A JOURNALIST IN THAILAND SAYS THE KIWI BROTHERS ACCUSED OF ATTACKING A POLICE OFFICER SHOULD PREPARE FOR A STINT BEHIND BARS. AND DAME KIRI TE KANAWA HAS SUNG IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA KATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. UP TO 50,000 DISABLED NEW ZEALANDERS AND THEIR CARERS HAVE BEEN BLINDSIDED BY SWEEPING CHANGES, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THAT THEY SAY DRASTICALLY REDUCE THEIR ACCESS TO SUPPORT. THE NEW FUNDING RULES WERE UPLOADED TO THE MINISTRY OF DISABLED PEOPLE'S WEBSITE YESTERDAY WITH NO PRIOR CONSULTATION AND HAVE UPSET AND ANGERED THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. EVEN THE LARGEST PROVIDER IN THE SECTOR, MANAWANUI, DIDN'T KNOW. BUT AS KAREN RUTHERFORD REPORTS, THE MINISTER IS MAKING NO APOLOGIES. (NATIVE BIRDSONG) CHRISTCHURCH MUM SAM WHITWORTH DEVOTES HER LIFE TO HER TWO AUTISTIC YOUNGSTERS, MASON AND AVA. SHE BARELY GETS A BREAK. NOW THE HELP SHE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY CAN ACCESS HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED IN A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE FROM THE MINISTRY. I CAN'T PUT IT INTO WORDS, AND I AM STRUGGLING TO HOLD TOGETHER RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS` IT'S A SHOCK. IT'S COME AS AN ABSOLUTE SHOCK. MASON IS TUBE-FED UP TO FIVE TIMES A DAY. AVA TOO NEEDS CONSTANT CARE. NOW THINGS LIKE ACCOMMODATION FOR SUPPORT WORKERS ACCOMPANYING A DISABLED PERSON ON HOLIDAY ` EVEN A FEW HOURS IN A MOTEL FOR BURNT-OUT CAREGIVERS ` IS OFF THE CARDS. JUST TO HAVE A SHOWER AND JUST TO HAVE A SLEEP IS ALL THAT WE REALLY WANT AND THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO US ` WE NOW CAN NO LONGER DO. THE MINISTRY OF DISABLED PEOPLE, WHAIKAHA, INSISTS THIS IS NOT ABOUT COST-CUTTING, BUT ACCESS TO FUNDING FOR SENSORY TOYS AND PCs THAT HELP THOSE WHO ARE NON-VERBAL, FOR INSTANCE, WILL BE RESTRICTED; ACCESS TO SUPPORT WORKERS IF YOU'RE A RURAL PERSON COULD BE TRICKY, WITH MILEAGE PAYMENTS OFF THE CARDS; AND MASSAGES FOR CARERS, WHO ARE OFTEN LIFTING SOMEONE GREATER THAN THEIR OWN BODY WEIGHT, ARE ALSO GONE. READS: 'I'M NOT IN CONTROL OF MY OWN FUTURE. 'I AM FALLING, FALLING.' TODAY'S NEWS DISTRESSES WELLINGTONIAN ELEANOR (13), HER SISTER AND MUM, AMY, WHO ARE ALL AUTISTIC, WITH ADHD. AMY ALSO HAS MS. JUST HOW IT WAS COMMUNICATED WAS VERY THOUGHTLESS AND RECKLESS. THE MINISTER TODAY ON THE BACK FOOT. I WILL TALK TO WHAIKAHA ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY CONSULT AND THE WAY IN WHICH THEY THEN MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS. AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT'S BLINDSIDED THIS FAMILY. YOUNGER DAUGHTER AOIFE, FOR INSTANCE, ALSO HAS AN EXTREME FORM OF NOISE SENSITIVITY. SOMEONE HUMMING, OR, ERM... SOMETIMES, ON BAD DAYS, EVEN SOMEONE BREATHING. UNTIL NOW, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS FUNDING FOR A DEVICE IN HER ROOM TO REGULATE HER RESPONSES AND DISTRACT HER ` THAT'LL GO. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE WAYS AS A COUNTRY WE'RE NEEDING TO SAVE MONEY, BUT THIS IS NOT... THIS IS A VERY UNDERHANDED WAY TO DO IT ` TO SAY, 'WE'RE NOT CUTTING YOUR FUNDING, BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT 'EXTREMELY HARD FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY USE THE FUNDING.' THE MINISTER TODAY DEFENDING THE FUNDING CHANGES, CALLING IT A RETURN TO PRE-COVID LEVELS. THIS FUND HAS BLOWN OUT, AND THEY HAVE TO MANAGE IT WITHIN THE FUND THAT'S THERE. TWO PETITIONS LAUNCHED WITHIN THE PAST 24 HOURS BY THE DISABLED COMMUNITY HAVE NOW AMASSED 12,000 SIGNATURES. THERE IS JUST A MILLION THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT HAVE CHANGED OUR ADULTS' AND OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES THAT WE CAN NO LONGER DO NOW. A VOICE OF THE VULNERABLE THAT COULD YET GET LOUDER STILL. KAREN RUTHERFORD, NEWSHUB. THE DAY AFTER THE PRIME MINISTER ASKED ALL PARTIES TO DIAL DOWN THE RHETORIC, HIS DEPUTY HAS INSTEAD DOUBLED DOWN ` OR IS THAT TRIPLED? WINSTON PETERS SAYS HE'S 'NOT BACKING DOWN ONE IOTA' AND WILL NOT APOLOGISE FOR COMMENTS LINKING RACE RELATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND TO NAZI GERMANY. BUT HE'S BEEN ASKED TO NOT GET BACK UP AGAIN OVER HIS THEME TUNE ` THE BAND THAT WROTE 'TUBTHUMPING' HAS TOLD HIM TO CEASE AND DESIST. HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH. HE GOT KNOCKED DOWN, HE GOT UP AGAIN... AND HE'S GOT IT ON REPEAT. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WINSTON PETERS. # I GET KNOCKED DOWN, BUT I GET UP AGAIN. # BUT CHUMBAWUMBA, THE BAND WHO WROTE THE '90s SMASH, WANTS TO KEEP PETERS DOWN... # NEVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN. ...ASKING THEIR LABEL TO ISSUE A 'CEASE AND DESIST' AND ASKING PETERS TO STOP USING THEIR SONG TO TRY TO SHORE UP HIS 'MISGUIDED' POLITICAL VIEWS. WE GOT KNOCKED DOWN, BUT WE GOT UP AGAIN. IN A STATEMENT TO STUFF, CHUMBAWUMBA'S GUITARIST WROTE IT WAS 'ENTIRELY ODD THAT THE "I GET KNOCKED DOWN" REFRAIN 'IS BEING USED BY PETERS AS HE BARKS HIS DIVISIVE, 'SMALL-MINDED, BIGOTED POLICIES DURING HIS RECENT SPEECHES'. THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF IT. CHUMBAWUMBA STUCK THE KNIFE IN FURTHER. ...SAYING THE BAND DOESN'T SHARE ANY OF PETERS' IDEAS ON RACE RELATIONS AND THE SONG WASN'T ABOUT RICH POLITICIANS TRYING TO WIN VOTES BY COURTING ABSURD CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND SPOUTING MISGUIDED RACIST IDEOLOGIES. IT'S NOT JUST THE SOUNDTRACK BUT THE SPEECH ITSELF THAT'S CAUSING PETERS PROBLEMS ` PARTICULARLY HIS LIKENING OF RACE RELATIONS TO NAZI GERMANY. I'VE SEEN THAT SORT OF PHILOSOPHY BEFORE. I SAW IT IN NAZI GERMANY. WE ALL DID. HE IS NOT BACKING DOWN, DESPITE BEING SPOKEN TO BY THE PRIME MINISTER. NOT LISTENING TO YOUR CRAP. ACCUSING THE MEDIA OF MISREPRESENTING HIM IN A RANTING MEDIA RELEASE, CLAIMING HE NEVER MENTIONED CO-GOVERNANCE OR THE HOLOCAUST, SAYING, 'I'M NOT BACKING DOWN ONE IOTA. WE HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND AS I'VE BEEN SAYING, I CALL ON ALL POLITICAL LEADERS OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO WATCH THE LANGUAGE. PETERS MADE THE COMMENTS DURING A SECTION OF HIS SPEECH LABELLED 'LABOUR GOVERNMENT FAILURES'. AND THE INSIDIOUS CREEP OF RACIST CO-GOVERNANCE... THE NAZI COMMENTS CAME JUST AFTER THAT. YOU COMPARED CO-GOVERNANCE DO NOT TO GERMANY. IS THAT APPROPRIATE? YES. IT IS BASED ON RACIAL PREFERENCE, ON SOMEBODY BEING SUPERIOR. BUT BY THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE STORY HAD SHIFTED, AND PETERS WAS CLAIMING IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CO-GOVERNANCE AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH RAWIRI WAITITI. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BRING THE HOLOCAUST INTO IT? WELL, BECAUSE LAST YEAR, WAITITI FROM THE MAORI PARTY SAID THAT MAORI HAVE SUPERIOR DNA. HE AND HIS PARTY THINK IT'S BEEN OVERBLOWN. LOOK, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CATASTROPHISATION GOING ON. YOU STOP LYING, MATE. THIS IS TEXTBOOK WINSTON PETERS ` DEFLECTION, OBFUSCATION AND RETROSPECTIVE NARRATIVE BUILDING. IN THE WORDS OF MR PETERS HIMSELF, WORDS MATTER ` AND IN THIS CASE, THE WORDS AND FACTS ARE STACKED AGAINST HIM. JENNA LYNCH, NEWSHUB. A PRISON SENTENCE LOOKS CERTAIN FOR TWO NEW ZEALANDERS FILMED WRESTLING A THAI POLICE OFFICER TO THE GROUND AND TAKING HIS GUN. THAI POLICE SAY HAMISH AND OSCAR DAY WILL BE BANNED FROM THE COUNTRY AFTER THE INCIDENT IN PHUKET, BUT A LOCAL JOURNALIST SAYS THE HUMILIATING PICTURES WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO CUSTODIAL SENTENCES BEFORE THEY'RE BOOTED OUT. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS. BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO COURT, HAMISH AND OSCAR DAY MUST OVERCOME TRIAL BY MEDIA, WITH THESE HUMILIATING PICTURES OF A ROYAL THAI POLICE OFFICER HAVING HIS GUN TAKEN OFF HIM. THERE'S A SENSE THAT FOREIGNERS COME IN, DO AS THEY PLEASE AND DON'T RESPECT THAI CULTURE, AND THE TWO NEW ZEALAND BROTHERS COULD NOT HAVE PICKED A WORSE TIME TO PULL THEIR STUNT. BANGKOK POST JOURNALIST DAVE KENDALL SAYS THAT ALTERCATION, NOW STREAMING ON THOUSANDS OF SCREENS IN TWO COUNTRIES, IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR THE BROTHERS. YOU KNOW, OPTICALLY, IT WAS TERRIBLE. THAIS ARE A VERY PROUD NATION, SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A MORE HUMILIATING IMAGE YOU CAN IMAGINE THAN, YOU KNOW, A ROYAL THAI POLICE OFFICER BEING WRESTLED TO THE GROUND BY A BIG FOREIGNER. IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. POLICE WERE INITIALLY OUTRAGED WHEN THE BROTHERS SPED PAST THE CHALONG POLICE STATION ON RENTED MOTORBIKES. WHICH IS A SIGN OF DISRESPECT TO THE THAI AUTHORITIES. POLICE SAY THE PAIR HAVE BEEN BLACKLISTED FROM THAILAND AND THEY WANT THEM DETAINED UNTIL TRIAL ON FIVE CHARGES. USUALLY, UNRULY FOREIGNERS SIMPLY GET DEPORTED ` BUT NOT THIS TIME. IT'S GOT SUCH GREAT PUBLICITY. AND IT'S BECOME AN IMAGE NOW. IT'S BECOME UM, A REALLY HOT TOPIC. SO I THINK THEY MAY SPEND SOME JAIL TIME IN THAILAND. IT'S REPORTED OSCAR DAY, ON THE RIGHT, IS AN MMA FIGHTER. I SUGGEST THAT IF THEY'RE WITH A BUNCH OF THAI MEN IN A BIG ROOM, THEY MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO PRACTISE THEIR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS. THE MEN'S FATHER, LAURENCE DAY, IS A HAMILTON BUSINESSMAN. BUT DAVE KENDALL SAYS THAT MAY NOT HELP, WHEN FOREIGNERS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED IN A SPATE OF HIGH-PROFILE VIOLENT CRIMES. THE THAI PRESS HAS TOTALLY PICKED UP ON THE NARRATIVE THAT THESE ARE RICH, SPOILED FOREIGNERS COMING IN, DOING AS THEY PLEASE, NOT RESPECTING LOCAL THAI CULTURE. KENDALL'S BEST ADVICE ` APOLOGIES GO A LONG WAY IN THAILAND. I THINK IF THE BROTHERS REALLY SHOW PENITENCE AND MADE SOME BIG APOLOGIES, UM, I THINK THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEAVE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. BUT NOT BEFORE, IT SEEMS LIKELY, THEY SPEND TIME AT HIS MAJESTY'S PLEASURE. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH, NEWSHUB. KIWIS WHO SAY THEY'VE BEEN TORMENTED BY ANTISOCIAL KAINGA ORA NEIGHBOURS ARE CELEBRATING THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO MAKE IT EASIER TO EVICT UNRULY TENANTS. BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL UNSURE HOW MANY CHILDREN COULD BE IMPACTED BY ITS DECISION. POLITICAL REPORTER AMELIA WADE HAS MORE. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) KATELYN PARKS' OLD NEIGHBOURS MADE HER FAMILY'S LIFE HELL. ALL SHE ASKED IS FOR YOU TO TURN THE MUSIC DOWN A LITTLE BIT! I'D GET HOME FROM WORK AND PULL UP THE DRIVEWAY AND JUST START CRYING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE NEAR MY HOUSE. THE NEIGHBOURS WERE MOVED ON, AND KATELYN'S PLEASED KAINGA ORA HAS BEEN TOLD TO EVICT MORE BAD TENANTS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS SOMEONE, THEN YOU DON'T ACTUALLY DESERVE TO HAVE A HOUSE LIKE THAT. THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN SITTING IN EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR YEARS THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A PROPERTY WHO'D RESPECT THEIR NEIGHBOURS AND BE GOOD TENANTS. THE PARNELL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IS ALSO CELEBRATING. WE'RE REALLY THRILLED WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT. I THINK IT'S A VERY POSITIVE WAY FORWARD. IT WROTE TO THE HOUSING MINISTER, BLAMING A CRIME WAVE ON A NEARBY BLOCK OF KAINGA ORA FLATS. WE HAVE QUITE A LOT OF CCTV, SO WHEN I SAY WE HAVE TRACED IT BACK TO THE APARTMENTS, WE CAN'T EXACTLY SAY THAT THOSE PEOPLE LIVE THERE, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THEY GOT BACK TO THOSE APARTMENTS. THE HOUSING MINISTER'S CHIEF PIECE OF EVIDENCE FOR NEEDING THIS POLICY IS THE FACT THAT THERE WERE JUST THREE EVICTIONS FOR BAD EHAVIOUR LAST YEAR. NEWSHUB'S OBTAINED A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE OTHER ACTIONS KAINGA ORA TOOK IN 2023. THERE WERE THE THREE EVICTIONS FOR BAD BEHAVIOUR; TENANTS WERE RELOCATED TO A DIFFERENT HOME ` WITH THEIR AGREEMENT ` 215 TIMES; TENANTS WERE RELOCATED AGAINST THEIR WILL, FOUR TIMES; TENANTS WERE RELOCATED AGAINST THEIR WILL FOUR TIMES; AND 90 SECTION 55A NOTICES WERE ISSUED ABOUT DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR. LABOUR NOW ADMITS IT MIGHT HAVE GOT THE BALANCE WRONG. IT'S PROBABLY AN AREA WHERE WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE. IT'S DEFINITELY TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE AT THE TIME. AND I AM ARE CONFIDENT THAT KAINGA ORA ENFORCING THE LAW THAT IS ALREADY THERE WILL LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR FROM TENANTS. THE CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP SAYS IT DEPENDS HOW THE POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED. IT COULD BE THAT THIS IS REALLY A SYMBOLIC MOVE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO APPEAR TO GET TOUGH AND TO APPEAL TO ITS SUPPORTERS, BUT IT COULD BE THAT HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES END UP ON THE STREETS. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LIABLE FOR EVICTION IN A STATE HOUSE, DON'T BEHAVE IN A WAY THAT MEANS YOU ARE LIABLE FOR EVICTION. BUT THE MINISTER STILL DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY CHILDREN COULD BE AFFECTED BY HIS DECISION. HALF THE HOUSEHOLDS AFFECTED WILL HAVE CHILDREN, AND POSSIBLY TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE WILL HAVE MORE THAN TWO OR THREE, SO A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED. DID YOU, IN FACT, THINK OF THE KIDS BEFORE YOU CHANGED THIS POLICY? OF COURSE WE THOUGHT OF CHILDREN, AND WE TOOK A RANGE OF ADVICE IN RELATION TO IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY. A RANGE OF ADVICE, PERHAPS, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFICS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE. AMELIA WADE, NEWSHUB. DONALD TRUMP'S BEEN UNABLE TO COME UP WITH A GUARANTOR TO UNDERWRITE THE $464M BAIL BOND SET BY A NEW YORK FRAUD TRIAL JUDGE. TRUMP'S LAWYERS SAY HE TRIED 30 DIFFERENT COMPANIES TO SECURE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE HIS APPEAL, BUT THE SUM IS JUST TOO GREAT. IT'S DUE IN A WEEK, AND IF HE CAN'T COME UP WITH THE MONEY, THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY COULD SEIZE HIS ASSETS, INCLUDING TRUMP TOWER, AND FREEZE HIS BANK ACCOUNTS. U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS SPOKEN TO ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER ON THE PHONE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS. AND THE RESULT MAY BE A STAY OF ISRAEL'S HAND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ASSAULT ON RAFAH. ISRAEL WILL FIRST SEND A TEAM OF MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN ADVISERS TO WASHINGTON TO EXPLAIN HOW IT PLANS TO SPARE THE CITY'S CIVILIAN POPULATION FROM THE FATE THAT AWAITS HAMAS. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH McCANN REPORTS. (MAN SHOUTS IN ARABIC) GAZA'S BIGGEST HOSPITAL, AL-SHIFA, SHOULD PROVIDE SAFE REFUGE FROM THIS TORTUROUS WAR. TODAY IT WAS AGAIN ON FIRE AFTER ISRAEL LAUNCHED ITS LATEST ASSAULT IN THE ENCLAVE. (URGENT SHOUTING) SURVIVORS STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE DUST CLOUDS SHORTLY AFTER THE BATTLE STARTED. (CHILD CRIES, WOMAN SHOUTS IN ARABIC) 'IT'S SHAMEFUL,' THIS WOMAN CRIES OUT AS SHE HOLDS HER CHILD. ISRAEL RELEASED FOOTAGE OF THE ASSAULT AND HAS LONG CLAIMED HAMAS HAS BEEN HIDING UNDER AND AROUND THE HOSPITAL. IT SAYS IT KILLED NUMBER THREE IN HAMAS AND AROUND 20 OTHERS DURING THE OPERATION. BUT IT'S AN UPCOMING OPERATION THAT'S CONCERNING AMERICA MOST ` IN RAFAH, WHERE MORE THAN A MILLION CIVILIANS ARE SHELTERING. TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD A CONVERSATION DESCRIBED AS 'ROBUST' WITH ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER ABOUT HIS STRATEGY IN RAFAH. AND THAT STRATEGY SHOULD NOT INVOLVE A MAJOR MILITARY OPERATION THAT PUTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES ` CIVILIAN, INNOCENT LIVES ` AT RISK IN RAFAH. THERE IS A BETTER WAY. AMERICA SAYS THAT 'BETTER WAY' IS FOR ISRAEL TO SEND A DELEGATION TO THE U.S. TO EXPLAIN ITS PLANS IN DETAIL. ISRAEL WILL, BUT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S INTENTIONS ALREADY SEEM CLEAR. THE MAJORITY OF ISRAELIS SUPPORT THE POLICIES THAT WE ARE LEADING ` GOING TO RAFAH, DESTROYING THE REMAINING HAMAS TERRORIST BATTALIONS. NETANYAHU INTENDS TO EVACUATE ONE MILLION PEOPLE FROM RAFAH. THE CITY IS IN GAZA'S SOUTH, WHERE, IN RECENT MONTHS, CIVILIANS WERE TOLD THEY WOULD BE SAFE, AND THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO KNOW HOW IT INTENDS TO GET SO MANY PEOPLE OUT. WE WELCOME ANY CREDIBLE PLAN TO TAKE CARE OF THEM... HAVE YOU SEEN ONE? ...BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. (CHILDREN CLAMOUR) IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT THE SITUATION IN GAZA IS WORSENING AS STARVATION SETS IN. INTERNATIONAL MONITORING GROUPS ARE WARNING THAT FULL-SCALE FAMINE IS LIKELY IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'THERE ARE NO VEGETABLES, AND THE PRICES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE HERE,' THIS MAN SAYS. GAZANS ARE DESPERATE FOR THIS WAR TO END, BUT NETANYAHU DESPERATE FOR THE MISSION TO BE COMPLETE. IN NEW YORK, MITCH McCAN, NEWSHUB. NEW ZEALAND'S MOST FAMOUS SOPRANO, DAME KIRI TE KANAWA, HAS SUNG IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SHE RETIRED EIGHT YEARS AGO. DAME KIRI'S IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCE CAME DURING A SPECIAL CELEBRATION AT PARLIAMENT TO MARK HER RECENT 80th BIRTHDAY AND HONOUR HER ONGOING LEGACY. ALEXA COOK WAS THERE. KAWITI, KIRI: # E HINE E... A SOUND NOT HEARD IN PUBLIC SINCE 2016. # ...HOKI MAI RA. # KA MATE AHAU... # RECEIVING A STANDING OVATION FROM THE HOUSE FOR A MOMENT THAT TOOK EVEN HER BY SURPRISE. WERE YOU ACTUALLY PLANNING ON SINGING YOURSELF, OR WERE YOU JUST`? NO. NO, NO. THOUGHT I'D HELP KAWITI OUT, BECAUSE HE WAS PRETTY NERVOUS. I WASN'T. KAWITI WAETFORD IS A FORMER STUDENT OF DAME KIRI'S. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER OF THE POWER OF THE VOICE AND THE POWER OF MUSIC TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. DAME KIRI'S MUSICAL CAREER HAS SPANNED 50 YEARS ` PERFORMING ON THE WORLD'S BIGGEST STAGES, SINGING FOR THE LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH... # ...YOUR MAJESTY... # ...AT PRINCE CHARLES' AND PRINCESS DIANA'S WEDDING; SHE'S EVEN BEEN ON 'DOWNTOWN ABBEY'. AND OF COURSE, SHE'S RECEIVED THE HIGHEST ACCOLADES. TODAY, THOUGH, IT WAS OUR PARLIAMENT PAYING TRIBUTE. FANCY HAVING ONE OF OUR OWN WAHINE MAORI RIGHT AT THE TOP OF INTERNATIONAL AND LONG-STANDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TALENT IN THE OPERA, IN THE SINGING SPACE. YOU'VE INSPIRED AS WELL AS HELPED YOUNG MAORI, INVOKE THE ANCESTRAL MAGIC THAT LIES IN THEIR HUKAPAPA. YOU'VE INSPIRED AS WELL AS HELPED YOUNG MAORI INVOKE THE ANCESTRAL MAGIC THAT LIES IN THEIR HUKAPAPA. IT WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SALES PITCH. WE LOST A FEW SEATS, AND WE HAVE AN AVAILABLE SPOT IN THE NORTH AT THE MOMENT... (LAUGHTER) ...DAME KIRI, AND SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO JOIN POLITICS. A DAY THE DAME WON'T BE FORGETTING, WITH ALL OF PARLIAMENT RECOGNISING HER MANY ACHIEVEMENTS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO RECEIVE THAT. I MUST SAY IT'S GOING TO LAST WITH ME FOREVER. JUST AS HER VOICE WILL LAST WITH US ALL. KAWITI, KIRI: # KA MATE AHAU... ALEXA COOK, NEWSHUB. # ...I TE AROHA E. # PHENOMENAL VOICE. GREAT TO HEAR IT AGAIN. TIME NOW FOR A RECAP OF TODAY'S WEATHER. PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR BALLOONS OVER WAIKATO? THE WIND WAS LIGHT, THE SKY WAS CLEAR, BUT NO CLOUDS MEANT NO THERMAL BLANKET, SO IT WAS CHILLY. AS FOR THE WEATHER EVERYWHERE ELSE ` MOSTLY FINE. A FEW SHOWERS OUT EAST, AND THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THE WIND HAS BEEN TOO. BUT THINGS LOOK GOOD TOMORROW, INCLUDING FOR DAY TWO OF BALLOONS OVER WAIKATO. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS BEEN CHEERED BY LARGE CROWDS IN MOSCOW'S RED SQUARE. THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WAS RE-ELECTED IN A PREDICTED LANDSLIDE, WHICH IS SEEN AS A MANDATE TO PUSH FORWARD WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE. WASTEWATER TESTING REVEALS WHERE THE COUNTRY'S HEAVIEST DRINKERS LIVE. AND WE'RE AT THE PREMIERE OF A NEW KIWI MOVIE FROM THE PRODUCERS OF 'JOJO RABBIT' AND 'HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE'. (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. RUSSIA'S NEWLY RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, HAS PUBLICLY ADDRESSED THE DEATH OF HIS STAUNCHEST OPPONENT, ALEXEI NAVALNY. PUTIN SAID HE WAS THINKING OF LETTING NAVALNY GO ` BUT NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HE DROPPED DEAD. 'OH, WELL,' SAID PUTIN ` 'THAT'S LIFE.' ITV'S JAMES MATES REPORTS. ANTHEM BLARES: # ROSSIYA ` SVASHCHENNAYA... THE PARTY IN RED SQUARE TONIGHT WAS TO CELEBRATE THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA, BUT FOR A FRESHLY RE-ELECTED VLADIMIR PUTIN, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER REASON TO BE CHEERFUL ` CONFIRMED IN POWER FOR ANOTHER SIX YEARS AT LEAST, A MAN WHO STARTED A DISASTROUS AND COSTLY WAR, WHO BROUGHT DOWN UNPRECEDENTED SANCTIONS ON HIS ECONOMY. IN A NORMAL COUNTRY, A RECORD LIKE THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU FEAR FOR YOUR POSITION, BUT THIS IS RUSSIA. # ...OTECHESTVO... # (INDISTINCT CHATTER) THEY MADE IT LOOK AND SOUND LIKE A REGULAR ELECTION NIGHT ` THE BIG REVEAL, THE EXIT POLLS; BUT THERE THE SIMILARITY ENDED. THEY SAY PUTIN WON 87%, BUT WHO KNOWS? THERE ARE NO CHECKS, NO TRANSPARENCY, NO MONITORS; HIS ONLY OPPONENTS THREE POLITICAL NONENTITIES HAND-PICKED BY THE KREMLIN TO LOSE HUMILIATINGLY BUT WITHOUT COMPLAINING. DOBRYY VECHER. AS PUTIN LEARNED FROM HIS PREDECESSOR JOSEF STALIN, IT'S NOT WHO VOTES THAT COUNTS BUT WHO COUNTS THE VOTES. PUTIN WAS SHOWN BACK AT WORK AND IN CHARGE THIS MORNING. BUT HIS BIGGEST OPPONENT, ALEXEI NAVALNY, HAD BEEN KILLED IN ONE OF HIS PRISONS LAST MONTH. IN HIS VICTORY REMARKS, PUTIN CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD BEEN THINKING OF FREEING HIM IN A PRISONER SWAP. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) 'I AGREED THE SWAP ON ONE CONDITION,' HE SAID ` 'THAT NAVALNY DIDN'T COME BACK TO RUSSIA. THAT'S IT. 'BUT THESE THINGS HAPPEN. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. 'THAT'S LIFE.' BUT IN BEIJING, THERE WERE CONGRATULATIONS ON AN ELECTION CARRIED OUT VERY MUCH TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. (SPEAKS MANDARIN) TRANSLATOR: UNDER THE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE OF PRESIDENTS XI JINPING AND PUTIN, WE ARE CONVINCED CHINA/RUSSIA RELATIONS WILL SURGE AHEAD. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) EVERYTHING PUTIN DOES, FROM PSEUDO-ELECTIONS TO THE MURDER OF OPPONENTS, IS DESIGNED TO CONVINCE RUSSIANS THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO HIS RULE ` AND FOR NOW, AT LEAST, THAT IS WORKING. THERE'S A NEW LOCAL FILM HEADING TO CINEMAS NEXT WEEK. IT'S CALLED 'THE MOUNTAIN', AND THE WORLD PREMIERE IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF IN TARANAKI. WE DISPATCHED KATE RODGER THERE OF COURSE, SHE WILL CHASE A RED CARPET JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE. HI, KATE! THROUGH IS NOT I CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT THEME IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE ANSWER TO COME TO TARANAKI A FILM FRONT AND CENTRE THAT HAS THE MONGO AND IT ALL THESE FABULOUS PEOPLE THE TAIL END OF THE 700 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO CRAM THE CINEMA TONIGHT FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE ALONG WITH THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN THREE AMAZING NEW STARS AS THEIR VERY FIRST RED CARPET THEY WERE WELCOMED ON WITH THE MOST AMAZING HIKER THEY HAD ALL OF THE MEDIA OF COURSE AND IT'S A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THEM IS AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT RACHEL HOUSE OF COURSE FAMOUS FOR HUNT FOR THE WORLD OF PEOPLE I IMAGINE SHALL HAVE A NICE CRISP GLASS OF TARANAKI CHAMPAGNE AS SHE TOASTS THIS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL NEW ZEALAND FILM NOT LONG TILL NEW ZEALAND AUDIENCES GET TO SAMPLE THIS FILM THEMSELVES THEY CAN CATCH IT IN JUST ONE SHORT WEEK I NEED TO GET BACK THERE IT'S BEEN GREAT TO CHAT OFF YOU GO KATE LOOKS GREAT THEY'VE WON JUST ONE OF THEIR LAST 19 GAMES AGAINST THE RED-AND-BLACKS, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T GIVING OFF THE VIBE OF A TEAM THAT'S SCARED