JOE BIDEN'S CRUCIAL BID TO PROVE HE'S FIT FOR THE PRESIDENCY STARTS WITH A COUPLE OF MAJOR MISSTEPS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S BIG DAY OUT IN WASHINGTON, A HELPING HAND FOR UKRAINE, AND A SWING AT CHINA. BALL BUYING ` HOW WE CAN PROVE THAT RUGBY'S POPULARITY PEAKED HERE AROUND A DECADE AGO. AND LATER, THE ONLINE BROMANCE BROUGHT TO THE BIG SCREEN IN A MARVEL MASH-UP. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND KATE HARRIS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 AND NOW I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, WHO HAS AS MUCH COURAGE AS HE HAS DETERMINATION. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PRESIDENT PUTIN. (SCATTERED APPLAUSE) NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. JOE BIDEN'S BIG DAY STARTED BY INTRODUCING THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE WITH THE NAME OF HIS ENEMY, CALLING HIM PRESIDENT PUTIN. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL ` THE PRESIDENT'S HIGH-STAKES SOLO MEDIA CONFERENCE TO PROVE HIS COMPETENCY PROVIDED ANOTHER AWKWARD NAMING GAFFE. HERE'S U.S. CORRESPONDENT MITCH MCCANN. WALKING ON STAGE TONIGHT, JOE BIDEN WAS A PRESIDENT UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE. WOULD HE STAND UP AND FIGHT, OR WOULD HE STAND DOWN AND LEAVE TRUMP FOR SOMEONE ELSE? NOT A CHANCE, HE SAYS. THE CONSIDERATION IS THAT I THINK I'M THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. I BEAT HIM ONCE, AND I'LL BEAT HIM AGAIN. BUT BEFORE IT EVEN BEGAN, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FELL VICTIM TO THE GREATEST OF GAFFES AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE EVENT HE HAD TOLD THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO JUDGE HIM ON ` HIS NATO SUMMIT. NOW I WANT TO HAND IT OVER THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, WHO HAS AS MUCH COURAGE AS HE HAS DETERMINATION. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PRESIDENT PUTIN. INTRODUCING THE MAN WHO WAS SUFFERED 867 DAYS OF A BRUTAL WAR AT THE HAND OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN AS... PRESIDENT PUTIN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PRESIDENT PUTIN. (SCATTERED APPLAUSE) PRESIDENT PUTIN?! HE'S GONNA BEAT PRESIDENT PUTIN. PRESIDENT ZELENSKY. ZELENSKY AND BIDEN LAUGHED IT OFF. I'M BETTER. YOU'RE A HELL OF A LOT BETTER. BUT THE TIMING COULDN'T BE WORSE. BIDEN'S FITNESS AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HAS BEEN UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY SINCE HIS FLOUNDERING PERFORMANCE IN THE CNN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TWO WEEKS AGO. I JUST GOT TO PACE MYSELF A LITTLE MORE ` PACE MYSELF. 14 HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED FOR A NEW NOMINEE, AT LEAST 20 HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED FOR A NEW NOMINEE, BUT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ADAMANT HE'S THE MAN FOR THE JOB. TOMORROW, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN I SHOW UP AT A CONVENTION, EVERYBODY SAYS WE WANT SOMEBODY ELSE, THAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. WHISPERS: THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED IF HE'D STEP ASIDE FOR HIS VICE-PRESIDENT IF DATA SHOWED SHE COULD DO BETTER AGAINST TRUMP. NO, UNLESS THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN WIN. ME. (WHISPERS) NO ONE IS SAYING THAT. BIDEN OUTLINED THE MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS HE'D UNDERTAKEN ` NEUROLOGICAL EXAMS TO PROVE HIS MENTAL ACUITY. HE SAYS HE'S BEEN GIVEN THE TICK BY THE DOCTORS, DEFENDING HIS AGE. THE ONLY THING AGE DOES IS HELP YOU WITH` CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF WISDOM IF YOU PAY ATTENTION. HE LOOKED LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON COMPARED TO THE DEBATE TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT THAT BAR WAS SET PRETTY LOW. FOR THE MOST PART, THE PRESIDENT WAS ALLOWED TO ALLEVIATE SOME FEARS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE SPEECH. THIS IS ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES. THE 81-YEAR-OLD FIRED UP WITH A ZINGER AGAINST HIS OPPONENT, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. MY SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FULL-BORE, AND WHERE HAS TRUMP BEEN? RIDING ROUND ON HIS GOLF CART FILLING OUT HIS SCORE CARD BEFORE HE HITS THE BALL. I MEAN, LOOK, HE'S DONE VIRTUALLY NOTHING. WHILE A LOT OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCE WAS CENTRED AROUND HIS POLITICAL FUTURE, THE PRESIDENT NAVIGATED FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC POLICY QUESTIONS DEFTLY. MORE CHILDREN ARE KILLED BY A BULLET THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING? THOUGH IT DIDN'T COME WITHOUT A HITCH. HE STUMBLED OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS ON THE FIRST QUESTION, REFERRING TO HIS RUNNING MATE KAMALA HARRIS AS HIS OPPONENT, DONALD TRUMP. I WOULDN'T HAVE PICKED VICE-PRESIDENT TRUMP TO BE VICE-PRESIDENT DID I NOT THINK SHE WAS QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT. TRUMP IMMEDIATELY POUNCED, POSTING A CLIP TO HIS TRUTH SOCIAL SAYING, 'GREAT JOB, JOE.' HOW DO YOU COMBAT THAT CRITICISM FROM TONIGHT? LISTEN TO HIM. THIS CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S PRESS CONFERENCE. THANKS, EVERYONE. A DEFIANT BIDEN REMAINS IN THE FIGHT FOR NOW. MITCH IS WITH US NOW FROM NEW YORK. MITCH, SURELY THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. NOT GOOD AT ALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CAR CRASH OF THE CAMPAIGN IS BEARING FURTHER OFF THE ROAD EVERY HOUR FOR THE DEMOCRATS. THEY ARE UP TO 20 DEMOCRATS