NEW ZEALAND'S HIGHEST RANKING CATHOLIC PRIEST, CARDINAL JOHN DEW, HAS FAILED IN A SUPREME COURT BID TO PREVENT NEWSHUB REPORTING A SEX ABUSE ALLEGATION AGAINST HIM. DOZENS OF JOBS ARE TO BE CUT AT TVNZ, BUT STAFF WON'T FIND OUT WHICH ONES UNTIL TOMORROW. AND A POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE LANDFILL HAS FORCED RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES IN SOUTHLAND'S BLUECLIFFS. CAPTIONS BY MAEVE KELLY AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL THE VATICAN IS INVESTIGATING NEW ZEALAND'S HIGHEST-RANKED CATHOLIC OVER CHILD SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS. THE COMPLAINT, AGAINST CARDINAL JOHN DEW, WAS FILED LAST YEAR BY A MAN WHO CLAIMS THAT HE WAS ABUSED WHILE STAYING AT AN UPPER HUTT ORPHANAGE IN THE LATE '70s. POLICE HAVE JUST CONCLUDED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGATIONS, SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE ENOUGH EVIDENCE. CARDINAL DEW, WHO DELIVERED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S OFFICIAL APOLOGY TO SURVIVORS OF ABUSE, SAYS IT'S A FALSE ALLEGATION AND TOOK NEWSHUB TO THE SUPREME COURT IN A FAILED BID TO PREVENT US REPORTING THE ACCUSATIONS. INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MORRAH IS WITH US NOW. AND A WARNING ` THIS STORY IS CONFRONTING. THIS IS STEVE CARVELL. WHEN HE WAS 7 YEARS OLD, STEVE STAYED HERE AT ST JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE IN UPPER HUTT. THE YEAR WAS 1977, AND 46 YEARS LATER, CARVELL CAME FORWARD TO ACCUSE TWO PRIESTS WHO WERE AT THE PARISH AT THE TIME OF SEXUAL ABUSE. THEY WERE FATHER JOHN DEW ` NOW A CARDINAL ` AND FATHER NOEL DONOGHUE, WHO IS NOW DEAD. STEVE CARVELL TOOK HIS COMPLAINT TO POLICE, THE ROYAL COMMISSION AND THE CHURCH LAST YEAR. A DETECTIVE SPENT MONTHS INVESTIGATING BUT CLOSED THE CASE LAST MONTH. POLICE TOLD NEWSHUB THEY COULD NOT REACH THE EVIDENTIAL TEST TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE PROSPECT OF CONVICTION. BUT CARVELL HAS NOW BEEN TOLD A CHURCH INQUIRY, OVERSEEN BY THE VATICAN, IS UNDERWAY. THE CARDINAL, WHO UNTIL MAY WAS THE LEADER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND, AND UNTIL NOW HAS NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT LAID AGAINST HIM, STRENUOUSLY DENIES THE CLAIMS, TELLING ME, 'IT NEVER HAPPENED.' STEVE CARVELL IS DEEPLY AFFECTED BY MEMORIES OF ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE. THE ABUSE STILL CONTINUES TODAY, BECAUSE THOSE MEMORIES AND THOSE... OBSCENE OCCASIONS, THOSE... THOSE THINGS IN LIFE THAT I NEVER, EVER WANT TO FEEL ` I STILL TODAY FEEL THOSE INTENSE FEELINGS. THE MEMORIES, WHICH HAVE SURFACED IN RECENT YEARS, ARE OF BEING ABUSED DURING A STAY AT ST JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE IN UPPER HUTT WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY. HIS ADMISSION RECORDS CONFIRM HE WAS THERE FOR 12 DAYS IN NOVEMBER 1977. I SAW THAT I WAS 7 YEARS OLD, AND IT WAS AT THAT POINT IN TIME THAT I REALLY BROKE DOWN, YOU KNOW? I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BIT OLDER THAN THAT, BUT ONCE I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS 7` THAT WAS A DEEPLY TRAUMATIC MOMENT FOR YOU? OH, IT WAS THE SADDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. CARVELL SAYS ON HIS FIRST NIGHT AT THE ORPHANAGE, HE WAS WOKEN BY THEN FATHER JOHN DEW. HE SAID, 'YOU'VE BEEN A NAUGHTY BOY. 'YOU'VE WOKEN EVERYBODY UP IN THE ROOM.' UM, 'BUT I'M GOING TO LET YOU OFF. 'HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A GAME OF "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN"?' HE CLAIMS THE GAME SWIFTLY BECAME SEXUAL IN NATURE. THINGS GOT A BIT WEIRD, SO INSTEAD OF TAGGING, IT BECAME TOUCHING. ACCORDING TO CARVELL, THE ABUSE ESCALATED WHEN DEW CARRIED HIM BACK TO BED, PULLED DOWN HIS PYJAMA PANTS AND SEXUALLY ABUSED HIM. AND YOU'RE SURE IT WAS JOHN DEW? YES, 100%. BUT CARDINAL DEW SAYS IT NEVER HAPPENED. I DID NOT ABUSE STEVEN CARVELL. ARE YOU SURE? I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT I DID NOT ABUSE STEVEN CARVELL. 100%? 100%. WHY SHOULD THE PUBLIC BELIEVE YOU? I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD BELIEVE SOMEONE WHO'S NOW HAD 48 YEARS OF EXPERIENCES AS A PRIEST AND HAS NEVER HAD AN ALLEGATION MADE AGAINST ME. UM, AND THAT THIS... HAS COME TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE 46, 47 YEARS LATER, AND I'M TELLING MY TRUTH. CLERGY DIRECTORY RECORDS CITED BY NEWSHUB CONFIRM THAT DEW WAS ONE OF FOUR PRIESTS AT THE UPPER HUTT DIOCESE IN 1977. HE ROSE THROUGH THE CHURCH RANKS OVER THE FOLLOWING DECADES, AND IN 2015, POPE FRANCIS MADE HIM A CARDINAL. AS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH HERE, DEW WENT BEFORE THE ABUSE AND CARE ROYAL COMMISSION THREE YEARS AGO TO MAKE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO VICTIMS ABUSED BY CATHOLIC CLERGYMEN. WE OFFER NO EXCUSES FOR THEIR ACTIONS OR FOR OURS THAT HAVE CAUSED YOU HARM. CAN YOU REASSURE SURVIVORS THAT THE APOLOGY YOU GAVE FOR THE ROYAL COMMISSION STILL STANDS TODAY? ABSOLUTELY. I STAND BY EVERY WORD I SAID IN THAT APOLOGY. EVERY WORD I SAID. STEVE CARVELL SAYS FATHER NOEL DONOGHUE, ANOTHER PRIEST AT ST JOSEPH'S AT THE TIME, ALSO HARMED HIM. AGAIN, CARVELL'S MEMORIES ARE THAT THE ABUSE OCCURRED DURING A GAME OF TAG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. CARVELL SAYS WHEN DONOHUE COULDN'T CATCH STEVE, HE BECAME ANGRY CARVELL SAYS WHEN DONOHUE COULDN'T CATCH STEVE, HE BECAME ANGRY, AND ALLEGES HE WAS RAPED. IT'S THE MOST PAINFUL THING THAT I'VE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE. YOU WERE JUST 7 YEARS OLD. DID YOU UNDERSTAND AT THE TIME WHAT WAS GOING ON? THE PREDOMINANT THING, MIKE, WAS, 'MUMMY AND DADDY HAVEN'T DONE THIS TO ME.' 