IT'S MIDDAY. WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER YET HALF OF KIWI KIDS AREN'T LEARNING TO SWIM. CALLS FOR EXTENSIVE SWIM CLASSES TO BE AVAILABLE IN SCHOOLS. COP 27 ENDS WITH A HISTORIC AGREEMENT ON FINANCE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. BUT WAS THAT THE ONLY WIN FROM THE CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS? PLUS ` THE CONTROVERSIAL FIFA WORLD CUP KICKS OFF IN QATAR BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST MATCH THE HOSTS HAD HOPED FOR. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE AND KRISTIN WILLIAMS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2022 THE HEAD OF WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND IS CALLING FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE SWIM PROGRAMMES IN SCHOOLS AFTER NEW RESEARCH REVEALED HALF OF NEW ZEALAND KIDS AREN'T LEARNING THE SKILL. 'SWIM SAFER' FOUND THAT 20% OF PARENTS DON'T PLAN ON ENROLLING THEIR CHILD IN SWIMMING LESSONS, WITH OVER 50% SAYING LESSONS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE. SWIMMING IS CURRENTLY IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM BUT ONLY BASIC AQUATIC SKILLS. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR YOUNGSTERS AND MOKOPUNA AND TAMARIKI ARE PROVIDED WITH THE BASIC AQUATIC SKILLS TO START WITH, AND THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM AND SURVIVE. THAT THEN GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AND LEARN TO SWIM, AND IT OPENS UP THE WHOLE RECREATION/SPORT ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AS THEY GROW OLDER. PARALYMPIAN SOPHIE PASCOE SAYS SWIMMING GETS YOU MORE THAN MEDALS DESCRIBING IT AS A NECESSARY TOOL TO PREVENT DROWNINGS. IT WAS REALLY VITAL FOR ME TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM TO KEEP SAFE IN THE WATER. I MEAN, WE GO AROUND THE WATERS. AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH SUMMER, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER AS A COUNTRY, AND A LOT OF FAMILIES SPEND THEIR SUMMER TIME AROUND WATER. 90 PEOPLE DROWNED IN AOTEAROA LAST YEAR. THE HIGHEST YEAR FOR DROWNING FATALITIES IN OVER A DECADE. PRIVATE LANDLORDS SAY THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE ON MEETING THE MINIMUM HEALTHY HOMES STANDARDS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED AN EXTENSION IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR ALL LANDLORDS, INCLUDING PRIVATE RENTALS AND KAINGA ORA, AFTER ONLY INITIALLY CONSIDERING AN EXTENSION FOR STATE LANDLORDS. SINCE JULY LAST YEAR, PRIVATE LANDLORDS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO MEET HEALTHY HOMES STANDARDS WITHIN 90 DAYS OF ANY NEW OR RENEWED TENANCY. WE'VE HAD ALL THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FACED, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTENSION. I KNOW THEY MAY BE TALKING ABOUT, AT THE MOMENT, GIVING PRIVATE LANDLORDS THE EXTENSION, BUT ACTUALLY IN REALITY, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR IT. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TENANTS TO HAVE TO WAIT LONGER THAN THEY NEED TO, ESPECIALLY KAINGA ORA TENANTS, WHO ARE OFTEN MORE VULNERABLE. ALL RENTALS MUST MEET THE STANDARDS BY THE 1ST OF JULY 2024. MANY HAVE COME AWAY FROM THE CLIMATE SUMMIT DISAPPOINTED AT THE LACK OF ACTION. FOR THE FIRST TIME, RICH NATIONS WILL NOW PAY POORER COUNTRIES FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT PROGRESS ON THE ROOT CAUSE OF THOSE DISASTERS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN 'STONEWALLED' BY OIL PRODUCING NATIONS. THE BBC'S JUSTIN ROWLATT HAS MORE. THESE TALKS WERE SUPPOSED TO END ON FRIDAY. THEY WENT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WAS 4.15 ON SUNDAY MORNING WHEN THE GAVEL FINALLY CAME DOWN ON THE LOSS AND DAMAGE DEAL. HERE, NO OBJECTIONS. IT SO DECIDED. (STAGGERED APPLAUSE) THE EXHAUSTED DELEGATES ONLY MANAGED A RIPPLE OF APPLAUSE. BUT THIS IS A LANDMARK DEAL ON AN ISSUE THAT HAS DOGGED THESE TALKS FOR DECADES. CLEARLY, THIS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH. BUT IT IS A MUCH NEEDED POLITICAL SIGNAL TO REBUILD BROKEN TRUST. THE VOICES OF THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS MUST BE HEARD. HURRICANE IAN THROUGH CUBA EARLIER THIS YEAR. TODAY'S DEAL CREATES A FUND TO HELP VULNERABLE NATIONS COPE WITH THE LOSS AND DAMAGE, CLIMATE-RELATED STORMS, DROUGHTS AND FLOODS ARE ALREADY WREAKING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LEADERS OF DELEGATIONS MET TO DISCUSS HOW THEY COULD CHANGE THE WORDING TO INCREASE THE EFFORT TO CUT EMISSIONS. THE AIM OF THESE SUMMITS IS TO RAISE AMBITION EVERY YEA, BUT TODAY'S DEAL DIALS BACK ON WHAT WAS AGREED LAST YEAR IN GLASGOW. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG MOVE BY SOME OF THE PETRO STATES TO TRY AND UNWIND SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS, AND IN FACT GO BACK TO PRE-PARIS KIND OF ARRANGEMENTS. AND SO, I MEAN, AS YOU CAN TELL, BECAUSE HOW LATE WE ARE, IT WAS SORT OF TRENCH WARFARE ON THAT. MANY NATIONS WANTED THE TARGETS FOR EMISSION REDUCTIONS TO BE MUCH STRONGER. EMISSIONS PEAKING BEFORE 2025, AS THE SCIENCE TELLS US, IS NECESSARY ` NOT IN THIS TEXT. CLEAR FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE PHASE DOWN OF COAL ` NOT IN THIS TEXT. A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO PHASE OUT ALL FOSSIL FUELS ` NOT IN THIS TEXT. AND THE ENERGY TEXT WEAKENED IN THE FINAL MINUTES. BUT THE DEAL ON LOSS AND DAMAGE IS GENUINELY A BREAKTHROUGH, SAYS THE WOMAN WHO LED NEGOTIATIONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. IT'S GIVEN ME HOPE. IT'S RESTORED FAITH IN MULTILATERALISM. IT'S GIVEN US ALL HOPE IN THE COP SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS, FOR MANY HERE, THE REST OF THE DEAL IS SO DISAPPOINTING; IT MEANS WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TRIUMPH FOR EGYPT IS LIKELY TO END UP BEING JUDGED A FAILURE. A MAJOR SNOW STORM HAS BLANKETED LARGE PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE. AND WITH MORE SNOW ON THE WAY, IT'S PROMPTED OFFICIALS TO RESTRICT TRAVEL, AHEAD OF THE BUSY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. THE ABC'S MATT RIVERS HAS THE LATEST. THIS MORNING THE DIG OUT UNDERWAY ALL ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK ` PUMMELLED BY RECORD BREAKING LAKE EFFECT SNOW FALL IN A DEADLY WINTER STORM THAT BROUGHT MORE THAN SIX FEET OF SNOW IN SOME HARD HIT