KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. THE COURTS SAY NO CONFLICT ISSUES WERE RAISED TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` IS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? THE LINK BETWEEN FORMER GREEN MP GOLRIZ GHARAHMAN AND THE JUDGE IN YESTERDAY'S COURT APPEARANCE, AMID NEW DETAILS OF HER SHOPLIFTING SPREE. NATIONWIDE RATES RISES, WE'LL ALL BE SHELLING OUT MORE MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE RUBBISH COLLECTION ` THE AVERAGE INCREASE, AND WHY WE'RE PAYING SO MUCH MORE. PLUS, RUGBY'S HARD KNOCKS AND BRAIN INJURY ` THE STUNNING DIAGNOSIS WITH HUGE IMPLICATIONS HERE AND ACROSS THE WORLD. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN, OTO SEQUEIRA AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. THE COURTS SAY NO CONFLICT ISSUES WERE RAISED IN GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN'S FIRST APPEARANCE ON SHOPLIFTING CHARGES. THE JUDGE WHO RECEIVED THE FORMER GREEN PARTY MP'S GUILTY PLEAS, WORKED TOGETHER ON OTHER CASES WHEN THE PAIR WERE BOTH LAWYERS. AND THAT COMES TO LIGHT AS NEW DETAILS SURFACE ABOUT GHAHRAMAN'S SHOPLIFTING SPREE. KIM BAKER WILSON REPORTS. WALKING INTO COURT, ABOUT TO PLEAD GUILTY. INSIDE, IT WAS JUDGE MARIA PECOTIC HEARING GHAHRAMAN'S GUILTY PLEAS. SHE WAS MADE A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IN 2021. BEFORE THAT, A LAWYER IN HER OWN RIGHT, WHO WORKED ON CASES WITH GHAHRAMAN. SO, THE JUDGE WILL BE VERY MUCH ALERT, NOT ONLY TO THE REALITY OF NOT HAVING BIAS, BUT THE PERCEPTION, AND PERCEPTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THE COURTS SAY A PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST CAN BE RAISED BY LAWYERS OR THE SITTING JUDGE AND THAT IN THIS CASE, NO PERCEIVED CONFLICT WAS RAISED. THE COURT'S OWN GUIDELINES SAY A JUDGE IS DISQUALIFIED FROM SITTING IF THERE'S A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT, IN THE EYES OF A FAIR-MINDED OBSERVER, A JUDGE MIGHTN'T BE IMPARTIAL IN MAKING A DECISION. IN A CASE WHERE SOMEBODY'S MAKING A FIRST APPEARANCE, AND EVERYTHING'S SORTED, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY CRITICISM OF A JUDGE WHO'S WORKED WITH SOMEBODY TAKING THAT SORT OF HEARING. ALSO TODAY ` MORE DETAILS ABOUT GHAHRAMAN'S SHOPLIFTING. A SUMMARY OF FACTS DETAILING WHAT SHE TOOK AND WHEN. AT SCOTTIES BOUTIQUE IN AUCKLAND, SHE PUT THIS $1900 COAT INSIDE HER BAG WHILE BEHIND A PRIVACY CURTAIN, GOING ON TO TAKE THIS $160 WALLET FROM DISPLAY. THE AGREED SUMMARY OF FACTS SAYING, SHE 'SURREPTITIOUSLY' PUT IT IN THE SAME BAG; AGAIN, IN AUCKLAND, AT STANDARD ISSUE, PUTTING A $389 CARDIGAN IN HER BAG AND LEAVING WHEN A MANAGER'S ATTENTION WAS ELSEWHERE. THE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED IT WAS GONE. BACK ACROSS TOWN, AT SCOTTIES BOUTIQUE A DAY LATER, POLICE AGAIN USE THE WORD 'SURREPTITIOUSLY' TO DESCRIBE THE WAY SHE PUT GOODS IN HER BAG ` THIS TIME, A $650 ISSEY MIYAKE HANDBAG, LIKE THIS ONE. SHE WAS STASHING MORE CLOTHES AS WELL, AMONG THEM A $4500 DRESS. SHE WAS CONFRONTED BY STAFF IN THE CAR PARK AFTER LEAVING. SHE WOULDN'T SHOW THEM HER BAG. THERE'S ALSO WELLINGTON'S CRE8TIVEWORX MONTHS BEFORE, WHERE SHE HID AN ALMOST $700 BLACK ZAMBESI SHIRT WHILE IN A CHANGING ROOM. REPARATION'S BEING SOUGHT FOR THE STOLEN ITEMS, MANY OF WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN RECOVERED. KIM BAKER WILSON, 1 NEWS. A MAJOR UPDATE NOW ON THE MYSTERY BODY IN A BAG FISHED OUT OF THE WATER IN GULF HARBOUR, AUCKLAND. POLICE SAY THE PERSON IS A FEMALE OF ASIAN-DESCENT, POSSIBLY CHINESE, AND SMALL IN STATURE. THEY'VE NOW LAUNCHED A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION AND ARE ASKING FOR HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE VICTIM. POLICE ARE URGING ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON A WOMAN MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION TO GET IN TOUCH. A FISHERMAN FOUND THE BODY BY THE GULF HARBOUR MARINA, ON THE WHANGAPAROA PENINSULA ON TUESDAY. BUCKLE UP, HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING AN AVERAGE RATES RISE OF 15% ` THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN MORE THAN 35 YEARS. LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY COUNCILS NEED OTHER INCOME STREAMS TO STOP RATES FROM SKYROCKETING EVEN FURTHER. JACOB JOHNSON REPORTS. THIS BRIDGE IN HAMILTON, THE COUNTRY'S FASTEST-GROWING CITY, WILL SOON CONNECT SOME OF ITS DEVELOPING SUBURBS. BUT SINCE THE PROJECT BEGAN IN 2020, COSTS HAVE BLOWN OUT BY ABOUT $40M ` PART OF THE REASON THE COUNCIL IS NOW PROPOSING AN ALMOST 20% RATES INCREASE. IT STINKS. IT'S A FACT OF LIFE, ISN'T IT? THE COST OF EVERYHTING NOW. I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE APPALLED. LOOK, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE NO MAYOR IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS TO IMPOSE THAT KIND OF COST ON THE COMMUNITY AT ALL. COUNCILS RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT RATE INCREASES. AUCKLANDERS COULD FACE A RATES RISE OF UP TO 14%. WELLINGTON IS PROPOSING A 16% HIKE. CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL TODAY AGREED TO A 13% INCREASE, AS PART OF ITS DRAFT BUDGET, WHILE DUNEDIN IS PROPOSING A 17.5% RATES RISE. A REPORT RELEASED TODAY BY INFOMETRICS SHOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENT COSTS ARE ONLY CONTINUING TO GROW. WE UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE COST ESCALATION IN THIS SPACE, HOWEVER, THE COST ESCALATION THAT'S COME THROUH IN THIS SPACE WAS FAR MORE THAN ANYONE HAD FORECAST. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE COST OF BUILDING BRIDGES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS GONE UP 38%, SEWAGE SYSTEMS HAVE GONE UP 30%, AND ROADS AND WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS HAVE GONE UP 27%. WE'VE REACHED A TIPPING POINT, AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE. HE SAYS COUNCILS NEED MORE WAYS TO FILL FINANCIAL HOLES. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, CONGESTION CHARGING COULD BE AN OPTION FOR A CITY COUNCIL, WHICH WOULD HELP; ACCOMMODATION LEVIES FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE AN INFLUX OF VISITORS. COUNCILS MAKE SURE THEY ARE INVESTING IN MUST HAVES. ON AVERAGE, NZ HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE PAYING AN EXTRA $8 A WEEK UNDER THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASES. THE REALITY IS TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN DECREASING RATES, OR DECREASING OUR DENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO STRIP OUT INFRASTRCUTURE, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE FURTHER PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. A CALL FOR MORE FUNDING OPTIONS, SO COST BLOWOUTS ON PROJECTS LIKE THIS DON'T FALL BACK ON RATEPAYERS. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. NOW TO A STORY WITH HUGE IMPLICATIONS. THE FIRST CASE OF A DEGENERATIVE BRAIN DISEASE LINKED TO CONSTANT HEAD KNOCKS IN A NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. BILLY GUYTON, A FORMER SUPER RUGBY PLAYER, TASMAN MAKO AND MAORI ALL BLACK HALFBACK, DIED LAST YEAR OF A SUSPECTED SUICIDE AT THE AGE OF 33. NOW, A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF HIS BRAIN SHOWS HE HAD 'CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY', OR CTE. JOINING US, REPORTER FROM THE SUNDAY PROGRAMME MARK CRYSELL, WHO'S DONE EXTENSIVE WORK INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE. HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS, MARK? THIS AS DEEPLY SIGNIFICANT FOR NEW ZEALAND. IT IS DEEPLY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE GUYS FAMILY. THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING SINCE BILLY RETIRED FROM THE GAME AFTER TOO MANY CONCUSSIONS AT 28. TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE WENT DOWNHILL SO RAPIDLY. HE WAS HIDING IN CAVITIES IN HIS HOUSE, WAKING UP IN TEARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOWER. THIS IS A COMMON STRAND OF THINGS. THAT WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF STORIES ON SUNDAY. THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH THIS DISEASE IN AMERICA. IT LEAVES SO MANY QUESTIONS FOR FAMILIES. THIS IS AN ANSWER, BUT THERE IS QUESTIONS. IT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR RUGBY WHO NEED TO ATTRACT PLAYERS. THE BIG QUESTION HERE IS, ARE THEY LOOKING AFTER THOSE PLAYERS? WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR BRAIN? THERE IS CONSISTENCY AMONG SCIENTISTS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY CONSTANT BOX TO THE HEAD. THEY ARE FINDING IT IN RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS. IT IS A CONTACT SPORT THING, BUT IT HAS BEEN FOUND IN SOLDIERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. WHAT HAPPENS IS, IT IS OFTEN THE SUB CONCUSSIVE BLOWS THAT THEY CAN GET TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM OVER THE YEAR. THE BRAIN STRETCHES AND ELONGATES. IT CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, DEMENTIA. A LINK HAS BEEN MADE. THE LINK HAS BEEN MADE STRONGLY BY . SCIENTISTS NEW ZEALAND RUGBY HAS YET TO ACCEPT THAT LINK. THEY HAVE ALWAYS TOLD US ON SUNDAY IT IS TOO EARLY IN THE SCIENCE. THEY ARE DOING A LOT IN THE FIELD. THEY HAVE MOUTHGUARDS. THEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT THIS AFTERNOON ACKNOWLEDGING THE GRIEF THAT THE FAMILY ARE EXPERIENCING AT THE MOMENT. THEY SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT REPEATED HEAD IMPACTS DURING RUGBY MAY CONTRIBUTE TO DEGENERATIVE DISEASES. UNDERLYING THIS IS THE CASE TAKEN BY HUNDREDS OF FORMER PLAYERS IN UK AGAINST WORLD RUGBY FOR FAILING TO PROTECT THEM. CARL IS ONE OF THEM AT THE AGE OF 42 HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EARLY-ONSET DEMENTIA. THERE ARE AROUND 300 PLAYERS JUST IN THE UK WHO HAD A SIMILAR DIAGNOSIS AT THE AGE OF 42. THE STORY HAS STILL A LOT TO PLAY OUT. THANKS SUNDAY REPORTER MARK CRYSELL, MY NEIGHBOUR, AND ALL-ROUND GOOD GUY. AND THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES TOMORROW MORNING ON BREAKFAST, AS THEY SPEAK WITH A BRAIN EXPERT. THAT'S FROM 6AM. A 20-YEAR-OLD MAN'S PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES RELATED TO THE DEATH OF 19-YEAR-OLD MADISON CHAMBERLAIN AT MURIWAI BEACH LAST MONTH. JESSE HODGES' NAME SUPPRESSION WAS LIFTED DURING HIS WAITAKERE DISTRICT COURT APPEARANCE TODAY AND HIS CHARGES ADJUSTED. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO DANGEROUS DRIVING AND TO HAVING THE DRUG MDMA HIS SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. FIJI'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND MILITARY STRONGMAN VOREQE BAINIMARAMA ALONG WITH SUSPENDED POLICE COMMISSIONER SITIVENI QILIHO BOTH FACE SIGNIFICANT JAIL TERMS AFTER BEING CONVICTED IN SUVA'S HIGH COURT TODAY. BAINIMARAMA'S BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE AND FACES A FIVE-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE. HE DIRECTED THE SUSPENDED POLICE COMMISSIONER TO DROP A POLICE INVESTIGATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. QILIHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF ABUSE OF OFFICE AND FACES TEN YEARS BEHIND BARS. BOTH MEN WILL BE SENTENCED AT THE END OF THE MONTH. FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER WINSTON PETERS HAS