40 SECONDS OF TERROR ` THE VICTIMS OF A SHOCKING SMASH AND GRAB AT A SOUTH AUCKLAND JEWELLERS SAY THEY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN NZ. A NATIONWIDE SCHOOL CELL-PHONE BAN HAS BEGUN, BUT ARE ALL SCHOOLS ON BOARD? WHAT'S FUELLING THE SPIKE IN PETROL PRICES, AND HOW HIGH ARE THEY TIPPED TO GO? AND DAME SOPHIE PASCOE WITHDRAWS FROM COMPETING AT THE PARIS PARALYMPICS. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024. TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING IF AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AT A MICHAEL HILL STORE YESTERDAY IS CONNECTED TO A SPATE OF OTHER JEWELLERY STORE HEISTS ACROSS AUCKLAND. IT CAME JUST DAYS AFTER MASKED THIEVES LOOTED A JEWELLERY STORE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND ON ANZAC DAY. AND NOW, SHOCKING CCTV FOOTAGE HAS EMERGED OF THE MOMENT STAFF AND CUSTOMERS FLED IN TERROR, AS THE OFFENDERS SMASHED THEIR WAY INTO THE STORE, STUFFING BAGS WITH GOLD AND JEWELS. ZANE SMALL HAS THE STORY. 5.30 IN THE EVENING, ANZAC DAY. CCTV SHOWS A CAR PULLING UP OUTSIDE GLITTER JEWELLERS IN THE SOUTH AUCKLAND SUBURB OF MANUREWA. A GROUP OF FIVE MASKED PEOPLE RUN INTO THE STORE AND SMASH THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SECOND ENTRANCE. STAFF AND CUSTOMERS FLEE IN TERROR AS THE OFFENDERS SWOOP IN, SMASHING CABINETS AND STUFFING BAGS WITH GOLD AND JEWELS. WE ARE DEFINITELY VERY, VERY SCARED. THE NEXT DAY, 5.30 HIT, AND I JUST KEPT LOOKING OUTSIDE, LOOKING AT THE CAMERAS, YOU KNOW, THINKING, 'THEY'RE GONNA COME AGAIN. 'THEY'RE GONNA COME AGAIN. THEY'RE GONNA COME AGAIN.' IT UNFOLDED RIGHT IN FRONT OF NAVITA SHEE'S EYES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAMERA, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE TO GO. YEAH, SO IT WAS DEFINITELY PRE-PLANNED. GLITTER JEWELLERS IS A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS. THEY MOVED TO NZ IN 2008. WE'RE FEELING NOT SAFE. YOU CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW? THEY'RE NOT FEELING SAFE. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, POLICE HAVE NEVER COME BACK. FROM HERE, IT'S JUST A SHORT WALK AROUND THE CORNER TO THE POLICE STATION, AND YET THE OWNERS OF THE STORE HAVE TOLD US IT TOOK POLICE ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO GET HERE. BUT POLICE HAVE LAUNCHED WHAT THEY'RE CALLING OPERATION DUSK, TO INVESTIGATE IF WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN MANUREWA IS CONNECTED TO OTHER JEWELLERY HEISTS ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY YESTERDAY IN WESTGATE. (BANG! BANG!) A BYSTANDER FILMED AS OFFENDERS SMASHED CABINETS AT THE MICHAEL HILL STORE AT AUCKLAND'S NORTHWEST SHOPPING MALL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. WEST AUCKLANDER ROSS KARL WAS STANDING AT THE ENTRANCE TO SPECSAVERS INSIDE THE MALL, WHEN HE HEARD SMASHING GLASS. THE SHOPKEEPERS CLOSED THE DOORS, THEY LOCKED US IN FOR 15 MINUTES, AND THEN THE WHOLE PLACE GOT EVACUATED. LAST WEEK, A JEWELLERY STORE IN WESTFIELD NEWMARKET WAS ROBBED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN NINE DAYS. I THINK PEOPLE ARE READING ABOUT THESE THINGS EVERY DAY IN THE NEWS AND HEARING ABOUT THEM AND WORRYING ABOUT THEM, AND SO WHEN IT HAPPENS NEAR THEM, THEY FEEL HELPLESS. HELPLESS, JUST HOW THIS FAMILY IS FEELING, AFTER DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT ` EQUIPPING THE STORE WITH CCTV, A FOG CANNON AND A DOUBLE ENTRANCE. IT'S JUST SUCH A SCARY FEELING. LIKE, I GET GOOSEBUMPS. AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT THE OFFENDERS ARE STILL AT LARGE. ZANE JOINS US LIVE NOW. ZANE, WHAT'S THE LATEST FROM POLICE? POLICE SAY A 27-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED OVER THE AGGRAVATED ROBBERY IN WEST AUCKLAND YESTERDAY. HE WAS TRACKED DOWN IN A HUGE POLICE CHASE INCLUDING THE POLICE HELICOPTER. HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AND FAILURE TO STOP. THE THIEVES WHO TARGETED THE STORE ARE STILL AT LARGE. THE FAMILY I SPOKE TO SAY THERE DO NOT FEEL SAFE AND ARE DISAPPOINTED THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH UNDER THE NEW GOVERNMENT. THE POLICE MINISTER, HE HAS REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILY AND SPOKEN TO THEM. HE TOLD ME HE HAS OTHER SYMPATHY FOR THE FAMILY AND EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH. HE SAID THE RISE IN RETAIL CRIME IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THROUGH THE LIKES OF TOUGHER SENTENCES THAT WILL COME DOWN THE LINE. WE HAVE USED MILITARY ACADEMIES COMING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. MARK MITCHELL ACKNOWLEDGED THERE ARE, ' DEEP SOCIAL ISSUES THAT THIS COUNTRY IS GRAPPLING WITH' THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. THE NATIONWIDE BAN ON CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS IS NOW IN FORCE, AND THE EDUCATION MINISTER IS WARNING SCHOOLS THAT DON'T COMPLY TO EXPECT A VISIT FROM THE EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE. THE BAN CALLS PHONES TO BE OFF AND AWAY ALL DAY, BUT SOME SCHOOLS SAY THERE CAN STILL BE A PLACE FOR PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM. PERRY WILTON REPORTS. SCHOOL'S BACK, BUT PHONES AREN'T. THIS IS CELL PHONES CONFISCATED FOR THE DAY. YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR TODAY WE HAVE A SUM TOTAL OF ONE, TWO, THREE PHONES TAKEN TODAY, WHICH TOO BAD, OUT OF JUST OVER 1700 STUDENTS. STUDENTS TAKING SOME TIME TO ADJUST. IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A BIG CHANGE. HE GIVES YOU MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON YOUR WORK, SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THE AIM WAS. AT FIRST I WAS DEVASTATED. AT PAPATOETOE HIGH SCHOOL, THE LAW OF THE LAND NOW THE RULE OF THE SCHOOL. AND THAT'S OFTEN AWAY ALL DAY. AND SO IF IT'S A CELL PHONE, THEN IT'S EITHER OFF... WELL, IT IS OFF AND IT'S AWAY FOR SCHOOL HOURS. THE GOVERNMENT'S BAN OUTLINES THAT, PHONES SHOULD BE OFF AND AWAY ALL DAY. AND IT SAYS WHILE UP TO SCHOOLS TO DECIDE EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GONNA ENFORCE THAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE STUDENTS HANDING IN THEIR PHONES BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. BUT EVEN HERE AT PAPATOETOE HIGH, THE BAN ISN'T BLANKET. THE FIRST THING IS YOU ASCERTAIN WHETHER IT'S LEGITIMATE USE OR NOT. THAT PERSON MIGHT HAVE AN EXEMPTION. THAT PERSON MIGHT HAVE SOME PERMISSION TO BE USING THAT DEVICE AND WORKING ON AN ASSESSMENT. AND IF THE USER IS APPROPRIATE, IT GOES ON. IF THE USE IS INAPPROPRIATE, IT ENDS UP IN THE FRONT OFFICE HERE IN A BIT OF A CONFISCATION PILE. WE DON'T TAKE THE TELEPHONE OFF THE STUDENTS. ALBANY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CLAIRE AMOS SAYS WHILE THERE'S STRICT POLICING ABOUT PHONE USE, THERE'S STILL A PLACE FOR THEM IN THE CLASSROOM. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE ARE HERE TO PREPARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE WORLD BEYOND SCHOOL. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, BEYOND SCHOOL, PEOPLE MOSTLY MANAGE THEIR OWN DEVICES. STUDENTS HERE AGREEING A BLANKET BAN SIMPLY WOULDN'T WORK. NOT LIKE TAKING AWAY THE PHONES. I FEEL THAT IS A BIT TOO MUCH. PHONES CAN BE MORE BENEFICIAL THAN NON-BENEFICIAL AT SCHOOLS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUITE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT. BUT TODAY THE GOVERNMENT PUT ITS FOOT DOWN. AND ANY SCHOOL WHO IS NOT PUTTING THE OFF AND AWAY ALL DAY POLICY IN PLACE WILL HAVE A VISIT FROM ERO. BUT A THREAT OF A VISIT FROM THE EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE STILL NOT PUTTING PRINCIPALS OFF. THEY ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL HAS A POLICY IN PLACE, AND THERE WILL BE SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THAT POLICY. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT APPEARS TO BE A HIGH-TRUST MODEL. AND WHILE THERE ARE STILL A FEW TEETHING ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH,... DON'T GO PAST WITH A PHONE RIGHT NOW! GOD! ...SOME SCHOOLS AREN'T GETTING TOO HUNG UP ON THE DETAILS. PERRY WILTON, NEWSHUB. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCED A RECORD BOOST FOR PHARMAC'S BUDGET TODAY, BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T RESULT IN ANY NEW MEDICINES BEING FUNDED. THAT'S BECAUSE THE DRUG-BUYING AGENCY HAD A HOLE IN ITS BOOKS, DUE TO BOTH RISING COSTS AND TIME-LIMITED FUNDING, OR WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS CALLING A FISCAL CLIFF LEFT BY LABOUR. HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH. A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN FIONA TOLICH'S LIFE SINCE SHE MARCHED ON PARLIAMENT IN THE FREEZING RAIN THREE YEARS AGO. SHE AND HER FAMILY MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE THE MEDICINE SHE NEEDS TO TREAT SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY ISN'T FUNDED FOR ADULTS IN NZ. TODAY SHE WAS BACK, SPEAKING AT PARLIAMENT, STILL FIGHTING FOR BETTER ACCESS TO MEDICINES FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS PETITIONING, I HAD MY CHILDREN HERE, SO WE HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE FOR ME TO COME BACK, BECAUSE MY TREATMENT'S STILL NOT AVAILABLE. ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR TODAY ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE PHARMAC NEARLY $1.8B OVER FOUR YEARS. WE INHERITED A VERY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCE. TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK, THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT JUST WASN'T HONEST WITH THE BOOKS AND LEFT US WITH A FISCAL CLIFF OF MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS. THAT MEANS THE RECORD BOOST LIKELY WON'T ACTUALLY FUND ANY NEW MEDICINES, JUST ALLOW PHARMAC TO KEEP PAYING FOR THE ONES IT ALREADY DOES. THIS NOW GIVES US THE CERTAINTY THAT WE CONTINUE FUNDING THE MEDICINES, UM, THAT WE'VE ALREADY FUNDED. EFFECTIVELY, PHARMAC'S INCREASED BUDGET WAS GIVEN TIME-LIMITED FUNDING. SO AS DAVID SEYMOUR IS SHOWING IN THIS GRAPH, IT WAS GOING TO FALL AWAY IF THE GOVERNMENT CHOSE NOT TO FILL THE GAP. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'VE INHERITED A FISCAL CLIFF, WHERE WE HAVE TO SAVE THE FURNITURE. I MEAN, THIS IS REAL. PHARMAC WOULD HAVE BEEN BASICALLY CHOOSING NOT WHICH NEW THINGS TO FUND, BUT WHICH THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING, THEY SHOULD TAKE AWAY. POLITICIANS VERY RARELY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS UP ON A PERSON'S LIFE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF FUNDING THEY GIVE PHARMAC WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SOME NZ PATIENTS WILL LIVE OR THEY WILL DIE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 140 APPLICATIONS ON PHARMAC'S OPTIONS FOR INVESTMENT LIST ` THE LIST OF MEDICINES IT WOULD FUND IF IT HAD THE BUDGET TO DO SO. I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. TO FUND THOSE, PHARMAC WOULD NEED EVEN MORE MONEY IN THE MAY BUDGET. I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET AVERAGE WITH THE REST OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD. THAT WOULD REQUIRE, RIGHT NOW, A $2.25B INCREASE. WE'LL BE PLEASED WITH ANY INCREASE THAT WE GET. WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS SPENDING IT. THERE WILL BE MORE FUNDING FOR HEALTH IN GENERAL, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, IN THE BUDGET, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE THAT AS WE GET TO THE BUDGET AT THE END OF MAY. THAT'S A SOLID 'WAIT TILL BUDGET DAY TO FIND OUT'. JENNA, ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE MORE MONEY FOR PHARMAC IN THE BUDGET? THAT IS THE MULTI-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION. ONE THING TO WATCH OUT FOR IS WITH A NATIONAL WILL MAKE GOOD ON ITS PROMISE IT MADE DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO FUND 13 MORE CANCER TREATMENTS. TREATMENT THE WAY THEY WERE LOOKING TO FUND THAT IS 1 TO WATCH OUT FOR AS WELL. THEY WANTED TO REINTRODUCE THE FIVE DOLLAR SCRIPTING FEE THAT A LOT OF US PAID FOR PRESCRIPTIONS AT THE PHARMACY, TARGETING FREE PRESCRIPTIONS TO ONLY SUPER NEWTON'S ALL THOSE ON LOW INCOMES AND REINSTATING THE FIVE DOLLAR FEE FOR EVERYONE ELSE. EVEN IF THESE CANCER DRUGS MOVE FROM THE WISH LIST OF FUNDED LIST, THERE IS A LIST OF 100 MEDICINES, SOME OF THEM PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED, . WAITING TO BE FUNDED THE PRICETAG FOR THAT IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS. THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL HAS RELEASED AN INTERIM REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO REPEAL SECTION 7AA OF THE ORANGA TAMARIKI ACT, WHICH REQUIRES THE CROWN TO CONSIDER TAMARIKI'S WHAKAPAPA AND MANA WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO PLACE THEM. POLITICAL REPORTER AMELIA WADE JOINS US NOW. AMELIA, WHAT DOES THE REPORT SAY? THE AIM OF THIS POLICY WAS TO WORK WITH IWI TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND REDUCE THE DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF STATE CARE. THE ACT PARTY CAMPAIGNED ON SCRAPPING THAT, BECAUSE OF REVERSE UPLIFTS. THAT IS TAMARIKI BEING REMOVED FROM FOSTER FAMILIES THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE FOREVER TO BE REPLACED IN THE CARE OF MAORI. THERE WASN'T URGENT APPEAL LODGED WITH THE TRIBUNAL. THAT HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL, BECAUSE THAT IS THE GOVERNMENT TAKING THE TRIBUNAL TO COURT OVER ITS SILENCING OF THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER. THE TRIBUNAL LOST, BUT IT IS APPEALING. THAT WILL BE HEARD AT THE COURT OF APPEAL TOMORROW. THERE IS AN URGENCY ABOUT ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE REPEAL BILL WILL LIKELY BE INTRODUCED BETWEEN MAY 9 AND 13. THAT IS WHY THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL HAS RELEASED THAT INTERIM REPORT. THAT REPORT HAS SINCE SLAMMED THE REPEAL PLAN, SAYING THE GOVERNMENT'S SINGULAR FOCUS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMITMENT MADE IN ONE OF THE COALITION AGREEMENTS HAS CAUSED IT TO DISREGARD ITS OBLIGATION UNDER THE TREATY. THE TRIBUNAL WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RUSH TO REPEAL WOULD CAUSE ACTUAL HARM. A KEY POINT MADE IN THE REPORT WAS THAT THE CROWN IS MAKING A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE WITHOUT CONSULTING ITS TREATY PARTNER, WHICH DISHONOURS THE AGREEMENT. THE TRIBUNAL IS RELATIVELY POWERLESS TO ENFORCE ITS FINDINGS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY MAY LISTEN, OR IT MAY CHOOSE TO IGNORE WHAT IT SAYS. AN AUCKLAND RUGBY CLUB IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF A PLAYER HURT DURING AN UNDER-85kg GAME ON SATURDAY. CORY HEATHER SUFFERED A HEAD KNOCK WHILE PLAYING FOR BEACHLANDS MARAETAI AT TE PURU PARK. HE WAS HELICOPTERED TO HOSPITAL IN A CRITICAL CONDITION, BUT HIS LIFE SUPPORT WAS REPORTEDLY TURNED OFF ON SUNDAY NIGHT. A GIVEALITTLE PAGE HAS BEEN STARTED TO SUPPORT HEATHER'S FAMILY, INCLUDING HIS PARTNER AND THREE CHILDREN. IN A STATEMENT, BEACHLANDS MARAETAI RUGBY CLUB SAID HE WAS A MUCH-LOVED MEMBER OF THE TEAM, THE CLUB AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY. KIWIS CONTINUE TO FEEL THE PINCH, WITH FUEL PRICES RISING, ALONG WITH HOUSEHOLD LIVING COSTS. BUT ECONOMISTS SAY THE LATEST FIGURES AREN'T ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. HERE'S GRACE THOMAS. IT'S THE NEWS MOTORISTS DON'T WANT TO HEAR, BUT WON'T BE SURPRISED BY ` FUEL PRICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GOING UP. I'VE NOTICED THE PRICE HAS GOTTEN REALLY HIGH. HELL YEAH. IT'S INSANE. PRICES AT THE PUMP HAVE INCREASED BY 26C PER LITRE OVER THE YEAR SO FAR. ON ONE HAND, YOU'VE GOT THOSE GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS, WHICH ARE PUSHING UP GLOBAL OIL PRICES. AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WEAKER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ACROSS THE WORLD IS PUTTING A BIT OF A CAP ON HOW HIGH THEY'LL GO. ALTHOUGH WE'RE SEEING SOME SPIKES SHORT-TERM, WE'RE NOT SEEING LONG-TERM IMPACTS, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THOSE GEOPOLITICAL EVENTS. IT'S HOPED THEY DON'T GET AS BAD AS AUSTRALIA, THOUGH, WHERE THE COST OF 91 PETROL IN ITS MAJOR CITIES REACHED RECORD HIGHS THIS WEEK. IT'S BEEN PUT DOWN TO RISING WHOLESALE COSTS, HIGH CRUDE OIL PRICES AND A WEAK AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR. WE'VE GOT SOME OF THOSE SAME EFFECTS COMING THROUGH IN NZ, BUT NOT QUITE AS INTENSELY. IT'S NOT JUST FUEL TOO ` NEW FIGURES FROM STATS NZ SHOW THE AVERAGE NEW ZEALAND HOUSEHOLD'S COST OF LIVING WENT UP 6.2% IN THE 12 MONTHS TO MARCH. IT'S ALL OF THOSE VITALS THAT NEW ZEALANDERS ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR, AT A TIME WHEN INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH AS WELL, MAKING EVERY PART OF LIFE MORE EXPENSIVE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO FINANCE. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, WHILE THE COST OF LIVING KEEPS RISING, IT'S RISING AT A SLOWER RATE ` IN THE YEAR TO DECEMBER 2023, THE INCREASE WAS 7%. IT'S HOPED FUEL PRICES WILL BE SLOW TO INCREASE TOO. THERE'S GONNA BE NO RESPITE. I CAN'T SEE IT DROPPING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, I CAN'T SEE IT JUMPING UP A LOT EITHER ` IT'S JUST THE PRICE THAT WE'VE GOT TO PAY TODAY. AND IF YOU'RE HOPING TO EASE SOME OF THAT FINANCIAL STRAIN AT THE PUMP, THE ADVICE IS TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST FUEL DEALS. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. THREE KIWI DOCTORS WHO WERE MEANT TO JOIN A HUMANITARIAN FLOTILLA BOUND FOR GAZA FEAR THE FOOD WILL BE ROTTEN AND MEDICINES EXPIRED BEFORE IT REACHES ITS DESTINATION, AFTER THE MISSION WAS DELAYED BY ISRAELI AUTHORITIES. GUINEA BISSAU WITHDREW ITS FLAG FROM FREEDOM FLOTILLAS SHIPS, AND THE ACTIVIST GROUP SAYS FINDING ANOTHER COUNTRY TO GIVE FLAGGING AUTHORITY COULD TAKE WEEKS. ISOBEL EWING REPORTS. 10 DAYS AGO THREE KIWI DOCTORS DEPARTED AUCKLAND BOUND FOR ISTANBUL, HOPING TO JOIN AID WORKERS AND MEDICS FROM 40 COUNTRIES ON A MISSION TO BRING MUCH-NEEDED AID TO GAZA. THEY WERE DUE TO SET SAIL ON FRIDAY UNDER THE FLAG OF WEST-AFRICAN COUNTRY GUINEA BISSAU. BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE IT WITHDREW PERMISSION FOR ITS FLAG TO BE USED, A MOVE THE ACTIVIST GROUP FREEDOM FLOTILLA SAYS WAS INFLUENCED BY ISRAELI PRESSURE. THE GROUP SAID THE SHIPS HAD PASSED ALL INSPECTIONS AND WERE NOT CARRYING ANY MILITARY AID. IN ITS COMMUNICATION INFORMING US OF THIS CANCELLATION, THE GUINEA BISSAU INTERNATIONAL SHIPS REGISTRY MADE SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO OUR PLANNED MISSION TO GAZA. ON BOARD WAS 5500 TONS OF AID, INCLUDING MILK FORMULA FOR BABIES. DR AL-KENANI FEARS IF THERE ARE FURTHER DELAYS THE FLOTILLA WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS AID TRUCKS THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED INTO RAFAH. 