A DISASTROUS START TO OUR OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN, WITH A KEY MEDAL HOPE OUT BEFORE THE PARIS GAMES ARE EVEN OPENED. THE KIWI PAIR PICKED AS FLAGBEARERS FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY SAY THEY'RE SURPRISED BUT HONOURED. SOME SCHOOLS ARE FURIOUS AS THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CUTS BILLIONS OFF PROJECTED SCHOOL BUILDING COSTS. AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS RAISE CONCERNS OVER 'ASH' ` THE ANTI-SMOKING ORGANISATION ` AND LINKS TO THE PRO-VAPING LOBBY. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND OTO SEQUEIRA. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S KEY MEDAL HOPES IS OUT OF CONTENTION BEFORE THE PARIS OLYMPICS HAVE EVEN OFFICIALLY OPENED. THE ALL BLACK SEVENS MEN'S TEAM DESCRIBE THEIR QUARTER-FINALS LOSS TO SOUTH AFRICA AS GUT-WRENCHING. IMOGEN WELLS IS IN PARIS FOR US ON THE EVE OF THE OPENING CEREMONY, AND IMOGEN, A TERRIBLE START TO THE KIWI CAMPAIGN. YES. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT WE WANTED OR WHAT THEY WANTED AFTER SUCH A POWERFUL START. THESE ARE THE OLYMPICS, AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. THE NATURE OF THE SEVENS GAME AS WELL ` IT GOES SO QUICKLY, AND YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE AS MANY ERRORS AS WE DID. DEFINITELY A TOUGH ONE, BUT... YOU KNOW, I'M ACTUALLY JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO... GETTING BACK TO THE VILLAGE AND CALLING MY KIDS, COS IT WILL DEFINITELY TAKE MY MIND OFF IT. IT WAS PRETTY BRIEF IN THE... (CLEARS THROAT) IN THE CHANGING ROOM. IT WAS A PRETTY SOMBRE MOOD, BUT, UM... NOT A LOT OF CHAT ON THE GAME, TO BE HONEST. BEFORE THAT MATCH TOOK PLACE, WE WERE HAVING A MUCH HAPPIER AND A LOVELY TIME. WE WERE AT A NEW ZEALAND HOUSE WITH A BUNCH OF ATHLETES. (MAN EXCLAIMS) DESPITE BEING IN THE HEART OF PARIS, THE KIWI OLYMPIC TEAM FELT A SENSE OF HOME TODAY AS THEY WERE WELCOMED TO NEW ZEALAND HOUSE. HAKA: AUE, AUE, AUE, HA! HERE, THE TWO FLAG-BEARERS FOR THE 2024 GAMES WERE ANNOUNCED ` SAILOR JO ALEH AND CYCLIST AARON GATE. I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED, ACTUALLY, TO BE ASKED. I'D NEVER REALLY CONSIDERED IT OR THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY. THE 38-YEAR-OLD IS A TWO-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST. SHE WON GOLD AT LONDON 2012 AND SILVER AT RIO IN 2016. ALEH WAS OUT TRAINING WHEN SHE GOT THE CALL FROM CHEF DE MISSION NIGEL AVERY, BUT WITH SAILING BEGINNING JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE CEREMONY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, SHE HAD TO DOUBLE-CHECK WITH HER TEAMMATE, MOLLY MEECH. SO I HAD TO JUST SIT ON IT FOR THE TWO-HOUR TRAINING SESSION. I WAS PRETTY DISTRACTED... (LAUGHS) AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE TALKED ABOUT IT AFTER AND FIGURED IT OUT AS A TEAM THAT, YES, I COULD DO THIS. GATES WON BRONZE BACK IN 2012, AND PARIS WILL BE HIS FOURTH OLYMPIC GAMES, BUT WAS STILL IN DISBELIEF WHEN AVERY ASKED. HE JUST, YEAH, GAVE ME A CALL, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE A BIT OF A GENERAL CHIT-CHAT, AND THEN HE DROPPED THAT ON, AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, (LAUGHS) THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING. HE'S OPTIMISTIC THE ROLE WILL INSPIRE. YEAH, HOPEFULLY IT CAN HELP AND BRING SOMETHING EXTRA TO BOTH OUR MEN'S PURSUIT TEAM AND THE WIDER CYCLING TEAM AS WELL. THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD TIME A DUO HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO FLY THE NEW ZEALAND FLAG, BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHO WILL CARRY IT? YEAH, AARON HAS SAID THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO PROP UP THE FLAG COS OBVIOUSLY HE'S A CYCLIST ` NOT SO MUCH ARMS. I MEAN, AS A SAILOR, AT LEAST I HAVE A BIT OF ARM STRENGTH, BUT I SORT OF NEED MY CREW, MOLLY, HERE. SHE'D BE DOING THE HARD WORK NORMALLY. KIWIS WILL HAVE TO GET UP EARLY TO SEE WHO ENDS UP WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY ` THE CEREMONY STARTING AT 5.30 TOMORROW MORNING. AND IMOGEN, THAT OPENING CEREMONY IS NOW JUST HOURS AWAY. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OLYMPICS HISTORY, AN OPENING CEREMONY AS HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM. BOATS WILL BE GOING DOWN THE RIVER SEINE. THERE IS GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS LINING THE BANKS. 45,000 POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. THE BIG QUESTION IS WHO IS GOING TO PERFORM. WHO WAS GOING TO BE THE MUSICAL ACT? THERE ARE RUMOURS LADY GAGA AND CELINE DION ARE IN TOWN. SNOOP DOG IS ALSO IN TOWN BECAUSE HE WILL BE ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE CARRYING THE OLYMPIC TORCH. WE HOPE THE WEATHER PICKS UP. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CANNED DOZENS OF EDUCATION BUILDS FOLLOWING COST BLOWOUTS, LEAVING SCHOOLS IN THE LURCH WITH DECREPIT, LEAKY BUILDINGS. THE $4.5b SCHOOL BUILD PROGRAMME HAS BEEN SLASHED NEARLY IN HALF FOLLOWING A REVIEW IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS CALLING A 'VALUE FOR MONEY' EXERCISE. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH HAS THE STORY. AT ONSLOW COLLEGE, WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS... INDOORS. JUST A STREAM OF WATER COMING DOWN FROM HERE. IT'S JUST CONSTANT FINDING THE DIFFERENT LEAKS. A 12-MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE BEEHIVE, AND THIS SCHOOL WITH A ROLL OF 1400 IS DAMP AND MOULDY. NO CHILD IN NEW ZEALAND SHOULD BE LEARNING IN A MOULDY CLASSROOM. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THE SCHOOL SHOULD ALERT THE MINISTRY. ONSLOW DID, AND THEY'VE BEEN WAITING MORE THAN A DECADE FOR REPLACEMENT BUILDINGS. WE'VE GOT BUILDINGS THAT NEED TO BE DEMOLISHED. WE ARE TOLD THEY ARE GOING SO DON'T MAKE INVESTMENT. WE STARTED THE PROCESS AND GOOD FAITH WITH THE MINISTRY AROUND PLANNING AND WHAT WE HAVE HAD IS PLANNING AND REPLANNING AND DESIGNS, BUT WE HAVE GOT NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. BUT IT'S BEEN TOOLS DOWN WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WENT THROUGH A RAPID REVIEW TO DECIDE WHAT WAS WORTH IT AND WHO'D MISS OUT. WE HAVE MANAGED THROUGH THIS VALUE FOR MONEY EXERCISE THAT THEY ARE GETTING STAGE 1 OF THEIR REDEVELOPMENT. THEY ARE GETTING A NEW ROOF AND A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS. THE NEXT STAGE OF THE PROJECT AS THE 18 CLASSROOMS AND THAT WILL BE PUT THROUGH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. OF THE 352 SCHOOL BUILDS PAID FOR AND ORGANISED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, 100 HAVE BEEN HALTED IN THEIR TRACKS, MEANING ONLY 252 WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED OR WITH CHANGES. THE INITIAL COST OF ALL 352 PROJECTS WAS EXPECTED TO BE $4.69B. THE NEW ESTIMATED COST IS $2.61B. THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MISSED OUT ` MANY OF THEM WERE IN VERY EARLY DESIGN STAGES OR THEY HAVEN'T MET THE ROLL GROWTH. DOESN'T MEAN THE PROJECTS WON'T GO AHEAD. THE SAVING IS NOT JUST DOWN TO DROPPED PROJECTS BUT DOWNSCALING BUILDS AND SCRAPPING EXTENSIVE BESPOKE DESIGNS IN FAVOUR OF STANDARDISED BUILDS. THEY WILL SEE MORE MODULAR OFF SIDE BUILDS WHICH MEANS WE CAN DELIVER MORE CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MODULAR OR NOT, ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN THIS. JENNA JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT WITH A DEVELOPMENT ABOUT THE POLICE COMMISSIONER. JENNA, IT WAS REVEALED THIS AFTERNOON THAT ANDREW COSTER WON'T BE SEEKING ANOTHER TERM IN THE ROLE. DID THAT COME AS A SURPRISE? NO, NOT OVERLY. ANDREW COSTER DIDN'T HAVE THE PGS HISTORY WITH THIS GOVERNMENT. WHILE THEY WERE IN OPPOSITION, NATIONAL CALLED THEM CUDDLES COSTER. WHEN MARK MITCHELL WAS APPOINTED, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER HE WOULD LET ANDREW COSTER STAY ON IN THE ROLE. HE TOOK AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME TO EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN HIM. PERHAPS UNSURPRISING THAT HE HAS CHOSEN TO MOVE ON. COSTER'S TENURE ENDS IN APRIL. FROM THERE, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WILL APPOINT A NEW ONE. A FEW NAMES BEING THROWN AROUND, BUT ONE TO WATCH AS RICHARD CHAMBERS. HE TOOK UP A JOB FOR INTERPOL AND FRANCE. AT THE TIME, HE SAID HE WAS LOOKING FOR TO APPLYING HIS SKILLS BACK IN NEW ZEALAND. WHOEVER ENDS UP TAKING ON THE ROLE IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG TASK. WITH THIS GOVERNMENT'S FOCUS ON TOUGH ON CRIME. AND THE POLICE COMMISSIONER WAS OUT WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND BEAT COPS TODAY, TAKING THE PULSE OF AUCKLAND CBD RETAILERS TO SEE IF THE HEIGHTENED POLICE PRESENCE IN RECENT WEEKS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. LAURA TUPOU WAS THERE. POLITICIANS AND POLICE ON THE BEAT, ON A VICTORY LAP OF SORTS. GOOD TO SEE A FEW MORE BEAT COPS AND I THINK IN THE LAST MONTH THINGS HAVE GOT A LOT BETTER. AND THE POLICE TEAM CAME IN, AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. ONCE A DAY? YEAH. THEY'RE COMING TO SEE YOU ONCE A DAY? BRILLIANT! IT'S BEEN NEARLY FOUR WEEKS OF HAVING 52 EXTRA POLICE ON THE STREETS WORKING WITH PRIVATE SECURITY AND COUNCIL STAFF TO MANAGE CRIME IN AUCKLAND'S CBD. AND SHOP WORKERS HAVE SAID STAFF FEEL SAFER AND THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE BEING AGGRESSIVE OR STEALING. WHEN THEY'RE SEEING THE SECURITY ON A DAILY BASIS, THEY MOVE AWAY. JUST A YEAR AGO THE ARMED OFFENDERS HAD TO ATTEND AN INCIDENT HERE. I HAD SOMEBODY WALK INTO THIS RESTAURANT STARTING TO SMOKE, I ASKED HIM NOT TO SMOKE INSIDE THE RESTAURANT AND HE PULLED A GUN ON ME. THAT IS SHOWING YOU THERE'S NO RESPECT FOR ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER, OR ME AS A PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT NOW MATHEW TOLHURST SAYS THERE ARE ONLY TWO OR THREE INCIDENTS PER WEEK. DOWN FROM ONE A DAY. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND ANY 111 CALLS IN THE PAST, WE'RE NOW GETTING THAT TYPE OF ACTION HAPPENING SOONER. THIS IS ALL PART OF A PLAN, AND YOU DON'T GO OVERTURN EVERYTHING OVERNIGHT BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CONSISTENTLY KEEP MARCHING FORWARD. THE OFFICIAL STATS AREN'T IN YET ON HOW MANY FEWER INCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING, BUT THE POLICE MINISTER IS PLEASED. WE ARE STARTING TO SEE CRIME STARTING TO TREND DOWN IN OUR CBD, WE'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO BUT DEFINITELY, WE ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ON THE RIGHT PATH, TO LESS CRIME DOWNTOWN. ATTORNEY-GENERAL JUDITH COLLINS HAS WARNED ALL STATE- AND FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS THEY COULD BE PROSECUTED IF THEY DON'T PROTECT AND PRESERVE RECORDS RELEVANT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THOSE IN ITS CARE. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY JOINS US NOW LIVE. AND JULIET, WHAT PROMPTED COLLINS TO PUT OUT THIS WARNING? THIS APPEARS TO BE REGARDING THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE NEW ZEALAND LAW SOCIETY, WHO WAS ACCUSED OF ADVISING AND OTAGO CHURCH GROUP THAT ED COULD DESTROY ITS CHILDREN'S RECORDS. THIS INFORMATION WAS IN THE ABUSE AND CARE REPORT, AND THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD IS REPORTING THAT TWO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO THE LAW SOCIETY ABOUT THIS. BARTON DENIES THESE ACCUSATIONS. CLEARLY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. NOT PRESERVING THESE TYPES OF RECORDS IS UNLAWFUL AND COULD LEAD TO PROSECUTION. HEATHER'S HERE NOW WITH A RECAP OF TODAY'S WEATHER. IT WAS VERY WARM. THE NOR'WEST FLOW IS DRIVING UP THE TEMPS FOR THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS. FAIRLIE TOOK THE TOP TEMP WITH 20 DEGREES; INVERCARGILL, 18.6 ` THAT'S A RECORD. THEIR WARMEST JULY DAY EVER. NOW, SPECIAL MENTION TO ALEXANDRA, WHO ARE ON A WINTER CLIMATE ROLLER-COASTER. LAST WEEK, THEY WERE A FRIDGE ` LAST FRIDAY, THEIR HIGH WAS 0. TODAY, THEY HIT 17. NOW THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE. SNEAK PEAK OF WHAT'S SET TO ARRIVE AT THE END OF THE WEEKEND. I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. THE OLD MAN OF AMERICAN POLITICS HAS STEPPED ASIDE.. AND A 59-YEAR-OLD BOOMER HAS REPLACED HIM. HOW KAMALA HARRIS IS SUCCESSFULLY COURTING GEN Z. HOW DO THE GREENS DEAL WITH THE DARLEEN TANA PROBLEM? THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION AS THEY GATHER FOR THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE. AND A SOUP ATTACK ON ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PAINTINGS IN THE WORLD COULD EARN A COUPLE OF ACTIVISTS JAIL TIME. AGE HAS BEEN THE BIG THEME IN U.S POLITICS THIS WEEK. JOE BIDEN HAS ACCEPTED HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THINK HE'S TOO OLD TO SEEK RE-ELECTION. SO HE'S STOOD ASIDE TO LET A MUCH YOUNGER KAMALA HARRIS COME THROUGH. BUT AT 59, IS SHE REALLY ALL THAT YOUNG? OR IS SHE JUST A BOOMER PLAYING TO THE GEN-Z CROWD? CHANNEL 4'S LINDSEY HILSUM REPORTS. WE CHOOSE FREEDOM. # FREEDOM, FREEDOM, I CAN'T MOVE # # FREEDOM, CUT ME LOOSE # FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY. THE GREAT AMERICAN THEMES PACKAGED IN KAMALA HARRIS'S NEW CAMPAIGN AD. # IMMA KEEP ON RUNNING. # CAUSE THE WINNERS DON'T QUIT ON THEMSELVES. # BUT LAST NIGHT, HER PREDECESSOR AS CANDIDATE TOLD THE NATION HE ACCEPTS HE HAS TO QUIT. IF THOSE GREAT IDEALS ARE TO WIN. SO I'VE DECIDED THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION. # TO BE AN AMERICAN. ANOTHER MAN FROM THE OLD GENERATION CAME ON STAGE LAST NIGHT TO A SONG RELEASED 40 YEARS AGO. # GOD BLESS THE USA. # HE REFERENCED A U.S. TV SERIES THAT STARTED TWO DECADES AGO AND NO LONGER RUNS. KAMALA, YOU'RE FIRED! GET OUT OF HERE! YOU'RE FIRED! # 360, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIRROR DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? # YOU THINK YOU JUST FELL OUT OF A COCONUT TREE? AT 59, HARRIS ISN'T REALLY THAT YOUNG. YOU EXIST IN THE CONTEXT... # 666 WITH A PRINCESS STREAK # BUT SHE'S BEEN ADOPTED BY GEN-Z AND THE BRAT SUMMER CRAZE STARTED BY THE SINGER CHARLI XCX. A BRAT MEANING A GIRL WHO'S A LITTLE MESSY, LIKES TO PARTY AND SAYS DUMB THINGS SOMETIMES. YOU EXIST IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL IN WHICH YOU LIVE AND WHAT CAME BEFORE YOU. THE ENERGY WITH WHICH SHE EXPRESSES THE DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGN MESSAGE IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO BIDEN AS HE FADES FROM THE STAGE. DO WE BELIEVE IN THE PROMISE OF AMERICA? (CROWD): YEAH! AND ARE WE READY TO FIGHT FOR IT? (CROWD): YEAH! AND WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN! GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BIDEN'S MESSAGE LAST NIGHT WAS THAT TRUMP IS A THREAT TO AMERICA'S ESSENTIAL NATURE. THE GREAT THING ABOUT AMERICA IS HERE, KINGS AND DICTATORS DO NOT RULE. THE PEOPLE DO. HISTORY IS IN YOUR HANDS. TODAY HE MET THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER AND TALKED ABOUT ISRAELI LEADERS HE KNEW DECADES AGO. HE PLANS TO REMAIN IN OFFICE FOR THE REST OF HIS TERM, ANOTHER SIX MONTHS BEFORE HE'S LEFT BEHIND BY HISTORY. WE SAW JOE BIDEN MEETING WITH NETANYAHU IN LINDSEY HILSUM'S STORY. WELL, UNUSUALLY, THE VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ALSO HOSTED A SIMILAR MEETING, A SIGN OF THE POWER SHIFTING INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE, EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION. BACK HERE, THE GREEN PARTY IS GATHERING IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS WEEKEND FOR ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE. ON THE AGENDA ` HOW TO DEAL WITH THE DARLEEN TANA ISSUE. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ANNA WHYTE IS THERE FOR US. ANNA, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? THE QUESTION EVERYONE IS ASKING IS WILL THEY OR WON'T THEY USE THE WAKA-JUMPING LEGISLATION TO KICK DARLEEN TANA OUT OF PARLIAMENT? THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING ONE. IT'S CHLOE SWARBRICK'S FIRST AGM AS CO-LEADER, BUT SHE'S FLYING SOLO AS MARAMA DAVIDSON UNDERGOES TREATMENT FOR BREAST CANCER. I'VE BEEN TOLD MEMBERS RECEIVED A LETTER BEFORE THE CONFERENCE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A HEADS-UP ADVISING TOMORROW THEY WOULD BE DISCUSSING HOW TO HANDLE EX-GREEN, NOW-INDEPENDENT MP DARLEEN TANA. HERE'S WHAT SWARBRICK HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE MOOD WITHIN THE PARTY ON THIS. MY SENSE OF THINGS IS THAT IT SEEMS PRETTY UNIFIED BUT, YOU KNOW, AS ALWAYS WE ARE THE GREENS SO THERE'S GOING TO BE NOT A HOMOGENOUS VOICE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT APPROACHING THE ISSUE. SO WILL WE GET AN ANSWER THIS WEEKEND? POSSIBLY, BUT POSSIBLY NOT. IT'S BEEN OVER FOUR MONTHS SINCE TANA WAS FIRST STOOD DOWN FOLLOWING A STUFF INVESTIGATION. THE PARTY HAS A REALLY COMPLICATED HISTORY WITH WAKA-JUMPING LAWS. FUNDAMENTALLY, THEY'RE AGAINST IT, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE IS STRONG APPETITE TO USE IT IN TANA'S CASE. SWARBRICK SAYS THERE COULD BE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT THE BEST OUTCOME WOULD BE FOR TANA TO RESIGN. AT THIS STAGE, IT SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY, AND THE GREENS WILL BE THRASHING IT OUT THIS WEEKEND. AND WHEN IS A JOKE NOT A JOKE? WE CHECK OUT A NEW DRAMA ABOUT TO AIR ON THREE THAT EXPLORES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A NEWS READER IS CANCELLED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND IN SPORT ` LULU SUN BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEW ZEALAND DURING WIMBLEDON. CAN SHE FOLLOW IT UP WITH SUCCESS AT THE OLYMPICS? THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CANNED DOZENS OF EDUCATION BUILDS FOLLOWING COST BLOWOUTS, LEAVING SOME SCHOOLS WITH DECREPIT, LEAKY BUILDINGS. THE PRIME MINISTER'S BEEN OUT WITH BEAT COPS IN AUCKLAND'S CBD SEEING IF THE HEIGHTENED POLICE PRESENCE IN RECENT WEEKS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE PARIS OLYMPICS IS JUST HOURS AWAY NOW, AND THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM WILL BE LED OUT BY SAILOR JO ALEH AND CYCLIST AARON GATE. A WELLINGTON MUSICIAN CONVICTED OF RAPE CAN NOW BE NAMED. MARTIN DITLHABI WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ONE CHARGE OF RAPE IN A RETRIAL LAST YEAR AND SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS, NINE MONTHS IN JAIL. THE 27-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED AFTER A RAFT OF SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM WERE MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. INVERCARGILL MAYOR NOBBY CLARK WILL BE CENSURED FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR. CLARK IS IN HOT WATER AGAIN OVER RACIST COMMENTS, WHICH PROMPTED TWO SEPARATE COMPLAINTS FROM COUNCILLORS. HE DID NOT ATTEND A MEETING TODAY WHERE COUNCILLORS VOTED IN FAVOUR OF HIS CENSURE AND FOR HIM TO ISSUE A PUBLIC APOLOGY. YOU'LL SOON HAVE TO PAY TO SEE THE HAMILTON GARDENS, UNLESS YOU'RE A LOCAL. FROM MID-SEPTEMBER, A $20 ENTRY FEE WILL APPLY AT THE GATES TO THE REVERED ATTRACTION, WITH A SENIOR COUNCILLOR SAYING IT'S ABOUT TIME THE VALUE OF THE GARDENS WAS RECOGNISED. HAMILTONIANS WON'T HAVE TO PAY, AND ALL UNDER-16S WILL ALSO STILL BE FREE. DIAGNOSING ADHD IS DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING WHICH CAN MEAN LONG DELAYS IN GETTING TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH THE DISORDER. BUT IT'S HOPED A NEW TEST, WHICH CAN BE DONE ONLINE AT HOME, WILL SPEED THINGS UP. ITV'S SARAH CORKER REPORTS. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ENJOYING PLAYTIME AFTER SCHOOL BUT INSIDE THE CLASSROOM, FIVE YEAR OLD ALAINA IS STRUGGLING HER MOTHER HAS BEEN TRAINED TO GET A DIAGNOSIS FOR ADHD WITHOUT ONE SHE IS LABELLED AS A QUOTE NAUGHTY KID SHE IS MISUNDERSTOOD BY HER TEACHER AND PEERS WHEN WE SEE THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOUR WE JUST HAVE TO SAY IT HAS BAD BEHAVIOUR THIS NEW ONLINE TASS IS PROVIDING FRESH HOPES FOR PARENTS MOVEMENT IS TRACKED BY THIS INFRARED CAMERA IT IS NOT INFLUENCED BY WHAT A TEACHER THINKS OR WHAT APPARENT THINGS IT IS THAT CHILD'S LEVEL OF ACTIVITIES AND HOW HARD IT IS THERE TO PAY ATTENTION AND THOSE LONG WAITS CAN HAVE LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES ELLIE SHARED HER EXPERIENCES ON THIS PODCAST DOES FRANCIS SHE PAID FOR MORE THAN �800 AND IS FINALLY DIAGNOSED OF ADHD IN HER 20S AND WHILE BETTER AWARENESS AND DIAGNOSIS ARE WELCOMED, SCHOOL LEADERS ONE RAISING NEED IS NOT BEING MATCHED AND IT ALSO NEEDS REFORM, FUNDING ALONE WON'T HELP US SOLVE THIS CHALLENGE AND IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE NOT HAD THE AMOUNT OF POLICY ATTENTION MANY FAMILIES ARE CRYING OUT FOR HELP THE SOLUTION IS BETTER TESTING THE PARIS OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE FIRST IN HISTORY TO TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE A STADIUM. INSTEAD IT WILL BE A SPECTACLE STAGED ON THE RIVER SEINE. THE OLYMPIC TORCH WILL AS ALWAYS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE EVENT. OUR EXPLAINER EDITOR LLOYD BURR TALKS US THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE FLAME, A STORY THAT STARTS IN 1928. THE PARIS OLYMPICS ARE ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY, AND OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN THE OLYMPIC TORCH CARRIED ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND IT GOT ME THINKING ` HOW DID THE TORCH RELAY COME ABOUT? AND THE ANSWER? IT'S PARTIALLY THANKS TO NAZI GERMANY. BERLIN