AREAS. THE DEEP SNOW CREATING TOUGH CONDITIONS FOR CREWS TRYING TO CLEAR THE ROADS. WE HAVE SOME CREWS THAT ARE GONNA BE WORKING 16-HOUR SHIFTS, SOME CREWS THAT ARE GONNA BE WORKING STRAIGHT 24-HOUR SHIFTS. STRANDED DRIVERS WORRY THEY WON'T BE GOING ANYWHERE SOON. I DON'T SEE ANY HELP ON THE HORIZON. I SEE NO TOWING TRUCKS. NOTHING. THE NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD STAGING AT THE ERIE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE HELPING TRANSPORT PEOPLE. THIS VIDEO FROM ACCUWEATHER SHOWING ORCHARD PARK ` HOME TO THE BUFFALO BILLS ` WHERE AN EYE-POPPING 77 INCHES FELL. TODAY'S GAME AGAINST THE BROWNS MOVED TO DETROIT. THEIR OWN STADIUM BURIED. SOME BILLS PLAYERS POSTING PHOTOS OF HOMES AND VEHICLES UNDER FEET OF SNOW. THE CITY OF GOOD NEIGHBOURS. WOW. LET'S GO. NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE TEAM CREDITING THE COMMUNITY FOR GETTING THEM TO DETROIT TO PLAY TODAY. FROM THE PLOUGH OPERATORS THAT PLOUGHED OUT DRIVEWAYS TO THE FANS THAT WENT TO THE PLAYERS HOUSES. IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE TEAM EFFORT. AND THE EXECUTIVE HERE IN ERIE COUNTY ANNOUNCING THAT MOST OF THE MAJOR ROADWAYS IN THIS AREA HAVE EITHER REOPENED ALREADY OR WILL LIKELY REOPEN LATER ON TODAY. THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO IN MANY CASES HAVE BEEN STUCK INSIDE THEIR HOMES FOR DAYS NOW. DEFENCE MINISTER PEENI HENARE SAYS THE POSITIVITY OF UKRAINIANS HAS BEEN A HUGE TAKEAWAY AFTER HIS 10-HOUR VISIT TO THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY. IT WAS THE FIRST VISIT TO THE CONFLICT BY A NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE. THE SHORT TRIP INCLUDED VISITS TO THE CITIES OF IRPIN AND KYIV AND A CHANCE FOR THE DEFENCE MINISTER TO REAFFIRM NEW ZEALAND'S SUPPORT OF UKRAINE. PEENI HENARE SAYS HIS CONVERSATIONS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE INSIGHTS IN KNOWING HOW AOTEAROA CAN HELP. WE ARE NOW NOT FAR AWAY FROM THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE CONFLICT STARTED. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS, SORT OF, 'WHAT NEXT' PIECE FOR US AS WE CONTINUE TO CONSIDER HOW WE MIGHT SUPPORT THE EFFORTS HERE. AS WINTER HITS IN UKRAINE, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION MAY CHANGE ALONG WITH THE SEASON. AND A NUMBER OF EXPLOSIONS HAVE HIT NEAR UKRAINE'S ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR PLANT. BOTH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE HAVE TRADED BLAME FOR THE ATTACKS WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN RECORDED SINCE SATURDAY. THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY HAS CALLED REPORTS FROM ITS TEAM ON THE GROUND 'DISTURBING'. AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A SHOOTING AT A GAY NIGHTCLUB IN THE U.S. STATE OF COLORADO. POLICE HAVE PRAISED THE ACTIONS OF TWO HEROIC PEOPLE WHO CONFRONTED THE GUNMAN AND STOPPED THE ATTACK, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S ALSO ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING AMERICANS 'CANNOT AND MUST NOT TOLERATE HATE' THE BBC'S BARBARA PLETT-USHER REPORTS. (SIREN WAILS) IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT WHEN THE GUNMAN