ACCESS TO A GOOD SCHOOL LIBRARY IS A POWERFUL TOOL TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S READING SKILLS, BUT ACCORDING TO NEW FIGURES FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ONE. SO WHY ARE WE CLOSING THE BOOK ON THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? (ENLIGHTENING PIANO MUSIC) A SACRED SPACE FOR LEARNING AND THINKING, A TREASURE TROVE OF FACT AND FICTION... (MUSIC CONTINUES) IT'S A HAPPY PLACE. YEAH, IT'S OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. IT'S A THIRD SPACE. WE TALK ABOUT THAT. ...A WARM, DRY SANCTUARY ON THOSE RAINY DAY LUNCHTIMES ` THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A VITAL TOOL IN THE BATTLE TO RAISE LITERACY RATES. IT'S GREAT TO SEE STUDENTS WHO COME IN WHO ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT BOOKS. THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IS CRUCIAL FOR BOTH BOOKWORMS AND RELUCTANT READERS... IT'S ALSO GREAT THE ONES WHO THINK THAT THEY DON'T LIKE READING, AND YOU MANAGE TO GET A BOOK INTO THEIR HANDS. ...YET THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW THAT ONLY A THIRD OF OUR STATE SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. SO SHOULD WE REALLY BE SHOVING THE SCHOOL LIBRARY AT A TIME WHEN OUR TAMARIKI NEED IT THE MOST? AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, CLAUDINE CRABTREE, IS HERE NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, CLAUDINE. WHY HAVE SO MANY SCHOOLS LOST THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIES? OFTEN IT'S A QUESTION OF RESOURCING. SO SCHOOLS ALL GET A BUDGET TO SPEND. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD AND THE PRINCIPAL, WHO MAYBE HAVE A PERCEPTION ABOUT LIBRARIES THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY ACCURATE. UH, LIBRARIES ACTUALLY DO HELP RAISE LITERACY, AND THEY'RE NOT JUST A PLACE FOR BOOKS; THEY ARE A PLACE FOR CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION. YOU HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ` WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF THE LITERACY LEVELS OF, YOU KNOW, NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN? LITERACY LEVELS ARE UNFORTUNATELY DECLINING, AND WE KNOW THAT FROM THE STUDIES THAT HAVE COME OUT OVER THE YEARS. COVID OBVIOUSLY HAD A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THAT AS WELL. CLAUDINE, HOW IMPORTANT SPECIFICALLY IS THE SCHOOL LIBRARY TO CHILDREN'S LITERACY? IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT, AND THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING ABOUT IT IS ACTUALLY HAVING A LIBRARIAN IN THE LIBRARY ` THAT PERSON CONNECTING A CHILD WITH A BOOK IS GOLD. THAT'S WHAT REALLY MAKES THE HUGE` A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF CONNECTING CHILDREN TO READING, ENGAGING THEM IN READING, GETTING THEM EDUCATED ABOUT INFORMATION LITERACY, KNOWING WHERE AND HOW TO ACCESS INFORMATION ONLINE, AND IT'S ALL THOSE DIFFERENT FACETS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO BASICALLY HELP RAISE LITERACY IN CHILDREN. SO SAY LITERACY RATES ARE LOW, HOW DO YOU TURN RELUCTANT READERS INTO BOOKWORMS? FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ACTUALLY GETTING TO KNOW THAT STUDENT OR CONNECTING THEM WITH THEM IN SOME WAY. IT'S FINDING OUT WHAT THEIR READING HABITS ARE CURRENTLY LIKE, WHERE THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. IT'S ENCOURAGING THINGS LIKE MAYBE A GRAPHIC NOVEL, UM, MAYBE LISTENING TO AN AUDIO BOOK OR AN E-BOOK, KIND OF MEETING THEM WHERE THEY IDENTIFY AS A PLACE FOR THEM. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR HOPE FOR LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS AND I GUESS YOUR MESSAGE TO SCHOOLS WHO PERHAPS DON'T SEE THE VALUE IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY AND LIBRARIAN? I THINK IT WOULD BE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE NOT THE SHUSHERS OF THE PAST. WE'RE ACTUALLY, UM` I'M A 'FUN-BRARIAN', IS WHAT I CALL MYSELF. (CHUCKLES) SO, UM, IT'S THAT GOLD OF CONNECTING WITH THE STUDENTS. WE HAVE AN AMAZING ADVANTAGE IN THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE SCHOOLS, SO THAT'S QUITE A UNIQUE ADVANTAGE. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLAUDINE. YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A FUN-BRARIAN. IT'S BEEN LOVELY TALKING TO YOU. THANKS SO MUCH, HILARY AND JEREMY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. AND HAERE PANUI, WHICH IS 'KEEP READING'. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE, SAM BAKER AND OTO SEQUEIRA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 A CHRISTCHURCH GOLDSMITH IS WORKING WITH A PRODUCT MORE PRECIOUS THAN ANY GEM. JOACHIM VAN OOSTRUM USES ASHES ` CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS ` TO CREATE KEEPSAKES FOR HIS CUSTOMERS. AND NOW ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE ENDING UP INSIDE HIS JEWELLERY. JENDY HARPER PAID A VISIT. IT IS DELICATE WORK IN EVERY SENSE. JOACHIM VON OOSTRUM HAS CRAFTED A COPPER SPOON TO ENSURE NO FRAGMENT IS SPILLED. IT'S EMOTIONALLY PAINSTAKING TOO. HE'S WORKING WITH HUMAN ASHES ` HERE, THE REMAINS OF A MUCH-LOVED HUSBAND AND FATHER. THIS ARE THE ASHES THAT COMES FROM THE FAMILY, SO WE TREAT IT WITH A LOT OF RESPECT. THE FAMILY HAS GIVEN US PERMISSION TO FILM AS JOACHIM CRAFTS TWO KEEPSAKES, PENDANTS FOR A DAUGHTER AND FOR A WIDOW, WITH ASHES PERMANENTLY STORED INSIDE. WHEN I WORK WITH ASHES, I ALWAYS REALISE THAT THE PERSON THAT WE'RE DOING THIS FOR HAS A WAY MORE DIFFICULT TIME THAN WE HAVE. A LOT OF THE TIME, IT'S A BIT OF A ROLLER-COASTER, SO YOU GET THE SAD ONES, AND AT THE START WE FOUND THAT QUITE, UM... DIFFICULT. BEFORE THE PENDANT IS CLOSED OVER, JOACHIM'S WIFE, TRACY, TAKES A PICTURE, PROOF OF PURCHASE THAT THE ASHES ARE CONTAINED WITHIN. IT WAS TRACY'S DESIRE TO HAVE HER OWN MOTHER'S REMAINS CLOSE TO HER THAT LED THIS CHRISTCHURCH DUO INTO BUSINESS. EVERY TOOL I USE FOR THIS, I SPECIALLY MADE FOR THIS PROCESS. IT'S AN OFFERING THAT WON'T APPEAL TO EVERYONE. SO NOW I'M GONNA PUSH IT SIDEWAYS LIKE THAT, AND THAT WILL CLOSE IT OFF. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT ASH SHOULD ALWAYS STAY TOGETHER, BUT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL OF HAVING A LITTLE PIECE OF THE ASHES THROUGHOUT JEWELLERY, IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME. ALICIA'S FATHER'S ASHES HAVE BEEN DIVIDED INTO FIVE PENDANTS. ALL HIS GIRLS IN HIS LIFE HAVE A PIECE OF... A SPECIAL PIECE FOR THEM. MAUREEN IS WEARING HER LATE HUSBAND'S ASHES. WELL, IT'S LIKE BEING CLOSE TO HIM, YOU KNOW? CLOSE TO YOUR HEART. HM ` VERY SPECIAL. AND NOW OTHER ITEMS ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO JOACHIM'S PIECES ` HUMAN HAIR, HORSE HAIR, PET FUR, SOIL FROM A FAMILY FARM. WE HAD ONE PERSON THAT HAD A LEAF OF A TREE INSIDE A PENDANT. SAND FROM A BEACH WHERE A MAN FIRST KISSED HIS WIFE 40 YEARS EARLIER. TEENY TINY LOVE NOTES ARE PROVING POPULAR TOO. SO THIS ONE IS A BEAUTIFUL NOTE FROM A GRANDMOTHER TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER. ('CLOCKS' BY COLDPLAY) THAT'S WHERE THE CHAIN RUNS THROUGH. AHH. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THE NOTE. IT IS PRETTY INSANE ACTUALLY HOW IT FITS IN THERE. THE DUTCH-BORN GOLDSMITH IS ENCOURAGING KIWI BLOKES TO PUT PEN TO THE MOST PETITE OF PAPERS. WELL, NEW ZEALAND MEN NOT ALWAYS ARE ROMANTIC, BUT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND THEY THINK ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE. BUT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND THEY THINK ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE, QUITE OFTEN, THERE ARE SOME QUITE ROMANTIC LETTERS. ONE OF MY FAVOURITES WAS, UH, IT WAS A FARMER. HE WROTE, 'MY LOVE, MY LIFE, MY EVERYTHING. BARRY.' SO THAT WAS` THAT WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL. YOU HAVE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET THAT NOTE IN THERE. THAT'S ORIGAMI, ISN'T IT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICE. AFTER FIVE YEARS STUDYING AT A GOLDSMITHS SCHOOL IN THE NETHERLANDS, JOACHIM WORKED IN HIGH-END STORES AND IN THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY. HE'S WON AWARDS FOR HIS WORK, BUT IT'S HERE IN CHRISTCHURCH THAT HE'S FOUND FULFILMENT IN HIS CRAFT. MOST BUSINESSES I WORKED FOR IN THE PAST, IT IS ALL ABOUT SPEED AND MONEY, SPEED AND MONEY AND GO, GO, GO. AND WE REALISED THAT A LOT OF THE JEWELLERY IS WHAT IT'S WORTH. IT'S NOT IMPORTANT, IT'S ABOUT THE SENTIMENT BEHIND IT. JUST BEAUTIFUL. NOW, WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE SOMETHING GREAT AND DESERVE A BIT OF RECOGNITION, AND THAT'S WHY WE PARTNER WITH ASB TO BRING YOU GOOD AS GOLD. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE DOING SELFLESS THINGS FOR OTHERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? SHE'S REALLY LOOKED AFTER PEOPLE ALL HER LIFE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE KNOWS JUST HOW APPRECIATED HE IS. OR MAYBE THEY'VE HAD A TOUGH TIME AND DESERVE A TREAT. ON BEHALF OF ASB... ...WE'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU $10,000. WELL, WHY NOT NOMINATE THEM FOR OUR ASB GOOD AS GOLD AWARD? UNREAL. GO TO asbgoodasgold.co.nz, AND TELL US THEIR STORY. # I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU. # E WHAI AKE NEI ` COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP, MEET THE CUDDLY COMPANION HELPING AROUND THE HOUSE. PLUS... I GOT MY FIRST MARLIN ` 216KG. THAT'S NOT TOO BAD. HAPPY WITH TUNA ` TUNA'S GREAT. DAME KIRI TE KANAWA ON LIFE, SINGING, AND HER FAVOURITE SPORTING PASTIME. THE BIRTHDAY GIRL'S UP NEXT. NAU MAI HOKI MAI. WELCOME BACK. LOVELY TO HAVE YOU WITH US. BRAD SMEELE WAS A PROFESSIONAL WAKE-BOARDER UNTIL A FREAK ACCIDENT LEFT HIM UNABLE TO MOVE FROM THE NECK DOWN. SINCE THEN, HE'S USED HIS EXPERIENCE TO MOTIVATE OTHERS, AND HE'S ALSO BEEN ON THE HUNT FOR A SPECIAL TYPE OF HELPER. HERE'S NINA BURTON. WELL, VALENTINE'S DAY IS UPON US ALREADY. BETTER JUMP