WORRYING ABOUT MONEY AT THE MOMENT? YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE. NEW FIGURES SHOW 70% OF KIWIS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR FINANCES. WE HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT SOME OF THE CRUCIAL ROLES BEING AXED AT ORANGA TAMARIKI. AND DEVELOPMENTS IN SCANNING TECHNOLOGY MEAN YOUR TRIP THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY IS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT EASIER. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA. A WHOLE BUNCH OF DATA AND NUMBERS CAME OUT TODAY, ALL POINTING TO ONE THING ` IN THE WORDS OF THE RESERVE BANK, THE ECONOMY IS 'DOING IT TOUGH'. UNEMPLOYMENT IS UP, FROM 4% TO 4.3.%; 70% OF KIWIS ARE WORRYING ABOUT MONEY; LIQUIDATION'S AT NINE-YEAR HIGH; AND 230 COMPANIES FAILED IN MARCH ` THE HIGHEST NUMBER FOR NINE YEARS. AND AS BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT SIMON SHEPHERD REPORTS, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HIT HARDEST. IF A BUSINESS WENT TO THE WALL IN MARCH THIS YEAR, THERE'S A 25% CHANCE IT WAS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. IT'S A PERFECT STORM OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OUT, HAVEN'T PLANNED AHEAD IN TERMS OF HAVING ENOUGH CASH RESERVES, IT'S THE HIGH COST OF LABOUR, IT'S THE DELAYS, IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST. IT'S NOT AS BAD AS THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS; STILL, ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES, 230 COMPANIES CALLED IT QUITS IN ONE MONTH. THAT'S A NINE-YEAR HIGH. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESERVES, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE BANK FACILITIES, THEY TEND TO FIND THINGS FROM A CASH FLOW PERSPECTIVE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. AND THAT'S BECAUSE CONSUMERS ARE PULLING BACK ON THEIR SPENDING, WITH ANOTHER SURVEY SHOWING 70% ARE WORRIED ABOUT MONEY. THEY'RE MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH INFLATION ` 89% ` AND REALLY HIGH INTEREST RATES ` ABOUT 75%. SO THAT COLLECTION OF DATA GIVES A REALLY GOOD REFLECTION ON THE STATE OF HOW PEOPLE ARE FEELING ABOUT THEIR MONEY AND THEIR WEALTH TODAY. MORTGAGE-HOLDERS' PAIN WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE RESERVE BANK, WHICH RELEASED ITS FINANCIAL STABILITY REPORT TODAY. SOME ARE DOING IT TOUGH AND HAVING TO REDUCE THEIR SPENDING AND ADJUST THEIR PAYMENT TIMETABLES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THE RAPID TRANSITION FROM RECORD LOW RATES FOR FIXED MORTGAGES IS ALMOST OVER, WITH JUST 10% OF MORTGAGE OWNERS LEFT TO ROLL OVER TO A HIGHER RATE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE ECONOMIC PAIN WILL EASE SOON. NEW OR PERSISTENT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD RESULT IN GLOBAL INTEREST RATES REMAINING HIGHER FOR LONGER. AND THERE'S SOME MORE NUMBERS TO DIGEST ` HOUSE PRICES ARE FLAT-LINING AGAIN, AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS UP TO 4.3%. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO HIT 5%. BUT THAT'S ALL PART OF THE INFLATION-BUSTING PLAN ENGINEERED BY THE RESERVE BANK. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY WELL-TELEGRAPHED SLOW-DOWN IN THE ECONOMY. BUT IT'S STILL NOT SLOW ENOUGH ` SO NO RATE CUTS ANY TIME SOON. AND DEPENDING ON WHICH ECONOMIST YOU TALK TO, RATE RELIEF COULD COME BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, OR NOT UNTIL MID-2025. SIMON SHEPHERD, NEWSHUB. FOREIGN MINISTER WINSTON PETERS IS ABOUT TO GIVE A MAJOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPEECH, TIPPED TO CLARIFY THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON JOINING PILLAR 2 OF THE AUSTRALIA/UK/U.S. SECURITY ALLIANCE, KNOWN AS AUKUS. IT COMES AFTER LABOUR HOSTED AN ANTI-AUKUS SUMMIT, IN WHICH FORMER PRIME MINISTER HELEN CLARK ARGUED AGAINST JOINING, SAYING IT WAS UNNECESSARY AND WOULD CREATE TENSIONS WITH CHINA, OUR LARGEST TRADING PARTNER. POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH JOINS US NOW. JENNA, DO WE KNOW WHAT WINSTON PETERS IS GOING TO SAY? WHEN ST PETER'S IS JUST ABOUT TO START SPEAKING IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN EIGHT BYTES COPY OF HIS SPEECH AN ADVANCE COPY OF HIS SPEECH. IT IS WIDE-RANGING COVERING INTERNATIONAL STABILITY AND ISSUE SUCH AS THE ONGOING CATASTROPHE IN GAZA THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN AUSTRALIA UK AND UNITED STATES IS MAINLY AT THIS STAGE BASED AROUND NUCLEAR SUBMARINES PETERS WILL LAY SOME BASIC FACTS ON THE TABLE ` FIRSTLY THAT LABOUR STARTED DISCUSSION ABOUT JOINING, AND THAT NEW ZEALAND HAS NOT RECEIVED A FORMAL INVITATION TO JOIN AND IS THEREFORE STILL ON THE EXPLORATIO0N STAGE, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT MADE A FINAL DECISION, WHICH MAKES LABOURS ANTI-AUKUS SUMMIT AWKWARD. DISPUTE IS CLEARLY TARGETED AT THEM. THIS SPEECH IS CLEARLY TARGETED AT THEM. THE GOVERNMENT HE SAYS IS DISQUIETED BY THE BREAKDOWN IN THE FOREIGN POLICY CONSENSUS DUE TO PARTNERS AND DISAGREEMENTS. A LOT ON PACK THERE, THANK YOU JENNA. NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL MORE DETAILS ABOUT JOB CUTS AT ORANGA TAMARIKI. DOCUMENTS WE'VE OBTAINED SHOW KEY ROLES AT THE AGENCY'S INTERNATIONAL TEAM ` THAT HELPED CARE FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILD REFUGEES AND INVESTIGATE COMPLEX EXPLOITATION CASES ` ARE SET TO BE DISESTABLISHED. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND THE CHIEF CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER ARE BOTH CONCERNED SUCH CHANGES COULD IMPACT NEW ZEALAND'S ABILITY TO UPHOLD OBLIGATIONS SET BY THE UNITED NATIONS. INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MORRAH HAS THE STORY. DESPERATE SCENES AT KABUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN MID-2021 AS THE TALIBAN TAKEOVER OF THE AFGHANI CAPITAL UNFOLDED. HUNDREDS CAME TO NEW ZEALAND, INCLUDING 15 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN. HUNDREDS CAME TO NEW ZEALAND, INCLUDING 15 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN. THEN THERE WAS THE COMPLEX INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXPLOITATION OF CHINESE CHILD ACROBATS, HERE AS PART OF A TRAVELLING CIRCUS. THEY WERE UPLIFTED AND FLOWN HOME TO THEIR PARENTS. ORANGA TAMARIKI'S INTERNATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION UNIT WERE INVOLVED IN BOTH ` A TEAM THAT NOW FACES SIGNIFICANT CUTS. BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY CHANGES, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONSIDER THEIR ABILITY TO MEET HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS HERE AND OVERSEAS. CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY NEWSHUB SHOW 17 ADVISORY ROLES WOULD BE CUT TO SIX. THE ROLE OF GENERAL MANAGER FOR INTERNATIONAL CASEWORK WOULD BE DISESTABLISHED, ALONG WITH THE MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION, AND THE NATIONAL MANAGEMENT ROLE WOULD ALSO GO. IT PROPOSES NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TEAMS BE 'CONSOLIDATED' INTO A SINGLE TEAM. THE QUESTION SHOULD BE, 'WHAT MORE COULD WE BE DOING?' NOT TAKING AWAY. THE CHIEF CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER SAYS SHE'S CONCERNED THAT CUTTING THIS UNIT COULD IMPACT ON NEW ZEALAND'S ABILITY TO DO INTERNATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION WORK AND UPHOLD OUR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE U.N. AND THE CHILD PROTECTION FOCUSED HAGUE CONVENTIONS. I THINK THAT OUR IMPORTANT WORK IN THIS AREA TO PROTECT CHILDREN IS BEING COMPROMISED BY THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THIS UNIT. THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER WOULD NOT COMMENT EXCEPT TO SAY IT'S JUST A PROPOSAL. IT'S MY EXPECTATION THAT THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR DECISION-MAKING. ORANGA TAMARIKI HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED PROPOSED CUTS WON'T IMPACT FRONTLINE STAFF. ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD CALL THEM A FRONT-LINE TEAM. THIS IS NOT A BACK-OFFICE JOB. THE U.N.'S PERIODIC REVIEW OF NEW ZEALAND, RELEASED ON MONDAY, NOTED AREAS OF TRAFFICKING, FORCED LABOUR AND MIGRANT EXPLOITATION AS AREAS NEEDING ATTENTION. THE CONCERN IS CHIPPING AWAY AT SUCH SERVICES AIMED AT PREVENTING THIS WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER'S SUBPOENA TO THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL CONTINUES. THE HIGH COURT RULED LAST WEEK KAREN CHHOUR COULDN'T BE SUMMONSED BY THE TRIBUNAL, BUT TWO IWI GROUPS FILED AN URGENT APPEAL, WHICH WAS HEARD TODAY. LEIGHTON HEIKELL HAS THE DETAILS. WHEN THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL SUMMONSED THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER, KAREN CHHOUR, IT WANTED TO ASK HER ABOUT THE COALITION'S PLANS TO REPEAL SECTION 7AA OF THE ORANGA TAMARIKI ACT. THAT'S A CLAUSE THAT REQUIRES CONSIDERATION OF TAMARIKI'S WHAKAPAPA AND MANA WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO PLACE THEM. SHE REFUSED THE SUMMONS ` AND LAWYERED UP WITH THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL. THIS IS AN UNORTHODOX ` TO USE THE WORDS OF THE CLAIMANTS BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL ` AND ACTUALLY UNPRECEDENTED EVENT. THE HIGH COURT SIDED WITH THE MINISTER, BUT TWO IWI GROUPS WANT THAT OVERTURNED ` HENCE THE URGENT APPEAL TODAY, EVEN THOUGH KAREN CHHOUR WROTE TO THE TRIBUNAL LAST WEEK. THE MINISTER APPEARS TO BE, IN HER MIND, CONDUCTING A FILTER BASED ON HER VIEW AS TO WHAT IS OF SUBSTANCE AND WHAT ISN'T. IT'S NOT FOR THE MINISTER TO DECIDE WHAT THE TRIBUNAL IS ENTITLED TO ENQUIRE INTO. ON MONDAY, THE TRIBUNAL PUBLISHED ITS INTERIM REPORT INTO THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO 7AA, SAYING ITS REPEAL WILL CAUSE HARM ` SOMETHING FORMER CHILDREN'S MINISTER TRACY MARTIN AGREES WITH. I THINK THAT THE REPEAL OF THE SECTION WILL TAKE US BACKWARD TO, UM, WHAT WAS THE ENVIRONMENT OF CYFS, WHERE CHILDREN TOLD US THAT IT WASN'T GOOD FOR THEIR LIVES. THE CASE BEFORE THE COURT OF APPEAL CONTINUES TOMORROW. LEIGHTON HEIKELL, NEWSHUB. THE NEXT TIME YOU GO THROUGH SECURITY AT AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, YOU WON'T NEED TO REMOVE LAPTOPS AND LIQUIDS FROM YOUR CARRY-ON LUGGAGE; NEW 3D SCANNING TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW AVIATION SECURITY OFFICERS TO BETTER ASSESS THE CONTENTS OF BAGS. TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMEON BROWN SAYS THE MACHINES WILL ALSO BE ROLLED OUT AT DOMESTIC AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER. THE REOPENING OF STATE HIGHWAY 1 OVER THE BRYNDERWYN HILLS HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK BY A NUMBER OF WEEKS DUE TO A SLIP. THE DELAY IS ANOTHER BLOW FOR NORTHLAND BUSINESSES, AS GRACE THOMAS REPORTS. AS THE BRYNDERWYN HILLSIDE CAME CRASHING DOWN AGAIN, SO DID NORTHLANDERS' HOPES OF THE ROAD REOPENING ON TIME. WE'RE ALL LIKE, 'UGH. 'DID THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN?' SO IT WAS SORT OF LIKE` WE WERE ALL HOPING AND PRAYING FOR IT TO ACTUALLY BE OPENED ON THE 13th. THE SLIP STARTED OVER THE WEEKEND, AND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL FELL YESTERDAY. AROUND 30,000 TO 40,000 CUBIC METRES OF SOIL HAS COME DOWN ONTO THE ROAD. THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO AROUND 1500 CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS, SO IT IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT. THE CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND HAS BEEN SHUT FOR REPAIRS SINCE FEBRUARY AFTER BEING BADLY DAMAGED BY CYCLONE GABRIELLE LAST YEAR. IT WAS DUE TO REOPEN IN JUST TWO WEEKS, BUT NOW IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN THAT WILL BE. WE ARE NOT EXPECTING IT TO BE MONTHS AT THIS STAGE; WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO BE WEEKS. IT'S NOT THE NEWS PAUL JENSEN WANTED TO HEAR. OH, I WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED. HE RUNS FRESHA VALLEY IN WAIPU, ONE OF THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT MILK PROCESSORS IN AOTEAROA. THIS IS ALL PROCESSED MILK WAITING TO GO OUT. HE HAS AROUND FOUR TRUCKS DRIVING ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 1 DAILY, AND THE BRYNDERWYNS' CLOSURE IS TAKING A TOLL. OH, HUGE IMPACT. COS WE'RE PAYING FOR ANOTHER 140km PER TRUCK PER DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. IT'S NOT ONLY FINANCIAL IMPACT ON IT; IT'S ALSO THE IMPACT OF THINGS LIKE, UM, STAFF WELFARE. IN A STATEMENT, TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMEON BROWN SAID THE SLIP EMPHASISES THE NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BRYNDERWYNS, DOUBLING