TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` TRIBUTES TO A MUCH-LOVED AND ADVENTUROUS NEW ZEALANDER, ONE OF TWO KILLED BY AN AVALANCHE IN JAPAN. THE CONDITIONS ON THE MOUNTAIN THEY WERE SKIING ON AND HOW TOUGH IT IS TO TACKLE. MID-AIR HORROR ` A FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND PLUNGES SUDDENLY, INJURING DOZENS OF PASSENGERS. WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE GONNA MAKE IT OR NOT. IT WAS TERRIFYING. IT WAS A HORROR MOVIE SCENE. I SAW PEOPLE FLYING TO THE ROOF AND THEN GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. WHAT WENT WRONG? WE GET EXPERT OPINION. PLUS, A ROYAL ADMISSION ` PRINCESS CATHERINE APOLOGISES FOR ALTERING THIS FAMILY PHOTO, TRIGGERING EVEN MORE SPECULATION... AND WHERE WAS THE WEDDING RING? CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER, TOM CLARKE AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI KI KARERE TAHI I TENEI PO. WELCOME TO 1 NEWS THIS EVENING. THE FAMILY OF ONE OF TWO NEW ZEALANDERS KILLED IN AN AVALANCHE IN JAPAN HAVE DESCRIBED HER ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT AND PASSION FOR LIFE. ISABELLA BOLTON (21) WAS AMONG A GROUP BACK-COUNTRY SKIING ON THE 1900m-HIGH MT YOTEI IN THE HOKKAIDO REGION. AUTHORITIES SAY THE OTHER NEW ZEALANDER WAS A MAN IN HIS 30S. HOKKAIDO, JAPAN'S SECOND LARGEST AND NORTHERNMOST ISLAND, IS A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS, MT YOTEI ONE OF ITS MOST FAMOUS AND DISTINCTIVE MOUNTAINS. SIMON MERCEP HAS MORE DETAILS. THESE ARE THE SLOPES OF MT YOTEI. A RESCUE TEAM HAS DUG A HOLE WHERE THEY MAY HAVE FOUND SOME OF THE SIX SKIERS, REPORTEDLY ALL FRIENDS, CAUGHT IN THE AVALANCHE. TWO NEW ZEALANDERS DIED; ANOTHER WAS INJURED. THERE ARE NO SKI FIELDS ON THE VOLCANO, BUT IT ATTRACTS THOSE WHO KNOW THE TERRAIN. 1 NEWS JOURNALIST SEAN NUGENT WORKED NEAR THE MOUNTAIN FOUR YEARS AGO. THE SNOW IN JAPAN IS INCREDIBLE, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM SOMEWHERE LIKE HERE WHERE SOMETIMES YOU STRUGGLE TO GET SNOW AT ALL. AND HOW MANY NEW ZEALANDERS TEND TO GO OVER THERE? A LOT ` WHEN I WAS OVER THERE, I MET DOZENS AND DOZENS OF FELLOW KIWIS ALL DOING THE SAME THING. WORKING? WORKING, YEP. A LOCAL REPORT SAID A BIG SNOWFALL MAY HAVE TEMPTED THE GROUP ON TO THE MOUNTAIN. A SKI CLUB TOLD US RECENT HIGH TEMPERATURES MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE AVALANCHE. FOOTAGE TAKEN FURTHER UP SHOWS AN AREA WHICH HAS GIVEN WAY. JUST GIVEN THE SHEER AMOUNT OF SNOW AND QUICK CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE, ONCE IT HEATS UP, IT'S MORE LIKELY TO SHIFT AROUND. HE SAYS WHAT MOST DO IS WALK UP THE VOLCANO, SKI DOWN INTO THE CRATER, WALK BACK TO THE TOP AND THEN SKI ALL THE WAY DOWN. YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE A VERY EXPERIENCE SKIER TO EVEN CONSIDER GOING UP THERE. ISABELLA BOLTON'S FAMILY TODAY SPOKE OF HER SKILLS. SHE'D WORKED IN CANADA AND IN TEKAPO AND WANAKA BEFORE HEADING TO JAPAN LAST YEAR TO BE A SKI GUIDE. ISABELLA ATTENDED RANGI RURU HIGH IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE SCHOOL SAYS SHE WAS CHARISMATIC, LOYAL, AND SHOWED A GREAT 'CAN DO' ATTITUDE WHICH INSPIRED OTHERS. THE RISKS OF SKIING ON HOKKAIDO WERE HIGHLIGHTED JUST YESTERDAY. (GASPS, YELPS) KIWI SEAN TOMS FELL INTO A HIDDEN WATERFALL AND MANAGED TO SCRAMBLE OUT. AND THERE WAS ANOTHER AVALANCHE YESTERDAY AT THIS VOLCANO 40km FROM MT YOTEI. FOUR SKIERS WERE CAUGHT UP IN IT. REPORTS FROM JAPAN SAY ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED SINCE SKIERS FLOCKED BACK TO THE COUNTRY AFTER COVID. SIMON MERCEP, 1 NEWS. NOW TO A STORY GETTING HUGE COVERAGE AROUND THE WORLD ` PASSENGERS HAVE DESCRIBED THE HORROR MOMENT AN AUCKLAND-BOUND FLIGHT NOSEDIVED, SENDING PEOPLE FLYING ACROSS THE CABIN AND INJURING AROUND 50 ON BOARD. AN INVESTIGATION'S UNDERWAY INTO THE LATAM FLIGHT FROM SYDNEY AS SOME CRITICISED THE CHILEAN AIRLINE'S RESPONSE. JACOB JOHNSON COVERED OUR BREAKING NEWS LIVE LAST NIGHT. HE HAS TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS. THAT'S THE CEILING WHERE PEOPLE HIT THEIR (BLEEP)ING HEADS ON THE ROOF. YEAH. A MOMENT OF MID-FLIGHT MAYHEM... ...AND THEN PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON. VERY SORE. ...AFTER THIS PLANE FROZE AND SUDDENLY DROPPED FOR AROUND 10 SECONDS. WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE GONNA MAKE IT OR NOT. IT WAS TERRIFYING. IT WAS A HORROR MOVIE SCENE. I SAW PEOPLE FLYING TO THE ROOF AND THEN GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. SOMEONE'S... QUITE BADLY INJURED OVER THAT SIDE. THE PLANE LANDED IN AUCKLAND AN HOUR LATER. AROUND 50 PEOPLE WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES, 12 OF THEM TAKEN TO HOSPITAL ` INCLUDING THIS BRAZILIAN PASSENGER, WHO FRACTURED TWO OF HER RIBS. IN PORTUGUESE: I WAS WITHOUT THE SEATBELT, AND I FLEW TWO SEATS BACK, AND WHEN I OPENED MY EYES, I WAS ON THE FLOOR. IN A STATEMENT, LATAM SAYS THE PLANE EXPERIENCED 'A STRONG SHAKE' DURING FLIGHT AFTER A TECHNICAL PROBLEM ON BOARD. CHILEAN OFFICIALS ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT, REQUESTING LOCAL HELP, GIVEN THE PLANE IS STILL IN AUCKLAND. NEW ZEALAND'S TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION SAYS IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE COCKPIT VOICE AND FLIGHT DATA RECORDERS. PASSENGERS HAVE CRITICISED LATAM'S RESPONSE, SAYING THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE FLIGHT. THEY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, 'JUST STAY IN YOUR SEAT,' AND THEN WHEN WE GOT OFF THE PLANE, THEY DIDN'T TELL US ANYTHING. I'VE CALLED LATAM TWICE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WERE LIKE, 'OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. 