TONIGHT, THE PERILOUS MISSION TO SAVE 12 BOYS AND THEIR FOOTBALL COACH STUCK INSIDE A CAVE IN THAILAND. A NAVY SEAL DIVER DIES TRYING TO SET UP THE MASSIVE RESCUE OPERATION. THE UK IS RALLYING ITS ALLIES AGAINST RUSSIA ONCE AGAIN AFTER ANOTHER TWO PEOPLE FALL ILL TO THE DEADLY CHEMICAL WEAPON NOVICHOK, WHICH STRUCK DOWN THE SKRIPALS IN MARCH. AND WELLINGTON'S HARBOUR VISITOR HAS CAUSED THE POSTPONEMENT OF A FIREWORKS DISPLAY PLANNED TO CELEBRATE MATARIKI OR THE MAORI NEW YEAR. NOW THE WHALE'S GETTING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. CAPTIONS BY ELIZABETH WELSH AND CATHERINE DE CHALAIN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. RESCUERS IN THAILAND ARE VOWING TO FORGE ON WITH THEIR EFFORT TO SAVE 12 BOYS AND THEIR COACH DEEP INSIDE A CAVE, DESPITE THE DEATH OF A NAVY SEAL. HE DIED WHILE TRYING TO TAKE IN SUPPLIES FOR THE RESCUE MISSION TO GET THE BOYS OUT. BUT AS THE HOURS AND DAYS TICK BY, THE MONSOON RAINS THREATEN TO PROLONG THE RESCUE ATTEMPT. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. JUST THREE DAYS AGO, THESE PICTURES OF AN UNLIKELY MIRACLE GAVE THE WORLD HOPE. TODAY, THE CAVES THEY'RE TRAPPED IN DELIVERED ONLY HEARTBREAK, WITH NEWS ONE OF THE THAI CAVE TEEN'S WOULD-BE RESCUERS HAS DIED IN HIS EFFORTS TO SAVE THEM. FORMER THAI NAVY SEAL SAMAN GUANA RUNNING OUT OF AIR ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A MISSION TO PLACE OXYGEN CANISTERS THROUGHOUT THE CAVE. TRANSLATOR: THE CONDITIONS IN THE CAVE ARE TOUGH. ONCE HE PLACED THE OXYGEN TANKS, PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS SAMAN PASSED OUT ON HIS WAY BACK. HIS BUDDY TRIED TO ADMINISTER FIRST AID, BUT HE DID NOT RESPOND. TODAY'S TRAGEDY A SHOCKING REALITY CHECK OF THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN THE PLAN AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS TO MAKE THE GROUP, WHOSE YOUNGEST MEMBER IS JUST 11, WALK, SWIM AND, IN PARTS, DIVE BACK THROUGH DARK, NARROW PASSAGEWAYS TO THE ENTRANCE. IF IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT A FORMER SEAL DIED IN THE CAVE, DOES THAT NOT MEAN IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO BRING CHILDREN THROUGH? YES, YEAH, YEAH. BUT WE TRY EVERYTHING. THE OPERATION'S COMPLICATED BY RAPIDLY APPROACHING MONSOON RAINS, THREATENING TO REFLOOD THE CAVES. FRANTIC ATTEMPTS TO LOWER WATER LEVELS TO A POINT THE BOYS COULD WALK OUT ARE ONGOING. THE THAI ARMY'S SPREAD FURTHER INTO THE VAST MOUNTAINS TO TRY TO DRAIN WATER FROM DIFFERENT POINTS, DIVERTING STREAMS AND CREATING DAMS. BUT DEEP INTO THE CAVE, DIVING REMAINS THE ONLY OPTION. IF THEY AREN'T OUT SOON, THE ALTERNATIVE IS A POTENTIALLY MONTH-LONG WAIT. THERE ARE REPORTS AT LEAST TWO OF THE BOYS ARE SUFFERING EXHAUSTION FROM MALNUTRITION, AS IS THE COACH. THE THAI NAVY SEAL'S COMMANDER TODAY SAYING THEY WON'T PANIC OR LET PETTY OFFICER SAMAN'S LIFE BE IN VAIN. TRANSLATOR: WE WILL NOT STOP OUR MISSION. BUT NEARLY TWO WEEKS IN, WE NOW HAVE PROOF OF HOW DEADLY THAT MISSION COULD BE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. THE DEATH OF THAT NAVY SEAL HAS HAD A MAJOR AFFECT ON THE RESCUE CREWS ON THE GROUND. AS CHANNEL NINE'S ALICE MONFRIES EXPLAINS. EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS RESCUE IS VERY DEVASTATED BY WHAT'S HAPPENED, BUT THERE'S A REAL SENSE OF 'WE'RE GOING TO VOW TO PUSH ON 'TO MAKE SURE WE GET THESE BOYS OUT'. WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH A LOT OF THE RESCUERS AND THE DIVERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS INSTANCE. THEY TELL US THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MAN'S OXYGEN CABLE ` SOMEHOW, IT WAS LEAKING. HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. HE WAS PULLED OUT THE FRONT OF THE CAVE, BUT DIED A SHORT TIME LATER. REALLY, THEY'RE FACED WITH THIS QUESTION OF DO THEY RUSH TO GET THE BOYS OUT? WE'VE JUST SEEN AN EXPERIENCED NAVY SEAL DIE IN THE ATTEMPT, SO YOU WOULD IMAGINE FOR THESE YOUNG CHILDREN, IT'S INCREDIBLY RISKY. THEY HAD HOPED TO KEEP THEM IN THE CAVE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO WAIT IT OUT WHERE THEY ARE SAFE THERE, BUT THEY ARE NOW CONCERNED` SO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RAIN AND THE FACT THAT IT WILL FURTHER FLOOD THAT CAVE THAT THEY'RE SAYING THEY NEED TO MOVE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. STAYING IN THAILAND, AND AT LEAST 21 PEOPLE ARE NOW CONFIRMED TO HAVE DIED AFTER A BOAT CARRYING CHINESE TOURISTS SANK IN A STORM. IT HAPPENED OFF THE COAST OF THE RESORT ISLAND OF PHUKET ON THURSDAY EVENING. SOME OF THE BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED BY DIVERS WHO HAVE ENTERED THE WRECK. THE BOAT WAS CARRYING 105 PEOPLE AT THE TIME IT SANK. AT LEAST 35 PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING. BRITAIN IS RALLYING ITS ALLIES FOR A RESPONSE TO RUSSIA AFTER ANOTHER POISONING BY A RUSSIAN-MADE NERVE AGENT. TWO PEOPLE ARE STILL IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. IT'S BELIEVED THEY HANDLED LEFTOVERS FROM AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON A RUSSIAN SPY. 1 NEWS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT JOY REID REPORTS FROM SALISBURY. MOTHER-OF-THREE DAWN STURGESS IN A SALISBURY STORE LAST FRIDAY. 24 HOURS LATER, SHE AND CHARLIE ROWLEY WERE IN INTENSIVE CARE. SO FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR MONTHS, CORDONS AND QUESTIONS AFTER A MILITARY-GRADE NERVE AGENT RETURNS TO THIS PEACEFUL COMMUNITY. WHY HERE? WHY NOW? WHY THESE PEOPLE? IS IT TARGETED? IS IT RANDOM? CAN WE EXPECT ANY MORE OF THESE? POLICE PACKING THE RESIDENCE WHERE CHARLIE ROWLEY AND DAWN STURGESS COLLAPSED ON SATURDAY. NEIGHBOURS NOW HAVE TO SIGN IN AND OUT OF THEIR HOMES. IT'S WORRYING. I'M NERVOUS ABOUT IT, OBVIOUSLY. BUT I'M TRYING NOT TO PANIC TOO MUCH. ALSO LOCKED DOWN, THE PARK WHERE CHARLIE ROWLEY ATTENDED THIS CHURCH COMMUNITY EVENT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. BUT WE WEREN'T AWARE OF HIS CONDITION, NATURALLY. I LOVE HIM TO BITS. I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM, AND YET IT HAS. IT'S HEARTBREAKING. POLICE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON A PARK THE PAIR VISITED THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY FELL ILL. IT'S CLOSE TO WHERE FORMER RUSSIAN SPY SERGEI SKRIPAL AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE DELIBERATELY POISONED. IT'S THOUGHT THE PAIR MAY HAVE TOUCHED SOMETHING LIKE A VIAL OR SYRINGE HERE THAT HAD BEEN DISCARDED BY THE SKRIPALS' WOULD-BE ASSASSINS. POLICE ARE YET TO OFFICIALLY TIE THE TWO CASES TOGETHER. WE HAVE THE WEAPON. WE HAVE THE LOCATION. BUT WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS ANY OF THE SUSPECTS AND HOW ALL OF THOSE PARTS CAME TOGETHER. OFFICIALS INSIST THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC IS LOW, BUT