TONIGHT ` AN APOLOGY FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND, BUT OUR NATIONAL CARRIER COULD FACE LEGAL ACTION OVER ITS WORK FOR SAUDI ARABIA'S MILITARY. OTAGO RESIDENTS LINE UP FOR BLOOD TESTS, AFTER LEAD CONTAMINATED THE WATER SUPPLY OF TWO TOWNS. AND IS IT VIOLATING A DRESS CODE OR REJECTING A COLONIAL NOOSE? THE MAORI PARTY CO-LEADER KICKED OUT OF PARLIAMENT FOR NOT WEARING A TIE. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND SALLY HARPER CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. AN INVESTIGATION'S UNDERWAY INTO WHETHER AIR NEW ZEALAND'S BEEN BREAKING THE LAW BY HELPING THE SAUDI ARABIAN MILITARY. THE COMPANY'S SUSPENDED WORK ON THE CONTRACT FOR THE SAUDI NAVY, AND AIRLINE BOSS GREG FORAN HAS SPENT THE DAY APOLOGISING. POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS BROKE THE STORY AND HAS TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS. THE CONDEMNATION HAS BEEN SWIFT. REGARDLESS, IT JUST DOESN'T PASS NEW ZEALAND'S SNIFF TEST. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS... RAMIFICATIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND, ITS REPUTATION. I'M ALARMED BY IT. I THINK MOST NEW ZEALANDERS WOULD FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE TO BE DOING THAT WORK. WITHIN HOURS OF LAST NIGHT'S 1 NEWS STORY, GREG FORAN WAS ON THE PHONE TO THE GOVERNMENT. AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HE HAS APOLOGISED, BECAUSE HE AGREES THAT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WHEN DID HE APOLOGISE? LAST NIGHT. AND THE APOLOGIES KEPT COMING. I'M SORRY THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S OCCURRED AND THAT... FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, AND ALSO OUR STAFF. SO HOW DID AIR NEW ZEALAND'S GAS TURBINES BUSINESS END UP WORKING FOR THE SAUDI MILITARY, WHO ARE FUELLING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN? THIS IS A CASE OF BAD JUDGEMENT. WE'VE MADE SOME POOR JUDGEMENT. WE'VE MADE BAD JUDGEMENT. WE COULD HAVE MADE BETTER JUDGEMENT ON THIS, AND, YOU KNOW, I WELCOME THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOW SOME SCRUTINY. IS IT LEGAL, WHAT YOU'RE DOING? THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE AT THE MOMENT, SO WE'VE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH THEM OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS. SO YOU'RE NOT SURE AT THIS STAGE WHETHER DOING THIS WORK IS LEGAL? NO, THAT'S SOMETHING, AS I SAID, THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE AT THE MOMENT. DOES AIR NEW ZEALAND HAVE BLOOD ON ITS HANDS? UM,... AIR NEW ZEALAND, AS I MENTIONED RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING, IS ACTUALLY... WORKING THROUGH THIS IN A VERY, VERY SENSIBLE WAY. OFFICIALS ARE NOW INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE AIRLINE BREACHED OUR EXPORT CONTROL RULES. THE THIRD-PARTY CONTRACT FOR THE SAUDI NAVY WORK WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED IN 2019, BEFORE MR FORAN WAS IN CHARGE. IF IT HAPPENED DURING CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S TIME AS BOSS, HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF IT. IT MIGHT HAVE POST-DATED MY TIME. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THEY'VE COME OUT AND ADMITTED THIS MORNING THAT, YES, THERE'S AN ERROR OF JUDGEMENT, AND THEY'RE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AND STOP THAT, WHICH IS GREAT. SOME SAY THE INCIDENT SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE GOVERNMENT. I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT DEVELOP A NATIONAL PLAN TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED IN OUR BUSINESS DEALINGS. DESPITE AIR NEW ZEALAND'S APOLOGY, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON THE WAY. AIR NEW ZEALAND HAS NOW TERMINATED THE CONTRACT WITH THE SAUDI MILITARY, AND WILL BE SENDING BACK ONE OF THE UNREPAIRED ENGINES IN PIECES, BUT QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN OVER WHETHER THE AIRLINE ACTED LEGALLY. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS AGAIN. IF A COMPANY IS GOING TO EXPORT GOODS THAT ARE SENSITIVE, LIKE ANY USED BY A FOREIGN MILITARY, THEN THEY NEED A SPECIAL PERMIT. THESE PERMITS WILL NOT BE ISSUED IF THE GOODS TO BE EXPORTED WILL UNDERMINE PEACE AND SECURITY, OR USED IN CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY OR WAR CRIMES. NOW, YOU'D THINK EXPORTING TO THE SAUDI NAVY MIGHT TICK ALL OF THOSE BOXES. NOW OFFICIALS IN AIR NZ ARE SITTING DOWN, FIGURING OUT WHETHER AIR NZ DID NEED THOSE PERMITS. BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEM, AIR NZ COULD FACE SERIOUS FINANCIAL PENALITIES IF IT IS FOUND THEY DID NEED THESE PERMITS. MASS VOLUNTARY BLOOD TESTING IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF RESIDENTS IN TWO EAST OTAGO TOWNS HAVE BEEN CHRONICALLY AFFECTED BY LEAD EXPOSURE. IT COMES AFTER HIGH LEVELS OF THE METAL WAS FOUND IN THE WATER SUPPLY OF WAIKOUAITI AND KARITANE. ASHLEIGH YATES HAS MORE. SIGNING UP FOR CRUCIAL ANSWERS ` THIS COMMUNITY CLINIC SET UP TO TEST HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS. I HEAVILY USE THE WATER IN THE HOUSE I LIVE IN TO DRINK. AND SO, JUST HAVING THAT ON MY MIND, WHAT IF SOMETHING DOES COME UP? HOW IS THIS GOING TO EFFECT ME IN THE FUTURE? UNTIL WE GET ALL THESE RESULTS... YEAH, JUST, IT'S ALL UP IN THE AIR. LOCALS WERE TOLD TO STOP USING THE TAP WATER A WEEK AGO OVER LEAD CONTAMINATION. THE DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL, LATER DISCLOSING A DECEMBER TEST SHOWED LEAD LEVELS WERE MORE THAN 40 TIMES HIGHER THAN ACCEPTABLE. SO TODAY WE'VE ASKED FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR TO COME, AND THE FIRST HOUR, WE'VE DONE OVER 50 PEOPLE SO FAR. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE KNOWN WITHIN THREE DAYS, BUT IT WILL TAKE UP TO THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE EXPOSURE IS REVEALED. SO WE EXPECT THAT ACTUALLY MOST PEOPLE WILL HAVE VERY LOW LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR BLOOD AND THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL. BUT IF A TEST RESULT EXCEEDS 0.24 MICROMOLES PER LITRE, IT'S CAUSE FOR CONCERN. WE RECHECK THE BLOOD TEST IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME. IF IT'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WE WOULD SEEK MEDICAL CARE. IF IT'S VERY, VERY