TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. TAIRAWHITI CIVIL DEFENCE HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WITH A RED HEAVY RAIN WARNING IN PLACE UNTIL NOON ON SUNDAY. RESIDENTS OF TE KARAKA, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF GISBORNE, WERE ASKED TO EVACUATE THIS MORNING, AS HAS ANYONE LIVING NEXT TO A RIVER. AS PERRY WILTON REPORTS, MAJOR ROADS ARE ONCE AGAIN BEING CLOSED AND BRIDGES SWAMPED. A TEMPORARY BRIDGE GONE IN MOMENTS. ONCE AGAIN GISBORNE IS FIGHTING THE WORSENING WEATHER. PEOPLE ARE FACING AT ALL AGAIN. 10 MINUTES AGO, I WAS LOOKING AT THE WATER COMING THROUGH AGAIN. LAST TIME THINGS WITHSTOOD IT. THIS TIME IT WON'T. PRETTY SAID. THINGS HAVE BEEN ESCALATED TO RED. NOTHING AT THIS STAGE IMPACTING POWER SUPPLY TO RESIDENTS. WE WILL PERHAPS SEE THAT ESCALATE IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS. TE KARAKA WAS ONE OF THE WORST HIT SPOTS WITH CYCLONE GABRIELLE. THIS RIVER SWALLOWING UP NOW BARELY VISIBLE POWERLINES. IT IS AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR SIGHT. WHEN A CYCLONE HIT AND THE POWER WENT OUT, THE REGION WAS PLUNGED INTO A COMMUNICATION BLACKOUT. IT HAD FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SCRAMBLING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LOVED ONES. DURING AN EMERGENCY, PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY REACH FOR THE PHONE. A REPORT HAS JUST REVEALED THAT PART OF THE REASON IT WENT ON SO LONG WAS POOR COORDINATION BETWEEN AUTHORITIES AND THE TRANSPORT NETWORKS TO GET TELECOMMUNICATIONS BACKUP AND RUNNING. IT IS A LIFELINE SERVICE. IT IS RIGHT ON THE TOP FEW NEEDS IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER AN INCIDENT. HUMANITY HAS BECOME RELIANT ON 100% CONNECTIVITY HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME. SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE IN PLACE UNTIL SUNDAY. AND WITH CROPS ALREADY FLOODING, IT IS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW. OUR COMMUNITY IS ANXIOUS. WE CANNOT BLAME THEM. IT CAN BE A CRUEL BLOW. WE NEED A BREAK. ALL THAT LOCALS CAN DO IS WAIT AND HOPE THAT THE RAIN MOVES ON. PERRY, WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH THE WEATHER THERE? GOOD EVENING. IT IS AN ANXIOUS TIME FOR THE REGION THIS EVENING. THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT WAS DECLARED BY CIVIL DEFENCE TODAY WAS DECLARED BECAUSE THE WEATHER HAS BEEN SO SUDDEN AND SO SIGNIFICANT. THEY ARE SAYING THAT JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE NUMBER OF ROADS STILL NEEDING REPAIR AFTER OTHER CYCLONES WAS AROUND 40. AFTER TODAY, THAT NUMBER HAS JUMPED TO 61. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RIVERS THAT ARE BURSTING THEIR BANKS. THE WAIKOHU AND HIKUWAI. THEY ARE EXCEEDING THEIR BOUNDARIES. PEOPLE NEARBY ARE BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE. PEOPLE WERE EVACUATING THEMSELVES TO DATE WELL BEFORE THE OFFICIAL WARNINGS WERE PUT OUT. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO STAY UNTIL SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WE ARE EXPECTING SUDDEN AND LOCALISED SHOWERS IN A NUMBER OF AREAS IN THAT TIME. PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO KEEP AN ION OFFICIAL CHANNELS AND TO KEEP THEIR BATTERIES CHARGED IN CASE OF A BLACKOUT. TENA KOE. IF THEY'RE STILL ALIVE, THE CREW OF THE MISSING TITAN SUBMARINE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, HOPE AND OXYGEN ` THE U.S. COASTGUARD ESTIMATES THEIR AIR COULD RUN OUT BY 11 TONIGHT NZ TIME. THE SUBMARINE WAS ON A MISSION TO EXPLORE THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC AT A DEPTH OF 3800M ` THAT'S A BIT MORE THAN THE HEIGHT OF AORAKI MT COOK. THERE ARE FIVE MEN ON BOARD ` A WEALTHY BRITISH PAKISTANI BUSINESSMAN AND HIS SON; A BRITISH BILLIONAIRE, A FRENCH DIVER AND OCEANGATE SUBMERSIBLE OWNER STOCKTON RUSH, WHO IN THE PAST ACTUALLY LIVED IN NZ FOR A WHILE. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN IS AT SEARCH HEADQUARTERS IN BOSTON. MITCH, HOW ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE SEARCHERS? GOOD EVENING FROM BOSTON. THEY HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS NOW. THE LATEST INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FROM THE SEARCH AREA IS THAT THE WIND IS SITTING AROUND 17 KNOTS. IT IS QUITE CALM AND MUCH BETTER THEN 50 KM AN HOUR WINDS WHIPPING UP TO METRE SWELLS. THAT WAS THE FORECAST EARLIER IN THE DAY. IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE GOOD NEWS, BUT REALLY, THAT IS WHERE IT IN. WHERE IT ENDS. THE BEST HOPE FOR THE MISSING TITAN CREW MAY BE THIS ` THE ROBOT MINI SUB ABOARD THE FRENCH SHIP L'ATALANTE. IT CAN REACH THE OCEAN BED WHERE THE TITANIC LIES. AND IF RESCUERS CAN LOCATE THE MISSING SUBMERSIBLE, IT CAN CUT TANGLED CABLES OR ATTACH A LINE SO IT CAN BE PULLED UP. IT CAN ONLY TRAVEL AT WALKING PACE, BUT NOBODY'S GIVING UP. THIS IS A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION 100%. WE ARE SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF SEARCH AND RESCUE. ESPECIALLY AS MORE HOPE ARRIVED LAST NIGHT IN THE FORM OF NOISES DETECTED UNDER THE WATER BY A CANADIAN SEARCH PLANE. THOSE SOUNDS HAVE BEEN HEARD AGAIN TODAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE CONFIRMATION OF NOTHING. THE OCEAN IS A VERY COMPLEX PLACE ` OBVIOUSLY, HUMAN SOUNDS, NATURE SOUNDS, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DISCERN WHAT THE SOURCE OF THOSE NOISES ARE AT TIMES. ONE EXPERT SAYS THE BANGING NOISES COULD BE LOOSE MATERIAL FROM THE TITANIC SHIPWRECK ITSELF. IT'S THE WRECK SITE OF THE TITANIC, SO THERE IS A LOT OF METAL AND DIFFERENT OBJECTS IN THE WATER AROUND THE SITE. FIVE PEOPLE ARE ON BOARD THE SUBMERSIBLE NAMED TITAN, WHICH HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE SUNDAY. SPEAKING TO THE