IT'S MIDDAY. THE VOTE IS ON ` AUCKLAND COUNCIL TRIES TO FIND A WAY TO FIX ITS DEBT HOLE. WILL MAYOR BROWN GET HIS WAY? GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. THANKS FOR COMING ALONG. THE BIG DRUG PROBLEM ARRIVING HERE, AS METH SEIZURES GROW 2000 FOLD. PLUS ` A BARELY VISIBLE MANHATTAN. HOW THE WORST WILDFIRES IN CANADA'S HISTORY ARE AFFECTING THE EAST COAST OF AMERICA. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND EMMA BARTOSZEWICZ POOLE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023. $325M ` THAT'S THE DEBT HOLE AUCKLAND COUNCIL IS TRYING TO FILL, WHILE DECIDING ON THE CITY'S BUDGET. SELLING AIRPORT SHARES, CUTS TO ARTS AND SERVICES AND RATE RISES ARE ALL ON THE TABLE, BUT STRONG DIVISIONS BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, AND LAST-MINUTE ADMITTANCE TO FINANCIAL INTERESTS, HAS COMPLICATED THE PROCESS. LOGAN CHURCH IS OUTSIDE THE AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, WHERE THE BUDGET IS BEING DEBATED. LOGAN, WHAT'S ON THE LINE HERE? I HAVE STEPPED OUT OF THAT DISCUSSION WHERE THE MAYOR AND THE COUNSELLORS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL THAT $325 MILLION. HOLE IT IS NOT JUST THAT; THEY ALSO NEED TO FIND THE CASH. RELATED ISSUES AS WELL THAT ARE ONGOING HERE IN AUCKLAND. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEADERS, BORROWING MORE MONEY, CUTTING COSTS. THE AUCKLAND MAYOR HAS BEEN PROPOSAL TO SELL THE COUNCIL STAKE IN AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE COUNCIL OWNS ABOUT $2.2 BILLION WORTH OF SHARES. HE WANTS TO USE THAT MONEY TO DRIVE DOWN DEBT AND SAVE $100 MILLION A YEAR IN INTEREST PAYMENTS. IT IS NOT A PROPOSAL WITH UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE. IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT DEBATE HERE TODAY. IT WILL BE A DEBATE THAT TAKES TIME. THE MAYOR HAS SIGNALLED IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MONDAY IF NEED BE. AND LOGAN, THERE WAS A BIT OF DRAMA WHEN THE MEETING KICKED OFF? YES. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE SALE OF THE AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SHARES HAS BEEN MOOTED FOR SOME TIME, BUT THIS MORNING WHEN THE MEETING GOT UNDERWAY, THERE WERE THREE COUNSELLORS WHO HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THAT IS DUE TO SHARES OWNED BY FAMILY TRUSTS OR OWNED THROUGH A MANAGED PORTFOLIO FROM A SPOUSE OF A COUNSELLOR. THEY HAD RECEIVED ADVICE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL WHO SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FINANCIAL BENEFIT FROM THE SHARES, SO COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTE. AUCKLAND SHARES THIS WEEK, YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT THIS WEEK. THE TRANSPORT MINISTER IS IN HOT WATER OVER SHARES THAT HE OWNS. HE SAYS HE THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN SOLD. HE HAD BEEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHETHER THAT HAD HAPPENED. KEREN MCANULTY IS ACTING TRANSPORT MINISTER AND ALL THAT IS SORTED OUT. YOU WILL BE ACROSS THE STORY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THANK YOU. AND WHILE IT AWAITS A VOTE ON SOME SHARES, AUCKLAND AIRPORT HAS JUST ANNOUNCED IT'S RAISING AIRPORT CHARGES. FOR MORE ON WHAT THIS MEANS, WE'RE JOINED BY TESSA PARKER IN THE AUCKLAND NEWSROOM. KIA ORA, TESSA. WHAT'S THE LATEST? THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION ON AUCKLAND AIRPORT AT THE MOMENT. THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE RAISING AIRLINE CHARGES. THEY PAY PER PASSENGER TO OPERATE AT THE AIRPORT. THAT RAISE IS EXPECTED TO KICK IN AND LAST FOR FIVE YEARS. THIS. A FREEZE THAT THE AIRPORT IMPLEMENTED TO HELP THE AIRLINES RECOVER POST PANDEMIC. TRAVEL IS