TONIGHT ` A MYSTERY CONTAMINATION LEADS TO A WAIRARAPA SCHOOL PUT ON LOCKDOWN, WITH DOZENS OF CHILDREN FALLING ILL. A BAD BATCH OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS LEADS TO 10 PEOPLE ENDING UP IN HOSPITAL IN CHRISTCHURCH, SOME IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. AND HAVE WE REACHED PEAK BEARD? NOT ACCORDING TO THESE HIPSTERS COMPETING FOR THE GLORY OF BEST BEARD. CAPTIONS BY AMELIA RUSHBROOK AND CATHERINE DE CHALAIN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 A HEALTH SCARE LED TO A FULL-SCALE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT A WAIRARAPA SCHOOL THIS AFTERNOON. DOZENS OF CHILDREN WERE LEFT FEELING NAUSEOUS AFTER BEING AFFECTED BY THE MYSTERY CONTAMINATION, THE CAUSE OF WHICH IS STILL UNKNOWN. 10 WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, BUT HAVE SINCE BEEN RELEASED. MEI HERON HAS MORE. ANXIOUS PARENTS OUTSIDE SOUTH END PRIMARY SCHOOL IN CARTERTON, WORRIED AFTER THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WENT INTO LOCKDOWN. THE PARENTS ARE BEING KEPT BEHIND A CORDON. EVERYBODY WHO WAS ON THE GROUNDS IS GOING THROUGH A DECONTAMINATION PROCESS AT THE MOMENT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG, SLOW PROCESS. THEY BROUGHT IN FOOD AND DRINK AND WARM CLOTHING TO HELP OUT COS IT'S PRETTY COOL HERE AT THE MOMENT. THE HEALTH SCARE BEGAN EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN DOZENS OF CHILDREN BECAME ILL. I WAS PLAYING OUTSIDE, AND THEN THE BELL RUNG, SO I WAS GOING BACK TO MY CLASSROOM, AND THEN I SMELT THE BAD SMELL SO WE GOT BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND WE HAD TO STAY THERE FOR A LONG TIME. WHAT CAUSED THEIR SYMPTOMS IS STILL UNKNOWN. IT SMELLED LIKE MANURE, AND LIKE ROTTEN STUFF AND POO. HOW'D IT MAKE YOU FEEL? NOT VERY NICE, SO I JUST RAN PAST IT. THERE WAS SPECULATION A LOW-FLYING AIRCRAFT MAY HAVE DROPPED A MYSTERY SUBSTANCE OVER THE SCHOOL, BUT THAT HAS STILL NOT BEEN CONFIRMED. PEOPLE SAID THEY SAW A PLANE, BUT THE SMELL WAS ALREADY STRONG BEFORE THE PLANE CAME. PARENTS WERE ALERTED TO THE EMERGENCY. AROUND 100 CHILDREN HAD TO BE INDIVIDUALLY ASSESSED, GIVEN A CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND DECONTAMINATED OVER SEVERAL HOURS. JAMES LAYBOURNE'S BROTHER WAS ONE OF 10 CHILDREN SENT TO HOSPITAL FOR MONITORING AFTER FEELING NAUSEOUS. FIVE WERE UNDERSTOOD TO BE VOMITING. THEY'VE ALL NOW BEEN RELEASED. THERE'S ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF STRESS, ISN'T THERE? BUT IT'S BEEN RUN REALLY SMOOTHLY DOWN HERE. I THINK THAT ALL THE SERVICES DID A BRILLIANT JOB. THE MAIN ROAD IN CARTERTON HAS NOW BEEN CLOSED SINCE EARLY AFTERNOON. IT WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THEY FINISH UP HERE, BUT INVESTIGATORS WILL CARRY ON FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER, INCLUDING THE ARMY, WHICH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN. THEY'LL ALSO START AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING TO TRY AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PRODUCT IS, AND THAT'S THE CONCERN AT THE MOMENT ` THAT IT'S ` WE DON'T KNOW. BUT AT THE MOMENT IT'S BEEN FOUR HOURS SINCE THE FIRST REPORT, AND WE'VE MONITORED THE CHILDREN VERY CLOSELY. THERE'S BEEN NO FURTHER SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL, SO WE'RE CONFIDENT WHERE THAT PROCESS IS NOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS OK. A SMALL TOWN LEFT BAFFLED BY THIS INCIDENT AND NOW LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS. A BAD BATCH OF SYNTHETIC CANNABIS IS BEING BLAMED FOR A SPATE OF OVERDOSES IN CHRISTCHURCH THAT'S LEFT THREE PEOPLE IN INTENSIVE CARE. THE DRUG'S ALREADY KILLED AS MANY AS 40 PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND EXPERTS ARE NOW CALLING IT A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. SAM CLARKE REPORTS. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A HIGH, BUT ARE RISKING PARALYSIS AND COMA. ALSO SEIZURES, AND IN SEVERE CASES, CARDIAC RHYTHM OR HEART RHYTHM DISTURBANCES. THIS CAN PROCEED TO WHAT WE CALL A CARDIAC ARREST AND DEATH. IT'S A GRIM END NARROWLY AVOIDED BY 10 CHRISTCHURCH USERS AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 59 OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS. CERTAINLY, SOME OF THEM HAVE GAMBLED WITH THEIR LIFE, AND THERE'S STILL SOME CRITICALLY UNWELL PEOPLE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. THE LATEST SPIKE IS BEING BLAMED ON A BAD BATCH, WHICH CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS HAVING TOO MUCH OF THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT. IS IT'S IN AN UNREGULATED ILLEGAL MARKET, SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S MIXED WITH. THE BOOM IN SYNTHETIC DRUG USE HAS BEEN PUT DOWN TO EASY ACCESS AND LOW PRICE. PEOPLE USE SYNTHETICS WHEN THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR DRUGS OF CHOICE. WE KNOW CANNABIS HAS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE, LESS AVAILABLE, SO PEOPLE WILL SWAP TO SYNTHETIC. NOW EXPERTS ARE CALLING FOR A MORE ACTIVE APPROACH. A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS ISN'T TOO STRONG A WORD. NO DRUG USER SETS OUT TO USE SYNTHETIC CANNABIS AND KILL THEMSELVES. SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, LIKE ANYTHING ` FOOD POISONING OR EMERGENCY RESPONSE ` YOU WANT THAT INFORMATION TO GET OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE, AND MAYBE YOU CAN PREVENT SOME OF THOSE DEATHS. THEY SAY THE RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS LIKE IN CHRISTCHURCH HAS TO BE QUICKER AND NEEDS TO BE HEALTH-FOCUSED. I THINK WE ARE LOSING THE FIGHT ALREADY. SURE, DOWN THE LINE PEOPLE ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED A FEW DRUG DEALERS, BUT TO BE HONEST, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED YOU PUT IN A LOT OF EFFORT BEFORE THAT AND TRIED TO PREVENT THOSE PEOPLE DYING. TALK WITH USERS ABOUT WHAT HELP AND SUPPORT THEY NEED. IT MIGHT BE HELP WITH ACCOMMODATION, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, OTHER SUPPORTS. TONIGHT, THREE PEOPLE REMAIN IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL. AND UNLESS MORE IS DONE TO COMBAT THE RISE, IT'S LIKELY MORE WILL FOLLOW. SAM CLARKE, 1 NEWS. A GIRL (12) MAULED IN A SHARK ATTACK IN QUEENSLAND IS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION IN HOSPITAL TONIGHT. HANNAH PAPPS LIVES IN MELBOURNE WITH HER KIWI PARENTS. THE ATTACK WAS THE SECOND IN 24 HOURS ON THE SAME COASTLINE. CHANNEL NINE'S ALEX BERNHARDT HAS MORE. IF ANYTHING WAS GOING TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A YOUNG GIRL, IT WAS THIS. (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRR) THE RAPID RESPONSE OF THE RESCUE HELICOPTER, A PARAMEDIC RUNNING ACROSS THE BEACH WHERE OTHERS WERE ALREADY TRYING TO STEM THE FLOW FROM THE GIRL'S LEG. THE VICTIM OF THE SECOND SHARK ATTACK ON QUEENSLAND'S CORAL COAST IN 24 HOURS WAS TODAY NAMED AS HANNAH PAPPS FROM VICTORIA, ON A FAMILY BOATING HOLIDAY. THAT HOLIDAY ATMOSPHERE HAS BEEN ROCKED. AND TODAY, DRUM LINES HAVE BEEN SET TO CATCH THE SHARK. IT'S REALLY OUT OF CHARACTER THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT'S GENERALLY AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE, IN MOST CASES, FREE TO SWIM. AFTER A NIGHT OF INTENSE MEDICAL CARE IN MACKAY, HANNAH