TONIGHT ON ONE NEWS, THE NEW FACE OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. CHRISTOPHER LUXON TAKES THE REINS. NICOLA WILLIS NOW HIS 2IC. BUT CAN THE NEW DUO TURN THE PARTY'S FORTUNES AROUND? WE ARE THE RESET. A WARNING TO KIWI DRIVERS ` THE GRACE PERIOD FOR GETTING YOUR WARRANT OF FITNESS DURING LOCKDOWN IS OVER. BUT A LIFELINE IS BEING THROWN TO THOSE NEEDING A NEW LICENCE. AND TRAPPED INSIDE BRITAIN'S HIGHEST PUB FOR THREE NIGHTS. THERE'S WORSE PLACES TO BE STUCK. IT'S SOMETHING I'LL NEVER, EVER FORGET. HOW THE SNOWED IN PUNTERS PASSED THE TIME. CAPTIONS BY STEFFI DRYDEN, CAMERON GRIGG AND LILLIE BALFOUR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. TWO NEW FACES ARE AT THE HELM OF THE NATIONAL PARTY TONIGHT AFTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON AND NICOLA WILLIS SECURED THE TOP JOBS. THE FORMER AIR NEW ZEALAND BOSS TAKING OVER FROM OUSTED LEADER JUDITH COLLINS, AND BEGINS THE TOUGH TASK OF REBUILDING THE PARTY. POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH MCKAY IS STANDING BY WITH HER ANALYSIS, BUT FIRST, HER REPORT. EMERGING VICTORIOUS ` THIS IS WHAT OPPOSITION LEADER LIFE LOOKS LIKE NOW. HOW ARE YOU FEELING AT THE MOMENT, MR LUXON? ABSOLUTELY GREAT. IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY. IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL DAY, AND A GREAT NEW START AND NEW BEGINNINGS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GO SEE MY CAUCUS COLLEAGUES. AND AFTER AN HOUR-LONG MEETING, HIS COLLEAGUES VOTING HIM IN, WITH NICOLA WILLIS AS HIS DEPUTY. HE SAYS THE REVOLVING DOOR OF NATIONAL LEADERS STOPS WITH THEM. WE ARE THE RESET. TODAY, WE ARE DRAWING A LINE UNDER THE EVENTS OF THE LAST 4 YEARS. I WILL SAY TO ALL NEW ZEALAND, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE 400-ODD WHO MOVED AWAY FROM US, OUR MESSAGE TO YOU IS VERY SIMPLE ` NATIONAL IS BACK. I BELIEVE IN A NEW ZEALAND THAT, WE WANT TO TURN THE PAGE AND GO FORWARD TOGETHER. THE PAIR CHOOSING THE VERY STATELY BANQUET HALL IN THE BEEHIVE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE PUBLIC. I AM THE PROUD HUSBAND OF AMANDA LUXON, I AM A PROUD FATHER, I'M A WANNABE DIY GUY. I AM SOMEONE WITH A HARD HEAD, BUT A SOFT HEART, AND I AM SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH THIS MAN TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. HE'S BEEN IN CHARGE OF AIR NEW ZEALAND, BUT HAS ONLY BEEN IN PARLIAMENT A YEAR, WITH BIG CHUNKS OF IT IN LOCKDOWN. I SEE IT AS AN ADVANTAGE. NICOLA AND I ARE FRESH NEW FACES FOR A REVITALISED NATIONAL PARTY. AND WITHIN THE PARTY, THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT HIS RELIGIOUS VIEWS. WHAT PART DOES RELIGION PLAY? WHAT PART DOES RELIGION PLAY? WHAT PART OF THE PLAY IN YOUR LEADERSHIP? TO BE HONEST, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MY FAITH HAS BEEN OFTEN MISREPRESENTED AND PORTRAYED VERY NEGATIVELY. AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT IS THAT MY FAITH IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT HAS GROUNDED ME. IT'S GIVEN ME CONTEXT AND PUT ME IN TO CONTEXT SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MYSELF. BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ` WE HAVE A SEPARATION BETWEEN POLITICS AND FAITH. SIMON BRIDGES GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT, BOWING OUT JUST HOURS BEFORE THE VOTE. I AM EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON. I HAD A REALLY GOOD CHAT WITH HIM. I SEE HIS HEART, HIS VALUES. I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE a GREAT LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY AND, ULTIMATELY, A STRONG PRIME MINISTER. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR NATIONAL WAS THAT IT WAS A CONSENSUS CHOICE IN THE END, THAT THEY CAN PUT THIS DIVISION AND FACTIONALISM BEHIND THEM AND OPERATE AS A UNIT FROM NOW ON. THIS IS WHAT HIS AUCKLAND ELECTORATE OF BOTANY HAD TO SAY. I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE. HE'S A CHRISTIAN. I'M NOT INTO POLITICS TOO MUCH, BUT I THINK HE SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT. THEY NEED A DECENT LEADER IN THERE, BECAUSE THE PARTY HAS BEEN KINDA OFF TRACK FOR A BIT THERE. USED TO BE A SUPPORTER ` NOT SURE WHAT I AM AT THE MOMENT. NOT A BAD THING TO HAVE A NEW SORT OF PERSON IN THE ROLE. BIT OF A SURPRISE REALLY. QUITE GREEN. A NEW VOICE. BE INTERESTING. THE NEW LEADER LIVES WALKING DISTANCE FROM PARLIAMENT BUT OPTED TO DRIVE. SO TOO DID HIS DEPUTY ` THE DETAILS THOUGHT THROUGH FROM THE START. LET'S BRING IN JESSICA LIVE. YOU'VE BEEN AT PARLIAMENT AS IT ALL UNFOLDED TODAY. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS DUO IS GOING TO GO, PARTICULARLY WHEN UP AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE THE PRIME MINISTER? THE FIRST THING FOR NATIONAL IS TO START FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES OF THE GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN INTERNAL LEADERSHIP SQUABBLES. THIS HAS BEEN A DISTRACTION FOR THEM A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THE LABOUR PARTY HAVE TRACKED DOWN IN THEIR SUPPORT IN OUR POLL SINCE THE LAST ELECTION AND THE SUPPORT FOR JACINDA ARDERN. BUT THEY ARE STILL STREETS AHEAD OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. THIS NEW DUO HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM. THEY DID GIVE ALL THE RIGHT MESSAGES TODAY. THEY WERE TRYING TO APPEAL TO THAT NATIONAL PARTY BASE. IN FACT, CHRISTOPHER LUXON ACTUALLY APPEALED DIRECTLY TO THE 400,000 NEW ZEALANDERS WHO SWITCH THEIR SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL TO LABOUR AT THE LAST ELECTION. HIS MESSAGE WAS THAT THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE, AND THAT NATIONAL IS BACK. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYING THEY ARE 'THE RESET.' SO ARE THEY? WE HAVE HEARD THAT WORD QUITE A BIT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, RESET, HAVEN'T ? I THINK IT IS INTERESTING FOR THIS AFTERNOON, THEY WILL BE TICKING THIS OFF. THE CONFERENCE WAS PRETTY SLICK AND WELL ORGANISED. THEY MANAGED TO GET THAT UNCONTESTED VOTE FOR THE LEADERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AT THE 11TH HOUR, IT STILL LOOKS A LOT LESS MESSY FOR THE PARTY. THE REAL MESSAGE THAT WE HEARD JUMPED INTO US AT THAT MEDIA CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON FROM CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS PLAYING UP HIS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE. HE SAYS HE HAS MADE A CAREER OF TURNING AROUND FAILING BUSINESSES AND REALLY GIVING THEM A NEW LEASE OF LIFE. HE HAS NOW GOT A STRUGGLING POLITICAL PARTY ON HIS HANDS AND HE WILL BE HOPING HE CAN TURN THAT AROUND AS WELL. I THINK WE WILL HEAR THAT MESSAGE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS NATIONAL TRIES TO PLAY UP THE FACT IT IS THE ONE THAT CAN MANAGE THE ECONOMY THROUGH THESE COVID TIMES. ANOTHER MESSAGE THEY WERE KEEN ON AS NICOLA WILLIS HAS ALL OF THE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE THAT CHRISTOPHER LUXON LACKS. THAT IS WHERE WE LANDED THIS AFTERNOON, BUT WE HAD A VERY INTERESTING DAY HERE IN THE HALLS OF POWER. FOR MORE ON HOW ALL OF THAT PLATE OUT, HE IS A SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. FOR NATIONAL, IT NEVER RAINS, BUT IT POURS. I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. THAT WASN'T WHERE WE NEED TO BE. IT'S TIME FOR A CLEAN-OUT. WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO FOCUSING ON THOSE THINGS THAT DO MATTER. WE NEED TO BE UNIFIED TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO LABOUR. BUT FOR SOME, A SILVER LINING IN EVERY CLOUD. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN PARADISE, ISN'T IT? I THINK IT'S A GREAT DAY TO SELECT A NEW LEADER FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY. IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A UNITED TEAM. AS THE DAY ROLLED ON, MPs HEADED OUT FOR A BITE TO EAT, GIVING NO CLUES TO THE VOTE. IT WON'T BE A CURRY. IT WON'T BE A CURRY. SOMEONE WHO CAN BRING US ALL TOGETHER. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY HAD SOME TRYING TIMES. SOME EVEN GIVING DRIVE-THROUGH SOUNDBITES. NO, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT JUDITH COLLINS AT ALL. TODAY'S GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY FOR NATIONAL. BUT BEFORE 2PM, SIMON BRIDGES FELL ON HIS SWORD WITH THIS TWEET. HE SPOKE TO US SHORTLY AFTER ABOUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON. HE'S GOT A REALLY CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT HE'S ABOUT AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO FOR NEW ZEALAND, AND THAT EXCITES ME. REMEMBER, THIS WAS NATIONAL JUST LAST WEEK. WHAT WE SAW FROM YESTERDAY WAS TRULY DESPERATE STUFF FROM JUDITH COLLINS. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT WORK WITH HER. AND HOW WILL CHRISTOPHER LUXON DEAL WITH JUDITH COLLINS AND HIS WARRING MPs? WE ARE TURNING THE PAGE. WE ARE PUTTING THE BAGGAGE ASIDE. WE'RE TRUSTING EACH OTHER. WE KNOW THAT WILL TAKE WORK, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT JOB INCREDIBLY WELL. ONE CONCERN IS THAT THE PARTY IS TRYING TO CLONE THEIR LAST BUSINESSMAN-TURNED-LEADER, JOHN KEY. IT'S A REAL RISK FOR THEM, AND IF SOME OF THEM SEE LUXON AS THE SALVATION FOR THAT REASON, THEN THEY MAY WELL BE DISAPPOINTED. LET'S BE CLEAR ` I AM NOT JOHN KEY. I AM CHRISTOPHER LUXON. NATIONAL HOPING FOR BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD. JESS IS BACK WITH ME NOW. IS CHRISTOPHER LUXON JUST JOHN KEY 2.0? THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN SWIRLING AROUND CHRISTOPHER LUXON. IT IS NO SECRET THAT THEY ARE FRIENDS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS EVEN PLAYED UP THAT CONNECTION WITH THE FORMER PREMISED. THERE IS ALSO THE FACT THAT NICOLA WILLIS WORKED WITH JOHN KEY, AMONG OTHER CAREERS. SOME PEOPLE WOULD SEE THIS CONNECTION WITH THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER IS A POSITIVE ` HE WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL WHEN HE WAS AROUND. BUT OTHERS ARE CONCERNED THAT CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS JOHN KEYS MAN. REGARDLESS, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE LANDED AFTER A VERY BIG DAY HERE IN POLITICS. YES, INDEED. THANKS, JESS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS THE MOST POLITICALLY INEXPERIENCED LEADER IN NATIONAL PARTY HISTORY, SO WHY HAVE MPS CHOSEN TO BACK HIM? MEI HERON TAKES A LOOK. OUT OF THE QUIET AND INTO THE SPOTLIGHT. SINCE BEING ELECTED LAST YEAR, HE'S STUCK TO THE PARTY LINE. I'VE JUST ARRIVED IN PARLIAMENT. I'VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN. BUT EIGHT MONTHS LATER, IT SEEMS HE'S LEARNT ENOUGH. I WANT RO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR PUTTING TRUST IN ME. A BUSINESSMAN, HE WORKED HIS WAY UP MULTI-NATIONAL UNILEVER FOR 18 YEARS BEFORE TAKING OVER AS AIR NEW ZEALAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE, WORKING WITH BOTH LABOUR AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS. HE STILL COUNTS JOHN KEY AS A CLOSE FRIEND. HALF A MILLION NEW VOTERS WENT TO LABOUR IN THE LAST ELECTION, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO HUG THAT CENTRE-RIGHT A BIT MORE. CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A STABLE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, A PERSON COMFORTABLE IN A BOARDROOM, BUT HE'S ALSO THE MAN WHO ONCE DESCRIBED THE VOTERS IN HIS BOTANY ELECTORATE AS 'STAKEHOLDERS'. HIS CHALLENGE NOW TO DROP THE BUSINESS TALK AND RELATE TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE. I DON'T REALLY KNOW HIM, SO I'LL BE INTERESTED TO LEARN A BIT MORE ABOUT HIM. FOR ME, IT SAYS THERE'S A REAL VACUUM IN LEADERSHIP FOR THEM TO ELEVATE SOMEONE IN THEIR FIRST TERM. LET'S SEE IF HE CAN DO A GOOD JOB. GOOD LUCK TO HIM. HE'S UNKNOWN. HE'S FRESH, AND HE HAS THE CHANCE NOW FOR NEW ZEALANDERS TO GET TO KNOW HIM. A SELF-DESCRIBED EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN, CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS AGAINST ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA. MY FAITH IS PERSONAL TO ME. IT IS NOT, IN ITSELF, A POLITICAL AGENDA. BUT NEW DEPUTY NICOLA WILLIS PROVIDES A BALANCE ` AN ADVOCATE FOR LGBTQI RIGHTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IT'S A MATTER OF THE CAUCUS BEING A BROADCHURCH, BUT COMING TOGETHER WITH ONE COMMON PURPOSE, AND THAT COMMON PURPOSE IS TO WOO THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC. NICOLA WILLIS ALSO HAS TIES TO THE PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP ` WORKING FOR BOTH JOHN KEY AND BILL ENGLISH. NO DOUBT THOSE OLD HEADS WILL BE ON SPEED DIAL AS NATIONAL PUTS ITS FAITH IN A NEW TEAM. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS. TO THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS ` A NORTHERN HAPU IS DISCUSSING BLOCKING OFF THE BAY OF ISLANDS TO TOURISTS THIS SUMMER. IF THE PROPOSAL GOES THROUGH, TOWNS LIKELY TO BE OFF-LIMITS OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD INCLUDE PAIHIA, RUSSELL, WAITANGI AND KERIKERI. ACCESS TO MAITAI BAY HAS ALREADY BEEN CLOSED BY AN IWI FURTHER NORTH. HELEN CASTLES HAS MORE. NOBODY ON THE ROAD, NOBODY ON THE BEACH. BUT COME SUMMER, THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN THE NORTH. SUMMER IS THE TIME WHEN WE DO MAKE MOST OF OUR MONEY, SO FOR IT TO BE CUT OFF FROM US WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR MANY, MANY BUSINESSES. SAFE TRAVELS. BUT HOLIDAY TRAVEL TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS IS NOW BEING DEBATED BY A WAITANGI HAPU GROUP WHICH SENT AN EMAIL NOTIFYING GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES INCLUDING POLICE, THE DHB AND THE PRIME MINISTER, 'THEY'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT 'OF THE COVID-19 BORDER' WHEN THE AUCKLAND BOUNDARY IS LIFTED ON DECEMBER 15. WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE BORDERS TO OPEN. WE'VE GOT ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS IN PLACE ` THEY'RE ROBUST. WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT OUR WHANAU AND OUR TAMARIKI. THE EMAIL, WHICH WAS LEAKED TO 1 NEWS, HAS ALARMED MANY, BUT THE VIEWS ARE NOT SHARED BY ALL MAORI IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS. THEY HAVE VALID CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT AND HAVE A TALK WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ONCE THESE BORDERS OPEN UP. THE WAITANGI MARAE COORDINATOR WHO SENT THAT EMAIL DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK TO 1 NEWS, BUT SAID IT WAS ABOUT MANA WHENUA PROTECTING THEIR WHAKAPAPA, AND ASKED THAT WE HOLD OFF INTERVIEWING HER FOR A WEEK. WE'VE ALL SAT TIGHT FOR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS IN THE HOPE THAT WE MAY GET A LITTLE BIT OF SUMMER BUSINESS AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND ENJOY THIS AREA, AND THEN ON THE EVE OF THIS ALL STARTING TO HAPPEN, TO HAVE A SMALL MINORITY OF PEOPLE TO MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE THIS THAT ARE JUST SO, SO RADICAL AND SO UNNECESSARY, IT'S TRULY APPALLING. THE BAY OF ISLANDS IS 86% VACCINATED ` THAT'S HIGH FOR NORTHLAND. BUT MANY BELIEVE THE REGION WILL NEVER HIT 90. THE BORDER CONTROLS ARE UNWANTED. THE BORDER CONTROLS WILL NOT LOOK AFTER THE MAORI POPULATION, WHO ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF LOOKING AFTER THEMSELVES. AND FOR THOSE MAORI WHO FEEL VULNERABLE, GET VACCINATED. A HUI WILL GO AHEAD TONIGHT, BUT ANY CALL FOR ROADBLOCKS WOULD HAVE TO BE SUPPORTED BY POLICE TO BE LEGAL. HELEN CASTLES, 1 NEWS. BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE DELTA OUTBREAK NOW; AND THERE ARE 134 NEW INFECTIONS TODAY IN NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, WAIKATO AND BAY OF PLENTY. THAT'S A DROP OF 48 FROM YESTERDAY. TWO MORE CASES HAVE ALSO BEEN DETECTED IN THE NELSON TASMAN REGION. BOTH ARE KNOWN CONTACTS OF THE ORIGINAL CASE IDENTIFIED THERE. THEY'LL BE ADDED TO TOMORROW'S TALLY. 89 PEOPLE ARE IN HOSPITAL, WITH NINE RECEIVING INTENSIVE CARE IN AUCKLAND AND WAIKATO. NEARLY 41,000 DOSES OF THE VACCINE WERE ADMINISTERED YESTERDAY ` JUST OVER HALF OF THOSE BOOSTER SHOTS. AND A NUMBER OF NATIONS ARE BEEFING UP BOOSTER SHOT ROLLOUTS AS NEW VARIANT OMICRON SPREADS FURTHER. MEANWHILE, WORLD HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WARNING THE WORLD NEEDS TO WORK AS ONE TO END THE PANDEMIC. HERE'S AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE. IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A NAME A WEEK AGO, BUT NOW THERE'S ONLY ONE WORD ON THE LIPS OF HEALTH OFFICIALS. OMICRON. OMICRON. OMICRON. FROM SPAIN TO SYDNEY, THE FURTHER THE STRAIN SPREADS, THE LOUDER THE ALARM GROWS, WITH THE HEAD OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION WARNING NATIONS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND PRIORITISE VACCINATING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. INDEED, OUR ABILITY TO END THIS PANDEMIC IS A TEST OF OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO FUTURE PANDEMICS BECAUSE THE SAME PRINCIPLES APPLY. SOME ARE LISTENING. CHINA'S NOW PLEDGING 1 BILLION DOSES TO AFRICA WHERE IMMUNISATION RATES ARE COMPARATIVELY LOW. 'WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT TOGETHER AGAINST COVID', SAYS MR XI, ADDING HE'LL SEND ABOUT 1500 MEDICAL WORKERS TO AFRICA. AND TODAY, THE US PRESIDENT THANKED SOUTH AFRICA FOR SOUNDING THE ALARM SO EARLY. THIS KINDA TRANSPARENCY IS TO BE ENCOURAGED AND APPLAUDED BECAUSE IT INCREASES OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO ANY NEW THREAT. BUT WHILE THERE ARE INDICATIONS OMICRON'S MORE INFECTIOUS THAN DELTA, IT'S TOO EARLY TO KNOW IF IT'S MORE DEADLY. SO WHILE DEVELOPING NATIONS STRUGGLE TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS, RICHER ONES LIKE BRITAIN ARE CHARGING AHEAD WITH THIRD JABS, OR BOOSTERS. IF VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED, AS SEEMS PRETTY LIKELY TO SOME EXTENT, THE BIGGEST EFFECTS ARE LIKELY TO BE IN PREVENTING INFECTIONS. AND HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE SMALLER EFFECTS ON PREVENTING SEVERE DISEASE. AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNMENT WAS HEAVILY CRITICISED FOR ACTING TOO SLOW AGAINST DELTA, SO NOW IT'S LOOKING AT OFFERING BOOSTER JABS BEFORE THE REGULAR SIX MONTHS