CHRISTOPHER LUXON FIRES UP THE INCINERATOR, REVEALING THE LONG LIST OF LAWS THAT WILL SOON BE NO MORE. THERE'S STILL NO CHANGE TO THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE, BUT THE RESERVE BANK WARNS THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE HIKES ARE OVER. AND WHY THE CROWN SAYS ITS MURDER CASE AGAINST DAVID TAMIHERE STILL STANDS, DESPITE THE FALSE TESTIMONY OF A KEY WITNESS. CAPTIONS BY KITTY WASASALA, SALLY HARPER AND JOHN GIBBS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 TENA TATOU KATOA, GOOD EVENING. THE COALITION GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY GOT TO WORK TODAY, HOLDING ITS FIRST PROPER CABINET MEETING AND SIGNING OFF ITS 100-DAY PLAN. THE 49-POINT CHECKLIST INCLUDES A LOT OF STOP WORK NOTICES AND REPEALING OF LABOUR'S LAWS. ON THE SCRAP HEAP: THE AUCKLAND FUEL TAX, THE CLEAN CAR DISCOUNT, SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS, THE PRISONER REDUCTION TARGET, LABOUR'S RMA REFORMS, FAIR PAY AGREEMENTS, THE MEGA POLYTECH MERGER, TE PUKENGA, AUCKLAND LIGHT RAIL, GUN LAWS, ALL WORK RELATING TO HE PUAPUA, THE CO-GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT, THE MAORI HEALTH AUTHORITY AND THE SMOKE-FREE LAWS. IT'LL ALSO LOOK TO START IMPLEMENTING SOME POLICIES OF ITS OWN, INCLUDING LEGISLATION TO REINTRODUCE THE 90-DAY EMPLOYMENT TRIAL, BANNING CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS, BANNING GANG PATCHES, SETTING HEALTH TARGETS FOR WAIT TIMES AND CANCER TREATMENT, AND ALLOWING THE SALE OF PSEUDOEPHEDRINE COLD MEDICINE IN PHARMACIES. POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH HAS MORE. A HOP SKIP AND JUMP TO THE PODIUM OF POWER.... WELCOME TO WHAT IS OUR VERY FIRST POST CABINET PRESS CONFERENCE, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 54TH PARLIAMENT. ...AND WITH THAT, THE COUNTDOWN ON OUTCOMES HAS BEGUN. I AM DETERMINED TO START EARLY AND WORKED INCREDIBLY QUICKLY TO PLACE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE PROGRAM OF WORK THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT IS CRITICAL TO GET HIS COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT TRACK AGAIN, AND THAT WORK STARTS TODAY. ON DAY THREE OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT, THE PM HAS PUBLISHED HIS OFFICIAL 100-DAY PLAN. THIS COALITION'S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE, IT IS AMBITIOUS BUT NECESSARY, IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT RELIEF TO NEW ZEALANDERS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING IT TOUGH AWAY TOO LONG. 49 POLICIES HE'S PROMISING TO GET DONE BY MARCH. A DOCUMENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE TO. A DOCUMENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE TO WERE DETERMINED TO DO SO. ABOUT 20 OF THE ACTION POINTS ARE REPEALING WHAT LABOUR DID, INCLUDING THREE WATERS, RMA REFORMS, FUEL TAXES, AND WORKPLACE LEGISLATION LIKE FAIR PAY AGREEMENTS. WE ARE OVER THE TALK AND CONVERSATION. WE NEEDED TO GET THINGS DONE. THE COALITION ALSO COMMITTING TO IMPLEMENTING EDUCATION CHANGES REQUIRING AN HOUR EACH OF MATHS, READING AND WRITING A DAY, AS WELL AS BEGINNING WORK ON A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AGENCY, A PRIORITY TRACK TO GET EMERGENCY HOUSING TENANTS INTO HOMES, AND TAKING STEPS TO EXTEND BREAST CANCER SCREENING TO THOSE UP TO AGE 74. I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO MORE IN 100 DAYS THAN THIS LAST GOVERNMENT DID IN 6 YEARS. 49 STEPS TO GETTING THE COUNTRY BACK TO BASICS. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY TO LOWER THE COST OF LIVING. LUXON ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF HIS NARRATIVE AFTER THE FIRST DAYS OF THIS GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN MARRED BY AN OFF-SCRIPT DEPUTY. YOU CAN'T DEFEND $55 MILLION OF BRIBERY. BUT REFUSING TO PULL PETERS INTO LINE, NOT HOW HE WOULD'VE SAID IT, BUT DENYING HIS DEPUTY UNDERMINED HIM. NOT AT ALL. WINSTON IS ALLOWED TO MAKE HIS REMARKS ON THE WAY THAT HE CHOOSES. NOT WILLING TO CONDEMN PETERS FALSELY ACCUSING THE MEDIA OF TAKING A BRIBE. DO YOU FIND WHAT WINSTON PETERS SAID ACCEPTABLE? HE NEEDS TO SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP AND MAKE IT CLEAR TO WINSTON PETERS THAT HIS COMMETNS ARE UNACCEPTABLE. CHOOSING NOT TO SET AN EXPECTATION OF HIS CABINET, RATHER TELLING THE PUBLIC TO ADJUST THEIR EXPECTATIONS. WE GOING TO SAY THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AS DIFFERENT LEADERS AND DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM THAT'S FINE AND THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. NOW OFF TO GET THE COUNTRY, AND HIS BRAND NEW GOVERNMENT, BACK ON TRACK. JENNA ` A LENGTHY AGENDA FOR THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS. CAN THEY ACHIEVE IT? CLEVERLY, A LOT OF THIS LIST HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT IS QUITE HARD TO MEASURE ITS ACHIEVEMENT. THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT, WHEN IN OPPOSITION, ABSOLUTELY EVISCERATED THEM FOR THEIR METHOD. TO AVOID THE SAME CURSE, THEY NEED TO GET THEIR RUNS ON THE BOARD, AND SO TO GET THAT DONE, THEY CAN REPEAL WHAT THE LAST GOVERNMENT HAS DONE. THE NEW HONEYMOON PHASE HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH NON-EXISTENT FOR THIS PRIME MINISTER, BASICALLY BECAUSE THEY RAN A BRONCO THE WEDDING. HE'S NOT GOING TO TRY AND TAME WINSTON PETERS ` PERHAPS HE CAN'T. WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE AS APPLICABLE PRIME MINISTER AND TRY AND PATCH OVER SOME OF THE SOCIAL DISHARMONY, TRY AND REBUILD FAITH AND TRUST IN INSTITUTIONS AND THAT INCLUDES THE MEDIA. INSTEAD, HE IS GIVEN A LEASH FOR WINSTON AND DAVID TURNER SAY WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE JENNA LYNCH, LIVE IN PARLIAMENT. DESPITE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC PRESSURE, THE COALITION GOVERNMENT IS PUSHING ON WITH ITS CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO ROLL BACK NEW ZEALAND'S SMOKE-FREE LAWS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE SMOKING RATES, BUT IS REFUSING TO COMMIT TO THE SAME REDUCTION GOALS THAT EXISTED UNDER THE SMOKE-FREE POLICY. TO, FIRST, DO NO HARM. BUT AS THE NEW HEALTH MINISTER, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE'LL DO WITH HIS NEW-FOUND POWER IS ROLL BACK OUR SMOKE-FREE LAWS. IS YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR OR IS THIS WEIGHING ON IT? UH, I AM CLEAR THAT I WILL DRIVE DOWN SMOKING RATES AS PART OF THIS COALITION. MORE LIVES WILL BE LOST AS A RESULT OF REPEALING THIS LEGISLATION. DR JULIAN VYAAS IS A PAEDIATRIC SURGEON AND HAS A MESSAGE FOR HIS FELLOW DOCTOR AND THE COALITION. JUST DON'T DO IT. PUTTING THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCES BEFORE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CITIZENRY IS WRONG, FOR ANY GOVERNMENT TO DO. ARE YOU PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE PEOPLE? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT, AND I THINK IT'S RATHER DISINGENUOUS TO SUGGEST AS SUCH. WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT THAT THAT POLICY PRESCRIPTION` WE DON'T BELIEVE ITS THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION. THE EXCISE TAX FROM CIGGIES WILL HELP PAY FOR TAX CUTS. THERE'S A COMMITMENT FROM US TO LOWER SMOKING ACROSS NEW ZEALAND. BUT BY THE SAME RATES? IN FAIRNESS, WE'VE BEEN IN POWER FOR 24` TWO DAYS, AND WE NEED A CHANCE TO GET SHANE AND THE TEAM TO GET THEIR FEET UNDER THE DESK AND WORK OUT WHAT IS A GOOD GOAL. NATIONAL DIDN'T CAMPAIGN ON THE SMOKE-FREE LAW STUB OUT. IT WAS A LINE ITEM IN ACT'S ALTERNATIVE BUDGET, AND IT WAS IN NZ FIRST'S MANIFESTO, BUT NEWSHUB'S GONE BACK AND CHECKED, AND IT WAS ONLY ADDED A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION, AFTER PEOPLE HAD STARTED VOTING. THE PM'S NOW SEEN THE CIGARETTE LIGHT IN HIS GOVERNING BUDDIES' POSITION. YOU'VE GOT ONE STORE IN NORTHLAND THAT WILL BE A MAGNET FOR CRIME, ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THERE WILL ALSO BE A BIG DRIVE AROUND BLACK MARKET. CORRECTION ` THE FORMER GOVERNMENT'S REDUCTION OF CIGARETTE RETAILERS ACTUALLY ALLOWED FOR 18 STORES IN NORTHLAND. ONE OF THE MOST DISAPPOINTING THINGS ABOUT THIS WHOLE SORRY SITUATION IS SEEING NATIONAL PARTY MINISTERS SPOUTING TOBACCO INDUSTRY TALKING POINTS. NATIONAL'S NUMBER THREE AND PART OF THEIR NEGOTIATING TEAM IS CHRIS BISHOP, A FORMER TOBACCO LOBBYIST. LET ME JUST SAY FROM THE OUTSET, PHILIP MORRIS DOES NOT WANT YOUNG KIDS TO TAKE UP SMOKING. LABOUR MP RACHEL BOYACK ALLEGED GETTING A TOBACCO LOBBYIST INTO PARLIAMENT HAS PAID OFF. IT IS DISGUSTING, SO, YES, IT WARRANTS A VOMIT EMOJI. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ROLLBACK OF THESE MEASURES? NO. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. BUT, ULTIMATELY, NOW PART OF THE TEAM THAT HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. AMELIA WADE, NEWSHUB. ALLEGATIONS OF FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT HAVE BEEN FLYING AROUND PARLIAMENT, WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT ACCUSING LABOUR OF LEAVING NASTY FINANCIAL SURPRISES. BUT LABOUR'S FIRING BACK, ACCUSING THE NATS OF USING THEM AS A SCAPEGOAT FOR A $2B TAXCUT SHORTFALL. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER LLOYD BURR. THE NEW FINANCE MINISTER ` IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE CUPBOARD'S BARE, IT'S THAT THERE ARE SNAKES AND SNAILS NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD. ...NASTY FINANCIAL SURPRISES. HER BOSS, DOUBLING DOWN. THERE HAS BEEN ECONOMIC VANDALISM ON A SCALE WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE. LABOUR'S MESSAGE: LEARN TO READ. IF NICOLA WILLIS DIDN'T DO HER JOB AS OPPOSITION FINANCE SPOKESPERSON AND ACTUALLY READ THE PREFU, THAT'S NOT MY FAULT. ADDING THEY'RE LASHING OUT BECAUSE IT CAN'T FUND ITS TAX CUTS. THERE IS AN ENORMOUS FISCAL HOLE, IN TERMS OF PAYING FOR THE TAX CUTS, EVEN WITH MORE PEOPLE SMOKING AND MORE PEOPLE GAMBLING. DO YOU HAVE AN ENORMOUS FISCAL HOLE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PAY FOR YOUR TAX CUTS? NOT AT ALL. OUR TAX CUTS AS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND OUR TAX RELIEF FOR LOW AND MIDDLE NEW ZEALANDERS' IS FULLY FUNDED. WHAT'S NOT FUNDED, THOUGH, IS SCRAPPING MAORI NAMES OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS. THEY HAVEN'T SPECIFIED WHICH ORGANISATIONS ARE IN LINE FOR ANGLICISING, BUT HERE ARE 27 WHICH FIT THE CRITERIA TO BE RENAMED TO ENGLISH. SOME ARE HUGE MINISTRIES ` OTHERS ARE SMALL. THE COST? THEY DON'T KNOW. IT WASN'T PRICED UP BEFORE IT WAS AGREED TO? NO, IT WASN'T. REBRANDING COSTS VARY WILDLY ACROSS THE PUBLIC SECTOR. ORANGA TAMARIKI'S REBRAND FROM CYFS COST NEARLY $50,000, BUT CHANGING THE TRANSPORT AGENCY TO WAKA KOTAHI ONLY COST $6436. OTHER EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE EDUCATION MINISTRY'S TE MAHAU IDENTITY COSTING MORE THAN $120,000, AND ADDING TE REO MAORI TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION COST MORE THAN $22,000. SO, USING ORANGA TAMARIKI'S REBRAND COST AS A CONSERVATIVE MID POINT, TIMES BY THE 27 ORGANISATIONS WITH TE REO NAMES, THAT'S MORE THAN $1.263m TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WE'RE GONNA BE A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS FISCAL DISCIPLINE IN PLACE. FOR VETERAN AGED-CARE NURSE MARIANNE BISHOP, WHO'S FIGHTING FOR PAY EQUITY, REBRANDING IS WASTED MONEY. IT MAKES YOU FEEL UNDERVALUED IN THE JOB THAT YOU DO, AND I THINK OUR JOB IS QUITE VALUABLE ` CARING. ADD THE BILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT LANDLORDS ARE SET TO GET, SHE SAYS IT'S SALT IN THE WOUND. WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT? IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE WORKERS, BECAUSE I BET` I BET RENTS AND THAT AREN'T GONNA GO DOWN. AGED CARE WORKER NUMBERS COULD, THOUGH, IF THE PAY EQUITY CLAIM STALLS. LLOYD BURR, NEWSHUB. THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE HAS BEEN KEPT AT 5.5% FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN A ROW. BUT THE RESERVE BANK IS WARNING THE RATE HIKES STILL MIGHT NOT BE OVER, WITH POPULATION GROWTH PUTTING PRESSURE ON INFLATION. ZANE SMALL REPORTS. VOILA. A LEMON TREE GIFTED, AS A SYMBOL OF A NEW BEGINNING. OR IN AKHIL SANGOI'S CASE, A NEW FIRST HOME. YEAH, I JUST GOT LUCKY, I WOULD SAY. (CHUCKLES) AKHIL IS NOW ESTABLISHING HIS ROOTS AS A HOMEOWNER, BUT THAT INCLUDES PAYING NEARLY 7% INTEREST ON HIS LOAN. THAT'S A PINCH, RIGHT, NO? (LAUGHS) REMEMBER, IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE ONGOING BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION. IT ROSE ABOVE 7% IN THE COVID AFTERMATH, WAY ABOVE THE RESERVE BANK'S TARGET RANGE OF ONE TO THREE. SO IT BEGAN HIKING UP THE RATE AT WHICH COMMERCIAL BANKS CAN BORROW MONEY, AKA THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE, WHICH BANKS THEN PASS ON TO CUSTOMERS BY LIFTING THEIR OWN BORROWING RATES. THE END RESULT? LESS MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS, LESS SPENDING, LESS DEMAND. INFLATION HAS BEEN TRACKING DOWN, BUT THE RESERVE BANK IS NOT SATISFIED. AT ITS FINAL UPDATE OF THE YEAR, IT SAID WHILE DEMAND HAS EASED, IT'S LESS THAN IT HOPED FOR AND THAT'S PARTLY DUE TO THE HUGE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS. IF INFLATION PRESSURES WERE TO BE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED, THE OCR WOULD LIKELY NEED TO INCREASE. WESTPAC ECONOMIST KELLY ECKHOLD IS PICKING ANOTHER HIKE EARLY NEXT YEAR OUR CONCERN IS THAT INFLATION IS STILL REALLY QUITE HIGH AND IT WILL TAKE A FAIR WHILE FOR IT TO FALL. CONCERN ECHOED BY INVESTMENT MANAGER MARK RIGGALL. WE COULD HAVE A SITUATION WHERE ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES TO BE REALLY STRONG, AND INFLATION THEREFORE CONTINUES TO BE ABOVE WHAT CENTRAL BANKS NEED IT TO BE. THERE ARE ALSO QUESTIONS OVER THE NEW GOVERNMENT PROPOSING THE RESERVE BANK ONLY FOCUS ON PRICE STABILITY. WE WILL PUSH THROUGH BEFORE CHRISTMAS THROUGH ALL PHASES THE RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND HAVING A SINGLE MANDATE. RIGHT NOW IT ALSO HAS TO CONSIDER SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT. WE DO HAVE THOSE PROJECTIONS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS GOING TO RISE REASONABLY SIGNIFICANTLY AND THAT'S WHERE IT PROBABLY MATTERS. BUT THROUGH ALL THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AKHIL SANGOI IS SMILING THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS... IT'S A SHORT-TERM PAIN FOR A LONG-TERM GAIN. HE'S OPENING THE DOOR TO 2024, HOPEFUL THERE'LL BE A SIGN OF INTEREST RATE RELIEF. WELLINGTON'S MAYOR HAS ADMITTED SHE HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER INCIDENT OF DRUNKEN BEHAVIOUR IN PUBLIC. TORY WHANAU MADE THE ADMISSION FOLLOWING QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED WILLIAMS, WHAT MORE HAS THE MAYOR SAID? SHE HAS ADMITTED SHE HAS A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL. COMES AFTER A DRUNKEN INCIDENT THAT SHE BELIEVES HAS BEEN FILMED. THE MAYOR AND THE PEOPLE SHE WAS WITH WERE VISIBLY DRUNK, ACCORDING TO SOMEONE AT THE BAR. THERE WAS A SIMILAR INCIDENT ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. SHE SAYS SHE IS GETTING PROFESSIONAL HELP, SHE PLANS TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT WELLINGTON. TWO MEN HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN THE HIGH COURT TO MURDERING AUCKLAND COUPLE FUK-FU JOSEPH KWOK AND MEI HAN CHONG. KWOK WAS ALLEGEDLY STABBED TO DEATH AT THE COUPLE'S ELLERSLIE HOME AFTER MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4. THE COUPLE'S VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AND CHONG WAS REPORTED MISSING. SHE WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND DEAD IN BUSHLAND IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF GREENHITHE. JUSTICE MATHEW DOWNS REMANDED THE ACCUSED IN CUSTODY. THEIR NAME SUPPRESSION CONTINUES. CROWN LAWYERS CLAIM THEIR CASE AGAINST CONVICTED KILLER DAVID TAMIHERE STILL STACKS UP WITHOUT THE EVIDENCE OF A JAILHOUSE INFORMANT WHO PROVIDED FALSE TESTIMONY TO THE JURY. THE COURT OF APPEAL IS EXAMINING WHETHER THERE WAS A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE WHEN TAMIHERE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING TWO SWEDISH TOURISTS THREE DECADES AGO LEIGHTON HEIKELL REPORTS. DOUBLE-MURDERER ROBERT CONCHIE HARRIS WAS A KEY PART OF THE CROWN'S EVIDENCE IN THE 1990 JURY TRIAL OF DAVID TAMIHERE, AT THE TIME AS A SECRET JAILHOUSE INFORMANT. THE MYSTERY WITNESS LEFT THE COURT. HARRIS CLAIMED THEN, WHILE IN PRISON TOGETHER, TAMIHERE CONFESSED TO SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AND MURDERING SWEDISH TOURISTS URBAN HOLLAND AND HEIDI PAKENHAM. BUT IN 2017, IT WAS PROVEN TO BE ALL A LIE AS HARRIS WAS CONVICTED OF PERJURY. PUT SIMPLY, THE CASE PRESENTED BEFORE THIS COURT IS RATHER DIFFERENT TO THE CASE PRESENTED BEFORE THE JURY. TODAY, IN THE COURT OF APPEAL. CROWN LAWYERS ACCEPTED HARRIS'S EVIDENCE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN USED, BUT DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, CLAIMING IT WOULDN'T HAVE SWAYED THE JURY. ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN IRREGULARITY THAT THE HARRIS EVIDENCE WAS BEFORE THE JURY, IT WAS AN INCONSEQUENTIAL ONE WHICH WAS INCAPABLE OF AFFECTING THE OUTCOME. ADDING THAT THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE WITHOUT IT. AND THE CROWN ADMITS THAT THE HARRIS EVIDENCE WAS THAT TYPE OF A SLENDER STRAND ` WHEN YOU REMOVE IT, THE FORCE OF THE CROWN CASE REMAINS. THE COURT MUST NOW DECIDE IF A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE HAS IN FACT OCCURRED, AND IF THEY DO, THEY COULD CHOOSE TO QUASH HIS CONVICTIONS OR EVEN ORDER A RETRIAL. JUSTICE FRENCH RESERVED THEIR DECISION UNTIL AT LEAST FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT AND WE NEED TIME. SILENCE, ALL STAND. SO THREE DECADES AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF THE MURDERS WHICH HE'S ALWAYS DENIED, DAVID TAMIHERE WILL HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MORE MONTHS TO FIND OUT IF HIS NAME WILL BE CLEARED. LEIGHTON HEIKELL, NEWSHUB. 41 INDIAN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HAVE BEEN PULLED TO SAFETY, 17 DAYS AFTER THEY WERE TRAPPED UNDERGROUND IN A TUNNEL COLLAPSE. THE OPERATION TO SAVE THEM WAS HIT BY MULTIPLE SETBACKS, BUT THERE WERE SCENES OF JOY AND RELIEF AS THE MEN FINALLY EMERGED. GRACE THOMAS HAS MORE. THIS IS THE MOMENT THE FIRST TRAPPED WORKER WAS FINALLY FREED FROM THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN TUNNEL. THEN, ONE BY ONE, ALL 41 MEN WERE PULLED OUT THROUGH AN ESCAPE PIPE, GREETED WITH CHEERS AND GARLANDS OF FLOWERS. OUTSIDE, AMBULANCES AND HELICOPTERS WERE ON STANDBY TO TAKE THE MEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE WORKERS HAD BECOME TRAPPED AFTER A LANDSLIDE CAUSED PART OF THE TUNNEL'S ROOF TO CAVE IN. FOOD, WATER AND OXYGEN WAS PROVIDED THROUGH A SMALL PIPE. THE LAST TIME WE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE WORKERS WAS A WEEK AGO, THROUGH VIDEO CAPTURED WITH AN ENDOSCOPIC CAMERA SENT IN BY RESCUERS. TEAMS DUG FOR 400 HOURS TO REACH THEM. 