IT'S MIDDAY. THE MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER'S UNDER FIRE ` WHY THERE'S FRESH CRITICISM OF MELISSA LEE OVER NEWSHUB'S CLOSURE. PLUS ` WHY A DOZEN RETIREMENT VILLAGE OPERATORS HAVE FALLEN FOUL OF THE COMMERCE COMMISSION. AND HOW THE BREAKERS STAGED A STUNNING COMEBACK TO KEEP THEIR FINALS DREAM ALIVE. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024. MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER MELISSA LEE IS IN THE FIRING LINE ACCUSED OF A LACK OF SUPPORT OR UNDERSTANDING FOR THE SECTOR. IT COMES AFTER A PROPOSAL TO END THE PRODUCTION OF ALL NEWS CONTENT ON TV3. COURTNEY HAMMOND HAS MORE. AN EMOTIONAL START TO THE DAY ON TV 3 THIS MORNING, FOLLOWING NEWS THAT NEWSHUB IS SET TO CLOSE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING IF DOES THAT AFFECT A.M. TOO, AND A.M. AND NEWSHUB ARE ONE IN THE SAME ` WE'RE ALL THE SAME FAMILY. I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME WITH THIS VOICE. THE A.M. SHOW AND ITS STAFF AMONG THE 300 OR SO PEOPLE SET TO LOSE THEIR JOBS UNDER A PLAN TO SHUT THREE'S NEWS DIVISION DOWN AT THE END OF JUNE. OWNER WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY BLAMES A HUGE DROP IN ADVERTISING REVENUE. FORMER 3 NEWS PRESENTER JANET WILSON SAYS IT'S ANOTHER SIGN OF A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE NEWS MARKET. THERE'S PLENTY OF NEWS OUT THERE VIA THE WEB, AND WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR IT AND NOT GETTING PAID FOR IT, AND THAT'S THE ESSENTIAL PROBLEM. AND IF YOU KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE, YOU'LL LOSE. INDUSTRY LEADERS HAVE BEEN ARGUING THEIR CASE AT PARLIAMENT OVER THE PROPOSED FAIR DIGITAL BARGAINING BILL, WHICH COULD SEE COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE PAY TO USE ARTICLES FROM NEWS SITES. THAT BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, BUT THERE'S CONCERN THE NEW MINISTER ISN'T AS INTERESTED, SAYING IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR NEWSHUB. IT COULD'VE ACTUALLY HELPED` IT WAS ACTUALLY A FAILURE IN TERMS OF THE WAY THEY'RE ADVERTISING FOR THEIR NEWS ` IT WAS A MASSIVE DROP. THE FORMER MINISTER SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP UP ITS EFFORTS IN THE SECTOR. ASK THEM WHAT THE MEDIA PLAN IS, THE BROADCASTING PLAN IS FOR THE NEXT 100 DAYS. YOU'LL FIND THERE IS NO MEDIA PLAN. ASK THEM IF MEDIA BROADCASTING IS IN THEIR MANIFESTO. YOU'LL FIND THERE'S NOTHING IN THE MANIFESTO. THEY'LL SAY TO YOU THE MARKET RULES. THE MARKET'S BROKE. THE WHOLE OF NEWS AS IS CHANGING. WE'RE SEEING A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN NEWS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE ` USUALLY FOR WORSE. UNTIL THAT CHANGE BECOMES CLEAR, THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO MARCH INTO AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. COURTNEY HAMMOND, 1 NEWS. THE PRIME MINISTER'S ELECTORATE OFFICE HAS BEEN VANDALISED OVERNIGHT. THE BOTANY PROPERTY WAS DOUSED IN RED PAINT AND TAGGED WITH THE WORDS 'FREE PALESTINE.' IT'S THE SECOND TIME CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S OFFICE HAS BEEN TARGETED BY PROTESTS LINKED TO THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR. THE POLICE ARE MAKING ENQUIRIES. THE COMMERCE COMMISSION HAS PUT A DOZEN RETIREMENT VILLAGE OPERATORS ON NOTICE OVER CARE CLAIMS AND CONTRACT TERMS. IT FOLLOWS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMER NZ AND THE RETIREMENT VILLAGE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION FOR POSSIBLE BREACHES OF THE FAIR TRADING ACT AROUND OFFERING A CONTINUUM OF CARE. THE HEAD OF THE RETIREMENT VILLAGES ASSOCIATION SAYS ITS MEMBERS ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND ITS OWN CODE OF PRACTICE. THE 12 OPERATORS IN QUESTION RUN MORE THAN 180 VILLAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS IS DUE TO GET UNDERWAY IN THE NEXT HOUR. CROWDS HAVE GATHERED IN SOUTH AUCKLAND FOR THE SERVICE FOR THE GREEN MP DIED AFTER COLLAPSING AT A CHARITY EVENT LAST WEEK. HE WAS 49 YEARS OLD. FAMILY SPOKESPERSON TAITO EDDIE TUIAVII SAYS HE WAS FEARLESS AND RELENTLESS IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. HE WAS LOUD AND PROUD ABOUT CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY ` HE WAS LOUD AND PROUD. YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS AGO IN PONEKE WAS HIS MAIDEN SPEECH, AND IT WAS OTARA HARD, TOKELAU AND SAMOAN, TE AO MAORI. HE WAS ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND I THINK IF YOU THINK ABOUT GROWING UP IN AOTEAROA, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, FA'ANANA EFESO WAS ALL ABOUT RANGATAHI. THE MEMORIAL WILL TAKE PLACE AT 1PM AT THE DUE DROP EVENTS CENTRE IN MANUKAU. ALL ARE WELCOME. PHILANTHROPIST AND BUSINESSMAN MARK DUNAJTSCHIK HAS MADE A LAST-MINUTE BID TO BUY THE LAND UNDERNEATH WELLINGTON'S READING CINEMAS, SAVING THE CITY COUNCIL MILLIONS IN A CONTROVERSIAL DEAL. THE CINEMA COMPLEX ON COURTENAY PLACE HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE IT WAS DEEMED EARTHQUAKE-PRONE IN 2019. COUNCILLORS ARE MEETING TODAY TO DECIDE ON A PROPOSAL TO BUY THE LAND FOR $32M. IT WOULD THEN BE LEASED BACK TO THE READING CINEMAS ONCE THE NEW BUILDING DESIGN HAS RESOURCE CONSENT. THE LATEST OFFER CROPPED UP IN TODAY'S MEETING. A SERIES OF HUGE FIRES ARE BURNING IN TEXAS, THREATENING LIVES, HOMES AND EVEN A NUCLEAR FACILITY. THE BIGGEST OF THE BLAZES IS MORE THAN HALF A MILLION ACRES IN SIZE. HERE'S THE ABC'S REENA ROY. AT LEAST FIVE MASSIVE WILDFIRES BURNING IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. OH MY GOSH. RECORD HEAT, DRY LAND AND STRONG WINDS FUELLING THE FLAMES. 500,000 ACRES BURNING IN THE LARGEST FIRE. YOU CAN SEE SMOKE FILLING THE SKIES. THERE WERE HOUSES AND STRUCTURES THAT WERE BURNING. GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ISSUING DISASTER DECLARATIONS FOR AT LEAST 60 COUNTIES. EVACUATION ORDERS IN PLACE IN SOME AREAS. MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CANCELLING CLASSES TODAY. IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO MAKE PROGRESS WITH HOW RAPIDLY THE FIRE IS GROWING AND SPREADING, SO THEY'VE BEEN PRIORITISING LIFE SAFETY, EVACUATING RESIDENTS. THE FIRE IS EVEN FORCING A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY TO PARTIALLY EVACUATE AND PAUSE OPERATIONS. FLAMES ENGULFING THESE VEHICLES ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHILE RESIDENTS DESPERATELY TRY TO ESCAPE. DOZENS OF BUILDINGS DAMAGED IN THE INFERNO, BUT NO INJURIES OR DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. AND FURTHER NORTH, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT POWER AFTER SEVERE STORMS. NO INJURIES OR DEATHS HAVE YET BEEN REPORTED. EYEWITNESSES REPORTED SEEING TORNADOES IN AREAS OF MICHIGAN, BUT METEOROLOGISTS HAVE NOT YET CONFIRMED THAT TWISTERS WERE FORMED. MORE STORMS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE AFFECTED AREAS. AN APPEALS COURT JUDGE HAS DENIED DONALD TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO DELAY PAYING A FINE OF MORE THAN $700M. THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAD OFFERED UP $160M AS A BOND, BUT SAID COLLECTING THE FULL AMOUNT IS UNFAIR, WHILE THE MATTER IS BEING APPEALED. FINES ARE USUALLY COLLECTED IN FULL AND HELD IN TRUST WHILE UNDER APPEAL. THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS THREATENED TO SEIZE TRUMP'S FAMOUS NEW YORK TOWER IF HE DOESN'T PAY. AND ANOTHER OF DONALD TRUMP'S LEGAL FIGHTS WILL GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST COURT HAS AGREED TO HEAR THE CASE OVER WHETHER TRUMP, AS A FORMER PRESIDENT, IS IMMUNE TO PROSECUTION OVER ALLEGED ELECTION INTERFERENCE. THE CASE WILL BE HEARD IN LATE APRIL, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN ANY DECISION WOULD BE RELEASED. AND CURRENT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS UNDERGONE HIS ANNUAL PHYSICAL. HIS DOCTOR SAYING THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF REMAINS FIT FOR DUTY. THE DOCTOR NOTED THAT THE PRESIDENT'S GAIT IS STIFF, AS A RESULT OF ARTHRITIS IN HIS SPINE AND THE EFFECTS OF A FOOT INJURY. NO ADDITIONAL COGNITIVE TESTS WERE NEEDED AS A RESULT. A PORTUGUESE POLITICIAN HAS BEEN COVERED IN PAINT DURING A CAMPAIGN APPEARANCE. LUIS MONTENEGRO WAS MAKING HIS FIRST STOP OF A TWO-WEEK CAMPAIGN, AHEAD OF A SNAP ELECTION. POLICE HAD JUST ARRESTED FOUR PEOPLE AND CONFISCATED ONE CAN OF PAINT, WHEN A FIFTH PERSON MANAGED TO GET CLOSE TO THE CENTRE-RIGHT COALITION LEADER. MR MONTENEGRO WASN'T INJURED. THE PERSON WHO THREW THE PAINT IS NOW IN CUSTODY. THE POPE IS BACK IN THE VATICAN AFTER A BRIEF VISIT TO HOSPITAL. THE PONTIFF HAD EARLIER CANCELLED A PUBLIC READING, SAYING HE WAS STILL UNWELL WITH FLU WHICH HAD FORCED HIM TO CANCEL DAYS OF MEETINGS EARLIER THIS WEEK. HE THEN BRIEFLY VISITED HOSPITAL BUT RETURNED HOME ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. SOUTH KOREA'S JUST SET A WORLD RECORD FOR THE LOWEST BIRTH RATE EVER. THE BIRTH RATE IS NOW JUST 0.73 CHILDREN PER WOMAN ` FAR BELOW THE 2.1 REQUIRED FOR A STABLE POPULATION. THE BBC'S JEAN MCKENZIE REPORTS. (SPEAKS KOREAN) THIS IS A MEETING OF SINGLE MINDS. YEJIN AND HER FRIENDS DON'T PLAN TO GET MARRIED OR HAVE CHILDREN. INSTEAD, YEJIN WANTS TO FOCUS ON HER JOB AS A TV PRODUCER. IT'S COMPETITIVE, AND THE HOURS GRUELLING. IT LEAVES NO TIME TO RAISE A CHILD. TRANSLATOR: THE WORK CULTURE IS TOO HARD HERE. AT THE WEEKENDS, SOMETIMES I HAVE AN IV DRIP JUST TO GET ENOUGH ENERGY TO GO BACK TO WORK. WITH THESE NOTORIOUSLY LONG WORKING HOURS, WOMEN IN KOREA FEEL FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING A CAREER AND HAVING A BABY. (CHUCKLES, SPEAKS KOREAN) THE BIRTH RATE HAS BEEN PLUMMETING FOR YEARS AS MORE WOMEN LIKE YEJIN CHOOSE THEIR JOBS. THIS DEARTH OF BABIES MEANS KOREA'S POPULATION IS ALREADY AGEING FAST. IN 50 YEARS' TIME, THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65 THAN UNDER ` A FRIGHTENING PROSPECT FOR ITS ECONOMY, ITS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND ITS PENSION RESERVES. POLITICIANS KNOW THEY'RE GRAPPLING WITH A CRISIS. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. (SPEAKS KOREAN) YEJIN HAS DECIDED TO MOVE TO NEW ZEALAND BECAUSE IT HAS BETTER GENDER EQUALITY. THESE WOMEN KNOW THE BIRTH RATE'S A PROBLEM. THEY JUST DON'T THINK IT'S THEIRS TO SOLVE. THE NEXT GENERATION? OK. I BELIEVE ` NEXT GENERATION. NIGER, IN WEST AFRICA, HAS THE HIGHEST BIRTH RATE AT AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN CHILDREN. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` WHY THE FAMOUS CEILING OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL IS GETTING A SPRUCE UP. AND THE FIRST TEST IS UNDERWAY, AS THE BLACKCAPS SQUARE OFF AGAINST AUSTRALIA. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ARTWORKS IN THE WORLD, THE CEILING OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL, IS GETTING SOME EXTRA ATTENTION AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S CATHOLIC JUBILEE. UP TO SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THE CHAPEL EVERY YEAR, BUT PROTECTING THE DELICATE ARTWORKS HAS TO GO ON AMID ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE. HERE'S THE BBC'S SARA MONETTA. CLOSER THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD EVER DREAM TO GET, EXPERTS ARE INSPECTING MICHELANGELO'S SISTINE CHAPEL, LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF DETERIORATION. TRANSLATOR: WE HAVE HERE SOME ALTERATIONS, SOME LIGHT WHITENING. NOW WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED IT. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST VISITED MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD, WITH UP TO 25,000 TOURISTS A DAY, BUT THAT COMES AT A PRICE. THE HUMIDITY INCREASE AND ALSO THE CARBON DIOXIDE. AND THIS REACTS WITH THE SURFACE OF THE WORK OF ART. WE MAY HAVE CONDENSATION, DUST, DEPOSIT, BECAUSE THAT MEANS DANGEROUS COMPOUNDS. AFTER THE LAST RESTORATION 30 YEARS AGO, SENSORS AND AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WERE INSTALLED TO KEEP A STABLE ENVIRONMENT IN THE CHAPEL. BUT SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER OF VISITORS HAS SOARED, REQUIRING MORE INTENSIVE MAINTENANCE. SO FOR A FEW WEEKS EVERY YEAR, AFTER THE LAST VISITOR IS GONE, EXPERTS GET TO WORK. FABIO KNOWS THE FRESCOES AS INTIMATELY AS A DOCTOR KNOWS HIS PATIENT. HE SHOWS US A FRAGMENT TAKEN FROM A PIECE OF CLOTH THAT WAS PAINTED ON A CHARACTER AFTER MICHELANGELO'S DEATH TO COVER ITS NUDITY. TRANSLATOR: HERE YOU CAN SEE MICHELANGELO'S ORIGINAL PLASTER, THE ORIGINAL COLOUR OF THE SKIN, AND ON TOP OF IT, IN A LIGHTER SHADE OF PINK WITH SOME BLACK PARTICLES, IS THE CLOTH THAT WAS PAINTED OVER. USING EXTREMELY HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES, HE AND HIS TEAM