The government is blindsided by a sudden U-turn by Australia on sending back 501 deportees. NATIONAL MP DAVID MACLEOD IS REFERRED TO POLICE OVER UNDECLARED DONATIONS. AND A WARRANT IS ISSUED FOR THE ARREST OF A WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE A SIX FIGURE SUM FROM A CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. THE LUXON GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON THE HOP BY A SUDDEN POLICY CHANGE IN AUSTRALIA THAT COULD SEE MORE 501 DEPORTEES COMING OUR WAY AGAIN. AUSTRALIA IS REVERTING TO A TOUGHER STANCE, AND THAT COULD MEAN CRIMINALS WHO HAVE LIVED JUST A FEW MONTHS OF THEIR LIVES IN NEW ZEALAND CAN BE DEPORTED HERE. LAST TIME SUCH A HARD-LINE POLICY ON 501S WAS IN PLACE, IT WAS BLAMED FOR AN EXPLOSION IN GANG CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT EMMA CROPPER REPORTS. WIELDING HIS POWER AND IGNORING TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONS... TODAY I HAVE SIGNED MINISTERIAL DIRECTION 110. AUSTRALIA'S IMMIGRATION MINISTER STRENGTHENED LAWS TO DEPORT CRIMINALS TO NEW ZEALAND. THE SAFETY OF THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY IS THE ALBANESE GOVERNMENT'S HIGHEST PRIORITY. THE CHANGES WERE MADE WITHOUT ANY WARNING... WERE YOU GIVEN A HEADS-UP BEFORE DIRECTION 110 WAS ISSUED? NO. ...BLINDSIDING OUR PRIME MINISTER WHILE ON TOUR IN FIJI. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT THAT, WE THINK, THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO CONNECTION TO NEW ZEALAND, ARE DEPORTED TO NEW ZEALAND. 501s ARE NEW ZEALAND-BORN CRIMINALS DEPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA. UNDER SCOTT MORRISON'S GOVERNMENT, THEY WERE KICKED OUT AT A RATE OF MORE THAN ONE PER DAY. ONCE ALBANESE CAME INTO POWER, NUMBERS ALMOST HALVED AFTER AUSTRALIA AGREED TO A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH AMID MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM THEN-PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN. BUT THE SOFTENING UP DIDN'T GO DOWN WELL IN AUSTRALIA... 99 WASN'T THE START. ...THE MINISTER FORCED TO GO TOUGHER ON IMMIGRATION. THE NEW REVISED DIRECTION WILL MAKE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT EXPECTS COMMUNITY PROTECTION TO BE GIVEN GREATER WEIGHT. WE REGRET THE DECISION THAT AUSTRALIA HAS MADE. ALBANESE HAS ALSO ASSURED ME THERE'LL BE CONTINUE TO BE A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH. THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN FELT IMMEDIATELY INSIDE AUSTRALIAN DETENTION CENTRES. IT'S NOT GOOD. BEN IVE'S ACCENT IS A DEAD GIVEAWAY. WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ME HERE, THEY SAY 'THE AUSTRALIAN GUY'. HE'S LIVED IN AUSTRALIA SINCE HE WAS 7 MONTHS OLD ` NOW 41, IN A SYDNEY DETENTION CENTRE. ALL MY FAMILY'S HERE IN AUSTRALIA. MY DAUGHTER'S HERE. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE AUSTRALIAN, MY DAD'S AUSTRALIAN, MY MUM'S NOW AUSTRALIAN. I GOT NO ONE AT ALL IN NEW ZEALAND. I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE, DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PLACE. I LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE HERE. A FOREIGN HOME MAY AWAIT AS THE COUNTRY HE CALLS HOME GETS TOUGH ON DEPORTATION AGAIN. BEHIND THE SCENES, AS SOON AS THIS CAME TO LIGHT, THERE WAS CERTAINLY AN EXPECTATION FROM THE NATIONAL PARTY THAT IT WOULD BE REFERRED TO POLICE. $180,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY TO SIMPLY FORGET TO DECLARE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ODD FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO SIMPLY TAKE DAVID MCLEOD'S WORD FOR IT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE. HE INITIALLY FILED HIS RETURN SAYING HE GATHERED ABOUT $30,000 FROM SEVEN SEPARATE DONORS ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. THAT WAS AMENDED TO OVER $200,000 FROM 24 SEPARATE DONORS. IT IS AN OFFENCE TO FILE A RETURN THAT IS FALSE. IF CONVICTED, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OUTCOMES ` IF IT IS FOUND TO BE A 'CORRUPT PRACTICE' AND THE CANDIDATE KNEW IT WAS FALSE DECLARATION, THE PENALTY IS A MAXIMUM OF TWO YEARS IN PRISON OR A FINE OF UP TO $100,000. IF THE CANDIDATE CAN PROVE THERE WAS NO INTENT TO MISLEAD AND THEY TOOK ALL REASONABLE STEPS, THERE COULD BE A LOWER FINE OF UP TO $40,000. AND JENNA, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RELEASED A STATEMENT TODAY AND JENNA, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RELEASED A STATEMENT TODAY REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL MISUSE OF PERSONAL DATA BY TE PATI MAORI ` WHAT HAVE THEY HAD TO SAY? THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION BASICALLY HAULED IN EVERYONE TO A MEETING TODAY ` STATS NZ, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HEALTH NEW ZEALAND, THE MSD, THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, TE PUNI KOKIRI, ORANGA TAMARIKI AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET ` AND A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE LAUNCHED INVESTIGATIONS OR ARE SEEKING URGENT ASSURANCE AROUND DATA. THIS IS ALL IN RELATION TO ALLEGED MISUSE OF CENSUS AND COVID VACCINATION DATA FOR TE PATI MAORI'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN ` ALLEGATIONS IT STRONGLY REFUTES. THE ACTING PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER SAYS THESE ARE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS THAT GO TO THE CORE OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES. TE PATI MAORI ALSO WROTE TO THE PM AND POLICE COMMISSIONER TODAY REQUESTING AN URGENT POLICE INVESTIGATION. POLICE HAVE AN INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY. STATS NZ DOES AS WELL. THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER HEALTH AGENCIES AND ORANGA TAMARIKI HAVE ALL ALSO REQUESTED ASSURANCES IN RELATION TO THE ALLEGATIONS. AN ARREST WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NICOLA FLINT, THE WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE A SIX-FIGURE SUM FROM THE CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB, THEN FLED TO THE UK. SHE NOW FACES NINE FRAUD-RELATED CHARGES AND POLICE HAVE THANKED NEWSHUB FOR HELPING FAST-TRACK THE INVESTIGATION. JULIET SPEEDY HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. THE DETECTIVE WHOSE TEAM HAS SPENT EIGHT MONTHS INVESTIGATING NICOLA FLINT. THIS HAS HAD A WIDE RANGING EFFECT ON A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AND IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB AND NOT JUST HER FRIENDS, BUT OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. NICOLA FLINT WORKED AT CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. DURING THAT TIME, SHE ALLEGEDLY STOLE OVER $100,000. SHE NOW FACES NINE FRAUD RELATED CHARGES, INCLUDING... ONE CHARGE RELATES TO DECEIVING HER FORMER EMPLOYER, ANZ, OUT OF NEARLY $85,000 AFTER MEDICALLY RETIRING FROM THERE, CLAIMING SHE HAD TERMINAL CANCER. SHE'S ALSO BEEN CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE MEDICAL LETTERS FROM CANTERBURY BREAST CARE AND SAINT GEORGE'S HOSPITAL CANCER CENTRE TO BACK UP HER CLAIMS OF A TERMINAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS. HAVE POLICE FOUND ANY EVIDENCE AT ALL OF HER ACTUALLY HAVING CANCER? NO. AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE CANCER AT ALL? THE EVIDENCE SO FAR, AND THE INQUIRIES WE'VE MADE SUGGEST THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE CANCER. CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB SAYS TODAY IS 'BITTERSWEET'. THE SWEETNESS IS THAT FINALLY, AFTER EIGHT MONTHS, THERE'S AN ARREST. THE BITTERNESS IS...IT STILL HURTS AND THE CLUB HURTS, OUR MEMBERS HURT. AND OBVIOUSLY, OUR FINANCES HURT. HE AND MANY OTHERS WANT TO SEE HER EXTRADITED TO FACE THE CHARGES, AND HER FORMER FRIENDS ALSO WANT TO SEE HER KIWI HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN MOVE HOME TO NEW ZEALAND. HOPING, PRAYING AND FINGERS CROSSED FOR HER TO HAVE HER DAY IN COURT TO EITHER DEFEND THE CHARGES OR ADMIT THE CHARGES. BUT POLICE TOLD NEWSHUB THEY WON'T BE SEEKING TO EXTRADITE HER. IS THERE ANY CHANCE DOWN THE TRACK SHE COULD BE EXTRADITED, ESPECIALLY IF ANY MORE INFORMATION COMES TO LIGHT? THAT WOULD DEPEND ON... POTENTIALLY ANY MORE CHARGES. FLINT IS REPORTEDLY LIVING IN BRIDGEND, WALES. HEYYY, MACARENA! NEWSHUB TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO TRACK HER DOWN THERE LAST WEEK. SHE HASN'T RESPONDED TO REPEATED REQUESTS FOR COMMENT. POLICE TODAY ACKNOWLEDGING NEWSHUB'S INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH UNCOVERED THE FRAUDULENT MEDICAL DOCUMENTS AND ANZ FRAUD. I'D JUST LIKE TO JUST PASS ON THANKS TO TV3 FOR ACTUALLY REPORTING ON THIS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET` GET HAVE THIS MATTER DEALT WITH AS QUICKLY AS IT HAS BEEN. BUT NOT AS QUICKLY AS FLINT LEFT THE COUNTRY IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, ABANDONING THE FAMILY HOME AND TWO DOGS.... AND LEAVING MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRAUMATISED BY HER ALLEGED LIES AND DECEIT. JULIET, DOES THE RUGBY CLUB STAND ANY CHANCE OF RECOUPING ANY OF THE MISSING MONEY? WHILE MICHAEL I ASKED POLICE TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T COMMENT ON THAT AT THIS STAGE THE RUGBY CLUB CHAIRS SAYS THE CLUB NEEDS DESPERATELY NEEDS AT LEAST SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK BUT THEY ARE HOPEFUL, SUMMER ARGUING THAT THE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN JUST AS HORRIFIC I TALKED TO MANY OF HER FORMER COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS OR PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT THEY WERE FRIENDS PEOPLE THAT STOOD BY HER FOR YEARS.. ONE OF THEM SAID TO ME, WHILE THE CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS ARE SHOCKING, WHAT IS MORE HORRIFIC TO THEM, IS THAT SHE HAS LIED TO HER FRIENDS FAMILY AND HER OWN CHILDREN, THAT SHE IS DYING OF CANCER. IT MAY NOT BE A CRIMINAL OFFENCEM BUT IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT IS DEVASTATED SO MANY PEOPLE. THANK YOU JULIA. THE HOUSING MINISTER HAS APOLOGISED TO HOME-BUYERS LEFT OUT-OF-POCKET AND STRESSED BY THE MESSY CUT-OFF OF THE FIRST HOME GRANT SCHEME. NEWSHUB CAN REVEAL THE GOVERNMENT'S CAVED TO PRESSURE AND WORKED UP A QUICK-FIX FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED POLICY CHANGE. POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH BROKE THIS STORY AND HAS THE EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENTS. BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF... IT'S BEEN QUITE A LONG COUPLE OF WEEKS. ...A LONG, STRESSFUL COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR SHARNAE, AFTER THE GOVERNMENT UNEXPECTEDLY CUT THE FIRST HOME GRANTS. SHE WAS ABOUT TO USE IT FOR HER DEPOSIT... I'VE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR BACK AROUND THE KO GRANTS AND WHETHER THEY'LL GO AHEAD OR NOT, SO THAT'S BEEN QUITE STRESSFUL. JUST YEAH, WAITING TO HEAR. SHE WAS RELYING ON $10,000 FOR HER DEPOSIT FOR A HOME SHE WAS PARTNERING WITH A CHARITY TO BUY... SHE HAD THE GRANT APPROVED, BUT HER SETTLEMENT DAY WAS PUSHED OUT. THE GRANT EXPIRED AND IT WAS SUDDENLY RIPPED AWAY. AFTER NEWSHUB REPORTED HER PLIGHT TWO WEEKS AGO... IT'S A HUGE SHOCK AND IT'S SO STRESSFUL. ...THE HOUSING MINISTER INTERVENED. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A SMALL ANOMALY THAT'S BEEN CREATED BY THE CLOSURE OF THE SCHEME. HE INSTRUCTED HOUSING OFFICIALS AT KAINGA ORA TO CREATE AN EXEMPTION SO THAT PEOPLE WHOSE GRANTS HAVE EXPIRED WHILE WAITING FOR A DELAYED SETTLEMENT DATE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE GRANT. THEY RE CONTACTING AFFECTED PEOPLE TODAY. WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERY PERSON HAS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO USE THE SCHEME, CAN USE IT. APPLICANTS WILL NEED TO MEET TWO CRITERIA CONSIDERED FOR AN EXEMPTION... WE'RE FIXING IT UP. AS LV MARTIN USED TO SAY, IT'S THE PUTTING RIGHT THAT COUNTS! SHARNAE SAYS SHE S GRATEFUL THEY VE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, BUT SHE SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS. INITIALLY, I WAS QUITE FRUSTRATED WITH HOW IT WAS HANDLED, WASN'T MUCH FORETHOUGHT TO THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE, QUITE DRAMATICALLY. I APOLOGISE TO THEM FOR THE SLIGHTLY MESSY END TO THE WAY THE SCHEME HAS HAPPENED. THE HOUSING MINISTER DIDN T HAVE A DEFINITIVE NUMBER OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTION BUT SAID 9 HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIS OFFICE DIRECTLY AND HE EXPECTED THERE TO BE MORE. ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THEY ARE ELIGIBLE MUST EMAIL KAINGA ORA BY NEXT FRIDAY TO BE CONSIDERED. JENNA LYNCH, NEWSHUB. A DAMNING INQUIRY INTO THE HANDLING OF THE WAIKERIA PRISON RIOT REVEALS SOME PRISONERS FEARED THEY WOULD BURN ALIVE. THE FIERY SIX-DAY RAMPAGE BY 17 PRISONERS IN 2020 DESTROYED THE HIGH-SECURITY PRISON NEAR TE AWAMUTU. THE REPORT FOUND THERE WERE... CORRECTIONS SAYS WHILE IT ACCEPTS ALMOST ALL OF THE 121 RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CHIEF INSPECTORATE, IT CAN'T GUARANTEE ANOTHER RIOT LIKE WAIKERIA WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. KAREN RUTHERFORD HAS THE DETAILS. IT WAS CHAOS AND LAWLESSNESS BEHIND THE WIRE ON A SCALE NEW ZEALAND HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. THE SPEED OF THE FIRE AND THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE TOP JAIL ` MANY OF THE PRISONERS CERTAINLY DESCRIBED FEELING HELPLESS AND HOPELESS, AND MANY REALLY THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DIE THAT DAY. IN A DAMNING REPORT OUT TODAY, CORRECTIONS' OWN WATCHDOG HAS FOUND A MINOR ARGUMENT OVER THE NON-RETURN OF A RAZOR IN A YARD SPARKED A LIVING HELL. CCTV CAMERAS WERE COVERED IN TOILET PAPER. PRISONERS SOAPED THEMSELVES TO RESIST REMOVAL FROM THE YARD. AND EVEN AFTER GUARDS REGAINED CONTROL, THE REPORT SAYS SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES WERE MISSED TO PREVENT THE SITUATION ESCALATING AGAIN. THE DEPARTMENT'S PREPAREDNESS FOR SUCH AN EVENT, AND RESPONSE TO, ABSOLUTELY NEEDED GREATER ATTENTION, GREATER RESOURCE, TRAINING, TACTICAL SKILL AND CAPABILITY. INTERAGENCY WORKING. SO THERE WAS MUCH TO LEARN. BY 9pm ON THE DAY THE RIOT BROKE OUT, 17 PRISONERS FROM SEVEN GANGS WERE RAMPAGING ON THE ROOF AS TOXIC SMOKE OVERWHELMED STAFF AND THE REMAINING 200 PRISONERS IN THEIR CELLS, THE LAST OF WHICH WERE ONLY EVACUATED AT 1am. MY GREATEST CONCERN ABOUT THIS WAS THE TIMING OF THE EVACUATION. I ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS REALLY TRAUMATIC. ERM, BUT IT WAS A DELIBERATE ACT BY 17 PEOPLE THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE PREDICTED TO THAT SCALE. THE REPORT FOUND UNDERLYING TENSIONS CAUSED THE RIOT, WITH PRISONERS... ARE WE BETTER PREPARED NOW? ABSOLUTELY. THE REPORT OUTLINES HOW PRISONERS GAINED ACCESS TO THE ARMOURY ` TO SHIELDS, HELMETS AND BOLT CUTTERS. SOME DONNED CORRECTIONS UNIFORMS, JUST TO CONFUSE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TARGETED TRAINING SPECIFICALLY ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS, HOW TO DEAL WITH MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISONERS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY LACKING. THE DEPARTMENT HAS THIS VIEW THAT ALL PRISONERS ARE EQUAL. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE NOT. THE CHIEF INSPECTOR MAKES 121 RECOMMENDATIONS. CORRECTIONS MUST REPORT BACK SIX-MONTHLY. WHAT I CAN'T SAY IS AN EVENT LIKE THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS THAT RISK THERE. BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE THIS AT THE LOWEST LEVEL AND RESPOND QUICKER IS FAR GREATER THAN IT WAS. AND THE MINISTER IS WATCHING. I'M SATISFIED THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING VERY WELL TO THE, UM, TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS INSIDE THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT. A REPORT WHICH, FOR PRISON BOSSES AND THEIR STAFF, COULD HAVE DO-OR-DIE CONSEQUENCES. KAREN IS WITH US NOW. KAREN, DO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS FEEL LIKE ENOUGH HAS BEEN DONE? THEY'RE WARY. THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIES IN THE LINE FOR SIX DAYS WHILE AWAKE AREA WAS BURNING SPEAKING TO SOME OF THEM TODAY ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN OFF WORK BECAUSE HE HAS SUCH BAN AND THAT ANXIETY CONTINUES TO AFFECT THEM SUMMER HEARTENED BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THINGS LIKE TRAINING HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE BETTER TRAINING FOR THOSE MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS. THERE HAS BEEN SOME WORK WITH THE PRISON NETWORK, MESH AND SECURITY AROUND THE PRISON IT'S HEARTENING TO SEE, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR. THE CHIEF INSPECTOR AT SAID THEY MUST IMPROVE THAT, PEPPER BOMBS RATHER THAN PEPPER SPRAY SOMETHING THEY CAN AS SHE DISTRIBUTE RIGHT ACROSS THE YARD RATHER THAN THE VULNERABLE WITH PEPPER SPRAY, THEY LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE WORK IN THAT REGARD. THANK YOU KAREN SO MUCH. TIME NOW FOR A RECAP OF THE DAY'S WEATHER. ANOTHER COLD START AND MILD DAY, HEATHER? THE USUAL INLAND SOUTHERN SPOTS WAKING UP IN THE NEGATIVES, BUT THEN DAYTIME TEMPS HIT WELL INTO THE HIGH TEENS AND EVEN 20s. APART FROM THAT, THE DAY WAS DULL. HARMLESS CLOUD, NO WIND, JUST A NARROW RAIN BAND THAT SWEPT OVER THE TARANAKI REGION AND A FEW SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND. ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUIET, BECAUSE IT ALL ENDS ON SUNDAY. DOZENS OF PEOPLE INCLUDING CHILDREN WERE KILLED IN AN AIRSTRIKE IN CENTRAL GAZA. ISRAEL CLAIMS THE SCHOOL WAS A HUB FOR HAMAS MILITANTS, BUT THE U.N. SAYS IT WAS HOUSING THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PALESTINIANS. A NEW STUDY CONFIRMS LONG-HELD SUSPICIONS THAT RETAILERS ARE STILL SELLING VAPES TO UNDER-18s. AND NO, THIS ISN'T A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. THE HARROWING LAMBORGHINI STUNT THAT COULD SEE AN INFLUENCER SPEND YEARS BEHIND BARS. U.S PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS DRAWN STRIKING PARALLELS BETWEEN THE CURRENT WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE BLOODSHED ON D-DAY. HE MADE THE REMARKS AS WORLD LEADERS GATHERED IN FRANCE TO MARK 80 YEARS SINCE THE NORMANDY LANDINGS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. IT IS A GREAT LEGEND OF D-DAY THAT A LONE PIPER STEPPED OFF HIS CRAFT, UNARMED AND UNPROTECTED, TO PLAY CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH THE HELL OF WAR. TODAY, THE WEIGHT OF THAT MOMENT, OF THAT DAY, ECHOED ACROSS THE BEACH ONCE MORE. THE LAST LIVING WITNESSES RETURNING TO THE BATTLEFIELD THAT HAS DEFINED THEIR LIVES. GROWING FEWER AND FRAILER EACH YEAR, FOR SOME, IT IS NOW TOO HARD TO TELL THEIR OWN STORY, SO THE LIKES OF JOE MINES (99) RELIED ON FAMOUS FRIENDS FOR HELP. I WAS 19 WHEN I LANDED, BUT I WAS STILL A BOY. I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAY. I WASN'T A MAN, I WAS A BOY, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WAR AND KILLING. I WAS LUCKY. YEAH, I HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF LUCK. AMONG CELEBRITY, ROYALTY AND PRESIDENTS, THERE WAS NO MISTAKING THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF THE DAY. LET US AFFIRM THAT WE WILL STRIVE TO LIVE BY THEIR EXAMPLE. LET US PRAY SUCH SACRIFICE NEED NEVER BE MADE AGAIN. BUT EVEN AS THOSE WORDS WERE UTTERED, A FRONTLINE RAGED NOT ALL THAT FAR AWAY. PRESIDENT ZELENSKY UNITING ON FAR TOO MUCH COMMON GROUND WITH THIS VETERAN, SHARING A HUG THAT KNOWS THE HORRORS OF HISTORY HAVE NOT REMAINED THERE. PRESIDENT PUTIN WAS NOT INVITED, BUT HIS PRESENCE ON THE CONTINENT WAS FRONT OF MIND. HISTORY TELLS US FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, COME HERE TO NORMANDY. THE PRICE OF UNCHECKED TYRANNY IS THE BLOOD OF THE YOUNG AND THE BRAVE. THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE NIGHTMARE OF D-DAY COULD SURELY NEVER HAVE IMAGINED HOW DIFFERENT THE RECEPTION WOULD BE 80 YEARS LATER. GOD BLESS YOU, SIR. THOUSANDS WAITED HOURS TO MEET THE HEROES OF THESE BEACHES... MERCI, MONSIEUR, MERCI. ...THANKING THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICE AND VOWING NEVER TO FORGET IT. THEY'RE MARVELLOUS. THEY'RE MARVELLOUS, ALL OF THEM, TO STAND HERE ALL THIS TIME AND TO SHAKE HANDS WITH ME. (ALL PLAY 'THE LAST POST') PRIVATE KEN HAY (98) USING WHAT WILL LIKELY BE HIS LAST VISIT TO THE BEACH HE FIRST ARRIVED ON AS A TEEN TO LEAD THE TIMELESS PROMISE. AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM, NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. IN LONDON, LISETTE REYMER, NEWSHUB. AND NEW ZEALAND MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY WITH A LONE PIPER PAYING TRIBUTE TO THAT SCOTTISH MUSICIAN, BILL MILLIN, WHO 80 YEARS AGO PIPED TROOPS FROM THE LANDING CRAFT. (PLAYS BAGPIPES) SALLY CRAIK WAS ONE OF 13 PIPERS AROUND THE WORLD TO PLAY IN HIS HONOUR. MILLIN DEFIED THE WAR OFFICE'S ORDERS PROHIBITING PIPERS FROM VENTURING ON TO THE FRONT LINES, REASONING THE COMMANDS HAD COME FROM ENGLAND, AND HE WAS SCOTTISH. A PROTESTOR HAS ADMITTED DOUSING ACTIVIST POSIE PARKER AND A SUPPORTER IN TOMATO JUICE DURING LAST YEAR'S 'LET WOMEN SPEAK' EVENT AT AUCKLAND'S ALBERT PARK. FOOTAGE FROM THE EVENT SHOWS ELIANA GOLBERSTEIN APPROACHING PARKER ON STAGE AND POURING RED LIQUID OVER HER HEAD. GOLBERSTEIN PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO CHARGES OF ASSAULT AT THE AUCKLAND HIGH COURT THIS MORNING. SHE WILL SEEK A DISCHARGE WITHOUT CONVICTION WHEN SHE'S SENTENCED IN SEPTEMBER. AN AUCKLAND MUM HAS TOLD NEWSHUB HER CHILD WAS JUST 12 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY WERE FIRST ILLEGALLY SOLD VAPES. IT COMES AS A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS HALF OF THE COUNTRY'S VAPE RETAILERS ARE NOT CHECKING IDs, AND SOME ARE STILL SELLING ILLEGAL STOCK. LEIGHTON HEIKELL REPORTS. THIS STASH IS JUST A FEW MONTHS WORTH OF DISPOSABLE VAPES... ...ALL CONSUMED BY YOUNG TEENS. AND THIS MUM, WHO WE'VE AGREED NOT TO IDENTIFY, COLLECTED THEM FROM HER CHILD AND THEIR FRIENDS. YES, KIDS GO THROUGH TRYING THINGS OUT, BUT THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY ADDICTED. HER CHILD STARTED VAPING SECRETLY AND WAS EVEN ABLE TO BUY THEM AT THE AGE OF JUST 12. ...AND LOOKED 12 AS WELL, SO THERE'S NO WAY THEY SHOULD'VE BEEN SOLD TO THEM. SHE'S ONE OF MANY PARENTS IN THIS SITUATION. WE HEAR STORIES EVERY DAY ABOUT CHILDREN WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO GIVE UP VAPES AND ABOUT STORES THAT ARE SELLING THEM ILLEGALLY. AND A STUDY RELEASED TODAY APPEARS TO BACK THAT UP... TO BE HONEST I WAS SURPRISED HOW BLATANT SOME OF THE BREACHES ARE. JUDE BALL WAS ONE OF THE STUDY'S AUTHORS. THEY USED A 20-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY SHOPPER TO VISIT 74 VAPE STORES IN THE WELLINGTON REGION. ANYONE WHO LOOKS UNDER 25 MUST BE ASKED FOR ID ON ENTRY, BUT HALF DIDN'T ASK. A FURTHER THIRD PROCEEDED TO SELL THEM WITHOUT ID AT ALL. I THINK THE STUDY REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE SYSTEM ISSUES WITH QUITE POOR PRACTICES. IT ALSO FOUND SOME SHOPS WERE SELLING VAPES THAT DON'T MEET THE NEW REGULATIONS SUCH AS HAVING TOO MUCH NICOTINE, NO CHILD LOCK OR REMOVABLE BATTERY. WELL THERE'S JUST VERY LITTLE ENFORCEMENT. IT JUST SHOWS THERE IS SUCH A FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR THE LAW THEY'RE CALLING FOR MORE ACTION... PLEASE, GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING. ...TO STOP TEENS FROM GETTING HOOKED ON VAPES AND SHOPS FROM GETTING AWAY WITH BREAKING THE RULES. LEIGHTON HEIKELL, NEWSHUB. NICKY'S IN LATER