WAS TODAY DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL AIRPORT, LOADED ON TO A PLANE FROM THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR WITH HER FATHER. DEPARTING FOR BRISBANE. THE ATTACK ON THE 12-YEAR-OLD CAME LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER A SIMILAR LIFE-SAVING RESCUE OF JUSTINE BARWICK, A MOTHER OF TWO FROM TASMANIA. SHE WAS ALSO SAVAGED ON THE LEG BY A LARGE SHARK IN THE VERY SAME BAY, AND REMAINS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE IT IS THE SAME SHARK. SHARKS ARE VERY MOBILE. BOTH VICTIMS ARE NOW HERE IN BRISBANE. SURGICAL TEAMS WERE ON STANDBY FOR THE MOMENT THEY ARRIVED, AND IT'S CERTAIN BOTH WILL BE REQUIRING INTENSE TREATMENT OVER THE COMING DAYS. NOW IT'S A WAITING GAME FOR THE TWO VICTIMS AND FOR THOSE TRYING TO TRAP THE SHARK. RABBITOHS STAR SAM BURGESS HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING AFTER A SEXTING SCANDAL WHICH SAW HIM ACCUSED OF SENDING NUDE PHOTOS. HE'S NOW VOWING TO CLEAR HIS NAME AND TAKE THE ISSUE TO COURT. DAMIAN RYAN FROM CHANNEL NINE HAS MORE. THE RABBITOHS AT PLAY, BARING ALL ON A VIDEO CHAT. THE IMAGES SEEM INAPPROPRIATE, BUT ACCORDING TO THE NRL, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. A SIX-MEMBER PANEL, WHICH INCLUDED FOUR SOUTHS OFFICIALS AND THE NRL INTEGRITY OFFICER KAREN MURPHY FOUND IT WAS ` THE SCANDAL DRAGGED IN SOUTH'S HIGHEST PROFILE PLAYER, SAM BURGESS. WHAT HURTS ME THE MOST IS SEEING MY WIFE UPSET ABOUT WHAT'S, YOU KNOW... WHAT'S OUT THERE. THE IMAGES CAME FROM ONE OF HIS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. A WOMAN (23) ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE CHAT CLAIMED THE ORDEAL LEFT HER FEELING VIOLATED AND DISGUSTED. TODAY BURGESS HIT BACK, TWEETING ` BURGESS HAS DECLARED HE INTENDS TO SUE FOR DEFAMATION. BUT IN A TWIST, THE NRL HAS INDICATED IT MAY NOT BE CASE CLOSED. THEY SAY IF ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COMES TO LIGHT, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED. 24 HOURS OUT FROM THE GRAND FINAL QUALIFIER WITH THE ROOSTERS, THERE'S RELIEF AT THE RABBITOHS. AND THE COACH IS CONFIDENT HIS GUN PLAYER WILL BE RIGHT TO GO. GREENPEACE BOSS AND FORMER GREEN PARTY CO-LEADER RUSSEL NORMAN WILL FACE NO PENALTY FOR SWIMMING IN FRONT OF AN OIL EXPLORATION SHIP. DR NORMAN AND GREENPEACE VOLUNTEER SARA HOWELL WERE THE FIRST TO BE CHARGED UNDER THE CONTROVERSIAL ANADARKO AMENDMENT, WHICH BANS PROTESTS IN FRONT OF SHIPS. THE PAIR PLEADED GUILTY TO TRYING TO OBSTRUCT AN OIL INDUSTRY SURVEY SHIP OFF THE EAST COAST LAST YEAR. TODAY THEY WERE DISCHARGED WITHOUT CONVICTION, WITH THE COURT CALLING THE OFFENDING 'LOW LEVEL'. AFTER YEARS OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS CRYING OUT FOR MORE HELP, SUPPORT IS ON THE WAY FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, WITH THE PROMISE OF NEW STAFF IN ALL SCHOOLS. BUT AS KATIE BRADFORD REPORTS, THE EXACT COST OF THE PROMISES IS NOT YET KNOWN. DRAWING UP A NEW PLAN FOR STUDENTS IN NEED OF AN EXTRA HELPING HAND. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY. THIS IS RECOGNITION FROM GOVERNMENT THAT THE SYSTEM, INDEED, IS BROKEN, AND THAT THEY'RE UP FOR A BIG CHANGE. THE ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER IS PROMISING MORE SUPPORT AND ASSESSMENT FOR KIDS WITH EXTRA NEEDS. THAT'LL MEAN A NEW 'LEARNING SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR' ROLE WITHIN SCHOOLS. THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS VARIABLE AND IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL SETTING, WHICH IT SHOULDN'T. BUT THE MINISTER ADMITS SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'LL COST. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS, YOU KNOW WHAT THE SKILL LEVEL IS AND THEN WHAT THE PAY GRADE WILL BE. THIS MUM'S SON (6) HAS ADHD. SHE DIDN'T WANT TO JEOPARDISE HIS EDUCATION, BUT SHE'S STRUGGLED TO GET THE SUPPORT HE NEEDS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT SUPPORT THROUGH HEALTH WITH A PAEDIATRICIAN AND AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND SUPPORT FROM CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, BUT BASICALLY ZERO SUPPORT THROUGH EDUCATION. AND THE STATISTICS SHOW JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. ONE IN FIVE KIDS NEED LEARNING SUPPORT, AND IN 2017, 42% OF DISABLED YOUNG PEOPLE WERE NOT IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING. MANY, MANY CHILDREN ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND, THE WHOLE FRAGMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM, RESOURCING FRAMEWORK. ANOTHER PROPOSAL IS FOR THE HEALTH MINISTRY TO CARRY OUT CHECKS ON KIDS AS YOUNG AS 3. WE CAN KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS FOR THAT PARTICULAR CHILD, WE CAN UPSKILL THE PARENTS, WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT AND THERE'S BETTER OUTCOMES LONG-STREAM. A HOLISTIC APPROACH BETWEEN HEALTH AND EDUCATION WOULD BE REALLY VALUABLE. FUNDING WILL BE NEEDED FROM NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. AND THE MINISTER HOPES TO ROLL OUT THE CHANGES IN 2020. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. AUCKLAND'S CITY MISSION IS MOVING HOUSE WHILE THE ORIGINAL PREMISES, USED SINCE 1980, ARE BEING UPGRADED. BUT NOT EVERYONE IS WELCOMING THE NEW NEIGHBOURS. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. THERE'S FOOD TO UNPACK, A KITCHEN TO INSTALL, AND COMPUTERS TO LOG ON. AUCKLAND'S HOME FOR THE HOMELESS IS ON THE MOVE. IT'S VIRTUALLY MY SECOND HOME, REALLY. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE... PRETTY MUCH THE EARLY '80s. THIS IS WHERE AUCKLAND'S CITY MISSION WILL BE BASED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHILE ITS FAMOUS HOBSON STREET SITE UNDERGOES A MAKEOVER. THERE WILL BE 80 SECURE APARTMENTS AND A 30-BED DETOX CENTRE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, VERY MUCH SO. IT'S ABOUT TIME WE HAD A CHANGE. THE TEMPORARY LOCATION IS JUST 700m AWAY ON UNION STREET. IT WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER A VARIETY OF SERVICES, BUT THE MISSION'S PROMISING BETTER CARE. KAI IS NOT JUST ABOUT FILLING THE BELLY, IT'S ABOUT A PLACE OF ENGAGEMENT, SO IN THE OLD HOBSON STREET SITE, WE HAD TO HAVE PEOPLE IN FOR HALF AN HOUR, AND THEN, 'WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAVE? 'BECAUSE WE'VE GOT OTHER SERVICES NOW TO RUN.' THIS CROSSING SITS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE MISSION'S FRONT DOOR, AND CHILDREN USE IT TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL. SOME PARENTS HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE MISSION MOVING HERE, AND SO TOO DO SOME NEIGHBOURS. SOMETIMES THEY DO, YOU KNOW, DRUGS AND SMOKES AND SOMETIMES SHE ASKS, 'WHAT ARE THEY DOING?' AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ANSWER, SO I'M NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE. WHEN IT'S MOVED HERE, WITH GOOD MANAGEMENT, I THINK IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT. WE REALLY HEAR THOSE CONCERNS, SO WE WILL HAVE MORE STAFF AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY ` AS AN EXAMPLE, ON THE STREETS, WHEN THERE ARE CHILDREN ON THE STREETS. THE CITY MISSION WILL HOST ITS FINAL DINNER HERE TONIGHT BEFORE CREATING A NEW COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND TOMORROW. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. THERE'S A DAY FOR EVERYTHING, AND TODAY WAS WORLD PARKING DAY. INTENDED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE AMOUNT OF SPACE TAKEN UP BY CAR PARKS RATHER THAN PARK PARKS, MORE THAN 50 WERE OCCUPIED ALL DAY BY PEOPLE DOING THE SORT OF THINGS THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO IN SPACE INTENDED FOR PEOPLE RATHER THAN CARS. IT SHOULD BE CALLED 'WORLD NO PARKING DAY,' REALLY. BUT IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL PROTEST AGAINST TOO MANY CARS IN THE CITY, BASICALLY. SO, WE OCCUPIED THESE CAR SPACES` CAR PARKS AT 6AM THIS MORNING. GROUPS PAID FOR THE SPACES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EVENT THAT'S BEEN RUNNING SEVERAL YEARS. TODAY SAW THE BIGGEST TURN OUT IN AUCKLAND YET. A MURI AKE I NGA WHAKATAIRANGA. SURVIVORS TEXT FOR HELP BENEATH THE RUBBLE OF ANOTHER DEADLY LANDSLIDE IN THE PHILIPPINES. AND IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR WHEN MEGHAN MARKLE HOSTS HER FIRST OFFICIAL LUNCHEON, LAUNCHING A COOKBOOK FOR A GOOD CAUSE WITH THE HELP OF A SPECIAL VISITOR. A FERRY HAS CAPSIZED ON LAKE VICTORIA IN TANZANIA, WITH HUNDREDS NOW FEARED DEAD. THE OVERLOADED VESSEL TOPPLED WHEN PASSENGERS MOVED TO ONE SIDE AS IT DOCKED. ABOUT 100 PEOPLE WERE RESCUED AND MORE THAN 40 BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. POLICE IN THE PHILIPPINES SAY SURVIVORS BURIED IN THE RUBBLE OF A DEADLY LANDSLIDE HAVE BEEN USING THEIR PHONES TO TEXT FOR HELP. AT LEAST 22 PEOPLE DIED AFTER A MOUNTAINSIDE COLLAPSED ON TO DOZENS OF HOMES. SURVIVORS SAID THEY HEARD A THUNDEROUS ROAR WHEN THE LANDSLIDE STRUCK. THE PHILIPPINES IS STILL REELING FROM DAMAGE LEFT BY A TYPHOON WHICH KILLED AT LEAST 88 PEOPLE EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX BROUGHT ALONG A SURPRISE GUEST AS SHE LAUNCHED A CHARITY COOKBOOK FOR THE VICTIMS OF LONDON'S GRENFELL FIRE. WITH HER MOTHER DORIA BY HER SIDE, MEGHAN PRAISED THE POWER OF WOMEN, INSPIRED BY A GROUP WHO CAME TOGETHER IN THE WAKE OF THE TRAGEDY. MICHAEL BEST OF CHANNEL NINE HAS MORE. THE SUSSEXES AND A NEW NEARLY-ROYAL STAR. FOR HER FIRST REGAL SOLO CHARITY PROJECT,... (LAUGHTER) ...MEGHAN BROUGHT THE WOMAN WHO KNOWS HER BEST. A LITTLE HOMELY TOUCH FOR A VERY WORTHY CAUSE. THESE WOMEN HELPED BRING A COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH COOKING IN THE AWFUL DAYS AFTER THE GRENFELL FIRE. MEGHAN MET THEM, COOKED WITH THEM... ...AND TODAY LAUNCHED THEIR RECIPE BOOK IN THE GROUNDS OF KENSINGTON PALACE. WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS LABOUR OF LOVE. I HAD JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO LONDON AND I FELT SO IMMEDIATELY EMBRACED BY THE WOMEN IN THE KITCHEN ` YOUR WARMTH AND YOUR KINDNESS. SPEAKING WITHOUT NOTES, SHE WOWED THE CROWD. I FEEL SO PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT CAN HAVE SO MUCH DIVERSITY. AND THE DUCHESS SHOWED JUST HOW SHE'S CHANGING THE IMAGE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. WHEN YOU GET TO KNOW THE STORY OF THE RECIPE, YOU GET TO KNOW THE PERSON BEHIND IT. THIS MAY BE MEGHAN'S FIRST SOLO ROYAL PROJECT, BUT IT'S CERTAIN THERE'LL BE MANY, MANY MORE. THE DUCHESS HAS BEEN DOING CHARITY WORK SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD AND IS DETERMINED TO MAKE HER REGAL CONTRIBUTION COUNT. ALREADY IT'S PRETTY CLEAR SHE IS. WOMEN: THANK YOU! (APPLAUSE) PREMIERING TONIGHT TO COINCIDE WITH 125TH ANNIVERSAY OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IS A VERY UNCONVENTIONAL PERFORMANCE AT AT WELLINGTON'S CIRCA THEATRE. IT'S CALLED 'MEDUSA'. THREE WOMEN EXPRESS THEIR PERSONAL LIVES IN A MAN'S WORLD