THE PALESTINIAN LEADER OF THE HAMAS MILITANT GROUP HAS BEEN KILLED. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY. WE'RE FINALLY ON THE MEDAL TABLE IN PARIS AS OUR SEVENS WOMEN WIN BACK-TO-BACK OLYMPIC GOLDS. AND A NEW POLITICAL SCANDAL HAS ERUPTED IN PARLIAMENT. WE'LL EXPLAIN 'PIN-GATE' AND WHO'S INVOLVED. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND KATE MCCULLOUGH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI, GOOD EVENING. WE START TONIGHT WITH DEVELOPING NEWS ` THE KILLING OF THE TOP HAMAS LEADER IN IRAN. THE MILITANT GROUP SAYS ISMAIL HANIYEH WAS KILLED IN AN ISRAELI RAID ON HIS RESIDENCE IN TEHRAN, HOWEVER THE ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCE IS YET TO RESPOND. LAURA TUPOU HAS THE LATEST. (SPEAKS FARSI) LOCAL IRANIAN MEDIA TELLING THE WORLD ISMAIL HANIYEH, THE POLITICAL LEADER OF HAMAS, HAS BEEN KILLED, ALONG WITH HIS BODYGUARD AFTER THEIR ACCOMMODATION IN TEHRAN WAS TARGETED. HAMAS IS LABELLING THIS AN ASSASSINATION. HAMAS IS LABELLING THIS AN ASSASSINATION. (MILITARY BAND PLAYS) HANIYEH WAS JUST YESTERDAY IN IRAN'S CAPITAL ATTENDING THE SWEARING IN OF ITS PRESIDENT. ISRAEL AND THE IDF DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY COMMENT, BUT PREVIOUSLY VOWED TO KILL HANIYEH AND OTHER HAMAS LEADERS OVER ITS OCTOBER ATTACK ON ISRAEL THAT KILLED 1200 PEOPLE AND SAW SOME 250 OTHERS TAKEN HOSTAGE. HANIYEH WAS APPOINTED TO THE TOP JOB IN 2017. HE MOVED BETWEEN TURKEY AND QATAR, AND WAS HEAVILY CRITICISED FOR NOT BEING BASED IN GAZA. HE WAS, HOWEVER, A NEGOTIATOR IN THE CEASEFIRE TALKS, AND WAS NEVER FAR FROM THE WAR. THREE OF HANIYEH'S SONS, ALONG WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN, WERE KILLED IN AN ISRAELI ATTACK IN NORTHERN GAZA IN APRIL. WHEN HANIYEH GOT THE NEWS, HE SAID, 'THERE IS NO POWER BUT FROM GOD ALMIGHTY, 'MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEM', HE REPEATED OVER AND OVER. SINCE THE HAMAS ATTACK IN OCTOBER, MORE THAN 39,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN 90,000 WOUNDED, ACCORDING TO THE GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY. (SIRENS WAIL) AND NOW ISRAEL HAS CLAIMED IT'S KILLED HEZBOLLAH'S MOST SENIOR MILITARY COMMANDER YESTERDAY IN BEIRUT, WHO IT BLAMED FOR A DEADLY ROCKET ATTACK IN THE ISRAELI-OCCUPIED GOLAN HEIGHTS. THE SPATE OF RECENT STRIKES HAS STOKED FEARS OF A REGIONAL WAR. BOTH THE UK AND U.S HAD URGED BENJAMIN NETANYAHU NOT TO TARGET BEIRUT. ACCORDING TO A SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIAL, ISRAEL WANTED TO SEND 'A VERY STRONG MESSAGE' WITH TUESDAY'S STRIKE IN BEIRUT, BUT HOPES TO AVOID FURTHER ESCALATION. BUT WITH THIS LATEST ATTACK IN IRAN, ESCALATION IS ALMOST CERTAIN. LAURA IS WITH US FROM THE NEWSROOM. IS ANYONE TAKING RESPONSILIBILTY FOR THIS LATEST ATTACK? ISRAEL, THE IDF, THE WHITE HOUSE ARE ALL YET TO TAKE RESPONSIBLY FOR THE ATTACK. ANALYSTS ON IRANIAN TELEVISION WERE ALL QUICK TO POINT THE FINGER AT ISRAEL. THE REVOLUTION REGARDS SAYS IT IS INVESTIGATING, AND SAYS ONCE IT HAS ITS FINDINGS IT WILL MAKE THEM PUBLIC, BUT ONE , US OFFICIAL SAYS THIS ASSASSINATION WILL NOT GO UNTARGETTED. AFTER THE ATTACK ON A LEADER EARLIER THIS YEAR, I RUN SENT AN ATTACK OF HUNDREDS OF DRONES AT ISRAEL. THIS DOES SPARK FEARS THAT THE ATTACK MAY LEAD TO A WIDER REGIONAL WAR. IN OTHER NEWS, NEW ZEALAND IS FINALLY ON THE OLYMPIC MEDAL TABLE. OUR MAGNIFICENT SEVENS WOMEN'S TEAM STARTING OUR DAY WITH A GOLDEN FINALS PERFORMANCE AGAINST CANADA. THEIR BACK-TO-BACK OLYMPIC GOLDS CONFIRMING THEIR PLACE IN OUR RUGBY HISTORY. TO PARIS WE GO, AND IMOGEN, A GOLDEN MOMENT FOR A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF WOMEN? SAM I WAS IN THAT STADIUM LAST NIGHT, AND I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT THE ENTIRE TIME. WHAT A GAME AND WHAT A TEAM TO BRING HOME NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST MEDAL, AFTER ALMOST A WEEK OF OLYMPIC ACTION, NEW ZEALAND IS FINALLY ON THE MEDAL TABLE. GOLD FOR NEW ZEALAND! (WHISTLE BLOWS) THE BLACK FERNS DEFEATING CANADA IN A GRAND FINAL THRILLER TO DEFEND THE TOKYO TITLE. THE MOST STORIED, SUCCESSFUL TEAM IN WOMEN'S RUGBY HISTORY. TO BE HONEST, I THINK IT'S STILL SINKING IN. UM, LIKE, THIS IS PRETTY SPECIAL. IT'S, UM, THREE YEARS` THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING. DESPITE IT BEING THE TEAM'S SECOND GOLD MEDAL, THE TWO FINALS COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT. TOKYO WAS PLAYED IN AN EMPTY STADIUM, THANKS TO COVID. THIS TIME, 69,000 PEOPLE WATCHED, WITH THE WOMEN'S GAME GAINING MORE EYES THAN EVER BEFORE. TO SEE EVERYONE THERE AND STAY RIGHT TO THE END, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT PEOPLE WATCHING WOMEN'S RUGBY, AND THEY DID. THEY STAYED AND THEY SUPPORTED, AND TO HAVE OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE CROWD WAS SO MUCH MORE SPECIAL THIS TIME AROUND. AND OF COURSE, KIWIS WERE OUT IN FULL FORCE. IT'S A BUCKET LIST THING TO DO, REALLY, AND TO SEE THE FIRST MEDAL ` SEE THE GOLD MEDAL ` IT'S JUST SO EXCITING. AND SOME FAMILY MEMBERS WERE PRETTY EASY TO SPOT. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN US ALL SCREAMING UP AND DOWN AS THE GIRLS WERE PLAYING. I THINK WE'VE BEEN, LIKE, LOSING OUR VOICES. THE OCCASION EXTRA SPECIAL FOR TYLA KING AND PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE, WHO BOTH ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE GAMES THAT THEY WOULD HANG UP THEIR BLACK JERSEY AFTER PARIS. SHE'S GIVEN 13 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE AS WELL AS WE HAVE, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TO BLIMMIN' TAKE HER TO THE TRAININGS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER, AND STUFF, BUT I TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN WORTH IT. WHAT A WAY TO SEND OFF THOSE TWO LEGENDS, RIGHT? DEFINITELY. THEY WERE HERE SINCE THE START OF MY CAREER, SO TO SEE THEM OFF, PRETTY STOKED WE COULD DO THIS FOR THEM AS A TEAM, AND OBVIOUSLY, FOR OUR COUNTRY. THE BLACK FERNS ARE YET AGAIN WINNING AND SHOWCASING NEW ZEALAND ON THE WORLD STAGE. (TEAM CHANTS HAKA) (CROWD ROARS) IMOGEN, IT'S JUST AFTER 8 IN THE MORNING YOUR TIME, AND THE KIWIS ARE ALREADY IN ACTION IN PARIS, WITH THE WOMEN'S TRIATHLON GETTING UNDERWAY A FEW MINUTES AGO. THE RIVER SEINE FINALLY GOT THE TICK OF APPROVAL EARLY THIS MORNING, AND THE TRIATHLON WILL FINALLY GET UNDERWAY WITH KIWIS OUT THERE RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT, AND AFTER THE WOMAN IT IS THE MEN'S TURN, HAYDEN WILDE IS A MEDAL HOPEFUL IN THIS EVENT AND IMOGEN, THERE IS ANOTHER WOMAN ATHLETE EVERYONE IN PARIS IS TALKING ABOUT ` SIMONE BILES? THAT SIMONE BILES REDEMPTION TOUR IS OFF TO A VERY STRONG START FOR THE US GYMNAST, FINISHING WITH A PODIUM FINISH ` SHE STILL HAS TWO EVENTS TO COME THE ALL-ROUND FINAL AND THE VAULT FINAL AND BOTH OF THOSE WILL BE EVENTS TO WATCH. WELL, NOW NEW ZEALAND IS ON THE BOARD, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE MEDAL TABLE IS SHAPING UP. WITH THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS' BRILLIANT GOLD MEDAL AT STADE DE FRANCE, NEW ZEALAND IS NOW 16th OVERALL. JAPAN IS STILL AT THE TOP WITH SEVEN GOLDS. CHINA IS SECOND, AND AUSTRALIA ROUNDING OUT THE TOP THREE WITH SIX GOLD MEDALS SO FAR. ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR HAS LAUNCHED A BROADSIDE AT PARLIAMENT'S SPEAKER, SAYING HE IS LOSING CONFIDENCE IN HIM. ACT IS UPSET THE SPEAKER HAS NOT ACTED ON CONCERNS IT RAISED ABOUT ONE OF ITS MPS NOT BEING NOMINATED TO CHAIR A SUBCOMMITTEE ` THEY ARGUE BECAUSE SHE IS PAKEHA. AND IT'S BOILED OVER INTO THE DEBATING CHAMBER, WITH ACT FORBIDDEN FROM ASKING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT TODAY BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO REMOVE THEIR PARTY LAPEL PINS. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH. THIS, FOLKS, IS THE STORY OF PIN GATE ` A WAR OVER THE WEARING OF THE HUMBLE LAPEL PIN. THERE ARE PEOPLE DISPLAYING PARTY LOGOS AT THE MOMENT. ACT UPSET THE SPEAKER TOLD THEM THEY CAN'T WEAR THEIR BADGES. IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY SAYING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO NOT LET PEOPLE ASK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IN THIS HOUSE BECAUSE THEY ARE WEARING A PEN WHICH THEY HAVE DONE FOR AGES ` YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING IT WEARING THE BAD, SIMPLE AS THAT. ACT DEFIANT, LEADING TO THEM BEING UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN QUESTION TIME. PEOPLE ARE IN T-SHIRTS I SAW PEOPLE IN THE IN BENEFIT ONE DAY. IT ALL WRONG. ANOTHER MEMBER, WINSTON PETERS, NOT SO UPSET ABOUT THE PINS ` JUST THE DRESS CODE OVERALL. THE PIN PROBLEMS ALL COME BACK TO ACT'S OWN COMPLAINT. ONE OF THEIR MPs PILED IN ABOUT THE STICKER ON HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE'S LAPTOP, AND IT BACKFIRED. BUT THE ACT PARTY'S STOUSH WITH THE SPEAKER GOES DEEPER. THEY'RE UPSET HE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION AFTER THEY SENT THIS LETTER ACCUSING TWO MPs OF CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT. ACT MP LAURA TRASK WANTED TO BECOME A CHAIR OF A SUBCOMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT TO HEAR SUBMISSIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S REPEAL OF SECTION 7AA OF THE ORANGA TAMARIKI ACT. IT WOULD REMOVE TREATY OBLIGATIONS FROM THE ACT. ACT ARGUES A GREEN MP AND TE PATI MAORI MP SAID IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY HAD SOMEONE CHAIRING WHO IS MAORI OR PASIFIKA ` ACT ARGUES THEIR OPPOSITION TO TRASK WAS ON THE GROUND OF HER RACE. THERE ONE OF OUR MPSTHAT HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND HARASSED BECAUSE OF HER RACE, AND I THINK THAT'S WRONG. CARMEL SEPULONI WAS ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE. SHE SAYS RACE WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THERE'S NO RACISM THAT'S BEEN EXPRESSED. IF ANYTHING, THERE'S QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT A PERSON'S LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE. I THINK THAT SOMEONE SHOULD BE LEARNING HOW TO RUN A SELECT COMMITTEE. ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO RESPOND TO THIS. ACT MP KAREN CHHOUR BROKE DOWN IN TEARS TODAY, DESCRIBING WHAT SHE CALLS AN UNSAFE WORKPLACE FOR HER. I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING ABOUT MY PERSONAL TRAITS AROUND BEING MAORI ENOUGH OR NOT BEING THE RIGHT KIND OF TRAUMATISED PERSON, AND I'M HEARING IT FROM OTHER MPs. THAT SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED. SHE'S UPSET THE SPEAKER IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I'M STILL A PERSON. AND I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING THAT STRIPPED AWAY FROM ME DAY BY DAY IN THIS PLACE. I'VE HAD ENOUGH. I'VE ASKED FOR AN APOLOGY, THAT'S ALL I WANTED, AND I DIDN'T GET ONE. AND ALL THAT HAS LEAD TO THIS ` I WOULD SAY IT'S GOING DOWNHILL PRETTY QUICKLY. HE MIGHT BE LOSING CONFIDENCE... BUT THE SPEAKER IS CLEARLY LOSING PATIENCE. JENNA IS WITH US NOW. JENNA, WHAT'S GOING ON? IS THE PARLIAMENT OK? WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THE SPEAKER AS TO WHETHER HE IS OKAY WITH DAVID SEYMOUR AIRING THIS IN PUBLIC, WHAT HE THINKS OF THIS. WE DID HAVE A RESPONSE FROM ONE THE GREEN MENTIONED IN THAT LETTER, DAVID SEYMOUR SEEMS QUITE UPSET THAT GERRY BROWNLEE ISN'T PROVIDING THE SORT OF PASTORAL CARE THAT HIS PREDECESSORS HAD PROVIDED, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PIN GATE, THIS IS THE SORT OF STUFF THAT RIGHTFULLY GETS THE PUBLIC RILED UP, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A BIG SONG AND DANCE ABOUT ACCOUNTING FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF TAXPAYER MONEY, AND WASTING THE PARLIAMENTS TIME ACCOUNTS FOR A MAJOR LOSS OF TAXPAYER MONEY. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROMISED TAX RELIEF HAS ARRIVED TODAY. 3.5 MILLION NEW ZEALANDERS ` THAT'S ABOUT 83% OF THE POPULATION ` WILL, ON PAPER, BENEFIT IN SOME WAY FROM THE TAX PACKAGE REVEALED BY THE COALITION GOVERNMENT IN MAY. NOW, WITH MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY ZANE SMALL. KIA ORA, ZANE. YES, INCOME TAX THRESHOLDS WILL RISE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, PREVIOUSLY, EVERY DOLLAR YOU EARNED UP TO $14,000 WAS TAXED AT 10.5%. NOW, EVERY DOLLAR UP TO $15,600 WILL BE TAXED AT THAT RATE, MEANING YOU KEEP A BIT MORE OF WHAT YOU EARN. ALL THE TAX BANDS HAVE BEEN LIFTED, EXCEPT FOR INCOMES OF MORE THAN $180,000. ALSO FROM TODAY, FAMILIES CAN APPLY TO HAVE UP TO 25% OF THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COSTS REIMBURSED. THAT MEANS A HOUSEHOLD EARNING UP TO $140,000 CAN BE REIMBURSED UP TO $75 PER WEEK. THE IN-WORK TAX CREDIT HAS INCREASED TO $50 PER FORTNIGHT. IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. AND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE INDEPENDENT EARNER TAX CREDIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO THOSE WHO EARN UP TO $70,000. SO THE BIG QUESTION ` HOW MUCH WILL YOU BENEFIT FROM THESE TAX CHANGES? WELL, AS PER THE GOVERNMENT'S TAX CALCULATOR, A WORKING COUPLE WITH A COMBINED INCOME OF $150,000 WHO HAVE A THREE-YEAR-OLD IN CHILDCARE WILL SAVE ABOUT $92 PER WEEK. A WORKING SINGLE PERSON EARNING $70,000 WITH NO DEPENDENTS WILL SAVE ABOUT $15 PER WEEK, AND A SUPERANNUANT LIVING ALONE WILL SAVE AROUND $2 PER WEEK. THE PRIME MINISTER HAD THIS TO SAY IN PARLIAMENT TODAY. I'M PROUD THAT AFTER 14 YEARS THIS GOVERNMENT HAS DONE THE SENSIBLE THING, THE PRACTICAL THING, THE COMMON SENSE THING, AND ACTUALLY DELIVERED TAX RELIEF TO WORKING NEW ZEALANDERS WITH THE COST OF LIVING, STARTING TODAY. AND OUR QUESTION OF THE DAY ` DO YOU THINK THESE TAX CUTS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU? HAVE YOUR SAY OVER AT STUFF.CO.NZ/YOURSAY. THE FIRST MAJOR SNOWFALL OF THE WINTER HAS SWEPT UP THE SOUTH ISLAND, CLOSING ROADS AND SCHOOLS AND DISRUPTING TRAVEL, BUT BRINGING THE SKIFIELDS WHAT THEY REALLY NEED THIS WINTER ` YOU GUESSED IT ` A LOT OF SNOW. JULIET SPEEDY REPORTS. THE WINTER SNOW HAS COME A BIT LATER THIS YEAR, SO FOR THE SKI FIELDS THIS WAS LIKE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS. WANAKA... THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SNOW DANCES. THEY PAID OFF. THIS IS KICKING OFF OUR WINTER LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. ...CANTERBURY... CURRENTLY RECEIVED ABOUT 75cm OF SNOW. IT'S CURRENTLY STILL SNOWING AS YOU CAN SEE. ...QUEENSTOWN... IT'S ALL GO HIGH UP IN THE ALPS. THAT MEANS WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME PRETTY EPIC CONDITIONS. THAT MEANS MORE JUMPS, MORE PARK FEATURES, AND IT MEANS THAT OFF PISTE IS GOING TO BE SKIING AMAZING. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH ASK THIS YEAR FOR ALL PUNTERS TO DIG DEEP INTO THEIR POCKETS AND HEAD UP THE SLOPES GIVEN THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS WE'RE ALL FACING, SO THE SKI FIELDS WILL BE DESPERATELY HOPING ALL THIS FRESH SNOW WILL TEMPT PEOPLE UP THE MOUNTAIN. COME ON, KIDS, WE'LL FORGO THE VEGETABLES THIS WEEK! STAFF ON THE MOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT AND DAY TO GET THE FIELD OPEN FOR PUNTERS. BEEN UP HERE JUST OVER 48 HOURS WITH A TEAM OF ABSOLUTE BACKBONES TRYING TO KEEP THIS MOUNTAIN RUNNING. BEEN DIGGING OUT, THROWING BOMBS AND CLEARING SNOW WITH OUR GROOMERS, AND, UH, STILL GOT A LOT OF WORK TO GO. BUT WHEN IT CLEARS, BOY OH BOY, WE WILL HAVE SOME FABULOUS SKIING. SO THIS WEATHER SYSTEM HAS BEEN GREAT FOR THE SKI FIELDS AND GREAT FOR KIDS. A DAY OFF SCHOOL FOR SOME, WITH SNOW CLOSING TWO SOUTH CANTERBURY SCHOOLS FOR THE DAY, BUT NOT LAKE TEKAPO SCHOOL. BEING A VILLAGE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT GOOD PRACTICAL PARENTS THAT UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT, SO THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION THROUGH COMMON SENSE ABOUT WHETHER THEY COME TO SCHOOL. AND IF THEY DO, THE EDUCATION EVEN HAS A WINTRY TWIST. WE'LL GET A GAME OF SOCCER GOING. THE KIDS WILL DO A BIT OF, WRITING IN THE SNOW AND MAYBE DO A BIT OF SPELLING IN THE SNOW. AND THEN IN THE BREAK TIME, THEY PLAY SNOW FIGHTS. IT HASN'T BEEN SO GREAT FOR TRAVELLERS, WITH MANY OF THE MAJOR PASSES CLOSED THIS MORNING ` THE ROAD FROM FAIRLIE TO TEKAPO CLOSED ALL MORNING. WINTER IS WELL AND TRULY HERE. WINTER MAY HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED, BUT IS IT STICKING AROUND, HEATHER? WE ONLY HAVE FOUR WEEKS LEFT! WE ONLY HAVE FOUR WEEKS LEFT! AUGUST STARTS TOMORROW, CRAZY. BUT YES, IT IS STICKING AROUND, AND IT'S ABOUT TO GET VERY COLD AGAIN ` BUT MORE ON THAT LATER. THERE WAS OTHER WEATHER HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY. WELLINGTON HAD A WHOLE HEAP OF RAIN TODAY, AND CURRENTLY, NORTHLAND IS EXPERIENCING SOME VERY HEAVY FALLS AND A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHTNING TOO. NOTHING TOO SURPRISING WITH THE DAILY EXTREMES, EXCEPT THE HIGH. AUCKLAND TOOK IT WITH 18 ` DIDN'T FEEL LIKE 18. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. AHEAD ON THREE NEWS, MORE PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS ARE CUT. WE EXAMINE HOW THE LOSSES ARE AFFECTING LIFE IN THE CAPITAL. TAYLOR SWIFT PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE THREE YOUNG GIRLS WHO DIED IN A DANCE CLASS STABBING IN SOUTHPORT. AND LATER, THE SOUTH ISLAND FINALLY GETS ITS HANDS ON A COVETED AWARD. THE WHANAU OF A TEENAGE GIRL WHO SUFFERED AN UNSURVIVABLE HEAD INJURY DURING A SCHOOL ICE-SKATING TRIP ARE PREPARING TO TURN OFF HER LIFE SUPPORT. KYMANI (13) WAS AT ALPINE ICE WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM HAEATA COMMUNITY CAMPUS ON TUESDAY MORNING WHEN SHE WAS INJURED. THE TEENAGER WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET, WHICH WILL BE PART OF AN UPCOMING WORKSAFE INVESTIGATION. THE NAMES HAVE BEEN RELEASED OF THE THREE YOUNG GIRLS WHO WERE FATALLY STABBED IN THE ENGLISH SEASIDE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHPORT AS THEY WERE ENJOYING A TAYLOR SWIFT THEMED DANCE AT A COMMUNITY CENTRE. FIVE OTHER CHILDREN AND TWO ADULTS WERE ALSO STABBED AND ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN HOSPITAL. TAYLOR SWIFT HAS EXPRESSED HER 'HORROR' AT THE ATTACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SAYS SHE'S "COMPLETELY IN SHOCK". ITV'S BEN CHAPMAN REPORTS. ALICE DA SILVA AGUIAR (9), BEBE KING(6), AND ELSIE DOT STANCOMBE (7) ` THREE GIRLS WHOSE PARENTS YESTERDAY DROPPED THEM OFF AT A HOLIDAY CLUB AND TODAY RELEASED STATEMENTS IN THEIR MEMORY. ALICE'S FAMILY SAID ` BEBE KING'S FAMILY SAID ` AND ELSIE'S HEADTEACHER SAID ` THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEY WERE REMEMBERED BY PEOPLE THEY'D NEVER MET. GENERATIONS BROUGHT TOGETHER IN SORROW AND ANGER AT AN ATTACK WHICH HAS HIT TOO CLOSE TO HOME. IT'S THE SAME ROOM THAT MY SON PLAYED FOR HOURS IN. PEOPLE WANT MORE ANSWERS. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY. THE GIRLS HAD BEEN DANCING TO TAYLOR SWIFT WHEN THE ATTACKER FORCED HIS WAY IN. TODAY SHE PAID HER OWN TRIBUTE, POSTING ` CLOSE TO WHERE THEY'D BEEN CONFRONTED WITH SUCH HORROR, THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE AMONG THOSE ADDING TO A WALL OF FLOWERS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID YESTERDAY. VISITING THEM THIS AFTERNOON, CLOSE TO WHERE THEY'D BEEN CONFRONTED WITH SUCH HORROR, THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE AMONG THOSE ADDING TO A WALL OF FLOWERS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID YESTERDAY. VISITING THEM THIS AFTERNOON, THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THEIR ACTIONS HAD UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED CHILDREN'S LIVES, AND SAID HIS THOUGHTS WERE WITH THE VICTIMS FAMILIES. BUT LATER, AFTER LAYING A WREATH AT THE POLICE CORDON... WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE FOR OUR CHILDREN? OUR CHILDREN ARE DYING HERE BECAUSE OF YOU. ...HE WAS HECKLED, A MEASURE OF THE DISCONTENT THAT WAS BREWING HERE. IS THAT IT? IS THAT ALL THE TIME YOU'VE GOT FOR US? MEANWHILE, THE POLICE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED, INCLUDING AT A HOUSE WHERE A MASKED INDIVIDUAL WAS FILMED IN FOOTAGE OBTAINED BY ITV NEWS, PACING AROUND SHORTLY BEFORE THE ATTACK. A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY REMAINS IN CUSTODY. IN THIS PLACE WHERE EMOTIONS ARE SO RAW, MOST PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE THREE GIRLS WHO WERE KILLED AND THE FIVE STILL CRITICALLY ILL IN HOSPITAL. THE GRIEF FELT THROUGHOUT SOUTHPORT HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY VIOLENCE AND ANGER ON THE TOWN'S STREETS. MISSILES HAVE BEEN THROWN AT RIOT OFFICERS AND A POLICE VAN WAS SET ON FIRE BY A LARGE CROWD OF PROTESTERS, BELIEVED TO BE SUPPORTERS OF THE FAR-RIGHT ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE GROUP. AT ONE POINT THEY GATHERED NEAR THE LOCAL MOSQUE, THROWING STONES TOWARDS THE BUILDING. LANDSLIDES HAVE SWEPT THROUGH TEA ESTATES AND VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN INDIA, KILLING MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE. HILLSIDES COLLAPSED FOLLOWING TORRENTIAL RAIN IN KERALA STATE, SENDING RIVERS OF MUD, WATER AND BOULDERS DOWN ONTO THE HOMES OF WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, MOST OF WHOM WERE ASLEEP AT THE TIME. THE LANDSLIDES HAVE CUT OFF AT LEAST FOUR VILLAGES, WITH RESCUE EFFORTS HAMPERED BY CONTINUED RAIN AND BLOCKED ROADS. ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS HAVE SPREAD THROUGHOUT VENEZUELA SINCE THE ELECTORAL COUNCIL DECLARED NICOLAS MADURO HAD WON A THIRD TERM IN SUNDAY'S ELECTION. OPPOSITION CANDIDATE EDMUNDO GONZALEZ - WHO SOUGHT TO PRIVATISE VENEZUELA'S OIL BUSINESS - SAYS HE RECEIVED MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY VOTES AS MADURO. CROWDS ARE OBJECTING TO ANOTHER SIX YEARS OF MADURO'S SOCIALIST CONTROL, WITH AN ECONOMY IN FREE FALL. ALMOST A FIFTH OF THE POPULATION HAS LEFT DURING MADURO'S 11 YEARS IN POWER. DOZENS OF JOBS ARE BEING CUT AT GNS. WE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT THE BIG CUTS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE MEANS FOR US AND THE CAPITAL. AND LATER IN SPORT, WE HAVE MORE ON THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS' STUNNING GOLD. PLUS ` WHO ELSE IS PUTTING THEMSELVES IN MEDAL CONTENTION? THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. ALL EYES ARE BACK ON PARIS TONIGHT TO SEE IF KIWI TRIATHLETE HAYDEN WILDE CAN ADD TO THE OLYMPIC GOLD WON BY THE SEVENS WOMEN THIS MORNING. A ROW'S BREWING IN PARLIAMENT BETWEEN ACT AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WHICH CULMINATED WITH ACT BEING FORBIDDEN FROM ASKING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT TODAY BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO REMOVE THEIR PARTY LAPEL PINS. AND IN DEVELOPING NEWS, HAMAS LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH HAS BEEN KILLED IN TEHRAN ` THE SECOND SIGNIFICANT ATTACK IN THE REGION IN RECENT DAYS. TWO TEENAGERS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO JAIL AFTER MURDERING JOSHUAH TASI (28) IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF BEACH HAVEN LAST YEAR. THE PAIR ` REVEALED TO BE BROTHERS ` STABBED TASI TO DEATH IN AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK. THE OLDER BROTHER HAS BEEN JAILED FOR 20 YEARS WITH 10 YEARS NON PAROLE, THE YOUNGEST ` JUST 15-YEARS-OLD ` HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS BEHIND BARS. THE ROPE USED IN PAULINE HANNA'S APPARENT SUICIDE HAS BEEN SCRUTINISED AT DAY THREE OF PHILIP POLKINGHORNE'S TRIAL FOR MURDER. THE CROWN ALLEGES THE FORMER EYE SURGEON STRANGLED HIS WIFE AND STAGED HER DEATH TO LOOK LIKE A SUICIDE AT THEIR REMUERA HOME IN 2021, BUT HIS LAWYERS SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A HOMICIDE. POLICE GIVING EVIDENCE TODAY HAVE DESCRIBED THE MOMENT THEY CONDUCTED A 'TENSION CHECK' ON THE ROPE AT THE SCENE, WHICH RAISED SUSPICIONS. AND IT SEEMED UNUSUAL AND NOT NORMAL THAT THE ROPE WOULD UNRAVEL IN THAT MANNER. WHY DO YOU SAY IT SEEMED UNUSUAL TO AN OFFICER, LOOKING AT IT THEN? BECAUSE NORMALLY I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IT WOULD HAVE LOCKED AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE UNRAVELLED. POLKINGHORNE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE MURDER CHARGE. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS. ONE IN FIVE STAFF AT GNS SCIENCE ` A GOVERNMENT RESEARCH DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING NATURAL HAZARDS ` COULD BE LAID OFF. IT'S JUST THE LATEST CUT TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THOUSANDS OF JOBS HAVE ALREADY BEEN LOST AS THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO SAVE $1bn. FOR STUFF EXPLAINED, POLITICAL REPORTER GLENN McCONNELL LOOKS AT THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING IN OUR CAPITAL CITY. WELLINGTON ` IT'S TE PAPA, IT'S COFFEE AND IT'S THE CAPITAL CITY. BUT THIS WINTER IT IS DOWN IN THE DUMPS. I THINK WELLINGTON'S GOING THROUGH A FEW BUMPS. YEAH, I'D SAY IT'S DEFINITELY GONE DOWNHILL A LITTLE BIT. THE CAPITAL IS NURSING ITSELF THROUGH THE WOUNDS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC SERVICE CUTS. ON THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, ALL THREE COALITION PARTIES MADE NO SECRET OF THEIR DESIRE TO SEE THE PUBLIC SERVICE SLASHED. WE'RE GOING TO STOP WOKE PET PROJECTS THAT ARE WASTEFUL. TOO MUCH BUREAUCRACY WAS CREATED. 16,000 MORE PUBLIC SERVANTS WERE ADDED INTO WELLINGTON. PEOPLE ARE ENORMOUSLY FRUSTRATED ABOUT GOVERNMENT WASTE, AND SOMETIMES IT'S A BIT OF FUN TO SAY, 'IF ONLY IT WOULD ALL JUST GO AWAY.' MAYBE WE COULD GET GUY FAWKES TO BLOW IT UP. AND SO IT CAME TO BE. IT ALL ADDS UP. WE SET OUT TO FIND BASELINE OPERATING SAVINGS OF $1.5bn A YEAR ON AVERAGE. AND IN THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT TARGET. THOSE SAVINGS MEANT JOBS HAD TO GO. AND SO TOO DID PROJECTS ` THINGS LIKE THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, FIRST YEAR FEES-FREE AND FREE PRESCRIPTIONS. ACROSS THE PUBLIC SERVICE, STAFF HAS CONFIRMED THAT 5700 FULL-TIME JOBS ARE GONE. THE MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND ORANGA TAMARIKI HAVE ALL SEEN THE BIGGEST NET LAYOFFS. BUT SOME SMALLER DEPARTMENTS HAVE TAKEN BIG HITS, FAR BEYOND THE 6.5% OR 7.5% SAVINGS THAT HAD BEEN CAMPAIGNED ON. 40% OF THE MINISTRY FOR PACIFIC PEOPLE'S WORKFORCE WAS DISESTABLISHED, WHILE THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DELIVERED SAVINGS OF LESS THAN 1%. THESE CUTS WERE KEY TO FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT'S CORE ELECTION PROMISE ` TAX CUTS. AND FOR ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR, THE LAYOFFS IN WELLINGTON ARE ALSO PART OF A LONGER GOAL TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT SMALLER. GOVERNMENT WASTE WILL BE SERIOUSLY REDUCED, BEGINNING WITH A COMMITMENT TO REDUCE NON-ESSENTIAL BACK OFFICE CIVIL SERVANTS BACK TO THE LEVELS WE SAW IN 2017. IN 2017, THERE WERE 47,000 PEOPLE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT. THAT GREW TO 65,000. SO WHILE FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS FOUND THE SAVINGS SHE NEEDED IN BUDGET 2024, IT WAS JUST THE START. THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 12,000 EXTRA PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR THAN THERE WERE IN 2017. THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO GROW SIGNIFICANTLY TO MANAGE THE PANDEMIC, AND THE POPULATION HAS ALSO GROWN, ALTHOUGH AT A SLOWER RATE THAN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. LABOUR ARGUES THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN LEFT CRIPPLED BEFORE IT CAME INTO POWER IN 2017 ` TOO SMALL TO ENACT CHANGE. THEY ALSO SAY THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO KEEP THE CUTS CONTAINED TO THE BACK OFFICE. WHILE ROLES SUCH AS POLICE OFFICERS AND PRISON GUARDS HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED, OTHER JOBS SUCH AS CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATORS AND CUSTOMS DOG TRAINERS HAVE BEEN DISESTABLISHED. ALREADY IN WELLINGTON, THE EFFECTS OF THE CUTBACKS ARE STARTING TO BE FELT. AND THERE WILL BE MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM. THE ACT-NATIONAL PARTY COALITION AGREEMENT SET A GOAL OF REDUCING THE BACK OFFICE PUBLIC SERVICE HEADCOUNT TO THE 2017 LEVELS. BUCKLE UP, WELLINGTON, FOR MORE TO COME. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, AND YOU'VE GOT MORE ON OUR SEVENS STARS? I TOLD YOU A MEDAL WAS COMING. IT WAS SUCH A FITTING MEDAL. WE HAD LEGENDS OF THE GAME BOWING OUT, ON THAT TEAM HAD BEEN GREAT AMBASSADORS FOR SPORT AND THE OLYMPICS FOR SO LONG, SO IT WAS SPECIAL TO SEE THEM GET THE GOLD. WE'RE LIVE TO PARIS, WHERE THE CELEBRATIONS MAY WELL STILL BE GOING AFTER A GOLDEN NIGHT AT STADE DE FRANCE. PLUS, OUR ROWING CREWS CONTINUE TO PROVE THEIR MEDAL CREDENTIALS AFTER ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY ON THE WATER. AND WHAT'S GOT COCO GAUFF SO FIRED UP AT ROLAND GARROS AS THE WORLD NUMBER TWO IS ELIMINATED FROM THE SINGLES. THE WAIT IS OVER ` NEW ZEALAND HAS ITS FIRST MEDAL OF THE PARIS OLYMPICS, AND THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS DID IT IN STYLE, SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDING THEIR OLYMPIC CROWN TO WIN GOLD. IT WASN'T COMPLETELY ONE-WAY TRAFFIC AGAINST CANADA IN THE FINAL THOUGH ` A FIRST-HALF YELLOW CARD TO DEPARTING LEGEND PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE SAW THE CANADIANS LEAD AT THE BREAK, BEFORE A SPIRITED COMEBACK CLINCHED KIWI GOLD. IMOGEN WELLS IS WITH US NOW FROM PARIS. IMOGEN, YOU WERE THERE LAST NIGHT. WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT? IT CERTAINLY WAS. IT SEEMS VERY FITTING THAT IT IS OUR BLACK FERNS SEVENS TO OPEN THE MEDALS. THEY HAVE BEEN DOMINANT, AND DID NOT GIVE AN INCH, EVEN WHEN THEY WERE DOWN SIX PLAYERS AND DOWN ON THE SCOREBOARD. THEY HAVE THE MEDAL HAUL OFF TO A GOLDEN START. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. GOAL FOR NEW ZEALAND. NEW ZEALAND'S GOLDEN GIRLS DELIVERING ON THE BIGGEST STAGE. CAN YOU QUITE PUT INTO WORDS HOW YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW? NOT REALLY. (LAUGHS) I HAD A LITTLE CRY AFTERWARDS. PROUD, HAPPY, STOKED, EXCITED. BUT YEAH, JUST` JUST EVERYTHING. MILLIONS OF EMOTIONS RUNNING THROUGH MY BODY RIGHT NOW. THE DEFENDING OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS GOT OFF TO THE PERFECT START, BUT THINGS TOOK A TURN WHEN RETIRING PORTIA WOODMAN WAS YELLOW-CARDED IN HER FINAL MATCH. THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS WERE MADE TO PAY ` CANADA SCORING TWICE TO LEAD 12-7 AT THE BREAK. IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE PLANNED FOR, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A YELLOW CARD, SO WE TRY TO STAY CALM AND COLLECTED, AND THEN WE LOOK AT OUR LEADERS AS TO WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE SAME MOMENT OF COMPOSURE DIDN'T APPLY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF KIWI FANS WHO HAD TRAVELLED TO PARIS, THOUGH. HOW WERE YOU FEELING AT HALFTIME? HALFTIME I WAS REALLY NERVOUS. EXTREMELY NERVOUS. YEAH, I HAD A BUNCH OF AMERICANS BEHIND ME CHEERING FOR CANADA. THAT WAS HARD. WE WERE EXTREMELY NERVOUS. WE HAD A LOT OF FRENCH PEOPLE AROUND US, WHICH WE MANAGED TO CONVERT INTO KIWI SUPPORTERS. WITH THE EXTRA SUPPORT BEHIND THEM, THEY FOUND ANOTHER GEAR... A CRITICAL TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND. ...TWO SECOND-HALF TRIES TURNING THE HALFTIME DEFICIT INTO DOUBLE OLYMPIC GOLD, AND WILD CELEBRATIONS. I LOVE THIS TEAM, AND SO IT WOULDN'T FEEL AS COOL AS THIS IF THE TEAM WASN'T AS AWESOME AS THEY ARE. THIS IS JUST SUCH AN EPIC EXPERIENCE, AND TO BE WITH THE GIRLS AND REALLY JUST SOAK IT ALL IN IS REALLY EPIC. AND THOSE MEDALS, WHICH THEY SO PROUDLY WORE DURING THIS MORNING'S MEDAL CEREMONY ` DON'T EXPECT THEM TO COME OFF ANYTIME SOON. IS SHE HEAVY? IS SHE HEAVY? SHE'S HEAVY. HAVE A FEEL. (LAUGHS) OH MY GOODNESS. SHE IS! MY NECK IS GOING TO BE SORE. IT'S QUITE HEAVY, BUT MAN, I LOVE IT. I COULD GET USED TO THIS. YEAH. IT'S AWESOME. PART OF THE EIFFEL TOWER RIGHT HERE. SO WE GET TO TAKE THAT HOME, WHICH IS PRETTY SPECIAL. WILL IT HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HOUSE, DO YOU KNOW? YEAH. MY DAD WILL NOT LET IT OUT OF HIS SIGHT. HE'LL BE WEARING IT, THROWING THE ANTLERS UP FOR SOUTHLAND. SO BIG UPS TO SOUTHLAND. AND AS THEY ESCAPED OFF INTO THE PARIS NIGHT, IT WAS LIKELY NOT JUST ANTLERS UP, BUT A DESERVED KNEES UP AS WELL. THE CHAMPAGNE SURE TO BE FLOWING FOR SOME TIME TO COME. OK IMOGEN, THE TRIATHLON HAS GOT UNDERWAY TODAY. HOW ARE THE KIWIS GETTING ON? AFTER SO MUCH WAITING AND WONDERING, WE HAVE SOME RACING, AND AFTER THE WOMEN'S SWIMMING LEG, WE HAVE AINSLEY THORPE, AND NICOLE VANDER KAY, AND THE DEFENDING CHAMPION FROM BERMUDA IS LEADING. ONCE THIS EVENT IS DONE, IT IS THE MEN'S TURN. HAYDEN WILDE WILL BE CHASING THE PODIUM. HE WILL BE LOOKING TO DO BETTER THAN HIS BRONZE IN TOKYO. HE IS CHASING THE PODIUM AND BELIEVES HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE CAN TO PUT HIMSELF IN PERFECT CONTENTION, SO WE COULD BE CELEBRATING ANOTHER METAL SOON. CIRCLING BACK TO THE SEVENS, I MANAGED TO CONVINCE ONE OF THE PLAYERS TO PUT THE MEDAL ON, AND IT WAS HEAVY, AND IT FELT GOOD ON MY NECK. AND THAT MEDAL TALLY COULD