RAISED EYEBROWS AFTER WEIGHING INTO A MESSY DISPUTE BETWEEN CANADA AND INDIA. THE DIPLOMATIC ROW OVER THE KILLING OF A SIKH LEADER IN VANCOUVER LAST YEAR HAS CAUSED A SERIOUS RIFT. MR PETERS WRAPPED UP TRADE TALKS IN INDIA JUST YESTERDAY, BUT HAS LEFT BEHIND HEADLINES THAT COULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH SOME OF OUR CLOSEST ALLIES. DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN EXPLAINS. WINSTON PETERS WITH INDIA'S VICE PRESIDENT, HOPING TO TAKE OUR TWO-WAY RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HIS THREE-DAY JAM-PACKED SCHEDULE ALSO INCLUDED HIS FOREIGN COUNTERPART, POPPING INTO THE CRICKET, THE POLO GROUND AND EVEN A LOCAL TEMPLE. BUT IT WAS PETERS COMMENTS ON A DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE BETWEEN INDIA AND CANADA THAT MADE LOCAL HEADLINES. (SPEAKS HINDI) NZ DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WINSTON PETERS HAS QUESTIONED THE LACK OF EVIDENCE ON A 'POTENTIAL' INDIAN LINK. WINSTON PETER'S REPORTEDLY SAYING 'WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE', QUESTIONING FIVE EYES INTELLIGENCE OUT OF CANADA, WHICH ALLEGEDLY TIES THE KILLING OF A SIKH LEADER IN VANCOUVER LAST YEAR TO THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT. ANY INVOLVEMENT OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, IN THE KILLING OF A CANADIAN CITIZEN ON CANADIAN SOIL, IS AN UNACCEPTABLE VIOLATION OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY. CANADA'S SIKH COMMUNITY CONSIDERED HARDEEP NIJJAR A LEADER OF A PEACEFUL SEPARATIST MOVEMENT. THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT DESIGNATED HIM A TERRORIST, BUT DENIES ANY ROLE IN HIS KILLING. A SPOKESPERSON FOR WINSTON PETERS SAID... CANADA MAY VIEW THAT AS NZ CASTING DOUBT ON THEIR CLAIMS THAT INDIA WAS INVOLVED. LOOK, I JUST THINK THE MINISTER WAS ARTICULATING THERE IS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ONGOING ` IT'S IMPORTANT IT RUNS ITS COURSE BEFORE ANY CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN. I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY A MOVE IN SUBSTANTIVE TERMS, BUT IT MAY BE A DIFFERENCE OF EMPHASIS, WHICH IS PARTLY INTENDED TO APPEAL TO HIS HOSTS IN INDIA. THE NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS RAMPED UP EFFORTS TO SECURE A FREE TRADE DEAL WITH INDIA, SENDING DIPLOMATIC SCHMOOZING INTO OVERDRIVE. WE ARE VERY DETERMINED ` WE WANT TO BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP. BUT THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S COMMENTS HAVE UPSET SOME BACK HOME. MATT ROBSON ACTS AS LEGAL COUNSEL FOR NZ'S SIKH COMMUNITY. WHO ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THIS FREE PASS THAT HAS BEEN, AS THEY SEE IT, GIVEN TO THE MODI GOVERNMENT, TO KEEP CARRYING ON THE TYPE OF REPRESSION ABROAD THAT IT HAS BECOME WELL KNOWN FOR. THE CHALLENGES OF DIPLOMACY DRAWING OUT PLENTY OF COMPETING INTERESTS FOR OUR FOREIGN MINISTER MAIKI'S WITH US NOW. A TRICKY SITUATION FOR WINSTON PETERS ` WHAT'S AT PLAY HERE? THIS ISSUE EXTENDS BEYOND. JUST CANADA US OFFICIALS HAVE MADE SIMILAR CLAIMS AGAINST THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT OVER WHAT THEY SAY WAS A FAILED ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST A SEEKER LEADER ON US SOIL. THESE ARE TWO OF NEW ZEALAND'S FIVE EYES PARTNERS, THE US AND CANADA, TWO OF OUR CLOSEST ALLIES. USUALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SUCH CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, THE BEST STRATEGY IS TO SIMPLY SAY, LESS. WINSTON PETERS CAN CLAIM TECHNICAL INNOCENCE OVER HIS COMMENTS, BUT THAT WILL BE A TRICKY ONE, WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THAT IS RECEIVED IN TERMS OF CANADIAN COUNTERPARTS. WINSTON PETERS WAS FORCED TO PROVIDE REASSURANCES TO CANADIAN OFFICIALS OVER NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION. ON THE OTHER HAND, HIS COMMENTS WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN WELCOMED BY INDIAN OFFICIALS, AND THAT COULD WORK IN OUR FAVOUR AS WE SEEK TO STRIKE UP A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH INDIA. TODD MCCLAY AND WINSTON PETERS, THEY HAVE BOTH ALREADY VISITED INDIA NOW. THE PRIME MINISTER, INTENDS TO VISIT INDIA LATER THIS YEAR WITH A LARGE TRADE DELEGATION. EXPECT THAT DIPLOMATIC TIGHT ROPE TO BE WALKED ONCE MORE. THANKS, MAIKI. COUNCILS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS WHERE RARE OR THREATENED PLANTS OR ANIMALS ARE FOUND. THE COALITION GOVERNMENT SAYS THE LEGISLATION LIMITS NEW DEVELOPMENT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE MOVE IS BEING WELCOMED BY FARMERS WHILE THE GREENS SAY IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE FUTURE OF AOTEAROA'S UNIQUE WILDLIFE. DROUGHT HAS FINALLY BEEN DECLARED IN THE TOP OF THE SOUTH AND MORE REGIONS COULD FOLLOW. YESTERDAY, 1 NEWS HEARD FROM FEDERATED FARMERS IN MARLBOROUGH. THEY'D BEEN ASKING FOR THE DECLARATION FOR WEEKS. IT MEANS FARMERS CAN MORE EASILY ACCESS FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AGRICULTURE MINISTER TODD MCCLAY HAD ALSO SAID THE REGION DIDN'T MEET THE NIWA CRITERIA FOR A DROUGHT. I TALKED TO MPI OVERNIGHT AND ASKED THEM TO ENGAGE, UH, MORE CLOSELY ON THE GROUND. TODAY THEY'VE COME BACK, AND, LOOK, IT'S MY VIEW THAT WHILST TECHNICALLY A DROUGHT MAY NOT QUITE BE THERE, THE CONDITIONS FARMERS ARE FACING ARE THE SAME. THE MINISTER SAID OFFICIALS ARE ALSO KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON CANTERBURY AND OTAGO, WHICH ARE ALSO LOOKING DRY. THE LABOUR PARTY'S HAD ITS ANNUAL RE-GROUP WITH LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS PROMISING TO LEAD HIS PARTY INTO GOVERNMENT AT THE NEXT ELECTION. BUT PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS HIPKINS' TIME IS UP. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS WAS AT THE LABOUR RETREAT. IT WASN'T A HEN'S DO. HOW ARE THE HEADS THIS MORNING? GOOD, YEAH. NOT TOO ROWDY LAST NIGHT? IT WAS PRETTY LOVELY LAST NIGHT. BUT LABOUR'S CAUCUS RETREAT. THERE'S A HONEYMOON ON FOR THIS GOVERNMENT HONEYMOONS DON'T LAST FOREVER. I THINK WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES. NOW WE NEED TO REALLY STAND STRONG, AS A REALLY STRONG OPPOSITION. THEIR GOAL ` TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC LABOUR HASN'T GONE TO THE DOGS. OUR CHALLENGE OVER THE NEXT 24 MONTHS OR SO OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS TO MAKE SURE WE BUILD LABOUR INTO A WINNING MACHINE, SO WHEN THE NEXT ELECTION ROLLS AROUND, WE CAN FORM GOVERNMENT AGAIN. BUT THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY STAND ON TAX. THERE'S A DISCUSSION WITHIN LABOUR, WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A CAPITAL GAINS TAX OR A WEALTH TAX THAT'S A VERY PROPER DEBATE TO HAVE. I'VE CERTAINLY NOT SAID THAT WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT TAX BUT I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT TAX IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BROADER DEBATE AROUND THE ECONOMY. AND DON'T EXPECT TO SEE ANY BIG TAX OR OTHER POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM LABOUR ANY TIME SOON, THEY SAY THE THREE YEAR PARLIAMENTARY TERM IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE HOPING THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT MIGHT STUMBLE AND FALL BEFORE THE THREE YEARS IS UP. I THINK THEY'LL STRUGGLE. THEY NEED TO CONFRONT THE FACT THEY GOT VOTED OUT, BECAUSE THEY GOT THE BIG THINGS WRONG. CHRIS HIPKINS HAS HAD HIS GO, RIGHT? THEY'VE HAD THE LAST SIX YEARS, THE LAST THREE WITH AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY, HE'S HAD HIS TURN. NATIONAL'S CONTINUALLY FLOATED KIERAN MCANULTY AS HIS SUCCESSOR. LET ME MAKE THIS PREDICTION FIRST. I'LL STILL BE LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY, LONG AFTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S BEEN ROLLED AS LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. IF THINGS WERE GOING WELL FOR THE PRIME MINSTER, HE WOULDN'T NEED TO TALKING ABOUT THAT SORT OF NONSENSE. WE BACK HIM. WE WANT HIM TO BE OUR LEADER. AND WE WANT HIM TO BE THE NEXT PM. CHRIS HIPKINS NOT VISIBLY WORRIED AT LEAST, ABOUT GETTING POLITICALLY KNIFED IN THE BACK. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI. IS TIME UP FOR TIKTOK? THE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT, USED BY PRESIDENTS AND PRANKSTERS, IS UNDER THREAT, AMID ACCUSATIONS IT'S USED FOR SPYING. AND THE AUSSIE BILLIONAIRE'S TITANIC DREAM THAT COULD SEE YOU CLIMB ABOARD FOR A 1912 SAILING EXPERIENCE. SO, WHAT'S THE HITCH? THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, HOW THE RISE OF CANCELLATION FEES COULD MEAN YOU'LL BE PAYING FOR A RESTAURANT MEAL YOU DON'T EVEN EAT. PLUS, WE TAKE A WILD RIDE WITH THE WHITEWATER KIWIS GUNNING FOR OLYMPIC GLORY. AND THE LIFE-SAVING SANCTUARY THAT'S LOCATED IN A SLICE OF PARADISE. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. NAU MAI HOKI MAI. THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHY A BOEING PASSENGER PLANE DROPPED SUDDENLY EN-ROUTE TO AUCKLAND IS FOCUSING ON THE PILOT'S SEAT MOVEMENTS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO EXPERT AVIATION PUBLICATION 'THE AIR CURRENT', WHICH SPOKE TO TWO PEOPLE WHO'D BEEN BRIEFED ON THE EARLY FACTS. THEY SAY INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING AT THE MOVEMENT OF A SEAT IN THE COCKPIT, WHICH COULD HAVE HIT THE CONTROLS, CAUSING THE PLANE TO DROP. IT'S REPORTED THOSE BRIEFED CLAIM THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, IS ALSO UNDER REVIEW. AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN THE LATAM AIRLINES FLIGHT, TRAVELLING FROM SYDNEY TO AUCKLAND ON MONDAY, DIVED SUDDENLY. SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT TIKTOK, THAT EVEN JOE BIDEN USES, COULD BE BANNED IN AMERICA IF CONGRESS GETS ITS WAY. THERE ARE FEARS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS USING THE POPULAR APP TO SPY ON AMERICANS. U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH EXPLAINS. NO SOCIAL NETWORK HAS HAD SUCH A METEORIC RISE AS TIKTOK, WITH EVEN THE U.S PRESIDENT NOW CAMPAIGNING ON IT,... TRUMP OR BIDEN? ARE YOU KIDDING? BIDEN. ...WITH MORE THAN 1.5 BILLION USERS WORLDWIDE, BUT FEARS THE APP, OWNED BY CHINESE COMPANY BYTEDANCE, IS SPYING ON AMERICANS, HAS RESULTED IN THIS. LOWER HOUSE LAWMAKERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTING 'YES' ON A BILL TO BAN TIKTOK FROM U.S-BASED APP STORES, UNLESS BYTEDANCE SELLS IT WITHIN SIX MONTHS. TIKTOK IS ABSOLUTELY A THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE IN 2017, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY PASSED A LAW THAT ALL CHINESE COMPANIES MUST COMPLY WITH ANY OF THEIR REQUESTS FOR DATA. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN INDEPENDENT CHINESE COMPANY. THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO BAN TIKTOK. IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE TIKTOK BETTER. TIC TAC TOE. A WINNER. IT'S ALSO FEARED IT COULD BE USED TO INFLUENCE THE U.S ELECTION, WITH ABOUT HALF OF AMERICANS REGULARLY USING IT. TIKTOK'S ALWAYS DENIED THE ALLEGATION THAT IT'S SIMPLY A TOOL FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. AND SAYS IT'S ALSO NEVER HANDED U.S. USER DATA OVER TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HASN'T ACTUALLY PRESENTED ANY EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS DONE SO. CHINA'S GOVERNMENT AND STATE RUN NEWS MEDIA CRYING FOUL. IN THE END, IT IS BOUND TO COME BACK TO BITE THE U.S. ITSELF. IT'S VERY RARE FOR U.S. LAWMAKERS TO AGREE ON SOMETHING SO QUICKLY. KEEP TIKTOK! KEEP TIKTOK! AND IT'S EVEN MORE REMARKABLE BECAUSE BY AND LARGE, VOTERS DON'T WANT A BAN. NOW, WHEN WE HAD A SPY BALLOON OR A WEATHER BALLOON FLOATING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AMERICANS WERE LOSING THEIR MINDS, SAYING, SHOOT IT DOWN. BUT FOR SOME REASON, HAVING A DEVICE IN THEIR POCKET THAT CAN BE USED AS SURVEILLANCE AND PROPAGANDA, THEY AREN'T THINKING ABOUT THIS THIS STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE, BUT JOE BIDEN SAYS HE'LL SUPPORT IT. WHILE THERE WERE PASSIONATE CROWDS OUTSIDE CONGRESS TODAY... TIKTOK CHANGED MY LIFE. TIKTOK HAS DONE SOMETHING VERY AMAZING FOR ME, AS FAR AS STARTING MY TAX BUSINESS. ...THE CLOCK'S TICKING FOR THIS WILDLY POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK. LOGAN CHURCH, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. IF YOU WANT A TITANIC EXPERIENCE LIKE KATE AND LEO HERE, AN AUSSIE BILLIONAIRE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. RECREATING ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS SHIPS, HAS BEEN CLIVE PALMER'S UNSINKABLE DREAM. NOW MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER FIRST FLOATING THE IDEA, HE'S BACK AT IT. HERE'S CHANNEL NINE'S MIKE DALTON. SHE IS THE SHIP OF DREAMS, BOTH TITANIC ONE NOW LYING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND TITANIC 2, STILL SCHEMATICS AND PEOPLE IN COSTUME IN PROMO VIDEO. BUT AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE SINCE FIRST PROFFERED, TITANIC 2, IS ALLEGEDLY, BACK IN THE SLIP, AFTER BEING SUSPENDED DURING COVID. UP TO THAT TIME, WE'D FULLY DESIGNED THE SHIP AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF LETTING OUT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. MINING GOLIATH CLIVE PALMER TODAY RE-RELAUNCHING HIS OLYMPIC CLASS OCEAN LINER DREAM. AND THE FIRST SHIP WILL COME INTO SERVICE, SCHEDULED AT THE MOMENT IN JUNE 2027. LOOK, I'M SORRY TO BE A DREAM BREAKER, BUT... YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE YOU HAD BROWN HAIR. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE YOU NOW? OH, BECAUSE I'VE GOT MORE MONEY NOW. WHY NOT DO IT? WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I'M 70. I'M GOING TO DO IT. CLIVE IS PROMISING, ALONG WITH TITANIC 2, A FAIR DINKUM, 1912 EXPERIENCE ON BOARD, ESPECIALLY IN THIRD CLASS. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE IRISH STEW. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO AND DO DANCING. AND WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT ONE DAY OUT OF NEW YORK HARBOUR, EVERYBODY WAS DECLASSED. YOU CAN JUST STRIP OFF INTO YOUR UNDERPANTS AND BE DECLASSED IN FRONT OF ANOTHER 2000 PEOPLE. BUT I HAD MORE SOBERING NEWS FOR THE MAGNATE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALREADY A TITANIC 2 MOVIE? IN THIS ONE, A TSUNAMI SMASHES THE SHIP WITH MULTIPLE ICEBERGS. NOW YOU GET HIT BY ANY ICE. IT'S GOING TO TEAR YOUR SHIP IN HALF! BRACE FOR IMPACT. ALL PASSENGERS ACQUIRE YOUR VEST, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THAT'S FICTION. I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT FICTION. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT REALITY. AND THE REALITY IS THAT WE'RE BUILDING THE TITANIC. CLIVE, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT THIS TIME? YES, I THINK WE WILL. YOU KNOW, WITH A BIT OF COURAGE. REALLY? YES. I'M VERY CONFIDENT WE WILL. YOU SURE? CLIVE PALMER SAYS HE'S ALSO CONFIDENT HE CAN SECURE A SHIPYARD TO START BUILDING EARLY NEXT YEAR. UP NEXT, BEATING DRUMS AND TUMBLING BODIES ` THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF AFRICA'S CIRCUS COME TO THE AUCKLAND STAGE. (FRANTIC JAZZ MUSIC) HOW ONE PERFORMER IS BENDING OVER BACKWARDS IN HIS BID TO BE THE BEST. PLUS ` HOW A KIWI TEEN HAS KICKFLIPPED HER WAY INTO OLYMPIC CONTENTION. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE SCHOOL GETTING SET TO OPEN ITS DOORS AGAIN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AFTER IT CLOSED. PLUS WHO DOESN'T LOVE A HOT CUPPA CHAR? BUT IS TOO HOT BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH? AND THE SANCTUARY THAT LENDS A HELPING HAND TO ANYONE WHO ASKS, AND NOW THEY'RE PUTTING OUT THE CALL TO HELP KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. AN INDEPENDENT DECISION-MAKER WILL BE ABLE TO HALT RACING IN THE GLOBAL RACE SERIES SAILGP DURING ITS LYTELLTON HARBOUR LEG NEXT WEEK. IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE ENDANGERED HECTOR'S DOLPHINS, AFTER RULES WERE BROKEN LAST YEAR. RYAN BOSWELL EXPLAINS. SAIL GP IS FAST-PACED... AND SOME ARGUE... POTENTIALLY DEADLY. COMMENTATOR: THE AMERICANS HAVE A LOT OF SPEED! WITH FEARS THE GLOBAL RACE IN LYTTELTON HARBOUR COULD SEE BOATS COLLIDE WITH THE ENDANGERED HECTOR'S DOLPHIN. WE CAN'T ELIMINATE THE RISK TO DOLPHINS, BUT I'M COMFORTABLE WE'VE DONE A REASONABLY GOOD JOB. THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT HAS HAD INPUT INTO A PLAN DEVELOPED BY SAILGP AND LOCAL HAPU NGATI WHEKE THAT'S SEEN AN INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT APPOINTED TO STOP NEXT WEEK'S RACE IF NEEDED. I QUESTION THE INDEPENDENCE THERE, CONSIDERING THEY HAD... THEY WERE PART AUTHORS IN LAST YEAR'S PLAN. ALL PARTIES ARE OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH THAT THE PLAN WILL BE FOLLOWED. OFFICIALS REVISED THE MARINE MAMMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN, AFTER SAILGP'S RACE DIRECTOR FAILED TO ACT LAST