COULD POLICE OFFICERS BE SET TO GO ON STRIKE AFTER THE ASSOCIATION DESCRIBES THE LATEST PAY OFFER AS AN INSULT? MOULDY BATHROOMS AND HOLES IN WALLS. HOW WELLINGTON STUDENTS ARE BATTLING HIGH RENTS FOR DETERIORATING FLATS. AND WHY THIS PHOTO'S NOW INDUCED AN APOLOGY FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND KRISTIN WILLIAMS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TWO NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN AVALANCHE IN JAPAN. THEY WERE SKIING ON MT YOTEI ON THE NORTHERN ISLAND OF HOKKAIDO WHEN THE AVALANCHE OCCURRED. LOCAL REPORTS INDICATE FIREFIGHTERS FOUND PEOPLE BURIED IN SNOW. THE PAIR WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. MT YOTEI IS REGARDED AS A NOTORIOUSLY DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN FOR SKIING. THE FAMILY OF ONE OF THOSE KILLED HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT. ISABELLA BOLTON'S FAMILY SAY SHE LOVED THE OUTDOORS AND HAD BEEN WORKING AS A SKI GUIDE IN NISEKO. THEY'VE THANKED THE AUTHORITIES WHO TRIED TO SAVE HER AND ASKED FOR PRIVACY TO GRIEVE. LATAM AIRLINES HAVE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO YESTERDAY'S FLIGHT WHICH SAW A TECHNICAL FAULT PROMPT AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE. AROUND 50 PEOPLE WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES, SOME SERIOUS, ONCE THE PLANE SAFELY LANDED AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT. REPORTER JACOB JOHNSON HAS BEEN ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS. WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THIS, JACOB? I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO PASSENGERS WHO WERE ON THAT FLIGHT. THEY'VE BEEN PUT UP IN HOTELS HERE IN DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND. THEY ARE DUE TO FLY TO SANTIAGO TONIGHT. MANY OF THEM SAY THEY ARE TOO SCARED AND NOT EVEN SURE IF THEY WANT TO GET ON THAT PLANE. WE HAVE SOME FOOTAGE FROM JUST AFTER THE MOMENT. THIS PLANE HURTLED THROUGH THE AIR. AND FELL FOR A LONG TIME IN FREEFALL. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT BASICALLY TURNED OFF ENTIRELY. PASSENGERS WERE FLUNG ABOUT THE CABIN AND SOME HIT THE ROOF. EMERGENCY SERVICES CAME ABOARD TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF PASSENGERS. HERE'S WHAT ONE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE ORDEAL A MASSIVE JOLT HAPPENED, AND I WAS AWAKENED, AND I LOOKED UP TO SEE THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME ON THE ROOF OF THE PLANE. I'M LOOKING AT HIM FULLY OUTSTRETCHED WITH HIS BACK ON THE ROOF OF THE PLANE. AND THEN HE CAME CRASHING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS INSANE. I WAS LIKE` I THOUGHT I WAS DREAMING THEY HAVE REFUSED AN INTERVIEW. THIS INTERESTING WAS A BOEING DREAMLINER. IT HAS BEEN IN HEADLINES OVER CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF ITS AIRCRAFT. THIS BEEN UNDER INCREASING SCRUTINY WITH THE ISSUES WITH ITS PLANES RIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE. THEY TELL US THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HIS NEW TAX CUT FOR LANDLORDS WON'T AFFECT THE RENT HE CHARGES HIS OWN TENANTS. THE CHANGE TO ALLOW LANDLORDS TO CLAIM THE INTEREST BACK OFF THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS WILL COST THE GOVERNMENT $2.9B ` $800M MORE THAN NATIONAL HAD CALCULATED. BUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS IT WON'T AFFECT HIM BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORTGAGES ON HIS PROPERTIES. NO, WHAT I MEAN IS I DON'T HAVE ANY MORTGAGES, ANNA. THIS IS ABOUT INTEREST DEDUCTIBILITY ON MORTGAGES FOR LANDLORDS. AND I'M IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I'M VERY FORTUNATE. I DON'T HAVE ANY MORTGAGES. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THE TAX CUT WILL EASE PRESSURE ON THE RENTAL MARKET AND PASS SAVINGS DOWN TO RENTERS. STUDENTS ACROSS WELLINGTON ARE PAYING INCREASINGLY HIGHER RENTS, BUT THE FLATS THEY'RE LIVING IN ARE DETERIORATING. MOULDY BATHROOMS AND HOLES IN WALLS. CONDITIONS THEY'VE DESCRIBED AS UNACCEPTABLE. LUCY BENDELL HAS MORE. FOR MANY WELLINGTON STUDENTS, IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME LIVING AWAY FROM HOME, ATTEMPTING TO JUGGLE STUDY AND WORK TO PAY THEIR RENT. SO, WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE IN THIS FLAT. WE'RE PAYING $1060 OVERALL A WEEK. SO IT'S ABOUT $265 EACH PER ROOM. THAT $265 A WEEK GETS THEM THIS. MOULD IN THE SHOWER. CRACKS EVERYWHERE. PUNCHES IN THE WALL. PRETTY BAD STATE. NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO. TRENT AND JAKE LIVE JUST DOWN THE ROAD, IN SIMILAR SURROUNDINGS. THE LACK OF INSULATION WITH THE HOLES IN THE WALL AND GAPS UNDER THE DOORS DON'T HELP. COS YOU DON'T WANT TO COME HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY TO A COLD HOME. WE DO HAVE LAWS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE LIVING SITUATION FOR RENTERS. THE HEALTHY HOMES ACT IS THERE TO GUARANTEE A MINIMUM STANDARD OF ALL RENTAL ACCOMMODATION. THIS COVERS THINGS LIKE, AS I SAID, INSULATION, HEATING, DRAFT STOPPING, VENTILATION AND DRAINAGE. UNDER THE ACT, LANDLORDS MUST THE CORRECT INSULATION INSTALLED OR THEY COULD BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGAES UP TO $7000. THIS OBVIOUSLY ADDS COST TO THE LANDLORDS, BUT OVERALL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO GUARANTEE THE MINIMUMS STANDARDS OF ACCOMMODATION FOR SURE, YEAH. WELLINGTON STUDENTS ARE PAYING SOME OF THE HIGHEST RENTAL PRICES IN THE COUNTRY, WITH COSTS CONTINUING TO RISE. PROPERTY INVESTORS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO INFLATION. WE'VE SEEN ENORMOUS INCREASES IN COUNCIL RATES AND UP TO 50% PER ANNUM INCREASES IN INSURANCE LATELY. THERE'S ENORMOUS INCREASES IN THE COST TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION. THAT DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY WE'VE JUST SEEN. SUPPLY AND DEMAND DRIVING UP PRICES BUT NOT QUALITY, WITH MANY RENTERS UNSURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF SAY. IT'S OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE FLATTING. WE'RE ONLY SECOND YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW TENANCY LAWS. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE EDUCATION. A MORE PERMANENT FIX NEEDED FOR THESE STUDENTS. LUCY BENDELL, 1 NEWS. POLICE OFFICERS HAVE REJECTED THE LATEST PAY OFFER FROM THE GOVERNMENT, DESCRIBING IT AS A 'KICK IN THE GUTS'. 1 NEWS POLITICAL PRODUCER LILLIAN HANLY JOINS US NOW FROM PARLIAMENT. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US? IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A SCATHING RESPONSE FROM THE POLICE ASSOCIATION. COMPLETELY REJECTING THIS OFFICE SAYING IT HAS TAKEN TOO LONG AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. SO ALEX HAD BILLED THAT THEY WON'T EVEN BE TAKING THAT OFFER OUT TO THE MEMBERSHIP TO VOTE ON. IN A STATEMENT RELEASED, BY THE PRESIDENT, IT HIGHLIGHTED A RANGE OF THEMES FROM THE LEADERSHIP AND THEIR RESPONSE TO THE OFFER SAYING IT WAS INSULTING, DISGRACEFUL AND AN ABSOLUTE JOKE. HE ALSO SPOKE TO THIS GOVERNMENT'S TOUGH ON CRIME STANCE. HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. WE HAVE GOT A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY WANT TO GET TOUGH ON CRIME. THEY'RE EXPECTING POLICE TO STEP UP. THEY'RE EXPECTING US TO CRACK DOWN ON GANGS. THEY'RE EXPECTING US TO INCREASE OUR POLICING OF YOUTH CRIME. THEY'RE EXPECTING US TO LOWER THE ROAD TOLL AND THEY ARE ALL FAIR EXPECTATIONS. BUT THE EXPECTATION ON THE RETURN IS THAT YOU REWARD OFFICES AND YOU GIVE THEM APPROPRIATE REMUNERATION. INSTEAD WITH HAD, WE BELIEVE A DEAL THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY TREASURY AND PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICIALS THAT HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICING ENVIRONMENT AND NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESSURES THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE. THAT DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE GOVERNMENT WAS HIM SPEAKING TO THE POLICE MINISTER SAYING THAT HE NEEDS TO FRONT UP WITH A SALARY OFFER THAT APPROPRIATELY COMPENSATE THOSE OFFICES FOR THE RISKS THAT THEY FACE AND THE TRAUMA THAT THEY EXPERIENCE. WHEN WE ASKED THEM ON BREAKFAST, THIS IS WHAT OUR PRIME MINISTER WHAT HAD TO SAY. WE HAVE TO INTO THAT NEGOTIATION WITH GOOD FAITH. THIS IS BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION FOR SOME TIME. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE INHERITED IT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH POLICE TO TRY AND NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. I AM ALSO WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE SURE WE BACKUP OUR POLICE BY GIVING THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED BY BEING TOUGH ON VIOLENT CRIME AND YOUTH OFFENDING. THE ASSOCIATION HAS TOLD POLICE THAT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THIS OFFER QUICKLY. THERE WILL BE AN MEETING HELD THIS WEEK, A CHANCE FOR THEM TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK FROM THE MEMBERSHIP AND ALSO HERE ON ANY POTENTIAL OF IMPROVEMENTS OF THAT OFFER. WILL BRING YOU THE LATEST AT SIX. A SHIP LOADED WITH FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR GAZA REMAINS IN PORT IN CYPRUS. PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE SHIP'S ARRIVAL IS REPORTEDLY HAPPENING OFF THE TERRITORY'S COAST, WHICH IS DELAYING ITS JOURNEY. THE SHIP HAS 200 TONS OF FOOD ON BOARD, BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF WHAT'S NEEDED IN GAZA. THERE'S A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR PALESTINIANS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA. IMMIGRATION MINISTER ERICA STANFORD HAS TOLD 1 NEWS SHE ISN'T RULING OUT CREATING A SPECIAL VISA FOR THEM. BUT AS COURTNEY HAMMOND EXPLAINS, PALESTINIANS IN NEW ZEALAND ARE URGING HER TO ACT WITH URGENCY. THIS IS THE REALITY FOR PALESTINIANS LIVING IN GAZA. THEY ARE LIVING IN A WAR ZONE WITH NO WAY OUT. THIS PERSON IT'S FROM GAZA AND NOW STUDYING LAW IN TAURANGA BUT HIS FAMILY INCLUDING HIS PARENTS, ARE STILL THERE. I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY STRONG CONNECTION WITH THE NEW ZEALAND. AND MY OTHER FAMILY, I HAVE MY WIFE AND HER FAMILY WHICH IS MY FAMILY. THIS WAS HIS FAMILY HOME, AND THIS AS IT NOW, MOSTLY DESTROYED LIKE MUCH ELSE INSIDE THE TERRITORY. I NEVER EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HIS FAMILY FLED BEFORE THE ATTACK. THEY ARE NOW IN THE SOUTH OF