IT'S MIDDAY... WHY A WAITANGI TRIBUNAL CLAIMANT HAS DESCRIBED PLANS TO AXE THE MAORI HEALTH AUTHORITY AS A 'DISAPPOINTING POWER PLAY'. HOW OFFICIALS COULD HAVE DONE MORE TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF MIGRANT EXPLOITATION OVER A NEW WORK VISA SCHEME. AND COULD AN INCREASE IN FINES BE ON THE CARDS AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING PHONES BEHIND THE WHEEL JUMPS? CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND KATE HARRIS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO DISESTABLISH THE MAORI HEALTH AUTHORITY BEFORE A WAITANGI TRIBUNAL HEARING HAS BEEN LABELLED AS 'DISMISSIVE' AND 'DISRESPECTFUL'. REPORTER TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI HAS BEEN ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS AND JOINS US NOW. WHAT'S THE LATEST, TE ANIWA? ALL WE KNOW AT THIS STAGE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO SCRAP THE MAORI HEALTH AUTHORITY. THAT HAS SHOCKED CLAIMANTS BEHIND THE LEGAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN PREPARING TO FIGHT FOR IT AT A HEARING. THAT HEARING IN WELLINGTON WILL LIKELY BE CANCELLED OR BE SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED BECAUSE THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL DOESN'T HAVE AUTHORITY OR JURISDICTION TO INVESTIGATE BILLS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE MOVE BY THE GOVERNMENT DERAILS THIS LEGAL CHALLENGE. TE PATI MAORI HAS ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF UNDERMINING THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL'S AUTHORITY. TUREITI MOXON SPOKE TO US EARLIER. THE GOVERNMENT HAS JUST MADE A UNILATERAL DECISION, BUT IT IS A POLITICAL DECISION BASED ON POPULARISM. THAT TO ME IS WHAT'S SAD ABOUT IT, BECAUSE MAORI AGAIN ARE BEING USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE WAY IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAVE TREATED US THE SIGNING OF TE TIRITI. THE GOVERNMENT REJECTS ACCUSATIONS IT IS TRYING TO AVOID SCRUTINY OR THAT IT IS TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE TRIBUNAL'S AUTHORITY. AND SAYS THE MOVE IS ABOUT MEETING IS 100 DAY DEADLINE. IMMIGRATION COULD'VE DONE MORE TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF MIGRANT EXPLOITATION. THAT'S THE FINDING OF AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO THE ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA SCHEME RELEASED TODAY BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. CORAZON MILLER'S WITH ME NOW. CORAZON, WHAT DOES THE REVIEW SAY? THE MAIN TAKE AWAY FROM THIS REPORT IS THAT IN THE HASTE TO IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM TO BRING IN THOSE WORKERS OVERRODE THE RISK CONSIDERATIONS. IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND STAFF RAISED CONCERNS BUT THE REVIEW POINTED OUT THAT MANAGEMENT FAILED TO LISTEN AND TELL A WHISTLEBLOWER SPOKE OUT. WE HAVE SEEN MANY STORIES OF MIGRANTS FROM INDIA AND BANGLADESH WHO TURNED UP TO NEW ZEALAND THINKING THEY HAD WORK, ONLY THERE WAS NO WORK OR PAY, AND MANY WERE LIVING IN TIGHT AND CRAMPED CONDITIONS. STORIES OF EXPLOITATIONS AREN'T NEW, BUT THE REVIEW WAS AS THE SITUATION WAS PUT IN PLACE, THEY SAW A RISE IN COMPLAINTS. IMMIGRATION HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE FINDINGS, BUT SAY