BASHED WITH A METAL BAR ON A BUS ` A SCHOOLBOY SAYS HE WAS THE VICTIM OF A RACIST ATTACK AND THAT THE DRIVER DID NOTHING TO HELP. FROM NEXT YEAR, PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS WILL HAVE TO SIT STANDARDISED TESTS TO MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS ` WHY CRITICS SAY IT WON'T IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENT. AND NEW DATA CASTS LIGHT ON THE LARGE NUMBER OF PROTECTED SPECIES BEING KILLED BY COMMERCIAL FISHERS, BUT IS IT JUST THE TIP OF THE ICERBERG? CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH AND TUI TIPENE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. A 16-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLBOY SAYS HE NO LONGER FEELS SAFE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AFTER WHAT HE SAYS WAS A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED ATTACK ON AN AUCKLAND BUS LAST WEEK. HE LOST THREE TEETH AFTER A WOMAN HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH A METAL POLE. HIS PARENTS, WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH A $6000 DENTAL BILL, WERE VISIBLY UPSET AS THEIR SON SAID HE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THE BUS DRIVER. AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS, THE TRANSPORT MINISTER IS NOW SEEKING ASSURANCES FROM AUCKLAND TRANSPORT THAT APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED. WIPING AWAY HER TEARS, HAND ON HER HEART, THE MOTHER OF 16-YEAR-OLD JASON STOOD BESIDE HIM TODAY AS HE RECALLED BEING ATTACKED WITH A METAL POLE BY A WOMAN ON A BUS IN AUCKLAND LAST FRIDAY, VERBALLY ABUSING AND SAYING RACIAL SLURS. I HAVE A FACIAL WOUND FROM MY NOSE ALL THE WAY TO ABOUT OVER HERE, AND I HAD THREE TEETH COMPLETELY KNOCKED OUT. HIS FAMILY MOVED TO NEW ZEALAND FROM CHINA SEVEN YEARS AGO. THEY'RE NOW LEFT WITH A $6,000 DENTAL BILL. ACC AND OUR PERSONAL INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER TEETH. JASON'S MOTHER WAS VISIBLY UPSET AS SHE SHARED PICTURES OF HER SON'S BABY TEETH. SHE SAID, AS A MUM, I'M VERY PRECIOUS ABOUT HIM AND HIS TEETH AND HIS CONFIDENCE. NATIONAL MP NANCY LU HAS BEEN ASSISTING THE FAMILY. THEY JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT... YOU KNOW, IS HAPPENING IN NEW ZEALAND. DO YOU STILL FEEL SAFE WHEN YOU GET ON THE BUS? NO. NO. I FEEL VERY FEARFUL. JASON SAYS IF IT WASN'T FOR A 75-YEAR-OLD MAN ON THE BUS WHO CAME TO HIS AID, HIS INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. IT'S VERY NERVOUS TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU GUYS, BUT, UH... MAYBE, WHO KNOWS? MAYBE BECAUSE OF ME, NEXT TIME, WHEN INCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, THERE WILL BE ONE MORE PERSON WHO STANDS UP. THE ALLEGED OFFENDER GOT OFF THE BUS AT THIS BUS STATION ON WILLIAMS AVE IN PAKURANGA JASON SAYS HE YELLED OUT TO THE BUS DRIVER TO NOT LET HER OFF, BUT SHE MANAGED TO GET AWAY AND SO FAR HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT. THIS BUS DRIVER DID NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND DID NOT OFFER ANY HELP. I WANT ASSURANCES THAT THE APPROPRIATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED, AND IF THERE'S A NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THAT REGARD, I WANT TO HAVE THAT LOOKED AT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. JASON'S PARENTS AGREE, BUT THROUGH THEIR INTERPRETER, THEY WANTED TO SHARE ANOTHER MESSAGE ` HOW EXTREMELY PROUD THEY ARE OF THEIR SON. ZANE JOINS US LIVE NOW ` KIA ORA, HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING MORE FROM AUTHORITIES? THIS AFTERNOON I HEARD FROM THE POLICE, THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING BUT NO ARREST HAS BEEN MADE. ORGAN TRANSPORT TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT COMMENT WHILE THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IS STILL GOING, BUT THEY DID POINT OUT THAT BUS DRIVERS THEMSELVES ARE FACING A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN ATTACKS, DATA SHOWS THAT ATTACKS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED ON BUS DRIVERS IN TWO YEARS. WAYNE BROWN HAS ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR PLASTIC SCREENS AT THE FRONT OF BUSES TO PROTECT DRIVERS FROM POTENTIAL ATTACKS. SIMEON BROWN HAS ASKED ORGAN TRANSPORT TO REVIEW THEIR SAFETY PROTOCOLS, IN THE MINISTRY HAS TOLD ME THAT THAT WORK IS BEING MADE A PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL SOON FACE STANDARDISED TESTING AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MISSION TO IMPROVE EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT. FROM NEXT YEAR, ALL YEAR ONE STUDENTS WILL DO A PHONICS CHECK AFTER 20 WEEKS AT SCHOOL, AND THEN AGAIN AFTER 40 WEEKS TO HELP TEACHERS UNDERSTAND HOW WELL A CHILD CAN READ WORDS BY SOUNDING OUT LETTERS. PROGRESS MONITORING ON READING, WRITING AND MATHS WILL BE INTRODUCED TWICE A YEAR FOR CHILDREN IN YEARS THREE THROUGH TO EIGHT. THE EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS THE TESTS WILL HELP IDENTIFY WHICH CHILDREN ARE FALLING BEHIND, AND WILL KEEP PARENTS INFORMED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING. BUT LABOUR AND THE TEACHERS' UNION HATE THE IDEA, SAYING MORE TESTS WON'T IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENT BUT WILL INCREASE ANXIETY IN CHILDREN INSTEAD. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER AMELIA WADE. THE PRIME MINISTERIAL ATTEMPT TO BE DOWN WITH THE KIDS. NEVER GIVE UP` GIVE UP. (LAUGHTER) YOU GOT IT GOING ON, MAN. THAT'S GOOD, BROTHER. IF IN DOUBT, CRANK OUT THE CROC CHAT. I'VE GOT` I'VE GOT CROCS FLIP-FLOPS. OH. YEAH. OH. WHERE DO YOU GET CROCS FROM? HOW COME YOU GOT NO JIBBITZ, MAN? ENOUGH ABOUT 'GIBLETS' ` CHRISTOPHER LUXON GETTING MOVED ON TO GET TO THE POINT OF THE VISIT. LAST YEAR, ABOUT 11,000 KIDS LEFT SCHOOL WITHOUT GAINING A SECONDARY QUALIFICATION, AND UNDER OUR GOVERNMENT, THAT CHANGES. THE ETHOS OF MANDATORY TESTING IS YOU CAN'T MANAGE WHAT YOU CAN'T MEASURE ` AND CURRENTLY, THE EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE SAYS ONLY ABOUT 50% OF SCHOOLS ARE USING THE GOLD STANDARD OF TESTS, AND THAT IS FRUSTRATING PARENTS. MY MESSAGE TO PARENTS IS SIMPLE ` YOU ARE GOING TO KNOW MORE EVERY YEAR ABOUT HOW YOUR CHILD IS DOING AT SCHOOL. THE FIRST TEST WILL BE PHONETICS, WHICH IS WHAT