ISRAEL TELLS PALESTINIANS TO GET OUT OF RAFAH, BEFORE ITS ARMY ENTERS WITH 'GREAT FORCE'. MEANWHILE, ISRAEL'S ENTRY IN THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST IS BOOED IN THE FINAL IN SWEDEN. DON'T WORRY IF YOU MISSED THE AURORA THE LAST TWO NIGHTS. THERE'S ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE IT TONIGHT, WITH A SOLAR TSUNAMI ON ITS WAY. AND 22-0 DOWN AFTER 14 MINUTES ` SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT FOR THE WARRIORS? CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. MORE THAN 280,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE FLED RAFAH THIS WEEK, WITH ALMOST HALF LEAVING THIS WEEKEND, AS ISRAEL DROPPED LEAFLETS WARNING ITS ARMY IS ABOUT TO OPERATE THERE WITH 'GREAT FORCE'. PALESTINIANS ARE FLEEING TO WHAT THE IDF IS CALLING AN 'EXPANDED HUMANITARIAN ZONE' AT AL-MAWASI ON THE COAST. BUT AID WORKERS SAY CONDITIONS THERE ARE ALREADY HORRIFIC. U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH McCANN HAS THE LATEST. RAFAH WAS MEANT TO BE A SAFE HAVEN IN THE MIDST OF THIS BLOODY WAR. ISRAEL TOLD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND HEAD THERE. BUT MONTHS LATER, THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE NOW RUNNING FROM THE CITY IN WHICH THEY SOUGHT REFUGE. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'WE'RE LEAVING BECAUSE OF OUR FEAR AND BECAUSE OF COERCION,' THIS WOMAN SAYS. 'WE'RE LEAVING FOR THE UNKNOWN, AND THERE ARE NO SAFE AREAS AT ALL.' THE EXODUS COMES AS ISRAEL VOTES TO EXPAND ITS WAR AGAINST HAMAS IN RAFAH. IT HAS BEEN SENDING TEXT MESSAGES AND DROPPING FLYERS WARNING CIVILIANS TO LEAVE. GREAT FORCE THAT COULD COME WITH GREAT CONSEQUENCES FOR AN INCREASINGLY ISOLATED ISRAEL. THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY ESTIMATES 35,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN GAZA SINCE THE HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL LAST OCTOBER. AS A RESULT, TURKEY HAS NOW SUSPENDED TRADE WITH ISRAEL. THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IS CONSIDERING IF ITS LEADERS HAVE COMMITTED GENOCIDE. A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE LOOKING AT RECOGNISING A PALESTINIAN STATE. AND CRITICALLY, THE U.S. HAS SAID IN THE LAST WEEK IT WON'T SUPPLY ISRAEL WITH WEAPONS FOR ITS RAFAH OPERATION. IF THEY GO INTO RAFAH ` THEY HAVEN'T GONE INTO RAFAH YET ` IF THEY GO INTO RAFAH, I'M NOT SUPPLYING THE WEAPONS THAT HAVE BEEN USED HISTORICALLY, TO DEAL WITH RAFAH. THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL TOO URGING ISRAEL TO SHOW RESTRAINT. A MASSIVE GROUND ATTACK IN RAFAH WOULD LEAD TO AN EPIC HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. NORTH OF RAFAH, AREAS ARE BEGINNING TO OVERFLOW, AS MORE FAMILIES BEGIN TO ARRIVE THERE. 'WE CAME FROM RAFAH AND FOUND NO PLACE TO STAY,' THIS MAN SAID. 'THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. 'THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO HOLD THE DISPLACED PEOPLE.' WHILE CIVILIANS EVACUATE, THE WAR RAGES ON. TODAY HAMAS RELEASED THIS VIDEO AND PRAISED ITS SNIPERS SHOOTING ISRAELI SOLDIERS. IT ALSO SAID A BRITISH HOSTAGE IT HELD HAD DIED, SAYING IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE. WHILE ISRAEL PLANS TO FORGE ON IN GAZA, THE U.S. HAS RELEASED A NEW REPORT ABOUT THE CONFLICT. IT SAYS THERE IS REASONABLE EVIDENCE ISRAEL HAS BROKEN INTERNATIONAL LAW USING AMERICAN WEAPONS. IT ADDED, THOUGH, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO BE CONCLUSIVE. THE REPORT CAME AS ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER SAT DOWN WITH U.S. TV HOST DR PHIL. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS HE HOPES TO OVERCOME DISAGREEMENTS WITH JOE BIDEN. WE OFTEN HAD OUR AGREEMENTS, BUT WE'VE HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME THEM. I HOPE WE CAN OVERCOME THEM NOW. SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEEM UNLIKELY IF ISRAEL BEGINS ITS PLANNED ASSAULT ON RAFAH IN THE COMING HOURS. IN NEW YORK, MITCH McCANN, NEWSHUB. SOME PALESTINIANS BASED IN NEW ZEALAND SAY THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH FAMILY IN GAZA. THEY ARE GOING WEEKS WITHOUT COMMUNICATION, AS INTERNET CONNECTIONS ARE LIMITED. AS DIANNA VEZICH REPORTS, THEY ARE ALSO STRUGGLING TO GET THEIR FAMILIES HERE. PACKING UP THEIR TENTS AND ON THE MOVE AGAIN ` HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GAZANS FLEEING FOR THEIR LIVES AS THEY ESCAPE RAFAH. BABIES, CHILDREN, ANIMALS, PILED HIGH ON TOP OF DONKEY CARTS, TUK-TUKS AND PICKUP TRUCKS. 16,000km AWAY IN NEW ZEALAND, PALESTINIAN KIWI AHMED ABUSALEEQ IS BEYOND WORRIED. HE GREW UP IN THE GAZA STRIP BUT NOW LIVES IN WELLINGTON, WHERE HE IS STUDYING TO BE A DOCTOR. HIS MOTHER IS STILL IN GAZA, AND RIGHT NOW HE HAS NO IDEA IF SHE IS ALIVE OR DEAD. FLEEING TO A NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE, THEN TO FLEEING TO ANOTHER NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE, THEN HAD TO FLEE TO RAFAH. AHMED BELIEVES HIS MOTHER COULD HAVE ESCAPED TO CENTRAL OR NORTHERN GAZA BUT HASN'T SPOKEN TO HER IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS. HE HAS APPLIED FOR A VISITOR VISA FOR HIS MOTHER, NAMED WESAM, TO COME HERE. IT WAS DECLINED. IMMIGRATION NZ SAYS IN THE APPLICATION THERE WAS 'LIMITED EVIDENCE PROVIDED 'TO SHOW ANY FINANCIAL, SOCIAL OR FAMILY TIES' TO AHMED'S MOTHER'S HOME COUNTRY. I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, 'YOU DON'T OWN HOUSES IN GAZA. 'YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK, BECAUSE IT'S A CONFLICT ZONE.' THE QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD SHE WANT TO GO BACK TO GAZA? WHY CAN'T THIS GOVERNMENT CREATE NEW VISA PATHWAYS? THERE'S SEVEN CHILDREN OF MY MUM LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND, AND I THINK THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH OF A REASON TO HAVE THE VISA APPLICATION APPROVED. IMMIGRATION NZ COULDN'T COMMENT FURTHER ON THIS CASE BECAUSE THEY WANTED AHMED'S MOTHER TO SIGN A PRIVACY WAIVER. BUT THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE, BECAUSE SHE CAN'T BE CONTACTED. NEWSHUB ASKED THE GOVERNMENT IF IT WILL BE INTRODUCING HUMANITARIAN VISAS FOR PEOPLE IN GAZA WITH FAMILY LINKS HERE. THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER TOLD US... IN HAMILTON TODAY, PALESTINIAN NEW ZEALANDER NAEL ABUSALEH IS HAVING A MOTHER'S DAY MORNING TEA, WITHOUT HIS MOTHER. HIS MOTHER, FAIKA, LIVES IN GAZA. FAIKA WAS IN NEW ZEALAND LAST YEAR, WHEN SHE WAS REUNITED WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN. BUT SHE COULD ONLY STAY SIX MONTHS ON A VISITOR VISA. SHE'S NOW BACK IN GAZA. HER VISA IS STILL VALID, BUT SHE CAN'T GET OUT. SHE HAS ACTUALLY MOVED ON BETWEEN THREE CAMPS. NAEL HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, MFAT, TO SEE IF IT CAN HELP GET HIS MOTHER OUT. HE SAYS HE WILL FOOT THE BILL. MFAT SAYS IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET PERMISSION FROM THOSE WHO CONTROL THE BORDER. THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE SAY THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING THOSE IN GAZA WHO ARE IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS. BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN AGED UNDER 24, WHICH MEANS NAEL'S OWN MOTHER DOESN'T COUNT, AS SHE IS NOT CONSIDERED AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER. I'VE JUST EMAILED AND I SAID, LOOK, I'M HER ONLY SON. SHE WAS HERE BEFORE. ALL THE SECURITY CHECKS WERE DONE. SO PLEASE RECONSIDER. THEY RESPONDED SAYING SHE STILL DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA. NAEL TOO HAS HAD NO CONTACT WITH HIS MOTHER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. BOTH HE AND AHMED SAY THEIR MOTHER'S DAY WISH IS THAT THEIR MOTHERS ARE ALIVE AND SAFE. DIANNA VEZICH, NEWSHUB. THE WAR IN GAZA WAS CENTRE STAGE AT THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST FINAL. THE ISRAELI SINGER PERFORMED TO BOOS. THE IRISH ACT FAILED TO TURN UP TO REHEARSAL BUT WORE A CODED MESSAGE IN THE FINAL, WHILE THE FRENCH ACT STOPPED MID-SONG TO CALL FOR PEACE IN GAZA. ITV's VINCENT McAVINEY HAS MORE. AT THE CENTRE OF THIS YEAR'S CONTROVERSY, EDEN GOLAN (20), REPRESENTING ISRAEL. DESPITE BEING BOOED DURING REHEARSALS, SHE WAS INITIALLY GREETED WITH CHEERS IN THE ARENA. # I DON'T CARE... (CROWD CHEER) EARLIER IN THE DAY THOUSANDS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS HAD GATHERED OUTSIDE THE VENUE IN MALMO TO OBJECT TO ISRAEL'S INCLUSION IN THE COMPETITION. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PERFORM, EDEN GOLAN DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE LET THE CONTROVERSY OF THE PAST FEW DAYS AFFECT HER. BUT THERE WERE AUDIBLE BOOS AT POINTS DURING HER SINGING. (CROWD WHISTLE, BOO) THANK YOU! BACKSTAGE, THE EMOTIONAL TOLL ON FULL DISPLAY. # MY HEARTBEAT BURIED IN THE GROUND, AND TO ITS STRINGS... IRELAND'S ENTRY, BAMBI THUG, WHO HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF ISRAEL'S PARTICIPATION, DEFIED ORGANISERS BY PAINTING THE WORD 'CEASEFIRE' ON THEIR FACE IN AN OLD IRISH ALPHABET. EARLIER IN THE WEEK, THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THAT PHRASE AND 'FREE PALESTINE' FROM THEIR COSTUMING. WE SEEK PEACE. IN REHEARSALS THIS AFTERNOON, FRANCE'S ENTRY, SLIMANE, STOPPED HIS PERFORMANCE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. HE WAS STILL ALLOWED TO PERFORM ON THE MAIN SHOW TONIGHT, SIMPLY FINISHING WITH THIS MESSAGE. UNITED BY MUSIC FOR LOVE AND PEACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH! HE DID IT. WHILE THE THEME OF THE EVENT MAY HAVE BEEN UNITED BY MUSIC, THIS WEEK HAS SHOWN EUROPE IS DEEPLY DIVIDED WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT. AWAY FROM THE POLITICS, IT WAS A NAIL-BITING FINISH AT THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST, WITH SWITZERLAND JUST BEATING OUT CROATIA FOR THE WIN. SWISS ENTRY NEMO STORMED THE CONTEST WITH THE SONG 'THE CODE', WALKING AWAY WITH 591 POINTS FROM THE JURY AND PUBLIC VOTE. # I... I WENT TO HELL AND BACK # TO FIND MYSELF A TRACK. # I BROKE THE CODE, WHOA-OH. # LIKE AMMONITES # AND DESPITE HOPES THAT ABBA WOULD APPEAR TO MARK 50 YEARS SINCE THEIR EUROVISION WIN WITH 'WATERLOO', THEY DISAPPOINTED FANS BY LEAVING IT TO THEIR DIGITAL 'ABBATARS' AND FORMER EUROVISION WINNERS TO PERFORM THEIR HIT SONG FOR THEM. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER AN INCIDENT ON AUCKLAND'S SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING HOW THE INJURIES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. OFFICIALS CLOSED THE MOTORWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS NEAR CAVENDISH DRIVE SO THE SERIOUS CRASH UNIT AND POLICE COULD INVESTIGATE THE SCENE. THE INJURED WERE TAKEN TO MIDDLEMORE HOSPITAL, ONE CRITICAL, THE OTHER IN A SERIOUS CONDITION. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT IS FACING A BACKLASH OVER NEW 24-HOUR ON-STREET PARKING CHARGES. FROM JULY IT WILL COST UP TO $3 PER HOUR TO PARK IN THE CBD OVERNIGHT. THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ASSOCIATION IS 'HORRIFIED' AND FEARS IT WILL DRIVE VISITORS AND RESIDENTS AWAY. ZANE SMALL SPOKE TO ONE MAN WHO HAS HAD ENOUGH AND ALREADY LEFT. JEREMY BEALE IS MUCH HAPPIER LIVING HERE IN TITIRANGI WITH HIS DOG BILLY, 30 MINUTES FROM WHERE HE USED TO LIVE IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND. I FELT LIKE THE PLACE CALLED ME. AND THEN WITH THE PRICE OF PROPERTIES IN THE CITY, IT WAS JUST OUT OF THE QUESTION. HE GREW TIRED OF THE CBD'S CRIME AND DISRUPTION. AND WITH AUCKLAND TRANSPORT SET TO BRING IN 24-HOUR STREET PARKING CHARGES, JEREMY'S GLAD HE LEFT. IT'S AS IF AUCKLAND HAS A PLAN TO MAKE GOING INTO THE CITY AS UNPLEASANT AS POSSIBLE. THE TRAFFIC, THE LACK OF