Eliza McCartney on seven sharp. She is here with us. OH! OVER SHE GOES! SHE'S OUR RISING STAR. IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. LIKE, WINNING A MEDAL AT RIO. LIKE, THAT WASN'T THE PLAN. ELIZA MCCARTNEY'S LIVE IN JUST A COUPLE OF MOMENTS. PLUS, THIS CERTAINLY ISN'T THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. THE VINNIES GOT BURGLED? THE VINNIES GOT BURGLED. SO TIM'S ON A MISSION TO PUT THINGS RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO SURPRISE THEM? ABSOLUTELY. AND STEP INSIDE ONE OF NZ'S MOST EXPENSIVE HOTELS. IS THIS GONNA BRING MORE SUPER-RICH PEOPLE INTO NZ? YEAH. Just a little something I laid on, I had to fight for this Christmas cheer. Absolutely insane ` the shopping at the weekend. $2.6 billion in the first two weeks of December. That is what we have Spent. IT'S NOT OFTEN AN OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL ENDS UP BEING ONE OF THE SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THESE WERE OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL GAMES EVER. BUT SOMEHOW, A 19-YEAR-OLD POLE VAULTER FROM AUCKLAND, WHO HARDLY ANYONE HAD HEARD OF, CAPTURED OUR HEARTS AND OUR IMAGINATIONS LIKE NOTHING ELSE. UPBEAT MUSIC OH! OVER SHE GOES! AND WITH THAT, A STAR WAS BORN. I AM MEANT TO BE HERE, EH? (LAUGHS) I WAS THINKING THAT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE. LIKE, 'IT IS ME, EH?' (LAUGHS) IT WAS JUST HER FIRST OLYMPIC, BUT ELIZA QUICKLY BECAME THE STORY OF RIO. CHEERING, APPLAUSE SMILE LIT UP THE ARENA WHEN SHE REALISED WHAT SHE'D DONE. AW, YES, THAT SMILE. UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES THERE SHE WAS, ON THE BIGGEST SPORTING STAGE IN THE WORLD, AND MADE IT LOOK LIKE A SCHOOL SPORTS DAY. NO, IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. LIKE, WINNING A MEDAL AT RIO ` THAT WASN'T THE PLAN. THE YOUNGEST KIWI TO WIN AN OLYMPIC MEDAL... WELL, FOR ABOUT A DAY. NICE ONE, LYDIA. BUT THIS WAS THE MOST UNEXPECTED; THE MOST JOYOUS OF ALL 18 MEDALS. I HAD TO SIT DOWN AND KNEEL ON MY KNEES COS I WAS SHAKING. AND I JUST` I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! OF COURSE WE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER. APPLAUSE SO GET USED TO IT. HOW DO I LOOK? YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT ELIZA. IT'S A GREAT FEELING BREAKING RECORDS. What a feeling. ELIZA'S WITH US NOW. You are laughing looking at those highlights. I say some funny things sometimes. It's funny looking back at it, because it happened already.. It's such an amazing thing, just makes my heart go faster. Do people treat you differently? I don't know but being treated differently, but I do get recognise a lot. Do you know what it is about you kiwis love? Your personality is something we love. Have you got that sense from the Kiwi crowd? I think so. People recognise you just another Kiwi. That was how inspiring it is. It's just an incredible thing for someone to say to you. Pole vaulting, it wasn't even on the radar in this country. So you are a star and your sport. It's now a tier 1 sports ` athletics. There certainly were pole vaulters in the last few years, but now it's become more known to the public. So many new people are joining. I was going to ask about that. Buying a pole ` it's a major investment for some people. It looks like fun when I started. I just wanted to try. It's not one of the cheapest sports. Poles are expensive. My coach has a bunch of poles. We can cater for everything now. I have to say that Jeremy ` nothing would have happened without him. He single-handedly put all the effort in. There are now a group of us. Some girls are catching up to me. How does the sports work in terms of age and when do you peak? You can be older than in some sports. You can go into your midthirties. You can peak a little bit later, and you are faster and stronger when you're older. Is a technology changing? Can the pole do more