IT'S MIDDAY. THE COUNTRY'S NOW IN RECESSION. AND A LACK OF BANKING COMPETITION IS HURTING NEW ZEALANDERS, WITH THE COMMERCE COMMISSION SAYING IT'S TIME TO SHAKE THINGS UP. AN INVESTIGATION'S LAUNCHED AFTER CLAIMS MEDICAL STAFF TRIED TO ACCESS THE PRIVATE RECORDS OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. PLUS, SAIL GP COMES TO LYTTLETON ` WHY OUR TOP SAILORS ARE EYEING UP A KEY ADVANTAGE. CAPTIONS BY BILLY GARRATT-JOHN AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 THE COUNTRY IS IN RECESSION. STATS NZ FIGURES OUT TODAY SHOW GROWTH HAS SLIPPED INTO NEGATIVE TERRITORY. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD JOINS US NOW. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? MOST PEOPLE ARE FEELING IT. WAREHOUSE PROFITS FALLING, TIMES ARE TOUGH OUT THERE. GROWTH FELL TO 0.1%. IT MEANS A RECESSION. TWO QUARTERS OF NEGATIVE GROWTH, IT'S A TECHNICAL THING. FIGURES HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH OVER A YEAR SHOWING THE COUNTRY IS IN A FLAT PHASE. WE ARE SEEING BUSINESSES, RETAILERS, PEOPLE REALLY SUFFERING. 6/10 INDUSTRIES SAW A DROP. MANUFACTURING FEELING IT HARD. AND SPEAKING OF MONEY, THE COMMERCE COMMISSION'S REVEALED WHAT WE'VE ALL THOUGHT TODAY ` THE BIG BANKS ARE MAKING SOME BIG MONEY? MOST PEOPLE, IF YOU GOT A MORTGAGE, WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED. THIS 14 MONTH REPORTS INTO COMPETITION AND PERSONAL BANKING SAYS THOSE FOUR BIG AUSSIE BANKS HAVE 90% OF THE MARKET, TOO MUCH POWER AND ARE ESSENTIALLY RIPPING US OFF. THEY MAKE MORE PROFITS HERE IN NEW ZEALAND DONE OVERSEAS AND MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TRY AND CREATE MORE COMPETITION. THEY ARE CALLING FOR A DISRUPTIVE FORCE TO COME INTO THE MARKET TO SHAKE THINGS UP. THEY WANT KIWI BANK TO HAVE MORE CAPITAL, MORE POWER, THEY WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO GET BEHIND KIWI BANK AND TAKE THE BIG BANKS ON. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY PROVIDERS BEING ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS, SWITCH BANK ACCOUNTS, USE NEW WAYS OF SAVING THEM MONEY. THEY WANT THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE AS WELL. IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSE I PUT IN REQUESTS TO ALL BANKS FINALLY ENOUGH NO ONE WANTS THE TRUCK TO ME ABOUT IT. THE MINISTER IN CHARGE OF IT WILL TALK TO ME THIS AFTERNOON. I WILL BE ASKING IF THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE THE CAPITAL TO KIWI BANK. WHAT THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO DO TO CREATE MORE COMPETITION. THANK YOU, KATIE. CONSUMER ADVOCATES ARE CALLING FOR MORE AGGRESSION FROM THE COMMERCE COMMISSION. IT FOLLOWS THE COMMISSION'S DECISION NOT TO INVESTIGATE FOOD MAKER SANITARIUM FOR WITHDRAWING IT'S WEET-BIX CEREAL FROM THE WAREHOUSE LAST OCTOBER. SANITARIUM BACKTRACKED ON THE MOVE AFTER PUBLIC OUTCRY AND RESUMED SUPPLY WITHIN DAYS. ERNIE NEWMAN FINDS IT QUOTE, 'ASTONISHING'. THE COMMISSION SEEMS UNINTERESTED IN FOLLOWING THROUGH. THERE'S SOMETHING VERY FISHY ABOUT