TONIGHT ` OUR EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO ALLEGED DANGEROUS PRACTISES AT TALLEY'S ASHBURTON PLANT. JUST HOW WILL KIWI TRAVELLERS BE AFFECTED BY AUSTRALIA'S NEW STRATEGY TO COMBAT THE PANDEMIC? AND A FEAST FIT FOR A MAORI CHIEF ` OUR TOP CHEFS COME TOGETHER TO COOK UP A STORM FOR MATARIKI. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. THERE'S A FRESH DEVELOPMENT ON OUR EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION INTO HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS AT ONE OF NZ'S BIGGEST FOOD PRODUCERS. 1 NEWS HAS BEEN TOLD TALLEY'S WILL COME UNDER CLOSER SCRUTINY. THOMAS MEAD HAS THE LATEST. IT'S SCENES LIKE THIS THAT HAD TWO TALLEY'S FORKLIFT DRIVERS LIVING IN FEAR ` LEAKED PHOTOS SHOWING MASSIVE STORAGE CONTAINERS, HOLDING HUNDREDS OF KILOS OF FROZEN PEAS AND POTATO, FALLEN DOWN FROM A HEIGHT AND SHATTERED ON THE GROUND AT THEIR ASHBURTON FACTORY. I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO WORK. I WONDERED EACH DAY IF I'D COME HOME IN ONE PIECE. THE NEWLY OBTAINED IMAGES FOLLOWS A 1 NEWS INVESTIGATION WHERE LAST NIGHT A WHISTLE-BLOWER, ALSO AT THEIR ASHBURTON PLANT, WARNED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. THEY ARE LYING TO THEM. THEY ARE LYING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. TODAY THE MINISTER FOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS AND SAFETY PUTTING THE COMPANY ON NOTICE,... THE MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR TO TALLEY'S AND OTHER COMPANIES THAT THEY HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT GOES RIGHT TO THE TOP OF ANY COMPANY. ...SUPPORTING WORKSAFE'S DEEPER DIVE INTO THEIR OPERATIONS. I DO KNOW THAT WORKSAFE DOES TAKE THESE ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY AND ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A LOOK AT WHETHER TALLEY'S IS PERFORMING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE ON THEM. THE UNION FOLLOWING SUIT. WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK WITH THE PERSON THAT YOU INTERVIEWED, TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THAT SITE. BUT, EFFECTIVELY, THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO GET ACCESS TO THE SITE. AND ALLEGATIONS FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR CONTINUE TO MOUNT. WE SPOKE ANONYMOUSLY TO TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT WITHIN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, BOTH CLAIMING THAT COLD STORE CARRIES A SERIOUS CRUSH RISK, AS THE WOOD ON THEIR STORAGE CONTAINERS BECOMES BRITTLE WHEN IT'S IN THE FREEZER. SO, THEY BREAK EASILY, AND THEY FALL AND COLLAPSE. AND YOU CAN BE WORKING IN THERE, AND YOU'VE GOT SUDDENLY A STACK OF BINS FALLING STRAIGHT TOWARDS YOU. YOU GET 3 OR 4 TON OF FRENCH FRIES COME DOWN ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD, THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT ` YOU'RE DEAD. AGAIN, BOTH SAY THERE WERE SEVERAL NEAR MISSES IN THEIR TIME ON THE JOB AND MANAGEMENT WERE REPEATEDLY TOLD ABOUT THE RISK. YEAH, THESE ISSUES WERE RAISED TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I RAISED CONCERNS ALL THE TIME. IN RESPONSE TODAY, TALLEY'S SENT A BRIEF STATEMENT, CONFIRMING SOME OF THE INCIDENTS PICTURED HAPPENED 15 MONTHS AGO. THE COMPANY CLAIMING HEALTH AND SAFETY WAS OF 'PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE' TO THE