TONIGHT, POLICE FIND HUMAN REMAINS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR REAL ESTATE AGENT YANFEI BAO. WHY THEY RETURNED TO THIS AREA OF RURAL FARMLAND ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CHRISTCHURCH, AND WHAT EXACTLY THEY DISCOVERED? water level here has been deemed to Lotus women CAPTIONS BY LELE SIMEON, KATE HARRIS AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024. TENA TATOU KATOA I TENEI PO ` GOOD EVENING. POLICE ARE CONFIDENT HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN A SHALLOW GRAVE IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF CHRISTCHURCH ARE THAT OF MISSING WOMAN YANFEI BAO. FOLLOWING A TIP, POLICE MADE THE DISCOVERY WHILE COMBING A PRIVATE FARM IN THE SUBURB OF GREENPARK, 6KM NORTH OF LAKE ELLESMERE. THE MOTHER AND REAL-ESTATE AGENT HAD BEEN MISSING FOR A YEAR AND 10 DAYS. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF OF SEARCHING THIS FARM ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CHRISTCHURCH TODAY, THEY EMERGED WITH A BREAKTHROUGH, DISCOVERING A SHALLOW GRAVE WITH HUMAN REMAINS THOUGHT TO BE YANFEI BAO. IT'S NOT CONFIRMED, BUT I'M COMFORTABLE THAT IT IS HER. THE WIFE AND MOTHER TO A YOUNG DAUGHTER WENT MISSING MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. HER FAMILY HERE AND IN CHINA HAVE BEEN LEFT SEEKING ANSWERS. THEY ARE IN SHOCK. THEY'RE UPSET. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO SETTLE IN. THE CHRISTCHURCH REAL-ESTATE AGENT WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE AT THIS HOUSE FOR SALE IN THE SUBURB OF WIGRAM. POLICE SEARCHED WATERWAYS, GATHERED CCTV FOOTAGE AND TRACKED VEHICLES, BUT IT ALWAYS LED BACK TO ONE PLACE. WE CERTAINLY THINK THAT THAT GREENPARK AREA IS THE MOST RELEVANT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT SEARCH AREA FOR US. THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE AGAIN TODAY. NESTLED BETWEEN LINCOLN AND LAKE ELLESMERE, THE SEARCH AREA'S ABOUT 30 MINUTES SOUTH OF CHRISTCHURCH. TODAY, MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AFTER A TIP-OFF FROM SIX WEEKS AGO. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE UNABLE TO SHARE WHAT THAT NEW INFORMATION IS THAT HAS LED US TO THE SEARCH, FOR OPERATIONAL REASONS. POLICE HAD SEARCHED THE FARM BEFORE. THERE'S NO OBVIOUS DISTURBANCE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD'VE BEEN AN OBVIOUS DISTURBANCE AT THE TIME EITHER. I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY COVERED UP. TONIGHT THE SCENE IS UNDER POLICE GUARD ` THE INVESTIGATION STILL NOT OVER. SO, RYAN, WHAT COMES NEXT? THIS TODAY THE BODY WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCENE THE POST MORTEM EXAMINATION COULD TAKE SOME DAYS PLEASE LOOKING FOR MORE EVIDENCE TO BUILD AGAINST THE MAN TIN JANG CARL THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE FINAL PIECE IN THE PUZZLE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR BUT HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE MEN'S TRIATHLON, THE EVENT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT WATER QUALITY IN THE SEINE. OUR OLYMPICS REPORTER GUY HEVELDT IS IN PARIS. GUY, ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US? . WHAT A SHAMBLES THIS TURNED OUT TO BE AT 330 THIS MORNING EVERYONE WAS SOUND ASLEEP, WATER LEVEL QUALITIES WERE TOO LOW HAYDEN WILDE AND DYLAN MCCULLOCH SLEPT IN TILL 5 AM THEY FOUND OUT AND THEN WENT BACK TO SLEEP THE TESTS CARRIED OUT IN THE SEINE TODAY DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT GUARANTEES FOR THE EVENT TO GO AHEAD 48-HOUR IS EITHER SIDE OF THE CEREMONY THE TEST WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 24-HOUR IS AGO , WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM HERE THE RACE WILL GO AHEAD AT 1045 IN THE MORNING IF THAT IS POSTPONED, SATURDAY MORNING PARIS TIME WILL BE THE NEXT THEY HAVE DEVISED A RACE PLAN SO WE WILL WAIT AND SEE THANKS. THE HEALTH MINISTER INSISTS TE WHATU ORA IS WORKING TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THERE'S A DOCTOR AVAILABLE TO WORK IN DARGAVILLE'S HOSPITAL. BUT THE MINISTER'S DOUBLING DOWN ON HIS CLAIMS AROUND LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT AT TE WHATU ORA, EVEN THOUGH HIS CRITICS SAY IT'S SIMPLY FARCICAL. AFTER DOCTORS AND NURSES BLEW THE WHISTLE ON DARGAVILLE HOSPITAL NOT REGULARLY HAVING A DOCTOR ON DUTY, TODAY THE HEALTH MINISTER RESPONDED. IT'S NEVER GOOD TO NOT HAVE A DOCTOR IN A HOSPITAL ` THAT'S REALITY. YOU WANT THE BEST EXPERTISE YOU CAN HAVE WHEN YOU TURN UP TO AN E.D. AND TO A HOSPITAL. YOU'RE THE MINISTER NOW ` WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT YOU'VE SEEN HEALTH NZ DO IS LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STAFF UP. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET DOCTORS INTO DARGAVILLE HOSPITAL? LOOK, THAT'S WHAT HEALTH NZ'S WORKING ON. TRYING TO PLUG GAPS IN A HEALTH SYSTEM THE GOVERNMENT ADMITS IS IN CRISIS. WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING GOING FROM DEVELOPING TALENT IN NZ TO MAKING IT EASIER FOR MIGRANTS TO COME TO NZ TO WORK AS DOCTORS AND NURSES. BUT RECRUITERS SAY THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FRONT UP WITH MONEY. AT THIS STAGE, THE FREEZE HASN'T IMPACTED ON OUR PROCESS SO MUCH ` JUST ABSOLUTELY AWARE THAT BUDGETS ARE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. WE JUST HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT REALISES THAT MENTAL HEALTH AND RURAL HEALTH NEED THE INJECTION OF MONEY TO HELP WITH STAFFING. MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT'S BEING MOCKED FOR CLAIMING THERE ARE 14 LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT AT TE WHATU ORA. THE ADVICE I'VE RECEIVED IS THERE ARE 14 LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT. I WOULD JUST SAY TO YOU WHAT'S BEING COUNTED WE CAN DEBATE. THAT LIST OF 14 LAYERS INCLUDES THE BOARD, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THEIR CHIEF OF STAFF, OTHER MANAGERS, DOCTORS AND NURSES. EVEN THE PATIENT IS COUNTED AS MANAGEMENT. THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW PATIENTS ARE A LAYER OF MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTELY FARCICAL. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MAKING THE PRIME MINISTER LOOK LIKE A TURKEY WHEN YOU ARE TELLING PEOPLE THAT PATIENTS ARE MANAGERS? NO, NOT AT ALL. WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE'RE RECONNECTING WITH THE FRONT LINE, AND THE FRONT LINE HAS TOLD US THERE ARE MORE LAYERS UNDER THE HEALTH REFORMS. ARE DOCTORS AND NURSES TELLING YOU THAT PATIENTS ARE MANAGERS? NO, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THERE ARE MORE LAYERS BETWEEN THEM AND DECISION-MAKERS. THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO GET RECRUITMENT... THIS IS SILLY STUFF, ISN'T IT? IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT THE FRONTLINE ARE SAYING THEY CAN'T GET CLOSE TO DECISION-MAKERS. DR RETI CLEARLY NOT BACKING DOWN ON HIS DUBIOUS CLAIM. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. THERE MAY BE A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS IN YOUR PAYSLIP THIS WEEK. AROUND 3.5 MILLION KIWIS WILL RECEIVE A TAX CUT FROM TOMORROW. STARTING AT $12.50 A WEEK DEPENDING ON VARIOUS ENTITLEMENTS. THIS COMES AS HOME OWNERS HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO SAVE WHERE THEY CAN BY MAKING THE MOST OF THE CURRENT COMPETITION BETWEEN LENDERS WITH 26% OF MORTGAGE HOLDERS SWITCHING BANKS IN JUNE AS THEY HUNTED FOR BETTER INTEREST RATES. AND THERE'S MORE CHANGES THAT MIGHT COULD AFFECT YOUR BACK POCKET. LENDING LAWS HAVE ALSO BEEN RELAXED. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD HAS MORE. A GLOOMY WELLINGTON DAY FOR MPs ROCKING UP TO WORK. FOR SOME, THE DAY BRIGHTENED BY THE PROSPECT OF TAXPAYER-FUNDED TAX CUTS. BUY A COFFEE, AND I'M GOING TO DONATE SOME TO CHARITY AS WELL. IT'S GOING TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. COME TO SOUTH AUCKLAND, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT'LL MAKE. THEY'RE LOSING MORE OUT OF THIS THAN THEY ARE GAINING. THE COST OF LIVING IS STILL INCREASING. I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE TO KIWIS. I DON'T IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP PENSIONERS, SUPERANNUITANTS ` $2.50 A WEEK? I DON'T THINK SO. THREE, TWO, ONE, GO. WHILE CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM IS DANCING WITH JOY AS THE $14B TAX PACKAGE KICKS IN. MY WIFE AND I AND OUR FAMILY GIVE AWAY A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT SINCE WE STARTED OUT AS 20 YEAR OLDS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALWAYS DO, AND THAT'S WHERE MY TAX RELIEF WILL GO. I DON'T BELIEVE I NEED TAX CUTS. I THINK THAT NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE INVESTING THAT. 83% OF KIWIS WILL RECEIVE A TAX BREAK OF SOME SORT, BUT NATIONAL'S ALSO REINTRODUCED PRESCRIPTION CHARGES, SLASHED PUBLIC TRANSPORT DISCOUNTS AND AXED THE FIRST HOME BUYERS GRANT. SO OUT ON THE STREETS, VIEWS WERE MIXED. IT'LL JUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET. I THINK ANY TAX CUT'S A GOOD TAX CUT. I THINK IT'S GOING TO DESTROY THE ECONOMY. IT'S A STUPID IDEA THAT NEVER SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE. INTEREST RATE CUTS SHOULD ALSO HELP PEOPLE'S BUDGETS. WHOLESALE RATES ARE FALLING, LEADING TO A MORTGAGE WAR BETWEEN BANKS. DIFFERENT BANKS HAVE DIFFERENT APPETITES AT THE MOMENT. SO, MAKING SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST RATE. IF THERE'S A CASH CONTRIBUTION AVAILABLE, MAKING SURE THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. KIWIBANK'S ECONOMISTS THINK THE RESERVE BANK SHOULD CUT THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE IN AUGUST, BUT ANZ'S PREDICTING NOVEMBER, GIVING TIME TO SEE IF THE TAX CUTS ARE INFLATIONARY. AND WITH THOSE RATE CUTS INCHING CLOSER, MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO SIX MONTH OR ONE-YEAR LOAN TERMS. BECAUSE RATES ARE CHANGING SO FAST, MAKING SURE THEY AREN'T LOCKING IN TOO EARLY, SO THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY DECREASES BEFORE IT COMES UP. AND IF INTEREST RATES WERE TO COME DOWN SOON, CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS SURELY TO DANCE EVEN HARDER. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. IN THE PAST HOUR, A CONTROVERSIAL BILL TO RE-INSTATE BINDING REFERENDUMS ON MAORI WARDS HAS PASSED ITS THIRD AND FINAL READING IN PARLIAMENT. OUR MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI JOINS US NOW. WHAT DID MPs HAVE TO SAY IN THE HOUSE TODAY, TE ANIWA? THIS WAS A SHAMEFUL DAY, THE LEGISLATION WILL CATEGORICALLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST MAORI IT WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC A VOICE THEY WILL BE COMPELLED TO SCRAP THEM OR PUT THEM TO PUBLIC VOTE HIS WERE OTHER MPS HAD TO SAY WE ARE SICK OF IT. KIWI MAORI ARE SEEING WHAT YOU DO TO US. THIS BILL IS HEALING A DIVIDE THAT WAS CREATED IN THIS COUNTRY. A DIVIDE WHICH PUTS THE PROVISIONS OF RACE IN THE FIRST PLACE A LOT OF HEAT ON DISPLAY THERE THERE HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK FROM OPPOSITION ULTIMATELY COUNCILS WHO DO DECIDE TO HOLD A REFERENDUM, VAL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AT THE NEXT ELECTIONS THANKS. A WARNING NOW ` DETAILS IN OUR NEXT STORY MAY BE CONFRONTING FOR SOME VIEWERS. EMERGENCY STAFF HAVE BEEN DETAILING THE DAY THEY FOUND HEALTH BOSS PAULINE HANNA DEAD IN HER AUCKLAND HOME. HER HUSBAND IS ON TRIAL ACCUSED OF HER MURDER. PHILIP POLKINGHORNE DENIES KILLING HIS WIFE, BUT THE COURT HEARD TODAY POLICE HAD SUSPICIONS FROM EARLY ON. KIM BAKER WILSON REPORTS. STEP BY STEP, PIECE BY PIECE ` THE CROWN'S CONTINUED TO LAY OUT ITS CASE. AFTER YESTERDAY'S 111 CALL,... TODAY, WHAT PHILIP POLKINGHORNE THEN TOLD POLICE AT THE SCENE. 'I BELIEVE WE WENT TO BED AT THE SAME TIME AROUND 10PM. 'THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER ALIVE.' THEY WERE IN THEIR AUCKLAND HOME. MORNING CAME, AND POLKINGHORNE SAID THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND HIS WIFE DEAD. I WAS VERY FLUSTERED. I KNEW SHE WAS DECEASED ` SHE WAS BLUE AND BLOATED. PROSECUTORS SAY HE MURDERED PAULINE HANNA PROSECUTORS SAY HE MURDERED PAULINE HANNA AND MADE IT LOOK LIKE SHE KILLED HERSELF, THAT HE WAS FUELLED BY METH, LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE AND STUCK IN A MARRIAGE FALLING APART. TODAY, EVIDENCE FROM FIRST RESPONDERS CALLED TO THE COUPLE'S HOME. WHERE THEY FOUND PAULINE HANNA UNDER A DUVET, HER HEAD ON A PILLOW. SHE LOOKED VERY PALE, SHE WASN'T MOVING, SHE WASN'T BREATHING, HER LIPS WERE BLUE. SHE WAS MOSTLY COVERED BY THE DUVET. POLKINGHORNE'S DEFENCE? THAT'S HOW HE FOUND HER. HE WAS QUITE UPSET, LIKE, AUDIBLY, LIKE, WAILING AND CRYING. HE SAID HE CUT THE ROPE DOWN, HE SAID HE CUT THE ROPE DOWN, AND THEN DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND CALLED US. THE ROPE IS CENTRAL TO BOTH SIDES IN THIS CASE. THE CROWN SAYS IT WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH; DEFENCE LAWYERS SAY IT WAS. POLKINGHORNE NOT KNOWING HOW HE GOT A SMALL WOUND IS ALSO AT ISSUE. HE SEEMED SURPRISED TO NOTICE THERE WAS SOMETHING ON HIS FOREHEAD. POLICE STARTED LOOKING FOR A SUICIDE NOTE. WAS ANY SUCH NOTE LOCATED? NO. AND AMONGST THEMSELVES, POLICE WERE SOON CONSIDERING ANOTHER POSSIBILITY. HE NOTIFIED ME THE INCIDENT WAS BELIEVED TO BE SUSPICIOUS. IT'S SUSPICION POLKINGHORNE'S LAWYERS SAY IS UNFOUNDED. KIM BAKER WILSON, 1 NEWS. PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND WERE CUT OFF TODAY, AS A WINTRY COLD SWEPT UP THE MAINLAND, WHILE THE HEAVY SNOWFALL PROVED TO BE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR MOTORISTS, THE DUMP WAS WELL RECEIVED BY OTHERS, AS OUR REPORTER IN THE SOUTH, JARED MCCULLOCH, EXPLAINS. A WINTRY WHITEOUT CUTTING OFF ROADS IN THE MACKENZIE DISTRICT AND CENTRAL OTAGO. AS HEAVY SNOW HIT OVERNIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY ` CONTRACTORS KEPT BUSY, FARMERS OUT AND ABOUT TOO, AND OTAGO OFFICIALS KEEPING AN EYE ON HEAVY RAINFALL. VISITORS SAYING... HELLO. ...TO THE WHITE STUFF AND NAVIGATING THE COLD SNAP. ACCESS TO AORAKI-MT COOK SHUT OFF FOR A TIME THIS TOURISM BUS FORCED TO TURN BACK NEAR LINDIS PASS. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE MT COOK, BUT ALL IS STILL WELL. THIS HAS BEEN REALLY NICE. BUT BIT SAD WE COULDN'T GET TO MT COOK, AS THE ROAD'S CLOSED. AND AFTER SOME PATIENCE... DRY JULY IS OVER, RIGHT? ...MOTHER NATURE DELIVERING FOR THE SOUTHERN SKI SLOPES. WE'VE GOT 50CM OF FRESH SNOW-PLUS, AND IT'S STILL COMING DOWN ` WE ARE STILL IN THE STORM. THE LAST SIGNIFICANT SNOW FALL WE HAD WAS ON 30 JUNE, AND WE LASTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WITH SPECTACULAR WEATHER FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAY-MAKERS, BUT THIS IS WHAT THE LOCALS WERE WAITING FOR. THE REMARKABLES GETTING SO MUCH SNOW, IT WAS CLOSED TODAY ` CORONET PEAK WAS BUSY. IT'S PRETTY COLD UP THERE. WE COULDN'T LAST VERY LONG, BUT THE TURNS ARE NICE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, WHERE YOU CAN SEE A BIT MORE, EH? DEFINITELY, IT'S WELL OVERDUE. SO.. SUPER-GOOD! WHILE THE HIGHWAYS HAVE NOW REOPENED, AUTHORITIES ARE CALLING FOR DRIVERS TO BE CAUTIOUS AS THE COLD FRONT CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY UP THE SOUTH ISLAND, WITH HEAVY SNOW WARNINGS IN PLACE FOR INLAND CANTERBURY TONIGHT. JARED MCCULLOCH, 1 NEWS. NEXT, A FEROCIOUS ATTACK AT A TAYLOR SWIFT INSPIRED DANCE CLASS. COMING UP WHAT POLICE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE INCIDENT THAT LEFT TWO CHILDREN DEAD. PLUS KIWI REINFORCEMENTS ARE HEADING TO CANADA TO HELP BATTLE RAGING WILDFIRES. THE WARNING GIVEN TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, THE MISSING THERAPY DOG THAT HAS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OUT SEARCHING. HOW YOU CAN HELP REUNITE A BOY AND HIS BEST FRIEND. THEY