TO TAKE ON THE SEVEN-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, WHO ARE DESPERATELY HOPING TO SNAP THEIR LOSING STREAK AT EDEN PARK. AND WHAT'S THE PUNISHMENT FOR THE THE NRL SUPERSTAR WHO SWORE FIVE TIMES IN LITTLE MORE THAN 30 SECONDS DURING A POST-MATCH INTERVIEW? WASTEWATER TESTING HAS REVEALED NEW ZEALAND'S BOOZIEST REGIONS, AND THE RESULTS MAY SURPRISE YOU. WE'RE VERY LUCKY NOW TO HAVE KAYLEE BELL JOINING US IN THE STUDIO. GOOD MORNING. LLOYD ESPECIALLY HAS BEEN A BIG FAN. (CHUCKLES) WE NEED TO GET YOU ON STAGE. # THE MEMORIES WE MAKE AND DREAMS THAT WE CHASE ` # IT'S A WINDING ROAD, BUT IT'S ALL WORTH THE WAIT. # I'M READY # FOR GOOD THINGS TO COME MY WAY. # BRITISH NEWS ORGANISATIONS ARE RUNNING PICTURES SAID TO SHOW THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES, OUT TOGETHER IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HER ABDOMINAL SURGERY. THE COUPLE LOOK HAPPY AND RELAXED, AND BOTH ARE CARRYING SHOPPING BAGS, AT A FARMSHOP NEAR WINDSOR CASTLE. IT COMES AFTER WEEKS OF SPECULATION ABOUT THE PRINCESS'S HEALTH AND EVEN THEIR MARRIAGE, WHICH THE PALACE DESCRIBED AS THE MADNESS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. KIWI UBER DRIVERS PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE COURT OF APPEAL THIS MORNING, WHERE UBER IS TRYING TO GET A LANDMARK EMPLOYMENT COURT RULING OVERTURNED. IN 2022, THE EMPLOYMENT COURT FOUND THAT FOUR UBER DRIVERS WERE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES, NOT CONTRACTORS, GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL RIGHTS SUCH AS SICK LEAVE AND HOLIDAY PAY. WILLIAM TERITE REPORTS. UBER DRIVERS RALLYING AGAINST WHAT THEY ARGUE ARE UNFAIR CONDITIONS. PROTESTERS CHANT: UNION POWER! UNION POWER! UNION POWER! THE DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE COURT OF APPEAL WAS LED BY LALOGAFAU MEA'OLE KEIL, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FOUR UBER DRIVERS RECOGNISED BY THE EMPLOYMENT COURT IN 2022 AS AN EMPLOYEE, NOT A CONTRACTOR. AS A HUMAN BEING, WE DESERVE TO BE HEARD, WE DESERVE JUSTICE, WE DESERVE FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. TODAY, UBER WAS TRYING TO APPEAL THAT DECISION, ARGUING THE EMPLOYMENT COURT GOT IT WRONG. DRIVERS COULD RELY ON UBER, BUT UBER COULD NOT RELY ON AN INDIVIDUAL DRIVER TO LOG ON AND UNDERTAKE WORK. THESE DRIVERS ARE HOPING THE COURT OF APPEAL THROWS THE CASE OUT. ON THIS DAY TODAY, AT THIS COURT OF APPEAL, I DO PRAY WE WILL BE GIVEN JUSTICE. UBER NEW ZEALAND'S GENERAL MANAGER, EMMA FOLEY, SAID IN A STATEMENT THE EMPLOYMENT COURT'S RULING 'THREATENS 'THE AUTONOMY UBER DRIVERS VALUE 'AND HAS CREATED SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY FOR WORKERS'. BUT THE UNION REPRESENTING DRIVERS SAY THEY DESERVE BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS. RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID THE MINIMUM WAGE; THEY DON'T GET SICK LEAVE, NO PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, NO KIWISAVER CONTRIBUTIONS. IT'S ALSO PROMPTED CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE. IT'S A POLITICAL CHOICE TO ALLOW UBER DRIVERS TO CONTINUE WORKING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS UNCERTAIN AND INSECURE. THE COURT OF APPEAL WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR THE CASE TOMORROW. WILLIAM TERITE, NEWSHUB. THE FAMILY OF A KIWI LAWYER KILLED IN A SUSPECTED HIT-AND-RUN IN SYDNEY HAVE FLOWN TO AUSTRALIA. MITCH EAST'S FAMILY LAID FLOWERS OUTSIDE HIS TAMARAMA APARTMENT, WHERE THE 28-YEAR-OLD DIED. THE HARVARD GRADUATE WAS FOUND LYING ON THE ROAD AFTER BEING HIT BY WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE A WHITE SUBARU. HE WAS RIGHT AT THE START OF HIS LEGAL CAREER WHICH RELATE LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE STELLAR POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE DRIVER. THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST DRINKERS HAVE BEEN REVEALED IN THE FIRST LARGE-SCALE TRIAL TESTING ALCOHOL IN WASTEWATER. RESEARCHERS AND HEALTH ADVOCATES HOPE IT CAN BE USED TO HELP REDUCE HARMFUL DRINKING AND BETTER TARGET REGIONS AT RISK. PERRY WILTON HAS THE FINDINGS. THIS STUDY IS LIFTING THE SPIRITS OF RESEARCHERS AND ADVOCATES ALIKE. IT'S A GOOD TOOL. VERY INTERESTING AND MEANINGFUL INSIGHTS. I'M REALLY EXCITED. WASTEWATER TESTING HAS BEEN TO DETECT COVID AND ILLEGAL DRUGS, BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, TESTING'S BEEN DONE FOR ALCOHOL. AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY'S LISA PILKINGTON SAYS IT'S A GAME-CHANGER. WHEN ALCOHOL IS SOLD OR BOUGHT, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY LOOK AT WHEN IT IS CONSUMED, AND SURVEYS DO HAVE A RANGE OF BIASES THAT MAY IMPACT THEM. TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE MEASURING CONSUMPTION AND NOT JUST PEOPLE POURING ALCOHOL DOWN THE DRAIN, RESEARCHERS WERE LOOKING FOR ETHYL SULFATE, WHICH COMES FROM THE BODY WHEN YOU CONSUME ALCOHOL. 10 WATER CATCHMENT AREAS WERE MONITORED OVER SIX MONTHS DURING 2021. THE SAMPLES CAME FROM FOUR CATCHMENT AREAS IN AUCKLAND ` NORTH, CENTRAL, WEST AND SOUTH ` AND FROM WAIROA, PALMERSTON NORTH, WESTPORT, CHRISTCHURCH, QUEENSTOWN AND DUNEDIN. OF THEM ALL, QUEENSTOWN DRUNK THE MOST. THE RESEARCH IS SO PRECISE, IN FACT, THAT IT CAN PINPOINT DAILY TRENDS. QUEENSTOWN'S BIGGEST BINGE CORRELATED WITH A ONE-OFF MALE STRIPPING SHOW BY THE NEW ZEALAND STALLIONS. # BRING 'EM OUT, BRING 'EM OUT. # THE RESEARCH ALSO FOUND THAT OF ALL AUCKLAND'S CATCHMENTS, THE NORTH SHORE DRANK THE MOST AND SOUTH AUCKLAND THE LEAST. IT'S VALIDATION 275 MANAGER FITZ SAYS THE COMMUNITY'S BEEN WAITING FOR. I KNOW FIRST HAND THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE SAID ABOUT US DOESN'T FIT WHO WE ARE. ALCOHOL HEALTHWATCH SAYS WATER TESTING IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE HARM-FIGHTING PUZZLE BUT THEY'RE KEEN TO SEE IT BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE. IT'S NEW ZEALAND'S MOST HARMFUL DRUG, AND THAT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE MOSTLY WIDELY-USED DRUG. I THINK IT CAN HELP US BUILD THAT PICTURE. AUCKLAND UNI AGREES. YOU COULD SEE THE EFFECT OF ANY KIND OF POLICY CHANGES RELATED TO ALCOHOL; YOU COULD LOOK INTO TO SEE IF` ANY INTERVENTIONS, OR WHERE SUPPORT CAN BE PROVIDED TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. THEY'RE NOW HOPING THE TESTING WILL BE ROLLED OUT NATIONWIDE TO GET A BIGGER PICTURE OF ALCOHOL'S GRIP. PERRY WILTON, NEWSHUB. BRITISH STREET ARTIST BANKSY HAS BEEN BUSY AGAIN ` HE'S CONFIRMED THAT HE IS BEHIND A NEW ARTWORK THAT APPEARED IN NORTH LONDON YESTERDAY. AND A RECORD NUMBER OF SEA LION PUPS HAVE BEEN BORN IN DUNEDIN. 