TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` LOCKED OUT. KIWI CITIZENS AMONG THOSE STRANDED AS ALL FLIGHTS COMING HERE FROM INDIA ARE GROUNDED AMID A MASSIVE SURGE IN COVID ARRIVALS. PLUS ` CLEAN UP ON AISLE SIX. HOW MANY KIWIS THINK SUPERMARKET PRICES ARE TOO HIGH, AND WHY SPECIALS AREN'T SPECIAL ENOUGH. AND AUSSIE BUBBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE. HOW OPENING UP TO AUSTRALIA COULD COST OUR ALREADY STRETCHED BUILDING INDUSTRY VALUABLE WORKERS. CAPTIONS BY LILLIE BALFOUR, JADE FERNANDES AND ELLEN SINCLAIR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. HIGH NUMBERS OF TRAVELLERS FROM INDIA ARRIVING HERE WITH COVID-19 HAS FORCED THE GOVERNMENT TO BAN ALL FLIGHTS FROM THE COUNTRY. JACINDA ARDERN SAYS IT'S A TEMPORARY MOVE WHILE A PLAN IS FIGURED OUT, BUT THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IS FURIOUS. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. COVID-19 IS RAGING IN INDIA, AND THERE'S BEEN A SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF TRAVELLERS RETURNING FROM INDIA WITH THE VIRUS. NOW THE GOVERNMENT'S CALLING A TIME-OUT. WE ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING ENTRY INTO NEW ZEALAND FOR TRAVELLERS RETURNING FROM INDIA. THE TEMPORARY BAN COMES INTO FORCE FROM 4PM SUNDAY, AND LASTS UNTIL APRIL 28. WE HAVE NEVER PREVIOUSLY SUSPENDED TRAVEL TO NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS. THAT'S WHY I DO WANT TO ASSURE YOU THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT ARRANGEMENT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE HAVE BEEN ARGUING FOR THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. OF THE 19 NEW COVID CASES PICKED UP AT THE BORDER YESTERDAY, 17 WERE TRAVELLERS FROM INDIA. THE SUBCONTINENT'S HIT RECORD NUMBERS OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS, MORE THAN 120,000 CASES IN 24 HOURS. IT'S SO BAD NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS ARE GETTING INFECTED ON THEIR WAY TO THE AIRPORTS AFTER RETURNING NEGATIVE PRE-DEPARTURE TESTS. IF YOU LOOK AT INDIA, PARTICULARLY THE RATES OF INFECTION IN THOSE STATES WHERE PEOPLE ARE DEPARTING FROM FOR NEW ZEALAND, AND THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR EPIDEMIC CURVE ` WHICH IS ON A VERY, VERY STEEP RISE ` THERE IS CLEARLY AN INCREASED RISK AND WE'RE OBSERVING THAT IN OUR TESTING. NEWS OF THE SUSPENSION QUICKLY MAKING HEADLINES IN INDIA. THE COMMUNITY HERE FURIOUS. IT CAME AS HUGE SHOCK, I WOULD SAY, AND FROM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD CONTINUOUSLY BY OUR INDIAN-NEW ZEALANDER COMMUNITY EQUALLY OUTRAGED INCENSED AND SHOCKED WITH THE DECISION. ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT OF ACTING ON A WHIM. THEY ARE INCENSED WITH AN ELEMENT OF RACISM, I WOULD SAY. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAY. THAT THIS DECISION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. IT'S NOT BASED ON ACTUAL SCIENCE AND IT IS MORE A POPULISTIC MEASURE. I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY THAT THIS TEMPORARY SUSPENSION WILL CAUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I ALSO FEEL A SENSE OF OBLIGATION TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE THE RISKS TRAVELLERS ARE EXPERIENCING. COVID IS RUNNING RAMPANT IN INDIA, SO EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES JUSTIFY EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES. THE GOVERNMENT PULLING OUT AN UNPRECEDENTED NEW TOOL IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19. BENEDICT IS WITH ME NOW. THE GOVERNMENT'S BOUGHT ITSELF A COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE. WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT? FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY WANT TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO STOP SO MANY INFECTED PASSENGERS FLYING HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE YET HOW EXACTLY THEY CAN GO ABOUT DOING THAT. ONE OF THE OPTIONS THEY ARE CONSIDERING IS INTRODUCING RAPID COVER TESTING FOR PASSAGES AT THE AIRPORT IN INDIA BEFORE THEY GET ON THE PLANES. THEY ALSO CONSIDERING TEMPERATURE CHECKS BEFORE THEY GET ON THE FLIGHTS TO NEW ZEALAND. THEY ALSO WONDERING WHAT THEY CAN DO IN NEW ZEALAND TO KEEP US SAFE HERE. THEY ARE CONSIDERING SETTING UP A DEDICATED MANAGED ISOLATION FACILITY TO HOUSE PASSENGERS WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM INDIA TO TRY AND KEEP THOSE HIGH-RISK PASSENGERS SEPARATE FROM OTHER TRAVELLERS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BOUGHT THEMSELVES A COUPLE OF WEEKS BREATHING AS YOU CAN SEE, THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IN NEW ZEALAND ARE FURIOUS. THANKS, BENEDICT. AHEAD OF THE DECISION ABOUT TRAVELLERS FROM INDIA, A NEW CASE OUTSIDE MANAGED ISOLATION HAS BEEN DETECTED. IT'S A 24-YEAR-OLD PERSON, A SECURITY GUARD AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM MIQ FACILITY IN AUCKLAND. THE PERSON LIVES ALONE AND TRAVELS TO WORK WITH A COLLEAGUE. THAT COLLEAGUE IS NOW ISOLATING AND BEING TESTED, BUT IS FULLY VACCINATED. THEY TESTED NEGATIVE. LAURA JAMES JOINS US NOW FROM THE GRAND MILLENNIUM. LAURA, DO WE KNOW HOW LONG THIS PERSON MAY HAVE BEEN INFECTIOUS? WE KNOW HE HAD A SORE THROAT FOR DAYS AGO. WHEN HE WAS ASSISTED ON TUESDAY, THE RESULTS FOUND HIGH CT VALUES WHICH MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS ` HE IS EITHER EARLY OR LATE IN THE INFECTION. AT THIS POINT, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK IS LOW. THE SECURITY GUARD WORKED OVER THE LONG EASTER WEEKEND ON LONG SHIFTS BUT DID NOT WORK YESTERDAY. HE DID NOT VISIT ANYONE AND THERE ARE NO LOCATIONS OF INTERESTS YET. SO FAR ALL OF HIS CONTACTS HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE. WE HEARD FROM ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD THAT THE PERSON HASN'T BEEN VACCINATED YET. DO WE KNOW WHY NOT? WE UNDERSTAND THERE WERE TWO APPOINTMENTS THAT HE HAD TO GET THE JAB WHICH HE MISSED DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT HE IS RELUCTANT TO BE VACCINATED. DR BLOOMFIELD SAYS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THE SIZE OF THE BORDER WORKER GROUP. HAS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT. ORIGINALLY WE THOUGHT THAT GROUP WAS ABOUT 12,000. IT'S NOW OVER 16,000, AND WHAT WE DO KNOW IS OF THAT GROUP, WE'RE IN THE MID-90 IN TERMS OF THE PERCENT WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED. AND THE AGENCIES AND EMPLOYERS OF PEOPLE WORKING IN MANAGED ISOLATION AND, INDEED, AT THE BORDER ARE NOW GOING THROUGH TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHO HASN'T BEEN VACCINATED, AND THE REASONS FOR THAT. WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH FROM MONDAY ONWARDS IS THE CLOSING WINDOW FOR WORKERS WHO'VE NOT BEEN VACCINATED TO BE MOVED INTO OTHER ROLES. IN THE LAST HALF AN HOUR, THE MINISTRY CONFIRMED THAT OVER 80% OF STAFF AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST VACCINATION. THIS IS THE SECOND CASE AT THE GRAND MILLENNIUM IN LESS THAN A MONTH. ARE OFFICIALS CONCERNED? THEY SEE IT COULD BE A COINCIDENCE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN OVER TWO WEEKS SINCE A CLEANER THAT WORKS HERE TESTED POSITIVE, BUT DR BLOOMFIELD SAYS IT DOES RAISE THE QUESTION COULD THERE BE AN ISSUE HERE? THEY ARE UNDERTAKING AN OUT OF CYCLE AUDIT, SIMILAR TO REVIEWS THEY HAVE BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY ON PULLMAN AND THE GRAND MAKE YOUR. OWN VENTILATION SYSTEM ASSESSMENT DID START BEFORE THIS CASE CAME OUT AS WELL. AT THIS POINT, THE GOVERNMENTS IS THE GRAND MILLENNIUM, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST IF NOT THE LARGEST ISOLATION FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY, WILL REMAIN IN ACTION. THANKS, LAURA. MIQ WASN'T A TERM WE WERE USED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, BUT ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF OUR MANAGED ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE FACILITIES OPENING, IT'S NOW PART OF EVERYDAY CONVERSATION. 1 NEWS HAS BEEN GIVEN ACCESS INSIDE AN MIQ HOTEL, BUT AS POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY REPORTS, THERE ARE STILL CALLS FOR PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITIES. A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF OUR MAIN DEFENCE AGAINST COVID-19. THIS WAS JUST A NORMAL HOTEL A YEAR AGO, NOW IT'S OUR ARMOUR AGAINST A TRICKY VIRUS. THIS IS THE RED ZONE, THIS IS WHERE OUR RETURNEES COME DOWN ON DAY 3 AND DAY 12 TO HAVE THEIR SWABS DONE. THE NURSES ARE IN FULL PPE. TODAY, 1 NEWS HAS BEEN SHOWN AROUND THE DISTINCTION HOTEL IN HAMILTON. IT'S ONE OF 32 FACILITIES THAT SWAPPED TOURISTS FOR RETURNEES. NOW ITS JUST OUR NORMAL. WE HAD NO PLAYBOOK FOR THIS, SO WE'VE LITERALLY BUILT THE PLANE WHILE WE WERE FLYING. THERE HAVE BEEN HIGH-PROFILE ISSUES WITH MIQ ` MULTIPLE ABSCONDEES, MINGLING PASSENGERS, AND MOST RECENTLY, A POSITIVE CASE BEING PUT ON A BUS WITH 23 OTHERS TO GO BACK TO THE HOTEL. WE ASKED THE MAN IN CHARGE WHAT HE WISHES HE'D KNOWN THIS TIME LAST YEAR. YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO BACK PROBABLY 10 YEARS AND SAY, 'GEE I WISH WE'D BUILT SOME PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITIES 'A LONG TIME AGO IN ORDER TO BE READY FOR A PANDEMIC OF THIS SIZE.' WE ARE STILL IN FAVOUR OF A PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITY, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE RIGHT WHEN THEY SAY THAT JUST BY ITS VERY NATURE, THESE HOTELS ` THEY'RE NOT CUT OUT FOR QUARANTINE. OUR MIQ FACILITIES CONTINUE TO FAIL AND CONTINUE TO HAVE BREACHES, AND IT REALLY HASN'T IMPROVED SINCE LAST JULY. AND THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF THE PEOPLE WORKING THERE, IT'S SIMPLY SAYING THE FACILITIES WE ARE USING ARE AS GOOD AS THEY CAN BE, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT WHAT WE NEED. IT WAS HERE A YEAR AGO THAT THE PRIME MINISTER FIRST INTRODUCED US TO THE IDEA OF MANAGED ISOLATION. SINCE THEN, 130,000 PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH IT. TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` STRICT NEW BORDER CONTROLS. ALL PASSENGERS WILL NOW BE QUARANTINED. EVERYONE WHO NOW COMES IN TO THE NEW ZEALAND BORDER MUST GO INTO A HOTEL THAT IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT. SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? IT'S HARD TO SEE THAT WE WON'T NEED MIQ IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE'RE CERTAINLY PLANNING ON HAVING MIQ IN SOME FORM FOR THE NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY LONGER. THE TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE IS CHANGING THE WAY WE USE THESE FACILITIES, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL SEE A SECOND ANNIVERSARY. JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY, 1 NEWS. SOME SHOPPING NEWS NOW, AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE A BARGAIN? BUT ARE SUPERMARKET SPECIALS, REALLY SPECIAL? LET'S HEAD DOWN THE AISLE TO REVEAL WHAT KIWIS THINK IN A CONSUMER NEW ZEALAND SURVEY RELEASED TODAY. 74% OF PEOPLE BELIEVE SPECIALS HAVE BECOME SO COMMON THEY WEREN'T SURE WHETHER THE SAVINGS ARE GENUINE. 63% AGREED SPECIAL PRICE LABELS COULD BE CONFUSING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO WORK OUT THE ACTUAL SAVINGS. AND NOT SURPRISING, A VAST MAJORITY THINK SUPERMARKET PRICES ARE SIMPLY TOO HIGH. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SHOPPERS PAID HIGHER PRICES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE OF THESE ` THE STORE'S LOYALTY CARD. THE RESULTS OF THE CONSUMER SURVEY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE COMMERCE COMMISSION, WHICH IS INVESTIGATING COMPETITION IN THE SUPERMARKET SECTOR, AND WHETHER KIWIS PAY TOO MUCH FOR THEIR GROCERIES. DEMANDS FOR THE PORTS OF AUCKLAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO GO HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HIS DOORSTEP. PRESSURE ON HIM TO RESIGN HAS BEEN ESCALATING SINCE THE RELEASE OF A SCATHING REPORT INTO TWO WORKER DEATHS. KIM BAKER WILSON REPORTS. HERE ON A MISSION,... LOVELY DAY TO PUT A REQUEST FOR A RESIGNATION ON SOMEBODY'S TABLE. ...WITH A SIMPLE MESSAGE. HE MUST GO. GIBSON MUST GO. TONY GIBSON, THE PORTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HAS ALREADY SAID HE'S NOT, AND SINCE A DAMNING REPORT HIGHLIGHTING PRODUCTIVITY BEING PUT OVER SAFETY,... THAT REPORT WAS HORRIFIC. ...THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SPOKEN IN JUST THE ONCE. HOW ARE YOU SO UNAWARE OF HOW BAD THESE PROBLEMS WERE? I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM. AND IT'S THAT COMMENT THAT'S ANGERED THESE ADVOCATES. FOR ME, IT'S BEYOND BELIEF. THAT'S ACTUALLY THE REASON WHY HE SHOULD GO STRAIGHT AWAY, NOT BECAUSE OF THE DEATHS, BUT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY'VE PUT THEIR UNEASE IN BLACK AND WHITE. I'VE NEVER STRUCK A CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANYWHERE IN MY 40-YEAR-LONG UNION CAREER WHO SAID HE'S NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE BELIEVE THAT THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, IS UNBELIEVABLE. A JOURNEY ON FOOT,... AND WE GOTTA GET THIS RIGHT. ... WITH LETTER IN HAND, TAKEN RIGHT TO THE PORTS FRONT DOOR. SEE YOU LATER, TONY. THE PORT SAYS IT'S NOT COMMENTING, BUT THESE ADVOCATES ARE. TWO PEOPLE HAVE TURNED UP FOR WORK ONE DAY AND NOT RETURNED HOME. LET THAT SINK IN. SOME, THOUGH, SAY THE PORTS BOSS IS BEING BULLIED. FORCING A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE MADE BY A BOARD, THEY'RE NOT OFFERING ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE. ALL THEY'RE INSISTING ON IS THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. MR GIBSON WASN'T THERE TO MEET THEM, BUT THEY WERE MET BY A SENIOR OFFICIAL. THEY'RE WARNING THEY'LL BE BACK WITH SOMETHING BIGGER IF THERE'S NO RESIGNATION. KIM BAKER WILSON, 1 NEWS. FURTHER SOUTH, EXTRA RAIL FREIGHT SERVICES COULD BE IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE MONTH TO HELP CLEAR A GLUT OF CONTAINERS AT THE PORT OF TAURANGA. THE PORT IS OVER CAPACITY AFTER TAKING IN 5000 CONTAINERS ORIGINALLY DESTINED FOR AUCKLAND. THE PORT'S IN ITS PEAK EXPORT SEASON, AND RAIL DELAYS OVER EASTER ONLY MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. KIWIRAIL SAYS IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE. WE CAN'T MOVE TRAINS OUT OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, FOR INSTANCE, AND BRING THEM TO THE NORTH, COS WE'VE GOT MILK AND OTHER PRODUCTS WE NEED TO MOVE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS. SO IT TAKES US TWO OR THREE WEEKS TO ACTUALLY CHANGE A TRAIN TIMETABLE, GET THOSE ASSETS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT LOCATION TO DEAL WITH THAT DEMAND. KIWIRAIL SAYS THE EXTRA SERVICES WON'T ADD TO IMPORTERS' COSTS. ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS EVERY THREE MONTHS. THAT'S HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING ON HOUSING SUPPORT AS IT TRIES TO PLUG GAPS IN SOCIAL HOUSING. DEMAND IS OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY, AND AS YVONNE TAHANA EXPLAINS, THERE'S ALSO CONCERN OVER BUILDING LIMITS IN AUCKLAND. ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE A HOUSE A HOME. THESE ARE ALL MY FAVOURITE MOKOPUNAS. LIZA NEPIA STRUGGLED FOR 15 YEARS TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, THE MUM OF EIGHT OFTEN STAYING WITH HER WHANAU. YEAH, A LOT OF OVERCROWDING. JUST ABOUT SITTING ON EACH OTHER AS WE'RE JUST DOING OUR NORMAL THING. SHE'S NOW LIVING IN THIS SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN AUCKLAND'S WATERVIEW, BUILT BY WAIPAREIRA TRUST AND THE GOVERNMENT. OH, WE'RE VERY PROUD. THIS IS 100% SOCIAL HOUSING. BUT DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THESE AREN'T KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND. THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING INCREASING AMOUNTS ON HOUSING SUPPORT, SO THINGS LIKE RENT SUBSIDIES, GRANTS, AND EMERGENCY HOUSING. FROM DECEMBER TO SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, IT SPENT NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT WAS UP NEARLY $30M ON THE QUARTER BEFORE. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR NEW ZEALAND, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO ARE GROWING UP STRESSED, NOT HEALTHY, NOT BEING FED PROPERLY, OFTEN IN REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THEIR PARENTS ARE STRESSED. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS ITS INCREASING COSTS ARE IN LINE WITH THE SKYROCKETING HOUSING MARKET, BUT SAYS IT'S ON TRACK TO BUILD 18,000 NEW SOCIAL HOUSES BY 2024. WHAT IT IS IS A FESTERING SORE TO SHOW YOU HOW BAD GOVERNMENT POLICIES HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 25 YEARS. HE'S TAKING AN AUCKLAND COUNCIL BODY, PANUKU DEVELOPMENT, TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL OVER A 30% CAP TO LIMIT SOCIAL HOUSING AT A PLANNED COMPLEX IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? POOR PEOPLE AREN'T BAD PEOPLE. POOR PEOPLE ARE TRYING. THEY SHOULDN'T BE DEMONISED AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE LOCKED OUT OF CHANCES. PANUKU DECLINED AN INTERVIEW, BECAUSE IT'S BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL AS FOR LIZA NEPIA, HER NEW HOME MEANS THE FREEDOM TO PLAN. YOU'VE GOT ALL YOUR HERBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THERE'S MY GARDEN AND I JUST PUT IT UP OVER THERE SOMEWHERE. SUCH A BIG CHANGE TO ENJOY SMALLER THINGS IN LIFE. YVONNE TAHANA, 1 NEWS WE'VE GOT THE BUBBLE ` BUT THERE COULD BE TROUBLE BREWING ALREADY, WITH CONCERNS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WILL CROSS THE TASMAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BETTER PAY ON OFFER. AUSTRALIA'S BUILDING SECTOR IS EXPERIENCING A SKILLS SHORTAGE ` JUST LIKE OURS. HERE'S AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE. HI TO MUM ` WHO IS FREEZING IN INVERCARGILL. AUSTRALIA IS IN FULL-ON SELLING MODE, SUN'S OUT, WATER'S WARM. THE VIEW'S PRETTY GOOD. LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN TO GET MORE KIWIS TO CROSS THE TASMAN FOR A HOLIDAY. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. THERE ARE CONCERNS IT'S NOT JUST TOURISTS BEING TARGETED. WE'VE GOT A SKILLS SHORTAGE HERE ` PARTICULARLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR. AND NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO THAT FLY-IN, FLY-OUT ECONOMY SO WE MAY START LOSING PEOPLE ACROSS THE TASMAN. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS LUCRATIVE IN OZ - ACCOUNTING FOR JUST UNDER 1 IN 10 OF ALL JOBS, AND IT'S ONLY FORECAST TO GROW OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO GO UP. THERE'S MORE CRANES IN SYDNEY, MELBOURNE AND BRISBANE THAN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. IT'S A REAL BOOM, HERE RIGHT? IT'S A REAL BOOM. AND THE AUSTRALIANS WANT TO CAPITALISE ON THAT. LOOK, WE NEED WORKERS. WE CAN ONLY DO SO MANY JOBS BECAUSE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. AND THAT'S PROBABLY AN AUSTRALIAN BEING LAZY. THIS SYDNEY CONSTRUCTION BOSS SAYS GETTING SKILLED WORKERS IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE AND THE BUBBLE PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY. FUNNILY ENOUGH, I KNOW IT'S A GOOD THING, A BAD THING FOR YOU GUYS. IT'S CHEAPER FOR US TO DO STUFF FROM HERE AND DO WORK IN AUCKLAND. LIKE YOUR TRADES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN US. THE EMPLOYERS AND MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES NEW ZEALAND NEEDS AT LEAST A THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE BUILDING HOMES. SO HOW TO PREVENT A TRADE DRAIN? HAVING MORE OF OUR BIG PROJECTS GOING, INSTEAD OF WAITING TO GO IN THAT PLANNING STAGE ` THAT WOULD HELP. AH, OR EVEN JUST THIS. WAITING FOR APRIL 19TH TO SEE IF IT'S NOT JUST TOURISTS LOOKING AT HEADING TO AUSTRALIA. ANDREW MACFARLANE ` 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. WE MIGHT BE USING THE PFIZER VACCINE HERE, BUT COUNTRIES ROLLING OUT THE ASTRAZENECA JAB ARE FACING FALTERING CONFIDENCE. NEXT, EXPERTS REPORT BACK ON ITS LINK TO A RARE BUT DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECT. AND A MEDITATING MONK SEEKING SOLITUDE IN A CAVE FINDS HIMSELF TRAPPED FOR DAYS. THE HUGE TEAM WHO BROUGHT HIM OUT INTO THE LIGHT. AND THEN AT 7, THE SIMPLE WAY TO KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE. YES, TOO MANY OF US CHOOSE PASSWORDS THAT ARE FAR TOO EASY TO GUESS. WE'VE GOT EXPERT TIPS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PASSWORD HYGIENE AND KEEP YOURSELF SAFE FROM HACKERS. PLUS, WHY A FIFTH-GENERATION FARMER RECKONS IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE AND HAS TURNED TO GROWING A VERY SPECIAL CROP INSTEAD ` LEGALLY. AND THE WINNING COMBO OF COMEDY AND HYPNOTISM. THAT'S TONIGHT AT 7. WELCOME BACK. THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE IS LINKED TO VERY RARE, BUT POTENTIALLY FATAL BLOOD CLOTS ` ACCORDING TO EU AND BRITISH REPORTS. BUT BOTH SAY THE BENEFITS OF GETTING THE JAB ` TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID ` FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS. HOWEVER, THE UK IS NOW OFFERING THOSE UNDER 30 ALTERNATIVE VACCINES. OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT DANIEL FAITAUA HAS MORE. BRITAIN NOW HAS A THIRD VACCINE, AND TODAY THE FIRST MODERNA DOSE WENT TO THIS 24 YEAR OLD. I'M IN UNPAID CARE OF MY GRANDMOTHER. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I CAN GET IT. ONE OF MANY YOUNGER BRITONS TO BE OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE ASTRAZENECA JAB, AFTER A MAJOR BRITISH REVIEW CONCLUDED A POSSIBLE LINK TO A VERY RARE, BUT POTENTIALLY FATAL, BLOOD CLOT SYNDROME. IN AN EXTREMELY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ` THE EVIDENCE IS FIRMING UP. THERE HAVE BEEN 79 CASES OF THE RARE BLOOD CLOTS REPORTED IN THE UK, AMONG THE 20 MILLION PEOPLE WHO GOT THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE ` 19 OF THOSE CASES DIED. THAT PUTS THE RISK OF THOSE WHO GET THE JAB DEVELOPING A CLOT AT 1 IN EVERY 250000, AND THE RISK OF DYING AT 1 IN A MILLION. EXPERTS SAY EVERY MEDICINE OR VACCINE CARRIES SOME RISK, FOR INSTANCE ` THE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILL, ABOUT ONE IN A THOUSAND PEOPLE ON THAT PER YEAR DEVELOP A BLOOD CLOT, YET THE BENEFITS STILL FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS. IT'S THOUGHT YOUNGER ADULTS ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF CLOTS AFTER THE ASTRAZENECA JAB. ABOUT 1 IN EVERY 100000 VACCINATIONS, WHICH IS WHY 18 TO 29 YEAR OLDS WILL BE OFFERED A DIFFERENT VACCINE. THE FINDINGS WILL FUEL CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHOT FAR BEYOND THESE SHORES. SEVERAL EUROPEAN NATIONS HAVE ALREADY RESTRICTED THE VACCINE TO OLDER ADULTS. AND AS THINGS STAND FOR SOME POORER NATIONS ` IT'S EITHER ASTRAZENECA OR NOTHING, POTENTIALLY THREATENING THE ROLLOUT OF A VACCINE THAT IS KEY TO THE GLOBAL STRATEGY TO STAMP OUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. UNDER A GLOBAL SCHEME CALLED KOVACS, MORE THAN A BILLION ASTRAZENECA JABS ARE BEING DELIVERED TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD TO PROVIDE A CRITICAL LINE OF DEFENCE. EXPERTS ARE LINING UP TO SAY THE BENEFITS OF TAKING A VACCINE FOR COVID-19 ` WHICH HAS KILLED NEARLY 3 MILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS. THIS VACCINE IS EXTRAORDINARILY EFFECTIVE AND I KNOW IT WOULD BE TRAGIC IF THIS LED TO DISTRUST OF THIS VACCINE. EVEN WORSE, IF IT WAS FOR VACCINES IN GENERAL FOR COVID. VACCINES ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE SAVED 6000 LIVES IN THE UK ALONE. DANIEL FAITAUA ` 1 NEWS, LONDON. ASTRAZENECA'S JAB IS THE PRIMARY VACCINE BEING USED IN AUSTRALIA'S ROLLOUT. OUR CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE IS IN SYDNEY. ANDREW, HOW WILL THIS NEWS AFFECT THE VACCINE PROGRAMME THERE, GIVEN IT'S ALREADY BEEN CRITICISED AS 'SLUGGISH'? THERE HAS BEEN A CASE OF BLOOD CLOTS DETECTED IN A PERSON WHO HAS HAD THE ASTRAZENECA MIXING HERE IN AUSTRALIA, SO THIS IS A QUESTION OFFICIALS ARE ASKING THEMSELVES. DO THEY GO AHEAD WITH THE ROLLOUT AS PLANNED? LATER TONIGHT, SCOTT MORRISON WILL RECEIVE ADVICE FROM THE COUNTRY'S TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS TO TALK ABOUT THE RESEARCH THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE UK. THAT ADVICE WILL BE GIVEN TO CABINET MINISTERS TOMORROW TO MAKE THE CALL WHETHER THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE ROLLOUT PLAN. THE ROLLOUT HERE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING SLUGGISH. THEY HAVE NOT STARTED BACK STATING PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 30. TODAY THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN 4 MILLION DOSES OF THE DOSES DASHED OUT, SO FAR AUSTRALIA HAS NOT CRACKED 1 MILLION. IN MELBOURNE THERE IS A FACILITY THAT WILL BE MANUFACTURING THIS JAB LOCALLY SO AUSTRALIANS DO WANT ANSWERS WITH THE THIS WILL AFFECT WHEN THEY GET VACCINATED. THANKS, ANDREW. AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY BLOOD CLOTTING INCIDENTS LINKED TO THE PFIZER VACCINE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY THE SOLE VACCINE BEING ROLLED OUT HERE. THE MORE CONTAGIOUS UK VARIANT IS NOW THE DOMINANT CORONAVIRUS STRAIN IN THE U.S, ACCORDING TO HEALTH OFFICIALS. THE COUNTRY'S DEALING WITH A NEW SURGE IN CASES, WITH HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS UP 10% IN 16 STATES. MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR 30s AND 40s WHO ARE YET TO BE VACCINATED ARE BEING ADMITTED WITH SEVERE SYMPTOMS. 42% OF AMERICANS HAVE NOW RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE VACCINE DOSE. FIGHTING OFF COVID'S NO MEAN FEAT FOR A CENTENARIAN, AND NOW A 104-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN COLOMBIA HAS DONE IT TWICE. CARMEN HERNANDEZ HAS BEEN DISCHARGED AFTER 21 DAYS IN A SAN RAFAEL HOSPITAL. (APPLAUSE) SHE FIRST BATTLED COVID-19 LAST YEAR, BUT WAS INFECTED AGAIN LAST MONTH, SHORTLY AFTER BEING VACCINATED. SHE'LL RECEIVE HER SECOND DOSE ONCE SHE'S FULLY RECOVERED. RESCUE WORKERS IN THAILAND HAVE FREED A BUDDHIST MONK TRAPPED IN A FLOODED CAVE FOR FOUR DAYS. THE 46-YEAR-OLD WAS ABLE TO WALK TO A WAITING AMBULANCE AFTER A TEAM OF 17 DIVERS HELPED HIM SWIM THROUGH THE UNDERWATER PASSAGES. HE'D BEEN MAKING HIS ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE CAVE FOR A MULTI-DAY MEDITATION, BUT WAS STRANDED ON SUNDAY BY FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINSTORMS. STILL AHEAD ` WILL IT REDUCE EMISSIONS, OR IS IT ALL JUST HOT AIR? HOW THE GOVERNMENT'S BAN ON COAL BOILERS HAS GOT SOME FIRED UP FOR CHANGE, AND OTHERS STEAMING MAD. AND WHY A DEEP SISTERLY BOND BETWEEN THESE LIONS PROMPTED WELLINGTON ZOO TO MAKE A HEART-BREAKING DECISION. AND THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE NEW CROP IN MALBOROUGH THAT'S GETTING WORLD-WIDE ATTENTION? IT'S AN AREA KNOWN FOR CRAYFISH AND WHALE WATCHING. BUT NOW ONE FARMER HOPES THE REGION CAN CRACK A NEW MARKET WITH TOP-OF-THE-RANGE MEDICINAL CANNABIS. PLUS, FED UP PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR KUMARA? MEET THE GROWER HAPPY TO SELL THEM DIRT CHEAP. AND A SPECIAL REWARD FOR A YOUNG RUBBISH-COLLECTING SUPERHERO FROM DUNEDIN. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. WELLINGTON ZOO HAS TODAY EUTHANIZED ITS LAST TWO REMAINING LIONS ` SISTERS WHO WOULD HAVE TURNED 20 THIS YEAR. THE ZOO SAYS DJANE'S HEALTH HAD BEEN DETERIORATING OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS AND HAD WORSENED THIS WEEK. HER SISTER, ZAHRA, WAS ALSO EUTHANIZED BECAUSE SHE WAS DEEPLY BONDED WITH HER SISTER, WAS TOO OLD TO BE MOVED ELSEWHERE, AND WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY ANOTHER PRIDE OF LIONS. SOUTH AUCKLAND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND KAUMATUA HAVE CONVERGED ON MANUREWA MARAE TODAY TO RECEIVE THEIR FIRST PFIZER DOSES. THEY HOPE THEIR MOVE WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY TO GET THE JAB. MOANA MAKAPELU LEE REPORTS. A LITTLE JAB. ALL DONE. AND OVER IN A SECOND. SORRY TO DISAPPOINT YOU. AW. I CAN DO IT AGAIN IF YOU'D LIKE? I DIDN'T EVEN FEEL IT. THESE PROMINENT SOUTH AUCKLAND LEADERS ` RANGI MCLEAN AND TAKUTAI MOANA NATASHA KEMP, KEEN TO SET AN EXAMPLE. NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE HYPE IS ABOUT. IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PEOPLE. THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IS PARAMOUNT. THIS IS THE FIRST MARAE- BASED CLINIC TO ROLL OUT THE VACCINE, KAUMATUA AND KUIA FIRST IN LINE. WE'RE GOING TO BE PART OF HISTORY AS THE FIRST MARAE TO BE ABLE TO ROLL OUT THE VACCINATION. THE CLINIC WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO VACCINATE UP TO 300 PEOPLE A DAY. ON ARRIVAL, PATIENTS WILL SIGN IN, HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION BEFORE RECEIVING THEIR SHOT. THEN THEY'LL BE MONITORED FOR 20 MINUTES. WE WANT TO SHOW LEADERSHIP AND SAY TO OUR WHANAU, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SAFE. THERE ARE THOSE THAT LISTEN TO CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, BUT THE MAJORITY, I BELIEVE, ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND OTARA MINISTER