HIGH, THEY WOULD HAVE AN EMERGENCY REFERRAL INTO OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM. OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE WATER SUPPLY OF WAIKOUAITI AND KARITANE WAS CONTAMINATED. LOCALS WORRIED ABOUT HARVESTING FROM THE GARDENS ARE BEING OFFERED FREE, FRESH PRODUCE. USING TAP WATER THAT'S CONTAMINATED, YOU CAN'T EAT IT, CAN YOU? WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS VERY GOOD. IT JUST SHOWS AN ACT OF GOODWILL, WHICH IS REALLY AWESOME. A POSITIVE SIGN, THE LATEST WATER TESTING SHOWS LOW OR NON-DETECTABLE LEAD LEVELS. BUT THESE RESIDENTS ARE STILL FACING AN ANXIOUS WAIT FOR MORE ANSWERS. ASHLEY YATES, 1 NEWS. IT'S ABOUT TO GET HARDER FOR INVESTORS TO JUMP INTO THE BOOMING PROPERTY MARKET, WITH THE RESERVE BANK CONFIRMING IT'S BRINGING BACK RESTRICTIONS ON HIGH RISK LENDING. OCCUPIERS WILL NEED AT LEAST A 20% DEPOSIT. INVESTORS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL NEED A DEPOSIT OF 30%. AND FROM MAY, IT'S SET TO GET EVEN TOUGHER. BANKS WILL REQUIRE A 40% DEPOSIT FROM INVESTORS. BUT IN A BID TO BOOST SUPPLY, THE RESTRICTIONS DON'T APPLY TO NEW BUILDS, AS KATIE BRADFORD EXPLAINS. MORTGAGE BROKERS DEAL WITH BROKEN DREAMS EVERY DAY AS MORE AND MORE KIWIS GET LOCKED OUT OF THE HOUSING MARKET. I JUST SPOKE TO A YOUNG PERSON TODAY. SINGLE, GOOD INCOME ` NEARLY SIX-FIGURE ` VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE WITH A SMALL DEPOSIT OF LESS THAN 10%. LAST APRIL, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE RESERVE BANK REMOVED LOAN-TO-VALUE RESTRICTIONS, LIMITING HIGH-RISK LENDING. NOW THEY ARE BACK, WITH INVESTORS THE MAIN TARGET. MORE SEVERE, IF YOU LIKE, ON INVESTORS, WHO TEND TO BE A BIT RISKIER. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE DEMAND OUT THORUGH THE INVESTOR SIDE. IF YOU'RE RELATIVELY YOUNG AND YOU'VE ONLY BEEN IN A HOME FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS, YOU WON'T HAVE THE EQUITY FOR AN INVESTMENT. THE OTHER AND HABITUAL INVSETORS, THEY'VE HAVE BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR A LONG TIME; THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF EQUITY. THE MOVE HAD BEEN WIDELY SIGNALLED, AND MOST MAJOR BANKS HAD PROMISED TO CUT BACK ON LENDING TO INVESTORS. THE BANKS WERE LENDING MORE AT ONLY A 20% OR 30% DEPOSIT, AND WHAT WE FELT WASN'T SUFFICIENTLY CAUTIOUS. THE RESERVE BANK AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN HEAVILY CRITICISED FOR FUELLING THE OVERHEATED HOUSING MARKET. TODAY MAKING MOVES IN TANDEM, WITH THE FINANCE MINISTER TODAY VOWING TO CRACK DOWN ON PROPERTY SPECULATORS. WE DO WANT TO TILT THE BALANCE IN FAVOUR OF FIRST-HOME BUYERS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN A CAPITAL GAINS TAX, BUT THE BRIGHT LINE TEST IS LIKELY IN THE GOVERNMENT'S SIGHT. THAT TEST MEANS, AT THE MOMENT, IF A PROPERTY IS BOUGHT AND SOLD WITHIN FIVE YEARS, THE OWNER IS TAXED ON THE CAPITAL GAIN; THAT TIME FRAME COULD LIKELY TO BE EXTENDED. I'M NOT GOING TO CONFIRM OR DENY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I'VE ALREADY PUBLICLY STATED WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT EXISTING SETTINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE BRIGHT LINE TEST. OTHER MEASURES LIKELY, BUT OF COURSE, SUPPLY IS A HUGE FACTOR. I THINK WHAT'S NEEDED FOR HOUSING IS A BIT OF SHOTGUN APPROACH. WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND THINK, 'RISING HOUSE PRICES 'IS A GOOD THING FROM AN ECONOMIC MOMENTUM PERSPECTIVE;' BUT SOCIALLY THERE ARE JUST SO MANY ARE PEOPLE BEING LOCKED OUT OF THE MARKET THAT SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGE IS NEEDED. LOW INTEREST RATES ANOTHER KEY DRIVER ` AND THEY LOOK HERE TO STAY. NO DOUBT OTHER TOOLS WILL BE NEEDED TO FIX THE SKEWED HOUSING MARKET. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. 'IT'S NOT ABOUT TIES, IT'S ABOUT CULTURAL IDENTITY.' WORDS OF DEFIANCE FROM MAORI PARTY CO-LEADER RAWIRI WAITITI AFTER BEING KICKED OUT OF PARLIAMENT FOR A DRESS CODE VIOLATION. POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY REPORTS. ACCORDING TO THE RULES, MEN IN THIS PLACE NEED TO WEAR A TIE TO FIT WITH THE DEFINITION OF BUSINESS ATTIRE. AS YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE, THIS ATTIRE IS BUSINESS ATTIRE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. AND AS FAR AS MANY NEW ZEALANDERS IN AOTEAROA ARE CONCERNED, THIS IS A TIE. THIS IS A TIE TO MY PEOPLE; THIS IS A TIE TO THE PLIGHT. BUT THE SPEAKER DIDN'T THINK SO, NOT LETTING HIM TALK. NO, I'VE INDICATED TO THE MEMBER THAT I WILL NOT CALL HIM WHEN HE IS NOT PROPERLY DRESSED. RAWIRI WAITITI AND THE SPEAKER TUSSLED OVER TIES LAST YEAR, THE NEW MP CALLING IT A 'COLONIAL NOOSE'. SO THE SPEAKER ASKED FOR SUBMISSIONS. THE MAJORITY OF MPs LOBBIED TO KEEP TIES, BUT THE MAORI PARTY WANT AN EXCEPTION. WE'VE JUST FINISHED THE WEEKEND FOR WAITANGI, AND I THINK RELATIONS IN TERMS OF MAORI AND TAUIWI ARE A LONG WAY OFF WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE LIKE THIS. SO WHAT DO OTHER MPs THINK? ME PERSONALLY, I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH WEARING A TIE, AND I'M SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES, LIKE MAORI HOUSING, TO BE ADDRESSED. IN TE AO MAORI, YES, I DO THINK THAT IT'S A VERY UPSTANDING BUSINESS LOOK, WHAT HE'S WEARING. WELL, I TRY TO RESPECT THE TIKANGA WHEREVER I GO. UNFORTUNATELY, RAWIRI CAN'T RESPECT THE TIKANGA OF PARLIAMENT. I THINK THAT'S GRANDSTANDING. I THINK THEY'RE ARCHAIC, YUP. IN A TWIST, MAORI PARTY CO-LEADER DEBBIE NGAREWA PACKER DID WEAR A TIE. AND I DO ACTIVISM BY FASHION. IT SHOWS THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF THIS. OH, THAT'S WHERE MY TIE GOT TO. (CHUCKLING) THE SPEAKER, TREVOR MALLARD, WAS ALSO IN THE SPOTLIGHT WHEN NATIONAL ATTEMPTED TO GET HIM DITCHED AS PARLIAMENT'S REFEREE. IT COMES AFTER HE MADE A FALSE RAPE ACCUSATION AND TOOK 18 MONTHS TO PUBLICALLY APOLOGISE. BUT LABOUR HAS THE NUMBERS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT COURSE OF ACTION? THERE IS OBJECTION. NATIONAL'S SET TO GO AGAIN TOMORROW. JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY, 1 NEWS. MARY WILSON, FROM THE SIXTIES GROUP "THE SUPREMES" HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 76. THE SINGER WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MOTOWN GROUP, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ALL-FEMALE