THAT. THE WAREHOUSE IMMEDIATELY RAISED A COMPLAINED WITH THE COMMERCE COMMISSION. YOU KNOW, ON THE FACE OF IT, SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE GOT A VERY PUBLIC YELLOW CARD IF NOT A RED ONE AND YET FIVE MINUTES LATER THE COMMISSION- SOMEBODY SHRUGS THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAID, 'OH, NOTHING TO SEE HERE.' THE COMMERCE COMMISSION TOLD 1NEWS IT WAS, 'NOT CLEAR THAT SANITARIUM'S CONDUCT AMOUNTED TO A BREACH OF THE COMMERCE ACT.' NEW RULES TO CRACKDOWN ON YOUTH VAPING ARE BEING DESCRIBED AS 'OUT OF TOUCH' BY VAPE-FREE ADVOCATES. THE RULES WILL BAN DISPOSABLE VAPES, AND FINES ISSUED TO SHOPS SELLING THEM TO MINORS WILL INCREASE TENFOLD. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER CASEY COSTELLO SAYS RETAILERS WILL FACE PENALTIES OF UP TO $100,000 IF THEY SELL VAPES TO PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. BUT A VAPE-FREE ADVOCATE SAYS SHE'D RATHER SEE ALL VAPES MADE MORE EXPENSIVE AND HARDER TO GET. THE SHEER NUMBER OF STORES AROUND THE COUNTRY ` 7500 ESTIMATED ` CURRENTLY, AND ARE LIKELY TO STILL GROW UNDER THIS GOVERNMENT'S CURRENT RULINGS. AND THEN THE AFFORDABILITY. THEY'RE JUST TOO CHEAP FOR KIDS. THEY'RE SO EASY TO GET A HOLD OF. THEN THIS BANNING OF DISPOSABLES IS JUST TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE ENOUGH CHANGE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF HOW PEOPLE ARE USING VAPES. THE RULES ARE SET TO BE IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE YEAR. A STALEMATE IS PLAYING OUT BETWEEN THE BULLER DISTRICT COUNCIL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OVER WHO WILL FUND WESTPORT'S FLOOD MANAGEMENT WORK. THE TOWN'S STORMWATER SYSTEM NEEDS A $12M UPGRADE TO STOP WESTPORT BECOMING WHAT ITS MAYOR DESCRIBED AS 'A BATHTUB' ONCE NEW FLOOD WALLS ARE BUILT. JAMIE CLEINE SAYS THE FUNDING WOULD HAVE COME FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT'S THREE WATERS REFORM WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REPEALED. WHAT IT WILL DO IS POTENTIALLY RESTRICT THE DESIGN OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE ENGINEERING TEAM. OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIND ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES. THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE, IN BULLER FOR INSTANCE, IS THAT OUR THREE WATERS FUNDING- COST TO RATEPAYERS IS ALREADY APPROXIMATELY $1000 MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNCIL IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. MINISTER SIMEON BROWN TOLD 1NEWS LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS A PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT THROUGH THEIR NEW 'LOCAL WATER DONE WELL' PLAN. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY AT THE LONDON CLINIC WHICH TREATED CATHERINE, THE PRINCESS OF WALES, FOLLOWING CLAIMS STAFF TRIED TO ACCESS HER PRIVATE MEDICAL RECORDS. IT'S BELIEVED THREE STAFF MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED. THE BBC'S JONNY DYMOND HAS MORE. PRIVACY AND THE PRINCESS ` THE MIRROR MAKES A SPLASH WITH A STORY ABOUT AN ATTEMPT TO ACCESS PRIVATE MEDICAL INFORMATION REGARDING KATE, THE PRINCESS OF WALES. SHE WAS HERE TWO MONTHS AGO FOR AN ABDOMINAL OPERATION. SINCE THEN, SHE'S BEEN OUT OF SIGHT, BUT HARDLY OUT OF MIND. FROM THE PALACE, SILENCE. FROM THE HOSPITAL, A STATEMENT ` ALL OF THIS ` THE HOSPITAL VISIT, THE LONG RECOVERY, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ORDINARY ` A WOMAN, WIFE AND MOTHER GETTING BETTER AFTER AN OPERATION. THE PALACE HAS BEEN FLABBERGASTED BY THE RESPONSE. THE CONCERN OFTEN THAT THE PRINCESS'S RIGHT TO PRIVACY HAS BEEN SHREDDED IN A WORLD OF PHONE AND FEED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PRINCESS'S PRIVATE MEDICAL RECORDS ` SOME OF THE MOST PROTECTED PERSONAL DATA THERE IS ` HAVE COME TO OTHERS' ATTENTION. A DECADE AGO, PHONE PRANKSTERS DUPED A NURSE INTO REVEALING SOME PETTY DETAILS. THIS LATEST CONTROVERSY COMES HARD ON THE HEELS OF THE PHOTO ISSUED LAST WEEK, WITHDRAWN BY INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS AS DOUBTS WERE CAST ON ITS AUTHENTICITY. THE COUPLE MAY HAVE THOUGHT THEY MIGHT STEP BACK A LITTLE TO ENABLE A LONG RECOVERY, BUT EVENTS AND RUMOURS AND THEIR OWN MISTAKE HAVE CONSPIRED AGAINST THEM. IRELAND'S PRIME MINISTER HAS UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT, SAYING HIS COALITION GOVERNMENT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE RE-ELECTED UNDER A NEW LEADER. LEO VARADKAR BECAME THE COUNTRY'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MINISTER IN 2017 AND WAS RE-ELECTED IN 2022. HE SAYS HIS REASONS WERE BOTH POLITICAL AND PERSONAL. HE'LL REMAIN IN PARLIAMENT AS CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER UNTIL HIS PARTY, THE CENTRE-RIGHT FINE GAEL, APPOINTS A NEW LEADER IN APRIL. THE NEXT IRISH ELECTION'S SET FOR MARCH 2025. THE U.S SECRETARY OF STATE IS HOLDING TALKS WITH SAUDI ARABIAN OFFICIALS TODAY AMID EFFORTS TO SECURE A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. ANTONY BLINKEN ARRIVED IN JEDDAH THIS MORNING, THE FIRST STOP ON HIS LATEST MIDDLE EASTERN TRIP. DISCUSSIONS OF A PLAN TO GOVERN GAZA POST-WAR ARE SAID TO BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA. SEPARATELY, IN QATAR, NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ISRAELI AND HAMAS DELEGATIONS ARE ONGOING IN A RENEWED ATTEMPT TO REACH A TRUCE DEAL. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` NEW SUPPORT FOR DROUGHT-AFFECTED REGIONS. WHERE'S IN THE MOST TROUBLE AS THE DRY SPELL DRAGS ON. THE UNWANTED FRESH COAT OF PAINT OVER THIS NOW WORLD FAMOUS ARTWORK. WHAT LOCALS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR BANKSY BEING ATTACKED. AND WHAT THE WARRIORS ARE SEARCHING FOR AS THEY EYE THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NRL SEASON. AGRICULTURE MINISTER TODD MCCLAY ANNOUNCING THE DECISION TO SUPPORT FARMERS AND GROWERS ACROSS THE CANTERBURY AND OTAGO REGIONS AS THE 'INTENSE DRY SPELL PERSISTS'. FEDERATED FARMERS SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TODAY, DESCRIBING THE DRY CONDITIONS AS 'CHALLENGING'. THE CLASSIFICATION UNLOCKS FURTHER SUPPORT INCLUDING TAX RELIEF AND ENABLES MSD TO CONSIDER RURAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS. SAFETY OF RAILWAY WORKERS IS A NEW CONCERN FOR THE TRANSPORT AND ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION AS THEY LOOK INTO TRAINS WRONGLY DRIVING THROUGH WORKSITES. IT SAYS TRAINS HAVE BEEN WRONGLY AUTHORISED TO DRIVE THROUGH MAINTENANCE ENDANGERING WORKERS ON OR NEAR THE TRACK WHICH THEY PUT DOWN TO STAFFING SHORTAGES AND KNOWLEDGE. THE REPORT FROM TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION COMES AFTER A PAIR OF KIWIRAIL TRACK WORKERS WERE CAUGHT OUT WHILE WORKING THROUGH A TUNNEL ON THE JOHNSONVILLE LINE IN WELLINGTON AS A PASSENGER TRAIN ENTERED THE TUNNEL FORCING THEM TO RUN FOR SAFETY. TAIC IS NOW CALLING FOR KIWIRAIL TO IMPROVE ALL SAFETY PROCEDURES. A U.N. REPORT SAYS RUSSIA HAS CREATED A CLIMATE OF FEAR IN OCCUPIED AREAS OF UKRAINE SINCE ITS INVASION TWO YEARS AGO. IT ACCUSES RUSSIA OF SUPPRESSING THE UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND IDENTITY. BUT IN MOSCOW, VLADIMIR PUTIN IS STILL REVELLING IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VICTORY. THE BBC'S STEVE ROSENBERG HAS MORE. THEY SAY LOCATION IS EVERYTHING. IF YOU WANT TO IMPRESS AN AUDIENCE. SO VLADIMIR PUTIN INVITED HIS CELEBRITY SUPPORTERS TO 1 OF THE SWANKY AS PARTS OF THE KREMLIN. HE WASN'T EASY TO SEE, BUT THE MESSAGING WAS CLEAR. IN THE HALLWAY RUSSIAN CZARS HAD BEEN CRANED *CROWNED THE PRESIDENT THANKED THE VIPS FOR BUCKING HIS ELECTION. WE WERE THERE TOO, ARRAY INVITATION. ASSIGNED OF HIS CONFIDENCE. THIS IS IN EFFECT PUTIN'S VICTORY LAP. THE KREMLIN LEADER WANTED TO THANK HIS MOST FAMOUS FUNDS FOR CHEERING HIM ON. HE WAS HAPPY TO RECEIVE THEIR CONGRATULATIONS. HIS GUESTS LOYALLY DEFENDED A WIDELY CRITICISED ELECTION. DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR ACTION WAS FREE AND FAIR? I THINK THE MOST OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN THE WORLD. WAS THERE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN THE ELECTION? IS THERE A NEED FOR A SERIOUS OPPONENT? WHY? WHY IS THERE NO NEED? WHY DO YOU ALWAYS THINK THE WAY YOU LIVE IS BETTER THAN THE WAY WE LIVE? EVEN THE WAY YOU ASK QUESTIONS, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS DO IT THE WAY WE DO IT? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT YOU AND WE DON'T LIKE YOU MUCH. IN THE KREMLIN, PUTIN REFERRED TO EVENTS IN RUSSIA. AN AREA WITH SUSTAINED SHELLING. CIVILIAN CASUALTIES HAVE BEEN RISING, THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE. WE CAN'T OF COURSE RESPONDED THE SAME WAY. STRIKING CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL SIMILAR SITES ARE ENEMY IS TARGETING. WE HAVE OUR OWN VIEWS ON THAT, OUR OWN PLANS AND WE WILL FOLLOW THEM. POST-ELECTION, PUTIN WILL CLAIM HE HAS A POPULAR MANDATE FOR WHATEVER PLANS HE MAKES AND WHATEVER DECISIONS HE TAKES. EIGHT CREW HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD AFTER A SOUTH-KOREAN TANKER CAPSIZED OFF JAPAN'S WEST COAST. THE SHIP IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ANCHORED DUE TO STORMY WEATHER. THE COAST GUARD SAID IT WAS CARRYING NEARLY 1000 TONS OF ACRYLIC ACID, THOUGH NO LEAKS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. ONE PERSON HAS SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT WHILE TWO OTHERS ARE STILL MISSING. A RESCUE OPERATION IS UNDERWAY. THE U.S HAS BEGUN EVACUATIING ITS CITIZENS FROM HAITI AS GANG VIOLENCE THERE ERUPTS IN NEW AREAS. THE CARIBBEAN COUNTRY HAS BEEN OVERRUN BY ARMED GANGS SINCE THEY LAUNCHED AN INSURRECTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH. MORE THAN 1,500 U.S. CITIZENS HAVE ASKED FOR HELP TO LEAVE HAITI. AMERICAN AIRCRAFT ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF FERRYING EVACUEES BY HELICOPTER FROM THE CAPITAL PORT-AU-PRINCE TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. STREET ARTIST BANKSY'S LATEST PIECE OF WORK HAS BEEN DEFACED. IT APPEARED ON A BUILDING IN LONDON AT THE WEEKEND, LASTING ALL OF FOUR DAYS BEFORE IT WAS VANDALISED, STREWN WITH WHITE PAINT. THE BBC'S ELLIE PRICE HAS MORE. SOMEONE HAS GRAFFITIED THE GRAFFITI, THROWN PAINT OVER THE PAINT THAT WAS THROWN OVER THIS WALL BEHIND THIS TREE. WHY DO PEOPLE DO THINGS LIKE THAT? YOU KNOW, HE WENT TO THE BOTHER OF COMING HERE AND DOING THAT. WE'RE DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS AND COME HERE TO SEE IT. I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH WHOEVER'S DONE THAT. DOES THE WHITE PAINT RUIN THE BANKSY? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. NO, I THINK IT ADDS CHARACTER TO IT. SOMEBODY PUTS PAINT ON A WALL, AND EVERYONE LOVES IT. SOMEBODY ELSE TRIES TO RUIN IT ` I THINK THEY'VE TRIED TO RUIN IT ` AND YET THAT'S SORT OF ALMOST LIKE, 'SHOCK, HORROR. IT'S A CRIME.' WELL, THIS FENCE WASN'T HERE WHEN I CAME HERE ON MONDAY. THAT WAS PUT UP YESTERDAY, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY DID VERY LITTLE TO STOP THE WHITE PAINT BEING THROWN. BUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE TO VISIT THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE TO TRY AND PROTECT IT. THE WORK APPEARED ON SUNDAY. SOME PEOPLE SAY IT LOOKED LIKE THE ILL-FATED SYCAMORE GAP TREE. THE CHERRY TREE HERE IS STILL STANDING, AS WELL AS THE STENCILLED GARDENER, BUT BANKSY HAS BEEN VICTIM OF VANDALS PLENTY OF TIMES, EVEN AS FAR AWAY AS UKRAINE. AND WELL-MEANING CLEANERS LATER UNWITTINGLY DEFACED THIS WORK BY, WELL, WIPING IT OFF ENTIRELY. GRAFFITI AND STREET ART ` IT GETS HIT BY THE WEATHER; IT GETS HIT BY PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN PAINT AND THERE'S A LIMITED SUPPLY OF WALLS THAT YOU CAN DRAW ON. BUT IT IS A REAL SHAME WHEN SOMEBODY AS TALENTED AS BANKSY GETS THEIR WORK, UM, YOU KNOW, RUINED BY SOMEBODY WHO, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, ISN'T QUITE AS ACCOMPLISHED AN ARTIST. EDITIONS BY OTHERS ARE WITHIN THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT OF STREET ART. AND LOOK