SOME ARE STILL SCARED. I'VE GOT TWO CHILDREN. THEY'RE OF AN AGE NOW WHERE THEY'RE OUT AND ABOUT, GOING TO LOCAL PARKS AND THINGS. I'VE HAD A TALK WITH THEM THIS MORNING ` 'DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING'. AFTER THE FIRST NERVE AGENT ATTACK, AUTHORITIES SPENT WEEKS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DECONTAMINATING AFFECTED SITES. AND NOW SALISBURY LOCALS FIND THEMSELVES AGAIN WITH POLICE TAPE, UNCERTAINTY AND FACING QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER THEIR TOWN IS SAFE. HOW CAN WE KNOW? HOW CAN THE AUTHORITIES KNOW OR DECLARE ANYWHERE SAFE? THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE. BRITAIN IS ONCE AGAIN BLAMING RUSSIA. IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE TO BE EITHER DELIBERATE OR ACCIDENTAL TARGETS OR FOR OUR STREETS, OUR PARKS, OUR TOWNS TO BE DUMPING GROUNDS FOR POISON. BUT MOSCOW INSISTS IT'S BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT THAT WILL HAVE TO APOLOGISE. WELL, AS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT JOY REID SAYS, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS NOW TRYING TO TALK TO ITS ALLIES TO FORMULATE AN INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THIS, JUST AS IT DID AFTER THE FIRST NOVICHOK ATTACK ON THE SKRIPALS. IT'S NOT YET KNOWN WHETHER NEW ZEALAND IS GOING TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, THOUGH, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND RUSSIA IS ALREADY AT AN ALL-TIME LOW, AND THIS JUST THREATENS TO ESCALATE MATTERS. AND TO ADD TO THE COMPLEX DIPLOMACY IS THE FACT THAT ENGLAND COULD PLAY RUSSIA AT THE SOCCER WORLD CUP IF BOTH TEAMS WIN THEIR QUARTER FINAL MATCHES THIS WEEKEND. NOW, ALSO, THIS LATEST NERVE AGENT INCIDENT MAY ACTUALLY BE HELPING POLICE TRY AND TRACK DOWN THE PERPETRATORS OR THE PEOPLE THAT DID TRY AND MURDER THE SKRIPALS BACK IN MARCH. SOURCES CLOSE TO THE INVESTIGATION HAVE TOLD BRITISH MEDIA THAT POLICE NOW KNOW WHO THE WOULD-BE ASSASSINS WERE. MEANWHILE, THE MASTERMIND BEHIND JAPAN'S WORST EVER CHEMICAL ATTACK MORE THAN A DECADE AGO HAS BEEN EXECUTED. CULT LEADER SHOKO ASAHARA AND HIS FOLLOWERS RELEASED SARIN GAS IN THE TOKYO UNDERGROUND IN 1995. THE TOXIN HIT VICTIMS WITHIN SECONDS, CAUSING CHOKING, VOMITING, BLINDESS AND PARALYSIS. 13 PEOPLE DIED AND THOUSANDS WERE INJURED. 24 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN MEXICO AFTER A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS TORE THROUGH FIREWORKS WORKSHOPS. (EXPLOSION) FOUR FIREFIGHTERS AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS WHO'D RUSHED TO THE SCENE OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION ARE AMONG THE DEAD. THEY WERE KILLED IN SUBSEQUENT BLASTS. AT LEAST 49 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED. IT HAPPENED IN A TOWN JUST NORTH OF THE CAPITAL, MEXICO CITY, WHERE MANY OF ITS RESIDENTS MAKE A LIVING FROM MAKING AND SELLING FIREWORKS. CYCLONES AND OTHER WEATHER EXTREMES ARE PREDICTED TO BE THE NEW FRONTLINE FOR OUR DEFENCE FORCE. THAT'S ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT POLICY LAUNCHED TODAY, WHICH SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERIOUSLY DISRUPT SECURITY IN THE REGION. AS POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS REPORTS, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN ITS STRATEGIC DEFENCE PLAN. THE DEFENCE FORCE IS GOING TO HAVE TO RESPOND TO A LOT MORE DISASTERS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE. WE ARE WITNESSING RIGHT NOW INCREASING FREQUENCIES OF INCREASINGLY VIOLENT, DISRUPTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER PATTERNS THAT ARE HITTING OUT PACIFIC ISLAND COMMUNITIES. CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY THREATS. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN CLIMATE REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AND IT CAN LEAD TO INTER-STATE CONFLICT OVER INCREASINGLY SCARCE RESOURCES. AND THE GOVERNMENT'S WORRIED OUR MILITARY ISN'T EQUIPPED TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE. TALKING TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LORNA GRAY, THE MANNER IN WHICH SHE HAD TO MANOEUVRE HMNZS WELLINGTON TO PREVENT IT CAPSIZING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR HER LOSING HER ENTIRE COMPLEMENT WAS HIGH ` VERY HIGH. WHILE CLIMATE CHANGE WAS IDENTIFIED AS A KEY THREAT IN THE STRATEGIC DEFENCE POLICY LAUNCHED TODAY, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CALLED OUT CHINA FOR ITS BEHAVIOUR IN THE PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, AND THAT COULD RUFFLE FEATHERS. THERE ARE THE ISSUES OF FINANCIAL LOANS THAT BRING WITH THEM, DOWN THE LINE, POTENTIALLY, OTHER OBLIGATIONS. THERE IS THE ISSUE WITH THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. THEY'RE CHANGING OUR POLICY IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA. SO THEY NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR WITH THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF WHAT WORK THEY'VE DONE ON THAT AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS FOR US, BECAUSE THAT RELATIONSHIP FUNDAMENTALLY IS VERY IMPORTANT ON MANY LEVELS. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO SINGLED OUT ANOTHER PLAYER. THE UNITED STATES WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE PARIS... CLIMATE ACCORD. IT BELIEVES AMERICA'S CHANGE OF STANCE COULD UNDERMINE SECURITY IN THE REGION. WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE BOLD STANDS. HE EXPECTS TO ANNOUNCE PLANS TO REPLACE THE AGEING ORIONS IN THE COMING WEEKS, WHILE DETAILS OF A WIDER OVERHAUL OF MILITARY ASSETS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATE THIS YEAR. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE BEING CHALLENGED TO IMPROVE FEMALE REPRESENTATION ON ITS BOARDS. THAT'S AS THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO HAVE WOMEN AS HALF THE DIRECTORS ON ALL PUBLIC BOARDS AND COMMITTEES BY 2021. BUT AS POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH REPORTS, NOT EVERYONE AGREES IT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH. WOMEN ARE IN THE WORKFORCE BUT AREN'T REPRESENTED EQUALLY AT THE TOP TABLE. THE ONLY THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE 50% WOMEN ON BOARDS IS BECAUSE THERE'S SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, HISTORIC DISCRIMINATION. SO THE GOVERNMENT'S INTRODUCED A QUOTA FOR PUBLIC SECTOR BOARDS ` 50/50 BY 2021. RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST OVER 45%. THE ONLY REASON WE MADE IT OVER 45% IS BECAUSE WE SET A TARGET AND WE MOVED TOWARDS IT, AND NOW IT'S TIME TO SET A MORE AMBITIOUS TARGET. HELEN CLARK OPENED A GENDER EQUALITY EXHIBIT AT AUCKLAND MUSEUM AND SAYS WOMEN NEED TO ROLL OUT THEIR OWN RED CARPET AND BASH IN THE DOOR. NO ONE SAYS, 'OH, COME