GROUPS OF ALL TIME. THE TRAILBLAZER SANG ON ALL TWELVE OF THE SUPREMES' NUMBER ONE HITS. THE STAGE IS SET FOR A FIERY SHOWDOWN WITH DONALD TRUMP'S HISTORIC SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL DUE TO BEGIN WITHIN HOURS. HIS LEGAL TEAM HAS DEMANDED THE CASE BE DISMISSED, BUT PROSECUTORS INSIST THEY WILL PROVE THE FORMER PRESIDENT SPURRED ON HIS SUPPORTERS TO ATTACK THE US CAPITOL. CHANNEL 9'S AMELIA ADAMS HAS MORE. THEY'VE BECOME DONALD TRUMP'S MOST RECOGNISED SUPPORTERS. DONALD TRUMP IS STILL OUR PRESIDENT. Q-ANON FOLLOWER JACOB CHANSLEY AMONGST THOSE FACING CHARGES OVER THE CAPITAL ATTACK. VIDEOS LIKE THIS WILL BE SHOWN IN THE SENATE TRIAL AS EVIDENCE LEADERS OF THE MOB TOOK THEIR CUES FROM THE PRESIDENT. DONALD TRUMP ASKED EVERYONE TO GO HOME. HE JUST PUT OUT A TWEET, IT'S A MINUTE LONG. IN A BITING PRE-TRIAL BRIEF, DONALD TRUMP'S LEGAL TEAM ACCUSED DEMOCRATS OF HAVING TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME AND A HUNGER FOR POLITICAL THEATRE, ARGUING HE MADE NO REFERENCE TO OR ENCOURAGEMENT OF AN INSURRECTION. HE SIMPLY CALLED ON THOSE GATHERED TO PEACEFULLY AND PATRIOTICALLY USE THEIR VOICES. WE FIGHT LIKE HELL, AND IF YOU DON'T FIGHT LIKE HELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE. IMPEACHMENT PROSECUTORS INSIST THE TRIAL IS CONSTITUTIONAL, AND SAY THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS NO VALID EXCUSE OR DEFENCE FOR HIS ACTIONS. EACH SIDE WILL HAVE 16 HOURS OVER TWO DAYS TO MAKE THEIR CASE. THERE'LL BE A VOTE ON WHETHER TO CALL WITNESSES, THEN SENATORS WILL DECIDE WHETHER DONALD TRUMP INCITED AN INSURRECTION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. AND IF HE IS GUILTY, DOES SOMEONE WHO WOULD COMMIT SUCH A HIGH CRIME AGAINST THEIR OWN COUNTRY DESERVE TO HOLD ANY OFFICE OF HONOUR OR TRUST EVER AGAIN? STILL TO COME, THE TRIAL FOR ONE OF OUR MOST NOTORIOUS COLD CASES BEGINS. WHO KILLED CHRISTOPHER BUSH AT THE RED FOX TAVERN? PLUS ` HOW DO YOU SURVIVE THIS? THE INCREDIBLE TALE A GROUP OF SKIERS LIVED TO TELL. A TRIAL FOR ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S MOST NOTORIOUS COLD CASES HAS BEGUN. MORE THAN THREE DECADES AGO, CHRISTOPHER BUSH (43) WAS SHOT DEAD AT THE RED FOX TAVERN IN MARAMARUA, IN WAIKATO. TODAY, TWO MEN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MURDER AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. LOGAN CHURCH WAS AT DAY ONE OF THE TRIAL. AFTER 33 YEARS, THESE ARE THE MEN POLICE BELIEVE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INFAMOUS RED FOX TAVERN MURDER. THE CROWN ALLEGES MARK HOGGART (60) AND ANOTHER MAN, WHO HAS NAME SUPPRESSION, BURST INTO THE TAVERN ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 24, 1987. THE ROBBERS, DISGUISED WITH GLOVES AND BALACLAVAS, LIKE IN THIS POLICE RECREATION FROM THE TIME, ONE ARMED WITH A SHOTGUN, THE OTHER A BASEBALL BAT. UPON ENTERING THE BAR, IT SEEMS THAT THE GUNMAN MAY HAVE SHOUTED OUT WORDS TO THE EFFECT OF, 'THIS IS AN ARMED HOLD-UP.' PUBLICAN CHRISTOPHER BUSH, HAVING A FEW ROUNDS OF DRINKS WITH HIS COLLEAGUES, STOOD UP, BEER IN HAND... AND HE HURLED IT AT THE INTRUDER WITH THE GUN. BUT THE GUNMAN OPENED FIRE FROM JUST METRES AWAY. HE STOOD NO CHANCE. HE GROANED, AND HE FELL TO THE FLOOR, DEAD OR DYING. THE INTRUDERS CLEARED OUT THE SAFE ` ABOUT $30,000 IN CASH, $1000 IN COINS AND $5000 IN CHEQUES. THE CROWN PLANNING ON CALLING UP TO 70 WITNESSES, HOPING THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE WILL CONVINCE THE JURY THE PAIR WERE AT THE SCENE AND HAD A MOTIVE. THEY WERE BROKE, AND THEY HAD REASONS TO WANT OR NEED MONEY, HAVING BOTH BEEN RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON. THESE MEN ARE INNOCENT. I'M VERY SORRY TO SAY... THAT NEARLY 35 YEARS LATER, THIS CASE IS STILL UNRESOLVED. BOTH ACCUSED PLEADED NOT GUILTY. THE TRIAL IS SET TO LAST UP TO 12 WEEKS. LOGAN CHURCH, 1 NEWS. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCED TOUGH NEW MEASURES CONDEMNING THE MILITARY COUP IN MYANMAR, WITH RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL AND AID. EARLIER THIS EVENING AROUND 100 PROTESTORS MARCHED TO PARLIAMENT TO DEMAND A RETURN TO DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR. THE GOVERNMENT'S SANCTIONS INCLUDE SUSPENDING ALL HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL AND MILITARY CONTACT WITH MYANMAR, AND IMPLEMENTING A TRAVEL BAN ON MILITARY LEADERS. OUR STRONG MESSAGE IS ` WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN FROM HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS SUSPEND THAT HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE AT A POLITICAL LEVEL. WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TRAVEL BANS, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE AID FUNDING THAT WE PUT IN TO MYANMAR DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY, SUPPORT THE MILITARY REGIME. NEW ZEALAND IS ALSO STANDING ALONGSIDE OTHER COUNTRIES CALLING ON A SPECIAL SESSION AT THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE COUP. DRAMATIC VIDEO OF AN AVALANCHE IN AMERICA HAS CAPTURED THE MOMENT A GROUP OF SKIERS NARROWLY AVOIDED DEATH. IT COMES AFTER MORE THAN 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED FROM A STRING OF DEADLY AVALANCHES OVER THE PAST WEEK. THE ABC'S MARCI GONZALEZ REPORTS. THAT ENORMOUS TIDAL WAVE OF SNOW RACING TOWARDS A GROUP OF SNOWBOARDERS SATURDAY IN OAKLEY, UTAH. I'M OUT. I GOT YOU. BURYING FOUR OF THEM. THE AVALANCHE IS HUGE. I JUST CAME DOWN, I PULLED MY CHUTE, DIDN'T WORK. I HEARD HUNTER YELLING AND HERE HE IS. YOU OK, BUD? INCREDIBLY, NONE WERE SERIOUSLY HURT. BUT HOURS EARLIER, JUST 80 MILES AWAY IN MILL CREEK CANYON'S BACKCOUNTRY, ANOTHER AVALANCHE HAD DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING SARAH MUGABI (29), WERE KILLED. HER PARTNER MANAGING TO FREE HIMSELF FROM THE CRUSHING SNOW AND SAVE TWO OTHER SKIERS. THEY'VE DONE THIS KIND OF SKIING AND HIKING FOR YEARS NOW, AND THEY'VE SEEN ALL TYPES OF AVALANCHES. THESE ARE THE LATEST IN A STRING OF DEADLY AVALANCHES THAT HAVE KILLED 15 PEOPLE SINCE FEBRUARY FIRST ` THE MOST IN ONE WEEK IN MORE THAN A CENTURY. EXPERTS EXPLAIN THE INCREASE IN AVALANCHES IS LIKELY BECAUSE NEW STORMS HAVE PILED HEAVY SNOW ONTO A WEAK BASE LAYER BENEATH, AND MORE SKIERS ARE HEADING TO THE BACKCOUNTRY TO AVOID COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AT