IT'S THURSDAY, THE 18TH OF JULY. MORENA, GREAT TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY. THIS IS BREAKFAST. COMING UP ON THE SHOW ` THERE'S DISMAY AS THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS ITS LOOKING TO ROLL BACK INSULATION STANDARDS. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION MINISTER CHRIS PENK SAYS THAT DROPPING THEM WOULD SAVE NEW HOME OWNERS AN ESTIMATED 40% ON HEATING. BUT HEALTH EXPERTS ARE HITTING BACK THAT FOR DECADES, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO IMPROVE BUILDING STANDARDS, AND THIS WILL TAKE US BACK. REMEMBER THAT THESE RULES ONLY CAME OUT LAST YEAR. WE'LL HAVE MORE WITH A PROFESSOR OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO AFTER SEVEN O'CLOCK. A FORMER OLYMPIC SKATER IS THANKFUL HE IS STILL ALIVE AFTER HE FELL THROUGH AN ICY DAM IN CENTRAL OTAGO. ANDREW NICHOLSON WHO COMPETED IN 1992 GAMES IS NOW PUTTING OUT THE WARNING SIGNAL TO OTHERS TO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THAT HE DID. HE'LL JOIN US A LITTLE LATER. ALSO COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM ` REMAINS OF THE WORLD'S RAREST WHALE WASHES UP ON AN OTAGO BEACH. WHY ITS SUCH A MAJOR SCIENTIFIC FIND. PLUS, WHAT MORE WE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE BEAKED SPADE TOOTHED WHALE, A MAMMAL THAT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN ALIVE. FASCINATING. 5 M LONG, WE DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND NOW IT IS IN COLD STORAGE. THAT IS BEFORE WE HEAR WHAT LOCAL IWI WILL BE DOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY WILL TALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE IT IS DISSECTED, AND WILL FIGURE OUT WHERE IT HAS BEEN, AND WHAT IT HAS BEEN EATING. SO IT SKELETON MIGHT END UP SOMEWHERE? YOU ARE RIGHT. MAY BE BURIED? REMEMBER PENPALS? PENPALS. WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO WAS STILL BEEN PEN PALING FOR 50 YEARS. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S MELISSA WITH THE NEWS. HEAVY FOG ACROSS AUCKLAND HAS CAUSED THE AIRPORT TO ENTER A RESTRICTION THIS MORNING. METSERVICE IS REPORTING LOW CLOUD AND FOG, BUT CURRENTLY NO FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED OR CANCELLED. AUCKLAND AIRPORT IS URGING PASSENGERS TO REGULARLY CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION. AUTHORITIES IN THAILAND HAVE RELEASED PHOTOS OF THE FOOD AND DRINKS CONSUMED BY 6 PEOPLE IN A BANGKOK HOTEL BEFORE THEIR DEATH. THE PICTURES SHOW PLATES OF FOOD AND A NUMBER OF DRINKS ON A TABLE IN THE HOTEL ROOM, AND EVIDENCE COLLECTED AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATHS. POLICE SAY CYANIDE WAS FOUND ON DRINKING GLASSES AND A WATER CONTAINER, AND INTERVIEWS WITH RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS REVEALED THERE HAD BEEN A DISPUTE OVER DEBT. MORE TESTS ARE BEING CONDUCTED. 14 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JAPAN HAVE BEEN HOSPITALISED AFTER EATING SPICY POTATO CHIPS. THE STUDENTS WERE RUSHED TO HOSPITAL COMPLAINING OF PAIN IN THEIR MOUTHS AND STOMACHS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 'R18 CURRY CHIPS' HAS ISSUED AN APOLOGY AND WISHED THE STUDENTS A SPEEDY RECOVERY. THE CHIPS, WHICH CONTAIN GHOST PEPPERS, COME WITH A WARNING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE EATEN BY THOSE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR A WEAK STOMACH. EIGHT DAYS OUT FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY, PARIS' RIVER SEINE HAS OFFICIAL BEEN DECLARED 'CLEAN'. NEARLY $2.5B HAS BEEN SPENT CLEANING UP THE RIVER, WITH THE CITY'S MAYOR AND LOCALS CELEBRATING THE MILESTONE WITH A SWIM. THE BBC'S HUGH SCHOFIELD JOINED THEM. A BIG DAY FOR PARIS, A BIG RELIEF FOR THE OLYMPICS. AFTER WEEKS OF TESTS SHOWING BACTERIA LEVELS IN THE RIVER SEINE TO BE UNACCEPTABLY HIGH. WITH IMPECCABLE TIMING, THINGS HAVE COME GOOD. THE CITY MAYOR ANNE HIDALGO LED THE WAY. SHE'D MADE A VOW TO TAKE A SWIM IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS TO SHOW TO THE WORLD THAT THE RIVER, ONCE AGAIN, IS SAFE. IT'S A VERY LUCKY AND HAPPY DAY. IT'S ALSO FOR THE PLANET, YOU KNOW, AND FOR THE RIVER AND FOR THE OCEAN. WE DID IT. WE DID IT. A SELECT GROUP WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE SWIM. AMONG THEM, YOUR CORRESPONDENT. OK, HERE GOES. I'M GOING TO JUMP. READY? ONE. TWO. THREE. QUITE A PRIVILEGE. APART FROM A FEW EXPERIMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE OLYMPICS, THIS IS THE FIRST LEGAL SWIM HERE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. GOOD STUFF. I GOT A MOUTHFUL OF WATER AS I JUMPED IN, BUT IT TASTES FINE. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE PRETTY COOL. WATER'S GORGEOUS. BIT MURKY, BUT IT FEELS GOOD. AND IT'S NOT COLD AT ALL, I THINK. I THINK WE'RE WELL SET UP FOR THE OLYMPICS. SOME MEMBERS OF SWIMMING CLUBS WERE ALSO INVITED. THE CITY OF PARIS BORN HERE, BORN WITH THE RIVER SEINE. SO WE TRY TO SHOW THAT IT'S OUR NATURAL SYSTEM, OUR NATURAL PLACE TO BE HERE. WHAT IT ALL MEANS IS THAT OLYMPIC SWIMMING EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE SEINE SHOULD NOW GO AHEAD AS PLANNED. AND BEYOND THAT, THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE BIG LEGACIES OF THE GAMES. OPEN AIR BATHING ONCE AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF PARIS. CAN YOU LET ME READ THIS? YOU DO IT. NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE STUNNED QUEENSLAND 14-4 IN BRISBANE TO WIN STATE OF ORIGIN. IT'S THE BLUES FIRST SERIES WIN SINCE 2021, AND A LOT LONGER SINCE THEY'VE CLAIMED A DECIDER NORTH OF THE BORDER. LACHIE MCLEOD HAS MORE. THE SIREN SOUNDS, THE SHIELDS HEADING BACK TO SYDNEY. NEW SOUTH WALES PULLING OFF A HISTORIC WIN OVER SYDNEY, FIRING EARLY. THE TENSION OF THE DECIDER BOILING OVER. IN QUEENSLAND IS COMING IN FROM EVERYWHERE. THAT IS TURNING UGLY. IT IS TURNING VERY UGLY. MORE THAN AN HOUR OF PLAY FOR A TRY, THE BLUES CROSSING FIRST. HE GETS THE BALL TO BRADFORD. THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT EFFORTS. JUST THREE MINUTES LATER, IT WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE MAROONS. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE CHASING, THAT IS WHAT WE KNEW WE WERE CAPABLE OF. QUEENSLAND UNABLE TO DEFEND THEIR FOUR TRUSTS, TRIALISTS AND MANAGING TO PENALTIES. THEY RACED AWAY WITH A BIG LEAD. WAS A TIGHT COMPETITION. LIKE A SET, WE MISSED A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY GOT ON WITH IT. THE PERFECT START TO MICHAEL MCGUIRE'S TENURE WITH NEW SOUTH WALES AS BRISBANE TURNED BLUE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` AUCKLAND, YOU ARE WAKING UP TO SOME EARLY FOG, LIFTING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. RAINFALL EXPECTED AFTER LUNCH FOR KAITAIA, RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI. WHITIANGA, 17 IS YOUR HIGH. FURTHER SOUTH ` A WARMER DAY HERE. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR CLEAR BLUE SKIES. HAMILTON AND TOKOROA, FOG TO START YOUR DAY, CLEARING TO WARM AFTERNOON SUN. 17 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. NOT BAD FOR WINTER. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A WET AND SOGGY START TO THE MORNING. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE REGION, EASING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. 16 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE, NAPIER AND HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` TAUMARUNUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH, A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY BUT BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE, DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN LEVIN AND WELLINGTON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 17 THE HIGH FOR WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE A GREY DAY HERE. NELSON, BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, SHOWERS TO START YOUR DAY, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 THE HIGH FOR WESTPORT, GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE MUCH THE SAME IN THIS REGION. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OF YOU. FOG WILL BLANKET ALEXANDRA THIS MORNING, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT WARM SUN AFTER LUNCH. 11 IS YOUR HIGH, OAMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` A FOGGY START TO THE DAY FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. BUT THE AFTERNOON WILL BE BLUE SKIES AND SUN FOR MOST OF YOU. 12 THE HIGH FOR MILFORD SOUND. THANK YOU, MELISSA. THERE'S CONCERN PHARMAC IS BEING ASKED TO GIVE A PERSON'S LIFE A DOLLAR VALUE WHEN MAKING FUNDING DECISIONS. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR HAS ASKED THE AGENCY TO UPDATE ITS DECISION-MAKING MODEL TO INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE WIDER FINANCIAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACT OF THE DRUG IN QUESTION. PROFESSOR OF HEALTH ECONOMICS PAULA LORGELLY FEARS THE AGENCY WILL PRIORITISE MEDICINES WHICH HELP PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK, LEAVING THOSE UNABLE TO WORK AT RISK. PROFESSOR LORGELLY IS IN STUDIO. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. WHY IS THIS CHANGED SO SIGNIFICANTLY? ARE YOU ABLE TO BREAK THIS DOWN FOR US? UNDER SIGNIFICANT NEW ZEALAND CONTEXT BECAUSE IT IS NOT SIGNIFICANT UNDER AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT. PHARMAC HAS A BUDGET WHICH SAYS IT MUST MAXIMISE HEALTH, AND MAKES A DECISION ON WHAT TO FUND, LOOKS AT THE COST OF THE DRUG OR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY. THE COST SAVINGS AND THE REST OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SO IF IT WAS GOING TO SAVE MONEY FROM REDUCING HOSPITAL OR GP VISITS, THAT IS A BENEFIT AND THEN IT LOOKS AT THE OUTCOME IS THE DRUG OR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY WILL DELIVER AND COMPARES AGAINST THE ALTERNATIVE. IF THEY CAN FUND IT, THEY WILL FIND IT. IF THEY CANNOT FIND IT, THEY PUT IT ON THE OPTIONS FOR INVESTMENT. THE SUGGESTIONS I'VE SEEN FROM READING THE LETTER OF EXPECTATIONS IS THAT THEY WILL BE BROADENING THEIR PERSPECTIVES. CURRENTLY THEY HAVE A NARROW HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, AND BY BROADENING ITS LOOK AT THE SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVE THEY NEED TO BRING BENEFITS AND COSTS THAT MIGHT BENEFIT OUTSIDE OF THE HEALTH SECTOR, SUCH AS GETTING PEOPLE OFF BENEFITS AND PUTTING PEOPLE BACK INTO WORK. YOU DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO VALUE THOSE THINGS. HOW DO WE VALUE OUR TIME? THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION. HOW DO YOU PUT A VALUE ON THAT? I'M LISTENING TO YOU TALK AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT ARE THE ETHICAL ISSUES AROUND THIS DIRECTION BY THE MINISTER? THAT HAS A GOOD QUESTION. FOR YOUR FIRST QUESTION, HOW DO WE VALUE THESE THINGS? THERE IS A FRICTION COST METHOD WHICH IS TECHNICAL LANGUAGE. IS WHAT THEY USE IN THE NETHERLANDS WHO'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. THE VALUE OF ABSENTEEISM FROM WORK IS THE FACT YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR SOME MONEY AND SEARCH WITHIN THE JOB MARKET. AT THE MOMENT, THAT IS A LOW VALUE IN NEW ZEALAND BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. IT IS A TECHNICAL TERM WITHIN THE HUMAN CAPITAL APPROACH WHICH GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF MARKET CAPITAL. IF YOU CANNOT WORK BECAUSE YOU ARE ELDERLY OR HAVE A CHRONIC CONDITION, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT YOU ARE UNDERVALUING SOMEONE. I'M TRYING TO BREAK IT DOWN, AND TELL ME IF I AM WRONG, BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON SOMEONE'S LIFE, EVALUATING SOMEONE IS WORTH BASED ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND HOW MUCH THEY CONTRIBUTE ECONOMICALLY TO SOCIETY. IS THAT YOU'LL READ ON THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE MINISTER'S EXPECTATIONS? WE KIND OF ALREADY DO THAT, BECAUSE WE MAKE DECISIONS ON WHETHER SOMETHING TO LIVE IS A HEALTH OUTCOME WE SELECT TO PAY FOR THE HEALTH OUTCOME, SO WE HAVE A MONETARY VALUE ATTACHED TO THAT BUT THAT IS NOT EVIDENCE IN THE WAY THAT PHARMAC MAKE DECISIONS. THIS FOLLOWS A MORE TREASURY MODEL. FOR ME AS AN ECONOMIST, AT FOLLOW STANDARD ECONOMIC THEORY THAT WHEN GOVERNMENT INTERVENES, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WELFARE IMPACTS AND NOT JUST HEALTH IMPACTS. IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOW WE IMPLEMENT AND OPERATIONALISE IT AND IN NEW ZEALAND CONTEXT. WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS? COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO EXACERBATE THEN EQUITIES THAT WE ALREADY SEE. UNEMPLOYED, CAN'T WORK, LONG-TERM ILLNESS, ELDERLY, MAORI AND PACIFIC. I THINK IN THE RESPECTIVE TRYING TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IT NEEDS TO BE DONE THINKING ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF IMPACT OF HOW YOU MEASURE SOMEONE'S PRODUCTIVITY. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT PART OF IT. WHAT ARE THE WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF PURCHASING DRUGS OR MEDICINES? INTERESTINGLY, IT MIGHT NOT BE PHARMAC WHO IS PURCHASING. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE HEARING THE SORT OF INFORMATION. YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE ARE PLACES OVERSEAS THAT FOLLOW THIS MODEL, BUT THERE IS BEEN SOME PUSHBACK. IN SWEDEN, THEY WENT DOWN THIS ROUTE AND THEY HAD A CHALLENGE AS IT WENT AGAINST THE EQUAL HUMAN VALUE RULE. PHARMAC HAVE BEEN TOLD EXPLICITLY NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE TREATY. TO FINISH OFF OUR INTERVIEW, YOU HAVE GOT THESE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SECTION IN THE LETTER OF EXPECTATIONS. WHAT IS NOW IN TERMS OF EXPRESSING? APART FROM COMING ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TO TALK ABOUT IT? I KNOW THEY ARE REVIEWING THEIR METHODS, AND I THINK THAT IS GREAT. I DO HAVE CONCERNS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE METHODS. IF THEY DO NOT COME AND SET OUT THE RULES OF HOW TO DO THIS, THEN THE INDUSTRY WELL. THE INDUSTRY WILL START TO DOMINATE, AND I THINK THE BENEFIT OF PHARMAC IS THAT IT HAS BEEN PROTECTED FROM INDUSTRY. WILL START TO WORRY IF WE HAVE MORE INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAY THAT WE MAKE PHARMACEUTICAL FUNDING DECISIONS. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN WIDELY PUBLICISED IN THIS LETTER OF PUBLICATION FROM THE MINISTER. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE RISING COST OF LIVING HAS BEEN HITTING NEW ZEALANDERS BACK POCKETS, BUT NOT ALL FOOD PRICES HAVE BEEN GOING UP AT THE RATE OF OTHERS. WE'LL FIND OUT MORE NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) Ready! (BOTH CHEER) (LAUGHS) VOICEOVER: Small steps can help you achieve your goals. Get your money one step ahead with ASB. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE RISING COST OF THE SUPERMARKET SHOP. FOOD PRICE INFLATION'S BEEN MAKING HEADLINES FOR THE PAST DECADE, BUT RESEARCH SHOWS PRICES HAVEN'T BEEN RISING CONSISTENTLY ACROSS ALL FOOD GROUPS. BETWEEN 2014 AND 2023, PRICES OF SOME SWEETENED, PROCESSED FOODS ROSE BY AROUND 14%. AT THE SAME TIME, THE COST OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES JUMPED BY AROUND 45% PERCENT. ALAN RENWICK IS A PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AT LINCOLN UNIVERSITY. HE JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING, ALAN. GOOD MORNING. HAVE ALL TYPES OF FOOD RISEN AT SIMILAR LEVELS? NO, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IN OUR ANALYSIS IS THAT WE HAVE HAD VERY HIGH PRICE INFLATION OVER THE TIME, BUT ACTUALLY, THERE WERE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD DURING THAT PERIOD. WHAT TYPES OF FOOD ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A PARTICULAR? WE SEPARATED OUT QUITE CRUDELY INTO SWEETENED FOOD, PROCESSED FOOD AND THEN FOOD WE MIGHT SAY IS MORE HEALTHY, LIKE FOOD AND VEGETABLES. WE TRIED TO COMPARE THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD OVER TIME. WHEN YOU SAY SWEETENED FOODS, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CHOCOLATE? EXACTLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHOCOLATE, BISCUITS, FOODS GENERALLY THAT WOULD HAVE SUGAR ADDED AS PART OF THE PROCESSING. WHAT DO THESE DIFFERENCES MEAN FOR CONSUMERS? WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT BASIC ECONOMIC THEORY TELLS US WE ARE DRIVEN BY PRICE, WE MAKE DECISIONS ON PRICE. THIS MEANS THE RELATIVE PRICES BETWEEN WHAT WE MIGHT SAY OUR UNHEALTHY FOODS HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, MAKING THE UNHEALTHY FOODS MORE AFFORDABLE RELATIVELY TO HEALTHY FOODS. WE REACT TO THAT CONSCIOUSLY OR SUBCONSCIOUSLY AND BEGIN TO CHOOSE PERHAPS THE MORE UNHEALTHY FOOD WHEN PURCHASING, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THAT HIGH. A FOOD INFLATION DURING THAT TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS THAT WE TALK ABOUT. PEOPLE ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS BECAUSE IT BUDGETS ARE STRETCHED. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS? WE HAD A NUMBER OF SHOCKS. WE HAD THE COVID SHOCK, WE HAD THE RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WAR, AND CYCLONE GABRIELLE. A LOT OF THOSE SHOCKS HAVE SUBSIDED AND WE'VE SEEN A DROP IN PRICES OVER THE LAST YEAR AS THINGS ARE PERHAPS GOT A LITTLE BIT BACK TO NORMAL. THE ISSUE I THINK FOR US IS THAT THE SHOPS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME MORE PREVALENT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THIS MIGHT BE THE NORM, THESE HIGHER PRICES. WHAT IMPACT DOES FOOD INFLATION PRICE HAVE NEW ZEALANDERS HEALTH? THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT BECAUSE THERE IS A GENERAL IMPACT OF HAVING HIGHER PRICES AND PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE AFFORDING A HEALTHY DIET. THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF WORK IN NEW ZEALAND SHOWING THE COST OF A HEALTHY DIET IS HIGHER THAN A COST OF AN UNHEALTHY DIET. EVEN BEING ABLE TO BUY THE ESSENTIALS IS A CHALLENGE. IF WE BUY MORE OF THE UNHEALTHY FOOD, THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIET AND HEALTH, A PROVEN RELATIONSHIP THAT WE CAN HAVE CHALLENGES WITH OBESITY. OBESITY THEN LEADS TO A RANGE OF PROBLEMS AROUND DIABETES AND CARDIAC PROBLEMS. IT IS A BIG PROPORTION OF HEALTH CHALLENGES COMING FROM FOOD, WHICH IS SHOWN TO BE THE CASE. HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS? THIS IS A BIG QUESTION. WE SET OFF LOOKING FOR THE RELATIONSHIP. WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING CAUSE AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THEM? IF THE RELATIVE PRICES OF UNHEALTHY FOODS ARE CHEAPER THAN HEALTHY FOODS, WE CAN INTERVENE IN ONE WAY TO TRY AND ADDRESS THAT. WE TALK ABOUT SUGAR TAXES OR FOOD AND VEGETABLE SUBSIDIES, WE CAN PERHAPS INTERFERE IN THE MARKET TO TRY AND ADDRESS THOSE IMBALANCES TO MAKE PEOPLE MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, BUT THAT HAS PLUSES AND MINUSES. THERE IS NO POINT PUTTING A FOOD VEGETABLE SUBSIDY IF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE FOOD AND VEGETABLES. EDUCATION IS TEACHING KIDS IN SCHOOL ABOUT HEALTHY DIETS, IT IS ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, AND THE OTHER END WHICH WE CALL THE HARD END. PERHAPS WE NEED TO THINK MORE ABOUT REGULATION AND INFLUENCING WHAT THE MESSAGES IN THE AMOUNTS OF PROMOTION OF HEALTHY FOODS. WHAT WE SEE A COUNTRY IS MORE SUCCESSFUL TACKLING THESE DIET AND HEALTH PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE TAKEN WHAT WE CALL A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH. THAT USE EDUCATION AND INFLUENCING DECISIONS WITH FINANCIAL TAXES AND SUBSIDIES. THEY ALSO USE REGULATION OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY. WHAT I ARGUE QUITE STRONGLY AS THIS IS JUST ONE ELEMENT OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM, OUR DIET AND HEALTH, BUT IT IS LINKED TO WHAT WE PRODUCE. LINKS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE. THERE IS A BIG VOICE IN NEW ZEALAND SAYING THAT WE NEED AN OVERARCHING FOOD POLICY THAT THINKS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED FROM OUR FOOD IN NEW ZEALAND, AND THEN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE INTERVENE AND ARRANGE SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT DELIVERS FOR EVERYONE. ALAN, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SOLUTION COULD BE. SUBSIDIES TO BRING THE PRICES DOWN, ALSO A SUGAR TAX WHICH WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. AND EDUCATION. FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING, PEOPLE WILL GO WITH THE CHEAPER OPTION. MILK IS MORE THAN FOUR DOLLARS. YES, FOUR DOLLARS. COKE IS $0.99. LOOKING AT THE MULTIPRONGED APPROACH OVERSEAS, TALKING ABOUT TAXES, EDUCATION AND THE MESSAGING THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING AND THE REGULATIONS AROUND WHAT YOU CAN DO. WE THINK ABOUT A CERTAIN SOFT RING BRAND IN THE MESSAGING THAT GOES WITH IT. I THINK IT IS INTERESTING. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, WE WILL GET TO OUR TOPIC THIS MORNING WHICH WILL INTEREST YOU BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK. WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT PENPALS, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RATS YOU SEE IN THE MORNING. I SEE RATS IN THE MORNING, AND THEY GO UNDER MY TIRE BY ACCIDENT. SUCH A LOAD OF RUBBISH! THEY DO NOT, YOU ARE NOT KILLING RATS IN THE MORNING. YES, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT SOON. STAY WITH US BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HEAR THIS. SERIOUSLY! VP SHALL CANDIDATE JD VANCE ON CENTRE STAGE AT THE CONVENTION. HIS FIRST CHANCE TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR THE TRUMP, VANCE TICKET. TRUMP LOOKS FOR SOMEONE HE KNEW WOULD BE A RUBBER STAMP FOR HIS EXTREME AGENDA. MAKE NO MISTAKE, HE WILL BE LOYAL TO ONLY TRUMP. NIKKI HAYLEY WITH A SHOW OF UNITY. DONALD TRUMP HAS MY STRONG ENDORSEMENT, PERIOD. SHE WAS THE LAST PERSON THE DROPOUT OF WHAT BECAME HEATED AND PERSONAL PRIMARY. WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SOME AMERICANS WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH DONALD TRUMP 100% OF THE TIME. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH TRUMP 100% OF THE TIME TO VOTE FOR HIM. PRESIDENT BIDEN BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, STILL FACING CALL THAT IS OWN PARTY TO STEP ASIDE. CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF PRIVATELY WARNED DONORS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF BIDEN STAYS ON THE TICKET. BIDEN TELLING BET HE CANNOT WALK AWAY NOW WITH THE COUNTRY THIS DIVIDED. I HAVE DEMONSTRATED ON HOW TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY. THERE IS MORE TO DO AND I'M RELUCTANT TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT. WE WILL BE HEADING TO OUR US CORRESPONDENCE IN MILWAUKEE AND JUST A MOMENT. THE DEFENCE FORCE IS SET TO CUT JOBS AFTER BEING ASKED TO MAKE $30m IN SAVINGS. THE NZDF CONFIRMING STAFF WERE TOLD A PROCESS HAS BEGUN TO REPRIORITISE ITS BUDGET AS IT WORKS TO KEEP SHIPS, AIRCRAFT, EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL READY TO RESPOND WHERE NEEDED. THE FORCE SAYS ITS OPERATING COSTS HAS RISEN ACROSS THE BOARD, CAUSING A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN 130 MILLION DOLLARS. AS A RESULT, IT WILL INVITE VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY FROM STAFF FROM NEXT MONTH. THERE'S CONCERN THAT CURRENT INEQUITIES IN HEALTH COULD BE WIDENED IF PHARMAC HAS TO CONSIDER THE DOLLAR VALUE OF A PERSON'S LIFE WHEN MAKING FUNDING DECISIONS. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR HAS ASKED THE AGENCY TO UPDATE ITS DECISION-MAKING MODEL TO INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE WIDER FINANCIAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACT OF THE DRUGS IT FUNDS. PROFESSOR OF HEALTH ECONOMICS PAULA LORGELLY FEARS THE AGENCY WILL PRIORITISE MEDICINES WHICH HELP PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK, LEAVING THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO WORK AT RISK. IT COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO EXACERBATE THE INEQUITIES THAT WE ALREADY SEE. OUR UNEMPLOYED, CAN'T WORK, LONG-TERM ILLNESS, ELDERLY, OUR MAORI AND PASIFIKA. SHE SAYS CONSIDERING THE WORD 'VALUE' OF MEDICINES BEYOND HEALTHCARE WILL CHANGE FUNDING FOR THOSE GROUPS. KING CHARLES HAS SET OUT THE NEW BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S PLANS AT THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT IN THE UK. IT INCLUDES 39 BILLS WHICH LABOUR SAY WILL HELP BOOST GROWTH AND TAKE THE BRAKES OFF BRITAIN. IT'S HOPED REFORMS WILL ALLOW FOR BUILDING OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING. MORE POWER WILL BE DELEGATED TO LOCAL LEADER IN ENGLAND TOO. THE KING'S SPEECH WAS UNVEILED IN PARLIAMENT. THE MINISTERS WILL BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE RAILWAYS BY PERFORMING RAIL FRANCHISING, ESTABLISHING GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS AND BRINGING IT INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. TO SPORT AND THE BLUES HAVE PULLED OFF A STATE OF ORIGIN BOIL OVER TO CLINCH THE SERIES IN BRISBANE. NEW SOUTH WALES STUNNING QUEENSLAND IN GAME THREE 14-4 ENDING A 19 YEAR WINLESS DROUGHT DECIDERS IN BRISBANE. YES, IN BRISBANE. THAT FIRST HALF HAD NO TRIES. THEY KEPT TURNING UP ALL NIGHT. THEY WERE A GRITTY SIDE. WE GOT THE MESSAGE AT HALFTIME, IT WAS CLEAR TO STICK TO WHAT WE WERE DOING. IT CAME RIGHT IN THE FINAL MINUTES. THAT WAS ENOUGH TO HOLD ON. IT AS THEIR FIRST WIN SINCE 2021. 'IT DOESN'T TASTE LIKE MUD'. THAT'S THE GLOWING ENDORSEMENT PARIS'S RIVER SEINE HAS RECEIVED FROM THE CITY'S MAYOR AS IT'S OFFICIALLY DECLARED CLEAN ENOUGH FOR THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS. NEARLY $2.5b HAS BEEN SPENT CLEANING UP THE RIVER SINCE 2015, WHICH IS SET TO BE A CENTREPIECE OF THE OPENING CEREMONY IN JUST EIGHT DAYS TIME, AS WELL AS HOST THE TRIATHLON AND OPENING SWIMMING EVENTS. UNSAFE LEVELS OF BACTERIA WERE DETECTED AS RECENTLY AS EARLY JUNE, BUT IT'S NOW BEEN GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, ENOUGH FOR THE MAYOR AND LOCAL TO TAKE THE PLUNGE. IT IS QUITE CLEAR, DESPITE EVERYTHING. EVEN IF WE HAVE HAD SOME BAD WEATHER SO FAR. IT IS FRESH BUT NOT COLD AT ALL. IT WAS VERY PLEASANT, IT WAS MAGNIFICENT. I DO NOT LIKE THE COLOUR OF THE WATER. YOU ARE NOT REASSURED BY THIS WARMING? NOT REALLY, I HOPE SHE WON'T GET SPOTS TOMORROW. THE MAYOR'S PLANNED SWIM MADE WAVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WITH THE HASHTAG 'I'M POOPING IN THE SEINE' TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY THOSE PROTESTING THE OLYMPICS. THROUGH TO YOUR MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` AUCKLAND, YOU ARE WAKING UP TO SOME EARLY FOG, LIFTING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. RAINFALL EXPECTED AFTER LUNCH FOR KAITAIA, RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI. WHITIANGA, 17 IS YOUR HIGH. 18 DEGREES FOR KAITAIA. FURTHER SOUTH ` A WARMER DAY HERE. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR CLEAR BLUE SKIES. HAMILTON AND TOKOROA, FOG TO START YOUR DAY, CLEARING TO WARM AFTERNOON SUN. 17 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A WET AND SOGGY START TO THE MORNING. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE REGION, EASING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. OVER TO THE WEST ` TAUMARUNUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH, A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY BUT BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE, DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN LEVIN AND WELLINGTON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. A HIGH OF 14 IN THE CAPITAL. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE A GREY DAY HERE. NELSON, BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, SHOWERS TO START YOUR DAY, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 ON THE COAST. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE MUCH THE SAME IN THIS REGION. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OF YOU. FOG WILL BLANKET ALEXANDRA THIS MORNING, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT WARM SUN AFTER LUNCH. YOU ARE SHOOTING FOR A HIGH OF FIVE, DOES NOT LOOK TO WARM. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` A FOGGY START TO THE DAY FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. BUT THE AFTERNOON WILL BE BLUE SKIES AND SUN FOR MOST OF YOU. EIGHT DEGREES AND GORE. I BET THAT SOMEONE IN ALEXANDER IS WEARING SHORTS. NO DOUBT. WE NEED TO COVER A FEW THINGS ` DANIEL ACCIDENTALLY RUNNING OVER A RAT. WHEN WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AT ABOUT THREE, I'M IN MY CAR AT 320 ON THE WAY TO WORK COMING THROUGH CENTRAL AUCKLAND, HOBSON STREET AND KEY STREET, THERE IS A LOT OF DRAINAGE. WHEN YOU ARE AT THE LIGHTS, THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT COME THROUGH THE DRAINAGE. THEY ARE RATS, THEY ARE BIG RATS. THEY SCURRY OUT AND THEN THEY SCURRY OUT. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES GREEN, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU GO. THE RATE GOES UNDER YOUR TIRE AND YOU GO. RATS JUST PARALYSE ME. THAT IS ONE ANIMAL WERE A FREEZE. WHEN I THINK IT MIGHT GREEN, I HIT THE PEDAL AND WENT OVER SOMETHING. NOT MY FAULT. I COUNTED THREE ON ONE MORNING. I ALSO FREAK OUT ABOUT SPIDERS. NOT A BIG SPIDER FAN. THIS MORNING, RATTLESNAKES. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CAMERAS MONITORING. CAN WE LOOK AT IT? THEY THINK THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE 2000 SNAKES IN THIS DEN. I WENT DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE YESTERDAY AND KEPT WATCHING IT. THEY ARE SLITHERING AND WATCHING OVER EACH OTHER. THEY RECKON THERE ARE 2000 AND THERE. MAY BE THEY CHANGE IT AROUND. CAN I ASK YOU WHAT ANIMAL SCARES YOU THE MOST? I REALLY DO NOT LIKE SNAKES. WHAT ABOUT SPIDERS? I'M OKAY WITH SPIDERS. THIS IS A FEW YEARS AGO NOW. I'M THING ABOUT THE SPIDER WE HAD IN THE MAKE UP IN THAT TIME. OH, YES. THERE WAS A SPIDER IN THE WALL. IT WAS IN AVONDALE SPIDER. LIKE THE HUNTSMAN SPIDER IN AUSTRALIA. YES, LIKE THAT. I COULD NOT DO IT. THE VENTS GO INTO THE CHANGING ROOMS AND INTO THE TOILET. THAT WAS QUITE A TIME. YOU WATCH SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND YOU SEE PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO GET RID OF THE SPIDER, BUT THEN THE SPIDER LEAPS ON THEM. I HAD A NETBALL COACH IN AUSTRALIA COMING HOME FOR A HOLIDAY. SHE WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND IT WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE. THE KIDS WERE QUITE SCARED OF OSTRICHES FOR A WHILE. THEY ARE QUITE UGLY. WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG, THEY WERE SCARED OF DOGS. EVEN PUPPIES BECAUSE THEY JUMP UP ON YOU. WE ARE ASKING YOU THIS MORNING, WHAT ANIMAL SCARES YOU THE MOST? LET US KNOW. AND WHY. ME U TONU MAI ` DONALD TRUMP IS SET TO SPEAK TOMORROW AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. OUR U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOOKS MORE AT WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE CONVENTION NEXT. IT'S DAY THREE OF THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. DONALD TRUMP IS SET TO SPEAK TOMORROW TO OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THAT HE ACCEPTS THE PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE SENT OUR U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH TO INVESTIGATE MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES IN MILWAUKEE. LOGAN, NEW ZEALAND DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THESE POLITICAL CONVENTIONS. WE'VE BEEN AMAZED AT ALL THE TRUMP-BRANDED PRODUCTS YOU CAN BUY. GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE. GOOD AFTERNOON FROM HERE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS ARE VERY SERIOUS POLITICAL EVENTS. THERE IS A JOB TO DO, THEY HAVE TO PACK THEIR NOMINEE, AND THIS STARTED AND NEAR TRAGEDY. THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE, AND AS SOON AS I WALKED INTO THE CONVENTION SITE, THERE WAS A HUGE NUMBER OF THINGS YOU COULD BUY WITH DONALD TRUMP'S NAME AND FACE ON IT. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT I BOUGHT. HOW ABOUT A DONALD TRUMP CANDLE? IT SMELLS LIKE APPLE, I THINK. WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH APPLE. IF YOU ARE A READER, YOU CAN BUY THE COLLECTED POEMS OF DONALD TRUMP. IT IS ALL OF HIS TWEETS. THERE ARE ABOUT THREE OR 400 PAGES OF HIS TWEETS. I HEAR THAT THEY ARE MAKING A SECOND VOLUME. ALSO, TALKING ABOUT BOOKS, I HAVE BOUGHT THE OFFICIAL DONALD TRUMP ENDORSED BIBLE. THE LEES AND HAVE LEFT IT WRAPPED IN PLASTIC, IS BECAUSE I WANTED TO GUESS HOW MUCH THIS COST. US$50? NEW ZEALAND DOLLARS, NZ$120 FOR THE DONALD TRUMP ENDORSED BIBLE. WHEN YOU BUY IT, YOU GET A PICTURE OF DONALD TRUMP. WHAT ELSE HAVE WE GOT? I SHOWED YOU GUYS THE TRUMPS AERIAL, AND I BOUGHT SOME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT TASTES LIKE. THEN I NOTICED, THERE IS A LITTLE LABEL THAT SAYS IT IS NOT FOR CONSUMPTION. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I SHOULD TRY THIS. I THINK THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PEOPLE ARE STILL ASLEEP. I HAVE A SEQUENT HAT. DOES NOT FIT ME AT ALL. IT WILL GO NICELY WITH MY DONALD TRUMP SUNGLASSES. AND WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS THE WORST SALES ATTEMPTS IN TELEVISION HISTORY. JUST SOME OF THE MERCHANDISE YOU CAN BUY AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. I WAS HOPING YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE US TO CHURCH AND READ US A VERSE IN THE BIBLE. I'M GOING TO OPEN IT. HE'S GOING TO READ A VERSE. WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THIS, IN HERE, I AM TOLD, THERE ARE SONG LYRICS I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS` IT'S THE CONSTITUTION. YOU HAVE THE US CONSTITUTION. THERE IS ALSO THE SONG WORKS TO THE MAIN CAMPAIGN SONG THAT HE WALKS OUT TO IN THE BIBLE. WHAT STILL TO COME? AS HE MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM HIMSELF YET. HE IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE OFF THE CONVENTION TOMORROW. HIS SPEECH IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THINGS THAT UNITY, BRINGING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO. YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS THIS WEEK. YOU WILL RECALL THAT A WEEK OR SO AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESSURE ON JOE BIDEN, QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS AGE, AND WHETHER HE SHOULD STAND DOWN. THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ONLY INCREASING. THERE WAS A POLL THAT CAME OUT TODAY AND IT FOUND THAT TWO THIRDS OF DEMOCRATS THOUGHT THAT JOE BIDEN SHOULD STAND DOWN. IT IS ALL HAPPENING IN A TIME PRESSURE COOKER BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THEIR VERSION OF THIS ONE, AND CHICAGO, IN AUGUST. A LOT IS HAPPENING IN THE DEMOCRATS SIDE AS WELL. IS THAT SCAFFOLDING IN THE BACKGROUND THAT IS MAKING ALL THAT NOISE? ITS HELICOPTERS EVERYWHERE, AND YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN ARMED POLICE WITH MACHINE GUNS ON BOATS GOING UP AND DOWN THIS RIVER NEAR THE CONVENTION SITE. EVEN ACROSS THE RIVER, THERE IS FENCING EVERYWHERE. NO ONE IS TAKING ANY CHANCES WITH SECURITY HERE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ARMED POLICE. I WAS TALKING TO A COUPLE OF COPS EARLIER. DIGITAL TO YOU. THANK YOU. HE WAS LIKE MARY POPPINS WITH HIS BIG BAG. E HAERE AKE NEI ` REMAINS OF THE WORLD'S RAREST WHALE HAS WASHED UP ON AN OTAGO BEACH WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT SPECIES IT IS AND THE REMARKABLE STORY ABOUT HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED. Subway's new Fiery Subs range is here. Subway does not accept responsibility for red faces, sweaty foreheads or tears. We know what you're thinking. "Couldn't be that hot. It's Subway." But trust us. It is. Why else would we be doing this legal-sounding disclaimer? Get 'em while they're hot, medium and mild. # UNTO THE GUY WHO TRIED TO HIT ME WITH THE WORD GOODBYE? # A MAJOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY HAS WASHED UP ON AN OTAGO BEACH. THE 5M LONG, BEAKED MALE SPADE TOOTHED WHALE. A SPECIES SO RARE NEXT TO NOTHING IS KNOWN ABOUT THEM. IT'S NEVER EVEN BEEN SEEN ALIVE. HERE'S WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION'S MARINE TECHNICAL ADVISOR HANNAH HENDRIKS TOLD US. THURSDAY, THE 4TH OF JULY, DOC RANGERS WERE INFORMED ABOUT A WHALE THAT HAD BEEN SEEN BY A SURFER ON A SURF WEBCAM, AND THEY SENT SOME PHOTOS INTO OUR NATIONAL TEAM, AND OUR WHALE EXPERT HAD A LOOK AT THEM AND WAS LIKE, 'OH MY GOSH, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE SPADE-TOOTH WHALE. 'LET'S TRY AND SECURE IT'. WE WERE REALLY LUCKY THAT THE LOCAL DOC STAFF MANAGED TO WORK WITH SOME LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND GET IT STORED IN A COMMERCIAL FREEZER FOR US. WE DON'T HAVE THE GENETICS TO BE 100%, BUT OUR EXPERTS ARE BASICALLY 99% SURE THAT IT IS THE SPECIES BASED ON THE COLOUR, PATTERN AND THE SHAPE OF THE HEAD AND THE JAW. THIS IS A SUPER, MAJOR DISCOVERY. IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE ALL THIS NEW INFORMATION TO SCIENCE, WORLD FIRST INFORMATION, AND THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DISSECT A FRESH SPECIMEN OF THE SPECIES. WE'VE ONLY EVER BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT THE BONES BEFORE OR PHOTOGRAPHS. DOC IS WORKING WITH TE RUNANGA O OTAKOU ON THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE WHALE, MAKING SURE IT'S TREATED WITH THE APPROPRIATE RESPECT. TE RUNANGA O OTAKOU CHAIR NADIA WESLEY SMITH JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES THIS WAIL HOLDS FOR HAPU AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY? THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FINDER IS HUGE, WE HAD SOME OF OUR HAPU MEMBERS PRESENT WITH DOCK RANGES WHEN THEY MOVED THE WHALE, SO WE GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE SPECIES TOGETHER. WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE THREAT SPECIES, WHILE WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND? RARE* JUST SOUNDED. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY. TO HAVE SOME OF OUR YOUNG HAPU MEMBERS PRESENT AND INVOLVED, AND REALLY EXCITED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH DOC AND DECISION-MAKING AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND LEARN. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW MAORI KNOWLEDGE WILL BE APPLIED? IT'S HARD TO SAY AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY DECISIONS. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE AND GET THEIR CERTAINTY THAT IT IS A SPADE TOOTH WHALE, WE WILL LEARN WHAT FRAMEWORKS WE WILL BE APPLYING. WHAT IS THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY YOU MENTIONED LOOK LIKE? ACKNOWLEDGING HOW WE INTERFACE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HOW THE WHALE INTERACTS WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT, AND TO MAKE SHORT APPROPRIATE TIKANGA IS APPLIED. YOUR PARTNERING UP WITH DOC, HOW MUCH OF A SWAY WITH DOCK OR YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS RARE SPECIES? WE HELP THE RANGERS TAG ENDANGERED SEA LION PUPS. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TEAM, WE ARE IN TOUCH REGULARLY, IT'S BEEN A WELL ONES OF A FEW DAYS, IF I'M HONEST. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF PHONE CALLS AND KEEPING IN TOUCH QUITE REGULARLY AS WE WORK TOWARDS NEXT STEPS. WE WILL BE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH DOC. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR NEWS, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP AFTER SEVEN O'CLOCK ` THERE'S FRUSTRATION AT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO ROLL BACK THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED INSULATION STANDARDS. BUILDING MINISTER CHRIS PENK SAYS THEY WILL COST NEW HOMES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. BUT INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY NEW ZEALAND HAD ALREADY BEEN LAGGING BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD IN QUALITY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS SHORTLY. ALSO COMING UP THIS HOUR ` COST OF LIVING BURDENS ARE STARTING TO EASE FOR MANY NEW ZEALANDERS. INFLATION HAS FALLEN TO 3.3%. SO, WHO GETS TO TAKE THE CREDIT FOR ITS DROP? WE'LL HAVE MORE WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL LATER THIS HOUR. AND ` A FORMER OLYMPIC SKATER SAYS HE IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER FALLING THROUGH THE ICE AT A CENTRAL OTAGO DAM. ANDREW NICHOLSON IS ADVISING PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE AS HUNDREDS HEAD SOUTH TO ENJOY THE ICY CONDITIONS. HE'LL JOIN US A LITTLE LATER. BUT FOR NOW, IT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK. HERE'S MELISSA WITH THE NEWS. DEFENCE FORCE STAFF WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY FROM NEXT MONTH AS IT TRIES TO MAKE $30m IN SAVINGS. THE NZDF CONFIRMING STAFF WERE TOLD A PROCESS HAS BEGUN TO RE-PRIORITISE ITS BUDGET AS IT WORKS TO KEEP EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL READY TO RESPOND WHERE NEEDED. THE FORCE SAYS ITS OPERATING COSTS HAVE RISEN ACROSS THE BOARD, CAUSING A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN $130m. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CRITICISED FOR TELLING PHARMAC TO CONSIDER THE WORTH OF A PERSON'S LIFE WHEN MAKING FUNDING DECISIONS. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR HAS ASKED THE AGENCY TO UPDATE ITS DECISION-MAKING MODEL TO INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE WIDER FINANCIAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACT OF THE DRUGS IT FUNDS. PROFESSOR OF HEALTH ECONOMICS PAULA LORGELLY SAYS WILL WIDEN THE GAP OF INIQUITIES WE ALREADY WITH UNEMPLOYED, ELDERLY, MAORI AND PACIFICA. I THINK IN THE RESPECT OF TRYING TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, IT PERHAPS NEEDS TO BE DONE WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPACT OF HOW YOU MEASURE SOMEONE'S PRODUCTIVITY. SHE SAYS CONSIDERING THE WORD 'VALUE' OF MEDICINES BEYOND HEALTHCARE WILL CHANGE FUNDING FOR MANY PEOPLE. U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS CONFIRMED HE WOULD CONSIDER DROPPING OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IF A MEDICAL CONDITION EMERGED. DOUBTS OVER MR BIDEN'S HEALTH AND ACUITY WERE RAISED AFTER HIS POOR DEBATE PERFORMANCE AGAINST RIVAL DONALD TRUMP LAST MONTH. IN A NEW INTERVIEW, THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE HIM CONSIDER STANDING ASIDE. I MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE IN THE WHOLE DEBATE, AND, LIKE, I SAID I WAS GOING TO BETTER ADDITIONAL CANDIDATE. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE AND PASS ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. BUT I DID NOT ANTICIPATE THINGS GETTING SO, SO, SO DIVIDED. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID REPEATEDLY THAT HE HAS NO SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS. AUTHORITIES IN THAILAND HAVE RELEASED PHOTOS OF THE FOOD AND DRINKS CONSUMED BY SIX PEOPLE IN A BANGKOK HOTEL BEFORE THEIR DEATHS. THE PICTURES SHOW PLATES OF FOOD AND A NUMBER OF DRINKS ON A TABLE IN THE HOTEL ROOM AS EVIDENCE COLLECTED AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATHS. POLICE SAY CYANIDE WAS FOUND ON DRINKING GLASSES AND A WATER CONTAINER, AND INTERVIEWS WITH RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS REVEALED THEIR HAD BEEN A DISPUTE OVER DEBT. MORE TESTS ARE BEING CONDUCTED. DIFFERENT FACTORS ARE BEING BLAMED FOR FOOD PRICE INFLATION, WITH NEW RESEARCH SHOWING SOME PRODUCE IS COSTING US MORE THAN OTHERS. DATA FROM 2014 TO 2023 FOUND PRICES OF PROCESSED FOODS ROSE BY 14%, COMPARED TO FRUITS AND VEGGIES, WHICH JUMPED BY 45% IN THE SAME PERIOD. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS PROFESSOR ALAN RENWICK SAYS THIS SHOWS INFLATION IS NOT BEING FELT EVENLY. WE HAD A NUMBER OF SHOCKS. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD THE COVID SHOCK, WE HAD THE RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR, WE'VE HAD CYCLONE GABRIELLE. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF SHOCKS TO THE SYSTEM AND THIS YEAR PARTICULARLY, SOME OF THOSE SHOCKS HAVE SUBSIDED AND WE'VE SEEN QUITE A DROP IN FOOD AND VEGETABLE PRICES OVER THE LAST YEAR AS THINGS HAVE PERHAPS GOT A LITTLE BIT BACK TO NORMAL. PROFESSOR RENWICK WARNS CLIMATE CHANGE COULD ALSO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR AND LEAD TO HIGHER PRODUCE PRICES. TO SPORT, AND NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE WON STATE OF ORIGIN. THE BLUES BEATING QUEENSLAND IN A SERIES DECIDER IN BRISBANE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 19 YEARS. THE ONLY TRIES IN THE MATCH BOTH COMING IN THE SECOND HALF. IN FRONT OF 50,000 FANS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEFENCE FALLING. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO WATCH. MATES AGAINST MATES, STATES AGAINST STATES. IT'S NEW SOUTH WALES' FIRST SERIES WIN SINCE 2021. CHANGE THE SHIRT. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` AUCKLAND, YOU ARE WAKING UP TO SOME EARLY FOG, LIFTING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. RAINFALL EXPECTED AFTER LUNCH FOR KAITAIA, RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI. 16 DEGREES IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` A WARMER DAY HERE. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR CLEAR BLUE SKIES. HAMILTON AND TOKOROA, FOG TO START YOUR DAY, CLEARING TO WARM AFTERNOON SUN. 17 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. 15 IN ROTORUA AND HAMILTON. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A WET AND SOGGY START TO THE MORNING. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE REGION, EASING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. 16 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE, NAPIER AND HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` TAUMARUNUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH, A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY BUT BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE, DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN LEVIN AND WELLINGTON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 15 DEGREES IN PALMERSTON NORTH. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE A GREY DAY HERE. NELSON, BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, SHOWERS TO START YOUR DAY, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 THE HIGH FOR WESTPORT, GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 14 IN NELSON AND BLENHEIM. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE MUCH THE SAME IN THIS REGION. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OF YOU. FOG WILL BLANKET ALEXANDRA THIS MORNING, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT WARM SUN AFTER LUNCH. 11 IS YOUR HIGH, OAMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` A FOGGY START TO THE DAY FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. BUT THE AFTERNOON WILL BE BLUE SKIES AND SUN FOR MOST OF YOU. 11 IN DUNEDIN. MORE PEOPLE COULD DIE IF THE GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN INSULATION RULES. THAT'S ACCORDING TO A HEALTH ADVOCATE WHO SPENT THREE DECADES STUDYING DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF COLD, MOULDY, HOMES. THE GOVERNMENT IS SIGNALLING IT WILL EASE STANDARDS BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR, WHICH AIM TO REDUCE HEATING BILLS BY 40%. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION MINISTER CHRIS PENK SAYS THE REQUIREMENTS DRIVE UP THE COST OF HOUSING. PHILIPPA HOWDEN-CHAPMAN IS PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, WHO'S SOUNDING THOSE CONCERNS. AND SHE JOINS ME NOW. GOOD MORNING PROF. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. WHEN YOU HEARD THE NEWS THAT THE MINISTER WAS LOOKING AT REDUCING INSULATION STANDARDS, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? I WAS STAGGERED, FRANKLY. THIS WAS IMPECCABLY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED THAT HAD THE SUPPORT AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED FROM BUILDERS, MANUFACTURING, PUBLIC. TO REVERSE THAT ON THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF ONE BUILDER IN TAURANGA, I FOUND THAT VERY STRANGE AT THE MINISTER WOULD DO THAT. I GATHERED TOGETHER THE INFORMATION THAT WE KNOW FROM OUR 30 YEARS OF WORK THAT INSULATION STOPS TOO MUCH HEAT COMING INTO THE HOUSE, BUT IT RETAINS THE TEMPERATURES AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE HOUSE. INSULATION IS A DUAL FUNCTION TO KEEP WARM IN AND KEEP THE EXCESS SUMMER HEAT OUT. IT IS A VERY USEFUL, PROVEN PRODUCTS. EVEN WITH THE RISE OF INSULATION, WE ARE HALF THE STANDARDS THAT THERE ARE IN AUSTRALIA, IRELAND, ENGLAND, PLACES THAT WE COMPARE OURSELVES WITH. IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY DECISION. YOU SAY THAT MORE PEOPLE COULD DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS. YOU ALSO SAY THAT YOU HAVE 30 YEARS OF EXTENSIVE WORK. YOU'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION. WHAT IN YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH THE WHO LEAD YOU TO SAYING THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES HERE AND THAT MORE PEOPLE COULD DIE? AS I SAID, WE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH WITH OTHER AGENCIES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE EFFECTS FROM HAVING INSULATION. CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET SICK, LESS LIKELY TO HAVE DAYS OFF SCHOOL, PARENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE DAYS OFF WORK, LESS LIKELY TO USE PHARMACEUTICALS, LESS LIKELY TO GO INTO HOSPITAL, AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE VULNERABLE FROM HEART CONDITIONS OR RESPECT THREE CONDITIONS ARE LESS LIKELY TO DIE IN WINTER WHEN THERE IS INSULATION IN THE HOUSE. WE ARE RISING OUR STANDARDS SO WE ARE MORE SIMILAR TO OTHER COUNTRIES WITH THE SAME KIND OF TEMPERATURES. WHY WOULD WE WANT TO ROLL IT BACK? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NEW BUILDS. REDUCING THOSE INSTALLATION STANDARDS, THERE IS A COST HERE. THE COST TO LIVES AND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. EXACTLY, I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT AND SHALL ASIAN HELP TO MAKE THE HOUSES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN DO AT A HOUSEHOLD LEVEL TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS. EVERY BIT HELPS. WE INVITED CHRIS PENK TO JOIN US, BUT THERE WAS A SCHEDULING ISSUE. WHAT HE DOES SAY IS THAT THE COST OF BUILDING IS INCREASED BY 40% SINCE 2019. OUT-OF-CONTROL COSTS PUSHED AWAY THE KIWI DREAM OF OWNING A HOME. IS THERE AN ARGUMENT HERE THAT AND IT'S TIME WE NEED MORE HOUSES THAT 50,000 BEING THE DIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME AND NOT AFFORD A HOME, IS AN ARGUMENT WHEN IT COMES TO COST AND OWNING A HOME? I THINK THERE IS A BIT THAT IS A VERY NARROW VIEW, BECAUSE IF YOU BUILD A HOME BETTER AT THE BEGINNING IT LASTS LONGER AND YOU HAVE LESS MAINTENANCE ON ITS. I THINK THE IDEA THAT IMPROVING STANDARDS IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH ISSUES IS GOING TO INCREASE THE COST OF HOUSING SUBSTANTIALLY, IT IS A FAIRYTALE. THE MINISTER, I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO TALK TO, JOHN KEY SUPPORTED THEIR WARMUP NEW ZEALAND PROGRAM THAT THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT ARE DONE. IT IS UNTIL NOW BEEN A BIPARTISAN POLICY THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED FROM ONE GOVERNMENT TO ANOTHER. THIS IS WHY I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THERE WAS A REVERSAL. REMEMBERING IF WE GO TO A LOWER LEVEL OF INSULATION, IT MEANS THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCE INSULATION HAVE TO RETOOL ALL OF THE TOOLS. THERE IS A HUGE TRANSACTION COST OF GOING BACKWARDS, NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE SIDE-EFFECTS. JUST QUICKLY TO END THINGS, BECAUSE YOU MENTION OF THIS EARLIER, THE MINISTER IS TALKING ABOUT INSULATION IN CERTAIN AREAS MAKE HOUSES HOTTER. I DON'T WANT TO MINCE HIS WORDS HERE, THIS IS FROM A STATEMENT, THAT WARMER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY LIKE NORTHLAND HAVING TO SPEND MORE ON ENERGY TO CALL THEIR HOMES, MAKING THE REQUIREMENTS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE. IS THIS A PLAUSIBLE ARGUMENT? I THINK NEW HOMES DESIGNED PROPERLY ARE ALL REQUIRED TO HAVE VENTILATION, INSULATION, WHICH AS I SAID, STOPS EXCESS SUMMER HEAT, AS WELL AS KEEPS HEAT IN THE HOUSE WHEN IT IS COLD. THAT IS SPURIOUS PHYSICS. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FROM A PHYSICIST POINT OF VIEW. THANK YOU SO MUCH WE ARE TIME. YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE KAITAIA DEMENTIA CLINIC THAT'S BEING HAILED AS GROUNDBREAKING FOR PATIENTS AND CARERS. MAORI CARERS OF PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA OR MATE WAREWARE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO A GROUNDBREAKING MARAE-BASED CLINIC OFFERING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES. AFTER A SIX-MONTH TRIAL, THAT SERVICE IS BEING EXTENDED INDEFINITELY. THE UNIQUE APPROACH BLENDS CULTURAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST DOCTOR MAKARENA DUDLEY. LOVELY OF YOU TO JOIN US. TELL US ABOUT THIS GROUNDBREAKING APPROACH. THIS CLINIC HAS COME ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE VISION OF THE CENTRE BRAIN RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND WHERE I WORK, TO TAKE RESEARCH AND WHAT WE DO IN THE LAB OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND PARTICULARLY INTO tHE MAORI COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PARTNERED TO RUN A CLINIC AND PROGRAM WHO SUPPORTS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING CAREGIVING DUTIES FOR A LOVED ONE WHO IS SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA. IT HAS BEEN A 12 WEEK PROGRAM, AND IT HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL THAT WE HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE WITH THIS PROGRAM AND DEFINITELY. THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS OUT THERE, WHAT MAKES THIS ONE UNIQUE? THIS IS A KAUPAPA MAORI BASED PROGRAM/ THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES PROTOCOLS OF TIKANGA INTO THE PROGRAM. THIS MAKES THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTENDING REALLY COMFORTABLE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. THEY KNOW THERE ARE THE SUPPORT GROUPS THAT RUN AROUND THE COUNTRY'S, ALZHEIMER'S NEW ZEALAND IS TO A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT I DO NOT KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT IS BASED ON TIKANGA MAORI. THEY REALLY MAKE SOME PEOPLE FEEL VERY MUCH AT HOME, IT'S AN ENVIRONMENT THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF CONFIDENTIALITY, AND ENVIRONMENT THAT REALLY REQUIRES THE PARTICIPANTS TO FEEL SAFE TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES. HENCE THE REASON WHY IT AS KAUPAPA MAORI BASED. HOW CRITICAL IS THIS CARE FOR MAORI AND WHANAU? SOME RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE CAREGIVING SERVICES DIE MORE OFTEN THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM WHATEVER THE HEALTH CONDITIONERS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY SO FOR THE NATURE OF THIS, BECAUSE OF THE WAY DEMENTIAS, AND SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE ISOLATED IN THEIR HOMES, THEY DON'T HOW TO MANAGE, COPE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS, AND THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM GIVES THEM A PLATFORM TO DISCUSS WHAT IS GOING ON FOR THEM, AND TO LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL WHAT THE EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN, AND WHAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY INTRODUCE INTO THEIR CAREGIVING PRACTICES. BACK OF THE MISDIAGNOSIS OF MAORI WITH DEMENTIA, AND WE DEVELOPED A TOOL THAT, FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD, MAORI FRIENDLY. UPFRONT IT ASKS ABOUT THE PERSON'S SPIRIT, AND IT REALLY ENGAGES THE KAUMATUA AND THE WHANAU IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS. THE KAUMATUA SAID TO US THAT THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE ASSESSMENT, THEIR WELL-BEING. AND WE'VE INCLUDED THE COMPONENTS TO THE START OF THE ASSESSMENT, AND THROUGHOUT THE ASSESSMENT TOOL, WE HAVE INCLUDED CONTENT, AND ME ASKING QUESTIONS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO MAORI. AS A RESULT, WE'VE HAD INCREDIBLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO FAR, WE ARE STILL IN THE STAGES OF DISSEMINATING THAT TOOL, THE PEOPLE USING THE TOOL ARE REALLY ENJOYING IT. ANY WHANAU OUT THERE, WHO ARE SEEKING A DIAGNOSIS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, ASK TO USE THAT TOOL. WE ARE HOPING TO SEE THIS GO FURTHER OUT THERE. WE SENT A RESEARCHER TO DO SOME RESEARCH, AND IN THE THESIS SHE WILL BE WRITING ABOUT THE FINDINGS, AND SHE WILL BE DEVELOPING A MODEL FROM THE FINDINGS OF THIS PROGRAM, AND THEN WE WILL DISSEMINATE THAT. AND WE WILL MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ALL OTHER GROUPS AROUND THE ISLAND. NOT ONLY ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS TOOL, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE CARERS, CARERS FOR WHANAU WITH DEMENTIA FREQUENTLY DIE BEFORE THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE AND THE STRESS. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, WE WILL GET TO MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. STAY WITH US. ABOUT WHAT ANIMAL SCARES YOU THE MOST AND WHY. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU WHAT ANIMAL SCARES YOU THE MOST. AND WHY. IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ANIMAL` WHAT ANIMAL SCARES YOU MOST? SNAKES WOULD BE UP THERE. BUT MAINLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT KNOWN TO US AND NEW ZEALAND. WETAS BECAUSE THEY ARE UGLY AND THEY COULD BITE. YOU CANNOT TELL THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE PROTECTED. I AM RATS. I SEE THEM IN THE MORNING AND SPIDERS. IT PARALYSED ME EVERY TIME I SEE THEM. THERE IS ONE SON IN PARTICULAR` HE IS QUITE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST., HE DOES NOT STAND ON A SPIDER OR SMACK IT WITH ISSUE, WHICH IS MY INITIAL REACTION, HE INSTEAD LISTEN UP WITH HIS HANDS AND THEN GOES AND SHOWS THE WORLD. LOUISE IS THE SAME OF THE HEDGEHOG. SHE FREEZES IF SHE SEES A HEDGEHOG. HER CHILDREN THINKS IT'S FUNNY BUT SHE IS REDUCED TO TEARS. A CHILDHOOD TRAUMA. GIVE HER A SPIDER OR A RAT ANY DAY. MY EXPERIENCE THERE IS ONLY ONE SCARY ANIMAL. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. IT'S 7.30. HERE'S MELISSA WITH THE NEWS. THERE'S A WARNING THAT PEOPLE COULD DIE IF THE GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN INSULATION RULES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNALLED IT COULD EASE STANDARDS BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR, WHICH AIMED TO REDUCE HEATING BILLS BY 40%. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION MINISTER CHRIS PENK CLAIMS THE REQUIREMENTS DRIVE UP THE COST OF HOUSING 'TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS', BUT PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PHILLIPA HOWDEN CHAPMAN SAYS THE CHANGE COULD COME AT THE COST OF HEALTH. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE EFFECTS FROM HAVING INSULATION. CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET SICK, LESS LIKELY TO HAVE DAYS OFF FROM SCHOOL. PARENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE DAYS OFF WORK, LESS LIKELY TO USE PHARMACEUTICALS, LESS LIKELY TO GO INTO HOSPITAL. CHRIS PENK SAYS THIS REVIEW COMES AFTER BUILDERS RAISED CONCERNS OVER THE NEW REQUIREMENTS IN THE BUILDING CODE, BUT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS STAGE. FOG'S CAUSING DISRUPTIONS AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT AGAIN, WITH A NUMBER OF FLIGHTS CANCELLED THIS MORNING. HEAVY FOG ACROSS THE CITY'S FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF NINE DOMESTIC FLIGHTS OUT OF THE AIRPORT, AND 14 INCOMING. 