TONIGHT ON THREE NEWS ` A NEW MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TRIAL IS ANNOUNCED, BUT WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE ON WIDESPREAD PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH VACANCIES? WHY HEALTH GROUPS ARE ANGRY THE GOVERNMENT'S HALVED THE TAX ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS. OUR CONSUMER WATCHDOG SAYS SOME AIR NEW ZEALAND FARES HAVE SOARED BY 300%. AND HOW A CANTERBURY DAIRY WORKER GOT CAUGHT UP WITH A COLOMBIAN DRUG CARTEL. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. THE GOVERNMENT IS TRIALLING ROUND-THE-CLOCK PEER SUPPORT WORKERS FOR PEOPLE PRESENTING TO HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN MENTAL DISTRESS. BUT SOME ADVOCATES SAY IT ISN'T ENOUGH AS THE SECTOR FACES CRITICAL STAFF SHORTAGES. THREE NEWS CAN REVEAL MORE THAN 450 MENTAL HEALTH NURSE ROLES REMAIN VACANT AND THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL PLAN FOR THE WORKFORCE IS STILL MONTHS AWAY. AND JUST A WARNING, THIS REPORT BY BRIDIE WITTON COULD BE CONFRONTING FOR SOME VIEWERS. MORGEN NIMMO SPENT 20 HOURS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BEFORE SHE GOT A BED. UNABLE TO SEE A SPECIALIST, IT WAS THE ONLY WAY INTO A HEALTH SYSTEM SHE DESCRIBES AS DISJOINTED AND BROKEN. THE TIMES THAT I'VE HAD TO GO IN, IT'S BEEN BECAUSE I AM... AT A POINT WHERE SUICIDE IS THE ONLY OPTION. MORGEN IS ONLY 25 BUT SAYS HER JOURNEY HAS BEEN A LONG ONE, WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE. IN APRIL, AFTER THE MOST RECENT ATTEMPT, AN ED SUPPORT WORKER HELPED HER, BUT MORGEN SAYS IT CAME TOO LATE. SHE TALKED ABOUT HER SERVICES AND ONLY OFFERED THEM AT THE POINT OF BEING A LAST RESORT. THAT SUPPORT WORKER WAS PART OF A TRIAL THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW EXTENDING TO FIVE MORE HOSPITALS FROM SEPTEMBER, WITH PLANS TO ROLL IT OUT NATIONWIDE. THAT'LL BE PUTTING PEER SUPPORT AND LIVED EXPERIENCE WORKERS IN HOSPITALS IN AUCKLAND, WAIKATO, WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH. ADVOCATES HAVE WELCOMED THE MOVE, BUT WITH CHRONIC, WIDESPREAD CLINICAL SHORTAGES, MANY SAY IT IS NOT ENOUGH. MORE THAN 33,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN MENTAL DISTRESS IN THE YEAR TO JUNE 2023, WHICH IS ADDING TO A WORKLOAD THE AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS IS WARNING IS UNSUSTAINABLE, EXHAUSTING AND LEADING TO BURNOUT. AND WHILE THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IS GROWING, SO TOO ARE ITS VACANCIES. MORE THAN 11% OF ALL MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ROLES ARE EMPTY, AND THE FIGURE IS AS HIGH AS 22% FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS AND 19% FOR PSYCHIATRISTS. MENTAL HEALTH NURSES HAVE THE BIGGEST AND FASTEST-GROWING LIST OF VACANCIES, WITH NEARLY 500 FULL-TIME ROLES EMPTY. MATT DOOCEY, THE COUNTRY'S FIRST MENTAL HEALTH MINISTER, PROMISED A NEW FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, BUT HE WON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THE WORKFORCE FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, NEARLY A YEAR AFTER THE ELECTION. IT WAS QUITE DAMNING TO SAY THAT UNDER THE LAST LABOUR GOVERNMENT, THERE WAS NO PLAN. EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN FROM THIS MINISTER HAS BEEN SUPERFICIAL AND IS DOING NOTHING TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH A SECTOR IN CRISIS. MEANWHILE, THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TREATMENT ARE ABLE TO FUND PRIVATE SESSIONS. BUT PEOPLE LIKE MORGEN, WHO RELY ON THE PUBLIC SYSTEM, ARE INSTEAD STUCK SPENDING HOURS ON END IN EDs. AND IF THAT STORY RAISED ANY ISSUES FOR YOU, HELP IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY BY CALLING OR TEXTING 1737. AFTER SCRAPPING LABOUR'S SMOKE-FREE PROGRAMME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOW MOVED TO MAKE ACCESS TO OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS EASIER. THE ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER, CASEY COSTELLO, HAS HALVED THE EXCISE TAX ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, SAYING THEY COULD BE A TOOL TO HELP KIWIS QUIT SMOKING, BUT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT. NATASHA PAYNE REPORTS. IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE A VAPE, BUT THIS IS A HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCT, BETTER KNOWN AS HTP, AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO BECOME A LOT CHEAPER HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. BECAUSE HEAT NOT BURN IS LESS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH THAN SMOKED TOBACCO, WE THINK IT SHOULD BE TAXED LESS. ASSOCIATE HEALTH AND CUSTOMS MINISTER CASEY COSTELLO DECIDED TO HALVE THE EXCISE TAX ON HTPs, REVEALING THE DECISION ON THE CUSTOMS WEBSITE. NEW ZEALAND FIRST BELIEVE THE PRODUCT WILL HELP SMOKERS QUIT, BUT HEALTH EXPERTS SAY IT'S JUST A WAY FOR TOBACCO COMPANIES TO REBRAND. WE KNOW THAT TOBACCO COMPANIES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DEVELOP A TRANSFORMATION NARRATIVE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE POLICYMAKERS THAT THEY ARE MOVING OUT OF COMBUSTED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, WHICH WE KNOW ARE REALLY HARMFUL. BECAUSE THESE DEVICES HEAT THE TOBACCO RATHER THAN BURN IT, IT'S MEANT TO CONTAIN LESS NICOTINE, THEREFORE BE LESS ADDICTIVE, BUT THERE IS LIMITED EVIDENCE TO BACK THAT UP. BUT HTPs AREN'T THE ONLY PRODUCTS CAUSING CONCERN. NICOTINE POUCHES ARE MARKETED AS A WAY TO HELP SMOKERS AND VAPERS GIVE UP, BUT PROFESSOR HOEK SAYS THEY'RE DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE. WE CAN SEE THAT THE PACKAGING IS REALLY COOL. IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE INTERESTED IN. THE POUCHES GET PLACED IN THE MOUTH AND RELEASE NICOTINE INTO THE BLOOD AND HAVE SURGED IN POPULARITY THANKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS. YOU KNOW, IT'S VAPING 2.0. CURRENTLY, THEY AREN'T WIDELY AVAILABLE IN NEW ZEALAND, BUT THEY CAN BE BOUGHT ONLINE. 