THE QUIET POLICY CHANGE THAT COULD SEE ANOTHER 24,000 CHILDREN REMAIN IN POVERTY. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND WARNS KIWIS TO MASK UP IN PUBLIC AMID A SURGE OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS. THE COST OF NOT KNOWING HOW TO SWIM. WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND SAYS IT'S TIME THE GOVERNMENT INVESTED IN SAVING LIVES. AND AS THE MEN'S FOOTBALLERS START THE OLYMPICS WITH A WIN, THE WOMEN'S SPYING SCANDAL DEEPENS. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER HAS CONDEMNED THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO QUIETLY WATER DOWN CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION TARGETS, CALLING IT 'DISAPPOINTING AND UNACCEPTABLE'. ANALYSIS FROM THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER OBTAINED EXCLUSIVELY BY THREENEWS SHOWS THE CHANGE COULD SEE NEARLY 24,000 MORE CHILDREN REMAIN IN MATERIAL HARDSHIP. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH REPORTS. THESE ARE THE ADULTS WE LET DOWN AS CHILDREN. THEY CAME TO PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY THEIR DEVASTATING STORIES FINALLY HEARD AND BELIEVED. THE 3000-PAGE INQUIRY INTO ABUSE IN STATE CARE CANNOT BE READ WITHOUT AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ROLE POVERTY HAD IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS. WE HAVE TO ATTEND TO THIS FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT THE GOVERNMENT LAST MONTH QUIETLY CUT DOWN ITS CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION TARGETS. I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THESE TARGETS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THESE TARGETS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THESE TARGETS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION IT SIGNALS A LACK OF AMBITION FROM OUR GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN. UNDER THE CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION ACT, INTRODUCED BY THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT IN 2018, THE GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO SET MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM TARGETS FOR REDUCING CHILD POVERTY AGAINST THREE MEASURES. THE 2023/24 TARGET FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN MATERIAL HARDSHIP SET BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WAS 9%, HOWEVER MINISTER FOR CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION LOUISE UPSTON HAS SET THE NEW TARGET AT 11%. ACCORDING TO PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY RESEARCH, THE 2 PERCENTAGE-POINT DIFFERENCE AMOUNTS TO AN ESTIMATED 17,350 MORE CHILDREN LIVING IN MATERIAL HARDSHIP WHILE THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSION ANALYSIS RELEASED EXCLUSIVELY TO THREENEWS ESTIMATED IT COULD BE UP TO 23,730, USING MORE UP-TO-DATE POPULATION FIGURES. THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTING THAT AROUND 24,000 MORE CHILDREN THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTING THAT AROUND 24,000 MORE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE IN MATERIAL HARDSHIP ` THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THE MINISTER ARGUING THE WEAKENED AMBITION IS A DOSE OF REALITY. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS MAKE SURE THEY ARE ACHIEVABLE. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS MAKE SURE THEY ARE ACHIEVABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT NUMBERS GOING UP, IT'S REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING, AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON REDUCING CHILD POVERTY. NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ITS DECISION TO PLUNGE THOUSANDS MORE CHILDREN INTO MATERIAL HARDSHIP AND IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A CRUEL AGENDA. THE LATEST CHILD POVERTY REPORT SHOWED THERE WAS AN INCREASE ACROSS ALL THREE MEASURES OF CHILD POVERTY THROUGH THE YEAR TO 2022/23. MATERIAL HARDSHIP INCREASED FROM 10.5% TO 12.5%. WE ARE STARTING FROM A PLACE FURTHER BACK, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP UNDER THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN MATERIAL HARDSHIP. THE MINISTER ADMITTED SHE DID NOT CONSULT WITH KEY CHILD POVERTY STAKEHOLDERS AHEAD OF SETTING HER NEW TARGETS, DID YOU CONSULT WITH THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER ON THIS? NOT ON THIS, NO. WHY NOT? WELL, I'VE SET THE TARGETS BASED ON THE DATA WE HAD AVAILABLE AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE. ON AN ISSUE OF SUCH INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE TO THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTRY, YES, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE BEEN CONSULTED. DO YOU NOT THINK THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER MIGHT HAVE A VIEW ON WHERE THE CHILD POVERTY TARGETS ARE SET? SHE MIGHT ABSOLUTELY HAVE A VIEW, AND I'M SURE I WILL HEAR IT. MINISTER, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, YOU JUST HEARD IT. JENNA, DOES THIS NEW INTERIM TARGET MAKE THE LONGER TERM CHILD-POVERTY TARGETS HARDER TO REACH? IN A WORD, YES. THERE ARE THREE MEASURES OF CHILD POVERTY. IN ONE OF THOSE MEASURES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A SLIGHTLY MORE AMBITIOUS TARGET THAN THE PREVIOUS. BUT SETTING THOSE TWO OTHER TARGETS IN A LESS AMBITIOUS WAY KICKS THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. IT MAKES THEM HARDER TO REACH. TO USE THE MATERIAL HARDSHIP MEASURE AS AN EXAMPLE, THE 10 YEAR GOAL SET ON THAT MEASURE IS 6%. I SAW A GRAPH TODAY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW TARGETS, IT GOES UP A HILL, THEN PLUNGES OFF A CLIFF CLOSE TO 2028. THE GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVELY IS LEAVING THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR A LATER DATE. TO THE OLYMPICS NOW, AND THE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL SPYING SCANDAL HAS DEEPENED. NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL NOW REPORTEDLY WANTS CANADA TO BE DENIED ANY POINTS FROM TOMORROW'S CLASH, AFTER CONFIRMATION THERE WAS A SECOND DRONE SPYING ATTEMPT. AND A CANADIAN OFFICIAL HAS BEEN DETAINED BY FRENCH POLICE. FOR THE LATEST, LET'S GET TO IMOGEN WELLS IN PARIS. IMOGEN, IT'S 8 IN THE MORNING THERE. ANY NEW INFORMATION? THE LATEST INFORMATION WE HAVE IS A STAFF MEMBER FROM THE CANADA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM HAS BEEN HANDED AN EIGHT MONTH SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE AND SENT HOME FROM THE GAMES, AFTER BECOMING EMBROILED IN THIS SPYING SCANDAL. JOSEPH LOMBARDI HAS ADMITTED TO OPERATING A DRONE OVER A NEW ZEALAND TRAINING SESSION WHICH HAS PROMPTED FIFA TO OPEN DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ORGANISATION AND SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS. WHAT BETTER WAY TO KICK OFF THE OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN FOR THE OLY WHITES... THAN WITH A 2-1 GROUP A WIN OVER GUINEA EARLY THIS MORNING? BUT IT WAS THE OFF-FIELD DRAMA INVOLVING THE WOMEN'S TEAM THAT HAD OUR OFFICIALS TALKING, AFTER CANADA WERE CAUGHT USING A DRONE TO SPY ON THEIR TRAINING. WE'RE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND VERY SHOCKED FOR THIS SITUATION. AND AS ASH SAID, IT DOES GO AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE STAND FOR. NIGEL AVERY NOT WILLING TO SPECULATE ON APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS, BUT A CANADIAN OLYMPIC OFFICIAL TOLD MEDIA NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL HAD COMPLAINED TO FIFA, SAYING IT WANTS CANADA TO BE DENIED ANY POINTS IN TOMORROW'S MATCH NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULT. IN A STATEMENT, CEO ANDREW PRAGNELL SAID... 'TO HEAR NOW THAT THE CANADIAN TEAM HAD FILMED SECRET FOOTAGE OF OUR TEAM TRAINING AT LEAST TWICE, IS INCREDIBLY CONCERNING, AND IF NOT TREATED URGENTLY COULD HAVE WIDER IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE TOURNAMENT.' CANADA, WHO UPSET SWEDEN TO CLAIM GOLD AT THE TOKYO GAMES, HAVE SENT THOSE INVOLVED HOME. AND THEIR COACH, A FORMER HEAD OF NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL, WILL STAND DOWN FOR TOMORROW'S MATCH AGAINST THE FOOTBALL FERNS. THE TEAM HAS APOLOGISED FOR THE INCIDENT AND CANADA'S NATIONAL BODY HAS REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE OF FAIR PLAY. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE ACTIONS AND THE MANDATORY ETHICS EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE IMPOSED AT LEAST MITIGATE ANY ADVANTAGE CANADA MAY HAVE HAD, OR BE SEEN TO HAVE HAD, AGAINST NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL AND THEIR WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM. BUT THE ORDEAL HAS MANY COMMENTATORS QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR CANADA TO COMMIT SUCH OFFENCE. CANADA HAVE PLAYED NEW ZEALAND 15 TIMES SINCE 1987, AND THEY'VE ONLY LOST ONCE. AND THAT WAS BACK IN 1987, IN THEIR FIRST MEETING. I'M REALLY NOT SURE CANADA` WHAT THOSE TWO ASSISTANT COACHES WERE THINKING SPYING ON NEW ZEALAND, BECAUSE WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING ANY KIND OF INTELLIGENCE ON A TEAM THAT` LET'S BE HONEST, CANADA HAVE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS AGAINST? REGARDLESS, AVERY IS CONFIDENT THE KIWIS CAN BOUNCE BACK... THEY'RE A GREAT GROUP OF WOMEN, AND I THINK THEY'RE DETERMINED TO GET PAST THIS AND TO MAKE IT AN EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE. ...AND DO THEIR TALKING ON THE FIELD TOMORROW. AND IMOGEN, NOT THE ONLY SPY SCANDAL IN PARIS, IS IT? NO, SAM. AND THE LAST DAY A RUSSIAN CHEF WHO HAS LIVED IN FRANCE FOR 14 YEARS HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR SUSPICION OF PLOTTING WITH A FOREIGN POWER FOR STAGING LARGE-SCALE ACTS OF DESTABILISATION. HE WAS ARRESTED IN A RAID AT HIS APARTMENT WITH A DOCUMENT LINKED TO RUSSIAN SPECIAL FORCES FOUND. IT'S AN OLYMPIC SPORT IN ITSELF, WORKING OUT WHO WILL BE OUR FLAG BEARERS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY. WHEN WILL WE KNOW? IT IS INDEED. IT IS ONE THING TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY, AND BEING ASKED TO BE THE FLAG BEARER IS ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT IN ITSELF. THERE WILL BE A CEREMONY HERE THIS EVENING. EARLY MORNING YOUR TIME FRIDAY. THAT WILL BE REVEALED. IN TOKYO, WE HAD SARAH HIRINI AND DAVID NYIKA. THERE WILL BE ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE. MY MONEY IS ON LISA CARRINGTON AND AARON GATE. OTHER NAMES ARE BEING THROWN AROUND, INCLUDING LYDIA KO. MASKS ARE BACK. TE WHATU ORA IS URGING PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS IN CROWDED PLACES AGAIN. AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE BACKING THE CALL. GRACE THOMAS EXPLAINS WHY. WINTER ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN OUT IN FORCE ACROSS AOTEAROA THIS YEAR. AND TE WHATU ORA SAYS THEY'RE FILLING UP HOSPITAL WARDS. IT JUST SEEMS TO BE A PARTICULARLY BAD WINTER FOR US THIS YEAR. IT'S A COMBINATION OF INFLUENZA, COVID-19, RESPIRATORY VIRUSES LIKE RSV, AND NORMAL COUGHS AND COLDS. IT'S BEEN GETTING SO BAD THAT TE WHATU ORA HAVE CALLED FOR PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS IN CROWDED PLACES AND GET UP-TO-DATE WITH FLU AND COVID VACCINATIONS. WE'RE WATCHING THINGS VERY CLOSELY AND ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND PROTECT OTHERS. WE'VE GOT ALL OF THESE INFECTIONS COLLIDING. AND WE KNOW IN WINTER WE ALWAYS SEE A PEAK. WE'VE GOT THAT AT THE MOMENT, AND HAD IT OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. DATA SHOWS AUCKLAND HAS RECENTLY HAD THE BIGGEST WEEKLY SPIKE IN HOSPITALISATIONS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES SINCE 2015. AND THEY SAY IT'S LIKELY TO BE A SIMILAR STORY AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE'RE HEARING ANECDOTAL REPORTS PROFESSOR MICHAEL BAKER SAYS HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE TE WHATU ORA ENCOURAGING MASK USE, SOMETHING WHICH HE SAYS HASN'T BEEN PUSHED ENOUGH SINCE THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SAY, ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AT THE MOMENT, I THINK IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO SAY WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PEAK PERIOD. THIS IS PUTTING HUGE PRESSURE ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM. EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR BRIEF PERIODS. SOME AREN'T WAITING FOR THE OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION. AS SOON AS I LEAVE THE HOUSE AND I'M AT THE BUS STOP, MY MASK GOES ON. I JUST WANT TO COME TO WORK AND ENJOY MY LIFE, AND I CAN'T IF I'M GONNA BE AT HOME WITH COVID. AS WELL AS MASKING UP, EXPERTS SAY FOLLOW THE USUAL ADVICE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS ` STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, GET IMMUNISED, AND WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY. U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MAY HAVE STEPPED ASIDE IN THE RACE TO BE RE-ELECTED, BUT IN HIS ADDRESS FROM THE OVAL OFFICE TODAY HE SAID HE BELIEVED HIS RECORD MERITED A SECOND TERM. MEANWHILE, HIS VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS RAMPING UP HER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. AND TRUMP IS TAKING AIM AT HIS LIKELY OPPONENT, BUT CAN'T QUITE NAIL HER NAME. LAURA TUPOU REPORTS. KAM-ELLA. KAM-ALLAH. KAMALA, KAMALA` DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T BOTHER TO PRONOUNCE KAMALA HARRIS' NAME CORRECTLY, AND HE DIDN'T HOLD BACK ON HIS CRITICISM OF THE LIKELY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, EITHER. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M NOT GOING TO BE NICE. IS THAT OK? (CROWD ROARS) SHE IS A RADICAL-LEFT LUNATIC WHO WILL DESTROY OUR COUNTRY. TRUMP'S FOCUS, TO DISCREDIT HARRIS... SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW VICTIM TO DEFEAT. LYIN' KAMALA HARRIS. L, Y, I, N, APOSTROPHE... ...AND UNDERLINE HER CONNECTION TO JOE BIDEN. FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS, HARRIS SHAMELESSLY LIED TO THE PUBLIC TO COVER UP JOE BIDEN'S MENTAL UNFITNESS, CLAIMING THAT CROOKED JOE 'WAS AT THE ABSOLUTE TOP OF HIS GAME.' I DON'T THINK SO! AND THE FORMER PROSECUTOR'S PORTRAYAL OF HIM AS 'CROOKED DONALD'. I TOOK ON PERPETRATORS OF ALL KINDS... ...PREDATORS, WHO ABUSED WOMEN. MOCKING: 'I'M THE PROSECUTOR AND HE IS THE CONVICTED FELON' THAT'S THEIR CAMPAIGN. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY IT. MEANWHILE, BIDEN ADDRESSED THE PUBLIC FROM THE OVAL OFFICE, DEFENDING HIS FOUR-YEAR TERM. I BELIEVE MY RECORD AS PRESIDENT. MY LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD. MY VISION FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE, ALL MERITED A SECOND TERM. BUT NOTHING, NOTHING CAN COME IN THE WAY OF SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY. HE SAID IT WAS TIME TO PASS THE TORCH ON. YOU KNOW, THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR LONG YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC LIFE. BUT THERE'S ALSO A TIME AND A PLACE FOR NEW VOICES. FRESH VOICES. YES, YOUNGER VOICES. AND THAT TIME AND PLACE IS NOW. NOW, AFTER SERVING 50 YEARS IN VARIOUS PUBLIC OFFICE ROLES, HE SAID IT'S BEEN THE PRIVILEGE OF HIS LIFE. I GAVE MY HEART AND MY SOUL TO OUR NATION. I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME IDEA HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO ALL OF YOU. BUT TODAY'S SPEECH WASN'T A RESIGNATION. HE WILL REMAIN PRESIDENT FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, TICKING PROJECTS OFF HIS TO-DO LIST. GROW OUR ECONOMY. I'LL KEEP DEFENDING OUR PERSONAL FREEDOMS AND OUR CIVIL RIGHTS. FROM THE RIGHT TO VOTE, TO THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. AND ON THE FOREIGN STAGE, HE SAYS HE'LL KEEP WORKING TO BRING HOME THE HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS AND END THE WAR IN GAZA, EVEN THOUGH HE'S SUPPLIED MOST OF ISRAEL'S WEAPONS. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS DELIVERED A DEFIANT SPEECH TO THE U.S. CONGRESS DEFENDING HIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN GAZA. HE CAST IT AS A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL FOR THE JEWISH STATE WHILE MAKING ALMOST NO MENTION OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS KILLED IN THE NINE MONTHS OF WAR. HOWEVER, THE ADDRESS LAID BARE THE DEEP DIVISIONS IN WASHINGTON, WITH DOZENS OF DEMOCRATS SKIPPING THE SPEECH, INCLUDING FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WAS ALSO NOTABLY ABSENT, CHOOSING TO STAY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL RATHER THAN ATTEND IN HER USUAL PRESIDING ROLE. ITV's JOHN IRVINE REPORTS. IN A WASHINGTON CONSUMED BY TUMULTUOUS PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS, THE ONLY AMERICANS PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAVE BEEN ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING THEIR ANGER AT HIS INVITATION TO CONGRESS. WHILE HE HAD AN APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE IN THE CHAMBER, THIS WAS PRIMARILY AN ADDRESS TO THE ISRAELI PEOPLE, AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE HIS BATTERED IMAGE AT HOME. IN THE MIDST OF ISRAEL'S LONGEST WAR, MANY WANTED TO HEAR HIM COMMIT TO A CEASEFIRE THAT WOULD BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME. BUT SUCH A TRUCE MIGHT MAKE EXTREMIST MINISTERS COLLAPSE HIS GOVERNMENT, SO WHAT HE UTTERED WAS MORE FIGHTING TALK. I CAME TO ASSURE YOU TODAY OF ONE THING ` WE WILL WIN! ISRAEL WILL FIGHT UNTIL WE DESTROY HAMAS' MILITARY CAPABILITIES, END ITS RULE IN GAZA AND BRING ALL OUR HOSTAGES HOME. THAT'S WHAT TOTAL VICTORY MEANS, AND WE WILL SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS. MR NETANYAHU HAS BEEN CRITICISED FOR FAILING TO COME UP WITH A POST-WAR VISION FOR GAZA. TONIGHT HE OUTLINED A VAGUE REHABILITATION PLAN INVOLVING ARAB NEIGHBOURS. FOLLOWING OUR VICTORY, WITH THE HELP OF REGIONAL PARTNERS, THE DEMILITARISATION AND DERADICALISATION OF GAZA CAN ALSO LEAD TO A FUTURE OF SECURITY, PROSPERITY AND PEACE. I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THESE PROTESTERS. YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY BECOME IRAN'S USEFUL IDIOTS! TOMORROW HE MEETS MR BIDEN, ONE OF THOSE WHO HAS ACCUSED THE ISRAELI LEADER OF PROLONGING THE WAR FOR THE SAKE OF HIS POLITICAL SURVIVAL. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN CLAIMS THAT ISRAEL AND HAMAS ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING ABLE TO SECURE A DEAL. BUT WHAT'S NOT CLEAR TONIGHT IS WHETHER OR NOT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ACTUALLY WANTS A CEASEFIRE, GIVEN THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY PRECIPITATE HIS POLITICAL DEMISE. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE DAY'S WEATHER. AND IT WAS A CALM WINTER'S DAY. NOT A LOT GOING ON, THAT'S FOR SURE. HIGH PRESSURE IS IN THE DRIVING SEAT. BUT NAPIER HAD AN INTERESTING DAY. IT STARTED WITH A LOW OF 1.6 AND FROST, THEN THEY TOOK THE TOP TEMP OF 19.6, WARMING 18 DEGREES ACROSS THE DAY WITH FINE SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS. WELLINGTON WAS ALSO BEAUTIFUL. WELLINGTONIANS SURE LOVE TO PROMOTE THEIR CITY ON A GOOD DAY. AND TOMORROW WILL BE SIMILAR. THE FULL FORECAST IS AFTER SPORT. THE LEG OF A SURFER BITTEN OFF BY A GREAT WHITE SHARK WASHES UP ON A NEW SOUTH WALES BEACH. AN OFF-DUTY COP WALKING HIS DOG IS CREDITED WITH SAVING THE YOUNG MAN'S LIFE. AND A PLEA FOR WATER SAFETY TO BE TAKEN AS SERIOUSLY AS ROAD DEATHS, AMID SHOCKING DROWNING STATISTICS. And later in sport, New Zealand go three from three on the opening day THE GOVERNMENT IS SET TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR MAORI TO CLAIM CUSTOMARY TITLE TO THE FORESHORE AND SEABED. TREATY NEGOTIATIONS MINISTER PAUL GOLDSMITH CONFIRMED PLANS TO AMEND THE MARINE AND COASTAL AREA ACT AT PARLIAMENT TODAY. POLITICAL REPORTER GLENN McCONNELL JOINS US NOW. GLENN, WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE? THE GOVERNMENT IS EFFECTIVELY OVERRULING A COURT OF APPEAL DECISION, SAYING THEY HAVE HAD IT TOO EASY CLAIMING TITLE TO MARINE LAND. THIS IS A RING OF THE FORESHORE AND SEABED PROTESTS FROM 2004 THAT LED TO PROTESTING AND A DIVISIVE PARLIAMENT. LABOUR ARGUE TO THE COURT OF APPEAL AT THE TIME HAD MADE IT TOO EASY FOR MURRAY TO CLAIM RIGHTS TO FORESHORE AND SEABED. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A COURT OF APPEAL DECISION WHICH WE BELIEVE MATERIALLY REDUCED THAT TEST, AND WE'RE MOVING TO RESTORE THAT TEST. STRIPPING AWAY MAORI RIGHTS, AND CURRENTLY IT'S SORT OF BUILDING UP TOWARDS THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL, WHICH WILL TEST THE COUNTRY ON A LEVEL THAT IT HASN'T BEEN TESTED BEFORE. SO IF THEY WANT TO THROW THIS IN WITH THAT, IT'S GOING TO COMPOUND THAT EVEN FURTHER. SO, YEAH, THERE'LL BE SOME FIREWORKS AHEAD, I'M SURE. GOLDSMITHS ANNOUNCEMENT CAME THE SAME DAY THE GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR REFERENDUMS FOR MAORI WARDS. THEY ARE REMOVING TREATY OBLIGATIONS FROM ORANGA TAMAKI. DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS THIS IS THE CHANGE YOU VOTED FOR. BUT THAT CHANGE COULD BE JUST ANOTHER REASON TO MOBILISE. WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP TREATING IT LIKE THE POOR COUSINS TO ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNERS. IT SAYS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN WATER SAFETY GETS A FRACTION OF THE FUNDING OF ROAD SAFETY, DESPITE STATISTICS THAT ARE SOME OF THE WORST IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. THE BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND OCEAN. BUT ONE THAT'S HOME TO DARK STATISTICS. NEW ZEALAND HAS GRIM DROWNING FIGURES, WORLD LEADING, IN A BAD WAY. WE'RE ABOUT DOUBLE AUSTRALIA, WE'RE ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF TIMES THE U.S AND CANADA AND THREE TIMES AS BAD AS THE UK, SO WE'RE LEADING THE WORLD UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS HORRENDOUS STAT. WE AVERAGE AROUND 85 DEAD IN THE WATER PER YEAR. HALFWAY THROUGH THIS YEAR, THE FIGURES ACTUALLY LOOK BETTER. 38 FATALITIES HAVE HAPPENED. THIS TIME LAST YEAR IT WAS 53, SO IT'S A CONSIDERABLE DROP FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR. BUT THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO EXTREME ADVERSE WEATHER EVENTS LAST YEAR, LIKE CYCLONE GABRIELLE, WHICH KILLED 11. WATER SAFETY NZ SAYS THERE'S A LARGER ISSUE AT PLAY HERE, AND THAT'S THE LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR WATER SAFETY PREVENTION, WHICH THEY SAY IS THE KEY TO BRINGING DOWN OUR GRIM STATISTICS. THEY SAY THERE ARE AROUND THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF DEATHS ON OUR ROADS TO IN OUR WATERS ANNUALLY, BUT ROAD SAFETY PREVENTION GETS TENS OF MILLIONS MORE DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. LAST YEAR $62 MILLION WENT INTO MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT'S EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMES, WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND RECEIVED $4 MILLION TO DO THE SAME WORK. SO WE ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER WHO IN HIS CABINET LOOKS AFTER WATER SAFETY PREVENTION. UM... THAT WOULD BE... UM, WHO WOULD THAT BE BEST DIRECTED TO.. UM, CAN I COME BACK TO YOU? AND HIS ANSWER TO THE SMALL POOL OF FUNDING? I KNOW THERE'S A BIG CONCERTED EFFORT ACROSS THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO GET MORE OF OUR KIDS LEARNING TO SWIM PROPERLY, POST-COVID. BUT IT'S ADULT EDUCATION THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT... MAORI AND ASIAN MEN ARE OVER-REPRESENTED IN OUR DROWNING STATISTICS. IT OFTEN HAPPENS WHILE OUT GATHERING KAI. UNFORTUNATELY, MAORI AND ASIAN ARE STILL TRACKING ABOVE THEIR ANNUAL NUMBERS. AND GIVEN NEW ZEALAND IS SURROUNDED BY WATER, THIS PROBLEM ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE, UNTIL WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT TACKLING IT. OUR QUESTION OF THE DAY. DO YOU THINK WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND SHOULD GET MORE GOVERNMENT FUNDING? HEAD ALONG TO stuff.co.nz/yoursay TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK. THE GODFATHER OF BRITISH BLUES, JOHN MAYALL, HAS DIED AGED 90. HE'S RENOWNED FOR MENTORING SOME OF THE GREATEST ROCK MUSICIANS, INCLUDING ERIC CLAPTON AND MEMBERS OF FLEETWOOD MAC. AND LATER IN SPORT, NEW ZEALAND GO THREE FROM THREE ON THE OPENING DAY OF COMPETITION AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER HAS CONDEMNED THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO QUIETLY WATER DOWN CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION TARGETS, CALLING IT 'DISAPPOINTING AND UNACCEPTABLE.' AND MASKS ARE BACK, WINTER ILLNESSES ARE SOARING, AND TE WHATU ORA IS URGING PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS IN CROWDED PLACES AGAIN, WITH PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS BACKING THE CALL. THE POLICE MINISTER INSISTS THAT GANGS ARE NOT THRIVING UNDER HIS WATCH, THAT'S DESPITE THE NUMBER OF GANG MEMBERS AND PROSPECTS BEING HIGHER THAN IT WAS WHEN HE ACCUSED THE FORMER LABOUR GOVERNMENT OF TURNING A BLIND EYE TO LAW AND ORDER. IN AN EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT TOVA O'BRIEN, MARK MITCHELL WAS ALSO QUESTIONED OVER LOW STAFFING LEVELS AT THE NATIONAL GANG UNIT AND WHETHER HE'S ALREADY BROKEN HIS PROMISE TO ADD 500 EXTRA POLICE TO THE FORCE. TOVA IS WITH ME NOW, WHAT DID THE MINISTER HAVE TO SAY ON THOSE NUMBERS? WE FOUND WHEN THE GOVERNMENT MADE THAT PROMISE IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, THERE WAS ALREADY 167 VACANCIES IN THE POLICE FORCE, THOSE 500 EXTRA COPS WERE MEANT TO BE BEYOND ATTRITION, BUT NOW THE MINISTER IS SAYING IT WON'T BE PLUGGING THAT SHORTFALL. THAT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, NOT US. WE SAID THAT AS THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT, WE SEE THAT WE'D DELIVER ADDITIONAL 500 POLICE OFFICERS AS THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT WE TOOK THE NUMBERS ON THE DAY, AND WE'LL DELIVER ADDITIONAL 500 POLICE OFFICERS. SO IT'S ACTUALLY ONLY 333 EXTRA POLICE, ON TOP OF THE VACANCIES WHICH ALREADY EXISTED. NOT FOR US, NOT FOR US. YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND TALK TO THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT ABOUT THAT. AND TOVA, WHAT ABOUT THE BIG POLICE NATIONAL GANG UNIT YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND TALK TO THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT ABOUT THAT. WE WILL LEAVE THAT TO THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE. AND TOVA, WHAT ABOUT THE BIG POLICE NATIONAL GANG UNIT THEY ANNOUNCED BACK IN MAY, HOW'S THAT COMING ALONG? THIS WAS THE UNIT THAT POLICE ANNOUNCED TO CRACK DOWN ON GANGS, IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE IN OPERATION FROM 1 JULY, BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PERSONNEL, AT THE LAST HE HEARD FROM POLICE THEY ONLY HAD FIVE KEY STAFF, WELL SHORT OF THOSE 30 PEOPLE THEY ANTICIPATED. WHAT ABOUT THE GANGS? THIS IS THE NATIONAL GANG LAST, THIS IS FRAUGHT FOR ALL NUMBER OF REASONS, IT HASN'T STOPPED MARK MITCHELL USING IT AS A PORTABLE TOOL AND OPPOSITION, HE SAID THAT THE GANGS WERE THRIVING UNDER LABOUR, BUT THE LATEST FIGURE FROM JUNE SHOWS THE NUMBERS ARE NOW HIGHER MARK MITCHELL IS NOW SAYING THAT DOESN'T MEAN GANGS ARE THRIVING UNDER HIS WATCH, AND NATIONAL, AND HE REFUSED TO SIT AGAIN REDUCTION TARGET. AND WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL GANG LIST, HOW MANY ARE ON THAT NOW? WELL THE GANG LIST IS A TOOL THAT THE POLICE USE AND` WHAT I WILL SAY TO YOU IS I'LL COMMIT TO THE FACT THAT` IT'S A TOOL YOU USE QUITE HEAVILY IN OPPOSITION AS A POLITICAL TOOL. IT'S A POLICE TOOL THAT THEY USE TO TRACK THE NUMBERS, AGAIN, SO I CAN'T SAY` I DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER HOW THAT IS` UM, HOW THAT'S APPLIED. BUT THEY HAVE OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE. TOVA, POLICE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY HARM CALLOUTS, WHAT DID THE MINISTER HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS? THIS IS QUITE CONCERNING. THE POLICE SAY THERE IS A RISK THAT CHANGE IN DIRECTION COULD RESULT IN A POOR SAFETY OUTCOME FOR EVEN A THREAT TO LIFE. CAN YOU PROMISE MORE PEOPLE WILL NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES? WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S A VERY UNFAIR QUESTION, TOVA. WHAT I'D SAY TO YOU IS THIS IS THAT WE ARE WORKING HARD AS A GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RIGHT RESPONSE FOR PEOPLE. RIGHT, BUT THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT` IT'S HIGHLY COMPLEX. SOMETIMES A POLICE RESPONSE WILL BE THE RIGHT RESPONSE OTHER TIMES THEY'LL NEED A MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT. BUT YOU CAN'T PROMISE THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES. I THINK IT'S VERY UNFAIR. I THINK IT'S VERY UNFAIR FOR YOU TO ASK ME TO TO MAKE A PROMISE AND ASSERTION THAT I CAN HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND CONTROL EVERYTHING. DOES HE HAVE A POINT TOVA, IS THAT QUESTION A BIT UNFAIR? IF PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT, INCLUDING WHICH STRAINED AGENCIES WILL BE PICKING UP THAT WORK, THE TOVA PODCAST ON STUFF IS NOW LIVE. SOCIAL MEDIA SCAMMERS ARE USING DEEPFAKE VIDEOS TO PUSH THEIR COUNTERFEIT HEALTH PRODUCTS. SOME OF THE DISTURBING CLIPS INCLUDE ENDORSEMENTS FROM TV DOCTORS LIKE MICHAEL MOSLEY, WHO DIED LAST MONTH IN GREECE. AI CREATED IMAGES APPEAR TO SHOW HIM TALKING ABOUT A DIABETES CURE THAT DOES AWAY WITH INSULIN PENS. ITV's CHRIS CHOI REPORTS. THIS GP INVESTIGATED DEEPFAKE DOCTORS CREATED USING AI BY FRAUDSTERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND HE SAYS USING DR MICHAEL MOSLEY, EVEN AFTER HIS DEATH, WAS THE MOST APPALLING. BEATING DIABETES HAS BECOME A REALITY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS DISGUSTING, THAT THEY KEPT BRINGING THESE THINGS OUT. I MEAN, HE WAS MADE TO SAY THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE HIM SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE. AND SO OF ALL THE VIDEOS I SAW, THOSE WERE THE MOST DISTASTEFUL BY FAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS? WELL, THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. DR HILARY JONES HAS ALSO BEEN DEEPFAKED. A REGULAR ON ITV PROGRAMMES, HE'S ONE OF THE UK'S BEST KNOWN MEDICS. WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS PEOPLE BUYING PRODUCTS FROM THESE CRIMINALS AND FINDING THAT NOTHING ARRIVES ON THEIR DOORSTEP THAT THEY'VE ORDERED OR SOMETHING ARRIVES AND IT'S USELESS, OR EVEN WORSE, IT'S DANGEROUS. THE MAIN ENEMY OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE HAS BEEN FOUND. THANKS TO AI, IT LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE HIM, BUT HE NEVER SAID THESE WORDS. IN AS LITTLE AS TWO WEEKS, YOU WILL FEEL AN IMPROVEMENT. FAKED HERE IS RETIRED GP AND TV DOCTOR CHRIS STEELE. TOTALLY INNOCENT OF ANY INVOLVEMENT, TRUSTED EXPERTS ARE BEING WIDELY EXPLOITED FOR SCAMS. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT ARE CARRYING THIS GUFF SHOULD BE DOING ABOUT IT? WHAT I THINK WE NEED IS SOME SORT OF LEGISLATION WHEREBY THE PLATFORMS HAVE TO VERIFY WHAT IS BEING SAID TO THE PUNTERS BEFORE THEY POST IT. IF WE HAD THAT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM OF TAKING THEM DOWN. THERE IS ONE VERY EFFECTIVE AND SAFE REMEDY. PROFESSOR ROBERT WINSTON IS ANOTHER MEDICAL EXPERT EXPLOITED FOR SCAMS, ACCORDING TO TODAY'S BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL. BUT THIS EXPERT SAYS HUMAN INTELLIGENCE STILL HAS A CHANCE TO OUTSMART ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. IT'S NOT FULLY PERFECT YET, AND SO WE'RE SEEING BLURRED LINES, BLURRED IMAGES, AS IT'S MOVING FROM FRAME TO FRAME. SO THAT'S ALMOST AN INDICATOR, AS WELL, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING POTENTIALLY MALICIOUS HERE OR SUSPICIOUS HERE. SO TAKE A PAUSE AND THEN DO SOME MORE INVESTIGATING BEFORE YOU TRUST WHAT YOU SEE. YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT INSULIN AND OTHER MEDICATIONS. PUBLIC AFFECTION FOR DR MICHAEL MOSLEY IS NOW HELPING EXPOSE THE FAKES OPERATING ON MANY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. ONE OF THEM, META, WHICH OWNS FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, TOLD US IT'S REMOVED EXAMPLES WE REPORTED, AND IT'S WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE DETECTION OF THESE DIGITAL DOCTORS CREATED ONLY TO DECEIVE. AN AUSTRALIAN SURFER WHOSE LEG WAS BITTEN OFF BY A SHARK HAS UNDERGONE A SERIES OF OPERATIONS TO RE-ATTACH IT. KAI McKENZIE (23) WAS AT A REMOTE BEACH NEAR PORT MacQUARIE WHEN HE WAS MAULED BY A 3-METRE GREAT WHITE. HE FOUGHT OFF THE SHARK AND MADE IT BACK TO SHORE, WHERE A QUICK-THINKING OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER WALKING HIS DOG STEMMED THE BLEEDING BY USING THE DOG LEAD AS A TOURNIQUET. A SHORT TIME LATER THE LEG WASHED UP ON THE BEACH, WAS PLACED ON ICE AND RUSHED TO HOSPITAL. A SUPER TYPHOON HAS SLAMMED INTO NORTH-EASTERN TAIWAN, KILLING AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE AND INJURING HUNDREDS MORE. THE STORM, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE, BROUGHT WITH IT HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS OF AROUND 240km/h. FLIGHTS WERE CANCELLED AND SCHOOLS AND OFFICES CLOSED AHEAD OF ITS ARRIVAL. TYPHOON GAEMI IS THE STRONGEST STORM TO HIT THE ISLAND IN EIGHT YEARS. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, GEE, WHAT A START FOR THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN PARIS? BRILLIANT START SAM, THE ONLY WHITES WITH A REALLY IMPORTANT VICTORY OVER GUINEA VERY IMPORTANT ONES ON DAY ONE, THERE OUGHT INTO THE QUARTER-FINALS. A BRILLIANT START TO OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN NEXT.. PLUS, AUCKLAND F.C UNVEIL THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL SIGNING AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR INAUGURAL A-LEAGUE SEASON. AND WE SIT DOWN WITH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY BOSS MARK ROBINSON. ARE THE ALL BLACKS SET FOR MORE GAMES IN THE U.S? WELCOME TO A NEW SWIFT WORLD, WITH SUZUKI AND THREENEWS SPORT. NEW ZEALAND HAS MADE THE PERFECT START TO ITS OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN IN PARIS, WITH THREE WINS FROM THREE EVENTS ON THE OPENING DAY OF COMPETITION. THE OLY WHITES GRABBED AN IMPORTANT 2-1 WIN OVER GUINEA TO KEEP THEM IN THE HUNT FOR A QUARTER-FINAL SPOT. THAT'S SOMETHING THE MEN'S SEVENS HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY ON THE OPENING DAY AT STADE DE FRANCE. IMGOEN WELLS JOINS US NOW FROM PARIS, IMOGEN THAT'S AS GOOD AS NEW ZEALAND COULD'VE HOPED FOR ON DAY ONE? OH OLLIE, COULDN'T HAVE GONE BETTER OUTER GAMES NEW ZEALANDERS HOPING TO DO OH SO WELL AT, BEING THE FIRST KIWIS IN ACTION COMES WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE. BUT THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS DIDN'T SEEM TO FEEL THAT AT ALL. THE SIDE QUICKLY SHOWED THEIR STRENGTH IN THEIR FIRST POOL MATCH AGAINST JAPAN, AND AT THE BREAK LED 26-7. AND NEW ZEALAND PULL AWAY ON THE STROKE OF HALFTIME. IT WAS MUCH THE SAME IN THE SECOND HALF, THE KIWIS CROSSING THE LINE ANOTHER TWO TIMES, WINNING 40-12. AND THE SILVER MEDALLISTS FROM TOKYO WITH THEIR FIRST WIN ON THE BOARD. IF THEY FOUND IT RELATIVELY EASY GOING AGAINST JAPAN, THEIR NEXT OPPONENT WOULD PROVIDE A MUCH STERNER TEST. BUT AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA, IT WAS AGAIN THE KIWIS WHO DREW FIRST BLOOD. MOSES LEO CHOPPING AND WEAVING. BUT SOUTH AFRICA WERE MORE THAN UP FOR THE FIGHT, AND ONLY FIVE POINTS SEPARATED THE SIDES AT HALFTIME. BUT THIS IS CLASSIC SOUTH AFRICA. THE SECOND HALF WAS MORE ABOUT DEFENCE THAN ATTACK, WITH ONLY ONE TRY SCORED. THANKFULLY, IT WAS BY NEW ZEALAND. MOSES LEO FOR NEW ZEALAND. LEO'S TRY GUIDING THE SIDE TO A 17-5 WIN AND SECURING A SPOT IN THE QUARTER-FINALS. SOUTH AFRICA'S A GOOD OUTFIT, AND WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR THAT ONE. YEAH, IT WAS REALLY REWARDING. TWO WINS ON THE BOARD ON DAY ONE, KEEPING THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS ON TRACK FOR THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL OF OLYMPIC GOLD. IMOGEN, A GREAT START FOR THE OLY WHITES AS WELL. INDEED. AND IT WAS A BIG ONE AND IT'S A BIG DEAL, THEIR SECOND EVER WON AN OLYMPIC GAMES, THEY HAD TO EQUALISE IN A MATCH WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE IN THE BAG THE TOUGHEST GAMES ARE AHEAD HOWEVER STILL A CONFIDENCE POST. IMOGEN, ANOTHER BIG DAY COMING UP FOR THE KIWIS. PLENTY OF ACTION HERE TODAY, AT 3 AM NEW ZEALAND TIME ON FRIDAY THE FOOTBALL FERNS WILL PLAY CANADA IN WHAT MUST BE ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED CLASHES AMID THE SCANDAL AND CONTROVERSY THE ALLBLACKS WILL PLAY A POOR MATCH AGAINST IRELAND, THEY'RE LOOKING VERY HOT. THAT COULD BE A NAILBITER, WERE AT THE BUSINESS END OF THAT SEVENS TOURNAMENT, THEY WILL PLAY IN THE QUARTER-FINAL, 'S YET TO BE CONFIRMED. IMAGINE WELLS IN PARIS THANKS SO MUCH, AUCKLAND FC HAVE SECURED THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL SIGNING, WITH JAPANESE DEFENDER HIROKI SAKAI JOINING THE BLACK KNIGHTS FOR THEIR INAUGURAL A-LEAGUE SEASON. THE 34-YEAR-OLD HAS 75 CAPS FOR JAPAN AND HAS REPRESENTED HIS COUNTRY AT THREE WORLD CUPS AND TWO OLYMPIC GAMES. HEAD COACH STEVE CORICA SAYS HIS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IS AN ASSET TO THE SQUAD, WHICH IS SET TO BE FINALISED BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH. HE'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF PROFESSIONALISM TO THE SQUAD, AND A LOT OF THE YOUNG BOYS CAN LEARN A LOT FROM HIM. SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THE UPCOMING A-LEAGUE MEN'S SEASON KICKS OFF ON OCTOBER 19. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY FEEL THEY ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AT GROWING THE GAME IN THE UNITED SATES, A MARKET THE SPORT CONTINUES TO TRY TO GET A FOOTHOLD IN. I SAT DOWN WITH CEO MARK ROBINSON TO REFLECT ON THEIR LATEST STINT IN THE U.S. AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE GAME THERE. OH, LOOK, OLLIE, WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH THE WHOLE WEEK. WE DID A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK OFF THE FIELD, AS IT RELATED TO JUST FORGING A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS. I ACTUALLY SPENT, WITH CHRIS LENDRUM, A COUPLE OF DAYS UP IN SAN FRANCISCO, GOING AROUND STANFORD AND SILICON VALLEY, AND THE APPROACH WAS VERY MUCH THE SAME. WE WERE TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE ABOUT WHERE THE FUTURE OF SPORT IS GOING, AS IT RELATES TO TECHNOLOGY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. WHAT DID YOU LEARN AT SILICON VALLEY AROUND MAYBE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE GAME, OR FACING SPORT IN GENERAL? THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE SPENT TIME WITH HAVE VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT RUGBY, PER SE. BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR SPECIALIST AREAS INCREDIBLY WELL. AND SO WE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY WERE SEEING ABOUT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY COMING INTO THE U.S. MARKET, AS IT RELATES TO RUGBY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES ABOUT A SMALLER SPORT COMING INTO A LARGE MARKET. DIDN'T COME AWAY WITH ONE MASSIVE LIGHT BULB MOMENT THAT TRANSFORMS THE GAME IMMEDIATELY. BUT ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY RICH AND USEFUL. AND THE U.S. CONTINUES TO BE A MARKET THAT YOU'RE KEEN TO EXPLORE AND YOU WANT TO EXPLORE? THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO ON THAT. BUT WHILE THERE'S A STRONG FOCUS ON THE WORLD CUPS BEING HELD IN 2031 AND 2033, WE ABSOLUTELY THINK IT PROVIDES AN IDEAL ROADMAP FOR THE GAME TO HAVE A GREATER PRESENCE THERE. THERE'S BEEN SOME SPECULATION ABOUT THE ALL BLACKS IRELAND NEXT YEAR. IS THAT A GAME THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE BACK TO THE U.S. AND POSSIBLY BACK TO CHICAGO? IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY. CERTAINLY A LOT OF SPECULATION AROUND IT. CLEARLY WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH IRELAND OFF THE FIELD. WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPECT AND A GREAT RIVALRY ON THE FIELD. AND AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE U.S. IS SOMETHING THAT THAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF LOOKING TO EXPLORE, BUT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO ON THAT AT THE MOMENT. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY THE NEWS OF ARDIE ` HIS NEW CONTRACT HAS MOVED TO MOANA PASIFIKA. IS THAT THE SORT OF SIGNING YOU THINK WILL BENEFIT THE COMPETITION AS A WHOLE? AND IS IT THE SORT OF THING THAT WILL GIVE THAT TEAM, WHO HAVE STRUGGLED EARLY ON, A BIT OF A SHOT IN THE ARM? YEAH, IT FEELS LIKE IT, DOESN'T IT? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY... IT'S GREAT TO SEE ANY SORT OF STORYLINE OR DECISION OR CHANGE THAT CREATES A HUGE AMOUNT OF EXPECTATION ` IT'S ALWAYS POSITIVE FOR THE GAME. ROB PENNEY APPEARS TO HAVE AVOIDED THE CHOP AS CRUSADERS COACH, DESPITE THE FORMER SEVEN-TIME DEFENDING SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONS FAILING TO MAKE THE TOP EIGHT. STUFF UNDERSTANDS CEO COLIN MANSBRIDGE WILL ANNOUNCE PENNEY HAS KEPT HIS JOB, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE NEXT WEDNESDAY. IT IS UNDERSTOOD HIS TEAM OF ASSISTANTS HAVE ALSO KEPT THEIR POSITIONS, FOLLOWING THE CRUSADERS' END-OF-SEASON REVIEW. THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP HAS BEEN HANDED A LIFELINE, WITH AUSTRALIA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA CONFIRMED AS HOSTS FOR THE 2026 TOURNAMENT, FOLLOWING FRANCE'S WITHDRAWAL DUE TO A LACK OF GOVERNMENT BACKING. NEW ZEALAND HAD PREVIOUSLY MOOTED THE IDEA OF HOSTING THE TOURNAMENT NEXT YEAR. BUT THE INTERNATIONAL GOVERNING BODY HAS DECIDED TO WAIT A FURTHER YEAR TO HOST THE EVENT ACROSS THE DITCH. THE MEN'S TOURNAMENT WAS DUE TO FEATURE 16 TEAMS BUT HAS BEEN CUT TO JUST 10. AFTER THAT SCANDAL, I'M CONFIDENT I'LL GET ONE OVER THE CANADIANS. THE WORLD CUP, THE ALLBLACKS HAD FRENCH SECURITY THERE. THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. THAT'S ONE WAY TO DEAL WITH IT IS NOT? JOHN MAYALL, THE LINCHPIN OF THE BRITISH BLUES SCENE, HAS DIED AGED 90. # WHEN A MAN KILLS A MAN, # SHOOT HIM IN THE OLD-TIME WAY. MAYALL BEGAN INVESTIGATING HIS FATHER'S JAZZ AND BLUES COLLECTION AS A TEENAGER AND LEARNED TO PLAY PIANO, GUITAR AND HARMONICA TO CREATE HIS OWN TAKE ON THE MUSIC. MAYALL'S BANDS, SUCH AS THE BLUESBREAKERS, GAVE A PLATFORM TO SOME OF THE 20th CENTURY'S GREATEST ROCK MUSICIANS, INCLUDING ERIC CLAPTON AND MEMBERS OF FLEETWOOD MAC. HEATHER'S HERE NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING WEATHER... AND HIGH PRESSURE HAS RETURNED? IT'S A PRETTY EPIC END TO THE WEEK. AND WITH A NORWEST FLOW, TEMPERATURES WILL BE WARM. ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT IT DOES NOT LAST. A FRONT HITS THE LOWER SOUTH WITH THE NEXT HEAVY RAIN WATCH IN FORCE FROM 9PM TOMORROW NIGHT FOR FIORDLAND, IT'S LIKELY THIS WILL BE UPGRADED TO AN ORANGE WARNING. BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WEATHER ON THE WAY. NEXT WEEK STARTS A LITTLE MESSY, WITH RAIN FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. AND ALSO WELCOME BACK OUR WARM AND ` DARE I SAY IT ` MOIST NORTHWESTERLY FLOW. THIS WILL REALLY DRIVE UP TEMPERATURES FOR A WEE WHILE. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS DOMINANT TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, BRINGING MOSTLY FINE SKIES. BUT THERE IS A WARM FRONT THAT PILES ON THE CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHWEST, THEN A COLD FRONT HITS TOMORROW NIGHT, AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE HEAVY RAIN WATCH OVER FIORDLAND. SO MOST OF THE WEATHER SITS WITH THE SOUTHWEST, WITH HIGH CLOUD SPILLING OVER THE ALPS INTO THE SOUTHEAST. WINDS REMAIN FROM THE NORTH OR NORTHWEST TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, WITH THOSE WITH FINE AND COLD CONDITIONS SET TO WAKE TO FROST. IT'S FINE IN THE EAST, UP TO NELSON, WITH HIGH CLOUD AND A FEW SPOTS OF EVENING RAIN FOR SOUTHLAND, CLUTHA AND THE SOUTHERN LAKES. IT'S ALMOST LIKE MY GRAPHICS BROKE HERE ` WIDE-SPACED ISOBARS AND NO REAL RAIN OR CLOUD COVER. IT MADE ME LOOK TWICE. BUT NO, THIS IS HIGH PRESSURE DOING ITS THING, AND THE NORTH ISLAND REAPING THE BENEFITS. THE REAL ONLY POINTS OF INTEREST WILL BE ISOLATED SHOWERS TONIGHT IN THE NORTH AND WEST, FROM WHANGANUI UP THROUGH NORTHLAND, AND THEN IN THE MORNING FOR AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND. BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT HAMILTON MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE FOG, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE MORNING AND SOUTHERLIES FROM AUCKLAND NORTH. BUT THE WIND DIES OUT WITH THE SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. LOOKING GOOD HERE. MAYBE A LITTLE FROSTY TO START FOR SOME, BUT THE SKY STAYS CLEAR, WITH NO WIND, WHICH WILL LEAD TO FOG TOMORROW NIGHT FOR ROTORUA, TAUPO AND TOKOROA. CRACKER DAY OUT EAST. SUPER CALM, NO WIND, AND BLUE SKIES ALL DAY. AND YOU WOULD THINK GISBORNE, WITH 17, MIGHT BE THE WARMEST SPOT TOMORROW. BUT NOPE, THAT GOES TO THE SOUTH. ON-SHORE CLOUD IS EXPECTED FIRST UP HERE. BUT CLEARER SKIES DOMINATE IN THE AFTERNOON. WELLINGTON HAS A NORTHERLY. EVERYONE ELSE HAS A WESTERLY. AND FOG SETTLES TOMORROW NIGHT FOR TAUMARUNUI. A LITTLE MORE CLOUD FOR THE NORTHWEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. NOT YOU, NELSON. YOU ARE FINE ALL DAY. BUT SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON FOR HOKITIKA AND GREYMOUTH. EARLY FROST OUT EAST. THEN IT'S FINE. A SLIGHT NORTH OR NORTHWESTER WILL DEVELOP. THAT WILL DRIVE THE TEMP UP TO 18 FOR YOU, ASHBURTON ` THE NATION'S HIGH TOMORROW. HIGH CLOUD ROLLS IN DURING THE EVENING. AND EARLY FROST INLAND FOR THE LOWER SOUTH, WITH A FEW CLOUDS BUILDING OVER SOUTHLAND. THEN SHOWERS ROLLING IN TOMORROW NIGHT. INVERCARGILL, YOUR HIGH IS 6 DEGREES ABOVE YOUR AVERAGE. OTEPOTI DUNEDIN, ANOTHER FINE DAY FOR YOU, WITH A NORTHWESTERLY. THERE WILL BE HIGH CLOUD, THOUGH. BUT THAT'S NOT A BAD THING. GOOD SUNRISES AND SUNSETS. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, AREAS OF MORNING FROST FOR SHELTERED SPOTS, THEN IT'S FINE. WINDS START LIGHT, WITH A NORTHERLY DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. FINE FOR MOST OF THE DAY AROUND TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON, WITH A FRESH NORTHERLY. BUT IT BECOMES OVERCAST TOMORROW NIGHT. PATCHY MORNING FOG AROUND TE MATAU-A-MAUI HAWKE'S BAY, BUT IT LIFTS PROMPTLY. WINDS REMAIN LIGHT, THOUGH, WITH A HIGH OF 16. NICE END TO THE WEEK FOR TAURANGA. IT'S FINE, WITH LIGHT WINDS AND A HIGH OF 15 OR 16 DEGREES. ALSO FINE FOR KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, WITH LIGHT WINDS AND A HIGH OF 15 DEGREES. FOG WILL FORM, THOUGH, OVERNIGHT. AND ISOLATED SHOWERS AGAIN FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND. BUT THEY'LL DRY OUT AFTER MIDDAY, AROUND THE SAME TIME THE SOUTHWESTERLY EASES. OVER TO OZ. PLENTY OF SHOWERS FOR THE MAJOR CENTRES. MELBOURNE IS OK, THOUGH. SO IS BRISBANE, AND UP TOP. AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS SITTING OVER THE TROPICS ` HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR TONGA AND NIUE. FOR US, THOUGH, THE WEEKEND IS LOVELY UP TOP. APART FROM CLOUD, THERE ISN'T REALLY ANYTHING TO REPORT HERE. THE WEEKEND IS GOOD ALSO OUT EAST. BUT CLOUD BUILDS ON MONDAY, WITH SCATTERED RAIN. AND BECAUSE OF THE NORTHWESTERLY FLOW, ON-SHORE SHOWERS HIT TARANAKI ON SATURDAY AND THEN SORT OF SCATTER THEMSELVES OUT OVER THE SOUTHWEST FROM SUNDAY. FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, SATURDAY IS THE BETTER DAY OF THE WEEKEND, WITH SHOWERS MOVING IN FROM SUNDAY, AND TURNING TO RAIN ON MONDAY. AND I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE METSERVICE UPDATES, AS HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED IN THE WEST ON SUNDAY AND MAY TURN HEAVY FOR OTHER REGIONS ON MONDAY. BUT AT THIS STAGE, JUST FIORDLAND WITH THE HEAVY RAIN WATCH ` FROM 9pm TOMORROW NIGHT. WE RAN A STORY EARLIER ABOUT OUR DROWNING STATISTICS AND ASKED IF YOU THOUGHT WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND SHOULD GET MORE GOVERNMENT FUNDING. IT'S A BIG YES FROM YOU, WITH 88% AGREEING. 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. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW AT 6. CAPTIONS BY JAMES BROWN AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024