IT'S MIDDAY. MENG FOON REVEALS HE HASN'T OFFICIALLY RESIGNED ` WHAT NEXT FOR THE RACE RELATIONS COMMISSIONER. MEDIATION BETWEEN SECONDARY TEACHERS AND THE GOVERNMENT BREAKS DOWN, AS SOME PARENTS PLEAD FOR A PAUSE TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION. AND AN OLIVE BRANCH OF SORTS, THE U.S. INVITES CHINA TO WASHINGTON ` COULD THIS BE THE START OF A WARMER RELATIONSHIP FOR THE SUPER POWERS? CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND KRISTIN WILLIAMS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023. RACE RELATIONS COMMISSIONER MENG FOON HAS COME OUT SWINGING AT THE GOVERNMENT FOR 'THROWING HIM UNDER THE BUS' ` THAT'S IN RELATION TO TWO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST; A HOUSING INQUIRY AND CAMPAIGN OFFICE FOR LABOUR MP KIRITAPU ALLAN. IT CAME TO LIGHT FRIDAY THE COMMISSIONER INTENDED TO STAND DOWN, BUT SAYS HE HASN'T OFFICIALLY RESIGNED YET. THE GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED IT WOULD SACK HIM IF HE DOESN'T. NOW FOON WANTS A FULL EXPLANATION FOR WHY THE GOVERNMENT WANTS HIM GONE. EVERYBODY THAT HASN'T DECLARED THEIR INTEREST IS IN BREACH OF THE CROWN'S ENTITY ACT. EVERYBODY. SO IF THEY'RE GONNA CHUCK ME UNDER THE BUS, WHY DON'T THEY CHUCK EVERYBODY ELSE? ALL I WANT IS A FAIR DEAL. IS THERE A LAW FOR ONE AND A LAW FOR ANOTHER? AND ALL I SAY, LOOK, GIVE US JUSTICE. GIVE US HUMAN RIGHTS. BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN PUBLIC ROLES OR IN PRIVATE ROLES MENG FOON SAYS HE WAS 'BLOODY HONEST' THE WHOLE TIME, BUT IN HINDSIGHT, RECOGNISES HE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEAR. A FELLOW COMMISSIONER HAS RESPONDED TO THE NEWS, SAYING THIS IS A 'SAD TIME', BUT THIS ROLE REQUIRES STAFF TO BE ABOVE REPROACH. UNDER THE CROWN ENTITIES ACT, WE HAVE AN ONGOING RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY TO EXERCISE REASONABLE CARE, TO BE DILIGENT. SO YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A ONE-OFF THING THAT YOU DO, IN TERMS OF DECLARATION OF INTEREST OR A PERCEIVED INTERESTS. IT'S A DAILY THING. I GO DOWN TO THE SUPERMARKET, AND I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. NZ'S CARBON MARKET'S IN LINE FOR A SHAKE-UP AS PUBLIC CONSULTATION FOR THE EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME OPENS. CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER JAMES SHAW SAYS THE SCHEME IS FAILING TO MEET ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. HE SAYS IT'S GENERALLY CHEAPER FOR COMPANIES TO PAY FOR THEIR EMISSIONS RATHER THAN TO INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THEM. RIGHT NOW THERE IS AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF FOREST E UNITS, WHICH MEANS THERE CAN ALSO BE AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF POLLUTION ALLOWED. THE UNLIMITED AVAILABILITY OF CHEAP CARBON REMOVALS FROM TREES HAS DULLED THE INCENTIVE. FOR WIDESPREAD TRANSFORMATION. FORESTRY MINISTER PEENI HENARI ALSO ANNOUNCING THE GOVERNMENT WERE WORKING ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES, IWI, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE FORESTRY SECTOR TO REDESIGN THE PERMANENT FOREST CATEGORY. WE THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH REDESIGNING THE IMPERMANENT FOREST CATEGORY TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS OF PERMANENT FORESTS FOR THE CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT AND LAND OWNERS, WHILE ALSO MINIMISING THE RISKS OF THESE FORESTS IN THE SAME AREAS. AS PART OF THIS, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LONG-TERM INDIGENOUS CARBON SINKS THROUGH ENABLING PEENI HENARE SAYS FORESTS ARE HUGELY SIGNIFICANT TO THE