IN BREAKING NEWS ` HIGH-PROFILE GREEN MP GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN IN BREAKING NEWS ` HIGH-PROFILE GREEN MP GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN HAS STOOD ASIDE FROM HER PORTFOLIO RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING. AS THE COUNTRY SWELTERS, FIGURES CONFIRM LAST YEAR WAS THE HOTTEST ON RECORD ACROSS THE GLOBE. WELLINGTON COMMUTERS ARE STUCK IN HOT CONDITIONS, WITH ALL TRAINS SUSPENDED. AND SORRY, OLIVER ` YOUR 10-YEAR RUN AT THE TOP IS OVER. SO WHICH BOYS' NAME IS THE NEW NUMBER ONE? CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. THE HIGH-PROFILE GREEN PARTY MP GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN HAS STOOD ASIDE FROM ALL HER PORTFOLIOS AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING. OUR REPORTER LEIGHTON HEIKELL IS AT PARLIAMENT. LEIGHTON, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS? THERE WERE REPORTS GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN SHOPLIFTED FROM A STORE CALLED SCOTTY'S BOUTIQUE OVER SUMMER. GREEN MPS ARE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS OF PUBLIC BEHAVIOUR. SHE HAS STOOD ASIDE FROM ALL OF HER PORTFOLIOS UNTIL THE MATTER IS IT RESOLVED. SHE WAS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, HUMAN RIGHTS, REFUGEES AND DEMOCRACY. SHE ENTERED PARLIAMENT IN 2017, WHILE THE GREEN PARTY WON'T COMMENT AT THIS STAGE, THE PARTY IS IN CONTACT WITH SCOTTY'S BOUTIQUE TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. THEY WON'T PROVIDE US WITH A STATEMENT, OTHER THAN TO SAY THEY ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY ANYTHING. AS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY FACE HEAT ALERTS AND CANTERBURY DECLARES A RESTRICTED FIRE SEASON, NEW FIGURES HAVE CONFIRMED THE ALARMING RATE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SHOWING 2023 WAS A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR OF STAGGERING EXTREMES. CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT ISOBEL EWING IS HERE TO EXPLAIN. THAT'S RIGHT, MIKE ` 2023 HAS SMASHED THE RECORD FOR EARTH'S HOTTEST YEAR BY A HUGE MARGIN. THE GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 14.98 DEGREES CELSIUS ` 0.17 DEGREES CELSIUS HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST YEAR, 2016 ` AND IT'S THE CLOSEST WE'VE COME TO HITTING THE 1.5 DEGREES TEMPERATURE TARGET COUNTRIES VOWED TO STAY BELOW. THE PLANET WAS 1.48 DEGREES HOTTER LAST YEAR COMPARED WITH PRE-INDUSTRIAL LEVELS. EXPERTS SAY IT WAS 'INEVITABLE' DUE TO CONTINUED RECORD CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, BOOSTED BY EL NINO. LAST YEAR WAS NEW ZEALAND'S SECOND-HOTTEST YEAR, AND SCIENTISTS SAY THE RISING TEMPERATURES MEAN MORE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ARE COMING ` BUT WHERE THEY'LL STRIKE IS A ROLL OF THE DICE. AS KIWIS ENJOYED A STINKING-HOT SUMMER DAY, SCIENTISTS ISSUED A STARK REMINDER. MAYBE SOME WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE NICE TO ENJOY IF YOU DON'T LIKE COLD TEMPERATURES. BUT IT COMES AT A PRICE. ON THIS TRAJECTORY, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. AND LAST YEAR, THESE WERE THE CONSEQUENCES ` CANADA RAVAGED BY WILDFIRES, MEGADROUGHTS AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN, AND EXTREME RAINFALL IN NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, GREECE AND LIBYA ` ALL INTENSIFIED BY RECORD GLOBAL HEAT, DRIVEN BY OUR PERSISTENT BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS AND BOOSTED BY THE NATURAL PHENOMENA OF LA NINA AND EL NINO. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN 2023 IS CONSISTENT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE. NOT ONLY WAS 2023 THE HOTTEST SINCE GLOBAL RECORDS BEGAN IN 1850, IT WAS LIKELY THE WARMEST IN 100,000 YEARS. THE MILESTONE NO SURPRISE TO SCIENTISTS. WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR ABOUT 30 OR 40 YEARS NOW, SO IT'S NOT A HUGE SURPRISE. AND IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES WE'RE EXPERIENCING AND TAKING MORE ACTION TO LIMIT FURTHER WARMING. LAST YEAR WAS NEW ZEALAND'S SECOND-HOTTEST YEAR TO 2022. AND ` THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO AUCKLANDERS AND THOSE ON THE NORTH ISLAND'S EAST COAST ` IT WAS ONLY NEW ZEALAND'S 21st WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD. BUT A WARMER ATMOSPHERE MEANS MORE WATER VAPOUR AND MORE INTENSE WEATHER EVENTS. MORE WATER VAPOUR, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE EXTREME RAINFALL. ESPECIALLY THAT SHORT-DURATION RAINFALL ` SOMETHING THAT COMES IN SIX HOURS, THREE HOURS, ONE HOUR ` THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY SENSITIVE TO INCREASED TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE. SCIENTISTS SAY EFFORTS TO CUT EMISSIONS ARE NOWHERE NEAR WHAT'S REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGREED LIMIT OF 1.5 DEGREES OF WARMING, AND THE SUFFERING WILL BE MUCH WORSE ` AND FAR SOONER ` FOR SOME, LIKE THOSE IN LOW-LYING AREAS. EVERYONE HAS A ROLL OF THE DICE. AND SOME PEOPLE WILL THROW A BAD NUMBER. DAVE FRAME SAYS THE 1.5-DEGREE LIMIT SHOULDN'T BE VIEWED AS A TIPPING POINT, BUT THAT EACH INCREMENT OF WARMING MEANS DAMAGE IS WORSE. IT'S BETTER TO SEE IT AS THIS IS AN AGREEMENT WE MADE GLOBALLY TO TRY AND PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. ALL THE MORE REASON TO SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF OUR PLANET'S RAPID CHANGES. I'M HOPING PEOPLE DON'T BECOME ACCLIMATISED ` LIKE, 'OH, IT'S JUST ANOTHER RECORD WARM YEAR.' THAT MEANS SOMETHING. BECAUSE IT'S EXPECTED 2024 WILL BE WARMER STILL. ISOBEL EWING, NEWSHUB. HEATHER'S HERE NOW, WITH MORE ON THE HEAT. IT FEELS LIKE THE YEAR HAS STARTED VERY WARM, HEATHER. ONLY 10 DAYS IN AND WE'VE HAD CONSISTENT WARM NIGHTS AND HOT DAYS. TODAY WAS NO EXCEPTION, WITH ALL THE MAIN TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE IN THE 20s, MANY GETTING CLOSE TO 30. WE ARE IN FOR AN EVEN WARMER DAY TOMORROW, WITH THE NOR'WESTER IN THE SOUTH ISLAND SET TO DRIVE UP TEMPS TO THE LOW 30s OUT EAST. AND THERE'S NO REPRIEVE TOMORROW NIGHT ` TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE WON'T DROP BELOW 19. MORE IN THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. THE RAPID ACCELERATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAS PROMPTED AN URGENT WARNING FROM SCIENTISTS THAT OUR RIVERS NEED MORE ROOM TO FLOOD. AS THE FREQUENCY OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS INCREASES, EXPERTS ARE CALLING FOR A NATIONAL 'ROOM FOR RIVERS' PLAN TO HELP COUNCILS WITH MANAGED RETREAT AND FLOOD MITIGATION FUNDING. ALEXA COOK REPORTS. THE TERRIFYING SIGHT OF HAWKE'S BAY RIVERS BURSTING THEIR BANKS IN CYCLONE GABRIELLE, FLOODING HOMES AND RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF ROOFTOP RESCUES ` IT'S SOMETHING TOM KAY SAYS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. HISTORICALLY, WE'VE STRAIGHTENED OUR RIVERS, WE'VE CHANNELISED THEM, WE'VE TRIED TO GET WATER OUT TO SEA AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, BUT BASICALLY THAT MEANS WATER BUILDS UP BEHIND STOPBANKS AND WHEN IT OVERTOPS, IT'S, UM` IT'S CATASTROPHIC. LIKE IN PAKOWHAI, NEAR HASTINGS ` THE TUTAEKURI AND NGARURORO RIVERS USED TO RUN SEPARATELY OUT TO THE OCEAN; THEN HUMANS ENGINEERED THE RIVERS AWAY FROM THEIR NATURAL PATH TO JOIN THEM TOGETHER, CREATING A BATHTUB EFFECT, WHERE THEY MEET IN PAKOWHAI. AND WHEN THOSE RIVERS OVERTOPPED THOSE STOPBANKS, THEY FILLED UP THAT AREA, AND PEOPLE WERE THEN RESCUED FROM THEIR ROOFTOPS, BASICALLY, WITH HELICOPTERS AND BOATS. AND IT'S SINCE BEEN RED-ZONED? YEP, SINCE BEEN RED-ZONED. WE NEED TO MAKE SPACE FOR RIVERS; THAT ENERGY NEEDS SPACE TO DISSIPATE ITS ENERGY. THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF BENEFITS TO THAT TOO, AND IT MEANS WE'VE GOT SAFER COMMUNITIES. BUT MAKING SPACE IS HARD, AS TRADITIONALLY NEW ZEALAND'S RIVERS HAVE BEEN CONSTRAINED WITH STOPBANKS AND WILLOW TREES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RIVER WILL KEEP TRYING TO BREAK OUT BEYOND THAT, AND WITH A CHANGE IN CLIMATE, THAT'S MORE AND MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE ASHBURTON RIVER FLOODED IN 2021. THIS IS IT IN 1959 ` A WINDY, BRAIDED RIVERBED; BUT TODAY, IT'S MUCH NARROWER AND STRAIGHTER. THE RANGITATA RIVER IN CANTERBURY HAS ALSO BEEN FORCED IN, BUT IN A FLOOD, THE OLD RIVER CHANNELS FILL BACK UP WITH WATER. SO YOU CAN SEE KIND OF HOW THE RIVER HAS, UM, REOCCUPIED FLOW PATHS THAT IT USED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE. NIWA SCIENTIST JO HOYLE IS A BRAIDED RIVER EXPERT... YOU CAN SEE THERE'S MULTIPLE RIVER CHANNELS HERE ` THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS RIVER A BRAIDED RIVER, SO IT HAS MULTIPLE BRAIDS. ...AND IS WARNING THAT WHAT WE SAW IN CYCLONE GABRIELLE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE FREQUENT, MORE EXTREME FLOODS, AND SO THE RIVERS WILL KEEP BREAKING OUT. WE NEED SOME NEW DIRECTION THAT ACCOUNTS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RIVERS IN OUR LANDSCAPES. A DIRECTION SOME COUNCILS ARE TAKING. THE HUTT RIVER IS PRONE TO FLOODING, SO THE COUNCIL HAS BEGUN A PROJECT TO WIDEN IT. IT INCLUDES LIFTING UP THESE STOPBANKS BUT ALSO DEMOLISHING A NUMBER OF HOMES AND BUILDINGS ON THIS SIDE TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR THE RIVER. BUT THERE ARE CALLS FOR BETTER LEGISLATION TO GIVE COUNCILS MORE POWER. THEY NEED STRONGER TOOLS TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO STOP DEVELOPMENT IN PROBLEMATIC AREAS AND TO ACTUALLY START TO MOVE PEOPLE OUT OF THESE PROBLEMATIC AREAS. ULTIMATELY, OUR RIVERS NEED SPACE, AND IF WE DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM, THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT. AND PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK IN THE PROCESS. ALEXA COOK, NEWSHUB. NEW SPENDING DATA HAS REVEALED KIWI CONSUMERS WERE MORE CAREFUL WITH THEIR MONEY IN 2023 ` EVIDENCE, ACCORDING TO ONE ECONOMIST, THAT THE RESERVE BANK'S INFLATION-BATTLING TACTICS ARE WORKING. EFTPOS TRANSACTION FIGURES FROM WORLDLINE SHOW THE AVERAGE TRANSACTION SIZE WAS $51.10 ` THAT'S DOWN 1.5% ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THERE WAS A TENDENCY TOWARDS MORE SPENDING ON FOOD AND LIQUOR BUT LESS AT RETAIL AND FURNITURE STORES. THE DOWNTURN'S ALSO BEING FELT BY HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES, WITH A NEW SURVEY OF RESTAURANTS SHOWING CUSTOMERS ARE ORDERING AND SPENDING LESS. ZANE SMALL HAS MORE. TWO DECADES IN THE HOSPITALITY BIZ. MICHAEL DEARTH'S WATERFRONT VENUE, BADUZZI, GETS DECENT FOOT TRAFFIC. BUT THE RISING COST OF RUNNING A KITCHEN IS TAKING A TOLL ON THE VETERAN RESTAURATEUR. WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE'RE SPENDING. AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT SUMMER HASN'T QUITE DELIVERED THE PATRONS HE HOPED FOR. THIS HOLIDAY PERIOD WAS A SUCCESS, BUT IT DEFINITELY COULD'VE BEEN BETTER. IN A NEW RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SURVEY, 47% SAID SUMMER HOLIDAY TRADE WAS DOWN, WHILE MORE THAN HALF ` 54% ` SAID CUSTOMER VOLUMES WERE NORMAL. AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE COMMENTS, WITH ONE RESPONDENT SAYING WHILE THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE AROUND, THE CUSTOMERS ORDERED AND SPENT LESS. IT'S THE REALITY FOR ANNABELLE'S IN AUCKLAND'S ST HELIERS. THE SPENDING IS NOT QUITE THERE PER HEAD. BUT YES, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AROUND ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. WE'RE PROBABLY BEING A BIT MORE CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING, BECAUSE I THINK EVERYONE'S FEELING THE STRESS. WELLINGTON RESTAURANT FIELD & GREEN WAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED LAST MONTH. AND LYALL BAY'S 'ELEMENTS' CAFE HAS NOW JOINED THE LIST OF HOSPO BUSINESSES CALLING IT QUITS, CITING RISING COSTS AND A DECLINE IN SPENDING ` A TREND NOTED BY THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. SO, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT THEY ARE MINDING THEIR MONEY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT JUST OVER A YEAR AGO THE RESERVE BANK ADMITTED TO DELIBERATELY ENGINEERING A RECESSION TO BRING DOWN INFLATION. IT DID SO BY INFLUENCING THE RISE IN COMMERCIAL INTEREST RATES. IS THIS THE RESERVE BANK'S ACTIONS COMING TO FRUITION? ESSENTIALLY, YES. WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS TRY AND LOWER INFLATION. AND REALLY THE CONSEQUENCE OF DOING THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSEHOLD SPENDING REMAINS REASONABLY LOW. THERE IS SOME POSITIVE NEWS, THOUGH. 