'MUMMY AND DADDY DO NOT HURT ME LIKE THIS.' DEW REMEMBERS DONOHUE AS A MENTOR AND IS SURPRISED BY THE ALLEGATION AGAINST HIM. I FIND THAT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. AND WHY IS THAT? WELL, JUST DIDN'T EXPECT IT OF A PERSON, THE PERSON THAT I CAME TO KNOW. WHAT STEVE SAYS HE ENDURED AND WITNESSED HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR IN HIS MIND. IN LATE 2019, THE FLASHBACKS STARTED. THOSE MEMORIES BECAME INCREASINGLY DETAILED AND OVERWHELMING. THAT TENDS TO BE, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE PRIMARY WAY THAT THESE MEMORIES SEEM TO COME BACK. THEY TEND TO COME BACK INITIALLY AS FRAGMENTS, AND THEN OVER TIME, THESE TEND TO GET PIECED TOGETHER INTO THE MEMORY KIND OF BEING REORGANISED AND THEN REMEMBERED. PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR MARTIN DORAHY SAYS IT'S UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE TO FABRICATE MEMORIES OF SEXUAL ABUSE, BUT THEY MAY MISREMEMBER CERTAIN DETAILS. THE MAJORITY OF CASES, IT WOULD SEEM, APPEAR TO REFLECT SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ACCURATE, APPEAR TO REFLECT SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ACCURATE RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT'S MADE UP IN A WHOLESALE FASHION. IN HIS LEGAL BID TO STOP NEWSHUB REPORTING THE ALLEGATIONS, DEW'S LAWYER QUESTIONED STEVE'S CREDIBILITY, SAYING THE SOURCE ` ONE PERSON'S MEMORIES ` IS NOT RELIABLE. THIS ALLEGATION IS FALSE. IT WAS NEVER PART OF MY LIFE. WHY DO YOU THINK STEVEN HAS MADE THIS ALLEGATION AGAINST YOU? I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. I DO NOT REMEMBER HIM. I DO NOT REMEMBER ANY OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE ORPHANAGE. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GO TO THE ORPHANAGE. DEW WAS STOOD DOWN FROM PRIESTLY DUTIES, INCLUDING OFFICIATING AT WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS, WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED. IS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU? VERY DIFFICULT. AND IT MEANT TWO VERY GOOD FRIENDS WHO DIED IN THAT TIME, I HAD TO TELL THEIR WIDOWS, 'SORRY, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS, 'BECAUSE AN ALLEGATION HAS BEEN MADE AGAINST ME.' STEVE SIGNED A SWORN AFFIDAVIT CONCERNING THE ALLEGED ABUSE AND ASKED A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TO WAIVE HIS AUTOMATIC RIGHT TO NAME SUPPRESSION SO HE COULD TELL HIS STORY. THE REASON I'VE DECIDED TO SHARE MY STORY AND COME FORWARD TODAY IS IN THE HOPE THAT OTHER VICTIMS OUT THERE DRAW SOME STRENGTH FROM WHAT I'M DOING. HE WANTED TO SPEAK OUT BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO, MICHAEL, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE POLICE INVESTIGATION? CARDINAL DEW WAS INTERVIEWED BY POLICE AT LOWER HUTT POLICE STATION IN EARLY DECEMBER. NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN LAID. IN A STATEMENT, POLICE TOLD NEWSHUB THEY WILL ALWAYS CONSIDER NEW INFORMATION THAT MAY COME TO LIGHT IN RELATION TO AN INVESTIGATION; 'POLICE HAVE WORKED HARD IN THIS CASE 'TO LOCATE ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE.' HOWEVER, INVESTIGATIONS INTO HISTORIC CASES SUCH AS THIS ARE COMPLEX. EVIDENCE IS OFTEN HARDER TO LOCATE OR NO LONGER EXISTS, AS POTENTIAL WITNESSES AND SUSPECTS MAY PASS AWAY, AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MAY NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE. THE NEW HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON PAUL MARTIN, CONFIRMED CARDINAL DEW 'HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC MINISTRY 'SINCE HE BECAME AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT'. THE OTHER PRIEST STEVE CARVELL HAS ACCUSED, NOEL DONOGHUE, DIED IN 2005. CARVELL'S COMPLAINT DOES IDENTIFY A NUN HE SAYS WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE ABUSE. WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO NAME HER. THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WHO RAN THE ORPHANAGE, REFUSED OUR REQUEST TO ACCESS THEIR RECORDS TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY HER PRESENCE AT ST JOSEPH'S AT THE TIME. THE COURT OF APPEAL WAS LATER TOLD IN AN AFFIDAVIT FROM ANOTHER NUN THAT SHE HAD BEEN LIVING AND TEACHING IN PALMERSTON NORTH IN THE YEAR THE ABUSE OCCURRED AND COULD NOT EASILY HAVE TRAVELLED TO UPPER HUTT TO VISIT. AND TWO FURTHER NUNS SAID CARVELL'S STORY WAS UNTRUE AND COULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE WAY HE HAS DESCRIBED WITHOUT OTHERS HEARING OR BEING AWARE OF IT. STEVE CARVELL HAS SUFFERED FROM COMPLEX POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER FOR MANY YEARS, WHICH HE ATTRIBUTES TO THE TRAUMA OF THE ALLEGED ABUSE. HIS COMPLAINT WAS SENT TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF ITS PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE COMMISSION TOLD NEWSHUB THAT ACCOUNTS AND EXPERIENCES RECEIVED WOULD STILL INFORM ITS DELIBERATIONS. TENA KOE. THE MEDIA CUTS KEEP COMING ` STAFF AT TVNZ WERE TOLD TODAY THAT 68 JOBS COULD GO. HIGH-PROFILE PROGRAMMES ARE AT RISK, BUT THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T BEEN ASKED FOR EXTRA CASH. HOWEVER, BROADCASTING MINISTER MELISSA LEE SAYS SHE IS LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP THE STRUGGLING SECTOR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT SIMON SHEPHERD REPORTS. IT'S MIDDAY. MORE AFTERSHOCKS IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY ` WHY TVNZ IS SET TO AXE UP TO 68 JOBS. REPORTING ON YOUR OWN COMPANY'S JOB CUTS AN INCREASINGLY COMMON EVENT IN AN INCREASINGLY TOUGH TIME. STAFF OPENED A 9am EMAIL FROM MANAGEMENT TO SEE 9% OF THE WORKFORCE MAY GO. CEO JODI O'DONNELL SAID ` STAFF AT HIGH-PROFILE SHOWS LIKE 'SUNDAY', 'FAIR GO', '1 NEWS TONIGHT' AND 'RE:' HAVE ALL BEEN CALLED TO MEETINGS TOMORROW, AS HAVE CONTENT PRODUCERS. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO COMMUNICATE SUCH BAD NEWS, BUT I'M TOLD THAT SOME STAFF WERE IN AN EDITORIAL MEETING THIS MORNING WHEN THE RESTRUCTURING EMAIL CAME THROUGH; THEY WERE ABLE TO PAUSE, READ IT AND THEN CARRY ON WORKING. UNION E TU IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSULTATION TIMEFRAME. AND THE INDICATION IS THAT THEY'LL ONLY HAVE ONE WEEK TO RESPOND TO THAT, SO WE'RE CALLING ON TVNZ TO ENGAGE WITH ITS WORKERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE RATHER THAN DICTATING THE OUTCOME. WITH WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY PLANNING TO SHUT DOWN NEWSHUB, TVNZ POSTING A $16.7m HALF-YEAR LOSS AND PROPOSING JOB CUTS, THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING FAST. AND IT IS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT UNDERLYING CHANGES IN CONSUMER HABITS AND DEMANDS AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS; YOU'VE