ECONOMY, RURAL COMMUNITIES AND TO MAORI, BOTH CULTURALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. SECONDARY TEACHERS ARE STICKING WITH INDUSTRIAL ACTION, DESPITE CALLS FROM SOME PARENTS FOR IT TO STOP. THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS SEEN REGULAR DISRUPTIONS AS TEACHERS FIGHT FOR BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS. AN INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AUTHORITY TO HELP SETTLE THE DISPUTE. A PETITION STARTED BY PARENTS CALLING FOR AN END TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION ALREADY HAS 1700 SIGNATURES. WE'VE BEEN RECENTLY DOING A SURVEY OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND FOUND THAT ONE IN SEVEN JOB APPLICATIONS ARE GETTING NO PEOPLE APPLYING AT ALL. ONE IN FOUR WILL ONLY HAVE PEOPLE APPLYING WHO AREN'T SUITABLE, AND 50% OF PRINCIPALS ARE BEING FORCED TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO EITHER AREN'T SPECIALIST OR WHO AREN'T QUALIFIED TO TEACH ` NOW, I THINK THAT'S WORTHY OF A PETITION. PRIMARY TEACHERS HAVE ACCEPTED A PAY OFFER FROM THE MINISTRY, THOUGH PAY PARITY MEANS THEY WOULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM ANY INCREASE WON BY THEIR SECONDARY COUNTERPARTS. WATER LEVELS ARE SO LOW IN THE CAPITAL, BOIL NOTICES AND A LEVEL 3 OUTDOOR WATER BAN OVER SUMMER ARE ON THE TABLE. CURRENT ESTIMATES SHOW THE REGION IS LOSING MORE THAN 40% OF SUPPLIED DRINKING WATER DUE TO LEAKS. WELLINGTON WATER'S LAURENCE EDWARDS SAYS AGEING INFRASTRUCTURE, HISTORICAL UNDERINVESTMENT AND A BACKLOG OF REPAIRS ARE PART OF THE CAUSE. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN BUILDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE ARE LIMITED BY THE AMOUNT BY CONSENTS AND HOW MUCH WATER WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE FROM THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE'RE ALSO LIMITED BY HOW MUCH WE CAN PHYSICALLY TREAT AND SUPPLY TO CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY. LAURENCE EDWARDS SAYS EVERY YEAR, WELLINGTON RUNS THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET DEMAND, DUE TO INCREASING LEVELS OF WATER LOSS. PORIRUA CITY COUNCIL HAS UNCOVERED THE CAUSE OF A SPIKE IN ODOUR COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR SPICER LANDFILL. TAWA RESIDENTS SUBMITTED 50 COMPLAINTS TO COUNCIL. THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER RECEIVED IN A SINGLE DAY. OF THESE, AN UNUSUALLY HIGH PROPORTION WERE SMELL-RELATED. PORIRUA COUNCIL SAYS IT APPEARS A CAP ON ONE OF THE DISCONNECTED GAS WELLS HAD POPPED OPEN ` DISCHARGING GAS IN LARGE VOLUMES. AN INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH UNPLEASANT, THE SMELL WAS NOT HARMFUL. FOLLOWING AN 18-MONTH-DELAY, THE NEW ARA TUHONO MOTORWAY HAS OPENED TO ALL TRAFFIC BETWEEN WARKWORTH AND PUHOI. THE ROAD IS THE NEWEST ADDITION TO SH1, ITS OPENING CELEBRATED WITH A RIBBON CUTTING BY GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ON FRIDAY. MORE THAN 35,000 VEHICLES ARE EXPECTED TO USE THE ROAD EVERY DAY, WITH LOCALS ALREADY EAGER TO TRY IT OUT. FINALLY, AFTER ALL THIS TIME. WOW. WHAT A BLE` IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. WE JUST BEGAN TO WONDER IF IT WAS EVER GONNA REALLY HAPPEN. OH, YEAH. IT'S PRETTY GOOD. YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A NICE ROAD. THE TRAFFIC'S HORRENDOUS, SO IT WILL BE REALLY NICE TO HAVE A LOT SMOOTHER TRAFFIC. THE ROAD IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT WARKWORTH'S GROWTH, WITH AN EXTRA 7300 HOMES EXPECTED IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN HAS INVITED CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT WASHINGTON, FOLLOWING THEIR MEETING IN BEIJING THIS MORNING. OFFICIALS SAY IT'S HOPED THE SERIES OF TALKS WILL STABILISE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUPERPOWERS, WHICH HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY TENSE. THE ABC'S MONA KOSAR ABDI REPORTS. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN, ARRIVING IN BEIJING FOR THE FIRST VISIT TO CHINA BY A U.S. DIPLOMAT IN NEARLY FIVE YEARS. FIRST ON THE AGENDA ` A MEETING WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIN GANG. INTENSE COMPETITION REQUIRES SUSTAINED DIPLOMACY TO ENSURE THAT COMPETITION DOES NOT VEER INTO CONFRONTATION OR CONFLICT. BLINKEN WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA IN FEBRUARY, BUT THAT TRIP WAS POSTPONED AFTER A CHINESE SPY BALLOON FLEW OVER U.S. AIRSPACE, CHINA BLAMING THE U.S. FOR ANY PROBLEMS, CALLING ON THE U.S. TO STOP, 'INTERFERING IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.' THIS VISIT COMES ON THE HEELS OF WHAT THE U.S. IS CALLING PROVOCATIONS BY CHINA ` JUST WEEKS AGO, A CHINESE WARSHIP GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO AN AMERICAN DESTROYER IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT, AND LAST MONTH, A CHINESE FIGHTER JET FLYING IN FRONT OF A U.S. PLANE; CHINA APPARENTLY FLEXING ITS MUSCLES AGAINST WHAT IT SEES AS U.S. ATTEMPTS TO CONTAIN ITS RISE; A SPOKESPERSON FOR CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYING ON FRIDAY... THE U.S. REGULARLY ACCUSING CHINA OF BEING A BAD ACTOR ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE, INCLUDING PROPPING UP U.S. ADVERSARIES IN IRAN AND RUSSIA AND PROMOTING UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES. LITTLE PROGRESS IS EXPECTED FROM THESE TALKS, BUT PRESIDENT BIDEN HOPES THESE TALKS WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A MEETING BETWEEN HIM AND CHINA'S PRESIDENT. I'M HOPING THAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, I'LL BE MEETING WITH XI AGAIN AND TALKING ABOUT LEGITIMATE DIFFERENCES WE HAVE, BUT ALSO HOW THOSE AREAS WE CAN GET ALONG. BOTH SIDES WOULD LIKELY BENEFIT FROM STABILISING A RELATIONSHIP WORTH HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TRADE. NEW U.S. INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTS UKRAINE'S KAKHOVKA DAM WAS BLOWN UP BY RUSSIA FROM WITHIN. THE DAM, WHICH IS NOW CONTROLLED BY RUSSIA, WAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND ALMOST ANY ATTACK FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE U.S. SAYS MOSCOW WAS AWARE OF A SMALL PASSAGE UNDERNEATH THE RESERVOIR, WHICH IS WHERE THE NEW EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN THE DAM COLLAPSED. 12 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AFTER A TROPICAL CYCLONE STRUCK BRAZIL'S SOUTHERN STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. STRONG WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND TOOK OUT POWER ACROSS THE STATE. NEARLY 3000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS SINCE THE STORM HIT THE REGION. RESCUE OPERATIONS AND HELICOPTER SEARCHES ARE UNDERWAY IN FLOODED NEIGHBOURHOODS TO FIND 20 PEOPLE STILL MISSING. THE UN IS CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE GREEK COASTGUARD'S HANDLING OF THE MIGRANT BOAT DISASTER. THE BBC IS REPORTING THE BOAT CARRYING HUNDREDS OF REFUGEES WASN'T MOVING FOR AT LEAST SEVEN HOURS BEFORE IT CAPSIZED. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS ACTION COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN EARLIER TO INITIATE A RESCUE. THE GREEK COASTGUARD INSISTS THE BOAT WAS STILL ON COURSE TO ITALY DURING THIS TIME AND IN NO NEED OF RESCUE. AT LEAST 79 PEOPLE DROWNED IN THE SHIPWRECK, WITH AS MANY AS 500 STILL MISSING. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` PRINCE WILLIAM'S NEW MISSION TO END HOMELESSNESS IN THE UK. PLUS RED BULL TO THE MAX, AS THE WORLD CHAMP CLAIMS ANOTHER F1 VICTORY. THE PRINCE OF WALES WANTS TO END HOMELESSNESS IN THE UK. IN A NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW, PRINCE WILLIAM SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE IT HIS MISSION, INCLUDING BUILDING SOCIAL HOUSING ON DUCHY OF CORNWALL. THE BBC'S DANIELA RELPH EXPLAINS. A FATHER'S DAY FAMILY PHOTO. INFORMAL AND RELAXED, THE PRINCE OF WALES WITH CHARLOTTE, LOUIS AND GEORGE. AND TEACHING THEM ABOUT LIFE OUTSIDE OF ROYALTY IS A PRIORITY FOR HIM. IN A SUNDAY TIMES INTERVIEW, THE PRINCE SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE HIS CHILDREN TO A HOMELESS SHELTER AND DESCRIBES HAVING CHATTED TO THEM ON THE SCHOOL RUN WHEN THEY'VE SEEN PEOPLE SLEEPING OUT. LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON. DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, TOOK BOTH WILLIAM AND HARRY TO VISIT A HOMELESS SHELTER WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG BOYS. CONFIDENCE IS A BIG THING, ISN'T IT? CONFIDENCE IS A BIG THING. YEAH. FOR HER ELDEST, IT WAS THE START OF A LONG TERM-INTEREST IN TACKLING HOMELESSNESS. LAST WEEK, HE OPENED A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH LONDON, AS PATRON OF THE HOMELESS CHARITY CENTREPOINT. BUT HE COMES AT THIS SUBJECT FROM A POSITION OF IMMENSE PRIVILEGE. AS PRINCE OF WALES, HE RUNS A DUCHY OF CORNWALL ESTATE ` 130,000 ACRES OF LAND, MOSTLY IN THE SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND. AS PART OF HIS LONG-TERM PROJECT TO TRY TO ULTIMATELY END HOMELESSNESS, THERE IS A PLAN, IN ITS EARLY STAGES, TO PUT SOCIAL HOUSING ON DUCHY LAND ` SOMETHING WILLIAM SAYS IS AT THE FRONT OF HIS MIND. IN LEEDS, FOR THOSE TRYING TO GET OFF THE STREETS, THERE WAS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT THE PRINCES' PLAN. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. HOPEFULLY HE DOES IT. BECAUSE I'M FED UP WITH BEING ON THE STREETS, MYSELF. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WELL, HOPEFULLY, THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? COS OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE DYING ON THE STREETS. THERE'S TOO MANY YOUNG FAMILIES ON THE STREETS, AND THAT, YOU KNOW? LAST YEAR HE WAS SELLING THE BIG ISSUE. LATER THIS MONTH, HE'LL LAUNCH HIS HOMELESSNESS PROJECT, AS THE PRINCE OF WALES TRIES TO USE HIS VOICE AND MAYBE HIS LAND TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE COST OF GOING BLIND HAS BEEN CALCULATED IN AUSTRALIA, AT $5.2M. RESEARCHERS FOUND THOSE WITH AN INHERITED EYE DISEASE HAD TO ABSORB MUCH OF THIS EXPENSE THEMSELVES. ONE-THIRD OF THE COST WAS DUE TO THE LOSS OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY INCOME. THE STUDY'S AUTHORS SAY IT SHOWS THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT TO TACKLE DEBILITATING CONDITIONS. THE ECUADOR WOMAN WHO WAS FOUND ALIVE IN HER COFFIN HAS NOW DIED. BELLA MONTAYA SURPRISED RELATIVES EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN SHE, AFTER SPENDING FIVE HOURS INSIDE HER OWN COFFIN, STARTED KNOCKING DURING HER WAKE. SEVEN DAYS LATER, MONTAYA HAS DIED IN INTENSIVE CARE. HER SON SAYS THE FAMILY STILL HASN'T RECEIVED ANY EXPLANATION OF HOW SHE WAS MISTAKENLY DECLARED DEAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. A VIDEO OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY STAFF DANCING, DRINKING AND JOKING ABOUT 'BENDING' COVID LOCKDOWN RULES HAS BEEN RELEASED. IT'S SPARKED ANGER WITH THE BRITISH PUBLIC JUST DAYS AFTER BORIS JOHNSON WAS FOUND TO HAVE LIED ABOUT RULES BEING FOLLOWED. THE BBC'S IAIN WATSON HAS MORE. (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) DECEMBER 14TH 2020. THE COVID RULES AT THE TIME SAID THAT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS SHOULDN'T SOCIALISE INDOORS. BUT IN THE BASEMENT OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY HQ, THIS CAMPAIGN TEAM DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE RECEIVE THE MEMO OR PERHAPS DIDN'T SEE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING POSTERS ON THE WALLS. (FESTIVE MUSIC PLAYS) THERE WERE CAMPAIGNERS FOR THE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR LONDON MAYOR AT THE TIME SHAUN BAILEY. HE'S SOON TO JOIN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, COURTESY OF BORIS JOHNSON'S RESIGNATION HONOURS LIST. HE DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE VIDEO, BUT ONE OF HIS KEY CAMPAIGNERS DOES. BEN MALLETT GOT AN OBE IN THE BORIS JOHNSON HONOURS LIST, AND SENIOR CONSERVATIVES ARE BRACED FOR A BACKLASH. MICHAEL GOVE SAID SORRY ON BEHALF OF HIS FELLOW CONSERVATIVES. ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGISE TO PEOPLE FOR THIS BEHAVIOUR. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND INDEFENSIBLE. SO, WOULD THE HONOURS BE WITHDRAWN? NO, I DON'T THINK THAT. THE DECISION TO CONFER HONOURS ON PEOPLE WAS ONE THAT WAS MADE BY BORIS JOHNSON AS AN OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER. CHARLOTTE HODGE FROM BRADFORD LOST HER HUSBAND JIM TO COVID IN NOVEMBER 2021, AND HER CHILDREN LOST THEIR FATHER. IT'S UPSETTING, AND IT MAKES ME ANGRY. YOU KNOW, IT'S OK FOR THEM TO SAY SORRY. IT'S JUST WORDS. IT'S A WORD. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GONNA BRING ANYONE BACK. THE DECEMBER 2020 EVENT HAD BEEN REPORTED BEFORE, BUT WITHOUT VIDEO FOOTAGE, THE POLICE PREVIOUSLY DECIDED TO TAKE NO ACTION BUT SAY THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE NEW FOOTAGE AND ARE CONSIDERING IT. OPPOSITION PARTIES WANT ACTION. THERE ALSO APPEARS TO BE A MOCKING OF THE RULES THAT IS GOING ON IN THE VIDEO, WHERE PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY WERE MAKING SACRIFICES TO FOLLOW THE RULES THAT WERE IMPOSED. AND YOU, YET AGAIN, GET THIS ONE RULE, IT SEEMS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN GOVERNMENT AND ANOTHER FOR EVERYONE ELSE. RISHI SUNAK WANTS TO MOVE ON FROM PARTYGATE, BUT EVENTS LIKE THIS STILL CAST A LONG POLITICAL SHADOW. TO SPORT, AND IAN FOSTER'S PICKED FIVE FRESH FACES IN HIS 36-MAN SQUAD FOR THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP. CAM ROIGARD HAS BEEN GIVEN THE NOD IN THE HALVES, AHEAD OF BRAD WEBER AND FOLAU FAKATAVA. THE HURRICANES HALFBACK IMPRESSED THE ALL BLACK SELECTORS THROUGH THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON ` GIVING HIM THE EDGE OVER THE OTHER NINES. CAM'S THE NEW BOY. HE'S HAD A BIG YEAR, AND HE'S PLAYED INCREDIBLY WELL IN THAT HURRICANES SET-UP. HE BRINGS A SLIGHTLY UNIQUE SKILLSET, IN TERMS OF HIS LEFT FOOT, IN TERMS OF THE KICKING GAME. AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A POINT OF DIFFERENCE THAT HE'S GOT THAT THE OTHER NINES HAVEN'T GOT. ASSISTANT COACH JOE SCHMIDT SAYS NAMING A SQUAD IS NEVER EASY. I PERSONALLY... I'VE HATED IT SINCE I GOT STARTED IN DOING A JOB LIKE THIS. FOR 20 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL COACHING, LETTING PLAYERS DOWN BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS BEEN SELECTED AHEAD OF THEM. BUT THEY'RE NOT JUST PLAYERS. THEY'RE YOUNG MEN THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF TIME AND RESPECT FOR. AND THAT'S QUITE TOUGH. THE ALL BLACKS START THEIR RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN IN ARGENTINA NEXT MONTH. RYAN FOX HAS FALLEN WELL OFF THE PACE AT THE U.S. OPEN ` CURRENTLY FOUR-OVER PAR IN A TIE FOR 43RD DURING HIS FINAL ROUND IN LOS ANGELES. THE RACE AT THE TOP OF THE LEADER BOARD IS HEATING UP. AMERICAN WYNDHAM CLARK HAS A ONE-SHOT LEAD ` CURRENTLY 11-UNDER, WITH RORY MCILROY ON HIS HEELS. OVERNIGHT, LEADER RICKIE FOWLER HAS FALLEN OFF THE PACE ` SITTING IN THIRD SPOT, EIGHT-UNDER PAR THROUGH 10 HOLES. POOR WEATHER HAS FORCED AN EARLY END TO PLAY ON DAY THREE OF THE FIRST ASHES TEST IN ENGLAND. THE HOME SIDE WERE 28/2 IN THEIR SECOND INNINGS. THE BBC'S PATRICK GEARY HAS THE ACTION. ENGLAND COULD NOT AFFORD AN EASY SUNDAY MORNING AT EDGBASTON. COME ON, ENGLAND! NOT WITH THE GAME IN THE BALANCE AND TIME MARCHING ONWARDS. WITH THE PITCH UNHELPFUL, THEY NEEDED A PLAN. EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE ` FIELDERS, BALL. ALEX CAREY, THE LATEST TO BE ENTRANCED BY JIMMY ANDERSON. ALL THE WHILE, THOUGH, AUSTRALIA WERE ADVANCING, AND THIS WAS STARTING TO HURT ENGLAND. MOEEN ALI'S STINGING SPINNING FINGER NEEDED TREATMENT. THEIR ATTACK WEAKENED. SIR BEN STOKES IMPROVISED. HE MOVED HIS MEN TO UNUSUAL PLACES TO UNSETTLE USMAN KHAWAJA, BOWLED OLLIE ROBINSON FOR A BRILLIANT 141. BREAKTHROUGH, HE MADE. THE REST OF THE AUSSIE BATTING QUICKLY GAVE WAY, ENDING FITTINGLY, IN THE HANDS OF STOKES. SO AN EXCELLENT END TO THAT SESSION FROM ENGLAND MEANS THAT THEY DO HAVE A FIRST INNINGS LEAD, ALBEIT OF JUST SEVEN RUNS. THAT LEAVES THIS MATCH FASCINATINGLY POISED WITH THE ADDED DIMENSION OF SOME STORMS POTENTIALLY COMING IN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AND AS THE DARK LORD LEFT, DARKER SKIES ARRIVED. RAIN DELAYED THE MATCH, BUT WHEN IT EASED, IT LEFT PERFECT HUNTING CONDITIONS FOR AUSSIE BOWLERS. BEN DUCKETT GONE TO A BRILLIANT CATCH FROM CAMERON GREEN. BLACK CLOUDS LOOMED OMINOUSLY FOR ZAK CRAWLEY, WHO EDGED BEHIND. ENGLAND 35 RUNS AHEAD BUT TWO WICKETS DOWN WHEN THE DRAMA MOVED TO THE HEAVENS. SCOTT DIXON HAS FALLEN JUST SHORT OF A PODIUM FINISH AT THE LATEST STOP ON THE INDYCAR SERIES IN WISCONSIN. DIXON CROSSED THE FINISH LINE IN FOURTH, WITH ALEX PALOU TAKING THE CHEQUERED FLAG. FELLOW KIWIS SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN FINISHED IN EIGHTH AND MARCUS ARMSTRONG FURTHER BACK IN 24TH. IT'S THE SAME RESULT, JUST A DIFFERENT WEEK FOR RED BULL'S MAX VERSTAPPEN, WINNING THE CANADIAN FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX. THE DUTCHMAN CLAIMED HIS SIXTH WIN OF THE SEASON AND LEVELLED AYRTON SENNA ON 41 CAREER WINS. RED BULL REMAIN THE ONLY TEAM TO STAND ON THE TOP OF THE PODIUM THIS SEASON, HAVING WON EVERY RACE. IT WAS VERY COLD TODAY, COMPARED TO FRIDAY, AND WE WERE SLIDING AROUND QUITE A BIT. BUT YEAH, WE MADE IT WORK. AND YEAH, TO WIN AGAIN` TODAY WIN THE 100 GRAND PRIX FOR THE TEAM, THAT'S, YEAH, INCREDIBLE. ASTON MARTIN'S FERNANDO ALONSO FINISHED IN SECOND, WITH LEWIS HAMILTON TAKING THIRD. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (GOMEZ' 'I WILL TAKE YOU THERE') # WE BREAK THE WAVES ON THE BRAIN AND THE SOUND. # YOU KNOW YOU CAN RUN WITHOUT FALLING DOWN. # HAVE NO WAITING GROUND. # I WILL TAKE YOU THERE. # I WILL TAKE YOU THERE. # BRICK WALLS ARE FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS. # NOBODY KNOWS THAT YOU LET THEM TEAR. # TOO MUCH TO BEAR. # THANKS FOR JOINING US. TE KARERE IS HERE AT 4, FOLLOWED BY THE 1 NEWS TEAM AT 6. PLUS ` YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TODAY'S NEWS ONLINE AT 1NEWS.CO.NZ BUT FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND KRISTIN WILLIAMS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023.