GAZA. HIS PARENTS ARE IN THEIR LATE SIXTIES AND EARLY SEVENTIES AND STRUGGLING TO GET THE BASICS TO SURVIVE. THIS AS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOUR PARENTS? OF COURSE, NOT ONLY MY PARENTS BUT MY FAMILY. AND EVERYONE IN GAZA IS SURVIVING DEATH A THOUSAND TIMES EVERY DAY. HE IS URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT URGENT VISAS FOR THE FAMILIES OF PALESTINIAN NEW ZEALANDERS STUCK IN GAZA. THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF DOUBLE STANDARDS WHILE IN OPPOSITION, ERICA STANFORD CALLED FOR LABOUR LED GOVERNMENT TO AWARD SPECIAL VISAS WHEN THE WAR IN UKRAINE BROKE OUT. I WANT TO SEE OUR GOVERNMENT TAKE THOSE STEPS, STEP UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR FAMILIES. BONDS ARE NOT JUST FALLING ON PALESTINIANS BUT THEY ARE DYING OF STARVATION, DEHYDRATION. THE QUESTION WE HAVE FOR ERICA STANFORD IS WHAT SHE IS WAITING FOR AND WHY ARE THERE THESE DOUBLE STANDARDS? THE MINISTER'S OFFICE TOLD BREAKFAST NEW ZEALANDERS WERE FAMILIES IN GAZA CAN APPLY FOR A VISITOR VISA FOR THEM AND IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND WILL BE PRIORITISING REQUESTS FOR PALESTINIANS. VISA IS NOT SOMETHING THEY ARE RULING OUT AND THEY WILL BE MONITORING THE SITUATION. HUNDRED AND 50 DAYS INTO THE WAR IN GAZA, AND STILL NO ESCAPE ON THE HORIZON. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` FIXING UP BLEMISHES OR SOMETHING MORE DECEPTIVE? WHY THIS PHOTO'S LED TO A ROYAL APOLOGY. PLUS, COULD THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES HAVE A SOLUTION THE PRINCESS OF WALES HAS APOLOGISED AFTER A DIGITALLY ALTERED PHOTO WAS POSTED ON OFFICIAL ROYAL SOCIAL MEDIA. NEWS AGENCIES WITHDREW THE PICTURE AMID CONCERNS OVER ITS LEGITIMACY BEFORE THE APOLOGY WAS MADE. THE BBC'S DANIELA RELPH REPORTS. THE PHOTO THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO REASSURE, TO CALM THE MORE OUTLANDISH RUMOURS ABOUT THE PRINCESS'S CONDITION. BUT ITS PUBLICATION HAS DONE THE OPPOSITE. TODAY, THE PRINCESS WAS SEEN WITH HER HUSBAND, BEING DRIVEN FROM WINDSOR. KENSINGTON PALACE SAID SHE HAD A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT. LAST NIGHT, THE FIRST OF FIVE NEWS AGENCIES ISSUED DRAMATICALLY-WORDED KILL NOTICES, WITHDRAWING THE PICTURE OF THE PRINCESS AND HER CHILDREN DUE TO WHAT THE AGENCIES SAID WERE 'INCONSISTENCIES IN THE IMAGE'. THEN, THIS MORNING, A SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM THE PRINCESS OF WALES HERSELF, WHERE SHE ADMITTED SHE'D MADE COSMETIC CHANGES TO THE PICTURE. SHE SAID... THEY'VE MISLED THE PUBLIC BY PUTTING AN IMAGE OUT THERE THAT WAS MANIPULATED, AND IT'S GOING TO FUEL A WHOLE LOAD OF SPECULATION AND CONSPIRACY ABOUT KATE AND HER HEALTH. (UPBEAT DRUM MUSIC PLAYS) IT WAS THE PRINCE OF WALES WHO TOOK THE PHOTO OF HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN LAST WEEK. TODAY, ALONGSIDE QUEEN CAMILLA, HE LED THE ROYAL FAMILY AT THE ANNUAL COMMONWEALTH DAY SERVICE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. THE ROYAL PARTY WAS DEPLETED... BECAUSE NEITHER THE KING NOR PRINCESS OF WALES THERE DUE TO THEIR HEALTH PROBLEMS. IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING FEW WEEKS FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE MOOD IS CHARGED. AND THE PHOTO CONTROVERSY HAS FED THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER WE CAN TRUST WHAT THE PALACES TELL THE PUBLIC. I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S A TRUST ISSUE. I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT. I