ISRAEL WARNS MORE THAN A MILLION PALESTINIANS ON THE GAZA STRIP THEY HAVE JUST 24 HOURS TO HEAD SOUTH. AN ELDERLY NORTHLAND WOMAN HAS DIED AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY A DOG WHILE SHE WAS HANGING OUT HER WASHING. THE 2023 ELECTION CAMPAIGN HAS JUST HOURS TO GO AND ITS BEEN A MAD RUSH TO CONVINCE UNDECIDED VOTERS. CAPTIONS BY KITTY WASASALA, MAIA CARR HEKE AND KATE HARRIS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 TENA TATOU KATOA, GOOD EVENING. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. THERE ARE OMINOUS SIGNS COMING FROM THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS. THE BBC IS REPORTING ISRAEL WANTS MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF NORTH GAZA IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE WARNING HAS GONE TO THE UNITED NATIONS. WE CROSS NOW TO EUROPE CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER FOR THE LATEST, AND LISETTE, WOULD IT EVEN BE POSSIBLE FOR THAT MANY PEOPLE TO MOVE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME? THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. THE ROADS ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUOUS SHELLING THAT HAS BEEN INFLICTED ON GAZA. IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERFLOWING THE HOSPITALS AT THE MOMENT, THOSE WHO ARE IN INTENSIVE CARE AND SURGERIES WOULD NOT BE UP TO A JOURNEY LIKE THIS. IS ALSO THE ADDED COMPLICATION OF WHERE DO ALL THESE PEOPLE GO?. THERE'S STILL NO DIPLOMATIC ANSWER AS TO WHO WOULD HOST THEM. THE NATO NATIONS IS URGING ISRAEL TO WITHDRAW THAT APPLICATION. EACH NEW DAY OF WAR BRINGS MORE UNTHINKABLE DECISIONS. THE LIVES OF SO MANY ARE HANGING ON HOPE AS THEY ARRIVE AT OVERWHELMED HOSPITALS IN GAZA. IT'S A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION FOR DOCTORS, FORCED TO CHOOSE WHERE TO BEGIN. IT'S EVEN HARDER TO CONSIDER HOW THIS WILL ALL END. (MAN SPEAKS IN ARABIC) 'AN AIRSTRIKE DAMAGE 20 APARTMENTS WITH 250 PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM,' THIS MAN SAYS. 'WOMEN, CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE LIKE ME.' IT IS CHILDREN WHO MAKE UP ALMOST HALF OF THE POPULATION IN GAZA, AND AT LEAST 450 HAVE NOW BEEN KILLED. THIS IS LIKE NOTHING THE CITY HAS EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE, AND THEY HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED TOO MUCH. THE FEROCITY AND THE NUMBER OF THESE INJURIES HAS BEEN SHOCKING. THE HOSPITAL IS OVERRUN WITH PATIENTS. THE RED CROSS WARNS THESE HOSPITALS WILL SOON BE MORGUES. WITH NO WATER OR POWER, THE ENCLAVE IS NOW RELYING ON GENERATORS AND THE MISSILES JUST KEEP STRIKING. (BOMB EXPLODES) AMIDST THE SMOKE AND DUST, ISRAELI LEAFLETS FLUTTERED TO EARTH TODAY ` A PAPER WARNING TO PALESTINIANS TO GET TO SAFETY BEFORE THE NEXT ATTACK TAKES PLACE. BUT THERE ARE NO SHELTERS IN GAZA. THE U.N IS WARNING ISRAEL'S TARGETING OF CIVILIANS AMOUNTS TO COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT. BUT TODAY, STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH ISRAEL'S P.M IN TEL AVIV, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADE IT VERY CLEAR, THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WASHINGTON'S SUPPORT. YOU MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH ON YOUR OWN TO DEFEND YOURSELF, BUT AS LONG AS AMERICA EXISTS, YOU WILL NEVER, EVER HAVE TO. WE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE BY YOUR SIDE. WITH FRESH HORRORS EMERGING BY THE HOUR, FOR ISRAEL, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY FORWARD. HAMAS IS ISIS. AND JUST AS ISIS WAS CRUSHED, SO TOO WILL HAMAS BE CRUSHED. BUT FOR ALL THE TALK OF ANNIHILATING HAMAS, AMERICA HAS ADDED A CAUTIONARY WORD. HOW ISRAEL DOES THIS MATTERS. WE DEMOCRACIES DISTINGUISH OURSELVES FROM TERRORISTS BY STRIVING FOR A DIFFERENT STANDARD. AS THE WAR RAGES ON, THE FURY AND TENSION BEING FELT ON BOTH SIDES IS SKY HIGH. NEITHER HAMAS NOR ISRAEL ARE IN THE MOOD FOR CONCESSIONS AND COMPROMISE. ISRAEL IS REFUSING TO LIFT THE SIEGE, REFUSING TO RESTORE POWER OR ALLOW FOOD AND WATER INTO GAZA UNLESS 150 HOSTAGES ARE RETURNED. FAMILIES ON ONE SIDE, HAUNTED BY THE UNKNOWN FATE OF THEIR LOVED ONES, FAMILIES ON THE OTHER WATCHING THEIRS DIE IN REAL TIME. AND LISETTE, WE'VE ALSO HEARD ABOUT WHAT COULD BE THE FIRST KIWI VICTIM OF THIS WAR. YES, A NEW ZEALAND-BORN ISRAELI SOLDIER KILLED FIGHTING NEAR THE GAZA STRIP. ADAM AGMON (21) WAS A HUGE ALL BLACKS FAN AND HIS FAMILY CONSIDERED AOTEAROA THEIR HOMELAND. A FRIEND WHO USED TO LIVE WITH ADAM AGMON'S FAMILY IN NEW ZEALAND SAID THEY WERE PLANNING A TRIP BACK WHEN ADAM HAD FINISHED HIS MILITARY SERVICE. ISOBEL EWING REPORTS. ADAM AGMON, A RUGBY-MAD 21-YEAR-OLD BORN IN NEW ZEALAND ` KILLED A WEEK AGO FIGHTING HAMAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF CONFLICT. AS ONE CAN EXPECT, THEY LOST THEIR SON. THEIR YOUNGEST SON, THEIR BABY. SO, YEAH, I GET EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT IT. GIDON SILVERMAN LIVED WITH ADAM'S FAMILY IN WELLINGTON WHILE HE WAS STUDYING, AND TOOK CARE OF ADAM AND HIS BROTHER YAHEL. BEAUTIFUL KIDS AND A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. VERY COMMUNITY-FOCUSED. THEY WERE THERE WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. HE SAYS THE AGMONS QUICKLY FELL IN LOVE WITH NEW ZEALAND. THEY ACTUALLY REFERRED TO IT AS THEIR HOMELAND AS WELL, OR THEIR OTHER HOMELAND. THE TWO BROTHERS AND THEIR DAD EVEN HAVE THE INK TO PROVE IT. AND SEEN HERE IN 2003 SUPPORTING THE ABs AFTER THEY HAD MOVED BACK TO ISRAEL. VERY KEEN. YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY'VE PROBABLY SEEN MORE GAMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAN I HAVE MYSELF. ADAM WAS A PARATROOPER IN THE ARMY, BUT LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HIS DEATH ON OCTOBER 7. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY CALLED IN TO HEAD DOWN TO THE SOUTH OF ISRAEL TO... TO FIGHT AGAINST THESE TERRORISTS, AND SO HE GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE FRONT LINE. THAT'S SOMETHING I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO SHARE DETAILS OF, BUT IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT OUR SYMPATHIES ARE WITH THE FAMILIES OF ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THIS TRAGEDY. GIDON, WHO LIVES IN MELBOURNE NOW, SAID HE SPOKE TO THE FAMILY BEFORE YESTERDAY'S FUNERAL. WHEN WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT MEMORIES OF NEW ZEALAND, AND THE FACT THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO NEW ZEALAND TO VISIT, THAT'S WHEN OREN STARTED TO GET EMOTIONAL. OREN, ADAM'S FATHER, LIKE SO MANY IN ISRAEL RIGHT NOW, STRUGGLING TO CONTEMPLATE A FUTURE WITHOUT HIS CHILD. ISOBEL EWING, NEWSHUB. THE FAMILY OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN MAULED TO DEATH BY A DOG HAS TODAY BEEN PAYING TRIBUTE TO THEIR RESPECTED KUIA. SOME IN THE TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY TOLD NEWSHUB THE ISSUE OF MENACING DOGS HASN'T BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. REPORTER NICK TRUEBRIDGE SPOKE TO FORMER MOEREWA RESIDENTS WHO'VE LEFT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE DOGS. A NEPHEW AND HIS AUNTIE IN HAPPIER TIMES. TODAY, JOEY RAPANA SITS ALONE ` HE, HIS WHANAU, DEVASTATED AND IN SHOCK. WE'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY AUNTIE, IT'S BEEN A TRAGIC LOSS WITHIN OUR FAMILY, WITHIN THE WHANAU. THIS IS THE STREET WHERE IT ALL UNFOLDED ` OFFICERS REMAINED AT THE SCENE THIS MORNING. POLICE TOLD NEWSHUB THE DOG BELONGED TO THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY. IT ATTACKED RAPANA'S AUNTIE YESTERDAY EVENING, BY THE TIME POLICE ARRIVED AT 4.40PM, SHE WAS GONE. WE'RE TOLD HER DAUGHTERS WERE INJURED; HER HUSBAND WIDOWED. WE ASK THAT HER DAUGHTERS, ESPECIALLY HER DAUGHTERS THAT ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THEIR INJURIES AT THIS STAGE, TO LOOK AFTER THEM. BUT ALSO, AS A COMMUNITY, TO JUST STAND UP AND LOOK AFTER OUR UNCLE AND HIS DAUGHTERS AT THIS TIME. DOG ATTACKS ARE INCREASING IN THE FAR NORTH DISTRICT, UP FROM 229 LAST YEAR TO 557 THIS YEAR. DEPUTY MAYOR KELLY STRATFORD TOLD NEWSHUB ANIMAL CONTROL IS A CONCERN IN THE DISTRICT. OUR DISTRICT GOES FROM TOWAI UP TO THE CAPE, AND WE'VE GOT TWO POUNDS, I THINK THEY'VE GOT A REALLY OVERWHELMINGLY HUGE TASK. SOME HAVE LEFT MOEREWA, IN PART BECAUSE DOGS IN THE SETTLEMENT WERE MAKING THEM FEEL UNSAFE; AMY WALTERS IS ONE OF THEM. THAT WAS A BIG PART OF IT. BIG PART OF WHY WE LEFT. THERE'S JUST, NO-ONE WAS LISTENING TO US ABOUT THE SAFETY. AND IT'S AN EVERYDAY THING. IF YOUR KIDS ARE WALKING TO SCHOOL AND WALKING HOME, IT'S NOT SAFE, IT'S NOT SAFE. SHE BELIEVES SUCH INCIDENTS CAN, AND MUST, BE AVOIDED. PLEASE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING. IT S GONE TOO FAR NOW. SOMEONE'S LOST THEIR LIFE. THEY LOST THEIR FAMILY MEMBER, AND IT'S SAD. COULD BE PREVENTED, IT SHOULD BE PREVENTED. BUT IN MOEREWA, THE FAMILY HAVE A MESSAGE PLEASE DON'T POINT FINGERS. NOT TO TAKE BLAME ON ANYONE, ANYWHERE, BUT WE ALSO CALL UPON THE COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE OUT THERE. AS THIS COMMUNITY GRIEVES FOR A LOVED ONE VIOLENTLY TAKEN FROM THEM. NICK, WHAT MORE HAS THE FAR NORTH DISTRICT COUNCIL TOLD YOU ABOUT ANIMAL CONTROL ISSUES IN THE REGION? SOME REALLY ASTONISHING NUMBERS THAT I JUST GOT FROM THE FAR NORTH DISTRICT COUNCIL. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF KNOWN DOGS IN THE REGION HAS RISEN TO 12,100 THIS YEAR FROM 10,100 LAST YEAR. THEY ARE REALLY CONCERNING NUMBERS AND THESE HAVE COME WITH MESSAGES FROM THE DEPUTY MAYOR, SAYING TO NOT JUST LET YOUR DOG BREED. BEING A DOG OWNER COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THAT IS BEING ECHOED BY THE VETERINARY ASSOCIATION WHO SAY THE CONCERNING RISER DOG ATTACKS MEAN THAT OWNERS MUST BE MORE RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR ANIMALS. THEY MUST BE SOCIALISED AND WALKED. IT IS ALL IMPORTANT INFORMATION, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THE MESSAGE HERE AT THE MOMENT FROM THE FAMILY AS THOSE MESSAGES WILL COME IN THE FUTURE. BUT FOR THE MOMENT, THEY ARE ASKING FOR RESPECT AND PRIVACY. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE TOWN, SUCH WAS THE REPUTATION OF THE BELOVED KUIA IN THIS TOWN. AFTER MONTHS OF VOLATILE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES, THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN PRICE ` THE LATEST OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW A MARKED DECREASE IN THE PRICE OF FRESH PRODUCE, AND ZANE SMALL EXPLAINS WHY. FRESH LETTUCE, CUCUMBERS, TOMATOES, FENNEL, PARSLEY ` VEGETABLES ARE IN ABUNDANCE RIGHT NOW. SO, ZANE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CROP, THE WAY IT'S ACTUALLY TRACKING, WITH THE GOOD GROWING CONDITIONS WILL SEE GOOD VOLUME. AND MORE VOLUME IS HELPING TO DELIVER BETTER PRICES. THE LATEST OFFICIAL DATA SHOWS FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES HAVE DROPPED NEARLY 4% OVER THE PAST MONTH, HELPED IN PARTICULAR BY CHEAPER TOMATOES, A BIG REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF CUCUMBERS, AND MORE AFFORDABLE LETTUCE. CROPS WERE DESTROYED IN THE WAKE OF CYCLONE GABRIELLE, BUT GROWING CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED. THE PLANTINGS, WHICH HAVE BEEN KIND THROUGH WINTER, GROWERS HAVE GOT GOOD VOLUMES OF GREEN LEAF VEGETABLES, IN PARTICULAR, IN THE