0-4 TO START THE SEASON ` WHY THE CRUSDAERS ARE RELISHING A TRIP TO EDEN PARK TO FACE THE BLUES. PLUS ` INJURED AND OUT OF THE ALL WHITES' NEXT GAME ` WHY THINGS JUST GOT EVEN WORSE FOR KIWI STRIKER CHRIS WOOD. PLUS, SHOULD NRL STAR LATRELL MITCHELL WASH HIS MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP? HIS TEAMMATES HAVE GOT A BETTER IDEA TO KEEP HIS POTTY-MOUTH IN CHECK. IT'S ARGUABLY NEW ZEALAND'S MOST BITTER SUPER RUGBY RIVALRY, DESPITE RECENTLY BEING ONE OF THE MOST ONE-SIDED. HOWEVER, WITH THE USUALLY DOMINANT CRUSADERS ON A RECORD FOUR-GAME LOSING STREAK, YOU COULD UNDERSTAND WHY THE BLUES ARE PRIMED FOR A RARE WIN OVER THE MAINLANDERS. AS GORDON FINDLATER FOUND OUT, BOTH SIDES ARE STRUGGLING TO ADJUST TO THE CHANGE IN FAVOURITISM. IT WAS ALL FUN AND GAMES AT BLUES TRAINING TODAY. ...WHAT WE CAN DO, AND OH, DOOF, MAN! DOOF, MAN. OH, UM, DALTS, ARE YOU PLAYING THIS WEEK? HOW'S THE ANKLE? HOW'S THE ANKLE? DALTON'S BACK IN THERE THIS WEEK, BUT HE GOT STRIPPED OF THE CAPTAINCY, WHICH IS A BIT TOUGH. DEMOTED, EH. PERHAPS JOVIAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT OFTEN THEY GO INTO A MATCH AGAINST THE CRUSADERS WITH THEIR RIVALS AT THE BUTT END OF THE TABLE. YEAH, IT IS A LITTLE BIT WEIRD, I SUPPOSE. UM... BUT I THINK IT MAKES FOR AN EXCITING COMPETITION. WHILE IT'S WEIRD IN AUCKLAND, THOSE IN CHRISTCHURCH HAVE ANOTHER WORD TO DESCRIBE THE CHANGE IN FORTUNES. YEAH, IT'S A STRANGE FEELING, YOU KNOW? AND IT'S, UH... IT'S ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE YOU JUST KEEP GETTING AROUND EACH OTHER, KEEP TRYING TO MAKE EACH OTHER BETTER EVERY DAY. NOT HELPING THE CAUSE TO PREVENT OWEN FOUR BECOMING OWEN FIVE ` OWEN FRANKS. IT'S A YELLOW CARD. (WHISTLE TRILLS) THE CRUSADERS PROP COPPING A TWO-WEEK SUSPENSION FOR THIS HIGH SHOT IN THEIR LOSS TO THE HURRICANES. WHETHER WE'RE 0-4 OR 4-0, IT'S THE SAME MINDSET ` WE TURN UP, WE WANNA WIN EVERY WEEK. THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO DOING AGAINST THE BLUES ` THEY'VE WON 18 OF THEIR LAST 19 MEETINGS. BUT YOU COULD UNDERSTAND WHY THE BLUES ARE CONFIDENT OF CHANGING THAT. HOW EXCITED WOULD YOU BE TO GIVE THEM THEIR FIFTH LOSS? I'D BE PRETTY EXCITED, EH. HOPEFULLY. THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO DO A NUMBER ON US, SO THE BOYS ARE PRETTY PUMPED TO HOPEFULLY GET ONE BACK. IN THE CRUSADERS' EYES, THERE WOULD BE NO BETTER WAY TO RESURRECT THEIR SEASON. YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE AWESOME. GREAT PLACE TO TURN IT AROUND, ON THE ROAD UP THERE AT EDEN PARK. THE 'UNDERDOG' TAG MAY HAVE CHANGED HANDS, BUT THE SPICE IN THIS GREAT RIVALRY REMAINS THE SAME. GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. THE WHITE FERNS HAVE LOST THEIR T-20 SERIES OPENER AGAINST ENGLAND, LOSING BY 27 RUNS IN DUNEDIN THIS AFTERNOON. BOTH TEAMS WERE WITHOUT KEY PLAYERS ` WRAPPING UP COMMITMENTS WITH THE WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE ` BUT IT WAS NEW ZEALAND WHO MISSED THEIR STARS THE MOST. NATASHA PAYNE WATCHED THE ACTION. A WIN FOR THE WORLD NUMBER TWO. A VERY GOOD START TO THIS FIRST T20 FOR THIS ENGLISH SIDE. DESPITE BEING ASKED TO BAT FIRST, ENGLAND SHOWED INTENT FROM THE VERY START. BUT THE KIWIS DIDN'T LET THE OPENING PARTNERSHIP LAST TOO LONG. CHANCE.. TAKEN! ONCE ENGLAND CAPTAIN HEATHER KNIGHT CAME TO THE CREASE, SHE GOT TO WORK RIGHT AWAY. THE WHITE FERNS WITH A CHANCE TO DISMISS HER EARLY ON. THAT'S UP IN THE AIR. CHANCE AND... DROPS! THAT DROP COSTING THEM, AS KNIGHT SMASHED 63 RUNS, HELPING HER SIDE REACH 160. THAT IS A CRACKING SHOT. NEW ZEALAND'S NOW SET A RECORD RUN CHASE AND WOULD NEED TO DO IT WITHOUT THE STRIKE POWER OF SOPHIE DEVINE AND MELIE KERR. WICKET KEEPER IZZIE GAZE OPENED WITH SUZIE BATES BUT DIDN'T LAST LONG. ALMOST RUN OUT FIRST BALL, CAUGHT SECOND! STAND-IN CAPTAIN BATES KEPT HER SIDE AFLOAT, HITTING NINE BOUNDARIES AND TOP SCORING WITH 65. AGAIN, THE INNOVATION THERE... HOWEVER, SHE LACKED A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE OTHER END, AND THE WHITE FERNS SOON RAN OUT OF OVERS. THE KIWIS KNOW THEY'LL NEED TO FIND THE BOUNDARY ROPE MORE OFTEN IF THEY ARE TO BEAT ENGLAND THIS SERIES. BACKING OURSELVES TO HIT IT THROUGH OR OVER THE FIELD, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY TALK ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT AS A GROUP, AND IT'S TAKING THAT METHOD FROM THE NETS TO THE MIDDLE. BUT THERE IS ONE OR TWO THINGS BATES IS EXCITED FOR NEXT MATCH. LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING SOPHIE AND MELIE BACK. GAME TWO IS ON FRIDAY IN NELSON. NATASHA PAYNE, NEWSHUB. THE ALL WHITES WILL BE WITHOUT THEIR BEST PLAYER FOR THE UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL CUP AFTER CHRIS WOOD WAS RULED OUT THROUGH INJURY. THE NOTTINGHAM FOREST STRIKER WAS PULLED FROM THE FIELD ON SUNDAY AFTER SCORING A GOAL AGAINST LUTON TOWN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE. NEW ZEALAND WILL ALSO BE WITHOUT THE INJURED PAIR OF JOE BELL AND TIM PAYNE. THAT'S MEANT A CALL-UP FOR WELLINGTON PHOENIX CAPTAIN ALEX RUFER, WHO'LL JOIN THE ALL WHITES IN CAIRO AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S OPENING MATCH AGAINST EGYPT. AND THE BAD NEWS DOESN'T END THERE FOR CHRIS WOOD ` HIS CLUB, NOTTINGHAM FOREST, HAVE BEEN PLUNGED INTO THE RELEGATION ZONE AFTER BECOMING THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM TO BE HIT WITH A POINTS DEDUCTION. THE CLUB ADMITTED BREAKING THE LEAGUE'S PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY RULES BUT INSISTED THE BREACH WAS FORCED BY 'UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES'. THOSE CLAIMS, THOUGH, HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY AUTHORITIES. ITV'S BEN CHAPMAN EXPLAINS. IT'S NOT A TYPICAL TAUNT ON THE TERRACES. BUT THE