'VAPE FREE KIDS NEW ZEALAND' SAY THEY HAD A HEATED MEETING WITH COSTELLO BACK IN MARCH ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO IF THE POUCHES MADE THEIR WAY TO NEW ZEALAND, AND THEY WERE LEFT DISAPPOINTED. HER ANSWER WAS THAT SHE WOULD REGULATE THEM. SO WE KNEW THAT DAY THAT THEY WERE COMING, WHETHER WE WANT OR NEED THEM. COSTELLO GAVE THREENEWS A STATEMENT THIS AFTERNOON REGARDING HER REASON BEHIND THE TAX CUTS. SHE SAID THIS GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SEE SMOKERS QUIT, AND THE QUIT-SMOKING PROVIDERS SHE'S SPOKEN TO HAVE SAID THAT THE MORE USEFUL TOOLS AVAILABLE, THE BETTER. AND LATER IN THE PROGRAMME, WE'LL TALK TO TOBACCO RESEARCHER PROFESSOR CHRIS BULLEN ABOUT THE MINISTER'S CLAIMS THAT HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS CAN HELP PEOPLE GIVE UP SMOKING. 15 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL THIS MORNING AFTER TWO BUS CRASHES WITHIN 100M OF EACH OTHER ON STATE HIGHWAY 8 NEAR TWIZEL. ONE PERSON SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES, WHILE SIX OTHERS WERE ALSO HOSPITALISED. IT'S BELIEVED ONE OF THE BUSES WAS CARRYING INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS. THE ROAD WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AS THE PATIENTS WERE ASSESSED AND THE CRASH SCENE CLEARED. HATO HONE ST JOHN RESPONDED WITH NINE VEHICLES AND THREE HELICOPTERS. IT WAS FOGGY AND ICY IN THE AREA AT THE TIME, BUT POLICE SAY THE EXACT CAUSE OF BOTH CRASHES IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE PUBLIC SERVICE UNION HAS HAD A MAJOR WIN OVER THE EDUCATION MINISTRY IN THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AUTHORITY. JOB CUTS AT THE MINISTRY HAVE BEEN HALTED AFTER THE PSA ARGUED THE MINISTRY HAD NOT COMPLIED WITH THE WORKERS' COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH JOINS US NOW. JENNA, HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS? UNION DEFINITELY THINKS IT IS A BIGGIE. IT MEANS THAT THE MINISTRY COULD GO BACK TO DRAWING BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING THAT 7.5% SAVINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED. THAT PROPOSAL WAS INITIALLY TO DISESTABLISH ABOUT 700 ROLES, 300 OF WHICH WERE VACANT. IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGER RESTRUCTURES AMONGST THE MINISTRIES. THE PSA SAYS THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AUTHORITY HAS FOUR MUM FORM ON THEIR SIDE, THE MYSTERY SAID THEY USE THEM AS A COMMUNE OCCASION CHANNEL WHEREAS THEY NEEDED TO INVOLVE THEM IN THE PROCESS, ALLOW THEM TO GIVE FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON ANY OF THE CUTS. IT ALSO SAYS THAT THE CHANGES NEEDED TO BE MADE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. LABOUR HAS PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THIS WILL IMPROVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS GONE TOO FAR IN PURSUIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE CUTS FOR ITS TAX CUTS. THE PSA HAS TOLD US THAT IT MAY BE MOUNTING MORE LEGAL CHALLENGES AGAINST THE MINISTRY OVER JOB CUTS. IT DOES SEND A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND TO EMPLOYERS THAT MASS DISMISSALS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS MAY WELL NOT BE LAWFUL AND IT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATE APPROACH TO TAKE TO INDIVIDUALS IN ANY CASE. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS SENT AS A STATEMENT SAYING IT NEEDS MORE TIME TO DIGESTER THIS RULING BEFORE IT MAKES ANY STATEMENTS. IT SAYS IT IS PLANNING A MEETING WITH THE PSA ONCE IT HAS HAD TIME TO GO OVER IT. IT WILL BE COMMUNICATING THAT WITH STAFF OVER THE COMING DAYS. IT COMES WHEN THE DEFENCE FORCE IS LOOKING TO CUT JOBS AND HOLD PAY AMONG ITS CIVILIAN WORKFORCE AS IT LOOKS TO ADDRESS WHAT IT CALLS AN UNAVOIDABLE SHORTFALL IN ITS BUDGET, TOTALLING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. CONSUMER NZ SAYS A COMPARISON OF AIR NEW ZEALAND FLIGHTS FOUND SOME PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY NEARLY 300%, BUT THE AIRLINE SAYS THE COMPARISON IS, QUOTE, 'QUITE MISLEADING'. JULIET SPEEDY JOINS US NOW LIVE, JULIET WHAT IS CONSUMER NZ BASING THIS ON? THEY ARE LOOKING AT 11 RECENT PRICES OF AIR NEW ZEALAND AND COMPARE THEM TO 2019 AND 2021 AND THEY SAID THAT ALL BAR ONE OF THOSE FLIGHTS HAD INCREASED IN PRICE BY UP TO NEARLY 300% FROM 30%, THIS IS PARTICULAR DIFFICULT FOR STRUGGLING KIWIS AT THE MOMENT. PARTICULAR GIVEN THE LACK OF CHOICE OF DOMESTIC AIRLINES. SO JULIET HOW HAS AIR NEW ZEALAND RESPONDED?KIWIS WERE YEAH, WE'VE NOTICED, AND WE ONLY FLY IF WE HAVE TO` ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. THEY'VE JUST GONE UP IN PRICE QUITE A LOT COMPARED TO WHAT THEY USED TO BE. IT ALL DEPENDS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN PLAN IT, UM, IN ADVANCE, THEN THE PRICES HAVE PRETTY MUCH STAYED THE SAME, BUT YEAH, IF YOU GET LAST MINUTE, THEN THE PRICES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'VE GONE UP SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT SPACE OF TIME, GIVEN FUEL'S BEEN REASONABLY STABLE OVER THE LAST FOUR TO SIX MONTHS. SO JULIET HOW HAS AIR NEW ZEALAND RESPONDED? AIR NEW ZEALAND HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS AND HIT BACK PRETTY HARD, CALLING THIS NOT ONLY MISLEADING, BUT GOING AS FAR AS TO SAY THIS IS MISINFORMATION. THEY ADMIT THAT THEIR PRICES HAVE INCREASED BUT SAY IT IS AROUND 20%, NOT TO BE NEARLY 300% THAT CONSUMER NZ IS SAYING. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEIR OPERATION COSTS HAVE INCREASED AS WELL, SO THEY ARE ONLY CHARGING ABOUT HALF OF THAT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY SAID THEY HOPPY TO TAKE CRITICISM WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR PRICES WHEN IT IS FAIR, BUT THEY SAY THIS VERY MUCH ISN'T. YESTERDAY, IT WAS REVEALED THAT POLICY CHANGES BY THE GOVERNMENT WILL LEAD TO NEW ZEALAND MISSING OUR EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS BY 17 MILLION TONS, THE EQUIVALENT OF 25% OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY'S EMISSIONS. TONIGHT, WE CAN REVEAL THAT IT'S ACTUALLY MUCH WORSE, WITH THE FORESTRY INSTITUTE SAYING THE FIGURE IS MORE LIKELY TO BE 'DOUBLE' THAT. INVESTORS WERE ASKED LAST YEAR WHAT THEY INTENDED TO PLANT THIS YEAR, BUT ONLY HALF THE TREES PROJECTED WENT INTO THE GROUND. LAURA TUPOU REPORTS. THERE'S MORE THAN A MILLION SEEDLINGS GROWING HERE, BUT NEXT YEAR'S ORDERS AREN'T COMING THICK AND FAST. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO SET A NUMBER. THEY ARE STRONGLY INDICATING THAT NEXT YEAR'S ORDERS WILL BE REDUCED ON THIS YEAR. AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR, INVESTORS WERE ASKED HOW MANY HECTARES THEY WERE PLANNING ON PLANTING IN 2024. SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD AN ELECTION, WE'VE HAD CHANGES IN POLICY, WE'VE HAD UNCERTAINTY PUT INTO NOT JUST THE ETS MARKET, BUT ALSO INTO THE ABILITY TO PLANT. WHICH HAS PUT INVESTORS OFF. A LOT OF PLANS HAVE GONE OUT THE WINDOW. BUT THAT HASN'T BEEN REFLECTED IN THE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN, RELEASED YESTERDAY. IT'S ASSUMED 60,000HA OF UNFORESTED LAND WOULD BE PLANTED THIS YEAR AND 30,000 NEXT YEAR, BUT THE FORESTRY INSTITUTE SAYS IN REALITY ONLY 30,000 HAS BEEN PLANTED THIS YEAR, AND 5000 IS PROJECTED FOR NEXT YEAR. IF NURSERIES DON'T HAVE CERTAINTY BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST, NEXT YEAR'S NUMBERS WON'T INCREASE. IF WE MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW, UM... WE'VE LOST 12 MONTHS. AND THAT MEANS LESS CARBON IS BEING OFFSET, AFFECTING THE PROJECTION FOR EMISSIONS BUDGET THREE. WHILST WE'RE SAYING THAT IN 2025, WE'RE SHORT 17 MILLION UNITS, UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES, WE COULD BE SHORT OVER 30 MILLION UNITS. WHICH IS WHY THEY WANT CERTAINTY FROM THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE ` IN PARTICULAR, WHO WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLANT ON THE 15,000HA OF NEW LAND THE GOVERNMENT IS OPENING UP TO FORESTRY EACH YEAR. POTENTIALLY, IF THEY CAME OUT TODAY OR TOMORROW AND SAID, 'THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA WORK,' THEN WE CAN THINK ABOUT IT AND POTENTIALLY GET SOME MORE LAND PLANTED NEXT YEAR, BUT I THINK IT'S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. SO, LAURA, WILL THE GOVERNMENT BE PROVIDING THEM WITH THAT CERTAINTY? THAT IS DEAFENING NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE CONSULTATION FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS, AND THEN AFTER THAT, MINISTERS WILL GO THROUGH ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THEY HAVE GOT FROM THE FORESTRY SECTOR AS WELL, AND THEY WILL COME UP WITH THEIR FINAL PLAN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THAT WILL BE WHEN IT WILL BE KNOWN, JENNIFER DAY, THAT MEANS WE WILL NOT BE OFFSETTING AS MUCH CARBON AS WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE. AT THE ENDDAY, THAT MEANS WE WILL NOT BE OFFSETTING AS MUCH CARBON AS A HEAD HUNTERS GANG MEMBER WHO HANDED HIMSELF IN TO POLICE HAS APPEARED IN COURT CHARGED WITH MURDERING REBELS MC MEMBER TEXAS JACK DOCTOR. THE VICTIM WAS SHOT DEAD IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF A CAR IN MT WELLINGTON ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THE HEAD HUNTER (23) TURNED HIMSELF IN AT THE COLLEGE HILL POLICE STATION THIS MORNING AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED WITH MURDER. AUCKLAND'S SKYCITY CASINO WILL CLOSE FOR FIVE DAYS AT A LOSS OF AROUND $5m FOR BREACHING ITS HOST RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMME. SKYCITY AGREED TO SHUT DOWN FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS THIS YEAR, THOUGH NO SPECIFIC DATES HAVE BEEN SET. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASINO FOUND 23 INCIDENTS WHERE A CUSTOMER WAS ABLE TO GAMBLE CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT DETECTION. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST VOLUNTARY CLOSURE OF A CASINO AND THE LONGEST SUSPENSION UNDER THE GAMBLING ACT. HEATHER'S HERE NOW WITH TODAY'S WEATHER WRAP, AND MORE FOG EVERYWHERE. IT'S STARTING TO GET DISRUPTIVE ` WIDESPREAD FOR AUCKLAND, WAIKATO, ALL OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND. FLIGHTS AND FERRIES IN AUCKLAND SHUT DOWN AGAIN TILL AROUND 9.30; HAMILTON AIRPORT NOT OPERATIONAL TILL 10.30. IT DOES LOOK PRETTY, THOUGH, WHICH IS A SILVER LINING. CLING TO THAT, BECAUSE THE FOG IS BACK TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. FOR SPOTS LIKE ALEXANDRA THAT HAVE BEEN IN FOG ALL DAY, IT WILL LIFT TOMORROW AFTERNOON. I'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT THAT AFTER SPORT. THANKS, HEATHER. STILL TO COME ` THE STORY OF A DAIRY WORKER JAILED FOR IMPORTING COCAINE FROM COLOMBIA. HE SAYS HE DID IT TO HELP PROTECT HIS FATHER FROM A CARTEL. ANOTHER BLOW TO BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN ` THE BELEAGUERED PRESIDENT'S TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID. AND LATER, EXTREMELY RARE VIDEO HAS BEEN RELEASED OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEAST CONTACTED TRIBES EMERGING FROM THE AMAZON. JOE BIDEN HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE 81-YEAR-OLD HAS MILD SYMPTOMS BUT HAS CANCELLED A CAMPAIGN SPEECH IN LAS VEGAS. IT COMES AMID MOUNTING PRESSURE ON THE PRESIDENT TO QUIT THE RACE, WITH A NEW POLL SHOWING TWO THIRDS OF DEMOCRATS SAY HE SHOULD STEP ASIDE AND LET THE PARTY NOMINATE ANOTHER CANDIDATE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LOOK TO ` YOU PERSONALLY ` NOT ANYBODY ELSE, NOT OTHER PUNDITS, NOT EVEN, PERHAPS, FAMILY MEMBERS ` THAT YOU WOULD LOOK TO TO SAY 'IF I SEE THAT, I WILL RE-EVALUATE?' IF I HAD SOME MEDICAL CONDITION THAT EMERGED. IF SOMEBODY` IF DOCTORS CAME TO ME AND SAID, 'YOU'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM, THAT PROBLEM.' BIDEN HAS HAD COVID TWICE BEFORE. PARTY LOYALTY IS NOT A CONCERN FOR DONALD TRUMP, WHO HAS REVELLED AT THE SIGHT OF FORMER ENEMIES FAWNING OVER HIM FROM THE PODIUM AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. AS CHANNEL FOUR'S MATT FREI REPORTS, THE CONVENTION HAS DISPELLED ANY DOUBTS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOW THE PARTY OF TRUMP. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) TRUMP IN HIS ELEMENT. TWO DAYS IN A ROW, HE'S MADE A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT THE CONVENTION. HE JUST CAN'T STAY AWAY. (SCREAMING, APPLAUSE) THE PRIMAL SCREAM OF PRIMETIME ADULATION. GOD BLESS DONALD J TRUMP. AND THE JOY OF WATCHING HIS FORMER OPPONENTS KISS THE RING AND NOD TO GOD. AND FOR TURNING HIS HEAD ON SATURDAY AS THE SHOT WAS FIRED. DONALD TRUMP HAS MY STRONG ENDORSEMENT, PERIOD. SHE HAD CALLED HIM 'UNHINGED'. LET'S MAKE THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THE 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. HE HAD CALLED HIM BOTH 'TOO JUVENILE' AND 'TOO OLD'. TOGETHER, WE WILL MAKE DONALD TRUMP OUR PRESIDENT AGAIN. AND HE HAD DESCRIBED HIM AS A CON ARTIST. CROWD CHANTS: DONALD TRUMP. A ROLL CALL OF SYCOPHANCY THAT WAS ONLY SUMMONED AFTER THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT TO PROJECT PARTY UNITY. WHAT TRUMP CHERISHES MOST IS LOYALTY, HENCE HIS RELIANCE ON FAMILY IN BUSINESS AND IN POLITICS. IN THE ABSENCE OF IVANKA, THERE IS DONALD JR, WHO LOBBIED HARD FOR HIS FRIEND JD VANCE TO BECOME VICE-PRESIDENT... (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LARA, PROMOTED FROM POLITICAL NOVICE TO ALL-POWERFUL PARTY GRANDEE. HER ROLE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRUMP, THE FAMILY MAN. I HAVE SEEN THIS MAN DRAGGED THROUGH HELL AND BACK IN AND OUT OF COURTROOMS, INDICTMENTS, IMPEACHMENTS, MUG SHOTS AND EVEN AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. AND YET HE HAS NEVER BACKED DOWN. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) SHOULD TRUMP WIN, THIS SMALL GROUP OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL RUN THE MOST POWERFUL NATION ON EARTH. AMERICA FIRST. AMERICA ALONE. ONE NATION UNDER TRUMP. ONE FAMILY UNDER GOD. TRUMP, OF COURSE, NEARLY DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE CONVENTION. THE SECRET SERVICE'S FAILURE TO PREVENT THE SHOOTING AT HIS PENNSYLVANIA RALLY IS TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. AND THEIR OWN BOSS HAS ONLY MADE THINGS WORSE, SAYING POLICE DIDN'T GO UP ON THE ROOF WHERE THE GUNMAN WAS BECAUSE ITS SLOPE MADE IT UNSAFE. ITV'S EMMA MURPHY REPORTS. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE, DONALD TRUMP ` EAR BANDAGED ` IS PREPARING FOR HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. HE SAYS HE'S REWRITTEN IT AFTER THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. NO DOUBT THE EVENTS OF SATURDAY WILL DOMINATE HIS ORATORY. EVERY DAY, NEW FOOTAGE EMERGES, WHICH BUILDS A PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUN UP. YES, SOMEONE'S ON TOP OF THE ROOF. LOOK, THERE HE IS, RIGHT THERE. WHERE? RIGHT THERE, SEE HIM? HE'S LYING DOWN. YOU SEE HIM? YEAH, HE'S LYING DOWN. EVERY WOBBLY FRAME SHOWING THOMAS CROOKS PREPARING TO ATTACK... YES. LOOK, THERE HE IS. (TRUMP ADDRESSES CROWD OVER P.A.) OFFICER. ...AND THE CONSTERNATION OF THE PUBLIC INCREASES PRESSURE ON THE SECURITY SERVICES TASKED WITH PROTECTING THE FORMER PRESIDENT. IT'S NOW EMERGED THAT BEFORE DONALD TRUMP BEGAN HIS SPEECH, THERE WERE REPORTS OF A SUSPICIOUS MAN IN THE AREA. THAT MAN WAS CROOKS. SOME OFFICERS WERE IN THE ACTUAL BUILDING AT THE TIME WHEN HE WAS ON THE ROOF. WHEN THEY BECAME AWARE OF HIM, A LOCAL OFFICER FIRED. SECRET SERVICE COUNTER0SNIPERS THEN OPENED FIRE, AND CROOKS WAS KILLED. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AS WELL AS THE FBI, ARE NOW INVESTIGATING WHAT WENT ON HERE, AMID GROWING CALLS FROM REPUBLICANS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE SECRET SERVICE TO RESIGN. HER DEFENCE AS TO WHY THE ROOF WASN'T SECURE HAS DONE LITTLE TO STRENGTHEN HER POSITION. THAT BUILDING IN PARTICULAR HAS A SLOPED ROOF AT ITS HIGHEST POINT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SAFETY FACTOR THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THERE, THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY UP ON A SLOPED ROOF. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO SECURE THE BUILDING FROM INSIDE. CROWD CHANTS: USA! USA! USA! THE JOB OF THE SECRET SERVICE IS TO PROTECT PRESIDENTS AND FORMER PRESIDENTS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. ONE OF TRUMP'S FORMER AGENTS QUESTIONS THE DIRECTOR'S DEFENCE. THEORETICALLY, IT'S NOT` THAT IS NOT AN OBSTACLE FOR THE SECRET SERVICE OR THE COUNTER-SNIPER TEAMS. UM, IF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IN ALL THE VIDEO THAT'S BEEN PLAYED AROUND THE WORLD OF THE OTHER COUNTER-SNIPER TEAM THAT WAS LOCATED ON THE ROOF BEHIND THE STAGE, THAT TOO WAS A SLOPED ROOF AND APPEARED TO BE OF A GREATER ANGLE THAN THE ROOF IN QUESTION THAT THE POTENTIAL ASSASSIN WAS ON. THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION HAS DONE NOTHING TO QUIETEN THE VENOMOUS TONE OF AMERICAN POLITICS. THE BILLBOARDS DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE SHOWGROUND NOW CELEBRATING HIS SURVIVAL AND FUELLING THE SENSE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS AMERICA'S SAVIOUR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S SLASHING OF THE EXCISE DUTY ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS. THEY SAY IT WILL HELP PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING, BUT WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY? WE HAVE RARE FOOTAGE OF A SO-CALLED 'UNCONTACTED' AMAZON TRIBE EMERGING FROM THE RAINFOREST. AND LATER IN SPORT, SCOTT ROBERTSON MAKES 11 CHANGES FOR THE ALL BLACKS' TEST AGAINST FIJI, SO WHO'S IN LINE FOR A DEBUT? THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE GOVERNMENT IS TRIALLING ROUND-THE-CLOCK PEER SUPPORT WORKERS AT HOSPITAL EDs FOR PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, BUT SOME ADVOCATES SAY IT ISN'T ENOUGH AS THE SECTOR FACES CRITICAL STAFF SHORTAGES. CONSUMER NZ SAYS A COMPARISON OF AIR NEW ZEALAND FLIGHTS FOUND SOME PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY NEARLY 300%. BUT THE AIRLINE SAYS THE COMPARISON IS, QUOTE, 'QUITE MISLEADING'. AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS HALVED THE EXCISE TAX ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, SAYING THEY COULD HELP PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING. SMOKE-FREE EXPERT ADVISORY MEMBER AND TOBACCO RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND PROF CHRIS BULLEN JOINS ME NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. WHAT EXACTLY ARE THESE PRODUCTS? NOT CIGARETTES. THEY ARE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN CIGARETTES AND VAPES. CIGARETTES BURN TOBACCO. VAPES VAPORISE NICOTINE. THEY TOAST THE TOBACCO. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HEALTHIER BECAUSE IT IS NOT BURNING IT? IT IS PROBABLY SAFER THAN CIGARETTES, BUT THE EVIDENCE AROUND THAT IS RELATIVELY IN EVOLUTION. THERE IS NO INDEPENDENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEY STOP PEOPLE SMOKING. I WAS FLABBERGASTED. I CAN SEE WHERE THE MINISTER WAS GOING IN HER ARGUMENT. A PRODUCT THAT ISN'T BASED ON GOOD RESEARCH EVIDENCE FOR SHOWING THAT AD HELPS SMOKERS TO QUIT SEEMS TO BE PLAYING WITH FIRE. HAS TOBACCO EVER BECOME CHEAPER? IT HAS ALWAYS GONE UP. IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CONTROL OF TOBACCO USE. THE MINISTER SAYS IT IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL. THEY TAKE UP VAPING INSTEAD AND REDUCE THEIR NICOTINE ADDICTION. DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HELP WITH THAT? THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WILL HELP SMOKERS STOP SMOKING. IT WILL MAYBE RECRUIT PEOPLE INTO SMOKING. THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO SUBSTITUTE CIGARETTES. IT MAY REDUCE THEIR HARM. THE ONLY INDEPENDENT EVIDENCE COMES FROM JAPAN, WHERE PEOPLE USE BOTH HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND CONTINUE TO SMOKE TOBACCO, SO THEY DON'T REALLY GET MUCH BENEFIT FROM IT AND THEY ARE NOT QUITTING. I AM NOT PERSUADED THAT THEY ARE A USEFUL TOOL. WHO DO YOU HAS BENEFITED FROM THIS DECREASE IN THE EXCISE TAX? DO YOU THINK IT IS PEOPLE WHO TRYING TO QUIT? THE PEOPLE MAKING THE TOBACCO STAND TO GAIN. THE PRICE POINT IS MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN IT CURRENTLY IS. I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARILY A GOOD THING OVERALL FOR ACHIEVING OUR GOAL. FINALLY, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW TODAY? THIS WAS QUIETLY ROLLED OUT ON THE CUSTOMS WEBSITE. THERE WASN'T AN ANNOUNCEMENT AROUND IT. WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM THE MINISTER. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW FROM HOW THAT WAS HANDLED? THE HEALTH CONVOLUTION IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT BUT MORE GENERALLY ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE MINISTER'S MIND AND WHO SHE HAS BEEN TALKING TO, BECAUSE IT IS CERTAINLY NOT COMING FROM THE POLICY ADVICE GIVEN BY PEOPLE FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. THAT IS CLEAR. WHO IS GIVING HER THE ADVICE? SHE HAS SEEMING TO PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF BIG TOBACCO. WHAT WOULD IDEALLY BE THE NEXT MOVE? IF SHE IS INTENT ON GOING DOWN THIS PATHWAY, SHE SHOULD THINK ABOUT CHANGING HER MIND. SHE IS TALKING ABOUT IT LIKE AN EXPERIMENTAL TRIAL. IF IT IS A TRIAL, NEEDS TO BE MONITORED. IF IT IS NOT WORKING, THE POLICY NEEDS CHANGING. PARAMETERS NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE. HOW LONG SHOULD SHE LEAVE IT? SHE SHOULD LEAVE IT FOR AS LIMITED A TIME AS POSSIBLE ` NO MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS ` IF SHE IS GOING TO PERSIST WITH IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. A CANTERBURY DAIRY FARM WORKER HAS REVEALED HE IMPORTED CARTEL-LINKED COCAINE FROM COLOMBIA AFTER THREATS TO HIS FATHER'S LIFE. ESTEBAN BLANCO HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON. BUT FROM BEHIND BARS, HE'S TOLD SAM SHERWOOD HE NOW FEARS THE CARTEL WILL TAKE DRASTIC ACTION TO RECOUP MONEY LOST. ESTEBAN BLANCO, THE SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY FARMER FROM COLOMBIA TURNED MONEY LAUNDERER AND COCAINE IMPORTER. ESTEBAN BLANCO-GAVIRIA, YOU HAVE PLEADED GUILTY TO REPRESENTATIVE CHARGES OF IMPORTING A CLASS-A CONTROLLED DRUG, NAMELY COCAINE, AND MONEY LAUNDERING. THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE SYNDICATE BLANCO AS PART OF TESTING COCAINE BEING IMPORTED INTO NEW ZEALAND. BLANCO SAYS HE WAS INTRODUCED TO A GROUP OF COLOMBIANS IN CANTERBURY IN LATE 2020, WHO WERE PART OF A DRUG SYNDICATE LINKED TO A COLOMBIAN CARTEL. FROM BEHIND BARS IN CHRISTCHURCH, BLANCO REVEALED HE STARTED INTERACTING WITH THEM AT LATIN PARTIES AND BARBECUES. HE LAUNDERED MONEY TO HELP EASE HIS FATHER'S FINANCIAL TROUBLES, BUT DIDN'T KNOW THE UNDERCOVER POLICE WERE IN ON THE TRANSACTION. THE COURT HEARD THAT IN 2021, NOT ALL OF THE DRUG MONEY MADE ITS WAY BACK TO COLOMBIA. THE CARTEL WILL NOT IMPRESSED. THEY FOUND HIS FATHER IN COLOMBIA, AND THEY THREATENED HIM. IT SAYS, 'WHEN I ARRIVED, THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE I HAD NOT MET BEFORE. 'THE MEN HAD DARK HAIR AND WEARING CASUAL CLOTHING.' THE SYNDICATE IS LINKED TO AT LEAST $45 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE. BLANCO HIMSELF LAUNDERED ABOUT $400,000 WORTH. HE SAID HE WAS ACTING AS A MESSENGER, DOING FAVOURS TO TRY TO PAY MONEY, BUT CLAIMED HE LEFT THE BOXES UNOPENED. JUSTICE MANDER ACCEPTED BLANCO'S FAMILY WAS THREATENED. YOUR FATHER'S BUSINESS TROUBLES MAY PROVIDE A REASON FOR YOUR ACTIONS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT AN EXCUSE. A U.S.