IT'S MIDDAY ` FRESH CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND RESTRICTIONS ON NEW VAPE STORES TO INCLUDE EXISTING LOCATIONS. ACCUSATIONS OF BLACKMAIL OVER FUNERAL PLANS FOR ALEXEI NAVALNY AS THE RUSSIAN ACTIVIST'S MOTHER IS FINALLY GIVEN ACCESS TO HIS BODY. PLUS ` IT'S SYDNEY'S TURN FOR TAYLOR-MANIA AS SWIFTIES LINE UP FOR THE MUSIC SUPERSTAR. CAPTIONS BY BILLY GARRATT-JOHN AND MAIA CARR HEKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 THE MOTHER OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION ACTIVIST ALEXEI NAVALNY, WHO DIED SUDDENLY IN PRISON, HAS ACCUSED OFFICIALS OF BLACKMAILING HER OVER HIS FUNERAL. MRS NAVALNAYA SAYS THEY'VE THREATENED TO DO SOMETHING TO HER SON'S BODY, UNLESS SHE AGREES TO A SECRET CEREMONY WITHOUT MOURNERS. THE BBC'S FRANK GARDNER REPORTS. ALEXEI NAVALNY, PRESIDENT PUTIN'S FIERCEST CRITIC, DEAD FOR NEARLY A WEEK. ONLY NOW HAS HIS MOTHER BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO HER SON'S BODY. SHE'S BEEN FORCED TO SIGN A CERTIFICATE SAYING HE DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES. TRANSLATOR: ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME ALEXEI'S BODY IMMEDIATELY. BUT THEY DIDN'T. INSTEAD, THEY BLACKMAIL ME. THEY PUT CONDITIONS WHERE, WHEN AND HOW ALEXEI SHOULD BE BURIED. THIS IS ILLEGAL. THEY RECEIVE ORDERS EITHER FROM THE KREMLIN OR FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE. NAVALNY DIED IN HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS GRIM ARCTIC PENAL COLONY KNOWN AS POLAR WOLF. HE WAS ONLY 47. HIS FAMILY AND SUPPORTERS BELIEVE HE WAS MURDERED ON ORDERS FROM THE KREMLIN, POSSIBLY WITH A NOVICHOK NERVE AGENT. RUSSIA DENIES IT. HIS MOTHER HAS ALREADY SPENT DAYS UP IN THE ARCTIC TRYING TO GET ACCESS TO HER SON'S BODY. THE DELAYS AND OFFICIAL STATEMENTS ARE ADDING TO SUSPICIONS OF A COVER UP. IT APPEARS THE KREMLIN DOES NOT WANT NAVALNY'S BODY TO LEAVE RUSSIA FOR FORENSIC TESTING. HIS MOTHER HAS HAD TO AGREE TO A SECRET FUNERAL. TRANSLATOR: I'M RECORDING THIS VIDEO BECAUSE THEY STARTED THREATENING ME, LOOKING ME IN THE EYE. THE INVESTIGATOR SAYS THAT IF I DON'T AGREE TO A SECRET FUNERAL, THEY WILL DO SOMETHING WITH MY SON'S BODY. THE INVESTIGATOR, VARAPAYEV, OPENLY TOLD ME, 'TIME IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU. THE CORPSES DECOMPOSE.' I DON'T WANT SPECIAL CONDITIONS. I JUST WANT EVERYTHING TO BE DONE ACCORDING TO THE LAW. I DEMAND RECEIVING MY SON'S BODY IMMEDIATELY. THE KREMLIN IS CALLING WESTERN REACTION TO NAVALNY'S DEATH HYSTERICAL. BUT HE WAS CONSIDERED BY MANY THE BEST HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR RUSSIA. HIS ENEMIES CLEARLY WANTED HIM GONE. THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS ABOUT TO ENTER ITS THIRD YEAR WITH IMMENSE MILITARY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. AS COURTNEY HAMMOND REPORTS, CIVILIANS HAVE ALSO BEEN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE, INCLUDING UKRAINE'S CHILDREN. NEARLY 2 YEARS SINCE UKRAINE'S BORDERS WERE BREACHED THE FIGHTING RAGES ON. UKRAINE'S CHILDREN PAYING THE PRICE. CHILDREN WITNESS VIOLENCE EVERY DAY. TWO THIRDS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AT LEAST ONCE. UNICEF HAVE BEEN DELIVERING HUMANITARIAN AID SINCE THE WAR BEGAN, BASED IN THE CAPITAL KYIV. THEY ARE TIRED OF THE ISOLATION, BEING IN BOMB SHELTERS. THEY WANT TO BE WITH OTHER CHILDREN THEIR OWN AGE AGAIN. THAT IS OVER SIX MONTHS, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, 1/4 OF THE TIME THEY'VE SPENT IN AIR RAID SHELTERS. SEEING CHILDREN WITH NERVOUS TICS, SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL, NIGHTMARES, DEPRESSION - ALL ALONG THAT MENTAL HEALTH SPECTRUM. UKRAINE'S ARMY IS HEAVILY OUTNUMBERED BY RUSSIA'S. THEY ARE TAKING VERY HEAVY CASUALTIES AND IT PLAYS INTO A NARRATIVE THAT UKRAINE CAN'T WIN. KYIV IS CONSIDERING LOWERING THE ENLISTMENT AGE, INCREASING THE POOL OF RECRUITS BY ABOUT 400,000. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS UPPING ITS SUPPORT. THE UK ANNOUNCED FRESH SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA OVERNIGHT. NEW ZEALAND HAS CONTRIBUTED A 26 MILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE. AFTER NEARLY 2 BRUTAL YEARS, THE WAR IS FAR FROM ENDING. UKRAINE ARE STILL FAR FROM FALLING. THE FAMILY OF FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS HAS EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE FOR THE MESSAGES OF LOVE, SUPPORT, AND COMFORT FOLLOWING HIS SUDDEN DEATH. THE GREEN MP WAS PARTICIPATING IN AN CHARITY EVENT IN AUCKLAND ON WEDNESDAY, WHEN HE COLLAPSED AND DIED. HE IS BEING REMEMBERED BY THE SOUTH AUCKLAND AND PACIFIC COMMUNITY AS A VOICE FOR HIS PEOPLE. HIS FAMILY SAY DETAILS OF HIS FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE CONFIRMED SHORTLY. A FATHER IS CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND RESTRICTIONS ON VAPING, AND GET RID OF ALL VAPE STORES WITHIN 300 METRES OF SCHOOLS. A LAW CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER BANNED NEW SPECIALISED VAPE SELLERS FROM OPENING NEAR SCHOOLS, BUT SUKHDEEP SINGH WANTS TO SEE IT TO INCLUDE EXISTING STORES. HE BELIEVES NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE FOR THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN. THEIR RULES ARE JUST A JOKE BY THE GOVERNMENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EDUCATION, MORE AWARENESS, ABOUT VAPING AMONGST KIDS. SCHOOLS CAN TAK RESPONSIBILITY TO SOME EXTENT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE A FORMAL TYPE OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AMONG KIDS. MR SINGH WANTS TO SEE STRICTER REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. I WANNA SEE THE ACTIONS, NOT JUST THE WORDS. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS WHEN I HAD A PROTEST, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. AND THOSE STORES THAT WERE OPEN BEFORE THE NEW REGULATIONS CAME IN, IN SEPTEMBER. SO I WANT TO KNOW, PERSONALLY, AS A FATHER, AS A PARENT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THOSE STORES? A RALLY IS PLANNED TOMORROW IN HASTINGS, PROTESTING A LACK OF ACTION FROM LAWMAKERS. HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE AN IMPROVEMENT IN VACCINATION RATES AGAINST MEASLES, WARNING NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN ARE AT RISK. CURRENT IMMUNISATION COVERAGE SITS AT 83%, BUT HEALTH EXPERTS SAY IT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE 95% NEEDED FOR HERD IMMUNITY. CLINICAL NURSE ROBYN TAYLOR SAYS WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF AN OUTBREAK. MEASLES DOESN'T CARE IF YOU ARE A MILLIONARIE OR IF YOU ARE LIVING IN POVERTY - IT WILL GET YOU NO MATTER WHAT. IT IS EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS. IT IS EIGHT TIMES MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN COVID. ROBYN TAYLOR SAYS THE BIGGEST RISK IS TO BABIES AND UNDER FIVES. THE UN'S FOOD AGENCY HAS PAUSED AID DELIVERIES TO NORTHERN GAZA BY LAND, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME TOO DANGEROUS. INSTEAD CRITICAL HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES ARE NOW BEING DROPPED FROM THE SKIES, AS THE BBC'S QUENTIN SOMMERVILLE REPORTS. THEY CALL THEMSELVES GUTS AIRLINE. THIS ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE FLIGHT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. THEY GET THEIR OXYGEN READY 17,000FT DIRECTLY ABOVE GAZA BEFORE THE CARGO DOORS OPEN. THE TARGET IS A JORDANIAN-RUN FIELD HOSPITAL IN GAZA CITY. THAT'S THE FIELD HOSPITAL HERE. IT WILL BE BROUGHT THERE. WOW. VERY PRECISE. INSIDE THESE PALLETS ` FUEL, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND RATION PACKS, ALL PAID FOR BY THE UK. THE AREA BELOW ME HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A WASTELAND. THERE ARE STILL 300,000 PALESTINIANS REMAINING THERE. THE UN SAYS THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS ON THE GROUND, AND CAN NO LONGER OFFER HELP. BUT THIS AID SENT INTO THE NIGHT SKY AT LEAST MANAGED TO GET THROUGH. IT LANDED RIGHT ON TARGET. AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FLIGHT, THIS TIME IN EGYPT, NOT FAR FROM GAZA'S SOUTHERN BORDER, ON ANOTHER MERCY MISSION, KHALUD AND HER FAMILY WERE TRAPPED IN GAZA FOR MONTHS. THEY'RE HEADING NOW TO ABU DHABI ON THIS SPECIAL FLIGHT ORGANISED BY THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. YOU CAN SEE THE RELIEF ON THE FACES WITH SOME OF THEM AND THE STRESS ON OTHERS. THE REASON THEY'RE BEING EVACUATED IS BECAUSE GAZA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS COLLAPSING. THE PLANE HAS BECOME AN AIR AMBULANCE, TAKING SICK AND INJURED PALESTINIAN CHILDREN LIKE HASSAN (13), FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. TRANSLATOR: MY DREAM IS TO BE ABLE TO WALK ON MY LEGS AGAIN, GET BACK TO HOW I WAS. PLAY FOOTBALL WITH MY FRIENDS AND FOR THE WAR TO END, SO I CAN GO BACK TO MY COUNTRY. IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, BUT HERE IN ABU DHABI THEY ARE NOW OUT OF HARM'S WAY. BUT WHILE THE WAR RAGES IN GAZA, THEY'LL HAVE LITTLE RESPITE KNOWING THAT THOSE LEFT BEHIND ARE STILL FAR FROM SAFE. THERE ARE FEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN TWO FIERCELY BURNING BLOCKS OF FLATS IN THE SPANISH CITY OF VALENCIA. MORE THAN 20 FIRE CREWS HAVE BEEN TACKLING THE BLAZE, WITH AT LEAST SIX FIREFIGHTERS AMONG THE MORE THAN A DOZEN INJURED SO FAR. SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN RESCUED, INCLUDING A COUPLE ON THE 7TH FLOOR OF THE 14 STOREY COMPLEX. BUT LOCAL MEDIA REPORT MORE MAY HAVE BEEN TRAPPED BY THE FAST MOVING FLAMES. AND HOMES MAY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY A MAJOR BUSHFIRE IN THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA. MORE THAN 1000 FIRE CREWS ARE BATTLING THE BLAZE, WITH CONTINUED HIGH TEMPERATURES AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED TODAY. THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN VICTORIA'S WEST HAVE BEEN URGED TO LEAVE. MY WIFE'S ALREADY DONE THAT - MY DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND AND SHE'S TAKEN THE KIDS. I'M BLOODY REAL WORRIED, YEAH. I- I- I CAN'T THINK. I'M JUST SORT OF, YEAH, I'VE GOT THAT REAL SICK IN ME TUMMY. EXTREME FIRE WARNINGS HAVE ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA. AND AUSTRALIA'S BEEN GRIPPED BY THE LATEST IN THE CASE OF A MISSING TV PERSONALITY AND HIS PARTNER IN SYDNEY. OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT AZIZ AL SA'AFIN IS STANDING BY WITH UPDATES. AZIZ, TELL US MORE. LET'S START WITH THOSE OVERNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS. POLICE NAMING CONSTABLE BOE LAMAR AS A PERSON OF INTEREST. POLICE HAVE SEARCHED THE HOME OF CONSTABLE LAMAR AND HAVE SEE SOME ITEMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO STATE HE IS ALSO MISSING. THEY STATE THAT HE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY WOULD STILL LIKE TO SPEAK TO HIM IN REGARDS TO THIS CASE. ITEMS OF THE COUPLE WERE FOUND IN A SKIP BIN INCLUDING CREDIT CARDS AND A PHONE. POLICE CONDUCTED A SEARCH OF THE COUPLE SHARED HOME AROUND 30 KM AWAY, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. POLICE REVEALED THERE WAS ACTIVITY ON ONE OF THEIR PHONES THE DAY AFTER THEY WERE REPORTED MISSING. THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD A PICTURE OF THE COUPLE'S LAST MOVEMENTS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, THE MISSION TAKING THE U.S BACK TO THE MOON - JUST MOMENTS AWAY FROM TOUCHING DOWN ON THE LUNAR SURFACE. PLUS, OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIAN AND HALBERG WINNER BAGS ANOTHER BIG ACCOLADE. TAYLOR-MANIA'S DESCENDED ON SYDNEY WITH MUSIC SUPERSTAR TAYLOR SWIFT SET TO TAKE TO THE STAGE FOR THE FIRST OF HER FOUR SHOWS IN THE CITY TONIGHT. A LAST MINUTE RELEASE OF TICKETS SPARKING HUGE QUEUES OF DESPERATE SWIFTIES WHILE THOUSANDS MORE LINED UP TO GET THEIR HANDS ON OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE. THE AIRPORT ALSO SEEING EXTRATRAFFIC AS FANS JET IN FOR THE CONCERTS. I CAME FROM THE PHILIPPINES. I THINK IT WAS EIGHT HOURS OF FLYING. I'VE COME FROM NEW ZEALAND AND I'M HERE TO SEE TAYLOR. SWIFT'S PARTNER SUPER BOWL WINNING NFL PLAYER TRAVIS KELCE ALSO TOUCHED DOWN IN SYDNEY YESTERDAY, JOINING THE SINGER WHO'S HOLED UP IN THE $40,000 A NIGHT 'PRESIDENTIAL VILLA' AT THE CROWN TOWERS. IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES FROM NOW, WE'RE EXPECTING A MOON LANDING BY THE FIRST AMERICAN-MADE SPACECRAFT IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. IF SUCCESSFUL, IT WILL ALSO BECOME THE FIRST PRIVATE OUTFIT TO TOUCH DOWN ON OUR CELESTIAL SATELLITE. THE BBC'S VICTORIA GILL REPORTS. IM-1 ODYSSEUS LUNAR LANDER SEPARATION CONFIRMED. IT'S A SPACECRAFT THAT COULD MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST EVER COMMERCIAL LANDER TO REACH THE LUNAR SURFACE, MARKING A RETURN TO THE MOON FOR THE UNITED STATES. THE MISSION IS BEING RUN BY A COMPANY CALLED INTUITIVE MACHINES, BUT NASA IS HITCHING A RIDE ON THE LANDER, PAYING TO CARRY SIX SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS. IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF OPERATING FOR THE U.S SPACE AGENCY. IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION - WHY GO BACK TO THE MOON? WE WERE THERE. WELL, WE GO BACK IN A DIFFERENT WAY WITH COMMERCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. WE'RE HAVING THESE LANDERS ALMOST BECOME SCOUTS FOR OUR HUMAN MISSIONS TO LAND ON THE MOON. IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS SINCE THE UNITED STATES LANDED ON THE MOON THE LAST TIME WAS IN 1972 AND THIS IS WHERE APOLLO 17 SET DOWN. BEFORE THAT, THERE WERE FIVE OTHER APOLLO MISSIONS THAT MADE IT DOWN TO THE LUNAR SURFACE, AND THEY WERE ALL AROUND THE MOON'S EQUATOR BUT NOW THE UNITED STATES IS HEADING DOWN TO THE SOUTH POLE, AND THIS IS THE LANDING SITE OF THE NEW INTUITIVE MACHINES MISSION. IT'S THE FURTHEST SOUTH A SPACECRAFT HAS EVER BEEN, AND IT'S PAVING THE WAY FOR NASA'S ARTEMIS ASTRONAUTS, WHO WILL BE EXPLORING THIS SAME POLAR REGION IN A FEW YEARS TIME. SO, WHY GO HERE? THE AREA IS COVERED IN DEEP CRATERS, SOME PERMANENTLY IN SHADOW, AND SCIENTISTS THINK FROZEN WATER COULD BE INSIDE. IF WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT ICE ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON, THAT'S LESS MATERIALS WE HAVE TO BRING WITH US. WE CAN USE THAT ICE TO CONVERT IT TO WATER. DRINKABLE DRINKING WATER. WE CAN EXTRACT OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN FOR FUEL AND FOR BREATHING FOR THE ASTRONAUTS SO IT REALLY HELPS US IN HUMAN EXPLORATION. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS STILL TO COME. HISTORICALLY, ONLY ABOUT HALF OF ALL SPACECRAFT HAVE SAFELY MADE IT DOWN BUT IF THIS SUCCEEDS, A NEW ERA OF LUNAR EXPLORATION WILL HAVE BEGUN. AND TOUCHDOWN IS EXPECTED JUST BEFORE THE HALF HOUR. WE'LL BRING YOU AN UPDATE ONCE WE HAVE IT. TO SPORT, AND FOR THE FOURTH TIME DAME LISA CARRINGTON HAS BEEN AWARDED THE LONSDALE CUP, THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE'S TOP PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AN OLYMPIC OR COMMONWEALTH SPORT. THE FIVE TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST PRESENTED THE TROPHY AFTER A PRACTICE SESSION THIS MORNING. CARRINGTON SAYS IT'S NICE TO SEE THE SPORT OF CANOEING GETTING MORE RECOGNITION. IN SPORT, YOU CAN'T DO A LOT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND THE RESOURCE. SO, I THINK IT'S JUST SO GREAT THAT WE GET MORE VISIBILITY, AND HOPEFULLY IT, KIND OF, GENERATES A BIT MORE POPULARITY MAYBE WE GET MORE PEOPLE, YOUNG KIDS PADDLING, EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER AGE. I THINK IT'S JUST EXCITING. THE 34-YEAR-OLD WILL HEAD TO EUROPE IN MAY WHERE SHE WILL BE BASED LEADING INTO JULY'S PARIS OLYMPICS. THE BLACKCAPS HAVE WELCOMED BACK VETERAN PACE BOWLER TRENT BOULT AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S SECOND T-20 AGAINST AUSTRALIA. BOULT'S NO LONGER A REGULAR FIXTURE IN THE TEAM AFTER DECLINING A CONTRACT WITH NEW ZEALAND CRICKET TO PLAY OVERSEES. ASSISTANT COACH DEAN BROWNLIE SAYS HE BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE. EVERY TEAM IN THE WORLD WANTS A TRENT BOULT, SO, GREAT TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD FOR THE LAST TWO GAMES, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT HE CAN DO UP TOP, AND IN THE POWER PLAY COS HE BOWLS INCREDIBLE DEPTH FOR US AS WELL. SO, HUGE, HUGE PLAYER FOR US, LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM RUNNING IN TONIGHT. THE LAST TIME BOULT PLAYED A T20 FOR THE BLACKCAPS WAS AGAINST PAKISTAN IN 2022. AND YOU CAN WATCH THE MATCH LIVE AND FREE RIGHT HERE ON TVNZ 1 AND TVNZ+ FROM 6:55 TONIGHT. THE TALL BLACKS HAVE COMFORTABLY WON THEIR OPENING FIBA 2025 ASIA CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST CHINESE TAIPEI. AFTER LEADING BY JUST FIVE POINTS AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER, NEW ZEALAND UPPED THE TEMPO IN THE FOURTH, GOING ON TO WIN 89-69. THEIR NEXT QUALIFYING MATCH IS IN NEW ZEALAND AGAINST HONG KONG ON SUNDAY, LIVE AND FREE ON TVNZ+. THE SUPERCARS WILL MAKE THEIR RETURN THIS WEEKEND AT AUSTRALIA'S HOME OF MOTORSPORT, MOUNT PANORAMA. THE 24 CAR FIELD HAS ARRIVED IN BATHURST FOR 2 RACES. KIWI ROOKIE JAXON EVANS ONE OF FIVE NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND SAYS HE'S READY TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. YEAH, LOOK, I THINK THE MAIN FEELING THAT I'M GOING THROUGH AT THE MOMENT IS EXCITEMENT. JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET ON TRACK, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY HAD THAT FIRST TASTE OF DRIVING AT THE TEST DAY, BUT NOW TO BE HERE AT