AUCKLAND EYE SURGEON PHILIP POLKINGHORNE PLEADS GUILTY TO METH CHARGES AS HE GOES ON TRIAL FOR HIS WIFE'S MURDER. A COURT DATE'S SET AS FLETCHER CONSTRUCTION SUES TWO WATERPROOFING COMPANIES FOR MORE THAN $300M OVER THE SKYCITY CONVENTION CENTRE FIRE. IN PARIS, SWIM TRAINING IN THE RIVER SEINE IS CANCELLED. WILL IT AFFECT OUR TRIATHLON TEAM TOMORROW? PLUS... # I WANT TO STOP CRYING. # I WANT TO STOP CRYING. # BUT SHE'S LYING THERE DYING. THE MELANCHOLY LEGACY OF CHILLS FRONTMAN MARTIN PHILLIPPS. CAPTIONS BY ALEX WALKER AND ANNA HALL-TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. LOVELY TO HAVE YOU WITH US. THE MURDER TRIAL OF RETIRED EYE SURGEON PHILIP POLKINGHORNE HAS BEGUN AT THE HIGH COURT IN AUCKLAND. HE'S CHARGED WITH KILLING HIS WIFE, PAULINE HANNA. THE CROWN ALLEGING HE STRANGLED HER AND STAGED HER DEATH AS SUICIDE AT THEIR REMUERA HOME. BUT BEFORE THE TRIAL WAS EVEN UNDERWAY, POLKINGHORNE PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO PREVIOUSLY SUPPRESSED METH-RELATED CHARGES. A WARNING ` GRACE THOMAS'S REPORT MAY BE CONFRONTING FOR SOME VIEWERS. A FORMER TOP EYE SURGEON WHO'S NOW BEEN DESCRIBED AS HAVING A DOUBLE LIFE IN THE MURDER TRIAL THAT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE DEATH OF PHILIP POLKINGHORNE'S WIFE, PAULINE HANNA, IN 2021 WAS DESCRIBED BY POLICE AS 'UNEXPLAINED' UNTIL THE NOW 71-YEAR-OLD WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER IN 2022, FOR WHICH HE'S PLEADED NOT GUILTY. THE CROWN'S OPENING STATEMENT DETAILED POLKINGHORNE'S OBSESSION WITH SEX AND METHAMPHETAMINE, AND THE DECLINING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE. HE WAS SPENDING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON SEX WORKERS HE WAS SPENDING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON SEX WORKERS AND ENGAGING IN A NUMBER OF EXTRAMARITAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ENCOUNTERS. HE HAD A PROBLEMATIC METHAMPHETAMINE HABIT. HE WAS SPENDING MARITAL FINANCES IN A WAY THAT ONLY BENEFITED HIMSELF. THE ASPECTS OF THIS DOUBLE LIFE WERE BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO KEEP FROM HIS WIFE. HANNA (63) WAS A SENIOR FIGURE AT THE COUNTIES MANUKAU DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD AND WAS INVOLVED IN ITS COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT. HER BODY WAS FOUND BY HER HUSBAND AT THEIR HOME ON UPLAND RD IN REMUERA. POLKINGHORNE CALLED 111, SAYING HANNA HAD HUNG HERSELF; A RECORDING OF THAT CALL WAS PLAYED TO THE JURY. THE FIRST WITNESS TO GIVE EVIDENCE WAS PARAMEDIC BERNARD DOO, WHO WAS AMONG THE FIRST ON THE SCENE. THERE APPEARED TO BE A BODY UNDER THE DUVET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS. HER FACE WAS QUITE ASHEN AND BLUE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS. HER FACE WAS QUITE ASHEN AND BLUE. YOU COULD SEE THAT SHE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE JURY IS SET TO HEAR FROM MORE THAN 60 WITNESSES CALLED BY THE CROWN, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WORKED AT AUCKLAND EYE WITH POLKINGHORNE, AN ESCORT HE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH, FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF PAULINE HANNA, AS WELL AS FORENSIC SCIENTISTS. THE CROWN TOLD THE COURT THE ROPE WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH FOR HANNA TO HAVE HUNG HERSELF, AND AN INJURY ON POLKINGHORNE'S HEAD SUGGESTED A STRUGGLE HAD TAKEN PLACE. BUT DEFENCE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING 'UNEXPLAINED' ABOUT HANNA'S DEATH. YOU WILL SEE BY WAY OF EVIDENCE THEY WERE GETTING ON WELL. THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT. THERE WAS NO ESCALATION INTO AN ASSAULT. THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT. THERE WAS NO ESCALATION INTO AN ASSAULT. FATAL OR OTHERWISE. DR POLKINGHORNE SIMPLY WENT TO BED, AND WHEN HE GOT UP IN THE MORNING, HE DISCOVERED HIS WIFE IN THAT POSITION, HAVING HUNG HERSELF. THE TRIAL IS SET FOR LAST FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS, THE TRIAL IS SET TO LAST FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS, IN WHICH TIME THE JURY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER PAULINE HANNA'S DEATH WAS SUICIDE OR MURDER. THE TRIAL OF AN ALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST HAS BEGUN IN CHRISTCHURCH, WITH 15 COMPLAINANTS SET TO GIVE EVIDENCE. JOHN HOPE MUCHIRAHONDO, WHO'S WELL KNOWN IN CHRISTCHURCH FOOTBALL CIRCLES, DENIES ALL CHARGES AGAINST HIM. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY WAS IN COURT. PLEASE PLACE JOHN HOPE MUCHIRAHONDO BEFORE THE COURT. ALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST JOHN MUCHIRAHONDO FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE SPANNING MORE THAN A DECADE. IT INVOLVES 32 CHARGES, ALL BUT ONE OF WHICH INVOLVE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL OFFENDING. THE 38-YEAR-OLD, WHO'S WELL KNOWN IN FOOTBALL CIRCLES, IS ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING AND RAPING MANY WOMEN IN BOTH AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH. MUCHIRAHONDO DENIES ALL THE CHARGES. SEXUALLY VIOLATED THE NAMED COMPLAINANT BY RAPE. HOW DO YOU PLEAD? GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? NOT GUILTY. THOSE WORDS HE UTTERED 32 TIMES TO ALL CHARGES AGAINST HIM ` 22 FOR RAPE AND NINE FOR SEXUAL VIOLATION. AND ONE CHARGE OF FAILING TO CARRY OUT OBLIGATIONS IN RELATION TO A COMPUTER SEARCH. THE JURY OF SIX WOMEN AND SIX MEN WILL HEAR FROM AT LEAST 108 WITNESSES DURING THE TRIAL, INCLUDING 15 ALLEGED VICTIMS. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE BETWEEN EIGHT TO 10 WEEKS. IT'S NOT YET KNOWN IF MUCHIRAHONDO HIMSELF WILL TAKE THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENCE. IF THERE IS NO DEFENCE EVIDENCE, YOU SHOULD NOT HOLD THE FACT THAT HE MAY CHOOSE NOT TO DO SO AGAINST HIM. I REMIND YOU ` HE CARRIES NO ONUS OR RESPONSIBILITY TO... PROVE ANY MATTER IN THIS TRIAL. THE CROWN WILL OPEN ITS CASE TOMORROW MORNING BEFORE THE FIRST COMPLAINANT TAKES A STAND IN FRONT OF THIS ALLEGED SEXUAL PREDATOR. COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW FLETCHER CONSTRUCTION IS SUING TWO WATERPROOFING BUSINESSES IT BLAMES FOR THE 2019 FIRE AT THE SKYCITY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE. THE TWO WATERPROOFING COMPANIES, MPM AND JEL, BOTH DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE. ZANE SMALL JOINS US LIVE OUTSIDE SKYCITY IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND. ZANE, WHEN WILL THIS ALL KICK OFF? NOT UNTIL JUNE NEXT YEAR. THESE CORE DOCUMENTS SHOWED THAT'S WHEN THE 14 WEEK TRIAL WILL BEGIN AT THE AUCKLAND HIGH COURT. THESE DOCUMENTS ALSO SHOW THAT FLETCHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HAS LISTED MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN LOSSES FROM THAT FIRE. THIS ALL GOES BACK TO 2015 WHEN FLETCHER WAS CONTRACTED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE HERE AT SKY CITY. AND THE WATERPROOFING COMPANIES WERE SUBCONTRACTED TO DO ROOFING WORK. THESE DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT FLETCHER BLAMES THOSE TWO COMPANIES FOR THE FIRE THAT STARTED ON THE ROOF IN 2019. REMEMBER THE DAMAGE TO THE CONVENTION CENTRE WAS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT THE VENUE WAS ROLLED OUT FOR HOSTING THE APEC SUMMIT IN 2021. IT WILL LIKELY COME AFTER THE REOPENING OF THE REBUILT CONVENTION CENTRE EXPECTED TO OPEN EARLY NEXT YEAR. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING TRIAL. THANKS FOR THAT. THE HEAD OF HAWKE'S BAY'S CIVIL DEFENCE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS RESIGNED. IN A STATEMENT, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL SAID IAN MACDONALD FEELS THE TIMING IS RIGHT FOR A CHANGE FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY. HIS RESIGNATION COMES AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW RECOMMENDED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF HAWKE'S BAY CIVIL DEFENCE OVER ITS RESPONSE TO CYCLONE GABRIELLE, SAYING IT LACKED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ABOUT THE DANGER AND DAMAGE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. MCDONALD'S LAST DAY WILL BE THE 30TH OF AUGUST. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS CONTINUED HIS OFFENSIVE AGAINST HEALTH NEW ZEALAND, CALLING INTO QUESTION THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM'S FINANCIAL LITERACY. IT COMES A WEEK AFTER THE GOVERNMENT SACKED THE BOARD AND INSTALLED A COMMISSIONER ` AND AS LEAKED EMAILS REVEAL DOCTORS IN THE FAR NORTH ARE WORRIED PATIENTS WILL DIE BECAUSE OF STAFFING SHORTAGES AT DARGAVILLE HOSPITAL. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH JOINS US NOW FROM PARLIAMENT. JENNA, IS IT LIKELY WE COULD SEE MORE HEADS ROLL AT HEALTH NEW ZEALAND? EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE, WAS THE LINE WE GOT ON THAT ONE. TYPICALLY IS NOT THE JOB OF THE GOVERNMENT TO HIRE AND FIRE THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AT HEALTH NEW ZEALAND; THAT IS UP TO THE BOARD. BUT THEY SACKED THE BOARD LAST WEEK SO NOW IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSIONER. THAT LINE SHOULD BE READ AS A SIGNAL AS TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THE COMMISSIONER TO CONSIDER ` ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING TO TURN THIS ORGANISATION AROUND. CHRISTOPHER LUXON AND NICOLA WILLIS WERE ABSOLUTELY SKATING ABOUT THE STATE OF HEALTH NEW ZEALAND, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT CAME TO ITS FINANCIAL RECORDS. THEY SAID IT HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDING FINANCIAL REPORTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS LIKE USED TO HAPPEN UNDER THE DHB SYSTEMS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO DO IT BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM` THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM WAS NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT WAS NEEDED. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE APPOINTED A COMMISSIONER SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE WITH TREMENDOUS SPEED AND JEALOUSY. WE DON'T WANT THEM MUCKING AROUND WITH BOARD MEETINGS. THEY CAN DECIDE TODAY TO DO SOMETHING TOMORROW. LABOUR IS ARGUING THAT THIS IS ALL THE MANUFACTURED CRISIS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO JUSTIFY WHAT IT SAYS ARE CUTS TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM. THE PRIME MINISTER DOES HAVE A WEAK SPOT ON THIS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT 14 LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY THAT HE ARGUED EXISTED IN JUSTIFICATION FOR PUTTING ON A COMMISSIONER LAST WEEK. HE SCREAMED THAT NUMBER 14 FROM THE ROOFTOPS BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ORGANISATIONAL CHART THAT SHOWS THE 14 LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT EXCEPT THAT HE TRUSTED WHAT HIS HEALTH MINISTER HAD TOLD HIM. THE PRIME MINISTERS RIGHT; THE HEALTH SYSTEM ALWAYS NEEDS MORE MONEY. BUT WE HAVE A HOSPITAL TODAY THAT IS LOOKING AT NOT HAVING A DOCTOR THERE OVERNIGHT. THAT IS AN UNSUSTAINABLE SITUATION, AND THE PRIME MR DID NOT HAVE ANY ANSWERS ON WHEN THAT MIGHT CHANGE. WELL, THE WAIT FOR A NEW ZEALAND MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS CONTINUES, WITH SWIMMER LEWIS CLAREBURT FINISHING SIXTH IN THE FINAL OF THE 400M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY THIS MORNING. TRIATHLETE HAYDEN WILDE HAS A CHANCE TO BREAK THE DUCK TOMORROW NIGHT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER THE SWIMMING LEG OF THE RACE CAN GO AHEAD. IMOGEN WELLS JOINS US FROM PARIS. IMOGEN, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT MUCK GOT WASHED INTO THE RIVER? WELL, THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS HAVE REIGNITED CONCERNS ABOUT THE WATER QUALITY IN THE RIVER SEINE, A PRACTICE WHEN THAT WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN YESTERDAY HAD TO BE CANCELLED BECAUSE THE QUALITY WAS TOO POOR. ALTHOUGH, WHEN I SPOKE TO HAYDEN WILDE AND HIS TEAM, ALTHOUGH, WHEN I SPOKE TO HAYDEN