DOWN ON THE COALITION GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT TO BUILD A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY. HE SAID THEY'LL EVEN INVESTIGATE THE USE OF PRIVATE FINANCE TO ACCELERATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT. THE WHANGAREI MAYOR KEEN TO SEE AN ALTERNATIVE TOO. THIS SLIP, I THINK, HAS JUST PUT ANOTHER... EMPHASIS ON HOW IMPORTANT THE BRYNDERWYNS ARE TO BE MOVED AND TO REPLACE THEM WITH SOMETHING ELSE, AND ESPECIALLY THE FOUR-LANING. IN THE MEANTIME, BUSINESSES LIKE PAUL'S ARE HOPING IT'LL BE BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. GRACE THOMAS, NEWSHUB. SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF TE HUIA TRAIN SERVICE BETWEEN AUCKLAND AND HAMILTON ARE MARSHALLING THEIR FORCES AHEAD OF A DECISION ON WHETHER IT SHOULD BE FUNDED PAST JUNE. TWO CONFLICTING REPORTS ARE NOW OUT, WITH WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL SAYING IT'S TURNING INTO A SUCCESS, WHILE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS IT'S A WHITE ELEPHANT. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS. SOME SAY IT'S BEING SUBSIDISED TO SUCCEED, BUT OTHERS SAY TE HUIA IS RIGHT ON TRACK. THE PASSENGERS WHO ARRIVED IN FRANKTON THIS LUNCHTIME ` THREE MINUTES EARLY ` SAY THEY LOVE IT. I THINK IT'S GREAT. I'VE BEEN ON IT QUITE A FEW TIMES. I ENJOY IT AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. AND IT WAS MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER THAN HAVING TO DRIVE UP THERE, SO I REALLY ENJOYED IT. BUT WAIKATO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS, AND THEY AREN'T FANS. CERTAINLY VERY NICE TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND GET DRIVEN ALL THE WAY FROM AUCKLAND, BUT 14 PEOPLE ON A TRAIN ` THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. DOESN'T SEEM TO ADD UP FINANCIALLY. HOW MUCH MONEY? HERE'S ONE WAY OF ADDING IT ALL UP. PER PASSENGER, JUST OVER $500 PER PASSENGER. PER PASSENGER, JUST OVER $500 PER PASSENGER. SO NOT SUSTAINABLE, THEN, IN YOUR OPINION? ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE'RE IN A COST OF LIVING CRISIS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY STRUGGLING, AND WHY SHOULD WE SUBSIDISE A FORM OF TRANSPORT WHERE THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE CHEAPER AND FASTER? DON GOOD'S TALKING ABOUT THE WAIKATO EXPRESSWAY, WHICH WE DROVE FROM AUCKLAND TO FRANKTON THIS MORNING. IT'S TAKEN US AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET HERE. THE TRAIN TAKES AROUND TWO AND A HALF HOURS, BUT THE COUNCIL ARGUES THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS THE LUXURY. SOME PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, SO OUR ACCESSIBILITY HAVE INDICATED THAT TE HUIA IS THE ONLY PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCESSIBLE OPTION FOR THEM. AND IT HASN'T BEEN THE SMOOTHEST RIDE ` IN JULY LAST THE SERVICE WAS BANNED FROM ENTERING CENTRAL AUCKLAND FOR A MONTH AFTER RUNNING RED LIGHTS. BUT NOW THE COUNCIL SAYS IT'S HITTING ITS TARGETS. JUST LAST FRIDAY, WE HAD CLOSE TO 800 PEOPLE ACROSS THE WHOLE DAY USING TE HUIA, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL, SO IT PROVES THAT WHEN YOU PUT ON EXTRA SERVICES, YOU IMPROVE THEIR FREQUENCY, PEOPLE WANT TO USE IT. PEOPLE WANT TO USE IT. IN A STATEMENT TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMEON BROWN SAID THERE'S A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT TE HUIA THIS WEEKEND, AND NZTA WAKA KOTAHI'S BOARD MEETS LATER THIS MONTH TO DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW ITS FUNDING. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH, NEWSHUB. FORMER GREEN PARTY CO-LEADER AND CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER JAMES SHAW HAS BOWED OUT OF PARLIAMENT AND GIVEN HIS FINAL SPEECH. POLITICAL REPORTER AMELIA WADE HAS JUST FINISHED WATCHING IT. AMELIA, WHAT DID HE SAY? REGALING A TALE OF CHOKING ON HIS OWN TONGUE DURING HIS SLEEP DURING THE 2017 ELECTION CAMPAIGN, WHICH HE WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE ON HIS OWN DUE TO METIRIA TUREI STEPPING DOWN. HE CHOSE NOT TO TWIST ANY KNIVES IN HIS SPEECH, FOCUSING INSTEAD ON THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS, SAYING THAT NEW ZEALAND HAS THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE WORLD. HE TALKS ABOUT WHAT WAS NEXT TO HIM, WORLD OF CLIMATE FINANCE. I AM A STAR TREK FAN, SO I AM GIVING MYSELF A FIVE-YEAR MISSION TO BOLDLY REDUCE OR REMOVE 150 MILLION TONS OF CLIMATE POLLUTION FROM GLOBAL EMISSIONS BY 2030. AND IF THAT NUMBER SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO SOME OF YOU ` AND IT SHOULD ` IT'S BECAUSE IT IS ALSO NEW ZEALAND'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT. NOW, GETTING CABINET TO COMMIT TO THAT TARGET ALMOST LED TO MY RESIGNATION, SO I FEEL I HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM ANY OF THAT TOWARDS ITS PARIS TARGET WILL REALLY COME DOWN TO WHETHER IT GETS THE POLICY SETTINGS RIGHT. THE SINGLE BIGGEST LEVER FOR CHANGE IS IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS. THAT'S WHY I CHOSE TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT. THE SECOND GREATEST LEVER FOR CHANGE, IN MY VIEW, IS IN THE WORLD OF FINANCE. JAMES SHAW WILL JOIN THE GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FUND BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BE BASED IN WELLINGTON, AS HE TAKES UP ROLES IN THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT FUND AND ALSO THE BOARD OF NEW ZEALAND, BUT HE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE TAKING SOME REST AFTER WILD 10 YEAR RIDE IN POLITICS.. KING CHARLES HAS MADE A VERY POINTED RETURN TO PUBLIC DUTY IN HIS FIRST OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT SINCE HIS CANCER TREATMENT. CHARLES CHOSE TO VISIT A LONDON CANCER CLINIC, SHARING HIS STORY WITH OTHER PATIENTS AND LISTENING TO THEIRS. HE TOLD ONE, 'IT'S ALWAYS A BIT OF SHOCK WHEN THEY TELL YOU, ISN'T IT?' AND ADDED, 'I'VE GOT TO HAVE MY TREATMENT THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL.' TIME FOR A RECAP OF TODAY'S WEATHER. AND IT STARTED OFF OK, MIKE, THEN TOOK A TURN? YES, SOME BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS LAST NIGHT, WITH LENTICULAR CLOUDS AND SOME INCREDIBLE SUNRISES THIS MORNING ` BUT THEN A FRONT MOVED UP THE SOUTH