COMPANY, SAYING THEY WILL 'CONTINUALLY REVIEW OUR PROCESSES'. BUT THEIR EMPLOYEES' EXPERIENCES CONTINUE TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE. ALL YOU CAN THINK OF IS, YOU KNOW... LOOK UP AT THE TOP OF THEM, MAKE SURE NONE OF THEM ARE MOVING, AND, 'ARE ANY OF THESE GONNA COME DOWN ON ME?' SPEAKING OUT IN FEAR THAT ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY HURT. AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTER HAS LAID OUT A NEW PLAN TO GET THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AS MILLIONS CONTINUE LIVING UNDER RESTRICTIONS. IT INCLUDES HALVING THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS. AS OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE REPORTS, IT'S NOT CLEAR YET HOW IT'LL AFFECT THE TRANS-TASMAN TRAVEL BUBBLE. LOOKING AT BONDI BEACH TODAY, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW SYDNEY HAD JUST REPORTED ANOTHER 31 COVID CASES. 13 OF THOSE CASES THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I DO WANT TO STRESS THIS PRETTY MUCH REFLECTS THE DAYS JUST BEFORE AND THE DAY WE WENT INTO LOCKDOWN. IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, RESTRICTIONS ARE EASING. BUT IN QUEENSLAND, LOCKDOWN IS BEING EXTENDED, AFTER MORE INFECTIONS WERE DETECTED. AND NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REVEALED A PLAN TO AVOID ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY GOING INTO LOCKDOWN EVER AGAIN. WE HAVE AGREED A NEW DEAL FOR AUSTRALIANS ON THE PATHWAY OUT OF COVID-19. THE APPROACH TO COVID-19 WILL EVENTUALLY CHANGE FROM SUPPRESSION TO MANAGEMENT, AND IT'LL CONSIST OF FOUR PARTS. THE FIRST PHASE IS THE ONE WE'RE IN ` VACCINATE, PREPARE AND PILOT. REPATRIATION FLIGHTS WILL BE BOOSTED, BUT INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS WILL BE HALVED. IT'S WELCOME NEWS FOR STATE PREMIERS, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR HOTEL QUARANTINE CHANGES. THIS IS THE BIGGEST THREAT VECTOR TO AUSTRALIA, AND IT NEEDS TO BE CRACKED DOWN ON NOW. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SEVEN-DAY HOME QUARANTINE TRIAL FOR VACCINATED TRAVELERS. SO THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT VACCINATION MEANS THAT SHORTER PERIODS OF QUARANTINE IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE. PHASE TWO MEANS LOCKDOWNS WOULD ONLY BE USED TO PREVENT ESCALATING HOSPITALISATIONS AND FATALITIES; PHASE THREE WOULD SEE AUSTRALIA DEAL WITH COVID-19 LIKE THE SEASONAL FLU; AND PHASE FOUR SEES LIFE RETURN TO NORMAL. BUT THINGS AREN'T SET IN STONE JUST YET, AND ARE RELIANT ON VACCINATION TARGETS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN LAID OUT. A MILLION DOSES IN EIGHT DAYS. 3.5 MILLION DOSES OR THEREABOUTS IN ONE MONTH. WE KEEP THAT PACE UP, AND WE'LL GET THIS DONE, AUSTRALIA. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT IMPACT, IF ANY, AUSTRALIA'S NEW VISION WILL HAVE ON OUR TRAVEL BUBBLE. ANDREW MACFARLANE, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. FIJI'S GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED 404 NEW COVID CASES AND FIVE DEATHS, AS THE COUNTRY'S HEALTH SECRETARY WARNS THE WORST IS YET TO COME. THE OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL NOW STANDS AT 25, WITH THE DEATHS OF AN ADDITIONAL 12 COVID PATIENTS ATTRIBUTED TO UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS. AS WELL AS RECORDING HUNDREDS OF NEW