WALKED INTO A DANCE PARTY AT CLUB Q. HE WAS ARMED WITH A LONG RIFLE AND STARTED SHOOTING IMMEDIATELY. BUT TWO CLUBGOERS TACKLED HIM AND STOPPED THE KILLING. WHAT I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IS THE VISUALS OF THE EVENING ` OF THE BODIES, OF THE BLOOD, OF THE BROKEN GLASS, OF THE CARNAGE IN THE WRECKAGE AND SEEING A SAFE PLACE TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER THIS WAS A HATE CRIME. CLUB Q IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR LGBTQ CITIZENS. EVERY CITIZEN HAS THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN OUR CITY, TO GO ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING HARMED OR TREATED POORLY. THE SUSPECT WAS NAMED AS ANDERSON LEE ALDRICH (22). IT'S NOT CLEAR IF HE WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN TO POLICE. AMERICA'S GAY CLUBS AND BARS HAVE BEEN TARGETED BEFORE ` THE MOST DEADLY ATTACK SIX YEARS AGO AT THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB IN FLORIDA. CLUB Q SAID IT WAS DEVASTATED BY THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE AGAINST ITS COMMUNITY STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE BLIND SURFER ABOUT TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST WAVES ON THE PLANET. Virgil, that's your brother Earl. Damn glare, I can't see a thing. Should have gone to Specsavers. WELCOME BACK. THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THE CURRENT LAW PREVENTING 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS FROM VOTING IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ACT. THE 'MAKE IT SIXTEEN' ADVOCATE GROUP TOOK THE CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR. AFTER IT FAILED IN THE HIGH COURT AND COURT OF APPEAL. THE GROUP ARGUED VOTING LAWS WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ACT ON THE BASIS OF AGE DISCRIMINATION. AS THE UK'S COST OF LIVING CRISIS DEEPENS. LIBRARIES SAY THEY'RE SEEING MORE PEOPLE COME THROUGH THEIR DOORS. BUT WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND, MANY LIBRARIES COULD SEE THEIR BUDGETS REDUCED. FORCING SOME TO SHUT THEIR DOORS. THE BBC'S CAROLINE DAVIES EXPLAINS. IT'S WARM, FREE AND SOCIABLE. IT DOES GET A BIT ROWDY SOMETIMES IN HERE. THE KNITTERS OF NANTWICH MEET IN THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY EVERY WEEK, MAKING THEIR WINTER WARMTH PACKS. WE GIVE EVERYBODY A KNEE BLANKET, A HAT, A SCARF AND A TREAT, AND A CHRISTMAS CARD. I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE YOU'VE GOT TO FIND MONEY TO HEAT AND EAT SOMEHOW, WHICH IS WHY I'M STILL WORKING. OTHER LIBRARIES ARE ALSO PROVIDING THE BASICS ` AROUND 200 MILES AWAY IN IPSWICH, VOLUNTEERS PACK CUT-PRICE BAGS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO SELL TO LIBRARY VISITORS FOR �2. I FIND EVERYBODY IS, SORT OF, STRUGGLING AND SOME PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO, SORT OF, ADMIT THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING AND JUST FROM, SORT OF, PRIDE. THE NUMBER OF BAGS SOLD HAS DOUBLED SINCE THE SUMMER. WE'VE GOT THE TOILETRIES TODAY FOR AN �1 THE WIFE AND I ARE BOTH ON A PENSION, AND IT ISN'T A LOT. WELL, IT ISN'T ENOUGH TO SURVIVE ON. SO WE HAVE TO COME HERE. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT HELP FROM ANYBODY, BUT IT COMES TO THE STAGE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. BUT LIBRARIES ARE SEEING THEIR COSTS GOING UP, AND MANY ARE EXPECTING THE MONEY COMING IN TO GO DOWN, WHICH THEY ARGUE IS UNSUSTAINABLE. THESE AREN'T SAVINGS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE SOFA OR TRIMMING LITTLE BITS HERE AND THERE; THESE ARE SAVINGS THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND BY MAKING DRASTIC CUTS TO LIBRARY SERVICES, CLOSING BRANCHES, REDUCING HOURS, SO EFFECTIVELY REMOVING LIBRARY SERVICES FROM COMMUNITIES AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED THEM THE MOST. LIBRARIES SAY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FUND COUNCILS BETTER. THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT UNDERSTANDS THE PRESSURES COUNCILS ARE UNDER, WHICH IS WHY IT'S MADE AN ADDITIONAL �3.7 BILLION AVAILABLE TO THEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE BODY THAT REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF COUNCILS SAYS THEIR FUTURE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IS ON A CLIFF EDGE OF LIFE. THEY LOOK LOVELY. MANY LIBRARIES FEAR THEY COULD BE AT THE SHARP END OF CUTS AS TIMES GET TIGHTER. THE MONSTER WAVES OFF NAZARE IN PORTUGAL ATTRACT ONLY THE MOST EXTREME SURFERS. BUT AN AUSSIE IS ABOUT TO TAKE ON THE TOWERING 50FT WAVES. WHAT MAKES HIS STORY UNIQUE ` HE'S LEGALLY BLIND. CHANNEL 9'S SOPHIE WALSH HAS MORE.ONE OF THE LIBRARIES AND SWIMMING . (ETHEREAL MUSIC) MATT FORMSTON HAS SPENT HIS LIFE PROVING PEOPLE WRONG. I'VE HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY ARE IMPOSSIBLE MY WHOLE LIFE ` AS A KID GROWING UP WAS BLIND AND PLAYED RUGBY LEAGUE, RUGBY UNION, ICE HOCKEY. EVERYONE SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND I DID ALL THOSE THINGS AND MOST OF THEM TO A REPRESENTATIVE LEVEL. AND TODAY AT FINGAL HEAD ON THE NEW SOUTH WALES FAR NORTH COAST, HE'S MATCHING IT WITH THE BEST. MATT RIPS; HE WROTE ONE WAVE IN PARTICULAR, DID THREE NICE MANOEUVRES ON IT AND I WAS LIKE, 'HE'S A MORE CONFIDENT SURFER THAN ANYONE ELSE OUT HERE.' AFTER LOSING 95% OF HIS SIGHT AT THE AGE OF 5, MATT RELIES ON OTHER SENSORS TO READ THE WAVES. IN ESSENCE, I SURF BY FEEL; SO I'M USING THE FEELING OF GOING UP AND DOWN. I'M SITTING ON MY BOARD IN THE MIDDLE. I'M SURFING THE WAVE, MY FRONT FOOT ` SO MY LEFT FOOT IS MY FRONT FOOT ` BECOMES MY CANE. THIS WEEK, THE THREE-TIME WORLD BLIND SURFING CHAMP AND PARALYMPIC CYCLIST IS HOPING TO CONQUER THE BIGGEST WAVES EVER RIDDEN BY A BLIND SURFER AT NAZARE, PORTUGAL, WHERE EVEN THE MOST SKILLED RIDERS HAVE BEEN SWEPT UP AND SPAT OUT. NOTORIOUS FOR ITS 80FT MONSTERS, MATT WILL POTENTIALLY SURF 50FT WAVES HE CAN'T SEE. WELL, BASICALLY HOLD ON TO THE ROPE, DON'T LET GO, ONCE I HEAR THE REFEREE WHISTLE, I PULL THE ROPE AND GO AND TRUST THAT THEY'VE GOT ME INTO THE RIGHT WAVE IF HEAR AN AIR HORN AND THAT MEANS YOU'RE ABOUT TO COP A BIG ONE ON THE HEAD, BRACE FOR IT. TO UNDERSTAND HOW TOUGH IT IS, WORLD SURFING CHAMP JOEL PARKINSON HAD A PADDLE WEARING BLACKOUT GOGGLES. MATT SPENT MONTHS RESEARCHING AND TRAINING, INCLUDING TEACHING HIMSELF TO HOLD HIS BREATH FOR FIVE