(SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) JUST THROWING ALL THE ENERGY OUT THERE ON THIS TUESDAY THE 15th OF APRIL. AS ALWAYS, IT IS LOVELY TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY THIS MORNING. I HAVE HEARD IT AS MCDONALD STAYED TODAY. ISN'T IT? THERE IS A DAY AND A WEEK FOR EVERYTHING. APPARENTLY IT IS MCDONALD'S DAY. WE ARE GOING TO FIND A SUITABLE WAY TO CELEBRATE. HAVING EVER TRIED TAKING PASSPORT PHOTOS OF KIDS? YES. I THOUGHT IT WAS HARD WITH BABIES, AND ACTUALLY A FRIEND OF MINE WAS ASKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO TAKE A BABY PASSPORT PHOTO. MY TACTIC WAS USUALLY FEET APART, PUT A PILLOWCASE ON THE FLOOR, LIE THEM DOWN, COULD ALMOST BE STANDING OVER THEM, AND THEN HAVE THE CAMERA POINTING DOWN, AND THEN YOUR SECOND PERSON ` PROBABLY YOUR PARTNER ` IT'S SORT OF BETWEEN YOUR LEGS HOLDING THEM IN PLACE. AND YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE 100 TAKES. STILL HAVE TO DO 100 TAKES. WE DID THAT WITH OUR TWO YEAR OLD. AND WHAT ARE THE RULES? DON'T SMILE. DON'T SMILE. CLOSE YOUR MOUTH. IMPOSSIBLE TASK. ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` CALLS TO STOP CHANGES TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLOUTS. PHASE 2 OF A POLICE 'PULL BACK' BEGAN THIS WEEK, MEANING IN SOME SITUATIONS OFFICERS WILL HAND OVER PATIENTS NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO HOSPITALS OR OTHER FACILITIES. BUT FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS SAY THEY'RE NOT EQUIPPED FOR THE CHANGE. THE NURSES' UNION AND THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION WILL SHARE THEIR CONCERNS. ALSO AHEAD, EVERYONE HAD AN OPINION ON THIS ONE ` GETTING YOUR DRIVER'S LICENCE MAY ONLY REQUIRE ONE PRACTICAL TEST IN FUTURE AND FEWER DEMERIT POINTS BEFORE SUSPENSION. BUT WILL LESS RED TAPE RESULT IN GREATER RISK ON OUR ROADS? AND IN ACTUAL FACT, MANY OF YOU WROTE IN AND SAID EXACTLY THAT. PLUS ` IT'S NEARLY ELECTION TIME DON'T WORRY ` ACROSS THE TASMAN. AUSTRALIANS WILL HEAD TO THE BALLOT BOXES IN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS, WITH THE CHOICE BETWEEN ANTHONY ALBANESE OR PETER DUTTON. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ISSUES LIKELY TO DETERMINE AUSTRALIA'S NEXT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WHETHER NEW ZEALANDERS ` LOTS OF THEM OVER THERE ` WILL PLAY A BIG PART. COST OF LIVING? THERE I HAVE BEEN LOTS OF SLOGANS BANDIED ABOUT YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD IN OUR LAST ELECTION. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S YOUR NEWS. RUSSIA HAS CLAIMED ITS DEADLY STRIKE ON UKRAINE, KILLING 35 PEOPLE, WAS TARGETING MILITARY FORCES. TWO BALLISTIC MISSILES WERE FIRED INTO THE NORTHERN CITY OF SUMY AS UKRAINIANS GATHERED FOR PALM SUNDAY. RUSSIA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS IT TARGETED A GATHERING OF SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS ACCUSING UKRAINE OF USING CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY HAS DEMANDED A TOUGH GLOBAL RESPONSE. HE'S ALSO INVITED THE U.S. PRESIDENT TO VISIT BEFORE STRIKING A CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH RUSSIA. U.S. STOCK MARKETS HAVE RISEN ON OPENING FOLLOWING THE NEWS SMARTPHONES AND COMPUTERS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM U.S. TARIFFS. HOWEVER, THE EXEMPTION'S SET TO BE TEMPORARY, WITH WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAYING THE TECH GOODS WILL LATER COME UNDER A DIFFERENT IMPORT TAX. DETAILS OF THAT TARIFF ARE YET TO BE REVEALED. POP STAR KATY PERRY AND FIVE OTHER WOMEN HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRAVELLED TO THE EDGE OF SPACE IN THE FIRST ALL FEMALE SPACE FLIGHT IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS. THE BLUE ORIGIN ROCKET TRIP LASTED AROUND 11 MINUTES. AFTER RETURNING TO EARTH, PERRY SAID THE EXPERIENCE WAS SECOND ONLY TO BEING A MOTHER. I AM FULL UP FROM BEING ABLE TO GET THAT GIFT OF BEING A MUM. AND TO GO TO SPACE IS INCREDIBLE, AND I WANTED TO MODEL COURAGE, AND WORTHINESS AND FEARLESSNESS. I SAW OPRAH WINFREY THERE. GAYLE KING, HER FRIEND WAS THERE AS WELL. CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AMANDA NUWEN AND LAUREN SANCHEZ, THE FIANCEE OF BLUE ORIGIN OWNER JEFF BEZOS. FIRE CREWS HAVE WORKED OVERNIGHT TO EXTINGUISH A LARGE HOUSE FIRE IN AUCKLAND. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE LATE LAST NIGHT IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF MT EDEN. FIVE CREWS FROM ACROSS THE CITY RESPONDING TO THE INCIDENT, WITH THE BLAZE FULLY EXTINGUISHED AT 3am. A SCENE GUARD HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVERNIGHT. TO SPORT ` WARRIORS CENTRE ROCCO BERRY WILL FRONT THE NRL JUDICIARY TONIGHT AFTER BEING CHARGED FOR A HIGH TACKLE IN HIS SIDE'S LOSS TO THE STORM. BERRY FACES AT LEAST A ONE-MATCH SUSPENSION, TWO IF HE FIGHTS THE CHARGE AND IS FOUND GUILTY BY THE JUDICIARY. IT'S ANOTHER BLOW FOR THE WARRIORS OFF THE BACK OF THEIR BRUISING DEFEAT WITH CO-CAPTAIN JAMES FISHER-HARRIS POTENTIALLY OUT WITH A PECTORAL INJURY, AND CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD SUFFERING A HEAD KNOCK. UP THE WAHS. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) POINTING THAT OUT, CHRIS CHANG. WHAT IS IT? SIXTH ON THE LADDER AT THE MOMENT. NOT BAD. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` STARTING OFF WITH A WARNING ` FOR THOSE TRAVELLING THROUGH LINDIS PASS, AN ORANGE RD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am TILL 8am THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU WITH SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE LOWER EAST COAST. HOWEVER IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR AUCKLAND, HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FOG TO START YOUR DAY. 23 THE HIGH IN COROMANDEL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SIMILAR STORY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND ` PACK YOUR BROLLY, THOUGH ` RAINY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE BEFORE EASING FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON. CANTERBURY RAIN WILL EASE TO ISOLATED SHOWERS BY MIDDAY. 18 THE HIGH IN NELSON. DUNEDIN, YOU ARE LOOKING AT 13 DEGREES. THANKS, JENNY MAY. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING WITH OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. LET'S START WITH OUR WELLINGTON REPORTER JAMES FLEURY. JAMES ` MASTERTON RESIDENTS ARE EAGERLY AWAITING TO SEE IF THE TOWN WILL BE KEPT ` TOWN HALL, RATHER WILL BE KEPT OR DEMOLISHED. THAT MEETING WILL KICK OFF IN MASTERTON TODAY TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE OF ITS TOWN HALL IS. THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2016 AFTER THE KAIKOURA EARTHQUAKE WHEN IT WAS DEEMED EARTHQUAKE PRONE. IT HAS NOT BEEN IN USE; IT HAS JUST BEEN SITTING THERE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IT SHOULD STAY, BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY A FEW HERITAGE BUILDINGS LEFT. THE MAN HAS SAID IN THE PAST THAT $25 MILLION IS ALLOCATED FOR SOMETHING NEW, SO A TOWN HALL IS NOT A GIVEN, BECAUSE IN MANY CASES THESE PLANS WOULD COST 10 MILLION OR $20 MILLION MORE. THERE HAVE BEEN SUBMISSIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ` AROUND HALF WANTED TO BE DEMOLISHED. SOME ARE SAYING THEY CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD IF THEY DO DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING, AND OTHERS ARE SAYING THEY CAN FOCUS ON OTHER ISSUES LIKE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS A BIG TALKING POINT IN THE COMMUNITY. OF RESOURCE CONSENT IS GRANTED FOR THE DEMOLITION, THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL HAVE SAID THEY WILL INCORPORATE ORIGINAL ELEMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS BUILDING TO ENSURE THAT HERITAGE IS KEPT IN THE NEW DESIGN. IT IS KICKING OFF AT 930 THIS MORNING. AND BAD WEATHER HAS CANCELLED MARLBOROUGH'S BI-ANNUAL CLASSIC FIGHTERS' AIRSHOW THIS WEEKEND. LET'S BRING IN CHARLOTTE MULDER FOR MORE. MORENA, CHARLOTTE. GOOD MORNING, CHRIS. I WOULD SAY LOCALS ARE FEELING VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE CANCELLATION OF THE CLASSICS AIRSHOW. THE BIANNUAL EVENT WAS MEANT TO TAKE PLACE JUST THIS WEEKEND. IT IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME ALONG AND SEE AIRCRAFT GO TO THE SKY, A RANGE OF DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT GOING BACK TO THE 1920S THROUGH TO THE WAR BIRDS THAT WERE USED DURING WORLD WAR II. HOWEVER, EVENT ORGANISERS GATHERED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, FOUR DAYS AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND, AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE ULTIMATE DECISION TO CANCEL THIS SHOW DUE TO BAD WEATHER. THEY SAY NOT ONLY FOR PILOT SAFETY BUT ALSO FOR SPECTATORS, IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE FOR ANY AIRCRAFT TO GO TO AIR. THIS IS A GOOD REMINDER FOR PEOPLE JUST TO KEEP AN EYE ON IF YOU ARE FLYING DOMESTICALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY THIS COMING WEEK, JUST TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FLIGHT UPDATE, AS I WOULD SAY THIS IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BE CANCELLING AHEAD OF THE BAD WEATHER, CHRIS. THANKS FOR THAT, CHARLOTTE. BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY FOR HOW WE GET A DRIVER'S LICENCE IN NEW ZEALAND. JUST A QUICK REFRESHER. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSING HAVING ONLY ONE PRACTICAL TEST INSTEAD OF TWO. IT WANTS NEW SAFETY MEASURES, INCLUDING A NEW 'HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST' AND A REQUIREMENT TO KEEP A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. AS WELL, A LICENCE WOULD BE SUSPENDED AFTER 50 DEMERIT POINTS RATHER THAN 100 POINTS, AS IT IS NOW. AND A ZERO ALCOHOL LIMIT WOULD APPLY TO RESTRICTED DRIVERS OF ANY AGE, NOT JUST THOSE UNDER 20. FOR WHAT THAT WILL ALL MEAN IN PRACTICE, WE'RE JOINED BY WENDY ROBERTSON, NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE DRIVING CHANGE NETWORK. WENDY, GOOD MORNING. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS INITIALLY ON THESE PROPOSALS THEY HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNMENT? SO WHILE WE WELCOME THE INTENT OF THEIR CHANGES, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE REMOVAL OF THE FULL LICENSE WITH. THEY ARE NOT REPLACING ANYTHING, THOUGH? THEY ARE REPLACING THE DEMERIT POINTS IN THE BEHAVIOUR PERIOD. SO YOU TAKE AWAY THE PRACTICAL TEST AND DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TO GET YOUR FULL DRIVERS LICENSE, BUT IF YOU HAVE NO DEMERIT POINTS IN THE 18 MONTHS, YOU WILL GO DIRECTLY THROUGH TO YOUR FULL LICENCE, AND THEN IF YOU DO A DRIVER'S DEFENCE OF COURSE, AND OF COURSE YOU CAN GO FROM 12 MONTHS ONTO YOUR FULL LICENSE. IS THAT RIGHT? WHAT IS THE ISSUE YOU HAVE WITH THAT PARTICULAR SYSTEM? OUR ISSUE AS IT IS A PUNITIVE SYSTEM. YOU ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE PENALISED FOR MISTAKES THAT YOU MAKE WHILE YOU ARE A LEARNER DRIVER. SO THE RESTRICTED PERIOD IS DESIGNED TO HAVE CONDITIONS PLACED AROUND YOU WHILE YOU DEVELOP YOUR DRIVING SKILLS. AND SOME OF THE DEMERIT POINTS THAT YOU CAN GET ARE FOR MAKING LITTLE MISTAKES. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN GET DEMERITS FOR IMPEDING OR NOT PULLING OVER FOR IMPEDED TRAFFIC. IMAGINE YOU ARE A NEWLY RESTRICTED DRIVER ` YOU WILL PROBABLY GO SLOWER ON THE OPEN ROAD. FROM READING PAPERS ON IT, THAT ONE TICKET WILL MEAN YOU START THAT RESTRICTED PERIOD AGAIN. SO IT IS NOT EVEN GETTING TO THE 50 DEMERIT POINTS. YOU ARE BEING PENALISED STRAIGHTAWAY FOR A LITTLE MISTAKE WHILE YOU ARE LEARNING YOUR SKILLS AS A DRIVER. WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD TO CONTINUE YOUR DEVELOPMENT AS A DRIVER? BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY IT IS, IF YOU DON'T GET ANY DEMERIT POINTS, YOU GOING TO YOUR FULL LICENSE STRAIGHTAWAY, RIGHT? BUT THERE IS NO LEARNING THAT GOES ON DURING THAT TIME. IS THAT AN ISSUE AT ALL FOR YOU? DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE NEW PROPOSAL? I THINK IT IS A CONCERN, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO, DURING THAT 12 OR 18 MONTHS, THEY ARE GOING TO GET VARYING DEGREES OF ON ROAD EXPERIENCE, AND YOU CANNOT REPLACE ON ROAD EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU ARE DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS AS A DRYER DRIVER* AT LEAST THE TEST WOULD CATCH IF YOU HAVEN'T DEVELOPED OR IF YOU HAVE MISTAKES, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW. WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS IN THIS PROPOSAL ` BRINGING THE ALCOHOL LEVEL DOWN TO 0, DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE ` IF YOU ARE ON A LEARNER OR RESTRICTED? I THINK THAT IS A NO-BRAINER. NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH THAT. ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER IS A GREAT IDEA. ANOTHER THING THAT IS REALLY GREAT ABOUT THIS AS THERE ARE CURRENTLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON A RESTRICTED LICENSE FOR MANY YEARS FOR WHATEVER REASON ` IT COULD BE THE COST, THE FEAR OF THE TEST OR EVEN GETTING TIME TO DO THE TEST. AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE, THEY WILL BECOME FULLY LICENSED LEGAL DRIVERS, AND THAT WILL OPEN UP A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM ` BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES, GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND THE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL WHENEVER THEY WANT AND WITH WHOEVER THEY WANT, SO THAT IS A POSITIVE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU THINK IS MISSING IN THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED? WE THINK THAT WHAT IS MISSING IS EDUCATION AND TRAINING. FOR A GOOD, SAFE SYSTEM, IT NEEDS TO HAVE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT INSTEAD OF THE THREAT OF A GOOD BEHAVIOUR PERIOD. WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO BECOME SKILFUL DRIVERS. WENDY ROBERTSON FROM DRIVING CHANGE NETWORK, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THE MINISTER DID SAY IT WAS OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING ON THEIR RESTRICTED DRIVERS LICENSE AT THE MOMENT. THEY WANT TO MOVE THOSE PEOPLE FROM THAT INTO A FULL LICENSE, BUT I AM JUST WONDERING, IF YOU ARE, AND MANY OF YOU DID RIGHT AND YESTERDAY YOU HAD BEEN SITTING ON YOUR LICENSE FOR YEARS... AND MANY OF YOU THANK YOU HAD BEEN SITTING ON YOUR LEARNERS FOR YEARS AS WELL. ARE THESE PROPOSALS GOING TO PUSH YOU TO GET YOUR RESTRICTED OR MAKE YOU FEEL CONFIDENT GOING FOR YOUR FULL LICENSE? WE KNOW IT WILL BE AROUND $100 LESS UNDER THIS PROPOSAL TO GO THROUGH YOUR RESTRICTED TO YOUR FULL LICENSE. IS THAT ENOUGH TO GO, YES, NOW IS THE TIME ` IT IS CHEAPER, AND THE GOVERNMENT WANTS ME TO DO IT. LITTLE BLUE CAR ` MAKE THIS STEP. EMAIL US YOUR FEEDBACK. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION COULD BEST BE DESCRIBED AS FLUCTUATING. NEXT ` HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL AND STAY AFLOAT. # I COULD BE YOUR TYPE. NO, I DON'T. I DEFINITELY DON'T. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. RUSSIA HAS CLAIMED ITS DEADLY STRIKE ON UKRAINE, KILLING 35 PEOPLE, WAS TARGETING MILITARY FORCES. U.S. STOCK MARKETS HAVE RISEN ON OPENING FOLLOWING THE NEWS SMARTPHONES AND COMPUTERS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM U.S. TARIFFS. AND FIRE CREWS HAVE WORKED OVERNIGHT TO EXTINGUISH A LARGE HOUSE FIRE IN AUCKLAND. AT 6:18. IT'S A CRAZY OLD TIME FINANCIALLY WITH TARIFFS, YOYO-ING MARKETS, AND EVER-CHANGING EMPLOYMENT AND JOB LANDSCAPES. FOR SOME IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING. SO, HOW CAN YOU NAVIGATE THE UNCERTAIN FINANCIAL SEAS AND RIDE THE MONEY TIDAL WAVE? HERE WITH SOME GUIDANCE IS INDEPENDENT FINANCE JOURNALIST FRANCES COOK. MORENA. A BIT OF A MAD TIME AT THE MOMENT. HOW DO YOU PUT ALL THE NOISE TO THE SIDE AND FOCUS ON OURSELVES AT THIS TIME? I THINK IT IS A REAL BALANCE AT MOMENTS LIKE THIS BETWEEN STAYING INFORMED, WHICH KNOWLEDGE IS POWER WHERE IT CAN REALLY HELP YOU, BUT AVOIDING THE PIT OF DOOM SCROLLING. SO IF YOU CAN LEARN SOME MONEY FUNDAMENTALS AT A TIME LIKE THIS AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE HEADLINES OF COURSE, BUT MAY BE DOING SOMETHING LIKE HAVING A CHECK IN WITH THE NEWS ONCE PER DAY AND MAKING SURE YOU ARE GOING ON WITH THE REST OF YOUR DAY, BECAUSE IT IS OVERWHELMING. JUST IN THE HEADLINES YOU HAD RIGHT THERE, THERE IS A NEW CHANGE IN THE STOCK MARKET, A CHANGE IN THE TARIFFS, IT IS GOING UP-AND-DOWN UP-AND-DOWN. THE BUSINESS WORLD HATES UNCERTAINTY, BUT FOR THE REST OF US IT IS REALLY DISCOMBOBULATING. WHAT DO YOU HEAR AT THE MOMENT OUR PEOPLE'S BIGGEST CONCERNS ON WHAT IS GOING ON OVERSEAS? THE BIGGEST THINGS COMING THROUGH MY INBOX AND THE SENTIMENT YOU SEE AROUND AS PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THERE KIWISAVER ` IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACE AS THEY SEE IT. PEOPLE MIGHT NOT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS STOCK-MARKET OR SHAREMARKET INVESTORS, BUT MANY OF US ARE THROUGH OUR KIWISAVER. EVEN CONSERVATIVE ONES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SHARES IN THERE. SO KIWISAVER IS DOWN, AND THAT IS CONCERNING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT ALSO JOBS IS A REAL ONE, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS BUSINESS TURMOIL TURNS INTO IMPACT ON JOBS. BUSINESSES SAY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PAUSE ON HIRING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. THAT CAN BE A REALLY BIG WORRY FOR PEOPLE. SO START WITH THE KIWISAVER ISSUE ` AS MUCH AS IT SUCKS, KIWISAVER IS ACTUALLY NAMED QUITE BADLY. LOVE KIWISAVER, NAMED BADLY. IT IS AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT, NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. IT IS NORMAL IN THE INVESTING WORLD FOR IT TO GO UP-AND-DOWN. YOUR KIWISAVER IS A FUND WITH HUNDREDS OF SHARES IN IT, MAYBE THOUSANDS. THOSE CAN GO UP AND DOWN IN VALUE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS LIKE THAT, MANAGED BY PROFESSIONALS, IT IS NOT AS MUCH OF A WORRY AS YOU MIGHT THINK. NOT NICE TO LOOK AT, BUT NOT AS MUCH OF A WORRY. SO THE KEY WITH YOUR KIWISAVER IS, IS IT IN THE FUND THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU? IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO USE IT SOON, THEN SOMETHING LIKE A CONSERVATIVE FUND MIGHT BE GOOD. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE IN A YEAR OR RETIRE SOON, YOU WANT TO BE IN IT CONSERVATIVE AND LESS EXPOSED TO UPS AND DOWNS. IF YOU HAVE FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS, BEING IN A MORE AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND AS PART OF WHAT MAKES YOU MONEY. IT IS PART OF HOW IT MAKES YOU MONEY IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL GREAT NOW. CHICKEN WITH YOUR KIWISAVER PROVIDER ` HOT TIP, WE ALL PAY A LITTLE FEE ON OUR KIWISAVER MONEY. IT CAN BE BIGGER OR SMALLER, BUT WE ALL PAY SOMETHING. THAT MEANS YOU NOT ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO FREE ADVICE ABOUT YOUR KIWISAVER FROM THAT FUND MANAGER, YOU'VE ACTUALLY PREPAID IT. YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THEM TO HELP YOU AT A TIME LIKE THIS. SO EMAIL THEM, CALL THEM, MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE. WAS ABOUT THE JOB MARKET? IT IS HAVING UPS AND DOWNS AS WELL. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE KEY STEPS EMPLOYEES NEED TO TAKE TO NAVIGATE THIS? I THINK THIS IS AN UNDERRATED THING. WE TALK ABOUT MONEY AND INVESTMENTS. WE WILL OFTEN TALK ABOUT PROPERTY OR SHARES OR BONDS, AND ACTUALLY ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST INVESTMENTS IS INTO YOUR CAREER AND YOUR ABILITY TO EARN AN INCOME. IT HAS REALLY BEEN QUITE A TOUGH JOB I COULD OUT THERE. SOME PEOPLE I TALK TO` I LITERALLY HAD SOMEONE IN MY COMMENT SECTION THE OTHER DAY SAYING THEY HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A JOB SINCE JULY LAST YEAR. THIS IS REALLY TOUGH ON PEOPLE. IT HAS REALLY BEEN A TOUGH JOB MARKET WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE NOT MANY OPENINGS. AS MUCH AS I DON'T WANT TO BE THE BAD NEWS FAIRY, THINGS LIKE THIS CAN MAKE THE JOB MARKET WORTH WITH BUSINESSES NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON. THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN SEND THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES OVERSEAS IN THE FUTURE AND GET THAT AMOUNT BACK FOR THAN THEY USED TO GET. WE ARE AN EXPORTING NATION, SO IT IMPACTS ALL SORTS OF BUSINESSES. WHEN IT COMES TO THAT UNCERTAINTY, THEY HAVE TO CLAMP DOWN. ONE COST THEY CAN CONTROL IS HIRING NEW PEOPLE. AS MUCH AS WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO COAST FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW IS REALLY THE TIME, FOR YOUR JOB, TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON THE BALL, LOOKING AROUND, SAYING, WHAT DOES MY BUSINESS, WHAT DOES MY COMPANY REALLY VALUE? WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM RIGHT NOW? AND HOW DO I MAKE SURE I AM CONTRIBUTING TO THAT QUESTION MIGHT NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING SURE YOU BRING YOUR BOSSES ATTENTION TO IT, BECAUSE BOSSES ARE BUSY, THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE, SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR COMPANY'S TOP PRIORITIES, DRAW YOUR BOSSES ATTENTION TO THAT, AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE BUILDING SKILLS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE IT IS JUST A LITTLE BIT UNCERTAIN TIMES. WHEN YOU SAY INVEST IN YOURSELF IN YOUR OWN JOB AND YOUR INCOME, DOES THAT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE ACTIVELY SEEKING TO GO ON NEW COURSES WHILE YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT AND BROADENING YOUR SKILL SET WHILE YOU ARE EMPLOYED? I THINK THEY CAN BE BRILLIANT AT TIMES LIKE THIS, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A PAY RISE AND POTENTIALLY NOT GET ONE AT A TIME LIKE THIS, BUT POTENTIALLY YOU CAN SAY, WHAT SORT OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO MAKE ME MORE VALUABLE TO THIS COMPANY? YOUR COMPANY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING WHERE THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR YOU TO GET TRAINING ` BRILLIANT IF SO. BUT THERE ARE ALSO MASSES OF FREE COURSES. THINGS LIKE OPEN POLYTECHNIC HAVE A LOT OF FREE COURSES AVAILABLE THAT ARE IN NZQA CERTIFIED AND YOU CAN GET QUALIFICATIONS COMPLETELY FOR FREE. EVEN THINGS LIKE COURSERA HAVE QUALIFICATIONS FROM PLACES LIKE YALE. THEY ARE BRILLIANT ` I HAVE DONE SOME OF THEM. YOU DON'T GET THE CERTIFICATION AT THE END. WHAT YOU OFTEN PAY FOR AT THE UNIVERSITY IS THE CERTIFICATION. SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE CERTIFICATION, BUT YOU WILL HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE SKILL. BRING IT TO YOUR BOSSES ATTENTION AND SAY, WHAT WILL BE MOST USEFUL FOR ME TO PUT MY TIME INTO AND TO UP SKILL ON? AND IF UNFORTUNATELY THINGS HAPPEN, YOU WILL BE IDEALLY ONE OF THE VALUABLE ONES THAT STICK AROUND IN THE COMPANY. FRANCIS COOKE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. IF YOU ARE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A PAY RISE, YOU CAN SAY, HOW CAN I UP SKILL TO EARN THAT PAY RISE NEXT TIME? SO THEY CAN PUT YOU ON SOME COURSES OR BITS AND PIECES. IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU NEXT SUMMER AND, NEXT TIME* YOU CAN LEAVE WITH A BUNCH OF QUALIFICATIONS AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE OR SEE THAT VALUE. IT IS HARD, BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST FOR YOU. IT IS A COLLECTIVE. IT IS HARD TO GO AND SAY, LOOK WHAT I'VE DONE. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, THE BIG ISSUES IN THE UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION. SOME GOOD FEEDBACK COMING THROUGH. (SONG): 'COLD AS ICE' BY FOREIGNER BEN: Hello? From the bank? Really? VOICEOVER: Know it's really ASB with Caller Check. (PHONE RINGING) # You're as cold as ice # We can verify it's us through the ASB Mobile Banking app. BEN: Oh, it is you ASB! Haven't got your enrolment pack yet? You'll need to enrol or update your details to vote in the local elections. Just head to vote.nz to do it now. It's quick and easy to do. See? Go to vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56. THERE ARE CONCERNS THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE WEAKENING THE DRIVING LICENCE PROGRAMME AFTER RECENT CHANGES TO THE TESTING PROCESS. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED HAVING ONLY ONE PRACTICAL TEST INSTEAD OF TWO, ALONG WITH NEW SAFETY MEASURES INCLUDING A NEW 'HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST' AND A REQUIREMENT TO KEEP A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. BUT ONE ADVOCATE FOR DRIVER EDUCATION SAYS IT'S GOING TO CAUSE MANY MORE ISSUES. THAT ONE TICKET WILL MEAN THAT YOU START THAT RESTRICTED PERIOD AGAIN, SO, IT'S NOT EVEN GETTING TO THE 50 DEMERIT POINTS, YOU'RE GETTING PENALISED STRAIGHT AWAY FOR A LITTLE MISTALES WHILE YOU ARE LEARNING YOUR SKILL AS A DRIVER. SHE SAYS THERE'S NO COMMITMENT TO STRUCTURED DRIVER TRAINING OR EDUCATION IN THE PROPOSAL. RUSSIA HAS CLAIMED ITS DEADLY STRIKE ON UKRAINE KILLING 35 PEOPLE WAS TARGETING MILITARY FORCES. TWO BALLISTIC MISSILES WERE FIRED INTO THE NORTHERN CITY OF SUMY AS UKRAINIANS GATHERED FOR PALM SUNDAY. RUSSIA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS IT TARGETED A GATHERING OF SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS, ACCUSING UKRAINE OF USING CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY HAS DEMANDED A TOUGH GLOBAL RESPONSE. HE'S ALSO INVITED THE U.S. PRESIDENT TO VISIT BEFORE STRIKING A CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH RUSSIA. THE COMPANY INVOLVED IN A DEADLY HELICOPTER CRASH THAT KILLED SIX PEOPLE IN NEW YORK LAST WEEK HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CONFIRMED NEW YORK HELICOPTER TOURS WOULD BE CEASING ALL OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY. FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SAY THE AIRCRAFT'S LAST MAJOR INSPECTION WAS MARCH 1ST, AND IT HAD COMPLETED SEVEN TOUR FLIGHTS BEFORE THE CRASH. THE BREAKERS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR FIRST SIGNING UNDER THEIR NEW LEADERSHIP GROUP, WITH TALL BLACK POINT GUARD TAYLOR BRITT JOINING THE SQUAD ON A TWO YEAR CONTRACT. THE 28-YEAR-OLD CAPTAINED THE CANTERBURY RAMS TO A SECOND STRAIGHT NZ NBL CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER A STANDOUT SEASON. BASKETBALL OPERATIONS PRESIDENT AND CLUB LEGEND DILLON BOUCHER SAYS BRITT'S WINNING PEDIGREE AND LEADERSHIP WILL BE VALUABLE TO THE SQUAD. THE TORCHES FOR THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS IN MILANO CORTINA HAVE BEEN REVEALED. THE UNVEILING TOOK PLACE AT A CEREMONY IN THE JAPANESE CITY OF OSAKA. THE TORCH WILL BE LIT AT GREECE'S OLYMPIA IN NOVEMBER BEFORE HEADING TO ROME THE FOLLOWING MONTH TO BEGIN ITS RELAY ACROSS ITALY. THE GAMES WILL GET UNDERWAY IN FEBRUARY. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` ITS A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE LOWER EAST COAST. HOWEVER IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR AUCKLAND, HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON ALTHOUGH YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FOG TO START YOUR DAY. 23 THE HIGH IN COROMANDEL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SIMILAR STORY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND PACK YOUR BROLLY THOUGH, RAINY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE BEFORE EASING FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON. CANTERBURY RAIN WILL EASE TO ISOLATED SHOWERS BY MIDDAY. 18 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 13 IN DUNEDIN. AND AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am TIL 8am THIS MORNING IN LINDIS PASS. TAKE CARE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) STAYING WITH BUSINESS, AND U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS WARNED EXEMPTIONS ON SMARTPHONES WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS AMERICAN STOCK MARKETS ENTER ANOTHER POTENTIALLY CONFUSING WEEK. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED TARIFFS TARGETING SPECIFIC BUSINESS SECTORS WILL BE IMPOSED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS KEY TO NATIONAL SECURITY. ABC'S ALEX PRESHA HAS THE LATEST. (BELL RINGS, CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AT THE OPENING BELL THIS MORNING, STOCKS STARTED UP FOR THE DAY AFTER ANOTHER APPARENT REVERSAL IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS. OVER THE WEEKEND, THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED SMARTPHONES, LAPTOPS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM HIS LATEST ROUND OF TARIFFS, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO SHOW A CERTAIN FLEXIBILITY. NOBODY SHOULD BE SO RIGID. WE WILL` YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN FLEXIBILITY. THE WHITE HOUSE NOW FOCUSING ON SEMICONDUCTORS, USED TO MAKE EVERYTHING FROM SMARTPHONES TO CARS. TRUMP'S TOP ECONOMIC ADVISOR THIS MORNING SIGNALLING IT GOES BEYOND JUST TRADE. THE U.S. IS RIGHT TO PROTECT AMERICA BY PUTTING TARIFFS ON THINGS THAT AFFECT NATIONAL SECURITY. ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU, THOSE CURRENTLY EXEMPT TECH PRODUCTS ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT $100b OR 23% OF U.S. IMPORTS FROM CHINA LAST YEAR. FOR ITS PART, CHINA TODAY BEEFING UP TRADE ALLIANCES. PRESIDENT XI IN VIETNAM TODAY. VIETNAM HIT BY THE U.S. WITH A NEARLY 50% INCREASE UNDER THE ORIGINAL SO-CALLED RETALIATORY TARIFFS. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYS ONE OF ITS OVERALL GOALS IS TO BOOST MANUFACTURING IN THE U.S. WE NEED TO HAVE SEMICONDUCTORS, WE NEED TO HAVE CHIPS, AND WE NEED TO HAVE FLAT PANELS. WE NEED TO HAVE THESE THINGS MADE IN AMERICA. BUT WHILE SOME TECH IS EXEMPT FOR NOW, OTHER ITEMS FROM CLOTHES TO TOYS TO SHOES ARE NOT. AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE STARTING TO SEE A NEW THING SHOW UP ON SOME OF THEIR RECEIPTS ` A TARIFF SURCHARGE. DEMOCRATS SAY THE PRESIDENT'S TARIFF STRATEGY IS ONLY SPARKING MORE CONFUSION. THERE IS NO TARIFF POLICY. IT'S JUST ALL CHAOS AND CORRUPTION. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE GOING ON. AND HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE ANY OF THESE GUYS? MEANWHILE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GIANT, AVIDIA, HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BUILD ITS A.I. SUPER COMPUTERS ENTIRELY IN THE U.S. YOUR FEEDBACK THIS MORNING AROUND THE PROPOSED DRIVER LICENSING CHANGES THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT FORWARD. A LOT OF YOU ARE ASKING WHETHER EDUCATION PIECES AND SAYING WE NEED DRIVER EDUCATION, BUT BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT RESTRICTED POINT, YOU SHOULD HAVE DRIVERS LESSONS BEFORE LEARNERS, AND ONCE YOU AND YOUR LEARNERS, AND MANY OF YOU ARE SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE AT THAT TIME. WE ARE NOT HAVING FORMAL EDUCATION, BUT BEFORE THEN, THERE SHOULD BE SOME IN THERE. IT WOULD COST. I REMEMBER WHEN AA WOULD COME INTO SCHOOL AND THAT'S HOW MANY OF US LEARNT HOW TO DRIVE. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY DO THAT ANYMORE OR IF THAT IS A PROHIBITIVE COST FOR SCHOOLS, AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT, BUT I JUST SEE THE EDUCATION PIECE, I GET IT, BUT THAT COSTS THE INDIVIDUAL MONEY UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO FOOT THE BILL, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE WAS ANOTHER THING. MANY OF YOU ARE SAYING THAT FOR PEOPLE ON THE LEARNER, THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN ANYTHING TOO POWERFUL FOR THEM, WHICH IS A GOOD POINT. IT'S A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND LEARNING TO DRIVE IN A LITTLE` LITTLE CARS, THAT DON'T QUITE HAVE THE HORSEPOWER. AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT LEARNING MANUAL, A LOT OF CARS AREN'T MANUAL. IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL AUTOMATIC. YOU GET A SENSE OF HOW TO LEARN THAT DRIVE THE CAR PROPERLY, WITH THE GEAR CHANGES, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF HAPPY PEOPLE THAT WILL GET AN AUTOMATIC UPGRADE FROM RESTRICTED TO FULL. WE STILL HAVE A MANUAL. IT'S GREAT FUN. ME U TONU MAI ` WE HEAD TO AUSTRALIA, WHERE MORE NEW ZEALANDERS THAN EVER ARE SET TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING FEDERAL ELECTION. WHAT ISSUES ARE LIKELY TO WIN THEIR VOTE? # SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING THAT I DON'T HAVE. # YOU'RE A FIREWORK. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` ROAD SAFETY ADVOCATES ARE RAISING SOME CONCERNS OVER THE 'WEAKENING OF THE DRIVER LICENCE PROGRAMME' AFTER THE GOVERNMENTS PROPOSED CHANGES TO TESTING. U.S. STOCK MARKETS HAVE RISEN ON OPENING, FOLLOWING THE NEWS SMARTPHONES AND COMPUTERS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM U.S. TARIFFS. AND THE TORCHES FOR THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS IN MILANO CORTINA HAVE BEEN REVEALED. IT LOOKS A BIT LIKE A VAPE. WITH JUST THREE WEEKS TO GO UNTIL AUSTRALIA'S FEDERAL ELECTION, THE LATEST POLLS SHOW ANTHONY ALBANESE'S LABOR HOLDING A NARROW LEAD OVER THE COALITION. OUR CORRESPONDENT AZIZ AL SA'AFIN JOINS US LIVE FROM SYDNEY WITH THE LATEST FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. MORENA, AZIZ. WHERE ARE THINGS SITTING RIGHT NOW IN THE POLLS? NARROW IS REALLY THE OPERATIVE WORD OF THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN AT THE MOMENT. IT IS BEING FOUGHT ON A KNIFE'S EDGE. LAST TIME, WE WERE SPEAKING, I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT IF IT ELECTION WAS GOING TO BE CALLED, ANTHONY WOULD LOSE. BUT TO RECENT POLLS SHOW HIM ON THE RISE, SEEMINGLY, HE IS MANAGING TO REALLY SOUND OUT THE VOTERS ALL AROUND AUSTRALIA. IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO WATCH THIS, HOWEVER I HAVE TO TELL YOU, NOTHING AMAZING OR OUTSTANDING HAS BEEN SAID BY EITHER PETER DUTTON OR ANTHONY ALBANESE. THE LATEST POLL HAS ON A TWO-PARTY PREFERRED BASIS, 52 PREFERRED LABOUR TO A 48 LIBERAL NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. I JUST LEAN A NEW POLL THAT SEEMS LIKE ANTHONY ALBANESE IS EDGING TOWARDS A MAJORITY, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING I THOUGHT I WOULD BE TELLING YOU A MONTH AGO. THE BIG PROMISES BEING MADE. AND HOW ARE THEY LANDING WITH VOTERS? AT THE MOMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE TO BE THE BATTLE OF THE BUILD. WE SAW TWO BIG HOUSING PROPOSALS. HIS ALSO PLEDGING AROUND $10 BILLION TO BUILD 100,000 NEW HOMES FOR NEW BUILDS FOR THE FIRST HOME BUYERS. DUTTON HAS MATCHED THAT AND SAID THAT THEY WILL GIVE TAX DEDUCTIBILITY ON MORTGAGE INTEREST REPAYMENTS FOR ALL FIRST-TIME BUYERS, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND UP TO $645,000. HOWEVER, THE ECONOMIST AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN PRETTY SCATHING. THIS MORNING THE REVIEW HAS COME OUT WITH A BIG REPORT ABOUT WHY THEY THINK THAT BOTH OF THESE POLICIES ARE REALLY GOING TO JUST DRAW A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY EVEN MORE AROUND THE COUNTRY. DESTROY* WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO HEAR THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. NEW ZEALANDERS IN AUSTRALIA ` WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS ELECTION? I THINK THERE IS A GROWING SENTIMENT, IT IS ON THE FENCE. IT IS SOMETHING WE HEARD LAST WEEK DURING THE DEBATE WITH 100 UNDECIDED VOTERS, EVEN THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHO THEY WANTED TO PICK. THEY BARELY PICKED ALBANESE, BUT WITH THE KIWI SITE BEEN SPEAKING TO, THEY ARE A BIT CONFUSED. THERE ARE ABOUT THREE WEEKS LEFT. HAVE YOU DECIDED WHO YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY VOTE FOR? ACTUALLY, NO. NO, WE HAVEN'T. WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED A THING. IT'S GONE UNDECIDED. I MEAN, I CAN FEEL THE, SORT OF, GENERAL FLOW IS GOING TO GO WITH A CHANGE GOVERNMENT. WHETHER I GET ON BOARD THAT OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW YET. THERE COULD BE SOME LITTLE POLICY THING THAT GOES, 'UH-UH, I DON'T THINK SO.' GET MORE CLEAR. THIS IS GENERALLY THE GROWING SENTIMENT AROUND AT THE MOMENT. IT IS THE REASON WHY A LOT OF PUNTERS ARE PICKING A HUNG PARLIAMENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING NEITHER DUTTON OR ALBANESE WANTS. I WASN'T GOING TO PLAY THIS FOR YOU, BUT I CAME ACROSS IT THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO THE STUDIO, AND I THOUGHT THERE IS NO WAY WE CANNOT LISTEN TO THE FIRST DISS TRACK. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT TO LISTEN TO. # BRING THE PRICES DOWN # THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BANGER, BUT THE POINT OF THIS, AND I PROMISE THERE IS A POINT, THE POINTERS IS THAT THESE LEADERS ARE NOW RARELY TARGETING THE YOUNG GENERATION. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS IS RANDOM LITTLE SONG AND THESE GUYS ARE GETTING WITH THE COOL KIDS. IS IT JUST ANTHONY ALBANESE IT HAS A NICKNAME ELBOW OR DOES PETER DUTTON HAVE ONE. DUZZA? WE CAN CALL HIM THAT. IT SOUNDS VERY AUSTRALIAN. IF YOU WERE WONDERING, WHAT ABOUT NEW ZEALANDERS LIVING ON AUSTRALIA, REMEMBER WHEN THE LAW CHANGED OVER THERE, IF A CHANGE OF CITIZENSHIP AND VOTE, SO THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NEW ZEALANDERS LIVING ON AUSTRALIA AS AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS. AN ALL-FEMALE CREW, INCLUDING AMERICAN POP STAR KATY PERRY, HAS RETURNED BACK TO EARTH AFTER AN 11 MINUTE FLIGHT. THE BLUE ORGIN ROCKET WHICH TOUCHED THE EDGE OF SPACE, IS OWNED BY AMAZON FOUNDER AND BILLIONARE JEFF BEZOS. THE BBC'S VICTORIA GILL WAS WATCHING. TWO... ONE... LIFT OFF. LIFT-OFF FOR THE FIRST ALL-FEMALE SPACEFLIGHT SINCE 1963. THE SIX-WOMAN CREW WERE PASSENGERS ON A BLUE ORIGIN ROCKET THAT'S DESIGNED TO FLY ITSELF. THEY TRAVELLED ABOUT 61 MILES UP, PASSING JUST BEYOND THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN EARTH AND OUTER SPACE. (PASSENGERS EXCLAIM) MICROPHONES CAPTURED THE EXCITEMENT ON BOARD. FOR JUST THREE MINUTES, THE CREW EXPERIENCED WEIGHTLESSNESS AND COULD LOOK OUT AT THE DARKNESS OF SPACE AND TAKE IN THE VIEW OF EARTH FROM ABOVE. COPY, ALL ASTRONAUTS IN SEATS. JUST OVER 10 MINUTES AFTER LAUNCH, THE CAPSULE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE TEXAS SUNSHINE, SLOWED BY THREE PARACHUTES FOR A SOFT LANDING. THERE IT IS. LAUREN SANCHEZ, THE FIANCEE OF JEFF BEZOS, WHO'S THE BILLIONAIRE FOUNDER OF BLUE ORIGIN, WAS THE FIRST TO EMERGE. AND THIS FLIGHT WAS MS SANCHEZ'S IDEA. SHE WAS ON BOARD WITH JOURNALIST GAYLE KING. TWO SCIENTISTS TURNED ACTIVISTS, AMANDA NGUYEN. AND AISHA BO AND THE FILM PRODUCER CARRIE ANN FLYNN. PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS CREW MEMBER, THOUGH, WAS SINGER, SONGWRITER AND TV STAR KATY PERRY, WHO SAID SHE SANG THE SONG 'WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD' WHILST IN SPACE. I'VE COVERED THAT SONG IN THE PAST. IT'S ABOUT MAKING SPACE FOR FUTURE WOMEN AND TAKING UP SPACE AND BELONGING. AND IT'S ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL WORLD THAT WE SEE RIGHT OUT THERE AND APPRECIATING IT. THIS IS ALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF EARTH. TRULY THE STUFF OF SCIENCE FICTION THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO WATCH. THIS WAS BLUE ORIGIN'S 11th CIVILIAN SPACEFLIGHT, AND IT WENT EXACTLY AS PLANNED, WITH THE ROCKET, ONCE IT SEPARATED FROM THE CREW CAPSULE, RETURNED TO EARTH AND LANDING ITSELF BACK IN TEXAS. BUT IS THIS SPACE EXPLORATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF EARTH OR EXTRAVAGANT TOURISM? THIS IS TURNING SPACE INTO A PLAYGROUND FOR THE BILLIONAIRES AND FOR SCIENTISTS LIKE ME. THAT'S WORRYING, BECAUSE SPACE SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE. YOU KNOW, SPACE IS A PLACE TO EXPLORE, TO BE INSPIRED BY, TO BE IN AWE OF. AND IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE THE RESERVE OF THE RICH. BLUE ORIGIN SAYS IT AIMS TO MAKE SPACE TRAVEL AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A FUTURE FLIGHT, THE COMPANY ASKS FOR A DEPOSIT OF MORE THAN �114,000. JUST 140 K. NO WORRIES (!) KATY PERRY WAS INSUFFERABLE. SINGING UP THERE. SHE WANTED TO MODEL COURAGE AND WORTHINESS. BECAUSE I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY! THEY HAVEN'T GONE OUT THERE TO SAVE THE PLANET, HAVE THEY? I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE INTERVIEWED THEM AFTERWARDS. I COULD DO ANYTHING. I BUNGEE JUMPED OFF TAUPO. WHERE YOU SINGING WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD WHEN YOU DID THE JUMP? E HAERE AKE NEI ` GET THE BOARD GAMES READY. WIND AND RAIN COULD BE ABOUT TO SPOIL YOUR SCHOOL HOLIDAY PLANS. WE'LL GET THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. # SO HIGH, VOICEOVER: We all know the rules. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) The pantry piece is just the piece you eat while you decide whether or not you're going to eat a piece. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) Hello Chocolate Lovers! KIA ORA. IT'S BEEN A LIVELY START TO THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WITH FREEZING CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND AND STORMY WEATHER ON THE WAY FOR EASTER. METSERVICE'S HEATHER KEATS IS HERE TO GIVE US THE DETAILS, AND IT'S A COLD DAY IN THE SOUTH, HEATHER? JUST A LITTLE NET P. DEFINITELY A WINTRY TASTE TO AUTUMN. DUNEDIN GOT DOWN TO -1 DEGREES AND INVERCARGILL GOT TO 0. THERE IS A SNOWFALL WARNING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. THERE IS A STORY FOR THE WEATHER THIS WEEK THAT STARTING WITH THE SOUTH, WE HAD THIS COLD, PUNCHY SOUTHERLY FOR LOW MOVING UP THE ISLAND. THE GOOD THING AS THE RAIN WILL SUBSIDE. APART FROM JUST A FEW SHOWERS, IT IS CLOUDY OUR EAST. IT IS ABOUT 10 DEGREES COLDER THAN YESTERDAY. QUITE THE CONTRAST TO THE NORTH ISLAND. WE HAD THIS WARM, HUMID AIR MASS COMING DOWN FROM THE TROPICS. IT WILL MAKE FOR SOME WARM, STICKY NIGHTS, BUT IT WON'T BE JUST THE HUMIDITY THAT IS THE PROBLEM. WHAT ELSE WILL COME WITH IT? WIND AND RAIN AS WELL. IT IS QUITE A LARGE SUBTROPICAL LOW OVER THE TASMAN SEA. IT WILL PUSH STORMY WEATHER OVER MOST OF US OVER THE WEEKEND. BUT THE WORST OF IT WILL HIT THE UPPER NORTH AND IT IS WHETHER WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THAT REGION FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THERE ARE QUITE STRONG WINDS AND RAIN, BUT AS IS COMING FROM THE NORTH-EAST DIRECTION. THE LAST TIME AUCKLAND AIRPORT HAD A WIND GUST GREATER THAN 80 KM/H FROM THE NORTH-EAST WAS MADE 2019. WOW. SO THAT IS LOOKING LIKE IT COULD HAPPEN WITH THIS SYSTEM THIS TIME AROUND. IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN THE LAND AROUND YOU HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO WIND COMING FROM THAT DIRECTION, IT CAN EXPOSE QUITE A LOT OF VULNERABILITIES COMING FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT. IT IS AUTUMN, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF LEAVES FALLING OFF THE TREES. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE WIND GUSTS, YOU HAVE TREES, POWER LINES, VERY STRONG DRIVING CONDITIONS. MAYBE THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE AS WELL. IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING CLOSELY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WARNINGS IN PLACE YET? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LINDA'S PASS EARLIER. THERE ARE WATCHES IN PLACE, BUT IT IS LIKELY THEY WILL BE UPGRADED TO WARNINGS AS THOSE SYSTEMS GET ADDED. WE HAVE AUCKLAND, NORTHLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND COROMANDEL. SEVERE WINDS ARRIVE JUST A LITTLE BIT AFTER THE WANE, RAIN BUT THOSE ONE HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF BEING UPGRADED TO A WARNING. IT IS QUITE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT, AND WE WILL BE WATCHING THOSE WARNINGS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. AS THEY GETS CLOSER, YOU WILL BE WANTING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE UPDATES. YOU CAN KEEP AN EYE ON METSERVICE, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE TRAVELLING. WITH EASTER ON THIS WEEKEND, TRAVELLING, SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. GOOD TIMING WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKING OUT OUR WEATHER LOOKING INTO THE WEEK. I THINK THE EASTER EGG HUNT MIGHT BE INSIDE THIS YEAR. THANKS, HEATHER. ON THE SHOW THIS HOUR ` WHY FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS ARE CALLING FOR A HALT TO A POLICE PULL BACK FROM MENTAL HEALTH CALL OUTS. ALSO AHEAD, LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS JOINS US. DOES HE BELIEVE THE DRIVER LICENCING SYSTEM NEEDS A SHAKE-UP? PLUS, CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW STADIUM IS TAKING SHAPE. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK INSIDE ` ONE YEAR OUT FROM COMPLETION. IT IS LOOKING GOOD, ISN'T IT? IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. FIRE CREWS HAVE WORKED OVERNIGHT TO EXTINGUISH A LARGE HOUSE FIRE IN AUCKLAND. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE LATE LAST NIGHT IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF MOUNT EDEN. FIVE CREWS FROM ACROSS THE CITY RESPONDING TO THE INCIDENT, WITH THE BLAZE FULLY EXTINGUISHED AT 3am. A SCENE GUARD HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE CONCERNS PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DRIVER LICENSE PROGRAMME ARE TOO TOUGH AND LACK SUPPORT FOR LEARNERS. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT WANTS ONLY ONE PRACTICAL TEST INSTEAD OF TWO, ALONG WITH NEW SAFETY MEASURES INCLUDING A NEW 'HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST' AND A REQUIREMENT TO KEEP A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. ONE ADVOCATE FOR DRIVER EDUCATION SAYS SHE WELCOMES HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL NOW MOVE ONTO A FULL LICENCE, BUT THE DEMERIT SYSTEM COULD BE TOO PUNITIVE FOR LITTLE MISTAKES. FOR A GOOD, SAFE SYSTEM, IT NEEDS TO HAVE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT, INSTEAD OF A THREAT OF A GOOD BEHAVIOUR PERIOD. SHE ALSO SAYS WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO BECOME SKILFUL DRIVERS. A U.S. POLITICIAN WHOSE HOME WAS TARGETED IN AN ALLEGED ARSON ATTACK HAS RETURNED TO THE SCENE TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE. A MAN (39) IS BEING HELD ON CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED MURDER AND TERRORISM AFTER ALLEGEDLY BREAKING INTO PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO'S HOME AND SETTING IT ALIGHT ON SUNDAY. THE SUSPECT SAYS HE WOULD HAVE ATTACKED SHAPIRO WITH A HAMMER IF HE HAD ENCOUNTERED HIM IN THE HOUSE. IT'S BELIEVED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WERE A FACTOR. THE CRISIS AT RED BULL IS DEEPENING WITH DRIVER MAX VERSTAPPEN REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY WITH THE TEAM AFTER A LACKLUSTRE SHOWING AT THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX. TEAM ADVISER HELMUT MARKO TOLD GERMAN MEDIA THERE IS GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE DUTCHMAN'S FUTURE WITH RED BULL AFTER HE EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION WITH THE RB21 CAR. VERSTAPPEN'S CONTRACT RUNS UNTIL 2028, BUT IT CONTAINS A CLAUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO LEAVE IF THE CAR'S PACE DOES NOT IMPROVE. HE'S CURRENTLY THIRD ON THE DRIVER STANDINGS BEHIND THE MCLAREN DUO OF LANDO NORRIS AND OSCAR PIASTRI. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (UPBEAT MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU WITH SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE LOWER EAST COAST. HOWEVER IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR AUCKLAND, HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FOG TO START YOUR DAY. 23 THE HIGH IN COROMANDEL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SIMILAR STORY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND ` PACK YOUR BROLLY, THOUGH ` RAINY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE BEFORE EASING FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON. CANTERBURY RAIN WILL EASE TO ISOLATED SHOWERS BY MIDDAY. 