for you? I'm sure there will advance in the future. The pole is what you rely on. They used to use bamboo. You were in the Air New Zealand campaign with Mike. I don't know if you saw his cameo. How do you deal with being in demand? It's something to adjust to. It's a different life now. My sole job now is pole vaulting and what comes with its. I have a very good manager, luckily. Next year we know how to manage it better and hopefully it will run smoothly. How do you decide that's a good fit for you? Blueberries ` I love blueberries. I have them every morning on my breakfast. Where do you go? Next year we put more emphasis on the Diamond Leagues. I've only ever done to, and they are great competitions. They are all over Europe and Asia. There are also world champs in London. Is that the end of your studying? I'm still going to study a little bit, but it's just one paper at a time, so I don't know how much that counts. Yyou have made the sporting year for a lot of people. We look forward to what is next. SO, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN LANCE ARMSTRONG ` HE OF TOUR DE FRANCE DRUG-CHEATING FAME. WELL, HE'S HERE FOR A COMMERCIAL AND, IT SEEMS, A RIDE ON THE BIKE. HE WAS, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE GREATEST CYCLISTS OF OUR TIME ` SEVEN-TIME TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER ` BUT IT CAME CRASHING DOWN IN SPECTACULAR FASHION. THE OPRAH 'MEA CULPA' AND THE IGNOMINY THAT FOLLOWED. BUT NOW NZ IRONMAN CAMERON BROWN'S COPPING SOME FLAK AFTER MEETING ARMSTRONG FOR A RIDE ALONG THE AUCKLAND WATERFRONT. IN AN INTERVIEW AFTER THE RIDE, BROWN SAID IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL, AND ALTHOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGED ARMSTRONG HAD HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE, HE STILL DESERVED SUPPORT. THAT SPARKED A LOT OF HATE FROM THE ONLINE TROLLS, CAUSING BROWN TO SHUT DOWN HIS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE DISGRACED CYCLIST. This is a hard one. Trolls are horrendous. But knowing Cameron Brown knowing his strength of character, I was surprised he did that. Here is my major thing about it ` people asking would you go riding with Lance Armstrong? If you don't like them, don't do it. But I think people have laid into much into Cameron. You are not his friend, you are not endorsing him. You are just going for a ride with the guy. But you are endorsing him. You are supporting him. Let's say you are right. Let's say you are endorsing his recovery. There should be room for remorse in everybody's life. You would go riding with him. I would. I wouldn't. TO SOMETHING MIKE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT NOW. AS YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY OPINIONATED AND LIKES TO HAVE HIS SAY ABOUT OUR STORIES. BUT SOMEONE FROM ONE OF OUR STORIES HAS TAKEN ISSUE WITH WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. SO THEY'VE ORGANISED A BIT OF A SUPRISE FOR HIM, WHICH WE'LL HAVE LATER IN THE SHOW. I can't wait. THIS IS THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO HAPPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THEY WERE ROBBING FROM THE COMMUNITY. BUT DON'T WORRY, TIM'S RESTORING THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. I USED TO BE A BIT FATTER,... (LAUGHS) OH OK. ...SO THESE ARE MY FAT CLOTHES. PLUS, KRISTIN TOOK ON A BIG CRUSADE THIS YEAR. AND GOING ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TALKING ABOUT THAT ISN'T EASY. BUT ALL HER HASSLING MIGHT JUST HAVE PAID OFF. WE HAVE HAD A NEW RESPONSE FROM THE WOMEN'S MINISTER. AND WE'RE IN QUEENSTOWN ON BOARD A PRIVATE JET, ABOUT TO BE CHAUFFEURED TO A $10,000-A-NIGHT PENTHOUSE SUITE AT EICHARDT'S. IT'S A TOUGH LIFE. OH, THERE'S A STORY THERE TOO. (GENTLE MUSIC) (SIREN WAILS) (EXCITING MUSIC) (TYRES SCREECH) ASB want to help a little ambulance like this grow up to be a big one for St John. Buy