THESE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING. SNOWFLAKE. CHILDREN: SNOWFLAKE. SNOW... FLAKE. KIDS WILL THEN BE TESTED ON THEIR READING, WRITING AND MATHS TWICE A YEAR. SCHOOLS WILL BE GIVEN A CHOICE OF TOOLS TO USE ` EITHER E-ASTTLE OR PATS. EITHER E-ASTTLE OR PATs. NOW, MOST TEACHERS WILL BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THESE TOOLS, BUT NOT ALL SCHOOLS USE THEM CONSISTENTLY. WE'VE ALL REALLY WANTED A BIT MORE CONSISTENCY, BUT WE DON'T WANT NATIONAL TESTING, SO THIS IS A NICE HALFWAY MEASURE. BUT THE TEACHERS' UNION HAS CONCERNS. THE TESTS LOOK LIKE THE OLD LOATHED AND SCRAPPED NATIONAL STANDARDS IN DISGUISE, AND SAYS WHAT SCHOOLS NEED IS MORE RESOURCES. THE DATA HAS BEEN CLEAR ` THERE'S A GROWING NEED IN SCHOOLS FOR MORE SUPPORT, MORE PEOPLE TO HELP TEACHERS, MORE SPECIALISTS IN SCHOOLS. WE CAN'T CUT OUR WAY TO IMPROVING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS. WHEN IT BECOMES A HIGH-STAKES, NATIONALISED TEST, THAT DOES BECOME MORE PROBLEMATIC. YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BRING THE BEST OUT OF EVERY CHILD. LABOUR SAYS CHILDREN COULD BE HAMMERED BY A ONE-SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH. YOU DON'T WANT TO BEND IT ON TELEVISION OR ANYTHING, EH? ONCE YOU COLLECT THE DATA, IF THEY CREATE A NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION TOOL, THEN THAT BECOMES PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA, AND THE GOVERNMENT WON'T NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT DATA AT THAT POINT. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO USE ASTTLE TO CREATE LEAGUE TABLES, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE PICKED THE TESTS THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR INTENTION TO PIT SCHOOLS AGAINST EACH OTHER. BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR TO SEE IF THEY KEEP THAT PROMISE. SO, AMELIA, WHY THE WAIT? BECAUSE NOT EVERY SCHOOL IS USING THESE TESTS, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GIVE SCHOOLS TIME AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SO THEY CAN LEARN THE SYSTEMS AND THEY ARE READY TO GO FOR NEXT YEAR, THE EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, THERE WILL BE MORE CHECKS AROUND MILESTONES SO CHILDREN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK AND REPORTS WILL BE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. ERICA STANFORD SAYS EQUITY IS THAT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING SHE DOES AS A MINISTER BUT THE DEVIL WILL BE IN THE DETAIL AS TO WHETHER THIS PLAYS OUT IN AN URGENT GOVERNMENT INQUIRY IS UNDERWAY INTO WAIROA'S FLOODING AFTER THE REGIONAL COUNCIL FAILED TO DIG A CHANNEL IN THE RIVER BAR AHEAD OF A MASSIVE STORM. 400 PROPERTIES WERE DAMAGED, AND THE FURIOUS MAYOR TOLD NEWSHUB HE WANTED AN INQUIRY. AS ALEXA COOK REPORTS, HE'S RELIEVED THE MINISTER'S LISTENED AND ACTED. TRUCK BY TRUCK, THE NEVER-ENDING CLEAN-UP CONTINUES. AS THE MINISTER HEADS BACK INTO TOWN BEARING GOOD NEWS... THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO DO A RAPID REVIEW, OVER THE NEXT MONTH. ...TO INVESTIGATE WHY WAIROA WENT UNDER WATER. WE WANT THAT REVIEW FINISHED IN A MONTH, IT'S GOT TO BE DONE QUICKLY. IT'S GOING TO BE FOCUSED PRIMARILY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT RIVER-MOUTH. THIS IS GREAT AND IT NEEDS TO BE AN ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENT ONE, DONE COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNCIL AND HAWKE'S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL. WAIROA'S LARGE RIVER WINDS ITS WAY OUT TO SEA THROUGH A NARROW OPENING. THE RIVER BAR IS TO THE NORTH, AND IN WEATHER EVENTS THE REGIONAL COUNCIL DIGS A CHANNEL THROUGH IT SO THE RIVER CAN FLOW OUT MORE EASILY. BUT THIS TIME, THEY WERE TOO SLOW TO ACT - THE RIVER BACKED UP AND FLOODED 400 PROPERTIES. OOH, LOOK AT THAT WATER! OOH! 120 HOMES ARE NOW TOO UNSAFE TO LIVE IN. EVERYONE'S PRETTY MAD ABOUT IT ` THE LOCALS KNEW WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. EVEN THE CONTRACTOR WHO'S BEEN DIGGING THE RIVER BAR FOR 30 YEARS, IS CRITICAL OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL'S INACTION. YOU CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO RESPOND WHEN THE STORM STARTS ` THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS. THE GOVERNMENT'S GIVING WAIROA A FURTHER $500,000 TO SUPPORT ITS RECOVERY. THE INQUIRY WILL LOOK AT WHETHER THERE WAS ADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE RIVER BAR, IF CORRECT DECISIONS WERE MADE IN A TIMELY WAY, AND IF ANY OTHER ACTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO SAVE THE TOWN. YEAH, WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE REVIEW ` I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S REALLY GOOD PRACTICE AFTER AN EVENT LIKE THIS. ALTHOUGH THEY'VE ALREADY BEGUN THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS. IF YOU DO YOUR OWN REVIEW, IT'S A BIT LIKE MARKING YOUR OWN HOMEWORK - YOU'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO ACHIEVE MUCH, ARE YOU? BUT WE WILL COLLABORATE REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT. AND THERE'S A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY, WITH THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY SAYING THE REVIEW'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE HAWKE'S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL NEXT MONTH SO THAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE QUICKLY AS THE TOWN OF WAIROA IS STILL AT RISK. IF IT RAINS TOMORROW, WE'VE GOT NO... WE'VE GOT NO REASON TO THINK IT WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT. AND MORE FLOODING IS THE LAST THING THEY NEED. ALEXA COOK, NEWSHUB. JAMAICA IS BRACING ITSELF FOR A HURRICANE THAT'S NOW KILLED 7 PEOPLE AND IS HARDLY LESSENING IN STRENGTH. IT'S ALREADY FLATTENED MANY OF THE SMALLER ISLAND NATIONS IN ITS PATH, AND EXTRA FLIGHTS ARE BEING LAID ON TO EVACUATE VISITORS FROM JAMAICA. CBS'S TOM HANSON REPORTS. IT IS SHEER DESTRUCTION ACROSS THE WINDWARD ISLANDS. IN GRENADA, HURRICANE BERYL SLAMMED INTO THE COUNTRY MONDAY, PACKING HEAVY RAIN AND 150MPH WINDS. 