IT'S TUESDAY THE 20TH OF FEBRUARY. MORENA, THIS IS BREAKFAST. THE LATEST ONE NEWS POLL RESULTS ARE OUT. NATIONAL SUPPORT HOLD STEADY, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT A HUGE ENDORSEMENT FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT WAS FORMED IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. BUT THE NUMBERS DON'T LOOK GOOD FOR LABOUR LEADER. THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD HE MOVE ON FROM HIS LEADERSHIP. IN THIS HOUR, IMAGINE CALLING FOR AN AMBULANCE AND BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NOT ONE AVAILABLE. ST JOHN'S IS CONSIDERING PULLING AMBULANCES OFF THE ROADS BECAUSE OF COST-CUTTING. THEY ARE APPALLED AND SHOCKED. THIS IS NOT GOVERNMENT FUNDED RIGHT? NO AND THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY SAID THAT THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT SHOULD BE GOVERNMENT FUNDED. SO ST JOHN'S WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AFTER 7 O CLOCK WE'VE GOT HELP IN TERMS OF SAVING FOR YOUR WEDDING. THE WEATHER, A METEOROLOGIST WILL GIVE US HIS EXPERIENCE OF HIS WEDDING, WHERE THERE WAS RAIN AND A CYCLONE. HE IS GOING TO SHARE WITH US WHAT SEASONS YOU SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT TYING THE KNOT. NOWADAYS ARE NOT HUNDRED PERCENT SURE. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6.00. HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS IS BRUSHING OFF THE FIRST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLITICAL POLL OF THE YEAR, DESPITE A BIG DROP IN THE NUMBERS. THERE'S NO MOVEMENT FOR LABOUR IN THE PARTY VOTE, WITH THE GREENS AND ACT DOWN, AND TE PATI MAORI AND NATIONAL MAKING GAINS. BUT IN THE PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER STAKES, HIPKINS HAS DROPPED 10% TO 15, WELL BEHIND NATIONAL LEADER CHRISTOPHER LUXON. POLES FLUCTUATE. I'D LOVE IT TO BE HIGHER, BUT I ACCEPT I AM NOT THE PRIME MINISTER. I AM NOT IN THE MEDIA AS MUCH. WE ARE TAKING TIME TO TAKE STOCK AND REBUILD. AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE POLL RESULTS RIGHT AFTER NEWS AND WEATHER. OVERNIGHT RAIN IN CANTERBURY HAS BROUGHT RELIEF FOR FIRE CREWS IN THE REGION. THE FIRE ON THE PORT HILLS IS CONTAINED AND FIRE CREWS ARE NOW WORKING TO EXTINGUISH WHAT IS LEFT OF THE BLAZE. A LARGE SCRUB FIRE IN THE WAIPARA DISTRICT, NORTH OF CHRISTCHURCH, IS ALSO NOW UNDER CONTROL. INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES. THE WIFE OF LATE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT. YULIA NAVALNY HAS RELEASED A VIDEO, ACCUSING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF HAVING HER HUSBAND MURDERED AND URGING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HER ONGOING WORK. TRIBUTES TO NAVALNY CONTINUE TO BE PLACED AT MEMORIALS ACROSS RUSSIA. MEANWHILE HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE MORGUE WHERE HIS BODY IS REPORTEDLY BEING KEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS DEATH IS NOT YET COMPLETE. ISRAEL SAYS ITS SOLDIERS HAVE RECOVERED STOLEN MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND EVEN MEDICATION DURING RAIDS IN GAZA. ISRAEL'S MILITARY CLAIMS IT MADE THE DISCOVERIES IN AND NEAR THE NASSER HOSPITAL COMPLEX IN KHAN YOUNIS. AMONG THE ITEMS, A CAR ALLEGEDLY STOLEN FROM ONE OF THE KIBBUTZES ATTACKED ON OCTOBER 7. MEANWHILE, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SAYS ISRAEL IS ENGAGING IN A POLICY OF APARTHEID. HE MADE THE COMMENTS DURING LEGAL HEARINGS AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE OVER ISRAEL'S ALLEGED OCCUPATION OF LAND FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE. ANY DECISION BY THE COURT IS LIKELY TO TAKE MONTHS. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH BURNS, AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING DURING A SEVERE STORM IN SYDNEY. THEY WERE SHELTERING UNDER A TREE AT THE TIME, AND WERE ALL BRIEFLY KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THEY HAVE SUSTAINED ANY LONG TERM INJURIES. THE CITY SUSTAINED MORE THAN 75,000 LIGHTNING STRIKES THAT LEFT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER. THE AUSTRALIAN EQUESTRIAN STOOD DOWN WHILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT HIS FANCY DRESS COSTUME WAS INVESTIGATED. HE HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING. HERE'S CHANNEL NINE'S DAMIAN RYAN. YOU MAY NOT RECOGNISE OLYMPIC SHOWJUMPER SHANE ROSE WITH HIS CLOTHES ON BECAUSE HE'S THE MAN IN THE MANKINI, WHO'S LEFT ONE FAN IN THE EQUESTRIAN WORLD CHOKING ON THEIR PIMMS. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE, UH, SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE, BUT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEBODY TOOK OFFENCE. OTHERS HAD A LAUGH. THAT'S AUSTRALIAN. (LAUGHS) MADE FAMOUS BY BORAT... NO, IT IS NOT A JOKE. ...ROSE TROTTED OUT THE SKIMPY COSTUME... I CAN NEVER UNSEE THIS! ...FOR A SHOW JUMPING FANCY DRESS COMPETITION AT THE WEEKEND IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS. A LOT OF MY FRIENDS ARE THERE AND THEY'RE ALL LAUGHING, 'OH MY GOD.' BUT EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA WASN'T ABLE TO SEE THE FUNNY SIDE, FORCED TO ACT ON THE SINGLE COMPLAINT, STANDING DOWN ROSE FROM COMPETITION PENDING AN INQUIRY. IF I'VE OVERSTEPPED THE MARK, I'M SORRY FOR THAT. I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE. SHANE ROSE TAKING HIS THIRD AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM MEDAL. AND LATE THIS AFTERNOON, HIS PURSUIT FOR A FOURTH OLYMPIC MEDAL IN PARIS WAS BACK ON TRACK AFTER EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA RULED THE 50-YEAR-OLD WAS IN THE CLEAR. IT'S ALSO REVIEWING MINIMUM DRESS STANDARDS FOR FUTURE EVENTS. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. A 50-YEAR-OLD MAN IN A MANKINI, WHAT WAS HE THINKING? HE WASN'T SUSPENDED AS SUCH, JUST STOOD DOWN. LET PEOPLE HAVE FUN. TO SPORT, AND THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS AFTER THUMPING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AT THE OCEANIA QUALIFIERS. THE FERNS SHOWING NO MERCY IN THE FINAL, BEATING THE SOLOMONS 11-1, WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. AND ANOTHER GOAL. AND ANOTHER GOAL. KATIE KITCHING. AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEEN UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS IN THIS LEVEL OF OCEANIA FOOTBALL. IT'S JUST THE FIFTH TIME THE FOOTBALL FERNS WILL REPRESENT AOTEAROA AT THE SUMMER GAMES. AND FINALLY, ITALIAN POLICE HAVE UNVEILED THEIR LATEST BOMB SQUAD RECRUIT. IT'S A ROBOTIC DOG, WHICH CAN CLIMB STAIRS AND EVEN OPEN DOORS. CALLED 'SAETTA', THE MECHANICAL CREATURE CAN BE OPERATED FROM UP TO 150m AWAY AND IS THE FIRST ROBOTIC POLICE DOG IN EUROPE. UPCOMING AI UPGRADES TO THE ROBOT COULD ALLOW IT TO SPEAK, AND EVEN INTERACT WITH OTHER ROBOTS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING, IT'S A MAINLY FINE DAY THROUGH HERE. HIGH CLOUD WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. THE SUN TRYING TO PEAK THROUGH FOR MOST OF YOU. 27 THE HIGH FOR WHANGAREI. FURTHER SOUTH, SHOWERS FOR ALL OF YOU, EASING FOR SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOONS WITH HIGH CLOUD STICKING ABOUT. TOKOROA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 25. ON THE EAST COAST, IT'S A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY HERE WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. SUNSHINE IN MASTERTON, WITH A HIGH OF 20 TODAY AND 24 FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER TODAY. OVER TO THE WEST, YOU'LL WAKE UP TO HIGH CLOUD HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THIS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU, ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. PICK OF THE BUNCH THIS AFTERNOON, TAUMARUNUI WITH A HIGH OF 24. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, A BEAUTIFUL DAY DOWN HERE. THE ODD MORNING CLOUD AND SHOWER ABOUT. CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU, ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COOLER DAY HERE, BLENHEIM ONLY REACHING 19 AND 20 FOR YOU IN NELSON HEADING FURTHER SOUTH, A STUNNING DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. 19 THE HIGH FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. TO THE DEEP SOUTH, IT'S A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HIGH CLOUD, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES YOUR EVENING. WITH STRONG WESTERLIES IN INVERCARGILL AND STEWART ISLAND REACHING A HIGH OF 14 AND 13. CHRIS HIPKINS' FUTURE AS LABOUR LEADER IS UNDER MORE SCRUTINY. LAST NIGHT'S ONE NEWS VERIAN POLL SAW HIS PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER RANKING FALLING BY TEN POINTS, PLACING HIM AT JUST 15%. A TOUGH WAKE UP CALL FOR THE MAN WHO TOLD Q AND A LAST WEEKEND HE HOPED TO BE PRIME MINISTER AGAIN. OUR POLITICAL PANEL OF FORMER LABOUR MINISTER ANDREW LITTLE AND FORMER NATIONAL MINISTER WAYNE MAPP. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. WHEN YOU AGREE TO BE WITH US ANDREW BEFORE THE POLL RESULTS I WONDERED IF YOU WOULD JOIN US THIS MORNING. EVERYBODY IS CURIOUS ABOUT THE NEW GOVERNMENT, AND THEY GET ALL THE ATTENTION, THAT'S ENTIRELY UNREMARKABLE. THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT GETS ATTACHED TO INCUMBENCY. CHRIS IS NOT THE INCUMBENT PRIME MINISTER ANY MORE. THIS IS PRETTY NORMAL AND THE POLITICAL CYCLE. WHEN WE GO BACK TO 2018, WHEN BILL ENGLISH BECAME LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, HIS RATING DROPPED. CHRIS CARRIES A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, THE PARTY IS IN A TRANSITION. IT'S GOT TO REGROUP, IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT. THE OBVIOUS JOB FOR OPPOSITION IS TO HONE IN ON WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING. IT'S GOT TO DEFEND ITS RECORD AS WELL, AND CHRIS IS DOING THAT. WHEN THERE IS A NEW GOVERNMENT ON THE BLOCK, NEW THINGS HAPPENING NEW PERSONALITIES EMERGING, THAT WILL ALWAYS GET MORE ATTENTION THAN FAMILIAR FACES THAT HAVE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT BEFORE. THAT SAID, IN 2017 THE POLES WERE LOOKING GOOD FOR YOU WHEN YOU WERE IN THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE AND YOU STEP ASIDE. TO CHRIS ATKINS THINK THE SAME WAY? THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT. I HAD A PERIOD IN THE LEADERSHIP WHEN I WASN'T REGISTERED BUT WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER TALENT THEY IN THE FORM OF JACINDA, LABOUR FRESHLY IN OPPOSITION. THEY WILL HONE IN ON WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE. THEY HAVE TO REGROUP AROUND WHAT LABOUR'S PRIORITIES ARE, WHAT ITS VISION IS AND WHAT IT WAS TRYING TO DO AN OFFICE. THIS IS VERY EARLY DAYS IN THIS PART OF THE POLITICAL CYCLE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT CHRIS WILL GET ON AND DO THOSE THINGS. WAYNE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT NATIONALS RESULT BECAUSE IT HASN'T SHIFTED MUCH. LET'S CLOSE OFF THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT CHRIS HIPKINS. SHOULD HE STAY AND GET ON WITH HIS WORK? I DO NOT AGREE. THE LOSING PRIME MINISTER NEVER BECOMES PRIME MINISTER AGAIN SO HE'S REALLY GOT TO WORK OUT WHERE HE SHOULD GO. BUT IS UP TO HIM, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GONE STRAIGHT AWAY BUT HE IS NOT GOING TO BE PRIME MINISTER AGAIN HIS HEART IS SHOT. I DON'T WANT TO STAY ON THIS POINT TOO MUCH LONGER, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND ANDREW. HE PROBABLY WON'T BE PRIME MINISTER IN THE FUTURE, SO WHY NOT SHIFT THE LEADERSHIP ON NOW? THERE IS AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY WHEN FRESH IN OPPOSITION WHICH IS TO GET THE PARTY SORTED, GET PEOPLE IN PLACE I GET THEM TO FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES. AS I SAY WE ARE MONTHS INTO A NEW GOVERNMENT THREE YEARS AWAY FROM THE NEXT ELECTION, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE TRIED AND EXPERIENCED LEADERM, AS CHRIS IS, FOCUSES ON WHAT THE PARTY NEEDS. LET'S GO BACK TO THE NATIONAL PARTY'S POLLING. YOU WOULD EXPECT A NEW GOVERNMENT COMING IN WOULD HAVE A HONEYMOON PERIOD. DID YOU EXPECT THE RESULTS THAT CAME OUT? I THINK IT WAS QUITE A SOLID RESULT TO BE HONEST. THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF TURBULENCE. IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A GENUINE THREE PARTY COALITION. THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF TURMOIL AROUND THAT, IS THE DIFFERENT PARTY LEADERS RAISE THE PROFILE. WHAT THIS DOES IS VOTERS FOR THE COALITION SAY, NATIONAL YOU ARE IN CHARGE. PRIME MINISTER LUXON, YOU ARE IN CHARGE. I THINK WE WILL SEE THE PRIME MINISTER ASSERTING HIS AUTHORITY MORE AND MORE. , IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST 100 DAYS THEY HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY NEW ZEALAND FIRST RATHER THAN NATIONAL. WHAT YOU MAKE OF CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S LEADERSHIP SO FAR? AND WIDE AS HE WRESTLED BACK THAT PERCEPTION THAT ACTUALLY HE IS IN CHARGE OF THE COALITION. I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT ALREADY. 38%, THE OTHER TWO PARTIES DID NOT GET AGAIN, NATIONAL DEBT. THAT IS PRETTY SOLID. I THINK YOU WILL SEE NATIONAL BEING THE DOMINANT PART OF THE COALITION. WE ARE SEEING THAT IS THE FOCUS GOES MORE IN THE ECONOMY, THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS, GETTING THINGS PREPARED TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BUDGET AND FOR ALL THOSE ECONOMIC DECISIONS WHICH IS AFTER ALL THE KEY REASON VOTERS WANTED A CHANGE. THEY GOT TIRED OF LOTS OF TALK, NOT MUCH ACTION. THEY VOTED FOR A PARTY THAT ACTUALLY DOES THINGS. THE FUNDAMENTAL THING CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS A RECORD ON IS ACTUALLY DOING THINGS, THAT IS THE ROLE OF A CEO. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE SINCE THE LAST POLL. YOU WOULD EXPECT A GOVERNMENT FRESH IN OFFICE WITH THE EXCITEMENT THAT GOES WITH THAT AND THE COVERAGE THEY GET TO HAVE PUSHED UP BEYOND WHERE THEY ARE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE COALITION AGREEMENTS, THE 100 DAY PLAN AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN OFFICE, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF UNDOING THINGS. PEOPLE ARE RESERVING JUDGEMENT, BUT IS NOT A LOT TO EXCITE PEOPLE TO SAY THIS REALLY REPRESENTS A NEW POSITIVE DIRECTION. IT'S ALL UNDOING OF WHAT WAS DONE BEFORE. INTERESTING THERE. YOU'VE GOT THE CURRENT LEADER WHO MANY ARE LOOKING AT WATCHING TO SEE IF HE WILL STEP UP AND BECOME A LEADER. E WHAI AKE NEI ` COULD BED SHARING BE THE SOLUTION TO QUEENSTOWN'S RENTAL PROPERTY CRISIS? WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT. AS QUEENSTOWN GRAPPLES WITH A SEVERE RENTAL HOUSING SHORTAGE, ONE LISTING ON FACEBOOK OFFERS AN UNUSUAL SOLUTION. ONLY $195 A WEEK IN EXCHANGE FOR A ROOM SHARING A BED WITH A STRANGER. THAT MAY SOUND EXTREME TO SOME, BUT LOCALS SAY DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR THESE MEASURES. QUEENSTOWN RENTER KATE ROBINSON JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING KATE. ONE WORD FOR ME, CREEPY. A LITTLE BIT, EH? THAT WAS MY FIRST IMPRESSION. WAS IT WORDED RIGHT? WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION? I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE GOING TOO FAR, AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION THOSE TENANTS ARE IN, THEY ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND THEY ARE WILLING TO SHARE IT WITH ANOTHER PERSON, BUT TO SHARE A BED WITH A STRANGER... I'VE HEARD OF HOT BEDDING, BUT THAT'S GENERALLY WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN THE BED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE MAY BE A DAY SHIFT AND SOMEONE ON THE NIGHT SHIFT, AND THEY TAKE SHIFTS IN THE BED, BUT THIS APPEARS TO SUGGEST YOU SHARE A BED WITH A STRANGER. IS THIS WHAT HAS COME TO? WHAT IS THE STATE OF QUEENSTOWN'S PROPERTY RENTAL MARKET? IT IS REALLY DIRE. IF YOU ARE ON THE RENTAL PAGES DOWN HERE MINIMUM FOR A ROOM THESE DAYS IS $300. BUT HAS A LOT OF MONEY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN IN A STUDIO APARTMENT ATTACHED TO SOMEBODY'S HOST 20 MINUTES LATER TIME YOU ARE LOOKING MINIMUM FIVE $550-$600 A WEEK. ARE YOU A RENTER? I AM A RENTER, AND I'M REALLY LUCKY AND GRATEFUL THAT I DO HAVE A HOME TO CALL MY OWN. BUT FOR HOW LONG? I KNOW THEY ARE PLANNING TO DEVELOP THE LAND MY HOUSE IS ON, SO WILL I BE IN THIS SITUATION IN HOWEVER LONG TIME? I DON'T KNOW HOW SAFE I AM, I DON'T THINK ANYONE DOES. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE LIVED IN QUEENSTOWN FOR 12 YEARS? YOU WOULD HAVE A ADVERTISE FOR A FLATMATE OR ROOMMATE IN THAT TIME. WHAT KINDS OF PEOPLE YOU GETTING IN, THE OFFERING ANYTHING EXTRA? EVERY NOW AND AGAIN I HAVE A ROOM FOR RENT AND THEY ADVERTISE IT, I GET MINIMUM 60 MESSAGES. WHAT DO THESE OTHER 59+ PEOPLE DO? IT IS PEOPLE FROM ALL WORKS OF LIFE. MANY OF THEM ARE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT ARE DESPERATE TO FIND A ROOM. THEY WILL OFFER YOU BAKING ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY ARE PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS TO SECURE YOUR SOMEWHERE TO CALL HOME. THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR CARS AND TENTS UNDER START AND THE OTHER. THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND. SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREVALENT IT IS POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT IS MAKING IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE. WHAT YOU THINK THE SOLUTION IS? I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE HOSING. EVERYONE WANTS TO COME AND LIVE HERE. I FEEL LIKE IT IS A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET WE ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT. DO WE NEED TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO LIVE? MAYBE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE FOR A LITTLE GETAWAY, MAYBE DON'T BOOK AN AIR BNB? BRING A TENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US. THANKS KATE. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE FOR QUEENSTOWN AS IT? IN TERMS OF ACCOMMODATION AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE LIGHT OF THE SITUATION GOING ON IN QUEENSTOWN, I KNOW DATE IN OTHER PARTS OF NEW ZEALAND AS WELL, BUT THE WHOLE ROOM/ THAT SHARING THING, I AM NOT SURE. ONE ROOM, ADVERTISED ON FACEBOOK, THE PERSON IS SELLING THE BAD TO SHARE THE BED WITH THIS CLEAN MALE. YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT THERE. SINGLE ROOM WITH A SINGLE BED. IT IS CLOSE TO A BUS STOP, YOU WILL BE SHARING THE APARTMENT WITH THREE FULL-TIME WORKING PROFESSIONALS. IT IS INTERESTING. WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES, BUT JUST IN GENERAL WOULD YOU BE OKAY SHARING A BED? PRESUMABLY THE SHEETS AND PILLOWCASES WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED? IT COULD BE CLOCKWORK. YOU WORK NIGHT SHIFT SOMEONE WORKS DAY SHIFT? INITIALLY I THOUGHT NO. BUT I CHANGE MY MIND. IF YOU CAN CHANGE SHEETS AND PILLOWCASES, I'M ON. ME U TONU MAI ` WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK WITH YOUR 6.30 NEWS. PLUS, YOU'VE BEEN FLOODING US WITH YOUR BAD WEATHER STORIES. WE'LL GET TO SOME OF THOSE NEXT. IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF CHRIS HIPKINS WILL STEP DOWN AS THE LABOUR PARTY LEADER ACCORDING TO A FORMER MINISTER. IT COMES AFTER MR HIPKINS TOOK A BIG HIT IN THE LATEST 1 NEWS VERIAN POLL. HE'S DROPPED 10% IN THE PREFERRED PM STAKES FROM 25% BEFORE LAST YEAR'S ELECTION TO 15 TODAY. WHILE CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS A FLUCTUATION IN POLLS IS EXPECTED, FORMER NATIONAL MINISTER WAYNE MAPP BELIEVES IT'S A WARNING. THE SITUATION, THE LOSING PRIME MINISTER IN THIS INSTANCE HAS TO WORK OUT WHERE YOU SHOULD GO. THAT IS UP TO HIM. BECAUSE IT IS NOT TO BE DONE STRAIGHT AWAY, BUT HE MUST KNOW IN HIS HEART THAT HE WILL NOT BE PRIME MINISTER AGAIN. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS REMAINED MORE FAVOURABLE AT 25%. A QUEENSTOWN LOCAL IS WARNING FUTURE RESIDENTS TO 'BRING A TENT' IF THEY INTEND ON STAYING. IT FOLLOWS A LISTING, OFFERING A BED-SHARING ARRANGEMENT FOR $195 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON, WHO HAS LIVED IN QUEENSTOWN FOR 12 YEARS DESCRIBES THE HOUSING SITUATION AS 'OUTRAGEOUS' AND 'DIRE', ADDING IT'S NO LONGER AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. MINIMUM FOR A ROOM THESE DAYS IF YOU'RE LUCKY IS ABOUT $300. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN. YOU ARE LOOKING AT A STUDIO APARTMENT ATTACHED TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE 20 MINUTES OUT OF TOWN, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF $550-$600 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON SAYS PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAVE TO SHARE A ROOM. THE WIFE OF LATE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT. SHE ALSO ACCUSED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF KILLING HER HUSBAND. THE BBC'S BETHANY BELL HAS MORE. (SPEAKING RUSSIAN) ALEXEI NAVALNY'S WIDOW, YULIA, SAYS SHE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR A FREE RUSSIA. SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED BECAUSE THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, COULDN'T BREAK HIM. TRANSLATOR: ANOTHER PERSON SHOULD BE HERE IN MY PLACE, BUT THAT PERSON WAS KILLED BY VLADIMIR PUTIN. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHY PUTIN KILLED ALEXEI THREE DAYS AGO. WE WILL TELL YOU SOON, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO FOR ALEXEI AND FOR OURSELVES IS TO GO ON FIGHTING. ALEXEI NAVALNY DIED IN HIS PRISON CAMP IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. PRISON AUTHORITIES SAY HE SUFFERED SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME. THE KREMLIN HAS DENIED INVOLVEMENT IN HIS DEATH. IT SAYS THERE ARE NO RESULTS YET IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH. EARLIER, MR NAVALNY'S MOTHER WAS BLOCKED FROM ENTERING A MORTUARY WHERE HIS BODY WAS BELIEVED TO BE. TODAY, YULIA NAVALNAYA IS IN BRUSSELS, MEETING WITH EU FOREIGN MINISTERS. THE EU'S FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF SAYS THEY'RE CONSIDERING NEW PUNISHMENTS AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR MR NAVALNY'S TREATMENT. YES, MEMBERS OF THE STATE WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS FOR SURE AGAINST THE RESPONSIBLE... THE GREAT RESPONSIBLE IS PUTIN HIMSELF. OTHER MINISTERS SAY MR NAVALNY'S DEATH UNDERLINE THE WIDER THREAT POSED BY RUSSIA IN UKRAINE. NEW RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT SENIOR CITIZENS CAN ENJOY USING VIRTUAL REALITY, AND DOING SO CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. THE STUDY OUT OF CALIFORNIA'S STANFORD UNIVERSITY PLACED SENIOR CITIZENS INTO SIMULATED EXPERIENCES FOR UP TO SEVEN MINUTES AT A TIME. THE VIRTUAL WORLDS WERE FULLY IMMERSIVE, WITH 360 DEGREE VIEWS AND EVEN SOUNDS. AT THE END OF EACH SESSION, 80% REPORTED HAVING A MORE POSITIVE MOOD AND 60% SAID THEY FELT LESS SOCIALLY ISOLATED. TO SPORT, AND THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE WON THE OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT, BEATING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN THE FINAL. THE FERNS SHOWING NO MERCY IN THE FINAL, BEATING THE SOLOMONS 11-1 WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. STRIKER EXCITED TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS. WHAT YOU DREAM ABOUT WHEN YOU A LITTLE, AND TO QUALIFY FOR ANOTHER PINNACLE EVENT, IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE. IT'S THE FIFTH TIME THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES. FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALL MANAGER ROY HODGSON HAS STEPPED DOWN AS CRYSTAL PALACE BOSS. THE 76-YEAR-OLD LEFT TRAINING LAST WEEK DUE TO SICKNESS AMID SPECULATION THAT HE MAY BE FIRED. HODGSON SAYS HIS DECISION WILL ALLOW THE CLUB CAN BRING FORWARD THEIR PLANS TO APPOINT A NEW MANAGER. AND FINALLY, THE TAYLOR SWIFT ROADSHOW HAS MOVED ON TO SYDNEY AS HER MAMMOTH 'ERAS' TOUR CONTINUES IN AUSTRALIA. THE AMERICAN MUSIC SUPERSTAR JETTED OUT OF MELBOURNE YESTERDAY AFTER 3 SOLD OUT SHOWS AT THE MCG IN FRONT OF MORE THAN 280,000 FANS. DESPITE TIGHT SECURITY, FANS STILL LINING UP TO CATCH A GLIMPSE. I STILL REALLY WANT TO SEE HER BECAUSE MY MUM TRIED TO GET TICKETS AND SHE COULDN'T. SHE NEEDED ANOTHER DEVICE! THE FIRST OF SWIFT'S FOUR SHOWS IN SYDNEY IS SET FOR FRIDAY NIGHT. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` IT'S A MAINLY FINE DAY THROUGH HERE. HIGH CLOUD WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. 27 THE HIGH FOR WHANGAREI. 25 IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH, SHOWERS FOR ALL OF YOU, EASING FOR SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOONS WITH HIGH CLOUD STICKING ABOUT. TOKOROA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 25. ON THE EAST COAST, IT'S A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY HERE WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. SUNSHINE IN MASTERTON, WITH A HIGH OF 20 TODAY. AND 24 FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER TODAY. YOU WILL NOTICE THE TEMPERATURE IS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE COOLER AS YOU GO DOWN THE COUNTRY. OVER TO THE WEST, YOU'LL WAKE UP TO HIGH CLOUD HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THIS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU, ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. PICK OF THE BUNCH THIS AFTERNOON, TAUMARUNUI WITH A HIGH OF 24. WELLINGTON, 19. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, A BEAUTIFUL DAY DOWN HERE. THE ODD MORNING CLOUD AND SHOWER ABOUT. CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU, ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COOLER DAY HERE. AND 20 FOR YOU IN NELSON HEADING FURTHER SOUTH, A STUNNING DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. 19 THE HIGH FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. TO THE DEEP SOUTH, IT'S A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HIGH CLOUD, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES YOUR EVENING. WITH STRONG WESTERLIES IN INVERCARGILL AND STEWART ISLAND REACHING A HIGH OF 14 AND 13. THE TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO DROP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AROUND BED SHARING. THIS ONE FROM JEN. I SHARED A BED WITH MY FRIEND WHEN I WAS 21 WORKING IN A BAR IN HONG KONG. WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN QUEENSTOWN, THEY'VE GOT TO A POINT WHERE THEY JUST RENTING OUT ONE ROOM AND ONE BED. IF YOU ARE DOING NIGHT SHIFT, YOU SLEEP ON THE BED DURING THE DAY AND THE OTHER PERSON WILL BE WORKING DURING THE DAY. THAT'S DIFFERENT, BECAUSE YOU ARE GENUINELY SHARING A BED WITH A FRIEND. BUT HERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRANGERS. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, JUST TO SHIFT THE GEAR ON THE TOPIC, I WAS CATCHING UP WITH FRIENDS EVERYONE IS MARRIED WITH KIDS BUT THEY SLEEP IN DIFFERENT BEDS. WE FOUND FOUR DIFFERENT COUPLES PREFER TO SLEEP IN DIFFERENT BEDS. I THOUGHT, IS THERE A DIVORCE COMING? WHAT IS GOING ON THERE? THEY SAID NO. IT IS ALL ABOUT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. I WAS WONDERING ` IS THIS HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY. DO YOU SLEEP IN DIFFERENT BEDS AS YOUR SPOUSES? HOW DOES THAT WORK? I'M GOING TO THROW MYSELF OUT THERE NOW BECAUSE WE DO. BECAUSE I GET UP EARLY. MY HUSBAND SNORES. I AM A LIGHT SLEEPER, SO IT DOES NOT WORK. HE WILL SLEEP IN THE SPARE ROOM DURING THE WEEK. I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHAT ABOUT THE WEEKEND? DO YOU RECONNECT? WEEKENDS ARE FINE. WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN. MY BOYS ARE SEVEN AND THEY GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. RATHER THAN HIM GETTING IN AND OUT OF BED AND HIM WAKING UP SNORING, I END UP NOT BEING A NICE PERSON. THAT IS WHAT WORKS OUT FOR US. DO THE KIDS ASKED WHY MUM AND DAD SLEEP IN DIFFERENT BEDS? NO, WE TELL THEM. DAD SNORES, MUM NEEDS TO GET UP EARLY. THERE IS A STIGMA AROUND PEOPLE SLEEPING IN SEPARATE BEDS BECAUSE IT IS ALL AROUND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. I SIT THERE AND THINK, BECAUSE I'M A CYNIC, REALLY? I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. DO YOU SLEEP IN SEPARATE BEDS JUST BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING? I GET YOUR HOKEY POKEY. THAT MY FRIENDS SAY. HANKY-PANKY, NOT HOKEY POKEY. LET'S KEEP IT CLEAN, FOLKS. I THINK IT IS INTERESTING. I AM REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. A NEW MILESTONE IN THE QUEST TO FREE WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE. WHY THE UNITED STATES' PLAN TO EXTRADITE HIM HANGS IN THE BALANCE. MORE ON THAT NEXT. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE'S FIGHT TO ESCAPE SPYING CHARGES IN THE U.S MAY BE NEARING AN END. THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST IS ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE OVER WIKILEAKS' PUBLICATION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS IN 2010. HIS ATTORNEY SAYS HIS PROSECUTION COULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. THIS IS A CASE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN STARTED. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR FREE SPEECH. ACROSS IS A DANGEROUS THRESHOLD IN THE UNITED STATES. NO ONE HAS BEEN ACCUSED UNDER THESE MEN ARE JACKED BEFORE. IT IS TIME THAT THE US DROPPED THE CASE. AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF SELF-EXILE IN A FOREIGN EMBASSY AND FIVE YEARS IN PRISON, THIS WEEK, ASSANGE IS FACING A COURT HEARING IN LONDON AS HE TRIES TO STOP HIS EXTRADITION TO THE U.S AND CURB A 175 YEAR SENTENCE. FOR MORE, I'M JOINED BY JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR KEVIN GOSTZOLA. KEVIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. HAS TIME OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED. TELL US ABOUT WHAT THIS HEARING IS ABOUT. THE UK ALREADY AUTHORISE EXTRADITION TO THE US. THIS HEARING IS ABOUT ASKING THE APPEALS COURT IN BRITAIN TO GIVE HIM A WIDER APPEAL HEARING, A HEARING THAT CAN CHALLENGE EXTRADITION, BUT IT HAS FINALITY TO IT THAT EARLIER PROCEEDINGS HAVE NOT HAD. IF THE COURT DECIDES NOT TO GRANT HIM A FURTHER APPEAL, CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE IF HE IS EXTRADITED, WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE? IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDICTMENT, WHAT THEY ARE CRIMINALISING OUR ACTIONS THAT ALL JOURNALISTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ENGAGE IN REGULARLY. THERE ARE OVER 75 ORGANISATIONS THAT OPERATE A SYSTEM WHERE THEY GO TO POTENTIAL SOURCES AND SAY, LEAKED TO US INFORMATION THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THAT IS WHAT JULIAN IS ACCUSED OF. HE WAS NOT WORKING FOR THE US GOVERNMENT, SO THERE IS NOT MUCH AUTHORITY THEY HAVE OVER HIM. WHAT THEY ARE DOING HERE IS UNPRECEDENTED. THEY ARE CLAIMING THEY CAN FORCE A SECRECY LAW AGAINST SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. THAT IS A THREAT GLOBALLY FOR ANYONE WHO IS ENGAGED IN JOURNALISM. HE IS AN AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST, AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PUSHED FOR HIS RETURN HOME. DOES THAT HOLD ANY WEIGHT ON THE SITUATION? IS THERE EVEN ANY SITUATION HE COULD GO BACK TO AUSTRALIA? TO ME AS AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST, IT IS A BIG DEAL THAT AUSTRALIA IS STANDING UP AND TELLING THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT THAT THIS CASE SHOULD NO LONGER PROCEED. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET IN THE SAGA. AS YOU MENTIONED, SETTING THIS UP BEGAN AS EARLY AS 2010. THESE DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2010. TO SEE THIS COUNTRY STANDING UP ONE OF THEIR CITIZENS MEANS A LOT TO US IN THE UNITED STATES AS WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO DROP THESE CHARGES, BECAUSE IT WOULD THREATEN THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS. THEY ARE TRYING TO USE HIM TO BLOW A HOLE IN FREEDOMS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS FOR OVER 10 YEARS. WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WITH THIS CASE? I DO NOT THINK THAT THE COURT SYSTEM IN THE UK IS GOING TO SPARE HIM. I AM PRETTY CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL ALLOW THE EXTRADITION TO THE UNITED STATES. PART OF THE REASON IS TO DENY THE EXTRADITION WOULD CREATE TENSION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED KINGDOM. THEY DO NOT WANT TO CLOSE THE BOMB ATTACK RELATIONSHIP TO BE UNDERMINED BY HIM BEING STOPPED FROM EXTRADITION. THAT IS WHY I THINK YOU WILL ULTIMATELY BE EXTRADITED. RECOGNISER THREAD THAT IMPOSES AND SAY THAT IT IS TIME FOR AMERICA TO DROP THE CHARGES. IT IS EXPECTED TO RUN OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS. THANKS, KEVIN. THANK YOU. E HAERE AKE NEI ` HATO HONE ST JOHN SAYS IT WILL PULL SOME AMBULANCES OFF THE ROAD DUE TO INCREASING COSTS. WHAT NEXT? THAT'S NEXT. HATO HONE ST JOHN AMBULANCE IS PULLING SOME AMBULANCES OFF THE ROAD TO REIN IN COSTS WHEN STAFF GO ON LEAVE OR CALL IN SICK. THE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION UNION SAYS IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. ST JOHN SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE SOME NON-URGENT PATIENTS MAY HAVE TO WAIT LONGER FOR AN AMBULANCE, BUT URGENT CARE WON'T BE COMPROMISED. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS ASKED ABOUT THE ISSUE YESTERDAY. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS, THEY DO NOT WISH TO BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. IS ALSO NOT GREAT TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT RUNNING A SYSTEM LIKE THIS. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE DETAILS OF REPORTS. FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL SECRETARY MARK QUIN IN THE STUDIO. I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS. WHEN HE WAS IN OPPOSITION, HE UNDERSTOOD ST JOHN DIDN'T WANT TO BE FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THEY NOW WANT TO BE 100% FULLY FUNDED. BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURES BEING PUT ON THE AMBULANCES IN TERMS OF RESOURCES. THEY ARE DOING IT RELYING ON CHARITY AND DONATIONS. THAT IS JUST NOT TENABLE. I'M HEARING, EVEN YESTERDAY, THAT THE INCREASED WORKLOAD, THE STRESSES, THEY ARE THE ONLY AMBULANCE IN MOST COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE. THEY ALSO TOLD THEY WILL NOT BE RECALLING AMBULANCES IF THERE IS SICKNESS OR LEAVE. WE'RE HEARING YOU WILL PRIORITISE URGENT CARE BUT NOT NONURGENT CAR, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS WE PRIORITISE THE CALLS AS THEY COME IN, BUT INCREASINGLY AS THEY STATED, THE AMBULANCE AND THE COMMUNITY IS THE LAST PORT OF CALL FOR MEDICAL ISSUES. NOT JUST EMERGENCIES. IN SOME COMMUNITIES IT COULD BE AN HOUR OR AN HOUR AND �WEIGHTS TO THE NEAREST MEDICAL FACILITY. THEY MAY BE SOCIAL REASONS, MENTAL HEALTH REASONS TO PALLIATIVE CARE, AS AN EXTENSION OF THE HOSPICE, OR A PATIENT IS UNABLE TO GET THE MONEY TO GO TO A MEDICAL CENTRE. AND THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE THE ISSUE LOOKED AT. IT MAY BE A SIMPLE LOCALISED INFECTION, IT MAY JUST BE A SIMPLE ACHE OR MUSCULAR PROBLEM, BUT WHEN THEY ARE LIVING ON THEIR OWN AND SOCIALLY ISOLATED THAN THEY ARE FEELING VULNERABLE AND THE FEEL NOT LISTEN TO. ST JOHN HAS BEEN VERY GOOD OVER THE YEARS OF GETTING AMBULANCES TO LOOK AFTER THE LOWER TIER BUT NO WE HAVE A BUDGET, WE NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN TERMS OF WHERE THAT COMMUNITY GOES. IS THERE A BALLPARK FIGURE THAT WILL KEEP ST JOHN GOING? THEY SAY TO US THERE IS NO MONEY. NO THEY HAVE COME TO US JUST LAST WEEK AND SAID WE HAVE NO MONEY ON THE TABLE. WERE TALKING IN EXCESS OF $20 MILLION. IN 2022, UNDER THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT THEY GOT AN EXTENSION OVER FOUR YEARS INCLUDING 40 AMBULANCES AND 250 STAFF. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, PARTICULARLY THE FUNDING MODEL HAS BEEN BROKEN AT THE MOMENT THERE IS A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HEALTH MINISTRY AND STUFF. THE PRIME MINISTER IS COMING ON SHORTLY, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE? THAT NEEDS TO BE SOME GOOD, HONEST, ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE WITH THE FUNDING. WE ARE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE ALONGSIDE THE FIRE AND THE POLICE AND WE NEED TO BE RESPECTED LIKE THAT I RESPECTED IN THE WAY WE ARE FUNDED. NEARLY 100 DAYS INTO THE TOP JOB, AND PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS HOLDING STEADY WITH VOTERS. HE'S SITTING ON 25% AS PREFERED PM IN OUR LATEST 1NEWS VERIAN POLL. BUT HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO PREVIOUS PRIME MINISTERS AFTER WINNING AN ELECTION? WE'LL DIVE INTO THOSE NUMBERS WITH HIM NEXT. ANOTHER RAT SIGHTING MEANS THE WAIT FOR SOUTH DUNEDIN'S COUNTDOWN TO REOPEN CONTINUES. THE STORE'S BEEN SHUT FOR OVER 10 DAYS WITH THURSDAY BEING THE EARLIEST IT CAN OPEN IF NO NEW RODENTS ARE SPOTTED. MORE ON THAT A LITTLE LATER. AND THERE AREN'T MANY THINGS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR WEDDING DAY WORSE THAN BAD WEATHER. BUT FEAR NOT, A METEROLOGIST HAS COME UP WITH A 13 POINT, YES, 13 POINT PLAN TO READ INTO THE WEATHER GODS AHEAD OF THE BIG DAY. HE JOINS US IN 30 MINUTES. BUT FOR NOW IT'S 7 O'CLOCK, HERE'S CHRIS WITH THE NEWS. A HUGE HIT IN THE POLLS HAS LEFT CHRIS HIPKINS' LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP IN DOUBT. IN THE LATEST 1 NEWS VARIAN POLL, MR HIPKINS SUFFERED A KNOCK IN THE PREFERRED PM STAKES, DROPPING FROM 25% BEFORE LAST YEAR'S ELECTION TO 15%. WHILE PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS REMAINED MORE FAVOURABLE AT 25%. BUT ACCORDING TO FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE, THERE'S NO NEED FOR ALARM. REALITY IS, WE ARE INTO MONTHS OF A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. THEY GET ALL OF THE ATTENTION, BUT THAT IS UNREMARKABLE. THE INCUMBENT PRIME MINISTER ALWAYS RATES WELL. CHRIS IS NOT THAT ANY MORE, THERE IS NOTHING HERE TO BE PHASED ABOUT. IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS FOR LABOUR, WITH ITS PARTY VOTE LIFTING SLIGHTLY FROM 27% ON ELECTION NIGHT TO 28% IN THE POLL. OVERNIGHT RAIN IN CANTERBURY HAS BROUGHT RELIEF FOR FIRE CREWS IN THE REGION. THE FIRE ON THE PORT HILLS IS CONTAINED AND CREWS ARE NOW WORKING TO EXTINGUISH WHAT IS LEFT OF THE BLAZE. A LARGE SCRUB FIRE IN THE WAIPARA DISTRICT, NORTH OF CHRISTCHURCH, IS ALSO NOW UNDER CONTROL. INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES. A QUEENSTOWN RESIDENT IS URGING THE LOCAL COUNCIL TO INTRODUCE A CAP ON SHORT TERM RENTALS. IT FOLLOWS A LISTING OFFERING A BED SHARING ARRANGEMENT FOR $195 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON, WHO HAS LIVED IN QUEENSTOWN FOR 12 YEARS, DESCRIBES THE HOUSING SITUATION AS 'DIRE' AND WARNS FUTURE RESIDENTS TO 'BRING A TENT' IF THEY INTEND ON STAYING. EVERY NOW AND AGAIN I DO HAVE A ROOM UP FOR RENT, AND I ADVERTISE IT. I PROBABLY GET MINIMUM 60 MESSAGES. I CAN ONLY GIVE IT TO ONE PERSON. WHAT DO THESE OTHER 59 PLUS PEOPLE DO? KATE ROBINSON SAYS THE MINIMUM RENTAL PRICE FOR A ROOM, NOT INCLUDING BILLS, IS $300 DOLLARS A WEEK. THE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION IS WARNING OF GROWING CONCERNS AMONGST PARAMEDICS, WHO THEY SAY ARE FEELING VULNERABLE. ST JOHN AMBULANCE IS PULLING SOME AMBULANCES OFF THE ROAD TO REIN IN COSTS WHEN STAFF GO ON LEAVE OR CALL IN SICK. MARK QUIN SAYS STAFF ARE UNDER THE PUMP AND CHOOSING TO LEAVE. INCREASED WORKLOAD, STRESSES, THEY ARE THE AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF IN MANY COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE. PAY TALKS WHICH REACHED A DEAL LAST YEAR HAVE ALSO NOW STALLED. ISRAEL SAYS ITS SOLDIERS HAVE RECOVERED STOLEN MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND EVEN MEDICATION DURING RAIDS IN GAZA. ISRAEL'S MILITARY CLAIMS IT MADE THE DISCOVERIES IN AND NEAR THE NASSER HOSPITAL COMPLEX IN KHAN YOUNIS. AMONG THE ITEMS, A CAR ALLEGEDLY STOLEN FROM ONE OF THE KIBBUTZES ATTACKED ON OCTOBER SEVEN. THE WIFE OF LATE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT. YULIA NAVALNY RELEASED A VIDEO ACCUSING RUSSIAN PREISDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF HAVING HER HUSBAND MURDERED AND URGING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HER ONGOING WORK. TRIBUTES TO NAVALNY CONTINUE TO BE PLACED AT MEMORIALS ACROSS RUSSIA. MEANWHILE, HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE MORGUE WHERE HIS BODY IS REPORTEDLY BEING KEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS DEATH IS NOT YET COMPLETE. TO SPORT, AND THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE BEATEN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS TO WIN THE OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT. THE FERNS BEATING THE SOLOMONS 11-1, WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. COACH JITKA KLIMKOVA SAYS IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THEY CAN START PREPARING FOR THE OLYMPICS. I BELEIVE IT'S A SPECIAL FEELING FOR ME OR FOR ANYONE IN THIS TEAM. WE NOW KNOW WE GO TO PARIS WE KNOW WE CAN START PREPARING FOR IT. IT IS NOT JUST WHEN OR IF. WE ARE IN IT, AND WE WILL GET READY FOR THAT. THE FOOTBALL FERNS ARE THE SIXTH TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS. AN AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN ACCUSED OF BREAKING THE ATHLETE CODE OF CONDUCT BY WEARING A MANKINI DURING A FANCY DRESS EVENT HAS BEEN CLEARED. A SINGLE COMPLAINT WAS MADE AGAINST SHANE ROSE AS THESE PICTURES BEGAN CIRCULATING ONLINE. HE WAS STOOD DOWN WHILE THE SPORT'S GOVERNING BODY INVESTIGATED, BUT CLEARED OF ANY BREACH SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. IF I OVERSTEPPED THE MARK, I'M SORRY FOR THAT BUT I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE. THE THREE TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST IS NOW ABLE TO CONTINUE HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THIS YEAR'S GAMES IN PARIS. EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA IS NOW REVIEWING THE DRESS STANDARDS FOR EVENTS. A BIT TOUGH ON HIM? IT'S A BIT OF FUN. THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE IS A 50-YEAR-OLD MAN IN A MANKINI. I GET THAT HE FELT HARD DONE BY, BUT HE HAS TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING ` IT'S A MAINLY FINE DAY THROUGH HERE. HIGH CLOUD WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. 