ARE NOW MAPPING SECTIONS OF THE CHAPEL. TRANSLATOR: AT SUCH HIGH RESOLUTION, WE CAN SEE DOWN TO THE SINGLE PAINT CRYSTAL, AND THIS ALLOWS US TO SEE OVER TIME IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES OR DEPOSITS OF DUST. THIS YEAR'S MAINTENANCE HAS AN ADDED SENSE OF URGENCY. THE VATICAN'S JUBILEE IS STARTING IN DECEMBER, AND EVEN MORE VISITORS ARE EXPECTED HERE. IT'S A FINE LINE TO ENSURE THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GASP IN AWE EVERY TIME THEY LOOK UP AT MICHELANGELO'S MASTERPIECE. MEXICO'S MOST DANGEROUS ACTIVE VOLCANO IS RUMBLING TO LIFE. HUNDREDS OF TREMORS HAVE BEEN DETECTED NEAR THE VOLCANO OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AND IT'S NOW STARTED SPEWING SMOKE AND ASH INTO THE SKY. AUTHORITIES ARE WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO APPROACH IT, AND THERE'S EVEN FEARS NOXIOUS GASES COULD WAFT INTO THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL, MEXICO CITY. PRINCE HARRY HAS LOST A LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER THE WITHDRAWAL OF HIS PUBLICLY FUNDED SECURITY. THE BBC'S JONNY DYMOND HAS MORE. FROM BIRTH, HE HAS HAD A SHADOW ` POLICE PROTECTION, CLEARING THE WAY AND WATCHING HIS BACK. BUT THAT DOESN'T COME CHEAP. AND WHEN HE AND MEGHAN STEPPED BACK FROM ROYAL DUTIES AND LEFT THE COUNTRY, THAT AUTOMATIC PROTECTION WAS WITHDRAWN. THAT HURT ` SOMETHING HE MADE CLEAR WHEN HE TOLD HIS SIDE OF THE STORY. M ASKED ME, 'WOULD THEY REMOVE ALL SECURITY?' I SAID, 'THEY'LL NEVER DO THAT.' MEGHAN'S BACKGROUND, HER HERITAGE, THE WORLD DOCUMENTED HATE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST US, SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES BEING SENT TO THE PALACES, SPECIFICALLY WITH HER NAME ON OR MY NAME ON. SHE SAID, 'DO YOU THINK THEY'LL EVER DO IT?' I SAID, 'NO, THEY WOULD NEVER DO THAT.' AND THEY DID IT. THERE WOULD BE TIMES, LIKE THE LATE QUEEN'S JUBILEE WHEN BACK IN THE UK, HE WOULD GET PROTECTION, BUT IT WOULD BE DECIDED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. HE WENT TO COURT TO CHALLENGE THAT DECISION. IN COURT, PRINCE HARRY'S LAWYERS SAID THAT THE WAY THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE TO DENY HIM POLICE PROTECTION WAS WRONG, THAT THE PRINCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ARGUE HIS OWN CASE FOR HIMSELF. AND THEY SAID THAT THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE DECISION SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THE IMPACT OF ANY SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON HARRY ON THE REPUTATION OF THE COUNTRY, BUT THE COURT REJECTED ALL OF THAT. THE PEOPLE WHO REPLACE THE POLICE GUARDING HARRY WILL HAVE A TOUGHER JOB. WITH POLICE PROTECTION, WITH ARMED PROTECTION, YOU HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION, AND YOU CAN ALSO TELL THE PUBLIC TO MOVE OVER THERE, DON'T PARK THAT CAR THERE. SO THE PRIVATE TEAM HAS A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TASK BEFORE THEM. TODAY, HARRY WAS SPEAKING UP ON BEHALF OF ONE OF HIS BRITISH CHARITIES. HIS LEGAL TEAM SAYS HE WILL APPEAL THE COURT'S DECISION. PARIS OLYMPICS OFFICIALS SAY NO SECURITY PLANS WERE STOLEN, WHEN A STAFF MEMBER'S BAG WAS