COMMON-SENSE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, THE ISSUES WITH PARKING. IN A LETTER TO CENTRAL CITY RESIDENTS, A.T. SAID IT WILL BE EXTENDING THE HOURS OF PAID PARKING IN THE AREA TO INCLUDE OVERNIGHT, WEEKENDS, AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ` CHANGES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BY JULY. IT WILL APPLY IN THE CITY CENTRE PARKING ZONE, WHICH IS BORDERED BY STATE HIGHWAYS 1 AND 16, AND INCLUDES WYNYARD QUARTER IN THE WEST, UPPER QUEEN STREET IN THE SOUTH, AND EAST TO THE BORDER WITH PARNELL. WE ASKED FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH A.T., BUT INSTEAD GOT A STATEMENT, SAYING... BUT VIV BECK FROM THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ASSOCIATION IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT WHAT SHE DESCRIBES AS A LACK OF CONSULTATION. I'M JUST HORRIFIED AT THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED. SHE'S RAISED CONCERNS WITH AUCKLAND TRANSPORT. THE NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY A THIRD OF OUR SPEND HERE, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF THE DIFFERENT USERS, THE DEMAND ` THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE ENGAGING ON. HERE IN THE INNER CENTRAL CITY, PARKING OVERNIGHT WILL COST $3 PER HOUR. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO PARKS THEIR CAR IN THE CITY EVERY NIGHT, THAT'S ROUGHLY AN EXTRA $12,000 A YEAR. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT JUSTIFIED THE 24/7 CHARGING, SAYING IT WILL ENSURE TURNOVER OF VEHICLES, GIVING PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE CITY MORE PARKING OPTIONS. $3 PER HOUR? I GUESS THAT'S FAIRLY REASONABLE. YOU CAN REDUCE THE PRICE. STUDENT JOSH SHEPPARD LIVES IN THE CITY AND HAS A CAR. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STING US. WE DON'T NEED THAT, YOU KNOW? AND IF CITY LIVING COSTS KEEP CREEPING UP, MANY MORE MAY FIND LIVING OUT HERE IS WORTH THE COMMUTE. SO ZANE, WILL THERE BE ANY EXEMPTIONS TO THE NEW PARKING FEES? AUCKLAND TRANSPORT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BUSINESSES HERE IN WYNYARD QUARTER ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF THE BRIDGE BEHIND ME. THEY ARE LOOKING DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION OF COSTS UNTIL THE BRIDGE IS REPAIRED. OVERALL, NEWS OF CHARGES HASN'T BEEN RECEIVED WELL. WAYNE BROWN IS UNHAPPY, AND SAYS AUCKLAND TRANSPORT NEEDS TO LISTEN. TODAY I SPOKE TO CHLOE SWARBRICK, THE MP FOR AUCKLAND CENTRAL. SHE HAS ALSO ASKED FOR A PLEASE EXPLAIN, AND SHE WANTED TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAD SOUGHT A RESIDENT CARD OPTION, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE CITY RAIL LINK, PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS NO LONGER HALF PRICE, SO THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS, AND LIFE HERE IS GETTING EXPENSIVE. THE SOLAR STORM THAT LIT UP THE NIGHT SKY, AND THEN BLEW UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ISN'T OVER YET... AND THEN BLEW UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ISN'T OVER YET. NEITHER IS THE RISK IT POSES TO OUR POWER GRID. MIKE THORPE EXPLAINS. BLAZING ACROSS SOUTHERN SKIES, THE AURORA SEEMED TO TOUCH EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY. LAST NIGHT, JUST THE RED, STRAIGHT AWAY ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK, JUST RIGHT THERE OUT AT SEA. THIS WAS FROM THE TARARUA DISTRICT. BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN STEWART ISLAND, DUNEDIN, CHRISTCHURCH, TAUPO, EVEN AUCKLAND AND THE FAR NORTH. I DON'T THINK THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 25 YEARS. SO THIS IS A STONKINGLY BIG EVENT. AND IT'S MEANT THAT AURORA IS VISIBLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR COUNTRY TO LITERALLY THE TOP OF OUR COUNTRY. KIWIS QUEUED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE BEST VANTAGE POINT. AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, FOR MOST PEOPLE THERE WERE CLEAR SKIES LAST NIGHT, AND SO THIS WAS PERFECT. BUT WE WEREN'T THE ONLY AUDIENCE. THIS IS SO BIG, THAT IT'S AFFECTED ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE SOLAR TSUNAMI BLEW UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND IT ALSO THREATENED SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH OUR ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. A CHANGING MAGNETIC FIELD WILL INDUCE CURRENTS IN AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR. IT'S CALLED FARADAY'S LAW. AND WE HAVE WIRES DISTRIBUTED ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THE FORM OF POWER GRIDS. THAT THREAT IS NOT OVER, TRANSPOWER CONFIRMING TODAY THAT IT HAS EXTENDED THE GRID EMERGENCY NOTICE TO 8 O'CLOCK TONIGHT AS A PRECAUTION, AS THE CURRENT FORECAST SUGGESTS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON. I JUST LOOKED AT THE MOST UPDATED FORECAST FROM THE NOAA SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTRE, AND THEY'VE CHANGED THE FORECAST A LITTLE BIT, AND THEY'RE NOW SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GRUNTY TONIGHT TOO. GOOD NEWS IF YOU MISSED IT ` OR EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T. THE LEOPARD FAMILY CAN'T GET ENOUGH. WE'RE TRAVELLING AROUND NEW ZEALAND FULL-TIME. WE'VE BEEN GOING 19 MONTHS NOW SO WE LUCKILY WE'VE SEEN IT THREE TIMES IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND I WAS PRETTY HOPEFUL THAT WE MIGHT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE IT ONCE. THEY'LL BE BACK AT IT TONIGHT. AND IF YOU'RE KEEN TOO, CRAIG RECKONS THIS IS ONE TIME WHEN LIFE MIGHT LOOK BETTER THROUGH YOUR PHONE. THEY ARE MORE SENSITIVE THAN YOUR EYE, SO YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING ` IS THAT A CLOUD? IT SEEMS TO BE CHANGING A BIT. YOUR PHONE MAY WELL SHOW IT AS BEING GREEN OR RED. MIKE THORPE, NEWSHUB. TIME FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER AND THE NEWSHUB INBOX OVERFLOWING WITH GREAT SHOTS FROM LAST NIGHT, MIKE? SO MANY INCREDIBLE PHOTOS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY CAME IN MIKE COULDN'T SHOW ALL THE PHOTOS IN THAT STORY, SO HERE'S A FEW MORE. A BIT MORE CLOUD TONIGHT SO A LITTLE HARDER TO SEE. I'M PICKING ANYWHERE FROM CENTRAL OTAGO, CANTERBURY AND MAYBE THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND AS THE BEST SPOTS. ANOTHER GOOD DAY TOMORROW BUT A FEW MORE SHOWERS DEVELOP, FIND OUT WHERE WITH THE FULL FORECAST AFTER SUPER SPORT SUNDAY. FLOODING IN AFGHANISTAN HAS KILLED MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE. RESCUE EFFORTS WERE HAMPERED BY A SHORTAGE OF NIGHT-VISION LIGHTS IN THE CHOPPERS. SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT SPERM WHALES ARE NEARLY AS CHATTY AS HUMANS. SO WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? AND WE TALK TO HOLLYWOOD A-LISTER JOSH BROLIN ABOUT THE SECOND SEASON OF HIS COWBOY SCI-FI SERIES 'OUTER RANGE'. THE DEATH TOLL FROM DEVASTATING FLASH FLOODS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN HAS RISEN TO 151 PEOPLE, WITH HUNDREDS MORE FLEEING THEIR HOMES. RESCUE TEAMS AND HELICOPTERS WERE SENT TO RESCUE THOSE TRAPPED BY THE RAIN, BUT THE OPERATION WAS LARGELY UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF NIGHT-VISION LIGHTS IN THE CHOPPERS. MORE STORMS ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT. IN THE VAST DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE SPERM WHALES HAVE MUCH TO MULL OVER, BUT SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THEY'RE NEARLY AS CHATTY AS HUMANS. THEIR CLICKING SOUNDS HAVE BEEN COMPARED TO AN ALPHABET, AND COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. ITV'S SAM HOLDER HAS MORE. (FAINT BUZZING AND CLICKING) NO, THAT SOUND ISN'T YOUR TV MALFUNCTIONING, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED ANIMAL CONVERSATIONS EVER RECORDED. FOR DECADES, SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CLICKS MADE BY SPERM WHALES MEAN. THEY NOW BELIEVE THEY FORM PART OF A PHONETIC ALPHABET, WHERE SOUNDS CAN BE COMBINED TO MAKE WORDS AND PHRASES. EARTH'S BIGGEST-BRAINED CREATURES ARE USING LANGUAGE IN A WAY NOT TOO DISSIMILAR FROM OURSELVES. THEY'RE COMMUNICATING USING BOTH COMBINATION, WHICH HUMANS DO, 'I WENT TO THE STORE, AND THE MARKET, AND THE PARK' AND THEY'RE ALSO COMMUNICATING IN TERMS OF CONTEXT, LIKE, PUTTING CONTEXT INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY SAID. SO THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT BEFORE, HERE'S SOME MORE RECORDINGS OF SPERM WHALES CHATTING. (CLICKS OVER A FLUTTERING BACKGROUND) LIKE SEEMINGLY EVERY SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY OF THE PAST TWO YEARS, SCIENTISTS USED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ANALYSE THOUSANDS OF CLIPS. THE AI CAN NOW PREDICT WHAT SOUNDS THE SPERM WHALES WILL MAKE WHEN GIVEN JUST A SNIPPET OF A CONVERSATION. THERE IS JUST ONE SLIGHT PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A PHONETIC ALPHABET FOR SPERM WHALES. IT SEEMS THAT THROUGH THIS PHONETIC ALPHABET WE CAN GENERATE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY SAY. SO WE KNOW THEY'RE TALKING, AND WE KNOW IT'S COMPLEX. WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. BUT SCIENTISTS ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT ONE DAY WE MIGHT. ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HOLLYWOOD STARS SAYS HE'S JUST WAITING FOR A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST DIRECTORS TO PACK HIS BAGS AND HEAD TO OUR SHORES. FINN HOGAN CAUGHT UP WITH A-LISTER JOSH BROLIN AS HE PROMOTED THE NEW SEASON OF GENRE BENDING SCI-FI WESTERN 'OUTER RANGE'. FROM THE BIG BAD OF THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE TO 'DUNE 2' TO 'NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN', LEADING MAN JOSH BROLIN CERTAINLY HAS RANGE. WHAT'S IN THE SATCHEL? IT'S FULL OF MONEY. NOW HE'S PUTTING IT TO WORK IN SEASON 2 OF 'OUTER RANGE', AGAIN DONNING A COWBOY HAT TO PLAY ROYAL ABBOTT, A RANCHER GRAPPLING WITH MIND-BENDING PHENOMENA ON HIS FARM. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I REACTED TO, WHICH IS THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CONFLAGRANCE BETWEEN THE SCI FI ELEMENTS OF IT, AND THEN THE VERY PRACTICAL, RANCHY, PROUD, IDEALISTIC PART OF IT. AND I LOVE THAT CLASH, BECAUSE IT KIND OF CREATES A LOT OF COLOURFUL DRAMA. WHY IS THAT A BAD THING? USE IT. FRESH FROM PROMOTING 'DUNE 2', BROLIN SAYS FANS OF THE FILM WILL FIND MUCH TO LOVE IN THIS SMALLER-SCALE SCI-FI. IT'S A MORE INTIMATE SCALE HERE. YOU HAVE IT ON THIS RANCH. IT'S ALL HAPPENING IN THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD, IN THIS TINY CULTURE, THIS BUCOLIC CULTURE. BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME THEMES. YOU JUST HAVE IT IN A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, WITH DIFFERENT ACTORS. SO TO ME, IT'S EVEN MORE FASCINATING. AND AFTER WORKING WITH SOME OF THE BEST FILMMAKERS IN THE WORLD, NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME BROLIN STEPS BEHIND THE CAMERA TO DIRECT. I'M PROUD OF THE EPISODE, BASED ON THE WORK. I THINK PEOPLE DID SOME REALLY GREAT WORK. AND IT WAS FUN. EVEN THOUGH I'M IN IT, I'M NOT IN IT THAT MUCH. AND IT'S REALLY FUN TO BE ABLE TO JUST SIT THERE AND CELEBRATE AND HOOT AND HOLLER FOR OTHER PEOPLE. BUT HAVING STARRED IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST FILMS FOR OVER A DECADE, BROLIN SEEMS READY FOR A CHANGE OF PACE. OK, BUT IF TAIKA WAITITI'S NEXT FILM IS JUST A LOW-BUDGET INDIE FLICK SET IN NEW ZEALAND, WILL YOU COME DOWN AND STAR IN IT? I WOULD DO IT LIKE THAT. I'M NOT KIDDING. TAIKA AND I, WE TEXT BACK AND FORTH. WE HAVE FOR A FEW YEARS. I HAVE MASSIVE RESPECT FOR HIM. THERE'S THINGS THAT HE'S DONE THAT I THINK ARE LITERALLY ON