IT'S MIDDAY, AND MANY AUCKLANDERS WOKE TO INUNDATED HOMES AND STREETS AFTER YET ANOTHER NIGHT OF TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. MEANWHILE, TAURANGA IS BRACING FOR A FRESH ONSLAUGHT OF WILD WEATHER. WE FIND OUT WHAT PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY. AND ACROSS THE TASMAN, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNED OFF ON SOME MAJOR 501 DEPORTATION CHANGES. CAPTIONS BY SEAN LYDIARD AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 FLASH FLOODING IS BACK IN AUCKLAND AFTER INTENSE BURSTS OF RAIN THIS MORNING. TESSA HAS BEEN OUT IN THE WEATHER ALL MORNING, AND JOINS US NOW. HAVE WE SEEN THE LAST OF THE RAIN, TESSA? THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DRIZZLE TO COME THIS WEEK, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT TO THE SEVERITY WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. ALL WEATHER WARNINGS ARE NOW OVER FOR AUCKLAND, INCLUDING THE ORANGE BRAIN WARNING, THAT RAIN SIT IN THIS MORNING BUT WAS RATHER CALM ` HOWEVER DID COME AND INTENSE BURSTS. SOME AREAS RECEIVE 60 MM OF RAIN IN TWO HOURS. THIS HAS CAUSED FLOODING, THE LAST THING MT ROSKILL RESIDENTS WANTED TO WAKE UP TO THIS MORNING ` BACKYARDS OVERRUN WITH FLOODWATER AGAIN. IT JUST FLOODED WITHIN NO TIME AT ALL ` THREE TIMES AS FAST AS FRIDAY. AND IT'S BECAUSE THAT RIVER IS BLOCKED. THERE'S A MANHOLE OVER THERE IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT THE LID KEEPS POPPING OFF. RESIDENTS WERE STILL CLEANING UP FROM LAST WEEK'S FLOOD DAMAGE WHEN THIS DELUGE CAME IN. THERE WAS PIECES OF CONCRETE COMING OFF FROM THE BRIDGE FROM THE ROAD. THIS JUST FLOODED SO HIGH. THE CAR HERE WAS SUBMERGED. ALL ALONG THE BACK HERE, GARAGES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. EVERYTHING'S BEEN WIPED OUT. WE DIDN'T SLEEP, I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH. I HAVE BEEN AWAKE SINCE 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I'M COMING EVERY HOUR, CHECKING, CHECKING, CHECKING. YOU KNOW? AND I HAVEN'T BEEN SLEEPING FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT. ACCORDING TO NIWA, ANOTHER MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU. THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED FROM THE RECORD BREAKING DOWNPOURS THE CITY RECEIVED ONLY FIVE DAYS AGO. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT URGING THOSE IN THE REGION TO STAY ALERT. WHILST THE RAIN MIGHT MOVE OFF TODAY, THERE IS STILL A CHANCE OF IMPACTS FROM THINGS LIKE TREE FALL, BECAUSE THE GROUND IS SO WET THAT IT CREATES A LEVEL OF INSTABILITY, PARTICULARLY IF THE WIND PICKS UP. AND GIVEN THE WIND WE HAD LAST NIGHT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT BE WAKING UP TO FIND DAMAGE ON THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY HAVEN'T EXPECTED AND MAY NOT KNOW THAT UNTIL THEY SORT OF GET OUT AND ABOUT. TAP WATER IN THE REGION IS STILL SAFE TO DRINK, AND FLOODED ROADS HAVE STARTED TO REOPEN. BUT THERE'S CONCERN FOR FURTHER DAMAGE. THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF SURFACE WATER AROUND. SOILS ARE VERY SATURATED. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER INUNDATION OF PROPERTIES POTENTIALLY, DEPENDING ON HOW INTENSE THIS GETS IF STORMWATER GETS BACKED UP. THE CITY REMAINS IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY UNTIL FRIDAY, FACING A HEFTY CLEAN UP AFTER ANOTHER SUMMER STORM. TESSA, YOU MENTIONED FURTHER DAMAGE IN YOUR STORY; HOW IS AUCKLAND CURRENTLY DOING? THERE ARE COUPLE OF ROADS STILL CLOSED, FOLLOWING THE DELUGE. STATE HIGHWAY ON RAMPS NEAR HIBISCUS COAST, THESE REMAIN CLOSED. THERE ARE SOME DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS NEAR THE GREEN LANE ROUNDABOUT. AUCKLAND HAD SEEN PATCHES OF POWER GO OUT ALL MORNING, CURRENTLY IT IS OUT NEAR THE NORTHERN BORDER, IN WEST AUCKLAND AREAS, AND NEAR THAT AUCKLAND'S SOUTHERN BORDER. WE ALSO SAW A RANGE OF SLIPS OCCUR, ESPECIALLY AROUND WEST AUCKLAND, AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WERE 400 YELLOW OR RED STICKERED HOMES. AS SERVICES CLEAN UP AND ASSESS THE DAMAGE, WE MAY SEE THAT NUMBER INCREASE. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GO AND DRY OFF A BIT NOW. A RED RAIN WARNING IS STILL IN PLACE FOR PARTS OF THE BAY OF PLENTY, WITH AT LEAST 70 MORE MILLIMETRES OF RAIN EXPECTED TODAY. SAM KELWAY IS STANDING BY. KIA ORA, SAM, WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US? WERE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH, THE WARNING IS EXPECTED TO LIFT AT 9 PM TONIGHT. WE ARE INSPECTING BETWEEN 100 AND 150 MM OF RAIN. THE REGIONS THAT WERE TO BE AFFECTED, ROTORUA AND TAURANGA, HOWEVER IT HAD THE RAIN HAS NOT BEEN AS INTENSE AS IT IS IN AUCKLAND. THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS WHEN A GREAT DEAL OF RAIN HAS COME DOWN, AND THERE HAS BEEN SURFACE FLOODING, BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN IT IS CLEAR AS IT IS NOW. IF WE GET ANY MORE RAIN, BECAUSE IF SLIPS AND FLOODING. THE COUNCIL IS PROVIDING FREE SANDBAGS FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE, I SPOKE TO ONE MAN WHO WAS HE EXPECTING BAGS, AND HE SAYS HE HASN'T SEEN FLOODING BUT HE IS TAKING PRECAUTIONS. OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT IN THE PAST FEW DAYS THERE PROPERTY HAS FLOODED, THEY ARE GETTING SANDBAGS AS A PRECAUTION. THE WEATHER DOESN'T SEEM TO BED NOW, BUT A LOT CAN CHANGE IN NINE HOURS. NORTHLAND MAY HAVE DODGED A BULLET, WITH THE STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTING FOR THE REGION THIS MORNING. OUR NORTHLAND REPORTER HELEN CASTLES IS IN KAITAIA, KIA ORA, HELEN, THIS MUST BE A RELIEF? I'M ACTUALLY IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS, WE CAME HERE LAST NIGHT UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE AREA THAT WAS HIT HARDEST, BUT IN FACT IT DOES SEEM NORTHLAND HAS DODGED A BULLET. WE WERE ANY RED HEAVY RAIN WARNING, AND THAT WAS LIFTED EARLY THIS MORNING. ON TOP OF THAT, CIVIL DEFENCE HAS ALSO LIFTED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHICH THEY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, IT WAS LIFTED TODAY ` IT WAS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE ENABLED EMERGENCY SERVICES TO EXERCISE SPECIAL POWERS. THEY SAID THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST EXERCISES AND ADVANCED PREPARATION THAT THEY HAVE EVER CARRIED OUT. TODAY HERE IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS, IT IS NOT A NICE DAY ` IT IS OVERCAST AND WE HAVE SHOWERS BUT IT IS MUCH BETTER THEN WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. DESPITE THE INTENSE DOWNPOUR THIS MORNING, THE NATIONAL PARTY SAYS IT DOESN'T MEAN SCHOOLS SHOULD CLOSE. LEADER CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS CLOSING SCHOOLS HAS SET CHILDREN BACK AND THERE'S A LOT OF CATCH-UP AHEAD. HE SAYS LOCAL