HOW ARE YOU? IT'S THURSDAY, THE 22nd OF MAY. MORENA, THIS IS BREAKFAST. ALWAYS LOVELY TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY IN THE MORNING. YOU HAVE A BIG DAY ` BREAKFAST, AND THEN PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS. I HAVE 14 TEACHERS TO SEE THIS AFTERNOON. HOW LONG ARE THE INTERVIEWS? FIVE MINUTES. YOU HAVE TO RUN UP AND DOWN THE HALL. WHAT DO YOU GET IN FIVE MINUTES? I DON'T KNOW, WE WILL SEE. THE LAST TIME I DID THAT, BECAUSE OUR GIRLS ARE BIGGER. THE LAST TIME I DID ANYTHING CLOSE TO THAT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO. THE LAST TIME, I JUST MEMBER RUNNING. I RAN FROM ONE BLOCK TO ANOTHER. HOWEVER IS DOING IT THIS AFTERNOON OR IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` BUDGET DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. BUT BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT LAYS OUT ITS PRIORITIES, WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE AREAS DESPERATE FOR INVESTMENT, INCLUDING HEALTH. WHAT'S ON THE WISH-LIST FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE SECTOR, AND WHICH AREAS NEED THE MOST ATTENTION? AND WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING? FOOD PRICES, HOUSING, BILLS, THEY'RE ALL GOING UP. WHAT CAN NICOLA WILLIS DO TODAY THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLING TO GET BY? ALSO AHEAD ` WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES DOING IT TOUGH IN THE CAPITAL, WITH SOME LOCAL STAPLES CLOSING THE DOORS. BUT IS THAT THE FULL PICTURE? WE'LL SPEAK TO ONE OWNER WHO SAYS IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. WE WILL BE HEADING TO WELLINGTON JUST BEFORE 7 O'CLOCK, BUT ALSO, FYI, CHRIS IS NOT WITH US TODAY, HE IS TAKING A DAY OFF TO WATCH HIS SPURS PLAY. WE GOING TO CATCH UP WITH HIM AT HALFTIME AT ABOUT 7:45. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S YOUR NEWS. THANKS, JENNY MAY. TWO MEN WERE KNOCKED OUT DURING LAST NIGHT'S 'RUN IT' EVENT HELD IN AUCKLAND, WHICH SEES TWO COMPETITORS COLLIDE AT FULL SPEED, RNZ NEWS REPORTS. WHILE ONE OF THE MEN WAS ABLE TO BE ASSISTED AWAY ON HIS FEET AFTER CONTACT, ANOTHER SLUMPED TO THE GROUND AND APPEARED TO HAVE A SEIZURE. AUCKLAND COUNCIL HAD CANCELLED TWO SIMILAR EVENTS THAT WERE PLANNED FOR THIS WEEK. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CONFRONTED THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT DURING A MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE, CLAIMING WHITE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE BEING PERSECUTED. DOZENS OF RECENTLY MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES AS REFUGEES. DURING THE TENSE EXCHANGE, TRUMP SHOWED CYRIL ALLEGED REPORTS ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA. RAMAPHOSE PUSHED BACK, DENYING TRUMP'S ASSERTION THAT WHITE FARMERS ARE BEING TARGETED. AID AGENCIES HAVE DESCRIBED THE AMOUNT OF AID ENTERING GAZA AS 'RIDICULOUSLY INADEQUATE.' IT COMES AFTER ISRAEL ENDED ITS ELEVEN-WEEK BLOCKADE, ALLOWING SOME TRUCKS TO ENTER THE TERRITORY, BUT THERE ARE WARNINGS MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR LIFESAVING SUPPLIES. BBC'S MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT YOLANDE KNELL FILED THIS REPORT FROM JERUSALEM. SO THIS LUNCHTIME, THE LATEST WE'VE HEARD FROM THE UN'S HUMANITARIAN OFFICE IS THAT THEY'RE STILL WAITING FOR ISRAEL TO GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT SO THAT THEIR LORRIES INSIDE GAZA CAN ACCESS THE GAZAN'S SIDE OF THE MAIN CROSSING POINT. THEY DESCRIBED THE ROADS GOING THERE AS DANGEROUS. WE'VE NOT HAD ANY COMMENTS AFTER WE APPROACHED ISRAELI AUTHORITIES. THERE'S BEEN SOME MORE STRONG LANGUAGE USED ABOUT THE NEED FOR ISRAEL TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPLIES IT'S ALLOWING IN TO THE GAZA STRIP, WITH THE MEDICAL CHARITY DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS SAYING THAT THE SUPPLIES AT THE MOMENT ARE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, AND SAYING THAT THIS LOOKS LIKE A SMOKESCREEN TO PRETEND THE SIEGE IS OVER. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE HAD THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY IN GAZA SAYING AT LEAST 82 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. ISRAEL'S MILITARY SAYS IN THE PAST DAY, IT'S HIT 115 WHAT IT CALLS TERROR TARGETS, AND THAT IT'S KILLED A HAMAS MEMBER, WHO IT SAYS TOOK PART IN THE DEADLY 7th OF OCTOBER ATTACKS ON SOUTHERN ISRAEL, WHICH OF COURSE TRIGGERED THE WAR. TO SOME BREAKFAST SPORT ` THE WARRIORS ARE TARGETING A FULL 80-MINUTE PERFORMANCE ON SUNDAY AS THEY PREPARE FOR A REMATCH WITH FELLOW TOP FOUR SIDE, THE RAIDERS, AT MOUNT SMART. THE WARRIORS CURRENTLY ON A FIVE-MATCH WINNING STREAK AND SECOND ON THE TABLE, BUT ANOTHER TENSE FINISH AGAINST THE DOLPHINS LAST WEEK LEAVING THEM WITH WORK-ONS. FELT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD 70-ODD MINUTES FROM US. IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T GIVE ANY LEG-UPS OR EASY PENALTIES. I THINK IF WE START WITH OUR DISCIPLINE, GETTING THAT RIGHT, AND KEEPING TEAMS IN TIGHT THEIR HALF, THAT'LL PUT US GOOD STEAD TO GETTING A COMPLETE PERFORMANCE. SUNDAY'S GAME AGAINST THE THIRD-PLACED RAIDERS KICKS OFF AT 6.05pm. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS ` (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` CLEAR BLUE SKIES FOR NORTHLAND, TAUPO AND THE EAST COAST. ELSEWHERE, PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED IN WELLINGTON. 18 IS YOUR HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 15 IN HAMILTON. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` A NICE, FINE DAY AHEAD FOR MOST OF YOU HERE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. HOWEVER, THERE'S SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS AND GREYMOUTH. BLENHEIM, YOUR HIGH IS 17. 15 FOR CHRISTCHURCH. THANKS, MELISSA. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING WITH OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ` GISBORNE POLICE ARE URGENTLY SEEKING INFORMATION OF A MAN AFTER HE FLED OFFICERS AFTER BEING ARRESTED YESTERDAY. LUCY BENDELL JOINS US FOR THE DETAILS. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS MAN? MORENA, JENNY MAY. IS 36-YEAR-OLD SONNY KENNEDY WHO POLICE ARE ON THE HUNT FOR. POLICE SAY THAT HE IS WEARING A DARK COLOURED HOODIE, LIGHT COLOURED TROUSERS AND SNEAKERS WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED AT AN ADDRESS YESTERDAY MORNING. IT IS QUITE A RURAL, LOCATED 6 KM FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY 2. THE OPPOSITE WERE WALKING THE MAN TO THE POLICE VEHICLE WHEN HE FLED MY FOOT INTO A NEARBY BUSH. THEY SAY HIS MAIN CONCERN IS AS WELFARE AND STATE OF MIND, SO THEY ARE URGENTLY CALLING THE PUBLIC FOR ANY INFORMATION AND IF ANYBODY SEE SOME DO NOT APPROACH HIM AND CALL 111 IMMEDIATELY. THANKS FOR THAT, LUCY. FROM OUR AUCKLAND NEWSROOM. TO WELLINGTON NOW, WHERE EDUCATION STAFF AT WELTEC AND WHITIREIA HAVE BEEN LEFT REELING AFTER A PROPOSAL TO CUT A NUMBER OF JOBS. FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY HARRY BARTLE. AND, HARRY, JUST HOW MANY JOBS ARE AT RISK? NEARLY 60 JOBS ARE AT RISK IF THIS PROPOSAL WERE TO GO THROUGH. WHAT THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS ARE ONE IN FIVE ACADEMIC STAFF WHO WORK AT THESE INSTITUTIONS. IT WOULD IMPACT ALMOST EVERY COURSE THAT IS ON OFFER, SUCH AS ENGINEERING, COOKERY, FABRICATION. THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS FOR COURSES THAT INVOLVE COURSES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SO SOME IMPORTANT COURSES COULD BE AFFECTED HERE. THIS CAME AS A SHOCK TO THE TERTIARY UNION AND THE UNION'S NATIONAL SECRETARY SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THIS WOULD BE A DEVASTATING BLOW FOR THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, AND A SHORTSIGHTED MOVE IF THEY WERE TO MAKE THESE 60 JOB CUTS. SO, NERVOUS TIMES FOR THIS PREMIER LEARNING FACILITIES FOR PRACTICAL SKILLS HERE IN WELLINGTON AS A WAIT AND SEE IF THESE CUTS BECOME OFFICIAL. THANKS FOR THAT, HARRY. FROM OUR WELLINGTON NEWSROOM. HEALTH CHIEFS HAVE INCREASED SECURITY AT CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL'S BIRTHING UNIT AFTER A STUDENT MIDWIFE WAS ATTACKED ON THE WAY TO THEIR CAR AFTER LEAVING WORK. OUR REPORTER CHARLOTTE MULDER JOINS US NOW. WHAT ELSE DO WE KNOW? KIA ORA. WE KNOW THAT MIDWIFE STUDENT WAS WALKING BACK TO THEIR VEHICLE AFTER FINISHING THEIR SHIFTS AT THE FACILITY UNIT IN CENTRAL CHRISTCHURCH. SINCE THEN, THE HOSPITAL HAS INCREASED SECURITY SO THAT STAFF WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE AVAILABLE TO WALK THEM TO THEIR VEHICLES, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS IN THE PAST WE STAFF HAVE BEEN THREATENED OR ATTACKED WALKING ALONE IN THE DARK. THIS IS BECAUSE THAT IS A GOOD REMINDER FOR ALL OF THOSE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS IF THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE WALKING ALONE AND IN THE DARK, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY ARE FINISHING THEIR SHIFTS, THEY WILL BE TIRED AND MOST LIKELY UNAWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS. THE HOSPITAL IS ALSO SAYING THAT THE STUDENT IS BEING WELL SUPPORTED, BUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENTS OR ATTACKS, TO PLEASE REPORT THEM TO POLICE. YOU CAN MAKE THIS REPORT ONLINE OR DO IT VIA THE 105 PHONE CALLS SO POLICE KNOW THAT WHERE ATTACKERS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST AND WHERE THEY WILL BE IN THE FUTURE. CHARLOTTE MULDER FROM THE CHRISTCHURCH NEWSROOM. THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE. 'ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.' THAT'S HOW FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE DESCRIBING THE CURRENT STATE OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM. WARNING OF CHRONIC UNDERSTAFFING AND PATIENTS FACING MUCH LONGER WAIT TIMES FOR CARE. THERE'S HOPE TODAY'S BUDGET COULD HELP EASE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE. SO FAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAS EARMARKED $164m TO EXPAND URGENT AND AFTER-HOURS HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT FOR MORE ON WHAT DOCTORS REALLY WANT TO SEE, WE'RE JOINED BY DOCTOR VICKY JONES FROM KATIKATI MEDICAL CENTRE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. WE HAVE ALL, I GUESS, KNOWN WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GET TO THE GP. WHAT IS THE DEMAND LIKE FOR YOU? WE HAVE GOT A SIGNIFICANT ELDERLY POPULATION HERE, SO THE DEMAND IS REALLY HIGH, AND A LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY THAT WE DEAL WITH DAILY WHICH IS ALSO REALLY HIGH. THE WAITING TIMES WE HAVE IN OUR FACILITIES FOR ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS CAN BE UP TO 6 WEEKS AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY REALLY HARD FOR OUR PATIENTS. WE HAVE URGENT CARE AVAILABLE EVERY DAY, SO WE DO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE SEEN URGENTLY WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. IT IS THE ROUTINE THINGS WE STRUGGLE WITH. WE'VE ALREADY HAD $164 MILLION ANNOUNCED AS A WAY TO ALLEVIATE PRESSURE ON HOSPITALS GOING TO URGENT SERVICES. WILL THAT HELP YOU AT ALL? NO. WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE ANY INVESTMENT TO URGENT CARE, BUT I THINK ONE OF MY COLLEAGUE DOCTORS HAS WORKED OUT THAT THE AMOUNT THAT PROVIDES FOR EACH AFTER-HOURS SERVICE IS THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE DOCTOR AND WONDER NURSE. IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE THAT FUNDING FOR PRIMARY CARE, WE COULD KEEP PEOPLE WELL, WHICH WOULD ALSO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON URGENT CARE AND ED. WE NEED FUNDING TO DO OUR JOB PROPERLY, AND IF WE CAN DO OUR JOB PROPERLY, WE CAN KEEP NEW ZEALANDERS HEALTHY, WHICH KEEPS THEM OUT OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT YOU ARE FACING, IS IT WORKFORCE? DEFINITELY WORKFORCE IS AN ISSUE. THAT COVERS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO PUT SOME INVESTMENT INTO HELPING WITH RECRUITMENT. THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WILL INTRODUCE MORE PLACES ON THE GP TRAINING SCHEME, WE CANNOT FILL THE PLACES THAT ALREADY EXIST. SAYING THAT WE WILL CREATE MORE PLACES ARE SLIGHTLY DISINGENUOUS. A LOT OF THAT REASONING IS BECAUSE YOUNG DOCTORS PERCEIVED GENERAL PRACTICE AS A LESS ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK ` THE PAY YOU RECEIVE, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS A HOSPITAL COLLEAGUES OR OVERSEAS, SO THEY DRAWN TO AUSTRALIA. MY FRIEND CAME TO THE ANALOGY OF TRYING TO FILL A BUCKET, BUT THE BUCKET HAS A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM. YOU CAN POUR A LOT OF THINGS AT THE TOP, BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. WE ALL KNOW THAT FEELING SO, DON'T WE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE HEALTH SYSTEM AT THE MOMENT? A LOT OF THE STAFF ARE HERE BECAUSE WE WILL THROUGH THE BEST FOR OUR PATIENTS. I FEEL LIKE THE NURSES ARE QUITE DEMORALISED. THE NURSES AND PRIMARY CARE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. IT IS NOT A GP RECRUITMENT PROBLEM, IT IS A NURSING AND RETENTION PROBLEM AS WELL. AT THE MOMENT, THE WORKFORCE IS QUITE DEMORALISED. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE THAT WE CAN. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW THE HEALTH SERVICE IS FEARING. DO YOU FEEL THAT HEALTH IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT? I THINK THE GOVERNMENT MAKES GOOD SOUNDBITES ABOUT TRYING TO DO THINGS FOR HEALTH, BUT I'M CONSCIOUS THAT THERE ARE BEEN BIG INVESTMENTS TO THE FILM INDUSTRY, WERE TALKING ABOUT HALF A BILLION, AND THEN WE SEE MUCH SMALLER FUNDS BEING SENT TO HEALTH, WHICH IS QUITE SAD. I KNOW THAT IN PRIMARY CARE, IF THEY WERE TO PROVIDE A GOOD INVESTMENT INTO PRIMARY CARE WHEN 90% OF ALL HEALTH INTERACTIONS HAPPEN, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERY NEW ZEALANDER HAD A GP THAT THEY HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH, BUT WE NEED SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO COME TO US SO WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. TO HAVE ANY HOPE TODAY THAT THERE WILL BE SOMETHING ANNOUNCED IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL HELP YOU DO YOUR JOB IS? I ALWAYS HAVE HOPE. YES, IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO SEE SOMETHING. I AM ON THE BOARD OF THE GP OWNERS ASSOCIATION AS WE WERE PRESENT A LOT OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAD OUR TALKS WITH SIMEON BROWN TO EXPLAIN WHY GENERAL PRACTICES FIT WITHIN THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND HOW FUNDING GENERAL PRACTICE CAN BENEFIT EVERYONE ON THE GROUND. AT THE MOMENT, PRIMARY CARE SEES FIVE AND HALF PERCENT OF THE OVERALL HEALTH BUDGET, WHICH IS VERY SMALL AS A PROPORTION OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. WE WERE TO GET AN EXTRA 1% OF THE TOTAL HEALTH BUDGET, WE COULD START MAKING A MASSIVE CHANGE TO HOW WE MANAGE OUR PATIENTS. VICKI JONES, I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE A BUSY DAY AHEAD. CLINICAL DIRECTOR AND GP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS VERY MUCH. TALKING ABOUT THAT BUDGET, IF THAT WENT TO THEM, AND THE IMPACT THEY COULD HAVE ON THE OTHER END. YES. AND WE'LL HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF THE BUDGET RIGHT HERE WITH A 1 NEWS Q+A SPECIAL FROM 2pm. PLUS, THERE WILL BE PLENTY MORE ACROSS TVNZ+ AND THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE. ISN'T IT ALMOST LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKING TO COMPARE THANKS TO SPORTS TEAMS? IF YOU THINK OF GPS AS GRASSROOTS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE IT STARTS. YES, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR A&E, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR HOSPITAL. BE ASKED ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE WHAT YOU WERE HOPING WOULD COME OUT OF THE BUDGET. TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, MANY THINGS OF THE SAME ` HEALTH CARE, TEACHERS, SUPPORT CARE AND PENSIONERS. WE KNOW IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A LOWLY SCRAMBLE, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. WE WILL KNOW MORE AT 2 O'CLOCK. KEEP YOUR FEEDBACK COMING. LET US KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU HOPE TO SEE OUT OF THE BUDGET. BREAKFAST@TVNZ.CO.NZ. E WHAI AKE NEI ` WHAT DO BARBIE'S FEET TELL US ABOUT MODERN SOCIETY? NEXT, THE CONCLUSION RESEARCHERS CAME TO AFTER ANALYSING THE FOOT POSITION OF MORE THAN 2,000 DOLLS. You're speaking with Pippa. How can I help? Mm-hmm... VOICEOVER: Run your business like a well-oiled machine, on NZ's most reliable mobile network. With plans from $43.48 a month, excluding GST. One New Zealand. Let's get connected. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` TWO MEN WERE KNOCKED OUT DURING LAST NIGHT'S 'RUN IT' EVENT HELD IN AUCKLAND, WHICH SEES TWO COMPETITORS COLLIDE AT FULL SPEED, RNZ NEWS REPORTS. YES, TWO PEOPLE WERE KNOCKED OUT. OVERSEAS, U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CONFRONTED THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT DURING A MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE, CLAIMING WHITE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE BEING PERSECUTED. AND IN SPORT, THE WARRIORS ARE TARGETING A FULL 80-MINUTE PERFORMANCE ON SUNDAY AS THEY PREPARE FOR A REMATCH WITH FELLOW TOP FOUR-SIDE, THE RAIDERS, AT MOUNT SMART. UP THE WAHS. TWO YEARS ON FROM THE BARBIE MOVIE PAINTING EVERYTHING PINK, ITS INFLUENCE NOW STRETCHES INTO THE WORLD OF PODIATRY. THAT'S RIGHT, FEET DOCTORS. ALL BECAUSE OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR SCENE WHERE SHE FREAKS OUT OVER HER TRADITIONALLY HIGH-ARCHED FEET BECOMING FLAT. DON'T EVEN HAVE CONTEXT FOR THIS. BUT MY FEET` MY HEELS ARE ON THE GROUND. I'M NO LONGER ON TIPTOES. THAT'S OK LET ME SEE. FLAT FEET! (ALL SCREAM) ACTUALLY A VERY FUNNY MOVIE. A NEW STUDY HAS LOOKED AT BARBIE'S FOOT POSTURE OVER THE DECADES AND WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT REAL WOMEN, THEIR SHOE CHOICES AND FOOT HEALTH. JOINING US NOW IS PODIATRIST IAN GRIFFITHS, WHO WORKED ON THE STUDY. IAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. I LOVE IT. YOU HAVE GOT THE SHIRT, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE HEELS? GOOD MORNING, MY FRIEND. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WAS A DARE FROM THE CO-AUTHORS. YOU PULL IT OFF, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR DOING THAT. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT BARBIE'S FEET COULD TELL US ABOUT SOCIETY AND EQUALITY. WHAT DOES THE STUDY TELL US? I THINK IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW FAR-REACHING IT IS. WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT IT IS THE PODIATRY ELEMENT THAT MAKES THIS POPULAR. TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY AUSTRALIAN CO-AUTHORS, THEY COME UP WITH THE IDEA. THEY SAW THE MOVIE AND THOUGHT, NO ONE HAS EVER STUDIED BARBIE'S FEET BEFORE AND THEN THEY ASKED ME TO BE INVOLVED AND WHAT WE NOW JOKINGLY REFERRED TO AS ME BEING DIVERSITY, IN THAT I HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH BARBIE DOLLS AT ALL. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT RESEARCHERS STAY AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE. I WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT REASON. WE LOOKED AT 2750 BARBIE DOLLS OVER A PERIOD FROM 1959 TO THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR, AND WE MEASURED THEIR FOOT POSTURE, WE ALSO CAPTURE DATA SUCH AS THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURING, THEIR EMPLOYMENT STATUS, AND WHETHER THERE WAS INCLUSIVITY, SUCH AS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REPRESENTED. WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ALL OF THESE FACTS AND HOW THEY HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME. I LOVE THAT. WHAT CAME OUT OF THE STUDY, WHICH WAS ABOUT FEET, OR FOOT POSITION, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT ABOUT SOCIETAL CHANGES IN THE STUDY. ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE PODIATRISTS. WE ARE EXPERTS. IT IS THE FOOT WE ARE INTERESTED IN. WE MEASURED THE RELATION OF THE ANGLE, AND IT WAS CLEAR EARLY ON THAT BARBIE HAS TWO DISTINCT CATEGORIES ` THE TRADITIONAL, ICONIC TIPTOE POSTURE AND THEN SHE HAS WHAT MARGOT ROBBIE WAS REFERRING TO IS THE FLAT FOOT POSTURE. WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT IN 1959, POSTUR WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT IN 1950 9100 PERCENT TO BARBIE DOLLS HAD THE TIPTOE POSTURE, AND PRESENT DAY, THAT IS LOWER THAN 40%. IT STRONGLY CORRELATES WITH BARBIE'S POSITION IN THE WORKFORCE. IN THE EARLY DAYS, THERE WAS MINIMAL MENTION OF EVEN HAVING A JOB AT TIMES, NOW SHE HAS OVER 1/3 OF JOBS. SHE HAS BROKEN THE CEILING AND PUSH BOUNDARIES. SHE WAS AN ASTRONAUT BEFORE WE HAD A MAN ON THE MOON AND WAS A SURGERY WHEN THE BUS MAJORITY OF DOCTORS WERE MEN. SHE IS SOME WOMAN. I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE HEELS. I USED TO WEAR THEM, BUT NO LONGER DO ON THE PROGRAM BECAUSE I USED TO GET BUNIONS ON THE TOP OF MY FEET. HOW BAD ARE THEY FOR YOUR FEET? WE LOOKED INTO THIS ALONGSIDE OUR FOOT DATA. WE SAID, WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH TELL US ABOUT HEELS? THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DO KNOW IN THE SHORT TERM ` PEOPLE WALK SLOWER AND ARE LESS STABLE AND THEY CAN EXPERIENCE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. FOOT PAIN, KNEE PAIN, BACK PAIN. THERE IS NO STRONG EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT HEELS GIVE PEOPLE THESE PROBLEMS. INTUITIVELY, IT IS IN CONTRAST WAS A SITE OR HEALTH MESSAGING. BUNIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE JUST AS PREVALENT IN POPULATIONS THAT HAVE NEVER WORN HEELS. WE BELIEVE THAT BARBIE MAKES GOOD DECISIONS, SHE MAKES BUT WE DECISIONS BASED ON THE TASK AT HAND. THAT IS OKAY FOR HUMANS TO DO AS WELL. I LOVE IT, AND I THINK I MADE A BARBIE DECISION, AND NOW I HAVE KICKS ON. FINALLY, ANY ADVICE FOR LOOKING AFTER OUR FEET? YOU ARE PODIATRISTS, LET'S GO THERE. OUR REAL MESSAGE WOULD BE FOR THE POPULATION, STARTED WITH A DRUNK CONVERSATION THAT I CANNOT BELIEVE I AM ON BREAKFAST TV. OUR MESSAGING TO THE POPULATION IS THAT IT IS OKAY TO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS. WE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEED TO STOP DEMONISING HEELS AND TRUST PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE TASK, IDENTITY, PRIORITY, OR THE NEEDS AT THE TIME. THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE POPULATION IS THAT WHEN YOU SEE INFORMATION THAT IS NUANCED, THAT IS PROBABLY A SCENARIO THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING OR IT IS CLICK BEAT THE LIKES, CLICKS AND ENGAGEMENT. YOU PREACH, IAN! IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT HAVING YOU ON THE PROGRAM. YOU JUMPED INTO IT, AND I LOVE YOU FOR IT. WE SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON BREAKFAST TELEVISION IN NEW ZEALAND. THANK YOU, IAN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ENLIGHTENING, WHAT A WOMAN. I LOVE THE ADVICE. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, WE HIT THE STREETS TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN TODAY'S BUDGET. Ahhh... (TREE BRANCH SNAPS) (UPBEAT MUSIC) Ahhh! (UPBEAT MUSIC) Ahhh... Breaking news, Skinny Mobile has found a new way to keep prices low. They've digitally cloned their happiest customer, to make really cost-effective ads. I'm a real Skinny Mobile customer who loves them so much that I let them digitally clone me using A.I. Join me on Skinny today! Wow, what a heartwarming story about a telco that will do anything to keep prices low and customers happy. Wow, we are so happy. Get the Skinny! # DON'T GIVE IT UP, # OH. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE OUTLINING THEIR HOPES AHEAD OF TODAY'S BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED $164m IN BUDGET 2025 TO EXPAND URGENT AND AFTER-HOURS HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. BUT A DOCTOR IN KATIKATI SAYS THEY NEED THAT FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS PRIMARY CARE. THAT PROVIDES FOR EACH AFTER HOURS SERVICE, ITS PROBABALY THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE DOCTOR AND ONE NURSE. IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE THAT FUNDING IN PRIMARY CARE, WE COULD ACTUALLY KEEP PEOPLE WELL, WHICH WOULD ALSO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON URGENT CARE AND E.D. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BUDGET LATER IN THE SHOW, AS WELL AS A SPECIAL BROADCAST AT 2pm TODAY. GISBORNE POLICE ARE ON THE HUNT FOR A MAN THAT FLED FROM POLICE, POSSIBLY STILL IN HANDCUFFS. SONNY KENNEDY (36) WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY MORNING AT A WHAKARAU ADDRESS, WHEN HE FLED BY FOOT TO A NEARBY BUSH. POLICE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO HELP WITH ANY INFORMATION AND TO CALL 111 RATHER THAN APPROACH HIM. HE IS WEARING A DARK-COLOURED HOODIE AND LIGHT-COLOURED TROUSERS AND SNEAKERS. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WAR WILL CONTINUE IN GAZA UNTIL THE ENTIRE STRIP IS UNDER ISRAEL'S CONTROL. IT COMES AS THE UN WARNS AID HASN'T YET REACHED PALESTINIANS AS THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO DISTRIBUTE IT, WITH A UK MINISTER ACCUSING ISRAEL OF USING HUNGER AS A WEAPON OF WAR. NETANYAHU SAYS ABOUT 100 TRUCKS HAVE ENTERED THE GAZA STRIP FOLLOWING AN 11-WEEK BLOCKADE. HE SAYS HE'S PREPARED TO END THE WAR, BUT ONLY IF HAMAS IS COMPLETELY DISARMED AND HOSTAGES ARE RELEASED. HURRICANES LOOSE FORWARD BRAYDEN IOSE IS SET TO MISS THE REMAINDER OF THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON DUE TO AN ANKLE INJURY. HE WON'T FEATURE IN THE TWO REMAINING REGULAR SEASON MATCHES AGAINST THE REDS AND MOANA PASIFIKA. IOSE MADE 12 APPEARANCES THIS SEASON FOR THE CANES, BUT LEFT THE FIELD INJURED IN LAST WEEK'S MATCH AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS ` (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` CLEAR BLUE SKIES FOR NORTHLAND, TAUPO AND THE EAST COAST. ELSEWHERE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED IN WELLINGTON. 18 IS YOUR HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 15 IN HAMILTON. A NICE FINE DAY AHEAD FOR MOST OF YOU HERE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. HOWEVER, THERE'S SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS AND GREYMOUTH. BLENHEIM, YOUR HIGH IS 17. 15 FOR CHRISTCHURCH. IT IS, OF COURSE, BUDGET DAY, WITH ALL EYES ON PARLIAMENT LATER TODAY. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE ON TVNZ WITH A 1 NEWS Q&A SPECIAL HOSTED BY JOHN CAMPBELL FROM 2PM. PLUS THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF COVERAGE ACROSS TVNZ+ PLUS THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF COVERAGE ACROSS TVNZ+ AND THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE. THE QUESTION THOUGH, IS WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT FROM THE BUDGET? WE HIT THE STREETS TO FIND OUT. (CHILL MUSIC) MY NAME IS GAIL. MY MAIN PRIORITY WOULD BE HEALTH. PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT I'M RETIRED. AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IF I PRESENTED A HOSPITAL, I'D GET CARED FOR. I WORK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. I'M FROM KIMIHIA EARLY LEARNING CENTRE. I'D LIKE TO SEE LOTS OF MONEY GOING INTO HEALTH AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG FAMILIES AROUND HOUSING, EMERGENCY HOUSING, ENSURING THAT EVERY FAMILY HAS A DRY HOUSE, FOOD ON THE TABLE, THOSE KIND OF THINGS. I'M GUTTED ABOUT THE U-TURN ON THE PAY EQUITY CLAIM. I THINK THAT THAT HAS REALLY BIG IMPACTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO FUND PAY PARITY IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT ALL SPREADS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. I'M A STUDENT AT VICTORIA. UM, TO BE HONEST, I'D REALLY LIKE SOME CHEAPER PAMS BUTTER, BECAUSE IT'S GETTING CRAZY OUT THERE, LIKE $12 A BLOCK. IT'S CRAZINESS. YEAH, DON'T WE ALL BROTHER. COMMUNITY SERVICES THRESHOLD INCREASED. CAN GET LOWER GP VISITS. ALSO, WE GOT SOMEONE WHO'S A REGISTERED NURSE ` EXTREMELY BUSY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, SHORTSTAFFED, UNABLE TO EMPLOY NEW STAFF TO TO THE CUTS. WE NEED A BUDGET FOR OUR SERVICES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR EXAMPLE, TEACHERS NEED SUPPORT WORKERS, MORE STAFF. A LOT OF IT IS ON HEALTH, EDUCATION. WHAT'S GONNA MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU AND YOUR HOUSE, IS DOING AT THE MOMENT, AND STOCKING UP AT COSCO, WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD? ME U TONU MAI ` WE CHECK IN WITH OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE WARS IN GAZA AND UKRAINE. GOOD MORNING, AUCKLAND. 17 DEGREES YOU'RE AIMING FOR. WASN'T IT CHILLY THIS MORNING? BUT COMING PARTLY CLOUDY. IT WAS FOGGY, ACTUALLY. IT'S CURRENTLY -1 IN HAMILTON. GOOD NEWS, THOUGH. 10 DEGREES AT SOME POINT TODAY. LIGHT WINDS. THE SCENE OF THE BUDGET LOOK UP THIS MORNING ` 15 DEGREES TO TODAY, SHOULD BE FINE. NORTHERLY'S, EASING THIS AFTERNOON. I LIKE THAT VIEW. CHRIST CHURCH, MORENA. JUST MAGNIFICENT. BIT OF MORNING FOG, OR FROST. EASTERLY'S DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. GOOD MORNING, DUNEDIN. YOU ARE HEADING FOR 17 DEGREES TODAY. SHOULD BE FINE. WE'VE GOT WESTERLY WINDS. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY THEY'RE HOPING MONEY WILL BE DEDICATED TOWARDS PRIMARY CARE IN TODAY'S BUDGET. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WAR WILL CONTINUE IN GAZA UNTIL THE TERRITORY IS COMPLETELY UNDER ISRAEL'S CONTROL. AND IN SPORT, HURRICANES LOOSE FORWARD BRAYDEN IOSE IS SET TO MISS THE REMAINDER OF THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON DUE TO AN ANKLE INJURY. 