IT'S MIDDAY. ST JOHN CALLS ON THE GOVERNMENT TO FULLY FUND ITS OPERATION. HOW COSTS ARE HITTING THE ORGANISATION HARD. WHY WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE'S FIGHT TO ESCAPE SPYING CHARGES IN THE U.S. COULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. AND HIS CHEEKY COSTUME LANDED HIM IN HOT WATER. NOW THIS AUSTRALIAN EQUESTRIAN IS NOW ALL CLEAR TO RIDE OFF TO THE OLYMPICS. CAPTIONS BY KATE HARRIS AND COURTNEY SOLE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 KIA ORA AND GOOD AFTERNOON. TO SOME BREAKING NEWS FIRST OF ALL, AND WE HAVE JUST LEARNT THAT FORMER FINANCE MINISTER GRANT ROBERTSON HAS A NEW JOB, DESPITE HAVING NOT ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION FROM POLITICS. RUMOURS HAVE BEEN SWIRLING ABOUT HIS FUTURE ALL MORNING. KATIE BRADFORD IS WITH ME IN THE STUDIO. KATIE, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND WHERE'S HE OFF TO? A BIT OF A WELL WHEN THE MORNING. REPORTERS WERE ASKING THIS MORNING AFTER THE POLL LAST NIGHT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH LABOUR MPS. CHRIS HIPKINS WOULD NOT CONFIRM OR DENY IF GRANT ROBERTSON WAS GOING. BUT WE WERE GOING TO HEAR SHORTLY ABOUT A RESHUFFLE IN THE CAUCUS. IN THE PAST 10 MINUTES WE HAVE BEEN SENT AN EMAIL THAT SAYS THAT GRANT ROBERTSON IS OFF TO BE THE VICE CHANCELLOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO. THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE, THAT HE IS LEAVING, BECAUSE IT IS HINTED HE WASN'T GOING TO STICK AROUND. HE IS ONE OF LABOURS HARDEST WORKING MPS. IT IS NO SURPRISE HE IS GONE AFTER THE ELECTION LOSS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A LOSS ABOUT HIM GOING BACK TO DUNEDIN, WHERE HE IS FROM. IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS STARTING ON 1 JULY, SO NOT MUCH LONGER AND PARLIAMENT. LABOUR IS LOSING ONE OF THEIR BEST MPS. AND ANOTHER BIG CHALLENGE FOR LABOUR TO GO UP AGAINST THE FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS. THANKS, KATIE. PARAMEDICS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION AROUND COST-CUTTING MEASURES. IT COMES AS ST JOHN PULLS SOME AMBULANCES OFF THE ROAD TO REIN IN COSTS. DIGBY WERTHMULLER HAS MORE ON HOW FUNDING REMAINS A CONTENTIOUS TOPIC. WHEN THE AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF CAN'T BE THERE, (SIRENS BLARE) THE TABLES TURN ON OUR FRONTLINE PARAMEDICS. THEY ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN THEY'RE TOLD, 'WELL, WE WILL NOT BE RECALLING AMBULANCES TO COVER YOU 'SHOULD THERE BE SICKNESS OR LEAVE.' HOW ST JOHNS IS FUNDED HAS LONG BEEN AN ISSUE OF DEBATE. WOULD YOU LOOK AT FUNDING IT 100%? WOULD THE GOVERNMENT LOOK AT IT? NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT ST JOHN WANTS. THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO PRIVATE MONEY AND HAVE FUNDRAISING AND BE PART OF A COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN HAVING A GOVERNMENT-RUN ENTITY NO, THAT IS WHAT THEY DO WANT. NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO WANT. ST JOHN IS CURRENTLY 83% FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT IT WANTS TO BE FULLY FUNDED FOR OPERATING COSTS BUT WOULD CONTINUE TO RELY ON FUNDRAISING FOR AMBULANCES AND KEY EQUIPMENT. AT THE MOMENT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH NEW ZEALAND TE WHATU ORA AND ST JOHN AND EVERYONE POINTING A FINGER. HE SAYS STAFF ARE UNDER THE PUMP AND CHOOSING TO LEAVE. WHAT HAPPENS