ISLAND AND SOME INCREDIBLE SUNRISES THIS MORNING ` LIKE THIS ONE IN AUCKLAND. BUT THEN A FRONT MOVED UP THE SOUTH ISLAND WITH LOTS OF RAIN AND SHOWERS. THE WEST COAST HAD THE MOST RAIN, WITH NAPIER REACHING TODAY'S HIGH OF 23. THERE'S SOME HEAVY RAIN WATCHES OUT AND SOME ROADS TO WATCH FOR SNOWFALL. I'LL HAVE THE LATEST UPDATES JUST AFTER SPORT. AUCKLAND'S DEPUTY MAYOR SAYS THE CLOSURE OF THE WYNYARD QUARTER BRIDGE IS HARMING THE CITY'S REPUTATION AS AFFECTED BUSINESSES STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN. THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR ESCALATION OF THE PROTEST AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, WHERE POLICE WERE CALLED TO REMOVE STUDENTS WHO'D OCCUPIED AN HISTORIC HALL. AND IT'S STILL A COUPLE OF YEARS AWAY FROM COMPLETION, (BRIGHT PIANO MUSIC) (PHONE CHIMES) Thank you, Sam! You're welcome, Wendy. SONG: # You, you've got what I need # You've got everything you need # You're like medicine... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Thank you so much. Find your wonderful. New World. 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. NEW YORK POLICE HAVE FORCED THEIR WAY INTO A COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BUILDING AFTER PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS HAD TAKEN IT OVER AND BARRICADED THEMSELVES INSIDE. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) WHAT BEGAN WITH THE PROTESTERS SMASHING THEIR WAY IN ENDED WITH POLICE USING FLASHBANGS AND SMOKE GRENADES TO ENTER AND SEIZE BACK CONTROL OF THE BUILDING. ABOUT 50 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, AND TONIGHT, POLICE STILL HAVE THE AREA CORDONED OFF. COLUMBIA WAS THE FIRST OF NATIONWIDE STUDENT PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAELI ACTIONS IN GAZA. AUCKLAND'S DEPUTY MAYOR SAYS THE PROLONGED CLOSURE OF A MAJOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE HAS BECOME A 'REPUTATIONAL ISSUE' FOR THE CITY, WITH THE FAILED CROSSING 'HIGHLY VISIBLE' TO INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. IT COMES AS A WELL-KNOWN WYNYARD QUARTER HOSPITALITY VENUE THAT PARTNERED WITH TEAM NEW ZEALAND DURING THE AMERICA'S CUP STARTS CONSULTATION TO LAY OFF STAFF DUE TO A 50% DROP IN REVENUE. NICK TRUEBRIDGE HAS THE STORY. THIS IS THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE THAT HAS BUSINESS OWNERS COUNTING THE COST AND SHEDDING STAFF. IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD FEELING. EVERY DAY YOU'RE KIND OF WAKING UP AND FORCING YOURSELF TO GO IN TO WORK; ERM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S FACES... NO ONE'S MAKING THE MONEY. WE'VE ALL TAKEN CUTS IN TERMS OF HOURS. IT WOULD NORMALLY TAKE 10 MINUTES TO GET FROM DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND TO WYNYARD QUARTER, BUT DURING A SUNNY MID-WEEK LUNCHTIME SERVICE, WYNYARD PAVILION IS LARGELY DESERTED. THIS IS NORMALLY THE JOURNEY YOU'D TAKE TO THE WYNYARD QUARTER BARS. IT WOULD TAKE YOU AROUND ABOUT ONE MINUTE TO WALK ACROSS HERE. INSTEAD, I'VE GOT TO WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND. NICK HERE IS GOING TO TRAVEL IN HIS CAR; I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE JOURNEY ON MY iPHONE. LET'S GO. AT 1.5km, MOST PUNTERS AREN'T BOTHERING WITH THIS DETOUR. WYNYARD PAVILION SAYS IT'S SHEDDING STAFF AS A RESULT. IN TERMS OF STAFF, WE'RE GOING THROUGH A CONSULTATION PROCESS AT THE MOMENT WITH OUR TEAM, COS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE REDUNDANCIES AND LET PEOPLE GO. AND WITH THIS WALK, YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY AREN'T SHOWING. OK. I'VE MADE IT. WHAT WOULD NORMALLY TAKE ME ONE MINUTE INSTEAD TOOK ME APPROXIMATELY 17 MINUTES. NICK, IN THE MEANTIME, GOT HERE IN THE CAR IN NO TIME. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT ` I'M SWEATY; IT'S TIME FOR A BEER. BUT THEY'LL NEED MORE THAN ONE BLOKE HAVING A QUICK PINT. AS YOU CAN SEE, RIGHT NOW WE'VE PROBABLY GOT ABOUT FIVE TABLES ON A SUNNY TUESDAY LUNCHTIME, WHERE NORMALLY WE'D BE PRETTY FULL. COUNCIL'S DEVELOPMENT ARM, PANUKU, SAYS THE BRIDGE'S DEFAULT POSITION IS UP WHEN MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED. DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT STEMS BACK TO AN OBJECTION FROM WHAT WAS THEN AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL TO THE ORIGINAL RESOURCE CONSENT. NOW THE DEPUTY MAYOR'S INVOLVED. IN A LETTER TO PANUKU, DESLEY SIMPSON CALLS THE BRIDGE 'A REPUTATIONAL ISSUE' BECAUSE... PANUKU SAYS ITS MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY LATE 2024, AND IT'S TRIALLING WATER ACCESS TO THE WYNYARD QUARTER BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN ADDITION TO THINGS LIKE FREE BUS TRIPS THERE FOR VISITORS. BUT OWNER SAY WHILE THE BRIDGE IS BROKEN, SO ARE THEIR BUSINESSES. NICK TRUEBRIDGE, NEWSHUB. ON TIME, ON BUDGET AND ALREADY BIDDING FOR BUSINESS ` A NEW VIDEO OF CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW STADIUM TE KAHA HAS BEEN RELEASED TO SHOW HOW IT'S PROGRESSING. KAYSHA BROWNLIE WENT BEHIND THE GATES FOR A CLOSE UP LOOK. IT'S HARD NOT TO CATCH IN THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE ` CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW STADIUM, TE KAHA, LOOMS LARGE AS IT HITS THE HALFWAY MARK. WE'RE SCHEDULED TO FINISH IN APRIL 2026, AND WE'RE WELL ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE THAT. AND OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT'S $683m, AND WE REMAIN WITHIN THAT. AROUND 300 PEOPLE HAVE CLOCKED UP MORE THAN 700,000 WORK HOURS ON SITE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, WE'LL ALSO START INSTALLATION OF THE ROOF TRUSSES THEMSELVES. IT WILL BE A MASSIVE ROOF SHOUT, YEAH ` UNPRECEDENTED IN TERMS OF SCALE IN CHRISTCHURCH. WE THINK IT WILL BE THE ENVY OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING 200-PLUS EVENTS A YEAR ` THAT'S A COMBINATION OF BUSINESS EVENTS, PRIVATE EVENTS, SPORT AND ALSO CONCERTS ` SO THAT WILL RESULT IN A $50m ECONOMIC IMPACT. BUT KEEPING THAT MOMENTUM UP WILL COME DOWN TO FUNDING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL PROVIDES SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR INTERNATIONAL BIDS FOR SOME OF THESE BIG EVENTS. IF WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR THOSE INTERNATIONAL BIDS, WE WILL MISS