IT'S THURSDAY THE 20th MARCH. MORENA. THIS IS BREAKFAST. I AM LUCKY TO BE HERE. FOR THE SECOND TIME INTO DAYS, I NEARLY GOT TRAPPED. YOU KNOW HOW YOU GO INTO` WORKPLACES ARE ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND THE LIGHTS ARE OFF WHEN YOU GO INTO A SPACE AND THE LIGHTS COME ON. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS TODAY AS WELL. I WENT INTO THE TOILET, AND IT WAS PITCH BLACK. AND I THOUGHT THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I FELT MY WAY INTO THE CUBICLE, THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND ME, PITCH BLACK. IT STILL WAS NOT ON. I COULD NOT SEE A THING. IT HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN THIS MORNING. I WAS WAVING MY ARMS AROUND. YOU DO NOT NEED THE LIGHTS. YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS. NOT FOR THE FIRST BUT MAYBE NOT. HELPFUL FOR THE NEXT PART. THAT REMINDS ME OF A TOILET STORY THAT HAPPENED TO ME. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER. WE WILL TALK ABOUT SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` STUFFED WITH LETTERS WAITING TO BE COLLECTED, ONLY PROBLEM? THEY'RE NO LONGER IN USE. NEW ZEALAND POST'S UNDER FIRE FOR LEAVING HALF A DOZEN DECOMMISSIONED POST BOXES ACROSS HASTINGS AND HAVELOCK NORTH IN PLACE WITH LOCALS STILL POSTING LETTERS ` WHAT NZ POST SAYS IT SHOULD'VE DONE BETTER. ALSO AHEAD ` A PLEA FOR HELP FROM THE ICE AS TENSIONS HEAT UP A SOUTH AFRICAN ANTARCTIC RESEARCH TEAM HAS BEEN THROWN INTO TURMOIL AFTER ONE OF THE TEAM ACCUSED A COLLEAGUE OF ASSAULT. A CALL FOR INTERVENTION HAS BEEN DENIED. WE'LL SPEAK WITH A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO'S WORKED WITH TEAMS ON THE FROZEN CONTINENT AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE STRAIN OF LIVING THERE. THIS IS WHACK, THE STORY. PLUS, IT COULD BE COSTING THE COUNTRY BILLIONS EVERY YEAR. TYPE 2 DIABETES IS A GROWING PROBLEM AND IN MANY CASES PREVENTABLE AND REVERSIBLE. WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF TO HELP MINIMISE THE RISK. THAT IS COMING UP IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES TIME. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S YOUR NEWS. THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT HAS LAUNCHED IT'S FIRST GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA SINCE THE CEASEFIRE ENDED AS AIRSTRIKES CONTINUED OVERNIGHT. IT COMES AS THE U.N. SAYS ONE OF ITS STAFFERS HAS BEEN KILLED, WITH FIVE OTHERS INJURED. THE BBC'S YOLANDE KNELL FILED THIS REPORT FROM JERUSALEM. WELL, THERE IS FOOTAGE THAT SHOWS THESE FOREIGN WORKERS AS THEY ARRIVED AT A HOSPITAL IN THE DEIR AL BALAH IN CENTRAL GAZA EARLIER. TWO OF THEM ARE STILL WEARING THEIR BLUE U.N. FLAK JACKETS, AND THEY'RE IN A U.N. CAR AS WELL AS A PALESTINIAN AMBULANCE. THE U.N. HAS CONFIRMED THAT ONE OF ITS COMPOUNDS NEARBY WAS DAMAGED. IT SAYS IT'S INVESTIGATING WHAT HAPPENED THERE, BUT THE ISRAELI MILITARY WAS VERY QUICK TO COME OUT WITH A STATEMENT DENYING THAT IT HAD HIT A U.N. BUILDING IN DEIR AL BALAH. NOW, ELSEWHERE IN GAZA, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING ABOUT MORE ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES, NOT ON THE SAME SCALE THAT WE HEARD OF YESTERDAY, BUT THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY IS SAYING THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 LOCAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THESE LATEST STRIKES TODAY. ALSO, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FLEEING FROM BIT HANOUN IN THE NORTH, FROM THE EAST OF KHAN YOUNIS IN THE SOUTH, AFTER THE ISRAELI MILITARY DROPPED THESE NEW EVACUATION ORDERS BY FLYERS REALLY TELLING THEM TO FLEE THE HOMES THEY JUST RECENTLY RETURNED TO. AT THE SAME TIME, HERE IN JERUSALEM, THOUSANDS OF ISRAELIS HAVE BEEN HOLDING A BIG ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST. THEY ARE ACCUSING THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER OF UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY WITH SOME OF HIS POLICIES, AND ALSO BY RESTARTING AN OFFENSIVE IN GAZA, OF SORT OF DISREGARDING THE HOSTAGES THAT ARE STILL BEING HELD THERE BY HAMAS. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE HAD A 'VERY GOOD' PHONE CALL WITH HIS UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART AS PEACE TALKS CONTINUE. IT COMES AFTER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AGREED TO A 30-DAY PAUSE ON HITTING UKRAINIAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETS. MEANWHILE, 175 UKRAINIAN PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE RETURNED HOME IN ONE OF THE LARGEST PRISONER EXCHANGES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. A RISING MIDDLE DISTANCE STAR FROM TAURANGA HAS BECOME THE YOUNGEST ATHLETE EVER TO BREAK THE FOUR-MINUTE BARRIER FOR RUNNING THE MILE. SAM RUTHE (15) RAN 3:58.35 IN FRONT OF A THOUSAND-STRONG CROWD AT MT SMART TO SET THE NEW WORLD RECORD. SAM TANNER SMILING. SAM RUTHE'S RIGHT THERE. WHOO-HOO! YEAH, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL TO CROSS WITH MY TRAINING PARTNER SAM. IT WAS, LIKE, ONE OF THE NICEST FEELINGS EVER. HE'S THE 49th NEW ZEALANDER TO ACHIEVE A SUB FOUR-MINUTE MILE. GO ON, THAT MAN. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR SOME, WITH RAIN EXPECTED FOR THOSE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND THE CAPITAL BEFORE EASING IN THE EVENING. 24 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. 22 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. CLEAR SKIES ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE UPPER EAST COAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE, TURNING TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN CHRISTCHURCH. 24 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 22 IN NELSON. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING WITH OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEEN BATTLING A LARGE BLAZE OVERNIGHT IN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN AUCKLAND. LUCY BENDELL JOINS US. WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW, LUCY? 40 FIREFIGHTERS WERE BATTLING THAT BLAZED IN EAST TAMAKI WITH CREWS ARRIVING TO THE SCENE JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT TO A 100 X 30 M BUILDING. THE BUILDING WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE THE LLOYD STEPHEN BOATBUILDERS. THE WHOLE FRONT STRUCTURE IS GONE. BY AN EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND IS COLLATED THE RESPONSE ON THE GROUND BRINGING IN NINE FIRETRUCKS, THREE LADDER TRUCKS AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE. IT WAS A VERY QUICK RESPONSE FROM THE CRUISE ON THE GROUND, THOUGH, AND THEY EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE WITHIN ONE HOUR BY 12:56 AM. WE SPOKE TO THE FIRE ASSISTANT COMMANDER ON THE GROUND IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS MORNING FOR THE DETAILS. WE'VE MANAGED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE TO THE OFFICE BLOCK, SO THERE'S BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE FACTORY. INITIALLY, WE WEREN'T SURE WHETHER THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE OFFICE OR THE FACT OR WHETHER IT WAS SPREAD TO THE FACTORY, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE CALLED FOR SO MANY APPLIANCES. A FIRE INVESTIGATOR WILL RETURN THIS MORNING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THANK YOU FOR THAT, LUCY. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND HAS ISSUED A WARNING FOLLOWING A RISE IN GASTRO ILLNESS IN THE CAPITAL. JAMES FLEURY IS STANDING BY IN OUR WELLINGTON NEWSROOM. MORENA, JAMES. WELLINGTON RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN URGED NOT TO USE WOMAN CALLS OR SPLASH PAD THAT THEY HAVE HAD ANY DIARRHOEA SYMPTOMS OR VOMITING IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THIS IS BECAUSE OF A SUDDEN SPIKE IN CRYPTOSPORIDIUM CASES. THAT HAD 32 CASES UP UNTIL NOW FROM THE START OF THE YEAR. OUR NEW ZEALAND SAID WE USUALLY ONLY SEE 2 TO 6 CASES UP UNTIL THIS TIME, SO THIS IS A LOT HIGHER THAN USUAL. A LOT OF THIS CASES ARE BEING LINKED BACK TO PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS ACROSS THE REGION, USUALLY BECAUSE YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE GOING TO THE POOL. THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE SYMPTOMS, BUT THEY CAN LAST FOR AROUND TWO WEEKS AFTER THEY HAVE FIRST HAD THOSE SYMPTOMS. COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE DIARRHOEA AS WELL AS VOMITING, FEVER AND WEIGHT LOSS AS WELL. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ENSURE YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT GET TOO DEHYDRATED IF THEY DO END UP FALLING UNWELL. SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAVE ISSUED NOTICES ACROSS THE REGION, MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS SHOWERED THEIR CHILDREN BEFORE THEY JUMP INTO A SWIMMING POOL. WAIT AT LEAST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SYMPTOMS BEFORE THEY VISIT THE SWIMMING POOLS, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE REGULARLY WASHING THEIR HANDS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD, BECAUSE IT CAN ALSO SPREAD TO ADULTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AND AVOIDING SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST 48-HOUR IS AFTER FALLING UNWELL. THANKS, JAMES. A STUDENT HAS ALLEGEDLY USED A PAIR OF SCISSORS TO ASSAULT TWO TEACHERS AT A CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL. LET'S BRING IN CHARLOTTE MULDER. WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED AT A COMMUNITY CAMPUS JUST BEFORE 2 PM YESTERDAY. THE PRINCIPAL TOLD RNZ IT HAPPENED IN THE PRIMARY SECTOR OF THE CAMPUS, INVOLVING A STUDENT WHO WAS UNDER THE AGE OF 16. TWO TEACHERS WERE INVOLVED WITH THE INCIDENT. ONE RECEIVED A CUT ON THEIR PALM, AND THE OTHER RECEIVED HEAD INJURIES. BOTH TEACHERS WILL BE ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, AND NEITHER HAD TO HAVE HOSPITALISATION. SHE ALSO PUT A FACEBOOK POST OUT SAYING YESTERDAY MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITNESSED THE INCIDENT, INCLUDING BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. IF ANYONE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF DISTRESS OR ANXIETY TO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SCHOOL TO GET THAT SUPPORT. ALL CLASSES WILL RESUME TODAY WITH THE COMMUNITY CAMPUS DOING THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED. THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE. PEOPLE IN HAWKE'S BAY HAVE BEEN UNWITTINGLY SENDING LETTERS TO NO ONE FOR MONTHS AFTER USING A POST BOX THEY DIDN'T REALISE WAS OUT OF SERVICE. SIX BOXES ACROSS HASTINGS AND HAVELOCK NORTH WERE DECOMMISSIONED NINE MONTHS AGO BUT ARE YET TO BE REMOVED AND DON'T HAVE CLEAR SIGNAGE INFORMING USERS OF THE SITUATION. AT LEAST ONE OF THEM HAS COMPLETELY FILLED UP WITH MAIL. NEW ZEALAND POST SAYS IT KEEPS PUTTING A SIGN UP ON THE BOX, BUT IT KEEPS GETTING RIPPED OFF. POSTAL WORKERS UNION CO-PRESIDENT JOHN MAYNARD JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING, JOHN. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. HOW SERIOUS CAN THIS BE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO SEND OR RECEIVE MAIL? AS SOON LEAVE THE STUDIO, I'LL BE SENDING AN URGENT EMAIL TO THE CEO ASKING HIM TO INSTRUCT THAT THOSE POSTBOXES AND HASTINGS AND HAVELOCK NORTH ARE NOT REMOVED. PEOPLE ARE CLEARLY USING THEM, AND THIS IS A YEAR IN WHICH WE WILL BE HAVING POSTAL VOTING FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS. I LOST COUNT, THE UNION LOST COUNT WHEN THE COMPANY PULLED OUT 1500 OF THESE. THE POSTIES ARE TELLING YOU THEY ARE RUNNING DOWN THE MAIL BUSINESS. IT IS A PUBLICLY OWNED COMPANY, AND THE SERVICE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE IS TO HAVE REGARD TO THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY MIGHT WANT TO START BY CONSULTING WITH THE PEOPLE AND HASTINGS AND HAVELOCK NORTH WHO ARE USING THESE POSTBOXES. YOU MENTIONED ELECTIONS, BUT I IMAGINE THERE WILL BE OTHER SERIOUS INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE POSTING OFF PERSONAL INFORMATION WANTING TO RECEIVE THAT SORT OF THING AS WELL. IN THE EXAMPLE OF THE BOWEL TESTING, AND I AM AWARE OF OTHER CASES OF THAT HAPPENING, WHERE IT HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO GET TO THE TESTING AUTHORITY THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO TEST AGAIN. WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE GENERAL STATE OF NEW ZEALAND POST. WE ARE AT THE STAGE WHERE WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE A PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO THIS COMPANY AND IT SHOULD BE MEASURED AGAINST THE OBLIGATIONS AND THE STATE ENTERPRISE ACT TO HAVE REGARD FOR THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO BE A GOOD EMPLOYER. WE WANT THOSE PRINCIPLES MEASURED AGAINST THE COMPANY'S PRACTICES AND POLICIES INCLUDING WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND HASTINGS AND HAVELOCK NORTH. NEW ZEALAND POST SAID IT DID HAVE A SIGN ON IT, BUT IT HAS BEEN RIPPED OFF MULTIPLE TIMES BY UNKNOWN PARTIES. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED SOONER, AND THEY INTEND TO ACTION THIS IS EARNEST RACK TO COOL. ARE THESE ISOLATED INCIDENTS? THE COMPANY HAS BEEN PULLING UP THESE BOXES FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AS I SAID. WE LOST COUNT AT 1500. BUT CLEARLY THEY ARE STILL MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY PULLING THEM OUT. WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE CRITERIA, AND THEY SAID LESS THAN 30 L A DAY AND WE WILL PULL THEM OUT. 30 L A DAY AT A ROADSIDE POSTING BOX IS A LOT FOR THE PUBLIC. I IMAGINE THAT IS ONE OF YOUR GRAPES BECAUSE THEY ARE PRETTY WELL FREQUENTED. THESE ONES ARE CLEARLY BEING USED. URGENT MESSAGES TO THE CEO THAT THESE ARE NOT TO BE REMOVED. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL WELL SERVED WHEN IT COMES TO SENDING AND RECEIVING MAIL? WE HAVE GOT SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WITH NEW ZEALAND POST AT THE MOMENT ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING. ONE OF THEM AS THEY WANT TO LAY OFF ALL 700 POSTIES AND MAIL SERVICE STAFF AND HAVE THE MAIL DELIVERED BY CAREERS. TO DO THAT, THEY ARE CHANGING SOME OF THE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. AND NOW WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF ITEMS OF MAIL BEING RETURNED TO THE SENDER BECAUSE THE POSTIES ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO REDIRECT MAIL TO BUSINESS STREET ADDRESSES FROM STREET ADDRESSES TO POST OFFICE BOXES. POSTIES ARE REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS, AND THUS WE SEE IS A STEP TOWARDS TRYING TO GET THE COURIER TO DELIVER THE MAIL WHO WILL NOT BE DOING THE MARKING UP SERVICES. SOME OF THE BUSINESSES DO NOT KNOW THAT EMAIL IS BEING RETURNED TO THE SENDER. POSTIES ARE NOW DEFYING MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION TO TRIANGULATE THE MAIL THROUGH WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU ARE NOT TO REDIRECT THIS STREET ADDRESS MAIL; YOU ARE TO SEND IT BACK TO THE SENDER. POSTIES ARE GOING OUT AND TELLING BUSINESSES THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS, BUT WE WANT YOU TO GET YOUR MAIL. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MAIL? ALL OF THESE LETTERS THAT HAVE BEEN STUFFED INTO THIS BOX, WE KNOW WHAT COMES OF THAT? THE COMPANY WILL CLEAR THE BOX. THEY MAY DO THE COURTESY OF HAVING AN ACCOMPANYING LETTER EXPLAINING TO THE PEOPLE THAT THAT MAIL HAS THE SETTING AND THEREFORE WEEKS OR MONTHS. WE HOPE IT DOES THE COURTESY OF EXPLAINING TO THE PEOPLE WITHIN A COMPANY Y THE MAIL HAS COME TO YOU SO LATE, BECAUSE WE DID NOT CLEAR A STREET RECEIVING POSTBOX. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. I WONDER WHETHER THE CLEARING OUT OF THESE BOXES HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE PLACES THAT YOU LIVE IN. IN THIS INSTANCE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY HAD BEEN DECOMMISSIONED. THEY ARE STILL SITTING THERE. PEOPLE ARE USING THEM BECAUSE THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF THEM, BUT THERE WILL BE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN DECOMMISSIONED AROUND THE COUNTRY. I WONDER IF THAT IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW WHERE YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR LETTERS TO NOW IN ORDER TO SEND THEM. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. EMAIL US. E WHAI AKE NEI ` UNDERSTANDING THE MENTAL PRESSURES OF WORKING AND LIVING IN ANTARCTICA. PLUS ` WHAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP YOUR SUGAR LEVELS DOWN # THUNDER ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` ISRAEL HAS LAUNCHED IT'S FIRST GROUND ATTACK IN GAZA SINCE THE END OF THE CEASEFIRE AS FRESH AIRSTRIKES HAVE REPORTEDLY KILLED AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE OVERNIGHT, ACCORDING TO LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND UKRAINE'S VOLODYMR ZELENSKYY HAVE HAD AN HOUR-LONG PHONE CALL. THAT REPORTEDLY WENT 'VERY GOOD'. IT FOLLOWS RUSSIA'S VLADIMIR PUTIN AGREEING TO PAUSE ATTACKS ON UKRAINE'S ENERGY PLANTS. AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW MORE TRANSPARENCY, U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS RELEASED OVER 80,000 PAGES OF MATERIAL RELATING TO THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY. DIABETES IS A GROWING PROBLEM IN NEW ZEALAND THAT'S ESTIMATED TO BE COSTING THE COUNTRY BILLIONS EACH YEAR. BUT IN MANY CASES, IT IS PREVENTABLE, AND IF CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH CAN EVEN BE REVERSED. IT'S AN ISSUE DOCTORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM DO MORE TO TACKLE. BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY CHANGE AT AN OFFICIAL LEVEL, THEY SAY THERE'S A LOT PEOPLE CAN DO THEMSELVES TO KEEP THAT SUGAR DOWN BEFORE THEY GET TOO SICK. AUT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIETITIAN CARYN ZINN JOINS US NOW. CAN WE TALK FIRST ABOUT TYPE II DIABETES. WHAT IS IT? IT IS A CONDITION THAT YOUR BODY BECOMES LESS EFFICIENT AT PROCESSING ITS SUGAR. IT IS REALLY TO DO WITH INSULIN RESISTANCE, SO YOUR CELLS ARE BECOMING LESS ABLE TO SEE INSULIN TO PROCESS GLUCOSE. SO YOU NEED MORE INSULIN TO DO THE SAME JOB, WHICH IS TO GET THE SUGAR OUT OF THE BLOOD AND INTO THE CELLS OF THE LIVER AND THE MUSCLE. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT ON THE BODY IF IT CANNOT DO THAT? BLOOD SUGAR GOES UP, AND INSULIN'S JOB IS TO CLEAR IT TO SEND IT TO THE CELLS. AND IF IT DOES NOT DO THAT, WHAT HAPPENS AS YOUR INSULIN RISES, AND YOU HAVE INSOLENCE RESISTANCE. AND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH INFLAMMATORY AND TOXIC TO EVERY SINGLE SYSTEM IN THE BODY. THERE ARE SIGNS TO SHOW THAT IT MAY BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL CHRONIC DISEASE. NOT JUST DIABETES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUGAR, RIGHT? SO WAS THAT THE BIGGEST RISK FACTOR WHEN IT COMES TO TYPE II DIABETES? GOLDEN QUESTION. THERE ARE LOTS OF RISK FACTORS. SO HAVING FAMILY HISTORY, BEING OVERWEIGHT, HAVING A POOR QUALITY LIFESTYLE IN GENERAL, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW TO MANAGE IT, SUGAR AND TOTAL CARBOHYDRATES THAT TURN TO SUGAR IS A MASSIVE AREA OF MANAGEMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. CAN WE TALK THROUGH THAT? HOW DO YOU MANAGE THINGS WITHOUT LOOKING AT MEDICAL INTERVENTION? OUR RESEARCH AT AUT, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE HEALTH RESEARCH COUNCIL, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING CALLED IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, SO WE ARE APPLYING SOMETHING IN A REAL-LIFE SETTING, IN THIS CASE, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, SO GP CLINICS, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW THAT GOES OVER TIME AND IF WE CAN SCALE THAT UP AND TAKE IT UP IF IT IS SHOWING GOOD RESULTS ACROSS NEW ZEALAND. THE AREA WE ARE WORKING AT IS HOW BEST TO MANAGE TYPE II DIABETES AND PREDIABETES WITH FUNDAMENTAL THREE ISSUES. ONE, WHOLEFOOD CARBOHYDRATE REDUCTION, NUMBER TWO, THE HEALTH COACH APPROACH, SO INTEGRATING BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AND ACTUALLY MEETING THE CLIENT WHERE THEY ARE AT, AND THE THIRD THING IS SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, SO PATIENTS SHOULD SUSTAIN THIS BEHAVIOUR LONG-TERM. I KNOW GP CLINICS ARE PRETTY OVERWHELMED, SO IT IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. IT IS PART OF THAT. IT COMES ALONG AND WORKS IN THIS WAY, PARTICULARLY WITH A FOCUS ON CARBOHYDRATE REDUCTION. WE HAVE SEEN SOME REALLY GOOD OUTCOMES. BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO THE OUTCOMES, IN TERMS OF TRYING TO REDUCE SUGAR, TRYING TO REDUCE CARBOHYDRATES, I IMAGINE THAT A HEALTH COACH PART OF IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. ABSOLUTELY. IT IS TRYING TO CHANGE SOMEBODY'S MINDSET. IT IS ALL VERY WELL SAYING TO SOMEONE, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BUT EXPECTING THEM TO GO AWAY AND DO IT IS A LITTLE BIT UNREALISTIC. SO YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE THAT REGULAR COMMUNICATION. YOU HAVE GOT TO BUILD A RAPPORT. YOU HAVE GOT TO BUILD THE TRUST, AND YOU HAVE GOT TO COACH THEM AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT. I WILL SAY EVEN THOUGH MY EXPERTISE IS NUTRITION, IT REALLY IS ABOUT METABOLIC HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE. IT IS NOT ONLY NUTRITION. IT IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SLEEP HABITS, MANAGING STRESS, HUMAN CONNECTION, AND IT IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU AN OPTIMALLY LIVING HUMAN. IT IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO KIND OF NOT TEACH BUT GET PEOPLE TO GET THEIR HEADS AROUND IT THAT IT ACTUALLY IS AND ALL APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO 1 OR TWO THINGS. ABSOLUTELY. I THINK NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY REVERSE TYPE II DIABETES AND PUT IT INTO REMISSION, AND THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED DE PRESCRIPTION, AND THAT IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THAT IN HISTORY, AND PEOPLE GET QUITE EXCITED ABOUT WANTING TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE. YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU HAVING SOME GOOD RESULTS. WHAT ARE THE SUCCESS STORY SO FAR? WE'RE NOT TALKING EVERY SINGLE PERSON. BUT WE ARE CRUNCHING NUMBERS AT THE MOMENT. WE ARE PARTWAY THROUGH THE STUDY. WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING, SO CARBOHYDRATE IS SUGAR. AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE IT TO ITS SIMPLEST LEVEL, WHICH IS AVOID EATING FOOD THAT PUT YOUR BLOOD SUGAR UP. YOU CAN MAKE IT REALLY SIMPLE. AND PEOPLE ARE FINDING THAT THEY CAN LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE FOR THEM, IT IS DOABLE ALONG WITH SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILY, AND ALONG WITH THEIR COACHING, THEY ARE SEEING IMPROVED ENERGY LEVELS. THEY ARE SEEING THE OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES GET BETTER OVER TIME. THEY ARE SEEING BETTER MENTAL CLARITY. THEY ARE SEEING A REDUCTION IN CRAVINGS, SUGAR CRAVINGS, SO THERE ARE WIDE REACHING EFFECTS BY JUST FOCUSING ON THIS KIND OF HOLISTIC APPROACH. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TYPE II DIABETES, BUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING COULD BENEFIT ALL OF US. ABSOLUTELY. IT IS CHRONIC DISEASE. EAT LESS SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATE, MOVE MORE, SLEEP BETTER, MANAGE YOUR STRESS, DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM THIS. PREVENTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE STARTING DEVELOPMENT PHASES OF THE CONDITION, THEY CAN CERTAINLY REVERSE IT. WE NEED TO CATCH UP ONCE ALL OF THE RESEARCH IS DONE AND YOU HAVE COLLATED EVERYTHING. THEY WILL BE VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. AND LATER ` THE GROWING RISK OF DROUGHT FOR MANY FARMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. (UPBEAT MUSIC) # I FEEL IT COMING, BABY. # I FEEL IT COMING. TIME FOR YOUR NEWS. THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA SINCE THE CEASEFIRE ENDED. FOOTAGE RELEASED BY THE IDF APPEARS TO SHOW TROOPS IN CENTRAL GAZA, WHERE ISRAEL SAYS IT PLANS TO RETAKE A KEY CORRIDOR. MEANWHILE, LOCAL HEALTH WORKERS SAY AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKES. IT COMES AS THE UN SAYS ONE OF ITS STAFFERS HAS BEEN KILLED, WITH FIVE OTHERS INJURED BUT ISRAEL HAS DENIED IT TARGETED THE U.N. COMPOUND. IT DIDN'T SAY WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CARRIED OUT THE DEADLY STRIKES BUT SAID ISRAEL KNEW IT WAS A U.N. PREMISE. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS DEPARTED NEW DELHI AND IS NOW IN MUMBAI AS HIS JAM-PACKED SCHEDULE IN INDIA CONTINUES. 1 NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN IS TRAVELLING WITH THE DELEGATION AND FILED THIS REPORT. MUMBAI IS KNOWN AS THE ECONOMIC HUB OF INDIA, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF DEALS BEING DONE WITH THE NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS DELEGATION, INCLUDING A COMMITMENT FOR A DIRECT FLIGHT BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES BY AIR NEW ZEALAND AND AIR INDIA. BUT THERE'S A CATCH ` IT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL 2028, AND ONLY IF THEY GET NEW AEROPLANES. MORE THAN 40 FIRE FIGHTERS WERE BATTLING A LARGE BLAZE OVERNIGHT IN EAST TAMAKI. 11 CREWS ARRIVED TO THE SCENE OF A BOAT BUILDER'S OFFICE WELL INVOLVED IN FLAMES, BUT IT WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. ONE CREW REMAINS ON THE SCENE MONITORING HOT SPOTS, AND A FIRE INVESTIGATOR WILL RETURN THIS MORNING. THE BLACKCAPS WILL TAKE ON PAKISTAN IN THE THIRD T20 MATCH TOMORROW IN AUCKLAND AND WILL BE LOOKING TO SEAL A SERIES VICTORY. THEY GO INTO THE GAME OFF THE BACK OF TWO DOMINANT RUN CHASES LED BY OPENERS TIM SEIFERT AND FINN ALLEN, WHO HIT 10 SIXES BETWEEN THEM AT DUNEDIN'S UNIVERSITY OVAL, AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THEY CAN ADD TO THAT TALLY, WITH THE BOUNDARIES AT EDEN PARK FAMOUSLY SMALL. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A DOWNFALL AS WELL, KNOWING THAT THE BOUNDARIES WHEN WE TRY AND HIT THE BALL TOO HARD WILL FORCE IT. NOTHING REALLY CHANGES FROM A BOUNDARY POINT OF VIEW, YOU TRY AND KEEP YOUR SHAPE, IF YOU HIT IT WELL, IT WILL GO NO MATTER WHAT. THE MATCH GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW EVENING AT QUARTER PAST 7. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR SOME, WITH RAIN EXPECTED FOR THOSE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND THE CAPITAL BEFORE EASING IN THE EVENING. 24 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. 22 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. CLEAR SKIES ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE UPPER EAST COAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE, TURNING TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN CHRISTCHURCH. 24 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 22 IN NELSON. LETS TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (MELLOW ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC) MARKETS HAVE DOMINATED THE HEADLINES IN RECENT WEEKS. AND WHEN THEY DO, IT'S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN LOOKING AT YOUR BALANCES MORE THAN USUAL. HARRY SMITH, ONE OF THE SENIOR INVESTMENT MANAGERS AT FISHER FUNDS ` WHO ARE BRINGING YOU THIS SEGMENT ` IS HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE PERFECT STORM WE'VE BEEN IN AND WHY WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE VALUE OF OUR KIWISAVER LIKE WE DO HOUSES. HI, HARRY. WELCOME. WHEN WE SAY HOUSES, YOU GET KIWIS ATTENTION. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME CONTEXT? IF I GIVE YOU A BIT OF CONTEXT, AGAINST HISTORY, OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS IN THE USA STOCK MARKET, THE AVERAGE FOR FROM HIGH TO LOW PER YEAR IS ACTUALLY 16%, WHICH IS QUITE A LOT. IN SPITE OF THAT, THE AVERAGE RETURN THAT INVESTORS HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN 10%, AND THAT IS WHERE THE FAMOUS SAYING IT IS TIME IN THE MARKET NOT TIMING THE MARKET, COMES FROM. THE USA STOCK MARKET IS AROUND 8% AT THE MOMENT, AND THERE IS A FEW REASONS FOR THAT, ONE REASON IS THE AI TRADE. WE HAD TWO FANTASTIC YEARS IN THE USA MARKET IN 2023 AND 2024 THE MARKET WAS UP OVER 20%. SOME OF THE STEAM HAS COME OUT OF THAT AI TRADE. THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THE STRENGTH OF THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. LASTLY, AS WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE TO YOU, CHRIS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT OF UNCERTAINTY, WHICH MAKES IT HARD FOR BUSINESSES TO PLAN AND INVEST. IF I BRING THAT BACK TO WHAT I ORIGINALLY SAID, VOLATILITY IS NOT UNUSUAL IN THE STOCK MARKET. A 10% PULLBACK SHOULD HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY 18 MONTHS. THE LAST ONE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS IN MARCH 2023, SO I DON'T THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS ACTUALLY THAT OUT OF CONTEXT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HISTORY. WHERE DO HOUSE VALUES COMMON TO ALL OF THIS? WHERE DO HOUSE VALUES COME IN TO ALL OF THIS? IT IS TIME IN THE MARKET, NOT TIMING OF THE MARKET. FOR YOUR HOUSE, YOU GO AND BUY A HOUSE, IT BECOMES YOUR HOME, YOU LIVE IN YOUR HOME FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT HOW THE PRICE OF YOUR HOME HAS CHANGED ON A DAILY BASIS DEPENDING ON CONSUMER CONTINENCE, UNEMPLOYED AND LATER, OR WHAT TRADES ARE HAPPENING THAT DAY. ALL OF THOSE FACTORS WILL CHANGE THE PRICE OF YOUR HOME, BUT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED IN YOUR HOME FOR QUITE A LONG TIME IN MOST CASES, WHEN YOU COME TO SELL IT FOR WHATEVER REASON, POTENTIAL YOU ARE UPSIZING, DOWNSIZING, YOU REALISE A VERY HANDSOME CAPITAL GAIN, AND SO I THINK KIWIS SHOULD THINK ABOUT THEIR KIWISAVER'S IN THE RIGHT WAY. YOU NEED TO BE IN THE RIGHT KIWISAVER FOR YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE RISK, BUT IT IS ABOUT TIME IN THE MARKET NOT TIMING THE MARKET. FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL FEELING NERVOUS, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT AND SPEAK TO SOMEONE AND JUST USE THEM AS A SOUNDING BOARD TO GET SOME ADVICE AND MAKE SURE YOU IN THE RIGHT POSITION FOR YOU. IT IS ALWAYS INTERESTING. NEW HAVE A FALL IN THE MARKET, IN THE STOCK MARKET, SO 8% OF THE USA, WHICH ACTUALLY MEANS THAT RISK HAS COME OUT OF THE MARKET, SO THAT ACTUALLY REPLIES THAT IT IS NOT AS RISKY AS IT WAS WHEN PRICES WERE HIGH. IT IS ACTUALLY FIGHTING OUR EMOTIONS, DON'T LET YOUR EMOTIONS TAKE OVER AND PULL YOU TO MAKE A BAD DECISION. THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD SAY. EASIER SAID THAN DONE SOMETIMES, WITH THE EMOTIONS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I LIKE THAT, HARRY. TIME IN THE MARKET, NOT TIMING. ME U TONU MAI ` A 13-MONTH RESEARCH EXPEDITION IN ANTARCTICA HAS BEEN JEOPARDISED AFTER AN ALLEGED ASSAULT. NEXT, AN INSIGHT INTO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF WORKING IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS. SONG: # You're as cold as ice... # What's your address? Not telling. What's your bank account number? 