IS STAFF ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND OBVIOUSLY THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEY'RE JUST BEING KICKED AROUND. MEANWHILE, THE PRIME MINISTER DOUBLED DOWN ON HIS STATEMENT. WE'VE SPOKEN TO ST JOHNS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEIR PREFERENCE IS NOT TO BE 100% FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. ST JOHN IS AIMING TO ACHIEVE FULL FUNDING WHEN ITS EXISTING CONTRACT WITH TE WHATU ORA AND ACC ENDS IN 2026. DIGBY WERTHMULLER, 1 NEWS. SURVIVORS OF THE LAKE ALICE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL ARE BEING GIVEN AN APOLOGY FROM THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS. CUSHLA NORMAN JOINS ME NOW FROM PALMERSTON NORTH. CUSHLA, TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT'S IN THIS APOLOGY. THIS SERENE SETTING AT MASSEY UNIVERSITY AS THE BACKDROP FOR THIS HISTORIC APOLOGY FOR THE HORRORS THAT TOOK PLACE AT LAKE ALICE, ABOUT HALF AN HOUR FROM HERE, IN THE 1970S. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO FILM THE APOLOGY, BUT IN THE BUILDING BEHIND ME THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS ARE APOLOGISING TO A ROOM OF ABOUT 70. IT INCLUDES ABOUT 30 SURVIVORS, ADULTS IN OUR, WHO WERE CHILDREN AT THE TIME. THEY SUFFERED TORTUROUS ACTIONS AT FROM THE HEAD PSYCHIATRIST. THEY HAVE SAID IT WAS A SHAMEFUL CHAPTER IN NEW ZEALAND'S HISTORY. AND THAT'S THE BARBARIC ABUSE WAS NOT PSYCHIATRY. SURVIVORS FROM UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY WE TALKED TO TOLD ME THERE'S ABOUT WHAT TODAY MEANS TO THEM. WE'RE ALL HERE FOR A REASON. SOME ARE GONNA TAKE THE APOLOGY; OTHERS AREN'T. I HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTS AND MET UP WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE IN THE '70s, AND I STILL SEE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS THAT STILL AFFECT THEM TO THIS DAY. I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE NEWS HERE COVERING IT, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND DON'T REALLY REALISE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. AS PART OF THE APOLOGY, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CIDERS TO ASK QUESTIONS, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SURVIVORS TO ASK QUESTIONS. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY THE HEAD DOCTOR DID NOT FACE THE LAW, AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA. OVERNIGHT RAIN IN CANTERBURY HAS BROUGHT SOME RELIEF FOR FIRE CREWS IN THE REGION. THE FIRE ON THE PORT HILLS IS CONTAINED AND CREWS CONTINUE THEIR WORK TO EXTINGUISH WHAT IS LEFT OF THE BLAZE. FIRE CREWS CONTINUE TO STAMP OUT A FIRE IN THE WAIPARA DISTRICT, NORTH OF CHRISTCHURCH, WITH THREE CREWS SUPPORTED BY ONE HELICOPTER. INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF BOTH FIRES. YEMEN'S HOUTHI REBELS SAY THEY HAVE ATTACKED TWO U.S. SHIPS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. A HOUTHI SPOKESPERSON RELEASED A VIDEO STATEMENT SAYING THE TWO SHIPS WERE HIT BY MISSILES. ONE WAS SO BADLY DAMAGED THE CREW HAD TO ABANDON SHIP. THE U.S. SAYS IT'S LAUNCHING A FRESH ROUND OF STRIKES AGAINST THE REBELS. ISRAEL HAS ATTACKED WHAT IT SAYS IS AN ARMS DEPOT IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, INJURING 14 PEOPLE. THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY SAYS IT LAUNCHED TWO AIR STRIKES ON THE SITE NEAR THE PORT CITY OF SIDON, ONE OF