HELLO. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE DATE IS. FRIDAY THE 30TH. I AM LIVING ON THE EDGE, I AM PUSHING THE LIMITS. I TOLD YOU YESTERDAY THAT I HAD CREAM THAT EXPIRED ON THE 27TH AND MY COFFEE. I AM GOING TO GIVE IT ANOTHER GO TODAY. I GAVE IT A GOOD SNUFF AND IT SEEMED TO BE OK. I MEAN, TASTES FINE. BUT SEE WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE NINE. ANYWAY, MELISSA, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK. OUR POOR CHRIS IS SICK. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER KILLED IN UKRAINE. SHAN-LE KEARNS IS THE FOURTH KIWI TO LOSE THEIR LIFE IN THE CONFLICT. HIS MOTHER SAYS THE 26-YEAR-OLD WAS 'SAVING LIVES' IN UKRAINE. WE'LL GET THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT. ALSO AHEAD ` PARENTS BEWARE! THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCED IT WILL TAKE A FIRMER APPROACH WITH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, SAYING IT'S READY TO PURSUE PROSECUTIONS OF PARENTS WHO REPEATEDLY FAIL TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL. BUT IS THAT ADDRESSING THE REASONS KIDS ARE MISSING CLASSES? WE'LL SPEAK WITH ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR AND GET REACTION FROM PRINCIPALS. PLUS, THE BEST WATER IN THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN REVEALED. FORGET FILTERED, SPARKLING OR STILL, TAP IS WHERE IT'S AT. WE WILL TELL YOU WHERE YOU WILL FIND AOTEAROA'S BEST TAP WATER AND GIVE IT A TASTE. AND AROUND ABOUT 20 MINUTES TIME. EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH A FILTER. IF IT COMES OUT OF THE TAP, ADMITS THE COMMITTEE OF THE FILTER. YOU ARE SAYING THIS? YES. THAT IS NOT HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE? THAT IS JUST WHAT WE DO AT OUR HOME. I JUST RING IT OUT OF THE TAP. THIS WATER IS THE BEST. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT A TASTE TEST. ARE YOU UP FOR IT? NO, BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW HOW OLD THE WATER IS WHEN THEY SEND IT TO US. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S YOUR NEWS. THANKS, JENNY MAY. ALMOST 200 PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT POWER AS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH HAMILTON. STRONG WINDS DAMAGE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES WITH FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONDING TO RIBS BLOWN OFF AND FENCES DOWN, 174 HOMES ARE WITHOUT POWER. A FOURTH NEW ZEALANDER HAS BEEN KILLED IN UKRAINE. THE FAMILY OF SHAN-LE KEARNS (26) TOLD 1 NEWS HE DIED LAST MONTH. THEY SAY HE WASN'T ON THE FRONT LINE, BUT WAS HELPING TO RESCUE THOSE INJURED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. HIS MOTHER SAYS SHE IS STILL WAITING TO HEAR WHEN HIS BODY MIGHT BE RETURNED HOME TO NEW ZEALAND. HE'S IN BITS AND PIECES IN ENEMY TERRITORY. THEY'VE TRIED TO RETRIEVE, BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. SO THEY'VE TOLD US THAT THE VERY EARLIEST IT WOULD BE SIX MONTHS UNTIL ANYTHING CAN GET DONE. THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAID IN A STATEMENT ITS AWARE OF THE REPORTS OF KEARNS DEATH AND IS URGENTLY SEEKING INFORMATION FROM UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS THREATENED TO GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AFTER HIS SWEEPING TARIFFS WERE BLOCKED BY A FEDERAL COURT. THE COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE THIS WEEK RULED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAD OVERSTEPPED HIS AUTHORITY BY USING AN EMERGENCY LAW TO IMPOSING SWEEPING TARIFFS. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS APPEALED THE RULING, CALLING IT 'BLATANTLY WRONG' AND SAYS IT WILL TAKE THE DECISION TO THE SUPREME COURT IF IT IS NOT BLOCKED BY THE COURT OF APPEALS. KIWI DOUBLES PAIR ERIN ROUTLIFFE AND MICHAEL VENUS HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE MIXED DOUBLES AT THE FRENCH OPEN. THE FIFTH SEEDS DEFEATED JOE SALISBURY AND TEREZA MIHALIKOVA IN STRAIGHT SETS TO SET UP A CLASH WITH VENUS' FORMER DOUBLES PARTNER NEAL SKUPSKI. (CROWD APPLAUDS) MEANWHILE, FRENCH VETERAN RICHARD GASQUET HAS SIGNED OFF FROM HIS 23-YEAR CAREER AFTER A DEFEAT TO WORLD NUMBER ONE JANNIK SINNER IN THE MEN'S SINGLES. AND FINALLY, CHRISTCHURCH MUSICIAN FAZERDAZE TOOK OUT TWO OF THE TOP AOTEAROA MUSIC AWARDS LAST NIGHT. SHE WON ALBUM OF THE YEAR AND BEST SOLO ARTIST FOR HER THIRD ALBUM 'SOFT POWER'. STAN WALKER WON BEST MAORI ARTIST, AND LORDE TOOK SINGLE OF THE YEAR. FOR HER 'GIRL SO CONFUSING' COLLABORATION WITH CHARLI XCX. THE SINGER RETURNED HOME THIS WEEK, PERFORMING A POP-UP SHOW AT AUCKLAND CENTRAL'S YMCA ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT BEFORE ATTENDING THE AWARDS, WHERE SHE WAS GRILLED OVER WHY NEW ZEALAND WAS LEFT OFF HER UPCOMING TOUR. OK, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION, BUT I WOULD GO OFF THE FACT THAT HAVE I NEVER MISSED A NEW ZEALAND TOUR, YOU KNOW? (CHUCKLES) I THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN. HER 'ULTRASOUND' WORLD TOUR KICKS OFF IN SEPTEMBER IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, MELISSA. GOING TO HAPPEN. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU IN THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING WITH SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE EAST COAST AND WELLINGTON HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. 21, YOUR HIGH IN NAPIER. NEW PLYMOUTH YOUR HIGH IS 17. A NICE SUNNY DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. FOR THE REST OF YOU, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUD. 14 YOUR HIGH IN HOKITIKA. GORE, YOUR HIGH IS 9. THERE IS AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR MILFORD ROAD. TAKE CARE. THANKS FOR THAT, MELISSA. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING WITH OUR REPORTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. LET'S START WITH HARRY BARTLE IN WELLINGTON NOW. AND HARRY, SOME RESIDENTS FROM THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND ARE STANDING AGAINST THE DECISION TO RAISE THE SPEED LIMIT ON A STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY ONE? MORENA, JENNY MAY. YES, THAT IS RIGHT/ LOCAL RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY IWI ARE PROTESTING ON MONDAY DUE TO THE DECISION TO RAISE A SPEED LIMIT FROM 80 TO 100 ON A LOCAL STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY ONE. THE ROAD THAT THEY HAVE PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH IS THE ONE THAT RIDES ...IWI SAY IT RUNS BETWEEN TWO LOCAL MARAE, AND THOSE MARAE, AND A STATEMENT, SAY IT PUTS LIVES AT RISK. THEY ALSO CITED THAT THERE ARE OFTEN CHILDREN IN THE AREA AND THEY WERE NOT MEANINGFULLY CONSULTED ON THE DECISION TO RAISE THE SPEED LIMIT. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE PROTESTING ON MONDAY ` THEY WANT A MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION. THEY WANT THAT SPEED LIMIT BROUGHT DOWN TO 80 PER HOUR. AS SPEED LIMITS RAISE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT POSSIBLY NOT ALL LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE ON BOARD WITH THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGES. INDEED. THANK YOU FOR THAT, HARRY. JOINING US FROM OUR WELLINGTON NEWSROOM. AND ONE CANTERBURY PRIMARY SCHOOL HAS TAKEN A CREATIVE APPROACH TO FUNDRAISING SELLING 250g BLOCKS OF BUTTER FOR JUST $4 EACH. OUR REPORTER CHARLOTTE MULDER JOINS US. HOW MANY BLOCKS HAVE THEY MANAGED TO SELL, CHARLOTTE? KIA ORA, JENNY MAY. THEY MANAGED TO SELL OVER 10,000 BLOCKS OF BUTTER AS PART OF THEIR SCHOOL FUNDRAISER. THEY HAVE BEEN SELLING FOR DOLLAR BLOCKS OF 250 G BUTTER, WHICH IS QUITE A BARGAIN COMPARED TO A LOT OF SUPERMARKETS SELLING 500 G OF BUTTER FOR OVER $10. THE SCHOOL SAYS THAT THEY ARE OVERWHELMED FROM THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE IN THIS ECONOMIC DAY AND AGE, EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO SAVE A COUPLE OF DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROCERIES. THEY SAY THAT EVERY BLOCK OF BUTTER THEY SELL, THEY WILL BE TAKING ONE DOLLAR AND PUTTING IT TOWARDS VARIOUS INITIATIVES, ONE OF THOSE BEING A START-UP FUND FOR FAMILIES THEY CAN GO TOWARDS STATIONERY OR SCHOOL UNIFORMS AT THE START OF THE YEAR. THEY WILL BE SELLING HIS BLOCKS OF BUTTER UNTIL 5 PM TONIGHT. YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THEIR WEBSITE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BIT OF A BARGAIN, I WOULD RECOMMEND CHECKING IT OUT. GOOD ON THEM. CHARLOTTE MULDER, THANK YOU FOR THAT FROM OUR CHRISTCHURCH NEWSROOM. THE GOVERNMENT IS GETTING TOUGHER ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AND PARENTS WHO DON'T MEET THEIR STANDARDS COULD SOON FACE PROSECUTION. FROM NEXT TERM, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL BEGIN TARGETING FAMILIES WHO REPEATEDLY REFUSE TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL. ABSENCE DUE TO CHRONIC ILLNESS OR DISABILITY WON'T BE PUNISHED, BUT FOR OTHERS, LEGAL ACTION IS NOW FIRMLY ON THE TABLE. ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR IS WITH US. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. HOW WILL THIS WORK? THAT IS UP TO THE SCHOOL TO REPORT THAT SOMEBODY JUST IS NOT COOPERATING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THE BIGGEST THING WE ARE DOING. IT IS NOT THE ONLY THING WE ARE DOING. WE HAVE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT FOR 18 MONTHS AND IT IS NOT THE FIRST THING WE DID. I TRAVELLED AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HAVE LISTENED TO YOUTH EIGHT POLICE OFFICERS AND LISTEN TO ATTENDANCE OFFICERS, AND THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME CASES, NOT ALL, WHERE IT IS NOT A CANNOT, IT IS A WILL NOT AND THEY HAVE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL DO THE HEAVY LIFTING AND POTENTIALLY TAKE THE PROSECUTION TO THE COURT. OUR SCHOOLS ON BOARD? AS ANYBODY THAT YOU NEED TO BE ON BOARD ON BOARD? WHEN I CAME INTO THIS JOB, I THOUGHT, HOW DO WE DO THIS? I DID A SERIES OF HUI AROUND THE COUNTRY. SPOKE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING QUITE WELL AT GETTING STUDENTS TO ATTEND AND THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT THEY NEED SOMETHING ELSE. IT IS COMING FROM THEM, IT IS NOT COMING FROM ME, IT IS NOT POLITICAL. SKILL DOES NOT HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT AT THE SCHOOL SAYS, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT LISTENING AND WILL NOT COOPERATE, THEY COULD ATTEND BUT THEY ARE NOT, THEY CAN APPROACH THE MINISTRY AND THE MINISTRY WILL DO THE PROSECUTION. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT REPEATEDLY REFUSING TO LOOK LIKE? I TALK TO PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE OFFICERS. THEY ASK, ARE THERE ANY BARRIERS? DO YOU HAVE A HEALTH PROBLEM? IS THE PROPERTY? DO YOU NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL WAY OF GETTING TO SCHOOL? THEY JUST HAVE A PARENT THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, SCHOOL IS NOT IMPORTANT, STUFF YOU, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK TO YOU ANY MORE AND WE WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. FOR THE SAKE OF THAT CHILD, AND FRANKLY FOR THE SAKE OF NEW ZEALAND, BECAUSE HOW MANY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL TODAY IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF WHERE WE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, I THINK WE NEED SOME MORE OPTIONS. WHAT PERCENTAGE DO YOU THINK THAT IS OF CHILDREN WITH PARENTS THAT ARE REFUSING TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL? I WAS AT FAIRFIELD SCHOOL IN CHRISTCHURCH YESTERDAY AND ASKED THE ATTENDANCE TEAM THAT EXACT QUESTION. HOW MANY CANNOT AND WILL NOT? THEY SAID, WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD NUMBER. IF THEY DON'T, I WILL NOT GIVE ONE. NONETHELESS, WE KNOW THERE IS ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS OPTION. ARE THEY ON THE FRINGE OR A LOWER PERCENTAGE THAN THE ONES THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY THE PETROL, THEY ARE SHARING SCHOOL UNIFORMS? WOULD BE BE A LESSER PERCENT? WERE NOT GOING TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE. BECAUSE IT WILL BE A BIG CONCERN FOR SOME PEOPLE. WE'RE NOT TAKING THE APPROACH THAT THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGES, BUT WE KNOW FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY THAT THERE IS A PERCENTAGE, AND I SUSPECT IT WOULD BE A MINORITY OF ALL ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS, SO IT IS GOING TO BE A $30 A DAY FINE? INITIALLY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WILL WORK? THEY CAN GO UP TO $300. IF YOU PAY THAT AND YOU HAVE THAT PUNISHMENT, AND THEN YOU HAVE FURTHER REFUSAL AND PROSECUTED AGAIN, THEN IT IS KEPT OUT AT $3000. PER PEOPLE THAT ARE THE ABSOLUTE WORST WHO REFUSED TO ENGAGE AND DO NOT HAVE THE DUTY TO GIVE KIDS AND EDUCATION. I THINK IT IS PART OF OUR DUTY AS A COUNTRY ` IF WE FIND PEOPLE DRIVING TOO FAST PAST THE SCHOOL, ROAD SAFETY HELPS PEOPLE OUTSIDE SCHOOLS IS IMPORTANT. SO IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY KID GROWING UP IN THIS COUNTRY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEMSELVES. THERE IS OFTEN UNDERLYING ISSUES. ONE PRINCIPLE WE ARE TALKING TO LATER SAY THAT THERE ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX ISSUES MY KIDS DO NOT TURN UP TO SCHOOL. THIS FEELS LIKE A BLUNT INSTRUMENT TO USE. IT IS NOT THE ONLY INSTRUMENT THAT WE ARE USING. SINCE I HAD THIS JOB, WE PUBLISHED DAILY DATA. WE HAVE BETTER DATA OF WHITE CHILDREN NOT ATTENDING. ISSUED NEW HEALTH ADVICE, WE ARE DOING NEW SOCIAL MEDIA APPETISING IN EACH REGION, WE ARE INTRODUCING THIS STEPPED ATTENDANCE RESPONSE SCHEME WE'VE GONE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT DO WELL IT'S GETTING ATTENDANCE UP. YOUR RIGHT, IT IS BLUNT, BUT IT IS NOT THE FIRST THING THAT WE ARE DOING. NONETHELESS, THERE ARE PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY WORKING ON THE FRONTLINE OF ATTENDANCE AND TELL ME THIS IS NEEDED. IN 2017, ...I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S PROSECUTIONS CAN TAKE A LONG TIME. IS IT WORTH IT? IS IT A FIND THAT I WOULD GET FOR SPEEDING IN THE MAIL, OR IS IT ACTUALLY GOING TO RECORD PROCESS? IT GOES THROUGH A COURT PROCESS. WE LOOKED AT AN INFRINGEMENT NOTICE REGIME. THE NET EFFECT IS THAT YOU PAY AN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW. IN THAT SENSE, IT IS A FINE. IS IT GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE, DO YOU THINK? IT WOULD MAKE IT WORSE IF WE WERE TO PURSUE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS AND BASICALLY GIVE THEM ANOTHER PROBLEM, BUT AS I SAY, THIS IS NOT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT, WE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE PROBLEMS. WE ARE PUTTING ALL THE EVIDENCE OF THAT. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ASSURING PEOPLE THAT, BUT I THINK YOU'LL BE SUCH A WORRY FOR PEOPLE IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE FINED OR PROSECUTED FOR THINGS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL OR THE CHILD IS BULLIED AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, ALL THOSE EXTRA THINGS THAT COME WITH BEING A PARENT, THAT YOUR ASSURANCES THAT THESE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE YOU ARE AFTER. WE WANT EVERY PARENT TO MAKE THE ABSOLUTE BEST EFFORT TO MAKE EDUCATION A PRIORITY FOR THEIR CAD. I THINK IT IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO THE KIDS. IF WE DOING THAT, I CANNOT SEE YOU BEING PROSECUTED OR FIND. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT SCHOOL IS FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND YOUR KIDS ARE BETTER OFF AT HOME, I AM SORRY, BUT THEY ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT EDUCATION AND YOU SHOULD NOT DENY THEM. PEOPLE THAT TAKE THE KIDS ON HOLIDAY DURING THE TERM? OR THEY BE PROSECUTED? POTENTIALLY IF IT WAS REPEATED. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT SCHOOLS ONLY OPEN FOR ABOUT 185 DAYS A YEAR. THAT LEAVES ANOTHER 180 DAYS A YEAR FOR FAMILY, SPORT, HOLIDAY, EVENTS. IT IS NOT AS THOUGH SCHOOL IS OPEN 365 DAYS. IT IS ONLY OPEN HALF THE TIME. THAT YOU SET TIME FOR TRANSFERRING KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT SO PEOPLE HAVE A SHOT AT LIFE. YOU HAVE HALF OF THE YEAR FOR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO DO. DAVID SEYMOUR, SOON-TO-BE DEPUTY PROMISED. IF SOMEONE LIKE ME CAN GET A JOB LIKE THAT, ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING IN THE COUNTRY. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS TOPIC. JUST BEFORE YOU GO, YOU TALKED ABOUT REPEATED AND INTRANSIGENT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT VERY QUICKLY. BEAR IN MIND THAT THE FINE IS ON THE PARENTS, NOT THE CHILDREN. IF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT AND KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR AND ASKED IF YOU HAVE ANY BARRIERS YOU HAVE WORKED THROUGH AND THEY ARE GETTING STONEWALLED, THE PARENTS ARE TELLING THEM TO NAFF OFF, EDUCATION IS NOT IMPORTANT, THEN AT SOME POINT, THE PEOPLE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND SAID TO ME THAT THEY NEED OTHER SANCTIONS THEY CAN BRING INTO PLAY. IS THAT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU, MINISTER. E WHAI AKE NEI ` HOW THE WEATHER IS SHAPING UP FOR THE LONG WEEKEND. PLUS, WE GIVE NEW ZEALAND'S BEST TAP WATER A TASTE. WHAT EXACTLY MAKES IT SO SPECIAL? YES, YOU ARE. I KNOW! Hey, Steve, it's Sam. We've been thinking. We need more space for Archie if he's going to have a brother one day. Yeah. No worries. You can always add another room backing onto the garden. Oh, Archie, we'd love that, wouldn't you? Yes. Call me any time. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` NEARLY 200 PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT POWER THIS MORNING AFTER A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH HAMILTON. OVERSEAS, A FOURTH NEW ZEALANDER HAS BEEN KILLED IN UKRAINE, WITH THE FAMILY OF SHAN-LE KEARNS (26) TELLING 1 NEWS HE DIED LAST MONTH. AND IN SPORT, KIWI DOUBLES PAIR ERIN ROUTLIFFE AND MICHAEL VENUS HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE MIXED DOUBLES AT THE FRENCH OPEN. IF YOU'RE HAVING A GLASS OF WATER THIS MORNING IN TIMARU, CONGRATULATIONS ` YOU ARE DRINKING THE BEST TAP WATER IN NEW ZEALAND. THE TOWN'S WATER SUPPLY JUDGED THE BEST IN THE IXOM NATIONAL WATER TASTE TEST. I HOPE I ANNOUNCED THAT RIGHT. TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES TOP TAP WATER, WE'RE JOINED BY WATER INDUSTRY OPERATIONS GROUP CHAIR JOSHUA MCINDOE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. FIRSTLY, WHAT WERE THE JUDGES ASSESSING? PLEASED TO BE HERE. THE JUDGES WERE TASTING ALL OF THE SAMPLES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO GET THE BEST. WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AS KEY CRITERIA ` COLOUR, CLARITY, ODOUR AND THEN THE TASTE. HOW REFRESHING AND PLEASING IT IS TO THE PALATE. WE HAVE ALL OF THE ENTRANCE HERE IN THE STUDIO WITH US. MELISSA WILL TASTE HALF, I WILL TASTE THE OTHER HALF. WE DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONE IS THE WINNER. I DON'T HOW LONG IT TASTES FRESH FOR. TELL ME ABOUT THIS COMPETITION AND WHY IT WAS STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS IS A REALLY FUN WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OUTSTANDING JOB THAT THE OPERATIONS FIELD IS DOING DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO PRODUCE GOOD, SAFE QUALITY COMPLAINT AND GOOD TASTING DRINK WATER TO THE PUBLIC. THERE IS A SERIOUS SIDE. LETTERS SHOWCASING WHAT IS BEING DONE, BUT IT IS A FUN WAY TO HAVE THOSE BRAGGING RIGHTS OF HAVING THE BEST TASTING WATER IN THE COUNTRY. TIMARU IS NOW A THREE-TIME WINNER. WE STARTED THIS IN 2016 WITH IXOM BEING THE SPONSOR FOR THAT WHOLE TIME. IT IS GROWING, AND EVERYBODY WANTS THAT TITLE. AS YOU SAY, THE COMPETITION STARTED IN 2016. HOW HAS THE INTEREST ON SINCE THEN? I SUPPOSE BEING HERE ON TV IS ONE THING. TRUE STORY. WE HAVE GROWN AND WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE SUBMISSIONS. THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE WERE GETTING ABOUT 20 SUBMISSIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WHAT IS AWESOME ABOUT THIS YEAR IS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO FROM THE NORTH AND TWO FROM THE SOUTH IN THE FINAL. THE FINALISTS WERE FROM ROTORUA LAKES, WHO WERE THE CHAMPIONS LAST YEAR, TAUPO DISTRICT COUNCIL AND SOUTH ISLAND ` TIMARU. REALLY COOL, NORTH ISLAND AND SOUTH ISLAND AND A MIX OF DIFFERENT SOURCES. IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A TREATMENT PROCESS THAT PRODUCES HIGH-QUALITY, GOOD TASTING WATER. WE HAVE DIFFERENT GLASSES HERE. DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE IS THE TIMARU WATER? I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT NONE OF THEM ARE. YOU TELL ME. I'M FINDING OUT AS YOU ARE. THEY ALL TASTE THE SAME TO ME. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. THEY DO NOT. COMMENTS BY THE JUDGES WERE THAT IT IS HARD TO DIFFERENTIATE, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT SUBTLETIES THAT THEY FIND BETWEEN THE TWO. WE HAD A GUEST JUDGE, HER NAME WAS TRACY, SHE WAS THE MASTER BREWER, WHICH IS WHERE THE CONFERENCES. SHE SAID THAT IT IS HARDER THAN JUDGING BEER. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES, AND THERE WAS A CLEAR WINNER. GOING BETWEEN DIFFERENT SAMPLES, VERY SLIGHT DIFFERENCES. YOU JUDGING THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, SO IT IS GOING TO BE CLOSE. THAT WAS THE CASE YESTERDAY AS WELL. I HAVE TO SAY THAT FOR IS MY FAVOURITE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR FOURTH SAMPLE IS? I'M SORRY, I HAVE NO IDEA. APPARENTLY IT IS WELLINGTON. WITH ALL THE WATER WOES. I THOUGHT THEY WERE MUCH OF A MUCH ON US. WE HAVE A WINNER, BUT WE DO NOT JUDGE IT AFTER THAT. YOU EITHER WIN OR YOU COME SECOND. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO TIMARU FOR THE THIRD TIME, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOSHUA. I LOVE IT. APPARENTLY WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US CHRISTCHURCH, MATAMATA, ROTORUA AND WELLINGTON. CONGRATULATIONS, WELLINGTON, YOU ARE MY CHOICE. DID YOU DRINK ANY OF IT? I THOUGHT THEY TASTED THE SAME. DID NOT WANT STAND OUT FOR YOU? NO. ARE YOU THE SAME WITH BEER AND WINE? NO. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS THE LONG WEEKEND'S NEARLY HERE, BUT WILL THE WEATHER PLAY BALL? NEARLY 200 PEOPLE IN HAMILTON ARE WITHOUT POWER THIS MORNING, WITH CIVIL DEFENCE CONFIRMING REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY LAST NIGHT. STRONG WINDS DAMAGED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES; FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONDING TO CALL-OUTS WITH ROOFS BLOWN OFF AND FENCES DOWN. FOLLOWING OUTAGES OVERNIGHT, 174 HOMES ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER IN MELVILLE. MERSEYSIDE POLICE HAVE NAMED THE MAN SUSPECTED OF DRIVING INTO PEDESTRIANS DURING A LIVERPOOL VICTORY PARADE. LOCAL MAN PAUL DOYLE (53) FACES MULTIPLE GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM CHARGES AND ONE COUNT OF DANGEROUS DRIVING AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY DROVE INTO A CROWD OF PEOPLE, INJURING AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE. SEVEN PEOPLE REMAIN IN HOSPITAL. DOYLE IS SET TO APPEAR AT LIVERPOOL MAGISTRATES' COURT LATER TODAY. ISRAEL HAS ANNOUNCED ITS BIGGEST EXPANSION OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK IN DECADES. 22 NEW JEWISH SETTLEMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, IN A MOVE THAT MINISTERS SAY PREVENTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PALESTINIAN STATE THAT WOULD, QUOTE, 'ENDANGER ISRAEL.' THE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENCY HAS CALLED IT A DANGEROUS ESCALATION ACCUSING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT OF DRAGGING THE REGION INTO A CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY. TO SPORT, AND SWISS AMERICA'S CUP TEAM ALINGHI RACING HAS JOINED AMERICAN MAGIC AND ATHENA RACING IN THEIR CRITICISM OF TEAM NEW ZEALAND. THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH TEAMS HAD PREVIOUSLY ACCUSED TEAM NEW ZEALAND OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OVER THE DEAL TO HOST THE NEXT REGATTA IN NAPLES. ALINGHI TODAY RELEASING A STATEMENT SAYING TEAM NEW ZEALAND HAS, QUOTE, 'SOLD SOMETHING THEY DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO' AND THEY FAILED TO CONSULT OTHER TEAMS BEFORE ANNOUNCING THE HOST CITY. THEY SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AS THE HOST VENUE ARRANGEMENTS WILL IMPACT ALL CHALLENGERS FOR THE CUP IN REGARDS TO COST AND LOGISTICS. ONE CANTERBURY PRIMARY SCHOOL HAS FOUND A UNIQUE WAY TO FUNDRAISE, SELLING OVER 10,000 BLOCKS OF BUTTER. LEITHFIELD SCHOOL TE KURA O KOWAI IS OFFERING 250gm BLOCKS FOR JUST $4, FAR CHEAPER THAN SOME SUPERMARKET BRANDS COSTING OVER $10 DOLLARS FOR 500kg. THE SCHOOL MAKES A DOLLAR FROM EACH BLOCK SOLD WITH FUNDS GOING TOWARD INITIATIVES LIKE REDUCING START-OF-YEAR COSTS FOR FAMILIES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (CHILL MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU IN THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING WITH SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE EAST COAST AND WELLINGTON HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. 21, YOUR HIGH IN NAPIER. NEW PLYMOUTH YOUR HIGH IS 17. A NICE SUNNY DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. FOR THE REST OF YOU, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUD. 14 YOUR HIGH IN HOKITIKA. GORE, YOUR HIGH IS 9. THERE IS AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR MILFORD ROAD. TAKE CARE. TIME TO CHECK IN ON THE WEATHER WITH METSERVICE'S HEATHER KEATS. TORNADO, ROUGH NIGHT? NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THE DAMAGE CONSIDERING THE SCALE OF THE STORMS WE SAW EVIDENCE ON THE RADAR, ARE VERY HARD TO VERIFY UNTIL THE SUN IS UP AND YOU'VE SEEN THE PATH. LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE, IT'S PRETTY SCARY. LOTS OF LIGHTNING FROM THE STORMS THAT ROLLED THROUGH. 18,000, 240 LIGHTING STRIKE SINCE WEDNESDAY. ONLY 1200 WERE OVERLAND, BUT STILL. IT'S BEEN A VERY WILD WEEK. THE LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT ROLLED OVER HAS CAUSED ALL SORTS OF CARNAGE. FORTUNATELY, IT'S HEADING EAST TODAY, BUT THERE ARE STILL CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN PLACE. WE HAVE A STRONG SOUTH-WESTERLY THAT IS ESTABLISHING ITSELF TODAY, SO WITH GOT A STRONG WIND WATCH IN PLACE, KICKING OFF AT 2 PM TODAY FOR THE DEEP SOUTH, WESTERLIES RAMP UP FOR PARTS OF HAWKE'S BAY. THAT'S THE LAND. YOU'RE TELLING NOW WOULDN'T LIKE TO BE ON THE SEA. THAT LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM AND THOSE STRONG SOUTH-WESTERLY'S HAVE WHIPPED UP AS WELL. EXPECTING A SWELL OF 6 M, AND THIS IS FOR WESTERN COASTLINES AND ALSO FUNNELLING DOWN UNDERNEATH THE DEEP SOUTH. THAT WILL START TO RAMP UP TOMORROW AND SUNDAY AND WANT TO BE AWARE OF THAT IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON LAUNCHING A BOAT. WHAT WILL WE BE DEALING WITH FOR THE LONG WEEKEND? IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK. WE DO HAVE FRONT AND ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND FOR THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND THAT'S BRINGING SNOW BECAUSE OF THE SOUTHERLY, IT IS COLD. WE DO HAVE THOSE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNINGS IN PLACE. THE NORTH ISLAND, IT'S LOOKING MUCH BETTER. ONCE THE LAST OF THE WEATHER STORMS GOES TODAY. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT POSTER ON THE GOOD WEATHER. THE SPOT TO BE WILL BE THE BAY OF PLENTY. IT IS KIND OF HEADING OFF, TEMPERATURES CAN BE QUITE GOOD, SHELTERED FROM THE LARGEST WELL. GIVEN THAT WINTER STARTS THIS WEEKEND, I RECKON THAT'S THE PLACE TO WELCOME IN WINTER. AS MOUNT HUTT OPENING THIS WEEKEND? NO, THE NORTH-WESTERLY STRIP TO THE SNOW. WHATEVER SNOW DUMPS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WILL BE PERFECT FOR THAT PRE-SEASON BASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING. ME U TONU MAI ` WHO'S SETTING THE PACE IN THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP? PLUS, MORE ON THE DEATH OF ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER IN UKRAINE. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` CIVIL DEFENCE HAS CONFIRMED REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH HAMILTON LAST NIGHT, LEAVING NEARLY 200 PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER. MERSEYSIDE POLICE HAVE CHARGED LOCAL MAN PAUL DOYLE (53) AFTER HE DROVE INTO PEDESTRIANS DURING A LIVERPOOL VICTORY PARADE. AND IN SPORT, SWISS AMERICA'S CUP TEAM ALINGHI RACING HAS JOINED THE CHORUS OF TEAM NEW ZEALAND OVER ITS DEAL TO HOST THE NEXT REGATTA IN NAPLES. IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT A FOURTH NEW ZEALANDER HAS BEEN KILLED IN UKRAINE. SHAN-LE KEARNS (26) IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE KHARKIV REGION IN APRIL. OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN MORE FOR THE FINAL TIME. MORENA, MEI. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE HAVE SO FAR? AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, INFORMATION OUT OF UKRAINE IS A BIT SCARCE, AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO CONFIRM EXACTLY IF A NEW ZEALANDER DIED, HOW ARE NEW ZEALANDER DIED, AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE URGENTLY SEEKING INFORMATION FROM UKRAINIAN AUTHORITIES. BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND, THAT INFORMATION IS HARD TO COME BY. WHAT WE DO UNDERSTAND IS THAT HE DIED WHILE HE WAS IN THE KHARKIV REGION, AND HIS MOTHER TOLD WENDY AS HE WAS NOT ON THE FRONT LINE BUT HAD BEEN TRAINED IN COMBAT TO HELP RESCUE INJURED SOLDIERS. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET HIS BODY BACK, BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFICULT. HE IS THE FULL NEW ZEALANDER BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED IN UKRAINE, AND IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY NEW ZEALANDERS ARE CURRENTLY FIGHTING. POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS THE TATE BROTHERS ARE FACING 21 CHARGES IN THE UK? 21 CHARGES IN TOTAL. THEY INCLUDE RAPE, BODILY HARM AS WELL AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING. BOTH THE TATE BROTHERS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS AND ANDREW TATE IS A SELF-DESCRIBED MISOGYNIST AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE GAINED A HUGE ONLINE FOLLOWING, IN TOTAL 10 MILLION. HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS ADVICE ON GETTING RICH AND FAMOUS AND GETTING WOMEN AS WELL. A SHORT TIME AGO, THE LAWYER FOR THE BROTHERS HAS SAID THAT THE BROTHERS WILL COME TO THE UK AND DEFEND THOSE CHARGES. THAT WAS ALWAYS THE QUESTION. YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE BROTHERS WENT FROM ROMANIA WHERE THEY WERE SERVING TWO YEARS UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR SIMILAR SEPARATE CHARGES, THEY SUDDENLY RELEASED THEM ON BAIL AND WERE ALLOWED TO FLY TO THE UNITED STATES. AT THE TIME, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS ACCUSED OF INTERFERENCE BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE LINK BETWEEN HIS GOVERNMENT AND THE TATE BROTHERS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY WILL COME BACK AND FACE THESE CHARGES NOT JUST IN ROMANIA BUT HERE IN THE UK AS WELL. AND TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY IN THE JOB, SO WE HAVE TO SEND YOU OFF IN STYLE BEFORE WE ASK FOR YOUR HIGHLIGHTS. WE THOUGHT WE'D PLAY OUT SOME OF OUR PERSONAL FAVE MEI MOMENTS. ALL YOU CAN SEE ARE PANCAKED BUILDINGS. THE CROWD IS REALLY FIRED UP NOW. THEY'RE SHOUTING 'WE HATE THE POLICE.' BEHIND ME, THEY'RE REPLICATING WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO BE ON THE BATTLEFIELDS IN UKRAINE. GIVEN MOST OF THIS 80,000-STRONG CROWD ARE IRISH, I CAN TELL YOU THE MOOD AROUND HERE IS A LITTLE BIT DOWNBUZZ. VERY SAD, VERY SAD. SORRY, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO US? KIA ORA. (ALL LAUGH) JENNY MAY: OH, I LOVE IT! OK, HOLD ON. THIS HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT ORCHESTRATED, OK? THIS IS JAMES. I MET HIM A BIT EARLIER. HE IS ON A MISSION. WHAT IS YOUR MISSION, JAMES? I JUST WANTED TO TRY AND GET ON AS MANY FOREIGN NEWS CHANNELS AS I COULD TODAY. (ALL LAUGH) HOW MANY HAVE YOU BEEN ON? CAN YOU LIST THEM? I MANAGED TO GET ON GERMAN, SPANISH, ITALIAN, DANISH, AUSTRALIAN, AND NOW NEW ZEALAND. NUMBER SEVEN. WE ARE NUMBER SEVEN. THAT HAS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVOURITES. BEST PART OF THE 2 1/2 YEARS AS OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDED. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS? THAT BREAKFAST MOMENT WITH THAT CARPET, FOR THE CORONATION HAS GOT TO BE A HIGHLIGHT. JUST THE FACT THAT HE WAS UP FOR IT AND HE WAS SO KEEN TO GET ON SO MANY NEWS CHANNELS. OVER HERE, YOU DO RUB SHOULDERS WITH SO MANY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, AND IT IS PRETTY REMARKABLE, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, IT'S BEEN A CRAZY ALMOST 3 YEARS, THE QUEEN DIED NOT LONG AFTER I WAS HERE, I HAVE BEEN HERE UNDER FOUR DIFFERENT PRIME MINISTER'S FROM THE UK. LIST TRUST, BORIS JOHNSON, RICHEY SOON ACT AND RISHI SUNAK AND NOW KEIR STARMER. THE TURKEY SYRIA EARTHQUAKES GOING, GOING INTO UKRAINE, COVERING THE RIOTS IN PARIS, AND I'VE DONE SO MUCH SPORT. KIWIS ON THE WORLD STAGE, THE OLYMPICS, THE RUGBY WORLD CUP, THE AMERICA'S CUP, THE ELECTION OF THE NEW POPE, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT AND IT HAS BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND CONNECTS NEW ZEALAND WITH THE SIDE OF THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRILLIANT COVERAGE AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN COMING BACK HOME HERE AT SOME POINTS, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEAMING AND FROM SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE OR FROM LONDON TO BRING US ALL THE BIG NEWS THAT'S HAPPENING OVERSEAS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU HOME. THANK YOU GUYS, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. A BIT OF FEEDBACK COMING IN ON THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION THAT IT MAY START TO LOOK AT PROSECUTING PARENTS FOR REPEATED REFUSALS OF SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL. ANONYMOUS SAYS I DON'T NORMALLY AGREE WITH DAVID SEYMOUR, BUT I AM IN SOCIAL WORK AND THE AMOUNT OF HOMES WE VISIT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PARENTS THAT CAN'T BE BOTHERED. OTHER COURTS GOING TO GET MORE STAFF, MORE OF WHATEVER THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS WORK? IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT BACKLOG WAITING FOR CASES TO BE HEARD? THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO ASK, BUT IT IS NOT JUSTIFIED, IT IS GOING TO BE A PROSECUTION, YOU ARE TALKING TO A PRINCIPAL SOON WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND HE SAID IT TOOK ALMOST 2 YEARS. SO WHAT IS THE COST TO US? AND ASSIST REALLY THE SOLUTION? TO GETTING THOSE PARENTS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO GET A TEENAGER OUT OF BED? IS FORCING THEM BACK INTO SCHOOL THE RIGHT DECISION NOT ONLY FOR THAT CHILD, BUT FOR THE OTHER CHILDREN AND FOR THE TEACHER THEMSELVES? THEY ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX ISSUES AS TO WHY KIDS DON'T GO TO SCHOOL ON THIS DAY AND AGE. THE FINE START AT $30 A DAY AND THAT COULD ESCALATE TO $300, AND THE TOP END OF THE 3000. D YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO GET PARENTS TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL? I DON'T KNOW, KEEP THE FEEDBACK COMING IN. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE NORTHERN MYSTICS ARE ALREADY MAKING A STRONG CASE FOR BACK-TO-BACK ANZ PREMIERSHIP TITLES. WE'LL BREAK DOWN THEIR EARLY DOMINANCE NEXT. Alright, let's get straight to the numbers. VOICEOVER: Things are easier to share when they're not very good. But not this. IT'S ROUND 4 OF THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP, AND THE NORTHERN MYSTICS ARE ALREADY SHAPING UP AS FAVOURITES TO TOP THE COMPETITION AGAIN. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY LOCKERROOM FOUNDING EDITOR AND FRIEND OF THE SHOW SUZANNE MCFADDEN. THANKS MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. LOVELY TO SEE YOU. AND YOU, MELISSA. WE ARE AT AROUND FOUR SO ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH. THE MYSTICS ARE THE ONLY TEAM WHO HAVE GONE UNBEATEN. BUT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN CONVINCING. THE LAST GAME, THEY WON BY A SINGLE GOAL IN A GAME THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STEALS, BUT THEY THREW IT AWAY AT THE END. BEING THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, THE MYSTICS KNOW HOW TO WIN SO THEY CLINCHED IT IN THE END. THEY PLAYED WHAT IS I GUESS DEEMED AS THE TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH THIS WEEKEND AGAINST THE TACTICS, WHO HAVE HAD TWO WINS OF THREE. THE INTERESTING THING FOR THE MYSTICS WILL BE WHETHER THEIR GOAL SHOOTS WILL BE PLAYING. SHE HAD A VERY HEAVY FALL THROWING THE BALL BACK INTO COURT IN THE LAST GAME AND FELL ONTO HER WRIST. AS OF LATE YESTERDAY, SHE WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE SCAN TO SHOW WHAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE, BUT SHE HAS BEEN TRAINING AND WILL TRAVEL WITH THE TEAM TO CHRISTCHURCH FOR THE GAME. WE SAW A GOAL ATTACK PLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE DID WHAT SHE WAS ASKED TO. SHE SET UP THE WINNING GOAL. IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHO WAS SHOOTING. JENNY MAY WANT TO INTERJECT. SHE IS FOR FOOT NOTHING, BUT TO SEE HER GO INTO THAT POSITION IS REMARKABLE. THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE END. DEFINITELY. WAS A KIND THAT THE COACHES HAD UP THEIR SLEEVES AND THEY PULLED IT OUT. I BEEN WAITING FOR IT FOR A WHILE. IT WAS COOL TO SEE HER FLOURISH. SHE CAN DO ANYTHING, THAT GIRL. SHE CAN. LOVE WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT YOU CAN WATCH THAT MYSTICS AND TACTICS GAME TOMORROW AT 4 PM ON TVNZ TWO AND TVNZ PLUS. I WILL BE THERE. IT'LL BE A GOOD GAME. YES, THANK YOU. SUZANNE, LET'S HAVE A QUICK LOOK ABOUT HOW GRACE IS DOING IN THE SUN CORP SUPER NETBALL. SHE IS DOING INCREDIBLY WELL. SHE IS LEADING THE SCORING SO FAR ` 363 GOALS SO FAR. HER TEAM HAVE NOT LOST A GAME YET, THEY ARE ON A SEVEN GAME WINNING STREAK. SHE IS REALLY STATING HER CLAIM TO BE BACK IN THE SILVER FERNS THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THAT RULE STILL EXISTS THAT SHE CANNOT PLAY, BUT AT THE MOMENT, I HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT, IT IS A LIVE CONVERSATION ON THE NEW ZEALAND BOARD WHETHER THEY CHANGE THAT RULE SO SHE CAN PLAY. EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AMERICA'S CUP THIS MORNING. YES, THERE ARE BEEN GOES AGAINST TEAM NEW ZEALAND. THEY DECIDED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO CONTEST THIS AMERICA'S CUP BUT NOW THEY ARE SAYING THEY'RE COMING OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE BRITISH AND, GOSH, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE, IN SAYING THAT TEAM NEW ZEALAND ARE NOT PLAYING FAIRLY. THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THEIR TRADITIONAL DUTIES AND SOLD SOMETHING THEY DO NOT OWN. THEY ARE SAYING THAT HE NEW ZEALAND DID NOT CONSULT THAT NAPLES WAS GOING TO BE THE HOST VENUE. THEY ARE SAYING IT AFFECTS THE WAY THEY RUN THEIR COSTS. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGER SERIES LOOKS LIKE, HOW CAN YOU NAME A HOST CITY? OF TEAM NEW ZEALAND GET THIS RIGHT, THEN WE WILL CONSIDER ENTERING, BUT AT THE MOMENT, THE THREE BIGGEST PLAYERS ARE SAYING, NO WAY, YOU NEED TO UP YOUR GAME. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE. WHAT HAPPENS? COULD BE POTENTIALLY BEEN NO AMERICA'S CUP? I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THE ANSWERS, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT. THERE ARE SO MUCH FIGHTING IN THIS SPORT. WE ALWAYS SEE IT HAPPENING. THAT IS THE THING. THE FRENCH HAVE COME OUT AND SAID LOOK, THEY HAVE USED THIS AS A BARGAINING TOOL. UNTIL THIS MORNING, I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT, BUT I THINK IT IS NOW TAKEN A MORE SERIOUS TURN. THE CHALLENGES BY RIGHTS ARE ENTERED. AGAIN, EVEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT THIS IS PROGRESSING, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGER SERIES WILL LOOK LIKE, THERE IS NO PROTOCOL, AND SO, AT THE MOMENT, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE BREAKDOWN IN THE CONVERSATION. I GUESS IT IS A LIVE CONVERSATION, AT LEAST. EXACTLY. KIA ORA, SUZANNE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. YOU TO. STILL TO COME ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` WHAT DO PRINCIPALS MAKE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO PROSECUTE PARENTS OF CHRONICALLY ABSENT SCHOOL KIDS? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN FOUR MINUTES. ALSO AHEAD ` WE'RE LIVE TO GORE AS THE GOLD GUITARS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS. PLUS, FROM IMPROMPTU TOILET CUBICLE CONCERTS TO THE MUSIC AWARDS RED CARPET, LORDE TAKES AOTEAROA BY STORM. WITH NEW MUSIC ON THE WAY, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE POP STAR? ALSO, I WANT TO KNOW ` WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE IT SORTED, BUT WE ARE TOO OLD TO UNDERSTAND AND WE JUST NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT. WE ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT INTO THIS CENTURY AND 45 MINUTES TIME. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. THANKS, JENNY MAY. NEARLY 200 HAMILTONIANS WERE WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT WITH CIVIL DEFENCE WAIKATO CONFIRMING REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY LAST NIGHT, LIFTING ROOFS FROM HOUSES. OUR REPORTER LUCY BENDELL IS THERE NOW. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US, LUCY? MORENA, MELISSA. FIRST LIGHT IS HITTING IN HAMILTON. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY JUST BEHIND ME. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FENCE HAS COME DOWN. SHE SAID IT WAS A LOUD BANG AS LIGHTNING HIT THE STREET AND EVERYTHING LIT UP. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PROPERTIES THAT WERE ALSO LOST POWER OVERNIGHT AS WELL. THEY ALL CAME BACK ON THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 6 AM, BUT LAST NIGHT, DAMAGE WAS DONE TO A LOT OF PROPERTIES. ROOFS CAME OFF HOMES, TRAMPOLINES WERE FLUNG INTO POWER LINES AND TREES AND POWER LINES CAME DOWN. BY AN EMERGENCY CONFIRMING THEY WERE CALLED OUT TO MULTIPLE WEATHER EVENTS. WAIKATO CIVIL DEFENCE IT THAT FIRST RESPONDERS WERE ON THE GROUND AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. NOW RESIDENTS ARE WAKING UP ALONG HERE, THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WALKING ALONG THE STREET. TODAY'S FOCUS WILL BE ON CLEANUP. WILL BRING YOU UPDATES ABOUT THE NEWS THIS MORNING. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. THE GOVERNMENT IS CRACKING DOWN ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AND SOME PARENTS COULD SOON FACE FINES IF THEY DON'T COMPLY. FROM NEXT TERM, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL TARGET FAMILIES WHO REPEATEDLY FAIL TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, WITH FINES OF UP TO $3000 FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS OR DISABILITIES WON'T BE PENALISED, BUT ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS LEGAL ACTION IS NOW ON THE TABLE FOR OTHERS. WE'RE NOT TAKING THE APPROACH THAT IS NOT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT. IF YOU HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS OR BULLYING, WE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE PROBLEMS, WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THAT. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TOTALLY INTRANSIGENCE AND RESPONDING TO THE DEMAND THAT WE HAVE SOME THING TO DO WITH THEM AS WELL. HE SAYS THE FINES ARE PART OF A WIDER EFFORT TO GET KIWI KIDS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM. THE NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES WOMEN HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SECURE A CLEAN SWEEP IN THEIR ORIGIN SERIES, GOING DOWN 18-14 TO QUEENSLAND IN A TIGHT ENCOUNTER IN THE THIRD GAME. THE BLUES LOOKED ON COURSE FOR AN HISTORIC WHITEWASH AFTER STORMING OUT TO A 14-6 LEAD BEFORE THE MAROONS HIT BACK. ON THE CARDS. CHESLEA PUTS QUEENSLAND IN FRONT. QUEENSLAND SALVAGING THEIR PRIDE WITH THE CONSOLATION VICTORY, BUT CELEBRATIONS BELONGED TO NEW SOUTH WALES, WHO RECLAIMED THE SHIELD WITH THE SERIES WIN. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS ` (CHILL MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU IN THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING WITH SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE EAST COAST AND WELLINGTON HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. 21, YOUR HIGH IN NAPIER. NEW PLYMOUTH YOUR HIGH IS 17. A NICE SUNNY DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. FOR THE REST OF YOU, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUD. 14 YOUR HIGH IN HOKITIKA. GORE, YOUR HIGH IS 9. THERE IS AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR MILFORD ROAD. TAKE CARE. THANKS, MELISSA. THE GOVERNMENT IS WARNING PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN REGULARLY FAIL TO TURN UP TO SCHOOL COULD SOON FACE PROSECUTION. EARLIER, ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR TOLD US ` AND I'VE LISTENED TO YOUTH AID POLICE OFFICERS, I'VE LISTENED TO ATTENDANCE OFFICERS, DEPUTY PRINCIPALS, AND THEY'RE ALL SAYING THERE ARE SOME CASES, NOT ALL, BUT SOME CASES WHERE IT'S NOT A CAN'T, IT'S A WON'T, AND THEY'VE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS. SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL DO THE HEAVY LIFTING AND POTENTIALLY TAKE A PROSECUTION TO THE COURT. BUT HOW DO EDUCATORS FEEL ABOUT THE FIRMER STANCE? WE'RE JOINED BY MIKE PIPER, PRESIDENT OF THE MANGERE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION, AND BRUCE KEARNEY, PRINCIPAL OF RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL. GOOD MORNING TO YOU BOTH. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. CAN I START WITH YOU? THE MINISTER SAID THAT HE SPOKE WITH POLICE, DEPUTY PRINCIPLES. WERE YOU CONSULTED, OR WERE THOSE PRINCIPLES IN SOUTH AUCKLAND WHERE THEY CONSULTED? THE THINK THERE IS BEEN A WIDE CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THIS? GOOD MORNING, JENNY MAY, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. AT SPECKLE GOVERNMENT FASHION, THEY ROLLED OUT THEIR RESPONSE THAT WE WERE TO DO, AND THE IDEA OF PROSECUTION WAS THERE. IT HAS BEEN ON PAPER, BUT NO CONSULTATION ABOUT THE FINAL DETAILS ON HOW. WE ALL WANTED TO KNOW HOW. IN TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, THERE WAS NO HEADS UP, SO I AM PRETTY SURE THERE ARE A FEW PRINCIPLES TODAY WONDERING HOW THIS ALL COMES TOGETHER. IS THIS ANOTHER TOOL THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY USE? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS USEFUL OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD WORK? NOT A BIG BELIEVER IN THE HEAVY-HANDED, I WOULD RATHER GO TO POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT AWAY, ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES. WHAT IS HIS WORDS? CAN'T AND WON'T. SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY INTERCONNECTED. AT THIS STAGE, VERY UNSURE. HE ADDED HIS DETAILS THAT THE MINISTRY WOULD DO THE HEAVY LIFTING. WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE. BRUCE, CAN I BRING YOU AND HEAR? YOU HAVE PROSECUTED A PARENT BEFORE. I AM WONDERING WHAT THEIR PROCESSES LIKE AND HOW LONG IT TOOK. YES, OVER 10 YEARS A PRINCIPALSHIP AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, I PROSECUTED TWO STUDENTS. IT WAS NOT AN EASY PROCESS. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT DOING THE PROSECUTING, WE ENDED UP HAVING TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING, UNLIKE WHAT DAVID SEYMOUR IS TALKING ABOUT AT THE MOMENT. THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME CHANGE, TO ENGAGE WITH THE SCHOOL AND DO THE RIGHT THING. BY THE TIME YOU GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEN PROSECUTE, YOUR WEEKS OUT FROM THE PERSON TURNING 16 ANYWAY. IN TERMS OF THE PROSECUTION THAT YOU TOOK, WAS THAT THE ACTION THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS THE LAST RESORT, AND DID IT WORK? THIS WAS WELL PAST THE LAST RESORT. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A COUPLE OF PARENTS, A COUPLE OF CAREGIVERS WHO ARE ACTIVELY MAKING SURE THAT THE CHILD DID NOT ATTEND SCHOOL, THAT THEY STAYED AT HOME AND SPENT TIME WITH THEM. IT HAD NO IMPACT ON GETTING STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL. ZERO. MIKE, CAN I BRING YOU BACK IN HERE, THEN? AS ATTENDANCE AND ISSUE FOR SOME OF YOUR KIDS AT OTHER SCHOOLS? YES, FOR SURE. WE WANT OUR KIDS ATTENDING MORE, FOR SURE. ATTENDANCE IS AN ISSUE AND PUT SOME PART OF THE ROLLOUT PRINCIPLES ARE ENJOYING, THE NUMBER CRUNCHING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE TAKE A BIT OF PRIDE AND WE SEE OUR NUMBERS JUMP UP FOR THE TERM. ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL, I AM PRO-SCHOOL, AND A SECONDARY SCHOOL SPACE, IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE. IN PRIMARY SCHOOL, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A POST PUT UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY THE MANGERE PRINCIPLES ASSOCIATION. ON ONE BOARD, TALKED ABOUT THE REASONS WHY KIDS WERE NOT COMING BACK TO SCHOOL. THIS WAS FILLED OUT BY WHANAU OF THOSE KIDS. IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE ARE VARYING REASONS ` BULLYING BEING THE MOST THAT PARENTS PUT DOWN MY THE KIDS ARE NOT COMING BACK TO SCHOOL. THERE ARE SOME COMPLEX ISSUES ABOUT WHY KIDS ARE NOT COMING BACK TO SCHOOL. DOES NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO ALL THE PARENTS DON'T WANT THEM TO, THERE ARE OTHER REASONS. ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS OUR SECOND YEAR DOING IT, AND WE TRY TO GET A BETTER VOICE AROUND THINGS AND THEN PRESENTED BACK TO THE PRINCIPLES AND SAY, THESE ARE THE COMMON THEMES OF WHAT OUR FAMILIES TOLD US ON TUESDAY IN 2025. AND WE TAKE IT BACK TO OUR OWN SKILLS AND GIVE SOME VOICE TO SEE IF IT MATCHES AND SEE HOW WE CAN GO THROUGH IT THAT WAY. BRUCE, CAN I GO BACK TO YOU? HUNDRED AND $40 MILLION IS GOING TO A NEW ATTENDANCE SERVICE. I AM JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH TO PROSECUTIONS, AND AT THE END OF IT, HE SAID THAT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I DO NOT THINK OF A BALL PARK FIGURE ON HOW MUCH IT WOULD HAVE COST YOU, BUT WOULD THAT MAY BE BETTER SPENT? ABOUT $10,000 EACH ONE, AND I THINK THE FINE WAS $5000. WHAT YOU JUST SAID BEFORE WAS RIGHT ON POINT. ATTENDANCE IS A SYMPTOM, IT IS NOT A CAUSE. YOU HAVE TO PEEL BACK FROM DEALING WITH THE SYMPTOMS AND ACTUALLY START LOOKING AT WHY THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT ATTENDING. IT COULD BE FOR ANXIETY, IT COULD BE BECAUSE THEY FINISHED ALL THE CREDITS AND THEY ALREADY PASSED THE YEAR. YOU HAVE TO POUR THE MONEY AND TO ENGAGE WITH FAMILIES. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE ATTENDANCE. OKAY, SO GIVEN THAT, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THEY CAME FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER THIS MORNING, OVER ALL, DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT? THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION OF PROSECUTION, NO. IT IS SUCH A SMALL TOOL. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT. MIKE, CAN I BRING YOU AND ASK YOU THAT SAME QUESTION? NO, NOT REALLY. I THINK IT WILL CREATE SOME CHAT AMONGST THE FAMILIES, AND THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE FAMILIES AROUND IT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL ASK HOW WE ARE DOING IT. AS AN IMPACT, NO. I DON'T THINK SO. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. SOME GOOD FEEDBACK COMING IN ON THIS AS WELL ` SERENA SAYS THAT I'M A PARENT OF A 15 YEAR OLD, AND SOME DAYS, MY SON WILL NOT GET UP. HE IS BIGGER THAN ME NOW, HOW MY MENTOR DRAGON TO SCHOOL? THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE HELP IN REGARDS TO GET MOTIVATED TO GO. TRACY SAYS THAT SOMETIMES SHE CANNOT BE BOTHERED BRUCE GAVE US A BALLPARK FIGURE ` $10,000. THAT IS SO MUCH IT COSTS TO PROSECUTE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. A DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE PLANE IS AT THE MINISTRY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS. IT WOULD NOT BE THE SCHOOL, THE MINISTRY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD OPERATE, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? THAT IS WHAT MIKE WAS POINTING TO. DETAILS THE PRINCIPLES ARE NOT SURE OF THAT HAS NOT BEEN, AS FAR AS HE HAS CONCERNED, BEEN COMMUNICATED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. IT'LL BE CREATIVE THAT IS WHAT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, THEY GOING TO TAKE THE BURDEN OF THE SKILLS, BECAUSE WE ALMOST THAT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THEY ARE DEALING WITH. COULD THAT MONEY BE BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE? JAMIE SAYS MY CONCERN ARE FINDING PARENTS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PARENTS OF KIDS WHO FACE LEARNING STRUGGLES AND THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT SUITED TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OFTEN DUE TO CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING. THIS IS NOT A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT. IT IS PART OF A $140 MILLION BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT. THE MINISTER SAID LAST YEAR I TOOK A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN PROSECUTIONS TO MAKE A MORE VIABLE. I ENCOURAGE SCHOOL LEADERS TO SEEK THOSE MEASURES WHEN ALL ELSE HAS FAILED. THAT IS THE NEXT PUSH FOR THIS, BUT THIS IS NOT NEW. E HAERE AKE NEI ` COMING UP ON BREAKFAST ` THE PRESTIGIOUS GOLD GUITAR AWARDS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS. WE'RE LIVE IN GORE RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK. (ROCK MUSIC) HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` PARENTS OF KIDS WHO AREN'T IN SCHOOL COULD SOON FACE FINES WITH THE GOVERNMENT CRACKING DOWN ON ATTENDANCE. OVERSEAS, ISRAEL HAS ANNOUNCED ITS BIGGEST EXPANSION OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK IN DECADES. AND IN SPORT, THE NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES WOMEN HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SECURE A CLEAN SWEEP IN THEIR ORIGIN SERIES, GOING DOWN 18-14 TO QUEENSLAND IN A TIGHT ENCOUNTER IN THE THIRD GAME. IT'S THE BEATING HEART OF NEW ZEALAND'S COUNTRY MUSIC SCENE, AND THIS WEEKEND, IT'S TURNING 50. THE GOLD GUITAR AWARDS ARE BACK IN GORE ` CELEBRATING HALF A CENTURY OF TWANG AND TALENT. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST NIGHTS ON THE COUNTRY MUSIC CALENDAR, AND JOINING US LIVE IS PHILIP GEARY, CONVENOR OF THE GOLD GUITAR AWARDS. HOW ARE YOU? I'M VERY WELL, THANK YOU. HOW IS IT IN GORE THIS MORNING GEARING UP FOR THE BIG WEEKEND? WE HAD A REALLY GREAT NIGHT LAST NIGHT, AND WE WILL GET THINGS KICKED INTO GEAR AND ABOUT AN HOURS TIME DOING THE AUDITIONS, AND EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD. TELL US THE FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T AWARE. THE COMPETITION, THE EASIEST WAY TO EXPLAIN IS THAT IT'S A GREAT BIG TALENT QUEST. WE AUDITIONED PEOPLE, CONTESTANTS, AND THEY GO THROUGH TO THE FINALS, HOPING TO WIN THE OVERALL. 50 YEARS, IT'S A LONG TIME. WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT IT? FOR SOME REASON, IS ESTABLISHED AS BEING THE PLACE TO COME IF YOU WANT TO FURTHER YOUR CAREER IN COUNTRY MUSIC, AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND WE PROVIDE A GOOD PLATFORM ENTERPRISE PACK AS IT HELPS PEOPLE MOVE ON. THE BIGGEST NAMES IN RECENT MEMORY AS KAYLEE BELL, SHE CAME THROUGH GOLD GUITARS, DIDN'T SHE? SHE WAS THE WINNER IN ABOUT 2008. SHE CERTAINLY HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF IT, OF COURSE OUR FIRST WINNER WAS PATSY REGO. SHE SAID THAT KICKSTARTED HER CAREER. WE ARE WATCHING ON THE TELEVISION AT THE MOMENT DIVISION FROM 1978, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF MY BIRTH, TELL ME HOW IT HAS GROWN IN GORE AND WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR GORE. IT CERTAINLY PUT gORE ON THE MAP THE COUNTRY MUSIC, PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM AND I SAY GORE AND THEY SAY THAT IS WHERE THE COUNTRY MUSIC IS. SO THAT HAS HELPED GORE IN THAT RESPECT AND HAS PEOPLE COMING INTO GORE. HOW BUSY DOES IT GET OVER THE WEEKEND, WHAT IS IT DOING TO HOSPITALITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT? THE TOWN IS FULL, THE ACCOMMODATION IS FULL, PEOPLE ARE STAYING EVEN IN INVERCARGILL AND TRAVELLING UP, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH GORE THIS WEEKEND. WHAT DID IT START LIFE AS, WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN THE FIRST YEAR? I WASN'T AROUND THEN, BUT THEY STARTED OUT WITH ABOUT 38 CONTESTANTS, THROUGH THE COURSE OF ONE DAY, AND IT IS NOW GROWN TO 829 ENTRANTS, THREE DAYS OF AUDITION SPREAD OVER FOUR VENUES. THIS MARKS THE 50TH, ANYTHING SPECIAL PLANNED? NO, JUST TO CARRY ON AND GET THE PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR AUDITIONS, AND HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD NIGHTS FOR THE FINALS TOMORROW, AND THE SENIORS ON SUNDAY. ARE YOU ALL QUITE AS RESTRAINED OR HYPED UP? DOES IT GET WILD DOWN THERE? THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND WE ALWAYS ENJOY IT ALL. ON SUNDAY NIGHT, WE HAVE OUR AFTER MATCH PARTY WHERE EVERYONE CAN RELAX AND LET THEIR HAIR DOWN AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. WHEN DO WE FIND OUT WHO TAKES OUT THE BIG PRIZE? THAT WILL BE ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY NIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE COUNTRY SONG? I AM QUITE A DOLLY PARTON FAN AND COAT OF MANY COLOURS WILL BE ONE OF MY FAVOURITES FROM HER. I ALSO LIKE BLUEGRASS. LIVE FOR US THIS MORNING IN GORE, I HOPE IT GOES WELL THIS WEEKEND, THANK YOU, AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. I LOVE IT. ARE YOU INTO COUNTRY? I LIKE A BIT OF DOLLY. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. GOOD MORNING, AUCKLAND. YOU LOOK OKAY FROM THE EYE, BUT MET SERVICE AS A TEAM TODAY. MAINLY FINE AND CHANCE OF A NORTHERLY SHOWER. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I THINK THIS IS A GORGEOUS SHOT. LOVE IT. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, I HOPE YOU'RE DOING ALL RIGHT, I HAVE THE POWER IS BACK ON. CORRECTION: I HOPE I HOPE EVERYBODY IS ALL G IN THE H-TOWN. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON, CHANCE OF A SHOWER THIS MORNING AND THIS EVENING AND YOU HAVE ALSO GOT SOME SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS. OH NO, YOU HAVE NO WESTERLIES, SORRY. CORRECTION: NORWESTERLIES CHRISTCHURCH, JUST SOAK THAT UP. IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A GREAT SHOT. IT IS BEAUTIFUL.. # IS IT IN YOUR MIND AT ALL? # IT SHOULD BE ME. THERE IS A STORY FROM THE BBC AROUND DARTS AND MATHEMATICS AND HOW... HAVE YOU PLAYED DARTS? YES, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AT all. YOU HAVE TO HIT THE BOARD AND THERE IS A SCHOOL IN THE UK THAT IS USING DARTS AS A LEARNING TOOL. HOW GOOD IS THAT? SO OFTEN, KIDS GO, I WILL NEVER USE THIS IN REAL LIFE, BUT THAT IS MATHS AND REAL-LIFE. I GUESS SO. SORRY ABOUT THAT, I AM JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE NEWS. SO, YOU KNOW... SO, IT IS 730, WE GOT THERE. SEAMLESS. NEARLY 200 HAMILTONIANS WERE WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT, WITH REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY LAST NIGHT, LIFTING ROOFS FROM HOUSES. OUR REPORTER LUCY BENDELL IS THERE NOW. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US, LUCY? MORENA. MORENA, JENNY MAY, LIGHT HAS NOW HIT ON WEST HAMILTON. THE LIGHT IS SHOWING THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THAT HAS HIT THIS STRAIT ` ROOFS HAVE BEEN BLOWN OFF AND IT IS ONLY 730 TO PEOPLE ARE JUST WAKING UP, WALKING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAYS AND TELLING US THE STORIES OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE. SO AFTER 7:15 PM, A LIGHTNING FLASH LIT UP THE STREET AND A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAME THROUGH LAST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. ONE OF THE NEIGHBOURS DESCRIBED THE WIND TO BE LIFTING EVERYTHING UPWARDS AND THERE WAS A CIRCLE OF LEAVES THAT WERE HOVERING AROUND. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT IT IS RUBBISH DAYS OPENS BILLETED ACROSS THE STREETS AND PEOPLE HAD TO COME UP WITH A SHOVEL TO CLEAN UP THE RUBBISH AND OF COURSE, THEIR PROPERTIES AS WELL. IT WAS A NICE WAY TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET THE NEIGHBOURS, COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, SO THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL BE FOCUSED ON TODAY, HELPING EACH OTHER AND MENDING FENCES AND FOCUSING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE CLEANUP. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SAY THE GOVERNMENT THREATENING PARENTS WITH FINES IF THEIR CHILDREN FAIL TO TURN UP TO SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ATTENDANCE ISSUES. FROM NEXT TERM, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL BEGIN TARGETING FAMILIES WHO REPEATEDLY FAIL TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PROSECUTION IN COURT. HOWEVER, RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BRUCE KEARNEY SAYS ATTENDANCE IS OFTEN A SYMPTOM, NOT A CAUSE, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE DEEPER PROBLEMS. AND IT COULD BE FOR ANXIETY, OR THEY HAVE FINISHED ALL THE CREDITS AND THEY HAVE PASSED THE YEAR, 30 SO, POUR THE MONEY INTO THOSE FAMILIES. ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS THE FINES AREN'TIN ONE TARGETED AT PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL, BUT THE ONES WHO WON'T. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS THREATENED TO GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AFTER HIS SWEEPING TARIFFS WERE BLOCKED BY A FEDERAL COURT. THE COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE THIS WEEK RULED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAD OVERSTEPPED HIS AUTHORITY BY USING AN EMERGENCY LAW TO IMPOSING SWEEPING TARIFFS. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS APPEALED THE RULING, CALLING IT 'BLATANTLY WRONG', AND SAYS IT WILL TAKE THE DECISION TO THE SUPREME COURT IF IT IS NOT BLOCKED BY THE COURT OF APPEALS. KIWI F-1 DRIVER LIAM LAWSON IS TARGETING ANOTHER POINTS FINISH AT THIS WEEKEND'S SPANISH GRAND PRIX. THE 23-YEAR-OLD HOPING TO BUILD MOMENTUM FROM HIS P-9 FINISH IN MONACO LAST WEEKEND. IT COMES AS A STRICTER REQUIREMENT ON THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE CARS' FRONT WINGS COMES INTO FORCE. LAWSON SAYS IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE. SOMETIMES, MAYBE IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AND FOR SOME IT DOESN'T, SO WE DON'T KNOW AND WE WILL TRY TO PUT OUR CAR AND THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION. QUALIFYING GETS UNDERWAY EARLY SUNDAY, WITH THE RACE BEGINNING AT 1am NEW ZEALAND TIME ON MONDAY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (GROOVY MUSIC) DOLLY FOR YOUR FRIDAY MORNING! AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU IN THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING WITH SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE EAST COAST AND WELLINGTON HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. 21, YOUR HIGH IN NAPIER. NEW PLYMOUTH YOUR HIGH IS 17. NGA MOTU, NEW PLYMOUTH. KI TE WAIPOUNAMU, A NICE SUNNY DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. FOR THE REST OF YOU, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUD. 14 YOUR HIGH IN HOKITIKA. GORE, YOUR HIGH IS 9. IT IS A TRACK PANTS KIND OF DAY. THERE IS AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR MILFORD ROAD. TAKE CARE, KIA TUPATO. ANYONE WHO'S PLAYED DARTS WILL KNOW IT REQUIRES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF MENTAL MATHEMATICS TO KEEP TRACK OF THE SCORE ` POSSIBLY MORE THAN ATHLETIC ABILITY. IT'S SUCH A GOOD TOOL, SOME SCHOOLS IN THE UK ARE INCORPORATING THE SPORT INTO THEIR NUMERACY LESSONS. IT'S CALLED 'BULLSEYE MATHS', AND HAS EVEN SEEN DARTS CHAMPIONS GET INVOLVED. HERE'S THE BBC'S GEMMA CUBBIN. GAME ON! THIS IS A SPORT WHICH TAKES PERFECTLY ORDINARY FANS AND TURNS THEM INTO... FANATICS. AND NOW HERE AT HADFIELD SCHOOL... NATHAN HAS ARRIVED TO USE HIS WORLD-CLASS DARTS SKILLS TO TURN THESE KIDS INTO BRILLIANT MATHMETICIANS. BULL'S-EYE MATHS HAS BEEN USED BY SCHOOLS SINCE 2022 TO HELP BOOST NUMERACY SKILLS. IF I WAS TO CHALLENGE NATHAN JUST QUICKLY... DOUBLE 19, HE WILL SAY... 38. TWO BULL'S-EYE, NEARLY. SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE GOOD. THEY ARE LEARNING AS WELL IT IS GOOD FUN. THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH NEGATIVITY AND MATHS, AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO CHALLENGE IT I DARTS PLAYERS BEING ROLLED MODELS THAT YOU CAN DO UP THERE AND HAVE FUN WITH MATHS AND YOUR MENTAL ARITHMETIC CAN BE SHARP AND YOU CAN HAVE LOTS OF FUN WHILE YOU ARE DOING IT, IT IS BRILLIANT/ (ALL CHEER) WIN, LOSE, WHAT DO WE DO? WIN, PERFECT. IT CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THAT NEGATIVE MINDSET. IT IS, AND IN THE PSYCHOLOGY WORLD, WHICH I'D LEARN THAT YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING. HOW MANY TROPHIES HAS NATHAN GOT? 30 TO 40. EXPERTS SAY THERE IS NO MATHS TO GENE, PRACTICE REALLY IS PERFECT. THAT IS WHY DARTS WORKS. I LOVE DARTS AS A SPORTS TOO. I AM NO GOOD AT MATHS BUT I HAVE DECIDED IT IS GOOD. IF YOU ENTERED A LOCAL PETITION TO WIN A TRIP TO VICTORIA, JUST A REMINDER, TURN AND JUST BEFORE 830 THIS MORNING BECAUSE WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER. ME U TONU MAI ` LORDE'S BACK HOME AND HAS FANS IN A FRENZY. NEXT, WHAT DO WE MAKE OF HER NEW MUSIC? # SOLAR POWER. # SOLAR POWER. # WHO'S GOING TO LOVE ME LIKE THIS? 7:42. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SAY THREATENING PARENTS WITH FINES IF THEIR CHILDREN FAIL TO TURN UP TO SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ATTENDANCE ISSUES, SAYING THERE'S OFTEN DEEPER ISSUES TO ADDRESS. OVERSEAS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS THREATENED TO GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AFTER HIS SWEEPING TARIFFS WERE BLOCKED BY A FEDERAL COURT. AND IN SPORT ` KIWI F-1 DRIVER LIAM LAWSON IS TARGETING ANOTHER POINTS FINISH AT THIS WEEKEND'S SPANISH GRAND PRIX. AROUND 500 HAMILTONIANS WERE WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT, WITH REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY LAST NIGHT, LIFTING ROOFS FROM HOUSES. MORENA, MELISSA. RESIDENTS ARE WAKING UP AND GO OUTSIDE THEIR PROPERTIES TO SEE THE DAMAGE THAT THE TORNADO LEFT. WE ARE JOINED BY BRENDAN MOSES. YOU MENTIONED IT WAS QUITE A MILD NIGHT TO BEGIN WITH. TELLERS ABOUT THE MOMENT THE TORNADO HIT. IT WAS A PRETTY MILD NIGHT, CHILLING AT HOME JUST AFTER DINNER, AROUND 715... THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS IS REALLY INTENSE WIND EVENT HAPPENED, SO LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE EVERYTHING SUCKED UPWARDS, BLOWN AROUND IN ALL DIRECTIONS SO YES, IT WAS CALM TO WILD... (AUDIO GLITCHES) MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO MOVE INTO THE CENTRE OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE I COULD FEEL THE PRESSURE IN THE WINTER JUST PUTTING EVERYTHING AROUND, SO I THOUGHT, IF IT'S GOING TO GO, WE NEED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. HOW LOUD WAS IT? DEAFENING. THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS SHAKING AND CLICKING AND THERE WERE THINGS OUTSIDE THAT WERE REALLY ALARMING BECAUSE THEY WERE HITTING THE HOUSE WHILE BEING SUCKED AWAY. WHAT IS THE DAMAGE LIKE ON YOUR PROPERTY HERE? WE LOST ABOUT 15 M OFFENCE, SUNSHADES HAVE BEEN RIPPED OUT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. WE HAVE HAD THINGS SCATTERED ACROSS THE STREET. IT'S BIN DAY TODAY, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WITH ALL THE BINS ACROSS THE STREET? THERE WERE BINS EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING. WITH CYCLING, ALL THAT KIND OF THING, AND IT WAS EVERYWHERE. I WENT TO A PROPERTY DOWN THE ROAD AND STARTED CLEANING UP AND... THE LADY CAME UP AND SAID, OH, THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT MY BIN. BINS JUST SCATTERED EVERYWHERE. I CAN FEEL A COMMUNITY FEEL THOUGH HERE ON THE STREET, I SAW YOU CLEANING UP FOOD SCRAPS. STREET PARTY MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS, BUT THE WAY THAT EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER AND WHICH ACKNOWLEDGE OTHER, SHOWING THAT MANAAKITANGA IN CARE FOR EACH OTHER. WAS THIS WIND QUITE UNEXPECTED? THERE WAS NOTHING INDICATING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT WAS JUST A REASONABLY WET WINTER CALM EVENING AS SUCH AND THEN BOOM, FROM NOWHERE, STRUCK. NO WARNING AT ALL. SO I THINK TODAY WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE CLEANUP HERE. YOU HAVE STARTED TO PULL YOUR FENCE MORE INTO PLACE AND THE BINS HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP BUT I THINK TODAY OF CLEANUP HERE FOR THE STREET RESIDENTS. TENEI TE MIHI ATU. NEW ZEALAND'S VERY OWN MUSIC ROYALTY GRACED THE AOTEAROA MUSIC AWARDS WITH HER PRESENCE LAST NIGHT, LORDE EVEN STOPPING FOR A QUICK CHAT WITH 1 NEWS. YOU'RE NOMINATED FOR SINGLE OF THE YEAR. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? SO AMAZING. HONESTLY, I FEEL VERY LUCKY, AND, LIKE, WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, I GOT NOMINATED. I'M STOKED. AND I NEED TO ASK ` NEW ZEALAND ISN'T ON THE LIST FOR THE UPCOMING TOUR. (LAUGHS) WHEN CAN KIWIS EXPECT TO SEE YOU NEXT? OK, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION, BUT I WOULD GO OFF THE FACT THAT I HAVE NEVER MISSED A NEW ZEALAND TOUR, YOU KNOW. (LAUGHS) I THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN. (LAUGHS) I THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND MAYBE SHE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHICH IS WHY SHE LET US OFF THE LIST BECAUSE SHE IS ALWAYS HERE, I DON'T KNOW. THE GRAMMY WINNER HAS BEEN POPPING UP IN ALL SORTS OF UNEXPECTED PLACES LATELY, INCLUDING A NEW YORK PARK, A SYDNEY NIGHTCLUB, AND ON TUESDAY, THE LOO OF AN AUCKLAND CITY YMCA. MUSIC JOURNALIST CHARLOTTE RYAN WAS AT THE AWARDS AND JOIN US NOW. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT LORDE, HOW WAS LAST NIGHT? IT WAS SO GOOD, WE CELEBRATED THE NEW MUSIC OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS, SO LOTS OF OLD AND NEW HITS. WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU? I KNOW STAN WALKER AND LAB WON SOME AWARDS. TO BE HONEST, THOSE AWARDS WERE KIND OF EXPECTED FOR ME, BUT WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS FAZERDAZE ` SHE WON TWO AWARDS, SHE IS VERY COOL. SHE IS A FRIEND OF THE SHOW. AND ANOTHER GUY, JIM NOTHING, FROM OTAUTAHI. HE WAS TEARY. LORDE WAS THERE! LORDE WAS AT THE AWARDS. THIS IS NOT NORMALLY HER THINGS OR WAS IT A SURPRISE THAT SHE TURNED UP I GOT WORD, PEOPLE STARTED TALKING ABOUT, OH, SHE IS AT THE AWARDS, IS SHE PERFORMING? A LOT OF US WERE WHISPERING AND SPECTATING BUT THEN I SAW HER PARENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE MET HER PARENTS BUT THEY ARE LOVELY, THEY WILL TALK TO ANYBODY. SO I SAID, IS SHE PERFORMING? AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW, WHICH MEANS NO THEY WOULD KNOW. I'M TOO OLD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE RELEASE OF MUSIC THESE DAYS, AND I SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION, SHE HAS BEEN POPPING UP EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE TOILETS AT THE YMCA. THE FANS WERE TOTES INTO IT. IS THIS THE WAY ARTISTS DO THINGS THESE DAYS? THE WAITER BREAKTHROUGH THESE DAYS IS TO FOCUS ON YOUR FANS AND CREATE THAT COMMUNITY. AI CAN'T CREATE THAT SORT OF EXPERIENCE, SO THE FACT THAT SHE ONLY INVITED 40 PEOPLE IN, IT WAS COOL BUT ALSO I WAS LIKE, WHY DIDN'T I MAKE THAT CUT? I WAS ONLINE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE SHE WAS. IT WAS SO CLEVER. LORDE PICKED UP SINGLE OF THE YEAR LAST NIGHT. THIS WAS A COLLABORATION WITH CHARLIE EXECS HE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL ARTIST, AND THERE WAS SOME KIND OF TALK THAT SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN UP FOR SINGLE OF THE YEAR? TO BE HONEST, THERE WAS THAT CONVERSATION, AND EVEN WHEN SHE WON IT WE WERE LIKE OH, DOES THIS CHANGE THE RULES SINCE IT'S A CHARLI XCX SONG? BUT I GET IT, THAT WAS AN INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON. CHARLI WAS BIG BUT WHEN LORD COLLABORATED, IT STRUGGLED THE WORLD BY STORM. CHARLI XCX AS IT IS FROM NEW ZEALAND BUT IT WAS CALLED TO HAVE LORDE