TONIGHT ` PARENTS CALLED OUT OVER DESPERATE MEASURES USED TO TRY TO GET THEIR KIDS TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. A WINTER GETAWAY IN RAROTONGA IS LOOKING LIKELY AS NEW ZEALAND AND COOK ISLAND OFFICIALS CLOSE IN ON A TRAVEL BUBBLE. AND RUNNING FOR HIS CRICKETING LIFE ` DARYL MITCHELL'S DRAMATIC LAST OVER DASH TO CLINCH A BREAKOUT TON. THE FIELDER'S THERE. THROWN TO THE KEEPERS END. HE'S WELL SHORT ON THE BOUNCE. HE'S MADE IT! THE BLACKCAPS ON THEIR WAY TO A BANGLADESH CLEAN SWEEP. CAPTIONS BY SOPHIE PEARCE AND KATE PARKINSON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021 TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KIWI KIDS ARE POPPING PILLS TO GET TO SLEEP AMID AN ALARMING RISE IN THE USE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION. SLEEP HORMONE MELATONIN IS A RESTRICTED MEDICINE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM A DOCTOR, BUT THERE ARE CLAIMS PARENTS SEE IT AS A DREAM SOLUTION. DONNA MARIE LEVER WITH THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. POPPING PILLS TO SLEEP IS COMMON, BUT NOW OUR LITTLE ONES ARE INCREASINGLY LATCHING ON TO THEM TOO. (CRIES) PHARMAC BEGAN FUNDING THE NATURAL SLEEP HORMONE MELATONIN IN JULY 2017. SINCE THEN, ITS USE HAS SURGED. IT CAN BE SEEN AS A MAGIC BULLET, AND PARENTS DO LOVE A QUICK FIX. THOUSANDS OF DOSES HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED TO PRESCHOOLERS TOO. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS SOME ARE JUST BABIES, BUT IT WON'T REVEAL HOW MANY. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO UNPACK THE NUMBERS AS TO WHAT ARE PART OF THE SPECIAL AUTHORITY AND WHAT ARE NOT. HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT MELATONIN IS A RELATIVELY SAFE MEDICATION FOR SHORT-TERM USE; WE'RE JUST UNCERTAIN ON ANY DATA OR STUDIES THAT INDICATE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, LONGER-TERM, WITH IT. MELATONIN IS OFTEN USED IN CHILDREN WITH CONDITIONS SUCH AS ADHD AND AUTISM, BUT MUMS AND DADS ARE GIVING IT TO KIDS WITHOUT THOSE CONDITIONS TOO. POSSIBLY SEEKING IT OUT FROM THEIR DOCTORS TO HELP WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S SLEEP - OR, EVEN MORE ALARMINGLY, SEEKING IT OUT ONLINE, WHERE I KNOW THEY CAN GET IT FROM THE STATES. BUT IT'S ILLEGAL TO BRING IT INTO NEW ZEALAND WITHOUT AUTHORITY. CUSTOMS HAVE SEIZED NEARLY 100,000 DOSES OF MELATONIN OVER THE PAST DECADE FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THERE WAS ONE ATTEMPT TO BRING IN 1250 PILLS, BUT THAT WAS INTERCEPTED AT THE BORDER. THIS SLEEP CONSULTANT SAYS THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. YOU CAN ALSO JUST ADD TO YOUR CART SOME MELATONIN GUMMIES, AND THAT COMES THROUGH NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMS JUST FINE. IT'S NOT LABELLED AS MELATONIN. I THINK ORDERING MEDICATION FROM OVERSEAS AND IMPORTING IT LIKE THAT, IN THAT WAY, I DON'T THINK IS A SAFE THING TO DO. THE MINISTRY'S ADVICE REMAINS CLEAR ` MEDICINE SHOULDN'T BE THE FIRST PREFERENCE TO TREAT YOUNG INSOMNIACS, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE THE PREFERENCE FOR PARENTS. DONNA-MARIE LEVER, 1 NEWS. FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS CLAIM A CRISIS IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IS AFFECTING THE WHOLE HEALTH SYSTEM. E.D.'S WERE AT CAPACITY THIS WEEK, WITH MORE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COMING