WILDE AND HIS TEAM, THEY ARE UNFAZED BY THIS WATER QUALITY CHAT AND JUST WANT THE RACE TO GO AHEAD AS PLANNED TOMORROW. SWIMMING IN THE RIVER SEINE WAS BANNED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, BUT WHEN PARIS WAS NAMED THE HOST OF THE 2024 OLYMPICS, OFFICIALS UNDERTOOK A BILLION-DOLLAR CLEAN-UP. NOW OUR GOAL IS TO PREVENT ANY POLLUTION COMING FROM THE SEWAGE SYSTEM DIRECTLY IN THE SEINE. LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR OF PARIS EVEN TOOK A DIP TO QUELL CONCERNS ABOUT WATER QUALITY. BUT FRESH RAIN COULD DRIVE UP E. COLI LEVELS, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE RIVER IS SAFE TO HOST TOMORROW'S MEN'S TRIATHLON. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT RIVER AND ITS WATER QUALITY? HONESTLY, LIKE, THEY'VE PUT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S LOOKING GOOD. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO GET IN THERE AND SWIM. WE SWAM IN THERE LAST YEAR, AND I DIDN'T GET SICK AT ALL. IF THE WATER QUALITY IS DEEMED UNSAFE, THE TRIATHLON COULD BE REDUCED TO A DUATHLON. I'M REALLY CONFIDENT WE'LL GET IN THE WATER FOR SURE, AND I REALLY WANT IT TO GET IN THE WATER, BECAUSE I'VE JUST PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO THE SWIM. SO, UM... YEAH, IT SHOULD BE GOOD, AND JUST, YEAH, LOOKING FORWARD TO RACING AND, UH, GETTING THE SILVER FERN BACK ON THE CHEST AND HOPEFULLY BRING ONE HOME FOR THE TEAM. THE 26-YEAR-OLD FROM TAUPO PICKED UP A BRONZE AT THE TOKYO GAMES. THIS TIME, HE'S AIMING HIGHER. YEAH, WHAT COLOUR'S THAT ONE GONNA BE? OH, YOU AIM FOR GOLD, DON'T YOU? (LAUGHS) HE'LL BE LINING UP TOMORROW ALONGSIDE AUCKLANDER DYLAN MCCULLOCH (23), WHO WAS NAMED IN A FOUR-STRONG NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR TRIATHLON'S MIXED RELAY AND INDIVIDUAL RACES. THIS IS MY FIRST GAME, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SOAK IT UP AND, YEAH, THIS IS MY FIRST GAMES, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SOAK IT UP AND, YEAH, DO MY BEST. YEAH. CAN YOU QUITE BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE? UH, NOT REALLY. IT KIND OF SUNK IN WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING ALL THE KIT ON AND STUFF. NICOLE VAN DER KAAY AND AINSLEY THORPE WILL GET THEIR CHANCE TO DIVE INTO THE SEINE THE FOLLOWING MORNING FOR THE WOMEN'S COMPETITION. HOW ARE WE FEELING ABOUT SWIMMING IN THAT RIVER? YEAH, THAT ONE QUESTION. (CHUCKLES) UM, YEAH. NO, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE SWIMMING IN THE SEINE. I MEAN, WE SWAM IN A LOT WORSE PLACES, I THINK, SO IT'S ACTUALLY NOT LOOKING TOO BAD AT THE MOMENT. LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, BUT HOPEFULLY IN A FEW DAYS, IT FLOWS BY QUICKLY, AND IT'LL BE GOOD FOR TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY. RAIN CLOUDS CLEARLY NOT PUTTING A DAMPENER ON THIS TEAM'S DREAM OF COMPETING IN THE SEINE. SO, FINGERS CROSSED THOSE WATER QUALITY TESTS COME BACK OK. LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS OF THE GAMES, SIMONE BILES. SHE'S BACK AFTER PULLING OUT AT TOKYO, NOT JUST BRINGING THE GLAM HERSELF BUT SOME HOLLYWOOD GLITZ TOO. LLOYD, THE GOAT IS BACK. SIMONE BILES PUT ON A STELLAR PERFORMANCE. TOP OF THE PACK ON HER FIRST DAY OF COMPETITION AND THAT WAS WITH THE CALF NIGGLE AS WELL. THE LIKES OF TOM CRUISE, Ari UNDERGROUND, LADY GAGA, SNOOP DOGG WERE THERE IN THE STANDS. SIMONE DOESN'T COMPETE AGAIN UNTIL THE WOMEN'S TEAM FINAL WHICH IS LOOKING PRETTY GOLDEN ALREADY FOR TEAM USA. AND A COMMENTATOR HAS BEEN SACKED. WHY? YEAH, EUROSPORT COMMENTATOR BOB BALLARD HAS LOST HIS JOB AFTER MAKING A BIZARRE COMMENT ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S FREESTYLE TEAM. AS THE WOMEN WERE LEAVING THE POOL, HE SAID, ' TWO WOMEN JUST FINISHING UP, YOU KNOW WHAT WOMEN ARE LIKE, ' HANGING AROUND DOING THEIR MAKE UP.' IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE OUTRAGE WAS SWIFT AND LARGE. EUROSPORT HAVE SACKED ON THE SPOT AND WE ARE YET TO HEAR FROM BALLARD SINCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. MARTIN