'THEY WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE US,' THIS RESCUER SAYS. 'THEY HUGGED US, AND WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THEM.' ONE AUSTRALIAN TUNNELLING EXPERT WAS INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE MISSION. I JUST HAD THIS FEELING THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, AND I GENUINELY FELT WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, AND THERE WAS` THERE WAS SOMETHING INFECTIOUS IN ME HAVING THAT VIEW, AND IT KIND OF INFECTED EVERYBODY. BUT IT WASN'T WITHOUT SETBACKS ` WHEN THE MACHINE USED TO TRY AND DIG THEM OUT BROKE BEYOND REPAIR, RESCUERS DRILLED THROUGH THE LAST TWO METRES OF ROCK AND GRAVEL BY HAND. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY, VERY CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT. THE NATURE OF THE LANDSCAPE AROUND THERE AND THE GEOLOGY, IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN AREA THAT IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE AND PRONE TO COLLAPSE. INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER CALLED THE OPERATION 'AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF HUMANITY AND TEAMWORK.' AND WHILE THESE MEN ARE CELEBRATING BEING FREE, THERE'LL NOW BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW ` AND WHY ` THE TUNNEL COLLAPSED. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH TODAY'S WEATHER. COLD AND SHOWERY ACROSS THE COUNTRY? MOST TEMPERATURES SAT IN THE LOW TEENS, BUT FELT A LOT COLDER THANKS TO THAT SOUWESTERLY FLOW. ALTHOUGH KAWERAU SMASHED IT WITH 25. FORTUNATELY, THAT SOUWESTERLY DIES OUT TOMORROW AND WE END SPRING WITH A FAIRLY HO-HUM DAY ` A FEW SHOWERS, STILL CHILLY, BUT NO SEVERE WEATHER. THE FULL FORECAST AFTER SPORT. AS LONG AS SUMMER IS ON THE WAY, THAT IS FINE. WAYNE BROWN HAS COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR AUCKLAND TO SELF-INSURE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS FOLLOWING FUTURE NATURAL DISASTERS. THE MAYOR'S CALLING IT THE AUCKLAND FUTURE FUND, AND IT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY SELLING AIRPORT SHARES AND LEASING THE PORT. THE U.N. WARNS MORE PEOPLE COULD DIE FROM DISEASE THAN BOMBINGS, IF GAZA'S HEALTH SYSTEM ISN'T REPAIRED QUICKLY. AND AS NEW ZEALAND AND THE PACIFIC GET HIT BY CLIMATE CHANGE, A NUTRITION CONFERENCE LOOKS AT WAYS TO SAFEGUARD OUR FOOD SUPPLY. TONIGHT ` IF YOU HAVE A CRAZY BOSS, GOOD NEWS: IT COULD BE A GOOD THING. HANG ON ` DID MY BOSS WRITE THIS? AND ` WE REVEAL WHERE IN NEW ZEALAND IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO BE GOOD FOR YOU TO GO. THE PROJECT, AT 7, AFTER NEWSHUB. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. AUCKLAND'S MAYOR HAS PROPOSED SETTING UP AN AUCKLAND FUTURE FUND, WHICH WOULD HELP PAY FOR REPAIRS NEEDED AFTER ANY FUTURE NATURAL DISASTERS. WAYNE BROWN SAYS THE FUND WOULD INITIALLY BE WORTH $3-4B, AND WOULD NEED TO ACHIEVE A RETURN OF AT LEAST 7.5%. THE MONEY TO SET IT UP WOULD COME FROM THE SALE OF AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES AND FROM LEASING THE PORT OF AUCKLAND'S COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS. THE MAYOR SAYS AT LEAST $1B FROM THE FUND WOULD BE EARMARKED FOR SELF-INSURANCE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS, SAVING THE COUNCIL AROUND $25M A YEAR IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS. ALICE WILKINS REPORTS. AUCKLAND'S PORT COULD BE ABOUT TO GET A BIT OF A SHAKE-UP, BECAUSE MAYOR WAYNE BROWN WANTS THE CITY TO SAVE UP ITS PENNIES FOR A RAINY DAY ` QUITE LITERALLY. A SIZEABLE CHUNK OF CASH, AVAILABLE READILY, SHOULD THE DISASTER OCCUR THAT WE'VE HAD` AND WE HAD A MINOR DISASTER THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS COST US A BILLION. SO HE'S PROPOSING THE CREATION OF AN 'AUCKLAND FUTURE FUND,' WHICH WOULD ACT IN PART LIKE A BIT OF A BUFFER. AT LEAST 1 BILLION DOLLARS OF THE KITTY WOULD BE EARMARKED FOR 'SELF-INSURANCE' OF COUNCIL PROPERTY, TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST EVENTS LIKE SAVING THE COUNCIL ALMOST $25M IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS. EVERYBODY LIKES THE IDEA OF AN INVESTMENT FUND, BUT THE FIRST THING YOU'VE GOT TO DO WITH AN INVESTMENT FUND IS PUT SOMETHING IN IT. WHICH IS WHERE THE PORT COULD COME IN. THIS 'PROPOSED' PLAN WOULD SEE THE COUNCIL USE MONEY FROM SELLING AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES, AS WELL AS THE PROCEEDS FROM LEASING THE OPERATIONS OF AUCKLAND'S PORT, WITH AN INDEPENDENT PORT OPERATOR PAYING UPFRONT FOR THE RIGHT TO PARTNER WITH COUNCIL. WAYNE BROWN EXPECTS, ALL TOGETHER, THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $3-4B. WE'VE ONLY GOT TWO BIG ASSETS. ONE'S THE AIRPORT, AND ONE'S THE PORT. NEITHER OF THEM MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE COST OF EVEN OWNING THEM. BUT THE ALTERNATIVE THAT WILL ALSO BE PUT TO AUCKLANDERS IS TO KEEP PORT OF AUCKLAND IN CONTROL AT THE WATERFRONT ` AN OPTION FAVOURED BY THE UNION, WHO SAY LEASING THE PORT TO A GLOBAL OPERATOR WOULD COME WITH A COST. IT'S ACTUALLY A NATURAL MONOPOLY IN THE PORT OF AUCKLAND. THERE'S NO OTHER CONTAINER TERMINAL, SO A COMPANY LIKE DP WORLD OR PATRICK'S OR ANY OTHER GLOBAL OPERATOR, WHILE THEY'LL INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE PROJECT, THEY'LL WANT THEIR RETURN AND MORE, AND WE'RE SEEING GOOD EVIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA WHERE DP WORLD, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN GOUGING IT OUT, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN FREIGHT CHARGES TO THE PORT USERS. PORT OF AUCKLAND SAYS THE OWNERSHIP MODEL OF THE PORT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL GOVERNING BODY, AND IT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH THE MAYOR ON THE MATTER. FOR NOW, IT SAYS ITS FOCUS REMAINS THE SAME ` OPERATIONAL SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY, AND DELIVERING GREATER RETURNS FOR AUCKLAND. BUT THE MAYOR SAYS THOSE RETURNS HAVEN'T BEEN GREAT ENOUGH IN RECENT YEARS, AND A BROAD RANGE OF OPTIONS SHOULD BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC. AT THIS STAGE, THE PLAN IS ONLY A PROPOSAL, AND AUCKLANDERS WILL GET TO HAVE THEIR SAY BEFORE THINGS AROUND HERE START CHANGING. ALICE WILKINS, NEWSHUB. THE TRUCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS HAS CONTINUED FOR A FIFTH DAY WITH ANOTHER EXCHANGE OF CAPTIVES, BUT THE PAUSE IN THE FIGHTING LOOKS INCREASINGLY