OUT. RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LARGELY LOCAL LINEUP. CRUSADERS, MATATU; CANTERBURY RUGBY, SO THE NPC AND FPC TEAMS WILL PLAY THERE; WE'VE GOT AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE WITH THE ONE NZ WARRIORS TO PLAY IN 2026, AND PLENTY MORE TO COME. VENUES OTAUTAHI SAYS IT'S ALSO IN TALKS WITH MAJOR PROMOTERS. BEHIND ME HERE IS WHERE THE STAGE WILL GO FOR CONCERTS, WHICH COULD HOST AROUND 36,000 PEOPLE. WHY WOULDN'T YOU COME TO CHRISTCHURCH? SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WELCOME ANYONE HERE, INCLUDING TAYLOR SWIFT. THAT WELCOME WILL BE WARM AND DRY. KAYSHA BROWNLIE, NEWSHUB. POLICE SAY THEY ARE RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF A FIREARM BEING DISCHARGED AT WELLINGTON HOSPITAL THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES AND THOSE INVOLVED APPEAR TO BE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER. THEY SAY ENQUIRIES ARE ONGOING TO DETERMINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE REPORTERS HEADING TO THE SCENE AND WE'LL BRING YOU MORE INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT. YEAH, LOOKS LIKE HE'S PULLED A BIG OLD FLEX ON NEW COACH ROB PENNEY AT THE CRUSADERS ` HE'S ASKED HIM TO MOVE ONE OF THE TEAM'S MOST EXPERIENCED PLAYERS TO A NEW POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE A POTENTIAL SHORTAGE IN THE ALL BLACKS. WE'LL TELL YOU HOW THAT'S GONE DOWN AT THE CRUSADERS' SHORTLY. AND THE NEWS GETS EVEN WORSE FOR A CONTROVERSIAL RUGBY LEAGUE CRITIC CAUGHT UP IN A WEEKEND STOUSH. THE U.N. SAYS THE FAMINE IN ETHIOPIA IS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT CRISES FACING THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. AFTER THE BREAK, WE CROSS LIVE TO LISETTE REYMER IN ETHIOPIA, WHERE KIWI AID WORKERS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO PREVENT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. AND THANKFULLY, THIS WAS THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY ` THE BARRAMUNDI THAT LANDED ONE AUSSIE TEENAGER A MILLION DOLLARS. OUR FAVOURITE AUSSIE COMEDIAN, CHOPPER. CAN I ASK ` ARE YOUR HANDLEBARS REAL? YEAH. CAN I TOUCH THEM? OH, YEAH. I'VE BEEN HOPING YOU WOULD. NEXT TIME YOU TOUCH SOMEONE'S MOUSTACHE, JUST STROKE DOWNWARDS, FOLLOW THE GRAIN, AND IF YOU KEEP THAT UP FOR LONG ENOUGH, I'LL START PURRING. # WHOA, WHOA-OA. WHOA, WHOA-OA. # WELCOME BACK. ETHIOPIA IS ONCE AGAIN FACING FAMINE. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST URGENT HUMANITARIAN CRISES IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS. NEW ZEALAND AID WORKERS ARE IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE NEED THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED IS IMMENSE ` SO THE RELIEF AGENCY TEARFUND HELPED OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER TO BRING YOU THIS REPORT. HUNGER-PAIN AND HEARTACHE HAVE INVADED THE VILLAGES OF ETHIOPIA AND HAUNT THE EYES OF MANY. BONNE'S MALNUTRITION HAS LED TO TUBERCULOSIS, AND NOW HER MEDICATION, TAKEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH, IS FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE. HOW WORRIED ABOUT BONNE ARE YOU AT THE MOMENT? 'VERY WORRIED,' THE COMMUNITY LEADER ALLYMAR TELLS US. 'UNLESS THERE IS FOOD, SHE WILL DIE.' ETHIOPIA IS ON THE BRINK OF FAMINE. THE RECENT CIVIL WAR AND A CRIPPLING THREE-YEAR DROUGHT HAS PLUNGED THE COUNTRY INTO A CRISIS REMINISCENT OF THE 1980s CATASTROPHE THAT LED TO THE FAMOUS LIVE AID RELIEF EFFORT. HAS ANYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY DIED FROM MALNUTRITION ISSUES? 'YES. YES,' SHE SAYS, AND SHE INTRODUCES US TO SHOUKA, WHOSE ONLY SON DIED AT JUST 2 YEARS OLD. IT HURTS TOO MUCH TO THINK OF HIM, SO INSTEAD, SHE FOCUSES ON HER NIECES. THE SILENT TEAR OF 6-YEAR-OLD NAZRA IS THE CRY FOR HELP OF MILLIONS. THIS REGION OF THE WORLD IS JUST NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT THAT PLACES LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT AND THE WAR IN THE UKRAINE HAVE RECEIVED, AND SO PEOPLE HAVE GENUINELY RUN OUT OF OPTIONS. THIS IS WORSE THAN ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IN MY HUMANITARIAN CAREER. IN THE BORENA REGION, ONLY SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN CANTERBURY, 85% OF LIVESTOCK ` MILLIONS OF ANIMALS ` HAVE DIED SINCE THE DROUGHT HIT. IN A VILLAGE HERE, PEOPLE ARE GATHERING. THEY TELL US THEY WERE EXPECTING A FOOD DELIVERY, BUT NO ONE CAN SAY WHEN OR WHO FROM. THE PALE FACE OF A 7-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS TOO TIRED TO STAND TELLS US THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING SOME TIME, AND EVENTUALLY, SOMEONE REVEALS IT IS GOD THEY ARE WAITING FOR. NOT EVERYONE'S FAITH HAS ENDURED. 'I COMPLAIN TO GOD,' ABDUL TELLS US. AT 100 YEARS OLD, HE HAS SURVIVED ON THE EMPTIEST OF STOMACHS, BUT NONE OF HIS 10 CHILDREN COULD. 'I'M ASKING GOD, "WHY DO YOU ALLOW ME TO LIVE '"SUCH A MISERABLE LIFE? '"YOU HAVE TAKEN ALL MY CHILDREN. '"YOU HAVE TAKEN ALL MY LIVESTOCK." 'WHAT HOPE DO I HAVE?' HE ASKS. 'I AM TOTALLY HOPELESS.' THE NEED IN THESE VILLAGES IS OVERWHELMING, AND YET IT IS JUST A FRACTION OF THE BIGGER PICTURE. 20 MILLION PEOPLE IN ETHIOPIA ARE STRUGGLING FOR FOOD, AND THAT DESPERATION STRETCHES EVEN FURTHER STILL, TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN EAST AFRICA. THIS PAST MONTH, WHEN SOME RAIN FINALLY FELL, 17-YEAR-OLD NEEMA SAYS THE SKY DELIVERED HER HAPPINESS ` BUT THIS IS THE EXTENT OF IT. HER FAMILY IS STILL WITHOUT AN INCOME OR FOOD, AND THIS IS THE DRINKING WATER SHE IS SO GRATEFUL FOR. AROUND HER NECK, SHE WEARS THE WORD 'LOVE' AND TAKES JOY IN LEARNING ITS MEANING ` EVEN WHEN LIFE HAS SO UNFAIRLY REFUSED TO LOVE HER BACK. LISETTE, IT'S THE RAINY SEASON THERE NOW. SO IS THAT MAKING A DIFFERENCE? IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN SOME RAIN. YOU CAN SEE ACROSS THE REGION IT IS STARTING TO GET GREEN, BUT THAT IS DECEPTIVE. THE LEVEL AND EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION GOES FAR BEYOND WHAT CAN BE REVERSED WITH JUST A MONTHS WORTH OF RAINFALL. ALREADY, THAT RAINY SEASON IS STARTING TO COME TO AN END. THIS IS WHERE THAT NEW ZEALAND FUNDING WILL REALLY COME INTO PLAY, NOT JUST PROVIDING THAT EMERGENCY RELIEF BUT ALSO HELPING TO ESTABLISH A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MIGRANT WORKERS' ASSOCIATION HAS ACCUSED IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND OF 'MIGRANT-BASHING' FOR IMPLYING MORE MIGRANT WORKERS ARE COMMITTING CRIME. THEY SAY THE CLAIMS ARE BASED ON OBSERVATIONS OF OFFICERS IN THE FIELD RATHER THAN HARD DATA. IT COMES AS MIGRANT WORKERS JOINED PROTESTS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY. LAURA TUPOU REPORTS. HUNDREDS OF UNION MEMBERS FILLED DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND, STOPPING THEIR WORK TO PROTEST AGAINST CHANGES TO WORKERS' RIGHTS. THIS IS THE WORST ANTI-WORKER GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN! UNIONS ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE REINTRODUCTION OF 90-DAY TRIALS, MINIMUM-WAGE INCREASES BELOW INFLATION AND PUBLIC-SECTOR JOB CUTS, AND AMONG THOSE PROTESTING ARE MIGRANT WORKERS. WHAT DO WE WANT? CROWD: A FAIR DEAL! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? CROWD: NOW! BUT THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT JUST UP AGAINST IT IN THE WORKPLACE. IT'S DEROGATORY, AND THE LANGUAGE IS VERY NEGATIVE. MIGRANT WORKERS' ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT ANU KALOTI SAYS MBIE, THE MINISTRY THAT LOOKS AFTER IMMIGRATION, IS 'MIGRANT-BASHING' AFTER A MEDIA RELEASE WARNING MIGRANT WORKERS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF BREAKING THE LAW. I'M NOT SAYING THAT NO MIGRANT HAS EVER BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF LAW OR THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE HAVE A JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE HAVE A JUDICIARY. THE RELEASE SAID... THEY COULD BE DEPORTED. KALOTI SAYS IT PAINTS A VERY DARK PICTURE. TO ME, IT AMOUNTS TO MIGRANT-BASHING. YOU KNOW? WITHOUT HAVING ANY BASIS, WITHOUT HAVING ANY STATISTICS OR FIGURES OR DATA, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO ` I THINK ` TURN MOST OF AOTEAROA AGAINST MIGRANTS. NEWSHUB ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY STATISTICS TO BACK UP THESE CLAIMS. MBIE RESPONDED... AND... ...AS THE SYSTEM WAS NOT ORIGINALLY SET UP FOR THAT, BUT WHAT OFFICERS HAVE SEEN ON THE GROUND 'CUMULATIVELY INDICATED AN INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY' 'CUMULATIVELY INDICATED AN INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY 'BY A SMALL MINORITY OF MIGRANT WORKERS'. BUT KALOTI SAYS THE CLAIMS ` WITHOUT SOLID EVIDENCE ` PAINT AN UNFAIR PICTURE OF MIGRANT WORKERS, WHO, LIKE ALL KIWI WORKERS, JUST WANT A FAIR GO. LAURA TUPOU, NEWSHUB. FORGET THE CATCH OF THE DAY ` A MILLION-DOLLAR BARRAMUNDI HAS BECOME THE CATCH OF A LIFETIME FOR ONE LUCKY AUSSIE ANGLER. NEW ALL BLACKS COACH SCOTT ROBERTSON ASKS A BIG FAVOUR OF HIS OLD TEAM. PLUS, THE NEW FACES THE BLACK FERNS ARE SET TO UNLEASH ON AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE USA IN THIS YEAR'S PAC 4 SERIES. AND WHY TONIGHT'S SET TO BE A NERVOUS ONE FOR THE PHOENIX AS THEY WAIT TO SEE IF THEY'LL LIFT THE A-LEAGUE PREMIERS PLATE. THE SHAPE OF THE ALL BLACKS' FIRST-FIVE GROUP MAY YET HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT LOOK, WITH A SURPRISE CONTENDER EMERGING THIS AFTERNOON. THE CRUSADERS HAVE CONFIRMED DAVID HAVILI WILL START IN THE NUMBER 10 JERSEY AGAINST THE REDS ON SATURDAY ` NOT BECAUSE HEAD COACH ROB PENNEY'S CHOSEN TO, BUT RATHER BECAUSE IT'S COME AT THE REQUEST OF SCOTT ROBERTSON, AND IT'S WHERE HAVILI LOOKS SET TO STAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS MORE. HAVING ALREADY SHIFTED POSITIONS ONCE IN HIS CRUSADERS CAREER, DAVID HAVILI'S VERSATILITY IS ABOUT TO GET PUT TO THE TEST ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME SWAPPING THE 12 JERSEY FOR THE 10. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE ALL BLACKS CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE HIM PLAYING THERE THAT, UM... I THINK THERE WAS A SHIFT IN A COUPLE OF PEOPLE'S MINDS TO GO THAT WAY. SO HAS RAZOR SAID TO YOU DIRECTLY HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DAVI SPEND MORE TIME AT 10? YEAH. IF WE COULD SLIP HIM IN THERE, THEY'D BE VERY APPRECIATIVE. ONE OF THOSE WHO NEEDED TO BE CONVINCED WAS HAVILI HIMSELF, HAVING BEEN RELUCTANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM SECOND-FIVE. BUT WITH SCOTT ROBERTSON CLEARLY SIGNALLING IT'S A MOVE THAT WILL HELP HIS ALL BLACK CHANCES, IT BECAME A NO-BRAINER. I'D SAY THEY'D BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING DAVID HAVILI IN THE MIX, BEING ABLE TO PLAY 10, 12, 13 REALLY EFFECTIVELY ` AND 15, IF REQUIRED. HE'S SUCH A VERSATILE PLAYER. VERSATILITY THE CRUSADERS LOOK SET TO UTILISE FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON ` EVEN WHEN FERGUS BURKE RETURNS FROM INJURY, HAVILI IS STILL LIKELY TO SEE TIME AT FIRST-FIVE. HIM EMBRACING IT NOW GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNLEASH HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN THAT AREA. WHILE A MOVE TO FIRST-FIVE WASN'T A PRIORITY FOR HAVILI, PENNEY'S BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY HE'S WALKED TOWARD THE OPPORTUNITY. HE'S EMBRACED THE CHALLENGE OF BEING A 10, AND, UH` WHICH IS SO EXCITING, BECAUSE HE'S GOT ALL THE ATTRIBUTES THAT YOU NEED IN A WORLD-CLASS 10. ATTRIBUTES THAT MAY NOW GO A LONG WAY TO SECURING DAVID HAVILI A SPOT IN SCOTT ROBERTSON'S FIRST ALL BLACKS SQUAD. OLLIE IS WITH US NOW. OLLIE, LOOKS LIKE RAZOR'S STILL HOLDING SWAY DOWN IN CHRISTCHURCH. WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE ALL BLACKS' SITUATION THAT HE WANTS TO SEE HAVILI AT FIRST-FIVE? I THINK IT SAYS THAT VERSATILITY WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR SCOTT ROBERTSON AND FOR THE ALL BLACKS THIS YEAR. DAVID HAS PROVEN TO BE MORE VERSATILE THAN MOST PLAYERS. HE SWITCHED FROM FULL BACK TO SECOND FIVE WHEN WILL JORDAN ARRIVED AT THE SCENE ON THE REQUEST OF RAZOR. NOW HE WILL MAKE THAT SWITCH INTO FIRST FIVE. IF HE CAN MAKE A GOOD FIST OF THAT AND PROVE HE CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL PLAYMAKER, HE WILL BE AN IRRESISTIBLE PROPOSITION FOR SCOTT ROBERTSON AND THE ALL BLACKS THIS YEAR. YOU EXPECT DAMIAN MCKENZIE TO BE THERE AND BEAUDEN BARRETT, BUT HAVING SOMEBODY LIKE DAVID HAVILI, WHO CAN PLAY ALL THESE POSITIONS, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PROPOSITION IN TODAY'S MODERN GAME. DOESN'T GUARANTEE HIM A SPOT BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS IT. IT SURE WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OLLIE. IT SURE WILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OLLIE. THREE UNCAPPED PLAYERS ARE IN LINE TO DEBUT FOR THE BLACK FERNS IN THE UPCOMING PACIFIC FOUR SERIES. IMPRESSIVE BLUES LOCK MAAMA VAIPULU HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 30-SQUAD STRONG. MATATU HALFBACK MAIA JOSEPH AND HURRICANES POUA FIRST FIVE-EIGHTH HANNAH KING ARE ALSO SET TO WEAR THE JERSEY FOR THE FIRST TIME. YEAH, IT'S CRAZY BEING IN THIS PAC-FOUR SQUAD. WHEN I FOUND OUT, I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED AT THE TIME. UM, ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED SO FAST, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR IT, THAT IT'S HAPPENED. THE BLACK FERNS BEGIN THE PACIFIC FOUR CAMPAIGN ON MAY 11, WHEN THEY HOST THE USA IN HAMILTON BEFORE TESTS AGAINST CANADA AND AUSTRALIA. THE NEW ANZ PREMIERSHIP SEASON IS BARELY 2 WEEKS OLD, BUT THE NORTHERN STARS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDST OF A PERSONNEL CRISIS OF THEIR OWN. IN JUST THREE GAMES, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD TO DIG DEEP INTO THEIR WIDER SQUAD, BUT THEIR YOUNG GUNS ARE ALREADY PROVING DANGEROUS. NATASHA PAYNE HAS MORE. THE STARS HAVE SUFFERED THREE LOSSES TO START TO THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP SEASON, BUT THAT'S BEEN THE LEAST OF THEIR WORRIES. IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE, EH. THIS SIDE ARE REBUILDING IN 2024 FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF SEVERAL FOUNDATION PLAYERS, BUT THAT'S GONE A STEP FURTHER, WITH INJURIES AND PREGNANCIES PLACING ADDED PRESSURE ON THE SQUAD. WE'RE ABOUT 40%, 50% DOWN EVERY GAME IN TERMS OF WHAT WE EXPECTED TO HAVE. SINCE THE DOMESTIC COMPETITION STARTED, 12 PLAYERS HAVE TAKEN THE COURT IN THE PURPLE DRESS, WITH SOME OF THEIR TRAINING PARTNERS GETTING THE CALL-UP. THE MOST I WAS HOPING FOR WAS TO BE ABLE TO SIT ON THE BENCH FOR THE STARS, LET ALONE GET ON, AND I'VE EVEN STARTED FOR ONE OF THE GAMES. SO, YEAH, IT WAS DEFINITELY A BIT OF A SURPRISE. BUT DESPITE THEIR LACK OF EXPERIENCE, THE YOUNG STARS HAVE SHOWN THEY ARE READY TO SHINE. WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, SUMMER TEMU IS WINNING THE ONE-ON-ONES AS WELL DOWN THERE. WE'VE GOT 18-YEAR-OLDS, 19-YEAR-OLDS WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL OUT ON COURT DOING THE DAMAGE AGAINST SILVER FERNS AND 'CENTURIONS'. AND CAPTAIN MAIA WILSON ISN'T LISTENING TO ANY OUTSIDE NOISE. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY. AS LONG AS WE ARE SOLID IN OURSELVES, THAT'S ALL I'M HAPPY FOR. HOPING THE STARS ALIGN FOR THEIR FIRST WIN THIS WEEKEND. NATASHA PAYNE, NEWSHUB. HIGH-PROFILE AUSSIE RUGBY LEAGUE JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER PAUL KENT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF AFFRAY OVER A STREET BRAWL IN SYDNEY. FOOTAGE EMERGED ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER THE WEEKEND SHOWING KENT OUTSIDE A ROZELLE RESTAURANT, FIGHTING WITH ANOTHER MAN. NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE CHARGED A 35-YEAR-OLD ON SUNDAY, AND KENT ` WHO WAS STOOD DOWN BY FOX SPORTS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION ` HAS NOW BEEN CHARGED AND WILL REAPPEAR IN COURT LATER THIS MONTH. FINALLY, THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX AND THEIR LEGION OF FANS WILL FIND OUT LATER TONIGHT IF THEY'LL LIFT THE A-LEAGUE PREMIERS PLATE WHEN THEY SIT DOWN TO WATCH THE CENTRAL COAST MARINERS HOST ADELAIDE UNITED IN THE FINAL GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON. THE PHOENIX CURRENTLY SIT TOP OF THE TABLE THANKS TO LAST WEEKEND'S 3-0 WIN OVER MACARTHUR, AND THEY'LL STAY THERE IF ADELAIDE CAUSE AN UPSET IN GOSFORD. THE PHOENIX SAY THEY'LL BE RIDING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. A BIT NERVOUS, TO BE HONEST. UM... NERVOUS IN A GOOD WAY, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HAPPY I WILL BE IF WE DO DO IT. UM... IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEN... FOCUS WILL OBVIOUSLY JUST GO STRAIGHT ON TO NEXT WEEKEND. TONIGHT'S DECIDER KICKS OFF AT 9pm. REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT, THE PHOENIX ARE IN TO A TWO-LEG SEMI-FINAL STARTING NEXT WEEKEND, WITH THE OPPOSITION AND LOCATION TO BE CONFIRMED AFTER THIS WEEKEND'S ELIMINATION FINALS. TEAM, WE ARE ALL ADELAIDE TONIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. CUP OF TEA AND A BISCUIT, 9 O'CLOCK. A TEENAGER IN ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S POOREST REGIONS HAS CAUGHT A FISH WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS. THE BARRAMUNDI HE REELED IN WAS WEARING A TAG THAT IDENTIFIED IT AS THE TOP PRIZE IN AN ANNUAL COMPETITION. A HARDWORKING TEENAGER, KEEGAN PAYNE JUGGLES TWO JOBS, BUT HIS LIFE HAS NOW BECOME A NORTHERN-TERRITORY INSPIRED FAIRY TALE AFTER HE SNAGGED THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE BARRAMUNDI. WE WERE FREAKING OUT. WE, UH, NEARLY CRASHED THE BOAT. WE RANG DAD AND SAID, 'WE CAUGHT A TAGGED BARRA.' 'BULL(BLEEP)' CAME OUT, AND THEY GO, 'NO, NO, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY. WE GOT IT. WE GOT IT.' THIS IS MORE MONEY THAN WE COULD EVER ASK FOR. EACH YEAR, TAGGED BARRA ARE RELEASED INTO WATERWAYS ACROSS THE TOP END, BUT THE 19-YEAR-OLD IS THE FIRST PERSON TO CATCH A PRIZED MILLION-DOLLAR FISH. IT'S A MASSIVE COMPETITION. IT BRINGS IN MILLIONS INTO THE N.T. ECONOMY EACH YEAR. TODAY, THE KATHERINE FISHO WIPED AWAY TEARS... THIS IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR ME. ...ALONGSIDE HIS TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY OF EIGHT. WE'RE FROM KATHERINE ` ONLY A SMALL TOWN. IT'S PRETTY HARD GOING FOR US AT THE MOMENT WITH MONEY, BUT... YEAH, NOW WE GOT A MILLION DOLLARS, WE DON'T HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL SET HIM UP, AND SET HIM UP FOR LIFE. HELP THE FAMILY OUT. GONNA GO BUY A NEW BOAT. AFTER A LATE-NIGHT FISHING TRIP TURNED INTO A STORY OF RICHES. RETURNING TO OUR BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT ` POLICE SAY THEY HAVE RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF A FIREARM BEING DISCHARGED OUTSIDE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. REPORTER LEIGHTON HEIKELL IS WITH US NOW FROM THE HOSPITAL. LEIGHTON, WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE NOW? MIKE, HEALTH IN NEW ZEALAND HAS CONFIRMED A FIREARM WAS DISCHARGED OUTSIDE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. POLICE SAY NOBODY WAS INJURED. THEY SAY THAT THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WERE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS THE HOSPITAL WAS NOT IN LOCKDOWN, BUT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SITU SAID IT FELT LIKE IT WAS, WITH POLICE GOING THROUGH WITH GUNS. THE FRONT ENTRANCE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS THEY WILL BE SUPPORTING WITNESSES AND STAFF CONNECTED TO THE INCIDENT. IT APPEARS TO BE ALL UNDER CONTROL AT THE MOMENT, BUT A PRETTY SCARY SITUATION FOR ALL INVOLVED. TENA KOE. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER. AND RAIN WATCHES REMAIN IN PLACE, MIKE? PARTS OF CANTERBURY ` AMBERLEY TO KAIKOURA ` COULD SEE SOME HEAVY RAIN FROM ABOUT NOW UNTIL 5am; WELLINGTON AND THE KAPATI COAST DISTRICT UNDER A HEAVY RAIN WATCH FROM 8pm TONIGHT, ALONG WITH POTENTIAL THUNDERSTORMS. THE LEWIS PASS UNDER A ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING OVERNIGHT. THE FINE WEATHER, HOWEVER, IS COMING BACK. I'LL HAVE THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. (FATBOY SLIM'S 'PRAISE YOU') TOMORROW'S WEATHER ` BROUGHT TO YOU BY NATURE, TURNED INTO POWER BY MERIDIAN. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK. QUITE A BIT OF RAIN AROUND TODAY, BUT PROBABLY A GOOD THING FOR THE FARMERS. YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT RAIN HERE IN THE BLUE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST OVER THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. NOW, THAT RAIN CLEARS AWAY TOMORROW, BUT WE ARE LEFT WITH A RATHER CHILLY SOUTHWEST FLOW AND A FEW SHOWERS. BUT FOR MOST, IT'S A RETURN TO BLUE SKIES. SO, PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE AND COOK UP SOME BACON AND SOME BEANS ` IT'S A COLD NIGHT, WITH SHOWERS AND SOME HEAVY RAIN FURTHER NORTH. THERE IS A ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING IN PLACE FOR THE LEWIS PASS TONIGHT. TOMORROW, ANY RAIN CLEARS AWAY AND IT'S FINE, BUT SOUTHWESTERLIES KEEP IT COOL; CENTRAL OTAGO IN FOR A FROSTY NIGHT. AND IT'S LOOKING A LITTLE MESSY FOR THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT, WITH SHOWERS ` SOME HEAVY ` BUT IT'S THE WELLINGTON AREA THAT COPS IT THE MOST, WITH A HEAVY RAIN WATCH IN PLACE OVERNIGHT. TOMORROW IT FINES UP, BUT SHOWERS REMAIN ALONG THE WEST FROM ABOUT TARANAKI NORTHWARDS. TIME FOR A CLOSER LOOK NOW. NORTHERN AREAS GET A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY WITH THE ODD SHOWER, ESPECIALLY FOR AUCKLAND AROUND LUNCHTIME, BUT AFTER THAT, IT STARTS TO CLEAR. HIGHS HERE AROUND 17-18 DEGREES. FURTHER SOUTH, AND NOT TOO BAD. IT'S A LITTLE COOL FOR INLAND AREAS OVERNIGHT ` YOU DROP TO ABOUT 6, 7 DEGREES ` BUT IT'S MAINLY FINE, WITH HIGHS HERE BETWEEN 13 AND 19. INTO THE EAST, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE IT'S BEST NOT TO HANG OUT THE WASHING IN THE MORNING AS THERE'S A FEW SHOWERS AROUND, POTENTIALLY HEAVY IN MASTERTON. WAIT UNTIL AFTER LUNCH AS IT FINES UP. SOUTH TO SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS. AND FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, THOSE WINTRY SHOWERS SLOWLY EASE AND IT FINES UP. KAPATI COAST AND WELLINGTON MAY EVEN SEE SOME HAIL ALONG WITH STRONG SOUTHWESTERLIES, MAY EVEN SEE SOME HAIL ALONG WITH STRONG SOUTHWESTERLIES. AFTERNOON SUN WILL BE WELCOME, I'M SURE. OVER THE STRAIT, AND IT'S A LITTLE MORE SETTLED HERE WITH LIGHT WINDS AND A FEW SHOWERS IN THE MORNING, BUT A MUCH SUNNIER AFTERNOON; HIGHS BETWEEN 13 AND 16 OVER THE ALPS. PROBABLY TOO WINDY TO WINDSURF AT KAIKOURA TOMORROW WITH STRONG SOUTHWESTERLIES AND RAIN. EVERYONE ELSE GETS SOME MORNING SHOWERS, BUT A FINE AFTERNOON. AND FOR SOUTHERN AREAS ` FILL UP THE HOT WATER BOTTLE TONIGHT; IT'S ANOTHER COLD ONE, BUT THE PAY-OFF IS A FINE DAY. HOWEVER, INVERCARGILL GETS SOME SHOWERS WITH STRONG SOUTHWESTERLIES. HELLO, DUNEDIN. GRAB THE SWANDRI OR THE PUFFER JACKET ` IT'S FINE TOMORROW, MAY BE AN AFTERNOON SHOWER. BUT ADD THAT SOUTH-WESTERLY AND THE HIGH OF 12 GETS HALVED TO JUST 6. OTAUTAHI, CHRISTCHURCH WAKES TO A FINE MORNING. THOSE SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS KEEP IT A COOL 13 DEGREES, BUT IT WILL FEEL LIKE 9. KIA ORA, WELLINGTON. SHOWERS FOR YOU, SOME HEAVY AND POSSIBLY THUNDERY, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, BUT IT DOES FINE UP, AND THOSE STRONG WINDS EASE BEFORE LUNCH. HAWKE'S BAY GETS A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY. THERE'S A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS, BUT IT'S NICE AND SUNNY IN THE AFTERNOON. WESTERLY WINDS EASE. NAPIER GETS 18, HASTINGS 17. TAURANGA, YOU CAN SEE A FEW RAINDROPS HERE. THAT'S THE MORNING, BUT THIS IS THE AFTERNOON ` NICE AND FINE. 18 THE HIGH, BUT IT FEELS LIKE 13. KIRIKIRIROA, HAMILTON, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A LITTLE MORE OF THE WET STUFF AROUND FOR YOU TOMORROW, BUT THE SUN TRIES HARD TO OVERTHROW THE SHOWERS. AND TAMAKI MAKAURAU, AUCKLAND, YOU GET SHOWERS. THEY RAMP UP A BIT AROUND LUNCHTIME. CHILLY SOUTHWESTERLIES MAKE THE HIGH FEEL LIKE 13. TO AUSTRALIA NOW, AND PERTH, BRISBANE, SYDNEY AND CAIRNS GET SHOWERS. SYDNEY REACHES 22 DEGREES. AND IN THE ISLANDS ` A FEW SHOWERS, BUT I WOULD SIT IN THE RAIN IN FIJI WITH 33 DEGREES; SAMOA GETS THUNDERSTORMS. BACK HERE NOW, AND STILL A FEW SHOWERS AROUND FOR NORTHERN AREAS AND SOME RAIN IN WHANGAREI. CENTRAL AREAS, JUST FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS ` IF IT WAS SUN BINGO, I'D NEARLY HAVE A FULL HOUSE. AND PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AROUND FOR THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. TARANAKI GETS SOME SHOWERS. FOR THE WEEKEND. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` NOT TOO BAD, FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. COLD NIGHTS, MAINLY FINE DAYS THE THEME FOR SOUTHERN AREAS AS WELL. AND THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR ` GET A LOCAL NZ-MADE KNITTED COVER FOR YOUR HOT WATER BOTTLE; KEEP THE WOOL INDUSTRY ALIVE ` AND IT'S A LOT SAFER, AND SO COZY. THEY ARE CHEAP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. WE SHOULD MAKE WEATHER BINGO A THING. 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.