ON IN. THIS JOB IS YOURS.' NO, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE YOUR CASE. NOW, AS WOMEN, OFTEN WE'RE THE FIRST TO SAY, 'OH, NOT ME. I'M NOT READY.' BETWEEN 2004 AND 2012, TOP FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR GOT STUCK AT AROUND 40%, BUT IT'S CLIMBED STEADILY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. PAULA BENNETT SAYS THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS MAKING PROGRESS AND APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE ON MERIT. UNLIKE THE CURRENT MINISTER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY OLD WHITE MEN SHOULD STEP DOWN. WE THINK THE BEST PERSON SHOULD BE APPOINTED, AND I THINK AT LEAST HALF THE TIME, YOU'LL FIND THAT'S A WOMAN. THE MINISTER HAS ALSO ISSUED A DIRECTIVE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HURRY UP AND CATCH UP. ONLY 19% OF WOMEN ARE REPRESENTED ON BOARDS ` THAT'S ABOUT ONE IN FIVE ` DRAMATICALLY LAGGING BEHIND THE PUBLIC SECTOR. WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND SHE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. NATIONAL SAYS LABOUR SHOULD LEAD BY EXAMPLE, POINTING OUT ONLY SEVEN OF THE 20 CABINET MINISTERS ARE WOMEN. JESSICA MUTCH, 1 NEWS. THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE THAT'S BEEN DELIGHTING WELLINGTONIANS IN THE PAST WEEK HAS TAKEN THE SPARKLE OUT OF MATARIKI CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEKEND. THE COUNCIL'S DECIDED TO POSTPONE A PLANNED FIREWORKS DISPLAY TO PROTECT THE VISITOR, WHICH AS LAURA TWYMAN REPORTS, IS NOW GAINING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. IT MAY JUST BE VISITING, BUT THIS SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE'S NOW GOT A NAME ` TYLER MATARIKI. MATARIKI, BECAUSE ITS VISIT COINCIDES WITH CELEBRATIONS OF THE MAORI NEW YEAR. A FIREWORKS DISPLAY PLANNED AS PART OF THAT TODAY POSTPONED TO PROTECT THE MAMMAL. WE'VE BEEN CONSULTING WITH IWI A LOT TODAY, AND WE COMPLETELY SUPPORT THEIR VIEW THAT A WHALE IN OUR HARBOUR IS A TAONGA, AND WE NEED TO TREAT IT THAT WAY. ALLOW THE WHALE TO DO WHAT IT WANTS TO DO IN OUR TAKUWA AND THEN MOVE ON. MOST LOCALS ARE ON BOARD WITH THAT. IF PEOPLE THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO BE KIND TO THE WHALE, IT SEEMS ONLY RIGHT. TYPICAL NEW ZEALAND ` THEY'RE REALLY RESPECTFUL TO NATURE. FIREWORKS ARE PRETTY COMMON, BUT WHALES AREN'T THAT COMMON. DEAL JUST FOR THE WHALE. THIS IWI ELDER THINKS THE RARE MAMMAL'S PRESENCE DURING MATARIKI IS A GOOD OMEN. I THINK IT IS A LITTLE TOHU TO US THAT MAYBE THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. IT'S CERTAINLY GOT ITS LOCAL FANS. WE WANT TO SEE THE WHALE. IT'S SO EXCITING! SINCE THERE'S ONLY LIKE A THOUSAND OF THEM, IT'S REALLY SPECIAL. IT'S LOVELY WALKING IN THE MORNING, SEEING IT FROLICKING AROUND. AND NOW GETTING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. TYLER MATARIKI'S EVEN GOT ITS OWN FACEBOOK PAGE. IN ONE DAY, GETTING MORE THAN 7000 LIKES. THESE SNAPS OF THE WHALE TAKEN TODAY, BUT WHY IT'S HERE IS STILL A MYSTERY. WE'RE SO SPECIAL, HE CAME TO VISIT US. DESPITE POSPONING THE MATARIKI LIGHTSHOW, THESE WELLINGTONIANS ARE HOPING IT STICKS AROUND FOR JUST A BIT LONGER. WE'RE ALWAYS LIKE, 'OH, LOOK, THERE IT IS! OH, IT'S JUST A WAVE.' LAURA TWYMAN, 1 NEWS. STAY WITH US. AFTER THE BREAK, A HEATWAVE HITS CANADA AND PARTS OF THE US. THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES BLAMED FOR DEATHS AND WILDFIRES. PLUS THE BIG NAMES IN TENNIS ARE FALLING AT WIMBLEDON. AS TODAY'S PLAY ABOUT TO START, WHO'S LEFT IN CONTENTION. THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE WORST HEATWAVE TO HIT EASTERN CANADA IN DECADES HAS RISEN. 