IT'S FRIDAY THE 28th OF FEBRUARY. MORENA, THIS IS BREAKFAST. AND WE ARE NOT JENNY MAY CLARKSON OR CHRIS CHANG. WE ARE FOR BREAKFAST THIS MORNING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER SINCE THE PANDEMIC. JENNY MAY IS WITH US TODAY, JUST NOT IN THE STUDIO. MORENA KI A TATOU ATU I A NGAMOTU. SO NICE TO BE JOINING YOU FROM NEW PLYMOUTH THIS MORNING. I'M HERE AT PUKEKURA BOWL OF BROOKLANDS WHERE 55 GROUPS ARE BATTLING IT OUT ON STAGE TO BE CROWNED THE KAPA HAKA CHAMPIONS OF AOTEAROA! IT'S THE LAST THE DAY OF PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCES, AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S FINAL. I'LL BE WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, BRINGING YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND STAND ON THE STAGE. CANNOT WAIT. WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE. ALSO ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` NASA'S POISED TO LAUNCH A NEW TELESCOPE, PROMISING TO GATHER IMAGES OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GALAXIES. PROMISING TO GATHER IMAGES OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GALAXIES. HOW THAT COULD REVEAL A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE FORMATION AND ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE. PLUS ` THE ADVANCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONTINUES. THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AT ONE OF SOUTH EAST ASIA'S BIGGEST BANK ARE SET TO LOSE THEIR JOBS, REPLACED BY AI. SO, WHAT CAN IT SUPPOSEDLY DO BETTER THAN HUMANS, AND HOW MUCH COULD AI SHAKE UP THE FINANCIAL SECTOR? IT IS OUR FUTURE, THIS KIND OF CARRY ON. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK ` HERE'S YOUR NEWS. A TOUR DE FORCE DEMONSTRATION ` MELISSA STOKES. MORE FIRE CREWS WILL BE ARRIVING AT THE FIRE IN NORTHLAND'S WAIPOUA FOREST THIS MORNING, WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO WORSEN TODAY. THE 96ha FIRE IS THREATENING 20 HOMES IN THE SMALL FOREST SETTLEMENT. WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST AFTER WEATHER. TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOME IN NEW MEXICO, ALONG WITH THEIR DOG. LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE INDICATION OF FOUL PLAY, AND AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED. NO CAUSE OF DEATH HAS BEEN GIVEN. POPE FRANCIS CONTINUES TO SHOW SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS HEALTH, AND REMAINS IN GOOD SPIRITS, ACCORDING TO THE VATICAN. THE LATEST STATEMENT FROM HIS SPOKESMAN SAYS MILD KIDNEY ISSUES APPEAR TO HAVE SUBSIDED, AND A CT SCAN OF HIS CHEST SHOW THAT HIS LUNG INFLAMMATION IS ALSO IMPROVING. THE FINAL HOSTAGE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE UNDER PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL. THE BBC'S JOE INWOOD REPORTS. THESE ARE SOME OF THE 600 PALESTINIANS FREED AS PART OF THE LATEST SWAP, WITH ISRAEL ARRIVING IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. THEIR RELEASE CAME AFTER THE BODIES OF FOUR ISRAELI HOSTAGES ARRIVED AT A FORENSICS CENTRE IN TEL AVIV. ALL FOUR MEN HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMES BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER THE 7TH. PREVIOUS RELEASES HAD INVOLVED CEREMONIES THAT ISRAEL SAID WERE CRUEL AND HUMILIATING. HAVING NO REPEAT WAS A CONDITION OF TODAY'S EXCHANGE. THIS FIRST PHASE OF THE CEASEFIRE IS COMING TO AN END. NEGOTIATIONS FOR A SECOND PHASE, WHICH WOULD SEE THE RELEASE OF ALL REMAINING LIVING HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR A LASTING PEACE, ARE YET TO BEGIN. TO SPORT, AND BLACK FERNS GREAT PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE WILL MAKE HER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT FOR THE BLUES THIS WEEKEND AS THE SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI SEASON KICKS OFF. THE 33-YEAR-OLD WILL START ON THE WING AFTER SIGNING A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE AUCKLAND-BASED SIDE FOLLOWING HER RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY. THE BLUES WILL TAKE ON THE HURRICANES POUA IN WELLINGTON TOMORROW AFTERNOON. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` THE SUN IS SHINING FOR THOSE ON THE WEST COAST AND IN WELLINGTON. HOWEVER FOR THE REST OF YOU EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES AND SHOWERS. TAUPO AND BAY OF PLENTY, YOU MAY HAVE POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. 27 THE HIGH FOR AUCKLAND. 26 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. A CLOUDY START FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED SHOWERS BEFORE CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON. A FINE DAY FOR THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. 25 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 21 IN GREYMOUTH. STILL GOT IT. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING WITH OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE FIRE NEAR THE WAIPOUA RIVER IN NORTHLAND IS STILL BURNING THIS MORNING, WITH FIRE CREWS NOW BATTLING THE BLAZE FOR TWO DAYS. LUCY BENDELL JOINS US. WHAT'S THE PLAN OF ATTACK FOR FIRE CREWS TODAY, LUCY? GOOD MORNING. THREE HELICOPTERS WILL TAKE TO THE AIR THIS MORNING FOR FIRST LIGHT, AS WELL AS FURTHER FIRE CREWS ON THE GROUND, INCLUDING HEAVY MACHINERY, TO ATTACK THE FIRE AND EXTEND THOSE CONTAINMENT LINES AROUND THE BLADES. THIS COMES AFTER YESTERDAY'S MAMMOTH MORNIN THREE HELICOPTERS WILL TAKE TO THE AIR THIS MORNING FOR FIRST LIGHT, AS WELL AS FURTHER FIRE CREWS ON THE GROUND, INCLUDING HEAVY MACHINERY, TO ATTACK THE FIRE AND EXTEND THOSE CONTAINMENT LINES AROUND THE BLADES. THIS COMES AFTER YESTERDAY'S MAMMOTH EFFORT FROM FIRE CREWS, INCLUDING 5550 FIREFIGHTERS ON THE GROUND AND EIGHT HELICOPTERS IN THE AIR. THEY MANAGED TO CONTAIN THE 550%. THE SITE IS CURRENTLY 96 HA WITH A PARAMETER OF 4.5 KM. CRUZ REMAINED OVERNIGHT ON THE GROUND TO TRY AND PROTECT THE HOMES AFTER THEY WERE EVACUATED TO THE NEARBY SETTLEMENT. ANOTHER THREAT IS THE FOREST NEARBY. THAT WAS OUR LARGEST AND OLDEST KAURI TREE. PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND SAY ANOTHER CHALLENGE WILL BE THE WEATHER. HERE IS THE INCIDENT CONTROLLER. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS FRIDAY. OUR WEATHER INFORMATION WE ARE GETTING IS THAT THE WIND MAY TURN TO AN EASTERLY, AND THIS WOULD PUSH THE FIRE BACK TO THE SETTLEMENT. FIRE CREWS ARE SAYING THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM THE BLAZE AS THE BATTLE CONTINUES. AND THEY ALSO EXPECT IT TO GO ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. TANE MAHUTA IS THE SAME AGE AS CHRISTIANITY. REALLY SPECIAL. POLICE ARE PREPARING FOR A LARGE CAR ENTHUSIAST EVENT IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS WEEKEND. CHARLOTTE MULDER JOINS US FROM OUR CHRISTCHURCH NEWSROOM. WHAT KIND OF PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE? GOOD MORNING, JOHN. WELL, POLICE ARE TELLING MOTORISTS TO EXPECT DELAYS AHEAD OF THIS WEEK'S CHROME EXPRESSION, WHICH IS BEING DESCRIBED AS THE BIGGEST FESTIVAL. THE EVENT FEATURES THINGS SUCH AS DRIFTING, BURNOUT, POWERLESS KIDS AND MORE. THEY ARE EXPECTING AROUND 5000 PEOPLE TO FLOCK TO THE CHRISTCHURCH RACE THIS WEEKEND. POLICE ARE SAYING ANY DANGEROUS DRIVING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. AND THEY ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY THEY MIGHT SEE THIS WEEKEND. THAT COMES AFTER PREVIOUS INSTANCES WITHIN THE PAST OF JUST A SMALL GROUP OF ATTENDEES AND MOTORISTS. THE EVENT STARTS TONIGHT AND IT TAKES PLACE OVER THE NEXT THREE NIGHTS, JOHN. WE HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A WONDERFUL TIME. A VERY SAFE TIME. IT'S A BIG DAY IN NEW PLYMOUTH TODAY ` THE PENULTIMATE DAY OF TE MATATINI. AND THERE TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL IS JENNY-MAY. MORENA. GOOD MORNING, MELISSA. I AM REALLY GOOD, THANK YOU. THE STAGE IS SET BEHIND ME FOR 55 KAPA HAKA, WHO RISING UP TO THE CHALLENGE, BEFORE THE GRAND FINAL TOMORROW WHICH IS SOLD OUT. MORE THAN 2000 PERFORMERS ARE GIVING IT THEIR ALL IN NEW PLYMOUTH WITH A MASSIVE CROWD PILING INTO THIS VERY HILL. WE GOT OUT YESTERDAY TO GET A VIBE CHECK FROM THOSE WHO ARE HERE ATTENDING. IT'S AUTHENTIC. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) WHEN I SAW A NANNY JUST AROUND THE CORNER, SHE WAS WALKING UP THE HILL. AND I THOUGHT, 'NANNY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?' AND SHE'S LIKE, 'I'M ALL RIGHT, MY DARLING.' YOU KNOW, YOU GET THAT AT A MAORI EVENT. YOU KNOW, HAERE MAI. THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ` FOR THE KIDS. THERE'S A LITTLE ZOO THEY CAN VISIT. IF YOU'RE NOT INTO KAPA HAKA, THEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ENTRY POINTS ` THE KAI. THE LEAST CONFRONTATIONAL WAY TO GET TO KNOW MAORI SOCIETY. IT'S FULL OF ENERGY. EVERYONE'S REALLY HAPPY. THE VIBE'S GOOD, AND THE STAFF ARE AMAZING. THERE'S A STRONG SENSE OF JUST BEING A NEW ZEALANDER HERE. HE TANGATA O AOTEAROA. SO WHETHER YOU'RE VISITING, IT'S A REALLY NICE WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE. AND YEAH, IT'S NOT JUST MAORI. IT'S FOR... LIKE, THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO EVERYBODY TO BE HERE. SO GOOD. SO MANY PEOPLE HERE ENJOYING EVERYTHING. WHAREHOKA WANO FROM HOST IWI TE KAHUI O TARANAKI JOINS US NOW. HOW ARE YOU? WE ARE INTO DAY FOUR. IT IS A MOUTH ON THIS EVENT. THE WAIRUA HAS REALLY SETTLED INTO THIS EVENT. I SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE YESTERDAY THAT TALKED ABOUT THE WAIRUA, AND THE FEELING THAT HAS BEEN HAD THE PAST FEW DAYS. THEY SAID IT STARTED RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. IN TERMS OF THE EVENT RETURNING TO NEW PLYMOUTH, HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU? IT HAS BEEN HUGE. I WAS IN THE LINES IN 1994. AND, YOU KNOW, TO THINK THAT 31 YEARS LATER, WE HAVE LOST LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE AREA, AND OURSELVES HERE IN TARANAKI, LOOKING AFTER OUR PEOPLE AS GOOD HOSTS. BEAUTIFUL. IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON, NOT JUST NEW PLYMOUTH, BUT ON THE REGION, AS I SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION, 70,000 PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND OUT OF THOSE GATES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE REGION? CULTURALLY, FOR A START, IT HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER AS THE LOCAL TRIBES AND THE LOCAL WHANAU. THERE IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF HOSPITALITY. OUR ECONOMY WAS UNDER PRESSURE THERE LAST YEAR, BUT IT HAS FED UP TO OUR PEOPLE. PEOPLE HAVE MADE HOUSES AVAILABLE AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING. KAI, THE HOSPITALITY, OUR RESTAURANTS, PARTICULARLY WHERE OUR GROUPS ARE STAYING, IT HAS HAD THAT IMPACT DOWN THERE AS WELL. I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE IWI AND THE RESPONSIBILITY ON YOU TO PUT ON SUCH A MASSIVE EVENT. THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE PLANNING, RIGHT? YES, OF COURSE. WE WERE OBSERVING THE PAST FEW YEARS AND PREPARING OURSELVES. MANAAKI ` IT'S INHERENT IN US. WE WERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE HOST PEOPLE ON OUR MARAE, AND WHAT WAIRUA WE BRING. ALL THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR BUSES OF SUPPORTERS AND THE LEADERSHIP. WE TOOK IT DAY BY DAY AND DO WHAT WE KNOW IN TERMS OF HOSPITALITY. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE EVENT SO FAR? EVERY YEAR THE LEVEL RISES. THE 55 JUDGES HAVE GOT SOME BIG DECISIONS. I HOPE YOU ARE BRAVE BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT ARE REALLY COMING THROUGH. I'M PROBABLY PUTTING IN A PLUG FOR SOME LOCAL TEAMS. THERE ARE SOME REALLY ESTABLISHED TEAMS THAT HAVE BEEN ON STAGE AND THEY HAVE BEEN AMAZING, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER GROUPS AS WELL THAT HAVE STARTED TO COME THROUGH. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE ONLY THREE ` THERE WERE ONLY 12 KAPA EVERY DAY ` AND ONLY THREE GO TO THE FINAL, I MEAN THAT IS ONE HECK OF A DECISION FOR THE JUDGES. THEY ARE ALL EX- PERFORMERS. WE ALL WANT TO COME AND SEE THE ESTABLISHED GROUPS, BUT THERE IS A GROUP THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, THEY ARE KNOCKING HARD ON THE DOOR. THERE WILL BE ONE OR TWO SURPRISES I THINK. I HAVEN'T BEEN ON STAGE SINCE I WAS AT SCHOOL. I HAVE NO AMBITION OF GETTING ON STAGE. I KNOW WHERE MY LANE IS. DO YOU WANT TO GET BACK ON STAGE? OF COURSE. I WAS ON THE STAGE FOUR TIMES. MY DAUGHTER PERFORMED WITH A LOCAL GROUP. SO IT IS THIS GENERATION THAT I TALK ABOUT. SOME OF US LIKE GETTING UP THERE AND STRUTTING OUR STUFF. BUT I KNOW MY LANE NOW. THAT GENERATION ` AND THE CREATIVENESS, AND BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ON THE STAGE, THAT IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT. JUST TO WRAP THINGS UP, I KNOW YOU HAVE A WHAKATAUKI THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) THAT HAS BEEN THEIR NARRATIVE WE HAVE APPLIED TO THIS EVENT. IT GOES ALL AROUND THE REGION, THAT IS THE BREADTH OF OUR REGION, AND WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NARRATIVE. OUR MAUNGA, OUR DEITIES, OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP THAT COMES THROUGH. AND OTHER PROPHETS, THAT HELPED US THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES. WE WANTED TO APPLY THAT FIELD TO THIS EVENT. WE ARE JUST BEING US. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING, BECAUSE I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A FOLLOW-ON WEEK FOR YOU, AND TO GET UP FOR US HERE ON BREAKFAST, WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. THANK YOU FOR FINDING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US THIS MORNING. TENA KOE. THE SCENE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE FINAL DAY OF PRELIMINARIES. TOMORROW IS THE FINAL. WHERE 12 GROUPS WILL GO THROUGH. ONE OF THOSE GROUPS HAVING TO GO THROUGH IS A GROUP CALLED ANGI TU. I MANAGED TO CATCH UP WITH PETER YESTERDAY, BUT I WILL BRING YOU THAT CHAT A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS MORNING. IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL FEELING HERE IN NEW PLYMOUTH. THANK YOU, JENNY MAY. JOHN AND I BOTH WATCHED THAT GROUP. UNBELIEVABLE. THEY WERE SO BRILLIANT. I SAID I REALLY LOVED IT, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND A LOT OF IT BUT, MAN, IT WAS... I THINK IT IS EASILY THE BEST EVENT I HAVE EVER SEEN. THIS STANDARD IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY. E WHAI AKE NEI ` HOW AI COULD SHAKE UP BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. PLUS, THE NEW TELESCOPE HELPING NASA'S SEARCH FOR LIFE BEYOND EARTH. AND OUR ORIGINS! HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` THE FINAL HOSTAGE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE UNDER PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL. POPE FRANCIS CONTINUES TO SHOW SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS HEALTH, AND REMAINS IN GOOD SPIRITS, ACCORDING TO THE VATICAN. AND, BLACK FERNS GREAT PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE WILL MAKE HER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT FOR THE BLUES THIS WEEKEND. IN WHAT COULD BE A GROUNDBREAKING MISSION, NASA IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH A NEW TELESCOPE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FORMATION AND ORIGINS OF OUR UNIVERSE. THE SPHERE-X INFRARED TELESCOPE WILL GATHER IMAGES OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GALAXIES AND COULD ANSWER SOME OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IN ASTROPHYSICS. RICHARD EASTHER IS A COSMOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND. HE JOINS ME NOW. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. IT IS A REAL PLEASURE. THIS SPACE ALWAYS FASCINATES ME AND BAMBOOZLED ME. I UNDERSTAND ABOUT EVERY THIRD WORD OF WHAT IS HAPPENING. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT MAKES THIS TELESCOPE DIFFERENT? IT IS A VERY SMALL TELESCOPE, IT IS ONLY A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THE AVERAGE TELESCOPE. IT TAKES A PICTURE OF THE WHOLE SKY, AND IT DOES THAT, WITH INSTEAD OF THREE COLOURS, IT TAKES IT IN ABOUT 100 COLOURS, AND THAT SLICING WILL COLOURS HOW FAR AWAY THINGS ARE. IF THINGS ARE FAR AWAY THEY WILL BE REDDER. IT WILL SCAN THE SKY ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS, AND IT WILL DO THAT REPEATEDLY OVER A TWO-YEAR MISSION. AND THEN YOU CAN COMBINE THAT INFORMATION INTO A PICTURE. IT COULD ANSWER SOME REALLY BIG QUESTIONS? THE ONE THAT EXCITES ME PERSONALLY, IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE GALAXIES THAT WE SEE IN THE SKY THEY CAN AS TINY REBELS IN THE SKY AFTER THE BIG BANG. WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE UNIVERSE LOOKED LIKE AFTER THE BIG BANG. SOMETHING CALLED THE COSMOS PHENOMENON? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INFLATION. INFLATION, YES. THE UNIVERSE GROWS VERY SUDDENLY AFTER THE BIG BANG, AND THEN SUDDEN GROWTH LEAVE THESE TINY REBELS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF MATTER, AND LOOKING AT HOW THE UNIVERSE IS ARRANGED TODAY LETS US WORK BACK TO HOW THE UNIVERSE WAS ARRANGED AFTER THE BIG BANG AND WE FIGURE OUT HOW THIS INFLATIONARY PHASE HAPPENED. AND WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO LOOK AT THE MILKY WAY AND WHETHER THERE COULD BE LIFE OUT THERE, WHICH IS ALWAYS A HUGE QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY. ONE OF THE THINGS IT SEES IS INSIDE OUR OWN MILKY WAY GALAXY IT WILL SEE EVIDENCE FOR ICE MATERIAL THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE STARS, AND THAT GIVES US A HAND WHETHER THE WATER ON EARTH CAME FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM. THERE ARE BIGGER MISSIONS. IT IS A FEW HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, NOT BILLIONTH. IT IS NOT AS HIGH-PROFILE AS SOME OTHER TELESCOPE MISSIONS WHICH RETAIN HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES. THIS IS MORE OF A SURVEY INSTRUMENT. IN TERMS OF ITS SCIENCE RICHER WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT. THIS WILL BE IN COLOUR? HUNDREDS OF COLOURS. AND INFRARED AS WELL ` LIGHT NOT VISIBLE TO OUR EYES. THIS WILL BE HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS? THIS IS A NOMINAL MISSION. IF IT MANAGES WELL, IT COULD GO LONGER. IT WILL BE EXCITING AS A SCIENTIST IF ALL THIS DATA THAT COMES BACK ` ANYBODY CAN LOOK AT IT? THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CHALLENGE IN CALIBRATING AND MAKING SENSE OF THE DATA. YOU CAN TAKE THE DATASET AS A WHOLE OR LOOK AT LITTLE SPOTS. AND LAUNCHES WHEN? MARCH 2 IS THE CURRENT DATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LECTURES BACK ON MONDAY? I'M QUITE LOOKING FORWARD TO TEACHING AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON. WHEN WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO BE TAUGHT BY RICHARD? THAT IS INCREDIBLE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF WORK. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT, AND A RELATIVELY SMALL MISSION. BUT IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE SEE THE SKY. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, THE BACKLASH CONTINUES AFTER A RADIO COMMENTATOR TAKES A SHOT AT AUSTRALIA'S FOOTBALLERS. # PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, BABY. # I JUST WANT TO FLY. # PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, BABY. KIA ORA, EVERYONE. BEAUTIFUL SHOT FROM NEW PLYMOUTH. GEARING UP FOR THE 2ND TO LAST DAY OF TE MATATINI. WE WILL BE THERE WITH JENNY MAY CLARKSON WHO IS THERE FOR US THIS MORNING. MORENA, EVERYONE. SO LOVELY TO HAVE YOU WITH US AT 6.30 ON A FRIDAY MORNING. MELISSA AND I FILLING IN FOR CHRIS AND JENNY MAY. THREE HELICOPTERS WILL RETURN TO THE WAIPOUA FIRE IN NORTHLAND AT FIRST LIGHT, ALONG WITH GROUND CREWS AND HEAVY MACHINERY. CREWS WILL BE ACTIVELY FIGHTING THE FIRE AND EXTENDING CONTAINMENT LINES AS FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND EXPECT TODAY'S WEATHER CONDITIONS TO BE A CHALLENGE. THE 96-HECTARE FIRE IS 50% CONTAINED. IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE THAT IS, IT IS UP THE WEST COAST JUST BEFORE THE HOKIANGA IN THE FAIRLY FINAL. THAT WAS TANE MAHUTA ` EXTRAORDINARY TREE. 2000 YEARS OLD. TWO TIME OSCAR WINNER GENE HACKMAN HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME WITH HIS WIFE AND DOG. ABC'S REENA ROY HAS THE LATEST. AN INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY INTO THE DEATHS OF AWARD-WINNING ACTOR GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE, BETSY ARAKAWA, AND THEIR DOG. THE SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYING THERE IS NO FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED AT THIS TIME. THE LEGENDARY ACTOR, WINNING HIS FIRST OSCAR ` BEST ACTOR ` FOR HIS ROLE IN 'THE FRENCH CONNECTION'. I DON'T BUY THAT, IRV. THE STUFF IS IN THAT CAR. AND THEN ANOTHER BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR FOR HIS ROLE IN 'UNFORGIVEN'. ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, HE'S GOT ONE BARREL LEFT. HACKMAN WAS 95. HIS WIFE, 64, WAS A CLASSICAL PIANIST. THEY LIVED IN NEW MEXICO SINCE THE 1980S. THE COUPLE MARRIED IN 1991. HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM ISRAELI JAILS DAYS LATER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREED. THE FINAL EXCHANGE OF PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL SAW THE BODIES OF FOUR HOSTAGES RETURNED, AND MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED PRISONERS RELEASED. POPE FRANCIS' BIOGRAPHER IS REJECTING RUMOURS THAT THE PONTIFF MAY BE CONSIDERING RESIGNING IN LIGHT OF HIS RECENT HEALTH WOES. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT FOR FRANCIS, THE PAPACY IS FOR LIFE. HE'S SHOWN THAT HE HAS NO PROBLEM BEING A FRAIL POPE, AN ELDERLY POPE, A POPE IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND HE CAN FULFILL THE PAPAL MISSION IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I THINK, HOWEVER, WHAT HE HAS SAID, IS THAT IF HE HAD A LONG-TERM, DEBILITATING OR DEGENERATIVE CONDITION THAT PREVENTED HIM FROM FULLY CARRYING OUT THE PAPAL MINISTRY, HE, OR INDEED ANY FUTURE POPE, WOULD OF COURSE CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY. THE REPORTS OUT OF THE VATICAN TELL US THE POPE'S HEALTH HAS SHOWN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE PAST DAY. SOME SPORTS NEWS ` CHAMPIONS TROPHY HOSTS PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PLAY THEIR FINAL MATCH AFTER PERSISTENT RAIN SAW THEIR FIXTURE AGAINST BANGLADESH ABANDONED WITHOUT A BALL BOWLED. DO THEY STILL GET PAID FOR THAT DAY? IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING CAMPAIGN FOR THE HOME SIDE AND DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, BUNDLED OUT OF SEMI-FINALS CONTENTION AFTER LOSING TO NEW ZEALAND AND INDIA. IT MEANS PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH ` WHO WERE ALSO ELIMINATED ` FINISH THE TOURNAMENT WITH A MISERABLE POINT EACH. NEW ZEALAND WILL TAKE ON INDIA IN THEIR FINAL GROUP MATCH TO DETERMINE WHO WILL TOP THE TABLE HEADING INTO THE KNOCKOUTS. NOT MUCH RIDING ON THAT GAME BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH THROUGH. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) 6:33 ON THIS FRIDAY MORNING. TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER AHEAD FOR YOUR DAY. THE SUN IS SHINING FOR THOSE ON THE WEST COAST AND IN WELLINGTON. IN THE COROMANDEL JUST ABOVE THE BAY OF PLENTY THERE. SWEEPING TOWN THAT WEST COAST. IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE SAME. WEST COAST HAVING A BANGER. 25 DEGREES IN CENTRAL OTAGO. (LAUGHTER) WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT, STACEY? IS GOING TO BE JUST BEAUTIFUL. 22 IN DUNEDIN. AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY LOVELY FRIDAY. COME ON. SHOW US HOW IT IS DONE. THIS WEEK, WE'RE GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A FAMILY GETAWAY TO NEW PLYMOUTH THANKS TO VENTURE TARANAKI. INCLUDING FLIGHTS, A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT NOVOTEL AND SOME FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES INCLUDING CHADDY'S CHARTERS WILDLIFE BOAT CRUISE, A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE GOVETT-BREWSTER ART GALLERY AND FAMILY FUN AT THE HIDEAWAY LUGE AND MINI-PUTT. THIS COMPETITON IS OPEN UNTIL SUNDAY 4pm AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER ON THE SHOW NEXT MONDAY. HEAD TO winwithbreakfast.co.nz. ALL THANKS TO VENTURE TARANAKI. HAVE YOU BEEN TO TARANAKI LATELY? NOT LATELY. IT IS GOING OFF, MAN. IT REALLY HAS A SPRING IN ITS STEP. AND WITH TE MATATINI, IT WILL BE AMAZING. I AM REALLY ENVIOUS OF J MAY BEING THERE. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC INTERVIEW COMING UP AND AN INTERVIEWED LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER. IT IS DETAILED AS. ME U TONU MAI ` A DETAILED LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER. PLUS, THE FIRST BIG GLOBAL BANK HAS MOVED TO BRING IN AI. WE'LL TELL YOU HOW MANY JOBS ARE SET TO BE AXED AS A RESULT. # ABRACADABRA. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` NASA IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH A NEW TELESCOPE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FORMATION AND ORIGINS OF OUR UNIVERSE. THE FINAL HOSTAGE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE UNDER PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL. AND THREE HELICOPTERS, MULTIPLE GROUND CREWS AND HEAVY MACHINERY WILL BE WORKING TO CONTAIN THE FIRE IN WAIPOUA. EMERGENCY SERVICES SAYS TODAY'S WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE A CHALLENGE. THE BIGGEST BANK IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO LAY OUT PLANS TO REDUCE STAFF, DUE TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. DBS, HEADQUARTERED IN SINGAPORE, IS CUTTING 4000 TEMPORARY ROLES ` THAT'S 10% OF ITS STAFF ` OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND REPLACING THEM WITH AI. THAT IS CONTRACT WORKERS. FOR MORE ON THIS, WE ARE JOINED BY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR GERTJAN VERDICKT, A LECTURER IN FINANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND. IT IS SO LOVELY TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. I WANT TO RAISE THIS QUESTION FIRST, BECAUSE I SAW THESE BUGGER DBS MADE A RECORD PROFIT. OBVIOUSLY IT IS A TRAGEDY FOR THOSE PEOPLE, BUT IT IS A TEMPORARY CONTRACT JOBS, SO THEY ARE NOT BEING RENEWED. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THESE MUNDANE, REPETITIVE, RULES-BASED TASKS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT. LESS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR US. IT IS NAIVE TO SAY WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BANK, BECAUSE FOR MOST OF US, IT IS A MATHS. HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DEALING WITH AI? ON THE ONE HAND, YOU SEE IN EUROPE, YOU THE USA, AND IN NEW ZEALAND STARTING AS LOW, THE BASIC ENQUIRIES ARE BEING HANDLED BY CHAT BOX, AND PEOPLE SEEM TO BE OK WITH THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ALSO SEE THAT IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT ADVICE, PEOPLE ARE NOT READY FOR THIS. IF YOU ARE SAVING FOR YOUR RETIREMENT, AND YOUR ADVISOR IS AI, HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT IT? NOT VERY GOOD. THERE IS SOMETHING WE CALL ALGORITHM VERSION. PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO REALLY BELIEVE AND FIND THIS ADVICE CREDIBLE. AND SO WHEN A BANK MOVES INTO THIS SPACE, THEY ARE NOT DOING AT THAT FRONT END. THEY ARE DOING IN THE ROUTINE, MECHANICAL TASKS. THINK ABOUT DATA ENTRY, REPORTING. ON THAT ANALYSTS SPACE AS WELL. CREATING THE REPORT. AT THIS STAGE, THE AI REALLY ASSISTS THE BIG BANKS. ARE WE BEING MANOEUVRED TOWARDS A WORLD WHERE WE WILL BE DEALING WITH AI IF WE ARE BEING ADVISED ON HOW TO SAY FOR OUR RETIREMENT FOR EXAMPLE? YES. ONCE YOU ARE MORE AI LITERATE, ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES, PEOPLE ARE MORE INCLINED TO TRUST IT. SO IN THAT SENSE, I THINK WE TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION WHERE AI WILL BE MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES. YOU USED THE EXAMPLE OF CHAT BOTS. NOT SO LONG AGO WE WERE SAYING, WHAT IS THIS. NOW WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH CHAT BOTS. CHAT GPT HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR 2 1/2 YEARS. THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ` DO WE TRY TO ASSIST STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY USE IT? BECAUSE GARBAGE IN IS GARBAGE OUT. AND THESE ARE THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE. YOU ARE TEACHING STUDENTS THAT AI IS STEALING JOBS. SO WHAT DO YOU TEACH THEM? EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION ` HOW DO YOU FUTURE PROOF YOURSELF? WHAT JOBS SEEM TO BE SAFE? FIRST, AI HAS TO BE BUILT, BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT EVERYONE USES CHAT GPT, BUT IT IS OPEN SOURCE. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BUILD SOMETHING IN-HOUSE SO DATA DOES NOT GET LEAKED. DATA COLLECTION IS GOING TO BE HUGELY IMPORTANT. LASTLY, SALES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN THIS TO CLIENTS. SOMEONE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, UNDERSTAND THE THEORY TO ACTUALLY STAND AS AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN AI AND CLIENTS. IT IS THE SIMPLE BUSINESS OF TWO PEOPLE LOOKING EACH OTHER IN THE EYE, SO I AM NOT INTERVIEWING AI NOW; I AM INTERVIEWING YOU. CAN WE TALK ABOUT CHAT GPT? AND ALSO WHEN YOU ARE WORKING IN THE SPACE, OUR STUDENTS CHEATING WHEN THEY USE IT? SO WE TRY NOT TO RELY TOO MUCH ON PURE WRITTEN EXAMS, YOUR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS. RIGHT. SO THERE HAS TO BE AN ORAL COMPONENT TO IT. I ASK STUDENTS, PREPARE THIS, BUT ALSO I AM GOING TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ON THE SPOT, SO YOU CAN'T USE AI, SO YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW. THAT IS FASCINATING. IT IS AN AMAZING TOOL. IT IS INCREASING RAPIDLY, SO YOU SHOULD USE IT. WHAT DO YOU TEACH, FINANCE? YES. IN THE BUSINESS SCHOOL? YES. I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN YOUR CLASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING. APPRECIATE IT. WE'VE REPORTED ON HOW HOT, DRY CONDITIONS ARE STARTING TO HIT HARD IN SOME PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND. METSERVICE'S JOHN LAW IS WITH US NOW TO HELP EXPLAIN JUST HOW LOW THE RAINFALL HAS BEEN IN DIFFERENT REGIONS. MORENA, JOHN. HOPE YOU ARE GOOD. SO COMPARED TO OTHER YEARS, HAS THIS BEEN A PARTICULARLY DRY FEBRUARY? KIA ORA. YES, IT HAS BEEN REALLY DRY. ESPECIALLY IN THOSE PLACES THAT'S ALL THE DROUGHT CLASSIFICATION YESTERDAY. TARANAKI FOR EXAMPLE. AND FOR PLACES LIKE NEW PLYMOUTH, PROBABLY THE DRIEST START TO THE ESSENCE AT LEAST 1992 WHEN I LOOK BACK THROUGH THE RECORDS. SO A REALLY DRY START IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. OTHER PLACES FOLLOWING A SIMILAR PATTERN? WE HAVE SEEN LOW RAINFALL ACROSS MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND. EVEN AUCKLAND AIRPORT ONLY ABOUT 7 MM THROUGH FEBRUARY. BUT SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT PLACES ARE PLACES LIKE WHANGANUI AND MANAWATU. BUT WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE MOISTURE WE HAVE HAD HAS EVAPORATED REALLY QUICKLY. PLACES DONE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND HAVE HAD LOW RAINFALL BY THEIR STANDARDS. PLACES LIKE MILFORD SOUND. AND THE WIND IS DRY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS YEAR. SPEAKING OF RAIN, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE STARTING TO WANT SOME RAIN. IS THERE ANY IN THE FORECAST TODAY? THERE IS NOT AN AWFUL LOT IN TODAY'S FORECAST. THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL BE STAYING DRY. IF WE SEE ANY, IT IS LIKELY TO BE THROUGH THE BAY OF PLENTY AND TAUPO, WAIKATO. AROUND THE CENTRAL AREAS, WE COULD HAVE ONE OR TWO THUNDERY PATCHES. IT IS GOING TO BE A DRY DAY, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE ALREADY DRY AREAS. HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? I THINK FOR MANY OF US, HIGH PRESSURE STAYS. REALLY THOSE INLAND AREAS. THE SOUTH LAND, PLENTY OF DRY AREAS. PLACES LIKE CANTERBURY WILL HAVE DRY AND WARM TEMPERATURES. THEY WILL REALLY START TO CLIMB BACK UP AGAIN TO HIGHS AROUND 27, 28 DEGREES IN CHRISTCHURCH. WARM AND DRY THROUGH THERE. BUT PERHAPS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, WITH SOME COOLER WINTER CONDITIONS STARTING NEXT WEEK. WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING, IS THIS THE END OF SUMMER? FEBRUARY, IT SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR. BUT WE SEEM TO LUMP DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY INTO A METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER. BUT IT IS STILL FAIRLY ACTIVE THROUGH THERE. SO THERE ARE STILL HINTS OF SUMMER. THAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN KEEP A REALLY CLOSE EYE ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. KIA PAI TO RA. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE 7 O'CLOCK NEWS IS COMING UP IN ABOUT 11 MINUTES, IS THAT RIGHT? BUT FIRST ` A GOOD RESULT FOR THE FOOTBALL FERNS. WE'RE TALKING SPORT, NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE RECORDED THEIR FIRST WIN OF THEIR NEW ERA, WITH A 1-1 VICTORY OVER COSTA RICA. SO, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM? TO EXPLAIN THAT AND MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY LOCKER ROOM FOUNDING EDITOR SUZANNE MCFADDEN. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD THANK YOU. LOVELY TO TALK TO YOU, MELISSA. I AM HERE. COSTA RICA ` HOW DID THEY LOOK? PRETTY GOOD ONE? IT WAS. THEY HAD TO MATCH FRIENDLY SERIES AGAINST COSTA RICA IN COSTA RICA. AND, IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE HAD AN AWAY WHEN, OR ANYONE. LAST TIME, IT WAS AGAINST THAILAND, LAST APRIL. THEY DREW THE FIRST MATCH, AND THEN CAME THROUGH WITH A WIN THANKS TO NEW FOOTBALL FERN, HANN, WHO COULD HAVE PLAYED FOR GERMANY, BUT DECIDED TO PLAY FOR HER COUNTRY OF BIRTH WHICH IS NEW ZEALAND. SHE CAME OFF THE BENCH, AND STRUCK THE WINNER IN THE 89TH MINUTE. THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAD BEEN LOOKING OKAY DURING THAT GAME. THEY HAVE A LOT TO THANK THEIR GOALKEEPER. SHE MADE SOME INCREDIBLE SAVES, AND SHE WAS THE OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THIS SERIES. IT IS A REALLY GOOD START FOR THE INTERIM COACH. THEY HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME, AS HE SAID IT IS HIS FIRST ONE. WHAT IS NEXT FOR THEM? NEXT IS A GAME AGAINST CHINESE TAIPEI IN TAIWAN NEXT MONTH. THE FOOTBALL FERNS ARE RANKED 32 IN THE WORLD. AND CHINESE TAIPEI NUMBER 42. THEY ARE PLAYING TEAMS THAT ARE AROUND THEM IN THE RANKINGS AT THE MOMENT, TO TRY AND LIFT THEIR GAME. THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING MATCH. THE COACH WILL BE HOPING FOR ANOTHER WIN THERE. THEY ARE PLAYING A DIFFERENT STYLE OF FOOTBALL, AND PLAYING WITH A BACK THREE INSTEAD OF A BACK FOUR. THEY ARE LOOKING MORE AGGRESSIVE. LET'S HOPE THIS IS A TURNAROUND FOR A TEAM THAT HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I JUST REMEMBER BEING AT THOSE WORLD CUP GAMES ` THE FEELING THAT THEY GAVE EVERYBODY WAS SO GREAT. I AM GOING TO STICK WITH FOOTBALL. I READ ABOUT THIS, THIS MORNING. A RADIO HOST HAS BEEN AXED FOR REALLY QUITE OTHERWORLDLY AND SEXIST REMARK ABOUT THE MATILDA'S. IT WAS HORRIFIC, REALLY. IT WAS DISGUSTING. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THAT A MAN COULD ATTACK A TEAM WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR AUSTRALIAN SPORT, AND AUSTRALIAN CULTURE. THIS GUY IS AN AUSTRALIAN COMEDIAN, AND HE WAS A RADIO HOST ON TRIPLE M, WHICH IS A NATIONWIDE STATION IN AUSTRALIA, AND HE INTERRUPTED THE SPORTS BULLETIN WHEN THEY WERE REPORTING ON THE MATILDAS' SECOND LOSS IN THAT SHE BELIEVES CUP, AND THE UNITED STATES ` THEY HAVE SINCE GONE ON TO HAVE THREE LOSSES AND FINISHED FOURTH IN THE TOURNAMENT ` BUT HE JUST WENT ON THIS MISOGYNISTIC RANT. THERE IS NOTHING THERE I WOULD NEVER REPEAT ON TELEVISION. HE WAS SAYING THINGS LIKE THEY WERE REMINDING HIM OF YEAR 10 GIRLS WITH THEIR INFIGHTING, AND FRIENDSHIP ISSUES. AT THE END OF THE BULLETIN HE SAID, 'HAVE YOU GOT ANY MEN'S SPORT?' AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL WAS HORRIFIED. HE CAME ON AIR ON THE WEDNESDAY AND THEN APOLOGISED, BUT THEN DISAPPEARED. THE NETWORK REVEALED THAT THEY HAD MUTUALLY PARTED WAYS. WHICH MEANS HE WAS FIRED. IT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I RESPECTED THAT MAN. HE WAS A STAR OF THE SHOW FISK. HE JUST PROVED THAT HE IS JUST OUR GRUMPY, MISOGYNISTIC MAN. THAT IS SO SAD. JUST WHILE WE HAVE YOU, DYLAN BROWN ` KIWIS' STAR ` EVERYBODY WANTS HIM? THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING. KIWI HALF, DYLAN BROWN, HAS BEEN PLAYING FOR THE EELS SINCE HE WAS 15 ` HE HAS BEEN OFFERED TWO DEALS ` ONE FROM THE NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS FOR 14.4 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. AND THERE IS ANOTHER MYSTERY TEAM OFFERING FOR HIM. HE IS A PLAYMAKER, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORTAGE OF PLAYMAKERS IN THE NRL AT THE MOMENT. SO HE IS IN TOP DEMAND. IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE HE GOES. IF HE ACCEPTS THAT $14.4 MILLION, THAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST DEAL IN NRL HISTORY. I READ THAT THE MYSTERY TEAM SAID THEY WOULD PULL THE OFFER IF IT IS REVEALED IT IS THEM. WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING. THAT IS CLOAK AND DAGGER STUFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. HAVE A REALLY GREAT WEEKEND. WONDERFUL WRITER. WHERE YOU WITH THAT FOOTBALL FANS GAME AT EDEN PARK? FULL CROWD, WONDERFUL GOAL. YES, I WAS. ONLY $70 FOR A BEAR. ONLY $70 FOR A BEER. IT WAS MAGIC. THE MATILDAS ` THEY LET AUSTRALIA UP DURING THAT FOOTBALL WORLD CUP. IT WAS SO EXCITING TO WATCH THEM PLAY. WHAT A DICK. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS HOUR ` AFTER YEARS OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, A DREAM BECOMES A REALITY TODAY, AND THE SOUTHLAND CHARITY HOSPITAL OFFICIALLY OPENS. MELISSA VINING, WIFE OF THE LATE BLAIR VINING AND THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE HOSPITAL WILL JOIN US RIGHT AFTER THE NEWS. ALSO AHEAD ` 300,000 NEW ZEALANDERS ARE AFFECTED BY RARE DISORDERS. WHY THEY'RE CALLING FOR MORE ACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT. PLUS ` WE'RE LIVE FROM NEW PLYMOUTH, AS TE MATATINI HEADS INTO THE BIG FINAL WEEKEND. JENNY MAY IS THERE LIFE. JENNY MAY IS THERE LIVE. FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND IS ESCALATING ITS RESPONSE TO NORTHLAND'S WAIPOUA FIRE. THREE HELICOPTERS WILL JOIN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE 96ha FIRE, ALONG WITH GROUND CREWS AND HEAVY MACHINERY. WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO BE A CHALLENGE, WITH AN EASTERLY WIND EXPECTED TO PUSH THE FIRE TOWARDS THE WAIPOUA SETTLEMENT. 5000 CAR ENTHUSIASTS ARE EXPECTED IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS WEEKEND, BUT POLICE SAY ANY DANGEROUS DRIVING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. THE CHROME EXPRESSION SESSION FEATURES A MIXTURE OF ROLL RACING, DRIFTING AND BURNOUTS. TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOME IN NEW MEXICO, ALONG WITH THEIR DOG. IN THE PAST 10 MINUTES, AMERICAN MEDIA HAS REPORTED LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE DEEMED THE DEATHS 'SUSPICIOUS'. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS HAS WRAPPED UP, AFTER THE EXCHANGE OF HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS FOR THE BODIES OF FOUR ISRAELI HOSTAGES. JOE FEDERMAN FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS THE LATEST. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER THE SIDES CAN MOVE INTO A SECOND PHASE. THIS WOULD AIM TO END THE WAR ALTOGETHER, AND RELEASE ALL REMAINING HOSTAGES HELD IN GAZA. ALREADY THERE ARE DISAGREEMENTS ` ISRAEL HAS PLEDGED, AS PART OF THIS CEASEFIRE, TO BEGIN PULLING OUT TROOPS AWAY FROM GAZA'S BORDER WITH EGYPT, STARTING ON SATURDAY. ISRAELI OFFICIALS NOW SAY THEY WILL NOT CARRY OUT THIS PULLBACK. THEY SAY THE AREA IS TOO IMPORTANT. THEY FEAR THAT HAMAS WILL SMUGGLE WEAPONS FROM EGYPT INTO GAZA THROUGH TUNNELS IN THE AREA. HAMAS SAYS THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE DEAL. IT'S VERY UPSET. HOWEVER, THE TALKS HAVE NOT COLLAPSED. THE CEASEFIRE HAS NOT COLLAPSED. HAMAS SAYS IT WANTS TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE'S PLANNING TO IMPOSE A FURTHER 10% TARIFF ON CHINESE IMPORTS. THAT'S ON TOP OF A 10% TAX WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT EARLIER THIS MONTH. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLANNED 25% TARIFFS ON MEXICAN AND CANADIAN GOODS ARE SCHEDULED TO KICK IN NEXT WEEK. F1 DRIVER LIAM LAWSON HAS COMPLETED 91 LAPS IN A FULL DAY OF PRE-SEASON TESTING IN BAHRAIN. THE NEW ZEALANDER STAYED BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR RED BULL FOR THE ENTIRE DAY RECORDING THE SEVENTH FASTEST TIME OF THE DAY. IT WAS A SMOOTHER RIDE FOR LAWSON AFTER YESTERDAY'S TESTING, WHICH SAW HIM SPIN OUT ON THE TRACK. WILLIAMS DRIVER CARLOS SAINZ RECORDED THE BEST TIME OF THE DAY AND COMPLETED A WHOPPING 126 LAPS. LAWSON HAS HAD THE REAL RED BULL GLOWUP. HE HAS GOT THE NEW HAIR, AND SOME STUBBLE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` THE SUN IS SHINING FOR THOSE ON THE WEST COAST AND IN WELLINGTON. HOWEVER FOR THE REST OF YOU EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES AND SHOWERS. TAUPO AND BAY OF PLENTY, YOU MAY HAVE POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. 27 THE HIGH FOR AUCKLAND. 26 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. A CLOUDY START FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED SHOWERS BEFORE CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON. A FINE DAY FOR THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. 25 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 21 IN GREYMOUTH. IT'S A DREAM SIX YEARS IN THE MAKING. TODAY, THE SOUTHERN CHARITY HOSPITAL OPENS ITS DOORS. IT'S THE VISION OF MELISSA VINING AND HER LATE HUSBAND, BLAIR. THEY STARTED THE PROJECT IN 2018, FOLLOWING BLAIR'S DIAGNOSIS WITH TERMINAL BOWEL CANCER. HE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN. WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING. IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE SURE THAT MY GIRLS ARE LOOKED AFTER AND MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY AND COUNTRY, AND... COUNTRY? COUNTRY. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SAY, COS EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT THE FAMILY, BUT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE COUNTRY TOO. YOU THOUGHT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE. THERE WAS A THING ON SUNDAY WHEN THERE THEY WERE PANNING DOWN YOUR PATIENT RECORDS, AND YOU WERE DUE TO HAVE SURGERY, I THINK. AND THEN THERE WAS JUST THIS LINE, 'NO GASTRIC NURSES AVAILABLE.' SO IT WAS JUST CANCELLED. YEAH. THIS IS BIZARRE, ISN'T IT? AND IT'S THE POSTCODE LOTTERY THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, IN WHICH SOUTHLAND HAS DONE UNUSUALLY BADLY. YEAH, REALLY BADLY. AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. IT'S COS DOWN HOME IT'S THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY. SO IF WE CAN FIX THAT, THEN THAT'LL LIFT THE BAR FOR EVERYONE ELSE. WE'RE NOW IN THE BY-PRODUCT, BASICALLY, OF YOUR YEARS' WORTH OF WORK, WHICH IS THIS INCREDIBLE CHARITY HOSPITAL. YOU MUST BE NEARLY READY TO OPEN, BY THE LOOKS OF IT. WE'RE IN THE OPERATING THEATRE, RIGHT? IT'S DEFINITELY A LABOUR OF LOVE BY THE COMMUNITY, FROM PEOPLE ALL AROUND NEW ZEALAND. AND WE'RE SETTING IN WHAT WILL BE THE OPERATING THEATRE. SO VERY EXCITING TO BE CLOSE TO COMPLETING THE BUILD. WITH THE BUILD NOW COMPLETE, THE HOSPITAL WILL CATER FOR THOSE UNABLE TO ACCESS CARE THROUGH THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEMS. A GAME CHANGER, AND POSSIBLY A LIFE SAVER. THE HOSPITAL IS IN INVERCARGILL. MELISSA, ARE YOU THERE? YOU ARE LOOKING GLORIOUS. HOW ARE YOU? I JUST ROLL OUT OF BED LOOKING LIKE THIS EVERY DAY. DON'T WE ALL? MELISSA, YOU KNOW THAT DAY BLAIR SPOKE ABOUT THIS HOSPITAL, AND HE WAS SITTING IN THE STUDIO AND WHAT OUR AUDIENCE DID NOT KNOW, WAS THAT YOU WERE SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE STUDIO LISTENING TO HIM. AND THIS WAS HIS DREAM, AND YOUR DREAM, AND NOW IT IS REAL. YOU ARE SITTING IN IT. IT IS OPENING TODAY. TELL ME ABOUT THAT JOURNEY AND HOW PROUD YOU ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW. I AM JUST SO PROUD OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND ALL THE PEOPLE FROM AROUND NEW ZEALAND WHO SUPPORTED US TO BRING THIS TO A REALITY. NOW, WE CAN START HELPING PEOPLE. YOU TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE FROM NEW ZEALAND WHO HELPED YOU. ONE OF THE WAYS YOU DID FUNDRAISING WAS YOU SOLD BRICKS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN REMEMBER BUT YOU TELL ME A BEAUTIFUL STORY YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES WHO BOUGHT BRICKS. WHO DON'T HAVE A FACILITY LIKE THIS THEMSELVES, RIGHT? THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE PARTS OF THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE. WE WILL LAUNCHED A BRICK FOR BLAIR BECAUSE WE COULD NOT FUND RATES DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE WERE TRYING TO SELL A THOUSAND BRICKS AND PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND NEW ZEALAND AND OVERSEAS BOUGHT BRICKS. SOME OF THE MOST SPECIAL ONES WERE MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE IN THE NORTH ISLAND, NORTHLAND, AND EXAMPLES OF CHARITY. THEY HAD THE SAME CHALLENGES AS US WITH ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AND HERE THEY WERE BUYING BRICKS TO SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISING PROJECT TO BUILD THIS HOSPITAL EVEN THOUGH THEY WOULD NEVER BENEFIT FROM IT. THAT IS MAGIC. BLAIR WILL NEVER BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE WE LOST HIM. HE LEFT THIS AS HIS DREAM. HAS IT'S BEEN TOUGH SOMETIMES TO GET IT OVER THE LINE MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE THERE? YES. WHEN BLAIR SAID THIS WAS WE HAD TO GET ON AND BUILD A HOSPITAL BECAUSE THE POLITICIANS WERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT, FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AND AND OTAGO, THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY CRAZY, UNREALISTIC` AND I WAS SEARCHING IN DUNEDIN HOSPITAL, CAN SOMEONE JUST BUILT THEIR OWN HOSPITAL? AND IT CAME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO HAD BUILT HIS OWN HOSPITAL, AND I CONTACTED HIM AND HE SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE TOUGH. DON'T START THIS IF YOU CANNOT FINISH IT. I HAVE SO MUCH PASSION FOR HELPING THE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION. AND HE SAID, IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN PASSION. YOU WILL NEED A WHOLE LOT OF PERSEVERANCE, AND WE DEBATED THAT POINT, WHETHER IT WAS PASSION OR PERSEVERANCE. MAN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TOUGH TIMES. TURNING A PUB INTO A HOSPITAL IS NO EASY FEAT. IT HAS DEFINITELY TAKEN A WHOLE LOT OF WORK FROM A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND NEW ZEALAND. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE BRICKS AND MORTAR, ALTHOUGH THE BRICKS AND MORTAR ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THAT IS THE STARTING POINT, IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE PERSONNEL. YOU ANNOUNCED A VERY, VERY EXCITING KEY ROLE PLAYER IN FRANK FRIZZELL. HE IS THE GUY IN THIS COUNTRY. HE WILL BE WORKING THERE. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE. I RANG HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO TO SEE IF HE WOULD GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ABOUT SOME MATTERS, AND SAID TO THEM, WOULD YOU CONSIDER COMING TO VOLUNTEER FOR A FEW WEEKS? HE SAID MELISSA, I'M READY TO DO A REGULAR SPOT. I HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION DOWN THERE. HERE IS THIS GUY, HE IS DOING RESEARCH, DOING SURGERIES, HE SUPPORTS SO MANY CAUSES, AND HE IS GIVING UP HIS TIME TO COME AND VOLUNTEER HERE AT THE CHARITY HOSPITAL TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHEND AND OTAGO. IF YOU HAVE A COLONOSCOPY IN THAT FACILITY, HEY WILL BE THE GUY DOING IT. YOU CANNOT BE IN BETTER HANDS. THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY NEWS. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ` THINK ABOUT THE STRAIN THEY ARE UNDER ` AND OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS JUST GIVING UP THEIR TIME TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. IT IS EXCEPTIONAL. ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A BREAK NOW? IT WAS BLAIR'S IDEA, BLAIR'S DREAM, BUT THIS IS YOUR WORK. THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. WHAT IS NEXT? I AM DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY TODAY, AND WHAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED, BECAUSE I GENUINELY, FROM SCHOOLS, SPORTING ORGANISATIONS, TRAINEES, ACCOUNTANTS, FARMERS, ALL THESE PEOPLE ACHIEVING THIS EXTRAORDINARY SHARED GOAL TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS THOSE IMPORTANT COLONOSCOPIES AND DENTAL SERVICES, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A HOLIDAY IN MARCH. I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. TO YOU AND THE GIRLS, AND OF COURSE TO BLAIR, MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. IT IS A STORY OF LOVE AND TENACITY, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE GIVE A DAMN. WHEN YOU ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I'M LOOKING AT YOU NOW, THINKING THAT YOU ARE THE BEES KNEES. YOU HAVE DONE IT. WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOTS OF PEOPLE AND LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF, AND THE BREAKFAST TEAM, AND MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS I SAY IT IS DEFTLY NOT ME, IT IS ONLY VOLUNTEERS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONATED. IT IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL. CONGRATULATIONS. IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. HAVE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY. YOU DID IT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS BLAIR'S DREAM, BUT BLAIR WAS NOT HERE. SHE HAS DONE IT. SHE BUILT THE HOSPITAL. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY. TO EVERYBODY WHO BOUGHT A BRICK, DONATED MONEY, OR WHO BOUGHT A SAUSAGE, GOOD ON YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` A GROUNDBREAKING KAPA HAKA WRITTEN WITH THE HELP OF CHAT GPT. HOW ANGITU YET AGAIN DELIVERED AN EXTRAORDINARY TE MATATINI PERFORMANCE. (UPBEAT MUSIC) 7:18 ON THIS FRIDAY MORNING. MELISSA STOKES AND ME IN THE HOUSE. JAY MAY AT TE MATATINI, WE WILL CROSS TO HER SHORTLY. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE'S PLANNING TO IMPOSE A FURTHER 10% TARIFF ON CHINESE IMPORTS. WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR FIRE CREWS BATTLING A LARGE BLAZE NEAR WAIPOUA IN NORTHLAND TODAY. AND F1 DRIVER LIAM LAWSON HAS COMPLETED 91 LAPS IN A FULL DAY OF PRE-SEASON TESTING IN BAHRAIN. BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS 7:18. YOU JUST SAID THE TIME BEFORE, EH? DOUBLING DOWN. WE'RE HEADING BACK TO NEW PLYMOUTH NOW, WHERE JENNY-MAY'S TAKING IN TE MATATINI. SORTED OUT, YOU TWO. SHUT UP! MELISSA, YOU HAVE TO KEEP HIM IN CHECK. BACK TO US HERE IN NEW PLYMOUTH. IT'S BEEN THREE DAYS OF INTENSE COMPETITION HERE AT TE MATATINI, WITH SO MANY STANDOUT PERFORMANCES. HOW THE JUDGES WILL PICK THE FINAL 12 IS BEYOND ME, BUT ONE KAPA LEFT THE CROWD SPELLBOUND. WHEN THE ANGITU KAPA HAKA TOOK TO THE STAGE ON TUESDAY, THE CROWD ANTICIPATED SOMETHING GROUNDBREAKING. AND BOY, DID THEY DELIVER. PERE WIHONGI AND HIS ROPU BLEW ANY EXPECTATION OUT OF THE WATER, BREAKING GENDER ROLES AND CHALLENGING THE SILENT NORMS, WHICH HAVE AT TIMES KEPT THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY MORE INCLINED TO STAY BACKSTAGE. ALL IN A PERFORMANCE PARTLY WRITTEN USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. IT'S THE SEVENTH MATATINI WHERE PERE HAS STOOD ON THE STAGE. WE CAUGHT UP YESTERDAY AND I BEGAN BY ASKING ` WHAT'S THE FEEL OF THIS ONE, BEING HERE IN TARANAKI? I'D PROBABLY DESCRIBE THIS MATATINI AS... VERY REFLECTIVE OF THE TARANAKI PEOPLE, OF TE KAHUI MAUNGA PEOPLE. IT'S QUITE PEACEFUL. AND IT'S A REFLECTION OF THEIR ENERGY AND WAIRUA, AS EXAMPLES OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE, AND HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THEIR OWN COLONIAL WALLS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. A LOT OF THEIR ENERGY HAS BEEN PLACED ACROSS THE MAURI OF TARANAKI ROHE ` OF TE KAUI MAUNGA. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, ESPECIALLY THE MAORI ` THE IWI MAORI HERE ` HAVE ANOTHER AHUA ABOUT THEM, ANOTHER MAURI TAU. AND THAT'S WHAT I CAN FEEL FROM THIS MATATINI IN PARTICULAR. YOU CHALLENGED SO MANY THINGS ON STAGE, AND I WONDER HOW THAT WAS FOR YOU, COS WE CAN TALK ABOUT YOU DOING THE WHAIKORERO, YOU LEADING THE HAKA, AND THEN STANDING WITH THE WAHINE ` THE WOMEN ` AND DOING THE POI. ALL OF THOSE THINGS CHALLENGED THE STATUS QUO, RIGHT? SO, AS SOMEONE FROM THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY, HOW DID YOU FEEL GOING INTO THAT? I'LL BE HONEST, WITH THE EVENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, IT'S ACTUALLY GROWN A DEEPER FIRE, A MORE PASSIONATE FIRE AS WELL, TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TYPE OF PLATFORM OF TE MATATINI, WHERE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR RAINBOW COMMUNITY ARE INVOLVED ACROSS, I WOULD SAY, EVERY SINGLE KAPA HAKA. AND FOR A LOT OF OUR KAPA HAKA TEAMS, THEY'RE THE TUTORS, THEY'RE BEHIND THE SCENES ` THEY'RE THE POI TUTORS, THEY'RE TEACHING THE POI, THEY'RE TEACHING VOCALS, THEY'RE COMPOSING SONGS, BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FIND COMFORTABILITY IN THEIR OWN STANCE ON THE STAGE. AND THAT COULD BE BECAUSE OF UNIFORMITY AS WELL. SO, I'M JUST LUCKY THAT I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR KAPA, AND OUR WHANAU, THAT CAN ENABLE THAT POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT STANCE. BUT, ON TOP OF THAT, IT IS QUITE NERVE-WRACKING. ALTHOUGH THERE'S A MAURI TAU ABOVE SURFACE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THERE'S A TAU CURRENT UNDERNEATH THAT'S PULLING AND TEARING APART BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS NERVES. A LOT OF IT IS NERVES OF THE RESPONSE, THE REACTIONS, AND EVEN JUST FINDING MYSELF IN THE STANCE. BUT, NO, I'M LUCKY TO HAVE A SUPPORTIVE WHANAU BECAUSE I THINK FROM THAT, I CAN DO ANYTHING. WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN? A LOT OF THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN QUITE OVERWHELMING BECAUSE OF, LIKE I SAID, RECENT EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. SO IT HAS BEEN QUITE TIMELY AND RELEVANT. I WAS JUST APPRECIATIVE THAT THE CROWD WAS ENGAGED, THROUGH THE HUMOUR, THROUGH THE EMOTION, THROUGH THE WAIRAU, AND THAT IS WHAT I SEE WHEN I'M ON STAGE. I DON'T SEE IT AS A GENDER. I DON'T SEE MY PERFORMANCE KAITATAKI TANE. I'M ON STAGE JUST PERFORMING AS PERE, AND I'M JUST GLAD. AND THAT WAS EVIDENT. WELL, THAT'S` EXACTLY SO IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT I SHOULD BE, I DO LIKE TO CHALLENGE IT, AND I THINK IT'S TIMELY. THERE HAVE BEEN AMAZING EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT HISTORY AS WELL. SO I'M NOT GONNA SAY I'VE FORGED THIS PATHWAY, BUT I'VE DEFINITELY BEEN INSPIRED FROM SO MANY BEFORE ME THAT HAVE ENABLED ME TO STAND LIKE HOW I STAND THIS YEAR. TELL ME ABOUT THAT HAKA TOO, BECAUSE ACTUALLY, CHATGPT, AI, WAS SO MUCH IN THERE ABOUT HOW IT'S GOOD, BUT THEN WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, BE WEARY. THAT'S IT. BUT YOU WROTE THAT ALONGSIDE CHATGPT, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH. OUR CORE GROUP CAME TOGETHER, AND THE IDEA CAME FROM, WHAT IF GPT COULD COMPOSE AN ITEM? WE TYPED IT IN, AND IT LITERALLY HAD AN ITEM. WE GAVE IT FEEDBACK, AND IT CHANGED AND ADAPTED. AND SO IT WENT THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS, AND WE WERE ASTONISHED AT THE QUALITY IT COULD PRODUCE, AT THE QUALITY OF IDEAS AND EXAMPLES IT ALSO USED THROUGHOUT ITS COMPOSITIONS IN TE REO MAORI. WOW. SO WE KNOW IT KNOWS TE REO. IT KNOWS OUR LANGUAGE. SO WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE, THEN, WITHIN THAT HAKA? WELL, SO IT SHIFTED AS WE WENT THROUGH THE HAKA AND AS WE WORKED WITH CHATGPT ITSELF. I THINK THE MAIN MESSAGE IS REALLY BRINGING TO TE IWI MAORI'S AWARENESS THIS POTENTIAL TAONGA, OR POTENTIAL TANIWHA. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GO EITHER WAY, AND IT'S ACTUALLY IN HOW WE USE IT. WHAT WE FEED THIS TANIWHA IS HOW IT WILL FEED US. AND SO IT IS ALSO BRINGING TO THE FOREFRONT THE DANGERS, BECAUSE IT'S QUITE UNKNOWN WHERE THE FUTURE OF AI IS. AND SO AS WE LOOK INTO HOW WE'RE ARCHIVING OUR COMPOSITIONS, YES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REACH BACK INTO OUR HISTORY AND GRAB AND REVIVE OLD COMPOSITIONS AND WAIATA TO BRING THEM INTO THIS GENERATION. BUT I ALSO FEEL JUST AS MUCH AS THAT IS IMPORTANT, AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO OUR CURRENT TIME, BECAUSE OF COURSE, IN THE FUTURE, WHEN PEOPLE LOOK BACK TO THIS CURRENT MOMENT IN TIME, THEY WANT TO HEAR THE STORIES FROM THIS MOMENT. AND AI IS SUCH A POWERFUL TOOL. THERE ARE SO MANY KORERO AND ASSUMPTIONS ON WHERE IT COULD GO. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF TE IWI MAORI WAS TO SUDDENLY VANISH, OUR LANGUAGE COULD STILL SURVIVE THROUGH AI. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE WHOLE WORLD WAS TO END, TAKING WITH IT EVERY SINGLE PERSON, THE ALIENS WOULD ONLY NEED AI TO REVIVE TE REO MAORI. NEK MINIT, THE MARTIANS ARE SPEAKING TE REO MAORI. SO IT STILL CAN BE A VEHICLE TO RETAIN OUR LANGUAGE JUST AS MUCH AS IT CAN BE A DANGER. FINAL QUESTION. HOW DO YOU, KIND OF, PREPARE FOR THAT? I THINK AT THIS STAGE IT'S REALLY ABOUT SYNCHRONISING OUR WHANAU, SYNERGISING OUR WHANAU AS WELL. IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK ALREADY. SO IT'S BRINGING ASPECT TO THIS KAUPAPA. SO IT'S BRINGING US BACK TO THIS KAUPAPA. YOU KNOW, WE SING SONGS ABOUT RELEVANT KAUPAPA ACROSS THE BOARD. AND THEN OF COURSE, COMING HERE TO TE KAHUI MAUNGA AND ACKNOWLEDGING KORO TARANAKI, A HUGE PART FOR US IS ACTUALLY GOING TO KORO TARANAKI AND SINGING TO HIM. WE'RE SINGING ABOUT HIM. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM. WE HAVE REHEARSED SONGS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO DIRECTLY TO KORO TARANAKI AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT. HE MOMO WHAKAWHENUA NO TE RATA. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GROUND US WHILST WE'RE HERE IN TE KAHUI MAUNGA BUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT KORO TARANAKI STANDS FOR, NOT ONLY HERE IN TARANAKI ITSELF, BUT ACROSS TE KAHUI MAUNGA AND ALL THE MAUNGA THAT MAKE UP THIS BEAUTIFUL ROHE WHO HAVE BEEN AMAZING HOSTS THIS YEAR. SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW CAN WE GIVE BACK TO TE KAHUI MAUNGA? I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT PERE TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US. BECAUSE THE EXTRAORDINARY THING ABOUT THIS AS WELL IS THESE ROPU HAVE TWO WAIT UNTIL TONIGHT TO FIND OUT WHO GOES THROUGH TO THE FINALS TOMORROW, BECAUSE ONLY 12/55 GO THROUGH. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE JUDGES WILL DECIDE. THAT IS WHY THEY GET PAID THE BIG BUCKS I GUESS. I WILL BE JOINING YOU AGAIN JUST AFTER 8 O'CLOCK. NGA MIHI, J MAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PERE IS AMAZING. IT WAS A STUNNING PERFORMANCE. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER IS COMING RIGHT UP. # WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH. MORENA, FIRE CREWS ARE RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF A LARGE VEGETATION FIRE IN WAIPOUA. LUCY BENDELL JOINS US. WHAT'S THE LATEST THIS MORNING, LUCY? WITH MORENA, JOHN. AT FIRST LIGHT, OPERATIONS BEGAN. I HAVE JUST HEARD FROM FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND, GROUND CREWS ARE ALSO MAKING THEIR WAY THERE. TODAY I'LL BE WORKING TO BATTLE THE PLAYERS BUT THEY WILL ALSO BE EXTENDING THOSE CONTAINMENT LINES AROUND THE FIRE. THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY 96 HA LARGE AND ONLY 50% CONTAINED. WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE RESPECTED TO BE AN ISSUE TODAY AS AN EASTERLY WIND IS EXPECTED TO PUSH THE FIRE TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT WITH 20 HOMES. OF COURSE, THEY HAD BEEN EVACUATED, BUT THEY'LL BE WORKING TO PROTECT THE STRUCTURES. THERE WILL BE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FOREST WHICH HAS THE TANEMAHUTA, COUNTRY'S OLDEST TREES STANDING THERE. ABOUT 2000 YEARS OLD, THAT TREE. IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO VISIT IT, PLEASE DO. TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOME IN NEW MEXICO, ALONG WITH THEIR DOG. LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE TREATING THE DEATHS AS SUSPICIOUS AND AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY. HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM ISRAELI JAILS DAYS LATER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREED. THE FINAL EXCHANGE OF PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL SAW THE BODIES OF FOUR HOSTAGES RETURNED, AND MORE THAN 600 PRISONERS RELEASED. POPE FRANCIS CONTINUES TO SHOW SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS HEALTH AND REMAINS IN GOOD SPIRITS, ACCORDING TO THE VATICAN. UK PRIME MINISTER SIR KEIR STARMER HAS ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AMID ONGOING TENSION BETWEEN THE U.S. AND EUROPE OVER THE WAR IN UKRAINE. OF COURSE, THE UK IS NO LONGER PART OF EUROPE. NOT NATURAL ALLIES, THOSE TWO. TO SPORT, BLACK FERNS GREAT PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE WILL MAKE HER HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DEBUT FOR THE BLUES THIS WEEKEND AS THE SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI SEASON KICKS OFF. THE 33-YEAR-OLD WILL START ON THE WING AFTER SIGNING A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE AUCKLAND-BASED SIDE FOLLOWING HER RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY. SO GOOD FOR THE BLUES TO HAVE HER. THE BLUES WILL TAKE ON THE HURRICANES POUA IN WELLINGTON MY TEAM! TOMORROW AFTERNOON. DESPITE HAVING PORTIA, THEY WILL STILL LOSE. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU WORKED HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS? I USED TO WORK WITH CAROL, WHO IS NOW THE DIRECTOR OF THIS SHOW, WHO IS BILLY PULLING HER HAIR OUT. *PROBABLY LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) # LET'S GO TO WORK. LET'S GO TO WORK ON THE WEATHER. THE SUN IS SHINING FOR THOSE ON THE WEST COAST AND IN TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON. HEAVY RAINS ARE PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLATEAU, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY LOVELY. 27 THE HIGH FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND. STILL WARM FOR THE END OF FEBRUARY. LET'S HEAD TO THE SOUTH. WHOOP, WHOOP. A CLOUDY START FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED SHOWERS BEFORE CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON. A FINE DAY FOR THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. 25 THE HIGH FOR TAAHUNA QUEENSTOWN. 21 IN GREYMOUTH. PRETTY WARM FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. MORENA TO THOSE OF YOU ON THE WEST COAST. ACTUALLY, LOOKS LIKE A LOVELY DAY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. THIS WEEK, WE'RE GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A FAMILY GETAWAY TO NEW PLYMOUTH THANKS TO VENTURE TARANAKIM INCLUDING FLIGHTS, A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT NOVOTEL AND SOME FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES. DISCOVER LOCAL ARTISTRY WITH A GIFT BUNDLE FROM THE COLLABORATION, EXPLORE HISTORY AT TAWHITI MUSEUM, AND A $400 DINING VOUCHER AT THE WEST END PRECINCT. THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN UNTIL SUNDAY 4pm, AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER ON THE SHOW NEXT MONDAY. HEAD TO winwithbreakfast.co.nz ALL THANKS TO VENTURE TARANAKI. SEAMLESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STACEY. I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED BEING DOWN THERE A FEW TIMES OVER RECENT YEARS. A GOOD VIBE? ON THE FEW DAYS WHEN IT IS CLEAR, OH MY GIDDY UNCLE. MAGIC, MAGIC. WE SPENT LOTS OF SUMMERS THERE, WE HAD A SHOP THERE. WHEREABOUTS? IN THE MALL. WOW, DID YOU? SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE. THERE IS A LOT TO UNCOVER ABOUT THE STOKES FAMILY HISTORY, JOHN. ME U TONU MAI ` BIG GAME FOR THE HURRICANES THIS WEEKEND. MORE SPORT AFTER THE BREAK. MORENA, AUCKLAND. TINO RANGITOTO CAME OUT OF THE OCEAN ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YEARS AGO. IF YOU ARE IN AUCKLAND MUSEUM, YOU WILL SEE ME EXPLAIN IN THIS. EXPLAINING WHAT? EXTENDING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT ERUPTED NOW. CLOUD INCREASING THIS EVENING. NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON. NEW PLYMOUTH, 23 DEGREES. OUR FRIEND AND BREAKFAST HOST JENNY MAY IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB THIS MORNING. DO YOU KNOW TOMORROW IS ALREADY COMPLETELY SOLD OUT? THIS IS THE SCENE. FINE, LIGHT WINDS. NORTHEASTERLIES, FRESH IN EXPOSED PLACES. SO DON'T EXPOSE YOUR PLACES. VERY NICE. I JUST READ DUNEDIN THERE!� FRESH AND EXPOSED PLACES, FRESH AND EXPOSED PLACES. MY SON IS IN DUNEDIN, ONE OF THE FINAL FEW MEN DOWN THERE. *FINE FEW TO ANYONE USED TO HAVE STANDARDS! *TV1 USED TO HAVE STANDARDS! # PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOME IN NEW MEXICO ALONG WITH THEIR DOG. THE BIGGEST BANK IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS BECOME THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO LAY OUT PLANS TO REDUCE STAFF, WITH 4000 ROLES CUT AND REPLACED BY AI. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER ON BREAKFAST. AND NASA IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH A NEW TELESCOPE IN A BID TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ORIGINS OF OUR UNIVERSE. STACEY DID A BEAUTIFUL INTERVIEW WITH A PHYSICIST THIS MORNING. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH IT ON TVnz+. TIME FOR A DOSE OF OUR SPORTING FIX, AND JOINING US THIS MORNING IS OUR WELLINGTON SPORTS REPORTER, LUKE ROBINSON. WE MET BRIEFLY IN THE AUCKLAND NEWSROOM. LUKE, THIS IS MELISSA, I AM JOHN. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE WOMEN, PHOENIX ARE PLAYING THE BLUES AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MEN. AND THE HURRICANES HOST THE BLUES IN THE CAPITAL IN A HOTLY-ANTICIPATED MATCH-UP IN SUPER RUGBY? THE BLUES IS ZERO FROM TWO?! THAT'S RIGHT, JOHN, I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE HURRICANE'S RECORD LAST YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, THE BEST RECORD AND THEY WENT ON TO BECOME CHAMPIONS. THERE WAS A DIFFERING STANCE TO THE SEASON. THE BLUES WERE WITHOUT A WIN, SO THEY ARE SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, REMARKABLE GIVEN WHAT THEIR SEASON WAS LAST YEAR AND THEY HAVE ADDED BAUDEN BARRETT TO THE MIX. THE HURRICANE ARE LOOKING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF MOMENTUM TO GET THEM SECOND WIN IN A ROW AFTER WINNING AGAINST THE DRUA. DID YOU WATCH IT? I DID. THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. WE COULD HAVE EASILY LOST THAT GAME AGAINST THE DRUA, SUPPER HURRICANE, I THINK THERE WASN'T WHARTON'S THING IS TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE 80 MINUTE PERFORMANCE. FIVE ALL BLACKS ARE MISSING FROM THEIR TEAM... (CLEARS THROAT) EXCUSE ME/ ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, THEY HAVE KADE BANKS STARTING I SPOKE TO HIM EARLY IN THE WEEK. SUPER EXCITED. BEEN CHIPPING AWAY, TRYING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. FELT LIKE I HAD A PRETTY GOOD PRE-SEASON. AND THEN COACHES NAMED ON TUESDAY, SO, PRETTY STOKED, VERY EXCITED. YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING ONE. A FEW MATES IN THERE, HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM AT ALL THIS WEEK BUT IT'LL BE GOOD TO CATCH UP AFTER THE GAME. SUCH GOOD GAME, THE BLUES, CANE GAMES. WHEN I WAS A KID... (LAUGHS) SHUT UP, MELISSA. THOSE GAMES WERE SO EXCITING. AND STAYING IN THE CAPITAL ` THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX WOMEN'S SIDE PUSH TO THE PLAYOFFS THAT START THIS WEEKEND? THE BAD NEWS FOR THEM IS THAT THEY ARE FOUR POINTS OUTSIDE OF THE PLAY-OFFS, BUT THE FIVE OF THE LAST SEVEN GAMES ARE AT HOME AND THEIR HOME RECORD IS REMARKABLE COMPARED TO THE OTHER GAMES. THE AWAY FORM ` SEVEN POINTS AND 11 AWAY FROM HOME BUT 13 POINTS FROM THEIR SIX HOME GAMES. THE FIVE OF THE LAST SEVEN GAMES ARE IN PORIRUA PARK. THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THE RISE AND THEY STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO SO OUTSIDE THE PLAY-OFFS WITH SEVEN GAMES TO GO, I SPOKE WITH THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX DEFENDER AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE THE PLAY-OFFS. YEAH, I THINK THE FANS ARE DEFINITELY A BIG PART OF IT. GETTING TO PLAY IN FRONT OF A CROWD, THE ENERGY'S GREAT, AND YOU JUST HAVE A LEVEL OF PRIDE FOR YOUR CLUB TO WANNA GO OUT THERE AND DO REALLY WELL. SO, I DEFINITELY THINK THERE'S A HOME ADVANTAGE WITH THE WIN, TOO. IT HELPS. TEAMS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY COME AND PLAY IN THAT. I THINK JUST LEARNING FROM EVERY GAME, PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD BUT WE NEED TO STRING TOGETHER RESULTS, SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON. FINE-TUNING SOMETHING TO HELP US. NOT LETTING WHERE WE ARE AT ON THE TABLE... WE KNOW WE ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF STRINGING TOGETHER SOME WINS. SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THAT IS THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX TAKING ON ADELAIDE. AND OF COURSE, HURRICANES VS BLUES. JUST A HUGE WEEKEND! JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU ARE REALLY GOOD, LUKE. HOW OLD ARE YOU, LUKE? DON'T LAUGH. I AM 30 IN JUNE, JOHN. WELL, YOU SHOULD BE THAT GOOD. A LOT IS RIDING ON THIS QUESTION, IN TERMS OF MY ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUR CAREER. I AM FROM WHAKATANE. SO A DIEHARD CHIEFS FAN. THEIR LAST WAS A TOP GAME. HE JUST WANTS TO GET A COFFEE. HEI APOPO. DON'T YOU LIKE RUGBY, STOKESY? THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. IS IT? WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW, STACEY? E WHAI AKE NEI ` HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF NEW ZEALANDERS LIVE WITH RARE DISORDERS. NEXT, WHY THEY'RE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP. Where to from here, New Zealand? To amazing places, places of opportunity, technology, possibility, sustainability, every ability, places that are for all to enjoy ` yeah, everyone. Let's enjoy the path forged by those that came before us but also find new ones, maybe better ones. Life is our journey. Aotearoa ` our magnificent waka. WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THESE TWO. GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU UP TO TODAY? IN THE MORNING, I WILL PLAY WITH MY BARBIE. GOING TO PLAY WITH YOUR BARBIE? ARE YOU GOING TO SCHOOL? YES. YOUR TEACHER WILL BE EXCITED TO HEAR YOU ARE ON THE TV. YOU HAVE YOUR SPARKLY SHOES ON AND HAD SOME MAKE UP ON. WAS THAT FUN? YEAH! WE CAN SELL SHE IS A LITTLE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY. THE MAKE UP GIRL SAID SHE KEPT ON TALKING AWAY. SHE HAS SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY AND IS NOW ON MEDICATION THAT WAS FUNDED A YEAR AGO. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE ON HER LIFE? SHE IS FAR MORE INDEPENDENT AND HAVING LESS FALLS. WE HAVE HAD NO SICKNESSES SINCE SHE STARTED TREATMENT. THERE IS STILL THAT BITTERSWEET THING WHERE SHE IS BEING SCREENED AND TREATED FROM BIRTH AND WHAT DIFFERENCE THEY COULD MAKE TO HER NOW. THERE HAS BEEN NO DECLINE SINCE SHE STARTED TREATMENT. SHE IS DANCING AGAIN, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. DO YOU LIKE DANCING? YEP. YOUR TEDDY IS DOING SOME TRACKS. TEDDY! CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE STATE OF RED DISORDERS IS A NEW ZEALAND AT THE MOMENT? IT IS NOT GOOD. WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ALL WELL BEHIND MOST OTHER COUNTRIES, BOTH IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED STANDARDS OF CARE AND ALSO ACCESS TO DIAGNOSTICS AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT, INCLUDING MEDICINES. WE HAVE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. JUST LAST WEEK, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY HAS STALLED, LARGELY BECAUSE HEALTH NEW ZEALAND HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH THEIR CURRENT RESET BEFORE THEY ENGAGE WITH THAT. FEELING PRETTY FRUSTRATED AND NOT HAPPY THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ON WITH THINGS NOW THAT WE DO HAVE A STRATEGY IN PLACE. WE HAVE HAD A STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER OF HEALTH WHO SAYS THAT IT IS HIS PRIORITY TO ENSURE ALL KIWIS HAVE ACCESS TO TIMELY QUALITY HEALTHCARE, WHICH INCLUDES NEW ZEALANDERS WITH THE REAR DISORDERS. YOU CAN SEE THAT HE IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT I CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH THE RED DISORDERS. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FROM HERE, CHRIS? THE FIRST THING IS THAT HEALTH NEW ZEALAND NEEDS TO COME AROUND THE TABLE AND BE A PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION THAT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH FROM ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. JUST HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND HAVING HEALTH NEW ZEALAND LISTEN TO PEOPLE WITH RARE DISORDERS WOULD BE A GREAT START. IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING PARTICULARLY, FIRST OF ALL, IS ESTABLISHING WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THE HEALTH PATHWAYS AND ESTABLISHING THOSE FOR RARE DISORDERS. ONE OF THE PARTICULAR THINGS WE HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING FOR IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AS HAVING A VIRTUAL CENTRE OF EXPERTISE. LOTS OF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE THAT, WE DO NOT. IF THERE WAS A MOVEMENT TO SAY, WE WILL DO THAT, AND WE WILL GET THAT ESTABLISHED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT WOULD BE A REALLY FANTASTIC START. THIS IS YOUR REALITY, YOU LIVE THIS. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO SUPPORT KIDS WITH RARE DISORDERS? MAJORLY. TO GET ACCESS TO ANYTHING, IT FEELS LIKE A FIGHT. YOU GO DOWN MULTIPLE PATHWAYS JUST TO GET ANYWHERE. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, WHETHER THAT BE MOBILITY BEAR CALLS TO GET ACCESS, MORE INCLUSIVE AREAS, MORE TEACHER HOURS FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO BE AT SCHOOL FULL-TIME, SO MANY THINGS ARE MISSING THAT NEED TO BE AVAILABLE. YOU WOULD BE SEEING A LOT OF THAT TOO, CHRIS. YES, THAT IS RIGHT. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT SHE SAID. A LOT OF RARE DISORDERS, IF YOU CAN DIAGNOSE AND TREAT THEM EARLY, THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF LIVING THEIR BEST LIVES, LIVING AS WELL AS POSSIBLE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED, IS TO START HAVING A REAL FOCUS ON GETTING THROUGH ALL THE BARRIERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM. CHRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING FROM RARE DISORDERS NEW ZEALAND. ZOEY, THANK YOU. YOU ARE OFF TO SCHOOL NOW? WHAT YOU GOING TO TELL THEM? I'M GOING TO TELL THEM THAT I WILL BE IN A MOVIE, I'M GOING TO BE ON THE TV! YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE TV. YOU HAVE DONE IT, MY FRIEND. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. THAT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE MEETING YOU AND YOUR CAT. IT IS YOUR KITTY. HE IS PRETTY ADVENTUROUS, LIKE YOU. THANK YOU, HAVE A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL. I WILL! STILL TO COME ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` DOZENS OF KAPA HAKA GROUPS ARE VYING FOR THE BIG PRIZES AT TE MATATINI. BUT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST PERFORMANCES HAPPENING IN NEW PLYMOUTH. WE ARE GOING THERE! LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND? WE'LL WHIP AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH WHAT'S ON OFFER ON OUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD. PLUS, IT'S TIME TO POP A MANU. THE WORLD CHAMPS ARE SET TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH ON AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT THIS WEEKEND. ACTUALLY, WE ARE. IT IS NOT ME, MELISSA. IT IS A LUCY BENDEL GOING ALONG. THIS IS JUST BEFORE NINE. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. THREE HELICOPTERS ARE ARRIVING TO BATTLE THE LARGE VEGETATION FIRE IN WAIPOUA. IT WILL JOIN CREWS ON THE GROUND AND HEAVY MACHINERY WORKING TO EXTEND CONTAINMENT LINES. CREWS WILL BE ACTIVELY FIGHTING THE FIRE AND EXTENDING CONTAINMENT LINES AS FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND EXPECT TODAY'S WEATHER CONDITIONS TO BE A CHALLENGE. THE 96ha FIRE IS 50% CONTAINED. THIS TREE IS ABOUT 2000 YEARS OLD. THE SAME AGE AS CHRISTIANITY. JUST OUTSIDE OF THE FIRE LINES AT THE MOMENT. LET'S HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY. THE DEATHS OF TWO-IME ACADEMY AWARD WINNER GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE ARE NOW BEING TREATED AS SUSPICIOUS. THE BBC'S EMMA VARDY HAS THE LATEST FROM LOS ANGELES. WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF SADNESS HERE IN HOLLYWOOD OVER GENE HACKMAN'S DEATH, BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS DEATH, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND SOME MYSTERY SURROUNDING THIS, BECAUSE AFTER THE BODY OF HIM AND HIS WIFE BETSY WERE FOUND AND ONE OF THE COUPLE'S THREE DOGS AT THEIR HOME IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, INITIALLY POLICE HAD SAID THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY. BUT LATER ON, THE SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAID THAT AFTER SEARCHES HAD BEEN CONDUCTED OF THE FAMILY HOME AND EMERGENCY CREWS HAD DONE TESTING THERE, AND THAT THEY ARE NOW TREATING THOSE DEATHS AS SUSPICIOUS. POPE FRANCIS' BIOGRAPHER IS REJECTING RUMOURS THAT THE PONTIFF MAY BE CONSIDERING RESIGNING IN LIGHT OF HIS RECENT HEALTH WOES. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT FOR FRANCIS, THE PAPACY IS FOR LIFE. HE'S SHOWN THAT HE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH BEING A FRAIL POPE, AN ELDERLY POPE, A POPE IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND HE CAN FULFIL HIS PAPAL MISSION IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I THINK, HOWEVER, WHAT HE HAS SAID IS THAT IF HE HAD A LONG-TERM, DEBILITATING OR DEGENERATIVE CONDITION THAT PREVENTED HIM FROM FULLY CARRYING OUT THE PAPAL MINISTRY, HE OR INDEED ANY FUTURE POPE WOULD OF COURSE CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY. THE POPE'S HEALTH HAS SHOWN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE PAST DAY. TO SPORT, SUE HODGES AND DAN DICKISON HAVE TAKEN THE NATIONAL BOWLS MIXED PAIRS TITLE IN OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. THE TAURANGA DUO BEAT LOCAL CANTABRIANS LANCE PASCOE AND MANDY BOYD IN THE FINAL 11-7. WOW, WHAT A BOWL. WELL PLAYED. WHAT A BOWL. IT WAS A TIGHT GAME, WITH THE TEAMS LOCKED AT FIVE ALL BEFORE THE BAY OF PLENTY DUO PULLED AWAY. HODGES AND DICKISON HAVE WON NEARLY 40 REGIONAL TITLES BETWEEN THEM. THAT IS A PRETTY FORMIDABLE COMBINATION. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` THE SUN IS SHINING FOR THOSE ON THE WEST COAST AND IN WELLINGTON. LOOK AT THAT GLORIOUS A SWEEP OF SUNSHINE. TEMPERATURES IN THE 20S. HOWEVER FOR THE REST OF YOU EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES AND SHOWERS. TAUPO AND BAY OF PLENTY, THE ODD SPOT OF GENUINE RAIN. 27 THE HIGH FOR AUCKLAND. 26 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. A CLOUDY START FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED SHOWERS BEFORE CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON. A FINE DAY FOR THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT IS ACTUALLY LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AS YOU SWEEP DOWN THE WHOLE OF THE WEST COAST. 25 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 21 IN GREYMOUTH. NOT BAD FOR THE END OF FEBRUARY. SOUTHLAND IS HAVING A MAGNIFICENT HOT DAY. THE CHARITY HOSPITAL. THE PERFORMANCES AT TE MATATINI ARE SET TO GET UNDERWAY SHORTLY. JENNY MAY IS IN NEW PLYMOUTH FOR US THIS MORNING. MORENA. MORENA. (SPEAKS TE REO) THE CROWDS ARE STARTING TO BUILD HERE AT PUKEKURA IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FINAL DAY OF PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCES. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. AND AS WE KNOW, TE MATATINI IS THE ULTIMATE SHOWCASE OF KAPA HAKA, A CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL REVIVAL. AND FOR SOME, IT'S ALSO A JOURNEY TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT ` A MOKO. TE WEHI PRESTON IS A TA MOKO TOHUNGA, AN EXPERT IN MOKO, FROM TE WHANAU-A-APANUI. HE IS ONE OF THE ARTISTS OFFERING EXPERTISE AT THE MOKO ORA WANANGA TENT THIS WEEK. IT'S BEEN BOOKING OUT EVERY DAY AS PEOPLE COME TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR WHAKAPAPA THROUGH MOKO. TE WEHI PRESTON JOINS ME NOW. MORENA. MORENA. BEFORE WE EVEN START TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING, HOW GOOD IS THIS? AMAZING, ISN'T IT? AT 8 O'CLOCK, THE GATES OPEN. THERE IS JUST AS A MASSIVE RUSH OF PEOPLE. YOU WERE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN ALL THESE YEARS I HAVE BEEN COMING THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE TO WITNESS THE STAMPEDE. IT IS AWESOME. IT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, AS WAS YOUR STAND ON TUESDAY. YOU HAVE HAD TIME TO REFLECT ON THAT. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE? MYSELF, PERSONALLY, COULD DO WITH A LOT MORE PRACTICE. BUT AS A GROUP, WE ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT OUR PERFORMANCE. WE ARE GLAD THAT FOR US WE WERE ABLE TO HONOUR THE COMPOSITIONS AND SHARE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING US DOWN ON THE EAST COAST, AND PAYING HOMAGE TO OUR BEAUTIFUL QUEEN AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED TO SHAPE AND MOULD OUR CULTURE. HOW MANY HAVE YOU BEEN TO? I HAVE BEEN TO A NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES, BUT EACH ONE IS SPECIAL AND DIFFERENT. DEPENDING ON WHERE IT IS, OF COURSE. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL LOCAL FEEL TO IT. THIS ONE IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, JENNY MAY. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FEELING ABOUT IT. IT IS KNOWN FOR BEING PEACEFUL. WE SEE THAT. YOU WERE WAITING NOW, RIGHT? WE STILL HAVE 13 TEAMS THAT ARE PERFORMING TODAY. ANOTHER BIG DAY TODAY. ANOTHER BIG DAY, AND IN THE FINALS TOMORROW. ONLY 12 GO THROUGH, THAT IS THREE FROM EACH DAY. WHAT IS THAT LIKE PERFORMING ON TUESDAY AND THEN HAVING TO WATCH EVERYONE AND WAIT UNTIL TONIGHT UNTIL ALL THE PERFORMANCES ARE OVER BEFORE KNOWING IF YOU GO THROUGH. IT IS HARD BEING ON THE FIRST DAY AND THEN WATCHING EVERY GROUP. THE KEY THING IS ABOUT PREPARATION. BECAUSE WE FIND OUT QUITE EARLY ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE DRAW, OUR JOB, AS SOON WE FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT TIME WE STAND, IS TO BUILD FROM THERE. WE THEN FIND OUT HOW TO KEEP OUR MINDS FOCUSED AND KEEP EVERYONE WARMED UP AND READY TO GO JUST IN CASE WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO PERFORM ON SATURDAY, AND TO PREPARE JUST IN CASE WE DON'T. YOU WERE WEARING SO MANY DIFFERENT HATS OR YOU ARE HERE. ANOTHER PART OF THAT IS MOKO. PEOPLE ARE COMING EVERY DAY TO HAVE IT DONE. HAS THERE BEEN A SURGE IN PEOPLE WANTING IT? THERE IS DEFINITELY BEEN A HUGE SURGE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT WE HAVE SEEN. LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A TENT AND IN AUCKLAND AND WE HAD ABOUT EIGHT ARTISTS, AND THAT WAS STILL NOT ENOUGH. THIS YEAR, WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO ORGANISE TWO TENTS. WE HAVE TWO ARTISTS, AND IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH. THEY GETTING BOOKED OUT BY 11, 12 O'CLOCK. THIS PLACE CLOSES AT SIX, SEVEN. THEY WORKING FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM EVERY DAY. THEY DOING ABOUT 7 TO 8 PIECES PER PERSON A DAY. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO GET MOKO DONE? TO SOME, IT IS ABOUT MARKING THE EVENT AND MARKING THEIR TIME HERE. FOR SOME, THEY WANT TO RECEIVE MARKINGS TO HONOUR CERTAIN EVENTS THAT HAVE JUST HAPPENED. THERE ARE A WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT REASONS. THEY WANT TO GET MOKO DONE HERE TO HELP TO MARK THIS EVENT. BEAUTIFUL. THAT IS NOT ALL YOU ARE DOING, TOO. WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING? I AM ONE OF THOSE SILLY ONES THAT WILL SAY YES TO EVERY JOB. I AM ALSO PERFORMING, WHICH IS HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED. THAT AS A BIGGER JOB THAN JUST DOING MOKO. I'M PERFORMING FOR ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS OVERWHELMING. WELL SAID. I RECKON THAT WE MIGHT WRAP THINGS UP BECAUSE THE KARAKIA IS ABOUT TO START BEHIND US. EVERY DAY, THERE IS A KARAKIA THEY GETS THE DAY GOING, AS IT SHOULD, AND SO, WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE, MY FRIEND. IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AMONGST YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO COME AND HAVE A CHAT WITH US THIS MORNING. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT MOKO, IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT GETTING TOGETHER AND WATCHING PERFORMANCES, IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE OUTFIT'S. I GOT AMONGST IT YESTERDAY TO SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO SHINE OFF THE STAGE IN TERMS OF YOUR OUTFIT, YOUR FIT, AS THEY SAY. WILL DO THAT A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM. WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU SOON. LOOKS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL DAY. 23 DEGREES. YOU CAN WATCH IT ALL ON TVNZ TWO AND ONLINE. PEOPLE STOP AND WATCH THE SCREEN AND THE NEWSROOM. THEY ARE TRANSFIXED. THE FINALS TOMORROW ON THE TELLY. I LOVE THE SEGMENTS ON BREAKFAST, GOING BACK THROUGH THE TVNZ ARCHIVES. THIS IS A GOOD ONE. HERE IN AOTEAROA, WE LIKE TO PLAY IT COOL WHEN FAMOUS PEOPLE COME TO TOWN. SURE, WE MAY BE FREAKING OUT INSIDE, BUT IT'S PART OF OUR UNDERSTATED IDENTITY TO TREAT POP AND MOVIE STARS LIKE ANYONE ELSE. BUT OCCASIONALLY, THE GUARD COMES DOWN, AS IT DID THIS WEEK BACK IN 1990. WHAT IS THAT, STOKES? IS AT 35 YEARS AGO? WHOA! ON TODAY'S LOOK BACK INTO THE TVNZ ARCHIVE, MUSIC JOURNALIST DYLAN TAITE` DYLAN TAITE` CAROL AND I USED TO WORK WITH THEM. HE WAS A MASTER. HE REALLY WAS. WHAT DID HE DO ON THIS DAY IN 1990? HE TAKES US THROUGH THE ARRIVAL OF MILLI VANILLI. (CROWD SCREAMS) IT WAS A BLAST FROM POP'S PAST. THOUSANDS OF RAMPAGING FANS ALL FIRED UP AND READY TO TEAR THE CLOTHES FROM THEIR IDOLS' BACKS. NO ONE EXPECTED THIS ` IT WAS CLOSE ON BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. MANY FANS FAINTED IN THE CRUSH AS POLICE AND SECURITY GUARDS STRUGGLE TO CONTROL MILLI VANILLI MANIA. (CROWD SCREAMS) MORE IN A MINUTE, BUT FIRST, HERE'S WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT. # WHEN YOU'RE IN DOUBT, IN NEED OF SOME SOMEONE... GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS MILLI VANILLI, A HIT-MAKING DUO WHO RARELY PLAY LIVE. # I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU. NOW, KEEP A WATCH ON THAT STRETCH LIMO AND WATCH AS TWO DREADLOCKED FIGURES TRY AND MAKE IT TO SOUNDS RECORD STORE, A JOURNEY OF ABOUT 15m DOWN A SPECIALLY-LAID RED CARPET. (CROWD SCREAMS) (SCREAMING CONTINUES) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) IT WAS A LITTLE BIT TERRIFYING. YEAH. MY GLASSES, SOMEBODY STOLE MY GLASSES. ...WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND. AFTER ALL THE EXCITEMENT, A BIT OF RECORD SIGNING AND BACK TO A SECRET AUCKLAND HIDEOUT. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, IT'S A TOUGH LIFE IN THE ROCK BIZ TODAY. DYLAN TAITE, ONE NETWORK NEWS. (CROWD SCREAMS) THERE WAS A REASON THEY DID NOT SING LIVE VERY OFTEN. THEY WEREN'T ACTUALLY SINGING. THEY DID NOT SING IT ALL. THAT WAS QUITE THE SCANDAL. OF COURSE, THE BAND HAD QUITE THE FALL FROM GRACE WHEN IT WAS REVEALED THEY LIP-SYNCED AND NEVER SANG ON THEIR RECORDS OR AT LIVE SHOWS. NORMALLY WHEN PEOPLE LIP SYNC, THEY LIP SINGING TO THEMSELVES SO THEY MIGHT SING OVER THE TOP OF THE RECORDED PERFORMANCE, BUT THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. THEY WERE JUST LIKE THE FIGUREHEAD OF A BAND. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT SCANDAL, CHECK OUT A DOCUMENTARY ALL ABOUT IT NOW ON TVNZ+. HOW EXTRAORDINARY. THEY WERE HUGE AT THE TIME. I DID NOT REALISE THEY WERE THAT BIG. I WAS A REPORTER WHO HAD TO FOLLOW ONE DIRECTION WHEN THEY CAME TO NEW ZEALAND. I CAME HOME AND MY EARS WERE BRINGING. PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING. THEY WERE LOVELY GUYS. THEY WERE REALLY SWEET YOUNG MEN. WE STOOD AT THE WINDOWS AND LOOKED DOWN AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF 12 TO 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS SCREAMING. YES, UNBELIEVABLE. AMAZING. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TVNZ WINDOW (!) SCREAMING DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS! ME U TONU MAI ` HORSES, MOTORBIKES, RUNNING. IT'S ALL HAPPENING ON THE COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD NEXT. A CELEBRATION OF US COMING UP NEXT. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` TODAY MARKS INTERNATIONAL RARE DISORDERS DAY, AND RARE DISORDERS NZ IS MARKING THE DAY BY CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE URGENT ACTION. 5000 CAR ENTHUSIASTS ARE EXPECTED IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS WEEKEND, BUT POLICE SAY ANY DANGEROUS DRIVING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. AND THE FINAL HOSTAGE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE UNDER PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL. # ROLLIN' # IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. # IT'S TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD WHERE WE POP AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SHOWCASE WHAT'S HAPPENING NEAR YOU THIS WEEKEND. FIRST UP, THE BIGGEST FUN RUN IS BACK IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND ` ROUND THE BAYS KICKS OFF THIS SUNDAY. FOR MORE WE'RE JOINED BY EVENT MANAGER HENRY MCLERNON. HENRY, HOW ARE YOU? THANK GOD YOU ARE SAFE OUT THERE IN YOUR HI-VIS. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL YOU GET? WE ARE HOPING THAT ALMOST 30,000 PEOPLE WILL BE COMING FROM KEY STREET TO THE BEAUTIFUL ST HELIER IS. WHAT TIME DOES IT START? THAT KICKS OFF FROM ABOUT EIGHT, BUT THE FIRST WAVE KICKS OFF AT 915. WE ARE HOPING THAT EVERYONE WILL BE ACROSS AT 1015. SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FINISHED THE EVENT WILL DO THAT BEFORE PEOPLE EVEN CROSS THE STARTING LINE. YOU SAID AUDIO. IS THAT LIKE PRE-GAMING? WE HAVE A PRESHOW FOR 90 MINUTES. WE HAVE THREE MC'S THAT WILL BE ENGAGING WITH THE CROWD. THIS YEAR, OUR THEME OF SUPERHEROES. ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DRESS UP. WE HAVE ALREADY RAISED OVER $240,000 FOR HUNDRED AND 20 NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS AMAZING. IT IS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I'VE DONE IT, BUT IT IS A GREAT TIME. THEY LINED THE STREETS. YOU CANNOT GO THERE FASTER BE STARTED THE BACK LIKE ME. IT IS GREAT. IT IS AN AMAZING EVENT. EVERYONE GETS A FINISHING MEDAL. IS PART OF A THREE STOP SERIES. YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE DAY. IF YOU'RE SITTING ON THE FENCE, COME AND JOIN THE FUN. YOU CAN STILL DO IT, HENRY? ABSOLUTELY. YESTERDAY, WE HAD ALMOST A THOUSAND PEOPLE SIGN UP. WE HOPING FOR MORE TODAY AND MORE ON SUNDAY AS WELL. HENRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE IT ALL GOES WELL. OR SOMETHING TO SUMMIT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. HAVE A GREAT DAY. IF YOU LOVE HORSING AROUND, THEN WE MIGHT JUST HAVE THE BEST ADVENTURE FOR YOU. FOR 32 YEARS, SOME HORSING-LOVING, WAGON-WHEELING COWBOYS AND GIRLS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND HAVE A TRADITION THAT TRAVELS THROUGH THE OLD GOLDMINE TRAIL OF OTAGO. TO TELL US MORE IS TWIZEL TOWN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RAYMOND HARRINGTON AND CAVALCADE COORDINATOR, ROBERTA LARAMAN. ARE JOINING US THIS MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? LOOK AT THE LIGHT! IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WORLD. AS A SOUR THING THAT THE CAMERAMAN HAS DONE EVERY YEAR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME? YES. HE HAS BEEN INVALUABLE. I HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES OVER THE YEARS. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, IT IS COMING BACK TO MCKENZIE COUNTRY. BACK IN 2021 WE HAD COVID, WE COULD NOT FINISH AT TWIZEL. WE FOUGHT FOR IT TO COME BACK, AND THIS YEAR, BEING THE 32ND, WE GOT IT BACK. IT IS AWESOME. TELL US WHAT HAPPENS. WE HAVE 12 TRAILS, INCLUDING HORSES, RIDERS, BIKERS, RUNNERS, BACKPACKERS AND THEY ARE ALL ON TWIZEL. THEY STARTED ON SATURDAY. THERE ARE A FEW DOING WHAT WE CALL A CLOVERLEAF AROUND, WHICH IS IN THE TOWN, THEY COME AROUND AND COME BACK. THEY ARE ALL DESCENDING ON TWIZEL TODAY. THERE WILL BE 450 HORSES ARRIVING ON TWIZEL FOR THE BIG DAY ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS 71 STALLS, A BIG PARADE. IS PRETTY AMAZING. ALL THE PROFITS GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS A SMALL COMMUNITY, EVERYONE HAS CHIPPED IN. YOU PLAN ALL OF THE CAVALCADE. THAT MUST BE HUGE. I WAS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE FIRST 17 YEARS AND I AM JUST HANDY NOW. I WROTE THE FIRST ONE AND 1991 AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE ON A RODEO HORSE CALLED JINGO BELL. THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS HERITAGE TRUST, WHICH FORMED IN 1989, I WAS AT THE MEETING WHEN IT WAS FIRST MUTED THAT WE DO A RE-ENACTMENT, WE EXPECTED ABOUT 25 PEOPLE. WE GOT 220 PEOPLE, 240 HORSES, A GOLD COACH, BUGGIES, WAGONS, GIGS, IT WAS AMAZING. IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE. THE TRAIL WAS TOO BIG. THE NEXT YEAR, THERE WERE THREE TRAILS, AND THEN FOUR, AND THEN FIVE. NOW, WE'RE UP TO 12. IT SOUNDS AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH ROBERTA AND RAYMOND. 400 HORSES AND THEIR RIDERS ARE HEADING TO TWIZEL TODAY. ENJOY THE HOEDOWN TONIGHT. THERE IS A BIG PARTY, I HAVE HEARD. ON SATURDAY. BY. TAKE CARE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WORLD. STUNNING. NOW WE'RE HEADING UP TO CHRISTCHURCH WHERE A CANTERBURY VERSION OF 'NITRO CIRCUS' IS MAKING ITS WAY BACK TO THE GARDEN CITY, FEATURING SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST PUSH AND MOTOCROSS RIDERS IN ACTION. CHARLOTTE MULDER IS THERE CHECKING OUT THE SCENES. GOOD MORNING, CHARLOTTE. IT IS A BIT OF KIWI INGENUITY. THEY ARE REALLY PULLING THROUGH ON THIS ONE. I HAVE WON THE EVENT ORGANISERS WITH ME. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, THANKS. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT THIS IS, CAN YOU GIVE US A BIT OF A RUNDOWN? DISSIDENT BMX, MOUNTAIN BIKE AND FREESTYLE BIKING EVENT. THE RIDERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SHOWING OFF THE CRAZY TALENT INTERACTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF SPECTATORS THAT COME AND LOCK. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT INSPIRED IT? I KNOW IT IS A GROUP OF FOUR REVIEW. THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHAT KICKED IT OFF? HAS IT BEEN CHALLENGING? WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS SORT OF TRACK BEHIND US IN OUR BACKYARD. ONE DAY, WE SAID, SHOULD WE RUN AN EVENT? WE WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE SPORT OF BIKING AND GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YES, IT HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS, WHAT HAVE YOU HAD? JUST LEARNING THINGS WITH THE COUNCIL AND GETTING THAT ORGANISED AND GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. TELL ME ABOUT THIS YEAR. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT, AND WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW FOR TOMORROW? THE GATES OPEN AT 1130. THERE WERE KICK-OFF WITH A FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS AT 12. WE HAVE A LIVE MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, LICENSE THE BAR, FOOD TRUCKS, A CARNIVAL AND BOUNCY CASTLE RIDES. TOMORROW'S WEATHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABSOLUTELY CRACKER. YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS MEANT TO BE COMING TOMORROW. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE ON THE CAMERA OF THEM DOING SOME JUMPS. I HAVE ATTEMPTED THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND THAT HAS NOT GONE SO WELL. I WILL LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS. LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS, THAT ONE. IT IS MEANT TO BE AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHARLOTTE. I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT HEDGES. WHAT I DO NEED ADVICE FOR MY HEDGE, THAT WAS MUCH MORE INTERESTING. WHAT'S HAPPENING NEAR YOU NEXT WEEKEND? LET US KNOW ` MARKETS, EVENTS, FESTIVALS... .HEAD TO whatsonbreafast.co.nz SPORT, NEWS AND WEATHER COMING UP. PLUS, WHAT SHOULD BE TOP OF YOUR TO-DO LIST IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEKEND? THE DEATHS OF TWO-TIME ACADEMY AWARD WINNER GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE ARE NOW BEING TREATED AS SUSPICIOUS. THE BBC'S EMMA VARDY HAS THE LATEST FROM LOS ANGELES. WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF SADNESS HERE IN HOLLYWOOD OVER GENE HACKMAN'S DEATH, BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS DEATH, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND SOME MYSTERY SURROUNDING THIS, BECAUSE AFTER THE BODY OF HIM AND HIS WIFE BETSY WERE FOUND AND ONE OF THE COUPLE'S THREE DOGS AT THEIR HOME IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, INITIALLY POLICE HAD SAID THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY. BUT LATER ON, THE SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAID THAT AFTER SEARCHES HAD BEEN CONDUCTED OF THE FAMILY HOME AND EMERGENCY CREWS HAD DONE TESTING THERE, AND THAT THEY ARE NOW TREATING THOSE DEATHS AS SUSPICIOUS. THREE HELICOPTERS ARE ARRIVING TO BATTLE THE LARGE VEGETATION FIRE IN WAIPOUA. IT WILL JOIN CREWS ON THE GROUND AND HEAVY MACHINERY, WORKING TO EXTEND CONTAINMENT LINES CREWS WILL BE ACTIVELY FIGHTING THE FIRE AND EXTENDING CONTAINMENT LINES, AS FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND EXPECT TODAY'S WEATHER CONDITIONS TO BE A CHALLENGE. THE 96 HECTARE FIRE IS 50% CONTAINED. HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM ISRAELI JAILS, DAYS LATER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREED. THE FINAL EXCHANGE OF PHASE ONE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL SAW THE BODIESIN JAIL BEEN FREED OF FOUR HOSTAGES RETURNED, AND MORE THAN 600 PRISONERS RELEASED. UK PRIME MINISTER SIR KEIR STARMER HAS ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, AMID ONGOING TENSION BETWEEN THE U.S AND EUROPE OVER THE WAR IN UKRAINE. CHAMPIONS TROPHY HOSTS PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PLAY THEIR FINAL MATCH AFTER PERSISTENT RAIN SAW THEIR FIXTURE AGAINST BANGLADESH ABANDONED WITHOUT A BALL BOWLED. IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING CAMPAIGN FOR THE HOME SIDE AND DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, BUNDLED OUT OF SEMI-FINALS CONTENTION AFTER LOSING TO NEW ZEALAND AND INDIA. IT MEANS PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH WHO WERE ALSO ELIMINATED FINISH THE TOURNAMENT WITH A POINT EACH. NEW ZEALAND WILL TAKE ON INDIA IN THEIR FINAL GROUP MATCH TO DETERMINE WHO WILL TOP THE TABLE HEADING INTO THE KNOCKOUTS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` THE SUN IS SHINING FOR THOSE ON THE WEST COAST AND IN WELLINGTON. HOWEVER FOR THE REST OF YOU EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES AND SHOWERS. TAUPO AND BAY OF PLENTY, YOU MAY HAVE POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. 