YEAR. TWO DOLPHINS WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE CROSSED THE BOUNDARY INTO THE RACE ZONE, AND RACING SHOULD'VE COME TO A HALT. WHETHER OR NOT THOSE DOLPHINS WERE WITHIN PROXIMITY WASN'T FOUND. THE NUMBER OF OBSERVERS ON THE LAND AND WATER HAS BEEN INCREASED THIS YEAR. THERE'LL BE A FOURTH MONITORING BOAT TOO, THE CHANGE IN DIRECTION ALSO SEEING THE END OF REAL-TIME ACOUSTIC LISTENING AND DRONE-AIDED SURVEYS. WHAT WAS DISCOVERED ULTIMATELY IS THAT HUMAN OBSERVERS WERE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE. WHAT HAPPENS IF ITS CHOPPY WATER, YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU HOPE TO SEE YOU NEED TO RELY ON SOMETHING ELSE. THE UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC DEVICES DIDN'T WORK LAST YEAR. IN FUTURE YEARS I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THEIR USE INCLUDED AGAIN, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURSE TO DETECT PRESENCE AND ABSENCE. THE EVENT DRIVES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN VISITOR SPEND FOR THE REGION, A COST TOO GREAT FOR SOME, WHO WANT THESE ENDANGERED DOLPHINS TO BE LEFT ALONE. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. ACROBATICS, CONTORTION AND PULSATING PERCUSSION ` IT'S ALL ON IN AUCKLAND, WITH THE OPENING OF AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE, TONIGHT AT THE ARTS FESTIVAL. INSPIRED BY DAILY LIFE IN GUINEA, THE SHOW TAKES A SIMPLE LOCATION ` A FISH MARKET ` AND MAKES IT INCREDIBLE. CORAZON MILLER CHECKED IT OUT. ECHOED IN THE THRUM OF THE DRUM IS THE HEARTBEAT OF AFRICAN CULTURE. (MUSIC) IN THIS SHOW, YOU WILL SEE HOW AFRICAN PEOPLE LIVE IN FISH MARKET, HOW THEY GET READY, BEFORE THEY GO FISHING. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR LIFE. THAT LIFE TOLD THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE AND SHEER ATHLETICISM. I WANTED SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN FEEL, AND PEOPLE CAN HAVE A PICTURE OF MY COUNTRY, ORIGINALLY FROM GUINEA, CIRCUS LIFE HAS TAKEN HIM ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT HE'S NEVER FORGOTTEN HIS ROOTS. EVERY TIME I GOT BREAK, IN BETWEEN SHOWS, WHEN I GO TO GUINEA, I START A CIRCUS SCHOOL THERE, AND I START TEACHING THEM. THEY REALLY WANT TO BECOME A CIRCUS STAR. ONE OF THOSE STARS, FELLOW GUINEAN AND CONTORTIONIST MOHAMMED BEN SYLLA, WHOSE SPENT A LIFETIME TURNING HIS BODY INTO AN ARTFORM. AND WHILE IT'S A STORY THAT BEGAN IN GUINEA, IT'S GROWN TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE WHOLE AFRICAN CONTINENT. I AM HAPPY ALL THE AFRICANS SEE THE SHOW, AND SAY, 'WOW, I FEEL LIKE, YEAH, AFRICA IS GOOD'. AND BESIDE AFRICANS, THE WHOLE WORLD FEELS IT. THEIR FIRST CIRCUS ACT IN NZ OPENS IN AUCKLAND TONIGHT, BEFORE CONTINUING SOUTH TO CHRISTCHURCH. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND IT'S OFFICIAL ` THE BLACK KNIGHTS. WE DIG INTO PLANS FOR THIS NEW FOOTBALL TEAM. IS TIME AGAINST THEM? ALTHOUGH LOOK WHO'S COME ON BOARD WITH THE NEW BLACK KNIGHTS ` ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. SPEAKING OF ALL BLACKS, THE HIGHLANDERS RECEIVE A SPECIAL EARLY SEASON VISIT. STANDING STILL FOR A CHANGE, ZOE HOBBS OPENS UP ON HER PRE-OLYMPICS PLAN. AND FROM BUCKLANDS BEACH TO DUBAI, A KIWI TEENAGER IS STILL A CHANCE FOR PARIS. AND IT WAS A COUPLE OF FRONTS THAT HELPED MAKE IT A GREY START FOR MANY BUT SUNSHINE HAS WORKED THROUGH ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY. LOOKING GOOD IN AUCKLAND ` CURRENTLY 21C. DUNEDIN HAS INCREASING CLOUD AND 21C, THAT WILL BRING A DAMP AND COOLER CHANGE FOR FRIDAY. YEP, IT'S ALL CHANGE FOR FRIDAY, NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO, HAKINAKINA O TE WA, WELCOME TO SPORT, AND HELLO TO A NEW PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM. THE NEW AUCKLAND A-LEAGUE FOOTBALL FRANCHISE WILL BE CALLED AUCKLAND FC AND GO BY THE NICKNAME THE BLACK KNIGHTS. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND, BUT THE NAME AND PLAYING STRIP WERE UNVEILED THIS AFTERNOON, AS WELL AS TWO NEW FAMILIAR INVESTORS. I'M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW NAME OF OUR CLUB IS AUCKLAND FC. NEW TEAM, NEW STRIP, AND A NEW ATTITUDE ` WELCOME TO AUCKLAND FC, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BLACK KNIGHTS. WE'RE BUILDING A CLUB THAT WILL BE NZ'S NUMBER ONE FOOTBALL CLUB. A BIG CALL, BUT LOOK WHO'S COME ON BOARD AS NEW INVESTORS ` ENTREPRENEURS ANNA MOWBRAY AND ALI WILLIAMS, WHO CONSIDERED AN EARLIER FRANCHISE BID. I LOVE FOOTBALL, MY KIDS ARE ALL INTO FOOTBALL; ALI STARTED OFF PLAYING FOOTBALL. AT 16 I STOPPED PLAYING FOOTBALL AND STARTED PLAYING RUGBY, PURELY BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PATHWAY. THE BLACK KNIGHTS ARE SURE THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THE ILL-FATED PREVIOUS AUCKLAND A-LEAGUE TEAM, THE KNIGHTS, PLAYED FOR TWO SEASONS NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO. IN THE END THEY WENT BUST, BUT THIS NEW FRANCHISE BELIEVES THERE'S MASSIVE SEPARATION WITH THE PAST. HOW MANY PLAYERS HAVE YOU SIGNED ` HOW MANY MORE DO YOU NEED TO SIGN? WE'VE SIGNED NINE, AND WE'LL GET AROUND 25 PLAYERS. THE NEW TEAM WILL PLAY AT MT SMART STADIUM, A FOOTBALL HOT BED 40-ODD YEARS AGO, BUT NOW STEEPED IN RUGBY LEAGUE. YOU'RE TRAINING AT NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM, BUT YOU'RE PLAYING AT MT SMART ` WHY'S THAT? YEAH SO, WE ARE IN THROES OF FINALISING THOSE AGREEMENTS WITH THE COUNCIL. FC BOARD MEMBER ROB FOLEY, SON OF BILLIONAIRE AMERICAN OWNER BILL WAS IN TOWN FOR THE LAUNCH. THE FOLEYS OWN OTHER FOOTBALL TEAMS AND ICE HOCKEY'S GOLDEN KNIGHTS. FOLEY JUNIOR IS PART OF THAT TITLE-WINNING SET-UP AS WELL. THE PLAYERS WE BROUGHT IN, THEY'RE ALL ... THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED OUTCASTS ` THEY HAD SOMETHING TO PROVE? YEAH, THEY DID, AND THEY TOOK IT LIKE THAT, AND THEY CAME TOGETHER, THEY COALESCED, AND THERE WERE NO EGOS IN THE ROOM AND VERY HUMBLE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WHATEVER IT IS, LET'S USE SPORT AND FOOTBALL TO EXCITE THE COMMUNITY! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU THIS EXCITED SINCE YOU RETIRED AND GOT AWAY FROM ME! (LAUGHS) ASIDE FROM HAVING YOUR OWN TEAM PUB ALREADY, CASH, PATIENCE AND ENTHUSIASM IS ALSO NEEDED, IN SPADES ` THE BLACK KNIGHTS APPEAR TO HAVE THAT. COME ON, AUCKLAND FC! (APPLAUSE) A YEAR AFTER BECOMING THE FASTEST NZ WOMAN OVER 100M, ZOE HOBBS IS BACK IN WELLINGTON FOR THE NATIONAL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS. HOBBS NOW INCREASINGLY KEEPING HERSELF UNDER THE 11-SECOND MARK AS SHE LOOKS TO THIS YEAR'S OLYMPICS. SHE STOPPED FOR A MOMENT AND OUR VICTOR WATERS CAUGHT UP WITH HER. NEWTOWN ATHLETICS PARK IN WELLINGTON ` A TRACK ZOE HOBBS HAS BEEN RACING ON SINCE SHE WAS A TEEN. TOMORROW, THE SPRINT STAR COMPETES IN THE ATHLETICS NATIONALS IN THE 100M SPRINT ` AN EVENT SHE'S NEVER MISSED. A LOCAL CROWD, IT DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AND YOU EVEN SEE IT WITH SOME OF THE ATHLETES THAT GET TO COMPETE ON THE HOME SOIL IN EUROPE ` IT REALLY ELEVATES THEM, AND OFTEN, PEOPLE RUN SEASONS' BESTS OR PBs. IT'S THE ONLY TIME THE 26-YEAR-OLD WILL BE COMPETING ON HOME SOIL THIS YEAR, WITH A HOST OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND, OF COURSE, JULY S PARIS OLYMPICS OVER THE HORIZON. IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY. THERE WAS DEFINITELY STAGES OF MY CAREER THAT I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD EVER BE POSSIBLE TO BE MAKING AN OLYMPICS, OR THERE WAS ALWAYS THIS DOUBT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I THINK, AS WELL, NOT HAVING SEEN SOMEONE PAVE THE WAY BEFORE ME. SO TO NOW BE IN THIS POSITION WHERE I KNOW I'VE DONE THE QUALIFYING MARK, IT'S REALLY SPECIAL. THE NATIONALS ALSO COME OFF THE BACK OF AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE AT THE WORLD INDOOR CHAMPS. HOBBS AN AGONISING 0.01 OF A SECOND OFF A BRONZE MEDAL IN THE WOMEN'S 60M FINAL. I WAS STOKED. LIKE, THE NATURE OF 60S, IT IS FINE MARGINS. FOR ME, I JUST WANTED TO COME HOME WITH A PB, AND SO HAVING HIT THAT IN THE SEMI-FINAL AND TO MAKE THE FINAL WAS A BONUS. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HELPED LOOSEN ME UP IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE RACE AND WHY I CAME THROUGH SO STRONG. STRENGTH VERY MUCH THE KEY WORD ` A SPECIALISED GYM PROGRAMME HAS LAID THE FOUNDATION OF HOBBS' CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. MAKING SURE WE'RE HONING IN ON TECHNIQUE, AND GETTING OPTIMAL MUSCLE GROUPS TO WORK, THINKING ABOUT WHERE MY BODY IS IN SPACE AND, LIKE, REALLY OPTIMISING EVERY LIFT. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND, YOU KNOW, 0.01. THAT NUMBER'S SORT OF STRUCK US A COUPLE TIMES LAST COUPLE OF RACES. SO WE'RE JUST SEEING, CAN WE KEEP IMPROVING THAT. THOSE LITTLE 1 PERCENTERS, TOO, REALLY HELP WITH STAYING INJURY-FREE AND JUST TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, SQUEEZE THE LAST LITTLE BIT. TOMORROW, HOBBS WILL BE AIMING TO LIFT STANDARDS ONCE AGAIN. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. TWO OF WELLINGTON'S FINEST HAVE BEEN AWARDED NZ CRICKET'S TOP GONGS AT ITS ANNUAL AWARDS IN CHRISTCHURCH ` BLACKCAP RACHIN RAVINDRA BECOMING THE YOUNGEST PLAYER TO RECEIVE THE SIR RICHARD HADLEE MEDAL AT 24, WHILE WHITE FERN MELIE KERR WON THE DEBBIE HOCKLEY MEDAL FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING. IN 2016, RAVINDRA WAS SHAKING HANDS WITH SIR RICHARD ON THE SAME STAGE, WHEN HE WAS AWARDED YOUNG CRICKETER OF THE YEAR. MELIE KERR HAD TO CELEBRATE HER SUCCESS FROM INDIA, WINNING NOT ONLY THE SUPREME WOMEN'S AWARD, BUT BEING NAMED THE ODI, T20, AND SUPER SMASH PLAYER OF THE YEAR. SHE'S IN DELHI, PLAYING FOR THE MUMBAI INDIANS IN THE WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE. KERR AND THE MUMBAI INDIANS TAKE ON SOPHIE DEVINE'S ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE IN THE W.P.L ELIMINATION FINAL ON SATURDAY MORNING. IT MEANS THE PAIR MAY BE MISSING FROM THE WHITE FERNS' SIDE TO TAKE ON ENGLAND IN THE FIRST OF FIVE T-20S IN DUNEDIN ON TUESDAY. IT MIGHT BE TOO EARLY TO SAY, BUT ARE THE HIGHLANDERS ON A ROLL? AFTER THREE SUPER RUGBY GAMES, KEEPING UP, RATHER THAN BEING BEATEN UP, THE SOUTHERNERS HAVE TWO WINS FROM THREE, THEIR BEST SEASON START IN FIVE YEARS. NEW STANDARDS ARE PAYING OFF, AND SET TO BE TESTED AGAIN, WITH MORE EYES ON THEM THIS WEEK. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE REPORTS. YOU CAN FEEL IT UNDER THE ROOF OF FORSYTH BARR STADIUM. THERE IS A NEW BELIEF, NEW INTENT FROM THE HIGHLANDERS. WE'VE GONE A LITTLE BIT HIGH STANDARD. UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE THE BEST IN THE COMP. SO, THAT'S WHERE WE SEE OUR STANDARDS. AND IF YOU'RE NOT THERE, THEN, YEAH, YOU'LL KNOW ABOUT IT. THE PUBLIC KNEW ALL ABOUT IT LAST WEEK, BILLY HARMON AND SEAN WITHEY STOOD DOWN FOR BEING LATE TO A TEAM MEETING. NEW STANDARDS UNDERSTOOD TO BE ENFORCED BY HEAD OF RUGBY, JAMIE JOSEPH. WHAT HE DOES IS, JUST CHALLENGES THE COACHES FOR, JUST MORE, GETTING MORE FROM THE PLAYERS. HAMMOND'S NOW BACK IN THE STARTING SIDE AND BACK TO HIS CAPTAINCY DUTIES AS THEY PREPARE FOR A WALLABIES STACKED BRUMBIES SIDE. SOME KEEN OBSERVERS WATCHING ON THIS WEEK. ANY TIME THE ALL BLACK COACHES COME IN, THERE'S A LIFT AND INTENSITY IN THE TRAINING. OBVIOUSLY THE BOYS HAVE A BIT MORE PURPOSE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THE NEW ALL BLACKS COACHING GROUP OF LEON MCDONALD, JASON HOLLAND AND JASON RYAN, SURE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE LANDERS TURNAROUND AND FORM, 'GETS THEM ALL THE WAY BEAUTIFULLY,' 'AND HERE HE IS AGAIN!' MAKING NEARLY 300 TACKLES AGAINST THE BLUES, THEN HOLDING ON FOR VICTORY AGAINST THE WARATAHS. 