A NUMBER OF CHANGES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, INCLUDING CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE MORE ROBUST. THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER HAS INDICATED THERE COULD BE FURTHER TIGHTENING OF OUR IMMIGRATION SETTINGS BUT SHE WANTED TO WAIT FOR THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW BEFORE SHE MADE ANY FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT. THANKS TO CELL PHONES, WE'VE BECOME INCREASINGLY CONNECTED... BUT INCREASINGLY DISTRACTED BEHIND THE WHEEL. DRIVING OFFENCES ARE SKYROCKETING, WITH THE LATEST FIGURES SHOWING A CONCERNING TREND. LUCY BENDELL HAS MORE. (PHONE RINGS) MOBILE PHONES CAN BE A DAILY DISTRACTION, AND BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE COST OF THAT DISTRACTION IS STEEP. ON A STRAIGHT PIECE OF ROAD, A CAR CAME ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE SAW THE CAR AND SWERVED. IT WAS PROBABLY HIS DEFENSIVE DRIVING THAT SAVED BOTH OF THEIR LIVES. HIS FATHER WAS ALMOST KILLED BY ANOTHER DRIVER DISTRACTED AND ON THEIR PHONE. IT THREW THE UTE ON ITS SIDE. PUT A BREAK INTO HIS NECK, TWO BROKEN RIBS, BROKEN TOES AND A HEAD INJURY WHICH IS STILL WITH US TODAY. IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 40,000 DRIVING OFFENCES INVOLVING PHONES, A JUMP OF NEARLY 25% ON THE SAME PERIOD THE YEAR BEFORE. COUNTIES MANUKAU IS THE REGION WITH THE MOST OFFENCES AT ALMOST 7000. CANTERBURY AND AUCKLAND NOT FAR BEHIND. AND THESE STATS ONLY REFLECT THOSE CAUGHT. IT'S TERRIBLE. SOMETHING DOES HAVE TO BE DONE AND PROBABLY INCREASING THE FINE IS THE MOST EASIEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF MAKING PEOPLE REALISE DISTRACTION ON THE ROAD HAS LIFELONG EFFECTS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS. AT $150 DOLLARS AND 20 DEMERITS, THE CURRENT PENALTY HERE IS AT THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE. IN THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF QUEENSLAND, THE FINE COULD BE AS MUCH AS $1000; IN OTHER COUNTRIES, IT'S EVEN MORE. WE'RE UP FOR LOOKING AT HIGHER FINES IF THAT'S A DISINCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE. IF THEY ARE STILL NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE, THAT FOR GOODNESS SAKE, PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE ON AT YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVING. IF FINES HELP THAT, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. DO IT. DO IT. IT SHOWS YOU THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT DRIVER DISTRACTION DOES. SOMETHING BILL AND HIS FATHER UNDERSTAND ALL TOO WELL. THE ACCIDENT DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN. HIS INDEPENDENCE AND REALLY HIS WHOLE LIFE WAS CHANGED AROUND FROM THAT DAY AND WILL BE UNTIL HE FINISHES, AND OURS TOO. HE'S A VERY DIFFERENT DAD THAN WHAT WE USE TO. A REMINDER THAT THE COST OF CHECKING YOUR PHONE COULD BE MORE THAN JUST A FINE. LUCY BENDELL, 1 NEWS. NATIONAL PLANS TO FLOOD THE HOUSING MARKET, PUSHING FOR URBAN SPRAWL AS A SOLUTION TO NEW ZEALAND'S HOUSING CRISIS. UNDER NEW LEGISLATION, COUNCILS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THERE IS ENOUGH RESIDENTIAL LAND AVAILABLE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE PROJECTED POPULATION IN 30 YEARS' TIME. SPEAKING