THE GENIUS PLANE ` AND I DON'T SAY THAT LIGHTLY. YES, TAIKA IS JUST AN ABSOLUTE... IT'S ONE OF THOSE ` 'OH, SHOULD I DO IT?' IT'S LIKE, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO SEND ME A SCRIPT. JUST YES. WELL, I HOPE TAIKA'S WATCHING. BUT FOR NOW, 'OUTER RANGE' SEASON TWO HITS OUR SCREENS THURSDAY ON AMAZON PRIME. FINN HOGAN, NEWSHUB. THE FUTURE OF MOVIES WAS ON DISPLAY THIS WEEK IN THE SECOND ANNUAL RUNWAY AI FILM FESTIVAL. ALL THE SHORT MOVIES HAD TO BE CREATED AT LEAST PARTIALLY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR SOME MIND-BLOWING EFFECTS ON TINY BUDGETS. THE WINNING ENTRY, 'GET ME OUT' BY DANIEL ANTEBI, RECEIVED $25,000 IN PRIZE MONEY. THERE WAS EVEN A KIWI FILM ON THE PODIUM, WITH NEW ZEALAND DIRECTOR SAMUEL SCHRAG'S ANIMATED SHORT 'POUNAMU' TAKING A GOLD MEDAL AND A $15,000 DOLLAR PRIZE. A CANTERBURY MAN IS ON A CRUSADE. HE'S OVERCOME A RUGBY INJURY AND NOW WANTS TO BRING MORE FUN TO CHRISTCHURCH. COMING UP ON SUPER SPORT SUNDAY, IT'S GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE WARRIORS AS THEY'RE PUT TO THE SWORD BY THE SURGING ROOSTERS. ALL THE ACTION FROM SYDNEY, NEXT. AND SUPER RUGBY HITS A GLORIOUS HIGH AS THE BLUES AND HIGHLANDERS REIGN SUPREME. REIGN SUPREME. BUT SURELY, THE CRUSADERS ARE DOWN AND OUT... OR ARE THEY? GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO SUPER SPORT SUNDAY. THE SUFFERING CONTINUES FOR WARRIORS FANS. THEIR LOSING STREAK HAS EXTENDED TO FOUR MATCHES THIS AFTERNOON, FOLLOWING A 38-18 LOSS TO THE ROOSTERS. THE TEAM, WHICH WAS DEPLETED FOLLOWING THE 11TH-HOUR WITHDRAWL OF ROGER TUIVASA SHECK, COULDN'T OVERCOME A HORROR START THAT SAW THEM DOWN 22-0 AFTER JUST 14 MINUTES. AND IT'S A RESULT THAT LEAVES THEM IN A SERIOUS BATTLE TO RESURRECT THEIR SEASON. TIA McDOUGALL HAS THE ACTION. THE WARRIORS DROPPED THE BALL IN MANY WAYS TONIGHT. REALLY DISSAPOINTING THAT GAME, DEFINITELY NOT HOW WE WANTED TO PLAY BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IT'S HOW WE STUCK IN THERE AND GOT OUR WAY BACK INTO THE GAME. WORKING BACK FROM A DISASTROUS DEFICIT AFTER A HORROR START. NOT ONE... WHAT A SHOW THEY ARE PUTTING ON! ...BUT THREE TRIES CONCEDED IN 10 MINUTES. AND IT DIDN'T STOP THERE. IT'S NUMBER FOUR FOR THE ROOSTERS AND WE'VE ONLY PLAYED 13 MINUTES. THE WARRIORS EVENTUALLY STEMMED THE FLOW... BUT COULDN'T TURN GOOD FIELD POSITION INTO POINTS. DALLIN DROPS THE BALL ON THE LINE. THEY DID CROSS THE LINE IN THE 35TH MINUTE, THEY DID CROSS THE LINE IN THE 35TH MINUTE, WALKER COMES OUT THE BACK JOHNSON ONLY FOR THE BUNKER TO RULE OBSTRUTION FROM JACKSON FORD. SYDNEY STARTED THE SECOND SPELL WITH THE SAME STYLE AS THE FIRST BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T GO UNASWERED... JOHNSON GOES OVER THE TOP SYDNEY STRIKED BACK WITH THEIR 6TH TRY OF THE NIGHT, WHILE THE WARRIORS MANAGED TO FIND THEIR SECOND. HE FINDS A WAY THROUGH ADAM FONUA-BLAKE CRASHING THROUGH FOR A THIRD. BUT THE ROOSTERS WERN'T DONE. PILING ON THE PAIN TO WIN BY 20 POINTS, HANDING THE WARRIORS THEIR FOURTH DEFEAT IN A ROW. HANDING THE WARRIORS THEIR FOURTH DEFEAT IN A ROW. WE WERE GOING TO CONNECT REALLY DISAPPOINTING THE WARRIORS FACE THE PANTHERS NEXT WEEK, THEIR TASK MADE A LITTLE EASIER FOLLOWING NEWS THEIR STAR HALF NATHAN CLEARY WILL MISS THE NEXT TWO MONTHS WITH A HAMSTRING INJURY, PUTTING A DENT IN PENRITH'S HOPES OF A FOURTH STRAIGHT NRL TITLE. IT COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO TEAMS LIKE THE SHARKS, WHO LAST NIGHT SLOTTED A 74TH-MINUTE FIELD GOAL TO EDGE AHEAD OF MELBOURNE, BEFORE A PIECE OF INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE SECURED A 25-18 WIN. AND HE GOT AWAY. HE BURNED WELCH, THEN HE GOT THROUGH` NOW THE PASS TO TALAKAI! GOODBYE! THE WIN LIFTS THE SHARKS TWO POINTS CLEAR OF THE PANTHERS AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE. RUGBY NOW, AND HAVING PLAYED OUT THE GAME OF THE SEASON SO FAR, BOTH THE BLUES AND HURRICANES HAVE PRAISED THE SPECTACLE THAT PLAYED OUT AT EDEN PARK, LARGELY THANKS TO AN AFTERNOON KICK-OFF AND 26,000-STRONG CROWD. THE BLUES MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE LADDER FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S THRILLING 31-27 WIN IN THE AUCKLAND SUN, A GAME THAT SET THE BENCHMARK FOR SUPER RUGBY BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS MORE. WITH THE AUCKLAND SUN SETTING AND 26,000 IN AT EDEN PARK FOR A TOP-OF-THE-TABLE SHOWDOWN, SUPER RUGBY GOT THE SHOT IN THE ARM IT NEEDED. I'M PRETTY SURE THE 26,000 WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE TO THE 4.30. SO BY THE TIME IT FINISHED, GET HOME, GET A FEED, IT'S BRILLIANT. HOPEFULLY WE SORT GET THAT BALL ROLLING AND WE CAN HAVE IT MORE, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY FELT THAT ENERGY. THE BLUES DINED OUT ON IT. THEY RODE A WAVE OF HOMETOWN SUPPORT, THE GAME ATTRACTING THE LARGEST CROWD OF THE SEASON SO FAR. WE COULDN'T REALLY HEAR OURSELVES SPEAK WHEN WE'D COME INTO A HUDDLE A FEW TIMES, SO YEAH, IT WAS AN AWESOME TIME TO PLAY A GAME. FANS CERTAINLY GOT VALUE FOR MONEY. THE AFTERNOON KICK-OFF ON A PERFECT AUCKLAND DAY MORE THAN LIVED UP TO THE HYPE. AND A GAME ON A KNIFE EDGE THAT REQUIRED A MAMMOTH DEFENSIVE EFFORT FOR THE BLUES TO CLING TO VICTORY WAS THE CHERRY ON TOP. THOSE SORTS OF GAMES ARE WHAT'S GONNA GET PEOPLE BACK INTO STADIUMS. THE CROWD WAS JUST AS GOOD IN DUNEDIN, AS THE HIGHLANDERS PILED MORE PAIN ON THE CRUSADERS, ENDING THEIR DROUGHT AGAINST NEW ZEALAND OPPOSITION ` THEIR FIRST WIN IN A KIWI DERBY SINCE APRIL 2021. FIRES THE PASS AWAY! ROB PENNEY, A MAN OUT OF ANSWERS AND UNDER PRESSURE. I JUST APOLOGISE TO EVERYONE. WE FEEL THAT'S BEEN OUR BIGGEST AREA OF CONCERN IS BEING ABLE TO DIG DEEPER. THERE'S CERTAINLY NONE OF THAT IN THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS RIGHT NOW ` THE CHAMPIONSHIP DNA THE FRANCHISE HAS BEEN BUILT ON FOR SO LONG EVAPORATING MORE WITH EVERY LOSS. THE BLOW TORCH IS ON US, AND PEOPLE SOMETIMES WILTER. THE BLOW TORCH WON'T BE COOLING DOWN, EITHER. A LOSS TO THE BRUMBIES ON SATURDAY AND THEY CAN LIKELY KISS GOODBYE TO ANY PLAY-OFF HOPES THEY MIGHT STILL HAVE. OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. SO HERE ARE THE STANDINGS AFTER 12 ROUNDS. THE BLUES NOW SIT AT THE TOP WITH A TWO-POINT ADVANTAGE OVER THE HURRICANES. THE BRUMBIES AND CHIEFS OCCUPY THE OTHER TOP FOUR SPOTS WITH THE HIGHLANDERS SITTING COMFORTABLY INSIDE THE EIGHT. INCREDIBLY, FARCICALLY, THE CRUSADERS CAN STILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS DESPITE HAVING WON JUST TWO GAMES ALL SEASON. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE IS WITH US. OLLIE, A DISASTROUS SEASON FOR THE CRUSADERS. SURELY THE PLAYOFFS ARE GONE? YOU WOULD THINK SO THE PLAY-OFFS SHOULD BE GONE THE CRUSADERS SHOULD BE NOWHERE NEAR PLAY-OFF CONVERSATION BUT THIS IS SUPER RUGBY AND A 12 TEAM COMPETITION WHERE A GO THROUGH THEY DO REMAIN IN THE HUNT REMAINS QUITE UNBELIEVABLE TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT LAST YEAR THE REDS FINISHED IN EIGHTH THE HIGHLANDERS FINISHED EIGHTH THEY HAD JUST FOUR WINS WITH THREE GAMES STILL TO GO IN THE REGULAR SEASON THE CRUSADERS CAN PICK UP TO MAYBE THREE WINS FOR A PLAY-OFF SPOT OK, THINGS LOOKING MUCH BETTER AT THE OTHER END OF THE LADDER, WAS THAT A PREVIEW OF THE FINAL WE SAW AT EDEN PARK YESTERDAY? THE BLUES AND THE HURRICANE IS PUT ON THE GAME OF THE SEASON THEY ARE THE FRONT RUNNERS IN SUPER RUGBY THIS YEAR IT WAS TIT-FOR-TAT THE RESULT WAS UP IN THE AIR UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT THAT SORT OF GAME THAT SUPER RUGBY CAN BUILD ON SHOWS JUST WHY THEY ARE THE TITANS OF THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR IF YOU GET THAT AS A FINAL FOR SUPER RUGBY YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED OLLIE, THANK YOU THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX AND MELBOURNE VICTORY REMAIN GOALLESS, MIDWAY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THEIR A-LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG BEING PLAYED ACROSS THE TASMAN TONIGHT. PENNINGTON ACROSS THE FACE OF GOAL, AND THEN CLEARED BY MIRANDA. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WELLINGTON PHOENIX.THIS THE PHOENIX HOST THE SECOND LEG OF THE SEMI-FINAL IN WELLINGTON NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT. THE CENTRAL PULSE HAVE MADE A BIG STATEMENT IN THE ANZ NETBALL PREMIERSHIP, RECORDING A HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY OVER THE PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN TACTIX. THE TEAMS WENT GOAL-FOR-GOAL IN THE EARLY STAGES, BUT THE PULSE PUSHED AHEAD AND NEVER RELINQUISHED THEIR NARROW ADVANTAGE TO WIN A LOW-SCORING ENCOUNTER 36-30. IT WAS DEFINITELY A REALLY, REALLY GOOD BATTLE OUT THERE. BOTH TEAMS WERE GIVING THEIR WHOLE HEARTS INTO THAT GAME. I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO GET MVP. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER DESERVING PLAYERS OUT ON THE COURT, ESPECIALLY MY MATE KJ, SO THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS THAT PROBABLY DESERVE IT MORE THAN ME, BUT I'M STOKED, AND I'M JUST PROUD OF OUR GAME, AND PROUD TO PULL THROUGH FOR THE WIN. THE PULSE HAVE WON ALL FIVE OF THEIR GAMES SO FAR TO TOP THE STANDINGS. STILL TO COME ON SUPER SPORT SUNDAY... BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS IT, THE DEVASTATING SPEED AT WHICH A KIWI UFC STAR PUT HIS LATEST OPPONENT AWAY IN THE OCTAGON. AND WHAT PROMPTED ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST TENNIS PLAYERS TO WEAR THIS HELMET? NOVAK DJOKOVIC FEATURES IN OUR MOMENTS OF THE WEEK. AND LATER IN NEWS, A CHRISTCHURCH MAN WHO'S OVERCOME A LIFE-CHANGING RUGBY INJURY TO CHASE HIS DREAM OF CREATING A FUN PARK. WE THOUGHT WE'D GIVE YOU GUYS SOME BREAKFAST THIS MORNING. JUST TO FILL YOUR TUMMIES. I VISITED MANY OF THE SCHOOLS EARLY ON, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WASTE BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF MUNGBEAN SALADS. WE COULD HAVE GOT MORE FOR THE DOLLAR, BUT AT LEAST SOME OF WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE IS STILL IN PLAY. WELCOME BACK. KIWI UFC FIGHTER CARLOS ULBERG HAS MADE A BIG STATEMENT IN THE OCTAGON THIS AFTERNOON THAT HAS HIM BEING TALKED ABOUT AS A FUTURE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. HERE OFF THE BACK OF FIVE STRAIGHT WINS, HE TOOK JUST 12 SECONDS TO TAKE CARE OF 11TH RANKED AMERICAN, ALONZO MENIFIELD. PUTS IT FORWARD, AND THE BLOW! THE FIGHT IS OVER! THE WINNING STREAK IS SIX FOR THE NEWLY RANKED CONTENDER, CARLOS ULBERG! THE THIRD FASTEST FINISH IN THE HISTORY OF THE DIVISION CERTAINLY CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF UFC BOSS DANA WHITE AND WILL SECURE HIM A SPOT IN THE OFFICIAL RANKINGS. I KNOW I'M RANKED NOW, BUT I MEAN, I'VE GOT A BONE TO PICK, AND EA SPORTS, YOU BETTER PUT ME ON THE GAME, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE PLAYING THE GAME WITH MYSELF ON THERE. HE'LL BE IN THE GAME SOON ENOUGH IF HE KEEPS DELIVERING DEVASTATING FINISHES LIKE THIS, THAT SAW HIM AWARDED A PERFORMANCE-OF-THE-NIGHT BONUS OF $83,000. MANCHESTER CITY HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER BIG STEP TOWARDS DEFENDING THEIR PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE. THE CHAMPIONS HAVE MOVED TWO POINTS CLEAR OF ARSENAL WITH TWO GAMES TO GO, FOLLOWING A 4-0 WIN AT FULHAM. AND THERE'S FODEN. (CHEERING) DELICIOUS BALL IN. AND GVARDIOL HAS ANOTHER. MANCHESTER CITY'S CROWNING GLORY BY THE THAMES. FOUR FOR THEM, AS THEY CLOSE IN ON FOUR LEAGUE TITLES IN A ROW. AT THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE, BURNLEY'S RELEGATION TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS CONFIRMED FOLLOWING A 2-1 LOSS AT TOTTENHAM. LUTON TOWN'S 3-1 DEFEAT AT WEST HAM MEANS