BACK IN ACTION, AND THE AIRPORT SAYS IT NEEDS THIS MONEY TO HELP WITH THE $3.5 BILLION UPGRADE IT HAS PLANNED. THAT MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS DOING UP THE AIRSTRIP, AS WELL AS THE DOMESTIC TERMINAL, WHICH IS 57 YEARS OLD. TESSA, HOW HAVE THE AIRLINES REACTED? QANTAS AND IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CONDEMN THIS. THEY SAY AUCKLAND AIRPORT HAS CLOSED THE DOOR ON NEW ZEALAND. THEY SAY IT WILL PUT ADDED COST PRESSURE ON TRAVEL. WE HAVE SEEN SKYHIGH PRICES AND TRAVEL, AND DESPITE AIRLINES PAYING THIS EXTRA CHARGE AT FIRST, THEY SAY IT WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER. THEY ARE CALLING ON THE AIRPORT TO RECONSIDER THIS MOVE AND CONSIDER PAUSING DEVELOPMENTS UNTIL THEY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO CUT COSTS. DESPITE ALL OF THIS, AUCKLAND AIRPORT SAYS AT THE END OF THESE PRICE LIVES, THE COST AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT FOR PASSENGER PER AIRLINE WILL BE LOWER THAN WHAT YOU SEE IN WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH. A LOT OF POLITICS GOING ON AT THE AIRPORT SCENE AT THE MOMENT AND INTEREST IN THOSE AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES. IN THE LAST 15 MINUTES, A PARLIAMENTARY WATCHDOG HAS ANNOUNCED IT'LL INVESTIGATE THE TRANSPORT MINISTER MICHAEL WOOD AND HIS AIRPORT SHARES. NATIONAL MADE THE COMPLAINT TO A HIGH POWERED OFFICIAL, SAYING THAT THE MINISTER DIDN'T COMPLY WITH PARLIAMENT RULES WHEN HE FAILED TO DECLARE $13,000 IN AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES. THE REGISTRAR SAYS AT FIRST GLANCE, AN INQUIRY IS WARRANTED. AND IN MORE POLITICAL NEWS, THE EDUCATION MINISTER IS ABOUT TO BE QUESTIONED FOR AN HOUR BY MEMBERS OF THE HIGH-POWERED PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE ABOUT WHETHER SHE DELIBERATELY MISLED PARLIAMENT. JAN TINETTI IS BEING INVESTIGATED AFTER SHE DELAYED CORRECTING A STATEMENT IN THE DEBATING CHAMBER, DESPITE STAFF TELLING HER ON THE DAY SHE WAS WRONG. CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT IS A SERIOUS ACCUSATION. THE LAST TIME A SIMILAR INVESTIGATION TOOK PLACE WAS WITH WINSTON PETERS 15 YEARS AGO. POLICE HAVE JUST RELEASED MORE DETAIL IN THE DEATH OF RANGIORA MAN RICHARD LEMAN IN APRIL. DIGBY WERTHMULLER HAS THE LATEST. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? POLICE ARE SEEKING TO TRACK DOWN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE MURDER OF RICHARD, WHO WAS FOUND IN HIS CAR IN APRIL. HE WAS MURDERED ON THE 11TH, AND THEN LATER THAT WEEK ON THE 17TH, HIS BODY WAS FOUND. POLICE SAID IN A STATEMENT TODAY, SOME OF HIS REMAINS HAVE NOT YET BEEN FOUND. A 46-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THE MURDER. TODAY'S NEW INFORMATION INDICATES THAT THERE COULD BE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED. POLICE ARE URGING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO CONTACT THEM ON 105. THANKS. IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR AS NEW DATA SHOWS IT'S PLUGGING IT'S WORKFORCE GAPS, WITH THE SHARPEST INCREASE IN FILLED JOBS SINCE LAST YEAR ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES. STATS NZ SAYS THE SECTOR HAS HAD AN ALMOST 9% INCREASE, COINCIDING WITH BORDERS OPENING. OVERALL IN NEW ZEALAND, JOB NUMBERS WERE UP 2.8% COMPARED WITH 2022 NUMBERS. NEW FINANCIAL DATA ALSO SHOWS RENTAL, HIRING AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES WERE ONE OF FEW INDUSTRIES WERE WAGES DROPPED BY 9%. ONE TECH COMMENTATOR IS URGING USERS OF A NEW SHOPPING APP TO DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE CHINESE-OWNED PLATFORM 'TEMU' HAS NEARLY 50 MILLION USERS WORLDWIDE, GOING VIRAL FOR GIVING MONEY TO THOSE WHO SHARE IT. IAN HOWARD SAYS IF AN APP LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. THEY ARE GIVING AWAY THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY ARE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OFF THAT AT ALL, WHICH MAKES YOU THINK, WELL, IN WHICH CASE, HOW ARE THEY MAKING MONEY? AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY BY HARVESTING YOUR DATA. AND THAT'S WHY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAVE GOT INVOLVED, THAT'S WHY THERE HAVE VARIOUS INVESTIGATIVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT. AND THEY HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS MALWARE IN THE APP THAT CAN ALLOW IT TO CAPTURE DATA THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE CAPTURING. HE WARNS THAT ONCE THE APP IS DOWNLOADED, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION IT'S COLLECTING. A PRICE HIKE IN NZ POST SERVICES IS COPING BACKLASH FROM COMMUNITIES, WHO ARE CONCERNED IT WILL CUT THEM OFF. 13 ORGANISATIONS HAVE WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNMENT, ASKING FOR THEM TO STOP THE CHANGE. IT INCLUDES HUNTING AND FISHING, PRINT NZ AND GREY POWER. RURAL WOMEN NZ'S GABRIELLE O'BRIEN SAYS MANY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT POST BECAUSE OF DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY. JUST RECENTLY LAST WEEK AT THE COMMERCE COMMISSION, START A SURVERY TO LOOK AT THE 13% WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE ULTRA-FAST BROADBAND AND WHERE THERE ARE STILL ISSUES AROUND CONSISTENCY, GOOD PRICE POINTS AND ACTUALLY GETTING ACCESS TO SERVICES. SO WE KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE, NO ONE DISAGREES WITH THAT, AND YET ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT IS VITAL TO THOSE COMMUNITIES IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT AND MORE COSTLY TO USE. IF IT GOES AHEAD, THE CHANGES TO POSTAGE PRICE FOR BULK MAIL CUSTOMERS WILL HAPPEN JULY 1ST. POLICE SAY A HUGE BLAZE THAT BROKE OUT IN WELLINGTON YESTERDAY IS BEING TREATED AS SUSPICIOUS. IN THE EARLY MORNING, A FIRE TORE THROUGH A 40M BY 50M WAREHOUSE IN SHELLY BAY. THE BUILDING WAS UNOCCUPIED, AND POWER WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE ROAD REMAINS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC TODAY. SMOKE FROM CANADA'S WILDFIRES HAS CAUSED HAVOC ACROSS THE BORDER, WITH MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES' EAST COAST ISSUING AIR-QUALITY WARNINGS. HUNDREDS OF FIRES ARE BURNING THROUGHOUT CANADA, REQUIRING THE HELP OF INTERNATIONAL FIRE CREWS, INCLUDING NEW ZEALANDERS, TO CONTAIN THEM. COURTNEY HAMMOND HAS MORE. AFTERNOON IN MANHATTAN, AND THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS PLUNGED INTO NEAR DARKNESS. SMOKE FROM CANADA'S WILDFIRES CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER. SMOTHERED IN A THICK, ORANGE HAZE, NEW YORK CITY CURRENTLY HAS THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE WORLD. THIS IS NOT THE DAY TO TRAIN FOR A MARATHON OR TO DO AN OUTSIDE EVENT WITH YOUR CHILDREN. STAY INSIDE, CLOSE WINDOWS AND DOORS, AND USE AIR PURIFIERS IF YOU HAVE THEM. IT'S PROMPTED AIR-QUALITY ALERTS FOR MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES' EAST COAST. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE IMPACTED AREAS TO LISTEN ` TO LISTEN TO THEIR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. CHECK IN ON YOUR NEIGHBOURS, CHECK IN ON YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILY. IT'S KIND OF GOT A YELLOWY HAZE TO IT. BASEBALL GAMES AND BROADWAY SHOWS AMONG THE CITY'S EVENTS CALLED OFF. FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF NEW YORK HAVE ALSO BEEN CANCELLED, AND RESIDENTS ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS OR WEAR AN N95 MASK IF THEY GO OUT. CANADIANS HAVE BEEN ISSUED SIMILAR WARNINGS. I WANT TO RECOGNISE THE AIR-QUALITY STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA BECAUSE OF WILDFIRE SMOKE. PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE BEING AFFECTED. WE'RE SEEING VULNERABLE PEOPLE AT RISK, OUTDOOR EVENTS CANCELLED, KIDS HAVING TO BE KEPT INSIDE AT RECESS. THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS THIS IS NOW HIS COUNTRY'S WORST WILDFIRE SEASON ON RECORD. WELL, THE REALITY IS, UNFORTUNATELY, OVER THE PAST YEARS, WE'VE SEEN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS INCREASE IN THEIR INTENSITY AND THEIR IMPACT ON CANADIANS, AND THIS YEAR, THE WORST WILDFIRE SEASON WE'VE EVER HAD RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. APPROXIMATELY 3.8 MILLION HECTARES HAVE BEEN BURNED. AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE 414 WILDFIRES BURNING, 239 OF WHICH ARE DETERMINED TO BE OUT OF CONTROL. ALSO, AS OF TODAY, AN ESTIMATED 20,183 PEOPLE REMAIN EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. WITH CANADA'S WILDFIRE SEASON ONLY JUST BEGINNING, IT'LL LIKELY BE SOME TIME BEFORE NORTH AMERICANS CAN BREATHE EASY. COURTNEY HAMMOND, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` PRINCE HARRY HAS ANOTHER DAY IN COURT. WILL HIS EVIDENCE BE ENOUGH TO PROVE PHONE HACKING AGAINST A NEWSPAPER GROUP? PLUS ` OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF THE LIV GOLF TOUR RORY MCILROY SPEAKS OUT ON THE MERGER. OFFICIALS FROM THAILAND ARE IN NZ TO TRY TO COMBAT ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRADES, AS AOTEAROA FACES A SPIKE IN THE ISSUE. THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW A MORE THAN 2300% INCREASE IN METH SEIZURES BY POLICE THIS YEAR SO FAR, COMPARED WITH THE WHOLE OF 2022. THE DRUG FOUNDATION'S SARAH HELM SAYS SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTION IN OUR UNREGULATED MARKET. WE NEED TO HAVE A MATURE AND SENSIBLE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR DRUG LAWS AND POLICIES OVERALL, AND LOOK TO THE LITTLE SHINING EXAMPLES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE THE APPROACH THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING HAS BEEN GROWING THIS FRANKENSTEIN, AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW YEAR ON YEAR. SHE'S PREDICTING THE WAVE OF INCREASED PRODUCTION WILL HIT AOTEAROA EVENTUALLY, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GOOD. POPE FRANCIS HAS SUCCESSFULLY UNDERGONE ABDOMINAL SURGERY OVERNIGHT. THE THREE-HOUR OPERATION AT ROME'S GEMELLI HOSPITAL TREATED A RECURRENT, PAINFUL AND WORSENING ISSUE WITH THE POPE'S INTESTINE. THE 86-YEAR-OLD WILL REMAIN IN HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO RECOVER. ALL OF HIS COMMITMENTS FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. PRINCE HARRY HAS ENDURED A SECOND DAY IN THE WITNESS STAND, AS HIS COURT TRAIL WITH THE 'MIRROR GROUP NEWSPAPERS' CONTINUES. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX IS ACCUSING THE TABLOID PUBLISHER OF UNLAWFULLY TARGETING HIM FOR STORIES, THOUGH MANY OF HIS CLAIMS APPEARED TO BE KNOCKED BACK. THE BBC'S KATIE RAZZALL HAS MORE. THE INTEREST IN THIS STORY SHOWS NO SIGN OF WANING. HARRY! PRINCE HARRY ARRIVED HERE FOR ANOTHER BOUT OF CROSS EXAMINATION. THE MIRROR GROUP IS DETERMINED TO SHOW HE'S WRONG TO CLAIM THAT ARTICLES ABOUT HIM WERE BASED ON UNLAWFUL INFORMATION GATHERING. MGN'S BARRISTER TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE ITEM OF HARD EVIDENCE IN THESE ARTICLES TO SHOW PHONE HACKING, AND THAT PRINCE HARRY'S CLAIMS WERE PURE SPECULATION. THE PRINCE SAYS THIS ONE ABOUT A SECRET DINNER HE HAD WITH THE LATE TV PRESENTER CAROLINE FLACK AT A CLOSE FRIEND'S HOUSE WAS