TO WELLINGTON'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THIS MORNING, THE HOUSING MINISTER SAID HE WANTS MORE GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING DENSITY. THE EVIDENCE IS AS PLAIN AS DAY. CITIES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BUILD MORE HOUSING HAVE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS. CITIES THAT LEGALISE HOUSING FIND IT MORE AFFORDABLE. WE ARE GOING TO LET COUNCILS HAVE MORE DISCRETION OVER WHERE THEY HAVE DENSITY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE HOUSING. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. BISHOP SAID THE FAILURE TO BUILD ENOUGH HOUSES HAS TRAPPED PEOPLE IN POVERTY AND IS WASTING GOVERNMENT MONEY IN SUPPORT SUBSIDIES. THE LINK BETWEEN RAM RAIDS AND TOBACCO ISN'T CLEAR, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMING FEWER OUTLETS WILL LEAD TO INCREASED CRIME. THE GOVERNMENT WILL REPEAL SMOKEFREE LEGISLATION, WHICH WOULD HAVE REDUCED TOBACCO RETAILERS FROM 6000 TO 600. BUT PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSOR JANET HOEK SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING UP WORLD-LEADING SMOKEFREE LAWS WITH NO DETAILS OF PLANS TO REDUCE TOBACCO USE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY APPALLING THAT NICOLA WILLIS SEEMS TO THINK THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO KEEP PEOPLE SMOKING TO GENERATE EXCISE TAX REVENUE THAT CAN FUND INCOME TAX REDUCTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REPEAL THE LEGISLATION BY MARCH 8. AUSTRALIAN POLICE CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR THE BODIES OF TWO MISSING MEN BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED A WEEK AGO. JESSE BAIRD AND LUKE DAVIES HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN IN OVER A WEEK, AND A FORMER LOVER OF MR BAIRD'S HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THEIR MURDERS. POLICE SPENT MUCH OF YESTERDAY EXPLORING A SERIES OF DAMS ON A RURAL PROPERTY AROUND 200km OUTSIDE SYDNEY. EUROPEAN FARMERS HAVE TAKEN THEIR ANGER OVER NEW REGULATIONS RIGHT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION'S DOORSTEP, BLOCKING CENTRAL BRUSSELS AND ENGAGING IN FIERY CLASHES WITH POLICE. THE BBC'S NICK BEAKE REPORTS. (CHEERING) EUROPE'S FURIOUS FARMERS DELIVERED THEIR MESSAGE UNCEREMONIOUSLY. 'WE'VE BEEN IGNORED FOR TOO LONG.' WHILE TODAY'S PLANNED PROTEST IN BRUSSELS DID SEIZE ATTENTION, ALONG WITH THE SCUFFLES ON THE SIDELINES. (HORNS BLARE) THE PROCESSION HAD RUMBLED INTO TOWN AT FIRST LIGHT. FROM THEIR MUDDY FIELDS TO THE HEART OF THE EU, SOME 900 TRACTORS. FARMERS FROM RIGHT ACROSS EUROPE HAVE COME HERE TODAY, AND THEY'RE BACKING UP THEIR TRACTORS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE RIGHT DOWN THAT STREET. AND THEY'RE TAKING THEIR MESSAGE TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, WHICH IS NOW BEING PROTECTED BY RIOT POLICE AND THAT WATER CANNON THERE. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PROTESTS CONTINUE, THE FIRE IS BURNING, AND THE FARMERS SAY THAT THEY'LL CONTINUE DOING THIS UNTIL THEY GET SOME SORT OF CHANGE THAT REALLY MAKES THEIR LIVES BETTER. (HORN BLARES TUNEFULLY) MORGAN FROM FRANCE TOLD US SHE'S BEING UNDERCUT BY FARMERS FROM OUTSIDE THE EU WHO DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL RULES THAT SHE DOES. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE CLIMATE, WITH BIODIVERSITY, BUT WE CANNOT DEAL WITH THESE BIG CHALLENGES IF WE ARE ALWAYS ASKED TO PRODUCE CHEAP PRODUCTS. IN MADRID TOO, SPANISH FARMERS FILLED THE STREETS TODAY WITH A SIMILAR DEMAND ` FAIRER PRICES, LESS RED TAPE. (SIRENS WAIL) BACK IN BRUSSELS, EU AGRICULTURAL MINISTERS WHO WITNESSED ALL OF THIS PROMISED THEY'D BE DOING MORE TO HELP FARMERS. BUT CAN IT TURN THIS RISING TIDE OF ANGER? AND SHORTLY AFTER THE PROTESTERS DISPERSED, EU AGRICULTURE MINISTERS HELD A MEDIA BRIEFING. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEPTH OF FEELING AMONG FARMERS AND PROMISED MEASURES TO MAKE LIFE EASIER BUT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. JORDAN HAS AIR-DROPPED AID INTO GAZA AS RUMOURS OF A POTENTIAL CEASEFIRE CONTINUE TO SWIRL. IT'S THE BIGGEST AIR DROP OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES INTO THE TERRITORY SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES WERE DROPPED AT 11 SITES ALONG THE COASTLINE FOR GAZANS TO ACCESS. PREVIOUS AID DROPS BY JORDAN HAVE GONE TO HOSPITALS RUN BY THE JORDANIAN MILITARY. CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE AFTER THE 'BASIC CONTOURS' OF A DEAL WERE APPARENTLY AGREED OVER THE WEEKEND. AND THERE IS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BRING ABOUT A PAUSE IN THE VIOLENCE WHICH COULD EVEN LAST WEEKS. HERE'S THE ABC'S REENA ROY. AS ISRAEL KEEPS UP ITS BARRAGE IN GAZA, CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY. THE ISRAELI WAR CABINET CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO TRY AND MOVE CIVILIANS OUT OF RAFAH IN SOUTHERN GAZA, WHERE MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW LIVING. ISRAEL PLANNING ON LAUNCHING A MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST HAMAS IN THAT DENSELY POPULATED AREA. BUT AID AGENCIES WARNING OF A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE IF THE ISRAELI MILITARY MOVES IN. (SPEAKS ARABIC) THIS RESIDENT OF RAFAH SAYING, 'WE'RE TOLD IT'S A SAFE AREA, 'BUT THERE IS DAILY SHELLING.' YOU CAN SEE DAMAGED BUILDINGS ACROSS THE AREA AND RUBBLE IN THE STREETS, INJURED PEOPLE BEING EVACUATED. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING A MILITARY OPERATION THERE COULD BE DELAYED IF A NEW CEASEFIRE DEAL CAN BE REACHED WITH HAMAS. AN ISRAELI SOURCE TELLING ABC NEWS THAT ISRAEL HAS NOW AGREED TO AN UPDATED FRAMEWORK, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A SIX-WEEK CEASEFIRE AND THE RELEASE OF 40 HOSTAGES, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY, INJURED AND SICK. IN RETURN, ISRAEL WOULD RELEASE HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, AND THE IDF WOULD REDEPLOY BUT NOT WITHDRAW ITS FORCES FROM THE GAZA STRIP. BUT STILL NO WORD FROM HAMAS ON THE DEAL. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS A MAJOR MILITARY OPERATION IN RAFAH SHOULD NOT PROCEED UNLESS THERE IS A CLEAR AND EXECUTABLE PLAN TO PROTECT CIVILIANS, SOMETHING U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT YET SEEN AND ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HAVE KILLED TWO HEZBOLLAH MEMBERS FAR FROM THE LEBANESE BORDER. THE STRIKES WERE IN NORTH EASTERN LEBANON, MAKING THIS ISRAEL'S DEEPEST ATTACK INTO LEBANESE TERRITORY SINCE TENSIONS ESCALATED AFTER THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` IT'S NOT QUITE TURNING WATER INTO WINE, BUT FIND OUT HOW AN AUSSIE COMPANY'S USING THE POWER OF THE OCEAN TO PERFECT ITS PINOT. PLUS ` NOTHING TO SEE HERE. WHY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S NEW UNIFORMS ARE RAISING EYEBROWS. - ALL: Hooray! - Hip hip! - Hooray! - Happy birthday, mate. - It's your bowel screening test. I've done mine. - WOMEN: Me too! - Uso, you've got this! # Pull the stick from the test. # Put it in the poo. Just follow the pictures... - Koro. You can 'poo' it! - # Put it in the pottle. Put on the date. # Don't delay or procrastinate. (ALL CHEER) # Early detection can save the day. # We got a new car you have to plug in. It goes for two wee stops. (DOG BARKS) One masterpiece. And four unlucky possums! Five! VOICEOVER: Fast charge on the road and pay like you're at home. With Genesis at charge net stations. AN AUSTRALIAN COMPANY'S TRYING SOMETHING NEW WITH WINE ` CELLARING IT, SUBMARINE STYLE. IT SAYS THE UNDERWATER WORLD HAS PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR WINE TO DEVELOP. HERE'S CHANNEL NINE'S NATALIA COOPER. UNDER THE PRISTINE, COOL WATERS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN, A HIDDEN TREASURE. BOTTLE AFTER BOTTLE OF WINE CELLARING IN THE SEA. WE USE THE NATURAL OCEAN TO REPLICATE WHAT MAN'S DOING ON LAND. RARE FOODS FARMS ABALONE IN WATERS ABOUT A KILOMETRE OFF AUGUSTA IN SOUTHWEST W.A. BUT THEY'RE ALSO AGEING CRATES OF WINE FROM MARGARET RIVER BENEATH THE WAVES. WHY IS THE OCEAN SUCH A GOOD PLACE TO CELLAR WINE? THE TEMPERATURE ONLY CHANGES BY ABOUT 2 DEGREES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO WE'VE GOT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE. AFTER 12 MONTHS, THE BARNACLE-COVERED BOTTLES ARE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE, CLEANED UP AND SOLD. WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY COME UP? OCEAN TREASURE ` QUITE LITERALLY. OUR INAUGURAL PRODUCTS SOLD LIKE HOTCAKES. MOST PEOPLE ARE SEEING THEM AS COLLECTOR'S ITEMS. THE TEAM INSPIRED BY THE 2010 DISCOVERY OF 170-YEAR-OLD BOTTLES OF PERFECTLY PRESERVED VEUVE CLICQUOT ON A SHIPWRECK. NOW, RARE FOODS IS PARTNERING WITH FRENCH COMPANY WINE REEF INTERNATIONAL TO TRIAL MAKING A CAB SAV AND CHARDONNAY UNDERWATER. IN APRIL, THEY'LL ANCHOR 250-LITRE VATS OF WINE TO THE OCEAN FLOOR AT A DEPTH OF 20m. HOW DO YOU MAKE SUCH GOOD WINE UNDER THE OCEAN? THE OCEAN SWELL, THE PRESSURE WHICH ENCOURAGES THAT SECONDARY FERMENTATION PROCESS AND THE TEMPERATURE. THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS. THE VATS WILL SPEND AROUND SIX MONTHS UNDERWATER. IT'S HOPED THEY'LL PRODUCE 13,000 BOTTLES OF WINE, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE LATER THIS YEAR. WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED TO TRY IT. THE POPE HAS CANCELLED A SERIES OF MEETINGS FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. THE PONTIFF (87) IS REPORTEDLY SUFFERING FROM A MILD FLU, AND THE SUSPENSION OF ACTIVITY IS SAID TO BE A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. THE POPE DELIVERED HIS USUAL REMARKS TO THE CROWDS IN ST PETERS SQUARE ON SUNDAY IN ROME. SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI WILL MAKE ITS RETURN FOR THE THIRD SEASON THIS