123... Nah! Would you be interested in... Nope. How about a deal... Nah! Pay here! (*Pfffft SOUND*) Negative. Not. Telling. (PHONE RINGS) # Cold # As # Ice... # Hello? My card number? It's, um... Ooh, yeah! # You're as cold as ice... # # WHY DID YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES # WHEN YOU SAID IT OUT LOUD> # WHEN YOU SAID IT OUT LOUD? HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` WELLINGTON RESIDENTS ARE BEING URGED TO AVOID USING PUBLIC POOLS IF UNWELL AS THE REGION EXPERIENCES A RISE IN GASTRO-LIKE ILLNESS. RESEARCHERS ARE CONDUCTING A THREE-YEAR PROJECT INTO NON-PHARMACEUTICAL WAYS TO REVERSE TYPE 2 DIABETES. THIS COMES AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DIABETES IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE DRASTICALLY IN THE NEXT TWO DECADES. AND MORE THAN 40 FIREFIGHTERS WERE BATTLING A LARGE BLAZE OVERNIGHT IN EAST TAMAKI. THE FIRE HAS SINCE BEEN EXHAUSTED, THE FIRE HAS SINCE BEEN EXTINGUISHED WITH AN INVESTIGATION TO RESUME THIS MORNING. A SMALL GROUP OF SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCHERS AT A REMOTE ANTARCTIC STATION IS ON EDGE AFTER ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS WAS ACCUSED OF PHYSICAL ASSAULT, PROMPTING ANOTHER TO SEND AN EMAIL PLEADING FOR HELP. THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS ENGAGED WITH THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, BUT THERE ARE NO PLANS TO REMOVE ANY OF THE TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE BASE BEFORE THEIR SCHEDULED RETURN NEXT YEAR. KIMBERLEY NORRIS HAS RESEARCHED THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF WORKING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS AND HAS WORKED WITH THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC PROGRAMME. SHE JOINS US NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. THIS IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE, BEING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS, HOW THAT CAN IMPACT PEOPLE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS ISOLATION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE? FUNDAMENTALLY, HUMANS AS A SPECIES ARE A SOCIAL CREATURE. WE BOTH GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE AROUND US. THE PARTICULAR IMPORTANT THING ABOUT SOMEWHERE LIKE ANTARCTICA IS THAT THE ISOLATION IS BOTH PHYSICAL, SO YOU ARE PHYSICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD, HENCE WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO GET HOME, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU ARE ISOLATED FROM YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, AND ALL OF THOSE TYPICAL WAYS THAT YOU WOULD COPE WITH STRESS IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE. YOU HAVE HELPED PEOPLE GO DOWN TO ANTARCTICA. NO DOUBT A HUGE PART OF THAT IS HOW DO YOU COPE PSYCHOLOGICALLY, SO HOW DO YOU PREPARE THEM FOR THAT? YOU HAVE PICKED UP ON THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, IT ACTUALLY TAKES DELIBERATE PREPARATION. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET PEOPLE TO GET READY FOR WORKING IN THIS EXTREME, UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENT, IS TO RECOGNISE THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO TO PREPARE IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, HOW EASILY DOES THAT TRANSFER TO ANTARCTICA. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO REALLY COPES WITH STRESS THROUGH GAUGING WITH NATURE, THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE OUTDOORS, THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE VERY ACHIEVABLE IN ANTARCTICA. IF YOU SUDDENLY HAVE NO COPING RESOURCE, THEN YOUR ABILITY TO COPE WITH STRESS WILL BE MUCH, MUCH LOWER. ONE OF THE OTHER WAYS IS THAT REALLY START WORKING WITH THOSE SOCIAL NETWORKS AND HAVING A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OFTEN YOU WILL COMMUNICATE, HOW YOU COMMUNICATE, AND FUNDAMENTALLY, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THERE IS A CREATE MORE PREDICTABILITY, BECAUSE WHEN THE WORLD FEELS PREDICTABLE, WE FEEL IN CONTROL. AND WHEN WE FEEL IN CONTROL, WE FEEL SAFE. AT THE MOMENT, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT FEEL PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE. DO YOU DO SCENARIO WORK? I'M THINKING FROM A SPORTING PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT ARE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL, YOU CAN PLAN FOR X, BUT Y HAPPENS. IN THIS CASE, THERE IS AN ALLEGED ASSAULT, AND THERE IS A WANT OF SOME OF THEM TO GET OUT OF THEIR. I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE SCENARIOS THAT ARE PRACTICE TO GIVE YOU SOME KIND OF WAY OF COPING WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT DEPENDS ON THE NATIONAL PROGRAM, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SPECIFICS OF THIS PROGRAM. ABSOLUTELY, BUT SCENARIO PLANNING THAT IF YOU LIKE, DEVELOPING COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY, SO THE ABILITY TO THINK ABOUT A SITUATION IN MULTIPLE WAYS AND ADAPT YOUR RESPONSE BASED ON WHAT RESOURCES MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, BECAUSE, AS YOU SAY, IT IS WIDELY USED IN OTHER AREAS OF PSYCHOLOGY, SUCH AS SPORT, AND WE NOTICE EFFECTIVE. THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SAY THEY ARE GOING TO STAY PUT. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO TAKE ANYBODY OUT OF THEIR. DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT APPROACH? IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMMENT, GIVEN THAT WE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE MATTER, BUT THERE ARE SOME TRICKY TENSIONS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BALANCE ` SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF EVERY PERSON ON THE STATION WILL BE A PRIORITY. THE OTHER DIFFICULTY IS THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO MAXIMISE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCEEDING IN THAT PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME VERY CONCERNING ISSUES BEING NAVIGATED AT THE MOMENT, TO REMOVE SOMEONE FROM ANTARCTICA, LOGISTICALLY, VERY, VERY COMPLEX, AND CAN BE UNSAFE FOR THE PEOPLE EVEN TRYING TO BRING THEM OUT, BUT THE OTHER PART IS, EVEN IF THEY WERE TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ALLEGED TO HAVE ENGAGED IN THESE BEHAVIOURS, THE GROUP ITSELF DOESN'T SIMPLY SNAP BACK INTO PERFECT FUNCTIONING. IT WILL TAKE TIME, AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT THEY ARE WEIGHING UP AS WELL. IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS BRINGING SOMEBODY IN OR OUT, IT IS A MUCH MORE COMPLEX SOCIAL DYNAMIC. I WANT TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SUBJECT. I KNOW WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF ASTRONAUTS THAT HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR THE LAST NINE ALSO MONTHS IN SPACE. THEY HAVE SINCE RETURNED TO EARTH. WE WERE WATCHING A STORY FROM THE BBC YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES THAT BOTH THOSE ASTRONAUTS WILL FACE AFTER BEING IN SPACE FOR NINE MONTHS. WHAT ARE THOSE CHALLENGES THAT THEY COULD BE FACING? PARTICULAR WHEN THEY WERE ONLY EXPECTING TO BE GONE FOR A FEW DAYS, THIS EXTENDED DURATION WAS NOT EXPECTED BY THEM. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF AN EXTREME AND UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCE IS ACTUALLY WHEN YOU COMEBACK. PSYCHOLOGICALLY, THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME THOSE ASTRONAUTS HAVE JUST HAD, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR THINKING, THEIR EMOTIONS, THEY HAVE ADJUSTED EVERYTHING TO SUIT THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT, BUT EARTH DIDN'T STOP MOVING JUST BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HERE, AND SO THEY ARE NOT STEPPING BACK INTO THE LIFE THEY LEFT; THEY ARE STEPPING BACK INTO A LIFE THAT HAS PROGRESSED NINE MONTHS IN THE ABSENCE. IN A WAY, IT IS LIKE PLAYING CATCH UP ` YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT EQUALLY YOU ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO IMPACT OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SURVIVING IN YOUR ABSENCE, KEEPING THINGS GOING, SO IT IS THAT REALLY DELICATE BALANCING ACT. THIS IS FASCINATING. WE SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US THIS MORNING AT 4.49 IN YOUR TIME. GOING TO THE EXTRAORDINARY SEEING THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE ASTRONAUTS AS THEY ADJUST BACK INTO LIFE. I IMAGINE THEY WILL BE KEPT FROM THE MEDIA FOR A SHORT WHILE. I LOVE THE POINT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY IN THINKING, YOU COMEBACK NINE MONTHS, AND EVERY BODY HAS MOVED ON, BUT YOU ARE COMING BACK NINE MONTHS WHERE EVERYTHING WAS ONE-WAY, BUT MAY BE FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE MOVED ON AS WELL. NOT TOO FAR ON. WHERE HAVE THEY ALL GONE? NINE MONTHS IS A LONG, LONG TIME. THEY WOULD BE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF HR FOR ALL OF THAT OVER TIME. GET THOSE PER DIEM'S. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE FAR NORTH PUSHES FOR RECOGNITION FOR ITS WARMER CLIMATE. NEXT ` HOW IT COULD HELP BOOST HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY. SONG: # You're as cold as ice... # What's your address? Not telling. What's your bank account number? 123... Nah! Would you be interested in... Nope. How about a deal... Nah! Pay here! (*Pfffft SOUND*) Negative. Not. Telling. (PHONE RINGS) # Cold # As # Ice... # Hello? My card number? It's, um... Ooh, yeah! # You're as cold as ice... # (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IF YOU'RE TRAVELLING UP THE NORTH ISLAND IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO EXPERIENCE WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE FAR NORTH, FOR EXAMPLE, BOASTS 200 MORE HOURS OF SUNSHINE ANNUALLY COMPARED TO AUCKLAND, TOTALLING OVER 2000 ACROSS THE YEAR. THE REGION NOW WANTS TO BE DECLARED A SEPARATE CLIMATE ZONE, HOPING TO ADJUST INSULATION AND GLAZING REQUIREMENTS IN AN EFFORT TO BOOST HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY. JOINING US LIVE FROM THE WINTERLESS NORTH IS TE HIKU COUNCILLOR FELICITY FOY. GOOD MORNING, FELICITY. WHAT IS IT EXACTLY THAT YOU ARE CALLING FOR HERE? WE ARE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT AND IN PARTICULAR THE MINISTER TO HEAR OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINAL. WE ARE NOT AUCKLAND. WE ARE 20 BEACHES WITHIN 20 MINUTES. WE OTHER TROPICS, AND WE NEED THAT REFLECTED IN OUR ZONE SO WE CAN MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY MORE ACHIEVABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE. LET'S UNPACK IT TO GIVE PEOPLE A BIT OF CONTEXT. WHAT IS IT EXACTLY THAT IS REQUIRED OF BUILDING STANDARDS AND GLAZING OF WINDOW STANDARDS THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT AT THE MOMENT TO BUILD HOUSES? THE STANDARDS WERE CHANGED JUST RECENTLY. THAT MEANS ALL THOSE HOUSES CONSENTED LAST YEAR ARE NOW BEING BUILT. THE COST OF THAT IS SIGNIFICANT. THAT MEANS THAT THE EXTRA GLAZING IN PARTICULAR IS NOW AFFECTING PEOPLE AND THEIR POCKETS, AND THEREFORE THE ABILITY TO BUILD HOMES. IN TERMS OF EXTRA COST, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM IN A HOUSE NOW, AND EXTRA GLAZING COST $14,000 EXTRA FOR THIS HOUSE. SOMEONE ELSE BUILDING A HOUSE IS $20,000 EXTRA JUST FOR THE GLAZING ALONE. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE EXTRA INSULATION. THOSE STANDARDS ARE BOUGHT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSES BEING BUILT ARE NICE AND WARM. BUT YOU ARE SAYING FOR THE FINALS, IT IS NOT NECESSARY, BUT COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE SOMETIMES. YES. IN OUR LETTER TO THE MINISTER, THERE ARE TWO VERY CLEAR PICTURES. THE CLIMATE ASSESSMENTS LOOK AT THE SUNLIGHT HOURS, AND IN TERMS OF THE FAR NORTH, WE ARE MUCH SUNNIER, MUCH WARMER HERE THAN AUCKLAND. THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE HEAT MAPS. HERE, WE ARE BRIGHT RED AND MUCH WARMER ALL YEAR ROUND. WE KNOW THAT ANECDOTALLY, WE WHERE JANDALS AND SHORTS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT EVEN HAVE PANTS THAT THEY WEAR. BUT WHEN WE GO TO AUCKLAND, WE FEEL THE CHILL. HOW IS THE POWER AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY? THE SECOND ASPECT OF THE REQUEST TO THE MINISTER IS ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS TO SOLAR POWER ALLOWING FOR HYBRID. WE PAY ALMOST DOUBLE AUCKLAND. THAT IS BECAUSE WE PAY TWO SETS OF LINE CHARGES. WE PAY TO BOTH TOP ENERGY AND TRANS-POWER BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE END OF THE LINE. I DO NOT THINK THAT IS FAIR OR REASONABLE, BUT THAT HAS NOT CHANGED JUST YET. WHAT THE MINISTER CAN DO IS ALLOW FOR THESE CHANGES IN REGULATION TO INCENTIVISE GOING TO SOLAR POWER, SO INSTEAD OF PEOPLE SPENDING MONEY ON EXTRA GLAZING, THEY PUT THE MONEY INTO SOLAR POWER AND ALLOWING HYBRID CONNECTIONS MEANS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THE BATTERIES. WE CAN CONNECT STRAIGHT IN, AND THE EXCESS POWER THAT THE SOLAR PANELS CREATE, WE CAN PUT THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY BACK INTO THE GRID. HOW MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT HAVE YOU HAD ON THIS? COUNCIL SIGNED OFF ON THIS LAST THURSDAY. WE HAVE NOT HAD A PRESS RELEASE PUT OUT JUST YET, BUT WE HAVE BEEN LOBBYING FOR THIS FOR A YEAR. IN EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE ASK WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND YOUR MONEY ON SOLAR POWER THAT IS GOING TO POWER YOUR HOUSE FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS OR ON GLAZING, PARTICULARLY HIGH LEVELS OF GLAZING, PEOPLE JUST DO NOT THINK THAT IS SENSIBLE. IT IS NOT REGULATION THAT SUITS US HERE IN THE NORTH. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE MUCH WARMER, MUCH SUNNIER THAN AUCKLAND, AND THESE REGULATIONS ARE PROHIBITED TO OUR BUILDING COST. WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING FROM BUILDERS AS TO WHETHER THIS IS A BARRIER FOR THEM? THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WITH THE HAMMERS, THEY SEE THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF INSULATION THAT IS GOING INTO HOMES. BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE EXTRA COST OF THE GLAZING IS REAPER HABITED. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IS A HUGE AMOUNT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING A HOME. FOR FAMILIES NOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING IN CABINS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT ACTUALLY AFFORD TO BUILD A FULL-SIZE HOME. I DO NOT SEE THE SOLUTION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AS MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN CABINS. WHAT I SEE THE SOLUTION IS AS HAVING PRACTICAL LEGISLATION THAT MEETS THE CLIMATE OF OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` DROUGHT HAS NOW BEEN DECLARED IN FIVE REGIONS ` THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON FARMERS AND WHAT HELP THEY'RE ASKING FOR. ALSO AHEAD ` IT WAS THE REASON FOR VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY'S VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE THAT ENDED IN AN OVAL OFFICE DRESSING-DOWN. WHY UKRAINE'S MINERALS ARE CONSIDERED SO VALUABLE AND HOW WE COULD FEEL THE REPERCUSSIONS HERE. PLUS ` COULD GDP DATA OUT LATER TODAY SHOW AOTEAROA'S OUT OF RECESSION. WE'LL ASK OUR POLITICAL PANEL IF WE'RE FEELING ANY ECONOMIC GROWTH. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT HAS LAUNCHED IT'S FIRST GROUND OPERATION THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA SINCE THE CEASEFIRE ENDED. FOOTAGE RELEASED BY THE IDF APPEARS TO SHOW TROOPS IN CENTRAL GAZA, WHERE ISRAEL SAYS IT PLANS TO RETAKE A KEY CORRIDOR. MEANWHILE, LOCAL HEALTH WORKERS SAY AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKES. IT COMES AS THE UN SAYS ONE OF ITS STAFFERS HAS BEEN KILLED, WITH FIVE OTHERS INJURED. AFTER A STRIKE HIT ONE OF IT'S GUEST HOUSES. ISRAEL HAS DENIED IT TARGETED THE U.N. COMPOUND. IN MY OPINION, THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. IT CANNOT BE CATEGORISED AS AN ACCIDENT. IT IS AT LEAST AN INCIDENT. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA IS UNCONSCIONABLE. I AM SHOCKED. I AM SHOCKED AND DEVASTATED BY THIS TRAGIC NEWS. HE DIDN'T SAY WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CARRIED OUT THE DEADLY STRIKES BUT SAID ISRAEL KNEW IT WAS A U.N. BUILDING. BACK HERE, WELLINGTON RESIDENTS ARE BEING URGED TO AVOID USING PUBLIC POOLS IF UNWELL AS THE REGION EXPERIENCES A RISE IN GASTRO LIKE ILLNESS. ACCORDING TO HEALTH NEW ZEALAND DOZENS OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED THIS YEAR SO FAR ` MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL. MORE THAN HALF OF THESE CASES ARE BELIEVED TO BE LINKED BACK TO PUBLIC POOLS OR SPLASH PADS AND CENTRED MOSTLY IN THE HUTT VALLEY. COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE DIARRHOEA, FEVER, STOMACH CRAMPS AND SOMETIMES VOMITING. THE BLUES WILL BE BOLSTERED BY THE RETURN OF HOSKINS SOTUTU FROM SUSPENSION THIS WEEKEND AS THEY PREPARE TO TAKE ON THEIR OLD FOES, THE CRUSADERS. THE BLUES HAVE ONLY RECORDED ONE WIN IN THEIR SUPER RUGBY SEASON SO FAR, LANGUISHING AT NINTH ON THE TABLE. MEANWHILE, A SURPRISE IN THE CRUSADERS SQUAD, WITH WING MACCA SPRINGER LEFT OUT OF THE MATCH DAY 23 AFTER HE TIED THE SUPER RUGBY RECORD LAST WEEK BY RUNNING IN FIVE TRIES AGAINST THE FORCE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR SOME, WITH RAIN EXPECTED FOR THOSE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND THE CAPITAL BEFORE EASING IN THE EVENING. 17 DEGREES FOR WELLINGTON. 22 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. CLEAR SKIES ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE UPPER EAST COAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE TURNING TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN CHRISTCHURCH. 24 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 22 IN NELSON. DROUGHT HAS BEEN DECLARED IN SEVERAL REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S NOW AFFECTING NORTHLAND, WAIKATO, HORIZONS REGION ACROSS MANAWATU AND WHANGANUI, MARLBOROUGH-TASMAN AND TARANAKI. NIWA SAYS THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON DROUGHT INCLUDES GREATER EVAPORATION AND DRYING OF SOIL. DRY CONDITIONS MEAN FARMERS ARE RAISING THE ALARM, PARTICULARLY OVER POTENTIAL FEED SHORTAGES. WE'RE JOINED BY FARMERS KEITH HOLMES IN WAIKATO, AND LEEDOM GIBBS IN TARANAKI. WE'LL COME TO YOU FIRST, KEITH. HOW ARE WAIKATO FARMERS COPING WITH THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS? IT IS A PRETTY SERIOUS SITUATION, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE HAD A BIT OF RAIN OVERNIGHT. A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN IS APPRECIATED. IN THE WAIKATO, THE WORST OF THE AREA IS ON THE WEST COAST, WHICH IS MOST UNUSUAL. WE HAVE PICKED UP THE DROUGHT FROM TARANAKI, AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP THE WEST COAST UP TO NORTHLAND. THAT AREA IS AN AREA THAT TRADITIONALLY IS WHERE YOUNGSTOCK GO TO GRAY'S AT THE DAIRY FARMS. NORMALLY THAT IS PLENTY OF GRASS, SO THOSE GRAZERS ARE RUNNING OUT OF FEED. IT IS PUTTING ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE OPERATIONS, AND THEY DEPEND ON THE GRAZERS FOR THEIR INCOME. THE OTHER PART IS WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF WATER. TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND BOARDS ARE DRYING UP. IT IS PRETTY CATASTROPHIC, BECAUSE WATER IS AS IMPORTANT AS FEED AT THE MOMENT. TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW FARMERS AND TARANAKI ARE COPING WITH THESE CONDITIONS. THEY ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO LOOK AFTER THE ANIMALS AND THEIR OWN PEOPLE. WE HAVE BEEN BUYING IN SO MUCH FEED INTO OUR REGION. WE HAVE MAIN CONTRACTORS DOWN AT OUR MOST AFFECTED AREA. THEY HAVE NEVER BROUGHT IN SO MUCH FEED IN THEIR CAREERS. YOU TALK ABOUT FARMERS EXPERIENCING DRUG DIFFERENTLY. IT IS NOT JUST WARM WEATHER. WE ARE ACTUALLY IN A CRISIS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? IS THIS TO ME? NO. SO WHEN DROUGHT HAPPENS FOR A FARMER, IT IS LIKE THIS REALITY OF THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, WHICH IS ACTUALLY REALLY PRECARIOUS. WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT IN OUR COUNTRY THAT WE ARE SO BUFFERED BY THE PRECARIOUSNESS OF OUR WORLD, BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A GREAT FIRST WORLD NATION. THOSE COMES INTO OUR SUPERMARKETS. BUT FOR A FARMER, WE STILL LIVE IN THAT REALITY THAT WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE WEATHER. SO IT IS LIKE THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT. FARMERS ARE SO RESILIENT BECAUSE THEY REALLY LIVE WITH THIS TRUE REALITY OF WHAT IT MEANS WHEN IT DOES NOT RAIN. KEITH, I WILL BRING YOU BACK IN. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT THIS IS HAVING ON YOUR FARMERS. I KNOW YOU HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS DECISION PARALYSIS DUE TO HIGH STRESS AS WELL. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT THE SUPPORT TRUST DOES. THE ROYAL SUPPORT TRUST HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE GREATER COMMUNITY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS, AND PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT FARMERS AND FARMING FAMILIES ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS. AND WHEN THEY GET UNDER STRESS, THEY TEND TO GO INTO LOCKDOWN MODE, AND THEY START NOT MAKING THE DECISIONS ON TIME WHEN THEY SHOULD BE. THE ROYAL SUPPORT TRUST IS AN AMAZING ORGANISATION WITH AMAZING PEOPLE. THEY ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO GET FARMERS TO COME OUT INTO THE OPEN, TALK TO OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS SO THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON TIME AND BE PROACTIVE AND TALK TO THE BANKS AND THE OTHER COMPANIES ABOUT UNLOADING STOCK AND TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE FAMILIES HOLD TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT IS VERY STRESSFUL FOR THE FAMILIES AS WELL AS RELATIONSHIPS. THERE ARE LOTS OF CHALLENGES FOR FARMERS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT IT IS ABOUT BALANCING THE SHORT-TERM SURVIVAL WITH LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. HOW DO YOU DO THAT? THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, JENNY-MAY. YOU HAVE TO DIG REALLY DEEP. YOU HAVE GOT TO FIND... THE WAY TO BRING IN THE MOST FEED THAT YOU CAN. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. IT IS SUCH A TRICKY BALANCING ACT. KEITH IS RIGHT THAT PEOPLE CAN GET INTO THAT DECISION PARALYSIS, AND YOU JUST REALLY HAVE TO MAKE PLANS EARLY. I AM NOT DOING A GREAT JOB OF ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. IT IS ABOUT ADAPTABILITY. I WILL BRING YOU BACK IN. I KNOW YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL. HOW ARE FARMERS ADAPTING TO THESE CONDITIONS? I THINK SHE IS CORRECT AND THAT WE ARE RESILIENT, SO WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME TOOLS OUT THERE. BUT IT IS TALKING AND PUTTING IN PLACE A DECISION PROCESS SO THE FARMERS THEMSELVES CAN LOOK AFTER THEIR STOCK AND BRING WATER IN, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE. BUT THAT IS THE REALITY OF TRYING TO KEEP STOCK WATERED. BUT IT IS ALSO DE-STRESSING THE FARM SITUATION BY MILKING COWS, SELLING SURPLUS STOCK AND IN SOME CASES, THEY WILL BE SELLING CATTLE STOCK, WHICH IS PRETTY SERIOUS. THAT IS LIKE BEING A BUS DRIVER AND HAVING TO SELL YOUR BUS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO RUN IT. I AM JUST THINKING ON THIS WORD RESILIENT, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT FARMERS ARE RESILIENT, BUT THIS IS TOUGH TIMES. AND IT COMES TO A BREAKING POINT. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THE STRESS THAT THIS IS PUTTING ON INDIVIDUALS AND THEN ON FAMILIES, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR STOCK THAT YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED AND WORRIED ABOUT. ARE FARMERS GETTING TOGETHER? IS THERE A COMMUNITY KIND OF GATHERING WHEREBY FARMERS ARE TRYING TO HELP ONE ANOTHER OUT IN THESE TOUGH TIMES. ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE REALLY LUCKY AND TARANAKI. WE HAVE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY THAT IS REALLY GREAT AT GETTING TOGETHER. WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING LOTS OF SUPPORT EVENTS FOR FARMERS AROUND HELPING MAKE DECISIONS AND HELPING THEM WITH THINGS THEY NEED TO DO. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A WHOLE GROUP OF ROYAL PROFESSIONALS AND TARANAKI, AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON DINNERS FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY DO OFTEN ` PUTTING ON DINNERS, WE HAVE GOLF DAYS COMING UP. THERE IS LOTS OF THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT RISES UP AND IT WILL DO THEIR BEST TO NURTURE EVERYONE AND WRAP AROUND. WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD? YOU'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE WEATHER. OUR WEATHER PATTERNS ARE CHANGING. WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR FARMERS FROM THIS POINT? I THINK THERE IS NO MAGIC WAND THERE. IT IS A CASE OF BEING MORE CONSERVATIVE AND WHAT WE DO. THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK THAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT. THE DAIRY PAYOUT IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD. FARMERS ARE IN DESPERATION TRYING TO GET A BIT MORE MONEY INTO THEIR SYSTEM, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE CARRYING HUGE OVERDRAFTS. SO WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT THESE DINNERS AND THAT SORT OF THING, PART OF IT IS ENCOURAGING FARMERS TO ENGAGE IN THE TALKING SO THAT` BECAUSE THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES OUT THERE, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY GOOD AT FORWARD PLANNING AND MAKING DECISIONS ON TIME. SOME PEOPLE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THE ONES WITH THE HIGH OVERDRAFTS ARE IN DESPERATION MODE, SO THEY DO NOT REACT UNLESS THEY ARE ENCOURAGED AND TAKEN THROUGH THIS WITH THE PROFESSIONALS AND THAT SORT OF THING. IT IS ABOUT GOOD COMMUNICATION. THE FEDERATED FARMERS IS AN AMAZING ORGANISATION, BUT IT IS ALL OF THE OTHER ORGANISATIONS, THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE GOT TO ENCOURAGE ABLE TO ENGAGE AND TALK AND GET OUT OF THIS CRISIS. BUT IN THE FUTURE, JUST PUT SOME MORE FAT IN THE SYSTEM. NOT THAT THERE IS ANY FAT AND FARMING ANYWAY, BUT JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A RAINY DAY` THAT IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT USE OF WORDS. A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THERE SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN THE LARDER WHEN THINGS DO GET TOUGH. I SO APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU BOTH THIS MORNING. I JUST WANT TO BACK UP ON THAT POINT AS WELL. IT IS ABOUT HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT AROUND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GET YOU OUT OF WHERE YOU ARE, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW AND USE JUST SIT THERE AND IT IS ABOUT SAYING THAT YOU ARE STRUGGLING, SOMEONE ELSE COULD COME UP THEY COULD HAVE A SOLUTION THAT IS SITTING RIGHT IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO KEEP TALKING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BOTH JOINING US THIS MORNING. ALL THE BEST. E HAERE AKE NEI ` DONALD TRUMP WANTS UKRAINE'S MINERALS, AND UKRAINE WANTS SECURITY GUARANTEES. NEXT ` HOW ANY DEAL COULD BE FELT IN AOTEAROA. (UPBEAT MUSIC) HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` SOUTH AFRICA'S GOVERNMENT SAYS PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE IN TOUCH WITH RESEARCHERS AT A REMOTE ANTARCTIC STATION AFTER ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS WAS ACCUSED OF PHYSICAL ASSAULT. A NEW SEARCH FOR THE WRECKAGE OF MISSING MALAYSIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT MH370 WILL OFFICIALLY GO AHEAD AFTER BEING GREEN LIT BY THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT. AND ` A LARGE BLAZE OVERNIGHT IN AUCKLAND'S EAST TAMAKI HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED, WITH AN INVESTIGATION TO RESUME THIS MORNING. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE UKRAINE MINERALS DEAL THE UNITED STATES IS PURSUING WITH THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR MILITARY SUPPORT. BUT WHAT MINERALS ARE INVOLVED, AND WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT? KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS EXPLAINS. FROM CELL PHONES TO VAPES, POWER TOOLS TO SOLAR-POWERED GRIDS, ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND SMOKE ALARMS, LITHIUM ION BATTERIES, POWER ` ALL THESE TECHNOLOGIES AND MANY MORE. IT'S THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERY, WITH DEMAND FOR LITHIUM SET TO KEEP GROWING. UKRAINE HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST LITHIUM DEPOSITS IN EUROPE, ACCORDING TO THEIR GOVERNMENT. I WANT THEM TO GIVE US SOMETHING FOR ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE PUT UP. ENTER THE MINERALS DEAL. I HOPE THAT THIS DOCUMENT` FIRST DOCUMENT WILL BE FIRST STEP TO REAL SECURITY GUARANTEES FOR UKRAINE. IT'S NOT JUST LITHIUM UKRAINE'S OFFERING. THE COUNTRY HOLDS 22 OF THE 50 MATERIALS THE UNITED STATES SAYS ARE CRITICAL, INCLUDING GRAPHITE, TITANIUM, BERYLLIUM, URANIUM AND A BUNCH OF RARE EARTH METALS. BUT THE SITUATION'S COMPLICATED. TRANSLATOR: ON THE TERRITORIES THAT ARE TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED, THERE ARE CRITICAL MINERAL RESOURCES WORTH $350 BILLION. THE DEAL WAS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED AT THE WHITE HOUSE. BUT THEN THIS HAPPENED. YOU GAMBLING WITH WORLD WAR III. YOU'RE GAMBLING WITH WORLD WAR III. AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE COUNTRY ` THIS COUNTRY. THE AGREEMENT WAS LEFT IN LIMBO. ZELENSKY HAS SINCE EXPRESSED HE'S READY TO RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS. AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING DR MAT ANKER IN NOW FROM VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON. I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT BY PERIODIC TABLE WITH ME TODAY. WHERE ARE THESE MINERALS MINED IN THE WORLD? TO PASS THIS QUESTION, THE FIRST IS THAT THESE RARE EARTH MINERALS, WHICH ARE PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE USA. ABOUT 70% OF THESE ARE MINED IN CHINA, AND THEY CONTROL THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN. THE USA IS THE SECOND BIGGEST SUPPLIER, BUT THEY ONLY SUPPLY ABOUT 10% OR 15% OF THESE METALS. THE SECOND PART IS LITHIUM, WHICH ACTUALLY, THE USA HAS LARGE DEPOSITS OF. THIS IS REALLY A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE. CURRENTLY, THESE ARE MINED IN AUSTRALIA. THESE ARE THEN SENT TO CHINA TO BE REFINED. IT IS A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE. WHAT IS IT THE USA WANTS FROM UKRAINE? THE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS, ALTHOUGH RARE EARTH OR IS IN THE METALS ARE IMPORTANT AND THOROUGHLY USED. AMERICA'S DEPOSIT OF THESE IS QUITE SMALL, SEVENTH IN THE WORLD. THEY WILL RUN OUT OF THESE ABOUT 20 TO 30 YEARS, SO IF THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON, OR COME TO A DEAL WITH THE UKRAINE TO GET A DEAL ON THESE LARGE DEPOSITS, IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE USA. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE DEAL COULD POTENTIALLY INCLUDE? IT AS A VERY STRESSFUL AND DYNAMIC SITUATION. INTERESTING COMMENTS THIS MORNING FROM THE RUSSIAN ADMINISTRATION FROM HOW THE USA AND THE RUSSIANS COULD WORK TOGETHER TO MY KNEES MINERALS. THAT COULD CAUSE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE USA AND THE UKRAINE ADMINISTRATIONS. MOST OF THESE MINERALS ARE BASED ON THE RUSSIAN OCCUPIED UKRAINE, LOTS OF DIFFICULT SITUATIONS I COULD GO ON OVER THERE. SO IF A DEAL REMAINS, WHAT WILL THE RISKS BE? I AM NOT A POLITICIAN, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS THAT COULD BECOME A PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO THE FACT THAT GOING INTO A COUNTRY AND STARTING MINING WHERE THE MAJORITY OF ITS EXPORTS COME FROM AGRICULTURE, GOING TO MASS PRODUCE THESE MINES AND METALS, COULD BECOME A PROBLEM FOR THE EXPORTS. WHERE DOES NEW ZEALAND SET IN ALL OF THIS IN TERMS OF WHERE IT COULD MEAN FOR US? IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ZEALAND. DOWN THE SOUTH ISLAND ON THE WEST COAST, THERE IS ACTUALLY ALREADY MINING EXPLORATION AND EXPORT INTO THESE RARE EARTH MINERALS AND OXIDES. THAT IS ALREAD STARTED. STARTED A WHILE AGO. THESE ARE LONG-TERM PROJECTS, RUNNING INTO THE HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND GENERATIONAL MINDS THAT ARE HAPPENING DOWN THERE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT MONEY BACK INTO THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY. YOU LOOK AT THE DEAL BETWEEN THE USA AND THE UKRAINE AND THINK" IMPACT WHAT NEW ZEALAND GETS THEIR HANDS ON IN TERMS OF FURTHER DOWN THE SUPPLY CHAIN? I THINK WITH CHINA CONTROLLING THE CURRENT GLOBAL SUPPLY OF THESE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS THAT ARE SO HEAVILY USED IN ELECTRIC CARS AND GREEN ELEMENTS, THAT COULD PRESENT A PROBLEM, AND IT HAS PRESENTED A PROBLEM IN THE PAST. IF WE LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN 2010 UNDERMINING ACROSS THE GLOBE, I THINK DIVERSIFYING AND MINING ELEMENTS IN OTHER PLACES AND REFINING THEM IN OTHER PLACES IS PROBABLY BENEFICIAL. YOU ARE THINKING MINE, MINE, MINE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY RESOURCES THAT CAN BE THERE, SO ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT RENEWABLE ENERGIES. WORKING TOGETHER IS THE KEY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT, AND WEATHER. WE JUST TALKING ABOUT KEY MINERALS AND THE PERIODIC TABLE. MY FAVOURITE ONE WAS GOLD. WHICH IS AU, WHICH IS EASY TO REMEMBER BECAUSE YOU CAN REMEMBER A YEAR TO COME BACK WITH MY GOLD. A YOU* WELLINGTON. LOOKING PRETTY GOOD THIS MORNING, ACTUALLY. CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS, MAINLY NORTH OF THE CITY. FRESH SOUTHERLIES, EASING THIS EVENING AS YOU HEAD TOWARDS A HIGH OF 17. AS LONG AS IT'S CLEAR BY THE AFTERNOON. HAMILTON, 25, YOU HAVE THE BALLOONS UP TODAY. THAT PUMPKIN WITH THAT JACK-O'-LANTERN WAS UP THE OTHER DAY I'M SURE THERE WERE MORE THAN JUST THOSE THREE. THAT WHOLE PARK IS FULL. THERE WILL ALREADY BE POLLUTANTS IF THE WIND IS FINE THAT HAS ALREADY DEPARTED. BALLOONS* HAVE THESE ONCE BEEN AND COME BACK? APART FROM A BIT OF MORNING CLOUD, SHOULD BE FINE. COMING UP TO 730. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMR ZELENSKYY SAYS HE'S HAD A 'FRANK' AND 'VERY SUBSTANTIVE' TALK WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AS DETAILS FROM THEIR HOUR-LONG PHONE CALL EMERGE. IT FOLLOWS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AGREEING TO A 30-DAY PAUSE ON HITTING UKRAINIAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETS. WHILE REJECTING A FULL CEASEFIRE, ZELENSKY SAYS IT'S A FIRST STEP TOWARDS A PERMANENT PEACE, AND UKRAINE WILL ALSO PAUSE ATTACKS ON RUSSIAN POWER SITES. MEANWHILE, 175 UKRAINIAN PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE RETURNED HOME IN ONE OF THE LARGEST PRISONER EXCHANGES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS IN MUMBAI AS HE FORGES CLOSER TIES BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND INDIA, INCLUDING IN DEFENCE. 1 NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN IS TRAVELLING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER'S DELEGATION AND FILED THIS REPORT. SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION HAS BEEN A BIG FOCUS OF THIS TRIP, AND TO SHOW NEW ZEALAND'S COMMITMENT TO PARTNERING WITH INDIA ON DEFENCE ISSUES HERE IN THE REGION, THE NAVY SHIP FROM NEW ZEALAND, THE HMNZS TE KAHA, HAS MADE A TRIP HERE TO MUMBAI, WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, CHRISTOPHER LUXON, CHECKING IT OUT LATER TODAY. A NEW SEARCH FOR THE WRECKAGE OF MISSING MALAYSIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT MH370 WILL OFFICIALLY GO AHEAD AFTER BEING GREEN LIT BY THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT. THE SEARCH WILL BE FOCUSED ON A 15,000KM2 AREA IN THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN. IT COMES MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER THE AIRCRAFT VANISHED LESS THAN AN HOUR INTO ITS FLIGHT FROM KUALA LUMPUR. INVESTIGATORS HAVE PREVIOUSLY SAID THE ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DISAPPEARANCE IS FINDING THE WRECKAGE. THE BLACKCAPS WILL TAKE ON PAKISTAN IN THE THIRD T20 MATCH TOMORROW IN AUCKLAND AND WILL BE LOOKING TO SEAL A SERIES VICTORY. THEY GO INTO THE GAME OFF THE BACK OF TWO DOMINANT RUN CHASES LED BY OPENERS TIM SEIFERT AND FINN ALLEN, WHO HIT 10 SIXES BETWEEN THEM AT DUNEDIN'S UNIVERSITY OVAL. AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THEY CAN ADD TO THAT TALLY, WITH THE BOUNDARIES AT EDEN PARK FAMOUSLY SMALL. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DOUBTFUL AS WELL, BUT NOTHING REALLY CHANGES FROM THE BOUNDARY SIZE POINT OF VIEW, JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE SHAPE, AND TRY TO GO WELL NO MATTER WHAT. THE MATCH GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW EVENING AT 7:15pm. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR SOME, WITH RAIN EXPECTED FOR THOSE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND THE CAPITAL BEFORE EASING IN THE EVENING. 24 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. 22 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. CLEAR SKIES ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE UPPER EAST COAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE TURNING TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. 24 THE HIGH FOR TAHUNA QUEENSTOWN 22 IN WHAKATU NELSON. TIME FOR OUR DAILY SPORT CHAT JENNY SUO'S WITH US ON THE COUCH. AND, JENNY, HISTORY MADE LAST NIGHT AT GO MEDIA STADIUM? IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE CONSIDERING HE IS ONLY 15. THE TAURANGA TEAM BROKE THE RECORD LAST NIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS TERRIBLE LAST NIGHT, BUT THERE HE IS THERE IN THE BLACK. HE ALSO HAD OLYMPIAN SAM TANNER AND IN THE WHITE THERE. SO HE'S ABOUT TO FINISH JUST NOW. I LOVE HOW SAM TANNER IS LOOKING AT HIM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STRETCH AND THEN CELEBRATES AT THE END. THEY HAVE THE SAME COACH, SO THE COACH IS PROBABLY DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB. THE RUN TOOK THREE MINUTES 58. HE'S ONLY ONE OF 49 NEW ZEALANDERS. YOU ALSO HAVE TO GIVE SOME CREDIT TO BEN WALL WHO ALSO RUN A MILE UNDER FOUR MINUTES. YOU MAY REMEMBER JOHNNY WALKER, HE WAS THE FIRST. HE CALLED SAM'S TODAY AND GAVE HIM A PEP TALK AND SAID YOU ARE GOING TO BE GREAT. AND LAST NIGHT, HE TOLD US THAT HE WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HIM AND SAY HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND THAT HE SEES SO MUCH IN HIM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT HE IS LIKE IN A YEAR. AND KIWI ROWERS MIGHT HAVE AN EXTRA CHANCE AT A MEDAL AT THE NEXT OLYMPICS? THE WORLD ROWING, ONCE INTRODUCED A MIX EIGHT TEAM INTO THE EVENT PROGRAMS, THIS OPENS UP A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LOTS OF ROWERS THE KINDS OF COMES A TIME WHEN LOTS OF COMPETITIONS ARE CUTTING DOWN THEIR SPORTS TO SAVE MONEY, THE THING WITH THIS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE COMPETING IN ANOTHER ROWING EVENT TO BE PART OF THIS. IT MEANS THAT THEY CAN BRING IN AN EXTRA EVENT WITHOUT HAVING TO INVITE EXTRA ATHLETES, WHICH IS ALSO A COST SAVING. THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR MORE ACCOMMODATION. IT HAS TO BE MADE FOR MEN AND FOR WOMAN, AND IT IS TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE 2025 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SHANGHAI. THE OLYMPICS HAVE NOT YET CONFIRMED ITS INCLUSION, BUT I SPOKE TO THE ROWING NEW ZEALAND CEO SIMON WICKHAM LAST NIGHT, AND THEY SEEM PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL. THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING. ROWING NEW ZEALAND WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT SEEMS LIKE THEY WERE PRETTY FOR IT. WHILE WE DO HAVE` WE GOT COLD IN TOKYO, IT'S QUITE RARE FOR US TO HAVE EIGHT MEN AND EIGHT WOMEN TO ABBEY OF MEDAL STANDING. I THINK A LOT OF THE ROWERS ARE REALLY EXCITED AS WELL AND I SPOKE TO MICHAEL BREAK. ROWING'S TYPICALLY A SPORT THAT ONLY GETS INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS. THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, OUTSIDE OF THAT OLYMPIC YEAR, IS A SIGN THAT IT'S GOING TO BRING POSITIVE ATTENTION TO THE SPORT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE MIXED EIGHT, SO LONG AS IT DOESN'T COME AT THE COST OF THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S EIGHTS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT BEING A STANDALONE EVENT. SIMON, THE CEO OF ROWING NEW ZEALAND, HE'S REACHED OUT AND MADEM UM, MADE THE THE JOKE, UH` THE JOKING OFFER THAT THAT MICHAELA AND I COULD JUMP IN THE BOAT TOGETHER ALONG WITH SOME OTHER COUPLES AND WE COULD HAVE A BIG LOVE CREW... I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS HE WAS. I'M SURE THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN IT THERE, BUT, UM, LOOK, I'LL DO WHAT I DO. I'LL STAY FIT AND I'LL KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT NO PROMISES. THE LOVE BOAT. WHAT A GREAT IDEA. HE DID PUT IT TO HER, HE SAID HEAD DO IT IF SHE WAS COXSWAIN. I LIKE THIS IDEA. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE FOCUS AT THE MOMENT FOR OUR TEAMS ARE STILL ON OUR MAIN EVENTS. IT IS GREAT TO HAVE THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND AS AN OPTION. THAT WAS A NICE MOMENT IN TOKYO WHEN THE MEN'S 81 AND THEY THREW THE COXSWAIN INTO THE RIVER AFTERWARDS. POOR COXSWAIN. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO SAM RUTH A LITTLE BIT LATER. ME U TONU MAI ` IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE ECONOMIC TUNNEL? NEXT OUR POLITICAL PANEL PREVIEW GDP DATA OUT LATER TODAY AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. FARMERS ARE RAISING THE ALARM OVER FOOD SHORTAGES FOR THEIR STOCK. AFTER A DROUGHT WAS DECLARED IN SEVERAL REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WELLINGTON RESIDENTS ARE BEING URGED TO AVOID USING PUBLIC POOLS IF UNWELL AS THE REGION EXPERIENCES A RISE IN GASTRO-LIKE ILLNESS. RESEARCHERS ARE CONDUCTING A THREE-YEAR PROJECT INTO NON-PHARMACEUTICAL WAYS TO REVERSE TYPE TWO DIABETES, AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE DRASTICALLY. REJOICE, THE RECESSION COULD BE OVER. MAYBE. ECONOMIC FIGURES FOR THE DECEMBER QUARTER ARE DUE OUT LATER THIS MORNING, AND AFTER 2 QUARTERS IN DECLINE, MANY ARE TIPPING A RECOVERY. NOT NECESSARILY BIG, BUT GROWTH NONE THE LESS. JOINING US AS ALWAYS ON A THURSDAY IS OUR POLITICAL PANEL INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER CHRIS BISHOP IN WELLINGTON, AND JOINING US IN STUDIO, LABOUR'S KIERAN MCANULTY. GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH BACK ON THE PROGRAM. DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE TURNING A CORNER? LET'S WAIT AND SEE. IF THERE IS GROWTH, IT WILL BE THE POINT TO 2.5% MARK FOR THE QUARTER. THAT'S WHAT MOST ECONOMISTS SEEM TO BE SAYING. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A REALLY TOUGH TIME. THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS FRAGILE AND UNSETTLED. THERE IS A GOOD NEWS FOR OUR FARMERS WHEN FARMERS DO WELL NEW ZEALAND DOES WELL. WHO GOT A LONG WAY TO GO ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. 0.2 - 0.5%* DO YOU THINK THE GROWTH IS IMPROVING FOR MOST NEW ZEALANDERS? I DON'T THINK SO. I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREET THIS MORNING AND THEY ARE SAYING HOW HARD IT IS WITH FOOD PRICES, RATES, INSURANCE, AND ANY TALK OF THE RECESSION BEING OVER WILL COME AS COLD COMFORT BECAUSE PEOPLE REALISE THAT IF IT HITS THEM OR HELPS THEM IN THE POCKET THAT'S WHEN THEY FEEL IT. BUT HOPEFULLY, WE ARE NO LONGER IN RECESSION. WE WENT UNDER US, AND WE ARE UNDER THESE GUYS, BUT WE TAKE NO JOY OUT OF THAT. IT HURTS PEOPLE, BEING IN RECESSION, AND YOU GET INTO POLITICS TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. I DO HAVE TO HAVE A WRY SMILE THAT THEY ARE BLAMING THE WORLD, WHEN WE WERE IN GOVERNMENT, THEY DIDN'T BLAME THE WORLD, THEY BLAMED US, AND NOW THAT THEY ARE IN GOVERNMENT... DO YOU THINK THAT NEW ZEALANDERS WILL START TO FEEL ANY BETTER OFF? ULTIMATELY, THE WAY IN WHICH NEW ZEALANDERS FEEL BETTER OFF IN THE LONG RUN IS HIGHER WAGES THAT RISE FASTER THAN INFLATION. AND OF COURSE, INFLATION IS NOW BACK WITHIN THE 1 TO 3% BAND. WE DON'T HAVE DEFLATION, SO PEOPLE ARE STILL PAYING THE HIGHER PRICES. WE'VE NEVER SAID THE GLOBAL ECONOMY DOESN'T MATTER, WE ARE 5 MILLION PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD, WE ARE LIKE A LITTLE CORK BUBBLING AROUND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. THE POINT WHERE US ESTIMATE WHEN LABOUR WAS IN GOVERNMENT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THAT WAS WRONG. IN A TIME WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLING BACK ON THE SPENDING, THEY WERE OPENING THE FLOODGATES THAT PUSHED INFLATION TO HIGHER LEVELS. WITH WHAT A LONG WAY TO GO. IT'S A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY. LAST WEEK, YOU ARE BOTH AT THE INVESTMENT SUMMIT. CHRIS, WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HOW THAT WENT? WITH HAD VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE SUMMIT. WE'VE SEEN A FEW PEOPLE COMING OUT SAYING THAT THEY HAD LOW TO MODERATE IF EXPECTATIONS BUT WERE SURPRISED AT HOW GOOD IT WAS. $6 TRILLION OF CAPITAL ON THE ROOM, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THINGS. ITALIAN OUTFIT SAYING THAT THEY WOULD KEEP THE TUNNELLING EQUIPMENT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, WHICH IS A POSITIVE THING. THE NORTHLAND EXPRESSWAY AS PLANNED, AND WE WERE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE SUMMITS, VERY GOOD POSITIVE, AND PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS COUNTRY. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT SHORTLY, AND KIERAN, WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT? IT WAS WORTH DOING AND WITH US BEING THERE. WE FELT WE HAD A ROLE TO GIVE INVESTORS CONFIDENCE, AND IDEALLY PUTS POLITICS TO ONE SIDE AND IDEALLY PROMOTE THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S HOW WE WENT ABOUT IT. WE REASSURE THEM THAT IF THERE IS A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE CERTAINTY FOR THEM, THAT THEIR INVESTMENT WOULD BE HONOURED. THEY WERE PLEASED ABOUT THAT. THERE WAS ONE CEO FROM A SPANISH COMPANY THAT SAID THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH MANY THINGS LIKE THIS BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THE OPPOSITION COME IN AND HELP THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTE THE COUNTRY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE MEDIA IN THEIR SO THEY COULD HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT WAS SAID FOR THEMSELVES. THE MEDIA WAS IN A SEPARATE ROOM. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS, AND PROMOTING THE COUNTRY, OPENING IT UP FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, WE NEED TO BE OPEN ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS. THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT THE PPP IS, HOW THAT DIFFERS FROM PRIVATISATION, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT OF THE MEDIA COULD HAVE HELPED TO DO THAT. WAS THERE ANY REAL REASON WHY THE MEDIA WERE SEPARATED OUT FROM THE EVENT? THERE WAS A LOT OF MEDIA THERE. A LOT OF THE INVESTORS AND CONTRACTORS TALKED TO THE MEDIA. THAT DECISION WASN'T MADE BY ME, BUT THE POINT IS JUST TO ALLOW A FREE FLOW OF CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT CAMERAS FLOATING AROUND, I THINK IT'S JUST TO ALLOW A GOOD ENGAGED CONVERSATIONS. BUT THAT'S A FAIR POINT. IT MIGHT HAVE LED TO A MORE STILTED CONVERSATION FLOW, WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT. FAIR COP. WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT THERE IN THE FUTURE, AND WE MAY WELL DO THAT. WE'VE ALMOST RUN OUT OF TIME, AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS, WHICH ARE THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. SOME GOVERNMENT MONEY AND SOME PRIVATE INVESTMENT. IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT THAT PPP CAN END UP COSTING MORE. HOW CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT WON'T HAPPEN? GOVERNMENT POLICY IS THAT WE WILL ONLY DO PPP WHEN THEY ARE THE SAME COST OR LOWER COST THAN THE TRADITIONAL PROCUREMENT METHOD. THEY ARE NOT A MAGIC MONETARY AND AS KIERAN SAYS THERE ARE A LOT OF CONFUSION, AND WITHOUT BEING TOO POLITICAL ABOUT IT, THAT CONFUSION HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS COMING OUT OF THE LABOUR PARTY. THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THINGS LIKE WE DON'T WANT THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO OWN SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AND PRISONS, THAT'S NOT GOVERNMENT POLICY, AND IN FACT, PPP THAT HAVE BEEN DONE FOR PRISONS AND SCHOOLS DO NOT RESULT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OWNING THE ASSET. THEY RESULT IN IT BUILDING AND FINANCING AND RUNNING IT, BUT THE ASSET REMAINS WITH THE CROWN. AND LABOUR SHOULD KNOW THIS. THEY EXPANDED SOME SCHOOL PPP. THERE IS A BIT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE ABOUT IT, AND WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB AS POLITICIANS TO EXPLAIN THAT, BUT IT IS A CONFUSING PICTURE. I WANT TO GO ONTO ROAD TOLLS, BUT PPPS, WHERE DO LABOUR STAND? FORGET WHAT BISHOP JUST SAID. THEN WE WILL KNOW WHERE THE LABOUR PARTY STANDS. WE ARE OPEN TO THEM. WE HAVE DONE THEM BEFORE. THEY NEED TO BE CLEARLY BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTRY. CLEARLY CHEAPER THAN WHAT A NORMAL PROCESS WOULD BE. WE DO NOT WANT THEM IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND OTHER CORE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THE FAIRIES. WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR ON THAT. WHEN YOU SEPARATE THOSE THINGS OUT, THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS WE ARE OPEN THAT WAS THE MESSAGE WE GAVE INVESTORS. WHAT IS CONFUSING AS WHEN IT IS CONFLATED WITH PRIVATISATION, WHICH WE ARE 100% AGAINST. THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE TO COME AND MAKE THE POINT THAT WE DON'T WANT FOREIGN OWNERSHIP IN THIS AND THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE STAND. WHAT WOULD BE USEFUL IF WE REALLY WANT A BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO THIS IS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SAY WHATEVER PPP IS, NOT THE BACK-AND-FORTH. WEAR OUT FOR THAT, AND WITH ACTUALLY PUBLISHED A REALLY DETAILED PPP DOCUMENT AT THE BACK END OF LAST YEAR WHICH SPELLS OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS IN NEW ZEALAND, AND BARBARA EVANS FROM LABOUR SHEMOZZLE FORWARD SHE WROTE A FOREWORD TO THAT DOCUMENT** CHRIS, HAVE YOU RECOVERED FROM BEING IN THE MOSH PIT? BODY HAS BEEN A BIT BATTERED AND BRUISED TO BE HONEST. I SHOUT OUT TO SHIHID, AMAZING NEW ZEALAND BAND. CHRIS BISHOP, KIERAN MCANULTY. E WHAI AKE NEI ` SIDELINE ABUSE IS STOPPING SOME PEOPLE FROM PUTTING THEIR HANDS UP TO GET INVOLVED. AFTER THE BREAK ` HOW SPORTS UNIONS ACROSS AUCKLAND ARE BANDING TOGETHER TO CALL FOR CHANGE. WELCOME BACK. SPORTS UNIONS ACROSS AUCKLAND ARE CALLING TIME ON AN UGLY AND SEEMINGLY GROWING TREND OF SIDELINE ABUSE. AKTIVE, A CHARITY AIMING TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SPORT ACROSS AUCKLAND, SAYS A RECENT SURVEY FOUND TWO THIRDS OF PEOPLE HAVE WITNESSED BAD BEHAVIOUR IN THE PAST YEAR. NOW, SPORTS ORGANISATIONS ACROSS SEVERAL CODES ARE BANDING TOGETHER IN A NEW CAMPAIGN TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. SIMONE SPENCER FROM AKTIVE AND CHAD SHEPHERD FROM COUNTIES MANUKAU RUGBY UNION JOIN US NOW. MORENA TO YOU BOTH. CAN I START ASKING YOU HOW BAD THINGS ARE NOW? MORENA, CHRIS. THE WHOLE REASON THIS CAMPAIGN IS BEING LAUNCHED AS A RESPONSE TO THE BEHAVIOUR THAT ALL ORGANISATIONS ARE FACING. THERE IS A SPECTRUM IN TERMS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WE ALL WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, AND IN FACT, EVERYBODY, CAN TURN UP AND HAVE ACCESS TO SPORT IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE POSITIVE ON THE SIDELINE. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TURN UP AND THEY ARE INCREDIBLE PASSIONATE AND WE WANT THEM TO HELP TO CHANNEL THAT PASSION AND A WAY THAT AS WELL AS ABORTIVE AS OPPOSED TO, PERHAPS, MEETING THEIR OWN NEEDS. WE KNOW THE GAME BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE PLAYING IT, COACHING IT. WE ARE KEEN TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHOULD JUST BE LOVING THEIR GAME. CHAD, HOW DOES BAD BEHAVIOUR AFFECT ALL INVOLED? I THINK HAS QUITE A LARGE EFFECT. THE GAME IS NOTHING WITHOUT OUR ABILITY IS, ESPECIALLY THE REFEREES AND COACHES, SO WE WANT TO CREATE A SAFE, INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. HOW DO WE DO THAT, CHAD? WHAT DO WE TELL THOSE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE BEHAVING LIKE THAT? I THINK IT'S JUST THE MESSAGING ` IS ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS, THE KIDS, IT'S THEIR GAME. WE WANT THEM TO COME UP AND HAVE A REALLY GOOD RUGBY EXPERIENCE, REALLY GOOD SPORTING EXPERIENCE IS NOT COME OFF THE FIELD IS DEFLATED BECAUSE A SPECTATOR OR SOMEONE ON THE SIDELINE SAID SOMETHING NEGATIVE. SO WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW WHAT GOOD FEELS LIKE. PEOPLE TURN UP, THEY ARE INCREDIBLE PASSIONATE, AND WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO EXPRESS THAT PASSION IN A WAY THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE REFEREES, SO IT IS ABOUT EVERYONE SHOWING RESPECT ON THE SIDELINES. THEY'RE GIVING UP SO MUCH TIME. THAT THE THING ISN'T IT, CHAD, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT BEEN PAID HAVE TO CUT THIS ABUSE, SO HOW DO UNIONS AND CLUBS PITCH AND PUSH THIS FORWARD? I THINK IT'S AROUND REALLY GETTING THAT POSITIVE NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT IT IS THEIR GAME, IT'S THE KIDS GAME, AND WE WANT A REALLY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE AROUND THAT TOO, AND IF EVERYONE ON THE SIDELINES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT IN A POSITIVE MANNER, THE OUTCOME WILL BE GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH OF THE BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US ON WHAT LOOKS TO BE A BEAUTIFUL MORNING AND TAMAKI MAKAURAU. NEW ZEALAND'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER IS CALLING ON ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO RE-INSTATE THE CEASEFIRE AND FULLY IMPLEMENT THE TERMS OF THE DEAL AS THE ISRAELI MILITARY RESUMES ITS GROUND OPERATIONS IN GAZA. WHERE ISRAEL SAYS IT PLANS TO RETAKE A KEY CORRIDOR. IT COMES AS LOCAL HEALTH WORKERS SAY AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKES. MEANWHILE, THE UN SAYS ONE OF ITS STAFFERS HAS BEEN KILLED WITH FIVE OTHERS INJURED AFTER A STRIKE HIT ONE OF ITS GUEST HOUSES. ISRAEL HAS DENIED TARGETING THE UN COMPOUND. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER IT WAS FIRED FROM LAND, FROM THE SEA, FROM THE AIR ` THAT PART IS UNCLEAR. IT IS CLEAR THAT IT WAS AN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE THAT WAS EITHER DROPPED OR FIRED AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DETONATED INSIDE THE BUILDING. IN A STATEMENT, THE UN'S SECRETARY GENERAL CONDEMNED THE ATTACK AND SAYS THE LOCATION OF ALL UN BUILDINGS ARE 'KNOWN TO THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT". BACK HERE, HEALTH NEW ZEALAND HAS ISSUED A NOTICE ACROSS WELLINGTON AS THE REGION EXPERIENCES A SHARP RISE IN GASTRO ILLNESS. DOZENS OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED SO FAR THIS YEAR, MORE THAN HALF LINKED TO PUBLIC POOLS. SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAVE ISSUED WARNINGS TO PARENTS, URGING THEM TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SYMPTOMS AND TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME IF UNWELL. TE WHATU ORA SAYS THE BUG CAN SPREAD AT POOLS FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER EXPOSURE, EVEN IF DIARRHOEA AND VOMITING HAS PASSED. A RISING MIDDLE DISTANCE STAR FROM TAURANGA HAS BECOME THE YOUNGEST ATHLETE EVER TO BREAK THE FOUR-MINUTE BARRIER FOR RUNNING THE MILE. SAM RUTHE (15) RAN 3:58:35 IN FRONT OF A THOUSAND-STRONG CROWD AT MOUNT SMART TO SET THE NEW WORLD RECORD. SAM RUTHE'S RIGHT THERE! WHOO-HOO! (CROWD CHEERS, APPLAUDS) YEAH, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL TO CROSS WITH MY TRAINING PARTNER, SAM. IT WAS, LIKE, ONE OF THE NICEST THINGS EVER. HE'S THE 49th NEW ZEALANDER TO ACHIEVE A SUB FOUR-MINUTE MILE. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR SOME, WITH RAIN EXPECTED FOR THOSE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND THE CAPITAL BEFORE EASING IN THE EVENING. 17 DEGREES FOR WELLINGTON. CLEAR SKIES ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE UPPER EAST COAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE TURNING TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN CHRISTCHURCH. 24 THE HIGH FOR QUEENSTOWN. 