your St John toy ambulance for $15 at ASB. All proceeds go to St John to help buy a real ambulance. PEOPLE CHATTER, DANCE MUSIC PULSATES They've been on the sauce. They've been on the sauce. Your party! They've been on the sauce. Your party! That's Mary's boy, isn't it? Yeah. Maybe you should say something. Maybe you should say something. Nah. I'm crap at that kind of thing, Barry. Yeah, but they're just kids. If we don't say something... (GROANS) Hey, boys? Boys? Why don't you get a lift home tonight? Oh, whatever, mate. I've only had a couple. No, no, no, no. It's too late now. I've spoken to you and I know your mum, so that means our fates are aligned. You get into that car and you get yourself killed or you kill someone else, I become part of it too. How? How? Well, it's like, um, my balls are in your hands. BOYS LAUGH, SNORT BOY: Oh, you want the balls! BOY: Oh, you want the balls! Nobody wants that. Hey, how about I drive you? What? Oh. What? Oh. BOYS LAUGH, DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO (SWITCHES RADIO STATION) (SWITCHES RADIO STATION) YODELLING MUSIC PLAYS I like it. # FALL... # ON YOUR KNEES. # O HEAR... # THE ANGELS' VOICES. # O NIGHT... Sol3mio. Iif you are thinking of going next year, it is amazing. I'll be wworried to mix Stan Walker with those voices. Not that he can't sing. He can. YOU HAVE PROBABLY GOT A ST VINCENT DE PAUL OP SHOP IN YOUR TOWN OR SUBURB. THEY SELL SECOND-HAND CLOTHES CHEAPLY AND, IN TURN, HELP OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITY. BUT THE PAPAKURA STORE HAS HAD A BIT OF BAD LUCK RECENTLY. IT GOT ROBBED. UNBELIEVABLE, ISN'T IT? SO WE SENT TIM WILSON ALONG TO SEE IF HE COULD HELP THOSE WHO USUALLY HELP OTHERS. FROM THE STREET, THE PAPAKURA ST VINCENT DE PAUL DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH. IT'S CHARITY ON THE QUIET ` A FOOD BANK, A CONTAINER OF STUFF OUT BACK, AN OP SHOP AT THE FRONT. THE PRICE IS REALLY GOOD. IT'S GOOD SHOPPING HERE. DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC THE CONTAINER GOT BROKEN INTO. THE VINNIES GOT BURGLED, YES. OUTRAGEOUS. THEY WERE STEALING FROM THE COMMUNITY. I HAD A BUNCH OF OLD SUITS. SEERSUCKER, THE SUMMER FABRIC. BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM ENOUGH, SO WE WENT TO COUNTDOWN. JAN HAS CHRISTMAS NAILS AND VERY CHRISTMASSY HEADGEAR. AND A WHOLE HEAPIN' HELPIN' OF GROCERIES FOR THE FOOD BANK. I WANT TO GIVE THIS TO THE VINNIES. DO YOU WANNA SURPRISE THEM? ABSOLUTELY. FIRST OFF, I MADE ROSANNE'S DAY. HERE'S MY OLD SUITS. YOU'RE HAPPY TO LEAVE THEM HERE WITH US? BETWEEN YOU AND I, I USED TO BE A BIT FATTER. OH, OK. (LAUGHS) SO THESE ARE MY FAT CLOTHES. (LAUGHS) MEANWHILE, SOME CHRISTMASSY NAILS ARE HEADED FOR THE VINNIES. JAN! HI. WE'VE GOT $400 WORTH OF GROCERIES FOR YOU, AND WE'VE ALSO GOT A $100 GIFT CARD. AND GUESS WHERE THE VOUCHER IS? IN THE CAR. NO IT'S NOT. IT'S IN MY BRA! ALL LAUGH WHAT DID YOU SAY? NOT FOR PUBLICATION! 'IT'S IN THE CAR.' 'NO. IT'S NOT. IT'S IN MY BRA.' THE FOOD IS IN THE CAR. THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FOOD BANK. TWO STRANGERS COMING TOGETHER TO DO GOOD AT CHRISTMAS. NOW THAT'S WORTH A SECOND LOOK. I love it. That is awesome. Seersucker is an underrated fabric. Very American. LET'S LOOK BACK AT ONE OF THE STORIES THAT MADE OUR REPORTER'S YEAR. TONIGHT, IT'S KRISTIN HALL'S TURN. KRISTIN TOOK UP A CRUSADE. SHE WAS RELENTLESS, HASSLING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND FIGHTING TILL HER PLIGHT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE PRICE OF PADS. MY FAVOURITE STORY WAS ACTUALLY A GROUP OF STORIES, AND THEY WERE THE STORIES THAT I DID ABOUT SANITARY PRODUCTS. GIRLS WERE ACTUALLY STRUGGLING TO AFFORD THESE SORTS OF PRODUCTS. SO EXPENSIVE. WE CAN'T AFFORD ALL THINGS. GOING ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AND TALKING ABOUT THAT ISN'T EASY. I'VE GONE TO MAKING MY OWN SANITARY PADS WITH TOILET