WEEKEND. CAPTAINS FROM EACH OF THE FRANCHISES IN AUCKLAND THIS MORNING TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH, ALL WANTING TO SEE MORE EXPANSION IN THE WOMEN'S GAME. WE'VE GOT BIGGER A SQUAD. HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A LONGER PRE-SEASON. BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO EXTEND TO A BIGGER COMPETITION, A BIGGER POOL OF TEAMS. THAT MAY BE WITH THE SUPER W, BUT IT IS STILL ONLY THE THIRD SEASON. STILL FINDING OUR FEET AND HOW THIS CAMPAIGN CAN, YOU KNOW, BE BETTER. BUT WE'LL FOCUS ON THIS SEASON RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. THE 2024 REGULAR SEASON IS JUST SIX WEEKS LONG WITH AN EXTRA WEEK FOR THE FINAL. THE BLACKCAPS WILL LOOK TO END A 31-YEAR DROUGHT WHEN THEY TAKE ON AUSTRALIA AT A SOLD-OUT BASIN RESERVE. NEW ZEALAND WILL HEAD INTO THE TWO MATCH SERIES AS UNDERDOGS AND HAVEN'T BEATEN AUSTRALIA IN A TEST SERIES AT HOME SINCE 1993. NEW ZEALAND BOOSTED BY THE RETURN OF BATTER DARYL MITCHELL WHO'S RECOVERED FROM A FOOT INJURY. I LOVE PLAYING FOR NEW ZEALAND AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S NICE TO PLAY AUSTRALIA. I'VE MANAGED TO PLAY THEM IN A NUMBER OF WORLD CUPS NOW AND A COUPLE OF ODI SERIES AS WELL. SO, LOOK, IT'S COOL TO TAKE ON THE AUSSIES AND FOR US, IT'S AGAIN NOT MAKING IT BIGGER THAN WHAT IT IS. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A SPECIAL SERIES FOR EVERYONE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S JUST ANOTHER BALL COMING DOWN AT YOU AND TRY AND FIND A WAY TO NEGATE IT. THE FIRST TEST GETS UNDERWAY ON THURSDAY WITH FULL COVERAGE LIVE AND FREE ON TVNZ+ AND BASEBALLERS IN THE U.S. ARE PREPARING FOR THE NEW MAJOR LEAGUE SEASON, BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. NEW UNIFORMS ARE DRAWING CRITICISM FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, INCLUDING THAT THEY'RE SEE-THROUGH. THE ABC'S WILL REEVE HAS MORE. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S SPRING TRAINING IS UNDERWAY AND FLYING BY THE SEAT OF ITS PANTS ` LITERALLY. THE NEW PANTS ARE 100% SEE-THROUGH. A LEAGUE-WIDE UNIFORM OVERHAUL YEARS IN THE MAKING IS NOW IN EFFECT, AND ISSUES WITH THE JERSEYS AND PANTS CAUSING AN UPROAR AMONG SOME PLAYERS AND FANS. YOU CAN SEE THE NIKE LOGO OF THIS GUY'S SPANDEX UNDER HIS PANTS. WHY DIDN'T ANYONE THINK TO TEST THE PANTS FIRST? IMAGES OF PLAYERS IN SEE-THROUGH PANTS AND JERSEYS WITH SMALL LETTERING GOING VIRAL. COMMENTATORS WEIGHING IN AS WELL. THE NAMES AND THE NUMBERS HAVE SHRUNK TO LILLIPUTIAN SIZE. THE UNIFORMS ARE DESIGNED BY NIKE, WITH INPUT FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND MANUFACTURED BY FANATICS. THE NEW THREADS HAVE BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2018. THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE UNIFORMS LIGHTER AND MORE BREATHABLE, AN IDEA SIMILAR TO GEORGE COSTANZA'S IN AN EPISODE OF SEINFELD. POLYESTER! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE NOT PLAYING IN COTTON. THIS IS WHAT THEY GIVE US. THE NEW UNIFORMS MADE THEIR DEBUT AT LAST YEAR'S ALL-STAR GAME; PLAYERS WHO WORE THEM SINGING THEIR PRAISES AT THE TIME. BUT SOME NOW SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE. MLB SAYING... THE FEEL WAS OK, THE LIGHTER FABRIC WAS OK, BUT THE LOOK REALLY THREW PLAYERS OFF, AND THEN WHEN THEY TOOK THEM OUT ON THE FIELD, FANS NOTICED IT VERY QUICKLY AS WELL. EVERTON'S PENALTY FOR BREAKING THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE'S FINANCIAL RULES HAS BEEN REDUCED. THE CLUB WAS DOCKED 10 POINTS IN NOVEMBER BUT AFTER A SUCCESSFUL APPEAL, IT'S BEEN REDUCED TO JUST 6, LIFTING THEM TO 15TH ON THE TABLE. BUT IT'S NOT OVER FOR EVERTON. THEY FACE ANOTHER POINTS DEDUCTION FOR ALLEGED BREACHES IN THEIR ACCOUNTS FOR LAST SEASON. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON LOVE LETTERS FROM ONE OF MUSIC'S GREATEST SCANDALS. PLUS, YOUR AFTERNOON WEATHER. LOVE LETTERS FROM ONE OF MUSIC'S MOST SCANDALOUS LOVE TRIANGLES ARE GOING UP FOR AUCTION. BRITISH MODEL PATTIE BOYD DATED BOTH GEORGE HARRISON AND ERIC CLAPTON, INSPIRING SOME OF THEIR MOST FAMOUS HITS. NOW SHE'S SHARING DETAILS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AS THE BBC'S DAVID SILITTO REPORTS. GEORGE HARRISON AND PATTIE BOYD. THEY WERE ONE OF THE '60s COUPLES. I STARTED WORKING WHEN I WAS ABOUT 17, 18 AS A FASHION MODEL. THEN ONE DAY MY AGENT PHONED AND SAID THAT I GOT A PART IN THE BEATLES FILM. AND IT WAS ON THE SET OF 'A HARD DAY'S NIGHT' THAT SHE MET GEORGE HARRISON. AND NOW THE LETTERS AND OBJECTS THAT TELL THE STORY OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOVE TRIANGLE WITH ERIC CLAPTON ARE GOING UP FOR SALE. ITEMS SUCH AS THIS HANDWRITTEN NOTE. AND HERE'S THIS LETTER WITH THE TINIEST WRITING IMAGINABLE. ADDRESSED TO 'DEAREST L', IT WAS FROM ERIC CLAPTON, LAYING BARE HIS FEELINGS, AND 'L' STOOD FOR THE NAME HE CHOSE FOR HER ` LAYLA. # GOT ME ON MY KNEES, LAYLA. # BUT IT'S NOT JUST LETTERS. THIS PAINTING, WHICH WILL GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY ON MARCH 15, IS ALSO PART OF THE STORY. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? WE ARE LOOKING AT LAYLA. THIS IS LAYLA? THIS IS LAYLA. THE ORIGINAL ARTWORK USED FOR THE COVER OF DEREK AND THE DOMINOS' 'LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS.' AND IT'S NOT JUST THE PAINTING. IT'S THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE LETTERS` WE HAVE THE LETTERS ` 'DEAR LAYLA, DEAR L,' THAT IS ERIC CLAPTON DECLARING HIS LOVE FOR LAYLA. SHE SHOWS IT TO GEORGE. SHE'S LIKE` SHE SHOWS THIS LETTER TO GEORGE? SHE SHOWS THIS LETTER TO GEORGE HARRISON BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO IT'S FROM. SHE SAYS, 'LOOK AT THIS, 'THIS WEIRD FAN LETTER I'VE GOT,' NOT KNOWING THAT IT WAS FROM ERIC CLAPTON. # AND THEN SHE'LL ASK... 'WONDERFUL TONIGHT', 'LAYLA', 'SOMETHING'. THE SONG'S INSPIRED BY THIS LOVE TRIANGLE. THE SONGS INSPIRED BY THIS LOVE TRIANGLE. THESE LETTERS ARE MORE THAN JUST KEEPSAKES. THIS IS ROCK HISTORY. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. ('LAYLA' BY DEREK AND THE DOMINOS) (UPBEAT GUITAR INTRO) # WHAT'LL YOU DO WHEN YOU GET LONELY # AND NOBODY'S WAITING BY YOUR SIDE? # YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING # AND HIDING MUCH TOO LONG. # YOU KNOW IT'S JUST YOUR FOOLISH PRIDE. # LAYLA... # YOU GOT ME ON MY KNEES. # LAYLA... # I'M BEGGING DARLING, PLEASE, # LAYLA. # DARLING, WON'T YOU EASE MY WORRIED MIND? # I TRIED TO GIVE YOU CONSOLATION # THANKS FOR JOINING US. FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND KATE HARRIS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.