75% OF HOSPITALITY VENUES WERE ABLE TO RECRUIT STAFF THIS SUMMER, UP FROM 30% IN PREVIOUS YEARS. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN NUMBER OF HOLIDAY WORKING VISAS BEING ISSUED. THERE'S TOURISTS AROUND TOO. THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF AMERICANS. AND WHILE THESE NEW YORKERS HAD TO RESORT TO TAKEAWAYS... IT WAS KINDA HARD ON MONDAYS TO FIND A PLACE OPEN IN THE AREA WE WERE AT, BY THE SKY TOWER. BUT WE GOT PIZZA HUT. HAVE YOU BEEN EATING OUT AT RESTAURANTS AND SPENDING MONEY? OF COURSE. BUT ULTIMATELY, FOR VENUES LIKE ANNABELLE'S AND BADUZZI, SUMMER JUST HASN'T QUITE DELIVERED A DOOZY. ZANE JOINS US NOW FROM AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT. ZANE, IT'S ALL A BIT GRIM, BUT WHAT'S THE OUTLOOK FOR 2024? IT IS A BIT GRIM. AS YOU SAW, ECONOMISTS ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE RESERVE BANKS TACTICS ARE WORKING. REMEMBER, THIS COMES OFF THE BACK OF DATA THAT SHOWS SPENDING ON BOXING DAY WAS DISAPPOINTING TO RETAILERS. NEXT MONTH THE RESERVE BANK WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE, INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE UPDATE, WHICH INFLUENCES COMMERCIAL INTEREST RATES. ECONOMISTS SAY IT IS STILL TOO SOON FOR THE RESERVE BANK TO EASE THE MONETARY SQUEEZE NEXT MONTH, BUT INFLATION IS EXPECTED TO COME DOWN TO THE TARGET BAND IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. HUNDREDS OF DISGRUNTLED TRAIN COMMUTERS IN THE CAPITAL HAVE SPENT THE PAST FEW HOURS QUEUING FOR REPLACEMENT BUSES, AFTER ALL TRAINS WERE CANCELLED THIS AFTERNOON. IT WAS CAUSED BY AN OVERHEAD POWER FAULT, WHICH LEFT SOME PASSENGERS STRANDED ON TRAINS ON THE HOTTEST DAY OF SUMMER SO FAR FOR WELLINGTON. ALEXA COOK IS AT THE WELLINGTON RAILWAY STATION AND JOINS US NOW. WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE, ALEXA? IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY AFTERNOON HERE AT THE WELLINGTON STATION, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS HERE WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT BUSES. THAT CAME AFTER ALL ELECTRIC PASSENGER RAIL TRAINS TRAIN WERE HALTED AT ABOUT 3.30 THIS AFTERNOON OVER 100 PASSENGERS WERE STRANDED BETWEEN STATIONS, THEY HAD A LONG HOT WAIT ON BOARD. MANY HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF TRAINS ON FOOT. SOME WERE TAKEN THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. AS THE PEOPLE AT THE STATION, IT IS THE HOTTEST DAY SO FAR FOR WELLINGTON THIS SUMMER. BEEN HERE SINCE 4 O'CLOCK. GOT A NOTIFICATION AT 2, BUT WE THOUGHT WE'D COME DOWN AND TEST IT OUT. I'M WAITING FOR MY HUSBAND, BECAUSE THE TRAINS ARE ALL CANCELLED. A BIT OF A MESS ON A HOT DAY, RIGHT? BUT I FIGURED IF I WAITED FOR BUSES ` THEY TOLD ME THERE'S ONLY 12 OF THEM ` I'D PROBABLY BE HERE TILL 9 OR 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT. (CHUCKLES) THE GOOD NEWS IS, TRAINS STARTED MOVING JUST MINUTES AGO. PEOPLE ARE FINALLY ON THEIR WAY HOME. AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FAULT, WE DON'T KNOW YET. WE SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER SOON. LAST YEAR'S MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES ARE OUT, AND SORRY, OLIVERS ` YOUR 10-YEAR REIGN AT THE TOP IS OVER, WITH NOAH THE NEW NUMBER ONE FOR BOYS. MEANWHILE, CHARLOTTE WAS THE MOST REGISTERED NAME FOR NEW BORN GIRLS, TAKING OVER FROM ISLA, WHICH SLIPPED TO NUMBER THREE. PERRY WILTON HAS MORE. THERE MIGHT NOT BE MANY JAW-DROPPERS. NO SURPRISES. THEY'RE REALLY, LIKE... GEN Z, EH? SURPRISES? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THEY'RE LOVELY NAMES. MANY OF THEM RINGING A BELL. LEO. MY SON IS CALLED LEO. I REALLY LIKE THEODORE. YOU LOVE THEODORE? I ACTUALLY NAMED ONE OF MY LAMBS THEODORE. OLIVER DOES HAVE A TWIST TO IT, THOUGH. AYYY. (WOMAN CHUCKLES) SEE WHAT YOU'VE DONE THERE. SEE WHAT I DID THERE? THE RESULTS ARE IN ` HUDSON AND THEODORE HAVE MADE IT INTO THE BOYS' TOP-10 LIST, LEO, JACK AND LUCA ARE IN THE TOP FIVE, AND OLIVER HAS BEEN DETHRONED AFTER A DECADE AT THE TOP BY NOAH. FOR THE GIRLS, HAZEL AND ELLA ARE IN THE TOP 10, ISLA, AMELIA AND CHARLOTTE TAKING THE PODIUM PLACES. THE TOP THREE GIRLS' NAMES, THEY'VE INTERCHANGED FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. OLIVER AND NOAH HAVE BEEN THE TWO MOST POPULAR BOYS' NAMES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. MY NAME'S NOAH. ONE SUCH NOAH THRILLED WITH THE OUTCOME. MEANS A LOT TO THE GUYS, I THINK. MEANS A BIT DEAL TO US. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING ` YOU KNOW, FROM BIBLICAL TIMES, EVEN. I THINK IT'S BEEN A REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, LIKE, WAY FORWARD FOR US. BUT, YEAH, AS I SAID, UM, JUST GREAT TO GET THE RECOGNITION FINALLY, I THINK. NAMES ARE REGISTERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, IN PART THROUGH A PROGRAMME CALLED 'SMARTSTART' ` A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THOSE JUST STARTING THEIR LIFE AS PARENTS. BUT BERNARD SAYS NOT ALL NAMES GET THROUGH. ABOUT A THOUSAND BIRTHS PER YEAR OUT OF ABOUT 60,000 BIRTHS EVERY YEAR TAKE A WEE BIT LONGER JUST TO WORK WITH THE PARENTS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT REGISTRATION IS APPROPRIATE, REASONABLE AND, UM... AND LAWFUL. BUT YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A LACK OF MAORI NAMES. THAT'S BECAUSE THAT LIST WON'T COME OUT UNTIL MATARIKI. WE'VE NOW BUILT A TRADITION THAT WE WILL RELEASE THE FAVOURITE BOY AND GIRL NAMES, MAORI NAMES, AROUND MATARIKI. WE THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE THAT RECOGNISES THAT IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR NATIONAL CALENDAR. SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE TRUE TOP NAME IS, BUT FOR PARENTS STILL RACKING THEIR BRAINS FOR GOOD IDEAS ` (CHUCKLES) IF THEIR ADORABLE FACES DON'T GIVE THEM THE INSPIRATION ` AT LEAST THERE'S A LIST TO HELP YOU OUT. PERRY WILTON, NEWSHUB. A LIVE TV BULLETIN IN ECUADOR ITSELF BECAME THE NEWS WHEN MASKED GUNMEN STORMED THE STUDIO, LEAVING THE PRESENTERS AND CREW BEGGING FOR THEIR LIVES. DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS INTENSIFY TO PREVENT THE WAR IN GAZA FROM SPREADING. PLUS, WE CHECK OUT THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL GADGETS ON SHOW AT THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TECH FESTIVAL. THE TWO PEOPLE WHO DIED IN A CAR CRASH IN SEFTON, JUST NORTH OF CHRISTCHURCH ON MONDAY, WERE A FATHER OF TWO AND HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW. A GIVE A LITTLE PAGE SET UP TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY OF OLD MICHAEL WONG (39) HAS ALREADY RAISED NEARLY $20,000. THE CAR WONG WAS TRAVELING IN COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR ON A BEND ON STATE HIGHWAY 1 AROUND 10am, CLOSING THE ROAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS. WONG'S TWO CHILDREN WERE ALSO INJURED. THE GIVE A LITTLE PAGE SAYS HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS VISITING FROM MALAYSIA, IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE IN HOSPITAL. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO MEN INVOLVED IN A GANG FIGHT INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE LED TO THE MURDER OF MONGREL MOB MEMBER HORI GAGE IN PALMERSTON NORTH FIVE MONTHS AGO. GAGE WAS SHOT DEAD IN HIS DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF HIS FAMILY JUST 48 HOURS AFTER THE FIGHT BETWEEN MONGREL MOB AND BLACK POWER MEMBERS. POLICE BELIEVE THE MURDER WAS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE BRAWL. THE TWO MEN, AGED 18 AND 25, WILL APPEAR IN COURT THIS MONTH. POLICE ARE YET TO CHARGE ANYONE WITH GAGE'S MURDER. THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HAS CONTINUED HIS DIPLOMATIC BLITZ, TOUCHING DOWN IN ISRAEL FOR HIS FOURTH TRIP SINCE THE OCTOBER 7th HAMAS ATTACK. IT COMES AMID AN ESCALATION IN EXCHANGES OF FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH, INCREASING FEARS THE WAR WILL SPREAD. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. YET ANOTHER CHILD LOSING THE FIGHT, IN A WAR THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN. OVER 120 PEOPLE WERE KILLED ON THE STRIP IN THE PAST 24 HOURS ` 57 KILLED IN ONE HOSPITAL ALONE. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE HAMAS HEALTH AUTHORITY. BUT MANY AROUND THE WORLD HAVE SEEN ENOUGH FOR THEMSELVES. AM I WORRIED THAT ISRAEL HAS TAKEN ACTION THAT MIGHT BE IN BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR PREMISES HAS BEEN BOMBED, OR WHATEVER? YES. OF COURSE. GLOBAL PRESSURE IS REACHING BOILING POINT. THIS WEEK ISRAEL WILL BE FORCED TO ANSWER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, OFFICIALLY ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE. THERE'S NOTHING MORE ATROCIOUS AND PREPOSTEROUS THAN THIS CLAIM. ISRAEL WILL ARGUE SELF-DEFENCE, POINTING TO THE MASSACRE INFLICTED BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7th. AND ON THAT, THEY STILL HAVE U.S. SUPPORT. THE CHARGE OF GENOCIDE IS MERITLESS. BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE TODAY WARNED PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU THAT HIS FORCES MUST AVOID INFLICTING FURTHER HARM ON CIVILIANS. THE DAILY TOLL ON CIVILIANS IN GAZA, PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN, IS FAR TOO HIGH. BLINKEN'S LATEST MISSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS A HIGH-STAKES ONE, CHARGED WITH NOT ONLY REINING IN ISRAEL BUT STOPPING THE SPREAD OF THE WAR, AS THE EXCHANGE OF FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON GROWS IN INTENSITY. THE ISRAELI MILITARY RELEASED THIS FOOTAGE TODAY SHOWING STRIKES ON ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOUR ` IN RESPONSE, IT CLAIMED, TO EXPLOSIVES THE HEZBOLLAH MILITANT GROUP LAUNCHED TOWARDS THEM EARLIER IN THE DAY. AS THE WAR THREATENS TO PROGRESS INTO A DANGEROUS NEW PHASE, THE FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGES STILL MISSING ARE BEGGING LEADERS NOT TO FORGET ABOUT THEM. PROTESTING AT THE BORDER CROSSING INTO GAZA TODAY, THEY WANT AID TO BE CUT OFF FROM THE STRIP UNTIL THEIR LOVED ONES ARE RETURNED. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE WILL SURVIVE THERE. THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO MAKE IT OUT OF GAZA HAVE SO FAR BEEN DWARFED BY THOSE WHO NEVER WILL. IN LONDON, LISETTE REYMER, NEWSHUB. THERE HAVE BEEN TERRIFYING SCENES ON LIVE TELEVISION IN ECUADOR ` MASKED GUNMEN WAVING WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES GOT INTO A STUDIO WHILE A NEWS BULLETIN WAS BEING BROADCAST, ROUNDING UP THE STUDIO CREW AND FORCING THEM TO THE GROUND. THE PRESIDENT HAS DECLARED A STATE OF INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT AMID A SERIES OF APPARENTLY COORDINATED ATTACKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ITV's IAN WOODS REPORTS. (ALL SHOUT AT ONCE) HERE IS THE NEWS LIVE FROM THE STUDIO, BROUGHT TO YOU NOT BY THE ANCHOR AND HIS COLLEAGUES, BUT BY ARMED GUNMEN WHO STORMED THE TV STATION. AS THE PRESENTER PLEADED FOR HIS LIFE, THE MASKED GANGSTERS WAVED GUNS AND EXPLOSIVES, EVEN AT ONE STAGE PUTTING A STICK OF DYNAMITE IN THE POCKET OF THE TERRIFIED JOURNALIST FROM THE TC TELEVISION NETWORK. A TEXT MESSAGE SENT BY ONE EMPLOYEE SAID, 'PLEASE. THEY CAME IN TO KILL US. GOD, DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN. 'THE CRIMINALS ARE ON AIR.' OUTSIDE, POLICE TOOK UP POSITIONS, AS THEY TRIED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO FREE THOSE TRAPPED INSIDE. AND A SHORT TIME AGO THEY POSTED PHOTOGRAPHS APPARENTLY SHOWING ARRESTS. IT'S JUST ONE EPISODE IN A SERIES OF COORDINATED ATTACKS WHICH ARE BRINGING ANARCHY TO ECUADOR. DOZENS OF PRISON GUARDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY INMATES. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT ATTEMPTED TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG GANGS WHO TERRORISE THE COUNTRY, EVEN AFTER THEY'VE BEEN JAILED. (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: ECUADORIANS, THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER AND ORGANISED CRIME DICTATED TO THE GOVERNMENT IS FINISHED. THE NARCOTERRORISTS THREATEN US, BELIEVING WE WILL GIVE IN TO THEIR DEMANDS. HE ANNOUNCED A STATE OF EMERGENCY SOON AFTER THIS MAN, THE CONVICTED LEADER OF A DRUG GANG, MANAGED TO ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY WHILE HE WAS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM ONE PRISON TO ANOTHER. ADOLFO MACIAS, KNOWN BY THE ALIAS 'FITO', HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN JAILED FOR MURDER AND ORGANISED CRIME. THE PRESIDENT HAD PLANNED TO HOLD A REFERENDUM PROPOSING STRONGER PENALTIES FOR CRIMINALS, BUT NOW FINDS HIMSELF DEALING WITH AN EVEN GREATER UPSURGE OF VIOLENCE. ALEX IS IN LATER WITH SPORT. AND INTERNATIONAL CRICKET IS BACK IN AUCKLAND. YEAH, THE BLACKCAPS PLAY AT EDEN PARK ON FRIDAY, AND THEY'VE WELCOMED ONE OF THE CITY'S FAVOURITE CRICKETERS INTO CAMP. WE HEAR FROM ANDRE ADAMS LATER ABOUT WANTING A FULL-TIME GIG AND MORE MATCHES IN AUCKLAND. PLUS, NEW YEAR, NEW TEAM ` JULIAN SAVEA OPENS UP ABOUT BEING LEFT CONTRACT-LESS BY THE HURRICANES. IF YOU'VE EVER HAD TINNITUS, YOU'LL KNOW HOW DEBILITATING IT CAN BE. BUT KIWI-LED RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED AN APP TO HELP WHICH IS GETTING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. BEFORE DONALD TRUMP'S CRIMINAL TRIALS EVEN BEGIN, HE IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF ONE OF THEM ALTOGETHER. TRUMP IS CHARGED IN FOUR CASES ` INCLUDING IN WASHINGTON FOR TRYING TO OVERTURN THE LAST ELECTION. TODAY HIS LAWYERS ARGUED HE HAD PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY WHEN IN OFFICE AND THEREFORE CAN'T BE CHARGED. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH McCANN REPORTS. LEAVING THE CAMPAIGN FOR A COURTHOUSE WILL BECOME A FAMILIAR JOURNEY FOR DEFENDANT DONALD TRUMP. IT'S ONE HE MADE TO WASHINGTON TODAY, WHERE HE'S ACCUSED OF TRYING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 U.S. ELECTION. PROSECUTORS ARE LIKELY TO REMIND THE JURY OF THE INFAMOUS DAY THOSE EFFORTS LED TO. ROARS: USA! RIOTERS CHANT: STOP THE STEAL! STOP THE STEAL! DONALD TRUMP ARGUES HE HAS WHAT'S CALLED 'PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY'. HE BELIEVES THAT WHILE IN OFFICE, HE COULD NOT BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME LIKE HE HAS BEEN NOW. IT'S AN ARGUMENT HIS LAWYERS MADE IN COURT, HOPING TO HAVE THIS CASE THROWN OUT. THIS CASE IS IN THE APPEALS COURT. A PREVIOUS JUDGE HAS ALREADY SAID TRUMP DOESN'T HAVE A 'GET OUT OF JAIL FREE' CARD ` A VIEW SHARED BY PROSECUTORS. IN COURT, THE JUDGES SEEMED SCEPTICAL OF TRUMP'S ARGUMENT. IN COURT, THE JUDGES SEEMED SCEPTICAL OF TRUMP'S ARGUMENT. THEY PRESENTED HIS LAWYERS WITH HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW FAR SO-CALLED 'PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY' COULD GO. TRUMP'S LAWYERS REPLIED THAT HE COULD ONLY BE PROSECUTED IF HE WAS ALREADY IMPEACHED AND CONVICTED BY CONGRESS. REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS, THE CASE IS LIKELY TO BE APPEALED TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, POSSIBLY DELAYING THE MARCH TRIAL. THAT WOULD BE A WIN IN ITSELF FOR TRUMP, WHO, AS ALWAYS, HAD THE LAST WORD. I FEEL THAT AS A PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE IMMUNITY. TRUMP NOW RETURNS TO IOWA, WHERE HE'S THE FAVOURITE TO WIN THE FIRST VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION NEXT WEEK. HE'S ALMOST CERTAIN TO WIN THAT NOMINATION ` WHILE TRYING TO STAY OUT OF PRISON AT THE SAME TIME. IN NEW YORK, MITCH McCAN, NEWSHUB. TWO MAJOR WINTER STORMS ARE MAKING A BIG IMPACT ACROSS THE U.S., WITH 47 STATES UNDER WEATHER ALERTS. TORNADOES AND FLOODING HAVE SWEPT THE DEEP SOUTH. A PERSON WAS KILLED AFTER A TREE WAS BLOWN ON TO A HOUSE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHILE THIS HOUSE IN FLORIDA WAS RIPPED CLEAN OFF ITS FOUNDATIONS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAVE BLANKETED THE MIDWEST, AND HIGH WINDS, HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING ARRIVED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTH-EAST. A WOMAN (74) HAS BEEN RESCUED FROM FLOOD WATERS IN VICTORIA, AFTER HER CAR WAS SWEPT AWAY. SHE WAS TRYING TO CROSS A FLOODED ROAD WHEN HER CAR WAS PICKED UP BY THE RAGING TORRENT. SHE MANAGED TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SINKING VEHICLE AND HELD ON TO A TREE, WHERE SHE WAS SPOTTED BY A LOCAL, WHO JUMPED IN TO HELP. SHE SAID SHE DOESN'T DRINK ANY LARGE PARTS OF THE STATE ARE ON FLOOD WATCH, AFTER THREE MONTHS OF RAIN FELL IN 24 HOURS. WHETHER IT'S A RINGING SOUND OR PERPETUAL BUZZING, TINNITUS CAN BE A DEBILITATING CONDITION ` BUT NEW ZEALAND RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED A GROUNDBREAKING NEW APP THAT COULD REDUCE ITS IMPACT FOR SUFFERERS. GRACE THOMAS HAS THE STORY. KIMBERLEY KEMP HAS BEEN A MUSICIAN FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES... (JAZZY MUSIC BLARES) BUT DEVELOPING TINNITUS FIVE YEARS AGO CHANGED EVERYTHING. I WAS NOT COPING. I WAS REALLY, REALLY UPSET, UM, TEARFUL ALL THE TIME. TINNITUS IS HEARING SOUNDS IN YOUR HEAD THAT ARE NOT FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE. IT'S RINGING, HIGH PITCHED; UM, SOMETIMES A SQUEALING. WHILE THERE'S NO CURE, KIMBERLEY WAS DESPERATE FOR ANY SORT OF REPRIEVE FROM HER TINNITUS WHEN SHE JOINED THE TRIAL FOR AN APP CALLED 'MINDEAR'. YOU'RE STILL EXPERIENCING THOSE TERRIBLE SOUNDS IN YOUR HEAD, UM, BUT YOU CAN MANAGE IT AND CONTROL IT. MINDEAR WAS DEVELOPED BY AN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH TEAM LED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND, AND THE TRIAL FOUND THE APP REDUCED THE IMPACT OF TINNITUS IN TWO-THIRDS OF USERS IN JUST WEEKS. IN CERTAIN CASE, I WAS FEELING UNEQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO HELP MY PATIENTS. THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT TRIGGER THIS IDEA OF DEVELOPING A DIGITAL TREATMENT THAT COULD HELP TINNITUS PATIENTS. THE APP PROVIDES COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY THROUGH A CHATBOT... WELCOME TO TINNIBOT. ...WHICH HELPS PEOPLE TO REDUCE THEIR EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE SOUND AND TRAINING THE BRAIN TO TUNE IT OUT. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TINNITUS, WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE SOUND ITSELF, BUT IT'S GENERALLY A BIT MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST THE JUST AUDITORY STIMULI. IT ALSO USES OTHER TOOLS TOO, LIKE SOUND THERAPY. THERE ARE JUST SOME NIGHTS WHERE YOU JUST NEED SOMETHING TO MASK THAT SOUND, AND SO THE APP PROVIDES YOU WITH SEASCAPE SOUNDS AND LANDSCAPE SOUNDS AND THEN JUST DIFFERENT COLOURS OF NOISE ` AND MY FAVOURITE IS THE PINK. ('PINK' NOISE PLAYS) KIMBERLEY WANTS PEOPLE DEALING WITH TINNITUS TO KNOW THERE CAN BE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. THERE ARE A LOT OF US OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER ALONE. AND THE MINDEAR RESEARCH TEAM IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH A LARGER CLINICAL TRIAL OF THE APP IN THE HOPES OF REACHING EVEN MORE PEOPLE WITH THE CONDITION. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. A LONDON CORONER HAS RULED THAT IRISH SINGER SINEAD O'CONNOR DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES. THE SOUTHWARK CORONER'S COURT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY FURTHER MEDICAL DETAILS BUT CONFIRMED THERE WON'T BE AN INQUEST INTO THE 56-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH. O'CONNOR WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN HER SOUTH LONDON FLAT IN JULY LAST YEAR. IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A TRIBUTE CONCERT FOR O'CONNOR AND THE LATE POGUES FRONTMAN SHANE MacGOWAN WILL BE HELD AT NEW YORK'S CARNEGIE HALL IN MARCH. STICK AROUND ` WE'RE OFF TO THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TECH FESTIVAL AFTER THE BREAK, WHERE TRANSPARENT TVs, CARS CONTROLLED BY YOUR PLAYSTATION AND EVEN AI ROBOTS FOR YOUR DOG ARE AMONG THE GADGETS AND GIZMOS ON SHOW. A BLACK CAPS PRODIGAL SON RETURNS, OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT ON CRICKET'S FUTURE AT EDEN PARK. PLUS ` WHY'S THE BUS FRUSTRATED BY HIS EXIT FROM THE HURRICANES DEPOT? AND AS SEVERAL SEEDS FALL AT THE ASB CLASSIC, A YOUNG AMERICAN GROWS IN POPULARITY. A FRUSTRATED JULIAN SAVEA HAS OPENED UP ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE HURRICANES ` SOMETHING THAT LEFT HIM, IN HIS OWN WORDS, 'PRETTY PISSED OFF'. THE FORMER ALL BLACK WAS OFF-CONTRACT WITH THE FRANCHISE AT THE END OF LAST SEASON AND WASN'T OFFERED A NEW ONE. AND WHILE HE FEELS IT WASN'T HANDLED AS PROFESSIONALLY AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IT'S GIVEN HIM A FRESH START WITH MOANA PASIFIKA. OUR RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS THE STORY. NEW YEAR, NEW COLOURS, AND JULIAN SAVEA IS ALL BUSINESS AS HE PREPARES FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN HIS CAREER. THIS IS PROBABLY MY FIRST TIME NOT PLAYING WITH THE CANES, SO, NAH, PRETTY EXCITED AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY. BUT IF SAVEA HAD HIS WAY, HE WOULD BE PLAYING FOR THE HURRICANES, HAVING EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO STAY WITH THE FRANCHISE HE'D FEATURED FOR ON 153 OCCASIONS. IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WASN'T MUTUAL. I WAS PRETTY PISSED OFF, TO BE HONEST. BUT... YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A JOB TO DO, AND THAT'S RUGBY. WHY WERE YOU PISSED OFF? JUST THE PROCESS. UM... THEY DIDN'T LET ME KNOW UNTIL LATER ON, AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING. SO YOU DON'T THINK THEY WERE TRANSPARENT ENOUGH WITH YOU? NAH. NOT AT ALL. THE HURRICANES PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED DISCUSSIONS WERE DIFFICULT AND THE CHANGE IN COACHING GROUP ADDED A COMPLICATION. SAVEA'S NOW DETERMINED TO SHOW HIS FORMER SIDE WHAT THEY'VE MISSED OUT ON. I GUESS I'VE GOT THAT GAME MARKED ON MY CALENDAR AS WELL. HE'LL HAVE A WHILE TO WAIT FOR THAT MATCH-UP; MOANA PASIFIKA DON'T FACE THE HURRICANES UNTIL ROUND 13. BUT SAVEA ISN'T THE ONLY NEW FACE, WITH TANA UMAGA REPLACING AARON MAUGER AS HEAD COACH. THE FORMER BLUES ASSISTANT IS CONFIDENT HE CAN GET THE BEST OUT OF HIS HIGHLY EXPERIENCED WINGER. HIS ABILITY TO SHARE THOSE EXPERIENCES WITH YOUNGER PLAYERS, LEAD, YOU KNOW, AND, UM... LEAD IN THAT SPACE AS WELL, I THINK, FOR US WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. I KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF. UH, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME. JULIAN SAVEA IS READY FOR SUPER RUGBY REDEMPTION. OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. HE'S BARELY BEEN IN THE JOB A DAY, BUT ANDRE ADAMS IS ALREADY CHALLENGING THE BLACKCAPS BOWLERS. THE FORMER ALL-ROUNDER WILL BE THE INTERIM BOWLING COACH FOR THE FIVE-MATCH TWENTY20 SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN STARTING FRIDAY ` A JOB HE WANTS FULL-TIME. AND AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS UNCERTAINTY OVER THE FUTURE OF STADIUMS IN AUCKLAND, HE'S ENCOURAGING PLAYERS TO GET COMFORTABLE WALKING IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. ANDRE ADAMS' APPROACH TO TWENTY20 HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SIMPLE ONE. I ALWAYS LOOKED AT MY OPPORTUNITY IN TWENTY20 CRICKET WAS TO RUIN THE BATTERS' DAY. NOW, AS THE BLACKCAPS' INTERIM BOWLING COACH, HE'LL BE HELPING PLAYERS TRY TO DO SO. I DID APPLY FOR THE JOB, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. I DID APPLY FOR THE ROLE. AND THEN NZC ARE STILL MAKING THEIR MIND UP ABOUT HOW THEY WANT THIS ROLE TO GO. WITH THE ROLE STILL NOT FILLED SINCE SHANE JURGENSEN LEFT AFTER THE WORLD CUP, THE UPCOMING FIVE-GAME SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN IS A CHANCE FOR THE FORMER BLACKCAP TO IMPRESS. THE OPENING GAME ON FRIDAY, THOUGH, IS A RARE ONE IN HIS OLD STOMPING GROUND OF AUCKLAND. THIS BEING OUR BIGGEST SPORTING STADIUM, OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU PLAY IN FRONT OF A PACKED EDEN PARK, IT'S PRETTY SPECIAL. WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY AMAZING GAMES HERE, ACROSS ALL THREE FORMATS. BUT THE CITY OF SAILS HAS HARDLY BEEN THE CITY OF CRICKET OF LATE ` JUST FOUR MEN'S INTERNATIONAL GAMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE GAMES IN AUCKLAND? AS A BOWLER, UM...? EDEN PARK'S CRITICISM HAS OFTEN BEEN AROUND THE BATTING-FRIENDLY DIMENSIONS, A DAUNTING PROSPECT FOR BOWLERS. A MORE SUITABLE CRICKET FACILITY IS AMONG SEVERAL NEW WATERFRONT STADIUMS BEING PITCHED. ADAMS IS UNSURE, THOUGH, IF THAT'S NEEDED. WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, YOU CAN BE A BIT AFRAID OF THE MOMENT, AND THAT IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FAIL, RATHER THAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. GROUNDS LIKE THIS OFFER A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. HE COULD END UP HELPING THE BLACKCAPS DO THAT IN THE LONG TERM. THE ALL BLACKS AND