ON MY PHONE AND START SWIPING SO I DON'T SPEND IT ALONE AGAIN. NOPE. NOT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. HM, MAYBE. LOOKING FOR LOVE. LOOKING FOR LOVE... SO, I FOUND A MATCH. ...OF THE CANINE KIND. THEY SAID THEY LIKE LONG WALKS ON THE BEACH AND CUDDLING UP AT NIGHT, SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO MEET THE GUY. HELLO. INTRODUCING JETTSON, THE RED MERLE MINIATURE SHEPHERD, OR MINI-AUSSIE, FROM CHRISTCHURCH. JETT FOR SHORT, AND HE'S ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. I KIND OF GRAVITATED TOWARD JETT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THEN NEXT THING I LOOKED DOWN, AND JETT'S BETWEEN MY FEET AND, I SEE THIS WAGGING TAIL AND HE'S TRYING TO, LIKE, CLIMB BACK UP, AND SO I KIND OF KNEW THAT HE'D CHOSEN ME AT THE TIME. SO IT WAS, UH... THAT WAS IT. (FOO FIGHTERS' 'TIMES LIKE THESE') BRAD SMEELE WAS A WAKEBOARDING CHAMPION AT THE PEAK OF HIS CAREER. FROM NEW ZEALAND, BRAD SMEELE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AN ACCIDENT DURING A DIFFICULT TRICK LEFT HIM A QUADRIPLEGIC. THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO. (UPBEAT MUSIC) HEY. GOOD BOY. I ALWAYS WANTED A DOG, AND, YEAH, JUST WAS VERY INTERESTED IN, UM, WHAT A DOG MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TO HELP OUT FOR ME, LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY AS, LIKE, A COMPANION, BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY AS, LIKE, A SERVICE DOG. AND SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD JETT FOR NOW, AND HOW IS IT ALL GOING? WE HAVE HAD JETT FOR JUST UNDER THREE WEEKS, UM, AND IT'S GOING REALLY WELL. YEAH, HE'S, UH, HE'S 10 AND A HALF WEEKS OLD OR COMING UP ON 11 WEEKS OLD, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE MOMENT IT'S ALL JUST THE BASIC TRAINING UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF DOG TRAINING EXPERT MARK VETTE, TRAINING. UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF DOG TRAINING EXPERT MARK VETTE, WHO'S BEEN WITH THEM ALL THE WAY. THIS IS THE BONDING PROCESS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH BRAD, WHICH IS TOUCH AND SMELL. SO I'M USING A BIT OF HAM HERE AND, UH.. WHAT'S THIS? WHAT'S THIS? (SMACKS LIPS) AND I'M CLICK AND REWARDING GENTLY COMMAND. COME ON, BUDDY. HELLO. GENTLY. BONDING AND SPECIAL WAYS. MIGHT SEEM A BIT SILLY AND A LITTLE BIT, UH, (CHUCKLES) UNUSUAL, BUT THIS IS ABOUT CULTIVATING THE LICKING RESPONSE, BECAUSE TASTE AND SMELL ARE VERY IMPORTANT BONDING PROCESSES FOR A PUP. IT'S IMPORTANT JETT LEARNS BRAD AS PACK LEADER, AS OPPOSED TO HIS CAREGIVERS. THERE'S LITTLE MOMENTS WHERE I'M A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS, BECAUSE HE'S, LIKE, FOLLOWING MY CAREGIVERS AROUND INSTEAD OF ME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE ONES GIVING THE REWARDS AND THE TREATS AND THE PATS AND STUFF. AND SO IT'S` OBVIOUSLY, I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT'S AROUND ALL THE TIME, WHEREAS THE CAREGIVERS, YOU KNOW, ARE ON CERTAIN DAYS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. CAN YOU JUST DESCRIBE THE JOY THAT JETT BRINGS YOU? IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE IT, IT REALLY IS. I DON'T KNOW, I JUST` I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNINGS, AND HE COMES IN AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN I COME INTO THE ROOM, AND HE, LIKE, SEES ME, AND YOU SEE THE EXCITED LOOK ON HIS FACE AND TAILS WAGGING, AND, YEAH, JUST THAT LOVE, THAT BOND AND CONNECTION THAT YOU HAVE WITH, UM, WITH PETS. AND HE JUST, YEAH, LOOKS AT ME WITH THOSE BLUE EYES AND JUST MELTS ME. IT'S PRETTY CUTE. YEAH. AS WELL AS HIS BEST MATE, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE JETT'S INTELLIGENCE PUT TO GOOD USE ` AND THAT'S NEW TRAINING TERRITORY FOR EVERYONE. GOOD BOY. I THINK THE MAIN THING THAT WE'RE REALLY, UM... WHICH IS GOING TO BE A REALLY FUN PROJECT WITH BRAD, IS, AS I SAID, HE'S QUITE CREATIVE. SO BETWEEN US ALL, WE'VE GOT THE WHEREWITHAL TO PROBABLY DO SOMETHING QUITE SPECIAL. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAUGHT DOGS TO FLY PLANES AND DRIVE CARS, WHICH INVOLVES TECHNOLOGY AS WELL, AND SO JUST WATCH THIS PAGE AND JUST SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE FOR THIS LITTLE GUY AND MAKE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL OUT OF THIS RELATIONSHIP. A RELATIONSHIP THAT'S ALREADY PRETTY SPECIAL AND ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED. # I GOT A GOOD FEELING ABOUT YOU. IT'S JUST BEEN AMAZING HAVING, YOU KNOW, THIS LITTLE GUY AROUND, AND, UM, JUST THE JOY THAT HE BRINGS TO THE HOUSE, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING HIM ON MY BED IN THE MORNINGS, AND, YOU KNOW, HE CAN BE AN ABSOLUTE RASCAL AT TIMES, BUT THEN HE CHILLS OUT AND GETS ALL CUDDLY AND FRIENDLY. AND SO IT'S, UM, NO, IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ADVENTURES THAT JETT AND I ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE. AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT A NEW OFF-ROAD CHAIR RECENTLY SO I CAN GO` YOU KNOW, TAKE JETT FOR CRUISES ALONG THE BEACH OR UP IN RIVERHEAD FOREST NEARBY AND JUST GO ON A LITTLE MISSIONS WITH HIM. AND, UM, YEAH, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LIFE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD MOVING FORWARD. # I WANT TO BUILD MY WORLD AROUND. # I WANT TO BUILD MY WORLD AROUND YOU # AND I MEAN IT, AND I MEAN IT. # I GOT A GOOD FEELING ABOUT YOU. # A GOOD FEELING, A GOOD FEELING. # I SAID I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, DO. # BRAD IS A LOVELY GUY. VERY LOVELY DOG. ADORABLE. DAME KIRI TE KANAWA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP SOPRANOS FOR DECADES, AND ALTHOUGH SHE RETIRED IN 2017, DAME KIRI HAS BEEN BUSY SUPPORTING OTHER YOUNG OPERA SINGERS THROUGH HER FOUNDATION. TODAY, IN HONOUR OF HER 80TH BIRTHDAY TODAY, TE RAUHIRINGA BROWN SAT DOWN WITH DAME KIRI TO REMINISCE ABOUT HER INCREDIBLE CAREER. # LONELY THE WORLD # IN SIN AND SORROW PINING... # DAME KIRI TE KANAWA... # MI PIACE E BELLO, # BELLO... # HER ANGELIC VOICE CAPTIVATED THE GLOBE. # LOVE'S A BIRD THAT WAS GIVEN FREEDOM # THAT NO MAN EVER LEARNED TO TAME. # FROM HER TRIUMPHANT DEBUT AT COVENT GARDEN... (VOCALISES OPERATICALLY) ...TO HER UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE AT THE ROYAL WEDDING. HER TALENT HAS DAZZLED AUDIENCES FOR NEARLY SIX DECADES. # WALK ON THROUGH THE RAIN. # HERE WE ARE IN THE KIRI TE KANAWA THEATRE IN THE HEART OF AUCKLAND CITY. IT'S A GOOD THEATRE. IT IS. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THEATRE. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE IT. YES, WE ARE, AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. YOU ARE CELEBRATING A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY HERE AT HOME IN AOTEAROA. YES, YES. ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING SPECIAL? WELL, I THINK` I KEEP ON TELLING EVERYONE I'M GOING FISHING, BUT I THINK IF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S POSSIBLE ` IT COULD BE ` BUT THE WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN GREAT. I GOT MY FIRST MARLIN ` 216KG. THAT'S NOT TOO BAD. AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT. I DON'T WANT TO GET ANY MORE MARLIN. OVER THE FIVE DECADES, YOU HAVE CONQUERED MOUNTAINS. BUT LET'S JUST REWIND IT BACK. YOU WERE BORN IN GISBORNE AT WHAT POINT DID YOU KNOW? OR DID THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAD SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL? SOMEONE HAD SAID, YEAH, WE'VE PUT YOU UP FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART IN THE OPERA. I SAID, 'ARE YOU SURE THAT'S FINE?' 'YEP, THAT'S FINE.' SO IT WENT ALONG LIKE THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME UNTIL I SUDDENLY REALISED, 'HANG ON, I'M ACTUALLY GETTING TO WHERE I SHOULD BE.' SO IT WAS A BIT OF` A SORT OF A WASH FOR ME WHEN I WAS STARTING, BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALISE THAT MY TALENT WAS QUITE IMPORTANT. AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT ` HIGHEST SELLING CLASSICAL FEMALE ARTIST ACROSS DECADES ` DID YOU ANTICIPATE THAT? NO. NO, NO. IT'S NICE. IT'S NICE. ANYTHING` ANYTHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE LOVE WHAT YOU DO. I LOVED EVERYTHING I DID. THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WOULD SAY, 'WELL, WHY DID I DO THAT?' AND THINK I COULD HAVE IMPROVED IT, BUT THERE WAS NEVER TIME TO DO THAT. AS MY GIRLFRIEND SAID, WE'VE BEEN ON A FREIGHT TRAIN FOR 50 YEARS. (CHUCKLES) WHERE DID YOUR PASSION AND YOUR LOVE FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC COME FROM? WELL, IT WAS IN THE MAKINGS OF MY MOTHER, WHO HAD THE PASSION, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE VISION, WHATEVER IT WAS. AND, OF COURSE, SHE SWEPT ME UP OUT OF GISBORNE AGED 12. I WENT TO A SCHOOL IN AUCKLAND. I WAS NOT A GREAT STUDENT. I DIDN'T LIKE SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TREATED LIKE... 'DO AS YOU'RE TOLD, DO AS YOU'RE TOLD, DO AS YOU'RE TOLD.' AND THEN I GET TO ENGLAND ` I'VE GOT THE EXACTLY SAME. 'DO AS YOU'RE TOLD. DO IT THIS WAY, DO IT THIS WAY.' A CONDUCTOR DOES THE SAME. I'VE GOT DIRECTORS DOING THE SAME. SO NONE OF IT WAS NURTURING. AND SO WITH THE FOUNDATION NOW, WE NURTURE A LOT. WE LOOK AT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE. SPEAKING OF THE FOUNDATION, YOU'VE GIVEN OVER 250 GRANTS, AND YOU'VE HELPED OVER 70 STUDENTS TO EXCEL, NOT JUST HERE IN AOTEAROA, BUT GLOBALLY. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? WELL, THEIR SUCCESS MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. NO MATTER HOW` WHAT THE LEVEL IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IN EVERYBODY AND EVERYONE'S LIFE, AS LONG AS IT'S` YOU DO WHAT YOUR PASSION IS. (SINGS OPERATICALLY) WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MOMENTS THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY MEMORABLE FOR YOU? THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT, AND I SUPPOSE ONE OF THEM WAS COMING BACK TO SINGING FOR A VERY LARGE AUDIENCE HERE IN AUCKLAND. THAT WAS ONE VERY IMPORTANT ONE, BECAUSE I REMEMBER CLIFF RICHARD CAME UP TO ME AT THE EVENT. HE SAID, 'KIRI, YOU'VE JUST SUNG FOR 150,000 PEOPLE IN THE PARK.' I SAID, 'OH, REALLY?' SO THAT WAS NICE. BUT A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS ` THE ROYAL WEDDING WAS LOVELY, AND SINGING AT THE MET WAS WONDERFUL, SINGING FOR LOTS OF VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE. NOT THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT. IT WAS JUST IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE NOT THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT. IT WAS JUST` IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE THAT I WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, DOING THE RIGHT THING. WHEN YOU LANDED THE ROLE OF COUNTESS AT COVENT GARDEN, WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION? I SAID I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. (CHUCKLES) THEY'VE PUT YOU DOWN FOR THE COUNTESS. AS I SAID, 'NO, NO, BARBARINA'S FINE.' THEY PUSHED ME INTO THAT. AND THERE I WENT FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR STUDYING IT, AND I SANG IT, AND IT WAS A SUCCESS. YOUR MOTHER MANIFESTED THAT? SHE SAW THAT? YES. DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO DO THAT BEFORE SHE VERBALISED THAT? NO, NO, NO, BUT SHE DID. SHE IMAGINED IT. SHE HAD THIS VISION ` 'YOU WILL BE SINGING AT COVENT GARDEN.' AND I THOUGHT, 'OH GOSH, WHERE IS THAT?' BUT SHE SAW IT. I SANG THE JANUARY, I THINK IT WAS; SHE WAS DEAD IN FEBRUARY. SO THAT WAS THE SADNESS OF ALL OF IT. SHE DIED TOO SOON TO SEE WHAT I DID DO. YOU KNOW? AND WHAT HER SACRIFICE WAS. AND I THANK` I ALWAYS KEEP ON THANKING OF MY PARENTS. AND AFTER 50 YEARS OF LIVING ABROAD, THERE WAS A VERY SPECIAL REASON THAT BROUGHT YOU HOME. YES ` MY LITTLE BOY, MY LITTLE LUTHER. YOUR LITTLE BOY. YOUR GRANDSON. YES. (CHUCKLES) THE CENTRE OF YOUR UNIVERSE. HE'S THE CENTRE OF MINE, BUT I DON'T THINK I'M THE CENTRE OF HIS. WE'VE GOT SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL FOR YOU. WHISPERS: I'M REALLY NERVOUS... BECAUSE I HAVE TO SING TO HER. # HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU... # HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. # THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THAT'S REALLY NICE. YOU'RE VERY MUCH WELCOME. MAKE A WISH. MAKE A WISH. MAKE A WISH. CATCH A FISH. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? YOU WANT TO CATCH A FISH? CATCH A FISH. (BLOWS) THAT IT GOES. WELL, IT TURNS OUT BIRTHDAY WISHES DO COME TRUE. DAME KIRI CAUGHT THESE TODAY. ONE OF THEM LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE ABOUT 26 CM. WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT. ON THE SHOW TOMORROW, THE 85-YEAR-OLD WHO'S AN EXPERT AT SORTING OUT THE GOOD BULL FROM THE BAD. AND SHE REALLY KNOWS HER STUFF. THOSE WERE OUR PEOPLE TODAY; THAT WAS SEVEN SHARP TONIGHT. 'SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA' IS UP NEXT. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. PO MARIE, CHEERIO. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE, SAM BAKER AND OTO SEQUEIRA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024