CASES A DAY, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THERE'S BEEN A NOTABLE INCREASE IN PEOPLE WITH COVID BECOMING SEVERELY ILL. THE SPACE RACE HAS TURNED INTO THE BATTLE OF THE BILLIONAIRES ` WHO WILL BE FIRST TO TRAVEL TO THE EDGE OF SPACE ON THEIR COMMERCIAL ROCKETS? AFTER AMAZON FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS SAID HE'LL BE MAKING THE TRIP ON HIS 'NEW SHEPARD' LAUNCH VEHICLE LATE THIS MONTH, NOW SIR RICHARD BRANSON IS TRYING TO BEAT HIM. THE BRITISH BILLIONAIRE SAYS HE'LL BE A PASSENGER ON HIS VIRGIN GALACTIC UNITY ROCKET PLANE ON JULY 11TH, OR SOON AFTER. THE FLIGHT WILL CLIMB TO AN ALTITUDE OF 90km, GIVING THOSE ON BOARD A FEW MINUTES OF WEIGHTLESSNESS. AN 82-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO ONCE WENT THROUGH ASTRONAUT TESTING IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE OLDEST PERSON EVER TO FLY IN TO OUTER SPACE. AMERICAN WALLY FUNK HAS BEEN INVITED TO JOIN AMAZON FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS ON THE FIRST HUMAN FLIGHT BY HIS SPACE COMPANY LATER THIS MONTH. AS JORDYN RUDD REPORTS, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. THIS TRAILBLAZER FINALLY GOING ON THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME. I JUST WANT TO GET INTO SPACE. WALLY FUNK HAS DREAMT OF THIS MOMENT FOR DECADES. IN 1961, SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE MERCURY 13, THE FIRST GROUP OF WOMEN TO GO THROUGH INTENSE ASTRONAUT TRAINING, WHICH SHE SAYS WILL STILL SERVE HER WELL. AFTER ALL THOSE TESTS THAT I HAD, I CAN DO IT, AND I CAN DO IT JUST AS WELL AS ANYBODY ELSE. THE PROGRAMME WAS CANCELLED BEFORE THE GROUP COULD PUT THEIR TRAINING TO USE. I NEVER HAD ANY BAD FEELINGS. I KNEW I WAS GOING. SOME TIME I WILL GO. SHE WAS RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA FLY YOU UP INTO SPACE ON THE VERY FIRST FLIGHT. (CHUCKLES) THE PROFESSIONAL PILOT (82) WILL BE JOINING AMAZON'S JEFF BEZOS ON HIS SPACE COMPANY'S FIRST CREWED FLIGHT LATER THIS MONTH. WE OPEN THE HATCH, AND YOU STEP OUTSIDE. WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU SAY? I'M GONNA SAY, 'HONEY, THAT WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.' (LAUGHS) SHE'LL BE THE OLDEST PERSON TO TRAVEL TO SPACE, AND IS STILL PAVING THE WAY FOR WOMEN. THE ONLY THING A WOMAN NEEDS TO COMPETE IN A MAN'S WORLD IS ABILITY. GO FOR EVERYTHING YOU CAN ` HIGHER FASTER, LONGER. A MOMENT TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS ` ONE 60 YEARS IN THE MAKING. JORDAN RUDD, 1 NEWS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FIRSTS FOR AOTEAROA CELEBRATING MATARIKI THIS YEAR, AND SURELY TOP OF THE BILL, THE GRANDEST FEAST THE COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN FOR THE MAORI NEW YEAR. TOHUNGA TUMAU, MEANING MASTER CHEF, KICK-STARTED THE FESTIVITIES WITH AN ALL-STAR CAST. VANDHANA BHAN WENT ALONG. THE OLDEST DISH IN NZ... # WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HANGI TONIGHT. # ...TAKING CENTRE STAGE AS NINE MAORI MASTER CHEFS COOK UP A STORM FOR MATARIKI. HOROPITO-RUBBED BRISKET, SO WE RUBBED IT WITH HOROPITO, SOME KAWAKAWA IN THERE, THERE'S SESAME SEEDS, THERE'S CUMIN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE HANGI OUT THE FRONT, SO THAT'S GONNA COOK FOR ABOUT THREE AND HALF HOURS. FRESH LINGUINE DONE WITH A KINA MOUSSE, FRESH PAUA, AND THEN HANGI'D FRESH MUTTON BIRDS, SO TITI, AND