GOT BUSINESS MODELS THAT ARE HAVING TO BE REINVENTED ALONG THE WAY, AND AS A RESULT, WE KNOW, IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME. ONE COMMENTATOR IS EXPECTING MORE CUTS TO COME AND SAYS GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ADDRESS EVERYTHING FROM TAX TO TRANSMISSION TO OUTDATED MEDIA LAWS. THEY SHOULDN'T LOOK AT THINGS PIECEMEAL. THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING ACROSS THAT BROAD SPECTRUM AND PUSHING MULTIPLE LEVERS AT THE SAME TIME. THE BROADCASTING MINISTER IS TAKING A PAPER TO CABINET, AND WHEN ASKED WHETHER THE COLLAPSE OF ADVERTISING REVENUE MEANT TVNZ SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL-FREE, SHE SAID... UM, I CAN'T ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT, UM... SOMETHING THAT MAY BE IN THE CABINET PAPER, (LAUGHS) BUT I CAN ACTUALLY TELL YOU THAT I'M ACTUALLY WORKING WITH MY OFFICIALS TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY HELP THE SECTOR. THAT WON'T COME IN TIME FOR TVNZ STAFF, WHO ARE BRACING FOR THE DETAILS TOMORROW. SIMON SHEPHERD, NEWSHUB. CROWN ENTITIES MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR IS REFUSING TO BACK AWAY FROM COMMENTS CRITICISING HOW A TVNZ JOURNALIST REPORTED ON CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE. THAT'S DESPITE SEYMOUR BEING A SHAREHOLDING MINISTER, WHICH EXPRESSLY FORBIDS HIM DIRECTING THE BROADCASTER ON EDITORIAL MATTERS. HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH. NEVER TURNING DOWN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF A CAMERA... ALL RIGHTY. HOW CAN I HELP? ...NOT A 'SORRY' IN SIGHT ` DAVID SEYMOUR DIGGING IN OVER MEDIA CRITICISM. I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS SOME PEOPLE ARE LETTING THE SIDE DOWN AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CAPACITY FOR SELF-REFLECTION. THIS MORNING, AS TVNZ JOURNALISTS WERE PREPARING TO WATCH THE AXE FALL ON THEIR NEWSROOM, SEYMOUR HIT THE RADIO WAVES AND FIRED A MISSILE AT ONE OF ITS REPORTERS. ...BENEDICT COLLINS GRINNING DOWN THE CAMERA ABOUT CHRIS LUXON'S APARTMENT COSTS. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CRY, 'OH, YOU'VE GOTTA GIVE US SYMPATHY, 'AND YOU'RE INHUMANE, AND YOU SHOULD BE KINDER TO US.' THE JOURNALIST IN QUESTION, BENEDICT COLLINS, GOT UNDER SEYMOUR'S SKIN DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN BY BRINGING TO LIGHT PAST COMMENTS OF ACT PARTY CANDIDATES COMPARING VACCINE MANDATES TO NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. BENEDICT COLLINS DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TALK ABOUT THAT. NOW, THOUGH, SEYMOUR IS A SHAREHOLDING MINISTER OF TVNZ, AND IT IS EXPRESSLY SPELLED OUT IN THE TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND ACT THAT NO SHAREHOLDING MINISTER ` OR ANY OTHER MINISTER ` MAY GIVE A DIRECTION TO TVNZ REGARDING THE GATHERING OR PRESENTATION OF NEWS. HAVE YOU APOLOGISED TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOR BREACHING THE TVNZ ACT? WELL, OF COURSE NOT. I HAVEN'T BREACHED IT. I THINK POLITICIANS OF ALL PARTIES PROBABLY THINK THEY GET UNFAIR TREATMENT FROM THE MEDIA. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. BUT HE HAS A ROLE OVERSEEING TVNZ. AGAIN, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE COMMENTS. IT'S NOT THE ONLY TIME SEYMOUR'S TAKEN AIM AT TVNZ ` ONCE COMPLAINING THEY'D FOUND INDEPENDENT EXPERTS TO INTERVIEW, RATHER THAN THE ONES HE SUGGESTED, SAYING... THE OTHER TWEET TOOK ISSUE WITH... DO YOU STAND BY YOUR TWEETS? YEAH, I DO. DAVID SEYMOUR DECRIED THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY OVER KIRI ALLAN CRITICISING RNZ AT HER FORMER PARTNER'S LEAVING DO. HE SAID AT THE TIME... WHY DOES THAT NOT APPLY TO YOU? WELL, IT ACTUALLY DOES. THE PROBLEM IS THE ACCUSATION IS FARCICAL. TVNZ RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING... SHOULD THE PRIME MINISTER TALK TO DAVID SEYMOUR? NO, I THINK IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS MINISTER OF BROADCASTING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM, SO I WILL. HAS SHE SPOKEN TO YOU YET? NO, SHE HASN'T, AND IT'S NOT REALLY HER JOB, TO BE HONEST, BUT THERE YOU GO. IT IS HIS JOB, THOUGH, TO KEEP HIS NOSE OUT OF TVNZ'S EDITORIAL DECISIONS. JENNA, IS SEYMOUR SAFE IN HIS JOB? THE PRIME MINISTER WON'T BE PLEASED ABOUT IT. IT'S A NEEDLESS DISTRACTION FROM A MINOR COALITION PARTNER. HE IS TRYING TO GET THROUGH HIS HUNDRED DAY PLAN. CHRISTOPHER LUXON DIDN'T ACT WHEN WINSTON PETERS HAD A CRACK AT THE MEDIA. A PRECEDENT EXISTS. THE DIFFERENCE HEREWITH IS THAT SEYMOUR IS A RESPONSIBLE MINISTER FOR TVNZ, SO HE BEARS MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR IS DONE I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR DAVID SEYMOUR CROWING THAT THE MEDIA IS NAVELGAZING. BUT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT WHEN HE WAS SAYING WHAT HE SAID ON KIRI ALLAN'S SPEECH AT RNZ. HE HAS CREATED THE ROD FOR HIS OWN BACK FROM HIS COMMENTS. IF HE IS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO BLAME FOR THIS, HE SHOULD LOOK AT SELF. JENNA, THANK YOU. RESIDENTS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND ARE REELING AFTER BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES SO AN OLD DUMP THOUGHT TO CONTAIN EXPLOSIVES CAN BE CLEARED. IT'S ANOTHER BLOW FOR BLUECLIFFS RESIDENTS, WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY SINCE EARLY FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF EROSION UNDER THEIR HOMES. KAYSHA BROWNLIE REPORTS. 