6:42. THERE'S BEEN PLENTY HAPPENING ACROSS EUROPE THIS WEEK, AFTER ISRAEL ESCALATED ITS OFFENSIVE IN GAZA AMID WARNINGS OF A LOOMING FAMINE. THE UK AND EU SUSPENDED TRADE TALKS, AND MORE SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AGAINST RUSSIA OVER THE WAR IN UKRAINE. TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UP TO SPEED, WE'RE JOINED BY OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT, MEI HERON. KIA ORA, MEI. STARTING WITH GAZA ` SOME PRETTY STRONG LANGUAGE FROM THE UK HERE. WHAT HAVE THEY SAID? GOOD MORNING, YES. THIS IS THE STRONGEST LANGUAGE REPAIRED SO FAR FROM THE UK. DON'T FORGET, THE UK ARE ALLIES OF ISRAEL. NOW, THEY'RE CALLING THIS MILITARY EXPANSION BY ISRAEL MORALLY UNJUSTIFIABLE. THE TWO STATE SOLUTION REMAINS THE IDEAL FRAMEWORK, INDEED ONLY JUST FRAMEWORK FOR JUST AND LASTING PEACE. IT'S VERY VIABILITY IS IN PERIL. BY THE SPREAD OF A LEGAL ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS ACROSS THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THEY'RE LOSING FRIENDS RIGHT ACROSS THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE UK WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT STRONGLY, IT IS NEW ZEALAND AS WELL. WINSTON PETERS CONDEMNING ISRAEL AND ITS EXPANSION. OVER 20 OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL HAVE DEMANDED THAT ISRAEL ALLOW FULL AID INTO GAZA. IT'S BEEN 11 WEEKS NOW SINCE ISRAEL HAS BEEN LIMITING FOOD SUPPLY INTO GAZA, THE UN HAS WARNED OF MASS STARVATION. WHILE SOME FOOD TRUCKS ARE BEING ALLOWED IN, THE UN SAYS IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. THE QUESTION IS THOUGH MAY, IS ISRAEL LIKELY TO ACT ANY DIFFERENTLY? WE JUST HEARD A VERY SHORT TIME AGO FROM ISRAELIS PRIME MINISTER AND HE SAYS THAT AT THE END OF THE WAR, ISRAEL WILL BE IN CONTROL OF THE STRIP. THEY ARE OPEN TO A TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE, BUT HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT HE IS WILLING TO END THE WAR ONLY UNDER CLEAR CONDITIONS THAT ENSURE ISRAEL'S SECURITY. THAT INCLUDES HOSTAGES BEING RELEASED, HAMAS LAYING DOWN ARMS, LEADERSHIP BEING EXILED FROM THE STRIP. HE DOES GO ON TO TALK ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. HE SAYS HE'S WILLING TO FORMULATE A PLAN TO ALLOW MORE AID INTO THE STRIP, AND THAT INCLUDES MAYBE BRINGING IN U.S. COMPANIES TO ALLOW DISTRIBUTION. REALLY, IT IS THE UNITED STATES. THAT IS ISRAEL'S BIGGEST ALLY, BIGGEST SUPPORTER. IT IS THEM WHO CAN PUT A WHOLE LOT MORE PRESSURE ON ISRAEL TO ACT. RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT DOING THAT. DONALD TRUMP IS NOT COMING IN WITH THOSE WORDS. ANOTHER WAR, UKRAINE ` DEVELOPMENTS THERE WITH TRUMPS PHONE CALLS THIS WEEK. TELL US MORE. IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE U.S. HAS ITS HANDS IN BOTH WARS, RIGHT? ALTHOUGH, THIS WEEK WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT MAY BE DONALD TRUMP IS STARTING TO LOSE A BIT OF INTEREST IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR. THAT LANGUAGE COMING OUT OF THE U.S. VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE AND DONALD TRUMP, SAYING MAYBE IT ISN'T THEIR WAR. THAT HAS SENT A SHIVER OF FEAR DOWN THE SPINES OF PEOPLE HERE IN EUROPE AND THE UK, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY NEED U.S. SUPPORT TO KEEP HELPING UKRAINE. THE PROBLEM IS, THE U.S. CAN PILE A WHOLE LOT OF POLITICAL PRESSURE ON RUSSIA, AND IT'S ALSO THE BIGGEST MILITARY AID SUPPLIER TO UKRAINE. WHILE THE UK CAN DO SOME OF THAT, JUST NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. AND ON A DIFFERENT NOTE ` WHAT'S THIS ABOUT SPAIN AND THE TOURIST SUMMER BACKLASH? YES, WELL, EVERY YEAR IT HAS BEEN GROWING IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. THERE IS THIS GROWING BACKLASH AGAINST THE IDEA OF MASS TOURISM, THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS THAT ARE JUST POURING IN TO THESE MAIN HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS OVER HERE IN EUROPE. IN SPAIN, IT IS A PARTICULARLY BAD PROBLEM. LAST YEAR, WE HEARD ABOUT LOCAL SPRAYING TOURIST WITH WATER GUNS AT LOCAL CAFES AND BEACHES TO TRY TO PUT THEM OFF. THIS YEAR, THE MASS PROTESTS HAVE STARTED EARLY. SPANISH AUTHORITIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OFF AND BANNED 66,000 AIR B&B PROPERTIES FROM THE MARKET FOR BANNING REGULATIONS. MAKES THESE CITIES CROWDED, UNLIVABLE FOR MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE. IT DRIVES UP RENT PRICES. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THESE REGULATIONS ARE ENOUGH TO PUT OFF THESE HOLIDAY GOERS WHO ARE DESPERATE FOR SOME SPANISH SUNSHINE. MAYBE THEY CAN COME OUR WAY. THANK YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` IS THE WELLINGTON HOSPITALITY SCENE AS BAD AS IT'S BEING MADE OUT TO BE? AFTER THE BREAK, WHY SOME SAY IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. # JUST KISS ME AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT. TEANA: How's life going with the new addition? BEN AND AMY: Ummmmmm... AMY: Wooah! AMY: I think we might need a bit more room. VOICEOVER: Make your move with Canstar's bank of the year for Home Loans. Search ASB Home Loans today. THAT IS THE STATE OF THE TRAFFIC HEADING INTO THE CITY. ESMONDE ROAD. IT IS MOVING, ISN'T IT? THERE AT THE STOP LIGHT THINGS. LOOK AT THE LIGHTS ARE WAY AHEAD. JUST EMERGING, THIS IS GREEN LANE HEADING INTO THE CITY. I THINK THAT IS NEAR RAINBOWS END. NO, THAT IS GREEN LANE. ABOUT 10 KM AWAY FROM RAINBOWS END. HERE WE GO, ANYWAY. IT IS MOVING, AS YOU SAY. THERE YOU GO. THIS IS RAINBOWS AND! FLYING DOWN, AND THEY WILL SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND THEN TAKE 40 MINUTES TO GO 7 KM. WE LOVE AUCKLAND, WE REALLY DO! DO WE? EKIM BURGER, BORDEAUX BAKERY, MEKONG CAFE, DAISY'S ` THESE ARE THE NAMES OF SOME LONG-STANDING WELLINGTON BUSINESSES THAT CLOSED THEIR DOORS IN 2024. BUT DESPITE THE STRING OF CLOSURES, SOME BUSINESS OWNERS SAY IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM, AND ARE TIRED OF BEING THE POSTER CHILD FOR A STRUGGLING CAPITAL CITY. JOINING US NOW IS MIA TRACEY, TO FIGHT BACK, IN SOME WAYS, THE OWNER OF WELLINGTON'S POPULAR PICKLE & PIE AND DOUGH BAKERY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. KIA ORA, THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU FINDING THE INDUSTRY AND WELLINGTON AT THE MINUTE? IT CERTAINLY HAS ITS CHALLENGES, BUT, LIKE YOU SAY, DOES NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. IT IS A BIT TIRESOME BEING THE POSTER CHILD FOR A DYING WELLINGTON CITY, OR SO THE NARRATIVE SAYS. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW? WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WELLINGTON IS IN A TRANSITIONAL PHASE. IT IS A BIT UGLY OUT THERE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. WITH CONSTRUCTION, THAT MEANS WE ABOUT TO SEE SOME GROWTH, AND THAT IS REALLY EXCITING. THAT IS THE NARRATIVE THAT WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING. WELLINGTON IS CHANGING AND WE HAVE TO HOLD ON THERE FOR A BIT LONGER. HOSPITALITY CAN BE TOUGH, CAN'T IT? HOSPITALITY NEW ZEALAND HAS SHOWN AN UPTICK IN ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES, SO THINGS ARE HAPPENING, RIGHT? THINGS ARE HAPPENING, YES. IT IS, I GUESS. FOOT TRAFFIC IS A LITTLE BIT SLOWER, BUT THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO THE CITY. WE ARE SEEING THAT EVEN WITH THE TALENT ACQUIRING. THERE ARE MORE TRAVELLERS COMING IN, SO I THINK WITH THE HOLD ON UNTIL LONGER. HAS IT BEEN HARD TO KEEP WORKERS WITH THE NARRATIVE THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DYING? YES, IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL. NOBODY WANTS TO COME SOMEWHERE WHETHER MEDIA IS PORTRAYING A DYING CITY. WE SING A LOT MORE TRAVELLERS COMING BACK AND NOW, EVEN IN THE LAST SUMMER SEASON, WE SAW A LOT MORE EUROPEANS COMING OVER AND STAYING HERE FOR A LOT LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. DO YOU THINK THAT THE TRENDS IN HOSPITALITY TEND TO EBB AND FLOW WHERE PEOPLE GO FROM ONE TYPE OF DINING TO ANOTHER? YES. I GUESS THAT IF THERE IS ONLY ONE CERTAIN TYPE OF DINING THAT IS AROUND, AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF RESTAURANTS AND SIT DOWN CAFES. NATURALLY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PLACES LIKE THE BAKERY JUST TO GRAB SOMETHING AND GO. THERE IS DEFINITELY A TREND OF SMALLER TRANSACTIONS, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE CATERING SO AT THE MOMENT. WOULD YOU SAY THE PUBLIC SECTOR CUTS HAVE AFFECTED YOU? YES, THERE IS NO DENYING THAT FOOT TRAFFIC NUMBERS ARE DOWN. I SUSPECT THAT A LOT OF THAT HAS COME FROM PUBLIC SECTOR CUTS. WE CANNOT KEEP TALKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE SURELY A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR AT LEAST WE ARE HOPING THEY HAVE GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND ARE GETTING NEW JOBS AND WILL COME BACK AS CUSTOMERS. YOU ARE ABOUT TO OPEN YOUR SIXTH LOCATION AND THE CAPITAL. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL? I THINK THAT WE HAVE NOT PUT ALL OF OUR EGGS INTO ONE BASKET. WE HAVE SPREAD OURSELVES ACROSS THE REGION. I GUESS THAT ON ONE DAY WON STORE IS NOT TOO BUSY ALL THE OTHER STORE IS BUSIER BECAUSE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE WORKED FROM HOME IN THOSE AREAS. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THAT WAY THAT WE HAVE GOT MULTIPLE SITES SO THAT WE CAN ON ONE SITE, THE DOWNFALL OF ANOTHER SITE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT. WELLINGTON IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! YOU HAVE LOTS OF THINGS BEHIND YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. . THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. PLENTY OF FEEDBACK COMING IN ABOUT THE BUDGET. CHRIS SAYS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION, BUT ACTUALLY, WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RE-TRESPASS FIBRES OF STATE CARE CORRECTION: REDRESS. KAREN TALKS ABOUT GOOD TEETH, THEREFORE GOOD HEALTH AND LOOKING AT WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE SUBSIDISED OR FREE. SHE ALSO MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT FREE TRAINING FOR NURSES. MY MUM WENT THROUGH TEACHERS COLLEGE AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS PAID FOR. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST NOW? WE'RE LOOKING AT 20 GRAND. WHACK THAT ON THE STUDENT LOAN. WE PRIORITISE EATING MEAT, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, SUPERMARKET PRICES IN GENERAL, AT LEAST WILL BE ABLE TO HAPPIER, HEALTHIER CHILDREN. THEREFORE, IF WE ALL HEALTHIER, THAT DOES NOT THEN STRETCH INTO HEALTHCARE. TODD, I THINK A LESS SELFISH MINDSET IS REQUIRED. INSTEAD OF SAYING IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO MY HOUSEHOLD, THIS IS ASKING FOR A QUICK FIX. THIS WAS THE ECONOMY IN THIS POSITION WITH THE LAST GOVERNMENT. I GET IT, BUT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT, TODD, AND YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR YOUR KIDS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SELFISH. STILL TO COME ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` WILL TODAY'S BUDGET BRING ANY RELIEF FROM THE COST OF LIVING? WHAT HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR. ALSO AHEAD ` THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT IS IN AOTEAROA, AND BETTER YET, HE'LL JOIN US IN STUDIO. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR OUR PARALYMPIC STARS? PLUS ` THE KIWI WHO'S GO FOR LAUNCH. WE'LL HEAR FROM THE MAN WHO WILL BE ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S NEXT FLIGHT TO SPACE. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. ONE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS CALLING FOR MONEY TO BE POURED INTO PRIMARY, NOT EMERGENCY CARE, AHEAD OF TODAY'S BUDGET ANNOUNCMENT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY OUTLINED $164m TOWARDS EXPANDING URGENT AND AFTER-HOURS HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. BUT A DOCTOR FROM KATIKATI DOCTOR SAYS THE INVESTMENT SHOULD COME FIRST TO PRIMARY HEALTH, WHICH WILL EASE PRESSURE LATER ON. TRY TO FILL OUR BUCKET, BUT THE BUCKET'S GOT A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM. AND SO, YOU CAN POUR A LOT OF THINGS INTO THE TOP ` MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BUDGET LATER IN THE SHOW, AS WELL AS A Q+A SPECIAL WITH JOHN CAMPBELL AT 2pm TODAY. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF AUCKLAND'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAS TOLD RNZ NEWS SHE'S GUTTED TO HEAR OF THE CLOSURE OF ICONIC DEPARTMENT STORE SMITH AND CAUGHEY'S. AFTER 145 YEARS OF SERVICE, THE COMPANY LAST NIGHT ANNOUNCED THE QUEEN STREET STORE WILL CLOSE ON JULY THE 31ST AND THE ONLINE STORE ON MAY THE 30TH. 98 PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS. HEART OF THE CITY'S VIV BECK SAYS IT'S THE LOSS OF A CULTURAL ICON FOR AUCKLAND, WITH THE QUEEN STREET STORE FAMOUS FOR ITS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. VIV BECK SAYS DESPITE THE STORE'S CLOSURE, SHE'S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CITY CENTRE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE. CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER HAS CONFIRMED HE'S CONSIDERING JOINING THE UNITED STATES' PROPOSED GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED THE NEW MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SECURITY PLAN YESTERDAY, SAYING CANADA WAS INTERESTED IN IT. THE SYSTEM WOULD USE SATELLITES TO DETECT AND COUNTER INCOMING MISSILE THREATS, SIMILAR TO THE IRON DOME USED BY ISRAEL. TRUMP SAYS IT'LL BE IN OPERATION BY THE END OF HIS TERM IN THREE YEARS TIME. LEGENDARY FILIPINO BOXER MANNY PACQUIAO HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT. THE 46-YEAR-OLD WILL FIGHT WBC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION MARIO BARRIOS IN LAS VEGAS IN JULY. THE BOUT WILL BE HIS FIRST IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS. IT WILL BE A TOUGH FIGHT AGAINST BARRIOS (30), WHO HAS WON 29 OF HIS 32 CONTESTS, INCLUDING 18 KNOCKOUTS. OH, NO! LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS ` (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` CLEAR BLUE SKIES FOR NORTHLAND, TAUPO AND THE EAST COAST. ELSEWHERE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED IN WELLINGTON. 18 IS YOUR HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 15 IN HAMILTON. A NICE, FINE DAY AHEAD FOR MOST OF YOU HERE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. HOWEVER, THERE'S SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS AND GREYMOUTH. BLENHEIM, YOUR HIGH IS 17. 15 FOR CHRISTCHURCH. THANKS, MELISSA. THE BUDGET, THE GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR, IS JUST HOURS AWAY. AT 2pm, WE'LL SEE WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING, AND CRUCIALLY, WHERE IT ISN'T. WE'RE BEING TOLD NOT TO EXPECT A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. BUT AS THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO BITE, THOUSANDS OF NEW ZEALANDERS WILL BE KEEPING THEIR FINGERS CROSSED FOR A BIT OF RELIEF. DATA FROM STATS NZ SHOWS HOUSEHOLD LIVING COSTS ARE UP 3% IN THE LAST YEAR. FOOD PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY 3.7%. BUTTER IS UP A WHOPPING 65%. AND TRADEME DATA SHOWS RENTAL PRICES HAVE SURGED BY 25% SINCE MARCH 2020. WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH AN ECONOMIST SHORTLY FOR MORE ON WHAT'S DRIVING THE RISING COST OF LIVING. BUT FIRST, WE'RE JOINED BY TWO YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS ` LACHLAN CUTTANCE-DUNNE AND KIRSTEN MAX. GOOD MORNING TO YOU BOTH. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS ON BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME. YOU ARE BOTH IN YOUR EARLY 20S, WHAT A MESS OF ACHIEVEMENT THAT IS. CORRECTION: MASSIVE HOW YOU MANAGED TO DO THAT? WE DON'T WANT TO BE PAYING CRAZY AMOUNTS OF RENT. WE LOOKED AT OUR EXPENSES AND CUT OUT WHAT WE COULD AND TRIED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT. BUS TO UNI. MOVING BACK HOME WAS A BIG THING FOR US. WAS MOVING BACK HOME KIND OF YOU HAD TO IN ORDER TO GET INTO YOUR FIRST HOME? DEFINITELY HELPED US, BECAUSE I'M STUDYING FULL-TIME AND THEN WORKING THREE JOBS. WE ARE IN DAD'S SLEEPOUT AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE MOVE INTO A NEW HOME IN TWO WEEKS. VERY EXCITED, BUT WILL DIFFERENTLY HAVE FLATMATES TO HELP US OUT. AND OUR DOG, OF COURSE. IT IS VERY EXCITING. THAT YOU USE YOUR KIWI SAVER? YES. SUPER SIMPLE. WE HAD TO GET A JP TO SIGN A COUPLE OF DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS PASSPORT AND PROOF OF ADDRESS AND SEND IT THROUGH OUR LAWYER, WHO SAID IT SHOULD BE OUT IN 10 DAYS. IT WAS PRETTY SMOOTH FOR US. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COST PRESSURES AT THE MOMENT FOR DIFFERENT FAMILIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST COST PRESSURE THAT YOU TWO ARE COPING WITH? IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FOOD. THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING OUT THERE. WE DON'T EVEN BUY JUNK FOOD. WE JUST BY THE NECESSITIES ` FRUIT, VEGETABLES, MEAT. IT IS STILL SO EXPENSIVE, WHICH IS REALLY HARD. WHAT ABOUT FRIENDS OF YOURS? IN TERMS OF COST PRESSURES, WHAT ARE THEY FINDING? IS THAT THE SAME THING? A LOT OF MY FRIENDS IN THE TRADE HAVE BEEN BUYING THEIR LUNCHES EVERY DAY OR SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON FOOD, AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST KILLER. TAKEAWAY IS, WE DO NOT DO THAT. WE MEAL PREP. YOU SPEND $20-$30 A DAY ON A FIZZY DRINK AND PIE AT THE BAKERY. WE CUT OUT ALL OF THAT. YOUR MINDSET, WHEN YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT HOW YOU ARE LIVING, WANTING TO GET INTO A HOME AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE, THAT MINDSET THAT YOU HAVE HAD, AS IT ALWAYS BEEN THERE, OR WAS THERE A SWITCH AT SOME POINT? EVERYBODY IS FEELING THE PRESSURE, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE KNUCKLED DOWN. I THINK WE ALWAYS HAD THE GOAL. WE ALWAYS HAD GOOD GOALS TOGETHER. WE HAVE BEEN DATING PROMISED FIVE YEARS. FROM START, WE LINED UP OUR INTENTIONS, AND THERE'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO. WE DID NOT WANT TO BE PAYING RENT FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES AND SPENDING MONEY ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY IS, REALLY. ONCE WE ARE IN, WE ARE IN. IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET TODAY, I DO ANYTHING FOR YOU GO TO THE YOUNG COUPLE THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE? FOR OUR BUDGETING? FOOD, I GUESS, WILL BE ONE OF THEM, RIGHT? DEFINITELY FOOD. IF WE EVER GOING TO EAT OUT, WE USE DIFFERENT APPS, SUCH AS FIRST TABLE, AND BOOK ME. YOU GET 50% OFF YOUR RESTAURANT MEALS. I THINK IT IS AT 5 PM, SO IT IS EARLY TABLES. WE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT FOR OUR BUDGETING. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT FIRST TABLES, APPARENTLY IT IS AMAZING. YOU TOO, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING INTO YOUR FIRST TIME. I KNOW YOU CANNOT WAIT TO GET OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO THAT HOME. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. VERY TRUE. AWESOME, THANK YOU. SO YOU. FOR MORE ON WHAT'S DRIVING THE COST OF LIVING UP, WE'RE JOINED BY CHRISTINA LEUNG FROM THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH. ALWAYS SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF COST PRESSURES, WHAT IS IT THAT KIWIS ARE FEELING THE MOST? AS WE HEARD, FOOD IS A LARGE ONE. IF YOU LOOK AT MORE RECENT DATA, FOOD PRICES WENT UP 3.7%. I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE $11 BLOCKS OF BUTTER. A LARGE PART OF THAT, WE LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH DAIRY PRICES, BECAUSE OF STRONG GLOBAL DEMAND, THAT IS DRIVING UP PRICES. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A LOWER DOLLAR, AND WHAT THAT IS DONE IS ALSO ADDED TO THE PRICE FOR MANY OF THE IMPORTANT TRADABLE GOODS, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT ARE EXPOSED TO OVERSEAS MARKETS. ACROSS OTHER AREAS OF FOOD, SUCH AS MEAT AND SERIAL, WE ARE QUITE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES. STRONG GLOBAL DEMAND THERE. IN TERMS OF THOSE DOMESTIC PRESSURES THAT ARE NOT EXPOSED TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, WE HAVE ALSO HAD ENERGY PRICES, FOR EXAMPLE, ELECTRICITY PRICES, GO UP OVER 6%. DEFINITELY A LOT OF COST PRESSURES THAT HAVE BEEN QUITE INTENSE IN THE PAST YEAR. IS THERE ANY RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR HOUSEHOLDS, DO YOU THINK? THERE ARE SOME OFFSETS. FOR EXAMPLE, EFFECT THAT FUEL PRICES HAVE FALLEN 10%. AND OF COURSE, WITH LOWER INTEREST RATES, THE RESERVE BANK HAS CUT THE OCR SHARPLY SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. WHAT THAT IS DONE IS FLOAT THROUGH TO LOWER MORTGAGE RATES. AND TERMS OF THE FLOW ON EFFECTS FOR WHEN IT IS CHANGED TO WHEN YOU START TO SEE THAT COME THROUGH THE BROADER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, YOU TEND TO SEE THAT COME THROUGH WITH A LAG. THAT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT MANY HOUSEHOLDS DO TEND TO FIX THEIR MORTGAGE RATES AT THE LOWEST PART OF THE CURVE, WHICH TENDS TO BE AT THEIR ONE AND TWO YEAR RATES. GENERALLY, YOU DO SEE THAT FROM WHEN THE OCR CHANGE COMING THROUGH THE ECONOMY IS AROUND 18 MONTHS. 40% OF MORTGAGES ARE DUE FOR REPRICING OVER THE COMING SIX MONTHS, SO YOU SHOULD SEE CONTINUES RELIEF FOR MANY HOUSEHOLDS IN THE FORM OF LOWER MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS WHEN IT COMES EVERY FIXING THE MORTGAGE. WE HEARD FROM LOCKLIN AND KIRSTEN, AMAZING YOUNG COUPLE, THAT MANAGED TO CUT BITS HERE AND THERE TO GET INTO THEIR FIRST HOME. WE HAVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, PARENTS WORKING TWO JOBS, STILL REALLY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. LOOKING AT THE BUDGET COMING UP THIS AFTERNOON, WHAT WOULD MAKE A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE STRUGGLING? IT IS A DELICATE BALANCING ACT FOR THE GOVERNMENT. AND OF COURSE, ANY SUPPORT PAYMENTS THAT ADDRESSES THE RISING COST OF LIVING DOES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PUSH UP PRICES MORE GENERALLY. WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS JUST HOW DAMAGING THAT HIGH INFLATION CAN BE TO THE ECONOMY. ALSO NOT JUST THE FACT THAT HIGH INFLATION ITSELF, BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, HIGH PRICES MEAN THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE BUYING IS HIGHER, BUT THE FACT THAT THE RESERVE BANK TRYING TO BRING A FLASH AND TO ITS 1 TO 3% TARGET, WHAT YOU SEE IS THE KEY MECHANISM FOR THE RESERVE BANK TO DO SO AS TO INCREASE INTEREST RATES. WHAT YOU SAW OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THE FACT THAT TRANSITION FROM HIGH INFLATION ENVIRONMENTS IS OFTEN QUITE PAINFUL FOR MANY PARTS OF THE ECONOMY. IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE KEY CONTRIBUTOR IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM, IT IS TO HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT HAS LOW, STABLE INFLATION SO HOUSEHOLDS CAN PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INFLATION, A WHOLE LOT OF NUMBERS, ET CETERA, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OF THAT, ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHETHER I'M GOING TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THIS BUDGET. WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE PRESSURES THERE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FACING, WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN? TRANSLATE THAT PEOPLE AT HOME AS TO WHAT MAY COME AND MAY NOT COME. BROADLY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT INFLATION HAS STARTED TO EASE. OBVIOUSLY, DIFFERENT AREAS IN TERMS OF PRICES, SUCH AS FOOD, YOU ARE STILL SEEING QUITE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES. ANY MEASURES THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS SUPPORT PAYMENTS, THE TRICKY THING IS THAT ANY SUPPORT PAYMENT HAS A POTENTIAL TO PUSH UP BECAUSE IT PUSHES UP DEMAND. THAT IN TURN PUSHES UP PRICES. YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THIS. YOU WANT TO SUPPORT BUT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT PUSH UP PRICES GENERALLY, WHICH IN TURN WOULD GO ON TO INCREASE LIVING COSTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THOUGH, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE CUTTING TOO MUCH SUCH THAT THE ECONOMY IS CONTRACTING AND YOU HAVING AN ECONOMY THAT IS IN A VERY WEAK SPACE FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF TIME. THAT IS THE BALANCING ACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO GET RIGHT? THAT IS RIGHT, YES. HOW DO THEY SPEND AND SUPPORT IN THE RIGHT AREAS? SUPPORT AND AWAY WE DO NOT GET THAT BROAD BRUSH INCREASE IN PRICES, WHICH IN TURN WILL LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS DOWN THE TRACK FOR MANY. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. REALLY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU. KIA ORA. AND WE'LL HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF THE BUDGET RIGHT HERE, WITH A 1 NEWS Q & A SPECIAL FROM 2pm. PLUS THERE WILL BE PLENTY MORE ACROSS TVNZ+ AND THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE. WE ARE ALL OVER IT. E HAERE AKE NEI ` HE'S THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN PARALYMPIC SPORT. NEXT, THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE JOINS US IN STUDIO. Breaking news, Skinny Mobile has found a new way to keep prices low. They've digitally cloned their happiest customer, to make really cost-effective ads. I'm a real Skinny Mobile customer who loves them so much that I let them digitally clone me using A.I. Join me on Skinny today! Wow, what a heartwarming story about a telco that will do anything to keep prices low and customers happy. Wow, we are so happy. Get the Skinny! HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. AUCKLAND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS TOLD RNZ NEWS SHE'S GUTTED TO HEAR OF THE CLOSURE OF ICONIC DEPARTMENT STORE SMITH AND CAUGHEY', BUT SHE'S STILL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CENTRAL CITY'S ECONOMIC FUTURE. OVERSEAS, CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER HAS CONFIRMED HE'S CONSIDERING JOINING THE UNITED STATES' PROPOSED GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM. AND IN SPORT, LEGENDARY FILIPINO BOXER MANNY PACQUIAO HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT, WITH A MATCH IN LAS VEGAS IN JULY. SUCH A LEGEND. AS THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT GROWS WORLDWIDE, THERE ARE HOPES THAT PARA SPORT CAN BE USED AS A PATHWAY TO A MORE ACCESSIBLE WORLD. IT COMES AFTER THE PARIS PARALYMPIC GAMES, WHICH SAW BILLIONS INVESTED IN DISABILITY INCLUSION INITIATIVES ACROSS FRANCE. TO BUILD ON THAT MOMENTUM FROM THE PARIS GAMES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ANDREW PARSONS IS VISITING OCEANIA AND MADE TIME TO STOP INTO OUR STUDIO. GOOD MORNING. YOU GOT HERE YESTERDAY? YESTERDAY MORNING. IT'S A VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND SO I CAN GET TO KNOW THE PARALYMPIC COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY. SPONSORS, MEDIA, SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE IN NEW ZEALAND? ALTHOUGH IT'S A FANTASTIC COUNTRY FOR PARALYMPICS IN TERMS OF THE METALS PER CAPITA. HOW WE CAN CAPITALISE ON IT. WERE ALWAYS WAITING FOR THOSE. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PARALYMPICS RAISING THE BAR, WHY WAS THAT? IT WAS A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS. THE ATHLETES ARE BETTER THAN NEVER IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY PRESENT TO THE AUDIENCE, OF COURSE, PARIS INCLUDES INCREDIBLE PERFORMERS. YOU HAVE THE TAE KWON DO, SO WHAT WE SAW FROM PARIS WAS BEAUTIFUL. BUT I DO THINK PARIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE COULD REALLY CREATE THIS ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PARALYMPIC SPORT AND CHANGING THE WORLD, AND PEARLAND EXPLORE AS A FORCE FOR CHANGE. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF THAT? AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THE REVOLUTION, THAT WAS A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO THE WORLD. OF COURSE, WHEN YOU HOST THE GAMES, YOU FOCUS A LOT OF LEGACY IN PARIS. THE CHALLENGE IS FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN PARIS HAS AN EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND, AFRICA. CHANGING LEGISLATION DURING THE TIME OF THE GAMES IN FRANCE, 1.5 BILLION YEAR INVESTMENT TO MAKING THINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE IN THE COUNTRY, CHANGING THE LAWS AROUND THE SPORT, SO THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE GAMES CAN INSPIRE. I THINK HERETO, YOU SEE THE PARALYMPICS ON TVNZ, SOME OF THOSE ATHLETES ARE BECOMING HOUSEHOLD NAMES. ARE USING THAT WORLDWIDE? YES, THEY INSPIRE GENERATIONS OF KIDS. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THEY KNOW THAT SPORT CAN BE AN EXAMPLE TO SOCIETY. IN SPORT, WE REMOVE THE BARRIERS. EVERYBODY GETS EXCITED. IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, POLITICS, EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETY. OUR MOTTO IS CHANGE STARTS WITH SPORT. WHAT'S THE THING YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF? I THINK IT'S BRINGING THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE WIDER HUMAN RIGHTS DISABILITY MOVEMENT. SOMETHING THAT IS RELEVANT, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT, WE INVEST TOO MUCH IN BEING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE ORGANISATION. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE ATHLETES IN THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE GLOBAL LEVEL. MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADVANCING THE AGENDA WITH REGARDS TO DISABILITY, USING IT AS A PLATFORM. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE WORLD. BUT I THINK IT'S HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THERE'S A GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OF PARALYMPIC SPORTS. WE GO TO DEVELOPING NATIONS LIKE AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY GO TO THEIR NEXT LEVEL. BRISBANE IS NEXT? WE HAVE WINTER GAMES, WE ALSO HAVE WINTER PARALYMPICS, WHICH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT, BUT WE DO. THERE ARE SOME AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU CAN SEE ON TV. AND THEN L.A., 28, IS THE NEXT ONE. IN A PARALYMPIC EVENT LIKE BLIND SKIING, IS THERE ONE THAT WOWS YOU IN TERMS OF THE SKILL AND GUTS IT TAKES TO DO? YES, BECAUSE IT SURPRISES PEOPLE. WHEN PEOPLE ARE FIRST EXPOSED TO IT, THEY THINK WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS EVEN POSSIBLE. HE CANNOT WALK, BUT HE'S COMING DOWNHILL ON AN ALPINE SKI AT 100 KM/H'S. 120* WE ARE SURPRISED, BUT EVEN AFTER THE SURPRISE YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE SPORT IS SO GOOD. DO YOU HAVE A NEW ZEALAND PEARLAND BIG MOMENT THAT YOU'VE SEEN THAT YOU LOVED? WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN CHRISTCHURCH, THAT WAS WITH THE BRAZILIAN TEAM AT THE TIME, AND WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY, THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND, SO IT WAS WHEN THERE WAS THE BIG EARTHQUAKE A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER, AND PEOPLE WERE ASKING ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THIS PERSON AND THIS PERSON, BECAUSE THE BOND WAS SO STRONG. THAT WILL BE IN MY HEART FOREVER. IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU. THEN YOU GO TO VANUATU. THANK YOU FOR POPPING BY THIS MORNING. LOVE THE MESSAGING AS WELL, IN THAT IT'S A PATHWAY FOR CHANGE, NOT JUST FOR THE ATHLETE, BUT FOR SOCIETY. IT'S SO GREAT. AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, BUT I LOVE THE FACT THAT WERE LOOKING AT SPORT AS A VEHICLE FOR WIDER CHANGE. BEAUTIFUL. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA. YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. # I FOUND YOU. # SCREAMS FROM THE OLD PLANTATION DON'T STOP. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. TWO YOUNG HOMEOWNERS SAY TRYING TO BUY FOOD IN TODAY'S COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS HAS BEEN FAR TOUGHER THAN THEY EVER EXPECTED. WITH BUDGET DAY ` THE GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE YEAR ` JUST HOURS AWAY, MANY KIWIS ARE HOPING FOR SOME MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF AS EVERYDAY EXPENSES CONTINUE TO RISE. AND IT SEEMS YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE, WITH A PAIR OF FIRST-HOME BUYERS SAYING FOOD IS THEIR BIGGEST LUXURY AT THE MOMENT. A LOT OF, SAYS, MY FRIENDS IN THE TRADES, THEY'LL BE BUYING THEIR LUNCHES EVERY DAY OR, SORT OF, SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON FOOD AND SUCH, AND THAT'S, KIND OF THE BIGGEST KILLER, I THINK. TAKEAWAY. WE DON'T DO THAT. WE JUST MEAL PREP. YOU SPEND, LIKE, $20-$30 A DAY ON A FIZZY DRINK AND PIE AT THE BAKERY. WE CUT OUT ALL OF THAT. YEAH. THE BUDGET WILL BE RELEASED AT 2pm TODAY. JOB ADS ROSE 1% FOR A SECOND MONTH, MARKING THE FIRST CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF GROWTH IN ALMOST TWO YEARS. THE LATEST SEEK NZ EMPLOYMENT REPORT REVEALS JOB ADS GREW, BUT APPLICATIONS PER AD DROPPED 3% FROM THE MONTH PRIOR ` THE FIRST DECLINE SINCE NOVEMBER. THE REGION WHERE JOB ADS FELL THE MOST WAS GISBORNE, DROPPING 33% YEAR-ON-YEAR. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WAR WILL CONTINUE IN GAZA UNTIL THE ENTIRE STRIP IS UNDER ISRAEL'S CONTROL. IT COMES AS THE UN WARNS AID HASN'T YET REACHED PALESTINIANS AS THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO DISTRIBUTE IT, WITH A UK MINISTER ACCUSING ISRAEL OF USING HUNGER AS A WEAPON OF WAR. NETANYAHU SAYS ABOUT 100 TRUCKS HAVE ENTERED THE GAZA STRIP FOLLOWING AN 11-WEEK BLOCKADE. HE SAYS HE'S PREPARED TO END THE WAR BUT ONLY IF HAMAS IS COMPLETELY DISARMED AND HOSTAGES ARE RELEASED. THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE SAYS IT'S CRUCIAL WE BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM OF THE PARIS PARALYMPIC GAMES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY AROUND THE WORLD. ANDREW PARSONS IS CURRENTLY VISITING NEW ZEALAND AS PART OF HIS TOUR OF OCEANIA. HE SAYS PINNACLE EVENTS LIKE THE PARALYMPICS CAN BE A PATHWAY TO GREATER INVESTMENT IN ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE. IT CAN BE AN EXAMPLE TO SOCIETY. WE REMOVE THE BARRIERS... EVERYBODY GETS EXCITED, BUT WE WANT THAT EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION... IN EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETY. PARSONS WILL LATER MEET WITH GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PARALYMPICS NEW ZEALAND PATRON DAME CINDY KIRO. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) # ARE YOU REALLY HAVING A GOOD TIME? AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` CLEAR BLUE SKIES FOR NORTHLAND, TAUPO AND THE EAST COAST. ELSEWHERE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED IN WELLINGTON. 18 IS YOUR HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 15 IN KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON. KI TE WAIPOUNAMU, TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, A NICE FINE DAY AHEAD FOR MOST OF YOU HERE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. HOWEVER, THERE'S SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS AND GREYMOUTH. BLENHEIM, YOUR HIGH IS 17. 15 FOR CHRISTCHURCH. IT'S BUDGET DAY AND LATER THIS AFTERNOON, THE GOVERNMENT WILL LAY OUT ITS SPENDING PRIORITIES. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE ON TVNZ WITH A 1 NEWS Q+A SPECIAL HOSTED BY JOHN CAMPBELL FROM 2PM. PLUS, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF COVERAGE ACROSS TVNZ+ AND THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE. BUT WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT FROM THE BUDGET? WE HIT THE STREETS TO FIND OUT. (FUNKY ELECTRONIC MUSIC) IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES. WE WOULD` WE REALLY NEED A BREAK IN SMALL BUSINESS RIGHT NOW. (CHUCKLES) AND IN THE START-UP ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS, FOR MORE EQUALITY, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE DO NOT HAVE AN ECONOMY WITHOUT A PLANET AND WE DO NOT HAVE CUSTOMERS WITHOUT MORE MONEY AND WHAT I WANT FROM THE BUDGET IS A RETURN TO A COMPASSIONATE AND CARING SOCIETY FOR NEW ZEALAND. I THINK WE NEED TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE LOOK AFTER VULNERABLE PEOPLE, LOOK AFTER OTHERS AND RESPECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. AND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS... I'M HOPING FOR A RETURN TO A... A SOCIETY WITH SOME KIND OF MORAL INTEGRITY. HE'S NOT MAKING IT EASY. I LIKE THE SENTIMENT, THOUGH. VERY NICE. MANY OF YOU WRITING AND TO TELL US THAT FOOD SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER BIG THING THAT IS COMING THROUGH. WE HEARD FROM YOUNG COUPLE, DOING WELL, GOOD ON THEM. IN THEIR EARLY 20S, HAVE MANAGED TO BUY THEIR FIRST TIME, MOVE BACK IN WITH MOM AND DAD TO SAVE THE MONEY. GREAT, BUT THEY ARE STILL STRUGGLING WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRICE OFFERED. WE KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE ARE. ROBIN SAYS, I DON'T AGREE THAT INFLATION IS UNDER CONTROL. WE HAVEN'T SEEN PRICES GO DOWN. ON THE CONTRARY, THEY GO OUT. TODD WAS AGREEING WITH THE BIT OF A MAN WHO GAVE HIS THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET ` 'A LESS SELFISH OUTLOOK REQUIRED.' LOOKING BROADER AS TO WHAT CAN HELP THE GREATER SOCIETY. IT IS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE POWER BILLS AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. TO ME, THAT IS A SELFISH MINDSET, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WHEN YOU WANT TO DO THE BEST WAY YOUR KIDS, IT IS NOT SELFISH. PLENTY MORE ON THE BUDGET TODAY ON TVNZ, BUT WE WILL BE TALKING SPORT NEXT, AND SOME GOOD NEWS FOR ONE OF OUR TOP MOUNTAIN BIKERS. (POP MUSIC) # I FOUND YOU. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` JOB ADS ROSE 1% FOR A SECOND MONTH, MARKING THE FIRST CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF GROWTH IN ALMOST TWO YEARS. OVERSEAS, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WAR WILL CONTINUE IN GAZA UNTIL THE ENTIRE STRIP IS UNDER ISRAEL'S CONTROL. AND IN SPORT, HURRICANES LOOSE FORWARD BRAYDEN IOSE HAS SUFFERED A SEASON-ENDING ANKLE INJURY. THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT HIM. NO, THAT WAS THE PARALYMPICS. ANGIE PARSONS, WE HAD THE HEAD OF THE ICC AND TO TELL US ABOUT PARALYMPICS. TIME FOR SPORT NOW, AND LUKE ROBINSON IS BACK OUT OF WELLINGTON. MORENA, LUKE, AND ONE OF OUR MOST PROMISING DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKING STARS IS BACK AFTER A PRETTY BIG INJURY? THAT'S RIGHT. DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKING OBVIOUSLY A CRAZY SPORT WHERE YOU NEED TO GET FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN ABOUT AS YOU CAN, AVOID THE TREES AND THE MASSIVE ROCKS IN THE WAY DOWN. ONE OF OUR MOST PROMISING ATHLETES, 18-YEAR-OLD FROM HERE IN WELLINGTON, SHE HAS BASICALLY DOMINATED ALL OF THE AGE-GROUP RANKS. SHE IS A TWO-TIME JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPION, WHO ON THE JUNIOR WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. SHE WAS SET TO COMPETE IN THE OPEN CATEGORY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON BEFORE A MASSIVE INJURY IN JANUARY. REALLY, REALLY LUCKY AFTER THE INJURY, SHE COULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN PARALYSED. AFTER SUCH A BRITTLE INJURY, I SPOKE TO HER BEFORE SHE LEFT FOR EUROPE. BROKE MY NECK, BACK... WRIST, PUNCTURED MY LUNG AND CUT MY LIVER A LITTLE BIT AS WELL. YEAH, THAT WAS A BIT OF A SCARE. I WAS TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 70km/h. AND TO` YEAH, TO GET AWAY WITH THOSE BIG INJURIES BUT A MINOR VERSION OF THEM, WAS PRETTY INSANELY LUCKY AS YOU SEE, THE INJURY PRETTY GNARLY THERE, SO ALL THE BEST OF LUCK TO HER IN FRANCE. AND WE ARE GETTING TO THE BUSINESS END OF SUPER RUGBY. A BIG KIWI DERBY TOMORROW, LUKE. THE CRUSADERS VS THE HIGHLANDERS WITH PLENTY ON THE LINE. THAT'S RIGHT, THE CRUSADERS HOSTING THE HIGHLANDERS, AS YOU SAY. THE CREATORS LOOK AT THE TOP SPOT AND IF THEY WIN TOMORROW NIGHT, THEY WILL GO TOP OF THE SUPER RUGBY TABLE. THE HIGHLANDERS ARE PLAYING THE PRIDE, THEY ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE AND EVERY STRUGGLE THIS SEASON TO GET THE WINDS THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD. THE CRUSADERS AT PLAYING THE HOSTING RIGHTS, THEY WANT TO MAKE TOP TWO AND HOST THEIR WAY TO THE QUARTER-FINALS IN THE SEMIFINALS, BUT OF COURSE, BEING A KIWI DERBY, THEY ARE NOT TAKING A SLIGHTLY. THEY'RE A QUALITY GROUP. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE RESULTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE AND PREDICT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD, BUT THAT WON'T MEAN THEY'LL TURN UP HERE ANY LESS MOTIVATED TO DO A JOB ON US. AS I SAID, LAST TIME WE PLAYED THEM A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE RIVALRIES REMAINED STRONG, AND THEY WOULD REFLECT ON A VICTORY ON FRIDAY NIGHT ON OUR HOME GROUND WITH A LOT OF PRIDE. SO A MASSIVE GAME TO KICK OFF THE PENULTIMATE ROUND OF SUPER RUGBY. JUST BEFORE WE GO, A BIG FAN OF THE CRUSADERS AND THE SHOW, A BIG SHUT OUT MY MUM WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS, SHE WILL BE AT HOME IN WHAKATANE WATCHING. MOTHER, THAT WILL EARN YOU A FEW POINTS, LUKE, GOOD MAN. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT LEAGUE ` WARRIORS AGAINST THE RAIDERS ON SUNDAY, UP THE WAHS? YES, I MEAN, IT WILL BE INTERESTING AND A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT GAME IN VEGAS. THIS IS A REAL TEST FOR THE WARRIORS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN BEAT THE RAIDERS, AND THAT IT IS CERTAINLY A BIG STEP IN TERMS OF THE CONFIDENCE AND BEATING THE TOP ECHELON TEAMS, SO ALL THE BEST FOR THEM THIS WEEK AND. NO, HANG ON, HANG ON. YOU DON'T SETTLE THE BEST TO THEM, YOU SAY... NAH, NAH, I'M NOT THAT SORT OF GUY, YOU KNOW. ALL THE BEST TO THE WARRIORS THIS WEEKEND. KIND REGARDS! WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE AT THE BREAKFAST. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUKE'S MUM. UP THE LUKE'S MUM. THAT'LL DO, MATE. (CHUCKLES) AEROSPACE ENTREPRENEUR MARK ROCKET IS SET TO BE THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER TO GO TO SPACE. HE'S SCHEDULED TO BE ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S ROCKET AND WILL HEAD TO WHERE NO KIWI HAS GONE BEFORE. HE SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY TO ALI PUGH. MARK ROCKET'S HAD HIS EYES ON THE SKIES FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER. EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY SPACE TECHNOLOGY, SPACE TRAVEL. AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, AT PRIMARY SCHOOL, I DID A PROJECT ABOUT THE PLANETS. BACK THEN, WE HAD NINE PLANETS; NOW WE'VE ONLY GOT EIGHT PLANETS, SINCE PLUTO'S BEEN REMOVED AS A PLANET. THAT CHILDHOOD DREAM SOON TO BE A REALITY. HE'S BOOKED ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S 12th HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT. THAT WOULD MAKE YOU THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER IN SPACE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? I PRESUME I AM. UNLESS THERE'S OTHER KIWIS THAT HAVE FLOWN UNDER THE RADAR. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLYING IN SPACE. FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE START OUR TRAINING THROUGH TO THE END, I'LL JUST BE, YOU KNOW, REVELLING IN THE` IN THE JOURNEY. THE LAST BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT IN APRIL CARRIED AN ALL-FEMALE CREW, INCLUDING POPSTAR KATY PERRY. THE ROCKET SOARING 100km ABOVE EARTH, PAST THE KARMAN LINE INTO THE EDGE OF SPACE, RETURNING ON PARACHUTES. MARK'S FLIGHT WILL MIRROR THAT JOURNEY FROM LIFT-OFF TO LANDING AROUND 11 MINUTES. CERTAINLY THE TRIP ITSELF IS PRETTY SHORT, BUT YOU KNOW, BUCKLING IN, GETTING READY TO EXPERIENCE THREE Gs OF ROCKET-POWERED FLIGHT UP TO SPACE WILL BE PRETTY PHENOMENAL. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, UNBUCKLING, BEING ABLE TO FLY AROUND THE CABIN IN ZERO GRAVITY, I THINK WILL BE A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR ME. THE COMPANY FOUNDED BY BILLIONAIRE JEFF BEZOS. HAVE YOU MET JEFF BEZOS? NOT YET. WILL HE BE THERE? I'M NOT SURE. MAYBE. (LAUGHS) I DON'T THINK WE'LL QUITE GET THE RED CARPET TREATMENT THAT THE LAST FLIGHT DID. (LAUGHS) YEAH, RIGHT. BUT WHO KNOWS? MARK'S ALREADY A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE SECTOR HERE, EVEN CHANGING HIS SURNAME TO ROCKET TO MATCH HIS PASSION. (ROCKET SOARS) A CO-DIRECTOR OF ROCKET LAB BEFORE LEAVING AND FORMING KEA AEROSPACE. IT'S SOLAR-POWERED, UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TRAVEL TO THE STRATOSPHERE. IT IS A REALLY EXCITING TIME FOR THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AROUND THE WORLD. YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE JUST THE DOMAIN OF SUPERPOWERS AND SCIENCE FICTION, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THIS MASSIVE TRANSFORMATION WHERE AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED FOR INNOVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS, GLOBAL COLLABORATIONS AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. SO I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE WORLD. THE MOST LUCRATIVE OF THOSE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES, THE BURGEONING SPACE TOURISM INDUSTRY. DOES IT EXCITE YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF SPACE TOURISM? SO AROUND THE WORLD, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING PROJECTS WITH SPACEX AND ROCKET LAB, BLUE ORIGIN AND A RANGE OF OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE REALLY MAKING MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHS, PARTICULARLY AROUND REUSABILITY, WHICH REALLY CHANGES THE WHOLE GAME. IF YOU CAN MAKE A REUSABLE ROCKET INSTEAD OF CHUCKING THE HARDWARE AWAY EACH TIME, IT REALLY MAKES IT A LOT MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO PUT THINGS AND PEOPLE INTO SPACE. AND IS THAT WHAT DREW YOU TO BLUE ORIGIN? YEAH, I REALLY LOVE BLUE ORIGIN, THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, A REUSABLE ROCKET SYSTEM. THEY ARE BURNING LIQUID HYDROGEN, LIQUID OXYGEN, AND THE EXHAUST IS WATER VAPOUR. SO I THINK THAT MAKES IT A REALLY CLEAN COMBUSTION SYSTEM. A SEAT ON-BOARD IS ESTIMATED TO COST IN THE BALLPARK OF SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TICKET PRICE? AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T TALK ABOUT. IT'S A NON-DISCLOSURE ASPECT. BUT HE HOPES SPACE TRAVEL WILL SOON BE AN OPTION FOR MORE PEOPLE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE EARLY DAYS OF AIR TRAVEL WHERE IT SLOWLY TOOK OFF, THEN IT BECAME MORE BROADLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE BROADER PUBLIC. THE COUNTDOWN TO LIFT-OFF NOW ON. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK UP AT THE NIGHT SKY AND WONDER ABOUT OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE. AND YEAH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIME. AND SOON MARK WON'T BE LOOKING UP TO THE SKY, BUT RATHER DOWN TO EARTH ` A JOURNEY THAT'LL LAUNCH THIS KIWI STRAIGHT TO THE HISTORY BOOKS. ALI PUGH WITH THAT. IT MUST BE APPLIED CHANGING VIEW ` NOT ONE THAT I NEED TO SEE. YES, NO, I'M GOOD, THANKS. GOOD ON HIM. GO, THAT MAN. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE 8 O'CLOCK NEWS. PLUS, WHERE IS CHRIS CHANG? WE'LL FIND OUT NEXT. # MANY DUDES YOU KNOW ROLL LIKE THIS? WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. SOME BONUS SPORTS CHAT THIS MORNING AND WE'RE GOING LIVE TO THE 'CHANGRI-LA', WHERE CHRIS CHANG HAS TAKEN THE DAY OFF TO WATCH SPURS IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL. GOOD MORNING, MY FRIEND. HOW IS YOUR DAY OFF, HOW IS YOUR MORNING GOING? VERY STRESSFUL, JENNY MAY. MATTERS HAVE NOT BEEN HELPED BY THE FACT THAT THEY JUST SCORED BEFORE HALFTIME. I WAS TRYING TO GATHER SOME COHERENT THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GAME AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME, AND I WAS READY TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A GOOD CHAT WITH YOU, AND MY HEART RATE IS THROUGH THE ROOF. I WAS STORING THE KIDS IN THE AIR WHICH THEY WERE LOVING. ALSO THE PLACES I FELT VERY STRESSED, BUT ELATED WE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE NOW. I ACTUALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE GAME TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST. WHAT I CARE MORE ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THIS OBVIOUSLY MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE TAKEN THE DAY OFF WORK TO ACTUALLY STAY AT HOME WITH YOU AND YOUR BRO WHO IS WATCHING WITH YOU. MY BRO. HE IS A MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, SO HE WAS VERY QUIET A FEW MOMENTS AGO. QUITE HARD TO WATCH WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT ON YOUR TEAM, BUT WHEN IT IS YOUR BROTHER IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. WE HAVE SUPPORTED OUR TEAMS FOR PROBABLY OVER 30 YEARS. HE PROBABLY CHOSE THE RIGHT PATH, SOME WOULD SAY. THEY HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS OVER THE YEARS. MY TEAM NOT SO MUCH. WE HEAVILY SUPPORTED OUR TEAMS, AND IT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF NICE TO DO THIS TOGETHER, BECAUSE EVEN IF ONE OF US LOSES, THERE IS KIND OF SOME HAPPINESS INSURANCE WHERE YOU COULD BE HAPPY FOR THE OTHER ONE. BUT CAN YOU, THOUGH, CAN YOU ACTUALLY? WE HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TWO OF YOU. TELL US HOW FATHERS GOES BACK. THIS IS THE TWO OF YOU PLAYING TOGETHER. VERY CUTE. I THINK I STILL HAD THAT KIT, I WOULD FIT IN IT. IT WAS PRETTY BIG ON ME. I THINK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OLD. THIS IS WHEN WE LIVED OVERSEAS IN THAILAND. THAT WOULD BE THE BEST PART OF 30 YEARS AGO, SO THAT IS SOME PROOF THERE THAT WE WERE FULLY COMMITTED, ALL IN, AND WE HAVE BEEN WEARING THOSE COLOURS EVER SINCE. I GOT TO WRAP THINGS UP. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH TALKING FOOTBALL. HOW DO YOU RECKON THE MORNING IS GOING TO PLAY OUT, MATE? I TELL YOU THIS ` TOTTENHAM FANS HAVE A BIT OF A MACABRE SENSE OF HUMOUR. THEY SAY ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. THERE IS A REASON THEY CALL IT SPURSIE. IF ANYONE CAN MESS IT UP, IT WOULD BE TOTTENHAM, BUT IF THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO WIN THEIR FIRST TROPHY IN SO MANY YEARS, I WILL BE A HAPPY MAN. YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE TOMORROW OFF. I WILL BE IN THE OFFICE TOMORROW. I HOPE IT HAPPENS, BECAUSE I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE GIRLS AND MAKING SURE THE REST OF THEIR DAY IS A GOOD ONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MATE. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT SHOW FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE CORNER OF MY EYE. (LAUGHTER) YOU GO AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE GAME, CHANGY. SEE YOU TOMORROW. TWO YEARS ON FROM THE BLOCKBUSTER BARBIE MOVIE PAINTING EVERYTHING PINK, ITS INFLUENCE NOW STRETCHES INTO THE WORLD OF PODIATRY. BARBIE'S 'FLAT FEET' EXPERIENCE INSPIRED A NEW STUDY THAT LOOKED AT HER FOOT POSTURE OVER THE DECADES AND WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT REAL WOMEN, THEIR SHOE CHOICES AND FOOT HEALTH. EARLIER, WE SPOKE WITH PODIATRIST IAN GRIFFITHS WHO WORKED ON THE STUDY. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW FAR-REACHING IT IS. WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT IT IS THE PODIATRY ELEMENT THAT MAKES THIS POPULAR. TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY AUSTRALIAN CO-AUTHORS, THEY COME UP WITH THE IDEA. A BOTTLE OF RED WINE WAS INVOLVED. THEY SAW THE MOVIE AND THOUGHT, 'NO ONE HAS EVER STUDIED BARBIE'S FEET BEFORE,' AND THEN THEY ASKED ME TO BE INVOLVED AND WHAT WE NOW JOKINGLY REFERRED TO AS ME BEING 'DIVERSITY', DIVERSITY HIRE. IN THAT I HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH BARBIE DOLLS AT ALL. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT RESEARCHERS STAY AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE; I WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT REASON. WE LOOKED AT 2750 BARBIE DOLLS OVER A PERIOD FROM 1959 TO THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR, 2024, AND WE MEASURED THEIR FOOT POSTURE, WE ALSO CAPTURED DATA SUCH AS THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURING, THEIR EMPLOYMENT STATUS, AND WHETHER THERE WAS INCLUSIVITY, SUCH AS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REPRESENTED. AND WITH ALL OF THIS DATA, WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ALL OF THESE FACTS AND HOW THEY HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME. I LOVE THAT. WHAT CAME OUT OF THE STUDY, WHICH WAS ABOUT FEET, OR FOOT POSITION, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT ABOUT SOCIETAL CHANGES IN THE STUDY. ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE PODIATRISTS, SO WE GO INTO THIS AS THE FOOT EXPERTS, BUT NOT EXPERTS IN ANY OTHER AREA OF COURSE. IT IS THE FOOT WE ARE INTERESTED IN. WE MEASURED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FOOT AND LEG ` THE ANGLE. AND IT WAS CLEAR EARLY ON THAT BARBIE HAS TWO DISTINCT CATEGORIES ` THE TRADITIONAL, ICONIC TIPTOE POSTURE, WHERE SHE IS WEARING HIGH HEELS. AND THEN SHE HAS WHAT MARGOT ROBBIE WAS REFERRING TO AS THE FLAT FOOT POSTURE, WHERE HER FOOT IS 90 DEGREES. WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT IN 1959, WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT IN 1950 9100 PERCENT TO BARBIE DOLLS HAD THE TIPTOE POSTURE, AND PRESENT DAY, THAT IS LOWER THAN 40%. IT STRONGLY CORRELATES WITH BARBIE'S POSITION IN THE WORKFORCE. IN THE EARLY DAYS, THERE WAS MINIMAL MENTION OF EVEN HAVING A JOB AT TIMES, NOW SHE HAS OVER ONE THIRD HAVE JOBS. SHE HAS BROKEN THE CEILING AND PUSH BOUNDARIES. SHE WAS AN ASTRONAUT BEFORE WE HAD A MAN ON THE MOON AND WAS A SURGERY WHEN THE BUS MAJORITY OF ALL DOCTORS IN THE US.S WERE MEN. SHE IS SOME WOMAN. STILL TO COME ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING ` IT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR AS IT ANNOUNCES BUDGET 2025. SO HOW WILL THE DAY SHAKE OUT? ALSO AHEAD ` WE MEET THE DUNEDIN MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PIANO. PLUS, TOM CRUISE IS BACK FOR THE FINAL INSTALMENT OF THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE SERIES... OR IS IT? OH! YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THESE THINGS. HE IS STILL GOING? THEY TEND TO GO ON AND ON. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. AS THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS DEEPENS, THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IS SLIPPING FURTHER OUT OF REACH, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS. WITH BUDGET DAY, THE GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE YEAR, JUST HOURS AWAY, FIRST HOMEOWNERS LIKE LACHLAN CUTTANCE-DUNNE AND KIRSTEN MAX ARE AMONG THOSE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING ANY SIGN OF SUPPORT. THEY SAY NAVIGATING TODAY'S HOUSING MARKET HAS BEEN MORE OVERWHELMING AND FINANCIALLY DRAINING THAN THEY EVER IMAGINED. IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO EAT OUT, WE USE DIFFERENT APPS LIKE FIRST TABLE AND, I THINK IT'S CALLED BOOK ME. YOU GET 50% OF ALL YOUR RESTAURANT MEALS, I THINK IT IS AT 5 PM, SO IT IS KIND OF LIKE EARLY TABLES. WE DO ALL THOUGHTS OF THINGS LIKE THAT FOR OUR BUDGETING. THE BUDGET WILL BE RELEASED AT 2pm TODAY; WE'LL HAVE A Q&A SPECIAL GOING LIVE AT THE SAME TIME. WELLINGTON BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THE NEGATIVE NARRATIVE SURROUNDING THE CAPITAL'S HOSPITALITY SCENE ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE. SEVERAL LONG-STANDING WELLINGTON BUSINESSES HAVE CLOSED IN 2025, FOLLOWING ON FROM 2024 WHERE MORE THAN 50 LOCAL EATERIES CLOSED. MIA TRACY, WHO OWNS A NUMBER OF POPULAR BAKERIES IN WELLINGTON, SAYS THE CAPITAL IS GOING THROUGH A TRANSITION PERIOD AND BUSINESS IS GETTING BETTER. WELLINGTON IS IN THIS TRANSITION PHASE AT THE MOMENT. I MEAN, IT IS A LITTLE BIT UGLY OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. AND WITH CONSTRUCTION, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE SOME NEW GROWTH AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. SO I THINK THAT'S THE NARRATIVE THAT WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CUTS TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON FOOT TRAFFIC IN THE CAPITAL. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CONFRONTED THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT DURING A MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH CLAIMS WHITE FARMERS ARE BEING PERSECUTED IN SOUTH AFRICA. DOZENS HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO THE U.S. AS REFUGEES, A RARE EXCEPTION AFTER TRUMP SUSPENDED THE U.S. REFUGEE PROGRAM. DURING THE TENSE EXCHANGE, TRUMP SHOWED CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ALLEGED REPORTS OF POLITICALLY- MOTIVATED KILLINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA. RAMAPHOSA PUSHED BACK, WITH HIS AGRICULTURAL MINISTER SAYING CRIME IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND AFFECTS ALL RACES. TO SPORT, CRUSADERS CAPTAIN DAVID HAVILI HAS INKED A NEW DEAL WITH THE RED AND BLACKS TO TAKE HIM THROUGH UNTIL 2027. HAVILI HAS BEEN WITH THE CRUSADERS FOR THE PAST DECADE, EARNING MORE THAN 100 CAPS FOR THE CLUB. THE NEW CAPTAIN WANTING TO STAY AND CEMENT A LEGACY AS THE NEXT GENERATION COMES THROUGH. JUST LOOK BACK ON, I GUESS, THE CAPTAINS OF THIS TEAM, AND, UM, THEY JUST MADE THE THEY DONE THE JOB, AND I WANTED TO STAY HERE AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AROUND SEEING THESE YOUNG GUYS COME THROUGH. AND, UM, KEEPING THE, I GUESS, THE CLUB WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. THE THIRD PLACE CRUSADERS TAKE ON THE HIGHLANDERS TOMORROW NIGHT. AND TOTTENHAM HAVE DRAWN FIRST BLOOD IN THEIR EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED. CHRIS IS HAPPY. AND JOHNSON IS IN THERE! AND TOTTENHAM SCORE 1ST ON THE BIG NIGHT. THAT WAS A BIT LUCKY, WASN'T IT? IT'S CURRENTLY 1-0 AT HALF-TIME. HERE IS YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. CLEAR BLUE SKIES FOR NORTHLAND, TAUPO AND THE EAST COAST. ELSEWHERE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED IN WELLINGTON. 18 IS YOUR HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 15 IN HAMILTON. STARTED AT -1 THIS MORNING, THOUGH. A NICE FINE DAY AHEAD FOR MOST OF YOU HERE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. HOWEVER, THERE'S SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS AND GREYMOUTH. BLENHEIM, YOUR HIGH IS 17. 15 FOR CHRISTCHURCH. THANKS, MELISSA. OH, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO. NO, IT IS ME. YEAH. IT IS ME. BUDGET DAY IS HERE, WHEN WE FIND OUT HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SPEND AND ON WHAT. 1 NEWS SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS IS AT PARLIAMENT AND HE JOINS US NOW. BENEDICT, SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. GOT YOUR SNACKS READY TO GO ` WHAT TIME DO YOU GO TO LOCKOUT, WHAT TIME DO YOU GO IN THERE AND WHAT TIME DO YOU GET OUT? AND WHAT ARE THE SNACKS? WE HAD IN AROUND 10 AM THIS MORNING. WE GO TO THAT BUDGET LOCKOUT WHERE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO START POURING OVER THOSE BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND SEE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTING IN AND WHERE IT HAS CUT SPENDING. SO OUR EYES ARE ESPECIALLY GOING TO BE ON THAT PAY EQUITY MOVE THE GOVERNMENT MADE RECENTLY THAT CUTTING THOSE DEALS. WE KNOW THEY HAVE SAVED MILLIONS THERE. WE WILL SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY HAVE SAVED. THEY HAVE INDICATED SOME OTHER BIG AREAS THAT WANTS TO FOCUS ON. LAW AND ORDER, EDUCATION, HEALTH. SO WE WILL HAVE A LOOK INTO THOSE SORT OF PORTFOLIOS AND SEE WHAT MOVES THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING AND WHERE IT IS PULLING BACK AS WELL. AROUND 2 PM IS WHEN WE ARE ALLOWED AND THE POLITICIANS HEAD INTO THE HOUSE AND START BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, DEBATING ABOUT THE BUDGET. THIS IS WHEN BASICALLY THE PUBLIC COVERAGE OF THE BUDGET BEGINS AS WELL. THAT IS WHEN WE WILL FIND OUT ALL THE NUMBERS AND WHO GETS WHAT. BUT IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, WHAT IS RIDING ON THIS BUDGET POLITICALLY? I MEAN, POLITICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD IT IS GOING TO BE A GROWTH BUDGET. THE FINANCE MINISTER THIS WEEK CALLING IS A NO BS BUDGET. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO PLAY WERE SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT MOVES THEY MAKE TO A COACH GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY. THIS IS WHAT IT IS RIDING ON FOR THIS GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THINGS KICKSTARTED. AS WE HAD JUST BEFORE, COST OF LIVING IS ALSO A REAL ISSUE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. THEY HAVE SAID THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A SMALL MOVE IN THAT COST OF LIVING SPACE. I AM REALLY INTERESTED TO HAVE A LOOK AT THAT, TO SEE WHAT LEVERS THEY CAN POOL THERE TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE THAT A LOT OF NEW ZEALANDERS ARE FEELING AT THE MOMENT. YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THE AREAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT. I WONDER WHETHER YOU CAN EXPAND ON THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE WRITING IN, TALKING ABOUT HEALTH, EDUCATION. BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED THOSE SECTORS THAT THEY WILL BE FOCUSING ON. SO REMIND US WHAT THEY WERE, OR WHAT THEY ARE. IF WE TAKE A LOOK INTO THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO AT THE MOMENT, THE HEALTH MINISTER SEMI AND BROWN HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR THAT HE WANTS TO TRY AND IMPROVE THOSE WEIGHTS TIMES THAT WE ARE SEEING AT OUR HOSPITAL. MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THEY NEED TO SEE, THAT THEY CAN GET THE SURGERIES THAT THEY NEED. THAT IS ONE OF THE AREAS HE IS REALLY FOCUSED ON FOR SOME IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THEIR. ON BALL AND ORDER, THAT IS KIND OF A CONSTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY FOCUSING IN ON. YOU CAN SEE MOVES AROUND BANNING GANG PATCHES, A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES IN THAT AREA. OTHER THINGS AREN'T GOING SO WELL FOR THEM LIKE THE HUGE INCREASE IN METHAMPHETAMINE THAT WE ARE SEEING RECENTLY. THE PAYMENTS TO TOLD US EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT GOING TO NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE IT WILL COME IN TODAY'S BUDGET, THOUGH. THEY ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF ADDICTION SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY. NOT SURE THEY WILL BE MOVING ON THAT TODAY. THAT IS ANOTHER AREA I AM INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT. OF COURSE THE BIG ONE, REALLY WEIGHING OVER THEIR HEADS IS THAT PAY EQUITY DEAL. A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE IN THE ECONOMY HOPING TO HAVE THEIR PAY LIFTED. WE KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WILL SAVE A FEW MILLION AT LEAST KIND OF MIXING ALL THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AND. SO THAT IS ANOTHER BIG AREA OF FOCUS FOR TODAY. IS A MASSIVE DAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT, A MASSIVE DAY FOR NICOLA WILLIS. IN SAYING THAT, IT IS A BIG DAY FOR THE OPPOSITION AS WELL. WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM CHRIS HIPKINS IN REGARDS TO THIS BUDGET? I THINK THEY ARE REALLY PROBABLY GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT PAY EQUITY DEAL. WE HAVE A PROTEST IN DEAL. WHILE WE ARE ALL ON THE LOCK-UP, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE COMING IN TO PROTEST AGAINST THOSE PAY EQUITY DEAL. THE LINE WE HAVE REALLY SEEN FROM THE OPPOSITION SO FAR IS THAT ALL THE MOVES THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING TODAY, THE NEW INVESTMENT THEY ARE MAKING, THAT IS COMING AT THE EXPENSE OF LOW-PAID WOMEN, AND THEY HAVE EFFECTIVELY CUT WOMEN'S PAY. AND HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH BOTH ACCUSING EACH OTHER BEING LIARS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WOMEN'S PAY IS BEING CUT BY THIS MOVE OR FUTURE WOMEN'S PAY. IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING WAY TO HANDLE IT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND MAKE THAT PAY A GRITTY CHANGE IN LAW A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, BUT THEY NEVER TOLD US WHAT IT WILL COST. THAT SHE WAS KIND OF HUNG OVER THEIR HEAD AND WILL CONTINUE TODAY ON BUDGET DAY. YOU GO INTO THE LOCK-UP AT 10 O'CLOCK, AND YOU DIDN'T MENTION WHAT SNACKS YOU ARE TAKING IT. DO THEY GIVE YOU SOME IN THERE? MY BOSS MAIKI IS OFF AT THE SHOP RIGHT NOW TEEING UP SOME LOLLIES. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME JELLY SNAKES. I LOVE IT. GO WELL TODAY, FRIEND. NO DOUBT WE WILL SEE YOU LATER ON. I AM MOIST SO PLEASED IT IS PEOPLE LIKE BENEDICT GOING INTO THOSE LOCK-UPS. AND WE'LL HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF THE BUDGET RIGHT HERE, WITH A 1 NEWS Q&A SPECIAL FROM 2pm. PLUS, THERE WILL BE PLENTY MORE ACROSS TVNZ+ AND THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE. LOADS TO DISSECT LATER ON TODAY. ME U TONU MAI ` EXPLOSIONS, STUNTS, BAD GUYS. THE LATEST AND POSSIBLY LAST MISSION IMPOSSIBLE MOVIE HAS HIT CINEMAS. WE'LL FIND OUT IF IT'S ANY GOOD, NEXT. # LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU. KIA ORA ANO. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY THEY'RE HOPING MONEY WILL BE DEDICATED TOWARDS PRIMARY CARE IN TODAY'S BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT. OVERSEAS, A TENSE MEETING IN THE WHITE HOUSE BETWEEN U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTERPART OVER DISCREDITED CLAIMS OF A WHITE GENOCIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA. AND IN SPORT, SPURS HAVE TAKEN AN EARLY LEAD OVER MANCHESTER UNITED IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL. CHRIS CHANG IS A VERY HAPPY MAN AT THE MOMENT. GET READY TO WATCH TOM CRUISE RUN ` HE'S BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR THE EIGHTH INSTALMENT OF THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE FRANCHISE. (EPIC MUSIC) THIS WAS YOUR CALLING, YOUR DESTINY. I HAVE NO REGRETS... NEITHER SHOULD YOU. (EPIC MUSIC SWELLS) I NEED YOU TO TRUST ME ONE LAST TIME. THE MOVIE VOICE-OVER GUY HAS GOT THE VOICE RIGHT, DOESN'T HE? 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE ` THE FINAL RECKONING' HAS HIT THEATRES. THE PROJECTOR FILM CRITIC KATE RODGER HAS CHOSEN TO ACCEPT THIS MISSION AND THANKFULLY HASN'T SELF-DESTRUCTED. OH, THAT WAS GOOD! WHAT DO WE THINK, KATE? HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN WATCHING MISSION IMPOSSIBLE FILMS? I DROPPED OUT A WHILE AGO. HOW LONG AGO DID YOU DROP OUT? THE INTERESTING THING IS WHEN I THINK RIGHT BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS AND THE ICONIC DAYS OF THE THIS WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN FIVE SECONDS, IT HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME AND IT IS THE TOM CRUISE EFFECT. IF WE LOOK AT MISSION POSSIBLE THREE ` REMEMBERING THIS IS NUMBER EIGHT ` JJ ABRAMS THE FILMMAKER CAME INTO THE FRAY. THEY RAMPED THE STUNTS UP, AND IT HAS GONE UP TO THE LEVEL WE SEE NOW WITH TOM CRUISE. THERE IS A VARIED ARRANGED STUNT IN THIS. I THINK HE HAS ARRANGED STUNT TATTOOED ON HIS BELLY BUTTON. IT IS AMAZING. THE TWO OF THEM HAVE THIS ALCHEMY, THEY SIT DOWN AND DRINK A BOTTLE OF WINE AND SAY, HOW CAN WE KILL OFF TOM IN THIS NEXT FILM? WHAT IF WE PUT HIM IN A BIPLANE AND HAVE A CRASH? AND TOM IS WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE. AND HE IS WILLING TO BE ON CAMERA ` HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE CGI. I AM GOBSMACKED HE MANAGES TO STILL BE INSURED. IN THE OLDER DAYS, THERE WAS KIND OF SWINGING AGAINST HIM. BUT NOW HE IS AN ICONIC MOVIE STAR. WE DON'T HAVE MANY A CHRONIC MOVIE STARS. HE IS ONE OF THOSE. WHEN TOP GUN MAVERICK CAME OUT, WE NEEDED THAT KIND OF FILM SO BADLY, AND HE DELIVERED TO US. AND PEOPLE SUDDENLY REALISED THAT HE WAS THE FILMMAKER THEY WANTED TO KEEP BEING IN LOVE WITH. I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SOME TIME WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS. NOT ONLY DOES HE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE FILM FOR THE AUDIENCE, HE KNOWS HOW TO MARKET THAT FELL FOR THE AUDIENCE. HE WAS THE DUDE WHO PIONEERED THE WHOLE NOTION OF HAVING REDCARPET PREMIERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. HE KNOWS THAT ONE-ON-ONE IS HOW HE IS GOING TO DELIVER THE FILM. HE WILL HAVE ALL THE FANS ON THE RED CARPET BEFORE HE GETS TO MEDIA. ANYWAY, ON THE FILM ITSELF ` DOES IT DELIVER? IT IS VERY LONG. OF COURSE IT IS A LITTLE BIT SILLY. IT SHOULD NOT BE CALLED MISSION IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE SENSE OF PERIL DOES NOT EXIST AS MUCH. YOU KNOW HE WILL SURVIVE. IT IS CALLED THE FINAL RECKONING, SO IS THIS THE LAST ONE? THIS IS HOLLYWOOD, DARLING. IT WILL BE CALLED THE FINAL RECKONING UNTIL THE NEXT RECKONING. AS LONG AS IT MAKES MONEY. IT IS BRINGING ALL THE STORIES TOGETHER IN THIS FINAL CHAPTER. DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SEEN THE OTHER FILMS TO WATCH THIS ONE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE BEEN TO A FILM IN YOUR LIFE TO WATCH THIS. I SAT BACK AT IMAX AND WATCHED THIS FILM. IT IS NOT AS SERIALLY AS GOOD AS THE OTHER FILMS, BUT THE STUNTS ARE GENUINELY GOOD. YOU WATCHED CALM. I LOVED IT. TELL US SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. CANNES* TOM WAS THE 1ST TO HIT THE CARPET WITH MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. IT JUST TOOK OVER THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL OVER THE ENTIRE WEEKEND BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW TO BRING THE RAZZLE-DAZZLE. THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC THAT THE STARS WERE NOT TO BE NAKED ON THE RED CARPET. SO LOTS OF STYLISTS LOST THEIR MIND. HERE IS PEDRO PASCAL'S ARMS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, LADIES, WHAT IT TAKES TO BREAK THE INTERNET, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES. PEDRO PASCAL WHO HAS BEEN A RISING STAR OVER THE YEARS ` MY FAVOURITE ROLE AS THE MEN DELOREAN. MANDELOREAN* HE JUST EMBRACES EVERYTHING. AND ALSO IN THE PRESS CONFERENCES HE HAS BEEN WINNING EVERYBODY OVER JUST WITH THE WAY HE IS, THE WAY HE ADDRESSES THE STATE OF THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT. HE HAS BEEN VERY OUTSPOKEN FOR THE TRANS-COMMUNITY. HAS SISTER IS TRANS. HE JUST HAS AN AURA ABOUT HIM THAT IS THE KIND OF ENTERED ASSISTS TO EVERYTHING US WE ARE SEEN. HIS FILM GOT A METHOD OF STANDING OVATION. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF GLORIOUS FILMS. WES ANDERSON PREMIERED HIS AS WELL. IT IS A GREAT FESTIVAL AND VERY MUCH THE PLACE YOU HAVE TO GO TO MEETING GREAT, SET, HAVE MEETINGS, HAVE FACED TIME, TALK ABOUT THE TRUMP TARIFFS ` ARE THEY REAL OR NOT? PEOPLE GO THERE TO DO BUSINESS. IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA. AND PEDRO'S ARMS. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, FIREFIGHTERS ARE GETTING READY TO SPRINT UP THE SKYTOWER. LUCY BENDELL'S FINDING OUT WHY. MORENA, LUCE. GOOD MORNING, TEAM. DON'T BE TOO ALARMED THAT THERE IS NO SMOKE OR FIRE, BUT IT IS A GOOD CAUSE. FIREFIGHTERS ARE TACKLING THE SKY TOWER TO RAISE MONEY FOR LEUKAEMIA AND CANCER THIS SATURDAY. WE WILL FIND OUT HOW TOUGH IT IS AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT. VOICEOVER: Relaxation zones, a solitary state of comfort. Where- HUSBAND: Have you seen this? ...ahhhh don't worry. (DOOR CLOSES) ...where interruptions are frowned upon. Unless of course, those interruptions come baring bubbles. Here we go Olivia. Thank you. Relaxation zones. Available in all Business Premier Seats. (PUORO KI TE REO MAORI) HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. AN OVERFLOWING INBOX, USUALLY FULL OF JUNK OR SPAM, IS A BASIC FACT OF LIFE THESE DAYS. BUT IN 2001, THE EFFECTS OF EMAIL WERE JUST BEGINNING TO BE FELT. AND THE OUTLOOK WAS DIRE. HERE'S A REPORT FROM THE EVENING NEWS DETAILING SOME OF THE EMERGING HEALTH PROBLEMS. IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES IF YOU'RE ONLINE AND IT'S TAKING UP MORE AND MORE OF YOUR DAY. IF I'VE BEEN ON HOLIDAY, FINDING 300 EMAILS IN MY INBOX AND HAVING TO TRAWL THROUGH THEM, FINDING HALF OF THEM ARE JUNK, HALF OF THEM ARE GLOBAL ONES SENT OUT TO THE WHOLE COMPANY. AND JUST YEAH, HATING IT. HATING IT ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SICK. THE EFFECT OF THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE VERY ANXIOUS AND SO THEY FINISH UP WITH STRESS-RELATED PROBLEMS. A FACT NOT LOST ON BRUCE, A BUSY MANAGER WHO'S GETTING OVER 50 EMAILS A DAY AND IS RELUCTANT TO LET SOMEONE ELSE GO THROUGH THEM. I WOULDN'T REALLY DELEGATE IT. THERE'S KIND OF RULES AROUND WHAT YOU LOOK AT AND WHAT YOU DON'T LOOK AT, AND THEY CHANGE ALL OF THE TIME. ONE STUDY FOUND THAT IN AN EIGHT-HOUR DAY, EXECUTIVES SPEND NEARLY TWO HOURS ON EMAILS. A SECOND STUDY FOUND THE AVERAGE WORKER SPEND AS MUCH AS FOUR HOURS ` THAT'S HALF THEIR DAY ON EMAILS. MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF GOES ON DELETING, FILING, PRINTING AND SORTING. THE REST GOES ON WRITING NEW EMAILS AND SENDING REPLIES. SO HOW CAN YOU TELL IF EMAIL OVERLOAD IS GETTING TO YOU? YOU COULD MAYBE LOSE SOME HAIR. YOU COULD GET SKIN DISEASES. YOU CAN HAVE ULCERS. YOU CAN HAVE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYMPTOMS DEVELOPING, AND YOUR BODY TENSES UP. ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCHERS, WE COULD BE SPENDING ANYTHING UP TO FIVE HOURS A DAY IN THE FUTURE DEALING WITH OUR EMAIL. NOW, WHILE THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS TO THIS, EMAIL, VOLUMES ARE GOING TO EXPLODE BY 40% BY 2004. PAT PILCHER, 1 NEWS. PAT PILCHER! I HAVE OVER 100,000 UNREAD EMAILS. HOW?! I JUST DELETE ONE, I HAVE ZERO. I HAD SIX BUT THEN I DELETED THEM AFTER SEEING THAT. IT IS INTERESTING THOUGH, THEY DID THAT REPORT BACK IN 2001 TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HAVING SO MANY EMAILS WAS LEADING TO STRESS. PEOPLE WITH STIFF SHOULDERS... FIVE HOURS A DAY JUST DEALING WITH YOUR EMAILS. IT KIND OF HASN'T CHANGED, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST. FIGURE FROM EMAILS TO TECHNOLOGY... CHATGPT... WE TAKE IT WITH US ON OUR PHONES! 2001, WE WERE PROBABLY LIMITED TO OUR DESKTOPS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT EMAILS. I DIDN'T REALISE, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE CC, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, I WOULD JUST ADD PEOPLE. WHY DO YOU USE BLIND COPY? IF I WAS SAYING, I DON'T KNOW... WOULD YOU DO IT FOR A MANAGER... I DON'T KNOW. IF I GOT A THEME FROM A BLIND COPY AND YOU SENT ME, IF I REPLIED, WOULD IT GO TO THE TWO PEOPLE... I DON'T KNOW, DON'T USE IT. ECONOMIC RESEARCHERS SAY THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET WILL LIKELY BE A BALANCING ACT AND THEY SHOULD BE WARY OF MAKING TOO MANY CUTS. THE GOVERNMENT WILL ANNOUNCE THE BUDGET AT 2pm TODAY WITH KIWIS SET TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING AND, CRUCIALLY, WHERE IT ISN'T. WITH THE COST OF LIVING STILL HIGH, CHRISTINA LEUNG FROM THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE SMART WHEN CUTTING CERTAIN COSTS. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE CUTTING TOO MUCH SUCH THAT THE ECONOMY IS CONTRACTING AND YOU'RE HAVING AN ECONOMY THAT'S VERY` IN A VERY WEAK STATE FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF TIME. A REMINDER ` YOU CAN CATCH THE Q&A BUDGET SPECIAL WITH JOHN CAMPBELL AT 2PM TODAY. AEROSPACE ENTREPRENEUR MARK ROCKET IS SET TO BE THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER TO GO TO SPACE. HE'S SCHEDULED TO BE ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S ROCKET LATER IN THE YEAR FOR AN 11-MINUTE RETURN FLIGHT. IT FOLLOWS A SIMILAR AND HIGHLY-PUBLICISED TRIP WITH AN ALL-FEMALE CREW THAT INCLUDED POP STAR KATY PERRY AND AMERICAN BROADCASTER GAYLE KING. MR ROCKET, WHO CHANGED HIS NAME DECADES AGO TO MATCH HIS LIFELONG PASSION, SAYS IT'S A CHILDHOOD DREAM COME TRUE. THE TRIP ITSELF IS PRETTY SHORT, BUT YOU KNOW, BUCKLING IN AND GETTING READY TO EXPERIENCE THREE Gs OF ROCKET-POWERED FLIGHT UP TO SPACE WOULD BE PRETTY, PRETTY PHENOMENAL. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY UNBUCKLING BEING ABLE TO FLY AROUND THE CABIN IN ZERO GRAVITY, I THINK WILL BE A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR ME. THE COST OF A SEAT ON BOARD IS UNKNOWN, HE MANIFESTED THAT BY CHANGING HIS NAME. PRICE ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE BALLPARK OF SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. ROCKETS SAYS HE HOPES SPACE TRAVEL WILL SOON BE AN OPTION FOR MORE PEOPLE. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WAR WILL CONTINUE IN GAZA UNTIL THE ENTIRE STRIP IS UNDER ISRAEL'S CONTROL. IT COMES AS THE UN WARNS AID HASN'T YET REACHED PALESTINIANS AS THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO DISTRIBUTE IT, WITH A UK MINISTER ACCUSING ISRAEL OF USING HUNGER AS A WEAPON OF WAR. NETANYAHU SAYS ABOUT 100 TRUCKS HAVE ENTERED THE GAZA STRIP FOLLOWING AN 11-WEEK BLOCKADE. HE SAYS HE'S PREPARED TO END THE WAR BUT ONLY IF HAMAS IS COMPLETELY DISARMED AND HOSTAGES ARE RELEASED. TO SPORT, AND CRUSADERS CAPTAIN DAVID HAVILI HAS INKED A NEW DEAL WITH THE RED AND BLACKS TO TAKE HIM THROUGH UNTIL 2027. HAVILI HAS BEEN WITH THE CRUSADERS FOR THE PAST DECADE, EARNING MORE THAN 100 CAPS FOR THE CLUB. HE SAYS HE WANTS TO STAY AND CEMENT A LEGACY AS THE NEXT GENERATION COMES THROUGH. LEGENDARY FILIPINO BOXER MANNY PACQUIAO HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT. THE 46-YEAR-OLD WILL FIGHT WBC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION MARIO BARRIOS IN LAS VEGAS IN JULY. THE BOUT WILL BE HIS FIRST IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS. IT WILL BE A TOUGH FIGHT AGAINST THE BARRIOS (30) WHO HAS WON 29 OF HIS 32 CONTESTS, INCLUDING 18 KNOCKOUTS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` CLEAR BLUE SKIES FOR NORTHLAND, TAUPO AND THE EAST COAST. ELSEWHERE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH LIGHT SHOWERS EXPECTED IN THE CAPITAL. 18 IS YOUR HIGH IN WHANGAREI. 15 IN HAMILTON. KI TE WAIPOUNAMU, A NICE FINE DAY AHEAD FOR MOST OF YOU HERE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. HOWEVER, THERE'S SOME CLOUD ROLLING THROUGH IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS AND GREYMOUTH. BLENHEIM, YOUR HIGH IS 17. 15 FOR CHRISTCHURCH. OVER 1000 FIREFIGHTERS ARE GATHERING BUT DON'T BE ALARMED ` IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE. THEY'RE CLIMBING THE TALLEST BUILDING IN AOTEAROA THIS WEEKEND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LEUKAEMIA AND BLOOD CANCER. OUR REPORTER LUCY BENDELL IS OUT FOR THE 21st FIREFIGHTER SKY TOWER CHALLENGE TO SEE JUST HOW HARD IT IS. HOW'S IT GOING, LUCE? GOOD MORNING, TAM, I'M ZERO STEPS THEN AND IT IS ALREADY SOME HARD WORK. I'VE GOT 25KG WORTH OF GEAR. THIS SATURDAY, IT'S GOING TO BE GATHERED WITH PEOPLE TO SUPPORT 1100 FIREFIGHTERS TAKING ON 1100 STEPS HERE AT THE TOWER, 328M UP. I AM JOINED BY SOME FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS HERE. YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO START THE 21 YEARS AGO, TELL AS WE WANTED TO START IT. A GUY AT WORK DID THE EVENT AS A SOLO FIREFIGHTER. I APPROACHED SKY CITY TO MAKE IT A FUNDRAISER AND THEY AGREED. I STARTED WITH 88 FIREFIGHTERS. THAT $2 MILLION ARE GOING TOWARDS LEUKAEMIAS BY CANCER, HELEN WHARTON IS THAT? IT IS HUGE. THE MONEY WE RAISED GOES TOWARDS ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH, BUT IN THE EARLY DAYS, WE RAISE A LOT OF PROFILE FOR THE CHARITY AND NOW WE RAISE THE PROFILE AND HELP THEM A LOT WITH FAMILIES AND HOW THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEIR LOVED ONES. AND YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, BUT YOU HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO WHY YOU WANT TO DO THIS CHALLENGE. YES, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, BONNIE, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA. WE HAD SEVEN MONTHS OF GOING THROUGH CHEMOTHERAPY, PRETTY TOUGH TIMES. YOU DON'T KNOW THE BOTTOM UNTIL YOU'VE REACHED IT. WE CAME OUT THE OTHER SIDE, HAPPY DAYS, ONLY TO BE DIAGNOSED THE NEXT YEAR WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE, WHICH IS ALL DUE TO THE CHEMOTHERAPY SHE RECEIVED, HER HEART JUST COULDN'T HANDLE IT. AND FORTUNATELY, SHE STILL HERE WITH US. SHE WAS GIVEN SEVEN DAYS TO LIVE. BUT AS ESSAY, YOU DON'T KNOW SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO PUSH THE RENTAL THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN THROUGH IT. I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE A POSITIVE ENDING. IT'S HUGE, MADE IT IS RAISED GOES TOWARDS ANYTHING FROM TRYING TO FIND A CURE TO MEDICINES, COUNSELLING, WIGS... IT IS OF COURSE IMPORTANT FOR THE FIREFIGHTER COMMUNITIES ` WE HAVE A RECORD AMOUNT OF THE GATES PARTICIPATING, TELL US WHAT IT FEELS LIKE HERE ON SATURDAY AND HOW THE EVENT RUNS. I LIKEN IT TO A FESTIVAL OF LIFE. THE WHOLE AREA IS FORMING WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND IT IS OF A NEW BIG REUNION FOR US. WE ALL CATCH UP ONCE A YEAR WHEN WE COME HERE AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF FUNDRAISING, AND THE DAY IS JUST A BIG FESTIVAL. WE CELEBATE PEOPLE AND MADE IT THOSE THAT HAVEN'T. PEOPLE CAN SUPPORT BY GOOGLING FIREFIGHTER FIND A BRIGADE, EVEN PUT FIVE DOLLARS, A CUP OF COFFEE. WE JUST WANT TO RAISE MONEY, THERE IS NO SET FIGURE. IS JUST FANTASTIC AND THEY GET EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS SUPPORTED US ALREADY. JUST AWESOME, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU. SKY TOWER WILL GLOW RED AND YELLOW THIS SATURDAY AND TEAM, I HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN ON STEPS AND I'M EXHAUSTED. THERE YOU GO, GUYS, THE STAIRCASE. I'VE SEEN THEM TRAINING UP AND DOWN THE MOUNT, THE BREEDING THROUGH THE APPARATUS. IS PRETTY AMAZING, THAT STUFF IS PRETTY HEAVY. THAT IS HAPPENING ON SATURDAY. THE GOVERNMENT'S SET TO REVEAL ITS BUDGET THIS AFTERNOON. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE ON TVNZ WITH A 1 NEWS Q&A SPECIAL FROM 2pm, WITH COVERAGE CONTINUING ON TE KARERE AT 4 AND 1 NEWS AT 6, PLUS ACROSS TVNZ+ AND THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE. THE QUESTION, THOUGH, IS WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT FROM THE BUDGET? WE HIT THE STREETS TO FIND OUT. (LAID-BACK MUSIC) I'M A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE MONEY FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION. PROBABLY TWO REAL STAPLES OF WHAT THE BUDGET NEEDS TO DELIVER. BUT ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BUSINESS HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. WE REALLY NEED TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING. SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE BUDGET IS BETTER FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITIES. UM, IT'D BE REALLY, UM, UPSETTING AND DISAPPOINTING IF THE GOVERNMENT MAKES ANY CUTS TO UNIVERSITY FUNDING BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITIES HAVE JUST` ESPECIALLY HERE AT VIC, WE'VE JUST GONE THROUGH A BIG CHANGE PROCESS, AND ANY MORE CUTS TO THE TERTIARY SECTOR WOULD MEAN FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS HERE, AND IT WOULD JUST DRIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY OVERSEAS WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO BE INVESTING IN THEM HERE. I'M A DAD, UM, A BUSINESS ANALYST. AND, UM, WHAT I LIKE TO SEE OUT OF THE BUDGET IS, UM, I THINK A BIT MORE, UM, EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL SPENDING, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEALTH AND THE EDUCATION SECTORS, WHICH TO ME IS STILL A BEING VERY, UM, BEING VERY... MARGINALISED AND STILL` THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING AT ALL, REALLY. SO YEAH, THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT, REALLY. REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE SHARED. A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVING REALLY INSIGHTFUL, REASONABLE VIEWS ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY. CORRECTION: SEE INDEED, THIS MORNING WE WERE SPEAKING TO BENNETT COLLINS, WHO WAS GOING INTO LOCK-UP FOR FOUR HOURS, AND THEY GET TO GO OVER ALL THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AT 2 O'CLOCK. WE ASKED ABOUT GOING ON, WHAT'S THAT IS GOING TO TAKE IN, HE SAID MAIKI SHERMAN, OUR BOSS, CAME OUT WITH THIS. WHAT, ONE BAG?! SHE IS A MUM OF HOW MANY? SHOULD BE VERY GOOD AT DIVIDING THEM. WHAT IS YOUR GO TO? I LOVE THE OLD MILKSHAKES, THE MILK BOTTLES OR ANYTHING SOUR. YOU MUST HAVE GOOD TEETH. E WHAI AKE NEI ` WE MEET THE WINNER OF A LUCRATIVE PRIZE FOR UP-AND-COMING MAORI ARTISTS. THAT IS NEXT. # SOMETHING THAT WILL COME OUR WAY Alright, let's get straight to the numbers. VOICEOVER: Things are easier to share when they're not very good. But not this. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` ECONOMIC RESEARCHERS SAY THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET WILL LIKELY BE A BALANCING ACT AND THEY SHOULD BE WARY OF MAKING TOO MANY CUTS AS THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS CONTINUES. OVERSEAS, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WAR WILL CONTINUE IN GAZA UNTIL THE ENTIRE STRIP IS UNDER ISRAEL'S CONTROL. AND IN SPORT ` CRUSADERS CAPTAIN DAVID HAVILI HAS INKED A NEW DEAL WITH THE RED AND BLACKS TO TAKE HIM THROUGH UNTIL 2027. AN OPOTIKI ARTIST HAS BEEN CROWNED THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S KIINGI TUHEITIA PORTRATURE AWARD FOR EMERGING MAORI ARTISTS. JAZMIN TAINUI MIHI PAGET-KNEBEL'S PHOTOGRAPH 'TANIWHA CHASERS' CAPTURES THE SPECIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN RANGITAHI MAORI AND THE WILD HORSES OF THEIR HOMETOWN. THEY JOIN US NOW FROM WELLINGTON. THANK YOU, ATA MARIE. I AM IN AWE AND SO GRATEFUL. TANIWHA CHASERS FOR THE SERIES OF IMAGES I CRATED BACK HOME AND OPOTIKI. I WANTED TO FOLLOW THE BRIEF OF THE PORTRAITS AWARDS WHICH WAS TO CAPTURE THE TIPUNA, BUT ALSO HOW TIME IN A MAORI PERSPECTIVE IS NON-LINEAR. I WANTED TO GET A FRESH RESPECT OF A PHOTOGRAPH A RANGATAHI MAORI AND A SMALL COMMUNITY AND UPLIFT THESE UNSEEN, AND HEARD STORIES FOUND IN THESE SMALL TOWNS. YOUR ARTWORK WAS ONE OF 41 FINALISTS. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A BIG THING ON ITS OWN, WHAT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE IT OUT FOR YOU? IT'S... YEAH, I'M JUST SO BLESSED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY INSANELY TALENTED ARTISTS PART OF THIS EXHIBITION AND TO BE RECOGNISED AS THE FINALIST, I JUST... CAN'T BELIEVE IT, NICELY, I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD WIN. WHAT I LOVED IS THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER, AND WHAT I MEAN IS YOU WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PHOTOS AT THE CEREMONY. DID YOU GET OUT OF THOSE DUTIES? IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I GOT CALLED ON MONDAY NIGHT, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE EVENTS MANAGER CALLED NZ, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE FIRED. NO, SHE SAID IT NICELY. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THEN PASS IT ONTO ANOTHER TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER. AND YOU GOT A $20,000 AWARD ` WHAT YOU THINK YOU'LL PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS? GOD, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A LAMBORGHINI. NAH, INVESTING BACK IN MY COMMUNITY. I WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND THE SERIES AND MAYBE EVEN PUBLISH A PUKAPUKA. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE. WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR SMALL TOWN OPOTIKI THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO CAPTURE IT ON FILM? IT'S MY HOME, YOU KNOW. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS MAORI GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECLAIM OUR NARRATIVES AND TELL OUR OWN STORIES FROM OUR OWN VOICES, AND OPOTIKI IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE THE MEDIA DOESN'T CAPTURE ITS ATTIRE BEAUTY. CORRECTION: ENTIRE BEAUTY IS A REQUIREMENT THAT NARRATIVE AND KIA MAU TE WEHI. THE JUDGE'S COMMENTS WERE THAT TANIWHA CHASERS IS AN UPLIFTING IMAGE THAT CAPTURES THE HEART OF OUR TIME, FULL OF HOPE AND YOUTHFUL ENERGY. IT'S A BIT OF A PIECE, CONGRATULATIONS, JAZMIN. NGA MIHI NUI. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE WORLD'S LARGEST PIANO, MADE RIGHT HERE IN AOTEROA, IS HEADING OVERSEAS. WE MEET THE DUNEDIN PIANO BUILDER TASKED WITH THE MAMMOTH ORDER. # SING ME A SONG, PIANO MAN. (UPBEAT PIANO MUSIC) KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST PIANO RESIDES IN DUNEDIN. (PLAYS DRAMATIC CHORDS) BUILT BY ADRIAN MANN IN 2009, THE ALEXANDER PIANO EXPANDS A GRAND 6m IN LENGTH AND WEIGHS OVER 1000kg. AND NOW TWO NEW VERSIONS ARE BEING CRAFTED AND SHIPPED OFF TO SWITZERLAND AFTER AN OVERSEAS BUYER ORDERED TWO MORE OF THE INCREDIBLE INSTRUMENTS. TO EXPLAIN, WE'RE JOINED BY PIANO BUILDER ADRIAN MANN. GOOD MORNING, ADRIAN. SO THAT HE HAD NO YOU ARE STANDING BY, IS THAT ONE THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION HEADING TO SWITZERLAND? KIA ORA. YES. THAT ONE WILL BE HEADING TO SWITZERLAND PROBABLY IN ABOUT A YEAR AND �, AFTER IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. HELEN DOES IT TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE ONE OF THESE? WE HAVE A 2.5 YEAR CONTRACT PER PIANO, BUT AT THIS STAGE IT WILL BE ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEFORE THEY ARE BOTH FINISHED. ADRIAN, HOW DID ALL THIS COME ABOUT? HOW DID YOU END UP GETTING SOMEONE FROM SWITZERLAND INTERESTED IN THESE GIANT GRAND PIANOS? IT WAS PICKED UP IN LONDON BY CLASSIC FM AFTER IT APPEARED IN THE GUARDIAN AND THEY USED A PHOTO FROM VIDEO* FROM MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL. HE WROTE ME A LETTER, AND SAID CAN I BUY ONE, AND CAN I BUY TWO. TAKE US FOR A BIT OF A WALK, BECAUSE I KNOW AND THE OTHER ROOM AS AN ORIGINAL GIANT GRAND PIANO. AND EXPLAIN TO US AS WELL WHY IT TAKES YOU 2.5 YEARS. THEY ARE QUITE COMPLICATED MACHINES TO MAKE, AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF TECHNOLOGY AND HISTORY THAT GOES INTO IT. AND OF COURSE I HAVE TO MAKE THE PARTS THAT MAKE THE PARTS TO BUILD THE PIANO. THERE IS A LOT OF TECHNICAL STUFF GOING ON BEHIND-THE-SCENES. SERIOUSLY IT IS SO IMPRESSIVE. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE PIANO MAKING BUSINESS? ABOUT 10 YEARS, I THINK, NOW. I SORT OF WENT STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL INTO TUNING. AND OF COURSE I WAS BUILDING THIS, AND YEAH. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER PEOPLE INTERESTED IN YOUR GIANT PIANOS? I HAVE A LOT OF PIANTIST COMING INPEOPLE FROM CRUISESHIP'S AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY WANT TO GIVE IT A WHIRL. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HEAR IT PLAYED SHORTLY BY YOUR PIANIST STANDING BY. IN TERMS OF TUNING IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT TO A NORMAL SIZED PIANO. THEY HAVE NOT GOT COPPER WINDING ON THEM, WHICH ADDS TWO MORE OF THE SOUND, SO THIS IS A PURER SOUND YOU COULD SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US INTO YOUR PLACE AND GIVING US MORE OF AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT YOU DO. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CONTRACT WORK YOU HAVE GOT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT. WHO IS YOUR PIANIST? THIS IS JOSH SINCLAIR. BRILLIANT PIANIST. JOSH, TAKE IT AWAY. ADRIAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. (PLAYS UPBEAT MUSIC) THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL SOUND, EH? SO GOOD. THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL, JOSH. THAT IS AFTER TODAY. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY DREW WELSH, RUBY WEBB-SAGARIN, KITTY WASASALA AND COURTNEY SOLE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025