THEN WE GLAZE THAT WITH A HONEY AND STOUT GLAZE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH CELERIAC, COS IT'S A EUROPEAN VEG, BUT TO HAVE IT COOKED IN A HANGI BY REWI IS JUST KIND OF QUITE SPECIAL. AND I'M TEAMING IT UP WITH, UH, SOME BONED CHICKEN THAT'S BEEN MARINATED WITH LOTS OF ONION AND LEMON, A BIT OF VIETNAMESE MINT AND BLACK GARLIC. AND THEN THERE'S A KAWAKAWA PESTO, AND THEN A BLACK GARLIC DRESSING. THIS IS A KUMARA BRULEE. WHAT WE DO IS STEAM THE KUMARA, WE TAKE THE INSIDE OUT, WE MAKE IT INTO A CUSTARD. WE POP IT BACK IN THE KUMARA, AND WE'RE GOING TO BRULEE IT. WE ALSO HAVE SOME CHOCOLATE SOIL, HANGI RHUBARB, WHICH REWI COOKED IN THE HANGI TODAY. SMOKED CHATHAM ISLANDS BLUE COD, AND JUST TRYING TO USE WHAT'S READILY AVAILABLE HERE IN NZ. ALL INGREDIENTS SOURCED LOCALLY BY MAORI SUPPLIERS; SOME UNHEARD OF IN MAINSTREAM CUISINE. THIS IS KOPAKOPA, A VEGETABLE THAT'S NOT USED. SECRET WEAPON IS THIS LITTLE WEE OIL HERE OF HUMENEMENE AND OLIVE. A SEVEN-COURSE MENU'S BEEN SERVED UP BY THE COUNTRY'S FINEST MAORI CHEFS TO 550 GUESTS GATHERED. THAT'S 7000 PLATES BEING DISHED OUT FOR AOTEAROA'S BIGGEST MATARIKI FEAST. WE LOVE OIL. OIL IS GOOD. LOTS OF OIL. MMM. DELICIOUS. IT'S REALLY GOOD, BROTHERS AND SISTERS COMING BACK TOGETHER. AND IT REMINDS ME OF GOOD TIMES WITH WHANAU. A FEAST WITH WHANAU EXACTLY AT THE HEART OF MATARIKI AND FOR EACH CHEF, MEANING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MATARIKI, WE THINK ABOUT THE TAIAO, WE THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW WE'RE CONNECTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SO I THINK FOR US, IT'S THE KIND OF IDEA WE WANTED TO HAVE WHEN WE WERE CREATING THIS DISH. THE FESTIVAL NOT JUST FOR MAORI, BUT ALL OF AOTEAROA, WITH THE GOVERNMENT TODAY ANNOUNCING THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY DATES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. I'M SO PROUD OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR DOING THAT AND GETTING THE HOLIDAY, IN AND NOW PEOPLE ARE GOING, 'OH, OK, LET'S GET INTO IT.' THIS FEAST THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME. MORE AND MORE CREATIVE DISHES, USING FLAVOURS THAT WE'VE ALL GROWN UP WITH. THE FLAVOURS CAN'T BE COMPARED TO FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH, ITALIAN ` IT'S MAORI. IT'S NOT JUST THE PAVLOVA THAT'S OUR NATIONAL DISH; THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER DISHES ` MUTTON BIRD, TITI, WEKA ` ALL THESE AMAZING DISHES THAT A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE HAVEN'T TRIED. HOPING TO PUT MAORI FOOD ON THE MAP. VANDHANA BHAN, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ` CAN THE STRUGGLING WARRIORS OUTLAST THE HARD-CHARGING DRAGONS AND SNAP THEIR THREE-MATCH LOSING STREAK? PLUS... PLUS, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE COUNTRY'S FIRST EVER CRAFT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL. WELLINGTON IS RENOWNED FOR ITS COFFEES AND CRAFT BEERS. BUT HOW ABOUT CRAFT CHOCOLATE? 