MEAN, THE PRINCESS OF WALES IS AN ACCOMPLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER. SHE SAID SHE EDITS PHOTOGRAPHS. SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN EDITING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME, FOR ALL WE KNOW. A PHOTO ALTERED BY A PRINCESS. HER TEAM SAY SHE WAS DOING WHAT SO MANY OTHERS DO ` TRYING TO MAKE HER FAMILY LOOK AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE IN A PICTURE. JAPAN HAS COMMEMORATED 13 YEARS SINCE THE MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI, WHICH LED TO THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR MELTDOWN. PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA ATTENDED A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN FUKUSHIMA AND VOWED THE COUNTRY HAS LEARNT LESSONS FROM THE TRIPLE DISASTERS. MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE DIED, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WERE DISPLACED. 13 YEARS ON, MANY JAPANESE PEOPLE REMAIN UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR POWER SYSTEM. CLIMATE ACTIVIST GRETA THUNBERG HAS ORCHESTRATED A BLOCKADE OF THE SWEDISH PARLIAMENT WITH AROUND 40 OTHER PROTESTERS. THE GROUP SAYS THE PARLIAMENT IS PART OF THE ONGOING SYSTEM OF CLIMATE DEGRADATION AND CALLED FOR SWEEPING REFORMS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. THUNBERG HAS BEEN FINED FOR SIMILAR PROTESTS IN SWEDEN TWICE BEFORE. A REGIONAL POWER PROVIDER IS LARGELY BLAMING ANIMALS FOR THEIR RECENT POWER OUTAGES IN HANMER SPRINGS. THERE'VE BEEN 22 OUTAGES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, 13 OF WHICH WERE UNPLANNED. IT'S PROMPTED FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO CONSIDER PURCHASING GENERATORS. COUNCILLOR TOM DAVIES SAYS LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN POTENTIAL REVENUE. WE GET 5000 VISITORS ARRIVE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN LEAVE EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ALL LOST BREAKFASTS, COFFEES, RETAIL. ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS HAVE BEEN LOST QUITE DRAMATICALLY. POWER PROVIDER MAINPOWER SAYS IT PLANS TO UPGRADE ELECTRICITY LINES AND RE-BUILD ITS SUBSTATION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. TO SPORT, AND SYDNEY ROOSTERS PROP SPENCER LENIU HAS BEEN HANDED AN EIGHT-WEEK BAN FOR USING A RACIAL SLUR. THE 23-YEAR-OLD ADMITTED DIRECTING THE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE AT BRISBANE BRONCO EZRA MAM DURING THEIR SEASON OPENING CLASH IN LAS VEGAS, BUT DENIED HAVING RACIAL INTENTIONS. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGE OF CONTRARY CONDUCT AND WILL BE SIDE-LINED UNTIL ROUND 10. THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES MAY HAVE FOUND A HOST FOR THE 2026 EVENT, REPORTEDLY OFFERING MALAYSIA A MAJOR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT TO STEP IN. IN A STATEMENT, THE NATION SAYS IT'S BEEN OFFERED $200M TO HELP SUPPORT THE EVENT. THE GAMES HAS BEEN WITHOUT A HOST SINCE THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA PULLED OUT. MALAYSIA HAS HOSTED THE GAMES ONCE BEFORE, IN 1998. CHELSEA HAVE BEATEN NEWCASTLE 3-2 TO MOVE WITHIN ONE POINT OF THEM ON THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE. THE BLUES BROKE THE 1-1 DEADLOCK AFTER HALFTIME BEFORE ADDING ANOTHER TO SECURE THE THREE POINTS. GETTING INTO THE MIDDLE. GALLAGHER, AS YOU'D EXPECT, HAS MADE UP THE GROUND. MUDRYK'S ARRIVING. MUDRYK AROUND THE GOALKEEPER. THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM HIM. CHELSEA ARE NOW FOUR POINTS CLEAR OF TWELFTH-PLACED FULHAM. YOU MAY THINK YOUR DOG IS THE GOODEST BOY TO EVER LIVE, BUT THERE'S A NEW TOP DOG IN TOWN. VIKING, AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, HAS BEEN CROWNED BEST IN SHOW AT THE ANNUAL CRUFTS DOG SHOW IN THE UK. VIKING BEAT MORE THAN 24,000 OTHER POOCHES TO CLAIM THE TITLE, INCLUDING ZEN, A JACK RUSSELL TERRIER, WHO WAS NAMED THE RESERVE BEST IN SHOW. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. We got a new car you have to plug in. It goes for two wee stops. (DOG BARKS) One masterpiece. And four unlucky possums! Five! VOICEOVER: Fast charge on the road and pay like you're at home. With Genesis at charge net stations. AT JUST 13 YEARS OLD, ONE OF THE UK'S YOUNGEST QUALIFIED BELL RINGERS IS BREAKING BOUNDARIES. SHE'S PART OF AN ESTABLISHED CREW AT A CHURCH IN YORKSHIRE. THE BBC'S HEIDI TOMLINSON WENT TO SEE HER LEARNING THE ROPES. TREBLE'S GOING. SHE'S GONE. (BELLS PEEL) RINGING PRACTICE AT RIPON CATHEDRAL. YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO FIND A CHILD HOLDING THE ROPES... TWO TO THREE. ...BUT ALICE BARRETT (13) IS A FULLY FLEDGED MEMBER OF THE TEAM. IT'S DEFINITELY MORE THAN JUST, LIKE, PULLING A ROPE, WHICH IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK. IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLEX, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. SHE'S RECENTLY BECOME ONE OF THE YOUNGEST QUALIFIED RINGERS IN YORKSHIRE, HAVING SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS IN TRAINING. I'M ACTUALLY REALLY PROUD OF HER. IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME FOR HER TO GET FROM BEING A VERY SMALL CHILD TO WHERE SHE IS NOW, WITH THE STRENGTH AND THE TECHNIQUE. SO JUST SEEING HER PERSEVERING AND CARRYING ON ALL THAT TIME AND NEVER GIVING UP. THERE'S ABOUT 30 UP. CLIMBING THE STEEP, ANCIENT STEPS TO THE BELFRY IS ONE OF ALICE'S FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO. IS IT, SORT OF, EXCITING TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY RINGING? IT IS. AND, LIKE, THE SIZE OF THEM IS ALWAYS VERY COOL TO SEE. INSTALLED ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THE 13 BELLS AT RIPON EACH WEIGH TWO THIRDS OF A TON. AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE DANGEROUSLY LOUD, CLOSE UP. IT IS KIND OF JET PLANE VOLUME ` 120 DECIBELS ` UP HERE WHEN THE BELLS ARE RINGING. (BELL TOLLS LOUDLY) A MAJESTIC SOUND CREATED BY A SKILLED TEAM. IT TAKES STRONG ARMS TO HANDLE THE BELLS, AND A CERTAIN HEIGHT. STANDING ON A BOX HELPS. THE YOUNGER SOMEBODY LEARNS, THEN THE QUICKER THEY PICK UP THE SKILLS, THE LESS AFRAID THEY ARE OF THE ROPE AND THE BELL AND THE BELL SWINGING, AND THEY JUST MAKE PROGRESS SO MUCH QUICKER. ALICE WAS 9 WHEN SHE FIRST HAD A GO. NOW SHE'S QUALIFIED AT 13 ON A PAR WITH VETERAN JOE MITCHELL, WHO'S IN HER 80s. IT CAN BE A LIFELONG HOBBY. IT'S A LOVELY SOUND, AND IT'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT. LIKE, IT SOUNDS SOFTER IN HERE, AND IT SOUNDS A LOT LOUDER OUTSIDE. NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (AC/DC'S 'HELLS BELLS') (AC/DC'S 'HELLS BELLS') THANKS FOR JOINING US. TE KARERE IS HERE AT 4, FOLLOWED BY THE 1 NEWS TEAM AT 6. PLUS ` YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TODAY'S NEWS ONLINE AT 1NEWS.CO.NZ. BUT FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND KRISTIN WILLIAMS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024