A FIRE AT AVONDALE RACEWAY RAISES QUESTIONS OVER SOME OF AUCKLAND'S MOST VALUABLE PIECES OF LAND. THE NEW YORK TIMES TAKES ON THE MAKERS OF CHATGPT IN THE BIG COPYRIGHT QUESTION OF OUR TIME. MORE WATER WOES FOR WELLINGTON AS SEWAGE SPILLS INTO A NATURE RESERVE. AND GIGGLES AND SHRIEKS OF DELIGHT AS PACIFIC ISLAND CHILDREN GET THE BENEFIT OF OUR RECYCLED PLAYGROUNDS. CAPTIONS BY KITTY WASASALA AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 TENA TATOU KATOA, GOOD EVENING. THE AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB BEGAN RUNNING RACES IN AUCKLAND MORE THAN 130 YEARS AGO BUT A FIRE IN ITS DILAPADATED BUILDING HAS FOCUSED ATTENTION ON ITS FUTURE. A MAMMOTH EFFORT FROM FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGED TO SAVE THE OLD STRUCTURE OVERNIGHT. 19 FIRE VEHICLES AND 80 FIREFIGHTERS SUCCESSFULLY PUT OUT THE BLAZE, AND THE CAUSE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. BUT TODAY SMOKE WASN'T THE ONLY THING HANGING OVER THE RACECOURSE ` ALSO THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE OF THE PRIME PIECE OF LAND IT SITS ON. PERRY WILTON HAS THE STORY. GUTTED AND CHARRED, DAYLIGHT EXPOSING THE DAMNING DAMAGE TO WEST AUCKLAND'S HOME OF RACING. (WATER SPLASHES) THE BLUE BAGS BELIEVED TO BE USED BY THE ORGANISERS OF THE AVONDALE MARKETS FAST BECAME FUEL IN A RAGING INFERNO. JUDGING BY THE THICK STENCH OF SMOKE, AND THE HEIGHT OF THESE SCORCH MARKS, THE SCALE OF THIS BLAZE AT THIS PIECE OF AUCKLAND HISTORY WAS SIGNIFICANT. THE BLAZE SPARKED DRAMATIC SCENES AT MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT. 80 FIREFIGHTERS, 19 FIRE VEHICLES. THE FIRE AT THE AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL BY 1AM. THE FIRST ARRIVING CREW FOUND A HUGE QUANTITY OF SMOKE, SO IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE EXACTLY THE LOCATIONS OF THE FIRE AND HOW LARGE IT WAS AT THAT STAGE. IT'S THE LATEST BLOW IN WHAT'S BEEN A SLATE OF BAD NEWS FOR THE CLUB. IT HAD A NUMBER OF RACE MEETS STRIPPED FROM ITS PREMISES IN RECENT YEARS, AND WITH SOARING COSTS, COUPLED WITH CHANGING CULTURAL TIDES, THE CLUB HAS REPORTEDLY APPLIED TO COUNCIL FOR A PLAN CHANGE TO RECLASSIFY ITS MASSIVE PLOT OF LAND. IT WOULD CHANGE IT FROM 'SPECIAL PURPOSE MAJOR RECREATION' TO 'TERRACE HOUSING AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS.' THAT PROPOSAL WILL BE HEARD IN APRIL NEXT YEAR. IT'S A DIFFICULT ONE. IT IS VALUABLE. WHETHER THAT OUTWEIGHS, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC, AND HOW MUCH THE PUBLIC WOULD WANT THAT TO REMAIN OPEN TO THEM. THESE ARE THINGS THE DECISION MAKERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS ON THE TABLE. KAINGA ORA HAS IDENTIFIED THE RACECOURSE AS A KEY SITE FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND LOCAL COUNCILLOR ROSS CLOW WROTE IN A RECENT OPINION PIECE THAT AT LEAST 50% OF THE LAND ` 18Ha ` SHOULD BE RETAINED AS GREEN SPACE, AND EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO KEEP THE SUNDAY MARKET. BUT WITH 130 YEARS OF HISTORY, INCLUDING BEING THE TRAINING GROUNDS FOR THE COUNTRY'S FIRST EVER MAORI BATTALION IN 1914, SOME THINK THE RACECOURSE SHOULD STAY. IT'S ICONIC. RACING MINISTER WINSTON PETERS DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW TODAY. AND AS THE BUILDING CONTINUES TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR, IT SEEMS EVEN THE SPORT'S MOST AVID FANS ARE TURNING THEIR BACKS ON THIS PIECE OF AUCKLAND HISTORY. PERRY WILTON, NEWSHUB. THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY ROAD TOLL HAS REACHED DOUBLE FIGURES FOLLOWING TWO FATAL CRASHES TODAY. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON STATE HIGHWAY 69 NEAR THE SOUTH ISLAND TOWN OF INANGAHUA. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO A SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH JUST BEFORE 1am, WITH POLICE LATER CONFIRMING ONE PERSON HAD DIED. THEN AT 11.40am, A PERSON WAS KILLED IN A CRASH ON RUSSELL WHAKAPARA ROAD IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS. POLICE SAY A SECOND PERSON REMAINS IN A SERIOUS CONDITION. 11 PEOPLE HAVE NOW DIED ON OUR ROADS DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD. A POLICE CHASE IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS AFTERNOON ENDED IN A NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING DAMAGED, INCLUDING A POLICE CAR. THE CHASE WENT THROUGH SUBURBS JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY, ENDING IN A CUL-DE-SAC JUST AFTER 2 O'CLOCK. IT'S BELIEVED THIS WHITE VAN WAS BEING CHASED BEFORE IT CRASHED ON SEDDON STREET. A DAMAGED POLICE CAR WAS ALSO TOWED AWAY. THE NEW YORK TIMES IS TAKING THE CREATOR OF CHAT GPT TO COURT OVER ALLEGED BREACH OF COPYRIGHT. THE PAPER IS SEEKING BILLIONS IN DAMAGES FROM OPEN AI, ARGUING IT TOOK CONTENT WITHOUT GIVING COMPENSATION IN RETURN. FINN HOGAN HAS MORE. 2023 WAS THE YEAR OF CHATGPT. THE SOFTWARE CREATED BY OPEN AI IN A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MICROSOFT SURGED TO 100 MILLION USERS FASTER THAN ANY APP IN HISTORY ` THE SUCCESS SURPRISING EVEN TO ITS CEO, SAM ALTMAN. YEAH. (APPLAUSE) CHATGPT, IN WHAT MUST BE` YEAH, ABOUT A YEAR OLD NOW, IS BOTH TECHNICALLY AMAZING AND TERRIFYING AS FOR WHAT IT'S DONE IN THE LAST YEAR. TERRIFYING, IN PARTICULAR, FOR JOURNALISTS ` THEIR WORK, ALONG WITH MOST OTHER ONLINE CONTENT, WAS USED TO BUILD CHATGPT, LETTING IT REPLICATE VIRTUALLY ANYTHING IN ANY STYLE. AI IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR PUBLISHERS GLOBALLY. IT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR JOURNALISTS GLOBALLY. NOW, THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL NEWSROOM IS FIGHTING BACK. IN A SUIT FILED THIS WEEK, THE NEW YORK TIMES ALLEGED OPENAI AND MICROSOFT ARE ` AND THEREFORE ARE LIABLE FOR ` A SPOKESPERSON FOR OPEN AI SAID THEY WERE ` BY THE LAWSUIT. THIS IS MASSIVE, BECAUSE THIS IS A WHOLE NEW AREA OF LAW THAT IS COMING THROUGH. I CAN SEE IT GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHAT WE CALL AS BEING 'TRANSFORMATIVE'. IS WHAT OPEN AI IS DOING` IS IT TRANSFORMATIVE TO THE INFORMATION? ARE THEY GETTING IT, MAKING USE OF IT AND