FORWARD TO TELL 1 NEWS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS. CORAZON MILLER REPORTS. AFTER SIX YEARS AT THE COALFACE IN THE ED AND FEELING POWERLESS TO DO RIGHT BY HIS PATIENTS, THIS NURSE HAD HAD ENOUGH. I HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD A HEART ATTACK THAT WAS MISDIAGNOSED. HE WAITED IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR SIX HOURS. AND FOUR MONTHS LATER, HE HAD A SEVERE HEART ATTACK AND DIED, AND HIS FAMILY WERE DISTRAUGHT. YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BURDEN. HE OFTEN WENT TO WORK DREADING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. THE, 'OH NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN.' SOMETIMES THERE THE FEELING OF EXCITEMENT THAT YOU COULD DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR PATIENT, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, A FEELING OF ANGER AND SADNESS THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU COULD. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE REPORTED UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND THIS WEEK, THE BACKLOG HAVING A FLOW-ON EFFECT. ULTIMATELY, IF OUR AMBULANCES ARE WAITING OUTSIDE ED DOORS, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND TO SEE THIS SORT OF DEMAND ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN SUMMER GIVES US IMMENSE WORRY FOR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN WINTER. THE HEALTH MINISTER IS PUTTING SOME RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. THERE IS A CAPACITY PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS ALSO IN THE WAY THAT PATIENTS WHO ARE WITHIN THE HOSPITAL ` NOT JUST THOSE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, BUT ELSEWHERE IN THE HOSPITAL ` THE WAY THEY ARE BEING MANAGED. A MEETING THIS MORNING WITH ONE SPECIALIST OFFERING SOME HOPE. HE WAS ENGAGED AND INTERESTED. HE WANTS TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM. WE NEED THE MINISTER TO SET THESE EXPECTATIONS OF DHBs, AND THE DHBs NEED TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE ENTIRE JOURNEY, BOTH IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO IN THE WARDS. TOO LATE FOR THIS NURSE, WHO'S LEAVING THE PROFESSION ` AND THE COUNTRY. THIS HAS TAKEN A HUGE BURDEN ON MY MENTAL HEALTH. I WAS BURNT OUT, SEVERELY FATIGUED, EMOTIONALLY DRAINED. PHYSICALLY I FELT VERY DRAINED AND WORN DOWN; SOCIALLY, I CAN'T INTERACT WITH PEOPLE THE WAY I USED TO. HE HOPES CHANGE COMES BEFORE MORE STAFF AND PATIENTS ARE LOST TO A SYSTEM IN CRISIS. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. BRITTANY HIGGINS, THE YOUNG AUSTRALIAN WOMAN ALLEGEDLY RAPED INSIDE PARLIAMENT HOUSE HAS TONIGHT WELCOMED AN OFFER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO MEET IN PERSON. BUT AS SCOTT MORRISON ATTEMPTS TO USHER IN CULTURAL CHANGE IN CANBERRA, HIS EFFORTS HAVE BEEN UNDERMINED BY ONE OF HIS OWN MPS. CHANNEL NINE'S JONATHAN KEARSLEY HAS THE LATEST. MASKED UP AND FOCUSED ON PROTECTING THE COUNTRY. THE PRIME MINISTER TRYING TO FIND HIS OWN DOSE OF REALITY, THANKING WORKERS IN THE VACCINE ROLL-OUT. GIVE THEM A BIG THUMBS UP. BUT SCOTT MORRISON'S TRYING TO ROLL ON... WE'VE GOT TO WORK HARDER ON HOW WE RESPECT EACH OTHER. ...AND MOVE ON FROM ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES HIS GOVERNMENT HAS FACED; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACCUSED OF HISTORICAL RAPE, A CLAIM HE DENIES; LEWD PICTURES SENT AMONGST GOVERNMENT STAFFERS; AND THE BRITTANY HIGGINS RAPE ALLEGATION. NOW THE PRIME MINISTER IS SET TO MEET THE FORMER STAFFER,... WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET. ..AN OFFER, THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS, WAS ALSO MADE BEFORE MISS HIGGINS AIRED THE ALLEGATION. AT THE TIME, JUST BEFORE SHE DEPARTED, SHE WAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK WITH ME, WITH MINISTER CASH. IN A STATEMENT, BRITTANY HIGGINS TOLD NINE NEWS: BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEMS HAVE INTENSIFIED ` MP ANDREW LAMING CAUGHT TROLLING WOMEN ONLINE. TO OUR PRIME MINISTER, (SNIFFLES) THIS MAN NEEDS TO STOP. THE PRIME MINISTER FORCING THE MP TO PUBLICLY APOLOGISE. HE'S VERY CLEAR ABOUT MY EXPECTATIONS. THE PRIME MINISTER'S RESPONSE IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE, AS IT ALWAYS IS. ANDREW LAMING ISN'T FIT TO CONTINUE AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. AFTER WEEKS DOMINATED BY HOW WOMEN ARE TREATED, THE PRIME MINISTER HAS HINTED AT A CRACKDOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS AND TROLLS, SAYING THEY'RE CORRODING RESPECT AS HE STRUGGLES TO GET HIS HEAD AROUND AN ISSUE WHICH IS PLAGUING HIM AND HIS GOVERNMENT. I ASSURE YOU, I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO UNDERSTAND IT AS BEST AS I CAN. THERE IS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY NOW, UNLIKE ANY I'VE SEEN BEFORE. THE PRIME MINISTER'S NOT HEARING ANY OF IT. I MEAN, HE'S LITERALLY TRYING TO RESET EVERY DAY. AND TRYING TO FOCUS ON HIS NEXT BATTLE ` A CABINET RESHUFFLE WITHIN DAYS. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. SURVIVORS OF ABUSE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ARE NOT HAPPY AFTER THE FIRST FORMAL APOLOGY FROM BISHOPS AND CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS. LAURA JAMES REPORTS. WE ARE DEEPLY SORRY. AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY FROM NEW ZEALAND'S TOP CATHOLIC. YOU HAVE SPOKEN OF ABUSE PERPETRATED BY BISHOPS, PRIESTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS ` PEOPLE YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRUST. AS HE WAS GOING THROUGH IT, I WAS THINKING, 'THESE ARE LOVELY WORDS'. BUT FOR MANY SURVIVORS, THE WORDS SPOKEN ON BEHALF OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS DIDN'T CUT IT. UNLESS IT'S MET BY ACTION, REAL ACTION, AND REAL CARE FOR THE PROTECTIONS OF CHILDREN. HOW CAN YOU APOLOGISE? HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. YOU'RE APOLOGISING FOR CRIMES... THAT YOU HAVEN'T EVEN PRODUCED A PROCESS FOR, THAT ALLOW COMPLAINT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SYSTEMS AND CULTURE OF THE CHURCH ALLOWED ABUSE TO OCCUR. THESE SYSTEMS AND CULTURE FAILED YOU AND MUST CHANGE. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 1000 CLAIMS OF ABUSE IN CATHOLIC CARE SINCE 1950, AND THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED THE FULL NUMBER, WITH MANY RECORDS PRE-1990 MISPLACED. THESE GENERAL PUBLIC APOLOGIES ARE SADLY FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH'S' OWN NEED TO BE SEEN AS APOLOGISING. BUT THEY DO VERY LITTLE TO HELP THE SURVIVOR OR THE VICTIM WHEN THEY ARE NOT ACCOMPANIED BY A PERSONAL APOLOGY. HE BELIEVES THAT'S BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS WORRIED ABOUT COMPENSATION ` A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. WHAT YOU'RE EXPRESSING IS A NERVOUSNESS ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS IS ALL GOING TO COST THE CHURCH? I THINK IT WAS A QUESTION THAT WE WERE ALL BEGINNING TO ASK. SURVIVOR ADVOCATES CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO DEAL WITH CASES PROPERLY, SAYING TODAY'S APOLOGY... I AM PROFOUNDLY SORRY, AND I AM ASHAMED. ...IS NOT GOING TO HELP IN THEIR HEALING PROCESS. LAURA JAMES, 1 NEWS. A TWO-WAY TRAVEL BUBBLE BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND THE COOK ISLANDS COULD BE OPEN WITHIN WEEKS. AS THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WORK TOWARDS A MAY OPENING DATE, THERE'S EXTRA FINANCIAL AID FOR THE ISLANDS IN THE MEANTIME. HERE'S PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER. COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER MARK BROWN ON HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND, BUT FOR THIS ISLAND NATION, IT'S LESS ABOUT THE CEREMONY AND MORE ABOUT ECONOMIC SURVIVAL. IT'S CRUNCH TIME. FOR A COUNTRY THAT'S TOTALLY RELIANT ON TOURISM, THIS HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY, TO THE STATE WHERE IT'S DECLINED 20% IN THE SAME PERIOD THAT NEW ZEALAND'S ECONOMY HAS DECLINED BY 2.9% OF ITS GDP. A LOT HAS HINGED ON THIS BILATERAL MEETING. IT'S CLEAR THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE A TWO-WAY BUBBLE OPENS. BUT THE COOK ISLANDS ISN'T WALKING AWAY EMPTY-HANDED ` $20M MORE IN AID FOR EXTRA SUPPORT AND A TENTATIVE TRAVEL BUBBLE DATE IN MAY. NEW ZEALAND IS ALSO PLANNING TO ROLL OUT COVID VACCINES THERE, AND IT'S LIKELY TO BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. LOGISTICALLY, IT MAKES GOOD SENSE THAT, IN SOME CASES, WE'D GO IN AND JUST START THE ROLLOUT IN ITS ENTIRETY, GIVEN THE POPULATION BASE. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE TRAVEL BUBBLE OPENING DOESN'T DEPEND ON COOK ISLANDERS BEING VACCINATED FIRST. THAT'S PROMISING NEWS TO THE ISLAND COUNTRY, WHICH HAS SEEN A HUGE NUMBER OF THE NEW ZEALAND PASSPORT HOLDERS LEAVING FOR WORK OPPORTUNITIES. WELL, IT'S DEPOPULATION OF THE COOK ISLANDS. WE WON'T HAVE THE WORKFORCE TO SERVICE OUR HOTELS AND TO CATER FOR THE TOURISTS THAT WE NEED IN THE COOK ISLANDS. ONE COMPANY, KUKI RECRUITS, HAS BROUGHT OVER 120 WORKERS SO FAR FROM RAROTONGA TO WORK IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S MEAT WORKS. ANOTHER 30 ARE DUE TO LEAVE AFTER EASTER. IT HAS A POLICY THAT WORKERS HAVE TO RETURN TO RAROTONGA AFTER ONE SEASON IF THEY WANT TO BE RE-HIRED. IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING THAT MONEY BACK HERE AND SPEND IT BACK IN OUR ECONOMY AND OUR ISLANDS, AND HELPING OUR FAMILIES OUT. IF TOURISTS ARE NOT BRINGING MONEY INTO THE COUNTRY FOR WORKERS TO EARN, THESE WORKERS WILL GO AND LOOK FOR THAT MONEY IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. IT'S CLEAR THIS VISIT ISN'T THE SILVER BULLET WHICH WAS DESPERATELY HOPED FOR, BUT IMPORTANT GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE, WITH A CLEAR DIRECTION ON THE WAY AHEAD. BARBARA DREAVER, 1 NEWS. JOE BIDEN'S HELD HIS FIRST-EVER FORMAL PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY AS US PRESIDENT ` 65 DAYS INTO THE JOB ` SPENDING MORE THAN AN HOUR ANSWERING QUESTIONS. THE PRESIDENT PROMISED TO DOUBLE AMERICA'S VACCINE PLAN TO 200 MILLION JABS IN ARMS IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS AND THAT HE'LL BE SEEKING RE-ELECTION IN 2024. BUT IT WAS THE ISSUE OF MIGRATION PROMPTING THIS RESPONSE. THERE ARE KIDS THAT ARE SLEEPING ON FLOORS. SOME OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE NOT SEEN THE SUN IN DAYS. IS WHAT'S HAPPENING ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? THAT'S A SERIOUS QUESTION, RIGHT? 'IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO ME?' COME ON. THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING A THOUSAND OF THOSE KIDS OUT QUICKLY. THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. AROUND 16,000 MIGRANT CHILDREN ARE IN CUSTODY AT THE STATE'S BORDER. AUCKLAND MUSEUM'S TONIGHT LIT UP IN RAINBOW COLOURS, WITH A SPECIAL AFTER-HOURS EVENT CELEBRATING NEW ZEALAND'S PRIDE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S EVEN DRAWN IN A BROADWAY STAR WHO'S TRAVELLED AROUND THE WORLD TO TAKE PART. SAMUEL WAT EXPLAINS. LIGHTING UP A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM... # A SPARK OF CREATION # ...WITH HIS DULCET TONES. WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO PERFORM AT THE AUCKLAND MUSEUM, HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY SAY NO? THE NEARLY CENTURY-OLD HERITAGE BUILDING LAID BARE, BONES AND ALL, IN CELEBRATION OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. THE MUSEUM IS A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE BELONG, WHERE ALL THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND ALL THEIR STORIES ARE TOLD. A NIGHT TO TELL STORIES, LIKE HAYDEN'S. THE KIWI-BORN BROADWAY STAR BOARDED FLIGHT AFTER FLIGHT AFTER FLIGHT TO ESCAPE LOCKDOWNS AROUND THE GLOBE, LANDING IN HIS HOMETOWN, KAIPARA, WHICH THIS YEAR PLAYED HOST TO ITS FIRST-EVER PRIDE. I DID NOT THINK IN MY LIFETIME THAT I WOULD EVER SEE A PRIDE COME TO MY LITTLE VILLAGE. FOR OTHERS, IT WAS A NIGHT TO INDULGE OVER A BITE AND A GLASS OF WINE, WHILE GAZING AT THE ARTEFACTS OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT AND SWAYING TO THE SOUND OF PRIDE. BUT IT ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE HAD THE EVENT PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DELAYED DUE TO COVID. SO WE DECIDED TO RUN IT ANYWAY, COS THERE'S NEVER A BAD TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. AND ANOTHER COVID CASUALTY IN AUCKLAND LAST MONTH WAS THE RAINBOW PRIDE PARADE, BUT FRET NOT. TOMORROW, THIS STREET BEHIND ME IN PONSONBY WILL BE SCREAMING WITH COLOUR AND CHEER BECAUSE NOT EVEN COVID CAN GET IN THE WAY OF LOVE. SO TONIGHT, WE'RE JUST TAKING THE MUSEUM, AND WE'RE JUST HOLDING IT FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. ALLIES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, BUT THIS IS JUST A SAFE SPACE WHERE WE CAN... WE CAN LIVE AND EXIST AND BE OURSELVES HERE TONIGHT. A NIGHT CELEBRATING OUR HISTORY AND HOW FAR WE'VE COME. SAMUEL WAT, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ` A CRICKETING CLEAN SWEEP FOR THE BLACKCAPS THANKS TO CENTURIES FROM A COUPLE OF RELATIVELY FRESH MIDDLE-ORDER PLAYERS. AND THREE OF THE BEST FROM ALL BLACK JORDIE BARRETT TO GET THE HURRICANES' SUPER SEASON FINALLY MOVING. JORDIE BARRETT HAS RUN RAMPANT IN SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA TONIGHT. THE FLYING FULLBACK SCORED ALL 30 POINTS FOR THE HURRICANES AS THEY SWEPT