CALLING FOR JOE BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE, BUT AS WE KNOW, HE IS REFUSING TO DO THAT. THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE IN THE PARTY WHO HAS A LOT OF INFLUENCE, WHO IS NOT A SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN. AND THAT IS FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, WHO WAS REPORTEDLY INCREASINGLY CONCERNED, THAT HIS PARTY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO WIN IN NOVEMBER. IT'S ALSO BEEN REPORTED THAT HE KNEW ABOUT THE OPINION PIECE FROM GEORGE CLOONEY IN THE NEW YORK TIMES. GEORGE CLOONEY ASKED BIDEN TO STEP DOWN YESTERDAY. AND HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT OBAMA KNEW ABOUT THAT IN ADVANCE, AND DIDN'T DISSUADE CLOONEY FROM DOING THAT. WHAT IS THE SENSE ON THE GROUND IN THE U.S.? DOES IT FEEL AT THIS POINT THAT THERE'S AN INEVITABILITY THAT HE'LL HAVE TO STEP ASIDE? I THINK UP UNTIL TONIGHT'S PRESS CONFERENCE, THERE WAS THAT INEVITABILITY, BUT JOE BIDEN WAS SO DEFIANT TONIGHT. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE IS GOING TO STEP DOWN. IF HE GOES TO THE CONVENTION AND WINS THE NOMINATION IN AUGUST, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH TO IT. THERE IS STILL THE CHANCE HE COULD STAND DOWN AFTER, AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE COULD PICK SOMEONE ELSE, BUT IT IS VERY LATE AND CLOSE TO THE ELECTION AND IT COULD OPEN UP THE PARTY TO LEGAL CASES OVER BALLOT ISSUES. IT WILL BE VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT JOE BIDEN TRIES TO STEP DOWN AFTER THE CONVENTION. THE ONLY PERSON BENEFITING FROM THIS ENTIRE MESS IS ONE PERSON, AND THAT IS DONALD J TRUMP. PROBLEMATIC EITHER WAY. BEFORE THE HIGH STAKES PRESIDENTIAL PRESSER, OUR PRIME MINISTER WOUND UP THE WASHINGTON LEG OF HIS U.S. TRIP PRAISING JOE BIDEN AFTER SEVERAL SHORT CATCH UPS WITH HIM. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYING BIDEN HAS A 'REALLY NICE PERSONALITY'. LUXON ALSO MADE SOME BIG, BOLD PROMISES TO THE PEOPLE AND PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE. CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT TOVA O'BRIEN WAS THERE. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HEARING FIRSTHAND ABOUT THE HORRORS OF WAR FROM THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT AND ACTUALLY CONSIDERING GOING FAR FURTHER ` TRAVELLING TO UKRAINE HIMSELF TO SEE IT IN PERSON. YOU WOULD CONSIDER GOING OVER THERE? YES, I WOULD, AND THE PRIME MINISTER AND I HAVE HAD REGULAR CONVERSATIONS SINCE I'VE BECOME PRIME MINISTER AS WELL. HARKING BACK AS FAR AS TWO YEARS AGO, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY HAS BEEN WANTING A NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT. TRANSLATOR: IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE LEADERS OF THOSE COUNTRIES WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO UKRAINE AND SEE SOMETHING WITH THEIR OWN EYES, BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE. THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WAS THE SPECIAL GUEST AT A MEETING OF THE NATO PARTNERS NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, AND SOUTH KOREA, KNOWN AS THE INDO-PACIFIC FOUR. I WANT TO START BY JUST RECOGNISING AND APPRECIATING YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. IT HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL. IT WAS ALSO LUXON'S CHANCE TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE ON THE WORLD STAGE, CHAIRING THE MEETING, USING THE PLATFORM TO CALL OUT OUR BIGGEST TRADING PARTNER, CHINA, FOR ITS SUPPORT OF RUSSIA. THE INTENSIFYING MILITARY RELATIONSHIP WE SEE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE DPRK, AND CHINA'S ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE REBUILDING OF RUSSIA'S INDUSTRIAL BASE, DEMONSTRATES THE INDIVISIBILITY OF SECURITY ISSUES BETWEEN EUROPE AND OUR PART OF THE WORLD. ZELENSKY UPPING THE PM'S STAR POWER NOT LONG AFTER LUXON TOPPED UP ZELENSKY'S FIREPOWER, HAVING EARLIER ANNOUNCED A FURTHER $16M FOR UKRAINE. BUT JUST $6M OF THAT IS FOR MILITARY SUPPORT. AND TWO YEARS AGO ZELENSKY DESCRIBED NEW ZEALAND'S THEN $7.5M IN MILITARY SUPPORT LIKE THIS. 3000 SHELLS. 3000 SHELLS. YES. SO IT'S NOT A LOT. IT'S NOT... EVEN A DAY OF THE WAR. IT'S NOT. SINCE THEN, OUR MILITARY CONTRIBUTION HAS TOPPED $83M. BY ZELENSKY'S CALCULATION, THAT'S NOT EVEN 11 DAYS OF THE WAR. A WAR WHICH HAS NOW BEEN RAGING FOR 869 DAYS. WE'RE OPEN TO CONTINUING TO DO MORE. AND YOU'VE SEEN US ` AND YOU SAW ME IN OPPOSITION ` EXPRESS VERY STRONGLY MY SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND ALSO FOR UKRAINE. HE AND I HAVE SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, A GOOD AFFINITY. HE KNOWS TO ASK FOR THINGS IF HE NEEDS THINGS. ATTENDING A WIDER NATO MEETING, THE PM CHALKED UP A SECOND CATCH UP WITH THE U.S. PRESIDENT... PRIME MINISTER LUXON OF NEW ZEALAND. ...AFTER THE PAIR MET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A WHITE HOUSE DINNER LAST NIGHT. WE HAD A COUPLE OF INTERACTIONS LAST NIGHT, WHICH WERE LOVELY, AND THEN TODAY WE HAD A PULL-ASIDE WITH SECRETARY BLINKEN, THE PRESIDENT AND MYSELF. THE PRIME MINISTER POSTED THIS PIC OF HIM AND JOE BIDEN ON X, THE PRESIDENT LOOKING NOTABLY FRAIL. WASHINGTON'S BEEN LUXON'S GREATEST HOBNOB JOB YET, FROM WORLD LEADERS GALORE TO THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL. ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. CHEERS. AND HE FINALLY GOT THAT DELAYED SIT DOWN WITH TEXAS SENATOR AND TRUMP-BACKER TED CRUZ. STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO THE FIRE OF BIDEN'S. THE PRIME MINISTER'S MAKING A MAD DASH FROM HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE HE'LL MEET THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR, GAVIN NEWSOM. NEWSOM IS A LONG-TIME JOE BIDEN ALLY, BUT ALSO PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL. HE TOPS ALMOST ALL THE LISTS OF POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS FOR THE PRESIDENT, A ROLE WHICH IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY NECESSARY BY THE DAY. TOVA'S JUST LANDED IN SAN FRANCISCO ALONGSIDE THE PRIME MINISTER'S ENTOURAGE. TOVA, WILL THE BIDEN BLUNDERS IMPACT THE LAST LEG OF CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S U.S. TRIP? IT WAS ALWAYS PRETTY INTERESTING HE WAS GOING TO BE MEETING WITH GAVIN NEWSOM, THE TOP SUCCESS OF ABIDIN. AFTER THE FRANKLY APPALLING BLUNDERS FROM THE PRESIDENT ` THAT ROLE OF SUCCESSOR IS LOOKING DAMN MORE NECESSARY BY THE DAY. AND AS HE TOUCHED DOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS EVENING, THERE WAS SOME POSITIVE POLL NEWS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER. THIS MONTH'S TAXPAYERS UNION-CURIA POLL SHOWED A BOOST FOR LUXON AS PREFERRED PM ` UP NINE POINTS SINCE JUNE TO 34.5% CHRIS HIPKINS DROPPED DOWN 1.5 POINTS TO 18.7%. THE NATIONAL PARTY ALSO HAD A JUMP ` UP 2.2 POINTS TO 37.6%, WITH ITS COALITION PARTNERS SITTING AT 9.1% AND 7.3% RESPECTIVELY. MORE BAD NEWS FOR LABOUR IN THE PARTY POLLS, FALLING 3.5 POINTS TO JUST UNDER 26%. INLAND REVENUE HAS BEGUN A CRACKDOWN ON TAX DEBT, WHICH HAS RISEN TO NEARLY $7.4b. THE DEPARTMENT HAS WARNED IT'LL BE INCREASING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY THIS YEAR AFTER IT RECEIVED A FINANCIAL BOOST FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO STRENGTHEN TAX COMPLIANCE. ZANE SMALL HAS MORE. BUILDERS, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED ` THE TAX AUDITORS ARE ROLLING IN. INLAND REVENUE HAS STARTED UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO CONSTRUCTION SITES TO COLLECT UNPAID TAX. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL BELIEVES CASH JOBS MAY BE THE ISSUE. YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T ASK YOUR GP OR YOUR LAWYER OR YOUR ACCOUNTANT 'HOW MUCH FOR CASH?' BUT PEOPLE FEEL NO QUALMS ABOUT DOING THAT WITH THEIR BUILDERS, AND SO I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT THAT. CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES TARGETED IN A TAX DEBT CRACKDOWN, WHICH, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, HAS BEEN RISING STEADILY AND NOW SITS AT NEARLY $7.4b. THE CONCERN FOR ME AS MINISTER FOR REVENUE IS NOT ONLY THAT NUMBER, BUT ACTUALLY THE FACT THAT IT'S INCREASED BY 50% SINCE 2022. IN THE LATEST BUDGET, THE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED $116m OVER FOUR YEARS TO SUPPORT INLAND REVENUE TO STRENGTHEN TAX COMPLIANCE, AND THE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS A $700m RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT. THAT'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COULD BE SPENT ON DELIVERING PUBLIC SERVICES. INLAND REVENUE WILL ALSO FOCUS ON ORGANISED CRIME, OVERDUE STUDENT LOAN DEBT, TAX ISSUES WITH MULTINATIONALS AND CORPORATE RESTRUCTURES, PLUS UNDER-REPORTING OF INCOME FROM CRYPTO-ASSET TRANSACTIONS. 90% OF ALL TAXPAYERS IN NEW ZEALAND ABSOLUTELY DO THE RIGHT THING, COMPLY WITH THEIR OBLIGATIONS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 10% OF TAXPAYERS. INLAND REVENUE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT... CERTAINLY, UNDER THE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU MIGHT FIND QUITE A FEW BUILDING COMPANIES THERE. INSTALMENT ARRANGEMENTS TO PAY OFF TAX DEBT OVER TIME CAN BE ARRANGED, BUT INLAND REVENUE IS HAMMERING IN THE MESSAGE... THAT TAX AVOIDANCE WON'T BE TOLERATED. AUCKLAND'S ICONIC PONSONBY RD RESTAURANT SPQR HAS GONE INTO LIQUIDATION. IT OPENED IN 1992 AND SURVIVED MANY CHALLENGING TIMES FOR THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR, INCLUDING THE PANDEMIC. IT'S JUST THE LATEST WELL-ESTABLISHED AUCKLAND BUSINESS TO GO UNDER. CHAPEL BAR ACROSS THE ROAD RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT HAD ALSO BEEN PLACED INTO RECEIVERSHIP, AND UPMARKET DEPARTMENT STORE SMITH & CAUGHEY IS SET TO SHUT ITS DOORS NEXT YEAR. RUGBY'S POPULARITY PEAKED A DECADE AGO ACCORDING TO WHAT WE'RE BUYING, AND THAT'S BALLS. A NEW ZEALAND ECONOMIST ANALYSED STATS NZ DATA TO SEE WHICH SPORTS WE LOVE, AND IT'S FOOTBALLS AND BASKETBALLS FLYING OFF THE SHELVES, WITH RUGBY BALLS GOING FLAT. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY EXPLAINS. IT'S A SLAM DUNK FOR BASKETBALL. A STRIKE FOR FOOTBALL. MEANWHILE RUGBY WILL NEED TO KEEP TRY-ING. OK, ENOUGH OF THE CORNY SPORTS PUNS. BUT AN ECONOMIST HAS LOOKED AT WHICH BALLS ARE FLYING ` OFF THE SHELVES. THE REASON I LOOKED AT THE IMPORT FIGURES IS BECAUSE I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW NEW ZEALANDERS ARE PLAYING SPORT. AND IT WASN'T OUR BELOVED NATIONAL SPORT. WE CAN SEE FROM THE DATA THAT THE WAY THAT WE PLAY SPORT HAS CHANGED. RUGBY WAS VERY POPULAR AND GAINING IN POPULARITY UNTIL 2011 AND HAS BEEN FALLING SINCE THEN. SOCCER HAS REMAINED POPULAR, AND BASKETBALL HAS BECOME REALLY POPULAR JUST IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. IN FACT, BASKETBALL SALES HAVE RISEN 808% IN THREE DECADES. BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND HAS NEARLY 78,000 REGISTERED PLAYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS GRAPH SAYS IT ALL. OVER MORE THAN 20 YEARS, RUGBY BALL PURCHASES PEAKED IN 2011 WHEN WE HOSTED AND WON THE RUGBY WORLD CUP BUT HAVE SINCE HALVED. SOCCER REMAINS POPULAR, AND BASKETBALL HAS BEEN ON A STEADY RISE.. A LOT MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PLAYING