NEK MINUT. MONDAY THE 19TH OF FEBRUARY. HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL WEEKEND. COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING ` WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JURY SERVICE. HAVE YOU BEEN SUMMONED TO BE A JUROR OR HAVE YOU BEEN AVOIDING IT? A MURDER TRIAL WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE 30 PEOPLE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR JURY SERVICE. WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT SHOWING UP? TO PEOPLE NOT HAVE TIME TO DO IT OR NOT WANT TO DO IT? WHAT KIND OF CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE ARE WE GETTING FITTING AND THAT JURY BOX? YOU ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU WILL BE SITTING WITH THE TRAIL. THEY CAN PUT PEOPLE OFF. HAVE YOU SAT IN A JURY TRIAL OR HAVE YOU TRIED TO AVOID IT? EMAIL US. THE PM WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE BIG GAY OUT BECAUSE OF PROTESTERS. THE ORGANISERS OF THE BIG GAY OUT WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH US, BUT LABOURS RAINBOW COMMUNITY SPOKESPERSON WILL BE JOINING US JUST AFTER 7 O'CLOCK. LATER ON, AROUND ABOUT 8 O'CLOCK, WE WILL BE TALKING TO A SWIFTIE FAN. 96,000 PEOPLE PACKED THE MELBOURNE STADIUM, AND ONE SPECIAL PERSON MANAGED TO GET UP CLOSE, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN TAYLOR SWIFT'S REACTION AND WHAT HE RECEIVED IN RETURN. HOW EXCITING TO BE CHOSEN OUT OF THE 96,000. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. HOMES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED OVERNIGHT AS A LARGE VEGETATION FIRE BURNS IN WAIPARA IN NORTH CANTERBURY. DIGBY WERTHMULLER JOINS US NOW FROM OUR CHRISTCHURCH NEWSROOM WITH THE LATEST. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US, DIGBY? KIA ORA, CHRIS. A LARGE VEGETATION FIRE IS CURRENTLY BURNING IN THE WAIKARE VALLEY, ABOUT ONE HOUR NORTH OF CHRISTCHURCH. FIRE AND EMERGENCY WERE ALERTED TO THIS FIRE JUST AFTER 8 PM LAST NIGHT. HELICOPTERS ARE ON STANDBY AND ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE TO THE SKIES THIS MORNING. AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW BIG THIS FIRE REALLY IS. LAST NIGHT, RESIDENTS WERE ALL THAT YOU WAITED AS A PRECAUTION. AND AN EVACUATION CENTRE WAS SET UP AT THE WAIPARA COMMUNITY HALL. THANKS, DIGBY AND ON THE PORT HILLS OF CHRISTCHURCH, FIRE CREWS HAVE EXTINGUISHED HALF OF THE 58 HOT SPOTS STILL REMAINING. WORK CONTINUED OVERNIGHT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF THE FIRE FLARING UP AGAIN, WITH STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR TODAY. A SPECIALIST DRONE TEAM FLEW DURING THE NIGHT, USING THERMAL IMAGING TO HUNT DOWN HOTSPOTS FOR FIRE FIGHTERS TO FOCUS ON. ONE PERSON HAS DIED FOLLOWING A GLIDER CRASH IN THE TASMAN DISTRICT. THE GLIDER CRASHED ON THE LAKE STATION AIRSTRIP NEAR HOWARD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT AROUND 2pm. THE PILOT DIED AT THE SCENE. A SCENE EXAMINATION IS UNDERWAY. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS OUTLINED A CONTROVERSIAL SET OF POLICIES HIS GOVERNMENT WILL PURSUE. IN HIS FIRST 'STATE OF THE NATION' ADDRESS AS PM, MR LUXON LAID OUT PLANS FOR TURNING AROUND WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A 'FRAGILE' NEW ZEALAND. THEY INCLUDED MORE SANCTIONS ON BENEFICIARIES, A FAST-TRACKED CONSENTING PROCESS AND GETTING GOVERNMENT SPENDING UNDER CONTROL. MR LUXON WARNED HIS POLICY INITIATIVES WON'T BE POPULAR WITH EVERYONE. HIS POPULARITY WILL BE REVEALED TONIGHT, WITH THE FIRST 1 NEWS-VARIAN POLL OF THE YEAR. OVERSEAS, FRESH AIRSTRIKES HAVE HIT THE SOUTHERN GAZA CITY OF RAFAH, KILLING AT LEAST SIX OVERNIGHT. THE STRIKES COME AS QATAR SAYS ONGOING TALKS FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THE AREA ARE 'NOT PROMISING'. ISRAEL SAYS IT STILL PLANS TO CARRY OUT A GROUND OFFENSIVE IN RAFAH, WHERE IT CLAIMS HAMAS BATTALIONS REMAIN HIDDEN. AND ISRAEL HAS ALSO CARRIED OUT MORE ATTACKS ACROSS THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH LEBANON, TARGETING WHAT IT SAYS IS HEZBOLLAH INFRASTRUCTURE. THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN TRADING HITS FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, WITH DEATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AS A RESULT. TO SPORT, AND THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX HAVE EXTENDED THEIR LEAD AT THE TOP OF THE A=LEAGUE TABLE WITH A 2-1 WIN OVER MACARTHUR. PHOENIX FORWARD KOSTA BARBAROUSES SECURING A DOUBLE IN THE SECOND HALF TO PUSH THEM FIVE POINTS CLEAR ON THE TABLE. BARBAROUSES... AND HERE COMES COSTA. IT'S OVER THE LINE. IT'S A LATE GOAL HERE FOR WELLINGTON. THE WOMEN'S SIDE WEREN'T AS LUCKY, GOING DOWN 3-0 TO WESTERN UNITED. THE BREAKERS HAVE ENDED THE AUSTRALIAN NBL REGULAR SEASON WITH A LOSS THAT'S LEFT THEM WITH AN UPHILL BATTLE TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS. THE NEW ZEALAND CLUB FELL TO ADELAIDE 76-70 TO FINISH THE SEASON SIXTH ON THE LADDER WITH A 13 WIN, 15 LOSS RECORD. IT QUALIFIES THEM FOR THE PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT, MEANING THEY'LL NEED TO WIN TWO GAMES, BOTH ON THE ROAD, TO REACH THE LAST FOUR. I'LL TAKE A LOT OF THE GOOD STUFF THAT THIS GROUP HAS SHOWN ME DURING THIS SEASON, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO THE POST-SEASON, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FACED TO BE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND HAPPY AND PROUD. THAT POST-SEASON RUN BEGINS IN SYDNEY AGAINST THE KINGS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AND FINALLY, WITH AWARDS SEASON IN FULL SWING, THE BAFTAS WILL BE HANDED OUT LATER THIS MORNING, WITH OPPENHEIMER DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER NOLAN HOPING TO PICK UP HIS FIRST WIN AT THE CEREMONY. THE BBC'S KATIE RAZZALL LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS. ONLY AN ATOMIC LEVEL UPSET WILL BLOW OPPENHEIMER OFF-COURSE. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S THREE HOUR EPIC LOOKS SET TO WIN HIM HIS FIRST BAFTAS, FOR BEST DIRECTOR. HE'S ALSO FAVOURITE FOR BEST FILM, AND CILLIAN MURPHY FOR LEADING ACTOR, ONE OF SEVERAL IRISH NOMINEES. YOUR SAD FACE MAKES ME DISCOVER ANGRY FEELINGS FOR YOU. IN A VERY STRONG YEAR FOR FEMALE ROLES, EMMA STONE'S PERFORMANCE IN THE FANTASTICAL FRANKENSTEIN-STYLE POOR THINGS MAKES HER THE FRONTRUNNER FOR BEST ACTRESS. I AM BELLA BAXTER. MARGOT ROBBIE IS ALSO IN THAT RACE, WITH HER KEN, RYAN GOSLING, UP FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. HI, KEN! HI, BARBIE. UNLIKE AT THE OSCARS WHICH IGNORED ROBBIE'S COMPELLING PERFORMANCE IN PINK, AT THE BAFATAS, BARBIE, A FILM THAT TAPPED INTO THE ZEITGEIST AND IS THE FIRST BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE SOLELY DIRECTED BY A MOVIE... SOLELY DIRECTED BY A WOMAN* ISN'T UP FOR BEST FILM OR BEST DIRECTOR. THE ONLY FEMALE DIRECTOR TO MAKE IT ON TO THAT LIST IS JUSTINE TRIET FOR HER DRAMATIC FRENCH LEGAL THRILLER, ANATOMY OF A FALL. ALSO COMPETING FOR BEST BRITISH MOVIE, THE HAUNTING ALL OF US STRANGERS AND SALTBURN. AND HERE HE IS. CAN THE SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION WALK AWAY WITH A PRIZE? WE'LL FIND OUT SOON. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. CLOUDY START FOR ALL THROUGH HERE WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS IN WHANGAREI. WESTERLIES FOR THOSE SOUTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH ` ITS ALSO GOING TO BE A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN TAUPO. SUNSHINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF YOU. TAURANGA YOU'LL GET UP TO A HIGH OF 27. 26 FOR WHAKATANE. ON THE EAST COAST ` BLUE SKIES OVER ON THE EAST TODAY. GALE WINDS FROM LATE MORNING IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. WHAKATAN PRETTY WARM THROUGH NAPIER AND HASTINGS, BOTH GETTING TO 31. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL ALL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO SOME CLOUD TODAY. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES IN WELLINGTON. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY DAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH. PACK YOUR BROLLY ` SHOWERS THIS MORNING WHICH WILL TURN TO HEAVY RAIN. A HIGH OF 29 IN BLENHEIM. WHAKATAN PRETTY WARM THROUGH NAPIER AND HASTINGS, BOTH GETTING TO 20 25 IN NELSON. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, CLOUDY PERIODS HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR UMBRELLA. HEAVY RAIN FOR MOST THROUGHOUT THE REGION WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES THIS MORNING. THIS WILL EASE BY MIDDAY. LOOK AT THIS! NO GOOD. QUEENSTOWN, YOU'VE AT LEAST GOT SOME SUNSHINE. ALSO NO GOOD ` AUCKLAND OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PUT DOWN MORE THAN 150 DOGS BECAUSE THERE'S SIMPLY NO ROOM IN SHELTERS TO HOLD THEM. THE SPCA SAYS CENTRES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE NEARING CAPACITY AND THAT THE SITUATION IN AUCKLAND IS AN 'UNFORTUNATE REALITY' DUE LARGELY TO A LACK OF DE-SEXING. SO HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? AUCKLAND COUNCILLOR JOSEPHINE BARTLEY JOINS ME NOW. MORENA. WHY IS THERE A POPULATION OF DOGS? WE'VE SEEN THROUGH COVID, THERE WAS NO D6 THING, SO NOW WE'VE GOT THIS EXPLOSION OF DOGS. BUT ALSO, PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AFTER THEIR DOGS. THAT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. IF PEOPLE LOOKED AFTER THEIR DOGS ` REGISTERED THEM, DESEXED THEM, KEEP THEM WITHIN THEIR PROPERTIES, WE WOULDN'T BE SEEING THIS. DO WE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT MORE? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE MORE. WE KNOW WHERE THE MAJORITY OF DOGS ARE BEING PICKED UP FROM. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BETTER, SO WE CAN TARGET THE AREAS WITH THE EXPLOSION OF DOGS. I FEEL FOR THE STAFF AT ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE NOBODY GOES TO WORK TO KILL DOGS. THAT ACTUALLY LOVE DOGS THERE, SO IT IS REALLY HARD. WHERE ARE WE SEEING THIS SURGE IN POPULATION/. RESEARCH SHOW THAT A LOT CAME FROM OUR SOUTH AUCKLAND LOCAL BOARD AREAS. THAT IS OF BIGGEST CONCERN. WHAT IS OF BIGGEST CONCERN? OBVIOUSLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE IF YOU ARE SEEING DOGS ROAM AROUND FREELY. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ARE UP IN ARMS ABOUT SEEING THIS, SEEING THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE TO BE EUTHANISED. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS MASSIVE PUBLIC PRESSURE TO GET THOSE ROAMING DOGS OFF THE STREETS, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE TO WALK THEIR DOGS OUT THERE, AND THEY SHOULD. SO WE PUT PRESSURE ON ANIMAL MANAGEMENT TO FIND THIS DOGS AND THESE OWNERS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THAT IS THE REALITY, THAT THEY WILL END UP IN A SHELTER. AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A LACK OF SPACE. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WAS UP THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED WITH THE EXPANSION OF OUR SHELTERS, STARTING WITH MANUKAU. CAN WE INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR THESE DOGS? DOG SHELTERS? YES. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN. A PLAN IS ALREADY BEING DRAWN UP. IT IS A LONG-TERM PLAN AND THE MAYOR'S BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES EXPANSION OF THE OTHER TWO SHELTERS. YOU TALK ABOUT MANAGEMENT AT THE SHELTERS HAVING TO KILL DOGS. HOW DO YOU SELECT WHICH OF THESE DOGS ARE PUT DOWN FIRST? THERE ARE THE DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS. BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO A TEMPERAMENT TEST THAT TWO STAFF CARRY OUT, AND THEY HAVE THINGS LIKE HOW THE DOG REACTS TO OTHER DOGS, HOW IT REACTS WHEN THERE IS FOOD AROUND, HOW IT REACTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. SO THERE WAS A ROBUST TEST THAT IT GOES THROUGH BEFORE THEY MAKE THESE DECISIONS. WHAT ARE YOU ADVOCATING? WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE? FOR US, IT IS ABOUT LOOKING AFTER THE DOGS, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS US GO BACK TO THE 100% ADOPTION IS THAT THIS SHELTER WAS DOING. BEFORE I WENT OUT TO THIS SHELTER, I HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE DOING ADOPTION. THEY RECENTLY DID THE VALENTINE'S DAY ADOPTION. SO GOING BACK TO ADOPTING OUR DOGS OUT THERE. BUT WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS PEOPLE LOOK AFTER THEIR DOGS. NOT TRUE THEN LIKE A THING, BUT A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. DO WE NEED PERHAPS SOME CLINICS OR MOBILE VANS THAT GO AROUND D6 THING DOGS, OFFERING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND BRING THEM IN FOR FREE? IS THAT AN OPTION? OPTIO THAT WAS AN OPTION BACK IN 2016, BECAUSE THAT WAS A PROBLEM BACK THEN ALSO. THERE WAS A LOT OF REGISTRATION AND D6 THING. I HAVE WRITTEN TO MINISTER SIMEON BROWN TO ASK IF WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN. YOU SAY, IT IS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT WARRANTS ANOTHER CONJOINT AMNESTY AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. THAT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY AWFUL, ISN'T IT? OVER 150 DOGS BEING EUTHANISED. AND WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO DOGS ROAMING AROUND. THE OTHER PART, AS WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO ME WITH DOGS ` WHEN PEOPLE ARE WALKING THEM, THEY HAVE THEM OFF THE LEASH. THIS IS AN OFF THE LEASH AREA? KNOW, THIS IS JUST IN GENERAL. BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE YOU CAN WALK AND DOGS CAN GO THERE, WHICH IS FINE, BUT DOGS NEED TO BE ON LEASHES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THEM OFF THE LEASH AND SAY, NO, MY DOG IS FINE. IF YOU ARE PETRIFIED OF DOGS, WE DO WORRY ABOUT IT. IN FACT, WE HAVE SOMEONE IN OUR WHANAU WHO IS SCARED OF DOGS. SO WHEN SOMEONE LETS THE DOG ` AND THEY ARE ALL TYPES OF DOGS ` ROAM AROUND, AND THEY SAY, IT IS FINEM ACTUALLY, YOUR DOG NEEDS TO BE ON A LEASH. WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING A PRAM, AND YOU HAVE A CHILD AT THAT HEIGHT, I AM I THINKING WORST CASE SCENARIO, RIGHT? AND I KNOW MOST DOGS ARE TOTALLY FINE AND WHATNOT, BUT I HAVE SEEN INSTANCES WHERE DOGS HAVE NOT BEEN ALL RIGHT WITH KIDS AROUND. SO I AM SORT OF DEFENSIVELY APPROACHING THESE DOGS, BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. IF YOU HAVE A DOG ON A LEASH AND A OTHER DOG IS NOT A LEASH AND THE OWNER SAYS, IT IS FINE, AND THERE IS A SCUFFLE, AT WHAT POINT DOES THE OWNER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR FEEDBACK AROUND THIS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` HOW MANY SUPPLEMENTS ARE TOO MANY? WE DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF OVERDOING IT ON VITAMINS. THAT'S NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) # I CAN LIFT YOU UP. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. CONCERNS ABOUT THE OVERUSE OF MULTIVITAMINS BY PREGNANT WOMEN HAS BEEN FLAGGED IN AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY ON MATERNAL NUTRITION. THE RESEARCH REVEALED 80% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE TAKING SUPPLEMENTS LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD, POTENTIALLY POSING A RISK FOR BABIES. AND WHEN THE PROMOTION OF 'WELLNESS' IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, IT AGAIN RAISES THE QUESTION OF HOW EFFECTIVE THESE SUPPLEMENTS ARE FOR ANY OF US. TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE'RE JOINED BY DIETITIAN CLAUDIA VAVASOUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING, CLAUDIA. I WANT TO GO TO THAT STUDY FIRST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SUNSHINE COAST. ESSENTIALLY IT SAYS THAT PREGNANT MOTHERS RELY TOO HEAVILY ON MOTIVE MULTIVITAMINS* INSTEAD OF FOOD. THAT STUDY IS AN INTERESTING ONE. IT IS PRIMARILY DONE IN A POPULATION THAT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GENERAL NEW ZEALAND POPULATION. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY DO SHOW IS THAT WOMEN AREN'T MEETING THEIR NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS. THAT ECHOES RESEARCH FROM OTHER STUDIES. AND THE DATA THAT WE HAVE IN NEW ZEALAND IS AROUND 3% OF PREGNANT WOMEN EATING THE RIGHT NUMBER OF SERVINGS FROM THE FOOD GROUPS EACH DAY, WHICH IS PRETTY ALARMING. ONLY 3%? SO THEN WE ARE RELYING ON VITAMIN C AND SUPPLEMENTS TO GIVE OUR BODY WHAT IT REQUIRES. ALL PREGNANT WOMEN ` ALL WOMEN ` SHOULD BE HAVING 300 G OF FOLIC ACID PRIOR TO CONCEPTION UP TO THE END OF THE FIRST TRIMESTER. THAT PREVENTS NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT DOES. SO WE CAN'T MESS WITH THAT. WE NEED TO BE TAKING FOLIC ACID WAS NOT THE MOST COMMON PREGNANCY VITAMIN D ON THE MARKET ` WHICH PROBABLY ROLES OF PEOPLES TANKS QUITE NICELY ` WHICH WAS ACTUALLY USED BY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THAT STUDY ` ALMOST OVER TWO THIRDS. THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH FOOD FORTIFICATION IS PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK OF HAVING TOO MUCH OF CERTAIN NUTRIENTS AND GOING ABOVE THE UPPER LIMIT. SO THAT STUDY DOES RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE ADVICE AROUND FOLIC ACID IS FOR THE FIRST TRIMESTER, YET WOMEN ARE MEETING A MULTIVITAMIN TO BE NOT ONLY THEM FOLIC ACID NEEDS, BUT TO GET OTHER NUTRIENTS. WHAT THAT HIGHLIGHTS IS A NEED FOR MORE DIETETIC ADVICE DURING PREGNANCY. AND NEW ZEALAND, YOU CAN ONLY SEE A DIETICIAN IF YOU HAVE A HIGH RISK PREGNANCY. THAT STAGGERS ME, BECAUSE THE FIRST 1000 DAYS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ACTUALLY STARTS PRIOR TO CONCEPTION, SO WHY AREN'T WE INVESTING MORE IN OUR YOUNG AND OUR FUTURE? STARTING AT PREVENTION, RATHER THAN RELYING ON THE AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF. I WONDER IF WE CAN TAKE THIS CONVERSATION WIDER. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN HAVING TO TAKE FOLIC ACID. I WONDER, IN GENERAL, IS THERE A NEED FOR US TO BE TAKING VITAMIN C OR SUPPLEMENTS? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. AS YOU ALLUDED TO, IT IS A MASSIVE INDUSTRY. WELLNESS IS EVERYWHERE. YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK ON YOUR FEET ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO HAVE INFLUENCERS SELLING NEW PRODUCTS, WHETHER IT IS GUT HEALTH OR COLLAGEN PRODUCTS. YES, CERTAIN SUPPLEMENTATION CAN BE REALLY BENEFICIAL, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE TAILORED. TAKING WHAT YOUR NEIGHBOUR TOOK CAN END UP DOING HARM FOR YOU. WHEN WE END UP TAKING SUPPLEMENTS THAT AREN'T TAILORED TO YOUR PARTICULAR NEEDS. I'M GOING TO THROW MYSELF UNDER THE BUS HERE LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I TAKE A MULTI-FIGHTER MEN. I TAKE A DB3 AND K2. I'M NOT EVEN SURE I REALLY NEED IT. BUT I LISTEN TO PODCASTS AND SEE THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SO HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING OUTSIDE OF WHAT ADS TELLING US? LET'S TAKE IT BACK IN NOTCH. WHY DON'T WE FOCUS ON WHAT FOODS WE SHOULD BE EATING? BECAUSE THE RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON DIETARY PATTERNS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON REDUCING CHRONIC DISEASE. SO IF YOU WANT TO LIVE WELL AND HAVE A LONG, HEALTHY LIFE, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO ` WHICH IS A MODIFIABLE THING ` AS EAT WELL, RATHER THAN RELYING ON SUPPLEMENTS, BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTS WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE FOOD THAT YOU EAT, YOU ARE WASTING TIME AND MONEY. SO, YES, SUPPLEMENTS CAN BE BENEFICIAL. AND KNOWING WHAT YOU NEED, AND SEEING A DIETICIAN OR A NUTRITIONIST IS WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A NUTRITION ASSESSMENT TO SEE WHAT YOU NEED BASED ON YOUR LIFESTYLE, BASED ON YOUR DIETARY PATTERN ` WHETHER YOU ARE VEGAN OR PLANT BASED. FOOD FIRST IS CRITICAL. THERE IS NO POINT TO TAKING A WHOLE LOT OF SUPPLEMENTS IF YOU ARE GOING TO DRINK A WHOLE BOTTLE OF WINE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT OK. IT IS SO INTERESTING, THOUGH. WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WE HAVE TO FINISH IT THERE. I NEED TO HAVE A LOOK AT MY SUPPLEMENTS NOW. AND THE WINE CELLAR. YOU NEED TO GO AND LOOK AT YOUR WINE CELLAR AND THOSE WINE BOTTLES. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, WE WILL GET TO MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. STAY WITH US. We got a new car you have to plug in. It goes for two wee stops. (DOG BARKS) One masterpiece. And four unlucky possums! Five! VOICEOVER: Fast charge on the road and pay like you're at home. With Genesis at charge net stations. A POPULAR YOUTUBE MOMMY BLOGGER IS LIKELY TO BE SENTENCED IN THE U.S. THIS WEEK ON SERIOUS CHILD ABUSE CHARGES. RUBY FRANKE'S TOUGH STYLE EARNT HER MILLIONS OF ONLINE FANS BEFORE IT BECAME HER DOWNFALL. THE ABC'S FAITH ABUBEY REPORTS. THE SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE CASE AGAINST ONCE VIRAL YOUTUBE PARENTING VLOGGER RUBY FRANKE ENTERING A NEW PHASE. I'M NOT EVEN GONNA LET YOU EAT BREAKFAST (LAUGHS) UNTIL YOU GET YOUR CHORES DONE. THE UTAH MOTHER OF SIX COULD BE SENTENCED AS SOON AS TUESDAY, ALONG WITH HER BUSINESS PARTNER JODI HILDEBRANDT, A UTAH MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR WHO COLLABORATED WITH FRANKE ON PARENTING ADVICE. THE POLICE ARRESTED BOTH WOMEN ON MULTIPLE FELONY AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE CHARGES. FRANKIE'S RIGID PARENTING STYLE, WHICH SHE DOCUMENTED ON HER NOW DELETED YOUTUBE CHANNEL, RAISING CONCERN AMONG SOME OF HER MILLIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS. I'M ONLY GONNA SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THE PRIVILEGE TO EAT DINNER. BUT IT WAS THIS CHILLING 911 CALL THIS PAST AUGUST THAT BUSTED THE ABUSE SCANDAL WIDE OPEN. FRANKE'S SON APPEARING AT A NEIGHBOUR'S DOOR AFTER ESCAPING HILDEBRANDT'S HOME. WITH MY DEEPEST REGRET AND SORROW FOR MY FAMILY AND MY CHILDREN, GUILTY. AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL, FRANKE AND HILDEBRANDT ADMITTING THEY PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSED FRANKIE'S CHILDREN. THEIR FATE NOW IN THE HANDS OF A JUDGE, SET TO DECIDE JUST HOW THEY'LL PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES. TO SPORT, AND AUSTRALIA HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST NET SESSION IN THE CAPITAL AHEAD OF THEIR T-20 SERIES AGAINST THE BLACKCAPS. IT'S BEEN ALMOST FIVE YEARS SINCE THE TEAM HAS PLAYED IN NEW ZEALAND. PACE BOWLER NATHAN ELLIS WITH HIGH PRAISE FOR THE BLACKCAPS. HAVING A LOOK AT THE TEAM IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, IT IS A TEAM FULL OF CLASS, TALENT, AND PROBABLY X FACTOR IS SOMETHING I THINK THE TEAM HAS HAD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT WE'RE UP FOR AND EXCITED FOR A GOOD SERIES. ELLIS SAYS THE T-20 SERIES IS GREAT PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING WORLD CUP IN THE WEST INDIES AND UNITED STATES. DESPITE LOCKING IN A SPOT IN THE AUSTRALIAN NBL POST-SEASON, THE BREAKERS HAVE ENDED THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A 76-70 LOSS TO THE ADELAIDE 36ERS. THE BREAKERS COULD'VE FINISHED AS HIGH AS FOURTH ON THE LADDER WITH A WIN, AND EARNED TWO LIVES IN THE FINALS SERIES, BUT THE RESULT LEFT THEM SIXTH, AND NEEDING TO WIN TWO GAMES ON THE ROAD TO REACH THE SEMI FINALS. THE PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY, AGAINST THE DEFENDING CHAMPION KINGS IN SYDNEY. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. CLOUDY START FOR ALL THROUGH HERE WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS IN WHANGAREI. WESTERLIES FOR THOSE SOUTH OF THE REGION. AUCKLAND, 26 DEGREES. FURTHER SOUTH ` ITS ALSO GOING TO BE A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN TAUPO. SUNSHINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF YOU. TAURANGA YOU'LL GET UP TO A HIGH OF 27. 26 IN WHAKATANE. ON THE EAST COAST ` BLUE SKIES OVER ON THE EAST TODAY. GALE WINDS FROM LATE MORNING IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. A HIGH OF 31 FOR NAPIER AND HASTINGS. GISBORNE, YOU ARE HIGH IS 29. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL ALL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO SOME CLOUD TODAY. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES IN WELLINGTON. 26 THE HIGH IN WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY DAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH, PACK YOUR BROLLY ` SHOWERS THIS MORNING WHICH WILL TURN TO HEAVY RAIN. A HIGH OF 29 IN BLENHEIM. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, CLOUDY PERIODS HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. A HIGH OF 29 IN TIMARU. 27 IN CHRISTCHURCH. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR UMBRELLA. HEAVY RAIN FOR MOST THROUGHOUT THE REGION WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES THIS MORNING. THIS WILL EASE BY MIDDAY. DUNEDIN, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 21. JUST AFTER 6 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, DANIEL SPOKE WITH COUNSELLOR JOSEPHINE BARTLEY ABOUT THE EUTHANISING OF DOGS IN OUR SHELTERS. ONE OF THE REASONS HAS BEEN ABOUT DOG ROAMING, WHICH IS A PUBLIC SAFETY REASON. STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, COMES FROM WALKING DOGS ON THEIR LEADS. THERE ARE ALSO AREAS WHERE IT SAYS WALK YOUR DOG ON A LEASH BUT SOME OWNERS GO, MY DOG IS FINE. WE ARE GETTING A HEAP OF FEEDBACK. THAT UPSETS ME ON PEOPLE WALK DOGS NOT ON LEAD. MY DOG WAS ATTACKED BY ANOTHER DOG THAT WAS NOT ON LEAD, AND THE OWNER OF THE DOG WHO WAS NOT ON A LEAD GETS UPSET AT YOU FOR SAYING CONTROL YOUR DOG. I THINK THAT IS POTENTIALLY PART OF BEING EMBARRASSED THAT THE DOG WHO WAS SUPPOSEDLY OKAY ATTACKS ANOTHER DOG. IT IS A SMALL MINORITY WHO SPOIL IT FOR OTHER DOG OWNERS. THERE ARE SPACES WITH DOGS CAN ROAM FREE. I THINK HAVING TO PUT DOGS ON LEADS EVERY DAY EVERY MINUTE THEY GO FOR A WALK IS A BIT HARD ON DOG OWNERS. THERE ARE SOME DOGS BEHAVE WELL. SORRY? THE DOG CAN RUN AROUND AT HOME AND YOU CAN TAKE THEM FOR A RUN DOWN THE BEACH. IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, AND I HAVE KNOWN THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE PETRIFIED OF DOGS, AND WHEN IT DOGS OFF ITS LEAD AND IS IN THE AREA WITH DOGS ON LEASHES, YOU DO NOT GO WALKING WHERE IT IS DOGS OFF LEASHES. BEACHES, THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING. YOU GET THERE AND SEE A LOT OF DOGS PLAYING AND RUNNING AROUND, AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE OKAY WITH THAT. IT IS ALL OKAY AND SAW SOMETHING HAPPENS, AND THAT IS THE ISSUE. MOST DOG OWNERS CONSENSUS SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. NO WAY. NOT IF YOU'RE DOWN THE OTHER END OF THE BEACH, AND SEE NO OWNER. I HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THAT. CHRIS, YOU SEEM TO AGREE WITH JENNY MAY. YES. WHEN YOU'RE AT THE BEACH AND PLAYING WITH YOUR KIDS AND A BIG WET DOG COMING ON THEIR FACE WHEN THEY ARE MAKING A SANDCASTLE. I DON'T CARE IF THEY ARE FRIENDLY OR NOT, I DON'T THINK IF YOU'RE BIG, WET, HEAVY DOG SHOULD BE IN MY KIDS FACE. BACK OFF. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. BREAKFAST@TVNZ.CO.NZ. ME U TONU MAI ` THE KREMLIN'S BEEN ACCUSED OF MURDERING ITS MOST OUTSPOKEN CRITIC, ALEXEI NAVALNY. WHAT HIS DEATH MEANS FOR RUSSIA'S UPCOMING ELECTION. THE FAMILY OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY SAY THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO RECOVER HIS BODY. THE 47-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S MOST WELL-KNOWN CRITIC DIED IN AN ARCTIC JAIL LAST WEEKEND, LESS THAN A MONTH OUT FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THIS WAS HIS MESSAGE IN 2021 BEFORE HE RETURNED TO RUSSIA AFTER SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT ABROAD FOR POISONING. MY MESSAGE FOR THE SITUATION THAT I AM KILLED IS VERY SIMPLE. NOT GIVE UP. PRISON OFFICIALS SAY HE DIED FROM 'SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME'. NAVALNY'S SUPPORTERS SAY HE WAS MURDERED. FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY RETIRED UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, STEPHEN HOADLEY. GOOD MORNING, STEPHEN. IF THIS WAS A POLITICAL KILLING, WHY WOULD PUTIN DO IT NOW? THERE ARE SEVERAL THEORIES. ONE IS THAT THE SECURITY CONFERENCE WAS TAKING PLACE IN WHICH HIS WIFE WAS TO SPEAK, AND THIS WAS A DIRECT EFFORT BY PUTIN TO SAY WE DO NOT CARE IN MY REGIME WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE WEST. OTHER THEORIES ARE THAT THIS IS A RUN-UP TO THE ELECTION, THIS IS A WAY OF CLEARING THE DECKS SO RUSSIA WILL WIN ALL OF THE SEATS AND PUTIN WILL BE RECONFIRMED AS THE PRESIDENT. AND OTHERS SAY, NO, THIS IS PART OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE TO SAY THAT PUTIN IS IN CONTROL A NUMBER OF MOTIVES CONVERGE AT THIS TIME. IS THIS A SIGN OF STRENGTH OR WEAKNESS FROM PERSON? VERY GOOD QUESTION. A LOT OF OBSERVERS HAVE SAID MAYBE IT IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, IT IS A DISPLAY OF STRENGTH BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MAY BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END AND THAT PUBLIC OPINION MAY SHIFT IN THE WEST AND ALSO IN RUSSIA ITSELF. WE HAVE SEEN ON TELEVISION THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUTTING FLOWERS AND BEING ARRESTED, SOME 300, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. WHAT IS THEIR FATE? WHAT WILL THEIR FAMILIES THINK OF THEIR LEADER? CONSEQUENTLY, LIKE MANY DICTATORSHIPS, SHORT-TERM STRENGTH MAY TURN INTO LONG-TERM EROSION OF LEGITIMACY AND CREDIBILITY. YOU TOUCHED ON HIS WIFE, AND WE SAW HER SPEAK AT THE CONFERENCE IN MUNICH WHERE HOURS AFTER HIS