TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` JUMPING THE QUEUE TO GET THE JAB. NEW CRITERIA FOR AN EARLY COVID VACCINE, PLUS, WE REVEAL HOW MUCH IS BEING SPENT TURNING HOTELS INTO MIQ FACILITIES. NEW HOUSING RULES ARE ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT, AS INVESTORS RECONSIDER THEIR FUTURE IN PROPERTY, AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW AROUND THE COUNTRY. TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO TRYING TO GET TOILET PAPER IN LEVEL 4 ` LIKE, IT'S JUST MAD. AND IMAGINE HAVING FOUR NEW KIDS AT THE AGE OF 50 ` HOW AUCKLAND ZOO'S LATEST ARRIVALS ARE, SLOWLY, HELPING SAVE THEIR ENTIRE SPECIES. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN, JESSIE PURU AND ANNIE CURTIS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. WE NOW KNOW WHO'LL BE ABLE TO SKIP PLACES IN THE COVID VACCINE QUEUE, AND GET THE JAB EARLIER THAN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD. AND IT COULD MEAN SOME SPORTS STARS GET IT AHEAD OF PEOPLE DEALING WITH FAMILY TRAGEDIES. KATE NICOL WILLIAMS IS ACROSS THE DETAILS. KATE, TELL US MORE ABOUT THE NEW CRITERIA. THERE IS A LOT RIDING ON THIS DECISION ANNOUNCED TODAY. THAT WILL ALLOW SOME KIWIS TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS WITH PROTECTION FROM THE VIRUS THROUGH THAT EARLY ACCESS TO THE VACCINE. FOR SOME IT COULD BE THE LAST TIME THAT THEY SEE A FAMILY MEMBER. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT THEY DID HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE. HERE IS THE CRITERIA. THIS EARLY ACCESS COMES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO CARE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS A DEPENDENT. THEY MAY ALSO NEED TO GET CRITICAL MEDICAL ATTENTION THAT CAN'T BE PROVIDED IN NEW ZEALAND. IT COULD BE FOR A PERSON WANTING TO VISIT A DYING FAMILY MEMBER. THERE WILL BE NO EXEMPTIONS FOR FUNERALS. IT COULD BE FOR PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE COUNTRY, COMPETING ON BEHALF OF NEW ZEALAND AT AN OFFICIAL EVENT OR ONE THAT IS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. APPLICATIONS FOR THIS WILL OPEN IN A WEEK'S TIME. THIS AFTERNOON THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS RESPONDED TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THEY SAY THEY ARE THANKFUL AND HAPPY THIS MEANS A TEAM OF 500 AROUND THAT, MADE UP OF TEAM MEMBERS AS WELL AS STAFF, WILL BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO TOKYO FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES. IT MEANS THAT WHEN THEY ARE REPRESENTING NEW ZEALAND, THEY WILL HAVE PROTECTION FOR THE VIRUS. THE BLACKCAPS, IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR THEM HEADING INTO THE INTERNATIONAL TEST MATCH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE UK IN MAY. AS FOR THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, THEY HAVEN'T MADE THE CUT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS REITERATED THERE IS A HIGH THRESHOLD FOR EARLY ACCESS TO THE VACCINE. YOU CAN'T GET THIS TO GO TO A FAMILY REUNION. YOU CAN'T GET THIS TO GO TO A FUNERAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE. IT IS NOT FOR STUDENTS GOING TO SCHOOL, FOR PEOPLE ATTENDING UNIVERSITY. UNDERLYING THESE DECISIONS IS A FUNDAMENTAL RECOGNITION THAT WHILE THERE ARE LEGITIMATE AND URGENT REGIONS TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS, IT IS IN OUR INTEREST TO ENSURE NEW ZEALANDERS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST COVID 19 TO THE BEST EXTENT POSSIBLE WHEN THEY RETURN HOME. AND KATE, A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT TODAY? TODAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT MORE THAN 40,000 DOSES OF THE VACCINE HAVE BEEN ROLLED OUT IN THIS PROGRAM. TODAY WE WENT TO LOWER HUTT TO SEE THE FIRST COMMUNITY VACCINE CENTRE IN OUR PART OF THE COUNTRY. THERE WERE BORDER WORKERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, HEALTH WORKERS RECEIVING THE VACCINE. ONE PERSON THAT WAS VACCINATED IN FRONT OF MEDIA SAID THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW QUICKLY IT HAPPENED. THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT AT ALL. SHE WAS VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PLAYING HER PART AS A PART OF THE TEAM. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID TODAY THAT WITH THE ROLLOUT, IT IS NOT QUITE WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE. IT IS ABOUT 93% OF WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE, A LITTLE BIT OFF THE MARK. THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT IS RAMPING UP EVERY DAY. THEY BELIEVE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THIS. THANKS, KATE. TAXPAYERS ARE FORKING OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS UPGRADING THE 32 HOTELS AND MOTELS BEING USED FOR MANAGED ISOLATION. IT COMES AS THE LATEST 1 NEWS COLMAR BRUNTON POLL SHOWS ONLY HALF OF PEOPLE THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS GETTING IT RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING OUR BORDER. POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY HAS THE EXCLUSIVE NUMBERS. THESE HOTELS WEREN'T DESIGNED TO BE ISOLATION FACILITIES. FIGURES OBTAINED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT SHOW UPGRADING THEM HAS ALREADY COST $4.5M AND WILL END UP COSTING $6.5M. ACROSS THE VERY, VERY LARGE SUM OF MONEY CURRENTLY BEING SPENT ON MANAGED ISOLATION, IT'S GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY. IT'S GONE ON THINGS LIKE CCTV INSTALLATION, ALARMS ON DOORS, AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS, EXPANDING A BOARDROOM TO CREATE A HEADQUARTERS AND PUTTING UP PARTITION WALLS TO SEPARATE GUESTS. WE COULD ASK THE HOTELS TO PAY, AND THEN THEY WOULD ULTIMATELY RECOUP THOSE COSTS BY CHARGING US A HIGHER RATE. SO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE JUST THE WORK TO BE DONE. IT'S STILL A LOT CHEAPER THAN BUILDING CUSTOMISED FACILITIES. ACT IS CALLING FOR A PURPOSE BUILT FACILITY IN OHAKEA. THERE SHOULD BE A PLAN TO BUILD A PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITY, BECAUSE THIS WON'T BE THE LAST EPIDEMIC, I'M SORRY TO SAY. IN OUR LATEST POLL WE ASKED, "HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE "THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR BORDERS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19?" NEARLY HALF SAY THE GOVERNMENT IS GETTING IT ABOUT RIGHT. 