PRINCIPALS ARE BEST PLACED TO DECIDE IF THEY SHOULD OPEN. THERE WERE PARTS OF AUCKLAND YESTERDAY WHERE STUDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN AT SCHOOL. DOES IT MATTER FOR A WEEK? YEAH, IT KINDA DOES. WE'RE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY. NO, NO, I GET THAT. BUT THE QUESTION FOR ME IS JUST, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE OUR KIDS HAVE MISSED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SCHOOL; IT'S REALLY OBVIOUS WE HAVEN'T GOT OUR KIDS BACK IN REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. WE HAVE REALLY GOT MAJOR CHALLENGES AROUND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT WITH OUR KIDS ` THEY'RE FALLING REALLY FAR BEHIND, THEY'RE SLIPPING. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNED OFF ON MAJOR CHANGES TO ITS CONTROVERSIAL 501 DEPORTATION POLICY. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT ANDREW MACFARLANE JOINS US NOW. KIA ORA, ANDREW. HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE THESE CHANGES? THAT 501 POLICY HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT STICKING POINT BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS, EVER SINCE IT WAS FORMALLY PUT INTO LEGISLATION ON THE SIDE OF THE TASMAN. IT MEANS THAT IF SOMEONE COMMITS A SERIOUS CRIME AND THEY ARE NOT A AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN, THEY ARE DEPORTED BACK TO THE COUNTRY OF BIRTH. WHICH IS MEANT, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED IN AUSTRALIA FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES DESPITE ALSO BEING NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS, ARE DEPORTED. TODAY WE ARE SEEING SOME SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING ON THIS, SOME CHANGES ARE BEING BROUGHT IN, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOW TAKE IN TO ACCOUNT HOW LONG SOMEONE HAS LIVED AND AUSTRALIA. THIS COMES AFTER JACINDA ARDERN AND ANTHONY ALBANESE MEET LAST YEAR. THESE WILL KICK IN FROM MARCH 3. CHRIS HIPKINS SOON MAKES HIS FIRST TRIP ACROSS THE TASMAN TO MEET ANTHONY ALBANESE, THIS HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF WORK FOR ADVOCATES OF 501 DEPORTEES. NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY THOUGH. IT IS REALLY TIME FOR OUR NEW PRIME MINISTER TO STEP UP TO THE FOREFRONT, CARRY OUR VOICES AND MAKES SURE HE REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PLACED ON THOSE TO DETENTION CENTRES. HE SHOULD VISIT THE DETENTION CENTRE AND SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE. THIS MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, THIS IS A FLYING VISIT. MORE CHANGES INVOLVING THE ANZAC RELATIONSHIP KICK AND FROM 25 APRIL ` SOME BIG THINGS IN THE TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONSHIP TO LOOK FORWARD TO LATER THIS YEAR. THANKS SO MUCH, ANDREW. OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT HAS EDGED UP TO 3.4% IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 2022. TODAY'S FIGURE IS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, WITH SOME ECONOMISTS PREDICTING IT WOULD REMAIN AT LAST QUARTER'S RATE OF 3.3%. WAGES HAVE GROWN AT RECORD LEVELS, RISING BY 4.3%. IT COMES AMID FORECASTS OF A RECESSION HITTING THIS YEAR. HALF-PRICE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND FUEL SUBSIDIES ARE SET TO BE EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE. PRIME MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO. DISCOUNTED ROAD USER CHARGES WILL ALSO BE REINTRODUCED. HE SAYS IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. THIS IS A START, IT IS A MEANINGFUL STEP IN AN ONGOING SERIES OF MEASURES, TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE MOST CONSISTENT COST PRESSURES FACING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. THAT COST OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR EARLY ACTION, AS IT IS A COST FOR NEARLY EVERYBODY. AND WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND CAN DO IT QUICKLY. CHRIS HIPKINS IS VISITING AUCKLAND TODAY TO ASSESS FLOOD-IMPACTED AREAS. THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO CHRIS HIPKINS' MINISTER LINE-UP HAVE BEEN SWORN IN AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE THIS MORNING. IT INCLUDES GINNY ANDERSEN AND BARBARA EDMONDS, WHO WERE APPOINTED TO CABINET ALONGSIDE THOSE OUTSIDE OF CABINET WHO HAVE NEW PORTFOLIOS. TODAY MARKS A WEEK SINCE CHRIS HIPKINS HIMSELF WAS SWORN IN AS PRIME MINISTER. DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL'S LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT THE GOVERNMENT OVER CUTS TO THE CITY'S NEW HOSPITAL. COUNCILLORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PROTEST CHANGES IN THE BUILDING'S DESIGN IN AN ATTEMPT TO MANAGE BUDGET PRESSURES. THEY INCLUDE FEWER BEDS AND OPERATING THEATRES, A REDUCED PATHOLOGY UNIT, AND THE LOSS OF 450 NON-CLINICAL WORKSPACES. COUNCILLORS SAY THEY WON'T ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN A FIT-FOR-PURPOSE FACILITY. WE NEED TO FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR PEOPLE, FOR OUR CITY AND FOR THE WIDER REGION, WE HAVE GOT A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A THOROUGHLY MODERN WORKING HOSPITAL THAT WILL DELIVER EXCELLENT CARE. $130,000 OF RATE PAYER MONEY WILL BE USED TO FUND THE CAMPAIGN. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` DRAMATIC SCENES IN FRANCE, AS DEMONSTRATORS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE OVER THE RISING RETIREMENT AGE. THE PRINCESS OF WALES LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE. AND AUCKLAND CITY FOOTBALL CLUB IS BACK ON THE WORLD STAGE. THE DEATH TOLL FROM A MOSQUE BOMBING IN PAKISTAN HAS RISEN TO MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE. THE ATTACK APPEARED TO HAVE TARGETED POLICE WITHIN A HIGH-SECURITY ZONE. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY INTO HOW THE BOMBER GOT IN. THE BBC'S CAROLINE DAVIES HAS THE DEVELOPMENTS. HOSPITAL WARDS TIGHTLY PACKED. INJURED ARRIVED LATE INTO THE NIGHT. SOME HAD BEEN PULLED FROM THIS DESTRUCTION. YESTERDAY, THE EXPLOSION BROUGHT DOWN AN ENTIRE WALL OF THE MOSQUE INSIDE THE POLICE COMPOUND, TRAPPING MANY IN THE RUBBLE. 24 HOURS LATER, THIS MORNING, SECURITY WAS STILL TIGHT. THIS IS AS CLOSE AS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET TODAY TO THE EXPLOSION. IT HAPPENED INSIDE THE POLICE COMPOUND JUST BEHIND ME AT AROUND LUNCHTIME. NOW, EVEN NOW, THERE'S STILL CLEARLY A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. WE'VE SEEN AMBULANCES COMING IN AND OUT AT SPEED, WE'VE SEEN AMBULANCES COMING IN AND OUT AT SPEED, AND WE KNOW FROM THE AUTHORITIES THAT THE SEARCH OPERATIONS ARE STILL UNDERWAY, THAT THEY'RE STILL USING TECHNOLOGY TO TRY TO FIND SOME SIGNS OF LIFE. TRANSLATOR: WE HAVE PULLED OUT AROUND 28 INJURED PEOPLE FROM UNDER THE DEBRIS. OUT OF THE LAST TWO, ONE WAS PULLED OUT 10 HOURS AFTER THE RESCUE OPERATION STARTED. THE SECOND ONE WAS RESCUED ALMOST 12 HOURS AFTERWARDS. BUT BY THE AFTERNOON, THE RESCUE TEAM SAID THEY WERE CALLING OFF THE SEARCH. TRANSLATOR: IT IS A MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN FOR US THAT THE BOMBERS CAN ENTER MOSQUES. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE MARTYRED. HOW CAN TERRORISTS ENTER A POLICE COMPOUND? IF THE POLICE DON'T HAVE SECURITY, WHAT SAFETY CAN THEY PROVIDE FOR US? THE CENTRAL BODY OF THE PAKISTANI TALIBAN DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT, SAYING IT DOES NOT TARGET MOSQUES. BUT A COMMANDER FROM A GROUP AFFILIATED TO THEM HAD EARLIER CLAIMED THE EXPLOSION. VIOLENT ATTACKS IN PAKISTAN, MOSTLY TARGETED AT SECURITY OFFICIALS, HAVE INCREASED. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DEADLY FOR YEARS, AND WILL MAKE MANY FEAR THERE MAY BE MORE TO COME. DEMONSTRATORS HAVE CLASHED WITH RIOT POLICE IN FRANCE DURING PROTESTS AGAINST RAISING THE PENSION AGE. IT'S THE SECOND ROUND OF STRIKES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO INCREASE THE RETIREMENT AGE FROM 62 TO 64. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN PART, DISRUPTING SCHOOLS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND OIL REFINERIES. THE PRINCESS OF WALES HAS LAUNCHED A NEW CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE. IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED BY PALACE SOURCES AS HER 'LIFE'S WORK'. THE BBC'S DANIELA RELPH REPORTS. KIRKGATE MARKET IN LEEDS, WHERE THE PRINCESS OF WALES HAS COME TO LAUNCH THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE FOCUS IS ON GREATER AWARENESS OF THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF OUR LIVES, AND HOW THEY SHAPE THE ADULTS WE BECOME. LAST NIGHT, THE PRINCESS LAID OUT HER VISION FOR THE CAMPAIGN, AND WHY IT MATTERS TO HER SO MUCH. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE IMPORTANCE OF OUR EARLIEST YEARS, BUT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TO HELP RAISE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HAPPY, HEALTHY ADULTS. SHAPING US IS A LONG-TERM CAMPAIGN, AND WE'RE STARTING BY HIGHLIGHTING HOW WE DEVELOP DURING EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND WHY THESE YEARS MATTER SO MUCH. WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU. THE LAUNCH COMES WITH A FILM ` BIRTH TO 5 YEARS OLD IN 90 SECONDS. DESIGNED TO SHOW HOW A CHILD DEVELOPS, AND HOW COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION IS VITAL. OUR CHILDREN, THEIR BRAINS DEVELOP BETWEEN PREGNANCY AND THE AGE OF 5 QUICKER AND, YOU KNOW, MORE CRUCIAL THAN ANY OTHER POINT IN THEIR LIFE. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE I WASN'T AWARE OF UNTIL I FULLY DUG DEEP INTO THIS. ADVISERS TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES HAVE STRESSED THAT THIS CAMPAIGN ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS OR POLICY, BUT ABOUT RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS. IT COMES AT A CHALLENGING TIME FOR SOME YOUNG FAMILIES, WHERE FINANCIAL STRESSES DOMINATE. BUT THE PRINCESS OF WALES BELIEVES SHE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN AREA THAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS HER LIFE'S WORK. TO SPORT NOW, AND AUCKLAND CITY FC ARE BACK ON THE WORLD STAGE, TAKING THEIR PLACE AT THE LUCRATIVE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP. THE SIDE PUTTING IN THEIR FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR TOMORROW MORNING'S MATCH AGAINST AFRICAN CHAMPIONS AL AHLY. LACHIE MCLEOD REPORTS. A CHANCE TO REWRITE HISTORY ` AUCKLAND CITY FC ONE DAY OUT FROM THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP. VERY EXCITED. THE TEAM'S EXCITED FOR THE GAME TOMORROW. IT'S A BIG OCCASION, AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT ON THE FIELD, AND, YOU KNOW, SHOW WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO. THE OCEANIA CHAMPIONS BACK FOR A RECORD 10TH TIME, BUT THEIR ASSIGNMENT IS AS TOUGH AS IT GETS, FACING EGYPTIAN SIDE AL AHLY IN THE TOURNAMENT OPENER. OBVIOUSLY THE IMMEDIATE HISTORY, THEY HAVE BEEN UNBEATEN THIS SEASON. SO VERY GOOD, VERY STRONG. YEAH, LOOK, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR PERFORMANCE. WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND STICK TO THE GAME PLAN AND TRY TO FRUSTRATE AL AHLY AND SEE IF WE CAN, I GUESS, PICK THEM APART AT THE RIGHT MOMENT. IF THEY CAN ACHIEVE THAT, THE PRIZE MONEY HAS A FEW ZEROS IN IT ` $1.5 MILLION TO BE EXACT ` WITH THE OVERALL CHAMPION BAGGING JUST OVER $10 MILLION. ASSISTANT COACH IVAN VICELICH EXCITED TO BE PLAYING ALONGSIDE THE LIKES OF REAL MADRID AND FLAMENGO. TO BE HERE AGAIN AND I GUESS JUST TO BE ON THE WORLD STAGE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, EVERY` IT'S A GREAT COMPETITION. EVERY CLUB IN THE WORLD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ON THE WORLD STAGE, AND IT'S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME PLAYERS. ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK A BIT OF JOY TO THOSE AUCKLAND FANS. WE'VE SEEN THE FLOODS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE JUST HOPE THAT THEY ARE SAFE. WE SEND OUR PRAYERS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THE JOB FOR THEM. LACHIE MCLEOD, 1 NEWS. THE BLACKCAPS ARE GEARING UP FOR A POSSIBLE SELL OUT MATCH AGAINST INDIA AT THE BIGGEST CRICKET VENUE IN THE WORLD. THE KIWIS WILL PLAY THE T-20 DECIDER AT NARENDRA MODI STADIUM, WHICH CAN HOLD OVER 100,000 FANS. WHICH CAN HOLD OVER 100,000 FANS. LOCKIE FERGUSON IS NO STRANGER TO THE VENUE; IT WAS HIS HOME DURING HIS I-P-L SEASON WITH THE GUJARAT TITANS. HE SAYS THE INDIAN FANS BRING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT. I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD IT A LOT BEFORE ` INDIA CROWDS ARE SORT OF UNMATCHED, THEIR LOVE FOR THE GAME IS PROBABLY THIS THING THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST, EVEN WHEN WE GET A WICKET AGAINST INDIA, IF IT'S A GOOD PIECE OF CRICKET, THEY CLAP AND CHEER, IF IT'S A GOOD PIECE OF CRICKET, THEY CLAP AND CHEER, AND IF WE HIT A 6 OR 4, IT'S SORT OF THE SAME RESPONSE. FOR SURE, WHEN INDIA DO IT, THEY GET MORE, BUT YOU'D EXPECT THAT. THE FIRST BALL IS BOWLED EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. VOICEOVER: The 2023 census is about us, our whanau, our communities, and our future. When we all take part in the 2023 census, all of us count. Tatau tatou. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (CROWDED HOUSE'S 'ALWAYS TAKE THE WEATHER WITH YOU') THANKS FOR JOINING US. OUR NEXT NEWS IS TE KARERE AT 4, AND THE 1 NEWS TEAM WILL BE HERE AT 6. HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY SEAN LYDIARD AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.