GROUND, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO A PERIOD WHERE WE BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO SEE VERY GOOD VALUE FOR CONSUMERS. NOT SO MUCH RELIEF AT THE SUPERMARKET, THOUGH. GROCERY FOOD PRICES ARE JUST AS EXPENSIVE AS LAST MONTH, PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY EGGS, POTATO CHIPS AND LOLLIES. AND WHILE OVERALL CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION HAS BEEN DECLINING OVER THE PAST YEAR, THANKS IN PART TO THE RESERVE BANK'S OFFICIAL CASH RATE HIKES, ASB NOW PREDICTS THE NEXT INFLATION UPDATE ON TUESDAY WILL SHOW A SLIGHT INCREASE. AND THAT COMES DOWN TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS. NOT LEAST OF ALL THE PRICE OF PETROL, WHICH IS UP 20%, DRIVEN BY HIGHER INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICES, AND THE GOVERNMENT ENDING ITS FUEL TAX RELIEF. THE IMPACT OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS LOOKS TO BE BEHIND A 9% RISE IN LOCAL AUTHORITY RATES, WHILE RISING INTEREST RATES AND HIGH INWARD MIGRATION ARE EXPECTED TO PUT PRESSURE ON RENTS. SO WHILE INFLATION IS EASING, THE SEARCH FOR MORE AFFORDABLE PRICES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO NEXT YEAR. ALTHOUGH FOOD PRICE INFLATION IS SLOWING AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OF EASING LEFT TO DO BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO THAT 3% RATE. IT COULD WELL BE THROUGH UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF 2024 BEFORE IT'S DOWN AT THAT LEVEL. BUT AT LEAST FOR NOW, YOU CAN BITE INTO ONE OF THESE FOR A BIT LESS BUCK. ZANE SMALL, NEWSHUB. BACK HOME, THE 2023 ELECTION CAMPAIGN THAT'S BEEN VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED AS TIRED, FRUSTRATING, AND NEGATIVE HAS JUST HOURS TO RUN, AND SOMEONE WHO'S HAD TO ENDURE ALL OF IT IS OUR POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH, WHO JOINS US NOW. THIS IS IT, THEY HAVE BATTLED IT OUT FOR SIX WEEKS, AND TOMORROW IT COMES TO AN END. WE ARE COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS ` THERE ARE 24 HOURS, 45 MINUTES AND 43 SECONDS UNTIL THE POLLS CLOSE, BUT TODAY WAS THE LAST CHANCE CANDIDATES HAVE TO CONVINCE YOU TO VOTE FOR THEM. SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ITS BEEN A DAY OF FRENETIC FINAL PITCHES. GRAB A PARTY COLOUR; MAKE SURE YOU WEAR IT WELL. TODAY IS CRUCIAL. TIME HAS RUN OUT. NO MORE PLAYING AROUND. IT'S TIME FOR THE FINAL PITCH. GENUINELY WANT TO SEE NEW ZEALAND IMPROVE AND GET BETTER. THE GREEN PARTY SHOOTING FOR THE STARFISH, HOPING FOR THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL RESULT EVER. WE'VE RUN A GREAT CAMPAIGN, FOCUSED ON HOPE RATHER THAN FEAR. IS THIS THE '80s CRUISE? IS THIS THE ACT CRUISE? ACT HOPING TO CRUISE TO GOVERNEMNT BENCHES. THE GOAL ` DOUBLE THE CAUCUS TO 20. I THINK THAT IS EMINENTLY REALISTIC. WINSTON PETERS TICKING OFF HIS LAST THING ON THE CAMPAIGN TO-DO LIST, EVERYONE PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS. HIPKINS ADAMANT THIS IS NOT HIS FINAL SPIN IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. DO YOU WANT TO HANG ON IF YOU LOSE THIS ELECTION? NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT A PLAN B. LUXON PUTTING THE ICING ON HIS CAMPAIGN. I THINK WE WILL GET THERE, TEAM. BUT WON'T SAY WHAT HE'LL DO IF HE DOESN'T TAKE THE CAKE. YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL ` WE MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER JOB! NO, I DON'T NEED ANOTHER ONE. THERE IS ONLY ONE I WANT. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, STAY ON FOR FULL TERM? I HAVEN'T THOUGHT... STAY ON FULL TERM AS PM, WANT TO DO MULTIPLE TERMS AS PM, LET'S BE CLEAR. NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL VOTERS BACK THEM TO STAY ON EVEN IF THE RACE DOESN'T GO THEIR WAY. WE ASKED IN OUR LATEST NEWSHUB REID RESEARCH POLL ` SHOULD THE LOSING LEADER STAND DOWN FROM THEIR POSITION AFTER THE ELECTION? 49.8% SAID NAH, STICK AROUND, WHILE 30.1% SAID YES, THEY'VE GOTTA GO. ARE YOU COMMITTED TO STAYING THE FULL TERM IF YOU LOSE THIS ELECTION? I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BACK HERE IN 3 YEARS TIME AS PM SEEKING ANOTHER TERM. BOTH SIDES KNOW THAT VIBES MEAN NOTHING IF YOUR VOTERS DONT GET TO THE BOOTHS. SO TURN UP SO THEY TURN OUT. CHRIS HIPKINS IS WILLING TO DO LITERALLY ANYTHING TO WIN THIS ELECTION, AND THAT INCLUDED GOING LOW. CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS LAUNCHING A PERSONAL ATTACK ON ME AND MY MINISTERS; I AM GOING TO PUSH BACK. MORE NEGATIVE, MORE PERSONAL, MORE ATTACKY AND SCAREMONGERING THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED FROM THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S BEEN A RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN. HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP AT THE MOMENT? NOT MUCH, TRY AND GET TO 4 IF I CAN. THE AMOUNT OF PHONE CALLS AND DOORS KNOCKED BY LABOUR IN THIS CAMPAIGN HAVE BROKEN RECORDS, AND TODAY CHRIS HIPKINS SOUNDED LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, HAVE YOU VOTED? FEIGNING CONFIDENCE THEY CAN'T BE SURE OF UNTIL EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED. PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND, CHRISTOPHER LUXON. TOMORROW NIGHT WE WILL CELEBRATE THE RE-ELECTION OF A LABOUR GOVERNMENT. ONLY ONE OF THOSE DREAMS CAN BECOME A REALITY. AND AMELIA WADE JOINS US NOW FROM MANGERE, WHERE LABOUR IS WRAPPING UP ITS CAMPAIGN. AMELIA, YOU'VE SPENT THE DAY WITH LABOUR. WHAT'S THE VIBE LIKE THERE? SOUTH AUCKLAND IS LABOUR LAND, AND TODAY WAS A BIG PARTY OF A TIKI TOUR, AND CHRIS WAS ASKING AT EVERY STOP WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE HAD VOTED BECAUSE FOR LABOUR, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TURN OUT. AND DO THOUSAND FIVE, THEY NARROWLY CINCH TO VICTORY WHEN THEY MOBILISED SOUTH AUCKLAND. THEY MANAGED TO CONTACT MORE THAN 200,000 KIWIS, AND THIS WEEK, THEY HAVE CONTACTED MORE THAN 20,000 IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. CHRIS HAPPENS IS ON THE PHONE AND RINGING RANDOS BECAUSE LABOUR IS GOING TO NEED EVERY VOTE IT CAN GET. LLOYD BURR JOINS US NOW FROM CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S ELECTORATE OF BOTANY. LLOYD, YOU'VE BEEN ON THAT BIG BLUE BUS FOR THREE DAYS NOW. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MOOD ON BOARD? THREE LONG DAYS, SAM. WE WENT FROM NAPIER TO WELLINGTON TO ROTORUA. THIS IS HIS FINAL CAMPAIGN RALLY AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S NICE TO FARE THE BUS. THERE ALMOST NERVOUSLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN WIN. HE'S TALKING ABOUT COMPLACENCY AND THE ECHO CHAMBER THAT THEY'RE IN. THERE TALKING ABOUT THE MOOD FOR CHANGE, AND YOU'RE CONSTANTLY HEAR THAT. COMPLACENCY IS THE BIG THING YOU'LL HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT, ANY JOB LOGS FROM THE STREET, HE KNOWS THAT COMPLACENCY COULD BE THE CAT THAT KILLS THE SELECTION. AND PADDY GOWER'S WITH US NOW IN THE STUDIO. BASICALLY, PADDY, YOU'RE HERE TO SKITE ABOUT SOME NEW TOYS YOU'VE GOT TO PLAY WITH TOMORROW NIGHT? WELL, YOU SAY SKITE, I SAY EXCITING. YOU SAY TOYS AND I SAY VIRTUAL REALITY. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW YOUR VOTES BECOME SEATS. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS TAKE THEM DOWN FROM THERE AND PUT THEM INTO A PARLIAMENT. CALLED THAT PADDY'S PARLIAMENT IF YOU LIKE. I LIKE IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO REAL MPS, BY THE WAY. ACTS, THEIR BUDDIES ON THE CENTRE-RIGHT WOULD BRING AND ANOTHER 11. THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 61, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO GET A MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT. ON THE LEFT, LABOUR WOULD GET 35 AND THE GREENS WOULD GET 19 ON THOSE RESULTS OF JENNA LYNCH'S AND TE PATI MAORI WOULD GET THREE. THIS DOESN'T EQUAL THE MAGIC 61. WINSTON PETERS GETS NINE AND THAT WOULD TAKE THE CENTRE-RIGHT IF THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER IN THIS AWKWARD THREE-WAY TO 63 SEATS, ENOUGH TO FORM A GOVERNMENT BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO THE DEALS TO HEAR WHAT YOU CALL TOYS BUT WHAT I CALL TECHNOLOGY. WE WERE THE STUFF AND A WHOLE LOT MORE TOMORROW NIGHT, BY THE WAY, WITH SOMETHING IT'S REALLY EXCITING WITH A WHOLE LOT OF GREAT COMMENTATORS. SEE YOU BACK HERE AND THERE IS ONE DAY TO GO AND A FEW HOURS` A FEW MINUTES. I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING WEATHER. HOW'S ELECTION DAY SHAPING UP? WELL, THAT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON YOUR LOCATION. THIS IS WHAT'S COMING ` A VERY DEEP AND VERY UNSETTLED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. IT WILL MAKE LANDFALL IN THE EARLY HOURS TOMORROW. IF WE ZOOM IN, THE REAL HEAVY RAIN IS CONFINED TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT SEVERE GALES ARE EXPECTED ALL THE WAY UP TO SOUTHERN WAIRARAPA. MANY WARNINGS ARE IN FORCE AND I'LL HAVE THOSE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. THANKS, HEATHER, THE ALL BLACKS WILL TAKE ON IRELAND ON SUNDAY WITHOUT ONE OF THEIR BEST PLAYERS AT THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP. WE'LL BE LIVE TO PARIS WITH REACTION TO MARK TELEA'S DROPPING FOR BREAKING TEAM PROTOCOL. AND A REPORT'S SLAMMED CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL'S HANDLING OF A FIRE AT THE CITY'S WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. TONIGHT, WHEN IT COMES TO CATS, HOW CHONKY... IS TOO CHONKY? AND WE ASKED KIWIS IF THEY HAD TO CHOOSE WHICH TEAM THEY WOULD WANNA WIN, WOULD IT BE THEIR FAVOURITE POLITICAL PARTY OR THEIR FAVOURITE SPORTS SIDE? AT 7. IT IS DECISION 2023 AND WE ARE BRINGING YOU A POST-ELECTION SPECIAL. PARTY LEADERS, CONCESSION SPEECHES, COALITION DEMANDS AND ANALYSIS AS THE COUNTRY WAKES TO A NEW POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. AN UNMISSABLE SPECIAL SUNDAY, 10am ON THREE AND THREENOW. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. JUST DAYS OUT FROM THEIR BIGGEST GAME IN FOUR YEARS, THE ALL BLACKS HAVE LOST ONE OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. WINGER MARK TELEA'S BEEN DROPPED FOR THE SUNDAY'S WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL AFTER BREACHING TEAM PROTOCOL. ANDREW GOURDIE'S WITH US LIVE FROM PARIS. ANDREW, THIS IS THE LAST THING THE TEAM NEEDS. HI, TEAM. YEAH, THIS IS A BIT OF A SHOCKER, ISN'T IT? AND NEWS OF TELEA'S OMISSION WAS MET WITH STUNNED SURPRISE WHEN THE TEAM TO FACE IRELAND WAS CONFIRMED LAST NIGHT HERE IN PARIS WITH NO IMMEDIATE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. WELL, OUR RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAD THE EXCLUSIVE DETAILS ON THIS AND PUT IT TO IAN FOSTER AT LAST NIGHT'S MEDIA CONFERENCE. TAKE A LOOK. IAN, JUST ON TELEA'S A MISSION, WAS THAT ON DISCIPLINARY REASONS? STILL LOVE HIM, TRAINED WELL, IT HAPPENS. HOW DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE IT HAPPEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT WEEK. IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT FOR US IT'S PRETTY CLEAN CUT AND I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANY MORE. ALL RIGHT, OLLIE IS WITH US NOW. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT MARK MISSED THE TEAM CURFEW WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS AHEAD OF THE SILENT QUARTER-FINAL, AND IT'S A BIG NO-NO WITHIN THE ALL BLACKS. YOU CAN'T BE LATE AND YOU CAN'T MISS CURFEW. HE'S BEEN DROPPED FOR THIS GAME AND IT IS A BIG BLOW FOR THE ALL BLACKS. THEY DON'T NEED THIS KIND OF DISTRACTION FOR THIS MONSTER OF A GAME. WHAT DO THEY LOSE? HE'S ONE OF THEIR FIRST CHOICE WINGERS, HIS DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE, AND HE WAS SET UP THE ATTACK, BUT BOY, DOES HE HAVE A BIG TASK ON HIS HANDS. I'LL BE BACK WITH MORE REACTION TO TELEA'S OMISSION AND THE OTHER SELECTION SURPRISE ` FINLAY CHRISTIE OVER CAM ROIGARD ` LATER IN SPORT. ANDREW, THANK YOU. AN INDEPENDENT REPORT HAS CRITICISED CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO THE 2021 FIRE AT THE CITY'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. THE AFTERMATH LEFT RESIDENTS SUFFERING FROM NAUSEA, VOMITING, COUGHING, HEADACHES, MIGRAINES AND SLEEPLESSNESS. AND THE ENGLISH LANDMARK THAT COULD RISE AGAIN AFTER IT WAS CUT TO THE GROUND LAST MONTH. THE ALL BLACKS HAVE GOT A MIGHTY CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF THEM. THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THE NEWS OF MARK TELEA BECOME A DISTRACTION. OLLIE IS RIGHT. IT IS AN UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION, BUT I THINK IT CAN HAVE A GALVANISING EFFECT. THIS WEEKEND AS A ONE-OFF EFFORT; You all good, mate? You warm enough? (LAUGHS) SONG: # Like an endless dream... # Nearly there, mate. # Wrap me in your arms... # GIRL: Oh! So that's the difference between Courier and Economy. NEW ZEALAND'S TOP TEN GREENHOUSE GAS EMITTERS HAVE REDUCED THEIR POLLUTION SLIGHTLY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY SAYS THEY'VE CUT BACK BY TWO MILLION TONS ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR. FONTERRA REMAINS IN THE TOP SPOT AS THE BIGGEST EMITTER FOR THE THIRD YEAR RUNNING. FOLLOWED BY THE THREE BIGGEST PETROL COMPANIES ` Z ENERGY, MOBIL AND BP. FURTHER DOWN THE LIST ARE MEAT COMPANIES, GAS FIELD OPERATORS, AND NZ STEEL. AND THE TOP 10 WORST POLLUTING COMPANIES IN NEW ZEALAND STILL MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF THE COUNTRY'S EMISSIONS. THREE FIJIAN FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN FOUND BY AN NZ AIRFORCE PLANE AFTER THEY WENT MISSING 9 DAYS AGO. THE SMALL BOAT REPORTED ENGINE ISSUES BUT LOCAL SEARCHERS COULDN'T FIND THEM. THE WEATHER WAS POOR, THEN THEIR MOBILE PHONE RAN OUT OF BATTERY. THE NZ RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE USED COMPUTER MODELLING TO WORK OUT WHERE THEY MIGHT BE, THEN SENT THE AIRFORCE TO SEARCH. THEY FINALLY SPOTTED IT, AND STAYED OVERHEAD TILL A RESCUE BOAT REACHED THEM. POOR AND SLOW WAS HOW AN INDEPENDENT REPORT DESCRIBED CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO THE FIRE THAT SEVERELY DAMAGED THE CITY'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO. BROMLEY RESIDENTS LIVED WITH A PUTRID STENCH OF BURNT WASTE FOR MONTHS, SUFFERING FROM HEADACHES AND NAUSEA, DESPERATE FOR FRESH AIR. KAYSHA BROWNLIE REPORTS. A MASSIVE BLAZE THAT LEFT CHRISTCHURCH'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATING AT LESS THAN HALF CAPACITY, CREATING MONTHS OF TORTURE FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS, NEIGHBOURING SUBURBS AND, AT TIMES, THE ENTIRE CITY. IT ABSOLUTELY STANK. THE STENCH WAS ABSOLUTELY APPALLING. IT WAS RANK. NOW, AN INDEPENDENT REPORT COMMISSIONED BY CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL HAS FOUND THE COUNCIL'S RESPONSE WAS POOR AND SLOW. I THINK IT VINDICATES A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO RAISED CONCERNS AT THE START THAT THE RESPONSE WAS NOT ADEQUATE. THE NOVEMBER 2021 FIRE RESULTED IN OVERLOADED TREATMENT PONDS; THE BURNT WASTE INSIDE DAMAGED TRICKLING FILTERS CREATED A PUTRID STENCH. RESIDENTS BOUGHT AIR PURIFIERS; NOXIOUS GASES CAUSED PAINT TO BLACKEN ON SOME HOUSES. THE REPORT CORROBORATED WHAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN TELLING COUNCIL FOR MONTHS ` THAT THEY WERE SUFFERING FROM NAUSEA, VOMITING, COUGHING, SORE AND WATERING EYES, HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES AND SLEEPLESSNESS. OUT OF ANY CITY IN NEW ZEALAND, CHRISTCHURCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DECADE OF DISASTERS. THE REPORT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED HOW THE COUNCIL REFERRED TO THE STENCH AS AN UNPLEASANT ODOUR. IT DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION. ITS TECHNICAL RESPONSE WAS GOOD, BUT IT WAS TOO SLOW TO RECOGNISE THE WELLBEING ISSUE. THERE WAS NO SENSE OF URGENCY. WE TOTALLY ACCEPT ALL THE FINDINGS IN THAT REVIEW. THE COUNCIL OFFERED GIFT CARDS TO 3000 RESIDENTS AS A WELLBEING SUPPORT PACKAGE. WE WOULD ONCE AGAIN LIKE TO APOLOGISE TO THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PUTTING THIS RIGHT. COUNCIL HAS CONFIRMED THE INSURER HAS ACCEPTED ITS CLAIM, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. KAYSHA BROWNLIE, NEWSHUB. THERE'S HOPE THE WORLD-FAMOUS SYCAMORE TREE THAT WAS ILLEGALLY FELLED IN ENGLAND LAST MONTH WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP GROWING FROM ITS STUMP, WHILE THE WOOD FROM THE TRUNK IS SET TO BE PUT TO GOOD USE. PLUS ` MORE FROM THE ALL BLACKS CAMP AS THEIR STANGER WINGER IS DEMOTED FOR BREACHING TEAM PROTOCOL. PLUS, ONE BLACKCAPS GREAT IS BACK BUT ANOTHER BENCHED. SO WHO'S MADE THE CUT FOR TONIGHT'S WORLD CUP MATCH AGAINST BANGLADESH? AND THE SUPERSTITION FEEDING ONE OF THE LONGEST WINNING STREAKS IN PROVINCIAL RUGBY HISTORY. EX-ALL BLACK JEFF WILSON HAS ALMOST PERFECTLY PREDICTED THE RUGBY WORLD CUP ` SO FAR. WHO DOES HE THINK WILL WIN THIS WEEKEND? SHE'S A GREEN; HE'S A NAT. BUT THEY'RE MARRIED. FIND OUT HOW THEY MAKE IT ALL WORK AT 7. WELCOME BACK TO SPORT HERE IN PARIS, WHERE THE ALL BLACKS' WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN HIT BY A DISTRACTION THEY COULD DO WITHOUT, WITH A BREACH IN TEAM PROTOCOL LEAVING THEM WITHOUT ONE OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS. AS WE REPORTED EARLIER, MARK TELEA HAS BEEN DROPPED FOR SUNDAY'S CLASH WITH IRELAND FOLLOWING WHAT IAN FOSTER DESCRIBED AS A 'MINOR' INCIDENT IN THE BUILD-UP TO THIS WEEKEND'S BLOCKBUSTER AT STADE DE FRANCE. AND IT LEFT A FRUSTRATED FOSTER FENDING OFF A BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS UNDER-FIRE WINGER. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS MORE ON A DRAMATIC DAY IN PARIS. MARK TELEA TOOK A FULL PART IN ALL BLACKS TRAINING TODAY, BUT THAT'S AS CLOSE AS HE'LL GET TO FEATURING IN SUNDAY'S QUARTER-FINAL. HE BREACHED THE PROTOCOL ` NOTHING MAJOR, BUT ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM OUT OF SELECTION FOR THIS WEEK. IAN FOSTER WOULDN'T CONFIRM WHAT THAT BREACH WAS, BUT NEWSHUB UNDERSTANDS TELEA MISSED CURFEW AND SO MISSES THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN A WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL. WE BELIEVE IN WHAT WE STAND FOR, AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THE TEAM ` WANTING TO MAKE THAT SORT OF DECISION IN THIS SORT OF WEEK. AND THAT'S WHERE FOSTER WANTED THE CONVERSATION TO END. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN. LIKE I SAID, IT'S MINOR. LIKE I SAID, I JUST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY TIMES WE CAN SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT. WE'VE SAID WHAT WE'VE SAID. BUT DESPITE BEING PUNISHED FOR HIS PROTOCOL BREACH, TELEA HAS THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HIS TEAM-MATES. IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND... YEAH, IT'S... FEEL FOR HIM. WE LOVE HIM. TELEA BEING REPLACED BY LEICESTER FAINGA'ANUKU ISN'T THE ONLY BOLD CALL FOSTER'S MADE ` AGAIN, OPTING FOR CHANGE ON THE BENCH. DESPITE IMPRESSING IN HIS THREE APPEARANCES AT THE WORLD CUP, CAM ROIGARD MAKES WAY FOR FINLAY CHRISTIE TO BACK UP AARON SMITH. JUST THINK FINLAY HAS GOT AN EDGE DEFENSIVELY. WE THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ACTION LIKELY TO HAPPEN AROUND THE RUCK DEFENSIVELY. REGARDLESS OF WHO TAKES TO THE FIELD ON SUNDAY, THE TASK IS A BIG ONE. THE ALL BLACKS HAVE NEVER FACED A QUARTER-FINAL PROSPECT AS DAUNTING AS THIS. THEY'RE NOT THE FAVOURITES OR THE FORM TEAM, BUT DESPITE IRELAND'S 17-MATCH UNBEATEN RUN, THEY ARE CONFIDENT. JUST THE STATEMENT WE WANT TO MAKE ABOUT THE 2023 ALL BLACKS TEAM, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MOTIVATOR. THERE'D BE NO BIGGER STATEMENT THAN TO KNOCK OFF THE BEST TEAM ON THE PLANET IN A WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL. IN PARIS, OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. YES, A LOT MADE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION THE ALL BLACKS FIND THEMSELVES IN AGAINST IRELAND ` UNDERDOGS FOR A WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL. YOU SENSED TODAY THE TEAM REALLY SOUGHT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE IN THE BUILD-UP TO THIS MATCH. I SPOKE WITH CAPTAIN SAM CANE WHO OFFERED A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW THINGS MIGHT UNFOLD AT STADE DE FRANCE. SAM, JUST A QUESTION FOR YOU. THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF TALK EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE SUPPOSED FEAR OF FAILURE FOR THIS ALL BLACKS TEAM. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK TO THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS ITSELF HERE. WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE IRISH ARE THE NUMBER ONE RANKED TEAM IN THE WORLD. I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT IT WOULD DO FOR YOUR OWN CONFIDENCE AND WHAT SORT OF MESSAGE IT WOULD SEND IF YOU COULD WIN THIS GAME. YEAH, LOOK, OUR MIND-SETS HAVE ABSOLUTELY... YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO FLIP SOMETHING LIKE THAT ` AND WHAT IF WE WIN? WHAT IF WE GO OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, START REALLY WELL? AND WHAT IF OUR SET PIECE GOES EXACTLY HOW WE WANT IT? SO WE START THINKING THINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU TAKE CONFIDENCE FROM THE HARD WORK THAT'S GONE ON IN THE PREPARATION. THEN WE ABSOLUTELY GO IN WITH CONFIDENCE, AND IT'LL JUST BE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EXECUTE WHAT WE'VE TRAINED OUT ON THE TRAINING PITCH OUT THERE UNDER MASSIVE PRESSURE IN FRONT OF A FULL CROWD. SO` AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND CAN DO IT CONSISTENTLY, THEN YEAH, WE'LL GIVE OURSELVES A REALLY GOOD SHOT OF WINNING. AND, UM... WHEN WE GET THERE, WE'LL SEE HOW WE FEEL. ALWAYS WITH US NOW, PLENTY OF CONFIDENCE IN US ALL BLACKS TEAM. YOU COULD TELL THAT THIS NEWS HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THEM. THEY DON'T NEED AND ARE QUALIFIED. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY COULD GO WITHOUT. THIS IS WHERE THE LEADERSHIP GROUP BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT. THE PLAYERS NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HOVER OVER THE TEAM AND BECOME A DISTRACTION. IT IS A MAMMOTH TASK FACING IRELAND. LET'S TOUCH ON SOME OF THE OTHER SELECTION ISSUES. CAM ROIGARD MISSING OUT. CAM IS A BIGGER BODY AND A BIGGER FRAME. HE HAS A REALLY STRONG RUNNING GAME. HE COULD GET THE IRISH DEFENCES SOME NIGHTMARES. I DON'T LIKE THAT CALL. THEY'VE MISSED A TRICK NOT HAVING CAM. DAME NOELINE TAURUA IS LOOKING AT THE POSITIVES FOR STAND-IN SHOOTER AMELIA WALMSLEY FOLLOWING THE SILVER FERNS 50-40 LOSS TO AUSTRALIA LAST NIGHT. THE TEENAGER LOOKED COMFORTABLE FOR LONG PERIODS AGAINST THE FORMIDABLE DIAMONDS' DEFENCE, AND TAURUA BELIEVES THERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS TO KEEP WALMSLEY IN THE STARTING SEVEN WHILE THEY AWAIT THE RETURN OF GRACE NWEKE. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR PLAYER GETS LEGENDS, AS SUCH, BUT ALSO THOSE DREAMS THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE, IT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR HER, AND THERE'S AREAS WE KNOW SHE CAN WORK ON, BUT, UH, WE KEEP CHIPPING AWAY. GAME TWO OF THE CONSTELLATION CUP STARTS IN BRISBANE ON SUNDAY NIGHT. VETERAN BOWLER TIM SOUTHEE IS OUT, BUT CAPTAIN KANE WILLIAMSON IS IN FOR TONIGHT'S CRICKET WORLD CUP MATCH AGAINST BANGLADESH. MANAGEMENT HAVE CONFIRMED SOUTHEE WON'T FEATURE IN THE TEAM'S THIRD GAME DESPITE RECOVERING FROM A THUMB INJURY. WHILE WILLIAMSON'S RETURN TO THE STARTING XI WON'T BE AT THE EXPENSE OF RISING STAR RACHIN RAVINDRA. RACHIN'S BEEN, UM, A HUGE PART OF OUR SIDE, AND HAD SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIRST TWO, AND WILL ABSOLUTELY BE INVOLVED. A WIN TONIGHT WILL SEE THE BLACKCAPS RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE. SOUTH AFRICA VAULTED INTO FIRST PLACE THIS MORNING, THUMPING AUSTRALIA BY 134 RUNS ` THEIR HEAVIEST WORLD CUP DEFEAT. FINALLY TONIGHT, THE RUGBY WORLD MAY BE IN AWE OF IRELAND'S 17-MATCH WINNING STREAK AHEAD OF THEIR QUARTER-FINAL WITH THE ALL BLACKS THIS WEEKEND, BUT HOW'S THIS? SOUTH CANTERBURY ARE CHASING THEIR 31st STRAIGHT WIN IN TOMORROW'S MEADS CUP FINAL AGAINST WANGANUI. GORDON FINDLATER WENT ALONG TO THEIR FINAL TRAINING SESSION TO LEARN THE SECRET TO A RUN THAT'S ONLY BETTERED BY THE GREAT AUCKLAND TEAMS OF THE '80s AND '90s. FIVE! PYRAMID! THE BEGINNING OF ANY SOUTH CANTERBURY TRAINING IS ALL ABOUT FUN AND GAMES. JESUS! YOU SHOULD BE ON THE BOTTOM! (PLAYERS WHOOP) THEN THERE'S SOME MOTIVATIONAL WORDS... WE DON'T OWN THAT CUP NO MORE. IT'S GONE. SO WE AIN'T DEFENDING NOTHING. WE'RE GOING OUT TO WIN IT. ...BEFORE THE WORK BEGINS, BECAUSE STAYING AT THE TOP IS HARDER THAN GETTING THERE. SQUEEZE IT! SQUEEZE IT! TOUGH FOR US, COS EVERYONE PROBABLY WANTS TO BE THAT TEAM TO BEAT US. EVERY WEEK, WE'VE GOT A MASSIVE TARGET ON OUR BACK. THAT WAS EVIDENT BEFORE LAST WEEK'S SEMI-FINAL AGAINST EAST COAST EVEN BEGAN. CHANT: TU IHO NEI! TU IHO NEI! SOMEBODY SAID TO ME, 'WHAT WAS YOUR CONTINGENCY?' I SAID, 'STAY OUT OF THE ROAD.' (CHUCKLES) IT TURNS OUT THERE'S ANOTHER SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS. YOU SEE, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SUE AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN SERVING THE TEAM THE SAME DISH ` CURRIED SAUSAGES. THAT'S GRAVY AND CURRY. WHAT ELSE DO YOU PUT IN IT, THOUGH? HOW HAVE THEY WON 30 GAMES ON THE TROT? IT'S JUST GOT GOOD WATER. OH, PLEASANT POINT WATER. AND THEY'RE TOO AFRAID TO CHANGE THE WINNING RECIPE. I'LL HAVE THE WHOLE... THE WHOLE LOT? YEAH. I WANT YOU TO STILL BE ABLE TO RUN ON SATURDAY, THOUGH. IF THEY DO WIN THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE MEADS CUP, YOU CAN GUARANTEE THE CELEBRATIONS WILL LAST FOR DAYS. I'LL PROBABLY BE IN TROUBLE WITH THE MISSUS FOR A COUPLE` A COUPLE OF DAYS, I THINK. (LAUGHS) NO PLASTER OF PARIS. NO COMMENT. (CHUCKLES) (CHEERING) BUT REST ASSURED, IF THEY DO WIN THE TROPHY AGAIN, IT'S IN SAFE HANDS. SOUTH CANTERBURY, LET'S GO! GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. CURRIED SAUSAGES, EH? I'M NOT SURE ANYONE IS QUITE AS EXCITED AS PADDY GOWER PLAYING WITH HIS TOYS. THE FELLING OF A FAMOUS SYCAMORE TREE ON HADRIAN'S WALL LAST MONTH LEFT NOT JUST A GAP IN THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE, BUT IN A GREAT MANY HEARTS. AND THERE ARE NOW PLANS TO PUT THE WOOD TO GOOD USE TO HELP PEOPLE REMEMBER IT. ITVS KELLY FORAN REPORTS. PARTS OF THE LANDSCAPE FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS. BUT TODAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT DIP IS INSTEAD A CRANE. CAREFULLY, BIT BY BIT, THE SYCAMORE GAP TREE TAKEN AWAY. IT GAVE HADRIAN'S WALL A TASTE OF HOLLYWOOD. I AM HOME. (WHOOPS) WITH THIS STARRING ROLE IN 'ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES.' BUT LAST MONTH, THIS HAPPENED. POLICE SAY IT WAS A DELIBERATE ACT OF VANDALISM. THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE TREE WILL BE TAKEN FROM HERE TO A PRIVATE NATIONAL TRUST SITE WHILE THEY DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT NEXT, BUT IT APPEARS THAT ALL IS NOT LOST. I MEAN, THE TREE'S NOT DEAD. THE STUMP SHOULD SURVIVE. ALTHOUGH THE TREE THAT WE COULD ALL SEE BEFORE IS GONE, UM, IT'S EFFECTIVELY HAD ITS LIFE EXTENDED NOW. IT'S RESET ITS CLOCK, AND IT'LL START GROWING AGAIN. ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST PHOTOGRAPHED TREES. AND EVEN AS IT'S BEING TAKEN AWAY, IT SEEMS THAT SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE. THERE'S LOTS OF TALK, BUT STILL NO DECISION ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. AND IT'S JUST A REALLY SAD DAY FOR EVERYONE. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAPPEN NEXT? OH WELL, NATIONAL TRUST PENCILS, I THINK, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. (LAUGHS) LITTLE SOUVENIR GIFTS. BUT I'D LIKE A LUMP OF IT, YEAH. MAYBE SOME SORT OF SCULPTURE. THAT'D BE LOVELY TO SEE THAT SOMEWHERE LOCALLY. AND PEOPLE COULD REMEMBER WHAT THE ORIGINAL TREE WAS LIKE. THE NATIONAL TRUST SAY THAT ALL OPTIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL BECOME. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT CERTAINLY IN OUR LIFETIME, THIS GAP BY A ROMAN WALL WILL NEVER LOOK THE SAME. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` ISRAEL'S REPORTEDLY TOLD MORE THAN ONE MILLION PALESTINIANS THEY HAVE 24 HOURS TO GET OUT OF NORTHERN GAZA. THE SMALL NORTHLAND COMMUNITY OF MOEREWA IS GRIEVING AFTER AN ELDERLY WOMAN WAS MAULED TO DEATH BY A DOG. COMING UP, NEWSHUB WEATHER ` AND THE WEEKEND IS WET AND WINDY, HEATHER? THIS SYSTEM WILL PACK A PUNCH. THERE ARE TWO WAVES OF WET WEATHER, THE FIRST STARTING TONIGHT, THEN ANOTHER SYSTEM MOVES IN SUNDAY. SO MARLBOROUGH, WELLINGTON, SOUTHERN WAIRARAPA AND CANTERBURY ARE UNDER A STRONG WIND WARNING WITH THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND IN FOR HEAVY RAIN. MORE NEXT. AND ON THE PROJECT, HE CAN SEE THE FUTURE. AND ON THE PROJECT, HE CAN SEE THE FUTURE. EX-ALL BLACK JEFF WILSON HAS PREDICTED THE WORLD CUP ALMOST PERFECTLY SO FAR. DOES HE THINK HIS OLD TEAM CAN BEAT IRELAND? AND DO YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR CHONKY PET ON A DIET? YEAH, MY CAT CAN BARELY FIT IN HER JEANS ANYMORE, EMBARRASSING. THE PROJECT IS NEXT. KIA ORA, WELCOME BACK, ELECTION DAY IS SET TO BE A LITTLE WILD ` THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM IS ALMOST HERE. THE WIND HAS ALREADY ARRIVED, GALE NORWESTERLIES, THEY'LL TURN TO GALE SOUWESTERS BEHIND THE MAIN FRONT. THE LOW CENTRE WILL CROSS FIORDLAND AND SOUTHLAND DURING THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING. AND THE MAIN FRONT WILL TRACK NORTH, REACHING WELLINGTON AROUND LUNCHTIME THEN NEAR AUCKLAND AT AROUND MIDNIGHT. SO, STARTING WITH THE SOUTH, AND SHOWERS ARE ALREADY HERE IN THE WEST, TURNING TO RAIN IN THE VERY SOUTH, WITH STRONG OR GALE NORTHERLIES TONIGHT. THEN WATCH TOMORROW, PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE SOUTH ISLAND GETS BLANKETED WITH THIS SYSTEM, WITH HEAVY RAIN IN THE WEST AND AT LEAST SCATTERED RAIN FOR THE EAST. WINDS ARE VERY STRONG IN THE NORTH, TONIGHT WILL BE MOSTLY FINE IN THE EAST. WITH A TOUCH OF CLOUD AND ISOLATED SHOWERS ELSEWHERE, NORWESTERS ARE STRONG IN THE SOUTH, THOUGH. TOMORROW, RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE SOUTH FROM LATE MORNING, THEN SPREADS NORTH WITH THE FRONT. NORWESTERS WILL BE STRONG AHEAD OF THE FRONT, BUT WILL EASE BEHIND IT. SO THE ACTUAL DAY UP TOP WILL BE OK. PARTLY CLOUDY WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS. BUT THE NORWESTERLY BECOMES FRESH IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE EVENING. SIMILAR HERE WITH A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY, WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND NORWESTERLIES. THE RAIN ARRIVES FROM THE AFTERNOON FOR TAUPO, REACHING TOKOROA IN THE EVENING. A DRY MORNING, BUT VERY WINDY IN THE SOUTH, WITH NORWESTERS GUSTING 80KM FOR MASTERTON. RAIN ARRIVES THERE FROM THE AFTERNOON, BUT HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE ` YOU'LL BE DRY. AND A CLOUDY START HERE. SHOWERS ARRIVE IN THE SOUTH LATE MORNING, AND TURN TO RAIN, AND WILL TRACK NORTH TO EVERYONE FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AND YES, THE NORWESTERLY WILL BE STRONG. RAIN FOR THE NORTHWEST, WITH SHOWERS ONLY FOR NELSON. THE RAIN WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES, BUT EASES BACK TO SHOWERS LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING. WINDS ARE STRONG TO START, BUT TURN AND EASE IN THE AFTERNOON. VERY, VERY WINDY HERE, NORTHERLY QUARTER WINDS, AND GUSTING 80KM UP TOP, 110 FOR KAIKOURA, 130KM FOR CHRISTCHURCH, AND 120KM FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU, ALL EASING LATE IN THE DAY. AND WINDY HERE, TOO, WITH GUSTS OF 90KM FOR MOST, TURNING AND EASING BUT NOT TILL LATER IN THE DAY. RAIN OR SHOWERS TOO FOR ALL ` CLEARING, BUT NOT TILL THE EVENING. DUNEDIN ` SCATTERED RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE MORNING, AND THE STRONG NORWESTER TURNS SOUWEST LATE MORNING. THIS WIND WILL BE GUSTING 90KM/H, BUT WILL EASE IN THE AFTERNOON. CHRISTCHURCH ` HIGH CLOUD, WITH PATCHY RAIN. WIND WISE: SATURDAY STARTS WITH NOREASTERS, WHICH TURN TO GALE NORWESTERS EARLY, GUSTING 130KM UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON, THEN EASING TOMORROW NIGHT. WELLINGTON ` YOU'RE IN FOR A WILD DAY TOO, SHOWERS TURN TO RAIN LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON, AND THE STRONG NORWESTER WILL GUST 120KM FOR THE DAY ` EASING TOMORROW NIGHT. IT'S MUCH CALMER FOR HAWKE'S BAY. MAINLY FINE, JUST SOME HIGH CLOUD. FRESH NORWESTERS, WITH THE CHANCE OF AN EVENING SHOWER OR TWO, AND WARMING TO A PLEASANT 24 DEGREES. ALSO CALM FOR TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS. NORWESTERS, WITH A HIGH OF 20. PARTLY CLOUDY AROUND THE WAIKATO ` WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS. FRESH NORWESTERS FROM THE MORNING, WITH RAIN ARRIVING, BUT NOT TILL TOMORROW NIGHT. AND PARTLY CLOUDY FOR YOU IN AUCKLAND, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS. NORWESTERS BECOME FRESH AFTER LUNCH, THEN RAIN ARRIVES TOMORROW NIGHT. OVER THE TASMAN ` THEY'VE GOT A FEW SHOWERS TOO, SHOWERY SOUWESTERLIES ARE AFFECTING THE SOUTH EAST. AND APART FROM SHOWERS FOR VANUATU, THE PACIFIC IS IN FOR A LOVELY SATURDAY, ESPECIALLY SAMOA. BACK HOME ` AND IT'S LOOKING OK UP TOP, WITH CLOUDY PERIODS AND MAYBE THE ODD SHOWER. THERE WILL BE SHOWERS FOR TAUPO AND TAURANGA, ESPECIALLY MONDAY AND TUESDAY BUT THE EAST WILL BE FINE. THE WIND IS STILL PRESENT FOR THE LOWER PART OF THE ISLAND THOUGH, WITH NORWESTERS, RISING TO GALE FORCE AGAIN ON SUNDAY FOR WELLINGTON. ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM BRINGS ANOTHER SPELL OF WIND AND RAIN FOR SUNDAY, SO MORE GALE NORWESTERS. AND SIMILAR STORY HERE, WITH RAIN OR SHOWERS THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND, AND START OF NEXT WEEK. SO IF YOU'RE YET TO VOTE ` YOU MIGHT WANT TO HOLD ONTO YOUR EASY VOTE CARD VERY TIGHTLY ` THAT WIND IS GOING TO BE VERY STRONG. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY.