TONIGHT ` AS THE COUNTRY OFFICIALLY TIPS INTO RECESSION, HUNDREDS OF JOBS ARE BEING AXED AT TWO GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES, IN AN EFFORT TO CUT COSTS. OUR BIGGEST BANKS SLAMMED FOR FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF CUSTOMERS. AND FROM HELPING KIDS TO HELPING NATURE ` ONE COUPLE'S HUNDRED-MILLION-DOLLAR CHARITY GIVEAWAY. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 WITH THE COUNTRY OFFICIALLY IN A RECESSION, MAJOR JOB CUTS ARE LOOMING FOR PARTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE. HUNDREDS OF JOBS WILL BE AXED AT THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AND ONE COALITION PARTY LEADER IS CELEBRATING THE MOVE. MPI STAFF DEALING WITH THE NEWS HUNDREDS OF THEIR JOBS ARE SET TO GO. YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE NOWADAYS ` THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A JOB FOR LIFE, THERE'S NO GUARANTEES, SO, YEAH, WE'RE NERVOUS ALL THE TIME. AND HOW'S EVERYONE FEELING IN THERE? (CLEARS THROAT) KEI TE PAI. ORA TONU. I THINK PEOPLE ARE UNEASY, BUT YEAH. IN AN EMAIL SENT OUT TODAY, MPI IS LOOKING TO LOSE 9% OF ITS WORKFORCE, AROUND 384 ROLES, 40% OF THEM CURRENTLY VACANT, LEAVING 230 CURRENT STAFF GONE. STAFF ARE GUTTED. I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT AN INDUSTRY THAT'S NOW VERY VULNERABLE, WITH THESE POTENTIAL CUTS. THE PSA SAYS THE PROPOSAL POSES A HUGE RISK TO OUR PRIMARY SECTOR. THE COST-CUTTING WILL HIT VITAL SUPPORT THAT THEY RECEIVE IN THE PRIMARY SECTOR. I MEAN, YOU'VE ALSO GOT AN EXPORT ECONOMY THAT RELIES ON, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, WORLD-CLASS BIOSECURITY AND DISEASE CONTROL, AND THIS IS BEING PUT AT RISK. MPI ISN'T THE ONLY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT FACING JOB LOSSES; THE HEALTH MINISTRY ALSO ANNOUNCING TODAY IT PLANS TO SLASH 25% OF ITS STAFF ` AROUND 180 ROLES. MY HEART GOES OUT TO ANYONE WHO LOSES THEIR JOB, IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT NO GOVERNMENT CAN LIVE BEYOND ITS MEANS INDEFINITELY. THE CUTS COME AS PUBLIC AGENCIES CONTINUE TO FACE PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS. 16,000 MORE PUBLIC SERVANTS WERE ADDED IN TO WELLINGTON, YET EVERYTHING WENT BACKWARDS, AND SO WE HAVE TO RIGHT SIZE IT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH TIME. BUT WHILE PUBLIC SERVANTS STARE DOWN THE BARREL OF UNEMPLOYMENT, THE ACT PARTY IS CELEBRATING, IN A TWEET DESCRIBING THE CUTS AS 'GOOD'. WELL, LOOK, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAVID SEYMOUR'S COMMENTS. IT IS GOOD THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS ENSURING THAT RESOURCES GO TO THE FRONT LINE, WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST. AS FOR FUTURE JOB LOSSES, THE FINANCE MINISTER WASN'T ABLE TO CONFIRM HOW MANY ROLES COULD GO. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER YET. I EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS, AS WE PRIORITISE FUNDING FOR FRONTLINE SERVICES. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. A CONFRONTING WARNING FOR ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS. ISOBEL PRASAD, 1 NEWS. OUR FOREIGN SPY AGENCY, THE GCSB, ALLOWED A FOREIGN STATE TO DEPLOY SPYING HARDWARE HERE WITHOUT EVER ALERTING THE GOVERNMENT. THE INTELLIGENCE WATCHDOG DESCRIBED 'SIGNIFICANT FAILINGS', AS SENIOR OFFICIALS WITHIN THE GCSB WERE ALSO KEPT IN THE DARK. AND IT'S POSSIBLE THE SYSTEM COULD CONTRIBUTE TO MILITARY TARGETING. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS EXPLAINS. FOR NEARLY A DECADE OUR POLITICIANS WERE OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT THE GCSB HAD INSTALLED SPY HARDWARE ON BEHALF OF A FOREIGN NATION. IT COULD BE USED TO IDENTIFY TARGETS, POTENTIALLY FOR MILITARY ATTACKS. A DAMNING REPORT BY OUR INTELLIGENCE WATCHDOG TODAY SAYS OUR SPIES KEPT OUR POLITICIANS IN THE DARK FROM 2012 TO 2020. THE FACT THAT NONE OF OUR POLITICAL DECISION-MAKERS, THE APPROPRIATE MINISTERS AT THE TIME, NOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GCSB WERE AWARE OF THIS CAPABILITY IS ASTOUNDING. THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY EVENTS THAT WERE TIED TO OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS LEGISLATION. WHAT I'D SAY IS THAT HAS CHANGED ` OPERATING PRACTICE OF THE AGENCY HAS CHANGED AS WELL. CAN YOU SAY WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS USED TO INJURE OR KILL ` FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE MISSIONS? OH, LOOK, I CAN'T, AND I DON'T COMMENT ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. WHILE THE REPORT DOESN'T IDENTIFY THE STATE,... PRESUMABLY ONE OF THE FIVE-EYES PARTNERS, AND I WOULD RECKON PROBABLY THE UNITED STATES ` THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY. ...THE EXACT NATURE OF THE HARDWARE HASN'T BEEN REVEALED. BUT IT COULD BE OPERATED REMOTELY BY THE FOREIGN STATE. AND WE CAN'T BE SURE IF IT WAS USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEW ZEALAND LAW. IT IS WORRYING THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. AS A GOVERNMENT, YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR SECURITY AGENCIES ARE DOING AND INADVERTENTLY OR DIRECTLY SUPPORTING. SO YOU HAVE A FOREIGN AGENCY OPERATING A HIGH TECHNOLOGY FOR ESPIONAGE PURPOSES ON NEW ZEALAND SOIL, AND NO ONE IN OUR CHAIN OF COMMAND WAS AWARE OF WHAT IT WAS DOING. GCSB BOSS ANDREW CLARK REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED, AS DID THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. AS THE ECONOMY DECLINES INTO RECESSION, THE COUNTRY'S BIG BANKS ARE COMING UNDER SCRUTINY FROM THE COMMERCE COMMISSION, AS IT INVESTIGATES PERSONAL BANKING SERVICES. THE COMMISSION SAYS THE BIG FOUR BANKS, WHO HAVE 90% OF THE MARKET, HAVE FOCUSED ON PROFIT AND NOT INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY OR INNOVATION. IT'S CALLING FOR DISRUPTIVE FORCES TO BE INTRODUCED. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. LAST YEAR ANZ MADE A WHOPPING $2.2B PROFIT FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 2023. BNZ POSTED A RECORD PROFIT OF $1.5B FOR THE SAME PERIOD. AND WESTPAC TOO ` IT RAKED IN $963M, WHILE ASB MADE MORE THAN $1.5B FOR THE YEAR TO JUNE 2023. IN A MOMENT WE LOOK AT ONE OPTION TO INCREASE COMPETITION ` OPEN BANKING. FIRST, BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD ON WHERE THE DISRUPTION COULD COME FROM AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE WAY YOU BANK. SO WE HAVE A MAVERICK STREAK. THE SELF-STYLED MAVERICK, KIWIBANK WAS SET UP AS THE LOCALLY OWNED MARKET DISRUPTOR. WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT THE OWNER OF KIWIBANK REALLY GET BEHIND THAT AND TURN IT INTO A DISRUPTIVE FORCE. TO DO THAT, IT NEEDS PRIVATE INVESTMENT OR MORE CASH FROM THE GOVERNMENT. 