ASIDE THE HIGHLANDERS AT FORSYTH BARR STADIUM. WELCOME TO THE ONE-MAN HIGHLIGHTS REEL. JORDIE BARRETT KICKING THINGS OFF WITH THE PENALTY EFFORT FROM HALFWAY. AND IT IS A BEAUTY TO START. THE HURRICANES HAD LOST THEIR OPENING THREE GAMES. JORDIE SHORING THINGS UP, KEEN TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME, STRIKING TWICE EARLY. INSIDE PASS. SLIPS IT TO BARRETT! CLEARLY ON A MISSION TO FINALLY GET THE SEASON OFF THE GROUND. AND THE POINTS BONANZA WASN'T ABOUT TO SLOW DOWN AFTER HALF TIME. CHANGE OF DIRECTION. BARRETT! OH BOY, HE'S GOT A HAT-TRICK! JORDIE BARRETT! HOW GOOD ARE THE HURRICANES STARTING TO LOOK? THE FULLBACK WASN'T DONE YET, STICKING THE BOOT IN WITH ANOTHER 50-PLUS METRE PENALTY KICK. THIS ONE IS JUST OVER 50, AND UP IT GOES. AND... OVER IT GOES. 27-7. AND WRAPPING THINGS UP WITH A RECORD 30 POINTS ON FULL TIME. THE HIGHLANDERS BRUISED, BATTERED, BEATEN UP BY THAT MAN BARRETT. IN SPORT, TRY TELLING A COUPLE OF LATE BLOOMERS THAT THE BLACKCAPS' DEAD RUBBER AGAINST BANGLADESH WAS JUST A WALK IN A WELLINGTON RESERVE TODAY. 29-YEAR-OLDS DEVON CONWAY AND DARYL MITCHELL BOTH SCORED THEIR MAIDEN ODI CENTURIES IN JUST THEIR THIRD MATCHES FOR NEW ZEALAND IN THAT FORMAT. FOR MITCHELL, IT WAS EERILY SIMILAR TO HIS BREAKTHROUGH TEST HUNDRED THREE MONTHS AGO. STEPHEN STUART REPORTS. WHEN ROSS TAYLOR'S RETURN TO THE ONE-DAY SIDE PROVED UNPRODUCTIVE, AND TOM LATHAM COULDN'T REPEAT HIS TUESDAY HEROICS, A SUBSTANTIAL MIDDLE-ORDER PARTNERSHIP WAS REQUIRED AND EXPECTED FROM DEVON CONWAY ON HIS ADOPTED HOME TRACK. THERE'S A LOVELY RAPPORT STANDING FOR DEVON CONWAY THIRD MATCH. SECOND 50. HE WAS JOINED BY ALL-ROUNDER DARRYL MITCHELL, BETTER KNOWN AS A DASHER. THAT'S ON THE BANK. THE PAIR FIRSTLY REVIVED THE TEAM'S FORTUNES,... CONWAY LOFTING IT OVER THE TOP AGAIN ON TO THE BLOCK, AND FOUR RUNS. ...AND THEN SIMPLY TORE THE TIGERS' TOOTHLESS ATTACK TO SHREDS. IT'S ALWAYS THE RISK ON A BOUNCY SURFACE. CONWAY THE FIRST TO THREE FIGURES. AFTER A FIFTH WICKET STAND OF 159, HE WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HOLE OUT FOR 126. THE OVATION WILL BE LOUD. IT WILL BE STANDING, AND IT IS WELL DESERVED. MITCHELL HAD LEFT HIMSELF PLENTY TO DO TO EMULATE HIS PARTNER. JUST EIGHT BALLS LEFT TO CRACK 24 RUNS. IS IT A NO BALL? A FREE HIT GAVE HIM A SHOT AT GLORY. INSTEAD TRYING TO KEEP THE STRIKE, MITCHELL EARNED A REPRIEVE. HE HAS GOT TO COME BACK. SANTNER'S COMING. MITCHELL'S GOT TO GET THERE QUICKLY! DID HE MAKE IT? MITCH SANTNER AND A SLOWING BALL ENABLED THE MAN OF THE MOMENT TO GET BACK ON STRIKE FOR THE FINAL BALL OF THE INNINGS. TWO RUNS REQUIRED FOR HIS MAIDEN TON ` TIP AND DASH. AND IT LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THOSE DREADED 99s. UNTIL WICKETKEEPER MUSHFIQUR RAHIM MADE A COMPLETE MESS OF THINGS. THANKS FOR THAT. NOT SURE WHO ENJOYED THAT MORE ` DARYL MITCHELL OR HIS TEAMMATES. TAKE THEM ANY WAY THEY COME. JUST LOVE THE GAME, LOVE COMPETING, AND YEAH, IT'S JUST NICE TO GET THE JOB DONE. THE 319-RUN TARGET WAS WAY TOO STEEP FOR BANGLADESH, AS MATT HENRY AND JIMMY NEESHAM SHARED NINE WICKETS IN THE 164-RUN WIN TO SWEEP THE SERIES 3-0. PRETTY HAPPY HOW THINGS WENT TODAY. IT'S ALSO GOOD TO TOP OFF A SERIES VICTORY AS WELL. NOW ON TO T-20s STARTING ON SUNDAY. STEPHEN STUART, 1 NEWS. THE NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPS HAVE FINALLY GOT UNDER WAY IN HAWKE'S BAY WITH FIREWORKS