PAPER. (LAUGHS) A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL CALLED TAYLOR, WHO WE SPOKE TO, WHO HAD, ON OCCASION, NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE HER FAMILY COULDN'T AFFORD THE PRODUCTS. MUM DIDN'T GET PAID TILL THE NEXT DAY, SO MUM KEPT ME HOME. NO WOMAN OR GIRL SHOULD HAVE TO STRESS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT BASIC. < IT'S OBVIOUSLY A WOMEN'S ISSUE AS WELL. I BADGERED VARIOUS MINISTERS ABOUT IT, AND THEY ALL, BASICALLY, WEREN'T INTERESTED. (LAUGHS) IF YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH MY PRESS SEC, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE DETAILS OF IT ALL. I'VE JUST GOT TO GO. THANKS. WE HAVE HAD A NEW RESPONSE FROM THE WOMEN'S MINISTER AFTER OUR LATEST STORY. SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND SHE IS LOOKING INTO IT. A LOT OF RESPONSE. OLDER WOMEN AND WOMEN SAYING, YOU KNOW, 'BACK IN THE DAY, IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION, MY GRANDMA USED RAGS.' MEN THAT I CAME ACROSS, MEN THAT I WORKED WITH, IT JUST WASN'T AN ISSUE THAT THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, THAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT. THERE'S NOTHING EMBARRASSING ABOUT IT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE COOL... WITH PERIODS. (LAUGHS) The upside is we have a new Minister of women's affairs ` Paula Bennett. Let's see what she says about it. TIME TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT'S ASB GOOD AS GOLD SANTA ADDITION WINNER. TONIGHT OUR PRIZE GOES TO... AMBER RANSON. AMBER (22) HAS SPENT THE PAST FOUR YEARS VOLUNTEERING AT ADRIEL REST HOME IN AMBERLEY. HER HELP HAS BEEN SO VITAL THAT SHE HAS NOW STARTED A PAID PART-TIME JOB. AMBER SAYS HAVING DOWN SYNDROME JUST MAKES OTHERS WISH THEY COULD HAVE A EXTRA CHROMOSOME TOO! AND THE CO-WORKERS THAT NOMINATED HER SAY SHE ENRICHES THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE HOME EVERY DAY. SO AMBER, TO REWARD YOUR HARD WORK, AND BECAUSE WE HEAR YOU QUITE LIKE TO SHOP, ASB WANTS TO GIVE YOU $2000 WORTH OF TRAVEL VOUCHERS AND $2000 DOLLARS SPENDING MONEY. AND THERE ARE THREE MORE NIGHTS OF PRIZES TO GIVE AWAY, SO JUMP ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO NOMINATE. RIGHT, AFTER THE BREAK, WE HAVE A BIG SURPRISE FOR MIKE. SOMEONE FROM ONE OF OUR STORIES DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, SO THEY'VE ORGANISED SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR HIM. WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE YOU INTO A WORLD THAT MOST OF US CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT ENTERING. WE DO LUXURY TOURISM BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. SO MIKE THORPE THOUGHT HE'D MAKE THE MOST OF IT. MICHAEL! MICHAEL. UH, MICHAEL... # ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY BABY GAVE TO ME # A PAIR OF CHLOE SHADES AND A DIAMOND BELLY RING. # ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY BABY GAVE TO ME # A NICE BACK RUB, AND HE MASSAGED MY FEET. # ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY BABY GAVE TO ME # A CROPPED JACKET WITH DIRTY DENIM JEANS. # ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY BABY GAVE TO ME # THE POEM THAT HE WROTE FOR ME. Tthere's nothing wrong with interpreting a Christmas song, but you can go so far then is not really Christmassy any more. I interviewed them before. They came to the country. Before they were a big deal. They weren't in Christmas outfits. HOW OFTEN HAVE WE RAISED OUR EYEBROWS AT FOREIGN INVESTMENT? WELL, THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A KIWI INVESTING TO BRING SUPER RICH FOREIGNERS HERE ON HOLIDAY. ANDREW COX IS A CANTERBURY BUSINESSMAN WHO DREAMED BIG FOR QUEENSTOWN'S HISTORIC EICHARDT'S HOTEL. A $10,000 A NIGHT DREAM, THAT IS. MIKE THORPE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE THERE FOR OPENING DAY. THE FLYING LIZARDS' 'MONEY' # BUT