THROUGH SOUND, DANCE, AND PERFORMANCE ART. THERE'S NO SPECIFIC NARRATIVE OR PLOT, AND THEY WANT THEIR AUDIENCE TO ARRIVE WITH AN OPEN MIND AND EXPERIENCE CATHARSIS. THERE IS SOMETHING SO GLORIOUS AND POWERFUL AND VOLCANIC AND SEXY AND EXCITING AND JOYFUL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS HOW ANGRY I AM A LOT OF THE TIME. THE SHOW IS PART OF THE WOMEN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL AND WILL ALSO PLAY IN AUCKLAND LATE NEXT MONTH. FACIAL HAIR ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE GATHERED IN AUCKLAND TONIGHT TO BE JUDGED. IT'S THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE NEW ZEALAND BEARD AND MOUSTACHE COMPETITION, AND WE SENT LAURA TWYMAN ALONG. THE CREME DE LA CREME OF NEW ZEALAND BEARDS AND MOUSTACHES ALL GATHERED IN ONE ROOM. THERE'S EVERY SHAPE AND STYLE YOU COULD IMAGINE. bushy. a viking beard. A la natural. i've made my own hole in the ozone layer With the amount of hairspray I've used. PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED FROM ALL OVER NEW ZEALAND TO COMPETE. we have best beard, we have best moustache, freestyle, which is this kind of stuff, and then we have the whiskerinas ` the girls wearing lots of fake beards. MARK VAN KAATHOVEN WAS ONE OF THE WINNERS LAST YEAR. BY DAY HE'S A LANDSCAPER. One bush to another, they're all the same. HIS BEARD EARNS HIM PLENTY OF ATTENTION AND EVEN THE ODD JOB. The guy got me standing against the wall, did a mugShot, and he said, 'I'll be in contact.' so within a month he was in contact and I ended up doing newmarket santa, ponsonby santa, sky city santa ` it was hilarious. HE VERY RARELY HAS HIS FACIAL HAIR STYLED, AND WHEN HE DOES, IT CAN TAKE HOURS TO GO FROM THIS... TO THIS. people who are coming here, they take this very seriously. this is not a joke. this is a lot of commitment, a lot of preparation. AND THEIR GROOMING EFFORTS AREN'T IN VAIN. THE EVENT, WHICH IS NOW IN ITS FIFTH YEAR, IS RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY LIFELINE. THE HARD WORK GROWING AND TENDING TO THEIR FACIAL HAIR REWARDED WITH PRIZES. ALL GOOD PREPARATION FOR WHEN NEW ZEALAND HOLDS THE WORLD CHAMPS IN 2021. LAURA TWYMAN, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` A NEW VIDEO FROM THE LATE ROCK STAR PRINCE HAS BEEN RELEASED ` WITH A MESSAGE ON GUN VIOLENCE. (PRINCE'S 'MARY DON'T YOU WEEP') 3.9% interest? I mean, 3.9?! They already offer haggle-free drive-away prices and on-road costs included, and now you get 3.9% interest across the entire Toyota range? IT'S ONE OF BRITAIN'S TOP MUSIC PRIZES, FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR. PREVIOUS WINNERS HAVE INCLUDED THE BANDS PORTISHEAD, PULP, PJ HARVEY, AND ELBOW. TONIGHT IT WAS A LONDON BAND 'WOLF ALICE' WHO TOOK OUT THE MERCURY PRIZE AWARD, BEATING ALBUMS FROM THE ARTIC MONKEYS AND FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE. AS IF THAT WASN'T HARD ENOUGH. OK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO PICK THIS UP WITH MY THREE BEST FRIENDS. THE BAND HAD EARLIER PERFORMED THEIR SONG 'DON'T DELETE THE KISSES' DURING THE CEREMONY. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER WITH MUSIC FROM AWA FEATURING CHE FU ` PAPATUANUKU. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ. THAT'S ALMOST IT FROM TONIGHT. WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LOOK AT A NEW VIDEO RELEASED TODAY FROM THE LATE ROCK LEGEND PRINCE. THE SONG 'MARY, DON'T YOU WEEP' HAS A SERIOUS SUBJECT ` GUN VIOLENCE ` AND WAS RECORDED 35 YEARS AGO. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY AMELIA RUSHBROOK AND CATHERINE DE CHALAIN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.