SKI RESORTS, WHERE THERE ARE AVALANCHE PROTECTION MEASURES. THOSE AVALANCHES ARE BOTH VERY EASY TO TRIGGER, AND THEY'RE ALSO BREAKING VERY WIDE. SNOWBOARDER MAURICE KHURVIN LEARNT JUST HOW EASY IT CAN BE TO TRIGGER AN AVALANCHE, SETTING THIS ONE OFF SEVERAL WEEKS AGO IN COLORADO ` CREDITING HIS AIRBAG WITH SAVING HIS LIFE. ONE WRONG MOVE AND I COULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN BURIED, HAD CRUCIAL INJURIES, DEFINITELY A POSSIBILITY OF DEATH. JUST AHEAD, YOUR WEATHER AND IT MIGHT BE TIME TO FIND THE RAINCOAT. AND, THE MUSIC TEACHER AND HIS STUDENT PLAYING FROM THE SAME SONG SHEET. (GUITAR SOLOS) "OWN IT AND ENJOY IT." THAT WAS THE MESSAGE TO A 14-YEAR-OLD INVITED TO PLAY ALONGSIDE LEADING KIWI BAND L.A.B AT ONE LOVE FESTIVAL. TAURANGA TEEN MICHAEL VAN LIESHOUT IS BACK AT SCHOOL TODAY, AFTER PLAYING TO 20,000 PEOPLE ON SUNDAY. SAM KELWAY HAS THE STORY. MICHAEL VAN LIESHOUT LOOKING QUITE AT HOME ON THE STAGE WITH HIS HEROES... ON THE GUITAR ` MY MAN MR MICHAEL! ...AND SOUNDING LIKE A PRO AT ONE LOVE FESTIVAL IN TAURANGA. IT WAS SENSATIONAL. THE FEELING WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. FROM ROCKSTAR TO SCHOOL KID, IT'S BEEN A BIG FEW DAYS FOR THIS TAURANGA TEEN. IT'S A HUGE STEP UP. I THINK THE BIGGEST BEFORE THAT WAS 1500 PEOPLE, AND TO STEP UP TO 20,000 IS JUST UNREAL. MENTOR AND L.A.B. FRONTMAN JOEL SHADBOLT STUMBLED ACROSS THE TALENTED STUDENT WHEN HE CAME FOR GUITAR LESSONS AGED 6. I'LL NEVER FORGET HIS FIRST LESSON, COS HE WAS A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL. HIS MUM LEFT THE ROOM, AND HE WAS LIKE... A SHY YOUNG KID. BUT THERE WAS A SPARK THERE. YOU COULD TELL THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING. EIGHT YEARS ON, AND THE HARD WORK'S PAID OFF. HE HOPPED ON THAT STAGE, AND HE PUT HIS HANDS IN THE AIR. HE'S JUST LIKE, 'I'VE GOT THIS!' AND I WAS LIKE, 'OH, HERE WE GO.' THE FIRST FEW NOTES HE PLAYED, THE CROWD JUST WENT MENTAL ON IT, SO IT WAS PRETTY COOL, MAN. AND WHILE IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE, HE ADMITS THE DEAFENING ROAR FROM THE AUDIENCE MADE HIM SLIGHTLY NERVOUS. THE CROWD TURNED OUT TO BE AN OCEAN OF PEOPLE, AND THE BAND WAS JUST SO WELCOMING. I FELT LIKE A PART OF THEIR FAMILY AND CULTURE, SO THEY ACTUALLY CHILLED MY NERVES A LOT. L.A.B. HAS SEEN HUGE SUCCESS, BUT TWO DAYS AFTER THE FESTIVAL, JOEL WAS BACK TEACHING. IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THAT THAT YOU GO, 'THAT'S WHY WE DO IT.' THAT'S WHY WE TEACH. THAT'S WHY WE GIVE BACK, BECAUSE YOU SEE RESULTS LIKE THAT THAT ARE JUST THROUGH THE ROOF. AS FOR MICHAEL, JOEL HOPES HE'LL JOIN THE BAND AGAIN AT MT SMART IN MARCH. I THINK I'LL BE PUTTING THE GUITAR DOWN FOR A BIT FOR THAT SHOW AND JUST BE LIKE, 'OK, YOU PLAY. YOU PLAY, BUDDY. YOU GOT IT.' FOR NOW, THOUGH, IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THIS RISING STAR, AND PERHAPS SOME SLEEP AFTER A HUGE WEEKEND. SAM KELWAY, 1 NEWS. TO TOMORROWS WEATHER NOW, WITH WELLS AND 'DEPRESSED'. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. PO MANAHAU, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND SALLY HARPER CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.