WHAT IT DON'T GET, I CAN'T USE. THIS IS THE ROCK N ROLL LIFE. THINK HIGH ROLLERS, RICH-LISTERS, BLING-BLINGERS... OR WHATEVER IT IS THE KIDS SAY. URBAN ELECTRONICA MUSIC PRIVATE JETS, MOTORCADES. IT NEEDS A ROBIN LEACH VOICEOVER. CHAMPAGNE WISHES AND CAVIAR DREAMS. YEAH, BUT THIS TYPE OF VISITOR IS NOTHING NEW TO NZ. KIWIS ` WE DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB AT MAKING PEOPLE RELAXED. WE DO LUXURY TOURISM BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. NOW ANDREW COX IS PUTTING HIS MONEY ON IT. EVERYONE I'VE SHOWED IT TO JUST WANTS TO MOVE IN, SO I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ENDORSEMENT. THIS PENTHOUSE IS THE JEWEL IN QUEENSTOWN'S ACCOMMODATION CROWN. THEY ALL WANT TO COME TO QUEENSTOWN. QUEENSTOWN IS NZ'S WORLD TOURISM CAPITAL. IT IS A BOLD ADDITION TO THE ICONIC EICHARDT'S HOTEL. WE CAN STAND OVER THERE AND LOOK AT CORONET PEAK, THE REMARKABLES OVER HERE. I MEAN, WHERE ELSE DO YOU WANT TO BE? THESE ARE MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS WITH A $10,000-A-NIGHT PRICE TAG. WHO IS GONNA COME AND STAY HERE? MOSTLY IT'S ULTRA-HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS. THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN VERY STRONG INTEREST OUT OF NORTH AMERICA. NO KIWIS YET. IT'S VERY GOOD VALUE. (LAUGHS) I MEAN, YOU GET A CHAUFFEUR, YOU GET A BUTLER. YES, A BUTLER NAMED MICHAEL. MICHAEL! MICHAEL! AH, MICHAEL! MICHAEL, THIS CUSHION NEEDS CHOPPING. MICHAEL. MICHAEL. MICHAEL! MUCH BETTER. I CAN'T STAND A NON-CHOPPED CUSHION. ANDREW IS A PROUD KIWI ` BASED IN MELBOURNE ` AND ONE OF QUEENSTOWN'S BIGGEST FANS. I'M NOT THE OWNER OF EICHARDT'S. ULTIMATELY, I'M A CUSTODIAN OF IT. THIS IS A HOTEL THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1871, SO IT WILL SURVIVE MY TIME. YOU'VE GOT TO RESPECT THAT. ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, LIKE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT THAT VIEW. AND WHAT A WAY TO TAKE IT IN. THIS IS A 100M2 BALCONY. THAT'S SUBDIVIDABLE IN AUCKLAND. (LAUGHS) OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO TWO BEDROOMS,... SO IS THIS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE TO COME WITH FAMILIES OR DO THE RICH PEOPLE NOT SLEEP TOGETHER? (LAUGHS) ...WITH A PRIVATE LIFT, SPA POOL, SAUNA, OUTDOOR KITCHEN, PERSONAL CHEF. IT'S 240M2 OF LUXURY. ANDREW, WHAT'S THIS FUR I'M STROKING? NICE NZ POSSUM. CHANCES ARE, AT 10 GRAND A NIGHT, I, LIKE MOST OF NZ, WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD A NIGHT HERE. MICHAEL! BUT WE CAN PROBABLY ALL BENEFIT FROM BRINGING IN THE TRAVELLERS WHO CAN. IS THIS GOING TO BRING MORE SUPER-RICH PEOPLE INTO NZ? YEP. ABSOLUTELY. LOOK, I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THIS. The rest of the hotel is beautiful. Mike Thorpe is never looked so comfortable before. He went to my school. Linwood College. SO, TIME FOR MIKE'S BIG SURPRISE. AS WE SAID, SOMEONE FROM ONE OF OUR STORIES DIDN'T LIKE WHAT MIKE HAD TO SAY AFTER IT WENT TO AIR, AND IT'S ALL TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS TREES. IF MIKE HOSKING'S OVER, HE CAN GET OUT HERE, AND WE'LL FIND YA A BEAUTIFUL, AUTHENTIC TREE. NONE OF THIS FAKE RUBBISH. CONVINCED YOU? NO. I'M GONNA` IF YOU WERE TRULY NOT A GRINCH, YOU'D DO THAT FOR YOUR FAMILY. I LIVE FOR THE ARTIFICIAL. I LOVE THE ARTIFICIAL. THAT'S NOT A GOOD CATCHPHRASE. 'LIVE FOR THE ARTIFICIAL'. Qquote of the year ` I live for the artificial. Occasionally I sound so naff. No way.. stop it. The little import company have come in to decorate. The trees are from Kumeu Christmas trees. How do we look after them? Sugar, water, disprin. That is my recipe. If you are really good, you can take one home. Kate, would you like a tree? 1 NEWS CAPTIONS BY ALEX WALKER AND GLENNA CASALME. SEVEN SHARP CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND KATE PARKINSON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.