'I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.' THIS GROUP WAS SUPPOSED TO CATCH A SECOND FLIGHT TO CHILE ON THE SAME AIRCRAFT LAST NIGHT. AFTER BEING PUT UP IN A HOTEL, THEY'RE DUE TO FLY TONIGHT ` ON A DIFFERENT LATAM AIRLINES PLANE. I'M, LIKE, REALLY CONSIDERING GETTING THE FLIGHT BACK TO AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE I'M TOO SCARED TO FLY FOR ANOTHER 11 HOURS WITH THE SAME COMPANY. RETHINKING THEIR NEXT STEPS AFTER SUCH A HARROWING ORDEAL. JACOB'S WITH US NOW FROM AUCKLAND AIRPORT. JACOB, ANY UPDATE ON THE INJURED? CURRENTLY, JUST FOR PEOPLE REMAIN IN HOSPITAL AND A MODERATE BUT STABLE CONDITION. A CHILD WAS TAKEN TO STARSHIP HOSPITAL, BUT THE HOSPITAL HASN'T GIVEN US ANY UPDATE ON THE CHILD'S CONDITION. AS I MENTIONED, AUCKLAND WAS JUST A LAYOVER AS PART OF THE SERVICE. I AM TOLD PASSENGERS HAVE CHECKED IN. THEY WILL SHORTLY BE GOING THROUGH THE DEPARTURE GATES AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY TERRIFYING INCIDENT. AND JACOB, ANOTHER AVIATION ISSUE ` AIR NEW ZEALAND TODAY SUSPENDING ONE OF ITS LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS BECAUSE OF ENGINE ISSUES. TELL US MORE. THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUE. AIR NEW ZEALAND IS PAUSING ITS AUCKLAND TO CHICAGO FROM THE END OF THE MONTH TO OCTOBER BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ABILITY OF CERTAIN ENGINES. OTHER AIRLINES ARE FACING THE SAME ISSUES. AIR NEW ZEALAND SAID IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE. IT RESULTS IN THE LOWEST NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS IMPACTED. THANKS ` JACOB JOHNSON AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT. THIS LATEST INCIDENT AGAIN PUTS THE BOEING 787 AIRCRAFT UNDER THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT. SO, WHAT COULD'VE GONE WRONG? ABBEY WAKEFIELD'S BEEN TALKING TO THE EXPERTS. BREAKING NEWS ON A MAJOR INCIDENT ON BOARD A FLIGHT FROM SYDNEY TO AUCKLAND. MANY OF THE 272 ON BOARD TOSSED AROUND THE CABIN OF THE BOEING 787 DREAMLINER. EVERY PASSENGER'S WORST NIGHTMARE MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE WORLD. IT'S WORSE THAN FALLING OFF A CLIFF. SO, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED DOWN, SO PEOPLE ARE HITTING THE ROOF. IT'S A FORCE OF 2 OR 3 G'S. COMMENTATOR GEOFFREY THOMAS THINKS THE MID-AIR PLUNGE COULD BE LINKED TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S SYSTEMS. THIS IS RATHER STRANGE BECAUSE NORMALLY WITH A WIND SHEAR EVENT, IT LASTS A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND THERE'S MORE OSCILLATIONS. THIS WAS JUST A VERY SHARP UP-AND-DOWN VERTICAL SPEED CHANGE, AND THEN IT RECOVERED. TO ME, IT SEEMS TO POINT TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THE BOEING 787 AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN USED FOR PASSENGER FLIGHTS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AND THERE'S AROUND 1000 OF THEM IN USE. IT HAS A PERFECT SAFETY RECORD AND NOT VERY MANY INCIDENTS, SO THIS IS A REALLY UNUSUAL SITUATION WHICH IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME INVESTIGATION. SOME ISSUES HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THE PAST. LAST YEAR, U.S. AUTHORITIES WARNED LEAKY TAPS POSED A RISK TO THE AIRCRAFT'S ELECTRONICS; AND LAST MONTH, THE SAME PLANE SUFFERED FROM A FAULTY GENERATOR WHILE TRYING TO LEAVE AUCKLAND. BOEING'S BEEN UNDER INCREASED SCRUTINY SINCE A PANEL FELL OFF A 737 MAX AIRCRAFT IN JANUARY. THE INCIDENT'S NOW THE SUBJECT OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. AND TODAY, A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO RAISED SAFETY CONCERNS WAS FOUND DEAD DAYS AFTER GIVING EVIDENCE IN ANOTHER LAWSUIT. AS FOR PASSENGERS WHO MAY BE NERVOUS ABOUT FLYING... KEEP YOUR SEATBELT ON. THE MID-AIR DRAMA SHOWING WHY FLIGHT SAFETY SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. ABBEY WAKEFIELD, 1 NEWS. AND CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, 1news.co.nz, FOR EXTRA COVERAGE ON THIS MID-AIR DRAMA, INCLUDING A LOOK AT OTHER RECENT FLIGHTS ROCKED BY 'STRONG MOVEMENT'. AND THE POLICE PAY OFFER IS JUST ONE AREA WHERE GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS UNDER PRESSURE ` THAT'S DESPITE HANDING LANDLORDS A $2.9bn TAX BREAK, MEANING FAR LESS MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD LOOKS AT WHAT'S BEING SACRIFICED. AS ALL MINISTRIES FACE FINANCIAL PRESSURE, WHEELCHAIR USERS ARE THE LATEST FACING UNCERTAINTY OVER SERVICES AND WAIT TIMES. WE'VE BEEN UNDERCUT AND UNDER-RESOURCED FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WE WERE TRYING TO CATCH UP. PUBLIC SERVICES ARE SLASHING BUDGETS, AND EVERYTHING FROM FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES TO SCHOOL REBUILDS ARE UNDER THREAT. LANDLORDS, THOUGH, SOON TO ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO CLAIM BACK INTEREST ON THEIR LOANS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BUILD MORE HOUSES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S BEING FUNDED BY MAKING LIFE HARDER FOR PEOPLE ON BENEFITS. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE GETTING SPENDING BACK DOWN REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH TAX SETTINGS FOR LANDLORDS. THE $2.9bn PRICE TAG FOR THIS POLICY IS $800m MORE THAN PROMISED DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND THAT EYE-WATERING COST SPREAD OVER FOUR YEARS MEANS LESS REVENUE ` LESS CASH COMING INTO THE GOVERNMENT'S COFFERS. THE PRIME MINISTER ABSOLUTELY REFUSING TO DISCUSS HOW NATIONAL GOT ITS FIGURES SO WRONG TODAY. WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, WE'VE WORKED OUT WHAT WE CAN AFFORD, AND WHAT WE'RE DELIVERING IS RELIEF TO LANDLORDS SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY PUT DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON RENTS. SO RELIEF FOR LANDLORDS... WHEN THEY CUT THE TAX BREAKS, THE PRESSURE WAS REALLY TO PUT YOUR RENT UP. ...BUT NO RELIEF FOR OTHERS. IT'S NOT FAIR. THEY SHOULD BE TRYING A LOT MORE THINGS TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE ACROSS THE BOARD INSTEAD OF JUST, YOU KNOW, BREAKS FOR THE LANDLORDS. THESE ECONOMISTS HAVE POLAR OPPOSITE ADVICE ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SPEND ` OR GATHER ` TAXPAYER MONEY. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET A BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY FROM EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY'RE SPENDING. BUT GETTING BACK TO HAVING VALUE-FOR-MONEY ASSESSMENTS IN LINE-ITEM SPEND WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT. THERE'S A LENS WE SHOULD PUT ACROSS EVERY DECISION THAT GOVERNMENT MAKES, WHICH IS ` WHAT WILL THIS DO FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE? SO WHAT COULD YOU GET FOR $3bn? WELL, YOU COULD EASILY GET A COUPLE OF NEW DEFENCE FORCE PLANES OR... ONE OF THE THINGS THE GOVERNMENT'S REALLY COMMITTED TO IS GETTING PEOPLE OFF BENEFITS AND INTO WORK, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA, BUT DOING THAT WELL TAKES MONEY. THEY NEED A LOT OF HELP WITH RETRAINING, WITH SKILLS PROGRAMMES. A CHOICE ONLY THE GOVERNMENT CAN MAKE. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. 'A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS,' THE SAYING GOES, BUT THIS ONE HERE HAS SURELY GENERATED MILLIONS ` EVEN FROM PRINCESS CATHERINE, WHO'S NOW APOLOGISED AFTER ADMITTING SHE DOCTORED THE FAMILY PHOTO. BUT THE CONFESSION'S SPARKED EVEN MORE SPECULATION AND SCRUTINY, AS AZIZ AL SA'AFIN REPORTS. THE PRINCE OF WALES AT ANOTHER EVENT THIS EVENING WITHOUT HIS WIFE, BUT EARLIER IN THE DAY, THEY WERE SNAPPED TOGETHER IN A CAR. KENSINGTON PALACE SAYS THEY WERE HEADING TO A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT. ALL IN THE MIDST OF PUBLIC CONTROVERSY OVER THIS MOTHER'S DAY PHOTO AND THE WORLD'S BIGGEST NEWS AGENCIES PULLING IT FROM PUBLICATION. TO HAVE FOUR OF THE BIGGEST, RESPECTED NEWSWIRE AGENCIES SAYING THAT A PHOTOGRAPH SHOULDN'T BE USED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN MANIPULATED WITH, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. TODAY THE PRINCESS IN A STATEMENT SAYING SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE, AND LIKE MANY AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS, OCCASIONALLY EXPERIMENTED WITH EDITING AND WAS SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION. YEAH, SO HAVE YOU GOT A FAVOURITE SHOT? PHOTOGRAPHY'S SAID TO BE A PASSION FOR THE PRINCESS, OVER THE YEARS RELEASING MANY OF HER OWN PHOTOS WITHOUT FUSS, BUT HER EXTENDED ABSENCE FROM PUBLIC LIFE AND DELIBERATELY VAGUE INFORMATION ABOUT HER HEALTH HAD ALREADY IGNITED SPECULATION. THE DOCTORED IMAGE ONLY FUELLING THE FLAMES; MANY ASKING WHY HER WEDDING RING WOULD BE MISSING ` OR EDITED OUT. HOW DO YOU QUASH THOSE RUMOURS? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING YOU DON'T DO. YOU DON'T TAKE AN IMAGE AND DIGITALLY EDIT IT AND THEN STICK IT OUT THERE FOR OTHER NEWS AGENCIES TO DECIDE THEY CAN NO LONGER TRUST THE SOURCE. THEY'VE MISLEAD THE PUBLIC BY PUTTING AN IMAGE OUT THERE THAT WAS MANIPULATED. NOW THE PALACE IS IN A BATTLE OF TRUST. I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S AN ISSUE OF TRUST ` I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT. I MEAN, THE PRINCESS OF WALES IS AN ACCOMPLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER. SHE SAID SHE EDITS PHOTOGRAPHS SHE MIGHT BE EDITING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME, FOR ALL WE KNOW. 'DON'T COMPLAIN, DON'T EXPLAIN' IS A RULE THE ROYALS NORMALLY LIVE BY. SO THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO RELEASE A PHOTO. NO ONE WAS SAYING, 'YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT FOR MOTHER'S DAY,' AND YET THEY DECIDED TO DO IT, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT THEMSELVES INTO A HOLE HEAP OF TROUBLE. IT COULDN'T HAVE BACKFIRED MORE SPECTACULARLY THAN IT HAS. THE PALACE STILL MAINTAINS THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY PRINCE WILLIAM AND SAYS IT WON'T BE SHARING THE ORIGINAL. AZIZ AL SA'AFIN, 1 NEWS. 'IF I'D HAVE KNOWN, COULD I HAVE DONE MORE 'TO PREVENT THE LYNN MALL TERROR ATTACK?' THAT'S A QUESTION THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE CHAIR OF THE GLEN EDEN MOSQUE, WHERE AHAMED SAMSUDEEN WAS HOUSED IN THE WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEATH IN SEPTEMBER 2021. THE CHAIR, WHO CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED, TOLD A CORONER'S HEARING TODAY AUTHORITIES FAILED TO TELL HIM OF THE RISK THE 32-YEAR-OLD POSED. I TOOK THIS MAN IN WITHOUT KNOWING HE HAD THE ABILITY TO CAUSE SUCH A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE. I TOOK THIS MAN HIM TO JOB SITES, TO MY HOME, OTHER HOMES. I FEEL I MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PREVENT THE COUNTDOWN INCIDENT IF I HAD KNOWN. OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS RAISED BEFORE THE CORONER TOMORROW. E WHAI AKE NEI ` DETAILS OF EXTREME PLANS TO ENSURE MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES DON'T CLOSE THEIR DOORS AND GO THE WAY OF SOME OF THEIR EXHIBITS, WITH MANY FACING POSSIBLE EXTINCTION. PLUS ` THERE ARE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS IN LONDON THAT ACCEPT BITCOIN. COULD THE VIRTUAL CURRENCY REPLACE OTHER PAYMENTS AS RECENT CHANGES TO FINANCIAL MARKETS TRIGGER A RECORD-BREAKING SURGE FOR BITCOIN? THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` TAKING ON THE SUPERMARKETS ` THE LOCAL INITIATIVE WHERE A BOX OF VEGIES ONLY COSTS $15. THE BIGGER BOYS ` THE SUPERMARKETS ` ARE REJECTING FOOD THAT'S PERFECTLY GOOD BECAUSE IT'S THE WRONG SIZE. TOO BIG. PLUS, THE ETHICS AROUND PHOTO-SHOPPING YOUR PHOTOS AND WHY THE PRINCESS OF WALES IS IN HOT WATER. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. POLICE OFFICERS ARE LIVID AT WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A 'DISGRACEFUL, INSULTING' PAY OFFER. THE POLICE ASSOCIATION SAYS WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS HANDING OUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO LANDLORDS, COPS ON THE FRONT LINE ARE GOING TO FOODBANKS. THEY'RE CALLING ON THE POLICE MINISTER TO STEP UP. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME, POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN BEATING THEIR CHESTS. TODAY, I'M ANNOUNCING TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR CRIMINALS. FOR TOO LONG, GANGS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BEHAVE AS IF THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. THE GANGS UNDERSTAND THERE IS A DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT IN PLACE NOW. BUT THE OFFICERS THEY'RE RELYING ON TO ENFORCE THEIR NEW RULES AREN'T HAPPY ` BECAUSE OF THEIR PAY. FARCICAL, DEMORALISING, DISGUSTING. AN ABSOLUTE JOKE. THIS IS HOW THESE OFFICERS FEEL. I'VE NEVER SEEN POLICE OFFICERS AS ANGRY AS THEY ARE NOW. WE ARE ON THEIR SIDE, AND WE DO BACK THEM 110%. THE OFFER POLICE HAVE REJECTED INCLUDES A $5000 PAY INCREASE BACKDATED TO NOVEMBER, A 4% PAY INCREASE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND ANOTHER 4% IN 2025. IF YOU THINK IT'S JUST OFFICERS BEING GREEDY, A SIX-YEAR SOCIAL WORKER AND NURSE THAT'S BEEN IN THE ROLE FOR SIX YEARS WILL EARN $22,000 MORE THAN A POLICE CONSTABLE WHO'S BEEN IN THE ROLE SIX YEARS. HE SAYS MANY ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. STRUGGLING TO PAY THE RENT, TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE; YOU'VE GOT OTHERS WHO ARE GOING TO FOOD BANKS. DO YOU THINK NEW ZEALANDERS WOULD BE SHOCKED TO HEAR POLICE OFFICERS ARE HAVING TO GO TO FOODBANKS? I THINK THEY'D BE STUNNED. THIS OFFICER, A SINGLE PARENT WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, LIVING THAT REALITY. LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE IN A TOUGH SITUATION ECONOMICALLY. YESTERDAY, THEY DECIDED TO GIVE LANDLORDS $3bn WORTH OF TAX RELIEF. I MEAN, THEY'RE TWO ENTIRELY SEPARATE THINGS. THIS COP URGING POLITICIANS TO REMEMBER IT'S THE POLICE PUT THEIR NECKS ON THE LINE DAILY. THOSE EXPECTED TO DELIVER THE GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN CALLING FOR SOME FISCAL LOVE IN RETURN. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. AND BREAKFAST WILL HAVE FURTHER REACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PAY OFFER. THAT'S TOMORROW FROM 6AM. MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE WARNING THEY MAY NOT SURVIVE THE NEXT DECADE AS THEY FACE RISING COSTS AND SHRINKING BUDGETS. A CAMPAIGN'S NOW BEEN LAUNCHED TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION AS FUNDING FROM CASH-STRAPPED COUNCILS CONTINUES TO DRY UP. CUSHLA NORMAN REPORTS. OTAGO MUSEUM IS RENOWNED FOR ITS MOA COLLECTION, BUT THE 150-YEAR-OLD INSTITUTION IS AT RISK OF EXTINCTION ITSELF. OTAGO MUSEUM IS FACING A CRISIS, AND AT SOME POINT IN NEXT TWO YEARS, OUR RESERVES WILL BE GONE, AND THAT PROBABLY WILL MEAN JOB LOSSES, CUTTING BACK WHAT WE SPEND AND ULTIMATELY PERHAPS, YES, CLOSING ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS A WEEK. THE MUSEUM, LIKE MOST OTHERS, GETS FUNDING FROM COUNCIL, BUT THAT ONLY COVERS HALF ITS COSTS. THE CRUSH IS COMING, THE PRESSURE IS COMING. AND FOR ME, THE CHALLENGE IS PROBABLY THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME I'VE HAD IN 30 YEARS OF WORKING IN THE MUSEUM INDUSTRY. THE PRESSURE IS WIDELY FELT. THE NEW ZEALAND PORTRAIT GALLERY SURVIVES ON FUNDRAISERS AND GRANTS. WE NEED TO HAVE RESERVES TO BE ABLE TO CUSHION ANY SHOCKS, AND THE MOMENT, WE ARE RELYING ON THEM FOR OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION COSTS, WHICH IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. THE THREAT HAS PROMPTED A CAMPAIGN. IT'S A BIT GRIM. I'D LIKE TO CALL UPON THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL COUNCILS FOR US ALL TO GET TOGETHER AND DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MODEL. NEW ZEALAND HAS 476 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES. THEY ATTRACT MORE THAN 17 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR AND CONTRIBUTE ABOUT $270m TO THE ECONOMY. THE COLLECTIONS AND BUILDINGS ARE WORTH $5.6 BILLION TE PAPA GETS GOVERNMENT FUNDING; IT ALSO HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF ATTRACTING HIGH-PROFILE TICKETED EVENTS THAT DON'T GO TO SMALLER VENUES. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE MUSEUMS CLOSING DOWN, BUT THERE ARE REGIONAL FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BUT OF COURSE, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET PROCESS, AND MONEY IS TIGHT. NEXT MONTH, LIGHTS WILL GO OUT ON MUSEUMS FOR THE NIGHT ` A SYMBOL OF THE DIM OUTLOOK POSSIBLE. CUSHLA NORMAN, 1 NEWS. A SHIP LOADED WITH FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR GAZA REMAINS IN PORT IN CYPRUS. PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE SHIP'S ARRIVAL IS REPORTEDLY HAPPENING OFF THE TERRITORY'S COAST, WHICH IS DELAYING ITS JOURNEY. THE SHIP HAS 200 TONS OF FOOD ON BOARD, BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF WHAT'S NEEDED IN GAZA. JAPAN HAS COMMEMORATED 13 YEARS SINCE THE MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI WHICH LED TO THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR MELTDOWN. PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA ATTENDED A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN FUKUSHIMA AND VOWED THE COUNTRY HAS LEARNT LESSONS FROM THE TRIPLE DISASTERS. MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE DIED, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WERE DISPLACED. 13 YEARS ON, MANY JAPANESE PEOPLE REMAIN UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR POWER SYSTEM. BITCOIN HAS SURGED TO A NEW RECORD HIGH. IT'S NOW ABOVE US$72,000. WHILE SOME ON WALL STREET KEEP SAYING IT'S TRICKY TO ESTIMATE THE FUTURE PRICE OF THE CRYPTO CURRENCY BECAUSE IT HAS NO INTRINSIC VALUE, OTHERS SAY IT'LL KEEP CLIMBING. THE RECENT JUMP, THOUGH, COMES ON THE BACK OF MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD, MAKING IT EASIER FOR INVESTORS TO TRADE THE CURRENCY. THE BBC'S JOE TIDY EXPLAINS. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, LINES CHARTING THE VALUE OF BITCOIN HAVE MOSTLY BEEN IN ONE DIRECTION, BUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, IT'S ALL CHANGED. ALMOST HOURLY NOW THIS VIRTUAL CURRENCY IS HITTING NEW ALL-TIME HIGHS. THE REASON? WELL, IT'S MOSTLY DOWN TO THIS PLACE. IN JANUARY, TRADERS FROM U.S. INVESTMENT GIANTS WERE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT BY US WATCHDOGS TO START SELLING PRODUCTS LINKED DIRECTLY TO BITCOIN. AS A RESULT, THEY'VE SPENT BILLIONS BUYING UP COINS. FURTHER STOKING THE FIRE, TODAY, UK FINANCIAL AUTHORITIES SAY THEY TOO ARE OPEN TO ALLOWING SOME TRADING BASED ON CRYPTO ASSETS. SOME ARE NOW WONDERING JUST HOW FAR THIS VIRTUAL CURRENCY CAN GO. SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THE POTENTIAL OF BITCOIN IS TO REPLACE ALL OTHER CURRENCIES, AND THERE ARE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS LIKE THIS ONE IN LONDON THAT ACCEPT BITCOIN. I JUST BOUGHT THIS �7 BURGER FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WAS 0.00009 BITCOIN. BUT THE WAY PRICES ARE GOING NOW, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT WOULD BE WORTH TOMORROW. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE BITCOIN BECOMING A GENUINE CURRENCY; WHAT I THINK WE'RE SEEING IT BECOME IS A RECOGNISED AND POTENTIALLY WIDELY USED INVESTMENT ASSET ` PEOPLE BUYING IT TO SAVE FOR THE LONGER TERM AND TO BENEFIT FROM THE PRICE RISES. BITCOIN WAS CREATED BY AN ANONYMOUS INTERNET USER IN 2009 TO MAKE SENDING MONEY AS EASY AS SENDING AN EMAIL, ALL WITHOUT NEEDING ANY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS ARE PROCESSED BY A HUGE NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS WHO USE COMPUTERS TO CHECK TRANSACTIONS. AS A REWARD, THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY GIVEN NEW COINS. RIGHT NOW, THE DEMAND FOR THOSE COINS SEEMS TO BE HIGHER THAN EVER, AND MANY BITCOIN FANS ARE CELEBRATING THEIR NEWFOUND RICHES. OTHERS, THOUGH, ARE WONDERING WITH CAUTION WHICH WAY THE NOTORIOUSLY UNPREDICTABLE LINE WILL GO NEXT. AND SOME FINANCIAL ANALYSTS ARE NOW PREDICTING WITH THE EASING OF TRADE REGULATIONS FOR BITCOIN THAT IT COULD SURGE CLOSER TO US$100,000 BY THE END OF THE YEAR. A MURI AKE NEI ` KIWIS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. WE HAVCE SOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE REACHED OUT EIGHT TIMES. WE HAVE SOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE REACHED OUT EIGHT TIMES. WHY IT'S BELIEVED A MODEL HELPING FAMILIES ACROSS THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. COULD DO THE SAME ELSEWHERE. AND AFTER AN ALARMING BIRD FLU DISCOVERY IN ANTARCTICA FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHY IT'S FEARED THERE COULD BE A GLOBAL SPREAD. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE CHARITY WORKING WITH BUSINESS TO GET CHEAP VEGES ON THE DINNER TABLE. PLUS, THE HORSEBACK RANGER WHO'S RIDING IN TO HELP SAVE PARADISE. AND AN UNUSUAL JOURNEY TO LOVE, AS COMEDIAN JAMES MUSTAPIC SETS UP HIS MUM, JANET, ON A DATE. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. WELCOME BACK. A VOLUNTEER SERVICE GETTING FOOD TO WHANAU DURING THE FIRST LOCKDOWN HAS NOW HELPED MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL ALL EIGHT IWI IN TE TAUIHU ` THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ` HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO EXPAND THE MAHI AND EXTEND WHAT THEY OFFER. OUR NELSON-BASED REPORTER JESSICA RODEN EXPLAINS. IN MARCH 2020, AMIDST THE CHAOS OF THE PANDEMIC, TE PATAKA WAS BORN ` VOLUNTEERS DISTRIBUTING KAI, AND WHILE LOCKDOWN EVENTUALLY EASED, THE DEMAND DIDN'T. THAT NEED WASN'T GOING TO GO AWAY, SO WE ASKED OUR TE TAU IHU IWI CHAIRS FOR SUPPORT TO KEEP DELIVERING IN BLENHEIM, AND THEY SAID, YEAH, BUT YOU CAN EXTEND IT OVER THIS WAY AS WELL. THE FOOD BOXES ARE NOW AVAILABLE RIGHT ACROSS TE TAUIHU ` THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. A BOX LIKE THIS GIVES A WHANAU OF FOUR TO FIVE PEOPLE ALL THE ESSENTIALS FOR THREE DAYS. IT'S HELPED MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, FUNDING COMING FROM IWI, COUNCILS, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS A FAMILY. I'VE BEEN HELPING THEM SINCE LAST YEAR. SHE IS MOVING IN A FEW WEEKS, SO GIVING HER THIS KAI TODAY WILL MAKE ROOM FOR HER TO USE HER KAI MONEY FOR... OTHER THINGS. THE COST OF LIVING IS OVERWHELMING FOR MANY. HI. KIA ORA. A LITTLE KAI EASING THE BURDEN. OH, WOW. THE SUCCESS OF THE FOOD BOXES LED THE REGION'S EIGHT IWI TO OFFICIALLY JOIN FORCES, CREATING THE TE KOTAHI O TE TAUIHU CHARITABLE TRUST. SUPPORTING WHANAU WITH EVERYTHING FROM HOUSING TO BUDGETING TO DRIVING LESSONS. WE'VE HAD 100% SUCCESS WITH ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE IN TO DO THEIR TEST. FOR A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HAD SUCCESS... IN SOMETHING IN A LONG TIME. IT'S A MODEL THAT COULD WORK ELSEWHERE. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER. WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND OUR REACH TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE MORE PEOPLE. TE PATAKA'S NOW LOOKING AT CREATING A REGIONAL HUB WITH OTHER FOOD BANKS AS DEMAND CONTINUES TO CLIMB. JESSICA RODEN, 1 NEWS. BIRD FLU HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN KING PENGUINS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SUB-ANTARCTICA. WHILE IT REMAINS ISOLATED FOR NOW, THERE ARE FEARS THE BIRD'S ROOSTING PATTERNS WILL SPREAD THE VIRUS. THE BBC'S REBECCA MORELLE HAS MORE. (PENGUINS CHITTER) THEY COME TO THE ISLANDS OF SOUTH GEORGIA TO NEST AND RAISE THEIR CHICKS ` GENTOO PENGUINS ARE A VITAL PART OF A WILDLIFE HAVEN. BUT NOW AVIAN FLU HAS ARRIVED, AND FIVE GENTOOS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE. FIVE MORE CASES HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN A SEPARATE KING PENGUIN COLONY TOO. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THIS DEADLY VIRUS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN PENGUINS IN THE SUB-ANTARCTIC. SOUTH GEORGIA IS A SPECTACULAR ISLAND. THERE ARE SOME UNIQUE CONCENTRATIONS OF WILDLIFE, MOST OF WHICH ARE GLOBALLY IMPORTANT. SO IF BIRD FLU WERE TO TAKE A HOLD AND CAUSE VERY HIGH MORTALITIES ACROSS THE ISLAND, IT WOULD BE OF CONSERVATION CONCERN. SCIENTISTS THINK MIGRATORY BIRDS ` SKUAS AND GIANT PETRELS ` BROUGHT AVIAN FLU FROM SOUTH AMERICA. BUT THESE BIRDS ALSO MIGRATE TO ANTARCTICA, AND THE FEAR IS THEY'LL CARRY THE VIRUS TO THIS PRISTINE WILDERNESS AND INFECT MORE SPECIES THERE ` LIKE EMPEROR PENGUINS, ALREADY UNDER THREAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AS THE SEA ICE VANISHES. BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY UNKNOWNS ABOUT HOW THE VIRUS WILL SPREAD. PENGUINS DO FORM COLONIES AND LIVE IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER, SO THAT IN ITSELF WOULD LEND ITSELF TO THE IDEA THAT THEY MIGHT SPREAD THE VIRUS RAPIDLY BETWEEN EACH OTHER. BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW SUSCEPTIBLE PENGUINS ARE. WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DIE-OFFS IN PENGUINS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW EASILY THE VIRUS CAN GET INTO DIFFERENT PENGUIN SPECIES. AVIAN FLU HAS ALREADY DEVASTATED WILD BIRDS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING TENS OF THOUSANDS IN THE UK. IT'S CROSSING OVER INTO MAMMALS TOO. WITH THE VIRUS SO WIDESPREAD, IT'S BEEN A QUESTION OF WHEN, NOT IF, IT WOULD ARRIVE IN THE SOUTH POLAR REGION. SO FAR, IT'S ONLY HAD A SMALL IMPACT ON THE PENGUINS THERE, BUT SCIENTISTS WILL BE MONITORING THE COLONIES CLOSELY. AS MENTIONED, THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF BIRD FLU IN MAMMALS, BUT SCIENTISTS SAY THERE'S CURRENTLY NO INCREASED RISK TO HUMANS. YOU MAY THINK YOUR DOG IS THE 'GOODEST' BOY TO EVER LIVE. BUT THERE'S A NEW TOP DOG IN TOWN. VIKING, AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, HAS BEEN CROWNED BEST IN SHOW AT THE ANNUAL CRUFTS DOG SHOW IN THE UK. VIKING BEAT MORE THAN 24,000 OTHER POOCHES TO CLAIM THE TITLE, INCLUDING ZEN, A JACK RUSSELL TERRIER, WHO WAS NAMED THE RESERVE BEST IN SHOW. HAYLEY'S HERE. AND THE PRESSURE'S ON A FEW OF OUR BLACK CAPS AFTER THE SERIES DEFEAT TO AUSTRALIA. YES, INCLUDING SKIPPER TIM SOUTHEE. BUT THERE'S ONE PLAYER WHO'S AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME AFTER YEARS OF STRUGGLING TO MAKE THE SIDE. PLUS, WE EXPECT IT IN THE CRICKET ` ARE THE AUSSIES COMING FOR OUR SUPER RUGBY SIDES TOO? PLUS, THE KIWI TAKING U.S COLLEGE ATHLETICS BY STORM ` THROWS UP THE NUMBER ONE AS SHE GOES ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. NOW HER EYES ARE FIRMLY ON PARIS. AND LOTS OF CLOUD AROUND TODAY, WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN THE MIX. CHECK OUT THE VIEW IN AUCKLAND ` STILL SHROUDED IN LOW CLOUD AND 21 DEGREES. FURTHER SOUTH, IN CHRISTCHURCH THE ONSHORE NORTHEASTER HAS KEPT THE CLOUD IN PLACE HERE TOO. RIGHT NOW JUST 16 DEGREES THERE. MORE CLOUD AND SHOWERS ON THE WAY AS FADING FRONTS AND A WEAK HIGH AFFECT THE COUNTRY. HOW IT IS LOOKING AT YOUR PLACE ` DETAILS AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA E TE IWI ` WELCOME TO SPORT. THE BLACK CAPS ARE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THEY LET A RARE TEST VICTORY OVER AUSTRALIA SLIP AWAY YESTERDAY WITH THAT THREE-WICKET DEFEAT IN CHRISTCHURCH. IT'S SEEN QUESTIONS AROUND SOME PLAYERS INTENSIFY, BUT AMONG THE GLOOM, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF BRIGHT LIGHTS. ALL SUMMER LONG, MATT HENRY'S DELIVERED WITH THE BALL... OH, THAT'S CLOSE! KNOCKED HIM OVER. ...BUT TODAY, HE'S GONE INTO BAT FOR TIM SOUTHEE, WHO'S FORM AND CAPTAINCY CONTINUES TO BE QUESTIONED. TIM'S CAPTAINCY'S BRILLIANT. IT'S SO GOOD HAVING SOMEONE LIKE TIM AT THE TOP OF YOUR MARK. THE WAY HE SEES THE GAME AND THE CONFIDENCE HE GIVES YOU AS A PLAYER IS SECOND TO NONE. HENRY FULL OF PRAISE FOR HIS FELLOW SEAMER ` SO TOO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ATTACK, BEN SEARS... OH, AND THAT'S CLIPPED AWAY... IS THAT GONE? IT IS! ...WHO PROVIDED A LATE GLIMMER OF HOPE YESTERDAY WITH WICKETS OFF CONSECUTIVE BALLS. AMAZING AND A LITTLE BIT SURREAL, BUT I TRIED TO GIVE IT EVERYTHING. OBVIOUSLY, I'VE WATCHED HENNAZ SO MUCH, AND TIM ` SECOND-BEST RED-BALL BOWLER OF ALL TIME ` SO HAVING HIM OUT THERE AND AS CAPTAIN WAS JUST WICKED. THE TEST DEBUTS OF SEARS AND WILL O'ROURKE PART OF A CHANGING OF THE GUARD WITHIN THE BLACKCAPS. IT JUST SHOWS, I THINK, YOUNG GUYS COMING THROUGH ` THERE'S DEPTH THERE, AND THAT'S NICE, I GUESS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING UP IN THE FUTURE. ONE IN WHICH YOU'D EXPECT MATT HENRY TO CONTINUE PLAYING A LARGE PART IN ` NOW SEEN AS THE TEAM'S NUMBER-ONE STRIKE WEAPON, COMING AFTER A LONG PERIOD TRYING TO CRACK THE PLAYING 11. I SUPPOSE, THAT'S BEEN MY JOURNEY. IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT THAN MOST, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T CHANGE IT. I'D LIKE TO HAVE PLAYED MORE GAMES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE LEARNT MORE ABOUT MY CRAFT AND MENTAL RESILIENCE AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO KEEP GETTING BETTER AS A BOWLER. THE TEAM NOW GOING THEIR SEPARATE WAYS BEFORE TOURING PAKISTAN IN APRIL AHEAD OF THE T20 WORLD CUP IN JUNE. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. SPENCER LENIU HAS BEEN BANNED FOR EIGHT WEEKS FOR A RACIAL SLUR, MEANING THE SUSPENDED ROOSTERS PROP COULD RETURN AGAINST THE WARRIORS IN ROUND 10. THE AUCKLAND-BORN PLAYER SUSPENDED AFTER RACIALLY ABUSING BRISBANE'S EZRA MAM DURING THE NRL'S OPENING ROUND GAME IN LAS VEGAS. THE ROOSTERS MAINTAIN LENIU IS NOT RACIST. YEAH, UP TO A POINT IN TIME, SPENCER WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THIS WAS A RACIALLY... A RACIAL SLUR, AND I THINK WE'VE WORKED OUR WAY THROUGH THIS. WE'VE CONVENED AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK TO SYDNEY, AND WE'VE GOT ON THE FRONT FOOT. LENIU SAYS HE STILL WANTS TO APOLOGISE TO MAM IN PERSON, DESPITE HIS APPROACHES SO FAR BEING TURNED DOWN BY THE BRONCOS PLAYMAKER. THEY'RE FAST BECOMING A THORN IN THE SIDE OF NEW ZEALAND SUPER RUGBY TEAMS AGAIN ` THE AUSSIES. IT MIGHT BE TOO SOON TO SAY THEY'RE OFFICIALLY 'BACK', BUT AFTER JUST THREE ROUNDS, THERE'S A GLIMMER OF COMPETITIVE HOPE. ANDREW SAVILLE HAS MORE. WINTER IS COMING, EVEN IN THE MISTY NORTH... OR IS IT THE AUSSIES? GET HIM, BUDDY. GET HIM, BUDDY. IN YOUR RESEARCH WHAT ARE YOU NOTICING DIFFERENT IN YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT ARE YOU NOTICING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE AUSTRALIANS THIS YEAR? THEY'RE HAVING A REAL CRACK AT THE KIWI TEAMS, WHERE IN THE PAST, THEY'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT HESITANT AND WEREN'T REALLY BACKING THEMSELVES. THE AUSTRALIAN SUPER SIDES ALREADY HAVE TWO WINS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND TEAMS. LAST YEAR OVERALL, THEY WON JUST FIVE GAMES OF THE 26 PLAYED ACROSS 15 ROUNDS. THIS WEEK, THE BLUES, OFF THE BACK OF A LOSS, PLAY THE BUOYANT WARATAHS IN SYDNEY. WHEN YOU SAY THEY'RE HAVING A CRACK AT KIWI TEAMS, DO YOU MEAN PHYSICALLY, THE BREAKDOWN, ELSEWHERE...? YEAH, I THINK THEIR SET PIECE LOOKS A LOT BETTER. THEY'VE HAD SOME GOOD OLD 'OCKER' LUCK AS WELL. THE QUEENSLAND REDS CAN NOW LAY CLAIM TO BEING THE CHIEFS' AUSSIE BOGEY TEAM ` TWO WINS OUT OF THE LAST THREE MEETING. GREALY OFF TO FLOOK. FLOOK, FLOOK... TRY ` QUEENSLAND. THEY PROBABLY KICK A LOT. MOST OF THEM HAVE A NEW COACH; EVERY COACH IS DIFFERENT. YEAH, EVERY TEAM IS IMPROVING IN A GOOD WAY. WHATEVER TEAM IS PLAYING, THE RESULT COULD GO EITHER WAY THE AUSTRALIAN UNION HAS A NEW EXECUTIVE AND NEW WALLABIES COACH JOE SCHMIDT, WHO ALREADY APPEARS TO HAVE GIVEN THEM A BOOST. HE'LL BE GREAT FOR THEM, I THINK. THE AUSSIE TEAMS ARE LOOKING A STEP AHEAD COMPARED TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. CANTABRIAN CHARLIE GAMBLE PLAYS FOR THE WARATAHS AND CAN SEE CHANGES TAKING PLACE AS WELL. I THINK FOR AUSTRALIAN RUGBY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE; THEY JUST LACKED A BIT OF CONFIDENCE. THE GAP'S DEFINITELY CLOSING. ALONG WITH THE BLUES-WARATAHS THIS WEEKEND, ALSO TESTING THE COMEBACK THEORY, THE HIGHLANDERS HOST THE BRUMBIES. WE'VE ALL WISHED FOR THE AUSTRALIANS TO BE BETTER. YES, THERE'VE BEEN MANY FALSE DAWNS, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW THIS TIME... MATE. ANDREW SAVILLE, 1 NEWS. MAIA RAMSDEN HAS MADE HER MARK ON THE INDOOR TRACK SCENE IN THE PAST WEEK, PLACING 10TH IN THE 1500M AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SCOTLAND AND THEN WINNING THE NCAA MILE IN BOSTON. THE KIWI'S WORKING TOWARDS QUALIFICATION FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS WHILE JUGGLING HER FINAL MONTHS OF STUDY AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HERE'S KATE WELLS. MAIA RAMSDEN IS LIGHTING UP THE INDOOR TRACK SCENE. THROWS UP THE NUMBER ONE AS SHE GOES ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. THERE ARE EVEN FAN T-SHIRTS ABOUT HER, AND RESULTS LIKE THIS HELPING TOWARDS HER OLYMPIC DREAM. THE OLYMPICS IS... (CHUCKLES) IN THE MIND, UM... PROBABLY TOO MUCH. THE HARVARD STUDENT (21) BREAKING THE MEET RECORD IN THE MILE AT THE TOP U.S. COLLEGE DIVISION INDOOR TRACK EVENT. NO RESPONSE TO MAIA RAMSDEN'S KICK HERE. THE GAP JUST GETS BIGGER. MADE EVEN MORE SPECIAL ` HER TIME OF FOUR MINUTES AND 25.13 SECONDS WATCHED BY HER DAD IN THE STANDS. HE HASN'T SEEN ME RACE IN PERSON IN QUITE A FEW YEARS, SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY LIKE A BIG PART OF IT. WHEN MY COACH TOLD ME TO GO AND MAKE THE MOVE, I JUST` I MADE THE MOVE, AND WE WERE KIND OF PRACTISING BEING QUITE DECISIVE. THE BOSTON WIN COMING JUST ONE WEEK AFTER REPRESENTING NEW ZEALAND AT THE WORLD INDOORS IN GLASGOW ` RAMSDEN 10TH IN THAT 1500m FINAL. THAT IS THE DREAM, RIGHT, TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY ON THE WORLD STAGE. THAT IS IT. AND IN SO MANY WAYS, LIKE, IT WAS JUST THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND CONFIRMED, LIKE, EVERYTHING I WAS EXCITED ABOUT. RAMSDEN'S COME INTO HER OWN OVER THE PAST YEAR, ALSO WINNING THE NCAA OUTDOOR 1500 LAST JUNE. IT'S NOW A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK FOR PARIS, NEEDING TO SHAVE FOUR SECONDS OFF HER TIME OR QUALIFY ON WORLD RANKING POINTS. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT, BUT ALSO KIND OF BIGGER JUMPS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO, UH, MY COACH AND I... I MEAN, HE THINKS IT'S DOABLE. YET ANOTHER KIWI MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER ON THE RISE. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. AND THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IS WELCOMING NEWS THE 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES COULD YET BE SALVAGED. MALAYSIAN OFFICIALS CONFIRMING THEY'RE INTERESTED IN HOSTING THE EVENT FOR THE SECOND TIME ` KUALA LUMPUR STAGED THEM IN 1998 ` AND THAT $200m HAD BEEN OFFERED BY THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION TO MEET COSTS. THE FUTURE OF THE GAMES HAS BEEN UNCERTAIN SINCE ORIGINAL 2026 HOSTS VICTORIA PULLED OUT OVER FINANCIAL CONCERNS, LEADING MANY TO QUESTION ITS PLACE IN GLOBAL SPORT. DESPITE THAT, THE NZOC LAST YEAR EXPRESSED 'AN EARLY INTEREST' IN HOSTING IN 2034. THEY'RE A VITAL PART OF EVERY KIWI SUMMER ` CRICKET SCORERS. TODAY, OUR LONGEST-SERVING SCORER, HELEN SIMPSON, WAS RECOGNISED IN QUEENSTOWN AFTER 54 YEARS OF SERVICE. AS VICTOR WATERS EXPLAINS, SHE REALLY HAS SEEN IT ALL. THERE'D BE A LITANY OF DOT BALLS IN A GAME OF CRICKET... SO IT BOGGLES THE MIND HOW MANY HELEN SIMPSON WOULD HAVE METICULOUSLY RECORDED IN 54 YEARS OF SCORE KEEPING. THE 72-YEAR-OLD ADDING A FEW MORE IN TODAY'S GAME BETWEEN THE WHITE FERNS AND ENGLAND A. AS A BALL PARK IN CLUB CRICKET, WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SATURDAYS A SEASON, SO THAT TIMES 54 IS A STRTING POINT. THAT'S WHY TODAY NEW ZEALAND CRICKET RECOGNISED HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE GAME WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SERVICE BADGES. SIMPSON THE FIRST AND ONLY TO RECEIVE THE '50-PLUS YEARS' BADGE, MAKING HER THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT LONGEST-SERVING SCORER. IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, SHE HAS HAD TO TRANSITION THROUGH TO ELECTRONIC OR LAPTOP-BASED SCORING. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY'RE RUNNING THE SCOREBOARD WITHIN THE GROUNDS. SO IF YOU ARE DOING AN INTERNATIONAL WITH A FULL CROWD, THERE IS THE PRESSURE OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING IT RIGHT IN THE MOMENT. LOOKING AT HELEN, I WAS THINKING SHE'S DOESN'T LOOK THAT OLD, SO I ASKED HER WHAT AGE SHE STARTED, SHE SAID 19. PERHAPS IN HELEN'S DAY, THERE WERE NOT AS MANY PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES, SO TO STAY INVOLVED IN THE GAME, YOU HAD TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. SO IT IS BRILLIANT THAT WE CAN KEEP WOMEN IN THE GAME. SIMPSON'S CAREER BEGAN IN 1970 AT ALBION CRICKET CLUB IN DUNEDIN. SHE'S KEPT SCORE FOR A HOST OF HOUSEHOLD NAMES, INCLUDING THREE GENERATIONS OF THE McCULLUM FAMILY. IF ANYONE SAYS THEY DIDN'T TROUBLE THE SCORERS ` THAT'S A PET HATE! AND AS MUCH AS SHE ENJOYS KNITTING ON THE RAIN-DELAYED GAMES... IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET. I ENJOY FILLING IN THE SCOREBOOK AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE END OF THE DAY, TALKING TO YOUR FELLOW SCORERS, YOU MEET ALL SORTS OF INTERESTING PEOPLE. ONE DAY, I'LL WAKE UP AND SAY I'VE DONE MY DASH. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE! (BOTH LAUGH) QUITE THE KNOCK FROM ONE OF NEW ZEALAND CRICKET'S GREATEST UNSUNG HEROES. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. I BET SHE HAS THE PATIENCE OF A SAINT. I BET SHE DOES. STAY WITH US ` WHAT THE WEATHER IS DOING AT YOUR PLACE, NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, RESCUING THE FRUIT AND VEGES THAT ARE TOO BIG TO SELL AT THE SUPERMARKET. PLUS, LIVING THE LIFE OF A COWBOY, WHERE THE BIKE AND TRUCK ARE PARKED UP ` AND IT'S ALL ON HORSEBACK. WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY AT 7. (ENGINE REVS) Oh. OK, turn off the car. (PHONE RINGS) GIRL: Dad! Hey, man. Long time no talk. Yeah, just... I'm teaching Samara how to drive. (BRIGHT MUSIC) Hi! Could you do something for me? SONG: # Oh, baby, you... # Thanks. # You've got what I need # You got everything I need # You're like medicine to me... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. QUITE A GREY AND CLOUDY DAY FOR A GOOD PART OF THE COUNTRY. SCENES LIKE THIS. EVEN WITH A CLUB LIKE THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE SAW A FEW MILLIMETRES OF RAIN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CLOUDS WERE SET UP. THEY COULDN'T REALLY GROW AND BUILD. FOR SOME, THE CLOUDS WERE GIVING SOME LOVELY SHADOWS. LOOKING AT THE HILLS, ALREADY STILL DRY. WHEN YOU GET THE CLOUDS, THE WARM AIR. ALL OF THE WEATHER SYSTEMS ARE COMING FROM THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. WE STILL HAVE A BIT OF AN EL NINO SUMMER HANG OVER. THE ORANGE IS THE WARM AIR IN THE ATMOSPHERE HIGHER UP. THAT IS THE LITTLE CALLS SURGE. LOOK AT THE GREEN, THE RAIN, IT JUST FADES AWAY. ANOTHER ONE LATER IN THE WEEK. FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY COULD BE A DECENT RAIN CHANCE, EVEN TO PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. NOTICED THE BITS AND PIECES OF RAIN JUST VERY SCATTERED ACROSS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF 25 TODAY. WE WERE DOWN TO 16 FURTHER SOUTH. PRETTY SIMILAR TOMORROW ` MIDTEENS DOWN SOUTH. YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT FRONT ALREADY IS BEING STRETCHED OUT. IT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH JUICE TO IT. WHATSOEVER FRONT GOES OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE FIRST ONE FADES AWAY ACROSS THE TOP OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND. THIS ONE HAS A BIT OF PROMISE. BY THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS KNOCKING ON THE DOORS OF THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. THE RAIN OVER THE NORTH ISLAND IS FADING AWAY. DOWN SOUTH, YOU HAVE GOT HIGH PRESSURE AND A COUPLE OF SHOWERS IN TOWARDS THE DEEP SOUTH. GOOD START OVER NORTHLAND, A FEW SHOWERS OVER HERE AND THERE. AUCKLAND COULD START WITH THE GREY SKY. SAME SORT OF THING THAT HAMILTON. LOOKING AT THE BAY OF PLENTY, CENTRAL PLATEAU, YOU'LL START OFF WITH CLOUDY SKIES WHICH WILL BRIGHTEN INTO THE AFTERNOON. IT WILL BE A CLOUDY ONE TO START WITH. MAY BE THE CHANCE FOR A SHOWER. A WARM ONE FOR GISBORNE. THAT IS LATE DAY REIGN WITH THE FRONT. FURTHER WEST, YOU MAY SEE SOME SPOTS OF RAIN IN THE FIRST PART OF THE DAY AND THEN THE END. LATE MORNING IN WELLINGTON WE WILL PICK UP A WEEK'S UGLY CHANGE WHICH WILL BRING SOME SHOWERS FOR YOU. SOUTH ISLAND, YOU GET THE SAME FRONT OF THEIR A SPOT OF RAIN TO NELSON AND BLENHEIM. BRIGHTER SKIES INTO THE AFTERNOON. THAT FRONT PUSHES AWAY IN CHRISTCHURCH IN THE MORNING. SOME SHOWERS TO THE FOOTHILLS WHICH LINGER A LITTLE BIT LONGER IN THE DAY. WEST COAST TOO, SEE THE RAIN EASED TO BRIGHTER SKIES ACROSS THE AFTERNOON. MUCH OF THE DEEP SOUTH IS FINE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. DUNEDIN HAS A DECENT DAY WITH 17, NINE IS WHERE YOU START ` LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. REMEMBER THAT RAIN CHARGE? THAT IS THAT FRONT COMING IN, THAT COULD BE A CHANCE FOR SOME RAIN. WE WILL WORK ON SATURDAY. MAY BE A RAIN CHANCE THERE. TIME NOW FOR SEVEN SHARP WITH HILARY AND JEREMY.