46% SAY IT'S NOT TOUGH ENOUGH, AND 4% SAY IT'S TOO TOUGH. THE REST DON'T KNOW. I JUST CAME OUT FROM IT. IT'S NOT NICE. THEY WERE VERY STRICT WHERE I WAS STAYING, AND I THINK THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE REALLY WELL. THE GOVERNMENT'S JUST LETTING IN ENTERTAINERS. WE PUT THE NUMBERS TO THE MINISTER. I'M AWARE THAT THERE ARE NZERS WHO WOULD JUST LIKE THE BORDER TO BE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND FOR NOBODY TO BE ALLOWED IN. IN REALITY, THAT'S NOT A PRACTICAL OPTION. THEY ARE FAILING EVERYONE, JUST IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME NEEDN'T BE QUARANTINED, BECAUSE THEY COME FROM COVID-FREE PLACES; OTHERS SHOULD BE QUARANTINED MUCH MORE STRICTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING FROM COVID HOTSPOTS. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE COMING HOME TO NZ AND ARE PLANNING TO STAY FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE $3100 FOR MANAGED ISOLATION TODAY THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCING IT'LL EXTEND THAT TO SIX MONTHS. THE MINISTER SAYS THAT'LL ENSURE KIWIS COMING HOME WON'T GET A BILL, BUT THOSE ON HOLIDAY WILL. JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY, 1 NEWS. INVESTORS HAVE COME OUT SWINGING AT THE GOVERNMENT'S LATEST MOVES TO CURB THE OUT-OF-CONTROL HOUSING MARKET. AND SOME ARE WARNING HOUSE PRICES MIGHT FALL. KATIE BRADFORD JOINS US SHORTLY, BUT FIRST HERE'S REACTION. HOUSE-HUNTERS AND INVESTORS ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT OUR SUPERHEATED HOUSING MARKET. TRYING TO FIND A HOUSE IS LIKE TRYING TO BUY TOILET PAPER IN LEVEL 4 ` IT'S JUST MAD. ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING THAT YOUNG NZERS FEEL SO SQUEEZED OUT OF OWNING THEIR OWN HOME. BUT INVESTORS SAY THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO REMOVE INTEREST DEDUCTIBILITY ON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES HAS SHOCKED THEM. I TRULY THINK I'LL HAVE TO SELL THE HOME. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN PENALISED FOR TRYING TO PLAN FOR MY RETIREMENT. THEY CLAIM IT'LL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON THE MARKET. SOME LANDLORDS SAY THEY'LL PUT UP RENTS, BUT THIS CAMBRIDGE WOMAN SAYS SHE'LL SELL BEFORE SHE'D DO THAT. TARGETING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A HIGH-RISK, LOW-RETURN SITUATION, THAT'S THE WORST PERSON TO TARGET, BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE OUT THERE, TRYING TO PROVIDE THESE QUALITY, DRY HOMES TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT. INVESTORS ARE A BIG PART OF THE PROPERTY MARKET, AND I THINK MANY OF THEM WILL NOW BE RECONSIDERING WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. REAL ESTATE AGENTS SEEING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT. IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, I'VE HAD A FEW PHONE CALLS WITH INVESTORS WHO'VE DECIDED TO DELAY MAKING A DECISION, WHETHER THAT BE BUYING OR SELLING, SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH TO SEE HOW THE MARKET REACTS. THE GOVERNMENT WARNED INVESTORS IT WAS COMING FOR THEM. MINISTERS INSIST THEY DON'T WANT PRICES TO FALL. BUT.... OVER THE LONG TERM, THE POLICY CHANGES THAT ARE INTRODUCED, COULD SEE FALL BACK BY AROUND 10%. THAT'S QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL FALL, BUT IT'S AFTER VERY LARGE GROWTH OVER THE LAST YEAR ` IT WOULD ONLY TAKE PRICES BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO. OPEN HOMES THIS WEEKEND MAY BE QUIET AFTER THE RECENT FRENZY. I'VE NEVER SEEN A MARKET THIS BUSY. A LOT OF IT RELIES ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE WORTH MORE NEXT MONTH. AS SOON AS THAT ASSUMPTION CHANGES, UNCERTAINTY KICKS IN. IF YOU DON'T NEED TO BUY A HOUSE OR YOU DON'T NEED TO SELL IT, THEN SOMETIMES THOSE PEOPLE WILL SIT ON THE SIDELINES. $1M TO $1.3M TO A THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE, I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. THAT'S OFF THE PLANS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET IN THE MARKET. JACLYN NOW HOPING THE LATEST CHANGES MIGHT HELP GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR. AND KATIE'S WITH US NOW. KATIE, INVESTORS ARE PARTICULARLY WORRIED ABOUT NO LONGER BEING ABLE TO DEDUCT MORTGAGE INTEREST. INVESTORS WERE LARGELY AWARE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO EXTEND THAT BRIGHT LINE TEST FROM FIVE YEARS TO 10 YEARS. IT IS THIS INTEREST DEDUCTIBILITY ISSUE THAT A SHOP. PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE SMALLER SCALE INVESTORS, THOSE WITH FOUR PROPERTIES AND ARE HIGHLY IN DEBT. THEY ARE THE ONES AT RISK. THEY MAY DO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THEM TO DO, WHICH IS TO SELL AND TAKE SOME INVESTORS OUT OF THE MARKET. THE PROBLEM IS IF WE START