IT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD. THE REASONS ARE VARIED. THE AMERICAN NBA HAS HELPED INSPIRE KIDS, AS HAVE OUR OWN HOMEGROWN STARS LIKE STEVEN ADAMS, WHO'S CURRENTLY SIGNED TO THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. I LIKE BASKETBALL COS IT'S FUN AND ALSO YOU HAVE A TEAM, SO IF YOU SCORE, YOUR WHOLE TEAM SCORES. MANY KIDS ARE SWITCHING AWAY FROM RUGBY. SINCE I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY NOT TOO LONG AGO, I'VE NOTICED A BIG INCREASE OF KIDS SPECIFICALLY WANTING TO TRANSITION INTO FOOTBALL. BUT THIS ECONOMIST SAID THE DATA ALSO SHOWS ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE PATTERN. SO, NEW ZEALAND ADULTS ARE LESS ACTIVE THAN THEY SHOULD BE. SO ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF NEW ZEALANDERS ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, AND PART OF THAT IS WE'RE NOT ACTIVE ENOUGH AND WE'RE NOT PLAYING ENOUGH SPORT. STICKING WITH BALLS, THERE'S A BIG GAME TOMORROW NIGHT AT EDEN PARK. HOW ARE CONDITIONS, HEATHER? THE WEATHER WILL PLAY BALL ` NO RAIN, VERY LITTLE WIND, BUT COLD, SO LAYER UP ` IN BLACK, OF COURSE. AUCKLAND ACTUALLY HAD THEIR COLDEST MORNING SO FAR OF THE YEAR ` ARDMORE AIRPORT DOWN TO MINUS-1. YES, THERE WAS FROST. FOG DOMINATED TOO ` MANAPOURI AND TE ANAU ALL STUCK IN FOG ` NO SUN ALL DAY. BUT LOOK HOW PRETTY MT SEFTON LOOKS. A LITTLE MOODY WITH THE EARLY MORNING SUN. TEKAPO TODAY MINUS-6. FULL WEATHER UP AFTER SPORT. JUST AHEAD, THE TRANSPORT MINISTER ANNOUNCES A CRACKDOWN ON WHAT HE CALLS OUT-OF-CONTROL ROAD CONES. WE'LL SHOW YOU A CASE STUDY IN THE CAPITAL WHERE CAR PARKS ARE BEING REMOVED TO MAKE WAY FOR BIKE LANES. AND RELIEF IN ROUEN ` FRENCH FIREFIGHTERS PUT OUT A BLAZE THAT HAD LOCALS FEARING A REPEAT OF THE CATASTROPHIC NOTRE DAME FIRE FIVE YEARS AGO. TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMEON BROWN HAS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO TACKLE WHAT HE CALLS 'ROAD CONE FATIGUE'. THE GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE THE TRANSPORT AGENCY TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTS ON HOW MUCH IS SPENT ON TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT EXPENDITURE ON ROAD CONES REDUCES EACH YEAR. ZANE SMALL JOINS US LIVE FROM CENTRAL AUCKLAND, WHERE THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF CONES. ZANE, WHAT ELSE IS IN THE PLAN? WELL, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ROLLING OUT A NEW RISK-BASED APPROACH TO USING ROAD CONES, SO INSTEAD OF PRESCRIBING HOW MANY SHOULD BE AT A SITE, THE NUMBER OF CONES WILL BE CALCULATED BASED ON THE RISK OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING. THEN THE TRANSPORT AGENCY WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPORT EVERY QUARTER ON HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT ON ROAD CONES. LOCAL ROADING AUTHORITIES WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, SPENDS AT LEAST $145m EACH YEAR, AND THE TRANSPORT MINISTER SAID THAT'S TOO MUCH. NZTA UNDERTOOK AN ASSESSMENT OF ALL THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SITES ON THE STATE HIGHWAY NETWORK BACK IN FEBRUARY. AND THEY FOUND OF THE 800 SITES, 145 OF THEM WEREN'T NECESSARY. SO WE KNOW THERE'S AN EXCESSIVE USE OF ROAD CONES. AND WE NEED TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL. SIMEON BROWN SAID WHEN HE BECAME TRANSPORT MINISTER, HE WAS WAS TOLD BY THE TRANSPORT AGENCY THERE WAS NO RECORD OF HOW MUCH HAD BEEN SPENT EACH YEAR ON ROAD CONES, BUT THAT'LL ALL CHANGE WHEN THE FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT COMES OUT IN OCTOBER. WELL, ROAD CONES ARE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN WELLINGTON WHERE 30KM OF NEW BIKE LANES ARE BEING BUILT THIS YEAR. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS REMOVED 1200 CAR PARKS TO ALLOW FOR THE WORK, LEAVING BEHIND A TRAIL OF ORANGE CONES AND DISGRUNTLED SHOPKEEPERS. ERIN GOURLEY HAS MORE. ROAD CONES HERE, ROAD CONES THERE. THEY ARE SEEMINGLY EVERYWHERE IN THE CAPITAL. IT'S JUST A DISASTER UNFOLDING. BUILDING OWNER PAUL ROBINSON IS ADAMANT THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF BIKE LANES IS HAVING A HUGE IMPACT. PEDESTRIAN FOOT COUNT DOWN ON THORNDON QUAY IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 50% DOWN, MAYBE 80% DOWN. WE HAVE PARTS OF THORNDON QUAY THAT HAVE BEEN CORDONED OFF WITH ORANGE CONES, AND THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE QUAY WHEN ORANGE CONES GO UP, BECAUSE THERE JUST SIMPLY AREN'T ENOUGH CAR PARKS. IN NEARBY KARORI, BUSINESSES WORRY THEY'LL FACE A SIMILAR KIND OF CHAOS NEXT YEAR, WHEN THE COUNCIL REMOVES HUNDREDS OF CAR PARKS FOR A CYCLEWAY. IT'S TOO HARD. IT'S TOO HARD. I AM ABSOLUTELY FOR SAFER CYCLING, BUT AT WHAT COST? THE COUNCIL IS UNREPENTANT, INSISTING NEW BIKE LANES ARE ALREADY GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND ON TO THEIR BIKES. AND CYCLING ADVOCATES AGREE. I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, BUT ALSO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO NOW FEEL CONFIDENT TO USE A BIKE TO GET AROUND THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE PROTECTED CYCLEWAYS THAT HAVE GONE IN. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW MUCH BETTER OUR CITY CAN BE IF WE CAN GET AROUND IN WAYS THAT ARE MORE FUN AND COST EFFECTIVE. THE COUNCIL SAYS THE CITY WILL GRIND TO A HALT UNLESS PEOPLE GET ON THEIR BIKES, AND IT SEEMS WELLINGTONIANS ARE DIVIDED. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST, UM, GETTING MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OUT THERE. TERRIBLE. I WANT THEM TO STOP IT, AND I WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON THE STORM AND THE WATER AND DRAINS. THEY HAVE DISRUPTED EVERYDAY LIFE FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE. I'M IN FAVOUR OF THE CYCLEWAYS. YEAH. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR TRAVEL. IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF ROAD CONES TO GET THERE. IN FRANCE, FIREFIGHTERS HAVE STOPPED A BLAZE FROM TEARING THROUGH A 12TH CENTURY CATHEDRAL IN NORTHERN FRANCE, NARROWLY AVOIDING ANOTHER DISASTER LIKE NOTRE DAME. THE FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE SPIRE OF THE BUILDING 120M HIGH IN THE CITY OF ROUEN. CREWS MANAGED TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS AND SAY IT DIDN'T SPREAD RAPIDLY BECAUSE THE AREA IS MOSTLY METAL. THE CATHEDRAL IS CONSIDERED A GOTHIC MASTERPIECE AS IT'S BEEN PAINTED SEVERAL TIMES BY 19TH CENTURY IMPRESSIONIST CLAUDE MONET. LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS SHELLEY DUVALL HAS DIED AGED 75. SHE STARRED IN A RANGE OF ACCLAIMED FILMS, BUT IT WAS HER UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE IN STEPHEN KING'S 'THE SHINING' THAT SHE'LL BE MOST REMEMBERED FOR. A BROMANCE BROUGHT TO THE BIG SCREEN ` LATER, OUR REPORTER CATCHES UP WITH RYAN REYNOLDS AND HUGH JACKMAN AHEAD OF THEIR MARVEL MASH-UP RELEASE. AND IN SPORT, A NEW FACE IN THE BLACK FERNS TEAM TO TAKE ON AUSTRALIA ON SUNDAY. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WON'T BE STEPPING ASIDE IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. THE 81-YEAR-OLD FIELDED QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS DURING AN UNSCRIPTED PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER A COUPLE OF MAJOR NAME GAFFES. INLAND REVENUE HAS STARTED MAKING UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO WORK SITES TO COLLECT UNPAID TAX. IT'S OWED NEARLY $7.4b. AND TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMEON BROWN HAS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO TACKLE WHAT HE CALLS 'ROAD CONE FATIGUE'. BROWN SAYS THE CURRENT APPROACH IS OUT OF CONTROL, AND HE EXPECTS EXPENDITURE ON ROAD CONES TO REDUCE EACH YEAR. AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER AND HER HUSBAND HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SHARING MILITARY INFORMATION WITH MOSCOW. THE COUPLE, WHO WERE BOTH BORN IN RUSSIA, HAD BEEN LIVING IN AUSTRALIA FOR MORE THAN A DECADE BEFORE BECOMING CITIZENS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. POLICE CLAIM THE WOMAN SECRETLY TRAVELLED BACK HOME WHILE ON LEAVE FROM THE DEFENCE FORCE. SHE INSTRUCTED HER HUSBAND, WHO REMAINED IN AUSTRALIA, ON HOW TO LOG INTO HER OFFICIAL WORK ACCOUNT FROM THEIR BRISBANE HOME. WE ALLEGE HER HUSBAND WOULD ACCESS REQUESTED MATERIAL AND WOULD SEND TO HIS WIFE IN RUSSIA. SHEARING SHEEP, ANALYSING THE HEALTH OF SOIL, AND MANOEUVRING HEAVY MACHINERY ` IT'S ALL IN A DAY'S WORK FOR THIS YEAR'S YOUNG FARMER COMPETITORS. SEVEN CONTESTANTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE BEING PUT THROUGH THEIR RURAL PACES IN HAMILTON THIS YEAR, ALL FIGHTING FOR THE ULTIMATE TITLE. LAURA TUPOU REPORTS. IT WAS A GLORIOUS MORNING IN THE MIGHTY WAIKATO. PERFECT CONDITIONS TO TEST THE BEST AT THEIR FARM SKILLS. I PREPARED WELL SO NOT MUCH WE CAN DO NOW, JUST GET INTO IT. AND GET INTO IT THEY DID ` BUILDING A KENNEL IN UNDER 15 MINUTES, MANOEUVRING A SHIPPING CONTAINER ON AND OFF A TRUCK IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME ` NO SWEAT. GO, GO! GO BOY! BUT A HEAD-TO-HEAD CHALLENGE WITH ALL SEVEN COMPETITORS REQUIRED A BIT OF A BRIEFING. THE TASK ` TO BONE AN ENTIRE LAMB IN 30 MINUTES. TELL YOU WHAT ` WHO LIKES A BIG FAT CHOP? THEY ALL SEEMED TO TAKE EACH CHALLENGE IN THEIR STRIDE, ALL TO GAIN THE ULTIMATE PRIZE ` YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR. LAST YEAR'S WINNER ` THE FIRST FEMALE TO WIN ` WAS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE. IT'S BEEN A REAL INTERESTING WATCH. THEY'RE DOING VERY, VERY WELL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MARCH THIS AFTERNOON TO MAKE SURE THEY GET ALL THEIR JOBS FINISHED ON TIME. SHE SAYS SHE'S ENJOYED CONNECTING WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE WHILE HOLDING THE ROLE, ALL WHILE CONTINUING WORK ON THE FARM. OH, AND ALSO EXPANDING THE FAMILY. CHILDBIRTH IS NO JOKE, THAT'S FOR SURE, BUT IT HAS BEEN GOOD FUN HAVING THE TWO BOYS AT HOME AND WHAT A LIFESTYLE THAT WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE TO INCORPORATE THE KIDS INTO THE FARM. THERE WERE ALL DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS SHOWING OFF THEIR SKILLS TODAY, INCLUDING LIANE REDPATH (16) WHO HAILS FROM A SHEEP AND BEEF FARM NEAR GISBORNE. I'VE KIND OF ALWAYS DONE A BIT OF WORK FOR DAD OUT ON THE FARM, AND, YEAH, NO, I REALLY ENJOY IT. ENJOYS IT, AND IS GOOD AT IT, DEMONSTRATING HOW TO DEAL WITH A VERY REAL SCENARIO ` THE AFTERMATH OF A STORM. WE HAD TO STRAIN UP A FENCE THERE, PUT IN A STAY AND THEN WE HAD TO PLUMB UP A WATER TROUGH THERE, AND OUR LITTLE KIND OF LIKE SIDE QUEST BIT WAS PUTTING TOGETHER A LITTLE, LIKE, WETA BOX, SO, YEAH, PRETTY COOL. FARMERS THESE DAYS NEED TO DEAL WITH MANY MORE ASPECTS. RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES, FINANCIALS SKILLS, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS, UNDERSTANDING HOW TO LOOK AT DATA AND MAKE REALLY GOOD DECISIONS. BECAUSE, SHE SAYS, THESE ARE THE FARMERS OF TOMORROW. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS FOR THE SECTOR IN TERMS OF EXPORTS, EMISSIONS CONTROL, GOING INTO THE FUTURE. AND FAIR TO SAY THERE'S SOME PRIME STOCK IN THE MAKING. WE MIGHT BE A FEW MONTHS AWAY FROM SPRING, BUT FLOWER LOVERS MIGHT NEED TO PREPARE FOR A SEASONAL DISAPPOINTMENT. WE'RE FACING A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S FAVOURITE BLOOMS. AS LAURA FRYKBERG FOUND OUT, THE ISSUE ALL STEMS FROM ONE FLOWER FARM PULLING OUT OF THE MARKET. IN FULL BLOOM, THEY'RE AN INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE FLOWER, AND ONE THE VAN EEDEN FAMILY HAS SPECIALISED IN GROWING FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS, SUPPLYING THE NEW ZEALAND MARKET WITH MORE VARIETY THAN ANY OTHER GROWER. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THOUGH, IT ALL CAME TO AN END. IT WAS A BIT OF AN INSTITUTION DOWN THERE, BUT THE TIME HAD COME. TWO OF MY BROTHERS WANTED TO RETIRE. AND IT WAS A GOOD TIME JUST TO CLOSE IT ALL DOWN AND HAVE A CLEAN FINISH. SINCE THEN, THE FORMER PRODUCTION MANAGER, JOHN VAN EEDEN, SAYS THE TULIP MARKET HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED, WITH THE REMAINING FARMS OPTING TO EXPORT LARGER QUANTITIES TO MORE PROFITABLE COUNTRIES, SUPPLYING OUR MARKET WITH FEWER OPTIONS, A SHIFT THOSE WHO USED TO BUY OFF THE VAN EEDENS HAVE NOTICED. THEY WERE ONE OF THE FEW GROWERS THAT WERE GROWING A DEDICATED VARIETY SET LIST FOR THE NEW ZEALAND MARKET. SO THEY HAD REALLY INTERESTING DIFFERENT VARIETIES ` NOT JUST YOUR STOCK-STANDARD, STRAIGHT WHITE TULIP. THEY HAD ALL SORTS OF BEAUTIFUL DIFFERENT OPTIONS, SO SINCE THEY'VE CLOSED, THE RANGE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BUY HAS REALLY DECREASED. THIS GARDEN CENTRE IN WELLINGTON HAS ALSO SEEN THE KNOCK-ON EFFECT, WITH FEWER TULIPS ON OFFER LAST SEASON TOO ` A CHALLENGE FOR SHOP MANAGER LISA LEASK, WHO SAYS THE COLOURFUL FLOWER IS A CUSTOMER FAVOURITE. PEOPLE JUST DO LOVE THEIR TULIPS. IT'S ONE OF THE ONES WE DO GET ASKED FOR ` YOU KNOW, 'WHEN ARE THE TULIPS COMING IN?' THEY HAVE TENDED TO BE A LITTLE BIT LATER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAN NORMAL, SO HOPEFULLY, YES, THEY WON'T BE LATE AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WE WILL GET A GOOD CROP OF TULIPS TO CHOOSE FROM. CONDITIONS IN NEW ZEALAND ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR GROWERS, BUT VAN EEDEN SAYS THERE'S ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY IN PARTICULAR THAT'S ARGUABLY THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR THE FLOWER TO FLOURISH. SOUTHLAND, IN PARTICULAR ` THE CLIMATE AND THE RAINFALL AND THE TEMPERATURES ARE ALL JUST ABOUT PERFECT. THEY GROW VERY, VERY GOOD TULIPS HERE. EVEN IF, AT LEAST FOR NOW, NEW ZEALAND NO LONGER HAS ITS FIRST PICK OF THE BUNCH. LUCY'S HERE WITH SPORT AND A NEW FACE IN THE BLACK FERNS? THE COACH HAS NAMED A PRETTY STRONG SQUAD FOR THE TEST ON SUNDAY AGAINST AUSTRALIA. IT WILL BE THE TEAM'S LAST CHANCE TO EXPERIMENT BEFORE THEIR BIGGEST TEST OF THE YEAR AT TWICKENHAM. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON BUNTING'S SIDE TO FACE AUSTRALIA NEXT. PLUS ` A SENSATIONAL COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN SEES THE WIMBLEDON SEVENTH SEED THROUGH TO A SECOND CONSECUTIVE GRAND SLAM FINAL. AND THE SILVER FERNS LOSE TWO KEY PLAYERS FOR THE UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL NETBALL SEASON. THE BLACK FERNS MAY HAVE ALREADY RETAINED THE O'REILLY CUP, BUT THEY SAY THEY'VE STILL GOT PLENTY TO PROVE THIS WEEKEND. THEY FACE THE WALLAROOS ACROSS THE TASMAN ON SUNDAY. BUT AS MUCH AS THIS WEEK IS ABOUT REFLECTING ON LAURIE O'REILLY'S LEGACY, IT'S EQUALLY ABOUT FORWARD PLANNING, WITH THE BLACK FERNS LOOKING TO INNOVATE AND EXPERIMENT AS THEY BUILD TOWARDS THEIR BIGGEST TEST OF THE YEAR. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. THE BLACK FERNS BEING PUT THROUGH THEIR FINAL PACES IN BRISBANE AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S TEST... AND WITH A NEW FACE ` HOOKER ATLANTA LOLOHEA SET TO MAKE HER DEBUT OFF THE BENCH. I'M FEELING REALLY EXCITED. I'M GETTING JITTERS, AND IT'S NOT EVEN GAME DAY. SO GOT A GOOD VIBE GOING AND HAPPY TO BE HERE. GOING BY RECENT RESULTS, IT SHOULDN'T BE A TIGHT CONTEST ` THE BLACK FERNS THRASHING THE WALLAROOS BY 48 POINTS IN MAY. BUT WITH A SEPTEMBER TEST AGAINST ENGLAND AT TWICKENHAM LOOMING, THERE'S PLENTY OF INCENTIVE. JUST WITH WHERE WE'RE HEADING OVER TO TWICKENHAM, WE'RE TRYING A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS THIS GAME. BIT OF TACTICAL STUFF, SOME STUFF AROUND OUR KICKING AND COMMUNICATION ON THE FIELD. ENGLAND ARE A WHOLE DIFFERENT BEAST TO AUSTRALIA, THOUGH. THEY WERE 33-12 VICTORS OVER THE BLACK FERNS IN NOVEMBER AND WILL BE AN EVEN TOUGHER TASK AT THEIR HOME OF RUGBY. I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS TO PLAY AT TWICKENHAM. THAT'S GONNA BE A CRAZY EXPERIENCE. EVER SINCE THAT CAME OUT, EVERYONE'S MINDSET ` YES, PROBABLY GOT ALL OF HIS GAMES AND HIS MATCHES AHEAD OF US, BUT BIGGER PICTURE IS WE'RE BUILDING TOWARDS TWICKENHAM. AND WITH THE WORLD CUP JUST OVER A YEAR AWAY, THE PRESSURE IS BUILDING. THE BLACK FERNS' FIRST TASK, THOUGH ` FINISHING THE LAURIE O'REILLY SERIES IN STYLE. THIS WEEK'S AN IMPORTANT WEEK FOR US. LAURIE O'REILLY IS THE GODFATHER OF WOMEN'S RUGBY. HE PAVED THE WAY FOR US, SO OUR PLAYERS HAVE GOT A LOT TO PLAY FOR THIS WEEKEND. WITH SPOTS UP FOR GRABS FOR IN TWICKENHAM, THE WALLAROOS COULD BE SET FOR ANOTHER WALLOPING. CAPTAIN SCOTT BARRETT'S HOPEFUL THE ALL BLACKS 30-YEAR, 48-GAME UNBEATEN RECORD AT EDEN PARK CAN PROVE THE DIFFERENCE AS THEY CHASE A SERIES SWEEP OF ENGLAND TOMORROW NIGHT. AFTER A COUPLE OF UNCONVINCING YEARS, THE TEAM'S IMPECCABLE RECORD AT EDEN PARK IS ON THE LINE AFTER ENGLAND PUSHED THE ALL BLACKS IN THE SERIES OPENER IN DUNEDIN. THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF HISTORY HERE. AND YEAH, THE PLAYERS CERTAINLY LOVE PLAYING HERE. WHETHER IN FORSYTH BARR