THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. TIME NOW FOR SEVEN SHARP WITH HILARY AND JEREMY. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DROWNING IN DEBT, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. NEW RESEARCH SHOWS A STAGGERING 70% OF NEW ZEALANDERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT MONEY. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER? THE SILENT STRAIN ` WHERE THE THOUGHT OF MOUNTING DEBT CAN CAUSE STRESS AND TAKE A TOLL ON YOUR WELLBEING. THE LATEST FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL RESEARCH FOUND THE NUMBER OF NEW ZEALANDERS WORRYING ABOUT MONEY EITHER DAILY, WEEKLY, OR MONTHLY IS THE HIGHEST SINCE 2020, AT 70%, WITH MOST CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES. FOR RENTERS, CLOSE TO 60% SAID MEETING THEIR LIVING EXPENSES IS CURRENTLY SOMEWHAT OR VERY DIFFICULT. AND FOR RETIREES ` WELL, 1 IN 5 SAID THEY ONLY HAD ENOUGH SAVINGS TO MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT LIFESTYLE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. SO, WITH NEW ZEALANDERS INCREASINGLY UNDER PRESSURE, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO COPE WITH THE FINANCIAL STRAIN? AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST JACQUI MAGUIRE IS HERE NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. JACQUI. NOW LOTS OF KIWIS ARE DEALING WITH SOME FORM OF DEBT STRESS RIGHT NOW ` SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S TAKING A TOLL ON YOUR WELLBEING? YEAH, AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT DEBT STRESS OR FINANCIAL STRAIN IS IT'S YOUR PERCEPTION THAT YOU CAN'T MEET YOUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. SO ACTUALLY YOUR BANK BALANCE MAY BE OK, BUT IF YOU ARE FEELING OR WORRYING THAT YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, PAY YOUR WAY, OR MEET YOUR BILLS, IT'S THAT PERCEPTION THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I SUPPOSE LIKE ALL STRESS, IT SHOWS UP IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE THAT I'M HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING, I'M GETTING IRRITABLE AND GRUMPY WITH OTHER PEOPLE. I CAN FEEL MY HEART RATE, OR HAVE THAT SENSE OF PANIC. THAT MIGHT BE YOUR SHORT-TERM SIGNS, BUT LONG TERM THAT CAN TRANSLATE INTO, YOU KNOW, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CARDIAC ISSUES, LOWER IMMUNITY, SO THERE CAN BE A RAFT OF MEDICAL CONCERNS THAT ARISE WHEN YOU'RE UNDER STRAIN CONSISTENTLY. I THINK EMOTIONALLY, WE KNOW REALLY CLEARLY THAT WHEN YOU'RE UNDER FINANCIAL STRAIN, THAT'S LINKED TO HIGHER RATES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. FROM A SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE, WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRESSED AND STRAINED, OFTEN THEY TEND TO WITHDRAW OR START AVOIDING, AND THAT MAY BE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FEELING GREAT, BUT THEY ALSO MIGHT BE WORRIED THAT THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR WAY AT DINNER, SO THEY WON'T GO AT ALL. SO YOU KIND OF START TO SEE THOSE SIGNS AND STRAINS SHOW UP ACROSS YOUR LIFE. JACQUI, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH FINANCIAL STRESSES? YEAH, WELL, I THINK IF YOU TAKE THAT NOTION OF IT'S PERCEPTION THAT'S IMPORTANT ` WE'VE GOT TO LIFT THE HOOD. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A CLEAR LOOK AND INSIGHT INTO ONE, YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH ` SO ACTUALLY IF YOU LOST YOUR JOB TOMORROW, YOU KNOW, WHAT BUFFER DO YOU HAVE? HOW LONG COULD YOU SURVIVE? YOU KNOW, WHEN'S YOUR MORTGAGE RATES COMING UP? LOOK AT THAT FINANCIAL KIND OF AWARENESS. BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO, SIT AND ASK YOURSELF ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, HOW STRESSED AM I RIGHT NOW OR OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS? HOW HAS THAT STRESS IMPACTED MY WORK, MY FAMILY, MY PARENTING, MY FRIENDSHIPS, MY ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN THE WORLD AROUND ME? DO YOU KNOW YOUR EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIP TO MONEY? BECAUSE MANY OF US DO HAVE A HEAVY MONEY SCRIPT IN OUR MIND FROM OUR FAMILY OF ORIGIN, HOW WE GREW UP, THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR LIFE, AND THAT CAN IMPACT HOW WE RESPOND WHEN WE'RE UNDER FINANCIAL STRAIN. YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I MAY HAVE A MONEY SCRIPT THAT, YOU KNOW, 'MONEY EQUALS` OR MONEY CAN SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS.' AND SO THEREFORE I PLACE A HUGE KIND OF VALUE ON MY BANK ACCOUNT BEING HIGH. AND IF THAT STARTS TO DROP, I GET PANICKY. I THINK COMMUNICATING AND HAVING SUPPORT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND GETTING ADVICE AND SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE EXPERTS OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU BUDGET CAN HELP YOU, YOU KNOW, FIND AND NAVIGATE PATHWAYS THROUGH. SO I THINK SOME OF THOSE THINGS ALONGSIDE YOUR USUAL STAYING WELL AND HEALTHY TIPS ARE IMPORTANT. DEBT AND TALKING ABOUT MONEY CAN PUT A HUGE STRAIN ON RELATIONSHIPS. HOW DO YOU HAVE A HEALTHY FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARTNER? YEAH. WELL, I THINK IT'S HOW YOU ADDRESS THAT COMMUNICATION. SO, TALKING AND SHARING, AS WE'VE SAID SO MANY TIMES, YOU NAME IT TO TAME IT. WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE SUFFERING IN SILENCE. SO PICKING YOUR MOMENT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE FACT THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FINANCES OR THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO, TOGETHER, SIT DOWN AND PLAN YOUR PATHWAY THROUGH THE NEXT THREE SIX MONTHS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. USE THOSE 'I' STATEMENTS ` 'I WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. 'I'VE BEEN WORRIED... I'VE NOTICED... 'I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU 'ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO NAVIGATE THIS PERIOD IN TIME.' I THINK IF YOU CAN COME AT IT FROM A NON-JUDGEMENTAL, COLLABORATIVE PERSPECTIVE OF LET'S GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, YOU'RE GIVING YOURSELF THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS IN THAT COMMUNICATION, COUPLED WITH HOW DO WE WANT TO BE AS A FAMILY OR AS A COUPLE THROUGH THIS TIME? YES, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MANY AVAILABLE FUNDS, BUT WE STILL WANT TO HAVE FUN. LET'S PLAN A LOCAL TRIP WHERE WE CAN GO AND EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, A PART OF OUR REGION WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, FOR EXAMPLE. GREAT ADVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACQUI. GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. THANKS, GUYS. HAVE A NICE NIGHT. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH, ALEX BACKHOUSE AND JASON CONRAN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 IN A WORLD OF FAST FASHION AND MASS IMPORTS, IT'S HARDER TO FIND QUALITY NEW ZEALAND-MADE PRODUCTS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME. BUT IN THE TINY TOWN OF NORSEWOOD, THEY'RE MAKING SOMETHING THEY'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. AND WHILE OTHER SIMILAR OPERATIONS HAVE CLOSED, THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. LUCAS DE JONG HAS MORE. (STOMPING PIANO MUSIC) IN NORSEWOOD, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO TELL A LOCAL FROM AN IMPORT. HI, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? HEY, GOOD, THANKS, MATE. GOOD. WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU? AH, JUST A SMALL FLAT WHITE ` DOUBLE SHOT, PLEASE. SMALL FLAT WHITE. CAN I CHECK YOUR SOCKS? (DRAMATIC MUSIC) HMM. NORSEWOOD IS PASSIONATE ABOUT SOCKS. (DRAMATIC STRING MUSIC) SINCE 1967, NORSEWEAR HAS BEEN HERE, MAKING THEIR FAMOUS WOOLLEN FARM FLECK SOCKS. AND WE'RE STILL DOING EXACT SAME SOCK, SAME EVERYTHING, OFF THE SAME KNITTING MACHINES. AND THEY'RE STILL GOING! AND THEY'RE STILL GOING. IS THAT A TESTAMENT TO THE MACHINE, OR TO YOUR CARE THAT YOU'VE PUT IN THERE? YOU KNOW, THEY GET REBUILT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. THEY'VE GOT GEARBOXES AND GEARS. THEY'VE BEEN JUST REFURBISHED NOW, SO THEY SHOULD GO FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS. BUT THE RANGE HAS INCREASED. YOU'VE GOT YOUR MULTI-SPORT SHORT, SERIOUS TREKKER, THEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR FOOT DOCTOR. ARE THESE THE BEDSOCKS, TOO? YES. THEN WE'VE GOT OUR KIDS' RANGE, INTO OUR GUMBOOT... YEAH. THIS IS A GUMBOOT-SPECIFIC SOCK? YES. OK. I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH SOCK KNOWLEDGE IN MY HEAD. (LAUGHS) IF YOU WANT TO TALK NUMBERS, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE QUEEN OF QUALITY CONTROL. SO EVERY SOCK THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PLACE... GOES THROUGH MY HANDS. GETS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHARON TOUCH TO IT. IT IS. AND AFTER 33 YEARS, SHE'S SEEN A FEW. HAVE YOU EVER FIGURED OUT HOW MANY SOCKS YOU'VE HAD YOUR HANDS ON? OH, THOUSANDS. (LAUGHS) THOUSANDS? I BET IT'S EVEN MORE THAN THOUSANDS. SO, 1300 A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK? YEP. YOU PROBABLY HAVE HOLIDAYS, I GUESS. ARE YOU INTO THAT SORT OF STUFF? OH YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD-LOOKING NUMBER. IT IS A GOOD-LOOKING NUMBER, ISN'T IT? 10.6 MILLION SOCKS HAVE GONE THROUGH SHARON'S HANDS OVER THE YEARS. WOW! (UPLIFTING, QUIRKY DANCE MUSIC) DO YOU EVER CRUISE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND YOU SEE SOMEONE WEARING A PAIR OF YOUR SOCKS, AND YOU GO` OH, EVERY TIME I SIT DOWN. 'I WOULD HAVE TOUCHED THOSE SOCKS BEFORE.' YEAH. (DAVE DOBBYN AND HERBS' 'SLICE OF HEAVEN') BUT NOBODY CAN BEAT TERENCE'S YEARS OF SERVICE. I'M IN MY 46TH. I'VE COMPLETED 45. I WALKED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AT 16, AND I'M 62 THIS YEAR. WOW! SO` YEAH. AND YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS COMPANY? COS SOMEONE TOLD ME HOW MANY SICK DAYS YOU'VE HAD. HOW MANY SICK DAYS HAVE YOU HAD IN THAT TIME? I HAD TWO, BUT THE OTHER DAY I HAD TO HAVE A COVID TEST, SO I STAYED AWAY FROM WORK IN CASE I... I FELT A BIT ILL. SO YOU'RE UP TO THREE. # DA, DA, DA BOOM-BOOM-BOOM... STAFF HERE ARE LIKE A FAMILY, AND OFTEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY FAMILY. THEIR KIDS HAVE WORKED HERE. NOW I'VE GOT MY DAUGHTER WORKING HERE. MICHELLE, SHE DOES OUR ACCOUNTS, SHE'S SISTER-IN-LAW, AND THEN