IT'S WEDNESDAY THE 16th OF APRIL. MORENA, THIS IS BREAKFAST. I STARTED GETTING INTO SUITS LA. TRUE TO FORM, LIKE SUITS, IT DELIVERS EVERY TIME ON THE DOCUMENTS PASSING. YOU PASS ME THE DOCUMENTS. THE CHARACTERS SEE AS YOU GOT TO SEE THIS. YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS. WHERE DID YOU SEE THIS. THE NEXT PART IS SLAMMING THE DOCUMENTS ON THE TABLE. IT'S VERY URGENT AND I LOVE IT. FOR EPISODES IN. I AM INTO IT. YOU DID THE INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE GUYS THE OTHER DAY. I AM THINKING OH MAN, I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN ON THAT. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` SHOULD PHYSIOTHERAPISTS BE ALLOWED TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES? IN SOME CASES, ONLY DOCTORS CAN ISSUE THEM FOR WORKERS WHO NEED TIME OFF, REDUCED HOURS, OR WHEN THEY'RE CLEARED TO RETURN TO WORK. BUT PHYSIOS SAY ALLOWING THEM TO DO IT WOULD TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF GPs AND SAVE MONEY. WE'LL WEIGH UP THE PROS AND CONS. ALSO AHEAD ` ARE MEN GETTING A LITTLE LESS MANLY HORMONALLY? WHILE THE HORMONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAIR GROWTH, MUSCLE MASS AND A DEEPENING VOICE, LOW TESTOSTERONE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS. THE SIGNS MEN NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR. PLUS, RATS AS BIG AS CATS ON THE STREETS OF BIRMINGHAM. A STRIKE BY RUBBISH COLLECTORS HAS LEFT TRASH PILING UP IN THE ENGLISH CITY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT HAS VENTURED INTO THE FILTH IS THERE ANY END IN SIGHT AND WHAT DO LOCALS MAKE OF THE WASTE? FORECASTERS HAVE UPGRADED THE SEVERE STORM HEADING TOWARDS NEW ZEALAND TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY MET SERVICE FOR NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND COROMANDEL. DAMAGING GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO HIT 140km/h WITH AUCKLAND COUNCIL URGING RESIDENTS TO PREPARE THEIR HOMES FOR THE CYCLONE. WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS AFTER NEWS AND WEATHER. AS THE CIVIL WAR IN SUDAN ENTERS ITS THIRD YEAR, THE UK AND THE EU HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'RE BOOSTING AID TO THE WAR TORN COUNTRY. THE UN SAYS SUDAN IS SUFFERING FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. TWO YEARS SINCE FIGHTING ERUPTED BETWEEN THE SUDANESE ARMY AND THE PARAMILITARY RAPID SUPPORT FORCES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED IN THE CONFLICT, AND NEARLY 13 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS FROZEN $2.2 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WITH THE PRESIDENT THREATENING TO REMOVE ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY BECAME THE FIRST TO HAVE REJECTED TRUMP'S DEMANDS TO CHANGE HIRING, ADMISSIONS AND TEACHING PRACTICES. THE CHANGES DEMANDED INCLUDE REPORTING STUDENTS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF THEY'RE, QUOTE, 'HOSTILE TO AMERICAN VALUES.' IN THE UK, THERE ARE FEARS A BIN WORKERS' STRIKE IN BIRMINGHAM COULD SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS ` NOW IT'S ENTERED ITS SIXTH WEEK. WORKERS OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTED THE LATEST PAY OFFER FROM BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL, SAYING IT DOESN'T ADDRESS POTENTIAL PAY CUTS FOR DRIVERS. THE COUNCIL SAYS THE MOUNT OF UNCOLLECTED WASTE HAS PEAKED AT 22,000t AND ITS HOPING TO CLEAR A BACKLOG BY THE WEEKEND. TO SPORT, AND THE WARRIORS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESHUFFLE THEIR SQUAD FOR THIS WEEKEND'S CLASH AGAINST THE BRONCOS DUE TO SUSPENSION AND INJURY. CENTRE ROCCO BERRY COPPING A ONE MATCH BAN AT LAST NIGHT'S JUDICIARY HEARING AFTER ENTERING AN EARLY GUILTY PLEA FOR A CARELESS HIGH TACKLE. MEANWHILE IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED CO-CAPTAIN JAMES FISHER HARRIS IS OUT WITH A PECTORAL INJURY AND CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD WILL MISS THE GAME DUE TO CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS. ED KOSI, JACKSON FORD, AND LEKA HALASIMA HAVE BEEN NAMED TO START. THE MATCH KICKS OFF AT 7.30 ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT A SOLD-OUT MOUNT SMART. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` STARTING OFF WITH SOME WARNINGS, THERE IS AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH UNTIL 8pm THURSDAY EVENING AND AN ORANGE STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND AND GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FROM 9pm TONIGHT TIL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. ITS LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER GREY DAY, PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST AND HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, YOU CAN EXPECT A RAINY START BEFORE EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 20 THE HIGH IN WHANGAREI, 17 IN TAUPO. KI TE WAI POUNAMU ` A BIT OF A SIMILAR STORY FOR THE SOUTH; PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST ALONG THE EAST COAST, WITH LIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER, A MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ALONG THE WEST COAST. 17 THE HIGH IN NELSON, 16 IN INVERCARGILL. FOR MORE ON THE WILD WEATHER SET TO LASH THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND TODAY, LET'S BRING IN LUCY BENDELL. MORENA, LUCY. WHAT'S THE LATEST? MORENA, CHRIS. SEVERE STORM BARRELLING TOWARD NEW ZEALAND RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE. MET SERVICE ARE ALREADY WARNING THAT THEY COULD BE UPGRADED AS THAT STORM GETS CLOSER. THE WIND IS SET TO BE THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH WARNINGS THAT THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE COULD FACE CLOSURE IN THE COMING DAYS. 85 KM AN HOUR OF WIND TRIGGERING AN AMBER ALERT. THAT WINTER'S JUST SET TO PICK UP IN THE COMING DAYS, HITTING AROUND 100 KM AN HOUR, COULD TRIGGER A RED WARNING CLOSING THE BRIDGE COMPLETELY. THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HITTING THE ROAD, THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS URGING PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES, CLAIRE OUT DRAINS, AND DOING SMALL THINGS LIKE NOT PUTTING THE BINS OUT THE NIGHT BEFORE. PEOPLE THAT ARE HEADING AWAY FOR THE EASTER WEEKEND, AUCKLAND COUNCIL SAYS DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS, AND THAT RAIN WE SAW HAS DAMPENED THE GROUNDS A LITTLE BIT SO WE COULD SEE POSSIBLE FLOODING AS WELL. THANKS, LUCY BENDELL, REPORTING FROM OUR AUCKLAND NEWSROOM. EVERY DAY PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, ARE QUITE LITERALLY HELPING INJURED NEW ZEALANDERS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNING PEOPLE OFF TO RETURN TO WORK THEY HAVE TO HAND RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO A GP. WITH LONG WAIT TIMES AND RISING COSTS PHYSIOS ARE NOW CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO AMEND THE LAW TO GIVE THEM THE POWER TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND PRESIDENT KIRSTEN DAVIE JOINS US NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. JUST TO CLARIFY, PHYSIOS CAN ALREADY CERTIFY RETURN TO WORK FOR NON-ACC WORKERS, BUT YOU WANT MORE AUTHORITY TO DO MORE CASES. THAT'S CORRECT. AT THE MOMENT, IT IS WITHIN PHYSIOTHERAPIST SCOPE OF PRACTICE TO SIGN OFF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES, BUT THE ACC LEGISLATION DOES NOT HAVE US NAMED WITHIN IT. WE NEED THAT WEAKEN THE LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THAT AND IT WOULD REALLY STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR THOSE INJURED NEW ZEALANDERS GETTING BACK TO WORK. PHYSIO ALREADY RATE RETURN TO WORK PLANS. BUT IT GOES TO A DOCTOR WHO HAS TO SIGN OFF ON THAT. WHAT ARE IN THOSE PLANS? AT THE MOMENT, A NUMBER OF US, A LOT OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPY PROFESSION, WE WORK IN THIS AREA WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES, WE GET A TOUCH OF THE EMPLOYERS, WE GO TO THE WORK SITE, WE LOOK AT THE DIP PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB, WE WORK WITH THE PATIENT ON THEIR REHABILITATION, WE TEST THEIR FUNCTION AND ABILITY, AND THOSE RETURN TO WORK PLANS, WE WORK THROUGH THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THURSDAY THAT THEY CAN WORK, THE DAYS PER WEEK, THE LIMITATION THEY MAY HAVE ON ANY OF THOSE JOB DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED WITH THE EMPLOYER. HOW MUCH THEY CAN LIFT, HOW LONG THEY CAN STAND, WHETHER THEY CAN BE ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. ARE THERE ANY SITUATIONS WHERE MEDICAL OVERSIGHT IS MORE APPROPRIATE? WHERE IS SAFER FOR HEP A GP TO MAKE THAT CALL? WE HAVE IT WITHIN OUR SCOPE TO DO THE RETURN TO WORK MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR GP COLLEAGUES, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS REALLY UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE. SO WE HAVE TO WATCH THOSE BOTTLENECKS. THIS IS COSTING THE NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR JUST BY THE PERSON NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK IN QUITE A TIMELY FASHION AS THEY COULD, BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DOCTOR. SO BY US DOING THAT, WE CAN REDUCE THAT BOTTLENECK AND STREAMLINE AND SAVE THE NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT THAT PERSON CAN ALSO RETURN TO WORK SAFELY AND IT MEANS THAT THE BUSINESSES ABLE TO HAVE THAT EMPLOYEE BACK AT WORK. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. WE HAD A REPLY FROM ACC WHICH SAID EXTENDING THE PROFESSIONS THAT CAN COMPLETE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION IS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AS IT WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE REFORM. THEY SAID IT ALSO RECOGNISES THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE WIDER WORKFORCE CAN HELP IN PEOPLE RETURNING TO WORK AND IS WORKING WITH THE SECTOR. AS AT AN ENCOURAGING SIGN? CERTAINLY PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND IS IN DISCUSSION WITH ACC. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MOVE ALONG. WE KNOW THAT ACC AT THE MOMENT COULD PUT POLICY IN PLACE TO ALLOW US TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW AND SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE TAXPAYER, THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE SOMETHING THAT IS A BIT MORE ENCOMPASSED BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS THAT WITH THE MINISTER OF ACC. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO ACC AND THE GOVERNMENT? WE ARE READY. WE HAVE IT WITHIN OUR SCOPE OF PRACTICE, THIS IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH EMPLOYERS, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THAT PERSON IS SAFE TO RETURN TO WORK, IT'S WITHIN OUR SCOPE OF PRACTICE, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE READY, WE WILL SAVE YOU MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WE ALSO HAD A RESPONSE FROM THE ROYAL DE SILVA COLLEGE OF GPS THAT SAY A RETURN TO WORK CERTIFICATE HAS MULTIPLE FACTORS INVOLVED AND SHOULD REMAIN WITH THE TEAMS THAT HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THE PERSON'S WHOLE HEALTH. PHYSIOTHERAPISTS HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PORT OF CALL. WE ARE SCREENING FOR RED FLAGS, ANY CONCERNS WE WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES, THEY DON'T NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. IT IS WITHIN THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS SCOPE OF PRACTICE. WE ARE RECOGNISING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE COMPLEX SITUATIONS THAT WE ARE OF COURSE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH THE GPS ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS. WE WILL KEEP WORKING WITH THEM. SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANKS SO MUCH. IT MAKES SENSE, RIGHT? TAKE SOME OF THE WORK LOAD OFF, IT WILL COST US LESS MONEY, AND THEY ARE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THAT WORK ANYWAY. IT IS A REQUIREMENT BECAUSE IT IS THROUGH ACC, SO IF YOU GET INJURED THROUGH ACC, THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CAN'T SAY THAT. BUT PEOPLE SOMETIMES ASK PHYSIOTHERAPISTS FOR A RETURN TO WORK CERTIFICATE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` IT'S ESTIMATED UP TO 5% OF MEN WORLDWIDE MAY HAVE A TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY. NEXT, THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, AND WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE LINKED TO. # THE SKY IS FALLING. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CALLED FOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CALLED FOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY TO LOSE A VALUABLE TAX BREAK JUST HOURS AFTER HIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED IT IS FREEZING MORE THAN $2bn IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE ELITE INSTITUTION OVER CAMPUS ACTIVISM. FORECASTERS HAVE UPGRADED THE SEVERE STORM HEADING TOWARDS NEW ZEALAND TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNINGS ISSUED BY MET SERVICE FOR NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND COROMANDEL. AND THE WARRIORS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESHUFFLE THEIR SQUAD FOR THIS WEEKEND'S CLASH AGAINST THE BRONCOS DUE TO SUSPENSION AND INJURY. TESTOSTERONE IS THE KEY MALE HORMONE, RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARACTERISTICS LIKE HAIR GROWTH, MUSCLE MASS AND A DEEPENING VOICE, BUT RECENT UK RESARCH HAS REVEALED MANY MEN MAY BE UNAWARE THEY HAVE A TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY. TO HELP EXPLAIN WHAT IT ALL MEANS, ENDOCRINOLOGIST DR SASHA NAIR JOINS US NOW. MORENA. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. WHAT CAUSES LOW TESTOSTERONE IN MEN? IT COULD BE A VARIETY OF REASONS. THINGS LIKE CHEMOTHERAPY, DAMAGE TO THE TESTES, BUT THERE ARE MORE COMMON CAUSES, THINGS LIKE OB CITY CAN CAUSE IT, AND WHAT CAN ALSO BE RECOGNISED AS A CALORIE DEFICIT IN ATHLETES. REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS, THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT HAVING LOW TESTOSTERONE FATHER THINGS, DOES IT MATTER? YES ` LOW LIBIDO, FATIGUE, DROP-IN MOOD, GET CAN AFFECT FERTILITY, LOSS OF ERECTIONS. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE USING TESTOSTERONE AT THE GYM? PEOPLE TRYING TO ENHANCE THEIR PERFORMANCE, AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE COMPOUNDED ON PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THOSE SYMPTOMS, AND THEN YOU ADD THE TESTOSTERONE AND IT IS AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM BECAUSE IT SUPPRESSES YOUR NATURAL TESTOSTERONE. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO RECOVER YOUR NATURAL TESTOSTERONE AFTER YOU STOP IT. ARE WE SEEING MORE OF THAT? PEOPLE MORE USING IT UNOFFICIALLY. IT COMES WITH THOSE HEALTH RISKS. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING TO USE TESTOSTERONE TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR WORKOUTS? I THINK YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AND WE WOULD RECOMMEND USING TESTOSTERONE SUPPLEMENTATION WHEN THERE IS A TRUE DEFICIENCY, AND TESTES OR PITUITARY NOT ALLOWING FUNCTION. AND WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR SOMEONE THAT DOES HAVE A DEFICIENCY. IF YOU SEE SYMPTOMS, SEE YOUR DOCTOR, AND IF THERE IS ANY CONCERNS ON THE BLOOD TESTS, THEY WILL REFER YOU TO AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST. IS IT THAT IT'S THE WILD WEST OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE SEEKING IT FOR THE GYM? IT'S UNDER REGULATED AND PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY HAVE HIGHER THAN YOUR PHYSIOLOGICAL USUAL TESTOSTERONE LEVELS, AND THEN THERE OTHERS RISKS AS WELL. YOU DON'T KNOW THE IMPLICATIONS, THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS JUST FOR A QUICK FIX OF LOOKING GOOD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT DOING DAMAGE TO THE BODY. I'M THINKING ABOUT WOMEN. BECAUSE WE PRODUCE TESTOSTERONE AS WELL, AND I WONDER WHETHER THERE ARE WOMEN WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT TESTOSTERONE PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN WOMEN'S HEALTH. TESTOSTERONE AND WOMAN DOES NOT DROP OFF IN MENOPAUSE LIKE OESTROGEN DOES YOU STILL HAVE SOME. THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT THE ROUTINE PART OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT AND MOST WOMEN DON'T SEEM TO NEED IT. WE USE IT WHEN YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY LOW LIBIDO DESPITE BEING ON HRT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN TO UNDERSTAND THE HOMEOWNER BALANCES. IT PLAYS A HUGE PART IN MOOD. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A FUNDED ONE FOR WOMAN AS WELL. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, THE REASON RUBBISH HAS BEEN PILING UP ON THE STREETS OF ENGLAND'S SECOND BIGGEST CITY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. 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. (FUNKY MUSIC) VOICEOVER: Deals so good they're out of this wooooorld. Get stellar savings on any satellite ready phone when you buy interest-free on an eligible Pay Monthly plan. TXT in the middle of nowhere. Only with One New Zealand. # WHEN I AM WITH YOU, THERE IS NO PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE. # NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE. IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING OVER THE TOP WITH CHOCOLATE THIS EASTER, THINK AGAIN. CHOCOLATE MAKERS IN KENT IN THE UK ARE CLAIMING TO HAVE MADE GREAT BRITAIN'S BIGGEST AND HEAVIEST EASTER EGG. IT TOOK FIVE DAYS TO COMPLETE, STANDING AROUND 7FT TALL AND WEIGHS MORE THAN A BABY ELEPHANT. THE BBC'S CLAUDIA SERMBEZIS COULDN'T RESIST. (QUIRKY MUSIC) OOH! AUGUSTUS GLOOP WOULD LIKE TO GET HIS HANDS ON THIS ONE. AND YES, IT IS NEARLY TOUCHING THE CEILING. OK, LET ME JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SIZE. THIS GUY... (GIGGLES) THIS GUY IS 4kg, WEIGHS 4kg, OK? I'M GOING OVER TO THE BIG GUY NOW. 300kg. YEP, 300kg. MOULD BIGGER THAN A BATHTUB. NOW, MISS PIGGY FAMOUSLY SAID, 'NEVER EAT MORE CHOCOLATE THAN YOU CAN LIFT.' MM. I WAS PRETTY COMFY WITH THAT 4kg KILOGRAMS. ANYWAY, HERE'S THE MASSIVE BATH TUB. REVERSE IT IN A SECOND. BIT OF A DISASTER AT FIRST WHEN EGG NUMBER ONE COLLAPSED. OOPS. BUT THEN... GO. (PERSON CHEERS) WAIT, LOOK AT THAT! LOOK AT THAT. IT'S MADE OF PURE CHOCOLATE, BEAUTIFUL CHOCOLATE. 4 TO 5 INCHES THICK, SO IT'S INCREDIBLY THICK. SO IT NEEDS TO BE THICK. OTHERWISE IT JUST WOULDN'T STAY UP. IT'S ALSO ON A BASE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT UPRIGHT. IT'S ON A BASE AT THE BOTTOM, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY MADE OF CHOCOLATE AND CONNECTED TO IT. SO WE HAD TO MAKE THE EASTER EGG IN SORT OF IN SEGMENTS, IN PIECES, AND WE JOINED THEM TOGETHER USING MELTED CHOCOLATE. SO I GUESS LIKE GLUE. AND THEN WE PATCHED IT ALL TOGETHER AND THEN SPRAYED IT IN BEAUTIFUL CHOCOLATE JUST FOR DECORATION. WHEN DARREN LITTEN HAD THE ORIGINAL IDEA, THE CHOCOLATIERS THOUGHT HE WAS HAVING A LAUGH. I HONESTLY THOUGHT DARREN HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND I'M THINKING, WELL, WE'RE MAKING EASTER EGGS. SO I KNEW THE SEASON WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN AND I KIND OF NOT IGNORED IT, BUT PARKED IT. AND IT WAS ONLY UNTIL 10 DAYS LATER WHEN DARREN APPROACHED ME AND SAYS, WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE 250KG EGG? I SAID, YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE 250KG EGG? AND I SAID, OKAY, YEAH. I SAID, THAT'S INTERESTING. AND I JUST SAID, HOW AND WHY. INDEED, THIS IS A HEAVY CREATION AND ENDED UP BIGGER THAN PLANNED AT 300KG, AND AFTER EASTER IT'S GOING TO BE MELTED DOWN INTO TINY CHOCOLATE THEY ARE GOING TO MELT IT DOWN AND EAT IT LATER. GETTING SOME FEEDBACK AROUND THE ACC INTERVIEW ` THEY SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT, A LONG TIME TO SEE THE GP TO GET THE SIGN OFF, SO THEREFORE IT IS STOPPING PATIENTS FROM RETURNING TO WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE READY TO RETURN. , SAID, MY FATHER HAS HAD SURGERY AND REHABILITATION BUT IS STILL IN SEVERE PAIN. PHYSIO SAYS HE IS READY FOR WORK BUT DAD SAYS NO. DAD IS GRAVEL FOR THE DOCTOR AND PHYSIO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO OR WILLING TO PROVIDE THE SAME CARE DOCTOR CAN. PHYSIO SHOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECIDE. IT IS ONE OPINION FROM THOMAS. FAIR ENOUGH, IN THAT CASE AS WELL. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIME AND THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT, PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND IS SAYING, LOOK, WE KNOW THERE IS A BACKLOG, SO HERE IS ONE THING THAT WE ARE QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO DO, IS TO SIGN OFF ON THE CERTIFICATE, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS, IT IS A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THAT ACC WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH, ALL THE ACC AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING WITH PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND, JUST LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS. I SUPPOSE THE CONCERN IS THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT THE PHYSIO WOULD DEEM APPROPRIATE IN THE DOCTOR'S, BUT THERE'LL BE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN DOCTORS TOO. I WONDER IF THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND ON THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE, THEN YOU HEAR CASES LIKE THOMAS AND THINK, OKAY, ERRING ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS. FORECASTERS HAVE UPGRADED THE SEVERE STORM HEADING TOWARDS NEW ZEALAND TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE. OUR AUCKLAND REPORTER LUCY BENDELL HAS THE LATEST. LUCY, WHEN'S IT DUE TO HIT? GOOD MORNING, CHRIS, IT IS STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. MY TRAIN HAS HAD IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES AND WE ARE STARTING TO FEEL THAT WIND AS WELL IT IS SAID TO GET WORSE IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR. WAKA KOTAHI WARNING THAT THE BRIDGE COULD FACE POSSIBLE CLOSURES AND THIS COULD TRIGGER AN AMBER ALERT WHICH SAYS LAME AND SPEED REDUCTIONS. *LANE AND SPEED THIS COULD SEE THE BRIDGE CLOSED COMPLETELY. AUCKLAND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARE WARNING AUCKLAND IS TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTIES AND GO EASY ON THE ROADS AS WELL, AND IT IS BAD TIMING WITH THAT EASTER BREAK COMING UP, BUT THEY ARE URGING YOU TO CHECK WEATHER AS AGO. THANK YOU, LUCY BENDELL. FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR WELLINGTON MAYOR, SAYING THE CAPITAL NEEDS 'SERIOUS LEADERSHIP.' LITTLE RETIRED FROM POLITICS AFTER LABOUR'S LOSS IN THE 2023 ELECTION. HE'S NOW STANDING IN THE WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL ELECTION ON OCTOBER 11 THIS YEAR. HE SAYS WELLINGTON NEEDS URGENT CHANGE AND HE'S GOT THE EXPERIENCE TO GET THINGS DONE. LITTLE WAS LABOUR PARTY LEADER BETWEEN 2014 AND 2017 AND A SENIOR MINISTER IN GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION. PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ARE CALLING FOR MORE POWERS TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES, SAYING WAIT TIMES TO SEE GPS ARE HOLDING UP PATIENTS' ABILITY TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER AN INJURY. THEIR PROFESSIONAL BODY IS NOW CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE LAW SO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CAN SIGN OFF ON THEIR ACC RETURN-TO-WORK PLANS INSTEAD OF THE PATIENT NEEDING TO VISIT A GP. THE PRESIDENT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND SAYS THEY'VE GOT THE SKILLS TO DO IT, AND GETTING A TIMELY APPOINTMENT WITH A GP IS ONLY BECOMING HARDER. SO, WE HAVE TO WATCH THOSE BOTTLENECKS. THIS IS COSTING THE NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR BY JUST THE PERSON NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK IN QUITE A TIMELY FASHION AS THEY COULD BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DOCTOR. ACC SAYS WHILE IT RECOGNISES THE PROBLEM, LETTING MORE PROFESSIONALS HANDLE RETURN-TO-WORK CERTIFICATION COMES WITH ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES. NEW ZEALAND'S LULU SUN SAYS SHE'S STOKED TO HAVE LED THE WOMEN'S TENNIS TEAM THROUGH TO THE BILLIE JEAN KING CUP WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 30 YEARS. THE KIWIS TOPPED THEIR ASIA-OCEANIA GROUP AFTER BEATING THAILAND 2-1 IN INDIA. IT IS ALWAYS LOVELY TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND AS A COUNTRY INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALLY IN TOURNAMENTS. NEW ZEALAND WILL PLAY IN A ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT IN NOVEMBER FOR A SPOT IN THE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` STARTING OFF WITH SOME WARNINGS, THERE IS AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH UNTIL 8pm THURSDAY EVENING AND AN ORANGE STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND AND GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FROM 9pm TONIGHT TIL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IT'S LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER GREY DAY, PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST AND HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, YOU CAN EXPECT A RAINY START BEFORE EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 20 THE HIGH IN WHANGAREI, 17 IN TAUPO. A BIT OF A SIMILAR STORY FOR THE SOUTH; PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST ALONG THE EAST COAST, WITH LIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER, A MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ALONG THE WEST COAST. 17 THE HIGH IN NELSON, 16 IN INVERCARGILL. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) MARMITE AND VEGEMITE MIGHT BE POPULAR SPREADS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, BUT CANADIANS DON'T WANT A BAR OF IT. A CAFE IN TORONTO RUN BY AN EX-PAT AUSSIE HAS BEEN TOLD TO TAKE VEGEMITE OFF THE MENU. 9 NEWS' SHELLEY DOYLE EXPLAINS. IT'S AN ESSENTIAL FOR AUSSIES AND THEIR TOAST AROUND THE WORLD. # WE ALL ENJOY OUR VEGEMITE FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND TEA. # G'DAY, HAPPY LITTLE VEGEMITES. ...UNLESS, IT SEEMS, YOU'RE AN EXPAT LIVING IN CANADA. A LETTER OF DEMAND FROM THE CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY TO REMOVE OUR BELOVED VEGEMITE OFF THE MENU. LEIGHTON WALTERS, THE OWNER OF FOUND COFFEE CAFES IN TORONTO AND A DUAL AUSTRALIAN-CANADIAN CITIZEN, LEFT AN UNHAPPY VEGEMITE SLAPPED WITH A DECISION WHILE HE WAS UNDERGOING SURGERY, POSTING TO SOCIAL MEDIA IN SHOCK. HE'D SHIPPED IN $9,000 WORTH OF THE GOOD STUFF FROM BEGA'S DISTRIBUTOR, SELLING THE SLICE OF HOME ON HIS MENU AND SHELVES. THAT'S NOW HAD TO STOP ` THE COUNTRY'S FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY SAYING THE VEGEMITE FORMULATION THAT WAS SOLD AT THE CAFE DOES NOT MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS. VEGEMITE IS NOT BANNED, BUT SAYS IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE ADDED VITAMINS WHICH ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS PRODUCT. THE ADDITIVE IN QUESTION, VITAMIN B. THE SAME VEGEMITE THAT WE'RE SELLING IN THE SHOPS HERE, IS THE SAME VEGEMITE THAT AMAZON IS SELLING FOR THREE TIMES THE PRICE. SO WHY WOULD WE BE SOMEHOW TARGETED? AND LEIGHTON SAYS THE HUMBOLDT SPREAD'S RIVAL, MARMITE, IS AVAILABLE IN CANADIAN GROCERY STORES. I STAND WITH THE AUSSIE CAFE OWNER. I CAN CONFIRM HERE TODAY THAT I AM PRO-VEGEMITE. I ACTUALLY PUT A LOT OF VEGEMITE ON MY TOAST. VEGEMITE, OWNED BY BEGA, DOES NOT CURRENTLY EXPORT TO CANADA FOR SALE, SAYING ` (LAUGHTER) THE OWNER IS RIGHT, YOU CAN'T SELL IT HAS CAFE BUT YOU CAN BUY IT ONLINE. CANADA HAS A LOT OF TRADE WARS ON THEIR HAND AT THE MOMENT! I'M WITH VEGEMITE AS OPPOSED TO MARMITE. AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE. (SILENCE) LET'S MOVE ON VERY, VERY QUICKLY. ME U TONU MAI ` RATS AS BIG AS CATS. THE STAND-OFF THAT'S LEFT PILES OF RUBBISH ACROSS THE ENGLISH CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. (GROOVY MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. KIA ORA, KIA ORA. GOODNESS ME. YOU GO. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` A RECENT UK RESEARCH HAS REVEALED MANY MEN MAY BE UNAWARE THEY HAVE A TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY, WITH SYMPTOMS VARYING FROM FATIGUE, REDUCE OF FACIAL HAIR GROWTH AND SLEEPINESS. PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ARE WORRIED WAIT TIMES TO SEE GPS ARE HOLDING UP PATIENTS' RETURN TO WORK AFTER AN INJURY. THEIR NOW CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE LAW SO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CAN ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. AND CCTV HAS CAPTURED NEW IMAGES OF A FUGITIVE DOG THAT'S BEEN MISSING ON AUSTRALIA'S KANGAROO ISLAND FOR MORE THAN 500 DAYS. THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT TO A DISPUTE IN THE ENGLISH CITY OF BIRMINGHAM THAT'S RESULTED IN RUBBISH PILING UP ON THE STREETS. THE REASON? A STAND-OFF BETWEEN BIN WORKERS AND CITY AUTHORITIES THAT'S ESCALATED INTO A MONTH-LONG FULL-SCALE STRIKE. 