THE BROTHERS BEHIND THE MAMA HOOCH SEX CRIMES COULD EVENTUALLY FACE DEPORTATION ` WHAT THEIR VICTIMS HAVE TO SAY. REVELATIONS A MAN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR EXPLOITING MIGRANTS HAS BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY FOR 15 YEARS. AND MORE THAN 150 YEARS AFTER MOUNT TARANAKI WAS CONFISCATED, AN HISTORIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CROWN AND IWI. CAPTIONS BY KITTY WASASALA, REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND KATE HARRIS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL THE TWO CHRISTCHURCH BROTHERS CONVICTED OF ALMOST 70 SEX CRIME AND DRUGGING CHARGES DON'T HOLD NEW ZEALAND PASSPORTS, AND COULD BE DEPORTED BACK TO AUSTRALIA WHEN RELEASED FROM PRISON. DANNY AND ROBERTO JAZ WERE SENTENCED TO LONG PRISON SENTENCES LAST WEEK FOR THEIR UNPRECEDENTED CRIMES. VICTIMS SPOKEN TO ARE THRILLED THE PAIR MAY NEVER WALK FREE HERE AGAIN. JULIET SPEEDY HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. THE JAZ BROTHERS ARE TWO OF NEW ZEALAND'S WORST SEXUAL PREDATORS... YOU ARE NOT MEN OF GOOD CHARACTER. ...BUT NEITHER ARE NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS. THE BROTHERS OF MACEDONIAN HERITAGE WERE BORN AND GREW UP IN AUSTRALIA. THEY MOVED HERE WITH THEIR FAMILY IN 2001 WHEN DANNY WAS 18 AND ROBERTO WAS 16. THEIR FATHER SET UP POPULAR HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES. SO YOU'VE GOT VENUTI AND MAMA HOOCH? MM. BOTH QUITE CLOSE TOGETHER... MM-HM. BOTH FAMILY BUSINESS, IS THAT RIGHT? YES. FAMILY BUSINESSES WHICH BECAME THE BROTHERS' PLAYGROUND FOR DRUGGING AND ASSAULTING MANY YOUNG WOMEN. BUT THE BROTHERS MAY NEVER WALK FREE IN NEW ZEALAND AGAIN. UNDER 179 OF THE ACT, ONCE DEPORTED, THEY WILL BE PERMANENTLY PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING NEW ZEALAND. POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED TO NEWSHUB THAT THE JAZ BROTHERS DON'T HOLD NEW ZEALAND PASSPORTS. IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND SAID IT WON'T COMMENT ON SPECIFIC CASES BUT REPLIED TO NEWSHUB'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JAZ BROTHERS WITH ` IT'S UNKNOWN WHEN THE BROTHERS' RESIDENT VISAS WERE ISSUED, BUT ONE PART OF THE DEPORTATION ACT RELIES ON THE CRIME BEING COMMITTED WITHIN 10 YEARS FROM THEN. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR CRIME AND THE TIME THE OFFENCE TOOK PLACE. VICTIMS WE CONTACTED TODAY SAID THE POTENTIAL OF DEPORTATION WAS GREAT NEWS. ONE SAYING ` THE BROTHERS WERE LAST WEEK SENTENCED TO 16.5 AND 17 YEARS BEHIND BARS... WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND DOWN? ...AND NOW WITH THE PROSPECT OF DEPORTATION WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED. SO JULIET, WHEN ARE THE BROTHERS ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR PAROLE? THE JUDGE IMPARTED A NON- MINIMUM PAROLE. SO WERE LOOKING AT 8 1/2 YEARS. THEY DO HAVE FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA. THEIR FATHER IS ON THE RECORD FOR DEFENDING THEM, AND HAS MOVED BACK TO AUSTRALIA. ONE OF THE VENUES HAS ONLY CLOSED THIS YEAR, FIVE YEARS AFTER INVESTIGATIONS BEGAN. IN FACT, THE TABLES ARE STILL LATE FOR DINNER. WE CAN SAFELY ASSUME THAT THE JAZZ MOTHERS WILL NOT OWN OR OPERATE AVENUE IN CHRISTCHURCH ORDERED ZEALAND EVER AGAIN. A GROCERY CODE OF CONDUCT HAS BEEN UNVEILED, WHICH AIMS TO STOP THE SUPERMARKET DUOPOLY BULLYING SUPPLIERS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S CALLING TIME ON SUPERMARKETS' POOR BEHAVIOUR WITH THE NEW CODE, WHICH WILL PROHIBIT THE ABUSE OF POWER OVER GROCERY AND PRODUCE SUPPLIERS AND REQUIRES SUPERMARKETS TO PAY SUPPLIERS ON TIME. AND IF THEY BREACH THE CODE, THEY CAN BE SLAPPED WITH A FINE OF UP TO $3 MILLION. LLOYD BURR REPORTS. TUCKING INTO A COOKIE TIME COOKIE BEFORE GETTING STUCK INTO THE SUPERMARKETS THAT SELL THEM. REALLY SIGNIFICANT PENALTIES FOR ANY MISBEHAVIOUR. CONSUMER AFFAIRS MINISTER DUNCAN WEBB UNVEILING A NEW GROCERY CODE OF CONDUCT TO PREVENT SUPERMARKETS BULLYING SUPPLIERS. IT'S BECOME REALLY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING A FAIR DEAL. TO ENSURE THEY DO, SUPERMARKET COMPANIES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ABUSING THEIR POWER. THEY MUST TREAT SUPPLIERS FAIRLY, PAY THEM ON TIME, AND DEAL WITH THEM IN GOOD FAITH. IF THEY DON'T, A $3m FINE. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DISINCENTIVES TO ANY OF THE SUPERMARKETS OR SUPERMARKET CHAINS FROM ENGAGING IN THIS KIND OF CONDUCT. OUR SUPERMARKETS ARE OWNED BY TWO COMPANIES, WHICH MEANS SMALL SUPPLIERS LIKE ORCHARDS AND VEGE GROWERS CAN EASILY BE MANIPULATED AND PRESSURED FOR LOWER AND LOWER PRICES BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY TWO PLACES TO SELL TO. THERE IS A POWER IMBALANCE, THAT SUPPLIERS ARE FEELING AND THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGED BULLYING TACTICS FROM THE SUPERMARKETS TO SUPPLIERS. CONSUMER NZ HAS BEEN CALLING FOR ACTION ON THIS FOR YEARS; THEY SAY TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT IS A GOOD FIRST STEP. WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO SEE IS THE COMMERCE COMMISSION MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF THE SUPERMARKET WHEN SUPPLIERS HAVE THE BRAVERY TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A COMPLAINT. THE FOOD AND GROCERY COUNCIL IS WELCOMING THE CODE. SUPPLIERS ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CLARITY AND THE FAIRNESS THE CODE WILL BRING WHILE ENABLING THEM TO WORK IN WHAT WILL ALWAYS BE A TOUGH COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT. INTERESTINGLY, BOTH SUPERMARKET COMPANIES ARE ON BOARD TOO. NEW WORLD AND PAK'NSAVE'S OWNER SAYING ` OVER THE ROAD AT COUNTDOWN, THEY SAY ` IF WE DON'T SEE THE CHANGE THAT'S REQUIRED, BOTH AT THE SUPPLY SIDE AND AT THE CHECKOUT END, WE WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION. SO UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM ACROSS THE BOARD A GOOD START. BUT THE QUESTION IS ` WILL IT WORK? THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING, OR THE COOKIE TIME COOKIE IN THIS CASE, WILL BE IN THE EATING. LLOYD BURR, NEWSHUB. A MAN IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND'S INVESTIGATING OVER THE EXPLOITATION OF MORE THAN 100 MIGRANTS HAS BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY FROM OFFICIALS FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS. NEWSHUB CAN ALSO REVEAL ONE OF THE COMPANIES BELIEVED TO BE LINKED TO THE EXPLOITATION WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND ACCREDITATION DESPITE BEING THE SUBJECT OF LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS. THE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE ADVOCATES ASKING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA SCHEME. NICK TRUEBRIDGE HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. THIS IS THE SCENE THAT BLEW THE LID ON WHAT IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS BELIEVE IS A WIDESPREAD CASE OF EXPLOITATION INVOLVING 115 MIGRANTS, SEVERAL COMPANIES, PROPERTIES AND INDIVIDUALS. NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ALLEGEDLY BEHIND THE EXPLOITATION HAS BEEN UNDER INZ SCRUTINY FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. RAVI KUMAR ANTHONY'S HARD TO TRACK DOWN ` NO PICTURES, NO CLEAR LINK TO AN ADDRESS; OUR PHONE CALLS ALSO GOING UNANSWERED. HEY, THIS IS ANTHONY. LEAVE A MESSAGE. BUT WE HAVE UNCOVERED THESE TEXT MESSAGES SENT BY RAVI KUMAR ANTHONY TO ONE OF THE MIGRANTS BROUGHT HERE. ON JUNE 19, THE MIGRANT SAYS HE'S BEEN HERE SINCE APRIL 25, ASKING RAVI TO 'KINDLY GIVE ME WORK'. RAVI REPLIES ` 'DON'T WORRY, COUPLE OF DAYS.' AND IT'S UNDERSTOOD UNDER THE NAME ANTHONY REDDY, HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN A SIMILAR CASE. THIS 2016 RNZ REPORT ALLEGES HE SCAMMED ANOTHER MIGRANT OUT OF $4600. NOW, AT THE TIME, ANTHONY REDDY HAD ALREADY BEEN UNDER IMMIGRATION SCRUTINY FOR NINE YEARS. IT'S UNDERSTOOD HE DID GO THROUGH THE COURTS BUT IS NOW INVOLVED, IT APPEARS, IN THE LATEST CASE. IT'S CERTAINLY A MASSIVE CONCERN, AND IT ALSO REINFORCES OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SCHEME AS WELL AS THE SYSTEM. CPL RECRUITMENT IS ONE OF THE COMPANIES THAT OFFERED CONTRACTS TO JOBLESS MIGRANTS AT THIS PROPERTY. DOCUMENTS SUGGEST THE COMPANY, REGISTERED AS SUNG SOLUTIONS, REMAINED ACCREDITED BY IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND DESPITE FACING LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS FROM THE IRD. ANOTHER COMPANY RUN BY CPL DIRECTOR, ROSS BERRY, WAS LIQUIDATED BACK IN JANUARY. DOCUMENTS SHOW IT OWES UPWARDS OF $850,000. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACCREDITATIONS APPROVED OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND IT APPEARS THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MUCH CHECKS DONE ON IT. MANDEEP BELA SAYS EXTENDING THE MIGRANT EXPLOITATION VISA FROM 6 TO 12 MONTHS IS CRUCIAL. AT A CLOSED MEETING LAST WEEK, IMMIGRATION MINISTER ANDREW LITTLE PROMISED TO LOOK INTO IT. I HAVE A MEETING WITH OFFICIALS FIRST THING ON MONDAY MORNING AS THOSE ON THE FRONTLINE CRY OUT FOR SOLUTIONS, THEY SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW MANY MIGRANTS HERE ARE FACING THIS KIND OF PLIGHT. WHAT HAVE IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND HAD TO SAY ABOUT THESE DEVELOPMENTS? WE'VE HEARD FROM THEM THIS AFTERNOON. THEY ARE HESITANT AS ALWAYS TO COMMENT ON SPECIFICS. NOT INDIVIDUALS NOR COMPANIES. BUT A BIG PART OF THE STORY IS ABOUT THE CHECKS DONE ON EMPLOYERS. THESE COMPANIES APPEAR TO BE IN DIRE STRAITS. THE INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR APPEARED TO HAVE FINANCIAL TROUBLES ELSEWHERE. THEY'RE ADAMANT THAT THEY DO DO THESE CHECKS, INTO THE FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF A COMPANY BUT THEY CHECK 15% OF ALL ACCREDITED COMPANIES, BUT AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM, BUT I SUPPOSE THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THAT IS ENOUGH OF A CHECK AT ALL. IT PAYS TO POINT OUT, IT ONLY TAKES A FEW CHINKS IN THE ARMOUR, AND THESE LOOK LIKE RIGOUR THAN CHINKS. IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING TRAPPED BY THE COST OF LIVING, WITH INCREASING NUMBERS OF US FALLING BEHIND ON CREDIT PAYMENTS. LATEST FIGURES FROM CENTRIX SHOW JUST HOW MANY KIWIS ARE IN ARREARS, BUDGETING ADVISORS SAY DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES IS HIGH. ALICE WILKINS REPORTS. IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR SAVINGS TIPS... ...OR TRICKS... BUT SOME BORROWERS ARE STILL FALLING TO INTO THE DEBT TRAP. 90% OF PEOPLE WE SEE THE ISSUE IS DEBT. WITHOUT THE DEBT THEY WOULD BE FINE, THEY WOULD BE SURVIVING. BUT THOSE EXTRA PAYMENTS ON THE DEBT IS WHAT'S GETTING THEM INTO TROUBLE. AND THE LATEST FIGURES FROM CREDIT BUREAU 'CENTRIX' SHOW MORE PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE. 426,000 WERE BEHIND ON CREDIT PAYMENTS IN JULY, UP FROM 414,000 THE MONTH BEFORE. THAT'S 7.5% HIGHER YEAR-ON-YEAR, ALTHOUGH THAT IS COMPARED TO THE HISTORIC LOWS WE SAW DURING THE COVID-19 PERIOD. IT'S AGAINST SEASONAL TRENDS, SO AT THE MOMENT WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE ARREARS DROPPING A LITTLE BIT IN THE LEAD UP TO CHRISTMAS, SO THE FACT THAT THIS MONTH IN ISOLATION IT'S GONE HIGHER IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ALARM BELL, BUT ONE MONTH DOESN'T MAKE A TREND, CENTRIX SAYS IT EXPECTS ARREARS TO CONTINUE TO RISE, AND IT'S OBSERVED A NEW AGE GROUP STRUGGLING ` UNDER 25S. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ARREARS OF A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL, TELCO IS THE FIRST TO GO. THE FIGURES SHOW PERSONAL LOAN ARREARS UP BY 9% AND CAR LOAN ARREARS 6%. BUY NOW PAY LATER ARREARS DROPPED TO A FIVE-MONTH LOW, BUT THEY'RE STILL TRENDING UP. AUCKLAND CENTRAL BUDGETING SAYS DEMAND FOR ITS SERVICE IS UP THIS YEAR, AND THEY'RE BOOKED UP TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE. THE STRESS THIS PUTS ON PEOPLE, YOU KNOW. NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS, NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, STRESSING AND WORRYING, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR CAR, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR KIDS, CAN THEY AFFORD TO GET A SCHOOL UNIFORM, CAN THEY AFFORD TO BUY FOOD, AND THIS ALL COMES AROUND, UNFORTUNATELY, FROM THAT EASY-TO-GET CREDIT. THE MESSAGE IS TO ASK FOR HELP FROM A FREE FINANCIAL ADVISOR LIKE MONEY TALKS BEFORE DEBT STACKS UP. ALICE WILKINS, NEWSHUB. THE CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO DEVELOP WELLINGTON'S SHELLY BAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED AFTER YEARS OF PROTESTS AND OPPOSITION. THE LAND HAS BEEN BOUGHT BY HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR SIR PETER JACKSON, WHO PLANS TO LET IT RETURN TO ITS NATURAL STATE. LEIGHTON HEIKELL REPORTS. THE WATERS AROUND SHELLY BAY ARE SHIMMERING ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING; THE NEW SEASON BRINGING A NEW FUTURE FOR THE OLD AIR FORCE BASE. I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT SPEECHLESS, A LITTLE BIT GOBSMACKED. BECAUSE AFTER YEARS OF PROTESTING, ANARU MEPHAM FINALLY RECEIVED THE NEWS HE WAS AFTER ` THE CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE SITE HAVE BEEN DITCHED. I THINK IT'S FABULOUS NEWS, AND IT'S A VICTORY THAT HAS BEEN LONG IN THE MAKING, ACTUALLY. THE WELLINGTON COMPANY, LED BY IAN CASSELS, HAS PULLED THE PIN ON ITS $500M PLAN TO TURN THE SITE INTO HUNDREDS OF APARTMENTS, IN A STATEMENT SAYING ` I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING AN INCREASE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT. IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT GO, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES COME THROUGH. THE LAND WAS OCCUPIED BY MAU WHENUA, A GROUP OF TARANAKI WHANUI IWI MEMBERS NOT HAPPY WITH THE DECISION TO SELL THE LAND TO CASSELS. THEY WERE EVICTED AFTER 525 DAYS. IN JUNE THIS YEAR A FIRE DESTROYED A WAREHOUSE, AND THE SITE WAS CORDONED OFF BECAUSE OF ASBESTOS, RENDERING LOCAL CAFE CHOCOLATE FISH CLOSED FOR THE FORESEEABLE. THE LAST THREE MONTHS HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE, JUST HORRIBLE. BUT THIS NEWS TODAY JUST FEELS GREAT. NEW OWNERS SIR PETER JACKSON AND HIS PARTNER DAME FRAN WALSH PLAN TO TURN SHELLY BAY INTO A RECREATIONAL PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY. IN A STATEMENT, THEY SAY ` THEY HAVE A HEART FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND A HEART FOR THEIR PEOPLE. I FEEL THAT THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE SHELLY BAY ARE WILL PROBABLY BE QUITE HAPPY WITH THIS OUTCOME AS WELL. TWO HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS ROLLING THE END CREDITS ON WHAT HAS BEEN A LONG-RUNNING SAGA. LEIGHTON HEIKELL, NEWSHUB. CONVICTED TRIPLE MURDERER LAUREN DICKASON WILL BE SENTENCED IN DECEMBER. DICKASON WAS FOUND GUILTY LAST MONTH OF MURDERING HER THREE GIRLS LIANE, MAYA AND KARLA FOLLOWING A FIVE WEEK JURY TRIAL. SHE ADMITTED KILLING HER CHILDREN BUT CLAIMED A DEFENCE OF INSANITY OR INFANTICIDE. THE 42-YEAR-OLD SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL WILL BE SENTENCED ON DECEMBER 19. NAME SUPPRESSION LAPSED TODAY FOR THE MAN CHARGED WITH THE KIDNAP AND MURDER OF CHRISTCHURCH REAL ESTATE AGENT YANFEI BAO. TINJGUN CAO (52) APPEARED AT THE HIGH COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS MORNING VIA AUDIO VISUAL LINK. HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO BAO'S MURDER. BAO'S BODY STILL HASN'T BEEN FOUND SINCE SHE WENT MISSING 6 WEEKS AGO. CAO WILL FACE TRIAL FOR HER MURDER IN OCTOBER NEXT YEAR. THE CROWN HAS REACHED A HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH TARANAKI IWI TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNISE THAT TARANAKI MAUNGA ISN'T OWNED BY ANYONE. IT'S PART OF A REDRESS PACKAGE AIMED AT RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF CROWN ACTIONS MORE THAN A 150 YEARS AGO WHEN IT CONFISCATED THE MOUNTAIN FROM MAORI. WILLIAM TERITE REPORTS. TAKING THE FINAL STEPS IN A JOURNEY THAT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. I AU, AU, AUE HA. THE TREATY NEGOTIATIONS MINISTER WELCOMED ON TO OWAE MARAE TO DELIVER AN HISTORIC SETTLEMENT. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NGA IWI O TARANAKI AND THE CROWN HAS BEEN CHARACTERISED BY GRAVE CROWN FAILURES FROM ALMOST THE VERY BEGINNING. IN 1865, THE GOVERNMENT CONFISCATED TARANAKI MAUNGA FROM LOCAL MAORI AS PUNISHMENT FOR REBELLING AGAINST THE CROWN DURING THE TARANAKI WARS. THE CROWN NOT ONLY FAILED TO RECOGNISE THE RANGATIRATANGA OF THE HAPU AND IWI OF TARANAKI, BUT TREATED THEM WITH DISDAIN. MORE THAN 150 YEARS ON, THE CROWN HAS ADMITTED ITS ACTIONS WERE WRONG AND SIGNED AN HISTORIC DEED OF REDRESS TODAY. THE FIGHT IS BEING FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE US AND SO, THIS IS REALLY THE CULMINATION OF HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF OF WORK. IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND HISTORIC DAY. THE DEED INCLUDES SHARED GOVERNANCE OF THE NATIONAL PARK, FORMAL RECOGNITION THE MANGA EFFECTIVELY OWNS ITSELF AND RENAMING EGMONT NATIONAL PARK TO TE PAPAKURA O TARANAKI. TODAY SIGNIFIES THE START OF A NEW KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE. THE DEAL WAS SIGNED IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF DESCENDANTS WHO WANTED TO WITNESS HISTORY BEING MADE. IT'S A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR OUR IWI. IT'S A DAY THAT WE HONOUR THE MAUNGA NOT ONLY AS A PIECE OF LAND, BUT PART OF WHO WE ARE. AN HISTORIC DAY NOT ONLY FOR THE CROWN AND TARANAKI IWI, BUT AOTEAROA TOO. WILLIAM TERITE, NEWSHUB. TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, SO HEATHER, WHAT ARE WE IN FOR? GENERALLY SPEAKING, AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND BELOW-AVERAGE RAINFALL. NIWA HAVE RELEASED THEIR SEASONAL FORECAST AND AFTER QUITE A COOL WINTER, IT WILL BE NICE TO HAVE SOME HEAT BACK IN THE AIR. EL NINO IS CONTINUING TO BUILD. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE OFFICIALLY CLASSIFIED LATER IN SEPTEMBER. BUT ALL PREDICTIONS LEAD TO BELOW-NORMAL RAINFALL FOR A HUGE PART OF NEW ZEALAND. WIND STRENGTH WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WESTERLIES INTENSIFY LATER THIS MONTH. AS FOR THE WEATHER FOR THE FIRST WEEKEND OF SPRING ` WELL, THAT'S A BIT IFFY. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. THE EXHAUSTING CLEAN-UP AFTER HURRICANE IDALIA. WE'LL BE LIVE FROM FLORIDA, WHERE RESIDENTS SAY THEY'RE DETERMINED TO 'BUILD BACK STRONGER.' A METHAMPHETAMINE BUST HAS RESULTED IN THE ARRESTS OF 11 PEOPLE. OVER 100 POLICE OFFICERS WERE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. AND HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO GOVERN? AMERICA'S AGING POLITICIANS COME UNDER MORE SCRUTINY. OK, BOOMERS, MEET THE BOOMER-ANGS ` ADULT KIDS WHO KEEP MOVING BACK HOME. AND THE TV SHOW THAT'S PREDICTED THE FUTURE MORE THAN 30 TIMES, AND IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE PSYCHIC PROGRAMMES, EITHER. THE PROJECT, AT 7. SATURDAY ON NEWSHUB NATION ` IT'S FINALLY TIME. AS LABOUR LAUNCHES ITS CAMPAIGN, CHRIS HIPKINS JOINS US LIVE TO MAKE HIS CASE FOR POLITICAL SURVIVAL. NEWSHUB NATION, SATURDAY 9.30am ON THREE. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. 74 PEOPLE INCLUDING 12 CHILDREN ARE NOW KNOWN TO HAVE DIED IN A DEVASTATING FIRE IN A FIVE-STOREY BUILDING IN JOHANNESBURG. IT HOUSED SOME OF THE CITY'S POOREST AND MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. AND A WARNING THAT THIS REPORT FROM ITV'S NEIL CONNERY CONTAINS SOME UPSETTING IMAGES AND DETAILS. (FLAMES CRACKLE) IT WAS AROUND 1.30 THIS MORNING WHEN THE FIVE-STOREY BLOCK HOUSING HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS IN JOHANNESBURG CENTRE CAUGHT FIRE, THE FLAMES SPREADING QUICKLY THROUGH THE ILLEGALLY-OCCUPIED BUILDING. A GANG HAD BEEN CHARGING THE MIGRANTS TO LIVE HERE. DAWN REVEALED THE SCALE OF THE TRAUMA AND THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO ESCAPED. NICHOLAS WAS INSIDE WITH HIS AUNT WHEN THE FIRE TOOK HOLD. THEN I SAW PEOPLE JUMPING AND OTHER PEOPLE SCREAMING AND OTHER PEOPLE CRYING. THEN I SAW DEAD BODIES. AS SOME OF THE VICTIMS' BODIES BEGIN TO BE RETRIEVED, FIRE CREWS SPOKE OF THEIR DETERMINATION TO HELP THE FAMILIES. IT IS A SAD DAY INDEED, BUT WE HAVE REASSURED OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ASSIST THEM TO FIND CLOSURE AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE FLOORS ARE CLEARED FOR ANY OUTSTANDING BODY WHICH MIGHT STILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE BUILDING. AS EVENING FELL, SOUTH AFRICA'S PRESIDENT, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, VISITED THE SCENE TO OFFER HIS CONDOLENCES. AT LEAST 12 OF THOSE KILLED WERE CHILDREN. IT'S SAID THAT WE'VE LOST UP TO 75 PEOPLE, AND SOME OF THEM CHILDREN, WHO MUST HAVE DIED VERY, VERY TRAGICALLY. AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF DEATH THAT WE NEVER WISH ON ANYONE. AS INVESTIGATORS SET ABOUT ESTABLISHING THE FIRE'S CAUSE, THE TERRIBLE HUMAN COST CLAIMED IN A PLACE THE MIGRANTS HAD HOPED WOULD OFFER SANCTUARY IS BECOMING CLEAR. FLORIDA RESIDENTS WHO'VE HAD THEIR HOMES AND LIVES DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE IDALIA SAY THEY'RE DETERMINED TO BUILD BACK STRONGER. THE HURRICANE CAUSED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO COASTAL TOWNS WHEN IT ROARED THROUGH THIS WEEK. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN TALKED TO RESIDENTS AS THEY TRIED TO CLEAN UP. (WIND ROARS) FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE TO SOUTH CAROLINA, IDALIA ROARED INTO THE COASTLINE. NOW A TROPICAL STORM, SHE BROUGHT STRONG WINDS AND STORM SURGES. IN NORTH CAROLINA, THESE CARS WERE LEFT SUBMERGED AS THE TAIL END OF THE STORM HEADED OUT TO SEA, LEAVING BEHIND A TWO DAY TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION, MOSTLY IN FLORIDA. AT CRABBIE DAD'S BAR IN STEINHATCHEE, OWNER SCOTT PETERS TELLS US HE'S CANCELLED THE BAND THIS WEEKEND. IF ONE EVER PLAYS HERE AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE. THIS BAR IS A COMPLETE MESS. THERE IS WOOD EVERYWHERE. THERE ARE BOTTLES, CHAIRS ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET IT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW HIGH THE WATER WAS WHEN IT CAME THROUGH ` RIGHT TO THE BOTTOM OF THOSE BOTTLES. SCOTT PLANS TO REBUILD IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE, BUT THAT TASK WILL BE EVEN HARDER BECAUSE HE WASN'T INSURED. YOU KNOW, THE TEARS ARE OVER. I DON'T EVEN THINK I'VE EATEN TODAY. IT'S ALL LIKE WHERE DO I START? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO I` WHAT DO I DO? DOWN THE STREET, WE FIND A WORKING BEE AT THE TOWN'S LOCAL FOOD BANK. THE STORAGE ROOM IS COVERED IN MUD, AND THE MEAT IN THE FRIDGE IS OFF. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME HURRICANES HAVE HIT HARD HERE, AND IT HURTS. AT SOME POINT, THIS MUST REALLY TAKE A TOLL. OOH, YEAH. YEAH. IT BREAKS MY HEART. (VOICE CRACKS) THIS IS MY HEART. I LOVE WHAT I DO. I LOVE THE PEOPLE. PEOPLE THAT CHERRY CAMPBELL CANNOT SERVE WHEN THE FOOD BANK IS CLOSED. I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR A LONG TIME FOR SOME HIGH DRY PROPERTIES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE, REBUILD... SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY TIME. TODAY, RON DESANTIS, THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ARRIVED TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. 