AMID SWEEPING PUBLIC SERVICE CUTS, MPs WILL GET A PAY RISE EVERY YEAR UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION. FALLING VACCINATION RATES PROMPT A WARNING FROM HEALTH EXPERTS THAT NEW ZEALAND IS AT RISK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC. AND NCEA PASS RATES HAVE FALLEN FOR A FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND ALEX WALKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. MPs ARE GETTING A PAY RISE, WITH THE REMUNERATION AUTHORITY RECOMMENDING A 2.8% INCREASE EVERY YEAR UP UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION. FOR A BACKBENCH MP, THAT MEANS AN IMMEDIATE JUMP OF NEARLY $5000 A YEAR TO $168,600. FOR A CABINET MINISTER, IT'S AN EXTRA $8000 TO JUST OVER $304,000. AND THE PRIME MINISTER'S SALARY WILL JUMP $13,000 ` FROM $471,000 ` TO AROUND $484,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR. BY THE TIME THE NEXT ELECTION ROLLS AROUND IN 2026, IT WILL BE MORE THAN HALF A MILLION, BUT HE SAYS HE'LL DONATE THE INCREASE TO CHARITY. IT COMES AS THE GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE FACING A BACKLASH FROM VOTERS OVER ITS DEEP CUTS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE. POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH HAS MORE. BRAVE FACES IN THE FACE OF BAD POLLS. I'M FEELING FINE. IT'S NOT WHAT I'M HEARING IN TAKANINI. ALARM BELLS ARE NOT RINGING, BECAUSE WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON FIXING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY. WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE QUITE A WHILE TO TURN THINGS AROUND. NOTHING A CHUNK OF CASH CAN'T CURE. THAT'S RIGHT. CHA-CHING ` IT'S PAYDAY FOR MPs. IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME FOR POLITICIANS TO GET A PAY RISE? OH, LOOK, AS YOU WELL KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT PRIME MINISTERS OR MPs SETTING THEIR OWN PAY. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY UP FOR AN INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. I DON'T WANT ONE. YOU'RE KINDA DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T. IT'S JUST A PROCESS IN LAW THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. THE REMUNERATION AUTHORITY HAS RULED THAT AFTER SIX YEARS OF FROZEN PAY PACKETS, POLITICIANS HAVE EARNED A PAY RISE. STOCK-STANDARD BACKBENCHERS GET THE FULL 2.8%, BRINGING THEM UP TO $168,000. MINISTERS TOO ` THEY'RE BUMPED ABOVE 300K. AND THE PM GETS AN IMMEDIATE 13-GRAND INCREASE, TAKING HIM TO $484,200. THAT AMOUNT? NO, THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH. 168,000? WOW. THAT'S A LOT. THE AUTHORITY RULED THAT THE ROLE OF LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION WAS NO LONGER AS VALUABLE AS A CABINET MINISTER, SAYING... MEANING THE OPPOSITION LEADER'S PAY BUMP WAS ONLY $2000 ` A QUARTER OF THE INCREASE CABINET MINISTERS GET. BUT THE BIG BOSS'S PAY PACKET WILL CONTINUE TO RISE EVERY YEAR, REACHING MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BY THE TIME THE NEXT ELECTION ROLLS AROUND. EVERYBODY'S BEING MADE REDUNDANT, SO DON'T THINK THEY NEED A PAY RISE. YOU'VE GOTTA FIX THE COUNTRY UP BEFORE YOU FIX YOURSELF UP. OOF ` NOT HARD TO READ THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT ON THAT ONE. TERRIBLE TIMING, GIVEN THE NATS WERE JUST DEALT A DEVASTATING POLL BLOW THAT LUXON IS NOT TAKING TERRIBLY WELL. YEAH, A BIT FROTHY AND SENSATIONALIST I THINK WERE THE WORDS I USED. LAST NIGHT'S 1 NEWS POLL SHOWED THE OPPOSITION HAD THE NUMBERS TO GOVERN JUST FIVE MONTHS INTO THE COALITION'S REIGN, AND NEWSHUB UNDERSTANDS LABOUR'S INTERNAL POLL NUMBERS ALSO SHOW THE LEFT A NOSE IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT, WITH THE MAJOR PARTIES NECK AND NECK ` THE RED TEAM ON 33, THE BLUE ON 34. WELL, IT'S NOT POSITIVE AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE SOME PRETTY TOUGH DECISIONS. ITS NOT EASY WHEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. IT'S NOT EASY, RIGHT? WITH ECONOMIC TIMES AKIN TO 2008, LUXON'S FAR FROM THE SOARING POPULARITY OF THE JOHN KEY YEARS. AS I SAID, I THINK IF YOU GO BACK AND HAVE A LOOK AT TIMES WHEN THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN TOUGH, OFTEN, IT DOES PLAY OUT LIKE THAT. POSSIBLY BAD TIMING FOR KEY TO ROCK UP TO PARLIAMENT TODAY AS A REMINDER OF THE NATS' GLORY DAYS, AS LUXON DIGS IN AND DEFENDS HIS ILL-TASTING MEDICINE. I KNOW IT'S TOUGH FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BUT IT'S NOT EASY FOR A GOVERNMENT TO ACTUALLY DRIVE THROUGH THAT PROGRAMME AS WELL. IT'S NOT EASY TO PUT SANCTIONS ON BENEFICIARIES NOT HOLDING THEIR OBLIGATIONS ON JOBSEEKER BENEFIT. IT IS NOT EASY TO EVICT UNRULY TENANTS OUT OF K.O. SO I GET ALL OF THAT. BUT WE HAVE A HELL OF A MESS TO FIX. WE ARE GOING TO TURN IT AROUND. TURN IT AROUND BY CUTTING JOBS WITH ONE HAND AND TAKING PAY RISES WITH THE OTHER. SO JENNA, THE PRIME MINISTER IS DONATING HIS PAY RISE TO CHARITY? THAT'S RIGHT. THAT WAS A POLITICAL GRENADE HE REALLY DID NOT NEED TO GO OFF IN HIS LAP TODAY. TAKING A LEAF OUT OF THE JOHN KEY PLAYBOOK, HE WAS QUICK TO FIRE AT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT HE WILL BE DONATING INCREASE IN HIS SALARY TO CHARITY. SOME OF THE PERCEPTION ISSUES AROUND CHRISTOPHER LUXON TAKING ENTITLEMENTS. IN TERMS OF THESE POLL NUMBERS, THERE IS NO SCIENCE AND PICKING WHY THE PUBLIC IS UNHAPPY WITH THE COALITION, BUT IT IT DOES TAKE A DEGREE DENY THAT THEY DO NOT INVOKE THE SAME WARM FUZZY IS AS THE PROMISES OF GETTING THE COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK. IF THEY ARE AS ADVERTISED, ON THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, THAT IS $25 A WEEK FOR THE AVERAGE WORKER. THAT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE PAY RISE THEY GOT TODAY. THEY HAVE AWARDED THOSE PAY RISE AND IT MIGHT SO ARE THE BUDGET SWEETENER. POLICE ARE HOPING THE PUBLIC CAN HELP LOCATE A HAMMER-WIELDING ATTACKER WHO THEY SAY LEFT A HAMILTON WOMAN WITH SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES LAST NIGHT. KAREN RUTHERFORD JOINS US NOW FROM FRANKTON, WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE. KAREN, SHOULD THE PUBLIC BE CONCERNED THE ALLEGED OFFENDER REMAINS AT LARGE? I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS ALLEGED OFFENDER WAS KNOWN TO HIS VICTIM. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SLEEPY PART OF FRANKTON AT 6 PM LAST NIGHT TO SAY THE WOMAN WAS BASHED AROUND THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER. THEY ARE URGING ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN DRIVING ALONG THE NORTON ROAD AREA BETWEEN 5 AND 7 PM LAST NIGHT WHO MIGHT HAVE CAN FOOTAGE OR MIGHT HAVE SEEN A DISTRESSED FEMALE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM. THEY SAY THE WOMAN WAS ABLE TO MAKE A WAY FROM NORTON INTO THIS AVENUE HERE WHERE SHE WAS FOUND. SHE SOUNDED THE ALARM AND AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED. SHE WAS TAKEN WITH SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES TO WAIKATO HOSPITAL. URGING ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION TO GET IN TOUCH SO THEY CAN FIND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE. THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN URGING THE FISHERIES MINISTER TO MAKE ANYONE WHO REELS IN A FISH REPORT THEIR CATCH. NEWSHUB HAS OBTAINED A LETTER SENT TO SHANE JONES, AND WHILE THE MINISTER SAYS HE HAS 'NO INTEREST', HE IS INVESTIGATING CHANGES FOR CHARTER BOAT SKIPPERS WHO ARE PART OF THE RECREATIONAL SECTOR. INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MORRAH HAS THE STORY. A DAY OUT ON THE WATER IN SEARCH OF SNAPPER. (LAUGHTER) IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR YOUR EVERYDAY BOATIE TO REPORT WHAT SPECIES THEY CATCH OR HOW MUCH THEY TAKE HOME, BUT THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR WANTS THAT TO CHANGE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE MINISTER TO IMPLEMENT SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WILL ENSURE WE HAVE BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CATCH OF THE RECREATIONAL SECTOR. A LETTER FROM INDUSTRY TO THE MINISTER, OBTAINED BY NEWSHUB UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT, STATES... RECREATIONAL FISHING ADVOCATES SAY THE COST OF A MANDATORY SYSTEM WOULD BE HUGE. HOW ON EARTH ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO CREATE A MANDATORY CATCH REPORTING PROGRAMME? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, POLICE IT? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAINTAIN THE DATA, THAT SORT OF THING? SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF BUREAUCRACY, A HUGE AMOUNT OF RED TAPE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO MANDATE AND CERTAINLY NO INTEREST IN INTRODUCING THOSE TYPES OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. SHANE JONES ROLLED IT OUT WHILE HE'S IN OFFICE. WHEN RANGI OR RON HOPS IN THEIR BOAT AND GOES AND GET SOME KAIMOANA AND SOME TUCKER, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE EXPECTED TO FILL IN A FORM AKIN TO AN IRD RETURN. HOWEVER, HE HAS ASKED OFFICIALS TO INVESTIGATE OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING DATA FROM CHARTER VESSELS. I DO THINK THERE'S A LIVE ISSUE ON GETTING A BETTER GRIP ON HOW MUCH FISH THE VERY BIG CHARTER BOATS ARE TAKING. CHARTER BOAT SKIPPERS ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO REPORT THEIR CATCH. THE MINISTER SAYS HE'S LOOKING AT WHETHER MORE SPECIES OF FISH SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST THAT HAVE TO BE REPORTED BY CHARTER VESSELS ` FOR EXAMPLE, ADDING SPECIES LIKE BLUENOSE AND HAPUKA IN THE FAR NORTH. BUT HE'S ALSO INVESTIGATING WHETHER CHARTER SKIPPERS SHOULD START REPORTING THEIR CATCH ELECTRONICALLY. CHARTER SKIPPER DARELL DIGGES SAYS FILLING OUT PAPER CATCH RETURNS AND POSTING THEM TO OFFICIALS IN WELLINGTON IS ARCHAIC. IT IS PRETTY OLD SCHOOL. I MEAN, TRYING TO DO IT ON PAPER-BASED, UH, YOU KNOW, MODELS. I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, AN APP WOULD BE A LOT EASIER. CHARTER FISHER BRYAN CONNELL AGREES THE PAPER SYSTEM IS PROBLEMATIC, BUT THINKS THERE ARE BIGGER ISSUES THE MINISTER SHOULD FOCUS ON. WE'VE GOT A BIOSECURITY PROBLEM. WE'VE GOT A, UM, CLEAN WATER SITUATION FROM DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND RIGHT UP TO WHANGAPARAOA. HE THINKS THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY'S PUSH FOR BETTER RECREATIONAL REPORTING IS A DISTRACTION. WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 50M2 AND 10 TO 20 RODS FISHING. IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE 5000 HOOKS OR A NET THAT WILL CATCH 30 TONS. DESPITE THE MINISTER'S EMPHATIC DISMISSAL OF FORCING JOE PUBLIC TO REPORT THEIR CATCH, THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY TOLD NEWSHUB IT STILL WANTS TO MEET THEM TO TALK ABOUT IT. MICHAEL MORRAH, NEWSHUB. HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WARNING NEW ZEALAND IS AT SERIOUS RISK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC DUE TO GROWING NUMBERS OF UNIMMUNISED CHILDREN. CHILDHOOD MEASLES VACCINATION RATES ARE STUCK ON ABOUT 82%, AND FOR YEARS HAVE BEEN BELOW THE 95% NEEDED FOR POPULATION-WIDE IMMUNITY. ALEXA COOK REPORTS. KOKIRI MARAE'S CLINICAL NURSE IS WORRIED ABOUT HER COMMUNITY AS JUST 69% OF MAORI UNDER 2 ARE VACCINATED AGAINST MEASLES. THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY FAR TOO LOW, ABSOLUTELY. FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL AND PARTICULARLY FOR MAORI AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS. A CONCERN SHARED BY DR OZ MANSOOR FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE. IF WE DON'T GET ENOUGH PEOPLE VACCINATED, THERE WILL BE AN OUTBREAK OF MEASLES. THE LATEST BRIEFING HE CO-AUTHORED SHOWS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BECOMING SUSCEPTIBLE TO MEASLES IS GROWING BY ABOUT 1000 A MONTH. IT CALLS FOR THREE URGENT ACTIONS ` FOR THE IMMUNITY GAP TO BE CLOSED; A REDUCTION IN THE RISK OF IMPORTING MEASLES BY REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION TO LEAVE OR ENTER THE COUNTRY; AND A RETHINK OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE, FOCUSING ON IDENTIFYING AND ISOLATING CONTACTS. THE CHALLENGE FOR MOST PEOPLE IS WE HAVEN'T SEEN MEASLES EPIDEMICS. WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE EXTENT OF MISERY AND SEVERE ILLNESS IT CAN CAUSE, AND INCLUDING DEATH. WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION FIGURES SHOW MEASLES CASES ALMOST DOUBLED IN 2023 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR, REACHING 320,000. WE'RE CONCERNED WITH THE GLOBAL RISE OF MEASLES CASES. AND WE DON'T KNOW PROGRESSIVELY, EACH YEAR AS TIME PASSES, WE HAVE LESS AND LESS OF THAT HIGH SCHOOL PROTECTION. THAT'S BECAUSE NEW ZEALAND'S VACCINATION RATES HAVE BEEN FALLING SINCE 2017, WHICH MEANS REDUCED HERD IMMUNITY. BUT BOOSTING THOSE RATES IS PROVING DIFFICULT. THERE ARE A FEW REASONS. ONE OF THEM WOULD BE A FLOW-ON EFFECT, REALLY, FROM COVID. I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST OUT IN COMMUNITY AT THE MOMENT. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE DELAYS IN GETTING NURSES ACCREDITED FOR ALL-OF-LIFE VACCINATIONS. BILLY-JO AND FOUR OF HER NURSING COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE DECEMBER FOR AN ASSESSMENT SO THEY CAN VACCINATE WITHOUT SUPERVISION. THAT'S REALLY TOUGH FOR US TO SIT ON OUR HANDS AND WAIT. ESPECIALLY AS THE RISK IS GROWING. ALEXA COOK, NEWSHUB. THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER DEADLY STABBING IN AUSTRALIA ` THIS TIME A TEENAGER IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HER 10-YEAR-OLD SISTER. THE 17-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER APPEARING IN CHILDREN'S COURT THIS MORNING. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER REPORTS. AT THE SCENE OF A HEARTBREAKING AND HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE, FORENSIC DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THEY WERE CALLED TO A FAMILY HOME AND FOUND INSIDE... A FEMALE (10) WITH MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS. THE LITTLE GIRL DIED AT THE SCENE. HER OLDER SISTER, JUST 17, IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HER. IT'S UNTHINKABLE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A 10-YEAR-OLD. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. CHARGED WITH MURDER BY POLICE, THE TEEN'S CASE WAS CALLED IN THE CHILDREN'S COURT EARLY THIS MORNING. MY THOUGHTS AGAIN GO OUT TO A MOTHER WHO'S AT HOME, HAVING LOST A 10-YEAR-OLD WHO TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE, AND NOW HAS ANOTHER` HER OTHER DAUGHTER'S FACING COURT. AS THE TEENAGER APPEARED IN COURT, FORENSIC INVESTIGATORS WENT DOOR TO DOOR IN THE QUIET NEWCASTLE NEIGHBOURHOOD. ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED. YOU DON'T THINK THINGS LIKE THIS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR STREET, MM. NO. JUST SO YOUNG. SO YOUNG. THE GIRL (10) IS THE 10TH PERSON STABBED TO DEATH IN THE STATE IN JUST THREE WEEKS. IT'S A REFLECTION, UH, NOT ON THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S A REFLECTION ON SOCIETY IN GENERAL. ANOTHER TRAGEDY FOR A SHELL-SHOCKED COUNTRY STRUGGLING TO COMPREHEND THE SHOCKING SPATE OF VIOLENCE. IN SYDNEY, EMMA CROPPER, NEWSHUB. THE NUMBER OF KIWI KIDS PASSING NCEA AT ALL LEVELS HAS FALLEN FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW. JUST 61.7% OF YEAR 11 STUDENTS PASSED NCEA LEVEL 1 LAST YEAR ` A DROP OF 3.2 POINTS ON THE YEAR BEFORE AND ALMOST 10 POINTS LOWER THAN IN 2020. 73.2% OF YEAR 12'S PASSED LEVEL 2 ` A SLIGHT DECLINE ON LAST YEAR. AND FOR THOSE IN THEIR FINAL YEAR OF SCHOOL ` THE ATTAINMENT RATE FOR LEVEL 3 WAS 67.7%. ONLY HALF ` 49.7% ` PASSED UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE. WHAT'S BEHIND THE FALLING PASS RATES? JANIKA TER ELLEN WENT TO FIND OUT. IT'S THAT SWEATY-PALMED EXAM WHICH MAKES UP AROUND HALF OUR TEENS' NCEA MARKS. BUT MORE AND MORE STUDENTS ARE FAILING THEM AND THEIR ENTIRE NCEA QUALIFICATION. NEW ZEALAND KIDS ARE DOING WORSE THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR. VAUGHAN COUILLAULT IS PRINCIPAL OF PAPATOETOE HIGH SCHOOL AND HEADS THE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS' ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS COVID DISRUPTION, TEENS LEAVING SCHOOL TO WORK AND FEWER SCHOOLS EVEN RUNNING NCEA LEVEL 1 ` INSTEAD ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GO STRAIGHT TO LEVEL 2 ` ARE ALL FACTORS. BUT SO IS A CRIPPLING TEACHER SHORTAGE. THE THING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN JOBS THAT I DO AWAKE AT NIGHT IS QUALITY TEACHER SUPPLY. AND IN AUCKLAND, COUILLAULT SAYS RECORD MIGRATION HAS BEEN A MASSIVE FACTOR. NEW ZEALAND MADE A NET GAIN OF 126,000 PEOPLE IN THE YEAR TO DECEMBER. THAT'S AROUND THE POPULATION OF DUNEDIN, AND MOST OF THEM SETTLED IN OUR BIGGEST CITY. IN THE FIRST WEEK OF TERM THREE LAST YEAR, WE HAD 46 STUDENTS ARRIVE THAT WERE NEW TO COUNTRY. BUT YOU CAN'T EXPECT A NEW MIGRANT TO GET THE QUALIFICATION IN DECEMBER WHEN THEY'VE STARTED THE JOURNEY IN JULY. IT'S VERY, VERY CHALLENGING. THE PPTA SAYS 56% OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE TEACHERS WORKING OUTSIDE THEIR SPECIALITY ` THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN. SO THAT'D BE LIKE, SAY, MYSELF, A HISTORY TEACHER, TEACHING PHYSICS, OR A P.E. TEACHER TEACHING ART. PRESIDENT CHRIS ABERCROMIE SAYS THAT'S FAILING OUR STUDENTS. YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT PASSION FOR THE SUBJECT, AND IT'S THOSE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO HELP YOU PASS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS ITS CHANGES TO LITERACY AND NUMERACY TEACHING, AIMED AT PRIMARY-SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, WILL IMPROVE THEIR RESULTS AT HIGH SCHOOL. WE NEED TO GET 80% OF KIDS TO CURRICULUM BY THE TIME THEY START HIGH SCHOOL TO GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE AT GETTING NCEA QUALIFICATION. FOCUS ON GETTING THAT STUFF RIGHT AND THEN ADDRESSING THE QUALIFICATION LATER ON IS PROBABLY WHAT THE SECTOR'S BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A BIT. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME HOPE IN THEIR APPROACH. YEAH. HOPE, HARD WORK AND MORE QUALITY TEACHERS SO THESE TENSE MOMENTS PAY OFF FOR OUR TEENS MORE OFTEN. JANIKA TER ELLEN, NEWSHUB. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER, AND CHRISTCHURCH STARTED THE DAY AGAIN WITH FOG? YES, BUT IT CLEARED QUICKLY. ALL GONE BY 8AM. THERE WAS ALSO FOG THROUGH DUNEDIN HARBOUR ` MADE FOR A LOVELY SUNRISE. THE RAIN HAS JUST STARTED TO RAMP UP WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEXT COLD FRONT CURRENTLY OVER FIORDLAND. IT'S ABOUT TO UNLEASH ALL SORTS ` HEAVY RAIN, STRONG WINDS, SNOW TO LOW LEVELS AND THUNDERSTORMS. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. RIOT POLICE MOVE IN AS STUDENTS DIG IN. THE PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST MOVEMENT ON U.S. COLLEGE CAMPUSES REFUSES TO BUDGE. AND AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER A DAM BURST IN KENYA. WELCOME BACK. RIOT POLICE HAVE BEGUN ARRESTING STUDENTS ON U.S. CAMPUSES WHO ARE PROTESTING FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS. IN NEW YORK, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IS THREATENING THE DEMONSTRATORS WITH SUSPENSION IF THEY DON'T LEAVE. THE PROTESTS ARE BEING LABELLED AS ANTI-SEMITIC, AND CRITICS SAY CAMPUSES ARE NO LONGER SAFE FOR JEWS. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN REPORTS. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN, RIOT POLICE MOVED IN WITH FORCE. LET THEM GO! THE STANDOFF AND THEN THE ARRESTS HAPPENED AS POLICE TRIED TO REMOVE A PROTEST CAMP ON CAMPUS. 50 STUDENTS HAD ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED HERE LAST WEEK AS ADMINISTRATORS AND POLITICIANS BEGIN TO LOSE PATIENCE. THIS CAMPUS IS ONE OF MANY ACROSS AMERICA WHERE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE. STUDENTS ARE DEMANDING THEIR UNIVERSITIES STOP ANY FUNDING OR INVESTMENTS TIED TO ISRAEL. THESE ARE ATTEMPTS TO STIFLE THE STUDENT MOVEMENT. IT WAS STUDENTS FROM NEW YORK'S COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY THAT TRIGGERED THE NATIONWIDE PROTESTS. THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO LEAVE THEIR TENT CITY ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, AND ADMINISTRATORS GAVE STUDENTS UNTIL THIS MORNING TO SHIFT OR FACE SUSPENSION. THESE REPULSIVE SCARE TACTICS MEAN NOTHING COMPARED TO THE DEATHS OF OVER 34,000 PALESTINIANS. STUDENT PROTESTS ARE TAKING PLACE IN BOSTON, NEVADA, LOS ANGELES AND ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW AMERICANS TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST WITHIN THE LAW. THAT IS IMPORTANT. BUT SOME ARE VIEWING DEMONSTRATIONS AS NOT JUST ANTI-ISRAEL BUT ANTI-SEMITIC. THERE ARE REPORTS SOME PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR VIOLENCE TOWARDS JEWS, AND SOME JEWISH STUDENTS SAY THEY FEEL THREATENED. (ALL CHANT) JEWS ARE IN DANGER ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW. SO FAR, 800 AMERICAN STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED ACROSS 20 CAMPUSES. AT SOME, CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FEW WEEKS LEFT OF THE SEMESTER. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS EVEN CANCELLED ITS GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR SAFETY REASONS. BUT WHILE UNIVERSITIES BECOME MORE AGITATED BY DEMONSTRATIONS, THE PROTESTERS SAY, 'WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED ` NOT EASILY.' IN NEW YORK, MITCH MCCANN, NEWSHUB. HAMAS IS BEING URGED TO ACCEPT WHAT THE U.S. DESCRIBES AS AN 'EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS' CEASEFIRE OFFER FROM ISRAEL. ANTONY BLINKEN, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, OUTLINED THE DEAL AT A MEETING IN SAUDI ARABIA WHILE NEGOTIATORS FROM HAMAS AND ISRAEL PREPARED FOR TALKS IN CAIRO. IT WOULD SEE A TRUCE IN GAZA FOR 40 DAYS, WITH HOSTAGES RELEASED AND DISPLACED PALESTINIAN FAMILIES ALLOWED TO RETURN TO NORTHERN GAZA. BUT ISRAEL'S WAR CABINET IS STILL SPLIT ON THE NEED TO GO HARD AT HAMAS IN RAFAH, WHERE AIRSTRIKES AGAIN KILLED DOZENS TODAY. A DAM THAT BURST DURING A DOWNPOUR IN SOUTHERN KENYA HAS SWEPT AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE TO THEIR DEATHS. AT LEAST 17 CHILDREN ARE AMONG THE VICTIMS, WITH KENYAN AUTHORITIES DESCRIBING THE SCENE AS 'CHAOS'. THE HEAVY RAINS HAD ALREADY CAUSED LANDSLIDES AND FLASH FLOODS. THE DAM COLLAPSE TOOK THE CASUALTY TOLL TO MORE THAN 120. MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED TO SHELTERS. THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT WATERING DOWN THE UNPRECEDENTED POWER ITS PROPOSED FAST-TRACK LAW WOULD GIVE A TRIO OF MINISTERS TO DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS ARE RUBBER-STAMPED. THE CONTROVERSIAL POWERS HAVE RAISED THE IRE OF CONSERVATIONISTS, AND NOW INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER CHRIS BISHOP SAYS HE'S OPEN TO MAKING CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGES. POLITICAL REPORTER AMELIA WADE EXPLAINS. SHANE JONES IN FULL FLIGHT, UNLIKE OUR NATIONAL BIRD. GONE ARE THE DAYS OF THE MULTI-COLOURED SKINK... THE KIWI, MANY OTHER SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN WEAPONISED TO DENY REGIONAL NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITIES THEIR RIGHT TO A LIVELIHOOD. SHANE'S A GOOD MATE OF MINE, AND HE, UH... HE HAS` HE HAS A WAY WITH WORDS. I DON'T HAVE HIS ORATORICAL SKILLS. CHRIS BISHOP AND JONES ARE TWO OF THE TRIO OF MINISTERS GIVING THEMSELVES UNPRECEDENTED POWER TO DECIDE WHICH MAJOR PROJECTS BYPASS RED TAPE AND GET THE GREEN LIGHT, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE. WE'RE OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGES ON THE FAST-TRACK REGIME TO AMELIORATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE. TWO GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS HAVE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO WATER DOWN THE POWER. THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SAID THE LEGISLATION POSES SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, BECAUSE IT DEPRIORITISES THE ENVIRONMENT, WOULD ALLOW ACTIVITIES PREVIOUSLY BANNED AND LIMITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCRUTINY. THERE'S BEEN SOME SUGGESTIONS AROUND HOW THE PANELS SHOULD BE THE FINAL DECISION-MAKERS AROUND THAT, IN THE SAME WAY THAT LABOUR'S FAST-TRACK REGIME LOOKED AT. WE'LL HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT. THE AUDITOR GENERAL SAID HE'D LIKE TO SEE... JUST HOURS BEFORE PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE FAST-TRACK LAW CLOSED, THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED A LIST OF HUNDREDS OF ORGANISATIONS WHO'D BEEN INVITED TO APPLY. ONE WAS KING'S QUARRY, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO A $55,000 DONATION TO NEW ZEALAND FIRST AND SHANE JONES. ON WHAT DATE DID HE BECOME AWARE THAT AT LEAST ONE COMPANY IN CONTACT WITH HIS MINISTERS ABOUT APPLYING FOR FAST-TRACK APPROVAL HAD DONATED TO A COALITION POLITICAL PARTY? (MPs GROAN, LAUGH) I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT WE WILL MANAGE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST INCREDIBLY WELL WITH THIS PROCESS. THOUGH OFTEN, IT'S NOT THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST BUT THE PERCEPTION OF ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE MANAGED. AMELIA WADE, NEWSHUB. ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT ` AND DAN CARTER'S WEIGHED INTO THE GREAT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY DEBATE? EVERYONE ELSE HAS GOT AN OPINION ON THE ALL BLACKS' ELIGIBILITY RULES, SO IT'S ABOUT TIME WE HEARD FROM ONE OF THE BEST TO EVER DO IT. DC TELLS US WHETHER NEW ZEALAND RUGBY SHOULD BEND THE RULES TO ALLOW THE RETURN OF THE MAN HE CALLS THE BEST 10 IN THE WORLD ` RICHIE MO'UNGA. AND WORLD CHAMPION KIWI SWIMMER LEWIS CLAREBURT QUESTIONS WHETHER HE'LL FACE CLEAN ATHLETES IN PARIS IN THE WAKE OF THE CHINESE DOPING SCANDAL. RENTS ARE CONTINUING TO SOAR ` UP AN AVERAGE OF $50 A WEEK FROM A YEAR AGO ` SO WHAT'S DRIVING IT? A SOCIAL-MEDIA-FUELLED PHENOMENON OF PRE-TEENS, MAINLY YOUNG GIRLS, BUYING ANTI-AGING SKINCARE. THESE PRODUCTS ARE IN THE WRONG FORMULATIONS FOR THAT AGE GROUP, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE RASHES AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THERE'S NO BENEFIT TO THEM USING THEM AT ALL. LABOUR'S PLAN TO REGULATE THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DUMPED BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT. THE BILL WOULD'VE BROUGHT IN MINIMUM STANDARDS AND A REGISTER FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS, BUT HOUSING MINISTER CHRIS BISHOP SAYS THE COALITION WON'T SUPPORT THE BILL TO PROGRESS. IT COMES AS NEW FIGURES REVEAL RENTAL PRICES HAVE HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, WITH THE AVERAGE RENT IN PARTS OF AUCKLAND NOW MORE THAN $700 A WEEK. ZANE SMALL HAS THE DETAILS. IMAGINE TAKING A STEP OUTSIDE TO AUCKLAND'S LARGEST SHOPPING MALL RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP. THAT'S WHAT YOU GET AT NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST BUILD-TO-RENT DEVELOPMENT IN SYLVIA PARK. THE 295 APARTMENTS ARE ALMOST COMPLETE. WELL, YOU CAN MOVE IN HERE AND SAVE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO BUY YOUR FIRST HOUSE OR MOVE IN HERE AND LIVE HERE LONG TERM. PUT DOWN ROOTS. YOU CAN BRING A PET. THE FIRST RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THESE APARTMENTS FROM MID-MAY, AND THEY'LL HAVE THE SECURITY OF KNOWING THAT THEY CAN SECURE LONG-TERM TENANCY AGREEMENTS AND NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE APARTMENT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM. THEY'RE NOT YOUR USUAL RENTALS. THE BUILDING HAS A GYM AND COMMUNAL AREAS, AND THAT COMES AT A PREMIUM. A ONE-BEDROOM COSTS ABOUT $695 A WEEK. BUT NEW DATA OUT TODAY SHOWS THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON, EVEN FOR NORMAL RENTAL PROPERTIES. TRADE ME FIGURES SHOW THE NATIONAL MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF $650 A WEEK, UP 8.3% COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. WE KNOW THAT IN AUCKLAND AT THE MOMENT, 50% OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 15 ARE LIVING IN RENTAL ACCOMMODATION, AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 60% IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. IN AUCKLAND, WHERE BARFOOT AND THOMPSON MANAGES MORE THAN 17,000 RENTAL PROPERTIES, THE AVERAGE WEEKLY RENT HAS REACHED $671 ` UP 5.69% IN A YEAR. AUCKLAND'S EASTERN SUBURBS, LIKE REMUERA, ARE THE PRICIEST, WITH THE AVERAGE WEEKLY RENT AT ` WAIT FOR IT ` $742. HUGE NET MIGRATION, SO LOTS MORE PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY OR STAYING. WE'VE HAD THE RETURN OF OVERSEAS STUDENTS, AND THAT'S BEEN QUITE A HUGE IMPACT, ESPECIALLY ON THE ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN THE CITY. BUT WHEN THE AVERAGE PROPERTY PRICE IN AUCKLAND IS $1M, RENTING IS OFTEN THE ONLY OPTION. SO DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS AT LEAST GIVE RENTERS A TASTE OF PUTTING DOWN ROOTS. ZANE SMALL, NEWSHUB. GOVERNMENT MINISTER PAUL GOLDSMITH HAS FRONTED UP TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO EXPLAIN HOW NEW ZEALAND IS PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS. A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.K. AND U.S., HAVE CALLED ON AOTEAROA TO DO MORE TO GET BUSINESSES TO ADDRESS MODERN SLAVERY. BUT AS POLITICAL REPORTER JAMIE ENSOR EXPLAINS, THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS IT'S NOT A PRIORITY. FACING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO EXPLAIN NEW ZEALAND'S APPROACH TO HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES... NEW ZEALAND HAS A LONG HISTORY AND COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS. ...AND HEARING OTHER COUNTRIES' CALLS FOR NEW ZEALAND TO DO MORE. PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. IRELAND REGRETS THAT THE MAORI PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, CONTINUE TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY INCARCERATION. SEVERAL COUNTRIES, LIKE THE U.K., U.S. AND MEXICO, ALSO WANT NEW ZEALAND TO DO MORE TO ADDRESS RISKS OF FORCED LABOUR IN BUSINESSES' SUPPLY CHAINS. WE RECOMMEND THAT NEW ZEALAND INTRODUCE MODERN SLAVERY LEGISLATION. GOLDSMITH SAYING THERE ARE ALREADY GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESSES, BUT LEGISLATION'S NOT ON THE IMMEDIATE AGENDA. MODERN SLAVERY SUPPLY CHAIN LEGISLATION IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING WHETHER IT WILL TAKE FURTHER STEPS. THAT'S ECHOED BACK HOME. IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR US. WE'RE FOCUSED ON OUR QUARTERLY ACTION PLAN. I THINK IT SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE URGENCY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE MINISTER ABOUT HER PLANS ON THAT. WELL, I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR THAT MY PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW ZEALAND BUSINESSES HAVE A LOWER LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY. WORLD VISION SAYS THAT AS THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO GROW TRADE, INCLUDING WITH SOUTHEAST ASIA, IT NEEDS TO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY. EXPORTING AND IMPORTING MORE PRODUCTS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A STANDARD OF RULES THAT ARE ACCEPTED AROUND THE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE IN OUR SUPPLY CHAINS ARE WORKING IN. THE PREVIOUS LABOUR GOVERNMENT GOT THE BALL ROLLING WITH A PLAN TO REQUIRE SOME BUSINESSES TO OUTLINE ACTIONS THEY WERE TAKING TO ADDRESS EXPLOITATION RISKS IN THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS. HOWEVER, INFORMATION OBTAINED BY NEWSHUB SHOWS THAT NO LEGISLATION WAS ACTUALLY DRAFTED TO PUT THAT INTO PLACE. I THINK WE SHOULD'VE DONE MORE, AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR US. AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR NEW ZEALAND. JAMIE ENSOR, NEWSHUB. OUR BUMPER CROP OF KIWI FILMS FOR THE YEAR CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THE RELEASE OF 'THE MOON IS UPSIDE DOWN' THIS WEEK. STARRING JEMAINE CLEMENT AND ROBYN MALCOLM, THE FILM IS HAVING A STAR-STUDDED PREMIERE IN WELLINGTON AS WE SPEAK, AND IT'S WHERE WE FIND KATE RODGER. KATE, ANOTHER WAHINE FILMMAKER IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT? THE LAST TIME I CHATTED TO YOU GUYS AND YOU MADE SUCH A GREAT POINT THAT IF THERE IS A RED CARPET BEING ROLLED OUT, I AM THERE. THIS IS LAUREN TAYLOR'S FIRST FEATURE FILM. SHE WROTE, DIRECTED AND STARS AND IT AND SHE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE WAY BACK. TO SEE THE PERSONIFICATION OF ALL OF HER TIME BEHIND THE CAMERA AND IN FRONT OF IT FINALLY GETTING HER FIRST FEATURE AND HAVING A PREMIERE HERE, ABSOLUTELY TOP-NOTCH AND FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF RACHEL HOUSE DOING THE SAME WITH THE MOUNTAIN. THIS IS A VERY FEMALE FOCUSED FILM ` FANTASTIC. ONE OF THE BLOKES AND IT IS JERMAINE CLEMENT ` YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HIM. INTERESTINGLY THE LAST FEATURE FILM HE DID HE SPENT A BIT OF TIME IN THE NUDE. AND I HAD A QUESTION FOR HIM ABOUT HIS BUTTOCKS. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU RECKON YOUR BUTTOCKS HAVE HAD ON AIR OVER THE YEARS? OR DO YOU HAVE A BUTT DOUBLE? I'D SAYS IT'S NOT AS` (CHUCKLES) NO, I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO` NO, IT'S SOMETHING I SHOULD DEMAND, NOW THAT I'M GETTING OLDER. NO, WHY WOULD YOU? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. IF YOU PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER, THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY 30 SECONDS, I'D SAY. IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU MAY GET A GLIMPSE OF HIS BUTTOCKS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE ANOTHER WAHINE FILMMAKER BRING THEIR STORYTELLING MANNER TO THE BIG SCREEN. THE PREMIERS TONIGHT AND THEN IT WILL ROLL OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A MEXICAN MAN MIGHT HAVE SCORED THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY. HOW HE SCORED SOME LUXURY EAR RINGS FOR $25 WHEN THE PRICE TAG SHOULD'VE BEEN $25,000. WORLD CHAMPION KIWI SWIMMER LEWIS CLAREBURT TAKES AIM AT WADA IN THE WAKE OF THE CHINESE DOPING SCANDAL. PLUS DAN CARTER TELLS US WHETHER HE THINKS NEW ZEALAND RUGBY SHOULD BEND THE RULES TO GET RICHIE MO'UNGA BACK IN BLACK. AND THE WARRIORS HIT THE MT SMART TRACK TO TEAM UP WITH A FORMER WORLD CHAMP FOR A SPECIAL CAUSE. It's time to save big bucks in Big Save's Big Sale. Big beds. Big couches. Big lounge suites. See the big picture. Be a big deal. Have the big idea. Only at Big Save. ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING HOPES FOR OLYMPIC GLORY LATER THIS YEAR HAS EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT HIS QUEST FOR A MEDAL IN PARIS WILL BE RUINED BY DRUGS CHEATS. NINE KIWI SWIMMERS HAVE TODAY BEEN NAMED TO COMPETE IN PARIS, INCLUDING WORLD CHAMPION LEWIS CLAREBURT, WHO TOLD NEWSHUB HE FEELS LET DOWN FOLLOWING REVELATIONS 13 CHINESE SWIMMERS WERE ALLOWED TO COMPETE AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS DESPITE TESTING POSITIVE FOR BANNED SUBSTANCES. AND ` HE TOLD ALEX CHAPMAN ` HE WOULDN'T BE AT ALL SURPRISED IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN IN JUST A FEW MONTHS' TIME. HAVING MISSED OUT ON A NORMAL OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE THREE YEARS AGO, LEWIS CLAREBURT'S DETERMINED TO ENJOY IT ALL IN PARIS. I THINK I'M EXCITED FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT CROISSANTS I'M GONNA TRY. JUST LIKE A CROISSANT, CLAREBURT'S TOKYO EXPERIENCE WAS FLAKY ` BUBBLES AND MASKS, CONFINED TO JUST THE POOL AND HIS HOTEL ROOM. HE'S NOW PART OF A NINE-ATHLETE TEAM ` ARGUABLY OUR STRONGEST THIS CENTURY ` THAT CAN MAKE A SPLASH IN A FEW MONTHS. CAN SORT OF SHOW THE ROPES TO SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS, AND HOPEFULLY TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO SOME PRETTY MAGICAL STUFF. BUT THE WORLD CHAMPION WILL HEAD TO THIS YEAR'S GAMES WITH SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT JUST HOW CLEAN HIS RIVALS ARE. IT FOLLOWS REVELATIONS EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT CHINESE SWIMMERS TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED SUBSTANCE SEVEN MONTHS OUT FROM TOKYO AND WERE STILL ALLOWED TO COMPETE. ONE OF THE ALLEGED ATHLETES, WANG SHUN, WON A RACE THAT CLAREBURT WAS A FINALIST IN. HE FEARS IT WON'T BE FAIR AGAIN. AS AN ATHLETE, YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING, 'ARE THE GUYS THAT I'M COMPETING AGAINST CLEAN?' AND WE CAN ONLY TRUST, YOU KNOW, THE AGENCIES THAT DO THE TESTING. BUT HE'S DETERMINED TO USE IT AS FUEL. IF I'M BEATING THESE GUYS THAT ARE` THAT AREN'T DOING IT NATURALLY, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A PRETTY GOOD SPOT. FOR NOW, THOUGH, ALL CLAREBURT CAN DO IS PREPARE... AND THEN CELEBRATE. WHAT A BIG-TIME SWIM! I'M A HUGE FOOD LOVER, SO ANYTHING FRENCH ` EVEN MAYBE SOME SNAILS. HE'LL BE HOPING THOSE WILL BE CLEAN AS WELL. ALEX CHAPMAN, NEWSHUB. THE COUNTRY'S MOST DECORATED FIRST-FIVE, DAN CARTER, INSISTS ALL BLACKS ELIGIBILITY RULES SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED, EVEN FOR THE MAN HE CALLS THE BEST 10 IN THE WORLD ` RICHIE MO'UNGA. ALL BLACKS COACH SCOTT ROBERTSON EARLIER THIS YEAR CALLED FOR AN OPEN MIND AROUND NZR'S OVERSEAS SELECTION POLICY, BUT CARTER'S WARNED A U-TURN COULD LEAD TO A MASS EXODUS. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. DAN CARTER MIGHT ONLY KICK GOALS FOR CHARITY THESE DAYS... BUT HE'S KEEPING AN EYE ON WHO COULD WEAR THE ALL BLACKS 10 JERSEY THIS YEAR. HE SAYS IT'S A CLOSE CALL BETWEEN DAMIAN MCKENZIE AND THE RETURNING BEAUDEN BARRETT. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HIM RECOMMITTED FOR A LONG PERIOD, AND IT'S HARD TO GO PAST DAMIAN MCKENZIE AND THE IMPACT THAT HE HAS EVERY TIME HE PLAYS FOR THE CHIEFS. ONE PLAYER HE HAS RULED OUT, THOUGH ` JAPAN-BASED RICHIE MO'UNGA. OOH! THAT'S DESPITE ONGOING CALLS FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TO REVIEW THEIR ELIGIBILITY RULES ON OVERSEAS-BASED PLAYERS. I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU CHANGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A PLAYER THAT YOU'D LOVE TO HAVE ` OBVIOUSLY, UH, IN MY OPINION, PROBABLY THE BEST NUMBER 10 IN THE WORLD. CARTER BELIEVES THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE FOR RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND TO BE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, IF THOSE ELIGIBILITY RULES, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE CHANGED, THEN WHO KNOWS? WE MIGHT SEE MORE PLAYERS DEPARTING. FOR NOW, THOUGH, CARTER'S MAIN CONCERN IS KICKING AS MANY CONVERSIONS AS HE COULD IN ONE HOUR. THE GOAL TO SET A TARGET FOR OTHERS TO BEAT AND TO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO HELP KIDS IN THE PACIFIC ACCESS CLEAN WATER. YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE THEM TO TRY AND REALLY FUNDRAISE BUT ALSO TRY AND BEAT MY TARGET AS WELL. WITH DC SHOWING HE'S STILL GOT IT, SLOTTING 273 GOALS, PERHAPS ROBERTSON DOESN'T NEED TO LOOK OFFSHORE AFTER ALL. GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. FRESH OFF COMPLETING THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL REGULAR SEASON IN CLUB HISTORY, THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX ARE CELEBRATING THEIR END-OF-SEASON AWARDS IN THE CAPITAL TONIGHT. HARRY BARTLE IS THERE FOR US. AND HARRY, YOU'VE GOT A SPECIAL GUEST THERE WITH YOU? YEAH, ANDREW. I AM JOINED BY THE MASTERMIND BY MUCH OF THE PHOENIXES SUCCESS, COACH GIANCARLO ITALIANO. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS WATCHING THAT GAME TOMORROW? I THINK THE SQUAD AND THE COACHING STAFF ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER FOR A PRIVATE EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT, JUST A SMALL CIRCLE AND WE WILL ENJOY THE GAME AND EACH OTHER'S COMPANY. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN A GAME, YOU WILL BE PLAYING FINALS FOOTBALL THIS YEAR, SO WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TRAINING WISE? WE HAVE AN INTERNAL GAME LINED UP FOR FRIDAY JUST TO LOAD THE PLAYERS AND THEIR LEGS AND GET THEM READY FOR THE WEEK AFTER UNTIL WE FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, WE CAN'T PLAN TACTICAL STUFF, SO THAT WILL HAPPEN EARLY NEXT WEEK. AND THEN IT WILL BE JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL. RECKON YOU WILL WIN AN AWARD? POTENTIALLY. BEST DRESSED HOPEFULLY. IF THE SNOW GOES ANYWHERE LIKE THE PHOENIXES SEASON HAS, WE KNOW IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE. THE NORTHERN MYSTICS ARE HOPEFUL GRACE NWEKE HAS AVOIDED A MAJOR INJURY AFTER THE STAR SHOOTER WAS FORCED OFF THE COURT IN HER SIDE'S DEFEAT TO THE TACTIX LAST NIGHT. NWEKE LEFT THE MATCH MIDWAY THROUGH THE FINAL QUARTER AFTER COMING DOWN HARD WITH THE BALL. THE 21-YEAR-OLD WAS THEN SEEN RUBBING HER RIGHT KNEE IN WHICH SHE PARTIALLY TORE HER PATELLAR TENDON LAST YEAR. THE MYSTICS SAY THE INJURY APPEARS TO BE MINOR, BUT THEY ARE AWAITING THE RESULTS OF FURTHER SCANS TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS. THE WARRIORS WERE BACK AT MT SMART TODAY FOR A TRAINING SESSION OF A DIFFERENT KIND. JAZZ TEVAGA AND TE MAIRE MARTIN LINED UP IN A PRACTICE RUN FOR 'WINGS FOR LIFE' ` ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CHARITY EVENTS RAISING MONEY FOR SPINAL CORD RESEARCH. IT'S A CAUSE CLOSE TO THE HEART OF FORMER WAKEBOARD WORLD CHAMPION BRAD SMEELE, WHO TODAY DREW INSPIRATION FROM THE WARRIORS. BUT AS TIA MCDOUGALL FOUND OUT, THE WARRIORS TOOK PLENTY OF INSPIRATION FROM HIM AS WELL. IT'S NOT A USUAL TRAINING SESSION FOR TE MAIRE MARTIN AND JAZZ TEVAGA. LET'S GO! BUT IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE. GETS PEOPLE A BIT MORE PUMPED UP, AND I THINK AS WELL, THERE'S JUST AN ENERGY HERE AT MT SMART THAT WE'LL BE TAPPING INTO. ENERGY THAT BRAD SMEELE AND HIS TEAM WILL POUR INTO THE NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE OF THE GLOBAL WINGS FOR LIFE RUN. IT KICKS OFF THE SAME TIME ALL AROUND THE WORLD. YOU RUN AS FAR AS YOU CAN UNTIL THE CATCHER CAR COMES. WHICH IS ALL OBVIOUSLY GOING TOWARD TRYING TO GET PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF OUT OF A WHEELCHAIR. 10 YEARS AGO, SMEELE WAS A WORLD CHAMPION WAKE BOARDER UNTIL HE ATTEMPTED A TRICK WHICH RESULTED IN HIM BREAKING HIS NECK. IT'S BEEN A ROUGH ROAD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST TAKEN A BIT OF ACCEPTANCE AND FINDING NEW WAYS TO DO THINGS. AND HIS RESILIENCE COULDN'T HAVE ARRIVED AT A BETTER TIME AS THE WARRIORS HELPED ON A PRACTICE RUN. I ALWAYS MOPE AROUND AND DROP MY LIP WHEN I GET INJURED. WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE LIKE BRAD, LIKE, IT REALLY OPENS YOUR EYES AND MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE HIM AND WHAT THEY GO THROUGH. AND AFTER A FEW LAPS... WHOO! ...THERE WAS NOTHING BUT POSITIVE VIBES ALL ROUND. KEEPING A POSITIVE MINDSET IS ACTUALLY HARDER THAN, YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE SAY. BUT YEAH, IT'S ABOUT SURROUNDING YOURSELF AROUND GOOD PEOPLE. IT'S AWESOME HAVING A COOL CREW AND HAVING JAZZ AND TE MAIRE DOWN HERE AS WELL. AND YEAH, UP THE WAHS. AS BOTH GEAR UP FOR A BIG WEEKEND AHEAD. TIA MCDOUGALL, NEWSHUB. GREAT TO SEE THE BOYS SUPPORTING THE CAUSE. LOVE YOUR WORK. A JUNIOR DOCTOR IN MEXICO HAS SCORED ONE OF THE BEST BARGAINS IN HISTORY. HE BOUGHT TWO DIAMOND EARRINGS ONLINE FROM THE LUXURY JEWELLER... CARTIER. THE PRICE WAS A MERE $25 ` BECAUSE SOMEONE LEFT OUT THE ZEROS. HERE'S ITV'S LAYLA HAYES. (UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC) DESIGNER JEWELLERY DOESN'T COME CHEAP ` UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU FIND IT ONLINE FOR MUCH LOWER THAN IT SHOULD BE. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ROGELIO VILLARREAL, WHO WAS BROWSING CARTIER'S WEBSITE WHEN HE SPOTTED THESE DIAMOND-ENCRUSTED EARRINGS FOR 237 MEXICAN PESOS. THAT'S AROUND 11 BRITISH POUNDS. HE BOUGHT TWO PAIRS ` WHO WOULDN'T ` BEFORE THE PRICE WAS QUICKLY CORRECTED TO 237,000 PESOS, OR JUST OVER �11,000. ACCORDING TO ROGELIO, CARTIER THEN TRIED TO BACK OUT OF THE DEAL, BUT HE ASKED MEXICO'S CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY TO GET INVOLVED, AND THEY RULED IN HIS FAVOUR. MEXICAN CONSUMER LAW REQUIRES BUSINESSES TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS AT THEIR LISTED PRICE. IF THEY DON'T, CUSTOMERS CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AND SEND PROOF THAT THEY BOUGHT IT AT THAT PRICE BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT. AT THIS CENTRAL LONDON JEWELLER'S, THEY SAY THERE'S NO DOUBT HE GOT A BARGAIN. YOU ARE PAYING FOR THE BRAND NAME, YOU KNOW? LIKE, WHEN YOU WALK INTO SOMEWHERE, AND YOU LEAVE WITH A CARTIER RING, THERE'S THAT BRAND HISTORY. YOU'RE PAYING A LITTLE BIT FOR PRESTIGE. I MEAN, HE GOT VERY LUCKY. I'D LIKE TO SEE HIS, UM... LIKE TO SEE HIS LOTTERY WINNINGS AS WELL, BECAUSE I WISH I HAD A CHANCE LIKE THAT. CARTIER HAVEN'T COMMENTED, BUT THE EARRINGS FINALLY ARRIVED AT A DISCOUNT OF AROUND �29,500. AND ROGELIO WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHOW THEM OFF. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` MPs ARE GETTING A PAY RISE WITH THE REMUNERATION AUTHORITY RECOMMENDING A 2.8% INCREASE EVERY YEAR UP UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION. THAT WILL TAKE THE PRIME MINISTER'S SALARY FROM $471,000 TO $520,000 IN 2026. BUT HE SAYS HE WILL DONATE THE INCREASE TO CHARITY. HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WARNING NEW ZEALAND IS AT SERIOUS RISKWIFE HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WARNING NEW ZEALAND IS AT SERIOUS RISK OF A MEASLES EPIDEMIC DUE TO GROWING NUMBERS OF UNIMMUNISED CHILDREN. THE NUMBER OF KIWI KIDS PASSING NCEA AT ALL LEVELS HAS FALLEN FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER, AND THE NEXT 24 HOURS WILL BE BUSY, HEATHER? THE KEY RAINMAKER IS THE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY OVER THE SOUTH AND HEADING NORTHEAST. A LOW FORMS ON THE FRONT LATE TOMORROW. THERE'S ANOTHER UPPER COLD POOL OF AIR, SO MORE THUNDERSTORMS AND SNOW DOWN TO LOW LEVELS FOR NORTH CANTERBURY AND AFFECTING SOME OF THE HIGH PASSES. STRONG SOUTHERLIES HIT A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE COAST TOO. MORE DETAILS NEXT. VOICEOVER: "Time to get up," said Moon to Sun. "My shift is over and yours has begun. "These things are tough, it has to be said. "And sometimes you wish you could stay in bed. "But you should know you are loved by all, "from the moment you rise until you finally fall." Sun never forgot what Moon had said. BOTH: There is always a reason... To get out of bed. 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! # NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. AS EXPECTED ` THE OMINOUS LOOKING LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM. TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY, IT HAS STAYED OFFSHORE. BUT ANOTHER LOW IS FORMING ON THE CURRENT COLD FRONT, MOVING UP THE SOUTH ISLAND. THIS HITS THE NORTH TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THERE'S ANOTHER COLD POOL OF UNSTABLE AIR TOO, SO EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS FOR SOME AND ANOTHER WIND SHIFT BEHIND THE FRONT. SO THERE'S PLENTY MORE WEATHER OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS FOR THE SOUTH. HEAVY FALLS TONIGHT IN THE WEST AS THAT BAND OF RAIN SPREADS NORTH, AND NORTHERLY WINDS SHIFTING BEHIND THE FRONT TO A COLD SOUTHERLY. TOMORROW ` SNOW DOWN TO 800M IN THE SOUTH IN THE MORNING AND 900M IN THE NORTH TOMORROW NIGHT. THAT'S THAT COLD POOL, SO SNOW AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TOO. THE SWIRLING BLOB OUT EAST STAYS OFF SHORE BUT WILL SPIN OUT CLOUD AND ISOLATED SHOWERS TONIGHT FOR NORTHERN HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE WITH FRESH SOU'WESTERS. IT'S CLOUDY TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE NORTH AND WEST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE FROM WAITOMO TO KAPITI. THIS RAIN SPREADS IN FROM THE WEST WITH THUNDERSTORMS FOR TARANAKI. SO, DAYLIGHT HOURS IN THE NORTH WILL BE SPENT MOSTLY DRY, WITH SOME CLOUD CLEARING. RAIN ARRIVES LATE AFTERNOON FOR HAMILTON, SPREADING EVERYWHERE IN THE EVENING WITH A DEVELOPING WESTERLY. SIMILAR STORY HERE WITH MOST OF THE DAY CLEAR, BUT WITH RAIN ARRIVING TOMORROW NIGHT, POSSIBLY HEAVY FOR TOKOROA. WINDS TURNING WESTERLY BY MIDDAY. MORNING CLOUD TOP AND BOTTOM WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR GISBORNE. CLOUD INCREASES EVERYWHERE FROM THE AFTERNOON, WITH RAIN LATE FOR MASTERTON AND DANNEVIRKE, AND THUNDERSTORMS. AND CLOUDY FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND WITH DRIZZLE FIRST, THEN TURNING TO RAIN FROM LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. COULD BE HEAVY TOO, WITH STRONG AND SOMETIMES GUSTY WINDS IN THE EVENING. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS FROM LATE MORNING FOR YOU, NELSON. FOR EVERYONE ELSE, CLOUDY WITH RAIN AT TIMES AND THE RISK OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE AFTERNOON WITH SOU'WESTERS. IT CLOUDS OVER THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. THEN OCCASIONAL RAIN ARRIVES AND WILL BE HEAVY FROM THE AFTERNOON. SOU'WESTERS WILL BE STRONG AFTER MIDDAY FOR CHRISTCHURCH. AND OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTH, BUT IT IS CLEARING OUT FROM THE SOUTH WITH SOUTH TO SOU'WEST WINDS. SOUTHLAND ` SHOWERS RETURN TOMORROW NIGHT WITH A FRESH WESTERLY. DUNEDIN ` YOU WILL HAVE SCATTERED RAIN IN THE MORNING, BUT IT CLEARS IN THE AFTERNOON. WILL STILL BE CLOUDY THOUGH, WITH A FRESH SOU'WESTERLY. THE DAY DETERIORATES FOR YOU CHRISTCHURCH, WITH RAIN DEVELOPING BEFORE MIDDAY, THEN HEAVY AT TIMES, AND WITH A STRONG AFTERNOON AND EVENING SOU'WESTERLY. IT STARTS CLOUDY AROUND THE CAPITAL WITH A FRESH NORTHERLY. RAIN ARRIVES IN THE AFTERNOON AND COULD BE HEAVY. THE NORTHERLY STRENGTHENS FURTHER TOMORROW NIGHT. APART FROM ISOLATED MORNING SHOWERS FOR THE WAIROA DISTRICT, MOST AROUND HAWKE'S BAY WILL HAVE A FINE DAY. HIGH CLOUD DEVELOPS IN THE EVENING, WITH A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN. MAINLY FINE FOR TAURANGA. YOU'LL WAKE TO A SOUTHERLY. THAT TURNS WESTERLY IN THE MORNING AND WILL BE FRESH TOMORROW NIGHT. THEN RAIN ARRIVES AFTER DARK. ANY MORNING CLOUD BREAKS UP FOR HAMILTON, BUT THEN RAIN ROLLS IN LATE AFTERNOON WITH A WESTERLY, AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE HEAVY TOO. EASES IN THE EVENING. AND MORNING CLOUD CLEARS FOR AUCKLAND TOO. SO MOST OF THE DAY IS SUNNY WITH A WESTERLY. THEN TOMORROW NIGHT, EXPECT A DECENT PERIOD OF RAIN. OVER IN OZ ` THERE'S A FEW SHOWERS FOR SYDNEY AND THE QUEENSLAND CITIES. THERE'S ALSO A TROUGH WAY OUT WEST, SO SHOWERS FOR PERTH. AND HEAVY SHOWERS EXPECTED OVER SAMOA, BUT SHOWERS FOR TONGA WILL CLEAR IN THE MORNING. ONCE THE FRONT HAS TRACKED OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, IT CLEARS TO FINE SKIES. JUST A FEW SHOWERS LEFT FOR AUCKLAND ON THURSDAY. THE SHOWERS CLEAR HERE TOO. AND APART FROM THE CHILLY NIGHTS, THE END OF THE WEEK IS LOOKING GOOD. SHOWERS CLEAR WELLINGTON EARLY THURSDAY. JUST A FEW LEFT FOR MANAWATU AND WHANGANUI. SHOWERS RETURN TO TARANAKI ON SATURDAY. RAIN CLEARS IN THE NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND EARLY ON THURSDAY; THEN JUST AREAS OF CLOUD THROUGH TILL THE WEEKEND. AND SHOWERS IN THE DEEP SOUTH THURSDAY AND STRONG SOU'WESTERLIES FOR DUNEDIN. SO TOMORROW IS A LITTLE IFFY, BUT THEN IT IMPROVES LATER IN THE WEEK. NOT A BAD START TO MAY. PINCH AND A PUNCH FOR TOMORROW. FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. REBECCA WRIGHT AND THE NEWSHUB LATE TEAM ARE HERE ON THREE AT 9.55. AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT NEWS@NEWSHUB.CO.NZ. I'M MIKE MCROBERTS. AND I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. POMARIE. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND ALEX WALKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024