DOING SOMETHING NEW WITH IT? AT WHICH POINT, IT FALLS UNDER FAIR USE. IF THEY ARE, THEN THEY CAN ARGUE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO IT. THE NEW YORK TIMES IS GIVING US A BIT OF A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, IN A SENSE, BY SPARKING THIS INTEREST IN IT. AND REALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT ITS EVIDENCE, KIND OF EXPOSING THE UNDERBELLY OF THE LEARNING MATERIAL FROM WHICH THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHAT GPT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. THESE LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS, WHICH HAVE EFFECTIVELY VACUUMED UP EVERYTHING SINCE THE INTERNET WAS CREATED. BUT HAVING BEEN BUILT USING THE INTERNET'S CONTENT, AI IS RAPIDLY REPLACING IT. ONE REPORT BY THE EU ESTIMATES THAT BY 2026, UP TO 90% OF ALL ONLINE CONTENT WILL BE PRODUCED USING AI. AND FOR THOSE HOPING THIS NEW CASE COULD SLOW THAT MOMENTUM, THOSE HOPES MAY BE DASHED. I CAN SEE THE SUPREME COURT GOING ON THE SIDE OF OPEN AI AND MICROSOFT JUST ON THE BASIS THAT THEY HAVE THE PRESSURE FROM CHINA. THEY NEED AI TO KEEP DEVELOPING, AND THIS IS GOING TO STIFLE THAT DEVELOPMENT. SO, AS THE GLOBAL AI ARMS RACE ENTERS A NEW ERA, NEWSROOMS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE. FINN HOGAN, NEWSHUB. ISRAEL'S DEFENCE FORCE NOW ADMITS IT USED THE 'WRONG WEAPONRY' TO BOMB A REFUGEE CAMP. AT LEAST 80 PEOPLE WERE KILLED DURING THE STRIKE ON MAGHAZI REFUGEE CAMP ON SUNDAY. TODAY, THE IDF SAID IT 'REGRETS' USING THE 'WRONG WEAPONS', WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN HAS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN A DESOLATE AND MOSTLY DESERTED GAZA CITY, ISRAEL IS STILL TRYING TO FLUSH OUT HAMAS MILITANTS. FURTHER SOUTH IN KHAN YOUNIS, MILITARY OPERATIONS ARE EXPANDING, NOT WINDING DOWN. ISRAEL IS DEFIANT AMID INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS FOR A CEASEFIRE. HAMAS' VERY EXISTENCE IS A THREAT TO ISRAELIS' WAY OF LIFE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE TO SECURE OUR HOSTAGES' RELEASE AND THE DISMANTLING OF THIS TERRORIST REGIME. DAY BY DAY HAS TURNED INTO MONTH BY MONTH, AND HAMAS CONTINUES TO PUSH BACK. LIKE ISRAEL, IT TOO IS RELEASING FOOTAGE OF ITS OWN ATTACKS. (GUNFIRE) IT'S ALMOST FIVE DAYS SINCE THE CHRISTMAS EVE AIRSTRIKE ON GAZA'S MAGHAZI REFUGEE CAMP. EXPLOSIONS KILLED MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE, AND AFTERWARDS, RESIDENTS DESCRIBED FINDING FAMILY MEMBERS IN PIECES. (GROANS) TODAY CAME A RARE ADMISSION FROM ISRAEL'S DEFENCE FORCE, WHICH SAID IT USED THE WRONG WEAPONRY IN THE ATTACK. IT ADDED THAT IT REGRETS ANY HARM TO THOSE WHO WEREN'T MEANT TO BE THE TARGET OF ITS STRIKE. THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS 21,000 PEOPLE HAVE NOW DIED SINCE OCTOBER 7TH. AMONG THEM, THE WAR'S YOUNGEST VICTIMS, CAUGHT IN A CONFLICT THEY HAVE NO WAY OF UNDERSTANDING. HERE IN GAZA HOSPITAL, CHILDREN SCREAM OUT FOR A MOTHER WHO LATER DIED, WHILE ELSEWHERE, MOTHERS WORRY FOR CHILDREN THEY'VE JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WAR. IMAGINE HOW THIS WOMAN MUST FEEL, HAVING GIVEN BIRTH TO QUADRUPLETS A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS. (SPEAKS ARABIC) STRIKES OCCUR VERY OFTEN, SHE SAYS. MY HUSBAND WAKES UP TO COVER THE NEWBORNS, BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED BROKEN GLASS WOULD FALL ON THEM. A WORRY THAT'S UNLIKELY TO EASE AS ISRAELI STRIKES CONTINUE TO RAIN DOWN ON GAZA. IN NEW YORK, MITCH MCCANN, NEWSHUB. WELLINGTON CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN RACING TO FIX A BROKEN SEWERAGE PIPE SPILLING INTO A SUBURBAN STREAM. IT COMES AS THE REGION IS ALSO LOSING NEARLY HALF OF ITS WATER SUPPLY TO LEAKS. WILLIAM TERITE REPORTS. THESE PICTURES SHOW A STREAM IN KHANDALLAH COVERED IN THICK AND SMELLY SEWAGE. THE STREAM WAS VERY DISCOLOURED. UM, IT SMELT VERY OBVIOUSLY OF WASTEWATER FROM A SEWER LINE. NEIL AND HIS WIFE LYNN CAME ACROSS THE POLLUTED WATERWAY WHILE THEY WERE WEEDING THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY. YOU COULD SEE IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME TIME, BECAUSE THERE WAS ALGAE SEDIMENT-Y STUFF ON THE BED OF THE STREAM. SO WITHOUT HESITATION, THEY CALLED THE AUTHORITIES. WE KNOW THAT THE STREAM GOES ALMOST DIRECTLY, WITHIN A FEW KILOMETRES, INTO WELLINGTON HARBOUR, AND WE KNEW THAT, UM.. I GUESS IT COULD BE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK. IT'S QUITE SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THIS WATER ` OR SEWAGE ` SEEPING INTO THE HARBOUR, THAT STREAM IS ACTUALLY USED FOR FRESHWATER FISH AND EELS TO TRAVEL UP THE STREAM TO SPAWN. IN A STATEMENT PROVIDED TO NEWSHUB, WELLINGTON WATER SAID IT MANAGED TO STOP THE WASTEWATER SEEPING INTO THE STREAM LAST NIGHT, AND WAS NOW INVESTIGATING WHAT CAUSED THE PIPE TO BREAK IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT COMES AS THE REGION IS ALSO LOSING NEARLY HALF OF ITS WATER SUPPLY TO LEAKY PIPES, WHICH ONE LOCAL COUNCILLOR ARGUES IS BECAUSE OF YEARS OF UNDERINVESTMENT. WE SHOULD BE MAKING SURE OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T. EARLIER THIS MONTH, WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED UP TO $2 MILLION IN EXTRA FUNDING TO FIX HUNDREDS OF LEAKY PIPES OVER SUMMER AND AUTUMN. BUT THESE LOCALS SAY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN FIX IN A YEAR. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO HAVE A LONG-TERM STRATEGY, AND THAT REQUIRES ONGOING FUNDING, AND RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE. IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, THE REGION'S WATER AND WILDLIFE ARE VULNERABLE. WILLIAM TERITE, NEWSHUB. BEACH SIDE TOWNS IN CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN INUNDATED BY DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS. STREETS AND OCEAN FRONT PROPERTIES IN VENTURA, NORTH OF LOS ANGELES, WERE UNDER THREAT AS MASSIVE SWELLS ROLLED IN. SOME SURFERS BRAVED THE CONDITIONS, WITH WAVES PREDICTED TO REACH UP TO 5m IN SOME PARTS. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM THE WATER AND NUMEROUS PROPERTIES HAVE REPORTED FLOOD DAMAGE. A LOCALISED TORNADO WHICH RIPPED THROUGH AN AREA OF GREATER MANCHESTER IS BEING DESCRIBED AS 90 SECONDS OF MADNESS. THOUGH SHORT, IT HAD A HUGE IMPACT, DAMAGING AROUND A HUNDRED PROPERTIES AND LEAVING THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER. ITV'S BEN CHAPMAN HAS THE DETAILS. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE INTENSITY OF THE WIND THAT RIPPED THROUGH HERE LAST NIGHT. HARD TO BELIEVE THE SEVERITY RESIDENTS WERE WOKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO THE SOUND OF A TORNADO TEARING THROUGH THEIR TOWN. IT WAS LIKE A SUDDEN 10 MINUTES AND THAT WAS IT. IT'S JUST LIKE A HIT AND RUN. THIS ALMIGHTY THUD AGAINST THE SORT OF BEDROOM WALL WHICH IS LIKE, THE THIRD STOREY UP. AND IT WAS THE GABLE END FROM NEXT DOOR, HIT OUR WALL ON THE WAY DOWN. (CONCRETE SCRAPES) THOSE WHOSE HOMES WERE EVACUATED OVERNIGHT RETURNED IN THE LIGHT OF DAY TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE, AND IN SOME CASES, COUNT THEMSELVES LUCKY. GARETH'S TWO TEENAGE SONS WERE IN THE UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS WHEN THE ROOF FROM NEXT DOOR CAME CRASHING THROUGH THEIRS. MY SON IN THE FRONT BEDROOM WAS SAT UNDERNEATH HIS CABIN BED, GAMING, AND SO HE'S BEEN VERY LUCKY. IT'S COME THROUGH HIS BEDROOM? IT'S COME THROUGH HIS BEDROOM, AND MY LAD AT THE BACK, THE CHIMNEY STACK HAS GONE THROUGH HIS ROOM AND HE'S BEEN SAT ON THAT WALL, AND HOW HE'S NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE, I DON'T KNOW. THE POLICE'S DESCRIPTION OF THIS AS A LOCALISED TORNADO CERTAINLY FITS WITH THE DAMAGE IT HAS CAUSED. THIS IS SOMEBODY'S ROOF, WHICH IS NOW JUST LYING ON THE PAVEMENT. AND THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN JUST POCKETS OF DESTRUCTION. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS TOWN HAS ESCAPED COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. FURTHER NORTH IN AYRSHIRE, EVEN THINGS DESIGNED TO THRIVE ON STRONG WINDS... (WIND ROARS) ...WERE NO MATCH FOR STORM GERRIT. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND REMAINED WITHOUT POWER FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S BLIZZARDS BROUGHT BY THE STORM. AT LEAST 1500 HOMES WILL REMAIN CUT OFF INTO TOMORROW. (HEDGE TRIMMER WHIRRS) IN GREATER MANCHESTER, THE CLEAN UP AND THE CONSEQUENCES FROM THE TORNADO MAY LAST MONTHS FOR RESIDENTS FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES. BUT JUST AS REMARKABLE AS THE PHENOMENON ITSELF IS THE FACT THAT NO ONE HERE WAS HURT. AND PASSENGERS ON A FLIGHT INTO LONDON'S HEATHROW AIRPORT FELT THE WRATH OF THE STORM TOO, WITH THIS WHITE-KNUCKLE LANDING... OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH! OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH, STOP IT! IT WAS A DRAMATIC END TO A 10-HOUR AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES. THE PILOTS EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO BRING THE PLANE TO A HALT. INVERCARGILL MAYOR NOBBY CLARK WILL UNDERGO QUADRUPLE BYPASS HEART SURGERY FOLLOWING A HEART ATTACK TWO DAYS AGO. CLARK IS IN DUNEDIN HOSPITAL WHERE HE'S SCHEDULED TO HAVE SURGERY NEXT WEEK. THE MAYOR IS SAID TO BE POSITIVE AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT OVER AND DONE WITH SO HE CAN GET ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. A SAND BAR THAT'S DEVELOPED AT WHANGAMATA BEACH HAS CREATED ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS. AFTER A NUMBER OF NECK AND FACE INJURIES, SURF LIFEGUARDS HAVE PUT OUT A PLEA ON SOCIAL MEDIA. GRACE THOMAS HAS THE STORY. ON WALKIE TALKIE: WE'RE DOING THE UTE CHANGEOVER, OVER. (BEEP!) COOL, COPY. BEN GOFFIN HAS BEEN PATROLLING WHANGAMATA BEACH FOR EIGHT SEASONS NOW. IT'S A HOLIDAY HOTSPOT AND A USUALLY CALM BEACH. THIS IS THE HQ OF OUR ENTIRE OPERATIONS ON THE BEACH. FROM HERE WE CAN SEE ALMOST ALL OF OUR BEACH, ALL OF OUR MAIN BEACH. BUT JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS, A LOW TIDE REVEALED A SANDBAR OUT THE FRONT OF THE SURF CLUB. IT'S MAKING AN ALREADY BUSY SEASON FOR THESE LIFEGUARDS EVEN BUSIER. THIS SANDBAR IS QUITE NEW TO US. WE'RE NOT USED TO HAVING A SHORE BREAK AT WHANGAMATA. AS WE'VE FOUND, A FEW OF OUR BEACHGOERS AREN'T EITHER. THE SANDBAR HERE AT WHANGAMATA BEACH HAS CREATED A REALLY STRONG SHORE BREAK, WHICH HAS PROVEN PRETTY DANGEROUS, AS IT CREATES DUMPY WAVES IN THE SHALLOWS. AND WHEN THEY'VE COME DOWN, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEEN THE FACE OR THE NECK THAT'S COME SLAMMED INTO CONTACT WITH THE SAND. AND YEAH, THAT'S WHAT'S RESULTED IN THE INJURIES WE'VE HAD, UNFORTUNATELY. THE CLUB PUT OUT A PLEA ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BEACHGOERS TO SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS. COME DOWN TO THE BEACH, FIND OUR RED AND YELLOW FLAGS OR COME UP AND ASK ONE OF OUR PATROLLING MEMBERS. SOME HOLIDAYMAKERS HAVE BEEN TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. WE SAW IT ON THE WHANGAMATA FACEBOOK PAGE, AND I SHARED IT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BECAUSE CLEARLY, WE DON'T WANT ANYONE GETTING INJURED. OTHERS, NOT SO MUCH. HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN SWIMMING BETWEEN THE FLAGS? UH... (CHUCKLES) NO. NO, WE HAVE NOT. DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE? I THINK SO, YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY ADVISABLE. IT COMES AS THE WHANGAMATA SURF LIFESAVING CLUB IS FUNDRAISING FOR A NEW HEADQUARTERS. THE CLUB IS SLOWLY FALLING APART, UNFORTUNATELY. WE DO THE BEST TO TRY TO KEEP IT TOGETHER, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH DUCT TAPE AND CABLE TIES WILL HOLD. WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR DONATIONS. WITH THE ADDED STRESS OF A TROUBLESOME SANDBAR, IT'S KEEPING LIFEGUARDS ON THEIR TOES THIS SUMMER. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. MIKE'S IN NOW WITH THE WEATHER ` AND WHAT'S WITH ALL THIS RAIN, MIKE? GREAT WEATHER IF YOUR WATER TANK'S LOW ON WATER, ALICE. NOT SO GOOD IF YOU'RE ON HOLIDAY. I THINK THIS PICTURE SUMS UP THE LAST FEW DAYS OF 2023 ` WARM ENOUGH FOR THE BEACH, BUT RAIN MINUTES AWAY. KAIKOURA HAD THE DAY'S HIGH OF 33 DEGREES TODAY, WHILE THAT RAIN SETTLED IN FOR MANY IN THE NORTH, DISRUPTING CAMPING PLANS. THERE'S A BIT MORE TO GET THROUGH TONIGHT, AS WELL AS THUNDERSTORMS. I'LL HAVE ALL THE WARNINGS AND WATCHES YOU NEED TO KNOW JUST AFTER SPORT. THANKS, MIKE. E WHAI AKE NEI ` EYESIGHT TESTING AT AN AUCKLAND SCHOOL HAS REVEALED SOME SURPRISES. IN SOME CLASSROOMS, UP TO A THIRD OF THE PUPILS NEEDED GLASSES. A TEENAGE SURFER IS KILLED IN A SUSPECTED GREAT WHITE SHARK ATTACK OFF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. AND NASA GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF THE ROBOT ASTRONAUTS OF THE FUTURE. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. AN AUCKLAND CHARITY'S FOUND 25% OF TAMARIKI ACROSS THREE SCHOOLS ARE SUFFERING WITH EYESIGHT PROBLEMS AFTER RUNNING HEARING AND VISION TESTS. IT'S A SHOCKING STATISTIC AND ONE OPTOMETRIST IS BLAMING INCREASED SCREEN TIME FOR A 'WAVE' OF CHILDREN WITH SHORT SIGHTEDNESS AND OTHER EYE ISSUES. HERE'S GRACE THOMAS. CAN YOU READ THESE FOR ME, DARLING? X... GOOD. U... GOOD. Y. THIS SIMPLE TEST CAN BE LIFE-CHANGING FOR TAMARIKI. WE HAD KIDS WHO JUST COULDN'T WAIT FOR THEIR NAME TO BE CALLED UP TO COME AND GET THEIR GLASSES. THERE WAS DIFFERENT KINDS, AND I PICKED THIS ONE COS IT WAS PRETTY. IT LOOKED MORE CLEARER. YOU LIKE YOUR GLASSES? YEAH. IN THE LAST YEAR, AUCKLAND CHARITY THE PAINGA PROJECT STARTED VOLUNTEER-RUN HEARING AND VISION TESTING AT THREE SCHOOLS IN PAPAKURA AND THE RESULTS WERE SHOCKING. WE THOUGHT WHEN WE STARTED THIS PILOT TO LOOK AT VISION AND HEARING THAT WE MIGHT FIND A FEW STUDENTS. SO IT WAS PRETTY DAUNTING WHEN WE REALISED THAT WE HAD 25% OF KIDS NEEDING GLASSES. THERE WAS, I THINK, UP TO ABOUT A THIRD IN EACH OF OUR CLASSES OF OUR KIDS THAT NEEDED FURTHER TESTING OR OPTOMETRIST APPOINTMENTS. YEAH, SO THE STATS WERE QUITE HIGH AND VERY SURPRISING. BUT NOT FOR THIS OPTOMETRIST. HE SAYS SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS AND DRY EYE IN CHILDREN HAS SKYROCKETED DURING HIS 15 YEARS IN THE JOB. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A WAVE THAT YOU CAN'T STOP THAT'S JUST GONNA HIT EVERYONE. AND A LOT OF IT IS DOWN TO INCREASED SCREEN TIME. SO USING DEVICES HAS BEEN SHOWN IN SOME STUDIES TO ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO KIDS BECOMING SHORT-SIGHTED. AND THEN OTHER STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ONCE THEY BECOME SHORT-SIGHTED, IT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THEM MORE SHORT-SIGHTED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY USE DEVICES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. EARLY INTERVENTION IS KEY TO MANAGING THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING. WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE IN SCHOOL YEAR 7 SCREENING HASN'T HAPPENED IN OUR SCHOOL SINCE 2019 FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING COVID, BUT THAT SCREENING IN YEAR 7 IS TOO LATE BECAUSE THE CHILD, IN CASE OF VISION, HAS HAD SIX YEARS AT SCHOOL POTENTIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO LEARN, AND THE RESULTS OF THE CHARITY'S POTENTIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO LEARN, AND THE RESULTS OF THE CHARITY'S SCREENING SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. ABSOLUTE JOY ON FACES. KNOWING THAT THE NOW IS THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE NEVER PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED. THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S PROMISED TO IMPROVE BASIC READING, WRITING AND MATH SKILLS FOR KIDS. BUT SARAH COULSON SAYS HEARING AND VISION ISSUES NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF FIRST, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT HARDER TO LEARN IF YOU CAN'T SEE OR HEAR. FUND GLASSES AND HEARING SUPPORT FOR ALL PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE AGED STUDENTS. THAT WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE FOR NEW ZEALAND. A FUTURE THAT COULD LOOK A LOT BRIGHTER FOR THESE TAMARIKI. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. IT'S AN IDEA WE'VE PREVIOUSLY ONLY SEEN IN SCI-FI MOVIES, BUT NASA IS ON THE VERGE OF SENDING HUMANOID ROBOTS INTO SPACE. IT'S DEVELOPING AN ANDROID WHICH CAN TAKE SOME OF THE HARDEST JOBS OFF THE HANDS OF ASTRONAUTS, POTENTIALLY HERALDING A NEW ERA OF SPACE EXPLORATION. CHANNEL 7'S JACINTA LEE HAS THE STORY. MEET VALKYRIE, NASA'S HUMANOID ROBOT. ALMOST 2m TALL AND WEIGHING MORE THAN 130 KILOS, AT FIRST GLANCE, SHE LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING GEORGE LUCAS DREAMED UP. WE SEEM TO BE MADE TO SUFFER. IT'S OUR LOT IN LIFE. BUT DON'T WORRY ` SHE'S A WALKER, NOT A TALKER. AND SHE'S HERE TO HELP. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO REPLACE HUMAN CREWS. WE'RE REALLY JUST TRYING TO TAKE THE DULL, DIRTY AND DANGEROUS WORK OFF THEIR PLATES. SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS WORK, SPACEWALKS LIKE THIS ONE. ASTRONAUTS RISK THEIR LIVES TO CONDUCT REPAIRS, WHETHER IT'S REPLACING FAULTY EQUIPMENT OR SIMPLY CLEANING SOLAR PANELS. BUT VALKYRIE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THE HARSHEST OF CONDITIONS, SO SHE'S MORE THAN QUALIFIED. THE HUMAN OPERATOR ON EARTH WILL BE MORE STRATEGICALLY GIVING THE ROBOT TASKS, AND THE ROBOT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING TASKS. FREEING UP HER HUMAN COLLEAGUES TO PRIORITISE THE GOOD STUFF LIKE SPACE EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY. BACK ON EARTH, NASA IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH A ROBOTICS COMPANY CALLED APPTRONIC. IT'S OWN PROTOTYPE, AN ANDROID CALLED APOLLO, IS A PRO AT STACKING PALLETS AND MOVING PACKAGES. STARTING IN THE WAREHOUSE AND ON THE MANUFACTURING FLOOR, BUT THEN IT CAN MOVE INTO RETAIL, TO DELIVERY. APOLLO COULD BE ROLLED OUT TO WAREHOUSES WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, SO NASA IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HER. THEY WANT TO SEE A VIABLE SYSTEM ON EARTH BEFORE WE TAKE THESE SYSTEMS INTO SPACE AND TO MARS AND TO` ON TO THE MOON. NICKY'S