PHILLIPPS, FRONTMAN OF THE CHILLS, HAS DIED. PHILLIPPS WAS CONSIDERED A GODFATHER OF THE ICONIC DUNEDIN SOUND, WITH HIS SONGS AND ALBUMS TOPPING THE CHARTS IN THE '80S AND EARLY '90S. BUT AWAY FROM THE STAGE, HE LED A TROUBLED LIFE MARRED BY ILL HEALTH AND MISFORTUNE, WHICH CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE MYTHICAL CHILLS CURSE. (ORGAN MUSIC BUILDS) MARTIN PHILLIPPS WENT TO HELL AND BACK FOR HIS MUSIC, BUT THE SONGS HE'S LEFT BEHIND COULD ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS HEAVENLY. # IT'S A HEAVENLY POP HIT IF ANYONE WANTS IT. FOUNDED IN 1980, THE CHILLS EMERGED AS ONE OF THE FLAGBEARERS OF THE DUNEDIN SOUND, WITH SONGS LIKE 'KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD'... # ...LOVING MY KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD. ...AND 'PINK FROST' CONSIDERED CLASSICS OF THE FLYING NUN CATALOGUE. # THE THOUGHT FILLS MY HEART WITH PINK FROST. BY THE END OF THE DECADE, THE CHILLS HAD DEVELOPED A FOLLOWING OVERSEAS, SIGNING WITH WARNER BROTHERS SUBSIDIARY SLASH RECORDS IN 1988. THEIR FIRST ALBUM WITH THE LABEL, 1990'S 'SUBMARINE BELLS', WAS ALSO THEIR BIGGEST, HITTING NUMBER ONE IN NEW ZEALAND WITH SINGLE 'HEAVENLY POP HIT' CHARTING HERE AND OVERSEAS. BUT WITH THE CHILLS, DISASTER WAS NEVER FAR AWAY. A TOUR OF THE U.S. COLLAPSED, WITH MARTIN RETURNING HOME TO LIVE WITH HIS PARENTS IN DUNEDIN, BROKE AND BANDLESS. THE CHILLS KIND OF DISINTEGRATED IN A BALL OF FLAMES ` LARGELY FINANCIAL. AND I STILL OWE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF, THE PRICE OF A SMALL DUNEDIN HOUSE. OVER FOUR DECADES, THE CHILLS HAD AROUND 30 MEMBERS, WITH PHILLIPPS THE ONLY CONSTANT. A 2019 DOCUMENTARY, 'THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF MARTIN PHILLIPPS', EXPLORED THE DIFFICULTIES HE HAD WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE... YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WERE NEEDED OR WHETHER YOU WERE EXPENDABLE. I FELT LIKE I WASN'T VALUED AND I HAD NOTHING TO OFFER. ...AND HIS BATTLES WITH ADDICTION, DEPRESSION AND BAD HEALTH. 80% OF YOUR LIVER IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. YOU'VE GOT A 31% CHANCE OF DYING WITHIN SIX TO 12 MONTHS. BUT DESPITE THE SETBACKS, PHILLIPPS AND THE CHILLS KEPT COMING BACK. IT STILL MAKES ME VERY HAPPY GETTING UP AND DOING A GOOD CONCERT LIKE THIS ONE, CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE. AND I'VE STILL GOT LOTS OF IDEAS ABOUT THINGS I WANT TO DO. APPEARING AT THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 2019... AND RELEASING THEIR LAST ALBUM, SCATTERBRAIN, IN 2021. AND IN ONE OF HIS LAST INTERVIEWS, PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, HE SAID MORE MUSIC WAS ON THE WAY. THE CHILLS POSTED ON X LAST NIGHT... HE WAS 61. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. AND THERE'S A BIG WINTER STORM ON THE WAY, HEATHER? YEAH, A VERY ACTIVE WEEK. YOU CAN SEE THE LOWER SOUTH IS SITTING UNDER A SOUTHERLY FLOW. IT'S COLD AIR, FLOWING NORTH, AND JOINING IN WITH CLOCKWISE SPIN OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OUT OVER THE TASMAN. THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS UNDER A NORTH-WESTERLY FLOW, WHICH IS MUCH WARMER AND HOLDS A LOT OF MOISTURE. WHEN THE NORWESTER MEETS THE SOUTHERLY, IT RIDES OVER THE TOP OF IT. IT'S CALLED OVER-RUNNING, AND IT'S THE REASON WE HAVE PROLONGED AND HEAVY SNOW FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, ENHANCED BY THE OROGRAPHIC INFLUENCE OF THE ALPS. OVER 33 HOURS OF IT, AND DOWN TO 200M. NOW, THE SNOW IS JUST ONE PART OF IT; WE ALSO HAVE HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. AND I'LL BE BACK WITH THE DETAILS ON THESE WARNINGS AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` ISRAEL HAS HIT BACK AT HEZBOLLAH AFTER THE DEADLY STRIKE ON THE GOLAN HEIGHTS AMID FEARS THE WAR IS ABOUT TO SPREAD. WRACKED BY UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, VENEZUELA GOES TO THE POLLS, WITH ITS STRONGMAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO FACING HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET. AND LATER ` THE ACTOR WHO READ A SCRIPT PREPARED BY POLICE TO HELP CATCH HER ABUSER. WELCOME BACK. ISRAEL HAS BLAMED HEZBOLLAH FOR YESTERDAY'S DEADLY ROCKET STRIKE IN THE ISRAELI-OCCUPIED GOLAN HEIGHTS, SAYING IT WILL PAY 'A HEAVY PRICE'. BUT THE IRANIAN-BACKED GROUP DENIES INVOLVEMENT. THE STRIKE KILLED 12 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE MAJDAL SHAMS; IN RETALIATION, THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT'S ATTACKED SEVEN HEZBOLLAH TARGETS DEEP INSIDE LEBANON, TO THE NORTH. ITV'S ELLIE PITT REPORTS. (CROWDS SINGING) (CROWDS SING) BENEATH THE WHITE SHROUDS ARE THE BODIES OF CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS. AS THEIR FUNERALS WERE HELD TODAY, THE WEIGHT OF THIS WAR WAS FELT IN NORTHERN ISRAELI-OCCUPIED TERRITORY. THE 12 10- TO 20-YEAR-OLDS WERE KILLED BY A ROCKET AS THEY PLAYED FOOTBALL. LEBANESE MILITANT GROUP HEZBOLLAH DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STRIKE, BUT ISRAEL AND ITS ALLIES DON'T ACCEPT THAT. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR TERRORISM, PERIOD. AND EVERY INDICATION IS THAT INDEED THE ROCKETS WERE FROM` OR THE ROCKET WAS FROM HEZBOLLAH. WE STAND BY ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITS CITIZENS FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS. THIS MORNING, THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE POSTED THIS FOOTAGE OF ITS OWN STRIKES AND CLAIMED THEY HIT WEAPONS STORAGE FACILITIES DEEP INSIDE LEBANON. HEZBOLLAH CLAIMED THIS AFTERNOON TO HAVE TARGETED A POSITION OF ISRAELI ENEMY SOLDIERS IN AL MANARA SETTLEMENT, OF ISRAELI ENEMY SOLDIERS IN AL-MANARA SETTLEMENT, ACHIEVING DIRECT HITS, RESULTING IN ITS BURNING AND CAUSING INJURIES AMONG THOSE INSIDE. (SPEAKS HEBREW) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS WARNED HEZBOLLAH IT WILL PAY A HEAVY PRICE FOR THE ATTACK ON THE FOOTBALL PITCH. AND AFTER A MEETING OF HIS SECURITY CABINET, THERE ARE REPORTS TONIGHT THAT HE HAS DELAYED 150 SICK CHILDREN FROM LEAVING GAZA FOR TREATMENT IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. WHETHER IN THE NORTH OR SOUTH, ON EITHER SIDE, ONCE AGAIN, IT IS CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING USED AS PAWNS BY ADULTS IN THIS WAR. IN THE PAST HOUR, NICOLAS MADURO ` VENEZUELA'S STRONGMAN PRESIDENT ` HAS BEEN DECLARED WINNER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE RESULT, ANNOUNCED BY A CLOSE ALLY OF MADURO'S, IS WILDLY AT ODDS WITH PRE-ELECTION POLLING THAT SHOWED HIM HEADING FOR A HEAVY LOSS. BUT THE OPPOSITION SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO DECLARE A WINNER AND ARE VOWING TO APPEAL IF THE RESULT STAYS THE SAME. CHANNEL 4'S JANE DODGE REPORTS. HE WEARS HIS COUNTRY'S FLAG CLOSE TO HIS HEART, CALLS HIMSELF A REVOLUTIONARY AND IS THE HOUDINI OF SOUTH AMERICAN POLITICS. HE'S SURVIVED U.S. SANCTIONS, MASS PROTESTS, A COLLAPSING ECONOMY AND AN EXODUS OF A QUARTER OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION. BUT IS THIS THE LAST DANCE FOR NICOLAS MADURO? HE SAYS HE'LL RESPECT THE OUTCOME OF TODAY'S ELECTION, BUT JUST FIVE DAYS AGO, HE WAS SAYING SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT. (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: IF THE EXTREMIST RIGHT WERE TO COME TO POWER IN VENEZUELA, WE WOULD HAVE A BLOODBATH. SO WHO'S HE TALKING ABOUT? MARIA CORINA MACHADO IS THE OPPOSITION LEADER MANY VENEZUELANS WANT TO VOTE FOR BUT CAN'T. SHE WON MORE THAN 2 MILLION VOTES IN A PRIMARY ORGANISED BY A COALITION OF OPPOSITION PARTIES LAST OCTOBER. BUT NOW SHE'S BEEN BANNED FROM STANDING BY THE SUPREME COURT PACKED WITH MADURO LOYALISTS. UNDETERRED, SHE'S BACKING HER STAND-IN ` FORMER DIPLOMAT EDMUNDO GONZALEZ. (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: THEY MAY ILLEGALLY HAVE RESOURCES. THEY MAY HAVE CONTROL OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL, THEY MAY HAVE CONTROL OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE. BUT