SEEING MORTGAGEE SALES OR PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT. NOT ONLY WILL WE SEE HOUSE PRICES COME DOWN, BUT THE ECONOMY WILL BE JITTERY. IF HOUSE PRICES WERE TO FALL, HOW WOULD IT AFFECT THE WIDER ECONOMY? THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE. THEY HAVE BEEN CAREFUL TO SAY THEY DON'T WANT HOUSE PRICES TO FALL. THEY WANTED TO REMAIN STABLE. IT HAS JUMPED UP. HOUSING MARKETS, THE BUOYANCY HAS HELPED KEEP THE ECONOMY STRONG. PEOPLE ABOUT THE MONEY TO INVEST AND SPEND. THE RESERVE BANK HAS KEPT INTEREST RATES LOW. THE RESERVE BANK IS WORRIED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF OUR ECONOMY. IF WE WERE STARTING TO SEE THE HOUSING MARKET GETTING JITTERY, IT COULD HAVE MUCH RIDER IMPLICATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE WORRIED IF WE STARTED TO SEE THAT THEY WENT TOO FAR WITH THIS. THE RESERVE BANK IS CONSIDERING REMOVING INTEREST ONLY LOANS FOR INVESTORS, WHICH WOULD HAVE ANOTHER IMPACT ON THEM. THERE ARE STILL MOVES TO COME OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THANKS, KATIE. SO, WHAT CAN YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY AROUND THE COUNTRY? HERE'S A SAMPLE. IN AUCKLAND, UNDER THE CAP FOR EXISTING PROPERTIES AT $625,000, WE FOUND THIS ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN A CENTRAL-CITY BLOCK. BUT IT'S SMALL ` ONLY 51 SQUARE METRES. CONVERSELY, THERE'S THIS THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE IN WELLSFORD. IN TRAFFIC, THOUGH, THAT COULD BE MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF COMMUTE TO THE CBD. WELLINGTON'S NOT A LOT BETTER ` THIS TWO-BEDROOM 80 SQUARE METRE APARTMENT IN THE CENTRAL CITY IS UNDER THE CAP, BUT ITS BUYER WILL PAY MORE THAN $15,000 A YEAR IN BODY CORPORATE FEES. OR YOU COULD GET THIS HOUSE IN UPPER HUTT, WHICH , LIKE WELLSFORD, COULD TAKE UP TO AN HOUR AND A HALF IN TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE CITY OR MORE THAN AN HOUR BY TRAIN. IN TAURANGA, WE FOUND THIS ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT. A COMPACT 43 SQUARE METRES, IT'S ON THE MARKET FOR JUST SHY OF $400,000. FURTHER SOUTH, THIS TWO-BEDROOM UNIT IN DUNEDIN IS BELOW THE CITY'S CAP OF $425,000. IT'S 60 SQUARE METRES AND COMES WITH SOME A COURTYARD. AND IN QUEENSTOWN, A PRICE TAG OF 535,000 KEEPS THIS APARTMENT UNDER THE CITY CAP OF 600K. TWO BEDROOMS, AND IT EVEN COMES FULLY FURNISHED. MEANWHILE, IN OTHER REGIONS, YOU CAN'T EVEN FIND A PLACE TO RENT, AND THERE IS ONLY A HANDFUL OF HOMES FOR SALE. OPOTIKI, IN THE EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY, HAS A POPULATION OF AROUND 10,000 PEOPLE, BUT HOUSES ARE SCARCE. SAM KELWAY EXPLAINS. CHARLIE HAYES' ENGINEERING COMPANY HAS EMPLOYED HUNDREDS OF OPOTIKI LOCALS OVER THE PAST 35 YEARS. HIS TWO NEWEST RECRUITS ARE SOME OF HIS BEST. OUR INDUSTRY NEEDS TRADESMEN, AND OUR TOWN NEEDS GOOD EMPLOYERS, AND I'VE TRIED TO BE ONE OF THOSE. BUT THE TOWN'S BATTLING SOME MAJOR ISSUES, AND HOLDING ON TO GOOD WORKERS IS CHALLENGING WITH AN ACUTE HOUSING SHORTAGE. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THEIR CAR OR A TENT. THE REGION'S RECEIVED MORE THAN $100M FROM THE PROVINCIAL GROWTH FUND, HELPING TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE TOWN'S FUTURE, INCLUDING VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THE HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT AND NEW COUNCIL BUILDINGS IN TOWN. BUT SINCE THE '80S, THIS SMALL COASTAL SETTLEMENT HAS SLIPPED FURTHER INTO DEPRIVATION, AND THE MAYOR'S CALLING ON CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP. BUILD SOME HOUSES TOMORROW. ONE ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER TOLD 1 NEWS HER LONG-TERM GUESTS HAVE DOUBLED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. SHE SAYS EVERY DAY SHE'S FIELDING CALLS FROM PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY. WAGES ARE LOW, AND SOCIAL HOUSING STOCKS FALL WELL BELOW THE COUNTRY'S AVERAGE. PUBLIC HOUSING SHOULD AVERAGE ABOUT 3.5% OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD STOCK. IN OPOTIKI, WE ONLY GET JUST UP TO 2%. THEY NEED 170 STATE HOUSES TO HIT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND THERE'S A SHORT SUPPLY OF RENTALS AND HOUSES FOR SALE. THERE'S MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE HERE THAT YOU DO NOT SEE. THERE'S A HUGE DEMAND FOR HOUSES, WHICH ARE JUST NOT THERE. BUT THERE IS LAND READILY AVAILABLE, AND WITH MORE THAN $3B EARMARKED FOR HOUSING, SEEMINGLY FORGOTTEN PLACES LIKE OPOTIKI HOPE THEY'RE AT THE START OF THE QUEUE. SAM KELWAY, 1 NEWS. 10 CHINESE NATIONALS ARE SET TO BE DEPORTED AFTER A STING BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ON AN AUCKLAND CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE MEN OVERSTAYED FOR BETWEEN 17 MONTHS AND THREE YEARS. THEY'RE BEING HELD IN POLICE CUSTODY WHILE ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THEIR RETURN TO CHINA. OUR THIRD LARGEST BANK, WESTPAC, IS CONSIDERING SELLING ITS NZ BUSINESS. THE AUSTRALIAN-OWNED BANK SAYS IT'S CONSIDERING WHETHER A "DEMERGER" MAY BE THE BEST WAY TO OPERATE. EARLIER TODAY, THE RESERVE BANK TOLD WESTPAC IT NEEDED TO REVIEW ITS RISK GOVERNANCE PRACTICES. WESTPAC MAKES UP 20% OF NZ'S BANKING MARKET, AND WHILE PROFITS DROPPED LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, IT STILL MADE OVER $600M. THE TRIAL IN NZ'S LONGEST-RUNNING COLD CASE HAS FINALLY HEARD CLOSING ARGUMENTS. TWO MEN ARE ACCUSED OF MURDERING CHRIS BUSH (42) AND STEALING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DURING THE INFAMOUS RED FOX TAVERN HOLDUP IN 1987. ARGUMENTS CENTRED AROUND THE