WITH SPORT, AND PLAYOFF TIME HAS ARRIVED IN SUPER RUGBY. THE CHIEFS HOSTING THE REDS IN TONIGHT'S FIRST QUARTER FINAL. IT'S A MATCH UP THE CHIEFS HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO DOMINATE IN RECENT TIMES, SO THE SCENE IS SET FOR A THRILLER. WE'RE LIVE TO HAMILTON SHORTLY. AND CO-HOSTS THE USA LIGHT UP THE T20 WORLD CUP WITH ONE OF THE GREAT UPSETS IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY. DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN AN AIRSTRIKE IN CENTRAL GAZA. THE U.N. SAYS THE SCHOOL BUILDING ISRAEL HIT WAS HOUSING THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PALESTINIANS. THE WINTER FLU SEASON HAS ARRIVED EARLY, AND IT'S WREAKING HAVOC IN THE CLASSROOM. WELLINGTON VAPE STORES HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OUT BY A YOUNG MYSTERY SHOPPER WHO TESTED THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. WHAT REALLY SURPRISED US WAS HOW BLATANTLY THE STORES WERE CONTINUING TO SELL PRODUCTS THAT WERE NOW ILLEGAL VERY CHEAPLY. FOR EXAMPLE ` TWO FOR 5 BUCKS. AT LEAST 35 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA AFTER ISRAELI MISSILES STRUCK A UN SCHOOL SHELTERING THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE. BUT ISRAELI FORCES CLAIM THE COMPLEX WAS BEING USED BY HAMAS FIGHTERS. AT LEAST ONE OF THE BOMBS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN U.S-MADE. A WARNING, ITV'S JOHN IRVINE'S REPORT HAS SOME UPSETTING PICTURES OF THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACK. THE DEAD ARE COVERED BY THE BLANKETS THEY SLEPT UNDER LAST NIGHT. THEY ARE VICTIMS OF A PRE-DAWN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE THAT ENDED UP BEING YET ANOTHER MASS CASUALTY EVENT FOR PALESTINIANS TRYING TO FIND REFUGE FROM A WAR THAT NEVER LEAVES ANYONE ALONE FOR LONG... REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE. THE BOMBS STRUCK THE TOP FLOORS ON ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF UNITED NATIONS SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOW SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS. THE UN SAYS 6000 PEOPLE WERE STAYING IN THIS ONE. THE ISRAELIS CLAIM THAT TERRORISTS WERE AMONG THEM. THE IDF SAYS IT CARRIED OUT A PRECISION STRIKE TARGETING A GROUP OF AT LEAST 20 HAMAS AND ISLAMIC JIHAD MILITANTS, SOME OF WHOM HAD TAKEN PART IN THE SADISTIC RAMPAGE THROUGH SOUTHERN ISRAEL ON OCTOBER THE 7TH. OUR PRECISE STRIKE WAS BASED ON CONCRETE INTELLIGENCE FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES. THE TERRORISTS INSIDE THE SCHOOL WERE PLANNING MORE ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAELIS, SOME OF THEM IMMINENT. ALLAHU AKBAR! CLAIMS REGARDING THE DEATH TOLL VARY, BUT IT APPEARS AT LEAST 30 WERE KILLED. THE HAMAS RUN HEALTH MINISTRY DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN COMBATANTS AND CIVILIANS, BUT OFFICIALS SAY 14 CHILDREN AND NINE WOMEN WERE AMONG THE DEAD. LAST WEEK A FIRESTORM KILLED AT LEAST 45 DISPLACED GAZANS AFTER AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE CLOSE TO A UN FACILITY OUTSIDE RAFAH. NOW ANOTHER SHELTER HAS SHOWN ITSELF TO BE ANYTHING BUT A SAFE HAVEN. IN GAZA, YOU CAN RUN FROM THE WAR, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE. SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE STARTING TO ROSTER STUDENTS HOME AS THE WINTER FLU SEASON STARTS TO BITE. MANY ARE ASKING DIFFERENT YEAR GROUPS NOT TO COME INTO THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE TOO MANY STAFF ARE OFF SICK AND THEY CAN'T FIND ENOUGH RELIEF TEACHERS. THE POST PRIMARY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION SAYS SOME SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE HAD UP TO 30 TEACHERS ON SICK LEAVE ON THE SAME DAY. PREVIOUSLY WHERE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SHUFFLE SOME TEACHERS WITHIN INSIDE YOUR SCHOOL, YOU HAVEN'T GOT THAT FLEXIBILITY ANY MORE, AND YOU ALSO DON'T HAVE THE RELIEVERS TO COME IN TO COVER THAT MANY ABSENCES. ABERCROMBIE SAYS WITH SO MANY SCHOOLS SHUTTING THEIR DOORS, STUDENTS' LEARNING WILL BE AFFECTED. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS MET WITH BUSINESS LEADERS AT A NEW ZEALAND-FIJI SUMMIT IN NADI ON THE LAST DAY OF HIS PACIFIC TRIP. HE'S SET OUT THE PATHWAY TO HIS NEW TARGET OF $2 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF TRADE WITH THE ISLAND NATION. POLITICAL REPORTER JAMIE ENSOR WAS THERE. A DELEGATION OF ABOUT 50 NEW ZEALAND BUSINESSES WERE AMONG THOSE ON DENARAU ISLAND TODAY FOR THE BUSINESS CONFERENCE. IT PROVIDED PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON WITH A PLATFORM TO EXPLAIN HOW HE BELIEVES THE TWO COUNTRIES CAN ACHIEVE THAT $2 BILLION TRADE TARGET BY 2030. HE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR OWN EDUCATION SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT GENERATION IS READY FOR BUSINESS. WE ARE BANG SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. WE HAVE ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WITH INCREDIBLE TALENT, AND THERE ARE NO REASONS WHY BOTH OUR COUNTRIES CAN'T DO EXCEPTIONALLY WELL FOR OURSELVES IN THE COMING DECADES. AND LUXON COULDN'T LEAVE FIJI WITHOUT STOPPING TO WATCH A GAME OF RUGBY FEATURING OUR DEFENCE FORCE, THOUGH HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO LACE UP HIS OWN BOOTS AND PARTICIPATE. I DID OFFER MY SERVICES, BUT THEY WERE VERY POLITELY DENIED AND I'M DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THAT. CHEERING FOR A BETTER RESULT FOR THE KIWIS IN THE RECENT FIJIAN DRUA VICTORY THAT ENDED THE CRUSADER'S PLAYOFF HOPES, SOMETHING THE FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER JOKINGLY JABBED AT 'SADERS FAN LUXON ABOUT THROUGHOUT THIS TRIP. FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NATURAL PARTNERS. SHARING A COMMON HISTORY ENCOMPASSING HERITAGE, CULTURE, SPORTS... AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANY MORE ABOUT THAT... A LITTLE BIT OF SPORTS POLITICS