15 DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ARE ALSO DELAYED. METSERVICE SAYS THE FOG ISN'T SET TO LIFT UNTIL LATE MORNING. AUCKLAND AIRPORT IS URGING PASSENGERS TO REGULARLY CHECK ITS WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION. IT'S HOPED THE DISCOVERY OF ONE OF THE RAREST WHALES IN THE WORLD ON AN OTAGO BEACH MIGHT UNLOCK NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIES ITSELF. THE 5-METRE-LONG 'BEAKED MALE SPADE-TOOTHED WHALE' WAS FOUND ON THE BEACH AT TAIERI MOUTH IN OTAGO TWO WEEKS AGO. NADIA WESLEY SMITH SAYS NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ON ITS FUTURE, BUT THE PRECIOUS WHALE WILL BE HANDLED CAREFULLY. JUST ASTOUNDED. YOU KNOW, THIS THIS THING DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY. AND TO HAVE SOME OF OUR YOUNG HAPU MEMBERS THERE IN PERSON, AND REALLY INVOLVED. AND REALLY JUST EXCITED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH DOC IN DECISION-MAKING FOR NEXT STEPS, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LEARN. A SAMPLE FROM THE WHALE HAS BEEN SENT TO AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY TO CONFIRM ITS SPECIES, WHILE IT'S HELD IN COLD STORAGE. THERE ARE GROWING FEARS THAT ANOTHER WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS ON THE CUSP OF ERUPTING. THE WAR IN GAZA ISN'T THE ONLY BATTLE ISRAEL IS FIGHTING. THE IDF AND THE LEBANESE ARMED GROUP 'HEZBOLLAH' HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING FIRE ACROSS THEIR BORDER FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS. HEZBOLLAH SAYS IT'S SUPPORTING GAZA, BUT A WAR ON THE BORDER COULD TRIGGER AN ALL-OUT REGIONAL CONFLICT. OVERALL IT HAS BEEN INTENSE AND PREDICTABLE. FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME WE HAVE BEEN HERE. THE FARMERS IN THE FIELDS, THEY ARE NO LONGER. CROPS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. AS A RESULT OF BUSHFIRES RESULTING FROM THE EXCHANGES OF FIRE. 466 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN LEBANON, WHILE IN ISRAEL THE DEATH TOLL IS 23. TO SPORT AND THE WHITE FERNS ARE ON THE BACK FOOT IN THEIR FIFTH AND FINAL T20 MATCH AGAINST ENGLAND AT LORD'S. BATTING FIRST, ENGLAND POSTED 156. IN REPLY, ZEALAND'S ALREADY THREE WICKETS DOWN. GOES UP. THE SHORTER BALL HAS WORKED. THE EXTRA PACE HAS WORKED. AND ENGLAND HAVE PICKED UP THEIR SECOND. SO FAR, ENGLAND HAVE KEPT DEVINE QUIET. THE WAY SHE PICKED OUT THE FIELDER... AND RIGHT ON CUE. THE WHITE FERNS STILL NEED 78 RUNS TO WIN THEIR FIRST MATCH OF THE SERIES. NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE STUNNED QUEENSLAND 14-4 IN BRISBANE, TO WIN STATE OF ORIGIN. IT'S THE BLUES FIRST SERIES WIN SINCE 2021, AND A LOT LONGER SINCE THEY'VE CLAIMED A DECIDER NORTH OF THE BORDER. LACHIE MCLEOD HAS MORE. A 19-YEAR WAIT FINALLY OVER IN BRISBANE. THE SIREN SOUNDS, THE SHIELD'S HEADING BACK TO SYDNEY. NEW SOUTH WALES PULLING OFF A HISTORIC WIN OVER QUEENSLAND. DEBUTANTE MITCH BARNETT FIRING EARLY. OH, THERE'S A SHOT! SELWYN COBBO NAILED BY THE DEBUTANTE, BARNETT! THE TENSION OF THE DECIDER BOILING OVER. AND QUEENSLANDERS ARE COMING IN FROM EVERYWHERE. IT SPILLS OVER INTO THE BENCH. WE WERE THINKING THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. IT IS TURNING UGLY. IT IS TURNING VERY UGLY. IT TOOK MORE THAN AN HOUR OF PLAY FOR A TRY, THE BLUES CROSSING FIRST. LUAI'S INTO THE BACKFIELD, WHERE'S SUPPORT? HE'S WAITING FOR BEST. HE GETS THE BALL TO BRADMAN. BRADMAN BEST BREAKS AWAY! BRADMAN BEST SCORES THE TRY IN ONE OF THE GREAT EFFORTS! WOW! JUST THREE MINUTES LATER, IT WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE MAROONS. MOSES... STRAIGHTENS OFF THE LEFT. MOSES HAS SCORED FOR NEW SOUTH WALES! (RAPTUROUS CHEERING) THE MAN OF THE MATCH IN GAME 2 HAS STOOD UP AT SUNCORP! OH MATE, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE CHASING, THAT'S WHAT WE KNEW WE WERE CAPABLE OF AS WELL, SO... MATE, THIS GROUP IS SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND, YEAH, JUST SO HAPPY. QUEENSLAND UNABLE TO DEFEND THEIR FORTRESS, HELD TRYLESS AND ONLY MANAGING TWO PENALTIES. YEAH, THEY JUST RACED AWAY WITH A BIG LEAD. IT WAS A TIGHT CONTEST THERE. 2-2 FOR A BIT. YEAH, LIKE I SAID, WE MISSED A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY GO ON WITH IT. THE PERFECT START TO MICHAEL MAGUIRE'S TENURE WITH NEW SOUTH WALES, AS BRISBANE TURNED BLUE. LACHIE MCLEOD, 1 NEWS. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` AUCKLAND, YOU ARE WAKING UP TO SOME EARLY FOG, LIFTING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. RAINFALL EXPECTED AFTER LUNCH FOR KAITAIA, RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI. WHITIANGA, 17 IS YOUR HIGH. 18 DEGREES FOR KAITAIA. FURTHER SOUTH ` A WARMER DAY HERE. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR CLEAR BLUE SKIES. HAMILTON AND TOKOROA, FOG TO START YOUR DAY, CLEARING TO WARM AFTERNOON SUN. 17 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A WET AND SOGGY START TO THE MORNING. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE REGION, EASING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. 16 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE, NAPIER AND HASTINGS. SITTING ON A HIGH OF 13 AND ANNA BURKE THE FOX SAKE OVER TO THE WEST ` TAUMARUNUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH, A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY BUT BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE, DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN LEVIN AND WELLINGTON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 17 THE HIGH FOR WHANGANUI. A HIGH OF 14 IN THE CAPITAL. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE A GREY DAY HERE. NELSON, BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, SHOWERS TO START YOUR DAY, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 THE HIGH FOR WESTPORT, GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. 15 ON THE COAST. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE MUCH THE SAME IN THIS REGION. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OF YOU. FOG WILL BLANKET ALEXANDRA THIS MORNING, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT WARM SUN AFTER LUNCH. 11 IS YOUR HIGH, OAMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` A FOGGY START TO THE DAY FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. BUT THE AFTERNOON WILL BE BLUE SKIES AND SUN FOR MOST OF YOU. 12 THE HIGH FOR MILFORD SOUND. WHILST LIVING IN AUSTRALIA, IF YOU SEE ONE OF THOSE MOTHER OF ALL SPIDERS, THE HUNTSMAN, SPRAY THE HELL OUT OF IT WITH HAIRSPRAY. THAT WAS SORTED OUT, IT CAN'T MOVE. THAT IS RIGHT, NOTHING MOVES WITH HAIRSPRAY. SHE SAYS, IT CAN'T MOVE AND THEN YOU KILL IT. OH NO. ME U TONU MAI ` INFLATION HAS FALLEN AGAIN. SO WHO BROUGHT IT DOWN? NATIONAL, LABOUR, OR THE RESERVE BANK? THAT DEBATE IS COMING UP WITH OUR PANEL NEXT. INFLATION HAS FALLEN TO 3.3%, THE LOWEST ITS BEEN IN THREE YEARS. NATIONAL MPs RUSHED TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO DECLARE THE GOOD NEWS YESTERDAY, SAYING THEY HAD GOT THE ECONOMY TURNING A CORNER. BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET DIDN'T KICK IN UNTIL AFTER THE DATA COLLECTION PERIOD HAD ENDED. SO WHO TAKES THE CREDIT? NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE SOME DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR POLITICAL PANEL THIS MORNING. LABOUR MP KIERAN MCANULTY IS HERE AND CHRIS BISHOP IS AWAY, SO FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS HAS COME TO JOIN THE PARTY. GOOD MORNING TO YOU BOTH. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. INFLATION HAS FALLEN TO A THREE YEAR LOW, BUT HOW MUCH HAS INFLATION COME DOWN AS A RESULT OF YOUR GOVERNMENT'S POLICY? WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO TAKE THE FEEL OF THE INFLATION FIRE. THE LAST GOVERNMENT WAS SPENDING AT VERY HIGH LEVELS, AND THAT WAS ADDING TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURE. YOU WILL RECALL EVEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE PASSED A MINI BUDGET TO BRING SOME DISCIPLINE BACK TO GOVERNMENT SPENDING. WE ARE TAKING ALL THE RIGHT DECISIONS SO THAT THE RESERVE BANK CAN GET ON AND REDUCE INTEREST RATES FASTER THAN WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE. SHE MAKES A POINT THERE, INFLATION SPIKED UNDER YOUR GOVERNMENT, DID YOU DO ENOUGH? I AM REALLY PLEASED THAT INFLATION IS TRACKING DOWN. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE FORECAST THAT WAS OUT IN 2023 THAT SAID AROUND THIS TIME AND WOULD BE 3.3, AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ITS OWN PROGRAM AND OBVIOUSLY, WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT. BUT, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY CAN CLAIM CREDIT FOR THIS PARTICULAR DROP. I KNEW THIS WAS COMING. I HATE TO BE SO PREDICTABLE. LET'S GO. THE RESERVE BANK HAS GONE HARD. IT IS BITING AND IT IS HAVING THE DESIRED EFFECT. WHAT CONCERNS ME THOUGH, IS THAT IN THE FIGURES THAT WERE RELEASED YESTERDAY, RENT HAS GONE UP NEARLY 5%. THE ONE THAT WORRIES THE MOST AS COUNCIL RATES UP 10%. TO BE HONEST, I DO NOT SEE THAT CHANGING ANYTIME SOON. INSURANCE IS UP 14% AND IN THE CLIMATE OF SEVERE WEATHER INCREASING IN SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY, I CANNOT SEE THAT CHANGING UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT DOES SOMETHING. IN PARTICULAR, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COUNCIL RATES, IT WORRIES ME WHEN I SEE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE LAST NIGHT AND PREVIOUSLY THAT COUNCILS JUST NEED TO SORT THIS OUT. IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT. I AM QUIETLY GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY TALKING TO COUNCILS AND THEY HAVE BEEN PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT TRYING TO FIND SAVINGS AND KEEP RATE INCREASES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. BUT THEY HAVE WATER TO PAY FOR THEMSELVES NOW. THEY HAVE ROADS, PARTICULARLY RURAL ROADS TO SERVICE, AND THE COSTS KEEP GOING UP. THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN PAY FOR THEM IS TO INCREASE RATES AND THAT IS WHY. NICOLA WHAT WE DO? I THINK THERE IS STILL ROOM AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR COUNCILS TO CUT SAVINGS. GO LINE THROUGH LINE AND THE BUDGET AND FIND SAVINGS. WHEN COUNCILS WILL DO THAT EXERCISE THEY WILL FIND THERE IS STILL ROOM. WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROGRESSED AND THE BUDGET IS INVESTING AND FLOOD PROTECTION SCHEMES AROUND THE COUNTRY. THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE RISK THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PRICING. WITH RENTS, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS MAKE A MORE COMPETITIVE RENTAL MARKET. SO THAT LANDLORDS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REDUCE THEIR RENT. WE ARE DOING THAT BY MAKING IT CHEAPER TO MAKE A HOUSE, AND MAKING ZONING BETTER. OUR POLICY AGENDA IS MOVING FAST AND WE ARE ALL ABOUT REDUCING THE COST OF LIVING. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TAX RELIEF. WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT WOULD BRING DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON RENTS. WITH A NEARLY 5% INCREASE IN RENTS ANNUALLY, THAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR EVERYBODY. IF YOU ACTUALLY GO AND TALK TO COUNCILS, YOU WILL KNOW THAT THEY HAVE CUT AS MUCH FAT OUT OF THE SYSTEM. WITHOUT CUTTING ON THOSE BASIC DELIVERY THINGS LIKE RIDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT PEOPLE NEED IN THEIR LOCAL AREAS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT ON FRIDAY LAST WEEK, THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISREGARDED EVERY SINGLE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS SENT TO HIM BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR ABOUT HOW IT WOULD HELP THEM TO NOT JUST RELY ON RATES. THERE WAS A VERY SHORTSIGHTED MOVE THAT WILL NOT BE PRODUCTIVE IN THE LONG-TERM. COUNCILS HAVE TO PUT UP RATES, IT IS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS. WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT THAT IN THE SYSTEM, BUT I COUNCILS AND MY AREA THAT HAD PUT RATES UP 20% TWO YEARS RUNNING, AND IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE AND IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE IS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO CHOICE. I WILL JUST POINT OUT TO THEIR KAREN, TAX CUTS ARE COMING INTO WEEKS. THEY ARE GOING TO BE PERFECTLY TIME I THINK, BECAUSE NEW ZEALANDERS KNOW THAT WHEN THEIR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET IS STRETCHED, THE THING THAT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS A BIT MORE CASH AND THEIR BANK ACCOUNT. CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE INFLATION? THAT IS THE ADVICE I HAVE RECEIVED, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE HAVE FUNDED THE RELIEF. WE HAVE RESTORED DISCIPLINE AND THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS WHAT IS FUNDING TACTFULLY. WE NEED FUND TAX RELIEF THAT WAY YOU ARE NOT ADDING TO INFLATION. KAREN IS SAYING THAT THERE IS NO FACT TO BE FOUND IN THE COUNCIL SYSTEM, OF COURSE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT SAID THERE WAS NO FAT IN THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM. WE FOUND $23 BILLION WORTH OF THAT. WE WERE ABLE TO REDISTRIBUTE THAT AN OFFICE BUDGET SO THAT WE COULD FUND ADDITIONAL FRONT-LINE SERVICES AND SO THAT WE COULD FUND TACTFULLY FOR WORKING PEOPLE. IF YOU WANT TO FIND IT YOU CAN. I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THE GOVERNMENT COMES UP AND SAYS THAT THIS SERVICE HAS BEEN REDUCED AND THE SERVICE HAS BEEN CUT. THE CIVILIAN STAFF CAME TO US YESTERDAY SAID THEY ARE LIKELY TO LOSE THEIR JOBS. THEY HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE FINANCE MINISTER AS FAT. THAT IS A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS. THERE IS AN EXPECTATION OF SERVICE THAT MUST BE DELIVERED BY COUNCILS, AND IF THEY DID NOT DO IT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TURN AROUND AND SAY THEY WERE NOT SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE BACKED INTO A CORNER HERE. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, THEY HAD OPPORTUNITY. THEY PUSH THE WATER SERVICES BACK TO THEM AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO IT AND NOW THEY HAVE REFUSED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER ON RATEPAYERS. YOU SPENT 1.2 BILLION ON COMING UP WITH THREE MORTARS AND THAT WAS` YOU HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT YOU HAVE MADE THOSE SAVINGS, YOU COULD HAVE SAID TO THE DEFENCE FORCE THAT THERE ARE OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS WERE PULLED THEIR WEIGHT. YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE THE CUT. WHY DO YOU NOT TO DO THAT? WE DID DO THAT. THE DEFENCE FORCE WAS ONE OF THE ENTITIES THAT WE HAD TO TAKE MONEY FROM TO FUND OTHER SERVICES. EVERY DOLLAR TAKEN FROM THE DEFENCE FORCE AS BEING USED TO FUND OTHER FRONT-LINE SERVICES. WE HAVE PRIORITISED THAT TOWARDS PAY FOR SOLDIERS, PRIORITISED IT TOWARDS NEWER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORTING OUR DEFENCE FORCE. WE HAVE ASKED THEM, LIKE EVERY OTHER ENTITY AND GOVERNMENT, TO LOOK FOR BACK-OFFICE CUTS THAT THEY CAN MAKE. I WANT TO END THIS ON A LIGHT NOTE. WE TALKING OTHER ANIMALS THAT SCARE YOU THE MOST. WHAT IS THE ANIMAL THAT SCARES YOU, NICOLA, THE MOST AND WHY? I AM NOT A FAN OF SPIDERS. THEY ARE STILL THE THING THAT FREAKS ME OUT AND I HAVE TO DO THAT EMBARRASSING, GET MY HUSBAND AND RUN OUT THE DOOR, YOU DEAL WITH THAT THING. YOU WANT TO SEE ME VERY, VERY AFRAID, THAT IS THE WAY TO DO IT. I DON'T MIND SPIDERS SO MUCH. BUT I DO LIKE A FRAUD BECAUSE IF I WAS IN AUSTRALIA I WOULD BE SCARED OUT OF MY BRAINS, BECAUSE THEY CAN HURT YOU. HERE, THEY ARE PRETTY HARMLESS. IF I WAS SURROUNDED BY SNAKES I WOULD NOT FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE. I WORK IN PARLIAMENT, YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY SNAKES, I'M GETTING AHEAD OF YOU. THAT IS A PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK THERE. GREAT TO TALK TO YOU BOTH. UP THE BLOWS, KIERAN. I WANTED YOU TO BE ON BECAUSE I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. BIT OF A BORING FIRST HALF, THOUGH. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE YOU DESERVE IT. I HATE MOTHS. WHEN YOU FIND MOTHS EVERYWHERE. SOUNDS LIKE THE MOVIE, MOTHRA. SUNDAY NIGHT HORRORS. I HAD TO GO TO BED BY THEN. E WHAI AKE NEI ` CHILDFUND IS SET TO EXPAND ITS CAMPAIGN TO GET CLEAN WATER TO THE PACIFIC. WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT ISLANDS COULD BE RECEIVING HELP NEXT. # I HEARD YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HAVING ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER SHOULD BE A RIGHT FOR ALL CHILDREN, BUT IT'S NOT FOR A LOT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. IN PARTS OF THE PACIFIC, IT IS REPORTED THAT ONE IN 10 DEATHS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS IS LINKED TO DIARRHOEA, VOMITING AND DIRTY WATER. IN THE HOPES OF IMPROVING WATER SANITATION, CHILDFUND HAS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN IN THE SOLOMAN ISLANDS AND KIRIBATI, WITH THE HOPES OF EXPANDING IT ACROSS THE PACIFIC. JOINING US NOW IS CEO OF CHILDFUND, JOSIE PAGANI. MORENA, JOSIE. KIA ORA. TELL ME ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER PROBLEMS WE CAN FAX? BECAUSE I THINK CHARITIES TEND TO OVERPROMISE AND UNDER DELIVER. THIS IS OUR SHARED HOME ` THE PACIFIC. WE SHARE THIS BEAUTIFUL OCEAN. IT IS OUR HOME TOO, SO WHAT CAN WE DO IN THIS BEAUTIFUL REGION? PEOPLE HAVE SAID WATER IS A BIG ISSUE. YOU QUOTED THERE THAT 10% OF KIDS IN KIRIBATI DIE ETHICALLY FROM DRINKING DIRTY WATER. OUR MORTALITY RATE IN NEW ZEALAND IS 0.3%. SO IT IS FIXABLE. WE ARE SEEING PICTURES OF THE PORTABLE DEVICES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING IN TO KIRIBATI AND THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. THIS WAS ALL PART OF THAT CAMPAIGN. THEY ARE AMAZING. THEY ARE LIKE CHERRY CANS, AND YOU OPEN THEM LIKE A BOOK, AND THE SUN PURIFIES UP TO 10 L OF WATER IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. SOME OF THESE ARE JUST WATER TANKS. THIS IS A UNIT HERE. THAT LASTS ABOUT 10 YEARS, COST ABOUT $250. IT FIXES PREVENTABLE PROBLEMS. WE CAN'T FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD, BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN OUR OWN HOMES AND OUR OWN REGION. I LIKE THE FACT THAT CHILD FUND GOES ON, AND YOU DON'T GO INSANE, THESE ARE THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, HERE THEY ARE, GO AHEAD AND USE THEM. THIS IS ABOUT COLLABORATION AND GETTING INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES. IF YOU GO IN THERE WITH A GOOD IDEA FROM NEW ZEALAND AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS, GOOD LUCK TO YOU, BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED. IF YOU GO IN AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITIES ` PEOPLE SAYING, WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH DIRTY WATER, OUR KIDS AREN'T GOING TO SCHOOL. WE LISTENED TO COMMUNITIES. WE ACTUALLY EMPOWER THOSE COMMUNITIES TO DO AT THEMSELVES. WE HAVE FANTASTIC LOCAL TEAMS, AND WE JUST WORK WITH THEM. THE IDEA IS THAT WE ARE NOT THERE FOR A LOT OF TIME, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT, AND WE WANT THE ORGANISATIONS WE WORK WITH TO BE STRONGER WHEN WE LEAVE THEM, SO IT IS SUSTAINABLE. BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T OWN IT AND FEEL LIKE IT IS THEIR PROJECT, IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK YOU JUST CAME BACK FROM KIRIBATI. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE IS ALSO A REMOTE VILLAGE WHERE KIDS ARE WALKING TWO HOURS PER DAY TO GET WATER. THAT IS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. NEW ZEALANDERS GO TO BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE PACIFIC, BUT THERE ARE POCKETS ESPECIALLY IN THE REMOTE OUTER ISLANDS. THERE ARE KIDS THAT ARE WALKING UP TO 2 HOURS TO GET WATER AND WALKING BACK AGAIN, SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ` THESE KIDS, IF THEY GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED, THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEAD LAWYERS, ENGINEERS, BUSINESSPEOPLE OF TOMORROW. IT IS GREAT TO JUST SEE THAT GENERATION COME THROUGH. I DON'T WANT THE PACIFIC TO BE DEPENDENT ON AID AND CHARITY LIKE OURS, AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE. THIS IS ABOUT LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT. I CAN TELL YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, AND THAT NO DOUBT IS FROM GOING THERE AND SEEING THAT WE CAN HELP IN SOME WAY. TO FINISH THINGS OFF, HOW CAN WE HELP OVER THERE? FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE PUBLIC DONATES TO CHILD FUND, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WILL MATCH IT FAY ABOUT FOUR DOLLARS. THOSE WATER TANKS COST ABOUT $250. WE HAVE DISTILLATION UNITS THAT REMOVE SALT WATER. I JUST SEE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD TODAY, THAT IT IS NO WONDER IN NEW ZEALAND WE GO, WHAT CAN WE POSSIBLY DO? BUT IN THE PACIFIC WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOVELY TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO. MORE FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT THIS MORNING, DUE TO HEAVY FOG. THIS IS THE VIEW FROM THE SKYTOWER, WITH HEAVY FOG ACROSS THE CITY. A TOTAL OF 24 DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT HAVE NOW BEEN CANCELLED, AND A FURTHER 31 DELAYED. A JETSTAR FLIGHT TO SYDNEY IS ALSO DELAYED ` THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL DISRUPTION. THE FOG IS EXPECTED TO LIFT LATER THIS MORNING, WITH PASSENGERS URGED TO CHECK THE AIRPORT'S WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION. THE FINANCE MINISTER IS PROMISING BUDGET CUTS TO THE DEFENCE FORCE WILL BE POURED INTO THE FRONT LINE. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS BEEN ASKED TO MAKE $30 MILLION IN SAVINGS, INVITING STAFF TO TAKE VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY FROM NEXT MONTH. NICOLA WILLIS SAYS THE DEFENCE FORCE WAS ORIGINALLY ONE OF THE ENTITIES EXEMPTED FOR HAVING TO FIND SAVINGS, BUT THAT'S BEING RE-PRIORITISED. EVERY DOLLAR SAVED IN THE DEFENCE FORCE IS BEING REINVESTED IN THEIR FRONTLINE TROOPS. IN THE BUDGET, WE ADDED MORE THAN HALF $1 BILLION MORE IN FUNDING, BUT WE'VE PRIORITISED IT TOWARDS PAY FOR SOLDIERS. WE'VE PRIORITISED IT TOWARDS NEW EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORTING OUR DEFENCE FORCE. WE'VE ASKED THEM, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER ENTITY IN GOVERNMENT, TO LOOK AT COSTS THAT THEY CAN REDUCE. THE DEFENCE FORCE SAYS ITS OPERATING COSTS HAVE RISEN ACROSS THE BOARD, CAUSING A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN $130 MILLION. A HEALTH ADVOCATE IS CRITICISING THE GOVERNMENT FOR PROPOSING WEAKER INSULATION RULES, WARNING IT WILL LEAD TO MORE DEATHS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNALLED IT WILL EASE STANDARDS BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR, WHICH AIMED TO REDUCE HEATING BILLS BY 40%. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION MINISTER CHRIS PENK SAYS THE REQUIREMENTS ARE DRIVING UP THE COST OF HOUSING BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PHILIPPA HOWDEN CHAPMAN SAYS IT'S A DEBATE BETWEEN HEALTH BENEFITS AND SAVINGS. PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE FROM HEART CONDITIONS OR FROM RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS ARE LESS LIKELY TO DIE IN WINTER WHEN THERE'S INSULATION IN THE HOUSE. WE'RE JUST SLOWLY ` AND WE'D MADE A BIG STEP WITH EACH ONE ` RAISING OUR STANDARDS SO THAT WE'RE MORE SIMILAR TO OTHER COUNTRIES WITH THE SAME KIND OF TEMPERATURES. SO WHY WOULD WE WANT TO ROLL IT BACK? THE INSULATION ASSOCIATION SAYS INSULATION COSTS APPROXIMATELY 1.3% OF A TOTAL BUILD AND OFFERS A RETURN OF $4 FOR EVERY $1 SPENT THROUGH ENERGY SAVINGS. A NEW SURVEY SHOWS MOST AMERICANS DON'T BELIEVE JOE BIDEN HAS THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO BE PRESIDENT. NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF DEMOCRATS AGREED, SAYING PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD STEP ASIDE FOR ANOTHER CANDIDATE. THE POLL COMES AMID INCREASING CALLS FROM WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR MR BIDEN TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE. OVERNIGHT, ANOTHER PROMINENT DEMOCRAT, CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF CALLED FOR BIDEN TO 'PASS THE TORCH' AND ALLOW ANOTHER CANDIDATE TO CHALLENGE DONALD TRUMP. A GROUNDBREAKING MARAE-BASED DEMENTIA CARE CLINIC IN THE FAR NORTH HAS HIGH HOPES OF ROLLING OUT ITS MODEL NATIONALLY. IN ITS FIRST SIX MONTHS, THE KAITAIA CLINIC HAS BEEN HAILED A SUCCESS, WITH THE TRIAL EXTENDED INDEFINITELY. CLINICAL NEURO PSYCHOLOGIST DR MAKARENA DUDLEY SAYS THE MODEL COMES OFF THE BACK OF MISDIAGNOSIS OF MAORI WHEN USING STANDARD WESTERNISED CARE. IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR MAORI. IT ASKS THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO MAORI. SO RIGHT UP FRONT, IT ASKS ABOUT THE PERSON'S WAIRUA, AND THAT REALLY ENGAGES THE KAUMATUA AND THE WHANAU IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS STRAIGHT OFF THE BAT. SHE SAYS CLINICIANS DON'T TYPICALLY ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, WHICH ARE ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR KAUMATUA. TO SPORT, AND NEW SOUTH WALES HAVE WON STATE OF ORIGIN. THE BLUES BEATING QUEENSLAND IN A SERIES DECIDER IN BRISBANE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 19 YEARS. THE ONLY TRIES IN THE MATCH BOTH COMING IN THE SECOND HALF. LUAI'S IN THE BACK FIELD. WHERE'S SUPPORT? HE'S WAITING FOR BEST. HE GETS THE BALL TO BRADMAN. BRADMAN BREAKS AWAY. BRADMAN SCORES A TRY IN ONE OF THE GREAT EFFORTS. WOW. PLAYED TO WATSON. MOSES... STRAIGHTENS OF THE LEFT. MOSES TO SCORE FOR NEW SOUTH WALES! THE MAN OF THE MATCH IN GAME TWO HAS STOOD UP AT SUNCORP! CACKLE! GET IN THERE! THAT IS JUST SOME GREAT FOOTBALL. IT'S NEW SOUTH WALES' FIRST SERIES WIN SINCE 2021. 2021. RITCHIE MO'UNGA, WHO WAS PLAYING UP IN JAPAN ON A BIT OF A BREAK, HE HAS BEEN IN THE BLUES CAMP. ANYWAY, UP THE BLUES. MOVING ON. THE TOUR DE FRANCE IS REACHING ITS FINAL STAGES WITH A BREAK AWAY WIN IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING. IN THE MOUNTAINOUS MOUNTAINS. (LAUGHS) STAGE 17 WAS WON BY ECUADORIAN RIDER RICHARD CARAPAZ, CLAIMING HIS FIRST EVER STAGE ON THE TOUR. TADEJ POGACAR STILL HOLDS A 3-MINUTE LEAD IN THE YELLOW JERSEY WITH FOUR STAGES REMAINING. AND FINALLY, PARIS' RIVER SEINE HAS BEEN DECLARED CLEAN ENOUGH FOR THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS. NEARLY $2.5 BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT CLEANING UP THE RIVER, WHICH IS SET TO BE A CENTREPIECE OF THE OPENING CEREMONY IN JUST 8 DAYS, AS WELL AS HOSTING TRIATHLON AND OPEN WATER SWIMMING EVENTS. UNSAFE LEVELS OF BACTERIA WERE DETECTED AS RECENTLY AS EARLY JUNE, BUT IT'S NOW BEEN GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, ENOUGH FOR THE CITY'S MAYOR AND LOCALS TO TAKE THE PLUNGE. TRANSLATOR: IT'S QUITE CLEAR, DESPITE EVERYTHING, EVEN IF WE'VE HAD SOME BAD WEATHER SO FAR. IT'S FRESH BUT NOT COLD AT ALL. IT WAS VERY PLEASANT, IT REALLY WAS. IT WAS MAGNIFICENT. TRANSLATOR: I DON'T LIKE THE COLOUR OF THE WATER. TRANSLATOR: YOU ARE NOT REASSURED BY THE MERE SWIMMING? NOT REALLY, I HOPE SHE WON'T GET SPOTS TOMORROW, OR THE DAY AFTER, JUST IN TIME FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY. I AGREE. THE MAYOR'S PLANNED SWIM MADE WAVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE HASHTAG 'I'M POOPING IN THE SEINE' TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY THOSE PROTESTING THE OLYMPICS. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO ON THROUGH YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` AUCKLAND, YOU ARE WAKING UP TO SOME EARLY FOG, LIFTING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. RAINFALL EXPECTED AFTER LUNCH FOR KAITAIA, RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI. YOU'VE GOT 18 DEGREES IN THAT REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` A WARMER DAY HERE. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR CLEAR BLUE SKIES. HAMILTON AND TOKOROA, FOG TO START YOUR DAY, CLEARING TO WARM AFTERNOON SUN. 15 DEGREES IN ROTORUA AND HAMILTON. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A WET AND SOGGY START TO THE MORNING. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE REGION, EASING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. 16 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE, NAPIER AND HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` TAUMARUNUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH, A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY BUT BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE, DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN LEVIN AND WELLINGTON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. YOU ARE HEADING FOR A HIGH OF 15 FOR THE BULK OF YOU. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE A GREY DAY HERE. NELSON, BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, SHOWERS TO START YOUR DAY, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 ON THE COAST. 14 IN NELSON AND BLENHEIM. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE MUCH THE SAME IN THIS REGION. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OF YOU. FOG WILL BLANKET ALEXANDRA THIS MORNING, YOU ARE HEADING FOR A HIGH OF JUST FIVE TODAY. 11 IS YOUR HIGH, OAMARU AND ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` A FOGGY START TO THE DAY FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. BUT THE AFTERNOON WILL BE BLUE SKIES AND SUN FOR MOST OF YOU. 9 DEGREES IN QUEENSTOWN. THANKS, MELISSA. HE'S A FORMER OLYMPIC SPEED SKATER, WHO COMPETED FOR NEW ZEALAND IN THREE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES AS A SHORT-TRACK SPEED SKATER. BUT ON SUNDAY, ANDREW NICHOLSON, WHILE OUT SKATING ON THE LOWER MANORBURN DAM NEAR ALEXANDRA, FELL THROUGH THE ICE, PLUNGING INTO THE FREEZING COLD WATER. USUALLY I HAVE MY BOOGIE BOARD AND I FOLLOW ALL THE RULES. AND TODAY I FOLLOWED THE RULE OF FOLLOWING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'D SKATED. OBVIOUSLY, DON'T GO WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SKATED. SO I WAS ON MY SPEED SKATES, AND THEY GENERALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING FAST ENOUGH, YOU CAN GLIDE OVER THINNER STUFF. BUT THIS IS MANORBURN DAM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL KNOW, AND I DID KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIT OF A CURRENT THAT RUNS DOWN HERE. SO THIS MORNING, AS YOU CAN SEE... HELLO. DON'T GO THERE. I'M TELLING THE STORY. UH, SO THIS MORNING I MOVED, AS YOU CAN SEE, ONLY VERY SLIGHTLY WIDE. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROBABLY THAT MUCH ICE HERE YOU CAN SEE THREE OF US AND, LITERALLY COUPLE OF METRES WIDE. SO LESSON LEARNED. EVEN A COUPLE OF METRES OUTSIDE PEOPLE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SKATED CAN BE DEADLY. WELL, IT IS A STORY HE KNOWS TOO WELL. DON'T GO THERE, YOU HEARD HIM SAY. WELL, HERE TO TELL THE TALE IS THE MAN HIMSELF. MORENA, ANDREW. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING FROM THE BEAUTIFUL OTAGO PENINSULA. THIS SUNDAY THE SUNDAY MARKETS ARE HOSTING THEIR WINTER MARKET WHERE YOU CAN BUY FANTASTIC ARTWORK FROM ARTISTS SUCH AS MYSELF, AND YOU CAN BUY NEW ZEALAND'S BEST UNDERDOG SPORTS STORY WHICH IS MY STORY CALLED ROAD RAGE ABOUT CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE PLANET WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU ARE OMITTED IN YOUR INTRODUCTION. I FIND IT FANTASTIC THAT I AM GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION FOR THIS MISADVENTURE FROM THE MEDIA THEN I AM FROM THIS FANTASTIC STORY THAT RAISED MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH A FEW YEARS BACK. GOOD WORK, ANDREW. I'M SURPRISED YOU CAN EVEN STAND UP WITH THOSE MEDALS AROUND YOUR NECK. YOUR STORY IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE. NOT ONLY ARE YOU AN OLYMPIAN, YOU'VE COMPLETED THE COAST-TO-COAST FIVE TIMES, FASTEST CYCLING AROUND THE COUNTRY IN 2015. BUT THAT IS FOR ANOTHER INTERVIEW WHICH I'M SURE WE WILL PUT YOU INTO TALK ABOUT. LET'S TALK ABOUT SUNDAY ` WHAT HAPPENED? SUNDAY MORNING, I ARRIVED AT AROUND 9 O'CLOCK. I WAS PLEASED TO SEE SOMEBODY I CONSIDER AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF CHECKING ICE HAD ALREADY BEEN AROUND MOST OF THE AREAS OF THE DAM. HE HAD DRILLED HOLES AND CHECKED THE DEPTH, HE HAD TAKEN THEMSELVES THROUGH ALL THE SAFETY MEASURES. I COULD SEE WHERE HE HAD SKATED. I THOUGHT FANTASTIC, I DON'T NEED TO GET MY GEAR OUT OF THE TRUCK AND CHECK IT MYSELF. AND THEN AWAY I WENT FOR A GREAT DAY'S SKATE. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED? AND THEN I BROKE THE GOLDEN RULE WHICH I THINK I MENTIONED WHICH IS MOVING SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THAT AREA, ONLY A COUPLE OF METRES. NORMALLY YOU GET A WARNING ` YOU CAN HEAR IT AND FEEL IT. BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE. IT SURPRISED EVEN ME, AND I WENT STRAIGHT IN. HOW LONG WERE YOU IN FOR? WELL, REGARDLESS OF THE SCARY STORY AND HEADLINES WHICH I SAW YESTERDAY WHICH UPSET MY MUM AND SCARED A FEW PEOPLE, IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THE TERROR FROM THE OPEN HORROR FILM THAT WAS MADE OUT TO BE, BUT I REALISED I'D GOT MYSELF INTO A BIT OF A PREDICAMENT. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS STAY CALM, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS, FOLLOW YOUR TRAINING. I GO UP TO THE DAMS EVERY YEAR. AND I STAYED CALM. I TOOK BIG BREATHS. I KNEW I DIDN'T HAVE MY USUAL GEAR WITH ME. I KNEW I HAD THE SKILLS TO GET OUT. BIG BREATH, SPREADING MY WEIGHT OUT ONTO THE SURFACE OF THE ICE RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIGHT IT. MANAGED TO HOOK A LEG OR A SKATE ONTO THE SHELF, BRUSH MYSELF A COUPLE OF METRES FORWARD, THOUGHT, OH, GEE, IT IS GOOD I KNEW THAT SKILL. GOT TO THE CAR AND PUT MY WARM CLOTHES ON. FANTASTIC DAY OUT WITH A COUPLE OF HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE THERE. AN INTRODUCTION, WE HEARD YOU SAY TO A COUPLE, DON'T GO THERE. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING OF GOING ON THAT AREA? WELL, THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY FROM MY STORY OR MY EXPERIENCE TO BE PUT OFF ICE SKATING. THE LAST THING WE WANT IS MORE COTTON WOOL AROUND PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET OUT AND ENJOY OUR FANTASTIC ENVIRONMENT. AN EXPERT LIKE MYSELF CHECKING ICE USUALLY HAS THE GEAR, THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY REFERRING TO YOUR AVERAGE KIWI THAT SEES A BIT OF ICE AND WANTS TO GO FOR A BIT OF A SKATE. FIRSTLY THEY SHOULD LOOK AT WHETHER ANYONE IS OUT THERE ` THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALONE. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT AND DRILL THE HOLES. MOST PEOPLE DON'T NEED A BIG AREA TO SKATE ON LIKE I DO. THERE SHOULD BE LADDERS AND ROPES AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT ABOUT. ANOTHER GENERAL RULE IS TO ELIMINATE A LOT OF DANGER IS TO SKATE AROUND AREAS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM. SO THERE ARE PRECAUTIONS PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO GO OUT ICE SKATING IN NEW ZEALAND. EXCELLENT ADVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. LOOK AT THOSE MEDALS. ME U TONU MAI ` TIME GOES BY, SO SLOWLY, IF YOU'RE MADONNA THAT IS. I LOVE THAT SONG. OH. (LAUGHS) CLEARLY YOU ARE NOT, JENNY MAY. BUT FOR THE REST OF US IT'S GOING RATHER FAST, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR IT. I JUST MADE A HASH OF THAT, DIDN'T I? ANYWAY, STAY WITH US. IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD. IS THAT THE NEWSROOM? YES. (UPBEAT MUSIC) IT IS 8:20. WE'RE OFFICIALLY PAST THE HALF WAY MARK FOR THE YEAR, AND YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? WELL, IT'S NOT JUST YOU WONDERING THAT. THE PERCEPTION OF TIME SEEMS TO SPEED UP FOR MOST OF US AS WE AGE, BUT REST ASSURED, THE EARTH ISN'T ORBITING THE SUN ANY FASTER. BUT ONE TIME EXPERT SAYS THERE'S SOME SCIENCE BEHIND THE MADNESS. JOINING US NOW, PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR CINDY LUSTIG. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US, CINDY. THIS IS SO FASCINATING. WHY DOES TIME SEEM TO GO FASTER AS WE AGE? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. IT IS GOING TO BE TALKING WITH YOU ALL. THERE ARE PROBABLY TWO FACTORS AT LEAST THAT GO INTO THIS. ONE OF THEM IS JUST THAT WHEN YOU HAVE LIVED FOR 40 YEARS, THEN ONE YEAR AS A SMALLER PROPORTION OF YOUR LIFE, AS WHEN YOU ARE ALIVE FOR FOUR YEARS. AND IT IS AN EVEN SMALLER PROPORTION OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU HAVE LIVED FOR 80 YEARS. BETWEEN A FOUR YEAR OLD OR EVEN A 14 YEAR OLD ARE STILL IN THAT STAGE OF LIFE WHERE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCING NEW THINGS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEW EVENTS. WHEREAS WHEN WE TEND TO GET OLDER AND GET OUR JOBS AND OUR CAREERS, THINGS ARE MUCH MORE ROUTINE, AND OUR SENSE OF TIME IS VERY HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THOUGHT OF HOW FAST EVENTS ARE GOING BY, HOW TIGHTLY PACKED THOSE EVENTS ARE AND HOW MUCH OF OUR ATTENTION THEY ARE CAPTURING. SO ONCE YOU SETTLE INTO YOUR ROUTINE, AND YOU HAVE THE FEELING OF GOING THROUGH YOUR DAY AND MAYBE IT FEELS LIKE A LONG DAY, BUT IN SOME DAYS IF IT IS A ROUTINE DAY WHEN YOU ARE A NET AND YOU GET TO THE ENDS LIKE, WHAT EVEN HAPPENED? ON THE FLIPSIDE, IF YOU HAVE A ESPECIALLY HECTIC AND BUSY DAY, CAN FEEL LIKE TIME IS SLIPPING BY YOU REALLY FAST AS YOU GO THROUGH IT, BUT THEN YOU GET HOME AND FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO KICK YOUR SHOES OFF AND GET A GLASS OF WINE, AND THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS SAY AND SAY, WHAT A LONG DAY. IS IT THAT YOUR ROUTINE IS NOT GIVING YOU THE SAME KIND OF MEMORIES AS IT WAS AND YOU ARE NOT BEING INTRODUCED TO NEW THINGS AS MUCH AS YOU USED TO BE? YES. PARTICULARLY WHEN WE ARE LOOKING BACKWARDS AT TIME. TIME IS AN INTERESTING THING AND ITS TELESCOPES WHEN WE LOOK BACKWARDS, AND WE TEND TO BRING EVENTS TOGETHER, AND THE MORE SIMILAR THOSE EVENTS ARE TO EACH OTHER, THE MORE ROUTINE NOW, THE MORE THEY TEND TO SQUISHED TOGETHER, BECAUSE OUR MINDS TRY TO BE EFFICIENT. AS THAT WAY YOU REMEMBER AS A KID THOSE LONG SUMMER DAYS THAT USED TO LAST FOREVER, BUT THEY CAN SAY, I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER WHAT I DID YESTERDAY? RIGHT. WHEN WE ARE KIDS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OUT PLAYING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, DOING ALL OF THE FUN ADVENTURES AND THINGS THAT WE TEND TO DO IN THE SUMMER, YES, IT FEELS LIKE IT LASTED FOREVER. BUT IF YOU ARE JUST DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND IT'S LATE, YES, THIS MONDAY IS JUST LIKE LAST MONDAY, THEN THAT IS A BIT LESS EXCITING, AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF DIFFERENTIATION. THOSE OF US THAT I WORRY THAT LIFE IS RACING ALONG AND WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF IT LEFT, CAN WE SLOW DOWN TIME? I THINK DOING THINGS TO TRY AND BE VERY CONSCIOUSLY IN THE MOMENT AND THOUGHT OF MARK WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT EACH DAY. SO SOME PEOPLE DO THINGS LIKE JOURNALLING AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS YOU'VE MADE. HAVING A GOAL ` SOMETHING YOU ARE WORKING ON. SOMEONE WHO IS TRAINING OR TRYING TO DEVELOP A NEW SKILL, AND YOU SORT OF TRACK YOURSELF AND THEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY, WOW, I REALLY CAME ALONG WAY. THAT CAN POTENTIALLY BE A WAY TO HELP YOU STRETCH OUT THAT FEELING OF TIME. RUNNING OUT OF TIME, CINDY, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ` THIS IS AN A YEAR SINCE, BUT IN A DAY TO DAY SENSE, WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE ALWAYS LATE BUT SOME PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS BE EARLY? ARE THERE SOCIETAL THINGS THAT MAKE US NOT ABLE TO HARNESS TIME? THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING. THERE DEFINITELY ARE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND EXPECTATIONS. SO MYSELF BEING FROM A GERMAN BACKGROUND, GERMANS THOUGHT OF HAVING AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR BEING REALLY PUNCTUAL AND ON THE MARK WITH THOSE THINGS, WERE SOME OTHER CULTURES LIKE SOUTH AMERICAN CULTURES, YOU SHOW UP ON TIME, MAYBE THAT IS A LITTLE BIT RUDE. WE ALSO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF THINGS FOR SOCIAL EVENTS. EVEN THOSE OF US WHO TEND TO BE FROM ODD AND TIME CULTURES, IF YOUR FRIEND INVITES YOU TO A HOUSE PARTY AT SIX, YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT SHOWING UP RIGHT THERE ON SIXTH, YOU WILL PROBABLY GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME. ALSO IN THE WORKPLACE, ANOTHER THING IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER HAVE A THING CALLED TIME BLINDNESS WHERE, BECAUSE TIME IS SO ATTENTION DEPENDENT, IT CAN JUST SLIP AWAY FROM THEM QUITE EASILY. IT HAS BEEN SO INTERESTING. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. CINDY LUDWIG, A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR IN MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, WHICH IS SOMEWHERE I WOULD LOVE TO GO. IT IS EIGHT... IT IS 830. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS ` WE WILL GET TO MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. STAY WITH US. TIME IS RACING BY. THERE'S A WARNING THAT PEOPLE COULD DIE IF THE GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN INSULATION RULES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNALLED IT COULD EASE STANDARDS BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR, WHICH AIMED TO REDUCE HEATING BILLS BY 40%. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION MINISTER CHRIS PENK CLAIMS THE REQUIREMENTS DRIVE UP THE COST OF HOUSING 'TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS'. BUT PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PHILLIPA HOWDEN CHAPMAN SAYS THE CHANGE COULD COME AT THE COST OF HEALTH. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE EFFECTS FROM HAVING INSULATION. CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET SICK, LESS LIKELY TO HAVE DAYS OFF SCHOOL. PARENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE DAYS OFF WORK, LESS LIKELY TO USE PHARMACEUTICALS, AND LESS LIKELY TO GO INTO HOSPITAL. CHRIS PENK SAYS THE REVIEW COMES AFTER BUILDERS RAISED CONCERNS OVER THE NEW REQUIREMENTS IN THE BUILDING CODE, BUT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS STAGE. DEFENCE FORCE STAFF WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY FROM NEXT MONTH, AS IT TRIES TO MAKE $30 MILLION IN SAVINGS. THE NZDF CONFIRMING STAFF WERE TOLD A PROCESS HAS BEGUN TO RE-PRIORITISE ITS BUDGET, AS IT WORKS TO KEEP EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL READY TO RESPOND WHERE NEEDED. THE FORCE SAYS ITS OPERATING COSTS HAVE RISEN ACROSS THE BOARD, CAUSING A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN $130 MILLION. MORE FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT THIS MORNING DUE TO HEAVY FOG. LUCY BENDELL JOINS US NOW. WHAT'S THE LATEST? GOOD MORNING. FOG RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT AND IT IS CAUSING WIDESPREAD DISRUPTIONS FOR FLIGHTS COMING INTO THE CITY AND ALSO LEAVING. THE LATEST FROM THE AIRPORT IS THAT THEY HAVE SAID THAT THERE ARE 11 DOMESTIC FLIGHTS CURRENTLY CANCELLED, AND 16 DELAYED. ARRIVING INTO THE CITY THERE AS 15 CANCELLATIONS AND 19 DELAYS. THAT IS OVER 60 FLIGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED FROM THAT FOG THAT YOU CAN SEE ON OUR CAMERA FROM THE SKY TOWER. IT IS PRETTY THICK, THE MET SERVICE SAYS THAT IS SET TO LIFT A LITTLE LATER THIS MORNING. HOPEFULLY NOT TOO MANY CANCELLATIONS MORE. HEAD TO AUCKLAND AIRPORT'S WEBSITE. U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS CONFIRMED HE WOULD CONSIDER DROPPING OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, IF A MEDICAL CONDITION EMERGED. DOUBTS OVER MR BIDEN'S HEALTH WERE RAISED AFTER HIS POOR DEBATE PERFORMANCE AGAINST RIVAL DONALD TRUMP, LAST MONTH. IN A NEW INTERVIEW, THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE HIM CONSIDER STANDING ASIDE. IF I HAD SOME MEDICAL CONDITION THAT EMERGED, IF SOMEBODY` IF DOCTORS CAME TO ME AND SAID, YOU GOT THIS PROBLEM, THAT PROBLEM. BUT I MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE IN THE WHOLE DEBATE. AND LOOK, WHEN I ORIGINALLY RAN, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT I SAID I WAS GOING TO BE A TRANSITIONAL CANDIDATE, AND I THOUGHT THAT I'D BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM THIS TO PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. BUT I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THINGS GETTING SO, SO, SO DIVIDED. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID REPEATEDLY THAT HE HAS NO SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS. AND IT'S DAY THREE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE MARKED BY JD VANCE DELIVERING HIS FIRST SPEECH AS DONALD TRUMP'S NEW RUNNING MATE. BOTH TRUMP AND VANCE HAVE ATTENDED THE CONVENTION, BUT NEITHER HAS GIVEN AN OFFICIAL SPEECH. MR TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS THE CONVENTION TOMORROW. 