IDENTITIES OF THE ATTACKERS. THE PRIMARY ISSUE IN THIS TRIAL IS IDENTITY. WHO WAS THE SHORTER GUNMAN, AND WHO WAS THE TALLER, HEAVIER MAN WITH THE BAT? NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG MEN. HERE HE IS HERE WITH HIS RESPLENDENT AND TIMELESS MULLET. HE IS WHAT HE IS AND ALL HE WANTS IS WHAT YOU WOULD WANT ` JUST A FAIR GO. POLICE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE '80S AND '90S WENT NOWHERE, BUT IN 2017 NEW EVIDENCE LED TO THE ARRESTS. THE JURY WILL START DELIBERATING TOMORROW. THE PRIME MINISTER IS STANDING BY PARLIAMENT'S SPEAKER AMID RENEWED CALLS FOR TREVOR MALLARD TO BE REMOVED. FRESH INFORMATION HAS COME TO LIGHT ABOUT A FALSE RAPE ALLEGATION HE MADE, AS POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS EXPLAINS. AN AWKWARD ENCOUNTER ` A CALL FOR THE SPEAKER TO RESIGN AS HE SITS IN THE CHAIR. MR MALLARD SAID HE WOULD PROVE THE MAN WAS A RAPIST, KNOWING IT TO BE UNTRUE. IF HE SUED TO PROTECT THIS REPUTATION, THIS IS A GROSS AND DISGRACEFUL ABUSE OF POWER. I CHOSE NOT DURING THAT SPEECH TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF ORDER. IT ALL DATES BACK TO THESE COMMENTS TREVOR MALLARD MADE IN 2019, FOLLOWING A REVIEW INTO BULLYING AT PARLIAMENT, WHERE HE SAID A RAPIST WAS WORKING AT PARLIAMENT. WE'VE BOTH READ THE REPORT, AND I THINK BOTH OF US CAN INTERPRET ANY SEXUAL ASSAULT AS BEING SERIOUS, BUT THREE ARE IN THE CATEGORY OF RAPE. TODAY, THROUGH COURT DOCUMENTS, WE'VE LEARNT MR MALLARD WAS TOLD BY HIS OFFICIALS STRAIGHT AFTER THAT INTERVIEW THAT HIS RAPE CLAIM WAS FALSE. DESPITE THAT, LATER IN THE DAY HE SAID THIS. DO YOU STAND BY YOUR VIEW THAT THIS IS TANTAMOUNT TO RAPE? NATIONAL SAYS THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS. THIS BEHAVIOUR FROM THE SPEAKER IS INTOLERABLE. AND HE HAS RIGHTLY APOLOGISED FOR WHAT WAS STATED. MR MALLARD IS A BULLY, AND HE NEEDS TO RESIGN. NO, THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRAVERSED. JUDITH COLLINS HAS WRITTEN TO JACINDA ARDERN URGING HER TO TAKE A STAND AND SACK HIM AS SPEAKER. IT'S THE FACT OF THE BULLYING. HE IS OUT OF CONTROL. IS TREVOR MALLARD A BULLY? NO, NOT IN MY VIEW OF COURSE, BUT IN THIS CASE HE HAS DONE WRONG, AND HE HAS APOLOGISED. BUT IT TOOK 18 MONTHS FOR MR MALLARD TO MAKE THAT APOLOGY TO THE MAN, THE COURT CASE COSTING TAXPAYERS $340,000. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ARE SEVERE. MR MALLARD WAS EITHER PLANNING TO MISLEAD THE COURT, OR HE HAS MISLED PARLIAMENT. I WILL SAY I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ESTIMATES HEARING WHERE THE TRUTH WILL BE TOLD. A BOLD CALL FROM A POLITICIAN WHOSE INTEGRITY IS BEING SO PUBLICALLY QUESTIONED. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. A DAY OF REFLECTION IN BRITAIN TO REMEMBER THE LIVES LOST TO COVID-19. (DING! DING!) BUT THE PANDEMIC'S FAR FROM OVER. NEXT ` THE EUROPEAN NATIONS IMPOSING EASTER LOCKDOWNS. ALSO ` THE DISASTROUS PARKING JOB THAT'S PLUGGED A CRITICAL TRADING ROUTE. PLUS ` THESE ARE AUCKLAND ZOO'S PRIDE AND JOY. BUT IT'S FOUR NEW EDITIONS THAT STAFF ARE CELEBRATING. SHORTLY I'LL TELL YOU WHY THEY'RE SO EXCITED. THEN AT 7 ` POSSUM'S ON THE MENU? YES, WE ASK, IS IT TIME FOR POSSUM MEAT TO GRACE OUR DINNER TABLES? PLUS FAST AND FURIOUS ` MORE KIWIS ARE GETTING AGGRESSIVE BEHIND THE WHEEL. SO WHAT'S WINDING US UP ON THE ROAD? THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. A MAN HAS DIED DURING THE EXTREME FLOODING IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AFTER HE WAS TRAPPED IN HIS CAR IN FLOODWATERS. AUTHORITIES ARE WARNING RESIDENTS THE CRISIS IS NOT OVER YET, DESPITE TORRENTIAL RAIN SUBSIDING. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE HAS THE LATEST. THE BLUE SKIES AND RELAXED FACES NOT FAR FROM THIS FLOODING DISASTER'S FIRST FATALITY. A MAN DYING AFTER GETTING TRAPPED IN FLOODWATERS IN HIS CAR. BUT OF COURSE IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE LOVED ONES OF THAT PERSON. POLICE NOTIFYING HIS FAMILY BEFORE IDENTIFYING HIM. THE DANGERS APPARENT WHEN THIS RESCUE BOAT CAPSIZED, TIPPING THE YOUNG FAMILY INTO THE FREEZING COLO RIVER. WHAT HASN'T BEEN WASHED AWAY IS WALLOWING IN BROWN SWAMPY WATER. IT'LL TAKE DAYS TO SUBSIDE. I CANNOT BELIEVE I'M LOOKING AT MY HOUSE FROM SITTING IN A BOAT. THE ONLY WAY INTO THIS MAN'S HOME, NOW IN THE HAWKESBURY RIVER, IS THROUGH THE SKYLIGHT. THOSE IN CUT-OFF AREAS GETTING SUPPLIES BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY ` CRANE, DRONE, MORE MEDIEVAL METHODS TOO. GOT MY WEETBIX. BUT FOR MOST THE ONLY WAY TO GET ESSENTIALS IS BY BOAT, RE-INSTATING WHAT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO WAS CALLED THE HAWKESBURY HIGHWAY. BUT THE LIFELINE IS ALSO STILL A RISK TO LIFE. THE RAIN MIGHT'VE STOPPED IN NEW SOUTH WALES, BUT THESE RIVERS ARE TIDAL, MEANING THEY'RE EXPECTED TO PEAK AGAIN LATER THIS EVENING. MANY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT FURTHER EVACUATIONS. WE'RE ALSO STARTING TO FOCUS ON THE CLEAN-UP AND THE RECOVERY, COS WE KNOW WHAT A SUBSTANTIAL TASK THAT'LL BE. ESCAPING TROUBLED TIMES IN PARLIAMENT, PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON SURVEYING THE DISASTER FROM ABOVE. HE'LL HAVE AN EYE ON QUEENSLAND TOO ` THE STORM TAKING FLOODING AND DESTRUCTION TO THE STATE'S SOUTHEAST. NO WAY. REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE SURE TO SPIKE, AS MORE RESIDENTS RETURN HOME, THE TALLY ALREADY NUDGING $150M. JUST A SHORT TIME AGO, OFFICIALS WERE CALLING IT A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE HAD DIED. PRAYERS NOW FOCUSSED ON KEEPING THAT TOLL TO ONE. ANDREW MACFARLANE, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. LIGHTS