5000 PEOPLE IN THIS STATE WOKE UP IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS THIS MORNING AND TENS OF THOUSANDS ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER. WHAT'S YOUR PERSONAL ASSESSMENT AFTER TRAVELLING AROUND THE STATE? WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE DAMAGE? WELL, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF REALLY HEARTBREAKING DAMAGE. IT WAS ALL VERY RAW. WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FULL LIFE'S WORK INTO, SAY, LIKE A BUSINESS, IT ENDS UP UNDER FIVE FEET OF WATER. THIS COASTAL COMMUNITY WILL BE CLEANING UP FOR MONTHS INSIDE THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND OUTSIDE THEIR RESTAURANTS AND BARS. BUT IN STEINHATCHEE, THEY ARE STILL HERE TO TELL THE TALE. THIS IS THINGS; STUFF. IT'S NO BIG DEAL. NOTHING, THEY SAY, THEY CAN'T HANDLE. OK, MITCH, ARE THE PEOPLE IN FLORIDA GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED? ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US, YES THEY ARE. OVER THE SERIES OF THE LAST FEW DAYS, NOT ONE PERSON HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT A LACK OF HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THEY KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE HURRICANE'S AS THEY DO IT EVERY YEAR. THEY KNOW HOW TO PREPARE AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES, AND THEY DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY EARLY. IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE HERE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND IS GOING TO BE TOURING THE WORST HIT AREAS. JOE BIDEN COMES HERE AT THE SAME TIME THAT OTHER LAWMAKERS WILL BE. WORKSAFE SAYS THE WHAKAARI WHITE ISLAND OWNERS, THE BUTTLE BROTHERS, STILL HAVE A CASE TO ANSWER OVER THE DEATHS OF 22 PEOPLE IN 2019. JAMES, PETER AND ANDREW BUTTLE ARE TRYING FOR THE THIRD TIME TO GET CHARGES AGAINST THEM THROWN OUT. BUT WORKSAFE SAYS PROOF OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE IS THAT THEY NEVER GOT THEIR OWN EXPERT ADVICE ON THE RISKS AND DIDN'T RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE ISLAND WHEN THEY COULD HAVE. RATHER THAN SAYING, 'WELL IT'S UP TO EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THIS,' YES, OTHER PEOPLE HAD DUTIES, OTHER PEOPLE HAD RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT SO DID THEY, AND THEY DID HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THIS. THE JUDGE EVANGELOS THOMAS SAYS HE'LL DECIDE ON THIS LATEST APPLICATION ON TUESDAY BEFORE THE DEFENDANTS BEGIN THEIR CASE. A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE HAS BEEN FOUND ON A REMOTE BEACH IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND THE POLICE WANT TO FIND WHO WROTE IT. A HELICOPTER SPOTTED THE WORD 'HELP' WRITTEN IN THE SAND BESIDE LAKE AHAURA, 60KM INLAND FROM GREYMOUTH. POLICE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ANYONE WHO'S GONE INTO THE AREA RECENTLY, OR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN THE MESSAGE, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOW SAFE AND WELL. NICKY'S IN LATER WITH SPORT, AND THE ALL BLACKS HAVE TOUCHED DOWN IN FRANCE. JUST EIGHT DAYS TO GO, MIKE, UNTIL THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP OPENER. WE ARE TO LIVE TO THEIR BASE IN LYON SHORTLY. PLUS, IS IT THE BRONCOS OR WILL IT BE THE PANTHERS? WHY THE WAIT GOES ON FOR WARRIORS TO LEARN WHO THEY'LL FACE IN THE FIRST WEEKEND OF NRL PLAYOFFS. AND WE TAKE A LOOK INSIDE CONSTRUCTION AT ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NEW SPORTS VENUES IN THE COUNTRY. U.S. POLITICIAN MITCH MCCONNELL'S SECOND 'FREEZE UP' AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN A MONTH HAS RENEWED DEBATE OVER THE ADVANCED AGE OF MANY OF AMERICA'S LEADERS. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS BULLS AREN'T CALLED MAN'S BEST FRIEND. TINY DOOR WILL OPEN IN CHRISTCHURCH TOMORROW. MY HUSBAND SORT OF THOUGHT IT'D BE COOL TO GET A BURRITO OUT OF A HOLE IN THE WALL. AND THE SCHEDULE JUST KEEPS CHANGING, SO YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO YOU MIGHT GET FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER. OH, HERE WE GO, THE BIG REVEAL. (CHUCKLES) AND THEN THE FOOD COMES OUT! HEY, LOOK AT THAT! THERE'S RENEWED DEBATE OVER THE ADVANCED AGE OF MANY OF THE POLITICIANS IN THE U.S. IT'S AFTER THE REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL APPEARED TO FREEZE DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR A SECOND TIME. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS INVOLVING SENIOR POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES. CHANNEL 4'S SIOBHAN KENNEDY HAS MORE. OK, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2026? WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT? RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2026. OH. (CHUCKLES LIGHTLY) THAT'S... THE SITE OF ONE OF THE MOST SENIOR REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS, MITCH MCCONNELL, APPEARING TO FREEZE YESTERDAY WHEN HE WAS ASKED A QUESTION BY A REPORTER, WAS UNCOMFORTABLE TO WATCH ` NOT LEAST BECAUSE THE 81-YEAR-OLD HAD EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR EPISODE JUST OVER A MONTH AGO. AND A STRING OF, UH... HIS OFFICE SAID THAT THE SENATOR WAS MOMENTARILY LIGHT-HEADED AND PAUSED DURING HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT IT'S NONETHELESS REIGNITED THE DEBATE ABOUT AGE IN U.S. POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. YOU'RE THE OLDEST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. JOE BIDEN'S AGE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF HIS PRESIDENCY SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING AND IS EVEN MORE SO NOW AFTER ANNOUNCING HE PLANS TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2024. AND SO I JUST` IT'S A MATTER OF CAN YOU DO THE JOB? THE PROBLEM FOR BIDEN IS THAT WHILE HE SAYS HE SHOULD BE JUDGED ON HIS LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS, POLLS CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT AMERICANS, BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, ARE MORE FOCUSED ON HIS AGE. THE LATEST THIS WEEK SHOWS THAT 77% BELIEVE BIDEN IS TOO OLD TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT FOR A SECOND TERM, COMPARED TO JUST OVER HALF WHO THINK THAT HIS MAIN RIVAL, DONALD TRUMP, WHO IS HIMSELF NO SPRING CHICKEN AT 77, IS ALSO TOO OLD FOR THE JOB. SO SHOULD AGE BE A LIMITING FACTOR FOR AMERICAN POLITICIANS? WE ASKED A GROUP OF 70-SOMETHINGS PLAYING PICKLEBALL ` THE GAME THAT BILLS ITSELF AS IDEAL FOR THE YOUNG-AT-HEART. THERE SHOULD BE AN AGE LIMIT ON ELECTED OFFICIALS, I AGREE WITH THAT. WE TEND TO KEEP VOTING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE WAY PAST THEIR PRIME. THEY SHOULD BE WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES. THAT'S HOW I FEEL. AND IT'S A HARD TRADE OFF BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET EMBEDDED IN THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE MORE POWER, YOU HAVE MORE INFLUENCE. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU ALSO DON'T MAKE WAY FOR NEWER IDEAS AND NEWER PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 35-YEARS-OLD TO BECOME PRESIDENT; 25 FOR THE HOUSE AND 30 FOR THE SENATE. SO THERE'S MINIMUMS, BUT NO MAXIMUMS. SO WILL VOTERS SEE THE BICYCLE-LOVING PRESIDENT WHO HANDLES A GRUELLING SCHEDULE WITH APLOMB, OR WILL THEY SEE A FRAIL AND WEARY POLITICIAN WHO'S INCREASINGLY SHOWING HIS AGE? ULTIMATELY, IN A DEMOCRACY, IT'S UP TO THEM TO DECIDE. AUCKLAND COUNCIL HAS MORE THAN $800M IN ITS COFFERS AFTER IT SOLD SOME OF ITS SHARES IN AUCKLAND AIRPORT. IT SOLD 7% OF ITS HOLDINGS IN THE AIRPORT COMPANY, WHICH WILL BE USED TO REDUCE THE COUNCIL'S DEBT. THE COUNCIL STILL HAS AN 11% SHAREHOLDING IN THE AIRPORT. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER A BODY WAS FOUND IN A WELLINGTON PARK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. TANERA PARK IN BROOKLYN HAS BEEN CORDONED OFF AS POLICE COMPLETE THEIR SCENE EXAMINATION. AT THIS STAGE THEY'RE CALLING THE DEATH UNEXPLAINED. POLICE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO WAS AT THE PARK YESTERDAY. 11 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A MASSIVE POLICE BUST TARGETING A MONGREL MOB DRUG CARTEL. SEARCH WARRANTS WERE CARRIED OUT AT PROPERTIES IN WELLINGTON, PORIRUA AND PALMERSTON NORTH. 18 VEHICLES, 4 HARLEY DAVIDSONS, A JET-SKI AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF METHAMPHETAMINE WERE ALL SEIZED. POLICE SAY OVER A HUNDRED OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE RAIDS. A NEBRASKA MAN'S DECISION TO TAKE HIS PET FOR A RIDE ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF LOCAL POLICE. THE PROBLEM? THE PET WAS A 700kg BULL NAMED HOWDY DOODY. WE'RE LIVE TO LYON AS THE ALL BLACKS GET SET FOR A SPECIAL WELCOME TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP. HAMISH KERR PRODUCES A NEAR CAREER-BEST JUMP AT THE LATEST DIAMOND LEAGUE EVENT, JUST DAYS AFTER MISSING THE FINAL OF THE WORLD CHAMPS. AND WHAT DOES A THIRD DEFEAT AT THE WORLD CUP MEAN FOR THE TALL BLACKS' HOPES OF PLAYING AT NEXT YEAR'S OLYMPICS? ISRAEL DAGG AND STEPHEN DONALD PASS ON THEIR WISDOM TO THIS YEAR'S RUGBY WORLD CUP SQUAD. AND THE TV COMEDY THAT KEEPS PREDICTING THE FUTURE HAS DONE IT AGAIN. COMMENTATOR: Here we are with the first half. VOICEOVER: Introducing... ..the most epic Sports Combo. Any Footlong Sub, any two cookies and a drink. Delivered to your door from the Subway app. THE ALL BLACKS ARE DUE TO ARRIVE IN LYON IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS, WITH JUST EIGHT DAYS TO GO UNTIL THEY BEGIN THEIR QUEST TO WIN A FOURTH RUGBY WORLD CUP. THE TEAM'S SPENT MOST OF THIS WEEK TRAINING IN GERMANY, BUT THE FOCUS IS NOW FIRMLY ON THIS YEAR'S MAIN EVENT. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE'S IN LYON. OLLIE, WHAT'S DUE TO HAPPEN THERE TONIGHT? IT IS ALL STARTING TO GET A BIT REAL FOR THE ALL BLACKS. WERE A COUPLE HOURS AWAY FROM TOUCHING DOWN IN LYON. THIS IS WHERE THEIR BASE CAMP WILL BE. A LOT OF THEIR TIME WILL BE SPENT IN LYON. THE OFFICIAL WELCOME WILL BE LATER TONIGHT. THEY CANNOT HIDE IN LYON. YOU GET A SENSE OF THINGS LIFTING AROUND THE CITY. EXCITEMENT BECOMES PRESSURE ON TEAMS LIKE THE ALL BLACKS. THEY HAVE BEEN AT A CAMP AT ADIDAS HQ. THEY HAVE BEEN REFINING THINGS THAT DID NOT WORK WELL AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA. THEY HAVE SORT OF BEEN AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT, AWAY FROM THE MEDIA. THAT'S PROBABLY SUITED THEM QUITE WELL. A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AWAY OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, BUT CERTAINLY ONCE IAN FOSTER AND HIS TEAM TOUCHDOWN, THEY WILL BE FIRMLY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS TO COME, AND THAT IS FRANCE. THAT'S OLLIE RITCHIE, LIVE FROM LYON. THANK YOU. IT'S HOPED THE DAMNING REVIEW INTO NEW ZEALAND RUGBY WILL LEAD TO A MORE DIVERSE RANGE OF VOICES WITHIN THE ORGANISATION. AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE INDEPENDENT PANEL WAS CHANGING THE WAY THE BOARD IS APPOINTED, CITING THE 'TORTUOUS' PROCESS CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO GET WOMEN INVOLVED. ALICE SOPER FROM WOMEN IN RUGBY AOTEAROA TOLD AM THE DAYS OF FIGHTING FOR EQUAL REPRESENTATION MUST BE CONFINED TO HISTORY. OFTEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS WE'VE PUT THESE PEOPLE IN CONFLICT WITH ONE ANOTHER. YOU KNOW, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE SEAT THAT'S COME UP, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE A MAORI CANDIDATE AND A WAHINE CANDIDATE GOING UP AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE 26 PROVINCIAL UNIONS WILL VOTE ON THE REVIEW'S RECOMMENDED CHANGES, WITH TWO THIRDS NEEDING TO VOTE IN FAVOUR FOR ANYTHING MEANINGFUL TO HAPPEN. THE WARRIORS ARE STILL NONE THE WISER AS TO WHO'LL