33 PEOPLE HAVE NOW DIED SINCE THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES BEGAN NEARLY A WEEK AGO. THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED WAS 35 DEGREES CELSIUS. FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO CHECK ON VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. MEANWHILE IN THE US, RISING TEMPERATURES HAVE FUELLED MORE THAN 60 WILDFIRES ACROSS SEVERAL WESTERN STATES. IN COLORADO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES AND MORE THAN 130 HOUSES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE CRUSADERS HAVE DELIVERED A RELENTLESS PERFORMANCE IN CHRISTCHURCH TONIGHT, PUMMELLING THE HIGHLANDERS TO WIN 45-22. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS NOW AT THE TOP OF THE COMPETITION TABLE, HAVING WON 11 GAMES STRAIGHT. BOTH TEAMS PLAYING ATTACK IN THE FIRST HALF WHILE PENALTIES IN THE SECOND HALF ALLOWED THE HIGHLANDERS TO FIGHT BACK, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH, THE CRUSADERS BUILDING UP A STEADY LEAD TO THE END AND SCORING FIVE TRIES ALL UP. RYAN CROTTY SETS IT UP. RICHIE MO'UNGA WITH THE KICKER AND HE'S GOT PLENTY OF TIME. RICHIE MO'UNGA! (WHISTLE BLOWS) WYATT CROCKETT PLAYED STRONGLY FOR HIS 200TH SUPER RUGBY CAP, WHILE KEIRAN REID MADE A SOLID COMEBACK AFTER BACK SURGERY IN DECEMBER. ROGER FEDERER WILL STEP OUT IN WIMBLEDON IN A FEW HOURS KNOWING THAT TWO MORE TOP SEEDS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE COMPETITION. THE DEFENDING CHAMPION THE LATEST TO HEAD HOME FROM THE WOMEN'S DRAW, WHILE 2017 MEN'S RUNNER UP MARIN CILIC WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE OUT HIS MATCH. ABBY WILSON HAS MORE. ALISON VAN UYTVANCK CLAIMING THE BIGGEST SCALP OF HER CAREER,... OH, THAT IS IT, THOUGH! GAME, SET, MATCH ` MS VAN UYTVANCK. ...BEATING WORLD NUMBER THREE GARBINE MUGURUZA IN ROUND TWO ` THE EARLIEST EXIT FOR A DEFENDING WOMEN'S WIMBLEDON CHAMPION IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES. WHAT A WIN. RANKED 47 IN THE WORLD. MUGURUZA FOUGHT BACK FROM 4-2 DOWN TO WIN THE FIRST SET, BUT IN THE NEXT TWO, HER BELGIAN OPPONENT TOOK CONTROL. JUST RELENTLESS HITTING FROM VAN UYTVANCK. EARLY IN THE DECIDER, MUGURUZA LOOKED LIKE SHE MIGHT TUMBLE OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT ANOTHER WAY. OOH, OOH, NO. WHILE SHE MANAGED TO FIND HER FEET, IT DIDN'T LAST LONG. JUST TWO OF THE TOP EIGHT WOMEN'S SEEDS NOW REMAIN. ONE OF THE STRONGEST MEN'S CONTENDERS HAS ALSO MADE AN EARLY EXIT. MARIN CILIC HAD A TWO-SET ADVANTAGE OVER OPPONENT GUIDO PELLA WHEN RAIN STOPPED PLAY. BUT A DAY LATER, THE EPIC ENCOUNTER WAS PUSHED TO A FIFTH SET. WONDERFUL PLAY! EVENTUALLY, PELLA PROVED STRONGER, WINNING JUST HIS SECOND WIMBLEDON MATCH ` AGAINST LAST YEAR'S RUNNER-UP, NO LESS. HE CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT. AND YOU DON'T BLAME HIM. HE WAS OUT FOR THE COUNT LATE LAST NIGHT. COUNTING WAS RAFAEL NADAL'S BIGGEST PROBLEM ` THE WORLD NUMBER ONE GIVEN TWO TIME VIOLATIONS DURING HIS MATCH AGAINST MIKHAIL KUKUSHKIN. BY COMPARISON, THE TENNIS WAS THE EASY PART. OH, NADAL DOES IT AGAIN. HIS STRAIGHT-SETS VICTORY TAKING HIM ONE