ON THE TRACK. SPRINTER ZOE HOBBS BLITZED THE FIELD TO EQUAL THE 100 METRES RECORD AND WIN HER FIFTH-STRAIGHT NATIONAL TITLE. DAME VALERIE ADAMS ALSO CLAIMED HER 17TH NATIONAL TITLE. BUT THE SHOTPUT CHAMPION WASN'T TOO PLEASED WITH HER WINNING THROW, HITTING JUST 18.35m, DOWN MORE THAN A METRE FROM HER OUTSTANDING EFFORT AT THE SIR GRAHAM DOUGLAS MEET A MONTH AGO. IT IS THE WAY IT IS. AS I SAID, I'M... I'M PRETTY ANNOYED AT MYSELF WITH TODAY'S PERFORMANCES COS I'VE DONE BETTER THAN THIS THIS WEEK ITSELF IN TRAINING. AND POLE-VAULTER ELIZA MCCARTNEY HAD TO WATCH FROM THE SIDELINES TODAY, NURSING AN ACHILLES INJURY WHICH COULD SEE HER FORGO A SPOT AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS.. JUST AHEAD ` THE WEEKEND WEATHER. AND A GRIM FORECAST FOR AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, AS CONTINUED POACHING AND SHRINKING HABITAT HAVE ONE SPECIES ON ITS LAST LEGS. AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF EXTINCTION THAN EVER, ACCORDING TO A MAJOR REPORT INTO NATURE CONSERVATION. DECADES OF DECLINE, CAUSED BY POACHING AND AN ONGOING LOSS OF HABITAT, HAVE NOW DRIVEN ONE SPECIES TO THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION. THE BBC'S VICTORIA GILL REPORTS. THE LARGEST LAND ANIMALS ON EARTH, BUT THEIR SIZE HAS NOT PROTECTED THEM FROM THE IMPACTS OF POACHING OR FROM THE CONTINUED DESTRUCTION OF THE VAST SWATHES OF INTERCONNECTED HABITAT THEY NEED. THIS LATEST RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES, CONSIDERED TO BE THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON HOW NATURE IS FARING ON AN INCREASINGLY CROWDED PLANET, PUTS AFRICA'S SAVANNAH ELEPHANTS INTO THE ENDANGERED CATEGORY. (TRUMPETS) FOREST ELEPHANTS ARE NOW EVEN CLOSER TO EXTINCTION, CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. IT IS AN ALARM BELL FOR US. SO THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THIS DECLINE. ONE IS POACHING OF THESE ANIMALS FOR THEIR IVORY. AND THE SECOND ONE IS HABITAT LOSS THROUGH HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN TOTAL DISREGARD OF THE NEEDS OF THESE ANIMALS. ACROSS AFRICA, THERE ARE NOW JUST OVER 400,000 WILD ELEPHANTS. AND THIS LATEST EXAMINATION OF DECADES OF CENSUS DATA AND HABITAT SURVEYS HAS SHOWN THAT THE DEMAND FOR IVORY STILL DRIVES A DECLINE IN THEIR NUMBERS. THE LEVEL OF THREAT THEY FACED HAD ALSO BEEN MASKED BY THE FACT THAT THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT WAS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO BE A SINGLE SPECIES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE SAVANNAH AND FOREST ELEPHANT HAS BEEN ASSESSED SEPARATELY. IT MEANS WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ON A MORE CONCENTRATED LEVEL. THE LOSS OF SPECIES AND NATURAL SPACES IS HAPPENING ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT CONSERVATIONISTS ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS WAKE-UP CALL COULD ENSURE THAT THESE GIANT ICONS OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE GET THE PROTECTION AND THE SPACE THAT THEY NEED. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE WEATHER'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE TOMORROW. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. PO MANAHAU. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY SOPHIE PEARCE AND KATE PARKINSON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021