1 NEWS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON IS IN BIRMINGHAM AND JOINS US NOW, AND MEI, HOW ARE LOCALS FEELING ABOUT THE SITUATION? GOOD MORNING. WORDS THAT I HAVE HEARD TODAY ` FED UP, OVER IT, HAD ENOUGH. THIS STRIKE HAS BEEN GOING ON THE SIX WEEKS NOW. WE WERE IN A MOSQUE TODAY AND ONE OF THE POORER NEIGHBOURHOODS IN BIRMINGHAM; ONE OF THE WORST AFFECTED AREAS, AND AT THIS MOSQUE, THEY TEAMED UP WITH THE COUNCIL TO CREATE A DRIVE-THROUGH BECAUSE COULD COME ALONG AND DROP OFF THEIR BACKS, AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE SHEER NUMBER OF CARS THAT CAME THROUGH WITH RUBBISH PILED UP TO THE BRIM, CAR AFTER CAR FOR FIVE HOURS NON-STOP. SOME OF THESE CARS GOING BACK HOME AND PICKING UP MORE RUBBISH. AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL WITHOUT HAVING TO WALK AROUND A LOAD OF BIN BAGS BEING RIPPED APART BY FOXES OR WHATEVER. AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN. IT'S JUST SUCH A SHAME. HOW BIG ARE SOME OF THE RATS THAT YOU'VE SEEN? LIKE CATS. ...THE SIZE OF CATS? YEAH. IT'S RIDICULOUS. WE'RE LIKE` WE'RE LIVING IN LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. IT'S NOT RIGHT. SO I'M THINKING, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT THE PLAN TO DO? EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO TODAY HAS A STORY. AND HE HEARD THERE, CAPSISED RATS ON HER DOORSTEP DAY AND NIGHT, THEY ALSO TALKED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AS WELL AS HE SAID HE HAS SEEN AN UPTICK IN PEOPLE BRINGING AND THEIR CARS BECAUSE THE CATS HAVE SHOULD DO THE CAR WAY ENGINE SO THEY CAN'T DRIVE. THIS SOUNDS HORRENDOUS. GIVE US A BIT OF BACKGROUND, WHAT'S BEHIND THIS DISPUTE? IT STARTED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO RESTRUCTURE ITS WASTE MANAGEMENT TEAM, GET RID OF SOME OF THE WASTE OFFICE IS AT THE UNION SAYS BY DOING THAT, ABOUT 150 WORKERS WILL HAVE THEIR PAY CUT BY OVER $16,000 A YEAR. THE COUNCIL DISPUTES THIS AND IT HAS TURNED INTO A FIGHT OVER PAY AND CONDITIONS AS WELL. THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. THE LATEST OFFER WAS REJECTED BY THE UNION. THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT HAS NOT HAD VERY MUCH MONEY FOR DECADES NOW AND HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTING IN KEY AND RESTRUCTURE. IT AS A STORY WE HAVE HEARD THERE ARE TO NEW ZEALAND ABOUT COUNCIL STRUGGLING, BUT IN BIRMINGHAM, IT IS PLAYING OUT IN THE FORM OF STRIKES. SOUNDS DISGUSTING, HOW BAD IS THE CURRENT SCENE ON THE STREETS? A DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I AM STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO A MASSIVE PILE, AND HONESTLY, MAYFAIR IS THAT THE RATE WILL COME OUT OF THIS AND COME UP MY LEGS. *MY FEAR IS GIVE IT A RUSTLE. THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH! AT THE END OF EVERY STREET, THERE IS A MASSIVE PILE LIKE THIS, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, IT HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT IT ON THEIR DOORSTEP SO THEY BRING IT OUT AND PUT IT AT THE END OF THE STREET. IT DOES SMELL AROUND HERE AS WELL, BUT I HAVEN'T STRUCK WITH AREAS WHERE THE RUBBISH HAS BEEN CLEARED, BUT WHEN IT HAS BEEN CLEARED, IT HASN'T BEEN A CLEAN PAVEMENT LEFT BEHIND. THE DEBRIS IS GENUINELY EVERYWHERE ` IT IS IN GUTTERS, TREES, PLAYGROUNDS. ONE VOLUNTEER SAYS SHE IS SO DEFLATED AND DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START, THAT THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM HERE IN BIRMINGHAM. THE LATEST PAY OFFER HAS BEEN REJECTED ` HOW FAR APART ARE THE TWO SIDES? OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTED YESTERDAY, THAT LATEST PAY OFFER, SO IT DOES FEEL LIKE BOTH SIDES ARE PRETTY FAR APART. THEY DO SAY THERE IS SOME PROGRESS WITH THE GRADUATIONS BUT IT IS STILL ONGOING. LIKE YOU SAY, NO END IN SIGHT. IN THE MEANTIME THOUGH, THE COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT BY THE WEEKEND, THEY CAN CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF THIS RUBBISH AND THEY CAN GET MOST OF IT OFF THE STREETS AND RESUME PICKING UP RUBBISH WEEKLY FROM NEXT WEEK. THE LOCAL LESS LIKELY DON'T QUITE BELIEVE IT UNTIL THEY SEE IT, THEY FEEL SO DEFLATED WITH THIS ISSUE AS YOU WOULD, HAVING SEEN THIS. GET THE HAND SANITISER OUT. THANKS, 1 NEWS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON REPORTING LIVE FROM BIRMINGHAM. IT MIGHT GET RID OF THE BACKLOG, BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT... IF SOME OF THE RUBBISH HAPPENS TO FALL OUT, IT'S LIKE, OH WELL. I TELL YOU WHAT, I HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE OF IT IS ILLEGAL DUMPING OF RUBBISH BAGS, OF COUCHES. IT IS AS IT IS JUST ME DRIVING PAST AND SEEING IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I AM SEEING A VEHICLES PULL UP DURING THE DAY, OPEN UP THE BOOTS... JUST TOSS THE RUBBISH OUT? JUST TOSS THE RUBBISH OUT, IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. THEY ARE RURAL ROADS BUT ALSO WELL USED RURAL ROADS. THERE'S ALL THIS RUBBISH OFF THE MOTORWAY TOWARDS THE ZOO. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO BE TIDY KIWIS. IT IS AN ISSUE IN THE UK WITH THE BEN COLLECTORS, BUT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HERE ABOUT HOW TO BE TIDY KIWIS. YOU CAN GET A FINAL WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING OF UP TO $400, YOU CAN GET PROSECUTED FOR 30 GRAND. YES, I TAKE PHOTOS, YES I REPORT IT TO THE COUNCIL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT IS WRONG WITH US? I GET THAT IT TAKES MONEY TO GET RID OF THINGS, BUT JUST TO GET RID OF IT AND THOUGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS LEAVE THAT THERE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO DEAL WITH... AND THEY ARE LUCKY OUR COUNCIL IS STILL WORKING ON PICKING THOSE THINGS UP. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE ISSUE THAT'S UNITED NUTRITIONISTS AND BIG PLAYERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. AND NEXT, A WARNING FROM DOC AS DOG FAECES LITTERS ONE OF SOUTHLAND'S MOST POPULAR COASTAL WALKS. SEE? THE SAME THING@ VOICEOVER: Waitoa Free Range Chicken, full of natural goodness and deliciousness. This looks great. but turns the whole family... Dad... ...cozy. What's happening? The meal that brings everyone together. I'm warm and cozy but slightly worried. I think this is one of those collective experiences. It's not reading my fingers. Just try face ID. I don't have any fingers. You know what. I actually feel close to you all. Waitoa Free Range Chicken. # THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER. A POPULAR SOUTHLAND TRACK IS UNDER THREAT. NOT FROM EROSION OR EXTREME WEATHER, BUT FROM DOG POO. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION RANGERS SAY THE LEVEL OF DOG FAECES LEFT BEHIND ON BLUFF'S FOVEAUX WALKWAY HAS BECOME 'OBSCENE' AND THEY'RE WARNING DOG OWNERS TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS. EARLIER, I SPOKE WITH DOC'S ACTING OPERATIONS MANAGER MURIHIKU JONO AIREY AND BEGUN BY ASKING HIM IF MORE EDUCATION IS NEEDED FOR TRACK-GOERS. IT'S PROBABLY A SIGNATURE TRACK, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VISITING ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND IT IS SUCH A SHAME, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE COUNTRY. IT IS A SIGNATURE TRACK, IT IS WHAT WE USED TO PROMOTE SOUTHLAND IN THE AREA DOWN HERE, AND IT IS SUCH A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT IS RUINING IT. AS AN EXTREME MEASURE, BUT THE FIRST POINT OF CALL FOR US IS TO APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDE SOME EDUCATION. WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE TRACK? IT MUST BE THAT BAD. IT IS. I GUESS IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT IT'S BECOME A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR RANGES. WE HAVE SOME VERY DEDICATED RANGES ON THE GROUND WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR VISITORS AND LOCALS. WHEN THEY COME BACK COVERED IN MUCK, IT IS AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN'T TURN A BLIND EYE TO IT. IT WON'T JUST BE LOCALISED TO SOUTHLAND, IT WILL BE A ISSUE EVERYWHERE. IT'S TIME TO TELL THE PUBLIC TO RESPECT THE PLACE. I IMAGINE IT RANGES THEMSELVES ARE HAVING TO GO ALONG AND PICK UP ALL THE DOG POO. THAT JOB OF RANGERS IS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THE TRACK. IT IS NOT REALLY THEIR JOB TO PICK UP PEOPLE'S DOG POO. IT IS NOT ON, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO RESPECT THE PLACE AND BE PROUD AND DO THEIR BIT. WE DON'T WANT TO SHUT THESE TRACKS DOWN, PARTICULARLY NOT THIS ONE, THE WALKWAY, SO WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE WHO WALK THEIR DOGS ALONG THE TRACKS WE HAVE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. WE HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO TAKE YOUR PET OUT THERE AND ENJOY THE TRACK WITH IT, AND IT JUST COMES DOWN TO RESPECT. RESPECT THE LAND, RESPECT THE CREATURES THAT ARE THERE, AND RESPECT EACH OTHER. JUST DO YOUR BIT, WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE MEASURE OF HAVING TO SHUT THESE TRACKS DOWN TO DOGS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY RANGES AND OUR RANGES AND THE PUBLIC, THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. MORE BINS? SIGNAGE? IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG, BUT IS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION AROUND MORE SIGNAGE OR EVEN MORE BINS IN THOSE AREAS? OR DOES THAT BECAUSE ANOTHER ISSUE? IT DOES CAUSE ANOTHER ISSUE. WE DON'T WANT TO POLLUTE THE PLACE WITH SIGNS AND BINS. WHEN YOU DO PUT A PIN AND THEN IT ENCOURAGES FLIES. IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT PEOPLE TAKE THAT AS A PLACE TO DUMP THEIR RUBBISH. WE DON'T WANT TO TURN THE WALKWAY INTO A PLACE FOR THE BINS. WE WANT TO MINIMISE THE FOOTPRINTS IN THE AREA, SO WE DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THE BIN ROUTE, WE JUST WANT TO APPEAL TO PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. KEEPING THE PLACE PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING ON THE RANGES THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF HAVING TO CLEAN UP. WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE? IS THERE AN IMPACT ON THOSE? ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A REALLY UNIQUE PART OF THE WORLD DOWN HERE, AND BLUFF AND PARTICULAR HAS SOME AMAZING SPECIES. WE HAVE LITTLE BLUE PENGUINS AND A VARIETY OF FOREST BIRDS AND WE ALSO HAVE GOT SOME SEA LIONS AND SEALS. A VAST ARRAY OF CREATURES ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF COASTLINE, AND THE GERMS THAT ARE CONTAINED WITHIN DOG POO CAN BE PRETTY FERAL. THERE IS AN IMPACT ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIES, AND MY RANGES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. AT THE MOMENT, WE ARE LOOKING AFTER IT, BUT IF WE DON'T, THEN IT WILL START TO AFFECT WEIGHT ESPECIALLY IS. WIDER SPECIES* THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. STILL TO COMING ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` CONCERNS INFORMATION ON HOW NEW ZEALANDERS LIKE TO EAT AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR HEALTH IS OUTDATED. WHY NUTRITIONISTS AND FOOD MANUFACTURERS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. IT'S BEEN A ROUGH FEW YEARS FOR THE COROMANDEL REGION, BUT HAVE THE TOURISTS RETURNED? WE'LL CHECK IN WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AHEAD OF THE LONG WEEKEND. AND LATER, TEAM ARE ALREADY GEARING UP FOR THE COUNTRY'S MOST GRUELLING MULTI-DAY EVENT. SO WHAT'S IN STORE FOR COMPETITORS IN THE GODZONE? IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. TROPICAL CYCLONE TAM IS BRINGING HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND TO MUCH OF THE NORTH ISLAND. OUR AUCKLAND REPORTER LUCY BENDELL HAS THE LATEST. LUCY, HAS THE BAD WEATHER HIT YET? , THAT RAIN HAS HIT AND THE WINTER STARTING TO PICK UP WITH THE STRONGEST GUSTS SET TO HIT FROM NOW. ESPECIALLY THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE. IT IS SET TO SEE 75 TO 85 KM OF WIND. TODAY, WE COULD SEE LANE AND SPEEDY PRODUCTIONS, BUT THAT WIND IS SET TO PICK UP FROM TOMORROW SO WE COULD SEE THAT BRIDGE CLOSED TOMORROW OR ON FRIDAY. AS FOR THE RAIN, WHERE TO SEE IT IN AUCKLAND, NORTHLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, AND COROMANDEL. 120 280 MM OF RAIN COME THROUGH TONIGHT. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND WARNING PEOPLE TO CHECK THEIR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, AND IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT FOR EASTER, TO SECURE YOUR PROPERTY WHILE YOU ARE AWAY. AND TO DRIVE SAFE. WE COULD SEE POSSIBLE FLOODING BECAUSE THE RAIN HAS SOFTENED TO THE GROUND. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE SERVICE WARNINGS AS THEY SAY IT COULD BE UPGRADED FROM AN ORANGE TO A RED. FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR WELLINGTON MAYOR, SAYING THE CAPITAL NEEDS 'SERIOUS LEADERSHIP.' LITTLE WAS A SENIOR MINISTER IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT AND RETIRED FROM POLITICS AFTER LABOUR'S LOSS IN THE 2023 ELECTION. HE JOINS MAYOR TORY WHANAU, COUNCILLOR RAY CHUNG AND OTHER WELLINGTON LOCALS COMPETING FOR THE TOP SEAT. THE ELECTION'S SET TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 11. BLACK FERNS CO-CAPTAIN RUAHEI DEMANT IS PLEASED WITH THE FORM OF NEW ZEALAND'S WOMEN'S PLAYERS PUTTING THEM IN GOOD STEAD FOR AUGUST'S RUGBY WORLD CUP IN ENGLAND. DEMANT PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE BLUES AUPIKI TITLE DEFENCE. HER NEXT TASK IS THE SUPER CROSSOVER WITH THE WARATAHS TOMORROW, THEN IT'S BACK IN BLACK FERNS CAMP. THE COACH HAS GOT A REALLY TOUGH JOB. THERE'S SO MUCH DEPTH AND SO MANY POSITIONS, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IN A WORLD CUP YEAR. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL, ACTUALLY, TO SEE NOT JUST HOW CLOSE SATURDAY WAS, BUT HOW CLOSE A LOT OF THE GAMES WERE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. YOU CAN CATCH DEMANT AND THE BLUES WOMEN IN ACTION AGAINST THE WARATAHS TOMORROW NIGHT AT NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` STARTING OFF WITH SOME WARNINGS, THERE IS AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH UNTIL 8pm THURSDAY EVENING AND AN ORANGE STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND AND GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FROM 9pm TONIGHT TIL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. ITS LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER GREY DAY, PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST AND HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, YOU CAN EXPECT A RAINY START BEFORE EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 20 THE HIGH IN WHANGAREI, 17 IN TAUPO. KI TE WAI POUNAMU ` A BIT OF A SIMILAR STORY FOR THE SOUTH; PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST ALONG THE EAST COAST, WITH LIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER, A MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ALONG THE WEST COAST. 17 THE HIGH IN NELSON, 16 IN INVERCARGILL. DIETITIANS AND FOOD MANUFACTURERS ARE TAKING A RARE UNITED FRONT TO CALL FOR AN URGENT UPDATE TO THE NATIONAL NUTRITION SURVEY. THE SURVEY TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT PEOPLE ARE EATING AND ALSO THEIR HEALTH THROUGH THINGS LIKE BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES. IT'S USED TO SHAPE POLICY, BUT THE LAST ONE WAS CONDUCTED AMONG ADULTS WAS IN 2009 AND FOR CHILDREN, MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO. THIS MORNING, WE'RE JOINED BY FOOD AND GROCERY COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE RAEWYN BLEAKLEY IN OUR WELLINGTON STUDIO, AND UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND PROFESSOR OF POPULATION NUTRITION CLIONA NI MURCHU. MORENA. START WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE SURVEY AND WHAT DOES IT DO? IT IS THE MOST DETAILED ANALYSIS WE CAN DO TO DETERMINE WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS HATING AND WHAT IMPACT THAT HAS ON THEIR NUTRITION IN TERMS OF THEIR MICRONUTRIENT LEVELS AND WHETHER THEY ARE DEFICIENT. IT ALSO EXAMINES THINGS LIKE FOOD SECURITY. WHY IS THIS NOT A PRIORITY? THIS ONE IS MASSIVELY OUT OF DATE, THINGS HAVE CHANGE SO MUCH. THERE IS GENERALLY AGREEMENT ACROSS-THE-BOARD THAT WE NEED THIS, BUT THE COST IS THE STUMBLING BLOCK. IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $15 MILLION TO DO A LARGE STANDALONE SURVEY, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY POSSIBLE TO DO THOSE KINDS OF SURVEYS AT LOWER COST. HOWARD DOING AN UPDATED ONE BENEFIT US? IT WOULD TELL US IN DETAIL WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS HATING, WHAT WE ARE EATING, AND WHETHER IT IS TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE OF CERTAIN THINGS. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR DIETARY GUIDELINES, TO DESIGN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, TO SUPPORT HEALTHY EATING AND TO REDUCE ALL THE DIET -RELATED DISEASES THAT ARE A PROBLEM. GOOD MORNING TO YOU, WHAT WOULD THAT NEW INFORMATION DO FOR US PRACTICALLY SPEAKING? IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT 4 MANUFACTURERS OF FOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING EATEN IN THE DIET OF NEW ZEALANDERS. MANY OF THEM HAVE NUTRITIONIST TO HELP THEM REFORMULATE PRODUCTS. IT IS A REALLY EXCITING WAY OF CHANGING THE DIETS OF NEW ZEALANDERS. THEY CAN HELP WITH THEIR HEALTH IN THE FUTURE. THE NEW ZEALAND HEART FOUNDATION RUNS A PROGRAM THAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS AND A REALLY QUICK FUND FACTORS THAT 760 TONS OF SUGAR HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE DIET OF NEW ZEALANDERS DUE TO THIS PROGRAM. THAT AMOUNT OF SUGAR IS REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE. IT IS ABOUT THE SAME WEIGHT AS 50 DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES. WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MEASURED IT FOR SO LONG. SO IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC TO KNOW IF THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE. WHEN YOU GET THE NEW DATA, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF INNOVATION WITH FOOD AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SUPERMARKET SHELVES? IF WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE EATING NOW AND WE HAVE TARGETS AND THE FOOD PRODUCERS CAN INNOVATE AND REFORMULATE, THEN WE CAN PROVIDE EVEN MORE EXCITING PRODUCTS THAT ARE HEALTHIER ON THE SHELVES. NEW ZEALANDERS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THEIR DIETS AND HEALTH, THEY WANT TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES WHERE THEY CAN, WE ALL LIKE TO HAVE A TREAT NOW AND THEN, BUT HEALTHY CHOICES FOR EVERYDAY EATING IS A GOOD THING. BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION THEN WE CAN'T MAKE GREAT CHOICES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALL OF THE POPULATION AND WE THINK IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE HEALTH OF NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE LONG TERM AND IT IS WORTH THAT $15 MILLION INVESTMENT. I AM THINKING ABOUT EATING CEREAL AS A CHILD, HOW MUCH HAVE FOOD TRENDS MOVED ON SINCE THE SURVEY? MASSIVELY. IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN EATING OUTSIDE THE HOME. WE'VE HAD THE ADVENT OF URBAN EATS AND FOOD DELIVERY, WE SEE SOCIAL MEDIA IS HAVING A MASSIVE INFLUENCE ON WHAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG ADULTS CITING THESE DAYS. WE KNOW UNEQUIVOCALLY IS THAT PEOPLE ARE CHANGED WHAT THEY ARE 18, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DIFFERENCE IT IS MAKING ON THEIR NUTRITION. POOR NUTRITION IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY IN NEW ZEALAND. IT OUTRANKS EVERYTHING ELSE INCLUDING SMOKING. IT LEADS TO DIABETES, OBESITY, HEART DISEASE AND SOME CANCERS. SO INVESTING IN A SURVEY, WHILE $15 MILLION MIGHT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, IT IS MINUSCULE COMPARED TO THE COST OF TREATING THOSE DISEASES. DIABETES ALONE COSTS NEW ZEALAND 2, WHILE $15 MILLION MIGHT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, IT IS MINUSCULE COMPARED TO THE COST OF TREATING THOSE DISEASES. DIABETES ALONE COSTS NEW ZEALAND 20 BILLION A YEAR. 2 BILLION* AT THE MOMENT, WE ARE MAKING POLICY ON DESIGNING PROGRAMS COMPLETELY IN THE DARK. PEOPLE SAY THAT FOOD MANUFACTURERS MAIN CONCERN IS TO MAKE MONEY. IT'S NOT PEOPLE'S HEALTH. IT'S IMPORTANT BUSINESSES MAKE MONEY, SO IT IS A PRIMARY CONCERN, BUT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE NUTRITION POLICIES. THEY ARE REFORMULATING FOOD TO GET PEOPLE A BETTER HEALTH STAR RATING, MANY OF THEM HAVE ADOPTED THAT ACROSS THEIR FOOD RANGES. SO I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO SAY THAT THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN MONEY, AND IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN HEALTHY FOOD THEN THEY WANT TO BUY IT AND OUR MEMBERS WANT TO PROVIDE THOSE OPTIONS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN SELLING THOSE PRODUCTS. WE DO MANUFACTURERS GET THAT INFORMATION AND DATA FROM? THERE ARE OTHER DATA SOURCES, SCAN DATA, WHAT IS BEING SOLD AND YOU CAN LOOK AT OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES, WHAT YOUR MARKET SHARE IS AND WHAT PRODUCTS ARE SELLING THE MOST, BUT WHAT WE ARE MISSING A NEW ZEALANDERS THAT OVERALL PICTURE. THERE IS LOTS OF FOODS OUTSIDE THE HOME, THERE ARE DIFFERENT DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS, AND WE NEED TO KNOW THE DATA. 2002, SINCE WE LAST KNEW WHAT OUR CHILDREN WERE EATING, THAT'S A LONG TIME NOT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO BE MAKING FOOD POLICIES AND FOR PARENTS TO MAKE ASSERTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN. WE HAVE IODINE AND FOOD AND FOLIC ACID AND FOOD, AND WE ARE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY COULD BE SETTING UP OUR POPULATION FOR HEALTHIER OPTIONS DOWN THE TRACK TO GIVE EVERYONE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. IT IS SAID THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO CONDUCT A SURVEY, BUT IT FEELS LIKE A NO-BRAINER, DOESN'T IT? WE HAVE A HEALTH SYSTEM IN NEW ZEALAND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ON ITS KNEES AND THE SITE RELATED DISEASES ARE RELATED TO THE BURDEN THAT OUR HEALTHCARE IS EXPERIENCING. AND IT MAKES SENSE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW WE CAN PREVENT THOSE DISEASES BUT TO DO THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS ARE EATING. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE BOTH OF YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` ANDREW LITTLE'S THROWING HIS HAT IN THE RING TO BE MAYOR OF WELLINGTON. THE FORMER LABOUR LEADER TELLS US WHY, NEXT. # I KEEP COMING BACK # LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` AS THE CIVIL WAR IN SUDAN ENTERS ITS THIRD YEAR, THE UK AND THE EU HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'RE BOOSTING AID TO THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS THREATENED TO REMOVE A VALUABLE TAX BREAK FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY OVER ACTIVISM ON CAMPUS. AND BLACK FERNS CO-CAPTAIN RUAHEI DEMANT SAYS NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S RUGBY IS IN A STRONG POSITION AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN ENGLAND. 7.18. AFTER RETIRING FROM POLITICS AFTER LABOUR'S LOSS IN 2023, FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR WELLINGTON MAYOR. FOR MORE, HE JOINS US NOW FROM WELLINGTON. MORENA, ANDREW. ARE YOU BOARD? AS THE LAWYER PROFESSIONAL NOT KICKING IT AT THE MOMENT? I AM LOVING BEING A LAWYER, ACTUALLY, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING THIS DECISION, BECAUSE I AM ENJOYING NOT BEING IN THE PUBLIC LIFE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE SOME REAL CHALLENGES WELLINGTON AT THE MOMENT. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THAT EMERGE, I HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE ON THE LAST 2 TO 3 WEEKS ABOUT PUTTING MYSELF FORWARD, AND IN THE END I THOUGHT, I DO HAVE A SET OF SKILLS, AND AT THE CHALLENGE I WOULD LIKE TO RISE TO. TELL ME ABOUT THE 'WHY', BECAUSE YOU HAVE ENJOY BEING AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC EYE, THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES IN WELLINGTON, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYES SO WHY JUMP IN THIS? WE HAS SERIOUS CHALLENGES HERE IN WELLINGTON, LIKE RATE RISING OVER 30%, BUT THERE IS A LOSS OF ENERGY. COUNCIL IS GOING ON WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF CLAIMS... THERE WON'T BE VERY DISRUPTIVE TO A TIME WHEN BUSINESS IS REALLY FRAGILE AND WE NEED A LEADERSHIP THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF THAT, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE, ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND WORK HERE AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT IN THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND THE INCUMBENT COUNCIL. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE BEEN PERFORMING? THEY HAVEN'T REALLY GRIPPED UP THE PROBLEMS AND UNDERSTOOD WHERE THE CITY IS AT, NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. MY BACKGROUND MEANS THAT I CAN ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT, AND A GOVERNMENT, I KNOW MINISTERS. I CAN BUILD A CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP AND I CAN STAND UP TO GOVERNMENT. WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT THE MORE CURRENT COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AND THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED. IN TERMS OF YOUR PRIORITIES THERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT NEED SORTING DOWN IN WELLINGTON, AND WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR YOU? WE HAVE GOT TO GET... EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT FIXING THE PIPES, WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE WATER SORTED OUT. AND I CAN GET A GOOD ARRANGEMENT FOR TO THE CITY. WELLINGTON IS BECOMING TOO UNAFFORDABLE ` IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE BACK, WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE ARE SEEING MORE OF IT. WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND THIS COUNCIL IS DEVELOPING A TRACK RECORD OF DOING AWAY WITH GOOD COMMUNITY FACILITIES LIKE THE POOL. WE NEED TO HOLD ONTO THOSE THINGS ARE ME ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY/ LOCAL ELECTIONS COMING UP IN OCTOBER, SO THAT GIVES YOU ABOUT SIX MONTHS LEAD UP TO CAMPAIGN, SO HOW WILL YOU CONVINCE WELLINGTONIAN IS YOU ARE THE GUY FOR THE JOB? IT'S ABOUT GETTING OUT AND ABOUT. I HAVE AN AMAZING CAMPAIGN TEAM LINED UP. I'VE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I'M CONFIDENT THAT WITH HARD WORK AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND A GOOD FOCUS THAT I CAN DO THIS. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO PERSONAL, MR LITTLE, BUT I JUST WONDER ABOUT YOU BEING OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OUT OF THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND HOW YOUR WHANAU IS FEELING ABOUT YOU JUMPING INTO THIS ROLE? THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION TOP, SO A LOT OF KORERO WITH MY FAMILY BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE. I AM SITTING NEXT TO A WELLINGTONIAN WHO MIGHT HAVE THOUGHTS FOR YOU. (CHUCKLES) DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WELLINGTON HAS LOST ITS MOJO? IT IS TO BE A VIBRANT CAPITAL CITY. I DESCRIBE IT AS A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE. PEOPLE ARE FEELING THE IMPACTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE CUTS AND ARE SEEING THOSE SERVICES AND WE NEED TO TURN IT AROUND. WHAT IS NEEDED IS A LEADERSHIP THAT IS STEADY, ENGAGING, THAT IS FOCUSED AND CAN TAKE ON THE FACE THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN ON AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP THAT NEED TO BE BUILT ` THAT IS MY STYLE AND THAT IS WHAT I DO. I NOTICED YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IS OFF TO A STRONG START WITH YOU HOPPING OFF A BUS AND DECLARING YOUR BID FOR CANDIDACY. AND JENNY MAY SAID THERE HAS BEEN A WHILE FOR YOU, HOW WILL YOU USE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONNECT TO THE YOUTH? I HAD A PRETTY AMAZING TEAM WHEN I WAS MINISTER WHO HELPS ME WITH A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I DO IT ALONE NOW` NO, I HAVE A GREAT TEAM COMING ON BOARD TO HELP ME WITH THAT. FINALLY AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IS AS A LONG-TERM THING FOR YOU OR IS THIS ONE TERM, YOU ARE COMING IN TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHAT YOU CAN FIX? YOUR JUST COME IN FOR ONE VERSE WAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU COMMIT TO A LONGER TERM, SO IF I GET ELECTED IN OCTOBER, I'LL STICK AROUND TO REALLY EMBED GOOD CHANGE GET WELLINGTON BACK ON ITS FEET. AND A LITTLE, WELLINGTON MAYORAL CANDIDATE, JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM THIS MORNING. THANK YOU HAD ALL THE BEST. KIA ORA. THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT THE WEATHER, JUST SAYING. (LAUGHTER) IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF HIS JURISDICTION, BUT A STRONG START WITH THE CAMPAIGN VIDEO. YES. I LIKE IT, HOPPING OFF THE BUS. DO YOU? DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AT THE RIGHT TIME. AUCKLAND MAYOR WAYNE BROWN IS GOING STRONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT IS QUITE AWKWARD, BUT IT IS ENGAGING, ACTUALLY, TO BE THERE. *TO BE FAIR IT'S THE GRUMPY OLD MAN VIBES, ISN'T IT? THAT'S WHAT HAS WHATSAPP TENNIS GROUP WAS CALLED. (CHUCKLES) THAT'S RIGHT. HE WANTS SOME SOCIAL MEDIA AUTHENTICITY. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. (SOFT POP MUSIC) IT IS A LOVELY AND MOODY SHOT OF AUCKLAND BEFORE THE RAIN TRULY SETS IN. STRONG EASTERLIES RISING TO GALES AT NIGHT, GUSTING TO 120. NOT GREAT FOR OUR DIRECTOR'S BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTOPH. CHRISTCHURCH, 14 DEGREES IS YOUR HIGH TODAY. CLOUDY WITH A POSSIBLE EVENING DRIZZLE. FRESH FOR A TIME THIS AFTERNOON. (CHUCKLES) IT'S 7.30. HERE'S THE NEWS. THERE ARE CALLS FOR AN URGENT UPDATE TO A NATIONAL NUTRITION SURVEY THAT'S USED TO SHAPE POLICY AROUND FOOD. THE SURVEY TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT PEOPLE ARE EATING, AND ALSO THEIR HEALTH, THROUGH THINGS LIKE BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES. BUT THE LAST ONE CONDUCTED AMONG ADULTS WAS IN 2009 ` AND FOR CHILDREN, MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO. DIETITIANS AND FOOD MANUFACTURERS SAY IT WOULD SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS ARE EATING AND WHETHER WE'RE EATING TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH OF CERTAIN FOODS. IF WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE EATING NOW, AND WE HAVE TARGETS, AND THE FOOD PRODUCERS CAN INNOVATE AND REFORMULATE, THEN WE CAN PROVIDE EVEN MORE EXCITING PRODUCTS THAT ARE HEALTHIER ON THE SHELVES. A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS ARE REALLY KEEN TO DO THAT. NEW ZEALANDERS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THEIR DIET. THEY ARE INTERESTED IN HEALTH. THEY WANT TO PROBABLY MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES WHERE THEY CAN. BUT IT WOULDN'T BE CHEAP. IT'S ESTIMATED IT'LL COST AROUND $15 MILLION TO DO A LARGE STANDALONE SURVEY LIKE THIS. THERE'S GROWING FRUSTRATION AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS WHO SAY PATIENTS ARE STUCK WAITING TOO LONG TO RETURN TO WORK DUE TO DELAYS IN SEEING A GP. THEY'RE WANTING LAW CHANGES TO GIVE THEM THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES FOR ACC PATIENTS. THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF GPs, HOWEVER, ARGUES THAT OVERSIGHT IS STILL ESSENTIAL FOR CERTIFYING SOMEONE AS UNFIT TO WORK. IT IS WITHIN THE PHYSIOTHERAPIST'S SCOPE OF PRACTICE. SO WE ARE RECOGNISED AS BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE COMPLEX SITUATIONS, AND WE OF COURSE ARE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH THE GPs ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS. SHE SAYS GP WAIT TIMES FOR ACC PATIENTS TO GET SIGNOFF ARE COSTING THE TAXPAYER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. OVERSEAS NOW, AND THE UK AND THE EU HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'RE BOOSTING AID TO SUDAN AS THE CIVIL WAR ENTERS ITS THIRD YEAR. THE U.N. SAYS THE AFRICAN COUNTRY IS SUFFERING FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS TWO YEARS SINCE FIGHTING ERUPTED BETWEEN THE SUDANESE ARMY AND THE PARAMILITARY RAPID SUPPORT FORCES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED IN THE CONFLICT, AND NEARLY 13 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED. TO SPORT, NEW ZEALAND IS SET TO MAKE ITS DEBUT AT THE WHEELCHAIR RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP. THE WHEEL KIWIS CONFIRMED AS ONE OF THE SIX COUNTRIES CONTESTING THE CUP IN AUSTRALIA IN 2026. NEW ZEALAND MADE THEIR INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR DEBUT IN OCTOBER AGAINST THE WHEELAROOS. NZRL'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAYS HE'S PROUD TO BE PART OF THE GLOBAL GROWTH OF WHEELCHAIR RUGBY LEAGUE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) CHECKING OUT YOUR WEATHER TODAY. STARTING OFF WITH SOME WARNINGS ` THERE IS AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH UNTIL 8pm THURSDAY EVENING, AND AN ORANGE STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND AND GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FROM 9pm TONIGHT TILL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IT'S LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER GREY DAY, PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, IT'S LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER GREY DAY. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST AND HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. AUCKLAND, YOU CAN EXPECT A RAINY START BEFORE EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 20 THE HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 17 IN TAUPO. A BIT OF A SIMILAR STORY FOR THE SOUTH; PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST ALONG THE EAST COAST, WITH LIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER, A MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ALONG THE WEST COAST. 17 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 16 IN INVERCARGILL. WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS RECENTLY AFTER 'WEGOVY' WAS GIVEN APPROVAL FOR USE IN AOTEAROA. BUT ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, PFIZER, HAS SUFFERED A MAJOR SETBACK IN DEVELOPING ITS OWN TREATMENT. IT COMES AS 'OZEMPIC' CUSTOMERS RECEIVE A NEW ALERT HERE'S THE ABC'S LIONEL MOISE. THIS MORNING, PFIZER IS REVERSING CALLS ON DEVELOPING A WEIGHT LOSS PILL AFTER A PATIENT IN THE TRIAL SUFFERED WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE DRUG INDUCED LIVER INJURY. PFIZER WAS HOPING TO BRING THE FIRST WEIGHT LOSS PILL TO THE MARKET AS WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS HAVE SKYROCKETED IN POPULARITY. THE COMPANY'S ONCE-DAILY GOP ONE PILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY SCRAPPED, BUT PFIZER IS NOT OUT OF THE RACE JUST YET., SAYING... PFIZER HAS ANOTHER PILL AND PHASE 2 TRIALS THAT TARGETS THE GIP R HORMONE. IT IS TRYING TO TAP INTO A WEIGHT LOSS MARKET EXPECTED TO BE WORTH SOME $150 BILLION IN THE COMING YEARS. THIS IS THE END OF THAT PARTICULAR PILL WHICH WAS THE EFFORT TO PLAY CATCH UP WITH THE LIKES OF OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THIS MARKET, AS WE HAVE WITNESSED ITS EXPLOSION AND DEMAND. BUT THIS WAS ITS BEST CHANCE TO EVEN GET ONE ON THE BOARD. OTHERS ARE WORKING ON WEIGHT LOSS PILLS THAT ARE IN LATE STAGE CLINICAL TRIALS. IT COMES AS THE FDA ISSUED A NEW WARNING ABOUT COUNTERFEIT ONES ON THE MARKET. THE COUNTERFEIT INJECTION DRUGS HAVE A LOT NUMBER OF... PATIENTS ARE REMINDED TO USE ONLY LICENSED PHARMACIES. OH DEAR. THAT IS A WORRY. THERE ARE SOME FEEDBACK COMING IN ABOUT THE RUBBISH. YOU HAVE TO SAY BIRMINGHAM WITH A BRUMMIE ACCENT. YOU HAVE TO SAY IT LIKE YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED. THERE ARE STRIPES GOING ON AT THE MOMENT, WHICH MEANS THERE IS RUBBISH EVERYWHERE AND RATS THE SIZE OF CATS. BUT APPARENTLY WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SEEING PEOPLE THROWING RUBBISH OUT OF THEIR CARS. I SAW SOMEONE PULL UP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOSS AT A COUCH AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. JOHN SAYS HE AGREES WITH BOTH OF US. PEOPLE THROWING THE RUBBISH OUT OF THE CAR AND ONTO THE ROAD AND ALSO INTO OTHER COMPLEXES BENDS. HE LIVES IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO TAKE IT DOWN AND PUT IT IN THE BIN. THEY ARE JUST CHUCKING IT DOWN THERE AND LEAVING IT. MIKE AGREES ABOUT THE COMMENTS OF DUMPING RUBBISH, BUT THE LAST TIME HE WENT TO THE DUMP TO GET RID OF GREEN WASTE IN NEW PLYMOUTH, COST $96. THAT IS WHAT I WAS MENTIONING BEFORE. IT COST SO MUCH TO DUMP YOUR RUBBISH IF YOU HAVE EXTRA. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL COMES TO PICK IT UP, YOU WILL JUST PAY FOR IT IN RATES. SOMEONE IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR FREE. PEOPLE ARE JUST WANTING TO GET READ OF IT. I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE PACKING UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DURING THE DAYTIME, NOT EVEN DOING IT UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS. SOMETIMES I WALK MY STREET AND THERE IS RUBBISH OR BITS OF GLASS. YOU PICK IT UP BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT THE KIDS TO BE FALLING ON IT. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING A GO AT YOU WHEN YOU HAD A GO AT WELLINGTON. NICE DEFLECTION. IS THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GO AT YOU HAVING A GO AT WELLINGTON. I AM SICK OF JENNY-MAY GOING ON ABOUT WELLINGTON. SHE NEVER HAS A GOOD WORD TO SAY BUT IT. THAT IS NOT TRUE. I REALLY, REALLY LIKE WELLINGTON. ANDREW LITTLE SAID THE CITY IS HAVING A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE AT THE MOMENT WITH ALL OF THE JOB CUTS GOING ON, SO HE IS HOPING` HE IS PUTTING HIS HAND IN THE RING. WHEN WELLINGTON HAS A GOOD DAY, YOU NEVER SHOW IT ON THE WEATHER CAMERA. WE ALWAYS SHOW WELLINGTON ON THE WEATHER CAMERAS. VERY RARELY... IT IS NOT OUR FAULT. I LIKE IT, THOUGH. KEEP FIGHTING FOR YOUR CITY. WHEN JENNY-MAY HAS A GO AT WELLINGTON, LET STAND TOGETHER, WELLINGTONIAN'S. I AM SICK OF THIS BEHAVIOUR. LOOK AT IT. LYALL BAY. WE WENT THERE STRAIGHT AWAY. IT IS OVERCAST. JUST CLEAN THE CAMERA LENS. IT NEEDS A BIT OF A WHITE. THINGS TO BE PROUD OF. THERE IS A GOOD CAFE BEHIND THAT. THERE IS THE AIRPORT AGAIN. HAVE WE DONE ENOUGH OF THAT? ME U TONU MAI ` THE BLUES WOMEN HAVE CLAIMED THE NEW ZEALAND SUPER RUGBY TITLE. CAN THEY KNOCK OVER AUSTRALIA'S BEST? MORE SPORT AFTER THE BREAK. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR WELLINGTON MAYOR, SAYING THE CAPITAL NEEDS 'SERIOUS LEADERSHIP'. A NUTRITION EXPERT IS TEAMING UP WITH SOME BIG PLAYERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY TO CALL FOR A NEW NATIONAL NUTRITION SURVEY, WHICH HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN DECADES. AND A RECENT UK STUDY HAS REVEALED MANY MEN MAY BE UNAWARE THEY HAVE A TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY, WITH SYMPTOMS VARYING FROM FATIGUE TO SLEEPINESS TO A REDUCTION IN FACIAL HAIR GROWTH. THE BLUES WOMEN ARE GETTING READY TO TAKE ON THE AUSTRALIAN RUGBY STYLE, HOSTING THE WARATAHS IN THE INAUGURAL SUPER CHAMPIONS MATCH TOMORROW NIGHT AT NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM. TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS GAME IS SPORTS REPORTER KATE WELLS. KATE, YOU CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THE BLUES COACHES WHO IS A BIT OF A LEGEND. ABSOLUTELY. THE BLUES WON IT. THE CELEBRATING IS DONE. THEY HAD A BIG FEW DAYS, BUT IT IS BACK TO TRAINING FOR THEM YESTERDAY. ONE OF THEIR ASSISTANT COACHES AS CARLOS SPENCER. I BET SOME OF THE PLAYERS AND THE TEAM PROBABLY DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHO HE IS IF THEY ARE REALLY YOUNG. HE IS LIKE, DO YOU MEMBER ME FROM THE TOFFEE POP SAID? AND THEY ARE LIGHT, NO. I CAUGHT UP WITH THEM YESTERDAY. HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. YOU'VE JUST WON THE AUPIKI FINAL, BUT, WHAT, THREE DAYS LATER YOU'RE BACK AT TRAINING. SO HOW WERE THE CELEBRATIONS? YEAH, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY BUSY COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THE GIRLS, WHICH IS DESERVED, YOU KNOW. SO WE'VE OBVIOUSLY ENJOYED THE WIN. BUT ALSO I REALISED THAT WE'VE STILL GOT ONE MORE JOB TO DO. AND IT'LL BE JUST NICE TO FINISH OFF THE SEASON ON A HIGH AND OBVIOUSLY NEW SOUTH WALES THIS WEEK. SO, YEAH. ALTHOUGH THE GIRLS HAVE HAD A BOOZY COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THE CHALLENGE AHEAD, THAT'S FOR SURE. DO YOU THINK HAVING THAT FINAL, THEY'VE PROBABLY LEARNT A LOT GOING INTO THIS NEXT GAME? YEAH, DEFINITELY. YOU KNOW, AND, WELL WHEN YOU THINK OF FINALS, IT WAS DEFINITELY A FINAL, RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE. A COUPLE OF SORT OF GREY-HAIR MOMENTS TOWARDS THE END THERE. BUT CREDIT TO OUR GIRLS. YOU KNOW, THEY SHOWED TRUE GRIT. AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE CHARACTER OF THIS SIDE WHEN WE SORT OF ONLY HAD 14 BODIES ON THE FIELD, AND TO DEFEND THE WAY THEY DID IN THAT LAST FIVE MINUTES WAS REALLY A CREDIT TO THIS GROUP. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHEN BRAXTON SORT OF GOT THAT INTERCEPT, THAT'S` YEAH, I WAS QUITE EMOTIONAL. I DON'T USUALLY GET THAT EMOTIONAL. SO, YEAH, IT WAS QUITE WEIRD FOR ME. BUT I SUPPOSE JUST THAT EXCITEMENT OF THE GAME AND JUST IN TERMS OF WHERE WE WERE, THE SITUATION OF THE MOMENT. AND FOR US TO SCORE, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY EMOTIONAL MOMENT. HAS ALAN BUNTING TRIED TO GET YOU INVOLVED IN THE BLACK FERNS? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'D WANT TO DO? OH, YEAH. DOWN THE ROAD, DEFINITELY. YOU ALWAYS WANT TO` LIKE PLAYERS, YOU ALWAYS WANT HIGHER HONOURS. AND TO WORK IN THAT NEW ZEALAND SPACE ONE DAY, AND ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN'S SPACE, IS DEFINITELY ON THE CARDS. AND IF THE OPPORTUNITY CAME ALONG TO BE IN THAT SPACE, I'D DEFINITELY PUT MY HAND UP FOR SURE. IT IS A SPECIAL TALENT, CAN CARLOS. YOU WOULDN'T NOT HAVE SEEN MANY OF THOSE WINS AT EDEN PARK. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WILL MATCH UP? I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING. YESTERDAY THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT AS PHYSICAL BUT THEY LIKE TO RUN THE BALL AND PASS IT A BIT MORE. I AM QUITE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT WILL UNFOLD. IT IS THE LAST DOMESTIC GAME WE WILL HAVE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS TRANS TASMAN, BEFORE THEY GO TO THE WORLD CUP. IT IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR A LEGEND OF NEW ZEALAND NETBALL. DAME LOIS IS 90 TODAY. I HAVE SOME PICTURES OF HER CAREER COMING UP. SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH IT ALL. LOOK AT THE BIG BIBS. JENNY-MAY, YOU WOULD BE USED TO THOSE. IT WOULD NOT BE MUCH LONGER AFTER THAT THAT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING LOIS. NOT IN THE SILVER FERNS, BUT CERTAINLY AS A YOUNGER PLAYER COMING THROUGH, SHE IS AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND. SHE PLAYED BOTH NETBALL AND BASKETBALL. SHE HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER IN THE GAME OF NETBALL NOT ONLY AS A PLAYER, BUT ONLY AS A COACH BUT ALSO AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL. AND EVERYBODY WILL REMEMBER SHE IS TO SIT IN THE STANDS WITH A NOTEBOOK, SHE WROTE DOWN THINGS. YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE NOTEBOOK. I HAVE NEVER SEEN WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE NOTEBOOK. YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE SCARED. SHE WAS NEVER SHORT OF COMING FORWARD WAS LOIS, BUT AN ABSOLUTE TREASURE OF NETBALL AND SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAME LOIS. AND GREAT TRACKSUITS BACK THEN. MILO BRANDING. THREE STRIPES DOWN THE SIDE. IF YOU MILOS BEFORE THE GAME, IT WOULD SET YOU RIGHT. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE 11-YEAR-OLD ON A MISSION TO BRING DRINKING WATER TO AUCKLAND PARKS. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. EVERY DAY, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ARE QUITE LITERALLY HELPING INJURED NEW ZEALANDERS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNING PEOPLE OFF TO RETURN TO WORK, THEY HAVE TO HAND RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO A GP. WITH LONG WAIT TIMES AND RISING COSTS, PHYSIOS ARE NOW CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO AMEND THE LAW TO GIVE THEM THE POWER TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND PRESIDENT KIRSTEN DAVIE JOINED US EARLIER AND I STARTED BY ASKING HER ABOUT THE FURTHER AUTHORITY THEY'RE CALLING FOR. AT THE MOMENT, IT IS WITHIN PHYSIOTHERAPIST SCOPE OF PRACTICE TO SIGN OFF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. BUT THE ACC LEGISLATION DOESN'T HAVE US PHYSIOTHERAPISTS NAMED WITHIN IT, AND SO WE JUST NEED THAT TWEAK IN THE LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THAT, AND IT WOULD REALLY STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR THOSE INJURED NEW ZEALANDERS GETTING BACK TO WORK. SO PHYSIOS ARE ALREADY WRITING A RETURN TO WORK PLANS, RIGHT? BUT SO YOU WRITE THOSE PLANS, BUT IT GOES TO A DOCTOR WHO HAS TO SIGN OFF ON THAT. WHAT ARE IN THOSE PLANS? WHAT ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT PHYSIOS ARE PUTTING INTO THOSE RETURN TO WORK PLANS? YEAH, SO, JENNY-MAY, AT THE MOMENT A NUMBER OF US THAT A LOT OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPY PROFESSION, WE WORK IN THIS AREA WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES. WE GET IN TOUCH WITH THE EMPLOYERS. WE OFTEN GO OUT TO THE WORK SITE AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB IS. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH THE PATIENT ON THEIR PHYSIOTHERAPY REHABILITATION. WE'RE TESTING THEIR FUNCTIONAL ABILITY. AND, ACTUALLY, IN THOSE RETURN TO WORK PLANS, JENNY-MAY, WE PUT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF HOURS PER DAY THE PERSON CAN WORK, THE NUMBER OF DAYS PER WEEK, THE LIMITATIONS THEY MAY HAVE ON ANY OF THOSE JOB DEMANDS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED WITH THE EMPLOYER. SO THAT MAY BE A LIMIT ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN LIFT, HOW LONG THEY CAN STAND FOR, WHETHER THEY'RE ABLE TO BE ON SLIPPERY SURFACES, THAT TYPE OF THING. ARE THERE ANY SITUATIONS WHERE MEDICAL OVERSIGHT IS MORE APPROPRIATE, WHERE IT'S SAFER FOR A GP TO MAKE THE CALL, THOUGH, FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE TO RETURN TO WORK? WE HAVE IT WITHIN OUR SCOPE OF PRACTICE AS PHYSIOTHERAPISTS TO DO THE RETURN TO WORK MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR GP COLLEAGUES, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS REALLY UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE, SO WE HAVE TO WATCH THOSE BOTTLENECKS. THIS IS COSTING THE NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR BY JUST THE PERSON NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK IN QUITE AS TIMELY FASHION AS THEY COULD, BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DOCTOR. SO BY US DOING THAT, WE CAN, YOU KNOW` WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT, WE CAN REDUCE THAT BOTTLENECK, WE CAN SAVE THE NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT PERSON CAN RETURN TO WORK SAFELY, AND IT MEANS THAT THE BUSINESS IS ABLE TO HAVE THAT EMPLOYEE BACK AT WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. YEAH. WE'VE HAD A REPLY FROM ACC WHO SAYS EXTENDING THE PROFESSIONS THAT CAN COMPLETE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, AS THIS WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE REFORM. BUT THEY ALSO SAID IT RECOGNISES THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THE WIDER PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE CAN PLAY IN HELPING PEOPLE RETURN TO WORK FOLLOWING INJURY, AND IS WORKING WITH THE SECTOR TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE MIGHT BETTER ENABLE THAT. IS THAT AN ENCOURAGING SIGN FROM ACC? CERTAINLY PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND IS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ACC, BUT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS MOVE ALONG. WE KNOW THAT ACC AT THE MOMENT COULD PUT POLICY IN PLACE TO ALLOW US TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW AND SAVE, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE TAXPAYER. THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE IS SOMETHING THAT IS A BIT MORE CUMBERSOME, BUT CERTAINLY WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS THAT WITH THE MINISTER OF ACC. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. KIRSTEN DAVID FROM PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND PRESIDENT, THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS, JENNY-MAY.THINK IT IS 7:56. A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR IN AUCKLAND HAS SET OUT ON A MISSION TO BRING MORE ACCESSIBLE WATER TO OUR PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND COMMUNITY AREAS. LILAH MCDONALD STARTED HER MISSION AT THE AGE OF 9 AND HAS BEEN WORKING THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO BRING MORE DRINKING FOUNTAINS INTO AREAS THAT MATTER. HER START-UP BUSINESS 'WATER US' HAS SEEN HER SAVE UP TO $34,000 TO DONATE TOWARDS HER CAUSE. SHE JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MORE GOOD MORNING. TELL US WHY YOU WANTED TO DO THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY FAMILY OVERSEAS, I NOTICED IN A SMALL TOWN A GIANT BANK OF DRINKING FOUNTAINS, AND PEOPLE WERE FILLING UP SINGLE-USE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES FROM THE TAPS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A COOL IDEA, SO WHEN I GOT BACK TO NEW ZEALAND, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND FOUND OUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND NEW ZEALAND DOES NOT HAVE AS MANY AS WE SHOULD, SO I SET OUT TO CHANGE THAT. YOU DID SOME FUNDRAISING, AND YOU MANAGED TO GET A FEW BOB. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO DO THAT? MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO GO TO BUSINESSES AND ASK THEM TO SPONSOR A FOUNTAIN, BUT THEN COVID HIT, AND COMPANIES DID NOT HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND. WE SWITCHED GEARS A BIT AND DECIDED TO START A COMPANY TO FUND THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS. SO AT THE TIME, DURING COVID, IT WAS EVIDENT HOW IMPORTANT TOILET PAPER WAS, SO WE LANDED ON TOILET PAPER BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WOULD CREATE MORE INCOME TO FUND DRINKING FOUNTAINS. I LAUNCH WATER US IN 2021 ON PLEDGE ME WHERE WE MANAGED TO RAISE MONEY TO LAUNCH THE FIRST CONTAINER. YOU TALK ABOUT THE FIRST CONTAINER, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED ` HOW MANY WATER FOUNTAINS HAVE YOU MANAGED TO PUT UP HERE IN AUCKLAND? WE SOLD THE FIRST CONTAINER. WE WENT ON TO SELL ANOTHER ONE. THEN ACTUALLY IN 2023, THE BRAND WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR A YEAR BECAUSE I WENT OVERSEAS. BUT WE MANAGED OUT OF THOSE TWO CONTAINERS TO FUND TWO DRINKING FOUNTAINS WHICH HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BE INSTALLED FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. IT WENT ON LAST WEEK WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. THAT IS VERY COOL. I YOU WANTING TO FUND RAISE MORE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS OR ARE YOU KIND OF EYEING UP OTHER THINGS NOW? I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS. AS I SAID, NEW ZEALAND REALLY NEEDS MORE DRINKING FOUNTAINS. MY GOAL IS TO GET 100 INSTALLED. SO I AM GOING TO KEEP SELLING TOILET PAPER AND INSTALLING DRINKING FOUNTAINS. HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP OUT IF THEY WANT TO? I WOULD REALLY LOVE IT IF PEOPLE COULD BUY MY TOILET PAPER. YOU CAN GO TO WATERUS.CO.NZ IT IS AMAZING TOILET PAPER IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. YOU HAVE COME BACK, DONE SOME RESEARCH, DONE SOME FUNDING AND CREATED YOUR OWN COMPANY. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS? I HAVE LEARNT A LOT. I'VE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT MYSELF. IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY AT TIMES. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BUSINESS OBVIOUSLY. I AM VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MY MUM WHO HELPS ME A LOT WITH EVERYTHING. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT HER. I AM EXCITED TO GET GOING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. ALL THE VERY BEST, AND KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WELL DONE. SMASHED IT. STILL TO COME ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` GODZONE IS BACK. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE MULTI-DAY ADVENTURE RACE AS IT MAKES ITS RETURN. PLUS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS BEING USED WIDELY IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, BUT DO WORKERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE IT SAFELY? AND LATER, FRESH FROM HIS TAITE MUSIC PRIZE WIN, MOKOTRON JOINS US FOR A CHAT. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. THANKS FOR THAT, CHRIS. TROPICAL CYCLONE TAM IS BRINGING HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND TO MUCH OF THE NORTH ISLAND. OUR AUCKLAND REPORTER LUCY BENDELL HAS THE LATEST. LUCY, HAS THE BAD WEATHER HIT? GOOD MORNING, JENNY MAY. THE RAIN HAS JUST EASED UP, BUT WE DID SEE EARLIER THIS MORNING THAT THE HEAVY RAIN IS SET TO COME IN SOON AND LAST ALL THE WAY THROUGH UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT. METSERVICE HAS ISSUED STRONG WIND AND HEAVY RAIN FOR MUCH OF THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY WARNED IT COULD BE UPGRADED AS THAT STORM GETS CLOSER. NOW, NORTHLAND IS EXPECTED TO SEE 180 MM OF RAIN TONIGHT WITH POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS AND DANGEROUS WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 140 KM/H. FOR AUCKLAND, WE ARE EXPECTED TO SEE THOSE STRONG GASES ARE. HARBOUR BRIDGE FORECASTED TO SEE UP TO 75 KM OF WIND WHICH COULD POSSIBLY SEE LANE CLOSURES AND SPEED REDUCTIONS AS WELL. SO TOMORROW, THAT WIND IS SET TO PICK UP EVEN MORE, SO IT COULD CLOSE THE HARBOUR BRIDGE COMPLETELY. IT IS BAD TIMING ` IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. EASTER WEEKEND IS JUST AHEAD, SO MORE PEOPLE ARE OUT ON THOSE ROADS AS WELL, SO ARE URGED TO STAY SAFE AND DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS. PEOPLE AT HOME ARE URGED TO BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES, SECURE OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND CLEAR THE DRAINS. THANK YOU, LUCY. IN A RARE UNITED FRONT, DIETITIANS AND FOOD MANUFACTURERS ARE CALLING FOR AN UPDATE TO A NATIONAL SURVEY THAT'S USED TO SHAPE POLICY AROUND NUTRITION. IT'S BEEN 16 YEARS SINCE THE LAST ONE WAS CONDUCTED AMONG ADULTS, AND MORE THAN TWO DECADES FOR CHILDREN. THE SURVEY TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT PEOPLE ARE EATING THROUGH THINGS LIKE BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES. EXPERTS SAY NEW DATA IS NEEDED AS NUTRITION HABITS IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE CHANGED A LOT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. WE'VE ALL STARTED EATING MUCH MORE OUTSIDE THE HOME THAN COOKING AT HOME. WE'VE HAD THE ADVENT OF UBER EATS AND FOOD DELIVERY. WE SEE SOCIAL MEDIA IS HAVING A MASSIVE INFLUENCE ON WHAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG ADULTS, ARE EATING THESE DAYS. SHE'S URGING THE HEALTH MINISTER TO CONSIDER FUNDING FOR A NEW NATIONAL SURVEY, WHICH WOULD COST AROUND $15 MILLION. FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR WELLINGTON MAYOR, SAYING THE CAPITAL NEEDS 'SERIOUS LEADERSHIP'. KIA ORA. ANDREW LITTLE HERE. I AM PUTTING MY HAND UP TO BE YOUR NEXT MAYOR OF WELLINGTON. LITTLE WAS A SENIOR MINISTER IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT AND RETIRED FROM POLITICS AFTER LABOUR'S LOSS IN THE 2023 ELECTION. HE JOINS MAYOR TORY WHANAU, COUNCILLOR RAY CHUNG AND OTHER WELLINGTON LOCALS COMPETING FOR THE TOP SEAT. I KNOW GOVERNMENT, I KNOW MINISTERS, I CAN BUILD A CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP, AND THEN WHEN I NEED TO I CAN STAND UP FOR GOVERNMENT AND SAY, THAT IS NOT RIGHT FOR WELLINGTON. WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT IN THE CURRENT COUNCIL LEADERSHIP. LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE SET TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 11. THE NEW-LOOK BREAKERS ARE CONTINUING TO BOOST THEIR STOCKS OF HOME-GROWN TALENT WITH CENTRE ROB LOE RETURNING TO THE CLUB WHERE HE PLAYED SIX SEASONS BETWEEN 2016 AND 2023. THE 33-YEAR-OLD WILL DEPART MELBOURNE UNITED AFTER THE CLUB REACHED THE FINAL OF THE NBL LAST SEASON. HEAD OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS DILLON BOUCHER SAYS IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE ROSTER IS BUILT AROUND LOCAL TALENT. WE FILLED THE LOCAL TALENT SPOTS WITH THE BEST THAT WE'VE GOT, BOTH IN NEW ZEALAND AND LOOKING TO AUSTRALIA AS WELL, AND ONCE WE'VE NAILED THAT, HOW DO WE BRING IN COMPLEMENTS TO ADD TO WHAT WE'VE GOT? IN MY OPINION, THAT IS WHY THEY WERE SO SUCCESSFUL BACK IN THE DAY. LOE JOINS CANTERBURY RAMS CAPTAIN TAYLOR BRITT ON THE SQUAD. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. STARTING OFF WITH SOME WARNINGS ` THERE IS AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH UNTIL 8pm THURSDAY EVENING, AND AN ORANGE STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND AND GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FROM 9pm TONIGHT TILL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AT YOUR PLACE TODAY? WELL, ANOTHER GREY DAY. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST AND HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, YOU CAN EXPECT A RAINY START BEFORE EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 20 THE HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 17 IN TAUPO. A BIT OF A SIMILAR STORY FOR THE SOUTH ` PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST ALONG THE EAST COAST, WITH LIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER, A MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ALONG THE WEST COAST. 17 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 16 IN INVERCARGILL. TEAMS ARE ALREADY IN TRAINING FOR THE 12th CHAPTER OF NEW ZEALAND'S TOUGHEST EXPEDITION RACE ONE NZ GODZONE, DUE TO GET UNDERWAY IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR. THE MULTIDAY EVENT WAS PUT ON HOLD LAST YEAR DUE TO A FUNDING SHORTFALL BUT WAS CONFIRMED AGAIN IN FEBRUARY AFTER BEING RESCUED BY A GROUP OF PRIVATE SPONSORS THAT INCLUDED FORMER ALL BLACK AND ADVENTURE RACER RITCHIE McCAW. HERE TO TELL US MORE IS RACE SPOKESPERSON ROB NICHOL AND COMPETITOR BRENDAN HINCHMAN FROM NELSON. BRENDAN, WE WILL GET TO YOU IN JUST A SECOND. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. ROB, I WANT TO START WITH YOU. I SEE YOU RACED IN KAIKOURA. HOW WAS IT? IT WAS A FANTASTIC RACE. 270 TEAMS INVOLVED IN THE RACE. KIDS AND PARENTS RUNNING AROUND. GREAT SPORT. YOUR SON WAS THERE WITH YOU? HE COMPLETED HIS FIRST 48 HOURS. VERY PROUD. HOW DID YOU GET THIS RACE THAT CONTRACTOR SHOULD NOT THIS RACE BACK ON TRACK* WE JUST GET SO MUCH OUT OF ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY ` THE INSPIRATION IT PROVIDES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN MULTISPORT IN THIS COUNTRY. WE JUST REALLY MISSED IT, AND WE REALLY WANTED TO BRING IT BACK FOR, I GUESS, THE NEXT GENERATION ` 270 TEAMS COMPETING IN THIS KAIKOURA RACE. KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING OUT THERE AND DOING IT TOGETHER. IT IS GROWING. NEW ZEALAND IS THE BEST COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO ADVENTURE RACING. WE HAVE DOMINATED THE WORLD, AND WE WANT THE BEST RACE HERE. BRENDAN, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN HERE. WHAT IS SO SPECIAL TO YOU ABOUT THIS RACE? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU DONE IT? IT IS A SUPER SPECIAL RACE. I'VE DONE IT I THINK SIX OR SEVEN TIMES, AND THE FIRST TIME IN CAM RANH, IT WAS HERE IN NELSON. WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON OUR BACK DOOR STEP, SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GIVE IT A CRACK, AND IT IS LIKE THE EVEREST OF ADVENTURE RACING. LOOKING BACK, IT HAS BEEN A HECK OF AN EXPERIENCE OVER THE YEARS. HOW WORRIED WERE YOU THAT IT MIGHT NOT COME BACK AFTER IT HAD THAT HIATUS? QUITE WORRIED. I THINK THE NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE RACING NOT HAVING THAT PINNACLE RACE WAS A REAL CONCERN. SO THERE HAS GOT TO BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF KUDOS GOING TO ROB AND THE OTHERS TO GET THIS GOING AGAIN. WE ARE SUPER STOKED. YOU HAVE MANAGED TO SECURE IT FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. GOING BEYOND THAT, AS THE FUTURE SECURED? ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM TOGETHER. WE HAVE SET UP A CHARITABLE TRUST. IT IS ABOUT ADVANCING MULTISPORT AND ADVENTURE RACING OUR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. SHOWCASING THE COUNTRY AND THE NEW ZEALAND OUTDOORS ` THAT IS ITS BIGGER SENSE OF PURPOSE. BUT GODZONE BECOMES THE PELLETS HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE AS INSPIRATION. IT WILL GET BIGGER AND BETTER FROM THERE, IF THAT EVEN AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE SEEN PHOTOS OF RICHIE AND THE FOOTAGE OF HIM COMPETING. HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT FOR THE LIKES OF THIS RACE TO HAVE SOMEONE SO RECOGNISABLE LIKE THAT FOR PEOPLE TO GET BEHIND? BRENDAN MENTIONED THAT ` WE DID THAT TASMAN RACE, AND RICH COMPETED IN THAT WITH US SIX MONTHS AFTER WINNING THE RUGBY WORLD CUP. I REMEMBER THE ONE BEFORE THAT I DID WITH ANOTHER RUGBY PLAYER, EN JONES, WHICH SHONE A LIGHT ON THE ADVENTURE RACE ITSELF. WHEN RICHIE TURNED UP IN TASMAN, I THOUGHT I WAS INTO IT TO FRANCE FOR A MOMENT. TOUR DE FRANCE* ON THE LASTLY, IT WAS ABOUT 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND WE HAD BEEN GOING FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX DAYS, BIKING DOWN THE BACK OF TUCKER TAKAKA* PEOPLE WERE BACKING DOWN IN THEIR UTES, WITH THEIR BARBECUES ON THE BACK, IT WAS EASTER, AND PEOPLE WERE WAITING FOR RICHIE MCCAW TO BIKE PAST. WHAT DOES TRAINING INVOLVED FOR YOU OVER THE NEXT WEEKS AND MONTHS? IT IS ABOUT GETTING BACK OUT THERE AND HAVING GOOD FUN WITH FRIENDS. WE TALK ABOUT DOING MISSIONS AS OPPOSED TO TRAINING AND GETTING OUT TO THE HILLS OR JUMPING ON THE MOUNTAIN MONTH. MOST OF US DO THIS SORT OF THING LIKE THE COAST-TO-COAST ` WE ARE WEEKEND WARRIORS, FITTING IT AROUND FAMILY. TRAINING IS ALL ABOUT FITTING IT AND WHEN YOU CAN AND MAKING IT FUN. IT MIGHT BE GOING IN CYCLING ON A TRACK OR GOING AND HIKING TO A HUT, STAYING FOR A FEW HOURS AND HIKING BACK THE NEXT MORNING. YOU MAKE IT SOUND SO EASY. YOU HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF HOURS ON THE BIKE, DON'T YOU? YOU DO. IT PAYS TO GET YOUR TEAM TOGETHER. GIVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IT WHEN IT IS 3 AM AND YOU ARE TIRED. THERE ARE A GOOD FEW HOURS, BUT YOU AND JENNY CAN PROBABLY SORT OUT A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE TO START CYCLING TO AND FROM THE BREAKFAST SHOW. YOU BEAT ME TO LET THAT ONE NEW ZEALAND GODZONE IS CRYING OUT FOR A CELEBRITY PARTICIPANT. I STARTED TO RIDE TO WORK ON AN EBAY. I'M NOT SURE THAT WOULD WORK. JENNY MAYWOOD TRANSITION PERFECTLY. E BIKE* MAYBE BACK ON THE DATE. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT. WE WILL FIND SOMEONE. THE DISCIPLINE IS TRICKY. WE CALL IT PACK RAFTING WHERE YOU RIDE THE PACK, A BIT OF ROAD, KAYAKING. IT AS A TEAM OF FOUR, AND YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND NAVIGATE THE WHOLE WAY WITH NO TECHNOLOGY. YOU HAVE A MAP AND A COMPASS. YOU NEED AN INTELLIGENT PERSON ON THE TEAM WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WE MAY BE TAKING A COUPLE OF THOSE BOXES. OTHER ONES I'M NOT SURE ABOUT. (LAUGHS) I TELL YOU WHAT, THE SITES YOU SEE AND THE EXPERIENCES YOU GET ARE INCREDIBLE. COVERING THOSE EVENTS AND SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT IS ON OFFER IS A VERY IMPORTANT JOB THAT WE DO. TELL YOU WHAT, WE HAVE A TEAM MANAGER SITTING HERE WHO CAN HELP YOU. GOOD LUCK FOR ALL THE TRAINING AND MISSIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. ME U TONU MAI ` ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE HAS MADE IT TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR. NEXT, DO WE UNDERSTAND THE RISKS, AND WHY SOME ARE CALLING FOR MORE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. # IS MY ANXIETY... HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. IN THE UK, THERE ARE FEARS A BIN WORKERS STRIKE IN BIRMINGHAM COULD SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS AS IT NOW ENTERS ITS SIXTH WEEK. PHYSIOTHERAPISTS ARE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ACC LAWS SO THEY CAN ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK WITHOUT NEEDING SIGN OFF FROM A GP. AND THE WARRIORS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESHUFFLE THEIR SQUAD FOR THIS WEEKEND'S CLASH AGAINST THE BRONCOS DUE TO SUSPENSION AND INJURY. FOR TODAY'S REGULAR TVNZ SEGMENT, WE'RE WINDING THE CLOCK BACK TO DUNEDIN IN THE '90s. WE'RE WINDING THE CLOCK BACK TO DUNEDIN IN THE '90s. BACK THEN, THE CADBURY FACTORY HAD THE CITY SMELLING LIKE CHOCOLATE. IT CLOSED DOWN IN 2018 AND WAS DEMOLISHED A FEW YEARS LATER TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL. BUT FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, LOCALS HAD SPENT DECADES OF THEIR LIFE WORKING THERE, AND IN 1995, IN THE LEAD UP TO EASTER, IT WAS BUZZING. HERE'S A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK. HMM. TOO GOOD. IT'S REALLY TOO GOOD, I'LL TELL YA, COS ONCE YOU START IN THE MORNING, YOU CAN'T STOP. WALLIE WAUDBY IS TALKING ABOUT CHOCOLATE. GIVE EVERYONE A PRIZE FOR GETTING THESE OUT. AND THIS IS MORNING TEA TIME AT CADBURY'S. IT'S WORK, OF COURSE ` A QUALITY CONTROL CHECK. ALL THE SAME, IT'S THE SORT OF JOB CHOCOLATE LOVERS DREAM ABOUT. YOU WILL NOTICE EVERYONE EATS HALF; I EAT IT ALL. (CHUCKLES) SO, ONCE YOU HAVE CHOCOLATE FOR MORNING TEA, WALLIE, HOW DO YOU COPE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY? I TRY AND KEEP MY HANDS IN MY POCKET. (LAUGHS) WALLIE WAUDBY STARTED PACKING EASTER EGGS MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO. NOW HE'S MAKING THEM. IT'S A LOVE AFFAIR THAT'S LASTED. HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE IS IN THESE? OH, THAT ONE HOLDS 3 TON. 3 TONS OF CHOCOLATE? 3 TON OF CHOCOLATE. WOW. DOES IT PUT YOU OFF AT ALL SEEING SUCH VAST AMOUNTS OF CHOCOLATE? NO. NO? NO, DEFINITELY NOT. WHAT ABOUT THE SMELL? I MEAN, THE SMELL OF CHOCOLATE IS EVERYWHERE. YOU REALLY DON'T NOTICE IT. YOU NEVER GET SICK OF IT? NOPE. HIS PARTICULAR AREA OF EXPERTISE ` NOT THE FILLED EGG, BUT THE HOLLOW EGG. AND FOR THEM, YOU HAVE TO KNOW ALL ABOUT VISCOSITY. THAT IS THE RUNABILITY OF THE CHOCOLATE ` HOW QUICKLY IT RUNS OFF THE SPOON. (UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC) I THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO FASTER. NO, THAT IS A SUFFICIENT SPEED TO SPREAD THE CHOCOLATE AROUND. (ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTINUES) SO, WHAT IS THAT ONE LIKE? COMING OUT OF THE HOTEL ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. (LAUGHS) THERE'S NO WASTAGE, OF COURSE. THE BAD EGGS SIMPLY GET RECYCLED. IS IT A GOOD AREA TO WORK IN? OH, YEAH, IT IS. ANY AREA WHERE YOU'RE WORKING WITH CHOCOLATE IS GOOD, BELIEVE ME. (ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTINUES) BUT ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, EVEN DEDICATED CHOCOLATE LOVERS NEED A BREAK. SO, HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU COME UP HERE? THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK. GET AWAY FROM IT ALL. ADMIRE THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF DUNEDIN, AND, OF COURSE, TO HAVE A NIBBLE. CAN I TEMPT YOU? (ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTINUES) HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE WOULD YOU EAT IN A DAY? I HOPE MY WIFE ISN'T WATCHING THIS. OH... 200g. 250 HE CONFESSED TO LATER, WHICH IS GETTING CLOSE TO A WHOLE KING-SIZE BLOCK EVERY DAY. SO, DO YOU FIND THAT YOU'RE EVER VERY FAR FROM A BLOCK OF CHOCOLATE? NOT IF I CAN HELP IT. (LAUGHS) (ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTINUES) HOW MANY EGGS WOULD YOU MAKE HERE IN A MINUTE, SAY? 36 A MINUTE. AN HOUR? 2500. AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE IN A DAY? OOH.. 34,000, 35,000. THAT'S A LOT OF EGGS. TELL ME ABOUT IT. (LAUGHS) THAT WAS GOLD. WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS OR EVEN SUPERMARKETS, IT'S NO SECRET ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS BEING USED BY BUSINESSES AROUND THE GLOBE. AND AS IT TURNS OUT, SO IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. THE PSA'S LATEST SURVEY OF 900 OF ITS MEMBERS REVEALED OVER HALF OF THEM USE AI IN THE WORKPLACE, WITH OVER 90% OF AI USERS CHOOSING TO USE THE SOFTWARE ON THEIR OWN ACCORD. THE PSA IS NOW CALLING FOR MORE REGULATIONS AROUND THE USE OF AI IN THE SECTOR. SO TO EXPLAIN, WE'RE JOINED BY TECH COMMENTATOR AND FRIEND OF THE SHOW DANU ABEYSURIYA. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. WHAT ARE THE RISKS HERE? THERE ARE A LOT. AI HAS SUCH A BROAD APPLICATION. IT CAN DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS UNDERSTAND WHAT A SENTENCE MEANS OR BREAK IT DOWN INTO ITS CONSTITUENT PARTS, WHICH IS USEFUL FOR DOCUMENT PROCESSING, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS NOT A LOT OF INCISION MAKING ` EARLY PROCEDURAL. PROBABLY LOW RISK. BUT IT CAN BE POTENTIALLY ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION. I THINK THAT SPECTRUM IS WHERE THE RISKS LIE. IF WE ARE USING IT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THAT ARE VERY TIME-CONSUMING, I DON'T SEE THAT AS A HUGE PROBLEM. I ACTUALLY SET AS A BIG WIN. BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WRITING POLICY OR MAKING DECISIONS AROUND POLICY THAT WILL AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES, THAT IS WHEN WE NEED AS MANY GUARDRAILS, OR GUIDANCE AND TRAINING AS WELL. THAT IS THE NEXT PART OF THIS, RIGHT. WE TALK ABOUT THE HORSE BOLTING ALREADY WHEN IT COMES TO AI. IN AN INSTANT LIKE THIS, ACTUALLY EDUCATION WITHIN THE SECTOR WOULD BE A GOOD THING? YES. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SURVEY RESULTS. I THINK THE SURVEY RESULTS ` THE PSA HAS ABOUT 95,000 MEMBERS. IT IS QUITE A LARGE ORGANISATION. TO SAY 900 ` WHAT IS THAT, 1%, 10% OF THEIR FORCE? 12% SAY THEY RECEIVED TRAINING THROUGH THEIR WORK. THE NUMBERS REFLECT 50% OF PEOPLE USING IT. RECEIVING TRAINING ON ALL OF THE FOILS THAT COME WITH AI. IT IS FASCINATING AND THAT IT IS REALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING THAT REALLY BAD AT OTHER THINGS. THE RISK OF HALLUCINATION, ALL OF THESE ASPECTS, THEY ARE SORT OF CALLED THE JAGGED EDGE OF AI. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE USING TOOLS LIKE THIS REALLY UNDERSTAND. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HALLUCINATION, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? BECAUSE THE WAY THAT GENERATIVE AI TOOLS LAKE CHAD GPT WORK, THEY HAVE THIS CORPUS OF KNOWLEDGE WHERE THEY PRODUCE AN ANSWER BASED ON AN INPUT. BECAUSE THERE IS NO GROUND TRUTH THING, IT CAN PRODUCE FALSE INFORMATION. IT CAN BASICALLY LIE, WHICH IS WHY THEY CALL IT HALLUCINATION. BECAUSE IT IS A PROBABILISTIC SYSTEM, IT CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN REASONABLY OFTEN. COMING OFF THE BACK OF THAT ALSO, THERE ARE BIASES WITHIN IT WHICH IS AN ISSUE WITHIN ITSELF. ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE IT IS TRAINED ON OPEN DATA, WE HAVE NO REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUALITY OF THAT DATA. IF IT WAS SOURCED FROM SOMETHING LIKE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, IT CAN BE HIGH-QUALITY, BUT EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAS BIAS BUILT IN. IF YOU TALK ABOUT HISTORICAL EVENTS, THERE IS A VERSION OF HISTORY, AS THEY SAY. SO IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT POLICY THAT AFFECTS COUNTRY'S HISTORY OR FUTURE, MAKING SURE A TOOL THAT IS BEING USED DOES NOT INHERENTLY OR ACCIDENTALLY INTRODUCE THOSE VICES IS SUPERCRITICAL. GIVEN EVERYTHING YOU ARE SAYING, SHOULD THEY BE MANDATORY TRAINING IN AI FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR? YES. I THINK THE HORSE HAS BOLTED. CLEARLY PEOPLE ARE USING IT. I DON'T WANT TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER. WE ARE STRUGGLING FOR GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY FORCE OF EVERYTHING IS DIFFICULT AT THE MOMENT. WE SHOULD BE USING EVERY TOOL AT OUR DISPOSAL. I DO THINK MANDATORY TRAINING OF AT LEAST THE RISKS AND AT BEST HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT. IN A REALLY SIMPLE RISK-BASED FRAMEWORK, SO STAFF CAN DECIDE QUICKLY WHETHER OR NOT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO USE THE TOOL FOR THE TASK THEY ARE DOING. THAT IS NOT A BIG JOB, THOUGH, IS IT? TO GIVE THAT KIND OF EDUCATION TO WORKERS. NO. I THINK IT JUST NEEDS A BIT OF PRIORITY. THESE FRAMEWORKS DO NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT ON DAY ONE. EVERYONE HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A MOVING BEAST IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY. WE CAN'T EVENT THAT THE SIDE-EFFECTS THAT THIS COULD BRING. I THINK MOVING FAST IN GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE IT AS THE BEST WAY. ALSO WE DO NOT HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL. THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT WE TRUST ` DENMARK, STONELEIGH, A FEW OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE THAT ` THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY DRAFTED A FRAMEWORK FOR AA USE IN GOVERNMENT. SO THERE IS A LOT OF ACTION HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD. I'M SURE WE HAVE INITIATIVES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HAPPENING. I THINK A BIT MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT THE STATUS IS AND WHAT THE DRAFT LOOK LIKE. I KNOW IF I WAS A GOVERNMENT WORKER AND I HAD A LESSON INTRODUCTION TO WEATHER FRAMEWORK WOULD LAND WITHIN 50% OR 60%, THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE SOME PRETTY CLEAR NONNEGOTIABLE IS THAT WOULD MAKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE FINAL VERSION. IF I AM JUST INFORMED, THESE ARE THE FIVE NONNEGOTIABLE, DON'T EVER USE IT FOR THIS TASK I CAN START NOW. INTERESTING. DANU, AS ALWAYS LOVELY TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, RUNNING 10 MARATHONS IN 10 DAYS IS NO EASY FEET, BUT WHAT ABOUT IN A CHICKEN SUIT? WE'LL MEET THE WOMAN ATTEMPTING THE UNIQUE CHALLENGE. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT HAS JUST GONE 8:30 AM. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND HAS HIT THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND AS CYCLONE TAM MAKES LANDFALL THIS MORNING. METSERVICE HAVE ISSUED THE WARNINGS FOR NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND COROMANDEL. 230 HOMES IN WAIPU ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUT POWER. DAMAGING GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO HIT OVER 100km/h, WITH WAKA KOTAHI WARNING OF A POTENTIAL CLOSURE TO THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE. AUCKLAND COUNCIL ARE ALSO URGING RESIDENTS TO CREATE A PLAN AND PREPARE THEIR HOMES FOR THE CYCLONE. AND WELLINGTON'S MAYORAL RACE IS HEATING UP, WITH ANDREW LITTLE SAYING HE WANTS THE JOB TO DEAL WITH THE CITY'S 'SERIOUS CHALLENGES'. KIA ORA. ANDREW LITTLE HERE. I'M PUTTING MY HAND UP TO BE YOUR NEXT MAYOR OF WELLINGTON. LITTLE WAS A SENIOR MINISTER IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT AND RETIRED FROM POLITICS AFTER LABOUR'S LOSS IN THE 2023 ELECTION. I THINK WHAT IS NEEDED IS A LEADERSHIP THAT IS, YOU KNOW` THAT IS PRETTY STEADY, THAT IS ENGAGING, THAT IS FOCUSED, THAT CAN TAKE ON THE FIGHTS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN ON, THAT CAN BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT NEED TO BE BUILT, AND THAT'S MY STYLE; THAT'S WHAT I DO. OTHER MAYOR CONTENDERS INCLUDE INCUMBENT TORY WHANAU, COUNCILLOR RAY CHUNG AND OTHER WELLINGTON LOCALS. THE ELECTION IS SET TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 11. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS FROZEN $2.2 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WITH THE PRESIDENT THREATENING TO REMOVE ITS TAX EXEMPT STATUS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY BECAME THE FIRST TO HAVE REJECTED DONALD TRUMP'S DEMANDS TO CHANGE HIRING, ADMISSIONS AND TEACHING PRACTICES. THE DEMANDS INCLUDE REPORTING STUDENTS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF THEY'RE 'HOSTILE TO AMERICAN VALUES'. TO SPORT, AND THE WARRIORS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESHUFFLE THEIR SQUAD FOR THIS WEEKEND'S CLASH AGAINST THE BRONCOS DUE TO SUSPENSION AND INJURY. CENTRE ROCCO BERRY COPPING A ONE-MATCH BAN AT LAST NIGHT'S JUDICIARY HEARING AFTER ENTERING AN EARLY GUILTY PLEA FOR A CARELESS HIGH TACKLE. MEANWHILE, IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED CO-CAPTAIN JAMES FISHER HARRIS IS OUT WITH A PECTORAL INJURY, AND CHARNZE NICOLL KLOKSTAD WILL MISS THE GAME DUE TO CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS. ED KOSI, JACKSON FORD AND LEKA HALASIMA HAVE BEEN NAMED TO START. THE MATCH KICKS OFF AT 7.30 ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT A SOLD-OUT MT SMART. AND FINALLY, CCTV HAS CAPTURED NEW IMAGES OF A FUGITIVE DOG THAT'S BEEN MISSING ON AUSTRALIA'S KANGAROO ISLAND FOR MORE THAN 500 DAYS. VALERIE, A DACHSHUND, ESCAPED FROM HER OWNERS WHILE THEY WERE VISITING THE ISLAND IN NOVEMBER 2023. NEWLY RELEASED FOOTAGE APPEARS TO SHOW VALERIE WANDERING INTO A TRAP SITE FILLED WITH HER TOYS AND OWNERS' CLOTHES BEFORE WANDERING BACK OUT. VERY EXCITED THAT` IT'S LIKE THE ODD'S ARE IN OUR FAVOUR THAT WE'RE GONNA GET HER BACK. THE KANGALA WILDLIFE RESCUE SAYS IT'S WORKING ON A WAY TO CLOSE THE TRAPDOOR REMOTELY BY THE END OF THE WEEK. MAKES SENSE. (CHUCKLES) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. STARTING OFF WITH SOME WARNINGS ` THERE IS AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH UNTIL 8pm THURSDAY EVENING, AND AN ORANGE STRONG WIND WARNING IN PLACE FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND AND GREAT BARRIER ISLAND FROM 9pm TONIGHT TILL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. IT'S LOOKING LIKE ANOTHER GREY DAY. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF YOU, WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST AND HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, YOU CAN EXPECT A RAINY START BEFORE EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 20 THE HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 17 IN TAUPO. A BIT OF A SIMILAR STORY FOR THE SOUTH ` PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST ALONG THE EAST COAST, WITH LIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HOWEVER, A MAINLY FINE DAY FOR THOSE ALONG THE WEST COAST. 17 THE HIGH IN NELSON. 16 IN INVERCARGILL. THANKS, CHRIS. A CHRISTCHURCH WOMAN IS ATTEMPTING TO RUN 10 MARATHONS IN 10 DAYS DRESSED AS A CHICKEN. HADANI WOODRUFF IS RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR THE SPEED FREAKS CHARITABLE TRUST BY RUNNING 42.2km EACH DAY. STARTING ON SATURDAY, HADANI IS CURRENTLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE CHALLENGE. SHE JOINS US NOW FROM OTAUTAHI. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING. I AM REALLY TIRED. YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE FULL OF ENERGY. HOW HAVE THE PAST FOUR DAYS BEEN? GOOD. MY LEGS ARE GETTING SORE. THEY ARE GETTING A BIT TIRED. I AM EATING HEAPS OF FOOD, BUT IT IS REALLY FUN TO MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE PARK AND SUPPORTING THE SPEED FREAKS TO CHARITY. BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO THE CHARITY, WHAT IS UP WITH THE CHICKEN SUIT? I THINK IT IS FUN. IT IS SILLY. I LIKE TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH AND HAVE A JOKE. I WAS TO CHECK IN TO DRESS UP AS SUPERWOMAN. SO HERE YOU ARE. HERE YOU ARE IN A CHICKEN SUIT. I LOVE IT. TALK ABOUT THE CHARITY AND WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS, BECAUSE TO BE QUITE HONEST, THE SOUNDS NUTS. IT IS NUTS. I KNOW. I AM TRYING TO ATTRACT A BIT OF ATTENTION TO THE SPEED FREAKS CHARITY. THE SPEED FREAKS USE RUNNING, WALKING AND CONNECTION TO SUPPORT THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL DISTRESS, AND I AM A VOLUNTEER COACH MYSELF. I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS, THE EFFECTS. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL HEALTH MYSELF, AND I KNOW HOW GOOD MOVEMENT, RUNNING, WALKING, I KNOW HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME MONEY AND HELP OUT THE CHARITY. WHAT WOULD THE MONEY THAT YOU RAISE GO TOWARDS? IT GOES TOWARDS THINGS LIKE GRANTS AND THE BIGGER FUNDRAISING LOOKS AFTER. THIS WILL BE FOR THINGS LIKE VOLUNTEER SHOUTS, THE BLUE SPEED FREAKS T-SHIRTS THAT THE RUNNERS AND SUPPORTERS WHERE. AFTERNOON TEA, JUST THE LOVE THAT WE NEED TO SHARE WITH ALL OF THE COACHES AND THE RUNNERS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE A BACKYARD ULTRA, WHICH WAS 250 KM AND 37 HOURS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 10 DAYS HERE. IN TERMS OF HOW IT IS IMPACTING YOUR BODY, HOW DIFFERENT IS IT? IT IS REALLY DIFFERENT. IT IS A TOTALLY NEW CHALLENGE. I DO THIS RUN, AND I AM A BIT SORE AND TIRED AND REALLY HUNGRY, AND THEN I SLEEP, AND MY BODY THINKS IT IS FINISHED, BUT WHAT HAPPENS AS I WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, AND WE ARE ALL ON TO IT AGAIN. IT IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SUFFERING. HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF IT, IT WILL BE ALRIGHT. NO DOUBT THE BODY IS STILL FULL OF LACTIC ACID WITH ALL OF THAT RUNNING. HOW ARE YOU RECOVERING EACH DAY? EAT LOTS OF FOOD. JUMP IN AN ICE BATH. LIE IN BED FOR HOURS ON MY PHONE. I DO NOT DO MUCH AT ALL. I WAS GOING TO SAY IT IS ALMOST LIKE I HAVE HAD A REALLY BIG NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN. I FEEL TERRIBLE. BUT IN THE MORNING, I AM BRIGHT AND HAPPY AND ALL RIGHT TO START AGAIN. AND THEN I REGRET MY DECISION. IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO HELP OUT WITH THE CHARITY, HOW CAN THEY DO THAT? TWO WAYS. YOU CAN GO TO THE GIVE A LITTLE PAGE. IF YOU SEARCH THE SPEED FREAKS, THAT WILL POP UP. WE HAVE A BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHARITY ON THERE AS WELL. ALL YOU CAN TEXT THE WORD RUN TO 4741, AND THAT WILL DONATE MONEY. AS SOON AS THIS FINISHES, WE WILL RUN OUT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RUNNING ALONG WITH ME, WHICH IS AWESOME. THERE WILL BE A BUNCH OF US GO FOR A CASUAL MARATHON. (LAUGHS) AS YOU DO. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU? ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF-HOUR IS AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE I STOP AND I HAVE THESE LOVELY BREAKS AND CUPS OF TEAS, HOT CROSS BUNS, HAVE A CHAT, AND THEN WE RUN OFF AGAIN. YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND. GO WELL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CATCHING UP WITH YOU AT THE END OF YOUR 10 DAYS. AWESOME. GO WELL. (CLUCKS) LOOK AT HER GO. E WHAI AKE NEI ` A 15m LONG OCTOPUS HAS BEEN SPOTTED ON AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT. LUCY BENDELL HAS GONE TO FIND OUT MORE. GOOD MORNING. LOOK WHAT I HAVE SPOTTED ON MY WALK THROUGH THE HARBOUR THIS MORNING. THIS BIG BEAUTIFUL ORANGE 15 M OCTOPUS. WE WILL FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN COME AND SEE IT AND POTENTIALLY OTHER SCULPTURES DOTTED AROUND AFTER THE BREAK. # SHE IS THE DEVIL. # SHE IS THE DEVIL AND ADDRESS. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. A NUTRITION EXPERT IS TEAMING UP WITH SOME BIG PLAYERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY TO CALL FOR A NEW NATIONAL NUTRITION SURVEY, WHICH HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN DECADES. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY MET SERVICE FOR NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND AND COROMANDEL AS TROPICAL CYCLONE TAM MAKES LANDFALL THIS MORNING. AND THE BREAKERS ARE CONTINUING TO BOOST THEIR STOCKS OF HOME-GROWN TALENT, WITH CENTRE ROB LOE RETURNING TO THE CLUB WHERE HE PLAYED SIX SEASONS BETWEEN 2016 AND 2023. A BRAND-NEW PIECE HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE AOTEAROA ART FAIR SCULPTURE TRAIL ` A 15m FLOATING OCTOPUS. IT'S THE FIRST CURATED TRAIL OF ITS KIND IN AUCKLAND, FEATURING MAJOR WORKS FROM NINE LEADING ARTISTS DOTTED ALL AROUND THE VIADUCT. LUCY BENDELL IS STANDING BY WITH THE LATEST EDITION. MORENA, TEAM. IT IS BIG AND BEAUTIFUL AND BRIGHTENING UP AUCKLAND ON THIS VERY GLOOMY DAY TODAY. WE ARE JOINED BY LISA, THE ARTIST BEHIND THIS BEAUTIFUL OCTOPUS. TELL ME WHAT HER NAME IS ANNE ABOUT HER STORY. SHE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR HISTORY. KUPE CHASED HER ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AND HIS WIFE CITED LAND AND SAID AOTEAROA. SO I LOVE THESE FEMALE PACIFIC STORIES THAT BRING LIGHT TO PARTICULARLY WOMEN STORIES BUT OUR CREATION STORIES AND OUR FOUNDING STORIES. WHY DID YOU THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE AS OCTOPUS AND SHARE THAT STORY? I THINK I WANTED TO UPLIFT THE STORY OF KUPE. WE HEAR OF A PLACE CALLED COOK STRAIGHT, BUT I SHOULD THINK OF IT AS KUPE'S STRAIGHT. HE TRAVERSED ACROSS THERE A LOT. HE NAMED ABOUT 100 OR SO DIFFERENT PLACE NAMES AROUND AOTEAROA. FROM THE FAR NORTH, AND HE TRAVELLED DOWN PAST TARANAKI DOWN TO WELLINGTON AND A LOT OF PLACES IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT IS LOVELY HAVING HER COME TO MY HOME IN AUCKLAND. JUST WAVING HELLO TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE. AND IT IS WAVING GENTLY IN THE OCEAN BEHIND US. IT HAS SO MUCH STORY BEHIND IT, AND WE CAN SEE AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT WITH A QR CODE AT THE START OF THE JETTY. IT WAS LOVELY TO ALSO GIVE HER A SONG. I WORKED WITH A SPOKEN WORD ARTIST, AND YOU CAN USE THE QR CODE THAT TAKES YOU TO A PIECE OF AUGMENTED REALITY, AND THEN YOU HEAR THE SPOKEN WORD. IT IS LIKE SHE FLOATS IN THE SKY ABOVE US. IT WAS A GIFT, REALLY, FOR CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH SHE LOOKS FABULOUS AT NIGHT, SHE GETS HER DISCO OUTFIT ON. I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME DOWN. YOU CAN ALSO SEE HER AS PART OF THE WIDER TRAIL, WHICH IS PART OF THE AOT ART FAIR. THERE IS A STOP TO TRAIL. WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL BLESSING THIS MORNING. AND FROM APRIL 1 TO THE FOURTH, SHE WILL BE JOINED BY ANOTHER COUPLE OF WORKS BEHIND US AT THE VIADUCT CENTRE. THE AOTEAROA ART FAIR IS ON, AND I AM VERY HAPPY, BECAUSE I WILL ALSO BE SHOWING A SERIES OF WORKS WITH A LOT OF OTHER ARTISTS WHO ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR WORK AND SHARE OUR CREATIVITY TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU. SO SPECIAL. THE CITY IS JUST BEING DOTTED AROUND WITH PIECES OF ART. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ART TRAIL. YOUR PIECE BEHIND US IS ONE OF 13. IT STARTS HERE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL THIS MORNING, BECAUSE WE DID A BLESSING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER ARTISTS. THERE ARE MANY, MANY ARTISTS, AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REALLY COME DOWN HERE AND REALLY ENJOY THE SPACE. IT HAS BEEN OPENED UP FOR US. FOR MANY YEARS IT HAS BEEN CLOSETED AWAY. ANALYSIS OF PEOPLE LIVE DOWN HERE. IT IS A REALLY VIBRANT PLACE TO COME AND LOOK AT SOME MARTIN GRAB A COFFEE. * SEE SOME ART YOU TOLD US WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU WANTED TO SHARE THE STORY. IT TELL US WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN THEY SEE YOUR PIECE. LOCAL ARSONISTS, A SENSE OF WONDER AND CURIOSITY. IT PLUGS INTO SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT YOUR HEART AS A CHILD. SHE LOOKS VERY BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT WITH HER DISCO COLOURS ON, AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT THESE OTHER ARTWORKS AND JUST IMAGINE AND WONDER HOW THEY CAME INTO BEING, THE CREATION STORY OF EACH WORK ITSELF. I THINK IT BRINGS A SPECIALNESS TO THE WORLD THAT IS BEYOND THE KIND OF DAY TODAY. I THINK IT IS MORE A SPIRITUAL ASPECT, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ART CAN TALK ABOUT, AND IT CAN BE ACTIVISM. FOR ME JUST TO BRING THESE FEMALE STORIES TO THE FORE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. I THINK IT GIVES PEOPLE A PLACE THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE THIS, BUT THEY MIGHT LIKE SOMETHING ELSE, AND IT IS A CONVERSATION STARTER. IT IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL. SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS STEEPED IN SO MUCH PACIFIC AND MAORI MYTHOLOGY, AND IT IS OPEN FOR ALMOST A MONTH. COME ON DOWN. MAYBE WAIT FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SUNNY DAY. THE OCTOPUS WILL COME DOWN TONIGHT FOR A DAY OR TWO BECAUSE OF THE STRONG GUSTS AND RAIN WARNINGS WE HAPPEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BRAVING THE WEATHER FOR US TODAY. I FULLY IT IS TIED DOWN SUFFICIENTLY. SHE IS SAYING THEY ARE TAKING IT DOWN AND PUTTING IT BACK UP AGAIN. WE WOULD HATE TO SEE IT IMPALED ON THE SKY TOWER LATER ON TONIGHT. E HAERE AKE NEI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH THIS YEAR'S TAITE MUSIC PRIZE WINNER. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THE TAITE MUSIC PRIZE HAS BEEN RECOGNISING EXCEPTIONAL KIWI MUSICIANS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. THE AWARD HIGHLIGHTS OUTSTANDING ALBUMS FROM THE PAST YEAR, REGARDLESS OF CHART SALES OR GENRES. TAKE A LOOK AT LAST NIGHT'S CEREMONY. THE 2025 TAITE MUSIC PRIZE WINNER TO MOKOTRON. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) DANCE PARTY, RIGHT? JOINING US NOW IS THIS YEAR'S TAITE MUSIC PRIZE WINNER, MOKOTRON. GOOD MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) NGA MIHI TO THE PRESENTER. WAS IT A SHOCK? IT WAS. THEY NORMALLY GO TO INDIE POP OR ROCK BANDS. ELECTRONIC ARTISTS DON'T NORMALLY TAKE IT. SO IT WAS A SHOCK. YOUR MUSIC, I WAS LISTENING TO IT LAST NIGHT AND READING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WITH IT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MAORI ELEMENT OF YOUR MUSIC? IS IT EVERYTHING? I THINK IT'S EVERYTHING. WE HAD TO START BELIEVING IN OUR OWN LANGUAGE, OUR ACCENTS. FOR PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AND IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE PLENTY OF PEOPLE DOING OVERSEAS GENRES. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN A SOUTH. YOU SAID LAST YEAR YOUR ALBUM WAS A CHALLENGE TO YOURSELF AND OTHER ELECTRONIC USER SHINS IN AUCKLAND TO CLEAR THEIR OWN CULTURAL CRINGE. WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? THE MOTHER COUNTRY IS STILL THE MOTHER COUNTRY, AND IT IS NOT THE ONE WE ARE IN. WE INCREASINGLY LOOK TO THE USA AND THE UK FOR OUR FOOD TRENDS, OUR CLOTHES. I AM PROUD OF THIS AREA IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THAT ONE NOT BELIEVE IN OURSELVES? AND MY GENRE, YOU HAVE TO PUT ON AN EAST LONDON ACCENT OR A BRONX ACCENT. YOU CAN BE A BIT EDGY AND PUT ON A LONG BEACH OR COMPTON ACCENT. WE TALK LIKE THIS. WE SING LIKE THIS. WHAT DO YOU HOPE THIS WIN WILL DOFOR AMPLIFYING THAT MESSAGE OF YOURS? THESE TYPES OF AWARDS ARE NOT THE KIND OF THING AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCER WOULD GO FOR, BUT FOR ME IT IS ABOUT SAYING TO OUR PEOPLE THERE IS NO LIMIT HERE. WE ANY LIMITS WE HAVE ARE ACTUALLY SELF-IMPOSED, AND THE INDUSTRY WILL RALLY AROUND US. THIS IS NEEDED. THIS WILL GO A LOT FURTHER THAN JUST UNDERGROUND CLUBS ON K ROAD. THAT IS THE HEARTLAND, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES HERE THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE CAN SEE. SO I AM JUST PROUD TO HAVE THIS. A LOT OF OUR DJS AND PRODUCERS AT THE EVENT LAST NIGHT WERE CRYING, BECAUSE THIS VALIDATES US AND VALIDATE US TO PUSH FORWARD. WE WERE TALKING ON THE BRAKE ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE DAY JOBS TO GET TO HIS OFFICE AT WHAT ELSE YOU DO APART FROM YOUR MUSIC? I AM A COHEAD OF SCHOOL OF MAORI AND PACIFIC STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND, JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEALTH OF A DON'T NORMALLY DRESS LIKE THIS FOR WORK. YOU TAKE YOUR BEEKEEPING AWARD AND SAY, THIS IS HOW I DO IT NOW. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THIS IS A FANTASTIC AWARD AND FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND GO WELL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. TENA KOUTOU. JUST BEAUTIFUL, YOUR WHOLE THOUGHT AND WHAKAARO AROUND BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. AND WE HAVE SOME MATURE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TO THE REST OF THE WORLD FOR OUR OWN VOICES STOP BEAUTIFUL. CONGRATULATIONS. THAT IS US, EH? FOR WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. LAST DAY BEFORE THE LONG WEEKEND. CAPTIONS BY KITTY WASASALA, MAIA CARR HEKE, JULIE TAYLOR AND COURTNEY SOLE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.