1.4 MILLION PALESTINIANS ARE SHELTERING IN RAFAH, AND THE THREAT OF A FULL-SCALE OFFENSIVE LOOMS LARGE. PEOPLE THERE ASKING, WHERE WILL THEY GO? IN ISTANBUL, DEMONSTRATORS FOR THE DELAYED FLOTILLA MARCHED, DEMANDING A CEASEFIRE. OUR GOVERNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACTING. OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE IMPOTENT. BUT OUR PEOPLE ARE STRONG. IN 2010 THE ISRAELI NAVY RAIDED A FREEDOM FLOTILLA IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, KILLING NINE ONBOARD. BUT THE KIWI DOCTORS AREN'T FEARFUL, SAYING THEIR LIVES ARE NO MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE OF CHILDREN IN GAZA. THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA IS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER COUNTRY TO GIVE IT FLAGGING AUTHORITY, WHICH COULD TAKE WEEKS. SO THEY'LL RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND LATER THIS WEEK AND WAIT FOR NEWS THAT THE FLOTILLA CAN SAIL. ISOBEL EWING, NEWSHUB. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH A RECAP OF THE DAY'S WEATHER. FOGGY AND FROSTY THIS MORNING? FOR BOTH ISLANDS. FROST FORMED FOR INLAND SHELTERED SPOTS AS FAR NORTH AS TAUPO. AND FOG SETTLED TOO FOR PARTS OF THE KING COUNTRY, INLAND SPOTS OF THE SOUTH, AND, MORE ANNOYINGLY ` CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN AIRPORT. THERE'S A CHANCE FOR A REPEAT OF FOG FOR CANTERBURY TONIGHT ` DETAILS AFTER SPORT. TORNADOES HAVE AGAIN WREAKED HAVOC IN THE UNITED STATES ` AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING AN INFANT, ARE DEAD AFTER A NIGHT OF TWISTERS AND STORMS IN THE MIDWEST. THOUSANDS TAKE TO THE STREETS, FOR THREE DAYS OF RALLIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA, SAYING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN HAS GOT TO STOP. AND A NEW CLINIC THAT HOPES TO ENCOURAGE EARLIER DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS. THE DEATHS OF DOZENS OF WOMEN IN AUSTRALIA AT THE HANDS OF MEN HAVE IGNITED DAYS OF RALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PRIME MINISTER JOINED IN AND IS CALLING THE LEADERS OF EVERY STATE TO A NATIONAL CABINET MEETING ON WEDNESDAY TO WORK OUT HOW TO LOWER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATES. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER REPORTS. AN SOS SENT FROM THE STRAITS OF AUSTRALIA, WHERE THOUSANDS WALKED AS ONE FOR WOMEN. IT'S NOT ABOUT WOMEN MAKING THEMSELVES SAFE ` IT'S ABOUT TEACHING MEN, IT'S ABOUT TEACHING BOYS; IT'S ABOUT CHANGING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. IT WASN'T THEIR VOICES THAT SENT THE LOUDEST MESSAGE,... SPEAK UP! ALL: STAND DOWN! ...BUT THE NAMES WRITTEN ON THE SIGNS THEY CARRIED ` A GROWING NUMBER OF WOMEN, 27 SO FAR THIS YEAR, ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY MEN. LOOK, I'VE GOT A YOUNG DAUGHTER, MY WIFE, AND I THINK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE'S BEEN TOO MANY DEATHS THIS YEAR ALREADY. WOMEN WERE THE TARGET OF THE ATTACKER INSIDE THE BONDI MALL, AND IN BALLARAT AND VICTORIA, A GRIEVING COMMUNITY HAS RALLIED TO REMEMBER THREE WOMEN ALLEGEDLY MURDERED IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN A MATTER OF MONTHS, ONE OF THEM A DEVOTED MOTHER AND RUNNER, SAMANTHA MURPHY, WHOSE BODY HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND. THIS IS A NATIONAL CRISIS! EVERYWHERE, A GROWING SENSE OF FRUSTRATION THERE'S MORE TALK THAN ACTION. WE NOW HAVE 10 DAYS PAID DOMESTIC ` I AGREE IT'S NOT ENOUGH. I SAID THAT. WE NEED TO DO MORE. BY MORE, HE'S CALLING ALL STATE LEADERS TO CANBERRA ON WEDNESDAY. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE. WE NEED TO CHANGE ATTITUDES. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LEGAL SYSTEM. IF THEY NEED A REMINDER OF WHAT'S AT STAKE, HANNAH MCGUIRE WILL BE LAID TO REST TODAY. HER EX-BOYFRIEND IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HER AND DUMPING HER BODY IN A BURNT-OUT CAR IN VICTORIA. SHE WAS JUST 21. IN SYDNEY, EMMA CROPPER, NEWSHUB. AND IF THAT STORY BROUGHT UP ANY ISSUES FOR YOU, THERE IS SUPPORT AVAILABLE ON THE NATIONAL HELP LINE, ANY HOUR OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, ON 1737. A CHILD HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE KILLED AS TORNADOES TORE THROUGH THE U.S. STATE OF OKLAHOMA. SURVIVORS IN ONE TOWN, SULPHUR, DESCRIBE THE DESTRUCTION AS ALMOST TOTAL. CBS's OMAR VILLAFRANCA REPORTS. VIOLENT STORMS RAVAGED OKLAHOMA OVERNIGHT, VIOLENT STORMS RAVAGED OKLAHOMA OVERNIGHT, THE SMALL CITY OF SULPHUR DEVASTATED AFTER TAKING A DIRECT HIT. AT SUNRISE, THE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE REVEALED, AT SUNRISE, THE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE REVEALED, THE TORNADO SHREDDING BUILDINGS, TURNING THEM INTO PILES OF METAL AND BRICK. ADDY GORDON (19) WAS HELPING OUT AT THE LOCAL STEAKHOUSE WHEN SHE HEARD SIRENS AND RAN FOR COVER. AS WE WERE RUNNING THROUGH THE BUILDING TO GET DOWN TO THE BASEMENT, THE GLASS WAS ALL SHATTERING OUT OF THE WINDOWS, AND IT'S JUST LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. AT ANY POINT, WERE YOU SCARED? OH, I SCREAMED. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA PEE MYSELF. IT'S SO MUCH WORSE IN PERSON. IT'S JUST SO HARD TO WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND. DANA VANDERVER AND DONNA LOUIS' BUSINESS WAS WIPED OUT, ONE DAY AFTER THE STORE'S GRAND OPENING. IT'S TOO SOON TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, REALLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO. DOZENS OF TORNADOES RIPPED THROUGH THE PLAINS THIS WEEKEND, IMPACTING MILLIONS. IN THE CITY OF MARIETTA, NEAR THE TEXAS-OKLAHOMA BORDER, A TORNADO CARVED A CANYON THROUGH THIS DOLLAR TREE WAREHOUSE. THE PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THIS WAS AN EF3 TORNADO ` THAT MEANS WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 136mph. 12 COUNTIES HERE IN OKLAHOMA ARE UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND RESIDENTS SAY CLEAN-UP HERE COULD TAKE WEEKS. ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT, AND DAME SOPHIE PASCOE OPTS OUT OF PARIS. THERE WILL BE NO GOLDEN MOMENTS FROM THE KIWI QUEEN OF THE POOL AT THIS YEAR'S PARALYMPICS. THE 11-TIME GOLD MEDALLIST HAS WITHDRAWN HER NOMINATION ` SHE WON'T BE SELECTED. SO WHAT HAS PROMPTED HER DECISION? AND WHY IS SCOTT McLAUGHLIN POSING WITH A MANNEQUIN AFTER HIS WIN AT THE LATEST ROUND OF THE INDYCAR SERIES IN ALABAMA? KIWI AUTHOR SIR VINCENT O'SULLIVAN HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 86.. THE LITERARY SCENE IS MOURNING A WRITER WHOSE REPUTATION, CRITICS SAY, WILL ONLY BE ENHANCED WITH THE PASSING OF TIME. AND IN BRISBANE, A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY IS ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED, AND HIS PARENTS HAD TO LITERALLY FIGHT TO GET HIM BACK. ON FUEL, CRUDE OIL IS UP 14% ` WHAT'S DRIVING THIS? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US? GEOPOLITICS IS THE MAJOR ONE HERE. THAT CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST ` THAT'S COSTING A LOT MORE. YOU LOOK AT NZ FUEL PRICES ` ABOUT $2.90 A LITRE, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. VOICEOVER: Hello person not watching this ad because it's interrupting your brainy current affairs show. Hey, did you know you could be ignoring this TV ad for less, with 30% off Skinny's Endless Mobile Plans? That's real smart! SONG: # Happy, happy, happy aaaah! # Shopping duty again? I'm earning more than just brownie points. (BEEP!) And they're adding up! VOICEOVER: Scan your Clubcard to save with Club Deals, earn rewards and much more. You've earned this one. Find your wonderful. New World. A CORONER'S INQUEST INTO THE DEATH OF A 3-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM GORE HAS BEGUN IN INVERCARGILL. LACHIE JONES WAS FOUND DEAD IN AN OXIDATION POND, ROUGHLY A KILOMETRE FROM HIS HOME, JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AGO. AN INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT LACHIE HAD WALKED THERE AND TRAGICALLY DROWNED, BUT THE BOY'S FATHER PAUL HAS ALWAYS DISPUTED THAT, SPENDING THOUSANDS ON LAWYERS AND EVEN HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. LAST YEAR, POLICE ADMITTED THEY MISSED SOME STEPS DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE INQUEST IS SET DOWN FOR THREE WEEKS. A WOMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER AN ALLEGED HIT AND RUN KILLED A BOY (14) IN PAPATOETOE LAST MONTH. THE 30-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH EXCESS BREATH ALCOHOL, FAILING TO STOP AND ASCERTAIN INJURY AND DRIVING IN A DANGEROUS MANNER. SHE IS DUE TO APPEAR IN THE MANUKAU DISTRICT COURT ON THURSDAY. A BOY (10) WHO THREW A ROCK AT A CAR WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE DRIVER AND HELD PRISONER FOR HALF AN HOUR, ACCORDING TO QUEENSLAND POLICE. BUT THE BOY'S PARENTS HAD TRACKED THE VEHICLE DOWN, AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS GOT EVEN NASTIER. CHANNEL 7's GARTH BURLEY REPORTS. A QUIET LOGAN STREET ABOUT TO EXPLODE INTO A VIOLENT SHOWDOWN BETWEEN DESPERATE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILD'S ALLEGED ABDUCTORS. CAPTIVE IN THE CAR, A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY. HIS FATHER TRIES TO FORCE OPEN THE DOOR TO FREE HIM. THERE WAS A LOT OF YELLING. SOME GUYS GOT OUT OF ONE SILVER CAR, AND THEY HAD MACHETES. BUT AFTER AN ONSLAUGHT OF PUNCHES AND KICKS, HE'S LEFT UNCONSCIOUS ON THE GROUND. AS HIS PARTNER MOVES TO HELP, SHE IS BUNDLED OVER AND BEATEN TOO. THIS WAS THE END TO A VIGILANTE MANHUNT FOR A TRIO WHO ALLEGEDLY SNATCHED THE CHILD FROM A WOODRIDGE SKATE PARK ON FRIDAY AFTER CLAIMS HE THREW A ROCK AT THEIR CAR. REALLY SCARY FOR A CHILD TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT TYPE OF INCIDENT, AS YOU WOULD APPRECIATE. ALSO VERY SCARY FOR PARENTS INVOLVED. POLICE SAY FOR MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR THE JEEP DROVE THE BOY AROUND THE SUBURBS. HIS PARENTS TRACKED DOWN THE OFFENDERS, AND THE 10-YEAR-OLD WAS FREED IN THE CHAOS OF THE ALTERCATION, BEFORE MAKING ONE LAST REQUEST. AFTER SPEEDING AWAY, THE CAR WAS SOON SPOTTED BY POLICE. TWO MEN AND A WOMAN HAVE SINCE BEEN CHARGED AFTER AN ALARMING ESCALATION IN A SKATE PARK SQUABBLE. IT'S HOPED A WELLINGTON PILOT FOR A WORLD-LEADING AUTISM CLINIC FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES NATIONWIDE. 'RAUPI TE RAUPO' WILL GIVE 60 FAMILIES ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT SESSIONS OVER 10 WEEKS, TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILD. LUCY THOMSON HAS THE STORY. 3-YEAR OLD MATEO IS THE APPLE OF HIS PARENTS' EYE. I WOULD REALLY NOT CHANGE A THING ABOUT MATEO. HE IS JUST THE SWEETEST, MOST HAPPY, MOST CLEVER LITTLE GUY. HIS AUTISM DIAGNOSIS AT AGE 2 CAME AS NO SURPRISE TO MUM HANNAH AND DAD EDGAR ONCE THEY BEGAN NOTICING SOME DIFFERENCES IN HIS BEHAVIOUR. THE WAY THAT HE PLAYS AND COMMUNICATES. THEY SOUGHT EARLY DIAGNOSIS ` A DAUNTING DECISION FOR THE PAIR, BUT ONE THAT'S PAID OFF. I THINK SOME OF THOSE INITIAL FEARS SORT OF STEM FROM A BIT OF A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON MY PART. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE RAUPI TE RAUPO PROGRAMME HOPES TO CHANGE, THROUGH WEEKLY SESSIONS, ENCOURAGING EARLY IDENTIFICATION, SO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN ACCESS THE RIGHT TOOLS TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS TYPE OF EARLY IDENTIFICATION TO SUPPORT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER LONG-TERM OUTCOMES, THINGS LIKE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO BE INCLUDED IN A MAINSTREAM SETTING, BETTER COGNITIVE OUTCOMES, FOR EXAMPLE. REDUCING THE NEED FOR COSTLY ONGOING SUPPORT IN LATER LIFE. BUT THE EARLY SIGNS ARE OFTEN MISSED, AND AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS CAN BE HARD TO GET. OFTEN FAMILIES WILL BE WAITING A YEAR OR MORE THOUGH THE PUBLIC SYSTEM. WHICH IS WHY THE PROGRAMME HAS ALSO UPSKILLED 300 HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS TO IDENTIFY THE EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM AND PARTNERED WITH THE AS-DETECT APP, SO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN DO THE SAME. NEURODIVERSITY IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE LEARNT KIND OF ALONG THE WAY IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING TO BE CELEBRATED. A MINDSET THAT VALUES THESE DIFFERENCES AS A NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL PART OF HUMAN DIVERSITY AND ENSURES THAT YOUNG MATEO CONTINUES TO PROGRESS IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS. WOW! THAT'S A BIG STEP! LUCY THOMSON, NEWSHUB. HE'S BEING REMEMBERED AS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL WRITERS ` SIR VINCENT O'SULLIVAN HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 86. WHY DAME SOPHIE PASCOE HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THIS YEAR'S PARALYMPICS. PLUS, THE BLACKCAPS REVEAL THE EXPERIENCED SQUAD THEY HOPE CAN END THEIR LONG WAIT FOR A WORLD CUP TITLE. AND IS THERE ANYTHING MORE RUGBY LEAGUE THAN THIS GUY? THE NRL PLAYER WHO TURNED UP BATTERED AND BRUISED FOR HIS POST-MATCH INTERVIEW. NEW ZEALAND'S MOST DECORATED PARALYMPIAN HAS CONFIRMED SHE WILL NOT BE COMPETING AT THE PARIS GAMES. 