(SPEAKS TE REO) THE LADIES ARE IN THE HOUSE. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. IT'S WEDNESDAY, THE SEVENTH OF AUGUST. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. WE'VE WAITED 11 DAYS FOR OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIAN TO BEGIN HER OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN. DAME LISA CARRINGTON HAS BEEN ON THE WATER OVERNIGHT. LET'S BRING IN OUR OWN CHRIS CHANG IN PARIS. IT'S BEEN A LONG WAIT, CHANGY. HOW DID THE DAME DO? HAVE YOU NOT BEEN SATISFIED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON ALREADY? SHE WAS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. STRAIGHT INTO THE SEMIS. WE MIGHT LOOK LIKE WE ARE NOT IN PARIS, TODAY. WE ARE IN A MINI JAMAICA. IT IS INDEPENDENCE DAY IN JAMAICA, SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD COME DOWN AND JOIN THE PARTY. WE HAVE COME DOWN, THE BARBECUE WAS ON. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN TODAY. WILL TALK ABOUT NEW ZEALAND AT THE OLYMPICS. IT HAS BEEN A QUIET DAY, MEDAL WISE. WE WILL COME DOWN AND EXPERIENCES WITH THE JAMAICANS TOO. I LOVE IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO JAMAICA HOUSE. I HAVE BEEN TO JAMAICA TWICE. FOR NETBALL? YES. LOOK AT THAT! THERE IS A STATUE OF BOB MARLEY WITH A SOCCER BALL. LOVING YOUR WORK. YOU WILL BE LOVING THAT, CHRIS. WE WILL GET BACK TO CHRIS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. NO MEDALS FOR NEW ZEALAND OVERNIGHT, BUT SOME CONTENDERS HAVE STARTED THEIR CAMPAIGNS IN PARIS. GAMES REPORTER GUY HEVELDT HAS BEEN AT THE CANOE SPRINT AND JOINS US NOW. WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE HEATS, GUY? AS CHRIS JUST MENTIONED, A VERY GOOD START, PARTICULAR FOR THE WOMAN AT THE NAUTICAL STADIUM. THEY WON THEIR HEAT AND THEY ARE STRAIGHT INTO THE FINAL. THEY HAD THE SECOND FASTEST TIME, BUT THEY LOOKED VERY GOOD IN ADVANCING TO THAT FINAL. THEN, DAME CARRINGTON LOOKS VERY GOOD AS WELL, WINNING THE HEAT AGAIN. THEY HAD THE FIFTH FASTEST TIME, THEY HAD A BIT LEFT IN THE TANK. THEY GO THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINAL. ANOTHER TEAM WERE KNOCKED OUT IN THE QUARTER-FINAL STAGE. FOR THE MEN, THE K4, 500 GOT THROUGH TO THE QUARTER-FINAL, WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY LIKE A REPECHAGE IN ROWING. THEY MIGHT HAVE A BIT OF A TASK TO MAKE IT THROUGH TO THEIR FINAL. TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY. IT IS THE HEATS OF THE K-1 500. DAME LISA CARRINGTON AND AMY FISHER WILL LINE UP IN SEPARATE HEATS. WE MIGHT SEE A GAUGE OF WHAT IS TO COME. AND THE TRACK CYCLING TEAM IS BACK IN ACTION THIS MORNING. FOR MORE, LET'S HEAD TO OLYMPICS REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT. WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS MORNING? SMASHING SPEEDS OF AROUND 60 KM AN HOUR. NOT ONLY, AS I SAY, THEY QUALIFIED IN TOP POSITION, BUT THEY ALSO SMASHED THE TOP RECORD BY FOUR SECONDS. THEY TOOK SOME RESEARCH AT ABOUT THE TEAM SPRINTERS DID LAST NIGHT. THEY KNEW THE TRACK WAS FAST AND ABSOLUTELY CENTRED KNOWING HOW PUT IT THIS QUALIFYING RACE WILL BE HEAVYWEIGHTS. THEY ARE NOW STRAIGHT THROUGH TO ROUND ONE TOMORROW. THEY CAN DO IT AGAIN, THEY WILL BE IN THE GOLD MEDAL RACE. FROM ECSTASY TO AGONY, OUR TEAM PURSUIT MEN'S HAVE JUST MISSED OUT ON THE BRONZE MEDAL RACE. UNFORTUNATELY IN THE QUALIFIERS YESTERDAY, THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT OFF THE PACE BUT THEY COULD TO SHOW HOW FAST THE STRIKERS BECAUSE THEY STILL SET NATIONAL RECORDS. TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY HERE. OUR SPRINTERS ARE BACK IN ACTION. WE HAVE THE SOLE MALE SPRINTER. UNLESS ANDREWS WON NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST INDIVIDUAL SPRINT TITLE LAST YEAR, AND A BIG ONE TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE THE TEAM PURSUIT WHO PROVE THEY ARE THE ONES TO BEAT IN VERSAILLES. SAILOR THOMAS SAUNDERS HAS FINISHED 7th IN THE MEN'S DINGHY BUT NEW ZEALAND IS IN THE MIX FOR A MEDAL IN THE MIXED MULTI-HULL. MICAH WILKINSON AND ERICA DAWSON WILL GO INTO TONIGHT'S NACRA MEDAL RACE IN A TIE FOR THIRD AFTER A THIRD, SEVENTH AND 17th IN THE FINAL QUALIFICATION RACES. THE KIWIS CAN'T FINISH ANY WORSE THAN FOURTH, BUT IF THE LAST RACE GOES THEIR WAY ARE WITHIN REACH OF SILVER. ON THE ATHLETICS TRACK, MAIA RAMSDEN IS THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE WOMEN'S 1500m. SHE FINISHED SIXTH IN HER HEAT TO PROGRESS TO FRIDAY MORNING'S SEMI. AND KIWI SPEED CLIMBER JULIAN DAVID IS THROUGH TO THE QUARTER-FINALS AFTER STUNNING A FORMER WORLD CHAMPION IN THE HEATS. REALLY GOOD TIME IT WAS FROM JULIAN DAVID. AND HE'S GONE NECK-AND-NECK RIGHT NOW WITH REZA ALIPOUR, AND IT IS 5.20 ` JULIAN DAVID WITH A PB QUALIFIES. JULIAN WILL CLIMB AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT. TO OTHER NEWS NOW, AND U.S. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS PICKED MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE IN HER BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. HARRIS SAID SHE WAS PROUD TO WELCOME WALZ TO THE TEAM AHEAD OF A RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA LATER TODAY. WALZ SAYS IT'S THE HONOUR OF A LIFETIME TO BE SELECTED. THE VICE PRESIDENT FORMALLY SECURED THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION YESTERDAY. THE PAIR ARE SET TO TOUR CRUCIAL BATTLEGROUND STATES IN COMING DAYS. GLOBAL MARKETS HAVE REBOUNDED AFTER DAYS OF CHAOS, WITH WALL STREET OPENING TO EARLY GAINS. THE GLOBAL ROUT WAS SPARKED BY A WEAKER THAN EXPECTED U.S. JOBS REPORT LAST WEEK, STOKING FEARS OF AN AMERICAN RECESSION. THERE WAS ALSO CONCERN THAT SHARES IN BIG TECH FIRMS HAD BEEN OVERVALUED AND THE COMPANIES WERE UNDER-PERFORMING. THE SELL-OFFS SAW JAPAN'S NIKKEI SLUMP 12 POINTS IN ONE DAY, THE BIGGEST DROP SINCE 1987, BUT IT HAS SINCE SOARED BACK BY MORE THAN 10%. THE LARGEST EVER CORAL BLEACHING EVENT OF ITS KIND HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN FIORDLAND. NEW RESEARCH FROM VICTORIA UNIVERSITY IN WELLINGTON HAS FOUND MORE THAN 50 MILLION SEA SPONGES OFF THE COAST IN FIORDLAND WERE AFFECTED BY A MASS BLEACHING EVENT. RESEARCHERS BELIEVE A HEATWAVE IN 2022 SAW WATER TEMPERATURES CLIMB TO ABOVE AVERAGE LEVELS IN THE AREA FOR CLOSE TO 300 DAYS. THE DEATH SIDE OF THE SPONGES HAS BEEN REALLY CONCERNING, AND QUITE A WORRY GIVEN THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE SPONGE. THE REALLY INTERESTING THING THAT WE FOUND IS THAT SOME DID SURVIVE, LOTS DID SURVIVE, AND THOSE ONES THAT SURVIVED HAVE CHANGED. THEY CHANGED IN A WAY THAT MAY PROVIDE THEM SOME BENEFITS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH MARINE HEAT WAVES BETTER IN THE FUTURE. IT'S ESTIMATED THE MASS BLEACHING EVENT CUT THE REGION'S SEA SPONGE POPULATION BY ALMOST HALF. 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 ` IT'S LOOKING LIKE A LOVELY DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH ACROSS THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` BIT OF MORNING FOG IN HAMILTON. OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A MOSTLY FINE DAY FOR THE REGION. THE BIT OF CLOUD IN ROTORUA. 15 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. TO THE EAST COAST ` ANOTHER SUNNY DAY TODAY. CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` FOGGY START FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN TOO. OTHERWISE IT'S BLUE SKIES ELSEWHERE. 15 DEGREES IN PALMERSTON NORTH. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BIT OF A MIXED BAG. MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ON THE EAST COAST. HOWEVER, ON THE WEST, IT'S LOOKING A BIT MORE GREY WITH SOME SHOWERS IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. TAKE AN UMBRELLA WHEN YOU ARE HEADING OUT THE DOOR. 13 DEGREES FOR YOU. HEADING SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR THROUGH HERE. HOWEVER, MOST OF YOU WILL BE GETTING SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH AFTER MIDDAY. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` SOME SHOWERS TODAY IN MILFORD SOUND AND OBAN. ELSEWHERE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. 15 THE HIGH FOR OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN. RETIREMENT VILLAGES ARE MEANT TO BE A PLACE WHERE OLDER PEOPLE FEEL TAKEN CARE OF, BUT CAMPAIGNERS ARE PUSHING FOR AN URGENT OVERHAUL ON A SYSTEM THEY SAY IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR VULNERABLE THROUGH MISLEADING CONTRACTS, ALLEGING SOME RETIREES ARE FINANCIALLY TRAPPED IN TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS WITH NOWHERE TO COMPLAIN, AND BEING CHARGED FOR REPAIRS ON THINGS LIKE WATER CYLINDERS AND SINKS. EX-RESIDENT SUE ENGLAND IS WITH US. WE'LL HEAR HER STORY SOON. BUT FIRST, RETIREMENT VILLAGE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VICE-PRESIDENT DI SINCLAIR IS HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. YOU TAKE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN THESE VILLAGES. CAN YOU GIVE US A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW FOR WHAT SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE? THEY ARE MAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS COMPLAINING. THE COMPLAINTS SYSTEM IS OUT OF DATE AND DOES NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE ANY MORE. THAT WAS DRAWN UP 20 YEARS AGO, AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED. RESIDENTS ARE FINDING IT HARD TO MAKE ANY COMPLAINTS TO GET A RESOLUTION? THERE IS A RESOLUTION, BUT IT IS LONG AND COMPLICATED AND CAN TAKE UP TO 3 YEARS. OFTEN, COMPLAINTS CAN BE SORTED OUT RIGHT AT THE BASIC LEVEL WITH A MANAGER, BUT OFTEN THEY CANNOT. IT IS A COMPLICATED SYSTEM TO GO THROUGH. WHAT WE ARE WANTING IS FOR A COMMISSIONNER-TYPE PERSON WITH THE POWER TO HEAR BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT RESIDENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT? LOOK AT THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. 97% BELIEVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NINE TENANTS AND REPAIRS SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE OPERATOR. THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN SOME OF THESE CASES. FOR SOME, THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ARE THE JOB OF THE OPERATOR, AND THAT IS GOOD, THAT IS WHAT WE WANT, BUT A LOT OF THEM STILL ARE NOT DOING THAT. IF YOUR WATER CYLINDER BLOWS, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. YOU DO NOT OWN THOSE CHATTELS, YOU HAVE A LICENCE TO OCCUPY THEREFORE YOU SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. THE COMMERCE COMMISSION HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THIS AND HAS WRITTEN TO THE OPERATORS SAYING THAT IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE AND MUST STOP, BUT IT CARRIES ON. SINCE WE STARTED THE REVIEW, SOME OF THE OPERATORS HAVE MADE CHANGES VOLUNTARILY, BUT THERE STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. I WANT TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. WHEN SOMEONE ENTERS A RETIREMENT VILLAGE, THEY ARE PAYING FOR, FIVE, $6000 TO OCCUPY THIS HOME. THEY DO NOT OWN IT, THEY OCCUPIED. THEY HAVE A LICENCE TO OCCUPY IT. WHEN THEY LEAVE, WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT POINT? IT DEPENDS HOW THEY LEAVE. IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE THERE ANY MORE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS, THEY CAN LEAVE, BUT THEY CANNOT GET THEIR CAPITAL SUM OUT UNTIL THE UNIT HAS BEEN RE-LICENSED. THEY CAN TAKE UP TO 2 YEARS SOMETIMES. THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN LIMBO, THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. NO INTEREST PAYMENTS. THE MINIMUM TIME WE HAVE HAD IS SIX MONTHS AND ONE PARTICULAR COMPANY, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT OFTEN IT IS NINE MONTHS. THEY HAVE SAID, WE MAY START PAYING SOME INTEREST AFTER NINE MONTHS. WE ARE TALKING A LOT OF MONEY HERE. THERE IS NO REGULATION TO SAY THAT AFTER TIME THE MONEY HAS TO BE RETURNED. WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD IS WHAT YOU GET A $600,000 INTEREST FREE LOAN WITH NO MANDATORY PAYBACK? I WANT YOU TO STAY WITH US, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SPEAK WITH SUE. YOU AND A RETIREMENT HOME FOR FIVE YEARS. WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE LIKE? INITIALLY, IT WAS FINE. I WENT IN THERE THINKING THAT I WAS MOVING INTO A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE I WOULD BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS TIME MOVED ON, AND DID NOT EVENTUATE. I FELT INTIMIDATED AND NOT SAFE AT ALL. THE MANAGER WAS ALSO THE OPERATOR SO I TRIED TO RAISE WITH HER SOME OF HOW I FELT. THERE WERE OTHERS IN THE VILLAGE THAT FELT THE SAME WAY. I LOOKED TO SEE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD DONE, BUT TO NO, I DID NOT THINK SO. THAT WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED IT TO BE. WHEN YOU TRY TO LEAVE THE VILLAGE, WHAT HAPPENED? I APPROACHED ONE OF THE OTHER DIRECTORS IN THE COMPANY, AND I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAID, I CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE BECAUSE I WAS AT THE STAGE WHERE I WOULD LOSE ALL OF MY DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEE. INITIALLY, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY IT AFTER A LONG, DRAWNOUT PROCESS, WHICH WAS QUITE EMOTIONAL FOR ME. THEY SAID NO, AND SO I ENDED UP HAVING TO LEAVE THE VILLAGE ANYWAY. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS IN A POSITION TO BORROW SOME MONEY UNTIL I COULD GET THE MONEY FROM MY VILLA, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. MY MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERED AS WELL AS MY FINANCIAL SITUATION, AND I'M PLEASED THAT I MANAGED TO GET OUT. I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS HAPPENED TO YOU AND I SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING WILLING TO COME ON TELEVISION TO TALK ABOUT YOUR STORY AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT NOT ONLY YOU AND OTHERS ARE FEELING AS WELL. YOU HAD PREVIOUS WORK IN LAW. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CONTRACT THAT YOU SIGNED?� I DO COME FROM A LEGAL BACKGROUND. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE. IT IS QUITE WORDY, AND THEY ARE NOT STRAIGHT FORWARD. THEY ALL VARY. I AM NOT SURE HOW SOMEONE WITHOUT MY BACKGROUND WOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND THEM. I THOUGHT I DID FULLY UNDERSTAND THEM, BUT I DID NOT EVER ENVISAGE THE SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF IN WHERE IF I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT I WAS GETTING, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO COMPLAIN TO THE MANAGER WHO WAS THE PERSON THAT I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT. THERE WAS NO INDEPENDENT. THERE IS A COMPLAINTS PROCESS, BUT IT IS A REAL WORRY. THAT IS WHAT DI WAS TALKING ABOUT, THAT IT SHOULD INCLUDE AN OMBUDSMAN OR SOMEONE INDEPENDENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND TELLING US YOUR PERSONAL STORY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE TO WRAP THINGS UP, THEY KNOW THIS CONVERSATION IS A LOT BIGGER THAN WHAT WE TOUCHED ON, BUT A REVIEW IS UNDERWAY. IS IT ENOUGH? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS REVIEW FOR THREE YEARS NOW. AND 2021, THE RETIREMENT COMMISSIONER SAID IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. HERE WE ARE IN 2024. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO GET THE GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND. FOR US ALL THE RESIDENTS, TIMERS OF THE ESSENCE. WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO HANG AROUND. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN LIKE THAT. THE AVERAGE AGE OF SOMEONE LIVING IN A RETIREMENT HOME IS 82. THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. SUE, MUCH LOVE TO YOU. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. E WHAI AKE NEI ` WE'LL HAVE ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ON HOW OUR NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES GOT ON OVERNIGHT. THAT IS COMING UP. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THERE HASN'T BEEN TOO MUCH TO CHEER ON OVERNIGHT FOR OUR NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES AS FAR AS MEDALS ARE CONCERNED. BUT ARE WELL SET UP FOR PLENTY OF CHANCES OVER THE COMING DAYS. YOU KNOW CHRIS CHANG ` GOES WHERE THE PARTY GOES. SO HE'S ARRIVED AT JAMAICA HOUSE. USUALLY, I TRY AND GO WHERE THE MEDALS ARE. FOR THE NATURE OF THE EVENTS, THERE ARE DAYS WHEN IT JUST QUALIFIES. YOU BEEN OUT OF THE VELODROME, JORDAN, WHICH FEELS LIKE A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM JAMAICA HOUSE. TELL US HOW THE TEAMS ARE BEEN GOING. JUST CALL ME AND REBECCA O'SULLIVAN, MY CAMERA OPERATOR, A DRONE OPERATOR. THEY QUALIFIED FIRST AT THE TOP OF THEIR POLE AND QUITE REMARKABLE FASHION. THEY PUT THE PEDAL TO THE MEDAL. THEY BROKE THE NATIONAL RECORD BY MORE THAN FOUR SECONDS ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING THE TOP QUALIFIER. THEY ARE A RELATIVELY GREEN GROUP. THERE IS ONLY ONE STILL THERE FROM TOKYO. THE HEAT IS ESSENTIALLY A SEMI-FINAL IN VERSAILLES. IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE FOR THE TEAM PURSUIT MEN, WHICH WAS QUITE DISAPPOINTING. THEY WOULD BE THE 1ST TO ADMIT THAT IT IS A GROUP HEADLINED BY AARON GATE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY JUST MISSED OUT THIS AFTERNOON ON BEING IN THE BRONZE MEDAL RACE. WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO WAS BEING A LITTLE OFF THE MARK. THEY WERE STILL BREAKING NATIONAL RECORDS AND EVERY HEAT THAT THEY WENT THROUGH, IT IS JUST THAT THE TIMES HERE ARE SO FAST AND THEY DID NOT QUITE AT THE PACE. OUT HERE TODAY, THEY THREW THE KITCHEN SINK AT IT, AS AARON GATE WOULD LIKE TO SAY. HE IS STILL IN ACTION, SO THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO CITY FLYING MULLET YET. THAT IS WHAT WE LIKE TO HEAR. NATIONAL RECORDS ARE BREAKING AND FALLING OVER AND THAT TRACK. HOW IS GOING TO PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS? WHEN WE GOING TO HOPEFULLY START SEEING MEDALS AT THE VELODROME? IT ALL STARTS AGAIN FROM TOMORROW OUR TIME. IT IS A BIG DAY TOMORROW. OUR SPRINTERS ARE BACK IN ACTION. OUR SOLE MALE SPRINTER. DON'T FORGET THAT ELISA ANDREWS GOT NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST METAL IN THIS DISCIPLINE LAST YEAR, SO WE ARE EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM HER. THIS IS JUST QUALIFYING FOR THEM TOMORROW. THE BIG ONE TOMORROW IS THE WOMAN'S TEAM PURSUIT. THEY HAVE PROVEN SAY THAT THEY ARE THE ONES TO BEAT. THEY BEATEN THE HEAVYWEIGHTS, GERMANY, USA, BRITTEN. THEY ARE HERE AND THEY MEAN BUSINESS. TOMORROW COULD BE A VERY EXCITING DAY AT THE TRACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JORDAN. IT IS BUSINESS I'M AT THE TRACK. WE CAN PARTY HERE THOUGH. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I AM GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. HOW GOOD IT IS FOR JAMAICA? THIS IS VERY SPECIAL FOR JAMAICA. WE CELEBRATED THIS FROM 1962. WE'RE LIVING IN FRANCE RIGHT NOW. LET ME TAKE YOU TO WHAT IS GOING ON. I DID NOT ASK TO DO THIS. WE ARE FREE STYLING SOME MORE HERE. WE HAVE A BARBECUE HERE. LET'S SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. IN MY HEAD TO COME AROUND THE SIDE MY FRIEND. WHATEVER WE GOT HERE? THIS IS A SPECIALIST FOR JAMAICANS ` JERK CHICKEN. THE ESCARGOT MAY NOT BE FOR YOU. JERK CHICKEN, I THINK YOU MAY LIKE IT. THIS IS THE JERK MAN. THE MAN ON THE BARBECUE. WHAT IS THE INGREDIENT THAT GOES INTO MAKING THESE SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIANS THAT JAMAICA KEEPS PRODUCING? WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD AT ALL OF THESE EVENTS? IT IS THE SOURCE. THAT IS VERY TRADITIONAL. GOOD TRADITIONAL JAMAICAN SAUCE. WHO WAS THE GREATEST OLYMPIAN IN YOUR MIND? OF ALL TIME? THE BEST, WHO WAS THE BEST? IT HAS GOT TO BE USAIN? EXACTLY. YOU ARE FROZEN, CHRIS. THERE IS ALWAYS A SECRET SAUCE, THOUGH. WHEN I WAS THERE, I DID NOT TRY TO JERK CHICKEN. I'M SORRY, I AM USAIN BOLTING IT THIS MORNING. I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT WITH THE KIDS. I GOT TO INTERVIEW USAIN BOLTS IN THE 2008 OLYMPICS. I WAITED FOR HOURS. THOSE SPRINTERS ARE AMAZING. I LOVE IT. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. AND, HE LED THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH DURING ITS MOST DIFFICULT PERIOD. SIR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD JOINS US TO WEIGH IN ON THE STATE OF HEALTH NZ'S FINANCES. THAT'S COMING UP AFTER SEVEN O'CLOCK. HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND CHRIS AGAIN. SOME OF NEW ZEALAND'S PADDLERS HAVE STARTED STRONG IN PARIS. GAMES REPORTER GUY HEVELDT HAS BEEN AT THE CANOE SPRINT AND JOINS US NOW. WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE HEATS, GUY? GOOD MORNING TO YOU. THE HEATER GONE VERY WELL FOR NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S KAYAKERS. LISA CARRINGTON, FIRST OF ALL, WON THEIR HEAT AND LOOKS VERY IMPRESSIVE IN DOING SO. THEY ARE STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE FINAL AT THE END OF THE WEEK SO THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD THERE. WE WON OUR HEAT IN THE K2 ALSO, BUT DON'T READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT BECAUSE I SUSPECT THEY WILL BE LIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE TANK. SADLY, ANOTHER PAIR OF OLYMPIANS CANNOT MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE FINAL. FOR THE MEN, THE K4 500 MADE IT TO THE FINALS. THEY WILL LINE UP IN THE SEMIFINALS A BIT LATER ON IN THE WEEK. IDSA THOUGH, THEY MIGHT BE IN THE BIT OF A STRUGGLE TO MAKE THAT FINAL TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY FOR DAME LISA CARRINGTON AND LISA FISHER. THEY LINE UP IN THE HEAT OF THE BIG ONE ` THE K-1 500. YOU WOULD GET A LITTLE BIT OF A GAUGE AS TO HOW THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT WILL BE A BIG RACE. IT'S BEEN A DAY OF BREAKING NATIONAL RECORDS FOR OUR TRACK CYCLING TEAM IN PARIS. FOR MORE, LET'S HEAD TO OLYMPICS REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT. WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS MORNING? THE UP THE WAHINES MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO GROW HERE. THEY WERE CLOCKING SPEEDS OF AROUND 60 KM AN HOUR AS THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY TO DO THAT, THEY SET A NEW RECORD. THEY DID IT IN REMARKABLE FASHION. ONLY ONE MEMBER REMAINS FROM TOKYO. ESSENTIALLY, THEY HAVE ANOTHER HEAT TOMORROW WHICH IS LIKE A SEMI-FINAL. IF THEY CAN WIN THAT, THEY ARE STRAIGHT INTO A GOLD MEDAL RACE WITH A GUARANTEED MEDAL. FOR THE MEN, IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE, JUST MISSING OUT ON THE BRONZE MEDAL. AS WE SAID, THE TIMES HERE ARE FAST, THE TRACK AND CONDITION THE HOT, AND YESTERDAY, THEY WERE JUST A BIT OFF THE PACE WHICH PUNISHED US TODAY BUT THE WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT HAVE PUT THE ENTIRE FIELD ON NOTICE. NEW ZEALAND SPEED CLIMBER JULIAN DAVID HAS CAUSED AN UPSET IN THE HEATS. HE BEAT AN IRANIAN FORMER WORLD CHAMPION NICKNAMED THE 'PERSIAN CHEETAH' REACHING THE TOP OF THE WALL 6/100ths OF A SECOND QUICKER. DAVID WILL CLIMB AGAIN IN THE QUARTER-FINALS TOMORROW NIGHT. TO OTHER NEWS NOW, AND THERE ARE CALLS FOR A COMMISSIONER TO OVERSEE COMPLAINTS MADE BY RETIREES WHO SAY THEY FEEL UNSAFE AND INTIMIDATED. A CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN LAUNCHED, URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO OVERHAUL THE RETIREMENT VILLAGES ACT. ONE ADVOCATE ARGUES THE CURRENT COMPLAINTS SYSTEM IS OUTDATED AND NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE, OFTEN TAKING UP TO THREE YEARS TO FIND A RESOLUTION. IT'S A COMPLICATED SYSTEM TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH. WHAT WE'RE WANTING IS FOR A COMMISSIONER-TYPE PERSON TO BE PUT IN CHARGE WITH THE POWER TO HEAR BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT AND MAKE A BINDING DECISION WITHIN THREE WEEKS. THE MINISTRY FOR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS CURRENTLY ASSESSING WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ON THIS ISSUE. KAMALA HARRIS'S SELECTION OF MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE HAS ALREADY DRAWN CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS. DONALD TRUMP'S VICE PRESIDENT PICK JD VANCE CALLED WALZ 'RADICAL' AND SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DEBATE HIM. THE HARRIS-WALZ CAMPAIGN WILL BE HOPING THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR CAN CONNECT WITH MIDWESTERN AND MORE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS. THE PAIR WILL APPEAR TOGETHER AT A RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA LATER TODAY. CLIMATE ACTIVISTS HAVE SPRAY PAINTED FOOTBALL STAR LIONEL MESSI'S HOME IN IBIZA. MEMBERS OF THE FUTURO VEGETAL GROUP WERE SEEN COVERING THE WALLS AROUND THE SPANISH PROPERTY IN RED AND BLACK PAINT. THE GROUP SAYS THEY ARE CONDEMNING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST 1% IN CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. AND FINALLY, AMERICAN RAPPER PITBULL HAS BOUGHT THE NAMING RIGHTS TO A UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL STADIUM IN HIS HOME STATE OF FLORIDA. THE MUSICIAN AND FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY HAVE SIGNED A FIVE-YEAR DEAL WORTH $2m A YEAR WHICH WILL SEE THE FIU PANTHERS HOME GROUND BE NAMED 'PITBULL STADIUM'. AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT, PITBULL WILL ALSO CREATE AN ANTHEM FOR THE UNIVERSITY APPEAR AT FUNDRAISING EVENTS, AND ALLOW THE RAPPER ACCESS TO THE STADIUM FOR 10 DAYS A YEAR. 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 ` IT'S LOOKING LIKE A LOVELY DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH ACROSS THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` BIT OF MORNING FOG IN HAMILTON. OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A MOSTLY FINE DAY FOR THE REGION. 15 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. TO THE EAST COAST ` ANOTHER SUNNY DAY TODAY. CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` FOGGY START FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN TOO. OTHERWISE ITS BLUES SKIES ELSEWHERE. 17 THE HIGH FOR WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BIT OF A MIXED BAG. MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ON THE EAST COAST. HOWEVER, ON THE WEST. IT'S LOOKING A BIT MORE GREY WITH SOME SHOWERS IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. A HIGH OF 15 FOR BLENHEIM. HEADING SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR THROUGH HERE. HOWEVER, MOST OF YOU WILL BE GETTING SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH AFTER MIDDAY. 15 THE HIGH IN ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` SOME SHOWERS TODAY IN MILFORD SOUND AND OBAN. ELSEWHERE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. 15 THE HIGH FOR OTEPOTI DUNEDIN. THANK YOU. JUST FOR WE GET TO WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH YOU THIS MORNING, I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE INTERVIEW WE DID THIS MORNING WITH RETIREES. JUST MAKE MY BLOOD BOIL THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE GROUP ` AN AVERAGE AGE OF 82 YEARS ` IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO MOVE INTO THESE HOMES AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE, THEY HAVE TO WAIT TO GET THAT MONEY BACK UNTIL THAT PLACE IS THEN RENTED OUT OR LEASED TO SOMEONE ELSE. AFTER A LIFETIME OF HARD WORK. AND SAVING UP TO INVEST IN THAT. AND PUT THE MILITARY SITUATION WHEN THEY LEAVE THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT OFF MY CHEST BECAUSE IT MAKES ME VERY, VERY ANGRY. THIS IS ALSO MADE YOU ALL QUITE ANGRY ` WE ARE AWARE THERE IS A NEW MATHS CURRICULUM COMING INTO SCHOOLS FROM NEXT YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RUSHED THAT FORWARD BECAUSE THE RESULTS OF OUR TAMARIKI SITTING AT THE 22% OF THE STANDARD SHOULD BE AT. 22%. SO THIS MATHS CURRICULUM HAS BEEN MOVED FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR SO WHAT IS THAT, SIX MONTHS? HOW TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CLASSROOMS AS WELL AS LEARN THE NEW CURRICULUM? WHAT GIVES? WHAT IS GOING TO BE DE-PRIORITISED, I ASKED THE PREDATORS THAT MAKE *PRIME MINISTER TO MAKE ROOM FOR THIS? THINGS LIKE, FRANKLY, AS I SAID TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, WE'RE WANTING TO DO WORK ON OUR MUSIC CURRICULUM AND OUR ART CURRICULUM. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT A FOCUS FOR US RIGHT NOW. IMMEDIATELY, SITTING HERE IN AUGUST, WITH AN INTENTION` WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A NEW CURRICULUM AT THE END OF JANUARY, AT THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, I WANT EVERYBODY FOCUSED ON THAT. I WANT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION COMING TO WORK TO SAY, 'WE'RE INTERESTED IN JUST TWO THINGS 'HOW DO WE TEACH OUR KIDS TO READ BETTER? 'HOW DO WE TEACH THEM TO DO MATHS BETTER?' SORRY, THAT'S LIVE TELEVISION FOR YOU. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, JARRETT HAS WRITTEN AND, SHOULDN'T IT BE WELL-ROUNDED INCLUDING ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE WORLD? HOW IS THIS A QUESTION? IT SCARES ME. CHANEL SAYS LITERACY IS SOMETHING I AM NOT GOOD AT. ONE THING I HAVE ALWAYS MASTERED AS MUSIC ` I COULD LEARN AND SHOW MY EMOTIONS DO IT AND ART IS MUCH THE SAME. NON-FITS INTO THE SAME BOX, SAME CURRICULUM, WHY ARE YOU SITTING THOSE WHO MAY LEARN A LITTLE DIFFERENT UP TO FAIL? MUSIC IS LANGUAGE, CONFIDENCE, SOCIAL SKILLS. IT'S WHAT ENCOMPASSES CULTURAL SOCIETY. WE THINK ABOUT OUR STORIES, LITERATURE IS ALL IN THAT. THE ANSWER ALWAYS UNDERFUNDED AND IT IS SAD THAT WE ARE POSSIBLY NOT PLAYING TO EVERY CHILD STRENGTH, AND IT IS COMING TO CELEBRATE. IF HE HAD COME ON AND SAID SPORT, THERE WOULD BE AN UPROAR. 