MINUTES. I'LL BE WEARING FLOTATION, AND I'VE GOT CO2 CANISTERS` THAT YOU PULL` THAT YOU PULL IF YOU GO UNDER? YEAH. HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN WON'T BE TRAVELLING TO NAZARE, BUT THEY'RE NERVOUS NOW. NOW, MANY OF YOU WILL BE SITTING THERE RIGHT NOW AND WONDERING WHY, BUT FOR MATT, THE ANSWER IS VERY SIMPLE ` AS HE GETS OLDER, HE HAS THIS OVERWHELMING NEED TO SET BENCHMARKS FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO INSPIRE THEM TO PUSH BOUNDARIES AND TRY AND BEATING. FOR MATT, IT'S A CALCULATED RISK IN THE ONE PLACE HE FEELS COMPLETELY FREE. IT'S MY SAFE PLACE. LIKE, YOU WALK ANYWHERE ACROSS THE BEACH, IN A CAR PARK, THERE'S STICKS AND GUTTERS AND TOW BALLS AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF TRYING TO GET YOU; IN THE OCEAN, I FALL OFF AND I'M IN WATER AND IT'S THE HEALING. JUST AMAZING. TO SPORT, AND KIWI GOLFER LYDIA KO IS BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD AFTER WINNING THE LPGA'S SEASON-ENDING EVENT IN FLORIDA. KO WAS TIED FOR THE LEAD HEADING INTO THE FINAL ROUND. TWO BIRDIES ON THE 16TH AND 17TH HOLES GAVE KO THE TOURNAMENT WIN PLUS THE SEASON-LONG TITLE AND A PAYCHEQUE OF $3.25 MILLION NZD. KO EMOTIONAL AFTER HER A STELLAR SEASON. I REALLY COULD NEVER ASK FOR MORE TO WINS SO EARLY THE SEASON AND THEN TO HAVE WON IN KOREA AND THEN WIN THE LAST EVENT IN THE YEAR. I COULD NEVER HAVE DREAMT IT UP ANY BETTER. THERE'S BEEN SO MANY EXCITING THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON. I WANTED TO DO THIS FOR MY FAMILY. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT AND SOLID YEARS THAT I'VE HAD. RYAN FOX HAD TO SETTLE FOR SECOND IN THE EUROPEAN TOUR STANDINGS AFTER FINISHING 19TH AT THE SEASON ENDING TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. THE BLACK FERNS HAVE CLEANED UP AT THE WORLD RUGBY AWARDS HELD IN MONACO THIS MORNING. FERNS CO-CAPTAIN RUAHEI DEMANT CLAIMED WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS BEING NAMED IN THE DREAM TEAM. RUBY TUI ALSO NAMED IN THE DREAM TEAM AND AWARDED 15'S BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER OF THE YEAR. SHE ALSO RECEIVED A NEW RUGBY WORLD CUP MEDAL AFTER GIVING HERS AWAY AFTER THE FINAL. PORTIA WOODMAN AND THERESA FITZPATRICK WERE ALSO NAMED IN THE DREAM TEAM, AND WAYNE SMITH RECEIVED COACH OF THE YEAR. TO SPORT, AND IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED ALL BLACKS HALFBACK TJ PERENARA RUPTURED HIS ACHILLES DURING YESTERDAY MORNING'S DRAW WITH ENGLAND. PERENARA WAS HELPED OFF THE FIELD LATE IN THE GAME AND IS EXPECTED TO BE SIDELINED FOR NINE MONTHS. THE HALFBACK WAS SELECTED FOR THE LAST TWO TESTS OF THE SEASON AFTER BEING OVERLOOKED AT THE START OF THE YEAR. THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP HAS KICKED OFF IN QATAR, WITH THE HOSTS FALLING TO ECUADOR IN THE OPENING GAME. TOUGH GOING FOR QATAR'S FOOTBALLERS IN A TOURNAMENT THAT'S EXPECTED TO MAKE HEADLINES OFF THE PITCH AS MUCH AS ON IT. HERE'S LACHIE MCLEOD. (DRUMS BEAT) A MESSAGE OF UNITY TO BEGIN THE MOST DIVISIVE OF WORLD CUPS. FOOTBALL SPANS THE WORLD, UNITES NATIONS IN LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. WHAT BRINGS TOGETHER NATIONS, ALSO BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITIES. MORGAN FREEMAN NARRATING PART OF THE OPENING CEREMONY OF QATAR'S WORLD CUP ` A SHOW OF COLOUR AND OPENNESS FOR A TOURNAMENT SHROUDED IN CONTROVERSY FROM THE MOMENT IT WAS AWARDED. (CROWD CLAMOURS) OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, RIOT POLICE HAD TO PUSH BACK SUPPORTERS AS FAN ZONES REACHED CAPACITY. INSIDE, THE COUNTRY'S RULER DECLARED FOOTBALL'S SHOWPIECE OPEN. WELCOME AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THE HOSTS NEEDED MORE THAN LUCK ` QATAR MAKING THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE TOURNAMENT THANKS TO BEING HOSTS AND QUICKLY ON THE BACK FOOT. NOT GETTING HOLD OF THE BALL AND IT'S STRAIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE! THE FIRST GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP HAS BEEN SCORED BY ENNER VALENCIA! VAR SAVING THE HOSTS ONCE, BUT ECUADOR WERE SOON ON THE BOARD. ITS 1-0! THIS TIME TE GOAL WILL COUNT! ENNER VALENCIA DOUBLING THE SOUTH AMERICAN'S LEAD BEFORE HALF TIME. DECENT-LOOKING BALL, IT'S TWO! SAME PLAYER, TWICE THE ADVANTAGE ` 2-0 ECUADOR. WITH THEIR TEAM BEHIND, SOME QATARI FANS ABANDONED THEIR SEATS DURING THE SECOND HALF WHILE THE ECUADOR FANS GREW RESTLESS. (CROWD CHANTS) CHANTS OF WE WANT BEER HEARD IN THE STADIUM IN RESPONSE TO A LAST-MINUTE DECISION TO BAN ALCOHOL SALES AT ALL VENUES. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE HOSTS HAVE LOST THE OPENING MATCH AT THE WORLD CUP. A 2-0 DEFEAT NO CAUSE FOR CELEBRATIONS FOR LOCAL FANS, BUT THE FIRST GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT IN THE BOOKS RELATIVELY FREE OF CONTROVERSY. LACHIE MCLEOD, 1 NEWS. THE BLACKCAPS HAVE STRUGGLED TO CONTAIN INDIA IN THEIR SECOND T20 INTERNATIONAL AT MOUNT MAUNGANUI. AFTER THE FIRST MATCH WAS WASHED OUT, SURYA-KUMAR YADAV SMASHED THE NEW ZEALAND ATTACK WITH AN UNBEATEN 111 OFF 51 BALLS. DESPITE TIM SOUTHEE CLAIMING A HAT-TRICK IN THE FINAL OVER, INDIA REACHED 191 FOR 6. CAPTAIN KANE WILLIAMSON SAYS THEY FAILED TO GET THE BALL ROLLING. RED BULL HAVE ADDED THE ANOTHER TROPHY TO THE CABINET WITH MAX VERSTAPPEN CLAIMING THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX. VERSTAPPEN CRUISED TO VICTORY LEADING FROM START TO FINISH. THE REAL BATTLE WAS FOR SECOND AS FERRARI'S CHARLES LECLERC HELD OFF RED BULL'S SERGIO PEREZ TO CLAIM SECOND IN THE DRIVER'S STANDINGS. LEWIS HAMILTON FINISHED THE SEASON WITHOUT A WIN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS DEBUT IN 2007. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. WELCOME BACK. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER, WITH GLOWY AND 'KNOTS'. (WHIMSICAL MUSIC) # PEOPLE CHANGE # THIS MUCH I SEE, # BUT TELL ME WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO WITH ME. # WE'RE GETTIN' OLDER NOW, AND I'M STILL SET ON YOU # THE SUMMER WAVES # CRASH INTO BLUE. # THEY SHOW US THINGS THAT WE NEVER KNEW. # I'M TURNIN INSIDE OUT. # IT'S A BETTER POINT OF VIEW # ALL OF THOSE DAYS # WE GOT CAUGHT IN THE RAIN. THANKS FOR JOINING US. OUR NEXT NEWS IS TE KARERE AT 4, AND THE 1 NEWS TEAM WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY KRISTIN WILLIAMS AND TOM CLARKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2022