IT'S TUESDAY THE 30th OF APRIL. JEEZ, APRIL IS GONE. STOP. MORENA. THIS IS BREAKFAST. LACHIE JONES (3) WAS FOUND DEAD IN AN OXIDATION POND IN EARLY JANUARY 2019. WHILE INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS CONCLUDED HE HAD DROWNED WITH NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INVOLVED, A SUBSEQUENT REVIEW REVEALED 'MISSED STEPS' BY THE POLICE IN THEIR INQUIRY. AN ONGOING CORONIAL INQUEST AT THE INVERCARGILL DISTRICT COURT IS NOW SCRUTINIZING THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING LACHIE'S TRAGIC DEATH. INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST MELANIE REID HAS BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING THIS CASE FOR FOUR YEARS AND WILL JOIN US AFTER 8am. IT WAS ALL LOOKING SO GOOD ` NEW YEAR, NEW GOVERNMENT AND BIG PROMISES OF BRINGING NEW ZEALAND BACK ` BUT ALREADY IT SEEMS WE'RE UNHAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. WOMP WOMP. WE'VE GOT THE LATEST POLL RESULTS, AND THE POLITICIANS' REACTIONS. GUESS WHO TOLD US THEY DON'T GIVE A RAT'S DERRIERE. (LAUGHS) BUT SERIOUSLY, WHERE'S IT ALL GONE WRONG? AND ARE THE CRACKS ALREADY SHOWING IN THEIR OWN COALITION OF CHAOS? WE'LL ASK THE PRIME MINISTER IN ABOUT AN HOUR'S TIME. AND LATER IN THE SHOW ` A BIT OF FUN. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE MOVIE 'THE EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.' IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HITS OF 2012. NOW IT'S BEEN ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE. IT WAS A BOX OFFICE SENSATION ON THE WEST END, AND IT'S OPENED HERE IN AUCKLAND AND ABOUT TO MAKE ITS WAY TO WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH. WE TALK TO ONE OF THE STARS, WHO'S A FAMILIAR FACE FROM CORO STREET, AFTER 8.30 THIS MORNING. WOW. I KNOW. CORONATION STREET FANS TURN IN. WHEN YOU WHETHER YOUR CORRESPONDING, DID YOU EVER GO TO CORONATION STREET IN LONDON? NO, I WASN'T AN AVID CORONATION STREET FAN, WHICH WILL PROBABLY SHOT MANY OUT THERE. YOU'VE GONE OUT TO DO THIS. I DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH. YOU HAVE TIME TO CATCH UP. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. THERE'S A WARNING NEW ZEALAND IS ON THE BRINK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC AS IMMUNISATIONS RATES FALL. IN A BRIEFING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VIRUS HAS INCREASED BY 1000 EVERY MONTH. IMMUNISATION COVERAGE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS IS AT 80%, WELL SHORT OF THE 95% TARGET. THE BRIEFING SAY CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS, WITH CALLS TO IMPROVE MMR IMMUNISATION FOR 15-MONTH-OLDS TO 9-YEAR-OLDS. THE HONEYMOON PERIOD APPEARS TO BE WELL AND TRULY OVER FOR THE GOVERNMENT, WITH A BIG SLIP IN THE LATEST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL. ALL THREE OF THE COALITION PARTNERS HAVE LOST GROUND ` NATIONAL DOWN 2%, ACT DOWN 1% AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST FALLING TO 4%. THE RIGHT'S LOSS IS THE LEFT'S GAIN ` LABOUR UP TWO TO 30%, THE GREEN PARTY UP 2% AND TE PATI MAORI HOLDING AT 4%. WITH NEW ZEALAND FIRST BELOW THE 5% THRESHOLD, THAT WOULD LEAVE NATIONAL AND ACT SHORT OF A MAJORITY, AND LABOUR, THE GREENS AND TE PATI MAORI WITH A COMBINED 64 SEATS. THE PARTY VOTE REFLECTED IN THE PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER NUMBERS, CHRIS HIPKINS AND NEW GREENS CO-LEADER CHLOE SWARBRICK BOTH UP, CHRISTOPHER LUXON AND WINSTON PETERS DOWN. DAVID SEYMOUR BUCKING THE TREND ` HE'S UP ONE TO 5%. AND THE GOVERNMENT'S COME UNDER FIRE FROM THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL, WITH A SCATHING INTERIM REPORT ON ITS PROPOSAL TO REMOVE A SECTION OF THE ORANGA TAMARIKI ACT. THE REPORT WARNS THAT RUSHING THE REPEAL COULD CAUSE REAL HARM TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN STATE CARE. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSING TO REMOVE A REQUIREMENT ON THE AGENCY TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. THE TRIBUNAL'S FINAL REPORT IS DUE NEXT MONTH. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' UNION SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES FOR THE SECTOR WILL BE MEANINGLESS UNLESS IT GETS MORE TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS. ERICA STANFORD LAID OUT SIX FOCUS AREAS FOR EDUCATION YESTERDAY, BUT THE PPTA WARNS THE PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE ENSURING THERE ARE ENOUGH SPECIALIST SUBJECT TEACHERS. A RECENT SURVEY BY THE PPTA FOUND 56% OF SCHOOLS HAD TEACHERS WORKING IN NON-SPECIALIST AREAS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND SUITABLY QUALIFIED STAFF. THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE THE SURVEY BEGAN IN 1996. THERE'S A PUSH FOR A NEW CEASEFIRE DEAL IN GAZA, WHICH IF ACCEPTED COULD SEE HOSTAGES RELEASED FOR A 40-DAY PAUSE IN ISRAEL'S RELENTLESS WAR. A DELEGATION FROM HAMAS IS HEADED TO EGYPT NOW FOR THE LATEST NEGOTIATIONS. THE BBC'S YOLANDE KNELL REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. EVERY DAY IN GAZA BRINGS MORE CASUALTIES, MORE SUFFERING WITH CHILDREN AMONG THE VICTIMS OF THE LATEST ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES IN RAFAH. AND IF ISRAEL DOES GO AHEAD WITH A THREATENED NEW OFFENSIVE HERE, THERE ARE FEARS THAT MANY MORE DISPLACED PALESTINIANS COULD BE KILLED. NOW, THOUGH, ISRAELI MINISTERS SAY THEIR MILITARY PLAN FOR RAFAH COULD BE SUSPENDED IF THERE'S A NEW HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL. FOR WEEKS, TALKS ON THE DEAL HAVE BEEN STUCK, WITH HAMAS DEMANDING A FULL CEASEFIRE BEFORE IT WILL RELEASE HOSTAGES, AND ISRAEL SAYING IT WILL ONLY AGREE TO A PAUSE IN THE FIGHTING. MEDIATORS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP AS A HAMAS DELEGATION RETURNS TO CAIRO. AND NOW FAMILIAR VISITOR, THE U.S. TOP DIPLOMAT, ANTONY BLINKEN, IS BACK IN THE MIDDLE EAST JOINING A WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM MEETING IN RIYADH. REGIONAL STABILITY AND A POSSIBLE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA DOMINATE TALKS. HAMAS HAS BEFORE IT A PROPOSAL THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS ON THE PART OF ISRAEL. AND IN THIS MOMENT, THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND A CEASEFIRE IS HAMAS. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IS CALLING FOR THE FASTER DELIVERY OF WESTERN WEAPONS AS RUSSIA MAKES GAINS ON THE FRONTLINES. WHILE MEETING WITH THE HEAD OF NATO OVERNIGHT, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WARNED RUSSIA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WEST'S SLOW SHIPMENT, AND GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE. IT COMES AFTER THE UNITED STATES SIGNED OFF ON A $100b PACKAGE OF MILITARY AID FOR THE COUNTRY. SOME ARMS HAVE STARTED TO ARRIVE, BUT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THEY NEED TO BE DELIVERED FASTER. AROUND 50 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN KENYA AFTER A DAM BURST ITS BANKS FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN. PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE OF MAI MAHIU WERE SWEPT AWAY AS THEY SLEPT. RESCUE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING TO PULL SURVIVORS FROM THE MUD. IT PUSHES THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE LATEST WAVE OF FLASH FLOODS PAST 120. TO SPORT, AND THE MAINLAND TACTICS HAVE REJOINED THE CENTRAL PULSE AT THE TOP OF THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP TABLE WITH A NARROW WIN OVER THE NORTHERN MYSTICS. THE TACTICS TRAILED BY FOUR GOALS AT HALFTIME, BUT MANAGED TO CLAW THEIR WAY BACK FOR A 62-59 VICTORY. GOSH, IT WAS A BIT OF A TUSSLE OUT THERE. THE CROWD REALLY BROUGHT IT. IT FELT LIKE AT TIMES WE WERE PLAYING AGAINST AN EIGHTH PLAYER. BUT REALLY PROUD OF THE GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH. AND NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THE SILVER FERNS, WITH STAR SHOOTER GRACE NWEKE LEAVING THE COURT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH A KNEE INJURY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. THIS WILL CLEAR TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN AUCKLAND AND WHANGAREI. AUCKLAND, YOU ARE ON TRACK FOR A HIGH OF 20 DEGREES. FURTHER DOWN ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REGION. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY IN HAMILTON AND TOKOROA. YOUR HIGH IS 19 AND 17. TO THE EAST COAST ` FINE START TO YOUR DAY FOR THOSE IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, OTHERWISE IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR THOSE IN GISBORNE. 19 IS THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. 18 IN HASTINGS. TO THE WEST COAST ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY IN WELLINGTON WITH SOME SHOWERS. ELSEWHERE, IT'S MOSTLY LOOKING LIKE A NICE FINE DAY. WHANGANUI, YOUR HIGH IS 20. AND 18 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. ELSEWHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE. 20 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. AND 16 ON THE WEST COAST. FURTHER SOUTH ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL BE GETTING SOME SHOWERS THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON, YOUR HIGH IS 20. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` MAYBE TAKE YOUR JACKETS TODAY. THERE'LL BE RAIN DEVELOPING THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. THIS WILL GET HEAVY IN MILFORD SOUND, EASING IN THE EVENING. A HIGH OF 18 FOR DUNEDIN. A PATIENT ADVOCATE SAYS A $1.7b FUNDING BOOST OVER FOUR YEARS FOR PHARMAC IS A RETURN TO THE STATUS QUO. THE GOVERNMENT MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY, WHICH WILL SEE THE BUDGET OVER THAT PERIOD LIFTED TO ALMOST $6.3b. THE MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS MAINTAINING MEDICINES THAT ARE ALREADY PROVIDED BY THE DRUG FUNDING AGENCY. ADVOCATES ARE HAPPY ABOUT THE EXTRA MONEY, BUT MANY SAY IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY PATIENT ADVOCATE MALCOLM MULHOLLAND AND AH-LEEN RAYNER FROM THE BREAST COUNCIL FOUNDATION. THANKS FOR JOINING US. GOOD MORNING TO YOU BOTH. MORENA. MALCOLM, I WILL START WITH YOU. YOU ARE ONE OF THE ADVOCATES SAYING THIS IS STILL NOT ENOUGH. WHAT WERE YOU HOPING FOR? I THINK WHAT WE WERE ALL HOPING FOR WAS THAT THERE BE AT LEAST ENOUGH MONEY THERE TO CLEAR PHARMAC'S OPTIONS. WE KNOW IT WOULD COST IN THE VICINITY OF $400 BILLION PER ANNUM. AND ALSO A PLAN MOVING FORWARD. RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD MEAN FINDING THEM AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 BILLION EVERY YEAR, BUT I THINK YOU NEED A PLAN TO GET THERE. FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DID THIS BUDGET GO FAR ENOUGH? PARTICULARLY FOR SOME BREAST CANCER PATIENTS, TRIPLE NEGATIVE, TO DEMONSTRATE AN EXAMPLE OF UNDERFUNDING, LET'S LOOK AT CATRUDA, WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE ABLE TO TREAT BREAST CANCER ` THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BREAST CANCER. THE SURVIVAL RATES FOR THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER, AND THESE WOMEN ARE LEFT HAVING TO FUND RAISE OR POTENTIALLY MOVED TO AUSTRALIA OR SIMPLY GO WITHOUT THIS LIFE-SAVING ACCESS TO THIS MEDICINE. HOW MANY APPLICATIONS OF DRUGS ARE THERE SITTING WITH PHARMAC AT THE MOMENT FOR ASSESSMENT? THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. WE KNOW IN THEIR OPTIONS FOR INVESTMENT LIST, IT SITS AT AROUND 80, BUT THAT IS FOR OVER 100 INDICATIONS. SHE JUST MENTIONED THAT BREAST CANCER DRUG WHICH HAS MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS. THERE ARE OVER 280 DRUGS CURRENTLY BEING ASSESSED ON THEIR SYSTEM. IN RELATION TO THEIR WAITING LIST, A LOT OF THOSE DRUGS ARE NOW QUITE OLD, SO WE NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE OR KNOWLEDGE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE STILL THE BEST IN CLASS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR SO LONG. DO YOU FEEL THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT IS SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WEST CANCER PATIENTS REQUIRING NEW DRUGS? THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO. THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY WAS A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MORE WILL BE NEEDED TO REFORM PHARMAC TO MAKE MODERN MEDICINES AND DRUGS AVAILABLE WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AROUND THE WORLD. WHAT CHANGES IN TERMS OF CULTURE ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW CHAIR OF PHARMAC? THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THERE. I WAS QUITE PLEASED, BECAUSE WE HELPED AT THE NATIONAL SUMMIT, AND MS BENNETT WAS THERE THE ENTIRE DAY TALKING TO STAKEHOLDERS. SO SHE WAS HEARING FIRST-HAND ALL THE CONCERNS THAT THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS HAD ABOUT THE CULTURE OF PHARMAC. I WAS REASONABLY CONFIDENT GIVEN THE FACT THAT SHE WAS THERE AND LISTENING. YOU'VE CALLED FOR A PATIENT CENTRED FOCUS. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE HELD YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE PATIENT VOICE IS HEARD THROUGHOUT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. SO HOW MIGHT WE BE ABLE TO IMPROVE PHARMAC'S PROCESSOR THAT THEY ARE TALKING TO US AND WE ARE NOT LEFT OUT IN THE COLD WITH A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WHEN A DECISION IS MADE. IT WAS THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE CHILLS THAT THEY MIGHT USE IN ORDER TO ASSESS A DRUG. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD THAT DOESN'T USE A SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVE, AND WE ARE ARGUING A POINT THAT IF THEY WERE TO IMPLEMENT THAT, WE COULD SEE MORE DRUGS FUNDED AT A FASTER PACE. IS THAT A SENTIMENT THAT YOU ECHO? ABSOLUTELY. ANYTHING THAT PROVIDES KIWIS ACCESS TO MODERN MEDICINE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, WE DEFINITELY PUT OUR BACKING BEHIND. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS WITH THE UPCOMING BUDGET? DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT WILL INVEST MORE INTO PHARMAC? OBVIOUSLY PHARMAC NEEDS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE SIT IN THE OECD WORLD. THE GOVERNMENT HEARD OUR CONCERNS LOUD AND CLEAR. WE KNOW OUR OPTIONS FOR INVESTMENT ABSOLUTELY NEED CLEARING. SO WE WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF ANY EXTRA INVESTMENT INTO PHARMAC ON TOP OF WHAT THEY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY. YOU'VE BEEN A CAMPAIGNER FOR THIS ISSUE WITH PHARMAC, MALCOLM. HOW DO YOU GET TO THIS POSITION OF STILL NEEDING MORE MONEY AND MORE NEW DRUGS? IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS HAPPENING EVERY YEAR. YES. AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE UNLESS WE ADDRESS IT. THE GOVERNMENT WILL RECEIVE MORE PETITIONS. THERE WILL BE MORE PAGES SET UP. THERE WILL BE MORE PATIENTS POURING THEIR HEARTS OUT TO THE MEDIA SAYING, PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE. THE REASON WE ARE IN THIS POSITION IS BECAUSE PHARMAC HAS BEEN STARVED OF FUNDING FOR OVER TWO DECADES. THAT IS WHY THAT GAP IS SO LARGE. YESTERDAY WE HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT LOOKING AT THE OVERALL HEALTH SPEND. NEW ZEALAND DOESN'T DO TOO BAD ` WE ARE OVER THE OECD AVERAGE, BUT WE HAVE BECOME THAT POOR COUSIN, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE. YOU HAVE SEEN SOME STORIES ON THE FRONT LINE WITH PATIENTS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO NOT HAVE THESE DRUGS FUNDED? PARTICULARLY LIFE-SAVING FOR THESE DRUGS. THE REALITY OF TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS TO ACTUALLY GET THE LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT THEY NEED, IT AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT FACING AND RAISING AND FUNDRAISING THAT MONEY FOR MOVING TO AUSTRALIA, POTENTIALLY, TO GET ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT, ON TOP OF BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS WHICH IS HIGHLY TRAUMATIC. TO HAVE THIS EXTRA FINANCIAL STRAIN THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW YOU WILL FUND THIS MEDICINE THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE IS A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN FOR WOMEN AND THEIR WHANAU. MALCOLM, I WANT TO COME TO YOU. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? I THINK ONE OF THE ENCOURAGING THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF YESTERDAY WAS THAT IT WAS DONE IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION. SO WE HAD THE SUMMIT AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND THE ROUTE AT THE SAME TIME TOGETHER. THAT IN ITSELF WAS ACTUALLY QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD IS MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO MEET AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE MINISTER. HE WAS THEREFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT. BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF NEW ZEALAND MEDICINE CRISIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. GOOD TO TALK TO YOU BOTH. KIA ORA, DANIEL. E WHAI AKE NEI ` MORE PARENTS ARE LETTING THEIR BABIES LEAD THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO # I HEARD YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IS COMING UP 6:20. AS ANY PARENT WILL KNOW, MEAL TIMES WITH YOUR BABY CAN BE A BATTLE OF WILLPOWER. BUT FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES, A GROWING NUMBER OF PARENTS HAVE BEEN ADOPTING A DIFFERENT APPROACH, ONE WHERE THE BABY TAKES CONTROL. IT'S CALLED BABY-LED WEANING, AND IT'S SAID TO BROADEN THE CHILD'S PALATE AND CONTROL THEIR APPETITE. BUT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS IT WANTS MORE EVIDENCE THAT BABY-LED WEANING DOESN'T HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS BEFORE IT'LL RECOMMEND IT. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY SPECIALIST PAEDIATRIC DIETITIAN AMY LOVELL. AMY, YOU SEEM LIKE THE EXPERT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, BUT I AM A BIT CONCERNED WHEN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS. WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? WHAT THEY ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE EFFECT OF THIS FEEDING METHOD ON GROWTH AND LITTLE BABIES, THE RISK OF IRON DEFICIENCY AND CHOKING. BECAUSE THAT IS QUITE A POSSIBILITY, RIGHT? WE WATCH THESE VIDEOS. CERTAINLY THERE HAS BEEN A RISE OF THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY WILL SAY, MY CHILD DID CHOKE A BIT ON THAT. OTHERS SAY, THAT IS JUST THE GAG REFLEX. HOW DO WE BALANCE THE INFORMATION WE ARE GETTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY OF FEEDING YOUR CHILD? BECAUSE THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA HAS PROBABLY ENDORSED SOME STRATEGIES OR TACTICS THAT MAY BE THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH OR YOURSELF WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED. THINK IT IS DIFFICULT TO SORT OF WEED THROUGH ALL OF THE CONTENT THAT WE SLEEP. I THINK IT IS ABOUT EMPOWERING PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE BABY'S FEEDING AND EATING CUES. THAT IS FROM A PRINCIPAL CALLED RESPONSIVE FEEDING. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RESEARCH, OF WHICH THERE IS NOT A LOT... EVEN AFTER ALL THIS TIME? AS SOMEONE WHO'S DONE RESEARCH ON LITTLE BABIES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT ENOUGH THEY BEAST TO BE IN STUDIES TO BE ABLE TO FIND ANSWERS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL FOR OUR POPULATION. IS BABY WEANING SAFE? IT CAN BE IF WE TEACH PARENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHOKING AND GAGGING. CHOKING CAN BE AN OUTCOME OF EATING THAT GAGGING IS LEARNING HOW TO EAT. PEOPLE SAY I WILL LOOK UP THE APP THAT WILL TELL ME HOW TO DO IT THESE DAYS, AND THE MOST POPULAR ONE SEEMS TO BE BABY-LED WEANING. HOW DO PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO DO THIS? I THINK IT IS HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT BABIES NEED WHEN THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO EAT ` GIVING THEM WOULD SOURCES OF IRON, MAKING SURE YOU ARE GIVING FOODS THAT ARE NUTRIENT DENSE, SO OFFERING ENERGY BUT ALSO OTHER NUTRIENTS. BABIES ARE BUSY GROWING, BUT THEY HAVE LITTLE TUMMIES, SO IT IS MAXIMISING THOSE BITES. IT IS ALSO PREPARING THEM IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE FOR BABY. IT IS PREPARING THEM IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE, BUT YOU ARE ALSO MAXIMISING THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHERE YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT IS CHUNKIER OR LARGER AND THEY WON'T CONSUME TOO MUCH OF IT, SO IS BABY LED WEANING ACTUALLY USEFUL? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS THAT PARENTS ARE USING IT OVER PUREED FOOD? IT IS ABOUT TEACHING THEM TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CUES INTERNALLY. FOR PARENTS, ANY MEAL OR SNACK YOU ARE PROVIDING, IT IS MAKING SURE IT IS NUTRITIOUS. NOT NECESSARILY GIVING A HUGE AMOUNT OF IT, THE NEXT MEAL OR SNACK YOU ARE STILL GIVING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD IN TERMS OF NUTRIENTS. ACTUALLY THE PARENTS ARE TOO WORRIED ABOUT GIVING THEM A PIECE OF APPLE AND HAVE THEM ON PUREE FOR TOO LONG. KIDS LOVE TO EXPLORE WITH THEIR HANDS IN THEIR MOUTHS, SO THOSE FOODS MAY BE A WAY TO DO THAT. EATING IS REALLY HARD, AND WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT OUR LITTLE PEOPLE CAN DO IT REALLY WELL. OFFERING FOODS THAT MAY BE EASIER TO EAT AND STILL NUTRITIOUS IN TERMS OF THE COMBINATIONS, OF APPROACH THAT YOU CAN USE. YOU WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND, AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BABY WEANING FOR DECADES NOW. WHAT IS THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WAITING FOR? WHY DON'T THEY HAVE THE EVIDENCE THEY WANT? FUNDING IS A BIG COMPONENT OF RESEARCH. RESEARCH IN LITTLE BABIES IS HARD, AND YOU NEED BIG NUMBERS TO DO THAT TO SEE WHETHER THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE GROUPS ARE DIFFERENT AND SIGNIFICANT. WE HAD A STUDY IN DUNEDIN THAT LOOKED AT MODIFIED BABY LED WEANING, AND WE'VE HAD A STUDY AGAIN COMING OUT OF OTAGO IN COLLABORATION WITH AUCKLAND LOOKING AT POUCH USE AND BABY LED WEANING ON OUTCOMES LIKE GROWTH AND IRON DEFICIENCY. WHAT ARE THOSE STUDIES TELLING YOU ABOUT BABY LED WEANING VERSUS POUCH OR PUREE? THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN GROWTH. SO FALTERING GROWTH FOR CHILDREN ` IT IS A BUSY GROWING TIME. LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES IN NUTRIENT AND ENERGY INTAKES AND THE NUMBER OF BABIES THAT DEVELOP IRON DEFICIENCY IS A STOP WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A DIFFERENCE IN GROWTH SO FAR. WE HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENCEIN ENERGY. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT MODIFIED APPROACH WHEN PARENTS LOOK AT IRON RICH FOODS AND FOODS THAT ARE A GOOD SOURCE OF ENERGY, WE DID NOT SEE AN INCREASE IN IRON DEFICIENCY EITHER. THAT IS ONE STUDY. SO ON THAT FRONT, PARENTS CAN BE REASSURED. WHEN WE BUILD DIETARY GUIDELINES, WHICH MY COLLEAGUES ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN, WE BUILD EVIDENCE, AND THERE IS NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE IN THE SPACE, AND SO THAT IS WHY WE CANNOT CHANGE FEEDING GUIDELINES. MAYBE DON'T DO YOUR ADVICE OF INSTAGRAM. COME AND TALK TO A DIETICIAN. IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING. SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO. WHAT TO FEED, WHAT NOT TO FEED. WHAT FOOD, IT IS ALWAYS TRICKY. I'M JUST GLAD THOSE YEARS HAVE PASSED. ME TOO, SO GOOD LUCK, ABF. (ALL LAUGH) I CAN OUTSOURCE THIS JOB, CAN'T I? ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, ARE YOU ON HOLIDAY AGAIN, MATT? KNOW WAY. AGAIN? SLIGHTLY UP THE NORTHERN MOTORWAY FROM WHERE I NORMALLY LIVE. I AM IN OREWA THIS MORNING. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ANNUAL FAMILY TO FAMILY APPEAL. WE'VE GOT ALL THE DETAILS FOR YOU NEXT. (ENGINE REVS) Oh. OK, turn off the car. (PHONE RINGS) GIRL: Dad! Hey, man. Long time no talk. Yeah, just... I'm teaching Samara how to drive. (BRIGHT MUSIC) Hi! Could you do something for me? SONG: # Oh, baby, you... # Thanks. # You've got what I need # You got everything I need # You're like medicine to me... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. SONG: # You're as cold as ice... # What's your address? Not telling. What's your bank account number? 123... Nah! Would you be interested in... Nope. How about a deal... Nah! Pay here! (*Pfffft SOUND*) Negative. Not. Telling. (PHONE RINGS) # Cold # As # Ice... # Hello? My card number? It's, um... Ooh, yeah! # You're as cold as ice... # WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THERE'S A WARNING NEW ZEALAND COULD BE ON THE BRINK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC AS IMMUNISATIONS RATES FALL. IN A BRIEFING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VIRUS HAS INCREASED BY 1000 EVERY MONTH. IMMUNISATION COVERAGE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS IS AT 80%, WELL SHORT OF THE 95% TARGET. THE BRIEFING SAY CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS, WITH CALLS TO IMPROVE MMR IMMUNISATION FOR 15-MONTH-OLDS TO 9-YEAR-OLDS. THE RIGHT'S LOSS HAS BEEN THE LEFT'S GAIN IN THE LATEST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL. LABOUR'S UP 2% TO 30, THE GREEN PARTY UP 2. ALL THREE OF THE COALITION PARTNERS HAVE LOST GROUND, WITH NEW ZEALAND FIRST FALLING TO 4%. WITH NEW ZEALAND FIRST BELOW THE 5% THRESHOLD, THAT WOULD LEAVE NATIONAL AND ACT SHORT OF A MAJORITY, AND LABOUR, THE GREENS AND TE PATI MAORI WITH A COMBINED 64 SEATS. AND WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH A FORMER PARTY PRESIDENT AND WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH A FORMER PARTY PRESIDENT ABOUT NEW ZEALAND FIRST'S DIP IN THE POLLS IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. PHARMAC'S FUNDING BOOST MAY KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND CURRENT DRUG SUPPLY STOCKED, BUT PATIENT ADVOCATES BELIEVE IT FALLS SHORT OF ADDRESSING MODERN MEDICINES. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY A $1.7b INCREASE FOR THE COUNTRY'S DRUG-BUYING AGENCY, WHICH NOW GETS MORE THAN $6b IN FOUR YEARS. THE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION SAYS THE INVESTMENT STILL DOESN'T COVER THE 13 NEW CANCER DRUGS NATIONAL PROMISED IT WOULD FUND. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LONG WAY TO GO. THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY WAS A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, HOWEVER WE KNOW THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT REFORMS TO ENABLE PATIENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO DRUGS THAT ARE FREELY AVAILABLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. AH-LEEN RAYNER SAYS THERE'S STILL AN URGENT NEED TO INCREASE PHARMAC'S FUNDING. ISRAEL AND HAMAS ARE EDGING CLOSER TO A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, WITH A NEW OFFER ON THE TABLE. IF ACCEPTED, THE DEAL WOULD SEE A NUMBER OF HOSTAGES RELEASED IN RETURN FOR A 40 DAY PAUSE IN ISRAEL'S RELENTLESS WAR. A DELEGATION FROM HAMAS IS HEADED TO EGYPT NOW FOR THE LATEST NEGOTIATIONS. THE UNITED STATES IS URGING HAMAS TO TAKE THE DEAL. AND IN THE U.S., PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA CONTINUE WITH DEMONSTRATIONS NOW UNDERWAY IN AT LEAST 22 STATES. STUDENT PROTESTERS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK HAVE FLOUTED AN ORDER BY CAMPUS OFFICIALS TO DISBAND THEIR ENCAMPMENT, DESPITE WARNINGS THEY WILL FACE SUSPENSION. SO FAR TALKS BETWEEN STUDENT ORGANISERS AND THE FACULTY HAVE FAILED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. TO SPORT, AND 16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS HAVE VOTED TO INTRODUCE A SPENDING CAP MODEL. THE PROPOSED MODEL WOULD LIMIT CLUBS' OUTLAY ON TRANSFERS, WAGES AND AGENTS' FEES AND IS LIKELY TO BE LIMITED TO A MULTIPLE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE LOWEST-RANKED CLUB MAKES IN TELEVISION REVENUE. MANCHESTER CITY, MANCHESTER UNITED AND ASTON VILLA WERE THE ONLY TEAMS WHO OPPOSED THE SPENDING CAP WHILE CHELSEA DIDN'T VOTE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. THIS WILL CLEAR TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN AUCKLAND AND WHANGAREI. 20 DEGREES THERE IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER DOWN ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REGION. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY IN HAMILTON AND TOKOROA. TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE WITH A HIGH OF 20. TO THE EAST COAST ` FINE START TO YOUR DAY FOR THOSE IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, OTHERWISE IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR THOSE IN GISBORNE. 17 DEGREES THERE. 18 DEGREES FOR HASTINGS. TO THE WEST COAST ` TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. ELSEWHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE. 20 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. FURTHER SOUTH ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL BE GETTING SOME SHOWERS THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON, YOUR HIGH IS 20. 18 DEGREES FOR ALEXANDRA. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR BROLLY. THERE'LL BE RAIN DEVELOPING THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. THIS WILL GET HEAVY IN MILFORD SOUND. A HIGH OF 18 FOR DUNEDIN. THE NEW WORLD 'FAMILY2FAMILY' ANNUAL APPEAL IS WRAPPING UP ITS FINAL WEEK, WITH ONE LAST CHANCE FOR CUSTOMERS TO VISIT THE STORE AND EITHER FILL A BAG WITH FOODBANK-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS OR DONATE A PRE-FILLED BAG. THESE DONATIONS ARE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO CITY MISSIONS AND LOCAL FOODBANKS, AIMING TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASON. WE'VE SENT MATT GIBB OUT CHECK IT OUT. THIS SEGMENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NEW WORLD. GOOD MORNING DANIEL. I AM A NEW WORLD IN OREWA THIS MORNING. YOU ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT EARLY FOR YOU, AS IT? THE SUPERMARKET DOES START PRETTY EARLY. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. IS A GREAT THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A STROLL DOWN THIS AISLE? THIS IS A YEARLY APPEAL TO GET FOOD AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES. IT IS A FANTASTIC AND SIMPLE WAY THAT YOU CAN HELP. TELL ME ABOUT THESE BAGS THAT WE HAVE PREFILLED. WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF BAGS READY PICKED UP AND READY TO GO. THEY HAVE $20 WITH THE STOCK IN THEIR, AND THEIR STUFF THAT PEOPLE NEED PARTICULARLY. PANTRY STAPLES AND THINGS THAT WILL NOT PERISH? GRAB A BAG YOURSELF AND FILL IT UP WITH THINGS THAT ARE USEFUL FOR FAMILIES. THINGS LIKE OLIVE OIL AND BAKING NEEDS, MAYBE EVEN RICE AND PASTA, FLOUR AND SUGAR. DOWN HERE, WE HAVE SOUP. ANYTHING THAT WILL BE HANDY TO MAKE A MEAL. TENDS GO IN THE PANTRY WHEN YOU NEED THEM. TOILETRIES ARE HANDY AS WELL. THEY CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE SHOPPING. THAT IS THE SORT OF STUFF YOU MIGHT NOT THINK OF, BUT EVERY FAMILY NEEDS TOOTHPASTE. GRAB SOME AND CHUCK THEM IN THE BAG. LET'S MAKE OUR WAY AROUND HERE. IT IS A FANTASTIC INITIATIVE. IT IS RUNNING UNTIL SUNDAY. THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK OF THE APPEAL. SUNDAY, 5 MAY IS THE LAST DAY TO GRAB ONE OF THESE BAGS. THESE BAGS ARE HEADING TO A PLACE CALLED THE LOVE SOUP, A NEARBY FOOD BANK? THEY ARE A LOCAL CHARITY. THEY DO A GREAT JOB IN STANMORE BAY. THIS IS GREAT. IT IS A SIMPLE WAY TO HELP OUT A FAMILY IN NEED. AROUND THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE DOING IT TOUGH. PICK UP A PREFILLED BAG FILLED WITH GREAT, HEALTHY ITEMS FOR A FAMILY IN NEED. WE HAVE MADE IT REALLY EASY, IT MAKES A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. SPEAKING OF MASSIVE DIFFERENCES, $250,000 NEW WORLD IS DONATING. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT THIS IS THE LAST WEEK YOU CAN GET INVOLVED, SO AHEAD TO YOUR LOCAL NEW WORLD IF YOU ARE DOING YOUR SHOP AND SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AROUND YOU. THE APPEAL ENDS THIS SUNDAY. WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO LOVE SOUP AFTER THIS AND IS MAYBE SEE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS. WE WILL SEE YOU AT AN HOURS TIME. ME U TONU MAI ` NZ FIRST WOULD BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT ACCORDING TO OUR LATEST POLL. A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE PARTY REACTS. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. NEW ZEALAND FIRST WOULD BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT AND THE COALITION GOVERNMENT OUT OF POWER, ACCORDING TO OUR LATEST 1 NEWS-VERIAN POLL. WHILE WINSTON PETERS HAS BEEN JETTING AROUND THE GLOBE PUTTING AOTEAROA ON THE WORLD STAGE, IT APPEARS BACK HOME, VOTERS HAVE STARTED TO GO SOUR ABOUT HIS PARTY'S WORK. AT 4%, NZ FIRST IS ONLY JUST OUTSIDE OF THE THRESHOLD, BUT IT WILL BE FAR FROM WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WANTING THIS EARLY INTO THE COALITION. FORMER NZ FIRST PRESIDENT BRENT CATCHPOLE JOINS ME NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THOSE NUMBERS AND LAST NIGHTS POLE? NOT REALLY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN HAVING TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS DECISIONS, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT LIKING THOSE DECISIONS AT THE MOMENT, SO TO SAY IT IS JUST NEW ZEALAND FIRST THAT IS PLUMMETING IS NOT CORRECT. IT IS THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT THAT IS SHOWING A DECLINE, BUT I WOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE ARE ONLY SIX MONTHS INTO THE TERM. YOU ARE CORRECT. NATIONALS DOWN TO 36, ACTORS DOWN ONE, BUT I GUESS THE DIFFERENCE FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST IS THAT THEY ARE ALSO DOWN TWO TO 4%, WHICH PUTS THEM BELOW THE THRESHOLD TO KEEP THEM IN PARLIAMENT. YES, YOU SAY IT IS ONLY SIX MONTHS INTO THE COALITION, BUT IS THAT NOT A SIGN THAT IS WORRYING THAT IT IS HAPPENED SO QUICKLY? IT IS UNUSUAL, BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE HUGE CALLS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MAKING AND THERE ARE SOME UNPLEASANT ONES THERE, TOO. I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE IS BEEN A DIP. BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, IS WINSTON PETERS AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST DONE ENOUGH TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES OUT OF THIS COALITION? HAS HE DONE ENOUGH OR HAS HE BEEN ABSORBED IN THIS COALITION AND THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE? THAT IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR SMALLER PARTIES. THEY GET ABSORBED INTO THE DECISIONS AND SOMETIMES THEY GET BLAMED FOR THEM WHEN IT IS NOT REALLY THEIR FAULT. HOWEVER, AS WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THE NEXT ELECTION, I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME BIG CHANGES AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST WILL BE ABLE TO STEP UP AND SHOW SOME DIFFERENCES, BUT AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE WORKING AS A COALITION GOVERNMENT AND THEY HAVE TO BE WORKING WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK. OUTSIDE OF THAT, THEN, WHAT ELSE HAS POTENTIALLY GONE WRONG FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST AT THE STAGE? I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING THAT HAS GONE WRONG FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST, I THINK IT IS SIMPLY THE GOVERNMENT MAKING SOME UNPOPULAR DECISIONS AT THE MOMENT. IS NEW ZEALAND FIRST AS PART OF THAT GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE BEING AFFECTED BY IT AS WELL. IF I REFLECT BACK ON THE PAST FEW MONTHS, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK COMMENTS FROM WINSTON PETERS AROUND COMPARING CO-GOVERNANCE WITH NAZI GERMANY'S RACE-BASED THEORY, ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT ARE BEING MISINFORMED WITH MEDIA, AND THE GOVERNMENTS HE MADE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND AND COMPARING THAT TO THE KKK AND APARTHEID, DO YOU THINK THOSE COMMENTS HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON THE PARTY'S POPULARITY? POSSIBLY NOT, BUT THOSE ARE COMMENTS THAT WINSTON PETERS HAS MADE. I DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE, IT IS HIS DECISION TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD BE SURPRISED BY THESE RESULTS? I KNOW HE IS NOT A POLLS MAN, HE IS ALWAYS SAID THAT. HE SAID HE DOES NOT GIVE A RATS DERRIERE. DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE GOING, WOW? THAT IS POSSIBLE. LET'S FACE IT, THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING SOME VERY UNPOPULAR DECISIONS AT THE MOMENT, AND OF COURSE EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THAT GOVERNMENT IS IMPACTED. NEW ZEALAND FIRST APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED A LITTLE BIT MORE. I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT, BUT WE ARE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ANY DECISION THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING ON ANYTHING THAT IS UNPOPULAR IS ALSO GOING TO IMPACT THOSE COALITION PARTIES. YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE FOR NEW ZEALAND 1ST TO SEPARATE ITSELF OUT FROM THE COALITION, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NOW? WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT SIX MONTHS? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEW ZEALAND FIRST CAN DO OR WINSTON PETERS TO ROLL THESE NUMBERS BACK? ONCE THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MORE OF THE POLICIES THAT THEY HAVE AGREED WITHIN THE COALITION GOVERNMENT, THEN THE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME BETTER RESULTS OUT OF THAT. THAT IS STILL TO COME. THE COALITION IS STILL FEELING ITS WAY AT THE MOMENT. JUST FINALLY TO WRAP THINGS UP, WINSTON PETERS HAS BEEN OVERSEAS FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW WORKING FEVERISHLY AS THE FOREIGN MINISTER, HE ATTENDED EGYPT, POLAND, SWEDEN, HOW DO YOU THINK HE IS GOING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE? HE IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER FOREIGN MINISTER FOR DECADES NOW. SORRY TO THOSE OTHER FOREIGN MINISTERS AROUND, BUT WINSTON PETERS IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB OUT THERE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND HE IS BEING ACCEPTED BY AN AWFUL LOT OF HIGH PROFILE INTERNATIONAL LEADERS. I THINK HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB THERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR INSIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` SMASH-AND-GRABS ARE ALMOST A DAILY HEADLINE. SO WHAT DO THE POLICE INTEND TO DO TO STOP THEM? THEY'RE WITH US NEXT. VOICEOVER: Hello person not watching this ad because it's interrupting your brainy current affairs show. Hey, did you know you could be ignoring this TV ad for less, with 30% off Skinny's Endless Mobile Plans? That's real smart! SONG: # Happy, happy, happy aaaah! # (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. A SPATE OF JEWELLERY STORE ROBBERIES HAVE SEEN POLICE OUT IN FORCE AT AUCKLAND SHOPPING MALLS. BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP FIVE ARMED THIEVES STORMING A MICHAEL HILL JEWELLER STORE IN A WEST AUCKLAND MALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON. DETECTIVE INSPECTOR GLENN BALDWIN JOINS US NOW. DETECTIVE INSPECTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. MORENA, EVERYBODY TALKED TO US ABOUT THE POLICE PRESENCE. I KNOW POLICE ISSUED A STATEMENT ABOUT PRIORITISING SHOPPING MALLS AND PROTECTING FRONT-LINE STAFF, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING. WE ARE HAVING A MUCH GREATER PRESENCE IN SHOPPING MALLS AND STRIP MALLS AND THE LIKE, AND THAT IS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND TRYING TO PROVIDE A DETERRENCE FOR WHAT WOULD BE CRIMINALS. WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN DEEPLY ALARMING AND TERRIFYING FOR THE SHOPPING COMMUNITY, FOR THE RETAILERS ALIKE. IT IS HORRIBLE STUFF, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU WE HAVE A TEAM THAT ARE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO INVESTIGATE THOSE MATTERS, AND WE ARE FOLLOWING POSITIVE LINES OF ENQUIRY. THE MATTER ON SUNDAY WAS A VERY ALARMING CRIME. BUT THE GOOD NEWS OUT OF THAT IS THAT LATER THAT EVENING WE GOT ONTO AN OFFENDER, AND HE IS NOW REMANDED IN CUSTODY ON CHARGES OF AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. WE ARE FOLLOWING POSITIVE LINES OF ENQUIRY IN REGARDS TO OTHER OFFENDERS INVOLVED IN THAT CRIME. IT IS PROGRESSING, BUT I APPRECIATE IT IT TAKES TIME. THERE WILL BE VIEWERS WATCHING THINKING WHAT IS THE AIM OF POLICE PRESENCE OUT AT SHOPPING MALLS? STAFF ARE WALKING THROUGH THE MALLS, TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND RETAILERS AND ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC. THEY ARE THERE TO REASSURE THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE RETAILERS THAT WE ARE THERE. WE CANNOT BE THERE ALL THE TIME. THAT OBVIOUSLY IS THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. WE HAVE OTHER DEMANDS, BUT WHEN WE CAN, WE HAVE POLICE PATROLS WORKING IN THOSE MALLS TO HELP PEOPLE FEEL AND BE SAFE. WE ALSO NEED PEOPLE TO BE OUR EYES AND EARS. WHEN PEOPLE SEE SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR, THAT EARLY REPORTING IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THE SOONER WE KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING, THE SOONER WE CAN RESPOND AND GET THERE. IS THAT A NEW APPROACH THAT YOU ARE RETHINKING IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AND POLICE NOT ALWAYS BEING THERE? NO, IT'S NOT. WE'VE ALWAYS RELIED ON TREMENDOUS PUBLIC SUPPORT IN NEW ZEALAND, AND WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT IS SIMPLY CONCERNING. WHAT WE NEED HELP WITH FROM THE PUBLIC IS TO REPORT MATTERS OF CONCERN EARLY. SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS STATE OF CRIMES, THERE IS A POINT WITH TWO STOLEN CARS WITH A GET OUT OF ONE AND GET INTO ANOTHER, SO PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THOSE CARS BEING DROPPED OFF OR THEY MAY SEE THE EXCHANGE. THE SOONER WE KNOW ABOUT THAT, THE SOONER WE CAN RESPOND. WE HAD A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT ON SUNDAY NIGHT WHERE WE WERE ONTO THE SECOND CAR AND WE CAUGHT UP TO 1 OF THE OFFENDERS. THAT WAS A GREAT EFFORT BY PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. THE SOONER WE KNOW ABOUT STUFF, THE SOONER WE CAN RESPOND. THAT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR REASSURANCE PATROL. THESE OFFENDERS WILL ARRIVE IN A CAR. THEY WILL BE UP TO 5 OR SIX OF THEM, INCLUDING THE DRIVER. PEOPLE WILL SEE THEM ON THE WAY, AND THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD LIKE 111 CALL. THE SOONER WE KNOW ABOUT STUFF, THE SOONER WE CAN SOME MAKING OUR WAY TO THE SCENE. WHAT ABOUT WEAPONS. THESE THIEVE ARE COMING IN WITH WEAPONS. HOW CONCERNING IS THAT FOR POLICE. IT IS CONCERNING. I WOULD REITERATE IF YOU ARE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A SHOPPING MALL WHEN THAT HAPPENS, DON'T TRY TO ENGAGE THEM. THEY ARE EMPTY UP AND DRIVEN, BUT WHAT THEY ARE DRIVEN TO DO IS STEAL STUFF, SO IF THEY ARE CONFRONTED, THAT ELEVATES THE RISK OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT IN A MASSIVE WAY,SO PLEASE DON'T ENGAGE IN ANY WAY. HAVE YOU NOTICED A SHIFT IN ROBBERIES FROM RAM RAIDS, NOW TO JEWELRY STORES. IS THAT A TREND YOU ARE SEEING NOW WITH THE NUMBERS INCREASING? WE ARE SEEING PACKS STARTING TO ATTACK STORES. THAT MODUS OPERANDI WILL FIT A BROAD RANGE OF CRIMES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT WAS SERVICE STATIONS, AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE JEWELRY STORES. THEY DO HAVE AN ALARMING EFFECT WHEN THEY RUN IN ` PEOPLE ARE OVERWHELMED BY THEIR PRESENCE AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE WEAPONS OR TOOLS WHERE THEY ARE SMASHING GLASS. THAT IS USUALLY ALARMING AND TERRIFYING FOR THE POOR PEOPLE IN THE SHOP. THAT BLITZ ATTACK IS NOT A NEW THING, AND WE ARE DEALING WITH IT. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH CCTV. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR INVESTIGATION. FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS OF STOLEN CARS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECOVER HELPS US, BUT IT TAKES TIME. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVING STUFF BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT, SO WE NEED TO BE OPERATING IN A PROPER, DILIGENT MANNER TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE TO ACCOUNT. CAN I JUST QUICKLY ASKED, BECAUSE I AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME AT THE MOMENT, GOING BACK TO THE MANUREWA INCIDENT, CAN I GET YOU TO CLARIFY, THERE WERE SIX PEOPLE INVOLVED BUT ONE ARREST, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WAS THE WEST MICHAEL HILL JULY ROBBERY ON SUNDAY. YES. AND THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING TO HOLD THOSE OTHER OFFENDERS TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING POSITIVE LINES OF ENQUIRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR NEWS, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP AFTER 7 O'CLOCK. PACK YOUR BAGS ` THE HONEYMOON IS OVER FOR THE COALITION. THEY'VE FALLEN BY FIVE POINTS IN OUR LATEST 1 NEWS-VERIAN POLL, LEAVING THEM UNABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT IF AN ELECTION WERE TO BE HELD TODAY. THE PRIME MINISTER JOINS US SHORTLY. IF YOU'RE UNDER THE AGE OF 25, BUCKLE UP. IT'S ABOUT TO BECOME DOUBLY EXPENSIVE TO CATCH THE BUS, TRAIN OR FERRY. FREE FARES FOR CHILDREN ARE BEING SCRAPPED, SO ARE HALF PRICE FARES FOR TEENS. ONE ADVOCATE AGAINST THE CHANGES JOINS US A LITTLE LATER. AND IT'S THE FIGHT FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE ` TUPAC'S ESTATE IS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST DRAKE WHO USED THE LATE RAPPERS VOICE VIA AI IN ONE OF HIS NEW SONGS. AN EXPERT ON ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE JOINS US IN 20 MINUTES. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BECOMING SUSCEPTIBLE TO MEASLES IS INCREASING BY 1000 EVERY MONTH, PROMPTING A WARNING NEW ZEALAND COULD BE ON THE BRINK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC. A BRIEFING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE SHOWS IMMUNISATION COVERAGE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS IS AT 80%, WELL SHORT OF THE 95% TARGET. THE BRIEFING SAY CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS, WITH CALLS TO IMPROVE MMR IMMUNISATION FOR 15-MONTH-OLDS TO 9-YEAR-OLDS. AND THE GOVERNMENT'S COME UNDER FIRE FROM THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL WITH A SCATHING INTERIM REPORT ON ITS PROPOSAL TO REMOVE A SECTION OF THE ORANGA TAMARIKI ACT. THE REPORT WARNS THAT RUSHING THE REPEAL COULD CAUSE REAL HARM TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN STATE CARE. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSING TO REMOVE A REQUIREMENT ON THE AGENCY TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. THE TRIBUNAL'S FINAL REPORT IS DUE NEXT MONTH. NEW ZEALAND FIRST WOULD BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT ON THE LATEST POLLING NUMBERS, BUT THE FORMER PARTY PRESIDENT ISN'T SURPRISED. ACCORDING TO OUR LATEST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL, NEW ZEALAND FIRST IS SITTING BELOW THE 5% THRESHOLD TO RETURN TO PARLIAMENT, MEANING NATIONAL AND ACT WOULD NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS TO FORM A MAJORITY. BUT FORMER NZ FIRST PRESIDENT BRENT CATCHPOLE SAYS IT WAS EXPECTED. IT'S UNUSUAL, BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE HUGE CALLS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MAKING AND THERE'S SOME UNPLEASANT ONES THERE TOO, SO I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DIP. NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER WINSTON PETERS SAYS HE DOESN'T GIVE A 'RAT'S DERRIERE' ABOUT THE POLL RESULT. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IS CALLING FOR THE FASTER DELIVERY OF WESTERN WEAPONS AS RUSSIA MAKES GAINS ON THE FRONTLINES. WHILE MEETING WITH THE HEAD OF NATO OVERNIGHT, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WARNED RUSSIA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WEST'S SLOW SHIPMENT AND GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE. IT COMES AFTER THE UNITED STATES SIGNED OFF ON A $100b PACKAGE OF MILITARY AID FOR THE COUNTRY. SOME ARMS HAVE STARTED TO ARRIVE, BUT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THEY NEED TO BE DELIVERED FASTER. THE UNITED STATES' TOP DIPLOMAT IS BACK IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS ISRAEL AND HAMAS EDGE CLOSER TO A CEASEFIRE. ANTONY BLINKEN IS IN THE REGION ONCE AGAIN TO DISCUSS GAZA AND POST-WAR PEACE PLANS. THE LATEST PROPOSAL FOR A TRUCE WOULD SEE A NUMBER OF HOSTAGES RELEASED FOR A 40 DAY PAUSE IN ISRAEL'S OFFENSIVE. THE UNITED STATES IS URGING HAMAS TO TAKE THE DEAL. HAMAS HAS BEFORE IT A PROPOSAL THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS ON THE PART OF ISRAEL. AND IN THIS MOMENT, THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND A CEASEFIRE IS HAMAS. A DELEGATION FROM HAMAS IS IN EGYPT NOW FOR THE LATEST NEGOTIATIONS. IN WHAT COULD BE A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FOR CLIMATE ACTION, IT'S UNDERSTOOD ENERGY MINISTERS FROM THE G7 NATIONS ARE CLOSE TO AGREEING TO SHUT DOWN ALL COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS BY 2035. THE MINISTERS ARE CURRENTLY MEETING IN ITALY, WHICH HAS BEEN TARGETED BY PROTESTERS. IT'S HOPED ANY DECISION FROM THE G7 TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS COULD SEE OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW SUIT. A FINAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE MEETING IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED TONIGHT. TO SPORT, AND THE MAINLAND TACTIX HAVE REJOINED THE CENTRAL PULSE AT THE TOP OF THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP TABLE, WITH A NARROW WIN OVER THE NORTHERN MYSTICS. THE TACTIX TRAILED BY FOUR GOALS AT HALFTIME, BUT MANAGED TO CLAW THEIR WAY BACK FOR A 62-59 VICTORY. GOSH, IT WAS A BIT OF A TUSSLE OUT THERE. THE CROWD REALLY BROUGHT IT. IT FELT LIKE AT TIMES WE WERE PLAYING AGAINST AN EIGHTH PLAYER. BUT REALLY PROUD OF THE GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH. AND NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THE SILVER FERNS, WITH STAR SHOOTER GRACE NWEKE LEAVING THE COURT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH A KNEE INJURY. THE 'TAYLOR SWIFT EFFECT' ON THE NFL COULD BE PAYING OFF BIG TIME FOR HER PARTNER. IT'S REPORTED TRAVIS KELCE HAS AGREED TO A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION WITH THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, WHICH WILL MAKE HIM THE NFL'S HIGHEST-PAID TIGHT END. TEAMMATE PATRICK MAHOMES WITH A MESSAGE TO CHIEFS FANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, 'I TOLD YOU I'LL NEVER LET HIM LEAVE'. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. THIS WILL CLEAR TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN AUCKLAND AND WHANGAREI. 20 DEGREES IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER DOWN ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REGION. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY IN HAMILTON AND TOKOROA. TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE WITH A HIGH OF 20. TO THE EAST COAST ` FINE START TO YOUR DAY FOR THOSE IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, OTHERWISE IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR THOSE IN GISBORNE. 19 IS THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. AND ALSO MASTERTON. TO THE WEST COAST ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY IN WELLINGTON WITH SOME SHOWERS. ELSEWHERE, IT'S MOSTLY LOOKING LIKE A NICE FINE DAY. WHANGANUI, YOUR HIGH IS 18. LOOKING GOOD TO HEAR. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. ELSEWHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE. 20 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. 16 DEGREES ON THE WEST COAST. FURTHER SOUTH ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL BE GETTING SOME SHOWERS THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON, YOUR HIGH IS 20. AND FIND LATER ON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR BROLLY. THERE'LL BE RAIN DEVELOPING THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. THIS WILL GET HEAVY IN MILFORD SOUND, EASING IN THE EVENING. A HIGH OF 18 FOR DUNEDIN. AND 17 IS THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. THANKS, CHRIS. ONLY FIVE MONTHS IN, AND THE WHEELS ARE FALLING OFF, THE HONEYMOON IS OVER, AND THE BLAME GAME HAS STARTED FOR THE NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT. THE LATEST 1 NEWS-VERIAN POLL SHOWS ALL THREE GOVERNING PARTIES HAVE DROPPED IN POPULARITY. NEW ZEALAND FIRST FALLING SO FAR, IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE IN PARLIAMENT ON CURRENT NUMBERS. SO, WHAT'S DRIVING THE VOTER MALAISE? AND WHAT DOES THE PRIME MINISTER PLAN TO DO ABOUT IT? CHRISTOPHER LUXON JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG WITH THESE POLLS ALREADY? GOOD MORNING. NICE TO BE WITH YOU ON OUR LAST INTERVIEW BEFORE YOUR PARENTAL LEAVE. LOOK, WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A TOUGH TIME FOR KIWIS OUT THERE ` INFLATION AND RENTS ARE HIGH, AND WE ARE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT SHYING AWAY FROM TOUGH DECISIONS. THAT IS THE STATE THAT WE HAVE INHERITED THIS UP AS I SAY, WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE THE ECONOMY, LAW AND ORDER AND PUBLIC SERVICES WILL STOP I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PROMISES YOU JUST MADE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CURRENT ISSUES THREADED IN THAT. WHAT IMPACT WOULD YOU SAY THE BEHAVIOUR OF WINSTON PETERS AND DAVID SEYMOUR HAS HAD ON THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT OF YOUR GOVERNMENT AND HOW THEY ARE DOING? I THINK WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL. 150 DAYS AND WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE FIRST THREE PARTY COALITION AND AN MMP NEW ZEALAND ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED OUR 100 DAY PLAN AND QUARTERLY ACTION PLAN. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. IT SEEMS TO BE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS THERE IS NET PICKING FROM ONE LEADER TO ANOTHER LETTER OR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT. WE ARE VERY FOCUSED. WE WORK IN A VERY COLLEGIAL WAY AND HAVE A GOOD TEAM ENVIRONMENT HAPPENING WITH OUR MINISTERIAL TEAM. THEY HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE, AND I THINK WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE INHERITED. WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT. DAVID SEYMOUR SAID LAST NIGHT WE ARE DANGEROUSLY UNITED FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OUR OPPONENTS. WHAT ABOUT YOUR POINT OF VIEW? AS A GOVERNMENT, WE ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE. THAT IS WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS EXPECT US TO DO. THAT'S WHY I CAME INTO POLITICS. I THINK THIS COUNTRY HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL. WE ARE WORKING HARD FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS TO BUILD THE ECONOMY, RESTORE LAW AND ORDER AND PUBLIC SERVICES. CAN I CLARIFY, ARE YOU UNITED? WE ARE. WE HAVE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP. THREE PARTIES COMING TOGETHER IN GOVERNMENT. WE ARE VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND PEOPLE. ONE OF THE BIG CAMPAIGN PROMISES YOU MADE WAS THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GET TOUGH ON CRIME, BUT FIVE MONTHS ON, WE HAVE A STATE OF REALLY TERRIBLE AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES. THE OFFENDERS ARE STILL ON THE LOOSE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE RELYING ON YOU TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THE RETAILERS, AISEN, YOU CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THIS COUNTRY ` THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. I AM SICK OF IT. I KNOW THE PUBLIC ARE SICK OF IT, AND NEW ZEALANDERS DO DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE. THAT IS WHY IN 150 DAYS WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER. LASTLY, WE BROUGHT BACK THREE STRIKES. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED GANG LAWS. THIS QUARTER, WE ARE STARTING ON YOUNG OFFENDER WORK. WE ARE RECRUITING MORE POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL. IT TAKES TIME ` 150 DAYS ` WE CAN'T UNDO SIX YEARS ON SOFT ON CRIME APPROACH. BUT WE ARE WORKING HARD AND FAST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TACKLING THIS. WE ARE PUTTING THOSE PLANS IN PLACE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THREE STRIKES DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT THEM. AND 500 COPS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN THE FUTURE DON'T MATTER IF YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT THEM. YOU ARE ALREADY ASKING AN OVERSTRETCHED POLICE FORCE THAT CAN'T COME TO A PAY DEAL WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT TO FIND THESE CRIMINALS AND TRACK THEM DOWN DURING A SPATE OF ROBBERIES. WHAT ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE MEANTIME WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE SHOPPING AFTER 5 PM IN THIS CITY? PEOPLE ARE SICK OF IT, I AM SICK OF IT, AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE A PLAN TO RESTORE LAW AND ORDER SO PEOPLE DO FEEL SAFER WITHIN 150 DAYS. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED OUR GANG MORE WORK TO GET TOUGH ON THE GANGS. THIS QUARTER WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON OUR YOUNG SERIES OF VENDOR CATEGORY AND OUR MILITARY CAMPS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN ` THAT IS OUR FOCUS FOR THIS QUARTER. WITH MADE COMMITMENT TO ADD 500 MORE POLICE OFFICERS TO THE POLICE FORCE. WE'VE PUT FORWARD A PAY DEAL AT ANOTHER OF ONE QUARTER OF $1 BILLION. WE ARE GOING TO WORK GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS THROUGH ARBITRATION WITH THE POLICE. WE ARE PUTTING BACK THREE STRIKES AND DEFUNDED SECTION 27 REPORTS. WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO WITH DISCOUNTS THAT JUDGES CAN APPLY TO SENTENCING. WE ARE MOVING AT PACE, BUT YOU DON'T UNDO SIX YEARS OF SOFT ON CRIME AND ALL THE CONSEQUENCES IN THE FIRST 150 DAYS, BUT WE ARE MOVING FAST. IS THIS MORE OF AN UPHILL CHALLENGE THAN YOU THOUGHT, BECAUSE YOU ARE WORKING ON SOME PRETTY BIG PROJECTS AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WE ARE NOT HAPPY. WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE TO RESTORE LAW AND ORDER, BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT OUR PLANS BEFORE THE COLLECTION AND ELECTION CAMPAIGN* YOU MENTION THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS ` THAT IS STILL HAVING AN IMPACT, PARTICULARLY DOMESTICALLY. BUT WE ARE SEEING FROM TOMORROW HALF PRICE OR DISCOUNTED TRANSPORT FARES ARE BEING SCRAPPED BY YOUR GOVERNMENT. SURELY THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES CARS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY SERVICES CAN STILL GET THAT SUPPORT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY STUDENT DISCOUNT FARES. BUT THERE HAS BEEN A 70% PLUS INCREASE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FUNDING AND PATRONAGE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS DOWN 23%. SO WE WANT INCOME TAX RELIEF FOR MIDDLE INCOME NEW ZEALANDERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD AND DESERVE TAX RELIEF TO KEEP THEIR OWN MONEY TO NAVIGATE THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH A MESS, AND WE ARE DEALING WITH THAT, BUT WHEN YOU SEE A MASSIVE INCREASE IN FUNDING LOWER USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN GET THAT ACCESS. THIS IS WHAT A HOUSEHOLD WITH TWO ADULTS EARNING BETWEEN $53,000 AND $66,000, THEY WILL GET $51 A WEEK. IF THEY HAVE TWO KIDS LIVING IN EPSOM, CATCHING A TWO STAGE BUS, THAT IS $52 A WEEK. IT IS NOT MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR THESE SORTS OF FAMILIES. TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, THE MATHS THEY JUST WENT THROUGH THERE, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DO NOT USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AS I SAID, IT IS DOWN 23%. THE ISSUE IS HOW WE DEAL WITH UNDERLYING ISUESS IN THIS ECONOMY. WITH SEEN INFLATION COME DOWN TO 4%. WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE UNDER 3%. WE HOPE TO GET THERE BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WE WANT TO GET INTEREST RATES DOWN TO GET THE ECONOMY GROWING AND PEOPLE IN WORK. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A GOVERNMENT THAT BUILD THE ECONOMY, LOWER COST OF LIVING AND RECOVER THE ECONOMY. NEW ZEALAND DECISION-MAKING TO SUPPORT GAZA IS IN PROGRESS. WE ARE WE AT WITH THAT? UNWRA AS COMMITTED TO HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT. THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS OF STAFF BEING INVOLVED IN THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS. WE WILL MAKE SURE WE MAKE THAT PAYMENT, AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH THAT. SO HE IS WAITING ON BOTH THE REVIEWS TO BE COMPLETED? WHAT WE SAID IS, UNLIKE OTHER COUNTRIES, WE NEVER SUSPENDED OUR PAYMENTS. IT IS ABOUT $1 MILLION PER YEAR. WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MADE OTHER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM AND INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. BUT HE WILL LOOK AT THE REVIEWS AND MAKE A DECISION. OUR PAYMENT IS NOT DUE UNTIL THE END OF JUNE. ARE YOU ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT HE WILL WAIT TO HAVE BOTH OF THOSE REVIEWS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION? IT IS HIS DECISION, BUT THEY ARE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS, AND WE WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE IN PLACE AND HE FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT MONEY GOING BAD THAT TIME. THAT MONEY GOING THERE* WE ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. SO WE WILL MAKE THAT DECISION AND TAKE THE ADVICE. THANK YOU. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. ALL THE BEST WITH PARENTAL LEAVE. E HAERE AKE NEI ` TUPAC'S ESTATE HAVE PUT DRAKE ON NOTICE OVER USING THE LATE RAPPER'S VOICE VIA AI. AN EXPERT BREAKS DOWN THE CASE. # CALIFORNIA. CANADIAN RAPPER DRAKE HAS REMOVED A MUSIC TRACK FROM HIS INSTAGRAM THAT FEATURED AI-GENERATED VOICES OF TUPAC SHAKUR AND SNOOP DOGG. HERE'S A SHORT CLIP OF THE TRACK. # KENDRICK, WE NEED YA, # THE WEST COAST SAVIOUR. # ENGRAVING YOUR NAME IN SOME HIP-HOP HISTORY # IF YOU DEAL WITH THIS VICIOUSLY. # YOU SEEM A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT ALL THE PUBLICITY. # WOW. THE SONG WAS TAKEN DOWN AFTER TUPAC'S ESTATE THREATENED LEGAL ACTION. THE DIGITALLY ENHANCED TRACK IS RAISING ETHICAL, LEGAL AND ARTISTIC CONCERNS AROUND THE USE OF AI IN MUSIC PRODUCTION. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY DANU ABEYSURIYA, FOUNDER OF RUSH DIGITAL WHICH SPECIALISES IN AI. ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW. LET'S JUST BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS. TUPAC, WHO WE KNOW HAS PASSED ON. MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT, YES. AS SOON AS I HEARD THAT, I THOUGHT, THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE HIM, BUT IT WASN'T. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN OLD SONG OF HIS WITH THE SONGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED AND PUT INTO A NEW SONG, THIS IS ACTUALLY AI YES, IT IS COMPLETELY SYNTHESISED. WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL GUY THAT HAS DONE THIS? DRAKE. HE HAS AUTHORED THE LYRICS AND IS USED AI TOOLS TO COMPLETELY SYNTHESISE TUPAC TO SING THESE LYRICS. SEEMS LIKE HE HAS DONE IT WITHOUT GETTING PROPER APPROVAL FROM HIS ESTATE. THAT IS ONE ISSUE. BUT WHAT ARE THE BROAD IMPLICATIONS HERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AI BEING USED IN THIS WAY? THE BROAD IMPLICATIONS ARE THAT DOING THIS AT A SCALE THAT YOU CAN DO WITH AI, COMPUTERS ARE GOOD AT REPEATING A TASK AND THEY ARE GOOD AT REPEATING TASKS AND GREAT VOLUMES. WHEN YOU SAY THAT SOMEONE IS A COMEDIAN OR UPCOMING ARTIST WHO ASPIRES TO SOUND LIKE TRACH AND THEY PERFORM MIMICRY ON STAGE, THAT HAS A ONE-OFF SITUATION. YOU ARE NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCALE OF THAT. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE SCALE OF COMPUTING MEANS THAT YOU CAN CREATE AN ENTIRE CATALOGUE OF TUPAC SONGS. THE GREY AREA IS THAT SOMEONE SOUNDS LIKE TUPAC WOULD BE BENEFITING ON THAT ART BUT YOU ARE NOT QUITE INFRINGING. THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE LAW RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO CLEAR WAY TO ENFORCE THIS. EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE OF STATE-BY-STATE MECHANISMS FOR COPYRIGHT, THERE IS NO CLEAR WAY TO PURSUE THIS. THAT IS BECAUSE LEGISLATION IS NOT CAUGHT UP WITH AI BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING SO QUICKLY. EVEN BEFORE WE HAD THIS LEVEL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THAT WAS STILL A COIN TOSS ABOUT WITH A SONG SOUNDED LIKE OTHER SONGS. BLEW THE LINES WAS SUED BY MARVIN GAYE'S ESTATE. ED SHEERAN WAS SUED BY MARVIN GAYE'S ESTATE. WHEN YOU THROW IN THIS TECHNOLOGY, IT BECOMES EVEN GREYER. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH THAT IS COOL ABOUT IT AS WELL. WHEN I HEARD TUPAC'S THE VOICE THAT BLEW MY MIND. THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL. ARE WE GOING TO SLEEPWALK INTO ANOTHER ERA OF SOCIETAL PROBLEMS AND COMMERCIAL ISSUES, OR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE A MORE CONSCIOUS APPROACH? THERE IS BEEN A BETTER RESPONSE FROM PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS LIKE THE EUROPEAN UNION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH AI AND THE REGULATION. OECD NATIONS HAVE RELEASED A SET OF PRINCIPLES ABOUT THE USE OF AI AND WORKFORCES. THE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY BETWEEN BACKTRACK AND SYNTHESIS OF THE VOICE JUST A YEAR AGO IS MIND BLOWING, EVEN FOR A TECHNOLOGY PERSON LIKE MYSELF. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS WHATEVER PACE WE ARE GOING AT WITH REGULATION AND UNDERSTANDING HOW COPYRIGHT WILL WORK IN THE SCENARIO NEEDS TO DOUBLE. IT IS A LONG WAY OFF, GIVEN THE CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING ABOUT HOW FAST AI IS MOVING IN RELATION TO HOW OUR LAWS WORK. IT IS AN INTERESTING SITUATION, AND NO DOUBT THERE WILL ALSO BE ARTISTS WHO WERE NERVOUS ABOUT ALL OF THIS, BUT FANS WHO MIGHT BE, TOO. THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW ARTISTS AND CONCEPTS ARE WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT AI FOR. IT IS NOT LIMITED BY PRECEDENTS THAT WE ARE. SOME INTERESTING MUSIC COULD COME OUT OF IT. I GUESS IT IS THE BIGGEST POINT, THAT THERE IS NO CONSENT THAT WAS ASKED FOR AND THE FIRST PLACE. NO DOUBT WE WILL BE TALKING MORE WITH YOU ABOUT AI IN THE NEAR FUTURE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. DRAKE IS NO COMPETITION FOR TUPAC. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. IS THAT SOUP ON THE MENU FOR BREAKFAST, MATT? STEVE AND I HAVE JUMPED IN THE VAN FROM NEW WORLD TO LOVE SOUP. THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT THE FAMILY TO FAMILY APPEAL SUPPORTS. WE'RE GOING TO BE CHATTING TO THE TEAM ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR THEM AND WHAT YOU CAN CHECK IN YOUR BAG TO HELP THEM. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO WORK. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE COALITION IS UNITED DESPITE PLUMMITING IN THE LATEST POLL RESULTS. PUSHING THEM OUT OF POWER. THE 1NEWS-VERIAN POLL SHOWS ALL THREE GOVERNING PARTIES HAVE DROPPED IN POPULARITY ` NEW ZEALAND FIRST DROPPING 2%, SITTING BELOW THE 5% THRESSHOLD TO RETURN TO PARLIAMENT MEANING NATIONAL AND ACT WOULDN'T HAVE THE NUMBERS TO FORM A MAJORITY, BUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON ARGUES THE COALITION IS WORKING WELL. WE'VE BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD GOVERNMENT FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. THREE DIFFERENT PARTIES COMING TOGETHER IN COALITION GOVERNMENT ` YES, WE WILL SAY AND EXPRESS THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND PEOPLE. IN THE LATEST POLL RESULTS A LEFT WING GOVERNMENT COULD BE FORMED WITH LABOUR AND GREEN BOTH UP, ALONG WITH TE PATI MAORI'S SIX SEATS, THERE'S A WARNING FROM POLICE AFTER AN INCREASE IN JEWELLERY STORE RAIDS. DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM POLICE THAT FRONTLINE STAFF WERE PRIORITISING VISITS TO SHOPPING MALLS, FIVE OFFENDERS TARGETED A MICHAEL HILL STORE IN WEST AUCKLAND YESTERDAY. DETECTIVE INSPECTOR GLENN BALDWIN SAYS EVEN WITH INCREASED SUPPORT, THEY STILL RELY ON BEING INFORMED BY THE PUBLIC. WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS SPATE OF CRIMES IS OFTEN THERE'S TWO STOLEN CARS. THERE IS A POINT WHERE THEY GET OUT OF ONE CAR AND GET INTO ANOTHER. SO PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THOSE CARS BEING DROPPED OFF OR THEY MIGHT SEE THAT EXCHANGE, AND THE SOONER WE KNOW ABOUT THAT, THE SOONER WE CAN RESPOND. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT ON SUNDAY NIGHT, WHERE WE WERE ON TO THAT SECOND CAR, AND WE CAUGHT UP WITH THOSE OFFENDERS. FIVE PEOPLE REMAIN ON THE RUN FROM POLICE FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S WEST AUCKLAND ROBBERY. PATIENT ADVOCATES SAY A BOOST TO PHARMAC'S BUDGET ONLY PLUGS A HOLE WHICH HAS BEEN STARVED OF FUNDING FOR YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A $1.7 BILLION INCREASE FOR THE COUNTRY'S DRUG-BUYING AGENCY YESTERDAY, WHICH NOW GETS MORE THAN $6 BILLION OVER FOUR YEARS. THE CANCER FOUNDATION HOPES THE UPCOMING BUDGET WILL FURTHER INCREASE FUNDING TO ADDRESS MODERN MEDICINES. OBVIOUSLY, PHARMAC NEEDS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE SIT WITHIN THE OECD WORLD. THE GOVERNMENT HEARD OUR CONCERNS LOUD AND CLEAR. WE KNOW THAT THE OPTIONS FOR INVESTMENT LIST ABSOLUTELY NEEDS CLEARING, SO WE WOULD BE HOPEFULLY AND REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF ANY EXTRA INVESTMENT INTO PHARMAC. THE AVERAGE OECD COUNTRY SPENDS ABOUT 1.5% OF ITS GDP ON SUCH AGENCIES ` NEW ZEALAND SPENDS CLOSER TO 0.4%. THERE'S A WARNING NEW ZEALAND COULD BE ON THE BRINK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC AS IMMUNISATION RATES FALL. IN A BRIEFING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VIRUS HAS INCREASED BY 1000 EVERY MONTH. IMMUNISATION COVERAGE FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS IS AT 80%, WELL SHORT OF THE 95% TARGET. THE BRIEFING SAYS CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS, WITH CALLS TO IMPROVE MMR IMMUNISATION FOR 15-MONTH-OLDS TO 9-YEAR-OLDS. POLICE ARE CLASHING WITH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THIS MORNING AS PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA CONTINUE. UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ORDERED THE PROTESTERS TO DISPERSE AND LEAVE THE CAMPUS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE STATE TROOPERS EQUIPPED WITH RIOT GEAR MOVED IN. LAST WEEK, MORE THAN 50 STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED AT THE AUSTIN UNIVERSITY. ANTI-WAR PROTESTS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE U.S., WITH DEMONSTRATIONS NOW UNDERWAY AT CAMPUSES ACROSS AT LEAST 22 STATES. AROUND 50 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN KENYA, AFTER A DAM BURST ITS BANKS FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN. PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE OF MAI MAHIU WERE SWEPT AWAY AS THEY SLEPT. RESCUE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING TO PULL SURVIVORS FROM THE MUD. IT PUSHES THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE LATEST WAVE OF FLASH FLOODS PAST 120. TO SPORT, AND ENGLAND RUGBY FORWARD BILLY VUNIPOLA HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN MAJORCA. IT'S UNDERSTOOD THE 31-YEAR-OLD WAS TASERED BY POLICE AND CHARGED WITH RESISTING THE LAW ON THE SPANISH ISLAND AND FINED JUST OVER $400. VUNIPOLA DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS AN UNFORTUNATE MISUNDERSTANDING. HIS CLUB SARACENS SAYS IT WILL DEAL WITH THE MATTER INTERNALLY. TO SPORT AND 16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS HAVE VOTED TO INTRODUCE A SPENDING CAP. THE PROPOSED MODEL WOULD LIMIT CLUBS SPENDING ON TRANSFERS, WAGES AND AGENTS' FEES AND IS LIKELY TO BE LINKED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE LOWEST RANKED CLUB MAKES IN TELEVISION REVENUE. MANCHESTER CITY, MANCHESTER UNITED AND ASTON VILLA WERE THE ONLY TEAMS WHO OPPOSED THE SPENDING CAP WHILE CHELSEA DIDN'T VOTE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. THIS WILL CLEAR TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN AUCKLAND AND WHANGAREI. 21 THE HIGH FOR KAITAIA. FURTHER DOWN ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REGION. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY IN HAMILTON AND TOKOROA. TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE WITH A HIGH OF 20. TO THE EAST COAST ` FINE START TO YOUR DAY FOR THOSE IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, OTHERWISE IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR THOSE IN GISBORNE. 19 IS THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. TO THE WEST COAST ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY IN WELLINGTON WITH SOME SHOWERS. ELSEWHERE, IT'S MOSTLY LOOKING LIKE A NICE FINE DAY. WHANGANUI, YOUR HIGH IS 20. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. ELSEWHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE. 20 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. FURTHER SOUTH ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL BE GETTING SOME SHOWERS THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON, YOUR HIGH IS 20. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR BROLLY. THERE'LL BE RAIN DEVELOPING THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. THIS WILL GET HEAVY IN MILFORD SOUND, EASING IN THE EVENING. A HIGH OF 18 FOR DUNEDIN. THE NEW WORLD Family2Family ANNUAL APPEAL IS IN ITS FINAL WEEK, MEANING THERE'S ONE LAST CHANCE TO EITHER FILL A BAG WITH FOODBANK-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS OR DONATE A PRE-FILLED BAG. THESE DONATIONS ARE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO CITY MISSIONS AND LOCAL FOODBANKS. MATT GIBB HAS BEEN CHECKING IT OUT FOR US THIS MORNING. THIS SEGMENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NEW WORLD. MORENA, MATT. I AM AT LOVE SOUP FOOD RESCUE. IT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY NEW WORLD. THIS IS JULIE. IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE. I'VE BROUGHT A COUPLE OF BAGS, WE FILLED UP THIS MORNING. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS DO. IT IS ABOUT FEUDING PEOPLE. *FEEDING WE DO FOOD PARCELS, COMMUNITY MEALS AND WE HAVE FREE KAI TABLES. THIS IS HIGH WITH NEW WORLD IS SUPPORTING THEM. THE BIKES COME IN AND YOU PUT THEM IN DIFFERENT PACKAGES THAT GO OUT TO FAMILIES. THEY ARE SO DEDICATED. LET'S PUT THEM TO WORK. OBVIOUSLY, YOU WOULD KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE I USE SEEING A INCREASE? THERE IS A HUGE INCREASE IN DIFFERENT AREAS. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE FOOD WE COULD RESCUE AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO NEW WORLD FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER. THEY DONATE SOME REALLY EXCITING, AWESOME STUFF. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE... OBVIOUSLY STAPLES HELP BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE TREATS TOO. TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE ITEMS YOU DESPERATELY NEED. WE ARE ALWAYS KEEN FOR NON-PERISHABLES. WE GET A LOT OF PERISHABLE FOODS BECAUSE WE ARE FOOD RESCUE. WHEN WE HAVE A VARIETY, EVERY BIT HELPS. IF YOU HAVE A COLLECTION AT SCHOOL, SOMETHING IN THE PANTRY BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE OR PUT INTO THE TROLLEY AT YOUR LOCAL SUPERMARKET, WE LOVE IT ALL. IT IS REALLY HELPFUL AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWS. *SHARES YOU HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY TO GET INVOLVED. THIS IS THE LAST WEEK, IT HAS BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR. GET OFF THOSE PINEAPPLE LUMPS. YOU CAN DONATE ONLINE AS WELL. ALL THE INFO IS THERE. I'M GOING TO GET MY HANDS DIRTY AND GET TO WORK BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE TEAM HE WAS DOING SUCH GREAT WORK. MAKE SURE YOU GET TO NEW WORLD BEFORE SUNDAY TO HELP OUT. SHE DOUBLECHECKS THAT BOX WAS ACTUALLY FULL. IMAGINE HER ON A MORNING LIKE THIS PACKING UP AT 7:30. ME U TONU MAI ` A NOVEL BUT EMERGING CONCEPT OF GIVING LEGAL RIGHTS TO NATURE IS GAINING MOMENTUM. COULD THIS SAVE OUR FORESTS AND RIVERS? IS A TREE A PERSON? THERE'S GROWING SUPPORT FOR GRANTING NATURE SIMILAR LEGAL RIGHTS AS HUMANS IN A BID TO SAVE OUR FORESTS AND RIVERS. ECUADOR WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ENSHRINE RIGHTS OF NATURE IN ITS CONSTITUTION IN 2008 ` MORE COUNTRIES HAVE FOLLOWED. HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, SO-CALLED 'LEGAL PERSONHOOD' HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE WHANGANUI RIVER, TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK AND SOON TARANAKI MAUNGA. VIKTORIA KAHUI, A SENIOR LECTURER IN ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, HAS BEEN RESEARCHING THE TOPIC AND JOINS US NOW. MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I FIRST READ THIS, I THOUGHT THIS IS MAD. BUT DELVING INTO YOUR PAPER, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME. EXPLAINS WAS WHAT IT MEANS TO GRANT LEGAL PERSONHOOD. LEGAL PERSONHOOD CAN BE BOTH HUMAN AND NONHUMAN. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT NONHUMAN ENTITIES, WE THINK ABOUT ORGANISATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE CHARITABLE TRUSTS. THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE AS THEY CAN ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, SUE AND BE SUED, SO WE ARE USED TO THIS CONCEPT AND CHARITABLE TRUSTS. WHO CAN BE A LEGAL PERSON? SO FAR IT IS MAINLY ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITABLE TRUSTS. SINCE 1972, PEOPLE ASKED IF WE CAN BEST LEGAL RIGHTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE LONG ADVOCATED FOR THIS. WHAT RIGHTS CAN THEY HAVE AS A PERSON WITH LEGAL PERSONHOOD. IT COMES TIME TO LIABILITY. WE COMPARED 14 GLOBAL CASE STUDIES AROUND THE WORLD AND LOOKS AT HOW THEY ARE SIMILAR AND HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT. OVERWHELMINGLY, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES WERE ADVOCATES FOR RIGHTS OF NATURE AND OFTEN, DUE TO LONG-STANDING CONFLICTS OVER DECADES, FROM SUSTAINED ECONOMIC PRESSURE. WE LOOK TO THE DIFFERENCES WE FIND IN TERMS OF A DESIGN AND HOW THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED THEY ARE QUITE DIFFERENT. NOT JUST THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK BUT ALSO WHO DESIGNATED THE GUARDIANS. WHICH EXAMPLES STOOD OUT. LAKE ERIE WAS GIVEN RIGHTS OF NATURE AND WAS GIVEN THE RIGHT TO EXIST AND FLOURISH. BUT FARMERS ADJACENT TO THE LAKE ARGUED WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS. WHAT CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THESE RIGHTS AND WHAT ARE WE LIABLE FOR, SO THE DECISION WAS OVERTURNED. IN INDIA IT WAS DECLARED THE GANGES WAS A LIVING PERSON. AN INJURY TO A RIVER IS TREATED LIKE AN INJURY TO A HUMAN PERSON. IT WAS CHALLENGED IN COURT ON THE GROUNDS OF WHO WAS THE CUSTODIANS? WE LIABLE TO SOMEBODY WHO IS DROWNING IN THE RIVER? ON THE OTHER SIDE, NEW ZEALAND IS A BIT OF A LEADER GLOBALLY BECAUSE THE RIVER HAS BEEN A BENCHMARK. IT IS STANDING OUT BECAUSE IT REFLECTS TE AO MAORI, I SHIFT IN MINDSET OF HOW WE VIEW THE WORLD, AND IT HAS A REALLY DETAILED LEGAL FRAMEWORK ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE A LIABILITY AND WHO ARE WHAT IS LIABLE FOR IT. WE ARE LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THE RABBINATE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE RIGHTS OF NATURE SPACE? COUNTERMOVEMENT HELPS THAN THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY? IF EVERY COMMUNITY, IF EVERYONE IN NEW ZEALAND WAS ABLE TO APPLY TO THE PROCESS TO MAKE THEIR OWN BACKYARD A NATIONAL TREASURE AND BECOME ITS OWN LEGAL PERSON. ECONOMIC PRESSURES ARE ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. IN NEW ZEALAND WE HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE TE AO MAORI AND REALLY GO FORWARD AND IMPLEMENT THIS TO STAND THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS BEING TAKEN FURTHER. VICTORIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. E WHAI AKE NEI ` TODAY IS THE LAST DAY YOUR CHILD CAN RIDE THE BUS FOR FREE, SO HOW WILL CUTS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT IMPACT FAMILIES? AN ADVOCATE JOINS US. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. GETTING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL ON THE BUS OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO UNI IS ABOUT TO DOUBLE IN PRICE WITH HALF-PRICE AND FREE FARES AXED FROM TOMORROW. THE DISCOUNT WAS ONLY INTRODUCED BY LABOUR IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND QUICKLY CUT AGAIN BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT. BUT THE FREE FARES CAMPAIGN SAYS ENDING THE DISCOUNT WILL ONLY WORSEN THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY FREE FARES' HANA PILKINTON-CHING. MORENA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. TOMORROW IS NOT GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY FOR YOU WATCHING THE DISCOUNTS DISAPPEAR. NO. WE ARE PRETTY DEVASTATED, ESPECIALLY AT THE IMPACT THAT THIS WILL HAVE ON FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO GET BY EVERY WEEK. WE HAD CHRISTOPHER LUXON ON LESS THAN AN HOUR AGO, AND ONE OF THE POINTS THAT HE MADE WAS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT, THAT IF YOU WANT TO USE IT, YOU HAVE GOT TO PAY FOR IT. I THINK THAT IS QUITE IRONIC, BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT MORE, WE NEED SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT. WE ALSO NEED CONSISTENCY IN THE CHEAPER FARES SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR FEARS WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN LOW. THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE KEEP UP THE HABITS AS OPPOSED TO HAVING UNCERTAINTY WITH THE CHANGING FEARS ALL OF THE TIME. THIS WAS ONLY INTRODUCED BY THE LAST GOVERNMENT NOT LONG AGO, SO IT HAS NOT BEEN IN PLACE FOR A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME. INFLATION IS SLOWLY COMING DOWN, SO THE COST OF LIVING SHOWED OVER THE NEXT WEE WAIL IS OFF ABOUT. IS THIS REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT, OR CAN THEY BE JUSTIFIED IN ARGUING WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD IT AS A GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME? I WOULD SAY THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT HAS FLOW ON EFFECTS MORE THAN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT. IT CAN IMPROVE PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IT AS A KEY TOOL TO ACHIEVE THAT. GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES THAT YOU MIGHT'VE HEARD ALL YOU KNOW YOURSELF OF HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GET AROUND OR TO IMPROVE THEIR WEEKLY BUDGET OR TO MAKE LIFE A BIT EASIER. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY HEARD FROM STUDENTS AND HAVING MORE AFFORDABLE FARES MEANS THEY ARE ABLE TO GET TO CAMPUS MORE OFTEN RATHER THAN ONLY CHOOSING YOUR TWO DAYS A WEEK THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO GET INTO CAMPUS BECAUSE YOU ARE ON SUCH A TIGHT BUDGET. WE HAVE HEARD FROM GRANDPARENTS WERE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR GRANDKIDS CATCH THE TRAIN TO SEE THEM OFTEN BECAUSE OF THESE DISCOUNTS, SO IT IS ACTUALLY MORE AFFORDABLE TRANSPORT HAS BEEN HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHICH IS INVALUABLE AND HARD TO PUT A COST ON. I AM GOING TO SOME REALLY COLDHEARTED BY THIS, BUT IN A TIME WHEN EVERYONE IS PULLING ON A GOVERNMENT BUDGET, I JUST DO NOT KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD JUSTIFY SEEING YOUR GRANDPARENTS A BIT MORE BECAUSE OF A HALF PRICE DISCOUNT SHOULD BE JUSTIFIED IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING WHEN THE RATES OF USAGE ARE GOING DOWN. HOW DO YOU QUANTIFY IT? THIS POLICY DOES ACTUALLY HAVE THE MAJORITY OF PUBLIC SUPPORT. A POLL IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR SHOWED THAT THREE QUARTERS OF NEW ZEALANDERS SUPPORT KEEPING THE DISCOUNTS AND THAT INCLUDED A MAJORITY OF NATIONAL AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST VOTERS. IT IS A RELATIVELY SMALL POLICY IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS. THE SAVINGS MADE BY THIS DISCOUNT BEING PULLED ARE SMALL. IT DOES NOT OUTWEIGH THE COSTS OF LOSING THESE DISCOUNTS. AS A YOUNG PERSON HERE, YOU'RE STILL WORSE OFF BY THE REMOVAL OF THESE DISCOUNTS. CAN YOU LOBBY TO GET IT BACK? OR HAVE YOU TRIED TO DO THAT? WE HAVE EVER SINCE AS NEW GOVERNMENT CAME IN. WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING THEM THE RANGE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR KEEPING THE DISCOUNT, AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY KEPT THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DISCOUNT AND TOTAL MOBILITY DISCOUNT, AND I SAID THAT IS THE PRODUCT OF THE SHOW OF SUPPORT THAT THEY SHOULD HOLD ONTO THESE DISCOUNTS AFTER SAYING THEY WOULD REMOVE THEM. WE ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND CONTINUING TO ALL MOMENTUM BEHIND THE IDEA OF FREE FEARS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS SOMEONE THAT ADDRESSES SO MANY ISSUES. IS THAT THE WAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY GET THIS BACK AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE? OR WILL IT HAVE TO BE A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN SEE THE BENEFIT AND NOT CREATING TRAFFIC JAMS, FOR EXAMPLE. I THINK IT IS A BIT SHAKEN AND EGG TO SAY WE NEED TO SEE A HIGHER RATE OF USES BEFORE WE CAN INVEST IN IT PROPERLY, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT USAGE IS THE DIRECT PRODUCT OF INVESTMENT. WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY. THEY THEN NEED TO INVEST TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE MOTION FROM CARS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT WILL FLOW FROM THAT. THERE'S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE FROM OVERSEAS TO MAKE SURE THAT IS THE CASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. A FORMER NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY PRESIDENT IS BLAMING THE COALITION FOR A DROP IN THE POLLS. THE LATEST 1 NEWS-VERIAN POLL HAS THE PARTY SITTING BELOW THE 5% THRESHOLD TO REMAIN IN PARLIAMENT, MEANING NATIONAL AND ACT WOULDN'T HAVE THE NUMBERS TO FORM A MAJORITY. BRENT CATCHPOLE SAYS NEW ZEALAND FIRST'S DROP IS BECAUSE OF COALITION DECISIONS. THEY GET ABSORBED INTO THE DECISIONS, AND SOMETIMES THEY GET BLAMED FOR THOSE DECISIONS WHEN IT'S NOT REALLY THEIR FAULT. HOWEVER, THE... AS WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE NEXT ELECTION, I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME BIG CHANGES, AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST WILL BE ABLE TO STEP UP AND SHOW SOME DIFFERENCES. BUT AT THE MOMENT, THEY'RE WORKING AS A COALITION GOVERNMENT, AND THEY HAVE TO BE WORKING WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK. WINSTON PETERS SAYS, 'IT IS TOO EARLY TO GIVE A RATS DERRIERE ABOUT A POLL RESULT.' AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL, WITH A SCATHING INTERIM REPORT ON ITS PROPOSAL TO REMOVE A SECTION OF THE ORANGA TAMARIKI ACT. THE REPORT WARNS THAT RUSHING THE REPEAL COULD CAUSE REAL HARM TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN STATE CARE. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSING TO REMOVE A REQUIREMENT ON THE AGENCY TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. THE TRIBUNAL'S FINAL REPORT IS DUE NEXT MONTH. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' UNION SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES FOR THE SECTOR WILL BE MEANINGLESS UNLESS IT GETS MORE TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS. ERICA STANFORD LAID OUT SIX FOCUS AREAS FOR EDUCATION YESTERDAY, BUT THE PPTA WARNS THE PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE ENSURING THERE ARE ENOUGH SPECIALIST SUBJECT TEACHERS. A RECENT SURVEY BY THE PPTA FOUND 56% OF SCHOOLS HAD TEACHERS WORKING IN NON-SPECIALIST AREAS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND SUITABLY QUALIFIED STAFF. THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE THE SURVEY BEGAN IN 1996. POLICE ARE CLASHING WITH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THIS MORNING AS PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA CONTINUE. UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ORDERED THE PROTESTERS TO DISPERSE AND LEAVE THE CAMPUS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE STATE TROOPERS EQUIPED WITH RIOT GEAR MOVED IN. LAST WEEK, MORE THAN 50 STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED AT THE AUSTIN UNIVERSITY. ANTI-WAR PROTESTS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE U.S WITH DEMONSTRATIONS NOW UNDERWAY AT CAMPUSES ACROSS AT LEAST 22 STATES. THE UNITED STATES' TOP DIPLOMAT IS BACK IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS ISRAEL AND HAMAS EDGE CLOSER TO A CEASEFIRE. ANTONY BLINKEN IS IN THE REGION ONCE AGAIN TO DISCUSS GAZA AND POST-WAR PEACE PLANS. THE LATEST PROPOSAL FOR A TRUCE WOULD SEE A NUMBER OF HOSTAGES RELEASED FOR A 40-DAY PAUSE IN ISRAEL'S OFFENSIVE. THE UNITED STATES IS URGING HAMAS TO TAKE THE DEAL. HAMAS HAS BEFORE IT A PROPOSAL THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY... EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS ON THE PART OF ISRAEL. AND IN THIS MOMENT, THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND A CEASEFIRE IS HAMAS. A DELEGATION FROM HAMAS IS IN EGYPT NOW FOR THE LATEST NEGOTIATIONS. MEANWHILE, NEW ZEALAND'S FUNDING FOR THE UN AID AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IS STILL IN LIMBO. THE NEXT CONTRIBUTION TO UNRWA IS DUE AT THE END OF JUNE, THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T CONFIRMED WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL GO AHEAD, SINCE ISRAEL ALLEGED THE ORGANISATION'S EMPLOYEES WERE INVOLVED IN THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CLAIMS HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO SUSTANTIATE THE ALLEGATIONS. AROUND 50 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN KENYA AFTER A DAM BURST ITS BANKS FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN. PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE OF MAI MAHIU WERE SWEPT AWAY AS THEY SLEPT. RESCUE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING TO PULL SURVIVORS FROM THE MUD. IT PUSHES THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE LATEST WAVE OF FLOODS PAST 120. IT'S HOPED THE CONCEPT OF GRANTING NATURE A 'LEGAL PERSONHOOD' COULD HELP NATIVE ENVIRONMENTS FLOURISH. IN A BID TO SAVE FORESTS AND RIVERS, THERE'S GROWING SUPPORT FOR GRANTING NATURE SIMILAR LEGAL RIGHTS AS HUMANS. VIKTORIA KAHUI SAYS THE MOVEMENT ARISES IN RESPONSE TO ECONOMIC PRESSURES SUCH AS POLLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT. WOULDN'T THAT BE AMAZING IF EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY IWI AIR NEW ZEALAND WAS ABLE TO APPLY IN A STREAMLINED PROCESS TO MAKE ITS OWN BACKYARD NATURAL TREASURE BECOME ITS OWN LEGAL PERSON? 'LEGAL PERSONHOOD' HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE WHANGANUI RIVER, TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK AND WILL SOON INCLUDE TARANAKI MAUNGA. TO SPORT, AND THE MAINLAND TACTIX HAVE REJOINED THE CENTRAL PULSE AT THE TOP OF THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP TABLE WITH A NARROW WIN OVER THE NORTHERN MYSTICS. THE TACTIX TRAILED BY FOUR GOALS AT HALFTIME BUT MANAGED TO CLAW THEIR WAY BACK FOR A 62-59 VICTORY. GOSH, IT WAS A BIT OF A TUSSLE OUT THERE. THE CROWD REALLY BROUGHT IT, SO IT FELT LIKE AT TIMES WE WERE PLAYING AGAINST AN EIGHTH PLAYER, BUT REALLY PROUD OF THE GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH. AND NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THE SILVER FERNS, WITH STAR SHOOTER GRACE NWEKE LEAVING THE COURT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH A KNEE INJURY. THE NBA'S MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES ARE SWEATING ON AN INJURY AHEAD OF THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS, BUT IT'S NOT ONE OF THEIR PLAYERS. COACH CHRIS FINCH RUPTURED HIS PATELLA TENDON AFTER COLLIDING WITH VETERAN GUARD MIKE CONLEY DURING YESTERDAY'S GAME WITH THE PHOENIX SUNS. FINCH WAS HELPED OFF THE COURT AND MISSED THE END OF THE GAME. CONLEY LATER SAID HIS COACH WAS IN THE WAY. THE TIMBERWOLVES WENT ON TO CLOSE OUT THE SERIES 4-0 AGAINST THE PHOENIX SUNS. IT IS THEIR FIRST PLAY-OFF WHEN IN 20 YEARS. THESE ARE THE COACH THAN A PLAYER. HE WILL NEED A PAIR OF CRUTCHES. AMERICAN HEALTHCARE, HE WILL BE FINE. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. THIS WILL CLEAR TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN AUCKLAND AND WHANGAREI. 21 THE HIGH FOR KAITAIA. FURTHER DOWN ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REGION. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY IN HAMILTON AND TOKOROA. TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE WITH A HIGH OF 20. TO THE EAST COAST ` FINE START TO YOUR DAY FOR THOSE IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, OTHERWISE IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR THOSE IN GISBORNE. 17 DEGREES FOR YOU. TO THE WEST COAST ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY IN WELLINGTON WITH SOME SHOWERS. ELSEWHERE, IT'S MOSTLY LOOKING LIKE A NICE FINE DAY. WHANGANUI, YOUR HIGH IS 20. 18 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. ELSEWHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE. 16 DEGREES ON THE WEST COAST. FURTHER SOUTH ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. ALEXANDRA, YOU'LL BE GETTING SOME SHOWERS THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON, YOUR HIGH IS 20. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR BROLLY. THERE WILL BE RAIN DEVELOPING THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. THIS WILL GET HEAVY IN MILFORD SOUND, EASING IN THE EVENING. LACHIE JONES WAS JUST 3 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS FOUND DEAD IN AN OXIDATION POND IN EARLY JANUARY 2019, BUT HOW HE GOT THERE IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A CORONIAL INQUEST AT THE INVERCARGILL DISTRICT COURT. AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION FOUND THE TODDLER HAD DROWNED AND THAT THERE WAS NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INVOLVED BUT THE POLICE LATER ADMITTED TO 'MISSED STEPS' IN THEIR INQUIRY. NEWSROOM'S INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR MELANIE REID HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CASE IN DETAIL FOR FOUR YEARS. MELANIE JOINS ME NOW FROM INVERCARGILL. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE DOWN THERE ATTENDING THE INQUEST. CAN YOU REMIND US OF THE KEY DETAILS OF THE CASE? HE WAS THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD. THE OFFICIAL STORY IS THAT HE RAN AWAY FROM HOME AT ABOUT 9 PM AT NIGHT AND WENT 1.2 KM DOWN A ROUGH GRAVEL TRACK AND FELL IN AND DROWN. AND IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. THAT WAS THE POLICE FINDING. SINCE THEN, HIS FATHER HAS PUSHED FOR THE INVESTIGATION TO BE REOPENED OR FOR MORE ANSWERS. HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE OFFICIAL FINDINGS. HE HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE. HIM AND HIS FRIENDS HAVE REALLY PUSHED FOR THE CASE TO BE REOPENED BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF KEY ISSUES WITH THE CASE. LACHIE DESPITE HAVING RUN ALL OF THAT WAY, WHICH WAS A QUESTION IN ITSELF WHETHER HE COULD ACTUALLY GO, WHETHER HE WOULD GO 1.2 KM, BUT HE HAD NO MARKS ON HIS FEET, NO WATER AND HIS LUNGS, WAS FOUND FACE UP, AND THERE ARE QUITE A LOT OF ISSUES AROUND IT. OBVIOUSLY ALSO THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND THE POLICE INVESTIGATION. SO WE HAVE NOW GOT TO THE STAGE OF AN INQUEST. BUT THE REPORTING AROUND THAT IS QUITE RESTRICTED. WHY IS THAT? I THINK YOU WILL FIND IN A LOT OF THESE CASES AND INQUESTS, THE IDEA IS NOT TO HAVE AN INTIMIDATING ENVIRONMENT, FOR IT NOT TO BE DISTRACTING SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE BEST QUALITY OF TESTIMONY. AND SO THERE ARE SCREENS UP AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN THE CASE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THE BEST TESTIMONY POSSIBLE. YOU HAVE GOT TO THINK THAT HAS GOT TO BE THE CASE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO IS GIVING EVIDENCE OR WHO IS TAKING THE STAND. LACHIE'S MUM IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. HIS MUM WILL BE ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE TWO BROTHERS. THIS IS GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE FIRST THREE WEEKS WILL BE PEOPLE THAT ARE EYEWITNESSES, POLICE, FUNERAL DIRECTORS, AND THEN LATER ON, THERE IS ANOTHER BLOCK OF TIME SET DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS IN AUGUST, AND THAT IS REALLY FOR THE EXPERTS, AND WITHIN THAT, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME REALLY HEAVY HITTERS, SOME OVERSEAS EXPERTS, PATHOLOGISTS, AND THERE IS GOING TO BE, WHICH PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, A FORMER FORENSIC DETECTIVE FROM THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THIS CASE. IF WE LOOK AT THOSE TWO CHUNKS OF TIME, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE FINDINGS HAVE TO BE MADE AFTER THAT, THIS HAS STILL GOT QUITE A LONG WAY TO RUN. IT HAS INDEED. IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION, I KNOW YOU HAVE COVERED THIS PREVIOUSLY AND A COUPLE OF EPISODES, WHERE CAN WE FIND THAT? I HAVE COVERED IT AND COVERED IT AND COVERED IT. THERE ARE TWO VIDEO INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NEWSROOM WEBSITE. THERE IS ALSO THE POD CAST THE BOY IN THE WATER. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. YOU HAVE BEEN AN INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR FOR A LONG TIME, AND I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT HAS DRAWN YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CASE? A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TO INVEST A LOT OF TIME GETTING TO THIS POINT. WHAT IS IT FOR YOU? IT JUST DID NOT STACK UP TO ME. I DID THE WALK, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT IS POSSIBLE BUT NOT PROBABLE. THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THE POLICE INVESTIGATION THAT WERE LACKING, AND IT JUST DID NOT RING TRUE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING OUT THE RESULTS OF THIS INQUEST. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. E WHAI AKE NEI ` 22 KAPA HAKA GROUPS FROM TAINUI ALL VYING FOR A SPOT AT TE MATATINI FESTIVAL. WE'LL MEET WITH THE WINNING GROUP WHO CAUSED QUITE THE STIR. THAT IS COMING UP NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. DANIEL IS OUT AND ABOUT. WE WILL CATCH UP WITH HIM IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES. AM I ALLOWED TO SAY THIS? THE PRIME MINISTER ACTUALLY SAID IT. THIS IS YOUR LAST WEEK. IT IS. I HAVE ORDERED A CAKE. YOU HAVE ORDERED THE CAKE? ISN'T THAT WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO? THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. OBVIOUSLY I AM INTO CAKE BY THE LOOKS OF ME. YOU ARE OFF NOW FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. ARE YOU ORGANISED? NO! I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING. THEY GO BAG IS VERY IMPORTANT. LOOK, I CAN GRAB A COUPLE OF THINGS IF I NEEDED TO IN A RUSH. WE WILL BE ALL RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT NEXT WEEK IS FOR. OH DEAR. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING ANTENATAL CLASSES. SO GOOD, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT READ A BOOK OR ANYTHING. THIS IS THE CHEAT SHEET. THIS IS WHAT I DID. I DO NOT READ ANYTHING. THEN I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? WEARING THE BODY SUIT. YOU CAN GET A SENSE OF WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. HE HAS MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THAT EVERY SINGLE WEEK. IT IS QUITE TIRING AFTER A WHILE ON YOUR BACK. IT IS A BIT MUCH. STOP IT. I WILL GET A BIT MORE PERSONAL HERE. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT NAMES? WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY MEANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. WE JUST KEEP FORGETTING TO. I KNOW PEOPLE IN THIS NEWSROOM WHO TOOK SEVEN MONTHS TO NAME THEIR CHILD. DID THEY GET FIND? THEY GOT A NUMBER OF LETTERS FROM THE DIA, SO I AM AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES. WE'LL BE FINE. YOU THINK YOU TOO WILL BE OKAY ABOUT HOW YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THIS DISCUSSION? THERE ARE SOME APPS THAT ARE A BIT LIKE TENDER FOR NAMES. THEY ARE QUITE GOOD. WE HAD THAT LADY BREAKFAST AND SHE WOULD WRITE YOU A NAME. I COULD GO TO HER. THE AT ONE IS THAT YOU WOULD BOTH HAVE YOUR PHONES, AND IF YOU LIKE THE NAME, YOU COULD SWIPE. THEN IT WILL TELL YOU WHICH ONES YOU MATCH UP ON. IT IS QUITE A GOOD WAY OF DOING THAT NICE AND DIPLOMATICALLY. I WOULD SAY YOU ARE GOING TO WIN NO MATTER WHAT. IF IT IS A BOY AND YOU WANT TO CALL IT CHRIS, THAT IS FINE BY ME. IMAGINE THAT MY BABY COMES OUT CHRISTINE OR JENNY-MAY. YOU SOMEONE RELIABLE. THIS GUY. THE NEW WORLD Family2Family APPEAL IS WRAPPING UP ITS FINAL WEEK, WITH ONE LAST CHANCE FOR CUSTOMERS TO VISIT THE STORE AND EITHER FILL A BAG WITH FOODBANK-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS OR DONATE A PRE-FILLED BAG. THESE DONATIONS ARE COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO CITY MISSIONS AND LOCAL FOODBANKS, AIMING TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASON. WE'VE SENT MATT GIBB OUT TO CHECK IT OUT. THIS SEGEMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY NEW WORLD. MORENA. WE ARE AT LOVE SOUP FOOD RESCUE. THIS IS TRACY. HOW ARE YOU? GREAT, THANK YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN IN HERE EARLY WORKING HARD ON PUTTING TOGETHER THESE BEAUTIFUL FOOD PARCELS. THEY WILL BE GOING OUT TO PEOPLE IN NEED. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PAT ON THE BACK AND SAY YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB. HOW LONG HAS THIS PLACEMENT RUNNING? IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR OVER 10 YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN UP IN THE HIBISCUS COAST FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN HERE ON BRIGHTSIDE ROAD FOR JUST OVER SIX MONTHS. YOU ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. SMILING FACES WE HAVE SEEN THIS MORNING, HELPING OTHER COMMUNITIES, IT FILLS YOUR CUP UP. IT IS LOVELY BEING IN HERE. IN TERMS OF WHAT IS BEING DONATED, WITH THESE BAGS FROM NEW WORLD, THE FAMILY TO FAMILY APPEAL, THERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC ITEMS COMING IN. YOU ALSO DEAL WITH FOOD THAT IS NOT JUST COMING IN FROM SUPERMARKETS. HE WAS GOING OUT AND FIND INFO THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE GOING TO WASTE. THE SUPERMARKETS HAVE A LOT OF FOOD THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE TO EAT BUT IS NOT REALLY SELLABLE BECAUSE IT MIGHT NOT LOOK PERFECT. THEY DONATE THAT TO US RATHER THAN SENDING IT TO LANDFILL. IT IS A WIN WHEN. IT IS ALSO A MORE SUSTAINABLE OPERATION AS WELL. THIS MAKES IT SO EASY FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. $20 GIVES YOU ONE OF THESE BAGS THAT IS PREPACKAGED BY THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED. OTHERWISE YOU CAN GRAB A BAG AND VALIDATE YOURSELF. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE JUST HEALTHY THINGS. YOU CAN THROW IN SOMETHING LIKE YOUR CHIPPIES. YOU GET TO SEE WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS WHEN PEOPLE COME IN AND VISIT YOU AND THEY GET YOUR FOOD PARCELS. WHAT REACTIONS ARE YOU GETTING? IT IS QUITE HUMBLING. PEOPLE ARE SO GRATEFUL. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE STRUGGLING THESE DAYS. WE LIVE IN A REASONABLY AFFLUENT AREA UP ON THE COAST, BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF POVERTY. WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO STRETCH THE SUPERMARKET BUDGET, IF THEY CAN GET A FEW DAYS OF FOOD FROM US, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. EVERYONE IS FEELING THE PINCH AT THE MOMENT, BUT IF YOU ARE, IMAGINE HOW MUCH SOMEONE IN DESPERATE NEED IS FEELING RIGHT NOW. IT IS A GREAT PROMOTION. IT RUNS UNTIL SUNDAY. IT IS SO EASY TO GET INVOLVED. INTO YOUR LOCAL NEW WORLD AND GRAB A PREFILLED BAG OR FILL ONE UP YOURSELF, AND IT WILL GO TO SOMEONE WHO DEFINITELY WILL APPRECIATE IT. YOU CAN ALSO DONATE ONLINE. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEW WORLD WEBSITE. GET INVOLVED, AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS THERE AS WELL. A GREAT GESTURE FROM NEW WORLD AS WELL ` THEY ARE DONATING $250,000 AS WELL WHICH WILL GO TO CITY MISSIONS AND FOOD BANKS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL HANGING OUT HERE, AND I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN ON THURSDAY MORNING. HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE SHOW. THANK YOU, MATT. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. STAY WITH US. (UPBEAT MUSIC) THE TAINUI REGIONAL KAPA HAKA COMPETITION TOOK PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH GROUPS ACROSS THE REGION PERFORMING AT HAMILTON'S GLOBOX ARENA. 22 GROUPS WERE IN CONTENTION, ALL VYING FOR A SPOT AT TE MATATINI NATIONAL KAPA HAKA FESTIVAL IN TARANAKI NEXT YEAR. THIS YEAR'S TAINUI WINNERS, MOTAI TANGATA RAU. (PERFORMING) THE GROUP GRABBED THE AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION WITH THEIR VICTORIAN-INSPIRED ATTIRE WORN UNDER THEIR PIUPIU, OR FLAX DRESSES. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY GROUP LEADER PARAONE GLOYNE. MORENA. GOOD MORNING. AND CONGRATULATIONS. CAN I JUST SAY, WHEN I WATCHED A PERFORMANCE I WAS IN TEARS, AND I'M NOT HUNDRED PERCENT WHY, BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT THE SOUND. YOU MUST BE INCREDIBLY PROUD. I AM. BOTH MYSELF AND MY PARTNER, BUT IN HUMILITY. THOSE EMOTIONS THAT WERE STIRRED, THOSE BEATS AND SIGNS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, THINGS THAT RESONATED WITH THE VIBRATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN US. WE ARE QUIETLY PROUD. WHAT INSPIRED THE PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF THE SONG THE LYRICS? EVEN DOWN TO WHAT YOU WORE? PEOPLE MAY BE SURPRISED IT TELLS THE STORY OF THE SETTING UP OF THE KINGITANGA. HE CAME TO OPENING LAST YEAR, IT WAS 150 CELEBRATION. HE BROUGHT THE FLAG WITH HIM. WE DON'T SAY KING UNTIL THE END, WHICH IS THE CRESCENDO. TALKS ABOUT KUMARA, AND IT WAS ORGANISED AT THE HUI IN TARANAKI TO BRING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND STOP THE SALE OF LAND AND BLOODSHED. TO END THE HUI, A KUMARA WAS PASSED AROUND. THEY USED A KUMARA BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TO BE POTATOES. BROWN ON THE OUTSIDE, WHITE ON THE INSIDE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE. GO WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A BIG YEAR. MORE TRAINING AND MORE OF EVERYTHING AS YOU HEAD TOWARDS THE FINALS./ WE ARE GOING TO TARANAKI. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE COALITION IS UNITED DESPITE PLUMMETING IN THE LATEST POLL RESULTS. THE 1 NEWS-VERIAN POLL HAS ALL THREE COALITION PARTIES DROPPING IN POPULARITY. NEW ZEALAND FIRST ARE DOWN TO 4%, SITTING BELOW THE THRESHOLD TO STAY IN PARLIAMENT, MEANING NATIONAL AND ACT WOULDN'T HAVE THE NUMBERS TO FORM A MAJORITY, BUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON ARGUES THE COALITION IS WORKING WELL. WE'VE BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD GOVERNMENT FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. THREE DIFFERENT PARTIES COMING TOGETHER IN COALITION GOVERNMENT ` YES, WE WILL SAY AND EXPRESS THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND PEOPLE. LABOUR AND THE GREENS ARE BOTH UP GIVING THE LEFT BLOC 64 SEATS. PATIENT ADVOCATES SAY A BOOST TO PHARMAC'S BUDGET ONLY PLUGS A HOLE WHICH HAS BEEN STARVED OF FUNDING FOR YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A $1.7 BILLION INCREASE FOR THE COUNTRY'S DRUG BUYING AGENCY YESTERDAY, WHICH NOW GETS MORE THAN $6 BILLION OVER FOUR YEARS. THE CANCER FOUNDATION HOPES THE UPCOMING BUDGET WILL FURTHER INCREASE FUNDING TO ADDRESS MODERN MEDICINES. OBVIOUSLY, PHARMAC NEEDS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE SIT WITHIN THE OECD WORLD. THE GOVERNMENT HEARD OUR CONCERNS LOUD AND CLEAR. WE KNOW THAT THE OPTIONS FOR INVESTMENT LIST ABSOLUTELY NEEDS CLEARING, SO WE WOULD BE HOPEFULLY AND REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF ANY EXTRA INVESTMENT INTO PHARMAC. ON AVERAGE, OECD COUNTRIES SPEND ABOUT 1.5% OF GDP ON SUCH AGENCIES. NEW ZEALAND SPENDS CLOSER TO 0.4%. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRICES ARE SET TO DOUBLE FROM TOMORROW AS THE SUBSIDY COMES TO AN END. TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY FOR HALF-PRICE AND FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES AXED BY THE COALITION GOVERNMENT AFTER THEY WERE INTRODUCED BY LABOUR IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE FREE FARES CAMPAIGN SAYS ENDING THE DISCOUNT WILL ONLY WORSEN THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. FOR PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT MORE, WE NEED SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AND WE ALSO NEED CONSISTENCY IN THE CHEAPER FARES SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE FARES WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN LOW, AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HELP US TO EMBED NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORT HABITS AS OPPOSED TO HAVING UNCERTAINTY AND CHANGING FARES ALL THE TIME. THE CHANGE WILL NOT AFFECT PRE-EXISTING DISCOUNTS FUNDED DIRECTLY BY COUNCILS, OFTEN CLAIMED BY TERTIARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BECOMING SUSCEPTIBLE TO MEASLES IS INCREASING BY 1000 EVERY MONTH, PROMPTING A WARNING NEW ZEALAND COULD BE ON THE BRINK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC. A BRIEFING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE SHOWS IMMUNISATION COVERAGE FOR TWO YEAR OLDS IS AT 80% ` WELL SHORT OF THE 95% TARGET. THE BRIEFING SAYS CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS MEASLES EPIDEMICS, WITH CALLS TO IMPROVE MMR IMMUNISATION FOR 15 MONTH OLDS TO 9 YEAR OLDS. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IS CALLING FOR THE FASTER DELIVERY OF WESTERN WEAPONS AS RUSSIA MAKES GAINS ON THE FRONTLINES. WHILE MEETING WITH THE HEAD OF NATO OVERNIGHT, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WARNED RUSSIA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WEST'S SLOW SHIPMENT AND GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE. IT COMES AFTER THE UNITED STATES SIGNED OFF ON A $100 BILLION PACKAGE OF MILITARY AID FOR THE COUNTRY. SOME ARMS HAVE STARTED TO ARRIVE BUT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THEY NEED TO BE DELIVERED FASTER. AROUND 50 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN KENYA AFTER A DAM BURST ITS BANKS FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN. PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE OF MAI MAHIU WERE SWEPT AWAY AS THEY SLEPT. RESCUE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING TO PULL SURVIVORS FROM THE MUD. IT PUSHES THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE LATEST WAVE OF FLOODS PAST 120. IN WHAT COULD BE A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FOR CLIMATE ACTION IT'S UNDERSTOOD ENERGY MINISTERS FROM THE G7 NATIONS ARE CLOSE TO AGREEING TO SHUT DOWN ALL COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS BY 2035. THE MINISTERS ARE CURRENTLY MEETING IN ITALY WHICH HAS BEEN TARGETED BY PROTESTERS. IT'S HOPED ANY DECISION FROM THE G7 TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS COULD SEE OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW SUIT. A FINAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE MEETING IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED TONIGHT. TO SPORT. AND 16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS HAVE VOTED TO INTRODUCE A SPENDING CAP. THE PROPOSED MODEL WOULD LIMIT CLUBS SPENDING ON TRANSFERS, WAGES AND AGENTS' FEES AND IS LIKELY TO BE LINKED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE LOWEST RANKED CLUB MAKES IN TELEVISION REVENUE. MANCHESTER CITY, MANCHESTER UNITED AND ASTON VILLA WERE THE ONLY TEAMS WHO OPPOSED THE SPENDING CAP WHILE CHELSEA DIDN'T VOTE. THE 'TAYLOR SWIFT EFFECT' ON THE NFL COULD BE PAYING OFF BIG TIME FOR HER PARTNER. IT IS REPORTED TRAVIS KELCE HAS AGREED TO A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION WITH THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, WHICH WILL MAKE HIM THE NFL'S HIGHEST PAID TIGHT END. TEAMMATE PATRICK MAHOMES WITH A MESSAGE TO CHIEFS FANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ` 'I TOLD YOU I'LL NEVER LET HIM LEAVE.' LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING. THIS WILL CLEAR TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN AUCKLAND AND WHANGAREI. 21 THE HIGH FOR KAITAIA. FURTHER DOWN ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REGION. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE AFTER MIDDAY IN HAMILTON AND TOKOROA. TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE WITH A HIGH OF 20. TO THE EAST COAST ` FINE START TO YOUR DAY FOR THOSE IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. OTHERWISE IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR THOSE IN GISBORNE. 19 IS THE HIGH FOR NAPIER. TO THE WEST COAST ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY IN WELLINGTON WITH SOME SHOWERS. ELSEWHERE, IT'S MOSTLY LOOKING LIKE A NICE FINE DAY. WHANGANUI YOUR HIGH IS 20. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BLUE SKIES FOR THOSE IN BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. ELSEWHERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOUDY DAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE. 20 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. FURTHER SOUTH ` PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. ALEXANDRA, YO'ULL BE GETTING SOME SHOWERS THIS EVENING. CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON, YOUR HIGH IS 20. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR BROLLY. THERE'LL BE RAIN DEVELOPING THIS MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU HERE. THIS WILL GET HEAVY IN MILFORD SOUND, EASING IN THE EVENING. A HIGH OF 18 FOR DUNEDIN. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE PJ PROJECT IS BACK FOR 2024. OUR OWN REPORTER LUCY BENDELL IS THERE TO CHECK IT OUT. MORENA, LUCE! GOOD MORNING TEAM. CHECK OUT ALL OF HIS PYJAMAS. THEY ARE BEING PACKED UP FOR A GOOD CAUSE. WILL FIND OUT WHETHER GOING AND HOW YOU CAN HELP NEXT. ('COLD AS ICE' BY FOREIGNER) (READS) "Additional tax refunds. Click the link to..." # You're as cold as ice... # Not clicking the link. (CLEARS THROAT) VOICEOVER: If something seems suss, we're here to help 24/7 on 0800 ASB FRAUD. VOICEOVER: Get your free 'Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids', New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. AS WE HEAD INTO COLDER MONTHS, MANY FAMILIES WILL BE DOING IT TOUGH WITH SOME FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND WARM CLOTHING. TO HELP EASE SOME OF THE PRESSURE, THE KINDNESS COLLECTIVE HAS LAUNCHED ITS ANNUAL PJ PROJECT TO PROVIDE KIDS WITH A WARM SET OF PYJAMAS FOR WINTER. WE SENT OUR REPORTER LUCY BENDELL TO THEIR WAREHOUSE TO CHECK IT OUT. MORENA, LUCY! GOOD MORNING CHRIS, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AND WARM INITIATIVE. I AM HERE AT THE KINDEST COLLECTIVE WAREHOUSE, WE ARE PACKING A BRAND-NEW PJ'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE. I AM JOINED BY SARAH PAGE FROM THE KINDEST COLLECTIVE. WAY WE SURROUNDED BY PYJAMAS? THE PT PROJECT IS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR. WE ARE KICKING OFF TOMORROW AND HOPING TO PROVIDE 20,000 PAIRS OF WARM PYJAMAS. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND? EVERY YEAR THE NEED IS GREATER. WE HAVE 92 ORDERS IN OUR SYSTEM FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LIKE THE POLICE, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOSPITALS. THESE CHILDREN ALL WAITING FOR WINTER WARMTH ACROSS THE LIVING CRISIS IS AFFECTING EVERYBODY AND THIS PARA PYJAMAS IS A REALLY BIG WAY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED IT. YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR THESE INCREASING. LAST YEAR YOU GOT 14,500 DRUMMERS DONATED. HOW MANY OF YOU NEEDING THIS YEAR? WE WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE GOAL OF 20,000, BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE GET GOING, WE HAVE A PHASE IN WAITING ALREADY AND WE KNOW AS SOON AS WE KICK OFF, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE GETTING IN TOUCH WE REALLY HOPE WE CAN REACH THE 20,000 UNREADY SPREAD KINDNESS A LITTLE BIT MORE. TELL ME ABOUT WHO THESE ARE GOING TO. WE ARE SUPPORTING THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE. FAMILY ALREADY LIVING IN POVERTY, REFERRED TO US IN THE OTHER PROJECTS SO THEY ARE ALREADY FINDING IT HARD. THEN WE GOT THE CHILDREN THAT WE SUPPORT WITH FEVER, CANCER AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES. AND THEN WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO LOST YOU DIDN'T NEED A PROJECT, THAT THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS MEANS THEY CANNOT PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES SO WE ARE REALLY HOPING TO HELP EVERYBODY. , WHAT DOES IT DO FOR ONE FAMILY? WE HAVE SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL FEEDBACK FROM ALL OUR PARTNERS. IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PARA PYJAMAS. THEY REPRESENT SO MUCH MORE. IMAGE CHILD CAN HAVE A WARM SLEEP AND A FAMILY HAS ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT. THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY FEELING REFRESHED. AND IT ALSO REPRESENTS KNOWING SOMEBODY ELSE HAS YOUR BACK WE KNOW THAT THE PJ PROJECT IS MAKING AN IMPACT AND HELPS PEOPLE. THIS IS ALL OF THE PYJAMAS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ALL THESE BLANKETS HERE AS WELL. THE CLEAN COLLECTOR BY DOING MORE THAN JUST AN EATING PYJAMAS. IF WE WANT TO HELP AND SUPPORT, HOW CAN PEOPLE AT HOME HELP TODAY? THERE ARE THREE EASY WAYS TO HELP. PEOPLE CAN JUMP ONTO OUR WEBSITE kindness.org.nz OR HAD INTO ANY WAREHOUSE STORES. THEY HAVE COLLECTION BINS THAT PEOPLE CAN DONATE. OR YOU CAN GRAB YOUR WORKMATES, YOUR TEAM, YOUR CLUB GIVE US PYJAMAS AND WE WILL DISTRIBUTE THEM ON YOUR BEHALF. IF YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP, IT IS FROM TOMORROW ALL THE WAY THROUGH 31 JULY. GREAT CAUSE. ESPECIALLY AS THE COLD WEATHER STARTS TO COME IN. E HAERE AKE NEI ` AUCKLAND'S CIVIC IS HOSTING 'THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL'. WE'VE SENT OUT OUR OWN HOST TO ENTER THE HOTEL. MORENA, DANIEL. IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH MORNING. THE BOSS WANTED TO REWARD ME BY SENDING ME out ON A NIGHT AT THE HOTEL. THIS IS A SHOW THAT ARE SOLD AT CRATES. IT'S ON ITS WAY TO CHRISTCHURCH AND I'LL BE SPEAKING TO 1 OF THE SHOW STARS. MANY OF YOU WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT NAME AND FACE IF YOU ARE CORONATION STREET FUNDS. (CORONATION ST THEME) EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. NO, YOU HAVE NOT JUST WALKED ONTO THE SET OF CORONATION STREET. IF YOU'RE AN AVID WATCHER OF 'CORONATION STREET', YOU'LL PROBABLY GOING TO RECOGNISE OUR NEXT GUEST. BEST KNOWN AS CLAUDIA COLBY IN THE UK SOAP, ACTRESS RULA LENSKA HAS SAID GOODBYE TO THE FICTIONAL TOWN OF WEATHERFIELD AND IS TAKING TO THE STAGE FOR THE LIVE PRODUCTION OF 'THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL'. IT'S BEEN AN EXHAUSTING MORNING FOR DANIEL, WHO LEFT US IN THE STUDIO THIS MORNING. ARE YOU OKAY, DANIEL? ARE YOU RECOVERING? TO BE HONEST, NO, I AM NOT OKAY. I AM FANBOYING OVER OUR NEXT GUEST. LOOK AT WHO I AM SITTING NEXT TO. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. KIA ORA. GOOD MORNING TO YOU, AND WELCOME TO THE REAL EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL. I HAVE SEEN THE SHOW. IT WAS JUST AMAZING. I FELT LIKE I COULD CONNECT WITH EVERY CHARACTER THERE. WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT? THE LOVELY THING ABOUT THIS PLAY IS THAT THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS ARE ALL OLD. NOT EVEN OLDER, BUT OLD. THAT IS A RARITY, BOTH ON TELEVISION AND IN THEATRE. IT IS THE STORY OF A GROUP OF BRITS WHO DECIDE TO COME OVER TO INDIA TO SEE IF THEY CAN RETIRE THERE. MOST OF THEM ARE ESCAPING LONELINESS, SADNESS, SOME OF THEM, LIKE MY CHARACTER, SEARCHING FOR A POSSIBLE NEW LOVE, AND THERE IS A STORY OF LOVE, LOSS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, JOY AND HOPE. YOU PLAYED CLAUDIA AND CORONATION STREET. YOUR PLAY MADGE ON THE STAGE SHOW. OTHER SIMILARITIES? I WOULD SAY THERE CERTAINLY ARE. THEY ARE BOTH COUGARS. THEY BOTH SAY EXACTLY HOW IT IS. MAJOR SWEARS LIKE A TROOPER AND DRINK LIKE A FISH. SHE IS PRETTY FLAMBOYANT. AT 76 YEARS YOUNG, YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER FROM A YOUNG AGE. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOUR PARENTS DID NOT APPROVE OF YOUR PURSUING AN ACTING CAREER. CAN YOU ELABORATE? MY FATHER WAS DETERMINED THAT I WOULD GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS BECAUSE I SPEAK FOUR LANGUAGES. HIS IDEA OF ME BECOMING AN ACTRESS WAS TANTAMOUNT TO ME BECOMING A PROSTITUTE. AND IN SOME WAYS, I SUPPOSE HE MAY HAVE BEEN RIGHT. BUT ONCE I STARTED WORK AND STARTED GAINING A BIT OF RECOGNITION, THEY WERE HUGELY SUPPORTIVE. SOME BIG SHOWS LIKE ROCK FOLLIES, ALSO CORONATION STREET, EAST ENDERS, DOCTOR WHO, THE LIST GOES ON. AT YOUR AGE, DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS BECOMING MORE CHALLENGING, OR ARE YOU JUST EMBRACING WHAT YOU ARE GETTING EVERY DAY. I AM THE SORT OF PERSON THAT LIVES IN THE MOMENT, AND I THANK GOD FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY, HAVING TOURED THE SHOW IN THE UK FOR SIX MONTHS, TO GET THE CHANCE TO COME TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TO TAKE UP THE REINS OF MADGE AGAIN BUT WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAST. IT HAS BEEN SO EXCITING. THEY ARE WONDERFUL. THE PRODUCTION CREW ARE FANTASTIC. THERE ARE FEWER PARTS WRITTEN FOR OLDER WOMEN, AND MEN ARE MUCH MORE LUCKY IN THAT RESPECT. I AM STILL HERE AND STILL WORKING AND STILL LOVING IT. LONG MAY IT GO ON. 1984 WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN NEW ZEALAND. WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE TO VISIT PLACES? HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AROUND? NOT A LOT. HERE IN AUCKLAND, THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS WE WERE BUSY REHEARSING. I WENT TO THE MUSEUM AND I SAW A BEAUTIFUL SHORT MAORI PRESENTATION, WHICH I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN MORE OF. I HAVE BEEN TO THE CHINESE COUTURE EXHIBITION HERE. WALKED AROUND A BIT. WHEN WE GET A DAY OFF, AND WHEN WE GET TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, I AM DETERMINED, IF THERE IS A BIT MORE TIME, TO REVISIT THE PLACES THAT REALLY SET VERY BRIGHTLY IN MY MEMORY. ONE WAS WHALE WATCHING OFF THE KAIKOURA COAST. AND ALSO MOUNT COOK. I WILL CRAM IN AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN. WE HAD A CHUCKLE JUST BEFORE WE WENT ON A BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMON, ASIDE FROM CLASS, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. OUR HERE. WE HAVE A GOOD SET OF HERE. YOU DID A SHAMPOO AD CAN THE 1970S. 1981. TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT TIME, AND YOU STILL GET TALKED ABOUT WITH YOUR HAIR? WHAT IS YOUR SECRET? INHERITANCE. BOTH MY PARENTS HAD WONDERFUL SETS OF HERE, AND BOTH OF MY SIBLINGS DO AS WELL. ALSO MY DAUGHTER. IT IS THE LUCK OF THE DRAW, AS MY DAUGHTER WOULD SAY. YOU WERE IN THE FRONT ROW WHEN THEIR LEGS AND HAIR WERE HANDED OUT. THE ADVERT WAS A VERY STRANGE THING. I WAS ORIGINALLY HIRED BY AN AMERICAN COMPANY TO ADVERTISE SHAMPOO, HAIRSPRAY, AND ON THE LITTLE COMMERCIALS, THERE WOULD BE A THING UNDERNEATH WHICH WAS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. IT WAS NOT INTERNATIONAL AT ALL. AND ONE NIGHT, JOHNNY CARSON WHO RAN A VERY FAMOUS CHATSHOW SAID, WHO IS THIS PERSON? FROM THE SPRUNG A CERTAIN CULT WHICH LASTED ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND THERE WERE LOOKALIKE DAYS AND FAN CLUBS AND T-SHIRTS AND ALL OF THAT PARAPHERNALIA. I SUGGESTED A FEW YEARS AGO THAT MY AGENT TO CONTACT THEM AGAIN AND SAY, SHE IS NOW 70+, WOULDN'T IT BE TIME TO REDO THE COMMERCIAL, STILL OLD, BUT SHE HAS STILL GOT HAIR. I LOVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. KIA ORA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOW! EXCITING. THAT WAS SO GOOD. I AM GLAD THAT THEY HEAR PLUGS HAVE PAID FOR YOU, DANIEL. THAT IS SUPERB. WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN TOMORROW, LOOKING BODY OR CHALLENGE. TIME TO GO. SEE YOU TOMORROW. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. CAPTIONS BY COURTNEY SOLE, DREW WELSH, BILLY GARRATT-JOHN AND JULIE TAYLOR.