TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` THE HURRICANES DOUBLE DOWN ON A CONTROVERSIAL HAKA; THE HURRICANE POUA MAKE ANOTHER POLITICAL MESSAGE TARGETING THE GOVERNMENT. (HURRICANES POUA PERFORM HAKA) FUELLING UP AND FLEEING OFF ` THE DRAMATIC RISE OF PETROL THEFTS IS REVEALED. SHE'S NOW MISTAKEN FOR THE REAL THING ` WHAT MAKES 'TINA FROM TURNERS' SUCH A WINNING AD CAMPAIGN? WE TALK TO THE WOMAN HERSELF. I AM A CELEBRITY AT CHURCH. (LAUGHS) CAPTIONS BY ANNA HALL-TAYLOR AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA KOUTOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. THE WOMEN'S HURRICANES TEAM, THE POUA, HAVE DOUBLED DOWN, MAKING ANOTHER POLITICAL COMMENT IN THEIR PRE-GAME HAKA. LAST WEEK, THEY WERE CRITICISED FOR REFERRING TO A 'REDNECK GOVERNMENT' AND ASKED TO APOLOGISE. MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI WAS WATCHING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THIS WEEK. TE ANIWA, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? AS YOU SAY, THE HURRICANE'S POWER DID CALL A BIT OF A STIR LAST WEEK WHEN THEY OPENED THEIR NEW HACKER WITH A DIG AT THE COVENANT USING THE WORD REDNECK IN TE REO MAORI. IN TE REO MAORI: SO THEY'RE SAYING THERE, 'THE GOVERNMENT IS TEMPORARY.' WHAT IS THE REACTION LIKELY TO BE? WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO HURRICANE'S MANAGEMENT TONIGHT. WE ARE YET TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE TEAM HAS GONE AGAINST THEIR WISHES. THE TEAM EXECUTIVE SAID THAT THERE ISFOR POLITICAL MESSAGES WHILE REPRESENTING THE HURRICANE'S. HOWEVER HAKA HAVE LONG BEEN POLITICAL. FOLLOWING A SPATE OF ATTACKS AT SERVICE STATIONS OVER THE LAST WEEK, CONCERNS ARE MOUNTING ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE FOR PETROL RETAILERS ` FUEL THEFT. FIGURES OBTAINED BY 1 NEWS UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT SHOW A DRASTIC INCREASE IN RECENT YEARS. AS JACOB JOHNSON REPORTS, IT'S COSTING SOME OWNERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS NO BRAZEN BREAK-IN; INSTEAD, THESE OFFENDERS ARE SUBTLE YET SPEEDY, FUELLING UP AND FLEEING WITHOUT PAYING. IT'S HAPPENING AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK AT THIS PETROL STATION. THE OWNER DIDN'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED BUT SAYS THE THEFTS ARE TAKING THEIR TOLL. PEOPLE THINK THAT` YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE STEALING THE FUEL, THEY THINK THAT THEY'RE STEALING FROM A BIG COMPANY, BUT IT'S NOT A BIG COMPANY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR WORKING JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT HURTS. FUEL PUMP THEFTS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AFTER A SLIGHT DROP AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, REPORTED INCIDENTS SHOT UP IN 2022, AND IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE. FUEL CRIME VERY MUCH DIRECTLY RELATES TO, ERM, FINANCIAL STRESS. THE OWNER OF THIS STATION'S BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES AND SAYS THE COST TO HIS BUSINESS IS HUGE. IT'S JUST GOT CRAZY. YOU KNOW? THESE LITTLE SWINES DRIVING THEIR CARS INTO SERVICE STATIONS AND... AND THEN TAKING NEXT TO NOTHING BUT CAUSING 20 GRAND'S WORTH OF DAMAGE. IT'S CRAZY. MOST FUEL FRANCHISES ARE OPERATING ON A 3% TO 4% MARGIN, SO IF SOMEONE HAS, FOR EXAMPLE, $7000 WORTH OF FUEL STOLEN IN A YEAR, THEY MAY HAVE TO SELL $150,000 WORTH OF FUEL TO PAY BACK THAT LOSS. PREPAY MODELS HAVE BECOME MORE POPULAR TO STOP PEOPLE FROM STEALING FUEL, BUT SOME OWNERS ARE RELUCTANT TO USE THEM, SAYING IT ERODES CUSTOMER TRUST. IT ALSO PUTS SOME PEOPLE OFF COMING TO YOUR STORE. IN A STATEMENT, POLICE SAY THEIR PRIORITY IS FOCUSING ON THE MOST PROLIFIC RETAIL OFFENDERS AND THOSE CARRYING OUT BRAZEN AND HARMFUL RETAIL OFFENDING LIKE AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES AND RAM RAIDS. ALMOST ALL PETROL STATIONS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING CALLED THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTER. ERM, SO` WHICH HAS THE DETAILS OF EVERY SINGLE VEHICLE ON THE FLEET IN THE COUNTRY AND WHO OWNS IT. BUT FAKE LICENCE PLATES ` LIKE THIS ONE, CAUGHT ON CAMERA ` MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT. PEOPLE WHO DOES THIS SORT OF CRIME, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THEIR NUMBERPLATE TIME TO TIME, AND THEY JUST KEEP DOING IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. ALONG WITH ROBBERIES LIKE THESE SEEN IN JUST THE LAST WEEK, FUEL THEFTS ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF STRESS FOR RETAILERS. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. POLICE OFFICERS ARE SPEAKING OUT AFTER RECEIVING A PAY OFFER YESTERDAY THAT SOME FEEL IS WORSE THAN THE ONE THEY REJECTED LAST YEAR. THE OFFER AFFECTS NEARLY 11,000 SWORN OFFICERS ` WHO, BY LAW, CAN'T GO ON STRIKE LIKE TEACHERS AND NURSES. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS IS ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS. KATE, WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE OFFER? THE OFFER INCLUDES A $5000 SALARY INCREASE BEEN DATED TO LAST NOVEMBER. A 4% SALARY INCREASE THIS YEAR. THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION IN AREAS LIKE FOOD ALLOWANCES. THIS COMPARES TO AN OFFER THAT WAS MADE LAST SEPTEMBER AND REJECTED, WITH THAT THERE WAS A $4000 SALARY INCREASE WITH LONGER BACK PAIN. AND A 4% INCREASE OVER ONE OF THEM SAID THAT THIS IS A KICK IN THE TEETH AND THEY QUESTION IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPORTING AND APPRECIATING THEIR OFFICES. THEY ALSO FEEL FRUSTRATED THAT THEY CAN'T STRIKE. WHAT'S THE RESPONSE TO POLICE CONCERNS FROM THE UNION AND GOVERNMENT? THE UNION ISN'T HAPPY. IN A STATEMENT THEY SAID THAT OFFICERS HAVE NOT BEEN AFFORDED THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE IN THE FACE OF GROWING DEMANDS AND DANGER. IN A STATEMENT FROM POLICE MINISTER MARK MITCHELL HE SAID THAT THIS IS A TOUGH SITUATION AS THEY DEAL WITH DIFFICULT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT. POLICE ARE CHALLENGED BY THE OPERATING COST. STAFF IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR THE POLICE, PARTICULARLY IN THE PROVINCIAL AREAS, SO THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING ONE TO WATCH. THANKS, KATE. HUNDREDS OF PRO-PALESTINE SUPPORTERS MARCHED IN AUCKLAND. CHLOE SWARBRICK AND OTHER GREEN MPs WERE AT THE RALLY. THE PROTEST SPEECHES CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO END DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL UNTIL PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS REACHED. A PEDESTRIAN HAS DIED AFTER A HIT-AND-RUN LATE LAST NIGHT IN THE SOUTH AUCKLAND SUBURB OF PAPATOETOE. POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AROUND 10pm AFTER CALLS FROM NEIGHBOURS THAT A PERSON HAD BEEN HIT. ONE RESIDENT TOLD 1 NEWS THAT THE PERSON WAS HURLED INTO THE AIR. MANY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASSISTING POLICE IN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE DRIVER. UM, THEY JUST WANTED TO GET OUT THERE. LOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE THAT HAVE OFFERED, UM... COVERAGE FROM THEIR OWN VIDEOS AT HOME, UM, AND CCTV. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT TOO, WHILE LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FOR THE AREA. BUSINESSES ARE BEING URGED TO DO MORE TO SHIFT THE MINDSET AWAY FROM 9-5 AND ACCESS A WORKFORCE OF MUMS. A REPORT'S FOUND IF MORE WAS DONE TO IMPROVE GENDER EQUALITY OVER THE NEXT DECADE, IT COULD ADD $13 TRILLION TO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, IF SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES WERE MORE CREATIVE, IT COULD INJECT $20bn INTO THE ECONOMY ` THAT'S 9% OF GDP. IT'S ESTIMATED 20% TO 30% OF THE WORKFORCE ` USUALLY MUMS ` NEED THAT FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE THE BURDEN OF CHILDCARE FALLS ON THEM. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD TALKS TO SOME OF THOSE MUMS. YOU WANNA READ A BOOK? LOOKING AFTER 10-MONTH-OLD TWINS IS A FULL-TIME JOB OF ITS OWN, BUT MARKETING EXPERT MICHELLE WANTS PAID WORK TOO. IT'S BEEN QUITE... A JOURNEY, AND A TOUGH ONE, ACTUALLY. I THINK IT'S BEEN LIKE THREE MONTHS NOW, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND THIS FLEXIBLE WORK THAT SUPPORTS OUR NEEDS AS A MUM. JOBS FOR MUMS HELPS PARENTS FIND THAT KIND OF EMPLOYMENT. WE'VE GOT OVER 15,000 MUMS LOOKING FOR WORK. WE HAVE ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE VISIT OUR WEBSITE EVERY MONTH, AND WE KNOW THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEM ARE EITHER UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED A DECADE AFTER HAVING THEIR FIRST CHILD. THE GROUP PARTNERS WITH BIG COMPANIES LIKE FLETCHER'S, KIWIBANK AND FONTERRA TO FIND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. I WAS LOOKING FOR A STEP UP IN MY CAREER ` SO I WAS WANTING TO MOVE UP TO A SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER ROLE ` BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS WANTING FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE I HAD A YOUNG CHILD AT HOME. AND SO IT WAS REALLY HARD TO FIND. SHE'S NOW BEEN IN THREE SENIOR ROLES AT BUSINESSES WITHIN FLETCHER'S. SO I'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY TO STILL PROGRESS MY CAREER WHILE HAVING FLEXIBLE WORKING. BUT FINDING SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES AT SMALLER FIRMS IS A LOT HARDER. A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T REALISE THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE` IF YOU CAN THINK OUTSIDE THE 9-TO-5, YOU GET ACCESS TO THIS AMAZING TALENT POOL ` IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST HIDDEN WORKFORCE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY 20% OF THE JOB MARKET. AT THE BABY SHOW TODAY, PLENTY OF MUMS WHO'VE DONE THE HARD YARDS. TOOK ME... THREE YEARS AFTER I HAD MY FIRST ONE TO FIND SOMEWHERE WHERE I COULD HAVE THE WEEKENDS OFF, FINISH AT A NORMAL TIME AND BE MORE AT HOME WITH THE KIDS. LOOKING AFTER MY BABY IS A FULL-TIME JOB, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA DO A FULL-TIME JOB ON TOP OF THAT. AND MUMS HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SPECIAL SKILL SET. LIKE MULTITASKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, RESILIENT, AND ALSO ATTENTION TO DETAIL. NO DOUBT LOOKING AFTER TWINS DEVELOPS A LOT OF ORGANISATION ` AND PATIENCE TOO. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. AN AID PACKAGE AIR-DROPPED OVER GAZA HAS REPORTEDLY KILLED FIVE CHILDREN AFTER ITS PARACHUTE FAILED, ACCORDING THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY. THE INCIDENT COMES AS THE EU, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND THE U.S. BEGIN PREPARATIONS TO DELIVER AID TO GAZA BY SEA. THE PENTAGON SAYS THERE'S A RISK HAMAS COULD TARGET A TEMPORARY PIER ONCE IT'S BUILT AND IS CALLING ON THE GROUP TO SHOW CARE FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THE ABC'S TOM SOUFI BURRIDGE REPORTS. THIS IS THE MOMENT HUMANITARIAN AID DROPPED FROM THE SKY OVER GAZA AND TURNED DEADLY, PALLETS RAINING DOWN. THAT PARACHUTE APPEARED TO FAIL, PLUNGING TO THE GROUND. CHAOS AS DESPERATE PALESTINIANS RUN TO SCOOP UP AID. WHAT YOU DON'T SEE ` FIVE CHILDREN CRUSHED TO DEATH BY A PALLET, ACCORDING TO THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY. TONIGHT, THE PENTAGON HAS SAID IT WASN'T A U.S. AIRDROP THAT CAUSED THE CASUALTIES. WE'VE CONFIRMED THAT ALL OF OUR AID BUNDLES LANDED SAFELY ON THE GROUND. WITH THE U.N. SAYING MORE THAN HALF A MILLION GAZANS ARE FACING STARVATION, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS CAUGHT ON THIS HOT-MIC MOMENT AFTER THE STATE OF THE UNION, SPEAKING ABOUT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU. THE PRESIDENT WAS QUICKLY INTERRUPTED BY AN AIDE. TODAY, HE SAID NETANYAHU NEEDS TO DO MORE TO GET AID IN. AND TONIGHT, A COALITION OF COUNTRIES IS BACKING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLAN FOR THE U.S. MILITARY TO BUILD A TEMPORARY PIER OFF GAZA'S COAST TO ALLOW AID IN BY SEA. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS THE ISRAELIS WILL PROVIDE SECURITY, PROMISING THERE WILL BE NO U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN GAZA. (GUNFIRE) AND JUST DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN, WITH NO DEAL ON A CEASEFIRE, HAMAS HAS TONIGHT CALLED ON WORSHIPPERS TO MARCH ON JERUSALEM'S AL-AQSA MOSQUE ` TENSIONS FLARING AHEAD OF FRIDAY PRAYERS. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) WELL, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S REAL TENSION HERE. YOUNG MEN ARE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE AL-AQSA MOSQUE UP THERE; THE POLICE ARE MOVING THEM AWAY. THEN PEACEFUL PRAYERS OUTSIDE THE WALLS AMID FEARS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD. A PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTER IN ENGLAND HAS SLASHED A HISTORIC PAINTING AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE YET. THE ACTIVIST WAS RECORDED VANDALISING THE PORTRAIT OF LORD BALFOUR, WHO WAS FOREIGN MINISTER IN 1917, WHEN HE SIGNED A DECLARATION GIVING BRITISH SUPPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE. THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PASIFIKA FESTIVAL HAS RETURNED, LURING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO OUR BIGGEST CITY ` FUN, FLAIR AND FOOD ALL ON OFFER, AS TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI FOUND OUT. ADORNING THE TAONGA OF THEIR ANCESTORS... (PERCUSSION PLAYS) ...AND KEEPING THEIR STORIES ALIVE. (MEN SING IN FIJIAN) WE'RE A GROUP OF FIJIANS, UM, DANCING TODAY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY FUN SEEING ALL THESE PEOPLE. ISIAH'S AMONG MORE THAN A THOUSAND PERFORMERS TAKING THE STAGE AT AUCKLAND'S PASIFIKA FESTIVAL THIS YEAR. WE'RE ALL HYPED UP. LIKE, WE'RE CRAZY ABOUT OUR CULTURE, AND WE'RE PROUD OF IT. THIS IS HIS MUM. JUST LOOKING AT HIM, YOU KNOW, SMILING FROM THERE MAKES ME PROUD. SO, YEAH. HE'S DOING VERY WELL. AND WHAT DID YOU PROMISE THEM IF THEY SMILE? OH, I PROMISED THE GIRLS ` ALL OF THEM ` IF THEY SMILE, THEY WILL GET PIZZA ON WEDNESDAY. FROM TUVALU... (GROUPS SINGS IN TUVALUAN) (GROUP SINGS IN SAMOAN) ...TO SAMOA ` EVERY STAGE A CELEBRATION OF THE PACIFIC PEOPLE WHO CALL AOTEAROA HOME. WE'RE TRYING TO SPEAK TONGAN AT HOME AS WELL, BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD, BEING BORN IN NEW ZEALAND. SO IT'S GOOD TO BRING THEM AROUND TO THESE ACTIVITIES SO THAT THEY CAN EMBRACE THEIR CULTURE. CROWDS WERE EAGER TO SEE ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR ` WORLD-RENOWNED DANCE CREW THE ROYAL FAMILY, WHO'VE PERFORMED ALONGSIDE SOME THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. MIND-BLOWING. I MEAN, PARRIS GOEBEL, THE ROYAL FAMILY ` THEY'RE HERE! IT'S EXTRAORDINARY! OH, BEYOND. CAN'T COMPARE. YOU KNOW? YOU JUST CAN TELL THEY PUT A LOT OF LOVE AND PASSION INTO THEIR DANCING. THE PERFORMANCES ARE PRETTY AWESOME, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE LOVE TO COME TO THIS FESTIVAL. THERE ARE OVER 100 FOOD STALLS LIKE THIS. I'VE JUST ORDERED MYSELF SOME ROAST PORK, POTATO SALAD AND COLESLAW, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO EAT IT. WHILE TODAY'S EVENTS HAVE WRAPPED UP, THERE'S STILL ANOTHER DAY OF FESTIVITIES TOMORROW. TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` A MARATHON AUSSIE POLICE CHASE ACROSS HUNDREDS OF KILOMETRES ` HOW A FARMER IN A CHOPPER HELPED COPS STAY ON THE ROBBER'S TAIL. IN NIGERIA, HUNDREDS OF PRIMARY-AGED CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED FROM THEIR SCHOOL BY HEAVILY ARMED GUNMEN. DESPERATE PARENTS ARE BEGGING THE GOVERNMENT TO FIND THEIR CHILDREN AND TACKLE THE ISLAMIST GROUPS TERRORISING CIVILIANS. THE BBC'S MAYENI JONES REPORTS. THIS HAS BECOME AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR SIGHT ` DESPERATE PARENTS BEGGING THE AUTHORITIES FOR HELP. 280 CHILDREN, SOME AS YOUNG AS 8, WERE DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR MORNING SCHOOL ASSEMBLY BY ARMED MEN. THEY WERE TAKEN INTO A NEARBY FOREST. SOME MANAGED TO ESCAPE, BUT HUNDREDS ARE STILL MISSING. THEIR PARENTS ARE BESIDE THEMSELVES. 'PLEASE COME AND HELP US,' THIS MOTHER SAYS. 'WHERE IS THE PRESIDENT? WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR? 'OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE TAKEN AWAY. 'SEVEN CHILDREN FROM ONE FAMILY WERE ALL KIDNAPPED.' THIS LATEST ATTACK HAS SHOCKED THE COMMUNITY OF KURIGA. SO MANY TAKEN, SO YOUNG. TRANSLATOR: WE ARE ORDINARY CIVILIANS. WHAT CAN WE DO? THEY'RE TREATING US LIKE WE'RE WORTHLESS. WE PLEAD WITH YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD ` DO SOMETHING TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF OUR CHILDREN. THE LOCAL GOVERNOR IS PROMISING TO BRING EVERY CHILD BACK HOME, BUT MANY SAY NIGERIA'S GOVERNMENT IS FAILING TO DO THIS. IT'S THE SECOND MASS ABDUCTION IN LESS THAN A WEEK. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN THE NORTHEAST, THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF BORNO HAVE BEEN TERRORISED BY ISLAMIST MILITANTS FOR 15 YEARS. 2 MILLION HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES TO LIVE IN CAMPS IN FORTIFIED TOWNS PROTECTED BY THE ARMY. BUT BEYOND THE GATES, THE GUNMEN ARE IN CONTROL. IN APRIL 2014, BOKO HARAM ABDUCTED 276 SCHOOLGIRLS FROM THE TOWN OF CHIBOK. THE GROUP SAID IT WAS AGAINST WESTERN EDUCATION. MANY OF THE GIRLS WERE FORCED TO MARRY THEIR CAPTORS. NOW BOKO HARAM IS SPLINTERED AND WEAKENED. THESE DAYS, KIDNAPPINGS OF CHILDREN IN NIGERIA ARE OFTEN MOTIVATED BY MONEY, WITH RANSOM DEMANDS FOR THEIR RELEASE. 250 TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, BUT THERE'S STILL NO WORD YET ON THE FATE OF THE KIDNAPPED CHILDREN. IN AUSTRALIA, A MAN'S BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A WILD POLICE PURSUIT SPANNING HUNDREDS OF KILOMETRES AND TWO STATES. IT BEGAN IN QUEENSLAND AND ENDED 15 HOURS LATER IN NEW SOUTH WALES, WITH POLICE TRACKING THE DRIVER WITH THE HELP OF A FARMER WHO FILMED FROM THE AIR. CHANNEL NINE'S ALEX HEINKE HAS THE STORY. JUST A FEW MOMENTS OF MADNESS FROM A NEARLY 15-HOUR, 500km CROSS-BORDER POLICE CHASE THAT ALL STARTS IN QUEENSLAND, AN HOUR'S DRIVE SOUTHWEST OF BRISBANE IN BOONAH. POLICE ALLEGE A MAN (24) DRIVING A TRUCK STEALS A BOBCAT FROM A FARM MACHINERY YARD. WITH POLICE ON HIS TAIL, HE ALLEGEDLY DRIVES WEST TO MILLMERRAN. THE TRUCK SLOWS IN TOWN, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP. INSTEAD, THE DRIVER IS ACCUSED OF REVERSING INTO POLICE. A 27-YEAR-OLD OFFICER INSIDE IS INJURED AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AS THE ACCUSED HEADS SOUTHWEST TOWARDS THE BORDER. BUT FOLLOWING FOR SOME 140km TO GOONDIWINDI IS A CATTLE STATION WORKER, AND HE'S NOT TRAVELLING BY ROAD. HE WOULD HAVE DONE 50 TO 60 VEHICLES HE'D NEED CLEANED UP. AS HE'S CHASING, PILOT BRODY COOK SPEAKS TO THE DRIVER OVER THE RADIO. OLD MATE GOT ON THE TWO-WAY AND SAID HE HAD A GUN AND HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT US. WE GOT DOWN LOW. WE COULD SEE HE HAD NOTHING IN THERE. HE DIDN'T HAVE A GUN. HE HAD A TALLIE SITTING IN THE IN THE CUPHOLDER AND A PUMPKIN, MATE. AS HE CROSSES THE BORDER, NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE TAKE OVER FROM THEIR QUEENSLAND COUNTERPARTS, BUT THEY AREN'T HAVING ANY MORE LUCK. THE CHASE REACHES MOREE, WHERE HE'S ACCUSED OF HITTING A SECOND POLICE CAR, BUT COPS HAVE DONE SOME DAMAGE OF THEIR OWN. ROAD SPIKES HAVE WORKED. BY DUSK, THE TRUCK IS BENT AND BUCKLED. NO FRONT RIGHT TYRE AND NO BOBCAT. IT FELL OFF WHEN THE DRIVER HIT A POWER POLE IN TOWN, WIPING OUT ELECTRICITY TO HUNDREDS OF HOMES IN THE PROCESS. IT'S ANOTHER 30km OUT OF MOREE TOWARDS GURLEY, WHERE THE CHASE FINALLY ENDS. THE ALLEGED DRIVER FINALLY ARRESTED COLIN LAWLOR, CHARGED WITH A LONG LIST OF OFFENCES. A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION SPANNING TWO STATES ` BUT DESPITE IT ALL, NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE INJURED. AMONG THE CHARGES HE'LL FACE ` DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED, NEGLIGENT DRIVING AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. TO THE EVENT MAKING A BIG SPLASH ON AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT ` CASH PRIZES AND BRAGGING RIGHTS ARE ON THE LINE AT THE MANU WORLD CHAMP FINALS, AND THEY'RE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. KIM BAKER WILSON'S THERE. IT IS THE BIG DAY AFTER A BIG COUPLE OF MONTHS. HERE COMES ONE NOW. WE JUST AT THE MEN'S FINAL AT THE MOMENT. COMPETITORS HAVE ENTERED THIS COMPETITION TO SEE WHO CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST SPLASH. TODAY WE ARE DOWN TO JUST 74'S FINALIST. WERE TRYING TO SEE WHO CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST SPLASH. A LOT OF TECHNIQUE GOES INTO THESE. THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF TECHNICAL SOFTWARE BEHIND-THE-SCENES WHICH CAN TELL US HOW HIGH THE MANUS ARE. IN A VERY SHORT TIME WE SHOULD FIND OUT WHO THE MAN WHO CHAMPIONS ARE. ME U TONU MAI ` JOSEPH PARKER SURVIVES TWO KNOCKDOWNS TO SCORE A STUNNING CAREER COMEBACK. A NEW WBO INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO NEXT TO CHALLENGE THE BEST OF THE HEAVY-HITTERS. THEN, A CRACKER DAY FOR SOME SATURDAY CRICKET IN CHRISTCHURCH ` NEXT, TWO SETS OF PROUD BLACK CAP PARENTS WATCH THEIR SONS MARK AN EMOTIONAL MILESTONE. AND GISBORNE WAS OUR HOTSPOT TODAY, WITH 27; GORE AND INVERCARGILL ONLY 14. TOMORROW, THE MERCURY'S RISING IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S EAST, BUT WE HAVE WIND AND RAIN WARNINGS ISSUED TOO. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA ANO. 