90% OF THE BANKING MARKET IS TAKEN UP BY THE BIG FOUR, THEN THERE'S KIWIBANK AND A SMATTERING OF SMALLER PLAYERS, WHO STRUGGLE TO GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR. ARE KIWIS BEING RIPPED OFF? WELL, LOOK, I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF THAT, AND, CLEARLY, THE COMCOM HAS COME TO A VIEW THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME MEASURES AROUND COMPETITION. IT BECOMES THE IMPETUS OF POLITICIANS TO PROPERLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND TO PUT IN PLACE EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THAT FEELING OF CUSTOMERS BEING RIPPED OFF. THE FOUR BIG BANKS MAKE BIGGER PROFITS HERE THAN OVERSEAS. AND WHILE THEY'LL MATCH EACH OTHER'S OFFERS, THEY RARELY BEAT THEM. THE BANKS HAVE VERY HIGH, FREQUENT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT EACH OTHER IS DOING IN THAT MARKET, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY DO THERE IS THEY WILL CUT FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S REALLY NEGOTIATING, BUT THAT CUT WON'T GO ACROSS THE REST OF THE MARKET. AND THAT'S NOT JUST AT THE EXPENSE OF CUSTOMERS, BUT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TOO. IN THE '80s AND '90s, WE INTRODUCED EFTPOS AND INTERNET BANKING. WE'VE NOW FALLEN BEHIND ON THE INNOVATION FRONT, AND CUSTOMERS ARE MISSING OUT. THIS IS USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR MAYBE YOUR INTERNET EXPERIENCE, WHERE YOU CAN MOVE MONEY AROUND EASIER. YOU CAN FREE UP FUNDS, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUT OF YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT BE USED ON EVERYDAY USE WITHOUT IMPACTING YOUR FUNDS. NO BANK WOULD APPEAR ON CAMERA TODAY, ALL ISSUED STATEMENTS ` ANZ STRONGLY REJECTED CLAIMS PROFITS WERE TOO HIGH. THE COMMERCE COMMISSION MAKES A REALLY INTERESTING POINT THAT THE PROFITS THAT BANKS ARE MAKING ARE SIMPLY A REFLECTION OF THE SIZE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT THEY ARE, AND THEY THEN GO ON TO SAY THAT, ACTUALLY, REGULATION AND REQUIREMENTS AROUND REGULATIONS ARE WHAT ARE PROVIDING A REAL HINDRANCE. KIWIS AREN'T GETTING A FAIR DEAL, AND THEY SHOULD. THERE'RE 16 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RESERVE BANK AND GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER, WITH A FINAL REPORT DUE IN AUGUST. AS KATIE HAS MENTIONED, THE REVIEW WANTS OPEN BANKING IN PLACE WITHIN TWO YEARS. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS OPEN BANKING, AND HOW WILL IT HELP YOU? LAURA FRYKBERG HAS BEEN FINDING OUT. MOVING YOUR MONEY OR MORTGAGE FROM ONE BANK TO ANOTHER, WHATEVER THE REASON, SHOULD BE SIMPLE, RIGHT? THE FACT IS, THOUGH, FOR MANY OF US, IT CAN SEEM JUST TOO DIFFICULT. I HAVEN'T TRIED. I'VE BEEN MEANING TO FOR AGES, BUT I CAN'T BE BOTHERED WITH THE ADMIN, TO BE HONEST. WITH A BANK THAT'S KINDA DIGITAL FIRST, I FOUND IT EASY, BUT WITH OTHER OLDER BANKS MAYBE HAVE BEEN SLOWER TO ADAPT TO THAT, IT HAS BEEN A BIT OF A BALL-ACHE. BUT THE COMMERCE COMMISSION SAYS IT COULD ALL BE SO MUCH EASIER THROUGH A SYSTEM CALLED OPEN BANKING THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CONTROL YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL DATA, AND FOR OTHERS, WHO YOU CHOOSE, TO ACCESS IT TOO, MAKING IT EASIER TO OPEN NEW ACCOUNTS AT DIFFERENT BANKS AND TO SHARE IT WITH THIRD PARTIES, LIKE APPS, TO HELP MANAGE YOUR BILLS. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE YOUR MONEY MORE FREELY, THEN THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY TRY TO DO MORE TO KEEP YOU. IT'S NOT A NEW IDEA ` WORK BEGAN ON IT IN 2017, BUT WAS DESCRIBED AS TOO SLOW. SO IN 2021 A NEW LAW WAS PASSED THAT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO SHARE DATA HELD ABOUT THEM WITH TRUSTED THIRD PARTIES. BUT THE SYSTEM IS STILL LAGGING BEHIND OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE THE UK AND AUSTRALIA. THE BANKING SECTOR HAS BEEN ON NOTICE FOR YEARS THAT THIS IS A REQUIREMENT. IN FACT, IT'S BEEN MANDATED BY GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DO THIS. IT'S FRANKLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT OPEN BANKING IMPLEMENTED IN NEW ZEALAND YET. IT DOES HAVE ITS CRITICS, THOUGH. SOME SAY IT COULD MAKE BANKING INFORMATION MORE VULNERABLE TO DATA BREACHES. THE WIDER THAT ACCESS IS, THE GREATER THE RISK THAT SOMEBODY CAN GET IN AND HAVE A BREACH, SO THERE IS A DEFINITELY A HIGHER RISK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES ON TO MANAGE THAT. WHILE IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS FOR OPEN BANKING HERE, THE COMMERCE COMMISSION WANTS IT FULLY OPERATIONAL BY 2026, TO GIVE US MORE SAY ON OUR FINANCES. LAURA FRYKBERG, 1 NEWS. IN OTHER BUSINESS NEWS, THE PROFIT OF OUR BIGGEST COMPANY, FONTERRA, HAS JUMPED BY 23% IN ITS INTERIM RESULTS. NET PROFIT IS UP TO $674M. THE CO-OPERATIVE SAYS THE STRONG PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY HIGHER MARGINS AND SALES VOLUMES. PROFITS FROM CHINA HAVE JUMPED BY ALMOST 70%, BUT CORE OPERATIONS PROFIT HAS DROPPED BY A THIRD. FONTERRA SAYS IT REMAINS FOCUSED ON REDUCING COSTS AND IS WELL PREPARED FOR ANY DISRUPTION CAUSED BY OVERSEAS EVENTS. A PAIR OF RICH-LISTERS HAVE DISHED OUT A WHOPPING $100M OVER THE PAST DECADE AS PART OF THEIR OBJECTIVE TO HELP IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND. NOW EVERY DOLLAR HAS BEEN SPENT, NEAL AND ANNETTE PLOWMAN HOPE MORE WEALTHY KIWIS WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE. YVONNE TAHANA WENT TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE COUPLE'S GENEROSITY. INSIDE THIS LITTLE STEEL BOX IS A TUBE OF MAYONNAISE. IT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE IT, BUT THIS IS HIGH-TECH ` $30M TO HELP FUND AI PREDATOR-FIGHTING TECHNOLOGY. BECAUSE IT'S SO SENSITIVE, IT CAN DETECT THE LAST ANIMAL IN THE LANDSCAPE. SO IF WE'RE GONNA GET TO PREDATOR-FREE NZ, IT'S THESE SORT OF TOOLS THAT ARE OPENING THE GAME. $10M SPENT RAISING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MAORI AND PACIFIC CHILDREN. THE EXTRAORDINARY SUPPORT THEY'VE GIVEN US HAS ENABLED US TO ACTUALLY OUTREACH TO 130 SCHOOLS, MORE THAN 30,000 KIDS. BEHIND IT ALL ` PUBLICITY-SHY KIWI COUPLE ANNETTE AND NEAL PLOWMAN, WHO MADE THEIR FORTUNE IN LAUNDRY SERVICES. 10 YEARS AGO, THEY SET UP THE NEXT FOUNDATION, GIVING IT $100M. (APPLAUSE) THE MISSION ` TO SPEND IT ALL ON TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES, LIKE PREDATOR-FREE 2050 PROJECTS. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AT A PRIVATE PARTY LAST NIGHT, THE PLOWMANS CELEBRATED EVERY LAST CENT BEING SPENT. ANNETTE PLOWMAN HAD A SIMPLE MESSAGE, ASKING THOSE WHO COULD TO GIVE AWAY HALF THEIR WEALTH DURING THEIR LIFETIME. IT'S SUCH A STRONG MORAL POSITION ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING. IT'S MORE REWARDING FOR THE PEOPLE. IT'S ACTUALLY DEALING WITH THINGS NOW, RATHER THAN PUTTING THEM OFF INTO THE FUTURE. NEARLY $4B GOES INTO THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR EACH YEAR, BUT WHAT MADE NEXT DIFFERENT IS ITS SIZE. THE NEXT FOUNDATION IS QUITE UNIQUE, AND IT IS QUITE PIONEERING IN MANY WAYS, IN TERMS OF THE SCALE AND THE AMBITION THAT THEY HAD AND HOW THEY WENT ABOUT DOING IT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHILE THE INVESTMENT HAS FINISHED, THE MAHI HASN'T. THEY SAY UNLESS SOMETHING GETS SCALED, THEN