48 HOURS TO PACK UP AND GO. SHE'S A BATTLE. NOT AN EASY JOB FOR RETIRED BLUECLIFFS RESIDENT CHRIS WOOD. MY CLOTHES, AND I'VE PACKED A BIT OF FOOD, AND I'VE GOT A BIT MORE TO COME. HE'S ONE OF SIX PERMANENT RESIDENTS PREPARING FOR THREE WEEKS AWAY. OWNERS OF CRIBS IN THE AREA WERE TOLD TO STAY AWAY TOO. AN INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL TIME FOR EVERYONE, AND WE JUST REALLY WONDER WHERE THE COMMON SENSE HAS GONE. BLUECLIFFS HAS BEEN UNDER A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY NOW FOR A MONTH, AS THE SWIFT WAIAU RIVER AND STRONG OCEAN CURRENTS ERODE THE COAST. AND THERE YOU ARE. STRAIGHT DOWN THE BANK TO THE RIVER. LAST MONTH, 3m OF LAND WASHED AWAY IN JUST 24 HOURS. WHEN AN ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE RIVER BAR TO MANAGE RIVER FLOW FAILED, AUTHORITIES TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO AN OLD DUMP, WHICH COULD CONTAIN ASBESTOS AND EXPLOSIVES. THE 1km EXCLUSION ZONE FORCING RESIDENTS OUT. THERE'LL BE HELP FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION. FROM MONDAY, PERMANENT RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK IN FOR AN HOUR AND HALF IN THE EVENINGS TO TEND TO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO. THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT RECENTLY PUT $1.35m TOWARDS THE CLEAN UP. RECENTLY PUT $1.35m TOWARDS THE CLEAN-UP. BUT RESIDENTS SAY THE PRIORITIES ARE WRONG. IF THEY GET THIS RIGHT OVER HERE, WITH THE BAR OPENING, THEN THE PROBLEM IS ALLEVIATED FROM THE EROSION. WE DON'T WANT THE RUBBISH TO GO OUT TO SEA. BUT WE'RE PROBABLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DONE BEHIND OUR HOUSES. WHILE HOUSES HAVE WHITE STICKERS TODAY, RESIDENTS WORRY THEY COULD SOON BE RED. THAT'S ONLY ONE FLOOD AWAY. SIMPLE AS THAT. THE MESSAGE FROM RESIDENTS IS CLEAR. PROTECT THE HOUSES. KAYSHA BROWNLIE, NEWSHUB. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. AND THE LATEST FRONT HAS ARRIVED, HEATHER? WITH NO SURPRISES, WHICH IS GOOD. JUST THAT CLASSIC PRE-FRONTAL NORTHWEST FLOW, WHICH BOOSTED TEMPERATURES AROUND 5 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE IN THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ` TIMARU HITTING 30 DEGREES. NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF RAIN TO REPORT, BUT AS THE FRONT TRACKS NORTH, THERE WILL BE SHOWERS. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. A JURY HAS REACHED A VERDICT ABOUT A DEATH ON THE SET OF ALEC BALDWIN'S MOVIE 'RUST'. THE PERSON WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AFTER THE GUNS HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. FOSTER PARENTS GATHER FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO CELEBRATE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS THERE IS. AND RESEARCHERS HAVE FOLLOWED THE DNA HISTORY OF TAYLOR SWIFT AND FOUND SHE'S RELATED TO A FAMOUS AMERICAN. A NEW ONE-STOP SHOP WILL FAST-TRACK CONSENTS FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ` THAT'S THE PROMISE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. BUT CRITICS ARE WORRIED THE NEW PROCESS PLACES SIGNIFICANT POWER IN THE HANDS OF THREE MINISTERS. JAMIE ENSOR REPORTS. THEY'VE GOT A GIANT GLASS OF COW EFFLUENT, BUT GREENPEACE ISN'T TOASTING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO FAST-TRACK CONSENTS. WE'VE BROUGHT THE POLLUTION PROBLEM HERE TO PARLIAMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE ABOUT TO MAKE IT WORSE WITH THIS FAST-TRACK CONSENTING BILL. FOREST AND BIRD IS ALSO WORRIED IT WILL MEAN SOME PRISTINE AREAS COULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO INFRASTRUCTURE SITES. WE WANT MORE ROADS; WE WANT MORE WIND FARMS; WE WANT MORE HOMES, MORE SOLAR, MORE GEOTHERMAL, MORE MINES, MORE COMMERCE AND MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ZEALANDERS TO GET BUILDING. THE GOVERNMENT TODAY UNVEILING HOW IT PLANS TO CUT CONSENT TIMES FOR PROJECTS OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. MOVE FROM CANCEL ECONOMICS TO CAN-DO ECONOMICS. HERE'S HOW THE SYSTEM WILL WORK. THERE ARE TWO PATHS. ONE ALLOWS THE MINISTERS TO RECEIVE AN APPLICATION FOR A PROJECT, GET THOUGHTS ON IT FROM THE LIKES OF IWI AND COUNCILS, CONSIDER IF IT IS WORTHY OF BEING FAST-TRACKED AND THEN SEND IT OFF TO AN EXPERT PANEL. THE SECOND WILL SEE AN ADVISORY GROUP TAKE A LOOK AT NOMINATED PROJECTS AND RECOMMEND TO MINISTERS WHICH PROJECTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. CABINET WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ` THOUGH NOT ALL PROJECTS WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE EXPERT PANEL. THIS EXPERT PANEL THEN HAS SIX MONTHS TO CONSULT WITH CERTAIN GROUPS AND PUT CONDITIONS ON THE PROJECT, POTENTIALLY INCLUDING HOW IT DEALS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. THEN IT GOES BACK TO THE MINISTERS FOR THE FINAL GREEN LIGHT. IF THE MINISTERS BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITIONS ON THE PROJECT ARE TOO ONEROUS, THEY CAN SEND IT BACK TO THE PANEL. IS THAT TOO MUCH POWER WITHIN THE HANDS OF THREE MINISTERS? NO. WE ARE DETERMINED IN THIS COUNTRY TO GET THINGS GOING. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS THERE ARE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. I'VE GOT EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT ACTUALLY, WE DO NEED MINISTERIAL DECISION-MAKING TO CUT THROUGH AND TO ACTUALLY MAKE A HARD YES OR A HARD NO. IT'LL MAKE NEW ZEALAND INTO A BANANA REPUBLIC, REALLY. THE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY MINISTERS. OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE MINISTERS WILL BE TALKING TO. MULDOON IS BACK, FRANKLY. THIS IS A DISASTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THERE'S ALSO NO REQUIREMENT DECISION-MAKERS HOLD A HEARING FOR THE WIDER PUBLIC. WE DO SEEM TO BE FLYING IN THE FACE OF MANY YEARS OF PLANNING LAWS ALLOWING MORE AND MORE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. AND WITH THE LEGISLATION NOW INTRODUCED, THE PUBLIC DEBATE OVER THIS IS JUST HEATING UP. JAMIE ENSOR, NEWSHUB. A MAN (22) HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER OVER THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AUSTRALIAN MOTHER OF THREE SAMANTHA MURPHY. THE WOMAN (51) WENT MISSING IN FEBRUARY AFTER LEAVING HER HOME IN VICTORIA TO GO FOR A RUN. POLICE MADE THE ARREST YESTERDAY MORNING AND SAY THE 22-YEAR-OLD HAS NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE MURPHY FAMILY. SAMANTHA MURPHY'S BODY IS YET TO BE FOUND AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. THE ARMOURER ON THE SET OF THE MOVIE 'RUST' HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND IS NOW FACING A POSSIBLE 18 MONTHS' JAIL OVER THE DEATH OF THE MOVIE'S CINEMATOGRAPHER. THE JURY'S VERDICT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ACTOR ALEC BALDWIN, WHO'S BEEN CHARGED WITH THE SAME THING. CBS'S ELISE PRESTON REPORTS. THE JURY QUICKLY FOUND HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. FOREPERSON: WE FIND THE DEFENDANT, HANNAH GUTIERREZ, GUILTY... SHE