11-TIME GOLD MEDALLIST DAME SOPHIE PASCOE WAS SET TO LINE UP AT HER FIFTH PARALYMPICS LATER THIS YEAR, BUT HAS THIS AFTERNOON WITHDRAWN HER NOMINATION. WITH MORE ON THIS, TIA McDOUGALL JOINS US. TIA, WHAT HAS PROMPTED THIS? EARLIER THIS MONTH, SHE AND HER HUSBAND WELCOMED HER FIRST CHILD, A BABY BOY, AND SHE WANTS TO FOCUS ON MOTHERHOOD AND SPEND TIME WITH HER WHANAU. SHE WILL STILL BE HEAVILY INVOLVED, IN CONTRIBUTING KNOWLEDGE AND MENTORSHIP TO THE TEAM. SHE HAS BEEN WINNING GOLD SINCE 2008. SHE WILL CONTRIBUTE FROM CHRISTCHURCH. THE MOVE HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY PARALYMPIC NEW ZEALAND. IS THIS A RETIREMENT FROM PASCOE ` IS THIS THE LAST WE'LL SEE OF HER ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE? SHE INTENDS TO COMPETE AGAIN. SHE MADE A POINT OF MENTIONING IT IN HER STATEMENT. IT IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF RETIRING FROM COMPETITIVE SWIMMING. SHE IS LOOKING AT COMPETING IN COMPETITIONS NEXT YEAR. 2024 WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FOR THE SWIM TEAM. SHE HAS BEEN A PART OF IT FOR 16 YEARS. THE DAME CAN STILL GET BACK IN THE POOL. AFTER BEING EMBROILED IN A TEAM CHEATING SCANDAL AND FORCED TO DEFEND HIS REPUTATION, KIWI DRIVER SCOTT McLAUGHLIN HAS DELIVERED WHAT HE HAS DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE BEST DRIVES OF HIS CAREER, TO WIN INDYCAR'S GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA. McLAUGHLIN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS THIRD-PLACE FINISH AND DISQUALIFIED FROM THE SEASON OPENER, BUT HE SHOOK IT OFF TO LEAD HIS TEAM TO A ONE-TWO FINISH AND THE FIFTH WIN OF HIS INDYCAR CAREER. SCOTTY MAC! McLAUGHLIN WINS AT BARBER FOR BACK-TO-BACK YEARS, AND TEAM PENSKE BACK ON TOP. THIS WAS AN EMPHATIC RESPONSE TO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST WEEKS OF SCOTT McLAUGHLIN'S MOTORSPORT CAREER. AFTER THE WEEK AT TEAM PENSKE, WAS THERE A POINT TO PROVE TODAY? NO, LOOK, WE JUST HAD TO KEEP ROLLING. WE KNOW OUR JOB. WE KNOW WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO. I'M JUST SUPER PROUD OF THE EXECUTION. IT'S GREEN. WE'RE RACING IN ALABAMA! WITH HIS PENSKE TEAM CAUGHT UP IN A 'PUSH TO PASS' SCANDAL THAT'S ROCKED INDYCAR, McLAUGHLIN HOPED TO AVOID ANY FURTHER DRAMA IN ALABAMA. AND STARTING FROM POLE CERTAINLY HELPED, AS THE CARNAGE UNFOLDED BEHIND HIM IN THE OPENING LAPS. BUT NOTHING WOULD HAVE PREPARED HIM FOR WHAT HAPPENED MIDWAY THROUGH THE RACE. OH BOY! QUITE A SHOCK! A MANNEQUIN FALLING FROM AN OVERPASS BRIDGE AT BARBER ` NOT JUST ANY MANNEQUIN, THOUGH. BY THE WAY, HER NAME IS GEORGINA. IN FACT, GEORGINA'S SO FAMOUS, MCLAUGHLIN POSTED A PHOTO WITH HER AFTER HIS WIN, SAYING... McLAUGHLIN IN POWER AT THE FRONT! EVEN A RACE RESTART WITH THREE LAPS TO GO COULDN'T PREVENT THE KIWI CHARGING TO HIS FIFTH INDYCAR VICTORY, ONE THAT PROMPTED A POST-RACE APOLOGY FOLLOWING A RECENT VISIT FROM HIS PARENTS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY BEST DRIVES. SORRY, MUM AND DAD. I WAS ONE RACE TOO LONG, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME, AND I MISS YOU GUYS. MUM AND DAD WON'T MISS THE SIGHT OF THEIR SON ON TOP OF THE PODIUM, AFTER LAUNCHING HIS BID FOR A MAIDEN INDYCAR TITLE. A SETTLED AND EXPERIENCED BLACKCAPS SQUAD HAS BEEN NAMED FOR JUNE'S T20 WORLD CUP IN THE WEST INDIES AND USA. AND ONE OF THE TEAM'S VETERANS HAS TODAY REVEALED AN ELUSIVE TITLE IS THE ONLY REASON HE STILL PLAYS. 13 OF THE 15 PLAYERS FROM THE LAST TOURNAMENT TWO YEARS AGO WERE NAMED AGAIN TODAY, RACHIN RAVINDRA AND MATT HENRY THE ONLY INCOMING CHANGES. AND AS ALEX CHAPMAN FOUND OUT, THE HUNGER FOR SILVERWARE IS GREATER THAN EVER. INTRODUCING THE TEAL CAPS. (APPLAUSE) A NEW LOOK, BUT PLENTY OF OLD NAMES AND FACES. IT'S AN EXPERIENCED-LOOKING SQUAD. I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING-LOOKING SQUAD STILL, WITH LOTS OF OPTIONS. 13 OF THE 15 PLAYERS FROM TWO YEARS AGO REMAIN, MARTIN GUPTILL AND THE INJURED ADAM MILNE THE ONLY OMMISSIONS. WE'VE COME CLOSE IN THE T20 FORMAT. OBVIOUSLY A FINAL TWO WORLD CUPS AGO, AND A SEMI-FINAL LAST TIME AROUND. SO A NUMBER OF GUYS EXPERIENCED THAT. AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE, TRENT BOULT. THE LEFT-ARM PACEMAN HAS PLAYED JUST 11 OF THE SIDE'S 58 T20 INTERNATIONALS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND JUST TWICE IN THE FORMAT SINCE THE LAST WORLD CUP. DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE HIS LAST CHANCE TO PLAY FOR NEW ZEALAND? LOOK, I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN TO ASK TRENT, AROUND HIS FUTURE, AND HOW LONG HE SEES HIMSELF PLAYING FOR. WHAT DOESN'T NEED CLARIFYING IS THAT BOULT IS AMONG A GOLDEN GENERATION STILL MISSING THAT ELUSIVE WHITE-BALL CROWN, DESPITE REACHING THE SEMI-FINALS OR THE FINAL OF THE LAST SIX TOURNAMENTS. THE HUNGER AND DETERMINATION IS FUELLING MANY. YEAH, WINNING A WORLD TOURNAMENT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY REASON I STILL PLAY FOR NEW ZEALAND. YOU'RE NOT GONNA RETIRE IF YOU WIN THE WORLD CUP, THOUGH, ARE YOU? UH, NO COMMENT. NO COMMENT. BUT FOR THOSE WHO ONLY GOT BACK FROM PAKISTAN TODAY, THERE'S OTHER THINGS ON THE MIND. CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING HOME AND GETTING A BIT OF SLEEP. WITH THE WORLD CUP STILL OVER A MONTH AWAY, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT. ALEX CHAPMAN, NEWSHUB. ANDREW WEBSTER IS EMBRACING WHAT HE HAS CALLED THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF HIS HEAD COACHING CAREER SO FAR, TRYING TO RAISE THE WARRIORS FROM THEIR EARLY-SEASON FORM SLUMP. THE TEAM HAS RETURNED