95% OF THE SMALL ISLAND OF CARRIACOU NOW UNRECOGNISABLE. THE SITUATION IS GRIM. THERE IS NO POWER. THERE'S ALMOST COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES AND BUILDINGS ON THE ISLAND. BERYL MADE LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY FOUR STORM, LEAVING A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION IN SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, RIPPING HOMES TO SHREDS. HURRICANE BERYL JUST LEFT IN ITS WAKE IMMENSE DESTRUCTION. OVERNIGHT, BERYL INTENSIFIED INTO A MONSTER CATEGORY-FIVE HURRICANE. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A STORM THIS STRONG THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON. UNUSUALLY WARM OCEAN WATER IN THE MID- TO UPPER 80s IS FUELLING THIS MASSIVE STORM, NOW TAKING AIM TO CLOSE TO 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. RESIDENTS ON GRAND CAYMAN WAITED IN LINES AS LONG AS THREE HOURS STOCKING UP ON GROCERIES. AND A SIMILAR SCENE IN MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, WHERE PEOPLE ARE SNAPPING UP WATER AND OTHER ESSENTIALS, PREPARING FOR BERYL'S WRATH, WHICH COULD BRING CATASTROPHIC WINDS AND UP TO A FOOT OF RAIN. NEW DATA HAS GIVEN DETAILED INSIGHT INTO THE NUMBER OF PROTECTED SPECIES BEING KILLED BY COMMERCIAL FISHERS. 160 ALBATROSS, 24 FUR SEALS AND SIX HECTOR'S DOLPHINS WERE KILLED IN THREE MONTHS THIS YEAR. THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES SAID THE ESTIMATED FIGURES ARE 'EXPECTED, BUT A LEADING ACADEMIC ARGUES IT'S JUST THE 'TIP OF THE ICEBERG'. INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MORRAH HAS THE STORY. THEY'RE ONE OF THE WORLD'S SMALLEST DOLPHINS AND ONLY FOUND IN NEW ZEALAND. FROM JANUARY TO MARCH 31ST THIS YEAR, SIX HECTOR'S DOLPHINS WERE KILLED IN TRAWL NETS. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE REPORTED NUMBER OF HECTOR'S DOLPHIN CAPTURES. UM, AGAIN IN LINE WITH THE NUMBERS WE EXPECT. EMERITUS PROFESSOR LIZ SLOOTEN NOTES ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF VIDEO FROM CAMERAS ON VESSELS IS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED. THIS IS REALLY STILL THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THIS IS NOT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLPHIN DEATHS IN THAT THREE-MONTH PERIOD. THE SIX DOLPHINS WERE CAUGHT OFF TIMARU AND BANKS PENINSULA, BUT THE LIMIT FOR TIMARU IS 12 HECTOR'S DOLPHINS AND IN BANKS PENINSULA, IT'S 20. THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH HOW THESE LIMITS ARE SET, AND EVEN MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ONCE THE LIMITS ARE REACHED ` WHAT IS THEN ACTUALLY DONE? IF TOO MANY ARE CAUGHT, OPTIONS CAN INCLUDE RESTRICTIONS ON THE TYPE OF FISHING OR AN ENTIRE FISHERY CAN BE SHUT. FISHERIES NEW ZEALAND SAYS THE SCIENCE BEHIND MORTALITY LIMITS IS ALWAYS BEING REVIEWED. ALONG WITH THE DOLPHINS... WHENEVER YOU'RE IN A WILDLIFE INDUSTRY, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE TRADE-OFFS. AND SURE, SOME CRITTERS ARE GOING BY THE WAY WE ARE MAKING CHANGES. MPI SAYS IT'S BEEN A BUSY SEASON FOR LONG-LINERS, TARGETING BLUEFIN TUNA, AND THOSE VESSELS ALSO RECENTLY HAD CAMERAS INSTALLED. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THOSE TWO THINGS, WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE REPORTED CAPTURES OF SEABIRDS. SO CAMERAS ON VESSELS HAVE IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY AND THE DATA THE MINISTRY HAS. 150 VESSELS ALREADY HAVE THEM. ANOTHER 80 TO 90 WILL HAVE THEM BY FEBRUARY 2025. THE MINISTER IS REVIEWING THE CAMERA PROGRAMME, BUT HAS RULED OUT MEDDLING WITH PROGRESS TO DATE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO AGENDA OR AUTHORITY TO STRIP CAMERAS OFF BOATS WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLED. CAMERAS ON BOATS WILL REMAIN. SO A SOFTENING OF THE MINISTER'S STANCE. BUT THE CAMERA SAGA ISN'T OVER YET. SO, MICHAEL WHEN WILL WE KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE IS FOR CAMERAS? I HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A DECADE, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DELAYS, SOME DUE TO INTERFERENCE BY NEW ZEALAND FIRST, THE KEY THING THAT SHANE JONES IS WORRY ABOUT IS THE COST OF CAMERAS AND PRIVACY, HE DOESN'T WANT TO PUNISH FISHERS TOO SEVERELY. I DON'T THINK THIS RESULT IN A MASSIVE OVERHAUL ` THE MINISTER IS ALSO CONSTRAINED BY HIS CABINET COLLEAGUES WHO WANT CAMERAS, AND IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT MOST OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY. IN THE MINISTER'S WORDS, HE IS CRACKING THE WHIP, AND WANTS A PAPER IN THE NEXT MONTH OUTLINING ANY CHANGES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED KAINGA ORA WILL NOT BE BUILDING ANY EXTRA STATE HOUSES AFTER JUNE NEXT YEAR. KAINGA ORA CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 3800 HOMES UNDER CONTRACT, BUT ANY HOUSES DUE TO BE DELIVERED AFTER THAT WILL NOT GO AHEAD UNLESS THEY REPLACE EXISTING DWELLINGS. HOUSING MINISTER CHRIS BISHOP HAS ALSO APPOINTED A NEW BOARD AND SENT THEM A LETTER OF EXPECTATION WHICH STATES THAT KO SHOULD OPERATE IN A FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE DAY'S WEATHER ` AND WINTER IS IN FULL SWING? YES, VERY COLD,, FOGGY AND FROSTY ALL OVER THE SHOW. IN FACT FOG WAS STILL LINGERING AROUND OVER TAUMARUNUI AND MURCHISON AT 11AM. TONIGHT ` CALM, FROSTY, FOGGY, ALL THANKS TO A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS IF YOU'RE HEADING TO THE MOUNTAINS. ALL THE RECENT SNOW AND VERY COLD AIR HAS MADE FOR A VERY LOVELY START TO THE SEASON AND THE UPCOMING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. I'VE GOT DETAILS AFTER SPORT. JOE BIDEN IS UNDER NEW PRESSURE TO QUIT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE ` DEMOCRATIC DISQUIET SPREADS OVER BIDEN'S DEBATE PERFORMANCE, AND SOME WANT HIM OUT THIS WEEK. NEW RESEARCH REVEALS HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR EATING DISORDERS SPIKED DURING THE PANDEMIC, WITH TWO GROUPS OVER-REPRESENTED. AND BOJO'S BACK ` BORIS JOHNSON MAKES A LATE APPEARANCE ON THE UK CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THE FIRST SITTING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAS BROKEN RANKS, PUBLICLY CALLING FOR JOE BIDEN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. THE WHITE HOUSE IS CONTINUING TO BLAME A COLD, AND A BAD NIGHT FOR BIDEN'S DISASTROUS DEBATE PERFORMANCE. BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED A GROWING SENSE OF PANIC AMONG DEMOCRATS, WITH A POLL SHOWING ONE IN THREE WANT HIM TO STAND