THEY PLAY IN THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE NRL PLAYOFFS, WITH THE BRONCOS BLOWING THE CHANCE TO WRAP THE MINOR PREMIERSHIP, LOSING 32-22 TO THE MELBOURNE STORM LAST NIGHT. DESPITE RESTING SEVERAL FIRST-CHOICE PLAYERS AHEAD OF THE POST SEASON, BRISBANE JUMPED OUT TO A TWO-TRY ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST HALF. BUT MELBOURNE RALLIED BACK, INSPIRED BY 20-YEAR-OLD FULLBACK SUA FA'ALOGO WHO STARRED ON HIS NRL DEBUT. FA'ALOGO IS AWAY! RUNS THE SAILOR, TURNS HIM INSIDE OUT! HE GOES FOR PAPENHUYZEN. HE GOES PAST OATES. PAPENHUYZEN LOOKING FOR FA'ALOGO! WELCOME TO THE NRL, SU'A FA'ALOGO! BRISBANE NOW NEEDS THE COWBOYS TO UPSET DEFENDING CHAMPION PENRITH TOMORROW NIGHT TO CLAIM THE MINOR PREMIERSHIP. BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT RESULT, THE BRONCOS COULD WELCOME MELBOURNE BACK TO SUNCORP IN THE OPENING WEEK OF PLAYOFFS, OR THEY COULD HOST THE WARRIORS, WHO MEET THE DOLPHINS TOMORROW. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES. HIGH JUMPER HAMISH KERR HAS BOUNCED BACK FROM THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS TO FINISH SECOND AT THE ZURICH DIAMOND LEAGUE MEET. THE KIWI SOARED TO THE SECOND HIGHEST JUMP OF HIS CAREER, CLEARING 2.33 METRES IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT, AND IN DOING SO SET A NATIONAL OUTDOOR RECORD. OH, BOOM, OVER HE GOES! MAKES IT LOOK EASY. NOW, THAT FROM THE KIWI IS SUPERB. THAT IS A NATIONAL RECORD, A PERSONAL BEST FOR KERR. SPRINTER ZOE HOBBS PLACED SEVENTH IN THE WOMEN'S 100m FINAL WITH A TIME OF 11.14 SECONDS. THE TALL BLACKS' HOPES OF PLAYING AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE AFTER LOSING TO MEXICO AT THE BASKETBALL WORLD CUP IN MANILA. AFTER FAILING TO ADVANCE TO THE SECOND ROUND, THE KIWIS NEEDED TO FINISH AS ONE OF THE THREE HIGHEST-RANKED ASIA TEAMS TO CLAIM A SPOT IN NEXT JUNE'S OLYMPIC QUALIFIER SERIES. BUT IT WAS LOWER-RANKED MEXICO WHO ROARED TO A 57-41 HALFTIME LEAD. HITS IT BACK... PUTS UP A 3... GOT IT! WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT. THE ICING ON THE CAKE. REUBEN TE RANGI LED THE KIWI FIGHTBACK WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 32 POINTS, BUT DESPITE COMING WITHIN 4 POINTS IN THE FINAL MINUTE, MEXICO HELD STRONG TO WIN 108-100. THE GAME WE PLAY IN A DAY AND A HALF WHEN WE MUST TURN AROUND AND... PLAY BETTER, YOU KNOW. WE'RE PLAYING FOR SOMETHING. WE'RE PLAYING FOR A QUALIFYING` BID AT THE QUALIFIERS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. THE TALL BLACKS MUST NOW BEAT EGYPT TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF QUALIFYING FOR THE OLYMPICS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2004. ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NEW MAJOR EVENTS VENUES IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE IN THE CENTRE OF CHRISTCHURCH. THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR, MULTI-USE STADIUM IS DUE TO OPEN IN APRIL 2026, AND WILL BE THE NEW HOME OF THE CRUSADERS, WHO ARE ALREADY PLANNING FOR WHEN THEY TAKE UP RESIDENCE. GORDON FINDLATER REPORTS. THE CRUSADERS ARE USED TO SETTING THE BENCHMARK ON THE FIELD, BUT SOON THEY BELIEVE THEY'LL BE DOING THAT IN THE STANDS. I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF TALK ABOUT LOTS OF VENUES IN IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK WITHOUT DOUBT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST. THE CREW WORKING HARD ON THE TOOLS TO HAVE TE KAHA READY TO HOST SUPER RUGBY BY APRIL 2026. THERE'S ABOUT 140 ON SITE AT THE MINUTE, AND THAT'S LIKELY TO GROW TO ABOUT 300 OR 400 DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE AT. OBVIOUSLY, ONCE THE FITOUT STARTS, THERE'LL BE A LOT OF HANDS ON DECK. AND WITH PROGRESS CLEARLY BEING MADE, TODAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED FANS WHO BUY A CRUSADERS MEMBERSHIP AT 2024 AND 2025 WILL JOIN A PRIORITY WAITLIST TO SELECT A SEAT AT THE NEW STADIUM FOR 2026. SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET IN FIRST AND GET THE FIRST DIBS ON THE SEATS THAT COME OUT IN THIS PLACE HERE. SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS IS THE WEST END, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR. IT'S GOING TO STRETCH RIGHT UP TO A FOURTH STOREY, PACKING IN THOUSANDS OF EXCITED FANS. AND THEN ACTUALLY NEXT YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR, IS THE ROOF STRUCTURE WILL START BEING BUILT. SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING. THOSE THAT ENJOY THE RUGBY BUT NOT CHRISTCHURCH'S CHILLY WINTER EVENINGS WOULD AGREE. SO, I FIND IT DIFFICULT IN THOSE COLD NIGHTS MYSELF, SO I KNOW I'LL BE PERCHED UP THERE REJOICING WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. THERE SEEMS TO BE JUST ONE THING MISSING FROM THE STADIUM PLANS, THOUGH. SO WHERE IS THE STATUE OF RAZOR GOING? WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE'S A FEW OTHERS THAT HAVE GOT TO GO UP FIRST, ACTUALLY, GORDON. BUT THERE'S GONNA BE A FEW STATUES UP, AND WE'VE GOT TO AGREE THAT WITH VENUES OTAUTAHI. SEVEN SUPER RUGBY TITLES IN AS MANY YEARS ` SURELY THEY'LL GIVE SIGN OFF ON THAT? GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. THAT MIGHT ONLY BE APPROPRIATE WHILE HIS CRUSADERS COACH. THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE IT DOWN IF HE DOESN'T GO VERY WELL. NEBRASKA POLICE HAVE PULLED OVER A DRIVER WITH AN UNUSUAL PASSENGER ` A FULLY-GROWN WATUSI BULL NAMED 'HOWDY DOODY'. THE SEDAN WAS STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION, WITH THE OFFICER CITING 'A FEW ISSUES' WITH THIS PARTICULAR DRIVING SITUATION. INCREDIBLY, THE MAN WAS ONLY GIVEN A WARNING, AND ALLOWED TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE 700-KILO BEAST STILL IN HIS CAR. WHICH IS CLEARLY MODIFIED FOR THAT PURPOSE. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THE TWO CHRISTCHURCH BROTHERS CONVICTED OF ALMOST 70 SEX CRIME AND DRUGGING CHARGES DON'T HOLD NEW ZEALAND PASSPORTS AND COULD BE DEPORTED BACK TO AUSTRALIA WHEN RELEASED FROM PRISON. A MAN IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND IS INVESTIGATING OVER THE EXPLOITATION OF MORE THAN 100 MIGRANTS HAS BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY FROM OFFICIALS FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS. COMING UP, NEWSHUB WEATHER. AND THERE'S STILL ONLY ONE HEAVY RAIN WARNING OUT, HEATHER? AND THAT'S FOR FIORDLAND SOUTH OF GEORGE SOUND, IN FORCE TILL 4 IN THE MORNING. BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REGION SET TO EXPERIENCE RAIN THIS WEEKEND, WITH A DECENT AMOUNT HITTING THE NORTH FROM TOMORROW NIGHT INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. DETAILS NEXT. ON THE PROJECT, THE KIDS ARE COMING HOME. WHY ARE SO MANY ADULT MILLENNIAL'S MOVING BACK IN WITH MUM AND DAD? NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. INTO THE FIRST WEEKEND OF SPRING, AND THE HIGH DRIFTS EAST TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. THE RIDGE WILL STAY STEADY THOUGH OVER MUCH OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL. THE FRONT AFFECTING THE DEEP SOUTH WEAKENS TOMORROW AFTERNOON. AND THEN IN THE NORTH, A NEW LOW DROPS, WITH FRONTS APPROACHING FROM THE NORTH AND WEST. SO YOU CAN SEE THE LINGERING FRONT DOWN SOUTH. IT'S LOOKING GOOD OVER THE REST OF THE ISLAND TONIGHT, WITH HIGH CLOUD FOR THE SOUTHEAST. TOMORROW, THE RAIN CLEARS THE SOUTH THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, WITH CLOUD SPREADING ALONG THE EAST COAST AND INLAND WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE FOR THE FOOTHILLS. FINE FOR THE LOWER HALF OF THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT FROM WAITOMO ACROSS TO GISBORNE SOUTH. CLOUDIER FOR THE TOP HALF, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS FROM AUCKLAND ACROSS TO THE COROMANDEL AND NORTH. TOMORROW, THE LOWER TWO THIRDS WILL JUST HAVE CLOUD, WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF INLAND MORNING FOG. BUT IT CLOUDS OVER IN THE NORTH, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND TURNING TO RAIN AND SPREADING. MOSTLY CLOUDY UP TOP, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. MORNING FOG AGAIN FOR HAMILTON. SHOWERS TURN TO RAIN IN THE EVENING FOR NORTHLAND AND SPREAD SOUTH WITH EASTERLIES FOR EVERYONE. MORNING CLOUD HERE WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR TAURANGA AND MORNING FOG FOR ROTORUA. CLOUD RETURNS EVERYWHERE TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH EAST TO NOR'EAST WINDS. MORNING FROST FOR MASTERTON, AND FOR SHELTERED SPOTS OF HAWKE'S BAY AND DANNEVIRKE. WINDS ARE MOSTLY LIGHT, BUT GISBORNE, YOU'LL HAVE A NOR'WESTER TURNING SOU'EAST IN THE AFTERNOON. AND ANOTHER ROUND OF MORNING FOG AND FROST FOR TAUMARANUI, BUT IT BURNS OFF TO JOIN THE REST OF THE REGION WITH A SUNNY DAY. WINDS ARE A LITTLE ALL OVER THE SHOW, BUT WON'T BE STRONG. FINE HERE FOR THE DAY. EARLY FOG FOR REEFTON, BUT IT CLEARS. SOU'WESTERS DEVELOP FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON FOR GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. FINE AT FIRST OVER THE DIVIDE ` POSSIBLE FROST FOR BLENHEIM. IT CLOUDS OVER FROM ABOUT MIDDAY AND LOW CLOUD AND FOG HITS ALL OF CANTERBURY, EXTENDING UP TO KAIKOURA IN THE EVENING. THE LOW CLOUD ALSO EXTENDS DOWN THROUGH OAMARU, CENTRAL OTAGO AND DUNEDIN. SOUTHLAND WILL HAVE OCCASIONAL RAIN, BUT IT CLEARS LATE MORNING WITH FINE SPELLS FROM THE AFTERNOON. SO A FAIRLY GREY AND BLEAK DAY FOR DUNEDIN ` EARLY DRIZZLE CLEARS. BUT THAT LOW CLOUD WILL LINGER FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND DROP DOWN TOMORROW NIGHT TO FOG, WITH NEXT TO NO WIND. FINE FOR THE MORNING AROUND OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, BUT IT CLOUDS OVER IN THE AFTERNOON. THEN FOG DEVELOPS TOMORROW NIGHT AS SOUTHERLIES TURN TO LIGHT NOR'EASTERS. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON, YOUR DAY IS GREAT. JUST SOME MORNING CLOUD WHICH CLEARS, ONLY TO RETURN TOMORROW NIGHT WITH A FRESH NORTHERLY EASING, AND TURNING SOUTHERLY. EARLY FROST FOR SHELTERED SPOTS AROUND HAWKE'S BAY, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT LINGERING WITH A HIGH OF 18 DEGREES AND JUST A SLIGHT AFTERNOON EASTERLY. MORNING CLOUD, SHOWERS AND EASTERLIES FOR TAURANGA, BUT IT'S ALL CLEARING WITH A GOOD AFTERNOON AHEAD. CLOUD DOES RETURN TOMORROW NIGHT. HAMILTON, YOU MAY GET ANOTHER FOGGY MORNING, WITH EASTERLIES BUT ONCE IT CLEARS, THE DAY IS MAINLY FINE, JUST WITH HIGH CLOUD. AUCKLAND - YOUR SATURDAY DOESN'T START PROMISING WITH A LOT OF CLOUD, BUT THE SUN HAS A TURN IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH FRESH EASTERLIES. SHOWERS ARRIVE TOMORROW NIGHT. LOOKING GOOD AROUND OZ, JUST A FEW SHOWERS EXPECTED OVER PERTH, WITH A HIGH THERE OF 20 DEGREES. AND MAINLY FINE AROUND THE PACIFIC TOO, JUST A FEW SHOWERS FOR PARTS OF FIJI. FATHERS DAY ON SUNDAY, AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GREAT UP TOP WITH RAIN SPREADING SOUTH. HEAVY FALLS TOO. THE RAIN DOES HIT HERE BUT MAINLY ON MONDAY, WITH STRONG EASTERLIES TOO FOR THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND, BUT EASING. TARANAKI HAS A FEW SHOWERY DAYS WITH SCATTERED RAIN SPREADING TO EVERYONE ON TUESDAY, INCLUDING THE CENTRAL HIGH COUNTRY. MOSTLY CLOUDY FOR THE TOP HALF OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, WITH DRIZZLE TURNING TO OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR EVERYONE ON TUESDAY. BUT THE LOWER SOUTH HAS A FAIRLY DECENT FEW DAYS AHEAD. CHRISTCHURCH ` YOU, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL HAVE GREY DRIZZLY WEATHER. FINALLY, TONIGHT WE HAD SOME SPECTACULAR SHOTS OF LAST NIGHT'S BLUE MOON. I WISH I HAD TIME TO SHOW ALL OF THEM, BUT HERE ARE A SELECTION OF MY FAVOURITES. IT WILL STILL LOOK QUITE BIG TONIGHT, SO MAKE THE MOST OF THE CLEAR SKIES. THAT SHOT FROM AUCKLAND WERE SPECTACULAR.