TO TRAINING AFTER WEBSTER GAVE THEM THREE DAYS OFF FOLLOWING LAST THURSDAY'S SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS, AT THE HANDS OF THE STRUGGLING TITANS. THE WARRIORS ARE ON THE ROAD FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, SO THE TEAM AND THE COACH FIND THEMSELVES IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY. WE'VE HAD WORSE AREAS LAST YEAR OF LOSING IN A ROW, BUT I THINK IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE EXPECT MORE OF US. AND THAT'S COOL ` WE EXPECT MORE OF OURSELVES. SO IT PROBABLY IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO. THE WARRIORS PLAY THE KNIGHTS IN NEWCASTLE THIS SUNDAY AND DON'T RETURN TO MT SMART UNTIL THEY HOST THE DOLPHINS ON MAY 26. THE TABLE-TOPPING HURRICANES ARE ON THE HUNT FOR ANOTHER HOOKER, WITH DEPTH IN THE POSITION BEING SEVERELY TESTED. THE LATEST TO ENTER THE CASUALTY WARD IS JAMES O'REILLY, WHO WAS REPLACED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THEIR LOSS TO THE BRUMBIES IN CANBERRA AND IS NOW UNDER CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS. WE NEED TO BRING A BODY IN, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPLORING AT THE MOMENT. WE'RE LOSING BODIES IN ONE OR TWO POSITIONS, SO HOOKER, WE'RE GONNA BE TESTED A LOT. THE HURRICANES HAVE ALREADY LOST FORMER ALL BLACK HOOKER ASAFO AUMUA FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS. THEY HOST THE WARATAHS ON FRIDAY NIGHT. ARSENAL'S MANAGER IS VOWING TO FIGHT RIGHT TO THE END OF THE SEASON, AFTER HIS SIDE MAINTAINED THEIR PUSH FOR AN ELUSIVE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE, WITH A 3-2 WIN AT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR. THE GUNNERS SHOT OUT TO A 3-0 LEAD BEFORE HALF-TIME, WITH THIS STRIKE FROM BUKAYO SAKA THE PICK OF THE GOALS. SPURS STORMED BACK INTO THE CONTEST TO SET UP A NERVOUS FINISH, BUT ARSENAL HELD THEIR NERVE, TO STAY A POINT CLEAR OF MANCHESTER CITY. FACE THE CHALLENGE, FACE THE OPPORTUNITY AND BE BRAVE. AND I THINK THIS TEAM HAS A LOT OF COURAGE AND DETERMINATION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. ERLING HAALAND SCORED, AS CITY BEAT NOTTINGHAM FORREST. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS WILL BE GUARANTEED OF ANOTHER LEAGUE TITLE IF THEY WIN THEIR REMAINING FOUR GAMES. ARSENAL ONLY HAVE THREE TO PLAY. FINALLY TONIGHT ` THE NRL IS FULL OF TOUGH, UNCOMPROMISING CHARACTERS, AND SHARKS SKIPPER CAM McINNES CAN CERTAINLY LAY CLAIM TO BEING ONE OF THEM, IF HIS LATEST APPEARANCE ON AUSSIE TV IS ANYTHING TO GO BY. McINNES SCORED A TRY IN THE SHARKS' 40-0 THRASHING OF CANBERRA LAST NIGHT. BUT THAT ONLY TOLD HALF THE STORY, AS HE LOOKED EVERY BIT THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN IN A BATTLE IN A POST-GAME INTERVIEW ON THE MATTY JOHNS SHOW. I APOLOGISE FOR MY APPEARANCE AS WELL, BOYS. I USUALLY LOOK BETTER THAN THIS. (LAUGHTER) HEY, CAM, IT'S FLETCH. I NEED TO KNOW. HOW MANY STITCHES HAVE YOU HAD? I DUNNO. I'VE HAD FIVE TONIGHT ALREADY, AND I THINK I NEED A FEW MORE, SO IT'S GOING WELL. MATE, YOU LOOK LIKE A CHUCKIE DOLL, BUT ANYWAY. (LAUGHTER) McINNES HAS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED HE DOES PLAN TO FIX HIS MOUTH, BUT ONLY ONCE HIS CAREER IS OVER. HE HAS A HANDSOME MAN. PROBABLY A GOOD DECISION. DENTISTS ARE EXPENSIVE. ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S MOST PRIZED WRITERS, SIR VINCENT O'SULLIVAN, HAS DIED AGED 86. SIR VINCENT EXCELLED AS A NOVELIST, PLAYWRIGHT AND POET, BECOMING NEW ZEALAND'S NINTH POET LAUREATE IN 2013. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS. TO RECEIVE THE ACCOLADE OF KNIGHTHOOD, EMERITUS PROFESSOR SIR VINCENT O'SULLIVAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD. (APPLAUSE) JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING SIR VINCENT O'SULLIVAN TURNED HIS HAND TO WAS A SUCCESS ` AWARD-WINNING FICTION AND POETRY, CRITICISM, OPERAS, PLAYS, BIOGRAPHIES. HE WAS A REAL SCHOLAR, BUT HE DIDN'T LET IT SHOW. I MEAN, HE WASN'T POMPOUS ABOUT IT OR ARROGANT ABOUT IT. HE JUST GOT ON WITH THE JOB, AND EVERYTHING HE DID, HE DID WELL. SIR VINCENT WAS WELL-TRAVELLED, BUT HIS INSPIRATION WAS HERE. YOU CANNOT BE A GLOBAL WRITER, BECAUSE WE CANNOT BE GLOBAL CITIZENS. YOU KNOW? WE LIVE HERE, WE HAVE FAMILIES HERE, WE VOTE HERE. IF WE CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING MUCH TO A LARGER SCENE, I THINK IT HAS TO BE DONE THROUGH SMALLER CHANNELS WHERE YOU LIVE. MUCH OF HIS WRITING, HIS POETRY BRIMMED WITH THE LIVED KIWI EXPERIENCE. READS: I HOLD OUT MY PALMS LIKE THE OPEN PAGES OF A BOOK AND YOU PILE APRICOTS ON THEM STACKED THREE DEEP. WE ASK JUST WHO CAN WE GIVE THEM TO 'ROUND HERE WHO HASN'T HAD THEIR WHACK OF APRICOTS AS IT IS. SIR VINCENT TAUGHT GRAEME LAY AT UNIVERSITY IN 1963, AND THEY BECAME FRIENDS. A GOOD BLOKE. NEVER ARROGANT. VERY, VERY FUNNY. GREAT COMPANY. AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN OVER THE YEARS. THEY MET OFTEN, DESPITE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN AUCKLAND AND SIR VINCENT'S HOME IN DUNEDIN. I SAID TO HIM ONCE, 'YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING, VINCENT. 'WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY?' AND HE SAID, 'WELL, I DON'T KNOW THE SUBJECT WELL ENOUGH ` YET.' SIR VINCENT LEAVES A HUGE LEGACY. GRAEME LAY SAYS HE'LL NOW GO BACK AND READ THE BOOKS AGAIN, BECAUSE, HE SAYS, THEY'RE GEMS. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH, NEWSHUB, AN UNUSUAL EVENT HAS BEEN HELD ACROSS JAPAN, WHERE EVERY SPRING SUMO WRESTLERS TRY THEIR BEST TO MAKE A HUNDRED BABIES CRY. THE IDEA IS TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS, AND THE RULES VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE. BUT THE BABY THAT CRIES FIRST, OR LOUDEST, OR LAST IS SAID TO BE SET FOR A HEALTHY AND STRONG LIFE. THE SUMOS ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR SCARY MASKS TO HELP TRIGGER THE TEARS, AND EVEN TO SHAKE THE BABIES, ALTHOUGH THE RULES SAY ONLY GENTLY. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING IF AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AT A MICHAEL HILL STORE YESTERDAY IS CONNECTED TO A SPATE OF OTHER JEWELLERY STORE HEISTS ACROSS AUCKLAND. IT CAME JUST DAYS AFTER MASKED THIEVES LOOTED A JEWELLERY STORE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND ON ANZAC DAY. THE NATIONWIDE BAN ON CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS IS NOW IN FORCE, AND THE EDUCATION MINISTER IS WARNING SCHOOLS THAT DON'T COMPLY TO EXPECT A VISIT FROM THE EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE. AN AUCKLAND RUGBY CLUB IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF A PLAYER HURT DURING AN UNDER-85KG GAME ON SATURDAY. CORY HEATHER SUFFERED A HEAD KNOCK WHILE PLAYING FOR BEACHLANDS MARAETAI AT TE PURU PARK. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER, AND A NEW ROUND OF RAIN WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED, HEATHER? FOR BRIEF BUT HEAVY RAIN FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. A FRONT HITS TOMORROW AND TRACKS NORTHEAST, CROSSING OVER MOST OF THE NORTH ISLAND TOO ON WEDNESDAY. BUT THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL FOR THE USUAL SUSPECTS, STARTING TOMORROW MORNING OVER FIORDLAND. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. TOMORROW'S WEATHER, BROUGHT TO YOU BY NATURE, TURNED INTO POWER BY MERIDIAN. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. TWO AREAS OF INTEREST FOR US ALL TOMORROW. UP TOP, THERE'S A LOW TO THE NORTHEAST THAT'S DEEPENING AND TRACKING SOUTH. IT'S ONE TO WATCH, BUT AT THIS STAGE WILL ONLY BRUSH EAST CAPE. THE OTHER AREA IS THE NEXT FRONT, WHICH TRACKS UP THE SOUTH ISLAND DURING TOMORROW, WITH HEAVY RAIN TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE ISLAND. IN THE MIDDLE, THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE, BUT THAT IS SHRINKING, SO IT'S FINE OUT EAST OVERNIGHT, FROM MARLBOROUGH DOWN TO SOUTHLAND. CLOUD INCREASES IN THE WEST, WITH SHOWERS DEVELOPING AND NORTH TO NOREAST WINDS. THE RAIN RAMPS UP TOMORROW, HEAVY WITH THE PASSING OF THE FRONT, AND SPREADING OVER SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO BY THE AFTERNOON. NORTHERLY WINDS TURN SOUTHERLY, IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. IT'S MOSTLY FINE FOR THE NORTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT ` JUST SHOWERS NORTH OF THAMES AND SHOWERS FOR THE NORTHEAST. TOMORROW ` MORE SHOWERS FOR GISBORNE, AND IT'S CLOUDY FOR HAWKE'S BAY, WITH SHOWERS ARRIVING IN THE AFTERNOON NORTH OF NAPIER. APART FROM CLOUD, THE REST OF THE ISLAND LOOKS GOOD, WITH FRESH SOUTHEASTERLIES, TURNING SOUTHERLY FOR MOST BY THE END OF THE DAY. SO THE TOP WILL HAVE A LITTLE CLOUD TO START, AND SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND AND THE COROMANDEL, BUT IT ALL CLEARS TO A FINE AFTERNOON, WHEN SOUTHEASTERLIES TURN SOUTH TO SOU'WEST. FINE TO START HERE, BUT CLOUD DEVELOPS ACROSS THE DAY, WITH A SOUTHERLY BREEZE. TAUPO, YOU WILL HAVE A SOUTHEASTERLY BREEZE, HIGHS OF 20 ALONG THE COAST. CLOUD OUT EAST TOO, WITH THAT LOW SINKING TOWARDS THE EAST CAPE. SHOWERS FOR GISBORNE, WITH SOUTHEASTERLIES. JUST A LIGHT BREEZE AND MOSTLY DRY FOR HAWKE'S BAY, AND NORTHERLIES IN THE SOUTH. FINE FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND ` JUST A TOUCH CLOUDY FOR WELLINGTON, WHERE THERE'S ALSO A FRESH MORNING NORTHERLY. CLOUD DOES EVENTUALLY CREEP NORTH EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT NOT TILL THE EVENING. OVER THE STRAIT ` THERE'S PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER FOR THE NORTHWEST, WITH SHOWERS. NELSON ` YOUR MORNING SHOWERS CLEAR IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT EVERYONE ELSE WILL HAVE SHOWERS ON AND OFF FOR THE DAY. LOVELY AND FINE OUT EAST, WITH HIGH CLOUD INCREASING DURING THE AFTERNOON FOR TIMARU AND ASHBURTON. WINDS WILL MOSTLY BE LIGHT, BUT A NOR'WESTER PICKS UP FOR BLENHEIM AND SOUTH CANTERBURY. A LITTLE MORE ACTION FURTHER SOUTH, WITH THE FRONT ARRIVING AND BRINGING WITH IT SHIFTING WIND AND RAIN. NORTHERLY QUARTER WINDS TURN SOUTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT AND WILL EASE IN THE EVENING. SO RAIN WILL MAKE IT TO DUNEDIN, BUT NOT TILL THE AFTERNOON. THE MORNING WILL BE DRY WITH HIGH CLOUD. SOUTHERLIES ARRIVE IN THE EVENING. FOG HAS STARTED TO SETTLE FOR THE NIGHT OVER CHRISTCHURCH. IT SHOULD CLEAR BY AROUND 9AM, AND THE DAY WILL BE FINE, WITH VERY LITTLE WIND. PARTLY CLOUDY AROUND THE CAPITAL. THERE'S A NORTHERLY BREEZE TOO, WHICH WILL BE FRESH IN THE MORNING. YOUR HIGH OF 16 FEELS MORE LIKE ONLY 13. CLOUDY PERIODS FOR YOU, HAWKES BAY ` MAYBE EVEN A FEW SHOWERS NORTH OF NAPIER. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT, THOUGH. MAINLY FINE AROUND TAURANGA ` HIGH CLOUD SPREADS OVER THE REGION, WITH A SLIGHT SOUTHERLY AND A HIGH OF 20 DEGREES. FINE FOR HAMILTON, WITH CLOUD INCREASING TOMORROW NIGHT. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE SOUTH, WITH A HIGH OF 19. AND FINE TOO FOR AUCKLAND, WITH A LITTLE MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. SOU'EASTERLIES WILL TURN SOU'WESTERLY AFTER MIDDAY. QUITE CLOUDY AND WET FOR OZ, FROM HOBART ALL THE WAY EAST AND NORTH TO CAIRNS. AND THE TAIL OF A TROPICAL TROUGH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VANUATU'S THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW. A FEW SHOWERS FOR SAMOA, NEW CALEDONIA AND NIUE TOO. HOME TO US, AND THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK IS OK UP TOP ` JUST A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON ON WEDNESDAY FOR HAMILTON. THERE WILL BE A FEW SHOWERS HERE TOO MIDWEEK AND ON THURSDAY, BUT ONLY FOR TAUPO. FRIDAY LOOKS GOOD. AND SHOWERS FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, BUT BECOMING FINE. THERE'S ALSO GALE SOU'WESTERS MIDWEEK FOR WELLINGTON. PERIODS OF RAIN ON WEDNESDAY FOR THE TOP HALF OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ` A FEW SHOWERS LEFT ON THURSDAY FOR THE KAIKOURA COAST. AND SHOWERS HERE TOO, WITH STRONG SOUTHERLIES FOR CHRISTCHURCH ON WEDNESDAY. SHOWERS REMAIN OVER SOUTHLAND THROUGH TILL THE WEEKEND. SO MOST OF THE WEEK IS LOOKING SETTLED AND CLEAR, APART FROM THE ONE PESKY FRONT WHICH ARRIVES TOMORROW. THERE IS A CHANCE THE WATCHES MAY BE UPGRADED TO WARNINGS IN THE MORNING. THANK YOU, HEATHER. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. REBECCA WRIGHT AND THE NEWSHUB LATE TEAM ARE HERE ON THREE AT 10PM. AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT NEWS@NEWSHUB.CO.NZ I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. AND I'M MIKE MCROBERTS. PO MANAHAU. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024.