THEY'LL NEED TO BEAT FULHAM AT HOME ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE SEASON AND HOPE OTHER RESULTS GO THEIR WAY TO AVOID THE DROP. THE WORLD'S GREATEST EVER CLAY COURT TENNIS PLAYER REMAINS UNSURE IF HE'LL BE ABLE TO COMPETE AT WHAT'S WIDELY EXPECTED TO BE HIS LAST FRENCH OPEN IN PARIS LATER THIS MONTH. RAFAEL NADAL WAS COMPREHENSIVELY BEATEN IN ITALIAN OPEN SECOND ROUND BUT RECEIVED A HERO'S RECEPTION FROM THE ROME CROWDS AS HE LEFT THE VENUE. NADAL TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS 'MORE LIKELY THAN NOT' TO PLAY AT ROLAND GARROS WHERE HE'S WON 14 TIMES, BUT WASN'T ABSOLUTELY SURE, AS HE BATTLES ONGOING INJURY PROBLEMS. HE'S PREVIOUSLY INDICATED HE'LL ALMOST CERTAINLY RETIRE THIS YEAR. NOW, IT MAY NOT BE A CONTACT SPORT, BUT NOVAK DJOKOVIC TURNED UP TO THE ITALIAN TENNIS OPEN OVERNIGHT WEARING A BIKE HELMET. PERHAPS SOME OTHER PROFESSIONAL SPORTS STARS SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED SUIT. GORDON FINDLATER EXPLAINS WHY IN OUR SPORTING MOMENTS OF THE WEEK. # YOU USED TO CALL ME ON MY CELL PHONE. # PHONES GOING OFF AT THE TENNIS IS NOTHING NEW. BUT USUALLY IT'S A MEMBER OF THE CROWD, NOT A PLAYER, NOVAK DJOKOVIC SEEING THE FUNNY SIDE OF HIS OPPONENT'S MISHAP. COURETIN MOUTET ` HIS ALARM'S GOING OFF. 'REMINDER ` MATCH WITH NOVAK' THE ONLY THING RINGING AFTER THE HE MATCH WAS DJOKOVIC'S HEAD. # WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT? # THE CULPRIT OF THE BOTTLE-THROWING INCIDENT WAS THIS UNSUSPECTING BAG. DJOKOVIC WAS BACK ON HIS FEET TODAY BUT WASN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES. THE HIGHLANDERS WERE ALL ABOUT USING THEIR HEADS, ONE HECK OF A FALCON HELPING THEM DEFEAT THE CRUSADERS. TELEA HEADING FOR THE LINE. AND OVER THE LINE! THERE WERE ALSO SOME SORE HEADS IN THE NBA THIS WEEK. AS LUKA TAKES A SHOT TO THE FACE. YOU COULD UNDERSTAND IF LUKA DONCIC THOUGHT HE WAS HEARING THINGS AFTER THE NASTY BLOW. I WAS JUST SHARING THE BALL AND ENERGY WAS GREAT.. (EROTIC MOANING IN BACKGROUND) (LAUGHTER) OK. MOVING ON. IN THE NHL PLAYOFFS, HEADHUNTING IS A GIVEN. # I'M GONNA KNOCK YOU OUT! # MAMMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT! # I'M GONNA KNOCK YOU OUT! THE WEEK WASN'T WITHOUT LOW BLOWS, EITHER. OOH! THAT GOT ADAM HAMERI, AND HE IS DOWN. I THINK I'LL TAKE A KNOCK TO THE HEAD OVER THAT ONE. I'M HOPING ON A SET TONIGHT THAT A PERSON WHO DIDN'T SEE THE AURORA BEN SCOTT IS A MAN ON A MISSION. AFTER A RUGBY INJURY STOPPED HIM FROM HIS DAY JOB A DECADE AGO, HE'S GONE FROM BUILDER TO BARBER, AND SOON THE OWNER OF A UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT HUB IN CHRISTCHURCH. INVESTORS HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED $500,000 TOWARDS THE PROJECT, BUT MORE IS NEEDED TO GET IT OVER THE LINE. MITCH REDMAN HAS THE STORY. WIGRAM AIRBASE HAS HAD A TURBULENT HISTORY. BUT THIS AGING HANGAR HAS A NEW LIFE AHEAD OF IT. WE'VE GOT ARCHERY, AXE THROWING, MINI GOLF, TABLE TENNIS, BASKETBALL, GOLF SIMULATORS, INDOOR SKATE PARK, PUMP TRACK. OH MY GOODNESS! THEN THERE'S BASEBALL BATTING CAGES, A SUPER-SIZED POOL TABLE AND ARGUABLY THE WORLD'S LARGEST SKATEBOARD TOO. IT'S 18.5m LONG. IT CAN ROLL. I OBVIOUSLY CAN'T PUSH IT BY MYSELF. FOR ALMOST A CENTURY, WIGRAM WAS HOME TO THE RNZAF. ARCHIVE: AN ESTIMATED CROWD OF 5000 TURN OUT TO WATCH THE CEREMONY AT WIGRAM STATION. IT ALSO HOSTED PETROL HEADS. BUT IT CLOSED IN 2009. WE'VE REALLY REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT'S NOT SAFE HAVING AEROPLANES AROUND WITH CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. SINCE THEN, THE AREA HAS SEEN A BOOM IN HOUSING, BUT NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF ACTION. BENNY'S HANGAR HOPES TO CHANGE THAT. I ENDED UP GETTING TONY HAWK PRO SKATER ON THE NINTENDO SWITCH, SO I DESIGNED THE WHOLE LAYOUT WITH THE MEZZANINE FLOORS AND THE HALFPIPE AND THE LAYOUT, SO I COULD GO TO THE ARCHITECTS AND SHOW THEM THE DESIGN. HEY, MATE. HOW YOU GOING? BENNY'S HUMBLE HAIRCUT BEGINNINGS STARTED IN A CARAVAN IN HIS PARENTS' BACKYARD. HE'S NOW ONE OF THE CITY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF BARBERS AND WANTING TO EXTEND THE BRAND. HERE WE HAVE THE KIDS' PUMP TRACK. THERE'S HOPES $750,000 WILL BE PLEDGED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. INVESTORS GET THEIR MONEY BACK IF THE TARGET ISN'T REACHED AND A CUT OF THE BUSINESS IF THEY DO. WE PLAN ON OPENING FOR THE NEXT SET OF SCHOOL HOLIDAYS THAT ARE COMING UP. OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO GET THE PLEDGEME OVER THE LINE AND GET THE PLACE OPEN. THAT'S A REALLY BIG POSITIVE FOR OUR SIDE OF TOWN. THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING OVER THERE. POST-EARTHQUAKE, OVER IN OUR PATCH IN THE WEST, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OVER THERE WITH QUAKE REFUGEES, AND TO HAVE MORE FOR THEM TO DO IS ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT. DRAWING A YOUNGER CROWD BACK TO WIGRAM. WE WANNA BUILD THIS PLACE FOR CHRISTCHURCH AND FOR THE TEENS AND THE ADULTS TO HAVE AN EPIC SPOT TO BE ABLE TO COME AND BE THEMSELVES AND HAVE SOME FUN. A FACILITY FOR CANTABS TO DROP IN AND PARK UP. MITCH REDMAN, NEWSHUB. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS ARE FLEEING RAFAH, AFTER ISRAEL DROPPED LEAFLETS WARNING OF AN OPERATION WITH 'GREAT FORCE'. THE ISRAELI CONTESTANT PERFORMED TO BOOS AT THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST, WHICH WAS WON BY SWISS ENTRY NEMO. BUSINESSES SAY THEY ARE HORRIFIED BY AUCKLAND TRANSPORT'S PLANS TO INTRODUCE 24-HOUR ON-STREET PARKING CHARGES IN THE CENTRAL CITY FROM JULY. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER. AND MIKE, NOT SO MANY FROSTS AROUND TOMORROW MORNING. YES, IT'S NOT SO COLD TOMORROW, UNLIKE THIS MORNING. ROTORUA HAD ITS SECOND COLDEST MAY MORNING SINCE 1972. A SPOT ON THE DESERT ROAD WAS MINUS-8.7. BUT THE COLDEST POPULATED SPOT WAS AGAIN TWIZEL. NOW, SWAP THE GLOVES FOR AN UMBRELLA TOMORROW. THERE'S A FEW SHOWERS ON THE WAY, WITH RAIN, SOME HEAVY, EXPECTED MID-WEEK. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. # R-E-S-P-E-C-T. # TAKE CARE, T-C-B. # TOMORROW'S WEATHER, BROUGHT TO YOU BY NATURE, TURNED INTO POWER BY MERIDIAN. KIA ORA. WELCOME. A BIT OF CLOUD TONIGHT, SO IT MAY BE HARD TO SEE THE DAZZLING AURORA SO MANY WITNESSED LAST NIGHT. THAT CLOUD AFFECTS SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TONIGHT AND ALSO A LARGE PART OF THE NORTH ISLAND. BUT IF IT'S CLEAR WHERE YOU ARE, LOOK SOUTH ` YOU JUST MIGHT SEE SOME ACTIVITY IN THE SKIES. TOMORROW LOOKS OK, WITH A LARGE HIGH IN PLAY. BUT THAT DRIFTS AWAY, ALLOWING A FEW LOWS TO ARRIVE FROM TUESDAY, SO A FEW SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH OF TE WAIPOUNAMU THE SOUTH ISLAND TONIGHT. BUT ITS CLOUD-FREE ELSEWHERE, WITH JUST A FEW LIGHT WINDS. TOMORROW THE FAR SOUTH CONTINUES TO GET THOSE SHOWERS. THE NORTH AND WEST SEE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE, BUT IT CLOUDS OVER IN THE EAST, AND A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOP. AND IN THE NORTH ISLAND, FROM COROMANDEL PENINSULA DOWN TO WAIRARAPA WILL BE CLOUD-FREE TONIGHT. EVERYONE ELSE IS PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH SHOWERS IN THE NORTH AND WEST. TOMORROW IT STAYS FINE IN THE EAST. THE WEST AND SOUTH GET A FEW SHOWERS. TARANAKI AND WAIKATO COULD SEE A HEAVY SHOWER OR TWO TOMORROW AFTERNOON. GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER NOW, IT'S PARTLY CLOUDY TOMORROW WITH THE ODD SHOWER, BUT THAT MEANS IT'S NOT AS COLD IN THE MORNING AS IT HAS BEEN. WHITIANGA GETS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE. SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS DIE OUT. FURTHER SOUTH, AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME HERE. IT'S CLOUDY WITH A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS POSSIBLE, ALONG WITH LIGHT WINDS AND HIGHS BETWEEN 13 AND 17. INTO THE EAST ` EVERYONE HERE SEEING PLENTY OF SUNSHINE. DANNEVIRKE GETS SOME CLOUD, HOWEVER. SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE LATE AT NIGHT. EXPECT LIGHT WINDS AND A HIGH BETWEEN 13 AND 18. AND FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, IT'S CLOUDY HERE TOO, ALONG WITH THOSE SHOWERS. BUT THE GOOD NEWS? IT DOES CLEAR UP FOR MOST, FOR A SUNNY AFTERNOON. SOUTHERLIES DEVELOP FOR WELLINGTON. OVER THE STRAIT, NELSON GETS A SUNNY START TO THE WEEK. MORNING CLOUD FOR EVERYONE ELSE. BUT THAT CLOUD BURNS OFF BY LUNCHTIME FOR A SUNNY AFTERNOON. OVER THE ALPS, AND BLENHEIM IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES TO SEE A POTENTIAL FROSTY START. CLOUD ARRIVES, BUT IT DOES STAY DRY, WHEREAS EVERYONE ELSE HERE IS LIKELY TO SEE A FEW SHOWERS TOMORROW. AND FOR SOUTHERN AREAS, A BIT OF CLOUD HANGING AROUND FOR THE START OF THE WEEK, BUT PLENTY OF FINE BREAKS ARE EXPECTED. DUNEDIN, INVERCARGILL AND STEWART ISLAND ARE LIKELY TO GET A SHOWER OR TWO, BUT IT DOES FINE UP. TO THE METROS NOW. KIA ORA, DUNEDIN. HAVE A RAINCOAT HANDY TOMORROW. THERE'S A FEW SHOWERS FLOATING AROUND, BUT THEY DO CLEAR IN THE EVENING. SOUTHWESTERLIES EASE. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH GETS CLOUD TOMORROW, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING. THEY CLEAR BY DINNERTIME, WITH THOSE COLD SOUTHERLIES EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. HELLO, WELLINGTON. ENJOY THE SUNSHINE TOMORROW. THERE ARE A FEW SOUTHERLIES, SO HAVE AN EXTRA LAYER. SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE AT NIGHT. IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR HAWKE'S BAY AS WELL. MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUNNY WEATHER. SOME SHOWERS ARE LIKELY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. IT'S THE SAME FOR TAURANGA. A FINE MONDAY, BUT SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ARRIVE IN THE AFTERNOON. 17 IS THE HIGH. KIA ORA, HAMILTON. A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR YOU, WITH ONE OR TWO ISOLATED SHOWERS. 16 IS THE HIGH. AND A SHOWERY DAY EXPECTED FOR AUCKLAND TO START THE WORKING WEEK. SOUTHWESTERLIES DIE OUT IN THE EVENING. 18 IS THE HIGH. TO AUSTRALIA NOW, AND BRISBANE GETS SOME SUNSHINE AND A WARM 25. SYDNEY, HOBART AND CAIRNS DEAL WITH A FEW SHOWERS. AND IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, SAMOA GETS THUNDERSTORMS, BUT EVERYONE ELSE LOOKS NICE AND FINE ` ESPECIALLY FIJI. BACK HERE NOW, AND TUESDAY GETS A LITTLE MORE CLOUDY FOR NORTHERN AREAS, WITH SHOWERS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. SOME HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED FOR CENTRAL AREAS ON WEDNESDAY. THAT RAIN MAKES IT WAY INTO THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND AS WELL BUT DOES CLEAR WEDNESDAY NIGHT. RAIN SWEEPS OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND AS WELL, LATE TUESDAY AND THROUGH WEDNESDAY, BUT IT FINES UP THURSDAY. AND A FEW MORE COLD MORNINGS FOR THE SOUTH TUESDAY, BUT OVERALL NOT TOO BAD, WITH JUST A FEW SHOWERS. GOOD LUCK IF YOU'RE SEEKING THE AURORA TONIGHT. I DIDN'T SEE IT LAST NIGHT, BUT I SUSPECT IT'S LIKE SEEING A WHALE ` I DIDN'T SEE IT LAST NIGHT, BUT I SUSPECT IT'S LIKE SEEING A WHALE ` VERY SPIRITUAL. THE PICTURE OF THE DAY IS FROM GREG WILLIAMS, WHO TOOK THIS SHOT OF NEWLYWEDS EVE AND KELSIN. THAT WILL LOOK GOOD ON THE MANTELPIECE. BEAUTIFUL ISN'T IT? FOR THOSE IN AREAS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE IT? LOOK SOUTH AND USE THE CAMERA ON YOUR PHONE THEY SEE A LOT MORE LIGHT. ALL RIGHT, JUST ENJOY THE PHOTOS. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR SUNDAY. JOIN THE A.M. TEAM FROM 6am TOMORROW. AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT news@newshub.co.nz. I'M LAURA TUPOU. PO MANAHAU. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024