FAMILIES, HOW MUCH HOPE CAN YOU GIVE THEM AFTER HEARING THOSE NOISES? WE NEED TO HAVE HOPE, RIGHT? BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE NOISES ARE. BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS ` AND I THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT ` WE'RE SEARCHING WHERE THE NOISES ARE, AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT. WITH HOPE RUNNING OUT, �IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW IF THE SUBMERSIBLE HAS ANY OXYGEN LEFT ON BOARD. OFFICIALS TODAY WERE UNWILLING TO PUT A NUMBER ON HOW MANY HOURS THE CREW MAY HAVE LEFT. I THINK THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO, UNFORTUNATELY, IS THEY WILL NOT BE FOUND IN TIME. OF THE 10 VESSELS INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE MISSION, AT LEAST FIVE ARE NOW AT THE SEARCH SITE ` BUT REMEMBER, IT'S TWICE THE SIZE OF NORTHLAND. THAT DOES GIVE AN INDICATION OF HOW VAST THIS OCEAN IS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VESSELS MAKING THEIR WAY THERE NOW TO TRY AND FIND THESE FIVE PEOPLE ON BOARD. AND MITCH, YOU'VE JUST FOUND OUT SOMETHING ELSE INTERESTING ABOUT STOCKTON RUSH? THAT'S RIGHT. HE IS THE PILOT ON BOARD THE SUBMERSIBLE. HE IS ALSO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF OCEAN GATE, THE COMPANY THAT OWNS IT. IT TURNS OUT THAT HIS WIFE IS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF TWO PEOPLE WHO DIED ON THE TITANIC. SHE IS THE GREAT GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF A COUPLE. SHE IS ALSO A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT OCEAN GATE AND HAS TRAVELLED HERSELF TO THE TITANIC THREE TIMES. INTERESTING INDEED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STOCKTON RUSH ONCE PROCLAIMED THE TITAN WAS 'OBSCENELY SAFE', BUT EVEN PEOPLE ON HIS OWN ENGINEERING TEAM HAD RAISED THE RED FLAG ABOUT IT. THE FRENCH DIVER, WHO WAS AT THE CONTROLS ON THIS MISSION, ONCE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THINGS WENT WRONG, AND IT WASN'T RUNNING OUT OF AIR THAT MOST CONCERNED HIM. ALICE WILKINS REPORTS. BEFORE ITS DISAPPEARANCE, THE TITAN TOOK MEXICAN ACTOR ALAN ESTRADA ON AN EARLIER EXPEDITION. BUT THAT MISSION WASN'T WITHOUT ITS OWN HICCUPS. HE HAD CAMERAS ROLLING AS COMMUNICATION WAS LOST FOR A TIME. AND THE VESSEL'S LIGHTS BECOME PROBLEMATIC. YOU CAN BE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS ON THE BOTTOM. IT WOULD NOT HELP VERY MUCH. (CHUCKLES) AFTER A WHILE, YOU WOULD DIE BECAUSE OF THE COLD. IT IS NOT A BAD WAY TO DIE BECAUSE YOU DON'T SUFFER. (CHUCKLES) WE NEVER THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN. THE OWNER STOCKTON RUSH SPENT TIME IN NEW ZEALAND AFTER HIS FATHER BUILT A LODGE IN TE ANAU. I HAVE BROKEN SOME RULES TO MAKE THIS, WITH LOGIC AND GOOD ENGINEERING BEHIND ME. THIS COULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF SOME OF OUR REGULAR CERTIFICIAL PROCEDURES HAD BEEN FOLLOWED. THAT'S ALONG WITH A COMPANY WHISTLEBLOWER WHO SAID THAT HE WAS SACKED AFTER DEMANDING MORE TESTING. DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT HE SAID THAT THE CARBON FIBRE USED HEAD PREVALENT FLAWS. WE RUN THE WHOLE THING WITH THIS GAME CONTROLLER. (CHUCKLES) THERE ARE 18 BOLTS IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE HATCH. THEY ONLY FASTEN 17 OF THEM. THIS MAN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON BOARD. FOR THOSE TRAPPED BELOW THE SURFACE, THE RISK ASSESSMENT HAS GONE HORRIBLY WRONG. OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GRIM PROGNOSIS ` THEY'VE GOT LONG COVID, ACCORDING THE EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE. IT SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION, AND THE ONGOING IMPACTS ARE CONCERNING. ALMOST HALF OF PRINCIPALS SAY LEARNING IS WORSE THAN THEY WOULD EXPECT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. 41% OF PRINCIPALS SAY BEHAVIOUR IS WORSE THAN THEY WOULD EXPECT. AND ATTAINMENT RATES FOR NCEA LEVEL 2 ARE BELOW WHERE THEY WERE IN 2019, EVEN WITH THE SPECIAL LEARNING RECOGNITION CREDITS PUT IN PLACE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC PERIOD. WILLIAM TERITE HAS THE STORY. LEARNING DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC HASN'T BEEN EASY FOR PORIRUA COLLEGE DEPUTY HEAD BOY KRISHIL SINGH. IN 2021 WHEN I STARTED YEAR 11, A ROCKY START TO NCEA LEVEL 1. SINGH IS DOING BETTER NOW, BUT ADMITS BEING IN AND OUT OF COVID LOCKDOWNS LED TO A LACK OF MOTIVATION. I REALLY GOT USED TO, LIKE, DOING WORK FROM HOME, AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUT OF IT. PRINCIPAL RAGNE MAXWELL SAYS KRISHIL IS FAR FROM ALONE. THESE ARE THE COVID GENERATION. THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, FOR SO MANY OF THEM, BECAUSE IT HIT WHILE THEY WERE AT SCHOOL. AND THE IMPACTS ARE STILL HITTING ` MAXWELL SAYS HER SCHOOL STILL HASN'T FULLY RECOVERED FROM THAT COVID DISRUPTION. ATTENDANCE IS THE WORST WE'VE EVER SEEN IT, AND ACHIEVEMENT IS THE WORST WE'VE EVER SEEN. THE EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE'S REPORT FOUND COVID-19 DISRUPTION IS AFFECTING SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN POORER COMMUNITIES. THE WATCHDOG SAYS IF IT WERE NOT FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL LEARNING CREDITS, NCEA ACHIEVEMENT WOULD BE EVEN LOWER. THE ERO RESEARCH SUPPORTS WHAT WE'RE FINDING ON THE GROUND, SO REAFFIRMING, MORE THAN SURPRISING. THE REPORT MAKES A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING IMPROVING ATTENDANCE. SECONDARY PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT VAUGHAN COUILLAULT SAYS THAT'S ONE PART OF THE SOLUTION. WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO SCHOOL, SO ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT ` THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT ` IS HALF THE