27 THE HIGH FOR WHANGAREI. FURTHER SOUTH, SHOWERS FOR ALL OF YOU, EASING FOR SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOONS WITH HIGH CLOUD STICKING ABOUT. TOKOROA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 25. ON THE EAST COAST, IT'S A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY HERE WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. SUNSHINE IN MASTERTON, WITH A HIGH OF 20 TODAY AND 24 FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER TODAY. OVER TO THE WEST, YOU'LL WAKE UP TO HIGH CLOUD HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THIS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU, ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. PICK OF THE BUNCH THIS AFTERNOON, TAUMARUNUI WITH A HIGH OF 24. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, A BEAUTIFUL DAY DOWN HERE. THE ODD MORNING CLOUD AND SHOWER ABOUT. CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU, ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COOLER DAY HERE, BLENHEIM ONLY REACHING 19 AND 20 FOR YOU IN NELSON HEADING FURTHER SOUTH, A STUNNING DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. 19 THE HIGH FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. TO THE DEEP SOUTH, IT'S A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HIGH CLOUD, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES YOUR EVENING. WITH STRONG WESTERLIES IN INVERCARGILL AND STEWART ISLAND REACHING A HIGH OF 14 AND 13. NATIONAL ARE OFF TO A GOOD START, INCHING UP BY 1% IN OUR LATEST ONE NEWS VERIAN POLL. A WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CHRISTOPHER LUXON WHOSE FIRST 100 DAYS HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY THE ANTICS OF HIS COALITION PARTNERS RATHER THAN HIS OWN PARTY. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER'S PERSONAL NUMBERS AREN'T TOO STRONG. LUXON IS SITTING ON 25% AS PREFERRED PM, REGISTERING LOWER THAN ARDERN, KEY, ENGLISH, CLARK, SHIPLEY AND BOLGER, WHO ALL SCORED HIGHER IN THEIR FIRST POLL SINCE THEY TOOK THE TOP JOB. MR LUXON JOINS ME THIS MORNING. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. HAVE YOU SEEN THE POLL RESULTS? I DON'T TAKE TOO MUCH FOCUS ON POLES. WE ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING THE JOB DONE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND PEOPLE. WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. WE CAMPAIGNED ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF INITIATIVES AND GETTING THEM DONE. PARTY SUPPORT IS ONLY UP BY 1%. YOU HAVEN'T MOVED AS PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER. YOU WOULD EXPECT A NEW GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE HIGHER NUMBERS. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT PAUL IS VERY SIMILAR TO ELECTION NIGHT'S RESULTS. I DON'T REALLY PUT TOO MUCH STOCK ON POLES, WE ARE HERE TO GOVERN AND GET STUFF DONE. WE ARE A COALITION GOVERNMENT TO DRIVE CHANGE IN NEW ZEALAND. YOU DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, WHAT ABOUT CHRIS ATKINS? HIS NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED BY 10 POINTS. A HUGE DIP BUT BUT NOT ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED. THOSE ISSUES FOR CHRIS HIPKIS AND THE LABOUR PARTY. IF YOUR NUMBERS ARE DEFINITELY WOULD YOU STEP ASIDE? BUT IS AN ISSUE FOR THE LABOUR PARTY TO DETERMINE HOW THEY GO FORWARD. WE WERE ELECTED WITH A MANDATE TO CHANGE AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING AND COALITION AND GOVERNMENT. THOSE ISSUES FOR OTHER PARTIES, I'M FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE. THE BENEFIT RESET YOU ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, THERE ARE EXISTING SANCTIONS IN PLACE. SO WHAT WAS YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT? ALL THAT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS YOU SAID IS THERE ARE SANCTIONS AVAILABLE IN LEGISLATION TODAY. IT WAS USED BY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVELY. 57% JUMP IN PEOPLE ON JOBSEEKER BENEFIT. 70,000 MORE PEOPLE, UNDER 58% REDUCTION IN SANCTIONS. THIS IS A SAYING HOW YOU NEED TO APPLY SANCTIONS. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE ON A JOBSEEKER BENEFIT, THEY ARE DEEMED CAPABLE TO WORK IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF BENEFICIARIES ARE COMPLIANT WITH THEIR OBLIGATIONS. IF MOST OF THEM ARE COMPLIANT, AND IS ONLY A SMALL NUMBER WHY IS THERE SO MUCH FOCUS ON THIS? IT IS ABOUT A PRINCIPAL. WE LIVE IN NEW ZEALAND AND WE HAVE A SOCIETY WITH RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. AND SOMETIMES WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM. THAT IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IS A RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT IS TO DO A JOB AND HOLD UP YOUR OBLIGATION WHICH IS TO BE LOOKING FOR WORK AND TRAINING FOR WORK. WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTED LIVING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JOBSEEKER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. AT A TIME WITH RELATIVELY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU CANNOT HAVE A PERVERSE AND OBSCENE SITUATION WHICH IS 70,000 MORE PEOPLE ON JOBSEEKER BENEFIT. I WANT TO GO TO THE FACT THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF EFFORT PUT INTO THIS BENEFIT REEF SAT. IF IS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT PEOPLE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH WHAT IF WE LOOK AT TAX FRAUD IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THAT? THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE SAYS IT IS A PROBLEM. WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU AS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN MEET THEIR OBLIGATION ARRAIGNED TAXATION OR WELFARE. ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IS A LETTER IS GONE SAYING WE HAVE THESE LAWS ARRAIGNED SANCTIONS LETTERS ENSURE THEY ARE APPLIED. WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUDITORS WE HAVE TO GO AFTER ANY FRAUD THAT IS SITTING THERE IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS RIGHT THAT WE PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO THE SPACE TO DRIVE MORE TAX REVENUE I MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING THERE AS WELL. THIS IS ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL AT THE HEART OF OUR SOCIETY. WE HAVE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTRY AND TO EACH OTHER AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL ENFORCE. YESTERDAY'S LANGUAGE IS QUITE STRONG. TALKING ABOUT THREATS FOR CONSEQUENCES. IS A SOLUTION TO GET PEOPLE OFF BENEFIT? THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE HOLDING UP AND DELIVERING ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS. PEOPLE HAVE WOKEN UP THIS MORNING, WATCHING YOUR SHOW ON LOW AND MIDDLE INCOMES THEY PAY THEIR TAXES, THAT TAXES COME INTO GOVERNMENT AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TOUGH TIMES AND SO WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS MAKING SURE THOSE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND THE DEAL, WHICH IS VERY SIMPLE. YOU NEED TO HONOUR YOUR OBLIGATION. I KNEW OBLIGATION ON THE BENEFITS IS TO FIND WORK. PEOPLE ON YOUTH BENEFITS ARE NOW ON AVERAGE GOING TO BE ON BENEFITS FOR 24 YEARS. THE AVERAGE TIME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ONYOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE 40 BEFORE THEY GET THERE FIRST JOB. WE ARE NOT WRITING OFF YOUNG PEOPLE AND CONFINING THEM TO A LIFE OF WELFARE. IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE BENEFITS PAID YOU STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING ON THE BENEFITS? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE? HOW DO YOU STOP THAT? AS YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, WE HAVE A POLICY COULD WELFARE THAT WORKS. WE WANT UNDER 25 IS TO BE PREPARED TO WORK, THEY HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO GET INTO WORK, AND ARE SUPPORTED TO GET INTO WORK. WHEN YOU HAVE 55% OF OUR KIDS NOT AT SCHOOL DRIFTING INTO WELFARE UNDER THE AGE OF 25, I AM NOT PREPARED TO WRITE OFF A WHOLE GENERATION. I MEET WITH YOUNG PEOPLE EVERY WEEK THAT SPARK WILL NOT BE REALISED SITTING ON A BENEFIT. WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE INTO WORK, KEEP THEM EDUCATED, KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL AND SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS. WE NEED TO HELP THEM WHERE THEY NEED SUPPORT TO GET INTO WORK WITH DROP COACHES ALONGSIDE THEM. IS THIS GOVERNMENT LOOKING AT THE ELIGIBILITY AGE FOR THE JOBSEEKER BENEFIT THAN? IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE BENEFIT, I YOU LOOKING AT THE ELIGIBILITY? WHAT WE WANT IS PEOPLE IN WORK. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. BUT ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE ELIGIBILITY AGE? NO WE HAVE NOT BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE ARE MAKING SURE SANCTIONS ARE APPLIED IN LAW TODAY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FRONT-LINE STAFF CAN APPLY THOSE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AND MAKE SURE ALL OBLIGATIONS ARE BEING MET AND WE WILL PUT A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON UNDER 25 IS AND HOW WE GET SUPPORT WITH THEM SO THEY CAN TAKE A JOB BE PREPARED TO STAY IN THE JOB. WE JUST SPOKE WITH THE AMBULANCE SERVICE ARRAIGNED ST JOHN'S 83% IS HOW MUCH THEY ARE FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WOULD YOU LOOK AT FUNDING AT 100%? NO THAT IS NOT WHAT ST JOHN WANTS. THEY WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO PRIVATE MONEY AND FUNDRAISING RATHER THAN BEING GOVERNMENT RUN. NO BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT. THEY DO WANT THAT. THEY ARE A FRONT-LINE SERVICE AND STRUGGLING LIKE A LOT OF BUSINESSES. A LOT OF FRONT-LINE SERVICES STRUGGLING, SO OF A. THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. WITH THIS GOVERNMENT LOOK AT FUNDING AT 100%? WE HAVE SPOKEN TO ST JOHN OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE 100% FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. IN 2022 THERE WAS A FOUR-YEAR AGREEMENT FROM HEALTH NEW ZEALAND WHICH PUT $120 MILLION ON ST JOHN'S. THOSE ARE REAL OPERATIONAL CHARGES... YOU DON'T WANT A 100% GOVERNMENT RUN AMBULANCE SERVICE. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE CHARITY FACING A HUGE RENT RISE FROM THE LOCAL COUNCIL. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ITS FUTURE NEXT. A TAURANGA CHARITY SAYS IT WILL BE FORCED TO SHUT IT DOORS AS A RESULT OF MEGA RENT INCREASES BY THE LOCAL COUNCIL. THE MEN'S SHED PAYS AROUND $11,000 FOR RENT A YEAR. THAT'S SET TO JUMP TO $40,000 ` A 240% RISE. MANY OTHER CHARITIES, SPORTS CLUBS AND SOCIAL SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY FACE SIMILAR FEE INCREASES. RENT HIKES ON COUNCIL-OWNED PROPERTIES AND LAND ARE BEING PROPOSED UNDER ITS 10-YEAR PLAN. FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE JOINED BY BRYCE STRONG FROM THE TAURANGA MEN'S SHED. GOOD MORNING. BEFORE I GET TO THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? HOW IT IS IMPACT THAT YOU? IT IS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DISTRESS AMONG OUR MEMBERS. WE HAVE 80 MEMBERS, MAINLY OLDER PEOPLE. WE DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE IF THE LONG-TERM PLAN IS SUPPLEMENTED AS PLANNED. WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS INCREASE? IT WAS JUST MIND-BOGGLING. I DO NOT KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD IMAGINE THAT A CHARITY AS WE ARE SURVIVING ON DONATIONS FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY COULD EVER PAY. IT IS ACTUALLY 63,000 WHEN YOU INCLUDE GST, AND WE ARE NOT GST REGISTERED. THE COST OF OUR RENT COULD INCREASE TO 63,000 WHEN YOU INCLUDE OPEX. IS THIS THE FIRST RENT HIKE? NO. IT STARTED IN A BIG WAY AROUND 2020, 2019. WE WENT ALONG AND THOUGHT, WE WILL DO OUR BEST BUT WE HAVE HAD GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WHAT WE'RE PAYING WE CANNOT MAINTAIN THAT AND WE ARE EATING INTO ANY SMALL RESERVES THAT WE HAVE AND ABSOLUTELY, A 240% INCREASE IS GOING TO FINISH US OFF. TALK TO ME ABOUT THE MEN'S SHED. WHAT IS IT ABOUT? PREDOMINANTLY TO SET UP TO AID ELDERLY MEN'S MENTAL ISSUES. MEN HAVE A HIGHER SUICIDE RATE THAN WOMAN, AND IT IS THERE SO WHEN THE MEN RETIRE HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE AND MEET OTHER MEN, HAVE A CUP OF TEA, HAVE A LAUGH AND PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT HELP THE COMMUNITY. AND PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT HELP THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ABOUT 80 MEMBERS. WE DO ABOUT 500 JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE GET AN AVERAGE OF $40 PER DONATION. THERE ARE 500 PEOPLE AT LEAST IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DO WORK FOR. THE IRONIC PART OF IT IS THAT WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK FOR THE CITY, FOR THE WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL AS WELL AS ST JOHN'S AND THE OP SHOPS. THE COUNCIL WILL BE WATCHING YOU RIGHT NOW. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM? WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO RETURN OUR RENTAL RATE TO THE 2000 FIGURE WHICH IS SOMETHING WE COULD MANAGE. WE ALSO ASK THAT ANY FUTURE INCREASES BE LINKED TO THE RATE OF INFLATION AT THE TIME, AND WE HAVE ASKED FOR TRULY MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF OPEX. AT THE TIME, WE HAVE ONE FOR $18,000 WHICH INCLUDES 7000 OF OTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL SAYS THE PROPOSAL IS STILL IN DRAFT FORM, AND THE HEARINGS PROCESS HAS RAISED QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 7.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, WE WILL GET TO MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK. QUITE A LOT COMING IN. LET'S DO THAT AFTER THE BREAK. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS DEFENDING THE COALITION GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO IMPLEMENT MORE SANCTIONS FOR BENEFICIARIES AFTER DESCRIBING NEW ZEALAND AS A 'FRAGILE' NATION. THERE ARE EXISTING SANCTIONS AND LEGISLATION THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY. THEY HAVE BEEN USED BY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVELY. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS AS A 57% JUMP ON PEOPLE ON THE JOBSEEKER BENEFIT, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THEY HAVE BEEN 70,000 MORE PEOPLE. THERE HAS BEEN A 58% REDUCTION IN SANCTIONS AT THE SAME TIME. IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF CHRIS HIPKINS WILL STEP DOWN AS THE LABOUR PARTY LEADER ACCORDING TO A FORMER NATIONAL MINISTER. IT COMES AFTER MR HIPKINS TOOK A BIG HIT IN THE LATEST 1 NEWS-VERIAN POLL. HE'S DROPPED 10% IN THE PREFERRED PM STAKES FROM 25% BEFORE LAST YEAR'S ELECTION, TO 15. WHILE CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS A FLUCTUATION IN POLLS IS EXPECTED, FORMER NATIONAL MINISTER WAYNE MAPP SAYS IT'S A WARNING. IN THIS SITUATION, THE LOSING PRIME MINISTER, CHRIS HIPKINS IN THIS INSTANCE, NEVER REALLY BECOMES PRIME MINISTER AGAIN. YOU HAVE GOT TO WORK OUT WHERE HE SHOULD GO. THAT IS UP TO HIM. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE GONE FREIGHT AWAY, BUT HE MUST KNOW IN HIS HEART HE IS NOT GOING TO BE PRIME MINISTER AGAIN. HE HAS HAD HIS ONE SHOT AT IT. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS REMAINED MORE FAVOURABLE AT 25%. PARAMEDICS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION AROUND COST CUTTING MEASURES. ST JOHN IS PULLING SOME AMBULANCES OFF THE ROAD TO REIN IN COSTS WHEN STAFF GO ON LEAVE OR CALL IN SICK. BUT MARK QUIN WARNS THIS IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON PARAMEDICS WHO SAY THEY ARE FEELING VULNERABLE. AT THE MOMENT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTHCARE NEW ZEALAND, TE WHATU ORA, AND ST JOHN, AND EVERYONE POINTING A FINGER. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE STAFF ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AND, OBVIOUSLY, THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC, THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEY'RE JUST BEING KICKED AROUND. THE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION SAYS IT'S 'UNACCEPTABLE' COST-CUTTING AND IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. THE WIFE OF LATE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT. YULIA NAVALNY RELEASED A VIDEO ACCUSING RUSSIAN PREISDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF HAVING HER HUSBAND MURDERED, OF HAVING HER HUSBAND MURDERED AND URGING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HER ONGOING WORK. TRIBUTES TO NAVALNY CONTINUE TO BE PLACED AT MEMORIALS ACROSS RUSSIA. MEANWHILE, HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE MORGUE WHERE HIS BODY IS REPORTEDLY BEING KEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS DEATH IS NOT YET COMPLETE. CZECH FARMERS HAVE JOINED EUROPE WIDE PROTESTS, CZECH FARMERS HAVE JOINED EUROPE-WIDE PROTESTS, CLOGGING CENTRAL PRAGUE WITH TRACTORS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PROTESTERS. EUROPEAN FARMERS HAVE ENGAGED IN A CAMPAIGN OF PROTESTS AGAINST NEW EU REGULATIONS THEY SAY WILL MAKE THEIR LIVELIHOODS UNSUSTAINABLE. THE PROTESTS ARE PLANNED TO CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK. MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AFTER A LANDSLIDE IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN. HEAVY RAIN AND SNOWFALL HIT THE REGION RECENTLY, CAUSING A HILLSIDE TO COLLAPSE. MORE THAN 25 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRAPPED UNDER DEBRIS FROM VILLAGES. FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD. WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE'S FIGHT TO ESCAPE SPYING CHARGES IN THE U.S. WILL GET UNDERWAY TODAY. THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST IS ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE, OVER THE PUBLICATION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS IN 2010. THIS WEEK, ASSANGE WILL FACE A COURT HEARING IN LONDON TO APPEAL HIS EXTRADITION TO THE U.S. AND CURB A POTENTIAL 175-YEAR SENTENCE. THERE ARE CONCERNS HIS PROSECUTION COULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR JOURNALISTS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH. WHAT THEY ARE CRIMINALISING OUR ACTIONS THAT ALL JOURNALISTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ENGAGE IN REGULARLY. THERE ARE WELL OVER 75 ORGANISATIONS NOW THAT ACTUALLY OPERATES A SYSTEM WHERE THEY GO OUT TO POTENTIAL SOURCES AND SAY, LEAKED TO US. LEAKED TO US INFORMATION THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT JULIAN IS ACCUSED OF DOING WITH WIKILEAKS. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH BURNS AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING DURING A SEVERE STORM IN SYDNEY. THEY WERE SHELTERING UNDER A TREE AT THE TIME AND WERE ALL BRIEFLY KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THEY HAVE SUSTAINED ANY LONG-TERM INJURIES. THE CITY SUSTAINED MORE THAN 75,000 LIGHTNING STRIKES THAT LEFT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER. TO SPORT, AND THE CRUSADERS HAVE BEEN DEALT ANOTHER MAJOR BLOW JUST ONE WEEK OUT FOR THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON. ALL BLACK WILL JORDAN HAS BEEN RULED OUT FOR THE SEASON, THE FULLBACK SET TO HAVE SURGERY ON A PRE-EXISTING SHOULDER INJURY. IT'S THE SECOND MAJOR LOSS FOR THE CRUSADERS BACKLINE, AFTER WELSHMAN LEIGH HALFPENNY INJURED HIS PEC DURING THEIR PRE-SEASON MATCH AGAINST MUNSTER. JORDAN IS EXPECTED TO RETURN IN SIX MONTHS. THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS AFTER THUMPING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AT THE OCEANIA QUALIFIERS. THE FERNS SHOWING NO MERCY IN THE FINAL, BEATING THE SOLOMONS 11-1, WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. AND ANOTHER GOAL. KATIE KITCHING. AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEEN UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS IN THIS LEVEL OF OCEANIA FOOTBALL. IT'S JUST THE FIFTH TIME THE FOOTBALL FERNS WILL REPRESENT AOTEAROA AT THE SUMMER GAMES. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A MAINLY FINE DAY THROUGH HERE. HIGH CLOUD WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. THE SUN TRYING TO PEAK THROUGH FOR MOST OF YOU. 26 DEGREES IN KAITAIA. FURTHER SOUTH ` SHOWERS FOR ALL OF YOU EASING FOR SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOONS WITH HIGH CLOUD STICKING ABOUT. TOKOROA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 25. 28 IN TAURANGA. ON THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. SUNSHINE IN MASTERTON, WITH A HIGH OF 20 TODAY. AND 24 FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER TODAY. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL WAKE UP TO HIGH CLOUD HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THIS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. 22 DEGREES FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. 19 FOR WELLINGTON. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` A BEAUTIFUL DAY DOWN HERE. THE ODD MORNING CLOUD AND SHOWER ABOUT, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COOLER DAY HERE, BLENHEIM ONLY REACHING 19. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A STUNNING DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. 19 THE HIGH FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 18 IN CHRISTCHURCH. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'S A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HIGH CLOUD, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES YOUR EVENING, WITH STRONG WESTERLIES IN INVERCARGILL, AND STEWART ISLAND REACHING A HIGH OF 14 AND 13. QUEENSTOWN, YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD TODAY. A HIGH OF 17 DEGREES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A BIT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT BENEFITS. I WOULD NOT SAY THAT IS TRUE OF ALL YOU. BUT THERE IS A REAL PUSH BY THIS GOVERNMENT TO LOOK AT BENEFITS. THEY ARE LOOKING AT EVERY SET FOR BENEFITS. I DO WONDER WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH WE LOSE AND TAX FRAUD, WHICH IS A LOT. I FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT BE PUNCHING DOWN A BIT. WHEN I HEAR THE PRIME MINISTER TALK ABOUT TAXPAYERS THAT ARE WORKING HARD FOR THEIR MONEY AND IT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOUTH THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND JOBS, AND THEY ARE ON BENEFITS, AND THIS IS A WAY TO GET THEM OFF, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. WE WANT TO YOUTH TO GET INTO WORK. WE GET THAT EVERYONE HAS EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK IT IS GREAT TO HAVE THE WORK CHECK INS. I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AGREE WITH YOU. WHAT I AM NOT 100% SURE ON IS HOW THOSE GO. THEY ARE SAYING THEY DO NOT NEED MORE FRONTLINE STAFF TO DO THIS. THAT MEANS THAT THINGS ARE DONE IN A GROUP. HE DID SAY EVERY SIX MONTHS, YOUTH WHO HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE BENEFIT FOR SIX MONTHS LEFT TO COME IN FOR A WORK CHECK IN. STUFF WILL GO THROUGH IT AND TALK TO THEM A LOT THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR. THIS IS WHAT I AM ASSUMING. THIS IS MORE WORK. THAT IS ON TOP OF STUFF OR THOSE WORKERS. WILL YOU NEED MORE WORKERS OR WILL THEY GROUP THEM TOGETHER? I THINK IT IS TO GET YOUTH BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE. I AM ALL FOR IT. I AM ALSO HEARING YOU. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SHARING BEDS. THIS COMES OF A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH MANY OF MY FRIENDS. I FIND THAT THAT MANY OF MY FRIENDS ARE COUPLES WHO DO NOT SLEEP IN THE SAME BED, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DIVORCE PROBLEM OR SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG IN THE RELATIONSHIP, BUT IT IS FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. APPARENTLY A LOT OF COUPLES AROUND THE COUNTRY DO THIS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITTEN AND. DIANA ` WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 30 YEARS AND ARE IN OUR EARLY 50S, AND WE NOW HAVE DIFFERENT BEDROOMS. WE GOT A LITTLE BIT GRUMPY, AND WE SAW A BIT MORE, AND IT JUST MEANS THAT WE CAN GET A DECENT SLEEP. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF LYNNS. THE FIRST ONE SAYS THAT HER AND HER PARTNER HAVE BEEN IN SEPARATE BEDS FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE TO SNORING ISSUES. ONE OF US BEING A RESTLESS SLEEPER, WE GET MUCH BETTER SLEEP BY FAR. DO NOT MISS HOKEY POKEY. THE OTHER MAN SAYS MORNING, PEEPS. SEPARATE ROOMS, SEPARATE HOUSES. NO STRESS AND NO DISAGREEMENTS. THAT IS THE WAY TO GO, BY THE LOOK OF IT. FUNNY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT STRAIGHT AWAY, AND I WAS WAYS NOT TO BE JUDGE MENTAL, BUT I THOUGHT STRAIGHT AWAY THAT PEOPLE HAD RELATIONSHIP ISSUES FOR THEM TO BE SLEEPING IN SEPARATE BEDS. BUT PEOPLE ARE DOING IT BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. NO ONE HAS EMAILED ON TO SAY THAT THEY LIKE SHARING A BED. MAYBE THEY DO NOT LIKE A LITTLE CUDDLE. THAT IS WHAT WEEKENDS ARE FOR, CHRIS CHANG. OFF YOU GO. ME U TONU MAI ` BAD WEATHER HAS RUINED MANY A WEDDING DAY, BUT ONE METEOROLOGIST HAS FOUND A FEW WAYS TO HACK THE SYSTEM. HE JOINS US NEXT. KEEP THAT FEEDBACK COMING THROUGH. breakfast@tvnz.co.nz WE WILL READ IT OUT TO YOU OVER THE COMING HOURS. # WHEN THE SUN SHINES, WE'LL SHINE TOGETHER. # TOLD YOU I'D BE HERE FOREVER. # SAID I'D ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND. # TOOK AN OATH, I'MA STICK IT OUT TO THE END. # NOW THAT IT'S RAINING MORE THAN EVER, # KNOW THAT WE'LL STILL HAVE EACH OTHER, # YOU CAN STAND UNDER MY UMBRELLA... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RIHANNA! THE SUPERSTAR, SEEN HERE DOING A BETTER SUPERBOWL PERFORMANCE THAN USHER, TURNS 36 TODAY. 36? ALMOST MY AGE (!) PLEASE. # UNDER MY UMBRELLA, ELLA, ELLA, E, E, E. # WELCOME BACK. AN APPROPRIATE SONG FOR THIS STORY. WALKING DOWN THE AISLE IN TORRENTIAL RAIN, MARQUEES BLOWN OVER BY GALE FORCE WINDS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS THE WEATHER CAN RUIN AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY PLANNED WEDDING. SO AFTER GETTING HITCHED HIMSELF, ONE NIWA METEOROLOGIST CAME UP WITH A 13-POINT PLAN TO HELP KIWIS BETTER FORECAST FOR THEIR BIG DAY. BEN NOLL, MORENA. 13 POINTS OF THE LOT. CAN YOU GIVE US THE ABRIDGED VERSION. ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, YOU'LL BE THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, SO 13 MIGHT BE A BIT LONG. KNOW THE WEATHER HISTORY OF YOUR LOCATION, WHETHER IT IS AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON, SOMEWHERE LIKE QUEENSTOWN. KNOW THE BEST MONTH AND THE ONES YOU SHOULD AVOID. THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE TIP. HAVING SAID THAT, YOUR OWN WEDDING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, KATE, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT YOU EXPERIENCE ON HOW WELL THAT WAS PLANNED OUT? OUR ORIGINAL WEDDING WAS IN SEPTEMBER, SO IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. AND THEN COVID HAPPEN. WE HAD TO MOVE THE WEDDING DATE TWO FEBRUARY. A WEEK BEFORE OUR WEDDING, HE ALREADY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CYCLONE. I WAS LIKE, YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THAT HAPPENS. WHEN WE WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY, WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO POWER ON THE VENUE, NO POWER ON THE SITE THAT WE WERE GETTING READY YET. THE PHOTOS LOOK OKAY THERE. WHAT HAPPENED? THIS WAS 13 FEBRUARY 2022. THAT MADE LANDFALL IN THE WAIKATO IN THE MORNING. THE WEDDING WAS IN THE AFTERNOON. WE AVOIDED THE WORST OF IT. THE POWER CAME BACK ON AT THE VENUE AS WE WERE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE. IT WAS A PICTURE PERFECT SET UP THERE. ON YOUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY, HE WOULD HAVE HAD... WEIGHT. WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR? CYCLONE GABRIELLE. WE HAD OUR VERY FIRST ANNIVERSARY WITHOUT A CYCLONE. IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS NOW. IT IS A LONG HOT SUMMER IN AUCKLAND. IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT PLANNING YOUR WEDDING NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE? IT IS VERY HARD TO PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE DAY. BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IN TERMS OF THE NEXT YEAR? WE HAVE JUST LAUNCHED A BRAND-NEW VIDEO, WHICH YOU CAN SEARCH ON YOUTUBE. THE NUMBER ONE THING TO LOOK UP AS A BIT OF WEATHER HISTORY ABOUT THE LOCATION. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO AVOID THE WIND, MAYBE DO NOT PLAN YOUR WEDDING IN WELLINGTON IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER. WE MIGHT HAVE A LINA LATER THIS YEAR. IT IS A RISK IN THE SUMMER SEASONS. NO A BIT ABOUT THE WEATHER. THE LONGER TERM VIEW. WE SAY CLIMATE IS LIKE YOUR PERSONALITY, BUT THE WEATHER IS YOUR MOOD. YOU DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL GET. YOU CAN PLAN FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT THE WEATHER OF THE DAY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PREDICT THAT. METEOROLOGISTS ARE PASSIONATE PEOPLE. I THINK WE HAVE A CLIP OF THE MOMENT YOU PROPOSED. NOW, I'VE INVOTED KATIE UP HERE TODAY, COS SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN HELP ME TO TELL IF THIS PREDICTION WILL COME TRUE OR NOT. SO, HERE GOES. HOPE YOU'RE WATCHING CLOSELY AT HOME. KATIE, WILL YOU MARRY ME? LOOK AT THAT. YOU ROMANTIC AT WORK, YOU. TODAY IS ANOTHER SPECIAL DAY, I UNDERSTAND. TODAY IS OUR EIGHTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. LOVERS IN THE AIR. I KNOW IT IS TOUGH TO ADVOCATE THAT. THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO HAVE REVOKED A BIT OF STIGMA, BUT ACTUALLY A LOT OF THE COUNTRY HAVE SOME VIEWS ON. WE ARE WONDERING WHAT YOUR VIEWS ARE ON SLEEPING IN SEPARATE BEDS. AS A SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW PEOPLE DO OR WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT LOOK AT FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK? NO, I DO NOT THINK I COULD STAY IN A SEPARATE BED FROM HIM. I AM JUST REALLY COMFORTABLE BEING IN THE SAME BED. I KNOW IT IS A CURVEBALL YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING. AT LEAST I CAN TRY AND GET THE PEOPLE ON BOARD TODAY THAT SAY THEY ARE HAPPY. MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT QUITE HAPPY TO SLEEP IN A DIFFERENT BED. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. RAN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY IS ACTUALLY GOOD LUCK. THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY. E WHAI AKE NEI ` ANOTHER RAT SIGHTING IN DUNEDIN'S COUNTDOWN ANOTHER ONE? IT IS SET TO LEAVE THE STORE CLOSED FOR TWO WEEKS. WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE UNI COMMUNITY NEXT. HOW MANY IS THAT? # THERE'S A RAT IN MY KITCHEN WHAT AM I GONNA DO? # OTAGO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN POURING INTO DUNEDIN FOR THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THEY'RE ARRIVING AS ONE OF THE CITY'S MAJOR SUPERMARKET'S REMAINS SHUT FOLLOWING MULTIPLE RAT SIGHTINGS. THE COUNTDOWN IN SOUTH DUNEDIN HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR 10 DAYS DUE TO A RODENT INFESTATION. TO FIND HOW THIS MAY BE AFFECTING INCOMING STUDENTS, WE'RE JOINED BY NINA BROWN ` THE EDITOR OF THE UNIVERSITY'S MAGAZINE 'THE CRITIC'. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS RAT ISSUE AT THE SUPERMARKET? HONESTLY, I THINK STUDENTS ARE FIGHTING TO GET A BIT FUNNY. WE DON'T GO THERE, AND THIS IS GOING TO MAKE US WANT TO GO THERE MORE. A CURIOSITY FACTOR? COST OF LIVING CRISIS AT THE MOMENT, I HEARD THAT THEY WERE SELLING MEAT HALF PRICE, I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE STUDENTS WANT TO GO THERE. THEY ARE SETTING UP FLATS AT THE MOMENT, AND THAT A SUPER EXPENSIVE. ANYTHING THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON. I'M NOT SURE I'D BE INTO THAT. RATS WALKING OVER THE MEAT. HERE IS A QUESTION ` AS THERE ARE POTENTIAL THAT RATS COULD COME FROM THE DUNEDIN FLATS? I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF THAT. LIKE I SAID, THE FURTHEST THAT STUDENTS GO AS PACK AND SAVOUR THE WAREHOUSE. I WAS TALKING TO 1 OF MY WRITERS YESTERDAY, HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT WAS. YOU HAVE PACK AND SAVE, LIQUOR LAND, THE WAREHOUSE, YOU SKIP OVER THE COUNTDOWN, AND GO TO KFC. HOW OTHER STUDENTS? THEY ARE STARTING TO COME INTO TOWN NOW, BEGINNING OF UNIVERSITY, IN GENERAL, HOW ARE STUDENTS FEELING ABOUT RETURNING? IT'S GREAT. BEFORE STUDENTS COME BACK INTO TOWN, IT'S JUST SO QUIET. YOU COULD REALLY FEEL THE CITY COME BACK TO LIFE STUDENTS ARE COMING IN. WE HAD FLOW WEEK LAST WEEK. I WAS OUT THERE JUST LAST WEEKEND. WE HAVE O WEEK THIS WEEK. THEY ARE ALL REALLY EXCITED. IT BRINGS ENERGY BACK INTO THE CITY. NINA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. JOINING US FROM DUNEDIN FOR A CRITIC MAGAZINE. WHEN NINA MENTIONED FUNNY, I JUST THOUGHT, REALLY? IS IT FUNNY? MANY OF THE STUDENTS GO TO THE SUPERMARKET JUST FOR A BARGAIN, I TOTALLY GET THAT. THE MEAT IS CHEAP AND COVERED. IF THE RODENTS WAS ON IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THE PLASTIC. NOW THAT YOU SAY THAT, I WILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. WOULDN'T THE DELI IS A BIG NO-NO. I'M GLAD TO HAVE FOUND SOMEONE WHO LIKES CUDDLING WITH THEIR OTHER HALF WENDY, HER HUSBAND IS AWAY RIGHT NOW, AND JUST CALLED TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE A TERRIBLE SLEEP WHEN THEY'RE NOT SLEEPING WITH EACH OTHER. EACH THEIR OWN, BUT FOR THEM, THEY LIKE HAVING A CUDDLE. WITH BE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER YOU, AS A COUPLE, DO YOU SLEEP AT THE SAME BED, OR DO YOU SLEEP SEPARATELY? MOST OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY, ACTUALLY DO SLEEP APART. THE RELATIONSHIP IS STILL STRONG, HOWEVER, SNORING, SHIFTWORK, ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME INTO PLAY. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WHEN YOU GET COUPLES SLEEPING IN DIFFERENT BEDS, YOU THINK THERE ARE ISSUES, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND IT'S ALL ABOUT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS DOUBLING DOWN ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO IMPLEMENT MORE SANCTIONS ON BENEFICIARIES. THE MOVE WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE PM'S 'STATE OF THE NATION' ADDRESS AT THE WEEKEND, WHERE HE DESCRIBED NEW ZEALAND AS 'FRAGILE'. MR LUXON SAID THE CRACKDOWN ON JOB SEEKER BENEFICIARIES IS NECESSARY TO GET MORE PEOPLE OFF WELFARE. ALWAYS SAYING IS THAT MESSAGES GONE OUT TO THE CEO OF MSD TO SAY HEY LISTEN, WE NEED TO APPLY SECTIONS. IF PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO HOLD OBLIGATIONS OF LOOKING, PREPARING, AND TRAINING FOR WORK. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE DEEMED CAPABLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE ON A JOBSEEKER. THE VAST MAJORITY OF BENEFICIARIES ARE COMPLIANCE, FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T, WE ARE JUST MAKING SURE THE EXISTING SET OF SANCTIONS ARE BEING APPLIED. A TAURANGA CHARITY WANTS THE CITY'S COUNCIL TO SUPPORT ITS WORK FOR ELDERLY MEN RATHER THAN DISRUPT IT. TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL HAS PROPOSED PLANS TO HIKE RENTS AND CHARGES FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES BY 240%. BRYCE STRONG SAYS THIS WOULD INCREASE HIS RENT FROM OVER $11,000 TO $63,000 WHEN FACTORING IN GST AND OTHER COSTS. WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WHAT WE'RE PAYING, WE CAN'T MAINTAIN THAT, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY EATING INTO ANY SMALL RESERVES THAT WE HAVE, AND ABSOLUTELY ANY` 240% INCREASE IS JUST GONNA FINISH US OFF. BRYCE STRONG SAYS CLOSURE WOULD LEAVE ITS 80 ELDERLY MEMBERS WITHOUT WELL-BEING SUPPORT. A QUEENSTOWN LOCAL IS WARNING FUTURE RESIDENTS TO 'BRING A TENT' IF THEY INTEND ON STAYING. IT FOLLOWS A LISTING OFFERING A BED-SHARING ARRANGEMENT FOR $195 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON, WHO HAS LIVED IN QUEENSTOWN FOR 12 YEARS, DESCRIBES THE HOUSING SITUATION AS 'OUTRAGEOUS' AND 'DIRE', ADDING IT'S NO LONGER AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. MINIMUM FOR A ROOM THESE DAYS, MINIMUM IF YOU'RE LUCKY, IS ABOUT $300. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A STUDIO APARTMENT ATTACHED TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE, 20 MINUTES OUT OF TOWN, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM $550-$600 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON SAYS PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAVE TO SHARE A ROOM. ISRAEL SAYS ITS SOLDIERS HAVE RECOVERED STOLEN MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND EVEN MEDICATION DURING RAIDS IN GAZA. ISRAEL'S MILITARY CLAIMS IT MADE THE DISCOVERIES IN AND NEAR THE NASSER HOSPITAL COMPLEX IN KHAN YOUNIS. AMONG THE ITEMS, A CAR ALLEGEDLY STOLEN FROM ONE OF THE KIBBUTZES ATTACKED ON OCTOBER 7. TO SPORT ` AND THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE WON THE OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT, BEATING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN THE FINAL. THE FERNS BEATING THE SOLOMONS 11-1, WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. STRIKER INDIAH-PAIGE RILEY EXCITED TO GO TO THE PARIS OLYMPICS. IT'S WHAT YOU DREAM OF WHEN YOU'RE LITTLE, AND TO BE GOING TO QUALIFY FOR ANOTHER PINACLE EVENT IS, YEAH, A DREAM COME TRUE. IT'S THE FIFTH TIME THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES. AN AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN ACCUSED OF BREAKING THE ATHLETE CODE OF CONDUCT BY WEARING A MANKINI DURING A FANCY DRESS EVENT HAS BEEN CLEARED. A SINGLE COMPLAINT WAS MADE AGAINST SHANE ROSE AS THESE PICTURES BEGAN CIRCULATING ONLINE. HE WAS STOOD DOWN WHILE THE SPORT'S GOVERNING BODY INVESTIGATED, BUT CLEARED OF ANY BREACH SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. IF I'VE OVERSTEPPED THE MARK I'M SORRY FOR THAT, I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE. THE THREE TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST IS NOW ABLE TO CONTINUE HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THIS YEAR'S GAMES IN PARIS. EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA IS NOW REVIEWING THE DRESS STANDARDS FOR EVENTS. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HORSERIDERS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ON BOARD WITH JOCKEYS. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A MAINLY FINE DAY THROUGH HERE. HIGH CLOUD WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. THE SUN TRYING TO PEAK THROUGH FOR MOST OF YOU. 27 THE HIGH FOR WHANGAREI. FURTHER SOUTH ` SHOWERS FOR ALL OF YOU EASING FOR SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOONS WITH HIGH CLOUD STICKING ABOUT. TOKOROA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 25. ON THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. SUNSHINE IN MASTERTON, WITH A HIGH OF 20 TODAY. AND 24 FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER TODAY. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL WAKE UP TO HIGH CLOUD HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THIS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. PICK OF THE BUNCH THIS AFTERNOON ` TAUMARUNUI, WITH A HIGH OF 24. 19 IN THE CAPITAL. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` A BEAUTIFUL DAY DOWN HERE. THE ODD MORNING CLOUD AND SHOWER ABOUT, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COOLER DAY HERE, BLENHEIM ONLY REACHING 19. AND 20 FOR YOU IN NELSON. 17 ON THE COAST. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A STUNNING DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. 19 THE HIGH FOR OAMARU AND ALEXANDRA. 17 ASHBURTON. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'S A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HIGH CLOUD, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES YOUR EVENING, WITH STRONG WESTERLIES IN INVERCARGILL, AND STEWART ISLAND REACHING A HIGH OF 14 AND 13. QUEENSTOWN 17. THERE'S OUTRAGE IN THE TOWN OF OPOTIKI AFTER IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO CUT THE LIBRARY OPENING HOURS IN HALF. A COMMUNITY GROUP ARGUES IT'S A WASTE OF A VITAL RESOURCE. THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR STRUCTURE ONLY OPENED TWO YEARS AGO, MOSTLY FUNDED BY THE TAX-PAYER. REDUCED LIBRARY HOURS ARE PART OF COST-SAVING MEASURES TO BRING RATES INCREASES DOWN FROM 34% TO 10%. FOR MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND LIBRARY USER CAROL QUIRK. GOOD MORNING. HOW OUTRAGED ARE YOU? ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGED, DANIEL. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC NOISE, I SUSPECT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GO PAST, LOOKING AT THE LIBRARY, AND KNOWING WHAT WE'RE DOING AND SUPPORTING US. THERE IS A GROWING AMOUNT OF SUPPORT HERE, IT'S ONLY A TWO-YEAR NEW BUILD, I'M SURE THE PROVINCIAL GROWTH FUND WOULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT THE HOURS WERE BECAUSE IN HALF, AND STUFF WOULD BE REDUCED. THE PROVINCIAL GROWTH FUND WAS THERE TO SUPPORT JOBS. THAT IS WHAT BAFFLES ME, THAT IS A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR NEW COMPLEX, AND NOW YOU'RE BEING TOLD TO CUT COSTS? THE COUNCIL IS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, BUT THE LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY AT ASSET. WE DON'T HAVE A RECREATION CENTRE, WE DON'T HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE KIDS ACCEPT A SKATE PARK, AND IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT USE THIS IS AMAZING. SO MANY PEOPLE WILL BE DISADVANTAGED. WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE WHEN YOU GO TO HALF HOURS? I'M RETIRED, SO I COULD USE MY HOURS, BUT THE KIDS AFTER SCHOOL, THEY GOING TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO WI-FI IN THEIR HOMES. IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN YOUR HOME TRY TO DO HOMEWORK, THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT, SO KIDS COME IN AND USE IT. THEY NEED PEOPLE TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE INTRICACIES OF THE INCREASING DIGITAL WORLD. THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH SCANS, INTERNET BANKING, COMMUNITY GROUPS. 