HOSTED THE 1936 GAMES. IT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HITLER GAMES. SWASTIKA FLAGS FLEW ALONGSIDE THE OLYMPIC FLAG, AND THE NAZI SALUTE WAS PREVALENT THROUGHOUT IT. THE ORGANISER OF THOSE GAMES WAS A GUY CALLED CARL DIEM, AND WHILE HE WASN'T A MEMBER OF THE NAZI PARTY, THERE ARE PHOTOS OF HIM WITH NAZI LEADERS LIKE THIS ONE OF HIM WITH GOEBBELS AND GOERING. IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT THAT DIEM WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE GAMES LONG BEFORE THE NAZIS CAME TO POWER. HE ATTENDED THE L.A. GAMES OF 1932 TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT ALL WORKED. NOW, THE L.A. GAMES HAD AN OLYMPIC FLAME WHICH BURNED FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENT. THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT BEGAN FOUR YEARS EARLIER IN AMSTERDAM. BOTH FLAMES, THOUGH ` THEY WERE PROBABLY LIT WITH A PACKET OF MATCHES, BUT IT SPARKED AN IDEA WITH DIEM. HE WANTED TO REPLICATE THE TORCH RACES OF THE ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES HELD IN OLYMPIA. THE ANCIENT GREEKS ` THEY USED THIS SPECIAL MIRROR TO CONCENTRATE THE SUN'S RAYS ON A CERTAIN PLACE, WHICH CREATED FIRE, AND DIEM WANTED TO DO JUST THAT IN OLYMPIA, IN GREECE, AND CARRY THAT FLAME ALL THE WAY TO BERLIN ON FOOT IN THIS COLOSSAL RELAY. THE IOC APPROVED THE IDEA, AND IT WENT AHEAD. MORE THAN 3000 RUNNERS RAN 1 K EACH, AND IN AUGUST 1936, THE TORCH REACHED BERLIN. IT WENT THROUGH THE BRANDENBURG GATES. IT WENT INTO THE BERLIN STADIUM IN FRONT OF HITLER AND MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM WERE DOING THE NAZI SALUTE. HITLER'S PROPAGANDA MACHINE LAPPED IT UP. IT WAS EVEN TURNED INTO A PROPAGANDA FILM. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL 1948 THAT THE NEXT GAMES WERE HELD, THIS TIME IN LONDON. BUT THEY DIDN'T SCRAP THE NAZI TORCH RELAY. ORGANISERS KEPT IT. THEY USED IT AS A SYMBOL OF PEACE AS IT MADE ITS WAY FROM GREECE, ACROSS WAR-TORN EUROPE TO BRITAIN, AND WE'VE HAD IT AT THE SUMMER GAMES EVER SINCE. AND THE OLYMPIC FLAME IS JUST HOURS AWAY FROM ITS FINAL DESTINATION AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS. IT'LL BE GREAT TO SEE THE GAMES OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY BUT LUCY, IT HASN'T BEEN THE BEST OF STARTS FOR THE KIWI TEAM NOT AT ALL SAM, THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS ARE STILL COMING TO TERMS WITH THEIR SHOCK QUARTERFINAL LOSS TO SOUTH AFRICA. WE'LL HAVE ALL THE ACTION AND REACTION FROM THE MATCH NEXT. PLUS, WE SPEAK TO THE KIWI TENNIS STARS HOPING TO TURN THEIR WIMBLEDON SUCCESS INTO OLYMPIC GOLD. AND THE CANTERBURY RAMS ARE LOOKING TO GO BACK-TO-BACK IN THE NBL BY GOING FACE-TO-FACE WITH A FORMER TEAMMATE. THE PARIS OLYMPICS HAVE BARELY EVEN BEGUN BUT THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS HOPES OF A MEDAL ARE OFFICIALLY OVER. THE KIWIS, WHO ENTERED THE CAMPAIGN HOPING TO RIGHT THE WRONGS OF THEIR SILVER IN TOKYO, HAVE SUFFERED A SHOCK 14-7 DEFEAT TO SOUTH AFRICA. OUR REPORTER IMOGEN WELLS IS IN PARIS. IMOGEN, HOW ARE THE TEAM FEELING? NO DOUBT THEY'RE FEELING EXACTLY LIKE THIS PARISIENNE WEATHER IT WAS A SLEEPLESS NIGHT FOR MANY OF THEM THANKING " WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN" THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO EAGER TO ONE UP THAT SILVER THEY GOT IN TOKYO ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S STRONGEST MEDAL HOPES DOWN AND OUT THIS OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN. ONE MOMENT, YOU THINK YOU'RE ALL RIGHT; THE NEXT MINUTE, YOU'RE IN TEARS SO... YEAH, IT'S TOUGH. THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF HURT IN THAT CHANGING ROOM. THE TOURNAMENT FAVOURITES HELD SCORELESS FOR MUCH OF THE FIRST HALF BY A TEAM THEY'D ALREADY BEATEN IN POOL PLAY. SOUTH AFRICA CAPITALISING ON THE KIWIS' MISTAKES EARLY, SCORING TWO UNANSWERED TRIES BEFORE A CONVERTED MOSES LEO SPECIAL NARROWED THE GAP TO SEVEN POINTS AT HALF-TIME. THIS IS THE STRIKE NEW ZEALAND ARE LOOKING FOR. DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS, THE KIWIS WERE UNABLE TO OVERCOME SOUTH AFRICA'S DEFIANT DEFENCE IN THE SECOND. YEAH, WE JUST COULDN'T QUITE EXECUTE UNDER THAT PRESSURE, MAN. THEY DEFENDED REALLY WELL. THEY SCRAMBLED REALLY WELL. WE MADE SOME HALF BREAKS, AND THEY MADE US MAKE THE EXTRA PASS, AND, YEAH, WE JUST COULDN'T QUITE STICK OUR OFFLOADS AND COULDN'T QUITE GET OVER THE LINE THERE. THE ABSENCE OF THE INJURED NGAROHI MCGARVEY-BLACK AND REGAN WARE NOT LOST ON THE SIDE. THAT CAN AFFECT THE FLOW OF A GROUP, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, TWO PLAYERS ARE COMING INTO THE TEAM TODAY, BUT IN SAYING THAT, IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE, YOU KNOW. A 14-7 LOSS FORCING THEM INTO A FIFTH-PLACE SEMI AGAINST ARGENTINA ON SUNDAY. WE'VE GOT TWO MORE GAMES TO GO OUT THERE AND REPRESENT THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM AND TRY TO FINISH ON A BIT OF A HIGH EVEN IF IT DOES MEAN LEAVING THE GAMES WITHOUT WHAT THEY CAME HERE FOR. HEARTBREAKING STUFF, IMOGEN, BUT THERE'S PLENTY MORE KIWI ACTION TO COME. THERE IS INDEED ONCE THE OPENING CEREMONY IS DONE IT IS WITH LIKE KIWIS AT COMPETING AT THE ROWING EQUESTRIAN WHO ALSO HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL WIMBLEDON IT'S NOT EASY, BECAUSE I'D SAY THESES TWO SURFACES ARE PROBABLY THE MOST EXTREME DIFFERENCES IN TENNIS, AND THE BOUNCES, THE SPEED, ALL