FISHERIES OFFICERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT 'A REAL WASTE' ` HUNDREDS OF DEAD SNAPPER WASHED UP ON A NORTHERN BEACH. GRAVE FEARS FOR TWO MISSING SYDNEY MEN AFTER A POLICE OFFICER HANDED HIMSELF IN AND WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER. PLANS HAVE BEEN FINALISED FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE TO MARK THE DEATH OF GREEN MP FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS. AND A SURVEY REVEALS A GROWING NUMBER OF KIWIS FEAR MISSING A MORTGAGE PAYMENT OR EVEN LOSING THEIR JOBS. CAPTIONS BY ALEX WALKER AND TUI TIPENE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA, GOOD EVENING. FISHERIES OFFICERS PLAN TO INTERVIEW THE SKIPPER AND CREW OF TWO COMMERCIAL VESSELS AFTER HUNDREDS OF DEAD SNAPPER WERE FOUND FLOATING IN THE WATER AND ON BEACHES NORTH OF AUCKLAND. THEY SAY THE SITUATION IS DISAPPOINTING AND A WASTE OF A VALUABLE RESOURCE. AND ONE MAJOR FISHING COMPANY COULD BE TO BLAME, ALTHOUGH THEY SAY IT WAS ACCIDENTAL, NOT DELIBERATE. INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MORRAH HAS THE STORY. THE DECAYING REMAINS OF SNAPPER STILL LITTER THE BEACH AT ANCHOR BAY. NOT THE BEST FOR SWIMMING, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT EITHER. IT'S WASTE FROM A COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATION ` LEFT TO THE SUN AND SEAGULLS. PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF FISH DOWN TAWHARANUI. JUST ALL OVER THE BAY, FLOATING DEAD AND WASHED UP ON THE BEACH. JUST ALL OVER THE BAY, FLOATING DEAD AND WASHED UP ON THE BEACH. MATT FAIRBROTHER SAYS IT'S DISHEARTENING TO SEE SUCH WASTE. HE NOTICED FISH LITTERING THE BEACH YESTERDAY, AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME HE'S WITNESSED IT. I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES ALL OVER THE GULF, EVEN IN THE RANGI CHANNEL. IT'S A REAL WASTE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AFTER THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERY HERE IN THE HAURAKI GULF, SO IT IS OF GREAT CONCERN. MPI CAN TRACK COMMERCIAL VESSELS IN REAL TIME, AND LATE THIS AFTERNOON, MOANA NEW ZEALAND ACKNOWLEDGED IT COULD BE TO BLAME, SAYING ONE OF ITS CONTRACT VESSELS LOST POWER WHILE AT SEA. THE RESULTING SPLIT SAW SOME FISH FALL BACK IN THE WATER. THE HAURAKI GULF IS ALREADY UNDER QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE, SO IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING. MOANA NEW ZEALAND WOULD NOT CLARIFY WHEN ASKED BY NEWSHUB WHETHER THE CREW ON ITS CONTRACT VESSEL NOTIFIED MPI OF THE FISH IT LOST OR IF THEY GOT IN TOUCH AFTER VIDEO STARTED CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE VESSELS LINKED TO THE DUMP OF SNAPPER WERE DUE TO HAVE CAMERAS INSTALLED AS PART OF THE MINISTRY'S ROLL-OUT ` A ROLLOUT THAT'S NOW FACING UNCERTAINTY, WITH THE FISHERIES MINISTER SHANE JONES SIGNALLING A REVIEW. WITH THE NEW FISHERIES MINISTER SHANE JONES SIGNALLING A REVIEW. THE MINISTER TOLD NEWSHUB, 'I'VE ASKED OFFICIALS TO LOOK AT THE CAMERAS ON BOATS PROGRAMME 'FOR A RANGE OF REASONS,' AND IS AWAITING ADVICE. MPI SAYS CAMERA FOOTAGE WOULD AID THEIR INQUIRIES IN INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. YES, ABSOLUTELY. IT WOULD BE USEFUL IN THIS SCENARIO. LOCALS NEWSHUB SPOKE TO SAY IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THE MINISTER MEDDLING IN THE ALREADY LONG DEBATED PROGRAMME. HE SHOULD JUST WAKE UP A BIT AND DO SOME RESEARCH ABOUT IT. NO HARM, NO FOUL. IF YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY NOT HAVE THEM ON? MPI SAYS IT'LL BE INTERVIEWING THE SKIPPER AND CREW FROM THE TWO VESSELS BEFORE DECIDING WHAT ACTION, IF ANY, THEY'LL TAKE. MICHAEL MORRAH, NEWSHUB. AN AUSTRALIAN POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TWO MEN IN SYDNEY. BLOODIED POSSESSIONS OF A FORMER TV PRESENTER AND HIS FLIGHT ATTENDANT BOYFRIEND HAD EARLIER BEEN DISCOVERED AS WELL AS EVIDENCE OF A SCUFFLE IN ONE OF THEIR HOMES. JULIET SPEEDY REPORTS. THIS YOUNG COUPLE IN THEIR PRIME, RECENTLY HIGH ON LIFE AT A PINK CONCERT. # NEVER GONNA NOT DANCE AGAIN. # IT'S NOW THOUGHT THEY'RE BOTH DEAD. THIS MORNING, JUST AFTER 10.30AM, POLICE ARRESTED A 28-YEAR-OLD MAN IN RELATION TO THE SUSPICIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF TWO MEN. FORMER CHANNEL 10 PRESENTER JESSE BAIRD AND HIS BOYFRIEND, QANTAS FLIGHT ATTENDANT LUKE DAVIES, HAVE BEEN MISSING SINCE MONDAY. DETECTIVES SAID THEY WERE WANTING TO SPEAK TO POLICE OFFICER BEAU LAMARRE, BUT THIS AFTERNOON, HE HANDED HIMSELF IN AND WAS THEN CHARGED WITH MURDER. CHARGES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR TWO COUNTS OF MURDER, AND HE WILL BE FORMALLY REFUSED BAIL BY POLICE. LAMARRE ALLEGEDLY ONCE DATED JESSE BAIRD, WHO SAID THE YOUNG CONSTABLE WAS RECENTLY AGGRESSIVELY STALKING HIM. POLICE SEIZED THIS SECURITY VISION, WHICH APPEARS TO SHOW THE COUPLE NEAR BAIRD'S PADDINGTON HOME. NEITHER HAVE BEEN SEEN SINCE. POLICE ALLEGE LAMARRE RENTED THIS VAN TO TRANSPORT THE BODIES. WITNESSES DESCRIBED A VERBAL ARGUMENT. IT WAS ONLY REPORTED TO POLICE YESTERDAY. I'M A BIT SURPRISED, BECAUSE WE DON'T USUALLY HAVE THESE SORT OF DRAMAS HAPPENING. POLICE DISCOVERED CLOTHES, AN $8000 WATCH AND CREDIT CARDS IN THIS SKIP BIN IN CRONULLA. THESE ITEMS BELONGED TO THE COUPLE AND LED POLICE HERE. SINCE THEN, THE PROPERTY RENTED BY BAIRD HAS BEEN SWARMING WITH POLICE. THERE'S BEEN BLOOD FOUND AT BOTH LOCATIONS ` BOTH THE PADDINGTON ADDRESS AND IN THE BIN. THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF DETECTIVES, POLICE, FORENSICS. ITEM AFTER ITEM WAS TAKEN FROM THE HOME FOR TESTING. NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE NOW HAVE THEIR COLLEAGUE IN CUSTODY AS THE MAN THEY ALLEGE MURDERED THIS COUPLE WITH HIS POLICE-ISSUED GUN. JULIET SPEEDY, NEWSHUB. A GROWING NUMBER OF KIWIS FEAR THEY'LL MISS THEIR MORTGAGE OR RENT PAYMENTS. A RESERVE BANK SURVEY ALSO REVEALED RISING ANXIETY ABOUT JOB LOSSES. AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS, THE RESULTS COULD INFLUENCE THE CENTRAL BANK'S INTEREST RATE DECISION NEXT WEEK. TE UIRA WORKS CASUAL HOURS DOING TRAFFIC CONTROL WORK. BUT HE WANTS MORE. I'D LIKE TO GET A GOOD JOB THAT GETS A GOOD PAY, AND THEN YOU'RE ABLE TO GET GOOD HOURS. BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE TALKING, EH, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GOING AROUND. HE'S RIGHT. DATA