Holiday Breakfast

Festival films are back on the big screen in Auckland. 
In the Shade, Auckland's first international film festival since 2019, gets underway today. 
Spokesperson Courtney Mayhew told Tim Dower it's a great chance to support the city's struggling independent cinemas. 
“If you buy a ticket to the In the Shade film festival, you’re not only supporting that cinema that you’re going to, you’re supporting a long chain of people in New Zealand behind it.” 
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More help is on the way for Tonga - as more details emerge about the scale of death and destruction on the ground. 
Three people have now been confirmed dead -- and many more are injured. 
Two New Zealand naval ships are heading to the islands, carrying water, food, medical supplies, and a desalination plant. 
Defence Minister Peeni Henare told Tim Dower they've requested PPE gear because stores were impacted by the tsunami. 
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James Shaw is pushing back against claims the Greens' cooperation deal with Labour has been bad for the party. 
Several activists have stepped back from high-profile roles in frustration. 
Former leaders and MPs have also publicly criticised Shaw and the party for not taking a strong stance on core party issues like climate change.  
Shaw told Tim Dower he, and the vast majority of Green supporters, see things differently. 
“The cooperation agreement that we’ve got with the Labour Party at the moment, gives the Greens a strong voice both inside and outside the government.” 
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There are concerns a toll being proposed for Auckland's next highway could put people off using it. 
Waka Kotahi is proposing introducing a toll for Penlink – between Whangaparaoa and State Highway 1 in Redvale – when it opens in 2026. 
It's suggesting prices ranging from one-dollar to four dollars, with different costs for peak and off-peak times. 
Penlink Now lobby group member Janet Fitzpatrick told Tim Dower if the toll is too high, it could encourage road users to keep using the existing local road instead. 
“There is a lot of growth going to go on in that area, to encourage people to go back to using the free route, just does not make sense to me.” 
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Ashley Bloomfield is defending the speed of the children's vaccine roll-out. 
Parents around the country have been reporting difficulty in booking vaccines, or have faced long queues at vaccine sites. 
Some pharmacies also claim they haven't received any information about the paediatric roll-out. 
The Director General of Health told Tim Dower they're addressing the issues – but the 14-thousand children vaccinated yesterday is a good start. 
“It’s great to see this high level of interest from both parents and children, I noticed reading the stories, there are a lot of kids who are really keen to have the vaccine.” 
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Brian Tamaki has arrived at Mt Eden Prison, after being arrested for breaching his bail conditions. 
The controversial Destiny Church leader was arrested at rural Papakura home – with his journey to prison being livestreamed online. 
Dozens of supporters have gathered outside the prison to perform a haka – briefly blocking the unmarked police car he was being transported in. 
New Zealand Herald senior writer David Fisher was with him and says the exact reason for his arrest still isn't known. 
Tamaki has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to his attendance at anti-lockdown protests in Auckland last year, including allegations he violated the conditions of his bail. 
Police have also been looking into his attendance at a rally in Christchurch earlier this month. 
“Exactly what that’s in relation to is not known, although it is thought that it is likely the Christchurch event that may have triggered that.” 
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No green light from Auckland, or the rest of the country – for the time being. 
Health officials will provide advice to Cabinet this week on the current traffic light settings – following confirmation that a border worker has the Omicron strain. 
However, Cabinet isn't expected to meet this week to review those settings, as originally planned. 
Viv Beck – the Chief Executive of the Heart of the City business association – says she hasn't heard from the Government since November, and she's pretty disappointed. 
“Businesses are facing staff and supply shortages, and helping them survive and keeping people employed, paying taxes, has got to be a benefit for the country too.” 
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Uptake of the Covid-19 children's vaccine is expected to be high. 
From this morning, almost half a million kids aged between five and 11 are now eligible for the children's Pfizer dose. 
In preparation for the rollout, 120-thousand doses of the paediatric version of the vaccine have been delivered to 500 sites across the country. 
Starship Hospital Developmental Paediatrician Dr Jin Russell told Tim Dower most parents appear to be on board. 
Russell says some parents will take a bit longer to make their decision. 
“I’m hearing from a lot of parents who are feeling positive about it because they’re keen to get their kids back into school and want to see as little disruption to schooling this year as possible.” 
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More details are emerging about a dramatic hostage situation in a Texas synagogue. 
A man was shot dead, after taking a Rabbi and three others hostage during a religious service that was being streamed online. 
One witness says the man was saying anti-Semitic things, talking about Islam, and implied he had a bomb in his backpack. 
US correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower it appears the hostage-taker was British, and was demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist. 
“Aphir Sadhiki, who was convicted of trying to kill US military officers while in custody in Afghanistan, she is now in a Texas federal prison serving an 86-year sentence.” 
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Water is urgently needed in Tonga following Saturday's devastating eruption. 
An Air Force Orion is due to undertake a reconnaissance flight from Auckland's Whenuapai Air Base this morning.  
It will work with Australia, to assist in an initial impact assessment of the area near Tonga and low-lying islands, provided ash cloud dissipates enough to make flying safe. 
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says drinking water appears to have been contaminated by volcanic ash from the eruption. 
She told Tim Dower storage facilities will be used to get restore water supplies. 
Mahuta says restoring communication and power to Tongan communities will also be crucial. 
“They’re able to provide water to their communities, that’s a priority.” 
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