BASED ON PHONE HACKING, AS HE AND HIS FRIEND HAD LEFT VOICEMAILS FOR EACH OTHER. MGN SAYS IT CAME FROM A PHOTO AGENCY. THIS ONE ABOUT HIS THEN GIRLFRIEND CHELSEA DAVY'S FURY AT HIS VISIT TO A LAP DANCING CLUB WAS ALSO BASED ON HACKING, PRINCE HARRY SAYS. MGN SAYS IT WAS IN OTHER PAPERS THE DAY BEFORE. AND WHEN HE SPLIT FROM CHELSEA, THERE WAS THIS HEADLINE ` PRINCE HARRY TOLD THE COURT HE WAS LIKELY TO HAVE EXCHANGED VOICEMAILS ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND SAID, 'I NOW FIND THIS VERY SUSPICIOUS.' MGN SAYS THE STORY WAS IN THE NEWS OF THE WORLD BEFORE. PRINCE HARRY BLAMES THE TABLOIDS FOR HIS BREAK-UP WITH MS DAVY. TODAY, HE TOLD THE COURT HE'D ONCE FOUND A TRACKING DEVICE ON HER CAR, PUT THERE, HE CLAIMS, BY A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. 'FOR MY WHOLE LIFE,' HE SAID, 'THE PRESS HAVE MISLED ME AND COVERED UP 'THE WRONGDOING.' ANDREW GREEN FOR MIRROR GROUP ASKED HIM... PRINCE HARRY SAID... ANDREW GREENE CONTINUED. PRINCE HARRY RESPONDED ` TODAY, WE SAW A MORE CONFIDENT PRINCE HARRY, MAKING HIS POINTS MORE FORCEFULLY, THOUGH AT THE END OF HIS EVIDENCE, HIS BARRISTER ASKED HIM THE TOLL GOING THROUGH IT ALL HAD TAKEN. THE PRINCE APPEARED TO FIGHT BACK TEARS. 'IT'S A LOT,' HE SAID IN A CRACKED VOICE. PRINCE HARRY SPENT AROUND EIGHT HOURS IN THE WITNESS BOX. HE'LL BE LEAVING HERE, PROBABLY FEELING RELIEVED, HAVING KEPT HIS COOL AND FOCUS IN THE FACE OF SOME TOUGH QUESTIONING. THEY'LL BE RELIEVED TOO FOR HIS ESTRANGED FAMILY. WITH WEEKS OF OTHER EVIDENCE STILL TO COME, IT COULD BE MANY MONTHS BEFORE THE JUDGE MAKES HIS DECISION. ONE OF GOLF'S BIGGEST STARS, AND MOST VOCAL CRITIC OF THE SAUDI BACKED LIV TOUR, HAS GIVEN HIS REACTION TO THE SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT, IT WILL BE MERGING WITH THE PGA. THE NEWS WAS REVEALED TO PLAYERS IN AN EMAIL YESTERDAY, IN A TWIST NO ONE SAW COMING. LACHIE MCLEOD HAS MORE. IT'S THE COMMENT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ` WHAT WILL RORY SAY? I STILL HATE LIV. LIKE, I HATE LIVE. I HOPE IT GOES AWAY, AND I WILL FULLY EXPECT THAT IT DOES. RORY MCILROY, THE WORLD NUMBER THREE, STILL FIRM ON HIS THOUGHTS, BUT TRYING TO SWALLOW HIS PRIDE. I THINK ULTIMATELY, WHEN I TRY TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE SITUATION AND I LOOK BIGGER PICTURE AND I LOOK AT 10 YEARS DOWN THE LINE, YOU KNOW, I THINK ULTIMATELY THIS IS GOING TO BE` IT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR THE GAME OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF. THE PGA TOUR AND EUROPE'S DP WORLD TOUR ENDING A YEAR-LONG FEUD WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL LIV TOUR YESTERDAY ` THE NEW VENTURE ENDING MULTIPLE PENDING LITIGATION BETWEEN THE TOURS, BUT LEFT THEIR PLAYERS WANTING ANSWERS. THIS NEWS WAS A SHOCK TO MANY, INCLUDING TO A LOT OF OUR PLAYERS. THIS NEWS WAS A SHOCK TO MANY, INCLUDING TO A LOT OF OUR PLAYERS. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO WALK INTO THAT PLAYER MEETING, YOU KNOW, SIX AND A HALF, FIVE AND A HALF HOURS AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. AT TIMES, IT WAS AN INTENSE MEETING. MCILROY WAS ONE OF THE PGA'S BIGGEST CRITICS OF THE SAUDI-BACKED LIV TOUR AND FEELS HE'S BEEN HUNG OUT TO DRY. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO NOT SIT UP HERE AND NOT FEEL SOMEWHAT LIKE A SACRIFICIAL LAMB, AND, YOU KNOW, FEELING LIKE I'VE PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. AGAIN, REMOVING MYSELF FROM THE SITUATION, I SEE HOW THIS IS BETTER FOR THE GAME OF GOLF. THERE'S NO DENYING THAT. BUT FOR ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL, YEAH, I... THERE'S JUST GONNA HAVE TO BE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAD. THE PGA'S NOW IN DAMAGE CONTROL WITH PLAYERS SEEKING MORE INFORMATION ` SAUDI ARABIA NOW TAKING A FIRM GRIP ON ONE OF SPORTS MOST PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITIONS. LACHIE MCLEOD, 1 NEWS. KIWI TENNIS PLAYER MICHAEL VENUS IS THROUGH TO ANOTHER GRAND SLAM FINAL, BOOKING HIS PLACE IN THE FRENCH OPEN MIXED DOUBLES DECIDER. VENUS AND PARTNER BIANCA ANDREESCU TAKING OUT THEIR SEMI-FINAL IN STRAIGHT SETS AT ROLAND GARROS, WHERE HE WON THE MEN'S DOUBLES TITLE IN 2017. (CROWD APPLAUDS) VENUS WILL TAKE ON FORMER DOUBLES PARTNER TIM PUTZ FOR THE TITLE TONIGHT. IT'S VENUS' FIFTH GRAND SLAM FINAL. AND CASPER RUUD HAS BOOKED THE LAST SEMI-FINAL SPOT IN THE MEN'S SINGLES. RUUD LOOKED LIKELY TO WIN IN STRAIGHT SETS, WINNING THE FIRST TWO 6-1, 6-2. FEEL LIKE IT'S ENOUGH TO GET HIM THROUGH. (CROWD CHEERS) OH, WELL, HE'S EVEN STOLEN THAT POINT. RUBBING SALT INTO THE WOUND RIGHT NOW. HOLGER RUNE TOOK THE SECOND 6-3, BEFORE RUUD SETTLED HIS NERVES AND CLOSED OUT THE FOURTH AND FINAL SET 6-3. FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR LIONEL MESSI IS HEADING STATE-SIDE AFTER SIGNING A DEAL WITH AMERICAN CLUB 'INTER MIAMI'. RUMOURS HAVE BEEN SWIRLING MESSI WOULD MAKE A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MOVE TO A SAUDI ARABIAN CLUB AFTER HIS CONTRACT ENDS WITH PSG. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE WORLD CUP WINNER WILL PLAY PROFESSIONALLY OUTSIDE OF EUROPE. MLS SIDE INTER MIAMI IS CO-OWNED BY DAVID BECKHAM. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` CHRISTCHURCH CITY MISSION GETS A MAKE-OVER, AND I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AFTER TWO YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, THE CHRISTCHURCH CITY MISSION HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED THE DOORS ON ITS NEW $11M RE-DEVELOPMENT TODAY. IT'S PROMISING TO CARE FOR PEOPLE IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS. DIGBY WERTHMULLER HAS MORE. IT STARTED OFF WITH A COMMUNITY CAFE. THE IDEA OF THE CAFE IS THAT IT IS VALUE FOR MONEY. THEN CAME THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. IT'S FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE DREAM WAS THAT IT WOULD BE AS IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE. NOW THE FINAL STAGE OF CHRISTCHURCH'S CITY MISSION REDEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE, INCLUDING A SELF-SERVE FOODBANK, WAREHOUSE AND OFFICES. AT THE MOMENT, THEY ARE UNDER THE CURRENT BUILDING IN THE CAR PARK, WORKING AND STORING THE FOOD DOWN THERE, SO THIS WILL BE JUST LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR THEM. THERE ARE THREE FLOORS OF TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION, WITH ROOM FOR FIVE PEOPLE ON EACH FLOOR. THEY STAY FOR 90 DAYS; WE GET THEM TO A POSITION THAT THEY CAN GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND LIVE UNDER THEIR OWN ESTEEM. THE CITY MISSION CHURNS OUT 350 FOOD PARCELS A WEEK, AND WITH THIS NEW FACILITY, THE CITY MISSIONER HOPES THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET EVEN MORE OUT THE DOOR. THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT IS WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE FOOD AND WE HAVE GOT TO PAY FOR IT, AND THIS IS A $10M BUSINESS WITHOUT THE CAPITAL COST. IT COSTS $26,000 A DAY TO RUN THE OPERATION, AND FUNDING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE, BUT THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED UPGRADE. DIGBY WERTHMULLER, 1 NEWS. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (FRANK SINATRA'S 'COME FLY WITH ME') THAT'S IT FOR MIDDAY. THANKS FOR JOINING US, AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND EMMA BARTOSZEWICZ POOLE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.