'TINA FROM TURNERS' HAS BECOME A FAN FAVOURITE DURING AD BREAKS AND IN THE ADVERTISING WORLD. SHE'S SUCH A SUCCESS PEOPLE THINK TINA WORKS AT THE COMPANY. SIMON MERCEP REPORTS ON WHAT'S THAT MEANT FOR THE WOMAN WHO PLAYS HER. TELL ME ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE TINA. OH. UM, VERY FUN. HI. I'M TINA FROM TURNERS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE? CARS! HER REAL NAME IS SIENI, BUT TO STAFF AT TURNERS ` AND MANY OTHERS ` SHE'S TINA. IT WAS WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK I WAS GETTING RECOGNISED ALL OVER. PEOPLE WERE REALLY CONNECTING, AND THEY WERE COMING UP AND TALKING TO ME ABOUT IT. WHAT WERE THEY SAYING? THEY JUST LOVED HER, AND THEY WOULD DO THE DANCE (LAUGHS) AND THEY WOULD DO... THEY WOULD QUOTE THE AD, AND IT WAS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. SOME THINK TINA WORKS AT TURNERS. THEY SPECIFICALLY SAY, 'CAN I PLEASE HAVE MY MEETING OR MY APPOINTMENT WITH TINA?' OR, 'IS TINA HERE? CAN I MEET WITH HER, PLEASE?' # ...STUCK ON YOUR HEART. AND WHEN TINA TURNER THE ROCK STAR DIED LAST YEAR... SO, A LOT OF THE KIDS DON'T KNOW (LAUGHS) WHO TINA TURNER IS, UH, SO WHEN SHE PASSED, THEY THOUGHT I HAD GONE. SO WE GOT FLOODED WITH VERY CONCERNED CALLS AROUND, 'IS TINA OK?' AND, 'DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED?' IN A RECENT ROUND OF GLOBAL AWARDS FOR AD EFFECTIVENESS, TINA WAS NAMED A RETAIL FINALIST. FOR TINA FROM TURNERS TO COME OUT AS ONE OF THE TOP` BEST OF THE BEST FOR EFFECTIVENESS ` THAT DOES SAY A LOT ABOUT HOW GOOD THIS CAMPAIGN IS. THIS MARKETING LECTURER SAYS TINA'S LIKEABILITY IS KEY. SO, IT'S REALLY SOMEONE THAT YOU FEEL YOU WOULD LIKE, MAYBE, TO GO FOR A DRINK WITH HER OR BE PART OF YOUR GROUP OF FRIENDS. HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ACTUALLY YOU? ALL OF IT. (LAUGHS) I'M A LITTLE BIT CUCKOO, (LAUGHS) SO I BROUGHT THAT TO TINA, UM, AND IT WORKED. HAVE ANY OF YOU GOT A BEAST LIKE MINE HERE? SHE FOLLOWS OTHER CHARACTERS LIKE BARRY CRUMP AND SCOTTY FOR TOYOTA... IT'S GETTING THERE. ...MAINLAND CHEESE'S OLD MEN... THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT AT BRISCOES! ...THE BRISCOES LADY.... THIS IS CALLED THE SHARMA SPECIAL! ...AND, MORE RECENTLY, THE ANZ CRICKET FAMILY. IT'S AN EASIER WAY FOR AN AUDIENCE TO ACTUALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BRAND THAT THE CHARACTER REPRESENTS. TURNERS SAY THEY'RE WORKING ON A NEW TINA CAMPAIGN ` SOMETHING THE SAMOAN COMMUNITY WILL PROBABLY WELCOME. THEY LOVE IT. THEY LOVE` THEY... I AM A CELEBRITY AT CHURCH. (LAUGHS) THAT LAUGH MAY BE WITH US FOR A WHILE YET. SIMON MERCEP, 1 NEWS. CRICKET FANS HAVE FLOCKED TO HAGLEY OVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH FOR DAY TWO OF THE BLACK CAPS' TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA. AMONG THEM, THE FAMILIES OF KANE WILLIAMSON AND TIM SOUTHEE ` WATCHING ON AS THE PAIR PLAY IN THEIR 100TH TEST. KATIE STEVENSON CAUGHT UP WITH THEIR PROUD PARENTS. AS THOUSANDS SETTLED IN AT HAGLEY OVAL, COSTUMES WERE THE ORDER OF THE DAY. THOSE TWO HAVE DRESSED UP AS AUSTRALIANS. JUST TRYING TO STAND OUT IN THE CROWD, UM, AND HIDE AWAY AT THE SAME TIME. THE GARDEN CITY PUTTING ON A SHOW. CHRISTCHURCH HAS GOT TO BE THE HOME OF CRICKET, I RECKON. TRIP UP FROM TIMARU, SO, UH, IT'S GOOD THAT CHRISTCHURCH HAS PUT ON THE GOOD WEATHER. EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN HANGING OUT FOR THIS DAY. 2016 WAS THE LAST TIME THE BLACK CAPS FACED AUSTRALIA IN A TEST HERE. IT'S FANTASTIC TO SEE THEM HERE. I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST SEE FROM THE CROWD JUST HOW MUCH PEOPLE LOVE IT. ANOTHER SELL-OUT HERE AT HAGLEY. ALL FOUR MATCH DAYS HAVE SOLD OUT, BRINGING $1m INTO THE CITY. THE MULTI-DAY EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, BECAUSE PEOPLE STAY FOR MORE THAN ONE NIGHT, AND OF COURSE, WHEN IT FINISHES, AT 6, 6.30, PEOPLE WILL JUST WALK DOWN BY THE RIVER OR THROUGH INTO TOWN AND SPEND SOME MORE DOLLARS IN OUR THRIVING CITY CENTRES. IMPORTANT TOO FOR THE PARENTS OF KANE WILLIAMSON AND TIM SOUTHEE; IT'S THE 100th TEST FOR BOTH BLACK CAPS. WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED, WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THEY'D GET TO 100? WE'VE BEEN AT MOST OF THEM, AND SO HAVE THE WILLIAMSONS, I THINK, AS WELL. REACHING THE MILESTONE TOGETHER HAS MADE THE MOMENT EVEN MORE SPECIAL. BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT MATES, AND TO LAND IN THE SAME TEST WITH THEIR 100th TEST IS PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE, ACTUALLY. WE ALL GET NERVOUS TOGETHER ` JO WHEN THEY'RE BOWLING AND ME WHEN THEY'RE BATTING. CHILDHOOD COACHES ALSO SHARING IN THE DAY. THE THING ABOUT KANE IS THAT HE'S GOT THIS ABSOLUTE DESIRE TO BE BETTER THAN HE WAS, AND THAT DRIVES HIM TO BECOME BETTER ALL THE TIME. AND NOTHING'S CHANGED TODAY WHAT HE WAS LIKE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD. HE'LL BE ONE OF THE PLAYERS BACK ON THE OVAL TOMORROW AS FANS GEAR UP TO DO IT ALL AGAIN. KATIE STEVENSON, 1 NEWS. HAYLEY'S HERE ` WITH A FEW UPSETS IN THE SPORTING WORLD TODAY. AND MY FAVOURITE ONE ` JOSEPH PARKER'S CAREER COMEBACK CONTINUES AFTER SURPRISING ANOTHER HEAVY-HITTING HEAVYWEIGHT. NEEDING TO SURVIVE A COUPLE OF SCARES IN THE EARLY ROUNDS, THE UNDERDOG HAD TO WORK FOR IT AGAINST THE HUGE ZHILEI ZHANG. THE FIJIAN DRUA HAVE DONE IT ` THEY'VE CAUSED A BOIL-OVER. JOY FOR THE DRUA IN FIJI, BUT IT'S A LONG, LONG WAY BACK TO FIND THE LAST TIME THE CRUSADERS STARTED A SUPER RUGBY SEASON