27 THE HIGH FOR AUCKLAND. 26 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. A CLOUDY START FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH A CLOUDY START FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED SHOWERS BEFORE CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON. A FINE DAY FOR THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. 25 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 21 IN GREYMOUTH. OK. TODAY MARKS THE FINAL DAY OF SUMMER ` BRING ON AUTUMN. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. BUT WHILE THE SEASONS ARE CHANGING, THE WARMER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO HANG AROUND. FOR HELP KEEPING THE GARDEN FRUITFUL AMID THE HEAT, WE'RE JOINED BY ADRIAN SUTHERLAND FROM ONE MINUTE GARDENING. KIA ORA, ADRIAN, HOW ARE YOU? KIA ORA, MELISSA, I'M GOOD, THANK YOU. I AM NO CHRIS CHANG, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN SO I NEED TO TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING. IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD SUMMER SINCE IT DRIED UP. WE HAD A BIT OF A WET DECEMBER BUT NOW THE SUN HAS BEEN OUT FOR QUITE A BIT. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF HARVESTING GOING ON AT OUR HOUSE. VEGETABLES, SALAD GREENS, CHILI PEPPERS, THEY ARE COMING ON NOW. SO IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD CATCH UP JANUARY, FEBRUARY IN THE GARDEN, YES. PLENTY OF THINGS GOING ON STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GROW. I JUST WANT TO ASK, I THINK ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR, I SHOULD DO SOMETHING WITH THE VEGGIE GARDEN, DO I STILL HAVE TIME? YES, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE SALAD GREENS, BROCCOLI, THEY CAN GO ALL YEAR. THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TIME AND I THINK SUMMER KIND OF DRAGS ON A LITTLE BIT MORE; YOU DON'T WANT AUTUMN TO COME TOO QUICKLY. OKAY, I HAVE JOHN CAMPBELL HERE AND HE NEEDS SOME HELP. ADRIAN! HOW MUCH FEELING SHOULD WE BE DOING THIS TIME OF YEAR? AND ALSO, IT HAS BEEN A DRY SUMMER AND WATER IS PRECIOUS SO HOW OFTEN SHOULD BE BE WATERING AS SUMMER COMES TO AN END? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, JOHN, BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY, I THINK EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, ESPECIALLY FOR SALAD GREENS, BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL WHEN IT STARTS TO LOOK A BIT SAD ON US. WATER THEM IN THE MORNING TO THEY CAN STAY HYDRATED LIKE US DURING THE SUMMER DAYS. ORGANIC LIQUID SEAWEED, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU CAN PICK UP BOTTLES OF CONCENTRATE FROM YOUR LOCAL GARDENING CENTRE. 'S EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS, A GOOD DRINK FROM THAT STUFF, IT'S LIKE ENERGY DRINK FOR PLANTS. PLENTY OF WARM WEATHER SO I THINK WATER IS A BIT OF A KEY. STOKESY, CAN ASK ONE MORE OF ADRIAN? WHAT IS THE FEEDING SITUATION IS KIND OF AUTUMN COMES TO AN END? SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT ARE THERE, LIKE TOMATOES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE COMING TOWARD AN END NOW SO IT'S NOT REALLY ANY POINT IN FEEDING THEM, BUT ANYTHING NEW THAT HAS JUST GONE INTO THE GARDEN, I THINK THEY+` IT IS GOOD TO KEEP THEM WELL FED. JUST A BIT OF REGULAR WATERING AND REALLY WANTS A MONTH WITH SOME ORGANIC FERTILISER. HEY, ADRIAN, THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL DAY THERE IN GISBORNE. YES, MY GLASSHOUSE, MY HAPPY PLACE. BEAUTIFUL. TENA KOE. WHAT IS GOING ON THE CAMPBELL GARDEN? (STAMMERS) I'M NOT A GREAT GARDENER. BUT I HAVE STARTED TO HAVE SOME SUCCESSES. BUT I SHOULD NOT TOUCH GARDENIA, JUST CAN'T DO IT. THAT'S THE LOVELY THING ABOUT BEING IN AUCKLAND, FRANGIPANI GROWING. IMMENSELY REALLY HAPPY, BUT I AM NOT GOOD AT SALAD GREENS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` A FEAST FOR THE EYES WHEREVER YOU LOOK AT TE MATATINI. WE HIT THE CROWDS TO HEAR THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ATTENDEES' OUTFITS. (PUORO KI TE REO MAORI) HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR FIRE CREWS BATTLING A LARGE BLAZE NEAR WAIPOUA IN NORTHLAND TODAY. THE BIGGEST BANK IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS BECOME THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO LAY OUT PLANS TO REDUCE STAFF, WITH 4000 ROLES CUT AND REPLACED BY AI. AND UK PRIME MINISTER SIR KEIR STARMER HAS ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. THIS WEEK WE'RE GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A FAMILY GETAWAY TO NEW PLYMOUTH, THANKS TO VENTURE TARANAKI. INCLUDING FLIGHTS, A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT NOVOTEL AND SOME FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES FANTASTIC! INCLUDING CHADDY'S CHARTERS WILDLIFE BOAT CRUISE, A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE GOVETT-BREWSTER ART GALLERY STUNNING GALLERY, JUST A STUNNING. AND FAMILY FUN AT THE HIDEAWAY LUGE AND MINI-PUTT. THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN UNTIL SUNDAY 4pm AND WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER ON THE SHOW NEXT MONDAY. HEAD TO winwithbreakfast.co.nz, ALL THANKS TO VENTURE TARANAKI. LET'S HEAD TO NEW PLYMOUTH FOR THE FINAL TIME THIS MORNING. MORENA, J-MAY. YOU'VE BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, SERIOUSLY. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) TE ARAWA I TE WHARE, TE ARAWA IN THE HOUSE GETTING THINGS UNDERWAY THIS MORNING; THE FIRST OF 13 KAPA TODAY AND REALLY HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL PERFORMANCE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. THE CROWDS ARE PACKED IN ` TRANSFIXED, MESMERISED, INSPIRED AND BACKSTAGE, THE FINAL KAPA HAKA TIMA WILL BE GEARING UP FOR THEIR 25 MINUTES IN THE SPOTLIGHT. 55 ROPU, ALL HOPEFUL THAT TONIGHT THEY'LL BE NAMED IN THE TOP THREE PERFORMANCES OF THEIR GIVEN DAY TO PROGRESS TO THE FINALS TOMORROW. BUT TE MATATINI IS AS MUCH A SPECTACLE OFF THE STAGE AS IT IS ON IT; IN BETWEEN ADMIRING THE OUTFITS ON STAGE, MANY OF THOSE WATCHING WERE ALSO REFLECTING THEIR OWN SENSE OF IDENTITY. WE HIT THE STALLS YESTERDAY TO GET SOME FIT CHECKS. (PUORO KI TE REO MAORI) UM, IT WAS REALLY JUST A... QUICK DECISION IN THE MORNING, YOU KNOW? UH, OHO MOATA AND THEN HAD A SHOWER, UH, LOOK THROUGH MY BAG, SEE WHAT I HAVE. OH, YEAH, THESE COLOUR COORDINATE, AND MY POTAE ` THANK YOU TO NAN. JUST SOMETHING LIKE, EASY-BREEZY. IT'S HONESTLY A SWIM COVER WITH A BIKINI ON UNDERNEATH. (CHUCKLES) NOTHING CRAZY. BUT THEN WE GOT OUR COLOURS ON HERE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, POUNAMU IN OUR TANGATA TIRITI, EH? TINO RANGATIRATANGA COLOURS ON. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET READY? 45 MINUTES. WITH THIS BIG MAKAWE I GOT, 45 MINUTES. (LAUGHS) (ROPU SINGS MOVING WAIATA) ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO, YOU'RE LOOKING AMAZING. I LOVE THE GUMBOOTS. TELL ME ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR OUTFIT. UM, JUST... OH, MY INSPIRATION? I SCORED THIS TOP FROM OUR OP-SHOP, UM, I THINK LAST YEAR, AND IT'S GOT HEARTS ON IT, WHICH` I LOVE ANYTHING WITH HEARTS. AND I JUST LOVE THE COLOURS TOO, BECAUSE. YEAH. (CHUCKLES) AND YOUR DAFF? OH, UM, MY DAFFODIL, THAT'S FOR MY NEPHEW, WHO PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FROM CANCER, SO, YEAH. (ROPU SINGS WAIATA KI TE REO MAORI) (ROPU SINGS WAIATA KI TE REO MAORI) I WANT TO WATCH THE KAPA HAKA, BUT I WANT TO GO TO ALL THE STALLS AS WELL (CHUCKLES) AND I'VE BOUGHT FAR TOO MANY EARRINGS. THESE ARE FROM SPIRIT AND SIN, SAMOAN LUXURY BRAND. SO COOL, LOVE THEM. YEAH, JUST PLUG THEM. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IT'S A HEKENGA SHIRT SUPPORTING THE BRO. (CHUCKLES) UM, BUT YEAH. NAH, THAT'S ME. DO YOU THINK I COULD WEAR THOSE? I MEAN, I AM GREEN. DO YOU THINK I COULD... YEAH, OF COURSE. ...THINK AUNTY COULD WEAR THOSE? YES, ANYONE CAN WEAR THEM. OK, COOL. YOU'LL BE FLY IF YOU WEAR THEM TOO. (BOTH LAUGH) (ROPU PERFORMS ROUSING WAIATA KI TE REO MAORI) (ROPU PERFORMS ROUSING WAIATA KI TE REO MAORI) OH, I CHOSE MY GUMBOOTS BECAUSE I ALWAYS WEAR THEM. AND YEAH, THERE'S NO OTHER SHOES I'D RATHER WEAR THAN MY GUMBOOTS. THANKS, I LOVE THAT. AND FOR YOU, KOTIRO? OH, THE SAME BECAUSE I LIKE DOING MY GUMBOOTS AND THEY ALSO HAVE MAORI DESIGNS ON THEM. THAT'S WHY I WORE THEM TO HERE. AND, YEAH. NGA MIHI, MY BABY SISTER MADE IT. OH, THERE YOU GO. PAREKAREWA CHASE, SHE'S SITTING OVER THERE. (GIGGLES) THERE YOU GO. SEE? THAT WASN'T HARD. TO BE THERE, I THINK I LOOKED PRETTY FLY YESTERDAY BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I HAD A STYLUS TO ADDRESS ME. *STYLIST THAT'S IT FROM ME IN NEW PLYMOUTH. THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND YOU CAN CATCH COVERAGE AFTER THE SHOW, ON TV 2 AFTER 9AM. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO BRING YOU TE MATATINI FROM HERE IN NEW PLYMOUTH. KIA ORA TATOU. LOOKING PRETTY FLY, EH? (LAUGHTER) HAVE A GOOD TRIP BACK, J-MAY. E WHAI AKE NEI ` BOMB, BELLY FLOP OR MANU? LUCY BENDELL'S ABOUT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE AT THE MANU WORLD CHAMPS. MORENA, LUCY. I'M HOPING TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE THAT MORE CLASSY AND ELEGANT THAN THAT, BUT MANY HAVE BEEN POPPING MANU ALL SUMMER IN PREPARATION FOR THIS WEEKEND. I WILL GO, MAYBE NOT THAT AGO, BUT SOMETHING, NEXT. # JUMP! IT'S BEEN A GOOD SUMMER FOR POPPING MANUS, SOME FOR FUN BUT OTHERS HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HEATS FOR THE MANU WORLD CHAMPS, OPEN TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE AROUND THE MOTU AND NOW IT'S GRAND FINAL TIME. GRAND FINALS!WILL LUCY BENDELL'S SET TO LEARN SOME TIPS. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT YOU ARE MEANT TO LEAN BACK, TUCK IN. THAT IS WHAT MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE QUALIFIERS. NOW THEY ARE HEADING TO AUCKLAND FOR THE GRAND FINAL. THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE SPECIAL HAPPENING ON THE SCREEN FINAL TOMORROW. IT IS HAPPENING WITH BRUCE. YOU ARE DOING 69 OF THEM. WHY? I AM RAISING FUNDS FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN. IT IS BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS 67. I DO THE NUMBER OF BACK SOMERSAULTS TO REFLECT MY AGE. I'M DOING 68 TODAY, AND SCOTT IN THE TEAM HAVE ALLOWED ME TO COME AND DO MY 69TH BACK SOMERSAULTS TOMORROW AT THE GRAND FINAL, WHICH WILL BE AMAZING. HOW CAN WE GIVE TO THIS CHARITY? YOU CAN DONATE BY GIVING TO GRG.CO.NZ TO DONATE. THESE PEOPLE ARE GIVING LOVE TO THEIR FAMILIES AND STEPPING IN WHEN THERE ARE A TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES. THE TRAUMA THAT I AM PUTTING MYSELF THROUGH TODAY IS NOTHING. I LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE. YOU ARE GOING TO FLIP OFF THE SPORT HERE. THIS IS ONE OF HIS 68TH TODAY. HE'LL BE DOING NUMBER 69 TOMORROW. WE GOING TO BRING IN SCOTT, THE ORGANISER OF THE CHANCE. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU? SO EXCITED. AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE BEEN WELL OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE TAKING PART. IN THE DISAPPEAR WAS CELEBRATION OF SOMETHING SPECIAL TO KIWIS - THE MANU. IT IS A BIG DAY. IS SIX60 COMING? IT WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF THE BEST OF THE BEST. WE HAVE FOUND THE BEST. WE WILL SEE UP TO 8 WORLD CHAMPIONS ACROSS DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND AGE GROUPS. A GREAT SPECTACLE. THESE GUYS AND GIRLS ARE REALLY SKILFUL AT WHAT THEY DO. IT IS NOT JUST BEING BIG AND JUMPING INTO THE WATER. WHAT MAKES A GOOD MANU? DISORDERLY PREPARATION OF THE PLATFORM. THE FLIGHT DOWN TO THE WATER HAS TO BE PERFECT. IT IS ABOUT WRAPPING INTO A NICE, TIGHT V AND THEN HITTING THE WATER WITH YOUR BUM. THE WATER GO SKY HIGH. NO PROMISES FOR ME TO MY JUMP. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT UP. I WILL TAKE OFF MY AIR PEACE. I'M GOING TO GO FOR A JUMP. I WOULD DO IT A BIT MORE ELEGANTLY. MY LITTLE BROTHER HUNTER WILL BE DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WILL BE NO MANU. HERE WE GO. IT LOOKS A BIT COLD. (SCREAMS) GO, LUCY! NOT BAD. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO HAVE A SWIM IN THE OCEAN. MY KIDS... WELL DONE, LUCY. ... MY KIDS TALK ABOUT THE TECHNICAL THE TIME. YOU WATCH ALL OF THE KIDS ARE THERE ON THE DIVING BOARD PRACTISING THEIR MANU. WHEN A BIG ONE GOES, YOU FEEL IT UNDER THE CONCRETE. THE WATER IS BEEN DISPLACED. IT HAS TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO GO. IT IS NOT JUST A CANNONBALL. NO. A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE BREAKFAST TEAM. THANKS FOR HAVING US. DISPENSE SO LOVELY BEING WITH YOU AGAIN. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. CAPTIONS BY FRANK GORE, COURTNEY SOLE, KITTY WASASALA AND DREW WELSH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.