TAKEN ON THE CITY'S METRO SYSTEM. THE MAN'S LAPTOP AND USB DRIVES WERE IN THE BAG, AND THERE WERE INITIAL FEARS SECURITY PLANS HAD BEEN COMPROMISED. OFFICIALS NOW SAY HE WAS ONLY IN POSSESSION OF TRAFFIC-MANAGEMENT PLANS. NEW ZEALAND HAVE WON THE TOSS AND CHOSEN TO FIELD ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA. THE AUSSIE OPENERS HAVE LOOKED STRONG IN THE FIRST SESSION, THE PAIR MANAGING TO FIND THE BOUNDARY EARLY. OH, WHAT A SHOT THAT IS FROM STEVE SMITH! ELEGANT COVER DRIVE FOR FOUR. YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT CONFIDENCE BOOSTER THERE FROM STEVE SMITH. THE FIRST RULE OVER THE PITCH BALL THERE FROM TIM SOUTHEE. THERE'S AN OUTSIDE EDGE. IT'S GONNA RUN DOWN TO THIRD... AND WILL RUN AWAY FOR FOUR. AUSTRALIA ARE CURRENTLY 36 WITHOUT LOSS AFTER 19 OVERS. THE BREAKERS HAVE UPSET THE AUSTRALIAN NBL'S DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TO KEEP THEIR PLAYOFF RUN ALIVE, THE 83-76 WIN OVER THE SYDNEY KINGS ON THE ROAD COMING DOWN TO A SUPERB TEAM PERFORMANCE. LACHIE MCLEOD HAS MORE. FROM BOTTOM OF THE TABLE TO THE VERGE OF THE NBL SEMIFINALS. YES! IN A SEASON OF STRUGGLE, NOT ONCE HAVE THE NZ BREAKERS GIVEN UP! THE BREAKERS ENDING THE SYDNEY KINGS' SEASON AND ADVANCING TO THE SECOND STAGE OF THE PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT. THEY CARE ABOUT ALL THE RIGHT THINGS. THEY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. AND THEIR METTLE TESTED, COS THEIR SEASON HAS BEEN TOUGH, AND WE'VE SEEN EVERYTHING, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH EVERYTHING. ONCE I WALKED INTO THE LOCKER ROOM AT HALFTIME, AND KNEW WE WOULD WIN THE GAME, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING BUT DETERMINATION, AND THESE FOLKS WON THE TEST. BUT THE WIN DIDN'T COME EASY FOR THE BREAKERS. WITH TWO POINTS TO HIS NAME. FORCES UP THE THREE WITH A HAND IN THE FACE! DOWN BY DOWN BY NINE AT HALFTIME, STEP UP PARKER JACKSON-CARTWRIGHT. THAT IS SO SMART, NZ. LOOK AT THIS. FIVE SECONDS TO GO. SHOOTS THE THREE. GOODNIGHT! PARKER JACKSON-CARTWRIGHT SILENCES QUDOS BANK ARENA! THAT IS ENORMOUS! THE AMERICAN GUARD HELPING DETHRONE THE KINGS WITH A GAME-HIGH 34 POINTS. WE JUST WANNA WIN. WE DON'T CARE. WHEN NOBODY SANK, IT'S ABOUT BREAKERS BASKETBALL, BREAKERS FAMILY. WE'RE IN IT TOGETHER. IT'S A COLLECTIVE. THE BREAKERS WILL NOW HEAD TO ILLAWARRA, TO TAKE ON THE HAWKS ON MONDAY NIGHT. A WIN THERE WOULD LOCK THEM IN FOR THE SEMIFINALS. LACHIE MCLEOD 1 NEWS. THE BLUES WILL TAKE ON SOME FAMILIAR FACES WHEN THEY FACE THE HIGHLANDERS IN SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC'S SUPER ROUND THIS WEEKEND. BOTH TEAMS OPENED THE COMPETITION WITH WINS. THE BLUES EXPECTING TO COME UP AGAINST FORMER PLAYERS WHO HAVE HEADED TO THE SOUTH FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. THEN THAT'S REALLY KEY TO RECRUITING IS FINDING PLAYERS THAT HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY GIVEN TO THEM. AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE VERY MOTIVATED, AND WE'VE SEEN IT WITH THE BOYS THEY HAVE THERE. THEY'VE STRENGTHENED THEIR WINGS. GOT NAREKI BACK, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR THEM. THEY'VE GOT SOME POWER PACE. THEY'VE GOT A GOOD KICKING GAME, WHERE THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT PUTTING THE BALL DOWN THE OTHER END OF THE PADDOCK, AND TRYING TO GET YOU TO OVERPLAY. THE BLUES AND HIGHLANDERS WILL KICK OFF THE SUPER ROUND IN MELBOURNE TOMORROW NIGHT. THE SUPERCARS HAVE MADE THEIR RETURN FOR THE 2024 SEASON WITH KIWI MOTORSPORT FANS EXCITED FOR A RETURN TO AOTEAROA. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL HEAD TO THE KING COUNTRY FOR THE TAUPO SUPER 400. THERE ARE FIVE KIWI DRIVERS ON THE GRID THIS SEASON, ADDING TO ADD TO NEW ZEALAND'S PROUD HISTORY IN THE V8s. EVERYONE ASKS US, 'IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE WATER? 'WHAT IS IT?' AND, LIKE, HONESTLY, I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW. I THINK, POTENTIALLY, WE START VERY YOUNG OVER HERE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY RACE A FULL CAR WHEN YOU'RE 12 ON, LIKE, A BIG TRACK, WHICH IS CRAZY. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T DO THAT OVERSEAS. SO POTENTIALLY, THERE'S A BIT OF THAT, AND IT'S A BIT OF A CULTURE THING TOO, MAYBE. BUT YEAH, WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING AT ALL. TAUPO WILL HOST THE THIRD ROUND OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN APRIL. RED BULL'S FORMULA 1 TEAM PRINCIPAL CHRISTIAN HORNER HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ALLEGATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE AND CONTROLLING BEHAVIOUR. IN A STATEMENT, RED BULL SAYS IT BELIEVES THE INTERNAL REVIEW WAS FAIR, RIGOROUS AND IMPARTIAL ` CLEARING THE 50-YEAR-OLD OF ANY WRONG DOING. HORNER HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. THE HOME OF ROCK LEGEND FREDDIE MERCURY IS UP FOR SALE, MORE THAN 30 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. MERCURY, FRONTMAN OF THE BAND QUEEN, LIVED IN THE LONDON HOUSE HE CALLED 'GARDEN LODGE' UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1991. HIS OSTENTATIOUS TASTE IS ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT THE HOME, WHICH HE METICULOUSLY RENOVATED AFTER HE BOUGHT IT IN 1980. IT FEATURES A LIBRARY, BAR, JAPANESE SITTING ROOM AND A MUSIC CENTRE. IF YOU FANCY OWNING IT, YOU'D BETTER HAVE MORE THAN $62M IN THE BANK. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (QUEEN'S 'CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE') # THIS THING CALLED LOVE, # I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT. # THIS THING CALLED LOVE, # I MUST GET ROUND TO IT. # I AIN'T READY. # CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE. # THIS THING CALLED LOVE, # IT CRIES IN A CRADLE ALL NIGHT. # IT SWINGS. IT JIVES, # SHAKES ALL OVER LIKE A JELLYFISH. # I KINDA LIKE IT. # CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE. # THERE GOES MY BABY. # SHE KNOWS HOW TO ROCK AND ROLL. # SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY. # SHE GIVES ME HOT AND COLD FEVER. # SHE LEAVES ME IN A COOL, COOL SWEAT. # THANKS FOR JOINING US. TE KARERE IS HERE AT 4, FOLLOWED BY THE 1 NEWS TEAM AT 6. PLUS YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TODAY'S NEWS ONLINE AT 1NEWS.CO.NZ BUT FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024.