ASIDE. ALICE WILKINS REPORTS. HITTING OUT AT DONALD TRUMP OVER CLIMATE CHANGE... MY PREDECESSOR AND THE MAGA REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE TRYING TO UNDO ALL THIS PROGRESS. BUT TODAY, SOME OF JOE BIDEN'S FELLOW DEMOCRATS WERE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST HIM. AFTER VISIBLY STRUGGLING AT THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE... (STAMMERS) ELIGIBLE FOR WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THE, UH... WITH THE COVID` EXCUSE ME, WITH, UM, DEALING WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DO WITH, UH... TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE LLOYD DOGGETT IS THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO PUBLICLY CALL FOR BIDEN TO QUIT THE RACE. WE MUST HAVE THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S JOE BIDEN. CONGRESSWOMAN ANGIE CRAIG HAS ALSO VOICED CONCERNS. I'M TALKING TO A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK WE NEED TO LET THE PRESIDENT THINK ABOUT WHETHER HE WANTS TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN INSISTS HIS SUPPORT AMONG VOTERS HASN'T WAVERED; THE WHITE HOUSE PUTTING THE PRESIDENT'S DEBATE BLUNDERS DOWN TO A COLD, AND HAVING A BAD NIGHT. HE WAS NOT TAKING ANY COLD MEDICATION. IT WAS A BAD NIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A BAD NIGHT. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS DOUBLED DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR HER RUNNING MATE, SAYING DONALD TRUMP IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY. THE THOUGHT THAT WE COULD HAVE A PRESIDENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO THINKS HE'S IMMUNE AND ABLE THEN TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH THAT OFFICE THAT INCLUDE WEAPONISING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AGAINST HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES, ARE BEING A DICTATOR ON DAY ONE. THE IMPACTS OF THAT DECISION ARE ALREADY HAVING AN EFFECT ` SENTENCING FOR TRUMP'S NEW YORK HUSH MONEY CASE HAS NOW BEEN DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, AFTER HIS DEFENCE LODGED AN APPEAL BASED ON THE RULING, WHILE HIS JANUARY 6TH CASE IS ON HOLD. ALICE WILKINS, NEWSHUB. CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING A BYLAW TO STOP AGGRESSIVE BEGGING, AS SOME PEOPLE ARE TOO SCARED TO EVEN WALK DOWN THE STREET. AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON BOTH ALREADY HAVE SIMILAR BYLAWS. KAYSHA BROWNLIE REPORTS. THE MAIN STREET OF ADDINGTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MEETING PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC, AND NOW ALSO POPULAR WITH BEGGARS. I'VE SEEN A BEGGAR REACH IN AND TRY TO GRAB MONEY OUT OF SOMEONE'S HAND. YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO SCARED TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT BEGGARS BANGING ON THE WINDOW, THAT THEY WILL END UP DRIVING OFF. IT'S ONE OF SEVERAL CHRISTCHURCH SUBURBS THAT'S SEEN A SURGE IN AGGRESSIVE BEGGING. THERE HAVE BEEN CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HIT BY THEM. BUT PEOPLE ARE SCARED AND YOU'RE GETTING LESS PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE VICTIMISED. BUT POLICE ACTION IS LIMITED. CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL TODAY VOTED TO CHANGE THAT. WHAT WE'VE DECIDED UPON TODAY IS REALLY TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME, BUT ALSO TOUGH REALLY ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME. BY CONSIDERING THE USE OF A BYLAW SIMILAR TO WHAT WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND ALREADY HAVE. IT WOULD GIVE POLICE AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN AND INTERVENE WHEN BEHAVIOUR IS THREATENING. THE COUNCIL IS ALSO CONSIDERING LIQUOR BANS IN EDGWARE AND RICHMOND TO TARGET ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, WHICH THE CHRISTCHURCH CITY MISSION BELIEVES ISN'T CAUSED BY THE HOMELESS. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM TALKING TO OUR OUTREACH WORKER IS THAT THEY PROBABLY ARE NOT HOMELESS. THEY PROBABLY DO HAVE A HOME TO GO TO. CAUSING CONCERN THAT THE VULNERABLE COULD GET CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE. I DON'T WANT IT TO STOP US USING THE COUNCIL MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN TO WORK WITH THE TRULY HOMELESS PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT DESIGNED TO, UM, UH... TO TARGET HOMELESS PEOPLE OR BEGGING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. IT'S AROUND THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. ...WHICH PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO IGNORE AND REPORT. LET'S HELP OUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND TELL THE BEGGARS JUST TO GO AND... GET A JOB. BUT IT COULD BE A YEAR BEFORE A BYLAW MAY BE ENFORCED. KAYSHA BROWNLIE, NEWSHUB. ANDREW'S IN LATER WITH SPORT ` AND A BIG DAY LOOMS FOR SCOTT ROBERTSON. ABSOLUTELY. TOMORROW HE'LL NAME HIS FIRST TEAM TOMORROW TO FACE ENGLAND IN DUNEDIN ON SATURDAY. AND WHILE CHANGE IS PREDICTED, IT'S CLEAR THE OLD GUARD ARE SET TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN GETTING HIS TENURE OFF TO A WINNING START. AND IT'S BEING HAILED THE GREATEST SAVE IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY AS TURKEY WIN A THRILLER AGAINST AUSTRIA TO REACH THE QUARTER-FINALS OF EURO24. ALSO AHEAD, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER KEIR STARMER HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING A PART-TIME POLITICIAN. IT FOLLOWS HIS COMMENT THAT HE LIKES TO PUT TIME ASIDE ON FRIDAY NIGHTS TO PRAY WITH HIS JEWISH WIFE AND THEIR FAMIY. AND MORE THAN 100 DEVOTEES HAVE BEEN CRUSHED TO DEATH AT A RELIGIOUS GATHERING IN NORTHERN INDIA. WE'RE COMING IN FOR LANDING TO AM'S FINAL SHOW ON FRIDAY ` UNTIL THEN, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, WITH THE LATEST NEWS... AND THIS WEEK, WE ARE ESPECIALLY ENJOYING THE RIDE ` OR SHOULD I SAY FLIGHT? (LAUGHS) JOIN US FOR TAKEOFF AT 6am. (ENGINE REVS) Oh. OK, turn off the car. (PHONE RINGS) GIRL: Dad! Hey, man. Long time no talk. Yeah, just... I'm teaching Samara how to drive. (BRIGHT MUSIC) Hi! Could you do something for me? SONG: # Oh, baby, you... # Thanks. # You've got what I need # You got everything I need # You're like medicine to me... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. MORE THAN A HUNDRED DEVOTEES HAVE DIED AT A RELIGIOUS GATHERING IN NORTHERN INDIA ` CRUSHED TO DEATH AS THE CROWD TRIED TO FORCE ITS WAY THROUGH AN EXIT. MANY OF THE VICTIMS WERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. ITV CHANNEL 4'S RIA CHATTERJEE REPORTS. FOR THIS ONE MAN, A RELIGIOUS LEADER, THE PEOPLE CAME IN THEIR THOUSANDS... CRAMMING THEMSELVES INTO A SMALL SPACE TO SIMPLY BE IN HIS ORBIT. BUT THE EUPHORIA SUDDENLY TURNED TO PANIC AND DESPAIR. THE DEAD OFFERED AS MUCH DIGNITY AS TIME ALLOWS IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS EVEN IF THAT'S COVERED UP ON A BUS. I CAME TO ATTEND THE EVENT WITH EIGHT OTHER PEOPLE, BUT NONE OF THEM SURVIVED. THE CHAOS TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW THE HOSPITALS ARE COPING. SO FAR, THERE'S TALK OF OVERCROWDING AT THE EVENT. CAPACITY FOR 5000; A REPORTED TURNOUT OF ROUGHLY 15,000. (SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: MANY INJURED HAVE ALSO BEEN ADMITTED. FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE REVEALED AFTER THE INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A PREVIOUS EVENT HELD BY THE SAME PREACHER. ONE ALLEGATION IS THAT PROPER ARRANGEMENTS HADN'T BEEN MADE FOR TODAY'S GATHERING. UP'S CHIEF MINISTER, A HIGH PROFILE FIGURE IN MODI'S GOVERNMENT, SAYS THERE'LL BE AN INVESTIGATION, AND PRIME MINISTER MODI HAS BEEN CRITICISED FOR TAKING A WHILE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT, BUT EVENTUALLY SAID HIS THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE BEREAVED, WHO ARE GRIEVING ON THE ROADSIDE RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR LOVED ONES. THE UK ELECTION HAS SEEN A LAST MINUTE APPEARANCE BY THE FORMER DARLING OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ` BORIS JOHNSON. BUT IN WHAT'S BEING SEEN AS A SNUB, HE DIDN'T APPEAR ALONGSIDE RISHI SUNAK, EVEN THOUGH THE CURRENT PRIME MINISTER WAS AT THE SAME EVENT. INSTEAD JOHNSON TALKED UP LABOUR'S KEIR STARMER AS THE MOST RADICAL THREAT SINCE WORLD WAR TWO. ITV'S CARL DINNEN REPORTS. AFTER WEEKS OF CAMPAIGNING WITH LESS THAN 36 HOURS LEFT BEFORE THE POLLS OPEN,ALL GUESS WHO FINALLY SHOWED UP? GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. CROWD CHANTS: BORIS! BORIS! BORIS! THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALTHOUGH HE BARELY MENTIONED RISHI SUNAK BY NAME... IF YOU FEEL YOU'VE GOT A FEW THOUSAND TO SPARE, THEN VOTE LABOUR ON THURSDAY (!) IF YOU WANT UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATION AND MANDATORY 'WOKERY' AND POINTLESS KOWTOWING TO BRUSSELS AGAIN, THEN GO RIGHT AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY ` VOTE FOR STARMER (!) BUT IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR ECONOMY, THEN YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, DON'T YOU, EVERYBODY? CROWD: YES! THERE'S ONLY ONE THING TO DO. VOTE CONSERVATIVE. IT WAS JUST ENOUGH FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO MAKE THIS CLAIM. ISN'T IT GREAT TO HAVE OUR CONSERVATIVE FAMILY UNITED, MY FRIENDS? CROWD: YES! AT 5.00 THIS MORNING, THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ALREADY VISITING A DISTRIBUTION CENTRE. HE'S MADE HIS WORK ETHIC A FEATURE OF HIS CAMPAIGN. BUT THE CONSERVATIVES ALSO ACCUSED KEIR STARMER OF WANTING TO BE A PART-TIME PRIME MINISTER, AFTER THE LABOUR LEADER SAID HE WOULD CARVE OUT TIME FOR HIS FAMILY FROM 6.00 ON FRIDAY EVENINGS. I JUST THINK IT'S INCREASING DESPERATION, BORDERING ON HYSTERICAL NOW. KEIR STARMER'S WIFE, VICTORIA, IS JEWISH. THEY USE FRIDAY EVENINGS FOR FAMILY PRAYERS AS WELL AS TIME TOGETHER. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-SEMITISM TSAR, WHO IS ALSO A LABOUR PEER, SAYS THIS WAS AN INSIDIOUS LINE OF ATTACK FROM THE TORIES. THEY KNOW THAT IS THE CUSTOM ACROSS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHETHER PEOPLE ARE RELIGIOUS OR NOT. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO. NEW RESEARCH REVEALS HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR EATING DISORDERS INCREASED BY 50% THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. GIRLS AGED 10 TO 19 AND WAHINE MAORI WERE OVERREPRESENTED. AS LAURA TUPOU REPORTS, IT CAME AS ADMISSIONS FOR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES REMAINED THE SAME OR DECLINED SLIGHTLY. DOOMSCROLLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS COMMONPLACE FOR MANY, BUT DURING LOCKDOWN THERE WAS A LOT OF IT. AND ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES DRAWN INTO ALGORITHMS AND GOING TO MORE AND MORE EXTREME CONTENT ABOUT BODY SHAPE AND WEIGHT AND ALL THAT STUFF. SO IN THOSE THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO THAT, THAT WAS A REAL PROBLEM. WHEN RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR EATING DISORDERS, THEY FOUND A COUNTRY-WIDE TREND. THE BUMP IN EATING DISORDER ADMISSIONS WAS A NATIONAL PHENOMENON AND WAS REALLY QUITE, QUITE DRAMATIC. IT WASN'T COVID IN PARTICULAR THAT WAS DRIVING THIS, BUT THE LACK OF CONTACT WITH ANYONE OUTSIDE THE HOUSEHOLD. THAT CAN BE VERY STRESSFUL, OBVIOUSLY. AND SO ONE WAY TO RESPOND TO STRESS IS, UNFORTUNATELY, TO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOUR CONTROLLING SOMETHING ELSE LIKE DIET AND WEIGHT. BUT GENEVIEVE MORA, WHO'S HAD AN EATING DISORDER, SAYS THE CONTROL IS AN ILLUSION. AND EATING DISORDERS DON'T GIVE YOU CONTROL. THEY GIVE YOU A PERCEIVED SENSE OF CONTROL. BUT IN A TIME WHEN THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS OUT OF OUR CONTROL, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURPRISED. THAT LACK OF ROUTINE AND THE INABILITY TO SEE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THERAPISTS AS READILY AS YOU COULD OTHERWISE, WOULD HAVE HELPED OR CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THAT INCREASE. THE RESEARCH FOUND THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY MARKED INCREASE FOR WAHINE MAORI AND GIRLS AGED 10 TO 19. PEOPLE SEEM TO BE GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CULTURAL BARRIERS, BUT ALSO NOT ENOUGH CULTURAL-APPROPRIATE CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES. BOTH AGREE MORE INVESTMENT IS NEEDED. I THINK IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT WITH A DISORDER THAT HAS SUCH A HIGH MORTALITY AS