WARRIORS HAVE BEEN PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER AS TEAM OF THE YEAR FINALISTS IN THE HALBERG AWARDS. THE RUGBY WORLD CUP RUNNERS-UP AND NRL SEMI-FINALISTS ARE IN A FIVE-STRONG GROUP THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE WORLD CHAMPION K4 KAYAKERS AND BOTH WORLD-SERIES-WINNING SEVENS TEAMS. AUSTRALIAN ANDREW WEBSTER IS INELIGIBLE FOR COACH OF THE YEAR, WHILE IAN FOSTER IS AMONG THE FINALISTS. RECENT HALBERG WINNERS ZOI SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT AND LISA CARRINGTON ARE AGAIN FINALISTS IN THE SPORTSWOMEN CATEGORY. RYAN FOX IS A FIRST-TIME FINALIST IN A MEN'S CATEGORY THAT IS HEADLINED BY CYCLING WORLD CHAMPION AARON GATE. THE PARA-FINALISTS INCLUDE SHOT-PUTTING WORLD CHAMPION LISA ADAMS. THE ASB CLASSIC HAS LOST HALF OF ITS EIGHT SEEDED PLAYERS IN A SINGLE DAY, AS THE UNDERDOGS ADVANCE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS. BUT WHILE THE TOURNAMENT'S BIG NAMES HAVE BEEN SENT PACKING, ONE PLAYER WITH A BIG REPUTATION HAS SHOWN HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE. NATASHA PAYNE WATCHED THE ACTION. A GREAT LAST RALLY AND AN EVEN BETTER FINISH FROM BEN SHELTON. OH, LOVELY STUFF! THE TOP SEED CLAIMING A SPOT IN THE ASB MEN'S QUARTER-FINAL WITH EASE. FIRST TIME PLAYING OUT THERE ON THAT COURT, SO I ENJOYED IT, AND HAPPY TO BE MOVING ON. BUT HE'S ONE OF THE ONLY TWO SEEDS TODAY TO ADVANCE, WITH FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME BEING DISMISSED... HE HAS DONE IT! ...LOSING TO GERMAN DANIEL ALTMAIER, WHO BEAT THE FOURTH SEED IN STRAIGHT SETS AFTER A LONG-FOUGHT BATTLE. UNDER THE SUN, YOU KNOW, TWO HOURS 40, IT'S REALLY A GRIND. SO I THINK IT WAS A REALLY HIGH QUALITY MATCH OF HIGH COMPETITION. LAST NIGHT SAW THE DEPARTURE OF THE CLASSIC'S DEFENDING CHAMPION RICHARD GASQUET, WHO WAS OUSTED BY FELLOW FRENCHMAN ARTHUR FILS, WHO WON AGAIN TODAY. THE FRENCH TEENAGER, WHO PUT ON THE STYLE AGAIN. BUT FOR THE TOP SEED, IT'S A WARNING THAT RANKINGS DON'T MATTER. EVERYONE WHO IS HERE DESERVES TO BE HERE. THE GUYS WHO ARE IN THE QUARTER-FINALS HAVE BEEN PLAYING THE BETTER TENNIS, AND I THINK THAT EVERY MATCH IS TOUGH FROM HERE ON OUT. A PROMISE OF TOUGH TENNIS, REGARDLESS OF REPUTATION. NATASHA PAYNE, NEWSHUB. THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX AREN'T PANICKING ABOUT THEIR TITLE CHANCES YET, DESPITE LOSING THEIR LAST TWO WOMEN'S A-LEAGUE MATCHES. THE FORMER COMPETITION LEADERS HAVE NOW DROPPED TO FOURTH, 10 POINTS OFF TOP SPOT, AFTER SUNDAY'S LOSS IN BRISBANE. CAPTAIN ANNALIE LONGO SAYS THE TEAM IS REMAINING POSITIVE AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S FIXTURE WITH THE MARINERS. I DON'T THINK IT'S PANIC STATIONS YET; I THINK WE'RE REALLY HAPPY IN THE WAY WE'RE PLAYING. I THINK THERE'S OBVIOUSLY JUST SOME SMALL AREAS THAT WE WANNA TIDY UP ` OBVIOUSLY STOP CONCEDING, YOU KNOW, EASY GOALS AND KEEP THOSE CLEAN SHEETS WILL GET US SOME POINTS. THE NIX HAVE LOST THEIR LAST FOUR AWAY MATCHES AND HAVE TWO MORE GAMES ACROSS THE TASMAN BEFORE HEADING HOME. FINALLY TONIGHT ` THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES' COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WIN HAS BEEN SEEN IN A TOTALLY NEW LIGHT. A LOCAL MICHIGAN REPORTER OVERCAME RIGHTS RESTRICTIONS PREVENTING HIM FROM SHOWING FOOTAGE FROM THE MATCH AGAINST WASHINGTON, SO, ARMED WITH SOME BASIC SOFTWARE AND A COLOURFUL IMAGINATION, THE REPORTER COVERED ALL OF THE KEY SCORING PLAYS, INCLUDING THE WOLVERINES' ALL-IMPORTANT TROPHY CELEBRATION. YOU HAVE TO GET CREATIVE SOMETIMES. SO CHEAP AS WELL. I AM SURE ANDREW IS AT HOME RIGHT NOW SHARPENING HIS CUPBOARD... I HEARD HE GOT FROM CRAYONS FOR CHRISTMAS. THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, WHERE ALL THE BIG BRANDS FLAUNT ALL THE LATEST IN TECH, IS IN FULL SWING IN LAS VEGAS, WITH EVERYTHING FROM ROBOTS FOR YOUR DOG TO TRANSPARENT TVS. FINN HOGAN HAS MORE. CES ` THE ANNUAL NERD-VANA IN NEVADA WHERE THE WEIRDEST, WILDEST AND MOST WONDERFUL TECHNOLOGY GETS UNVEILED. ROBOT: I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. CES, YOU KNOW, COVERS ALL MANNER OF TECHNOLOGY. I MEAN, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THERE WITH CARS; THERE'S FLYING MACHINES... YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE GADGETS THAT EACH OF US, YOU KNOW, BUY IN TERMS OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS AND SO ON ` THERE'S THE FULL GAMUT. I MEAN, IT'S LITERALLY THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. THIS WILL HAVE OVER 4000 EXHIBITORS IN 2.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT SPACE SPANNING MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN LAS VEGAS. WE TAKE OVER THE CITY WHEN WE'RE HERE. WE EXPECT CLOSE TO 130,000 PEOPLE. CES EVEN TOOK OVER THE ICONIC VEGAS SPHERE, USING SOME OF THE WORLD'S NEWEST ENTERTAINMENT TECH TO CELEBRATE SOME OF THE OLDEST, MARKING THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF TETRIS. ('TETRIS' THEME) SPEAKING OF GAMING, SONY SHOWED OFF THEIR EV PROTOTYPE ` CONTROLLED VIA PLAYSTATION. MEANWHILE, BOTH SAMSUNG AND LG SHOWCASED COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT TELEVISIONS. BUT IF THERE'S A THEME FOR CES 2024, IT'S AI IN EVERYTHING. WE WILL BE SEEING, YOU KNOW, AI IN OUR TVs, IN OUR PHONES IN SO MANY MORE GADGETS; AND THE AI VOICE ASSISTANTS AND OTHER TOOLS THAT WE'RE USED TO THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY POOR IN YEARS GONE BY, THOSE ARE REALLY GOING TO STEP FORWARD THIS YEAR. THOUGH IF YOU'RE PICTURING THIS, DON'T WORRY JUST YET. HOW ABOUT AN AI-POWERED CAT DOOR INSTEAD? AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH AI FOR FURRY FRIENDS, THERE'S A ROBOTIC AI COMPANION FOR YOUR DOG. BUT WHILE THE TECH RANGES FROM SILLY TO SENSATIONAL, THE AIM OF CES IS SIMPLE. AND IT COMES DOWN TO REALLY MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER, EASIER, AND SOLVING PROBLEMS. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS AND SHOULD BE ABOUT ` IT'S SOLVING REAL HUMAN PROBLEMS. WITH TWO DAYS TO GO AND PLENTY MORE TECH TO SHOW, 2024 COULD BE THE YEAR SCIENCE FICTION BECOMES OUR REALITY. FINN HOGAN, NEWSHUB. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THE GREEN PARTY HAS CONFIRMED HIGH-PROFILE MP GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN HAS STOOD ASIDE FROM HER PORTFOLIOS AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING. AS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY FACE HEAT ALERTS, NEW FIGURES SHOW 2023 SMASHED THE RECORD FOR EARTH'S HOTTEST YEAR BY A HUGE MARGIN. THE GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 14.98 DEGREES CELSIUS ` 0.17 DEGREES CELSIUS HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS HOTTEST YEAR, 2016. AND NOAH WAS THE MOST POPULAR NAME FOR BABY BOYS IN 2023, ENDING OLIVER'S 10-YEAR REIGN AT NUMBER ONE. FOR GIRLS, CHARLOTTE CAME OUT ON TOP, REPLACING ISLA, WHICH SLIPPED TO NUMBER THREE. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER. AND THE FRONT ARRIVED IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, HEATHER? YES, AND THIS WILL BRING NOT JUST HEAVY AND RAIN AND SEVERE GALES; IT WILL ALSO HELP DRIVE THE TEMPERATURES IN THE EAST UP TO THE LOW 30S TOMORROW. BUT FOR NOW, THE SOUTH-WEST ARE THE ONES IN THE FIRING LINE, WITH THE FRONT EXPECTED TO WEAKEN FROM TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. IF THE WEATHER RUFFLES YOUR FEATHERS, THERE'S NOTHING MORE COMFORTING THAN A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD. TOMORROW'S FORECAST, BROUGHT TO YOU BY LATITUDE HOMES, WHERE KIWIS FIND COMFORT. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. GET SET FOR A VERY HOT FEW DAYS AHEAD. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS STILL GOING STEADY FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND, MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THOSE STILL ON HOLIDAY. IN THE LOWER SOUTH, THOUGH, THE FRONT THAT ARRIVED THIS AFTERNOON SLICES IN HALF. THE EASTERN HALF DRIFTS OUT TO THE EAST OF CANTERBURY, AND THE WESTERN HALF WILL LIE NEAR HOKITIKA BY MIDNIGHT TOMORROW. SO IT'S THOSE TWO FRONTS THAT WILL BE THE RAIN MAKERS, WITH HEAVY FALLS FOR SOUTHERN WESTLAND AND FIORDLAND OVERNIGHT AND SCATTERED RAIN FOR THE SOUTH-EAST. FINE SKIES ELSEWHERE, BUT THE NORTHERLY WIND WILL BE STRONG FOR THE LOWER HALF TONIGHT. AND IT'S A SIMILAR OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW, BUT EVEN WARMER IN THE EVENING, WITH THE NORTH-WESTER CRANKING UP. THE NORTH ISLAND WILL BE MORE SETTLED, WITH A LIGHT EAST- OR NORTH-EASTER TONIGHT, BUT VERY WARM. GET THE FAN ON EARLY. SOME DRIZZLE OR ISOLATED SHOWERS POP UP, AND THERE'S BE AREAS OF LOW CLOUD IN THE EAST FROM HAWKE'S BAY RIGHT AROUND TO NORTHLAND. AND THEY MAY STILL BE THERE WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING. BUT THE ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL CLEAR THROUGH THE DAY. SO ANOTHER WARM NIGHT AND HOT DAY, WITH CLOUDY PERIODS, AND A LIGHT MORNING SHOWER FOR NORTHLAND AND WHITIANGA. EAST- TO NORTH-EAST WINDS WILL EASE BY TOMORROW NIGHT. SOME CLOUD AND DRIZZLE FIRST UP HERE, BUT THEN IT CLEARS BY LUNCHTIME. IT'S HOT AND MUGGY. TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE ARE NOT SET TO DIP BELOW 19 DEGREES. DANNEVIRKE, YOU'LL HAVE SOME CLOUDS AND A FEW SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON. EVERYONE ELSE WILL BE FINE WITH EITHER A NORTH-EAST OR NORTH-WEST WIND. THE COMMON THEME. IT'S HOT. PARTLY CLOUDY TOO FOR SOME, FIRST UP, WITH MORNING SHOWERS. BUT IT'S CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON. WINDS TURN WESTERLY OR NORTH-WEST. AND IT'S WARM AND MUGGY. SLIGHTLY COOLER FOR THE NORTH-WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. THERE'S MORE CLOUDS TOO, AND SHOWERS, TURNING TO RAIN BY TOMORROW NIGHT SOUTH OF WESTPORT. NORTH-WESTERS PICK UP. IT'S A SCORCHER IN THE EAST. THAT NORTH-WESTER PICKS UP, AND THE FOEHN EFFECT IS IN FULL SWING. THE NORTH-WESTER WILL EASE TOMORROW NIGHT, BUT EXPECT HIGHS IN THE LOW 30s. IT'S HOT TOO FOR THE LOWER SOUTH, SLIGHTLY MORE BEARABLE FOR SOUTHLAND. THERE'S MORE CLOUD AND SHOWERS TOO, BUT THE WIND WILL BE STRONG AT TIMES. THE DEEP SOUTH WILL HAVE A WESTERLY. AND DUNEDIN, YOU'LL HAVE A NORTH-WESTER FOR THE DAY, BUT IT TURNS SOUTH-WEST TOMORROW AFTERNOON. UNTIL THEN, SCATTERED MORNING RAIN CLEARING AND A HIGH OF 28. FINE WITH HIGH CLOUD FOR CHRISTCHURCH. THE NORTH-WESTER DEVELOPS IN THE MORNING AND WILL DRIVE THE TEMPERATURE UP TO 31. IT EASES TOMORROW NIGHT. IT'S FINE FOR WELLINGTON, BUT WARM AND MUGGY OVERNIGHT. THE NORTHERLY WILL BE STRONG TOMORROW AFTERNOON, WITH A HIGH OF 25 FOR THE HUTT VALLEY. HAWKE'S BAY, IT'S A WARM NIGHT AND ANOTHER HOT DAY, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON BUT REMAINING DRY AND FINE NORTH OF HASTINGS. IT'LL BE A ROUGH SLEEP, WITH A LOW OF ONLY 19 FOR TAURANGA. THE CLOUD AND DRIZZLE CLEARS BEFORE MIDDAY, WITH NORTHERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. FINE FOR HAMILTON ` JUST MORNING CLOUD, WHICH SHIFTS QUICKLY. A NORTH-EASTER ARRIVES IN THE AFTERNOON, AND IT'S VERY WARM. AND RINSE AND REPEAT FOR AUCKLAND ` FINE, CLOUDY FOR GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, MUGGY NIGHT AND HOT DAY, WITH A NORTH-EASTER EASING TOMORROW NIGHT. SHOWERS FOR OZ ` WELL, SYDNEY AND THE QUEENSLAND CITIES ` AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE NORTH. AND IT'S A SHOWERY FEW DAYS FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN IN FIJI. NIUE WILL BE FINE, THOUGH. THE WEEKEND IS ALMOST HERE, AND IT'S LOOKING AMAZING FOR THE TENNIS IN AUCKLAND. FINE AND HOT FOR ALL CENTRES ON SATURDAY. GREAT HERE TOO. MORE VERY HOT DAYS, THOUGH, WITH A FEW NIGHTS OUT EAST THAT WON'T DIP BELOW 19 DEGREES. SIMILAR FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST ON SATURDAY AND SCATTERED SHOWERS ON SUNDAY. THE HOT WEATHER FOR THE NORTH-EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND, REMAINING COOLER IN THE WEST, WITH RAIN DEVELOPING ONCE MORE. AND CHRISTCHURCH, YOU'LL BE BACK TO 31 ON SATURDAY AND 29 DEGREES ON SUNDAY. IN STARK CONTRAST, INVERCARGILL, YOU'LL DROP TO 9 DEGREES ON SATURDAY. FINALLY TONIGHT, THE NATIONAL SURFING CHAMPS ARE ON IN DUNEDIN. LOOKING AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, THE BEST CONDITIONS WILL BE IN THE MORNING, WITH THE OFFSHORE WINDS. I WAS THERE LAST WEEKEND. ALL I CAN SAY IS I HOPE THEY HAVE VERY GOOD WETSUITS. IT IS COLD. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TONIGHT, AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM BY EMAILING news@newshub.co.nz. I'M MIKE McROBERTS. PO MANAHAU.