38,000 PEOPLE GO THROUGH HERE SIX MONTHS. PEOPLE HAVE ISOLATED COME IN, TO DO WORK HERE. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA, AND IF MY CAR IS GETTING PANEL BEATEN, I HAVE TO COME IN, AND NEED TO KILL TWO HOURS. WHAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, GIVEN THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY HUB THAT DRAWS PEOPLE IN? IT IS, AND I THINK THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO RELOOK AT IT AGAIN. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY DO NOT KNOW THIS HAPPENING. WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE QUITE HORRIFIED TO SEE THIS FACILITY BE CUT. THERE IS NOT A LOT OF THINGS PEOPLE TO DO HERE, BUT GOING TO EVENTS AND COMING TO THE LIBRARY ARE MAJOR PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY SHOULD BE KEPT. VIEWERS WILL BE WATCHING, DO YOU THINK THIS IS JUST AND UP OTAKI AN OPOTIKI ISSUE, OR IS THIS EVERYWHERE? WELLINGTON HAS DECIDED TO REVERSE THE DECISION TO CUT THE HOURS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND. THE COLLEGE WAS HOPING TO MAKE A LOT MORE USE OF THIS DURING THE COMING YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND ALL THE BEST. CAN I JUST SAY, I THINK IF THE LIBRARY CLOSES TO HALF-TIME, THEN WE ARE PRETTY WELL BUGGERED. I WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY. OPOTIKI MAYOR DAVID MOORE SAYS WHILE IT ISN'T A TRADE-OFF COUNCIL MAKES EASILY, CUTS TO SERVICES ARE A MUST TO KEEP RATES INCREASES IN CHECK. HE SAYS THE SMALL COUNCIL ISN'T FLUSH, AND HE'S VERY AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF RATE RISES ON LOCALS. I THINK IT IS FLUSH. THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE KEEPING THINGS OPEN. WERE TALKING ABOUT A LIBRARY HERE. WE COULD TALK ABOUT RATES RISES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE COUNCIL SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORT, MAINTAINING PARKS AND FIELDS, A LIBRARY THAT HAS JUST BEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. $4 MILLION WAS SPENT. WAS THAT A WASTE OF MONEY? YOU SPENT ALL THIS MONEY AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO SHUT IT DOWN. IT IS A COMMUNITY HUB, YOU GET RID OF THAT, AND YOU GET RID OF A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD MEET, WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONNECT, COME AND GET HELP AS SHE SAYS, I SUSPECT IT'S THE ELDERLY WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT ONLINE BANKING. BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? ALL OUR BANKS IN SMALLTOWN SAIGON NOW. THESE ARE THE PLACES AND SPACES IN OUR SMALLER COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE GO TO TO ASK FOR HELP. IT IS A SHAME THAT OPOTIKI IS GETTING RID OF THAT. THIS IS LIKE YOU SAID, THE GLUE OF THE COMMUNITY. LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN BATTLING FOR YEARS. AS PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME, THINGS ARE ONLINE. I WOULD BE WORRIED OF LIBRARIES ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT'S A PLACE WHERE FOR A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, READING AND LEARNING STARTS. WE NEED TO MAKE USE OF LIBRARIES. IT COMES DOWN TO US. WE COULD STAND HERE AND SAY WE NEED TO SAVE THEM, BUT WE NEED TO GET A LIBRARY CARD AND USE THE LIBRARIES. THEY'VE MODERNISED THEMSELVES TO BE ABLE TO CATER FOR EVERY WALK OF LIFE KEEP LIBRARIES GOING. I STEPPED INTO ONE FROM THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, AND I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH IT HAD CHANGED. DID YOU SIGN UP FOR A LIBRARY CARD? NO I DIDN'T. INTERESTING SUPPORT FROM SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A LIBRARY CARD. ME U TONU MAI ` THE BLACKCAPS ARE TAKING ON THE AUSTRALIANS IN WHAT'S SET TO BE A BITTER CLASH, WITH INSULTS ALREADY FLYING. WE'LL GO INSIDE THE NEW ZEALAND CAMP NEXT. WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR OUR BLACKCAPS, WHO WILL BE JOINING US. WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED A STATEMENT FROM ST JOHN'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY NOW WANT FOOT ST JOHN'S FULLY FUNDED. THEY ARE CURRENTLY 83% FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WE HAD CHRISTOPHER LUXON EARLIER, AND I ASKED HIM WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER THAT 100% FUNDING, AND HE RESPONDED THAT THE LAST I SPOKE WITH ST JOHN'S, WHICH WAS LAST YEAR, THEY WEREN'T WANTING THAT, BUT THEY DO NOW. GIVEN THAT THE SERVICES ARE UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE. AT WHAT POINT WILL HE BE SPEAKING TO ST JOHN'S, AND NOW AS PRIME MINISTER AFTER ALMOST A FIVE-YEAR WAIT, THE BLACKCAPS WILL FINALLY HOST OUR NEIGHBOURS AUSTRALIA FOR THREE T20s AND A TEST MATCH SERIES. THE FIRST MATCH WITH BE PLAYED AT THE ICONIC CAKE TIN BEFORE MOVING UP TO AUCKLAND FOR THE FINAL GAMES. ONE MAN EXCITED FOR THE CHALLENGE IS BATSMAN FINN ALLEN, WHO JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM WELLINGTON. MORNING, FINN. YOU MUST BE FIZZING FOR THIS. YEAR, IT'S PRETTY COOL. DAVID WARNER HAS ALREADY FIRED OFF A COUPLE OF SHOTS AT OAMARU. WHAT YOU LIKE TO GO INTO BAT FOR THEM? YEAH, I HAVEN'T QUITE CAUGHT ON TO THE MEDIA THAT WATER HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN. EVERY TIME THE AUSSIES COME OVER HERE, IT'S PRETTY EXCITING FOR US. I THINK IT WILL BE A CRACKING SERIES. YOU ON FIRE AGAINST PAKISTAN LAST MONTH. 137 OFF 62 BALLS. YOU MUST WE FEEL LIKE YOU CAN LEVEL UP AGAINST THE AUSTRALIANS? YOU, HOPEFULLY. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT WOULD BE QUITE FUNNY IF SOMEONE WAS BETTER NEXT GAME. PUT TOGETHER PRETTY GOOD SERIES. YOU HIT 16 SIXES IN THAT GAME, THE NUMBER ON THE BACK OF YOUR SHIRT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT THE LIMITED EDITION SHIRTS? I WANT TO PUT THE PROCEEDS TOWARDS A PRETTY COOL CAUSE, SOMETHING IS CLOSE TO MY HEART AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT CANCER SOCIETY, THEY DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK OUT THERE, AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET A FEW OF THE GUYS FROM THE CANCER SOCIETY TODAY, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE JERSEY. YOU MENTIONED IT'S CLOSE TO YOUR HEART, MAY ASK WHY? MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY, MY AUNTIE PASSED AWAY ABOUT 29 YEARS AGO NOW. I NEVER GOT TO MEET HER, OBVIOUSLY BUT IT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON MY DAD'S LIFE AND HIS SIDE OF THE FAMILY. AND I SUPPOSE FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE HAD PEOPLE AFFECTED BY IT IN THE PAST. I THINK IT'S AN ALL-AROUND GOOD COURSE TO DONATE SOME MONEY TO. HOW NICE IS IT FEEL TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGH WHAT YOU DO AS A CRICKETER? YEAH, I THINK IT'S A RELIC OR SEGUE INTO GETTING INVOLVED INTO SOME CHARITY STUFF, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN FOR A WHILE, I GUESS I HADN'T FOUND THE SEGUE. USING ONE OF MY OWN INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES TO GET ME INVOLVED AND THAT HAS BEEN PRETTY COOL FOR ME. I BELIEVE WE HAVE DARRYL CARPETED THERE FROM THE CANCER SOCIETY. DARRYL TOUCHED ON A BIT MORE, WHAT THE JERSEY IS GOING TOWARDS, AND HOW IS GOING TO BE USED. I JUST WANTED TO REALLY CONGRATULATE FINN ON THE AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT ON THE CRICKET PITCH, BUT ALSO TO THANK HIM ON BEHALF OF THE CANCER SOCIETY NEW ZEALAND. WE PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE ON THEIR CANCER JOURNEY. ON BEHALF OF THE CANCER SOCIETY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME DARRYL. WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET A PIECE? HOW CAN THEY GET INVOLVED? FINN'S GENEROSITY WITH THE SHIRT, THERE IS A TRAIT MAY OPTION THAT WENT LIVE LAST NIGHT, AND PEOPLE CAN SEARCH UP ON TRADE ME IF THEY WANT A PIECE OF WHAT FINN HAS ACHIEVED. THEY WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTING THE CANCER SOCIETY NEW ZEALAND. FANTASTIC. GOOD LUCK WITH THIS AUCTION. THE PRICE WILL SKYROCKET. FINN, I'M SURE THAT WHEN YOU START KNOCKING MORE SIXES OUT OF THE PARK, THAT WILL GAIN EVEN MORE VALUE. IS IT THE GAME IN WELLINGTON THAT YOU'RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? COMING BACK TO WELLINGTON IS ALWAYS NICE. IT'S WHERE MY JOURNEY KICKSTARTED, BEING WITH THE FIREBIRDS. I'VE NEVER SHE PLAYED IN THIS STADIUM BEFORE, SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. ALSO DARRYL CARPENTER COMING IN FROM THE CANCER SOCIETY. THERE IS A TRADE ME AUCTION. WHAT A GUY. SHE WAS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD, HIS AUNTIE. YOU TAKE IT INTO ACCOUNT, AND YOU THINK WOW SO YOUNG. HE COULD SEE THAT BATES COMING UP MILE AWAY, WITH THE DAVID WARNER COMMENTS. 8:26. A MURI I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA ` YOUR 8.30 NEWS, SPORT AND WEATHER. PLUS, THE KIWI ARTIST WHOSE GOT THE CALL UP OF A LIFETIME TO PERFORM WITH THE JONAS BROTHERS. MORE ON THAT COMING UP. WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. ST JOHN SAYS IT WANTS TO BE FULLY FUNDED, DESPITE PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON TELLING BREAKFAST THAT WASN'T THE CASE. THE ORGANISATION SAYS IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RELY ON FUNDRAISING FOR AMBULANCES AND KEY EQUIPMENT BUT WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO FULLY COVER ITS OPERATING COSTS. IT COMES AS ST JOHN PULLS SOME AMBULANCES OFF THE ROAD TO REIN IN COSTS WHEN STAFF GO ON LEAVE OR CALL IN SICK. 83% IS HOW MUCH THEY ARE FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WOULD YOU LOOK AT FUNDING AT 100%? NO, THAT IS NOT WHAT ST JOHN'S WANT. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO PRIVATE MONEY AND HAD FUNDRAISING AND BE PART OF A COMMUNITY RATHER THAN BEING A GOVERNMENT RUN. THAT IS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO WANT. ST JOHN SAYS IT WILL TRY TO ACHIEVE FULL FUNDING WHEN ITS EXISTING CONTRACT WITH TE WHATU ORA AND ACC ENDS IN 2026. AN OPOTIKI RESIDENT THINKS IT'S RIDICULOUS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WAS SPENT ON THE TOWN'S LIBRARY ONLY FOR FUNDING TO BE HALVED TWO YEARS LATER. IN A BID TO GET COSTS UNDER CONTROL THE OPOTIKI DISTRICT COUNCIL IS PROPOSING TO CUT BACK THE LIBRARY'S OPENING HOURS BY HALF. CAROL QUIRK OPPOSES THE CHANGES, CAROL QUIRK OPPOSES THE CHANGES AND SAYS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, 38,000 PEOPLE USED THE FACILITY. THE LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY ASSET. IT IS A CORE ACTIVITY FOR THE TOWN. WE DO NOT HAVE A RECREATION CENTRE. WE DO NOT HAVE A SWIMMING POOL. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING FOR KIDS TO DO EXCEPT A SKATE PARK, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT USE THIS IS JUST AMAZING. THE COUNCIL'S PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MET WITH PUBLIC ANGER AND FRUSTRATION. THE WIFE OF LATE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT. YULIA NAVALNY RELEASED A VIDEO ACCUSING RUSSIAN PREISDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF HAVING HER HUSBAND MURDERED AND URGING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HER ONGOING WORK. TRIBUTES TO NAVALNY CONTINUE TO BE PLACED AT MEMORIALS ACROSS RUSSIA. MEANWHILE, HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE MORGUE WHERE HIS BODY IS REPORTEDLY BEING KEPT. SHE WAS TOLD THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS DEATH IS NOT YET COMPLETE. MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AFTER A LANDSLIDE IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN. HEAVY RAIN AND SNOWFALL HIT THE REGION RECENTLY, CAUSING A HILLSIDE TO COLLAPSE. MORE THAN 25 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRAPPED UNDER DEBRIS FROM VILLAGES. FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD. CZECH FARMERS HAVE JOINED EUROPE WIDE PROTESTS, CZECH FARMERS HAVE JOINED EUROPE-WIDE PROTESTS, CLOGGING CENTRAL PRAGUE WITH TRACTORS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PROTESTERS. EUROPEAN FARMERS HAVE ENGAGED IN A CAMPAIGN OF PROTESTS AGAINST NEW EU REGULATIONS THEY SAY WILL MAKE THEIR LIVELIHOODS UNSUSTAINABLE. THE PROTESTS ARE PLANNED TO CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK. TO SPORT, AND THE CRUSADERS HAVE BEEN DEALT ANOTHER MAJOR BLOW JUST ONE WEEK OUT FOR THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON. ALL BLACK WILL JORDAN HAS BEEN RULED OUT FOR THE SEASON ` THE FULLBACK SET TO HAVE SURGERY ON A PRE-EXISTING SHOULDER INJURY. IT'S THE SECOND MAJOR LOSS FOR THE CRUSADERS BACKLINE, AFTER WELSHMAN LEIGH HALFPENNY INJURED HIS PEC DURING THEIR PRE-SEASON MATCH AGAINST MUNSTER. JORDAN IS EXPECTED TO RETURN IN SIX MONTHS. THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE BEATEN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS TO WIN THE OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT. THE FERNS BEAT THE SOLOMONS 11-1, WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. COACH JITKA KLIMKOVA SAYS IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THEY CAN START PREPARING FOR THE OLYMPICS. I BELIEVE IT'S A SPECIAL FEELING FOR ME OR FOR ANYONE IN THIS TEAM. WE NOW KNOW WE GO TO PARIS. WE KNOW WE CAN START PREPARING FOR IT. IT IS NOT JUST WHEN OR IF. WE ARE IN IT, AND WE WILL GET READY FOR THAT. THE FOOTBALL FERNS ARE THE SIXTH TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS. AND FINALLY, THE TAYLOR SWIFT ROADSHOW HAS MOVED ON TO SYDNEY, AS HER MAMMOTH 'ERAS' TOUR CONTINUES IN AUSTRALIA. THE AMERICAN MUSIC SUPERSTAR JETTED OUT OF MELBOURNE YESTERDAY AFTER THREE SOLD-OUT SHOWS AT THE MCG IN FRONT OF MORE THAN 280,000 FANS. DESPITE TIGHT SECURITY AND A SUMMER STORM, FANS ARE STILL LINING UP TO CATCH A GLIMPSE. I STILL REALL WANNA SEE HER, BECAUSE MY MUM TRIED TO GET TICKETS, AND SHE HAD FIVE DEVICES, BUT SHE COULDN'T. THE FIRST OF SWIFT'S FOUR SHOWS IN SYDNEY IS SET FOR FRIDAY NIGHT. SOME NEWS JUST IN ` RYAN FOX HAS CONFIRMED HE'S PULLED OUT OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOLF OPEN. HE SAYS HE'LL REMAIN IN THE U.S. TO FOCUS ON THE PGA TOUR BUT HAS VOWED TO RETURN. AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER THIS MORNING. IT'S A MAINLY FINE DAY THROUGH HERE. HIGH CLOUD WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. THE SUN TRYING TO PEAK THROUGH FOR MOST OF YOU. 27 THE HIGH FOR WHANGAREI. 