JOURNEY; THE OTHER HALF IS PLUGGING THE GAPS IN LEARNING. THE MINISTRY CURRENTLY NEEDS TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN IT. BUT THAT ASIDE, WE HAVE SOME INITIATIVES UNDERWAY ALREADY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS. BUT SCHOOLS LIKE PORIRUA COLLEGE SAY THEY NEED TO SEE MORE ACTION NOW. WILLIAM TERITE, NEWSHUB. WITH FORMER MINISTER MICHAEL WOOD GONE TO GROUND, THE PRIME MINISTER IS BEING FORCED TO CLEAN UP HIS RESIGNATION FALLOUT. NEWSHUB'S OBTAINED A MORE DETAILED TIMELINE OF HOW MANY TIMES THE CABINET OFFICE HAD TO NAG WOOD TO SELL HIS AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES. AND TONIGHT WE CAN REVEAL WOOD DIDN'T RECUSE HIMSELF FROM EVEN MORE DECISIONS WHICH HE SHOULD HAVE. POLITICAL REPORTER AMELIA WADE WADES THROUGH ALL OF WOOD'S WARNINGS. THE PM IN HIS HAPPY PLACE ` THE HUTT ` FLANKED BY ONE OF HIS DWINDLING NUMBER OF MINISTERS,... ALL: PUKANA! ...PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE AND SHARING SOME LOCKER-ROOM SECRETS. MY BODY IS A TEMPLE. (LAUGHTER) BUT IT'S THE SECRETS WHICH WERE KEPT FROM THE PM THAT GOT MICHAEL WOOD IN TROUBLE. YESTERDAY WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR HIM. PERHAPS AS MUCH DIFFICULTY AS THE CABINET OFFICE HAD IN GETTING WOOD TO STOP GHOSTING THEM. THE SAGA STARTS IN NOVEMBER 2020, WHEN WOOD ADMITS HE HAS SHARES IN AUCKLAND AIRPORT. HE'S TOLD TO THINK ABOUT GETTING RID OF THEM. WOODS IS THEN ASKED TO CONFIRM HE'S DIVESTED THEM; NO RESPONSE. IN EARLY DECEMBER, CALLS AND EMAILS ` WOOD SAYS HE ACTUALLY HASN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO IT YET AND HE'LL DO IT OVER THE BREAK. THAT'S ALMOST A BALD-FACED LIE. AND HE HASN'T GIVEN ME AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT IS THAT HE WAS INDICATING TO THE CABINET OFFICE THAT THEY HAD BEEN SOLD WHEN CLEARLY THEY HADN'T. IT GOES ON. IN MARCH 2021, THE CABINET OFFICE CALLS TO CHECK IN AGAIN. THEY DON'T HEAR BACK, AND SO ASSUME THE SHARES ARE GONE. JUNE, THE CABINET OFFICE FOLLOWS UP AGAIN AND IS TOLD WOOD HAS TOLD HIS SHARE BROKER TO GET RID OF THEM. JULY, WOOD IS SENT A LETTER; DECEMBER, ANOTHER CHECK ` STILL NO RESPONSE. THEN THERE'S MORE CHECKS, AND IN MARCH, WOODS' OFFICE SAYS, 'IT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK.' MAY, THE CABINET OFFICE ASKS DID IT HAPPEN ` THE RESPONSE? 'NOT QUITE'. THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE'VE SEEN SUGGESTS THAT HE HAS MISLED THE CABINET OFFICE, AND THAT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS THING. AND IT JUST KEEPS GOING ` IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, ANOTHER CHECK. AND THEN AGAIN IN MARCH ` THE CABINET OFFICE SAT HIM DOWN, AND TO THEIR FACES, HE TELLS THEM HE'S INTENDING TO DIVEST, BUT STILL HASN'T DONE SO; THEN YOU KNOW THE REST. DID MICHAEL WOOD MISLEAD THE CABINET? HE CERTAINLY DID NOT DISCLOSE INTERESTS WHICH HE SHOULD HAVE. AND NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL ALL THE WHILE MICHAEL WOOD HAD HIS AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES, THERE WERE FIVE REQUESTS FOR SUPPORT FROM THE AIRPORT TO HIM AS TRANSPORT MINISTER; BUT MICHAEL WOOD ONLY DELEGATED TWO OF THOSE TO HIS ASSOCIATE MINISTER. WOOD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO NEWSHUB'S REQUEST FOR COMMENT. IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. NZERS DESERVE AND EXPECT BETTER FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT. ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT MICHAEL WOOD RECUSED HIMSELF FROM EVERY DECISION THAT HE NEEDED TO? NO. NO, I'M NOT, AND I THINK THAT WAS CLEAR YESTERDAY. AND IT'S THAT UNCERTAINTY WHICH SAW MICHAEL WOOD OFF ON HIS BIKE. AMELIA WADE, NEWSHUB. MIKE'S IN NOW WITH WEATHER. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE RED WEATHER WARNINGS, MIKE? WELL, METSERVICE DON'T ISSUE THEM LIGHTLY, SO CLEARLY A DEVELOPING SITUATION. YOU CAN SEE THE PREDICTED RAIN ACCUMULATIONS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. EASTERN AREAS AND THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, BY MONDAY, COULD SEE RAIN LEVELS REACH 200MM-PLUS, AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW PATCHES OF PURPLE HERE, REPRESENTING A LOT OF RAIN ` HENCE, THE RED AND ORANGE WARNINGS FOR BOTH ISLANDS. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS AND THE FULL FORECAST AFTER SPORT. KA PAI. TENA KOE, MIKE. NEW PROPERTY FIGURES HAVE GIVEN REAL ESTATE AGENTS HOPE ` THEY THINK THEY'VE FOUND THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET, BUT NOT EVERYONE'S CONVINCED AN UPTURN IS IMMINENT. A PUBLIC NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED TO WARN TRAVELLERS THAT 'SEAL SILLY SEASON' IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. AND A BATTLE OF THE SUPER NERDS ` DID MARK ZUCKERBERG JUST BOOK IN A CAGE FIGHT WITH ELON MUSK? TONIGHT ` WHICH RELATIONSHIP RULES WORK AND WHICH ARE WORTH FORGETTING; OUR EXPERT WEIGHS IN. AND AUCKLAND'S YOUNGEST DESIGNERS ARE TURNING TRASH TO FASHION ` THE PROJECT AT 7. SATURDAY, ON NEWSHUB NATION ` THE POLICIES AND THE POLITICIANS THAT SHAPE YOUR LIVES. WE GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES TO DELVE INTO THE DETAILS, TELL THE STORIES THAT MATTER, AND HOLD THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES ARE ON THE UP. CORELOGIC FIGURES SHOW A 7.5% JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD IN MAY, COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. BUT AS LUCY THOMSON REPORTS, IT MAY BE TOO SOON TO HERALD THE START OF AN UPTURN. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TWO YEARS FOR THOSE IN THE PROPERTY MARKET. CONSECUTIVE INTEREST RATE HIKES AND TIGHTER LENDING RULES TRIGGERED THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SLUMP IN SALES SINCE THE EARLY '80S, A WORRYING SIGN FOR HOMEOWNERS, AND AN EVEN TOUGHER TIME FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS. BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR US WAS THE CLIMBING ASSESSMENT RATE FROM BANKS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR LENDING, AND THEN AGAIN THE AVAILABILITY OF PROPERTIES. BUT CORELOGIC'S KELVIN DAVIDSON SAYS THE MARKET IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TURNING A CORNER. WE ARE IN A VERY QUIET ENVIRONMENT, BUT TURNING POINTS HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, AND I THINK WE ARE SEEING HINTS IN THE MAY DATA THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE STARTED ` 7.5% UP. HE SAYS AFTER SUCH A LONG DECLINE IT WILL COME AS WELCOME NEWS FOR SOME, BUT NOT ALL. WE DO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT I DON'T THINK THE END OF A DOWNTURN SUDDENLY EQUATES TO THE START OF AN UPTURN, EITHER. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKELY THAT WE SEE A CONTINUED QUIET PATCH, REALLY. PRICES MIGHT STOP FALLING, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BOOM AGAIN BECAUSE WE'VE STILL GOT HIGHER MORTGAGE RATES, WE'VE STILL GOT STRETCHED AFFORDABILITY AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE SOME CAPS ON DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIOS EARLY NEXT YEAR. DESPITE THAT, REAL ESTATE AGENTS SAY THEY'VE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN PROSPECTIVE BUYERS, WITH FIRST-TIMERS ALSO MAINTAINING THEIR SHARE. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY IS A BIT MORE STABILITY, AND WE ALL KNOW KIWIS DO LOVE STABILITY. WE'VE SEEN STABILISING PRICES FROM A CONTINUAL DROP SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2022. WE'VE ALSO HEARD THE RESERVE BANK SAY THAT THEY'RE HOLDING ON ANY MORE OCR INCREASES. AND WITH INTEREST RATES LIKELY TO HAVE PEAKED, IT'S WIDELY TIPPED MORTGAGE RATES HAVE AS WELL ` AND AGENTS WILL TELL YOU THAT MEANS NOW COULD BE AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY TO TRADE PROPERTY. LUCY THOMSON, NEWSHUB. A PUBLIC NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED TO WARN NEW ZEALANDERS AND TRAVELLERS ABOUT ALL THE WAYWARD YOUNGSTERS WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SEALS AND SEA LIONS, AND A WILDLIFE ECOLOGIST SAYS KIWIS AND TOURISTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE 'SEAL SILLY SEASON'. JULIET SPEEDY REPORTS. HERE THEY COME... 'TIS THE SEASON. I CALL IT THE SILLY SEASON. RECENTLY WEANED... THEIR MOTHERS ARE SAYING, 'RIGHT, ENOUGH, NO MORE MILK FOR YOU.' ...AND SHOWN THE FRONT DOOR. IT'S LIKE A TEENAGER BEING KICKED OUT OF HOME. ONE MIGHT SAY FLOUNDERING AROUND. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF IT'S THE FIRST TIME AWAY FROM HOME? YOU'D GO AND FIND JUNK FOOD AND YOU'D GO AND FIND NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION IS PUTTING US ON HIGH ALERT ` LOOK OUT FOR SEALS LEAVING THEIR BREEDING COLONIES AND HEADING OUT INTO THE BIG WIDE WORLD... INVADING HOMES... THEY'RE NOT BEING NAUGHTY AS SUCH, THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT NORMAL THINGS TO DO. LIKE AN ACTUAL TEENAGER, VENTURING TO AND SLEEPING IN THE WRONG PLACES. UNDER HOUSES OR UNDER BACHES, IN A DAIRY FARM, OR A NICE TARSEALED ROAD WHICH HAS KEPT ALL OF ITS HEAT. EVEN A KEEN PLANE-SPOTTER. THEY HAD A JUVENILE SETTLE ON THE AUCKLAND TARMAC OF THE AIRPORT AND CLOSED DOWN THE AIRPORT FOR HALF AN HOUR. AND A BUDDING SOPRANO. BUT UNLIKE THESE PEOPLE, HUMANS NEED TO RESPECT THE WAYWARD TEENS, WHO HAPPEN TO BE LEGALLY PROTECTED. HOW CLOSE ARE THEY GETTING? STAY A MINIMUM OF 5 METRES AWAY, AND REALISTICALLY, IT SHOULD ABOUT 20 METRES AWAY. Holy... (LAUGHTER) OR THEY MIGHT SLAP YOU IN THE FACE WITH A LIVE OCTOPUS. NO, REALLY. JULIET SPEEDY, NEWSHUB. LOOKS PRETTY PAINFUL. (CHUCKLES) ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT, AND BIG NEWS FOR THE CRUSADERS AHEAD OF THE SUPER RUGBY FINAL THIS WEEKEND. SAM WHITELOCK'S ON TRACK TO MAKE A SHOCK COMEBACK FROM INJURY ` HE'S BEEN NAMED TO START AGAINST THE CHIEFS, WHILE HIS LOCKING PARTNER SCOTT BARRETT HAS A NOVEL SUGGESTION FOR HOW TO SILENCE THE HOMETOWN FANS IN HAMILTON. AND ORIGIN TURNS UGLY ON AND OFF THE FIELD AS NEW SOUTH WALES STAR JAROME LUAI RECEIVES DEATH THREATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA A BRITISH JOURNALIST AND HIS CAMERAPERSON HAVE TURNED UP ON A TUNISIAN WHARF AN HOUR AFTER A MIGRANT BOAT CAPSIZE, AND WHAT THEY WITNESSED IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SHOCKING STORY THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT INTO THE NEWS CYCLE. AND THERE'S A HOT NEW FOOD FAD, BUT THE KEY INGREDIENT MIGHT BREAK YOUR TEETH. NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT I'M A LITTLE BIT BIASED BECAUSE I'M FROM HAMILTON ` ALL THE BEST OF LUCK, YOU KNOW, BUT JUST DON'T WIN, PLEASE. (CHUCKLES) WILL JORDAN, THANK YOU. THIS IS CLOSE TO YOUR HEART, ISN'T IT? THE TRAGEDY OF MIGRANT BOATS SINKING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMMONPLACE. BUT WHAT ISN'T, WE SHOULD WARN YOU, IS THE SHOCKING SCENE YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, AT A SMALL PORT ON THE COAST OF TUNISIA. TUNISIA'S GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S FED UP TRYING TO PLAY THE ROLE OF BORDER GUARD FOR EUROPE AND IS DEMANDING A BETTER SOLUTION. AND IT'S BADLY NEEDED, AS CHANNEL 4'S PARAIC O'BRIEN REPORTS. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE PICTURES IN THIS STORY ARE DISTRESSING. AT THE SMALL HARBOUR OF EL LOUSA THIS MORNING, SHALLOW BREATHING IN FISHERMEN'S NETS, THE SUBSTITUTE FOR INTENSIVE CARE. OF THOSE RESCUED, THERE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO BARELY SURVIVED AND THE ONES WHO DID NOT. FISHERMEN IMMUNE TO THIS NOW TOLD US THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, EVERY WEEK, FOR MONTHS. THERE WERE 40 PEOPLE ON THE BOAT THAT CAPSIZED AT AROUND 10PM LAST NIGHT. BARAKA, FROM COTE D'IVOIRE, SPENT NINE HOURS IN THE WATER. SHE IS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT. 11 PEOPLE DROWNED ` PEOPLE LIKE ALI FROM BURKINA FASO. HIS FRIEND STAYS WITH THE BODY. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN RECORDING THE REFUGEE CRISIS MARK TWO OFF THE COAST OF TUNISIA. (ENGINE WHIRRS) THIS BOAT, FOR EXAMPLE, TRYING IN VAIN TO OUTRUN THE COAST GUARD. THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO EUROPE VIA THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN ROUTE, DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR. THE HIGHEST NUMBER RECORDED SINCE 2017 ` WELL OVER 50,000. THE MEN OF THE TUNISIAN COAST GUARD AND NATIONAL GUARD ARE NOW THE ONES TASKED WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE ` TRYING TO TURN BACK CONTINENTAL MIGRATORY FLOWS TRANSITING THROUGH THE COUNTRY. THIS IS MUSA FROM NIGERIA, PLEADING TO BE LET GO. HE EVENTUALLY ENDS UP ON THE COAST GUARD BOAT HEADED BACK TO SFAX. IF MUSA DOESN'T MAKE IT AGAIN NEXT TIME, HE WILL WAIT AND SAVE AND TRY AGAIN. AND ALL THE WHILE, WILL PRAY THAT IF HE ENDS UP AT EL LOUSA HARBOUR, HE WILL AT LEAST GET CAUGHT IN THE NETS ALIVE. 37 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AN EXPLOSION IN PARIS. THE BLAST AT THE AMERICAN DESIGN SCHOOL IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A GAS LEAK. FOUR OF THE STUDENTS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND TWO PEOPLE ARE MISSING, THEIR BODIES FEARED TO BE BURIED IN THE RUBBLE. THE BUILDING IS IN THE LEFT BANK QUARTER, POPULAR WITH STUDENTS AND TOURISTS. SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THE KAIKOURA SEABED IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO A FULL RECOVERY AFTER BEING BADLY DAMAGED IN THE 7.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE IN 2016. AS KAYSHA BROWNLIE EXPLAINS, THE EARTHQUAKE TRIGGERED WHAT'S KNOWN AS A 'CANYON FLUSH' OFF THE COAST OF KAIKOURA. THAT'S WHEN AN UNDERWATER LANDSLIDE STIRS UP SEDIMENT AND ERODES THE SEA FLOOR. PICKING THROUGH SEDIMENT FROM THE SEA FLOOR, SEARCHING FOR SEA LIFE. IT'S A MUD CAKE. I WAS REALLY SURPRISED WHEN WE WERE OUT IN 2020 AND WE FIRST GOT THE CAMERA DOWN ON THE SEAFLOOR. AND THOSE FIRST IMAGES I SAW, IT HAD... THERE WERE WAY MORE ANIMALS THAN I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE. THAT'S BECAUSE FOUR YEARS EARLIER, A 7.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ROCKED KAIKOURA, ALMOST WIPING OUT ECOSYSTEMS IN THE HIKURANGI RESERVE'S KAIKOURA CANYON. THE EARTHQUAKE TRIGGERED ONE OF THE BIGGEST CANYON-FLUSHING EVENTS EVER RECORDED, AT 800 METRIC TONS. ABOUT TWO TO FOUR TIMES AS MUCH SEDIMENT IN THAT ONE MOMENT AS IS ANNUALLY INTRODUCED VIA RIVERS INTO THE NEW ZEALAND WATERS. SIMILAR TO A LANDSLIDE, CREATING AN AVALANCHE EFFECT. IT MOVES AND PICKS UP SEDIMENT, AND SO, IT ERODES THE SEA FLOOR, AND THEN ALSO IN SOME PLACES, AS IT MOVES DOWN THROUGH THE CANYON. SCIENTISTS CAPTURED THESE IMAGES, WHICH SHOW HOW THE SEAFLOOR LOOKED PRE-QUAKE WHEN LIFE WAS ABUNDANT. ONE YEAR POST-QUAKE ` DECIMATED. AND MOST RECENTLY 2020, WHERE THE ECOSYSTEM IS RECOVERING. QUITE LARGE NUMBERS OF SEA STARS AND SEA URCHINS. BEEN LARGE NUMBERS OF DEEP-SEA FISH IN THE CANYON. PERHAPS MOST VISIBLE TO LOCALS, KAIKOURA'S POPULAR PAUA FISHERY, AFTER YEARS OF BEING OFF LIMITS, IS ONCE AGAIN REOPENED FOR LIMITED SEASONS. SCIENTISTS SAY IT COULD BE THE VOLATILITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS LED TO ECOSYSTEM'S RESILIENCE. WHEN ONE OF THESE LARGE EVENTS COMES THROUGH, JUST IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU MIGHT VACCINATE YOURSELF AGAINST A DISEASE, THE COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE EVENT. SOME AREAS OF THE ECOSYSTEM COULD BE CONSIDERED FULLY RECOVERED THIS YEAR ` UNDER WATER AND OUT OF DANGER. KAYSHA BROWNLIE, NEWSHUB. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE STAYING AWAKE ALL DAY, WE HAVE GOOD NEWS ` SCIENTISTS RECKON NAPPING MIGHT BE THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR BRAIN. AND WHO WOULD WIN IN A CAGE FIGHT BETWEEN ELON MUSK AND MARK ZUCKERBERG? WE MIGHT SOON FIND OUT. SAM WHITELOCK'S GIVEN EVERY CHANCE TO BE FIT FOR SATURDAY'S SUPER RUGBY FINAL AGAINST THE CHIEFS, PLUS ` HE'S MADE A SHOCK COMEBACK IN A DIFFERENT BOAT, BUT WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP ROBBIE MANSON AROUND FOR NEXT YEAR'S OLYMPIC GAMES? AND WE CATCH UP WITH KIWI BASKETBALL BROTHERS TAI AND COREY WEBSTER AS THE PAIR GET SET FOR A FAMILY FIRST LATER TONIGHT. IS HAVING A DOG STOPPING YOU FROM GOING ON HOLIDAY? ONE PICTON MAN HAS A BRILLIANT SOLUTION. PLUS, SPEAKING OF DOGS ` HOW DO YOU CALL YOURS? MORE AMAZING PET CALLS ON THE PROJECT TONIGHT AT 7. THE CRUSADERS HAVE RECEIVED A MAJOR BOOST AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND'S SUPER RUGBY FINAL AGAINST THE CHIEFS. SAM WHITELOCK HAS BEEN UNDER AN INJURY CLOUD SINCE INJURING HIS ACHILLES TENDON IN THE TEAM'S FINAL ROUND-ROBIN MATCH, BUT THE TALISMANIC LOCK HAS BEEN NAMED TO START FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS. HE'LL NEED TO PROVE HIS FITNESS ON GAME DAY, BUT HOPES OF A PERFECT SEND-OFF FOR ONE OF THE CLUB'S ALL-TIME GREATS REMAIN ALIVE. OUR RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS MORE. SAM WHITELOCK BACK IN THE GYM AND MOVING FREELY ` HIS ACHILLES OFF ICE, THE CRUSADERS STALWART NAMED FOR HIS 178TH AND FINAL APPEARANCE FOR THE CLUB. HE'S DONE IT. HE'S SEEN IT, HE'S A CALM INFLUENCE, SO HE'S IMPORTANT TO THIS GROUP, AND YEAH, WE'RE PLEASED HE'S AVAILABLE. WHITELOCK GOT THROUGH BOTH THE GYM AND FIELD SESSION TODAY AND WILL BE GIVEN UNTIL KICK-OFF TO ENSURE HE'S RIGHT TO GO. THE WAY HE STILL PLAYS AND TRAINS SETS