'CHOCSTOCK' IS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST EVER CRAFT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL, AND IT BEGINS IN THE CAPITAL THIS WEEKEND. JACOB JOHNSON WENT FOR A LOOK. GETTING THIS GOOEY GOODNESS READY BEFORE IT GOES ON DISPLAY, WITH PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR A WEEKEND ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE. MOST PEOPLE DON'T MAKE YOUR OWN CHOCOLATE. THEY ACTUALLY BUY BULK CHOCOLATE, MELT IT DOWN, ADD FLAVOURS AND MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS FROM THERE. WE'RE A GROWING BAND THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THEIR OWN CHOCOLATE DIRECTLY FROM COCOA BEANS. EIGHT CRAFT CHOCOLATE MAKERS SITTING UP AT WELLINGTON CHOCOLATE FACTORY TO SHOW OFF THEIR BOUTIQUE BARS AND RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE INDUSTRY. FIVE YEARS AGO, HALF OF THESE GUYS THAT WE'VE GOT HERE DIDN'T EXIST. YOU KNOW, IT'S GROWING ALL THE TIME. IT'S A REALLY SMALL INDUSTRY AT THE MOMENT. BUT YEAH, WE SEE IT HOPEFULLY GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS, LIKE, YOUR SPECIALITY COFFEE, YOUR CRAFT BEER. IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY EARLY DAYS. CAN YOU JUST RUN ME THROUGH THE CORRECT WAY TO EAT YOUR CHOCOLATE? SURE? YEAH, OF COURSE. THE BEST WAY I FIND, WITH A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE, IS ALWAYS TO START WITH SMELLING IT FIRST. YOU JUST WANT TO POP THAT INTO YOUR MOUTH AFTERWARDS. HAVE A GOOD SMELL. WHAT YOU WANT TO DO HERE IS JUST PUSH IT TO THE TOP OF YOUR MOUTH WITH YOUR TONGUE, AND JUST TRYING TO MELT AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, TRY TO RESIST CHOMPING INTO IT AS LONG AS YOU CAN. AS IT STARTS TO MELT, THEN YOU CAN START TO CHEW SLOWLY, AND JUST SORT OF MOVE IT AROUND YOUR MOUTH A LITTLE BIT. YEAH? FLAVOURS COMING THROUGH? MMM. YOU GETTING THAT RUM? A LOT. ORGANISERS RELIEVED THE FESTIVAL CAN GO AHEAD, NOW THAT THE CAPITAL'S BACK AT ALERT LEVEL 1. WE WERE HOLDING OUR BREATH ALL WEEK. AND CONFIDENT THE CRAFT CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. MOST PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO KNOW MORE AND MORE ABOUT THEIR FOOD. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEARNING ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND DISCOVERING ALL THESE FLAVOURS AND THESE NEW WAYS OF MAKING CHOCOLATE. A NEW TAKE ON A SWEET TREAT. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. TO SPORT, WHERE THE WARRIORS HAVE BLOWN A 12-POINT LEAD OVER THE DRAGONS, TO SLUMP TO A FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS IN THE NRL COMPETITION. AFTER A SLOW START ON THE CENTRAL COAST, THE WARRIORS STRUCK TWICE FROM CLOSE RANGE TO LEAD AT THE BREAK. EGAN. TOWNSEND. STRAIGHTENED UP. STRAIGHT THROUGH ON THE SPIN! ELIESA KATOA! BUNTY A'FOA BARRELLED OVER TO EXTEND THE BUFFER TO 12 POINTS, BUT FORMER WARRIOR GERARD BEAL LED THE FIGHTBACK. AND THERE YOU GO. CUT-OUT BALL THERE FOR BIRD. HE'S TURNED THEM AROUND! HE'S TURNED THEM AROUND! HAVE A LOOK AT THIS! FIVE SECONDS TO GO. HUNT WITH IT. GOES LEFT. CUT-OUT BALL! WILIAME! RAMSEY SCORES IN THE CORNER! WHEN COREY NORMAN MISSED HIS THIRD CONVERSION IN A ROW, THE MATCH WENT TO GOLDEN-POINT EXTRA TIME, AND NORMAN KICKED THE MATCH-WINNING FIELD GOAL ` 19-18 OTERE BLACK HAS BEEN A REGULAR FIXTURE IN THE MAORI ALL BLACKS SINCE 2015. BUT TOMORROW HE WILL BID FAREWELL TO THAT JERSEY. THERE IS A SILVER LINING, THOUGH, FOR THE FIRST FIVE. HE'S STOKED HE GETS TO PLAY HIS LAST MATCH IN THE STADIUM OF HIS FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM. AS VICTOR WATERS EXPLAINS, THE CLASH ALSO MARKS A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR HIS INCOMING PROTEGE. OTERE BLACK WOULD HAVE PLAYED AT