DEATH SHE CALLED FOR PUTIN TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. IS THERE A CHANCE HE WILL BE? THIS IS THE SAD THING. WE FIND MANY COMMENTATORS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAVE ALL INDICATED THERE IS NO WAY. WHAT CAN THE WEST THOUGH? THE SINGLE THING, ASIDE FROM MAY BE INCREASED SANCTIONS, IS TO HELP UKRAINE TO STOP THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN UKRAINE ITSELF. PERHAPS MORE SANCTIONS COULD BE PUT IN AND MORE PRESSURE ON INDIA, TURKEY, SOUTH AFRICA AND CHINA TO STOP BUYING RUSSIAN OIL WHICH KEEPS THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY AFLOAT. IN A DIRECT SENSE, NO. AN INDICTMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT OR THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE WILL HAVE NO IMPACT FROM PUTIN, WHO WAS INSULATED FROM ALL THESE INSTITUTIONS AND HE WILL DEFY THE MALL. WANT TO GO BACK TO THIS CLIP WE PLAYED AN INTRODUCTION WHERE HE SAID THAT IF THEY KILL HIM, WILL BE INCREDIBLY STRONG. IT WILL BE THEM MEMORY OF HIM THAT WILL BE VERY STRONG. PUTIN'S POLICE WILL ARREST ANYBODY WHO GOES PUBLIC, BUT THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA WILL BE INCREASINGLY STRONG. MANY HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. THEY WILL CONTINUE ON THE INTERNET AND ORGANISING AND CONVINCING THEIR WESTERN HOSTS TO BE FIRM AGAINST PUTIN, DO NOT TRUST HIM AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE AND ANY OTHER COUNTRY THAT RESISTS RUSSIA'S ADVANCES. IN SOME RESPECTS, IT IS BEING SAID THAT HE MIGHT BE STRONGER AND DEATH THAN HE WAS IN LIFE. HE IS A MARTIN LUTHER KING, SO TO SPEAK, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED IN THE UNITED STATES AND BECAME A SYMBOL OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STRENGTH AND DID WIN MANY CONCESSIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IF THERE IS ANY WAY OF HOPE IN THE SAD EPISODE, IT IS THAT HIS MEMORY WILL BE MAGNIFIED AS HE HIMSELF PREDICTED, THE ACTIVISTS WILL CONTINUE, THEY WILL IN HIS NAME CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A BETTER RUSSIA, TO REFORM RUSSIA THAT ALSO THE INTEREST OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE, NOT THE INTEREST OF THE PUTIN MAFIA. DO YOU THINK THAT IS WHAT HE HOPED TO ACHIEVE WHEN HE WAS POISONED BACK IN 2020? WHY DID HE WANT TO RETURN BACK TO RUSSIA? THAT IS INCREDIBLY AMAZING. HE WAS EITHER BRAVE OR HE HAD A PREMONITION THAT IS DAYS WERE NUMBERED. HE MAY HAVE CALCULATED, THEIR GOING TO GET ME ANYWAY SOONER OR LATER, I MIGHT AS WELL GO BACK TO RUSSIA, FACE THE MUSIC AND BECOME BETTER KNOWN FOR BRAVERY, BUT I THINK YOU OR I AS ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE AMAZED THAT SUMMONS OF THE JEWELS RISE ABOVE THE ORDINARY. WE WOULD CALL THEN PERHAPS HEROES, WE COULD CALL THEM MARTYRS, WE COULD CALL THEM DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE. IT MAKES THEM THAT MUCH MORE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER AND THAT NOTION WILL GROW OVER TIME AFTER HIS DEATH. RETIRED ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT. E HAERE AKE NEI, GRANDPARENTS CARING FOR GRANDKIDS FULL TIME ` THE NUMBERS ARE GROWING AND SO IS THE COST. WE TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) KIA ORA ANO. YOU ARE WITH BREAKFAST. THE RETURN TO SCHOOL HAS BEEN EXPENSIVE FOR MOST, UNACHIEVABLE FOR SOME. LATEST DATA SHOWS ONE MONTH INTO 2024, THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RECEIVED MORE THAN 31,000 REQUESTS FOR HELP WITH SCHOOL-RELATED EXPENSES. 21,000* WHETHER IT'S UNIFORMS, STATIONARY, OR SCHOOL FEES, CAREGIVERS ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE. CHARITABLE ORGANISATION VARIETY'S ALSO NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN REQUESTS FOR SUPPORT FROM GRANDPARENTS CARING FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. GRANDPARENT CAROLYN FOLLAS JOINS US NOW, ALONGSIDE SUSAN GLASGOW FROM VARIETY. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. YOU ARE FINE, CAROLYN. YOU ARE GOING TO BE GREAT. COLOURS ABOUT YOUR SITUATION WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE LIVING WITH YOU AT THE MOMENT? AT THE MOMENT, I HAVE THREE. WHAT AGES ARE THEY? 11. ONE OF THEM JUST TURNED 15 ON VALENTINE'S DAY, AND 22. HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. THE PARENTS GOT INTO SOME KIND OF DIFFICULTY, AND I DIDN'T WANT MY CHILDREN TO END UP IN THE SYSTEM, SO THAT IS HOW I GOT MY GRANDCHILDREN. WHAT IS IT LIKE? OBVIOUSLY YOU LOVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, BUT TALLIS ABOUT THE COST AND HOW THAT IMPACTS ON YOU AND THEM, I GUESS. THE COST OF LIVING HAS SKYROCKETED. AND FOR ME, BEING A WIDOW, I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE BASICS. I MAKE SURE THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED EVEN IF WE HAVE TO WAIT A WEE WHALE FOR ME TO SAVE. AND I WILL GO WITHOUT SO THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO. WHEN YOU SAY GO WITHOUT, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT/. I DON'T EAT, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH, BECAUSE THE PENSION DOESN'T DO IT, REALLY. AND WITH VARIETY, BECAUSE I WENT INTO VARIETY, AND EVEN WITH THE AMOUNT THAT I DO GET, MY GRANDSON WAS ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN A BRAND-NEW UNIFORM. AND THAT IS WHAT I USE THE VARIETY MONEY FOR. SO THAT HE DOESN'T SORT OF FEEL OUT OF PLACE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I SAW A BIG SMILE AND YOU HAVE TEARS IN YOUR EYES. YOU HAVE A BIG SMILE ON YOUR FACE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO HIM TO HAVE THAT UNIFORM. IT DOES. LISTENING TO CAROLYN'S STORY, ARE YOU HEARING THAT A LOT IN VARIETY? YES. TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT. 5% OF OUR CAREGIVERS THAT WE WORK ALONGSIDE OUR GRANDPARENTS, LOOKING AFTER THEIR GRANDCHILDREN FOR WHATEVER REASON. PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN ARE LOVED AND CARE FOR AND HAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT. I HAD A GRANDAD ON THE PHONE THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT, HE HAD CANCER, HIS WIFE HAD TYPE I DIABETES. THEY WERE LOOKING AFTER FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, AND HIS BIGGEST CONCERN WAS HOW IS HIS WIFE GOING TO COPE WHEN HE DIES, AND HOW IS SHE GOING TO LOOK AFTER FIVE GRANDCHILDREN? CAROLYN, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. HOW AMAZING ARE THEY? THEY ARE TO REFLECT. TERRIFIC* (LAUGHS) I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN, ANY OF MY GRANDCHILDREN. DO YOU FEEL, AND I KNOW THIS IS PART OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHO OUR GRANDPARENTS ARE IN LOOKING AFTER OUR BABIES, BUT YOU ARE IN A SITUATION. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO? I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER WAY, BUT THAT YOU HAVE TO DO. THAT AFTER MY GRANDCHILDREN? YES. LOOK AFTER* I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. THEY ARE MY BLOOD. THEY ARE MY TREASURES. CAN I JUST SAY, YOU ARE AN AMAZING GRANDMOTHER, AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND ACTUALLY, AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING A CHILD AND HELPING GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A KIWI KID SPONSOR, PLEASE HEAD TO variety.co.nz. IF YOU CAN HELP OUT. MANY OF US HAVE TRIED TO GET OUT OF JURY SERVICE, BUT MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRIALS HAVE BEEN DELAYED. WHAT DOES THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY MAKE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES FOR LGBTQIA? AND, NEARLY 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE PACKED OUT THE MCG IN MELBOURNE EACH NIGHT FOR TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERTS. BUT THERE'S BEEN ONE KIWI FAN WHO'S GONE A LITTLE MORE VIRAL THAN MOST. MORE ON THAT A LITTLE LATER. MULTIPLE HOMES WERE EVACUATED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH CANTERBURY AS 24 FIRE CREWS WORK TO CONTAIN A LARGE SCRUB FIRE. FIVE HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO GET AN AERIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SIZE OF THIS FIRE, WHICH IS BURNING IN WAIKARA VALLEY. AN EVACUATION CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP AT THE WAIPARA COMMUNITY HALL. ONE PERSON HAS DIED FOLLOWING A GLIDER CRASH IN THE TASMAN DISTRICT. THE GLIDER CRASHED ON THE LAKE STATION AIRSTRIP NEAR HOWARD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT AROUND 2pm. THE PILOT DIED AT THE SCENE. A SCENE EXAMINATION IS UNDERWAY. IN THE YEAR TO JUNE 2023, MORE THAN 2500 DOGS WERE EUTHANISED, PROMPTING FRESH CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT IN ANIMAL WELFARE. NEW STATISTICS FROM AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL SHOW THAT OF THAT NUMBER, 151 WERE EUTHANISED BECAUSE SHELTERS WERE FULL. COUNCILLOR JESEPHINE BARTLEY SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EDUCATION AROUND PET OWNERSHIP. WE'VE SEEN THROUGH COVID, THERE WAS NO DE-SEXING, SO NOW WE'VE GOT THIS EXPLOSION OF DOGS. BUT ALSO, PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AFTER THEIR DOGS. THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. IF PEOPLE LOOKED AFTER THEIR DOGS ` REGISTERED THEM, DE-SEXED THEM, KEPT THEM WITHIN THEIR PROPERTIES, WE WOULDN'T BE SEEING WHAT WE SEE. JOSEPHINE BARTLEY SAYS A LONG=TERM PLAN IS NEEDED TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE. SUPPORTERS OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY HAVE REPLACED FLOWERS AT MEMORIAL SITES AFTER THEY WERE REMOVED. AS SOON AS THE FLOWERS WERE TAKEN AWAY, NEW ONES WERE PUT IN THEIR PLACE. ONE OF PRESIDENT VLADIRMIR PUTIN'S MOST VOCAL CRITICS, NAVALNY, DIED OVER THE WEEKEND IN A NOTORIOUS RUSSIAN JAIL. MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AT MEMORIAL EVENTS SINCE HIS DEATH. ONE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXPERT SAYS IT COULD YET SEE THE TIDE TURN AGAINST PUTIN. LOOK, MAYBE THIS IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS. YES, IT IS A DISPLAY OF STRENGTH, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MAY BE THE BEGINNING ON THE END IN THE SENSE THAT PUBLIC OPINION MAY SHIFT NOT ONLY IN THE WEST, BUT MAYBE ALSO IN RUSSIA ITSELF. SO CONSEQUENTLY, LIKE MANY DICTATORSHIPS, SHORT-TERM STRENGTH MAY TURN INTO LONG-TERM EROSION OF LEGITIMACY AND CREDIBILITY. ALEXEI NAVALNY'S MOTHER HAS TRAVELLED TO THE JAIL WHERE HE DIED, BUT HIS BODY IS YET TO BE RETURNED. FRESH AIRSTRIKES HAVE HIT THE SOUTHERN GAZA CITY OF RAFAH, KILLING AT LEAST SIX OVERNIGHT. THE STRIKES COME AS QATAR SAYS ONGOING TALKS FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THE AREA ARE 'NOT PROMISING'. ISRAEL SAYS IT STILL PLANS TO CARRY OUT A GROUND OFFENSIVE IN RAFAH WHERE IT CLAIMS HAMAS BATTALIONS REMAIN HIDDEN. AND ISRAEL HAS ALSO CARRIED OUT MORE ATTACKS ACROSS THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH LEBANON, TARGETING WHAT IT SAYS IS HEZBOLLAH INFRASTRUCTURE. THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN TRADING HITS FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, WITH DEATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AS A RESULT. TO SPORT, AND NEW ZEALAND RUGBY WILL TRAIL 20-MINUTE RED CARDS IN COMMUNITY RUGBY OVER THE NEXT TWO SEASONS. IT MEANS IF A PLAYER IS RED CARDED, THEY CAN BE REPLACED AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE NZR FIRST INTRODUCED THE RED CARD RULE TO SUPER RUGBY IN 2020 TO MANAGE FOUL PLAY WITHOUT IMPACTING THE FLOW OF THE MATCH, WITH NEW ZEALAND BECOMING THE FIRST NATION TO INTRODUCE THE TRAIL AT COMMUNITY LEVEL. AND THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX HAVE EXTENDED THEIR LEAD AT THE TOP OF THE A-LEAGUE TABLE WITH A 2-1 WIN OVER MACARTHUR. PHOENIX FORWARD KOSTA BARBAROUSES SECURING A DOUBLE IN THE SECOND HALF TO PUSH THEM FIVE POINTS CLEAR ON THE TABLE. BARBAROUSES. BALL. OLD. AND HERE COMES KOSTA. IT'S OVER THE LINE. WELL, IT'S A LATE GOAL HERE FOR WELLINGTON. THE WOMEN'S SIDE WEREN'T AS LUCKY, GOING DOWN 3-0 TO WESTERN UNITED. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. CLOUDY START FOR ALL THROUGH HERE WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS IN WHANGAREI. WESTERLIES FOR THOSE SOUTH OF THE REGION. RUSSELL REACHING A HIGH OF 27. AND 26 FOR AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` ITS ALSO GOING TO BE A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN TAUPO. SUNSHINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF YOU. TAURANGA YOU'LL GET UP TO A HIGH OF 27. 26 DEGREES IN WHAKATANE. ON THE EAST COAST ` BLUE SKIES OVER ON THE EAST TODAY. GALE WINDS FROM LATE MORNING IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. A HIGH OF 31 FOR NAPIER. AND HASTINGS. NICE AND WARM. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL ALL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO SOME CLOUD TODAY. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES IN WELLINGTON. YOUR HIGH IS 21. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY DAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH. PACK YOUR BROLLY ` SHOWERS THIS MORNING WHICH WILL TURN TO HEAVY RAIN. THE YOUR HIGH IS 2119 DEGREES THEREFORE GREYMOUTH AND HOOKER HOKITIKA* HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, CLOUDY PERIODS HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR UMBRELLA. HEAVY RAIN FOR MOST THROUGHOUT THE REGION WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES THIS MORNING. THIS WILL EASE BY MIDDAY. DUNEDIN, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 19. BOY OH BOY, THE FEEDBACK ON JURY SERVICE IS REALLY GOING. INVERCARGILL MURDER TRIAL'S COME TO A HALT AFTER LESS THAN THIRTY PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR JURY SERVICE. WITH THE JUROR POOL BEING INSUFFICIENT FOR REQUIRED SELECTION, THE TRIAL'S BEEN POSTPONED. AND AS OUR NEXT GUEST EXPLAINS, THIS PRECEDENT COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES. CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER MARIE DYHRBERG JOINS US NOW. WHY IS THERE SUCH A LOW TURNOUT? IT IS LESS THAN ONE IN FIVE THAT TURN UP. EVEN THOUGH STATISTICALLY ONE IN FIVE ARE SIMON. I THINK IT IS THEY A VARIETY OF THINGS ` PEOPLE THEY THINK IT IS LOW PAY. THEY THINK, I WILL TAKE THE HIT. SOME PEOPLE ARE SELF-EMPLOYED AND MAY TAKE A HIT FINANCIALLY IF THEY TURN UP. WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE EDUCATED, BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO IS TIED UP IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE CHARGES, THEY ARE LIVING IN LIMBO. THE CROWN SERVICED, UNTIL THE TRIAL IS OVER, THEY CAN'T REALLY GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES. THE DEFENDANTS AND THEIR FAMILY, THE LAWYERS, THE COURTS ARE BOOKED UP. SO IF YOU HAVE A TRIAL THAT IS ADJOURNED, AND IT IS SERIOUS, PARTICULARLY WITH MURDER, OFTEN THERE IS NO BAIL, YOU CAN'T GET ANOTHER TRIAL FOR A YEAR AND 1/2. SO EVERYBODY IS BACK IN LIMBO AGAIN. WHAT I THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE. BECAUSE I LOVE JURY TRIALS. IT TAKES THE LAW OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE STATE, AND IT GETS PUT BACK IN THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD, PEOPLE WHO COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS, DIFFERENT GENDERS, WHOLE BACKGROUND, THAT'S WHO I TRUST, THAT IS WHO I KNOW WILL UNDERSTAND WHERE I AM COMING FROM FROM A DEFENSIVE PERSPECTIVE. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MANY OF OUR VIEWERS HAVE WRITTEN AND SAYING THE PAY IS CRAP, SO TO SPEAK. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT IS GOING TO TAKE. YOU MAY HAVE TO COMMIT YOURSELF FOR ONE WEEK OR FIVE WEEKS. THE SYSTEM IS ANTIQUATED, SAID ONE PERSON. THUS THE NEED AN OVERHAUL? NO. BUT THEY NEED TO BE PAID PROPERLY. THAT WILL BE OUT OF OUR PUBLIC PURSE. ADJOURNMENTS COST WAY MORE THAN RAISING THE FEES FOR THEM. CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH A JUROR WOULD GET PAID? I THINK IT IS ABOUT $87 A DAY. OUT OF THAT IS PARKING AND CHILDCARE. IF YOU SUPPORT JURORS, YOU HELP THEM WITH PARKING AND TRANSPORT, YOU MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE CARE. BUT WHY A JURY IS IMPORTANT, AND IT IS NOT ANTIQUATED, IS THAT YOU TAKE THE LAW AND YOU TAKE IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. IF IT IS JUST IN THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT ENDED THE HANDS OF, SAY, JUST THE POLICE, THE STATE, THAT CANNOT BE REAL JUSTICE. AND IN A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY LIKE OURS THAT HAS A JURY AS ACCESS TO JUSTICE. I GO ENJOYING SEMINARS. I WAS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES. EVERY COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A JURY SYSTEM SAYS, FIGHT TO THE END. DO NOT GIVE IT UP. WE ARE THE SAFEGUARD AGAINST OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT. ARBITRARY CONDUCT. AND IF PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT, THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN BE PART OF DEMOCRACY AS IT REALLY IS. THAT THEY CAN STOP AND GET INVOLVED. I FIND JURORS, THOUGH, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET CALLED UP. THEY ARE NERVOUS. THEY DO ANYTHING TO GET OFF THE JURY, BUT ONCE THEY ARE IN THEIR SEATS, THEY ACTUALLY TAKE IT REALLY SERIOUSLY. I'VE NEVER BEEN SIMON, SO IS THERE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET CALLED? IT IS RANDOM. AND UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY PEOPLE GET OFF THAT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE COURT, THERE ARE MISSING GROUPS. LIKE 40-YEAR-OLDS AND 50-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE EMPLOYED. SELF-EMPLOYED WHO HAVE WONDERFUL ACCESS TO WHAT HUMAN NATURE IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW TO RATIONALISE AND REASON THINGS OUT. SO A JURY BY YOUR PEERS? NOT QUITE AT THE MOMENT. HOW IS THIS IMPACTING THINGS? OBVIOUSLY ONE CASE HAS BEEN IMPACTED DOWN SOUTH. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE IMPACT? IT IS PHENOMENAL. YOU'VE GOT STRESS ON THE STAFF WHO HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER SLOT. YOU HAVE, AS I SAY, ALL OF THESE WITNESSES WHO ARE DEVASTATED THAT THE TRIAL IS NOT GOING AHEAD. THE FINANCIAL COST IS HUGE FOR A START, BECAUSE YOU'VE PUT THAT TIME ASIDE. SO YOU CAN'T UTILISE THAT TIME OF THE COURT. YOU'VE GOT A GAP. AND THE TOLL ON EVERYBODY INVOLVED, I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST HOLE. AND SUDDENLY NOBODY TAKES OUR SYSTEM SERIOUSLY. THEY THINK, OH WELL, PEOPLE COULDN'T BE BOTHERED. THEY MUST KNOW SOMETHING. I'M NOT GOING TO TURN UP EITHER. AND WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO ENFORCE. I DON'T THINK YOU PUNISH PEOPLE WHO DON'T TURN UP. YOU TRY AND EDUCATE THEM. YOU TRY AND SAY, THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD TURN UP. BUT THERE IS NO REPERCUSSIONS IF YOU DON'T TURN UP. THE COURT IS TOO BUSY TO TRY AND FIND THESE PEOPLE, DRAGGED HIM INTO COURT, AND THEN GIVE THEM A DRESSING DOWN FROM A JUDGE AND GIVE THEM A FINE OF $300. COULD EMPLOYERS HELP AND FOOT SOME OF THAT MONEY? EMPLOYERS CAN. THEY CANNOT STOP YOU FROM DOING YOUR JURY DUTY. BUT WE DO HEAR SOME HORROR STORIES THAT EMPLOYERS SAY, YOU NEED TO WORK AFTER HOURS. DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MANDATE IT? NO, I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD. I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY AND REIMBURSE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN. A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE REALLY ON-BOARD, AND SOME AREN'T. GIVE US THE FEEDBACK AND HIT THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO ARE NOT COMING TO THE PARTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND I TELL YOU NOW, IT IS GOING OFF THE FEEDBACK. FEEL FREE TO STAY WITH ME. I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO STAY, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS ONE FOR US, BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE CALIBRE OF THE JURY. BECAUSE WE'VE JUST HAD FEEDBACK FROM ALEX WHO SAYS IT IS A SORE POINT FOR HIM. HE WAS ON JURY SERVICE, BUT WHEN HE WAS THERE, HE HAD SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T CARE ABOUT BEING THERE, THEY JUST AGREED WITH EVERYTHING. THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN THE TRIAL. SO I WONDER IF THERE SHOULD BE A CRITERIA OR SOME KIND OF GUIDELINE AROUND WHO SHOULD BE DOING JURY SERVICE. OR SHOULD WE NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT? I WOULD SAY WE DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN GROUPS, BUT YOU BRIEFLY TOUCH ON AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE A MINUTE MORE, WHICH IS YOU MAKE IT A LOT TOUGHER TO GET EXCUSE, BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A JURY BY YOUR PEERS, THEREFORE YOU GET A CROSS-SECTION, WHICH IS CRITICAL, BECAUSE YOU BRING ALL OF THAT DIVERSITY OF GENDER, LIFE EXPERIENCE. BUT BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EXCUSED THAT YOU WOULD WANT ON YOUR JURY, SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE, PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, BUT WHAT YOU GET ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER RETIRED ` I'M GOING TO GET FEEDBACK FROM BOTH PEOPLE ` BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED, PEOPLE WHO TURN UP WHO ARE FROM DIFFERENT RACES. AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH NOTHING ELSE TO DO, PAYMENT MAY BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS. FOR FIVE DAYS IN COURT. IT IS $31. THAT INCREASES TO $89 IF YOU ARE THERE FOR THAT DAY UP UNTIL 6 PM OR 9 PM. AND THEN THAT GOES UP SLIGHTLY IF YOU ARE THERE FROM SIX OR MORE DAYS AFTER THAT. THAT HAS GOT TO INCREASE, BUT THE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY WRITE AND, THEY SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO, BECAUSE I'VE GOT KIDS, BECAUSE I'M SELF-EMPLOYED, BECAUSE MY JOB IS TOO IMPORTANT. THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE REASONS WHY WE NEED YOU TO CARRY OUT CIVIC DUTY, BECAUSE WE NEED THE CROSS-SECTION OF EVERYBODY THERE. YOU'VE GOT KIDS? GREAT. MAYBE WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF A MUM OR A DAD. IT IS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING FINES RATHER THAN` YEAH. MAYBE THE FINES NEED TO INCREASE? COME ON, MARIE. MAYBE WE NEED TO BE TOUGH ON PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IF YOU HAVE KIDS. WE WILL PAY FOR YOUR KIDS' CARE. WE WILL PAY FOR YOUR CAR PARK. HALF OF YOUR JURY DUTY IS GOING TO GO ON WILSONS. AS A SELF-EMPLOYED PERSON, I SPENT SEVERAL DAYS ON A JURY, AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THAT MEANS I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. MONEY IS IMPORTANT, AND WE'VE GOT TO PAY AND GOT TO DIG IN. THAT'S REALLY GOT TO PAY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE AND THE APPEAL SYSTEM, THAT'S ABOUT A GOOD $25,000 JUST FOR AN APPEAL, COPYING EVERYBODY IN. AND PUTTING THAT MONEY AND. KEEP THAT FEEDBACK COMING IN. WE WILL FLICK THAT FEEDBACK ONTO MARIE. WILSON'S CAR PARK IS COMING IN. NO. E HAERE AKE NEI ` CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S TRIP TO THE BIG GAY OUT WAS SHORTER THAN EXPECTED, SO WHAT DOES LABOUR MAKE OF THE COALITION'S POLICIES FOR THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY? THEIR SPOKESPERSON JOINS US NEXT. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S TRIP TO THE BIG GAY OUT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, WELL, A BIG GAY OUT. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER WAS FORCED TO DEPART EARLY AFTER HE WAS CONFRONTED BY PROTESTERS. LABOUR'S RAINBOW SPOKESPERSON SHANAN HALBERT WAS ALSO THERE AND HE JOINS ME THIS MORNING. TELL ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. THE BIG GAY OUT IS KNOWN TO BE QUITE VIBRANT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE CELEBRATING THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. THE PRIME MINISTER WALKED THROUGH AND SADLY WAS CONFRONTED BY TRANS RIGHT ACTIVISTS. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CELEBRATING AROUND THEM, BUT THAT WAS HIS EXPERIENCE. YOU ARE THE GOVERNMENT NOW, AND LAST YEAR WE SAW THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION MAKE SOME BIG PROMISES. NOW YOU ARE THE GOVERNMENT, AND OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING YOU TO STAND UP AND ARE SUPPORTED AS PART OF YOUR GOVERNMENT AND AT THE ALLOCATED RESOURCES ARE PROTECTED. DO YOU THINK IT IS FAIR WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IN EFFECT THAT HE HAD TO LEAVE THE EVENT? I DID NOT SEE THAT IT WAS UNSAFE IN ANY WAY. CERTAINLY THERE WERE PEOPLE SHOUTING AT THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY HAS A HISTORY OF ACTIVISM. IF YOU UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITY, YOU WILL KNOW AND CELEBRATE THAT TOO. HE TALKED ABOUT THE PROTESTS THAT WERE HAPPENING, AND THERE WAS SOME PROTESTING ABOUT PALESTINE. DO YOU SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS? THROUGH LABOUR, WE HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR, WHEN I WAS A NEW MP, WE PUT THROUGH THE HOUSE BANNING CONVERSION PRACTICES. WE WANT THIS WORK TO CONTINUE, AND NOW EVERY FAMILY IN NEW ZEALAND HAS A MEMBER OF THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. WE WANT THEM TO FEEL INCLUDED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD ON THEIR BEHALF, AND PART OF MY ROLE AS LABOURS SPOKESPERSON IS TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF AND HOLD THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT, AND THAT THE RESOURCES WE HAVE ALLOCATED ARE PROTECTED AND BETTER STAY. TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PETITION. WE'VE SEEN IN THE 100 A COALITION PLAN THAT WE NEW ZEALAND FIRST ASKED FOR A REVIEW WE KNOW OUR KIDS AT SCHOOL FEEL UNSAFE. WANT RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEM BETTER IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS. IT IS A DIFFICULT PLACE SOMETIMES, SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND NOW WHY A GOVERNMENT AND A 100 DAY PLAN NEED TO PRIORITISE THIS IN THE EARLY DAYS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE IN A COMMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY, THIS IS BEFORE HE WENT TO THE BIG GAY OUT WHERE HE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE REMOVAL OF THESE GUIDELINES. HAVE A LISTEN. TALK TO THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY, AND I SAY TO YOU, WHAT ARE THEY FIXATED ON AT THE MOMENT? REBUILDING THE ECONOMY, RESTORING LAW AND ORDER, DELIVERING BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATION. I AM SURE THAT OUR RAINBOW COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M SURE THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE GUIDELINES ARE BEING REPLACED. ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU ASK PARENTS OF TRANS CHILDREN THAT ARE SENDING THE CHILD OFF TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WORRIED AND CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE DAY IS GOING TO GO. THESE GUIDELINES HELP TO PROTECT THEM, AND WHAT THEY HAVE IS A PRIME MINISTER WHO WAS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY SAYING THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY. YES WE ARE, THE COST OF LIVING ABSOLUTELY, BUT THE DAY-TO-DAY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S WELFARE. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS WE HAVE FOUND A VERY WEIRD HOT CROSS BUN IN AUSTRALIA, AND LETS JUST SAY THEY WOULDN'T BE TOO OUT OF PLACE IN AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT. MORE ON THAT NEXT. MULTIPLE HOMES WERE EVACUATED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH CANTERBURY AS FIRE CREWS WORK TO CONTAIN A LARGE SCRUB FIRE NEAR WAIPARA. FIVE HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO GET AN AERIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SIZE OF THIS FIRE, WHICH IS BURNING IN WAIKARA VALLEY. AN EVACUATION CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP AT THE WAIPARA COMMUNITY HALL. AND ON THE PORT HILLS OF CHRISTCHURCH, FIRE CREWS HAVE EXTINGUISHED HALF OF THE 58 HOT SPOTS STILL REMAINING. WORK CONTINUED OVERNIGHT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF THE FIRE FLARING UP AGAIN, WITH STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR TODAY. A SPECIALIST DRONE TEAM FLEW DURING THE NIGHT USING THERMAL IMAGING TO HUNT DOWN HOT SPOTS FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO FOCUS ON. A CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER BELIEVES PUNITIVE PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SHOW FOR JURY SERVICE WON'T ACHIEVE A LONG TERM CHANGE ON THE ISSUE. IT COMES AFTER AN INVERCARGILL MURDER TRIAL WAS ABANDONED AND POSTPONED AFTER NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO FORM A JURY. MARIE DYHRBERG SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE FROM PEOPLE. IF YOU GET A TRIAL THAT'S ADJOURNED, AND IT'S SERIOUS, PARTICULARLY MURDER, OFTEN THERE IS NO BAIL. YOU CANNOT GET A TRIAL FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND �. JURORS ARE PAID AROUND $87 A DAY. THIS YEAR'S RETURN TO SCHOOL HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS FROM CAREGIVERS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE LATEST DATA SHOWS THAT JUST ONE MONTH INTO 2024 THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RECEIVED MORE THAN 21,000 REQUESTS FOR HELP WITH SCHOOL RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING UNIFORMS, STATIONARY AND SCHOOL FEES. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR SUPPORT FROM GRANDPARENTS CARING FOR GRANDCHILDREN. I'VE FOUND THAT IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE BASICS IN. AND I'VE` I MAKE SURE THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO WAIT A WEE WHILE FOR ME TO SAVE. HMM. AND I WILL GO WITHOUT SO THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO. LAST YEAR, THE CHARITABLE ORGANISATION 'VARIETY' PAID MORE THAN $3 MILLION IN GRANTS, COMPARED TO $2.7 MILLION IN 2022. HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY HS MET WITH BRITISH ROYALTY WITH PRINCE WILLIAM SHOWING UP AT THE BAFTA AWARDS. THE PRINCE OF WALES WALKED THE RED CARPET BY HIMSELF WITH HIS WIFE STILL RECOVERING FROM ABDOMINAL SURGERY. HE CHATTED TO PEOPLE AND POSED FOR PHOTOS ALONG THE WAY. INSIDE, HE WAS SEATED NEXT TO AUSTRALIAN ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT BEFORE A BRIEF CHAT WITH FOOTBALL ROYALTY, DAVID BECKHAM. THE BREAKERS HAVE ENDED THE AUSTRALIAN NBL REGULAR SEASON WITH A LOSS THAT'S LEFT THEM WITH AN UPHILL BATTLE TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS. THE NEW ZEALAND CLUB FELL TO ADELAIDE 76-70 TO FINISH THE SEASON SIXTH ON THE LADDER WITH A 13-WIN, 15-LOSS RECORD. IT QUALIFIES THEM FOR THE PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT, MEANING THEY'LL NEED TO WIN TWO GAMES, BOTH ON THE ROAD, TO REACH THE LAST FOUR. I'LL TAKE A LOT OF THE GOOD STUFF THAT THIS GROUP HAS SHOWN ME DURING THIS SEASON, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO THE POST-SEASON, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FACED TO BE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND HAPPY AND PROUD. THE BREAKERS POST-SEASON RUN BEGINS IN SYDNEY AGAINST THE KINGS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AN AUSTRALIAN'S SET TO TAKE THE WHEEL OF THE NEW ZEALAND BOAT AT THE NEXT SAIL GP REGATTA. PETER BURLING WILL MISS THE EVENT IN SYDNEY THIS WEEKEND, SAYING HOME FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD. INSTEAD, BURLING'S TEAM NEW ZEALAND CO-HELM NATHAN OUTERIDGE WILL LEAD THE CREW. NEW ZEALAND CURRENTLY SIT SECOND ON THE TABLE BEHIND AUSTRALIA. MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE NOTCHED UP AN IMPORTANT 2-1 WIN OVER LUTON TOWN IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE THIS MORNING. THE RED DEVILS PULLING AHEAD BY TWO GOALS INSIDE THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE MATCH. UNITED REMAIN IN SIXTH, JUST THREE POINTS BEHIND TOTTENHAM. AND FINALLY, IN A MOVE THAT IS BLATANT PANDERING TO THE AUDIENCE, HERE'S YOUR PANDA NEWS FOR THE MORNING. ,IT WAS PANDAMONIUM WHEN YA-YA ... THE CELEBRITY GIANT PANDA AT BEIJING ZOO, WAS GIVEN TREATS TO CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR. KEEPERS PREPARED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SNACKS FOR HER, INCLUDING DUMPLINGS STUFFED WITH SOME OF HER FAVOURITES. YA-YA RETURNED TO CHINA LAST YEAR AFTER TWO DECADES IN THE U.S. CLOUDY START FOR ALL THROUGH HERE, WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS IN WHANGAREI. WESTERLIES FOR THOSE SOUTH OF THE REGION. RUSSELL REACHING A HIGH OF 27. FURTHER SOUTH ` ITS ALSO GOING TO BE A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN TAUPO. SUNSHINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF YOU. TAURANGA, YOU'LL GET UP TO A HIGH OF 27. ON THE EAST COAST ` BLUE SKIES OVER ON THE EAST TODAY. GALE WINDS FROM LATE MORNING IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. A HIGH OF 31 FOR NAPIER AND HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL ALL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO SOME CLOUD TODAY. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST, WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES IN WELLINGTON. 26 THE HIGH IN WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY DAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH, PACK YOUR BROLLY. SHOWERS THIS MORNING, WHICH WILL TURN TO HEAVY RAIN. A HIGH OF 29 IN BLENHEIM. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, CLOUDY PERIODS HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON, WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. A HIGH OF 29 IN TIMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR UMBRELLA. HEAVY RAIN FOR MOST THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES THIS MORNING. THIS WILL EASE BY MIDDAY. DUNEDIN, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 21. I CAN SMELL SOMETHING WHAT'S HAPPENING? THESE ARE THE LATEST HOT CROSS BUNS. I LIKE THE PIZZA SHAPES, BUT THIS... I'M SORRY I AM REFUSING TO EAT IT. WHEN IS A HOT CROSS BUN NOT A HOT CROSS BUN? WHEN IT IS A PIZZA HOT CROSS BUN. I'M NOT FUSSY, I WILL EAT ANYTHING. YOU NEED DOLLOPS OF BUTTER WHEN YOU EAT HOT CROSS BUNS. WHAT IS IT, RAISINS THAT ARE IN IT? THAT'S WHAT I LIKE IN MY HOT CROSS BUNS. I'LL TRY IT. THE CHOCOLATE HOT CROSS BUNS ARE DELICIOUS. I DON'T MIND THOSE ONES. IT'S JUST VERY DOUGHY, WITH BASICALLY THE... SPRINKLES. SPRINKLES ON TOP - IT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU AT HOME ABOUT JURY SERVICE. WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN SUMMONED OR IF YOU TRY AND AVOID IT. COMES ON THE BACK OF A MURDER TRIAL IN SOUTHEND WHERE THEY HAD TO POSTPONE THE TRIAL BECAUSE 30 PEOPLE DIDN'T TURN UP. IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING RECEIVING YOUR FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. KEIRA SAYS SHE WOULD RATHER TAKE THE $1000 HIT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THIS KIND OF PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT POINT UP BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY AND THE IMPACT THIS HAS ON YOUR DAY-TO-DAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A TRIAL. SO YES, IT IS THE OTHER PART OF IT TOO. IF YOU GET CALLED UP TO THE DISTRICT COURT, THE POOL OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS, THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL TRIALS ON THAT DAY, SO YOU HAVE JURORS SITTING THERE THINKING, I LIKE TO TAKE THE ONE WEEK, AND THEN YOUR ENDING WITH THE BIGGER TRIALS AT THE END. WE FIND OUT FROM A LEADING BARRISTER EIGHT $89 A DAY MANY OF YOU SAYING IT DOES NOT COVER THE MORTGAGE IF YOU HAD TO TAKE THOSE DAYS OFF. THEN YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES TOO, SO WE ASKED THE QUESTION WHETHER EMPLOYERS SHOULD FOOT THE BILL. EMPLOYERS ALREADY HAVE A LOT TO DEAL WITH. SOME PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO BE INVOLVED YOU GET A LETTER FROM THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, YOU DON'T WRITE TO THEM, YOUR NAME WILL BE ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL, YOU GET A LETTER AND IT SAYS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TURN UP FOR JURY SERVICE AT THE HAMILTON DISTRICT COURT ON THE STATE. THAT'S WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO ROCK ALONG. ONCE YOU ARE IN THE SYSTEM YOU CAN GET CALLED AGAIN. UNLESS YOU HAVE A PARTICULARLY HARROWING TRIAL, THE JUDGE WILL MAKE A DECLARATION YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WHEN I DID IT HE SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TRIAL, YOU COULD BE EXCUSED FOR THREE YEARS. BUT IF YOU DID A REALLY TRAUMATIC MURDER TRIAL, THEY MAY SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN. YOU'VE YOU'VE DONE JURY SERVICE. HOW IS THE FOOD IS THE FOOD GOOD? I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE PAY THE FINE TO GET OUT OF IT. PEOPLE JUST PAY THE FINE UPFRONT TO AVOID JURY SERVICE. IS IT WORTH IT? WE NEED YOU TO DO YOUR CIVIC DUTY BECAUSE AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WE WANT EVERYONE FROM SOCIETY TO ACTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN THESE TRIALS. BUT AGAIN, IF YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR, A BUSINESS OWNER, IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE AND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TOUGH, TAKING A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS TO DO JURY SERVICE CAN BE TOUGH. ME U TONU MAI ` PM CHRISTOPHER LUXON CALLED THE STATE OF NATION 'FRAGILE'. WE ASK OUR PANEL IF THEY AGREE. THAT'S AFTER THE BREAK. 'THE STATE OF THE NATION IS FRAGILE.' THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON AS HE ADDRESSED HIS CROWD OF SUPPORTERS IN THE ANNUAL ADDRESS YESTERDAY. LUXON SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS A MASSIVE CLEAN-UP JOB TO DO. BUT LABOUR ACCUSED THEM OF TRYING TO MAKE NEW ZEALAND A MORE DIVIDED PLACE. OUR POLITICAL PANEL OF ACT'S BROOKE VAN VELDEN AND GREEN'S CHLOE SWARBRICK JOIN ME THIS MORNING. MORENA. I WILL START WITH YOU CHLOE, JUST IN TERMS OF THE NATION SPEECH, ARE WE IN A FRAGILE POSITION DO YOU THINK? IRONICALLY, I WOULD AGREE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. THE ROLE OF POLITICAL LEADERS IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A A UNITED NEW ZEALAND. YOU DON'T DO THAT BY SPARKING CULTURE WARS AND DIVISION OVER THINGS LIKE THE TREATY. PUTTING UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT SEXUALITY AND GENDER EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO WE CAN REDUCE BULLYING IN SCHOOLS. BUT THE THING I WANTED TO POINT TO IS HOW CHRISTOPHER LUXTON HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME REFLECTING ON TOUGH CHOICES. SO LET'S UNPACK THAT FOR A SECOND. THIS IS THE SAME RHETORIC WE HAVE HEARD FROM POLITICAL LEADERS FOR DECADES. THE KIND OF TOUGH CHOICES BECAUSE THE LUXTON IS TALKING ABOUT IS PROTECTING INVESTMENTS OF PROPERTY LIKE HIMSELF RATHER THAN ADDRESSING THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH THE PROPERTY. FOR INSTANCE PRIORITISING COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OVER FRESHWATER. THESE ARE THE CHOICES CRYSTAL LOOKS AND IS CHOOSING TO MAKE A SPRY MINISTER, DO YOU AGREE? I THINK THE STATE OF NEW ZEALAND IS FRAGILE. IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN UNDER LABOUR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THEY HAVE BEEN PROVING TO GET A LOT LESS VALUE FOR SPENDING A LOT MORE MONEY, AS CHLOE SAID WE HAVE BEEN SEEING DIVISION. THAT'S NOT CAUSED BY THIS GOVERNMENT, THAT THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. WE WANT TO CHANGE THINGS. LET'S LOOK AT HOW WE CAN HAVE MORE BUSINESS CONFIDENCE, AT HOW WE CAN HAVE MORE KIDS TURNING UP TO SCHOOL, GETTING EDUCATED AND ACTUALLY COMING OUT WITH A BASE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL SET THEM UP TO THE FUTURE. HAD WE MAKE SURE OUR STREETS SAFER AGAIN? I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP IN HERE BROOKE, YOU MENTIONED DIVISION WAS FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, COME ON. YOU LOOK AT THE TREATY OF WAITANGI, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO READ THE ROOM IN TERMS OF HOW THE NATION FEELING TOWARDS THAT BILL BY YOUR PARTY. I AM READING THE ROOM. WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING GOING UP AND I NEW ZEALAND, TALKING TO PEOPLE IS THAT THEY FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DIVISION FORCED ON THEM. FROM THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL, ACT WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE TREATY IN A MODERN MULTI-ETHNIC LIBERAL DEMOCRACY. IS IT ONE WHERE EVERYBODY IS EQUAL, OR ONE WHERE WE SAY THAT PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR ANCESTRY HAVE DIFFERENT RIGHTS? I HEAR A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER KID IN THE CLASSROOM OR ANY OTHER KIDS GOING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW. WE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT WITHOUT BEING LABELLED BAD NAMES. BUT JUST GETTING BACK TO THE POINTS, DO WE HAVE A FRAGILE ECONOMY, YES WE DO? WE BEEN SPENDING MORE MONEY ON GETTING FEWER RESULTS TO THIS GOVERNMENT IS SAYING LET'S GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY, BACK WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING, MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING EFFICIENCY SO WE GET BEST VALUE FOR TAXPAYERS NOT JUST IN THE ECONOMY, BUT LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE EDUCATION. WHILE HALF OF ALL KIDS NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL REGULARLY? CHLOE YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE LISTENING. THIS IS ALL BEST SUMMARISED BY WHEN YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO PRIVILEGE, A QUOTE EQUALITY FEELS LIKE OPPRESSION THE FACTS SHOW US THAT MAORI ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN EVERY SINGLE NEGATIVE STATISTIC IN SOCIETY. THOSE ARE THE DIRECT CONSEQUENCES OF DISPOSSESSION OF RESOURCES AND LAND AND RESOURCES WHICH IS A RESULT OF COLONISATION. WE HAVE A PATHWAY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THAT THROUGH THE TREATY, THROUGH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MEANINGFULLY RECONCILE WITH OUR HISTORY AND IS A PARTNER IN A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US. YET THIS GOVERNMENT SEEMS INTENT ON THROWING THIS AND THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE TO SOW THE SEEDS OF DISCONTENT, AND ADD TO THE FRAGILITY WHICH THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE. IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT DIVISION IN THIS COUNTRY, IT IS APPARENT IN THE TREASURY REPORTS FROM LAST YEAR, THAT THE WEALTHIEST FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY HOLD MORE WEALTH COMBINED THAN THE BOTTOM 2 1/2 MILLION NEW ZEALANDERS. THAT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT THAT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE TAX SYSTEM THIS IS THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY PAY A TAX RATE LESS THAN HALF OF THAT OF MOST NEW ZEALANDERS. AND THAT IS THE SUPPOSED HARD CHOICE THAT CHRISTOPHER LUXTON AND THIS GOVERNMENT ARE MAKING, TO KEEP THAT TAX SYSTEM IN PLACE AND PUSH THE REST OF US INTO POVERTY. HALF ` 52% OF THE PEOPLE WE BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR WERE SKILL LEVEL FOUR AND FIVE. THAT IS YOUR CLEANERS, FAST FOOD CHEFS, LABOURERS, RIGHT? THIS IS UNDER THE ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA, RIGHT? EXACTLY, NOW, THIS IS NOT A RECIPE FOR PRODUCTIVITY, WAGE GROWTH, PROSPERITY AND GETTING KIWIS INTO JOBS, BECAUSE, JACK, LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT IN 52,000 PRETTY UNSKILLED PEOPLE... WAS THAT A MISTAKE? ...WHILE` YES, IT WAS. WHILE 20,000 PEOPLE WERE ADDED TO THE JOB SEEKER BENEFIT. BROOKE YOU HEARD THE MINISTER SAY IT WAS A MISTAKE. DO YOU AGREE? I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT ERICA IS GOING TO BE BRINGING TO CABINET AND TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE COMING WEEKS TO TRY AND LOOK AT OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO NEW ZEALAND WE WANT NEW ZEALAND TO BE A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE THEIR HOME, BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH. ONE THING I AM VERY CONCERNED BY IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVING SO