IN WITH SPORT LATER ` AND THERE'S EXTRA INCENTIVE FOR THE PHOENIX IN TONIGHT'S A-LEAGUE MATCH? YES. AS WELL AS AIMING TO STAY TOP OF THE TABLE, THEIR MATCH AGAINST SYDNEY IS A FIRST-EVER MEETING BETWEEN NIX COACH AND HIS SYDNEY MENTOR. WE HEAR FROM THE FRIENDS-TURNED-FOES LATER. PLUS, HOW 'UP THE WAHS' COULD UP THE CROWDS FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. MARK ROBINSON SHARES HIS PLAN FOR NEXT SEASON. WE LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF AUCKLAND'S NEWEST PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPTION ` QUIETER, CLEANER ELECTRIC FERRIES THAT WILL 'CRISS-CROSS' THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR. AND TEXAS POLICE USE 'THE ROOK', THEIR LATEST PIECE OF HEAVY MACHINERY, AT THE END OF A HIGHWAY PURSUIT. DONALD TRUMP'S NAME WILL DISAPPEAR FROM ONE BALLOT AND RE-APPEAR ON ANOTHER AS STATES CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE HIS ELIGIBILITY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024. MAINE'S TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL HAS BLOCKED THE FORMER PRESIDENT FROM RUNNING IN NEXT YEAR'S PRIMARY BALLOT BASED ON THEIR VIEW THAT HE BREACHED THE INSURRECTION BAN. IT'S THE SAME BAN THAT SAW TRUMP STOPPED FROM RUNNING IN COLORADO. HOWEVER, HE'S BACK ON THAT BALLOT WHILE THE SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS AN APPEAL BY THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY. SIMILAR EFFORTS IN MICHIGAN AND MINNESOTA HAVE BEEN REJECTED. A TEENAGE SURFER HAS BECOME THE LATEST SHARK ATTACK VICTIM IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. KHAI COWLEY (15) DIED AFTER BEING BITTEN BY A SUSPECTED GREAT WHITE NEAR ETHEL BEACH ON THE YORKE PENINSULA WEST OF ADELAIDE. FRIENDS HAVE PAID TRIBUTE, DESCRIBING HIM AS A 'TALENTED' AND 'DEARLY LOVED' YOUNG SURFER. IT'S THE FIFTH SHARK ATTACK AND THIRD DEATH IN THE STATE THIS YEAR. FERRY TRIPS ACROSS THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR WILL SOON BE A LOT QUIETER AND CLEANER. THE CURRENT DIESEL FLEET ACCOUNTS FOR 20% OF AUCKLAND'S TRANSPORT EMISSIONS, DESPITE ONLY CARRYING 6% OF PASSENGERS. BUT THAT'S SET TO CHANGE WITH AUCKLAND'S FIRST ELECTRIC FERRIES TAKING SHAPE, AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS. YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE HULL OF WHAT WILL BECOME ONE OF AUCKLAND'S FIRST ELECTRIC FERRIES. TWO HAVE BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, AND THE END PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE THIS ` SLEEK CARBON FIBRE VESSELS DESIGNED BY EV MARITIME. THE REDUCTION IN WEIGHT, WHICH IS THE FUNDAMENTAL DRIVER, THAT'S THE ENABLING TECHNOLOGY THAT IS KIND OF` UNDERPINS BRINGING ELECTRIFICATION INTO FAST FERRIES LIKE THIS. FAST FERRIES THAT WILL CHARGE UP A LOT QUICKER THAN YOUR AVERAGE ELECTRIC CAR. THE FASTEST CAR CHARGER IN NEW ZEALAND AT THE MOMENT IS AROUND ABOUT 300kw. THE CHARGERS THAT AUCKLAND TRANSPORT ARE PUTTING IN FOR THE FERRIES ARE ABOUT 10 TIMES THAT CAPACITY. THE ELECTRIC FERRIES WILL SERVE MID-HARBOUR ROUTES, LIKE DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND TO HOBSONVILLE POINT AND HALF MOON BAY, CHARGING UP DURING PASSENGER BOARDINGS. VECTOR, WHO'S THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTOR HERE IN AUCKLAND, HAS BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAMME, HELPING US UNDERSTAND, REALLY, THE BEST WAY TO CONNECT AT OUR DIFFERENT FERRY TERMINALS. WELLINGTON LED THE WAY, LAUNCHING THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE'S FIRST ELECTRIC FERRY IN 2022, BUT AUCKLAND TRANSPORT'S VESSELS WILL BE BIGGER, ABLE TO CARRY UP TO 200 PASSENGERS. THE FIRST IS SET TO HIT THE WAVES FOR TESTING IN MID-2024, BEFORE PASSENGER TRIPS THE FOLLOWING YEAR. I'M WALKING INTO THE AREA OF WHERE PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO SIT ON THIS ELECTRIC FERRY. NOW THIS FERRY WILL BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ABOUT 40km, WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR A RETURN TRIP FROM AUCKLAND TO HOBSONVILLE. IT'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AT A SPEED SIMILAR TO THE DIESEL FERRIES WE ALREADY HAVE. THE FERRIES ARE BEING BUILT WITH A $27 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT. ELECTRIC FERRIES ARE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUY AND MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE... COMPARED WITH AN EQUIVALENT DIESEL BOAT. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT'S CURRENT DIESEL FLEETS USE ABOUT 13 MILLION LITRES OF THE FOSSIL FUEL EACH YEAR, SO IN ADDITION TO THE ELECTRIC FERRIES FOUR EXISTING VESSELS ARE BEING REFITTED WITH MORE FUEL EFFICIENT ENGINES. AT THE MOMENT, AROUND 20% OF OUR TRANSPORT EMISSIONS IN AUCKLAND COME FROM THE FERRIES, AND THE FERRIES COME ABOUT CARRY ABOUT 6% OF THE PASSENGERS, SO FERRY EMISSIONS ARE REALLY OVERREPRESENTED THE ELECTRIC FERRIES ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR AUCKLAND COMMUTERS, TO ENCOURAGE FEWER CARS. YOU'LL SEE WITH THESE VESSELS THAT WE'RE BRINGING BICYCLES INSIDE THE MAIN CABIN OUT OF THE SALT AIR, GIVING THEM PROPER RACKS. THE AIM IS TO HAVE AN ENTIRELY ELECTRIC FLEET OF PASSENGER FERRIES IN AUCKLAND BY 2030. ZANE SMALL, NEWSHUB. A STAND-OFF WITH A FLEEING TRUCK DRIVER INVOLVED IN A 'SLOW' SPEED CHASE IN TEXAS HAS COME TO A DRAMATIC CONCLUSION. POLICE USED ROAD SPIKES TO PUNCTURE THE BIG RIG'S TYRES, BUT THE CHASE CRAWLED ON FOR HOURS. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE DRIVER STILL REFUSED TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, FORCING POLICE TO USE A PIECE OF HEAVY MACHINERY CALLED 'THE ROOK' TO RIP THE DOOR OFF. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY HE FLED. E WHAI AKE NEI ` SOME USED NEW ZEALAND PLAYGROUNDS ARE GETTING A SECOND LIFE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS WITH AN AUCKLAND MAN PACKING THEM UP AND SHIPPING THEM OFF, MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THE LOCAL KIDS. AND NEW YORKERS ARE BANISHING THE BAD VIBES OF 2023 BEFORE THE NEW YEAR ROLLS AROUND. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY'S BOSS TELLS US HOW HE'LL WIN BACK THE FANS IN THE NEW YEAR. PLUS, WE HEAR FROM THE MASTER AND APPRENTICE AHEAD OF A FIRST-EVER A-LEAGUE COACHING CLASH. AND THE TOAST OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL ` IS THIS THE WORLD'S WACKIEST SPORTS TROPHY? THE HIGH-FLYING WELLINGTON PHOENIX MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIDES TAKE ON SYDNEY FC IN AN A-LEAGUE DOUBLE HEADER TONIGHT. IT WILL BE A REUNION FOR BEST FRIENDS GIANCARLO ITALIANO AND UFUK TALAY, PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR COACHING CAREERS. SULLIVAN HARNETT REPORTS ON THE MASTER VERSUS HIS APPRENTICE. FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, BEST OF FRIENDS GIANCARLO ITALIANO AND UFUK TALAY WILL BECOME FOES. I LIKE TO WIN EVERY GAME. HE LIKES TO WIN EVERY GAME. SO THAT PRETTY MUCH SETTLES THAT. A FRIENDSHIP THAT WILL BE TESTED OVER 90 MINUTES. WE BOTH WANT TO WIN THE GAME, YOU KNOW. WE BOTH WANT TO HAVE SUCCESS IN WHAT WE DO. BUT, UH, HE'S ONE OF MY GREATEST MATES AND ONE OF THE GUYS THAT STOOD BESIDE ME FOR FOUR SEASONS. TALAY LED THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX FOR FOUR SEASONS WHILE ITALIANO SERVED AS HIS ASSISTANT. NOW, THE TWO WILL GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WHEN THEY NEXT TAKE ON TALAY'S NEW SIDE, SYDNEY FC. I DON'T LOOK AT IT IN THAT RESPECT. FOR ME, THE MAIN THING IS THE TEAM PERFORMS WELL. IT'S NOT ME VERSUS UFUK. DESPITE THE FESTIVE SEASON, TALAY'S FOUND TIME TO ANALYSE HIS FORMER CLUB. FOR CHRISTMAS, WHAT WAS I DOING? WENT TO THE BEACH, THEN CAME HOME AND WATCHED WELLINGTON PLAY. PROMISING THAT TONIGHT WILL BE A TACTICAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO COACHES. THE TEAM HE'S GOT ARE WELL ORGANISED. AND THEY WORK AS A UNIT, AND THEY DEFEND AS A UNIT. AND WE GOT TO FIND THOSE MOMENTS TO TRY TO EXPLOIT THEM. UNDER ITALIANO, WELLINGTON HAS MADE THEIR BEST-EVER START TO A MEN'S A-LEAGUE SEASON, WINNING SIX OF THEIR NINE GAMES TO SIT TOP OF THE TABLE. TALAY BROUGHT IN MID-SEASON TO SAVE SYDNEY, WHO SIT 10TH. ON THE DAY, ANYONE CAN BEAT ANYONE, AND WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR EVERY GAME. REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT, TONIGHT, A CATCH UP IS ON THE CARDS. IT WILL JUST BE A MATTER OF WHO'S BUYING THE BEERS. SULLIVAN HARNETT, NEWSHUB. MEANWHILE ARSENAL'S MISSED THE CHANCE TO MOVE BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE LADDER AFTER FALLING TO THEIR FIRST HOME LOSS OF THE SEASON ` A 2-0 DEFEAT TO WEST HAM. BUT THE NEWS IS WORSE FOR CROSSTOWN RIVALS TOTTENHAM. ALEX CHAPMAN HAS MORE FROM A DIRE DAY FOR NORTH LONDON TEAMS. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HAUNTING OF WEST HAM. INSTEAD... IT'S A NIGHT OF GUNNER'S GLOOM AND HAMMER'S HEROISM. DECLAN RICE, ARSENAL'S $200m+ MAN UNABLE TO MAKE A MARK AGAINST THE TEAM HE ONCE CAPTAINED. THE EQUATION HAD BEEN CLEAR FOR HE AND THE GUNNERS ` WIN AND RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE. AND SOUCEK RIFLES IT IN! THE OPENING GOAL, CONTROVERSIAL. YOU BE THE JUDGE WHETHER THE BALL WAS IN FACT OUT. BUT IT WAS AN ARSENAL OLD BOY RATHER THAN RICE WHO'D SINK THEIR FORMER CLUB. AND IN FOR TWO, FROM DINOS MAVROPANOS. TWO NIL AT AN END, THOUGH IT WAS ARGUABLY WORSE FOR THEIR FIERCEST FOE. JACK HINSHELWOOD BELTS IT HOME FOR BRIGHTON. SPURS SUNK FOUR TWO BY BRIGHTON; A PAIR OF JACK PEDRO PENALTIES, COUPLED WITH JACK INGLEWOOD'S OPENER AND, WELL, A CRACKER THAT BELONGS ON A CHRISTMAS LUNCH TABLE. (CROWD ROARS) WHAT A WAY TO COME BACK! AND WHILE TOTTENHAM MANAGED TWO IN FOUR MINUTES, IT WAS TOO LITTLE AND WAY TOO LATE AS THEY STAY FIFTH. PERHAPS NEW YEAR'S EVE CAN PROVIDE SOME MORE ENJOYABLE FIREWORKS FOR THE NORTH LONDON LOYALISTS. ALEX CHAPMAN, NEWSHUB. AFTER A YEAR THAT SAW NO SHORTAGE OF CHALLENGES FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY, THE ORGANISATION IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE GAME'S FUTURE. MARK ROBINSON CONCEDES RUGBY IS FACING ONGOING DIFFICULTIES AND CHANGE IS CLEARLY NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCT BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, BUT HE'S CONFIDENT ABOUT THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING. HE SAT DOWN WITH OUR RUGBY REPORTER, OLLIE RITCHIE. AT THE END OF A LONG AND AT TIMES TRICKY YEAR, MARK ROBINSON HAS PLENTY TO MULL OVER HEADING INTO 2024. WE KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OUR OWN HARSHEST CRITICS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO KEEP IMPROVING THE GAME. ON THE FIELD, 2023 WAS A RELATIVE SUCCESS ` THE SUPER RUGBY TROPHY STAYED ON THIS SIDE OF THE TASMAN; THE ALL BLACKS WERE JUST PIPPED IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL; TITLES FOR BOTH SEVENS SIDES, AND A BLACK FERNS TEAM STARTING TO FIND ITS FEET AGAIN. WE KNOW THE GAME CAN BE AMAZING AND WE SEE SOME INCREDIBLE CONTESTS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE CONSISTENTLY WE'RE SEEING THOSE GREAT CONTESTS, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE, ROBINSON FEELS THE CROWDS WILL COME. DECLINING INTEREST IN SUPER RUGBY REMAINS A POINT OF CONTENTION; ATTENDANCE WAS POOR FOR LARGE PARTS OF THE COMPETITION. WHILE AT MOUNT SMART, THE WARRIORS WERE RIDING A WAVE OF SUCCESS AND POPULARITY IN THE NRL. HOW MUCH ATTENTION DO YOU PAY TO THE WARRIORS' SUCCESS THIS YEAR, AND HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT REPLICATING JUST THE WAY THEY RESONATED WITH FANS THIS YEAR? I KNOW OUR MARKETING TEAMS AND EVENTS TEAMS WILL BE LOOKING INTO ALL OF THAT, AS WELL AS THE CLUBS. THEY'LL BE PULLING APART ALL THE DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES THAT SIT, UM, WITHIN SOME OF THOSE LEARNINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO RUN THE COMPETITION IS BADLY OVERDUE. ULTIMATELY, IT WOULD COME DOWN TO, UM, GETTING THE RIGHT LEADER IN THERE, HAVING THE RIGHT SUPPORT AROUND THAT. WHILE SUPER RUGBY CAME UNDER CRITICISM, SO TOO DID THE NPC, DEEMED UNSUSTAINABLE IN ITS CURRENT FORMAT IN THE RECENTLY-RELEASED GOVERNANCE REVIEW. ROBINSON FEELS THEY ARE FINDING THE ANSWERS TO IMPROVE THAT