YOU'VE HAD A WONDERFUL HOBBY. WELL, WE WANT IT TO BE MORE THAN A HOBBY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT ACTUALLY BENEFITS NZERS AND THE NZ ECONOMY. NEXT ITSELF IS CHANGING, SUPPORTING A NEW CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY, TO HELP SPREAD THE MISSION OF GIVING NOW. YVONNE TAHANA, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ` STAFF MEMBERS AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE PRINCESS OF WALES WAS TREATED ARE INVESTIGATED OVER CLAIMS THEY TRIED TO READ HER MEDICAL RECORDS. PLUS, JOSEPH PARKER EYES HIS NEXT OPPONENT ` WHY THE MAN HE WANTS TO FIGHT ISN'T WHO HE'S CONTRACTED TO TAKE ON. AT LEAST THREE STAFF MEMBERS AT AN EXCLUSIVE LONDON HOSPITAL ARE BEING INVESTIGATED OVER CLAIMS THEY ATTEMPTED TO VIEW THE MEDICAL RECORDS OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. THE LONDON CLINIC COULD NOW FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM UK POLICE IN WHAT IS ANOTHER UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ROYALS. CHANNEL 9'S EDWARD GODFREY REPORTS. QUEEN CAMILLA IN THE ISLE OF MAN, GREETING AN ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD GATHERED FOR A SERIES OF OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS. THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S THOSE OUT OF SIGHT WHO CONTINUE TO DOMINATE HEADLINES. SPECIFICALLY THE PRINCESS OF WALES. REPORTS AS MANY AS THREE STAFF AT THE LONDON CLINIC WHERE SHE UNDERWENT SURGERY IN JANUARY ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ATTEMPTING TO VIEW HER MEDICAL RECORDS. IT'S PRETTY SEVERE, AND IT'S PRETTY SERIOUS STUFF TO BE ACCESSING NOTES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO ACCESS. SO THE LONDON CLINIC COULD BE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE. ALSO ANY INDIVIDUALS AS WELL. THE HEALTH MINISTER SAYS POLICE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THAT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THE POLICE DEEM THIS WORTHY OF LAUNCHING A SEPARATE INVESTIGATION. IT'S NOW BEING HANDLED BY A GROUP CALLED THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, WHO HAVE THE JURISDICTION TO LAUNCH A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. A BRIEF COMMENT FROM KENSINGTON PALACE ` THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL IS KNOWN FOR TREATING THE RICH AND FAMOUS AND ITS DISCRETION. IN A STATEMENT, THE CLINIC'S CEO SAID THE HOSPITAL HAS MONITORING SYSTEMS IN PLACE, AND IN THE CASE OF ANY BREACH, ALL APPROPRIATE STEPS WILL BE TAKEN, ADDING, 'THERE IS NO PLACE AT THE HOSPITAL FOR THOSE 'WHO INTENTIONALLY BREACH THE TRUST OF PATIENTS OR COLLEAGUES.' PARTICULARLY WITH ELECTRONIC NOTES THESE DAYS, IT'S SPOTTED PRETTY QUICKLY IF SOMEONE'S ACCESSING NOTES THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE. FRENZIED SPECULATION ABOUT THE PRINCESS'S CONDITION CONTINUES, EVEN AFTER VIDEO EMERGED OF HER FROM THE WEEKEND. IT'S UNDERSTOOD SHE'S BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ALLEGED PRIVACY BREACH. THE COMEBACK IS NOT FINISHED YET ` FAR FROM IT. JOSEPH PARKER WANTS THE BIG NAMES AND ANOTHER WORLD TITLE. HIS RETURN TO THE TOP FLIGHT OF HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS HAS BEEN ONE OF SPORT'S GREAT REDEMPTION STORIES. WE VISITED PARKER TODAY, A RARE DAY OFF AT HOME IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. SHAKE HANDS. ALL RIGHT, SHAKE THIS HAND. JOSEPH PARKER IS BACK WITH THE BIG DOGS OF HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING ` ALTHOUGH THE FOCUS TODAY WAS MORE ON LITTLE PEOPLE. EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE FEELS LIKE IT'S PERFECT. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, PARKER'S FAMILY ` BACK WITH HIS WIFE AND FOUR DAUGHTERS AFTER HIS LATEST WIN, A COMEBACK VICTORY OVER CHINESE GIANT ZHI ZHANG TWO WEEKS AGO. HE'S CONTRACTED FOR A REMATCH AGAINST ZHANG, BUT BOXING DEALS CAN CHANGE QUICKLY. WE'RE BOTH INTERESTED IN THE REMATCH. LET'S DO IT AGAIN? YEAH, BUT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IF THEY WANNA PUT IT ON ` YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN SAUDI ARABIA AND THE PROMOTERS. PARKER'S RE-POSITIONING AND RENAISSANCE IS QUITE REMARKABLE. AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD AND ANDY RUIZ, I HIT A DARK PLACE, THERE. IT'S JUST THAT NO ONE REALLY KNEW ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN YOU BECOME CHAMPION AT A YOUNG AGE, AND YOU GOT MONEY AND YOU GOT EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOU, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE BEST THING FOR YOU. 18 MONTHS AGO, HIS CAREER DIPPED EVEN FURTHER ` A KNOCKOUT DEFEAT TO ENGLISHMAN JOE JOYCE. HOW SERIOUSLY DID YOU THINK ABOUT CHUCKING IT IN THEN? NEVER. INSTEAD, PARKER HIRED AN AMERICAN NUTRITIONIST AND FITNESS TRAINER, FORMER MMA FIGHTER AND MARINE GEORGE LOCKHART. EAT THIS, DO THIS, REST THIS TIME, TRAIN AT THIS TIME, AND MORE MUSCLE, MORE SPEED, MORE POWER. THE 32-YEAR-OLD NOW FINDS HIMSELF WINNING AGAIN, HIGHLY RANKED AND LOVED BY THE BIG-MONEY SAUDI BACKERS. HE BELIEVES HE HAS THREE MORE YEARS IN THE GAME, TOPS. I THINK YEARS AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID YOU'D RETIRE AT 30. I SAID, 30, 31. YEAH. I THINK COVID SORT OF PUSHED THAT PLAN OUT. (CHUCKLES) AND WINNING ALSO PUSHES THAT PLAN OUT? YES, AND WINNING ALSO PUSHES IT OUT. THE PARKERS WILL SOON WELCOME A FIFTH CHILD, A SON, NEXT MONTH. HOW TIME FLIES! I WAS, LIKE, 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD. HOW OLD DOES DADDY LOOK HERE? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE, LIKE, 13 OR 12. NO! I WAS 18. FROM BABYFACE TO HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER, AGAIN. MY PASSION FOR THE SPORT IS WAY STRONGER THAN IT WAS BEFORE. JUST AHEAD ` YOUR WEATHER, AND WHY MARK KNOPFLER HAS RE-RELEASED THIS CLASSIC TRACK WITH SOME GUITAR SUPERHEROES. (JOYOUS MULTI-GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL) FORMER DIRE STRAITS FRONTMAN MARK KNOPFLER AND HIS 'GUITAR HEROES' SUPERGROUP, WHICH INCLUDES 54 GUEST ARTISTS, INCLUDING STING, NILE RODGERS AND BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO RE-RELEASE 'GOING HOME'. THE SONG IS A RE-RECORDING OF THE INSTRUMENTAL THEME TRACK TO 1983 MOVIE 'LOCAL HERO'. HERE'S A SNIPPET OF THE NEW VERSION. (JOYOUS MULTI-GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL) STING AND ERIC CLAPTON, WHO HAVE PLAYED WITH KNOPFLER IN THE PAST, HAVE ALSO JOINED UP WITH HIM AGAIN. THE SONG HAS BEEN RELEASED TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST UK AND TEEN CANCER AMERICA. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER, WITH A LITTLE MORE OF MARK KNOPFLER'S GUITAR HEROES AND 'GOING HOME'. (LILTING CELTIC-ROCK GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL) (JOYOUS MULTI-GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL BUILDS) (SOARING GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL CONTINUES) THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. PO MANAHAU. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024