-BASED ORGANISED CRIME EXPERT SAYS BLANCO'S LIFE REMAINS AT RISK IF HE EVER RETURNED TO COLOMBIA. I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY LIKELY THAT HE CAN BE KILLED OR TORTURED. UM, LOSING MONEY FOR A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION OR THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU'VE LOST MONEY, THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU'VE WRONGED THEM, THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU'VE COOPERATED WITH AUTHORITIES, THOSE ARE A DEATH SENTENCE. BLANCO SAYS HE FEELS WORRIED AND SCARED FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIMSELF, BECAUSE THE MONEY WAS NEVER PAID TO THE CARTEL. HE TOOK THE WRONG DECISIONS IN A DESPERATE MOMENT AND MET THE WRONG PEOPLE AT THE WRONG TIME. AND NOW HE'S SERVING A 10-YEAR SENTENCE BEHIND BARS. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT. AND PLENTY OF CHANGES FOR THE ALL BLACKS? IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING LAST WEEK. THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. THOSE WERE THE TWO BIGGER TESTS FOR SCOTT ROBERTSON AND THE ALL BLACKS TO NAIL. THEY DIDN'T EXACTLY NAIL THEM, THEY DID GET THE TWO WINS. THEY SHOULD WIN PRETTY COMFORTABLY. SIX POTENTIAL DEBUTANTES AS WELL. WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SCOTT ROBERTSON'S SIDE TO FACE FIJI IN SAN DIEGO ` THAT'S NEXT. PLUS, TEMPERS BOIL OVER IN THE STATE OF ORIGIN DECIDER AS NEW SOUTH WALES END A 19-YEAR GAM THREE DROUGHT AT SUNCORP STADIUM. AND WE'RE WITH THE CANTERBURY RAMS AS THEY GET READY TO FAREWELL THEIR HOME STADIUM IN THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME THERE IN 30 YEARS. THERE'LL BE NO SHORTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ALL BLACKS THIS WEEKEND, WITH SCOTT ROBERTSON MAKING A WHOPPING 11 CHANGES FOR SATURDAY'S TEST AGAINST FIJI, INCLUDING SIX UNCAPPED PLAYERS. IN THE FORWARDS, ETHAN BLACKADDER AND TAMAITI WILLIAMS WILL SEE THEIR FIRST MINUTES OF TEST RUGBY FOR THE YEAR, WHILE TUPOU VAA'I IS ELEVATED TO THE STARTING LINE-UP. IN THE BACKS, BILLY PROCTOR WILL MAKE HIS TEST DEBUT NAMED TO START AT CENTRE, WHILE CORTEZ RATIMA'S FORM OFF THE BENCH LAST WEEK SEES HIM START AT HALFBACK. BUT IT'S ON THE BENCH WHERE MOST OF THE NEW FACES COME ` FIVE POTENTIAL DEBUTS HERE ` WITH GEORGE BELL, PASILIO TOSI, SAM DARRY, WALLACE SITITI AND NOAH HOTHAM ALL IN LINE FOR A FIRST TEST CAP. DESPITE THE CHANGES, ROBERTSON'S MADE IT CLEAR THE EXPECTATION ON PERFORMANCE WILL BE AS HIGH AS EVER. IT'S A DECENT DAY TO BE AN UNCAPPED ALL BLACK IN SAN DIEGO. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WILL EARN THEIR FIRST THIS WEEKEND AS SCOTT ROBERTSON RINGS IN THE CHANGES FOR FIJI. THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION IN THE ROOM WHEN WE NAME THE TEAM. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A FEW OF THEM AND... UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PREPARED REALLY WELL FOR IT AND IT WAS A BIG MOMENT. TWO OF THOSE PLAYERS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE INITIAL SQUAD, BUT INJURY HAS CLEARED THE PATH FOR SAM DARRY AND NOAH HOTHAM TO DEBUT OFF THE BENCH. THE LATTER WAS FIRST PICKED BY ROBERTSON FOR THE CRUSADERS TWO YEARS AGO ` A TALENT HE WAS CONFIDENT COULD ONE DAY EXCEL AT TEST LEVEL. FROM SCHOOL RIGHT THROUGH TO HIS EARLY 20s TO` YOU KNOW, EVEN FOR TASMAN, HE STOOD OUT REALLY QUICKLY IN NPC. HE WAS PLAYING AS A YOUNG MAN, AND, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGER THE GAME, HE ROSE TO IT. THIS SIDE ISN'T JUST LITTERED WITH POTENTIAL DEBUTANTS, BUT RETURNING ALL BLACKS AS WELL. ETHAN BLACKADDER'S TEST JOURNEY TO DATE HAS BEEN FRAUGHT WITH INJURY AND INCONSISTENCY, BUT HE'S A PLAYER ROBERTSON KNOWS AND ROBERTSON RATES, AND HE'S HUNGRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT. PLENTY OF FRUSTRATIONS ALONG THE ROAD. BUT, UM, YEAH, JUST THE AMBITION AND THE DESIRE TO KEEP TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT KEEPS ME GOING. SATURDAY WILL BE BLACKADDER'S HIS FIRST TEST SINCE HIS SOLE WORLD CUP APPEARANCE AGAINST URUGUAY ` HIS FIRST TEST START SINCE 2021. A LOT OF WATER HAS GONE UNDER THE BRIDGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE BLACK JERSEY ON IS EXCITING. BLACKADDER'S HIS IMPACT AROUND THE BREAKDOWN IN PARTICULAR WILL BE AN ASSET AGAINST A FIJIAN SIDE PRIMED FOR PHYSICALITY. A FIRST-EVER WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL APPEARANCE LAST YEAR SHOWED THEY'RE NO EASY-BEATS. THEY'VE TAKEN A FEW SCALPS. YOU KNOW, LIKE, WE'VE PLAYED A LOT OF THOSE PLAYERS WITH FIJIAN DURA, AND WE REALISE WHEN THEY'RE ON, IT'S A HELL OF A GAME. FIJI SHOULD PROVE QUITE THE INTRODUCTION TO TEST RUGBY FOR THE NEWEST ALL BLACK CAPS. THE FIRST OF THE KIWI QUARTET HAVE TEED OFF AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ` IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR MICHAEL HENDRY AND DANIEL HILLIER, RYAN FOX AND KAZUMA KOBORI. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS THAT FOUR KIWIS HAVE COMPETED ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER AT THE EVENT. IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN A GAME FOR TRIES, BUT THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF TENSION AS NEW SOUTH WALES ENDED THREE YEARS OF HEARTBREAK TO SEAL A FAMOUS STATE OF ORIGIN SERIES WIN. GAME THREE IN BRISBANE WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREAT ORIGIN DECIDERS, AS MICHAEL MAGUIRE'S SIDE SECURED A 14-4 VICTORY AND BECAME JUST THE THIRD BLUES TEAM TO WIN A DECIDER AT SUNCORP STADIUM. LUCY THOMSON HAS THE ACTION. A FRANTIC ENCOUNTER THAT ENDED IN FRENZIED CELEBRATIONS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES... THE SHIELD'S HEADING BACK TO SYDNEY! ...ENDING A THREE-YEAR DROUGHT AND BECOMING JUST THE THIRD BLUES TEAM TO WIN A DECIDER AT SUNCORP STADIUM, AND THE FIRST SINCE 2005. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST TALK ABOUT HISTORY AND STATS, AND WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT RECORD HERE, BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB THIS WEEK. I'M JUST PUTTING ALL THAT ASIDE, AND, UM, YEAH, WE DID WHAT WE HAD TO DO TONIGHT. A TIRELESS DEFENSIVE EFFORT FROM BOTH SIDES, HOLDING EACH OTHERS SCORELESS UNTIL THE 39TH MINUTE ` BUT NOT BEFORE TENSIONS BOILED OVER. AND QUEENSLANDERS ARE COMING IN FROM EVERYWHERE! IT SPILLS OVER TO THE BENCH! WE WERE THINKING THIS MIGHT HAPPEN! IT'S TURNING UGLY. IT'S TURNING VERY UGLY! BOTH SIDES REDUCED TO 12 MEN AS JEREMIAH NANAI AND CAMERON MURRAY, WHO INTERVENED OFF THE BENCH, WERE SENT TO THE BIN FOR ESCALATING THE SITUATION. THE DECISION NOT TO SEND MURRAY OFF ALTOGETHER JUST ONE OF THE CONTENTIOUS CALLS BY REFEREE ASHLEY KLEIN. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH. I'M SURE THEY'LL REVIEW THEIR OWN PERFORMANCE AND THEIR OWN DECISIONS. THE MATCH STARTED TO OPEN UP EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF, BEFORE BLUES HALFBACK JEROME LUAI SLID THROUGH THE MAROONS' DEFENSIVE LINE WITH LESS THAN 20 TO GO TO SET UP THE OPENING TRY OF THE GAME. HE BREAKS AWAY! IT'S A TRY! WHAT A GREAT EFFORT! MITCHELL MOSES THEN PUTTING THE GAME BEYOND DOUBT THREE MINUTES LATER. THE MAN OF THE MATCH IN GAME TWO HAS STOOD UP AND STOOD UP TALL! WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE GOT THE BOUNCE OF THE BALL OR THE RUB OF THE GREEN, SO, UM, YOU KNOW THAT` THAT TELLS IN THE END WITH FATIGUE, UM, SO` BUT LIKE I SAID, I COULDN'T BE ANY MORE PROUD OF THIS TEAM. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY UP THERE OR, IF NOT, ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCES ` UM, TO HAVE QUEENSLAND NOT SCORE. UH, THEY HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THAT. AND SECURE ONLY THEIR FIFTH SERIES WIN IN 19 YEARS. THIS WEEKEND'S INDYCAR ROUND IN TORONTO IS SET TO BE A HISTORIC ONE FOR NEW ZEALAND MOTORSPORT, WITH A RECORD FOUR KIWIS SET TO COMPETE. HUNTER MCELREA WILL JOIN COMPATRIOTS SCOTT DIXON, SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN AND MACRUS ARMSTRONG ON THE GRID AFTER PICKING UP A DRIVE WITH DALE COYNE RACING. LAST YEAR, MCELREA FINISHED RUNNER IN THE INDY NEXT SERIES. YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR SURE, BUT SOMETHING I'M VERY EXCITED FOR AND SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, I FEEL LIKE I'M READY FOR. AT THIS STAGE, THE DRIVE IN TORONTO IS SET TO BE A ONE-OFF. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, CHRISTCHURCH'S HOME OF BASKETBALL, COWLES STADIUM, WILL HOST A PLAYOFF MATCH WHEN THE CANTERBURY RAMS HOST TARANAKI ON SUNDAY. AFTER BREAKING A 31-YEAR TITLE DROUGHT LAST YEAR, THE RAMS ARE NOW HOPING TO SEND THEIR HOME COURT OUT IN STYLE, WITH THE 60-YEAR-OLD STADIUM SET TO BE REPLACED WHEN CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW METRO SPORT FACILITY IS FINALLY COMPLETED NEXT YEAR. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. IT WAS QUITE SOME TIME BETWEEN TITLES FOR THE CANTERBURY RAMS, AND ON SUNDAY, THE DEFENDING NBL CHAMPIONS WILL BREAK AN EQUALLY LONG DROUGHT. ONE, TWO... NONE OF THESE PLAYERS WERE EVEN BORN THE LAST TIME THE RAMS PLAYED A SEMI-FINAL AT COWLES STADIUM. YEAH, THAT'S NINE YEARS BEFORE I WAS BORN, I THINK. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. (LAUGHS) YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO GET EVERYONE DOWN HERE, SEMI-FINAL AT COWLES STADIUM. IT SHOULD BE A REALLY GOOD ATMOSPHERE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) YES, RAMS GAMES AT COWLES STADIUM HAVE BECOME KNOWN FOR PROVIDING LOUD AND PASSIONATE SPORT. IT MAY ONLY BE ABLE TO FIT JUST OVER 1400 PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT. IT'S BASICALLY LIKE A TIN SHED SO THAT IT JUST ECHOES IN HERE. I THINK ELECTRIC. I THINK THAT'S JUST THE WORD FOR IT, LIKE, THE FANS GET AMONGST US. THEY'RE THE SIXTH MAN ON OUR TEAM. WHILE THE RAMS FIND THEMSELVES ON THE RECEIVING END OF ENCOURAGEMENT, FOR DECADES, THE COWLES CROWD HAVE ALSO BECOME KNOWN FOR GETTING UNDER THE OPPOSITION'S SKIN. (CROWD CLAMOURS) I DON'T NOTICE THAT SO MUCH THESE DAYS COS I'M ON THE GOOD SIDE NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IT'S CERTAINLY` I THINK IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE... ONE OF THOSE LITTLE MINOR FACTORS THAT I THINK WILL HELP PLAY A ROLE. SUNDAY'S SEMI-FINAL MAY BE THE LAST AT THEIR MUCH-LOVED HOME, THOUGH. CHRISTCHURCH'S LONG-AWAITED NEW METRO SPORTS FACILITY IS SET TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT YEAR, MEANING THE RAMS WILL HAVE A NEW HOME. WITH A SPOT IN THE FINAL ON THE LINE, THE RAMS ARE CALLING UPON THEIR FANS TO KIT OUT IN RED OR CLOSE TO IT. CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH THE PINK SHOES? I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK FAST, SO, YEAH, PINK'S FAST, RED'S FAST. THAT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE RAMS TURNING A HOME SEMI INTO A HOME FINAL. JUST 10 DAYS OUT FROM THE PARIS OLYMPICS, THE CITY'S MAYOR HAS SET ABOUT PROVING THE RIVER SEINE IS CLEAN ENOUGH TO SWIM IN. ANNE HIDALGO KEPT HER PROMISE THAT SHE'D BE ONE OF THE FIRST SWIMMERS IN THE WATER ONCE IT WAS DEEMED CLEAN ENOUGH. SHE PERFORMED A RESPECTABLE 100m CRAWL IN 20-DEGREE WATER. IT WAS TODAY CONFIRMED THE RIVER WILL HOST THE TRIATHLON AND MARATHON SWIMS. FAIR PLAY TO HER. SHE SAID SHE WOULD DO IT. I WAS KEEPING MY EYE ON THE FOOTAGE TO MAKE SURE SHE PUT HER HEAD UNDER. TWO KIWI-CREATED SHOWS HAVE EARNED TOP NOMINATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S EMMY AWARDS. 'WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS' ` BASED ON TAIKA WAITITI AND JERMAINE CLEMENT'S MOVIE OF THE SAME NAME ` IS UP FOR OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES. IT WILL FACE OFF AGAINST ANOTHER WAITITI CO-CREATION 'RESERVATION DOGS', WHICH HAS ALSO RECEIVED AN OUTSTANDING ACTOR NOMINATION. NEW ZEALAND-BORN ANNA SAWAI HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES FOR 'SHOGUN', WHICH RECEIVED THE MOST NOMINATIONS OVERALL, WITH 25. RARE VIDEO OF MEMBERS OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEAST CONTACTED INDIGENOUS TRIBES HAS BEEN RELEASED, SHOWING THEM EMERGING FROM THE PERUVIAN AMAZON THE FOOTAGE SHOWS AROUND 50 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM THE MASHCO PIRO TRIBE ON A SANDY RIVERBANK OF THE REMOTE LAS PIEDRAS RIVER NEAR THE BORDER WITH BRAZIL. THE IMAGES WERE RELEASED BY SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL, AN INDIGENOUS RIGHTS GROUP WHICH IS WARNING THAT THE LOGGING IS ILLEGAL AND POSES AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TRIBE. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. AND THE NEXT ROUND OF WEATHER WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED? WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE MODELLING ALL WEEK ON THIS ONE. IT'S A SUBTROPICAL LOW. IT ACTUALLY HASN'T FORMED YET, BUT IT WILL DO OVERNIGHT, BREWING JUST SOUTH OF NEW CALEDONIA. IT THEN RAPIDLY DEEPENS AND PASSES TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND LATE TOMORROW NIGHT. AT THIS STAGE, THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL FOR THOSE IN YELLOW. BUT IF THIS LOW MEANDERS AND DROPS, IT WILL HAVE QUITE AN IMPACT ON THE NORTHEAST. SO ONE TO WATCH AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. MORE ON THAT, NEXT. WELCOME BACK. ALL THE ACTION IS MOVING IN FROM THE WEST, WITH THE NEXT FRONTAL RAIN BAND MOVING OVER BOTH ISLANDS TOMORROW. WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE YET IS A VERY DISRUPTIVE LITTLE BEAST BREWING UP NEAR NEW CALEDONIA. THIS WILL DEEPEN AND RAPIDLY DROP INTO OUR WATERS, SLIDING TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND LATE TOMORROW NIGHT. OUR HUMID AND BREEZY NOR'EASTERLY FLOW WILL STAY LOCKED IN ALL DAY TOMORROW TOO. SO ANOTHER ROUND OF LOW CLOUD WITH DRIZZLE TONIGHT FOR THE EAST COAST, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR NELSON AND MARLBOROUGH. INLAND, MORE FOG, BUT STILL PLENTY OF FINE SKIES, WITH CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR THE WEST COAST. GREY AND WET FOR THE WEST AND NORTH TOMORROW; MORNING FOG AND FROST ELSEWHERE, WITH DRIZZLE AGAIN OUT EAST, AND STRONG NOR'EASTERS. THE SHOWERS IN THE NORTHEAST WILL EASE OVERNIGHT, CLEARING GISBORNE AND RETREATING TO THE COAST FOR HAWKE'S BAY AND WAIRARAPA. AREAS OF FOG AGAIN, WITH SHOWERS RETURNING TO NORTHLAND, AND SOME WILL BE HEAVY. THEY SPREAD THROUGH AUCKLAND, TURNING TO RAIN LATE MORNING. YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESSION OF THAT RAIN BAND REACHING EAST CAPE TOMORROW NIGHT. ANOTHER FOGGY ONE FIRST UP FOR YOU AUCKLAND. EVERYONE HAS A CLOUDY AND SHOWERY DAY, WITH HEAVY RAIN TOMORROW NIGHT EVERYWHERE CLOUDY IN THE MORNING WITH DRIZZLE, WHICH TURNS TO RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON FOR TAURANGA AND TOKOROA, THEN RAIN EVERYWHERE BY TOMORROW NIGHT WITH NOR'EASTERLIES. EAST IS LOOKING LIKE THE PLACE TO BE, WITH SHOWERS CLEARING BEFORE DAWN, THEN THE AFTERNOON IS GREAT. IT DOES CLOUD OVER AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH SHOWERS AND NORTH TO NOR'EAST WINDS. FOG LIFTS IN THE MORNING FOR TAUMARUNUI. EVERYONE ELSE IN FOR A MOSTLY FINE DAY, BUT SHOWERS SPREAD FROM THE WEST, WITH RAIN OVER TARANAKI LATE AFTERNOON MOVING INLAND TOMORROW NIGHT. A FEW SPOTS OF LIGHT RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING HERE ` MOST OF IT FIRST OVER NELSON ` THEN IT BECOMES PERSISTENT IN THE AFTERNOON EVERYWHERE, WITH NOR'EASTERLIES. A BLEAK FRIDAY MORNING, LOW CLOUD AGAIN FOR CANTERBURY. EVERYONE ELSE, DRIZZLE OR SHOWERS AT SOME STAGE, WITH NOR'EASTERLIES FOR KAIKOURA, CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON. FOG AND FROST AGAIN FOR THE USUAL SPOTS ` A LITTLE DRIZZLE AROUND TOO. BUT IT'S FINE IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH HIGH CLOUD INCREASING FOR ALL, AND NOR'EASTERLIES. SO MILD AGAIN FIRST UP FOR DUNEDIN CITY ` OVERNIGHT LOW OF 8. YOU'LL HAVE MORNING LOW CLOUD OR FOG, THEN IT CLEARS WITH A NOR'EASTERLY AND REPLACED WITH HIGH CLOUD LATER IN THE DAY. LOW CLOUD AND PATCHY DRIZZLE AGAIN AROUND CHRISTCHURCH. IT DOES CLEAR, THOUGH, WITH THE AFTERNOON ALL GOOD ` JUST A FRESH NOR'EASTERLY. LIGHT RAIN ROLLS IN TOMORROW NIGHT. THE LAST OF THE DRIZZLE CLEARS WELLINGTON TONIGHT, THEN THE DAY IS FINE TOMORROW WITH A NORTHERLY. IT DOES CLOUD OVER AGAIN TOWARDS FRIDAY NIGHT. ISOLATED SHOWERS CLEAR BEFORE SUNRISE, THEN THE SUN IS OUT WITH A NOR'EASTERLY AND A BALMY 16 DEGREES. CLOUD RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH SHOWERS NORTH OF NAPIER. NOT MUCH SUN AROUND BAY OF PLENTY TOMORROW ` CLOUDY, WITH DRIZZLE TURNING TO RAIN LATE AFTERNOON. AND A STRONG NOR'EASTERLY TOMORROW NIGHT. FOG AGAIN TONIGHT FOR HAMILTON, THEN TOMORROW, IT'S CLOUDY WITH A NOR'EASTERLY, AND RAIN, WHICH BECOMES PERSISTENT AFTER MIDDAY. SHOWERS TONIGHT AROUND AUCKLAND, THEN THE RISK IS THERE FOR THE DREADED MORNING COMMUTE IN FOG AGAIN. SHOWERS TURN TO RAIN LATE MORNING, WITH HEAVY FALLS TOMORROW NIGHT. TO OZ ` SHOWERS FROM PERTH ALL THE WAY ALONG THE SOUTH DOWN TO TASMANIA. AND HEAVY SHOWERS, THANKS TO A BROAD LOW, TO NEW CALEDONIA AND VANUATU. FOR US, THE WEEKEND FORECAST IS LIKELY TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON EXACTLY WHERE THAT SUBTROPICAL LOW ENDS UP, BUT HEAVY RAIN FOR A TIME IN THE NORTH AND EAST ON SATURDAY, NOT EASING FOR GISBORNE TILL SUNDAY. WELLINGTON AND WHANGANUI LOOK TO BE THE ONLY SPOTS THAT HAVE A DRY SUNDAY. RAIN FOR THE NORTH OF THE SOUTH TOO ON SATURDAY, BUT THEN SUNDAY AND MONDAY ARE OK, JUST A LITTLE CLOUDY. INVERCARGILL LOOKS TO BE THE SPOT TO BE ON SATURDAY, WITH SUN. CHRISTCHURCH HAS A WET END TO THE WEEKEND, AND WINDY START TO NEXT WEEK WITH STRONG SOU'WESTERLIES. SO LOTS OF PEOPLE ON THE ROADS THIS WEEKEND WITH THE END OF SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. MY ADVICE? KEEP AN EYE ON THE UPDATED WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THERE COULD BE A LOT OF WIND AND RAIN FOR THE CAR TRIP. EARLIER, WE ASKED YOU, SHOULD THE EXCISE TAX CUT ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS BE REVERSED? THE RESULTS ARE SPLIT PRETTY EVENLY ` 51% OF YOU SAYING KEEP THE TAX CUT. THAT IS THREE NEWS 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. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024