25 IN AUCKLAND. FURTHER SOUTH ` SHOWERS FOR ALL OF YOU EASING FOR SOME OF YOUR AFTERNOONS WITH HIGH CLOUD STICKING ABOUT. TOKOROA, YOU'LL REACH A HIGH OF 25. 26 IN ROTORUA AND HAMILTON. ON THE EAST COAST ` IT'S A CLOUDY START TO YOUR DAY HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. SUNSHINE IN MASTERTON, WITH A HIGH OF 20 TODAY. AND 24 FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER TODAY. OVER TO THE WEST ` YOU'LL WAKE UP TO HIGH CLOUD HERE, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THIS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. PICK OF THE BUNCH THIS AFTERNOON ` TAUMARUNUI, WITH A HIGH OF 24. 22 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. 19 DEGREES IN WELLINGTON. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` A BEAUTIFUL DAY DOWN HERE. THE ODD MORNING CLOUD AND SHOWER ABOUT, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A COOLER DAY HERE, BLENHEIM ONLY REACHING 19. AND 20 FOR YOU IN NELSON. HEADING FURTHER SOUTH ` A STUNNING DAY HERE. BLUE SKIES FOR ALL OF YOU. 18 DEGREES FROM CHRISTCHURCH. 19 IN ALEXANDRA. TO THE DEEP SOUTH ` IT'S A FINE DAY FOR MOST OF YOU. HIGH CLOUD, CLEARING TO BLUE SKIES YOUR EVENING, WITH STRONG WESTERLIES IN INVERCARGILL, AND STEWART ISLAND REACHING A HIGH OF 14 AND 13. SUNNY AND 17 THE MILFORD SOUND AND QUEENSTOWN. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEXT GUEST. WE HAVE BEEN GAS BEGGING THROUGH THE NEWS. THE JONAS BROTHERS ARE A CHILDHOOD STAPLE FOR MANY, AND AS THEY'RE SET TO TAKE THE STAGE IN NEW ZEALAND NEXT WEEK, ONE KIWI MUSICIAN HAS CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION. TAKE A LOOK. # THIS IS REAL. THIS IS ME. # I'M EXACTLY WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE NOW... # WOW. SINGER PAIGE (23) IS GETTING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY AFTER JOE, NICK AND KEVIN JONAS ASKED HER TO JOIN THEM AT THEIR SPARK ARENA SHOW. TO TELL US HOW SHE'LL BE 'BURNIN UP' THE STAGE, SHE JOINS US NOW. PAIGE! EXCITING! CRAZY. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN. I STARTED DOING A CAMPAIGN ON TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM SIX MONTHS AGO. IT WAS A JOKE. I WAS LIKE, THIS IS A FORMAL MESSAGE TO THE JONAS BROTHERS. I WANT TO SING A SONG WITH YOU. AND THEN JOE COMMENTED THESE SIDE EYES. NO WAY. NO ANSWER, AND HE GHOSTED. DID YOU THINK IT WAS HIM OR DID YOU THINK IT WAS A JOKE? WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? I WAS LIKE, OH MAN. I HAVE TO KEEP THE SERIES GOING. I GOT THE CALL AND IS LINKED. I WAS LIKE, CAN I ZOOM? YES. HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A FAN? THEY WERE KIND OF LIKE MY CHILDHOOD HEROES. I GREW UP LEARNING ALL OF THEIR SONGS. CAMP ROCK WAS MY BIG THING WHEN I WAS A KID. IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS I PERFORMED IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE. A BIG LIFE MOMENT FOR ME. THINKING LESS ABOUT MY CAREER AND MORE JUST MY PERSONAL GAIN. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR CAREER, BECAUSE WE DID THE MUSIC COME FROM? HONESTLY, I WAS JUST INSPIRED BY THE DOZEN CHANNEL. SERIOUSLY. NO MUSICAL GENES IN THE FAMILY? SORRY MUM AND DAD. I AM SURE YOU CAN SING IN PRIVATE. I DON'T KNOW. I THINK I AM JUST INFLUENCE BY POP STARS. I WANTED TO HAVE A FUN LIFE, SO I WAS LIKE, MAYBE I WILL TRY AND DO MUSIC. I'M SUPPOSE YOU WERE HERE IN THE COUNTRY. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE A TICKET TO TAYLOR SWIFT. I DID HAVE A TICKET. I HAD TO GIVE IT UP FOR THE JONAS BROTHERS. I SOLD IT TO MY SISTER. I WILL NOT BE GOING. I CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING. TWO GREAT THINGS TO CHOSE BETWEEN. I AM SUPER GRATEFUL THAT I HAD SUCH A COOL DECISION TO MAKE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HER PAGES AND THEY ARE STARTING TO GO ONTO YOUTUBE AND ARE LOOKING YOU UP NOW? PROBABLY LIKE A POP TYPE R AND B INFLUENCE. I CANNOT THINK OF ANY ARTIST RIGHT NOW. WHO INSPIRES YOU? COULD YOU LOOK UP TO IN TERMS OF MUSIC? HONESTLY, I HAVE GROWN UP LISTENING TO MICHAEL JACKSON. 1980S CLASSICS. I LOVE MICHAEL JACKSON. CAN YOU GIVE US A SAMPLE? I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT. YOU WANT TO HEAR A VOICE SAMPLE? YOU HAVE PUT ME ON THE SPOT IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE NATION. THE JONAS BROTHERS IS GOING TO BE BIGGER THAN BREAKFAST, JUST QUIETLY. MAYBE GIVE US AN AUDITION. # THIS IS... I CAN'T. IT IS TO EARLY IN THE MORNING. GO TO SPOTIFY. I HAVE TO ASK. IS THERE ONE BROTHER YOU ARE A SUPER FAN? THERE IS ONE BROTHER IN PARTICULAR. DON'T HOLD BACK, GIRL. TELL US. IT IS KEVIN. I THINK HE SEEMS VERY FASCINATING. HE IS QUIET, MYSTERIOUS, TALENTED ON THE GUITAR. I PLAYED GUITAR, SO I ADMIRE THAT. BUT EVERYBODY LOVES JOE. EVERYONE IS A BIG JOE FAN. TELL US HOW YOU WILL PREPARE FOR THE BIG DAY. I WILL NOT BE AT TAYLOR SWIFT, SO I GUESS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE WHOLE DAY, WAKE UP EARLY BECAUSE I PROBABLY WILL NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT. I WILL PROBABLY WATCH CAMP ROCK. REFRESH THE MEMORY. SOME DEEP BREATHS. GOOD LUCK WITH IT ALL. WE WILL BE WATCHING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY EXCITING. SO IS THIS NEXT ONE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` A KAPA HAKA SUPERGROUP FORMS ON THE EAST COAST. SO WHAT BIG NAME HAS PULLED TOGETHER THE GROUP ON SHORT NOTICE? IT IS INSANELY SHORT. THAT IS COMING UP NEXT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO BREAKFAST. THE BATTLE IS ON BEFORE IT'S BEGUN. KAPA HAKA REGIONAL COMPETITIONS ARE TAKING PLACE AROUND AOTEAROA AT THE MOMENT TO FIND WHICH GROUPS WILL QUALIFY FOR THE NEXT TE MATATINI IN NEW PLYMOUTH NEXT FEBRUARY. ON THE EAST COAST, A TE WHANAU-A-APANUI SUPER-GROUP HAS EMERGED ` WITH SOME WELL-KNOWN PERFORMERS PULLING A GROUP TOGETHER TO PREPARE IN ONLY FOUR WEEKS. SO WHO IS BEHIND THIS? NONE OTHER THAN ROB RUHA, WHO JOINS US NOW. MORENA. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) MORENA. MORENA, E HOA. THIS IS NUTS. ALWAYS TO PREPARE FOR A REGIONALS. I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS SUCH A HUGE FEATURE TO ACHIEVE AND FOUR WEEKS. THE REGIONALS AND GOING INTO THE NATIONAL IS, IT IS LIKE THE OLYMPICS OF KAPA HAKA. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE ON. WE HAVE SOME OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS HERE IN THIS REGION. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE ON IF YOU WANT TO STEP TO THE STAGE. THIS IS A HUGE FEET. FOUR WEEKS, OH MY GOSH. HOW DID YOU DO IT? THERE IS SOME COMPOSITION, THEN YOU HAVE GOT YOUR ACTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO SORT AS WELL. AND NOT ONLY THAT, THERE IS ALSO` IF ANYBODY HAS WATCHED IT BEFORE, THERE IS AN ENTRANCE, AND THEN THERE IS AN EXIT. THERE IS A LOT OF COORDINATION HAS TO HAPPEN. HOW DO YOU DO THAT IN FOUR WEEKS? THAT IS THE STUFF THAT HAPPENS ON THE STAGE. THEN YOU HAVE GOT TO FEED THE BUGGERS. AND WE HAVE DEFINED WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WEAR AND DO ALL OF THIS OTHER SORT OF STUFF. IT IS PRETTY MAD. BUT WE LIKE DOING MAD THINGS OVER IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS. PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS. AND I THINK THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE OF THE TIME HAS GALVANISED OUR PEOPLE INTO MAKING BOLD STATEMENTS. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THEM. ALSO, KAPA HAKA IS SO POPULAR AT THE MOMENT. WE COULD HAVE EASILY MADE A FIFTH TEAM. THERE IS A MASSIVE DEMAND, AND THE SUPPLY IS NOT KEEPING UP AT THE MOMENT. IT IS REALLY CHOICE TO HAVE ANOTHER OPTION FOR OUR WHANAU TO COME IN AND DO OTHERS. HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE? THE RULE FOR THE COMPETITION IS 40 PEOPLE ON STAGE. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT EVER SINCE THE 70S. THAT RULE CAME TOGETHER BECAUSE BACK THEN, YOU COULD ONLY CHARTER A 40 SEATER BUS. YOU COULD NOT FIT ANY MORE PEOPLE ON THE STAGE LET ALONE A BUS. TELL ME ABOUT WHO WAS ON THIS? THERE ARE SOME POWERFUL VOICES, POWERFUL PERFORMERS. ALL OF THE WHANAU. WE HAVE ALL DONE HAKAS TOGETHER AT ONE POINT IN TIME. ME AND TROY, WE HAVE NOT DONE HAKAS TOGETHER SINCE WE WERE TEENAGERS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TROY KINGI. JUST DROPPED THAT IN THERE. HE IS ON THE OTHER ROOM. TOO FAR TO GO BACK TO KERIKERI. HE IS IN THERE. CUZZIE RIA. THAT IS RIA HALL. ANOTHER SUPERSTAR. RAWIRI AS CO-TUTOR AND LEADER OF THE TEAM. AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE. THERE IS A WHOLE HEAP OF WHANAU. ERANA HAS JUMPED ON THE TEAM AS WELL. WE ARE CALLING THEM THOUGH TRACTORS FROM TE WHANAU-A-APANUI. IS THERE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON YOU GUYS? IS THAT HOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS? THERE IS THE PRESSURE OF ONLY HAVING FOUR WEEKS BUT ALSO THE PRESSURE THAT YOU HAVE GOT, AGAIN, SOME AMAZING PERFORMERS BEING PART OF THIS. IS THERE PRESSURE? THERE IS ALWAYS PRESSURE. BUT I THINK WE'RE JUST HAVING SO MUCH FUN AT THE MOMENT. THE FUN STUFF IS PUTTING US THROUGH. WE ARE REALLY LUCKY. WE HAVE HAD SOME BEAUTIFUL WHANAU COOKING SOME AMAZING MEALS. I THINK WE HAVE BEEN EATING, PRAYING AND LAUGHING MORE THAN WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING. I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME, EH. THAT IS THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT KAPA HAKA. IT IS WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND-THE-SCENES. HOW WAS YOUR HEALTH? I KNOW YOU HAD A HEALTHCARE, YOUR HEART, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. YOU ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN, BROTHER. I AM FEELING GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ALL OF THAT. KAPA HAKA IS HEALING. IT IS COMING TOGETHER WITH WHANAU AND PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE. ALL OF THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL HEALING. THE REGIONALS ARE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND. YOU GUYS ARE FIRST UP ON SATURDAY MORNING. WHERE IS IT BEING HELD? EARLY IN THE MORNING ON SATURDAY. MUCH LOVE TO YOU. THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. KIA ORA. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE MYSTERY OF WHO THE SHORTLAND STREET BABY IS IS NOW OVER. WE HAVE FOUND HER. SHE ALSO SCRUBS IN DAILY. MEET HER NEXT. A FEW WEEKS AGO, 'SHORTLAND STREET' BEGAN AN GLOBAL HUNT FOR A MYSTERY BABY THAT APPEARED IN THEIR FIRST-EVER EPISODE. WE CAN CONFIRM ` THAT BABY HAS BEEN FOUND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. EARLIER I CAUGHT UP WITH 'SHORTLAND STREET'S FIRST-EVER BABY, NOW AN ADULT, BRONTE BELL, AND ASKED HER HOW SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS THE MYSTERY BABY. UM, I GOT SENT THIS ARTICLE, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPAM, BECAUSE A FEW PEOPLE SENT IT TO ME, UM, ON FACEBOOK. BUT THEN I REALISED IT WAS THE SPINOFF'S ARTICLE. SO I OPENED IT, AND I WAS QUITE SURPRISED, ACTUALLY. WHAT ARE YOUR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF SHORTLAND STREET? I MEAN, GROWING UP, I THINK MOST PEOPLE, KIWIS, GREW UP WATCHING SHORTLAND STREET. SO YEAH, I WOULD WATCH IT MOST NIGHTS WITH MY BROTHER AND SISTER ON THE COUCH. UM, YEAH, I'M A BIT OUT OF THE LOOP NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THERE'S PROBABLY SOME DRAMA HAPPENING. ARE ANY OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS STILL ON THERE FROM A WHILE BACK? YES. CHRIS WARNER, PLAYED BY MICHAEL GALVIN, IS STILL THERE. I SAW HIM IN A BAR ONCE, ACTUALLY. DID THIS APPEARANCE AS A BABY SPARK A PASSION FOR ACTING? NO, I DON'T THINK I'M REALLY, LIKE, SOMEONE THAT WOULD NORMALLY WANT TO BE IN THE LIMELIGHT, BUT, UM, YEAH. I THINK THE ONLY OTHER TIME I ACTED WAS IN A NATIVITY PLAY ONE TIME. UM, BUT, YEAH. NO, OPEN TO OTHER THINGS, I GUESS. HOW DOES IT FEEL WATCHING THAT CLIP OF YOU AS A BABY IN SHORTLAND STREET 30 YEARS LATER? I ACTUALLY, I THINK I'D WATCHED IT WHEN I WAS MAYBE GROWING UP, BUT I'D KIND OF FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT. I WATCHED IT THE OTHER DAY, UM, THE WHOLE EPISODE THROUGH, AND IT MADE ME KIND OF EMOTIONAL. YES, SHE'LL JUST NEED CAREFUL MONITORING, THAT'S ALL. THE BABY'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT. JUST SEEING MYSELF AS A BABY. I THINK YOU DON'T REALLY NORMALLY SEE A VIDEO, SO I KIND OF ALMOST TEARED UP WATCHING IT. IT WAS A BIT TRIPPY, LIKE YOU'RE A PROPER ADULT NOW. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? JUST BEFORE WE GO, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE LIVING IN LONDON, BUT ALSO WEARING SCRUBS DAILY. TELL US WHAT YOU DO. YEAH, I WORK IN A SKIN CLINIC ON HARLEY STREET, SO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A BIG MEDICAL STREET. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD OF IT, BUT IT'S KIND OF LONDON'S VERSION OF SHORTLAND STREET IN A WAY. UM, SO I WORK WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES EVERY DAY. WE HAVE A DAY CLINIC DOWNSTAIRS. SO YEAH, I GUESS THERE WAS SOME FORESHADOWING A LITTLE BIT. BRONTE, SHORTLAND STREET IS INTERESTED IN INVITING YOU BACK TO PLAY AN EXTRA. DO YOU THINK YOU'LL TAKE THEM UP ON THAT OFFER? YEAH, I MEAN, I'D LOVE THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. MAYBE WE COULD GET THE, UM, THE MIDWIFE BACK, TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WAS ` YOU FOUND HER AS WELL, RIGHT? I MEAN, I CAN'T PROMISE ANYTHING ACTING-WISE, BUT I'LL GIVE IT A GOOD GO. NEVER SAY NEVER. BRONTE BELL, THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU. IT WAS NICE TALKING TO YOU. CAPTIONS BY BILLY GARRATT-JOHN, DREW WELSH, JULIE TAYLOR AND MAIA CARR HEKE. 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