I'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT HOW WE MAKE NEW ZEALAND A PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO STAY AND MAKE IT HOME. WHERE THEY CAN FEEL SAFE ON THE STREETS. I FEEL THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THIS GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO HERE TO MAKE SURE NEW ZEALAND IS A PLACE TO COME. BUT IF THAT MEANS WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO STAY HERE WILL HAVE FEWER PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE BORDER. CHLOE. AS OUR SPOKESPERSON ON IMMIGRATION RECOVERY POINTED OUT, WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION POLICY. WE CONSISTENTLY SEE THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR OR CALLING FOR MORE OF THOSE SO-CALLED LOW SKILLED MIGRANTS BUT THEN AS SOON AS IT BECOMES TOO HARD BASKET BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE HOUSED AND HAVE SERVICES LIKE EDUCATION, THEN THEY SAY THAT IT COSTS TOO MUCH SO WE WENT FROM THOSE THINGS. THEREFORE THEY WILL SCAPEGOAT THE MIGRANTS. WE NEED TO RECOGNISE THE INHERENT VALUE AND DIGNITY THAT MIGRANTS BRING TO THIS COUNTRY AND ADDRESS THE UNDER RESOURCING OF ALL PUBLIC SERVICES THAT WE ALL RELY ON. CHLOE, BROOKE THANK YOU SO MUCH. E WHAI AKE NEI ` GET READY FOR A BUMPER KIWIFRUIT SEASON. SO HOW HAVE THINGS TURNED AROUND? THAT'S COMING UP NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. KIWIFRUIT IS LOVED BY SO MANY OVERSEAS THAT IT'S OUR BIGGEST HORTICULTURAL EXPORT. AFTER CYCLONES HALE AND GABRIELLE CAUSED MASSIVE DAMAGE TO SOME OF OUR MOST PRODUCTIVE REGIONS, THINGS ARE NOW LOOKING GOOD, WITH GROWERS SEEKING THOUSANDS OF WORKERS TO HELP HARVEST THE CROP. THIRD-GENERATION GROWER CAMERON HILL JOINS US TO EXPLAIN MORE. MORENA, CAMERON. HOW MUCH OF A STRUGGLE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS IT BEEN? THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN PRETTY TOUGH FOR US DOWN HERE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. PARTICULARLY LAST YEAR, CYCLONE HALE FOLLOWED BY GABRIELLE, THEY LEFT OUR ORCHARD UNDER A FAIR BIT OF WATER, AND QUITE A BIG LOSS OF VINES. IT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON THE TOTAL CROP AS WELL. BUT WE ARE LOOKING MUCH MORE POSITIVE THIS YEAR. WHAT HAS BEEN BEHIND THE TURNAROUND IN FORTUNES? WE JUST HAD A GOOD GROWING SEASON. IT REALLY KICKED OFF WITH AN IDEAL WINTER LAST YEAR, WITH REALLY GOOD WINTER CHILLING HOURS, WHICH MEANT A GOOD FRUIT SET. AND THEN WE HAD JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE AND RAIN. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE WERE PART UNDERWATER, AND WE HAD TWICE OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL, WHEREAS THE SEASON, IT IS ALWAYS THE OPPOSITE. AN IDEAL GROWING SEASON. IT PROBABLY SOUNDS LIKE AN OBVIOUS ANSWER FOR THIS, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE HAD TOO MUCH WATER, WHAT IS IT EXACTLY THAT IS CAUSING THE CROP TO FAIL? IS IT ROOT ROT? WHEN THE VINES ARE TOO WET, WHEN THEY ARE WATERLOGGED, THEY ARE DYING. BUT WHEN WE COME INTO THE SUMMER PERIOD, TOO MUCH WATER SLOWS THE RIPENING PROCESS OF THE FRUIT DOWN. THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES. AS THINGS STAND, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WORKERS? DO YOU NEED PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY HARVEST THE CROP? THE INDUSTRY WILL ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR WORKERS, BUT WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO. WE CERTAINLY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF THE ISSUES SO FAR THIS SEASON THAT WE SAW TWO YEARS AGO. BIG NUMBERS OF OUR RSE PROGRAM ARE IN PLACE AND SOME OF OUR CONTRACTORS WITH FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES ARE NOT EXPENDING ANY REAL ISSUES. YOU MENTION HOW IT WAS A REALLY TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS. FINANCIALLY, IT IS GREAT THAT THINGS HAVE TURNED AROUND. BUT EVEN JUST FOR YOU, FOR THIS BEING YOUR LIVELIHOOD, WHAT DOES IT DO FOR YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR OWN MORALE, I GUESS? IT IS PRETTY TOUGH. YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE A REAL LONG-TERM VIEW OF THINGS, AND WE ARE GROWING A CROP THAT IS SUBJECT TO NATURE, SO YOU HAVE GOT YOU REALLY TRY AND RIDE OUT THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS. WE HAVE A GOOD SEASON COMING UP THIS YEAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN PRETTY TOUGH FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, SO YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF IN A GOOD POSITION. YOU HAVE GOT TO GET YOUR FINANCES RIGHT. WE HAVE GOT TO FINISH UP. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU WERE A THIRD-GENERATION GROWER. WHAT WE SEE A FOURTH-GENERATION FROM THE FAMILY? THERE ARE A COUPLE HERE. THEY WILL TAKE OVER THE REINS ONE DAY. GOOD ON YOU. I MUST SAY, WELL DONE ON FINDING YOURSELF AS LIVE SHOT. GETTING UNDER THE VINES THERE IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR US. THANKS, CHRIS. PEOPLE WHO ARE SUMMONED FOR JURY SERVICE NEED TO BE PAID MORE, THAT'S THE VIEW OF ONE CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER. IT COMES AS AN INVERCARGILL MURDER TRIAL WAS POSTPONED AFTER NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO FORM A JURY. JURORS ARE PAID AROUND $87 A DAY. MARIE DYHRBERG SAYS THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. JURORS HAVE TO BE PAID PROPERLY. SO THAT WILL BE OUT OF OUR PUBLIC PURSE, BUT IT IS WORTH EVERYTHING, BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, ADJOURNMENTS OR APPEALS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE BECAUSE FAR MORE THAN RAISING THE FEES FOR THEM. MARIE DYHRBERG SAYS FINANCIAL PUNISHMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T SHOW WON'T ACHIEVE LONG-TERM CHANGE ON THE ISSUE. MULTIPLE HOMES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED OVERNIGHT IN NORTH CANTERBURY AS FIRE CREWS WORK TO CONTAIN A LARGE SCRUB FIRE NEAR WAIPARA. HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN SENT IN TO GET AN AERIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SIZE OF THIS FIRE, WHICH IS BURNING IN THE WAIKARA VALLEY. FIRE AND EMERGENCY WAS FIRST ALERTED TO THE BLAZE AT AROUND 8 LAST NIGHT. AN EVACUATION CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP AT THE WAIPARA COMMUNITY HALL. THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO REMOVE SOME SEX EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS HAS PROMPTED CONCERN AMONG THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. IN AN APPEARANCE AT THE BIG GAY OUT YESTERDAY, THE PRIME MINISTER DEFENDED THE COALITION GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF GENDER SEXUALITY AND RELATIONSHIP-BASED EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM. THE LABOUR PARTY WARNS TAKING THE AXE TO THESE RESOURCES WILL BE DAMAGING FOR YEARS TO COME. WHEN YOU ASK PARENTS OF CHILDREN, OF TRANS CHILDREN, THAT ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL, THAT THEY ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, WORRIED, CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE DAY IS GOING TO GO. THESE GUIDELINES ACTUALLY HELP PROTECT THEM, AND WHAT WE HAVE IS A PRIME MINISTER OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. LABOUR HAS LAUNCHED A PETITION TO PROTECT THE GUIDELINES. AN EXPLOSION IN THE NUMBER OF DOGS ROAMING THE STREETS OF AUCKLAND IS LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN EUTHANISATIONS. NEW STATISTICS FROM AUCKLAND COUNCIL SHOW IN THE YEAR TO JUNE 2023, MORE THAN 2500 DOGS WERE EUTHANISED OF WHICH 151 WERE BECAUSE SHELTERS WERE FULL. COUNCILLOR JESEPHINE BARTLEY SAYS PEOPLE AREN'T LOOKING AFTER THEIR DOGS OR GETTING THEM DE-SEXED. AUCKLAND ANIMAL MANAGEMENT ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BETTER, TO TARGET THE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE WE ARE SEEING THIS EXPLOSION OF DOGS. IT IS REALLY A SAD SITUATION, BUT I FEEL FOR THE STAFF AT ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE NOBODY GOES TO WORK TO KILL DOGS. COUNCILLOR JOSEPHINE BARTLEY SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EDUCATION AROUND PET OWNERSHIP. RUSSIA SAYS ITS FORCES HAVE TAKEN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CITY OF AVDIIVKA,WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF RECENT INTENSE FIGHTING. UKRAINIAN TROOPS ABANDONED THE LAST HOLDOUT IN THE CITY, MARKING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY'S BIGGEST WIN IN MONTHS. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYS A SHORTAGE OF AMMUNITION AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM WESTERN NATIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECISION TO WITHDRAW. A COW HAS ATTENDED THE POPE'S WEEKLY PRAYER IN THE VATICAN AS PART OF ONGOING EUROPEAN FARMERS PROTESTS. THE LARGE FRIESIAN NAMED ERCOLINA HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF THE PROTEST AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL REFORMS AND IN FAVOUR OF HIGHER PRICES FOR PRODUCE. ERCOLINA WAS LED INTO THE PIAZZA AND THEN MILKED IN FRONT OF THE CROWDS GATHERED TO SEE THE POPE APPEAR AT HIS BALCONY. AND LEWIS CLAREBURT HAS WON GOLD AT THE WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DOHA. CLAREBURT'S TAKING THE GOLD IN THE 400m INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY TO ADD A SECOND GOLD MEDAL TO THE TALLY FOR NEW ZEALAND IN DOHA. THE KIWI TEAM FINISHES THEIR CAMPAIGN WITH FOUR MEDALS. AND AUSTRALIA HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST NET SESSION IN THE CAPITAL AHEAD OF THEIR T20 SERIES AGAINST THE BLACKCAPS. IT'S BEEN ALMOST FIVE YEARS SINCE THE TEAM HAS PLAYED IN NEW ZEALAND. PACE BOWLER NATHAN ELLIS WITH HIGH PRAISE FOR THE BLACKCAPS. HAVING A LOOK AT THE TEAM IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A TEAM FULL OF CLASS, TALENT, AND PROBABLY X FACTOR IS SOMETHING I THINK THE NEW ZEALAND T20 TEAM HAS HAD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT WE'RE UP FOR AND EXCITED FOR A GOOD SERIES. ELLIS SAYS THE SERIES IS GREAT PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING T20 WORLD CUP IN THE WEST INDIES AND UNITED STATES. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. CLOUDY START FOR ALL THROUGH HERE, WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS IN WHANGAREI. WESTERLIES FOR THOSE SOUTH OF THE REGION. AUCKLAND, YOUR HIGH TODAY IS 26 DEGREES. FURTHER SOUTH ` ITS ALSO GOING TO BE A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN TAUPO. SUNSHINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF YOU. HAMILTON, 26. ON THE EAST COAST ` BLUE SKIES OVER ON THE EAST TODAY. GALE WINDS FROM LATE MORNING IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. A HIGH OF 31 FOR NAPIER AND HASTINGS. VERY WARM. 29 IN GISBORNE. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL ALL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO SOME CLOUD TODAY. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST, WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES IN WELLINGTON. 26 THE HIGH IN WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY DAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH, PACK YOUR BROLLY. SHOWERS THIS MORNING, WHICH WILL TURN TO HEAVY RAIN. 27 FOR KAIKOURA. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, CLOUDY PERIODS HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON, WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. A HIGH OF 29 IN TIMARU. 28 FOR ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR UMBRELLA. HEAVY RAIN FOR MOST THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES THIS MORNING. THIS WILL EASE BY MIDDAY. GORE, 18 DEGREES. THANKS, CHRIS. WHEN NEWS BROKE ON FRIDAY THAT ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST FORESTRY COMPANIES HAS HAD ITS INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION SUSPENDED AS A RESULT OF SLASH DAMAGE IN AND AROUND TOLAGA BAY, THERE WAS A MIXED RESPONSE IN TAIRAWHITI. ON THE ONE HAND, RELIEF THAT FORESTRY PRACTICES ARE UNDER MEANINGFUL SCRUTINY AND PERHAPS A SENSE OF 'BETTER LATER THAN NEVER'. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REALISATION THAT THE COMPANY, ERNSLAW, GROWS AND MANAGES OVER 100,000ha OF TREES, AND IT'S WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THAT REALLY MATTERS, NOT JUST IN ERNSLAW FORESTS. MANU CADDIE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER FORESTRY PRACTISES, BETTER LAND USE, AND GREATER AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF GETTING THIS WRONG, AND RIGHT, ON AREAS LIKE TAIRAWHITI, AND HE JOINS US NOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE SUSPENSION? I THINK WE WERE PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING. THEY TOOK OUR CONCERNS AREAS LAWYERS ARE REGION AND SENT AN AUDITOR FROM CANADA ESSENTIALLY TO AUDIT THE AUDITORS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING OFF THE FOREST THAT ERNSLAW OWNS. THIS IS NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO. WE KNOW THAT ERNSLAW AND FOR OTHER FORESTRY COMPANIES HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR DAMAGE PREVIOUSLY. WE'RE GOING BACK TO 2018. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE SUSPENSION IS HAPPENING NOW? AND WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG? I THINK IT IS A BIT OF A WAKE-UP CALL FOR FSC. THEY PROBABLY TRUSTED THE AUDITORS WITHIN THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE NOW BEEN SUSPENDED. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY REVIEW ALL OF THE OTHER FORESTS THAT THESE AUDITORS AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFYING IN NEW ZEALAND. I READ THIS IN THE INTRODUCTION, SO I WONDER ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THE SUSPENSION WILL HAVE, AS I SAID, WE KNOW THAT ERNSLAW WILL HAVE WELL OVER 100,000 HA OF FOREST IN NEW ZEALAND. SO WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE, NOT ONLY ON LOCAL CONTRACTORS, BUT ON THE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES THAT RELY ON THIS KIND OF WORK? IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR US TO TRANSITION QUICKLY FROM A REGION THAT HAS REALLY BEEN RELIANT ON FARMING AND FORESTRY ON EROSION PRONE LAND TO MORE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE PRACTICES, PARTICULARLY INDIGENOUS FORESTS AND THE JOBS THAT COME WITH THAT. THERE IS FENCING, PEST CONTROL, PLANTING, AND WE NEED NEW INDUSTRIES TO BE BUILT AROUND THOSE FORESTS THAT WE CAN EXTRACT TIMBER AND MATERIAL FROM IN A REALLY SUSTAINABLE WAY THAT IS GOING TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT TO WHAT WE HAVE HAD, WHICH IS VERY EXTRACTIVE FOR 100 YEARS. IT IS GOING TO BE PAINFUL, BUT WE NEED THAT SUPPORT FROM BOTH GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND PRIVATE REALLY QUICKLY. I WANT TO GET INTO INVESTMENT SHORTLY, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE POINT YOU ARE MAKING. THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE COMMITTED TO DOING. ARE THE OTHERS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THE SAME AS WELL? YOU NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT. THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF ENTERPRISES AROUND THE REGION THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE MONEY AND CREATE JOBS OUT OF THOSE INDIGENOUS REFORESTATION PROJECTS. WE HAVE HAD MANUKA HONEY SUCCESS, AND IT HAS HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER SPECIES WE COULD BE LOOKING AT DEVELOPING INDUSTRY AROUND, BUT TO DO THAT, THIS IS A SPECIAL CASE, GIVEN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES HERE, AND ARE REALLY NEED SOME SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND SOMETHING TO BACK THE COMMUNITY THAT IS TRYING TO TRANSITION. YOU TALK ABOUT SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, AND I WONDER WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT I ALSO WONDER ABOUT THE GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL AND WHETHER THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES. NEW RULES WILL BE COMING IN THIS YEAR. THAT IS GOING TO MAKE IT TOUGHER FOR THE FORESTRY COMPANIES, AND AGAIN THAT IS WHY WE NEED NEW INDUSTRY, WE NEED GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND GETTING NEW INDUSTRY SET UP, AND WE NEED PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO CO-FUND AT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP JOBS IN THE REGION, KEEP FAMILIES ON THE WHENUA AND ALLOW OUR REGION TO PROSPER. I JUST WANT TO WRAP THINGS UP, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WEIGHS ON THIS. I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO TAIRAWHITI IF WE DO NOT GET THIS RIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND TO THE MINISTERIAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CANNOT LAST YEAR. THERE ARE 49 OF THOSE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. IF WE DO NOT GET IT RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE OUR TOPSOIL, THE GULLY SYSTEMS ARE OPENING UP, AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ON THEIR LAND IF WE DO NOT SAVE IT NOW. IT IS MASSIVELY URGENT, AND I'M NOT SURE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY APPRECIATES THE URGENCY FOR THE REGION HERE. TALK TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO. TALK ABOUT THE URGENCY OF THIS. TALK TO THEM. WE ARE A SMALL REGION IN TERMS OF OUR POPULATION. WE ARE A LARGE LAND AREA. IT IS MASSIVELY EROSION PRONE. 90% OF THE REGION IS EROSION PRONE. AND THE LAND USE THAT WE HAVE HAD HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT AND CROWN AGENCIES FOR 100 YEARS. THEY NEED TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE FARMERS IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR TO TRANSITION INTO NEW INDUSTRY. THAT IS THE KEY MESSAGE. TO DO THAT, WE NEED PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS ARE PUT INTO IT, OR THERE IS GOING TO BE NOBODY LEFT OUT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. STAY WITH US. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK. WE WILL HAVE MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK, AND ALSO WE WILL HAVE SOME EXCITING # IT'S ME, HI. # I AM THE PROBLEM. # IT'S ME. YOU CAN SING ALONG IF YOU WANT. ONE SWIFTIE WON'T BE ABLE TO SHAKE THIS MEMORY OFF. KIWI TIKTOKER OLIVER LEWIS UNFORTUNATELY WAS ILL AND SO COULDN'T MAKE THIS MORNING'S INTERVIEW, BUT OUR PRODUCER CAMERON JOE HAD THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME ATTENDING THE FIRST OF TAYLOR SWIFT'S ERAS TOUR CONCERTS IN MELBOURNE. HAVE YOUR FEET TOUCH THE EARTH AGAIN YET? ARE YOU STILL ON CLOUD NINE? I DO NOT THINK MY FEET WILL EVER TOUCH THE EARTH AGAIN. I AM STILL ON CLOUD NINE. IT WAS UNFORGETTABLE. BEST WE COULD MY ENTIRE LIFE. THREE HOURS OF CLASSIC TAYLOR HITS. YOU CANNOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. YOU PROBABLY CANNOT. OUR MATE OLIVER WHO WAS ON TIKTOK CREATING QUITE THE SPLASH, WHAT HAPPENED THERE? HE WAS RIGHT UP FRONT WITH TAYLOR SWIFT. 100%. EACH SHOW, TAYLOR PICKS A LUCKY FAN DURING HER SONG 22, DURING THE RED ERA SET, TO GET A HAT FIND BY HER AND A QUICK MEETING GREAT. HE WAS THE LUCKY ONE. HE WENT TO THE CONCERT THE SECOND DAY. YOU WENT FIRST. YOU SAW THE CONCERT BEFORE HE DID. YOU ACTUALLY HAD REALLY GOOD SEATS. NOT TOO DISSIMILAR TO THAT VIEW. I WAS NOT EXPECTING IT AT ALL. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ROW 13, AND THAT IS A LUCKY NUMBER, SO I THOUGHT THIS IS FATE. AND THEN, HERE I AM, I GET MY SEAT, AND IT IS ABOUT 2 M AWAY FROM THE STAGE. UNBELIEVABLE. I WENT BY MYSELF. SWIFTIES A NICE PEOPLE. I MADE FRIENDS WITH THE PEOPLE RIGHT NEXT TO ME STRAIGHT AWAY. SHE WAS RIGHT THERE. I WAS SPEECHLESS. SOBBING, CRYING. WHEN YOU ARE SITTING IN A STADIUM, WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR FEET UP ON THE NOSEBLEED, YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE, AND IT IS VERY EXCITING, BUT WHEN YOU ARE BANG IN THE MIDDLE AND YOU HAVE NOISE COMING FROM ALL SIDES, WHAT IS IT YOUR WAY? IT IS LIKE SURREAL. YOU GO TO YOUR AVERAGE CONCERT, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE MUSIC. IT IS PRETTY BLARING OUT IN YOUR EARS. BUT THE MCG WAS SO MASSIVE. 96,000 PEOPLE. I HEARD THE MUSIC, AND THEN I COULD HEAR ALL OF THE FANS SENDING IT IN A SLIGHT DELAY, BASICALLY. THAT IS HOW MASSIVE THIS VENUE WAS. YOU BASICALLY CAN HEAR THE SOUND REVERBERATING AROUND YOU. 100%. WHAT WAS YOUR HIGHLIGHT? WAS THERE A PARTICULAR SONG OR PERFORMANCE THAT BLEW YOUR SOCKS OFF MORE THAN THE OTHERS? WHEN IT REALLY KICKED IN+ THE CONCERT STARTED WHEN THE SUN WAS SETTING. SHE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US ON A RAISED PLATFORM. SMOKE WAS BLARING UP. EVERYONE WAS ON A HIGH. AND I THINK THAT WAS THE SURREAL MOMENT. I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT YOU GOING TO THE CONCERT YOURSELF, WHICH I THINK IS IN ULTIMO. WHEN YOU MET THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL STAY IN CONTACT WITH? I HAVE THE INSTAGRAMS. WE TOOK PHOTOS AND GAVE EACH OTHER A BIG HUG AT THE END. I THINK THAT IS THE REAL CONNECTION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FANDOMS. TAYLOR EVEN SAID DURING THE PERFORMANCE, YOU GUYS HAVE COME IN SUCH GREAT OUTFITS AND THE CONNECTION YOU HAVE HAD, I SAW YOU GUYS SHARING BRACELETS, BEING SO KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT REALLY SEPARATES IT FROM ANY OTHER CONCERT AS WELL. IT IS THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT JUST HERSELF. DID YOU GET A SHOW OF YOUR NEW TAYLOR SWIFT ETTO ON YOUR ANKLE? I DID A WEE BIT. ON THE AEROPLANE LAST NIGHT, THE AIR HOSTESS WAS LIKE, YOU HAVE TO SING A SONG FOR US, BECAUSE WE WERE ALL WEARING THE MERCHANDISE. THEY STARTED PLAYING SHAKE IT OFF. WE ALL STARTED SINGING. AND THEN IT WAS CRAZY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MOVEMENT THAT IS BIGGER THAN OTHER CONCERT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT IS JUST EVERYWHERE. IT IS A POP CULTURE MOMENT. I FELT LIKE I WAS A PART OF HISTORY, BASICALLY. SHE IS AT THIS REALLY HIGH HI, AND FOR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FANS TO COME TOGETHER ` THE PEOPLE NEXT TO ME WERE FROM PERTH AND ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE PEOPLE I SAT NEXT TO ON THE PLANE WERE FROM THE UNITED STATES. IT IS A POP CULTURE MOMENT IT IS GOING TO BE REMEMBERED IN THE BOX FOR A VERY LONG TIME, I THINK. WHO KNOWS WHEN YOU MAY SEE HER AGAIN. WHEN SHE COMES ANYWHERE CLOSE TO NEW ZEALAND, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. THIS IS A 151 SHOW TOUR. I DO NOT THINK SHE WILL BE ON TOUR AGAIN ANY TIME SOON. I DO NOT THINK SHE WILL DIE DOWN ANYTIME SOON. YOU ARE A DELIGHT. I AM SO GLAD YOU HAD YOUR MOMENT THERE, AND TO SEE HER, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THAT VISION ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE AS WELL SO PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW CLOSE YOU WERE. EVEN I FOUND A BIT EMOTIONAL SEEING YOUR MOMENT, HOW CLOSE YOU WERE. I WANT TO KNOW ` YOU ARE ON THE PLANE WITH THE AIR HOSTESS AND THE STRONG SHAKE IT OFF COMES ON, AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ` STRIPPING? HOW DO THEY SEE YOUR TATTOO? SHE SAID I DID NOT HEAR YOU SINGING LOUD ENOUGH, AND I WILL TELL TAYLOR SWIFT YOU ARE A FAKE FAN. WHAT WAS THE AIRLINE? YOU DO NOT WANT TO THROW THEM UNDER THE BUS. I WILL NOT DISCLOSE THAT. YOU SHOWED YOUR TATTOO. TO PROVE THAT I AM A REAL FAN. THAT IS NEXT LEVEL. DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS, OR SHALL I? YOU DO IT. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. STAY WITH US. # SHAKE IT OFF. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. AUCKLAND, MAINLY FINE TODAY, WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. BUT LOOKS GOOD. HAMILTON. FINE APART FROM MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. WESTERLIES DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. HOLD ON. WIND IS BLOWING CLEARLY. HERE WE GO, CHRISTCHURCH MAINLY FINE. A FEW SHOWERS LATE EVENING. WILL TURN A BIT LIGHTER, SOUTHERLY, THIS EVENING. AND WE HEAD FURTHER SOUTH TO DUNEDIN. MORE FREQUENT SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON, STRONG WESTERLIES. YOU ARE HIGH AS 22 . MORNING. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A DISCUSSION BETWEEN US BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INCIDENT THIS MORNING WITH OUR CREW. AND THE QUESTION CAME UP WHETHER WE SHOULD ASK SOMEBODY FOR THEIR AGE, PARTICULARLY WOMEN. I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ACTUALLY. SOME WOMEN DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT. ALSO, IF SOMEBODY ASKS YOU HOW OLD YOU THINK I AM, AND THEY SAY, HOW OLD DO YOU PITCH LOWER? KNOW I AM JUST HONEST. I LOOK AT THEIR WRINKLES. I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT. MEN DO IT AS WELL. WHEN YOU SAY GUESSING PEOPLE SAY ALWAYS GO LOW, WHEN YOU SAY GUESS, THEY HAVE RELINQUISHED THAT POWER. IT IS FAIR GAME. IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU YOU CAN GUESS WHAT YOU LIKE. SO DON'T BE OFFENDED IF SOMEBODY GUESSES YOU BEING FIVE OR SIX YEARS HIGHER. PEOPLE DO GET VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT IT. EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT, I SAID TO MY SONS HOW OLD ARE YOU, TALKING TO A KID HIS TURN AT THE HOUSE. THERE IS A STIGMA. IT'S LIKE THAT WHOLE SAYING, HOW FAR ARE YOU THROUGH YOUR PREGNANCY? THAT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT QUESTION, NEVER EVER ASK THAT. FIRE CREWS ARE WORKING TO CONTAIN A LARGE SCRUB FIRE NEAR WAIPARA IN NORTH CANTERBURY, WITH A NUMBER OF HOMES EVACUATED. A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR EVACUATED RESIDENTS WILL BE HELD AT 9 THIS MORNING AT AN EVACUATION CENTRE SET UP AT THE WAIPARA COMMUNITY HALL. 5 HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO GET AN AERIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SIZE OF THIS FIRE WHICH IS BURNING IN WAIKARA VALLEY. ONE PERSON HAS DIED FOLLOWING A CRASH IN WARKWORTH JUST NORTH OF AUCKLAND OVER THE WEEKEND. THE INCIDENT INVOLVING A MOTORCYCLE AND A QUAD BIKE OCCURED ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT A PRIVATE ADDRESS ON KAIPARA FLATS RD. ONE PERSON DIED AT THE SCENE. ENQUIRIES INTO THE CRASH ARE ONGOING. FRESH AIRSTRIKES HAVE HIT THE SOUTHERN GAZA CITY OF RAFAH KILLING AT LEAST SIX OVERNIGHT. THE STRIKES COME AS QATAR SAYS ONGOING TALKS FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THE AREA ARE QUOTE, 'NOT PROMISING'. ISRAEL SAYS IT STILL PLANS TO CARRY OUT A GROUND OFFENSIVE IN RAFAH WHERE IT CLAIMS HAMAS BATTALIONS REMAIN HIDDEN. AND ISRAEL HAS ALSO CARRIED OUT MORE ATTACKS ACROSS THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH LEBANON TARGETTING WHAT IT SAYS IS HEZBOLLAH INFRASTRUCTURE. THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN TRADING HITS FOR MORE THAN A WEEK WITH DEATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AS A RESULT. THE SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATION FOR ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST FORESTRY COMPANIES HAS SPARKED A MIXED RESPONCE IN THE COMMUNITY OF TAIRAWHITI. ERNSLAW FORESTS' PRACTISES CAME UNDER SCRUTINY DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY SLASH DEBRIS IN AND AROUND TOLOGA BAY. ERNSLAW GROWS AND MANAGES OVER 100,000ha OF TREES IN THE REGION. MANU CADDIE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER FORESTRY PRACTISES AND SAYS THE SUSPENSION SOLIDIFIES IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR US TO TRANSITION QUICKLY. FROM A REGION THAT HAS BEEN RELIANT ON FARMING AND FORESTRY TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE PRACTICE PARTICULARLY INDIGENOUS PERMANENT FORESTS AND THE JOBS THAT COME WITH THAT. THERE IS FENCING, PEST CONTROL, PLANTING AND NEW INDUSTRIES TO BE BUILT AROUND THOSE FORESTS. WORKS ON THE FAMOUS STRUCTURE AND THAT'LL PUT A HEAVIER WORKLOAD ON THEM, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS YEAR'S OLYMPICS. THE EIFFEL TOWER WELCOMES SIX MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR BUT PARIS IS EXPECTING AROUND 15 MILLION VISITORS DURING THE OLYMPICS ALONE. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN HAS JUST PICKED UP HIS FIRST-EVER BAFTA FOR 'OPPENHEIMER'. THE CEREMONY IS WELL AND TRULY UNDERWAY, WITH A SLEW OF WINNERS ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE EVENT EVEN KICKED OFF. 'OPPENHEIMER', WHICH IS NOMINATED 13 TIMES, HAS WON FIVE AWARDS ALREADY. THE MAJOR CATEGORIES ARE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED ` THAT INCLUDES BEST FILM AS WELL AS BEST LEAD ACTOR AND ACTRESS. TO SPORT, AND LEWIS CLAREBURT HAS DOUBLED NEW ZEALAND'S GOLD MEDAL TALLY AT THE WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DOHA. CLAREBURT'S TAKING THE GOLD IN THE 400m INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY. THE KIWI TEAM FINISHES THEIR CAMPAIGN WITH FOUR MEDALS ` TWO GOLDS, A SILVER AND A BRONZE. THE BREAKERS HAVE ENDED THE AUSTRALIAN NBL REGULAR SEASON WITH A LOSS THAT'S LEFT THEM WITH AN UPHILL BATTLE TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS. THE NEW ZEALAND CLUB FELL TO ADELAIDE 76-70 TO FINISH THE SEASON SIXTH ON THE LADDER WITH A 13-WIN, 15-LOSS RECORD. IT QUALIFIES THEM FOR THE PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT, MEANING THEY'LL NEED TO WIN TWO GAMES, BOTH ON THE ROAD, TO REACH THE LAST FOUR. I'LL TAKE A LOT OF THE GOOD STUFF THAT THIS GROUP HAS SHOWN ME DURING THIS SEASON, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO THE POST-SEASON, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FACED TO BE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND HAPPY AND PROUD. THE BREAKERS POST-SEASON RUN BEGINS IN SYDNEY AGAINST THE KINGS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE NOTCHED UP AN IMPORTANT 2-1 WIN OVER LUTON TOWN IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE THIS MORNING. THE RED DEVILS PULLING AHEAD BY TWO GOALS INSIDE THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE MATCH. NO DOUBT THAT ELIJAH ADEBAYO WILL BE A BIG MISS... HERE'S HOJLUND DOWN THE OTHER END. HIS FIRST ATTACK PRODUCES A GOAL INSIDE 40 SECONDS. THIS IS GARNACHO. AND IT'S IN! HOJLUND SPINS AWAY TOWARDS THE CORNER FLAG. UNITED REMAIN IN SIXTH, JUST THREE POINTS BEHIND TOTTENHAM. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. CLOUDY START FOR ALL THROUGH HERE, WITH SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS IN WHANGAREI. WESTERLIES FOR THOSE SOUTH OF THE REGION. RUSSELL REACHING A HIGH OF 27. FURTHER SOUTH ` ITS ALSO GOING TO BE A CLOUDY MORNING FOR MOST, WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN TAUPO. SUNSHINE HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON FOR THE REST OF YOU. TAURANGA, YOU'LL GET UP TO A HIGH OF 27. ON THE EAST COAST ` BLUE SKIES OVER ON THE EAST TODAY. GALE WINDS FROM LATE MORNING IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. A HIGH OF 31 FOR NAPIER AND HASTINGS. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL ALL BE OPENING UP THE BLINDS TO SOME CLOUD TODAY. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST, WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES IN WELLINGTON. 26 THE HIGH IN WHANGANUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` CLOUDY DAY FOR THOSE FURTHER NORTH OF THE REGION. FURTHER SOUTH, PACK YOUR BROLLY. SHOWERS THIS MORNING, WHICH WILL TURN TO HEAVY RAIN. A HIGH OF 29 IN BLENHEIM. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A FINE MORNING FOR MOST OF YOU. HOWEVER, CLOUDY PERIODS HEADING INTO YOUR AFTERNOON, WITH SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING. A HIGH OF 29 IN TIMARU. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` PACK YOUR UMBRELLA. HEAVY RAIN FOR MOST THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WITH SOME STRONG WESTERLIES THIS MORNING. THIS WILL EASE BY MIDDAY. DUNEDIN, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 21. WHETHER IT'S FOR A HOUSE, TRAVEL, RETIREMENT OR THE NEXT TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT, ALMOST ALL OF US ARE TRYING REALLY HARD TO SAVE SOME MONEY. WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY ONE MAN WANTS EVERYONE TO DROP THE FISADE AND PRACTICE 'LOUD BUDGETING'. IT'S NOT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH; IT'S I DON'T WANT TO SPEND. SO IT'S LIKE IF YOUR FRIEND TEXTS YOU, 'I WANT TO HANG OUT', YOU SAY, 'I DON'T WANT TO SPEND GAS MONEY ON COMING TO YOU TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR EX FOR THREE HOURS'. FOR MORE WHY WE SHOULD ALL SPEAK UP ABOUT OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WE'RE JOINED BY THE PERSON WHO COINED 'LOUD BUDGETING', LUKAS BATTLE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. WHAT IS LOUD BUDGETING? IT IS A CONCEPT I ACCIDENTALLY CAME UP WITH WHEN I MADE AN IN OUT LIST FOR 2024. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? I THINK IT IS REALLY ABOUT FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND SETTING FINANCIAL BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND JUST BEING REALLY HONEST WITH THEM, TAKING AWAY THE AWKWARDNESS OF TALKING ABOUT MONEY. DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD GET THE REACTION YOU DID? NO I DID NOT THINK THIS WOULD BLOW UP. BUDGETING IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT, BUT THE ADJECTIVE LOUD IN FRONT OF IT IS WHAT GOT PEOPLE TALKING, BECAUSE ON THE HEELS OF QUIET LUXURY PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF PRETENDING THEY HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THEY ACTUALLY DO. THERE'S ALWAYS THAT STIGMA WITH BUDGETS. EVERYONE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO REVEAL HOW THEIR BUDGET IS THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY FEEL EMBARRASSED. THIS IS A WAY OF HELPING PEOPLE OPEN UP AND BE HONEST? I DEFINITELY THINK IT IS AN ANALOGY PEOPLE CAN USE. IT BECOMES PART OF A JOKE NOW, AND NOW IT IS KIND OF A TREND IT IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GET RID OF THAT AWKWARDNESS. I THINK PEOPLE BEING TRANSPARENT AND CONFIDENT WITH THEIR MONEY IS COOL. AND SHOWS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND YOU HAVE BOUNDARIES. GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING. PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING DRY JANUARY, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING DINNER PARTIES, HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS BUT IN LESS EXPENSIVE ENVIRONMENTS. WHAT IS THERE TO GAIN FROM PEOPLE WHO TAKE THIS UP? YOU GET A BIT OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY BACK TO SPEND ON YOUR PASSIONS. SO MUCH SOCIAL PRESSURE IS GETTING YOU TO GO OUT AND EXCEED YOUR BUDGET ON THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO DO WHEREAS THIS IS LIKE, I WANT TO SAVE FOR SOMETHING I WANT TO DO LIKE A TRIP OR HOBBY YOU WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME ON. AND IF YOUR FRIENDS DON'T GET IT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO BE OPEN WITH THEM WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE? I WOULD SAY YOU ARE MY FRIEND. IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE NOT GETTING ITS, I DUNNO IF THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS. THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIVE THE BEST LIFE YOU CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT. I LIKE THE CONCEPT. I KNOW THAT IT IS A TREND ON TICK-TOCK AND OBVIOUS EVENTS FOR A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE, BUT I KIND OF GET THE IDEA OF SAYING, LET'S GO OUT TO LUNCH AND THEN SAYING I'D LIKE TO GO OUT FOR LUNCH BUT LET'S NOT GO TO THE PLACE THAT YOU WANT TO GO BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAN I DO AND I ONLY HAD A BUDGET OF $10. SO THAT'S ACTUALLY JUST SAYING OUT LOUD RIGHT FROM THE START, YES I WOULD LOVE TO COME OUT BUT I CAN ONLY AFFORD THIS RANGE. JUST TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL, WHAT ANNOYS ME IS WHEN YOU GO FOR LUNCH WITH FRIENDS AND THEY SPLIT THE BILL AND YOU THINK WELL I JUST ARRIVED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO AND ONLY HAD ONE DRINK BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP WITHIN MY BUDGET. I FEEL I SHOULD SPLIT THE BILL. SO I SNEAK AWAY EARLY. THEN I GO AND PAY MY BILL RATHER THAN HAVING TO PAY EVERY BODY ELSE'S BILL. I DON'T HALF OF ONLY HAD TWO DRINKS. IT COMES OUT TO HUNDRED DOLLARS. I KNOW THINK YOU SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY THAT. GET SOME NEW FRIENDS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` WE ARE HEADING TO THE WORLD AXE THROWING CHAMPS IN THE U.S. WHY A NEW ZEALANDER GAVE UP A TEACHING CAREER TO BECOME AN 'AXEPERT'. I HAVEN'T DONE THIS BUT I REALLY WANT TO. , LEAVE YOU LEAVE EARLY SEED AFTER PAY THE BILL. NOW TO AN INTERESTING SPORT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF ` AXE THROWING. THE SPORT'S POPULARITY IN AOTEAROA IS GROWING, AND IN FEW WEEKS A GROUP OF SIX ARE OFF TO THE UNITED STATES TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD CHAMPS. OUR NEXT GUEST LOVES THE SPORT SO MUCH SHE QUIT HER JOB AS A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL AXE THROWING INSTRUCTOR. BRITTANY AUSTIN WORKS AT SWEET AXE THROW IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND AND IS ONE OF THOSE HEADING TO THE WORLD CHAMPS. ATA MARIE, BRITTANY. YOU QUIT YOUR JOB AS A TEACHER? YOU MUST LOVE THE SPORT. I REALLY DO LOVE THIS SPORT. WITH TEACHING, THERE IS A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY, WITH AXE THROWING, THERE IS JUST WOOD. I ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH A TASTER SESSION, I HAVE BEEN NATURALLY GIFTED AT SPORTS MY ENTIRE LIFE, I GOT INTO THE TRAINING AND DROPPED EVERY SINGLE AXE. I HAD A MIDLIFE CRISIS AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE ACTUAL GAMES SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME COLLECT, I CAME SECOND AND I SIGNED UP FOR THE LEAGUE ON THE SPOT. HOW DO YOU ENJOY THE INSTRUCTING? BEING A FORMER TEACHER, THAT MUST HELP. I WOULD SAY MY TEACHING EXPERIENCE DEFINITELY COMES IN HANDY TEACHING KIDS AND ADULTS TO THROW SHARP THINGS. SOME OF THE ADULTS ARE HARDER TO GET THROUGH TO THEN THE CHILDREN I WAS TEACHING. THE GENTLEMAN BEHIND ME WHO WERE THROWING, THAT IS WHO YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BE THROWING AXIS. YOU LOOK AT ME AND THINK, I DON'T THINK THAT IS AN AXE THROWER. CAN WE PUSH THOSE GUYS TO THE SIDE FOR A MOMENT, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO SEE YOU THROWING. CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH IT? WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE? HOW DO YOU THROW AN AXE? THE TECHNIQUE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. SOME PEOPLE TAKE A STEP. FOR ME I'VE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I AM NO LONGER STEPPING. I HOLD MY AXE UP NICE AND HIGH, LINE MY EYE WITH THE BULL'S-EYE. HOW FAR AWAY ARE YOU? I AM ABOUT 4 M. WE ARE GOING TO GET YOU TO DO IT AGAIN. CAN WE GET YOU BEHIND BRITNEY? IT IS LITERALLY JUST ME TRYING TO LINE UP WITH THE CENTRE OF THE BULL'S-EYE, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF THOUGHT. YOU HAVE TO STOP YOURSELF THINKING. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO PRACTICE SO YOU'RE NOT OVERTHINKING IT. DEFINITELY. YOU GET INTO A ZEN MINDSET WHEN YOU ARE THROWING AXIS. IT IS VERY CATHARTIC AND GOOD FOR THE SOUL. IT KIND OF UNLOCKS A PRIMAL, UGH, I DID THAT. HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BEFORE I WHAT HAPPENS THERE? THERE IS GOING TO BE COMPETITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. I HAVE NEVER PERSONALLY BEEN BUT IT IS ALWAYS BEEN A GOAL. I NARROWLY MISSED OUT ON IT LAST YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR I GOT CALLED UP, SO I AM GOING FOR BIG AXE AND HATCHET. IT IS IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. WE HAVE TO SEE PEOPLE COME DOWN. WE HAVE A FUNDRAISER HAPPENING ON 8 MARCH IN AUCKLAND WHERE YOU CAN COME DOWN AND YOU CAN GO AGAINST THE WORLD AXE TOURING TEAM THAT IS GOING OVER TO TULSA. WE WILL HAVE A SPINNING WHEEL OF DISADVANTAGES SO YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF TAKING US DOWN. ALL OF THE PROFITS WILL GO TOWARDS GETTING US OVER THERE AND POTENTIALLY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON A PLAQUE AS THINGS TO PULL OUT AS CONVERSATION STARTERS. I'VE BEAT THE WORLD CHAMPS. GO WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IMAGINE HER AS A TEACHER. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE COUNTDOWN TO EASTER IS ON, AND YOU CAN'T PROPERLY CELEBRATE WITHOUT EATING A HOT CROSS BUN. SOMEONE WHO JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST IS OUR SPORTS DEPARTMENT. MORENA, LACHIE. MORNING DANIEL. IT'S AN UNUSUAL MORNING CROSS, IN AN EXCLUSIVE LOCATION FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND'S BEST HOT CROSS BUN. I'LL BE TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE REGARDED AS (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. IT'S OVER ONE MONTH TILL EASTER, WHICH MEANS WE CAN DEFINITELY START EATING HOT CROSS BUNS NOW. I HAVE BEEN DOING IT SINCE JANUARY. BUT WHERE CAN YOU GO TO GET THE BEST ONE IN THE COUNTRY? LACHIE McLEOD HAS THE EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNER OF NEW ZEALAND'S 'GREAT HOT CROSS BUN COMPETITION'. LACHIE, WHO IS IT? I CAN TELL YOU AFTER WORK, YOU CAN POP ON DOWN. IT IS DAILY BREAD. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. YOU'RE DOING A MARVELLOUS JOB. THREE TIMES IN A ROW. AMAZING. IT IS SUCH A GREAT FEELING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I BELIEVE IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A BAKERY HAS WON THREE TIMES IN A ROW. THIS HOT CROSS BUNS IN NEW ZEALAND. I WOULD SAY TO THE HAT-TRICK. DID YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU ENTERED THIS YEAR THAT YOU WOULD GO THREE TIMES? TO BE HONEST, YES. YOU ARE THAT CONFIDENT THAT THEY WERE THAT GOOD. IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT EASY. IT WAS HARD. IT WAS THE HARDEST WE EVER DID. I WANT TO SAY ESPECIALLY THANKS TO MY PASTRY BAKER. WE DID IT TOGETHER. GIVE ME A HIGH-FIVE, BRO. HE WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE HOT CROSS BUN SHORTLY. AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY BUSINESS PARTNER, JOSH, AND MY WIFE FOR YOUR CONSTANT SUPPORT. THANK YOU TO THE COMPLETE DAILY BREAD TEAM. THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS KAREN, AMY AND SCOTT, WHO PICKED ME UP AND DROP ME OFF TO THE COMPETITION. AMY, WITHOUT YOU, I COULD NOT DO IT. YOU MENTION SIS. HOW PROUD ARE YOU TO GO THREE IN A ROW. I AM FEELING SUPER HAPPY. TELL ME ABOUT WHAT GOES ON TO MAKING THIS HOT CROSS BUNS ARE GOOD. THEY ARE MADE USING SOURDOUGH, WHICH KEEPS THEM WHITE AND FLUFFY IN TEXTURE. THE SPICE MIX WE ARE USING AS A HOME-MADE BLENDS, WHICH IS THE SECRET RECIPE. IT IS SOAKED IN PINEAPPLE RUM, WHICH IS FROM THE BAY OF ISLANDS. IT GIVES IT A NICE TROPICAL FLAVOUR AND A CAT. I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED ` WHAT IS THE CROSS MADE OUT OF? THAT IS ALSO A SECRET. I TRIED. NOT EVEN A HAND? SOME FLOUR. YOU ARE A BIG PART OF THIS. IT IS A BIG PART OF SUPPORTING THE BAKERS ARE MEMBERS, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS. THESE GUYS STILL HAD THE OUTSTANDING BUN ON THE DAY. THERE ARE THREE JUDGES, AND THEY ALL WORK ON IT. I WAS NOT A JUDGE, BECAUSE I AM THE PRESIDENT. I COULD SEE THE WINNERS STRAIGHTAWAY. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE RESULT ENDED UP TO BE WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I HAVE GOT PEOPLE IN MY A TELLING ME WE NEED TO BRING SOME BACK TO THE TEAM. YOU HAVE TRIED THEM. WHAT MAKES THEM SO GOOD? THE FERMENTATION. THE FERMENTATION. IT IS A PROCESS. BUT ALSO THE PASSION OF THE TEAM. EVERY PART IS A KEY INGREDIENT. THEY HAVE A PASSIONATE TEAM. THAT IS LED BY THE LEADERS AND OWNERS. YOU ONLY GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS. THIRD-YEAR. DANIEL, WE HAVE A NEW TIPS FOR YOU. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR START ON FRIDAY. THE PRESSURE IS ON. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU COMING BACK WITH THOSE HOT CROSS BUNS. FORGET THE BAFTAS. HE HAS JUST GIVEN A GREAT SPEECH. HE IS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. AT THAT LIKE ME, PATRICK. ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE TO GO. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY COURTNEY SOLE, DREW WELSH, BILLY GARRATT-JOHN AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024