EVERY MAJOR STADIUM IN NZ DURING HIS CAREER. AHEAD OF HIS LAST GAME FOR THE MAORI ALL BLACKS TOMORROW, HE GETS TO TICK OFF THE ONE GROUND HE'S ALWAYS WANTED TO APPEAR ON. RUGBY LEAGUE'S PROBABLY MY FAVOURITE SPORT, TO BE HONEST. I REALLY ENJOY IT. I WATCH IT PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I'M A BIG WARRIORS SUPPORTER, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEADING DOWN THERE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BATTLED ALONGSIDE HIM IN THE JERSEY, THEY KNOW WHAT A HUGE LOSS TO MAORI RUGBY HIS DEPARTURE TO JAPAN WILL BE. HE'S A GUY I'VE GOT SO MUCH RESPECT FOR, AND SO MUCH TIME FOR. YOU KNOW, HE'S A GUY THAT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. IT'S NOT ABOUT HIM. YOU WALK INTO A ROOM, HE MAKES YOU FEEL REALLY WELCOME, REALLY SPECIAL, AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT ARE HARD TO COME ACROSS, HONESTLY. THE DECISION TO LEAVE AOTEAROA INFLUENCED BY THE VALUES PASSED DOWN ON TO HIM BY HIS FATHER, PROFESSOR TAIARAHIA BLACK. I GUESS FOR HIM IT'S JUST KEEPING MY FEET ON THE GROUND AND STAYING HUMBLE, AND KEEP WORKING HARD. THE BIGGEST THING I'VE HAD FROM HIM IS TO MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR FAMILY, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S DONE FOR US AS KIDS GROWING UP, AND THAT'S ONE THING I'LL TRY TO CONTINUE TO DO TO MY OWN FAMILY. TOMORROW'S CLASH IS A SPECIAL ONE ALSO FOR JOSH IOANE. IOANE PLAYED FOR SAMOA'S UNDER-20s AND COMPETED AGAINST THE MAORI FOR MOANA PASIFIKA LAST YEAR. NOW HE'S SET TO FACE THE SIVA TAU FOR THE MAORI. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THEY'LL BE SUPPORTING WHATEVER TEAM I'M PLAYING IN. I HOPE SO. (LAUGHS) BUT YEAH, I GET THE ODD COUSIN MESSAGING ME, 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU'RE PLAYING FOR THE WRONG TEAM.' TOMORROW VERY MUCH A CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSE POLYNESIAN RUGBY FAMILY. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. EVERGREEN ATHLETE NICK WILLIS HAS ADMITTED TO A TOUCH OF ARROGANCE, WHICH ALMOST COST HIM A PLACE AT HIS FIFTH OLYMPIC GAMES. THE 1500m SPECIALIST HAS QUALIFIED, BUT ONLY BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH, CONFIRMED TODAY AS THE 45TH AND FINAL RUNNER IN THE EVENT. GAMES REPORTER CHRIS CHANG TRACKED HIM DOWN AT HOME IN MICHIGAN. FOR A MAN WHO'S BUILT A CAREER ON TIMING, NICK WILLIS ALMOST GOT THIS ONE HORRIBLY WRONG. I PROBABLY GOT A LITTLE TOO OVERCONFIDENT AFTER MY INITIAL SELECTION BACK IN APRIL. I SORT OF LEANT ON THAT PAST EXPERIENCE OF, LIKE, TRAINING THROUGH THIS MIDDLE PART OF THE YEAR SO I COULD HAVE AN AUGUST PEAK. IN THE LAST MONTH, HE WATCHED AS HIS RANKING PLUMMETED, SLIPPING OUT OF THE TOP 45 QUALIFICATION PLACES. SO I QUICKLY RUSHED OVER TO EUROPE, AND INCLUDING SOME RACES IN THE U.S., I DID SIX RACES IN A MATTER OF, LIKE, 16 DAYS. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS JUST ENOUGH. SO I LEFT MY KICK LATE, BUT I MANAGED TO SQUEAK IN. HELPED BY THE FACT THAT TWO HIGHER-RANKED RUNNERS OPTED TO COMPETE IN DIFFERENT DISTANCES. MY ARROGANCE PROBABLY GOT THE BEST OF ME, BUT FORTUNATELY, IT STILL WORKED OUT. LESSON LEARNED FOR THE 38-YEAR-OLD, WHO WILL NOW GO TO HIS FIFTH OLYMPICS ` A RECORD FOR A NEW ZEALAND MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE. WILLIS, WHO WON SILVER IN 2008 AND BRONZE IN 2016, ADMITS HE NEEDS THE GAMES TO MAINTAIN MOTIVATION. I THINK THAT I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE SECONDS IN ME, THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW AT THE GAMES, AND I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT A LOT OF THE COMPETITORS ` AT LEAST IN THE BOTTOM THIRD OF THE FIELD ` ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE BURNT OUT BY THE TIME THE CHAMPS COME. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M COUNTING ON, AT LEAST. THE OCCASION OF THE OLYMPICS GETS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. AN OLYMPICS THAT'LL BE THIS VETERAN'S LAST ` EVEN IF HE HAD TO LEAVE HIS RUN LATE TO MAKE IT. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. ANOTHER VETERAN STILL PLYING HIS TRADE, AND NEVER TOO OLD TO TURN A NEW TRICK ` CRICKET'S FORMER SELF-PROCLAIMED 'UNIVERSE BOSS', CHRIS GAYLE, CELEBRATING HIS WEST INDIES T-20 RECALL WITH A FIRST-BALL WICKET AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA. THE 41-YEAR-OLD THEN PULLED OUT THIS MOVE. HOW ABOUT THIS FOR CELEBRATION? IT SURELY NEEDS SOME WORK. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT? THAT'S A SOMERSAULT? CARTWHEEL? GAYLE: YEAH, THAT'S A CARTWHEEL. THE GUYS RECOMMEND FOR ME TO FOLLOW UP SINCLAIR'S CELEBRATIONS. DESPITE THE WINDIES FRONTLINE SPINNER FABIEN ALLEN THEN KNOCKING HIMSELF OUT OF GAME FOUR, THEY STILL WON EASILY, TO SEND THE SERIES TO A DECIDER. JUST AHEAD ` BEFORE WE GET TO THE WEEKEND WEATHER, WE CHECK OUT HEATWAVES IN CANADA AND THE ANTARCTIC. SCIENTISTS HAVE CONFIRMED THE HOTTEST EVER TEMPERATURE RECORDED IN ANTARCTICA. 18.3 DEGREES WAS REGISTERED ON THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR. THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION SAYS VERIFICATION OF THE RECORD HELPS WITH UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE ON THE CONTINENT, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS AT THE RATE IN WHICH THE REGION IS WARMING. MEANWHILE, THE TINY TOWN OF LYTTON, THAT RECORDED CANADA'S HIGHEST EVER TEMPERATURE FOR THREE STRAIGHT DAYS THIS WEEK, HAS BEEN LARGELY BURNT TO THE GROUND. ALL 250 RESIDENTS WERE ORDERED TO EVACUATE, JUST 15 MINUTES BEFORE A WILDFIRE SWEPT THROUGH. ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR, ABOUT 90% OF THE TOWN HAS BEEN DESTROYED. LYTTON, WHICH IS A COUPLE OF HOURS' DRIVE EAST OF VANCOUVER, RECORDED A HIGH OF 49.6 DEGREES TWO DAYS AGO. THE EXTREME HEATWAVE ACROSS CANADA'S WEST IS THOUGHT TO HAVE CLAIMED HUNDREDS OF LIVES. TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER NOW, WITH LOUIS BAKER AND 'BRIGHTER DAY'. # SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BRIGHTER DA-A-A-AY. # HOPE YOU FIND THAT BRIGHTER DA-A-AY. # SENDING LOVE IN THIS LETTER # TO YOU, MY FRIEND. # LOOKING IN THE MIRROR, AND YOU SEARCH FOR THE WORDS TO SAY. # KNOWING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, WISH I COULD TAKE THE PAIN AWAY. # AND I KNOW THERE'S GREATER MEANING # IN THE LITTLE THINGS WE GO THROUGH DAY TO DAY, # COME WHAT MAY. # SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BRIGHTER DA-AY. # SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BRIGHTER DA-A-AY. # HOPE YOU FIND THAT BRIGHTER DA-AY. # SENDING LOVE IN THIS LETTER # TO YOU, MY FRIEND. # THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. PO MANAHAU, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JAMES BROWN.