GO EVERYWHERE TOGETHER. THEY SLEEP TOGETHER, EAT TOGETHER. TU'S HIS BEST FRIEND. WE JUST WANT OUR BOY HOME. PLUS THE MAN BEHIND THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW IS SINGING A NEW TUNE. FIND OUT WHAT IT IS TONIGHT AT 7. TWO CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE UK IN WHAT POLICE ARE CALLING A 'FEROCIOUS ATTACK'. NINE OTHERS WERE INJURED DURING THE STABBING IN SOUTHPORT. SIX ARE IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A TAYLOR SWIFT-INSPIRED DANCE CLASS THAT WAS BEING RUN IN THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS. A 17-YEAR-OLD MAN IS IN CUSTODY. AUTHORITIES SAY THE MOTIVE REMAINS UNCLEAR BUT IT'S NOT TERROR RELATED. FORMER BBC PRESENTER HUW EDWARDS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF MAKING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN. THE OFFENCES ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE HAPPENED BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022 AND RELATE TO 37 IMAGES SHARED ON WHATSAPP. THE 62-YEAR-OLD RESIGNED FROM THE BROADCASTER IN APRIL FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS HE PAID A TEENAGER FOR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHOTOS. HUW EDWARDS WAS ARRESTED IN NOVEMBER AND CHARGED LAST MONTH. HE'S DUE TO APPEAR IN COURT ON THURSDAY. FIRE FIGHTERS IN AMERICA ARE CONTINUING TO BATTLE MASSIVE WILDFIRES. THE PARK FIRE IN CALIFORNIA HAS NOW BURNED THROUGH NEARLY 150,000ha. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THAT'S SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES, WITH THE BLAZE TEARING THROUGH MORE THAN 100 BUILDINGS. AUTHORITIES ARE RACING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE FIRE AS TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SOAR TOMORROW. MEANWHILE, A SECOND GROUP OF NEW ZEALAND FIRE FIGHTERS ARE BEING DEPLOYED TO HELP WITH WILDFIRES IN CANADA. IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, 21 PERSONNEL WILL FLY TO ALBERTA WHERE MORE THAN 100 FIRES ARE BURNING ACROSS THE REGION. THE CREWS INCLUDE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS. THEY'VE BEEN WARNED TO EXPECT CHALLENGING CONDITIONS, WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPREAD AND INTENSITY OF THE FIRES. THE FIRES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BIGGER ` WHEREAS IN NZ, WE MIGHT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FIRE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND HECTARES, IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALBERTA AND ACROSS CANADA, THEY CAN SUFFER FIRES OF SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND HECTARES. THE GROUP WILL BE IN CANADA FOR AROUND FIVE WEEKS. BACK HERE, A WARNING ` THIS NEXT STORY MAY BE CONFRONTING FOR SOME VIEWERS. ALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST JOHN MUCHIRAHONDO ATTACKED 15 WOMEN WITHOUT CONSENT OR CARE, ACCORDING TO THE CROWN. BUT ON DAY TWO OF THE HIGH COURT TRIAL IN CHRISTCHURCH, THE 38-YEAR-OLD'S DEFENCE HAS STATED HE'S NEVER ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITHOUT CONSENT. LISA DAVIES REPORTS. 15 WOMEN SAY THEY WERE RAPED BY THIS MAN, JOHN MUCHIRAHONDO. THE DEFENDANT WAS SIMPLY HELPING HIMSELF TO THESE WOMEN'S BODIES WITH DISREGARD FOR CONSENT OR CARE. THE CROWN CLAIMS THE OFFENDING OFTEN HAPPENED AFTER NIGHTS OUT AT BARS IN TOWN. THE ALLEGED VICTIMS, ONE JUST 15 YEARS OLD, HEAVILY INTOXICATED OR UNCONSCIOUS, SOME VOMITING AND PASSING OUT AFTER HE GAVE THEM A DRINK. YOU'LL HEAR OF THEM WAKING UP AND OF THEM FINDING MR MUCHIRAHONDO INSIDE THEM. HE'D BEEN IN RELATIONSHIPS AND HAD CHILDREN WITH TWO OF THE WOMEN. WHEN ONE OF THEM TOLD HIM TO STOP... HE HAD SAID TO HER WHILE LAUGHING, 'YOU'RE WITH ME. YOUR BODY IS MINE.' AFTERWARDS SHE TOLD HIM, 'YOU (BLEEP) RAPED ME.' HE TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS CRAZY AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR GIRLS NOT TO WANT IT ALL THE TIME, BUT TO GIVE IT. SOME VICTIMS DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS SEXUAL ACTIVITY UNTIL POLICE SHOWED THEM EXPLICIT VIDEOS FILMED ON THE ACCUSED'S PHONE. THERE ARE OTHER WOMEN HE FILMED THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO IDENTIFY. JOHN MUCHIRAHONDO'S DEFENCE LAWYER DESCRIBED HIS CLIENT'S BACKGROUND. HE CAME TO NEW ZEALAND FROM ZIMBABWE AS A 22 YEAR OLD. HIS FATHER HAD 13 WIVES, AND HE'S ONE OF 31 SIBLINGS. HE HAS A NUMBER OF CHILDREN TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WOMEN. HIS DEFENCE DESCRIBED AS VERY SIMPLE. MUCHIRAHONDO HAS NEVER ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE PERSON HAS NOT CONSENTED. HE HAS NEVER COMMITTED RAPE OR ANY OTHER OFFENCE AMOUNTING TO SEXUAL VIOLATION. THE WOMEN WHO MAINTAINED THEY DID NOT GIVE HIM CONSENT WILL START GIVING EVIDENCE TOMORROW. LISA DAVIES, 1 NEWS. A TRIPLE FATALITY CRASH NEAR HUNTERVILLE HAS LEFT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN SHOCK, WITH THE MAYOR EXPRESSING HIS CONDOLENCES. THREE PEOPLE DIED IN A CRASH INVOLVING A CAR AND TRUCK ON STATE HIGHWAY ONE IN THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE TRUCK DRIVER TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION. POLICE SAY A LARGE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF RESPONDED TO THE CRASH AND FOUND THE THREE PEOPLE DEAD. ?