SO POORLY. PLUS ` THE BLACK CAPS' PACE ATTACK SURGES BACK INTO LIFE AT HAGLEY OVAL... EDGED! TAKEN THIS TIME BY MITCHELL. HENRY HAS ANOTHER. ...WHILE THE TOP ORDER FINDS SOME FORM ` AND THE BOUNDARY ` AS THE HOME SIDE TRIES TO EVEN THINGS UP ON DAY TWO AGAINST AUSTRALIA. KIA ORA. WELCOME TO SPORT. DESPITE HITTING THE CANVAS TWICE, JOSEPH PARKER HAS PULLED OFF ANOTHER SHOCK WIN AS HE WENT THE DISTANCE AGAINST CHINESE POWERHOUSE ZHILEI ZHANG IN SAUDI ARABIA. THE UNDERDOG GOING IN, PARKER'S WIN PUTS HIM IN PRIME POSITION TO ONCE MORE CHALLENGE THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION'S BEST. NOT MANY SAW THIS MOMENT COMING. ...AND NEW WBO INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, THE FIGHTING PRIDE OF NEW ZEALAND! JOSEPH PARKER'S ASCENT CONTINUES WITH A MAJORITY-DECISION WIN OVER HUGE CHINESE FIGHTER ZHELEI ZHANG. ANOTHER WIN, ANOTHER FIGHT ` ANOTHER FIGHT THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS GONNA LOSE. BUT IT JUST SHOWS HARD WORK, DEDICATION, DETERMINATION ` YOU CAN GET THE WIN. 'BIG BANG' ZHANG TWICE SHOWING THE SAMOAN KIWI JUST HOW POWERFUL HE IS. OHHH! AND JUST LIKE THAT ` BIG BANG! THE PUNCH IS SO HEAVY HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO THROW IT HARD. AND THAT LOOKS PERFECT. AGAIN, AN INNOCENT LOOKING-PUNCH FROM THE BIG BANG SENDS PARKER DOWN! WELL, THE FIRST ONE ROCKED ME, PUT ME DOWN; THE SECOND ONE WAS BEHIND THE HEAD, AND THE OTHER PUNCHES THAT DID LAND WAS` IT WAS SORE. IT WAS VERY SORE. THOSE TWO POWER PUNCHES ASIDE, ZHANG DIDN'T HAVE MUCH ELSE IN HIS BAG OF TRICKS, WHILE PARKER REMAINED BUSY. NOW GOING BACKWARDS. HAVEN'T SEEN THAT A LOT. IS HE WILTING? THE CHINESE GIANT FADING FAST, FAILING TO LAND A SINGLE PUNCH IN THE FINAL ROUND. ANOTHER GOLIATH DEFEATED IN A STUNNING CAREER COMEBACK FOR PARKER AFTER BEING WRITTEN OFF 18 MONTHS AGO. AFTER THE DEFEAT TO JOE JOYCE ` IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING COMING BACK FROM THAT LOSS, AND NOW LOOK WHERE WE ARE. THANK GOD. AND THERE'S MORE TO COME. THIS IS JUST THE START. THIS` ME RIGHT NOW IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF... OF GOING UP AND GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT I'M EXCITED FOR IT. AND IN THE MAIN EVENT, BRITISH BOXER ANTHONY JOSHUA SILENCED THE FIGHTING FANFARE SURROUNDING CAMEROON'S FRANCIS NGANNOU, DROPPING THE FORMER UFC CHAMPION TWICE BEFORE ENDING THINGS IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT. OHHHH! IT IS LIGHTS OUT! WOW! ANTHONY JOSHUA! AND NGANNOU'S OUT COLD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! HE'S NOT EVEN MOVIN'! THE 34-YEAR-OLD NOW KEEN TO FACE THE WINNER OF THE WORLD TITLE FIGHT BETWEEN TYSON FURY AND OLEKSANDR USYK. A SEVEN-WICKET FIRST-INNINGS HAUL FROM THE IN-FORM MATT HENRY HAS GIVEN THE BLACK CAPS A FIGHTING CHANCE IN THE SECOND TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA. AT STUMPS, NEW ZEALAND LEAD BY 40 RUNS, WITH EIGHT WICKETS IN HAND, GEARING UP FOR LONG SESSIONS AT THE CREASE TOMORROW. JORDAN OPPERT REPORTS. WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A NIGGLY NIGHTWATCHMAN LIKE NATHAN LYON, CHANCES HAVE TO BE TAKEN. EDGED! AND PUT DOWN. WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN A SITTER OFF THE SKIPPER SLIPPING THROUGH DARRYL MITCHELL'S FINGERS. FORTUNATELY, HE'D REDEEM HIMSELF NOT LONG AFTER. EDGED! TAKEN HIS TIME BY MITCHELL. THE EARLY BREAKTHROUGH THE BLACK CAPS NEEDED; THEN MATT HENRY WENT ON TO SNARE BACK-TO-BACK FIVE-WICKET HAULS BEFORE SOUTHEE LOOKED TO A SPIN OPTION. OH, WOW! WHAT ABOUT THAT? WHAT A GREAT PIECE OF CAPTAINCY. AND ALEX CAREY IS ON HIS WAY. THEN AUSSIE'S LAST REMAINING SPECIALIST BATTER, MARNUS LABUSCHANGE. OH, EDGING, EDGING! GONE! GONE! AND THAT'S A BEAUTY FOR THE BLACK CAPS, AND SO DESPERATELY NEEDED. LABUSCHANGE GONE FOR 90, AUSTRALIA 221-8 AT LUNCH. BUT ALL HENRY WAS HUNGRY FOR ` WICKETS. JUST A THIN EDGE FOR HENRY. PICKS UP SIX. HE'D HAVE 7-67 BY INNINGS END ` RECORD FIGURES FOR A NEW ZEALANDER AGAINST AUSTRALIA AT HOME. TRAILING BY 94, AND QUICKLY ONE WICKET DOWN, KANE WILLIAMSON GOT TO WORK. DRIVING AGAIN, AND HITTING IT FOR FOUR. BEAUTIFUL STUFF. HE AND LATHAM PATIENT, POISED, PLAYING WITH PRECISION. OH, WHAT A SHOT. AND IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. SO NOW NEW ZEALAND HAVE A LEAD IN THIS TEST MATCH. AND WITH IT, THE HIGHEST BLACK CAPS PARTNERSHIP THIS SERIES AS THEY BOTH RACKED UP HALF CENTURIES. THOUGH IT'D SOON BE THE AUSSIES CELEBRATING. OH NO! HE'S KNOCKED HIM OVER! WILLIAMSON SKITTLED BY THEIR SKIPPER. THE KIWI BATTERS STILL HAVE PLENTY OF WORK TO DO WHEN PLAY RESUMES TOMORROW. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. IT'S OFFICIAL ` NOT SINCE SUPER RUGBY'S INCEPTION IN 1996 HAVE THE CRUSADERS STARTED A SEASON WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE LOSSES. THE REIGNING DEFENDING CHAMPIONS GOING DOWN 2010 TO THE FIJIAN DRUA IN LAUTOKA THIS AFTERNOON. VICTOR WATERS HAS THE ACTION. THE CRUSADERS SCORCHED IN THE UNFORGIVING FIJIAN CONDITIONS. AND INTO TOUCH IT GOES. (WHISTLE TRILLS) AND ONCE AGAIN, ON FIJI SOIL, THE FIJIAN DRUA HAVE DONE IT ` THEY'VE CAUSED A BOIL-OVER. AS WITH LAST SEASON, LAUTOKA CONVERTED ITSELF INTO AN IMPENETRABLE FORTRESS FOR THE WINLESS REIGNING SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONS. I ASKED THE BOYS ` 'I THINK WE'RE ON.' WE ARE TIRED OF LOSING, AND THOSE FRUSTRATIONS AND DISAPPOINTED WE COLLECTED ALL TOGETHER, SO THIS WEEK, WHEN WE CAME