FROM SEEK SHOWS APPLICATIONS PER JOB AD HAVE INCREASED IN ALMOST ALL INDUSTRIES, AND A RESERVE BANK SURVEY SHOWS A SHARP RISE IN HOW LIKELY PEOPLE THINK IT IS THEY'LL LOSE THEIR JOB IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. AND I'M HAVING TO GET ME A PERSONAL LOAN BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION. TESS PORTER MANAGES THE MT ROSKILL BRANCH OF THE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU. SHE'S OBSERVED A RISE IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS. A REAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON CASUAL WORK ` INSECURE WORK, WHERE THEIR HOURS HAVE DROPPED, THEIR INCOMES HAVE DROPPED, PARTICULARLY OVER THAT HOLIDAY PERIOD. AND THAT'S CAUSING SOME REAL STRESS. UM, AND YOU GET THINGS LIKE THE INCREASING RENTS ON TOP OF THAT. THE RESERVE BANK SURVEYED 1000 NEW ZEALAND RESIDENTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR TO MONITOR EXPECTATIONS AROUND RENT AND MORTGAGE SERVICEABILITY AS WELL AS EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AND FOUND THAT ACROSS ALL THREE, ANXIETY IS RISING. PEOPLE WERE ASKED HOW LIKELY IT WAS THEY COULD MISS A MORTGAGE PAYMENT IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE INCREASED FROM 12.4% TO 17.3%. THE SAME WAS ASKED OF RENTERS. THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE ROSE FROM 16.2% TO 18%. FOR CONTEXT, AVERAGE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS INCREASED BY 27.5% IN THE YEAR TO JUNE, MAKING PROPERTY OWNERSHIP EXPENSIVE FOR LANDLORDS, WHO OFTEN PASS ON THE COSTS TO RENTERS. OUR ARGUMENT IS THAT THE RESERVE BANK DOES NOT NEED TO RAISE INTEREST RATES FURTHER. THE PAIN IS BEING FELT NOW. PAIN THAT'S BEING FELT HERE IN SHOPPING DISTRICTS. RETAIL SPENDING HAS FALLEN FOR THE EIGHTH QUARTER IN A ROW. JARROD KERR BELIEVES THE RESERVE BANK WILL TAKE ALL OF THE ECONOMIC PAIN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING ITS OFFICIAL CASH RATE DECISION NEXT WEEK. THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL KEEP THEM FROM HIKING FURTHER. ANOTHER WORRY FOR A POPULATION ALREADY HARBOURING A LOT OF ANXIETIES. ZANE SMALL, NEWSHUB. PLANS FOR GREEN MP FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS' PUBLIC FUNERAL SERVICE HAVE BEEN FINALISED. AND WHILE HIS FAMILY CONTINUES TO COME TO TERMS WITH HIS DEATH, LABOUR MP WILLIE JACKSON SAYS THE COUNTRY HAS LOST ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LEADERS OF THE LAST GENERATION. LAURA TUPOU REPORTS. THIS IS FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS' HOME FOR NOW, WHERE HE'LL LIE IN STATE UNTIL HIS FINAL GOODBYES. FAMILY SPOKESPERSON TAITO EDDIE TUIAVII SAYS FA'ANANA'S CLOSE FAMILY ARE DEVASTATED. JUST TRYING TO COME TO TERMS, STRUGGLING TO FIND THE WORDS, JUST REALLY BROKEN. HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER, KAPERIELA, WHO'S 11, IS STRUGGLING. SHE'S LOST HER DADDY. SHE'S ALWAYS HAD HER DADDY AROUND, AND IT'S VERY TOUGH. IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING TO WATCH HER TRY TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT DADDY'S GONE. ASALEMO, BEAUTIFUL ASALEMO, 3 YEARS OLD, DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. IN HER WORDS, 'DADDY'S SLEEPING'. BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTBREAKING. FA'ANANA IS BEING REMEMBERED FOR HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO POLITICS, STARTING OUT AS STUDENT PRESIDENT AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY IS THE CRITIC AND CONSCIENCE OF SOCIETY. THEIR JOB IS TO STAND UP TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SAY, 'THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.' THEY'RE NOT DOING IT BY RUBBERSTAMPING THIS DECISION. HE'D BEEN A LABOUR PARTY MEMBER TURNED GREEN POLITICIAN AND WAS WIDELY ADMIRED AND RESPECTED. GOVERNMENT MINISTER ERICA STANFORD REVEALED ON A.M. SHE EVEN TRIED TO SEE IF HE'D JOIN THE NATIONAL PARTY. I DID, BECAUSE ACTUALLY, HE JUST IS A GUY THAT WANTS TO GET STUFF DONE FOR HIS COMMUNITY. THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT SERVICE, AND WE WOULD'VE PROBABLY` OR I WOULD HAVE GLADLY TAKEN HIM AS WELL. FA'ANANA AND STANFORD WERE ON THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL TOGETHER. YOU HAD THE LEFT CROWD AND THE RIGHT CROWD, BUT HE JUST BROUGHT EVERYONE TOGETHER. HE HAD THAT INCREDBLE ABILITY TO JUST CUT THROUGH ALL THE POLITICS. HE HAD THAT INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO JUST CUT THROUGH ALL THE POLITICS. AND HE WAS JUST GENUINELY A LOVELY HUMAN. LABOUR MP WILLIE JACKSON SAYING HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PACIFIC ISLAND LEADERS` MAYBE LEADERS ` NOT JUST PACIFIC ISLAND LEADERS ` LEADERS OF THE LAST GENERATION, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SAD WEEKEND IN TERMS OF HIS WHANAU. WISH THEM ALL THE BEST. BECAUSE TO THE PUBLIC, HE WAS A COMMUNITY MAN, A POLITICIAN, BUT WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME IN OTAHUHU... IT WAS STRAIGHT DADDY DUTIES. HE LOVED HIS GIRLS; HE ADORED THEM, AND THEY ADORED HIM. AS DID HIS WIFE FIA. A FAMILY WHO HAVE LOST THEIR ANCHOR BUT HAVE BEEN SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AFTER HIS DEATH. KIA ORA, LAURA. WHEN AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE PAY THEIR RESPECTS? 12PM NEXT THURSDAY AT DEWDROP EVENTS CENTRE IN MANUKAU IS WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO CELEBRATE FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS' LIFE. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE INVITATION TO TIPENE FUNERALS IN ONEHUNGA IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE MEMORIAL WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY OVER A CUP OF TEA. THEY HAVE PUT UP A COUPLE OF MARQUEES THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE THEY ARE ANTICIPATING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO COME DOWN. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION, THE FAMILY IS ASKING YOU TO DO SO VIA THEIR GIVE A LITTLE PAGE. AS WE SAW IN THAT STORY, HE ABSOLUTELY CHERISHED THEM. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS MET WITH THE WIDOW AND DAUGHTER OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY, WHO DIED LAST WEEK IN PRISON UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. IT COMES AS RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES ARE PRESSURING NAVALNY'S MOTHER TO AGREE TO A SECRET BURIAL OF HIS BODY. CBS'S NANCY CORDES REPORTS. THE PICTURES SHOW PRESIDENT BIDEN EMBRACING AND SITTING WITH ALEXEI NAVALNY'S WIDOW AND DAUGHTER IN A SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL ROOM ONE WEEK AFTER NAVALNY'S SUSPICIOUS DEATH IN A RUSSIAN PENAL COLONY. HE WAS A MAN OF INCREDIBLE COURAGE, AND IT'S AMAZING HOW HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER... ARE EMULATING THAT. NAVALNY'S DAUGHTER, DASHA, IS A STUDENT AT NEARBY STANFORD UNIVERSITY. HER MOTHER FLEW TO CALIFORNIA TO COMFORT HER AFTER MEETING WITH EUROPEAN LEADERS AND VOWING TO CARRY ON HER HUSBAND'S WORK. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) 'BY KILLING ALEXEI, PUTIN KILLED HALF OF ME,' SHE SAID. IN RUSSIA, NAVALNY'S MOTHER SAID TODAY THAT SHE HAD FINALLY BEEN TAKEN TO A MORGUE TO SEE THE BODY. SHE WAS TOLD HE DIED OF 'NATURAL CAUSES' AND SAID THAT SHE WAS BEING PRESSURED TO HOLD A PRIVATE BURIAL CEREMONY AS RUSSIAN POLICE TRY TO HEAD OFF MORE PROTESTS OVER HIS DEATH. 'THEY WANT IT DONE SECRETLY,' SHE SAID. 'I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.' A DEFIANT PUTIN FLEXED HIS MUSCLE TODAY, FLYING ON A NUCLEAR-CAPABLE STRATEGIC BOMBER, EVEN AS THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES PREPARE TO UNVEIL NEW SANCTIONS TOMORROW, AIMED AT HOBBLING HIS MILITARY. AT A CALIFORNIA FUNDRAISER LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLED PUTIN A 'CRAZY S.O.B.' PUTIN SHRUGGED IT OFF IN AN INTERVIEW WITH STATE TV. 20-YEAR-OLD RESTRICTIONS STOPPING SOME WOULD-BE DONORS FROM GIVING BLOOD OR PLASMA WILL BE LIFTED NEXT THURSDAY. FROM THEN, PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE UK, FRANCE OR THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND BETWEEN 1980 AND 1996 WILL BE ABLE TO DONATE. THE RESTRICTION WAS IN PLACE DUE TO THE MAD COW DISEASE OUTBREAK DURING THAT PERIOD. THE NEW ZEALAND BLOOD SERVICE ESTIMATES IT LOST AROUND 8% TO 10% OF DONORS WHEN THE RESTRICTION WAS INTRODUCED. NORTHLAND BUSINESSES ARE FACING MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF DISRUPTION AS WAKA KOTAHI CARRIES OUT REPAIR WORK ON STATE HIGHWAY 1 IN THE BRYNDERWYNS. THE HIGHWAY WAS DAMAGED IN CYCLONE GABRIELLE, AND THE NINE-WEEK REPAIR JOB WILL COST MORE THAN $60M. GRACE THOMAS REPORTS. THIS WAS THE DESTRUCTION CYCLONE GABRIELLE LEFT BEHIND ON THE BRYNDERWYN HILLS LAST YEAR. IT'S STILL NOT BEEN FULLY REPAIRED, AND NOW THE ROUGHLY 10KM STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY 1 IS CLOSING FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF WORK. WE'RE GOING TO BE DIGGING INTO THE HILLSIDE AND MOVING THE TWO LANES OF ROAD INTO THE HILLSIDE, AWAY FROM THE VULNERABLE EDGE. THAT MEANS IT CREATES A WIDER SHOULDER, WHICH ENABLES US TO GET OUR EQUIPMENT IN THERE AND ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE ISSUES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY. FROM MONDAY, THESE MOTORISTS WILL ALL HAVE TO TAKE A DETOUR INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE BRYNDERWYNS. THE ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR NINE WEEKS. IT'LL BRIEFLY REOPEN OVER EASTER FOR SIX DAYS BEFORE SHUTTING AGAIN FOR ANOTHER SIX WEEKS OF WORK. THE CLOSURE IS SET TO ONLY ADD ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO A TRIP NORTH FOR CARS. DRIVERS CAN DETOUR THROUGH MANGAWHAI. BUT THAT ROUTE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FREIGHT, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE DIRECTED THROUGH AN INLAND ROAD, AND HEAVY FREIGHT WILL HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH DARGAVILLE ON STATE HIGHWAY 12 AND STATE HIGHWAY 14, WHICH ADDS ANOTHER 71KM ON TO THE TRIP. MORE THAN 1000 TRUCKS TRAVEL THROUGH THE BRYNDERWYNS EACH DAY, AND THE DETOURS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COSTLY. ON THE SHORTER ROUTE, THAT ADDS ABOUT $80,000 A DAY TO FREIGHT COSTS, 'COS, YOU KNOW, THAT EXTRA TIME. IF THEY TAKE THE LONGER ROUTE, WHICH IS VIA DARGAVILLE, THAT ADDS ABOUT $250,000 A DAY. MURRAY LANE OWNS A CAFE IN WAIPU, JUST OVER THE BRYNDERWYNS, AND DESPITE GOOD LOCAL SUPPORT, HE'S WORRIED IT MIGHT TAKE A HIT. I ACTUALLY FORESEE THAT WE'LL BE EITHER CUTTING STAFF OR DROPPING HOURS AT LEAST. BUT... BUT IN SAYING THAT, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE BETTER THIS TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PREPARED FOR IT. FURTHER UP NORTH, LOCALS WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE REGION IS STILL OPEN. SOME EVEN ENTICING PUNTERS IN. IF YOU STAY AT THE DUKE BETWEEN... WHEN THE BRYNDERWYNS ARE CLOSED, I'LL PERSONALLY BUY YOU A BEER OF MCLEODS, OR IF YOU DON'T DRINK, ACTUALLY, A FEW PEOPLE HAVE SAID OR IF YOU DON'T DRINK, ACTUALLY, A FEW PEOPLE HAVE SAID, 'CAN I HAVE AN ORANGE JUICE OR A WATER?' ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL JUST PUT YOU ON THE DECK AND DESTRESS. THE REPAIR WORK IS SET TO FINISH ON THE 13TH OF MAY, BUT IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM FIX. WE NEED A BETTER ROUTE, YA KNOW? IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET IT FIXED AND IN A GOOD STATE. SO FOR NOW, FINGERS ARE CROSSED IT'LL BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. THE UNITED STATES HAS RETURNED TO THE MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 55 YEARS AFTER THE PRIVATELY BUILT SPACECRAFT ODYSSEUS TOUCHED DOWN JUST AFTER MIDDAY TODAY. THE MOON LANDER WILL BE PREDOMINANTLY LOOKING AT THE BEHAVIOUR OF LUNAR DUST. CBS'S MARK STRASSMANN REPORTS. TONIGHT ` THE ODYSSEY OF ODYSSEUS HAS ENDED ON THE MOON. THE FIRST AMERICAN-MADE SPACECRAFT KICKING UP LUNAR DUST IN MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY. AS OUR EQUIPMENT IS ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. JUBILANT ` MISSION CONTROL OF INTUITIVE MACHINES IN HOUSTON, THE FIRST COMMERCIAL MOON LANDING EVER. (APPLAUSE) THE FINAL DESCENT FROM 18 MILES ABOVE THE LUNAR SURFACE, A CONTINUOUS ENGINE BURN FOR 10 MINUTES. BY TOUCHDOWN, ODYSSEUS HAD SLOWED TO 2MPH. THIS IS THE ASSEMBLY ROOM. INTUITIVE CO-FOUNDER STEVE ULTEMUS SHOWED US THE HISTORIC MOON LANDER UP CLOSE LAST YEAR IN HOUSTON. HIS COMPANY ENVISIONS A $100B LUNAR MARKET. WE'RE DELIVERING SCIENTIFIC PAYLOADS, ENGINEERING DEMONSTRATION PAYLOADS, BUT NOT THE HUMANS THEMSELVES. AND YOU BELIEVE THE MOON IS THE NEXT ECONOMIC FRONTIER? THE MOON IS CERTAINLY THAT