*CLIP SND UP? YOUR HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE INVOLVED AND ALSO TOO, THE EMERGENCY RESCUE PEOPLE WHO IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN VOLUNTEER FIREMEN THAT DEAL WITH THIS. POLICE SAY VICTIM IDENTIFICATION WORK IS CONTINUING AND THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS BEING INVESTIGATED. THE BACKYARD HELIPAD THAT HAS NEIGHBOURS AT ODDS. WE ARE SCARED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THE DOWNDRAUGHT. NEXT ` THE HIGH FLYING REQUEST FROM A HIGH PROFILE AUCKLAND COUPLE. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, THE MUSICAL LEGEND FROM ROCKY HORROR WHO'S GOT EVERYONE SINGING ALONG TO A NEW SONG. PLUS ` FIND OUT WHY ALL THESE MUSSELS ARE BEING CHUCKED BACK INTO THE WATER. AND FINDING IT HARDER TO MAINTAIN YOUR BALANCE AND CO-ORDINATION? HOW YOU CAN TRAIN YOURSELF TO MAKE LIFE EASIER. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO A PRIVATE HELIPAD IN A CENTRAL AUCKLAND SUBURB SAY IF IT'S APPROVED, IT COULD BE A TIPPING POINT FOR THE CITY. IT'S THE LATEST IN A GROWING NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR HELICOPTER USE IN AUCKLAND, BUT THE HIGH-PROFILE COUPLE BEHIND THE REQUEST SAY THEY'VE TAKEN STEPS TO REDUCE ITS IMPACT. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. IT'S A BLUE CHIP VISTA, COMPLETE WITH BIRDLIFE AND TRANQUILLITY THAT JOHN VALENTINE FEARS IS AT RISK IF A HELIPAD'S BUILT JUST DOWN THE ROAD. IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE THEY'RE TAKING IT AWAY FROM US. WE ARE SCARED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THE DOWNDRAUGHT THAT THE HELICOPTERS, YOU KNOW, CARRY WITH THEM. AUCKLAND COUNCIL IS NOW CONSIDERING AN APPLICATION FOR HELICOPTER FLIGHTS FROM THE NEARBY HOME OF FORMER ALL BLACK ALI WILLIAMS AND RICH-LISTER ANNA MOWBRAY. IF APPROVED, A HELIPAD PROPOSED HERE ABOVE THE SEAWALL WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE USED FOR TWO TAKEOFFS AND TWO LANDINGS EVERY DAY. IF AUCKLAND COUNCIL SAYS YES TO THIS, THEN THEY ARE IN A SENSE AGREEING THAT WE EXPECT HELICOPTERS TO BE ALLOWED. WE TOLERATE HELICOPTERS. WE DON'T` WE DON'T EXPECT THEM. AND IF WE TOLERATE ONE HERE, THEN IT WILL JUST SPREAD. SOME RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON BIRDS AND NOISE. THE HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION ACKNOWLEDGES PUBLIC CONCERN. WE ENCOURAGE ALL PILOTS TO COMPLETE NOISE ABATEMENT TRAINING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, REDUCING OUR NOISE FROM OUR HELICOPTERS IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. ANOTHER ISSUE WORRYING LOCALS IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF HELICOPTER DOWNDRAUGHT ON ANYONE USING THE FORESHORE BELOW. THAT'S DUE TO THE CONSENT BEING SOUGHT FOR FLIGHTS AROUND LOW TIDE. ALI WILLIAMS HASN'T RESPONDED TO 1 NEWS REQUESTS FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT THE COUPLE'S REPORT TO COUNCIL ADDRESSES CONCERNS, STATING THAT ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES ARE ABSENT FROM THE AREA AT LOW TIDE, NEIGHBOURS AFFECTED BY EXCESS NOISE HAVE SIGNED CONSENTS, AND ADVERSE EFFECTS ON ACTIVITIES LIKE WALKING AND KAYAKING WILL BE MINOR. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 66 CONSENTED PRIVATE HELIPADS IN AUCKLAND, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ON WAIHEKE ISLAND. BUT THERE'S SOME SYMPATHY FOR WESTMERE UP THE ROAD IN HERNE BAY, WHICH IS HOME TO SEVERAL. IF HE'S HAVING A BARBECUE, THEY'D HAVE TO ALL GO INSIDE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE, AND EVEN WHEN THEY CLOSE ALL THE WINDOWS, IT'S STILL PRETTY EXCRUCIATING. THE SAME PEOPLE HAVE TO CLEAN THEIR DECK AND ALL THEIR OUTDOOR FURNITURE FROM ALL THE DEBRIS THAT'S BEEN BLOWN UP. BACK IN WESTMERE, JOHN VALENTINE SAYS HE'S DISCUSSED HIS CONCERNS FACE-TO-FACE WITH ALI WILLIAMS. HE AND I'VE PROBABLY TAKEN A POSITION OF HAVING TO AGREE TO DISAGREE AND THEN GO THROUGH DUE PROCESS TO WORK OUT WHAT THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD IS. ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD TO MECHANICS BAY, AND THEY CAN TAKE OFF AT A PROPER PLACE. WHETHER THIS IS A PROPER PLACE TOO, AND WHO GETS A SAY ON THAT, NOW RESTS WITH EXPERTS AT AUCKLAND COUNCIL. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. FROM THE URBAN SKATEPARKS TO THE GRAND STAGE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES, SKATEBOARDING HAS MADE A REMARKABLE JOURNEY. IS BRINGING A NEW GENERATION WITH IT. HENRY MCMULLAN HIT THE PARK IN SEARCH OF SOME TIPS AND FOUND A LEGEND.. ROLLING THE PARISIAN STREETS... THIS SPORT'S CARVING OUT IT'S PLACE IN THE OLYMPICS. THE CAPITAL A BUZZ AS SKATEBOARDING TAKES CENTER STAGE. I THINK IT'S AWESOME, GOOD GROWTH FOR SKATEBOARDING AND SKATEBOARDING GETTING THE ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES. IT'S DEFINITELY BENEFICIAL IT'S AN OLYMPIC SPORT. PEOPLE TAKE IT MORE SERIOUS. THE NIKE TEAM IN TOWN, SHARING THEIR PASSION AND ENERGY WITH LOCALS. LIKE HALF OF THE LOVE OF SKATING IS NOT EVEN THE ACT OF SKATEBOARDING, IT'S THE COMMUNITY. THE OLYMPICS IS, IN A WAY, GOOD FOR STREET SKATING. WHEN IT'S MORE MAJOR PEOPLE DON'T GET SO BENT OUT OF SHAPE WHEN THEY SEE IT, LIKE, OUTSIDE. THE BEST OF THE BEST SHREDDING UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER. EACH