OR WELLINGTON OR AROUND ANY OTHER STADIUMS, WE LOVE PLAYING IN FRONT OF OUR CROWDS. EDEN PARK'S POTENTIALLY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIAL. THE ALL BLACKS' LAST DEFEAT AT EDEN PARK WAS AGAINST FRANCE BACK IN 1994. THE SILVER FERNS WILL HAVE TO DO WITHOUT TWO OF THEIR MOST SENIOR PLAYERS FOR THE UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL SEASON. TE PAEA SELBY-RICKIT AND JANE WATSON HAVE MADE THEMSELVES UNAVAILABLE DUE TO THEIR COMMITMENTS AWAY FROM THE GAME, AND IT'S FORCING SELECTORS TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? TE PAEA SELBY-RICKIT AND JANE WATSON HAVE HAD THEIR FAIR SHARE OF SILVER FERN SUCCESSES, BUT THE PAIR HAVE RULED THEMSELVES OUT OF SELECTION FOR THE UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL SEASON. PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER NETBALL, MORE TIME WITH FAMILY, MORE TIME AT HOME. BOTH SELBY-RICKIT AND WATSON HAVE TAKEN TIME AWAY FROM THE GAME IN RECENT YEARS, BUT NEITHER WILL BE DRAWN ON A POSSIBLE RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL NETBALL ALTOGETHER. I'M NOT TOO SURE AT THE MOMENT. I'M JUST GOING TO SEE HOW THE REST OF THIS YEAR GOES AND HOW NEXT YEAR GOES AS WELL, AND THEN I'LL MAKE A DECISION THEN. THE TACTICS DUO, WHO HAVE OVER 120 TEST CAPS BETWEEN THEM, WILL MISS SEPTEMBER'S TAINI JAMISON TROPHY SERIES AGAINST THE ENGLAND ROSES AND OCTOBER'S CONSTELLATION CUP AGAINST AUSTRALIA. WAS IT A BIT OF A SHOCK? PROBABLY. YOU'RE ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED IF YOU CAN'T HAVE THE OPTION OF SELECTING EXPERIENCED AND, YOU KNOW, WELL-PERFORMED PLAYERS. THEY'RE BOTH PLAYING VERY WELL THIS SEASON, SO... FORCING SELECTORS TO LOOK AT BRINGING SOME YOUNGER PLAYERS INTO THE SQUAD. I WOULDN'T LIKE TO SAY WEAKER. I SAY IT'S DIFFERENT. HOW THEY PLAY THE GAME HAS GONE FROM US, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS AND QUALITIES THAT YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY MAY WELL STRENGTHEN IT. BUT SHE'S REFUSING TO SAY WHO THEY MIGHT BE. MM, WELL, I THINK I'LL LEAVE THAT ONE IN THE SELECTION ONCE WE NAME THE TRIALISTS. THAT'LL BE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL NEXT MONTH. ITALIAN TENNIS STAR JASMINE PAOLINI HAS PROVEN HER SURPRISE FRENCH OPEN FINAL APPEARANCE LAST MONTH WAS NO FLUKE AFTER ADVANCING TO ANOTHER GRAND SLAM DECIDER. PAOLINI FOUGHT HER WAY BACK FROM A SET DOWN AT WIMBLEDON THIS MORNING TO BEAT THE UNSEEDED DONNA VEKIC 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 IN 2.15 ` THE TOURNAMENT'S LONGEST EVER WOMEN'S SEMIFINAL. POINT BY POINT, I WAS REPEATING TO MYSELF, TRY POINT BY POINT BECAUSE I WAS REALLY, UH, IN DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW? BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO PLACE BETTER THAN HERE, THAN WHERE TO FIGHT. THE 28-YEAR-OLD HAD NEVER WON A MATCH AT WIMBLEDON UNTIL LAST WEEK AND WILL FACE BARBORA KREJCIKOVA IN SUNDAY'S FINAL. MEANTIME, THE ALL-KIWI COMBO OF MICHAEL VENUS AND ERIN ROUTLIFFE ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE MIXED DOUBLES. FINALLY TONIGHT ` A TARANAKI DAIRY FARMER'S SWAPPING MUD AND GUMBOOTS FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF BUDAPEST AND THE WORLD DARTS MASTERS. KAYLA HITCH SPENDS MOST OF HER TIME IN RAHOTU, SOUTH-WEST OF NEW PLYMOUTH, BUT SHE'LL PLAY TWO MAJOR TOURNAMENTS WHEN SHE HEADS TO HUNGARY THE WORLD MASTERS AND WORLD OPEN, AND SHE'LL ALSO TRY AND QUALIFY FOR THE LAKESIDE WORLD CHAMPS IN ENGLAND. I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO OVERSEAS AND HAVE A GO AT DARTS, JUST TO SEE WHERE DARTS IS AT. MY HUSBAND IS PROBABLY MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER. AND MY KIDS AND FAMILY ARE REAL PROUD. KAYLA HITCH IS RANKED 11TH IN NEW ZEALAND, AND 106 OUT OF 977 PLAYERS IN THE WORLD AT THE MASTERS LEVEL. GOOD ON HER. MY DOUBTS IS ABSOLUTELY RUBBISH. GOOD LUCK TO THE ALL BLACKS. SEE YOU THERE. THANKS LUCY. SHELLEY DUVALL, THE STAR OF CULT HORROR CLASSIC THE SHINING, HAS DIED AGED 75. HERE'S JOHNNY! (SCREAMS) DUVALL WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACTORS OF THE '70S AND EARLY '80S, APPEARING IN A STRING OF MOVIES INCLUDING POPEYE, NASHVILLE AND THREE WOMEN. BUT IT WAS HER APPEARANCE IN THE SHINING THAT REMAINS HER MOST MEMORABLE. A FAMILY SPOKESPERSON SAYS SHE DIED IN HER SLEEP FROM COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO DIABETES. ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S GREAT BROMANCES IS ABOUT TO HIT THE BIG SCREEN IN NEW ZEALAND. RYAN REYNOLDS AND HUGH JACKMAN REGULARLY TROLL EACH OTHER ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THEY'VE PUT THAT ASIDE TO STAR TOGETHER FOR ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BLOCKBUSTERS OF THE YEAR ` A MARVEL MASH-UP. JAMES CROOT WENT TO MEET THEM. YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE. JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE DRINK, AND THEN I'LL LEAVE. HI, PEANUT. I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO COME WITH ME RIGHT NOW. SO UPSY-DAISY. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) OH. IT'S THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BLOCKBUSTER OF THE YEAR, THE MOVIE THAT TEAMS TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR CHARACTERS IN THE MCU ` RYAN REYNOLDS' DEADPOOL... YOU WERE THE X-MAN. ...AND HUGH JACKMAN'S WOLVERINE. TRUST ME, KID. I'M NO HERO. DESPITE BEING A MUCH DESIRED COMBINATION, IT HAD LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD NEVER COME TO PASS. HOWEVER, NOW THE TWO ACTORS ARE CURRENTLY ON A WORLD TOUR TO PROMOTE THIS DECADE'S BUTCH AND SUNDANCE, OR TURNER AND HOOCH. JACKMAN ENJOYING HIS TIME AND MORE THAN HAPPY TO REVEAL WHAT DREW HIM BACK INTO THE FOLD. I REALLY FELT I'D FINISHED WITH THAT PART OF MY LIFE, EVEN THOUGH WE'D BEEN SORT OF TALKING AND FLIRTING WITH THE IDEA. BUT THE DAY I RANG RYAN AND SAID, 'MATE, I'M IN. 