AFTER PEOPLE GET THEIR SECOND JAB. WHILST IT'S AN EMERGING VARIANT, IT'S A MANAGEABLE. NEW ZEALAND'S OPEN TO THE IDEA TOO. IF OUR ADVISORY GROUP SAY TO US 'LOOK, WE THINK WE SHOULD 'SHORTEN THAT TIME', WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT WE ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE EVIDENCE AND ADVICE. THAT ADVICE COULD BE SOME WAY OFF. SCIENTISTS SAY IT COULD TAKE THREE WEEKS BEFORE WE KNOW JUST HOW DANGEROUS OMICRON IS. ANDREW MACFARLANE, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. TWO POLICE OFFICERS HAVE HAD SURGERY AND ARE NOW RECOVERING FOLLOWING A DEADLY SHOOT-OUT AND A HIT-AND-RUN IN AUCKLAND. AN OFFICER WAS HIT BY A FLEEING CAR IN NEW LYNN LATE ON SUNDAY EVENING, SUSTAINING SERIOUS INJURIES, WHILE YESTERDAY THREE OFFICERS WERE SHOT BY A MAN IN GLEN EDEN. HE LATER DIED AT THE SCENE. POLICE SAY ALL THEIR OFFICERS ARE BEING WELL SUPPORTED AND ARE CALLING FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CELLPHONE FOOTAGE OF YESTERDAY'S INCIDENT TO COME FORWARD. THE GRACE PERIOD FOR EXPIRED VEHICLE WARRANTS IS ABOUT TO COME TO AN END AS THE GOVERNMENT CALLS TIME ON LENIENCY DURING COVID. FROM TOMORROW, ALL VEHICLES MUST BE UP TO DATE OR FACE A FINE. AND AS KIM BAKER WILSON REPORTS, MECHANICS ARE SEEING A RUSH BEFORE THE CUT-OFF. IT'S ALREADY BUSTLING AT THIS AUCKLAND'S MECHANICS. IT'S THE BUSIEST WE'VE EVER BEEN. IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BUSIER. BIG LINES, A LOT OF WAITING, AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE GOT TURNED AWAY, ACTUALLY. THE GOVERNMENT PARKED RENEWING LICENCES OVER LOCKDOWN AND GETTING NEW WARRANTS, CERTIFICATES AND REGISTRATIONS. TODAY'S THE LAST DAY, FOR ALL BUT THE LICENCES. WE'VE GOT TO STOP BOOKING EVERYTHING IN BECAUSE... WE ARE JUST FLOODED WITH WARRANTS AT THE MOMENT. THERE WILL BE A BACKLOG. THAT'S INEVITABLE. BUT WE ARE MAKING INROADS INTO IT AT A REALLY GOOD RATE. ALMOST 1.8 MILLION VEHICLES WERE DUE TO HAVE A WARRANT OR CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS BETWEEN JULY AND NOW. ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AS OF YESTERDAY, LEAVING JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION YET TO HAVE AN INSPECTION ` A THIRD HERE IN AUCKLAND. WE'RE STRUGGLING TO HANDLE THE WORK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF. OTHERS SAY DELAYING WARRANTS AGAIN WOULD'VE BEEN BAD FOR SAFETY AT A BAD TIME OF YEAR. IT'S A HUGE RECIPE FOR DISASTER. PEOPLE HEADING INTO OUR BUSY PERIODS WITH A WOF EXEMPTION IS NOT THE IDEAL SITUATION. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FIRST LET PEOPLE OFF FROM GETTING THEIR WARRANTS, IT SAID LOCKDOWN WAS ALREADY STRESSFUL AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY. BUT NOW THAT'S COMPLETELY CHANGING, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS URGING PEOPLE TO ACT FAST. IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD GET A WARRANT UNDER LEVEL 3. BUT GETTING IT NOW MAY BE HARDER. EVERYONE'S BUSY. ALL THE MECHANICS ARE BUSY. WHILE LICENCES NOW HAVE ANOTHER GRACE PERIOD. SO WE'RE EXTENDING THAT THROUGH TO MAY NEXT YEAR, AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE ONE EXTRA ISSUE OFF PEOPLE'S PLATE IN WHAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME. AND FOR ANYONE NEEDING A WARRANT ` THE ADVICE IS TO FIX AN APPOINTMENT NOW. KIM BAKER WILSON, 1 NEWS. A PARTNER IN CRIME WITH FORMER PAEDOPHILE JEFFREY EPSTEIN OR MERELY A SCAPEGOAT? CELEBRITY HIGH-FLIER GHISLAINE MAXWELL GOES TO A NEW YORK COURT TO FIGHT SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES. AND A HIGH-POWERED MEMORIAL SERVICE IN LONDON FOR THE KIWI POLICE SERGEANT KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY LAST YEAR. THEN JAZZERCISE IS BACK ON OUR SCREENS ON SEVEN SHARP. YES, THOSE INFAMOUS LYCRA OUTFITS AND LEG WARMERS RETURN TO TELL THEIR OWN STORY. AND IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN JAZZERCISE BEFORE, WE'VE GOT A REAL TREAT FOR YOU. PLUS ` THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER. WHY PLAYING GAMES WITH A TRACTOR IS JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE FARM. AND THE NEW NATIONAL PARTY LEADER, CHRISTOPHER LUXON, JOINS US TONIGHT AT 7. - New Zealand's internet use is skyrocketing. So this December, we're adding some fuel by making faster fibre internet speeds available for over 1.6 million Kiwis. - (CHUCKLES) Got you. - Oi, what should we...? (BOTH SPEAK INDISTINCTLY, VEHICLES ZOOM) - Oi, Clipboard. - Hullo. - What are you doing? - LOUDLY: Reviewin' the speed limit. (VEHICLE ZOOMS) - The what? (VEHICLES ZOOM) - Speed limit. - Why? - It's just too fast... (TRUCK RUMBLES LOUDLY) ...for roads like this one. You know, stuff's changed ` new schools, new builds, people movin' in. We're lookin' at the speed limits to make sure they're right for the roads to keep us all... (SIREN WAILS) ...safe. - Did you like that? - Eh?! - Wait. - Wha...? - So are you changing all the speed limits? - Yes. No, just the... (TRUCKS RUMBLE LOUDLY) rubbish ones. Just the sh... (HORN TOOTS) ...ones! - All right. Hurry up, then. - OK. - Bye. - Thank you. THE SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL OF DISGRACED BRITISH SOCIALITE GHISLAINE MAXWELL IS UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK. THE PROSECUTION CLAIMING SHE PREYED ON AND RECRUITED YOUNG GIRLS FOR SEX OFFENDER JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND OTHERS. HER DEFENCE SAYS SHE'S BEING MADE A SCAPEGOAT FOR THE LATE EPSTEIN'S CRIMES. HERE'S OUR U.S. CORRESPONDENT ANNA BURNS-FRANCIS. THEY WERE THE INSEPARABLE DUO OF NEW YORK'S SOCIAL ELITE. SNAPPED WITH CELEBRITIES, POLITICIANS AND ROYALTY. BUT IT WAS A DOUBLE LIFE WITH A DARK SIDE. JEFFREY EPSTEIN WAS A SEXUAL PREDATOR PREYING ON YOUNG GIRLS. ALL THE WHILE, GHISLAINE MAXWELL RIGHT BY HIS SIDE. HER LAWYERS, AT COURT THIS MORNING,... HAVE A GREAT DAY. YOU TOO. ...HAVE A STEEP HILL AHEAD. EPSTEIN'S VICTIMS ALLEGE MAXWELL WAS THE ENABLER IN CHIEF OF HIS WORLDWIDE SEX TRAFFICKING SCHEME. MAXWELL WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE GROOMING PROCESS. THE 59-YEAR-OLD NOW FACES SIX