22 IN NELSON. AS WE JUST HEARD IN NEWS, HISTORY WAS MADE AT GO MEDIA STADIUM LAST NIGHT IN THE FORM OF RUNNING SENSATION SAM RUTHE'S RECORD BREAKING RUN THE 15-YEAR-OLD JOINS US THIS MORNING ALONGSIDE A VERY PROUD DAD. MORENA, SAM AND BEN. GOOD MORNING. MORNING, HEY, HAS IT SUNK IN YET, WHAT HE MANAGED TO ACHIEVE YESTERDAY? YES, IT IS DEFINITELY SUNK IN A LOT MORE THAN IT DID LAST NIGHT. CRAZY ` YOU'RE ON BREAKFAST, MATE, GOOD ONYA. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WATCHING YOUR BOY BREAK THAT RECORD LAST NIGHT? MIXED FEELINGS ` IN SOME WAYS, AS A FAN OF THE SPORT, IT IS UNBELIEVABLE, REALLY, TO WATCH A 15 YEAR OLD DO WHAT HE DID LAST NIGHT, UNIMAGINABLE, REALLY. TO WATCH 15YO BREAK THE RECORD IS AMAZING. THAT REALLY PROUD OF HOW HE CONDUCTS HIMSELF AND LOOKS AFTER HIS MATES, AND SEE HIM SALIVATE WITH HIS COACHES AND FRIENDS IS HEARTWARMING AND REALLY COOL. SAM, WHEN YOU STARTED THAT RACE, DID YOU HAVE A GOAL IN MIND THAT HE WANTED TO GO UNDER THAT MAGIC MARK? WELL, OTHERS WERE PACING IT. IT WASN'T TACTFUL AT ALL. THINGS LIKE THIS, THERE CAN BE A BIT OF PRESSURE, IF THAT IS WHAT THE GOAL WAS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD A GREAT SEASON AND PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM YOU, STARTED TO CALM YOURSELF TO GO TO THAT RACE? PEOPLE AROUND ME, MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE OUTCOME, SO THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON ME AND THEY WILL STILL SEE ME AS A PERSON IMAGINE WHAT, SO THERE WAS NOT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON ME. I LOVE IT. THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS FOR US, YOU WANT TO PROVIDE NUMBER AND WE KIDS ARE HAPPY TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND TAKE A RISK AND IT IS SO COOL BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER RAISES AS WELL AMONGST MUCH OLDER GIRLS TO SO TO SEE THEM BOTH WAS A DREAM, REALLY. KEEPING THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW. BEN. THAT YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO DO THIS INTERVIEW THIS MORNING BECAUSE SAM HAS TO GET TO SCHOOL, BUT IT IS ALL PART OF IT ` YOU'VE DONE THAT AND I YOU HAVE GOT THIS TO DO. YES, YOU HAVE GOT TO BALANCE EVERYTHING. BALANCING THE DEMANDS AND JUST A NORMAL LIFE AND BEING A KID AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING IN TERMS OF THAT SUPPORT FOR SAM AND DAISY. SAM, YOU HAD YOUR TRAINING MATE SANTANA WITH YOUM YOU ALSO HAD YOUR COACH, CRAIG KIRKWOOD, THEY HAVE BEEN 100% IMPORTANT TO MY WRITING CAREER, ALMOST EXCESS IS DOWN TO THEM, I WOULD SAY. THEY SHOWED ME IT WAS POSSIBLE. AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE, REALLY. MANY OF THE CHILDREN RACING WERE COACHED BY CRAIG, SO THEY ARE QUITE AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE, RIGHT? I KNOW THAT THE SIR JOHN WALKER GOT IN TOUCH, HE RAN THE ORIGINAL FOUR MINUTES. WHAT WAS IT LIKE? IT FEELS REALLY SPECIAL. YES. SAM, WHAT'S NEXT, DO YOU HAVE ANY RACES COMING UP? ON 29 MARCH I WILL BE RACING ONE OF MY BIGGEST RACES YET. JUST BEFORE YOU GO, SAM AND BEN, MY COLLEAGUE, CHRIS, HAS A QUESTION. WHO DO YOU RECKON OR MORE EXCITED AT THE FINISH LINE ` YOU OR SANTANA? PROBABLY SANTANA. AND S, SANTANA HAD JUST PACED SAM. HE IS A VERY EXCITABLE GUY. WE TALKED ABOUT JOHN WALKER AND SANTANA; IS THERE A NEW ZEALAND RUN OF IT AS YOUR HERO WHEN IT COMES TO THE 1500, SAM? SANTANA, DEFINITELY, HE IS A LEGEND. I LOVE IT. BEFORE YOU GO, BEN, WHEN DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS SAM'S THING? HE COULD RUN FROM WHEN HE WAS LITTLE. WE DECIDED WE WOULDN'T LET HIM TRAIN UNTIL HE WAS 13. WE HELD HIM BACK, ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU COULD RUN BUT WE WAITED AND DIDN'T WANT TO PUT PRESSURE ON HIM TO EARLY, AND I'M GLAD WE WAITED BECAUSE IT IS STILL A LOT AT 15. IT IS FINDING THAT BALANCE, EH. THANK YOU FOR DELAYING THE SCHOOL RUN JUST EVER SO SLIGHTLY FOR US HERE ON BREAKFAST SO WE COULD CELEBRATE YOU, SAM, GRADUATIONS, WELL DONE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING A PROGRESS OVER THE YEARS TO COME. THANKS SO MUCH, JENNY MAY. 15� I KNOW. MY KIDS HAVE STARTED DOING ATHLETICS OVER THE SUMMER. JUST CRAZY. DID YOU HEAR BEN? JUST TAKE IT EASY. SUPPRESS THE TIGER DAD. ME U TONU MAI ` BRITISH COMEDY LEGEND BEN ELTON IS ABOUT TO TAKE HIS NEW SHOW ACROSS AOTEAROA. FIRST, HE JOINS US IN STUDIO. THAT'S NEXT. (POP MUSIC) HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. UKRAINE'S VOLODYMR ZELENSKYY SAYS HE BELIEVES LASTING PEACE WITH RUSSIA IS ACHIEVABLE, FOLLOWING AN HOUR-LONG CALL WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW MORE TRANSPARENCY TRUMP HAS RELEASED OVER 80,000 PAGES OF MATERIALHE WAS TRUMP HAS RELEASED OVER 80,000 PAGES OF MATERIAL RELATING TO THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY. A NEW SEARCH FOR THE WRECKAGE OF MISSING MALAYSIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT MH370 WILL OFFICIALLY GO AHEAD AFTER BEING GREENLIT BY THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT. IT'S TIME FOR OUR REGULAR HISTORY REFRESHER AND TODAY WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT THE BIRTH OF STUDENT LOANS. THE SCHEME DIDN'T COME INTO FORCE UNTIL 1992 UNDER NATIONAL BUT THE IDEA TO SHIFT FUNDING FROM TAXPAYER TO USER WAS FIRST PUSHED BY THE FOURTH LABOUR GOVERNMENT. UNSURPRISINGLY, IT DID NOT GO DOWN WELL WITH STUDENTS. AND THANKS TO THE TVNZ ARCHIVE, WE CAN SHOW YOU JUST HOW MUCH. ON THIS DAY IN 1989, THEN-ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER PHIL GOFF TRIED TO SELL THE REFORMS AT VICTORIA UNIVERSITY AND WAS MET WITH ANIMATED PROTEST. ALL CHANT: TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT ` KILL THE LOANS, IT'S NOT TOO LATE! IT WAS NOT THE TYPE OF GREETING PHIL GOFF OR UNIVERSITY HEADS HAD EXPECTED. WHAT STARTED AS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT GRANT ENDED WITH MORE THAN 100 ANGRY STUDENTS PROTESTING THE PROPOSED STUDENT LOAN SCHEME. THE MORE PREVENTED THE MINISTER FROM USING HIS OFFICIAL CAR, *THE MOB AND HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO PARLIAMENT ON FOOT, BUT SOON GATHERED A SHOUTING, CHANTING ENTOURAGE OF ABOUT 50 STUDENTS. THIS CAN BE DEALT WITH IN A MATURE WAY, I UNDERSTAND` (STUDENTS SHOUT INDISTINCTLY) I UNDERSTAND. THE PROTEST IS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLANS FOR STUDENTS TO PAY ONE FIFTH OF THEIR TUITION FEES. STUDENTS SAY WHILE THE SCHEME IS NOT SET IN STONE, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE IT. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS ACTUALLY CREATED IS TO MAKE A LOT OF THINGS LOOK INEVITABLE. THEY'VE DONE IT IN HEALTH, THEY'VE DONE IT IN A LOT OF OTHER FIELDS, AND THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NOT PUT UP ADEQUATE PROTEST ` WE ARE. ACCOMPANIED BY A SMALL POLICE PRESENCE, THE MINISTER CONTINUED ON FOOT TOWARDS PARLIAMENT, ALONG WITH THE PROTESTERS, WHO CONTINUED TO PUT THEIR CASE FORCEFULLY. ...WHAT THE USER PAYS, WE PAY YOUR WAGES! THAT'S... (MAN SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY) THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. AND THERE'S A HELL OF A LOT OF KIDS ON LOW INCOMES THAT ARE PAYING FOR YOU TO BE A STUDENT, MY FRIEND. THERE WAS OBVIOUS RELIEF AMONGST SECURITY STAFF WHEN THE MINISTER REACHED THE BEEHIVE. THE STUDENTS LEFT PARLIAMENT A SHORT TIME LATER WITHOUT INCIDENT. PHIL GOFF SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THEIR ARGUMENT, BUT SAYS IT'S STILL ONLY ONE SIDE. SO I GET PEOPLE JUST AS VEHEMENTLY COMING UP TO ME AND SAYING, 'LOOK, I EARN LESS THAN THE AVERAGE WAGE, 'YET THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING STUDENT SUPPORT NOW, 'UP 100 MILLION THIS YEAR, WILL BE EARNING MUCH MORE THAN ME. 'YET I'M PAYING FOR THEIR EDUCATION.' DETAILS OF THE LOAN SCHEME ARE YET TO BE FINALISED, BUT THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO HAVE IT IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR. SPIRO ANASTASIOU FOR THE NETWORK NEWS. COMEDY LEGEND BEN ELTON IS BACK WITH A BRAND-NEW STAND-UP SHOW TITLED 'AUTHENTIC STUPIDITY.' KNOWN FOR CLASSICS LIKE THE YOUNG ONES AND BLACKADDER, HE'S SPENT DECADES MAKING US LAUGH. NOW HE'S DOING IT BY TAKING A SWIPE AT THE YOUNG AND WOKE. MOST OF THESE SMALL-BATCH, ARTISAN, CASK-CONDITIONED, SMALL-BATCHED, COLD-FILTERED, ARTISAN PALE ALES ARE A BIT (BLEEP!) NO WONDER THEY ONLY MAKE THEM IN SMALL BATCHES. (LAUGHTER) NOBODY ORDERS A SECOND ONE. BECAUSE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE, IT TURNS OUT GROWNG AN ENOURMOUS BEARD AND HAVING A TATTOOED ARM SLEEVE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE YOU A MASTER BREWER. (LAUGHTER) ohHE'S ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD, TOURING NEW ZEALAND THIS APRIL AND MAY. BEN JOINS US NOW ` GOOD MORNING. HELLO, THAT WAS ON THE LAST TOUR. I DO DID THAT VERY SHOW HERE IN NEW ZEALAND LAWYERS AGO. *FOUR YEARS AGO I'M NOT HAVING A GO AT THE WOKE, I WILL LEAVE THAT TO DONALD TRUMP, BUT I TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT AMUSE ME. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY TRIGGERED, SO IF YOU'RE NOT TOO KEEN ON THE CRAFT BEERS HERE... THAT WAS MY LAST TOUR AND I SEEM TO HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT; I MANAGED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY 'UN-CANCELLED.' I FIRST CAME HERE IN 1989. I THINK I WAS HERE DURING THOSE PROTESTS. I THINK IT'S THE JOB OF A COMEDIAN TO UNPACK, AS YOUNG PEOPLE SAY, LEAN INTO THE ABSURDITY, STANDING ON MY TRIP, THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY, WHICH IS THE NEW WAY OF SAYING, IN MY OPINION. SOMEWHAT CONFUSINGLY, THEN AUTHENTIC STUPIDITY, IS NOT HAVING A GO IT YOURSELF? WE LET IT OUT, WE DESTROY OUR PLANET AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, CLEARLY THE JURY` THE REASON I CALLED THE TOIL OF IT STUPIDITY BECAUSE IT IS A JOKE ON AI. THERE IS THAT WONDERFUL BOB DYLAN QUOTE ` MAN HAS INVENTED HIS DOOM. PEOPLE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS TECHNOLOGY TO REPLACE US AT SOME POINT, HOW STUPID OUR WAY TO LET A BUNCH OF UNELECTED, UNACCOUNTABLE, TAX AVOIDING BILLIONAIRES ENFORCE THIS ON US? IS A STAND-UP COMIC GOING TO BE AI GENERATED? I HOPE I WILL LAST ME A FEW MORE YEARS. I'M NOT A LUDDITE, I KNOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE AND WE HAVE TO EMBRACE IT. BUT I DO THINK IT IS EXTRAORDINARY THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE ALLOW UNFETTERED TECHNOLOGY` IMAGINE IF A NEW DRUG WAS DEVELOPED AND WAS RELEASED WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION WITH LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES, WE HAVE LAWS TO PROTECT THAT, BUT THE IPHONE, WHICH IS TECHNICALLY A DRUG, WAS RELEASED WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION TO THEIR CONSEQUENCES ARE NOW CHILDREN... I AM VERY FUNNY ON STAGE, BUT I AM NOT FUNNY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS EARLY IN THE MORNING. WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, HOW IS COMEDY CHANGED? THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD AND BAD. ENCOURAGED I AM ALWAYS BEING ENCOURAGED ` 'WOKE KILLED COMEDY, CAN I SAY ANYTHING ANY MORE?' I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. A LOT OF MY MATERIAL IS PUTTING DOWN BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THINGS ` YOU CAN TALK ABOUT GENDER IDEOLOGY AND OTHER POLITICS WHICH IS THE NEW FRONTIER OF PROGRESSIVE THINKING, AND YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE MICKEY AND UNPACK SOME OF THOSE AND CONSISTENCIES AND CONFUSION, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM SNEERING. YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT IT IS HOW YOU SAY IT. THERE HAS NOISE BEEN GOOD AND BAD COMEDY, AND GOOD COMEDY MASSAGES PREJUDICE. GOOD COMEDY, I THINK, LOOKS WITHIN. BY GREAT JOY AS A COMIC IS THAT I SHARE MY OWN FEARS, EXHILARATION, AND THEY DISCOVER THAT THEY RESONATE WITH THE AUDIENCE AND IT IS A MOMENT OF SHARED HUMANITY WHICH FRANKLY, WE NEED MORE AND MORE AND EVERMORE ISOLATING TECH AGE. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT THIS TIME? YOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO KNOW MY ENORMOUS... I ONLY HAVE AN ATTENTION SPAN OF 20 SECONDS. THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, FOR 1/2 DECADES I HAVE BEEN A STAND-UP, AND WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON, I WAS VERY SURE OF MYSELF, I KNEW MY POLITICS. MY COMEDY REFLECTED MY PRINCIPALS, BUT NOW I AM DEALING WITH THE RADICAL THINKING OF NEW GENERATIONS, IS NOT ABOUT WHAT I KNOW, IT'S ABOUT WHAT I DON'T KNOW. I AM EXPLAIN MY BEWILDERMENT, THE WORLD IS CHANGING VERY QUICKLY, NOT LEAST ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. I JUST GOT A NEW TO THE FACT THAT I AM NO LONGER MORE CLEVER THAN MY TELEPHONE AND APPARENTLY, A COMMITTEE HAS ADMITTED ITS TERM. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE COME TO COMEDY SHOWS NOW TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO MAKE FUN OF THINGS? THAT WAS A BIG DESCRIPTION OF A LIFE THING, BUT IT IS INTERESTING HOW LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IS THRIVING, EVEN THOUGH SADLY, MANY VENUES ARE CLOSING, WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE DO CRAVE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. I WROTE THE MUSICAL, THE QUEEN MUSICAL, 'WE WILL ROCK YOU' AND IT'S GREAT THAT PEOPLE CANNOT WAY THE ARMS AROUND IN A HUMAN SCALE AT A THEATRE. *CAN WAVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS SAYING, HEY, WE ARE ALL LIKE THIS. WE ALL PRETEND WE KNOW ABOUT WINE... BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA, AND WE WILL SAY, THAT'S LOVELY. 'THAT WILL DO.' I SEE COMEDY AS THE NEW EMERGENCY SERVICE. I AND MY FELLOW COMEDIANS AND COMEDIENNES, IF ONE SAYS THAT ANY MORE, ARE SPREADING THE HUMANITY, AND YOU WILL FIND HILARIOUS HUMANITY IN MY GIG. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT. BEN ELTON, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT. WHEN ARE YOU PERFORMING HERE? LATE APRIL. I HAVE DONE 105 SHOWS IN THE UK, AUSTRALIA AND BACK HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. MORENA, TEAM, I THINK I HAVE FOUND THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX'S BIGGEST FAN, BUT A SIX YEAR OLD OSCAR, WARMING UP BEHIND US, BUT I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO HIS DAD, MARK. HE HAS A COOL SIGNATURE ON THE BACK OF HIS JERSEY ` THAT'S OSCAR SIGNATURE. # TIME GOES BY SO SLOWLY. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. IT'S JUST GONE 8.30. BOTH THE U.S. AND UKRAINIAN LEADERS HAVE SAID THEIR HOUR-LONG PHONE CALL TOWARDS A PEACE DEAL WITH RUSSIA WAS A POSITIVE ONE. IT FOLLOWS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AGREEING TO A 30-DAY PAUSE ON HITTING UKRAINIAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETS WHILE REJECTING A FULL CEASEFIRE. ZELENKSY HAS ACCUSED RUSSIA OF CONTINUING TO STRIKE ITS ENERGY FACILITIES, WITH TRUMP SUGGESTING THE U.S. COULD TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. MEANWHILE, 175 UKRAINIAN PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE RETURNED HOME IN ONE OF THE LARGEST PRISONER EXCHANGES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA SINCE THE CEASEFIRE ENDED. FOOTAGE RELEASED BY THE IDF APPEARS TO SHOW TROOPS IN CENTRAL GAZA, WHERE ISRAEL SAYS IT PLANS TO RETAKE A KEY CORRIDOR. OVERNIGHT, LOCAL HEALTH WORKERS SAY AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKES. THE UN SAYS ONE OF ITS STAFFERS HAS BEEN KILLED WITH FIVE OTHERS INJURED AFTER A STRIKE HIT ONE OF ITS GUEST HOUSES. ISRAEL HAS DENIED IT TARGETED THE UN COMPOUND. THE FINAL BATCH OF SEALED DOCUMENTS ON THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. EXPERTS ARE ONLY JUST BEGINNING TO WORK THROUGH THE PAPERS, BUT MANY SAY THEY DO NOT EXPECT GROUNDBREAKING REVELATIONS. JFK WAS KILLED IN 1963 WHILE TRAVELLING VIA OPEN-TOP MOTORCADE ON A VISIT TO DALLAS TEXAS. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DETERMINED HE WAS SHOT BY MARINE VETERAN LEE HARVEY OSWALD, IN THE DECADES SINCE, CONSPIRACY THEORIES HAVE CONTINUED TO PROLIFERATE AND OPINION POLLS REGULARLY SHOW MOST AMERICANS DON'T BELIEVE OSWALD DID IT. TO SPORT, A 15-YEAR-OLD FROM TAURANGA HAS BECOME THE YOUNGEST ATHLETE EVER TO BREAK THE FOUR-MINUTE BARRIER FOR RUNNING THE MILE. SAM RUTHE SET A TIME OF 3:58:35 AT GO MEDIA STADIUM LAST NIGHT TO SET THE NEW WORLD RECORD. HE WAS PACED BY OLYMPIAN AND TRAINING PARTNER SAM TANNER, WITH BOTH RUNNERS COACHED BY CRAIG KIRKWOOD. ALL MY SUCCESSES ARE DOWN TO THEM. THEY SHOWED ME HOW TO DO IT. HE'S THE 49th NEW ZEALANDER TO ACHIEVE A SUB FOUR-MINUTE MILE. THE ALL WHITES HAVE BOOKED TWO MORE INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES AS THEY CONTINUE IN THEIR BID FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION. NEW ZEALAND WILL TAKE ON COTE D'IVOIRE AND UKRAINE IN EARLY JUNE AS PART OF THE NEW CANADIAN SHIELD TOURNAMENT IN TORONTO. IF THE ALL WHITES WIN THE OCEANIA QUALIFIERS, THE NEWLY-ANNOUNCED FIXTURES WILL BE A GOOD CHALLENGE IN THEIR BUILD-UP TO THE WORLD CUP AND GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN ONE OF THE HOST CITIES. THEY'LL TAKE ON FIJI IN THE SEMI- FINALS IN WELLINGTON TOMORROW NIGHT. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR SOME, WITH RAIN EXPECTED FOR THOSE ALONG THE EAST COAST AND THE CAPITAL BEFORE EASING IN THE EVENING. 24 THE HIGH FOR TAURANGA. 22 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. CLEAR SKIES ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE UPPER EAST COAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE TURNING TO FINE THIS AFTERNOON IN OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. 24 THE HIGH FOR TAHUNA QUEENSTOWN 22 IN WHAKATU NELSON. IN JUST OVER A WEEK'S TIME, WELLINGTON PHOENIX PLAYERS WILL TAKE ON THE WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS AT SKY STADIUM FOR A SPECIAL CHARITY MATCH. AND THIS YEAR, SOME OF THEIR BIGGEST FANS WHO HAVE RECIEVED CARE AT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE ARE BEING GIVEN THE CHANCE TO ACCOMPANY THEM ON THE PITCH. WELLINGTON REPORTER JAMES FLEURY IS AT NZCIS TO FIND OUT MORE. MORENA JAMES. WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL SIX-YEAR-OLD OSCAR TRAINING FOR THE MATCH WITH THE RONALD MCDONALD'S HOUSE. THIS IS HIS DAD MARK. OSCAR HAS A VERY INTERESTING STORY. WHAT IS A STORY? HE HAS BEEN TOUGH TIME IN HIS LIFE. WHEN HE WAS A BABY HE HAD A LIVER BYPASS SURGERY AND A TRANSPLANT AT SEVEN MONTHS OLD. HE GOT STAGE III CANCER HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA. IT DAMAGE THE LIVER AGAIN AND HE IS NOW AGAIN ON THE LIVER TRANSPLANT LIST, YOU DONATED YOUR LIVER TOO? YES, I DID. HE IS A WELLINGTON PHOENIX FAN. HOW EXCITING IS IT FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THIS MATCH? WE LIVE IN AND LOVE WELLINGTON. IT IS GREAT FOR OSCAR TO BE INVOLVED BECAUSE HE IS USED TO BEING PRODDED AND POKED BY DOCTORS AND SURGEONS, SO IT IS GREAT TO TAKE HIS MIND OFF WHAT IS ALREADY A TOUGH JOURNEY. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM. YOU WERE WEARING THE JERSEY WHICH HAS FAVOURITE PLAYER WILL BE WEARING ON THE 29TH. THIS IS FANTASTIC. HE WAS ABLE TO SIGN IT? MARCO WANTED OSCAR TO SIGN HIS SHIRT, AND SO OSCAR SIGNED IT. AND THAT IS UNUSUAL FOR A JERSEY TO BE SIGNED. THAT IS FANTASTIC. WHAT HAS BEEN LIKE TO WORK WITH RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE? AMAZING. TO WORK WITH HIM IN SUCH A GREAT CAUSE, WE WERE OUT THERE WITH THE OTHER DAY WITH THEM, IT IS GREAT TO WORK WITH THEM. TO BE PART OF IT AND PART OF A SOLUTION, IT IS FANTASTIC. WE TAKE OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON 29 MARCH? CHILDREN WILL BE THERE ON THE DAY? THEY WILL WALK OUT WITH THE PLAYERS. IT TAKES THE MONOTONY OF BEING IN THE HOUSE AWAY. THIS IS SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT AND EXCITING TO DO. THEN WE WILL AUCTION OFF THE SHIRTS THAT THE PLAYERS WERE AWARE. THEN MCDONALD'S ARE GOING TO MATCH SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTION THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE INSTALL. IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR OUR KIDS AND THE GREAT DAY FOR THE CAUSE. NICE TO MEET YOU. YOU ARE ALSO WEARING A SHIRT WITH A CHILD'S NAME, LOPEZ. WHAT'S HIS STORY? HE WAS BORN EIGHT WEEKS EARLY, AND HIS PARENTS THAT GOT HIM INTO THE HOUSE, AND HE HAS SPENT 40 NOTES 40 NIGHTS THERE. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL? I THINK YOU'LL BE SPECIAL TO WALK OUT WITH THEM. WE ARE USED TO PLAYING FOR OURSELVES AND POINTS. BUT IT WILL BE EXTRA SPECIAL TO REPRESENT HIM AND HIS FAMILY. SO NICE TO MEET YOU. FANTASTIC TO MEET OSCAR. GIVE US A WAVE, OSCAR. HE IS BUSY WARMING UP, BUT IT WILL BE FANTASTIC ON 29 MARCH. 5 PM ON THE SATURDAY, IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY. LOVE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE. JAMES, YOU NEED TO GO AND SHAKE SCOTT'S HAND. GO BACK. YOU LEFT HIM HANGING, JAMES. E WHAI AKE NEI ` IT'S BEEN PRAISED BY GARDEN LOVERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. AN AUCKLAND PROPERTY IS GETTING A NEW LEASE ON LIFE. CAMERON JOE IS FINDING OUT MORE FOR US THIS MORNING. MORENA, CAM. YES, THIS GARDEN HAS BEEN HOST TO THOUSANDS OF POSITIVES OVER 40 YEARS. FIND OUT ABOUT THE BRILLIANT MAN WHO USED TO OWN THIS PROPERTY. # I CAN BY MYSELF FLOWERS. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. ISRAEL HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST GROUND ATTACK IN GAZA SINCE THE END OF THE CEASEFIRE AS FRESH ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HAVE REPORTEDLY KILLED AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE OVERNIGHT, ACCORDING TO LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES. WELLINGTON RESIDENTS ARE BEING URGED TO AVOID USING PUBLIC POOLS IF UNWELL AS THE REGION EXPERIENCES A RISE IN GASTRO-LIKE ILLNESS. THE ALL WHITES HAVE BOOKED INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES AGAINST COTE D'IVOIRE AS THEY CONTINUE IN THEIR BID FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION. ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED HOUSE GARDEN'S IN AUCKLAND'S MOUNT EDEN HAS NOW SOLD AFTER HOSTING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND OPENING TO THE PUBLIC TO RAISE MONEY FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH AIDS. ONE MAN'S GARDEN HAS NOW FOUND A NEW OWNER. REPORTER CAMERON JOE IS THERE. MORENA, CAM. NOT THE OWNER, I DON'T THINK! YES, THIS GARDEN HAS FEATURED IN MAGAZINES AND HAS BEEN VISITED BY TOURISTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE. IT WAS HOME TO A FLORIST CALLED PETER BRADY, AND HE DID DIE UNFORTUNATELY IN 2023, BUT THANKFULLY HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON WITH SOME NEW OWNERS. YOU'RE NOT THE NEW OWNERS, BUT YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AFTER THIS PROPERTY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. TELL ME HOW IMPORTANT IT'S BEEN TO THE MOUNT EDEN AND RAINBOW COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK THERE'S MANY IN THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY WHO DON'T KNOW OF THE GARDEN OR THE PINK HOUSE, BUT THE YEARS THE GAY COMMUNITY, 23 YEARS, THEY RAN HERO GARDENS, AND THAT STARTED WITH THE NEED FOR RAISING FUNDS FOR AIDS VICTIMS. THESE PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT THESE HIV PATIENTS. THEN THEY SUPPORTED THE MERCY HOSPITAL. YOU CAN TELL HOW MUCH CARE HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS PLACE. WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS PETER? HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN. HE WAS MY ABSOLUTE HERO. HE WAS A GENTLEMAN, HE WORKED HARD, HE LOVES LIFE, HE LOVED BEAUTIFUL THINGS, AND HE WAS A FRUGAL GUY BUT HE WAS HAPPY TO SHARE THIS GARDEN WITH ANYBODY WHO WAS INTERESTED. HE WAS ALWAYS GIVING OF HIS TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO THE GARDEN. IS IT HARD TO LET GO OF THE GARDEN NOW THAT YOU ARE LETTING GO FOR THE NEW OWNERS TO COME IN? FOR A WHILE WE STRUGGLED WITH IT, WHEN HE WAS PASSING AWAY, THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. HE WAS OKAY WITH WHOEVER GOT TO OWN IT. AND HE REALISED THAT YES, THEY PROBABLY WOULD TEAR OUT THE GARDEN, AND PROBABLY A SWIMMING POOL WOULD BE PUT IN, AND HE WAS OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE IT WAS HIS AND HE LOVED IT DEARLY BUT HE WAS HAPPY TO GIVE IT UP. BUT FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A NEW PURCHASER THAT WILL KEEP THIS GLORIOUS GARDEN GOING. WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE? WE HAD SOME GOOD HELP WITH SOME GARDENERS, CHRIS DAVIS, HE HAD BEEN HERE AS AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY, SO HE HAD A HUGE CONNECTION TO THE GARDEN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE FAMILY TO GIVE IT TO THE NEW OWNER, AND THE BEST POSSIBLE PETER LOOK THAT IT CAN. AND HE WOULD BE STOKED. HOW WILL THE LEGACY LIVE ON WITH THE NEW OWNERS? IT IS A GIFT. THEY WILL REPAINT, REFURBISH, THE GARDENS WILL GET A MAKEOVER, BECAUSE PETER CONTINUALLY CHANGED THE GARDENS. HE HAD TO REDO IT AND GET A NEW LOOK. AND WITHIN 6 TO 12 MONTHS, THERE WILL BE A WEBSITE, AND WE CAN COME AND STAY AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN AND ALL THIS MAN HAD TO OFFER. THERE WILL BE BITS AND BOBS OF PETER ALL OVER THE GARDEN AND INSIDE, BUT THE TRUE GIFT TO THE FAMILY IS THAT THE OWNERS HAVE CHOSEN TO CALL IT PETERS. AND IN 12 MONTHS WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND STAY AT PETERS. HOPEFULLY MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO COME AND STAY AND ENJOY THE BRILLIANCE GARDEN THAT PETER HAS PUT HERE. NICE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` NOT TO MAKE A BIG SONG AND DANCE ABOUT IT BUT THERE'S A BIG SONG AND DANCE COMING TO CHRISTCHURCH CHARLOTTE MULDER'S ON THE CASE. TELL US MORE, CHARLOTTE. THIS FOYER IS NOT GOING TO BE SO EMPTY TONIGHT. 250 PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE MUSICAL THEATRE NIGHTCLUB. MAKE SURE YOU TUNE AND AFTER THE BREAK BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION COMING. FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, THE COURT THEATRE IN CHRISTCHURCH IS BECOMING A FULLY DECKED-OUT NIGHTCLUB, BUT WITH A THEATRICAL TWIST. MUSICAL THEATRE SONGS WILL BE PLAYING ALL NIGHT, WITH A MIXTURE OF BOTH DJ'S AND SOME OF NEW ZEALAND'S MOST HIGH-PROFILE DRAG QUEENS. WE SENT OUR REPORTER CHARLOTTE MULDER DOWN, WHO'S A BIG FAN OF MUSICAL THEATRE. MORENA, CHARLOTTE. MORENA, TEAM. YES I AM, THE RAINBOW THEATRE WEEKEND STARTING TONIGHT. I HAVE TWO PEOPLE HERE INVOLVED. MANY PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING HERE THIS WEEKEND, AND TIM IS ONE OF THE ORGANISERS. WE HAVE CLUB MUSICALS TONIGHT. WITH KITA MEAN THAT'S ONLY ONE EVENT OUT OF NINE. GIVE ME A LOWDOWN ON WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING. WE HAVE ELI MATTHEWSON, WE HAVE MRS KASHA DAVIS COMING OVER FOR FOUR EVENTS, FAT'FAFINE. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR, WE WERE TALKING LAST YEAR WHEN YOU PULLED IT TOGETHER AND ONLY SIX WEEKS, BUT NOW YOU HAVE GIVEN YOURSELF MORE TIME, WE ALSO WANT TO TELL STORIES OF PEOPLE, WHO AREN'T PART OF THE COMMUNITY, COULD RELATE TO. YOU IN THIS GOLDEN ERROR OF SHARING STORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, VOICES, PEOPLE ARE ALLIES OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF, WHICH IS WHY WE DO THIS. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. I'M GOING TO BE RUDE AND COME IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU'RE FINE. LITTLE MISS CINNAMON, YOU ARE ONE OF THE DRAKE LENS OWING TO BE *DRAG QUEENS GOING TO BE PERFORMING. MORENA, I AM PART OF THE DRAG BRUNCH ON SUNDAY. WE WILL SPREAD SOME GLITTER AND SEQUENCE AND ENTERTAIN EVERYONE. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A DRAG QUEEN FOR? DON'T ASK A WOMAN HER AGE, BUT I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW. YOU WERE GETTING READY AT 4 AM! I WOKE UP LIKE THIS. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE ROLLED OUT OF BED. WITH A GOOD BIT OF STORYTIME TODAY, DON'T WE? WE ARE READING, RAINBOW-SAURUS. I WILL GIVE YOU A BIT OF THIS. WE ARE FOLLOWING A RAINBOW, COME ALONG AND JOIN US. WE ARE FOLLOWING A RAINBOW TO FIND THE RAINBOW SAURUS. BUZZ, SAID THE BROWN BEE. BAA, SAID THE BLUE SHEEP. AND OFF THEY MARCHED TOGETHER. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THEY FIND THE RAINBOW SAURUS, YOU WILL HAVE TO COME TO IMAGINATION STATION. THAT IS A GREAT LITTLE PREVIEW OF WHAT IS YET TO COME. WHAT DAY OF THE IMAGINATION STATION? SATURDAY MORNING. AND PEOPLE CAN STILL BOOK? YES, ON THE COURT WEBSITE. AMAZING, WELL YOU, YOU HEARD WHAT SHE SAID. IF YOU WANT TO COME ALONG, THERE ARE PLENTY OF TICKETS AVAILABLE. IT'LL BE BIG, BRIGHT AND LOTS OF FUN. NICE WORK, CHARLOTTE. I WANT TO BE ON THE CUSTOMER AS I WILL BE IN WELLINGTON, BUT I WILL SEE YOU FROM THE CAKE TIN TOMORROW. THEY HAVE GOT THE SEMI FINALS TOMORROW AGAINST FIJI. IF WE WIN TOMORROW... WE'RE INTO THE FINAL ON MONDAY AT EDEN PARK. AND IF WE WIN THAT ONE... THAT I WILL HOPE TO BE PUTTING IN MY EARLY REQUEST FOR THE WORLD CUP. WHERE IS THE WORLD CUP? THE STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO, SO IF WE WIN THIS, WHICH WE SHOULD, WE WILL BE THE FIRST TEAM TO QUALIFY OUTSIDE OF THE HOST NATIONS. THAT IS NUTS. IS PRETTY COOL. YOU WANT TO BE THERE? AT THE WORLD CUP. I HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TOMORROW AS WELL, ACTUALLY. ENJOY THE SLEEP IN. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, AS ALWAYS. IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE, JULIE TAYLOR, MAIA CARR HEKE AND KITTY WASASALA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025