TEAM THEY WERE JEERING, NOTTINGHAM FOREST, WHO'D ALREADY DROPPED TWO POINTS DUE TO A LATE EQUALISER AT LUTON ON SATURDAY... NODS IT DOWN, AND IT'S SWEPT IT! ...HAVE NOW LOST FOUR MORE ` THE LATEST POINTS DEDUCTION THAT COULD DECIDE WHO GETS RELEGATED THIS SEASON. IT CERTAINLY HAS FOREST FANS WORRIED. IT'S ABOUT NOTTINGHAM FOREST MAKING MISTAKES OFF THE PITCH, AND IT HAS PUT OUR SEASON IN A LITTLE BIT OF JEOPARDY. EFFECTIVELY, IT'S AROUND ABOUT 10% OF THE POINTS YOU MIGHT NEED TO SURVIVE, AND WE'VE HAD THE RUG PULLED OUT FROM UNDER OUR FEET. TODAY'S FOUR-POINT PENALTY FOR BREAKING FINANCIAL RULES DROPS NOTTINGHAM FOREST INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE'S RELEGATION ZONE. CLUBS ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE A LOSS OF UP TO �105m OVER THREE YEARS, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NEW TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE, FOREST'S LOSSES WERE LIMITED TO �61m, AND THEY BREACHED THAT BY AROUND �34m. BUT FOREST BELIEVE THE RULES ARE UNFAIR BECAUSE THEY MORE THAN RECOUPED THAT LOSS BY SELLING ONE OF THEIR STAR PLAYERS. JOHNSON! (CROWD ROARS) BUT THEY WAITED UNTIL AFTER THE ACCOUNTING DEADLINE TO GET MORE MONEY FOR HIM. RIVALS EVERTON HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOCKED SIX POINTS AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT A POTENTIAL SECOND PUNISHMENT. THEY TOO ARE FIGHTING RELEGATION. AT THE OTHER END OF THE LEAGUE, MANCHESTER CITY ARE CHARGED WITH MORE THAN 100 FINANCIAL BREACHES, BUT ITS CASE WON'T BE RESOLVED UNTIL NEXT YEAR. FOR NOW, LEVELLING THE FINANCIAL PLAYING FIELD MEANS IT'S THE FATE OF FOREST AND THEIR RIVALS... YES! AND WOODS STABS IT IN! ...THAT MAY BE DETERMINED BY WHAT HAPPENS OFF THE PITCH RATHER THAN ON IT. ...FINALLY BREAK THE DEADLOCK, AND IT'S CHRIS WOOD, WHO SCORED TWICE AGAINST LUTON AT THE CITY GROUND EARLIER... FINALLY TONIGHT ` RABBITOHS STAR LATRELL MITCHELL IS CERTAIN TO REMAIN TIGHT-LIPPED IN THE FUTURE DESPITE AVOIDING AN NRL SANCTION FOR A FOUL-MOUTHED RADIO INTERVIEW. HIS SOUTH SYDNEY TEAMMATES HAVE COME UP WITH AN OLD-SCHOOL SOLUTION TO KEEP THE FULLBACK IN CHECK FOLLOWING A POST-MATCH RADIO INTERVIEW IN WHICH MITCHELL DROPPED FIVE F-BOMBS IN 33 SECONDS. IT WAS (BLEEP) IN THE FIRST BIT. JUST A HARD GAME. BUT WE (BLEEP)ING SHOWED WE'RE WERE ABOUT. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, UM, PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID IT SO MANY TIMES, BUT... SLIP OF THE TONGUE. WE GOT A SWEAR JAR AT TRAINING NOW, AND WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. ...LAST YEAR, SO (BLEEP) BUILD ON THAT. WE CAN'T TRUST HIM TOO MUCH WITH THE SWEAR JAR ` HE'LL ROB IT. A SYDNEY NEWSPAPER POLL FOUND MORE THAN 80% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVED THE NRL SHOULD FINE MITCHELL $5000 FOR HIS POTTY-MOUTHED OUTBURST. SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF THE BILL BE A SWEATER AT MY PLACE OF THE WARRIORS DON'T WIN THE BRITISH STREET ARTIST BANKSY HAS CREATED A NEW TALKING POINT, WITH A MURAL APPEARING IN A LONDON SUBURB. AND AS ITV'S GERAINT VINCENT REPORTS, THIS ONE'S UNLIKELY TO BE STOLEN. A QUARTER OF NORTH LONDON HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED ` A TREE WHICH HAS HAD ITS BRANCHES CUT BACK HAS HAD ITS FOLIAGE RESTORED BY SOMEBODY WITH A PRESSURE-SPRAYER, AND THE LOCALS ARE DELIGHTED. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE RIGHT POSITIONING, YOU CAN SEE IT ALL COME TOGETHER, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S MORE THOUGHT TO IT THAN JUST PAINT ON A WALL. LIKE, IT REALLY IS INTERESTING ` USING THE SURROUNDINGS FOR, AGAIN, A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART. BANKSY PAINTED THE WALL OVERNIGHT ON SATURDAY. HE CONFIRMED IT WAS HIS WORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS MORNING ` BUT FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW, THERE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT. I CAME HERE AND I'M LIKE, 'OH MY GOD, THIS IS REAL BANKSY.' IT'S DONE WITH CONFIDENCE. UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS, YOU CAN'T JUST DO IT WITH SUCH A CONFIDENCE. I AM ALEX GEORGIOU, AND I OWN THIS BUILDING. MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT THE PRICES UP NOW. 250% UP. (BOTH LAUGH) THEY'VE GOTTA PAY MORE. THEY LIVE IN A WORLD-FAMOUS BUILDING NOW. YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT THE DRONE ON THE STOP SIGN WAS TAKEN WITHIN AN HOUR OF IT GOING UP. NO ONE'S NICKING THIS. I HOPE I'M RIGHT ON THAT. BUT... YEAH, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WITHOUT THE TREE. HOW CAN YOU NICK A TREE? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WITHOUT THE WALL. HOW CAN YOU NICK A BUILDING? ISLINGTON COUNCIL TOLD US THEY HAD TO CUT THE TREE BACK TO PROLONG ITS LIFE AND THAT THEY'RE PLANTING MORE TREES EVERY YEAR. THEY ALSO SAY THEIR GRAFFITI REMOVAL TEAM IS AWARE OF THE ARTWORK AND WON'T BE REMOVING IT. A RECORD NUMBER OF SEA LION PUPS HAVE BEEN BORN IN DUNEDIN DURING THE LATEST BREEDING SEASON, STUNNING DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION RANGERS, WHO SAY IT MEANS THE MAMMAL IS HERE TO STAY. A TOTAL OF 31 PUPS HAVE BEEN COUNTED SO FAR ` THAT'S 10 MORE THAN LAST YEAR. IT'S THE THIRD RECORD-REAKING YEAR AS THE POPULATION INCHES CLOSER TO QUALIFYING AS A BREEDING COLONY, WHICH REQUIRES AT LEAST 35 PUPS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. LARGELY BECAUSE ALL THE FEMALES THAT COULD HAVE PUPS HAVE PRETTY MUCH HAD PUPS. LAST YEAR, THERE WERE QUITE A FEW THAT... THAT DIDN'T, SO WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING IN THE WATER OR JUST THE EFFICIENCY OF THE MALES FINDING THEM, UH... (CHUCKLES) WHO KNOWS? DUNEDIN'S SEA LION POPULATION IS THE LARGEST IN NEW ZEALAND, AND AS IT GROWS, DOC IS CAUTIONING THE PUBLIC TO RESPECT THE MAMMALS' SPACE. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` UP TO 50,000 DISABLED NEW ZEALANDERS AND THEIR CARERS HAVE BEEN BLINDSIDED BY SWEEPING CHANGES TO FUNDING, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THAT THEY SAY DRASTICALLY REDUCE THEIR ACCESS TO SUPPORT. WINSTON PETERS HAS RESPONDED TO THE BAND CHUMBAWUMBA'S REQUEST FOR HIM TO STOP USING THEIR HIT 'TUBTHUMPING' IN HIS RALLIES. THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER SAYS THE STORY WAS INITIATED BY 'A LEFTIE REPORTER' WHO CALLED THE BAND TO GET THEIR 'BIASED APPRAISAL' OF HIS SPEECH ON RACE RELATIONS. HE SAYS HE HASN'T BEEN CONTACTED BY THE BAND. AND A JOURNALIST IN THAILAND SAYS A PRISON SENTENCE LOOKS CERTAIN FOR THE TWO NEW ZEALANDERS FILMED WRESTLING A POLICE OFFICER TO THE GROUND AND TAKING HIS GUN. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER. AND IT'S SET TO GET COLD TONIGHT, HEATHER? THANKS TO HIGH PRESSURE, WE HAVE A VERY SETTLED AND CLEAR NIGHT AHEAD, WITH NO CLOUDS TO TRAP IN ANY RESIDUAL HEAT FROM TODAY. SO SHELTERED INLAND SPOTS IN BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH MAY WAKE TO FROST, BUT THE DAY IS MOSTLY FINE ` JUST CHILLY. PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR THE AUTUMN EQUINOX. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. # R-E-S-P-E-C-T. TAKE CARE ` TCB. # TOMORROW'S WEATHER ` BROUGHT TO YOU BY NATURE, TURNED INTO POWER BY MERIDIAN. NAU MAI ANO ` WELCOME BACK. WE ARE ENTERING A CALM, CLEAR BUT COLD COUPLE OF DAYS AHEAD, WITH HIGH PRESSURE THE KEY DRIVER. THE CENTRE SLIDES TO THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TOMORROW BUT CONTINUES TO EXTEND A STRONG RIDGE BACK OVER CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND. THE UPPER NORTH WILL STILL BE UNDER THE SOU'EASTERLY FLOW, BUT IT'S EASING, AND A STRENGTHENING NOR'WEST FLOW DEVELOPS OVER THE DEEP SOUTH. JUST ONE LITTLE TROUGH TOMORROW, WHICH WILL DISH UP SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTH'S NORTH-WEST. MOSTLY FINE TONIGHT, WITH LIGHT WINDS AROUND THE SOUTH; CLOUDY SPOTS AND ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR THE NORTH WEST. TOMORROW, CLOUD INCREASES OUT WEST, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN BULLER SPREADING SOUTH. EVERYONE ELSE IS FINE, WITH EVEN A LITTLE MORNING FROST FOR SHELTERED SPOTS. LOOKING GOOD OVERNIGHT FOR THE NORTH ` PLENTY OF CLEAR SKY ` BUT CLOUDY PERIODS AND A FEW SHOWERS WILL AFFECT EASTERN REGIONS. WINDS WILL BE FRESH AND FROM THE SOUTH OR SOU'EAST. TOMORROW, THOSE SHOWERS OUT EAST CONTINUE BUT BECOME FEW AND FAR BETWEEN FOR THE SOUTH-EAST. LIKE THE SOUTH ISLAND, SHELTERED SPOTS MAY WAKE TO MORNING FROST. SO IT'S LOOKING LOVELY UP TOP ` CHILLY FIRST UP, BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT'S THE TREND EVERYWHERE. CLOUD DOES ROLL IN FOR SOME IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH EAST TO SOU'EAST WINDS DYING OUT BY THE END OF THE DAY. SIMILAR HERE, WITH BLUE SKIES FIRST UP AND A SOUTH TO SOU'EAST BREEZE. CLOUD ARRIVES IN THE MORNING FOR TAUPO AND IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ROTORUA, TAURANGA AND WHAKATANE. SIMILAR TO TODAY, THAT ONSHORE SOUTH TO SOU'EAST WIND WILL PUSH CLOUD AND SHOWERS OUT EAST. THINGS IMPROVE IN THE AFTERNOON, THOUGH, WITH WINDS EASING IN THE EVENING. FROSTY FOR YOU, TAUMARUNUI, DROPPING TO ZERO. IT'S FINE EVERYWHERE, WITH CLOUD CLEARING EARLY FOR WELLINGTON. THE SOUTH OR SOU'EASTERLY WILL EASE AND TURN NOR'EAST LATE IN THE DAY FOR WHANGANUI. AS WE SAW EARLIER, THERE'S A TROUGH LINGERING OUT WEST, SO THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS IS THERE FOR HOKITIKA AND GREYMOUTH, WITH A NOR'EASTER DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. POSSIBLE FROST FOR TIMARU; EVERYWHERE OUT EAST WILL BE FINE TOO, EASTERLIES TOP AND TAIL, WITH A NOR'EASTER FOR KAIKOURA, CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. AND BLUE SKIES FOR ALL HERE. THE NOR'EASTER BECOMES FRESH IN THE AFTERNOON FOR OAMARU. A SOU'WESTER DEVELOPS FOR QUEENSTOWN, AND NOR'WESTERS TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE DEEP SOUTH. DUNEDIN, YOU ARE LOOKING MIGHTY FINE TOMORROW, WITH MORNING FROST IN SHELTERED PLACES. THE NOR'EASTERLY BECOMES A LITTLE FRESH ABOUT THE COAST DURING THE AFTERNOON. FINE FOR CHRISTCHURCH TOO, WITH A NOR'EASTER AS WELL. THE WIND DOES PICK UP DURING THE MORNING, WITH A FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF ONLY 10. CLOUD CLEARS EARLY FOR WELLINGTON ` THE DAY WILL BE CHILLY, WITH A SOU'EASTER AND A FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF ONLY 11, BUT THE WIND DIES OUT TOMORROW NIGHT. HAWKE'S BAY ` YOU MAY BE THE UNLUCKY FEW WHO GET SHOWERS TOMORROW, BUT THEY CLEAR IN THE AFTERNOON. THE SOUTHERLY WILL EASE IN THE EVENING. FINE AROUND TAURANGA FOR MOST OF THE DAY; CLOUD DOES INCREASE FOR A WHILE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, WITH A SOUTHERLY. HAMILTON, YOU ARE IN FOR A REPEAT OF TODAY'S WEATHER, BUT WITH AN EVEN LOWER DIP IN OVERNIGHT TEMPS ` DOWN TO 4. THE DAY WILL BE FINE, WITH JUST LIGHT WINDS. AUCKLAND, ALSO A REPEAT OF TODAY'S WEATHER TOMORROW, BUT WITH A SLIGHT WIND SHIFT ` A SOU'EASTERLY WILL DEVELOP FROM THE AFTERNOON. TO OZ ` EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE MEGAN HAS NOW MOVED INLAND OVER THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, SO ANOTHER DAY OF RAIN ACROSS CAIRNS. AND PLENTY OF THE MAIN ISLANDS AROUND THE PACIFIC WILL BE RECEIVING RAIN TOMORROW. SAMOA LOOKS THE PICK OF THE BUNCH. BACK TO US, AND THURSDAY LOOKS GOOD ` AGAIN, A REPEAT OF TODAY AND TOMORROW'S WEATHER. SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR SOME ON SATURDAY. LOOKING GOOD OUT EAST TOO, WITH SHOWERS ON SATURDAY, ESPECIALLY FOR TAURANGA AND TAUPO. RAIN DEVELOPS LATE FRIDAY FOR THE SOUTH AND WEST; SOME HEAVY FALLS EXPECTED, BUT FINE BREAKS INCREASE ON SATURDAY. CLOUDY FOR THE WEST OF THE SOUTH ON THURSDAY, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS; THEN RAIN DEVELOPS FOR MOST IN THE NORTH ON FRIDAY. AND THE REST OF THE SOUTH CAN EXPECT SHOWERS FOR THE END OF THE WEEK, WITH RAIN DEVELOPING LATE IN THE DAY ON SATURDAY. SO PERFECT WEATHER TO MARK THE AUTUMN EQUINOX ` OFFICIALLY, 4.06 TOMORROW AFTERNOON. FROM THAT POINT ON, THE NIGHTS WILL BE LONGER THAN THE DAYS. OF COURSE YOU WOULD KNOW THAT FACT, HEATHER. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. REBECCA WRIGHT AND THE NEWSHUB LATE TEAM ARE HERE ON THREE AT 9.30, AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT news@newshub.co.nz. I'M MIKE McROBERTS. AND I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.