FRAGILE. BUT THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IF GAZA'S HEALTH SYSTEM ISN'T REPAIRED QUICKLY, EVEN MORE PEOPLE COULD DIE FROM DISEASE THAN THE BOMBINGS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. (CROWD CLAMOURS) RELEASE, EXCHANGE, REUNION, REPEAT. THE ROUTINE HAS BECOMING A FAMILIAR ONE, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES AT THE CENTRE OF THE TRUCE, THERE IS NOTHING MONOTONOUS ABOUT THIS. THIS IS EITAN YAHALOMI (12), BACK IN THE ARMS OF HIS MOTHER WHILE HIS DAD REMAINS HELD HOSTAGE. HIS FAMILY CLAIM HAMAS CAPTORS MADE HIM WATCH FILMS OF HORROR ON REPEAT ` GRUESOME VIDEOS RECORDED DURING THE OCTOBER 7TH MASSACRE. (CROWD CHANTS) THE BIBAS FAMILY IS STILL WAITING FOR THEIR HUGS OF RELIEF. AT JUST 10-MONTHS-OLD, KFIR IS THE YOUNGEST OF THOSE TAKEN BY PALESTINIAN MILITANTS. THE INFANT, WITH HIS TOOTHLESS SMILE, IS NOT ON THE LIST OF THOSE SET TO BE RELEASED, AND HUNDREDS GATHERED IN TEL AVIV TODAY TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT 'BRING EVERYONE HOME.' WITH THE WAR FROZEN FOR NOW, GAZANS ARE FIGHTING THE COLD, DESPERATELY STOCKING UP ON WHAT THEY CAN TO SURVIVE WINTER. SOME BRAVING THE JOURNEY NORTH TO RETRIEVE HOME COMFORTS, BUT FINDING NO HOME AT ALL. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'IT IS AS IF IT WAS ERASED FROM THE MAP,' THIS MAN SAYS. 'WHAT CAN I DO? I HAVE SIX CHILDREN.' TODAY, THE FIRST PALESTINIAN PRISONER FROM GAZA WAS FREED AND TAKEN BACK INTO THE STRIP. ONE OF THE 150 RELEASED, HE SAYS HE HAD BEEN UNDER HUGE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND SUFFERED TERRIBLY WHILE IN DETENTION. THE WAVING BETWEEN HOSTAGES AND HAMAS UPON RELEASE HAS BECOME A SIGNATURE SIGHT, PORTRAYING SOME FRIENDLINESS BETWEEN THE SIDES. BUT THIS TEENAGER'S GESTURE SUGGESTS HE'S JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS. THERE WILL BE NO SUCH PLEASANTRIES WHEN THE WAR BEGINS AGAIN. IN LONDON, LISETTE REYMER, NEWSHUB. ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT, AND A BIG CALL FROM THE ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN. YEAH, SAM CANE CALLING FOR BIG CHANGE TO THE ALL BLACKS ELIGIBILITY RULES AS HE KICKS OFF A STINT IN JAPAN. WE HAVE NZR'S REACTION TO THAT. PLUS, THE BLACKCAPS FIND AN UNLIKELY HERO IN GLENN PHILLIPS AS THE PART-TIME SPINNER RIPS THROUGH BANGLADESH ON DAY ONE OF THE FIRST TEST. AND STICK AROUND FOR ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE WINNING GOALS YOU ARE EVER LIKELY TO SEE. A VISITING FAMILY ON A CRUISE SHIP DOCKED IN NAPIER HAVE HELPED SAVE A BEACHED SHARK. SOON, THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE JOINED IN TO HELP THE JUVENILE BASKING SHARK MAKE IT BACK OUT TO SEA. AND A CONFERENCE LOOKING AT HOW AOTEAROA AND THE PACIFIC CAN SAFEGUARD THEIR CROPS AGAINST THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. HAS WINSTON PETERS BEEN TRUTHFUL AND ACCURATE IN HIS CLAIM THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BRIBED MEDIA? OH, LOOK, I THINK THAT WINSTON'S BEING WINSTON. I THINK IT'S A TURN OF PHRASE, AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT VERY LITERALLY. Give a gift that unleashes theirs. Get a bonus tablet with this Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. Or buy a JBL Clip 3 and get another one free. And get $200 off a Samsung Galaxy Watch6 44mm. Grab great deals instore or online. THE AMBULANCE DISPATCHER WORKING ON MARCH 15 SAYS SHE DIDN'T SEND AMBULANCES DIRECTLY INTO THE MOSQUES BECAUSE IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ST JOHN STAFF SAFE, AND SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AN ACTIVE SHOOTER. DAWN LUCAS TOLD THE CORONIAL INQUEST THAT DAY WAS DIFFERENT TO ANY DAY SHE'D EVER ENCOUNTERED AT ST JOHN. THE SAFETY OF AMBULANCE CREW IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EARLIER ATTACK AT DEANS AVENUE, AND AL NOOR MOSQUE, I WOULD NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM POLICE ABOUT SAFETY. SHE TOLD THE CORONER SHE HAD NEVER HAD ANY TRAINING IN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT, OR IN COORDINATING WITH POLICE IN SUCH AN EVENT. THE CROWN HAS CALLED ITS FINAL WITNESS IN THE TRIAL OF TWO PEOPLE ACCUSED OF MURDERING CHRISTCHURCH WOMAN ANGELA BLACKMOORE. PROSECUTORS CALLED A POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION SINCE THE 1995 MURDER, WHO WAS CHALLENGED ON THE RELIABILITY OF INFORMANTS. REBECCA WRIGHT-MELRDUM AND DAVID HAWKEN ARE ACCUSED OF PLAYING A PART IN THE KILLING. HAWKEN HAS ELECTED NOT TO GIVE EVIDENCE. IT'S OBVIOUSLY MR HAWKEN'S RIGHT AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE FACT THAT THE CROWN HAS THE BURDEN TO PROVE THE CASE. CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK, BEFORE THE JURY RETIRES TO DELIBERATE. FOOD SECURITY WAS PUT IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT A MAJOR NUTRITION CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND THIS WEEK. NUTRITION SCIENTISTS FROM THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA AND HERE IN AOTEAROA ATTENDED AS CLIMATE CHANGE PUTS MORE PRESSURE ON FOOD SUPPLIES AROUND THE WORLD. GRACE THOMAS HAS MORE. IN THE FACE OF A WORSENING CLIMATE CRISIS, FOOD SECURITY IS A GROWING CHALLENGE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS AND AOTEAROA. WHAT WE'RE SEEING, I THINK, IS A LOSS OF TRADITIONAL FOODS, AND THE TRADITIONAL FOODS DID TEND TO BE THE MORE HEALTHY FOODS. IT'S ONE OF THE KEY TOPICS THAT THE JOINT CONFERENCE OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETIES OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS SET TO BE THE BIGGEST IN THE CONFERENCE'S HISTORY, WITH MORE THAN 380 ATTENDEES. A REALLY BIG THEME OF THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR IS AROUND FOOD SECURITY, SUSTAINABILITY, THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SUPPLIES. A WARMING CLIMATE IS ALREADY CHANGING WHAT WE GROW HERE IN AOTEAROA. LOOK, IF YOU GO UP NORTH, THE WEATHER IS DEFINITELY WARMING AND THEY'RE GROWING CROPS THAT THEY PROBABLY HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO ` I'M IN THE MANAWATU AND I'M GROWING BANANAS AND PINEAPPLES. ONE OF THE ISSUES THE PACIFIC IS FACING IS HARMFUL ALGAE THAT'S CONTAMINATING SEAFOOD. WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS A RESULT OF INCREASED SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES, THAT WE'RE THE FREQUENCY OF THESE BLOOMS IS INCREASING, BUT ALSO THE GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE OF THESE ALGAL SPECIES IS ALSO EXPANDING. IT'S A CONCERNING REALITY FOR THE REGION'S FOOD SECURITY. THEY'RE INTRINSICALLY LINKED TO THE REEF SYSTEM, BOTH FOR SUSTENANCE AND TRADE. AND SO BASICALLY THEY'RE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH A LOT OF THE FISH THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO EAT, AND THEY'VE GOT NO CHOICE. DR SAM MURRAY IS FOCUSED ON FINDING A SOLUTION. THE ULTIMATE HOLY GRAIL WILL BE CREATING A LITTLE RAPID KIT, MUCH LIKE YOUR COVID TEST THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE USED IN THESE PACIFIC COMMUNITIES, AND SO THEN THEREFORE, WHEN THEY GET A FISH AND THEY WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S SAFE TO EAT, THEY CAN RAPIDLY TEST IT. SOLUTIONS TO THE EVER-CHANGING CLIMATE CRISIS KEY TO MAINTAINING FOOD SECURITY IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD. SOLUTIONS TO THE EVER-CHANGING CLIMATE CRISIS KEY TO MAINTAINING FOOD SECURITY IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. A SHARK NORMALLY SENDS PEOPLE RUNNING FROM THE WATER, BUT A BRAVE GROUP OF BEACH-GOERS HEADED BACK INTO THE WAVES TO HELP A SHARK IN DISTRESS IN NAPIER. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM BANGLADESH AS THE BLACK CAPS TAKE CONTROL OF THE FIRST TEST EARLY ON DAY TWO. PLUS, AS SAM CANE CALLS FOR CHANGES TO THE ALL BLACKS ELIGIBLITY RULES, HIS PREDECESSOR TELLS US WHY HE THINKS IT'S A BAD IDEA FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AND TIGERS WOODS GETS READY TO LAUNCH HIS LATEST COMEBACK ` GOLF'S BIGGEST NAME TEES OFF AT PGA TOUR OFFICIALS. TONIGHT ` SIR JOHN KIRWAN TELLS US WHY HIS BEST-SELLING BOOK, 'ALL BLACKS DON'T CRY', NEEDED AN UPDATE. 'CAUSE WE LOST THE WORLD CUP. PLUS ` HOW TO STAY HAPPY WHEN YOUR BOSS IS A PSYCHOPATH. THE PROJECT, AT 7. 1,299. That's a really good price for a bed. But what else could I get for that money? (WHOOSHING, DING!) Butter. SONG: # There's # Someone new... # (TV PLAYS) # And he's waiting... # (WAILS) It's melting! # For you... # I've got you, I've got you, I've got you. # Soon your heart... # (SOBS) I should've bought a bed. I wasted so much money. Excuse me. Is there anything I can help you with? No, thanks. Ah, I'll take that one. Makes sense. # Ahhh-ahhhh. # THE BLACKCAPS ARE IN CONTROL AT LUNCH ON DAY TWO OF THE FIRST TEST AGAINST BANGLADESH IN SYLHET. THEY NEEDED JUST ONE DELIVERY TO DISMISS THE HOSTS FOR 310 WHEN PLAY RESUMED THIS AFTERNOON ` A SCORE THAT COULD'VE BEEN MUCH MORE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR CAREER-BEST FIGURES FROM AN UNLIKELY HERO ON DAY ONE. SULLIVAN HARNETT REPORTS. AFTER CAPTURING HIS FIRST TEST WICKET EARLY ON DAY ONE, GLENN PHILLIPS SNARED THE CRUCIAL BREAKTHROUGH JUST BEFORE TEA... VERY GOOD CATCH, AND PHILLIPS STRIKES! ...AS BANGLADESH THREATENED TO BUILD A BIG FIRST INNINGS TOTAL. FOUR BALLS LATER, ISH SODHI ENSURED THERE WAS NO CENTURY FOR MAHMUDAL HANSAN JOY, DISMISSING HIM FOR 86. AND TWO IN QUICK SUCCESSION. 184 FOR 4 AT TEA, THE BLACK CAP BOWLERS TOOK WICKETS AT A REGULAR RATE. KYLE JAMIESON, PLAYING HIS FIRST TEST IN A YEAR AND A HALF, ALSO IN THE ACTION. THIS TIME, HE HAS TAKEN A WICKET. BUT IT WAS THE PART-TIMER PHILLIPS WHO BECAME THE UNLIKELY STAR. THE HOSTS, 310 FOR NINE AT STUMPS. AND THAT'S HOW THE INNINGS FINISHED ` TIM SOUTHEE PICKING UP THE FINAL WICKET WITH THE VERY FIRST BALL OF DAY TWO. THE IMPACT, HE IS IN LINE. TOM LATHAM AND DEVON CONWAY THEN LOOKED TO HAVE NAVIGATED A TRICKY START. BUT THE PRESSURE STARTED TO MOUNT AND THE HOSTS HAD A DOUBLE-BREAKTHROUGH. THAT WAS IN THE AIR, DOES THAT BREAK THE WICKET, IT DOES. THIS COULD BE OUT. KANE WILLIAMSON AND HENRY NICHOLLS GUIDING THE BLACK CAPS TO LUNCH ON FOR A DEFICIT OF 235 RUNS. SULLIVAN HARNETT, NEWSHUB. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY WON'T BE MAKING ANY CHANGES TO THE ALL BLACKS' ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AS THE DRUMS BEAT EVER LOUDER FOR CHANGE. IN A SURPRISE DEVELOPMENT, SKIPPER SAM CANE HAS BECOME THE LATEST TO ADD HIS VOICE TO CALLS FOR PLAYERS BASED OUTSIDE OF NEW ZEALAND TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION. BUT IT'S SOMETHING ONE FORMER ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN THINKS WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS THE STORY. SAM CANE AND NEW TEAM-MATE CHESLIN KOLBE WERE UNVEILED AS THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH IN THE JAPANESE TOP LEAGUE. IT'LL BE AWESOME TO PLAY WITH CHESLIN. KOLBE COULD SPEND AS MANY YEARS AS HE LIKES PLAYING IN JAPAN AND STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SPRINGBOKS. CANE COULD NOT, AND WANTS NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TO CONSIDER CHANGING THAT. AND SHOULD WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE ALL BLACKS AGAIN, THAT WE SHOW THAT WE'VE IMPROVED OUR GAMES, IF WE CAN DO THAT, THEN MAYBE THAT CONVERSATION CAN BE HAD AT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. AS IT STANDS, PLAYERS MUST BE EITHER BASED IN NEW ZEALAND OR HOLD A NATIONAL CONTRACT THAT INCLUDES A SABBATICAL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ALL BLACKS. CANE DOESN'T FEEL CHANGING THAT WOULD SET THE ALL BLACKS BACK. A LOT OF THE SPRINGBOKS HAVE SHOWN THE ABILITY TO PLAY IN THE TOP LEAGUE ONE, AND GO BACK TO INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FAIRLY QUICKLY. ALL BLACKS' COACH SCOTT ROBERTSON URGED DIFFERENT THINKING AROUND SELECTION WHEN APPOINTED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT NZR WON'T BUDGE ` TODAY, TELLING NEWSHUB ` A STANCE THAT SUPPORTED BY FORMER CAPTAIN KIERAN READ. I DON'T THINK WE CAN SURVIVE IF WE END UP GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE, JUST YET. YOU KNOW, WE NEED OUR GUYS PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND, WE NEED A STRONG COMPETITION. AND READ FEELS THE OPPORTUNITIES SOME PLAYERS ARE GIVEN ALREADY IS ENOUGH. CERTAINLY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THE SABBATICALS AND STUFF IS GOING TO KEEP THE GUYS IN NEW ZEALAND. BUT IT'S CLEAR THE APPETITE FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY THAN THAT ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE. OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. OWEN FRANKS THOUGHT HIS PROFESSIONAL RUGBY CAREER MIGHT BE OVER BEFORE ANSWERING AN S.O.S FROM THE CRUSADERS. FRANKS HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO SUPER RUGBY SEASONS AT THE HURRICANES, AS WELL AS A BRIEF STINT IN FRANCE WITH TOULOUSE, BUT OLI JAGER'S RECENT DEPARTURE BACK TO IRELAND OPENED THE DOOR FOR FRANKS TO ADD TO HIS 153 CAPS FOR THE CRUSADERS, AND HE SAYS NOT JUST THERE TO MAKE UP NUMBERS. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE YOUNGER PLAYERS TO HAVE TO STEP OVER SOME BOULDERS ON THE PATH SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW? AND I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH, YOU KNOW, BEING STEPPED ON, BUT I'LL PUSH` UM, I'LL PUSH THOSE YOUNGER GUYS AS HARD AS I CAN. THE 35-YEAR-OLD ADMITS WHILE HE'D ALWAYS HOPED TO PULL ON THE RED AND BLACK JERSEY AGAIN, HE'D ACCEPTED HIS CRUSADERS CAREER WAS LIKELY DONE. TIGER WOODS IS READY TO LAUNCH HIS LATEST COMEBACK. THE 15-TIME MAJOR WINNER WILL FEATURE IN HIS OWN EVENT ` THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE ` IN THE BAHAMAS STARTING FRIDAY, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER HE LIMPED OUT OF HIS LAST TOURNAMENT ` THE MASTERS. AND HE USED HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE IN AS MANY MONTHS TO TAKE AIM AT THE PGA, FOLLOWING A SHOCK PROPOSAL TO MERGE WITH THE REBEL LIV TOUR. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN REPORTS. THE LAST TIME WE SAW TIGER WOODS IN ACTION, IT WASN'T PRETTY. THE 15-TIME MAJOR WINNER LIMPING OUT OF THE MASTERS AT AUGUSTA IN APRIL. BUT SEVEN MONTHS AND ONE ANKLE SURGERY LATER, TIGER'S BACK AND HE'S SMILING. I LOVE COMPETING, I LOVE PLAYING. I MISS BEING OUT HERE WITH THE GUYS. I MISS THE CAMARADERIE AND THE FRATERNITY-LIKE ATMOSPHERE OUT HERE. WOODS IS SET TO RETURN TO THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE IN THE BAHAMAS, STARTING FRIDAY. RECENTLY, HE'S BEEN FORCED TO REST AND RECOVER AND PLAY CADDIE FOR HIS SON CHARLIE. THE 47-YEAR-OLD ADMITS HE HAS NO IDEA HOW THIS WEEKEND WILL GO. I'M JUST AS CURIOUS OF` AS WITH ALL OF YOU, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN A WHILE. THE FACT HE CAN EVEN STILL PLAY IS REMARKABLE. SINCE 2002, WOODS HAS SUFFERED AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF KNEE, ANKLE, ELBOW AND BACK INJURIES. HE HAS UNDERGONE A RAFT OF LEG OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS AT LEAST FIVE BACK SURGERIES. THEN IN 2021, HE NEARLY DIED IN A CAR CRASH. BUT SOMEHOW, HE KEEPS COMING BACK TO THE GAME HE LOVES ` ONE ROCKED BY A STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENT IN JUNE. THE PGA TOUR REVEALED IT PLANNED TO CREATE A NEW COMMERCIAL ENTITY WITH SAUDI ARABIA'S PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND. THAT'S THE SAME FUND THAT BANKROLLED THE REBEL LIV GOLF TOUR, TO COMPETE WITH THE PGA. PLAYERS HAD NO IDEA IT WAS COMING, AND WOODS ADDRESSED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE PROCESS WAS WHAT IT WAS AND WE WERE VERY FRUSTRATED WHAT HAPPENED. WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR TOUR AND WHAT THAT STANDS` WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR, GOING FORWARD. WHILE THAT AGREEMENT IS YET TO BE REACHED, WOODS' FOCUS FOR NOW IS THIS WEEKEND'S TOURNAMENT ` ONE FANS HOPE CAN RELAUNCH THE CAREER OF ONE OF THE GAME'S GREATS. IN NEW YORK, MITCH MCCANN, NEWSHUB. THERE'S BEEN HIGH DRAMA ON THE RED SEA DURING PRACTICE FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP PRELIM REGATTA IN SAUDI ARABIA. THE SWISS ALINGHI BOAT WAS FLYING AROUND THE COURSE WHEN IT GOT HIT BY A GUST, CAUSING IT TO NOSEDIVE AND STOP DEAD IN THE WATER. THANKFULLY, NO CREW WERE INJURED AND THE BOAT AVOIDED ANY MAJOR DAMAGE. TEAM NEW ZEALAND'S ALSO HAD A LUCKY ESCAPE IN TESTING, VEERING OUT OF CONTROL WHILE ROUNDING A MARK BEFORE SPLASHING DOWN. THE FIRST FLEET RACE GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW NIGHT. FINALLY, IF YOU'VE HAD A GUTSFUL OF DIVING FOOTBALLERS ` THIS ONE IS FOR YOU. SCORES LOCKED AT 0-0, DEEP INTO ADDED TIME OF BARNSLEY'S MATCH WITH WYCOMBE. HERE, THE GOALKEEPER WINDING DOWN THE CLOCK GETS CHECKED, SPILLS THE BALL ` BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THE BALL'S IN THE BACK OF THE NET. REFEREE SAYS I'M HAPPY WITH THAT, THE GOAL STANDS, AND STRIKER SAM COSGROVE IS LEFT TO CELEBRATE HIS WINNER. BEST GOAL SCORED. (CHUCKLES) A LITTLE BIT OF CONTACT, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FOR HIM TO DROP THE BALL AND FALL ON THE FLOOR AND... FAIR PLAY TO THE REF, AND KUDOS TO HIM FOR SEEING THAT. YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW THE GOALKEEPER RECEIVED A YELLOW CARD FOR PROTESTING THE DECISION, WHILE ONE OF HIS TEAMMATES WAS SENT OFF. I AM SURE THE GOALKEEPERS UNION ARE FURIOUS WITH THAT, BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD CALL. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SHARK SIGHTINGS IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, AFTER WHAT'S THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN A GREAT WHITE WAS SPOTTED IN THE SHALLOW WATERS OF A NELSON BEACH. AND EARLIER THIS MORNING, POLICE AND THE PUBLIC RACED TO HELP A 4-METRE-LONG SHARK THAT HAD BEACHED IN NAPIER. THE JUVENILE BASKING SHARK IS A PROTECTED SPECIES. IT'S RARE TO SEE THEM ` THE LAST SIGHTING WAS MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. THE SHARK WAS SAFELY REFLOATED JUST AFTER 10AM. A QUICK-ACTING, NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOLGIRL HAS AVERTED A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE AFTER THE DRIVER OF HER SCHOOL BUS GOT OUT, AND THEN THE BRAKES FAILED. WITH THE DRIVER STILL ON THE OUTSIDE, THE SCHOOL BUS WITH 20 STUDENTS ON BOARD STARTED ROLLING TOWARDS A PETROL STATION, WHERE A TANKER WAS DELIVERING FUEL. THE 14-YEAR-OLD JUMPED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, STEERED THE BUS AWAY, AND THEN PRESSED THE FOOTBRAKE TO STOP IT. A FALLING TREE ALMOST TOOK THE HEAD OFF A TEENAGE GIRL ON HOLIDAY IN QUEENSLAND. LUCKILY, SHE SAW IT COMING, AND JUST MANAGED TO DUCK OUT OF THE WAY. IT WENT THROUGH THE HEADREST AND JUST MISSED HER FRIEND, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE BACK. A BOY (12), DRIVING A STOLEN CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE, HAS LED POLICE ON A ROAD RAMPAGE IN MICHIGAN. THE CRANE AND FORKLIFT COMBO DAMAGED AT LEAST 10 CARS DURING THE FIVE-MINUTE LONG CHASE, SIDESWIPING THEM AND A STREET SIGN. HE TOLD POLICE HE'D FOUND THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, PARKED OUTSIDE A LOCAL SCHOOL. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THE COALITION GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY GOT TO WORK TODAY, HOLDING ITS FIRST PROPER CABINET MEETING AND SIGNING OFF ITS 100-DAY PLAN. AMONG THE POLICIES ON THE SCRAP HEAP ARE THE AUCKLAND FUEL TAX, SMOKE-FREE LAWS AND FAIR PAY AGREEMENTS, WHILE THEY'LL ALSO BAN CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS AND GANG PATCHES. WELLINGTON MAYOR TORY WHANAU HAS ADMITTED SHE HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM, AFTER ANOTHER INCIDENT OF DRUNKEN BEHAVIOUR IN PUBLIC. SHE SAYS SHE'S NOW ENTERED A PERIOD OF SOBRIETY AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER, AND SPRING ENDS TOMORROW, SO HOW IS THE START OF SUMMER SHAPING UP? MIXED. TOMORROW'S OK, AND FRIDAY IS LOVELY ` PLENTY OF HIGH PRESSURE TO KEEP THINGS SETTLED. BUT THIS PESKY LITTLE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS BEEN BOMBARDING AUSTRALIA, AND IS NOW HEADING OVER THE TASMAN, SET TO IMPACT THE COUNTRY FROM LATE SATURDAY, STARTING IN THE WEST. DETAILS NEXT. THEN ON THE PROJECT, YOU'RE TALKING TO A KNIGHT OF THE REALM? THAT'S RIGHT, SIR JOHN KIRWIN JOINS US TO TALK RUGBY, MENTAL HEALTH AND GREY HAIR. AND WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR BOSS IS A PSYCHOPATH? I FIND STEALING CUTLERY IS A GREAT WAY TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING BACK AT THEM WITHOUT ROCKING THE BOAT. THE PROJECT IS NEXT. NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. INTO THE LAST DAY OF SPRING TOMORROW, AND FINALLY, ALL THOSE ACTIVE FRONTS ARE DEPARTING OUR SHORES ` LEAVING JUST ONE WEAK TROUGH OVER GISBORNE. WHAT'S LEFT ARE HIGHS OUT TO THE WEST, EAST AND SOUTHWEST. THERE IS ONE SYSTEM TO WATCH ` A LOW OVER OZ. IT HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE THERE, AND IT'S HEADING OUR WAY. STILL HAS THE ENTIRE TASMAN SEA TO CROSS, BUT IT WILL HAVE A FEW FRONTS AHEAD OF IT, AND WILL BE THE UNINVITED GUEST THIS WEEKEND. A FEW SHOWERS FOR BULLER AND NORTH WESTLAND TONIGHT. CLOUDY FOR OAMARU AND THE SOUTHLAND COAST WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS, AND FINE FOR EVERYONE ELSE. TOMORROW, A FEW SHOWERS FOR THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTH COAST, BUT WILL CLEAR BULLER BY THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS BECOME WIDESPREAD IN THE EAST TOMORROW NIGHT WITH SOUWESTERLIES TURNING EASTERLY FOR CANTERBURY. VERY CALM OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS FOR THE NORTH ISLAND, APART FROM COASTAL SEA BREEZES AND A SOU'WESTER NORTH OF TARANAKI. TONIGHT, A FEW SHOWERS FROM WHAKATANE TO GISBORNE AND ONE OR TWO FOR NORTHLAND. TOMORROW, SHOWERS AGAIN OVER THE GISBORNE RANGE SOUTH TO THE KAIMANAWAS, AND ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR THE TARAUA RANGES AND POSSIBLE KAPITI COAST. THAT'S IT. SO NOT A BAD DAY UP TOP. COULD BE AN EARLY MORNING SHOWER FOR KAITAIA AND AUCKLAND. BUT THAT'S IT. LIGHT WINDS FOR ALL. AND HIGHS HOVERING AROUND THE 20 MARK. A FEW SHOWERS BUT CLERKING IN THE MORNING, WITH JUST CLOUDY PATCHES LEFT FOR THE AFTERNOON, AND A WESTERLY DEVELOPING FOR TAUPO, ROTORUA AND TAURANGA, AND AN AFTERNOON SOU'WESTER FOR WHAKATANE. MOSTLY CLOUDY OUT EAST. THE CHANGE OF SHOWERS REMAINS FOR HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE ` POSSIBLY HEAVY FROM THE AFTERNOON FOR GISBORNE. NORWESTERS FOR MOST, SOU'WESTERS IN THE EVENING FOR HAWKE'S BAY. CLOUDY PERIODS FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. AGAIN WITH JUST THE CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWERS. LIGHT WINDS FOR TAUMARUNUI, NORTHERLIES FOR WELLINGTON, AND WESTERLIES EVERYWHERE ELSE. OVER THE STRAIT ` MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS BUT THEY'LL CLEAR THE NORTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH WESTERLIES IN THE SOUTH. SOU'WESTERS FOR WESTPORT AND AN AFTERNOON NORTHERLY FOR NELSON. CLOUDY WITH THE ODD SHOWER FOR CANTERBURY, BECOMING FREQUENT AND TURNING TO RAIN IN THE EVENING AND SPREADING UP TO KAIKOURA. WINDS TEND TO BE FROM THE EAST OR SOUEAST. AND PARTLY CLOUDY WITH JUST A FEW SHOWERS LINGERING FOR THE LOWER SOUTH. THE SHOWERS WILL BE FREQUENT IN THE EVENING FOR OAMARU. SOUTHERLY QUARTER WINDS EASE TOMORROW NIGHT. OTEPOTI DUNEDIN ` IT'S MOSTLY CLOUDY TOMORROW WITH A FEW SHOWERS, BUT MAINLY FROM THE AFTERNOON. SOU'WESTERS, AND STILL CHILLY. CLOUDY FOR OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE A.M, TURNING TO RAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AS EASTERLIES TURN SOUTHERLY. CLOUDY PERIODS FOR WELLINGTON, GRADUALLY CLEARING TO BE FINE IN THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE NORTH, AND WILL DIE OUT TOMORROW NIGHT. MOSTLY CLOUDY FOR TE MATAU-A-MAUI HAWKE'S BAY, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS. THAT WILL POSSIBLY BE HEAVY FROM THE AFTERNOON. LIGHT WINDS. TAURANGA, YOU'RE IN FOR AN OK THURSDAY. COUPLE OF CLOUDS, WITH THE ODD SHOWER, BUT BECOMING FINE IN THE MORNING, WITH A DEVELOPING WESTERLY. CLOUDY PERIODS FOR KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, BUT SHOULD REMAIN DRY AND WINDS ARE LIGHT. STILL NOT OVERLY WARM, WITH A LOW TONIGHT OF 7. AND ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU EARLY IN THE MORNING, BUT THE DAY ITSELF WILL BE MOSTLY DRY WITH JUST A FEW CLOUDS. WINDS ARE LIGHT, BUT STILL A LITTLE COOL. TO OZ ` THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE FOR ALICE SPRINGS AND DARWIN. SHOWERS FROM CANBERRA TO HOBART. AND THE PACIFIC IS LOVELY, WITH PLENTY OF SUN BUT SHOWERS TO POP UP, MAINLY FOR TONGA, FIJI AND SAMOA. HOME AGAIN AND INTO THE WEEKEND ` AND THE FIRST HALF OF IT IN THE NORTH WILL BE GREAT. SIMILAR HERE, WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE EAST ON FRIDAY. BUT LOOKING GOOD TILL SUNDAY, WHEN RAIN RETURNS. RAIN DEVELOPS FROM THE WEST FROM SUNDAY ` HEAVY FOR TARANAKI AND THE TARARUA RANGES. THE TOP HALF OF THE SOUTH ENDS THE WEEK ON A HIGH, BUT RAIN DEVELOPS ON SATURDAY IN THE WEST AND SPREADS ON SUNDAY. AND THE END OF THE WEEK IS OK FOR THE LOWER SOUTH BUT AGAIN, THAT RAIN RETURNS ON SUNDAY, BUT WARM FOR CHRISTCHURCH. SO A WEEKEND OF TWO HALVES FOR MOST ` A GOOD AND A BAD, FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR THE FIRST OFFICIAL WEEKEND OF SUMMER. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. LAURA TUPOU AND THE NEWSHUB LATE TEAM ARE HERE ON THREE AT 9.55.