CLOSELY ` THE WHITE PAINT ISN'T THE ONLY ONE HERE. A COMPLETE 80 MINUTE PERFORMANCE IS WHAT THE WARRIORS ARE SEARCHING FOR AS THEY LOOK TO RECORD THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NEW SEASON. DESPITE SHOWING GLIMPSES OF THEIR BEST THROUGH TWO GAMES, DISCIPLINE AND SWITCHING OFF IN KEY MOMENTS IS PROVING COSTLY. I'M FUSSED WITH TRYING TO GET THE FULL 80 MINUTE PERFORMANCE WHICH WE HAVEN'T QUITE BEEN ABLE TO DO YET. WHEN WE'RE AT TRAINING, WE SORT OF MAKE SURE WE'RE ON FOR THE WHOLE TIME AND HOPEFULLY IF WE DO THAT IT'LL TRANSLATE INTO THE GAME AND WE'LL BE ON FOR THE WHOLE GAME. THE WARRIORS PLAY CURRENT LEAGUE LEADERS THE CANBERRA RAIDERS IN CHRISTCHURCH TOMORROW NIGHT. THE ALL WHITES ARE BRACING FOR A HOSTILE RECEPTION WHEN THEY TAKE ON EGYPT IN CAIRO ON SATURDAY. NEW ZEALAND'S COMPETING IN AN INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT HELD IN THE AFRICAN NATION ALONG WITH TUNISIA AND CROATIA IN THIS MONTH'S INTERNATIONAL BREAK. WHILE THE KIWIS WILL BE RELIEVED THEY WON'T COME UP AGAINST RECOVERING LIVERPOOL STAR MOHAMMAD SALAH. THEY EXPECT TO BE PUT UNDER PRESSURE BY PHARAOHS FANS. TO PLAY EGYPT IN EGYPT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE THAT THAT YOU'D EXPECT A FAIR FEW. WE GOT A PLAN AND WE WANT TO DO. WE ARE TRYING TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP IN 2026. THE ALL WHITES FACE THEIR OWN INJURY WOES WITH CHRIS WOOD, JOE BELL AND TIM PAYNE RULED OUT WITH INJURY. SHOULD NEW ZEALAND AND CROATIA WIN THEIR RESPECTIVE MATCHES THE KIWIS WOULD COME UP AGAINST THE LIKES OF REAL MADRID'S LUKA MODRIC AND JOSKO GVARDIOL OF MANCHESTER CITY. AS LYTTLETON GEARS UP FOR THE SAILGP THIS WEEKEND NEW ZEALAND SAILING GREAT PETER BURLING TOLD 1 NEWS IT'S AN ADVANTAGE SAILING ON HOME TURF. 22,000 SPECTATORS ARE EXPECTED OVER TWO DAYS, MAKING IT THE WORLD'S LARGEST TICKETED SAILING EVENT. THE NEW ZEALAND SAILGP TEAM ARRIVED IN CHRISTCHURCH LAST NIGHT. I THINK IT'S AWESOME TO TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT LESS DISTANCE THAN WE NORMALLY DO. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST HOME ADVANTAGE FOR US, IS COMING IN SUPER FRESH TO THIS EVENT. OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF US HAVE SAILED IN LYTTLETON IN OUR YOUTH. WE DON'T SPEND A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME DOWN HERE, BUT I THINK HAVING THE HOME CROWD CHEERING YOU ON JUST GIVES YOU THAT EXTRA LITTLE BIT OF MOTIVATION AS WELL. RACING KICKS OFF AT 3PM THIS SATURDAY. SHOHEI OHTANI, WHO LAST YEAR SIGNED THE LARGEST SPORTS DEAL IN HISTORY HAS MADE HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED LOS ANGELES DODGERS DEBUT IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON OPENER IN SOUTH KOREA. OHTANI LEFT CROSS TOWN RIVALS THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS TO TAKE UP A 10 YEAR $700M DEAL TO JOIN THE DODGERS. WHILE HE DIDN'T HIT A HOME RUN, HIS FINAL AT BAT HELPING L-A TO VICTORY. ...AND OHTANI WITH A LITTLE BOOPER TO THE LEFT. THAT'S GONNA GET DOWN. ANOTHER RUN FOR THE DODGERS... THE DODGERS GOING ON TO BEAT THE SAN DIEGO PADRES 5-2. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. PLUS, A CRACKING YARN THIS ONE. HOW THIS MAN EGG-CIDENTALLY ORDERED HUNDREDS OF EASTER EGGS BUT HE WON'T BE BEATEN. HIS PLAN TO GET RID OF THEM'S NO YOLK. THAT'S NEXT. THE PERILS OF INTERNET SHOPPING ARE WELL KNOWN ` ORDERING ONLINE ONLY FOR SOMETHING UNEXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED. DAN DAFYDD, WHO OWNS A SMALL SHOP ON AN ORKNEY ISLAND, THOUGHT HE'D ORDERED 80 EASTER EGGS, BUT IN FACT 80 BOXES OF THEM ARRIVED ON HIS DOOR STEP. THE BBC'S KATRINA RENTON HAS THE STORY. DAN'S SHOP SERVES A TINY COMMUNITY ON THE ISLAND OF SANDAY. HE WAS ORDERING CHOCOLATE EGGS FOR EASTER, BUT HE GOT EGGS-TRA BY MISTAKE. I GOT ONLINE, ORDERED EIGHT EASTER EGGS, OR SO I THOUGHT. UM, BUT IN REALITY, I'D ORDERED 80 CASES OF EASTER EGG. THESE KIND OF BOXES AND BOXES AND BOXES OF EGGS WERE COMING OFF THE LORRY. THERE ARE 60 PUPILS AT THE ONLY SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND. WITH 720 CHOCOLATE EGGS, THAT'S 12 EACH. PROBABLY TOO MANY. SO DAN HATCHED A PLAN. I'M STRAIGHT ON TO THE ORDERING SYSTEM, READY TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. 'CAN YOU COME AND GET ALL THESE EGGS?' BEFORE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT ACTUALLY, IT WAS MY MISTAKE AND, UH, 100% MY ERROR. DAN'S CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN CRACKING JOKES ABOUT THE SITUATION. YEAH, A LOT OF JOKES, A LOT OF JOKES, A LOT OF FUN ABOUT IT. I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND ASKING IF WE'VE GOT ANY EASTER EGGS. DAN COULDN'T RETURN THE EXCESS, SO, SCRAMBLING FOR A SOLUTION, HE DECIDED TO RAFFLE 100 OF THEM FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER FOR A CHARITY. BEING A SMALL ISLAND SURROUNDED BY SEA, THE RNLI IS, UH, IS OBVIOUSLY VERY CLOSE TO OUR HEART. MANY INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS WHERE THE RNLI HAVE COME TO THE RESCUE OF PEOPLE HERE, AND IT JUST SEEMED KIND OF RIGHT AND NATURAL THAT WE WOULD, UH, TRY AND BENEFIT THE RNLI FROM MY SILLY MISTAKE. THE CHARITY SAYS IT'S EXTREMELY GRATEFUL, SO THE SHOP HAS BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE SUNNY SIDE. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAYS WEATHER. (KACEY MUSGRAVES' 'DEEPER WELL') # MY SATURN HAS RETURNED. # WHEN I TURNED 27, EVERYTHING STARTED TO CHANGE. # TOOK A LONG TIME, BUT I LEARNED. # THERE'S TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE. ONE IS A GIVER, # BUT ONE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO TAKE # ALL THEY CAN TAKE. # SO I'M SAYIN' GOODBYE TO THE PEOPLE # THAT I FEEL ARE REAL GOOD AT WASTING MY TIME. # NO REGRETS, BABY. I JUST THINK THAT MAYBE # YOU GO YOUR WAY AND I'LL GO MINE. # IT'S BEEN A REAL GOOD TIME. # BUT YOU'VE GOT DARK ENERGY... # THANKS FOR JOINING US. TE KARERE IS HERE AT 4, FOLLOWED BY THE ONE 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 BILLY GARRATT-JOHN AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024