REMAINED STOIC, HER MOTHER STUNNED AND VISIBLY SHAKEN. THIS CASE IS ABOUT CONSTANT, NEVER-ENDING SAFETY FAILURES. GUTIERREZ-REED WAS IN CHARGE OF NEARLY 20 WEAPONS DURING THE FILMING OF THE MOVIE 'RUST', INCLUDING THE PROP GUN HELD BY ACTOR ALEC BALDWIN THAT DISCHARGED, KILLING HALYNA HUTCHINS AND INJURING DIRECTOR JOEL SOUZA IN OCTOBER 2021. AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW? PROSECUTORS ARGUED GUTIERREZ-REED WAS NEGLIGENT BECAUSE SHE MIXED LIVE AMMUNITION WITH DUMMY ROUNDS ON THE SET. SHE HAD THREE HOURS IN THE MORNING WAITING FOR THE CAMERA CREW TO ARRIVE. SHE HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THAT BOX OF DUMMIES. WHICH IS WHY JUROR ALBERT SANCHEZ SAYS GUTIERREZ-REED WAS AT FAULT. PRETTY MUCH NOT CHECKING THE WEAPONS. JUST HANDING 'EM OVER AND... LIKE, 'HERE.' THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN CONSIDER. THE DEFENCE TRIED TO SHIFT THE BLAME TO BALDWIN, WHO, THEY ARGUE, NEVER SHOULD HAVE POINTED THE GUN IN THE DIRECTION OF HUTCHINS. THEY SAY AT THE TIME OF THIS SHOOTING, GUTIERREZ-REED WASN'T INSIDE THE CHURCH AND DIDN'T GIVE BALDWIN THE GUN DURING THE REHEARSAL. HE'S GOING OFF SCRIPT. THAT DEFEATS ANY IDEA THAT THAT WAS FORESEEABLE TO MISS GUTIERREZ-REED. IF SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, SHE CAN'T FORESEE IT. GUTIERREZ-REED WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AS SHE AWAITS SENTENCING. AS FOR BALDWIN, HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER BUT HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED HE DID NOT PULL THE TRIGGER. BALDWIN'S TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO START IN JULY. ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT. AND TIM SOUTHEE HAS GONE ON THE ATTACK? PLENTY OF TENSION IN THE AIR THIS AFTERNOON AS HE FRONTED UP TO DAMNING CLAIMS FROM ROSS TAYLOR THAT QUESTIONED NOT JUST HIS CAPTAINCY ABILITY BUT ALSO HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NOW RETIRED NEIL WAGNER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS PHOTO EMERGED FROM HIS FINAL TEST. AND MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TWO RACIAL SLURS THAT HAVE ROCKED AUSTRALIAN SPORT THIS WEEK. A GROUP OF FOSTER PARENTS HAS BEEN RECOGNISED TODAY FOR THE DEMANDING JOB THEY DO. BUT THOSE VERY PARENTS HAVE ALSO CALLED THE FOSTERING SYSTEM 'FLAWED AND OUTDATED'. THE AMOUNT OF COCAINE CONSUMED BY KIWIS INCREASED BY 93%. IT'S COMING FROM EVERYWHERE NOW. I MEAN, OUR CHILDREN CAN ACCESS IT ONLINE. HOW ARE THEY SELLING IT ONLINE? ON THE DARK WEB. I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE BUYING AND SELLING DRUGS NOW ON MARKETPLACE. ON FACEBOOK. # WHOA, WHOA-OA. WHOA, WHOA-OA. # (BRIGHT PIANO MUSIC) (PHONE CHIMES) Thank you, Sam! You're welcome, Wendy. SONG: # You, you've got what I need # You've got everything you need # You're like medicine... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Thank you so much. Find your wonderful. New World. CONCERNING PICTURES HAVE EMERGED OF KOALAS BEING INJURED ON KANGAROO ISLAND IN AUSTRALIA. WILDLIFE CAMPAIGNERS CLAIM A LOGGING COMPANY IS TO BLAME AND THAT A NUMBER OF KOALAS HAVE DIED. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER REPORTS. AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL ICON IN A HEARTBREAKING SCRAMBLE TO SAVE ITS OWN LIFE AS ITS HOME FALLS. WHAT'S MORE DISTRESSING ` IT'S BELIEVED HUNDREDS OF KOALAS ARE DYING THIS WAY. EVEN MORE ARE BEING INJURED. IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT IT'S BEING ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. WILDLIFE CAMPAIGNERS ALLEGE KOALAS ARE COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE CLEARING OF BLUEGUM TREES ON SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S KANGAROO ISLAND. DYING A VERY SLOW DEATH OF INJURIES BECAUSE NO ONE IS COMING TO HELP THEM. FOUR YEARS AGO BUSHFIRES DEVASTATED THE ISLAND. 80% OF THE KOALA POPULATION WAS WIPED OUT. LITTLE KOALA RESCUE. THERE'S A MOTHER WITH A BABY. JUST TRYING TO COLLECT AS MANY LIVE ONES AS WE CAN. NOT ONLY THAT, THOUSANDS OF HECTARES OF TIMBER PLANTATION WAS DESTROYED AND NEEDED CLEARING. I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE WRONG PICTURE HERE. THE LOGGING COMPANY INSISTS IT'S PROVIDING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO THE ANIMAL POPULATION. THE ISLAND'S MAYOR AGREES. SO I THINK THEY'VE GONE OVER AND ABOVE WHAT'S REQUIRED. THEY'RE VERY COGNISANT OF ANIMAL WELFARE. IT'S BELIEVED 15 A WEEK ARE BEING INJURED. MOST HAD TO BE PUT DOWN. WHAT DO YOU SAY IN RESPONSE TO THOSE CLAIMS? LOOK, I ACTUALLY DON'T BELIEVE THEM. THE MINISTER SAYS AN EARLIER INSPECTION FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF POOR BEHAVIOUR BY THE COMPANY. WE HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY SEEN FOOTAGE THAT SHOWED WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT, WE'RE ACTING. OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN PAUSED WHILE THEY REINVESTIGATE WHETHER THE COMPANY IS DOING ENOUGH TO SAVE THOSE LIVES. IN SYDNEY, EMMA CROPPER, NEWSHUB. AIR NEW ZEALAND IS CRACKING DOWN ON CUSTOMERS' CARRY-ON LUGGAGE. THE AIRLINE SAYS ITS AIRPORT TEAMS HAVE NOTICED SOME CUSTOMERS PUSHING THE UPPER LIMITS OF WEIGHT, SIZE AND NUMBER OF ITEMS ALLOWED. IT SAYS RULE-BREAKERS LIMIT THE SPACE ON BOARD AND SLOW DOWN THE BOARDING AND DISEMBARKING PROCESSES. AIR NEW ZEALAND SAYS CUSTOMERS WHOSE BAGGAGE EXCEEDS THE LIMITS WILL NEED TO ADD A CHECKED-IN BAG. FOSTER PARENTS GATHERING FOR AN AWARD CEREMONY IN WELLINGTON HAVE SPOKEN OF A DEEPLY FLAWED SYSTEM AND LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THOSE CARING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN. THE EXCELLENCE IN FOSTER CARE AWARDS WERE HELD TODAY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. WILLIAM TERITE REPORTS. FOSTER CARERS FROM AROUND AOTEAROA BEING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR VITAL ROLE. YOU HAVE JUSTLY DESERVE RECOGNITION THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING TODAY. AMONG TODAY'S RECIPIENTS WERE ANDREA AND JOHN FAULKS, WHO HAVE CARED FOR MORE THAN 30 CHILDREN OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS. GENUINELY, THEY HAVE A NEED FOR LOVE, FOR CARE AND STABILITY. AND AS A FAMILY, WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT. AND