CHARGES OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND CONSPIRACY. THAT ABUSE INCLUDED SEXUALISED MASSAGES. THE SEXUALISED MASSAGES DEVELOPED INTO SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS FOR WHICH MAXWELL, IN SOME INSTANCES, WAS PRESENT AND PARTICIPATED. PROSECUTORS SAY THAT WHILE MAXWELL WAS LIVING THE HIGH LIFE, SHE WAS ALSO SECRETLY HELPING JEFFREY EPSTEIN COMMIT SEXUAL OFFENCES ON GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 14. BUT HER DEFENDERS SAY THAT MAXWELL WAS AN UNWITTING PAWN IN EPSTEIN'S CRIMES, AND IS NOW BEING SERVED UP AS A SCAPEGOAT. BORN INTO WEALTH, GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S FATHER WAS DISGRACED NEWSPAPER TYCOON ROBERT MAXWELL. HER RELATIONSHIP TO EPSTEIN WAS OFTEN MURKY, BUT HER APPEAL TO HIM WAS A CIRCLE OF RICH AND FAMOUS FRIENDS ` ONE OF THEM PRINCE ANDREW, NOW FIGHTING A CIVIL LAWSUIT FROM ONE OF EPSTEIN'S VICTIMS. GHISLAINE TELLS ME THAT I HAVE TO DO FOR ANDREW WHAT I DO FOR JEFFREY, AND THAT MADE ME SICK. JEFFREY EPSTEIN WAS ARRESTED IN 2019. HE COMMITTED SUICIDE IN HIS CELL JUST FIVE WEEKS LATER. GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S BROTHER SAYS THIS TRIAL IS A WITCH HUNT. WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? LET IT BE PUT FORWARD. LET IT BE CROSS-EXAMINED. LET GHISLAINE BE QUESTIONED ABOUT IT. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE SIX WEEKS. ANNA BURNS-FRANCIS, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. A HIGH-PROFILE AND MOVING CEREMONY HAS BEEN HELD FOR A NEW ZEALAND-BORN POLICE SERGEANT SHOT AND KILLED IN LONDON LAST YEAR. RUGBY-MAD MATIU, OR 'MATT' RATANA WAS REMEMBERED AS A COACH, A MENTOR, AND AN INSPIRATION. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT DANIEL FAITAUA WAS AT HIS MEMORIAL IN LONDON. BRAVING THE COLD TO HONOUR THE BRAVEST OF COLLEAGUES ` BRITAIN'S HOME SECRETARY, THE MAYOR OF LONDON, AND THE HEAD OF POLICE JOINING SERGEANT MATT RATANA'S LIFE PARTNER, SU BUSHBY. A SOLEMN MARCH THROUGH CENTRAL LONDON TO HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE. GUESTS GIVEN A GUARD OF HONOUR, REMEMBERING THE 54-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A MAN IN CUSTODY INSIDE A LONDON POLICE STATION LAST SEPTEMBER. OUTSIDE TOO, FIVE PUPS NAMED THE RATANA LITTER IN HIS HONOUR. MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER SERGEANT RATANA'S DEATH, HIS COLLEAGUES ARE STILL GRIEVING, AND DUE TO CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE AT THE TIME THE MET PROMISED THEY WILL ALL COME TOGETHER IN MATT'S MEMORY. TODAY, THEY HAVE FINALLY HONOURED THAT PROMISE. TE INGOA O TE MATUA, O TE TAMA, O TE WAIRUA TAPU. INSIDE, TRIBUTES FOR AN OFFICER FOR 29 YEARS AND A LIFE-LONG LOVER OF RUGBY. (CHOIR SINGS) MATT WAS A LEADER, A COACH, A MENTOR, AN INSPIRATION. A MOVING READING BY HIS PARTNER, PUBLICLY SILENT UNTIL NOW. I THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN, BUT NOW IT'S TIME I TRAVEL ON ALONE. HIS CLOSEST COLLEAGUES RECOUNTING WHAT MADE HIM SO SPECIAL. HE HAD THE ABILITY TO MAKE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC JUST FEEL SAFE PURELY BY HIS PRESENCE THERE. MATT'S MAORI HERITAGE HONOURED TOO. # WHAKAARIA MAI. # SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE, TO HONOUR SOMEONE FROM HOME OF OUR CULTURE, SOMEONE WHO HAD GIVEN SO MUCH TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND AS BRITAIN'S POLICE GRIEVED, SO TOO NEW ZEALAND'S. CLEARLY, WE HEARD TODAY OF THE HUMILITY OF THE MAN THE EMPATHY OF THE MAN, AND THOSE ARE GREAT QUALITIES IN A POLICE OFFICER IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD. THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIS FATAL SHOOTING CONTINUES. TODAY WAS ALL ABOUT REMEMBERING SERGEANT MATIU 'MATT' RATANA. PRINCE CHARLES HAS ARRIVED IN BARBADOS FOR TOMORROW'S OFFICIAL CEREMONY MARKING THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND'S TRANSITION TO A REPUBLIC. BARBADOS GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN IN 1966, BUT RETAINED THE QUEEN AS HEAD OF STATE. AFTER FINALLY SEVERING CENTURIES-OLD TIES WITH THE UK, LOCAL LEADERS HOPE THE MOVE FURTHER DISTANCES THE NATION FROM ITS COLONIAL HISTORY. STRANDED PUB-GOERS FIND AN OASIS OF SORTS IN YORKSHIRE. WE'LL EXPLAIN HOW THE COVERS BAND HELPED KEEP A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE ENTERTAINED. PLUS ` I'M MAKING SOME REALLY POSITIVE STRIDES. (TOY SQUEAKS) I'VE HAD SOME, UH` TIGER WOODS COMEBACK ANNOUNCEMENT IS UPSTAGED BY HIS ROWDY AUSSIE MATE. THEN AT 7 ` BRINGING BACK MARINE LIFE TO THE HAURAKI GULF. YES. AFTER A CENTURY OF EXPLOITATION, MARINE LIFE IS AT THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION. BUT CAN GREEN-LIPPED MUSSELS BE THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM? PLUS ` WHO WOULDN'T LOVE A DREAM RIDE IN A JET FIGHTER? WE'RE WITH A TOP GUN FATHER AND SON TEAM AS THEY GET PERMISSION TO BUZZ THE TOWER. AND I BREAK OUT THE LYCRA AND LEG WARMERS AS JAZZERCISE MAKES A DRAMATIC COMEBACK TO OUR SCREENS. AND NATIONAL'S NEW LEADER JOINS US FOR AN INTERVIEW. SEE YOU AT 7. MAJOR CHANGES TO OUR FREEDOM CAMPING RULES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY, ALONG WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A $1000 FINE FOR THOSE WHO BREAK THEM. TOURISM MINISTER STUART NASH WAS IN QUEENSTOWN TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WILL SEE ALL FREEDOM CAMPERS REQUIRED TO BE SELF-CONTAINED VEHICLES WITH A FIXED TOILET. THE NEW LAW FOLLOWS LENGTHY PUBLIC CONSULTATION, BUT WON'T COME INTO EFFECT FOR TWO YEARS. FAMILIES SEPARATED BY NEW ZEALAND'S BORDER RESTRICTIONS ARE NOW FACING A THIRD YEAR APART AS THE GOVERNMENT EXTENDS THE SUSPENSION ON THE PROCESSING OF ALL TEMPORARY VISAS UNTIL NEXT AUGUST. NEW ZEALAND IS GRADUALLY OPENING UP TO DOUBLE-VAXXED FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM THE END OF APRIL, BUT THOSE WHO DON'T GET AUTOMATIC VISAS ON ARRIVAL WILL REMAIN LOCKED OUT UNLESS THE SUSPENSION IS LIFTED. ON THE EVE OF SUMMER AND A MONTH OUT FROM NEW YEAR'S EVE, MANY OF OUR MAJOR FESTIVALS AND SPORTS EVENTS ARE STILL FACING HIGH LEVELS OF UNCERTAINTY. POSTPONEMENT