BATHURST, AND TO BE GEARING UP FOR ROUND 1, IT'S REALLY EXCITING. PRACTICE SESSION WILL START LATER TODAY WITH RACE ONE ON SATURDAY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. PLUS ` THE MIND BENDING REASON WHY THIS ROAD HAS BEEN LABELLED THE MOST DANGEROUS IN BRITAIN. A HIGH STREET IN ENGLAND'S SOUTH-WEST HAS BEEN BRANDED BRITAIN'S MOST DANGEROUS ROAD BECAUSE OF A RECENT FIX TO ITS CYCLE LANE. DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FALLING AND INJURING THEMSELVES. THE BBC'S DAN JOHNSON EXPLAINS WHY. CAREFUL NOW, WATCH YOUR STEP. THE MEAN STREETS OF KEYNSHAM CAN BE TRICKY, AND THIS DECEPTIVE CYCLE LANE'S CLAIMED MANY VICTIMS. WE'VE SEEN THREE PEOPLE FALL. SO THIS IS SERIOUS. IT IS SERIOUS, YEAH, BECAUSE IT BASICALLY CREATES AN OPTICAL ILLUSION, BECAUSE THE LEVELS AREN'T UNIFORM. AND I FELL OVER OPPOSITE COFFEE ONE, AND I FELL OVER OPPOSITE THE CHIP SHOP. KAREN'S COME A CROPPER BEFORE. IF I'M TOO NEAR THE EDGE OF THE KERB, WALLOP. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, YOU'RE WALKING DOWN, IT LOOKS LEVEL. THIS IS THE DANGER ZONE. PEOPLE WALK ALONG HERE AND DON'T NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE, AND THEY SLIP THERE. BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE THE SMALL DROP. THEY DON'T SEE THE SMALL DROP. AND WE GO FROM THE CYCLE LANE TO THE BUFFER AREA, BUT IT'S SMOOTH. AND THEN DOWN AGAIN. YEAH. AND THAT'S WHAT GETS PEOPLE. THERE ARE QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WON'T COME DOWN THE HIGH STREET BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID. IT'S A LITTLE OLD LADY. I THINK SHE WAS IN HER 90S. SHE TRIPPED OVER JUST HERE AND SHE KNOCKED HER TEETH OUT. YEAH. SO WE HAD TO PUT HER TEETH IN SOME MILK, AND WE MADE SURE SHE WAS ALL RIGHT BEFORE THE AMBULANCE CAME AND TOOK HER AWAY. AND THIS OPTICIAN SEES THE PROBLEM CLEARLY. THEY JUST NEED TO MAKE IT FLAT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WALK OFF THE EDGE OF A PAVEMENT, YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE THE FINAL LAYER. BUT THAT EXTRA SECOND STEP, PEOPLE JUST GO FLYING. BUSINESSES ARE NOW RECORDING THE SLIPS AND TRIPS. THE COUNCIL ALREADY PAINTED IT RED TO TRY TO MAKE IT STAND OUT MORE, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MADE MUCH DIFFERENCE. NOW THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE THIS CONTINUOUS WHITE LINE WITH A BROKEN LINE INSTEAD. AND ON THE ROAD ITSELF, THEY'RE GOING TO PAINT YELLOW LINES. EVEN AT NIGHT TIME. IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IS A GLOW IN THE DARK OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, OR REMOVE IT. YEAH. MY WIFE TELLS ME OFF IF I WALK DOWN HERE, IN CASE I DON'T COME BACK. SO, FOR NOW, EVERYONE'S TREADING CAREFULLY HERE. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAYS WEATHER. (VANCE JOY'S VERSION OF 'I KNOW PLACES' BY TAYLOR SWIFT) # YOU STAND WITH YOUR HAND ON MY WAISTLINE # IT'S A SCENE, AND WE'RE OUT HERE IN PLAIN SIGHT # I CAN HEAR THEM WHISPER AS WE PASS BY, IT'S A BAD SIGN, BAD SIGN. # SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN EVERYBODY FINDS OUT, # SEE THE VULTURES CIRCLING, DARK CLOUDS. # LOVE'S A FRAGILE LITTLE FLAME, IT COULD BURN OUT, IT COULD BURN OUT. # CAUSE THEY GOT THE CAGES, THEY GOT THE BOXES AND GUNS, # THEY ARE THE HUNTERS, WE ARE THE FOXES, AND WE RUN. # BABY, I KNOW PLACES WE WON'T BE FOUND, THANKS FOR JOINING US, FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY BILLY GARRATT-JOHN AND MAIA CARR HEKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024