22%, THOUGH. JUST A REMINDER THAT AT 22% IS BASED ON THE NEW CURRICULUM, NOT ON HOW IT HAS BEEN TESTED IN THE PAST. AND THEY WOULD BE SITTING AROUND 44% OR THE HIGH 40S WITH THE EIGHTS MAKING THAT LEVEL, RATHER THAN THE NEW CURRICULUM, WHICH IS AT 22%. THEY DO NEED TO BE PULLED UP. ME U TONU MAI ` THE DOW HAS HAD A SMALL REBOUND. WHY ECONOMISTS ARE URGING PEOPLE NOT TO PANIC AFTER FRIDAY'S CRASH. (POP MUSIC) IF YOU'VE CHECKED ON YOUR KIWISAVER BALANCE IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN A BIT OF A SCARE. THAT'S BECAUSE THE U.S. STOCK MARKET HAS PLUMMETED SINCE FRIDAY OVER FEARS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST ECONOMY WAS HEADING FOR RECESSION, CAUSING GLOBAL MARKETS TO ALSO TAKE A TUMBLE. IT'S SINCE REBOUNDED WITH AN UNEASY CALM IN THE MARKETS THIS MORNING. FOR MORE WE'RE JOINED BY STEVEN BLITZ, CHIEF U.S. ECONOMIST AT TS LOMBARD. GOOD MORNING, STEVEN. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. MY PLEASURE, MY PLEASURE. HOW ARE YOU DOWN THERE? WE ARE VERY WELL, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO START FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T SPEND OUR TIME ENTRENCHED IN THE MARKET, CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXPERT NATION AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS? IT IS SOMETHING TECHNICAL, AND IT'S SOMETHING MACRO. THE TECHNICAL THING HAS TO DO WITH JAPAN TRADES, THEIR RAISING RATES, THE YEN. AND SO A LOT OF TRADES WERE SUDDENLY IN ONE DIRECTION... THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY SLOSHING AROUND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO, AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS FOR. YOU GET THESE BIG MARKETS IMPACTS FROM THAT. THE MORE MACRO STUFF, SPECIFIC TO THE U.S. MARKET, IS SIMPLY THAT IT'S TOO TIGHT. THE DATA HAS BEEN SOFTENING AND THE US IS NOT IN A RECESSION, BUT IN THAT DIRECTION, AT THE END OF THE YEAR IF THE FED DOESN'T CUT, AND WE ALL EXPECT THE FED TO CUT... AT A JULY MEETING, THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE THE TIME. FED WAS TOLD THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH OF A TIMELINE. HAS IT BEEN A BIT OF A PERFECT STORM? THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. THE EQUITY MARKET WAS OVERDONE, AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND... ON THE TECH STUFF, IT WAS DUE FOR A CORRECTION ANYWAY. AND THESE THINGS OFTEN HAPPEN IN AUGUST, MAYBE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ON VACATION, I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT AUGUST SEEMS TO BE HIGH BY VOTILITY MONTHS. BUT YES, A PERFECT STORM. IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THE US ECONOMY IS SLOWING DOWN AND FED, IF IT DOESN'T HURRY UP, IT COULD BE FORCED TO HURRY UP VERY QUICKLY LATER ON. AND IT IS PROMISED TO THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT THEY WANTED A RECESSION TAKE HOLD, SO THEIR MOVE. YOU DON'T THINK IT HEADING TO A RECESSION AT THE MINUTE? WE ARE NOT IN A RECESSION RIGHT NOW, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THE FED DOES NOT CUT AT LEAST 50 BASIS POINTS IN SEPTEMBER, THE ODDS ARE VERY HIGH, OR SHOULD I SAY, THE MOBILITY IS VERY HIGH, THAT THERE WILL BE A RECESSION BY YEAR-END. I READ YOUR BIO AND IT SAYS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IS A WEE WHILE. WHAT WOULD YOU COMPARE THIS TO? OH MY... I WOULD COMPARE THIS TO, GOING BACK A LONG WAY, THIS REMINDS ME OF A SITUATION FROM THE LATE 1960s WHEN REALLY, THERE WAS INFLATION, THEY WERE AFRAID TO CREATE A RECESSION AND SO THEY HAD A VERY MILD ONE AND THE PRICE OF THAT WAS MORE INFLATION LATER. SO LOOK, THE FED IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CREATING RECESSION NOW. FOR A LOT OF GOOD REASONS BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRICE TO PAY FOR THAT, RIGHT? INFLATION IS GOING BACK TO 2% ANYWAY ` THAT IS WHAT THEY THOUGHT IN THE 1960s AND THEY WERE VERY WRONG. I HAVE JUST BEEN GIVEN THE RAT, BUT OUR PENSION SCHEME IS KIWI SAVER. 60% IS IN OFFSHORE MARKETS ` SHOULD WE BE PANICKING ABOUT OUR MONEY AND PENSION FUNDS? NO. THE ONLY REASON YOU SHOULD PANIC AS IF YOU THINK WE ARE ENTERING THE MIDDLE AGES. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MINDSET, YOU ARE OK. TS LOMBARD, COMING DOWN NEW ZEALAND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STEVEN. THANK YOU! E HAERE AKE NEI ` A 140-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL BELL WAS STOLEN OVER THE WEEKEND. WHAT? WE TELL YOU ABOUT THE SURPRISING MESSAGE THE PRINCIPAL HAS FOR THE THIEVES. GIVE IT BACK? (LAUGHTER) WELCOME BACK. A CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HAS BEEN LEFT FEELING DISGUSTED AND SICK AFTER DISCOVERING THEIR SCHOOL BELL HAD BEEN STOLEN. (KIDS CHEERING) (BELL RINGING) THE 140-YEAR-OLD BELL WAS TAKEN FROM ADDINGTON TE KURA TAUMATUA'S REMEMBRANCE GARDEN OVER THE WEEKEND. IT WAS A KEY PART OF SCHOOL TRADITION AND STUDENT LIFE. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY PRINCIPAL DONNA BILAS. MORENA, DONNA. WHEN DID YOU NOTICE IT WAS MISSING? WE WENT TO RING THE BELL ON MONDAY MORNING. ONE OF THE STUDENTS WENT AND FOUND THERE WAS NO BELL. THEY SAID THEY CANNOT RING THE BELL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THERE. IT TOOK A WHILE TO SINK IN. IT WAS NOT ON THE STAND IN THE GARDEN. WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION? I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE AN EASY THING TO DO. I FELT REALLY SAD THAT SOMEONE HAD TAKEN FROM OUR AWESOME SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. WE DID SEE A BRIEF CLIP OF IT, OF SOMEONE RINGING IT. HOW EASY WOULD IT BE TO TAKE OFF? IT WOULD NEED TO BE A TWO-PERSON JOB BECAUSE THEY USE THE POWER TOOL TO SEND IT OFF FROM ITS FIXINGS. IT WOULD BE AROUND THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL, OR SIMILAR, A SCHOOL SIZED BALL. IT IS BRASS AND HEAVY. EVENLY RING IT, THE PIECE ON THE INSIDE IS HEAVY TO MOVE AROUND. 140 YEARS OLD, THIS BELL. TELL ME ABOUT ITS HISTORY TO YOUR SCHOOL. IT HAS BEEN HUNG IN THE PLAYGROUND FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. IT USED TO BE IN THE ORIGINAL ROSE GARDEN, WHICH WE RELOCATED WHEN WE REBUILT AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE AND OUR PLAYGROUND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT. IT IS A HUGE PART OF OUR SCHOOL, A PLACE WE CAN GO TO REMEMBER THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US, BIG THINGS AND LITTLE THINGS. AND ALSO, AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR, THAT BELL GETS RUN BY EVERY STUDENT OR PERSON THAT MEANT SOMETHING TO OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY ARE LEAVING. EVERY PERSON IS INVOLVED IN THAT EVENT RAIN OR SHINE. IN THE REMEMBRANCE SPACE, WE GATHER EVERY MARCH TO LET THE BELL SENT TO THE SOUND AROUND THE SCHOOL TO SHOW THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR BRAVERY AND THE BRAVERY OF THOSE THEY LEFT BEHIND. WHAT OUR MESSAGES AND REMEMBERING LIKE THAT IS THAT KINDNESS WILL PREVAIL AND WHEN. IF WE CAN BE KIND, THEN WE CAN ACHIEVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS AS A GROUP. YOU HAVE QUITE A CONNECTION TO THE MOSQUE SHOOTINGS WHICH IS WHY YOU DID THIS COMMEMORATES MEMORIAL. ONE OF OUR PAST STUDENTS LOST THEIR DAD, AND MANY OF THEIR FAMILIES WERE THERE AND INJURED AT THAT TIME. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS TO GO INTO LOCKDOWN AND ONE OF THE LAST TO COME OUT. HUGELY SIGNIFICANT. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO TOOK THE BELL? ALL THAT WE CAN THANK AS YOU NEEDED SOME MONEY. WE KNOW THAT TIMES ARE TOUGH. WE WANT OUR BELL BACK, THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ASKED. ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BELL USES BEING A CONNECTED CITIZEN. WE WANT TO BE THAT FOR YOU. WE CAN HELP YOU. THIS IS WHO WE ARE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN WRITE YOUR MISTAKES. PLEASE BRING THE BELL BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR NEWS, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP AFTER SEVEN O'CLOCK ` HEALTH COMMISSIONER LESTER LEVY SAYS HE HOPES HEALTH NEW ZEALAND'S BUDGET PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED BY CHRISTMAS. BUT A FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH SAYS THAT JUST BEING FOCUSED ON SAVING MONEY COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE. SIR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD JOINS US SHORTLY. IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING, KAIPARA IS SET TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL KEEP ITS MAORI WARD TODAY. WE'LL BE LIVE IN THE TOWN AS IWI CALL FOR ACTION AHEAD OF THE VOTE. AND, ONE OF OUR GREATEST EVER OLYMPIANS IS BEING RECOGNISED IN A LEGENDARY WAY. BARBARA KENDALL HAS JUST BEEN NAMED AN 'OLYMPIAN FOR LIFE'. SHE'LL JOIN US FOR MORE IN HALF AN HOURS TIME. RIGHT NOW, IT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK. HERE'S INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. AOTEAROA'S FEMALE TRACK CYCLING TEAM HAVE CONTINUED THEIR PACE INTO DAY BUT IT WAS A TOUGH RIDE FOR OUR MEN'S TEAM. OLYMPICS REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT HAS BEEN AT THE TRACK THIS MORNING AND SENT THIS REPORT. THE WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUITS PICKED UP WHERE OUR WOMAN'S TEAM SPRINTERS LEFT OFF, QUALIFYING AND QUITE REMARKABLE FASHION TODAY. TOP QUALIFIER CLOCKING IN AT 60 KM/H. THE QUARTET ABSOLUTELY FLYING AROUND THE VELODROME TODAY, BREAKING A NEW NATIONAL RECORD, FASTER BY MORE THAN FOUR SECONDS. IF THEY CAN DO THIS FOR ANOTHER ROUND TOMORROW, THEY'LL BE STRAIGHT INTO THE GOLD MEDAL RACE. FROM ECSTASY TO AGONY, OUR TEAM PURSUIT MEN HAVE MISSED OUT ON A BRONZE MEDAL. THE RACE FOR THIRD AND FOURTH CAME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT YESTERDAY QUALIFYING, THE TIMES HERE ARE HOT. THEY THREW THE KITCHEN SINK AT IT, AS AARON GATES SAID, BUT THE TIME TO THE VELODROME HOTTER. WE HAVE OUR SOUL SPRINTS ARE COMING UP, ALYCE ANDREWS WON NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST EVER INDIVIDUAL WOMAN SPRINTS WORLD TITLE LAST YEAR AND THIS DISCIPLINE, SO WE ARE EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM HER. TOMORROW WILL BE HEADLINED BY THE WOMAN'S PURSUIT WHO PUT THE ENTIRE FIELD ON NOTICE. NEW ZEALAND'S FEMALE PADDLERS HAVE IMPRESSED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CANOE SPRINT EVENTS IN PARIS. THE K4 TEAM, FEATURING DAME LISA CARRINGTON COMFORTABLY WON ITS HEAT AS DID THE K2 DUO OF CARRINGTON AND ALICIA HOSKIN TO MOVE INTO THE FINALS. MEANWHILE AIMEE FISHER AND LUCY MATEHAERE COULDN'T ADVANCE ANY FURTHER IN THEIR K2 HEAT, MISSING OUT ON THE FINALS. SAILOR THOMAS SAUNDERS HAS FINISHED SEVENTH IN THE MEN'S DINGHY, BUT NEW ZEALAND IS IN THE MIX FOR A MEDAL IN THE MIXED MULTI-HULL. MICAH WILKINSON AND ERICA DAWSON WILL GO INTO TONIGHT'S NACRA MEDAL RACE IN A TIE FOR THIRD AFTER A THIRD, SEVENTH AND SEVENTEENTH IN THE FINAL QUALIFICATION RACES. THE KIWIS CAN'T FINISH ANY WORSE THAN FOURTH, BUT IF THE LAST RACE GOES THEIR WAY, THEY'RE WITHHIN REACH OF SILVER. ON THE ATHLETICS TRACK, MAIA RAMSDEN IS THROUGH TO THE SEMI FINALS OF THE WOMEN'S 1500m. SHE FINISHED SIXTH IN HER HEAT TO PROGRESS TO FRIDAY MORNING'S SEMI. TO SOME OTHER NEWS NOW, AND U.S. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS REVEALED HER RUNNING MATE. U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH HAS BRAVED SOME WILD WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA. LOGAN, WHAT'S THE LATEST? THERE MAY BE THUNDERSTORMS ON AND OFF, IT MIGHT BE IN THE 30S, BUT THAT IS NOT STOPPED THOUSANDS OF DEMOCRATIC FAITHFUL IS TURNING UP FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT'S RALLY. THAT IS MINNESOTA GOV, TIM. HE IS A GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA WHICH IS A MIDWESTERN STATE. HE IS CONSIDERED AMONG DEMOCRATS TO BE A MODERATE VOICE. HE WILL TURN UP TO EVENTS AND A T-SHIRT AND CAMOUFLAGE HAT. THAT IS CERTAINLY THE VOTERS THAT KAMALA HARRIS SEEMS TO BE TARGETING WITH QUITE A BIG PACK TODAY. AS I SAID, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURNED UP TO THIS RALLY HERE IN PHILADELPHIA. I HAD THE CHANCE TO CHAT TO A FEW AS THEY WAITED IN THE STORM. I AM STILL A CONSERVATIVE, BUT I WILL SUPPORT THE HARRIS TICKET 100%. WE HAVE TO PURGE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE CRAZY PEOPLE. I KNOW SOME OF YOU WILL BE OFFENDED BY THIS, BUT THAT IS THE WAY IT IS. WE HAVE TO RETURN NORMALCY TO POLITICS. IT IS ABOUT LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING AS A COLLECTIVE. THAT MAN WAS A FORMER REPUBLICAN VOTER WHO TOLD ME HE WOULD NOT BE VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP AGAIN. IT IS THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT KAMALA HARRIS AND HER NEW VICE PRESIDENT YOUR PACK WILL BE TARGETING GOING INTO THE SELECTION. THIS IS THE START OF THE TWO WORDS OF THE SWING STATES, WHERE THEY COULD GO EITHER WAY. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT DONALD TRUMP'S VICE PRESIDENTIAL PACK IS ALSO HOLDING A RALLY HERE IN PHILADELPHIA TODAY AND WILL BE FOLLOWING KAMALA HARRIS, FOLLOWING COMPETING EVENTS AS ELECTION HEATS UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LOGAN. PUT A JACKET ON, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE FREEZING. GLOBAL MARKETS HAVE REBOUNDED AFTER DAYS OF CHAOS, WITH WALL STREET OPENING TO EARLY GAINS. THE GLOBAL ROUT WAS SPARKED BY A WEAKER-THAN-EXPECTED U.S JOBS REPORT LAST WEEK, STOKING FEARS OF AN AMERICAN RECESSION. A U.S. ECONOMIST SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY THE FLUX WOULD IMPACT PENSION FUNDS SUCH AS KIWISAVER. THE ONLY REASON YOU SHOULD PANIC IS IF YOU THINK WE'RE ENTERING THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE WORLD ECONOMY'S GONNA SHRINK FOR THE NEXT 400 YEARS. SO AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MINDSET, YOU'RE OK. THE SELL-OFFS SAW JAPAN'S NIKKEI SLUMP 12 POINTS IN ONE DAY ` THE BIGGEST DROP SINCE 1987. BUT IT HAS SINCE SOARED BACK BY MORE THAN 10%. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S LOOKING LIKE A LOVELY DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE FOR ALL OF YOU. NOT A CLOUD IN SIGHT. 15 THE HIGH ACROSS THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` BIT OF MORNING FOG IN HAMILTON. OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A MOSTLY FINE DAY FOR THE REGION. A BIT OF CLOUD IN ROTORUA THIS AFTERNOON. 