'FOR. THE. WIN!' TWO WINS FROM THREE GAMES, THEIR BEST START TO A SEASON SINCE 2019. IT WAS SOMETHING WE HIGHLIGHTED LAST YEAR, WE WERE, WE STARTED THE SEASON SLOW. SO AGAIN, THE BENEFIT OF NOT HAVING A TEAM OF ALL BLACKS, WE HAD OUR SQUAD TRAINING TOGETHER FOR THREE MONTHS, SO WE'VE MANAGED TO START THE SEASON IN A GOOD SPOT AROUND OUR FITNESS. WE'VE CHANGED A FEW THINGS OF HOW WE TRAIN. CHANGES, MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND BRINGING NEW HOPE TO THE HIGHLANDERS FAITHFUL. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1NEWS. ZOI SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT'S RETURN FROM INJURY HASN'T GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN - THE KIWI SNOWBOARDER BEATEN IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 'NATURAL SELECTION TOUR IN CANADA. THE EVENT, IN THE BRITISH COLOMBIAN BACK COUNTRY, IS SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT'S FIRST SINCE DECEMBER AFTER FRACTURING HER ANKLE. SCORES OF 42 AND 59.7 NOT ENOUGH TO SEE HER MOVE FORWARD IN THE COMPETITION, BUT THE 23-YEAR-OLD STILL IMPRESSED IN THE DEEP POWDER. NICE! OH MY GOD... OH WOW, ZOE! VERY AGGRESSIVE LINE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM. SO MUCH CONFIDENCE. A NEW WOMEN'S CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED WITH SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT WINNING LAST YEAR'S EVENT. JESSICA REEDY IS KICKFLIPPING HER WAY TOWARDS GLOBAL ATTENTION IN SKATEBOARDING, AFTER A TOP PLACING AT A WORLD EVENT IN DUBAI. THE RESULT MOVES THE AUCKLANDER TO THE NEXT STEP OF OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION ` NOT BAD WHEN YOU'RE 13. HAYLEY HOLT HAS THE DETAILS. TEENAGE SKATEBOARDER JESSICA REEDY IS LASER FOCUSED, AFTER MAKING IT INTO THE OLYMPIC QUALIFYING SERIES. I'M GONNA CELEBRATE, BY, I DON'T KNOW, JUST SKATING MORE. ORIGINALLY, THE 13-YEAR-OLD HAD THE 2028 GAMES IN HER SIGHTS, BUT A RAPID RISE IN THE WORLD RANKINGS HAS ALREADY SEEN HER SKATING AGAINST THE WORLD'S BEST. YEAH! (APPLAUSE) AT FIRST, IT WAS REALLY INTIMIDATING. I WAS, LIKE, REALLY SCARED TO, LIKE, SKATE IN FRONT OF THEM. AND I DIDN'T WANNA LIKE, CRASH INTO THEM OR ANYTHING. NOW SHE'S BEATING MANY OF THOSE SHE SAW AS INTIMIDATING. HER RUN'S SO DIFFICULT. THE TRICKS ARE JUST SO DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING. IT'S REALLY HARD. IT'S SORT OF TERRITORY THAT NO NZER HAS EVER BEEN TO BEFORE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THESE COMPETITIONS ARE RELATIVELY NEW, BUT EVEN IN THE PAST, AT OTHER WORLD EVENTS, NOT MANY NZERS MAKE IT INTO THE TOP 20. REEDY'S 14TH-PLACE FINISH LAST WEEKEND HAS SEEN HER CLIMB INTO 37 ON THE WORLD RANKINGS, AND THAT COULD IMPROVE A LOT MORE, WITH POINTS EARNED IN THE FINAL TWO QUALIFYING EVENTS HOLDING GREATER WEIGHT. RIGHT NOW, SHE'S GOT A REAL CHANCE OF GOING TO THE OLYMPICS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO MORE EVENTS ` THAT GIVES US TIME TO WORK ON SOME NEW TRICKS AND BUILD UP TO A LEVEL OF BEING IN THE TOP 10. REEDY'S CERTAINLY PUTTING IN THE WORK TO GET THERE. I SKATE EVERY DAY ` LIKE, AFTER SCHOOL, FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL, AND I SKATE ALL WEEKEND, JUST GOING TO SKATE PARKS AROUND AUCKLAND. LEARNING IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AS SHE ROLLS INTO THE FUTURE. HAYLEY HOLT, 1 NEWS. THANKS ANDREW. STAY WITH US. DAN SAYS WE'RE IN FOR A BIG CHANGE IN THE WEATHER TOMORROW. GET YOUR RAINCOATS READY, DETAILS NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` HOW YOU COULD END UP PAYING FOR YOUR MEAL, EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T EAT IT. PLUS ` FANCY YOURSELF AS AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE? WELL, WHAT COULD BE MORE FUN THAN THIS? WE'RE WITH THE KIWI TEAM AS THEY GET READY FOR PARIS. WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY AT 7. TOMORROWS DEFINITELY SHAPING UP FOR A RAINY DAY DECENT RAIN FOR A CHANGE DOWN SOUTH COLD SURGE THERE NEXT SURGE OF MOISTURE FROM THE TASMAN SOURCE OF WEATHER IN THE NORTH ISLAND TODAY UP NORTH RIGHT THERE ON THE SATELLITE NORTHEAST OF AUCKLAND NOTICE THE 21 IN DUNEDIN INVERCARGILL 12 COULD EASILY BE 10 OR 12 TOMORROW GOOD BIT OF RAIN IF WE SEE A 20 ON SAT WELL BE DOING WELL LOOKING ABOUT 10-13 IN THE DEEP SOUTH BLOB OF CLOUD COMING IN FROM THE WEST RAIN OVER PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND RAIN TO EASTERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISALDN I KNOW THE ROADS ARE WARM, BUT THERE COULD BE SNOW THATS HOW WE LOOK TOMORROW EVENING LATE DAY SHOWERS IN NORTHLAND AUCKLAND, MORE LIKELY IN THE MORNING GOING INTO THE AFTERNOON GUSTY DAY HAMILTON SOME WET WEATHER 18 THE BEST WE CAN GET PATCHY RAIN IN THE CENTRAL PLATEAU WET DAY FOR TAURANGA LOTS OF RAIN ON THE EAST COAST SPELL OF RAIN FROM 21 TO 22 CLEARING AWAY FOR PARTS OF TARANAKI SOUTHERLY CHANGES, WHICH WELLINGTON WILL GET GUSTY WINDS AND THUNDER AFTERNOON RAIN FOR BLENHEIM CHRISTCHURCH GONNA GET SOME RAIN 5MM, MAYBE 10 SPELLS OF RAIN FOR YOU AS WELL SURGE OF WET WEATHER THUNDER TOWARDS THE WEST COAST RAIN IN THE MORNING FOR QUEENSTOWN 13 DEGREES, COOL ONE TOO 10 OR 11 FOR INVERCARGILL WITH SHOWERS IN THE MORNING FROSTY ONE IN THE INTERIOR COUPLE OF SHOWERS CHANGE OF WIND AND RAIN