE IS A VERY PARANOID GUY, SO I THINK RUSSIANS CAN EXPECT VERY HIGH MEDIA CENSORSHIP AND SUPPRESSION OF THE OPPOSITION. HEAVY PROPAGANDA AND A BLEAK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK. THIS IS GOING TO BE A STATE CENTRIC BUDGET, GOING BACK TO THE SOVIET TIMES WHERE THEY WERE SPENDING HUGE AMOUNTS ON DEFENCE. IN THE SHORT-TERM, THEIR FINANCING THE WAR IN UKRAINE. THEY HAVE TWO FACE A BRAIN DRAIN AND DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES. AND CERTAINLY HE HAS DEFINITELY TAKEN ON THE MANTLE OF BEING THE LEADER OF AUTOCRATS AGAINST THE WORLD. HE HAS GONE ALL IN ON UKRAINE. HE WILL BE QUITE LOUD ABROAD WHEN IT COMES TO MORE HYBRID GREY ZONE TACTICS. AND WE JUST EXPECT A LOT OF CLAMPDOWN ON OPPOSITION AND SNUFFING OUT ANY OPPOSITION AND THE IDEA THAT THERE IS EVEN AN OPPOSITION WHICH IS HOW IT USED TO BE IN THE PAST IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY. E HAERE AKE NEI ` MUSIC THERAPY IS A RELATIVELY NEW PHENOMENON. WE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW IT'S HELPING PEOPLE NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) MUSIC THERAPY IS STILL A PRETTY UNKNOWN PRACTICE IN NEW ZEALAND BUT ONE THAT CAN HAVE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACTS. ON THIS DAY, 20 YEARS AGO, MUSICIAN DAME HINEWEHI MOHI ESTABLISHED THE RAUKATAURI MUSIC THERAPY CENTRE. INSPIRED BY HER DAUGHTER, THE CENTRE USES THE POWER OF MUSIC TO HELP PEOPLE WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES TO COMMUNICATE, TO MOVE AND TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. HINEWEHI JOINS ME NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON. 20 YEARS, CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US ALL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CELEBRATE TODAY? WE ARE GOING TO BE IN AUCKLAND LATER TODAY AND WE'VE GOT A FEW INTERVIEWS TO DO. WE ARE DOING A BOARD MEETING THIS EVENING FOLLOWED BY SOME DINNER. YOUR CENTRE DOES MUSIC THERAPY AND THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE CENTRE IS CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR LEARNING DIFFICULTIES. BUT IT HAS EXPANDED TO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT HAS. ALL THOSE WITH CHALLENGING LIVES, WE HAVE CHILDREN WITH SYNDROMES AND ALL SORTS OF CONDITIONS THROUGH TO THOSE WITH DEMENTIA IN LATER LIFE. WHERE THEY ARE NEW CHALLENGES IS IMPACTING. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THERAPY AND IT'S A VERY ALL-INCLUSIVE THERAPY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND ENJOY BUT ALSO GET HUGE BENEFITS FROM. WHAT IS THE TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT OF MUSIC THERAPY? IT IS ABOUT USING EVERY PART OF YOUR BRAIN TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND TO BE ABLE TO DRAW ON BOTH HEMISPHERES AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO BE MOTIVATED AND DRAWN IN TO THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MUSIC THERAPISTS TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN A PERSON. IT IS BEST DESCRIBED WITH HOW WE APPRECIATE MUSIC. WITH HOW WE LIKE TO SING AND DANCE, WHETHER YOU ARE GOOD AT SINGING OR DANCING OR NOT. WE JUST LOVE MUSIC AND HOW IT CREATES MANY EMOTIONS, JOY AND CELEBRATION AS WELL AS MEMORY. IT IS A WONDERFUL VEHICLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE AND COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER IN. IT DRAWS AT THE VERY BEST IN US TO BE ABLE TO START TO HEAL. TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A SERVICE OVER 20 YEARS TAKES A HUGE AMOUNT OF DEDICATION, TIME AND ENERGY BUT ALSO MONEY. YOU DON'T RECEIVE GOVERNMENT FUNDING, YOU RELY ON DONATIONS. YES IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF OUR FOCUS THAT WE CAN MAKE MUSIC THERAPY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES THAT STRUGGLE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE KEY CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. IT IS ON US TO TRY AND RECEIVE GRANTS AND FUNDRAISERS, SO IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR US PARTICULARLY SO KNOW WHEN MANY CHALLENGES ARE HAVING TO CLOSE THE DOORS. WERE ALLOW PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS WONDERFUL THING THAT WE CALL THERAPY THROUGH MUSIC. WE'VE HAD YOUR GIVE A LITTLE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN BUT THEY CAN SEARCH FOR THE MUSIC THERAPY CENTRE IF THEY WANT TO DONATE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON 20 YEARS WITH MANY MORE TO COME. BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR NEWS, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP AFTER 7 O'CLOCK. DARGAVILLE RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL TO FIND A DENTIST FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, BUT THAT WAIT IS TO SET TO COME TO AN END. WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS SHORTLY. THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IS IN HOT WATER AFTER COMPARING CO-GOVERNANCE TO NAZI GERMANY. WINSTON PETERS SAYS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WOULD UNDERSTAND HIS COMMENTS, BUT THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE HAS CALLED THEM OFFENSIVE. WE'LL HAVE MORE WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL A LITTLE LATER. AND FROM A WINNING STREAK TO A LOSING SPELL. THE GLORY DAYS APPEAR TO BE OVER FOR THE CRUSADERS' 2024 SEASON, AT LEAST THAT'S HOW IT LOOKS. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK INSIDE THE LOCKERROOM AT WHAT'S GOING ON A LITTLE LATER THIS HOUR. BUT FOR NOW, IT'S 7 O'CLOCK, HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. MORE SIGNS OF THE GROWING PRESSURE ON THE HEALTH SECTOR WITH ANOTHER OVERNIGHT SERVICE CLOSING. COAST TO COAST HEALTH CARE HAS REDUCED ITS AFTER-HOURS SERVICE HOURS IN WELLSFORD, DUE TO CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING, AN AGEING WORKFORCE AND COMPROMISED DOCTOR SAFETY. IT MEANS PATIENTS BETWEEN WHANG?REI AND AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE WILL NO LONGER HAVE AN OVERNIGHT DOCTOR. DOCTOR TIM MALLOY SAYS GPs NEED SUPPORT NOW OR PATIENTS WILL SUFFER. THE REALITY IS WE NEED SOME SHORT TERM MEASURES RIGHT NOW. OUR WORKFORCE IS STRETCHED. WE ARE NOT TRAINING ENOUGH MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF. DOCTOR MALLOY SAYS GP SERVICES, CANNOT MEET THE EXPECTATIONS WITH THE FUNDING THEY RECEIVE. TO SPORT, DOWNHILL SKIER ALICE ROBINSON HAS PICKED UP THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED IN THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROTESTS. VOTERS ARE FACED WITH FEW ALTERNATIVES TO PUTIN. HIS SERIOUS RIVALS ARE EXILED, JAILED OR THAT. *DEAD. WITH THE COUNTING OF VOTES UNDERWAY, THE ELECTION ARE SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE. PUTIN IS IN CHARGE, A LARGE SWATHE OF RUSSIANS SUPPORT THEM BASED ON BOTH TURNOUTS. HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS HAIR FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WAS DOUBLE DOWN ON THE US AND THE UN HAVE WARNED OF DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES TO SPORT, DOWNHILL SKIER ALICE ROBINSON HAS PICKED UP ANOTHER PODIUM ON THE WORLD CUP CIRCUIT. ROBINSON FINISHED SECOND IN THE GIANT SLALOM AT THE SERIES' FINAL STOP IN AUSTRIA LESS THAN 1.5 SECONDS OFF THE WINNING PACE. THE KIWI FINISHES THE SERIES FOURTH IN THE GIANT SLALOM STANDINGS AND 10th IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS. ANOTHER WIN FOR CYCLIST AARON GATE ON THE TRACK. HE'S CLAIMED GOLD IN THE MADISON WITH CAMPBELL STEWART AT THE LATEST CYCLING NATIONS CUP EVENT IN HONG KONG. THE PAIR SCORED POINTS IN 17 OF THE 20 SPRINTS, WINNING FOUR OF THEM TO FINISH TEN POINTS CLEAR. THE SERIES HAS ONE MORE STOP IN CANADA NEXT MONTH. THE DOLPHINS HAVE SECURED THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NEW NRL SEASON IN STYLE, SMASHING THE DRAGONS 38-NIL. IT WAS A MEMORABLE RESULT FOR THE DOLPHINS, THEIR HIGHEST EVER SCORE, BIGGEST EVER WINNING MARGINS AND FIRST TIME THEY'VE KEPT A TEAM SCORELESS. THEY'RE ALL AWAY. BOSTOCK NOW. HERE COMES THE HAMMER ON THE INSIDE. HE KICKED EARLY. TABUAI-FIDOW'S GOT THE SPEED... AND SCORES A TRY. THE RAIDERS, COWBOYS, SHARKS AND SEA EAGLES MAKE UP THE TOP FOUR AFTER TWO ROUNDS. I'M SURE THE WARRIORS ARE NOT TOO FAR BEHIND. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` CLOUDY PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, BLUE SKIES AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE IN AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. A HIGH OF 21 TODAY IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` SIMILAR HERE. SOME EARLY CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH THE REGION. THE ODD SHOWER THIS AFTERNOON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF YOU. WHAKATANE, YOU'RE GETTING A HIGH OF 24. TO THE EAST COAST ` YOU'LL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO BLUES SKIES TODAY. PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AFTER MIDDAY. 23 THE HIGH IN HASTING AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` CLOUDY MORNING ACROSS THE REGION. SOME SHOWERS EARLY ON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH. 20 THE HIGH FOR TAUMARUNUI. TO TE WAIPOUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY START FOR THOSE IN KAIKOURA AND WESTPORT, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. OTHERWISE A FINE DAY FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH. NELSON WITH A HIGH OF 21. HEADING SOUTH ` SOME MORE CLOUD OVER HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH SOME MORNING SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS EVENING. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 17 HERE. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` ITS LOOKING PRETTY GREY HERE ALSO. SHOWERS AND RAIN ACROSS THE REGION TOO, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON IN MILFORD SOUND, WITH A HIGH OF 17. WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH CONNECTIVITY WITH OUR NEXT GUEST. WE WILL GET TO THAT SHORTLY. YOU HAVE BEEN SENDING IN YOUR FEEDBACK THICK AND FAST ABOUT WHETHER PET BEREAVEMENT SHOULD BE A THING. WHETHER IT SHOULD BE LEGISLATED. IT IS NOT AT THE MOMENT TO NEW ZEALAND. THE ONLY BEREAVEMENT LEAVE YOU GET IS FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEBODY WHO IS CLOSE TO YOU AND EVEN THEN THAT IS DEPENDENT ON YOUR EMPLOYER. MANY OF YOU ARE SAYING, ACTUALLY IT IS A GOOD THING. AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT. WE DID NOTICE MOST OF YOU ARE WOMEN WHO ARE SAYING THAT. THE GUYS AGAINST TAKING THE MICKEY AREN'T THEY? PEOPLE ARE SAYING HAVING PETS IS JUST LIKE HAVING KIDS. THEY CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE KIDS, AND THE CONNECTION THEY HAVE IS VERY SIMILAR. IT IS SUBJECTIVE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR PET UNDER CONNECTIONS YOU HAVE WITH THEM ALTHOUGH ROWENA SAYS I HAD A CAT WHO DIED, I HAD PUFFY EYES AND ALL IF I COULD HAVE TAKEN BEREAVEMENT LEAVE I WOULD HAVE. BUT MANY OF YOU ARE SAYING YES THEY SHOULD BE LEGISLATED FOR. KEEP YOUR FEEDBACK COMING IN. HAVE WE GOT I GUEST? NO. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT IS 7:12. OK, THE CAVITY IN DARGAVILLE'S DENTAL SHORTAGE IS ABOUT TO GET A FILLING. THE NORTHLAND TOWN OF 5000 PEOPLE, ALSO A HUB FOR MANY RURAL AREAS, HAS NO DENTIST. A LOCAL DARGAVILLE COUPLE BOUGHT THE DENTIST BUILDING AND THEN TRAVELLED TO THE PHILIPPINES, KNOCKING ON DOORS TO RECRUIT. AND THEY FOUND ONE ` MOHAMMED. BUT THE JOURNEY DIDN'T END THERE WHEN THE DENTAL COUNCIL SAID HE'D HAVE TO RESIT EXAMS, TAKING TWO TO THREE YEARS. BUT, WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING. RODNEY COTTON JOIN US NOW FOR THE LATEST. GOOD MORNING, RODNEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THIS FAR SO FAR. WE ARE ONLY SO FAR, NOT ALL THE WAY, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT. BUT I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT THE DENTAL COUNCIL CEO PERSONALLY CONTACTED ME, NO DOUBT AFTER A BIT OF HELP FROM YOU GUYS ARE SO FEW POINTED OUT THAT WE COULD DO ANOTHER METHOD OR PATHWAY WHICH IS CALLED INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT. AND THAT ONE MEANS HE DOESN'T HAVE TWO SET ANY EXAMS, IT IS LOW-COST, HE HAS TO PRESENT QUITE A FEW CASE STUDIES OF HIS WORK. HE HAS TO PRESENT HIS QUALIFICATIONS. HE HAS TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW. AND THEY WILL EVALUATE HIM FROM THIS. SO I AM HOPING ` GOT MY FINGERS CROSSED ` THAT HE IS THE REAL DEAL AND WE CAN GET HIM TICKED OFF IN SIX MONTHS OR APPROXIMATELY HE CAN BE PRACTISING IN dargaville. HAD GONE FROM 2 TO 3 YEARS TO 6 MONTHS? WE WERE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PATHWAYS, AND I HAD COMMUNICATION WITH DENTAL COUNCIL PEOPLE BEFORE, BUT NO ONE POINTED OUT TO ME THIS INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT PATHWAY, AND THE CEO OF THE DENTAL COUNCIL BROUGHT THIS TO LIGHT, SO THANK YOU TO HER FOR THAT. YOU MUST BE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR YOU IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY TO DATE OF THE. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE JULY. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO MOHAMMED, AND AS HE NOW AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL FAST TRACK? YES. HE IS VERY HAPPY. HE IS FLAT OUT NOW TRYING TO PUT HIS CASE STUDIES TOGETHER, SO HE CAN PRESENT EVERYTHING REQUIRED BY THE DENTAL COUNCIL. SORRY, CARRY ON. NO, THAT WAS IT. THE DENTAL COUNCIL ACTUALLY SENT US A STATEMENT FROM MARIE, WHICH I'M ASSUMING IS WHO YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH. SAYING THAT OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THIS REQUIRES THE NECESSARY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN CONSIDERING REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS TO INSURE THE APPLICANT, THROUGH THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND, IF REQUIRED, THROUGH CASE EXAMPLES, IS COMPETENT AND FIT TO PRACTICE IN NEW ZEALAND, WHICH CANNOT BE COMPROMISED DUE TO TIME. PEOPLE HEARING ABOUT THIS FASTER PROCESS WILL HEAR THAT ACTUALLY THERE IS DUE DILIGENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE BRINGING PROFESSIONALS INTO THE COUNTRY. 100%. THE LAST THING I WANT TO BRING IN IS AN INCOMPETENT PERSON. SO FOR THE DENTAL COUNSELLOR, I THINK SIX MONTHS IS A GOOD TIMEFRAME. WHEN YOU EVALUATE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, BETTER STILL PRETTY FAST. I THINK THAT IS FAIR ` SIX MONTHS. REMIND ME OF THE SITUATION IN DARGAVILLE AND WHY YOU FELT THE NEED TO GO AND LOOK FOR A DENTIST. A DENTIST IS ONE THING, BUT WE ARE LACKING GPs, DENTISTS, JUST A LACK OF EVERY HEALTH PROFESSION YOU CAN IMAGINE. AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS BECOMING A REGIONAL NEW ZEALAND WIDE PROBLEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND ROLL IT OUT TO OUR NEXT TOWN CLOSE BY CALLED KAIKOHE. SO WE WANT TO ROLL THIS OUT TO REGIONAL TOWNS THEY CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A DENTIST BUT HAVE THE POPULATION TO SUPPORT ONE. THAT IS OUR GOAL. HAVE YOU CONNECTED WITH ANYONE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT SEEMS TO BE GOING OK AT THE MOMENT. IT IS SOMETHING WE COULD POTENTIALLY REPLICATE IN YOUR PLACE. 12 MONTHS FROM NOW, I WANT TO GET THE FIRST DENTIST AND. MAKE SURE THE MODEL WORKS. AND THEN TRY AND ROLL IT OUT, NOT JUST START ROLLING IT OUT EVERYWHERE. IT COULD END UP BEING A BIT OF A DISASTER. SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS IN ONE PLACE FIRST. RODNEY, WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS? IT WASN'T A PLANNED THING. IT HAS JUST SORT OF SNOWBALLED. IT IS A PROBLEM WE SEE OUT HERE WITH PEOPLE PULLING THEIR OWN TEETH AND DOING SELF DENTISTRY. IT IS THE START OF ALL THE PROBLEMS OF THEIR HEALTH AS IN THE MOUTH. WITH A HEALTH CRISIS NOW, I THINK A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND JUST HAVE TO STEP UP AND START HELPING PEOPLE. I THINK THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR THE GOVERNMENT ONLY TO SOLVE IT AT THE MOMENT. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. I KNOW THAT JULIE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH YOU, BUT SHE HAD TO DROP THE KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO WELL. WE WILL KEEP IN TOUCH. SEE HOW MOHAMMED JOSEPH OFFERS UP HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH UP WHEN HE ACTUALLY ARRIVED HERE IN NEW ZEALAND TO STOP A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, THE GREENS HAVE PRIDED THEMSELVES ON FIGHTING FOR WORKERS RIGHTS, SO WHAT DOES IT NOW MEAN THAT ONE OF THEIR OWN IS ACCUSED OF MIGRANT EXPLOITATION. A FORMER MP WEIGHS IN NEXT. # CAN YOU BLOW MY MIND? WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. QUESTIONS ARE BEING RAISED ABOUT THE GREEN PARTY'S VETTING OF CANDIDATES. GREEN MP DARLEEN TANA WAS STOOD DOWN AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF MIGRANT EXPLOITATION EMERGED LAST WEEK. IT'S THE LATEST ISSUE PLAGUING THE PARTY AFTER GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN PLEADED GUILTY TO SHOPLIFTING AND ALLEGATIONS OF BULLYING WERE LEVELLED AGAINST ELIZABETH KEREKERE LAST YEAR. FORMER GREEN MP GARETH HUGHES JOINS US NOW TO UNPACK. MORENA. HOW DAMAGING IS THIS TO THE PARTY? THAT HAS BEEN A HORRID START TO THE YEAR FOR THEM. STARTED OFF WITH THE GOVERNMENT DISMANTLING THEIR POLICIES, ALMOST DECLARING WAR NATURE AT THE MOMENT. IT IS CUMULATIVE, AND NO PARTY WOULD WANT TO BE GOING THROUGH IT. ON 1 FEBRUARY, COMPLAINTS WERE TAKEN AND STUFF IT INVESTIGATED. UNTIL MARCH 14, THAT IS WHEN SHE STOOD DOWN. HOW ROBUST IS THE VETTING PROCESS? INVOLVES AN INTERVIEW PROCESS. THE CANDIDATE IS THE CLEAR ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THEM. THE PARTIES INTERNAL DEMOCRACY KICKS OVER. THAT IS A VERY DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IT IS THE MEMBERS WHO ELECT THE CANDIDATES THAT BECOME MPS. WE DO NOT RUN A US VP SHALL VETTING SYSTEM WITH PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS. RELIES ON THE HONESTY OF THE CANDIDATE COMING FORWARD WITH ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION. DO WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE HOW THE US IS RUNNING INVESTIGATIONS I THINK THE GREEN PARTY WILL BE A LOT MORE FORCEFUL AND DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, AS I THINK ALL PARTIES HAVE. IT STILL RELIES ON THE HONESTY OF INDIVIDUAL. I THINK GIVEN THE GOLRIZ SCANDAL, THEY WOULD HAVE LEARNT FROM THEIR LESSON, BUT THEY HAVE NOT. WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? THEY HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THE APPROACH THESE CRISES. A FORMER PRESS SECRETARY I WORKED WITH SAID THAT NOT ALL THE INFORMATION GETS OUT THERE. YET TO BE TRANSPARENT AND GET IT OUT YOURSELF. IT WAS TOUGH, AND IT SOUNDS AS THERE WERE NOT GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION IN EARLY FEBRUARY. I BET THEY WISH THEY'D EMBARKED ON THEIR PRIVATE INVESTIGATION AT THAT POINT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, NOT WHEN THE MEDIA WERE ASKING QUESTIONS. THEY'VE ACTED DECISIVELY NOW. WHEN I WHAT A WONDERFUL CAMPAIGNER CHLOE SWARBRICK AS, BUT THIS IS A REAL TEST OF HER LEADERSHIP. SHE HAD THAT STEEL, THAT ABILITY TO LOOK AT A COLLEAGUE IN THE EYE AND TAKE TOUGH STEPS WE NEEDED. HOW WILL CHLOE SWARBRICK HELPER PARTY BOUNCE BACK? I'M SURE THAT THE GREEN PARTY HAS BEEN REFLECTING. IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH START TO THE YEAR. THEY BEEN WORKING ON THINGS LIKE PROTECTING THE TREATY AND CLIMATE, EVEN THINGS LIKE SCHOOL LUNCHES I THINK THEY WANT TO CAMPAIGN ON. THEY HAD THEIR LARGEST EVER RESULT OF THE ELECTION. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THEIR VOTERS RATHER THAN THEMSELVES, WHICH THEY SEEM TO BE DOING TOO MUCH THIS YEAR. JAMES SHAW LEAVING ANY TRAGIC DEATH OF EFESO COLLINS, WHAT YOU THINK THE MORALE IS IN THE PARTY AT THE MOMENTS? I'M SURE IT IS DENTED. IT IS NOT A GOOD START TO THE YEAR, HOWEVER WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING, AND I'M SURE THIS IS THEIR MESSAGE, IS TO PULL TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING, GETTING STUCK IN AND OPPOSING THIS GOVERNMENT'S AGENDA. IN TERMS OF THIS, WE ARE TO NOW? THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THEY COULD BE DOING. REGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES WANT TO SEE THEM LEADING. WE ARE SEEING THE MOST EXTREME RIGHT-WING GOVERNMENT IN NEW ZEALAND'S HISTORY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. THEY WANT TO BE WINNING SOME CAMPAIGNS AND CHANGING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES ON THINGS LIKE THE TREATY, CLIMATE AND SCHOOL LUNCHES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HOW IS THAT FEEDBACK COMING THROUGH? TELL YOU WHAT, PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE SUGGESTION THAT WILL WE MAY HAVE BEEN DULY UNFAIR TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE PETS NOT TREATING THEM WITH THE SAME RESPECT THAT YOU WOULD FOR A CHILD. IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, SHOULD WE HAVE PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE? SHOW SOME EMPATHY, ANNA. THIS IS NOT ABOUT EMPATHY. I AM NOT DISGUSTED, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU WOULD EQUATE A PET RABBIT WITH THE VALUE OF A COLLEAGUE WHO MIGHT'VE LOST THE CHILD. I THINK THAT IS APPALLING. DO WE NEED A SLIDING SCALE. DOGS AND CATS, INCREDIBLY POPULAR. ARE THEY MORE IMPORTANT THAN A GOLDFISH? NO. WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF FEEDBACK. I KNOW, AND I SIT ON THE SPACE OF, NO I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO BE LEGISLATED FOR IN TERMS OF PET BEREAVEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE EMPATHY FROM MY COLLEAGUES. I AM NOT SAYING YOU CANNOT HAVE LEAVE. ABOUT THE CONNECTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH THEIR PETS. I HAVE HAD PETS, THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF MY FAMILY. YES, AND THAT WAS YOUR CONNECTION. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE CONNECTIONS THAT MAY BE DEEPER FOR THEM. SO NOW YOU ARE SAYING THAT MY PET WAS WORTH AS MUCH AS SOMEONE ELSE'S? KNOW, YOUR PET WAS WHAT I WAS TO YOU, BUT YOU CANNOT DISMISS OTHER PEOPLE. THE BOYS ARE EMAILING IN. YOU ASKED, ANNA, WHAT ABOUT THE GUYS? WHY IS IT JUST WOMAN? THE ISSUE I HAVE, I GET IT IF YOU LOSE A PETM I'M SORRY ABOUT IT. THERE ARE SO MANY WORK IN TITLE MONTHS YOU CAN TAKE TO MOURN THE LOSS. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO INTRODUCE NEW LEGISLATION. THE REASON BEING, WHEN YOU DRAW THE LINE? YOU'RE TALKING EARLIER THIS MORNING ABOUT OUR PEOPLE TOOK TO THE GOLDFISH. WE THINK AUTOMATICALLY CATS AND DOGS. WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE, AND HOW DO YOU POLICE THAT? I GUESS IT IS UP TO YOUR EMPLOYERS TO APPROVAL REQUEST LEAVE. I FEEL VERY SORRY FOR YOU LOSING SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL WAS A PART OF YOU. THAT IS HOW YOU SAY, DANIEL, RATHER THAN, I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MY THING IS TWO DAYS AGO, I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. FOR A RABBIT? FOR A GOLDFISH. FOR A GOLDFISH!? ON OUR VIEWERS SAID, IT WAS A RABBIT THEY PUT IN A BOX. THAT TOOK 10 MINUTES. LET'S MOVE ON. GPS ARE CALLING FOR ACTION AS ANOTHER OVERNIGHT SERVICE SHUTS ITS DOORS. COAST TO COAST HEALTH CARE HAS REDUCED ITS AFTER HOURS SERVICE IN WELLSFORD, CITING CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING, AN AGEING WORKFORCE AND COMPROMISED DOCTOR SAFETY. IT MEANS PATIENTS BETWEEN WHANGAREI AND AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE WILL NO LONGER HAVE AN OVERNIGHT DOCTOR. DOCTOR TIM MALLOY SAYS GP'S NEED RESOURCES, DECISIONS AND ANSWERS. YOU CAN RETAIN THE STAFF THAT YOU'VE CURRENTLY GOT MORE EFFECTIVELY IF YOU ARE ABLE TO OFFER THEM AN ELEMENT OF SUPPORT THAT THEY DON'T CURRENTLY GET, SO THERE ARE METHODS TO ALTER THE ENVIRONMENT EVEN IF THEY ARE ONLY SHORT-TERM WHILE WE TRAIN MORE MEDICAL STAFF AND MORE NURSING STAFF. AROUND ONE MILLION NEW ZEALANDERS ARE CURRENTLY MISSING OUT ON SEEING THEIR GP ACCORDING TO THE NEW ZEALAND HEALTH SURVEY, AS IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET AN APPOINTMENT. DARGAVILLE IS GOING TO SEE RETURN OF DENTAL SERVICES AFTER THE EFFORTS OF A LOCAL COUPLE. THE NORTHLAND TOWN OF 5000 PEOPLE, ALSO A HUB FOR MANY RURAL AREAS, HAS HAD NO DENTIST FOR MONTHS. A LOCAL DARGAVILLE COUPLE BOUGHT THE DENTIST BUILDING AND RECRUITED A DENTIST FROM THE PHILIPPINES, AND NOW HE'S BEING ASSESSED TO PRACTICE HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH PEOPLE PULLING THEIR OWN TEETH AND DOING SELF INDUSTRY. IT IS THE START OF ALL THE ISSUES WITH YOUR HEALTH. THE DENTAL COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY ASSESSING THE DENTIST, MAHAMMOUD, AN IMPORTANT STEP TO ENSURE EVERY HEALTH CARE WORKER IS COMPETENT TO PRACTICE IN NEW ZEALAND. VLADIMIR PUTIN LOOKS TO HAVE WON THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WITH EXIT POLLS INDICATING HE'S SECURED A HUGE MAJORITY, NEARLY 88% OF THE VOTE. RUSSIANS HAVE BEEN HEADING TO THE POLLS ALL WEEKEND FOR THE THREE-DAY ELECTION. VOTERS WERE FACED WITH FEW ALTERNATIVES TO PUTIN. HIS SERIOUS RIVALS ARE EXILED, JAILED, OR DEAD. THE RESULT WAS NEVER IN DOUBT. WHEN HAVING VIDEOS, IT WAS IN THE OCCUPIED REGION OF UKRAINE WHEN GUARDS WERE GOING INTO THE POST TO SEE WHO THEY WERE VAULTING FOR. IT IS FARCICAL. WITH IT IS 60% OR 80%, DOES NOT MATTER AT THIS POINT. AN ELECTION WIN WILL SEE PRESIDENT PUTIN EXTEND HIS RULE FOR SIX MORE YEARS. A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN SOUTHERN ICELAND AFTER ANOTHER VOLCANIC ERUPTION. THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES OF THE VOLCANIC HILL SUNDHNUKUR ON THE REYKJANES PENINSULA, THE FOURTH HERE SINCE DECEMBER. THE ERUPTION, BELIEVED TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL FLARE UP SO FAR BEGAN YESTERDAY MORNING. LAVA IS NOW SPILLING TOWARDS THE EVACUATED TOWN OF GRINDAVIK. MANCHESTER UNITED'S DUMPED LIVERPOOL OUT OF THE FA CUP QUARTER FINALS THIS MORNING IN AN EXTRA TIME THRILLER. UNITED LEFT IT LATE, FIRST FORCING EXTRA WITH A GOAL IN THE 87TH MINUTE TO MAKE IT 2-2, THEN SCORING TWICE IN THE SECOND EXTRA PERIOD TO GET THE WIN. THIS TIME. EXTRAORDINARY, 3-3. GETS IT BACK. CAN YOUNG MAN MAKE HIMSELF THE HERO? HE HAS. IN CLASSIC MANCHESTER FASHION. AND CHELSEA BOOKED THEIR PLACE IN THE SEMI FINALS WITH A 4-2 WIN OVER LEICESTER CITY. THE LOCAL RIDERS HAVE MADE A STRONG START TO THE CRANKWORX MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL IN ROTORUA. THE FIRST BIG EVENT OF THE WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL WAS THE TANIWHA DOWNHILL LACHIE STEVENS MCNABB TOPPING THE MEN'S STANDINGS BY JUST OVER A SECOND AND A HALF. GIVING IT EVERYTHING. HERE IT COMES. STEVENS GOES FAST. UNBELIEVABLE RUN! I WANT A REPLAY OF THAT, THAT WAS INSANE. I LOVE THAT COMMENTARY. IT WAS A KIWI SWEEP IN THE WOMEN'S RACE, ELIANA HULSEBOSCH (16) FENDING OFF LAST YEAR'S CHAMP JESS BLEWITT FOR THE WIN. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING - TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` CLOUDY PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, BLUES SKIES AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE IN AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. 22 DEGREES FOR YOU. FURTHER SOUTH ` SIMILAR HERE. SOME EARLY CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH THE REGION. THE ODD SHOWER THIS AFTERNOON CLEARING TO SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF YOU. WHAKATANE, YOU'RE GETTING A HIGH OF 24. TO THE EAST COAST ` YOU'LL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO BLUES SKIES TODAY. PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AFTER MIDDAY. 23 THE HIGH IN HASTING AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` CLOUDY MORNING ACROSS THE REGION. SOME SHOWERS EARLY ON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH. 20 THE HIGH FOR TAUMARUNUI. IN WELLINGTON, A LITTLE BIT COOLER WITH A HIGH OF 16 DEGREES. TO TE WAIPOUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY START FOR THOSE IN KAIKOURA AND WESTPORT WITH THE ODD SHOWER. OTHERWISE, A FINE DAY FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH. 17 DEGREES THERE. HEADING SOUTH ` SOME MORE CLOUD OVER HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH SOME MORNING SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS EVENING. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 17 HERE. 16 DEGREES IS THE HIGH FOR CHRISTCHURCH. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GREY HERE ALSO. SHOWERS AND RAIN ACROSS THE REGION TOO, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON IN MILFORD SOUND WITH A HIGH OF 17. DUNEDIN, YOU HAVE SHOWERS WITH A HIGHER 14 DEGREES. ME U TONU MAI ` THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HAS DRAWN CONDEMNATION AND IRE AFTER COMPARING CO-GOVERNANCE TO NAZI GERMANY. WHAT DOES HIS OWN PARTY THINK? # WALK AWAY. # YOU KNOW HOW. # DON'T START CARING ABOUT ME NOW. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. COMMENTS MADE BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HAVE DRAWN IRE AND CONDEMNATION. HE COMPARED CO-GOVERNANCE TO NAZI GERMANY. NOT JUST IDEOLOGICAL THEORY, IT WAS RACE-BASED THEORY WHERE SOME PEOPLE'S DNA MADE THEM SADLY, ACCORDING TO THESE PEOPLE, AND CONDONED BY THEIR CULTURAL TRAVELLERS, THEIR DNA MADE THEM SOMEHOW BETTER THAN OTHERS. I HAVE SEEN THAT SORT OF PHILOSOPHY BEFORE. I SAW IT IN NAZI GERMANY. WE ALL DID. THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE SAYS WINSTON PETERS' COMMENTS WERE OFFENSIVE AND INFLAMMATORY. BUT THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER IS REFUSING TO SAY THE COMMENTS AT HIS STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH WERE INAPPROPRIATE. JOINING US TO DISCUSS ON THE PANEL TODAY IS NZ FIRST'S ANDY FOSTER AND THE GREEN'S RICARDO MENENDEZ-MARCH. THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. ANDY, I WILL START WITH YOU. WERE HIS COMMENTS OFFENSIVE? I THINK THAT AS A WHOLE, HE WAS SAYING WE ARE IN A MESS AS A COUNTRY. THAT IS NOT WHAT HE SAID. HE SPOKE FOR AN HOUR OR SO, SO HE SAID A LOT OF THINGS. TO KEEP FOCUS WAS THAT OUR COUNTRY IS IN A MESS, WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT IS PERFORMING POORLY AND SERVICES WHICH ARE PERFORMING POORLY AND THAT WE ARE MORE DIVIDED THAN EVER. THAT WAS THE CONTEXT FOR THOSE COMMENTS WERE LABOUR PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE PEOPLE WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FOR THEIR RACE. THAT IS NOT NAZI GERMANY THOUGH. WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT, THIS IS NORMAL MEDIA BEHAVIOUR. YOU FOCUS ON ONE SENTENCE, AND NOT THE OVERALL CONTEXT. I DID NOT SAY IT. ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY COMPARED CO-GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE MASS MURDER OF 6 MILLION PEOPLE. WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT THE DISTINCTION IS ABOUT PEOPLE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE. BUT HE DID NOT SAY IT THAT WAY, DIDN'T SAY? HE USE LANGUAGE THAT THE HOLOCAUST CENSUS IT WAS OFFENSIVE TO THOSE WHO DIED AND SURVIVED. ' USING TERMS LIKE THAT IS WILLY-NILLY'. ' WE'VE SEEN SOCIETY GROW INCREASINGLY NUMB TO COMMENTS LIKE THAT.' YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE'VE SEEN THINGS LIKE GENOCIDE THROWN OUT LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTRE, WHICH IS ALSO OFFENSIVE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. DOES WINSTON PETERS ON APOLOGY TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY? I THINK YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE THE COMMENTS AS A WHOLE. THAT IS WHAT THE MEDIA IS NOT GOING. IT IS NOT ASKED, ANDY. THE HOLOCAUST CENSUS AT THE COMMENTS ARE OFFENSIVE. ANDY, IT IS NOT NEW. YOU'RE FOCUSING ON ONE LINE OUT OF A WHOLE HOUR. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? WHEN ANDY WAS THE MAYOR OF WELLINGTON, HE ACTUALLY SUPPORTED CO-GOVERNMENTS POLICIES. I THINK THERE IS A BIT OF HYPOCRISY HERE. THESE COMMENTS ARE OF COURSE NOT APPROPRIATE. FOR A POLITICIAN THAT LOVES TO BLAME THE LEFT FOR THINGS LIKE VIRTUE SIGNALLING, THAT IS ONE SPEECH THAT WAS FULL OF DOG WHISTLES AND VERY LITTLE SUBSTANCE TO HOW WE ADDRESS THE RISING COST OF LIVING, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTHCARE. I KNOW YOU SAID THE SPEECH WAS AN HOUR-LONG, BUT HE DID BRING IT UP THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING IT UP. WHAT WAS THE SPECIFIC POINTS IN THAT? I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I'M GOING TO RESPOND TO WHAT RICARDO SAID, THAT INFLATION RATES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE IN THEIR. MAYBE YOU DID NOT LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SPEECH. I DID. WELL DONE TO YOU. WE NEED TO FIX THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE A HIGH PERFORMING ECONOMY. IF ALL THOSE POINTS WERE MADE AND WAS SO IMPORTANT, YOU MUST BE DISAPPOINTED THAT HE BROUGHT UP THE COMMENT THAT HAS GOT ALL THE ATTENTION BECAUSE HE DID NOT NEED TO OF THE REST OF THE SPEECH WAS SO IMPORTANT. YOU ARE RIGHT, I AM SO DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT IN WINSTON. IT IS THE COLLECTIVE FOCUS THAT YOU ARE ALL MAKING ON THAT ONE LINE. IF YOU DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON IT, THEN DO NOT SAY THE LINE THAT I THINK WINSTON YOU WOULD GET ATTENTION. LET'S NOT MINCE AROUND. HE KNEW THAT BY DRAWING NAZI GERMANY INTO THE DEBATE, THAT WOULD END UP BECOMING THE FOCUS. THEN HE IS RIGHT IF THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT I AM NOT SAYING IT WAS. LET'S MOVE ON TO OTHER TOPICS, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY DRAWN SOME CONDEMNATION, AND IT DOES NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET AN ANSWER. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GREENS PARTY, YOU GUYS ARE ALSO STRUGGLING WITH SOME HEADLINES AT THE MOMENT. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE GREENS? LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MIGRANT EXCITATION HAS NO PLACE HERE, IN THE ALLEGATIONS THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE FACING A SERIOUS WHERE TAKING THEM AS SERIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE BY HAVING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT SO WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO ARE FACING EXPLOITATION. THE POINTS ARE BEEN MADE THAT WITH THESE TWO MPS THAT THESE WERE THINGS THAT THE GREENS KNEW ABOUT AND DID NOT TALK ABOUT PUBLICLY OR ADVISE ANYBODY ABOUT UNTIL IT BECAME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. WHY ARE YOU NOT BEING OPEN WITH THE PUBLIC? THERE WERE FURTHER ALLEGATIONS WHEN OUR TEAM WAS CONTACTED WHEN THE STORY CAME OUT LAST WEEK. THOSE NEW ALLEGATIONS PROMPTED US TO DO AN INVESTIGATION AS A RESULT OF WHAT WAS COMING TO US AT THE TIME. IF STUFF IS GETTING IN TOUCH WITH YOU, IT IS ALREADY OUT THERE AND FAR ENOUGH THE JOURNALISTS KNOW ENOUGH TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS WHERE YOU CAN SAY THIS HAPPENED. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEW INFORMATION CAME TO LIGHT? BECAUSE SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS WHEN YOU. SO DARLENE WAS NOT HONEST ABOUT WHERE THINGS WERE AT? IF PEOPLE WERE JUST ACCEPTING THE ALLEGATIONS, AND WE WOULD NOT BE NEEDING TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE SEEN PARTIES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM BE SCRUTINISED FOR THE VETTING THAT THEY DO OF CANDIDATES. WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS RIGHT NOW WE ASK PEOPLE TO DISCLOSE ANYTHING THAT MAY BRING THE PARTY INTO DISREPUTE. WE HAVE A ROBUST INTERVIEW PROCESS. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO COME FROM BUSINESS BACKGROUNDS, HAVE YOU REVIEWED AFTER THIS MOST RECENT ELECTION? WE ARE UNDERGOING THOSE REVIEWS RIGHT NOW AND NO DOUBT THE EVENTS HAPPENED LAST WEEK OR FEED AND SO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. E WHAI AKE NEI ` IT WAS A TOUGH WEEKEND FOR CRUSADERS AND WARRIORS FANS. WE'LL DELVE INTO ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE SPORTING WORLD NEXT. IF YOU'RE A CRUSADERS FAN, YOU MAY WANT TO PUT YOUR TV ON MUTE FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS OF SCOTT ROBERTSON. THE TEAM HAS LOST ALL FOUR OF ITS OPENING FOUR GAMES OF THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON. FOR MORE ON WHATS GONE WRONG, SCOTTY STEVENSON HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING. MORENA SCOTTY. WHAT IS WRONG? WHAT IS WRONG? THEY ARE DEALING WITH A BIG INJURY TOLL, AND LOSING KEY PLAYERS. RICHARD MO'UNGA. THEY HAVE USED FOR DIFFERENT HALFBACK COMBINATIONS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS COMPETITION IS REALLY UNFORGIVING. THEY HAVE A GREAT DEVELOPMENT COATS, BUT YES, IS THIS THE SORT OF AFTERGLOW EFFECT OF THE SCOTT ROBERTSON ERA? THEY ARE MISSING PLAYERS THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS TEAM CAN TURN IT AROUND? I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AS AN ATHLETE AND A COACH AT HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS WHERE ONE PLAYER CAN MAKE UP HUGE DIFFERENCE. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT INJURIES, COACHES GONE, CAN THEY TURN THIS AROUND? THEY'VE ONLY GOT TO MAKE THE TOP EIGHT, THEN ITS KNOCKOUT. ULTIMATELY, IT SHOULDN'T BE A HUGE TASK FOR THIS TEAM LIKE THE CRUSADERS. THEY HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF TALENT ON THEIR SIDE. WHEN THEIR FULL STRENGTH SIDE IS ON THE PARK, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO BEAT. THEIR ASSIGNMENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AREN'T GETTING ANY EASIER. IF THEY CAN GET A COUPLE OF WINS, EVEN ONE WIN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE JUST MIGHT SEE THE SIDE KICK INTO GEAR. THEY ARE TOO GOOD TO BE IN THE CELLAR AT THE MOMENT. JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, WHO DO YOU RECKON IS TRAVELLING WELL? CAM ROIGARD IS OUTSTANDING, REALLY HE'S A STRONG PLAYER, CAMERON HAS REALLY STEPPED UP, THE CHIEFS HAVE SHOWN WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT, POSSIBLY THIS COMING WEEK THEY WELCOME BACK EMONE NARAWA, SUPER RUGBY IS JUST LIKE THAT, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE BIG ATHLETES, IF YOU BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE NINE INTENDS TO CAJOLE THE GAME, IT IS A TOUGH ASK. THE CEO HAS COME OUT AND HAS SAID THEY WILL APOLOGISE AFTER A HAKA, AND THE WOMAN DID IT AGAIN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, AND THE LAST WEEKEND GONE, THEY DIDN'T DO WELL AT ALL. THAT IS A CONTINUED PROTEST TO ME, BUT WHAT IS YOUR INSIGHT? ONE AT ALL* THEY LOVE GIVING WOMEN A PLATFORM AND THEN SHOOTING IT DOWN WHEN THEY USE IT, DON'T THEY? THEY ARE OUT THERE REPRESENTING THEIR SIDE, AND THEY ARE OUT THERE REPRESENTING THEIR CULTURE. IN MY ESTIMATION, AT LEAST, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO DO. ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST CRITICS, MAYBE POLITICIANS SHOULD STAY OUT OF SPORT IF THEY WANT SPORTSPEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF POLITICS. WHETHER THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING PROTEST FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, I DON'T KNOW, WHETHER THEY JUST LOOKED UP THE POWER THEY'VE WIELDED WITH THAT, DECIDED WHEN THEY USE IT, THAT'S ON THEM AS A TEAM. I HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE WOMEN STANDING UP AND SAYING WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY. CAN WE TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL, EDEN PARK? WE HAD SOMEBODY RUN ONTO THE FIELD, AND IT SOUNDED INITIALLY LIKE IT WAS A DUDE HAVING A GOOD TIME, BUT THERE'S A TWIST. HE WAS WEARING AN AUCKLAND FC'S JUMPER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A STITCH UP. I CANNOT STAND PITCH INVADERS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET STRONGER ON PENALISING THESE PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT YOUR PLACE, PLATFORM, OR STAGE. THEY ARE TRYING TO PLAY THE GAME IN THE SKY JUST SAUNTERS ONTO THE FIELD AND WHAT SEEMS TO BE A PUBLICITY STUNT. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE TEAM, THE MAN BEHIND OUTSIDE, BILL FOLEY HAS HAD SUCCESS. HE'S A WINNER. HE WILL LOOK TO INVEST HEAVILY. AUCKLAND IS CRYING OUT FOR ANOTHER SPORTS TEAM ON THE LEAGUE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT RIVALRY FOR THE PHOENIX. I IF AUCKLAND FC HAD ANYTHING TO DO A STITCHING THAT UP, THAT'S POOR. BUT I'M GLAD THEY WILL BE HERE IN THE A LEAGUE. UP THE WAHS. THAT MELBOURNE STORM SIDE, AND THOSE LAST TWO TRIES, THAT LAST ONE IN PARTICULAR, POWER TO THEM. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. THEY ARE A GREAT SIDE, AND THAT'S WAY THE WARRIORS HAVE FELT IT HARD TO BEAT MELBOURNE FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVE SEEN PATCHES OF THE WARRIORS THE SEASON, BUT THAT TRY WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL. THINK ABOUT THIS FROM A WARRIORS POINT OF VIEW, YOU LEAKED TWO TRIES IN THREE MINUTES AND LOST THE GAME. THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO KILL THEM. IT'S A GREAT HIGHLIGHT FOR FANS OF NRL, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE WARRIORS HAVE SOME THINKING TO DO. THEY HAVE A NUMBER ON THE BACK. NO ONE THINKS THEY ARE AN EASY BEAT NOW, THEY WILL HAVE TO KNOW THAT WITH EXPECTATIONS COMES BETTER PREPARING, I THINK THAT WILL BE THE MESSAGE, AND THE REASON TEAMS ARE COMING AFTER YOU IS BECAUSE THEY RESPECT YOU, SO YOU HAVE TO UP YOUR GAME ANOTHER LEVEL. GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. NEW ZEALAND FIRST MP ANDY FOSTER HAS ATTEMPTED TO DEFEND COMMENTS FROM WINSTON PETERS WHICH COMPARED POLICIES OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT TO 'NAZI GERMANY'. DURING HIS STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PETERS TOOK JABS AT LABOUR'S 'RACE-BASED THEORY', LIKENING CO-GOVERNANCE TO NAZI GERMANY. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT IN WINSTON. IT'S THE FOCUS THAT YOU GUYS COLLECTIVELY ARE MAKING ON THAT ONE LINE OUT OF AN HOUR-LONG SPEECH. MR PETERS TOLD RNZ THIS MORNING HE STANDS BY HIS COMMENTS, BUT RECOGNISES THEY WERE OFFENSIVE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. A MUCH NEEDED DENTAL SERVICE WILL RETURN TO A NORTHLAND TOWN AFTER SOME RESIDENTS WERE LEFT TO PULLING THEIR OWN TEETH OUT. DARGAVILLE, WITH A POPULATION OF AROUND 5000 PEOPLE, IS ALSO A HUB FOR MANY RURAL AREAS, BUT HAS BEEN WITHOUT A DENTIST FOR MONTHS. A LOCAL COUPLE BOUGHT THE DENTIST'S BUILDING AND RECRUITED A DENTIST FROM THE PHILIPPINES, AND NOW HE'S BEING ASSESSED TO PRACTICE IN NEW ZEALAND. RODNEY COTTON SAYS IT'S JUST THE START. DENTIST IS JUST ONE THING, BUT DARGAVILLE IS LACKING GP'S, IT'S LACKING DENTISTS, IT'S JUST A GENERAL LACK OF EVERY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL YOU CAN IMAGINE. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS BECOMING A REGIONAL NEW ZEALAND-WIDE PROBLEM, SO WE'RE EVEN THINKING THAT IF THIS CAN WORK IN DARGAVILLE, WE'D LIKE TO TRY AND ROLL IT OUT TO OUR NEXT LITTLE TOWN CLOSE BY CALLED KAIKOHE. THE DENTAL COUNCIL SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUPLE TO 'SUPPORT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF REGISTRATION PATHWAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES' AS THEY LOOK TO FILL GAPS IN OTHER SMALL TOWNS. VLADIMIR PUTIN IS SET TO EXTEND HIS RULE IN RUSSIA, WITH EXIT POLLS REVEALING HE'S SET TO WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY A LANDSLIDE MAJORITY. THE PROJECTED 87% WIN MEANS PUTIN, WHO HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR TWO DECADES, NOW HAS ANOTHER SIX YEAR TERM IN OFFICE. VOTERS WERE FACED WITH FEW ALTERNATIVES TO PUTIN, HIS SERIOUS RIVALS ARE EXILED, JAILED OR DEAD. ROGER HILTON SAYS THE RESULT WAS NEVER IN DOUBT. TO EXPECT A LOT OF CLAMPDOWN ON OPPOSITION, AND STUFFING OUT ANY OPPOSITION AND THE IDEA THAT THERE IS EVEN AN OPPOSITION WHICH WAS HOW IT IS TO BE THE PAST, IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE. AN ELECTION WIN WILL SEE PRESIDENT PUTIN SERVE A FIFTH TERM. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS NO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE WILL STOP HIS PLANS TO LAUNCH AN OFFENSIVE IN SOUTHERN GAZA. THE BORDER CITY OF RAFAH IS SHELTERING AROUND ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED THE WAR IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STRIP. THE U.S. AND THE UN HAVE BOTH WARNED OF THE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES OF A FULL-SCALE ASSAULT ON RAFAH, WITH THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING IT IS YET TO SEE A CREDIBLE PLAN TO PROTECT CIVILIANS. CYCLIST AARON GATE HAS SCORED ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE WIN ON THE TRACK. HE'S CLAIMED GOLD IN THE MADISON WITH CAMPBELL STEWART AT THE LATEST CYCLING NATIONS CUP EVENT IN HONG KONG. THE PAIR SCORED POINTS IN 17 OF THE 20 SPRINTS, WINNING FOUR OF THEM TO FINISH TEN POINTS CLEAR. THE SERIES HAS ONE MORE STOP IN CANADA NEXT MONTH. DOWNHILL SKIER ALICE ROBINSON HAS PICKED UP ANOTHER PODIUM ON THE WORLD CUP CIRCUIT. ROBINSON FINISHED SECOND IN THE GIANT SLALOM AT THE SERIES' FINAL STOP IN AUSTRIA, LESS THAN 1 SECOND AND A HALF OFF THE WINNING PACE. THE KIWI FINISHES THE SERIES FOURTH IN THE GIANT SLALOM STANDINGS, AND TENTH IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS. THE DOLPHINS HAVE SECURED THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NEW NRL SEASON IN STYLE, SMASHING THE DRAGONS 38-0. IT WAS A MEMORABLE RESULT FOR THE DOLPHINS, THEIR HIGHEST EVER SCORE, BIGGEST EVER WINNING MARGINS AND FIRST TIME THEY'VE KEPT A TEAM SCORELESS. THEY'RE ALL AWAY. BOSTOCK NOW. HERE COMES THE HAMMER ON THE INSIDE. HE KICKED EARLY. TABUAI-FIDOW'S GOT THE SPEED... AND SCORES A TRY. THE RAIDERS, COWBOYS, SHARKS AND SEA EAGLES MAKE UP THE TOP FOUR AFTER TWO ROUNDS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING - TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` CLOUDY PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, BLUES SKIES AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE IN AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. A HIGH OF 21 TODAY IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` SIMILAR HERE. SOME EARLY CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH THE REGION. THE ODD SHOWER THIS AFTERNOON CLEARING TO SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF YOU. WHAKATANE, YOU'RE GETTING A HIGH OF 24. TO THE EAST COAST ` YOU'LL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO BLUES SKIES TODAY. PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AFTER MIDDAY. 23 THE HIGH IN HASTING AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` CLOUDY MORNING ACROSS THE REGION. SOME SHOWERS EARLY ON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH. 20 THE HIGH FOR TAUMARUNUI. CLOUDY START FOR THOSE IN KAIKOURA AND WESTPORT WITH THE ODD SHOWER. OTHERWISE, A FINE DAY FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH. NELSON WITH A HIGH OF 21. SOME MORE CLOUD OVER HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH SOME MORNING SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS EVENING. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 17 HERE. IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GREY HERE ALSO. SHOWERS AND RAIN ACROSS THE REGION TOO, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON IN MILFORD SOUND WITH A HIGH OF 17. A DOLPHIN EXPERT SAYS GLOBAL RACE SERIES SAIL-GP, HELD THIS WEEKEND NEAR CHRISTCHURCH, PUTS HECTOR DOLPHINS AT RISK. THAT'S DESPITE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION-MAKER HAVING THE POWER TO PAUSE THE LYTTLETON HARBOUR EVENT IF THE MAMMALS GET TOO CLOSE TO BOATS, WHICH CAN TRAVEL UP TO 100km/h. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY DOLPHIN EXPERT LIZ SLOOTEN. GOOD MORNING. WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS HERE? THE IDEA OF HAVING A RACE WITH BOATS GOING 100 KM AN HOUR AND A MARINA MAMMAL SANCTUARY IS JUST LIKE CRAZY COMBINATION. IT IS A WRONG PLACE RUNTIME SITUATION. IT WOULD BE SO GOOD IF THEY WOULD EITHER SAIL SLOWER SAILING BOATS, OR FIND ANOTHER LOCATION. GIVEN THE SEA VENTS, AS THE EVIDENCE DOLPHINS HAVE BEEN HARMED? THE START OF THE RACE WAS DELAYED BECAUSE THERE WERE DOLPHINS IN THE RACECOURSE, AND ONE TIME THERE WERE DOLPHINS CLOSE TO THE RACECOURSE LOOK SHORTLY BEFORE THE END OF THE RACE, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE WAS A SHOUTING MATCH IN THE CONTROL ROOM BETWEEN SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU HAVE TO GET THOSE BOATS OFF THE FOILS BECAUSE IT OFFERS ARE TOO CLOSE, AND OTHER PEOPLE IGNORING AND CONTINUING THE RACE. THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM, AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, THERE WAS NO PROSECUTION OR A REAL INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE SAIL GP WOULD NOT HAND OVER THE DATA ON WHERE EXACTLY THE BOATS WERE SO DOC COULD NOT PROVE THAT THE BOATS WERE TOO CLOSE TO THAT OFFICE. WERE THE DOLPHINS HARMED? WHEN THE NEW MINISTER WAS BRIEFED ABOUT THIS UPCOMING RACE, HE WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A DEATH AURA INJURY OF A DOLPHIN, THEN THIS WOULD BE A REALLY BAD LOOK FOR NEW ZEALAND BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE RACE ON THE TELEVISION, IT WOULD BE A REALLY BIG DISASTER FOR THE REPUTATION OF SAIL GP AND OF NEW ZEALAND, IF AN INCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR. THE PROBLEM WITH THESE FOILING BOATS, IT IS REALLY ONLY THE FOILS IN THE WATER, THEY ARE VERY QUIET SO THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ADOLFO TO HEAR THE BOATS COMING. THIS TIME OF YEAR, THERE ARE MOTHERS AND CALVES AND THE HARBOUR. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE ADULTS TO HEAR THE BOATS COMING, FOR THE CALVES, IT WILL BE BEWILDERING. IDEALLY, THEY WOULD GO TO ANOTHER PLACE ALTOGETHER, WHETHER IT IS AUCKLAND OR SYDNEY OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS, CHOOSE A DIFFERENT, PLACE OR TIME. AND THEN THE ECONOMY WOULD LOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. COUNCIL ARE DESPERATE FOR MONEY, OBVIOUSLY, WITH ALL THE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE AND SO ON, CHRISTCHURCH CITY HAS NOT BEEN DOING WELL. BUT THAT WOULD BE KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG IF THE RACE WAS MOVED. THERE WILL BE MORE OBSERVERS IN THE LAND AND WATER, WHY DO YOU THINK THEY HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH? IN TERMS OF MORE BOATS, THEY SAID THEY WERE NO TO INCREASE FROM THREE BOATS TO 4, AND JUSTICE WEEK THEY WERE LOOKING FOR TWO MORE BOATS. THAT'S NOT GOING WELL, AND THEY ARE REDUCING, IN FACT ELIMINATED, THEY WERE USING DRONES AND ACOUSTIC SOUND RECORDERS UNDERWATER TO LISTEN OUT FOR DOLPHINS, AND THEY HAVE ABANDONED THOSE, IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY, LAST YEAR THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRIAL WITH ONE OR TWO SOUNDS RECORDERS, AND THIS YEAR THE PLAN WAS TO USE A GRID OF THEM, SO THEY COULD SEE EXACTLY WHEN A DOLPHIN COMES INTO THE RACECOURSE. THEY HAVE ABANDONED THAT IDEA, SO, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SEE, THAT IS ANY BETTER, IS THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS INDEPENDENT DECISION-MAKER, BUT THE SKY WAS HIRED BY SAIL GP TO WRITE TO THIS PLAN, HAS EXPERIENCES IN ENGINEERING, CERTAINLY NOT A DOLPHIN EXPERT, AND HE CERTAINLY NOT INDEPENDENT. I AM SEEING VERY LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. THE ONLY IMPROVEMENT I AM SEEING IS THAT THEY ARE NOW GOING TO DO THEIR PRACTISING, AS WELL AS THEIR RACING IN THE RACECOURSE. WHY WOULD YOUR MESSAGE BE? PLEASE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. BY THE WAY, I LOVE SAILING. IF THIS RACE WASN'T BEING HELD IN A MARINE MAMMAL SANCTUARY, I WOULD GO AND WATCH. THESE RACES ARE OCCURRING FREQUENTLY, IN DIFFERENT PLACES, AND SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PLACES TO CHOOSE FROM. GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. AND IN A STATEMENT TO BREAKFAST AND IN RESPONSE TO THE RISK, SAIL GP SAYS IT HAS WORKED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF LEADING MARINE MAMMAL EXPERTS. UNDER THE MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, AND CHANGES ARE MADE BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. CHANGES INCLUDE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION MAKER TO OVERSEE THE RACE PLUS INCREASED NUMBER OF OBSERVERS ON-LAND AND ON-WATER. THEY SAY REAL-TIME ACOUSTIC LISTENING AND DRONE-AIDED SURVEYS, WILL NOT BE USED AS THEY PROVED LESS EFFECTIVE THAN TRADITIONAL OBSERVATION IN THIS CONTEXT. MOVE IT. THAT IS LIZ'S MESSAGE. WE KNOW OUR KIWI ARE IN DANGER AND SO WE LOVE GETTING BEHIND ANY EFFORT TO SAVE THEM. FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY OF THE FLIGHTLESS BIRDS ARE SET TO BE RELEASED ON TO THE HILLS OF WELLINGTON TODAY. THE KIWI MAY BE OUR NATIONAL BIRD, BUT THE THREAT OF PREDATORS OFTEN PREVENTS US LIVING NEAR TO EACH OTHER. BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE IN WELLINGTON, 100 KIWIS WILL BE RELEASED ACROSS THE HILLS OF WELLINGTON, WITH THE FIRST TRIBE BEING RELEASED THIS AFTERNOON! JOINING US NOW IS THE CAPITAL KIWI PROJECT FOUNDER PAUL WARD, MORENA! THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. HOW THEY COULD DEAL AS THIS? IT'S A HUGE MILESTONE TODAY, AND WE ARE DEEPLY STOKED FOR THE CITY OF WELLINGTON AND THE COMMUNITY. WHERE ARE THESE KIWI COMING FROM? THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT, BUT WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? TODAY IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE IT MARKS THE FRUITION OF SAVE THE KIWIS PROGRAM IN THE WAIKATO, IN APRIL WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF BIRDS COMING. IT MIXES THE BREEDING THAT'S GONE ON WITHIN THOSE FENCED ENVIRONMENTS WITH THE PROVISION OF LARGE-SCALE EDITOR CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS WHERE WE CAN RESTORE KIWI TO THE WILD ALONGSIDE US. THE CITY I AM FACING RIGHT NOW ` WE HAVE 63 KIWI OUT THERE BEHIND ME. SINCE NOVEMBER 2022, THOSE BIRDS ARE GOING STRONG, PAIRING UP, PUTTING ON WEIGHT AND BREEDING. TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER 20 JOINING THEM, AND OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 100 BIRDS. WHAT IS RADICAL AS THE PACE AND THE SCALE YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER THAT AT THE SANCTUARY, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE HILLS WHERE YOU ARE. WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED, SO WHAT IS YOUR ENVIRONMENT LIKE FOR THESE KIWI? JUST TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, NO FENCES, BUT WE HAVE 4 1/2 THOUSAND TRAPS ALL THE WAY FROM RED ROCKS TO PORIRUA. MOST OF IT IS PRIVATE LAND, FARM, FORESTRY, PUBLIC RESERVES, IT IS PEOPLE, OUR FARMERS, MOUNTED BIKERS, FOUR-WHEEL DRIVERS, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT GET OUT AND CHECK THE STRAPS EVERY WEEKEND. AND IT IS IWI, WE HAVE FORMED RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE LAND OWNERS THAT HAVE ENABLED THAT NETWORK OF PROTECTION TO BE LAID ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. FOR ALL THOSE PARTIES THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, HOW DID YOU GET THIS THING OFF THE GROUND? I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR NATIONAL SYMBOL AND OUR ICON, IF YOU GO TO A ROOM OF NEW ZEALANDERS AND SAY SHOULD WE LOOK AFTER KIWI, ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WOULD PROBABLY GET THEIR PASSPORT CONFISCATED. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT ENABLED A HUGE AMOUNT OF GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK FOR ONE PURPOSE. WHAT I THINK PEOPLE FROM WELLINGTON WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO, I THINK WE SHOULD THERE WERE PROUD OF THE CITY FOR DELIVERING THIS. WE HAVE 20 TODAY, ANOTHER 20 ON WEDNESDAY, A FEW MORE COMING IN APRIL, AND THEN IN MAY, WE WILL GET UP TO THAT 100 WITH WHATEVER IS LEFT. FAIR ENOUGH. YOU ARE JOINING US TO TELL US ABOUT THIS AMAZING FEW DAYS THAT IS COMING UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS BEAUTIFUL. I KNOW HOW SPECIAL IT IS WHEN YOU RELEASE KIWI, SO GO WELL. THANKS, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE DO GET A CHANCE TO SEE THE ANIMAL THAT WE ARE TAKING SO MUCH OF OUR IDENTITY FROM, YOU DON'T NAME YOUR RUGBYLEAGUE TEAM, OR YOUR ARMY, AFTER A BELL BIRD, SO THIS TOUGH, GNARLY, BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE THEM TO THESE HILLS BEHIND US. WAS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING IN WELLINGTON. GO WELL THIS AFTERNOON, TOO. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, ITS THE REMAKE OF THE 1989 CLASSIC ROADHOUSE. OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT SITS DOWN WITH JAKE GYLLENHAAL AHEAD OF THE FILM'S RELEASE. # I SHAKE IT OFF, SHAKE IT OFF. # I SHAKE IT OFF, SHAKE IT OFF. IT IS 8:27. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR US TO START A TOPIC AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM AND ACTUALLY CONTINUOUS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM. THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOU, AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING AROUND PET BRIEF AND TO LEAVE, AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE LEGISLATIVE. WE DO NOT HAVE PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE THE NEW ZEALAND. THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE DISCRETION OF YOUR EMPLOYER. I AM WITH ANDRE. PETS ARE NOT CHILDREN. YES, IT HURTS TO LOSE A PET, BUT THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO LOSING A CHILD. AS A PET OWNER, ANDRE SAYS THIS. RACHEL, I LOVE MY LITTLE CAT. MAY LOOK BABY FUR BABY. IF I LOST HER, I WILL BE HAVING A DAY OFF OR TO. BUT SAYING THIS, I WOULD TAKE A SICK DAY. IF I DID NOT HAVE ANY LEFT, I WOULD JUST TAKE A DAY OFF. WE DO NOT NEED BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR OUR PETS, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE PISS. PEOPLE TAKE THE MICKEY OUT OF IT. I THINK WHAT SHE IS SAYING IS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THE MICKEY. GEMMA HAS WRITTEN IN. LOSING A PET THAT YOU HAVE HAD FOR A LONG TIME IS HEARTBREAKING. FOR THOSE OF US THAT DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN, PETS ARE LIKE CHILDREN. WORKPLACES ARE UNDERSTANDING WHEN YOU LOSE A PET. YOU CAN ASK FOR A DAY OFF, MOST BOSSES WOULD BE EMPATHETIC. YOU DO NOT NEED PET BEREAVEMENT LEAVE, BECAUSE WE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? I FIND IT RIDICULOUS IF YOU'RE MOURNING OVER A GOLDFISH. IT IS COMING UP TO 830. BEFORE WE GET ANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT YOU RUINING PEOPLE'S GOLDFISH LIVES. NEW ZEALAND FIRST MP ANDY FOSTER HAS TAKEN AIM AT THE MEDIA IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFEND COMMENTS FROM WINSTON PETERS, WHICH COMPARED POLICIES OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT TO 'NAZI GERMANY'. DURING HIS STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PETERS TOOK JABS AT LABOUR'S 'RACE-BASED THEORY', LIKENING CO-GOVERNANCE TO NAZI GERMANY. THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE SAYS THE COMMENTS ARE OFFENSIVE TO THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO DIED. IF THE COMMENTS CAN BE OFFENSIVE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, SHOULD WE OWE THEM AN APOLOGY? I THINK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE THE COMMENTS AS A WHOLE, AND THAT IS WHAT THE MEDIA ARE NOT DOING. IT'S NOT US, ANDY. THE HOLOCAUST CENTRE LITERALLY SAYS THEY ARE OFFENSIVE. ANNA, IT IS YOU. MR PETERS TOLD RNZ THIS MORNING HE STANDS BY HIS COMMENTS, BUT RECOGNISES THEY WERE OFFENSIVE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. GP'S WANT ACTION TO ADDRESS THE DOCTOR SHORTAGE AS ANOTHER OVERNIGHT SERVICE SHUTS DOWN. COAST TO COAST HEALTH CARE IN THE NORTHLAND TOWN OF WELLSFORD HAS REDUCED ITS AFTER HOURS SERVICE HOURS, DUE TO CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING, AN AGEING WORKFORCE AND COMPROMISED DOCTOR SAFETY. IT MEANS PATIENTS BETWEEN WHANGAREI AND AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE WILL NO LONGER HAVE AN OVERNIGHT DOCTOR. DOCTOR TIM MALLOY IS CALLING FOR HEALTH MINISTER SHANE RETI TO TAKE ACTION. WHAT HE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT TIME IS NOT A LUXURY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US. WE NEED SUPPORT NOW, OR PATIENTS WILL SUFFER. IT'S NOT WE WHO SUFFER, IT'S THE PATIENTS WHO SUFFER, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT. DR MALLOY SAYS THE LACK OF OVERNIGHT SERVICES WILL PUT MORE PRESSURE ON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED AND AT 'BREAKING POINT'. EXIT POLLS SUGGEST A LANDSLIDE WIN BY VLADIMIR PUTIN WITH 88% OF THE VOTE IN RUSSIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF ARRESTS ON THE FINAL DAY OF VOTING AFTER THOUSANDS PROTESTED THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT, WHO WAS EFFECTIVELY THE ONLY CANDIDATE. THE BBC'S STEVE ROSENBERG HAS MORE. IN THIS RACE, VLADIMIR PUTIN WAS PRETTY MUCH UNBEATABLE. THERE WERE OTHER CANDIDATES BUT NO SERIOUS CHALLENGER. POTENTIAL RIVALS ARE QUICKLY REMOVED FROM THE STAGE, FORCED INTO EXILE OR PUT INTO JAIL. AND ELECTIONS ARE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED. IF THEY COULD NOT WIN, HIS OPPONENTS COULD AT LEAST PROTEST. AND THEY DID IN MANY PARTS OF RUSSIA. OPPOSITION FIGURES CALLED ON RUSSIANS TO FLOOD POLLING STATIONS TO VOTE AGAINST PUTIN OR SPOIL THEIR BALLOTS, A SYMBOLIC PROTEST AGAINST THE SYSTEM. WE WERE HERE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN CUES LIKE THIS BEFORE AT A RUSSIAN POLLING STATION. IT TOOK COURAGE TO COME. DAUGHERTY IS IT WARNED THAT LARGE CROWDS WOULD BE VIEWED AS ILLEGAL GATHERINGS. FOR NOW, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE. THIS ELECTION WAS NEVER ABOUT WOULD PUTIN WIN? THIS VOTE WAS ABOUT CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT PUTIN HAS A MANDATE FROM HIS PEOPLE, NOT ONLY FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE BUT WHAT HE IS DOING AT HOME, TRANSFORMING RUSSIA INTO A MILITARISTIC SOCIETY IN CONFRONTATION WITH THE WEST. TO SPORT, AND LIVERPOOL'S BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF THE FA CUP, BEATEN 4-3 BY MANCHESTER UNITED THIS MORNING. UNITED FOUGHT BACK TWICE, FIRST LEVELLING THE MATCH AT 2-2 IN THE 87TH MINUTE, THEN NETTING THE WINNER IN ADDED TIME OF EXTRA TIME. HERE'S GARNACHO. THE MAN WHO STOLE THE BALL GETS IT BACK FROM GARNACHO. FOR THE YOUNG MAN` CAN HE MAKE HIMSELF A HERO? HE HAS DONE. IT'S MANCHESTER UNITED'S QUARTER FINAL. IN CLASSIC MANCHESTER UNITED FASHION. AND CHELSEA'S ALSO THROUGH TO THE SEMI FINALS, DESPITE HELPING LEICESTER CITY WITH THIS HOWLER. AND THE BALL HAS ENDED UP IN THE BACK OF THE NET BEYOND ROBERT SANCHEZ! QUITE THE OWN GOAL. CHELSEA AND UNITED JOIN MANCHESTER CITY AND COVENTRY IN THE LAST FOUR. AND FINALLY, 100 KIWI ARE SET TO BE RELEASED IN WELLINGTON, WITH THE FIRST 20 BEING SET FREE TODAY. THE RELEASES WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THREE MONTHS, WITH THE WILD KIWI SET FREE INTO THE HILLS OF WELLINGTON, ADDING TO THE CURRENT POPULATION OF 63. THE CAPITAL KIWI PROJECT IS HOPING TO RESTORE A WILD POPULATION OF KIWI ACROSS 24,000 HECTARES OF LAND. PROJECT FOUNDER PAUL WARD SAYS THE BIRDS ARE WELL PROTECTED. WE HAVE 4 1/2 THOUSAND TRAPS THIS ABOUT THE SIZE OF ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK. MOST OF IT IS NATIONAL LAND. FORESTRY, PUBLIC RESERVES. THAT PLANNING TO RELEASE 100 KIWI IN THE CAPITAL. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING - TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` CLOUDY PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, BLUES SKIES AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE IN AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. 22 DEGREES THERE. FURTHER SOUTH ` SIMILAR HERE. SOME EARLY CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH THE REGION. THE ODD SHOWER THIS AFTERNOON CLEARING TO SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF YOU. TO THE EAST COAST ` YOU'LL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO BLUES SKIES TODAY. PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN AFTER MIDDAY. 23 THE HIGH IN HASTING AND NAPIER. GISBORNE WITH A HIGH OF 22. OVER TO THE WEST ` CLOUDY MORNING ACROSS THE REGION. SOME SHOWERS EARLY ON, CLEARING TO SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH. 20 THE HIGH FOR TAUMARUNUI. TO TE WAIPOUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY START FOR THOSE IN KAIKOURA AND WESTPORT WITH THE ODD SHOWER. OTHERWISE, A FINE DAY FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH. 17 DEGREES THERE. HEADING SOUTH ` SOME MORE CLOUD OVER HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH SOME MORNING SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH WITH A HIGH OF 16. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GREY HERE ALSO. SHOWERS AND RAIN ACROSS THE REGION TOO, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON IN MILFORD SOUND WITH A HIGH OF 17. QUEENSTOWN, YOU WERE SUNNY THIS AFTERNOON WITH A HIGH OF 15 DEGREES. A SHIRTLESS JAKE GYLLENHAAL, THE ACTING DEBUT OF UFC FIGHTER CONOR MCGREGOR, AND AN CHEESE BALL ACTION-PACKED FILM? BASED ON THE 80S CULT CLASSIC STARRING PATRICK SWAYZE? DO WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REMAKE OF HIT EIGHTIES MOVIE, ROAD HOUSE. JAKE GYLLENHAAL STARS IN THE NEW VERSION, ALONGSIDE UP-AND-COMER DANIELA MELCHIOR. THEY SPOKE TO OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT AZIZ AL SA'AFIN, WHO ASKED HOW DIRECTOR DOUG LIMAN GOT THEM INVOLVED. BEFORE WE START, DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE? WHAT? YOUR COVERAGE GOOD, LIKE, YOU HAVE DENTAL? OH. IS THERE A HOSPITAL NEARBY? IS IT LIKE, FAR? LIKE, 25 MINUTES? OOH, I JUST SLAPPED YOU. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? WHAT DID DOUG SAY TO YOU FOR YOU TO SAY YES? HE SAID VERY LITTLE. WE WERE ` WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER, DOUG AND I, FOR 15 PLUS YEARS, UM, AND HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR SO LONG, AND LOOKED FOR PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THAT TIME AND, LIKE, HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND ANYTHING THAT, UM, MATCHED. AND THEN HE JUST, IN PASSING SAID, I ALSO JUST READ THIS SORT OF REIMAGINING OF 'ROADHOUSE', KIND OF CAME OUT OF ME LIKE SOME SORT OF SPIRIT. IT WAS LIKE, THAT SOUNDS CRAZY. LET'S DO IT. THAT GUYS GOT A KNIFE UNDER HIS SHIRT. HE JUST TOOK A BIG STEP BACK AND POPPED ME IN THE FACE. DO YOU THINK IT WAS SERENDIPITOUS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF AMAZING CONNECTION WITH PATRICK SWAYZE? DOES THAT SORT OF PLAY INTO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ROLE? I MEAN, YES, I THINK MY RELATIONSHIP WITH PATRICK AND WITH LISA, HIS WIFE, THEY WERE JUST ALWAYS SO LOVING TO ME FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF MY CAREER. YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN DONNIE DARKO TOGETHER, AND EVEN AFTER THAT, HE WAS SO NICE TO ME AND JUST ENCOURAGING. BUT I ALSO THINK, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY WHEN YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH, TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THESE INCREDIBLE, SERENDIPITOUS THINGS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. I THINK FOR ALL OF US, ANYONE OVER OUR LIFETIME, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LISTEN ENOUGH THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE ARTS, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHERE YOU FIND THESE CONNECTIONS, AND THEN THEY RECONNECT. AND THEN YOU'RE OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE YOU HAVE GREAT ADMIRATION FOR. SO YOU LIKE TO FIGHT? YOU EVER WIN? NO ONE EVER WINS A FIGHT. THERE'S SOME EPIC FIGHT SCENES, SOME EPIC STUNT SCENES. WOW. LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE FIGHTING SCENES WERE AMAZING. AND HOW DOES ONE EVEN, YOU KNOW, GET READY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I UNDERSTAND, JAKE, YOU SORT OF DID MOST OF YOUR STUNTS YOURSELF, DIDN'T YOU? I MEAN, I CAN ONLY TAKE CREDIT FOR MAYBE 85% OF THEM. THE REALLY HARD ONES WERE DONE BY THE EXPERTS. BUT I HAVE TO SAY, LIKE DANIELLE'S STUNTS, THE STUFF ON THE BOAT, I HADN'T SEEN. AND THEN WHEN I SAW IT, I REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT IT WHEN YOU WERE DOING IT, AND THEY'RE AMAZING. I MEAN, LIKE THE FIGHT SCENE, I WAS LIKE, YOU KICKED BILLY'S ASS. LIKE, YEAH, IT WAS GREAT. AND IT'S LEGIT AND IT'S REAL. AND SHE LIKE, GOES FOR IT. YOU WENT UP AGAINST CONOR MCGREGOR. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT IN ITSELF DESERVES AN AWARD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. BYE BYE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` I'VE JUST TICKED OFF ONE OF MY FAVOURITE DAYS IN THE CALENDAR ` WORLD SLEEP DAY. FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO WAKE UP FEELING PEACEFUL AND RESTED NEXT. BUT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY SLEEP. SLEEP IS SOMETHING MOST OF US COULD WITH GETTING MORE OF, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS HAVING AN EARLY NIGHT. SO-CALLED 'SLEEP EQUITY' IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WORLD SLEEP DAY. IT'S BEHIND THIS DEMONSTRATION AT THE WEEKEND IN MEXICO. HUNDREDS TAKING A NAP UNDER THE REVOLUTION MONUMENT, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPACT LONG WORK HOURS HAVE ON SLEEP FOR PEOPLE THERE. FOR MORE ON 'SLEEP EQUITY', WE'RE JOINED BY SLEEP RESEARCHER LEIGH SIGNAL FROM MASSEY UNIVERSITY. COULD YOU PERHAPS GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT SLEEP EQUITY IS. IT IS A SIMPLE CONCEPT. IT IS ABOUT GOOD SLEEP FOR ALL IN THE MATTER WHO YOU ARE IN OUR SOCIETY THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ENOUGH GOOD QUALITY SLEEP SO THAT YOU CAN BE HEALTHY AND FUNCTION AT YOUR BEST. IT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY DISPARITIES IN SLEEP WITHIN OUR SOCIETY. CONCERNING DISPARITIES WITHIN SLEEP, IN NEW ZEALAND HAS SOME GOOD DATA WITH THIS, PARTICULARLY OUR ETHNIC DISPARITIES. WE KNOW THAT MAORI ADULTS FOR EXAMPLE A 50% MORE LIKELY TO GET THE AMOUNTS OF SLEEP THAT IS LESS THAN IDEAL. THEY ARE 60% MORE LIKELY TO FEEL SLEEPY DURING THE DAY, AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDERS. IS NOT JUST THE ADULTS, IT IS ALSO OUR CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT OUR MAORI PRESCHOOLERS, ONE IN FIVE, ARE LIKELY TO BE GETTING LESS SLEEP THAN IS IDEAL. IT IS GOOD SLEEP FOR EVERYBODY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. WHAT IS BEHIND THOSE DISPARITIES? REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION. BIG QUESTION, THOUGH, AND IT IS COMPLEX. SLEEP IS NOT JUST A BIOLOGICAL PROCESS. SLEEP OCCURS IN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN. IT MIGHT BE THAT YOU LIVE IN A HOME WHERE THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN IT AND YOU NEED TO SHARE BEDS OR BEDROOMS. IT MIGHT BE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR HOUSE THAT IS A SHIFT WORK OR WORK AT NIGHT SO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET GOOD SLEEP. THEY MIGHT LIVE NEAR A BUSY ROAD, SO THERE IS A LOT OF NOISE AND LIGHT, ALL THE HOUSEHOLD MIGHT BE MORE FINANCIALLY STRESSED, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FALL ASLEEP AND STAY ASLEEP. THE REASONS BEHIND SLEEP HEALTH INEQUITIES ARE REALLY COMPLEX AND HUGE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT SHY AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT THEM. I WAS GOING TO ASK OUT WE SOLVE IT, THEN. IS IT TOO COMPLEX MUST HAVE A SILVER BULLET ANSWER? I DON'T THINK THERE IS A SILVER BULLET ANSWER, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING FUNDAMENTAL THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS IT. THERE WILL BE BIG PICTURE SOLUTIONS, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO REDUCE SOME OF THESE INEQUITIES. REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, ADDRESSING RACISM WITHIN OUR SOCIETY IS ABSOLUTELY FUNDAMENTAL TO ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. THAT IS ALSO TALKING, AS WE ARE NOW, ABOUT GOOD SLEEP AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT AT AN INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY LEVEL, AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND TALKING TO THEM AND ASKING WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM GET GOOD SLEEP. IT IS NOT QUITE CONNECTED. BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE PET BEREAVEMENT. ALONG THOSE LINES, DO EMPLOYERS NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS AND TAILOR IT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AND SAY, THIS PERSON IS NOT GETTING AS MUCH SLEEP DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. DO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT THINGS? EMPLOYERS NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE HOURS THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE FREE FROM WORK TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, INCLUDING TO GET ENOUGH GOOD QUALITY SLEEP. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIME OF DAY THAT WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO WORK, THE LENGTH OF THE HOURS THAT WE ARE ASKING, WORKING AT NIGHT IS A TRICKY THING FOR PEOPLE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO ATTAIN ENOUGH GOOD SLEEP. I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET ENOUGH SLEEP WE ARE TO GET UP VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING EVERY DAY TO DO YOUR JOB. YOU NEED ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO REST AND RECOVER WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT WORK AND HABITS OPPORTUNITIES TO GET ENOUGH GOOD QUALITY SLEEP. IT IS ABOUT EMPLOYERS, AT ABOUT THE SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN, IT IS ABOUT US DOING AS WE ARE NOW, TALKING ABOUT IT AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT SLEEP. ALL OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER TO ENABLE ALL OF US TO GET GOOD SLEEP IN OUR SOCIETY. WOULD YOU HAVE A WORD OF WARNING FOR BREAKFAST TV PRESENTERS THAT MIGHT RELISH THEIR HEROISM ONLY GETTING A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP? WOULD YOU HAVE MAY BE A WORD FOR THEM IF THEY DID EXIST TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SLEEP A LITTLE MORE? I DO HAVE A WORD OF WARNING. IF THEY DO EXIST, I WOULD SEND A CAUTIONARY WORD TO PLACE SLEEP FURTHER UP THEIR PRIORITY LIST, TO UNDERSTAND HOW ABSOLUTELY FUNDAMENTAL LETTERS FOR THEM TO BE WILL TO DO THEIR JOB WELL, TO BE A LOVELY PERSON TO BE AROUND, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES TO THE FULLEST. THAT IS SOME GREAT ADVICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ENLIGHTENING, AS ALWAYS. JENNY MAY, I HOPE YOU LISTENED TO THAT. SHE CLEARLY WAS NOT TALKING TO ME, BUT IN SAYING THAT, I DID NOT HAVE A GOOD SLEEP LAST NIGHT. MY SON HAS ECZEMA AND HE WAS SCRATCHING. I THINK EVEN ON THE AMOUNT OF SLEEP THAT I GET, I'M STILL A LOVELY PERSON. LESS IS MORE! WHAT? LESS IS MORE? WRAP! GOODNESS ME. NEW ZEALAND TOWNS LOVE TO SHOW OFF WITH GIANT STATUES. BIG CARROT, BIG GUMBOOT, BIG KIWIFRUIT, BIG PAUA SHELL... BUT ONE OF THESE GIANT LANDMARKS IS MISSING. WE'LL TELL YOU WHICH ONE AND WHY. IF YOU WERE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY TODAY, YOU MIGHT SPOT CROMWELL'S FRUIT, PAEROA'S L&P BOTTLE, TAIHAPE'S GUMBOOT, AND IF YOU HEADED TO RIVERTON, YOU'D SEE THIS... UH... MAYBE NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED, BUT DON'T FRET. THIS ISN'T THE ACTUAL STATUE, JUST A STAND-IN WHILE THE TOWN'S REAL ONE GETS A MAKEOVER. TO TELL US ALL ABOUT IT, WE'RE JOINED BY ORAKA APARIMA COMMUNITY BOARD'S MICHAEL WEUSTEN. WELCOME FROM RIVERTON. WHERE IS THE GIGANTIC STRUCTURE? AT THE MOMENT, IT IS AN A FACTORY AND INVERCARGILL GETTING REFURBISHED NOT IN RIVERTON. IT HAS GOT ABOUT 40 K AWAY. WHY? WELL, PAUA BEING A NATURAL PRODUCT, IT BLEACHES OVER TIME IN THE SUN. EVEN THOUGH THE SHELL FACES AWAY FROM THE SUN WHERE IT WAS INSTALLED ORIGINALLY, OVER TIME, IT WILL JUST BLEACH OUT NATURALLY. IT IS JUST THE CALCIUM AND IT. IT WAS READY FOR REFURBISHMENT, AND IT HAD TO BE RELOCATED, SO WE DECIDED TO UPGRADE IT. SHE IS GOING TO BE A SPORTY NEW MODEL AND ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WHEN IT IS INSTALLED. I THOUGHT IT WAS FAKE. WELL, IT IS CONCRETE, IT IS ABOUT 5 M HIGH, AND A GREAT BIG MODEL ENLARGED MODEL OF THE CONCRETE SHELL, BUT THE WHOLE INTERIOR WAS LAMINATED PAUA SHELL. YOU GET THOSE INSERTS IN JEWELRY, YOU GET DIFFERENT PRODUCTS ALL PRODUCED AT OCEAN SHELL HERE, ABOUT 20 ODD YEARS AGO, MAYBE A BIT LONGER, THE OWNER OF THE FIORDLAND SOUVENIRS, MADE THIS, AND PLACED IT ON THE MAIN STREET OF RIVERTON WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIL LAST YEAR. THE LAND WAS SOLD, AND THE COMMUNITY BOARD AND THE DISTRICT COUNCIL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE SHELL AS PART OF THAT, WE ARRANGE FOR THE REFURBISHMENT WHICH IS HAPPENING NOW. I FEEL LIKE IT IS THE MONA LISA PAINTING, PEOPLE EXPECT A HUGE STRUCTURE, ONLY TO SEE IT AS A POSTAGE STAMP. JUST THAT TINY PAUA! YOU CAN GET SOME THAT ARE ABOUT 8 INCHES, BUT THE SMALLER SIZE YOU CAN HARVEST IS 137 MM ACROSS THE SHELL IF YOU ARE A FARMER ` I SHALL HARVESTER. YOU SAY IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 3 TO 4 MONTHS, AND IT IS NOT GOING BACK TO WHERE IT ORIGINALLY WAS? YES, AND NOW THAT IS PRIVATE LAND, WE HAVE DIVIDED YOU HOME. WE DID A SURVEY OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND GAVE THEM FIVE OPTIONS, AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO GO TO KOEKOE PARK. SHE WAS A DAUGHTER OF A HIGH CHIEF DOWN HERE WHO MARRIED THE FOUNDER OF RIVERTON. HE EVEN RAN A SHIPPING SERVICE RIGHT THROUGH HAWAII AND CALIFORNIA BACK IN THE 1840S. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE NEW LAND OWNERS DO NOT WANT IT ON THEIR LAND. I SUPPOSE IT MIGHT BE WHERE THE GARAGE WANTS TO BE PLACED. SADLY NOT. WE HAVE FIVE GREAT CAFE'S AND THREE EXCELLENT HOTELS, IT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THAT. IT'S A REALLY GREAT LOCATION NOW. I THINK IN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WHEN IT RETURNS, I THINK WE NEED TO COME DOWN AND GIVE IT A VISIT. YOU SOLD ME ON BLUE COD. I'VE ALREADY STOOD INSIDE IT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO CAPTIONS BY BILLY GARRATT-JOHN, COURTNEY SOLE, DREW WELSH AND MAIA CARR HEKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024