14 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JAPAN HAVE BEEN HOSPITALISED AFTER EATING SPICY POTATO CHIPS. THE STUDENTS WERE RUSHED TO HOSPITAL, COMPLAINING OF PAIN IN THEIR MOUTHS AND STOMACHS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 'R18 CURRY CHIPS' HAS ISSUED AN APOLOGY AND WISHED THE STUDENTS A SPEEDY RECOVERY. THE CHIPS, WHICH CONTAIN 'GHOST PEPPERS', COME WITH A WARNING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE EATEN BY THOSE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR A WEAK STOMACH. I WOULD GIVE THOSE AGO. NO YOU WOULDN'T. I AM OVER 18, SO I CAN GIVE THEM A GO. TO SPORT, AND THE BLUES HAVE PULLED OFF A STATE OF ORIGIN BOIL OVER, TO CLINCH THE SERIES IN BRISBANE. NEW SOUTH WALES STUNNING QUEENSLAND IN GAME THREE 14-4, ENDING A 19-YEAR WINLESS DROUGHT IN DECIDERS IN BRISBANE. THAT FIRST HALF WAS NO TRIES, AND YEAH, JUST END FOR END FOOTY. AND THEY KEPT TURNING UP ALL NIGHT. THEY'RE A GRITTY SIDE AND, UM YEAH, IT WAS PRETTY TIGHT THERE. BUT THE MESSAGE AT HALF TIME FROM MADGE WAS PRETTY CLEAR. JUST STICK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, AND THE POINTS'D COME. AND THEY DID RIGHT IN THE FINAL MINUTES YEAH, IT WAS ENOUGH TO HOLD ON THERE. IT'S NEW SOUTH WALES FIRST SERIES WIN SINCE 2021. JUST GIVING DANIEL A RUGBY LEAGUE LESSON. HE ASKED WHAT HOW CAN MITCH BARNETT, A NEW ZEALANDER, PLAY FOR NEW SOUTH WALES? AND I'M EXPLAINING YOU HAVE TO BE BORN AND AUSTRALIA. MITCH BARNETT IS AN AUSSIE. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BULLETIN. IT IS IMPORTANT WE GET THESE THINGS RIGHT. ANY MORE QUESTIONS DANIEL? THE WHITE FERNS HAVE FINISHED A DISASTROUS TOUR OF ENGLAND WITH ANOTHER LOSS THIS MORNING. THE SIDE UNABLE TO CHASE DOWN ENGLAND'S 156 RUN TOTAL AT LORDS. OH, TAKEN. BRILLIANT. AMY JONES, YOUR HANDS ARE SO QUICK. AND NOW STRAIGHT THROUGH. THE WHITE FERNS LOSING THE FINAL T20 BY 20 RUNS AND THE SERIES 5-0. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` AUCKLAND, YOU ARE WAKING UP TO SOME EARLY FOG, LIFTING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. RAINFALL EXPECTED AFTER LUNCH FOR KAITAIA, RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI. WHITIANGA, 17 IS YOUR HIGH. 18 DEGREES FOR KAITAIA. FURTHER SOUTH ` A WARMER DAY HERE. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR CLEAR BLUE SKIES. HAMILTON AND TOKOROA, FOG TO START YOUR DAY, CLEARING TO WARM AFTERNOON SUN. 17 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. TO THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A WET AND SOGGY START TO THE MORNING. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE REGION, EASING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON. 16 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE, NAPIER AND HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` TAUMARUNUI AND NEW PLYMOUTH, A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY BUT BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE, DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN LEVIN AND WELLINGTON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. A HIGH OF 14 IN THE CAPITAL. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE A GREY DAY HERE. NELSON, BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, SHOWERS TO START YOUR DAY, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 ON THE COAST. HEADING SOUTH ` IT'S LOOKING TO BE MUCH THE SAME IN THIS REGION. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OF YOU. FOG WILL BLANKET ALEXANDRA THIS MORNING, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT WARM SUN AFTER LUNCH. 11 IS YOUR HIGH, OAMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` A FOGGY START TO THE DAY FOR QUEENSTOWN, GORE AND INVERCARGILL. BUT THE AFTERNOON WILL BE BLUE SKIES AND SUN FOR MOST OF YOU. 12 THE HIGH FOR MILFORD SOUND. THANK YOU MELISSA. DO YOU KNOW HOW THE NRL WORKS? YOU CAN HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN PLAYING FOR THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. IT IS GOOD THAT WE STRAIGHTENED THAT OUT. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH MOST OF THE MORNING, AND OUR SPORTS DEPARTMENT AND A SPORTS GUY, LOCKEY MCLEOD, HAS KEPT QUIET. IT IS HIS BIRTHDAY. TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HE IS 25. WOW. 25 YEARS OLD. I THINK HE HAS SOMETHING PLANNED THIS WEEKEND. HE TRIED TO KEEP IT QUIET. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AN EMAIL AND NONE OF US HAD GOT AN INVITE. WHICH MAKES IT QUITE AWKWARD. WELL, TO BE FAIR, WHY DO YOU WANT US OLDIES HANGING AROUND. WE HAVE GOT A BIT OF MOVES, AND A BIT OF DANCING. ABBOTT OF DANCING AND A BIT OF MOVES, IS THAT YOU'RE SELLING POINT? ALL LOCKEY'S MATES WILL BE SAYING, WHO IS THE OLD GUY? THERE IS NO INVITE, AND THAT HAS MADE AWKWARD. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THEY ARE BIRTHDAY PRESENT I WAS ABLE TO GIVE YOU WAS NEW SOUTH WALES WINNING, AND YOU ARE DOING A STORY ON IT. I HOPE YOU HAVE AN AWESOME DAY, MATE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THEY'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, BUT JOHANNA AND LORI ONLY EVER MET TWICE. THAT REMARKABLE STORY, IS COMING UP. 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. TO BREAKING NEWS NOW ` AUCKLAND'S SKYCITY CASINO WILL CLOSE FOR FIVE DAYS DUE TO HOST RESPONSIBILITY FAILINGS. IT COMES AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SOUGHT A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF SKYCITY'S LICENCE AFTER A COMPLAINT FROM A CUSTOMER RELATING TO DETECTION OF INCIDENTS OF CONTINUOUS PLAY BY A CUSTOMER. SKY CITY'S CHAIR JULIAN COOK SAYS THEY ARE COMMITTED TO DOING BETTER AND BUILDING BACK TRUST. THE DATES OF THE CLOSURE ARE YET TO BE CONFIRMED. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON OUR WEBSITE 1news.co.nz SHORTLY. PEN PALS ` JOHANNA FROM CHRISTCHURCH, AND LORI IN THE U.S. HAVE ONLY SPENT A FEW WEEKS TOGETHER. BUT HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 50 YEARS. SINCE WRITING THOSE FIRST LETTERS IN 1977, THEY'VE SHARED ALL THE BIG LIFE CHANGES AND SAY EVEN IF THEY NEVER MEET AGAIN, THEY'RE BESTIES FOR LIFE. THE KIWI HALF OF THE DUO JOHANNA SALISBURY IS HERE NOW. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. TELL ME ABOUT HOW THIS PENPAL RELATIONSHIP STARTED. BACK IN THE DAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD PENPAL. I WAS GIVEN SOME OF THOSE MOVIE MAGAZINES, AND ON THE BACK PAGE IT SAID IF YOU WANT A PENPAL TO REPLY. SO I DID, NOT THINKING MUCH OF IT. THE NEXT THING I KNOW I WAS LIVING AT HOME WITH MY PARENTS AT THE AGE OF 16, AND LOTS OF LETTERS TURNED UP. I STARTED WRITING TO LORI. I PICKED HER OUT OF ALL OF THEM. SHE SEEMED A LITTLE BIT LIKE ME, SHE HAD BRACES AND I HAD BRACES. AND THAT IS WHERE IT STARTED. TELL ME ABOUT THE BOND AND THE RELATIONSHIP AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT YOU HAVE BUILT OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES. THAT IS AMAZING, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED. WE GOT MARRIED YOUNG. IT TOOK US A LOT LONGER TO HAVE KIDS THAN THEY DID. WE HAD TWO GIRLS THEY HAD THREE BOYS. IT IS PERFECTLY, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD SAY, WE ARE THE SAME. I DO NOT SEE US BEING PARTICULARLY SPECIAL. IT STARTED AS SNAIL MAIL, THEN PROGRESS TO EMAILS, THEN PROGRESS TO MESSAGING AND THE OLD FACE TIME AND THE ODD PHONE CALL. MESSAGING IS STILL OUR BIGGEST THING. THAT IS WHAT WE DO. FOR MANY, WE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND PEOPLE WE MAY NOT KNOW. IT IS USUALLY A COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS AT THE MOST. I JUST WONDER, WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS LIKE FOR YOU AND TERMS OF, WRITING EVERYTHING DOWN. OR WHETHER IT WAS AN EMAIL. JUST ACTUALLY, THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE WRITING AND DOING IT AND ITS FULLEST FORM AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT AND WHAT YOU GOT OUT OF THAT. IT IS DIFFERENT NOWADAYS. BACK IN THE DAY, YOU WROTE EVERYTHING DOWN. MY PARENTS WROTE TO THEIR RELATIVES AND HOLLAND. I THINK THAT HAS BEEN LOST. IT CERTAINLY CONTINUED IN EMAILS LIKE THAT. WE WRITE ABOUT THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AS MY FRIEND SAID, SOMETIMES IT IS AWAY FROM THE NORMAL RELATIONSHIPS YOU HAVE DAY TODAY. BECAUSE THERE IS NONE OF THAT KIND OF CRAP THERE. IT IS LOVELY. AS SOMEONE YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON, THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE. WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, SHE IS THE FIRST PERSON I REACH UP TO. SHE ALWAYS PROVIDES SAGE ADVICE. I DID THE SAME FOR HER. PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE GO TO THE SAME THINGS. WE WENT THROUGH THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES. THEY HAD 911. WE HAD FLOODS HERE. THEY HAVE THE SAME OVER THERE. WHEN THEY HAVE IT THERE, IT IS A LOT BIGGER. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP. AGAIN, THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER DECADES. WHAT IS THAT FRIENDSHIP LIKE NOW? IS LOVELY. WE FINALLY WENT THERE IN 2019. THEY CAME HERE IN 1999. THEY BROUGHT THEIR ELDEST. WHEN WE WENT THERE, WE TOOK OUR YOUNGEST. THERE ARE NO BARRIERS. WE KNOW EACH OTHER REALLY WELL. THERE ARE COMFORTABLE SILENCES. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT IN NEW ZEALAND THAN IN THE US, LANGUAGE WAS. I THOUGHT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WAS TALL, BLONDE, WHITE TEETH. THEY ARE A MELTING POT OVER THERE. IT IS LOVELY. I WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US. AND THE DELIGHT THAT YOU HAVE, AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT YOU HAVE CREATED WITH LORI OVER THOSE MANY YEARS. SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT. IS BEAUTIFUL TO HEAR BUT THAT FRIENDSHIP THAT YOU HAVE. PEOPLE ARE LONELY. THAT IS HOW THEY CONNECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY CARE FROM THE 70S. BIG HAIR FROM 70S. NOW I RECKON THAT IS VOICE MESSAGES. VOICE MESSAGES, EMAILS. I NEVER HAD A PENPAL THAT LASTED. I WROTE ONE LETTER AND THEN GOT BORED. WE ARE ALL GOOD. WHEN I SAT DOWN, THE COURT GOT CAUGHT UNDERNEATH. I AM NOT A SMALL PERSON, EVERYBODY, AS YOU KNOW. NOBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT. I AM BEING TOLD OFF AT THE SAME TIME. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE SECRET LIVES OF SNAKES. # I AM READY, YOU READY, LET'S GET IT. IF YOU'RE A BIT FRIGHTENED OF THE SIGHT OF SNAKES, FAIR WARNING ` YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME. BUT DON'T WORRY, THEY'RE OVER 11,000km AWAY. (LAUGHS) OH. THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES FROM A RATTLESNAKE MEGA-DEN IN COLORADO, HOME TO AROUND 2000 OF THE REPTILES. IT'S A LIVESTREAM ANYONE CAN WATCH 24/7, ALLOWING COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS TO HELP IN THE RESEARCH. EMILY TAYLOR IS A BIOLOGY PROFESSOR AT CALIFORNIA POLYTECH STATE UNIVERSITY AND JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING, EMILY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO STICK A CAMERA OUTSIDE A MEGA DEN OF RATTLESNAKES? I HAVE TO ADMIT IT WAS SO I COULD WATCH THEM ALL THE TIME WHILE I PRETEND TO WORK. (LAUGHS) I AM JUST KIDDING. IT WAS REALLY BECAUSE AS A SCIENTIST WE WANT TO STUDY RATTLESNAKE BEHAVIOUR. IF WE GO THERE OURSELVES, THE SNAKES ARE SCARED OF US. I GOT THE IDEA FROM BIRD NEST CAMS. SO I THOUGHT WHY NOT PUT IT ON A SNAKE NEST, SO WE CAN WATCH IN THE WORLD CAN WATCH WITH US. IT IS A SECRET WHERE IT IS, BECAUSE YOU DO WANT PEOPLE GOING THERE, BUT WHO PUT THE CAMERA UP? IT WAS ME AND A TEAM OF ENGINEERS FROM A UNIVERSITY. THE SECRET, THOUGH, AS WE WENT IN THE SPRING WHERE IT WAS TOO COLD FOR THE SNAKES TO BE OUT. THERE WERE A FEW, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE WE SEE NOW. HOW MANY DO YOU THINK ARE IN THERE? THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED IN THERE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE MOST OF THE SNAKES HAVE LEFT TO HUNT IN THE PRAIRIE FOR MILES AROUND, AND THE PREGNANT FEMALES ARE LEFT. THEY ARE GOING TO EAT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AND THEN HAVE THEIR BABIES TOGETHER AND ABOUT A MONTH. WHEN THE MALES COME BACK, THERE COULD BE THOUSANDS. I AM A BIT SCARED OF SNAKES. YESTERDAY I COULD ONLY LOOK AT IT FOR 10 SECONDS. BUT NOW I AM USING IT FOR EXPOSURE THERAPY. I'M PROPERLY UP TO A MINUTE. YOU ARE SPINNING A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THEM, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO GET INVOLVED. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE, IF YOU CAN'T BE WATCHING THEM, WHAT OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING AT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT? ABSOLUTELY. AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO COME I CAN'T WATCH 24-HOUR OTHERS. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE LIVE CHAT ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE. IN ADDITION, IN THE CAPTION ON YOUTUBE, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS. THERE ARE EVEN FUN GAMES WHERE THEY CAN OBSERVE DIFFERENT SNAKES AND THEIR UNIQUE MARKINGS LIKE A FINGERPRINT, AND SO THOSE PEOPLE CAN LAME THOUGH SNAKES AND IDENTIFY THEM. PEOPLE HAVE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENT INSECTS AND FLOWERS FOR US, BECAUSE WE ONLY KNOW SNAKES. WE HOPE IT CAN CONTINUE THAT WAY. SURPRISE US ` WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT RATTLESNAKES SO FAR THAT WE MIGHT FIND MORE ENDEARING? ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED FROM WATCHING THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AS THEY SEEM TO HAVE FRIENDS. INDIVIDUALS SEEM TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER INDIVIDUAL SNAKES. THEY HAVE PERSONALITIES AS WELL AND AT CERTAIN WAYS. ONE IS MORE LIKELY TO SIT IN THIS AREA AND DO THIS THING AND HANG OUT WITH THE SNAKE, AND THEN WHAT IS REALLY COOL AS THEY SEEM TO HAVE A KIND OF LANGUAGE. THEY CAN'T SPEAK AND DON'T HAVE GOOD YEARS, BUT THEY DO THIS KIND OF HEAD JERKING AT THAT EACH OTHER* WHICH IS INTERESTING TO WATCH, BECAUSE OTHERWISE AS THEY ARE LOOKING AT YOU THEY ARE SCARED OF YOU AND RATTLING. SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO CODE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING TO EACH OTHER. DECODE* AND YOU'VE BEEN SAYING THAT QUITE GOOD MOTHERS. THAT'S RIGHT. IF YOU ARE WATCHING FROM AFAR, ALSO WITH TIME LAPSE CAMERAS, THE MOTHER RATTLESNAKES WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BABIES. WE HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR A WHILE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BUILT ON IS KNOWING THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOOD MOTHERS BUT THEY SEEM TO HELP EACH OTHER. FOR EXAMPLE, A SNAKE THAT IS STILL PREGNANT WILL TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER FEMALES BABIES. WE ARE JUST LEARNING ABOUT WAY THAT IS. HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU SPEND WATCHING THEM? WAY TOO MANY HOURS AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION WE'VE BEEN GETTING. IT IS FOUR OR FIVE HOURS A DAY, AND MY GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE DOING EVEN MORE. I WILL BE JOINING YOU, EMILY, EVEN THOUGH IT GIVES ME A SLIGHT FEELING IN MY STOMACH. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING. YOU ARE SO WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RITUALS. JUST QUICKLY DASHED LAST NIGHT WHEN IT WAS NIGHT THERE, THERE ARE STACKS IN THAT DEN. WE ONLY HAD THAT ONE THAT WAS OUTSIDE. IT IS PACKED OUT WHEN THEY ARE ALL ON THEIR CLOSER TO THE CAMERA OVER EACH OTHER. THAT IS WHEN I FEEL PARALYSED JUST STANDING THERE STARING AT THAT. I DID SEE ONE IN JAPAN AND I GOT OFF MY BIKE AND THREW IT. ANYWAY, THAT IS YOUR THURSDAY WITH THE BREAKFAST TEAM. GUESS WHAT ` WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY DREW WELSH, MAIA CARR HEKE, COURTNEY SOLE AND FRANK GORE.