WHILE THEY LOVE IT, THEY SAY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IS DEEPLY FLAWED. SO, WE ARE VOLUNTEERS, AND WE NEED SUPPORT, BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY TOUGH JOB. SO TO NOT HAVE THAT SUPPORT ALL THE TIME AVAILABLE IS REALLY, REALLY TOUGH. A SENTIMENT SHARED BY MANY FOSTER PARENTS AT THE EVENT, INCLUDING MAXINE, CHAKANI AND PHOENIX FIU-POUFA, WHO ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE HOW TO CARE FOR FIVE CHILDREN WITH LITTLE SUPPORT. YES, TO SUDDENLY GET ALL THESE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY ON THEIR FRONT DOORSTEP, AND HOW TO BE A PARENT, WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD, AND WE WENT THROUGH LOTS OF TEARS. DESPITE ALL THE CHALLENGES AND TEARS, THESE CAREGIVERS WERE RECOGNISED FOR THEIR DEDICATION. I'M TRULY DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR HUMANITY, YOUR COMPASSION AND YOUR CARE. IT'S A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S NICE TO MEET THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DOING THE SAME THING. BEING A RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD, IT'S NOT JUST US THREE. IT'S ALL OUR VILLAGE. WE'VE GOT A BIG VILLAGE. AND THAT VILLAGE IS HOPING THAT THEIR CALLS FOR CHANGE WON'T FALL ON DEAF EARS, SO ALL CHILDREN CAN GROW UP IN A SAFE AND LOVING HOME. WILLIAM TERITE, NEWSHUB. IS THERE SOMETHING IN TAYLOR SWIFT'S DNA THAT EXPLAINS HER SONGWRITING SKILLS? WELL, RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND A FAMOUS DISTANT RELATIVE WHO WAS ALSO PRETTY GOOD WITH WORDS. TIM SOUTHEE FACES UP TO STINGING CRITICISM FROM FORMER TEAMMATE ROSS TAYLOR. PLUS, TEAM'S UNDEFEATED ` SO WHY IS BLUES COACH VERN COTTER FAR FROM HAPPY AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND'S SHOWDOWN WITH THE HURRICANES? AND WHY THE HORSE OF THE YEAR EVENT IN HASTINGS WILL TAKE ON ADDED IMPORTANCE FOR OUR OLYMPIC HOPEFULS. ON THE EVE OF HIS 100th TEST, BLACKCAPS SKIPPER TIM SOUTHEE HAS GONE ON THE FRONT FOOT OVER CRITICISM DIRECTED AT HIM BY FORMER TEAMMATE ROSS TAYLOR. AFTER CLAIMING NEIL WAGNER WAS FORCED INTO RETIREMENT, TAYLOR WENT ON TO CRITICISE SOUTHEE'S CAPTAINCY AND THEY WAY HE WAS DISMISSED DURING A HEAVY DEFEAT TO AUSTRALIA IN THE OPENING TEST. BUT TODAY SOUTHEE HAD THE RIGHT OF REPLY. GORDON FINDLATER REPORTS. TIM SOUTHEE PADDED UP FOR BATTLE. BUT RATHER THAN ROSS TAYLOR, IT WAS THE COACHING STAFF HURLING MISSILES HIS WAY AT HAGLEY OVAL TODAY. HE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE INSIDE THOSE FOUR WALLS. HE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE INSIDE THOSE FOUR WALLS. HE WAS IN THERE FOR 112 TEST MATCHES. SO YEAH, I GUESS IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTING. HIS DISAPPOINTMENT DIRECTED AT TAYLOR, AFTER HE ALLEGED NEIL WAGNER'S RETIREMENT WAS FORCED. TODAY SOUTHEE SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH WAGNER, AFTER THIS IMAGE EMERGED OF HIM RAISING HIS MIDDLE FINGER TOWARDS SOUTHEE IN HIS FINAL TEST. HE'S BECOME A GREAT MATE OF MINE OVER THE YEARS. AND I'M SURE HE WILL BE A GREAT MATE ` NOT ONLY A BOWLING PARTNER BUT A GREAT MATE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. WHAT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ROSS TAYLOR? UM, YEAH, I HAVEN'T HAD A LOT TO DO WITH ROSS SINCE HE'S RETIRED. THAT DIDN'T STOP TAYLOR FROM OUTING SOUTHEE'S MODE OF DISMISSAL WHEN FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL AGAINST AUSTRALIA, THOUGH. ONE HANDED. AND... THAT ONE WILL NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. WHEN YOU PLAY A SHOT LIKE THAT, IT'S HARD TO, I GUESS, LOOK THE TEAM IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM OFF. YEAH, I GUESS DISAPPOINTING WAY TO, I GUESS, FINISH THAT TEST MATCH. OBVIOUSLY IT'S NEVER NICE. IT'S NEVER A GOOD LOOK TO GET OUT THAT WAY. NOW SOUTHEE'S ATTENTION TURNS TO TRYING TO LEVEL THE SERIES. HE'S CONFIRMED PACE MAN BEN SEARS WILL MAKE HIS TEST DEBUT, BUT ONE DECISION LINGERS. THAT FOURTH SEAMER OR A SPINNER. UH, HOPEFULLY GET IT RIGHT THIS WEEK. A FAMOUS WIN AND HIS 100th TEST WOULD CERTAINLY KEEP THE CRITICS AWAY. GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON IN THE BIG STORY TO EMERGE FROM THE NRL'S SEASON OPENING SHOWCASE IN LAS VEGAS ` KIWI-BORN ROOSTERS PROP SPENCER LENIU HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO A RACIAL SLUR DIRECTED AT BRONCOS HALF EZRA MAM. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER JOINS US LIVE FROM SYDNEY WITH MORE ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY. EMMA, WHAT'S THE LATEST? IT IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT CAME OUT EARLIER TODAY. SPENCER HAS ADMITTED HE CALLED EZRA MAM A MONKEY. HE SAID, I SAID THE WORD BUT DIDN'T MEAN IT IN A RACIST WAY. HE DISMISSED THE INCIDENT AS ALL FUN AND GAMES. BUT BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ACCUSATION, IT WAS REFERRED TO THE JUDICIARY. MAM HAS ACCEPTED THE APOLOGY. IT WILL GO TO A HEARING NEXT MONDAY, JUDICIARY WILL DECIDE ANY PUNISHMENT. AND EMMA, THERE'S BEEN FRESH DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE SAM KERR RACIAL SLUR AS WELL ` WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? THE BRITISH NEWSPAPERS HAVE REVEALED WHAT THE ALLEGED SLUR SHE SAID TO A POLICE OFFICER. SHE CALLED HIM 'A STUPID WHITE BASTARD'. SHE WAS SICK IN A TAXI. IT HAPPENED 12 MONTHS AGO. HER LEGAL TEAM SAY THE DELAY IS TOO LONG. THEY WON'T SAY ANYMORE WHILE THIS LEGAL PROCESS TAKES PLACE. THEY MAY BE UNBEATEN, BUT THE BLUES FEEL THE BIGGEST TEST OF THEIR PROGRESS IS ABOUT TO COME. VERN COTTER'S SIDE TRAVEL TO WELLINGTON TO FACE THE HURRICANES THIS WEEKEND, WHO, WITHOUT JORDIE BARRETT, GO INTO THE CONTEST ALSO UNBEATEN BUT SOMEWHAT UNDERMANNED. AND AS RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE DISCOVERED, BARRETT'S SUSPENSION HAS SERVED AS A TIMELY REMINDER FOR THE BLUES. THINGS ARE CRANKING UP A NOTCH AT BLUES HQ. THE TACKLES ARE HARDER, THE CONVERSATIONS TO THE POINT. BUT DESPITE AN UNBEATEN START TO THE SEASON, VERN COTTER STILL NEEDS CONVINCING. I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE IN US. I THINK WE CAN GET BETTER. AND THAT'LL BE THE EVERYDAY ` WE'VE GOTTA TRY AND GET BETTER. SO IF I SIT DOWN AND SAY I'M HAPPY, THEY'LL STOP