EVERYONE IS EITHER NEIGHBOURS OR BRIGADE MEMBERS. BECAUSE IN A TOWN OF JUST 150, THE 20 JOBS THIS FACTORY PROVIDES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND TOO OFTEN, IT'S BEEN ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THOSE DOORS ALMOST CLOSED ON THE FACTORY? HALF A DOZEN, POSSIBLY. WOW. WE ACTUALLY HAD TRUCKS FROM A YARN SUPPLIER PARKED OUTSIDE ONE MORNING WHEN THE STAFF ARRIVED, WAITING FOR THE WORD FROM THE BANK. AT ONE POINT, THE LOYAL LOCALS COUGHED UP TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN. BEEN THROUGH A RECEIVERSHIP, WHICH LED TO A STAFF BUYOUT WITH THE MANAGERS AND THE STAFF. AND WE GOT THROUGH THAT, AND OF COURSE, THAT FELL BACK INTO HARDSHIP, BUT WHENEVER THE COMPANY'S SORT OF BEEN DOWN AND OUT A LITTLE BIT, SOMEONE HAS COME ALONG AND THEY'VE SEEN THE PASSION, I THINK, OF THE STAFF AND THE PEOPLE HERE, AND THEY GET INVOLVED IN IT, AND IT'S SORT OF ADDICTIVE. TIM'S THE LATEST NORSEWEAR ADDICT. YOUR MATES THINK YOU'RE CRAZY BUYING IT? WELL, THEY'RE PROBABLY TOO POLITE TO TELL ME. WHAT I SAW HERE WAS A HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND BRAND WITH INCREDIBLY GOOD PRODUCT. LAST YEAR, THE AUCKLANDER PURCHASED NORSEWEAR WITH A DREAM. MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THE FARMERS THAT SUPPLY THE WOOL WILL BE PAID FAIRLY, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GROW EMPLOYMENT IN THE REGIONS, AND THAT WE WILL BE TAKING NORSEWEAR THE WORLD AND THAT WE WILL BE TAKING NORSEWEAR TO THE WORLD AND BRINGING THE GOODNESS AND THE VALUE OF THE BRAND BACK TO NEW ZEALAND. THEY'LL NEVER BE THE CHEAPEST, BUT TIM GUARANTEES THEY'LL BE THE BEST, AND THEY'LL ALWAYS BE MADE HERE. AND YOU'VE GOT TO ASK YOURSELF ` WHY IS IT THAT A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BRINK CONTINUES TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE? AND I THINK THAT COMES DOWN TO THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND THE LOYALTY OF THE PEOPLE. (YELLO'S 'OH YEAH') THERE'S A LOT OF OWNERSHIP FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, ISN'T THERE, ABOUT THE PRODUCT? YEAH. YEAH. WE ALL LOVE OUR PRODUCT. THAT'S WHAT DRIVES BEHIND US, BECAUSE EVERYONE'S PROUD OF NORSEWEAR. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS COMMUNITY AND NORSEWEAR HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS IS PHENOMENAL. BECAUSE TERENCE HAS A SAYING THAT SUMS IT UP PERFECTLY ` OH, NORSEWOOD'S NORSEWEAR, AND NORSEWEAR'S NORSEWOOD. AND THAT'S NOT EASY TO SAY. SEE, YOU'VE PRACTISED THAT. SO IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN NORSEWOOD, DO AS THE LOCALS DO... OH, NICE SOCKS, MATE! OH, THANKS! OOH! # OH YEAH... YEAH! YEAH! ...THEY'LL LOVE YOU FOR IT. TRISH, LOOK AT MY SOCKS! # CHG-AH-CHG-AH! THEY ARE NOT JUST FOR YOUR FEET EITHER. THEY MAKE GOOD SOCK PUPPETS. LOOK. AND IT'S GOT A MUFF ROUND IT. E WHAI AKE NEI ` COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` DO YOU LIKE YOUR NAME? EVER CONSIDERED CHANGING IT? WELL, IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK. (LAUGHTER) PLUS ` IT'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SANCTUARY THAT LOOKS AFTER ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. FIND OUT WHY DONKEYS AND DOGS GO HAND-IN-HAND ` NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) Ready! (BOTH CHEER) (LAUGHS) VOICEOVER: Small steps can help you achieve your goals. Get your money one step ahead with ASB. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI ` WELCOME BACK. NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WE HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE OF PET OWNERSHIP IN THE WORLD, BUT ALSO, THE HIGHEST REPORTED RATE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE OECD. IT'S A DANGEROUS COMBINATION ` AND RESEARCH SHOWS WHERE WOMEN ARE AT RISK, SO TOO ARE ANIMALS. IT'S WHY MANY STAY IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS. SACHA MCNEIL VISITED THOSE TRYING TO HELP. (FOLKSY GUITAR MUSIC) ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF AUCKLAND, HIDDEN FROM VIEW... WE'VE HAD CHICKENS, WE'VE HAD DUCKS, WE'VE HAD WATER DRAGONS, RABBITS, GUINEA PIGS, CATS, DOGS, UM... MINIATURE PONIES. UM, GOSH, ANYTHING THAT IS A PET THAT NEEDS SUPPORT OR NEEDS HELP, WE'LL MAKE A PLAN FOR THAT PET. A SECRET SANCTUARY, OFFERING ALL CREATURES GREAT... OH, HE'S GORGEOUS! AND SMALL, SOMEWHERE TO WAIT... WE KNOW THAT 53% OF WOMEN DELAY LEAVING OUT OF FEAR FOR THEIR PETS' SAFETY. ...WHILE THEIR FAMILIES TAKE A STEP TOWARD A MORE SETTLED LIFE. SO IT'S PRETTY COOL WHEN WE GET A CALL LIKE THAT AND WE'RE FINALLY ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE TAKE THAT BRAVE STEP TO LEAVE. THREE YEARS, 500 ANIMALS, AND OVER 300 GRATEFUL FAMILIES. THE PET REFUGE IS MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THOSE WHO NEED A HELPING HAND, OR PAW, TO START A NEW LIFE. GOOD GIRL... I GUESS AS OUR SERVICE GAINS MORE AWARENESS, WHAT WE'RE FINDING NOW IS WE'RE GETTING WOMEN AND SOMETIMES MEN ALSO COMING TO US WHO HAVE LIVED WITH FAMILY VIOLENCE FOR MANY YEARS, SOMETIMES UP TO TEN YEARS, TOO PARALYSED AND FEARFUL TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR PETS WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. IT MAKES SENSE THAT PETS ARE USED AS A MEANS OF CONTROL AND COERCION, ESPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN, WHICH CAN HAVE A REALLY LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON KIDS. SO THIS GIVES PEOPLE AN OUT FOR NOT JUST THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR FAMILY PETS AS WELL. SO THIS IS MUM AND THIS IS HER BABY. SHE CAME IN PREGNANT, SO SHE... SHE WAS BORN IN PET REFUGE. LITTLE SASS-PANTS THERE. WE DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS PREGNANT AT ALL, AND THEN YEAH, OUT POPPED A LITTLE ONE THERE, SO YEAH. SPECIALISED STAFF AT THE SHELTER ARE READY FOR SURPRISES, AND TRAINED FOR THE UNPREDICTABLE. THEY'RE EXPERTS IN VARIOUS ANIMAL BEHAVIOURS AND A RANGE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES. THIS IS OUR OLD BOY. HE'S PART OF THE FAMILY. YEAH. HE'S BEEN DOING REALLY WELL. WHEN HE CAME IN, HE DIDN'T LOOK TOO GREAT. SO HE'S PUT ON SOME NICE WEIGHT. GOT A DAD BOD GOING ON THERE. (BOTH LAUGH) HAPPY BOY. FROM DONKEYS TO DOGS, ALL ANIMALS ARE WELCOME, WITH THE PET REFUGE PROVIDING TRANSPORT FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS PET FOOD AND VET CARE. REMOVING ONE HUGE FINANCIAL HURDLE FOR THOSE TRYING TO LEAVE AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP. BUT THEY NEED OUR HELP. LIKE MANY CHARITIES RIGHT NOW, TIMES ARE INCREASINGLY TOUGH. WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL OUR 'SAFE BEDS FOR PETS' PROGRAMME, AND PEOPLE CAN DONATE $25 A MONTH AND THAT PROVIDES A PET WITH A SAFE BED, FOOD, VET CARE, ENRICHMENT, TOYS, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE WHILE THEY'RE WITH US. UM, SO WE DESPERATELY NEED MORE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO THAT SO WE CAN HELP MORE PETS. PET REFUGE WORKS ALONGSIDE THE POLICE, WOMEN'S REFUGE AND OTHER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCIES TO RECEIVE REFERRALS, ALSO TAKING SELF-REFERRALS. MUM'S DEFINITELY THE BOSS OF ALL OF THEM. SO WHEN SHE FINISHES HER FEED, SHE'LL GO AROUND TRYING TO STEAL FROM THE OTHERS. I FEEL SUPER PROUD THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP OVER 300 FAMILIES AND CLOSE TO 500 PETS. OF THE ALMOST 500 PETS THAT WE'VE HELPED, LESS THAN 3% HAVE HAD TO BE RE-HOMED. SO THAT REALLY DOES SHOW YOU THE POWER OF THAT CONNECTION WITH FAMILY PETS, WHICH IS GREAT. AND THE REUNIONS ARE ALWAYS FULL OF JOY, AND HAPPY TEARS AND CUDDLES. AND THE DOGS JUST GO NUTS WHEN THEY SEE THEIR FAMILIES. SO IT'S PRETTY COOL. OUR GIVEN NAME IS ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS ABOUT OURSELVES THAT WE DON'T CHOOSE, AND STUDIES HAVE REVEALED LOTS OF US DISLIKE THE NAME WE WERE GIVEN AT BIRTH. HOWEVER, SURPRISINGLY FEW OF US EVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HERE'S A DEEP DIVE INTO NAMES BY SOMEONE WHO GOES BY 'BEN HURLEY'. # THAT'S NOT MY NAME. ARE YOU A NIGEL? A KAREN, A MOON UNIT, OR AN APPLE? SOME NAMES ARE DYING OUT. OTHERS NEVER REALLY GOT STARTED ` AN ALARMINGLY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF US DISLIKE OUR OWN NAME. SOME STUDIES HAVE IT AS HIGH AS 75% ` THAT'S THREE OUT OF FOUR OF US. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURS? MY NAME IS PAUL, BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE CALLED DAVID. MY NAME IS RHIANNON, BUT I WISH THAT I WAS CALLED RIHANNA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE CALL ME ANYWAY. AARIN. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT? HALF-HEARTED: YEAH. WHAT WOULD YOU BE PREFER TO BE CALLED? BUTCH. DO YOU THINK JOHN IS KIND OF SAFE? I MEAN, NO ONE GETS INTO TROUBLE FOR BEING CALLED JOHN, SO IT'S` IT'S ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU GOT TO CHOOSE IT, YOU'D CHOOSE JOHN ALL OVER AGAIN? YEAH, I SUPPOSE SO. I MEAN, YOU COULD BE CALLED, YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW, YOU COULD BE CALLED SOMETHING MORE IMAGINATIVE, BUT THEN... I MEAN` MY NAME ISN'T A TROUBLE NAME. IS IT? NO, NO, IT'S NOT A TROUBLE NAME. NO IT'S NOT. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE BEN! I KNOW I THINK THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR. YEAH. YEAH, IT'S ONE SYLLABLE, STRAIGHT DOWN THE BARREL. YOU CAN ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW TO SPELL IT. I THINK YOU COULD PULL OFF LOU... LOU CAMPBELL. YEAH? YEAH. YEAH, I MEAN YEAH, I MEAN, LIKE JOHN, ANOTHER VARIATION OF 'TOILET' I SUPPOSE. MY NAME IS MYRDDIN. OK, AND HOW DO YOU SPELL IT? M`Y`R, DOUBLE D, I-N. OK, SO THAT'S WELSH. IT MOST CERTAINLY IS. AND, UM, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW OFTEN YOU HAVE TO SPELL THAT? EVERY DAY, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. TO THE EXTENT WHERE SOMETIMES I JUST WISH I WAS CALLED JOHN. SO IS THERE SOME IMPORTANT PSYCHOLOGICAL REASON FOR ALL THIS? I ASKED AN IMPORTANT PSYCHOLOGIST. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE DISLIKE THEIR OWN NAME? GOSH, THERE'S SO MANY REASONS FOR THAT. UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THAT SORT OF STAND OUT TO ME. ONE IS THAT SENSE OF UNIQUENESS OF YOUR NAME. IF IT'S SORT OF TOO UNIQUE OR TOO DIFFICULT SOME PEOPLE CAN REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THAT. AND I GUESS SECONDLY, SORT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS, SO SOME PEOPLE REALLY ASSOCIATE THEIR NAME PERHAPS WITH FAMILY HISTORY, MAYBE WITH TRAUMA, WITH SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN CHILDHOOD. AND THAT CAN REALLY CREATE SOME STRUGGLES FOR PEOPLE. YEAH. DO YOU THINK CERTAIN NAMES, WHEN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF, DO YOU THINK CERTAIN NAMES, CAN HELP OR HINDER YOU IN LIFE? DO YOU THINK CERTAIN NAMES CAN HELP OR HINDER YOU IN LIFE? MM. THERE'S A LOT OF UNCONSCIOUS BIAS RESEARCH IN THIS AREA. I'M THINKING ABOUT A PARTICULAR PIECE OF RESEARCH WHICH SHOWED THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT NAMES WERE GIVEN` WITH DIFFERENT CVS, SORRY` WERE GIVEN TO EMPLOYERS, AND THOSE EMPLOYERS ACTUALLY WERE QUITE JUDGEMENTAL BASED ON THE NAMES. OK. SO IF YOU HATE IT SO MUCH, WHY NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY CHANGE THEIR OWN NAME? SO AROUND 6000 TO 7000 PER YEAR. AND NO MAJOR INCREASE IN THE TREND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS. SO THAT'S QUITE AMAZING, ISN'T IT? IF 75% OF PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY HATE THEIR OWN NAME, ONLY 6000 GO AND CHANGE IT EVERY YEAR, I MEAN, WHY ISN'T IT MORE? WELL, I MEAN, IT'S A` NAMES ARE A GIFT THAT YOUR PARENTS HAVE GIVEN YOU, GENERALLY, AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY DISLIKE IT. OTHERS, YOU MAY DISLIKE IT, BUT... YEAH, RIGHT. YOU DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY GO INTO THE FORMAL PROCESS OF CHANGING. WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FORMAL PROCESS OF CHANGING. HOW INVOLVED IS IT? IT'S NOT THAT HARD. WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. YOU HAVE TO DO A STATUTORY DECLARATION SO THAT A LAWYER OR A JP KNOWS THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE. YOU PAY US A FEE, AND THEN WE DO SOME CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE, AND THAT YOUR NAME IS APPROPRIATE. IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, IT'S RELATIVELY CHEAP, $170. (ETHEREAL MUSIC) ALL OF THIS HAS GOT ME THINKING... AM I A BEN? DOES THAT SUIT ME? IS IT TOO COMMON? MAYBE... IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE. WHAT ABOUT GLENN? GLENN? YEAH. I DON'T SELL INSURANCE. DOOR-TO-DOOR. OK. WHAT ABOUT MAVERICK? YEP... YEP? PUT THAT ON THE MAYBES... OK. CRAIG. CRAIG, GOT AN UNCLE CRAIG. ME TOO. DO YOU? YEAH. THINK EVERYONE HAS AN UNCLE CRAIG... I'M NOT AN UNCLE CRAIG. OK. WHAT ABOUT INDIANA? YEAH... YEAH, YEAH? PUT THAT ONE ON THE MAYBES. MAYBES AS WELL. OK. RIGHTO. (GASPS) JEREMY. LOOK,IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, I'LL ASK SOMEONE ELSE. THANKS, RI-ANNA! JEREMY. JEREMY... JEZZA! I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I'M GONNA PUT THAT ON THE MAYBES. WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT WITH YOUR PLACE TO BE. SORRY ABOUT THAT, I WAS CHATTING AWAY - I WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT PLUGGED IN AND DID NOT HEAR THAT CUE. THE PLACE TO BE TOMORROW IS PARAPARAUMU. THE SUN SHOULD BE OUT, SO PARK UP AT THE BEACH AND HAVE YOUR LUNCH THERE. IT'LL BE GORGEOUS. ON THE SHOW TOMORROW ` THE FISHING ACCESSORY YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED. TWO WORDS - BAIT. CANNON. THOSE WERE OUR PEOPLE TODAY ` THAT WAS SEVEN SHARP TONIGHT. AMANDA AND ALAN'S ITALIAN JOB IS UP NEXT. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW ` PO MARIE. CHEERIO. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH, ALEX BACKHOUSE AND JASON CONRAN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024