ANOREXIA, WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY STARVE THEMSELVES TO DEATH, THAT A BETTER RESOURCING IS CERTAINLY INDICATED TO PROTECT OUR POPULATIONS. AND TO INTERVENE BEFORE HOSPITAL LEVEL CARE IS NEEDED. LAURA TUPOU, NEWSHUB. THE MYSTERY OF HOW A DRIED-UP TROPICAL SNAKE ENDED UP AT A NORTH AUCKLAND HOME IS OFF TO COURT. THE DEAD REPTILE WAS FOUND NEXT TO A SPA POOL IN DOMINIC GUZZO'S BACKYARD IN JANUARY LAST YEAR. HE COULD NOT WORK OUT HOW IT GOT THERE. AFTER INVESTIGATING, THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES HAS CONFIRMED ANOTHER MAN WILL APPEAR IN COURT TO FACE BIOSECURITY ACT CHARGES OVER THE ALLEGED IMPORTATION OF SNAKE REMAINS. THE WELLINGTON RAIL COMMUTE CAN BE FRAUGHT AT TIMES ` WE MET ONE TRAIN MANAGER WHO'S MADE IT HIS MISSION TO PUT A SMILE ON PASSENGERS' FACES. WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE LIKELY MAKE-UP OF SCOTT ROBERTSON'S FIRST ALL BLACKS TEAM TO FACE ENGLAND, PLUS ` THE KIWI DIVER NAMED IN THE TEAM FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS FOLLOWING A PREGNANT PAUSE ON HER CAREER. AND THE KIWI BRIT SHAPING UP AS THE NEW HOMETOWN HERO AT WIMBLEDON AFTER ANDY MURRAY'S SHOCK WITHDRAWAL. SCOTT ROBERTSON WILL TOMORROW NAME HIS FIRST ALL BLACKS TEAM. AND WHILE MUCH OF THE TALK THIS WEEK HAS FOCUSED ON CHANGE, IT'S CLEAR THE OLD GUARD WILL PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ENSURING THEY START HIS TENURE ON THE RIGHT NOTE. ROBERTSON'S INJECTED PLENTY OF ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM INTO THE SQUAD, BUT AS THEY BRACE FOR THE ENGLISH IN DUNEDIN, THEY'LL LEAN ON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE IT BEFORE. RUGBY REPORTER OLLIE RITCHIE HAS THE LATEST. DESPITE THE FREEZING CONDITIONS, BEAUDEN BARRETT IS BACK DOING WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS. SINCE HIS DEBUT IN 2012, BARRETT'S ENTHUSIASM FOR THE JERSEY AND PRIDE IN THE TEAM HE'S PLAYED 123 TIMES FOR HASN'T WAVERED, NOR HAS IT GONE UNNOTICED BY THE NEW COACHING REGIME. I'VE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH BEAUDIE, UM, HIS CARE FOR THE GROUP. HE'S A PROUD ALL BLACK AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING AROUND BEAUDIE ` FOR ME, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FIRST TIME. BARRETT ISN'T JUST LEAVING AN IMPRESSION ON HIS NEW COACHES, BUT ON HIS OPPOSITION AS WELL. GEORGE FURBANK WAS JUST 16 WHEN BARRETT MADE HIS ALL BLACK DEBUT. THE PROSPECT OF FACING HIM IN SATURDAY'S FIRST TEST IS AN EXCITING ONE. WITH THE LIKES OF BEAUDEN BARRETT AGAIN IS SOMEONE I'VE LOOKED UP TO SINCE I WAS YOUNG AND WATCHED HIM AND ADMIRED HIM. SO, UM, IT WOULD BE A BEEN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. BARRETT IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO BE HANDED THE NUMBER 15 JERSEY FOR SATURDAY'S TEST, BUT ELSEWHERE, THERE'S PLENTY FOR SCOTT ROBERTSON TO MULL OVER. BLINDSIDE FLANKER PRESENTS A TOSS UP BETWEEN ETHAN BLACKADDER AND SAMIPENI FINAU, WHILE AT HALFBACK ` IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN THE INCUMBENT FINLAY CHRISTIE OR THE RETURNING AND EXPERIENCED TJ PERENARA, A PLAYER WHOSE RESILIENCE HAS IMPRESSED SCOTT HANSEN. HE'S GOT A COMPETITIVE STREAK THAT MEANT HE WANTED TO BE BACK AS AN ALL BLACK, AND NOW THE NARRATIVE IS THIS ` WILL YOU BE A REALLY GOOD ONE? PERENARA IS CERTAIN TO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE FOR THE ALL BLACKS THIS SEASON. BOTH HE AND HIS COACHES ARE CONFIDENT HE CAN REDISCOVER HIS BEST INTERNATIONAL FORM. BUT WHATEVER SIDE IS ROLLED OUT ON SATURDAY, ENGLAND KNOW THEY'LL BE UP AGAINST IT. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE PLAYING AGAINST THIS NEW ZEALAND TEAM, UM, WHO HAVE SUCH QUALITY PLAYERS, AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY NO BIGGER CHALLENGE IN RUGBY THAN PLAYING NEW ZEALAND IN NEW ZEALAND. ENGLAND HAVEN'T BEATEN THE ALL BLACKS IN NEW ZEALAND SINCE 2003. THE OLD GUARD WILL BE CRUCIAL IN ENSURING THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THIS YEAR OLLIE RITCHIE, NEWSHUB. LIZZIE ROUSSEL THOUGHT HER OLYMPIC DAYS WERE OVER, BUT EIGHT YEARS AFTER MAKING HER GAMES DEBUT ON HER 18TH BIRTHDAY, SHE'S BACK. THE DIVER WITHDREW FROM TOKYO AFTER FALLING PREGNANT, LEAVING HER WONDERING IF SHE'D EVER COMPETE AGAIN. BUT TODAY, NAMED FOR PARIS, IT'S A CHALLENGE SHE WELCOMED. ALEX CHAPMAN REPORTS. BEING ON THE BOARD IS A PLACE LIZZIE ROUSSEL WAS UNSURE SHE'D EVER RETURN TO. BUT I DIDN'T CLOSE THE DOOR COMPLETELY JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MY PATH IS ALWAYS CHANGING. THAT PATH NOW HAS HER HEADING TO HER SECOND OLYMPICS. IT'S A PROSPECT SHE THOUGHT MAY BE OVER, THOUGH, AFTER FALLING PREGNANT BEFORE TOKYO WITH THE APTLY NAMED ATHENA OLYMPIA. IT WAS OLYMPIC-INSPIRED, SINCE I HAD QUALIFIED FOR 2020 AND THEN DECIDED TO HAVE HER INSTEAD. FOLLOWING ATHENA'S BIRTH IN DECEMBER 2021, ROUSSEL WASTED LITTLE TIME BEFORE DIVING BACK IN. ABOUT SEVEN WEEKS... WHERE I DECIDED TO GET IN. BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING HARD UNTIL I GOT THE CLEARANCE TO DIVE, BUT THAT WAS ABOUT MAYBE LIKE TEN WEEKS. THE JOURNEY BACK TO THE TOP, THOUGH, CERTAINLY HAD ITS DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY. IT WASN'T UNTIL PROBABLY... A YEAR LATER THAT I STARTED FEELING LIKE, OK, BUT PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF THAT I FELT COMPETITIVE. AND SHE'S TAKEN SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS ON THAT JUGGERNAUT OF A JOURNEY TO RETURN TO COMPETITION. I'M JUST THAT KIND OF PERSON THAT LIKES TO PUT AS MUCH STUFF ON MY PLATE AS I CAN, UNTIL I FALL OVER, AND I STILL HAVEN'T FALLEN OVER YET. SHE'LL BE HOPING THAT REMAINS THE CASE IN JUST OVER A MONTH'S TIME. ALEX CHAPMAN, NEWSHUB. MEANWHILE, RISING TENNIS STAR LULU SUN HAS BEEN NAMED FOR THE OLYMPICS ON THE BACK OF HER BREAKTHROUGH WIN AT WIMBLEDON. SUN HAS BEEN NAMED IN THE WOMEN'S DOUBLES TEAM TO PARTNER U.S. OPEN CHAMPION AND CURRENT WORLD NUMBER TWO ` ERIN ROUTLIFFE. BOTH PLAYERS WILL BE MAKING THEIR OLYMPIC DEBUT IN PARIS. IT'S REALLY AN HONOUR TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES. THE OLYMPICS IS SOMETHING BIGGER THEN NORMAL SPORT. MEANWHILE, TOKYO BRONZE MEDALLISTS MICHAEL VENUS AND MARCUS DANIELL HAVE NARROWLY MISSED OUT ON ATTENDING THEIR THIRD OLYMPICS, FALLING JUST SHORT OF QUALIFICATION RANKINGS. MEANWHILE, SIR ANDY MURRAY'S WIMBLEDON FAREWELL HASN'T QUITE GONE TO PLAN, WITH INJURY FORCING HIM TO PULL OUT BEFORE HIS OPENING ROUND MATCH. THE TWO-TIME WIMBLEDON CHAMPION'S ABSENCE HAS NOW CREATED A BATTLE TO BECOME THE NEXT GREAT BRITISH HOPE, AND LEADING THE CHARGE IS AUCKLAND-RAISED CAMERON NORRIE. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. FANS FLOCKED TO WIMBLEDON TODAY HOPING TO SEE SIR ANDY MURRAY PLAY ONE MORE TIME. INSTEAD, THEY WERE GREETED WITH NEWS HE HAD PULLED OUT. LEGEND OF THE GAME, UM... NOT GOING TO BE A WIMBLEDON ANY MORE. IT'S JUST REALLY SAD TO SEE, ISN'T IT? HIS PARTICIPATION AT THE TOURNAMENT WILL NOW BE LIMITED TO DOUBLES. TODAY HE PRACTISED WITH BROTHER AND PARTNER JAMIE. CENTRE COURT INSTEAD RESERVED FOR NOVAK DJOKOVIC, WHO HIMSELF CAME INTO WIMBLEDON WITH INJURY CONCERNS. (CROWD CHEERS) WELL, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS COMING INTO THIS MATCH FOR NOVAK DJOKOVIC. THE SERBIAN ANSWERING THEM. HIS KNEE SHOWING NO SIGNS OF CONCERN AND A STRAIGHT-SETS WIN. AFTER THE MATCH, HIS THOUGHTS WERE WITH MURRAY. HOPEFULLY HE CAN GET ANOTHER SHOT AT NEXT YEAR'S WIMBLEDON WITH SINGLES. KNOWING HIM, HE'S GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT. FOR NOW, IT HAS THE HOME CROWD SEARCHING FOR A NEW HERO. AMONG THE CONTENDERS, TOP-RANKED BRIT JACK DRAPER, WHO WON TODAY IN FIVE SETS. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WANTED TO SEE ANDY OUT HERE, BUT YOU WERE STUCK WITH ME INSTEAD. HE NOW TAKES ON FORMER KIWI CAM NORRIE IN A BATTLE TO BE BRITAIN'S BIG HOPE. AFTER STARTING THE YEAR 18 IN THE WORLD, NORRIE HAS BEEN ON THE SLIDE. HE WON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I'M BRITISH NUMBER ONE NOW. YOU KNOW, I'M A LOT YOUNGER. WHOEVER WIMBLEDON RALLIES BEHIND, FILLING THE SHOES OF SIR ANDY WILL BE NO EASY FEAT. GORDON FINDLATER, NEWSHUB. AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT OF GOALKEEPING HEROICS HAS EARNED TURKEY A SPOT IN THE QUARTER-FINALS AT EURO24, AND IS BEING TALKED ABOUT AS ONE OF GREATEST SAVES IN THE HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. THEIR MATCH WITH AUSTRIA WAS BOOKENDED BY HIGH DRAMA. TURKEY TOOK A SHOCK LEAD INSIDE A MINUTE IN THIS MORNING'S ROUND OF 16 CLASH IN LEIPZIG. THEY LED 2-1 IN THE 94TH MINUTE, WHEN MERT GUNOK WAS CALLED UPON TO KEEP HIS COUNTRY'S HOPES ALIVE. OH, WHAT A SAVE! WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY SAVE! (CROWD ROARS) MERT GUNOK IN THAT MOMENT HAS TAKEN TURKEY TO THE CUSP OF THE QUARTERFINALS. A MATCH-WINNING SAVE. TURKEY INTO THE LAST EIGHT, WHERE THEY'LL FACE THE NETHERLANDS, WHO WERE FAR TOO GOOD FOR ROMANIA IN MUNICH. WONDERFUL BALANCE AND CONTROL. (CROWD CHEERS) MALEN PUTS IT IN! THAT COULD BE THAT! DONYELL MALEN WANTS TO TAKE IT ON HIMSELF! THAT'S IT! 3-0 THE FINAL SCORE. THE DUTCH INTO THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008. AND FINALLY, BRONNY JAMES HAS HIT BACK AT CRITICS WHO BELIEVE HE WAS ONLY DRAFTED TO THE LA LAKERS BECAUSE OF HIS LEGENDARY DAD LEBRON, DISMISSING IT AS NEGATIVE TALK. SPEAKING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BEING NAMED AS HIS FATHER'S TEAMMATE, THE 19-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE'S USED TO THE PRESSURE PLACED UPON HIM AND SAYS HE'LL GET THROUGH IT. ON THE INTERNET AND STUFF TALKING ABOUT HOW I MIGHT NOT DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH STUFF LIKE THIS FOR MY WHOLE LIFE, SO IT'S NOTHING DIFFERENT. JAMES SENIOR AND JUNIOR WILL CREATE NBA HISTORY WHEN THEY BECOME THE FIRST FATHER AND SON TO PLAY ON THE SAME TEAM. I'M REALLY HOPING THIS IS GOING TO INSPIRE MIKE TO LINE UP FOR THE MOUNT MOUNT ALBERT MAGPIES. THE DAILY TRAIN COMMUTE CAN BE A BIT OF A BORE, BUT A WELLINGTON TRAIN MANAGER HAS MADE IT HIS MISSION TO PUT A SMILE ON PASSENGERS' FACES ON THEIR WAY TO WORK DEMELZA LESLIE HAS MORE. FOR CHRIS MECHEN, ENTERTAINING COMMUTERS ON THE CAPITAL'S TRAINS IS ALL IN A DAY'S WORK. # DUM, DUM! (LAUGHS) HE LOVES BRIGHTENING PEOPLE'S DAYS... (CHUCKLES) YOU'RE OUT HERE TO DO A JOB, TRY AND MAKE THE PEOPLE FEEL GREAT, GETTING THEM IN, BECAUSE HALF THE TIME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME TO WORK ` YOU KNOW, COLD, MISERABLE DAYS. BUT IF YOU COULD PUT A BIT OF SUNSHINE IN THEIR LIVES, MOST PROBABLY A BIT OF SMILE... YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY, BUT YOU DO YOUR BEST. FOR 20 YEARS, CHRIS HAS BEEN WALKING UP AND DOWN THE CARRIAGES, CHECKING TICKETS, HAVING A LAUGH AND HANDING OUT COMPLIMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR A FARE. AND I THINK WE ALL LIKE A GOOD COMPLIMENT HERE AND THERE ` AND THAT'S WHAT I TRY AND DO. I TRY AND LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT I CAN, UH... FOCUS ON AND SAY, 'WOWEE, THAT LOOKS GOOD.' THE CARRIAGE IS HIS PLATFORM... # MAKE ME DANCE, MAKE ME SWING. (PASSENGERS CHUCKLE) IT CAN BE A BORING JOB, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT FUN FOR YOURSELF, OTHERWISE YOU'D GO ` GRUMPILY: TICKET. TICKET. TICKET. TICKET. TICKET. YEAH. SO YOU MAKE A BIT OF FUN, YOU KNOW? # YA-DA DA-DA! SHOWTIME. BUDDY, HOW ARE YOU? HIS ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS. IT'S A LOVELY FEELING. ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, LIKE A REALLY DOWN MORNING OR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING HOME FROM WORK LATE AND HE'S JUST THERE, AND HE JUST MAKES YOU SMILE. BUT I THINK THAT JOB COULD BE BORING. (LAUGHS) AND HE'S PUT THE FUN INTO HIS OWN JOB. THAT'S WHAT'S COOL. I'M GOING TO THE HOSPITAL USING THIS TRAIN, SO WHEN YOU SEE CHEERY PEOPLE, IT CHEERS YOU UP A LITTLE BIT. A MORALE BOOST FOR A CITY THAT'S BEEN FACING TOUGH TIMES. HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECIPIENTS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK. SO, YEAH, REALLY, REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT. IN GENERAL, ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK, THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDBACK, AND IT'S NOT ALL POSITIVE, IS IT? HALLELUJAH! WE'RE HERE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WELCOME ABOARD. CHRIS MECHEN SAYS AS LONG AS HIS BODY KEEPS GOING... ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU? ...HE'LL KEEP MAKING PEOPLE SMILE ON THEIR DAILY COMMUTE. DEMELZA LESLIE, NEWSHUB. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` A 16-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLBOY NO LONGER FEELS SAFE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AFTER WHAT HE SAYS WAS A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED ATTACK ON AN AUCKLAND BUS LAST WEEK. HE LOST THREE TEETH AFTER A WOMAN HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH A METAL POLE. PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL SOON FACE STANDARDISED TESTING AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MISSION TO IMPROVE EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT.A AN URGENT GOVERNMENT INQUIRY IS UNDERWAY INTO WAIROA'S FLOODING AFTER THE REGIONAL COUNCIL FAILED TO DIG A CHANNEL IN THE RIVER BAR AHEAD OF A MASSIVE STORM. COMING UP ` NEWSHUB WEATHER, AND YOU'RE PROMISING A GOOD START TO THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS? ALL THE RAIN AND SNOW EARLIER IN THE WEEK HAD IMPECCABLE TIMING FOR THE SKIFIELDS. ON SATURDAY, THE SOUTHERN FIELDS WILL GET A TOP-UP THANKS TO A PASSING FRONT, AND THEN A MONSTER HIGH MOVES OFF THE TASMAN AND PARKS UP OVER THE COUNTRY. HIGH PRESSURE MEANS CALM CONDITIONS, CLEAR CONDITIONS ` THE PERFECT SET-UP FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. WELCOME BACK ` LIGHT THE FIRE, OR LAYER UP ` TONIGHT, IT'S COLD, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. IF YOU LOOK CLOSE ENOUGH, YOU'LL SEE A WEAK TROUGH WHICH JUST CLIPS THE FAR NORTH, WITH SOUTHERLIES BENDING SOUTHEAST AROUND NORTHLAND. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE HAS BEEN BUILDING OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND ` THAT HOLDS FIRM TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. SO MORE CLEAR, SETTLED, FINE AND FROSTY STARTS TO THURSDAY. SO THAT FROST FORMS INLAND TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, WITH GREAT STARGAZING CONDITIONS. JUST A FEW SHOWERS FOR THE DEEP SOUTH AND EAST COAST, BUT THEY'LL RETREAT TO BANKS PENINSULA AND THE KAIKOURA COAST JUST BEFORE DAWN. WITH FROST, THERE WILL BE FOG EARLY IN THE VALLEYS, AND THEN A FEW SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHLAND COAST AS THE WINDS TURN SOU'WEST. ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A RIGHT ANGLE OF SHOWERS FORMING ALONG THE SOUTH AND EAST COAST TONIGHT, FROM WELLINGTON TO GISBORNE. A FEW MAKE IT TO SOUTH TARANAKI, AND A COUPLE TOO FOR THE FAR NORTH. LIKE THE SOUTH, FROST AND FOG FORM TOWARDS MORNING ` FOG SPECIFICALLY FROM WAIKATO TO TAIHAPE. THE SOUTHERLY BREEZE WILL TURN SOUTHEAST OVER NORTHLAND. SO, GOOD FIRST UP UP TOP ` WITH MORNING FROST FOR THE WAIKATO, THE COROMANDEL AND SHELTERED SPOTS AROUND AUCKLAND. WHANGAREI, YOU COULD MAYBE HAVE AN UNLUCKY SHOWER WITH SOU'EASTERLIES. CHECK OUT THOSE LOWS ` IT'S COLD TONIGHT. FINE AND FROSTY FOR EVERYONE ` THAT EVEN MEANS YOU, TAURANGA ` THOSE SHELTERED SPOTS WHICH DROP LOWER THAN 2 DEGREES. MOST OF THE WET STUFF HITS OUT EAST, WITH SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING IN THE SOUTH, THEN SPREADING TO HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE IN THE AFTERNOON AS SOU'WESTERS TURN SOU'EASTERLY. FROSTY FOR TARANAKI, FROSTY AND FOGGY FOR TAUMARUNUI. SHOWERS HIT PALMERSTON NORTH, KAPITI AND WELLINGTON TOO WITH SOUTHERLIES, MORNING FOG AND FROST FOR REEFTON. MORNING FROST ELSEWHERE WITH A LOVELY FINE AND CALM DAY. THE MORNING EAST- TO SOU'EASTERLY WILL EASE AROUND MIDDAY. AGAIN, A FINE AND FROSTY START FOR MOST ` NOT LIKELY FOR KAIKOURA AND CHRISTCHURCH, THOUGH, AS MORNING SHOWERS HIT, BUT THEY CLEAR WITH SOU'WESTERLIES. FINE, FROSTY ` THE USUAL WINTER START FOR THE LOWER SOUTH ` MAYBE MORNING FOG TOO FOR ALEXANDRA. SHOWERS DEVELOP IN THE MORNING FOR THE DEEP SOUTH, WITH A WESTERLY. SO IT IS A GOOD THURSDAY AROUND DUNEDIN ` FINE BREAKS DOMINATE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY, WITH A WESTERLY AND A HIGH OF 10. SHOWERS FIRST THING FOR CHRISTCHURCH CITY ` CLEARS IN THE MORNING, THOUGH, BECOMING CONFINED TO BANKS PENINSULA DURING THE AFTERNOON, WITH A SOUWESTERLY. SHOWERS AROUND THE CAPITAL ALL DAY, WITH A FRESH SOUTHERLY. BUT TOMORROW NIGHT, THE SHOWERS EASE BACK, AND THE SOUTHERLY WILL DIE DOWN. IT CLOUDS OVER IN THE MORNING FOR HAWKE'S BAY, THEN SHOWERS START ALONG THE COAST, AND SPREAD INLAND IN THE AFTERNOON AS THE SOU'WESTERLY TURNS SOU'EASTERLY. IT'S LOVELY AND FINE AGAIN FOR TAURANGA ` FROSTY IN THE MORNING, OBVIOUSLY NOT FOR EVERYONE, WITH AN OVERNIGHT LOW OF 5, BUT REMEMBER THE GROUND IS COOLER. ZERO WIND, WITH A HIGH OF 14. FINE AND FROSTY FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE WAIKATO. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE GOING ON, WITH LIGHT WINDS AND BLUE SKY. AND AUCKLAND, SOME OF YOU WILL WAKE WITH FROST TOO ` MAYBE NOT ON THE NORTH SHORE, BUT RURAL AND SHELTERED AREAS WILL LIKELY HAVE A LIGHT ONE. THE DAY IS FINE, WITH A SOU'EASTERLY. OVER THE TASMAN, LOOKING GOOD ` STILL COLD THANKS TO THE SOUTHERLY FLOW, BUT APART FROM SHOWERS UP TOP AND FOR SYDNEY, IT'S FINE. AND THE ISLANDS ARE LOOKING SUNNY, WARM AND DESIRABLE. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE WEEKEND, AND IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE OK ` SHOWERS ON SATURDAY UP TOP, AND THEY WILL SPREAD TO OTHER SPOTS AROUND THE NORTH TOO, BUT SUNDAY IS AMAZING OUT EAST, AND ACROSS BAY OF PLENTY AND TAUPO. THERE WILL BE A FEW SHOWERS OUT WEST FROM MANAWATU NORTH ON SUNDAY ` A LOW OF ZERO TOO. SHOWERS SPREAD ON SATURDAY, BUT REALLY, THE TOP HALF OF THE SOUTH ISLAND IS IN FOR A GOOD FEW DAYS. NOT SO LUCKY FOR THE LOWER HALF, WITH SHOWERS TURNING TO RAIN ON FRIDAY. SHOWERS EARLY SATURDAY, THEN AGAIN SUNDAY, AND GALE WESTERLIES. FINALLY, TONIGHT ` I DON'T WANT TO GET ALL SAD BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK, BUT WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF NEWSHUB WEATHER IN ITS CURRENT STATE, SO IF YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO GET A WEATHER PIC ON, NOW'S THE TIME. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ` YOU CAN USE THIS EMAIL. YOU HAVE TWO DAYS LEFT. THAT'S NEWSHUB LIVE AT SIX FOR TODAY. YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWSHUB TEAM AT NEWS@NEWSHUB.CO.NZ I'M MIKE MCROBERTS. AND I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH AND TUI TIPENE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024