THERE. AND YOU LOOK REALLY GOOD AFTER ATTENDING THE AWARDS LAST NIGHT! AS, NOT HUNG OVER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO APPRECIATIVE, CHARLOTTE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE 8 O'CLOCK NEWS IS COMING UP. PLUS, OUR FRUIT AND VEG GURU JOINS US TO TALK ALL THINGS FRESH PRODUCE. LOVE IT. VOICEOVER: The new Subway signature chicken pepperoni. A perfect pairing of tender, strips of chicken and pepperoni with melty mozzarella. Sub-perb. Yeah, I think that works. (SONG): 'COLD AS ICE' BY FOREIGNER BEN: Hello? From the bank? Really? VOICEOVER: Know it's really ASB with Caller Check. (PHONE RINGING) # You're as cold as ice # We can verify it's us through the ASB Mobile Banking app. BEN: Oh, it is you ASB! THE SEASON IS CHANGING AND SO ARE THE BEST DEALS FOR FRESH PRODUCE. TO HELP EXPLAIN MORE, WE ARE JOINED BY OUR FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE EXPERT JERRY PRENDERGAST FROM UNITED FRESH NZ. MORENA, JERRY! HOW ARE YOU? MELISSA, GOOD MORNING, GREAT TO TALK TO YOU THIS MORNING. YOU LET THE REST OF THE CREW HAVE A LONG WEEKEND, GOOD ON YOU. WHAT SHOULD I BE LOOKING OUT FOR? IT REALLY HAS CHANGED WHERE NOW INTO OUR WINTER CROP. WE THINK ABOUT ONIONS AS A STAPLE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE BEST VALUE YOU CAN IMAGINE. YOU GOT ONIONS AT A BEEN GRADED OUT FOR EXPORT, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE GROUND FOR ONIONS, AND IN TERMS OF VOLUME, IT IS THE PEAK TIME. I AM RECOMMENDING EVERYONE IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE A CUPBOARD FULL OF ONIONS. DON'T MUCK AROUND GET A 10 KG BAG OF ONIONS. THEIR PERFECT COMPLEMENT WITH MUSHROOMS. LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL, FRESH RED ONION. JUST ABSOLUTELY READY FOR DISHES OF THE WEEKEND. DON'T FORGET, MELISSA, GET THE BIG ONES. THEY'RE MUCH EASIER TO CUT, YOU COULD PRODUCE A BIT MORE, DON'T FORGET TO GRAB THE PICKLES FROM TIME TO TIME, AND PUT THE WHOLE ONION AND FOR ROASTING. NOW, MUSHROOMS THIS IS THE MUSHROOM SEASON. YOU'VE GOT THE BUTTON, WHETHER IT'S THE SWISS, THE FLAT PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM. IT IS THE TIME STARTING ABOUT MUSHROOM DISHES, WHETHER YOU'RE INCORPORATING THEM INTO APOSTASY, A PASTA* DURING WINTER, YOU CAN PICK UP SOME EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD VALUE, AND YOU'LL FIND DON'T BE AFRAID AS SEEING OUT OF PRICE TAG THEY ARE NOT USED TO, THEY WORK OUT TO BE REALLY GOOD VALUE. CARROTS, PARSNIPS, BEETROOT, GARLIC, ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. ALL OF THEM. NEW SEASON GARLIC, THIS IS THE NEW ZEALAND GARLIC THAT'S IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW, AND I RECOMMEND THE NEW ZEALAND GARLIC OVER AND ABOVE ANY OTHER GARLIC IN THE MARKETPLACE. THEY ARE FLAVOR, THEIR STRONGER IN TERMS OF ROASTING THEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST CRUSH THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN A DISH. THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE YAMS. YAMS ARE VERY SEASONAL, CARROTS ALL YEAR ROUND, YAMS OR SEASONAL. IT'S WORTH WHILE THINKING ABOUT THOSE. THE TASTE AND FLAVOR THAT YOU'RE GETTING OUT OF CARROTS AT THE MOMENT IS SOME OF THE SWEETEST WILL PROBABLY SEE ALL YEAR ROUND. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ROOT CROPS, THE VALUE YOU CAN GET OUT OF THOSE ROOT CROPS THIS TIME YEAR, AND THEY WILL GENERATE, PER HUNDRED GRAMS OF SERVINGS, SOME OF THE BEST VALUE YOU CAN IMAGINE. I RECOMMEND GETTING STUCK INTO THOSE. tAMARILLO SEASON HAS STARTED. LOOK AT THIS. JUST LOOK AT THIS. YOU'LL GET TO LITTLE PEAKS OF THOSE, YOU'LL GET THEM IN THE AUTUMN SEASON, AND YOU'LL GET SOME CLOSER TO SPRING. START THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THEM. I'M NEVER SURE ABOUT THEM, BUT I'M LOVING MANDARINS. MANDARINS ARE LOOKING GOOD. YET, SO NEW ZEALAND SEASON IS IN. SOME OF THE SWEETEST YOU'LL SEE. ABSOLUTELY FULL OF JUICE AT THIS TIME YEAR. MAGNIFICENT IN TERMS OF HIGH BRICKS, WHICH IS SWEETness, LOW ACID. 5+ A DAY, RIGHT THERE. MAKE SURE YOU EAT IN SEASON, AND YOU'LL GET SOME THE BEST VALUE THAT YOU CAN AT THIS TIME YEAR. JERRY PRENDERGAST, UNITED FRESH AND Z. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. DON'T FORGET YOUR 5+ A DAY. STILL TO COME ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING ` WE MEET THE MAN WHO'LL BE ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON WHAT DIRECTION TO GO IN FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION. PLUS ` THE 10-YEAR-OLD ABOUT TO TAKE ON THE WORLD AT THE DISC GOLF WORLD CHAMPS. AND ` HE'S WRITTEN HITS FOR BEYONCE, ADELE, AND TAYLOR SWIFT. WE CHAT WITH THE PROLIFIC SONGWRITER AND FRONTMAN OF AMERICAN POP BAND 'ONE REPUBLIC'. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. WHO KNEW HE HAD WRITTEN SONGS FOR THESE ARTISTS? I'LL TELL YOU WHO CHRIS CHANG. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN HAMILTON WERE WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT, WITH REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY. STRONG WINDS DAMAGED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES, FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONDING TO CALL-OUTS FROM PEOPLE WITH ROOFS BLOWN OFF AND FENCES DOWN. ONE DINSDALE RESIDENT SAID THE SITUATION WENT FROM CALM TO WILD VERY QUICKLY. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WERE BINS EVERYWHERE. RECYCLING, THAT KIND OF THING, THEY WERE EVERYWHERE. I WENT DOWN THE ROAD AND STARTED CLEANING UP, AND THE LADY CAME OUT, AND STARTED SAYING THAT'S NOT MY BEEN. HE SAYS HOUSES WERE SHAKING FROM THE FORCE, WITH MANY ITEMS SCATTERED DOWN THE STREETS OF RANUI, ABERFOYLE AND GRANDVIEW. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SAY THE GOVERNMENT THREATENING PARENTS WITH FINES IF THEIR CHILDREN FAIL TO TURN UP TO SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ATTENDANCE ISSUES. FROM NEXT TERM, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL BEGIN TARGETING PARENTS WHO REPEATEDLY FAIL TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PROSECUTION IN COURT. HOWEVER, RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BRUCE KEARNEY SAYS ATTENDANCE ISSUES ARE OFTEN A SYMPTON, NOT A CAUSE, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE DEEPER PROBLEMS. SO, THESE ARE VERY EXTREME CASES. BY THE TIME YOU GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PROSECUTE, THERE LITERALLY WEEKS OUT FROM THE YOUNG PERSON TURNING 16, ANYWAYS. HE SAYS ATTENDANCE ISSUES ARE OFTEN A SYMPTOM, NOT A CAUSE. ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS THE FINES AREN'T TARGETED AT PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL, BUT THE ONES WHO WON'T. KIWI DOUBLES PAIR ERIN ROUTLIFFE AND MICHAEL VENUS HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE MIXED DOUBLES AT THE FRENCH OPEN. THE FIFTH SEEDS DEFEATED JOE SALISBURY AND TEREZA MIHALIKOVA IN STRAIGHT SETS TO SET UP A CLASH WITH VENUS' FORMER DOUBLES PARTNER NEAL SKUPSKI. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) MEANWHILE, FRENCH VETERAN RICHARD GASQUET HAS SIGNED OFF FROM HIS 23-YEAR CAREER AFTER A DEFEAT TO WORLD NUMBER ONE JANNIK SINNER IN THE MEN'S SINGLES. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU IN THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING WITH SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE EAST COAST AND WELLINGTON HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. 21, YOUR HIGH IN NAPIER. NEW PLYMOUTH YOUR HIGH IS 17. A NICE SUNNY DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. FOR THE REST OF YOU, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUD. 14 YOUR HIGH IN HOKITIKA. GORE, YOUR HIGH IS 9. THERE IS AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR MILFORD ROAD. TAKE CARE. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS A NEW CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISER ALMOST A YEAR AFTER HIS PREDECESSOR STEPPED DOWN. DR JOHN ROCHE WILL ALSO SERVE AS DEPUTY CHAIR OF A NEWLY-FORMED COUNCIL ANNOUNCED AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MAJOR SCIENCE REFORMS. HE JOINS US NOW. MORENA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I KNOW THAT APPOINTMENT HAPPENED BACK IN MAY, BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU. PRIORITIES IN YOUR JOB? LOOK, IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE. PRIORITIES LANDING THE SCIENCE REFORMS, LANDING THEM CAREFULLY. MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE ARE SAFEGUARDED AND WE LAND THE REFORMS WELL, AND MEETING WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SCIENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THREE WEEKS AGO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT OVERSEAS. I WAS VISITING WITH MY FATHER. BACK IN THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK, JUST GOT MY LEGS BACK UNDER THE DESK. YOU TALK ABOUT BEING THE NEW DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE NEW COUNCIL WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE ROLE OF THIS COUNCIL IN PARTICULAR? WERE GOING TO MEET IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO TALK ABOUT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, WHERE WE GET CLARITY AMONG OURSELVES, IT'S AN INITIATIVE FOR NEW ZEALAND, BUT IT'S AN INITIATIVE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. IT'S A GROUP OF DIVERSE AND ECLECTIC SKILLS ACROSS SCIENCE AND INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS, TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT PRIORITIZE WHAT OF THE SCIENCE PRIORITY AREAS HEADING INTO THE FUTURE. THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERNS VOICED ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THAT COUNSEL, AND THAT A LOT OF THE EXPERTISE IS AROUND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, NOT THE ENVIRONMENT, ETC. AND NOT ENOUGH AROUND MAORI KNOWLEDGE. DO YOU HAVE THOSE CONCERNS? I DON'T HAVE THOSE CONCERNS. I DID READ THAT COMMENTARY WHEN I WAS OVERSEAS, I THINK IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE REPRESENTATION OF THE SKILLS ON THE PANEL. DAIRY IS THE LARGEST INDUSTRY IN THE COMPANY, AND FON TARA HAPPENS TO BE THE LARGEST COMPANY IN THE INDUSTRY. I'M A DAIRY SCIENTIST BY TRAINING, I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE IN PHYSIOLOGY, AND THE DAIRY WAS MY MODEL. IN TERMS OF CRAIG, HE COMES OFF A DAIRY FARM, BUT HE IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, ENTREPRENEUR, RISING STAR OF INNOVATION AND NEW ZEALAND. IN THE SAME FOR CARMEL, SHE WORKS FOR FRONTERA, BUT SHE'S A VENTURE CAPITALIST. THEY ARE NOT RISING STARS, BUT SHOOTING STARS. THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO HELP US WITH THOSE PRIORITIES. THERE HAS BEEN SOME FUNDING CUTS, AND I WANT TO GO 30 SHORTLY, THROUGH THOSE* BUT HOW DOES THAT CHALLENGE YOU? TO PUT THE SCIENTISTS ON EDGE, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, THEIR AREAS OF RESEARCH, WHICH WHICH WE ALL GET HEAVILY INVESTED IN AREAS OF RESEARCH, MYSELF INCLUDED, AND SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THE STRUCTURAL REFORMS IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS AND THE FUNDING REFORMS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH, ARE IN THE LONG-TERM GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FUND ALL OF THE SIGNS IN THE COUNTRY. AS WE ENTER PUBLIC RESEARCH AND SELL OURSELVES TO THE WORLD, WE ARE RECOGNISED GLOBALLY IN THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FIELD. WE NEED TO CAPITALISE ON THAT REPUTATION. WITH FUNDING CUTS THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE JOB CUTS, AND I LOOK AT CALLAHAN, WHICH HAS LOST 60 JOBS, AND I WONDER IF WE ARE AT RISK OF SOME OF THAT TOP TALENT GOING OVERSEAS. YOU CAN HEAR MY ACCENT, WHERE A FLUID NATION, I'VE BEEN IN NEW ZEALAND IN 25 YEARS, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF SCIENTISTS COME AND GO, BUT ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES WE DO HAVE A NEW ZEALAND IS THAT PEOPLE COME HOME. THAT'S NOT TO PLAY DOWN THE IMPORTANCE OF ANY RESTRUCTURE AND HOW IT AFFECTS INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE. I'M NOT ACROSS THE BACKGROUND OF THE RESTRUCTURES AND CALLAHAN, SO I CAN'T SPEAK ON THAT, BUT WHAT WERE TRYING TO DO IS SET A STABLE FOOTING ON THE SCIENCE SYSTEM, AND PRIORITIZE THE KEY AREAS WHICH WILL GIVE PEOPLE CERTAINTY. MY OWN BACKGROUND WORKS THROUGH` MY DEGREE WAS IN GENETICS, MY MASTERS WAS IN PLANT AGRONOMY, MY PHD WAS IN CHEMISTRY. SO WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE SCIENTISTS A DIRECTION OF TRAVEL IN NEW ZEALAND. WE NEED YOUNG KIWIS COMING INTO SCIENCE AND DRIVING THE MOMENTUM OF OUR SCIENCE SYSTEM INTO THE FUTURE. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SCIENCE, AND I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT OUR RESEARCH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR MARS AND FUND BACKS THE RESEARCH ` THERE'S $5 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THAT FUND STARTING IN 2026 AND 2027, THERE'S ALSO NO MORE SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES ARE WE NARROWING OUR SCOPE OF RESEARCH WITH THOSE FUNDING CUTS? I NEED A BIT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ALL OF THESE CHANGES WILL MEAN, BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK SO. ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONCEPTS COME OUT OF THAT ARE BUILT ON FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH, AND TRANSLATE INTO APPLIED RESEARCH, AND COMMERCIAL WORK. HOWEVER, WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. THAT MONEY IS BEING REDISTRIBUTED TO LAND-AIR SYSTEMS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BROADEN RESEARCH INTO THE FUTURE. IT'S A REALLY EXCITING TIME TO BE A PART OF THAT. PRIME MINISTER'S CHIEF SCIENTIST ADVISOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. ME U TONU MAI. THE YOUNG KIWI ABOUT TO TAKE ON THE WORLD IN DISC GOLF. THAT'S AFTER THE BREAK. # YEAH, LET'S GO DOWN TO MALIBU. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN HAMILTON WERE WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT, WITH REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS SAY THE GOVERNMENT THREATENING PARENTS WITH FINES IF THEIR CHILDREN FAIL TO TURN UP TO SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ATTENDANCE ISSUES. AND IN SPORT, KIWI DOUBLES PAIR ERIN ROUTLIFFE AND MICHAEL VENUS HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE MIXED DOUBLES AT THE FRENCH OPEN. SARAH WADSWORTH (10) IS A DISC GOLF STAR FROM CHRISTCHURCH. WE'VE MET HER ON BREAKFAST BEFORE, BUT SINCE THEN SHE'S GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND IS NOW ABOUT TO HEAD TO THE U.S. FOR HER THIRD JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPS. KATIE STEVENSON CAUGHT UP WITH HER BEFORE SHE JETS OFF KATIE STEVENSON CAUGHT UP WITH HER BEFORE SHE JETS OFF AND EVEN GAVE IT A GO HERSELF. EVEN COLD AND MOODY CHRISTCHURCH DAYS DON'T STOP SARAH WADSWORTH GETTING IN ALL THE PRACTICE SHE CAN. THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, WITH HER DAD/COACH IN TOW, SHE'S HEADED TO THE U.S. TO DEFEND HER JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. THEY SAY IT IS. AND IN CASE, LIKE ME, YOU AREN'T SCHOOLED UP ON THE DETAILS OF DISC GOLF, HERE'S A LITTLE RUNDOWN. LIKE WITH TRADITIONAL GOLF, THERE ARE 18 HOLES. YOU HAVE A MID-RANGE PUTTER AND A DRIVER, BUT IT'S BASICALLY JUST THE SAME AS CLUBS, BUT IN DISCS. AND WE HAVE BASKETS, OF COURSE. UM, AND JUST TRYING TO THROW IT AND PUT IT IN THE BASKETS. IT'S PLAYED IN PUBLIC PARKS OR IN THIS CASE, THE FOREST, AND IS GROWING IN POPULARITY. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IN CHRISTCHURCH, JELLIE PARK IS THE MOST PLAYED DISC GOLF COURSE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, AND I THINK IT'S TOP FIVE IN THE WORLD. SARAH PRACTICALLY STUMBLED INTO IT WHEN SHE WAS SIX AFTER BEING INVITED BY A FAMILY FRIEND TO GIVE IT A GO, BUT SHE MISHEARD THE ACTIVITY. LIKE, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO TO A DISCO. BUT WHEN I GOT THERE, I FOUND OUT IT WASN'T A DISCO. EVEN SO, SHE WAS A NATURAL AND SOON CAUGHT THE EYE OF THOSE IN THE KNOW. SARAH JUST KIND OF GOT DRAGGED ALONG TO BEGIN WITH, UNTIL CHRIS FROM VORTICA DISC GOLF SAW US ONE DAY AND JUST WENT, 'HOW OLD IS SHE? AND I SAID, 'WELL, SIX.' AND HE POINTED OUT THAT HE THOUGHT SHE'S REALLY GOOD. GAVE HER A LITTLE SET OF FOUR DISCS AND SAID, I JUST WANT HER TO THROW. I'VE BEEN WAITING 25 YEARS TO SEE SOMEBODY COME ALONG LIKE THIS. NOW, THE 10-YEAR-OLD HAS MADE QUITE A NAME FOR HERSELF IN THE DISC GOLF WORLD. WHILE WE WERE FILMING, SHE WAS SPOTTED BY A FAN VISITING FROM THE NORTH ISLAND TO PLAY HERE, WHO WAS EXCITED TO SAY HELLO. HI! WHERE ARE YOU FROM? HEY, YOU'RE A ROCKSTAR, AREN'T YA? SHE'S CERTAINLY GOT ALL THE GEAR. I CALL THIS MY VROOM-VROOM. (LAUGHS) BECAUSE IT GETS ME EVERYWHERE. EVERY DISC DOES A DIFFERENT THING, SO YOU'D HAVE ONE THAT WANTS TO` HYZER ROUND A TREE, ONE THAT WANTS TO ANHYZER, ONE THAT WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT, ONE THAT WANTS TO, LIKE, SKID ACROSS THE GROUND. WHAT DISC WOULD YOU PICK FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME, WHO YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH, WHICH ONE TO START FOR A BEGINNER? (CHUCKLES) WELL, I WOULDN'T JUST GIVE YOU ONE, SO I'D GIVE YOU... AN EASY-TO-USE PUTTER. OK. I'D GIVE YOU A EASY-TO-USE MID-RANGE. YEP. UM, AND THEN I'D GIVE YOU A LIGHT FAIRWAY DRIVER, WHICH THAT IS PRETTY EASY TO THROW. CUE MY TIME TO TEE-OFF. AND FIRST I JUST WANT YOU TO START BY, UM, LEARNING THE GRIP. SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO PUT IT RIGHT THERE. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT'S CALLED. (BOTH CHUCKLE) SO THAT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO LIKE THAT. YEP. SO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE, KIND OF PUSHING DOWN BECAUSE WHEN` UM, WHEN IF YOU'RE NOT PUSHING DOWN, IT KIND OF GETS ALL FLOO-FLOO, AND THEN IT WILL, LIKE, WOBBLE OR GO UP. OK. NOW I'M LEFT-HANDED. DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? OH, NO, WELL... WE'LL SEE. I COULD HAVE GOT YOU SOME LEFTY! (LAUGHTER) THE JUNIOR CHAMP OFFERING A CRASH COURSE... YOU'RE A GOOD COACH FOR SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T DONE IT BEFORE. ...BEFORE LETTING ME LOOSE. OH! (CHUCKLES) # I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SMILE, HEY. # BEEN HOLDING IT IN FOR A WHILE, HEY. # TAKE YOU WITH ME IF I CAN. # BEEN DREAMING OF THIS SINCE A CHILD... # I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO GIVE UP MY DAY JOB, THOUGH. AND WHILE A CHANGE OF CAREER MIGHT NOT BE ON THE CARDS FOR ME, SARA'S JUST HAPPY I GAVE IT A GO. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME MORE PEOPLE GET INTO IT. EVEN JUST ADULTS, YOU KNOW? SHE HAS BIG DREAMS FOR HER FUTURE... WELL, I'M TRYING TO BE THE YOUNGEST PRO. WELL, THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO TURN PRO. ...TAKING ON THE WORLD ONE DISC AT A TIME. FOUR BIRDIE. (IMAGINE DRAGONS' 'ON TOP OF THE WORLD' FADES) I MEAN, IT KIND OF LOOKS EASY. I PLAYED IT ONCE OR TWICE, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THROWING A FRISBEE IS A LOST ART. YEAH, I CAN DO IT. THEY'RE VERY HARD, THEY HURT, YOU CAN GET THOSE RUBBERY ONES THOUGH. THERE VERY COARSE, I THOUGHT NOW, IT'S TOO HARD. I LIKE THAT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO AS A KID. YOU DON'T JUST WANT TO PLAY THE NUTBALLS, THE RED BEES, THE HOCKEY'S. YOU CAN BE A WORLD CHAMPION. ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, WE ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF OUT BIG COMPETITION TO MELBOURNE. # WHEN MY WILLPOWER IS WEAK. MORENA, CHRISTCHURCH. LOOKING LOVELY TODAY, HEADING FOR A HIGH OF 15. MERELY FINE HEADING FOR THE MORNING FROSTS, A MORNING SHOWER OR TWO. WESTERLIES ARE BECOMING FRESH THIS EVENING. BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT? TE WHANGAUI-A-TARA, PONEKE, WELLINGTON. LOOKING PRETTY GOOD THIS MORNING. STRONG SETTLERS TURNING OR WESTERLY IN THE MORNING. BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT. BUT, YES, LOOKING PRETTY GOOD THIS MORNING IN THE CAPITAL. I DO LIKE THAT SHOT PANNING. AND KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, YOU HAD A BIT OF A WILD NIGHT LAST NIGHT. (CLEARS THROAT) YOU HAVE SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS AND A HIGH OF 17. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, MERELY FINE, CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWER. WOULD YOU CALL THAT FINE? IF THERE IS NO RAIN... I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS. MOODY. (POP MUSIC) 8:27. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR BRIDGES ` SAN FRANCISCO'S GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE CELEBRATED 88 YEARS ON TUESDAY AND TODAY, 65 YEARS AGO, THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE OPENED. SO FOR OUR REGULAR DIVE INTO THE TVNZ ARCHIVE, HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT THE BRIDGE'S FIRST DAY IN 1959, AFTER AROUND FIVE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, WITH CARS TRAVELLING FOR THE FIRST TIME OVER A MODEST FOUR LANES FOR A FEE. (GRAND FANFARE) IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR AUCKLAND. 100 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST PLANS WERE DRAWN, THE HARBOUR BRIDGE IS READY FOR OPENING. IN 1860, A WOODEN BRIDGE WOULD HAVE COST �16,000; THIS ONE COST SIX MILLION. ONE OF THE LAST VEHICULAR FERRIES TO RUN BEFORE THE BRIDGE IS OPENED LEAVES FROM THE NORTH SHORE. THE FERRY ALBATROSS HAS TRAVELLED AROUND THE WORLD 21 TIMES JUST BY CROSSING AND RE-CROSSING THE HARBOUR. DRIVING INTO THE NORTHCOTE TOLL PLAZA, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, LORD COBHAM, ARRIVES TO PERFORM THE OPENING CEREMONY. A HARBOUR BRIDGE BEING MORE OR LESS NAUTICAL, THE NAVY PROVIDES THE GUARD OF HONOUR. (GRAND FANFARE CONTINUES) WITH LADY COBHAM IS SIR JOHN ALLEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HARBOUR BRIDGE AUTHORITY. OUTSIDE THE AUTHORITY'S ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, SIR JOHN ADDRESSES GUESTS AND THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MR NASH, PAYS A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE TO THE THOUSAND MEN WHO BUILT THE BRIDGE. LORD COBHAM PULLS A TASSEL AND THE GREAT MOMENT HAS COME. SUCH AN OCCASION CALLS FOR A CELEBRATION, AND AUCKLANDERS PACKED THE STREETS TO WATCH A PROCESSION THAT TRAVELS THROUGH THE CITY ALONG THE NEW SOUTHERN APPROACH MOTORWAY AND OVER THE BRIDGE TO NORTHCOTE. (WHIMSICAL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) NOT SURPRISINGLY, MANY FLOATS FEATURE A NOW FAMILIAR MOTIF, AND ONE WELL-KNOWN BEVERAGE IS CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER. (WHIMSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES) ON THE NORTHERN FREEWAY, MOTORISTS QUEUE FOR SIX MILES, WAITING TO CROSS THE BRIDGE FOR THE FIRST TIME. MANY ARE PEOPLE WHO, FROM NOW ON, WILL MAKE THE JOURNEY TWICE DAILY. AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE, THERE'S A BIG TOLLGATE AND ALL THE DRIVERS THAT GO THROUGH HAVE TO PAY THE MAN SOME MONEY. TOLL FEES ARE AUTOMATICALLY RECORDED AND DRIVERS GIVING THE CORRECT MONEY NEED BARELY PAUSE IN THEIR JOURNEY. (WHIMSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES) EVERY HUNDRED YARDS IS AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE, WHICH DRIVERS MAY USE IN THE EVENT OF A BREAKDOWN OR ACCIDENT. FIRST AID, FIREFIGHTING AND BREAKDOWN TRUCKS ARE ON CONTINUOUS CALL. FIRST DAY'S TOLL TAKINGS TOTALLED �5,000. 51,000 VEHICLES HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE BOOTHS. FOUR YEARS AFTER CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. (GRAND FANFARE ENDS) ABSOLUTELY LOVE ARCHIVES, EVEN THE MUSIC. AND I WOULD LOVE TO DO IN ORDER TO 1 OF THE THOUSAND MEN WHO HELPED BUILD THAT BRIDGE, MY HUSBAND'S GRANDFATHER ANTHONY CLARKSON. VERY PROUD OF THAT, REST AND PEACE. NOW TO YOUR NEWS. HUNDREDS OF HAMILTONIANS WERE WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT, WITH REPORTS A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY LAST NIGHT, LIFTING ROOFS FROM HOUSES. OUR REPORTER LUCY BENDELL HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO RESIDENTS THIS MORNING. LUCY, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD? INTENSELY VIOLENT IS HOW ONE RESIDENT HAS DESCRIBED THOSE STRONG GUSTS THAT RIPPED THROUGH WEST HAMILTON OVERNIGHT, JUST AFTER 7 PM. WHEN THEY LOOKED OUTSIDE THAT WINDOW, THAT DUST WAS JUST PULLING EVERYTHING UP SO LIFTING FENCES, GROUPS AND FURNITURE AND AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, TREMBLING. CORRECTION: TRAMPOLIN IT TRAVELLED OVER MULTIPLE HOUSES. ONE RESIDENT DESCRIBES THE WINDS AS THE STRONGEST SHE HAS EVER FELT. THEY WERE HOLDING THE EIGHT WEEK OLD BABY, AND WHITTLING AS A SHEET THAT FELL DOWN AS WELL AND RUBBISH STREWN ACROSS THE STREETS. I THINK AS LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE OUT FIXING FENCES, AND TRIMMING TREES, AND THEIR GARDENS WILL BE WRECKED, SO IT'S PRETTY SAD FOR EVERYONE, REALLY, BUT I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT THAT ANYONE IS HURT, AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. IT DEFINITELY BROUGHT EVERYONE OUT ` NOT IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT YOU COME DOWN HERE AND EVERYONE WAS JUST STANDING AROUND TALKING, YOU CAN FEEL THAT COMMUNITY EFFORT ALREADY, AS JORDAN DESCRIBED. BELL PICKING UP RUBBISH AND PIECES LEFT ACROSS THE STREET, SO THAT'LL BE THE FOCUS FOR EVERYONE TODAY, LIKE JORDAN SAID. THANKS THAT UPDATE, LUCY. THAT IS ONE MASSIVE TRAMPOLINE BEHIND YOU. MERSEYSIDE POLICE HAVE NAMED THE MAN SUSPECTED OF DRIVING INTO PEDESTRIANS DURING A LIVERPOOL VICTORY PARADE. LOCAL MAN PAUL DOYLE (53) FACES SIX GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM CHARGES AND ONE COUNT OF DANGEROUS DRIVING AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY DROVE INTO A CROWD OF PEOPLE, INJURING AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE. SEVEN REMAIN IN HOSPITAL. DOYLE IS SET TO APPEAR IN COURT LATER TODAY. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SWEEPING TARIFFS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY RE-INSTATED AFTER BEING STRUCK DOWN EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE HAD RULED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAD OVERSTEPPED HIS AUTHORITY BY USING AN EMERGENCY LAW TO IMPOSE THE TARIFFS. THE WHITE HOUSE THEN APPEALED THE RULING, AND IN THE THE LAST HOUR, THE PLAN HAS BEEN RESTORED, WHILE THE COURT CONSIDERS THE APPEAL. TO SPORT, AND SWISS AMERICA'S CUP TEAM ALINGHI RACING HAS JOINED AMERICAN MAGIC AND ATHENA RACING IN THEIR CRITICISM OF TEAM NEW ZEALAND. THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH TEAMS HAD PREVIOUSLY ACCUSED TEAM NZ OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OVER THE DEAL TO HOST THE NEXT REGATTA IN NAPLES. ALINGHI TODAY RELEASING A STATEMENT SAYING TEAM NEW ZEALAND HAS 'SOLD SOMETHING THEY DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO' AND THEY FAILED TO CONSULT OTHER TEAMS BEFORE ANNOUNCING THE HOST CITY. THEY SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE HOST VENUE ARRANGEMENTS WILL IMPACT ALL CHALLENGERS FOR THE CUP IN REGARDS TO COST AND LOGISTICS. AND FINALLY ` IT'S A TRAVEL PET PEEVE OF MANY, BUT NOW THE TURKISH CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY IS CRACKING DOWN ON AIRLINE PASSENGERS WHO STAND UP BEFORE THE SEATBELT SIGN IS TURNED OFF. LOCAL MEDIA REPORT THE FINES WILL BE AROUND $110. THE NEW RULES WERE IMPOSED AFTER THE AUTHORITY RECEIVED AN INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS ABOUT PASSENGERS GRABBING THEIR BAGGAGE FROM OVERHEAD LOCKERS BEFORE THE PLANE HAD STOPPED MOVING. COMMERCIAL AIRLINES WILL NOW HAVE TO ISSUE AN IN-FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT AND REPORT PASSENGERS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. IT'S OKAY, JUST WAIT. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A CLOUDY DAY FOR MOST OF YOU IN THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING WITH SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THE EAST COAST AND WELLINGTON HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. 21, YOUR HIGH IN NAPIER. NEW PLYMOUTH YOUR HIGH IS 17. KI TE WAIPOUNAMU, TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, A NICE SUNNY DAY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. FOR THE REST OF YOU, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND CLOUD. 14 YOUR HIGH IN HOKITIKA. GORE, YOUR HIGH IS 9. THERE IS AN ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR MILFORD ROAD. TAKE CARE. KIA TUPATO. I DO QUITE LIKE THAT IDEA OF A FINE, TO BE HONEST. PEOPLE STAND UP... YOU CAN FALL FORWARD AND GET HURT. FROM INDULGENT PAMPERING AND A ROUND OF GOLF TO WORLD-CLASS THEATRE, THE ARTS AND EVEN A VISIT TO THE INCREDIBLE LEGO EXHIBITION, MATT GIBB HAS HAD AN UNFORGETTABLE WEEK EXPLORING EVERYTHING VICTORIA HAS TO OFFER. BUT BEFORE WE REVEAL THE LUCKY WINNER OF THE TRIP FOR TWO TO MELBOURNE, HERE'S A QUICK LOOK BACK AT HIS TIME ACROSS THE TASMAN. THIS SEGMENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MELBOURNE ` EVERY BIT DIFFERENT. STEVE, KIWIS OBVIOUSLY LOVE THIS CITY, THIS STATE. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VICTORIA. WHY DO KIWIS KEEP COMING BACK? FIRST OF ALL, WE LOVE KIWIS, SO KEEP COMING BACK. (DANCE MUSIC) THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR VICTORIA IS 'EVERY BIT DIFFERENT' BECAUSE YOU CAN GET WHATEVER YOU WANT OUT OF VICTORIA. (DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) TELL ME, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE ZOO? CHEETAH. A CHEETAH! AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE? NOT TELLING. NOT TELLING, THAT'S FINE. YOU CAN KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. (DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) HE'S GONE FOR THE HIGH-CLASS VISIT THIS TIME, HASN'T HE? I LOVE IT. (DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) THIS IS WHERE DRAKE LIVED FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS. THIS WAS DRAKE'S FAVOURITE SPOT? # I STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM; NOW I'M HERE. # (DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) ARE YOU GOING TO BE LIGHT SIDE OR DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE? THE LIGHT SIDE, I THINK. I JUST HAVE TO BE A NICE GUY. ALL OF THESE HOLIDAYS THAT YOU'VE TAKEN, MATT. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM IS SLIPPING. YOU KNOW, YOU COME IN` YOU COME INTO US EATING, YOUR MOUTH'S FULL, YOUR ROBE'S SLIPPING. YOU'RE GETTING SLOPPY ON ALL THESE HOLIDAYS, MATE. YOU CUT THAT OUT. 'HOLIDAYS' ` THAT'S A DIRTY WORD. IT'S A WORK TRIP. (DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANOTHER GIBB-SLIP, ARE WE? (LAUGHTER) THIS IS G-RATED, SURELY. COME ` YOU CAN HAVE AN UNPLANNED ITINERARY. YEAH, IT COULD BE AROUND A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT, BUT YOU WILL` THE ITINERARY WILL WRITE ITSELF ONCE YOU ARRIVE. THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO RIGHT THROUGH THIS PLACE. FROM FOOD AND WINE TO NATURE-BASED, TO SPORTS, TO ARTS. AND WE WANT YOU TO COME, WE LOVE YOU AND COME HERE AND EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF THIS SMALL BUT MOST POWERFUL, CULTURALLY POWERFUL STATE IN THE COUNTRY. (TRAM BELL RINGS) I DO LOVE MELBOURNE, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN PROBABLY OVER 10 YEARS SINCE I WAS THERE. ANYWAY, AND NOW IT'S TIME TO REVEAL THE WINNER. CAN I HAVE A DRUM ROLL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, JOYCE R FROM THE WAIKATO ` YOU WILL BE WINGING YOUR WAY TO VICTORIA. WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS, JOYCE. EVER YOU TAKE WITH THE I'M SURE WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. A GREAT TRIP. HE'S WON THREE GRAMMY AWARDS AND WRITTEN HIT SONGS FOR BEYONCE, ADELE AND TAYLOR SWIFT AMONG MANY OTHERS. RYAN TEDDER AND ONE REPUBLIC ARE HEADING TO NEW ZEALAND IN FEBRUARY. CHRIS CAUGHT UP WITH RYAN FOR A CHAT AND BEGAN BY ASKING ABOUT THE BAND'S ENDURING APPEAL, PARTICULARLY IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES TOGETHER. I DON'T USE THE WORD AS AN ADULT VERY MUCH ` TICKLED ` BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A WEIRD WORD TO USE AS A GROWN MAN. (CHUCKLES) BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE WORD. WE'RE JUST, LIKE, AMUSED BY IT AND GRATEFUL, I THINK, IS THE BETTER WORD. UM, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL INITIALLY` AND WHEN WE SAT DOWN, ON A NAPKIN AND WROTE DOWN OUR GOALS AS A BAND BACK IN LIKE 2005, I WAS LIKE, I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THE ARENAS IN EVERY CITY IN THE WORLD. EVERY MAJOR CITY THAT WE CAN LEGALLY GO TO. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO, LIKE, SELL-OUT THE ARENA. IT WAS LITERALLY` I WASN'T LIKE, ED` I'VE KNOWN SHEERAN FOR YEARS WHERE HE'S LIKE, 'I WANT TO PLAY THE MOON. 'I WANT TO DO STADIUMS AND THEN PLAY THE DESERT.' AND, YOU KNOW, BON JOVI AND I'M FRIENDS WITH A LOT OF OTHER ARTISTS WHOSE AMBITIONS, I THINK, EXCEED MINE, AND I THINK THAT MINE HAS BEEN FULFILLED OVER AND OVER AND OVER. AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE 18 YEARS IN, THE FACT THAT WE STILL ARE ABLE TO PULL OFF A HIT SONG NOW AND AGAIN, IS EVEN THAT'S INFINITELY HARDER WHEN YOU'RE 18 YEARS IN AS AN ARTIST. UM, AND I'M JUST` I'M ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL FOR IT. WE GET TO SEE THE WORLD. NEW ZEALAND'S, UM, TO ME, THAT'S LIKE... I TELL MY WIFE, YOU KNOW, IF I EVER THINK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ANY KIND OF LIKE, LIKE` WAR AT ALL, WE'RE ON THE FIRST FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND. AND I HAVE FRIENDS THAT, LIKE, HAVE PROPERTY THERE, LIKE, NEAR QUEENSTOWN, AND I'M JUST HIDING. I'M JUST, LIKE, GOING STRAIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND. LIKE, WHATEVER I GOT TO DO TO GET DUAL CITIZENSHIP. AND THEN... I'M BOUNCING BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, BASICALLY. HEY, LOOK, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME AND STAY HERE, MY FRIEND. YOU'RE SUCH A PROLIFIC SONGWRITER. YOU'VE WRITTEN FOR BEYONCE, ADELE, LEONA LEWIS, ELLIE GOULDING, LADY GAGA ` ALL OF THE BIG NAMES. HOW MANY SONGS DO YOU WRITE A WEEK? THAT'S A REALLY` YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, NO ONE'S EVER ASKED ME THAT QUESTION. WILD. SO KUDOS FOR THAT QUESTION. UH, IN AN AVERAGE WEEK, UH, NOW ` I WRITE A LOT MORE NOW THAN I USED TO ` UM, I DO, I WOULD SAY ABOUT TWO SONGS A DAY IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. IT MEANS FOR SURE LIKE A VERSE, CHORUS, AT LEAST A VERSE, PRE-CHORUS, CHORUS OF TWO SONGS. BECAUSE REALLY, ONCE YOU HAVE THE VERSE, THE PRE-CHORUS OF THE CHORUS FASHIONED OUT, THE MUSIC, THE ARRANGEMENT, THE PRODUCTION, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE SONG BY THE CHORUS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT BY THE BRIDGE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT BY THE SECOND CHORUS. SO THAT'S MORE OR LESS WHAT I DO. PROBABLY, WHAT IS THAT, 10 SONGS A WEEK, ROUGHLY. SO HOW DOES THAT WORK? DO YOU JUST HAVE SONGS BACKED UP IN A HARD DRIVE? AND YOU... DO YOU GET SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE JUST SITTING THERE FOR YEARS, AND THEN... YES. ...ONE DAY IT GETS PITCHED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR AGES IS THEN A HIT SONG. I HAVE A MILEY CYRUS SONG THAT COMES OUT THIS FRIDAY THAT... I DON'T EVEN` THREE YEARS AGO? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S BEEN ON MY HARD DRIVE FOR THREE YEARS, AND IT GOT REPRODUCED AND OBVIOUSLY CLEANED UP AND CHANGED AND ALTERED. IT WENT THROUGH LIKE A TRANSFORMATION, BUT IT'S JUST NOW COMING OUT. IT'S CALLED EASY LOVER AND IT'S COMING OUT FRIDAY. AND THE PROCESS FOR THAT TOOK YEARS, RIGHT? MEANWHILE, I HAVE A SONG THAT ON FORMULA 1, THE SOUNDTRACK, THE THEME SONG, UH, WITH TATE MCRAE THAT DROPS ALSO ON FRIDAY, UH, WE FINISHED THE MASTER AND MIX THIS MORNING. THAT SONG TOOK 18 MONTHS TO REALLY COME ABOUT, RIGHT? IT COULD BE FOUR YEARS, IT COULD BE TWO WEEKS. AND EVERY` AND I'VE EXPERIENCED EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. SO DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE EVERYTHING IS? LIKE, YOU MIGHT BE SITTING ON THE SONG, THE GOAL THAT JUST HASN'T MADE IT TO THE WORLD YET. I HAVE A STAFF ` IT'S KIND OF THEIR JOB TO BE ALWAYS UP ON EVERY SONG. SO I WILL GO, 'OH MY GOD...' I'LL BE DRIVING, I'LL BE IN THAILAND ON VACATION AND I'LL LIKE, HEAR A SONG IN A TUKTUK THAT REMINDS ME OF A SONG I DID SIX YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, WITH ADELE OR WITH WHOEVER, WHOEVER IT'S FOR. AND I'LL GO, SEND ME THAT SONG NOW. I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, BUT IT SOUNDS KIND OF LIKE THIS, AND THEN THEY GO AND FIND IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING YOU'RE SORTING THROUGH A THOUSAND SONGS AND THEN I'LL GO, OK, 'I'M GOING TO TEXT` I'M GOING TO PITCH THIS SONG RIGHT NOW.' AND YOU'D BE SHOCKED HOW MANY TIMES THOSE TURN INTO THE HIT RECORDS. IT'S THE RANDOM SONG I REMEMBERED THAT I DID, WROTE WITH LEWIS CAPALDI THAT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR TEDDY SWIMS OR` YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND YOU CONNECT THOSE DOTS AND YOU GO, 'OH MY GOD, I NEED THAT SONG. I'M GOING TO TEXT IT TO TEDDY SWIMS. 'OR I'M GOING TO TEXT IT TO WHOEVER THE CASE MAY BE.' KID LAROI, YOU KNOW. AND THEN` AND YOU TAKE YOUR SHOT. AND FOR ME, THE ONLY REASON I THINK I STILL HAVE SUCCESS AT THIS TIME IS... AGE IN MY CAREER AND STAGES, I'M IN BONUS ROUND. I'M STILL HAVING FUN. I DON'T TAKE MYSELF SERIOUSLY. I LIKE` MUSIC CHANGED MY LIFE. IT CHANGED MY LIFE AND SAVED ME AND WAS MY, LIKE, OTHER SIBLING GROWING UP. AND SO THE FACT THAT I GET TO DO THIS AND MAKE SONGS THAT CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES, WHETHER IT'S GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, FALLING IN LOVE, YOU KNOW, LOSING A PARENT, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, I GET ENOUGH THRILL OUT OF THAT. AND I LIKE KIND OF THE CHASE OF, LIKE, CONNECTING THOSE DOTS. AND IF I THINK A SONG IS A HIT, I DON'T CARE WHO TELLS ME IT'S NOT. IF IT TAKES ME FOUR YEARS OF SITTING ON IT UNTIL THE RIGHT ARTIST PUTS IT OUT, I'LL WAIT FOUR YEARS. 'APOLOGISE' WAS FOUR YEARS TO THE DAY ` BEFORE WRITING IT AND THE TIME IT CAME OUT, AND I HAD EVERYBODY TRY TO BUY IT FROM ME AND I SAID, 'NO. THE ONLY WAY THAT SONG IS COMING OUT IS IF 'I'M SINGING IT.' AND I HAVE STORIES LIKE THAT WITH 'COUNTING STARS' AND 'LOVE RUNS OUT' AND, YOU KNOW, I AIN'T WORRIED, I THOUGHT 'I AIN'T WORRIED' WAS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT ARTIST FOR TOP GUN AND THEN IT ENDED UP BEING US. SO I'M JUST` I JUST KEEP MOVING AND I DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THINGS THAT DON'T WORK OUT. I CAN ALWAYS WRITE ANOTHER SONG. RYAN TEDDER, YOU HAVE BEEN A JOY TO SPEAK TO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU IN NEW ZEALAND NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US THIS MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK. E HAERE AKE NEI ` WE MEET ONE OF THE BIG STARS WITH A FAMOUS VOICE, IN AOTEAROA FOR THE ARMAGEDDON EXPO. IT'S THE BIGGEST SHOW OF THE YEAR FOR POP CULTURE FANATICS. ARMAGEDDON BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COMICS, MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ANIMATION AND GAMING AND IT'S IN AUCKLAND THIS WEEKEND. ONE OF THE DRAW CARDS THIS YEAR IS NEIL FANNING WHO VOICED THE ONE AND ONLY SCOOBY-DOO IN THE FIRST TWO LIVE-ACTION MOVIES. NEIL JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. HOW IS IT GOING AND HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING AUCKLAND'S OVER? (IN SCOOBY VOICE) THERE IS LITERALLY THE RAINBOWS. THERE IS A MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR THIS AMAZING WEEKEND, WE ARE ACCEPTING 40,000 COSPLAY AND ON, CON FANS COMING TO ARMAGEDDON, IT'S GOING TO BE SO EXCITING. NOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THE SCOOBY DOO VOICE STRAIGHT OFF THE BAT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT, TO ASK THEM, DO I NOT ASK THEM? ASK ME! THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN AUCKLAND, BUT I WANT TO MENTION THIS CAR. THIS IS CAR-MARGEDDON, I AM A STUNT DRIVER SO AM RIGHT IN MY ELEMENT HERE, AND HE BUILT THIS AMAZING VEHICLE. CADILLAC JUST IN CASE SCOOBY DOO AND THE GANG MEET ANY GHOSTS AND VILLAINS, SCOOBY IS PACKING GUNS. HIT IT. THIS IS BRILLIANT, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY ARMAGEDDON. THIS IS THE SORT OF AMAZING THINGS AND THERE ARE SO MANY STALLHOLDERS, AMAZING PEOPLE HERE. JENNY MAY, WE HAVE MR PAT FANTASTIC FROM FANTASTIC FOUR, ALSO XENA, LUCY LAWLESS, AND VERY RARELY, SUNDAY, HER AND HER SIDEKICK RENEE O'CONNOR, THEY GOING TO BE TOGETHER ON STAGE ON SUNDAY, VERY RARE EVENT. IT IS EARLY ONE THING YOU DO THIS WEEKEND, IT'S COME A LONG TIME GET IN. GLAD YOU GOT THAT, JENNY MAY. NEIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO SO YOU CAN JUMP IN THE CAR, I KNOW THERE IS ARMAGEDDON BUT THERE IS ALSO CAR-MAGEDDON. YOU CAN GET DOWN THERE AND SEE NEIL THIS WEEKEND. IT HAS BEEN A TREAT TO HAVE YOUR PROGRAM, WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH, THINK IS A MUCH, NEIL SHAGGY HAS JUST CALLED ME, THERE ARE GHOSTS EVERYWHERE. I GOTTA GO! I LOVE IT, TOO GOOD, ARMAGEDDON, CHECK IT OUT. E WHAI AKE NEI. INDIGENOUS ARTS ARE SET TO BRING MUSIC, HARRY BARTLE JOINS US FROM CIRCA THEATRE. MORENA, HARRY. MORENA, TEAM. THERE IS A REASON WELLINGTON IS KNOWN AS THE ART CAPITAL, KIA MAU IS AN INDIGENOUS ARTIST OF ALL THAT CHAMPIONS PEOPLE FROM INDIGENOUS CULTURE SO SICK AROUND BECAUSE WE'LL BE GETTING A SNEAK VOICEOVER: Get your free Consumers's Guide to Hearing Aids. New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. YOUR WITH BREAKFAST. KIA MAU IS AN INDIGENOUS ARTS FESTIVAL IN WELLINGTON THAT INCLUDES OVER 25 MAORI AND PACIFIC INSPIRED SHOWS, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES FROM FIRST NATION GROUPS COMING FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND HAWAII. IT IS SET TO KICK OFF TONIGHT AT CIRCA THEATRE WITH THE OPENING SHOW 'MASTER OF NONE: BROWN FALA'. HARRY BARTLE IS IN TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WITH THE SHOW'S CREATOR. YES, I AM IN CIRCUS THEATRE, ONE OF THE MANY VENUES THAT WILL BE HOSTING. IT GETS UNDERWAY TONIGHT. I AM JOINED WITH THE CREATOR OF THAT SHOW. IT'S THE OPENING SHOW FOR KIA MAU FESTIVAL, HOW EXCITED ARE YOU? I'M VERY EXCITED, THANKS FOR HAVING US. WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT GOES ON IN THIS FESTIVAL WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR PERFORMANCE? A LOT OF IT WAS INSPIRED BY THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE, BUT A LOT OF IT WAS ACTUALLY MADE TO ORBIT AROUND THE PEOPLE THAT I HAD AROUND ME, THE RESOURCE I HAD AVAILABLE TO ME, AND OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE FESTIVAL. IT'S A VERY EXCITING FESTIVAL SHOWCASING INDIGENOUS ARTS HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE HAVE THESE SHOWCASES? WE CARRY A BANNER FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO WATCH, SO IT'S GREAT TO INSPIRE OTHER NATIONS AS WELL, IN THE ART SECTORS AS WELL. IT'S GREAT, BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AND MY CAST THIS BEAUTIFUL TEAM BEHIND ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED. A LOT OF US HAVE COME FROM COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND SO IT'S GREAT TO FINALLY GET TO SHOW IT OFF. LET'S GET TO THE PERFORMANCE, IF YOU'RE HAPPY TO SHOW US RIGHT NOW. (SINGS IN SAMOAN) (SINGING CONTINUES) (SINGING CONTINUES) HE'S BEAUTIFUL, EH? RIGHT, THAT'S US FOR THE WEEK. MELISSA, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN. APPRECIATE YOU, AND APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL, HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND. CAPTIONS BY DREW WELSH, MAIA CARR HEKE, KITTY WASASALA AND