OF IT ` IT'S DIFFERENT ` BUT WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, GOOD PREP, AND, UH, WE HAD A BIT OF TIME TO GET USED TO IT. THAT WAS LULU TALKING ABOUT THIS DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO COURTS FROM WIMBLEDON TO HERE IN PARIS OK, IMOGEN, GIVE US A QUICK VIBE CHECK GOING INTO THE OPENING CEREMONY TONIGHT. WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE TUESDAY IT HAS BEEN QUITE QUIET I WILL ADMIT I AM ANTICIPATING THE STREETS ARE GOING TO FILL UP WITH GOING TO HANG OUT AT KIWI HOUSE AGAIN TONIGHT LAST NIGHT OPEN FOR NAMES AS IF LABOUR OPTIONS IMAGE AND WAS THERE IN THE PARIS THE SIDE ARE SITTING FIVE POINTS OUTSIDE THE TOP EIGHT AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S MATCH AGAINST THE WEST TIGERS, WHO ARE CURRENTLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE. BUT WITH A NUMBER OF INJURIES, COACH ANDREW WEBSTER IS TAKING IT ONE GAME AT A TIME. YEAH, WE CAN MAKE A RUN HERE AND GET OURSELVES IN THE SEVENS COMPETITION BUT, THERE'S NO POINT LOOKING AT IT MATE. WE'VE GOTTA WIN THIS WEEK AND HAVE A REAL STRONG PERFORMANCE. KICK OFF IS AT 8 PM. IT'S THE LAST CHANCE FOR THE MAINLAND TACTIX AND NORTHERN MYSTICS TO KEEP THEIR ANZ PREMIERSHIP TITLE HOPES ALIVE, AS THEY GO HEAD TO HEAD IN TOMORROW'S ELIMINATION FINAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. FOR THE HOSTS, IT COULD BE THE FINAL HURRAH FOR COACH MARIANNE DELANEY-HOSHEK, WHO IS LEAVING THE CLUB AT THE END OF THE SEASON. BUT THE SIDE'S DETERMINED TO GIVE HER ONE MORE WEEK. EVERYONE'S PRETTY ADAMANT THAT THIS ISN'T OUR LAST GAME ` YOU KNOW, PUT IT OUT THERE IN THE UNIVERSE, AND HOPEFULLY IT COMES TRUE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE TOO FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE HER LAST. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE BUYING INTO THE FACT THAT IT COULD BE ANY OF OUR LAST. THE WINNER OF TOMORROW'S MATCH WILL TAKE ON THE CENTRAL PULSE IN NEXT WEEKEND'S GRAND-FINAL. THAT'S YOUR SPORT FOR TODAY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OPENING CEREMONY ONE OF THE PITFALLS OF MODERN LIFE IS SAYING THE WRONG THING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GETTING YOURSELF CANCELLED. A NEW BRITISH DRAMA SET TO PLAY ON THREE NEXT MONTH, CALLED "DOUGLAS IS CANCELLED", TAKES A HUMOROUS LOOK AT THE ISSUE. IT STARS HUGH BONNEVILLE OF DOWNTON ABBEY AND PADDINGTON FAME AND CHRONICLES THE DOWNFALL OF A FICTIONAL TV NEWS PRESENTER. HERE'S ITV'S RICHI DAVDA. SAME TIME TOMORROW? WHY NOT? SEE YOU AT SIX. IT'S NEVER GOOD WHEN THOSE READING THE NEWS BECOME THE NEWS. MAKING AN EXTREMELY SEXIST JOKE AT A WEDDING PARTY. AND AS ESTEEMED ANCHOR DOUGLAS BELLOWS, HUGH BONNEVILLE FINDS HIMSELF TRENDING FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH THE DAY BEING THIS CYNICAL? WHILE THE ACTOR APPRECIATES THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, HE'S SEEING CANCELLING BECOME COMMONPLACE. YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF THE SCAPEGOAT OR THE PEOPLE BEING THROWN OUT OF THE CITY WALLS GOES RIGHT BACK TO ROMAN TIMES, IF NOT BEFORE. AND HISTORY HAS A HABIT, AS WE KNOW, OF REPEATING ITSELF, PARTICULARLY THESE DAYS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, THE RISE OF THE SELF-APPOINTED JURY, WHICH IS THE PEOPLE, WHATEVER THAT IS. AND YOU KNOW WHO IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE THIS WEEK? LET'S FIND THEM, STONE THEM TO DEATH, STAMP ON THEM, MAKE SURE THEY'RE DEAD, AND THEN KILL THEM ALL OVER AGAIN, AND THEN MOVE ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE. THIS TWEETING SITUATION... OOF, YOU'RE BOTH LOOKING SO CROSS. WHY DO MEN ALWAYS ATTACK IN PAIRS? HIS CO-HOST MADELEINE CROWE IS PLAYED BY KAREN GILLAN. HER STORYLINE DETAILS A DARKER PAST, THE VICTIM OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR BY A COLLEAGUE. SHE HOPES VIEWERS WILL TAKE NOTE. I DEFINITELY THINK THE THEMES WE'RE EXPLORING IN THIS ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE TV INDUSTRY OR THE NEWS INDUSTRY. IT'S ACROSS SO MANY PROFESSIONS, SADLY. AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT, AT ITS CORE, I THINK, ABUSE OF POWER. AND ALSO IF YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING AND YOU DON'T SAY OR DO ANYTHING, DOES THAT MAKE YOU COMPLICIT? I THINK THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE WILL START ASKING AFTER THEY WATCH IT. IT WAS SEXIST, NOT MISOGYNIST. THIS ISN'T NEWS! IT'S GOING TO BE NEWS, IT'S YOU! INDISCRETIONS OFF CAMERA HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF BROADCASTERS HIT THE HEADLINES IN RECENT YEARS. DOUGLAS'S 'CANCELLED' ` A COMEDY DRAMA ABOUT THOSE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS CONVERSATIONS. SORRY, WHAT? GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE REAL WORLD, IT ALMOST FEELS FAMILIAR TO HAVE THESE EVENTS UNFOLD IN A TV PROGRAM. OH, CERTAINLY. BUT I MEAN, I'VE WRITTEN THIS AS A PLAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT HAD I HAVE DONE THIS AT ANY POINT IT WOULD'VE FELT FAMILIAR. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS KIND OF THING GOES ON ALL THE TIME. THERE'S NEVER BEEN A POINT WHERE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A RECENT SCANDAL INVOLVING ONE OF YOU GUYS, NO OFFENCE. YOU KNOW, IT USED TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET YOURSELF IN REAL TROUBLE. YOU CAN DO IT INSTANTLY, YOU'LL PROBABLY DO IT TONIGHT MATE I MEAN, I THINK ... IT'S I THINK IT'S COMING FOR YOU. SORRY, THERE'S BEEN A RETWEET, MADELEINE'S BEEN RETWEETED. HIGHLIGHTING THE POWER OF BOTH THE BIG SCREEN AND THE SMALL ONE THAT LIVES IN YOUR POCKET. AN ATTACK ON ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISABLE WORKS OF ART IN THE WORLD IS LIKELY TO EARN A COUPLE OF ACTIVISTS JAIL TIME. THE TWO 'JUST STOP OIL' PROTESTORS THREW TOMATO SOUP OVER THE PRICELESS VINCENT VAN GOGH PAINTING 'SUNFLOWERS' WHILE IT WAS ON DISPLAY IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY IN LONDON IN 2022. THE 22-YEAR-OLDS HAVE JUST BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL DAMAGE AND WILL BE SENTENCED LATER IN THE YEAR. THE JUDGE TOLD THE WOMEN TO PREPARE FOR A PRISON SENTENCE. THE PAINTING WAS BEHIND GLASS AND UNHARMED. THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO SAVE ONE OF THE RAREST PLANTS IN THE WORLD, SO RARE IT'S KNOWN TO ONLY GROW IN THE WILD IN THREE PLACES, ALL IN NEW ZEALAND. QUICK RANGERS HAVE MOVED THE PYGMY BUTTON DAISY FROM MT PLEASANT IN CHRISTCHURCH TO NEARBY REDCLIFFS IN A BID TO KEEP IT GROWING. BECAUSE OF THE SITE, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. THERE ARE FEW PLANTS THAT ARE SURVIVING, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS ` IT IS EARLY DAYS. FORTUNATELY, THANKS TO A TRANSPLANT DECADES AGO, THERE ARE SOME GROWING WELL IN THE CHRISTCHURCH BOTANIC GARDENS. CONCERNS ARE BEING RAISED OVER LINKS BETWEEN ANTI-SMOKING ORGANISATION 'ASH' AND THE PRO-VAPING LOBBY. 'ASH' DIRECTOR BEN YOUDAN VISITED AUSTRALIA IN FEBRUARY AS THE COUNTRY LOOKED TO BAN DISPOSABLE VAPES. THREENEWS CAN REVEAL HIS TRIP WAS CO-ORDINATED BY THE FOUNDER OF A GROUP WHICH HAS TAKEN MONEY FROM VAPE BUSINESSES AND WHOSE FOUNDING CHAIR HAS ADVOCATED FOR VAPING AREAS IN SCHOOLS. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BRIDIE WITTON HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE STORY. THIS IS BEN YOUDAN, DIRECTOR OF 'ASH' ` ACTION FOR SMOKEFREE 2025 ` WARNING AUSTRALIANS AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT BANNING DISPOSABLE VAPES. IN NEW ZEALAND, WHERE I AM FROM, WE HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SWITCH FROM SMOKING TO VAPING. PARENTS AGAINST VAPING AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMICS ARE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT ASH'S LINKS TO THE PRO-VAPING LOBBY IN AUSTRALIA. IT WOULD BE A QUESTION THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE INVESTIGATED, AND I AM SURE THAT ASH WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THAT QUESTION INVESTIGATED AS WELL. ASH RUNS THE YEAR 10 SURVEY INTO SMOKING AND VAPING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOURS WITH FUNDING FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. ITS NEXT SURVEY IS DUE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. BUT ITS VIEWS TOWARDS VAPING ARE OUTLIERS IN NEW ZEALAND, WHICH HAS INVITED A BACKLASH. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 25 YEARS, AND THERE'S LEVELS OF CONFLICT AND TOXICITY AND NASTINESS THAT I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN ANYTHING. WE ARE FACING CONSTANT KINDS OF ABUSE AND ATTACKS. YOUDAN TRAVELLED TO AUSTRALIA WHERE HE PROMOTED NEW ZEALAND'S VAPING POLICIES IN FEBRUARY, AND THREENEWS CAN REVEAL THE TRIP WAS COORDINATED BY DR ALEX WODAK, A MAN DESCRIBED OVER THE DITCH AS A PRO-VAPE LOBBYIST. YOUDAN FIRST MET HIM AT A MAORI PUBLIC HEALTH SYMPOSIUM IN WELLINGTON. I FIRST MET ALEX WHEN HE CAME OVER TO A WORKSHOP ` NOT A WORKSHOP, A SYMPOSIUM ` WE DID WITH HAPAI TE HAUORA IN THE BEEHIVE GOING BACK A FEW YEARS AGO. AND IT WAS WHEN THE SECTOR WAS REALLY BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT HARM REDUCTION. WODAK'S ORGANISATION, THE AUSTRALIAN TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION ASSOCIATION, OR ATHRA, WAS PAID NEARLY $20,000 FROM E-LIQUID AND E-CIGARETTE COMPANIES IN 2018. CHARYL ROBINSON, A SPOKESPERSON FOR VAPE FREE KIDS, IS CONCERNED ABOUT ASH'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ATHRA. THERE IS TWO WORDS IN THEIR NAME THAT AUTOMATICALLY RING ALARM BELLS, AND IT'S THE WORDS 'HARM REDUCTION'. THAT IS A BATTLE CRY FOR THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND THEIR FRIENDS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE ASSOCIATION USED PAID-FOR STOCK IMAGES FOR TESTIMONIALS PRAISING VAPING AS A TOOL TO HELP GIVE UP SMOKING, BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE IMAGES SPOKE OUT TO SAY THE TESTIMONIALS WEREN'T THEIRS. BEN YOUDAN CLAIMS THE TESTIMONIALS WERE REAL, THAT HE MET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE QUOTES, EVEN IF THE PICTURES WERE ACTUALLY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE AND HAVE THEIR FACE OUT THERE PUBLICLY BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST RECEIVED SUCH HORRENDOUS TREATMENT. IN APRIL, ATHRA ALSO ADVOCATED FOR VAPING AREAS IN SCHOOLS. DR COLIN MENDELSOHN, IN HIS SUBMISSION, THE FORMER CHAIRPERSON OF ATHRA HAS SUGGESTED WE SET ASIDE AREAS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN VAPE AT SCHOOL. IF THAT IS NOT A TANTAMOUNT 'WE HAVE A PROBLEM', I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. LIKE, I DON'T` I DON'T REPRESENT ATHRA EITHER. I DON'T TALK FOR THEM. NZ FIRST AND ITS MINISTERS HAVE REPEATEDLY FACED QUESTIONS ABOUT LINKS TO THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, AND IN PARLIAMENT