THE STRONGEST ATTACKS NEAR TO A MAJOR CITY INSIDE LEBANON RECENTLY. THE WIFE OF LATE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ALEXEI NAVALNY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE HIS FIGHT. SHE ALSO CONTINUED TO ACCUSE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF KILLING HER HUSBAND. THE BBC'S STEVEN ROSENBERG REPORTS. FOR THREE DAYS NOW, SHE'S BEEN TRYING TO RECOVER HER SON'S BODY, BUT ALEXEI NAVALNY'S MOTHER, HERE IN THE MIDDLE, WAS TOLD THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE NOT READY TO RELEASE IT OR EVEN WHERE THE BODY IS. A CLUE PERHAPS ` CAUGHT ON CCTV IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT NEAR MR NAVALNY'S REMOTE PENAL COLONY, A PRISON CONVOY HEADING TO A NEARBY TOWN JUST HOURS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS DEATH. IT'S THOUGHT THIS MIDNIGHT MOTORCADE MAY HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTING HIS BODY. (CHANTING) ALEXEI NAVALNY WAS AN AMBITIOUS POLITICIAN, PROMISING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR RUSSIA. HE ONCE TRIED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. HE ENDED UP IN PRISON. NOW HE'S DEAD. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) IN A VIDEO STATEMENT FILMED ABROAD, HIS WIDOW YULIA ACCUSED THE KREMLIN OF KILLING HIM AND VOWED TO CONTINUE HIS FIGHT TO CHANGE RUSSIA. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) TRANSLATOR: HAVING KILLED ALEXEI, PUTIN KILLED HALF OF ME, HALF OF MY HEART AND HALF OF MY SOUL, BUT I STILL HAVE THE OTHER HALF, AND THAT TELLS ME I HAVE NO RIGHT TO GIVE UP. I WILL CONTINUE THE WORK OF ALEXEI NAVALNY, CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY. TODAY, YULIA NAVALNY WAS IN BRUSSELS MEETING EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS. FOR YEARS, SHE'S KEPT A LOW PROFILE. NOW SHE'S VOWING TO UNITE OPPOSITION TO VLADIMIR PUTIN. AND THE KREMLIN? WHAT HAS IT BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE DEATH OF ITS STAUNCHEST CRITIC? VERY LITTLE. PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS YET TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE DEATH OF ALEXEI NAVALNY. BUT TODAY, THE KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DESCRIBED ACCUSATIONS THAT IT WAS THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP THAT KILLED HIM AS 'OBNOXIOUS AND UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE.' AT THIS MAKESHIFT SHRINE TO ALEXEI NAVALNY, WE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OF THE FLORAL TRIBUTES HAD BEEN CLEARED AWAY, AND YET MUSCOVITES WERE STILL COMING HERE TO HONOUR THE MAN WHO CALLED FOR CHANGE BUT WOULD NEVER LIVE TO SEE IT. U.S. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TOLD REPORTERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THAT HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS ARE MAKING A MISTAKE IN NOT ADDRESSING NAVALNY'S DEATH AND HOLDING UP FUNDING FOR UKRAINE'S WAR AGAINST RUSSIA. THEY'RE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE IN NOT RESPONDING. LOOK, THE WAY THEY'RE WALKING AWAY FROM THE THREAT OF RUSSIA, THE WAY THEY'RE WALKING AWAY FROM NATO, THE WAY THEY'RE WALKING AWAY FROM OUR OBLIGATIONS, IT'S JUST SHOCKING. THE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO ASKED WHETHER HE THINKS ALEXEI NAVALNY'S DEATH WILL SPUR HOUSE REPUBLICANS, WHO ARE ON HOLIDAY, TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR UKRAINE'S WAR