IS NOW ON THE CARDS FOR A NORTHLAND FESTIVAL, WHILE OTHERS COULD STILL BE TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM MAKING FINAL DECISIONS. JARED MCCULLOCH REPORTS. WELCOMING IN 2022 WITH A BIG SONG AND DANCE IS PROVING HARD FOR SOME. FOR NORTHERN BASS ORGANISERS ` TODAY FORCED TO CONSIDER POSTPONING THEIR NEW YEARS EVE FESTIVAL. WE WENT OUT TODAY AND DECIDED TO INVOLVE OUR TICKETHOLDERS IN OUR DECISIONS. WE WILL WAIT FOR THE FULL RESPONSES TO COME IN, BUT AT THIS STAGE, IT IS DEFINITELY LEANING TOWARDS 'CAN YOU PLEASE WAIT?' THE EVENT IN NORTHLAND'S ONE OF MANY FACING UNCERTAINTY AS ORGANISERS TRY TO NAVIGATE THE COVID RESPONSE FRAMEWORK. AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND NOW BEING CONSIDERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE, BUT PLANS COULD CHANGE AGAIN WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SETTINGS ARE REVIEWED. WHICH IS A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. AT THE OTHER END OF THE COUNTRY, RHYTHM AND ALPS MAY BE THE SINGLE MAJOR FESTIVAL THIS NEW YEAR'S, PUSHING AHEAD UNDER THE ORANGE LIGHT. IT'S AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX RUBIK'S CUBE AT THE MOMENT, BUT THE OUTCOME IS LOOKING TO PRODUCE A SAFE EVENT FOR PEOPLE. THE VACCINE PASSPORT, WE ARE REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH. WE ARE GOING TO BE RELAYING ALL THE INFORMATION TO THE CUSTOMERS THIS YEAR ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS OVER THE COMING WEEKS. BUT IT'LL BE THE ONLY PARTY IN THE SOUTH. COUNCIL CANNING FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AND PERFORMANCES ON BOTH QUEENSTOWN AND WANAKA LAKEFRONTS. IT'S NOT JUST NEW YEAR'S EVE ORGANISERS FACING CHALLENGES. THE ANNUAL WAKA AMA NATIONALS, DUE TO BE HELD IN JANUARY, ARE OFF. PROBABLY AROUND 1200-1500 UNDER-12-YEAR-OLDS TAKING PART AS COMPETITORS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE QUITE CONCERNED AROUND THEIR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT THE EVENT GIVEN THAT THEY CAN'T BE VACCINATED AND THEY'RE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. UNCERTAINTY REIGNING SUPREME WITH MANY JUST HOPING THE BEAT GOES ON THIS SUMMER. JARED MCCULLOCH, 1 NEWS. JUST A NOTE ` LAST NIGHT, WE MAY'VE GIVEN YOU THE IMPRESSION FARMERS MARKETS COULDN'T OPEN UNTIL ORANGE, BUT LET US REASSURE YOU THEY WILL BE UP AND RUNNING THIS FRIDAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO A MUSIC EVENT IN A REMOTE PART OF THE UK WHICH WENT ON, AND ON, AND ON. AN OASIS COVERS BAND AND 60 OF ITS FANS WERE STRANDED IN BRITAIN'S HIGHEST PUB FOR THREE DAYS AS STORM ARWEN BROUGHT HEAVY SNOW TO THE YORKSHIRE DALES. THE BBC'S DANNY SAVAGE REPORTS. WELCOME TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE THIS WEEKEND SAW AS THE MOST ENVIABLE LOCATION IN THE LAND. AT THE TAN HILL INN, THEY SORTED THEIR PRIORITIES, BY DIGGING THROUGH THE SNOW DRIFTS TO THE FRONT DOOR AND THEN LOCKING IT. # I'M A ROCK AND ROLL STAR. # THEY'D COME TO SEE AN OASIS TRIBUTE BAND, WHO SOME MIGHT SAY HAD A GOOD WEEKEND. BUT THERE'S WORSE PLACES TO BE STUCK, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND EVERYONE WAS JUST BRILLIANT ` STAFF WERE BRILLIANT, CUSTOMERS WERE BRILLIANT. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, THEY'VE LOOKED AFTER EVERYONE WITH NO ANGER, REALLY. IT'S BEEN ALMOST, LIKE, BLITZ SPIRIT AGAIN, YOU KNOW? SO IT'S MAGICAL, REALLY. LIFETIME MEMORIES AS WELL. WE'LL DO A REUNION, BUT WE'LL DO IT IN THE SUMMER NEXT TIME. (LAUGHS) NICOLA, THE PUB MANAGER, WAS SORRY TO SEE THEM GO. SHE REALISED LATE ON FRIDAY NIGHT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A WEEKEND LIKE NO OTHER. SO THE DRIFTS WERE CAUSING MOST OF THE ISSUES MORE THAN ANYTHING, RATHER THAN JUST IT BEING THE SNOW. WE'VE BEEN DOING KARAOKE, WATCHING MOVIES, PLAYING BOARD GAMES, PUB QUIZZES, CHILLING OUT. THAT'S IT. YEAH! TODAY, THE ROAD OUT JUST ABOUT BECAME PASSABLE, AND A FOURTH NIGHT AT THE INN WAS AVOIDED. LOTS OF PEOPLE SAY THIS MUST HAVE BEEN THE BEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE, LOCKED INTO A PUB FOR THREE NIGHTS. HAS IT BEEN? HEAVEN. IT'S SOMETHING I'LL NEVER, EVER FORGET. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WITH A LOAD OF STRANGERS STUCK IN A REMOTE PUB? WELL, IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC COMMUNITY SPIRIT. AND SO THEY DISPERSED, THREE DAYS LATER THAN PLANNED. BUT WHAT A WEEKEND THEY HAD. A FESTIVAL ALL THEIR OWN. HAYLEY'S HERE, AND THE BLACKCAPS DRAW AGAINST INDIA KEEPING THEM IN THE SERIES. LAST NIGHT'S EFFORTS CATAPULTING ONE MAN FROM DEBUTANT TO MAN OF THE MOMENT. BUT NOT ALL OF RACHIN RAVINDRA'S FAMILY WERE BEHIND THEIR MAN. THAT'S MY BROTHER. I'M LIKE, 'ARE YOU SERIOUS?' HE WAS LIKE 'YEAH, MAN.' THE INDIA SERIES SETTING OFF A FAMILY FEUD. PLUS, STRAIGHT FROM THE TIGER'S MOUTH. THE STARTLING ADMISSION FROM THE GOLFER WHO MADE THE GAME TRULY GLOBAL. AND MORE MIXED SKIES TODAY AS A WEAK SYSTEM MOVES IN. HAMILTON'S SITTING ON 19 DEGREES. IT'S A GREY AND DAMP ONE IN WELLINGTON WITH A FRESH SOUTHERLY. MORE WARM, HUMID, AND SHOWERY WEATHER TO COME. THE OUTLOOK AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA, E TE IWI. WELCOME TO 1 SPORT. YOU COULD CALL IT THE HEIST IN THE HAZE, WITH THE BLACK CAPS CLINGING TO AN ENGROSSING DRAW IN THE FIRST TEST AGAINST INDIA IN KANPUR. GRIT, GUTS AND A LAST MAN WHO FENDED OFF THE WORLD'S BEST SPINNERS IN FADING LIGHT. WE'RE WITH RACHIN RAVINDRA AND HIS PROUD DAD SHORTLY, BUT FIRST, KIMBERLEE DOWNS WITH THE DRAMATIC FINAL DAY. THE BLACK CAPS DON'T USUALLY GIVE MUCH AWAY, BUT AS THE SUN GAVE ITS LAST GASP IN KANPUR AND THE LIGHT METER WAS CHECKED OVER,... THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OVER. ...AFTER AGONISING OVER, EVEN THEY PORTRAYED SIGNS OF NERVES. IT WAS A PRETTY NERVOUS LAST HOUR, TO BE HONEST, AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMITMENT, COURAGE SHOWN AGAINST THREE OF THE FINEST SPINNERS, I THINK, IN WORLD CRICKET, IN THEIR CONDITIONS. THIS WAS A DRAW EARNED WITH STEELY RESOLVE, EXEMPLIFIED BY THE FINAL WICKET PAIRING OF RACHIN RAVINDRA AND AJAZ PATEL, WHO COMBINED