STEP CLOSER TO A SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH NOVAK DJOKOVIC, WHOSE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE TO DATE HAS BEEN A KNEE INJURY IN HIS SECOND-ROUND MATCH. IT CERTAINLY SEEMED TO HAMPER HIS MOVEMENT. MEANWHILE, KIWI MICHAEL VENUS AND HIS DOUBLES PARTNER BEAT LLEYTON HEWITT'S PAIRING, MOVING THEM TO THROUGH TO THE SECOND ROUND. TO THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP, AND FORGET THE PAUL THE OCTOPUS AND THE RUSSIAN CAT. WE'VE FOUND A KIWI TIPSTER TO PREDICT THE GAME RESULTS. NEWTON THE KEA, A STAR AT A PARIS ZOO, HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO KNOCK AROUND A BALL ON A SMALL CARDBOARD FOOTBALL PITCH. IF HE HITS IT INTO THE DESIGNATED COUNTRY'S GOAL, FOR EXAMPLE FRANCE, IT MEANS THEY WIN THEIR MATCH. SO GOING WITH NEWTON'S THEORY, FRANCE TO BEAT URUGUAY TOMORROW. AND HIS REWARD? JUST A PIECE OF DRY FRUIT. JUST AHEAD, YOUR SATURDAY WEATHER. PLUS THE NEW ART EXHIBTION LIGHTING UP NELSON. (SIGHS) Tim woke with a nasty cold. But a cold won't stop him from making her... (DINGS) ..the best costume ever. 'Cause even though Tim has a cold... (CHILDREN GASP) ..he won't let it stand in his way, thanks to the powerful relief of Codral. NELSON'S KNOWN FOR ITS HIGH LEVEL OF SUNSHINE HOURS, BUT IT'S NOW TRYING TO KEEP THE LIGHT SHINING INTO THE NIGHT TIME TOO. THE CITY'S 'LIGHT NELSON' EXHIBITION IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS. KAITLIN RUDDOCK GOT AN EARLY PEEK. LIKE A SCENE FROM A SCI-FI CLASSIC. NO SIGHT OR SOUND THE SAME AT THIS INTERACTIVE ART SHOW. IT'S A MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. IT'S A LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. YOU GO UNDER IT, AND I'LL PULL IT. OPENING TONIGHT, THE FREE EXHIBITION IS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR. SOME ARTISTS WORKING BIG HOURS AROUND THEIR DAY JOBS TO GET THE INSTALLATIONS OFF THE GROUND. THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKENDS HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH FULL-TIME. BRUCE STILWELL'S STRING ART HAS NOT ONLY TAKEN TIME BUT HUGE AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL TO MAKE. CALLED THE MUMBRELLA, BECAUSE IT'S THE MOTHER OF ALL UMBRELLAS. IT'S 6M IN DIAMETER. THERE'S 10 LAMINATED RIBS, THERE WAS 2050 SCREWS IN THE EDGE OF IT AND APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 10KM OF STRING. WITH MARY POPPINS NOT AROUND TO FLY HIS PROJECT TO THE FINISH LINE, IT'S BEEN A TEAM EFFORT TO CREATE MAGIC RESULTS. IT'S REALLY COOL TO HEAR THE 'WOW', YEAH. SO IT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE, THAT'S FOR SURE. OUT OF THE 66 INSTALLATIONS, ARGUABLY THE MOST POPULAR HERE ARE ONES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T JUST GET TO SEE THE LIGHT, BUT CHANGE IT. UP TO 60,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE EXHIBITION. LAST NIGHT, VIPs AVOIDED THE CROWDS WITH AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK. MAKES THEM FEEL SPECIAL, PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S CATERING TO THEM NOW. IT'S BEEN EXCELLENT. YOU GOT A FAVOURITE YET, BENJAMIN? YEAH. WHICH ONE'S THAT? A WHALE. MORE THAN ONE WHALE IN TOWN THIS WEEK, AND NELSON'S GLOWS IN THE DARK. KAITLIN RUDDOCK, 1 NEWS. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER. (ROBBIE ROBB'S 'IN TIME' PLAYS) FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT.