TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS, COULD GROCERY SHOPPERS AND WAREHOUSE FOUNDER SIR STEPHEN TINDALL BE IN FOR A BARGAIN, AS A BID IS LAUNCHED TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THE RED SHEDS, WITH A FOCUS ON COMPETING AGAINST THE SUPERMARKET GIANTS? WE HAVE AN ELECTION TO WIN. HAS KAMALA HARRIS GAINED ENOUGH PARTY SUPPORT IN HER BID TO BECOME THE NEW DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE? SECURITY IS RAMPING UP, AS ATHLETES START ARRIVING HERE IN PARIS AHEAD OF THE GAMESD CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN, LELE SIMEON AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN, LELE SIMEON AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI KI KARERE TAHI I TENEI PO ` WELCOME TO 1 NEWS THIS EVENING. ONE OF OUR MOST RECOGNISABLE RETAILERS, THE WAREHOUSE, MAY SOON TRANSFORM INTO A SUPERMARKET, TO TAKE ON FOODSTUFFS AND WOOLWORTHS. FOUNDER SIR STEPHEN TINDALL HAS KICKED OFF ACTION TO BUY OUT SHAREHOLDERS AND TAKE FULL CONTROL OF THE COMPANY AGAIN. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD REPORTS. CUSTOMERS AT THE BIG RED SHED LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING A BIGGER RANGE OF BARGAIN GROCERIES. IF THEY COULD UNDERCUT THE TWO BIG PLAYERS, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY TEMPT A LOT OF PEOPLE, I THINK. IT'S JUST NICE HAVING ANOTHER OPTION. IT'S NICE AND CHEAP, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT JUST NOT THAT MUCH OF A VARIETY. GROCERIES CURRENTLY MAKE UP AROUND 20% OF THE WAREHOUSE'S REVENUE. AND IT'S FACING TOUGH FINANCIAL TIMES, WITH FALLING PROFITS LEADING TO JOB LOSSES AND A CHANGE IN STRATEGY. KMART CAME INTO THE COUNTRY, E-COMMERCE RETAILERS COME INTO THE COUNTRY, WE HAD COSTCO COME IN, AND THEY'VE EATEN THE WAREHOUSE'S LUNCH A LITTLE BIT. THE COMPANY HAS VOWED TO GET BACK TO BASICS TO FIX THAT. WHAT SIR STEPHEN IS PROPOSING IS VERY DIFFERENT TO THAT, AND THAT MAY BE A SOURCE OF TENSION AROUND THE BOARD TABLE AT THE MOMENT. ALONG WITH AN AUSTRALIAN PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM, SIR STEPHEN TINDALL IS PROPOSING TO BUY UP WAREHOUSE SHARES AND TURN THE COMPANY INTO THE COUNTRY'S THIRD SUPERMARKET CHAIN. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME PRETTY DRAMATIC CHANGES INTERNALLY, WITH THEIR STORE LAYOUTS, WITH THEIR EXPERTISE IN HOUSE, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN QUICKLY. TAKING ON TWO VERY WELL-ESTABLISHED PLAYERS IN A VERY, VERY BIG MARKET IN NEW ZEALAND IS A VERY BIG LEVEL OF RISK. THIS ISN'T SIR STEPHEN'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT SMASHING UP THE SUPERMARKET DUOPOLY. THE BEST THING TO DO FOR BOTH OUR CUSTOMERS, THE BUSINESS, AND OUR SHAREHOLDERS HERE IN 2006. THAT MOVE ULTIMATELY FAILED. THIS HAS BEEN QUITE OPPORTUNISTIC. BEFORE THE PROPOSAL HAD COME ABOUT, WAREHOUSE SHARES HAD BEEN DOWN ABOUT 40% THIS YEAR. THIS IS AN INTERIM OFFER, AND POTENTIALLY A LOW-BALL ONE. A COMMITTEE LED BY BOARD CHAIR JOAN WITHERS WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE IF THE COMPANY IS WORTH WHAT SIR STEPHEN IS OFFERING. IF THE BOARD ACCEPTS IT, 75% OF SHAREHOLDERS THEN NEED TO APPROVE THE BUYOUT. AND THEY'LL HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE. DO I BELIEVE THE COMPANY'S STORY THAT THEY CAN GET BACK TO A SHARE PRICE LEVEL OF $3, $4 ` WHAT IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO? OR, ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE LESS FAITH IN THAT ` IS THIS OFFER FROM SIR STEPHEN SOMETHING I SHOULD BE CONSIDERING? IT'S LIKELY TO TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE SIR STEPHEN KNOWS WHETHER HE HAS MANAGED TO WRESTLE BACK CONTROL. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. TO THE U.S., WHERE IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKELY KAMALA HARRIS WILL BE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, AFTER SECURING ENOUGH PARTY SUPPORT TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, AFTER JOE BIDEN'S SUDDEN DECISION TO DROP OUT. THE VICE PRESIDENT WASTED NO TIME IN LAUNCHING INTO HER OWN CAMPAIGN, WHILE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN JUST AS QUICK TO TURN THEIR ATTACKS ON TO HER. OUR U.S. CORRESPONDENT, LOGAN CHURCH, REPORTS. KAMALA HARRIS'S FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE THROWING HER HAT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RING. WHILE SHE HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR HER FORMER BOSS... JOE BIDEN'S LEGACY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS IS UNMATCHED IN MODERN HISTORY. ...HER OWN CAMPAIGN RAISED A RECORD $135M IN THE 24 HOURS AFTER SHE ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDACY. (APPLAUSE) HOURS LATER, SHE WAS ALREADY HITTING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. CROWD CHANT: KAMALA! KAMALA! WE HAVE DOORS TO KNOCK ON. WE HAVE PEOPLE TO TALK TO. WE HAVE PHONE CALLS TO MAKE. AND WE HAVE AN ELECTION TO WIN. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) BIDEN WITH HER, AT THE END OF A PHONE. I LOVE YOU, JOE! SHE'S BEEN COLLECTING ENDORSEMENTS TOO. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT PRAISING HIS LEGACY AND ELECTING KAMALA HARRIS PRESIDENT. MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS ARE ALREADY LAUNCHING AN OPENING SALVO OF ATTACK ADS AGAINST KAMALA HARRIS, IN PARTICULAR FOCUSING ON WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS HER FAILURE TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, CALLING HER THE BORDER CZAR. OMINOUS VOICE: BUT KAMALA KNEW JOE COULDN'T DO THE JOB, SO SHE DID IT. LOOK WHAT SHE GOT DONE ` A BORDER INVASION. ADS LIKE THIS APPEARING THICK AND FAST. THEY CREATED THIS MESS. THEY KNOW KAMALA OWNS THIS FAILED RECORD. TRYING TO PLACE BLAME FOR THE ILLS OF SOCIETY TRYING TO PLACE BLAME FOR THE ILLS OF SOCIETY OR THE PROBLEMS GOING ON IN AMERICA AT THE MOMENT ON KAMALA HARRIS. EXPERTS SAYING THEY ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. WHAT WE'RE REALLY GONNA SEE, I THINK, IS BOTH SIDES TRYING TO ESTABLISH BRAND KAMALA, AT THIS POINT, REALLY, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE ` THROUGH ADVERTISING, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH MORE AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT. WHILE HER PARTY MAY BE FALLING IN LINE BEHIND HER, THE REAL TEST IS WHETHER VOTERS WILL TOO. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY GREAT OPTIONS, HONESTLY. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GONNA VOTE FOR KAMALA. NO ONE WANTS TO BACK HER. SHE HAD ONE JOB ` THAT WAS HANDLING THE BORDER. I THINK IF THE DEMOCRATS GET OUT AND VOTE, THEN YES, SHE DEFINITELY HAS A CHANCE TO WIN. A SPRINT NOW TO THE FINISH, WITH THE ELECTION LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AWAY. AND LOGAN, THE SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRILLED FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON DONALD TRUMP. HOW DID SHE RESPOND? TODAY THE DIRECTOR OF THE SECRET SERVICE WAS HAULED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, QUESTION FOR FIVE HOURS BY LAWMAKERS, DEMANDING ANSWERS AS TO HOW A GUNMAN WAS ABLE TO GET SO CLOSE TO DONALD TRUMP AT A RALLY, WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO HIT THE FORMER PRESIDENT. SHE SAID THIS WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL FAILURE AT THIS A GOOD SERVICE IN DECADES, AND SHE TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAPSES IN SECURITY. IT IS A MIRACLE PRESIDENT TRUMP WASN'T KILLED. I BELIEVE YOUR HORRIFYING INEPTITUDE AND YOUR LACK OF SKILLED LEADERSHIP IS A DISGRACE. YOU'RE FULL OF SHIT TODAY. YOU'RE JUST BEING COMPLETELY DISHONEST. I THINK THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS LOST THE CONFIDENCE OF CONGRESS. IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF, DIRECTOR CHEATLE, THAT YOU SHOULD RESIGN. PRETTY SCATHING STUFF. CAN SHE KEEP HER JOB? SHE WAS ASKED DIRECTLY LIVE ON TELEVISION AT A PUBLIC EVENT BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHETHER SHE WOULD RESIGN. SHE SAID NO. IN A COUNTRY WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE A HARD TIME FINDING UNITY ON ANYTHING, THERE IS BIPARTISAN CALLS FOR HER TO STEP ASIDE. LAWMAKERS PUT OUT A PUBLIC LETTER SAYING SHE FAILED TO ANSWER BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DESCRIBING AS A STUNNING OPERATIONAL FAILURE. THIS WAS THE CLOSEST A PRESIDENT OR FORMER PRESIDENT CAME TO BEING ASSASSINATED SINCE THE ATTEMPT ON RONALD REAGAN'S LIFE IN THE EARLY 1980S. CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY CONTINUE TO GROW. THE COURT OF APPEAL HAS REJECTED A BID BY THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES TO STOP THE PUBLICATION OF THE CHURCH BEING REFERENCED AS PART OF THE ABUSE IN CARE INQUIRY. THE MUCH ANTICIPATED REPORT COVERING ABUSE IN STATE AND FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS IS DUE OUT TOMORROW AFTERNOON. CUSHLA NORMAN JOINS US LIVE NOW. WHAT ELSE DID THIS RULING SAY? THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HAVE ONGOING LEGAL ACTION TO TRY TO GET EXCLUDED FROM THE ENQUIRY. THAT SITS WITH THE SUPREME COURT, AND IS YET TO BE DECIDED. THE RELIGIOUS GROUP HAS SOUGHT TO GET THE PUBLICATION OF PART OF TOMORROW'S REPORT SUPPRESSED. THE COURT OF APPEAL HAS SAID NO, THIS CANNOT HAPPEN, BECAUSE OF CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST. THE COURT HAS ALSO SAID JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WERE TOO SLOW WITH THEIR APPLICATION. IT WAS ONLY FILED LAST FRIDAY. THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING IN JUNE AND SHOULD HAVE FILED EARLIER. A FEW MINUTES AGO I RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES. THEY HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF TOMORROW'S REPORT REGARDING THE GROUP, SO IT HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO RESORT TO LEGAL ACTION. DELAYS IN VISA PROCESSING SAW THE COUNTRY'S MEGA-POLYTECHNIC 'TE PUKENGA' LOSE OUT ON TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AFTER MORE THAN A THOUSAND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WERE UNABLE TO BEGIN STUDY IN SEMESTER ONE. POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN HAS OBTAINED THE EXCLUSIVE FIGURES, AS THE GOVERNMENT DESPERATELY TRIES TO ADDRESS CRIPPLING DEFICITS ACROSS OUR TERTIARY PROVIDERS. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY AND POLYTECHNICS HAVE BEEN HAEMORRHAGING MONEY. IN 2019 IT WAS SO BAD LABOUR AMALGAMATED ALL OF THEM INTO ONE UNDER THE NEW NAME 'TE PUKENGA'. BUT IN 2023 ALMOST ALL WERE IN A WORSE FINANCIAL POSITION, PROMPTING THE GOVERNMENT TO WORK ON A REVERSAL PLAN. LOOK, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO PUT THE SECTOR INTO A SITUATION LOOK, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO PUT THE SECTOR INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT'S SUSTAINABLE GOING FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY $189 MILLION ANNUAL DEFICIT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. WITH A DEFICIT LIKE THAT, REVENUE IS KEY. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WERE DOWN 51% SINCE 2019 DUE TO COVID BUT OFFICIAL INFORMATION OBTAINED BY 1 NEWS SHOWS THIS YEAR INTERNATIONAL ENROLMENTS WERE UP BY 71% WITH JUST OVER 2070 APPLICATIONS BUT SLOW VISA PROCESSING MEANT 1400 LEARNERS WERE UNABLE TO START IN SEMESTER 1, MEANING TENS OF MILLIONS SIMPLY WENT DOWN THE DRAIN. TE PUKENGA HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THAT COST THEM ABOUT $30M FOR THE YEAR, AND THAT'S DISAPPOINTING, BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER FINANCIAL PRESSURE. THAT $30M LOSS PROMPTING A TELLING OFF BY THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER. I SAID TO IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, I SAID TO IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL NOT SEE THIS AGAIN. THE GOVERNMENT KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON CURRENT ENROLMENTS. I'VE TOLD IMMIGRATION WITH THE PEAK THAT COMES NOW, THE SECOND SEMESTER, I EXPECT THAT WE ARE PROCESSING THOSE VISAS IN A TIMELY WAY. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S NOT GOING TO FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT. THE PRIME MINISTER CONFIRMED TO 1 NEWS CABINET IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF SIGNING OFF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE NEW MODEL, WHICH COULD REPLACE TE PUKENGA. BUT NO CONFIRMATION TODAY FROM THE MINISTER IF EVEN THAT WOULD STOP THE INSTITUTIONS FROM BLEEDING OUT CASH. OH, LOOK, IT'S TOO EARLY YET. THEY'RE DOING THAT WORK AT THE MOMENT. AND I EXPECT TO SEE THAT OVER THE COMING MONTHS. THE TRUTH IS, YOU HAD INSTITUTIONS IN GREAT DEFICIT PREVIOUSLY. SOME OF THEM, I BELIEVE, NEED TO GO BROKE. MONEY ON THE MIND FOR MINISTERS AND OUR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS. MAIKI SHERMAN, 1 NEWS. UNWANTED MP DARLEEN TANA HAS RETURNED TO PARLIAMENT DESPITE ONGOING CALLS FOR HER TO QUIT. AND ON A DRAMA-FILLED DAY WITH POLITICIANS BACK FROM RECESS, WINSTON PETERS HAS LAID A FORMAL COMPLAINT AFTER HIS MP TANYA UNKOVICH WAS CALLED AN ANTI-TRANS ACTIVIST. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. BACK FROM SUSPENSION AND OFF TO POLITICAL SIBERIA. DARLEEN TANA RETURNING TO A WORKPLACE WHERE HER COLLEAGUES OPENLY WANT HER GONE. THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION IS FOR DARLEEN TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY AND TO RESIGN. WE BELIEVE IT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR DEMOCRACY, AND OF THE PARTY AND ULTIMATELY OF DARLEEN THAT SHE RESIGN FROM PARLIAMENT. SHE SHOULD RESIGN FROM PARLIAMENT. BUT THE UNDER-FIRE MP STANDING HER GROUND. I'M PLEASED TO BE BACK AND I'M DETERMINED TO CONTINUE SERVING THE PEOPLE. WHEN WILL YOU DECIDE YOUR FUTURE IN PARLIAMENT? WHEN WILL YOU DECIDE YOUR FUTURE IN PARLIAMENT? I'M HERE NOW AND DOING THE MAHI. TE PATI MAORI SUGGESTING SHE COULD FIND A NEW POLITICAL HOME. WE NEVER LEAVE MAORI BEHIND. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN OPEN ABOUT THAT. MEANWHILE WINSTON PETERS WANTING TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HIS COMPLAINT. ABOUT THE BEHAVIOUR OF A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE LABOUR PARTY. YES, I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT MEMBER. THERE WILL BE A REPLY, AND I WILL RULE ON THAT VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATION. 1 NEWS UNDERSTANDS THE COMPLAINT RELATES TO THIS COMMENT. TANYA UNKOVICH HAS BEEN EMAILING NGOS ABOUT GUMBOOT FRIDAY INCLUDING ON MAY THE 22ND 2024, AND THAT SHE IS A KNOWN ANTI-TRANS ACTIVIST. IS THAT TONE-DEAF? WE NEED TO CHALLENGE ANY PREJUDICE LIKE THAT. TANYA UNKOVICH IS A FIRST-TERM NZ FIRST MP WHO IS BEHIND THE PARTY'S BATHROOMS BILL, WHICH CRITICS SAY IS TRANSPHOBIC. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, MR PETERS WOULDN'T ELABORATE. YOU KNOW I CAN'T SAY A MATTER OF ANY COMMENT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A MATTER OF PRIVILEGE. SHE CALLED HER A TRANSPHOBE IN SELECT COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW THAT THE RULES ARE` AND YOU HAVE TO OBSERVE THEM AS WELL. MR PETERS CAUSING SOME OFFENCE HIMSELF. REPRESENT PROGRESS, OR THE KIND OF RETARD COMMENT YOU JUST HEARD. (LAUGHTER) IT IS UNPARLIAMENTARY FOR A MEMBER OF THAT SENIORITY AND AGE GROUP TO BE SAYING THAT IN THE HOUSE. PARLIAMENT'S BACK ` AND THE GLOVES ARE OFF. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. SPEED LIMITS AROUND PUKAKI HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY REDUCED, AFTER A SPATE OF CRASHES CAUSED BY BLACK ICE AND FOGGY CONDITIONS. NZTA HAS LOWERED THE SPEED ON THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY, WHERE THESE BUSES CRASHED LAST WEEK, TO 50km/h. AN EXTRA GRITTING CREW WILL ALSO BE DEPLOYED TO HELP EXISTING TEAMS IN THE AREA KEEP STATE HIGHWAY 8 SAFE. AND SIGNAGE IS BEING USED TO WARN DRIVERS TO TAKE EXTRA CARE IN THE TREACHEROUS WINTER CONDITIONS. THE PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES GET UNDERWAY LATER THIS WEEK, AND MORE THAN 10,000 ATHLETES AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS ARE NOW DESCENDING ON THE CITY. THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN HALF OF THE 195-STRONG KIWI TEAM, WHO ARE ALREADY MOVING INTO THE MAIN OLYMPIC VILLAGE AND OTHER VILLAGES AROUND FRANCE. THE SLOGAN IN PARIS IS 'GAMES WIDE OPEN' ` A 16-DAY EXTRAVAGANZA BEING PROMISED WITH ACCESS FOR LARGE CROWDS RIGHT FROM THIS WEEKEND'S OPENING CEREMONY. BUT ORGANISERS SAY SECURITY IS THE MAIN PRIORITY, WITH PLANS IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY SO THE GAMES FEEL LIKE A CELEBRATION FOR ATHLETES AND FANS ALIKE. WITH MORE ON THE PREPARATIONS, HERE'S EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON. THEY MAY BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, BUT THERE'S A VERY KIWI WELCOME.... AS THE WOMENS' SEVENS TEAM ARRIVE AT THEIR NEW HOME AND TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY MY FIRST OLYMPICS ` BEING WELCOMED BY THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME, BEING HAKA'D TO WAS A REAL POWERFUL MOMENT. FROM THE NEWBIES TO THE WELL EXPERIENCED, LIKE 2016 SILVER MEDALLIST LUUKA JONES, HERE FOR HER FIFTH GAMES. THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 60 NEW ZEALAND ATHLETES HERE IN PARIS. THAT'S THE SPECIAL PART ABOUT THE GAMES ` IS THAT YOU'RE MORE THAN JUST YOURSELF AND YOUR SPORT. YOU'RE PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER, AND, YOU KNOW, TO WEAR THE FERN ON OUR CHESTS AND TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND IS SO SPECIAL. THE VILLAGE IS REALLY STARTING TO COME ALIVE ` I THINK THEY WELCOMED 2500 PEOPLE IN ON THE FIRST DAY, ON THE 18TH, ANOTHER 2500 ON THE SECOND, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS NOW, THE FOURTH DAY OF BEING OPEN. SO IT'S PRETTY` IT'S A GREAT VIBE. FOR SOME ATHLETES, IT'S BEEN A BUMPY ARRIVAL, WITH LAST WEEK'S WORLDWIDE IT OUTAGE DELAYING SOME FLIGHTS. THEIR TRAVEL WAS DISRUPTED TO SOME DEGREE BY THE THE OUTAGES AND WHATNOT, BUT HEY` AND I THINK SOMEBODY LEFT AN UNACCOMPANIED BAG, BUT THAT'S JUST TRAVEL, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK YOU JUST ROLL WITH THAT. MOST OF THEM, ON ARRIVAL, THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE DINING HALL, HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT, CHECK THAT OUT, WHICH IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT PART. BUT NOW THEY'RE JUST GETTING` THEY'RE SUSSING` GETTING THE LAY OF THE LAND. ANTICIPATION IN THE AIR WITH THE START OF THE 2024 OLYMPICS NOW JUST DAYS AWAY. LET'S GO TO MEI IN PARIS. WHAT'S THE MOOD LIKE THERE, MEI, WITH PEOPLE NOW POURING INTO THE CITY? GOOD EVENING. THINGS ARE STEPPING UP IN PARIS. WE WERE HERE TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THE FRENCH ELECTIONS, AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ABOUT. ROADS ARE BUSIER. THERE ARE MORE POLICE OFFICERS. FROM WHERE I AM STANDING, I CAN SEE OFFICERS ON EVERY CORNER OF THE STREET. THAT IS THE BALANCE AUTHORITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH UP, MANAGING THE HIGH LEVEL OF SECURITY WHILE MAKING SURE THE GAMES HAVE A PARTY FEEL. HAVING SO MANY KEY EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY OF PARIS BRINGS A HIGH LEVEL OF RISK. BUT THE GAMES HAVE BEEN PROMISING TO BE THE MOST OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE. GIVEN EVERYTHING HAPPENING, WARS, ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, POLITICAL INSTABILITY, THE GAMES PROMISED TO BRING FUN AND FESTIVITY. FOR THE ATHLETES I HAVE SPOKEN TO, THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR THE GAMES TO BEGIN. THANKS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON IN PARIS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` OUR EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION INTO ANIMAL WELFARE AT ORANA WILDLIFE PARK CONTINUES. COMING UP NEXT ` THE PREVIOUS CRIES FOR HELP, AND WHY SOME ANIMALS WERE MOVED OFF DISPLAY FOR YEARS. PLUS ` THE RISING COST OF LAYING A LOVED ONE TO REST. WHAT'S DRIVING UP THE PRICE, AND HOW FAMILIES CAN EASE THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS ` THEY'RE HARD TO GET, AND DON'T LAST LONG. BUT WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT WASTING THAT VALUABLE TIME? PLUS ` FIRE IN THE HOLE! (POP!) THE CAN-DO KIWI CANNON THAT'S CHANGING HOW WE GO FISHING. PLUS ` FIND OUT WHO WANTS TO GIVE KIWIS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT ` TONIGHT AT 7. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI. A BLOATED ORGANISATION IN NEED OF A RESET ` THAT'S THE ASSESSMENT OF THE NEW HEALTH NEW ZEALAND COMMISSIONER, AS HE REPLACES THE SACKED GOVERNMENT AGENCY'S BOARD. LESTER LEVY SAYS TE WHATU ORA HEALTH NZ DOESN'T NEED MORE MONEY, IT NEEDS TO DO BETTER WITH WHAT IT HAS. NICOLE BREMNER LOOKS AT THE HUGE TASK AHEAD, GETTING THE TWO-YEAR-OLD AGENCY BACK ON TRACK. A WORRYING DIAGNOSIS FOR THE AGENCY TASKED WITH RUNNING OUR HEALTH SYSTEM. IN MY VIEW, IT IS QUITE A BLOATED BUREAUCRATIC ORGANISATION. BUT THE PRESCRIPTION TO GET TE WHATU ORA RUNNING SMOOTHLY IS ALREADY FACING MIXED REVIEWS, ESPECIALLY THE PLAN TO CREATE FOUR NEW REGIONAL BODIES TO ADMINISTER SERVICES. IT'S NOT FOUR NEW ORGANISATIONS. IT IS ONE ORGANISATION, BUT WE ARE DEVOLVING THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND THE COMMISSIONING OF SERVICES INTO THOSE REGIONS. KNOWING THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN TE WHATU ORA AND THE CULTURE THERE, IF YOU START SETTING UP REGIONAL STRUCTURES, THEY WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MULTIPLY BUREAUCRACY THERE. THAT'S NOT REALLY THE ANSWER, FRANKLY. THE IDEA OF DECISION-MAKING BEING MADE CLOSER TO PATIENTS GETTING SUPPORT FROM CLINICIANS. I THINK ALL CLINICIANS WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT APPROACH. BUT IN JUST TWO YEARS, THE PROMISE OF A NEW BEGINNING AND AN END TO THE POSTCODE LOTTERY APPEARS TO BE IN A STATE OF CONFUSION. WE COULD NEVER QUITE FIND OUT WHO WAS GONNA MAKE A DECISION ABOUT SOMETHING. IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE, YOU WILL FIND DUPLICATION OR TRIPLICATION. WAS THE SIZE OF THE ORGANISATION AT THE AMALGAMATION CORRECT? WELL, WE KNOW NOW IT'S NOT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE. IN DOLLAR TERMS, THAT'S A MONTHLY BLOWOUT OF $130M. THE BUDGET OVERSPENDING TO DATE IS WORRYING BOTH HOSPITAL CLINICIANS AND GPs. THEY'VE TOLD 1 NEWS THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE PEGGED IN AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON PATIENTS. THE NEW COMMISSIONER IS OFFERING REASSURANCE. WE CAN DELIVER A LOT MORE HEALTHCARE OUT OF THE ACTUAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE NOW. WE TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE, AND I WANT TO PLACE A MASSIVE EMPHASIS ON THE 'CARE' PART OF THAT WORD. BUT ONE ACADEMIC SAYS MUCH MORE IS NEEDED FOR TE WHATU ORA TO FULLY RECOVER. THIS WAS ALWAYS THE RISK WITH MERGING 20 ORGANISATIONS INTO ONE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX EXERCISE TO DO. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER HEALTH SYSTEMS FROM THE TOP. PATIENTS NOW WAITING FOR THE REVAMP THAT MAY BRING THEM RELIEF. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. A WARNING ` OUR NEXT STORY CONTAINS IMAGES OF ANIMALS SUFFERING FROM INJURIES. A 1 NEWS INVESTIGATION CAN REVEAL THIS WEEK'S REVELATIONS ABOUT ORANA WILDLIFE PARK ARE NOT ISOLATED. LEAKED DOCUMENTS SHOW PLEAS FOR HELP HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN SENT TO REGULATORS, WITH THE COMPLAINANTS WRITING ANONYMOUSLY, FEELING UNABLE TO SPEAK SAFELY TO THE ZOO'S MANAGEMENT. THOMAS MEAD HAS SPOKEN TO 20 CURRENT AND FORMER WORKERS AT THE PARK. HERE'S THE LATEST INSTALMENT IN HIS EXCLUSIVE SERIES. FOR DECADES, ORANA WILDLIFE PARK HAS ENJOYED A STELLAR REPUTATION, ONCE FAMOUS FOR EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS DRIVE-IN LION ENCOUNTER. BUT THERE'S A SIDE OF ITS STORY YOU'VE NEVER HEARD. WE AT TIMES FELT LIKE WE WERE YELLING INTO THE VOID WE AT TIMES FELT LIKE WE WERE YELLING INTO THE VOID WHEN IT CAME TO WELFARE ISSUES. OVER THE LAST TWO NIGHTS, WE'VE AIRED DETAILS OF ANIMAL INJURIES AND DEATHS AT THE CHRISTCHURCH PARK ` FROM RECENT YEARS. ZOOKEEPERS LEFT IN ANGUISH. WHEN YOU'RE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THIS BATTLE, AND THE ANIMALS ARE LOSING IT, IT'S SO HEARTBREAKING. AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME STAFF HAVE HAD CONCERNS. THEY WERE BITING, FIGHTING, PICKING AND SELF-HARMING ON DISPLAY. NINE YEARS AGO, A TROUPE OF SPIDER MONKEYS WERE TAKEN OFF DISPLAY AFTER THEY STARTED TO HURT THEMSELVES. HE WAS EATING HIS OWN TAIL TO THE POINT THAT HE'D GET IT DOWN TO BONE ` WE COULD SEE BONE. A WARNING ` THIS NEXT VIDEO SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IT'S CONFRONTING AND GRAPHIC. THE MALES OVERGROOMING EACH OTHER'S INJURIES, SOMETIMES PUSHING THEIR FINGERS INSIDE WOUNDS. IN THE END, THE MONKEYS WERE HELD OFF DISPLAY FOR FIVE YEARS. THE ZOO SAYS IT CONTINUALLY EXPLORED OPTIONS TO TRY AND HELP THEM, AND THAT'S EVIDENT FROM THE PHOTOS, WHICH SHOW THE WOUNDS WERE BEING TREATED. IN 2017, IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ANIMAL WELFARE REGULATOR, THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. THE COMPLAINT, ONE OF MANY DOCUMENTS LEAKED TO 1 NEWS, SHOW AROUND THAT TIME, VARIOUS ANONYMOUS LETTERS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT ISSUES AT THE ZOO WENT TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GROUPS, INCLUDING ORANA SPONSOR TIP TOP, ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP SAFE, AUCKLAND ZOO, WORKSAFE AND THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES ` NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. AMONG ISSUES AT THE TIME, A GIRAFFE KILLED IN 2016 WHEN IT BECAME TANGLED IN A ROPE LEFT HANGING LOOSE. MPI INVESTIGATED AND FOUND NO OFFENCES HAD BEEN COMMITTED, INCLUDING WITH THE SPIDER MONKEYS. BY MID-2018 IT CAME TO A HEAD ` EIGHT OF THE 14 ZOOKEEPERS IN THE EXOTICS TEAM QUIT AT ONCE IN A MASS EXODUS. WE DIDN'T WANT TO SIT QUIETLY AND WATCH ANIMALS CONTINUE TO... BE SICK OR HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR HEALTH. LATE MINUTES FROM A ZOO BOARD MEETING SHOWS A MANAGER DESCRIBED SOME OF THEM AS 'DISAPPOINTING', OTHERS AS 'FOOT SOLDIERS' AND THE REST AS 'RINGLEADERS'. WE WERE TELLING MANAGEMENT, WE WERE TELLING OUR SENIOR KEEPER, OR OUR LEAD KEEPER, AND WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE WERE BEING BEING LISTENED TO. THE MASS DEPARTURE LEFT THE PARK UNDERSTAFFED, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MINUTES, MANAGEMENT STILL FELT THEY HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE REGULATOR, MPI... SOMETHING THE MINISTRY DENIES. YEAH. LOOK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ABSOLUTELY REFUTE THAT. THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. IF WE WOULD SEEM TO BE BATTING FOR ANYBODY, IT'S GOING TO BE THE ANIMALS, AND IT ALWAYS IS. SIX YEARS LATER, THERE'S A NEW GENERATION OF ZOOKEEPERS, BUT ONCE AGAIN, SOME ARE FEELING UNHEARD. IF SOMETHING DOESN'T CHANGE, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT LEAVING CHRISTCHURCH, FINDING A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR LEAVING THE INDUSTRY. I CAN'T CARRY ON. HISTORY REPEATING AT ORANA WILDLIFE PARK. THOMAS, MPI HAS BEEN AT THE PARK FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS. ANY UPDATE? FOLLOWING OUR INVESTIGATION, THEY HAVE CARRIED OUT A RAPID ASSESSMENT, GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT ENCLOSURES AND DOCUMENTS, TO SEE IF THERE ARE CURRENT ISSUES HAPPENING NOW. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY TO DATE. THEY ARE CONTINUING WITH AN INVESTIGATION INTO AN ANIMAL THAT FEATURED HEAVILY IN OUR REPORTING. YOU MAY REMEMBER HIM. HE HAD A BAD INJURY TO HIS FACE, AND WAS LATER FOUND DEAD IN JUNE, AFTER BEING MOVED. MPI HAS POINTED OUT, QUITE A FEW ALLEGATIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE ZOO ARE HISTORICAL, BUT SERIOUS IN NATURE, AND THEY ARE BEEFING UP THEIR CHECKS, LOOKING AT THEY WILL BE THERE EVERY THREE MONTHS, RATHER THAN ONCE A YEAR. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE ZOO IS RUNNING A CULTURE REVIEW. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS SPOKEN TO STAFF, SAYING AFTER THIS RAFT OF COMPLAINTS, THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS AN ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN A THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT THAT. WE APPROACH THEM IN AN EMAIL THIS MORNING, ASKING MORE QUESTIONS, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. AND FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE CONCERNING ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES. THERE'S AN IN-DEPTH ARTICLE BY THOMAS ON OUR WEBSITE. DOWNLOAD OUR APP OR GO TO www.onenews.co.nz/orana COMING UP ` KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE WHILE PLAYING TACKLE RUGBY... DO YOU WORRY ABOUT HEAD KNOCKS? NO, NOT REALLY. THE WORLD-FIRST STUDY, AND THE TECH KEEPING TABS ON OUR JUNIOR PLAYERS. AND... TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT COMES BACK TO BITE THIS TOURIST IN LONDON. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP, IT'S A LOT OF HOT AIR ` BUT THIS NEW FISHING ACCESORY IS ALSO A GAME-CHANGER. PLUS ` HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T WASTE A SECOND OF THAT PRECIOUS TIME AT THE DOCTOR'S. AND HOW A POP-UP STORE IN WELLINGTON IS HOPING TO CATCH THE EYE OF SHOPPERS FOR A GOOD CAUSE. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. WELCOME BACK. FORMER GLORIAVALE MEMBERS ARE SEEKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES FROM THE WEST COAST COMMUNE AND FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IS ALSO SEEKING A HIGH COURT DECLARATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BREACHED INTERNATIONAL TREATIES BY FAILING TO PROTECT GIRLS AND BOYS FROM WHAT IT CALLS THE 'WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOUR'. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. EVER SINCE PEARL VALOR LEFT GLORIAVALE, SHE'S BEEN FIGHTING. WE WANT A DECLARATION THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME, BORN AND RAISED IN GLORIAVALE'S SYSTEM, ARE SLAVES. FIRST, SHE WENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT COURT TO ARGUE THAT THE COMMUNE'S WOMEN WERE EMPLOYEES AND NOT VOLUNTEERS. HALF OF THEM WOULDN'T EVEN EAT LUNCH. NOW SHE'S HEADING TO THE HIGH COURT WITH THREE OTHER FORMER RESIDENTS TO TAKE ON THE LEADERSHIP ` AND THE GOVERNMENT. THERE'S BEEN ALL THE EVIDENCE ` HOPEFULLY IT JUST GIVES THE GOVERNMENT THAT CLARITY. AND SO THEN SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. THE CLASS ACTION CLAIMS FROM BIRTH, MEMBERS ARE DELIBERATELY ENTRAPPED INTO SLAVERY WHERE THEY HAVE NO FREE WILL, NO CONTROL OF ANY ASSETS, NO ACCESS TO MONEY, AND NO REMUNERATION FOR THEIR WORK. AS THAT CASE IS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COURTS, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT. THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO ACCUSED OF FAILING TO SHUT DOWN GLORIAVALE, PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHILD LABOUR, AND PREVENT GIRLS BEING TRAFFICKED TO INDIA, WHERE SLAVERY CONTINUES. I'M SCARED. WHAT'S THE WORST THEY CAN DO TO US? AT THE SAME TIME, THE GROUP SAYS THE LACK OF ACTION HAS KEPT THE LEADERSHIP PROTECTED. CERTAINLY, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY GLORIAVALE HAS OPERATED. GLORIAVALE LEADERSHIP SAYS WHILE IT'S AWARE OF THE LAWSUIT, IT'S NOT MAKING ANY COMMENT AT THIS STAGE. IT COULD IMPACT 700 TO 800 PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE 'BORN AND RAISED IN' CLASS, SO, QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. AND I GUESS IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE. PEARL AND THE OTHER PLAINTIFFS ALLEGED THE LEADERS DID NOT PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM SEXUAL ABUSE. THEY EACH WANT DAMAGES OF $2.5 MILLION. SO, ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IS FREEDOM OF CHOICE FOR PEOPLE BORN AND RAISED IN GLORIAVALE. HOPING ANOTHER DAY IN COURT RESULTS IN CHANGE. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. THE COST OF LAYING A LOVED ONE TO REST IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE, WITH MOST COUNCILS HIKING UP THE COST OF BURIALS AND CREMATIONS. THE INCREASED FINANCIAL BURDEN IS CAUSING CONCERN FOR THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, RELEASING GUIDANCE ON WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO TO EASE THE PRESSURE. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS HAS MORE. MOURNING THE LOSS OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL STING THAT JUST KEEPS RISING. THE MATERIALS THEY BRING IN, THE CONSUMABLES, THEY'RE ALL GOING UP. SO THOSE COSTS HAVE TO END UP BEING PASSED ON TO FAMILIES, SO THAT SORT OF EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM. BUT THE BIGGEST JUMP THIS YEAR HAS COME FROM COUNCILS. THE COST FOR A PLOT AND BURIAL HAS JUMPED 48% IN THE PAST YEAR IN WAIROA, TO NEARLY $3000, WHILE IN MARLBOROUGH THE TOTAL COST FOR BURIALS AND ASH BURIALS HAS RISEN 18%. IN TAURANGA, THE TOTAL COST FOR A BURIAL HAS RISEN 9%, TO AROUND $5500. THERE'S ALSO A 10% FEE HIKE IN CHRISTCHURCH FOR A PLOT AND BURIAL. WHEN IT DOES GO UP A LOT, FAMILIES ARE LIKE, 'WELL, GOSH, NOW WHAT DO I DO?' IN WAIROA, THE COUNCIL HAS CHANGED FROM ALL RATEPAYERS CONTRIBUTING TO A USER-PAYS SYSTEM. IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG JUMP, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE'RE NOT RECOVERING OUR COSTS, AND THEN EVERYBODY'S PAYING FOR A CEMETERY THAT MOST OF THEMSELVES OR THEIR WHANAU NEVER USE, IT'S A BIT UNFAIR ON THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, TO BE QUITE HONEST. MARLBOROUGH'S MADE A SIMILAR MOVE, SWITCHING FROM A 50/50 SPLIT BETWEEN THE USER AND RATEPAYER TO 70/30. AND CHRISTCHURCH SAYS IT'S ALIGNING ITS FEES WITH OTHER COUNCILS. YES, IT'S AN ISSUE, COUNCIL PLOTS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE... IT'S ACTUALLY A BIT OF A DIVERSION. HE SAYS THE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING IS THE COST OF CREMATION AND BURIAL PAPERWORK. HE'S CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT AND COUNCILS TO EMPOWER FAMILIES TO SORT THIS THEMSELVES. WE ACTUALLY NEED TO PROTECT PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE AT THE ABSOLUTELY MOST VULNERABLE FROM EXCESSIVE PAPERWORK CHARGES BY THE INDUSTRY. AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS FOR PEOPLE AND NOT FOR THE INDUSTRY. PLANNING AHEAD THE ADVICE FROM ALL FOR APPROACHING AN ALREADY DIFFICULT SITUATION. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. A TOURIST IN LONDON HAS LEARNT THE HARD WAY WHEN IT COMES TO FOLLOWING THE RULES. SHE GOT A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE KING'S GUARD AT THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MUSEUM, THE HORSE BITING HER ON THE ARM AS SHE POSED FOR A PHOTO. YEP, THAT'S A WARNING SIGN ABOUT THE HORSES BITING, RIGHT BEHIND HER. JENNY'S HERE NOW WITH SPORT. AND THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP FINAL IS CAPITAL-BOUND. YEAH, THE PULSE CLINCHING A HOME FINAL. THEY CAN NOW SIT BACK AND WATCH TWO TEAMS WITH CONTRASTING RECENT FORM BATTLE IT OUT. PLUS, JUST WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUNG BRAINS AFTER A HEAD KNOCK ` THE WORLD-FIRST STUDY TAKING PLACE IN CHRISTCHURCH. AND ` AND IN WEATHER, THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A QUIET SPELL OF WEATHER IS HEADING OUR WAY. JUST A COUPLE OF FRONTS TO GET THROUGH OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PATCHY FROST, A FEW SHOWERS IN THE MIX AS WELL. OTHERWISE SOME DECENT SUN AND CLOUD. HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE, AFTER SPORT. VOICEOVER: Get your free 'Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids', New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. KIA ORA. WELCOME TO SPORT. THE OPENING CEREMONY AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES MIGHT NOT BE UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING NEW ZEALAND TIME, BUT COMPETITION ACTUALLY GETS UNDER WAY TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH THE SEVENS AMONG THE FIRST MEDALS AWARDED. BOTH THE KIWI MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TEAM ARE AMONG THE CONTENDERS FOR GOLD. JOINING US NOW FROM PARIS ` PROBABLY A LITTLE JET-LAGGED ` OLYMPICS REPORTER GUY HEVELDT. JETLAG BE DAMNED. I'M RARING TO GO ON A GLEAMING DAY IN PARIS. THE GAMES HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING FOR THE BOTH OF THEM THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE AS REALLY SIMILAR TO RIWAKA I'M READY, MENTALLY PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY I'VE STILL GOT AWAY TO WAIT VOICE BREAKS: IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT. I JUST GOT MY LASHES DONE TODAY, SO... (LAUGHTER) I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO CRY. CENTRE JAZMIN HOTHAM WAKING UP AT 4am ON SATURDAY TO WATCH HER BROTHER NOAH'S ALL BLACKS DEBUT IN SAN DIEGO. YES, NOAH! WE GREW UP TRAINING TOGETHER. IT WAS ALL FOR THE DREAM OF A BLACK JERSEY, BOTH OF US. AND TO WATCH HIM BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ON WAS A SPECIAL MOMENT. HER SPECIAL MOMENT STILL TO COME. THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS OPEN THEIR TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST CHINA. IT'S DEFINITELY IN THE BACKGROUND, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY ON THE BIGGEST WORLD STAGE. WE'VE GOT TO USE THAT AS FUEL. WHEN THERE'S PLENTY OF FUEL FOR BOTH TEAMS, WHO NEEDS THE FOOD COURT? THEY ARE COPING OR OF WINNING GOLD MOST KIWI OLYMPICS FANS WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH SEVENS, BUT MIGHT NEED A CRASH COURSE IN KAYAK CROSS, MAKING ITS DEBUT IN PARIS. THE SPORT'S DESCRIBED AS BMX AND DEMOLITION DERBY ON WATER. WORLD CHAMPION LUUKA JONES NOW AIMING TO BECOME KAYAK CROSS' FIRST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST. AND FOR US KIWIS, IT KIND OF BRINGS US BACK TO OUR ROOTS OF JUST, YOU KNOW, PLAYING AROUND IN PLASTIC BOATS ON THE RIVER. IT'S A VERY KIND OF EXTREME SPORT COMPARED WITH SLALOM. LAUNCHING OFF A RAMP, THERE'S FOUR OF YOU, YOU'RE FIGHTING ` YOU'RE SMASHING INTO EACH OTHER, BASICALLY. PARIS WILL BE JONES' FIFTH OLYMPICS, THE 35-YEAR-OLD THE THIRD WOMAN BEHIND BARBARA KENDALL AND DAME VALERIE ADAMS TO ACHIEVE THE FEAT. I'VE HAD A BIT OF A FULL REBRAND SINCE BEIJING. YOU KNOW, I'M COMING INTO THIS WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS. I'M A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ATHLETE, AND MY FIFTH OLYMPICS NOW ` I'M HERE TO TRY AND TICK OFF SOME BIG GOALS. JONES WILL ALSO COMPETE IN THE K1 CANOE SLALOM ` THE SAME EVENT IN WHICH SHE CLAIMED SILVER IN RIO 2016. THE PLAYOFF PICTURE FOR THIS YEAR'S ANZ PREMIERSHIP HAS BEEN SET AFTER THE PULSE TOPPLED THE TACTIX TO EARN A HOME GRAND FINAL. THE TACTIX NOW LEFT WITH THE TASK OF HAVING TO BEAT A RESURGENT MYSTICS OUTFIT TO EARN A REMATCH. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. AFTER 15 ROUNDS OF ANZ PREMIERSHIP ACTION RIGHTS TO HOST THIS YEAR'S GRAND FINAL COMING DOWN TO THE LAST GAME. IT'S NOT SATURDAY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT SURE FEELS LIKE IT. THE PULSE AND TACTICS TIED ON POINTS AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE, BUT THE CENTRAL SIDE WASTING LITTLE TIME CREATING SOME SPACE. TEN MINUTES IN AND THE PULSE ARE UP BY SIX. AND ON-SONG OFFENCE, CARVING OUT A NINE-GOAL LEAD AT HALF TIME, THE DEFICIT PULLED BACK TO WITHIN FOUR AFTER THE BREAK, BEFORE THE PULSE ENDED ANY HOPES OF A COMEBACK WITH A DOMINANT FINAL QUARTER. IT COULD BE NEARLY HALF A QUARTER SCORELESS. IT WAS THE TACTICS DROUGHT LASTING ALMOST EIGHT MINUTES, WHILE THE PULSE WENT ON A GAME-CLINCHING 11-GOAL RUN. ONE GOAL TURNED INTO THREE GOALS AND A SIDE, LIKE THE PULSE, CAN'T QUITE AFFORD TO DO THAT. A SOLD OUT TSB ARENA, DELIGHTED BY THE 58-44 VICTORY, GIVING THE PULSE A PREVIEW OF WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT WITH A FIFTH HOME FINAL EARNED IN SEVEN YEARS. JUST REALLY HAPPY TO SECURE THAT HOME FINAL SPOT. THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST GOALS THIS SEASON. BEFORE THEN, THE TACTICS HOST THE REVITALISED MYSTICS AND SATURDAY'S ELIMINATION FINAL. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS BACK AT FULL STRENGTH AND FINDING THEIR FORM JUST IN TIME, BEATING BOTH THE PULSE AND TACTICS IN THE LAST MONTH EN ROUTE TO SECURING THE THIRD AND FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT. I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND REALLY PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD GOING INTO THESE FINALS. BUT THE MYSTICS ARE WARY OF A WOUNDED TACTIX. THEY PROBABLY WON'T BE HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE THAT THEY DISPLAYED, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE BETTER THAN THAT. BECAUSE THE TACTICS CAN PULL IT OUT OF THE BAG WHENEVER THEY NEED TO. ALL THREE TEAMS LEFT HOPING THEY'VE GOT THE BEST BAG OF TRICKS. BRODYN KNUCKEY, ONE NEWS. A WORLD-FIRST STUDY IS UNDERWAY IN CHRISTCHURCH RESEARCHING HEAD KNOCKS IN JUNIOR RUGBY, PARTICULARLY THAT FIRST YEAR OF CONTACT. CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR NICK DRAPER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING UNDER-16 TEAMS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND NOW HIS TEAM ARE INVESTIGATING 12- AND 13-YEAR-OLDS. JORDAN OPPERT REPORTS. THESE BOYS ARE FEARLESS AND GUTSY. NICE, MAX! REAL GOOD. RIPPING INTO TACKLE RUGBY. DO YOU WORRY ABOUT HEAD KNOCKS? NO, NOT REALLY. I THINK THAT I'M OK, COS I HAVE A GOOD COACH THAT TAUGHT ME HOW TO LAND PROPERLY. THIS LINCOLN YEAR EIGHT TEAM THE LATEST TO JOIN A STUDY LOOKING INTO COLLISIONS IN JUNIOR RUGBY AND THEIR POTENTIAL EFFECT ON BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. WE INITIALLY STARTED TO LOOK AT HEADGEAR. AND THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH AN ENGINEERING TEAM AT UC, WE STARTED TO REALISE, ACTUALLY WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FIELD FIRST. IT STARTS WITH AN MRI AND NEUROCOGNITIVE TEST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, REPEATED AT SEASON'S END. THEY'RE THEN CLOSELY MONITORED THROUGH SMART MOUTH GUARDS AND VIDEO ANALYSIS AT EVERY TRAINING AND GAME. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE PART OF THE STUDY? IT'S PRETTY COOL, COS YOU, LIKE, KNOW WHEN YOU GET A HEAD KNOCK. BUT WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK BACK AND LOOK AT THE VIDEO THAT WE HAVE FROM EACH GAME IN ORDER TO SEE THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THAT INCIDENT AND THAT COLLISION. AND WE CAN THEN UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE OCCURRED, AND THAT WILL HELP IN TERMS OF COACH EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE. BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THE MRI TRACES. THIS SEASON'S RESEARCH MADE POSSIBLE BY MORE THAN $100,000 FROM CURE KIDS. IT'S SO WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PREVENTION OF THINGS LIKE HOSPITALISATIONS, LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH INTO THE FUTURE. AND WE'VE SEEN SOME QUITE HIGH-PROFILE CASES OF OLDER PLAYERS WHO'VE GOT HEAD INJURIES. IT'S PEACE OF MIND FOR PARENTS. IT'S A NO-BRAINER FOR OUR FAMILY. I'VE BEEN INVESTING IN RUGBY FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THE GOOD SIDE. YOU WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR CHILD. YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO BE INJURED AT AN EARLY AGE. PROFESSOR DRAPER WILL WORK WITH A GIRLS' TEAM NEXT YEAR BEFORE FULL FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF 2025. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. AND STICKING WITH THE YOUNG THEME, CHLOE COVELL (14) IS AIMING TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST IN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY. COVELL ARRIVES IN PARIS AS THE YOUNGEST STREET SKATEBOARDING GOLD MEDALLIST IN X-GAMES HISTORY, ACHIEVING THAT LAST YEAR WHEN 13. SHE'S STILL TOO YOUNG TO STAY AT THE ATHLETES VILLAGE. I'M DEFINITELY A LITTLE NERVOUS, BECAUSE IT'S, LIKE, THE BIGGEST STAGE. LIKE, IT'S THE BIGGEST COMPETITION. AND THERE'S, LIKE, JUST FAMOUS PEOPLE WALKING AROUND EVERYWHERE. BUT ALSO VERY EXCITED. YOU KNOW, I GOT ALL MY GEAR. AND THERE'S A LINK TO NEW ZEALAND. COVELL IS THE DAUGHTER OF ONE-TEST KIWIS RUGBY LEAGUE WINGER LUKE COVELL. THANKS JENNY. GOOD NEWS, DAN SAYS SOME DECENT SUNSHINE IS ON THE WAY... HE'LL HAVE MORE AFTER THE BREAK. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, THE ATHLETES WHO WANT THE WHOLE COUNTRY TALKING ABOUT THEM. PLUS ` THIS JUST SITS ON THE BEACH NEXT TO YOU, AND YOU'RE ONLY SENDING OUT, LIKE, A $6 SINKER. SICK OF LOSING YOUR EXPENSIVE FISHING GEAR? HOW AN IDEA THAT STARTED IN A GARAGE MIGHT JUST BE THE SOLUTION. WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY AT 7. HELLO. LOOKING AT THE SATELLITE, BIG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING IN A HIVE OF ACTIVITY WE DID IN THE FLOW FROM AUSTRALIA MID TO UPPER TEENS, MAY BE CLOSER TO SWEENEY'S THEN WE START SEEING LOW PRESSURE SURGED TOWARDS US COUPLE OF SEVENS DOWN SOUTH, QUEENSTOWN AND ALEXANDRA THE FROST MAP GOES ALL THE WAY AS FAR AS WAIKATO THAT LITTLE CLUSTER THERE, A LITTLE ACTIVE TROUGH MAY BE A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER AND RAIN THAT MIGHT JUST BE A HEAVIER SHOWER WAS STARTING TO BUILD AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE A GUSTY ONE PERHAPS THINNING OUT THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE AFTERNOON SHOWERS CHILLY, FROSTY AROUND FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY IT'LL BE PRETTY CHILLY HERE TAURANGA AS WELL NO PROBLEMS REALLY FOR THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND COUPLE OF MORNING SHOWERS TO NEW PLYMOUTH LEVIN YOUR JELLY NELSON, BLENHEIM ALSO FINE CHRISTCHURCH FROSTY BUT FINE CLOUD MAYBE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS FOR GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA DUNEDIN YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN, THAT'S A NICE CHANGE