RIDER GETS TWO 45 SECOND RUNS TO SHOWCASE THEIR BEST LINE. MORE POINTS FOR USING THE WHOLE PARK AND SHOWING CREATIVITY. SOME THINGS ARE JUST BETTER LEFT TO THE PROFESSIONALS. SO I HIT THE CONCOURSE TO TRACK DOWN A LEGEND FOR ANY TIPS. HELLO. HAVE YOU SEEN TONY HAWK? FINDING THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL. LEGENDS THAT CAME FROM NEW ZEALAND? LEE RALPH, GREGORY RANKIN AND I LOVE GOING THERE, SURFS GREAT, SKATINGS GREAT, AND THE CROWDS ARE AWESOME. YOU'RE THE MAN BRO. SKATEBOARDINGS SECOND TIME AT THE GAMES... NOT DISAPPOINTING. I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THOUGH, I FEEL LIKE IT ALWAYS DESERVED TO BE HERE AND THEY FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT. THE OLYMPICS ACUTELY AWARE IT NEEDS THE NEXT GENERATION ON BOARD TO SURVIVE. IT'S BRINGS A WHOLE NEW FLAVOR AND JUST CULTURE TO THE GAMES IN GENERAL. YOU GUYS GOT THAT COOL FACTOR. YEAH, YEAH YOU KNOW THE SKATEBOARD IS WHERE IT'S AT MAN. THE TEAM RECENTLY FILMING A SKATE VIDEO IN NEW ZEALAND. SHOUT OUT DUNEDIN AND CHRISTCHURCH. CONFIDENT KIWI TALENT IS STRONG. WHERE YOU DIDN'T THINK THERE WOULD BE TALENT, THERE IS. A SPORT BORN ON THE STREETS, BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO AN ANCIENT MOVEMENT. HENRY MCMULLAN, ONE NEWS. I HOPE HE DIDN'T DO HIMSELF AN INJURY. TIME NOW FOR SPORT, AND WE ARE HEADING BACK TO PARIS, WHERE HAYDEN WILDE WILL NEED TO WAIT ANOTHER 24 HOURS FOR HIS CHANCE AT A MEDAL. IT'S BEEN A DISRUPTIVE START TO THE OLYMPICS FOR MANY OF OUR ATHLETES. NOW THE TRIATHLON IS POSTPONED OVER POOR WATER QUALITY, BUT OUR BLACK FERNS SEVENS ARE JUST A FEW HOURS AWAY FROM THEIR SEMIFINAL CLASH. IF THEY CAN WITHSTAND THE PHYSICALITY OF THE USA, KIWIS COULD BE WAKING UP TO A MEDAL. PLUS ` A HEARTBROKEN SAM GAZE SUFFERS MORE OLYMPIC MISFORTUNE AMID A CONTROVERSIAL MOUNTAIN BIKE CROSS COUNTRY RACE. AND THEN WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER FULL PLAY AND A BIT OF EVERYTHING GOING ON, THERE'LL BE SPELLS OF RAIN. COULD BE SOME THUNDER AND HEADS UP DOWN SOUTH. IT STILL COULD BE SOME SNOW ON THE HILLS. HOW IS SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE AFTER SPORT? KIA ORA. WELCOME TO SPORT. FROM FRANCE, WHERE IT'S BEEN A CHAOTIC FEW HOURS FOR THE TRIATHLETES, EXPECTING TO BE ON THE BIKE LEG ABOUT NOW. INSTEAD THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH A POSTPONEMENT. GUY HEVELDT'S BEEN ACROSS THIS. GUY, WHAT'S THE LATEST? WE HEARD ABOUT THE LOGISTICS, BUT WHAT ABOUT HAYDEN WILDE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO RACE? A LOT GOES INTO THIS. EATING, SLEEPING. THEY PLANNED THIS STUFF TO THE MINUTE. THEY WANT TO WAKE UP AT THE RIGHT TIME, TO BE READY TO GO FOR THE RACE. EATING IS A SIMILAR THING, FUELING THE DAY BEFORE, AND I JUST IN TIME FOR THE RACE. THEY HAVE JOKED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SLEEP A COUPLE OF HOURS IN FRONT OF THE START TIME. WE TALK TO THE COACH TODAY. WE DEFINITELY TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT WE WERE HOPING IT WOULDN'T COME TO THIS, AND HOPEFULLY IT GOES AHEAD TOMORROW, THE TRIATHLON, AND IT DOESN'T GET PUSHED OUT TO THE LAST MOMENT AND BECOMES A DUATHLON. IF IT DOES GO AHEAD TOMORROW, THAT WILL BE TWO HOURS AND 45 MINUTES LATER. YOU CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HEAT. IT IS WARM IN PARIS. WHAT WILL THAT DO TO THE RACE? TODAY, AND IT WILL BE SIMILAR WHETHER TO TOMORROW, IT WAS ABOUT 21DEGREES. IF YOU LOOK AHEAD TO 10,45, 11.15, IT IS EIGHT OR 9DEGREES WARMER. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. NOT MANY HAVE PREPARED FOR THAT HEAT FACTOR, BECAUSE IT WASN'T GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY GATHERED AT 8 AM. THERE IS ALSO ALTITUDE. THEIR ALTITUDE TRAINING HAS A WINDOW OF ONE OR TWO DAYS THAT HAS ITS BIGGEST IMPACT. IF THEY DELAY THE RACE, THAT COULD GO OUT THE WINDOW. THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE CHANGE TO A LOT OF THESE GUYS' SCHEDULE. HOPEFULLY WE WILL TALK TO YOU AT THE SAME TIME TOMORROW TALKING ABOUT MEDALS. TWO OF THE BIGGEST STARS AT THESE OLYMPICS HAVE FACED OFF FOR WHAT COULD BE ONE FINAL TIME. NOVAK DJOKOVIC AND RAFAEL NADAL PLAYED ON ROLAND GARROS THIS MORNING, IN WHAT'S LIKELY TO BE NADAL'S LAST EVER SINGLES APPEARANCE IN PARIS. HE WAS BEATEN IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE SINGLES, 6-1, 6-4 BY DJOKOVIC. HE'S BEEN AN IMPENETRABLE FORCE ON THE RED DIRT OF ROLAND GARROS, ADORED BY SPANIARDS AND THE FRENCH ALIKE. BUT NO REIGN LASTS FOREVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF A RIVAL AS GREAT AS NOVAK DJOKOVIC. EXECUTED THE DROP SHOT TO PERFECTION. THE SERB THREATENING TO EMBARRASS NADAL ON WHAT'S PRACTICALLY HIS HOME COURT. A STUNNING SET OF TENNIS. NADAL'S MONTHS OF INJURIES AND LACK OF FITNESS SHOWING. A SECOND SET FIGHTBACK RE-ENERGISED THE CROWD. RIDICULOUS! THAT WAS AS GOOD AS IT GOT, ON WHAT COULD BE A LAST SINGLES OUTING ON HIS FAVOURITE COURT. GAME, SET AND MATCH. DISAPPOINTED THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO PLAY AT THE LEVEL, TO RISE MY LEVEL TO CREATE PROBLEMS FOR HIM. DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE'VE SEEN RAFA PLAY HERE AT ROLAND GARROS? PROBABLY, THINK. I THINK, SADLY, PROBABLY. IT'S SAD. YEAH? YEAH. IT'S SAD. RAFA IS ROLAND GARROS, AND ROLAND GARROS IS RAFA. HE'S KIND OF INSPIRATIONAL FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE LIKE HIM. SO DEFINITELY FOR SPAIN, HE'S THE BEST SPORTSMAN WE'VE EVER HAD. NADAL IS LIKE A MODEL FOR EVERYONE. MY SON, HIS NAME IS RAFAEL TOO. NO! YES, WITH AN F. NAMED AFTER NADAL? (CHUCKLES) YES. OH MY GOODNESS. SO YOU MUST LOVE RAFAEL NADAL. EXACTLY. ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO HOPES OF A DOUBLES RUN WITH CARLOS ALCARAZ. NOW, THAT REALLY WOULD BE A FINALE FIT FOR A CLAY-COURT KING. NEW ZEALAND'S TENNIS CAMPAIGN IS OVER, THOUGH. ERIN ROUTLIFFE AND LULU SUN LOSING THEIR FIRST ROUND DOUBLES MATCH TO ITALIANS JASMINE PAOLINI AND SARA ERRANI. THE KIWI PAIR HAD A FIGHT ON THEIR HANDS AGAINST THE WIMBLEDON SINGLES FINALIST AND A FORMER WORLD NUMBER 1 DOUBLES PLAYER ULTIMATELY GOING DOWN TO THE THIRD SEEDS, 6-2, 6-3. THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR QUITE A WHILE SO THEY HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, AND WE'RE A BIT GUTTED THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T GO OUR WAY, BUT I THINK TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND IS SOMETHING OF A GREAT FEAT. IT'S THE FIRST TIME ROUTLIFFE AND SUN HAD COMBINED FORCES. THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI FINALS AFTER BLITZING CHINA 55-5, DESPITE CAPTAIN SARA HIRINI BEING SIN-BINNED FOR THIS HIGH TACKLE. THE KIWIS PROVING TOO STRONG FOR THE LOWEST QUALIFIERS. NOTCHING UP 9 TRIES, 5 OF THEM UNANSWERED AFTER THE BREAK. WE'VE JUST BEEN SO CLINICAL IN WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE'VE BEEN NAILING OUR SET PIECE, WE'VE BEEN NAILING OUR BASICS, SO TEAMS ARE COMING OUT HARD, BUT I THINK WE ARE JUST ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER AT THE MOMENT. AND WE KNOW THE SEMI-FINAL, THE USA'S GONNA BRING IT. THEY'RE A VERY BIG, PHYSICAL TEAM, SO WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FRONT UP DEFENSIVELY. NEW ZEALAND WILL FACE THE U.S. IN THE SEMIS, WHO BEAT GREAT BRITAIN 17-7. SAM GAZE HAS COME AGONISINGLY SHORT OF AN ELUSIVE CROSS-COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKE MEDAL, FINISHING SIXTH. THE 28-YEAR-OLD HASN'T COMPETED AT AN OLYMPICS SINCE RIO IN 2016 AND HAS FACED SOME TOUGH TIMES PERSONALLY. THE COMPETITION WAS TOUGH TOO, WITH GREAT BRITAIN'S TOM PIDCOCK'S DARING TAKEOVER MOVE RUFFLING SOME FEATHERS. OLYMPICS REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT HAS MORE. SAM GAZE BACK AT AN OLYMPICS IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE. HE'S A THREAT ` NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY. IT FEEL LIKE I HAD MY DAY OF REDEMPTION AND, PHEW, YEAH, I NEED TO STOP CRYING. (CHUCKLES) YEAH, AND SO TODAY WAS, SORT OF A DAY THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I WAS IN THOSE PLACES, AND TRYING TO JAM MYSELF OUT, AND IT JUST WASN'T MEANT TO BE. HAVING BEEN IN PODIUM CONTENTION HEADING INTO THE FINAL FEW LAPS,... YEAH, GAZE NOW IN THE BRONZE MEDAL POSITION. ...THE RACE AND HIS MOST FIERCE RIVALS GOT AWAY ON HIM. BRIT TOM PIDCOCK, WHO DESPITE HAVING TO STOP FOR A PUNCTURE, FOUGHT BACK TO DEFEND HIS OLYMPIC TITLE. MY LAST EFFORT, MY LAST HOPE WAS THAT I COULD FOLLOW TOM, WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM HIS FLAT TYRE, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO AS WELL, WITH THE LEGS I HAD TODAY, SO THAT WAS WHEN IT WAS LOST. JUST AN AMAZING TALENT AND PROBABLY A TALENT THAT WE WON'T SEE AGAIN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BECAUSE IT'S JUST EXTRAORDINARY TO CLOSE DOWN A 39-SECOND GAP. THIS CAMPAIGN ONE OF HUGE PERSONAL GROWTH FOR GAZE. THE FIRST TIME I LEFT WHEN I WAS DEPRESSED, I PROMISED DAD THAT I'D COME BACK A WORLD CHAMPION. I MANAGED TO DO THAT. AND I PROMISED, LAST TIME I WAS IN NZ, I'D RETURN AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION ` AND I CAN KEEP THAT, BUT I INTEND TO KEEP THAT IN FOUR YEARS' TIME. GOING FOR THIRD TIME LUCKY IN L.A. 2028. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS, PARIS. SO IT SEEMS MANY ARE STARTING TO WONDER ` WHERE ARE THE KIWI MEDALS? IT FEELS LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT BEAR IN MIND, OFFICIALLY WE ARE ONLY ON DAY FOUR OF THESE GAMES, AND WITH THE ROWERS SIGNALLING THEIR STRENGTH, A FLURRY COULD BE ON THE HORIZON. OLYMPICS REPORTER GUY HEVELDT LOOKS AT WHO IS IN CONTENTION. THE COVER IS BLOWN. NEW ZEALAND'S ROWERS ARE SIGNALLING STRENGTH AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS. THAT WAS WONDERFUL. KIWIS KILLING IT AGAIN HERE. TWO FINALS ALREADY BOOKED ` ONE AS TOP QUALIFIER, THE OTHER A MEDAL CHANCE. BOTH IN THE FOURS. THE WOMEN'S AND MEN'S DOUBLE, THE LIGHTWEIGHT WOMEN'S DOUBLE, MEN'S PAIR, AND BOTH TOM MACKINTOSH AND EMMA TWIGG ARE ALL IN SEMI-FINALS. YEAH, I THINK WE'RE PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR SURE. OUR CALENDAR HAS BEEN BASED AROUND THE FINAL. WE'VE BEEN STRIDING ALONG IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR A WEE WHILE NOW, AND IT'S SORT OF COOL TO HAVE THAT SENSE OF MOMENTUM UNDER OUR BELT COMING INTO THE BIG DANCE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, GLOBALLY NEW ZEALAND'S 20-STRONG TEAM WERE DEEMED OUTSIDERS, QUITE HAPPY TO SWEEP INTO FRANCE UNDER COVER. TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE OFF INDIVIDUALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AS UNDERDOGS, IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL WE CAN PERFORM QUITE SPECIALLY IN. BUT WE ARE VERY AWARE THIS IS THE OLYMPICS AND EVERYONE'S PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE ON OUR GAME. BUT UNDERCOVER NO MORE, PARTICULARLY THE MEN'S FOUR FLYING IN THEIR HEAT. THEY'VE RODE THIS HEAT BEAUTIFULLY, THE FOUR KIWIS. THE CREW FEATURING TOM MURRAY AND MATT MCDONALD, WHO BOTH WON EIGHT GOLD IN TOKYO, AND LOGAN ULRICH, WHO ROWED FOR AUSTRALIA IN AGE GROUP RACING. IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS RUNNING FOR MY COUNTRY, AND SO I ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE THE MOVE BACK TO NEW ZEALAND. WHEN I FIRST DONE THAT BLACK ROW SUIT IN 2022, IT FELT RIGHT. SEMI-FINALS BEGIN TONIGHT. MEDALS COULD BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER. GUY HEVELDT, 1 NEWS, PARIS. SAILORS ISAAC MCHARDIE AND WILL MCKENZIE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PETER BURLING AND BLAIR TUKE, LEADING THE 49ER CLASS AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE REGATTA. THE KIWI CREW BAGGED TWO MORE WINS ON THE SECOND DAY OF SAILING TO MAKE IT THREE WINS FROM SIX RACES SO FAR. THEY HOLD A 5 POINT LEAD OVER IRELAND. IT'S NOT GOING AS WELL FOR FLAGBEARER JO ALEH AND PARTNER MOLLY MEECH IN THE WOMEN'S SKIFF. THEY'RE SECOND TO LAST IN THE 20-BOAT FLEET. TO THE POOL, AND KIWI SWIMMER ERIKA FAIRWEATHER'S FINISHED SEVENTH IN THE 200m FREESTYLE FINAL. FAIRWEATHER IN LANE ONE, FINISHING NEARLY THREE SECONDS BEHIND WINNER MILLIE O'CALLAGHAN FROM AUSTRALIA, I JUST WON HAVING FUN RACING, AND THAT'S WHAT I TRIED TO FOCUS ON TONIGHT. NOT THE TIME OR THE OUTCOME, JUST HAVING FUN WITH HOW I WAS SWIMMING IN THE WATER. ELSEWHERE, A DAY AFTER CLAIMING SILVER, IN THE MEN'S 100m BREASTSTROKE, TEAM GB'S ADAM PEATY HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. PERHAPS A FAIR REASON HE COULDN'T DEFEND HIS OLYMPIC TITLE, MISSING GOLD BY LESS THAN A SECOND. WE HAVE JUSTIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAYDEN WILDE IS OUT ON A RUN OF THE COURSE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE SEVENS AS THEY GO FOR A MEDAL. ALL OF THAT ON BREAKFAST TOMORROW. THANKS, CHRIS. DAN SAYS MORE RAIN AND EVEN THUNDER IS ON THE WAY TOMORROW. HE'LL HAVE DETAILS NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` HOW IMPROVING YOUR BALANCE CAN START WITH THE SIMPLE ACT OF JUST BRUSHING YOUR TEETH. PLUS THE MISSING THERAPY DOG THAT'S GOT EVERYONE SEARCHING HIGH AND LOW. WE'LL TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN HELP. WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY AT SEVEN. HELLO. HEADING INTO WEDNESDAY, STILL SOME LAYERS AND RAINCOATS, ROUGH AND TUMBLE TO COME. WINTER HAS HIT PARTS OF THE SELF, WINTER HAS HIT PARTS OF THE SOUTH, THERE WERE SOME SNOWMEN HANGING AROUND. THERE IS THE SWELL OF LOW-PRESSURE, HIGH-PRESSURE WAITING WITH SOME COLD FROSTY NIGHTS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. NAPIER, 20DEGREES. A LINE OF SHOWERS NORTH OF THE NORTH ISLAND. SOME MOISTURE WORKING INTO EASTERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. A MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN IN PLACES LIKE DUNEDIN. THAT WILL GET PUSHED AWAY, AS THE COOL WIND WINS THE BATTLE. LOOKING AT THEIR WATCHES, THERE IS A PATCHWORK QUILT. SNOW WARNING FOR PARTS OF MCKENZIE, SOUTH CANTERBURY, FOOTHILLS OF THE HIGH COUNTRY, EXPIRING. NORTH OF RANGITATA WILL BE THERE THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON. WATCH SOME OF THE PASSES. THAT COULD BE RAIN, RAIN WATCH IN CHRISTCHURCH AND NORTH. STRONG WINDS THROUGHOUT THE WEST COAST. THERE ARE TWO LAYERS OF MOISTURE. IT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTH ISLAND, MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDER INTO THE WEST. THAT ZONE OF SNOW COMING THROUGH. SHOWERS OVERNIGHT ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHLAND. THERE IS SOME DRY WEATHER LATER. SHOWERS OVERNIGHT, AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON, THAT RAINCOAT AGAIN IN AUCKLAND. HAMILTON, SAME THING. NOT RAINING ALL DAY, SPELLS AND BANDS OF SHOWERS. BAY OF PLENTY, CENTRAL PLATEAU, DRY, PATCHY. THE OVERNIGHT STUFF SINKS SELF. THE OVERNIGHT STUFF SINKS SOUTH. YOU WILL SEE SOME MORE SHOWERS COME THROUGH. TO THESE EAST, MAIN RAIN FROM THE OVERNIGHT CLEARS AWAY, BUT LINGERS IN WAIRARAPA. THUNDER ON THE DOORSTEP IN NEW PLYMOUTH, FURTHER SOUTH IS RAIN. WELLINGTON, HEAVY RAIN. RAIN WATCH THAT EXPIRES... RAIN CONTINUES THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY. GUSTY SOUTHERLIES. THERE IS THE SNOW AND LAND, 500M. M EVERYONE SEE SOME RAIN, DRIES OUT FOR WESTPORT. CHRISTCHURCH, BANDS OF RAIN. STRONG WINDS AND GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. WET WEATHER, MORE LIKELY RAIN SHOWERS FOR QUEENSTOWN. SLICK SPOTS ON THE ROADS, SOME TEMPERATURE IS DOWN TO FREEZING. AND EASTERLY AND DUNEDIN. SHOWERS AND THE SAME SORT OF THING. THURSDAY, HIGH-PRESSURE SETTLES IN. A LOT OF THE MOISTURE TRACKS UP THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. THE DESERT ROAD, MAY HAVE TO WATCH FOR SHOWERS. MORE THUNDER, THAT COULD TUCK INTO NORTHLAND. LOW SHOWERS, HIGH PRESSURE COULD COME AND PERHAPS ON THE WEEKEND. PERHAPS BY THE WEEKEND, SOME FINE WEATHER.