ON TUESDAY, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WINSTON PETERS SPOKE IN PRAISE OF ASH, WHO HE SAID SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO DROP EXCISE TAX ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS BY 50%. NZ FIRST'S ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER CASEY COSTELLO CAME UNDER FIRE EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN SHE SENT NOTES TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WHICH SAID NICOTINE WAS ONLY AS HARMFUL AS CAFFEINE, A LINE REGULARLY USED BY THE TOBACCO LOBBY. I HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH ASH A LOT TO STOP PEOPLE SMOKING. MEANWHILE, PARENTS AND ACADEMICS ARE NOW CALLING ON COSTELLO, NZ FIRST AND THE GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE EVIDENCE IT IS BASING ITS DECISIONS ON. FINALLY TONIGHT, CHRISTCHURCH WILL ALSO PLAY HOST TO THIS YEAR'S NBL GRAND-FINAL ON SUNDAY. IN A REPEAT OF LAST YEAR'S DECIDER, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION CANTERBURY RAMS WILL GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE AUCKLAND TUATARA, WHO ARE LOOKING TO AVOID THREE SUCCESSIVE GRAND-FINAL DEFEATS. AND AUCKLAND MAY HAVE THE SECRET RECIPE ` FORMER RAM COREY WEBSTER GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. WITH FOUR NEW ZEALAND NBL TITLES TO HIS NAME AND MANY MORE OFFSHORE, THERE'S SOMETHING COREY WEBSTER IS KNOWN FOR. UM, JUST WINNING GAMES ` THAT'S IT, REALLY. HAVEN'T CHANGED MY GAME AT ALL. JUST DO WHAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE AND CONTRIBUTE TO WINNING THE GAME. LAST YEAR, HE DID JUST THAT, HELPING THE RAMS TO THEIR FIRST TITLE IN 31 YEARS. THAT'S COREY WEBSTER FOR YOU. BUT THIS TIME AROUND, IT'S THE TUATARA WHO HAVE HIM ON THEIR TEAM. IT'S GOOD, AND HOPEFULLY HE'S THE DIFFERENCE MAKER THIS YEAR. I MEAN, HE KILLED US IN THE FINAL LAST YEAR SO HOPEFULLY HE CAN GO KILL HIS OLD TEAM THIS YEAR. THE RAMS ARE WELL AND TRULY AWARE OF THE THREAT WEBSTER POSES. WE ALL WATCHED THE SEMI AS WELL AND SAW HOW HE TOOK OVER IN THE FOURTH, SO OUR GOAL WILL BE TO SHUT HIM DOWN, BUT THEY'RE A GREAT ALL-ROUND TEAM, SO IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE. AND THE TUATARA ARE HUNGRIER THAN EVER ` BEATEN FINALIST TWO YEARS IN A ROW. THE FINAL BEING PLAYED AT A SOLD-OUT COWLES STADIUM IN CHRISTCHURCH. IT'S A PRETTY SMALL AND ECHOEY STADIUM, SO WE'RE EXPECTING LOUD AND PLENTY OF TRASH TALK. WE'RE READY FOR IT. THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD GUYS ON THE SPONSORS' TABLES OVER THERE. TALK A BIT OF TRASH, GET EVERYONE RILED UP ON AND OFF THE COURT SO I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY COOL. THE RAMS SHOULD BE WEARY, THOUGH ` THEIR FORMER TEAMMATE CLAIMS TO KNOW THE SECRET TO SUCCESS. SCORE MORE POINTS THAN THE OTHER TEAM. THANKFULLY, WEBSTER IS BETTER AT DOING HIS TALKING ON THE COURT RATHER THAN OFF IT. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH THE LATEST ROUND OF WEATHER WARNINGS. LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A ROUGH START TO NEXT WEEK. THE FIRST ROUND OF RAIN HAS ALREADY ARRIVED FOR FIORDLAND AND IS EXPECTED TO HANG AROUND THROUGH TOMORROW. BUT FROM SUNDAY, WE HAVE ALL THIS ACTIVITY BREWING OUT OVER THE TASMAN, A VAST AREA OF UNSTABLE LOW PRESSURE. SO MONDAY AND TUESDAY WILL HAVE WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN, EASTERLY GALES AND SNOW IN THE SOUTH. AT THIS STAGE, THE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE FOR THE CURRENT FRONT IMPACTING THE SOUTHWEST AND WILL BE REVISITED TOMORROW. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. THE HIGH SITS FIRM OVER THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW AND PARKS UP TILL LATE SUNDAY, SO THAT LEAVES THE SOUTH ISLAND EXPOSED FOR ALL THE WEATHER. A TROUGH OVER THE TASMAN SEA BENDS INTO A LOW TOMORROW AFTERNOON, DIRECTING RAIN OVER THE SOUTHWEST. NOW, NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE A BIT OF ACTION ` MULTIPLE LOWS, A RAIN FRONT, AND A COLD BLAST FROM ANTARCTICA, SO SNOW TO LOW LEVELS. BUT LEADING UP TO THAT IS THE WEEKEND. FIRST TONIGHT, HEAVY RAIN OVER FIORDLAND WILL BECOME SCATTERED AS YOU HEAD UP TO WESTLAND, WITH A FEW SPOTS OVER TO CENTRAL OTAGO AND ALL WITH NOR'WESTERS. TOMORROW, SIMILAR SET UP. HEAVY RAIN AT TIMES FOR FIORDLAND, THEN SCATTERED TOWARDS WESTLAND AND DEVELOPING IN BULLER TOMORROW NIGHT. FINE EVERYWHERE ELSE AND VERY WARM FOR THE CANTERBURY COAST. ANOTHER STILL AND CALM NIGHT FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. THERE WILL BE A LITTLE CLOUD INCREASING OVER THE WEST FROM THE WAIKATO DOWN TO KAPITI. FOG PATCHES TOO FROM TAIHAPE NORTH. TOMORROW, FOG FOR THE CENTRAL PLATEAU, CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON WITH EITHER FINE OR PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES ELSEWHERE. WINDS REMAIN LIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER NORTHLAND ACROSS THE DAY. SO A GREAT MORNING IN THE NORTH. MAYBE MORNING FOG FOR YOU, HAMILTON. A FEW CLOUDS ROLL IN DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND. WINDS, THOUGH, ARE LIGHT. MORNING FOG FOR INLAND SPOTS ` MAYBE SOME FROST TOO FOR WHAKATANE ` THEN IT'S FINE WITH SUN FOR ALL DURING THE DAY. CLOUD DEVELOPS TOMORROW NIGHT FOR TAUPO, ALL WITH LIGHT WINDS. LOOKING GOOD OUT EAST TOO. MORNING FROST FOR HASTINGS, BUT SKIES ARE CLEAR FOR THE ENTIRE DAY WITH MOSTLY LIGHT WINDS. GISBORNE AND MASTERTON HAS A NOR'WESTER.