HAVE SHONE AROUND BRITAIN TO HONOUR THE MANY WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE YEAR SINCE THE NATION'S FIRST COVID LOCKDOWN. ONE YEAR AGO, THE DEATH TOLL THERE WAS 360. IT'S NOW MORE THAN 126,000. AS OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT DANIEL FAITAUA REPORTS, THE DAY BROUGHT RENEWED CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. BEACONS OF LIGHT TO MARK THE DARKEST OF YEARS ` TO HONOUR THE LIVES OF 126,523 PEOPLE LOST TO COVID. THIS WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER STRUGGLE IN MY LIFETIME. IN THAT OUR ENTIRE POPULATION HAS BEEN ENGAGED. (BELL TOLLS) EARLIER, THE NATION UNITED IN AN ACT OF REMEMBRANCE, AKIN TO THE WAY WE REFLECT ON THE FALLEN OF WARS LONG PAST. BUT THE STRUGGLE AGAINST COVID-19 IS A BATTLE WE'RE STILL FIGHTING. BRITAIN IS STILL SUFFERING. THOSE WHO'VE ISOLATED, SACRIFICED, STANDING WITH THE MANY WHO GRIEVE LIKE THESE YOUNG LADS WHO LOST THEIR DAD. WHO WALKED OUT THE DOOR AND WE DIDN'T` WE JUST THOUGHT, 'OH, HE'LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.' WE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS GOING UNDER` INTO A COMA OR WHATEVER. AS MUCH AS SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY IT HEALS WITH TIME, I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT'S TRUE AT THE MOMENT. A YEAR AFTER THE UK WENT INTO ITS FIRST LOCKDOWN, THE COUNTRY IS MIDWAY THROUGH ITS THIRD. IT'S BEEN A YEAR CHARACTERISED BY INDECISIVENESS AND MISSTEPS THAT HAVE LEFT BRITAIN WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST COVID-19 DEATH RATES IN THE WORLD ` RENEWING CALLS FOR A PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC. WE OWE BOTH THE NHS STAFF AND THOSE ON THE FRONTLINE AND ALL THE FAMILIES OF THOSE THAT HAVE DIED TO LEARN THE LESSONS OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS, TO HAVE AN INQUIRY, AND TO LEARN WHAT WENT WRONG, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEVER REPEAT THAT. THE ANNIVERSARY COMES AS A FRESH SURGE SWEEPS THROUGH EUROPE ` GERMANY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCE AND ITALY, THE LATEST TO IMPOSE AN EASTER LOCKDOWN. AS THIS LONG WAR CONTINUES, TODAY, WE REMEMBER THE FALLEN. DANIEL FAITAUA, 1 NEWS, LONDON. RELIEF IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA WITH COVID-19 VACCINES ARRIVING AS THE ISLAND NATION CONTINUES TO BATTLE A SURGE IN CASE NUMBERS. THE EMERGENCY SUPPLY, FLOWN IN FROM AUSTRALIA WITH A TEAM OF HEALTH SPECIALISTS, WILL BE GIVEN TO FRONT-LINE HEALTH WORKERS FIRST. CASES OF THE VIRUS HAVE MORE THAN TRIPLED IN THE PAST MONTH PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE COUNTRY'S ALREADY VULNERABLE HEALTH SYSTEM. THERE'S A LOT OR WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE'S A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE MOST OF THIS OPPORTUNITY OF ADMINISTERING 8000 VACCINES. THE FULL EXTENT OF THE CRISIS REMAINS UNCLEAR DUE TO THE LACK OF COMMUNITY TESTING FACILITIES. A MAN (21) HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH 10 COUNTS OF MURDER AFTER YESTERDAY'S MASS SHOOTING IN THE U.S. STATE OF COLORADO. AHMAD ALISSA WAS WOUNDED IN THE SHOOTOUT AT A BOULDER GROCERY STORE. HE EMIGRATED FROM SYRIA AT THE AGE OF 3. NO MOTIVE'S BEEN CONFIRMED, BUT HIS BROTHER SAYS HE MAY'VE BEEN MENTALLY ILL. THE COUNTRY'S SECOND MASS SHOOTING IN A WEEK HAS YET AGAIN FOCUSED ATTENTION ON GUN LAWS. I DON'T NEED TO WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE, LET ALONE AN HOUR, TO TAKE COMMON SENSE STEPS THAT WILL SAVE LIVES IN THE FUTURE AND TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO ACT ` WE CAN BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES IN THIS COUNTRY. THE 10 VICTIMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM 20 TO 65 AND INCLUDE A BOULDER POLICE OFFICER. THE SUEZ CANAL IN EGYPT, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT SHIPPING ROUTES, IS TONIGHT AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. AND THIS IS WHY ` ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONTAINER SHIPS STUCK SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY BLOCKING THE CANAL. AFTER RUNNING AGROUND, EFFORTS TO MOVE THE 220,000-TON VESSEL WITH TUGBOATS HAVE FAILED, SO NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO DIG UNDERNEATH TO REFLOAT IT. AND THIS IS THE CHAOS IT'S CAUSING ` DOZENS OF HUGE SHIPS STACKED UP AT EITHER END WAITING TO MAKE THE CROSSING, THE SHORTEST ROUTE BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE. MEET THE NEW MUM OF FOUR AT THE TENDER AGE OF 50. OH, MY GOODNESS, WE'VE GOT BABY TORTOISES. WE ALMOST FEEL UNPREPARED. WHY THEIR ARRIVAL'S CAUGHT MANY OFF GUARD. PLUS THE RED CARPET IS OUT AT THE AWARDS, THE KIWI EQUIPMENT OF THE SPORTING OSCARS. THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. THEN AT 7 ` WHY ARE KIWIS SUFFERING SO MUCH ROAD RAGE? YES, 85% OF US HAVE BEEN VICTIMS IN ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS, SO HOW DO WE STAY CALM BEHIND THE WHEEL? PLUS ` THE SPORTING LEGENDS WHO'VE JUST COMPLETED A GRUELLING 100KM OCEAN SWIM. SO HOW MANY SHARKS HAD A SNIFF? AND SIBLING HARMONY ` WE MEET THE BROTHER AND SISTER DUO SINGING FROM THE SAME SONG SHEET. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. AN AUCKLAND MARAE THAT HAS BEEN CARING FOR THE CITY'S HOMELESS IS TAKING THE CROWN TO THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL FOR ITS FAILURES TO HOUSE MAORI. TE PUEA MARAE IS LEADING THE CLAIM, CALLING FOR REPARATIONS AND A COMMITMENT TO DO MORE. CORAZON MILLER REPORTS. AT THIS MARAE, WHICH HAS PROVIDED HOMES FOR SO MANY; A CHALLENGE TO THE CROWN. THIS IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO TURN UP AND TELL THEIR STORIES AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FAILINGS` ONGOING FAILINGS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THEIR POLICIES. MIDDLE CLASS NEW ZEALAND TAKES IT FOR GRANTED ` HOUSING. BUT TWO THIRDS OF THE MAORI POPULATION REALLY STRUGGLE. AND YOU CAN'T GET YOUR BABY A GOOD EDUCATION WHEN YOU'RE THAT TRANSIENT. SO WE HAVE TO FIX THIS. TE PUEA MARAE IS LEADING THE CHARGE AT THIS WAITANGI TRIBUNAL HEARING SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY GROUPS NATIONWIDE. THE CLAIM BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL HERE IS THAT FOR YEARS THE CROWN HAVE FAILED TO ENABLE AND SUPPORT MAORI INTO HOUSING. IT SAYS THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTISE ARE PREJUDICIAL TO MAORI AND HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING. THIS WORKING MOTHER OF 12 ONE OF THOSE WHO FELL BETWEEN THE CRACKS. I WAS LIVING IN A VAN. I WAS HOMELESS WITH MY THREE LITTLE BOYS ON AND OFF FOR EIGHT WEEKS. IT WAS SCARY AND UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE AND I WASN'T ENTITLED TO ANY MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. SHE'S ONE OF THE MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE THE MARAE'S HELPED INTO HOMES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. FINDING THEM HOMES ENDS UP BEING THE EASY PART. THEY COME WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES ` SUBSTANCE ABUSE, FAMILY VIOLENCE, HISTORICAL ABUSE, BUDGETING ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. AND THEY ACTUALLY END UP BEING THE REAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. AS WELL AS REPARATIONS, TE PUEA CALLING ON THE CROWN TO DO MORE TO HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. FOUR NEW CHILDREN AT 50 YEARS OLD. DON'T WORRY, THOUGH, IT'S NOT A PERSON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE NEW BABY JOY IS AT AUCKLAND ZOO, WHERE STAFF ARE CELEBRATING THEIR BIGGEST CLUTCH OF ENDANGERED GALAPAGOS TORTOISES. AND IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY BOOSTED NUMBERS IN CAPTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. KIM BAKER WILSON WENT TO MEET THEM. TINY, DELICATE AND ENDANGERED. NOT ONE; FOUR. (LAUGHS) AUCKLAND ZOO'S BEEN WANTING THIS FOR DECADES. AND WHEN THEY HATCHED, OF COURSE, WHAT DO WE SUDDENLY DO? 'OH MY GOODNESS, WE'VE GOT BABY TORTOISES'. WE ALMOST FEEL UNPREPARED, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN PREPARING ACTUALLY FOR 30 YEARS. WE KIND OF GOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND` AND SURPRISE ` THERE WAS FOUR BABIES. THE OFFSPRING OF THE ZOO'S EXISTING GIANT TORTOISES. SO, WE'VE GOT FOUR, AS YOU CAN SEE. WE'VE GOT TWO MALES AND TWO FEMALES. MUM CHIPPY (50) AND SMILEY (49) ARE THE PARENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, SMILEY HERE IS QUITE BIG. SO HE IS 250 KILOS. THE ZOO'S POPULATION HAS INSTANTLY DOUBLED, AND SPECIALISTS OVERSEAS ARE ASTOUNDED. THEY CAN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER. THEY ARE` THEY CONGRATULATE US, BUT ARE HORRIBLY JEALOUS. WELL, AT THE MOMENT, THIS LITTLE GUY FITS QUITE SNUGLY INTO MY HAND, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO STAY THAT WAY. IT'S GOING TO GET THOUSANDS OF TIMES BIGGER AND OUTLIVE ALL OF US. IT COULD LIVE FOR MORE THAN 180 YEARS. BUT THAT'S IF IT SURVIVES. THEY'RE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH, BUT IN 2017 LITTLE PINTA HATCHED PREMATURELY AND HAD TO BE PUT DOWN A FEW MONTHS LATER. SO IT WAS WITH SOME RESERVE, OF COURSE, WE SHARE THIS HAPPY NEWS. IT COULD BE YEARS BEFORE THE BABIES MEET THEIR PARENTS AND THE OTHERS. YEAH, SNAPPER IS JUST THINKING YOU'RE A NEW PERSON. YOU MIGHT STAND HERE FOR AN HOUR AND GIVING HER A LITTLE BIT OF A` A RUB. THE LITTLE GIANT TORTOISES NEEDING TO GET A BIT BIGGER BEFORE THEY CAN FOOT IT WITH THIS LOT. KIM BAKER WILSON, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND WE'RE LIVE AT A VERY DIFFERENT HALBERG AWARDS. ALSO TONIGHT ` AMERICAN MAGIC WANTS BACK IN. WE HAVE THEIR NEXT AMERICA'S CUP PLANS, INCLUDING HIRING MORE KIWIS. PLUS ` IT'S AN EXTRA-SPECIAL MAADI CUP FOR ONE YOUNG ROWER IN PARTICULAR. AND A BIT OF CLOUD ALONG THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN COASTS TODAY ` HERE'S HOW THE CAPITAL'S LOOKING TONIGHT. IN CHRISTCHURCH, LOW CLOUD AND 15 DEGREES. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON THAT RAINMAKER IN THE TASMAN SEA. NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA WELCOME TO SPORT, AND WELCOME TO THE 2021 VERSION OF THE HALBERG AWARDS. THE AWARDS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT ` THE BIG AWARDS ARE BEING HANDED OUT FOR THE CHAMPION OF THE DECADE. ABBY WILSON IS AT THE EVENT IN AUCKLAND AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. ABBY. THINGS HAD TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. THERE WASN'T A 2020 AWARDS, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T MUCH SPORT LAST YEAR. THIS EVENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD A MONTH OR SO AGO, WE ARE FINALLY HERE. EVERYONE IS DRESSED UP. THAT'S KINDA STANDARD AROUND THESE PARTS. I AM INTRODUCING THE POWER PEER HAMISH BOND AND ERICA MURRAY. THEY ARE UP FOR TWO CATEGORIES. WHO IS YOUR TOUGHEST COMPETITION CAN BE? IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ALL BLACKS I THINK WILL PROBABLY BE A BIG ONE. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF OTHER WINNERS IN THE LIKES OF LISA CARRINGTON AND TOM WALSH. ERIC YOU HAVE BEEN OUT OF SPORT FOR A WHILE, WHAT'S BEEN YOUR TAKE ON THAT? PROBABLY WHEN HAMISH CAME BACK TO ME ON 2019 AND SAID DID YOU WANT TO COME BACK THAT WAS BEFORE COVID. IT'S BEEN SO DISRUPTIVE, AND I KNOW THAT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUILDING INTO THAT YOU ARE BUILDING BACKWARDS FROM THE DAY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. THE GUYS JUST HAD TO GO OUT AND TRAIN, START PLAYING THE GAME, AND IT'S GREAT FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE INJURED, AND FOR OTHERS, TIME POSSIBLY STARTS RUNNING OUT. HAMISH, YOU ARE ONE OF THE LAST FEW STANDING FROM LONDON. I GUESS, I'M 35 NOW AND STILL FEELING YOUNG. I AM COMFORTABLE THAT I AM AS GOOD AS THEY HAVE BEEN. WE'VE GOT A GREAT GROUP OF YOUNG ENTHUSIASTIC GUYS THEY HAVE A LOT OF TALENT AS WELL. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MOULD THEIR INTO SOMETHING THAT IS HOPEFULLY SUCCESSFUL IN TOKYO. YOU GOT TO RETIRE ON YOUR TERMS, HOW HARD WAS IT TO WATCH WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED? IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT MATE HAS ACHIEVED, HIS COMPETED AND DONE MORE THAN I EVER HAVE. THE LEGACY THAT HE HAS IS GOING TO LIVE ON. I KNOW WHAT IS DONE FOR THE TEAM, HE'S GONNA MAKE IT BETTER IN THE FUTURE. I JUST HOPE THAT THERE IS A PATH FOR HIM TO PLAY IN THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS. BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE HE HAS. WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE, AND I GUESS WILL HAVE TO WATCH AND SEE JUST WHO ENDS UP WINNING. THANKS, ABBY. ABBY WILSON LIVE FROM AUCKLAND'S SPARK ARENA. THE WINLESS HURRICANES HAVE BEEN DEALT A FRESH BLOW IN SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA. FIRST FIVE JACKSON GARDEN-BACHOP HAS BEEN RULED OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON WITH AN ACHILLES INJURY NEEDING SURGERY. IT MEANS PLAYMAKER RUBEN LOVE (19) MIGHT MAKE HIS DEBUT OFF THE BENCH THIS WEEKEND. IT'S A TIMELY RETURN FOR VETERAN HOOKER DANE COLES, WHO'S EXPERIENCE WILL BE CRUCIAL IN CHASING THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE COMPETITION. HE'LL BE A SMALL PART IN THE COG THAT HELPS US TO NAIL OFF A FEW THINGS WE HAVEN'T BEEN NAILING OFF TO GET THE 'W'. SO ONLY A SMALL PART, BUT HE'LL PLAY A BIG PART AROUND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TEAM. THE HURRICANES NEEDING A WIN AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS ON FRIDAY NIGHT TO AVOID THEIR WORST EVER START TO A SEASON, FOUR STRAIGHT LOSSES. WHAT BETTER WAY TO SEAL A SERIES WIN OVER BANGLADESH THAN A CANTERBURY STALWART HITTING AN UNBEATEN HUNDRED AT HAGLEY OVAL? IT WAS THE FIRST EVER DAY-NIGHT ODI IN CHRISTCHURCH, AND IT WAS LOCAL BOY TOM LATHAM WHO TOOK CENTRE STAGE. DEPUTISING FOR THE INJURED KANE WILLIAMSON, THE LEFT HANDER FIRST SHARING A HUNDRED RUN STAND WITH DEVON CONWAY, BEFORE BRINGING UP THE FIFTH HUNDRED OF HIS ONE-DAY CAREER. IT WAS THE 12TH TIME LATHAM'S SKIPPERED THE BLACKCAPS IN ONE-DAYERS, DURING WHICH THEY'VE ONLY LOST ONCE ` COMFORTABLY THE BEST WIN RATE OF ANY NZ CAPTAIN, ALTHOUGH GRANTED, NOT AGAINST THE LIKES OF AUSTRALIA OR SOUTH AFRICA. BUT EVEN HIS OWN PERFORMANCES, GIVEN A MAJOR BOOST TOO ` HIS BATTING AVERAGE MORE THAN DOUBLING WHEN HE'S SKIPPERED THE TEAM. IN OTHER BLACKCAPS NEWS, COVID-19 RESPONSE MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS IN OTHER BLACKCAPS NEWS, COVID-19 RESPONSE MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS TODAY GIVING A STRONG INDICATION THE TEAM WILL LIKELY MEET THE NATIONAL INTEREST CRITERIA FOR AN EARLY VACCINE BEFORE PLAYERS HEAD TO ENGLAND. WE HAVE THE CLEAREST INDICATION YET AMERICAN MAGIC AND THE FAMOUS NEW YORK YACHT CLUB WILL CHALLENGE FOR THE 37TH AMERICA'S CUP, IF THAT REGATTA IS IN NEW ZEALAND. MOST OF THE AMERICAN TEAM HAVE HEADED HOME, BUT THEIR BASE IS GOING NOWHERE AND THEIR TWO BOATS ARE STAYING HERE AS WELL. IT'S FUNNY WHO YOU STILL BUMP INTO AT THE VIADUCT. YOU LEAVE TOMORROW? YEAH, TOMORROW NIGHT. YOU'LL BE BACK THOUGH? (BLEEP) OATH WE BETTER BE BACK. TEAM NEW ZEALAND BOSS GRANT DALTON, AMERICAN MAGIC CEO TERRY HUTCHINSON, AND BACKERS OF THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB HAVE ALREADY MET TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE NEXT CUP. AND YOU WERE PRETTY EMPHATIC ` NEW YORK YACHT CLUB WILL COME BACK. IT FEELS LIKE THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB IS GOING TO COME BACK. ANY POSSIBLE ONE OFF REGATTA IN ENGLAND NEXT YEAR WOULD CAUSE A SPEED BUMP. HOWEVER, ASIDE FROM THAT MAGIC'S IN FOR THE LONG HAUL IN NEW ZEALAND. THE TEAM'S BASE IS REMAINING UP AND RUNNING. AMERICAN MAGIC'S TWO BOATS 'DEFIANT' AND 'PATRIOT' WILL STAY PUT AS WELL. IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE'RE BACK HERE IN 14 MONTHS AND WE'RE PUTTING PATRIOT IN THE WATER AND WE'RE STARTING OUR PROGRAMME. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO CATCH UP TO THE DEFENDER HERE. FIRST, A TOTAL LOCAL REFIT OF PATRIOT AND HIRING MORE KIWIS ON THE SHORE CREW TO CUT LONG TERM COSTS. THE SAILORS WILL REMAIN AMERICAN NATIONALS IN LINE WITH THE NEW RULES. IF YOU ENDED UP WITH ONE MORE TEAM IN THE NEXT ONE, THAT'S A WIN. TERRY HUTCHINSON CAN UNDERSTAND THE DEFENDER LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR FUNDING, BUT HE'S ADAMANT HOLDING THE NEXT CUP REGATTA IN AUCKLAND IS AN ABSOLUTE NO BRAINER. WITH ALL SINCERITY IN THE WORLD, I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER COUNTRY WOULD HAVE PULLED THIS OFF. I THINK WE'RE COMMITTED` I THINK WE'RE COMMITTED` TO THE AMERICA'S CUP OR AN ASYLUM. THOSE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED. SOME MIGHT SAY THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR. THEY ARE SIMILAR, ACTUALLY. THEY ACTUALLY ARE. AFTER NINE MONTHS HERE TOMORROW, HUTCHINSON BIDS FAREWELL TO THE VIADUCT AND HIS OLD MATE AND ADVERSARY. BUT IT'S CLEAR HE AND THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB WILL BE BACK SOON. THE RETURN THIS WEEK OF ROWING'S PRESTIGIOUS MAADI CUP IS A RELIEF FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG KIWIS, THEIR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS. BUT FOR ONE STUDENT ESPECIALLY, IT MEANS ANOTHER CHANCE TO THROW HERSELF INTO A SPORT THAT'S KEPT HER GOING THROUGH THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES. GUY HEVELDT HAS THE STORY. LIA CHALMERS LOOKS LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER 2500 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETING AT ROWING'S MAADI CUP REGATTA THIS WEEK, ONLY HER JOURNEY HERE IS QUITE DIFFERENT AND REMARKABLE. FOR ME, IT WAS LIKE ` CANCER IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE ELSE. YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE IT, BUT NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME. YES, AT JUST 15 LIA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE FORM OF STAGE THREE HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA AFTER COMPLAINING OF PAIN IN BOTH SIDES OF HER NECK. HER MUM JILL FORTUNATELY TOOK HER TO A DOCTOR. DAYS LATER, SHE RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS. ME AS HER MUM AND HER FATHER HAD TO TELL HER SHE HAD CANCER. AND THAT'S THE WORST THING YOU CAN EVER DO FOR A CHILD. THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD POSSIBLY EXPLAIN THE EMOTION. QUITE HEARTBREAKING FOR ME AND I'M SURE DEVASTATING FOR HER. BUT SHE TOLD ME SHE WASN'T SCARED, WHICH IS, I GUESS REASSURING AS A MUM. MONTHS OF RADIATION MEANS BIG WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS, TEMPORARILY LOSING FEELING IN HER LIMBS, AND ONE OF THE MOST DAUNTING THINGS, LOSING HER HAIR. AS A TEENAGE GIRL WITH SUPER LONG HAIR. YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG PART OF YOUR SELF-IMAGE, AT LEAST IT WAS FOR ME. SO THAT WAS QUITE HARD. BUT IT'S BACK NOW. BUT THROUGH THE INTENSIVE TREATMENT, LIA KEPT ROWING ALONGSIDE HER TAURANGA GIRL'S COLLEGE TEAM-MATES. I THINK ROWING ACTUALLY HELPED ME GET THROUGH IT IN A WAY. I KEPT ROWING FOR AS LONG AS I COULD AS I WAS GETTING TREATED, AND THEN WHEN I COULDN'T WOW ANYMORE, I STARTED COXSWAIN. LEAH IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PERSON AND I THINK THAT KIND OF IS A TESTAMENT TO MOST ROWERS, INSTEAD OF BEING SICK WITH CANCER AND FIGHTING CANCER. AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY HARD CANCER TO FIGHT. SHE TRIED TO BE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE. THEN THE NEWS SHE'D BEEN WAITING FOR IN 2019 ` SHE WAS IN REMISSION. BEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD. IT WAS JUST, LIKE, EVERYTHING I'D GONE THROUGH HAS PAID OFF. AND FINALLY I'M HERE. I'M DONE WITH IT ALL AND I CAN GET BACK TO DOING WHAT I LOVE. AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS WEEK IN FOUR DIFFERENT EVENTS ` MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY DAY IN THE SPORT. SHE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT. GUY HEVELDT, 1 NEWS. GREAT STORY. NEWS KEEPS GETTING BETTER, LEAH AND HER COLLEGE MAKING THE UNDER 18 SCULLS FINAL. THANKS, SAV. AND ON SEVEN SHARP, SPORTING LEGENDS DIVING IN HEAD FIRST. YES, SWIMMING 100 K'S FROM GREAT BARRIER TO THE MAINLAND, 25 HOURS NON-STOP ` WE'RE WITH THEM AS THEY FINISH THE GRUELLING CHALLENGE. PLUS, PESKY POSSUMS ` THEIR FUR IS VALUABLE, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO OFFER ` THEIR MEAT. EVEN THOUGH STILL A COUPLE OF DAYS A WAY FOR RAIN, WILL SEE SOME THINGS ON THE MOVE. THAT I WAS GOING TO GO THAT WAY, WE STILL HAVE A HIGH BUT IT IS NEVER CENTRE. THAT'S ALL THE LOW CLOUD. CHECK OUT THE SHOP FROM THE EAST COAST. CHECK OUT THIS VIEW FROM TOKAMARU BAY. THINGS WERE LOOKING FINE WITH SOME SUNSHINE. BACK TO THE SATELLITE, LOTS OF CLOUD STILL AROUND THE COASTS, WITH THE HIGH FINALLY ON THE MOVE EAST. WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW. 25DEGREES OF TODAY. YOU GET THAT MORE NORTHERLY, PUSHING THE CLOUD AWAY FROM THE EAST OF SOUTHAM. WE SEE THE RAINMAKER SLOWLY TRACKING TOWARDS US. IT DOES HIT THE FAR SOUTH, ALL OF US LOOKING FINE COMING INTO THE COURSE OF FRIDAY. WARM ARE LOOKING ON THE EAST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. AT LEAST SOME RAIN COMING BUT A LOT OF US WILL BE ENDING WITH PROBABLY A DRY ENDING TO MARCH. IT WILL FLICKER SOME CLOUD IN THE NIGHTTIME. AUCKLAND SEEMS A LIVING. HIT THE REPEAT BUTTON ONCE AGAIN. TRACKING AWAY FURTHER SOUTH, IT IS THE SAME AS WELL. MAYBE SOME MORNING MIST YOU'VE STILL GOT THE HIGH, SIMILAR AROUND THE REGIONS AS WELL. IT IS THE SAME FOR TAURANGA THE DIFFERENCE BEING, AS YOU TRACK AWAY FURTHER EAST, THE ONSHORE FLOW WILL BE FLICKING IN THE DRIZZLE. LOOKS THE SAME IN GISBOURNE A BIT OF PATCHY CLOUD FOR THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. A DECENT FRIDAY. SOME EARLY CLOUD IN WELLINGTON. 19DEGREES. UP TO ABOUT 21. IN THE REGIONS OF COURSE THE MORNING CLOUD FOR NELSON. CHRISTCHURCH DRIZZLE FOR YOU IN THE MORNING, SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. TRACKING SOUTH AND WEST SAME SORT OF THING. EARLY CLOUD AND SOME DRIZZLE. FOR QUEENSTOWN, SOME MORNING CLOUD AND THE DAYS DRIVE. 22DEGREES. FINE -LOOKING DAY FOR MANY. FURTHER EAST, FURTHER WEST YOU HAVE THE CLOUD. IN DUNEDIN, 19DEGREES. A GREAT START. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME DRIZZLE AFTER THAT.