13 DEGREES IS YOUR HIGH. TO THE EAST COAST ` ANOTHER SUNNY DAY TODAY. CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY IT, NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. OVER TO THE WEST ` FOGGY START FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN, TOO. OTHERWISE, IT'S BLUE SKIES ELSEWHERE. PALMERSTON NORTH, 15 DEGREES IS YOUR HIGH. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BIT OF A MIXED BAG. MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ON THE EAST COAST. HOWEVER, ON THE WEST. IT'S LOOKING A BIT MORE GREY WITH SOME SHOWERS IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. TAKE AN UMBRELLA IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT THE DOOR. 13 DEGREES IN GREYMOUTH. HEADING SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR THROUGH HERE. HOWEVER, MOST OF YOU WILL BE GETTING SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH AFTER MIDDAY. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` SOME SHOWERS TODAY IN MILFORD SOUND AND OBAN. ELSEWHERE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. 15 THE HIGH FOR OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN. A BEAUTIFUL MORNING. IT'S AN EQUATION STUMPING SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S GREATEST HEALTH MINDS. HOW TO REDUCE LONG PATIENT WAIT LISTS AND REGIONAL INEQUITIES, WHILE ALSO SUBTRACTING $1.4b OF ANNUAL 'OVERSPEND' FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ALL WITHOUT IMPACTING THE ALREADY FRAYING FRONTLINE OF CLINICIANS. BREAKFAST INVITED NEW HEALTH COMMISSIONER LESTER LEVY TO DISCUSS HIS OVERHAUL OF TE WHATU ORA, BUT HE DECLINED. JOINING US NOW IS FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH, SIR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD. THINK SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. WE HEAR SO MUCH OF THE HEALTH SERVICE AT THE MOMENT. FROM SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS IT SO WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE STATE OF IT IS? IT IS REALLY CHALLENGED. THIS IS NOT A NEW THING. MANY OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. THEY ARE NOT UNIQUE TO NEW ZEALAND. THE KEY ISSUE IS NOT THAT THE CHALLENGES HERE, BUT HOW WE GO ABOUT ADDRESSING THEM. THE CONVERSATION AT THE MOMENT IS ABOUT THE HEALTH SYSTEM BEING IN CRISIS. MY VIEW IS THAT IT IS NOT FAILING. EVERY DAY, OUR HEALTH SYSTEM DELIVERS FANTASTIC CARE FOR THOUSANDS OF KIWIS. THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE BEST ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING AND EVERY SYSTEM IS FACING? PROF LEVY SAYS THAT FINANCIALS ARE WORSE THAN HE THOUGHT. I THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO CUT 130 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET EVERY MONTH. IS THAT DOABLE WITHOUT AFFECTING FRONTLINE STAFF? THE FIRST IDEA IS TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHERE THAT OVER EXPENDITURE IS. IF IT IS 130 MILLION MORE THAN THE BUDGET, THAT IS A HUGE OVERSPEND. FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND NOT GO FOR THOSE ABOVE THE BOARD CUTS. FRONTLINE IS NOT JUST DOCTORS AND NURSES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THEY ARE OUR GENERAL PRACTICES, OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS, AGED RESIDENTIAL CARE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. IT IS ALSO OUR PUBLIC SERVICES, ARE VACCINATION PROGRAMS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO WORK OUT WHERE IS THE OVERSPENDING COMING FROM AND THEN TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. TO CHANGE, AS WE UNDERSTAND, AS REQUIRED, BUT DO YOU THINK CHANGES ARE THE RIGHT ONES? TIME WILL TELL. IT IS A TALL ORDER THAT PROF LEVY HAS BEEN GIVEN. IT IS A TOUGH TASK, ONE THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEAN ON SO. IT IS NOT A JOB AT ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN DO. I HEARD HIM SAY YESTERDAY, THIS IS WHERE I PROBABLY DISAGREE, HE SAID THAT IT IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE OVERSPEND. THE DECISIONS TAKEN NOW WILL EFFECTS THE SYSTEM AND EFFECTOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOUGHTFUL ACTION. YOU DO NOT THINK THAT FOCUSING ON THE MONEY IS THE KEY. WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN THROUGH A SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTIVE CHANGE, BRINGING THROUGH ALL THOSE DISTRICT HEALTH BOARDS. THAT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE HEALTH NEW ZEALAND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, AND THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF MAORI WARDS. THE STARTING POINT IN MY MIND NEEDS TO BE THE STAFF. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE VALUED AND THEIR WORKERS VALUED. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FRONTLINE STAFF, BUT THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES, THE SO-CALLED BACK-OFFICE DOING REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. IT IS NOT JUST THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE, THEY WOULD NOT GET VERY FAR UNLESS YOU HAD THOSE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PEOPLE DOING THEIR JOBS WELL. HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT THOSE STAFF WHO ARE UNDER THE PUMP AT THE MINUTES? I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEM, PARTICULARLY IN PRIMARY CARE AND GENERAL PRACTICE THAT I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT. THE ISSUE OF STAFF SHORTAGES TENDS TO BE A FAIRLY BLAND DEBATE. THE ISSUE WAS NOT, ARE THE STAFF SHORTAGES, BUT WHICH PART OF THE SYSTEMS ARE PEOPLE BEING OVERWORKED? BUT THE RESOURCES THERE. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE VACANCIES AS PEOPLE COME AND GO, AND RESEAL THOSE POP UP IN THE NEW STORIES. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE STAFF IN THE SYSTEM ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACES? THE BIGGER STAFFING GAPS ARE SOMETIMES IN PRIMARY CARE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT STAFF AND STAFF WELL-BEING. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT THEY FEEL VALUED AND THAT THEIR WORK, WHATEVER ROLE THEY ARE IN, IS VALUED. AS WE LOOK AT THIS OVERHAUL, TO BE RISK LOSING KEY ITEMS LIKE THE DUNEDIN PROJECT WOULD HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER REVIEW? YOU LOOK AT ALL YOUR BIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, NOT JUST IN BUILDINGS, BUT ONE OF THE TRICKS HERE IS AT THE SAME TIME AS TRYING TO CUT COSTS, THERE IS A NEED TO INVEST IN CERTAIN AREAS. ONE OF THE AREAS THEY NEED IS INVESTMENT AS DATA AND DIGITAL SYSTEMS. THAT WILL BE THE SYSTEMS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED TO INVEST IN PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE, AND ALSO NEED TO KEEP INVESTING IN THE FACILITIES, BOTH WITH CLINICAL EQUIPMENT AND HOSPITALS. IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE NEED IN HOSPITALS AND OTHER HOSPITAL BILLS ARE ON THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY. THAT WILL ALSO NEED TO BE DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF THINKING THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE BEING BUILT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, NOT THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT? CAN IT'S BE DONE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE 12 MONTHS. DESPITE THE FIVE, 10, 20 YEARS OUT. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO NOT MAKE PRECIPITOUS DECISIONS THAT IMPACT SERVICE DELIVERY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND CRITTER WORKPLACE WHERE IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR STAFF TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY COME TO DO EVERY DAY AND LOVE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD WORKING HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AS WE ALL KNOW. I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE LOVED SEEING YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` PAUL GOLDSMITH TOLD OFFICIALS TO TAKE TE REO OUT OF A MATARIKI INVITE. WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS MAKES OF IT. (PUORO PLAYS) HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. ITS BEEN REVEALED THAT MINISTER FOR ARTS CULTURE AND HERITAGE PAUL GOLDSMITH REMOVED TE REO GREETINGS FROM MATARIKI INVITATIONS. IN DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY 1NEWS GOLDSMITH ADVISED THAT 'TENA KOE' BECAME 'DEAR', WHILE SIGN-OFF 'NAKU NOA, NA' BECAME 'YOURS SINCERELY'. HE SAID THAT AS IT WAS ADDRESSED TO AN AUSTRALIAN POLITICIAN. THEY DIDN'T NEED THE GREETING. LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS JOINS ME FOR MORE THIS MORNING. MORENA KI A KOE. MORENA. MINISTER GOLDSMITH IS DISMISSING THE ISSUE, AND TO QUOTE HIM, IT'S NOT THE SCANDAL OF THE CENTURY. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? I THINK HE HAS MISSED THE POINT OF THE HOLIDAY. MATARIKI IS ABOUT CELEBRATING MAORI CULTURE AND IDENTITY. IS A BIT DISAPPOINTING, AS SOMEONE WHO IS MINISTER FOR CULTURE AND HERITAGE, HE SHOULD BE HAD TO PROMOTE THE SORT OF THING RATHER THAN DISPARAGE IT. NOT ONLY IS HE A MINISTER FOR THAT BUT HE IS THE TREATY NEGOTIATIONS MINISTER, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT HIS ROLE? I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE WORKING IN JACINDA'S GOVERNMENT AS A MINISTER AND IN THE CLERK'S GOVERNMENT AS AN ADVISOR THAT SECURING TREATY SETTLEMENTS RELIES A LOT ON GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND THIS GOVERNMENT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING IN THAT AREA. AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRAVEL TO ADVANCE MUCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE PAUL GOLDSMITH WHITEWASHING THINGS. CAN WE MOVE ON TO HEALTH, BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT IS PLAGUING OUR HEALTH SYSTEM AT THE MOMENT ` THREE WEEKS AND, OUR NEW COMMISSIONER HAS TOLD RNZ THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THAN HE THOUGHT. DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU? THEY SHOULD BE MORE UPFRONT RATHER THAN ALL THIS HYPERBOLE WE ARE SEEING. RETI, LUXON ` THEY ALL SAY DIFFERENT THINGS AND CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER. THEY ARE SAYING, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY CAN'T ROLL OUT THE NEW CANCER DRUG WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE, EARLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS STAFF, THEN RETI SAID YESTERDAY THAT THEY HAVE TOO MANY STAFF, SO WHAT IS IT? THEY DON'T HAVE DATA TO BACK UP THE SWEEPING ASSERTIONS THEY'RE MAKING. THE PRIZE YOU THAT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IS WORSE THAN HE THOUGHT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT TE WHATU ORA WAS LEAKING MILLIONS A MONTH? IS IT A SURPRISE ABOUT THE FINANCES ARE WORSE THAN HE INITIALLY THOUGHT? SUDDENLY, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT IS GONE FROM THE SURPLUS TO PUTTING A DEFICIT. HAS EARLY COMMENTS ABOUT RECRUITING MORE NURSES AND DEALING AROUND PAY EQUITY, IF IT IS NO LONGER THE CASE, THEY NEED TO BE A BIT MORE UPFRONT ABOUT IT. I THINK SWEEPING STATEMENTS LIKE THAT WITHOUT ANY FACTUAL EVIDENCE TO BACK THEM UP DOESN'T HELP THE ZEALAND IS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE ONE LITTLE BIT. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HEARD THE INTERVIEW, BUT WE HAD THE ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD ` HE WAS SURPRISED BY THE STATEMENTS SAYING IT IS A SPRINT, NOT A MARATHON. DOES THIS SPRINT MENTALITY LEND TO MORE MISTAKES? THE GOVERNMENT IS GOVERNING BY SLOGAN RATHER THAN THE FACTS AND EVIDENCE. THAT MAKING VERY SWEEPING ASSERTIONS AND USING THAT TO JUSTIFY SWEEPING CHANGES, AND THEN WE FIND OUT THAT THOSE SWEEPING ASSERTIONS WEREN'T EVEN TRUE. I THINK THIS GOVERNMENT ARE MORE INTERESTED IN WET MANUFACTURING CRISES TO JUSTIFY SWEEPING CUTS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BALANCE THE BOOKS. IS ABOUT CUTS TO SERVICES ARE NOT IMPROVING SERVICES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE GIVEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF TAX CUTS THAT THE COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD, AND NOW THEY ARE CUTTING PUBLIC SERVICES RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRE TO PAY FOR IT. WE STILL HAVE STAFF SHORTAGES ` IT DOESN'T QUITE GO TOGETHER. AGAIN, THERE ARE SO MANY CONTRADICTIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT HERE ` SAY THEY ARE RECRUITING EXTRA DOCTORS AND NURSES, THEN SAYING THEY HAD A BUDGET BLOWOUT BECAUSE THEY HIRED TOO MANY. SO WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THE NEED TO BE MORE UPFRONT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. IF RECRUITING STAFF IS BLOWING OUT THE BUDGET, THEN BOASTING ABOUT RECRUITING MORE STAFF SEEMS TO BE CONTRADICTORY. LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS JOINING US THIS MORNING, TENA KOE. TENA KOE. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, SHE'S ONE OF OUR GREATEST OLYMPIANS. NOW BARBARA KENDALL HAS BEEN RECOGNISED IN A PRETTY SPECIAL WAY. SHE'LL TELL US MORE SHORTLY. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. LOTS OF FEEDBACK. LOTS OF FEEDBACK ON CHRISTOPHER LUXON, THE PRIME MINISTER, SAYING YESTERDAY TO JENNY-MAY THAT TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW MATHS PROGRAM, IT WOULD BE ARTS AND MUSIC THAT WOULD LOSE OUT. KAREN ` I THINK THE STUDENTS WILL BE DISENGAGING IF THAT IS ALL THERE IS IN THE CURRICULUM. DIVERSITY HELPS TO KEEP THEM FOCUSED. FRANCIS ` MUSIC AND ARTS ARE SIGNS OF A CIVILISED COMMUNITY. DOES THE PRIME MINISTER KNOW THAT IS ESSENTIAL? MANY OF YOU ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT GETTING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL. GOOD LUCK IF THE FOCUS IS ENTIRELY ON A MATHS. ON THE PERCEIVED HARD STUFF. AND THAT MUSIC ITSELF, AND WHAT IT OFFERS FOR CHILDREN, THEY MIGHT NOT CONNECT WITH MATHS, BUT THEY CAN CONNECT WITH MUSIC, AND THAT IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING OUR CHILDREN'S ATTENTION. QUALITY, AUTHENTIC AND MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION IS KEY. WE ARE OUT FLYING BALLOON ROCKETS TODAY, LOOKING AT MATHS, DESIGN AND SCIENCE. THE STUDENTS HAD LOTS OF FUN. THEY ARE LEARNING AND COLLABORATION. ON THE FLIPSIDE, OUR YEAR EIGHT STUDENTS ARE SITTING AT 28%. IS RUSHING THROUGH A CURRICULUM FOR NEXT YEAR THE ANSWER? SUBJECTS LIKE MUSIC AND ARTS WILL NEED TO GO BY THE WAYSIDE, BUT THEY ARE STILL BEING OFFERED, BUT THE FOCUSED WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE ON THOSE SUBJECTS. IT'S 7.30. HERE'S INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. NEW ZEALAND'S WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT CYCLISTS HAVE PUT THEMSELVES IN MEDAL CONTENTION ON DAY 10 OF THE PARIS OLYMPICS. THE KIWI QUARTET POSTED THE FASTEST TIME IN QUALIFYING, SETTING A NATIONAL RECORD. THEY'LL RIDE OFF FOR A PLACE IN THE GOLD MEDAL RACE AGAINST ITALY LATER TONIGHT, WHOSE QUALIFYING TIME WAS NEARLY THREE SECONDS SLOWER. NOT AS GOOD NEWS FOR THE MEN'S TEAM, NOT AS GOOD NEWS FOR THE MEN'S TEAM. THEY COULD ONLY MANAGE THE SIXTH-FASTEST TIME IN QUALIFYING AND WILL RIDE OFF FOR FIFTH. NEW ZEALAND'S FEMALE PADDLERS HAVE IMPRESSED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CANOE SPRINT EVENTS IN PARIS. THE K4 TEAM, FEATURING DAME LISA CARRINGTON, COMFORTABLY WON ITS HEAT, AS DID THE K2 DUO OF CARRINGTON AND ALICIA HOSKIN TO MOVE INTO THE FINALS. MEANWHILE, AIMEE FISHER AND LUCY MATEHAERE COULDN'T ADVANCE, ANY FURTHER IN THEIR K2 HEAT, MISSING OUT ON THE FINALS. AND KIWI SPEED CLIMBER JULIAN DAVID IS THROUGH TO THE QUARTER FINALS AFTER STUNNING A FORMER WORLD CHAMPION IN THE HEATS. REALLY GOOD TIME IT WAS FROM JULIAN DAVID. AND HE'S GONE NECK-AND-NECK RIGHT NOW WITH REZA ALIPOUR, AND IT IS 5.20 ` JULIAN DAVID WITH A PB QUALIFIES. DAVID WILL CLIMB AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT. THE FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH BELIEVES TE WHATU ORA'S SPENDING CUTS WILL AFFECT FRONT LINE SERVICES. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND OVERSPENT $1.4B OVER ONE YEAR, WHILE BATTLING WITH DOCTOR SHORTAGES, LONG WAIT TIMES AND REGIONAL INEQUITIES. THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLACED THE BOARD WITH A A COMMISSIONER, TASKED WITH SAVING $130 MILLION MONTHLY. SIR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD SAYS THE FOCUS FOR CUTS NEEDS TO SHIFT AWAY FROM STAFF. THE STAFF ` THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEIR WORK IS VALUED, AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SO-CALLED FRONT LINE STAFF, BUT THOSE WHO ARE BEHIND THE SCENES ` SO-CALLED BACK OFFICE ` DOING REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. HAVING BEEN A DHB CHIEF EXECUTIVE MYSELF, IT IS ACTUALLY A WHOLE TEAM EFFORT. IT IS NOT JUST THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE. THEY WOULDN'T GET VERY FAR, UNLESS YOU HAD ALL THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE DOING THEIR JOB AS WELL. BREAKFAST ASKED NEW HEALTH COMMISSIONER LESTER LEVY FOR AN INTERVIEWM, BUT HE DECLINED. BULLYING, EMOTIONAL DAMAGE AND AN OUTDATED COMPLAINTS SYSTEM NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE HAVE LEFT ELDERLY NEW ZEALANDERS FEELING UNSAFE INSIDE OUR RETIREMENT HOMES. A CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN LAUNCHED, URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO OVERHAUL THE RETIREMENT VILLAGES ACT. RETIRED LAWYER SUE ENGLAND TOLD BREAKFAST SHE FELT INTIMIDATED IN HER PREVIOUS VILLAGE. I WAS LUCKY I WAS IN A POSITION TO BORROW SOME MONEY UNTIL I COULD GET THE MONEY FROM MY VILLA. AND` BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, MY MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERED AS WELL AS MY FINANCIAL SITUATION. AND I'M JUST PLEASED THAT I DID MANAGE TO GET OUT. THE RETIREMENT VILLAGE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION IS CALLING FOR A COMMISSIONER TO OVERSEE COMPLAINTS MADE BY RETIREES. TO OTHER NEWS NOW, AND U.S. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS PICKED MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE IN HER BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. HARRIS SAID SHE WAS PROUD TO WELCOME WALZ TO THE TEAM AHEAD OF A RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA LATER TODAY. WALZ SAYS IT'S THE HONOUR OF A LIFETIME TO BE SELECTED. THE VICE PRESIDENT FORMALLY SECURED THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION YESTERDAY. THE PAIR ARE SET TO TOUR CRUCIAL BATTLEGROUND STATES IN COMING DAYS. ITALIAN SCIENTISTS SAY ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST GLACIERS IS RAPIDLY SHRINKING IN THE SUMMER HEAT. THE DEI FORNI GLACIER IN THE LOMBARDY REGION HAS A CURRENT MELT RATE OF 4cm TO 8cm A DAY, DESPITE HEAVY SNOWFALL IN RECENT MONTHS. EXPERTS SAY THE MELT IS A RESULT OF HUMAN MADE CLIMATE CHANGE. THE LARGEST EVER CORAL BLEACHING EVENT OF ITS KIND HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN FIORDLAND. NEW RESEARCH FROM VICTORIA UNIVERSITY IN WELLINGTON HAS FOUND MORE THAN 50 MILLION SEA SPONGES OFF THE COAST IN FIORDLAND WERE AFFECTED BY A MASS BLEACHING EVENT. RESEARCHERS BELIEVE A HEATWAVE IN 2022 SAW WATER TEMPERATURES CLIMB TO ABOVE AVERAGE LEVELS IN THE AREA FOR CLOSE TO 300 DAYS. THE DEATH SIDE OF THE SPONGES IS OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY CONCERNING, AND I GUESS QUITE A WORRY GIVEN THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THIS SPONGE. BUT THE SORT OF REALLY INTERESTING THING THAT WE FOUND IS THAT SOME DID SURVIVE, LOTS DID SURVIVE, AND THOSE ONES THAT SURVIVED HAD CHANGED. AND THEY CHANGED IN A WAY THAT MAY PROVIDE THEM SOME BENEFITS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH MARINE HEATWAVES BETTER IN THE FUTURE. IT'S ESTIMATED THE MASS BLEACHING EVENT CUT THE REGION'S SEA SPONGE POPULATION BY ALMOST HALF. AND FINALLY, A SECOND ARTWORK BY STREET ARTIST BANKSY HAS BEEN UNVEILED IN LONDON IN AS MANY DAYS. THE LATEST PIECE DEPICTS TWO ELEPHANTS POKING THEIR HEADS OUT OF WINDOWS IN THE SUBURB OF CHELSEA. IT POPPED UP JUST A DAY AFTER A GOAT APPEARED ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. THE ARTWORKS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AS AUTHENTIC ON THE ELUSIVE STREET ARTIST'S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` ITS LOOKING LIKE A LOVELY DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE FOR ALL OF YOU. FURTHER SOUTH ` BIT OF MORNING FOG IN HAMILTON. OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A MOSTLY FINE DAY FOR THE REGION. 13 DEGREES FOR ROTORUA. TO THE EAST COAST ` ANOTHER SUNNY DAY TODAY. CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` FOGGY START FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN TOO, OTHERWISE ITS BLUES SKIES ELSEWHERE. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN TOO, OTHERWISE IT'S BLUES SKIES ELSEWHERE. 17 THE HIGH FOR WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BIT OF A MIXED BAG. MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ON THE EAST COAST. HOWEVER, ON THE WEST, IT'S LOOKING A BIT MORE GREY WITH SOME SHOWERS IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. HEADING SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR THROUGH HERE. HOWEVER, MOST OF YOU WILL BE GETTING SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH AFTER MIDDAY. 15 THE HIGH IN ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` SOME SHOWERS TODAY IN MILFORD SOUND AND OBAN. ELSEWHERE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. 15 THE HIGH FOR OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN. THANKS, INDIRA. SHE WAS THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER TO WIN GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE AT THE OLYMPICS. NOW FORMER BROADSAILOR BARBARA KENDALL HAS RECEIVED A NEW HONOUR THIS WEEK. SHE'S WITH GUY HEVELDT THIS MORNING. MORENA. AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND OF NEW ZEALAND SPORT. FIVE-TIME OLYMPIAN, FIVE-TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION. YOU ARE OFFICIALLY, I THINK EVERYONE WHO COMPETES AT THE OLYMPICS AS AN OLYMPIAN FOR LIFE, BUT YOU ARE OFFICIALLY ONE FOR LIFE. CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT IS THIS ACCOLADE? THIS IS WHERE THEY AWARDED FIVE OLYMPIANS EVERY OLYMPIC GAMES THAT HAVE MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT AND THE OLYMPIC VALUES. MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE OUTSIDE OF THIS BOOK, THOUGH NOT JUST AS AN ATHLETE, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN AN ATHLETE. I RECEIVED ONE FOR ALL THE WORK I HAVE DONE AS BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR ATHLETES. THAT IS A PRETTY AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT TO GO WITH EVERYTHING YOU ACHIEVED ON THE WATER. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE EMOTION OF STANDING UP AND GETTING A MEDAL PUT AROUND YOUR NECK? NOTHING BEATS WINNING A GOLD METAL, THAT IS FOR SURE. BUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS NOT BECAUSE I WAS AN ATHLETE; IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CONTRIBUTION YOU MAKE. YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER AND EMPOWERING ATHLETES ARE MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE ATHLETES COMING THROUGH IN LEADERSHIP OR WHATEVER ROLES IT IS. I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 15, 18 YEARS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS A VOLUNTEER, AND MADE SOME REALLY BIG CHANGES WITHIN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT FOR ATHLETES. YOU ARE BEING INDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS JESSE OWENS, A BIT OF A LEGEND WHEN IT COMES TO THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT. HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT FOR YOU? IT IS WEIRD. HE IS REALLY A LEGEND. HE WAS A REAL TRAILBLAZER SETTING UP FOR DIFFERENT COLOURED PEOPLE'S SKIN. AND I HAVE BEEN STANDING UP FOR ATHLETES. SO MAYBE IN 50 YEARS, I WILL BE A REAL LEGEND. BUT IT WAS PRETTY COOL BEING INDUCTED WITH PEOPLE LIKE THAT, ABSOLUTELY. IT IS HUMBLING, ACTUALLY. YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND. YOU HAVE GOT THESE AMAZING PINS ON YOUR LAPEL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THESE BEFORE, BUT THE STORY IS AMAZING. I DO NOT THINK MANY PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. WHEN YOU WIN AN OLYMPIC MEDAL, YOU GET A PIN TO GO WITH IT, AND EVERY ATHLETE THAT COMPETES IN THE GAMES, YOU GET ANOTHER ONE IF YOU GET A MEDAL. THESE ARE FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT MEDALS. INSTEAD OF WEARING THE MEDALS AROUND YOUR NECK, YOU CAN WEAR THEM ON YOUR LAPEL. AIR NEW ZEALAND IS A VERY HUMBLE, SO THEY DO NOT WEAR THESE TYPES OF THINGS. I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT ` I WILL WEAR IT AND SHOW THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY GOT IT. IT IS SORT OF A TRADITION AND SHOWS YOUR HISTORY AS AN OLYMPIAN. LET'S HOPE THIS STARTS THE TRADITION. WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF THESE GAMES SO FAR? AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IN THE SECOND WEEK? I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN TAHITI WITH THE SURFING. NICE. A VERY DISAPPOINTING PLACE TO GO (!) I HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED AND GETTING SURFING INTO THE OLYMPICS GAMES AND AT THE ATHLETES VOICE, SO IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THESE SURFERS SURF ON THE BEST WAVE IN THE WORLD. I ARRIVED IN PARIS LAST NIGHT TO GET THIS AWARD, AND I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER FOR THIS OLYMPIC GAMES. KUDOS TO THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THIS GAMES AND THE FANS AND THE PEOPLE AND THE 45,000 VOLUNTEERS AND THEY ARE ALL SO NICE. IT HAS BEEN AMAZING. I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR 24 HOURS, AND IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. WELL, YOU ARE VERY NICE AS WELL, AND AN AMAZING ATHLETE AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE. A PLEASURE. SO GOOD. 'YOU ARE VERY NICE TOO.' ME U TONU MAI ` THIS IS A WARNING TO CHECK YOUR HEATER. YES. WHY SOME OF THEM MIGHT POSE A FIRE RISK. WE'LL FIND OUT MORE NEXT. STAY WITH US. VOICEOVER: New Weet-Bix Bites Coco Crunch with protein, fiber... hey! Whole grains. What are you doing? and choc... chocolatey, chocolatey choc pieces. (CLEARS THROAT) New Weet-Bix Bites Coco Crunch Choc... (CRUNCH SOUND) Choc Full of Goodness. VOICEOVER: Hello person not watching this ad? Yup, you on your mobile. Hey, did you know you could be ignoring this TV ad for less? How much less? 50% less. Get the skinny! SONG: # Happy happy happy aaaah! # (UPBEAT MUSIC) THE WOMEN'S 200m FINAL HAS JUST FINISHED. LET'S GO BACK TO CHRIS WHO'S AT JAMAICA HOUSE. WHO HAS WON, CHANGY? GABBY THOMAS FROM AMERICA WON QUITE COMFORTABLY. IT IS JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. THERE ARE NO JAMAICANS IN THIS FINAL, THOUGH. SHELLEY AND FRASER PRICE WAS IN THE 100 M, BUT THEY COULD CELEBRATE ALFRED, WHO WON THE 100 M THE OTHER DAY. THEY COULD NOT CELEBRATE ANY OF THEIR OWN, BUT THEY COULD AT LEAST CELEBRATE A SILVER MEDAL FOR ALFRED. GOLD AND BRONZE FOR AMERICA. A SILVER FOR ST LUCIA. JAMAICA ARE GOING TO CLAIM IT TODAY, BECAUSE IT IS THE INDEPENDENCE DAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, CHANGY. I LOVE IT ON A LITTLE BIT OF A DOWN DAY FOR THAT, HE HAS DECIDED TO TAKE HIMSELF OFF TO JAMAICA HOUSE. WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE NEAR THE BARBECUE, YOU START TO GET A BIT WOOZY. AND IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE BARBECUE. (LAUGHTER) IF THE HEATER WE'RE ABOUT TO BRING UP ON SCREEN LOOKS FAMILIAR TO YOU, GET RID OF IT NOW. UNDER A WORKSAFE DIRECTIVE IT'S NOW ILLEGAL TO TURN ON YOUR SERENE S2068 BATHROOM HEATER, BECAUSE OF A DEFECT WHICH HAS CAUSED AT LEAST 18 FIRES. 35,000 OF THEM HAVE BEEN SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND AND IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY ARE STILL OUT THERE. FOR MORE, MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS SPECIALIST IAN CAPLIN JOINS US. MORENA. HOW ARE YOU? VERY WELL, THANK YOU. 18 FIRES TO DO WITH THIS HEATER. 35,000 SOLD AS WE HAVE JUST HEARD. THAT IS PRETTY WORRYING. THAT IS 18 FIRES TOO MANY. WORKS THAT HAVE PROHIBITED THESE. IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO SELL THEM AND A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO SWITCH THEM ON. IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSAFE. THEY COULD HARM PEOPLE. WE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY LUCKY SO FAR. IF YOU HAVE GOT ONE, THE FIRST THING TO DO IS CHECK YOUR BATHROOM. IF IT IS ONE OF THESE, GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SUPPLIER. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU RENT OR OWN A PROPERTY, GET IN TOUCH WITH THE LANDLORD, AND THEY CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SUPPLIER, AND I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO THE SUPPLIERS WHO HAVE HELPED WITH A BIG RECALL OF THIS PRODUCT UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. BUT THERE IS MORE STILL TO COME. THE SUPPLIERS CAN THEN REFUND OR GIVE AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PERSON WHO HAS GOT THE HEATER CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THEM. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY ARE STILL OUT THERE? OR HOW MANY HAVE BEEN RETURNED? IT IS NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD TO GET TO THAT NUMBER. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT. THE REGAL PROCESS IS ACTUALLY EFFECTIVELY A BROADCAST WHICH IS REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW, SO THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC TRACKING THAT GOES WITH IT. WE THINK WE HAVE GOT APPROXIMATELY THREE AND A HIGH THOUSAND BACK. IT IS STILL REALLY IMPORTANT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AT THIS POINT IN THE WINTER, IT IS A HASSLE. IT IS A BATHROOM HEATER; SO WHAT? THIS ONE HAS A PARTICULAR DIFFERENCE. IT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. THEY MUST NOT BE SWITCHED ON. IT NEEDS TO BE SENT BACK. CAN I JUST SAY STRAIGHT AWAY, THAT THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. IN TERMS OF THE MECHANICAL FAULT, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT? WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE HAS DONE? THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS KIND OF REPORTS IN THE RANGE OF DAMAGE. SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN THE BATHROOM, IT IS IN AN AREA THAT IS WET AND IT IS AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE. SOMETIMES IT WILL EXPLODE AND PUT ITSELF OUT. NO ONE WANTS TO BE GAMBLING ON THAT HAPPENING ALL OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES THE DAMAGE IS MORE WIDESPREAD AND CAN DAMAGE THE REST OF THE PROPERTY. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT DAMAGE AND INJURY TO PEOPLE ` A SERIOUS INJURY TO PEOPLE. YOU MENTIONED THAT THE STOCKISTS OR THE SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. WORK IS ACTIVELY BEING DONE TO FIND THESE HEATERS? ABSOLUTELY. AND THE SUPPLIERS HAVE COOPERATED WITH MY AMP LAWYERS, THE MINISTRY, AND ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE HEATERS, A NUMBER OF THEM WERE REALLY TRYING TO COOPERATE TO GET THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES, GET THEM OUT OF WHERE THEY ARE WORKING, LIVING, AND WE HAVE HAD REPORTS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE AWARE OF THE MESSAGE WHO HAVE IGNORED THAT, AND I REALLY RESPECTFULLY URGE THEM NOT TO. THESE THINGS ARE UNSAFE. WORK SAFE DOES NOT JUST LIKE ABOUT AND PROHIBIT HEATERS WILLY-NILLY. THESE THINGS CAN CAUSE REAL DAMAGE AND REAL INJURY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. IF YOU HAVE GOT ONE, CALL THE STOCKIST OR SUPPLIER, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LANDLORD, GET RID OF IT. AND DO NOT SWITCH IT ON. E WHAI AKE NEI ` KAIPARA COULD BECOME THE FIRST COUNCIL TO SCRAP THEIR MAORI WARD. WE'RE LIVE IN THE TOWN AHEAD OF WHAT'S BEING DUBBED AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING THIS MORNING. (UPBEAT MUSIC) VOICEOVER: New Weet-Bix Bites Coco Crunch with protein, fiber... hey! Whole grains. What are you doing? and choc... chocolatey, chocolatey choc pieces. (CLEARS THROAT) New Weet-Bix Bites Coco Crunch Choc... (CRUNCH SOUND) Choc Full of Goodness. (MOWER ROARS) Ahh! Ohhh, yeah! (DYNAMIC MUSIC) VOICEOVER: See near and far with a complete pair of progressives from $169. Must've gone to Specsavers. THE FUTURE OF KAIPARA'S MAORI WARD IS LOOKING PRECARIOUS. THE COUNCIL'S EXPECTED TO CAN IT'S MAORI WARD AT A SHORT NOTICE MEETING TODAY, FOLLOWING NEWLY PASSED GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION. MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI IS IN KAIPARA. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT ACT BECAME LAW LAST WEEK. WHAT DOES THIS LEGISLATION ENTAIL? THE LEGISLATION IS QUITE COMPLEX, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT MEANS THAT ALMOST ALL COUNCILS THAT HAVE ADOPTED A WARD WITHOUT A REFERENDUM NOW HAVE TWO OPTIONS, THEY CAN EITHER DISESTABLISH THOSE WARDS, OR THEY CAN KEEP THEM BUT THEY WILL NEED TO GO TO A PUBLIC REFERENDUM AT THE NEXT LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. THE LEGISLATION ALSO REINSTATES THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO VETO ANY FUTURE DECISIONS ON THE WARDS BY FORCING A REFERENDUM THROUGH A PETITION. THAT IS AN ABILITY THAT THE FORMER LABOUR GOVERNMENT SCRAPPED WHEN IT WAS IN POWER. TODAY, THGE KAIPARA COUNCIL WILL BE DECIDING WHAT THEY DO. WHAT HAS THE MAYOR SAID? THE MAYOR HAS BEEN QUITE VOCAL ON HIS POSITION. HE WILL BE VOTING TO DISESTABLISH THE WARD, WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER SUPPORTED THEM OR SEEN VALUE IN THEM. HE DID NOT SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY WERE INTRODUCED BACK IN 2020 EITHER. AS FOR OTHER COUNSELLORS, WE SPOKE TO ONE WHO SAID SHE IS NOT FEELING VERY CONFIDENT THAT COUNSELLORS WILL VOTE FOR A PUBLIC REFERENDUM SHE THINKS THAT MOST WILL VOTE TO DISESTABLISH. THEY HAVE TO WAIT HOW THEIR DECISION WILL AFFECT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH MAORI CONSTITUENTS, LOCAL IWI, AND SOME COUNSELLORS WILL BE WEIGHING UP WHETHER IT IS WORTH THE COST OF A REFERENDUM. SOME WILL VOTE, AROUND THE COUNTRY, TO DISESTABLISH, EVEN IF THEY SUPPORT A WARD TO SAVE THE COST THAT WILL GO TOWARDS A REFERENDUM. THERE IS A LOT THERE WEIGHING UP. I IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PUSHBACK FROM LOCALS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS PLANNED AND TERMS OF PROTESTS? YES, THERE WILL BE PROTESTS. THE VOTE WILL START AT 9:30 AM, PROTESTERS ARE PLANNING TO MEET HER AT 9 AM. MANY OF THEM WILL BE MAORI, THERE OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE IWI COMING. THERE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK AT THE SWOT NATURE OF THIS VOTE. COUNCILS HAVE UNTIL 6 SEPTEMBER TO DO THIS PROCESS. IT IS ONLY EARLY AUGUST, AND THEY HAVE NOT GONE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO ASK HOW THEY SHOULD VOTE ON THIS ISSUE. THERE IS LOTS OF ANGER AND OUTRAGE AT THE WAY THEY HAVE GONE ABOUT THIS. AN IWI LEADER HAS TOLD MEDIA THAT THIS IS SHAMEFUL, UNETHICAL, AND A BREACH OF THE TREATY. ANOTHER HAS SAID THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE WARDS. THERE IS A LOT OF PASSION AND FEELING ABOUT THIS DECISION, WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING. WE WILL HAVE ALL THE UPDATES ON OUR WEBSITE, AND SEE YOUR REPORT ON THE 6 PM NEWS TONIGHT. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. NEW ZEALAND'S FEMALE TRACK CYCLING TEAM HAVE CONTINUED THEIR PACE INTO TODAY BUT IT WAS A TOUGH RIDE FOR OUR MEN'S TEAM. OLYMPICS REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT HAS BEEN AT THE TRACK THIS MORNING AND SENT THIS REPORT. WELL, THE WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT PICKED UP WHERE OUR WOMEN'S TEAM SPRINTERS LEFT OFF, QUALIFYING IN QUITE REMARKABLE FASHION TODAY ` THE TOP QUALIFIER CLOCKING SPEEDS OF AROUND 60km/h ON AVERAGE. THE QUARTETTE OF ALLY WOLLASTON, BRYONY BOTHA, EMILY SHEARMAN AND NICOLE SHIELDS ABSOLUTELY FLYING AROUND THE VELODROME TODAY, BREAKING A NEW NATIONAL RECORD FASTER BY MORE THAN FOUR SECONDS. IF THEY CAN DO THIS FOR ANOTHER ROUND TOMORROW, THEY'LL BE STRAIGHT INTO THAT GOLD MEDAL RACE. BUT FROM ECSTASY TO AGONY ` UNFORTUNATELY, OUR TEAM PURSUIT MEN HAVE MISSED OUT ON A BRONZE MEDAL BERTH. THE RACE FOR THIRD AND FOURTH, REALLY, IT CAME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT YESTERDAY IN QUALIFYING, THEY WEREN'T JUST ON THE PACE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIMES HERE ARE BLIMMIN' HOT, AND THEY COULDN'T QUITE REACH IT. TODAY THEY THREW THE ABSOLUTE KITCHEN SINK AT IT, AS AARON GATES SAID, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT JUST WASN'T TO BE. THE TIMES GOT FASTER, THE VELODROME WAS HOTTER, AND THEREFORE THE SPEEDS MUCH FASTER. BUT TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY HERE IN VERSAILLES. OUR SPRINTERS ARE AGAIN IN ACTION. WE'VE GOT OUR SOLE MALE SPRINTER SAM DAKIN LINING UP, AND THEN IN THE WOMEN'S KEIRIN, WE'VE GOT REBECCA PEACH AND ELLESSE ANDREWS. NOW, ELLESSE ANDREWS WON NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST EVER INDIVIDUAL WOMEN'S SPRINT WORLD TITLE LAST YEAR IN THIS DISCIPLINE, SO WE'RE EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM HER. AND, OF COURSE, TOMORROW WILL BE HEADLINED BY THIS WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT, WHO, TODAY, HAVE PUT THE ENTIRE FIELD ON NOTICE. NEW ZEALAND'S FEMALE PADDLERS HAVE IMPRESSED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CANOE SPRINT EVENTS IN PARIS. THE K4 TEAM, FEATURING DAME LISA CARRINGTON, COMFORTABLY WON ITS HEAT, AS DID THE K2 DUO OF CARRINGTON AND ALICIA HOSKIN, TO MOVE INTO THE FINALS. MEANWHILE AIMEE FISHER AND LUCY MATEHAERE COULDN'T ADVANCE ANY FURTHER IN THEIR K2 HEAT, MISSING OUT ON THE FINALS. FINN BUTCHER IS STILL CELEBRATING HIS GOLD IN THE KAYAK CROSS. GAMES REPORTER MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM THIS MORNING. WE'RE AT NEW ZEALAND HOUSE, WHERE FINN BUTCHER HAS JUST RECEIVED A HERO'S WELCOME AFTER THAT INCREDIBLE GOLD MEDAL IN THE CANOE KAYAK CROSS. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND 24 HOURS FOR THE NEW GOLD MEDALLIST. PRETTY AMAZED STILL. UM, YEAH, SLEEP DEPRIVED. (CHUCKLES) BUT PRETTY STOKED. HOW MUCH SLEEP HAVE YOU HAD? A COUPLE OF HOURS, MAYBE. YEAH. I JUST... I DIDN'T EVEN REALLY HAVE A BIG NIGHT LAST NIGHT. WE JUST, UM... WE WERE BUSY WITH MEDIA AND STUFF AND THEN GOT BACK TO THE VILLAGE LATE AND CAME HERE TO NEW ZEALAND HOUSE AND CAUGHT UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AND THEN, YEAH, JUST GETTING BACK TO THE VILLAGE, I JUST WAS WIRED, COULD NOT SLEEP AT ALL. IT WAS ALSO A CHANCE TO HONOUR LUUKA JONES FINISHING HER CAREER AFTER FIVE OLYMPIC GAMES. AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT FROM A KIWI ATHLETE. NEW ZEALAND IS WITHIN REACH OF ANOTHER SAILING MEDAL. THE MIXED MULTI-HULL PAIRING OF MICAH WILKINSON AND ERICA DAWSON HAVE FINISHED THE QUALIFYING SERIES IN FOURTH. WHILE ITALY ALREADY HAS THE GOLD SEWN UP, THREE BOATS INCLUDING THE KIWIS, WILL BATTLE FOR THE OTHER TWO SPOTS ON THE PODIUM IN THE MEDAL RACE. WE'RE IN THE PERFECT SPOT. WE'RE IN FOURTH PLACE. WE'RE TIED ON POINTS FOR THIRD. WE'VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE BEHIND US, SO IT'S ALL TO GAIN NOW, NOTHING TO LOSE, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA BE FLAT OUT TOMORROW, AND WHAT WILL BE WILL BE, BUT WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED. THAT MEDAL RACE TAKES PLACE OFF MARSEILLES TONIGHT. ON THE ATHLETICS TRACK, MAIA RAMSDEN IS THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE WOMEN'S 1500m. SHE FINISHED SIXTH IN HER HEAT TO PROGRESS TO FRIDAY MORNING'S SEMI. TO OTHER NEWS NOW, AND THE FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH IS CRITICISING THE 'QUICK FIX' APPROACH TO TE WHATU ORA'S BUDGET PROBLEMS, WARNING COST CUTTING COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND IS FACING AN ANNUAL OVERSPEND OF $1.4 BILLION WHILE TRYING TO REDUCE LONG PATIENT WAIT LISTS AND REGIONAL INEQUITIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS REPLACED THE BOARD WITH A COMMISSIONER, LESTER LEVY, TASKED WITH SAVING $130 MILLION A MONTH. HE SAYS IT'S A SPRINT TO GET TO THE SAVINGS TARGET, BUT SIR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD DISAGREES. IT'S NOT A MARATHON; IT'S A SPRINT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE OVERSPEND. ACTUALLY, IT IS A MARATHON. BECAUSE DECISIONS TAKEN NOW WILL AFFECT THE SYSTEM AND IMPACT OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR FIVE OR 10 YEARS, SO IT IS A TIME FOR REALLY CLEAR HEADS AND THOUGHTFUL ACTION. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BREAKFAST ASKED THE NEW HEALTH COMMISSIONER FOR AN INTERVIEW, AND HE DECLINED. KAMALA HARRIS'S SELECTION OF MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE HAS ALREADY DRAWN CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS. DONALD TRUMP'S OWN RUNNING MATE, JD VANCE, CALLED WALZ 'RADICAL' AND SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DEBATE HIM. MEANWHILE, JOE BIDEN HAS CALLED WALZ'S SELECTION A WIN FOR THE WORKING CLASS. THE PAIR WILL APPEAR TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA LATER TODAY. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S LOOKING LIKE A LOVELY DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH ACROSS THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` BIT OF MORNING FOG IN HAMILTON. OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A MOSTLY FINE DAY FOR THE REGION. 15 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. TO THE EAST COAST ` ANOTHER SUNNY DAY TODAY. CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` FOGGY START FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN TOO, OTHERWISE IT'S BLUES SKIES ELSEWHERE. 17 THE HIGH FOR WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BIT OF A MIXED BAG. MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ON THE EAST COAST. HOWEVER, ON THE WEST, IT'S LOOKING A BIT MORE GREY WITH SOME SHOWERS IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. A HIGH OF 15 FOR BLENHEIM. HEADING SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR THROUGH HERE. HOWEVER, MOST OF YOU WILL BE GETTING SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH AFTER MIDDAY. 15 THE HIGH IN ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` SOME SHOWERS TODAY IN MILFORD SOUND AND OBAN. ELSEWHERE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. 15 THE HIGH FOR OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN. THE PARTY HAS BEEN GOING LONG AT JAMAICA HOUSE. CHRIS CHANG HAS BEEN CATCHING UP WITH THE LOCALS AFTER THAT 200m FINAL. MORENA, CHANGY. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR THE BASIC COMING THROUGH, NIGHTCLUB VIBES HERE IN JAMAICA HOUSE. IT IS ALSO DINNERTIME. THEY DID NOT HAVE AN ATHLETE IN THE FINAL, SO THEY HAD TO GET BEHIND THE WINNER OF THE 100 M, AND WE WERE HERE AS THEY WERE CHEERING HER ON. THOMAS WON GOLD. AND AMERICA ALSO GOT THE BRONZE. THAT JAMAICANS FEEL ROBBED A BIT HERE, BECAUSE THEIR SPRINTERS WERE INJURED HERE AND BEFORE THE OLYMPICS. BUT AT LEAST THEY COULD GET BEHIND THEIR CARIBBEAN NEIGHBOUR. WE HAVE ALSO CAUGHT UP WITH DAVID LITI. KNOWN FOR HIS BIG HEART AND BIG PERSONALITY, DAVID LITI'S BROUGHT HIS CHEEKY SPIRIT TO THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE. I THINK I'VE MANAGED TO, LIKE, CONVINCE, LIKE, TWO PEOPLE THAT I'M A SPRINTER. (CHUCKLES) AND DO YOU` WHAT ABOUT TINA? DO YOU TELL THEM THAT TINA IS HERE FOR A SPORT AS WELL? YEAH, I TELL THEM THAT SHE'S HERE FOR, LIKE, THE... AS THE OLDEST ATHLETE IN THE VILLAGE. (LAUGHS) THERE'S AN UNDENIABLE BOND BETWEEN COACH TINA BELL AND THE TWO-TIME COMMONWEALTH MEDALLIST. I THINK IT JUST NATURALLY BUILDS ON ITSELF. WE DON'T GO, OK, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THIS SPECIAL? IT HELPS WHEN, LIKE, YOUR GOAL IS THE SAME THING. THAT GOAL ` GOLD. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, TRAINING WITH TOP BRITISH WEIGHTLIFTER EMILY CAMPBELL. I DID NOT REALISE IT WAS THE FULL GB TEAM, AND, UH, IT WAS JUST` IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO BE A PART OF, AND IT'S MADE OUR TRANSITION FROM NEW ZEALAND HERE AND TO THE VILLAGE REALLY SMOOTH. LITI SAW OFF SOME TOUGH COMPETITION TO QUALIFY. VICTORY AT THE OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIP, WHERE HE LIFTED JUST 1kg OFF HIS PERSONAL BEST. THE DUO HOPING FOR A PODIUM SPOT AFTER FINISHING JUST SHORT IN THE TOKYO GAMES. HE'S NOT SCARED OF WORTHY OPPONENTS, AND IN THAT GIVES US ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE. I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND, LIKE, A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SHE SAID THAT NOBODY OWNS WINNING, SO WHY NOT? IT WOULD BE A BIG WIN TO MATCH AN ALREADY WINNING PERSONALITY. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, PARIS. GOT TO LOVE HIM AND HIS COACH. WE ARE GOING TO GET SOME DINNER. WHAT WAS ON THE BARBECUE, IT WAS NOT JUST JERK CHICKEN, TURNS OUT THERE ARE ALSO RIBS AND FRIED CHICKEN. SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO RIP INTO IT. YOU WOULD LOVE IT. SO GOOD. INDEPENDENCE DAY AND JAMAICA WHICH IS WHY HE IS THERE. GO DAVID! ME U TONU MAI ` TOO MANY OF GISBORNE'S PLACES ARE SITTING EMPTY. WHY THE MAYOR SAYS THESE BAD BUILDINGS ARE GIVING BAD VIBES. IN GISBORNE'S CITY CENTRE, A DOZEN DERELICT BUILDINGS SIT EMPTY, PLAGUING THE CITY WITH WHAT THE MAYOR CALLS BAD VIBES. POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM, MAYOR REHETTE STOLTZ IS CALLING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE STRONGER LAWS TO TACKLE OWNERS OF SUCH BUILDINGS. SHE JOINS US NOW FOR MORE. WHAT IS GOING ON? AT THIS STAGE EVERY CITY ACROSS NEW ZEALAND HAS A VACANT DERELICT BUILDINGS, BUT WE HAVE NO ENABLING TOLLS FOR US TO ASK THOSE OWNERS TO KEEP THE BUILDINGS AT CERTAIN STANDARDS. COUNCILS CAN ONLY STEP AND ONCE BUILDINGS ARE UNSANITARY OR DANGEROUS. WE HAVE THESE VACANT BUILDINGS SITTING HERE DETERIORATING, WE WANT TO CREATE A VIBRANT CBD BUT WE HAVE NO TOOLS TO ADDRESS THAT. WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THE PICTURES, AND ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS HOSTED THE QUEEN AND 1954. THE MASONIC HOTEL IS NOT LOOKING SO GOOD NOW. THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS AND TOWN BUT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT NEED URGENT ATTENTION. THE COUNCIL CAN NOT STEP IN. WE HAVE NO POWER TO ASK THOSE OWNERS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING OF THE GOVERNMENT, PLEASE HELP US. IT IS NOT ONLY ASK, I ALSO ENTERED A REMIT TO ALL COUNCILS AND IT IS USUALLY SUPPORTED. I AM CATCHING UP WITH THOSE PEOPLE ON FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THIS. YOU HAVE LOADS TO ADDRESS, AND USE IT AND A LOT OF TOWNS IN NEW ZEALAND. BACK TO THE MASONIC HOTEL, THAT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT IS TIED UP IN A POLICE CASE AS I UNDERSTAND? WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE BUILDINGS CAUGHT UP IN THIS A VERY, VERY COMPLEX LEGAL CONSTRUCT WITH THE POLICE AND THE ABSENT OWNERS. WE ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. WE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND THE PERSON THAT WE CAN TALK TO ABOUT THIS BUILDING, SO IT IS NOT ONLY THE LEGISLATION AND IS ALSO OTHER COMPLEX ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE WE CAN MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. THE BUILDING ACT DOES NOT HELP HERE, DOES IT? THE ACT ONLY HELPS ONCE A BUILDING IS TOO DANGEROUS OR UNSANITARY, AT WHAT POINT IT IS TOO LATE. I IMAGINE THAT THE EFFECT IT HAS IS NOT GREAT FOR A CITY CENTRE OR TOWN CENTRE, IS IT? WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVITALISING OUR CBD. THE LAST TIME WE DID WAS THE MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS. IT IS A HUGE PIECE OF WORK BUT WE CANNOT DO IT AT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HELP US TO ADDRESS THESE EYE SORES, SO PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO A VIBRANT CBD. WHILE THEY SET VACANT THERE IS NO ECONOMIC ACTIVITY HAPPENING THERE EITHER. YOU HAVE CALLED FOR A LAW CHANGE? WE HAVE ASKED FOR ENABLING TOLLS. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT IS TO GIVE US EASY ROLES, AND WE HAVE SUPPLIED THEM WITH EXAMPLES FROM THE UK AND IRELAND, TO GIVE COUNCILS THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE EXPECT THESE BASIC STANDARDS AND YOU MUST HOLD YOUR BUILDING TO THESE BASIC STANDARDS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RULES OVERSEAS THAT YOU THINK WOULD WORK HERE? AND THE UK THEY HAVE VERY CLEAR ENABLING TOLLS WHERE THE COUNCIL CAN STEP IN AND SAY, AT THIS BUILDING IS VACANT YOU NEED TO KEEP IT UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD. THEY CAN CONFISCATE BUILDINGS, THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW ENABLING TOLLS THERE AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED ACROSS NEW ZEALAND, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING THE MINISTER TO LOOK AT THIS. WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM THIS WEEK, I ASSUME THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS YOU WILL TALK TO HIM ABOUT? YES, HE IS ALSO WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS A NEW ZEALAND ISSUE, NOT JUST GISBORNE. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, ELIJAH WOOD'S FILM AFFAIR WITH NEW ZEALAND CONTINUES. 'BOOKWORM' OPENS TOMORROW, AND WE'RE TALKING WITH HIS LOCAL CO-STAR, WHO'S ALSO SCORED ON ROLE ON 'STRANGER THINGS'. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK. WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU WERE 12 YEARS OLD? WELL, AT JUST 12, NELL FISHER CAN SAY SHE'S ACTED ALONGSIDE A HOLLYWOOD STAR. 'BOOKWORM' IS THE FAMILY COMEDY ADVENTURE FILM ENTIRELY SHOT IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, A STORY ABOUT AN ESTRANGED FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTER ON A MISSION TO FIND A MYTHOLOGICAL BEAST AMIDST A FAMILY CRISIS. DANIEL FAITAUA CAUGHT UP WITH THE YOUNG AND UPCOMING STAR AHEAD OF THE FILM'S RELEASE TOMORROW. I'M MILDRED, AND I'M COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A BOOKWORM. SHE'S YOUNG AND BRIGHT... STRAIGHT A'S ALL THE WAY. ...AND THE CENTREPIECE OF THE KIWI ADVENTURE COMEDY FILM 'BOOKWORM'. I'M BORDERLINE OBSESSED, TO TELL THE TRUTH. NOW, YOU PLAY MILDRED, A YOUNG, CONFIDENT, WITTY AND TENACIOUS GIRL. ARE THERE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN YOU AND HER? YES. YEAH. WE, UM` WE BOTH LOVE READING. BOTH AVID READERS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BOTH GOT QUITE AN ADVENTUROUS SIDE AS WELL. KIND OF LOVE GOING OUT AND HAVING FUN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. YOU DON'T... YOU DON'T... TALK` LIKE A NORMAL CHILD, I KNOW. BUT WE'RE ALSO QUITE DIFFERENT IN WAYS, YOU KNOW, MILDRED'S HAD A TOUGH UPBRINGING, A TOUGH LIFE. WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE. UM, WHICH IS PART OF WHAT MADE HER A REALLY INTERESTING CHARACTER TO PLAY. AND CUT! AT JUST 12, KIWI ACTRESS NELL FISHER PLAYS MILDRED, A TYPICAL TEEN WHOSE LIFE SUDDENLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. THEN OUT OF THE SHADOWS. HELLO. ...HER ABSENT FATHER SHOWS UP. AN ILLUSIONIST PLAYED BY HOLLYWOOD STAR ELIJAH WOOD. GREAT. BE HONEST, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH ELIJAH WOOD? OH MY GOSH, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. HE'S JUST THE LOVELIEST, SWEETEST GUY. YOU KNOW, I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM. LIKE ACTING CAN SOMETIMES BE QUITE TRICKY. BUT WHEN YOU'RE STARRING OPPOSITE SOMEONE AS AMAZING AS HIM, IT'S JUST SO EASY. HEY... THE FILM FOLLOWS THE PEER WHO, IN THE MIDST OF A FAMILY CRISIS, THE FILM FOLLOWS THE PAIRR WHO, IN THE MIDST OF A FAMILY CRISIS, THE FILM FOLLOWS THE PAIR WHO, IN THE MIDST OF A FAMILY CRISIS, VENTURE INTO THE NEW ZEALAND WILDERNESS TO TRACK DOWN A MYTHICAL PANTHER. THE FILM WAS SHOT IN THE CANTERBURY REGION. NELL, CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ICONIC LANDSCAPES? IT WAS INCREDIBLE, LIKE, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, YOU KNOW, TRAMPING HILL AFTER HILL, I MEAN, IT WASN'T ALL NECESSARILY GLAMOROUS, THOUGH. SOME LOCATIONS WERE SO REMOTE, WHICH IS PART OF WHAT MAKES IT SO BEAUTIFUL THAT WE COULDN'T GET THE PORTALOOS UP THERE. AND SO WE HAD TO USE WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE 'THUNDER BUCKET'. UM, BUT THAT STORY ISN'T SO PG, SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON. AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S A MYSTERY... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO 'STRANGER THINGS' SEASON FIVE. ...HERE IS ONE MYSTERY SOLVED. NELL'S BEEN CAST FOR THE FIFTH AND FINAL SEASON OF STRANGER THINGS. ...ON STRANGER THINGS FIVE. I'M NOT SURE I CAN SAY MUCH, BUT IT'S JUST BEEN... I'VE BEEN HAVING SUCH A BLAST. IT'S BEEN HONESTLY SO FUN. EVERYONE'S BEEN SO KIND AND WELCOMING. UM, I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING. DO YOU THINK IT'S EASY MAKING 100 BALLOON ANIMALS WITH VIN DIESEL'S KIDS? WHAT THE HELL IS A VIN DIESEL? FOR NOW, YOU CAN WATCH HER IN THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY FILM. I HEARD A CREEPY SOUND. REALLY? BUT LET ME WARN YOU, THIS MOVIE ALSO HAS PLENTY OF TWISTS AND TURNS. IT'S ALL RIGHT TO BE SCARED. I'LL LOOK AFTER YOU. GO, GO, GO. (SCREACMING) NICE KITTY. WOW. THAT LOOKS VERY, VERY COOL. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT OURSELVES THAT WELL. WE WERE NOT LIKE THAT, SADLY. I THINK I WAS MAYBE PLAYING NETBALL. I WAS PRETENDING TO SMOKE ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL DURING WINTER. WE WERE SAYING SHE HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED` SORRY, MY VOICE IS GOING. SHE WAS ENCOURAGED TO DO THE ARTS. THAT HAS BEEN OUR TOPIC THIS MORNING, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FLOODING OUR INBOX WITH FEEDBACK AROUND THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW CURRICULUM STARTING NEXT YEAR WITH MATHS, WHICH MEANS THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF GIVE AND TAKE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT SCHOOLS. THE SUBJECTS I LOVE, THEY GOT ME TO SCHOOL, THEY HELP MY SELF-ESTEEM. AND IF I DID NOT HAVE THEM, I WOULD HAVE GOT ABSOLUTELY DISENFRANCHISED BY THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. I WOULD HAVE DISENGAGED FURTHER. EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN CLING ONTO AT SCHOOL TO GET THEM THROUGH THE REST. LYNETTE SAID THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE HANDED OVER CASH, SHE IS USING THE EXAMPLE, THE PERSON HAS NO IDEA WHY I GAVE THEM $20.50 FOR A $10.50 PURCHASE. I DO NOT THINK ANYONE IS ARGUING THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO CHANGE. THEY ARE TAKING AWAY AN ELEMENT. OR LESS FOCUS ON ANOTHER ELEMENT. WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL, I REMEMBER HOW I HATED MATHS, I DID NOT GET ON WITH IT AT ALL. SOMETHING IS TO BE DONE, BUT WE DO NOT LEARN IN THE SAME WAY IF IT IN THE SAME BOX. THE SUBJECT NEEDS TO BE INTERESTING AND TALKED ABOUT. IF CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS ITS PORT, THERE WOULD BE SUCH AN UPROAR. EXACTLY. AS HE EVER SEEN A MOVIE, GONE TO SEE A PLAY QUESTION ARE GOOD DOES HE LISTEN TO MUSIC? THIS YOUNG LADY THAT WE JUST SAW, SHE IS LIVING THE DREAM. AGE 12. ANYWAY, IT IS 8:30 AM. NOW INDIRA WITH THE NEWS. THE NEW ZEALAND CANOE SPRINT TEAM HAS SET THEMSELVES UP FOR A POSSIBLE MEDAL HAUL IN PARIS. OLYMPICS REPORTER GUY HEVELDT HAS BEEN COVERING THE EVENT AND SENT THIS REPORT. IT WAS A FANTASTIC SETTING FOR NEW ZEALAND ROWERS, TAKING HOME A GOOD HAUL OF MEDALS FROM THE PARIS OLYMPICS, AND IT IS SHAPING UP AS A VERY GOOD RUN FOR OUR KAYAKERS AS WELL. LED BY DAME LISA HARRINGTON, AND THE K FOR 500, THEY ARE STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE FINAL AFTER SETTING THE SECOND FASTEST TIME. THEY ARE LOOKING VERY GOOD FOR A MEDAL. AS IS DAME LISA CARRINGTON AND THE K TO 500. THEY WON THEIR HEAD, AND THEY DID NOT NEED TO DO MUCH MORE TO GO THROUGH TO THE SEMIFINALS. FOR THE MEN, THE K FOR 500, THEY ARE TRUE TO THE SEMIFINALS. THEY HAD TO GO TO THE QUARTER-FINAL STAGE, BUT THEY MANAGED TO ADVANCE. THEY MIGHT FIND IT TRICKY TO GET THROUGH TO THE FINAL. TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY. THE HEATS OF IT GO EARLY TOMORROW MORNING PARIS TIME. NEW ZEALAND'S WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT CYCLISTS HAVE PUT THEMSELVES IN MEDAL CONTENTION ON DAY 10 OF THE PARIS OLYMPICS. THE KIWI QUARTET POSTED THE FASTEST TIME IN QUALIFYING, SETTING A NATIONAL RECORD. THEY'LL RIDE OFF FOR A PLACE IN THE GOLD MEDAL RACE AGAINST ITALY LATER TONIGHT, WHO'S QUALIFYING TIME WAS NEARLY THREE SECONDS SLOWER. NOT AS GOOD NEWS FOR THE MEN'S TEAM ` THEY COULD ONLY MANAGE THE SIXTH-FASTEST TIME IN QUALIFYING AND WILL RIDE OFF FOR FIFTH. AND SPEED CLIMBER JULIAN DAVID IS THROUGH TO THE QUARTER-FINALS, AFTER STUNNING A FORMER WORLD CHAMPION, NICKNAMED THE 'PERSIAN CHEETAH', IN THE HEATS. REALLY GOOD TIME IT WAS FROM JULIAN DAVID. AND HE'S GONE NECK-AND-NECK RIGHT NOW WITH REZA ALIPOUR, AND IT IS 5.20 ` JULIAN DAVID WITH A PB QUALIFIES. DAVID, REACHING THE TOP OF THE WALL 6/100th OF A SECOND QUICKER THAN HIS IRANIAN RIVAL. THE FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH BELIEVES TE WHATU ORA'S SPENDING CUTS WILL AFFECT FRONT LINE SERVICES. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND OVERSPENT $1.4 BILLION OVER ONE YEAR, WHILE BATTLING WITH DOCTOR SHORTAGES, LONG WAIT TIMES AND REGIONAL INEQUITIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS REPLACED THE BOARD WITH A COMMISSIONER, TASKED WITH SAVING $130 MILLION MONTHLY. SIR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD SAYS THE FOCUS FOR CUTS NEEDS TO SHIFT AWAY FROM STAFF. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEIR WORK IS VALUED, AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SO-CALLED FRONT LINE STAFF, BUT THOSE WHO ARE BEHIND THE SCENES ` SO-CALLED BACK OFFICE ` DOING REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. HAVING BEEN A DHB CHIEF EXECUTIVE MYSELF, IT IS ACTUALLY A WHOLE TEAM EFFORT; IT IS NOT JUST THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE. THEY WOULDN'T GET VERY FAR, UNLESS YOU HAD ALL THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE DOING THEIR JOB AS WELL. BREAKFAST ASKED NEW HEALTH COMMISSIONER LESTER LEVY FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT HE DECLINED. MORE THAN 35,000 SERENE BATHROOM HEATERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT. UNDER A WORKSAFE DIRECTIVE IT IS NOW ILLEGAL TO TURN THE SERENE S2068 HEATER ON. IF YOU OWN THIS MODEL THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT IS URGING PEOPLE TO DISPOSE OF IT IMMEDIATELY. THE SUPPLIERS CAN THEN REFUND OR GIVE AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PERSON WHO'S GOT THE HEATER CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THEM ON. WE THINK THAT WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY 5500 BACK, SO THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THE MINISTRY'S AWARE OF AT LEAST 18 FIRE EVENTS CAUSED BY THE DEFECT AND ARE UNSURE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS STILL IN USE. GLOBAL MARKETS HAVE REBOUNDED AFTER DAYS OF CHAOS, WITH WALL STREET OPENING TO EARLY GAINS. THE GLOBAL ROUT WAS SPARKED BY A WEAKER THAN EXPECTED U.S. JOBS REPORT LAST WEEK, STOKING FEARS OF AN AMERICAN RECESSION. A U.S. ECONOMIST SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY THE FLUX WOULD IMPACT PENSION FUNDS SUCH AS KIWISAVER. THE ONLY REASON YOU SHOULD PANIC IS IF YOU THINK WE'RE ENTERING THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE WORLD ECONOMY IS GOING TO SHRINK FOR THE NEXT 400 YEARS. SO AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MINDSET, YOU'RE OK. THE SELL-OFFS SAW JAPAN'S NIKKEI SLUMP 12 POINTS IN ONE DAY, THE BIGGEST DROP SINCE 1987, BUT IT HAS SINCE SOARED BACK BY MORE THAN 10%. AND FINALLY, TROPICAL STORM DEBBY HAS CAUSED SOME RATHER UNUSUAL DEBRIS TO WASH UP ON TO A BEACH IN FLORIDA. PACKAGES OF COCAINE WEIGHING MORE THAN 30kg WERE FOUND ON A BEACH BY A PASSERBY, WHO ALERTED AUTHORITIES. THE U.S. BORDER PATROL HAS NOW SEIZED THE DRUGS, WHICH HAVE AN ESTIMATED STREET VALUE OF MORE THAN NZ$1.6 MILLION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY ` IT'S LOOKING LIKE A LOVELY DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH ACROSS THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` BIT OF MORNING FOG IN HAMILTON. OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A MOSTLY FINE DAY FOR THE REGION. 15 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. TO THE EAST COAST ` ANOTHER SUNNY DAY TODAY. CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. 15 THE HIGH FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER. OVER TO THE WEST ` FOGGY START FOR THOSE IN TAUMARUNUI. BIT OF CLOUD IN LEVIN TOO, OTHERWISE IT'S BLUES SKIES ELSEWHERE. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` BIT OF A MIXED BAG. MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ON THE EAST COAST. HOWEVER, ON THE WEST, IT'S LOOKING A BIT MORE GREY WITH SOME SHOWERS IN GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. HEADING SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR THROUGH HERE. HOWEVER, MOST OF YOU WILL BE GETTING SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH AFTER MIDDAY. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` SOME SHOWERS TODAY IN MILFORD SOUND AND OBAN. ELSEWHERE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. 15 THE HIGH FOR OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN. E WHAI AKE NEI ` GETTING IN AND OUT OF NORTHLAND E WHAI AKE NEI ` GETTING IN AND OUT OF NORTHLAND HASN'T BEEN TOO EASY OF LATE. WHY THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE HORIZON FOR THOSE IN THE AIR. # LONG HERE, SLICKED BACK, # WHITE T-SHIRT. # I HAVE THAT GOOD GIRL FAITH AND A TIGHT LITTLE SKIRT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) THAT IS A REALLY LONGSHOT, ISN'T IT? WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. COVID, CYCLONE GABRIELLE, BRYNDERWYN CLOSURES ` IT'S BEEN A ROUGH PERIOD FOR TE TAI TOKERAU. BUT NOW THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR IN NORTHLAND, WITH A NEW OPERATOR COMING INTO THE AVIATION MARKET. SO WHAT'S INVOLVED IN ESTABLISHING A NEW ROUTE? THERE'S A LOT OF REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF GETTING APPROVALS TO OPERATE THE ROUTES, MARKETING, INVESTMENT IN AIRCRAFT AND ALSO PEOPLE. WE'VE DEVELOPED SOME GREAT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FAR NORTH IN TERMS OF BUILDING OUR KAITAIA SERVICE AND KERIKERI. IT WAS THE NEXT LOGICAL OPTION, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY. THERE HAS BEEN SOME FRUSTRATIONS WITH EXISTING PROVIDERS THERE HAS BEEN SOME FRUSTRATIONS WITH EXISTING PROVIDERS, AND WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE FOR SOME TIME NOW WHO HAVE ADVISED THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. AND, UH, OUR FORWARD SALES SAY THAT IT IS ACTUALLY WORKING, SO THAT'S GOOD. GIVEN OUR KAITAIA SERVICE BEING A COMPLETE SUCCESS FOR US, THAT IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE NOW WITH KERIKERI. WE'RE THERE FOR THE LONG TERM, AND WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A REVIEW AT THE ONE YEAR MARK. BUT FOR NOW WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW IT'S TRACKING. GOT TO BE HAPPY WITH THAT THEREFORE THE LONG-TERM. SO HOW DO LOCALS FEEL? TANIA BURT FROM NORTHLAND INC JOINS US NOW, MORENA. HOW GOOD IS IT HAVING ANOTHER OPTION HEADING UP NORTH? MORENA. IT IS AMAZING DAY FOR FLYING TODAY. BLUE SKY, THE SUN IS OUT, ABSOLUTELY. HOW ARE PEOPLE FEELING ABOUT IT? IT HAS ONLY BEEN A DAY OR SO THAT IT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, BUT IN GENERAL, HOW IS THE COMMUNITY FEELING ABOUT THIS IS ANOTHER OPTION? WHEN YOU HEAR THE LIST THAT YOU SPOKE OF EARLIER, WE HAVE HAD OUR CHALLENGES, SO THIS IS A NEW RAY OF SUNSHINE. WE CAN GET LOCALS OUT OF THE REGION. WE CAN GET VISITORS, BUSINESS TRAVELS INTO THE REGION, EASE OF TRAVEL, EASE OF ACCESS, SO OPENING UP NEW ROUTES OR NEW AIRLINES FLYING INTO EXISTING ROUTES IS GOING TO BE A GOOD THING FOR US UP HERE. THE LOCALS ARE BUZZING. MORE CAPACITY, THAT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE BAY OF ISLANDS, WHICH IS STRAIGHT INTO THE HEART OF TOURISM FOR OUR REGION. CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THE ISSUES, THE FRUSTRATIONS FOR EVEN LOCALS TRYING TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH WITH ONLY ONE OPTION AVAILABLE TO THEM? THOSE ARE SEATS FILL UP FAST. WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC COMING IN AND OUT OF THE REGION. WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCALS THAT TRAVEL FOR CORPORATE TRAVEL AS WELL AS VISITORS COMING IN, AND NORTH FLINDERS ARE ALLOWED TO HEAD IN AND OUT OF OUR OWN REGION AS WELL. THIS IS GET BOOKED UP IN ADVANCE, SO THE EXTRA CAPACITY IS GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE A BIT OF FREEDOM TO PLAN THEIR TRAVEL, PLAN THEIR LIVES AROUND GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE BAY OF ISLANDS, GETTING IN AND OUT OF NORTHLAND. LOCALS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT EXTRA CAPACITY. I WONDER ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK NORTHLAND HAS PUT INTO THIS, AS THE ENTITY THAT WORKS TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE, DRIVE NEW INITIATIVES THAT WILL BENEFIT NORTHLAND, HOW MUCH WORK HAVE YOU DONE WITH BARRIER AIR IN ORDER TO GET THE SECOND OPTION THERE? GOSH, YOU MAKE A SOUND LIKE WE DO SOME GREAT STUFF. YOU DO. WE DO. WE CANNOT CLAIM THAT THE SUCCESS OF THIS. YOU HEARD IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO GET ANYTHING GOING, ESPECIALLY HERE, AND THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAINTAINING THE CONNECTION FROM KAITAIA TO AUCKLAND AS WELL. AND THROUGH THAT, THEY JUST KEPT BUILDING FROM THERE. WE HAVE A SUPPORTIVE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AS WELL. SO I WOULD IMAGINE MANY HANDS MAKE SLIGHTLY LIGHTER WORK FOR THEM, BUT WE HAD CERTAINLY NOT CLAIMING ANY SUCCESS IN THIS. WE DO GET INVOLVED IN A LOT OF PROJECTS, BUT THIS ONE, WE CANNOT REALLY CLAIM TO BE THE KEY TO IT. AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE GOT AUCKLAND TO KAITAIA, AUCKLAND TO KERIKERI, AND THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THERE TO BE A FURTHER ONE TO WHANGAREI. WE LEARN NOT TO COUNT OUR CHICKENS TO QUICKLY APPEAR. WE ALWAYS LOVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA ROOM WHEN IT IS POSITIVE. MORE CONNECTION FROM WHANGAREI TO THE CENTRES. WE HAVE BEEN A GRATEFUL FOR THE LIKES OF THE AIRLINES KEEPING US CONNECTED TO OUR REGIONS, SO WE HAVE NO DOUBT THERE IS MORE COMING. WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HAVE ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY? YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO CREATE MORE JOBS. DO YOU THINK THAT IS A POTENTIAL SPIN OFF OF THIS? WHENEVER YOU CAN FEED PEOPLE INTO THE SYSTEM, INTO THE ECONOMY, IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO HELP THE MONEY GO AROUND. IT WILL ALWAYS HELP CREATE THE OPPORTUNITIES. THE MID NORTH IS GROWING. CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE AN INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE PARK. THAT IS LOOKING TO CREATE MORE JOBS. IT IS VERY CONVENIENT. IT IS JUST 20 MINUTES OUT OF THE LIKES OF KERIKERI, RUSSELL, SOME REALLY KEY PLACES. WHEN YOU HAMMER PEOPLE AROUND THE SYSTEM, YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR JOBS OR BUSINESSES TO EXTEND WHAT THEY CURRENTLY DO. BRILLIANT. ALL THE BEST, AND THIS IS GREAT NEWS. IT WILL SAY PEOPLE THREE EVERHART HOURS OF DRIVING, IF YOU ARE LUCKY. AND THAT IS IF THE HILLS ARE OPEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THEY DESERVE A BIT OF SOMETHING. IT IS JUST ANOTHER OPTION. BARRIER AIR IS LOOKING AT 11 RETURN FLIGHTS A WEEK, THAT THEY COULD INCREASE. COMPETITION IS ALWAYS GOOD. THE LAST TIME THERE WAS COMPETITION WAS BACK IN 20 2012. JEEPERS. GREAT NEWS. E HAERE AKE NEI ` GORE IS A WEE WAY AWAY FROM PARIS BUT THAT'S NOT STOPPING SOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THEIR FIRST EVER OLYMPIAN, THAT THEY KNOW OF. I LOVE THIS. THE OLYMPICS IS A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR OUR ATHLETES, BUT WHEN YOU COME FROM A SMALL TOWN LIKE GORE, IT TENDS TO BE EQUALLY EXCITING FOR THE COMMUNITY. TORI PEETERS WILL COMPETE IN THE JAVELIN TONIGHT AT HER FIRST OLYMPICS, SO SOME STUDENTS FROM HER OLD HIGH SCHOOL DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO SEND HER SOME MORE SUPPORT, SO THEY PAINTED A BIG SIGN. FOR MORE, WE ARE JOINED BY STUDENTS AVA WIEGERSMA AND OLIVIA SANSON AS WELL AS THEIR TEACHER WHO TAUGHT TORI, CAROLYN HUNTER. MORENA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. I WILL JUST START WITH YOU HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT? OUR TEACHER HAD THE IDEA BECAUSE SHE IS TO TEACH AS WELL, WE WENT ALONG WITH IT. IT WAS A PRETTY AWESOME THING. KNOWING HER AS WELL, TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT. YOU ARE INTO THE JAVELIN, SO HOW SPECIAL IS IT TO HAVE HER COMPETING AT THE OLYMPICS? VERY SPECIAL. I LOOK UP TO HER. GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE WORLD STAGE IN PARIS IS JUST AMAZING. SO YOU BOUGHT OLIVIA ON BOARD. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ALONGSIDE THIS? I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH A COOL, INSPIRING THING THAT A LITTLE TOWN LIKE US WOULD HAVE AN OLYMPIAN COMPETING AT THE OLYMPICS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A COOL WAY TO SHOW THAT WE ARE BEHIND HER. WHAT DOES EVERYBODY AT SCHOOL THINK ABOUT HAVING AN OLYMPIAN? I THINK A FEW PEOPLE TONIGHT ARE GOING TO STAY UP AND WATCH IT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING WHAT TIME IT IS ON. SEEING THE SIGN UP ON THE BALCONY. I DEFINITELY WILL GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT IT/ BALCONY. I DEFINITELY WILL GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT IT. YOU TAUGHT HER, DID YOU EVER THINK SHE WOULD BE AT THE OLYMPICS? THE STUDENT THAT SHE WAS, I AM NOT SURPRISED. BEFORE SHE LEFT HER SHE HAD ALREADY COMPETED ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AT THE OCEANIA GAMES IN THE UNDER 20 JAVELIN COMPETITION. KNOWING HER AND THE DEDICATION, TENACITY, DETERMINATION THAT SHE HAS, I AM NOT AT ALL SURPRISED. I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED FOR HER, KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING STARTED OUT HERE AT THE PLAYING FIELDS HAIR ON OUR SPORTS DAYS. NO DOUBT YOU CAN TURN THIS INTO A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY, WHAT DID YOU TELL YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THE OLYMPICS? I THINK IT IS ALL ABOUT KEEPING GOING, EVERYBODY HAS CHALLENGES AND THEIR LIVES, SHE HAS HAD CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY, BUT SHE HAS MADE A COMMITMENT. THAT COMMITMENT HAS SEEN HER WHERE SHE IS AT, PERFORMING AND PARIS TONIGHT. AVA, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR COACH WAS ONE OF HERS? YES HE WAS ONE OF HER COACHES. I HAVE HEARD LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT TRAINING AND THE WET WEATHER, AND HER WEARING RUGBY BOOTS SO SHE WOULD NOT SLIP OVER AND THE GRASS. IT IS QUITE COHERENTLY STORIES. YOU HAVE MET HER A COUPLE OF TIMES WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE YOU HAD? I WOULD SAY HI TO HER AT MEETS, AND SHE GAVE ME SOME TIPS AT NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS ATHLETICS. IT WAS SO COOL TO HAVE SOMEONE SO FAMOUS IN THE SPORT TO GIVE ME TIPS, WHICH WAS AWESOME. OLIVIA, HOW IS THE TOWN OF GORE? I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO THROW A JAVELIN? THEY ARE VERY EXCITED AND ENERGISED TO WATCH IT TONIGHT.. THEY ARE VERY EXCITED AND ENERGISED TO WATCH IT TONIGHT. DO WE THINK SHE COULD MEDAL TONIGHT? YES, WELL IT IS QUALIFYING TONIGHT. AND THEN HOPEFULLY SHE WILL MEDAL. IS THERE A SPACE FOR YOU ALL TO WATCH? NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF. I THINK WE WILL ALL BE KEEPING WARM IN OUR OWN HOMES. I AM SURE THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TELEVISIONS ON IN GORE TONIGHT. HAVE YOU ALL BEEN WATCHING THE OLYMPIC'S? I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE HIGH JUMP, THE TRIATHLON WITH HAYDEN WAS CRAZY AS WELL. HE WAS MY FAVOURITE ALSO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL OF NEW ZEALAND WILL BE ROOTING FOR TORI TONIGHT. WE WILL TALK TO YOU SOON. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WATCH PARTY GOING ON THERE TONIGHT. 8:25 PM THROWING THE JAVELIN IN THE QUALIFICATION. THERE IS THE KAYAKING TONIGHT. JUST A REMINDER, AT THE WORLD SHORT-COURSE CHAMPS IN POLAND WHICH WAS IN MAY, AMY FISHER BEAT DAME LISA, AND SHE ALSO BEAT HER ANOTHER TIME. ALTHOUGH, THE FIRST ONE SHE WON IT WELL, THE SECOND ONE THEY WENT TOE TO TOE. AND IS A GREAT RIVALRY, AND THEY ARE BOTH FROM NEW ZEALAND. HAMISH KERR ALSO IN THE HIGH JUMP TONIGHT. THERE IS LOTS OF EXPECTATION. DAVID LITI COMING UP OVER THE WEEKEND AS WELL. THE POLE VAULT FINAL IS TOMORROW MORNING. WE HAVE THREE NEW ZEALANDERS. I AM EXHAUSTED JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. I LOVE IT. WE GET UP AT STUPID O'CLOCK ANYWAY, BUT I GET UP EARLIER JUST TO WATCH IT. BIG SHOW TOMORROW MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CATCHING UP WITH YOU TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY DREW WELSH, KITTY WASASALA, JULIE TAYLOR AND FRANK GORE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024