'I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS'... I JUST KNEW IN MY BONES THAT THIS MATCH-UP AND THESE TWO CHARACTERS, PLUS ME WORKING WITH RYAN... WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE? LIKE, BEING OLDER, BEING 55, DOING IT. JESUS, WHAT?! YEAH, SORRY, SORRY. I KNOW ON MY CV IT SAYS I'M 33. WELCOME BACK. WHAT YOU HAD TODAY IS LIKELY WHAT YOU'LL HAVE TOMORROW. THE MASSIVE HIGH IS NOT BUDGING. JUST CHILLING DOWN TO THE SOUTHWEST, THE CENTRE JUST OUT OF VIEW ON YOUR SCREEN. THE TWO PROBLEMATIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS WILL HAVE IMPACT ON US. THE ONE OUT IN THE NORTHEAST IS FEEDING SHOWERS OVER THE EAST CAUGHT UP IN THE SOUTHEAST FLOW. AND THE LOW OVER THE TASMAN IS SPINNING OUT A FRONT ARRIVING LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. BUT THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR LATER. IN THE MEANTIME, MOST IN THE SOUTH ARE SET FOR ANOTHER SETTLED EVENING, WITH FROST AND FOG INLAND AND EASTERLIES. A LITTLE CLOUD IN THE EAST COAST, DOWN TO SOUTH CANTERBURY WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR KAIKOURA TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. COULD BE SOME MORNING LOW CLOUD HOVERING OUT EAST. FOR THE NORTH, MOST CLEAR TONIGHT. FROST AND FOG INLAND WITH SOUEASTERLIES. BUT THE EAST IS CLOUDY AND WITH SHOWERS PERSISTENT TONIGHT FOR GISBORNE. TOMORROW, THE SHOWERS RAMP UP IN THE EAST AND DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHLAND, SPREADING OVER THE COROMANDEL BY TOMORROW NIGHT. A FEW MAY MAKE IT TO THE MANAWATU GORGE TOO. BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S A NICE DAY UP TOP. ANOTHER COLD START, AND AUCKLAND AND HAMILTON, BE PREPARED FOR FOG. SHOWERS HIT WHANGAREI AND THE COROMANDEL FROM THE AFTERNOON WITH SOUEASTERLIES EVERYWHERE. MORNING FROST INLAND WITH SOUEASTERLIES EVERYWHERE. THERE WILL BE CLOUDY PATCHES ON AND OFF WITH AFTERNOON SHOWERS FOR TAUPO AND PROBABLY WHAKATANE. PLENTY OF SHOWERS OUT EAST FOR EVERYONE. GISBORNE, YOURS COULD BE HEAVY WITH FRESH SOUEASTERS. SOUTHERLIES FOR DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, AND THEY'LL TURN EASTERLY IN THE MORNING. TAUMARUNUI, YOU WILL BE DOWN TO MINUS-3 OVERNIGHT. FOG IS EXPECTED, SO THE COMBINATION GIVES YOU FREEZE FOG. IT WON'T CLEAR TILL MIDDAY. A FEW SHOWERS FURTHER SOUTH WITH SOUEASTERLIES. FREEZING FOG FOR YOU TOO, REEFTON, AND WON'T CLEAR TILL EARLY AFTERNOON. EVERYWHERE ELSE HERE IS FINE WITH MORNING FROST, THEN RETURNING IN THE EVENING. OCCASIONAL LIGHT RAIN FOR BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA. CLOUDY AND WITH LIGHT SHOWERS ELSEWHERE. SOUWESTERS DIE OUT IN THE MORNING FOR KAIKOURA, WITH AFTERNOON NOREASTERS FOR CANTERBURY. FREEZING FOG TOO FOR ALEXANDRA. FROST MORNING AND NIGHT FOR QUEENSTOWN AND INVERCARGILL. WINDS ARE MOSTLY LIGHT, BUT A NORTHERLY FOR OAMARU AND A NOREASTERLY FOR DUNEDIN. THE MORNING STARTS WITH FROST FOR THOSE INLAND AND WITH A FEW CLOUDS AROUND, ESPECIALLY FOR THE OTAGO PENINSULA. FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF ONLY 2. MOSTLY CLOUDY FOR CHRISTCHURCH. A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS ACROSS THE DAY AS WELL. WINDS ARE LIGHT FIRST UP, BUT A NOREASTER PICKS UP DURING THE AFTERNOON. SATURDAY AROUND THE CAPITAL HAS A FEW CLOUDS AND A FEW SHOWERS. IT WILL CLEAR TOMORROW NIGHT WITH A SOUEASTER AND A FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF 8. A FEW SHOWERS TOMORROW TOO FOR HAWKE'S BAY. THOSE SHOWERS MIGHT BE HEAVY FOR THE WAIROA DISTRICT, BUT IT WILL EASE TOMORROW NIGHT WITH A SOUEASTERLY. ANOTHER BRIEF FORECAST FOR TAURANGA. MAINLY FINE WITH PASSING CLOUD AND SOUEASTERS. THAT'S IT. I'VE LOST COUNT OF THE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF FROST FOR YOU, HAMILTON. TOMORROW, FROST AND LIKELY MORNING FOG. SOUEASTERLIES EASE TOMORROW NIGHT. AUCKLAND, MORNING FOG FOR YOU TOO. LIGHT FROST OUT WEST AS WELL. THE DAY IS DRY WITH SHOWERS TOMORROW NIGHT NORTH OF WHANGAPARAOA, AND WITH A SOUEASTERLY. OVER TO OZ ` MORE SHOWERS FOR ADELAIDE. THEY CLEAR SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE, THOUGH, WITH THE TROUGH HEADING OFF SHORE. AND PLENTY OF SHOWERS FOR THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC. BACK HOME, AND THE SUPER CALM AND FINE AND CLEAR AND LOVELY WEATHER IS OVER. SCATTERED SHOWERS HIT THE NORTH SUNDAY, TURNING TO RAIN LATE, AND WON'T CLEAR TILL TUESDAY. THAT RAIN DEVELOPS FOR THE ENTIRE UPPER HALF OF THE ISLAND ON MONDAY, AND IN THE EAST DOWN TO WAIRARAPA, LINGERING OUT EAST ON TUESDAY, BUT EASING IN THE WEST ON TUESDAY. WITH THIS WEATHER, THE NIGHT IS SLIGHTLY WARMER AGAIN. THE SHOWERS HIT THE SOUTH ISLAND TOO, IN THE NORTH ON SUNDAY, WITH RAIN DEVELOPING THERE ON MONDAY. NOT BAD FOR THE LOWER HALF. JUST A FEW SCATTERED FALLS FOR SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO ON TUESDAY. SO BIG NIGHT TOMORROW AT EDEN PARK. FORTUNATELY, CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE LIKE THEY WERE FOR THE SUPER RUGBY FINAL. YOU WILL NOT NEED A RAIN JACKET, BUT YOU WILL NEED LAYERS. IT WILL BE AROUND 10 DEGREES AT KICK OFF. WARM SOCKS, JACKET. WHAT COLOUR? BLACK, I THINK. EARLIER, WE ASKED YOU ` IS ROAD CONE USE OUT OF CONTROL IN YOUR AREA? 82% OF YOU SAYING YES TO THAT. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY EMAILING newsroom@stuff.co.nz OR HEAD TO THE STUFF WEBSITE. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. 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