TO SURVIVE 52 BALLS. THE LIGHT FADING, THE FIELD SUFFOCATING, THE MATCH ON THE LINE EVERY SINGLE DELIVERY. IT WAS LIKE A BALANCING ACT, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SEEM TOO INTENSE TO THEIR GUY COMING IN, I DIDN'T WANT TO SEEM LIKE I WASN'T CALM TO HIM AS WELL, SO CHATTING WITH JAZZY THOSE LAST 50 BALLS WAS QUITE NERVE-RACKING, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE HIM THERE, THOUGH. IT'S A CREDIT TO THE KIWIS THAT BRIEFLY, ON DAY FIVE, THE BALANCE WAS EVEN IN THEIR FAVOUR. TOM LATHAM AND NIGHTWATCHMAN WILL SOMERVILLE'S STAUNCHED THROUGH THE FIRST SESSION. THE OPENER GOING ON TO SCORE HIS 22ND HALF CENTURY. BUT AS WICKETS STARTED TO TUMBLE BEFORE TEA, IT BECAME CLEAR THIS WAS ABOUT SURVIVAL. SOME OLD SCHOOL TEST CRICKET, TRYING TO BAT OUT A DAY, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SORT OF NAVIGATING, I GUESS, VARIABLE BOUNCE. NOT TO MENTION BAD LUCK. TOM BLUNDELL UNDONE DESPITE SOLID DEFENCE. THE BALL BOUNCING BACK FROM THE FOOT MARKS TO CLIP THE STUMPS. ADD IT TO THE LONG LIST OF DRAMATIC TWIST TWISTS. BEAUTY OF TEST CRICKET, REALLY, WHERE THERE CAN BE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN A DRAW. THE TEAM NOW UNBEATEN IN 10 CONSECUTIVE TESTS DATING BACK TO THE START OF 2020 ` A RECORD THEY'LL HOPE TO EXTEND AS THEY HEAD TO MUMBAI HAVING PROVEN, YET AGAIN, THEY HAVE THE FIGHT TO PULL OFF WHAT ONCE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, RACHIN RAVINDRA HAS BEEN PLANNING FOR THAT TEST-SAVING SCENARIO SINCE HE COULD SWING A BAT. WELL, HIS DAD HAS ANYWAY. HERE'S DEWI PREECE. IT'S AN INNINGS THAT WILL GO DOWN IN BLACK CAPS FOLKLORE. A HUGE TEST MATCH FOR THE DEBUTANT. BUT REMARKABLY, IT'S ONE RACHIN RAVINDRA AND HIS FATHER RAVI SAW COMING. WE WENT THROUGH EACH OF THOSE SITUATIONS ` WHAT COULD HAPPEN, HOW MANY OVERS HE MAY BAT. ONE OF THE SCENARIOS WAS ACTUALLY 100 BALLS. IF YOU'RE PLAYING 100 BALLS, THERE'LL BE SCREAMING. YOU'LL BE PLAYING WITH THE TAIL. A PRETTY INCREDIBLE MOMENT, I THINK, REALLY TAKING IN THE CROWD AND HOW LOUD THEY WERE AND ALL THE FIELDERS AROUND THE BAT. IT'S THE KIND OF STUFF YOU DREAM ABOUT AS A KID. THIS KID, IN FACT, THE ONE WHO PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS OF TRAINING WITH DAD, FROM A THREE-YEAR-OLD IN THE BACKYARD TO TEST MATCHES IN INDIA. NEVER DOUBTED HIS MENTAL ABILITY OR TECHNICAL ABILITY; HE'S GOT THOSE THINGS. BUT SOME DAYS GOES YOUR WAY, SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T. YESTERDAY, IT WENT HIS WAY. FROM THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF BALLS BOWLED IN THE NETS... I NEVER GET TO BAT. HE ONLY BATS. ...TO CREATIVE WAYS OF REPLICATING TOUGH CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A BATHROOM MAT. WE PITCHED ONE AND IT JUST TURNED. WE'RE LIKE, HANG ON, WE CAN REPLICATE THIS. AND IT'S NOT JUST CONDITIONS THEY REPLICATED BUT ALSO SCENARIOS. I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER GONE TO THE NETS JUST TO PLAY; THERE HAD TO BE A REASON. EITHER TO WIN THE GAME OR SAVE THE GAME, OR BEING CHALLENGED BY SPIN OR PACE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO IT'S PRETTY AMAZING HOW THIS TEST DEBUT PANNED OUT, EVEN IF IT SPLIT FAMILY LOYALTIES. MY BROTHER SAID TO ME HE'S PRAYING THAT RACHIN GETS OUT. THAT'S MY BROTHER! MOMENTS LIKE LAST NIGHT A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON THE JOURNEY SO FAR FOR RACHIN AND HIS PARENTS AT HOME. OBVIOUSLY I WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT THEIR SACRIFICES WITHOUT EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE FOR ME. IT IS SUPER HARD TO BE A DAD AND A COACH, BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE TO BECOME SERIOUSLY PRAGMATIC, AND PUSH YOUR EMOTIONS TO THE SIDE. DAD OR COACH ` PROUD AS PUNCH EITHER WAY. DEWI PREECE, 1 NEWS. HOW MANY INJURED ATHLETES CAN SAY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CALLED TO CHECK IN ON THEM? WHEN YOU'RE TIGER WOODS, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH IN HIS FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE A BAD CAR CRASH, THE GOLFING GREAT NOW ADMITS HE WON'T EVER PLAY ON THE TOUR FULL TIME AGAIN AFTER VERY NEARLY LOSING HIS LEG. ABBY WILSON REPORTS. AFTER WATCHING TIGER WOODS ACHIEVE SO MUCH ON THE GOLF COURSE, IT'S FUNNY THAT HIM SIMPLY WALKING INTO AN INTERVIEW IS NOW PRETTY DAMN IMPRESSIVE. IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A ROAD, AND, UM,... IT'S BEEN A LONG ONE, IT'S BEEN A SORE ONE, BUT I'M MAKING SOME REALLY POSITIVE STRIDES. I'VE HAD SOME` (TOY SQUEAKS) NINE MONTHS AGO, WOODS CRASHED HIS CAR, RUSHED TO HOSPITAL WITH MULTIPLE BREAKS TO HIS LOWER RIGHT LEG. I WOULDN'T SAY 50/50, BUT IT WAS DAMN NEAR THERE WHETHER OR NOT I WAS GOING TO WALK OUT OF THAT HOSPITAL WITH ONE LEG. INSTEAD, HE WAS BED-BOUND FOR FIVE MONTHS, OVERWHELMED BY EVERYONE'S SUPPORT. SEE MY PHONE AND IT SAYS, UH, 'PRESIDENT'S CALLING.' YOU DON'T REALLY SEE THAT VERY OFTEN. WHITE HOUSE ON... ON LINE ONE. (CHUCKLES) THIS VIDEO LAST WEEK CONFIRMED THE 15-TIME MAJOR CHAMP IS BACK SWINGING A CLUB, BUT FOR THE FIERCELY COMPETITIVE WOODS, IT'S BEEN SLOW GOING. I'M NOT WOLVERINE, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES I THINK I AM. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I JUST WISH I COULD DO ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THAT I USED TO BE ABLE TO DO, BUT I'M JUST NOT QUITE THERE YET. PEOPLE THOUGHT HIS CAREER WAS OVER BEFORE ` BACK INJURIES CRIPPLING THE FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE ` BUT HE REFUSED TO GIVE IN, CLAIMING A REMARKABLE FIFTH MASTERS TITLE IN 2019. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THE RETURN TO GLORY. THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT. THE 45-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE WON'T EVER BE FULL-TIME ON THE TOUR AGAIN. I KNOW THAT AFTER MY BACK FUSION, I HAD TO PROVE IT TO MYSELF. I HAD TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST ONE MORE TIME. I HAD TO DO IT AND I DID. THIS TIME AROUND, I DON'T THINK I'LL HAVE THE BODY TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST, AND THAT'S OK. LEARNING TO ACCEPT THAT MIGHT JUST BE HIS GREATEST CHALLENGE YET. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS. THE ALL WHITES COULD BE FORCED TO FIELD A HEAVILY WEAKENED SIDE FOR THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS NEXT YEAR. OCEANIA NATIONS VOTED TO STAGE GAMES BEFORE THE START OF AN INTERNATIONAL WINDOW IN A MOVE THAT WOULD DISADVANTAGE THE KIWIS. AND AS CHRIS CHANG EXPLAINS, IT'S LEFT COACH DANNY HAY FUMING. A FEW WINS ON THE BOUNCE, A YOUNG TEAM STARTING TO GEL AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, NEW ZEALAND. OCEANIA QUALIFYING IN MARCH, HELD IN QATAR, WILL CONSIST OF THREE ROUND-ROBIN GAMES, A SEMI AND A FINAL ACROSS 15 DAYS. BECAUSE THE FIRST TWO GAMES FALL OUTSIDE THE OFFICIAL FIFA WINDOW, THE BEST PLAYERS WON'T HAVE TO BE RELEASED BY THEIR CLUBS. YEAH. LOOK, CHRIS, THIS WOULD HAPPEN NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. I'M HERE IN DENMARK AT THE MOMENT, AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAS TRANSPIRED ` NOBODY HERE CAN GET THEIR HEAD AROUND. IMAGINE SAYING TO THE DANISH NATIONAL TEAM THAT YOU'VE GOT WORLD CUP QUALIFYING, BUT YOU CAN'T PICK YOUR BEST PLAYERS. HAY ARGUING OFC'S DECISION DEVALUES THE COMPETITION. IF I'M THEM, I'M THINKING 'HOW ARE WE GONNA TRY AND DIMINISH 'NEW ZEALAND'S ABILITY TO BE REALLY COMPETITIVE?' SO, LOOK, I'M NOT SURPRISED, JUST DISAPPOINTED. DANNY'S ENTITLED TO HIS OPINION ON IT. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ACTUALLY MAINTAIN A COMPETITION WITH SPORTING MERIT FOR THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS. QUALIFIERS THAT WOULD LIKELY NOT FEATURE CHRIS WOOD IN THE EARLY ROUNDS. HIS BURNLEY SIDE'S ALREADY BATTLING PREMIER LEAGUE SURVIVAL. THE LIKES OF HIMSELF, WINSTON, MICHAEL BOXALL ` THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. THIS COULD BE` HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT IT COULD BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY THEY HAVE TO TRY MAKE A WORLD CUP SO IT HURTS THEM. REGARDLESS, NEW ZEALAND REMAINS THE FAVOURITE. GET OVER THESE HURDLES AND THEY CAN FOCUS ON ROLLING OUT THOSE BIG GUNS IN THE DO-OR-DIE INTERCONTINENTAL PLAY-OFF IN JUNE. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. SURFER BILLY STAIRMAND HAS SURVIVED A SECOND SUDDEN DEATH ROUND IN HAWAII AS HE TRIES TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR. AFTER A COUPLE OF LAY DAYS, THE SURF WAS UP ON OAHU'S NORTH SHORE ` TIME FOR STAIRMAND TO GET HIS SHAKA ON. STAIRMAND, OFF THE BOTTOM, CRACKS THROUGH THE LIP. THIS IS HIS HIGH SCORE OF 6.57. I MEAN, REALLY, JUST BEAUTIFUL. STAIRMAND'S BEAUTIFUL SURFING SEEING OFF CROWD FAVOURITE CARLOS MUNOZ, WHO SITS JUST INSIDE THE CUT LINE FOR THE WORLD TOUR. STAIRMAND WILL BE HOPING HE CAN SHUNT HIM OUT AS HIS TICKET TO THE TOUR GETS CLOSER EVERY DAY. IT WILL BE A MASSIVE ASKED, BUT HOW COOL COULD THAT BE IF WE HAD HIM ON THE WORLD SURF LEAGUE TOUR? THANKS, HAYLEY. AND AT 7, CATCHING UP WITH THE NEW NATIONAL LEADER. YES, CHRIS LUXON JOINS US TO ANSWER THE BIG QUESTION ` WHY DOES HE WANT THE WORST JOB IN POLITICS? PLUS, THE PLAN BEHIND DUMPING SHELLFISH BACK INTO THE OCEAN. HELLO. IF YOU THINK MOTHER NATURE HAS SOME BIG DRIES FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER TOMORROW, NO, JUST MORE HUMIDITY, FRONTS, SHOWERS, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. WE ARE GETTING INTO LA NINA ACROSS THE PACIFIC, BRINGING IN MESSY SITUATION. ALL THE HUMID AIR HAS COME IN, AND WITH WARM AIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATMOSPHERE HIGHER UP, THAT MEANS AS THE SYSTEMS TRY AND COME ON, SEE HOW IT IS STRETCHED OUT, AND THE MAILER WAS HANGING OUT BACK HERE, IT IS BROKEN UP BUT THERE IS A HIGH TO THE FAR SOUTH. THIS GUY WILL JUMP THE QUEUE AS IT DOES, ALL THOSE LOTS OF SHOWERS OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, THEY WILL SLIDE THROUGH, A BIT PATCHY. NOTICE WHAT IT DOES, IT PUTS US BACK INTO THAT NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW, MORE HUMID AIR AND THAT MEANS THE CLOUD AND DRIZZLE TO THE EAST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OR WEST COAST, IT WILL BE FINE, SUNNY, BUT TO THE FAR NORTH, KEEP YOUR RAINCOAT HANDY. NOT A WASHOUT, BUT HEATING OF THE DAY, FOR THE FINAL, THERE WILL BE SOME DRY WEATHER AS WELL, BUT IF YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT, IT WILL BE HUMID, YOUR HAND MIGHT BE PHRASING UP MORE THAN MINE. A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AUCKLAND. HAMILTON HAS A SIMILAR THING, SOME SPELLS OF RAIN THAT WILL SLIDE THROUGH, THAT IS ABOUT IT, 24. DOWN TO THE BAY OF PLENTY AND CENTRAL PLATEAU, MAYBE SOME EARLIER PATCHY RAIN, SOME MORE COMING IN WITH THE HEATING OF THE DAY, SIMILAR THING IS THE SOUTH-EASTERLY SETS UP. SHOWERS INTO THE AFTERNOON FOR TAURANGA, EAST COAST, IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY, YOU HAVE THE ONSHORE FLOW, CLOUD, SHOWERY, RIGHT THE WAY DOWN TO MASTERTON. SLIGHTLY DRIER FOR YOU INTO THE AFTERNOON, IT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE GREY AND DAMP FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE DAY FOR THE WEST COAST. THAT IS THE SYSTEM CLEARING AWAY, DAMAGES INTO THE LOWER 20S IMPROVING FOR YOU, AND FOR WELLINGTON, ALL THAT SOUTHERLY, LOW CLOUD GOES AWAY TOMORROW. IT IS THERE IN THE MORNING THOUGH, AND A BIT OF DRIZZLE. SOUTH ISLAVAILABLE THE CLOUDY DRIZZLY WEATHER FROM NELSON TO KAIKOURA. BRIGHTEST GUIDANCE ON CHINA TO THE AFTERNOON FOR CHRISTCHURCH, BUT THE CLOUD COULD COME BACK IN THE EVENING. CLOUDY, DRIZZLY ONSHORE FLOW FOR THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. QUEENSTOWN, A BIT OF EARLY CLOUD LOOKING AT MAYBE THE ODD SHOWER, ALSO GETTING SOME OF THAT HUMIDITY AND PLACES AS WELL, AND LOOKING AT THE FAR SOUTH, DRIZZLY, THERE MAY BE A SPOT OF TWO OF RAIN AND THE ODD SHOWER, BUT ALL ARE IMPROVING, INCLUDING DUNEDIN. YOU HAVE SOME EARLY CLOUD AND YOU WILL MOSTLY GET RID OF THAT, 15. INTO THURSDAY, THE SLOWER SITTING OUT HERE, GOING THAT WAY, BECAUSE OF THE BIG BLOCKING HIGH. JUST SHOWERS FOR THURSDAY, SIMILAR SORT OF THING FOR FRIDAY, BUT THE HUMIDITY IS STILL THERE,