NEXT STEP FOR SPACE EXPLORATION. ODYSSEUS LANDED NEAR THE LUNAR SOUTH POLE, CARRYING LESS THAN 300 POUNDS OF CARGO, INCLUDING SIX INSTRUMENTS FOR NASA, AN INTUITIVE CUSTOMER. THE SPACE AGENCY HOPES TO HAVE ASTRONAUTS MOONWALKING THERE BY THE END OF THE DECADE. SOME CRATERS THERE NEVER SEE LIGHT, SO COLD THEY MAY CONTAIN ICE, AND WATER IS CRITICAL TO LONG-TERM SPACE EXPLORATION. NASA PLANS TO BASICALLY HIRE THESE COMPANIES TO SEND PAYLOADS TO THE MOON, LIKE YOU'D CALL AN UBER OR LYFT. BUT THESE COMPANIES HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK FIRST, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY. NOT SINCE THE END OF THE APOLLO ERA HAS AN AMERICAN LANDER PARKED ITSELF ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. THIS MISSION WILL LAST ONE WEEK UNTIL LUNAR NIGHT FREEZES THE SOLAR BATTERIES. WELL, TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE DAY'S WEATHER. AND IT WAS A FOGGY START TO FRIDAY, HEATHER? YES, IT WAS ` FOR HAMILTON, PUKAKI, CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN. THE GOOD THING IS THAT THE TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO BOUNCE BACK TO A MORE RESPECTABLE SUMMER LEVEL. BY 2PM, KAIKOHE, GISBORNE, WAIROA, NAPIER, HASTINGS, BLENHEIM AND DUNEDIN HAD ALL HIT 26. AND TOMORROW, IT GETS EVEN TOASTIER. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. DECADES AFTER IT BECAME ACCEPTABLE FOR WOMEN TO HAVE A BABY AND HOLD DOWN A JOB, HAVE THINGS GOT ANY EASIER FOR WOMEN IN TOP ROLES? WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF AN AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PROJECT. RESCUE GROUPS ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE BIRDS INJURED AS A RESULT OF DISCARDED FISHING GEAR. AND THE PEOPLE OF TAIRAWHITI BRING TOGETHER A SUMMIT OF BIG WIGS TO SORT OUT THE REGION'S PROBLEMS. You all good, mate? You warm enough? (LAUGHS) SONG: # Like an endless dream... # Nearly there, mate. # Wrap me in your arms... # GIRL: Oh! So that's the difference between Courier and Economy. WELCOME BACK. NEW RESEARCH SHOWS WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO BALANCE MOTHERHOOD WITH WORK. THE STUDY RELEASED BY AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WHETHER WOMEN CAN HAVE IT ALL IN THEIR QUEST FOR GENDER AND PAY EQUITY. DEMELZA LESLIE REPORTS. WORKING IN AN OFFICE AS A NEW MOTHER CAN BE A JUGGLE. CHUCK IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND DOING IT ALL MAKES IT MORE OF A STRUGGLE. WHAT MY RESEARCH POINTS TO IS THAT EVEN DOING IT ALL MEANS THAT WE STILL STRUGGLE TO BE RECOGNISED AS LEGITIMATE LEADERS. DOCTOR STERLING INTERVIEWED DOZENS OF MOTHERS FOR HER PHD, DR STERLING INTERVIEWED DOZENS OF MOTHERS FOR HER PHD, WHERE SHE LEARNED OF THEIR EXPERIENCES WORKING IN LEADERSHIP AND NAVIGATING PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND THE CARE OF YOUNG CHILDREN. MOTHERHOOD REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REASONS THAT WOMEN CONTINUE TO DROP OUT OF WHAT THEY CALL 'THE PIPELINE TO LEADERSHIP'. WHEN I WENT BACK TO WORK, WHEN MY SON WAS A YEAR OLD, I WAS PASSED OVER FOR A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN MY TEAM. MANY MOTHERS SHE SPOKE TO HAD SIMILAR STORIES, FEELING A NEED TO PROVE THEIR VALUE AS LEADERS. FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF HER DAUGHTER DURING HER FIRST TERM AS PRIME MINISTER, DAME JACINDA ARDERN SPOKE OF WANTING TO NORMALISE MOTHERHOOD IN POSITIONS OF POWER. HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS THAT IN THESE MOMENTS NOW, ARE, I GUESS, FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD, NOVELTY, THEY'RE STILL NEW THAT ONE DAY THEY AREN'T NEW ANY MORE. EVEN TAKING HER BABY ON THE WORLD STAGE TO A UNITED NATIONS MEETING IN NEW YORK. YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE MAYBE 15 TO 18, I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT, 'YEAH, IT'S ALL POSSIBLE. I CAN BE A PRIME MINISTER. 'I CAN BE A MUM'. THE RESEARCH SAYS HAVING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT IS THE BIGGEST STEP FOR WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP. FOR ANYTHING, ONCE IT'S OUT THERE, IT'S NORMALISED AS A CONVERSATION WE SHOULD BE HAVING THAT BRINGS ABOUT CHANGE. A CONVERSATION THAT HELPS MOTHERS NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE IN THE WORKPLACE. DEMELZA LESLIE, NEWSHUB. POLICE HAVE MADE A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN THE FOCUS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO MISSING MELBOURNE JOGGER SAMANTHA MURPHY. THE MOTHER OF THREE'S HUSBAND IS BEING CONSIDERED BY POLICE AS A PERSON OF INTEREST. BUT HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE; POLICE SAY OTHERS CLOSE TO HER ARE ALSO 'OF INTEREST'. INVESTIGATORS HAVE REVEALED THEY ARE 'VERY DOUBTFUL' THEY WILL FIND HER ALIVE. MURPHY DISAPPEARED THREE WEEKS AGO AFTER SHE WENT OUT FOR A RUN. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AFTER CYCLONE GABRIELLE DEVASTATED MUCH OF THE TAIRAWHITI REGION, THE COMMUNITY'S COME TOGETHER TO TACKLE A HUGE RANGE OF ISSUES THEY'RE FACING. A SUMMIT OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IWI, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS HAS SPENT THE DAY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FUTURE-PROOF THE REGION. LUCY THOMSON HAS MORE. RENOWNED FOR ITS BEAUTY AND UNIQUE LANDSCAPE, GISBORNE-TAIRAWHITI HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE CHALLENGES TOO. CHALLENGES COMPOUNDED BY THE REGION'S EXPOSURE TO ONGOING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, LIKE CYCLONE GABRIELLE. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STILL REELING FROM RECOVERY FROM CYCLONES, WHAT I HEARD HERE TODAY IS A VISION FOR OUR PLACE ` ASPIRATION. ON THE AGENDA TODAY ` HEALTH, EDUCATION, CRIME, UNEMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUTURE PROOFING. HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUTURE-PROOFING. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO FIX THE ROADS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO FUNCTION BETTER, AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO FUNCTION BETTER IN TERMS OF OUR SOCIAL OUTCOMES. BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS ` WHAT ELSE? WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? LEADERS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES PRESENTED NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO SPEED UP THE RECOVERY, RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND GROW THE ECONOMY. WE'VE TAKEN A BIT OF A HIDING OVER THE CYCLONE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK BEING DONE TO REBUILD IT, BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD IT BACK TO A FRAGILE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORT, WHETHER IT'S WATER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S POWER, WHAT IT IS. AND THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE HERE NOW IS TO THINK A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THAT. SOMETHING HE SAYS IS CRITICAL GIVEN TE TAIRAWHITI'S PRIMARY SECTOR ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 18% OF GDP IN 2022. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS IN AUCKLAND TODAY, RAISING FUNDS FOR THE HEART FOUNDATION. INSTEAD ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED FOR A LOCALLY DRIVEN RESPONSE BY VIDEO. OFTEN THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO TO GROW THE ECONOMY IS TO GET OUT OF YOUR WAY AND LET YOU TAKE ACTIONS, IS TO GET OUT OF YOUR WAY AND LET YOU TAKE ACTIONS THAT ARE BEST FOR YOUR REGION. OTHER MINISTERS TOLD THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE UNLIKELY TO GET EVERYTHING THEY ASK FOR, SO PRIORITISATION OF THE REGION'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS IS IMPORTANT. FROM A GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE AND AROUND THE CABINET TABLE, IT'S MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU CAN TRY AND AGREE ON AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND HAVE A UNIFIED APPROACH. THAT IS WHAT REALLY STARTS TO DRIVE CHANGE, AND IT HELPS DECISIONS BEING MADE DOWN IN THE CAPITAL. A YEAR ON, TAIRAWHITI IS FINALLY ENTERING A NEW PHASE OF THE REBUILD, ONE WHICH RESIDENTS HOPE WILL SUPPORT MORE LONGEVITY FOR THE VULNERABLE EAST COAST COMMUNITY. LUCY THOMSON, NEWSHUB. NICKY'S IN LATER WITH SPORT ` AND SUPER RUGBY'S BACK? YES, THE SEASON KICKS OFF WITH A BLOCKBUSTER CLASH BETWEEN THE CHIEFS AND THE CRUSADERS. RUGBY REPORT OLLIE RITCHIE'S IN HAMILTON FOR US. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE'S IN HAMILTON FOR US. I WILL BE JOINED BY NEW ZEALAND RUGBY BOSS MARK ROBINSON TO TALK THROUGH HIS HOPES FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON. AND WILL WE SEE A REPEAT OF THESE SCENES AT THIS YEAR'S SYDNEY LEG OF SAIL GP? ALSO AHEAD ` ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS HAVE NOTICED A DISTURBING TREND IN OUR BIRD POPULATIONS ` MORE AND MORE OF THEM ARE ENDING UP INJURED OR DEAD BECAUSE OF DISCARDED FISHING GEAR. AND ONCE THOUGHT TO BE THE SOUND OF MERMAIDS, SCIENTISTS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HAUNTING CHANTS OF HUMPBACK WHALES. ON MONDAY, WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH AMERICAN COMEDIAN CHELSEA HANDLER. BUT IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I HAD NO` NO NEW ZEALAND SUITORS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S` WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE, YOU GUYS? (CHUCKLES) JOIN US ON A.M. FROM 6. A MASSIVE FIRE HAS RIPPED THROUGH A 14-STOREY APARTMENT BLOCK IN THE SPANISH CITY OF VALENCIA, KILLING AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE. THE BLAZE BEGAN ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, REDUCING THE BUILDING TO A SKELETON BEFORE SPREADING TO AN ADJOINING BLOCK. SOME RESIDENTS HAD TO BE RESCUED FROM THEIR BALCONIES AS THE FLAMES CAME PERILOUSLY CLOSE. OFFICIALS SAY ANOTHER 20 PEOPLE ARE MISSING. RESCUE GROUPS SAY MORE AND MORE BIRDS ARE BEING INJURED OR KILLED BY DISCARDED FISHING GEAR. AS WILLIAM TERITE REPORTS, SOMETIMES THE BIRDS ARE SO BADLY HURT THEY HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T DISPOSE OF THEIR FISHING LINES PROPERLY. AT WELLINGTON BIRD REHABILITATION TRUST, CARING FOR BIRDS TANGLED IN LINES IS COMMON. IT CAN BE DISTRESSING WHEN WE'VE HAD TO EUTHANASE A BIRD THAT WE'VE HAD IN FOR CARE FOR SOME TIME. THE RESCUE CENTRE HAS SEEN A RISE IN CASES THIS SUMMER, INCLUDING NEMO THE DUCK, WHO HAD A FISH HOOK STUCK IN HIS THROAT. FORTUNATELY, THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO REMOVE IT. SO, NEMO'S PRETTY LUCKY, THEN, EH? NEMO'S VERY LUCKY. STILL GRUMPY. THOUGH NOT EVERY BIRD'S AS LUCKY AS NEMO. SOME WILL STARVE TO DEATH. YOU KNOW, WITH A FISHING HOOK DOWN THEIR THROAT, THINGS WILL GET CAUGHT ON IT. THEY CAN DIE THROUGH THE INFECTION. YEAH, IT'S JUST NOT A LOVELY WAY TO GO. (CHIRPS QUICKLY) AND IT'S NOT JUST A PROBLEM IN WELLINGTON. THE SPCA SAYS IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR SEABIRDS IN NEW ZEALAND, BUT NOT JUST LIMITED TO SEABIRDS. THIS ALSO CAN IMPACT MARINE MAMMALS AND EVEN OUR COMPANION ANIMALS. IT'S PROMPTED THIS PLEA TO ANGLERS. BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN YOU'RE RECREATIONALLY FISHING. MAKE SURE YOUR GEAR IS WELL-MAINTAINED. YOU'RE NOT GONNA LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND. BUT ALSO CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF AND AFTER OTHERS. CLEAN UP YOUR ACT. IF YOU'RE GOING FISHING, WE ACCEPT THAT SOMETIMES YOU'RE GONNA LOSE A BIT OF TACKLE, AND IT'S GONNA GET SNAGGED AND THAT, BUT PLEASE DO YOUR BEST. BECAUSE NOT PICKING IT UP MEANS MORE BIRDS LIKE NEMO COULD BE HURT OR EVEN KILLED. WILLIAM TERITE, NEWSHUB. THERE IS ANOTHER CONTENDER EMERGING IN THE RACE FOR THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. HE'S A LAWYER, A FORMER DRUG ADDICT, AND BOASTS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SURNAMES IN U.S. POLITICS. ROBERT F KENNEDY JR ` THE NEPHEW OF JFK, IS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE AGAINST BIDEN AND TRUMP. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN REPORTS. HE IS THE PRODUCT OF A POLITICAL DYNASTY. A MAN RAISED AROUND FLASHING LIGHTS. THE SON OF SENATOR ROBERT F KENNEDY, THE NEPHEW OF JOHN, WHO WAS PRESIDENT. NOW, 60 YEARS AFTER HIS UNCLE WAS ASSASSINATED ` AND REMEMBER, HIS OWN FATHER WAS TOO ` RFK JR IS NOW PURSUING THE PRESIDENCY. I'M ROBERT F KENNEDY JR, AND I'M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. NEWSHUB MET KENNEDY CAMPAIGNING AT A FOOD BANK IN QUEENS, NEW YORK. IT WAS A CAMERA OP FOR A CANDIDATE LOOKING TO PULL OFF THE UPSET OF ALL POLITICAL UPSETS. HIS EFFORTS HERE ENOUGH TO WIN THE VOTES OF NEW COLLEAGUES ` OR PERHAPS IT WAS THE NAME. THE KENNEDYS HAS A GOOD TRACK RECORD. THEY WERE ALL GOOD. ALL THE KENNEDYS WAS GOOD. WE KNOW WHAT THE KENNEDYS DO FOR OUR PEOPLE. SO, YES. THIS KENNEDY, THOUGH, WAS AN OUTCAST AMONG THE FAMILY. HE WAS ONCE A HEROIN ADDICT. HE IS ACCUSED OF SPREADING LIES ABOUT COVID-19, AND HE'S ROUTINELY CONDEMNED AS AN ANTI-VAXXER. THERE'S NO VACCINE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. EVEN MEMBERS OF HIS FAMOUS CLAN HAVE DENOUNCED RFK JR PUBLICLY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ANYONE THINKS HE SHOULD BE PRESIDENT. BUT COULD THIS BE THE CHANCE FOR SOMEONE ELSE? WHEN VOTERS SEEMED UNENTHUSED BY TWO ELDERLY MEN VYING FOR THE PRESIDENCY. ROBERT F KENNEDY JR IS ATTACKED BY REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS; ROBERT F KENNEDY JR IS ATTACKED BY REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, EVEN SOME MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY DON'T WANT HIM TO RUN. BUT WITH JUST UNDER NINE MONTHS UNTIL THE ELECTION, HE STILL THINKS HE CAN WIN. CAN YOU STILL WIN THIS THING? YEAH, I'M GONNA WIN THIS THING. WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN EVERY STATE. MY` MY FAVOURABILITY IS NOW HIGHER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER POLITICAL CANDIDATES. KENNEDY, WHO SUFFERS FROM A VOCAL DISORDER, IS ACTUALLY RIGHT. A POLL OF WHO IS MAKING THE MOST FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION ON VOTERS FOUND RFK JR RANKING HIGHER THAN BOTH BIDEN AND TRUMP. FAVOURABILITY IS ONE THING, BUT IN POLLS OF WHO AMERICANS WOULD ACTUALLY VOTE FOR, KENNEDY'S PERCENTAGE IS ONLY AROUND THE MID-TEENS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO WIN, BUT HE COULD PULL CRITICAL VOTES FROM BIDEN OR TRUMP IN A CLOSE CONTEST. HE STILL NEEDS ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO GET ON EACH STATE'S BALLOT. BUT HE SAYS IF HE CAN DO THAT, A KENNEDY COULD BE BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE. IN NEW YORK, MITCH MCCANN, NEWSHUB. COMING UP ` ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP HAS BEEN HOW WHALES MANAGE TO MAKE THIS SOUND... (WHALES CALL) ...WITHOUT DROWNING. NOW SCIENTISTS HAVE FIGURED IT OUT ` AND WHY THE SOUND MAKES THEM VULNERABLE TO NOISE POLLUTION. WE'RE LIVE WITH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY BOSS MARK ROBINSON AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S SUPER RUGBY OPENER IN HAMILTON. AND WITH PETER BURLING ON BABY WATCH, CAN AN AUSSIE STEER NEW ZEALAND TO SAIL GP GLORY IN SYDNEY? AND CAN COACH PETER FULTON'S UPPER LIP GIVE CANTERBURY THE UPPER HAND IN TOMORROW'S FORD TROPHY FINAL? WITH MEMORIES OF LAST YEAR'S FINAL LOSS NO DOUBT STILL FRESH IN THEIR MIND, THE CHIEFS BEGIN THEIR ROAD TO SUPER RUGBY REDEMPTION TONIGHT WITH A REPLAY OF LAST YEAR'S DECIDER. THE CRUSADERS STORMED THE CHIEFS' FORTRESS IN HAMILTON TO TAKE THEIR SEVENTH STRAIGHT TITLE LAST YEAR. BUT WITH SEVERAL KEY PERSONNEL NO LONGER WITH THEM, MAKING IT EIGHT WILL BE NO EASY FEAT. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE JOINS US NOW FROM FMG STADIUM. OLLIE, THE CHIEFS WILL BE FIRED UP FOR THIS ONE? YEAH, YOU CAN BET THEY WILL BE. THERE WILL BE AN EDGE AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT FINAL LAST YEAR. JOINING ME ` I HAVE DRAGGED THE BOSS IN ` MARK ROBINSON. THE BUILDUP ALL WEEK HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. THERE IS A LOT OF CHAT ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED LAST YEAR, THE WHOLE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE FRESH TALENT COMING THROUGH, SOME RETURNING ALL BLACKS FROM THE WORLD CUP. LOTS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT. YOU HAVE SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT WANTING TO BE FAN CENTRIC. HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT? THROUGH THE OFF-SEASON, THERE HAS BEEN MORE FOCUS OFF THE FIELD AND AROUND COMPETITION, THE WAY IT IS PRODUCED AND PACKAGED. OBVIOUSLY IN STADIA, WE WANT THE FAN EXPERIENCE TO BE AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE TOP RATE. AND WE'VE SHAPED UP PRETTY WELL. WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR, APART FROM MAYBE A NEW CHAMPION ` WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THIS YEAR? TO HAVE A COMPETITION THAT WEEK IN, WEEK OUT CAPTURES THE IMAGINATIONS OF FANS. WE WANT TO SEE STYLE OF RUGBY THAT IS LIKE NO OTHER AROUND THE WORLD. HIGH ENTERTAINMENT VALUE, UNPREDICTABILITY AROUND THE ULTIMATE WINNERS EACH WEEK. SHOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AGAINST LAST YEAR'S RUNNER-UP. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM WILL HAVE AN AUSSIE AT THE HELM FOR SAIL GP IN SYDNEY. PETER BURLING'S BACK IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD. BUT NATHAN OUTTERIDGE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE HIS KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL CONDITIONS, WITH PRACTICE CANCELLED BY THUNDERSTORMS. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER REPORTS. BLUE SKIES FOR NOW IN SYDNEY, BUT AN OMINOUS FORECAST OF THUNDER HAS BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF LAST YEAR, WHEN THE FURY OF MOTHER NATURE ABRUPTLY STOPPED THE COMPETITION. PRACTICE WAS CALLED OFF TODAY AS A PRECAUTION. TEAM NEW ZEALAND'S BOAT WAS ON LAND AND LOCKED UP INSIDE. OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTING WE WON'T GET TO SAIL TODAY. PROBABLY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE TEAMS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT THE MOST. NATHAN OUTTERIDGE, THE ROVING REPLACEMENT OF THE LEAGUE, HAS BEEN CALLED IN TO CAPTAIN TEAM NEW ZEALAND. HE'S VERY MUCH A KIWI THIS WEEKEND. THAT'S FOR SURE. PROUDLY WEARING THE SILVER FERN DESPITE PROUDLY COMING FROM ONE OF OUR FIERCEST RIVALS. AN EVENT IS ALWAYS GREAT. THAT'S ONE GOOD THING ABOUT OUR SPORT, AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND RIVALRY. THERE'S PLENTY OF BANTER. WITHOUT ANY PRACTISE ON AMOKURA OR WITH HIS NEW TEAM, THE COMMS SYSTEM WILL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE OPERATE, BUT WE'VE DONE AS MUCH PREPARATION AS WE CAN FOR IT. TOMORROW WILL COME DOWN TO EXPERIENCE. NEW ZEALAND SITS JUST SIX POINTS BEHIND THE AUSSIES, WHO ARE AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE, WHICH IS WHY TODAY'S CANCELLED PRACTICE WILL HURT. BUT IT'LL BE WORSE TOMORROW IF THE SAME THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE FORECAST CANCEL RACE ONE. WORRIED YOU MIGHT NOT RACE TOMORROW AFTERNOON? SATURDAY WILL BE JUST FINE. IT'S` TODAY'S THE ISSUE. AND EVEN WITHOUT ANY PRACTICE... YOU KNOW, HE WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO TRY AND WIN THIS WEEKEND, LIKE WE ALL DO. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY DRIVEN, AND, YEAH, WE'RE JUST FOCUSSED ON THE WEEKEND AHEAD AND, YEAH, THEY CAN TALK ALL THEY WANT. AND HOPING TO KEEP THEM QUIET AS AN AUSSIE, SAILING FOR THE KIWIS ON HIS HOME WATERS. IN SYDNEY ` EMMA CROPPER, NEWSHUB. AND YOU CAN CATCH ALL THE ACTION LIVE ON 3NOW BETWEEN 6 AND 7.30 TOMORROW AND SUNDAY NIGHT. OR IF THAT CLASHES WITH YOUR NEWS VIEWING, DELAYED COVERAGE WILL SCREEN ON THREE ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY FROM 4.30. THE ACCOLADES CONTINUE TO FLOW FOR DAME LISA CARRINGTON, WITH THE NEWLY CROWNED SUPREME HALBERG WINNER TODAY AWARDED THE LONSDALE CUP FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE PRESTIGIOUS CUP IS AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN OLYMPIC OR COMMONWEALTH GAMES SPORT OVER A CALENDAR YEAR. IN 2023, THE KAYAKING STAR WAS OUTSTANDING, WINNING THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES. WITH THE PARIS OLYMPICS JUST SIX MONTHS AWAY, THE CUP IS A TIMELY REMINDER TO HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE. I GUESS YOU GET YOUR BLINKERS ON AND YOU GET SO STUCK INTO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. SO IT IS NICE TO KIND OF TAKE A BREATH AND REMIND YOURSELF, 'THAT'S RIGHT ` 'THIS IS WHY I DO IT.' CARRINGTON'S JUST ONE BEHIND THE RECORD FOR MOST LONSDALE CUP WINS, HELD BY DAME VALERIE ADAMS WITH FIVE. TOP OF THE TABLE WELLINGTON PHOENIX WILL BE WITHOUT STAR FORWARD KOSTA BARBAROUSES FOR TOMORROW'S CLASH WITH THE GLORY IN PERTH. BARBAROUSES ` WHO NETTED TWICE IN THE NIX'S MOST RECENT WIN OVER MACARTHUR ` HAS A SMALL TEAR IN HIS CALF. HE HAS BEEN A STANDOUT THIS SEASON, SCORING 10 GOALS IN THE CAMPAIGN. WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BIT MORE SEVERE. AFTER ALL ACCOUNTS, HE SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT TO BE BACK ON PARK NEXT WEEK. SO IT'S PRECAUTIONARY THAT HE IS NOT PLAYING THIS WEEKEND. A VICTORY COULD SEE THE PHOENIX MOVE EIGHT POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE. BOTH THE ALL BLACKS AND BLACK FERNS SEVENS ARE LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AT THIS WEEKEND'S LATEST ROUND IN VANCOUVER FOLLOWING POOR SHOWINGS IN PERTH LAST MONTH. THE DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION BLACK FERNS LAST SUFFERED A QUARTER-FINAL LOSS IN PERTH IN 2019 AND HEAD INTO THIS WEEKEND EIGHT POINTS BEHIND AUSTRALIA. THE GIRLS HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD. THEY'RE HURTING FROM THAT, AND WE'VE GOT TO FEEL THOSE LOSSES TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THEM. MEANWHILE, THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS, WHO ARE CURRENTLY SIXTH IN THE STANDINGS, ARE BOOSTED BY THE RETURN OF ANDREW KNEWSTUBB AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS. AND FINALLY TONIGHT, CANTERBURY BELIEVE THEY HAVE A 'TOP-LIP SECRET RECIPE' TO DEFEAT AUCKLAND IN TOMORROW'S FORD TROPHY FINAL ` COACH PETER FULTON'S LUCKY MOUSTACHE. YES, FULTON HAS FOUND HIMSELF IN A HAIRY SITUATION, WITH HIS CANTERBURY TEAM REFUSING TO LET HIM GET RID OF HIS 'STACHE. THAT'S BECAUSE, DESPITE A COUPLE OF CLOSE SHAVES, CANTERBURY HAS REMAINED UNBEATEN IN ALL FORMATS SINCE FULTON TURNED UP TO TRAINING WITH THE SLUG LAST MONTH. WE HAVEN'T LOST YET, SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE RUDE TO TAKE IT OFF BEFORE THE FINAL. CRICKET IS A PRETTY SUPERSTITIOUS PEOPLE. I THINK HIS WIFE, LIBBY, WON'T BE TOO HAPPY. BUT AS LONG AS KEEP WINNING, HE CAN KEEP THAT ON. AND I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD ON THE BIG FELLA. VICTORY WOULD LIKELY BE EXTRA SWEET FOR THE COACH DUE TO HIS LUCKY FLAVOUR-SAVER. THAT'S HILARIOUS. A BIT OF BAD NEWS OUT OF THE BLACKCAPS CAMP ` RACHIN RAVINDRA HAS BEEN RULED OUT OF TONIGHT'S GAME AGAINST AUSTRALIA WITH AN INJURY ` UNKNOWN YET, BUT WE WILL KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE WITH THAT. AND BY THE WAY, WE DID NOT WIN THE TOSS, AND WE ARE BOWLING. SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG KNOWN THAT WHALES COMMUNICATE WITH SONGS THAT CAN TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF KILOMETRES UNDERWATER. IT WASN'T CLEAR, THOUGH, HOW THEY MANAGE TO DO IT WITHOUT DROWNING. NOW RESEARCHERS IN DENMARK HAVE SOLVED THE MYSTERY. BUT THEY ALSO FOUND THE SOUND IS AT RISK OF BEING SILENCED BY HUMANS. ITV'S MARTIN STEW EXPLAINS. (WHALE SINGS) THE UNDERWATER SINGING OF HUMPBACK WHALES. A SOUND SO MELANCHOLIC SAILORS USED TO THINK IT CAME FROM GHOSTS OF THE DEEP. THE QUESTION OF HOW WHALES SING WHILST SUBMERGED HAS BEEN A MYSTERY UNTIL NOW. A TEAM OF DANISH SCIENTISTS BLEW AIR THROUGH THE VOICE BOXES, OR LARYNXES, OF THREE DEAD WHALES TO MODEL HOW SOUND IS CREATED. IT'S A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH, BECAUSE WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW, FOR THIS ENTIRE GROUP OF WHALES, EXACTLY HOW THEY WERE PRODUCING SOUND. SO NOW WE HAVE A GOOD MECHANISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY MAKE SOUNDS, AND CRITICALLY, IT TELLS US ALSO THAT THEY'RE LIMITED TO THOSE LOWER-FREQUENCY RANGES. BALEEN WHALES DON'T HAVE TEETH OR VOCAL CORDS, BUT IT TURNS OUT, LIKE US, THEY STILL MAKE SOUNDS BY FORCING AIR THROUGH THEIR LARYNX. THE AIR CAUSES A FATTY PILLOW TO VIBRATE. THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY CAN RECYCLE THE AIR, MEANING THEY CAN SING WHILST HOLDING THEIR BREATH, WITHOUT INHALING WATER. BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM ` THOSE LOW-FREQUENCY TONES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO ONES PRODUCED BY BOATS. THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO FIND EACH OTHER IS BY SOUND. THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO FIND EACH OTHER IS BY SOUND. SO IF WE ADD A BUNCH OF NOISE TO THE OCEANS, BASICALLY ON A GLOBAL SCALE, THIS WILL REALLY REDUCE THE AREAS OF WHICH THESE ANIMALS CAN COMMUNICATE AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO FIND EACH OTHER. THAT COULD MAKE MATING TRICKIER, EVEN IF THEY SING THEIR FAVOURITE LOVE SONGS. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` FISHERIES OFFICERS PLAN TO INTERVIEW THE SKIPPER AND CREW OF TWO COMMERCIAL VESSELS AFTER HUNDREDS OF DEAD SNAPPER WERE FOUND FLOATING IN THE WATER AND ON BEACHES NORTH OF AUCKLAND. THEY SAY IT'S A DISAPPOINTING WASTE OF A VALUABLE RESOURCE. AN AUSTRALIAN POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF MURDER AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TWO MEN IN SYDNEY. BLOODIED POSSESSIONS OF A FORMER TV PRESENTER AND HIS FLIGHT ATTENDANT BOYFRIEND WERE FOUND IN A HOME. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER, AND WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF WILD WEATHER? YEAH, IT ARRIVES IN TIME FOR THE WEEKEND. THE LEAD FRONT HITS THE DEEP SOUTH LATE TOMORROW MORNING, THEN HEADS NORTH, REACHING THE NORTH ISLAND SUNDAY MORNING. SO, RAIN WATCHES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE TARARUA RANGE, AND THE STRONG WINDS WILL NOW HIT WELLINGTON AND PARTS OF WAIRARAPA TOO. MORE DETAILS NEXT. KIA ORA, WELCOME BACK. GET READY FOR SOME WILD WEEKEND WEATHER. EVERYONE WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE APPROACHING FRONTAL SYSTEM. THE MAIN LEADING FRONT HITS THE DEEP SOUTH LATE TOMORRROW MORNING, THEN HEADS NORTH, REACHING THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND ON SUNDAY MORNING. STRONG AND WARM NORTHWESTERS SIT IN FRONT OF THE SYSTEM AND THEN COOLER SOUTHWESTERLIES BACK THEM UP. SO, A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS WITH THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM. IT LOOKS OK TONIGHT, WITH CLOUD IN THE WEST, AND HIGH CLOUD FOR THE SOUTHEAST. THE RAIN HITS FIORDLAND FIRST WITH STRENGTHENING NORTHERLY QUARTER WINDS. THEN TOMORROW, THAT RAIN SPREADS NORTH, REACHING NORTHERN REGIONS BY EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS SPARK UP FROM THE AFTERNOON OUT WEST AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST. FOR THE NORTH ISLAND, IT APPEARS A LOT CALMER, BUT THE RIDGE THAT'S BEEN HOLDING THE WEATHER STEADY IS RECEDING NORTH. SO, SHOWERS TONIGHT FOR THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST WITH THUNDERSTORMS. TOMORROW, MOSTLY FINE WITH SHOWERS OVER THE FAR NORTH AND NORTHEAST. THE CLOUD INCREASES FOR THE SOUTH AND WEST, WITH THAT RAIN SPREADING LATE TOMORROW, AND WITH NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS. SO, ENJOY THE WEATHER TOMORROW UP TOP, BECAUSE SUNDAY'S NOT QUITE AS PROMISING. NORTHERLIES DEVELOP FOR NORTHLAND. NOR'WESTERS FOR AUCKLAND AND WESTERLIES FOR HAMILTON. IT'S FINE FOR ALMOST EVERYONE HERE TOMORROW. BUT NOT YOU, TAUPO ` YOU HAVE A LOT OF CLOUD TOMORROW. THERE'S THE CHANCE OF EVENING SHOWERS FOR ROTORUA. THE HEAT IS BACK OUT EAST. 31 FOR YOU HASTINGS. IT'S FINE, BUT THAT CLOUD ROLLS UP FROM THE SOUTH IN THE AFTERNOON, REACHING HAWKE'S BAY TOMORROW NIGHT. AND YOUR DAY MIGHT START FINE, BUT THE CLOUD DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO EXTEND EVERYWHERE. RAIN ARRIVES TOMORROW NIGHT FOR ALL WITH GUSTY NORTHERLIES FOR WELLINGTON. OCCASIONAL RAIN FROM LATE MORNING, THEN HEAVY AND THUNDERY FROM THE AFTERNOON FOR ALL SOUTH OF NELSON. WATCH THE WIND SHIFT WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE FRONT FROM A NORTHERLY TO A WESTERLY. CLOUD INCREASES OUT EAST, BUT NOT A LOT OF RAIN SPILLS OVER THE DIVIDE. CANTERBURY, YOU'LL HAVE A FEW SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON, WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR BLENHEIM. AND PERIODS OF RAIN FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN THE SOUTH, WITH THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP IN THE AFTERNOON. STRONG NORTHERLIES TURN WESTERLY EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHLAND. DUNEDIN, YOU'LL START WITH LOW CLOUD ALONG THE COAST. THEN OCCASIONAL RAIN ARRIVES FROM MIDDAY, PERSISTENT AND THUNDERY IN THE AFTERNOON AND WITH A STRONG NORTHERLY THAT TURNS SOU'WEST LATE. CHRISTCHURCH ` CLOUD INCREASES ACROSS THE DAY, WITH SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH. STRONG NORTHERLIES, ESPECIALLY FROM THE AFTERNOON. THEY'LL TURN WESTERLY TOMORROW NIGHT. STRONG NORTHERLIES TOO FOR WELLINGTON, GALE IN EXPOSED PLACES, GUSTING 90 K'S UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT. THE DAY ITSELF WILL BE CLOUDY WITH RAIN ARRIVING IN THE EVENING. FINE AROUND HAWKE'S BAY WITH A NOR'WESTERLY. IT'S HOT AGAIN. YOU MAY GET SOME REPRIEVE FROM THE HEAT IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THE COASTAL SEA BREEZE. TAURANGA, YOU HAVE THE BEST FORECAST OF THE LOT TOMORROW; IT'S FINE, WITH JUST LIGHT WINDS, UNTIL THE AFTERNOON, WHEN A SLIGHTLY STRONG NOR'WESTER ARRIVES. HAMILTON, YOU'RE CLOSE TO THE SAME FORECAST, BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE MORNING FOG. IT CLEARS QUICKLY, THOUGH, WITH AN AFTERNOON WESTERLY AND EVENING CLOUD. A GOOD MORNING FOR AUCKLAND. THERE COULD BE SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH A DEVELOPING NOR'WESTER AND CLOUDY TOMORROW NIGHT. A COUPLE OF BIG EVENTS HAPPENING IN SYDNEY THIS WEEKEND. THE SEVERE LIGHTNING STORMS MAY BE AN ISSUE FOR TAYLOR SWIFT TONIGHT, BUT TOMORROW, THEY'LL BE BRISBANE'S PROBLEM. AND SHOWERS FOR MOST PACIFIC ISLAND GROUPS, AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER NIUE. BACK HOME ` AND RAIN SPREADS INTO THE NORTHERN CENTRES ON SUNDAY. IT IMPROVES ON MONDAY FOR MOST, BUT RAIN CONTINUES FOR NORTHLAND. THE RAIN CLEARS FROM THE SOUTH ON SUNDAY, AND THE STRONG WESTERLY WILL EASE. MAINLY FINE FOR THE START OF NEXT WEEK. THINGS IMPROVE HERE TOO FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND, BUT SHOWERS DEVELOP FOR WESTERN REGIONS FROM TUESDAY. JUST SHOWERS REMAIN IN THE WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY, WITH MOSTLY FINE SKIES OUT EAST. BUT RAIN DEVELOPS AGAIN IN THE SOUTH ON MONDAY AND GRADUALLY SPREADS NORTH DURING TUESDAY. RIGHT, I DON'T WANT TO END THE NEWS ON A DEPRESSING NOTE, BUT THIS IS THE LAST WEEKEND OF SUMMER; AUTUMN ARRIVES NEXT FRIDAY. WHAT? NO WAY. NOT YET. IT WAS TOO QUICK. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. REBECCA WRIGHT AND THE NEWSHUB LATE TEAM ARE HERE ON THREE AT 10.40. AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT NEWS@NEWSHUB.CO.NZ. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. AND I'M MIKE MCROBERTS. PO MANAHAU. CAPTIONS BY ALEX WALKER AND TUI TIPENE.