TO END LUXON'S FIRST TOUR OF THE PACIFIC. JAMIE ENSOR, NEWSHUB. HUNTER BIDEN'S FORMER PARTNER, WHO IS ALSO THE WIDOW OF HIS DEAD BROTHER, HAS TESTIFIED AT HIS GUN TRIAL. THE PRESIDENT'S SON IS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY OBTAINING A GUN BY FAILING TO DISCLOSE A DRUG ADDICTION. HALLIE BIDEN TOLD THE JURY THIS SECURITY VISION SHOWS HER THROWING AWAY THE GUN IN A SUPERMARKET CAR PARK AFTER FINDING IT IN HIS CAR ALONG WITH DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID TODAY IF HIS SON WAS CONVICTED, HE WOULD NOT PARDON HIM. A SEARCH IS UNDERWAY ON THE GREEK ISLAND OF SYMI FOLLOWING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CELEBRITY TV DOCTOR MICHAEL MOSLEY. POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE USING DRONES TO SCOUR THE ISLAND. THE INTERMITTENT FASTING GURU HASN'T BEEN SEEN FOR THREE DAYS AFTER SETTING OFF FOR A HIKE. MOSLEY'S CREDITED FOR THE RISING POPULARITY OF THE 5:2 DIET WHICH INVOLVES FASTING TWO DAYS A WEEK FOR ITS HEALTH BENEFITS. IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR SOMETHING EYE-CATCHING, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST TAXIDERMY AUCTIONS COULD BE FOR YOU, WITH HUNDREDS OF ITEMS UP FOR GRAB THIS WEEKEND. AND THE YOU TUBER FACING YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUNT THAT GAINED FOLLOWERS BUT ALSO CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF AUTHORITIES. WE'RE LIVE TO HAMILTON AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S FIRST SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC QUARTER FINAL. PLUS, KANE WILLIAMSON TALKS UP THE OPPOSITION FOR THE BLACKCAPS' OPENING GAME AT THE T20 WORLD CUP. AND THE TEARS FLOW AT ROLAND GARROS AS THE WOMEN'S SINGLES FINALISTS ARE FOUND AT THE FRENCH OPEN. THE SUPER RUGBY PLAYOFFS ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN WITH THE CHIEFS HOSTING THE REDS IN HAMILTON IN THE FIRST OF THE QUARTER FINALS. THE REDS HAVE PROVED A TOUGH ASK FOR THE TWO-TIME SUPER RUGBY WINNERS IN RECENT SEASONS, AND ARE HOPING TO UPSET THE ODDS TO REACH NEXT WEEKEND'S SEMI-FINALS. NATASHA PAYNE IS IN HAMILTON. TASH ` THIS IS A GENUINE TEST FOR CHIEFS, ISN'T IT? GOOD EVENING. YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT. OUT OF ALL THE QUARTER-FINALS, THIS IS MEANT TO BE THE TOUGHEST, THE CHIEFS FINISHING IN FOURTH PLACE WHILE THE REDS FINISHED IN SECOND PLACE. LIAM, WHAT MAKES THIS RED SIDE SO TOUGH? THEY ARE YOUNG EXCITING TEAM AND THEY PLAY WITH PASSION. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN NULLIFY THEM STRAIGHT AWAY. YOU PLAYED THEM IN ROUND THREE. THEY DID GET THE WIN. HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN TONIGHT? IT'S QUITE WARM HERE. HOPEFULLY THAT QUEENSLAND SUN WON'T BE HERE. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THE FANS TONIGHT? WE HAVE THE BEST FAN BASE IN THE WORLD. IT IS ALSO A PACKED OUT STADIUM. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THE CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND THE COWBELLS ARE COMING OUT. FINGERS CROSSED THEY CAN GET IT DONE. CO-HOSTS THE USA HAVE SENT A SHOCKWAVE THROUGH THE T20 WORLD CUP WITH A THRILLING UPSET WIN OVER PAKISTAN. BATTING FIRST, THE WORLD'S SIXTH-RANKED TEAM SCORED 159, WITH CAPTAIN BABAR AZAM TOP-SCORING WITH 44. THE AMERICANS MADE A GREAT START IN THE CHASE AND SET UP A GRANDSTAND FINISH, NEEDING 12 FROM THE LAST THREE BALLS. HE WANTS RUNS. HE NEEDS A BOUNDARY. THERE'S BEEN SO FEW OF LATE. AND IT CHANGES AGAIN. HERE WE GO. GOES STRAIGHT. (LAUGHS) THE SCORES ARE LEVEL. SO TO A SUPER OVER THEY WENT. THE USA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THREE EXTRA DELIVERIES TO FINISH WITH 18, BATTING FIRST. IN REPLY, PAKISTAN LOST A WICKET OFF THE FOURTH BALL AND NEEDED A SIX OFF THE LAST TO SCRAPE HOME. BRILLIANT EFFORT FROM KUMAR. NETRAVALKAR NEEDS TO KEEP SOMETHING BEHIND THE LINE. (CHEERING) THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE OF USA HAS OVERCOME THE 2022 FINALISTS! USA CLAIMING A FAMOUS WIN ` THEIR SECOND OF THE TOURNAMENT. THEY'RE NOW A STRONG CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR THE SUPER 8 IF THEY CAN WIN ONE OF THEIR FINAL TWO GAMES, STARTING WITH INDIA ON JUNE 13. THE BLACK CAPS WILL FINALLY GET THEIR T20 WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY IN GUYANA TOMORROW. THEIR PREPARATION HAS BEEN LESS THAN IDEAL, WITH NO WARM-UP MATCHES IN THE WEST INDIES AND A NUMBER OF THEIR IPL PLAYERS GIVEN LIMITED TIME IN THE MIDDLE. THEIR FIRST POOL MATCH IS NO EASY TASK EITHER, TAKING ON AFGHANISTAN, A TEAM ON THE RISE. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. IT'S BEEN A LONG WAIT FOR THE BLACKCAPS IN GUYANA. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 DAYS TRAINING, WHICH HAS BEEN NICE, AND THE TEAM ARE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING. THEY START WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MUST-WIN MATCH AGAINST AFGHANISTAN. AND THEY'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE, UM, TOP-LEVEL CRICKET. AND WE SAW AT THE LAST WORLD CUP HOW STRONG THEY WERE IN THE ODI FORMAT TOO. YES ` THE FORMER MINNOWS NOW ANYTHING BUT, TOPPLING ENGLAND, PAKISTAN AND ALMOST AUSTRALIA... THAT IS A CATCH! ...AT LAST YEAR'S TOURNAMENT. SUCH A SKILFUL TEAM. ONE OF THE BETTER BOWLING ATTACKS, I THINK, IN THE COMPETITION. AFGHANISTAN ALSO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF ACCLIMATISING TO CONDITIONS, HAVING ALREADY PLAYED A GAME. THE BLACKCAPS, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVEN'T EVEN MANAGED A WARM-UP MATCH. YEAH, I MEAN, WE'VE LOOKED TO PREPARE AS BEST WE CAN. OBVIOUSLY NO WARM UP-GAMES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO GET SOME TRAINING OUT, SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE, AND DO SOME SIMULATION STUFF. WHILE THEY MAY BE UNDERCOOKED, MANY IN THE TEAM DO HAVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE ON THE GUYANA WICKET TO CALL UPON. I GUESS YOU CAN'T LOOK PAST THE LIKES OF GLENN PHILLIPS, WHO'S HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, HE SCORED 100 AT THIS VERY GROUND. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S CERTAINLY SOMEONE THAT A LOT OF THE GUYS IN THE GROUP ARE CERTAINLY LEANING ON. AND DESPITE A TRICKY POOL, WHICH INCLUDES HOSTS WEST INDIES, THE BLACKCAPS HAVE MADE A HABIT OF GOING DEEP IN WORLD CUPS. ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD ALMOST ONE A YEAR FOR THE LAST WHILE, UM, IT'S STILL A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY AS A TEAM. HAVING FALLEN AT THE FINAL HURDLE ON THREE WORLD CUPS IN THE LAST DECADE, MAYBE THIS COULD FINALLY BE THE ONE. GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. THE TEARS WERE FLOWING AT THE FRENCH TENNIS OPEN OVERNIGHT AS THE WOMEN'S SEMI FINALS SERVED UP TWO RELATIVELY ONE-SIDED MATCHES. AMERICAN COCO GAUFF WAS LEFT CRYING AT THE BACK OF THE COURT AFTER THE CHAIR UMPIRE OVERRULED A SERVE FROM HER OPPONENT THAT WAS INITIALLY CALLED OUT. GAUFF WAS VISIBLY UPSET, ALTHOUGH THE MOMENT ULTIMATELY PROVED INCONSEQUENTIAL AS SHE WENT DOWN IN STRAIGHT SETS TO POLISH TOP SEED IGA SWIATEK. SECOND MATCH, SWIATEK. 20 STRAIGHT WINS AT ROLAND GARROS FOR IGA SWIATEK. SWIATEK WILL MEET ITALIAN 12TH SEED JASMINE PAOLINI IN SUNDAY'S FINAL, PAOLINI OVERCOMING RUSSIAN TEEN MIRRA ANDREEVA IN STRAIGHT SETS. SWIATEK WILL BE CHASING HER THIRD STRAIGHT FRENCH OPEN TITLE AND 5TH CAREER GRAND SLAM, WHILE PAOLINI'S INTO HER FIRST MAJOR FINAL AT THE AGE OF 28. RETURNING CELTICS STAR KRISTAPS PORZINGIS HAS INSPIRED BOSTON TO A 107-89 VICTORY OVER THE DALLAS MAVERICKS IN GAME ONE OF THE NBA FINALS. AFTER MISSING 10 GAMES THROUGH INJURY, THE TOWERING CENTRE MADE HIS IMPACT OFF THE BENCH, POURING IN 18 POINTS IN JUST 12 MINUTES TO HAND THE HOME SIDE A 63-42 HALFTIME LEAD. PORZINGIS POPS IT IN. GREAT STUFF, PORZINGIS. KNOCKING 'EM DOWN FROM EVERYWHERE. THE MAVERICKS CAME OUT STRONG IN THE THIRD QUARTER, CUTTING THE DEFICIT TO 8 POINTS THANKS LARGELY TO LUKA DONCIC, BUT WITH FIVE OTHER CELTIC PLAYERS REACHING DOUBLE FIGURES, BOSTON PULLED AWAY AGAIN TO CLAIM A BIG WIN AHEAD OF GAME TWO ON MONDAY. AND ` FUN FACT ` WINNERS OF GAME ONE GO ON TO WIN THE NBA TITLE OVER 70% OF THE TIME. UNLIKE THOSE ODDS. STRAIGHT TO THE TAB. AN AMERICAN YOUTUBER IS FACING FEDERAL CHARGES OVER A STUNT THAT INVOLVED TWO WOMEN IN A HELICOPTER SHOOTING FIREWORKS AT HIM WHILE HE DROVE A LAMBORGHINI. ALEX CHOI HAS AROUND 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS AND IS KNOWN FOR VIDEOS ABOUT CAR MODIFICATIONS AND DARING STUNTS. THE HELICOPTER VIDEO APPEARS TO HAVE BROKEN A NUMBER OF AVIATION AND EXPLOSIVES LAWS IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE CHOI WAS RELEASED ON BAIL THIS WEEK AFTER PAYING $50,000. HE WILL BE BACK IN COURT IN JULY. A RARE HUIA FEATHER, POLAR BEAR RUGS AND A CIRCUS LION'S SKULL ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF THE UNIQUE ITEMS UP FOR GRABS AT A DUNEDIN AUCTION HOUSE. THE TAXIDERMIED ANIMALS HAVE BEEN CATCHING THE EYE OF BIDDERS BOTH HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD, WITH ONE ITEM EVEN TIPPED TO BREAK A WORLD RECORD. LUCY THOMSON REPORTS. LIONS... LEOPARDS... AND BEARS. OH, MY! THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE 240 ITEMS GOING UNDER THE HAMMER AT ONE OF THE LARGEST TAXIDERMY AUCTIONS THE COUNTRY HAS SEEN. WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS A PLATYPUS SKIN. THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY RARE AND HARD TO COME BY. HANDED DOWN BY VARIOUS VENDORS, EACH PIECE HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE STORY. SO THIS IS ZAMBEZI. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A VENDOR, IS THE LAST CIRCUS LION THAT WAS IN NEW ZEALAND. BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. THE PIECES JUST KEEP GETTING, WELL, BIGGER... I THINK HE'S AROUND ABOUT 2.4M LONG... ...AND MORE IMPRESSIVE. THE HUI FEATHER IS THE MAIN STAR OF THE SHOW. THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL TO GET INTO AN AUCTION HOUSE. IT WAS PRESENTED TO FORMER PRIME MINISTER SIR WILLIAM HALL JONES IN THE EARLY 1900s. IT'S GOT A LOT OF PROVENANCE. YEAH, IT'S GOT THE ENVELOPE THAT IT WAS PRESENTED IN. AS FOR HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO GO FOR, REALLY... SKY'S THE LIMIT. LAST MONTH, A SIMILAR FEATHER OF THE EXTINCT HUIA SOLD AT WEBB'S AUCTION HOUSE IN AUCKLAND FOR JUST OVER $46,500. THE VENDOR HAS NO REAL EXPECTATIONS. LOOK, IF WE CAN BREAK A WORLD RECORD, WE CAN BREAK A WORLD RECORD. WE'D BE HAPPY WITH THAT. MOST OF THE ITEMS UP FOR SALE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL DECADES. WE'VE GOT A COLLECTION COME IN THROUGH GARY JOLL. SO HE'S BEEN HUNTING FOR THE LAST 70 ODD YEARS. AND HE HAD A COLLECTION OF ABOUT 90 TO 100 HEADS. AND IT'S RONNIE PROCTOR'S HOPE THEY'LL BE SOLD AND ENJOYED BY OTHERS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. HOME DECORATORS, COLLECTORS, BARS, RESTAURANTS AND THAT KIND OF THING. MUSEUMS SOMETIMES COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND BUY THINGS. A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. AND PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. SO IF YOU'RE PLANNING A BEAR HUNT AND YOU WANT TO CATCH A BIG ONE, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO MUCH FURTHER THAN CENTRAL DUNEDIN. LUCY THOMPSON, NEWSHUB. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` PRODUCER SUGGESTED WE GET A TAXIDERMY BADGER FOR THE STUDIO. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON THE HOP BY A SUDDEN POLICY CHANGE IN AUSTRALIA THAT COULD SEE MORE 501 DEPORTEES COMING OUR WAY AGAIN. AN ARREST WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NICOLA FLINT, THE WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE A SIX FIGURE SUM FROM THE CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CLUB THEN FLED TO THE UK. A DAMNING INQUIRY INTO THE HANDLING OF THE WAIKERIA PRISON RIOT REVEALS SOME PRISONERS FEARED THEY WOULD BURN ALIVE. THE FIERY SIX-DAY RAMPAGE BY 17 PRISONERS IN 2020 DESTROYED THE HIGH SECURITY PRISON NEAR TE AWAMUTU. COMING UP, NEWSHUB WEATHER ` AND IT'S ALL ABOUT TO TURN, HEATHER? THE WEEKEND CERTAINLY DOESN'T END THE WAY IT STARTS. AN ACTIVE FRONT HITS ON SUNDAY FOLLOWED BY A COMPLEX TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE. SO, AT LEAST TWO DAYS OF STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN. AT THIS STAGE ONLY A FEW WATCHES ARE IN PLACE. THIS IS LIKELY TO CHANGE WITH MORE ADDED AND/OR UPGRADED TO WARNINGS TOMORROW. IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. NOT A BAD START TO THE WEEKEND ` IT DOESN'T END WELL, BUT IT STARTS OK. LOTS OF CAPITAL H's. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF US TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, BUT BY THE END OF PLAY TOMORROW IS DRIFTING EAST. THE FRONT UP TOP CONTINUES TO HOVER JUST TO THE NORTHWEST WHILE ANOTHER WEAK SLOW-MOVING FRONT LINGERS TO THE SOUTH. TOMORROW, WE WILL SEE THIS LOW DEEPEN AND START TO HEAD OUR WAY. THIS WILL BE THE NEXT TROUBLEMAKER. SO, KNOWING WHAT'S COMING, THIS PICTURE IS BLISS. FINE AND DRY AND CALM FOR ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE SOUTH OVERNIGHT. JUST OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR FIORDLAND AND ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH. TOMORROW, SOME MORNING CLOUD FOR THE SOUTHEAST. THAT CLEARS. PATCHY DRIZZLE FURTHER NORTH OUT EAST BUT CLEARING, AND THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS POPPING UP OUT WEST BY TOMORROW NIGHT. STILL QUITE CLOUDY FOR THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT. OCCASIONAL RAIN TOO FOR NORTHLAND AND TARANAKI AND ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR AUCKLAND AND THE COROMANDEL. TOMORROW, THE SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND TURN TO SCATTERED RAIN LATER IN THE DAY. ANY MORNING SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHWEST CLEAR TOO. AND APART FROM EAST TO NOR'EAST WINDS UP TOP, MOST OF THE ISLAND IS CALM. SO A CLOUDY MORNING HERE WITH ODD SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA AND WHANGREI. EASTERLIES UP TOP AND FOR WHITIANGA, NOR'EASTERS FOR AUCKLAND AND THE COROMANDEL. FOG FOR ROTORUA AND POSSIBLY TOKOROA AND TAUPO. CLOUD CLEARS EVERYWHERE FOR A GREAT AFTERNOON, BUT RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT EVERYWHERE AS WELL. WINDS ARE LIGHT. CLOUDY IN THE SOUTH FIRST THING, EVENTUALLY IT CLOUDS OVER, HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE, BUT NOT TILL THE AFTERNOON. SOUTHERLIES UP TOP AND SOU'WESTERS FOR HAWKE'S BAY AND MORE FOG FOR TAUMARANUI IN THE MORNING. MOST WILL JUST HAVE A FEW CLOUDS, BUT THE RISK IS THERE OF MORNING SHOWERS. AFTERNOON IS GREAT, WITH LIGHT WINDS. FOGGY FIRST UP IN THE SOUTH TOO FOR REEFTON. EVERYONE ELSE WAKES TO FINE AND CALM CONDITIONS. CLOUD INCREASES FROM THE SOUTH IN THE AFTERNOON, AND MAY LEAD TO EVENING SHOWERS. A GREY AND BLEAK START TO SATURDAY OUT EAST, WITH PATCHY DRIZZLE. UNLESS YOU'RE IN BLENHEIM, THEN YOU'RE FINE. NOREASTERS DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON FROM KAIKOURA SOUTH AND TOMORROW'S NOT BAD FOR THE LOWER REGIONS... MORNING CLOUD, MAYBE WITH EARLY SHOWERS FOR SOUTHLAND, THEN IT'S GOOD FOR THE ARVO, BEFORE CLOUD RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT. SO CLOUD DEVELOPS OVERNIGHT FOR DUNEDIN AND HANGS AROUND ALL MORNING. IT CLEARS IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH LIGHT WINDS AND NOREASTERS NEAR THE COAST. A FEW SHOWERS THOUGH FOR THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. GREY FOR CHRISTCHURCH. NO WIND THOUGH, BUT THE CHANCE OF DRIZZLE. NOR'EASTERLIES DEVELOP DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH A FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF 9. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH ISOLATED MORNING SHOWERS FOR THOSE NORTH OF WELLINGTON CITY, BUT THE AFTERNOON IS CLEAR EVERYWHERE, WITH A SOUTHERLY WHICH EASES TOMORROW NIGHT. MAINLY FINE FOR YOU, HAWKE'S BAY. ANY CLOUD ARRIVES IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU WILL HAVE A SOU'WESTERLY BREEZE, JUST FOR A TIME IN THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. FINE AROUND TAURANGA, A LOVELY MILD HIGH TOO, OF 18 DEGREES. THERE WILL BE MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD, BUT WINDS ARE LIGHT ALL DAY LONG. HAMILTON, YOU'LL WAKE TO SOME CLOUD BUT IT'S GONE BY THE AFTERNOON, WITH JUST LIGHT WINDS FOR THE DAY. TOMORROW NIGHT A NOR'EASTERLY DEVELOPS. CLOUDY PERIODS AROUND AUCKLAND AGAIN, BUT NOT QUITE AS BLEAK AS TODAY. NOR'EASTERLIES DEVELOP FROM MIDDAY BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT COLD. TO OZ - ANOTHER DAY OF SHOWERS FOR PERTH AND SYDNEY AND CANBERRA, AND NOW IT'S MELBOURNE'S TURN TOO. BUT IT'S RARE AT THE MOMENT TO SAY THIS ` NO SHOWERS OR RAIN OR THUNDERSTORMS FOR ANY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. BACK HOME, AND EARLIER IN THE WEATHER I WARNED THAT THIS WEEKEND DOESN'T END WELL. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A RATHER ACTIVE FRONT HEADING OUR WAY. THIS MOVES OVER MOST OF NEW ZEALAND, FROM THE WEST DURING SUNDAY AND MONDAY, THEN THE FRONT IS FOLLOWED BY A COMPLEX TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE THE ONLY UPSHOT IS THAT THE FRONT IS LEAD BY A STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW, SO NOT COLD. VERY MILD, UP TOP AND OUT EAST. SNOW, THOUGH, IS POSSIBLE TO 600M IN THE FAR SOUTH ON MONDAY, AND TEMPS START TO PLUMMET FROM TUESDAY. THE CURRENT RAIN-WATCHES OUT THANKS TO THIS SYSTEM ARE LIKELY TO BE UPGRADED TO WARNINGS. WE'LL KNOW MORE TOMORROW. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6 FOR TODAY. YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT NEWS@NEWSHUB.CO.NZ. - I'M MICHAEL MORRAH. - AND I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024