BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS BREAKFAST TIME. IT'S MONDAY THE 8TH OF JUNE. MORENA. THIS IS BREAKFAST. AND THIS IS WORLD CUP WEEK. WHOO-HOO. THIS IS OUR BEAUTIFUL BUNTING. WHAT I LIKED ABOUT PUTTING IT UP WAS TESTING YOUR FLAG KNOWLEDGE. AND IT WAS PRETTY OUTSTANDING IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UZBEKISTAN. IF YOU CAN SEE ANY THAT IS NOT IN THE WORLD CUP, UNFORTUNATELY THE LOOK SHARP BUNTING WAS NOT THAT ACCURATE. WHAT PRIZE DO THEY GET? KNOWING YOU WERE RIGHT. COMING UP ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING ` A STUDY HAS BEEN TRACKING THE EFFECTS OF HOMELESSNESS ON 33,000 CHILDREN IT REVEALS JUST HOW OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HANDLE IT. THAT'S UP NEXT. WE TALK TO FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD ON HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING KIWIS RIGHT NOW. IN OUR REGULAR INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. AND, INVESTIGATORS ARE RACING AGAINST TIME TO GATHER EVIDENCE ON THE PASSENGER TRAIN DERAILMENT IN WELLINGTON. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6.30. HERE'S YOUR NEWS. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ABRUPTLY ENDED AN INTERVIEW WITH NBC'S KRISTEN WELKER AFTER BEING PUSHED ON HIS CLAIMS THAT ELECTIONS ARE RIGGED. LET'S CALL IT QUITS, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD IT. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD TIME. MR PRESIDENT, PLEASE. I TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO WISCONSIN. WE HAVE WAITED AN HOUR ON AND OFF IN THE RAIN, AND I HAVE GIVEN YOU ENOUGH TIME. YOU WANT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT YOUR PRESS, BECAUSE I COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE GREAT WITH A DISHONOURABLE PRESS. I TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO WISCONSIN. TRUMP WAS CHALLENGED BY WELKER ABOUT HIS COMMENTS ABOUT 'CHEATING' AT CALIFORNIA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS, LEADING TO HIM WALKING AWAY. THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAS STRUCK HEZBOLLAH INFRASTRUCTURE, KILLING AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND INJURING DOZENS MORE. ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID THE LATEST STRIKES IN BEIRUT'S SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS WERE ORDERED IN RESPONSE TO HEZBOLLAH FIRING TOWARD ISRAEL. DEEMING THE AREA THAT WAS STRUCK AS 'TERRORIST HEADQUARTERS'. THE LATEST ISRAELI STRIKES FOLLOW THE U.S. ANNOUNCING A TRUCE PLAN FOR LEBANON LAST WEEK. NEW DATA HAS REVEALED MORE THAN 33,000 YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS, WITH ADVOCATES WARNING URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED. RESEARCHERS FOUND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE, WITH SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE OUTCOMES ACROSS HEALTH, EDUCATION, SAFETY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE REALITIES FACING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN UNSTABLE HOUSING AND GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT LONG-TERM IMPACTS. WE'LL BE SPEAKING TO ONE OF THE STUDY'S AUTHORS JUST AFTER THE 6.30 NEWS. AND THEN WE WILL PUT THAT TO THE FINANCE MINISTER JUST AFTER SEVEN. A NEW REPORT HAS FOUND NEW ZEALAND'S RED MEAT SECTOR GENERATES NEARLY $50b IN ANNUAL SPENDING ACROSS THE ECONOMY. THE STUDY FOUND THE SECTOR EARNS $12.8b IN EXPORT REVENUE EACH YEAR AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 120,000 JOBS, WITH BENEFITS FLOWING WELL BEYOND FARMS AND PROCESSING PLANTS INTO REGIONAL COMMUNITIES. INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY THE FINDINGS REINFORCE THE SECTOR'S STATUS AS AN 'ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE' AND WILL HELP GUIDE FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. THE FAMILY OF THE LATE MP FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS SAYS THEY ARE 'DEVASTATED AND DISAPPOINTED' FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE LATEST CORONIAL FINDINGS. THE CORONER HAS FOUND COLLINS DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES AFTER SUFFERING A CARDIAC ARREST AT A CHARITY EVENT IN AUCKLAND JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO. HIS WIFE SAYS THE FAMILY WAS GIVEN JUST OVER 24 HOURS' NOTICE OF THE DECISION, CALLING IT AN 'UNREASONABLE' TIMEFRAME GIVEN THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT AND PUBLIC INTEREST. THE CORONER HAS RECOMMENDED STRONGER PLANNING FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AT PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING CLEARER RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOCATING DEFIBRILLATORS AND IMPROVED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THE BLACKCAPS HAVE REFUSED TO BLAME THE PITCH AT LORD'S AFTER FALLING TO A 115-RUN DEFEAT TO ENGLAND IN THE FIRST TEST. SOME RESISTANCE FROM DEVON CONWAY AND GLENN PHILLIPS ON DAY FOUR NOT ENOUGH TO CHASE DOWN 254. DIFFICULT TO SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHAT'S CHANGED, GIVEN THE CONDITIONS WE'VE HAD. BOWLING TO FINISH A COMPREHENSIVE WIN FOR ENGLAND. BUT THE BATTING SURFACE, WHICH PROVED AT TIMES UNPLAYABLE, IS LIKELY TO REMAIN A TALKING POINT. WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO PLAY LIKE THAT FROM A GENERATION POINT OF VIEW. FROM A DURATION POINT OF VIEW. YOU KNOW, IN SAYING THAT, BOTH TEAMS HAD THE SAME CONDITIONS PRETTY MUCH THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TEST MATCH, AND, YEAH, IT WASN'T IDEAL. THE MCC, THE GROUND'S OWNERS, HAS ADMITTED THE SURFACE FELL SHORT OF THEIR EXPECTATIONS, BLAMING THE WEATHER CONDITIONS LEADING UP TO THE MATCH. THE ACTION NOW HEADS TO THE OVAL FOR GAME TWO. WHICH I THINK IS A VASTLY SUPERIOR GROUND. AND IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE KIWIS HAD THEIR FIRST CHEESEBURGER, AS MCDONALD'S MARKS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN NEW ZEALAND. HUNDREDS QUEUED OUTSIDE THE FIRST GOLDEN ARCHES IN PORIRUA BACK IN 1976. BACK THEN, THE MENU FEATURED JUST SIX BURGERS, WITH THE BIGGEST, A BIG MAC, COSTING 75 CENTS. TODAY, THERE ARE NEARLY 180 OUTLETS NATIONWIDE, SERVING AROUND 1.5 MILLION KIWIS EACH WEEK, CEMENTING ITS PLACE AS A FAST-FOOD FAVOURITE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ACROSS THE COMPANY. COUNTRY, EVEN. IT IS DEFINITELY A FAVOURITE WITH THE COMPANY. IS THIS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MCDONALD'S? LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) I NOTICED YOU HAVE ADJUSTED THE BUNTING ALREADY. OUT OF THE WORLD CUP. I AM THE ORACLE ANIMAL. WE DID A CLEAR OUT OVER THE WEEKEND. I HAVE MESSAGED YOU ASKING IF YOU WANTED SOME GOOD CONDITION TOYS. YOU SAID YOU COULD SEND ME PICS. YOU SAID YOU COULD SEND ME PICS. I SAID, NO, I WILL JUST TAKE IT. THE PRODUCERS AT TVNZ FOUND THIS WHILE DOING A CLEAR OUTCOME OF THE OLD BREAKFAST BIBLE. AND THE GOOD OLD DAYS, EVERY HOTEL AND MOTEL YOU STAYED HAD ONE OF THESE ON THE SIDE TABLE. I AM QUITE KEEN TO GO THROUGH THIS AND SEE WHAT HAS CHANGED. IS THIS CLUTTER THAT YOU KEEP? I THINK YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT SORT OF THING. WHERE YOU DRAW THE LINE? THERE WERE A FEW BABY THINGS WHERE I THOUGHT, THE GIRLS USED TO WEAR THAT. BUT IT BECOMES TOO MUCH. I HAVE ALL OF MY NOTES FROM SIXTH FORM HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY CLASS. YOU HAD TO GET RID OF THEM. I DON'T REALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE AT DAD'S. HOW OFTEN DO YOU READ THEM? EVERY TIME I GO TO DAD'S, I THINK, I SHOULD GO THEM AWAY, AND I FLICKED THROUGH. THAT THEN I THINK I SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT MICHELANGELO. DO YOU HAVE THINGS THAT YOU WON'T THROW AWAY? TELL US YOUR VIEW ` EMAIL US AT breakfast@tvnz.co.nz OR YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM @BREAKFASTON1 AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT? YOU CAN GIVE A NEW LIFE. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO US? MY HOUSE HAS PILES AND PILES AND PILES OF CRAP THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THE HOSPICE SHOP. THE STRUGGLE. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. MAINLY FINE IN THE NORTH. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA DOWN TO WHITIANGA. GUSTY AFTERNOON WINDS FOR HAMILTON. MOSTLY FINE IN TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR TOKOROA THROUGH TO TAUPO. FINE FOR GISBORNE DOWN TO HASTINGS. THE ODD SHOWER FOR DANNEVIRKE THROUGH TO WHANGANUI. MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND THE CAPITAL. 20 IS THE HIGH IN NAPIER. 15 IN ROTORUA. SKIES TURNING GREY FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH. MOSTLY FINE WITH OCCASIONAL CLOUD FOR NELSON DOWN TO KAIKOURA. SHOWERS THROUGH TO HOKITIKA. CHANCE OF RAIN IN CHRISTCHURCH. CLOUD CLEARING TO FINE FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. POSSIBLE SHOWERS AND STRONG MORNING WINDS FOR OAMARU THROUGH TO GORE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTS IN INVERCARGILL. SHOWERS FOR STEWART ISLAND. 18 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. 13 IN MILFORD SOUND. THANKS SO MUCH, TOVA. NEW DATA OUT THIS MORNING PAINTS A STARK PICTURE OF LIFE FOR NEW ZEALAND'S HOMELESS CHILDREN. RESEARCHERS TRACKED MORE THAN 33,000 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH GOVERNMENT RECORDS, FINDING THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS ARE NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE THAN THEIR PEERS, WITH WORSE OUTCOMES ACROSS HEALTH, EDUCATION, SAFETY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. STUDY AUTHOR JO CRIBB FROM THE COALITION TO END WOMEN'S HOMELESSNESS JOINS US NOW FROM WELLINGTON. JO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IS THIS NEW, AND IF NOT, WHAT IS MOST TAKING YOU ABACK BY THIS STUDY HERE? THESE 33,000 CHILDREN WERE PRESENT AND MARKED ON CENSUS NIGHT, AND I THINK MOST OF US KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN NEW ZEALAND WITH HOMELESSNESS. BUT WHAT THIS STUDY HAS DONE FOR THE FIRST TIME IS TRACKED THESE CHILDREN, AND WE GET AN INSIGHT INTO THEIR LIVES, WHO THEY ARE, AND THAT IS THE REALLY RICH DATA THAT WE WANT TO SHARE. WHAT IS THE STUFF THAT HAS COME OUT OF IT THAT IS MOST CONCERNING? THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT CHILDREN AND PERHAPS YOUNG PEOPLE AS MAY BE TEENAGERS WHO ARE HOMELESS, BUT THE FIRST THING WE FOUND WAS THERE ARE CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. WE ARE TALKING BABIES, TODDLERS ` EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS ALL THE AGE RANGES. THAT REALLY SHOCKED US, HOW MANY UNDER 5s WERE HOMELESS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? IS THAT NOT HAVING A PLACE FOR THE SHELTER ABOVE THEIR HEAD? WHAT'S SORT OF PARAMETERS ARE YOU LOOKING AT? THERE ARE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS. I THINK THE MOST STARK IS WITHOUT SHELTER. CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO SHELTER OVER THEIR HEADS. WE ALSO HAVE IN THAT DEFINITION OVERCROWDING, SO REALLY CRAMPED, OVERCROWDING. WE ALSO HAVE TEMPORARY, CHILDREN THAT ARE MOVING OFTEN. WE ALSO HAVE A CATEGORY CALLED UNINHABITABLE, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WANT CHILDREN LIVING IN A DWELLING THAT IS CALLED UNINHABITABLE. HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU BUY WHAT YOU FOUND HERE? I THINK WHAT WE WERE SURPRISED BY IS WHEN WE STARTED TO UNPACK WHAT THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES WERE LIKE. WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY, COMPARED TO CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMED, TO HAVE NEVER BEEN ENROLLED WITH THE DOCTOR. SO THEY ARE NOT GETTING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE. THEY ARE NEARLY 2 TIMES LIKELY NEVER TO BE ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. SO THEY ARE STARTING SCHOOL ON THE BACK FOOT. IT IS THE ILLNESS THAT REALLY, REALLY STRUCK US. THEY ARE NEARLY 3 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALISED FOR A PREVENTABLE DISEASE OR A PREVENTABLE SKIN CONDITION. SO THAT IS AN AWFUL LOT OF CHILDREN IN OUR EDs, AND OUR HOSPITALS THAT DO NOT NEED TO BE THERE. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT POLITICIANS AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF PUTTING CHILD POVERTY AND CHILD HOMELESSNESS AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA? JACINDA ARDERN FAMOUSLY MADE THAT ONE OF HER MISSIONS, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POLICY. HAS IT BEEN ENOUGH OF AN ISSUE FOR POLITICIANS LATELY? WE WOULD SAY THAT IF WE CAN SEE THESE CHILDREN, AND WE CAN SEE THESE LIVES, AS RESEARCHERS, THE GOVERNMENT CAN AS WELL. BUT WE THINK THEY ARE IGNORING THEM. WE HAVE TODDLERS. TODDLERS CAN'T BE HOMELESS. IT IS THEIR PARENTS, THEIR MUMS. BABIES DO NOT PAY RENT. ONE OF THE MOST STARTLING THINGS IS THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF WOMEN'S HOMELESSNESS IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. I THINK OTHER COUNTRIES JUST WOULD NOT PUT UP WITH IT. WE HAVE WOMEN, MUMS AND THEIR BABIES, HOMELESS AT A RATE THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE NOT. IF WE CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF THIS, SO CAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THESE CHILDREN ARE TOUCHING SERVICES CONSTANTLY. THEY ARE IN ED, THEY ARE BEING ASSESSED BY ORANGA TAMARIKI. THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL AND BEING INTERACTED WITH BY THE POLICE. SO WE NEED A STRONG FOCUS ON THESE WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT? WE HAVE THE FINANCE MINISTER ON SHORTLY AFTER 7 O'CLOCK. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM ABOUT HOW THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? TODAY, TONIGHT, THERE ARE CHILDREN, THERE ARE BABIES, WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO CALL HOME. WHAT IS SHE DOING FOR THEM? AS A TODDLER WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF HER, WHAT WOULD SHE SAY TO THAT TODDLER ABOUT HOW SHE IS MAKING SURE HE OR SHE IS SAFE, AS WELL, AND GETS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHER CHILDREN. DO YOU THINK THIS HAS FALLEN OFF THE POLITICAL AGENDA ALTHOUGH CONSCIOUSNESS OF POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES, COST OF LIVING ET CETERA, IT HAS NOT BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION? WE WOULD SAY THAT, WHICH IS WHY WE TO DO RESEARCH. WE WANTED TO PAINT THIS RICH PICTURE. BUT IT SHOULD BE TOP OF MIND FOR EVERYONE. IF YOU TALK ABOUT, UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU ARE SIX THIS WINTER, OR YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT IS THAT, AND YOU ARE TURNING UP IN ED, IT IS LIKELY YOU ARE WAITING LONGER BECAUSE THERE IS A CHILD IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A PREVENTABLE DISEASE BECAUSE THEY WERE HOMELESS. SO I THINK THIS IS EVERYBODY'S ISSUE, AND I DO THINK IT IS A COST OF LIVING ISSUE, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON. WE WERE JUST TALKING BEFORE, THINGS LIKE PNEUMONIA AND OTHER ISSUES, THESE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE CROPPING UP WHEN IT COMES TO THESE KIDS? ABSOLUTELY. MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE SOME SORT OF RESPIRATORY CONDITION. BUT IF WE LOOK AT THEIR LIVES BEYOND THEIR EARLY YEARS, WE FIND THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, NEARLY 3 TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE SUSPENDED, AND TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE A VICTIM OF CRIME. SO OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT SAFE, AND THEY ARE NOT FLOURISHING. NEARLY 3.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIATED CHILDHOOD ABUSE CASE. APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING. IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL PHYSICALLY SICK. IT IS SUCH AN INDICTMENT ON THE COUNTRY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE POLITICIANS OF ALL STRIPES STEPPING UP. WE HAVE NOT HEARD POLICIES, I DON'T THINK, DEFINITELY FROM THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU VOTE ON ` CHILD POVERTY. LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE A NATIONAL OR LABOUR PARTY PHOTO, OR WHO YOU VOTE FOR, IF YOU ARE OK TO DO THAT. YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US ANONYMOUSLY AS WELL. I THINK THAT THE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE MISSING A TRICK HERE. I THINK THEY ARE NOT FOCUSING ON THIS. DO YOU THINK IT WOULD RESONATE WITH PEOPLE AS THEY BROUGHT THIS OUT? I THINK SO. I THINK YOU SHOULD INVEST MONEY IN PULLING KIDS OUT OF HARM AND POVERTY. AND I HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF POLICIES THAT ARE AIMING TO DO THAT. IT IS SOMETHING I WOULD PROBABLY VOTE ON, SO I WANT TO HEAR IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE WEIGHING ON YOUR MIND A BIT MORE. WE WILL PUT THOSE CONCERNS TO NICOLA WILLISON ABOUT 15 MINUTES' TIME. ME U TONU MAI ` WE LOOK INTO THE INVESTIGATION INTO HOW A WELLINGTON PASSENGER TRAIN, INJURING SIX, CAME OFF THE RAILS. # I CONSIDER MYSELF THE OPTIMIST. VOICEOVER: Get a $200 digital Visa card. Insure your home and contents with AMI before the end of September. Visit ami.co.nz or call 0800 100 200. Ts and Cs apply. VOICEOVER: The new Subway Footlong Peri Peri-Style Chicken Sub. Hot grilled chicken. Freshly cut salad. Tangy and spicy peri peri sauce. Made fresh, just for you. Good food. Good value. That's Subway. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAS STRUCK HEZBOLLAH INFRASTRUCTURE, KILLING AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND INJURING DOZENS MORE. U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS READY TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENSURE IRAN NEVER GETS A NUCLEAR WEAPON. AND ` THE BLACKCAPS HAVE REFUSED TO BLAME THE PITCH AT LORD'S AFTER FALLING TO A 115 RUN DEFEAT TO ENGLAND IN THE FIRST TEST. TRAIN SERVICES IN WELLINGTON COULD BE DISRUPTED FOR DAYS AFTER A COMMUTER RAIL CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE STOP BLOCK OVER THE WEEKEND. PASSENGERS WERE INJURED WHEN THE TRAIN WAS DIVERTED ONTO A DEAD-END TRACK NEAR KHANDALLAH INVESTIGATORS ARE NOW TRYING TO WORK OUT WHY. GREATER WELLINGTON CEO DARAN PONTER JOINS US NOW, MORENA, DARAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENED? I THINK YOU SUMMARISED IT WELL. A TRAIN HAS BEEN DIVERTED ONTO A SEPARATE PIECE OF TRACK, A RUN-OFF TRACK, A SHORT SECTION, AND THEN BEING CAUGHT BY A STOP BLOCK WHICH IS THERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CATCHING RUNAWAY TRAINS, IF YOU LIKE. THE ROOT CAUSE IS TO BE DETERMINED, AND THAT WILL BE THE JOB OF THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION WHO WERE ON SITE DIRECTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WHAT OTHER POTENTIAL CAUSES THAT COULD PUSH A TRAIN ONTO THAT KIND OF DEAD-END TRACK? IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A MEDICAL EVENT TO A SIGNAL FAILURE AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN. AND YOU DON'T KNOW YET WHETHER ANY OF THOSE THINGS APPLY HERE? KNOW, AND THAT IS LIKELY TO BE MONTHS AWAY. THAT IS CRAZY, THOUGH, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT IF IT WAS A MEDICAL EVENT AND THE DRIVER HAD SOME SORT OF MEDICAL EVENT, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT NOW. THAT IS CORRECT. AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING IMMEDIATE THAT NEEDS TO TRANSLATE TO THE NETWORK AND HOW WE OPERATE OUR TRAINS, THAT WILL BE KNOWN AND COMMUNICATED BY THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION. BUT GENERALLY THESE SITES ARE TREATED LIKE A CRIME SCENE, IF YOU LIKE. SO IT IS QUITE A FORENSIC EXERCISE TO GO THROUGH AND REALLY FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. AND THEY WILL TAKE THEIR TIME TO DO THAT. HAVE YOU RULED OUT SOME OF THOSE IMMEDIATE POTENTIAL CAUSES? DO YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IT WAS NOT A MEDICAL INCIDENT? WE HAVE NOT RULE ANYTHING OUT AT THIS STAGE BECAUSE IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF THINGS. BUT THAT SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS TO SAY, UNFORTUNATELY THE DRIVER HAD SOME KIND OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY. NO, AGAIN, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF MORE IMMEDIATE IMPORTANCE, THAT WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO US BY THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION, AND THEY ALL WE ALL KIWIRAIL WILL BE ABLE TO ACT ON THAT. BUT IF IT IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE, SOMETHING WITH THE SIGNALLING SYSTEM, THAT MAY TAKE LONGER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. BUT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD YET OF ANY IMMEDIATE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO PUT IN PLACE ` IT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE RED FLAGS? THAT IS CORRECT. AND AS YOU KNOW, THE LINE IS NOW CLOSED, PROBABLY UNTIL WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY THIS WEEK TO ALLOW THOSE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TRAINERS IMPACTED, CANNOT GO BACK OUT THE WAY IT CAME. SO IT WILL TAKE AWHILE TO GET IT OFF THE TRACKS. EFFECTIVELY THE TRAINERS FATTER THAN WHEN IT STARTED, SO IT CANNOT GO THROUGH THE TUNNELS. IT WILL BE PULLED BACK TO THE KANDALLAH STATION. HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE DISRUPTIONS TO THE RAIL IN WELLINGTON WILL LAST? THIS IS RESTRICTED TO THE JOHNSONVILLE LINE. IT IS ONE OF THE SMALLER PATRONAGE LINES ON THE NETWORK. WE ARE SAYING TILL ABOUT WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY THIS WEEK. WE ARE PUTTING BUS REPLACEMENTS IN THE MEANTIME. THIS STUFF MUST JUST PUT THE FEAR OF GOD INTO YOU, RIGHT. AS NIGHTMARE STUFF IN THE FIELD THAT YOU WORK IN. IT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, AND I APPLAUD EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THEIR FAST RESPONSE. PEOPLE LEFT THEIR DINNER TABLES TO MAKE IT TO THE STATION. SIX PEOPLE INJURED, TWO AND A SERIOUS CONDITION, ALL RUSHED TO HOSPITAL. OBVIOUSLY UNLUCKY FOR THEM, AND SENDING OUR BEST WELL-WISHERS FOR THEM, BUT I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS WAS NOT WORSE THAN IT WAS IN TERMS OF INJURIES? YES, I THINK THERE ARE TWO FACTORS HERE THAT HAVE PREVENTED HIGH INJURY RATES. ONE IS THE LOCATION OF THE STOP BLOCK WHICH WAS ONLY PUT IN IN 2025. IF THAT WERE NOT THERE, WE WOULD HAVE A TRAIN IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD OR LIVING ROOM. THE CRUMPLE ZONES ON THE TRAIN HAVE WORKED. LIKE CARS, THEY HAVE CRUMPLE ZONES AND WHAT HAVE YOU TO TAKE THE IMPACT OF A COLLISION, AND THE PHOTOS ARE VERY DRAMATIC OF THE DAMAGE TO THE TRAIN, BUT EFFECTIVELY IT HAS DONE ITS JOB. HOW CAN COMMUTERS TRUST THAT IT WILL BE SAFE? THERE WILL BE ANY NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT THERE WHO WILL BE ANXIOUS ABOUT THIS SET OF EVENTS. WE CAN ONLY LOOK TO COMMUNICATE AND GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION. THERE WILL BE LITTLE WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE PEOPLE'S FEARS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT IN TIME, I THINK WE WILL WIN BACK THEIR CONFIDENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. E HAERE AKE NEI ` FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS IS IN THE WELLINGTON STUDIO TO DISCUSS THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD ON HOMELESSNESS AND THE CALL FOR MORE SPENDING ON DEFENCE. (UPBEAT MUSIC) We got a new car you have to plug in. How far does it go? Turns out it went for one huge argument. I'm driving and it's my stereo! For two wee stops. (BARKS) One masterpiece. Girls! (ALL LAUGH) Four unlucky possums... hang on... FIVE! And two drivers. Do you know your left? So pretty far. Fast charge on the road and pay like you're at home. With Genesis at ChargeNet stations. # LET'S GET STARTED IN HERE WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. STILL TO COME ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING ` NEW RESEARCH REVEALS THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD ON HOW IT'S HANDLING HOMELESSNESS. WE TALK TO FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS NEXT. ALSO AHEAD ` WE CATCH UP WITH OUR OWN ZION DAYAL IN TAMPA, FLORIDA AS THE ALL WHITES PREPARE FOR THEIR WORLD CUP OPENER. ALSO AHEAD ` WE TALK TO A BRAND EXPERT AFTER CLAIMS THAT HUFFER USED AI IMAGES OF A MODEL WITHOUT HIS CONSENT. AND ` THE FIRST FEATURE LENGTH FILM GENERATED COMPLETELY BY AI PREMIERES IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK. WHAT'S THE FUTURE FOR MOVIE MAKERS? IT'S 7 O'CLOCK ` HERE'S THE NEWS. A RESEARCHER SAYS POLITICIANS NEED TO DO MORE FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN HARDSHIP. A NEW STUDY HAS FOUND MORE THAN 33,000 KIWI YOUTH ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. JO CRIBB FROM THE COALITION TO END WOMEN'S HOMELESSNESS SAYS THE SOCIETAL IMPACTS ARE WIDE-REACHING. UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU WERE SICK THIS WINTER OR YOU'VE GOT A CHILD WHO IS SICK, AND YOU ARE TURNING UP INTO ED, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT YOU ARE WAITING LONGER BECAUSE THERE IS A CHILD IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A PREVENTABLE DISEASE BECAUSE THEY WERE HOMELESS. AND SO I THINK THIS IS EVERYBODY'S ISSUE, AND I THINK AT THE COST OF LIVING ISSUE AND ITS WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON. CRIBB SAYS THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE AND HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE OUTCOMES ACROSS HEALTH, EDUCATION, SAFETY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. TWO PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A SERIOUS FLEEING DRIVER INCIDENT IN HASTINGS. POLICE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, VIDEO FOOTAGE HERE SHOWING THE CAR ON FIRE AFTER BEING SPIKED. THE DRIVER STILL ATTEMPTED TO GET AWAY, RAMMING INTO TWO POLICE UNITS BEFORE BEING BLOCKED IN ON FLAXMERE AVENUE. A MAN (29) AND WOMAN (28) HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. IRAN S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS WARNED ISRAELI STRIKES IN BEIRUT RISK IGNITING A WIDER WAR ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST. THE WARNING COMES AFTER ISRAEL LAUNCHED FRESH ATTACKS TARGETING WHAT IT SAYS WAS A HEZBOLLAH COMMAND CENTRE IN BEIRUT, KILLING TWO PEOPLE AND INJURING DOZENS MORE. PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU S OFFICE SAYS THE OPERATION WAS A DIRECT RETALIATION TO EARLIER STRIKES FROM THE MILITANT GROUP. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A RUSSIAN DRONE STRIKE TARGETING A BUS STOP IN SOUTH-EASTERN UKRAINE. MULTIPLE PEOPLE NEARBY WERE ALSO INJURED IN THE ATTACK, WHICH FOLLOWS A SEPARATE RUSSIAN STRIKE THAT DAMAGED A NUCLEAR FUEL STORAGE FACILITY IN THE CHORNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE. THE LATEST VIOLENCE COMES AS UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY MEETS WITH HIS BRITISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN COUNTERPARTS IN LONDON. SECURITY FORCES IN NIGERIA HAVE FREED MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE THAT WERE HELD CAPTIVE IN A MOUNTAIN HIDEOUT IN THE NORTH-EASTERN STATE OF BORNO. AT LEAST 360 INDIVIDUALS WERE BEING HELD CAPTIVE BY A MILITANT GROUP, KNOWN FOR ITS VIOLENT OPPOSITION TO WESTERN EDUCATION, DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS, AND SECULAR GOVERNANCE. SECURITY FORCES SAY TWO CHILDREN DIED FROM EXHAUSTION AND THE IMPACT OF THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY WERE HELD IN. DANISH FOOTBALLER CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN HAS REPORTEDLY COLLAPSED DURING A FRIENDLY AGAINST UKRAINE. THE 34-YEAR-OLD BRIEFLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS BUT WAS ABLE TO WALK HIMSELF OFF THE PITCH. ERIKSEN PREVIOUSLY SUFFERED A CARDIAC ARREST WHILE PLAYING FINLAND IN 2021 AND HAD TO BE RESUSCITATED ON PITCH. HE WAS FITTED WITH A SPECIAL HEART-STARTING DEVICE AND RETURNED TO FOOTBALL IN 2022. THE ALL WHITES HAVE TOUCHED DOWN IN SAN DIEGO WITH PLENTY TO MULL OVER AHEAD OF THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP CLASH AGAINST IRAN. IT COMES AFTER A NARROW 1-0 DEFEAT TO ENGLAND IN THE LAST FRIENDLY BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT. SKIPPER CHRIS WOOD SAYS THERE ARE LOTS OF POSITIVES TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT. IT WAS A GOOD PERFORMANCE. IT WAS A STEP UP FROM WHAT WE DID AGAINST HAITI. WE NEEDED A REACTION AND WE DEFINITELY GOT THAT. I THINK WE SHOWED SOME GOOD ELEMENTS IN THE GAME. NULLIFIED THEM IN A LOT OF AREAS AND THEN TRIED TO BREAK THEM DOWN ON THE BREAK. SO YEAH, IT WAS POSITIVE IN A WAY, BUT STILL WAY TO GO. AND FINALLY, POPE LEO SURPRISED CROWDS DURING HIS TRIP TO MADRID, GESTURING THE VIRAL SIX-SEVEN TREND AGAIN. HE MIMICKED THE INTERNET MEME WHILE RIDING THE POPEMOBILE THROUGH A CROWD OF OVER 1 MILLION. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE RELIGIOUS LEADER PARTICIPATED IN THE SIX-SEVEN TREND, WITH A GROUP OF YOUTHS TEACHING POPE LEO THE GESTURE AT THE VATICAN IN MAY. THERE HE GOES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (CHILL MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. MAINLY FINE IN THE NORTH. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA DOWN TO WHITIANGA. GUSTY AFTERNOON WINDS FOR HAMILTON. MOSTLY FINE IN TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR TOKOROA THROUGH TO TAUPO. FINE FOR GISBORNE DOWN TO HASTINGS. THE ODD SHOWER FOR DANNEVIRKE THROUGH TO WHANGANUI. MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND THE CAPITAL. 20 IS THE HIGH IN NAPIER. 15 IN ROTORUA. SKIES TURNING GREY FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH. MOSTLY FINE WITH OCCASIONAL CLOUD FOR NELSON DOWN TO KAIKOURA. SHOWERS THROUGH TO HOKITIKA. CHANCE OF RAIN IN CHRISTCHURCH. CLOUD CLEARING TO FINE FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. POSSIBLE SHOWERS AND STRONG MORNING WINDS FOR OAMARU THROUGH TO GORE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTS IN INVERCARGILL. SHOWERS FOR STEWART ISLAND. 18 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. 13 IN MILFORD SOUND. EARLIER WE REVEALED NEW RESEARCH TRACKING THE CHALLENGES FACING HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE, MISSED HEALTHCARE, AND FALLEN BEHIND AT SCHOOL. THE 2023 CENSUS COUNTED MORE THAN 33,000 OF THEM. IF WE CAN SEE THESE CHILDREN, AND WE CAN SEE THESE LIVES, AS RESEARCHERS, THE GOVERNMENT CAN AS WELL. BUT WE THINK THEY ARE IGNORING THEM. WE'VE GOT TODDLERS... TODDLERS CAN'T BE HOMELESS. IT'S THEIR PARENTS, IT'S THEIR MUMS. BABIES DON'T PAY RENT. ONE OF THE MOST STARTLING THINGS IS THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF WOMEN'S HOMELESSNESS IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. TO DISCUSS THIS AND SOME OF THE OTHER BIG POLITICAL STORIES OF THE WEEK, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY NICOLA WILLIS JOINS US NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY CHAT WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. MORENA MINISTER, THANKS FOR JOINING US. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A CHILD WATCHING THIS WHO DOESN'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP TONIGHT? THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, IT IS NOT OK, OUR GOVERNMENT, SINCE COMING AND HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO PRIORITISE CHILDREN WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL HOUSING, SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT THOSE THOUSANDS OF KIDS LIVING IN MOTEL ROOMS, EMERGENCY HOUSING, AND WE SAID, THEY SHOULD BE PRIORITISED FOR BEING PUT INTO WARM, DRY STATE HOMES. WE CREATED THE PRIORITY ONE PATHWAY, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAVE PRIORITISED MORE THAN 20000 CHILDREN'S INTERSTATE HOMES. WE AGREE WITH THE REPORT THAT PRIORITISE IN CHILDREN MATTERS. SINCE COMING INTO OFFICE, WE HAVE REDUCED THE STATEHOUSE WAITING LIST, WE HAVE BUILT THOUSANDS MORE SOCIAL HOMES, WE HAVE FUNDED ADDITIONAL PLACES AND SOCIAL HOMES. THIS SURVEY DATA RELATES TO A PERIOD BEFORE WE WERE IN OFFICE, BUT WE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN MET HOUSING NEED IN NEW ZEALAND AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE MAKING REFORMS TO THE HOUSING SYSTEM SO WE CAN RESPOND BETTER TO THAT. IF YOU ARE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YOU ARE SO FOCUSED ON CHILDREN, WHY IS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY INCREASING UNDER YOUR GOVERNMENT? THE NUMBERS IN THE REPORT THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY ARE FROM THE 2023 CENSUS, SO THEY DO RELATE TO A TIME BEFORE WE CAME INTO OFFICE. WHAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN WE CAME IN WAS THAT THE SOCIAL HOUSING SYSTEM HASN'T HISTORICALLY DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF PRIORITISING THOSE WITH THE MOST NEED. THE STATEHOUSE WAITING LIST MORE THAN QUADRUPLED UNDER THE LAST GOVERNMENT, AND WE SAW THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN A SUB OPTIMAL HOUSING. WE HAVE COME IN AND MAKE CHANGES TO IMPROVE THAT, WE HAVE REDUCED THE STATE HOUSING WAITING LIST SIGNIFICANTLY, WE HAVE BUILT A LOT OF NEW HOMES, AND IN PARTICULAR WE HAVE CREATED THIS PRIORITY ONE PATHWAY WHICH RECOGNISES THAT IF THERE ARE CHILDREN AND REALLY SUB OPTIMAL HOUSING CIRCUMSTANCES, THEN THEY SHOULD BE PRIORITISED FOR STATE HOMES. THE CENSUS DATA, YES, BUT THE TRACKING OF THOSE KIDS AND USING THE CHILD POVERTY METRICS, 50,000 MORE CHILDREN ARE IN MATERIAL HARDSHIP THAN THEY WERE THREE YEARS AGO. WILL THIS END UP BEING THE GREAT SHAME OF YOUR LEGACY? NO, WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS IT. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT DENYING THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS TAKE POLICY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF THAT. WE LOOK AT THE HOUSING SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, A BIG CHALLENGE FOR MANY FAMILIES AS THE PRIVATE RENTAL MARKET HAD BEEN TOO EXPENSIVE IN THE PAST. ON OUR WATCH, RENTS HAVE STABILISED. WE HAVE INCREASED THE ALLOWANCE FUNDING FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR PRIVATE RENTAL IN THE FORM OF THE ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE. WE HAVE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR A HOME, WE ARE FUNDING THOUSANDS MORE HOMES, BOTH NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE, AND WE HAVE WORKED OVERALL TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY IN NEW ZEALAND, SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE STILL UNMET NEED OUT THERE, BUT WE HAVE TAKEN DELIBERATE, SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THE NEED. THE TARGET TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY, THE MATERIAL HARDSHIP MEASURE IS 6% BY 2028, TO SITTING AT 14.3 AT THE MOMENT. (FIRE ALARM BLARES) WE HAVE GOT THOSE TARGETS AND THE CHILD POVERTY ACT, AND WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS THEM. WOULD YOU STAKE YOUR CAREER ON THAT? NO, TOVA. I FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE NOT ON TRACK TO MEET THOSE TARGETS AT THIS POINT. THEY WERE SET BY ARDERN, THE LAST GOVERNMENT WASN'T ON TRACK. WE HAVE SEEN A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN TERMS OF ALLEVIATING CHILD POVERTY, BUT WE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO IN NEW ZEALAND TO ENSURE THAT FEWER FAMILIES ARE IN HARDSHIP. YOU LATER SO THAT YOU REGRETTED IT, BUT YOU SAID THAT PEOPLE IN SOCIAL HOUSING HAD WON THE LOTTERY. IS A FUNDAMENTAL DISCONNECT BETWEEN YOUR GOVERNMENT AND THE REALITY FOR SO MANY OF OUR KIDS LIVING IN HARDSHIP. AS I SAID AT THE TIME, I WAS REACHING FOR A METAPHOR TO DESCRIBE THE FACT THAT THERE IS UNFAIRNESS IN OUR SYSTEM AT THE MOMENT, AND THAT THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE ON THE EXACT SAME INCOME, SOME OF WHOM ARE IN A STATE HOME, OTHERS WHO DON'T GET ACCESS TO THAT. AND IF THEY DON'T GET ACCESS TO THAT, THEY END UP PAYING A MUCH HIGHER PROPORTION OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT. WHY I SAID I REGRETTED THAT STATEMENT AT THE TIME, I AM VERY AWARE THAT MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN SOCIAL HOUSING ARE IN VERY DIFFICULT FINANCIAL AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THE POINT IS AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE A LARGE WAITING LIST FOR STATE HOMES, AND WE HAVEN'T IN THE PAST BEEN VERY GOOD AT PRIORITISING THE STATE HOMES TO THOSE IN THE GREATEST NEED. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO SOLVE IT AND WE ARE DOING BOTH OF THEM ` FIRST, TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT MORE SOCIAL HOMES AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE, AND WE ARE DOING IT. AND THE SECOND THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WITHIN THE HOMES YOU HAVE, YOU ARE PRIORITISING THEM, AND THAT'S TO PRIORITISE FAMILIES WITH KIDS INTERSTATE HOMES, THAT IS A DELIBERATE ACTION TO ADDRESS A CLEAR UNFAIRNESS. THE UNITED STATES HAS APPROVED A SALE OF FIVE MILITARY HELICOPTERS TO NEW ZEALAND. WHY IS THAT THE BEST USE OF OUR MONEY? THESE ARE REPLACING AND UPGRADING A MILITARY CAPABILITY NEW ZEALAND HAS ALWAYS HAD WHICH IS HELICOPTERS. WHY DO WE NEED THEM? IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY LARGE OCEAN SPACE WHICH WE HAVE TO USE AVAIL, WE HAVE TO LOOK AFTER, AND THESE HELICOPTERS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH OUR OFFSHORE PARTNERS INCLUDING THE AUSTRALIANS, AND THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A MODERN, READY, CAPABLE DEFENCE FORCE. SO OUR DEFENCE FORCE WHO ARE PREPARED TO PUT THEIR LIVES IN A LINE FRO COUNTRY, ACTUALLY HAVE MODERN, UP TO SCRATCH EQUIPMENT TO USE. THE ENTIRE STUFF DIGITAL PRESS GALLERY IS FACING SUSPENSION FROM PARLIAMENT FOR FILMING IN AN AREA THAT MEDIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO FILM AND EMPOWERMENT. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEGRADATION AND RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS IN PARLIAMENT? I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT NEW ZEALAND MEDIA HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCRUTINISE THE ACTIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT AND OF THE EXECUTIVE AND OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE PRESS IN NEW ZEALAND HAS VERY READY ACCESS TO DECISION-MAKERS. WE CROSS THOSE TILES REGULARLY, AND WE FULLY EXPECT TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA AND TO ANSWER THEM. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS A PRESS CONFERENCE HERE PARLIAMENT EACH WEEK, THIS RELATES TO A SPECIFIC ISSUE TO DO WITH WHERE IN PARLIAMENT PHOTOGRAPHY CAN TAKE PLACE. I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THIS ISSUE, ULTIMATELY, IT IS AN ISSUE FOR THE SPEAKER TO DECIDE HOW THOSE RULES ARE INTERPRETED AND APPLIED. THE IMAGE IN QUESTION WAS OF LOUISE UPSTON USING BACK CORRIDORS WHEN JOURNALISTS WERE TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT MAKING THE ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, CLAIMING A $52,000 A YEAR ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE FOR HERSELF FOR A PROPERTY THAT SHE OWNS MORTGAGE FREE. DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGES TO THOSE PERKS FOR MPS? THE WAY THAT THOSE RULES ARE, THEY WOULD CHANGE SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT CHANGE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS THAT IT ACTUALLY REDUCED THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF SPENDING THAT GOES ON FOR THAT ENTITLEMENT AND THE WAY IT IS MANAGED. THOSE CHANGES WERE MADE IN GOOD FAITH AT THE TIME, THEY NOW SIT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT OVERALL PACKAGE OF INCOME FOR MPS LOOKS, THAT IS A MATTER THAT THE REMUNERATION AUTHORITY LOOK INTO. THEY ARE INDEPENDENT OF US AS MPS, BECAUSE WE HAVE JUDGED, OVER SUCCESSIVE PARLIAMENT, THAT IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR THE PEOPLE GETTING A PAY TO BE DECIDING HOW MUCH THE PAY IS. THOSE ISSUES TO DO WITH THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE HAVE BEEN CLEAR IN THE RULES. LOUISE UPSTON IS CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHO HAS BEEN ACCESSING THOSE ENTITLEMENTS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS POLITICAL BOUNDARIES. DOESN'T LOOK HYPOCRITICAL WHEN SHE IS MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO CLAIM AN ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE? IN GENERAL, THE FACT THAT WE AS MPS GET PAID MORE THAN MANY NEW ZEALANDERS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN VERY CONSCIOUS OF. I UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO SAYS, HOW CAN YOU RELATE TO ME, I AM ON THE MINIMUM WAGE AND YOU, POLITICIAN, CERTAINLY ARE NOT. WE ARE NOT, AND THAT MEANS IT FINANCIALLY, WHEN WE ARE IN THESE JOBS, WE HAVE BEEN BETTER PAID THAN MANY NEW ZEALANDERS. THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO PARLIAMENT IF WE ARE PAID DIFFERENTLY. THAT IS WHY THE REMUNERATION AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN THE SET OF RESPONSIBILITIES, TO SAY, WELL, ACTUALLY, WHAT SHOULD POLITICIANS BE PAID? WHAT IS FAIR? WHERE SHOULD IT SIT RELATIVE TO POLITICIANS AROUND THE WORLD, OTHER HIGH PROFILE JOBS IN NEW ZEALAND? I GET IT. IT IS ALWAYS A THING THAT I AM CONSCIOUS. THAT REQUIRES EXPLANATION. THAT IS NATIONAL'S DEPUTY LEADER AND FINANCE MINISTER, NICOLA WILLIS. INTERESTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS, IT HAS BEEN COMING IN THICK AND FAST ABOUT WHETHER CHILD POVERTY IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD VOTE ON. JOHN AS HIS CHILD POVERTY IS NOT AN ELECTION ISSUE FOR ME. THE ECONOMY IS ` IF WE GET THAT RIGHT, OTHER THINGS INEVITABLY IMPROVE. KAREN SAYS THAT CHILD POVERTY AND RISING POVERTY IN GENERAL IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY VOTING ISSUES FOR HER, SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GAP BETWEEN THE WELL OFF AND THE STRUGGLING POPULATION AND NEW ZEALAND HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL PUT TO CHRIS HIPKINS TOMORROW, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT LATER ON IN THE WEEK WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL. IS AT AN ISSUE FOR YOU? IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK, IF YOU CAN LIFT THOSE IN OUR SOCIETY THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE, THAT IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BENEFIT ALL OF SOCIETY. E WHAI AKE NEI ` WE CATCH UP WITH ZION DAYAL IN TAMPA FLORIDA AS THE ALL WHITES PREPARE FOR THEIR WORLD CUP OPENER AGAINST IRAN. VOICEOVER: The new Subway Footlong Peri Peri-Style Chicken Sub. Hot grilled chicken. Freshly cut salad. Tangy and spicy peri peri sauce. Made fresh, just for you. Good food. Good value. That's Subway. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` A RESEARCHER SAYS MORE MUST BE DONE FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN HARDSHIP AFTER A NEW STUDY HAS FOUND MORE THAN 33,000 KIWI YOUTHS ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. TWO PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A SERIOUS FLEEING DRIVER INCIDENT IN HASTINGS. DANISH FOOTBALLER CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN HAS COLLAPSED DURING A FRIENDLY AGAINST UKRAINE BUT IS CONSCIOUS AFTER RECEIVING TREATMENT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) LOOK AT THAT! LIKE A BIT OF THAT? THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP IS NOW JUST DAYS AWAY, AND THE ALL WHITES HAVE HAD A TOUGH WARM-UP AGAINST ONE OF THE TOURNAMENT FAVOURITES. NEW ZEALAND LOST 1-0 TO ENGLAND IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, WITH ENGLAND CAPTAIN HARRY KANE SCORING THE ONLY GOAL. 1NEWS SPORTS REPORTER ZION DAYAL IS THERE FOR US AND JOINS US NOW. YOU SPOKE TO THE GREAT MAN HIMSELF, HARRY KANE, IN THE TUNNEL. HOW WAS THAT? WHAT A 24-HOUR AS IT HAS BEEN. IT HAS BEEN 24-HOUR SINCE THE GAME, AND I AM STILL ON A MASSIVE HIGH. THE WHOLE SPECTACLE, THE STADIUM, THE PLAYERS. THESE ARE GUYS THAT YOU AND I BOTH WATCH ALL THE TIME. I GOT TO SPEAK TO HIM. I WILL PLAY OUT THIS CLIP, AND I WANT TO CALL IT WHEN HARRY MET ZION I DON'T GET NERVOUS DURING INTERVIEWS, BUT WE'VE GOT A BIG ONE COMING UP AND I REALLY, REALLY DON'T WANT TO SCREW IT UP. CHRIS, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU. ZION FROM TVNZ, HOW ARE YOU? ALL GOOD. HARRY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RESULT. CAN I JUST ASK, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE ALL WHITES PERFORMANCE? THEY'RE A TEAM RANKED QUITE LOW AT THIS WORLD CUP. DO YOU THINK THEY CAN CAUSE AN UPSET FROM WHAT YOU SAW THEM PLAYING OUT THERE? YEAH, CREDIT TO THEM, YOU KNOW. THEY'VE DONE WELL TODAY. THEY MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR US AT TIMES. THEY DEFENDED` DEFENDED WELL, DEFENDED THEIR BOX REALLY WELL. SO YEAH,FOR SURE THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. YOU KNOW, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE EXPECTING MUCH FOR THEM. BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETIMES WHEN TEAMS CAN BE DANGEROUS. SO YEAH, FOR US IT WAS A TOUGH PREPARATION GAME. IT WASN'T EASY IN THE HEAT AND THE PITCH, OF COURSE, BUT UM, YEAH WE ONLY WE ONLY WON 1-0. WE HAD A FEW CHANCES, BUT OVERALL IT WAS A TOUGH GAME. YOU'RE A GOOD MAN. THANK YOU MATE. APPRECIATE IT. I'M NOT GOING TO CRY. I'M NOT GOING TO CRY. I'M NOT GOING TO CRY. I'M NOT GOING TO CRY. (LAUGHS) YOU NAILED IT. ABSOLUTELY NAILED IT, ZION. THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. PEOPLE LIVING OUT THEIR DREAMS. HE IS THE GREATEST NUMBER NINE ON THE PLANET. I DON'T ACTUALLY GET NERVOUS WHEN I AM INTERVIEWING PLAYERS. I DIDN'T WANT TO SCREW UP THE QUESTION OR HESITATE. HE IS A PERSON WITH SO MUCH AURA AROUND HIM, SO RECOGNISED IN FOOTBALL CIRCLES AROUND THE WORLD. IT WAS A CAREER HIGHLIGHT TO SPEAK TO HARRY KANE. AND I THINK BY THAT ANSWER AS WELL, HE WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF THE ALL WHITES TEAM. BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO, BECAUSE I KNOW TAMPA IS CALLING YOU. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE GAME, AND WAS IT A BIT OF A TASTER OF WHAT THINGS MIGHT BE LIKE AT THE WORLD CUP IN TERMS OF THE VIBE AND THE SIZE OF THINGS? WE WERE THERE AROUND TAMPA AND SPEAKING TO UBER DRIVERS AND PEOPLE DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY WILL BE THERE. THERE WERE CLOSE TO 26,000, AND IT IS A HUGE STADIUM. IT FELT LIKE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE. THERE WERE A LOT OF ENGLISH FANS THERE THAT WERE VERY, VERY PASSIONATE. ESPECIALLY AS THE GAME GOES DEEPER AND THEY CAN DRINK IN THE STANDS. THEY WERE VERY WELL-BEHAVED. THEY WON. A LOT OF AMERICAN FANS AS WELL, THAT OBVIOUSLY EITHER SUPPORT NEW ZEALAND OR THE USA. BUT THERE IS FOOTBALL IN THEIR CITY. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HOT FOR THE PLAYERS. A LOT OF THEM WERE STRUGGLING. THE TAILGATING OUTSIDE WERE PHENOMENAL. WE WALKED IN, AND THERE WERE PEOPLE TAILGATING. IT WAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BUT A REALLY COOL ONE. IT IS GOING TO BUILD AND BUILD AS IT GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO SAN DIEGO TO FOLLOW THE ALL-WHITE. SEE WHAT FOOTBALL MEGASTARS YOU CAN FIND. I THINK HE PEAKED TO SOON. NO, HE WANTS TO START STRONG AND KEEP GOING ON. BUILDING MOMENTUM. I THINK I SHRIEKED SO LOUDLY. MESSI AND RONALDO ARE THE NEXT TWO TICK OFF THE LIST. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. Where did that come from? A total mystery. VOICEOVER: Mystery damage can come out of nowhere... Good thing Tower instantly approves over 87% of online car claims. Get $100 off new comprehensive car insurance today. Ts and Cs apply. VOICEOVER: The new Subway Korean-style BBQ Steak Sub. Loaded with tender steak. Freshly cut salad. Sweet, spicy BBQ glaze. Good food. Good value. That's Subway. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY IS MEETING EUROPEAN LEADERS IN BRITAIN FOR TALKS ON SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. ZELENSKY ARRIVED IN THE UK ON SUNDAY FOR BILATERAL TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER. HE IS NOW AT DOWNING STREET FOR A FORMAL MEETING WITH STARMER, FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, AND GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ. ZELENSKY SAYS HE IS URGING EUROPEAN LEADERS TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO HELP BRING AN END TO THE WAR WITH RUSSIA. WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL ISN'T RULING OUT ANY POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SATURDAY'S TRAIN CRASH. SEVERAL PASSENGERS WERE INJURED WHEN THE JOHNSONVILLE COMMUTER RAIL WAS DIVERTED ONTO A DEAD-END TRACK NEAR KHANDALLAH. INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOW UNDERWAY, BUT GREATER WELLINGTON CEO DARAN PONTER WARNS IT COULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE PUBLIC LEARN ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING IMMEDIATE THAT NEEDS TO TRANSLATE TO THE NETWORK AND HOW WE OPERATE OUR TRAINS ` THAT WILL BE KNOWN AND COMMUNICATED BY THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION. BUT GENERALLY, THESE SITES ARE TREATED LIKE A CRIME SCENE, IF YOU LIKE. AND SO IT IS QUITE A FORENSIC EXERCISE TO GO THROUGH AND REALLY FIND THE ROOT CAUSE, AND THEY WILL TAKE THEIR TIME TO DO THAT. POINTER SAYS BUSES WILL BE REPLACING THE RAIL SERVICE UNTIL THURSDAY. A NEW REPORT HAS FOUND NEW ZEALAND'S RED MEAT SECTOR GENERATES NEARLY $50b ANNUAL SPENDING ACROSS THE ECONOMY. THE STUDY FOUND THE SECTOR EARNS $12.8b IN EXPORT REVENUE EACH YEAR AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 120,000 JOBS WITH BENEFITS FLOWING WELL BEYOND FARMS AND PROCESSING PLANTS INTO REGIONAL COMMUNITIES. INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY THE FINDINGS REINFORCE THE SECTOR'S STATUS AS AN 'ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE' AND WILL HELP GUIDE FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. ?