WORKING. THEY CAN ILL AFFORD THAT AGAINST A HURRICANES SIDE ALSO RIDING HIGH. IF THEY'RE TO MAKE IT THREE FROM THREE IN THE CAPITAL, THEY'LL HAVE TO DO IT THE HARD WAY, WITH JORDIE BARRETT IN THE STANDS FOR THREE WEEKS. I'M A BIT OF A GLASS-HALF-FULL KINDA GUY AND OPTIMISTIC THAT JORDIE HAS TO HAVE ALL BLACKS REST AT SOME POINT. WE CAN USE THESE WEEKS TO MAKE SURE WE GET HIS TRAINING LOAD AND GAME TIME RIGHT. BARRETT'S RED CARD AND SUBSEQUENT SUSPENSION SERVING AS A TIMELY REMINDER FOR EVERYONE THAT POOR TACKLE HEIGHT WON'T BE TOLERATED. I THINK IT'S JUST A WAKE-UP CALL FOR EVERYONE. YOU CAN'T HAVE SHOULDER TO HEAD. YEAH, IT'S JUST THE WAY THE GAME IS, AND WE'VE JUST GOTTA INSTALL BETTER HABITS. HAVING OVERCOME A TENACIOUS REDS SIDE TO EDGE A GOLDEN-POINT THRILLER, CONFIDENCE IN THE CAPITAL IS HIGH, ALTHOUGH CLARKE LAIDLAW IS QUICK TO KEEP THE SIDE GROUNDED. THE BLUES ARE A DIFFERENT PROSPECT. THEY'RE TWO FROM TWO, AND THEY'LL BE LICKING THEIR LIPS AROUND COMING DOWN HERE. IT'S OBVIOUS THEY ARE. AND THERE'S A CLEAR THEME IN BLUES CAMP THIS WEEK ` TRIBALISM. YOU PUT YOUR JERSEY ON. THEY PUT THEIR JERSEY ON. AND ONE OF THESE TWO TEAMS IS GONNA WALK AWAY WITH THE FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON. IT BECOMES TRIBAL, YEAH. THE BLUES ARE OUT TO MAKE SURE IT WON'T BE THEM. OLLIE RICHIE, NEWSHUB. JOSEPH PARKER BELIEVES HIS BOXING IQ WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE IN BEATING NOT ONLY A LARGER-FRAMED OPPONENT BUT ONE WITH A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE. THE KIWI FACES CHINA'S ZHILEI ZHANG IN SAUDI ARABIA ON SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE WBO INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE, AS PART OF THE UNDERCARD TO THE ANTHONY JOSHUA FRANCIS NGANNOU FIGHT. PARKER HAS GIVEN A HINT AT HOW HE IS LOOKING TO TOPPLE THE MAN KNOWN AS 'BIG BANG', WHO HAS LOST JUST ONE OF HIS 28 BOUTS. HE SAID HE WANTED TO BANG ME? I JUST WANNA SAY TO ZHANG, I WANNA BANG YOU. (LAUGHTER) BOTH FIGHERS WILL WEIGH IN TOMORROW. THE HORSE OF THE YEAR EVENT IN HASTINGS IS SET TO TAKE ON ADDED IMPORTANCE OVER THE COMING DAYS, AS OUR TOP EQUESTRIANS VIE FOR A SPOT AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS. A TEAM OF SIX WILL BE NAMED IN JUNE, AND THERE ARE HIGH HOPES IT CAN BREAK A 12-YEAR MEDAL DROUGHT. ALEXA COOK HAS THE STORY. MADDIE SEIVWRIGHT'S FINE-TUNING HER MOVES ` YEAH, NOW GIVE THE HAND FORWARD. SUPER. THERE YOU GO. BEFORE THE EVENTER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION BEGINS TOMORROW, A CHANCE TO IMPRESS OLYMPIC TEAM SELECTORS. YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOUR LEG ON... (HORSE SNORTS) HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT YOUR CHANCES OF GOING TO THE OLYMPICS THIS YEAR? I'M EXCITED. I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF A LOT TO PROVE PERFORMANCE-WISE, AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I'M INFORMED. IT'S THE ONLY OLYMPIC SPORT THAT INVOLVES ANIMALS AND WHERE MEN AND WOMEN COMPETE ON EQUAL TERMS. EVENTING IS THE TRIATHLON OF THE HORSE WORLD, WHERE RIDERS HAVE TO EXCEL AT DRESSAGE, SHOWJUMPING AND CROSS COUNTRY. HOW TOUGH IS THIS SPORT, HAVING TO DO ALL THREE DISCIPLINES? IT ADDS AN EXTRA ELEMENT, UM, DEFINITELY, HAVING TO HAVE THEM WELL TRAINED IN ALL THREE PHASES. AND WELL SPONSORED ` WHICH IS WHY MANY TOP RIDERS ARE BASED OVERSEAS. TO TAKE A HORSE FROM NEW ZEALAND TO EUROPE, COMPETE AND COME BACK HERE, YOU'RE TALKING 100 GRAND, YOU KNOW? MINIMUM. THAT'S` YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST TO GET THERE AND BACK. AIMING FOR A SPOT ON THE TEAM IS DRESSAGE RIDER MELISSA GALLOWAY AND SHOWJUMPER BROOKE EDGECOMBE AS WELL AS EVENTING POWER COUPLE TIM AND JONELLE PRICE ` BASED IN THE UK, THEY'RE THE FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE AND TWO. US AS A COUPLE, HOPEFULLY, OF THE THREE OR FOUR THAT GO TO THE GAMES. AS AN OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNER HIMSELF, JOCK PAGET KNOWS JUST HOW TOUGH IT IS, BUT HE HAS HIGH HOPES FOR THIS YEAR'S TEAM. WE'RE AS STRONG AS WE'VE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. HOPING THEY'LL BRING BACK A MEDAL OR TWO. ALEXA COOK, NEWSHUB. I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH ALEXA INTERVIEWING ON A HORSE. WE ARE A SKILFUL BUNCH. HER FANS HAVE ALWAYS SUSPECTED IT, AND SHE HERSELF MAY HAVE ALWAYS SECRETLY KNOWN. BUT NOW IT'S OFFICIAL ` TAYLOR SWIFT REALLY DOES HAVE POETRY IN HER BLOOD. IT'S IN HER GENES. ITV's JASMIN BODDLEBYE EXPLAINS. # MIDNIGHTS BECOME MY AFTERNOONS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST POP STARS ON THE PLANET. MANY ALSO THINK TAYLOR SWIFT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGWRITERS ` A MODERN-DAY POET, IF YOU LIKE. # I SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES. # THEY COME WITH PRICES. PERHAPS HER WAY WITH WORDS IS IN HER BLOOD, BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT SHE'S RELATED TO THE 19TH-CENTURY POET EMILY DICKINSON. WILD NIGHTS WERE I WITH THE WILD NIGHTS SHOULD BE OUR LUXURY. THEY'RE VERY DRAMATIC. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SORT OF A BREATHINESS, THERE'S AN URGENCY, AND A REAL KIND OF... FASCINATION WITH MORTALITY. SHE'S TALKING ABOUT DICKINSON, BUT SHE COULD EQUALLY BE TALKING ABOUT SWIFT. AND WHEN SHE ACCEPTED AN AWARD FOR SONGWRITER OF THE DECADE IN NASHVILLE, SHE CREDITED HER ANCESTOR AS AN INSPIRATION. IF MY LYRICS SOUND LIKE A LETTER WRITTEN BY EMILY DICKINSON'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WHILE SEWING A LACE CURTAIN, THAT'S ME WRITING IN THE QUILL GENRE. THEY'RE SAID TO BE SIXTH COUSINS THREE TIMES REMOVED. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THEY'RE BOTH DESCENDANTS OF JONATHAN GILLETTE, A 17TH-CENTURY IMMIGRANT FROM ENGLAND WHO SETTLED IN AMERICA. ANCESTRY.COM SAYS TAYLOR SWIFT'S NINTH-GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS DICKINSON'S SIXTH-GREAT-GRANDFATHER, # BUT IT'S BEEN PROMISED TO ANOTHER. PRETTY DISTANT, BUT FOR SWIFTIES, IT'S GREAT NEWS. IT'S THAT KINSHIP THAT SHE'S CLAIMING IS BOTH A KIND OF A LITERARY ASCENDANCY ` YOU KNOW, SORT OF BACK TO THE GREAT WOMAN POET OF THE 19TH CENTURY ` AND THEN THAT'S SORT OF AN INVISIBLE THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGH TO ALL OF THE FANS WHO ARE LISTENING. # TAKE ME TO THE LAKES WHERE ALL THE POETS WENT TO DIE. EXPERTS SAY THE CONNECTION WILL DO NEITHER WOMAN ANY HARM ` DICKINSON BASKING IN THE WARM GLOW OF ONE OF THE HOTTEST STARS AND SWIFT'S STATUS AS THE QUEEN OF AMERICA CONFIRMED. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER. AND HOW'S THE WEEKEND LOOKING, HEATHER? ABSENT OF SEVERE WEATHER. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ARE MOSTLY INFLUENCED BY HIGH PRESSURE, SO NOT A LOT GOING ON ` WHAT WE WANT FOR A WEEKEND. SUNDAY, THOUGH ` THINGS GET WINDY IN THE SOUTH; THE NOR'WESTER RETURNS, AND ANOTHER FRONT HITS THE SOUTHWEST, SO ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN. MORE IN THE FULL FORECAST, NEXT. # R-E-S-P-E-C-T. # TAKE CARE, T-C-B. # TOMORROW'S WEATHER ` BROUGHT TO YOU BY NATURE, TURNED INTO POWER BY MERIDIAN. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. SO, THE NEXT FRONT IS HERE, BUT IT'S RELATIVELY WEAK. IT WILL BE SLOWLY TRACKING NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT, PASSING UP THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW. BUT NOT A LOT WILL BE LEFT IN ITS TANK BY THEN ` JUST A FEW SHOWERS. BEHIND THE FRONT, A NARROW RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE, WHICH WILL SPREAD OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND FIRST, THEN CENTRAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TOMORROW. THE NEXT FRONT HITS THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY. SO, HEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD UP THE WEST COAST OVERNIGHT BUT EASES TO SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHWEST. STEWART ISLAND AND THE SOUTH COAST CAN EXPECT A FEW MORE HEAVY FALLS AND THUNDERSTORMS. TOMORROW, A CLEARING TREND, WITH HIGH PRESSURE REPLACING THE FRONT, BUT WITH THE NEXT FRONT NOT FAR AWAY, THERE WILL BE HIGH CLOUD SPREADING IN DURING THE AFTERNOON. NOT TOO BAD TONIGHT IN THE NORTH ` MOST SPOTS FINE WITH CLOUDY PERIODS; MAYBE ISOLATED SHOWERS FROM AUCKLAND SOUTH. THE NOR'WESTER WILL BE STRONG FOR EXPOSED SPOTS FOR THOSE IN THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND. TOMORROW, ISOLATED SHOWERS FROM HAMILTON TO NORTHLAND AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WEAKENING FRONT ` SO EXPECT CLOUDY PERIODS IF YOU'RE IN THE NORTH, WITH THE CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWERS, BUT IT'S A FINE AFTERNOON, WITH WEST TO SOU'WEST WINDS. MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD HERE, BUT ALL CLEARING FOR A MOSTLY FINE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. WESTERLIES WILL EASE IN THE MORNING FOR WHAKATANE AND LATE AFTERNOON EVERYWHERE ELSE. A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS OUT EAST; SOME OF THOSE CLOUDS WILL PRODUCE SHOWERS ` IN THE MORNING SOUTH OF HASTINGS AND IN THE AFTERNOON FROM HASTINGS NORTH. AND SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR EVERYONE ELSE, BUT IT'S NOT TOO BAD ` IT CLEARS FOR A GOOD AFTERNOON, WITH WEST TO NOR'WEST WINDS TO START, BUT SHIFTING AROUND A LITTLE AS THE FRONT PASSES. FOR THE NORTHWEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, ONCE THAT FRONT PASSES THROUGH OVERNIGHT, THE SHOWERS WILL CLEAR AND THE DAY IS GOOD. CLOUD RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH SOU'WESTERS FOR MOST. CLOUD FOR MOST OUT EAST TOO. MAYBE LIGHT SHOWERS FOR KAIKOURA; IT ALL CLEARS AT AROUND MIDDAY, AND THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY IS FINE. SOUTHERLIES TURN EAST TO NOR'EAST IN THE AFTERNOON. APART FROM THE DEEP SOUTH, FRIDAY STARTS FINE HERE, BUT CLOUDY PERIODS DEVELOP ` MOSTLY HIGH CLOUD ` AND THERE IS THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO. SO, DUNEDIN, YOU WILL BEGIN THE DAY WITH FINE WEATHER ` HIGH CLOUD BUT MOSTLY FINE, WITH A SOU'WESTERLY. SHOWERS ARRIVE TOMORROW NIGHT. CHRISTCHURCH ` CLOUDY PATCHES FOR THE MORNING, BUT IT WILL CLEAR AT AROUND MIDDAY; WINDS WILL START FROM THE SOUTH AND TURN NOR'EAST IN THE AFTERNOON. MORNING CLOUD TOO FOR WELLINGTON, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS ` BUT THEY'RE SHORT LIVED, WITH A FINE AFTERNOON AND A NOR'WESTER WHICH TURNS SOU'EAST. NOT A BAD END TO THE WEEK FOR HAWKE'S BAY ` ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL BE MOSTLY CONFINED TO THE RANGES, AND THE SOU'WESTERLY BREEZE WILL EASE IN THE AFTERNOON. IT'S FINE FOR TAURANGA ONCE THE MORNING CLOUD CLEARS ` WARMING TO 27, WITH A WESTERLY THAT EASES IN THE AFTERNOON. CLOUD RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT. HAMILTON, THE MORNING ISN'T TOO BAD ` MOSTLY CLOUDY; MAYBE SOME SHOWERS. BUT THE AFTERNOON IS GOOD ` FINE WITH A SOU'WESTER, WHICH EASES TOMORROW NIGHT. AND A SIMILAR SET-UP FOR AUCKLAND, WITH CLOUDY PERIODS AND ISOLATED SHOWERS, BUT FINE IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH A SOU'WESTER. PLENTY OF SHOWERS FOR OZ TOMORROW ` SYDNEY, THE QUEENSLAND CENTRES, DARWIN AND PERTH. AND ANOTHER DAY FOR FIJI WITHOUT THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS ` THAT'S TWO IN A ROW! ` BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED OVER VANUATU. WEEKEND TIME, AND IT'S SET TO BE LOVELY FOR THE NORTH ` ON SATURDAY, EARLY-MORNING ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND; AND SUNDAY, EARLY SHOWERS FOR THE COROMANDEL. THOSE ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL ALSO OCCUR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FOR BAY OF PLENTY, BUT IT'S SHORT LIVED. THE WEEKEND IS GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH, BUT CLOUD INCREASES MONDAY OUT WEST, WITH SHOWERS THEN DEVELOPING FOR THE LOWER HALF OF THE ISLAND LATER IN THE DAY. GOOD FOR THE TOP HALF OF THE SOUTH. ON MONDAY, THOUGH, RAIN RETURNS TO THE WEST, BUT EASING TO SHOWERS; AND THEY'LL SPREAD TO THE KAIKOURA DISTRICT LATE IN THE DAY AND ALSO TO CANTERBURY. A FEW SHOWERS ALSO FOR THE LOWER SOUTH, BUT THAT'S MONDAY; THE WEEKEND LOOKS REASONABLE. SO, WITH THE WEEKEND FAST APPROACHING, I HOPE WE ALL HAVE MANY SUNSETS LIKE THIS ONE, TAKEN ON THE ROUTEBURN TRACK. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. REBECCA WRIGHT AND THE NEWSHUB LATE TEAM ARE HERE ON THREE AT 9.35, 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 MAEVE KELLY AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.