PRODUCT. SOME REALLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK AROUND SOME OF THE SMALLER BOUTIQUE STADIUMS. A LOT MORE DAY GAMES THIS YEAR, UM, SO A LOT MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY. AND THAT MIGHT BE A BIT OF A HINT TO, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE STARTING TO REALLY WORK FOR THE COMPETITION. BUT ONE OF ROBINSON'S BIGGEST MOVES THIS YEAR WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW ALL BLACKS COACHING GROUP. NZR BROKE WITH TRADITION WHEN THEY HANDED SCOTT ROBERTSON THE REINS ON A FOUR-YEAR DEAL IN MARCH, SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE WORLD CUP. ROBINSON'S EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME UNDER ROBERTSON. HE'S GOT CLEARLY SOME FRESH THINKING. HE'S GOT A NICE MIX OF CONTINUITY AND, UM, AND A BIT OF FRESHNESS COMING THROUGH IN HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM. BRINGS A NATURAL ENTHUSIASM AND OPTIMISM AND ENERGY ABOUT HIM. OPTIMISM SHARED BY ROBINSON AS HE PLOTS RUGBY'S PATH FORWARD. THE GAME ALWAYS HAS A WAY OF FINDING ITS WAY THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES TO MAKE SURE IT CAN BE, UM, COMING OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THEM IN A BETTER SPACE. 2024 WILL BE THE YEAR TO PUT THOSE WORDS INTO ACTIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. THE BLACKCAPS HAVE LOST THE TOSS AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BAT IN THE SECOND T20 AGAINST BANGLADESH AT BAY OVAL. MEANWHILE, ACROSS THE DITCH, AND PAKISTAN'S TAKING AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH IN THEIR PURSUIT OF AN UNLIKELY WIN ON DAY FOUR OF THE BOXING DAY CRICKET TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA. AFTER BOWLING THE HOSTS OUT FOR 262, THEY'VE BEEN SET 317 FOR VICTORY AND HAVE ADVANCED TO 153/4. TALISMAN BABAR AZAM THE MOST RECENT MAN OUT. THE BIGGEST MOMENT IN THIS TEST MATCH, AND IT IS BABAR. AND SOUTH AFRICA HAVE WALLOPED INDIA BY AN INNINGS AND 32 RUNS INSIDE THREE DAYS OF THE FIRST TEST AT CENTURION, BOWLING OUT THE VISITORS FOR 131 IN THE SECOND INNINGS. FINALLY TONIGHT, FROM THE 'ONLY IN AMERICA' FILES ` A COLLEGE FOOTBALL FINAL WAS CONTESTED TODAY DUBBED THE 'POP-TARTS BOWL'. AND IF YOU THOUGHT THAT'S WEIRD, THE KANSAS STATE AND NORTH CAROLINA STATE TEAMS HAD TO SHARE THE FIELD WITH A GIANT TOASTER TOPPED WITH A DANCING POP TART. BUT THAT WASN'T THE CRAZIEST GIMMICK ON DISPLAY. THE TROPHY UP FOR THE GRABS WAS A SILVER TOASTER THAT COULD HOLD REAL-LIFE, EDIBLE ` YOU GUESSED IT ` POP TARTS. FINALLY, A USEFUL TROPHY! AT LEAST YOU COULD DO SOMETHING WITH IT IF YOU WON IT. THAT HAS MADE ME QUITE HUNGRY NOW, SO THANK YOU. WHILE KIWI KIDS ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PLAYGROUNDS ON OFFER, MANY CHILDREN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AREN'T SO LUCKY. NOW, ONE AUCKLAND MAN IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT, SALVAGING USED COMMUNITY PLAYGROUNDS AND SENDING THEM TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. DIANNA VEZICH HAS THE STORY. TRANSPORTING HAPPINESS AND JOY FROM A SOUTH AUCKLAND NURSERY TO A VILLAGE IN VANUATU. THERE'S A LOT OF POVERTY THERE. THERE'S SHANTYTOWNS IN THE MIDDLE OF PORT VILA. THERE'S NO POWER, THERE'S NO SEWER, THERE'S NO POTABLE WATER. EIGHT YEARS AGO, STACY COLYER WAS PREPARING TO GO ON A SAINT KENTIGERNS SCHOOL TRIP WITH HIS DAUGHTER TO FIJI. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIP WAS TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE, SUCH AS GARDENING AND PAINTING. STACY, WHO CONSULTS TO AUCKLAND COUNCIL AS AN ARBORIST, HAD AN IDEA. HE KNEW THERE WERE PLAYGROUNDS AROUND AUCKLAND CITY BEING UPGRADED, OLD ONES RIPPED OUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW ONES. STACY ASKED IF HE COULD TAKE AN OLD ONE FOR KIDS IN FIJI TO ENJOY. AUCKLAND COUNCIL SAID YES AND THE PLAYGROUND WAS DISMANTLED AND SHIPPED OVER. THEY HAD AN OPENING, CUT THE TAPE, KIDS IN THERE AND THAT WAS IT. THE SQUEALING ` YOU NEEDED EARMUFFS. SINCE THEN, SIX PLAYGROUNDS HAVE BEEN SENT TO VANUATU AND FIJI. RECENTLY, A PLAYGROUND IN AUCKLAND'S AVONDALE HAD TO BE MOVED TO MAKE WAY FOR A WASTEWATER TUNNEL. INSTEAD OF DEMOLISHING IT, IT'S BEEN SENT TO CHILDREN AT A SCHOOL IN VANUATU. GREAT THAT WE'VE GOT MONKEY BARS BECAUSE THEY KIND OF WENT OUT OF FASHION A BIT BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES. AND THE GOOD OLD SEESAW. THEY COULD ALL SEESAW. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY'RE A WINNER. WHEN I SEE THESE AVAILABLE, I'LL GRAB THEM. AND ANOTHER UNEXPECTED BENEFIT... WE'VE GIVEN THE KIDS A REASON TO COME TO SCHOOL RATHER THAN JUST` JUST LEARN. NOW THEY JUST LEARN AND PLAY. THE TRUANCY RATE WAS 70%, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD AFTER THE PROGRAMME WENT IN, IT DROPPED DOWN TO 40%. IF STACY AND THE TEAM DIDN'T BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THESE PLAYGROUNDS, THEY'D END UP IN A LANDFILL. SO RECYCLING THEM IS A WIN-WIN. REHOUSED AND RE-LOVED. THE RECYCLED PLAYGROUNDS AREN'T JUST GOING TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. SOME ARE STAYING CLOSER TO HOME. THIS KURA IN MANUREWA ONCE HAD A SMALL PLAYGROUND. THAT WAS UNTIL THEY WERE GIVEN ONE THAT HAD BEEN SEVERAL SUBURBS AWAY AT SAINT KENTIGERN COLLEGE. THIS WAS HOW SMALL IT WAS. AND NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, HOW THEY'VE EXTENDED THE NEW PLAYGROUND AND THIS IS THE NEW BUILT PLAYGROUND THAT THEY DID FOR US. MORE SMILES, GIGGLING. UH, JUST` I CAN SEE THEM, UM, JUST LAUGHING A LOT. THIS PLAYGROUND ONCE BELONGED TO NEW ZEALAND'S RICHEST PERSON, GRAHAM HART. NOW IT'S AT A SCHOOL IN TANEATUA IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. SO HIS OWN PLAYGROUND, AND HE WAS VERY GENEROUS TO SUPPORT US AND SEND IT DOWN THERE FOR US, SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD GIVE-BACK FROM HIM. GIVING BACK WITH THE POWER OF PLAY. DIANNA VEZICH, NEWSHUB. VISITORS LINED UP IN NEW YORK'S TIMES SQUARE TO BID ADIEU TO THEIR BAD VIBES AHEAD OF NEW YEAR'S EVE. IN THE 17th EDITION OF 'GOOD RIDDANCE DAY' CELEBRATIONS, PEOPLE SAID GOODBYE TO ALL SORTS OF THINGS THEY'RE WANTING TO LEAVE IN 2023. SO WE SAID SAYING GOODBYE TO PEOPLE-PLEASING, SELF DOUBT, AND ANY ANXIETY WHATSOEVER. I WANT TO GET RID OF ALL THE BAD STUFF AND JUST HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD RIDDANCE TO CANCER, FOR HER AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. AFTER WRITING ON PAPER, THE NEGATIVITY WENT UP IN THE FLAMES IN THE HOPES IT CAN BE BANISHED BEFORE 2024. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` 19 FIRE VEHICLES AND 80 FIREFIGHTERS SUCCESSFULLY PUT OUT A FIRE AT AUCKLAND'S AVONDALE RACECOURSE OVERNIGHT. THE CAUSE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. A POLICE CHASE IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS AFTERNOON ENDED IN MULTIPLE VEHICLES BEING DAMAGED, INCLUDING A POLICE CAR. MEANWHILE, THE HOLIDAY ROAD TOLL HAS RISEN TO 11 AFTER TWO FATAL CAR CRASHES EARLIER TODAY. THE NEW YORK TIMES IS TAKING THE CREATOR OF CHAT GPT TO COURT OVER ALLEGED BREACH OF COPYRIGHT. THE PAPER IS SEEKING BILLIONS IN DAMAGES FROM OPENAI, ARGUING IT TOOK CONTENT WITHOUT GIVING COMPENSATION IN RETURN. COMING UP, NEWSHUB WEATHER ` AND YOU'RE WATCHING THIS RAIN CLOSELY, MIKE? THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF IT AROUND. RIVERS AND STREAMS COULD FILL UP OVERNIGHT. IT IS A LITTLE CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE CAMPING. SO THE WARNINGS AND WATCHES CONTINUE IN THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND ALSO FOR MUCH OF THE NORTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT. THESE EXPIRE TOMORROW MORNING, AND THEN IT FINES UP ` BUT MORE RAIN RETURNS SUNDAY. IT'S A SOGGY END TO 2023, BUT A FINE START TO 2024. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. KIA ORA, WELCOME BACK. RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, BUT IT SHOULD BE GONE NEW YEARS DAY. THE NORTH ISLAND AND THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND GETTING A LOT OF RAIN AT THE MOMENT ` THUNDERSTORMS AND DOWNPOURS WITH HAIL ARE LIKELY OVERNIGHT IN THESE AREAS. IT WILL ALSO BE VERY WARM OVERNIGHT. SATURDAY IT CLEARS ` ANOTHER FRONT CROSSES THE COUNTRY SUNDAY, BUT THEN WE ENTER A RUN OF FINE WEATHER. SO WE HAVE A HEAVY RAIN WARNING IN THE WEST UNTIL 6AM TOMORROW WITH POSSIBLE HAIL AND THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHLAND OTAGO AND SOUTH CANTERBURY TOMORROW THE RAIN IN THE WEST EASES TO SHOWERS BUT RAIN RETURNS AT NIGHT RAIN ALSO RETURNS FOR NORTHERN AREAS. THE EAST STAYS FINE AND IN TE IKA-A-MAUI, THE NORTH ISLAND, THERE'S A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR GISBORNE AND HAWKES BAY WITH EVERYBODY ELSE GETTING RAIN SOME QUITE HEAVY WITH THUNDERSTORMS, QUITE ACTIVE TONIGHT. TOMORROW THAT HEAVY RAIN EASES TO ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR MOST. IT FINES UP FOR HAWKES BAY AND GISBORNE. IN FACT, HAWKES BAY, WAIT TILL YOU SEE JUST HOW HOT IT GETS. TAKING A CLOSER LOOK NOW AND AFTER ALL THE RAIN OVERNIGHT, THINGS FINE UP FOR NORTHERN AREAS. CLOUD RETURNS AT NIGHT AND NORTHWESTERLIES EASE. VERY WARM IN WHANGAREI WITH 28. FURTHER SOUTH, VERY WARM OVERNIGHT WITH HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS BUT IT DOES CLEAR UP IN THE MORNING AND THE SUNS BACK IN THE AFTERNOON. AND IN THE EAST ` LOOK AT THESE HIGHS. 29, 33, 32 DEGREES TOMORROW. OVERNIGHT 20, 23 ` VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THUNDERY HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT BUT IT DOES CLEAR IN THE MORNING AND RAIN EASING TO SHOWERS IN TARANAKI. NORTHERLIES PICK UP WITH CLOUD AND THE ODD SHOWER BUT IT TRIES HARD TO FINE UP. PALMERSTON NORTH GETS TO 25, WHANGANUI 27. OVER THE STRAIT, AND AFTER A DAY AND NIGHT OF RAIN IT DOES ACTUALLY BECOME FINE FOR EVERYONE HERE, BUT IT IS SHORT-LIVED AS RAIN RETURNS AT NIGHT. OVER THE ALPS ANOTHER WARM DAY EXPECTED ESPECIALLY IN BLENHEIM, KAIKOURA, CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. LOW CLOUD FOR TIMARU AND FOR SOUTHERN AREAS. ANY HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS CLEAR UP BEFORE DAWN, AND IT FINES UP FOR MOST BUT RAIN ARRIVES IN SOUTHLAND AGAIN. AT NIGHT. ALEXANDRA GETS TO 26. KIA ORA DUNEDIN ` THERE MAY BE SOME HAIL AROUND BEFORE DAWN ALONG WITH SOME HEAVY RAIN BUT IT CLEARS BUT LOW CLOUD HANGS AROUND. 19 IS THE HIGH. NICE AND EASY FOR CHRISTCHURCH. IT'S FINE WITH A HIGH OF 28 BUT YOU ALSO GET SOME STRONG NORTHWESTERLIES IN THE AFTERNOON. HELLO, WELLINGTON. RAIN EASES TO SHOWERS BUT IT REMAINS CLOUDY. THERE'S SOME STRONG NORTHERLIES GUSTING ABOUT 80KS. HELLO, HOT HAWKES BAY. SCATTERED RAIN CLEARS EARLY MORNING BUT THERE COULD BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. VERY WARM TONIGHT AND VERY WARM TOMORROW. THAT HEAVY RAIN IN TAURANGA CLEARS UP IN THE MORNING. NORTHWESTERLIES EASE AT NIGHT AND CLOUD ROLLS BACK OVER. 27 THE HIGH BUT IT FEELS LIKE 29. IT FINES UP TOMORROW AS WELL FOR HAMILTON 26 IS THE HIGH. AND TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT BUT IT FINES UP DURING THE DAY THEN CLOUD RETURNS AT NIGHT. 26 THE HIGH. TO AUSTRALIA NOW, AND SYDNEY GETS SHOWERS. BRISBANE GETS THUNDERSTORMS, CLOUD ELSEWHERE. AND IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, A FEW SHOWERS IN THE NORTH BUT FINE IN THE SOUTH. BACK HERE NOW AND A FEW SHOWERS NEW YEARS EVE FOR NORTHERN AREAS BUT IT DOES CLEAR UP FROM NEW YEARS DAYS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE PATTERN FOR THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND. GISBORNE SHOULD EVEN STAY DRY NEW YEARS EVE AND A SHOWERY NYE FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. 2024 LOOKING GOOD IN THE SOUTH. 2024 LOOKING GOOD IN THE SOUTH. THOSE NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOWERS MIGHT EVEN STOP BEFORE MIDNIGHT. MIXED WEATHER OVER THE WEEKEND. IF YOU ARE OFF TO A GIG, TAKE A PONCHO. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT SIX FOR TONIGHT. AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM BY EMAILING news@newshub.co.nz. I'M ALICE WILKINS. PO MANAHAU. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND KITTY WASASALA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.