SUCH A HIGH STANDARD, HIGH BAR AND THAT WE ALL LIVE BY ` YOU KNOW, HE MEANS A LOT TO US, YEAH. WHILE THE CRUSADERS LOOK SET TO WELCOME BACK A KEY ALL BLACK, THE CHIEFS' NEWEST ONE HAS BEEN RELEGATED TO THE BENCH ` CLAYTON MCMILLAN OPTING FOR A SENTIMENTAL SELECTION WITH THE DEPARTING PITA GUS SOWAKULA PREFERRED OVER SAMIPENI FINAU. WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE, AND ONE WAY OF SHOWING THAT IS BY GIVING A PERSON LIKE THAT WHO'S BEEN A GREAT SERVANT FOR THE CHIEFS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN OUT AS STARTER. INSIDE CHIEFS HQ, MEMORIES OF THEIR PREVIOUS TWO TITLES ` AND HOPE FOR THEIR NEXT. THEY ARE DIALLED IN, A LASER FOCUS ON ENDING THE CRUSADERS' WINNING RUN. WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S OUR TIME. A BIG PART OF THAT WILL BE THEIR HOME-GROUND ADVANTAGE. THE CRUSADERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WALKING INTO. IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, HOSTILE. IT CAN BE QUITE INTIMIDATING AT TIMES. REASONABLY HOSTILE. THE CHIEFS WILL TAKE ANY ADVANTAGE THEY CAN. THE COWBELLS WON'T BE THE DIFFERENCE, BUT THEY'LL CERTAINLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CLEARLY NOT TO SCOTT BARRETT, THOUGH. NO COWBELLS ON OUR FARM. DAD GOT THE BOLT CUTTERS OUT AND CUT THAT THING OUT IN THE MIDDLE (LAUGHS) ...AND BIFFED IT. BARRETT AND THE CRUSADERS WILL BE HOPING THEY CAN SILENCE THE COWBELLS ONCE MORE AS SUPER RUGBY'S HEAVYWEIGHTS GET READY FOR A TITLE-DECIDING SHOWDOWN. OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL HAS RUBBISHED CLAIMS FROM THE QATAR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION THAT ALL WHITES PLAYERS MADE RACIST COMMENTS DURING TUESDAY MORNING'S ABANDONED FRIENDLY. IN A STATEMENT, NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL SAID NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL SAY THEY WON'T COMMENT FURTHER, AND HAVE REFERRED THE MATTER TO FIFA TO INVESTIGATE. THE ALL WHITES REFUSED TO PLAY THE SECOND HALF OF THE MATCH AGAINST QATAR AFTER DEFENDER MICHAEL BOXALL WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN RACIALLY ABUSED BY A QATAR PLAYER. ENJOYMENT WILL DETERMINE JUST HOW LONG A RETURN TO ROWING WILL LAST FOR ROBBIE MANSON. THE FORMER SINGLE-SCULLER RETIRED IN 2020 TO PRIORITISE HIS MENTAL HEALTH, AND NEVER PLANNED ON COMING BACK. NOW IN THE MEN'S DOUBLE, MANSON BELIEVES A BETTER BALANCE WILL GO A LONG WAY TO KEEPING A SMILE ON HIS FACE. ALEX CHAPMAN CAUGHT UP WITH HIM. AS THE RAIN PELTED DOWN, ROBBIE MANSON JOKED HE MAYBE SHOULD HAVE STAYED RETIRED. YEAH, NAH, IT WASN'T GREAT OUT THERE TODAY. AND YET, HERE HE IS, THREE YEARS AFTER HANGING UP HIS OARS ` BACK AT LAKE KARAPIRO, A PLACE FOR SO LONG HE CALLED HOME. THE COMPETITIVE ITCH NEEDED TO BE SCRATCHED ONE LAST TIME. I'M GETTING OLDER AND THEN REALISING I CAN'T DO THIS FOREVER, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, SO, MAKING THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO GIVE IT A CRACK. THE 33-YEAR-OLD, WHO STILL HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE WORLD'S BEST TIME IN THE SINGLE SCULL, STEPPED AWAY IN 2020. HE'D FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH THE SPORT. I WAS FIRST IN THE ELITE TEAM WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD. AND THIS IS ALL I KNEW. I THINK... IT WAS REALLY SCARY TO STEP AWAY FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE, BUT I ALSO KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO. NOW BACK WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE, MANSON'S TEAMED UP WITH BEN MASON IN THE MEN'S DOUBLE. THE SINGLE, FOR NOW, IS IN THE PAST. IT'S A TOUGH BOAT. IF YOU'RE NOT OUT IN THE FRONT OF THE A FINAL, AND REALLY COMPETITIVE, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY THAT ENJOYABLE BEING OUT THERE. THAT ENJOYMENT HIS PRIORITY. FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR LONGER, I'VE HAD PEOPLE ASKING ME, 'WHAT'S THE GOAL, WHAT'S THE PLAN?' AND I'VE JUST SAID, 'ENJOY IT'. SO, EVEN WHEN IT'S DARK AND POURING WITH RAIN, AS LONG AS HE'S HAVING FUN, THEN ROBBIE MANSON'S GOING NOWHERE. ALEX CHAPMAN, NEWSHUB. We've got the lowest prices on ventilation solutions. Three-in-one Bathroom Heat Lamp, one forty four oh-five. Door and window Seal Adhesive, three twenty-nine. Where you find a competitor's lower price on the same stocked item, we'll beat it by fifteen percent. Bunnings Warehouse Lowest prices are just the beginning. WELCOME BACK ` WE'VE JUST HAD ONE OR TWO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS HERE IN THE STUDIO BUT WE'VE SORTED THOSE OUT AND WE'LL PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF AND BRAD FITTLER'S FUTURE AS COACH OF NEW SOUTH WALES IS LOOKING BLEAK AFTER LAST NIGHT'S 32-6 LOSS TO QUEENSLAND SEALED BACK-TO-BACK SERIES DEFEATS FOR THE BLUES. IT WAS AN UGLY FINISH TO THE MATCH IN BRISBANE. REECE WALSH AND JEROME LUAI WERE SENT OFF AFTER EXCHANGING HEAD-BUTTS, AND IT'S BEEN REVEALED LUAI LATER RECEIVED DEATH THREATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER REPORTS. AND WE'VE GOT THE REFEREE STOPPING THE CLOCK HERE. A CHAOTIC END TO A BRUTAL LOSS, THE BLUES GOING DOWN SWINGING. THEY CAN'T THROW A PUNCH. AT THE CENTRE OF THE SCUFFLE, THEIR NUMBER ONE ENEMY, REECE WALSH, EXCHANGING HEAD-BUTTS WITH JAROME LUAI. COME ON, BOYS. WALSH AND LUAI SENT OFF, ADDO-CARR SINBINNED, ALTHOUGH THE RED CARD DIDN'T STOP WALSH CELEBRATING ANOTHER MAROONS MASTERCLASS. WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE FANS. THEY'RE A SPECIAL GROUP. AWESOME COACH. AND YOU KNOW, WE REALLY GOT THE JOB DONE THERE TONIGHT. DEFENDING THE ORIGIN SHIELD... (WHISTLE TRILLS) IT'S QUEENSLAND FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS ...IN A WIN WHERE THE QUEENSLAND SPIRIT ENDURED ONCE MORE. QUEENSLAND! GO, QUEENSLAND! WE WON! 32-6, QUEENSLAND CLAIMED BACK-TO-BACK SERIES VICTORIES, WITH CALLS GROWING LOUDER FOR THEIR WINNING STREAK TO END BRAD FITTLER'S TENURE AS BLUES COACH. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER GAME TO GO. SO I'LL WORRY ABOUT THAT, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH TRODDO AND THE BOARD. FITTLER TRIED TO SHUT DOWN CRITICISM. I'LL JUST WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT GAME. FITTLER DEFENDING HIS JOB AND JEROME LUAI. HE POSTED THIS TO HIS INSTAGRAM STORY AFTER THE MATCH ` FITTLER REVEALING TODAY IT WAS A RESPONSE TO DEATH THREATS. 'WE GO AGAIN,' IT ALSO SAYS. GAME THREE IN TWO WEEKS. IN SYDNEY, EMMA CROPPER, NEWSHUB. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, COREY AND TAI WEBSTER HAVE BEEN KEY FIGURES IN NEW ZEALAND BASKETBALL. THE BROTHERS HAVE BEEN TEAMMATES FOR THE TALL BLACKS, THE BREAKERS, AND MOST RECENTLY, THE PERTH WILDCATS. BUT TONIGHT, THEY WILL DO SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE AND SQUARE OFF AGAINST EACH OTHER. GORDON FINDLATER HAS THE STORY. IT'S A WEEK OF FIRSTS FOR THE WEBSTERS ` TAI PULLING ON AN OTAGO NUGGETS SINGLET; OLDER BROTHER COREY SUITING UP FOR THE CANTERBURY RAMS ` TWO TEAMS THEY NEVER ENVISIONED PLAYING FOR. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SOUTH ISLAND, TO BE HONEST. NEVER IN THE SOUTH ISLAND YOU KNOW ` PRIDE AND JOY OF AUCKLAND CITY, SO, YEAH. WHEN THE RAMS AND NUGGETS MEET IN CHRISTCHURCH TONIGHT, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE WEBSTERS HAVE PLAYED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE COURT. PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF CHIRPING FROM HIS SIDE BUT ME, YOU KNOW ` WE'RE A BIT DIFFERENT LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO TALK A LOT ` YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET UNDER HIS SKIN. OH, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET UNDER MY SKIN, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE GAME FOR TOO LONG. THERE'S MORE THAN SIBLING RIVALRY ON THE LINE. JUST A MONTH OUT FROM THE PLAYOFFS, THE 4TH-PLACE NUGGETS ARE HOPING TO CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK NBL TITLES, WHILE THE SECOND-PLACE RAMS ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP IN 31 YEARS. YOU KNOW, I'M DOWN HERE TO DO A JOB AND HELP THEM WIN. THEY'VE BEEN GOING GOOD. THE GOAL WAS ALWAYS GET A CHAMPIONSHIP, SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. BEFORE THEN, THERE'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT CROWN TO BE DECIDED ` BROTHERLY BRAGGING RIGHTS. I KNOW THE TRICKS AS WELL ` YOU KNOW, 28 YEARS OF FOLLOWING HIM AROUND, YOU KNOW? SO I KNOW ALL THE TRICKS. OH, YEAH, WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. LUCKY IT'S A TEAM GAME. TWO BROTHERS FROM AUCKLAND HELPING DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE PRIDE OF THE SOUTH IN 2023. GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. YOU CAN'T TELL ME THOSE TWO WON'T HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING GOING ON, EVEN OF US A COUPLE OF LOADS OF WASHING. ORINI HAS ANOTHER ENCOUNTER COMING UP. BOOK IT IN ` FIGHT NIGHT IS COMING, AND IN THE CAGE WILL BE TWO OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST NERDS. MARK ZUCKERBERG HAS TOLD ELON MUSK TO 'SEND THE LOCATION' AFTER MUSK CHALLENGED HIM TO A CAGE FIGHT ON TWITTER. MUSK HAS NOW SUGGESTED THE VEGAS OCTAGON AND SAYS HE'LL USE A MOVE CALLED 'THE WALRUS' ` WHERE HE JUST LIES ON TOP OF HIS OPPONENT. HE MIGHT HAVE THE SIZE, BUT ZUCKERBERG HAS BEEN TOUTING HIS OWN FIGHT SKILLS RECENTLY AND APPARENTLY HAS BEEN WINNING JIUJITSU COMPETITIONS. THE ONLY OUTSTANDING DETAIL NOW SEEMS TO BE THE DATE. SCIENTISTS AT A LONDON UNIVERSITY HAVE DISCOVERED A SURPRISING LINK BETWEEN HAVING A DAYTIME NAP AND HAVING A HEALTHIER BRAIN. RESEARCH ON 35,000 PEOPLE FOUND A QUICK NAP CAN KEEP THE BRAIN YOUNG. JUST DON'T OVERDO IT. CHANNEL 7'S ROCHELLE BROWN REPORTS. NEW RESEARCH SHOWS A NAP A DAY COULD KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY BY HELPING OUR BRAINS STAY SHARP. WE HAVE THIS REALLY STRONG BELIEF IN WESTERN SOCIETY THAT WE SHOULDN'T SLEEP DURING THE DAY. HAVING A SLEEP DURING THE DAY IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY NORMAL THING. RESEARCHERS ANALYSED DNA SAMPLES AND BRAIN SCANS FROM 35,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN 40 AND 69 YEARS OLD. THEY FOUND NAPPERS WHO TOOK A SHORT DAYTIME SNOOZE HELPED PRESERVE THE HEALTH OF THEIR BRAIN AS THOUGH IT WERE TWO AND A HALF TO SIX AND A HALF YEARS YOUNGER. I THINK WE ARE, AT THIS STAGE, KIND OF SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THE ROLE THAT SLEEP PLAYS GENERALLY IN BRAIN HEALTH AND IN PARTICULAR WITH RESPECT TO DEMENTIA. SOME PREVIOUS STUDIES SUGGEST A 5-15 MINUTE NAP IS THE SWEET SPOT, IDEALLY BY EARLY AFTERNOON OR BEFORE, SO IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE NIGHT-TIME SLEEP ROUTINE. ADULTS NEED 7 TO 8 HOURS' SLEEP EACH DAY, BUT MOST OF US AREN'T GETTING IT ` NEARLY TWO OUT OF THREE AUSTRALIANS REPORT HAVING TROUBLE FALLING OR STAYING ASLEEP. WE MIGHT PRIORITISE OTHER ASPECTS OF HEALTH, LIKE GETTING UP EARLY FOR THE GYM OR LOOKING AT NUTRITION. SLEEP'S REALLY IMPORTANT, SO DON'T NECESSARILY SACRIFICE SLEEP OVER THOSE OTHER THINGS. A BIZARRE STIR-FRY DISH IS SUDDENLY ALL THE RAGE IN CHINA ` IT'S STIR-FRIED ROCKS. IT'S AN ANCIENT RECIPE ` ALMOST STONE AGE YOU MIGHT SAY ` AND IS USED IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. PEBBLES ARE GARNISHED WITH GARLIC AND CHILLI, AND FRIED AT EXTREME HEAT. THE IDEA IS TO SUCK THEM, AND CHEFS ARE CHARGING ABOUT $3 A DISH. I AM NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THAT. THERE'S BARN-RAISED AND FREE-RANGE, AND NOW THERE'S ALSO CHICKEN GROWN IN THE LAB. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS GIVEN THE OK TO BEGIN CREATING CHICKEN MEAT GROWN IN LABORATORIES FROM CELLS TAKEN FROM AN EGG. THEY'LL BE MASS-PRODUCED IN STEEL TANKS AND DISTRIBUTED TO TOP-END RESTAURANTS STARTING IN SAN FRANCISCO AND WASHINGTON. IT MAY CAUSE A TO-DOODLE-DO. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` TAIRAWHITI CIVIL DEFENCE HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WITH A RED HEAVY RAIN WARNING IN PLACE UNTIL NOON ON SUNDAY. RESIDENTS OF TE KARAKA, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF GISBORNE, WERE ASKED TO EVACUATE THIS MORNING, AS HAS ANYONE LIVING NEXT TO A RIVER WHO HAS CONCERNS. THE U.S. COAST GUARD EXPECTS THE OXYGEN TO RUN OUT ON THE MISSING TITAN SUBMARINE IN ABOUT FOUR HOURS' TIME. A FRANTIC SEARCH IS UNDERWAY, BUT THERE'S STILL NO SIGN OF THE VESSEL WITH FIVE PEOPLE ABOARD. MIKE'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER NOW. A VERY UNSETTLED DAY TODAY WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY, AND THAT'S DUE TO THIS LOW AT THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY DIRECTING ALL ITS FRONTS RIGHT OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, ESPECIALLY THE EAST. NOW, THE LOW DOES MOVE AWAY SATURDAY, BUT THE NORTHEAST FLOW REMAINS, ALONG WITH MORE RAIN BANDS, SO A WET WEEKEND LIES AHEAD WITH ONLY THE FAR SOUTH REMAINING DRY. HOWEVER, THE SOUTH ISLAND'S NORTH SEES RAIN. SOME OF IT WILL BE HEAVY AROUND MARLBOROUGH, WITH DRIZZLE OR SHOWERS ALONG THE EAST. TOMORROW THERE'S CLOUD AND FOG IN THE SOUTH AND SHOWERS ALONG THE EAST. BUT THERE'S THAT HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTH. THE DARKER THE BLUE, THE HEAVIER THE RAIN AND IN THE NORTH ISLAND. THE DARKER THE BLUE, THE HEAVIER THE RAIN AND IN THE NORTH ISLAND. TONIGHT THERE'S A LOT OF SHOWER ACTIVITY FROM AUCKLAND NORTH WARNINGS REMAIN OVER THE COROMANDEL AND GISBORNE AREAS, WHERE HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED TO LAST A FEW DAYS. AND AS WE HEAD INTO FRIDAY, WE CAN SEE THOSE DARK BLUE PATCHES. HAWKE'S BAY ALSO UNDER A HEAVY RAIN WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY. TAKING A CLOSER LOOK NOW, AND NORTHERN AREAS COULD SEE THE ODD THUNDERSTORM TOMORROW MORNING ALONG WITH HEAVY SHOWERS. THEY DO EASE IN THE EVENING. HAMILTON SEES A FEW PEEKS OF SUNSHINE. BUT OVERALL, IT'S A WET FRIDAY FURTHER SOUTH. BUT OVERALL, IT'S A WET FRIDAY FURTHER SOUTH, IT'S A WET END TO THE WEEK HERE TOO, WITH EASTERLY WINDS. IF YOU'RE DRIVING TOMORROW, DO TAKE CARE, WITH HEAVY FALLS OF RAIN EXPECTED. HIGHS HERE BETWEEN 16 AND 18 DEGREES INTO THE EAST, AND THIS IS WHERE HEAVY RAIN HAS PROMPTED WARNINGS. AS WE SAW EARLIER, EVACUATIONS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE IN GISBORNE WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED TOMORROW ALONG WITH FRESH EASTERLIES. AND FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, YOU GET MORE OF A CLOUDY DAY WITH PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN. NEW PLYMOUTH SHOULDN'T SEE THAT RAIN UNTIL THE AFTERNOON. KIA ORA, NELSON. A FEW AFTERNOON SHOWERS FOR YOU, BUT SUNGLASSES WILL BE NEEDED ELSEWHERE WITH A FINE DAY IN THE WEST. HOW NICE TO SEE THE SUN SYMBOL HOW NICE TO SEE THE SUN SYMBOL SOMEWHERE. OVER THE ALPS, AND PUT THE SUNGLASSES BACK IN THE CASE. BLENHEIM GETS RAIN, AND IT'S CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR EVERYONE ALONG THE COAST. RAIN DEVELOPS AT NIGHT, AND FOR SOUTHERN AOTEAROA, ANOTHER FOGGY START FOR INLAND AREAS WITH A BIT OF THE DRIBBLY OLD DRIZZLE ABOUT. BUT ENJOY THE AFTERNOON AS IT FINES UP FOR MOST. COME IN, OTEPOTI DUNEDIN. YOUR TURN NOW, AND NOT TOO BAD TOMORROW. IT'S A MAINLY FINE START TO THE DAY, BUT YOU WILL SEE CLOUD BUILD IN THE AFTERNOON - POTENTIALLY THE ODD SHOWER ALONG THE COAST. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH EXPECTING A CLOUDY FRIDAY WITH SHOWERS THAT EVENTUALLY TURN TO RAIN TOWARDS THE EVENING. HELLO, WELLINGTON. PRETTY MUCH THE SAME FOR YOU. A CLOUDY DAY WITH RAIN AT TIMES. HIGHS HERE BETWEEN 16 AND 18. KIA ORA, HAWKE'S BAY. YOUR HEAVY RAIN WARNING IS IN PLACE FROM NOW UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY, WITH THE HEAVIEST FALLS IN THE RANGES. TAURANGA GETS THAT HEAVY RAIN AND ALSO SOME THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW. EASTERLY WINDS, AND A HIGH OF 16, 17 DEGREES. AND OCCASIONAL RAIN EXPECTED AS WE HEAD INLAND TO KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON. IT DOES EASE, HOWEVER, TOWARDS THE EVENING AND YOU MIGHT NEED A BIT OF EXTRA TIME ON THE MOTORWAYS IN AUCKLAND TOMORROW MORNING WITH RAIN ` SOME OF IT WILL BE HEAVY, WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS NORTH OF WHANGAPAROA. OVERSEAS TO AUSTRALIA NOW, AND SHOWERS DOMINATE SOUTHERN AREAS WITH FINE WEATHER ELSEWHERE. AND IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, BULA, FIJI. LOOKING GOOD. 29. EASTERN AREAS GET A FEW SHOWERS. BACK HERE NOW, AND RAIN EASES TO SHOWERS FOR NORTHERN AREAS FROM SATURDAY, BUT WHITIANGA STILL GETS HEAVY RAIN, AND THAT HEAVY RAIN REMAINS IN THE EAST, WITH GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY UNDER WARNINGS UNTIL AT LEAST SUNDAY AT THIS STAGE. AND THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND GETS MOSTLY CLOUDY DAYS, RAIN DOES ARRIVE FOR MOST ON MONDAY AND INTO THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND NOW. AND I'M AFRAID THE ONLY DRY SPOT THIS WEEKEND WILL MOST LIKELY BE GREYMOUTH, LUCKY YOU - AND NOT THE BEST SATURDAY EXPECTED IN CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN, BUT SOUTHLAND AGAIN STAYING DRY. AND THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. STAY SAFE. JUST A REMINDER THAT HAWKE'S BAY AND ALSO PARTS OF MARLBOROUGH ARE UNDER ORANGE WARNINGS AND A RED WARNING ISSUE THIS AFTERNOON FOR GISBORNE.