AUPITO WILLIAM SIO IS JOINING THE QUEUE. THERE ARE PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THE TWO-WAY QUARANTINE FREEBOARD TRAVEL ZONE IN AUSTRALIA. BUT I'M ALSO ASKING, OUR COMMUNITY, IN PARTICULAR TO BE CAUTIOUS. WITH THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE OPENING AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF RETURNING WHANAU, LEADERS EVEN MORE KEEN TO DRIVE THE MESSAGE HOME ` GET VACCINATED. BY LEADING BY EXAMPLE, WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE THAT. A COMMUNITY KEEN ON NOT MAKING ANY MISTAKES. MOANA MAKAPELU LEE ` 1 NEWS. FAMILY MEMBERS OF PIKE RIVER MINERS WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO STOP FUNDING ANY FURTHER RE-ENTRY EFFORTS. LAST WEEK, A GROUP OF FAMILIES SAID IT ACCEPTED THE DECISION, BUT NOW MOST WANT MORE TO BE DONE. THEY MET WITH MINISTER ANDREW LITTLE LAST NIGHT TO DISCUSS THE OPTION OF TRYING TO RECOVER EVIDENCE FROM THE MINE'S MAIN VENTILATION FAN, THE LIKELY SITE OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION. SOME FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HOPING TO PROVE THAT A RE-ENTRY COULD BE DONE SAFELY. WE'VE GOT TOGETHER A TEAM OF EXTREMELY CREDIBLE, EXTREMELY WELL-QUALIFIED INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY WHICH WILL GIVE US SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHETHER THIS CAN BE DONE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. SO, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH A REPORT WHICH GIVES THEM CONFIDENCE. FAMILIES HOPE TO PRESENT THE REPORT WITHIN A MONTH. THE GOVERNMENT'S BANNED ALL NEW COAL GENERATORS WHILE SPENDING MILLIONS TO HELP BUSINESSES TRANSITION. IT WANTS TO PHASE OUT COAL BOILERS BY 2037. BUT THE OPPOSITION THINKS THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTING TOO QUICKLY. HERE'S RYAN BOSWELL. CLEANING THE WORLD'S WOOL BY POLLUTING THE CLIMATE IN THE PROCESS. THIS COAL-FIRED FACTORY IN TIMARU PUMPS OUT 14,000 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE EVERY YEAR. NOW A PROMISE TO GO CLEAN. WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH OUT THE EXISTING 6 MEGAWATT COAL-FIRED BOILER OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS. AND WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THAT WITH AN E-BOILER, OR AN ELECTRIC BOILER. IT'S BEING FUNDED IN PART BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH TODAY SPENT 23m OF A $70m FUND HELPING BUSINESSES SWITCH TO CLEAN ENERGY. THE MINISTER SAYS IT'S EQUAL TO TAKING 49,000 CARS OFF THE ROAD. TAKING 49,000 CARS OFF THE ROAD. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS FIRST TRANCHE ` THAT THERE'S 14 BUSINESSES. WE'LL HAVE TWO MORE ROUNDS OF THIS, BUT THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE SCALE. I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN ABSOLUTE NUMBER. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS IS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST THE ECONOMY. MEGAN WOODS PROMISING TO BAN ALL NEW COAL-FIRED BOILERS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND SHE'S PROPOSED TO PHASE OUT EXISTING ONES BY 2037. BUT JUST HOW MANY BUSINESSES NATIONWIDE ARE IN THE FIRING LINE? I DON'T HAVE IT IN MY HEAD IS AS I'M STANDING HERE, BUT WE CAN GET THAT FOR YOU LATER. HER OFFICE LATER POINTING TO AN ESTIMATE FROM 2016 OF UP TO 550 COAL BOILERS. NATIONAL SAYS IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. OF UP TO 550 COAL BOILERS. NATIONAL SAYS IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. WE'VE GOT A DRAFT REPORT FROM THE CLIMATE COMMISSION OUT, AND SUBMISSIONS HAVE JUST CLOSED ` OVER 10,000 SUBMISSIONS. GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT. AND THEY'VE COME OUT WITH A POLICY THAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE WAITED. BUT IT MAKES SENSE FOR WOOL WORKS... WE HOPE THAT THIS IS A TEMPLATE GOING FORWARD. ...BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND CRICKET DEPTH LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN. EXCITING TIMES FOR ONE OF THE GAME'S MOST IMPORTANT TRIPS EVER ` MORE ON THIS NEXT. ALSO TONIGHT ` GETTING READY FOR TOKYO IN THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER. THE LENGTHS OUR OLYMPIC ATHLETES AND OTHERS ARE GOING TO. PLUS ` FROM YELLOW FEVER TO YELLOW FIESTA. HOW THE PHOENIX HAVE INSPIRED A WHOLE NEW SET OF FOLLOWERS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CURRENT HIGH HAS A BIT MORE FINE WEATHER LEFT IN THE TANK FOR FRIDAY. AFTER THAT, SOME BIG CHANGES. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AFTER SPORT. NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA. WELCOME TO SPORT. AND WELCOME TO THE TEAM THE BLACKCAPS HOPE WILL WIN CRICKET'S FIRST EVER TEST CHAMPIONSHIP. THREE NEW PLAYERS HAVE BEEN PICKED IN THE SQUAD FOR THE TRIP TO ENGLAND, AS WELL AS AN ALL-ROUNDER RECALLED AFTER FIVE YEARS OUT OF THE TEST TEAM. GUY HEVELDT AND THE SQUAD FOR ONE OF THE SPORT'S MOST IMPORTANT TOURS IN HISTORY. IT'S A LONG WAY FROM THE QUIET SCENES OF THE BASIN RESERVE AND THE UNIVERSITY OVAL TO A POTENTIAL TEST DEBUT AT LORD'S, BUT IT'S SUDDENLY A REAL PROSPECT FOR THESE TWO, RACHIN RAVINDRA AND JACOB DUFFY. WE FINISHED OUR GAME AGAINST AUCKLAND, WE WERE FLYING BACK, AND THEN GOT THE CALL FROM STEADY WHILE WE IN THE AIR, ACTUALLY, SO I COULDN'T TAKE IT. TO ME, THIS IS... YEAH, THIS IS THE PINNACLE. THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. RAVINDRA'S RISE IS RAPID. FROM THE UNDER-19 WORLD CUP THREE YEARS AGO TO THE BLACKCAPS, THE SPINNING ALL-ROUNDER CATCHING THE SELECTORS' EYES. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, HIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE WAY HE'S GONE ABOUT IT HAS BEEN FAST. AND I THINK` I DEFINITELY SEE THAT THERE'S A BIG FUTURE FOR HIM IN PLAYING FOR NEW ZEALAND FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. DUFFY'S BEEN AROUND THE BLACKCAPS BEFORE. HIS INTERNATIONAL DEBUT TURNING HEADS. AND JACOB DUFFY'S UNDERWAY IN HIS FIRST OVER. FOUR WICKETS IN A T20 AGAINST PAKISTAN THIS SEASON, AND THE PROSPECT OF BOWLING WITH THE SWINGING DUKE BALL PUTS HIM IN THE FRAME. IF A SOUTHEE OR AN OPENING BOWLER, FOR EXAMPLE, WENT DOWN, JAKE BECOMES A REAL OPTION FOR US TO CONSIDER. I'M JUST A SWING BOWLER, FIRST AND FOREMOST, SO DUKE BALL IS A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. LASTS LONGER, KEEPS ME IN THE GAME LONGER. I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT BALL IN HAND. THE OTHER NEW NAME IN THE EXPANDED 20-STRONG SQUAD IS ONE THAT'S BECOME VERY FAMILIAR IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. DEVON CONWAY, WHO'S BEEN THE STAR THIS SUMMER IN LIMITED OVERS GAMES FOR NEW ZEALAND, LOOKS CERTAIN TO FINALLY PLAY A TEST, AND IT COULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE ORDER. IT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED. TOM BLUNDELL'S BEEN, I GUESS, THE INCUMBENT THERE WITH TOM LATHAM FOR A WHILE NOW, AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US IN THAT ROLE. I DON'T THINK IT'S HIS NATURAL ROLE, THOUGH. AND FIVE YEARS SINCE HIS LAST TEST, DOUG BRACEWELL'S BACK IN FAVOUR, THANKS TO AN AVERAGE OF 43 WITH THE BAT AND 26 WITH THE BALL FOR CENTRAL DISTRICTS, THIS PLUNKET SHIELD SEASON. GUY HEVELDT, 1 NEWS. SO, WHO'S LIKELY TO BE IN THE FRAME TO PLAY THAT WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL AGAINST INDIA IN SOUTHAMPTON? ASSUMING ALL PLAYERS ARE FIT AND AVAILABLE, THE MAJORITY OF SELECTIONS ARE FAIRLY OBVIOUS ` LATHAM OPENS, THEN THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE ARE LOCKS. THAT'S WILLIAMSON, TAYLOR, AND NICHOLLS. WATLING TAKES THE GLOVES, AND THEN THE FOUR SEAMERS WHO WERE SO IMPRESSIVE THIS SUMMER, JAMIESON, SOUTHEE, WAGNER, AND BOULT. MAN OF THE MOMENT DEVON CONWAY SHOULD BE IN. THE ONLY QUESTION AROUND HIS INCLUSION IS WHERE DOES HE BAT? DOES HE OPEN OR SLOT INTO THE MIDDLE ORDER? THAT LEAVES ONE FINAL SPOT UP FOR GRABS. DO THEY OPT FOR A SPIN BOWLING OR PACE BOWLING ALL-ROUNDER? IF SPIN, RACHIN RAVINDRA COMES STRAIGHT INTO CONSIDERATION, WITHOUT PREVIOUSLY BEING IN THE BLACKCAPS FRAME AT ALL. OVERALL, HEAPS OF OPTIONS ` SOMETHING THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE FOR THE BLACKCAPS. TO SUPER RUGBY, AND HEAD COACH TONY BROWN HAS RECALLED TWO OF HIS SUSPENDED PLAYERS AFTER THAT PARTYING INCIDENT IN DUNEDIN ` BROWN PICKING SIO TOMKINSON TO START AT CENTRE AGAINST THE CHIEFS ON SATURDAY, WHILE JOSH IOANE GAINS A SPOT ON THE BENCH. YEAH, IT WAS A TOUGH WEEK FOR THEM, I'M NOT GONNA LIE. THEY GOT PUT THROUGH THE WRINGER A BIT. OH, THEY GOT PUNISHED. THEY GOT PUNISHED, MATE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. DESPITE PRODUCING THE UPSET OF THE SEASON LAST WEEKEND AGAINST THE CRUSADERS, BROWN HAS MADE SIX CHANGES IN TOTAL TO HIS STARTING SIDE. AARON SMITH BACK STARTING AT HALFBACK AFTER FOLOU FAKATAVA WAS RULED OUT FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN KNEE LIGAMENT. AUCKLAND RUGBY IS CONFIDENT IT'LL HANG ON TO SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE PLAYERS WHO'VE INDICATED THEY'RE PREPARED TO LEAVE THE UNION. THIS COMES AFTER A SEASON REVIEW INTO LAST YEAR'S NPC, WHERE IT'S UNDERSTOOD A NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND MANAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTED ISSUES INSIDE THE CAMPAIGN. ASSISTANT COACH FILO TIATIA CONFIRMED HIS RESIGNATION EARLIER THIS WEEK. SO THEY ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORWARD AREAS THAT THEY THINK THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON, AND THERE WAS SOME PRETTY CLEAR ACTIONS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED. AND, YEAH, WE'RE COMMITTED WITH ALL THE GROUPS TO WORK ON THOSE. THE IRONY IS, I SUPPOSE, THE TEAM'S BEEN DOING WELL. YEAH. YOU SET A HIGH BENCHMARK ` IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP STRIVING TO GET PAST THAT BENCHMARK. ALL BLACKS HOSKINS STOTUTU AND CALEB CLARKE ARE YET TO COMMIT TO A PROVINCIAL UNION FOR 2021, WHILE SEVERAL OTHERS REMAIN CONTRACTED TO AUCKLAND FOR THE NPC SEASON STARTING THIS AUGUST. MANY ARE UNLIKELY TO PLAY, THOUGH, SHOULD THEY MAKE THE ALL BLACKS. THE PLANS FOR MOST OF OUR TOKYO OLYMPIANS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO DISARRAY THANKS TO COVID. RATHER THAN SITTING BACK AND CONTEMPLATING THE 'WHAT IFS', A NUMBER OF TEAMS AND ATHLETES HAVE BEEN PREPARING HERE THE BEST THEY CAN. THAT INCLUDES REPLICATING THE STIFLING HEAT EXPECTED IN JAPAN IN WHAT'S BEING CLASSED AS THE HOTTEST GAMES IN HISTORY. IN A BUNKER HIDDEN AWAY IN AUCKLAND'S MILLENNIUM INSTITUTE, IT'S CLOSE TO 40 DEGREES AND 75% HUMIDITY. THREE OF THE MEN'S BLACK STICKS SWEATING LIKE THEY'VE NEVER SWEAT BEFORE. IT'S, UM, PRETTY WARM IN HERE, ISN'T IT? OH, IT'S HOT, MATE. YOU LOOK TERRIBLE, IF I CAN SAY THAT. I FEEL IT, MATE. I FEEL IT. IN WHAT'S BEEN A FIVE YEAR PROGRAMME, SOME OUTDOOR OLYMPIANS, TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY USING HEAT CHAMBERS. IN JUNE, THIS WILL BE A DAILY ROUTINE BEFORE HEADING OFF TO JAPAN. AS SOON AS THEY FINISHED IN RIO THEY WILL LIKE, 'ALL RIGHT. TOKYO AND THE FOCUS ON THE HEAT.' UP TO EIGHT GAMES OVER 13 DAYS. JUST THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT ` IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT THEY CAN TOLERATE THAT HEAT. THE PROJECT IS A JOINT DEAL BETWEEN HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT AND TERTIARY FACILITIES IN FIVE DIFFERENT CITIES. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A RELATIONSHIP THERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH COVID, THIS IS REALLY HEIGHTENED THE NEED FOR CLOSER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT. BOTH OUR NATIONAL HOCKEY TEAMS ARE USUALLY AWAY IN ASIA OR THE SUBCONTINENT IN STIFLING HEAT LEADING INTO A GAMES, BUT NOT IN 2021. GEE, WHIZ. I SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN BLUE TODAY. YES, WE JUMPED IN FOR JUST FOUR MINUTES, INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE INCLUDED, AND YES, THE BODY HEATS UP VERY QUICKLY. FOR THIS, SPECIFICALLY, WE WEIGH OURSELVES BEFORE AND AFTER. AND FROM MY LAST ONE I LOST 2KG IN OUR 40 MINUTES, SO GET THAT WATER BACK ON. MAYBE I SHOULD STAY IN HERE LONGER. IT'S GETTING STICKY. SORRY, MATE. I'M ALL OVER YOU THERE. NO, NO. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THESE TWO FLAT TOGETHER, SO. WHO DOES THE WASHING? HIS GIRLFRIEND DOES THE WASHING. (ALL LAUGH) HOPEFULLY THE DOOR HASN'T JAMMED AND WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE. YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW EVERYONE DID GET OUT, AND AFTER A WHILE, RECOVERED. THEY'LL BE BACK IN THE CHAMBER IN A FEW DAYS ` ALL PART OF GETTING READY FOR TOKYO, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. AN INVESTIGATION INTO TIGER WOODS' CAR CRASH HAS FOUND THE GOLFING GREAT WAS DRIVING NEARLY TWICE THE SPEED LIMIT. THE LAPD HAVE RELEASED THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF WOOD'S CRASH, LEAVING THE 45-YEAR-OLD WITH SEVERE LEG INJURIES. WOODS WAS ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELLING UP TO 140KM/HR, THE CRASH SOLELY BLAMED ON EXCESSIVE SPEED. THE PRIMARY CAUSAL FACTOR FOR THIS TRAFFIC COLLISION WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AND THE INABILITY TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE OF THE ROAD-WAY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT, WOODS WILL NOT BE FACING ANY CHARGES. THE GOLFER POSTING TO SOCIAL MEDIA ` THANKING THOSE WHO HELPED HIM AT THE SCENE AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HIS RECOVERY. WELLINGTON PHOENIX FANS WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM RETURNING HOME FOR A COUPLE OF GAMES THIS SEASON, BUT THE 'NIX HAVEN'T BEEN WITHOUT A PASSIONATE SUPPORTER BASE IN AUSTRALIA. SKIPPER ULISES DAVILA HAS INSPIRED A WHOLE NEW BAND OF RAUCOUS NIX SUPPORTERS, AS CHRIS CHANG EXPLAINS. FROM THE YELLOW FEVER, TO A WEEKLY FOOTBALL FIESTA. FROM THE YELLOW FEVER, TO A WEEKLY FOOTBALL FIESTA. IT MIGHT OPEN UP HERE FOR DAVILA. GOES IN! THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX CAN THANK THEIR MEXICAN SKIPPER FOR THEIR LATEST RECRUITS TO THE CLUB'S FAN-BASE. ULISES DAVILA. IT SCORED ITS WAY IN, IT TOOK A REALLY GNARLY DEEFLECTION. AND THOSE MEXICAN FANS ARE DELIGHTED! IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT AND WE'RE TRYING TO ENJOY IT. DESPITE PLAYING HOME GAMES IN WOLLONGONG THIS SEASON, THE TEAM'S NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS USUAL PASSIONATE BACKING. THEIR MEXICAN MAGICIAN ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS OF AN OTHERWISE DISAPPOINTING CAMPAIGN, AND HE'S A FIRM FAVOURITE HERE. THEY'VE ADOPTED US, THEY'VE TURNED OUT EVERY WEEK SINCE THEY STARTED COMING. WE'RE VERY VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE ULI'S SUPPORT GANG AT OUR GAMES IT'S BEEN BRILLIANT, THEY'RE NOISY, THEY'RE PROPER FOOTBALL FANS LIKE OUR NIX FANS BACK HOME. IT'S HOPED THE PHOENIX CAN RETURN TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THEIR ACTUAL FANS FOR A COUPLE OF GAMES BEFORE THE SEASON'S OUT. A TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE THROWING UP THE POSSIBILITY OF GAMES IN WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND. AND WHILE THE TEAM IS DESPERATE TO THANK ITS LOYAL FOLLOWERS WITH MATCHES AT HOME, THEIR NEW MEXICAN CONTINGENT WILL HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN THEIR HEARTS. CHRIS CHANG ` 1 NEWS. HE'S A GOOD PLAYER THAT DAVILA OUR SPORTS TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CHANGING ANDREW. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE LOST SOME KILOS. THANKS, SPORT. AND THEN AT 7 ` THE KIWI ATHLETE AIMING TO PUT MARLBOROUGH ON THE WORLD MAP. YES, THIS FORMER TEAM NEW ZEALAND GRINDER HAS GONE BACK (COMPUTER BLIPS) (PHONE RINGS) (PHONE CONTINUES RINGING) (LID POPS) (QUIRKY PIANO MUSIC) (BICYCLE BELL RINGS) (ALLURING PIANO MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRP) VOICEOVER: How far will you go to make a little me-time? HELLO. YOU KNOW THAT FEELING ON THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER HOLIDAYS? SOME OF US MIGHT GET THAT FEELING TOMORROW. WE MIGHT GET ONE MORE FINE DAY TOMORROW. THEN IT'S ALL SET TO CHANGE. LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE AUTUMN NASTIES. IT'S SORT OF THE TIME WHEN FARMERS MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THINGS FOR DAMAGING WINDS. WE'LL SEE HOW IT ALL GOES. DECENT DAY, ONE OR TWO DOTS OF SHOWERS. THE WEATHER FOR TOMORROW, IT'S STILL HIGH PRESSURE. LOOK AT THAT TROUGH. THAT IS A STRENGTHENING NORTHERLY IN PLACES. YEAH, SATURDAY. SEVERE GALE. IF YOU DO HAVE OUTDOOR PLANS, SUNDAY MIGHT BE A BETTER DAY. BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK WE MIGHT BE TALKING COLDER AIR. THERE COULD BE SOME SNOW. TOMORROW IS LOOKING OK. LIGHT TODAY, YOU'RE MOSTLY HIGH AND DRY. ONE OR TWO ISOLATED SHOWERS IN AUCKLAND. YOU'LL NOTICE A STRENGTHENING NOR-EASTERLY. YOU MAY SEE AN ODD AFTERNOON ISOLATED SHOWER. BRIGHT IN THE SKY FOR TAURANGA. AS WE HEAD TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, WE GET A WHOLE SHEET OF HIGH CLOUD. REMEMBER THAT DOT OF A TROUGH? IT MIGHT FLICK INTO A SHOWER FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. WELLINGTON WILL GET BRIGHT SPELLS TO FINISH OFF WITH. THAT TROUGH PROVIDES SHOWERS TO NELSON. EVERYONE ELSE IS DRY. MAYBE SOME FOG FOR CHRISTCHURCH. THERE'LL BE RAIN AT NIGHT FOR GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. NOT BAD FOR QUEENSTOWN DRAG IN SOME HIGH CLOUD ` 23 DEGREES FOR ALEXANDRA. WE MAY SEE SOME EARLY CLOUD FOR DUNEDIN.