*1 - READER? SOME BREAKING NEWS ` THERE ARE REPORTS IRAN HAS FIRED MISSILES TOWARD ISRAEL, SPARKING FEARS THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST WILL BOIL OVER. A SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIAL HAS DESCRIBED IRAN'S STRIKES AS A DECLARATION OF WAR. IT COMES AS IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER WARNED ISRAELI STRIKES IN BEIRUT RISKED IGNITING A WIDER WAR ACROSS THE REGION AFTER ISRAEL CONTINUED ATTACKS ON LEBANON IN THEIR WAR WITH HEZBOLLAH. JORJA MILLER HAS BEEN CROWNED WORLD RUGBY SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. IT WAS A BRIGHT SPOT FOR NEW ZEALAND AFTER DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE FINAL IN BORDEAUX, LOSING TO AUSTRALIA 26-19. BACK IT COMES NOW FOR KELSEY TENETI. SHAVE GOING TO CHASE AT THE END. NEW ZEALAND ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY, BUT IT'S ACADEMIC. (WHISTLE BLOWS) TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR THE BLACK FERNS. THEIR TRANS-TASMAN RIVALS WINNING THE OVERALL WORLD AS WELL. THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS ALSO DENIED IN THE FINAL, LOSING 14-5 TO HOSTS FRANCE. ALEXANDER ZVEREV HAS WON HIS FIRST GRAND SLAM TITLE, DEFEATING FLAVIO COBOLLI IN THE FRENCH OPEN FINAL. THE 29-YEAR-OLD OUTLASTING HIS ITALIAN OPPONENT IN A MARATHON FIVE-SETTER. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THE WAIT IS OVER FOR ALEXANDER ZVEREV. HE'S THE FIRST GERMAN MAN TO WIN A SLAM SINCE BORIS BECKER IN 1996. WE DON'T BACK HIM THOUGH, EH? AND FINALLY ` THE DANES GOT OUT THEIR MANES FOR DENMARK'S ANNUAL MULLET CHAMPIONSHIPS. (TRIUMPHANT ROCK MUSIC PLAYS) (DEEP PURPLE'S 'SMOKE ON THE WATER' PLAYS) THAT IS SO GOOD. I WANT TO GO. MORE THAN 1000 SPECTATORS GATHERED TO WATCH 12 WELL-GROOMED MULLETEERS COMPETE FOR THE CHAMPION TITLE. THIS IS MY KIND OF SPORT. THEY WERE JUDGED ON THEIR CUT'S STYLE, UNIQUENESS AND THEIR MULLET MOVES. ONE JUDGE SAYING THEY LIKE IF IT LOOKS UGLY IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY. A CONSTRUCTION WORKER (43) EVENTUALLY CLAIMED VICTORY. AMAZING. BEAUTIFUL STUFF. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (FUNKY MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. MAINLY FINE IN THE NORTH. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA DOWN TO WHITIANGA. GUSTY AFTERNOON WINDS FOR HAMILTON. MOSTLY FINE IN TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR TOKOROA THROUGH TO TAUPO. FINE FOR GISBORNE DOWN TO HASTINGS. THE ODD SHOWER FOR DANNEVIRKE THROUGH TO WHANGANUI. MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND THE CAPITAL. 20 IS THE HIGH IN NAPIER. 15 IN ROTORUA. SKIES TURNING GREY FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH. MOSTLY FINE WITH OCCASIONAL CLOUD FOR NELSON DOWN TO KAIKOURA. SHOWERS THROUGH TO HOKITIKA. CHANCE OF RAIN IN CHRISTCHURCH. CLOUD CLEARING TO FINE FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. POSSIBLE SHOWERS AND STRONG MORNING WINDS FOR OAMARU THROUGH TO GORE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTS IN INVERCARGILL. SHOWERS FOR STEWART ISLAND. 18 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. 13 IN MILFORD SOUND. BNZ BUSINESS BREAKFAST HOST MEI HERON IS WITH US. MEI, YOU'VE TAKEN A DEEP DIVE INTO THE VALUE OF START-UPS TO OUR ECONOMY. YES, THE STARTUP SCENE IS REALLY GROWING. IT HAS REALLY GROWN OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES. TECH IS NOW NEW ZEALAND'S THIRD LARGEST EXPORT BEHIND DAIRY AND TOURISM. IT GENERATES $1 BILLION ANNUALLY. STARTUPS NOW START LOOKING GLOBALLY FROM THE MOMENT THEY START. AN ORGANISATION HELPING THEM DO THIS IS THE MINISTRY IN CHRISTCHURCH. TAKE A LISTEN TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE. IN YEARS PAST, THERE WAS A CAPITAL PROBLEM ` MONEY INVESTED FROM PRIVATE ENTITIES. I DON'T THINK THAT IS AS MUCH A PROBLEM ANYMORE. I THINK THE TERMS ON WHICH THOSE ARE BEING PRESENTED TO FOUNDERS ARE BETTER FOR THE COMPANIES TO SUCCEED AND GROW OUTSIDE OF NEW ZEALAND. THE OTHER AREA THAT I THINK WE'RE IMPROVING IS IN WHAT I WOULD CALL RECYCLING ENTREPRENEURIAL TALENT. SO WE'RE SEEING COMPANIES LIKE ROCKET LAB PRODUCE THE FOUNDERS OF A NEW WAVE OF START-UPS LIKE HALTER OR PARTLY OR VESSEV. WE NEED TO TREAT THIS ` THE START-UP ECOSYSTEM ` AS ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW ZEALAND. IT'S NOT A SIDE PROJECT. WE DON'T JUST SIT AND WATCH AND HOPE THAT IT HAPPENS. IF WE CAN GET IN, GET A MORE LONG-TERM STRUCTURED INVESTMENT, PARTICULARLY BY GOVERNMENT AT THE VERY EARLY STAGE, WE'LL GET A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF START-UPS THAT STAY IN NEW ZEALAND. THEY STAY ANCHORED HERE. THIS ORGANISATION HAS A VERY HIGH SUCCESS RATE. FOR THEM, ANY ORGANISATION THAT THEY WORK UP AFTER FIVE YEARS OF BEING A STARTUP THEY ARE STILL EXISTING 75% OF THE TIME. THE AVERAGE IN THE WORLD IS ONLY 10%, SO THEY ARE DOING QUITE AWESOME. IT IS NOT OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRY. YOU'D BE DOING WELL TO LAND THAT JOB, WOULDN'T YOU? PRIME MINISTER OF AWESOME. AWESOME. VISUAL OF AWESOME, CHIEF POLICY ADVISOR, AWESOME. E HAERE AKE NEI. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK. VOICEOVER: We all know the rules. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) The pantry piece is just the piece you eat while you decide whether or not you're going to eat a piece. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) Hello Chocolate Lovers! WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` THERE ARE REPORTS IRAN HAS FIRED MISSILES TOWARD ISRAEL, SPARKING FEARS THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST WILL BOIL OVER. WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL ISN'T RULING OUT ANY POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SATURDAY'S TRAIN CRASH THAT SAW SEVERAL PASSENGERS INJURED WHEN THE JOHNSONVILLE COMMUTER RAIL DIVERTED ON TO A DEAD-END TRACK. ALEXANDER ZVEREV HAS WON HIS FIRST GRAND SLAM TITLE, DEFEATING FLAVIO COBOLLI IN THE FRENCH OPEN FINAL. A KIWI CLOTHING BRAND IS FACING MOUNTING SCRUTINY OVER CLAIMS IT USED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO RECREATE THE FACE OF A FORMER MODEL. ELIJAH TIMMINS-SCANLON SAYS HIS LIKENESS APPEARED IN A RECENT HUFFER CAMPAIGN, DESPITE NOT BEING INVOLVED. THE COMPANY STRONGLY DENIES THE ALLEGATION, BUT THE CONTROVERSY HAS INTENSIFIED AFTER IT BLOCKED TIMMINS-SCANLON WHEN HE RAISED CONCERNS ONLINE. BRAND EXPERT STEVE BALLANTYNE FROM THE NEW ZEALAND MARKETING ASSOCIATION JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I AM NOT FROM NEW ZEALAND MARKETING ASSOCIATION, I JUST TEACH THERE. APOLOGIES FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME. WE WERE HAVING A CHAT IN THE BREAK ABOUT THE BENEFITS THAT AI IS BRINGING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY COMES TO SOMEONE'S LIKENESS BEING USED. HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU WITH THAT? I SUPPOSE IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT LOOKING AT THE IMAGES, THEY DO LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE HIM, BUT WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS ARE BUILT IN AI, THERE IS A LOT OF NUANCE WHICH OFTEN MEANS THAT YOU CAN END UP THERE UNINTENTIONALLY. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT ALL OF THE PLATFORMS OFTEN HAVE AN AESTHETIC BIAS TO THEM. YOU PUT A GENERAL PROMPT IN THERE, THEY WILL` PARTICULARLY PLATFORMS LIKE MID JOURNEY, THEY WILL HAVE A BIAS FOR SUPER GOOD-LOOKING PEOPLE WITH ARCHETYPAL GOOD LOOKS. YOU HAVE TO PROMPT AGAINST THAT TO NOT END UP IN A PLACE THAT LOOKS QUITE FAMILIAR. THIS RESEMBLANCE ISSUE IS A BIT OF AN ISSUE ALL AROUND THE WORLD WITH AI AT THE MOMENT. IT CAN HAPPEN UNINTENTIONALLY. SO BASICALLY IT IS THE PROMPTS. AI ONLY DOES WHAT IT CAN SEE IN FRONT OF IT, RIGHT? IT IS TRYING TO INTERPRET FROM THE DATA IT HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL. WITH IMAGES YOU CAN EITHER USE A VERY DETAILED TEXT PROMPT OR YOU CAN USE AN IMAGE PROMPT. IN OTHER WORDS, PUT AN IMAGE IN THERE AND REPLICATE ME AND CREATE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS IDENTICALLY LIKE ME. THERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS ALSO DRAWING FROM ALL THAT DIGITIZED IMAGE DATA ON THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOMETIMES THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE IN A CATEGORY OF MODELS WHO HAVE A PARTICULAR KIND OF LOOK AND THEY ARE PARTICULAR IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, THERE ARCHETYPAL LOOKS. OFTEN THE AI IS REFERENCING THEM AND PICKING UP ON THAT UNINTENTIONALLY. DO YOU THINK THAT THE BACKLASH IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT A MODELS LIKE NESS MIGHT BE USED, OR IS IT A BACKLASH TO THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY USING THE AI? IT IS A REAL HOT ISSUE. I HAVE EVEN HAD DEATH THREATS ONLINE FROM POSTING AI IMAGE CONTENT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT IS REALLY POLARISING. DO PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING DUPED OR SOMETHING? REPLACED. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN PHOTOSHOP CAME OUT AND I WAS A DESIGNER AT THE TIME. THERE WAS A LOT OF BACKLASH AROUND PHOTOSHOP, AROUND FAKERY OF IT, THE FACT THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHERS JOBS, IT IS GOING TO TAKE DESIGNERS JOBS. THIS IS A NEW, BUT WITH AI IT IS BIGGER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES, EVEN WITH MODELS, THEY WOULD USE PHOTOSHOP WITH THEIR IMAGES. ABSOLUTELY, CHRIS. THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FABRICATING PEOPLE FOR DECADES. I WORKED BACK IN THE DAY WHERE YOU WOULD SHOOT VERY BEAUTIFUL, ATTRACTIVE MODELS AND THEN YOU SPEND ALL OF YOUR TIME IN PHOTOSHOP TAKING OUT THE BLEMISHES AND CHANGING BACKGROUNDS. IT IS STILL THEIR OWN SELVES THOUGH, ISN'T IT? YES, THAT IS A GOOD POINT. IS THERE A LINE THAT NEEDS TO BE DRAWN, IS THERE AN INSTANCE WHERE NAI HAS INNOCENTLY RE-CREATED SOMEONE'S LIKENESS EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT HAVE INTENDED TO THAT THERE HAS TO BE A LINE WHERE WE JUST CANNOT USE THAT BECAUSE IT CLEARLY LOOKS TOO MUCH LIKE THE OTHER MODEL THAT WE USED TO USE? I THINK THERE IS. AND I THINK AT THE MOMENT, THAT IS REALLY PROBABLY MORE OF A VALUE JUDGMENT, AND ETHICAL DECISION THEN IS LEGAL DECISION, BECAUSE THE LAWS, AS WE WERE SAYING EARLIER, JUST HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THIS. THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH AI AT THE MOMENT IS THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING AHEAD AT SUCH A RAPID RATE THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD CAN KEEP UP WITH THE COPYRIGHT LAWS AROUND IT. ALL COMPANIES HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN POLICIES AROUND AI USE. SURELY WITH THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY, THE JUDGMENT SHOULD BE LET'S NOT DO OVER NEW ZEALAND MODELS BY USING IMAGES THAT LOOK QUITE A LOT LIKE THEM? YOU ARE RIGHT, BUT OFTEN IT IS JUST A VALUE JUDGMENT. SOMETIMES WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE PUSHING A BOUNDARY LITTLE BIT YOU MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION ON. I THINK UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS SITUATION, AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW THE IMAGE WAS CREATED, THE EXACT PROCESS, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THE UNFORTUNATE THING HERE IS THAT A LOT OF THE DEBATES TAKING PLACE IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. I GUESS, AND I DON'T OF THIS FOR SURE, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN HOFFER AND THE TALENT AGENCY BEFORE HE WENT PUBLIC. HAVING BEEN IN THAT POSITION, WHEN YOU LIGHT A BONFIRE PUBLICLY TO PROTECT YOUR BRAND, YOU SORT OF NEED TO SHUT THAT DOWN QUITE QUICKLY BECAUSE IT CAN GET REALLY HOT VERY, VERY FAST. I HAVE HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME IN THE UK WHERE A POST ABOUT AI PHOTOGRAPHY COMPLETELY BLEW UP AND GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND I HAD TO BLOCK A FEW PEOPLE. WELCOME TO MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THERE ARE SO MANY LAYERS. I REMEMBER AS A COVER REPORTER DOING A STORY ABOUT FAST FASHION STEALING DESIGNS FROM DESIGNERS, AND I WAS TALKING TO AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYER AT THE TIME, AND IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE IF YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE ON THE DESIGN THE YOU ARE PUTTING OUT FROM THE ONE THAT YOU CLEARLY RIPPED OFF THAN YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, SAME WITH SONGS AND THINGS. IT SOUNDS WE ARE GOING THAT WAY WITH AI TOO. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION, YOU CAN ALWAYS GET IN TOUCH WITH US. HIT US UP. HEAPS OF FEEDBACK COMING IN OVER WHETHER CHILD POVERTY IS AND ISSUE YOU VOTE ON. SOMEONE SAYS IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE ISSUE IS COST-OF-LIVING, AND I DON'T SEE WHY GOVERNMENTS CAN'T LIMIT PROFIT MARGINS ON ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHY CAN'T SUPERMARKETS BE LIMITED FROM MAKING MORE THAN 50% ON FOOD PRODUCTS. OTHERS SAY THAT IT IS TIME THAT FINANCIAL ADVISORS FIND OUT WHAT FAMILIES ARE SPINNING THEIR MONEY ON AND SET THEM UP WITH A BUDGET. COMING UP ` CHARLOTTE MULDER'S AT THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM IN CHRISTCHURCH TO SEE THE MASSIVE DISPLAY THAT'S HELPING TELL THE STORY OF TWO KIWI AVIATION LEGENDS. THAT'S RIGHT. JUST OVER 7 M AND 5 M HIGH. THESE TWO TALES DON'T BELONG TO ANY COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE. WE ARE FINDING OUT THEIR HISTORY, WHERE THEY COME FROM, AND ALL THE GOOD STUFF YOU WILL BE WANTING TO KNOW AFTER THE BREAK. VOICEOVER: Horizontal. The position unanimously agreed by mankind as the most comfortable of all resting positions. And that's why there's a new way you can fly horizontal in economy. Introducing the world-first Economy Skynest. Swap time in your seat for time off your feet. Book your horizontal hours today. A NEW EXHIBITION AT THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED, AND IT'S HARD TO MISS, FEATURING THE ENORMOUS TAILS OF TWO RETIRED AIRCRAFT. THESE THINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE, GIVING VISITORS A REAL SENSE OF THE SCALE OF THE HERCULES AND ORION AIRCRAFT THAT SERVED NEW ZEALAND FOR DECADES. SO NATURALLY, WE SENT OUR REPORTER CHARLOTTE MULDER ALONG. CHARLOTTE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY HUGE. WE HAVE ROBIN HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT IT THIS MORNING. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS EXHIBITION IS. WHAT KIND OF OVER BRIEF TO GIVE PEOPLE? WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THIS EXHIBITION. THESE TALES ARE VERY VERY TALL. WE WERE UNABLE TO STORE THEM WITH DETAILS ATTACHED. THEY HAVE BEEN ON DISPLACEMENTS FRIDAY. WHAT HAS THE FEEDBACK BEEN LIKE? FABULOUS. PEOPLE ARE IN AWE OF THE SCALE OF THE TALES. WE HAVE HERCULES RIGHT HERE. 7.4 M HIGH AND 11-POINT-SOMETHING... I DID A LIVE CROSS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND I WAS SITTING INSIDE HERCULES. IT WAS AMAZING. IT IS KNOWN AS THE UTE OF THE SKY. IT HAS FLOWN IN EXCESS OF 33,000 HOURS. MY EARLIEST MEMORY IS OF THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE WHEN IT DELIVERED THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES. A LOT OF RICH HISTORY. ABSOLUTELY. IT TAKES CARGO ALL AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS READY FOR DISASTER RELIEF IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU FOLLOW US, WE WILL BE CHECKING OUT THEIR ORION. I JUST GOT TOLD IT IS 5.2 M HIGH. IT IS INVOLVED IN PROTECTING THE ECONOMIC ZONE AND SEARCH AND RESCUE. HOW MUCH DOES IT MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO VISIT THESE AIRCRAFT? THEY HAVE IMPACTED SO MANY LIVES. BEING ABLE TO SEE THEM UP CLOSE IS SPECIAL. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM AFTER THE EXHIBITION? THIS EXHIBITION WILL BE IN PLACE UNTIL WE RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD A HOME TO STORE THEM. WE WANT TO RAISE MONEY SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THEIR STORIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE ARE REALLY KEEN TO GET SOME SUPPORT. EXACTLY. WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING, ROBIN. IF YOU ARE IN CHRISTCHURCH, COME ALONG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND MY HOUSE. STILL TO COME ON BREAKFAST THIS MORNING ` A FULLY AI-GENERATED FEATURE-LENGTH FILM IS SET TO PREMIERE IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK. WHAT WILL ITS IMPACT HAVE ON VIEWERS AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE? ALSO AHEAD ` WELLINGTON GETS READY TO HOST ITS ANNUAL ARTS, MUSIC, FILM AND FOOD FESTIVAL. AND YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS ONE ` WE HAVE SOME BRAVE SOULS INCLUDING BLAIR TUKE AND OUR OWN CHRISTINA HUANG TAKING A CHILLY OCEAN DIP FOR A GOOD CAUSE JUST BEFORE 9. IT'S 8 O'CLOCK. HERE'S THE NEWS. THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE ARE SAYING IT HAS INTERCEPTED 'ALL THE MISSILES LAUNCHED FROM IRAN SO FAR'. THIS FOLLOWS REPORTS IRAN FIRED BALLISTIC MISSILES TOWARD ISRAEL, WITH ONE SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY DESCRIBING THE STRIKES AS A DECLARATION OF WAR. IT COMES AS ISRAELI'S SECURITY NATIONAL MINISTER ITAMAR BEN-GVIR POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING, QUOTE, 'TONIGHT TEHRAN MUST BURN.' WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THE STORY DEVELOPS. OVER A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FILLED MADRID'S STREETS FOR AN OPEN-AIR MASS WITH POPE LEO. WORSHIPPERS SHOUTED 'LONG LIVE THE POPE' AND THREW PETALS AS HE MADE HIS WAY THROUGH THE CITY. THE POPE USED HIS SERMON TO URGE SOLIDARITY WITH SOCIETY'S POOR AND DOWNTRODDEN. HE WILL ALSO VISIT BARCELONA AND THE CANARY ISLANDS ON HIS WEEK-LONG VISIT TO SPAIN. FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS SAYS THE LATEST YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FIGURES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND NOT OK. A NEW REPORT HAS REVEALED MORE THAN 33,000 KIWI KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING VARYING FORMS OF HOMELESSNESS, CAUSING THEM TO MISS HEALTHCARE, AND FALL BEHIND AT SCHOOL. FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS SAYS THE SURVEY'S DATA RELATES TO A PERIOD BEFORE THE COALITION WAS IN OFFICE BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS UNMET NEED. WE AGREE WITH THE REPORT AUTHPRS THAT PRIORITISING CHILDREN MATTERS. SINCE COMING INTO OFFICE, WE HAVE REDUCED THE STATE HOUSING WAITING LIST, WE HAVE BUILT THOUSANDS OF MORE SOCIAL HOMES, WE HAVE FUNDED ADDITIONAL PLACES IN SOCIAL HOMES. WILLIS SAYS REFORMS TO THE HOUSING SYSTEM WILL MEAN GOVERNMENT IS BETTER ABLE TO DELIVER. GREENS CO-LEADER MARAMA DAVIDSON HAS APOLOGISED AFTER BEING CAUGHT ON CAMERA SPEEDING. IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST DAVIDSON ADMITTED TO DRIVING 11kph OVER THE SPEED LIMIT ON STATE HIGHWAY 1 YESTERDAY. SHE SAYS SHE COMPLETELY ACCEPTS THE ERROR AND IT IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT FOR HER. DANISH FOOTBALLER CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN HAS COLLAPSED DURING A FRIENDLY MATCH AGAINST UKRAINE. THE 34-YEAR-OLD BRIEFLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS BUT WAS ABLE TO WALK HIMSELF OFF THE PITCH. A DANISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION STATEMENT SAYS 'ERIKSEN IS 'CONSCIOUS AND IS DOING WELL UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES'. ERIKSEN PREVIOUSLY SUFFERED A CARDIAC ARREST WHILE PLAYING FINLAND IN 2021 AND HAD TO BE RESUSCITATED ON PITCH. HE WAS FITTED WITH A SPECIAL HEART-STARTING DEVICE AND RETURNED TO FOOTBALL IN 2022. LIAM LAWSON HAS MATCHED HIS CAREER BEST RESULT, FINISHING FIFTH IN A DRAMATIC MONACO GRAND PRIX. STARTING AT 10TH ON THE GRID, THE KIWI MADE IT THROUGH UNSCATHED AS CHAOS UNFOLDED AHEAD OF HIM. HE IS DEEFINITELY OUT OF HIS HOME RACE! WE ARE GOING TO GET ANOTHER SAFETY CAR. AND IT'S ALL GONE WRONG FOR WITH THE WAY THESE RACES ARE GOING AT THE MOMENT, QUITE A LOT OF WITH THE WAY THESE RACES ARE GOING AT THE MOMENT, QUITE A LOT OF CARS RETIRING... AND ISSUES, THINGS LIKE THAT, IT IS FOR US TO TRY AND CAPITALISE ON. WE DID IT IN CANADA AND WE HAVE SORT OF DONE IT AGAIN HERE. JUST SORT OF SURVIVING AT THE MOMENT IS GIVING US POINTS. THE RACE WON BY PHENOM KIMI ANTONELLI (19) FROM POLE POSITION, HIS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY. FORMER ALL BLACK TONY BROWN IS RETURNING HOME, JOINING DAVE RENNIE'S STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH FROM 2028. THE 51-YEAR-OLD IS CURRENTLY AN ASSISTANT COACH WITH THE SPRINGBOKS, BUT HIS CONTRACT IS SET TO END AFTER NEXT YEAR'S RUGBY WORLD CUP. THE FORMER HIGHLANDERS COACH SIGNING WITH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY ON A TWO-YEAR DEAL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEVE LANCASTER CALLING HIM A 'WORLD CLASS COACH.' AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FLOODED MEXICO CITY'S BIGGEST BOULEVARD, ATTEMPTING TO BREAK A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR THE LARGEST MEXICAN WAVE. THIS COMES AS THE COUNTRY PREPARES TO HOST THE FIFA WORLD CUP, 40 YEARS AFTER THE FAMOUS MEXICAN WAVE APPARENTLY FIRST GAINED GLOBAL RECOGNITION. GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS ARE YET TO CONFIRM IF THE RECORD HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN BROKEN. I AM NOT EVEN CONVINCED THAT AS A MEXICAN WAVE. IT IS JUST PEOPLE WAVING SPORADICALLY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARKETS. (CHILL MUSIC) AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. MAINLY FINE IN THE NORTH. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA DOWN TO WHITIANGA. GUSTY AFTERNOON WINDS FOR HAMILTON. MOSTLY FINE IN TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR TOKOROA THROUGH TO TAUPO. FINE FOR GISBORNE DOWN TO HASTINGS. THE ODD SHOWER FOR DANNEVIRKE THROUGH TO WHANGANUI. MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND THE CAPITAL. 20 IS THE HIGH IN NAPIER. 15 IN ROTORUA. SKIES TURNING GREY FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH. MOSTLY FINE WITH OCCASIONAL CLOUD FOR NELSON DOWN TO KAIKOURA. SHOWERS THROUGH TO HOKITIKA. CHANCE OF RAIN IN CHRISTCHURCH. CLOUD CLEARING TO FINE FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. POSSIBLE SHOWERS AND STRONG MORNING WINDS FOR OAMARU THROUGH TO GORE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTS IN INVERCARGILL. SHOWERS FOR STEWART ISLAND. 18 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. 13 IN MILFORD SOUND. OUR SPORTS PANELLISTS HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED ONE OF THE TEAMS THAT IS NOT GOING TO THE WORLD CUP FROM THE FLAGS AND BUNTING. THERE ARE TWO. COSTA RICA WILL NOT BE IN THE WORLD CUP. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEM. AFTER THE BEATING BY HAITI, WHICH I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SAW COMING. ENGLAND ONE, NEW ZEALAND ZERO. ON PAPER, THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD RESULT. WHAT ARE WE, THE LOWEST RANKED TEAM? THEY WILL BE BUOYED BY THAT. I THINK MARK IS RIGHT. YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT RESULT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT GIVEN THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A TRAINING GAME FOR ENGLAND. I DON'T THINK DARREN BAZELEY HAS GOT HIS STARTING 11 YET. A GUARANTEED SPOT MIGHT NOT BE THERE. A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS TO MAKE AND STILL CONNECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE FORMED. MAYBE IT IS JUST BECAUSE I AM IN THE JESSE RANDOLPH FAN CLUB... ELI JUSTIN AND JESSE RANDALL ARE ONES THAT CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE CREATIVITY. YOU DISAGREE? GOING FORWARD, WE NEED MORE OPTIONS. YOU ARE RIGHT THERE. I FEEL LIKE WE PANIC AROUND HIM. IT IS LATE, GET THE BALL, CHRIS. WE SHOWED THE WINDOW EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WE CAN PLAY WITHOUT HIM. I THINK GETTING THAT MIDFIELD RATE IS KEY IN TERMS OF HOW WE BUILD. I DON'T THINK SANPREET SINGH PROBABLY HAD THE GAME OF HIS LIFE. BEQUEST AND IS. I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD START WITH JESSE RANDALL THOUGH. GAME BREAKER. SAW IT AGAINST FINLAND. I THOUGHT THE BEST PLAYER YESTERDAY WAS... NOW THERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHY HE IS NOT ON THE SQUAD. I THINK JESSE RANDALL IS THE BIGGEST TALENT TO COME OUT OF FOOTBALL FOR NEW ZEALAND. HE JUST HAS THE X FACTOR. I DON'T THINK HE HAD BEEN PLAYING AT 12 AUCKLAND FC THE LAST FEW ROUNDS. I JUST THINK HE HASN'T HAD ENOUGH EXPERIENCE. SUPER RUGBY ` CONCUSSIONS ARE MASSIVE ISSUE. THIS AS HEAD INJURY. THIS IS BRAIN TRAUMA. WHEN WE SAW CHIEFS FIRST 58 DAMIEN MCKENZIE GET KNOCKED OUT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS. I THINK A GOOD QUESTION IS WOULD YOU SEND YOUR KIDS BACK OUT THERE? ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC IN REGARDS TO WHAT WE SAW THERE. WOULD YOU SERIOUSLY PUT YOUR OWN KIDS BACK OUT THERE? I WOULDN'T. ONE PLAYER IS DEEMED TO HAVE COMMITTED A TACKLE SO SEVERE THAT HE HAS OWNED A RED CARD. IF THE REFEREES ARE SAYING THAT AS A RED CARD... THE MOUTHGUARD WAS MEANT TO ALERT THEM. IT IS A BIT LIKE TECHNOLOGY. IF GOOGLE MAPS TAKES YOU THE WRONG PLACE, YOU DRIVE PAST YOUR DESTINATION YET STILL FOLLOW THE GPS. PEOPLE END UP WITH PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE AS A RESULT. I THINK YOU LOOK OVER AT FOOTBALL, FOR EXAMPLE. A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND AUCKLAND FC PLAYER HAD A REALLY BAD HEAD KNOCK. FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE GETTING HALF THE IMPACT OF THESE FOOTBALL PLAYERS, NOT EVEN THAT. HE DIDN'T WANT TO COME OFF THE FIELD. HE WAS ASSESSED. THEY EVENTUALLY MADE THE CALL THAT HE NEEDED TO COME OFF. ONE COACH SAID HE PULLED OFF A PLAYER AND SAID HE DOES NOT NEED A DOCTOR TO TELL IF IT IS OKAY OR NOT OKAY BECAUSE IT IS A HEAD INJURY. THERE WAS A TIME PLAYER WHO TOOK A HEAD KNOCK PRIOR TO THE GAME. GOT ANOTHER ONE AND ENDED UP WITH A BRAIN BLEED THAT ALMOST KILLED HIM. I KEEP REEMPHASISE AND, WOULD YOU PUT YOUR KIDS BACK IN? THERE IS A REPUTATION OF LEGALISED PRISON VIOLENCE. THEIR DUTY OF CARE IS GREATER TOWARDS THEIR FIGHTERS THAN RUGBY. ANOTHER BIT OF NEWS OUT OF RUGBY WORLD ` TONY BROWN RETURNING FOR THE ALL BLACKS. IT IS PRETTY PROACTIVE. HE STILL HAS ANOTHER YEAR WITH SOUTH AFRICA. UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD CUP. IT IS A HUGE STATEMENT. TO BE SO PROACTIVE AND MAKE THESE BIG CALLS. IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE A HEAD COACH HAS NOT BEEN NAMED. WHY DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING SO LONG TERM THERE? YOU CAN'T LET HIM GO ANYWHERE ELSE. SO WHY IS HE WITH THE SPRINGBOKS? MISMANAGEMENT. WE DIDN'T LOCK DOWN. THE PLEASING THING IS THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY KEPT DAVE IN THE DISCUSSION HERE. THESE COACHING GROUPS ARE ALREADY UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE. THE BIGGEST TOUR IN THE HISTORY OF THE ALL BLACKS IS COMING UP. THEY HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT. THEN YOU HAVE THE WORLD CUP. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT YOUR SECURITY. THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT. AS LONG AS THE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW THIS LOOKS LONG-TERM, IT IS A GREAT MOVE. I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE PUTTING GREATER EMPHASIS ON COACHING RATHER THAN HAVING PLAYERS POST WORLD CUP DEMANDING A HIGHER PAY. MIKE WATSON AND BONNIE JANSEN, THANK YOU. MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTION WAS TO GET YOU AND ME ON AIR TO SEEING YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE. YOU MIGHT STILL GET IT THIS YEAR. # WILL WE WALK... # ME U TONU MAI ` THE FIRST AI-GENERATED FEATURE FILM IS SET TO PREMIERE IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK, AND THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MOVIE MAKING? VOICEOVER: You could get $0 hearing aids with Specsavers Audiology. They're fully funded by the government. Thank you! Book an appointment with a Specsavers hearing expert today! Subject to government funding eligibility. If a full hearing assessment is required, a $59 fee applies. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` ISRAELI MILITARY HAVE REPORTEDLY SAID THEY WILL DELIVER A 'POWERFUL' RESPONSE TO IRANIAN BALLISTIC MISSILE FIRES THAT HAPPENED JUST MOMENTS AGO. FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS SAYS THE LATEST YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FIGURES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND NOT OK. FORMER ALL BLACK TONY BROWN IS RETURNING HOME, JOINING DAVE RENNIE'S STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH FROM 2028. A FEATURE-LENGTH MOVIE CREATED ENTIRELY WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS SET TO MAKE HISTORY AT NEW YORK'S TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL. 'DREAMS OF VIOLETS' USES AI-GENERATED VISUALS TO TELL THE STORY OF FIVE IRANIANS CAUGHT UP IN A PROTEST MOVEMENT, SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF A YOUNG BOY LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY. TAKE A LOOK. IF I HAD NOT HAVE TOLD YOU THIS WAS AI, WOULD YOU HAVE PICKED IT? FOR MORE ON THIS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY, WE'RE JOINED BY TECH EXPERT DANU ABEYSURIYA. MORENA. THERE ARE SOME GOOD, BAD, AND UGLIES ABOUT THIS. SHOULD WE WORK THROUGH THE GOODS? THE CREATOR ONLY SPENT ABOUT $2000 MAKING THIS FILM. IT WENT FROM AN IDEA TO A PRODUCT IN ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS. IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO CREATING A FEATURE LENGTH FILM, IT'S GREAT. THERE IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF PRESSURE HERE THAT THE COMMODIFICATION OF THIS WILL FACILITATE TELLING A STORY. SPECIALIST ROLES LIKE VFX ROLES. THAT IS AN ENTIRE SPECIALTY SKILL SET THAT SEEMS TO BE POTENTIALLY DISRUPTED BY SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THERE HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS BACKLASH WITH PEOPLE SAYING THEY WILL BOYCOTT THE FESTIVAL. I WILL REPLACEABLE? THE FESTIVAL. ARE WE ALL REPLACEABLE? IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL. ONCE WE WATCH THE FILM, WE WILL TRY TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHETHER IT IS THE HUMAN ASPECT OF THIS. THE CREATOR USED AI TO HELP HIM WRITE THE SCRIPT. HE EDITED AND ASSEMBLED THE ENTIRE MOVIE HIMSELF. HE IS THE ONE WHO INSTIGATED THE STORYTELLING. THIS FILM IS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. IT IS VERY RARE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. IF YOU THINK OF EVENTS LIKE 9/11, MEDIA IS CREATED AFTER THE EVENT IS COMPLETE. THERE IS USUALLY HALF-DECADE LAG BETWEEN A WORLDLY EVENT AND A FILM. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE A PITCH. EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE AIA RATHER THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN IRAN. WHAT ABOUT LIVE ANIMATION? WHY DO WE HATE AI SO MUCH? I THINK BECAUSE IT IS THREATENING. I MEAN, I AM A SOFTWARE ENGINEER. I WENT TO SCHOOL TO RATE COMPUTED CODE, AND NOW I CAN WATCH A COMPUTER DO A BETTER JOB AT THAT THAN MYSELF. IT IS VERY CONFRONTING BECAUSE YOU HAVE SPENT YEARS INVESTING IN THIS CAPABILITY. WE PROBABLY NEED TO THINK REALLY HARD ABOUT WHERE OUR REGULATION PLAYS A PART. THE WAY THAT WE GO ABOUT MAKING THOSE CHANGES IS A LITTLE BIT OLD SCHOOL. WE USUALLY WAIT FOR PRESIDENT TO BE SET, THEN IN FORCE REGULATION THAT CHANGES THE RULES. THIS IS MOVING SO FAST THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT WAITING MAY ALLOW FOR UNSETTLING DESTRUCTION AND CHANGES. WE ARE SO SLOW TO CATCH UP ON THESE THINGS. THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE WE DON'T JUST WANT AN AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM. YOU ARE MOVIE FAN TOO. WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MOVIE FAN HAT ON, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT? I THINK THE ABILITY TO GENERATE CONTENT THAT IS MORE TAILORED TO PREFERENCES HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE BEFORE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT FRANCHISE MOVIES, IF YOU ARE A CAR GUY, YOU HAVE TO BEFOR WHEN YOU LOOK AT FRANCHISE MOVIES, IF YOU ARE A CAR GUY, YOU HAVE TO PICK FROM 20 MILLION FRANCHISE MOVIES. YOU CAN TAILOR THE STORY. THOSE ARE THINGS INVESTORS WOULDN'T FUNNEL MONEY INTO. 'LISTEN TO ME CHRIS.' 'GET IN THE BACK OF THE BEAMER'. WHAT A TREAT. AI COULD NEVER. WAS THAT AI? I MEAN, IT WAS SO CLOSE TO REALITY. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. SIRENS HAVE BEEN HEARD ECHOING OUT ON THE STREETS OF ISRAEL AFTER IRAN LAUNCHED FRESH BALLISTIC STRIKES. THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE ARE SAYING IT HAS INTERCEPTED 'ALL THE MISSILES LAUNCHED FROM IRAN SO FAR'. ONE SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY DESCRIBING THE STRIKES AS A DECLARATION OF WAR. IT COMES AMID ISRAEL'S NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING, QUOTE, 'TONIGHT TEHRAN MUST BURN.' ACCORDING TO THE COUNTRY'S AMBULANCE SERVICE, THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF INJURIES. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ABRUPTLY ENDED AN INTERVIEW WITH NBC'S KRISTEN WELKER AFTER BEING PUSHED ON HIS CLAIMS THAT ELECTIONS ARE RIGGED. LET'S CALL IT QUITS COS I'VE HAD ENOUGH. THANK YOU, THOUGH, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. MR PRESIDENT, LET'S PLEASE` I TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO WISCONSIN. I'VE SAT IN THE RAIN WITH YOU` I TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY` I KNOW. I'VE SAT IN THE RAIN WITH YOU FOR AN HOUR. ON AND OFF IN THE RAIN, AND I'VE GIVEN YOU ENOUGH TIME. YOU OUGHTA STRAIGHTEN OUT YOUR PRESS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? MR PRESIDENT` A COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE GREAT WITH A DISHONEST PRESS. WE TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO WISCONSIN FOR THIS INTERVIEW. TRUMP WAS CHALLENGED BY WELKER ABOUT HIS COMMENTS ABOUT 'CHEATING' AT CALIFORNIA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS, LEADING TO HIM WALKING AWAY. TWO PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A SERIOUS FLEEING DRIVER INCIDENT IN HASTINGS. POLICE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, VIDEO FOOTAGE HERE SHOWING THE CAR ON FIRE AFTER BEING SPIKED. THE DRIVER STILL ATTEMPTED TO GET AWAY, RAMMING INTO TWO POLICE UNITS BEFORE BEING BLOCKED IN ON FLAXMERE AVE. A MAN (29) AND WOMAN (28) HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL ISN'T RULING OUT ANY POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SATURDAY'S TRAIN CRASH. SEVERAL PASSENGERS WERE INJURED WHEN THE JOHNSONVILLE COMMUTER RAIL WAS DIVERTED ONTO A DEAD-END TRACK NEAR KHANDALLAH. INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOW UNDERWAY, WITH GREATER WELLINGTON CEO DARAN PONTER WARNING IT COULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE PUBLIC FIND OUT THE INCIDENT'S CAUSE. IF THERE IS ANYTHING IMMEDIATE THAT NEEDS TO TRANSLATE TO THE NETWORK AND HOW WE OPERATE OUR TRAINS, THAT WILL BE KNOWN AND COMMUNICATED BY THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION. BUT GENERALLY, THESE SITES ARE TREATED LIKE A CRIME SCENE, IF YOU LIKE, SO IT IS QUITE A FORENSIC EXERCISE TO GO THROUGH AND REALLY FIND THE ROOT CAUSE, AND THEY WILL TAKE THEIR TIME TO DO THAT. POINTER SAYS BUSES WILL REPLACE THE RAIL SERVICE UNTIL THURSDAY. THE FAMILY OF THE LATE MP FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS SAYS THEY ARE 'DEVASTATED AND DISAPPOINTED' FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE LATEST CORONIAL FINDINGS. THE CORONER HAS FOUND COLLINS DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES AFTER SUFFERING A CARDIAC ARREST AT A CHARITY EVENT IN AUCKLAND JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO. HIS WIFE SAYS THE FAMILY WAS GIVEN JUST OVER 24 HOURS' NOTICE OF THE CORONIAL DECISION, CALLING IT AN 'UNREASONABLE' TIMEFRAME GIVEN THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT AND PUBLIC INTEREST. THE CORONER HAS RECOMMENDED STRONGER PLANNING FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AT PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING CLEARER RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOCATING DEFIBRILLATORS AND IMPROVED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. A NEW REPORT HAS FOUND NEW ZEALAND'S RED MEAT SECTOR GENERATES NEARLY $50b IN ANNUAL SPENDING ACROSS THE ECONOMY. THE STUDY FOUND THE SECTOR EARNS $12.8b IN EXPORT REVENUE EACH YEAR AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 120,000 JOBS WITH BENEFITS FLOWING WELL BEYOND FARMS AND PROCESSING PLANTS INTO REGIONAL COMMUNITIES. INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY THE FINDINGS REINFORCE THE SECTOR'S STATUS AS AN 'ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE' AND WILL HELP GUIDE FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. JORJA MILLER HAS BEEN CROWNED WORLD RUGBY SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. IT WAS A BRIGHT SPOT FOR NEW ZEALAND AFTER DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE FINAL IN BORDEAUX, LOSING TO AUSTRALIA 26-19. BACK IT COMES NOW FOR KELSEY TENETI. SHAVE GOING TO CHASE TO THE END. NEW ZEALAND ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY, BUT IT'S ACADEMIC. (WHISTLE BLOWS) TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR THE BLACK FERNS. THEIR TRANS TASMAN RIVALS WINNING THE OVERALL WORLD AS WELL. THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS ALSO DENIED IN THE FINAL, LOSING 14-5 TO HOSTS FRANCE. NORWAY'S SOCCER TEAM HAS MARKED THEIR RETURN TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN A DISTINCTLY NORWEGIAN WAY. THE TEAM POSED AS VIKINGS FOR A PHOTOSHOOT AHEAD OF THEIR DEPARTURE FOR THE UNITED STATES, CHANGING IT UP FROM THE CUSTOMARY AIRPLANE STEPS PHOTO. THIS IS THE TEAMS FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE 1998. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. MAINLY FINE IN THE NORTH. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA DOWN TO WHITIANGA. GUSTY AFTERNOON WINDS FOR HAMILTON. MOSTLY FINE IN TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR TOKOROA THROUGH TO TAUPO. FINE FOR GISBORNE DOWN TO HASTINGS. THE ODD SHOWER FOR DANNEVIRKE THROUGH TO WHANGANUI. MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD FOR PALMERSTON NORTH AND THE CAPITAL. 20 IS THE HIGH IN NAPIER. 15 IN ROTORUA. SKIES TURNING GREY FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH. MOSTLY FINE WITH OCCASIONAL CLOUD FOR NELSON DOWN TO KAIKOURA. SHOWERS THROUGH TO HOKITIKA. CHANCE OF RAIN IN CHRISTCHURCH. CLOUD CLEARING TO FINE FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. POSSIBLE SHOWERS AND STRONG MORNING WINDS FOR OAMARU THROUGH TO GORE. HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTS IN INVERCARGILL. SHOWERS FOR STEWART ISLAND. 18 IS THE HIGH IN BLENHEIM. 13 IN MILFORD SOUND. BNZ BUSINESS BREAKFAST HOST MEI HERON IS WITH US NOW. ALL EYES ON THE NZX AS IT OPENS THIS MORNING. THERE IS SOME PRETTY BIG SHIFTS THAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND WITH THE U.S., BIG TUMBLE BIOTECH STOCKS OVER THERE. IT IS THE BIGGEST FALL SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMPS LIBERATION DAY WHICH WAS IN APRIL LAST YEAR. NASDAQ, WHICH WE KNOW IS WHERE A LOT OF THE TECH STOCKS ARE, FELL MORE AND BLUE-CHIP S&P ALSO FALLING. WITH THAT TUMBLE, IS THIS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE END OR IS IT A SMALL BLIP? IN EXPERT EXPECTS THE NEW ZEALAND MARKET TO START OFF A BIT WOBBLY. WE WERE OBVIOUSLY CLOSED DURING THAT U.S. TRADING SESSION ON FRIDAY. THAT WAS OVERNIGHT, FOR US, INTO SATURDAY MORNING. SO WE PROBABLY WILL BE A LITTLE BIT SOFT THIS MORNING. HOWEVER, OUR MARKET DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME EXPOSURE TO TECHNOLOGY, TO AI, TO THOSE GROWTH EXPOSURES. WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFE AND STEADY WITH ALL OF OUR UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE STOCKS, SO I SUSPECT WE WILL BE DOWN, BUT MAYBE NOT DOWN QUITE AS MUCH AS YOU SAW FROM SOME OF THOSE OVERNIGHT MOVES ON FRIDAY IN THE U.S. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I THINK THE CONTEXT IS THAT IT HAS JUST BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG SO PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHERE THE CEILING IS. THE QUESTION IS THIS, IS THIS THE CEILING, OR IS IT JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE OFF? IS THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF UNCERTAINTY HEADING INTO THE LISTING OF SPACEX? THIS IS THE AI BUBBLE PEOPLE ARE FEARING. WE ARE NOT SEEING IT POPPING, SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT SLOW DOWN. ALL EYES ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. E WHAI AKE NEI ` WELLINGTON'S WINTERFEST IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY. LET'S GO TO REPORTER DAVINA ZIMMER IN THE CAPITAL. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. HERE'S WHAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS MORNING ` SIRENS HAVE BEEN HEARD ECHOING OUT ON THE STREETS OF ISRAEL AFTER IRAN LAUNCHED FRESH BALLISTIC STRIKES. TWO PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A SERIOUS FLEEING DRIVER INCIDENT IN HASTINGS. JORJA MILLER HAS BEEN CROWNED WORLD RUGBY SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. THE LOEMIS FESTIVAL IS RETURNING TO WELLINGTON FOR ITS 11th YEAR BRINGING COLOUR AND FLAIR TO THE CAPITAL DURING THE CHILLY WINTER MONTHS. DAVINA ZIMMER IS AT THE LAUNCH THIS MORNING. MORENA, DAVINA. MORENA. I WAS JUST SAYING HOW I FEEL LIKE I AM IN FRANCE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL ACCORDION MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACK RAMP I'M HERE WITH ANDREW, THE FESTIVAL DIRECTOR. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO THE FESTIVAL. OVER HERE WE HAVE A FRENCH CHEF STIRRING AWAY. YOU GOT IN HERE? CHEESE FONDUE. LOOK AT THAT. HOW DO YOU EAT CHEESE FONDUE? BASICALLY THAT IS A SAUCE. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THESE ON BREAD. NORMALLY WE JUST TAKE A STICK OR SOMETHING, GRAB A PIECE OF BREAD, DON'T GET INTO THE CHEESE, AND EAT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. LET'S HAVE A GO. NOTE THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE BAND BEHIND US AT THE SAME TIME. VERY ATMOSPHERIC. IF YOU LOSE YOUR LITTLE PIECE OF BREAD, YOU WILL HAVE A TASK. I HEARD YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT FOOD ON TV. IS THAT A THING? I HAVE EATEN PIES, SANDWICHES, EVERYTHING. MM. THAT IS AMAZING. GOOD CHEESE, GOOD ONE. CORRECTION: WINE FOR THIS FESTIVAL, WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT WITH THIS CHEESE? LIKE WHAT YOU ATE, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME FRUIT, A MEDLEY OF THINGS TO DUNK IN THERE. IT IS JUST A STARTER, BUT IT IS QUITE RICH. WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT? THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF MUSIC. THERE IS A LOT OF LOCAL ARTISTS. TROY KINGI IS COMING DOWN AND WORKING ON HIS HIP-HOP PROJECT WILL STOP WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL ACTS COMING OVER. A LOT OF GROUPS FROM NEW YORK CITY. CHANEL BEADS, SNAPPED ANKLES. WE WILL MOVE BACK A LITTLE BIT HERE TO GIVE PIERCE SOME OF HIS SPACE BACK. WHAT IS THE COOL THING ABOUT HAVING A FESTIVAL LIKE THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER? EMBRACING WINTER. IT IS REALLY GOOD FOR INDOOR EVENTS BECAUSE IT IS COLD SO PEOPLE COME INSIDE FOR WARM EXPERIENCES, BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME PRETTY FUN OUTDOOR EVENTS AS WELL THERE IS A PROCESSION EVENT ALONG THE WATERFRONT. AN ART SHOW, NIGHT MARKET EVENT. OTHER FOOD EVENTS TO, FILM, A WHOLE ARRAY OF STUFF. SPEAKING OF MUSIC, I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THESE GUYS SOME LOVE BACK HERE. THE FIREFLY TRIO. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOUR LEAD GUIDE, JUSTIN, AS IF ON CUE YOU GUYS STOPPED. THAT IS PERFECT. JUSTIN, YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE FESTIVAL QUITE A FEW TIMES. PROBABLY SINCE THE BEGINNING. WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK? THE FACT THAT YOU CAN EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED FULL IT IS A HIGH LEVEL OF ART INVOLVED IN THE FESTIVAL. IT IS ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S TOP FESTIVALS. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERFORMANCE GROUP THIS YEAR? THIS YEAR THE THEME IS CHEESE AT ALPINE MUSIC, SO I HAVE PUT TOGETHER SOME ALPINE BASED MUSIC WHICH I DON'T NORMALLY PLAY. IT IS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR US PLAYING. HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN REHEARSING TOGETHER? WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME BUT WE HAVE BEEN REHEARSING FOR COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE WILL GIVE YOU GUYS A BIT OF A CHANCE TO CLOSE OUT THE SEGMENT WITH A BIT OF A PERFORMANCE. (ALL PLAY JAUNTY MUSIC) (ALL PLAY JAUNTY MUSIC) (ALL PLAY JAUNTY MUSIC) CHRIS: THE MAN IS PLAYING TWO INSTRUMENTS AT THE SAME TIME. DO YOU LOVE THE ACCORDION? I LIKE THE TRUMPET MORE THAN THE ACCORDION. THAT IS WHY IT IS GOOD THAT HE HEDGED HIS BETS. OUR REPORTERS ARE DOING ALL THE THINGS TODAY. CHRISTINA HUANG IS BRAVING THE ELEMENTS FOR WORLD OCEAN DAY. MORENA, CHRISTINA. IT IS 14 DEGREES AT TAKAPUNA BEACH, BUT WE WILL TAKE THE PLUNGE AND JUST A BIT AND TELL YOU THE GOOD BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE DIVING AND FOR AFTER THE BREAK. Don't take your eyes off this one. We could be in for an upset. VOICEOVER: Should've gone to Specsavers. Get 50% off lens options when you get two pairs from $169 or above. IT'S WORLD OCEAN DAY AND TO CELEBRATE, LIVE OCEAN'S ANNUAL WINTER DIP IS BACK. IT'S THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE CHALLENGE, AND WE'VE SENT CHRISTINA HUANG OUT TO TAKAPUNA BEACH ON OUR BEHALF. MORENA, CHRISTINA. I NEED TO STOP HEADING OUT TO BODIES OF WATER FOR THESE BREAKFAST CROSSES, BUT IT IS ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE. I AM JOINED BY JONO. ON THE WHOLE, I AM FEELING GOOD. I PUT MYSELF THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES BUT BOUNCED BACK PRETTY WELL. WHAT HAS THE REACTION BEEN TO THE CALL TO AND BOTTOM TRAWLING? BOTTOM TRAWLING WAS OUR SPECIFIC CALL TO ACTION. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE THE TIE BETWEEN UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES AND OCEAN HEALTH. I AM REALLY HOPING THAT WE SEE SOME POSITIVE ACTION ON THE BACK OF THIS. YOU HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE BEAUTY OF THE OCEAN ECOSYSTEM. DOES THAT STRENGTHEN YOUR RESULT? ABSOLUTELY. NINE OR 10 WEEKS INTO IT, IT WAS REALLY TOUGH. THAT EXPERIENCE AND CONNECTION WAS SO IMPORTANT AND HELPED TO KEEP ME GOING THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES. WE ARE ALSO LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE JOINED BY BLAIR. TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE PETITION AND WHERE THAT IS AT. NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT PLATFORM AND WE HAVE DELIVERED THE PETITION TO A NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT PLATFORM AND WE HAVE DELIVERED THE PETITION TO PARLIAMENT WITH 73,000 SIGNATURES, IT IS OUR JOB TO CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM AND TO KEEP PUSHING FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, THE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE MOANA BEHIND US. HERE WE ARE ON WORLD OCEAN DAY. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING. THE EXCITEMENT IS THERE. THE ENERGY IS THERE TO SEE REAL CHANGE. AS TOVA MENTIONED IN THE INTRO, IT IS THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THIS OCEAN DEPTH. DOES THIS YOU FEEL LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT EVER? IT REALLY DOES. YESTERDAY'S EVENT WAS TESTAMENT TO THAT. TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE MINOR AND THE LIFE AND IT. THE REASON WE DO THAT IS TO CELEBRATE OCEAN LIFE. HEADING INTO THE ELECTION YEAR, THAT IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT? I THINK IT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE OCEAN AND UNDERSTANDING THE OCEAN, BUT IT IS REALLY ABOUT PUTTING WORDS INTO ACTION. IT IS TIME. THE COUNTRY IS READY TO SEE CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT WE CARE FOR THE OCEAN, OUR ATTITUDES TOWARDS IT, HOW WE HARVEST FROM IT. IT IS NOW TIME FOR POLICYMAKERS TO FOLLOW THAT CHANGE IN ATTITUDES. I WILL LET YOU GUYS GET READY. I HAVEN'T GOT MY BREAKFAST SPEEDO. IT DIDN'T FIT. I'M JUST GOING ON WITH THIS. CLASSIC. GOOD LUCK, CHRISTINA. DON'T TAKE THE MICROPHONE WITH YOU. THERE SHE GOES. IT'S SO COLD. OH! THERE SHE GOES. WELL DONE, CHRISTINA. BRAVO. HE IS OFF TO WELLINGTON. I DON'T HAVE IT IN ME DO THAT. YOU CAN DUNK AND THEN RUN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHRISTINA, JONO AND BLAIR. WE ARE ALSO GETTING FEEDBACK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU THROUGHOUT. SOMEONE SAID MY SCRAPBOOK. I WISH I KEPT MY KEANU REEVES SCRAPBOOK. WHAT DID THAT HAVE AN IT? PICTURES OF KEANU REEVES. MARY SAYS SHE HAS HAD BIG CLEANOUTS. IT IS PRETTY HARD TO SAY GOODBYE. # SO HARD... # TO SAY GOODBYE. # THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY COURTNEY SOLE, EMILIA SULLIVAN, RUBY SAGARIN AND CHLOE FARMER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026