OUT TODAY, THE BOYS WERE JUST ON FIRE AND TRIED TO DEFEND OUR TURF. GREASY BALL, LITTLE OPPORTUNITIES, AND, UM... YOU GIVE THE FIJIAN DRUA A SNIFF AND THEY WILL REALLY PUNISH YOU. AND THAT THEY DID ` THE CRUSADERS TAKING THEIR EYE OFF THE BALL AFTER THEIR OWN FIJIAN-BORN STAR GUIDED THEM TO AN EARLY LEAD. SEVU REECE! A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE. SEVU REECE IS OVER! THE WINGER'S 50th SUPER RUGBY TRY THE ONLY HIGHLIGHT FOR THE RED-AND-BLACKS. STEPPING! STEPPING! OVER HE GOES! LISTEN TO THE ROAR OF THE CROWD! A WALL OF NOISE REMINISCENT OF LAST YEAR, WHEN THE CRUSADERS FELL IN THE DYING SECONDS. THIS TIME, THEY WERE BEATEN WELL BEFORE THE FINAL WHISTLE ` THE DRUA'S FIRST WIN THIS YEAR. HE DIVES OVER! IT'S A TRY TO THE FIJIAN DRUA! WE HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THERE, PARTICULARLY AROUND OUR LINEOUT, AND, UM... WE JUST WEREN'T SHARP AND CLINICAL LIKE WE WOULD HAVE HOPED. THEIR THIRD-STRAIGHT DEFEAT TO START A SUPER RUGBY SEASON ` THAT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE 1996. THE CRUSADERS STARTING THE INAUGURAL COMPETITION WITH THREE LOSSES AND A DRAW BEFORE FINISHING DEAD LAST. THE FORWARDS JUST STOOD BACK AND WATCHED THAT ONE. THEY REALLY DIDN'T WANT A THING TO DO WITH IT. THAT HISTORY COULD WEIGH HEAVY BEFORE THIS GENERATION TAKES ON THE HURRICANES ON FRIDAY. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. THE HIGHLANDERS WILL BE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF ON THEIR RETURN TO DUNEDIN TODAY AFTER THEIR FIGHT-BACK AGAINST THE WARATAHS WAS NEARLY IN VAIN IN SYDNEY. THE HOME SIDE WITH A CHANCE TO WIN IT TWO MINUTES AFTER THE FULL-TIME HOOTER WITH A PENALTY. ...FOR THE WIN...! NO! IT'S A MISS. (WHISTLE TRILLS) IT'S WIDE, WIDE, AND THE HIGHLANDERS HANG ON. 23-21 THE FINAL SCORE. AND DESPITE JULIAN SAVEA'S RECORD 61st SUPER RUGBY TRY, MOANA PASIFIKA SLUMPED TO A 29-23 DEFEAT TO THE MELBOURNE REBELS IN HAMILTON. THE WARRIORS AND THEIR BANDWAGON HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK DOWN TO EARTH FROM ALL THE PRESEASON HYPE. THE HOME SIDE LET THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON SLIP THROUGH THEIR FINGERS DESPITE A STRONG START. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE WONDERING ` THE WARRIORS' YEAR FINALLY UNDERWAY. SOME MIGHT ARGUE THAT THIS CLUB HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER SET UP TO WIN THE TITLE THAN RIGHT NOW, IN 2024. GETTING OFF TO THE PERFECT START. IT'S ONLY TAKEN EIGHT MINUTES FOR THE WARRIORS TO HOST THEIR FIRST FOUR-POINTER OF THE SEASON. JUMPING OUT TO A 12-0 LEAD MINUTES LATER. (WHOOPING, CHEERING) THAT FIRST 20 MINUTES WAS OUTSTANDING. I THOUGHT OUR ATTACK WAS REALLY SIMPLE AND FAST. BUT DISCIPLINE BECOMING AN ISSUE AS THE SHARKS MUSCLED THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE CONTEST WITH TRIES EITHER SIDE OF HALF TIME. TALAKAI AND MULITALO. WE JUST GOT A YARDAGE PENALTY, INVITED BACK IN THE GAME, AND THEN I FEEL LIKE THE PERIOD AFTER HALFTIME WAS REALLY POOR. OUR DEFENCE, OUR RUCK CONTROL, UH, JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. THE SHARKS SINKING THEIR TEETH IN. TALAKAI. HERE IT COMES FOR MULITALO. OH, BACK TO TALAKAI. A 16-12 LOSS TO OPEN THE SEASON MADE WORSE BY POTENTIAL INJURIES TO STARS WAYDE EGAN AND CURT CAPEWELL. WELL, I'LL JUST WAIT FOR SCANS. IT COULD BE... IT COULD BE FINE. IT MIGHT BE NASTY. THE DEFENDING CHAMPION PANTHERS GETTING A NASTY WAKE-UP CALL TOO ` SHUT OUT IN AN 8-0 LOSS TO THE STORM. IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN YOU GET A PERFECT ROUND ONE. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS. FAR FROM PERFECT FOR WARRIORS FANS, NOW HOPING THEIR TEAM CAN LIFT WHEN THEY FACE MELBOURNE NEXT SATURDAY. BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX WOMEN HAVE KEPT THEIR PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE, SNAPPING A NINE-GAME LOSING RUN ON AUSTRALIAN SOIL. ALYSSA WHINHAM SHINING BRIGHTEST FOR THE NIX AGAINST THE PERTH GLORY, OPENING THE SCORING AND THEN SETTING UP ANOTHER; MACEY FRASER'S STUNNER LATER SEALING THE 3-1 WIN. HERE'S FRASER ` FROM RANGE THIS TIME! MACEY FRASER ` IT'S JUST WHAT SHE DOES. INCREDIBLE! THE PHOENIX NOW JUST TWO POINTS OFF A TOP SIX FINALS SPOT, THE PHOENIX NOW JUST TWO POINTS OFF A TOP-SIX FINALS SPOT, WITH FOUR GAMES LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON. TIME IS TICKING FOR KIWI ATHLETES CHASING GAMES SELECTION. WITH THE PARIS OLYMPICS JUST FOUR MONTHS AWAY. TWO OF THOSE HAPPEN TO BE SOUTH AFRICAN BASED TRIPLE JUMPING BROTHERS. KATE WELLS CAUGHT UP WITH THE OLIVIER FAMILY AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND'S SIR GRAEME DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL IN AUCKLAND. THE OLIVIER BROTHERS ARE VERY MUCH IN SYNC ` LIVE TOGETHER, TRAIN TOGETHER. AND IT'S JUST AS WELL ` BOTH WANTING TO ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL. THE OLYMPICS IS EVERY ATHLETE'S DREAM. UM, IT WILL MEAN THE MOST TO ME. I MEAN, IT WILL ALSO BE THE FIRST TIME I'M REPRESENTING NEW ZEALAND, SO TO DO IT AS AN OLYMPIAN IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 21-YEAR-OLD VAL-RAY AND 18-YEAR-OLD ETHAN OVER FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO GAIN RANKING POINTS FOR OLYMPIC SELECTION. AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING ` YES, THEY ARE KIWIS, GROWING UP IN AUCKLAND BEFORE RETURNING TO SOUTH AFRICA. DUE TO THE NEW QUALIFYING SYSTEM FOR THE OLYMPICS, WHERE YOU NEED TO HAVE RANKINGS OR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BIGGER MEETINGS. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT IN SOUTH AFRICA. SO NEW ZEALAND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HELP US TO COME OVER. AND THEY'VE ALREADY IMPRESSED. AND THEY'VE ALREADY IMPRESSED NATIONAL RECORD-HOLDER ETHAN WINNING LAST MONTH'S INTERNATIONAL TRACK MEET IN CHRISTCHURCH, JUMPING 16.85m, WHEN VAL-RAY WAS SECOND. THEY'RE BACK IN ACTION ON SUNDAY AT AUCKLAND'S SIR GRAHAM DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL. IT'S MUCH BETTER TO HAVE GOOD COMPETITION THAN TO BE THE ONLY PERSON JUMPING BECAUSE AT LEAST YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY FUN. THEY'LL BE COMPETING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR FATHER, VIKAS ` A FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN RECORD HOLDER. WHILE OLYMPIC SELECTION FOR PARIS WILL BE TOUGH, HE BACKS HIS SONS. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS A TARGET OVER THE 17m. IF THEY DO GET A SHOT AT THE OLYMPICS, I THINK IT WILL BE THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE NEXT OLYMPICS IN FOUR YEARS' TIME. IT MAY TAKE A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP TO GET THERE, BUT A FUTURE IN THE BLACK SINGLET DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LEAP TOO FAR. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. GOOD LUCK TO THEM BY. A MIX OF SUNSHINE AND SEVERE WEATHER COMING UP ` ERIN'S HERE WITH YOUR WEATHER. A MIX OF SUNSHINE AND SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS. ON Q AND A TOMORROW ` THE GOVERNMENT'S BIG CHANGES TO EMERGENCY HOUSING AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR THOUSANDS STRUGGLING TO GET A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. KIA ORA ANO ` WELCOME BACK. LOTS OF CLEAR SKIES LAST NIGHT; BLUE SKIES TODAY. SOME EARLY CLOUD DEPARTING THE NORTH. AND WE'RE LOOKING FAIRLY GOOD FOR ANOTHER DAY TOO. BUT FROM THE WIDER VIEW, WE HAVE A THIS BRIGHT MASS APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTH AND THE CLOSELY PACKED ISOBAR LINES MEAN INCOMING WIND AND SOME RAIN. WE HAVE WIND WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED ALREADY AND A RAIN WARNING TO FIORDLAND TOO. BUT RUN IT THROUGH TOMORROW ` IT'S MOSTLY FINE FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. A FEW MORNING SHOWERS TO THE FAR NORTH CLEAR. IT'S NOT UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THE FIRST WARNINGS KICK IN. AND WE SEE THE WINDS PUSHING TEMPERATURES UP IN THE SOUTH ISLAND'S EAST ` A STRING OF HIGH 20s, MUCH WARMER THAN TODAY. HERE ARE THOSE MORNING SHOWERS, ALL LOOKING CLEAR BY AFTERNOON, AND 22 TO 24 DEGREES. SOME GREY ABOVE FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE MORNING, TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, BUT OUT POPS THE SUN FOR THE AFTERNOON, AND A TOP OF 24. YOU GET THE GOOD STUFF ALL DAY, KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON ` GET OUT AND ENJOY, WITH 24 FOR YOU TOO. AND THE PERFECT RUN OF SUN CONTINUES FOR CENTRAL AREAS. AND 21 FOR TAUPO; 23 OR 24 FOR EVERYONE ELSE. A SUNNY SUNDAY FOR YOU TOO, TAURANGA. A SOU'EASTER KEEPING THINGS AT 22. SOME COOLER DAYS HERE TOO WITH THE SOUTHERLY, CHANGING DIRECTION LATER IN THE DAY. SO MONDAY, LOTS WARMER. TOMORROW, JUST 21 OR 22 FOR MOST, AND THE WIND WATCH FROM 11pm. FINE AND SUNNY ALL THROUGH THE DAY IN THE WEST UNTIL EVENING CLOUD ROLLS IN, AND 21 TO 23 DEGREES. EARLY MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF TO A FINE DAY IN THE CAPITAL, BUT STRONG NORTHERLIES IN THE AFTERNOON, AND A TOP OF 18. TE TAU-IHU, TOP OF THE SOUTH ` NOTHING BUT SUN. WESTPORT, THOUGH, CLOUD AND A FEW MORNING SHOWERS. AND A TOP OF 18. ONE TO BE OUTDOORS, OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. FINE AND 25. A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUD IN THE WEST, OVERCAST FROM EVENING. BUT A GOOD-LOOKING DAY IN THE EAST. AND HERE'S THAT NOR'WESTER PUSHING TEMPERATURES UP. 28 FOR ASHBURTON. MAKE THE MOST OF A CALMER MORNING, TAAHUNA QUEENSTOWN. AFTERNOON, THE WIND PICKS UP ACROSS OTAGO ` STRONG BY EVENING, WITH A WATCH IN PLACE OVERNIGHT. WITH 22 DEGREES. PLENTY OF SUN ON OFFER, BUT A WIND WARNING FOR CLUTHA, SOUTHLAND AND RAKIURA STEWART ISLAND, RISING TO SEVERE GALE LATE AFTERNOON IN INVERCARGILL AND RAKIURA STEWART ISLAND, GUSTING 11km/h. AND BOTH A WIND WATCH AND RAIN WARNING FOR FIORDLAND. 17 FOR MILFORD SOUND; 25 IN OAMARU. OTEPOTI DUNEDIN, IT'S FINE FOR MUCH OF THE DAY UNTIL CLOUD BUILDS IN THE EVENING, WITH A SPOT OF RAIN. AND THE WESTERLIES GUSTING 90km/h IN THE EVENING, WITH A WATCH OVERNIGHT, AND 23 IS YOUR HIGH. BY MONDAY, SHOWERS TRACK NORTH, SO FINE AT FIRST IN TE-IKA-A-MAUI, BUT THEN SHOWERS SOUTH OF TARANAKI. RAIN IN THE WEST OF TE WAIPOUNAMU AND SHOWERS IN THE LOWER SOUTH SPREAD TO CANTERBURY AND KAIKOURA LATER. TUESDAY AND RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE LOWER SOUTH AND WEST COAST. A FEW SHOWERS TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF TE IKA A MAUI A FEW SHOWERS TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF TE IKA A MAUI; NORTH ISLAND OTHERWISE MOSTLY FINE. SO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUN TOMORROW; THINGS ARE STARTING TO LOOK QUITE AUTUMNAL OUT THERE. ENJOY THE SUN FOR ALMOST EVERYONE. SOME COLOUR IN THE TREES. AND FEELING IT IN THE MORNING AS WELL. AND THAT'S 1 NEWS THIS RA HOROI, SATURDAY.