WE HAVE THE LOVE, SUPPORT AND ENTHUSIASM OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF VENEZUELANS WHO WANT A PEACEFUL CHANGE. IN 2013, THE THEN-PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ PASSED THE BATON TO MADURO AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. HIS SUCCESSOR PROMISED TO CONTINUE THE SOCIALIST REVOLUTION, LIFTING PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, BUT THAT PROMISE IS WELL AND TRULY BROKEN. ASK SOME OF THE MILLIONS WHO'VE LEFT VENEZUELA SEEKING A BETTER LIFE IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES LIKE MEXICO. (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: LET THE REVOLUTION DIE AND LET MY COUNTRY, VENEZUELA, BE FREED FROM CHAVEZ, FROM MADURO. VENEZUELA WILL BE BETTER AGAIN. WE WILL BE AT PEACE. VENEZUELA WILL BE LIBERATED. GOD WILL LIBERATE IT. IF MADURO DOES LOSE, ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE MILITARY. HE AND CHAVEZ BEFORE HIM SECURED THEIR LOYALTY BY PROMOTIONS AND CONTROVERSIAL FINANCIAL REWARDS. TENSIONS ARE ALREADY HIGH IN THE CAPITAL, CARACAS. THERE WERE SCUFFLES OUTSIDE ONE POLLING STATION. A WOMAN WEPT AS SHE CAST HER VOTE; SHE SAID SHE'D BEEN THREATENED AND ATTACKED. A REMINDER THAT EXERCISING A BASIC DEMOCRATIC RIGHT IN VENEZUELA COMES WITH ITS OWN RISKS. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` A CELEBRATED KIWI ACTOR CONFRONTS HER ABUSER THANKS TO A SCRIPT WRITTEN FOR HER BY POLICE. PLUS ` WE MEET A 15-YEAR-OLD WHO SAW A GAP IN THE FITNESS MARKET AND FILLED IT. AND IN SPORT, OUR SWIMMERS ARE BACK IN ACTION IN PARIS. IT'S A REALLY GOOD VIBE, EVEN COS WE, LIKE, ALL KNOW EACH OTHER NOW, AND IT'S VERY GOOD` VERY GOOD BOND, LIKE BROTHERS AND SISTERS. YEAH, IT'S REALLY GOOD. IT'S BEEN HELPING ME ALONG MY FITNESS JOURNEY. SO, MY LONG-TERM GOAL WOULD BE FOR FIT TEENS TO HAVE THEIR OWN CENTRE, THEIR OWN FITNESS AND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING CENTRE. THOUGH IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS FOR FIT TEENS, THEY'VE SEEN A NEED AND HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE. HEATHER'S BACK WITH DETAILS ON THE WINTER STORM ` WHICH IS JUST STARTING TO RAMP UP? THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WILL BE EVENTFUL. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE SOUTH ISLAND; THE NORTH GETS A TASTE TOO, WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN THERE LATER IN THE WEEK. BUT FOR NOW, THIS IS WHERE THE FOCUS LIES. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AND INTO THE NORTH, WITH MOST OF IT EASING BY MIDNIGHT TOMORROW. BUT THE SNOW LASTS A LITTLE LONGER, AND A SIGNIFICANT AREA WILL BE HIT. NOT QUITE DOWN TO SEA LEVEL, BUT CLOSE, GETTING DOWN TO 200M, WITH DRIVING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ON THOSE HIGH PASSES. AND THEN THERE'S THE WIND ` GALE EASTERLIES WITH 120 K GUSTS. MORE DETAILS NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. IT IS WET, WINDY, SNOWY, COLD. A REAL WINTER STORM IS UPON US. LOW PRESSURE OVER RUNNING IS RESPONSIBLE, WITH THE MAIN BODY OF THE SYSTEM HANGING OVER THE TASMAN FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT MOVES EAST AND SHOULD BE CLEAR OF EAST CAPE BY LATE MORNING. ANOTHER FRONT HEADS NORTHEAST OVER THE SOUTH AND REACHES WELLINGTON BY TOMORROW NIGHT , AND A WARM NORTHERLY FLOW SITS OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. BUT A STRONG COLD SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW AFFECTS THE SOUTH ISLAND. SO, THERE IS VERY LITTLE PART OF THE SOUTH UNAFFECTED. HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT ALL OVER THE SHOW, WITH THUNDERSTORMS FOR WESTLAND AND BULLER. SNOW TO 300M IN THE LOWER SOUTH WHICH LOWERS TO 200M TOMORROW. RAIN EASES BY THE AFTERNOON OUT WEST, BUT STILL PLENTY GOING ON OVER THE ALPS AND OUT EAST, WITH STRONG COLD SOU'EASTERS. FOR THE NORTH, PLENTY OF RAIN FED BY THAT WARM NORTHERLY FLOW, AND A VERY BROAD FRONT. ONLY SCATTERED, LIGHT RAIN REACHES GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY TONIGHT, BUT IT CLEARS IN THE MORNING. THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF SHOWERS ELSEWHERE TOMORROW, SOME HEAVY UNTIL THE AFTERNOON FOR PARTS OF BAY OF PLENTY, WITH NORTHERLIES FOR MOST. BUT COLD AND STRENGTHENING SOUTHERLIES IN THE SOUTH. SO, THE NORTH ARE IN A BETTER POSITION, WITH JUST OCCASIONAL SHOWERS ACROSS THE DAY. CERTAINLY NOT COLD, THANKS IN PART TO THE NORTHERLY. BUT HEAVY AND THUNDERY RAIN HITS NORTHLAND TOMORROW NIGHT. OCCASIONAL RAIN HERE TOO, SOMETIMES HEAVY, WITH NORTHERLIES ALL DAY, EASING TOMORROW NIGHT. RELATIVELY UNSCATHED OUT EAST ` RAIN CLEARS EARLY, THEN PLENTY OF SUN, BUT A FEW AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS FROM NAPIER SOUTH WITH NORTH TO NOR'WESTERS. RAIN EVERYWHERE ELSE, EASING TO SHOWERS. SOME OF THOSE SHOWERS WILL BE HEAVY. THUNDERSTORMS EVEN POSSIBLE TOMORROW NIGHT FOR TARANAKI. WINDS END UP FROM THE SOUTH OR SOU'EAST. PLENTY OF SHOWERS HERE WITH HEAVY RAIN AT TIMES. THUNDERSTORMS FOR WESTPORT. FINE BREAKS INCREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON, WITH NORTHERLIES TURNING EAST TO SOU'EAST EARLY MORNING. RAIN EVERYWHERE OUT EAST. IT BECOMES PERSISTENT ACROSS THE DAY, FALLING AS SNOW TO 600M FOR CHRISTCHURCH. WINDS SHIFT, ENDING UP FROM THE SOUTH, AND WILL BE STRONG. AND RAIN CONTINUES FOR THE LOWER SOUTH TOO BUT STARTS TO EASE FROM THE MORNING, AND FROM THE SOUTH. STRONG SOUTH TO SOU'EAST WINDS, THOUGH, FOR THE DAY. SO, DUNEDIN, YOU START WITH RAIN. HEAVY FALLS IN THE MORNING AND SNOW TO 400M. IT EASES IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH A STRONG SOU'EASTERLY. RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE MORNING FOR CHRISTCHURCH, SNOW TO 600M WITH WESTERLIES. THAT WIND TURNS SOUTHERLY BEFORE MIDDAY AND STRENGTHENS. RAIN DEVELOPS TONIGHT FOR WELLINGTON AND EASES TO SHOWERS TOMORROW AFTERNOON. NORTHERLIES WIL TURN SOUTHERLY ALSO IN THE AFTERNOON AND WILL BE A LITTLE FRESH. ONE OF THE MORE DRYER SPOTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WITH SCATTERED RAIN CLEARING HAWKE'S BAY IN THE MORNING, LEAVING JUST ISOLATED EVENING SHOWERS WITH A NORTHERLY. RAIN DEVELOPS TONIGHT FOR YOU, TAURANGA. COULD BE HEAVY. TOMORROW WILL BE SLIGHTLY BETTER, WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS. BUT AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE WILL BE HEAVY WITH A NORTHERLY. RAIN RAMPS UP TONIGHT AROUND HAMILTON, WITH HEAVY FALLS AND NORTHERLIES. THAT'S THE SAME FOR TOMORROW ` OCCASIONAL SHOWERS, SOME HEAVY WITH NORTHERLIES. RAIN DEVELOPS TONIGHT FOR AUCKLAND AND WILL BRIEFLY BE HEAVY. TOMORROW IS BETTER, WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND NORTHERLIES. OZ IS LOOKING BETTER, BUT A COLD SOUTHERLY FLOW FLICKS SHOWERS ON TO SYDNEY. AND HEAVY AND DAMAGING SOUTHERLY SWELLS ARE SET TO IMPACT THE SOUTHERN COOK ISLANDS AND NIUE. BACK HOME ` AND IT'S AN EVENTFUL WEEK. THERE WILL BE LOADS MORE SHOWERS SET TO HIT THE NORTH, WITH THE RAIN EXTENDING TO WAIRARAPA AND HAWKE'S BAY FROM WEDNESDAY AND GISBORNE ON THURSDAY. THERE'S ALSO STRONG SOU'EASTERLIES FOR THE SOUTH, EASING FOR WELLINGTON LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THEN THERE'S THE SOUTH ISLAND . WEDNESDAY IS STILL A WRITE-OFF, WITH RAIN IN THE EAST AND SNOW TO 400M. BUT IT WILL BE FINE IN THE WEST, SOUTH OF BULLER, AND FINE IN THE SOUTH, WITH TEMPERATURES PLUMMETING AND WITH THAT THE RISK OF BLACK ICE. SO, PLENTY OF WEATHER YET TO PLAY OUT ` SNOW, GALES, HEAVY RAIN ` BUT MORE SETTLED BY FRIDAY THANKS TO THE RETURN OF HIGH PRESSURE. EARLIER, WE ASKED YOU IF YOU WOULD SWIM IN THE RIVER SEINE IN PARIS, WHERE THE OLYMPIC TRIATHLETES ARE SET TO COMPETE. AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF YOU SAY NO ` 82%, IN FACT. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY EMAILING NEWSROOM@STUFF.CO.NZ OR HEAD TO THE STUFF WEBSITE. I'M LLOYD BURR. PO MARIE. THE TEAM WILL BE WITH YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. GOOD NIGHT. CAPTIONS BY ALEX WALKER AND ANNA HALL-TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.