CAPTIONS BY KRISTIN WILLIAMS, EMMA BARTOSZEWICZ POOLE AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. WELLINGTON IS GOING INTO LEVEL 2 RIGHT NOW. THE RESTRICTIONS ANNOUNCED EARLIER TODAY AFTER A TRAVELLER FROM SYDNEY WHO SPENT THE WEEKEND IN THE CAPITAL TESTED POSITIVE WHEN THEY RETURNED HOME. THESE ARE THE SCENES FROM A TESTING STATION TODAY AFTER THE NEWS BROKE ` THOUSANDS OF WELLINGTONIANS LINING UP TO GET SWABBED. AND HEALTHLINE HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE DAY DEALING WITH EXCEPTIONAL DEMAND AS WELL, RECEIVING THREE TIMES THE NORMAL NUMBER OF CALLS. SO, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS PERSON'S VISIT AND MOVEMENT? THE VISITOR FROM SYDNEY ARRIVED ON SATURDAY MORNING BUT APPARENTLY DIDN'T START FEELING UNWELL UNTIL MONDAY MORNING, JUST BEFORE THEY LEFT. FOUR CLOSE CONTACTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. ALL HAVE NOW TESTED NEGATIVE, BUT THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT POPULAR PUBLIC PLACES THE PERSON VISITED WHILE INFECTIOUS. HE AND HIS PARTNER STAYED AT THE RYDGES HOTEL HERE IN FEATHERSTON STREET FROM SATURDAY TILL MONDAY, VISITED THE UNICHEM PHARMACY JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN LAMBTON QUAY FOR AN HOUR ON SATURDAY MORNING, FLORIDITA'S RESTAURANT ON CUBA STREET AND TE PAPA FROM ABOUT 3 TILL 6, INCLUDING THE SURREALIST ART EXHIBITION; THEN THE HIGHWATER CAFE NEARBY, AND LATER THAT NIGHT, JACK HACKETT'S BAR FROM 8.45 TILL MIDNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY, THE PICKLE AND PIE CAFE IN THE MORNING, THE WETA CAVE SHOP ALL THE WAY OUT IN MIRAMAR, THE LIDO CAFE IN VICTORIA STREET IN THE AFTERNOON, NEARBY UNITY BOOKS, COUNTDOWN IN LAMBTON QUAY AND ONE RED DOG ON THE WATERFRONT. IF YOU VISITED ANY OF THOSE PLACES ON THOSE DAYS, CALL HEALTHLINE OR CHECK THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WEBSITE FOR ADVICE. MOST OF THOSE LOCATIONS ARE CLOSED TODAY. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS REPORTS. THE CAPITAL SUDDENLY BACK ON HIGH ALERT. (SIREN WAILS) THE ONLY CENTRAL TESTING STATION BUSY AMONG CONCERN THERE'S A COVID-19 RISK TO THE COMMUNITY. I WAS JUST AT THE TE PAPA EXHIBITION ON THE WEEKEND, AND I HAD A PINT AT JACK HACKETT'S, SO I THOUGHT IT'D BE BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. SOME WAITING AN HOUR AND A HALF FOR A TEST, OTHERS TURNED AWAY IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE SYMPTOMS. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A... 0800 NUMBER, SO I NEED TO CALL THEM AND BOOK A TEST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HEALTHLINE OPERATORS OVERRUN WITH THREE TIMES MORE CALLS THAN YESTERDAY. VOICEMAIL: WE ARE EXPERIENCING EXCEPTIONAL CALL VOLUME AND CANNOT ANSWER YOUR CALL RIGHT NOW. COMMUNICATION ISSUES ALSO AT TE PAPA ` IT PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE EXPLAINING ITS CLOSURE AFTER THE INFECTIOUS MAN VISITED BUT DIDN'T PUT A CLOSED SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. OH, IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING, REALLY. YOU'D THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE NOTIFIED TO THE PUBLIC. WE JUST RANG THE INFORMATION CENTRE, AND WE GOT THE KIOSK DESK INSIDE, AND THEY SAID IT WAS OPEN. THE MAN VISITED 15 LOCATIONS ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AT THE WEEKEND. HE STAYED AT THE RYDGES, VISITING THE BARBERS' NEXT DOOR FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON SATURDAY. HE ALSO SPENT THAT NIGHT AT THIS PUB, WHERE CROWDS GATHERED TO WATCH THE RUGBY, AND LATER, A LIVE GIG WAS HELD, BUT THE MANAGER SAYS THERE WAS NO DANCING. JUST BEEN GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, SO IT'S A BIT OF A SHAME IT HAPPENED NOW. ALL THE STAFF THAT WERE WORKING AT THE TIME HE WAS PRESENT, THEY'RE ALL STRAIGHT INTO ISOLATION. THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO GET TESTING NOW, WHICH IS PROVING PROBLEMATIC, COS I THINK HALF OF WELLINGTON IS TRYING TO GET TESTED. THERE ARE CALLS FOR MORE PROTECTION FOR THE BUBBLE. PRE-DEPARTURE TESTING IS JUST ANOTHER LAYER, AND IT JUST MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT THIS PERSON AS BEING POSITIVE AND THEN THEY JUST MIGHT NOT HAVE TRAVELLED. SHE WAS EXPECTING A HIGHER ALERT LEVEL GIVEN THE SITUATION, BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S BACKING ITS APPROACH. ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A VERY CAUTIOUS APPROACH THAT WE ARE TAKING BY MOVING UP TO ALERT LEVEL 2. WE WILL BE LEANING HEAVILY ON OUR CONTACT-TRACING SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN RING-FENCE ANY POTENTIAL CASES THAT MAY FLOW FROM THAT. A CAUTIOUS WEEK AHEAD FOR THE CAPITAL AS THE TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE TAKES ANOTHER HIT. 1 NEWS REPORTERS IN THE CAPITAL HAVE BEEN WEARING MASKS WHILE OUT AND ABOUT TODAY BUT WILL TAKE THEM OFF IF NO ONE'S AROUND. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS IS IN CENTRAL WELLINGTON. KATE, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TODAY? YES, THERE HAVE BEEN A RANGE OF ISSUES HERE IN THE CAPITAL TODAY. THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPEED OF RESPONSE AND THAT IS AFTER IT CAME OUT THAT AN EVENT WAS HELD AT AN IRISH PUB NEAR HERE THIS MORNING AT 7 AM WITH 50 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THAT'S BEFORE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ALERTED MANAGEMENT THAT THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE COVID-19 SITUATION OVER THE WEEKEND. IN TERMS OF TESTING, DEMAND HAS BEEN HIGH. ONE USER UNDERSTANDS THAT A PARKING WARDEN AND OTHERS WERE BROUGHT ON AS FRONTLINE STAFF TODAY SO THAT WHEN THE TRAFFIC WAS BUILDING, PEOPLE AND CARS WERE BEING APPROACHED BY THE CONTRACTORS AND ASKED IF THEY WERE BOOKED IN FOR A TEST. WITH ALSO RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT DURING ONE OF THOSE PEAK TIMES, FOR HALF AN HOUR, AND NUMBER WAS GIVEN TO PEOPLE THAT NEEDED TO BUT A TEST THAT WASN'T CORRECT. THE HEALTH BOARD HAS APOLOGISED TO THE INSIPID THEY HAVE RECTIFIED THE ISSUE. THEN WE HEARD THAT A POP-UP TESTING SITE WOULD BE SET UP AT A STADIUM NOT LONG AFTER LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAD TO PUT THE MESSAGE OUT THAT THIS WAS INCORRECT AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. AND KATE, WHAT'S THE ADVICE FOR ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN VISITING WELLINGTON BUT HAS NOW RETURNED TO ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY? VISITORS TO THE CAPITAL ON THE WEEKEND AS WELL AS WELLINGTONIAN'S ARE BEING URGED TO CHECK THAT MINISTRY OF HEALTH WEBSITE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE LOCATIONS OF INTEREST THAT THE TRAVELLER WITH COVID-19 THAT VISIT. IF THEY WERE THERE AT THE TIME THAT HAD BEEN LISTED, THE ADVICE IS TO ISOLATE ME IMMEDIATELY AND TO CALL HEALTH PLAN TO GET ADVICE ON TESTING. IF YOU HAVE LEFT WELLINGTON AND YOU DIDN'T VISIT ANY OF THOSE LOCATIONS OF INTEREST, THE ADVICE IS STILL TO GET A COVID-19 TEST IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS. THANKS, KATE. AND JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT LEVEL 2 MEANS FOR YOU IN THE WELLINGTON REGION ` WHICH AS MENTIONED, INCLUDES WAIRARAPA, KAPITI COAST AND OTAKI. BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS CAN STAY OPEN. YOU CAN TRAVEL TO REGIONS ALSO AT ALERT LEVEL 2 OR UNDER, MEANING TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY UP TO A HUNDRED PEOPLE CAN GATHER AT EVENTS, INCLUDING FUNERALS AND TANGIHANGA. THE SAME MAXIMUM NUMBER'S ALLOWED IN BARS AND OTHER HOSPITALITY VENUES, BUT DIFFERENT GROUPS OF CUSTOMERS MUST BE SEPARATED, SEATED AND SERVED BY A SINGLE PERSON. SOCIAL DISTANCING OF 2m IS REQUIRED IN PLACES LIKE SUPERMARKETS AND RETAIL STORES. FACE MASKS SHOULD BE WORN WHEN PHYSICAL DISTANCING CAN'T BE ADHERED TO AND ARE ALREADY MANDATORY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. SO, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST EVENTS THIS WEEKEND? POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY WITH THE DETAILS ON THE DECISION. THE MAORI ALL BLACKS WON'T HAVE A CROWD WHEN THEY PLAY MANU SAMOA AT SKY STADIUM ` DRAX PROJECT CONCERTS ARE OFF, AND FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THOSE TRAINING FOR THE WELLINGTON MARATHON WILL HAVE TO WAIT. YEAH, I'VE BEEN TRAINING FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, DOING THOSE LONG SUNDAY RUNS, 30K, SLOGGING OUT IN THE RAIN SOMETIMES. THE AUSTRALIAN WHO VISITED WELLINGTON WAS INTERVIEWED LAST NIGHT, BUT THE FIRST LOCATIONS OF INTEREST WEREN'T RELEASED UNTIL 8.55 THIS MORNING ` AFTER MANY PEOPLE HAD TRAVELLED TO WORK. WE'RE 48 HOURS INTO THIS BEFORE WE GET ANY ACTION. WE'VE GOT THESE NEW MODERN THINGS CALLED EMAILS, TEXT AND OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION, AND I THINK IF THE AUSTRALIANS HAD THE INFORMATION, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT. THERE IS A NIGHT TIME IN BETWEEN THEN. THE CONTACT TRACERS WERE WORKING INTO THE EVENING AND AGAIN THIS MORNING TO PUT THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS OFFICIALS WORKED QUICKLY. ONE POSITIVE CASE IS NO LONGER IN NEW ZEALAND. WE'VE GOT 48 HOURS' WORTH OF LOCATIONS WHERE WE WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS. IF WE AVOID A MAJOR OUTBREAK FROM THIS, IT WILL BE DOWN TO LUCK. AND WITH MULTIPLE CASES IN NEW SOUTH WALES, THE GOVERNMENT'S ALSO DEFENDING ITS DECISION TO ONLY PUSH PAUSE ON THE BUBBLE LAST NIGHT. IF WE WERE TO REACT EVERY TIME THERE WAS A CASE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BORDER, THE TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE WOULD BE CLOSED MORE THAN IT IS OPEN. (ALERT BEEPS) DAVID, WHAT'S THAT, DO WE KNOW? THE CIVIL DEFENCE PHONE ALERT ECHOING THROUGH THE DEBATING CHAMBER. WE'LL JUST WAIT TILL THAT DAMN NOISE... FIRST WE'LL WAIT FOR DAVID SEYMOUR TO TUCK HIS SHIRT IN. THEN WE'LL... HAS IT STOPPED? AGAIN, WE'RE GETTING A CALL-UP FROM OFFICIALS. I'M CONFIDENT IF WE DO ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND IF PEOPLE DO WHAT IS ASKED OF THEM, WE WILL REDUCE THE RISK. SO I ASK WELLINGTONIANS TO DO THAT. SO FOR NOW, NO CROWDS FOR THE PULSE OR THE WELLINGTON SAINTS. JESS IS WITH ME NOW. WHAT ELSE IS OFF THE LIST JESS? AN IMPORTANT EVENT THAT WAS MEANT TO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY IN AUCKLAND AS A GOVERNMENT APOLOGY FOR THE DAWN RAIDS. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU ARE MEANT TO TAKE YOUR LEVELS WITH YOU, SO THE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTERS HERE IN WELLINGTON CAN'T ATTEND AN EVENT THAT IS MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE. THAT HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED. THE PRIME MINISTER IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL TO BRISBANE AND SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE IN A WEEK AND 1/2. SHE IS GOING TO TAKE A TRADE DELEGATION WITH HER AS WELL AS OFFICIALS AND JOURNALISTS FROM HERE IN WELLINGTON. THAT IS STILL GOING AHEAD AT THE STAGE BUT TODAY DOES PUT SOME QUESTION MARKS AROUND THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD AN ALERT CHANGE SINCE THE TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE OPEN. HOW HAS THIS CHANGED THINGS? THERE ALWAYS WAS A RISK THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, BUT WE ARE MEANT TO HAVE ROBUST SYSTEMS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND QUICKLY. I THINK IT WILL BE TOO HARD TO TELL WHETHER THIS IS A PASS OR FAIL IN THIS INSTANCE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS UNTIL WE FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY OUTBREAKS IN THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF WHEN THE FOUR CLOSE CONTACTS TO COME BACK AS NEGATIVE AND ALSO THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN PARTIALLY VACCINATED AND THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THAT DOES STOP THE SPREAD GOING QUITE SO QUICKLY. USUALLY IN THE PAST, IT HAS BEEN AUCKLAND GETTING THE CALL UP TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM OF 5 MILLION. NOW IT IS WELLINGTON'S TERM TO BE TESTED. THANKS, JESS. THE COVID SCARE IN THE CAPITAL'S HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO KEEP USING THE COVID TRACER APP, BUT NUMBERS HAVE PLUMMETED SINCE LAST YEAR. THE AUSTRALIAN VISITOR DID RECORD HIS WHEREABOUTS, BUT OTHER VISITORS, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF KIWIS, AREN'T FOLLOWING SUIT. HERE'S KRISTIN HALL. WHEN IT COMES TO SCANNING, SOME OF US ARE SCRUPULOUS. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY. OH, WELL. IT'S EASY, ISN'T IT? SO, WHY NOT? OTHERS, NOT SO MUCH. DID YOU SCAN IN HERE TODAY? I'M ABOUT TO GO AND DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME. JUST NOW. I DID THAT BEFORE AS WELL. AND WHAT ABOUT THE DAYS BEFORE THAT? YES. I NEED TO GET ON TO THAT. TIM NORRIS SAYS FEWER THAN 50% OF HIS CUSTOMERS SCAN IN. DEFINITELY MORE PEOPLE DOING IT THIS MORNING, BUT STILL PEOPLE NOT, FOR SURE. A SIMILAR STORY AT OTHER CENTRAL WELLINGTON BUSINESSES. THERE PROBABLY IS A DEGREE OF COMPLACENCY THAT'S CREPT IN. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE REALLY REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS. IT IS A FAMILY BUSINESS, SO EVERYONE THAT WORKS HERE IS FAMILY. IF PEOPLE DON'T SCAN IN AND SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, THEN WE'RE ALL IN JEOPARDY. AND IT'S NOT JUST WELLINGTON SLACKING OFF. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR, THERE WERE JUST OVER 19,000 SCANS NATIONWIDE. NEW CASES LINKED TO THE AUCKLAND CLUSTER SAW SCANNING NUMBERS SKYROCKET TO 2.5 MILLION IN SEPTEMBER. BUT THE MOST RECENT FIGURES SHOW WE'RE NOW WAY BACK DOWN TO A DAILY AVERAGE OF ABOUT 470,000 SCANS. LESS THAN 10% OF PEOPLE ARE USING THE QR CODES AT THE MOMENT. THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE US CONFIDENCE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO CATCH AN OUTBREAK ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHAT ABOUT OUR AUSTRALIAN VISITORS? THE POSITIVE CASE FROM SYDNEY WAS SCANNING, BUT THERE'S A MIXED RESPONSE FROM HIS FELLOW HOLIDAYMAKERS. I SHOULD BE. I'M NOT. AND WHY IS THAT? TOO LAZY, I SUPPOSE. WE WERE TOLD ON THE PLANE TO MAKE SURE WE DOWNLOADED IT AND TO MAKE SURE WE USED IT AT EVERY SITE ONCE WE CAME HERE. THE GOVERNMENT DID CONSIDER REQUIRING TOURISTS TO DOWNLOAD THE APP ON ARRIVAL, BUT AT THE MOMENT, IT'S NOT MANDATORY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR WHERE THEY'LL BE WHEN THEY'RE IN NEW ZEALAND. A REMINDER FOR KIWIS AND VISITORS TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO KEEP COVID OUT. KRISTIN HALL, 1 NEWS. SO, PLENTY OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION. EPIDEMIOLOGIST PROFESSOR MICHAEL BAKER IS WITH US NOW. DO YOU AGREE WITH THE TRAVEL PAUSE TO NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE WELLINGTON LEVEL CHANGE? KIA ORA. YES, I THINK BOTH OF THESE CHANGES WERE ACTUALLY ESSENTIAL GIVEN FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS OUTBREAK TO TURN INTO A SUPER SPREADING EVENT. HOW PRECARIOUS IS THE SITUATION? HOW WORRIED SHOULD PEOPLE HERE BE? I THINK ON THE FACE OF THIS, THIS COULD BE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. YOU HAVE SOMEONE ARRIVE IN WELLINGTON WITH THE FAR MORE INFECTIOUS DELTA VARIANTS AND THEY SPEND THE WHOLE WEEKEND AND INDOOR VENUES AND LITERALLY HAVE CONTACT WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THIS CAN CAUSE A HUGE AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS. IT IS A BIG THREAT. THAT'S WHY I THINK A VERY VIGOUROUS RESPONSE IS NEEDED. THIS IS A NEW SCENARIO. WHAT LESSONS ARE WE ALREADY LEARNING FORM THE CURRENT SITUATION? I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LESSONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RAISED BY YOUR INTERVIEWS. ONE IS REALLY WE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR ALERT LEVEL SYSTEM SO THAT IT MAKES MASK USE MUCH CLEARER FOR PEOPLE WHEN WE HAVE AN OUTBREAK SITUATION. WE KNOW THAT MOST TRANSMISSION HAPPENS IN CROWDED INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS AS AN AEROSOL. I THINK AT THE MOMENT IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MASKS SHOULD BE USED FAR MORE EXTENSIVELY. THE OTHER THING IS WE ARE NOW AT THE STAGE WHERE IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY TO SCAN AND TO HIGH RISK INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS. WE KNOW THESE SORTS OF PLACES. THAT'S WHERE THIS VISITOR WENT TO. BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND FUNCTIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE CROWDED TOGETHER AND FOR PEOPLE COMING INTO QUEENSTOWN, SKIERS. AGAIN, IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY TO SCAN INTO THESE HIGH-RISK VENUES. THAT WAS IN A STRONG MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP IF YOU COME TO NEW ZEALAND AND YOU HAVE TO USE THAT. HAVE WE BECOME COVID-19 COMPLACENT? A LOT OF OUR POLICY SETTINGS ARE FROM LAST YEAR WHEN THE VIRUS WAS DIFFERENT. THE VIRUS HAS CHANGED, AND I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR APPROACH IS TO KEEP AHEAD OF IT. I THINK WE ARE BEHIND IN TERMS OF OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THIS VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED MAINLY AS AN AEROSOL. WE HAVE TO UPGRADE OUR POLICIES ACCORDINGLY. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO REVIEW HOURS SETTINGS WITH THE TRANS-TASMAN GREEN ZONE. I THINK IT'S WORKING VERY WELL. BUT CLEARLY, WE NEED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN WE SEE OUTBREAKS IN AUSTRALIA AND THINK ABOUT ADDITIONAL CONTROLS, FOR EXAMPLE, PRETRAVEL TESTING MIGHT BE NEEDED. AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS. THANKS, MICHAEL BAKER. SYDNEY'S ALSO FACING NEW RESTRICTIONS AS THE CITY'S CASE NUMBERS KEEP SWELLING. AND THERE'S GROWING CONCERN ABOUT CASES WITH NO CLEAR CONNECTION TO THE WIDER CLUSTER. LET'S CROSS LIVE TO SYDNEY, WHERE OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT IS STANDING BY. ANDREW, BRING US UP TO SPEED WITH TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS. IT'S A TALE OF TWO CITIES TODAY. SYDNEY HAS ALSO JUST EMBRACED FRESH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT HAS RECORDED 16 NEW COMMUNITY CASES TODAY IN RELATION TO THIS CLUSTER GROWING IN BONDI. THE BIG WORRY IS THAT FOUR OF THOSE DON'T HAVE CLEAR LINKS TO THE WIDER OUTBREAK. IT IS THE BIG, BIG FEAR FOR OFFICIALS WHICH IS WHY THEY HAD BROUGHT IN THE NEW RESTRICTIONS. FOUNDER STUFF AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT. WE'VE ALSO SEEN SOME RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT TO A HOSPITALITY VENUE. THERE ARE SOME GATHERING LIMITS THERE. EVERYONE MUST BE SEATED. THERE IS NO DANCING ALLOWED THOSE VENUES. IT WAS INTERESTING WATCHING THE LANGUAGE FROM THE STATE PREMIERE IN THE HEALTH OFFICIALS TODAY. THEY CERTAINLY SOUNDED A LOT MORE SERIOUS WHEN TALKING ABOUT THESE CASES, SAYING THAT THE SITUATION IS A LOT MORE DIRE THAN SOME MAY THINK. WHAT I WOULD SAY TO OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT WE'VE GONE FROM THAT NEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO A VERY REAL AND PRESENT DANGER, NOT JUST IN A SHOPPING CENTRE BUT RIGHT ACROSS SYDNEY. AND ANDREW, SYDNEY'S ALSO CONFIRMED ITS FIRST 'SUPER-SPREADER' EVENT IN THIS OUTBREAK? YES, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD ON THAT QUOTE FROM THE HEALTH MINISTER, HE MENTIONED A SHOPPING CENTRE. A SHOPPING CENTRE IN IS THE EPICENTRE OF IT. A STAFF MEMBER ATTENDED A PARTY WITH MANY PEOPLE. NOW 10 PEOPLE AT THE EVENT HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS. IT IS THE DELTA STRAIN WHICH IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE. IT'S A SIGN OF HOW QUICKLY IT CAN PASS FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER. NEW ZEALAND IS DUE TO REVISE THE TRAVEL BUBBLE AT THE END of THE WEEK. I THINK AN EXTENSION IS QUITE POSSIBLY ON THE CARDS. NGA MIHI. E WHAI TONU AKE NEI, THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS JUST AHEAD ` AND NATIONAL'S TODD MULLER IS RESIGNING. COMING UP, THE PERSONAL REASON BEHIND THE FORMER PARTY LEADER'S DECISION TO QUIT POLITICS. PLUS OTHER LIQUIDATION OF ONE OF AUCKLAND'S PREMIER EVENT CENTRES COULD AFFECT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT. COUNTING DOWN TO THE OLYMPICS, AND A BIG REVEAL ` ATHLETES HIT THE RED CARPET AS THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM GETS SET TO ANNOUNCE ITS FLAG BEARER. THEN AT 7 ` A SHOW WITH AN IMPORTANT LESSON? YES, WE KNOW ABOUT THE DANGER OF PUTTING CLOTHES TOO CLOSE TO THE HEATER; TONIGHT, OUR REPORTER LUCAS WILL SHOW YOU IN REAL TIME THE SHOCKING CONSEQUENCE OF THAT HAPPENING. HERE'S THE HEATER, AND HERE ARE THE CLOTHES THAT ARE GONNA IGNITE THIS FIRE ` A FIRE THAT'LL DESTROY THIS ENTIRE PROPERTY, AND YOU'LL SEE IT ALL FROM SIX CAMERAS DOTTED ALL OVER THIS HOUSE. YES, WE'RE BURNING DOWN A HOUSE, LIVE TONIGHT, AT 7. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT. WE'LL SEE YOU THEN. - I was seven months' pregnant, and I contracted COVID at a tangi. We spent 34 days in isolation. I couldn't breathe well on my own. I ended up contracting COVID pneumonia. I was the first hapu mama in Jet Park. It was really terrifying for us. I don't want other whanau to have to go through what I've been through. If there's a way that that can be prevented, I would 100% take it. FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER TODD MULLER IS QUITTING POLITICS, SAYING THE PERSONAL COST IS TOO HIGH. AFTER A SHORT-LIVED BUT TUMULTUOUS TIME AS THE PARTY'S LEADER LAST YEAR, HE REVEALED HE SUFFERED SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH STRAIN AND PANIC ATTACKS. POLITICAL REPORTER MAIKI SHERMAN HAS MORE. AFTER A ROLLERCOASTER 2020, TODD MULLER IS CALLING TIME ON HIS POLITICAL CAREER, PERHAPS REALISING THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE. I REALLY LIKE TODD MULLER. IT HASN'T BEEN AN EASY SORT OF A ROAD FOR HIM, I THINK. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A BIT OF PRESSURE THERE. PRESSURE AS OPPOSITION LEADER LAST YEAR SAW HIM QUIT THE ROLE, LATER REVEALING HE WAS SUFFERING FROM DEBILITATING PANIC ATTACKS. NOW THE MP FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY IS LEAVING POLITICS ALTOGETHER, IN A STATEMENT SAYING... I ACCEPT HIS DECISION AND, OBVIOUSLY, SUPPORT IT, AND I THINK IT'S` SHOULDN'T COME AS MUCH OF A SURPRISE TO PEOPLE. IT'S A LESSON FOR ALL OF US JUST TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HERE IS HUMAN. SOME, THOUGH, WERE SURPRISED. UH, I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST ` I ACTUALLY THOUGHT HE HAD LEFT. TODD MULLER WAS A POLITICS JUNKIE. A FORMER ADVISOR TO JIM BOLGER, IN 2014, HE MADE HIS WAY TO PARLIAMENT. IT IS A REALISATION OF A CHILDHOOD DREAM. THAT ASPIRATION, MIXED WITH PURE NATIONAL PARTY CONFIDENCE, SAW HIM LAST YEAR SPARK A LEADERSHIP COUP, OUSTING SIMON BRIDGES AND PAULA BENNETT. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN OPPOSITION FOR OPPOSITION'S SAKE. BUT THE REALITY OF THE ROLE QUICKLY SEEPED IN. I JOINED THE LABOUR PARTY RATHER THAN THE LABOUR P` THE` I JOINED THE NATIONAL PARTY. (LAUGHTER) IN THE END, THE PRESSURE WAS OVERWHELMING. I` UH` LOOK, AGAIN, I-I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE` WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS. AFTER JUST 53 DAYS, HE RESIGNED. TODD MULLER WILL STICK AROUND UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION ` SOME WOULD SAY AN EXTRAORDINARILY LONG NOTICE PERIOD AND YET ANOTHER NATIONAL MP HEADING FOR THE EXIT. TODD MULLER NOW HAS FIVE WEEKS' LEAVE TO CARE FOR HIS WIFE, MICHELLE, AS SHE UNDERGOES A MEDICAL PROCEDURE. MAIKI SHERMAN, 1 NEWS. NATIONAL'S LEADER SAYS THEIR FRESHLY RETURNED MP HARETE HIPANGO REPAID TAXPAYER MONEY SHE INCORRECTLY SPENT WHEN PURCHASING ITEMS FOR HER ELECTORATE OFFICE LAST TERM. JUDITH COLLINS SAID MISTAKES WERE MADE AND SHE SUSPECTS MS HIPANGO OR HER STAFF DIDN'T PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE RULES. MS HIPANGO RETURNED TO PARLIAMENT AFTER VETERAN MP NICK SMITH RESIGNED. CLOSING ARGUMENTS TODAY AT THE HISTORICAL SEXUAL ABUSE TRIAL OF ARTHUR ALLAN THOMAS HAVE PUT THE EVIDENCE OF A KEY WITNESS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT. THE CROWN AND DEFENCE ARE COMPLETELY AT ODDS OVER HOW RELIABLE THE TESTIMONY IS AND HOW MUCH WEIGHT THE JURY SHOULD PUT ON IT. NICOLE BREMNER'S COVERING THE TRIAL. THE CROWN SPENT SOME TIME IN ITS CLOSING ADDRESS, FOCUSING ON THE EVIDENCE OF A CROWN WITNESS WHO CAN'T BE IDENTIFIED. THE MAN CLAIMS HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY ARTHUR THOMAS TO PARTICIPATE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH THE TWO COMPLAINANTS. HE LATER SPOKE ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN A POLICE INTERVIEW. HOW EASY IT WOULD OF BEEN FOR HIM, MEMBERS OF THE JURY, JUST TO DENY ALL KNOWLEDGE. HOW EASY WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN? BUT HE DIDN'T, COS IT HAD BEEN ON HIS MIND HIS WHOLE ADULT LIFE. BUT THE DEFENCE WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE MAN'S TESTIMONY IN IT'S CLOSING ADDRESS, WARNING THE JURY TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE MAN'S EVIDENCE. HE UNRELIABLE AS A WITNESS, IN HIS MEMORY, ON HIS OWN ADMISSION, HE IS GENERALLY UNRELIABLE, YOU MIGHT THINK, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE CONFIDENT THAT HE REALLY HAS A GRIP ON REALITY. BOTH SIDES ADDRESSED THE WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT OF ARTHUR THOMAS FOR THE 1970 MURDERS OF JEANNETTE AND HARVEY CREWE, AND THAT HE WAS COMPENSATED AFTER SPENDING NINE YEARS IN PRISON. BOTH PARTIES, MEMBERS OF THE JURY, AGREE THAT THE HISTORIC PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING THE DEFENDANT HAVE RELEVANCE IN THIS CASE, BUT THE RELEVANCE IS SPECIFIC, IDENTIFIABLE AND LIMITED, AND DOES NOT INVOLVE INJECTING SYMPATHY FOR MR THOMAS INTO THAT EQUATION. IT'S NOW UP TO JUDGE JOHN BERGSENG TO SUM UP IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE JURY RETIRES TO DECIDE WHETHER THE NOW 83-YEAR-OLD IS FOUND GUILTY. A FORMER CHAPLAIN AT AUCKLAND'S DILWORTH SCHOOL FACING A RAFT OF SEX CRIME CHARGES, WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF AN ANGRY OUTBURST IN COURT TODAY. ROSS BROWNE'S (72) FACING EIGHT NEW CHARGES, INCLUDING THREE FOR POSSESSING CHILD EXPLOITATION MATERIAL. THAT'S ON TOP OF MORE THAN A DOZEN EXISTING SEXUAL OFFENCE CHARGES RELATED TO THE BOYS' BOARDING SCHOOL ` THE FAMILY OF ONE ALLEGED VICTIM NOT HOLDING BACK THEIR EMOTIONS TODAY. WOMAN: ROSS BROWNE! (BLEEP) IS NO LONGER YOUR VICTIM. YOU HAVE RUINED THE LAST 20 YEARS OF MY PARENTS' LIFE. 11 MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH HISTORICAL SEXUAL ABUSE IN CONNECTION TO DILWORTH SCHOOL. THE FUTURE OF ASB SHOWGROUNDS IS UNCERTAIN AS IT GOES INTO LIQUIDATION. HOW DOZENS OF LUXURY CARS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE. AND WE ARE HERE AT THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC TEAM FLAG BEARER ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS YEAR WILL SEE A BREAK FROM TRADITION. THEN A LESSON FOR US ALL IN FIRE PREVENTION ON SEVEN SHARP. YES, OUR REPORTER LUCAS DE JONG WILL BE LIVE FROM PALMERSTON NORTH TO SHOW YOU IN REAL TIME AND LIVE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES TOO CLOSE TO A HEATER. THE FIRE WILL START IN THE LOUNGE AND MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROPERTY, WHICH WE'LL COVER THROUGHOUT THE SHOW. THE REAL SURPRISE, THOUGH, IS WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THIS ROOM. THIS IS A SHOW THE WHOLE FAMILY SHOULD SEE ` SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW LONG YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT IF THE WORST HAPPENS. THAT'S TONIGHT AT 7. THERE'S AN URGENT PLEA FOR SUPPORT TONIGHT FOR THOSE LEAVING THE WEST COAST COMMUNE OF GLORIAVALE. WITH NEXT TO NO MONEY AND FEW POSSESSIONS OR RESOURCES, FAMILIES ARE NEEDING THE PUBLIC'S HELP TO RESETTLE. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. COUNTING THE COST OF LIVING... MILK. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HAD FREE MILK AT GLORIAVALE... YES. ...YOUR WHOLE LIFE. ...ON THE OUTSIDE, AWAY FROM GLORIAVALE. COS THAT'S 3.55. SO IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT` YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE YOU CAN GET UP TO SOME BIG NUMBERS. VIRGINIA COURAGE ESCAPED THE WEST COAST COMMUNE 18 MONTHS AGO WITH HER HUSBAND AND 10 CHILDREN. I THINK LIVING IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT YOU ANTICIPATED. TO RESETTLE A FAMILY LIKE THE COURAGES, WHO LEAVE WITH ALMOST NOTHING... WE FIND THAT AROUND $45,000 TO $55,000 IS ENOUGH. MOST OF IT IS DONATED ` LIKE CLOTHING AND FURNITURE ` BUT $5000 CASH IS STILL NEEDED. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT ONLY MONEY CAN BUY ` WHEN YOU NEED TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHEN YOU ORDER A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, YOU PAY BOND FOR A HOUSE TO RENT... THE DEMAND IS ONLY GROWING. SINCE SEPTEMBER, MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE ACROSS 11 DIFFERENT FAMILIES HAVE LEFT GLORIAVALE. AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SAYS GLORIAVALE LEAVERS ARE ENTITLED TO BENEFITS AND GRANTS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE BUT WILL ONLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REESTABLISHMENT GRANT IF THEY'VE EXPERIENCED FAMILY VIOLENCE. THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION IN NEW ZEALAND'S HISTORY, AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN, JUST ABOUT, IN A BUBBLE, A SEALED BUBBLE, IN THEIR LIVES HAVING TO NEGOTIATE THOSE ISSUES PIECE BY PIECE. IT'S HOPED AN EMERGENCY WELFARE APPEAL WILL BRIDGE THE GAP. TARGET AT THE MOMENT FOR OUR GIVE-A-LITTLE CAMPAIGN IS $50,000. EVERY CENT WORTH IT. SHE'S NOT JUST SOMEONE I'VE MET AND SOMEONE THAT'S HELPED ME AND MY FAMILY GET RESETTLED; SHE IS A FRIEND. CONSTANT SUPPORT FOR THOSE GOING THROUGH A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. IT'S BEEN A PART OF AUCKLAND'S BIG EVENT SCENE FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS, BUT THE FUTURE OF THE ASB SHOWGROUNDS IS UNCERTAIN TONIGHT. LIQUIDATORS HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE VENUE, WHICH IS NOW ALSO CASTING DOUBT OVER A COVID VACCINATION EVENT DUE TO BE HELD THERE. YVONNE TAHANA IS LIVE WITH MORE DETAILS ON THAT SHORTLY, FIRST HER REPORT. AN EASTER FAVOURITE FOR GENERATIONS, ASB SHOWGROUNDS HAS SEEN IT ALL. (R2-D2 WHISTLES) TODAY, A DIFFERENT KIND OF BATTLE. I'VE BEEN UP SINCE 4am. (CHUCKLES) SO IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG DAY. SO, YEAH, THERE'S JUST` HAVING TO EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY WHAT IS HAPPENING. LIQUIDATORS TAKING CONTROL OF THE VENUE LAST NIGHT, 44 LUXURY CARS THAT WERE DUE TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE. THE CHARITY THAT MANAGES ASB SHOWGROUNDS IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION. WE'VE HAD NO TRANSPARENCY AT ALL. NO ONE HAS COME AND SPOKE TO US. THE FUTURE OF UPCOMING EVENTS LIKE THE HOME SHOW NOW UP IN THE AIR. CORNWALL PARK TRUST OWNS THE LAND AND SAYS THE PANDEMIC'S TO BLAME. WHAT YOU'VE BEEN LEFT WITH IS A HUGE HOLE. IT'S ESTIMATED A THIRD OF ALL BUSINESS EVENTS ARE HELD IN AUCKLAND, THE SHOWGROUNDS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. XPO EXHIBITIONS RUNS BIG EVENTS AT THE SHOWGROUNDS LIKE THE BABY SHOW AND THE FOOD SHOW. IT SAYS IT WANTS TO PAY THE LANDLORD, CORNWALL PARK TRUST, DIRECTLY TO ENSURE ITS BUSINESS, WHICH DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PUNTERS TO AUCKLAND, STILL GOES AHEAD. CORNWALL PARK TRUST SAYING IT WOULD CONSIDER APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL PROPOSALS. AUCKLAND COUNCIL WANTING TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND MANAGEMENT AND VIABILITY OF THE FACILITY. ALL THERE. IT'S IN ONE SPOT. ITS THE CENTRE OF AUCKLAND. SO I THINK, FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE, FROM A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AND SAYING, 'HOW CAN WE MAKE IT WORK?' AS FOR THE VINTAGE CARS, MANY OF THEM WERE PICKED UP TODAY. HE'LL LET YOU THROUGH. WEBB'S NOW RESCHEDULING THE AUCTION FOR NEXT MONTH. YVONNE, YOU'VE GOT NEW DETAILS ABOUT HOW THIS CLOSURE COULD AFFECT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IN AUCKLAND. THAT'S RIGHT, NORTHERN DHBS HAD BEEN WORKING WITH ASB SHOWGROUNDS TO HOLD A VACCINATION EVENT LATER IN THE. IT'S IN A CENTRAL LOCATION AND IT'S GOT THAT MAGIC THING THAT AUCKLANDERS LOVE, WHICH IS PARKING. A VACCINE ROLLOUT DIRECTOR INDICATING TO ONE USED TODAY THAT IT IS STILL THE INTENTION, SO OPTIONS ARE STILL BEING EXPLORED. THANKS, YVONNE. HAYLEY'S HERE. WITH 30 DAYS ON THE TOKYO OLYMPICS COUNTDOWN CLOCK, NEW ZEALAND HAS PICKED ITS FLAG BEARER. VERY EXCITING. CHRIS CHANG WILL BE LIVE AT THE CEREMONY TO GET THE FIRST CLUE AS TO WHO IT WILL BE. PLUS, HOW A KIWI VIGILANTE GOT JUSTICE FOR THE BLACKCAPS, ALL FROM THE COMFORT OF HIS COUCH. AND HE'S WORN THE BLACK JERSEY FOR 81 TESTS, BUT TODAY IT FELT BRAND NEW. HOW JAPAN CHANGED ALL BLACK BRODIE RETALLIK, NEXT. AND ANOTHER NIGHT FOR THE THICK DUVET AS JACK FROST KEEPS BUSY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'LL BE ANOTHER MOSTLY FINE ONE TOMORROW. BUT STAY TUNED FOR SOME BIG CHANGES TO COME LATER IN THE WEEK. WE'RE NOW JUST 30 DAYS OUT FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TOKYO OLYMPICS. TONIGHT, ONE OF THE KEY MOMENTS IN THAT COUNTDOWN IS THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM ANNOUNCING ITS FLAGBEARER FOR THE GAMES. LET'S HEAD TO OLYMPICS REPORTER CHRIS CHANG, WHO'S AT THE CEREMONY IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND. AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME HAS FORCED SOME OF THE GUESTS TO ZOOM INSTEAD OF APPEARING IN PERSON. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS BEEN PUSHING WE UNDERSTAND ONE OF FLAG BEARERS IS HERE TONIGHT, JUST A SMALL SELECTION OF ATHLETES HERE TONIGHT WHICH GIVES US A BIT MORE OF A NARROW FIELD STEWS FROM. A COUPLE OF THE SAILORS, HAMISH BOND IS ALSO HERE, AND WE'VE GOT PETER BURLING, ALTHOUGH THEY DID THE FLAG BEARING DUTIES LAST YEAR. THEY'RE STAYING VERY TIGHTLIPPED ABOUT THINGS BUT HE IS GIVING CLUES. WE GOT SOME WONDERFUL CANDIDATES. WE ARE SPOILED FOR CHOICE, YOU MIGHT SAY. EVERYTHING FROM, I GUESS, A SENSE OF INTEGRITY, TO HOW END THEY REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND TO HOW THEY ARE RESPECTED BY THEIR TEAMMATES TO HOW THEY CAN LEAD A TEAM, BECAUSE THERE'S A TEEN CAPTAINCY ROLE TO IT AS WELL. WERE GOING TO FIND OUT WHO THOSE FLAG BEARERS ARE JUST AFTER 7 O'CLOCK. I MUST ALSO SAY, ONE OF THE WEIGHTLIFTERS, WAS DRUG TESTED BEFORE THE CEREMONY. THEIR MINDS ARE VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON TOKYO AND THE EVENTS STARTING IN JUST A MONTHS TIME. THANKS, CHRIS, LIVE FROM AUCKLAND FOR THE FLAGBEARER ANNOUNCEMENT. FOLLOW CHRIS CHANG ON TWITTER TO FIND OUT WHO IT IS JUST AFTER 7. WELLINGTON'S ALERT LEVEL TWO HAS FORCED THIS WEEKEND'S MATCH BETWEEN THE MAORI ALL BLACKS AND MANU SAMOA BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THE SAINTS BASKETBALLERS AND CENTRAL PULSE NETBALL TEAM WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED, ALONG WITH THE WELLINGTON SPORTS AWARDS WHICH WILL NOW BE LIVE STREAMED WITHOUT ANY GUESTS. TSB ARENA WAS SET UP TO HOST OVER 800 TONIGHT. A CRUEL BLOW FOR ORGANISERS WHO HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO COME UP WITH A REFUND POLICY WHILE FINDING CHARITIES TO RECEIVE ALL THE FOOD. IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT DAY FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING TONIGHT SOME WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SPORT AND RECREATION SECTOR. YOU CAN WATCH THE LIVE STREAM ON THE WELLINGTON SPORTS AWARDS WEBSITE, OR THE NUKU ORA FACEBOOK PAGE. 10 ALL BLACKS PLAYERS AND STAFF FLEW OUT OF WELLINGTON THIS MORNING TO JOIN THE SQUAD IN AUCKLAND. A TEAM DOCTOR IS MONITORING THE SITUATION. MEANWHILE, A REFRESHED BRODIE RETALLICK IS GLAD TO BE BACK FROM HIS STINT IN JAPAN. MATT MANUKIA HAS MORE. EXACTLY 600 DAYS SINCE HIS LAST ALL BLACKS TEST, BRODIE RETALLICK IS BACK. WELCOME BACK. ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BRODIE RETALLICK. (CHEERING, CLAPPING) OH YEAH! YEAH! SLIPPING BACK INTO THE JERSEY TODAY FELT LIKE A BRAND-NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THE 81-TEST LOCK, WHO ALSO HAD TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO SOME NEW FACES. I WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS WALKING BACK IN HERE THIS MORNING. HE LAST PLAYED FOR THE ALL BLACKS AT THE 2019 WORLD CUP, STRAIGHT OFF THE BACK OF A BAD SHOULDER INJURY. IT'S WHY HE ENJOYED A MUCH LESS PHYSICAL STYLE OF RUGBY IN THE JAPANESE TOP LEAGUE ` A PLACE WHERE HIS 2m FRAME WAS ALLOWED TO ROAM OUT WIDE, PLAYING FOR THE KOBE STEELERS UNDER FORMER ALL BLACKS COACH WAYNE SMITH. TALKING TO WAYNE SMITH THIS MORNING. HE RECKONS YOU'RE THE FITTEST, THE LIGHTEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN. HE RECONS PLAYING LOCK OVER THERE IS LIKE PLAYING MIDFIELD HERE, SO... (CHUCKLES) WHAT DOES THAT MAKE YOU NOW? I'M NOT SURE. MAYBE FOZZIE WILL DECIDE THAT. BUT, UM` (LAUGHS) YEAH, NAH, THEY PLAYED A PRETTY EXPANSIVE GAME, OR BRAND OF FOOTY, OVER THERE. WITH LESS DEMAND ON PLAYERS BY JAPANESE MEDIA AND SPONSORS, IT ALSO MEANT MORE FAMILY TIME ` ALL PART OF THE PLAN TO KEEP THE FORMER WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR TICKING OVER UNTIL THE NEXT WORLD CUP. SO, YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY THE PLAN, AND I'LL BE DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE IT PLAYS OUT LIKE THAT. BRINGING BACK SOME MUCH-NEEDED EXPERIENCE TO AN ALL BLACKS SQUAD THAT INCLUDES 17 PLAYERS WITH 10 OR FEWER TEST CAPS. MATT MANUKIA, 1 NEWS. THE BLACKCAPS STILL THINK THEY CAN WIN THE WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP, DESPITE A DRAW LOOKING INCREASINGLY LIKELY. DAY FIVE WAS THE TIM SOUTHEE SHOW AFTER HE SCORED A MUCH NEEDED 30 WITH THE BAT AFTER THE BLACKCAPS MIDDLE ORDER COLLAPSED. HE THEN CAME UP WITH TWO CRUCIAL WICKETS TO WRAP UP THE SESSION, BECOMING JUST THE SECOND KIWI TO TAKE 600 INTERNATIONAL WICKETS. THEY LIKE IT, FINGER GOES UP. INDIA LEAD BY 32 RUNS AND ARE CURRENTLY 64 FOR 2. NEW ZEALAND NEED QUICK WICKETS WHEN PLAY RESUMES LATER TONIGHT. MANY KIWI CRICKET FANS WOULD HAVE BEEN GLUED TO THEIR TELEVISIONS OVERNIGHT, BUT FOR SOME THERE WAS AN UNWELCOME DISTRACTION IN THE COVERAGE. SOME LOUD AND INCESSANT ABUSE TOWARDS THE BLACKCAPS. BUT ONE VIEWER MANAGED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THANKS TO THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA. ABBY WILSON EXPLAINS. CRICKET-WATCHING IN THE WEE HOURS IS MEANT TO BE AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE, BUT NOT LAST NIGHT. THERE'S JUST THIS KIND OF QUITE PERSISTENT VOICE IN THE BACKGROUND JUST YELLING ABUSE. WITH ONLY 4000 FANS AT SOUTHAMPTON, THE ON-FIELD MICS WERE PICKING IT UP. (MAN YELLS ABUSE) WE LIVE IN AN AGE WHERE THE WORLD IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, SO DOMINIC SENT OFF A TWEET TO SEE IF HE COULD GET IT STOPPED. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST BEHAVING OBNOXIOUSLY, RUINING IT FOR OTHER PEOPLE, RUINING IT AS A SPECTACLE. WITHIN A MINUTE, THE HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE ICC REPLIED, WONDERING WHERE HE WAS SITTING. HE OF COURSE, WAS IN AUCKLAND ` ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD ` AND WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN THEY SAID THEY'D LOOK INTO IT. TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY TOOK IT REALLY SERIOUSLY. OBVIOUSLY, THESE PEOPLE WERE PRETTY EASY TO SINGLE OUT, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THEM TO MESSAGE ME SAYING TWO PEOPLE HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND REMOVED. DESPITE REPORTS THE ABUSE WAS RACIALLY MOTIVATED, THE ICC FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF THAT, INSTEAD CALLING IT 'UNSAVOURY'. THE KIWI PLAYERS DIDN'T HEAR IT, BUT THE RESULTING SILENCE WAS GOLDEN FOR BLEARY-EYED FANS. KIND OF CRAZY BEING ROUND OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF EFFECT. A SOCIAL MEDIA VICTORY THAT HE'S HOPING WILL BE TOPPED OFF WITH A TEST CHAMPIONSHIP WIN BY THE BLACKCAPS. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS. IT'S BEEN OVER 50 YEARS SINCE ENGLAND WENT THROUGH THE GROUP STAGE OF A MAJOR FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT WITHOUT CONCEDING A GOAL. MORE IMPORTANTLY, AT EURO 2021, THEY'RE OFF TO THE PLAY-OFFS HAVING QUALIFIED TOP OF THE GROUP. SO, HOW GOOD IS THIS TEAM? HERE'S THE BBC'S DAN ROWAN. DESPITE QUALIFICATION TO THE NEXT ROUND ALREADY ASSURED, THE SENSE AT WEMBLEY WAS THAT THE TRUE ENGLAND WERE YET TO ARRIVE AT THESE EUROS. THE MANAGER ABLE TO RING THE CHANGES AS HE SEARCHED FOR SOME MUCH-NEEDED MOMENTUM. THE FANS HAD WANTED A MORE TACKING APPROACH. NOW THEY'D DISCOVER IF THEY'D GET THEIR WISH. WITHIN TWO MINUTES, THE SIGNS LOOKED PROMISING ` RAHEEM STERLING IN... HE HITS THE POST. WHAT A START THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN. ...ENGLAND ONLY DENIED BY THE WOODWORK. BUT HAVING BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE SIDE, JACK GREALISH WAS ABOUT TO SHOW WHY SO MANY HAD DEMANDED THAT HE START. AND HE'S HEADING IN! HE'S STARTING AN ENGLAND LEAD! (CROWD ROARS) THE PLAYMAKERS CROSS FINDING STERLING, WHO THIS TIME, COULDN'T MISS. THIS, WHAT IT MEANT TO SOME OF THOSE WATCHING ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. (CROWD ROARS) WERE ENGLAND FINDING THEIR RHYTHM? HARRY KANE HAD ENDURED A QUIET START TO THE TOURNAMENT ` HARD TO BELIEVE THIS WAS HIS FIRST SHOT ON TARGET. BUT AMID MORE FRUSTRATION FOR THE CAPTAIN CAME A WARNING OF THE THREAT THE CZECHS POSED. (CROWD BOOS) NOW PICKFORD FORCED INTO A FINE SAVE. A FADING ENGLAND NEEDED A SECOND, BUT INSTEAD, IT WAS THEIR OPPONENTS WHO WENT CLOSE ` THE CZECHS DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR AN EQUALISER. ENGLAND THOUGHT THEY'D FINISH THE MATCH WITH A SECOND, BUT SUBSTITUTE JORDAN HENDERSON'S EFFORT WAS RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE. IT DIDN'T MATTER. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. WE'VE DONE IT. WE'RE THERE. WINNERS OF GROUP D AND THROUGH. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE SENSE THAT ENGLAND NEED TO SHOW MORE. CROATIA ALSO VAULTED THEIR WAY OUT OF GROUP D WITH A 3-1 WIN OVER SCOTLAND. THE SCOTS HUNG IN FOR OVER AN HOUR UNTIL LUKA MODRIC TURNED IT CROATIA'S WAY. TOUCHBACK BY PETKOVIC, FOR KOVACIC, FOR MODRIC! IT IS A STUNNING, STUNNING MOMENT FROM CROATIA'S ONE TRUE SUPERSTAR! MODRIC IS NOW THE YOUNGEST AND OLDEST PLAYER TO SCORE FOR CROATIA IN THE EUROS. THE 35-YEAR-OLD WAS EVERYWHERE, PUTTING UP THIS CORNER FOR CROATIA'S THIRD. AND IT'S MADE THE BOSS VERY HAPPY AT WORK TODAY. THANKS HAYLEY. AND AT 7, YOU'VE GOT AN IMPORTANT SHOW ABOUT FIRE SAFETY. YES, WE'RE JOINING THE FIRE SERVICE AS THEY DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW QUICKLY A FIRE CAN SPREAD THROUGH YOUR HOME. WE'VE GOT CAMERAS IN A HOUSE THAT WAS SET FOR DEMOLITION. OUR REPORTER IS THERE, AND WE'LL SHOW YOU IN REAL TIME WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU LEAVE CLOTHES TOO CLOSE TO A HEATER. IS A PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING DAY FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY. FOR THESE FOLKS DOWN SOUTH, LOOK AT THIS. NICE LOOKING WEATHER. SOME GOOD NEWS FOR SKIERS TO COME EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE NEXT CHANGE, BIG MASS OF CLOUD TO THE WEST. AND WITH THAT AS WELL, CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS. AS A COLD START, FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THAT FLICKS IN ONE OR TWO SHOWERS, BUT FOR MOST OF US WILL SQUEEZE OUT A DRY DAY. AS A FINE LOOKING DAY, PRONTO BE A FROSTY START FOR SOME PLACES. KAITAIA, YOU WERE THE TOP TEMPERATURE. SEEMS A THING FOR AUCKLAND, YOUR DAY IS LOOKING FINE. 4DEGREES TOMORROW. EXTRA THICK DUVET WILL CERTAINLY COME IN HANDY. SEEMS EVERYTHING, FROSTY START BUT BY LOOKING DAY. YOU DRAG AND SO MORE CLOUD. OR LOOKING FINE, FROSTY START AS WELL. JUST GETTING MORE OF THAT CLOUD LAPPING INTO PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLATEAU. LOOK AT YOUR STARTING TEMPERATURE THERE, -2. JESSICA DECENT LOOKING DAY, LOW FIGURES. WE ARE TOO BAD IN THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. BIT OF EARLY CLOUD, AND BY THE EARLY AFTERNOON WE DRAGON SOME NORTH EAST LEASE. WE MOVE FURTHER WEST, REMEMBER THAT LITTLE DANGLING TROUGH? A BIT MORE LIKELY THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY, NOT LOADS JUST BITS AND PIECES. COULD SEE A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN THROUGH OUT THE REGION. RATED THE SKIES AS WELL. IT ISN'T TOO BAD HERE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BIT MORE CLOUD THERE. SHOWERS SLIDE TOWARDS THE WEST COAST, BUT FINE FURTHER EAST FOR CHRISTCHURCH BUT A FROSTY START. THAT WET WEATHER IN THE FORM OF SOME SHOWERS, FROSTY START. IT'S MORE LIKELY THE HIRED CLOUD, FROSTY START BUT A DRY DAY FOR YOU. MILFORD SOUND, ITS RAIN FOR YOU, IT SHOWERS EVERYONE ELSE BUT WILL MORE LIKELY TURN INTO RAIN. SOME SHOWERS FOR THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. AT THE END OF THE WEEK IS WHEN IT STARTS TO CHANGE. MAYBE 300 MM FOR THE WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. THAT RAIN WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH THERE, MUCH OF THE NORTH ISLAND SEES SHOWERS ON SATURDAY. FURTHER SOUTH, YOU'VE GOT QUITE A COLD CHANGE