EFFORT. I HOPE SO, BUT I'M NOT SURE ANYTHING'S GONNA CHANGE. THE DAY OF RECKONING HAS ARRIVED FOR WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE. AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF SELF-EXILE IN A FOREIGN EMBASSY AND FIVE YEARS IN PRISON, ASSANGE IS FACING A COURT HEARING IN LONDON TO STOP HIS EXTRADITION TO THE U.S. AND CURB A 175-YEAR SENTENCE. COURTNEY HAMMOND REPORTS. MORE THAN A DECADE ON FROM THE LARGEST LEAK IN U.S. MILITARY HISTORY, WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE IS MAKING HIS LAST BID TO BE RELEASED. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN FORGET. THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST IS BEING HELD IN LONDON'S MAXIMUM SECURITY BELMARSH PRISON. ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE OVER THE PUBLICATION OF AMERICAN MILITARY LOGS, HE'S NOW AT RISK OF BEING EXTRADITED TO THE U.S., WHERE HE FACES 175 YEARS IN PRISON. THIS CASE IS GOING TO SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR JOURNALISTS EVERYWHERE. WHAT THE UNITED STATED IS SAYING THAT ANYONE WHO PUBLISHES TRUTHFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNITED STATES CAN BE SOUGHT FOR PROSECUTION AND EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES. HIS ATTORNEY WARNS IT'S A HUGE THREAT TO JOURNALISM AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. WE WANT TO SEE THE U.S. DROP THIS CASE. IT'S A CASE THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT. IT IS PUTTING AT RISK THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND ALL NATIONAL SECURITY JOURNALISM. IT'S HAVING A CHILLING EFFECT ON JOURNALISTS AROUND THE WORLD. ASSANGE IS THE FIRST PUBLISHER TO EVER BE CHARGED UNDER THE ESPIONAGE ACT. A PUBLISHER NEVER BEEN CHARGED BEFORE. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY A JOURNALIST WHO HAS WATCHED THE CASE CLOSELY SAYS THE UNITED STATES' ACTION IS UNPRECEDENTED. THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY CAN ENFORCE A SECRECY LAW ON NOT A U.S. CITIZEN. THAT IS A THREAT GLOBALLY TO ANYONE IN JOURNALISM. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS RALLIED BEHIND HIM. JUST LAST WEEK PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE PUSHED A MOTION TO SEE HIM RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY RAISED THE ISSUE WITH JOE BIDEN. THIS CASE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTED. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR FREE SPEECH, IT CROSSES A NEW LEGAL THRESHOLD, AND IT'S TIME THAT THE U.S. DROPS THE CASE. BUT IF THIS APPEAL IS UNSUCCESSFUL... THERE IS NO FURTHER AVENUES OF APPEAL HERE IN UK. JULIAN COULD BE EXTRADITED IN A MATTER OF DAYS. A FINAL CHANCE AT FREEDOM FOR THE WHISTLE-BLOWER. COURTNEY HAMMOND, 1 NEWS. AND RETURNING TO OUR BREAKING NEWS FROM THE TOP OF THE HOUR, THE LABOUR PARTY HAS JUST CONFIRMED GRANT ROBERTSON IS RETIRING FROM PARLIAMENT. BARBARA EDMONDS WILL TAKE OVER THE REINS AS FINANCE SPOKESPERSON. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` GOODBYE, MELBOURNE. G'DAY, SYDNEY. THE TAYLOR SWIFT ROADSHOW ROLLS ON IN AUSTRALIA. PLUS, ANOTHER BIG BLOW FOR THE CRUSADERS, WITH THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON ABOUT TO KICK OFF. AN OPOTIKI RESIDENT THINKS IT'S RIDICULOUS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WAS SPENT ON THE TOWN'S LIBRARY, ONLY FOR FUNDING TO BE HALVED TWO YEARS LATER. IN A BID TO GET COSTS UNDER CONTROL, THE OPOTIKI DISTRICT COUNCIL IS PROPOSING TO CUT BACK THE LIBRARY'S OPENING HOURS BY HALF. CAROL QUIRK OPPOSES THE CHANGES AND SAYS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, 38,000 PEOPLE USED THE FACILITY. THE LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY ASSET. IT'S A CORE ACTIVITY FOR THE TOWN. WE DON'T HAVE A RECREATION CENTRE. WE DON'T HAVE A SWIMMING POOL. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR KIDS TO DO, EXCEPT A SKATE PARK. AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT USE THIS IS JUST AMAZING. THE COUNCIL'S PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MET WITH PUBLIC ANGER AND FRUSTRATION. A QUEENSTOWN LOCAL IS WARNING FUTURE RESIDENTS TO 'BRING A TENT' IF THEY INTEND ON STAYING. IT FOLLOWS A LISTING OFFERING A BED-SHARING ARRANGEMENT FOR $195 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON, WHO HAS LIVED IN QUEENSTOWN FOR 12 YEARS, DESCRIBES THE HOUSING SITUATION AS 'OUTRAGEOUS' AND 'DIRE', ADDING IT'S NO LONGER AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. THE MINIMUM FOR A ROOM THESE DAYS, MINIMUM, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, IS ABOUT $300. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A STUDIO APARTMENT, YOU KNOW, ATTACHED TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, 20 MINUTES OUT OF TOWN, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT MINIMUM $500-$600 A WEEK. KATE ROBINSON SAYS PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAVE TO SHARE A ROOM. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH BURNS AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING DURING A SEVERE STORM IN SYDNEY. THEY WERE SHELTERING UNDER A TREE AT THE TIME AND WERE ALL BRIEFLY KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THEY HAVE SUSTAINED ANY LONG TERM INJURIES. THE CITY SUSTAINED MORE THAN 75,000 LIGHTNING STRIKES THAT LEFT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER. MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AFTER A LANDSLIDE IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN. HEAVY RAIN AND SNOWFALL HIT THE REGION RECENTLY, CAUSING A HILLSIDE TO COLLAPSE. MORE THAN 25 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRAPPED UNDER DEBRIS FROM VILLAGES. FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD. CZECH FARMERS HAVE JOINED EUROPE WIDE PROTESTS, CLOGGING CENTRAL PRAGUE WITH TRACTORS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PROTESTERS. EUROPEAN FARMERS HAVE ENGAGED IN A CAMPAIGN OF PROTESTS AGAINST NEW EU REGULATIONS THEY SAY WILL MAKE THEIR LIVELIHOODS UNSUSTAINABLE. THE PROTESTS ARE SET TO CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK. THE AUSTRALIAN EQUESTRIAN STOOD DOWN WHILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT HIS FANCY DRESS COSTUME WAS INVESTIGATED HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING. HERE'S CHANNEL 9'S DAMIAN RYAN. YOU MAY NOT RECOGNISE OLYMPIC SHOWJUMPER SHANE ROSE WITH HIS CLOTHES ON BECAUSE HE'S THE MAN IN THE MANKINI WHO'S LEFT ONE FAN IN THE EQUESTRIAN WORLD CHOKING ON THEIR PIMMS. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE, UH, SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEBODY TOOK OFFENCE. OTHERS HAD A LAUGH. THAT'S AUSTRALIAN. (LAUGHS) MADE FAMOUS BY BORAT... NO, IT IS NOT A JOKE. ...ROSE TROTTED OUT THE SKIMPY COSTUME... (LAUGHTER) I COULD NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS! ...FOR A SHOW JUMPING FANCY DRESS COMPETITION AT THE WEEKEND IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS. A LOT OF MY FRIENDS ARE THERE, AND THEY'RE ALL LAUGHING ` 'OH MY GOD.' BUT EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA WASN'T ABLE TO SEE THE FUNNY SIDE. FORCED TO ACT ON THE SINGLE COMPLAINT, STANDING DOWN ROSE FROM COMPETITION, PENDING AN INQUIRY. IF I'VE OVERSTEPPED THE MARK, I'M SORRY FOR THAT. I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE. SHANE ROSE TAKING HIS THIRD AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM MEDAL. AND LATE THIS AFTERNOON, HIS PURSUIT FOR A FOURTH OLYMPIC MEDAL IN PARIS WAS BACK ON TRACK AFTER EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA RULED THE 50-YEAR-OLD WAS IN THE CLEAR. IT'S ALSO REVIEWING MINIMUM DRESS STANDARDS FOR FUTURE EVENTS. I THINK EVERYBODY WANTED TO SEE A RESOLUTION VERY QUICKLY. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, THE SPORT OF EQUESTRIAN HAS AN ELITE STATUS, MAYBE A LITTLE STUFFY AND FOR THE UPPER CLASS. BUT ONE RIDER IN A MANKINI MAY WELL HAVE HELPED BREAK THAT STIGMA. TO SPORT, AND THE CRUSADERS HAVE BEEN DEALT ANOTHER MAJOR BLOW JUST ONE WEEK OUT FROM THE START OF SUPER RUGBY. ALL BLACK WILL JORDAN HAS BEEN RULED OUT FOR THE SEASON THE FULLBACK SET TO HAVE SURGERY ON A PRE-EXISTING SHOULDER INJURY. IT'S THE SECOND LOSS FOR THE CRUSADERS BACKLINE AFTER WELSHMAN LEIGH HALFPENNY INJURED HIS PEC DURING THEIR PRE-SEASON MATCH AGAINST MUNSTER. JORDAN IS EXPECTED TO RETURN IN SIX MONTHS. KIWI GOLFER RYAN FOX HAS PULLED OUT OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOLF OPEN. IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, FOX SAID HIS PRIORITY IS IN SUCCEEDING ON THE PGA TOUR AND HE'LL BEING STAYING IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IT'LL BE THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT FOX WILL MISS THE OPEN. THE FOOTBALL FERNS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A FIFTH OLYMPIC GAMES, BEATING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN THE FINAL OF THE OCEANIA QUALIFIERS. THE FERNS SHOWING NO MERCY IN THE FINAL, BEATING THE SOLOMONS 11-1 WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PLAYERS GETTING ON THE SCORE SHEET. AND... WHAT A GOAL! KATIE KITCHING. AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEEN UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS AT THIS LEVEL OF OCEANIA FOOTBALL. COACH JITKA KLIMKOVA SAYS IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THEY CAN START PREPARING FOR THE OLYMPICS. I BELIEVE IT'S A SPECIAL FEELING FOR ME OR FOR ANYONE IN THIS TEAM. YOU KNOW, WE NOW KNOW WE GO TO PARIS. WE KNOW; WE CAN START PREPARING FOR IT. IT'S NOT JUST WHEN OR IF. WE ARE IN IT, AND WE WILL GET READY FOR THAT. THE FOOTBALL FERNS ARE THE SIXTH TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS. THE SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS ARE THE FIRST NRL SIDE TO HEAD TO THE U.S. FOR THE OPENING ROUND. FOUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TASK OF SHOWCASING THE LEAGUE IN LAS VEGAS IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD A NEW FAN BASE. CHANNEL 9'S TOM MARRIOT HAS MORE. IT WAS LIKE WAKING UP ON CHRISTMAS DAY. IT WAS MORE ABOUT NERVOUS, ABOUT GOING TO SLEEP. YOU'RE EXCITED. IT WAS LIKE SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TODAY. THE RABBITOHS OFF TO LAS VEGAS FOR THE HISTORIC NRL SEASON OPENING DOUBLE HEADER WITH A REMINDER THIS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER GAME. THERE'S NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT IT. THERE'S CERTAINLY A SENSE OF PRIVILEGE, THAT'S FOR SURE, TO REPRESENT THE GAME, THE NRL, BUT ALSO OUR CLUB. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET OVER THERE. IT'S ROUND ONE. EVERYONE'S EXCITED FOR ROUND ONE, BUT TO BE DOING IT IN VEGAS IS IS PRETTY SPECIAL. SOUTHS WILL SPEND THIS WEEK IN SAN DIEGO, ACCLIMATISING AND PREPARING FOR THE SEA EAGLES. DEMETRIOU DETERMINED NOT TO LET THE TEMPTATIONS OF SIN CITY DISTRACT HIS BUNNIES WHEN THEY ARRIVE. IF I'M EXPLAINING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE PLAYERS, THEN WE HAVEN'T DONE OUR JOBS THROUGH PRE-SEASON. I THINK THE WAY WE FINISHED OUR SEASON, THE WAY WE'VE BUILT OUR PRE-SEASON, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING OVER THERE FOR. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE SPEND TIME TOGETHER, THOUGH. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY. WE'RE TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT COME KICK-OFF, WE'LL BE READY TO GO. THE COACH, CONFIDENT CODY WALKER, WILL TAKE HIS PLACE AT ALLEGIANT STADIUM, DESPITE STRAINING HIS CALF DURING ALL-STARS WEEK. RUN THIS MORNING, SO HE'LL PROGRESS THROUGH THIS WEEK AND JOIN THE TEAM NEXT WEEK, AS LONG AS ALL GOES WELL. BUT HE'S IN A GREAT HEADSPACE. HE FEELS HE'S GONNA BE GOOD TO GO, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST TIME WE'VE HAD. JOSH SCHUSTER'S CALF HAS LET HIM DOWN AGAIN. THE SEA EAGLE RULED OUT OF ROUND ONE IN VEGAS, WHILE TOFF SIPLEY HAS DONE HIMSELF AND DOM YOUNG OUT OF THE MATCH AS WELL. HE'S ACCEPTED A THREE-GAME BAN FOR A CRUSHER TACKLE WHICH LEFT THE NEW ROOSTER WITH A NECK INJURY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. YOUR AFTERNOON FORECAST IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, THE TAYLOR SWIFT ROADSHOW HAS MOVED ON TO SYDNEY AS HER MAMMOTH 'ERAS' TOUR CONTINUES IN AUSTRALIAN. THE AMERICAN MUSIC SUPERSTAR JETTED OUT OF MELBOURNE YESTERDAY AFTER THREE SOLD OUT SHOWS AT THE MCG IN FRONT OF MORE THAN 280,000 FANS. DESPITE TIGHT SECURITY AND A SUMMER STORM, FANS STILL LINING UP TO CATCH A GLIMPSE. I STILL REALLY WANT TO SEE HER BECAUSE MY MUM TRIED TO GET TICKETS, AND SHE HAD FIVE DEVICES, BUT SHE COULDN'T. THE FIRST OF SWIFT'S FOUR SHOWS IN SYDNEY IS SET FOR FRIDAY NIGHT. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (BIG BAND COVER OF TAYLOR SWIFT'S 'SHAKE IT OFF') # I STAY OUT TOO LATE. # GOT NOTHING IN MY BRAIN. # THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY, MM-MM. # THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY, MM-MM. # I GO ON TOO MANY DATES, # BUT I CAN'T MAKE 'EM STAY. # AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY, MM-MM. # THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY, MM-MM. # BUT I KEEP CRUISIN'. # CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP MOVIN'. # IT'S LIKE I GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND # SAYIN' IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT. # COS THE PLAYERS GONNA PLAY, PLAY, PLAY. # AND THE HATERS GONNA HATE, HATE, HATE. # BABY, I'M JUST GONNA SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE. # SHAKE IT OFF. SHAKE IT OFF. THANKS FOR JOINING US. FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY KATE HARRIS AND COURTNEY SOLE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024