18 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 13 IN DUNEDIN. FOR THOSE TRAVELLING THROUGH LINDIS PASS, AN ORANGE RD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am TILL 8am THIS MORNING. SO IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD, TAKE CARE. FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS ARE URGING POLICE TO HALT PLANS TO PULL AWAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH CALLOUTS. PHASE TWO OF THE PULL-BACK LAUNCHED THIS WEEK, MEANING OFFICERS WILL STAY NO LONGER THAN AN HOUR WITH HOSPITALISED MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS UNLESS THEY POSE SERIOUS RISK. AND IF SOMEONE IS PLACED UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT WHILE IN CUSTODY, POLICE WILL TAKE THEM TO A HEALTH FACILITY WITHIN 30 MINUTES. IT'S A STAGED ROLLOUT; THE CHANGES HAVE ONLY KICKED IN AMONG THOSE AREAS DEEMED 'READY' BY POLICE, HEALTH NEW ZEALAND, AND AMBULANCE SERVICES. IN A MOMENT WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION'S SHAUN ROBINSON HERE IN STUDIO, BUT FIRST, JOINING US NOW IS HELEN GARRICK FROM THE NURSES' ORGANISATION. WHAT ARE NURSES SEEING ON THE GROUND AT THE MOMENT, HELEN? NURSES ARE SEEING SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE PHASED WITHDRAWAL. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE PHASED WITHDRAWAL FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THESE STAGES WERE SUPPOSEDLY THAT THE PHASES KICKED IN ARE BASICALLY MEANINGLESS TO US. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT HAS NOT BEEN A DELAY OR A HALT TO THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE NOT SET UP FOR THESE CHANGES. DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE BEEN MANAGING TO PULL BACK EFFECTIVELY? NO, OUR EXPERIENCE AS WE HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS AS THEY HAVE BEEN PULLED BACK IN A WAY THAT BEST SUITS THE POLICE, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL FOR OUR MEMBERS, SOME OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LEFT IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, AND THEY REPORT THAT EMILY'S AND PEOPLE IN DISTRESS CAN I GET HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT. FAMILIES* HOW DO WE STRIKE THAT BALANCE BETWEEN NEEDING TO DO THIS AND DEALING WITH OTHER POLICE WORK? FIRSTLY, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS PART OF POLICE WORK. IT IS PART OF KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAY. AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISTRESS ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE NEED TO KEEP THEM SAFE. BUT PART OF THE REASON THIS IS NOT WORKING WELL FOR US IS THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY UNDER RESOURCED IN MENTAL HEALTH, AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE THE SERVICES OR THE TEAMS OR THE FACILITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS DISTRESS, AND THIS IS FALLING UPON THEORY UNDER RESOURCED SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING TASKS WITH HOLDING PEOPLE BASICALLY WHEN THAT IS NOT THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION. AND WE KNOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY THEY ARE UNDER RESOURCED. WE EXPECT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TEAMS TO QUICKLY ARRIVE WHEN WE ASKED WROUGHT STAFF THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. YOU SAY YOU WANT TO SEE MORE STUFFED CRISIS HUBS, SAFE SPACES AND HOSPITALS. HEALTH FAR AWAY ARE YOU FROM HAVING THEM? A LONG WAY. WE DON'T SEE MUCH CHANGE. WE HAVE SEEN MINOR INITIATIVES. MOST OF THE INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN FOCUSED AT THE PRIMARY MENTAL HEALTH END, NOT AT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF POLICE INVOLVEMENT WHICH IS PEOPLE IN ACUTE DISTRESS. I JUST WANT TO PICK ON SOMETHING YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT THIS BEING PART OF POLICE WORK IN TERMS OF KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE. WOULD YOU ACCEPT THERE WOULD MAYBE BNI GIVEN THAT POLICE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR TRAINING TO DEAL WITH THIS SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM? WE AS MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS ARE NOT ASKING THEM TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AT ALL. WE ARE HELPING THEM TO ASSIST US TO CARRY OUT OUR JOBS, WHICH IS THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE. WE UNDERSTAND POLICE ARE NOT TRAINED AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING MENTAL HEALTH WORK, BUT WE NEED THAT ASSISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY TRANSFER PEOPLE IN TWO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. LET'S BRING IN SHAUN ROBINSON FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION. GOOD MORNING, SHAUN. YOU HEARD WHAT HELEN WAS SAYING. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION? I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THEY JUST SAID. THE PULLOUT OF POLICE FROM MENTAL HEALTH CALLOUT IS WAY TOO HASTY, AND THERE IS NOTHING TO REPLACE IT AT THE MOMENT. SO WE ARE CALLING FOR A HALT UNTIL THE ALTERNATIVE SERVICES ARE PUT IN PLACE. THE NOTION THAT REALLY HARD PRESSED EDs, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HEALTH SYSTEM AS A WHOLE CAN SOMEHOW FILL THIS GAP WHICH, AT ITS BIGGEST, IS 70,000 CALLOUTS PER YEAR, WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS MASSIVELY UNDER THE PUMP, MASSIVELY SHORTSTAFFED, IT IS LUDICROUS. SO WE NEED TO SAY STOP, IN THE CONFUSION, SO THAT POLICE ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE NURSES ASSOCIATION WAS SAYING AND ACTUALLY PULLING OUT EVEN AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THEN PUT THE ALTERNATIVE SERVICES IN PLACE AND THEN, YES, THE POLICE CAN STEP BACK IN. POLICE WOULD SAY THEY ARE MASSIVELY UNDER THE PUMP, THEY ARE MASSIVELY SHORTSTAFFED AS WELL. WELL, YOU DON'T SOLVE ONE PROBLEM BY TRYING TO SHOVE IT ONTO ANOTHER PROBLEM. WE HAVE TWO ESSENTIAL SERVICES HERE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE STRUGGLING AND A LACK OF RESOURCES, LACK OF STAFFING. YOU JUST DON'T SOLVE THAT BY ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL. THE MENTAL HEALTH MINISTER SET A CLEAR EXPECTATION THAT IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN AND IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT? I KNOW THAT IS WHAT THE MINISTER INTENDS, AND I BELIEVE HIM, HOWEVER, THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE POLICE ACTUALLY GETTING AHEAD OF THIS TIMETABLE, OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CALLING THE POLICE, BEING TOLD TO CALL A CRISIS TEAM, CRISIS TEAM SAYS CALL THE POLICE, AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE PERSON IN DISTRESS, THEIR WHANAU, THE SERVICE IS LEFT WITH NO SUPPORT. SO THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT INTENTION IS ACTUALLY LEADING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. I THINK TE WHATU ORA HAS SAID THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE RECEIVING THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND PEOPLE RECEIVING THE RIGHT CARE. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER? IT IS YEARS AWAY. THE WHOLE OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS UNDERSTAFFED. THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES HAS BEEN RISING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, WHICH I GOING TO BE THE FRONT LINE THIS MONTH, THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED. SO PUTTING THESE NEW SERVICES IN PLACE ` WHICH WE THINK IS A GOOD IDEA ` THAT IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS. SO WE'RE JUST GETTING WHERE HEAD OF OURSELVES ANNOUNCING THIS WITHDRAWAL AND ENCOURAGING THE POLICE TO THINK THAT THEY CAN START TO WITHDRAW NOW. IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO WITHDRAW NOW, DOES THIS NEED TO BE A MORE SLOWLY STAGED APPROACH. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WE DEFTLY WANT TO SEE SOME MONEY ON THE TABLE, AND INGRAM WHEN THEY DID THIS PUT $1 BILLION ` �1 BILLION ` INTO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. WE HAVE SEEN NO BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ALL. WE WANT TO SEE SOME MONEY, WE WANT TO SEE A PLAN FOR GETTING THESE NEW SERVICES UP AND RUNNING. AND THEN, AT EACH STAGE WHEN THE SERVICE IS ACTUALLY OPERATING, THEN YOU CAN SUCH A PULLBACK. WILL IT TAKE �1 BILLION? I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO TAKE A BIG NUMBER, BECAUSE THE POLICE RESPOND TO 70,000 CALLOUTS PER YEAR. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, JENNY MAY? BEFORE YOU GO, SHAUN, THIS PHASED PLAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 2025, SO IT IF THIS IS THE CASE AND POLICE DO WITHDRAW, WHAT YOU SEE AS THE OUTCOME? COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING DISASTERS COMING DOWN THE ROAD TOWARDS US. I DON'T WANT TO BE A SORT OF SCAREMONGER, BUT THIS COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING FOR PEOPLE. CERTAINLY THERE ARE TRAGEDIES SITTING IN THE WINGS WAITING TO HAPPEN. IS THAT SUPPORT IS NOT THERE FOR PEOPLE OR FOR WHANAU WHEN A SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS OCCURRING IN THAT MOMENT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. A POSTSCRIPT TO OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY. I SPOKE TO CHRISTOPHER LUXON ABOUT THE HMNZS MANAWANUI BEING '20 STAFF SHORT' ON A 45-PERSON CREW. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. HMNZS MANAWANUI SAILED WITH A FULL CREW COMPLEMENT OF 45. THE COURT OF INQUIRY REFERENCED '20 PERSONNEL DEFICIENCIES' RELATING TO THE CREW, WHICH REFERENCED TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.WELL REFERENCED E HAERE AKE NEI ` CHRIS HIPKINS JOINS US NEXT. YES, COMING UP. SIMPLIFYING THE SYSTEM OR COMPROMISING SAFETY? WHAT DOES HE MAKE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED CHANGES TO HOW DRIVERS ARE LICENCED? HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. RUSSIA HAS CLAIMED A DEADLY STRIKE ON A CITY IN UKRAINE KILLING 35 PEOPLE WAS TARGETING MILITARY FORCES. A U.S. POLITICIAN WHOSE HOME WAS TARGETED IN AN ALLEGED ARSON ATTACK SAYS THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IS, QUOTE, 'NOT OK.' AND POP STAR KATY PERRY AND FIVE OTHER WOMEN HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRAVELLED TO THE EDGE OF SPACE IN THE FIRST ALL-FEMALE SPACE FLIGHT IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS. YOUNG DRIVERS WHO WILL AVOID A SECOND PRACTICAL TEST FOR THEIR FULL LICENCE MAY BE REJOICING OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED PLANS, BUT SOME CRITICS AREN'T 100% HAPPY. EARLIER ON THE SHOW, WE HEARD FROM THE DRIVING CHANGE NETWORK WHO SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FACTOR IN DRIVER TRAINING OR EDUCATION AS HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES INCLUDING AUSTRALIA. THE AA ALSO WANTS A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR PRACTICE HOURS. LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. IT'S THE FIRST TIME MAJOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE DRIVER LICENCE SYSTEM IN 14 YEARS. HAS THE GOVT GOT THE CHANGES RIGHT, AND WHAT WOULD LABOUR CHANGE? I THINK THERE'S SOME SENSIBLE STUFF IN HERE. SOME OF THE CHANGES AROUND TESTS, REDUCING THE TOLERANCE LEVELS AROUND ALCOHOL FOR NEW DRIVERS, I THINK THOSE ARE SENSIBLE THINGS, I THINK EVERYONE WILL BE FOCUSING ON WHETHER WE NEED TO PRACTICAL TESTS. WE ARE A BIT UNUSUAL TO REQUIRE TWO PRACTICAL TESTS. THE AA HAVE COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE, THE GOVERNMENT HAVE PROPOSED REMOVING THE SECOND TEST. THERE IS A CONSULTATION PROCESS UNDERWAY WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING, SO I AM COURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A STRONG VIEW ON THAT AND WHO HAVE EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE MAKING SUBMISSIONS TO THAT CONSULTATION PROCESS. REMOVING THAT FINAL TEST TO GET YOUR FULL LICENCE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT LABOUR AGREES WITH? I THINK THERE ARE SOME FISHHOOKS IN THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU GET YOUR RESTRICTIVE LICENSE AND NEVER DRIVE A CAR AGAIN, YOU CAN AUTOMATICALLY APPLY TO HAVE YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE POSTED TO YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD MODEL. I THINK WE HAVE TO GET THE MODEL RIGHT. MAYBE YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE RECORD OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS HAVE DRIVEN WHILE YOU'RE ON A RESTRICTED LICENSE, OTHER COUNTRIES DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY. I THINK THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SURFACE ALL THOSE ISSUES AND WORK THROUGH THEM. I THINK IT IS A TIME FOR A REFRESH OF OUR REGIME, AND I WANT TO SEE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING THEIR LICENSES, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN ENABLER FOR SO MANY OTHER THINGS. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, GETTING JOBS, WE KNOW THAT CHIVE IS LICENSING MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO MANY OTHER FACTORS, MORE PEOPLE GETTING THEM WOULD BE A GOOD THING. MANY VIEWERS ARE WRITING AND SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MAKING CHANGES ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME DRIVER EDUCATION SOMEWHERE BEING ADDED AND AS A COMPONENT. DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD BE A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT? YOU DO YOUR THEORY TEST AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THE DETAIL, BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEY WILL BE PROPOSING AS PART OF GAINING A RESTRICTED LICENSE YOU WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU CAN ASSESS THE RISKS THAT YOU FACE AS A DRIVER. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD TEST. WHERE YOU'RE STRENGTHENING THE TEST THAT YOU DO, THAT IT HAS MERIT. I THINK IT IS A GOOD TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND I AM PRETTY SUPPORTIVE. IT IS UP FOR CONSULTATION. I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE TOURISM ANNOUNCEMENT, INVESTING 13 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS INTO TOURISM NEW ZEALAND. IT SHOWS FOR THE YEAR TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 240,000 VISITORS. IS THIS A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY? I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROMOTING THE TOURISM SECTOR. THIS IS BUSINESS AS USUAL BEING DRESSED UP AS A MAJOR GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT. GIVEN HOW MUCH WE'VE SPENT WHATEVER TIES IN MARKETING ON TOURISM, THIS IS HARDLY ONE OF THE BIGGER ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT'S EVER BEEN MADE. THESE THINGS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IT'S A GOOD TO PROMOTE NEW ZEALAND FOR TOURISM, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE TO DELIVER A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS. WHAT I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN NEW ZEALAND WANTS TO SEE IS THAT WE OVERDO IT, AND THAT EVERYTHING GETS CROWDED AND RUNDOWN, AND WE SEE PROBLEMS OF CONGESTION. I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE. IN THE NUMBERS THERE ARE A RECORD NUMBER OF AMERICAN TOURISTS THEY CAME TO THE COUNTRY IN FEBRUARY. THIS IS A TARGETED COUNTRY. THE US ALONG WITH US. IF AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE ALREADY COMING, DO WE NEED TO TARGET THEM? I THINK NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BE PROMOTING NEW ZEALAND AS A HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN THE US. I'VE MET THE US TOURISTS HOLIDAYING HERE LATELY, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GO HOME AGAIN. I THINK IT'S GREAT THEY ARE COMING TO NEW ZEALAND IN GREATER NUMBERS AND IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE PROMOTING NEW ZEALAND. AND WANT TO CHANGE THE TONE A LITTLE BIT. PAULA BENNETT DESCRIBED PARLIAMENT AS A CESSPIT OF BULLYING AND NASTINESS. AND SHE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HOW MPS WOULD INTERACT WITH OTHERS IN THE HOUSE. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT? I THINK PARLIAMENT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS DURING THE TIME OF BEEN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. I'M NOT SURE IT'S ALL THERE. I THINK IF PAULA BENNETT REFLECTED ON SOME OF HER OWN BEHAVIOURS, SHE COULD BE ACCUSED OF BULLYING. AND I THINK SHE ADMITTED THAT. I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO REFLECT ON OUR OWN BEHAVIOUR. I THINK I'M PROBABLY A BETTER POLITICIAN NOW THAN WHEN I STARTED. BUT I AM NOT PERFECT. ALL OF US NEED TO REFLECT ON THAT. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STRIVING TO DO BETTER. IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE SHE WAS IN PARLIAMENT, SO DO YOU THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND THAT FIVE YEARS? I THINK THEY ARE ALWAYS CHANGING. I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS MORE PYLON FROM OUTSIDE POLITICS WHICH I THINK IS REALLY ADDING TO THE LEVEL OF YUCKINESS AROUND POLITICS. MORE MPS ARE FACING SECURITY RISKS DUE TO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I THINK SOME OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT. THERE ARE NASTY CONSEQUENCES, PARTICULARLY FOR PUBLIC FIGURES. PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEMSELVES TARGETED BY MORE OF THIS NASTINESS, AND WE HAVE TO BE EYES WIDE OPEN TO THAT. CHRIS HIPKINS, LEADER OF THE LABOR PARTY JOINING US THIS MORNING. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. FRONT LINE NURSES ARE CALLING FOR THE POLICE TO STOP PLANS TO PULL AWAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH CALLOUTS. PHASE TWO OF THE PULL-BACK LAUNCHED THIS WEEK, WITH CHANGES ONLY KICKING IN AMONG AREAS DEEMED 'READY' BY POLICE AND HEALTH NEW ZEALAND. UNDER THE NEW RULES, OFFICERS WILL STAY NO LONGER THAN AN HOUR AT A HOSPITAL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT UNLESS THEY POSE SERIOUS RISK. HELEN GARRICK FROM THE NURSES ORGANISATION SAYS CRITICAL RESOURCES NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FIRST. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING TASKED WITH HOLDING PEOPLE, BASICALLY, WHEN THAT IS NOT THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION. AS WE KNOW AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY ARE UNDER-RESOURCED AND WE ARE EXPECTING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TEAMS TO QUICKLY ARRIVE WHEN WE ARE SHORT. MEANWHILE, THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION SAYS THE HEALTH SECTOR WOULD BE BETTER PLACED FOR THIS TO WORK IF THEY HAD ENOUGH STAFF. POP STAR KATY PERRY AND FIVE OTHER WOMEN HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRAVELLED TO THE EDGE OF SPACE IN THE FIRST ALL-FEMALE SPACE FLIGHT IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS. THE BLUE ORIGIN ROCKET TRIP LASTED AROUND 11 MINUTES, WHERE THE CREW EXPERIENCED A BRIEF PERIOD OF WEIGHTLESSNESS. PERRY SAID SHE HADN'T PLANNED ON IT BUT ULTIMATELY DID SING WHILE IN SPACE. SHE CHOSE THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG SONG 'WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD'. I DID COME AROUND TO JUST SINGING A LITTLE BIT OF 'WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD', AND I DIDN'T PICK ONE OF MY SONGS BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME; IT'S ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE, AND IT'S ABOUT THE VIEW THAT WE GET TO SEE THAT WE'RE HUMBLED BY. STOP IT, CHRIS CHANG. ALSO ONBOARD THE FLIGHT ` BROADCASTER GAYLE KING, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AMANDA NGUYEN AND LAUREN SANCHEZ, THE FIANCEE OF BLUE ORIGIN OWNER JEFF BEZOS. NEW ZEALANDERS ARE INCREASINGLY LOOKING FOR NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES, DESPITE LISTINGS BEING DOWN FROM LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT. TRADE ME SAYS THE NUMBER OF KIWIS OPEN TO NEW WORK HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED, NOW SITTING AT 84%. IT COMES AS JOB LISTINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DOWN MORE THAN 30% FROM THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. MEANWHILE, WELLINGTON HAS RECLAIMED TOP SPOT AS THE HIGHEST PAYING REGION, OVERTAKING AUCKLAND IN 2024. TO SPORT, AND WARRIORS CENTRE ROCCO BERRY WILL FRONT THE NRL JUDICIARY TONIGHT AFTER BEING CHARGED FOR A HIGH TACKLE IN HIS SIDE'S LOSS TO THE STORM. BERRY FACES AT LEAST A ONE-MATCH SUSPENSION, TWO IF HE FIGHTS THE CHARGE AND IS FOUND GUILTY BY THE JUDICIARY. IT'S ANOTHER BLOW FOR THE WARRIORS OFF THE BACK OF THEIR BRUISING DEFEAT, WITH CO-CAPTAIN JAMES FISHER HARRIS POTENTIALLY OUT WITH A PECTORAL INJURY AND CHARNZE NICOLL KLOKSTAD SUFFERING A HEAD KNOCK. SUCH A GOOD GAME, TOO. 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. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU WITH SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE LOWER EAST COAST. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR AUCKLAND, HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FOG TO START YOUR DAY. 23 THE HIGH IN COROMANDEL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SIMILAR STORY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. PACK YOUR BROLLY, THOUGH. RAINY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE BEFORE EASING FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON. CANTERBURY, RAIN WILL EASE TO ISOLATED SHOWERS BY MIDDAY. 18 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 13 IN DUNEDIN. AND AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am UNTIL 8pm THIS MORNING IN LINDIS PASS. TAKE CARE. LEGENDARY BRITISH ICE SKATING DUO TORVILL AND DEAN ARE TAKING TO THE ICE ONE LAST TIME FOR A FAREWELL TOUR. THE PAIR DOMINATED THE EARLY '80s, CULMINATING IN A GOLD MEDAL-WINNING PERFORMANCE AT THE 1984 WINTER OLYMPICS BEFORE TURNING PRO. DO YOU REMEMBER? JUST CHECKING. YES. SUCH WAS THEIR GLOBAL POPULARITY THEY EVEN PERFORMED IN NEW ZEALAND. THEIR FINAL TOUR WON'T MAKE IT THIS FAR BEFORE THEY HANG UP THE SKATES FOR GOOD. THE BBC'S CHARLOTTE GALLAGHER HAS MORE. 41 YEARS AGO, OLYMPIC HISTORY WAS MADE. JANE AND CHRISTOPHER TOOK HOME THE GOLD MEDAL WITH THEIR FLAWLESS BOLERO ROUTINE. THEY WERE THE FIRST NON-RUSSIAN COUPLE TO WIN THE OLYMPIC ICE STANCE COMPETITION. AND WATCHING THEM SKATE NOW, THAT DOES NOT SEEM THAT FOR DECADES HAVE PASSED. BUT AFTER A PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP A LASTING 50 YEARS, THE SKATING SUPERSTARS HAVE DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM THE RINK AFTER ONE FINAL TWO ARE. WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER, BUT WE STILL FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE PASSION FOR PERFORMING AND YOU WANT TO DO IT FOR WE STILL CAN AND ARE HAPPY WITH OUR PERFORMANCES. ONE LAST TIME. WE KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME. OVER A YEAR AGO, WE BOTH SAID IT IS TIME, LET'S TRY AND DO ONE LAST TOUR. WE ARE JUST ENJOYING. WE WANTED TO BE A CELEBRATION. DID THE COUPLE HAVE ANY IDEA THAT THERE OLYMPIC ROUTINES ARE BOLERO WOULD HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT? WE WERE JUST SO HAPPY THAT WE HAD WON THE GOLD, BUT WE HAD NOT SOUGHT ANYTHING BEYOND THAT. WE DID NOT EVEN THINK WHAT WAS HAPPENING THE NEXT DAY. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT MOMENT FOR US, BUT AS WE SAID, BY WINNING THAT, AT OPEN DOORS LATER ON AS PROFESSIONALS FOR US. THEY WILL TRAVEL THE UK BEFORE HEADING TO THEIR HOME CITY OF NOTTINGHAM. IT IS AN EMOTIONAL GOODBYE TO SOME OF THEIR FANS. YOU CONSTANTLY HEAR ABOUT THEM, THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO FIGURE SKATING AND SKATING IN GENERAL. ALL OF THE ICE SKATER HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THEM. BUT STILL CONJURES UP ALL THE IMAGES OF MEMORIES FROM THE OLYMPICS. THE SHOW WAS AMAZING, IT REALLY IS. AFTER 50 YEARS TOGETHER, WHAT DO THE COUPLE THEMSELVES PUT THEIR LONGEVITY AND SUCCESS DOWN SO? THAT IS WHAT SHE ALWAYS SAYS. PEOPLE ASK HOW IT SUSTAINS FOR SO LONG, AND SHE SAYS, WE DID NOT GET MARRIED. 66 AND 67 THEY ARE. I THINK THAT IS REMARKABLE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GO ON A WORLDWIDE TOUR. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH SKATING THEY GOING TO DO, BUT WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING, I THINK THAT IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. A FEW YEARS PAST, BUT THEY LOOK THE SAME. GOOD ON THEM. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'RE TALKING SPORT. AFTER THE BREAK., # DON'T STOP MOVING. # CAN YOU FEEL THE MUSIC? # WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD. IDEAL SONG TO SING IF YOU ARE GOING INTO SPACE. A POP STAR SINGING THAT. INDEED. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. FRONT LINE NURSES ARE CALLING FOR POLICE TO STOP THEIR PLANS TO PULL OUT OF ATTENDING MENTAL HEALTH CALLS. THIS COMES AS A PART OF PHASE TWO OF THE PULL-BACK CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED THIS WEEK. DRIVER EDUCATION ADVOCATES SAY THEY WELCOME CHANGES TO THE LICENSING PROGRAMME, BUT ARE CONCERNED THE NEW SYSTEM MAY BE TOO PUNITIVE FOR LEARNERS AND IS LACKING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. AND WARRIORS CENTRE ROCCO BERRY WILL FRONT THE NRL JUDICIARY TONIGHT AFTER BEING CHARGED FOR A HIGH TACKLE IN HIS SIDE'S LOSS TO THE STORM. HE WAS FALLING, HE WAS GOING DOWN. TIME TO TALK SOME SPORT NOW AND BACK AGAIN THIS TUESDAY MORNING IS LUKE ROBINSON OUT OF THE CAPITAL. MORENA, LUKE. ANOTHER ADVENTURE RACE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND SOME FAMILIAR FACES RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT? YES, THAT IS RIGHT. THE RACE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THREE-HOUR, SIX-HOUR, 12 HOUR, OR MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE, 48-HOUR ADDITION. BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS AS THE ATHLETES OR PARTICIPANTS I TOLD THE EXACT START AND FINISH POINT JUST BEFORE THE RACE, AND THEY NEED TO BIKE OR RAFT OR HIKE, BASICALLY NAVIGATE OR ORIENT STEERED AWAY FROM START TO FINISH AND THE RUGGED TERRAIN THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. THOSE NORMALLY FACES THAT YOU MENTIONED A PART OF GEMS ` RICHIE MCCAW AND HIS WIFE. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE EVENTS ` THERE'S ALWAYS THOSE CHALLENGING MOMENTS IN A MIXED RACE, AND A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING UP AND THINK YOU'RE GONNA GO, YOUR FEET ARE SORE AND YOU'RE SLIDING AROUND THE SIDE OF THE HILL, YOU WONDER WHEN IT'S GOING TO END, BUT WHEN YOU GET THERE, IT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT. AND THAT WAS YOUR FIRST RACE. YEAH, FIRST RACE, SO A WEE BIT LONGER THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE. IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING GETTING USED TO SLEEP DEPRIVATION. NO, IT WAS GOOD, AND EVERYONE HELPED ME OUT QUITE A LOT WITH IT. SO, I'M PRETTY STOKED TO FINISH IT OFF. ONE THING THAT YOU CAN GUARANTEE A NEW ZEALAND VISIT IF THERE IS A MULTI-DAY ADVENTURE RACE, THE MACAWS, IF THEY ARE NOT PARTICIPATING, WOULD DEFINITELY BE SUPPORTING A BETTER EVENT. HE DOES NOT STOP, DOES HE? AND TO RUGBY, AND SCOTLAND HEAD COACH GREGOR TOWNSEND IS IN NEW ZEALAND. WHAT'S HE DOING HERE? BASICALLY, HE AND HIS TEAM ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD FOR THE JULY INTERNATIONAL'S. THEY PLAY SAMOA AT EDEN PARK. HE WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME IN NEW ZEALAND TO SEE THE RUGBY CULTURE THAT WE PORTRAY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. THEY HAVE A FIXTURE WITH THE MAORI ALL BLACKS. THEY WILL HAVE ANOTHER GAME IN THEIR LEG DOWN UNDER. IT IS THE FIRST TIME APART FROM THE RUGBY WORLD CUP THAT SCOTLAND WOULD HAVE PLAYED IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS. HERE IS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE SPECTACLE TO COME DOWN UNDER TO PLAY. WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE PLAYING AGAINST FIJI AND SAMOA IN THE JULY TEST, SO WE WANTED TO SPEND MORE TIME HERE. IT IS BEEN A WHILE AS WE CAME AS A TEAM TO NEW ZEALAND. THIS IS A RUGBY COUNTRY WITH A TRUE CULTURE WITH SOME QUALITY PLAYERS, AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE SUPPORTERS, VERY PASSIONATE SUPPORTERS. WE CANNOT WAIT TO BE OUT HERE AND ALSO BRING A FEW SCOTS ALONG. WE HOPE THEY COME UP FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND, COME FROM THE NORTH ISLAND, TO BACK US WHEN WE PLAY SAMOA. WHILE THERE WILL NOT BE ANY ALL BLACKS RUGBY AT EDEN PARK IN JULY, YOU CAN GET YOUR INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FIX WITH SCOTLAND IN JULY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LUKE. THINK OF EASTER SHOWS, AND THESE DAYS RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS MIGHT BE THE FIRST THINGS THAT COME TO MIND. BUT THE ORIGINS OF SYDNEY'S ROYAL EASTER, MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO, WAS SHOWCASING THE BEST IN LIVESTOCK. AND THEY'RE STILL GETTING THEIR MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT. 9 NEWS' MIKE DALTON WENT ALONG. IT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR THE VERY FIRST EASTER SHOW IN 1823 ` TO FOSTER THE BEST FROM PLOUGH AND STOCK TO GIVE THE BEST FROM THE LAND. STARTS AT THE LOCAL SHOWS. THERE'S 198 OF THEM IN NEW SOUTH WALES. AND THE EASTER SHOW IS A GIANT ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. AND ON THE CATTLE LAWN, YOUNG JUDGES ARE TRAINING TO BE BEEF JUDGES. TODAY, THEY HAD THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF CATTLE TO JUDGE. THEY GET MARKS BASED ON HOW THEY ALIGN WITH MY MARKS. AS OUR FARMERS ARE GETTING OLDER, WE NEED TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION, AND THAT IS WHAT THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO. SECONDARY SCHOOLS COMPETED RAISING THE BEST STOCK. COLUMBUS FROM SPRINGWOOD WOULD CARE FOR TEENY, TINY AND TANK. THIS IS THEIR LAST APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW, AND FIX THEIR LAST APPEARANCE. THE BEST IN THE SHOW WAS ANNOUNCED FOR THE TROPHY ` THE SUPREME BEAST, THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF BEEF CATTLE IN THE COUNTRY WOULD BE ELITE UPROAR. YOU COME TO THE SHOWS TO SHOWCASE YOUR CATTLE, ADVERTISE THEM AND WALKWAY WITH THE BEST ONE, WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. I STILL CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF THE PIGS AND SEEK COMFORT. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT. I DO LIKE BACON, THOUGH. DALTON, NAUGHTY MAN! I GUARANTEE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD A FEW COMPLAINTS. NO DOUBT. EASTER COMING UP. I'M TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SHORT WEEK AND GETTING MAXIMUM VALUE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THIS WEEK OFF AS WELL. THAT ONLY TO TAKE SEVEN DAYS OF ANNUAL LEAVE. THAT IS THE WAY TO DO IT. I WAS A WEEK BEHIND, I THOUGHT I HAD THIS WEEK TO ORGANISE MYSELF SO IT MEANS TAGTEAM. IT IS TOUGH OUT THERE, ISN'T IT? IF YOU HAVE GOOD IDEAS. SPECIFICALLY THE NINE-YEAR-OLD BOYS THAT DO NOT LIKE BOARDGAMES. THEY NEED TO GET OUTSIDE. TRY TO FIND SOMETHING. MAYBE SOME ARTWORK. DRAWING, TO THE LIKE TO DRAW? I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE ` USE YOUR WORK PRINTER AND PRINT OUT PICTURES USING THEIR WORK PRINTER. I DON'T USE THE COLOUR PRINTER BECAUSE I'M NOT AN ANIMAL. I WILL NOT TAKE A FINE EDGE OF THE COMPANY LIKE THAT. I DON'T NOT THAT EFFORT WILL BE WORTH IT IN MY HOUSE. WHAT ARE ALL THESE PICTURES HE IS PRINTING OUT? WEIRD. SOME OF THEM IN COLOUR AS WELL. E WHAI AKE NEI ` CHRISTCHURCH'S LONG-AWAITED NEW STADIUM IS NEARING ITS FINAL STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION. WE GO INSIDE TO SEE HOW IT'S PROGRESSING. # APT, APT, APT. MORENA. WELCOME BACK INTO BREAKFAST. AUCKLAND ` PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH THE ODD SHOWER NORTH OF WHANGAPARAOA. CLOUD INCREASING IN THE EVENING. SOUTHEASTERLIES PICKING UP THIS AFTERNOON. HEADING TOWARDS A HIGH OF 24 DEGREES. CHRISTCHURCH. SHOWERS CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON BUT REMAINING CLOUDY. SOUTHWESTERLIES EASING IN THE MORNING. IT IS CONSIDERABLY COLDER THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN. IT IS 12 DEGREES TODAY. DUNEDIN ` LOOK AT THAT. BEAUTIFUL. HEADING FOR A HIGH OF 13. FINE, BUT CLOUD DEVELOPING TOWARDS EVENING. EASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. COMING UP TO 7:55. CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM IS NEARING THE FINISH LINE, NOW ONLY ONE YEAR AWAY FROM OPENING. TE KAHA REPLACES THE QUAKE-DAMAGED LANCASTER PARK, AND IT'LL BE THE LAST OF THE ANCHOR PROJECTS FROM THE ORIGINAL REBUILD BLUEPRINT. ALI PUGH WENT FOR A TOUR. ONE YEAR OUT FROM THE STADIUM OPENING, HOW EXCITING IS IT TO BE AT THIS MONTH? IT'S HUGELY EXCITING AND I GUESS A PROUD MOMENT, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE DO HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND WE'RE CONSCIOUS OF THAT, NOT GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES, BUT TO BE WHERE WE ARE NOW, A YEAR OUT IS VERY PLEASING AND A TESTAMENT TO ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THE WHOLE TEAM HAS PUT IN TO GET US HERE. SO WITH A YEAR AGO, WHAT IS ACTUALLY LEFT TO DO HERE CONSTRUCTION-WISE? OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A BIT OF ROOF TO GO ON THE TOP. YEAH. SO, LOOK, OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE CLADDING FOR THE ROOF AND THE FACADE, THEN LATER IN THE YEAR WE'LL BE BRINGING THE FIELD OF PLAY TO SITE, ROLLING THAT OUT. THAT'LL BE A HUGE MILESTONE IN ALONGSIDE. AND ALONGSIDE THOSE WORKSTREAMS, WE'RE CONTINUING WITH THE FIT-OUT THROUGH THE WEST AND EASTERN AND SOUTHERN SANDS AS WELL. AND THEN ONCE WE'VE WRAPPED ALL OF THAT UP, WE'LL BE CLOSING THINGS IN AT THE NORTHERN END, PUTTING THE NORTHERN SLAB IN THAT WILL HOST MAJOR CONCERTS AND THE TEMPORARY SEATING. SO, YEAH, THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT TO BE DONE, BUT, YEAH, IT'S ALL TRACKING ALONG NICELY AT THE MOMENT. I THINK IT'LL BE A REAL SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE COMMUNITY. YEAH, WE ABSOLUTELY FEEL THE BUZZ AROUND THE CITY AS WE'RE GETTING CLOSER IN THE EXCITEMENT, SO I THINK THAT SPURS THE TEAM ON AS WELL. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BE THE MAYOR, ISN'T IT, OF THE CITY, WITH EVERYTHING OPENING. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. IT'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US FOR A YEAR'S TIME. SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. YOU CAN SEE HOW CLOSE EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE TO THE FIELD OF PLAY. IT'S GONNA BE OUTSTANDING. YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO` FOR THE CITY TO SHARE THOSE SPORTING MOMENTS TOGETHER AS A WHOLE AGAIN, LIKE WE DID IN THE LANCASTER PARK DAYS? ABSOLUTELY. I REMEMBER GOING TO A LIONS TEST MATCH YEARS AND YEARS AGO WITH ALL THE SINGING AND THE RED AND THE SMOKE AND STUFF. IT WAS FANTASTIC, SO BRING IT ON BACK. OVERALL, HOW WOULD YOU SAY THIS PROJECT HAS GONE? EXTREMELY WELL. FROM WHAT I'VE TOLD` TALKING TO OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE, WORKING WITH THIS CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE BREEZE. REMEMBER IN 2022, THERE WAS THE $150m COST BLOW-OUT THAT COUNCIL HAD TAKEN ON AND SUPPORTED BY MOST OF THE PEOPLE. DO YOU THINK THAT WAS WORTH IT? WAS THAT THE RIGHT DECISION? OH, ABSOLUTELY. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO TOWN FROM OVERSEAS AND OUT OF OUT UPPER NORTH ISLAND, STUFF LIKE THAT, THEY GO, 'WOW, YOU GUYS ARE SO LUCKY.' IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IF YOU DON'T SPEND IT WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU'D NEVER GO BACK. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SITTING HERE IN A FEW YEARS TIME, 'OH, IF WE'D ONLY SPENT A LITTLE BIT MORE, WE COULD HAVE HAD MORE SEATS.' SO WE'VE GOT ONE SHOT, AND I'M CONVINCED WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT. TALK TO ME ABOUT THE GRASS AND HOW SPECIAL THE STADIUM IS IN TERMS OF HAVING A ROOF AND THAT. IT'S REALLY UNUSUAL. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND STADIUM IN THE WORLD TO HAVE THIS WILL BE THE SECOND STADIUM IN THE WORLD TO HAVE SO IT'S SOMETHING SPECIAL AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT. AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE THE STADIUM TO OTHER STADIA THAT YOU'VE BUILT WITH ALL YOUR AMAZING EXPERIENCE? WELL, EVERY PROJECT IS DIFFERENT, BUT THIS ONE IS SO UNIQUE GIVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE PLACE AND YOU SEE THE SCOPE OF STRUCTURAL STEEL AND THE UNIQUE ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT, I SUPPOSE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T DONE PREVIOUSLY, IS THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY, SO MAKING SURE THAT THE STRUCTURE COULD WITHSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE REGION. WE HAVEN'T DONE ONE OF THOSE BEFORE, BUT THE MOST` THE OTHER IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING ENGINEERING PROBLEM ON THIS PROJECT WAS ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO DESIGN THE STRUCTURE IN A WAY WHEREBY IT WAS EARTHQUAKE-PROOF DURING THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION NOT JUST IN FINAL STATE, BUT DURING CONSTRUCTION. HAVING THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND AN EARTHQUAKE IS REALLY INTERESTING CHALLENGE AND SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. SO STOKED FOR THE CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH. WHAT A LONG TIME COMING. IT IS SO GOOD. 30,000 IS THE CAPACITY. IS IT? THAT WILL BE FOR SPORT. THAT IS NOT INCLUDING PEOPLE STANDING IN THE MOSH PIT AND THAT SORT OF THING. FOR SPORT, PERFECT. THE ACOUSTICS WITH THE ROOF WILL BE AMAZING. WHERE DO PEOPLE PARK? I WAS LOOKING AROUND AND THINKING, IS THERE ANY PARKING? THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE QUESTIONED ON. BUT IF YOU CAN ACCESS IT WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND WALKING, DO YOU WANT TO HAVE CAR PARKING THERE? THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS EVERYONE FLOODING IN THEIR CARS AND BEING STUCK AFTERWARDS. YOU WANT PEOPLE WALKING OR CATCHING THE BUS. RELIABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT. YOU THINK OF THE YEARS OF EVENTS AND GAMES AND CONCERTS THAT THEY HAVE MISSED OUT ON BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING A FACILITY LIKE THIS, IT IS ABOUT TIME. STILL TO COME ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING ANNIVERSARY FLOODS TWO YEARS AGO, THE NEXT PHASE OF AUCKLAND'S STORM RECOVERY BEGINS. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW PROJECTS DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE SEVERITY OF FUTURE WEATHER EVENTS. ALSO AHEAD, A NEW APPROACH TO DEMENTIA CARE, WITH FACILITIES MADE TO RESEMBLE THE FAMILIARITY OF EVERYDAY LIFE. PLUS, A WORK HORSE FROM ANTARCTICA TO AFGHANISTAN. CHRISTCHURCH LOCALS NOW HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE TO SEE THE AIR FORCE'S RETIRED HERCULES. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION FEARS NEW ZEALAND IS NOT READY TO PULL POLICE AWAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH CALLOUTS. PHASE TWO OF THE PULL-BACK LAUNCHED THIS WEEK, WITH CHANGES ONLY KICKING IN AMONG AREAS DEEMED 'READY' BY POLICE AND HEALTH NEW ZEALAND. UNDER THE NEW RULES, OFFICERS WILL STAY NO LONGER THAN AN HOUR AT A HOSPITAL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT, UNLESS THEY POSE SERIOUS RISK. FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHAUN ROBINSON SAYS THE HEALTH SECTOR IS TOO UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE PLAN TO WORK. WE NEED TO SAY STOP, END THE CONFUSION SO THAT POLICE ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE NURSE ASSOCIATION WAS SAYING AND ACTUALLY PULLING OUT EVEN AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THEN PUT THE ALTERNATIVE SERVICES IN PLACE, AND THEN THE POLICE CAN STEP BACK. MEANWHILE, POLICE SAY THE SAFETY OF BOTH OFFICERS AND HEALTHCARE STAFF IS A PRIORITY, AND WILL STILL RESPOND WHEN THERE IS AN OFFENCE IS A PRIORITY AND WILL STILL RESPOND WHEN THERE IS AN OFFENCE OR IMMEDIATE RISK TO LIFE OR SAFETY. LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS HE SUPPORTS CHANGING THE DRIVERS LICENCE PROGRAM, CHANGING THE DRIVERS LICENCE PROGRAM BUT IS WARY OF POTENTIAL FISH HOOKS IN PROPOSED CHANGES. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS ONLY ONE PRACTICAL TEST INSTEAD OF TWO ALONG WITH NEW SAFETY MEASURES AND A REQUIREMENT TO KEEP A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS WHILE HE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE GETTING THEIR FULL LICENCE, THERE'S A BALANCE TO BE STRUCK IF THE NUMBER OF PRACTICAL TESTS IS REDUCED. I THINK THERE ARE SOME FISHHOOKS IN THAT. IF YOU GET YOUR RESTRICTED LICENSE AND NEVER DRIVE A CAR AGAIN, THEN YOU CAN AUTOMATICALLY APPLY TO HAVE YOUR LICENSE POSTED TO YOU, I AM NOT NECESSARILY SURE THAT IS A GOOD MODEL EITHER. HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET THE BALANCE RIGHT, AND HE LIKES THE AA'S SUGGESTION OF RECORDING HOURS DRIVEN WHILE ON A RESTRICTED LICENCE. THE FORMER U.S. SHERIFF'S DEPUTY CONVICTED OF SHOOTING DEAD NEW ZEALAND-BORN MAN CHRISTIAN GLASS IN COLORADO HAS BEEN JAILED FOR THREE YEARS. GLASS HAD CALLED FOR HELP AFTER HIS CAR GOT STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT HE REFUSED TO EXIT THE CAR, WITH THE STANDOFF ENDING IN THE 22-YEAR-OLD BEING SHOT SEVERAL TIMES. AT THE SENTENCING, ANDREW BUEN APOLOGISED TO THE GLASS FAMILY, SAYING THEY DESERVED BETTER. THREE YEARS IS THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE. BOURNEMOUTH HAVE MADE A DREAM START TO THEIR PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST FULHAM, GOING UP 1-0 IN THE OPENING MINUTE. ANTOINE SEMENYO MAKING THE BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE HOME SIDE SHORTLY AFTER KICK OFF. IT MIGHT BE AN EARLY CHANCE FOR THEM HERE. BEAUTIFULLY TUCKED AWAY INSIDE THE FIRST MINUTE. SO GOOD. BOURNEMOUTH WENT CLOSE TO SECOND, WITH EVANILSON'S EFFORT DENIED BY THE CROSSBAR. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE LOWER EAST COAST. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR AUCKLAND, HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FOG TO START YOUR DAY. 23 THE HIGH IN COROMANDEL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SIMILAR STORY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. PACK YOUR BROLLY, THOUGH. RAINY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE BEFORE EASING FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON. CANTERBURY, RAIN WILL EASE TO ISOLATED SHOWERS BY MIDDAY. 18 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 13 IN DUNEDIN. AND AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am UNTIL 8pm THIS MORNING IN LINDIS PASS. TAKE CARE. THE TEMPERATURES HAVE DROPPED DOWN THE EAST COAST. AUCKLAND'S FLOOD RECOVERY HAS ENTERED A NEW PHASE, WITH WORK BEGINNING ON THE FIRST OF SEVERAL PROJECTS TO HELP CATCH AND DRAIN STORM WATER MORE EFFECTIVELY. IT'S HOPED THE TWO NEW INITIATIVES, WHICH INCLUDE LIFTING THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SEWERAGE PIPE AND REPLACING A BUSY BRIDGE, WILL SAVE HUNDREDS OF HOMES SHOULD FUTURE DEVASTATING FLOODS HIT OUR BIGGEST CITY. HERE'S JACOB JOHNSON. IT'S AN AFTERNOON MANY AUCKLAND RESIDENTS WILL NEVER FORGET ` JANUARY 27th 2023, THE CITY'S WETTEST DAY ON RECORD. THE DELUGE DESTROYING HOMES, CAUSING TRAFFIC MAYHEM AND TAKING THE LIVES OF FOUR PEOPLE. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, CYCLONE GABRIEL ARRIVED, WREAKING HAVOC ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND. THIS TIME, IT WAS AUCKLAND'S WEST COAST COMMUNITIES HIT HARD. LANDSLIDES TAKING OUT PROPERTIES IN THE BEACH SETTLEMENT OF MURIWAI, WITH TWO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ON THE JOB KILLED. TWO YEARS LATER, AUCKLAND COUNCIL IS CATEGORISING THE LAST OF 3500 HOUSES AFFECTED BY THE STORMS, DETERMINING WHETHER THESE PROPERTIES CAN STAY OR WHETHER THEY'RE TOO UNSAFE. THE COUNCIL PURCHASING MORE THAN 1000 OF THOSE HOMES AS PART OF A BUYOUT PROGRAM. DECISIONS ARE YET TO BE MADE ABOUT HOW THE COUNCIL WILL USE ALL THE NEW LAND IT'S ACQUIRED, BUT FOR NOW, TWO NEW PROJECTS ARE STARTING IN MANGERE, ONE OF THE SUBURBS HARDEST HIT DURING THE STORMS, TO ENSURE FLOODING AND DESTRUCTION ON THIS SCALE NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. AND JACOB JOINS US NOW FROM MANGERE, WHERE WORK IS GETTING UNDERWAY. MORENA, JACOB. GOOD MORNING, CHRIS. I AM STANDING ON THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SEWAGE PIPE. THIS RESERVE WAS HIT HARD BY THE STORMS IN JANUARY 2023, AND AS YOU CAN SEE OVER HERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF LOW-LYING HOUSES. MANY OF THEM WERE AFFECTED WHEN THE HEAVY RAIN HAT. A LOT OF THIS RAIN IS GOING TO BE CLEARED HERE TO HELP THE WATER FLOW BETTER AND FLOW OUT TO THE HARBOUR MORE EFFECTIVELY. I AM JOINED BY LEIGHTON, WHO IS THE PROJECT MANAGER ON THIS PROJECT. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. THIS IS ONE OF TWO PROJECTS HAPPENING OUT HERE. CAN YOU GIVE ME A BIT OF A AN IDEA OF HOW YOU ARE REDUCING THE FLOOD RISK. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THE STORM WATER BUILDS UP FROM BEHIND THE EMBANKMENT, SO WE HAVE ABOUT 300 HA FROM THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT DRAINING INTO THE STREAM. WE HAVE TWO SMALL CULVERTS UNDER THIS LARGE EMBANKMENT. ALL OF THE WATER IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THERE AND IT CANNOT GET OUT FAST ENOUGH. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO IS PUT THIS LARGE PIPE ONTO A BRIDGE AND THEN REMOVE THIS EMBANKMENT. WE WILL BE DOING THAT BY INSTALLING A VERY LARGE CONCRETE LINED STEEL PIPE, ABOUT 2.8 M WIDE, AND THAT WILL PASS ALL FUTURE FLOWS, IF WE INCLUDE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ALL OF THAT, IT WILL PASS FORWARD AND WILL NOT BACK UP FROM THIS POINT. IT IS A LARGE PROJECT. AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS IS GOING TO HELP THE FLOW OF WATER IN THIS AREA. WE SAW WATER COMING UP METRES HIGH. YES, THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY WILL DROP THE STORMWATER FLOOD LEVELS BY A METRE. IT IS NOT THE SILVER BULLET FOR THE ENTIRE CATCHMENT. THERE ARE OTHER UPGRADES THAT WILL NEED TO HAPPEN, AND THERE WILL BE SOME SURFACE FLOODING FROM THAT. BUT THIS PIPE WILL PASS FORWARD ALL FUTURE FLOWS, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE FOR 3.8 DEGREES. THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS THAT IS SET TO BE KICKING OFF ACROSS AUCKLAND FOLLOWING THE STORMS. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. WHY DID THIS GET THE GREEN LIGHT FIRST? ESSENTIALLY, THE COMMUNITY WOULD HIT SO HARD, AND WE COULD IDENTIFY QUICKLY WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND THERE WERE UPGRADES WE COULD APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. IT HAS ENABLED US TO DO IT FAIRLY QUICKLY. WE HAVE THIS ONE AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT ANOTHER CREEK WHERE WE ARE UPGRADING IT, AND THERE ARE TWO CULVERTS THERE WHICH HAVE A MAJOR BLOCKAGE RISK. IF THEY EXPERIENCE A BLOCKAGE, OR THERE IS A POTENTIAL FLOODING FOR UP TO A THOUSAND PROPERTIES THERE, SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY ON THESE PROJECTS. I WANT TO BRING IN TONY. GOOD MORNING. YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AND LIAISING WITH THEM ON SOME OF THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AROUND FLOOD MITIGATION. WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT HOW BAD THE FLOODING WAS IN WEST AUCKLAND AND SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, BUT YOU GUYS GOT HIT PRETTY HARD HERE AS WELL. WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN 10 MINUTES. THERE WAS HARDLY ANY NOTICE FOR A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, PEOPLE WERE FLOODED AND THEIR CARS WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC. WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO THE PEOPLE OUT HERE WANT TO SEE IN TERMS OF FLOOD MITIGATION AND SUPPORTING THEIR HOMES? BUT THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE IS JUST SOMETHING HAPPENING, THAT THERE IS A CHANGE THAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN JANUARY, WHETHER IT IS PROJECTS LIKE THIS OR THINGS THAT COMMUNITIES ARE COMING UP WITH, SUCH AS COMMUNITY HUBS. JUST VISUAL THINGS, AND IT MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE, WE HAVE BEEN HEARD, THINGS ARE HAPPENING, AND THEY KINETICALLY SEE IT, AND KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING COMING THAT THEY CAN BE PART OF, THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMMUNITY RECOVERY PLANNING SESSION. THOSE ARE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY WANTING. LEIGHTON, I WILL BRING YOU BACK IN. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A SOIL TURNING ON FRIDAY. WORKERS JUST DARTING HERE. WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROJECT? WE HAVE STARTED TO RELOCATE LIZARDS AND THINGS FROM THE SITE. WE HAVE RELOCATED A LOT OF COPPER SKINKS SO FAR. THE TIMELINE WE ARE GAINING FOR IS JUNE 2026, AND WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO ME THAT TIMELINE. WE HAVE THAT ON OUR SITE FOR BOTH PROJECTS. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO GET ALL OF THE LIZARDS OUT OF HERE? HOPEFULLY NOT TOO LONG. WE HAVE BEEN AT IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO WE SHOULD BE GETTING TO THE END OF IT BEFORE WE CAN START CLEARING ALL OF THE VEGETATION. WE DO HAVE THE FENCES UP TO STOP THEM FROM GETTING BACK INTO THE AREA, BUT WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE IT ALL DONE BEFORE MAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BACK TO YOU GUYS. GOOD TO SEE THAT PROJECT GETTING ON WITH IT. ABSOLUTELY. ME U TONU MAI ` 'A SENSE OF NORMALITY AND INCLUSIVITY.' WE CHECK OUT A NEW FACILITY TAKING A UNIQUE APPROACH TO DEMENTIA CARE. (UPBEAT MUSIC) HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` RUSSIA SAYS ITS DEADLY STRIKE ON A CITY IN UKRAINE KILLING 35 PEOPLE WAS TARGETING MILITARY FORCES. A U.S. POLITICIAN WHOSE HOME WAS TARGETED IN AN ALLEGED ARSON ATTACK SAYS, DESPITE NOT YET KNOWING THE MOTIVE, THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IS, 'NOT OK.' AND THE CRISIS AT RED BULL IS DEEPENING WITH DRIVER MAX VERSTAPPEN REPORTEDLY UNHAPPY WITH THE TEAM AFTER A LACKLUSTRE SHOWING AT THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX. TONIGHT THE ANNUAL TAITE MUSIC PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED, RECOGNISING THE BEST OF OUR INDEPENDENT MUSIC SCENE. NOW IN ITS 16th YEAR, IT'S NAMED IN HONOUR OF JOURNALIST DYLAN TAITE, WHO SPENT A GOOD CHUNK OF HIS CAREER DOCUMENTING MUSIC AND CULTURE HERE AT TVNZ, SO IT SEEMS ONLY RIGHT TO PULL ONE OF HIS STORIES FROM THE ARCHIVE TODAY. THIS ONE IS FROM 1986, WHEN THERE WAS A PUSH TO GET MORE LOCAL MUSIC ON THE RADIO BY ENFORCING A 20% AIRTIME QUOTA. HERE'S HOW MUSIC EXECUTIVES RESPONDED. WELL, RADIO WAIKATO ACTUALLY BELIEVES THAT A QUOTA SYSTEM ISN'T A BAD SYSTEM. I THINK 20% IS A BIT HIGH. IF WE FORCE-FED PEOPLE WEET-BIX EVERY DAY, THEY PROBABLY HAVE TO GET TO LIKE THEM, WOULDN'T THEY? I COULD SEE THAT SOME PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMERS MAY SEE IT AS AN INTRUSION INTO WHAT IS ALREADY AN OVERREGULATED INDUSTRY. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT EASY FOR LOCAL RECORDS TO GET AIRTIME ON NEW ZEALAND RADIO. AND NO MATTER HOW OFTEN YOU BUTTON HOP ACROSS THE DIAL, THE ODDS SEEM STACKED AGAINST HEARING LOCAL MUSIC. 1300 1ZH. THE DJ USUALLY STOPS MOST OF THE FLACK FOR NOT PLAYING LOCAL RECORDS, WHEN, IN FACT, IT'S THE STATION PD WHO DECIDES WHAT GOES TO AIR. PDs LIKE TONY NIELSEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATION'S FORMAT, FOR ASSESSING WHAT THE LISTENER WANTS TO HEAR. SO WHY DOESN'T 1ZH PLAY MORE LOCAL MUSIC? THE MAIN REASON IS IT'S AUDIENCE ACCEPTANCE. IF OUR AUDIENCE ACCEPTS ANY TYPE OF MUSIC, BE IT KIWI OR ANY OTHER SORT, WE'LL PLAY IT. HOW SURE ARE YOU OF THAT? WELL, IN THIS MARKET, WE'VE BEEN RESEARCHING MUSIC FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS NOW, SO WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF PEOPLE'S TASTES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE THINK THEY'LL LIKE. WE TEST MUSIC WITH THEM. BEFORE WE PLAY IT, WE TEST IT. AFTER WE START PLAYING IT, WE CONTINUALLY TEST IT AS WELL. AND WHEN I SAY TEST, IT MEANS WE'RE PLAYING THE SONG DOWN THE PHONE TO THEM; WE'RE NOT JUST ASKING THEM ABOUT IT. AND THAT'S THE GENERAL ANSWER FROM PDs. 'WE'D LOVE TO PLAY MORE LOCAL MUSIC, 'BUT OUR RESEARCH SHOWS IT'S A LISTENER TURN OFF,' AND THEY EMPHASISE THAT THE SAME RESEARCH MEANS LOTS OF OVERSEAS RECORDS DON'T GET PLAYED EITHER. RIGHT NOW, LOCAL TALENT... IF A LOCAL RECORD DOES GET PLAYED ` AND IT HAPPENS ` IT'S ONLY BECAUSE IT FITS A PARTICULAR FORMAT. BUT EVEN RADIO STATIONS SYMPATHETIC TO LOCAL ARTISTS AREN'T HAPPY AT THE THOUGHT OF AN ENFORCED QUOTA OF 20%. WHERE I DO HAVE AN OBJECTION AS WHERE WE ARE TRIED TO BE FORCED INTO PLAYING MATERIAL WHICH WILL NOT SUIT OUR FORMAT. YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL MATERIAL, THE BACKYARD BOYS AND THE... STUFF THAT'S RECORDED IN GARAGES ` YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT OF SUFFICIENT STANDARD. COULD YOU EVER SEE THE INDUSTRY HERE SUSTAINING BANDS THAT COULD RECORD THINGS THAT WOULD SUIT YOUR FORMAT? THAT'S A DIFFICULT ONE AT THE MOMENT. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT TOP TALENT TO SUSTAIN 20%. HOW, IN FACT, WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE FORCED TO PLAY 20% LOCAL MUSIC? I'D BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CASE OF HOW WE FEEL; IT'S A CASE OF HOW THE AUDIENCE FEELS. MY FEELING IS AT THIS STAGE THAT THE QUALITY OF NEW ZEALAND MUSIC WOULDN'T STAND A 20% QUOTA, FOR INSTANCE. LOCAL RECORDS LIKE THESE STAND LITTLE CHANCE OF MASS AIRPLAY, BECAUSE IT'S ALL DOWN TO AUDIENCE RESEARCH, WHICH MEANS THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET A CHANCE TO MAKE UP ITS OWN MIND. PERHAPS MORE THAN ANYTHING, THOUGH, LOCAL ARTISTS ARE RILED BY COMMENTS THAT THEIR MUSIC ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. OH, THAT'S RUBBISH. THAT'S ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. AND I FIND THAT TOTALLY INSULTING, ACTUALLY, AND WE WON'T PUT UP WITH IT, BASICALLY. THAT'S AN INSULT THAT'S BEEN GOING FOR YEARS, BUT IT'S TIME, YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE WERE PUT IN THEIR PLACE. WELL, AMONG ARTISTS AND MUSIC INDUSTRY PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO, OPINIONS ARE DIVIDED ON THE ENFORCED 20% MUSIC QUOTA. IN MANY WAYS, IT'S THE OLD BATTLE BETWEEN ARTIST AND BUSINESSMAN. AND AS FAR AS LOCAL MUSICIANS ARE CONCERNED TODAY, THEY FEEL THAT THE MUSIC BUSINESS IS PERHAPS 80% BUSINESS, AND IF THEY'RE LUCKY, 20% MUSIC. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, RECENT FIGURES FROM NZ ON AIR SHOW FEWER THAN ONE IN FIVE SONGS ON COMMERCIAL RADIO ARE FROM LOCAL ARTISTS. IT'S A DROP FROM THE THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, WHERE COMMERCIAL RADIO WAS CONSISTENTLY HITTING THE VOLUNTARY 20% THRESHOLD. AND WE'LL HAVE THE WINNER OF THE TAITE PRIZE HERE ON BREAKFAST TOMORROW MORNING. A NEW DEMENTIA FACILITY CALLED THE HAWTHORNDALE CARE VILLAGE IS OPENING IN INVERCARGILL NEXT MONTH, BUT IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL CARE UNIT. INSPIRED BY THE HOGEWEYK MODEL FROM THE NETHERLANDS, PATIENTS LIVE IN A VILLAGE THAT RESEMBLES THE FAMILIARITY OF EVERYDAY LIFE. THERE'S A CAFE, SHOPS AND A MARKET FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT, WITH THE AIM OF CREATING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE THERE. JOINING US NOW IS FRANK O'BOYLE, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FACILITY, AND MARGARET BROWN, THE GENERAL MANAGER. MORENA KORUA. I'LL START WITH YOU, MARGARET. WANT WHAT MAKES THIS VILLAGE SO REVOLUTIONARIES? THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE FROM THIS FACILITY AS WE ARE GETTING RIGHT AWAY FROM THE MEDICAL MODEL. NORMALLY, WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING AFTER OUR OLDER PEOPLE IN AN INSTITUTION TYPE FACILITY, WHICH AT PRESENT, WHERE WE ARE, IT IS AN INSTITUTION. PEOPLE ARE IN LONG CORRIDORS, AND IT IS JUST GETTING AWAY FROM ALL OF THAT. OUR RESIDENTS WILL MOVE ACROSS. THEY WILL BE SMALLER SCALE LIVING. PEOPLE WILL BE IN` THERE WILL BE 13 HOUSES WAS SIX OR SEVEN PEOPLE IN EACH HOUSE. THEY WILL HAVE CHOICES OF WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY COME TO THE VILLAGE. I WILL GO BACK A LITTLE BIT WITH OUR HISTORY. OVER 10 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A STRATEGIC MEETING, AND WE KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE KNEW WE HAD TO INCLUDE DEMENTIA, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT. WE THOUGHT OF BUILDING A DEMENTIA WHEN, BUT IT JUST DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. SO AFTER GOING TO THE MODEL FROM THE NETHERLANDS, WE CAME BACK FULLY INSPIRED AND READY TO GO BUILDING THIS NEW VILLAGE. AND LUCKY FOR ME, THE BOARD SUPPORTED ME FULLY. AND IN 10 YEARS, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE COME. WE DID IT BECAUSE WE TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER WAY FOR PEOPLE INSTEAD OF BEING IN A SECURE UNIT TO BE ABLE TO WANDER AROUND THE VILLAGE AND USUALLY FREE TO MOVE WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO. FRANK, WE WERE JUST SEEING SOME PICTURES BEFORE OF THE VILLAGE AND HOW IT IS SEEKING TO REPLICATE A VILLAGE OUTSIDE IN TERMS OF THE DAIRY AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING. HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT FOR THE CHALLENGE THAT PEOPLE FACE WITH DEMENTIA? PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA, THEY ARE IN A SECURE WING NORMALLY. THIS IS THE NORMAL WAY OF DOING THINGS AT THIS STAGE. WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT. AND COMING TO THE VILLAGE, ANYBODY DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA, WITH THE FREEDOM, THEY WILL BE PUT INTO A HOUSE THAT IS MOST SUITED TO THEIR LIFESTYLE, WITH SIX OR SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE, AND FROM THERE, THEY WILL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO WANDER AROUND THE VILLAGE AND WITHIN THAT CARE CENTRE AS WELL. THERE IS OVERALL ABOUT A KILOMETRE OF WALKING PATHWAYS AROUND THE VILLAGE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT TIME, THEY NEED TO WALK. AND THEY WILL HAVE THE FREEDOM INCIDENT BEING ENCOURAGED TO SIT DOWN OR WATCH TV OR DO SOME OTHER ACTIVITY. THEY WILL BE FREE TO GO AROUND, AND IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CARE CENTRE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO. FRANK, WHAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS BEEN LIKE? AS MARGARET SAID, OUR JOURNEY BEGAN 10 YEARS AGO IN 2015, WHEN THE SEED WAS PLANTED FOR A NEW VILLAGE. THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS WERE MORE AROUND EDUCATING OURSELVES IN LEARNING ABOUT IT. THEY WENT OVER TO THE NETHERLANDS TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND TO SEE HOW IT WORKS. THEY WENT TO CONFERENCES IN AUSTRALIA TO LEARN AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES. IN 2018, THAT IS WHEN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS COMPLETED, AND WE DECIDED WE WOULD DO IT. THE DESIGN PHASE TOOK US FROM 2019 TO 2022. THOSE WERE THE COVID YEARS. THERE WERE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THROUGH THOSE YEARS. CONSTRUCTION COSTS, INFLATION, AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF HOW THE TEAM WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THOSE COSTS, WHICH ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN OCTOBER 2022. TWO AND A HARD YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN MARCH, AND WE HAD A FANTASTIC OPENING ON 20 MARCH, WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO SUPPORTED US OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE COMMUNITY, AND EVEN THE CONTRACTORS THAT TURNED PICTURES ON A PLAN INTO WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WHEN YOU ARE BUILDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE IT SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS INTERACTIVE, IT HAS GOT ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT SPACES, BUT ALSO YOU WANT TO MAKE IT FIT FOR PURPOSE. A BIG THING FOR US AS SECURITY. IT IS TRYING TO LIVE LIFE, AN EXTENSION OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU SPEND ALL OF YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE, YOU DO LOTS OF NORMAL THINGS, AND IT IS ABOUT TRYING TO CURE THAT INSIDE AND ALSO BEING SAFE. WE ALSO HAVE HAD THE LUXURY THAT WE OTHER SECOND VILLAGE IN NEW ZEALAND FOLLOWING THIS MODEL OF CARE. THERE IS ONE IN ROTORUA THAT WAS THE FIRST. IT OPENED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO. WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THEM, AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING. IT SEALED THE DEAL FOR US THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THIS VILLAGE AND JUST SEEING HOW PEOPLE COULD LIVE THERE. IT LOOKS FANTASTIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH THE BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, CHARLOTTE MULDER JOINS THE LAST VISITORS TO THE AIR FORCE'S RECENTLY RETIRED HERCULES. MORENA, CHARLOTTE. GOOD MORNING, TEAM. THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS HAVE BEGUN. IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN, THEY HAVE GOT ONE MORE CHANCE TO COME AND SEE THIS AMAZING HISTORIC PIECE OF AIRCRAFT. WE ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THE INSIDE SCOOP COMING UP AFTER THE WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. FRONTLINE NURSES ARE CALLING FOR THE POLICE TO HALT PLANS TO PULL AWAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH CALLOUTS. PHASE TWO OF THE PULL-BACK LAUNCHED THIS WEEK, WITH CHANGES ONLY KICKING IN AMONG AREAS DEEMED 'READY' BY POLICE AND HEALTH NEW ZEALAND. UNDER THE NEW RULES, OFFICERS WILL STAY NO LONGER THAN AN HOUR AT A HOSPITAL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT UNLESS THEY POSE SERIOUS RISK. HELEN GARRICK FROM THE NURSES ORGANISATION SAYS CRITICAL RESOURCES NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FIRST. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING TASKED WITH HOLDING PEOPLE, BASICALLY, WHEN THAT IS NOT THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION. AS WE KNOW AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY ARE UNDER-RESOURCED AND WE ARE EXPECTING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TEAMS TO QUICKLY ARRIVE WHEN WE ARE SHORT. MEANWHILE, THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION SAYS THE HEALTH SECTOR WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE FOR THIS TO WORK IF THEY HAD ENOUGH STAFF. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S TAKING STEPS TO TACKLE GROWING SCHOOL ROLES, FREEING UP $100m FOR NEW CLASSROOMS. PLANNING IS UNDERWAY TO BUILD ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND, WITH THREE MAIN PROJECTS FOR AUCKLAND AND INVESTMENT IN THE KAUPAPA MAORI EDUCATION NETWORK. INCLUDED IN THE PLANS ARE A NEW 600-STUDENT PRIMARY SCHOOL IN MASSEY, AN 18 CLASSROOM EXPANSION FOR ORMISTION SENIOR COLLEGE, AND A TWO STOREY BLOCK AT SCOTT POINT PRIMARY. EDUCATION MINISTER ERICA STANFORD SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY IS TO GET THESE PROJECTS ROLLED OUT QUCIKLY, WITH CONSTRUCTION SET TO BEGIN SOON. RUSSIA HAS CLAIMED ITS DEADLY STRIKE ON UKRAINE KILLING 35 PEOPLE WAS TARGETING MILITARY FORCES. TWO BALLISTIC MISSILES WERE FIRED INTO THE NORTHERN CITY OF SUMY AS UKRAINIANS GATHERED FOR PALM SUNDAY. RUSSIA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS IT TARGETED A GATHERING OF SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS, ACCUSING UKRAINE OF USING CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY HAS DEMANDED A TOUGH GLOBAL RESPONSE, INVITING THE U.S. PRESIDENT TO VISIT BEFORE STRIKING A CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH RUSSIA. TO SPORT, AND NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE GREAT JARED WAEREA HARGREAVES HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RETIRING AT THE END OF THE ENGLISH SUPER LEAGUE SEASON. THE 36-YEAR-OLD PLAYED FOR THE ROOSTERS FOR 15 SEASONS BEFORE HEADING TO THE UK TO PLAY FOR THE HULL KINGSTON ROVERS. THE PROP ALSO PLAYED 33 TESTS FOR THE KIWIS IN A CAREER THAT SPANNED 18 YEARS. AND FINALLY, GOLFER RORY McILROY'S WIN AT THE MASTERS HAS FULFILLED A DREAM THAT'S BEEN AT LEAST 26 YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE BBC CAUGHT UP WITH THE 9-YEAR-OLD PRODIGY IN 1998 AND ASKED HIM WHAT HIS GOALS WERE. I WANT TO WIN ALL THE MAJORS. MCILROY'S PLAY-OFF VICTORY OVER JUSTIN ROSE COMPLETING THE CAREER GRAND SLAM. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG FOR THE NORTH. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU WITH SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE LOWER EAST COAST. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR AUCKLAND, HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN EXPECT SOME FOG TO START YOUR DAY. 23 THE HIGH IN COROMANDEL. 22 IN NEW PLYMOUTH. SIMILAR STORY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. PACK YOUR BROLLY, THOUGH. RAINY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE BEFORE EASING FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON. CANTERBURY, RAIN WILL EASE TO ISOLATED SHOWERS BY MIDDAY. 18 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 13 IN DUNEDIN. AND AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am UNTIL 8pm AND AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM 2am UNTIL 8AM THIS MORNING IN LINDIS PASS. TAKE CARE. BUT HAVE PASSED BY NOW. IT IS A LITTLE COLDER OUT THERE. LOCALS IN CHRISTCHURCH HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE TO SEE THE AIR FORCE'S RETIRED HERCULES BEFORE THE DISPLAY OFFICIALLY WRAPS UP TONIGHT. LABELLED A 'NATIONAL HERO', THE AIRCRAFT SERVED FOR 60 YEARS, CLOCKING UP 33,000 FLYING HOURS ON MILITARY OPERATIONS FROM ANTARCTICA TO AFGHANISTAN. AFTER LANDING SOUTH IN FEBRUARY, THE PLANE'S BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AFTER LANDING SOUTH IN FEBRUARY, THE PLANE'S BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE PAST FIVE DAYS. SO, WE SENT OUR CHRISTCHURCH REPORTER CHARLOTTE MULDER DOWN TO GET A GLIMPSE BEFORE IT GETS PUT AWAY. GOOD MORNING, TEAM. I'M GLAD THAT THE AIRCRAFT IS NOT IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE JUMPING OUT OF THAT SIDE. I KNOW HAVE BEEN INTO THE INTERACTIVE STUFF AT THE MOMENT, BUT NONETHELESS, I HAVE AIR FORCE MUSEUM DIRECTOR BRETT WITH ME. YOU HAVE HAD 14,000 PEOPLE COME THROUGH TO LOOK AT THE SYSTOLIC AIRCRAFT. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS? IT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. WITH STANDING ON AN AIRCRAFT THAT ARRIVED IN NEW ZEALAND ON 13 APRIL 1965. 60 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY, AND HAD ITS FINAL FLIGHT IN FEBRUARY. YOU ARE HERE IN 60 YEARS OF STORIES AND THINGS IT IS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY. WHERE WE ARE STANDING AS A SPACER WE DEPLOYED SOLDIERS AND ALSO BROUGHT THEM HOME, WE HAVE TAKEN SCIENTISTS TO AND FROM ANTARCTICA. THE FIRST SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS WERE FLOWN INTO CHRISTCHURCH AFTER OUR EARTHQUAKES. EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PEOPLE? THEY HAVE BEEN SHARING STORIES AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH CHARLES, THAT'S HIS NAME CORRECT? ALPHA BRAVO CHARLIE. IS AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS CHARLES. SOME OF THE STORIES HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE. YOUNG MAN WHO WAS ON THE OTHER DAY FROM FIJI SPOKE ABOUT AFTER THE CYCLONE, WHEN YOU HEARD CHARLES COMING IN, YOU KNEW PEOPLE HERE TO HELP. A WOMAN THAT CAME IN YESTERDAY, SHE WAS EVACUATED FROM TEHERAN WHEN THAT FELL. WE HAD VETERANS THAT WENT TO VIETNAM WHO WERE BROUGHT HOME IN THIS AIRCRAFT. SO MUCH HISTORY RIGHT HERE. YOU YOURSELF FLEW HERCULES 30 YEARS AGO, YOU WERE TELLING ME BEFORE. WHAT DOES THE SPACE MEANS YOU? WHAT CONNECTIONS YOU HAVE? OVERWHELMINGLY THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SERVED WITH, THE MINIMUM WOMAN THAT ARE STILL SERVING TODAY. MEN AND WOMEN* SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE HAVE GONE IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. AND THE LIVES THAT HAS CHANGED. THE OTHER THINGS THAT I'VE REALLY TALKED ABOUT, FLYING SEVEN TAKAKA, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. THAT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO THE PEOPLE. I KNOW THAT JESS MIGHT SHOW YOU GUYS ARE SOME OF THE THINGS, BUT ON THE GROUND, ON THE SIDES, TALK ME THROUGH IT. ON THE GROUND WE HAVE THE ROLLER SYSTEM. WHEN THERE IS CARGO SITTING ON PALLETS, AGAIN ROLL OFF THE BACK. YOU CAN THE DELIVERY OF THE AIR. THE TWO SIDE DOORS BESIDE US, THE ONE THAT YOU SHOWED EARLIER, PARACHUTIST CAN GO OUT THESE SIDE DOORS. THEY CAN ALSO GO STRAIGHT OUT THE BACK. ONE THING PEOPLE ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT IS COMFORT STOPS. WHERE DO I GO WHEN NATURE CALLS? WHERE DO YOU GO? WHERE THE POWDER ROOM IS. WE HAVE A VERY LUXURIOUS STOP OVER HERE. SOMETIMES AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS THE HONEYPOT. IT LOWERS DOWN. YOU HAVE A SHOWER CURTAIN FOR PRIVACY. DOES NOT LIKE YOU'RE IN NEW ZEALAND TOILET, BUT IT IS PRACTICAL. WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, THEY CANNOT GO RIGHT UP HERE, BUT THEY CAN STAND RIGHT IN THE BACK. THIS IS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED OBJECTS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. IT IS NO FIVE-STAR ACCOMMODATION, BUT NONETHELESS, IT IS COMPLETELY SAVES PEOPLE. I HAVE SOME MERCHANDISE. PEOPLE CAN GRAB IT WHEN THEY COME HERE. YOU DO HAVE TODAY TO COME AND CHECK OUT THE HERCULES, BUT AFTER THAT, THIS IS NOT THE FINAL STOP YOU WANT TO GET AN EXHIBITION BUILT. THE COUNCIL ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS IT IS $15 MILLION TO BUILD. WILL HAVE THIS AND THE ORION NEXT DOOR ON DISPLAY. WE ARE DEDICATED TO SHARING THE STORY OF THIS INCREDIBLE AIRCRAFT. HERCYEA! THAT IS HOW WE WILL FINISH THE SEGMENT. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IT OUT WITH YOUR KIDS. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO SPEND YOUR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. WHAT A GREAT NAME FOR THE LAVATORY ` THE HONEYPOT. A LOVELY EUPHEMISM, ISN'T IT? WE NEED ONE OF THESE IN HERE. A STUDIO HONEYPOT. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE KIWI CHEERLEADERS TAKING ON THE WORLD CHAMPS. STICK AROUND FOR A SPECIAL CHEER PERFORMANCE NEXT. WELCOME BACK. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` A NEW DEMENTIA CARE, TAKING INSPIRATION FROM THE NETHERLANDS, IS SET TO OPEN ITS DOORS NEXT MONTH IN INVERCARGILL. THE HAWTHORNDALE CARE VILLAGE AIMS TO RECREATE THE FAMILIARITY OF EVERYDAY LIFE BY INCLUDING A CAFE, SHOPS AND A MARKET. FRONTLINE NURSES WANT POLICE TO PAUSE THE PULL BACK FROM ATTENDING MENTAL HEALTH CALL OUTS WITH FEARS THE HEALTH SYSTEM WON'T COPE. PHASE TWO OF THE TRANSITION BEGAN LAST WEEK. AND THE NEXT PHASE OF AUCKLAND'S STORM RECOVERY BEGINS. IT'S HOPED TWO NEW INITIATIVES, INCLUDING REPLACING A BUSY BRIDGE, WILL SAVE HUNDREDS OF HOMES. IT IS 8.45. NEW ZEALAND'S CHEERLEADING TEAM IS GETTING READY FOR A RETURN TO THE WORLD STAGE. AFTER WINNING A HISTORIC GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, THEY'RE HEADING BACK TO FLORIDA TO HOPEFULLY CONTINUE THEIR WINNING STREAK. BUT BEFORE THEY FLY OUT, WE'RE JOINED BY SIENNEA McCAUGHAN AND NAKITA HOKIANGA. GOOD MORNING TO THE BOTH OF YOU. KIMBERLY, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND HAVE YOU BACK ON THE PROGRAM. HEADING BACK TO THE WORLD CHAMPS MUST FEEL PRETTY GOOD. YES, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE HEADING BACK, AND HOPING WE CAN BRING BACK ANOTHER GOLD FOR NEW ZEALAND. WHAT HAS CHANGED BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR? IS THERE AN EXPECTATION NOW FOR YOUR TEAM? WELL, THIS YEAR WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW TEAM, THEY ARE UNDER 18. LAST YEAR, THEY WERE SINGERS. SENIORS*. THEY ARE EXCITED TO PERFORM. NO DOUBT. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HEADING TO THE WORLD CHAMPS? IT FEELS SO GOOD. IT IS SO EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS TEAM. I WOULD NOT CHOOSE ANOTHER TO DO IT WITH. WHAT ABOUT YOU WAS CAPTAIN? HOW MUCH OF AN HONOUR IS THAT? I FEEL LIKE I'M ONE OF THE ROLE MODELS OF THE TEAM, SIGN HOW TO LEAD THEM TO GO INTO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. HOW IS IT TO BE ABLE TO PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE FROM LAST YEAR ONTO THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT THERE LAST YEAR? IT FEELS LIKE A LEVEL UP. I GET TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BE WORLD CHAMPIONS AND HOW TO COMPETE. THIS IS OUR WORLD TEAM. THAT IS INCREDIBLE. KIMBERLY, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE SCALE OF IT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. YES, THE COMPETITION IS MASSIVE. THEY HAVE 30,000 CHEERLEADERS, THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A YOUTH TEAM. WE HAVE THREE TEAMS GOING. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO GO AND SHOW THE WORLD WHAT WE ARE MADE OF. THAT IS REALLY CALL. IN TERMS OF EXPECTATIONS, WORLD CHAMPIONS, GOING BACK TO DEFEND THAT TITLE, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE HOPING FOR? OR IS IT JUST ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE? WE'RE NOT GOING FOR EXPERIENCE, WE ARE GOING TO WIN. WE HOPING TO BRING BACK THREE GOLDS FOR NEW ZEALAND. I LOVE IT. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO PUT ON A PERFORMANCE, SO I WILL LEAVE THINGS THERE. I THINK THAT IS DANIEL AND COLIN BEHIND YOU WHO ARE THE COACHES. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, WE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE PERFORMANCE THIS MORNING IF WE CAN. AMAZING, THANK YOU. LET'S GO, TEAM. THIS IS VERY, VERY CALL. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE IT WILL BE TO GO TO A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. (OVERLAPPING CHATTER) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) IF YOU ARE PART OF THE CHEERLEADING TEAM. THE ATHLETICISM. WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? NONE OF IT. I CAN SEE YOU WAS A BIT OF A TUMBLER. YES, NO. EXTRAORDINARY ATHLETICISM. GOOD LUCK, TEAM. YES, GO WELL. E HAERE AKE NEI ` ARE YOU RETIREMENT-READY? WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU CAN PUT YOUR FEET UP FOR GOOD. VOICEOVER: Get your free Consumers's Guide to Hearing Aids. New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. OUR NEXT GUEST IS A FINANCIAL WRITER, WHO THOUGHT HE WAS PREPARED FOR ALL THAT COMES WITH RETIREMENT, BUT MARTIN HAWES SAYS EVEN HE DIDN'T GET IT ALL RIGHT. HIS NEW BOOK, 'RETIREMENT READY', TROUBLESHOOTS ALL OF THE THINGS WHICH CAUGHT HIM OUT AND OUTLINES WHAT HE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY. MARTIN HAWES JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. I MUST SAY, YOU LOOK SUITABLY RELAXED. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE WINNING AT RETIREMENT ON THIS FRONT COVER. ARE YOU? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GOT IT RIGHT? I DO NOW. IT WAS A BIT OF A BATTLE. I SPENT A YEAR ALSO LOOKING AT MY OWN FINANCES, AND AS YOU SAY, I MADE SOME MISTAKES. AND I WAS HAPPY TO PUT THOSE MISTAKES INTO THE BOOK AND SHOW PEOPLE WHAT I HAD DONE WRONG, BECAUSE I THINK WE LEARN MORE FROM OUR MISTAKES THAN WE DO FROM THE THINGS THAT WE GOT RIGHT. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO ACTUALLY BE READY TO TAKE THAT BIG A LEAP INTO RETIREMENT? RETIREMENT IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE, WHICH COMES AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE NOT TERRIBLY GOOD AT CHANGE NECESSARILY. SO I THINK YOU HAVE REALLY GOT TO THINK ABOUT RETIREMENT, DO SOME PLANNING, MAYBE TAKE SOME ADVICE. THOSE WHO HAVE GOT INVESTMENTS, THEY CERTAINLY NEED TO TAKE SOME ADVICE. BUT GETTING READY FOR RETIREMENT IS REALLY CRITICAL. THAT IS A MAJOR STAGE OF LIFE. IT IS UP TO 25 YEARS, OR FOR SOME PEOPLE EVEN LONGER, SO I THINK YOU HAVE GOT TO PLAN FOR THAT. ONE OF THE LINES YOU HAVE IN THE BOOK IS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT RETIREMENT, SO HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THAT ONE SHOT IS TAKEN MOST EFFECTIVELY? WHAT THINGS DO YOU NEED TO PUT IN PLACE? I THINK PLANNING AND ADVICE WOULD BE THE THINGS I THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT. REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO BE LIKE, BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR CHANGE GOING FROM WORKING FULL-TIME, SAY, TO WORKING NOT AT ALL. AND THAT NEEDS PLANNING, AND CHANCES ARE, YOU DO NEED ADVICE. FOR SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY MAKING THOSE PLANS MEANS CONFRONTING THE REALITY OF GOING INTO A NEW STAGE OF LIFE. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE BRINK OF PERHAPS RETIREMENT, BUT THEY ARE JUST HOLDING OFF AND PERHAPS WORRIED ABOUT TAKING THE NEXT STEP? THAT IS PROBABLY ME, ACTUALLY. I AM IN MY 70S NOW, AND HERE I AM STILL WORKING. AND I AM A BIT SCARED OF RETIREMENT MYSELF, TO BE HONEST. I SUSPECT YOU ARE TALKING TO THE WRONG PERSON IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU TO TAKE THE LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN. BUT I HAVE DEALT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT, AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THREE GOES AT RETIREMENT, SO THEY HAVE RETIRED BUT THEN SLINKED BACK TO WORK. I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE A VERY DEEP BREATH AND PLUNGE INTO WATER THAT IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU HAVE ENJOYED. YOU MENTIONED YOU MADE SOME MISTAKES WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WHAT WOULD BE THE BIG MISTAKE THAT YOU MADE THAT YOU WISHED YOU COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE? WELL, I THINK THE ONE THAT I WISH I COULD HAVE CHANGED WOULD BE HEALTH INSURANCE. I CANCELLED MY HEALTH INSURANCE. IT WAS STARTING TO GET QUITE EXPENSIVE. WHAT I DID DO, HOWEVER, IS DECIDE TO PUT THE PREMIUMS FROM HEALTH INSURANCE, OR THE EQUIVALENT OF PREMIUMS INTO MY OWN ACCOUNT. AND I ALSO MADE SURE I PUT A LARGE-SIZE AT THE START SO THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING, I WOULD HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR PRIVATE HEALTHCARE. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I CANCELLED MY HEALTH INSURANCE, AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, I FOUND MYSELF IN HOSPITAL HAVING AN OPERATION, AND THEN A SECOND OPERATION RIGHT ON THE BACK OF THAT. I HAD THE MONEY PUT ASIDE TO DO THAT, SO IN SOME WAYS, IT WAS NOT A MISTAKE, BUT IT FELT LIKE A MISTAKE, BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAD THE HEALTH INSURANCE TO PAY FOR ME. WHEN DO YOU THINK THE BEST TIME FOR PEOPLE TO START PLANNING FOR THE RETIREMENT SHOULD BE? I WOULD SAY SOMEONE AT YOUR AGE OR EVEN YOUNGER, CHRIS, WOULD BE GREAT. BUT TALKING TO 30-YEAR-OLDS AND 35-YEAR-OLDS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PLAN FOR THEIR RETIREMENT AT THAT AGE. IT IS A GREAT SHAME, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT GET THE FULL BENEFIT OF THAT MIRACLE WHICH IS CALLED COMPOUND INTEREST. COMPOUND INTEREST WORKS BEST OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE, THE BETTER. AND ONE THING I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE OLDER PEOPLE TO DO WOULD BE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR GRANDCHILDREN'S KIWISAVER ACCOUNTS SO THEY ARE SAVING FOR THEIR FIRST HOME. THAT IS A GREAT SHOUT. I THINK IF THEY WANT ANY MORE ADVICE, THEY WILL HAVE TO READ THE BOOK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AS WELL. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY MAIA CARR HEKE, COURTNEY SOLE,