KEEP RISING IN THE COMING DAYS, WITH MORE PODIUM PROSPECTS ADVANCING THROUGH TO THE FINALS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EVENTS. THE ROWERS HAVE CONTINUED THEIR DOMINANCE, WITH TWO CREWS ALREADY BOOKING THEIR SPOT IN THE FINAL, AND OTHERS LOOKING GOOD TO DO THE SAME. LUCY THOMSON WRAPS UP ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY ON THE WATER. NOTHING SURPRISING HERE ABOUT THE QUARTERFINAL WINNER IN TWIGG. DEFENDING SINGLE SCULLS CHAMPION EMMA TWIGG ON COURSE FOR A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE OLYMPIC GAMES FINAL. THE 37-YEAR-OLD QUALIFYING FASTEST FOR THE SEMIS AFTER OVERCOMING A DETERMINED SWISS CHALLENGE. I ALWAYS LIKE A RACE, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU'VE HAD A PROPER BLOW-OUT. THE KIWI QUALIFYING MORE THAN TWO SECONDS AHEAD OF HER NEAREST RIVAL, TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION KAROLIEN FLORIJN OF THE NETHERLANDS, IN THE RACE PRIOR, BUT TWIGG KNOWS THERE'S A TIGHT CONTEST AHEAD. THE SEMI-FINALS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE FINALS IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. THERE'S A LOT OF GIRLS THAT REALLY WANT IT, SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE ON YOUR TOES IN A SEMI-FINAL. MENS' MEDAL FAVOURITE TOM MACKINTOSH ALSO ADVANCING TO THE SEMIS AFTER WINNING HIS QUARTER FINAL. AS MY POP WOULD SAY, IT'S REALLY FINALS FOOTY NOW. YEAH, HAPPY WITH MY PERFORMANCE THAT I COULD COME HOME WITH A WIN AND LOCK MYSELF IN. BOTH THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE SCULLS CREW OF BROOKE FRANCIS AND LUCY SPURS, AND MEN'S DOUBLE SCULLERS ROBBIE MANSON AND JORDAN PARRY ARE THROUGH TO THEIR RESPECTIVE A FINALS. OOH, I THINK THE AMERICANS THERE TOOK SECOND FROM THE KIWIS. AND ROUNDING OUT A SUCCESSFUL DAY ON THE WATER, KIWI SLALOM CANOEIST FINN BUTCHER MADE A SPLASH AMONGST THE SPORT'S BIGGEST NAMES TO SECURE A SPOT IN FRIDAY'S MEN'S K1 SEMI-FINAL. IT'S BEEN A MIXED DAY ON THE WATER FOR THE SAILORS, BUT BOTH 49ER CREWS REMAIN FIRMLY IN CONTENTION FOR THE MEDAL RACES. MOLLY MEECH AND JO ALEH MADE UP PLENTY OF GROUND IN THE 49ER FX CLASS, FINISHING THIRD, SECOND AND FIRST IN THEIR THREE RACES TODAY TO MOVE TO 7th OVERALL. IT WASN'T SUCH A GOOD DAY FOR ISAAC MCHARDIE AND WILL MCKENZIE IN THE 49ER, FALLING FROM FIRST TO THIRD OVERALL AFTER FINISHES OF 11th, 18th AND 17th. THE TOP 10 ADVANCE TO FRIDAY'S MEDAL RACE. WELL, NOW NEW ZEALAND IS ON THE BOARD, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE MEDAL TABLE IS SHAPING UP. WITH THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS' BRILLIANT GOLD MEDAL AT STADE DE FRANCE, NEW ZEALAND IS NOW 16th ON THE MEDAL TABLE. JAPAN IS STILL AT THE TOP WITH SEVEN GOLDS, WITH CHINA IN SECOND, AND AUSTRALIA ROUND OUT THE TOP THREE WITH SIX GOLDS SO FAR. A TEARFUL COCO GAUFF HAS LET RIP AT TENNIS OFFICIALS AFTER WHAT SHE FEELS WAS AN UNFAIR CALL IN HER THIRD ROUND EXIT IN PARIS. TRYING TO SAVE BREAK POINT IN THE SECOND SET, THE LINE UMPIRE CALLED A RETURN FROM DONNA VEKIC OUT, WHICH WAS THEN OVERRULED BY THE CHAIR UMPIRE. GAUFF FEELS THE INITIAL CALL INFLUENCED HER RETURN, WHICH ULTIMATELY WENT INTO THE NET- BUT NO OPPORTUNITY TO REPLAY THE POINT WAS OFFERED. THIS ISN'T FAIR! I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING CHEATED ON CONSTANTLY IN THIS GAME! I TRUST YOU TO BE FAIR LIKE THAT, AND I'M HAVING TO ARGUE. NO, BECAUSE I DO, I MEAN, YOU GUYS APOLOGISE AFTERWARDS, AND YOU GUYS SAY 'I'M SORRY, AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR ME IN THE MATCH? IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON HE RESULT, WITH GAUFF LOSING IN STRAIGHT SETS 7-6 6-2. THIS SEASON WILL BE JAZZ TEVAGA'S LAST WITH THE WARRIORS, WITH THE FORWARD DEPARTING THE SIDE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE 28-YEAR-OLD HAS PLAYED 133 GAMES FOR THE WARRIORS, AND HAD HOPED TO BE BACK NEXT SEASON. BUT HE'S REVEALED TO STUFF'S LEAGUE OF OUR OWN PODCAST THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. THE CLUB'S BEEN FANTASTIC FOR ME OVER THE YEARS, AND GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNIT WHICH I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR, BUT, YEAH, TIME FOR A FRESH START, BRO, WHICH WAS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW AT THE TIME, TAKING THE NEWS. TEVAGA SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER CLUBS ARE ONGOING. BACK HERE NOW, AND CALEB CLARKE HAS INKED A NEW DEAL WITH THE BLUES AND NEW ZEALAND RUGBY, KEEPING HIM HERE UNTIL THE END OF NEXT SEASON. CLARKE ENJOYED A STELLAR SEASON WITH THE BLUES DURING THEIR TITLE RUN THIS SEASON, BUT HAS FEATURED IN JUST ONE OF ALL BLACKS THREE TESTS SO FAR. HIS DESIRE TO ADD TO HIS LEGACY FOR BOTH CLUB AND COUNTRY MADE RE-SIGNING A NO BRAINER. THAT FIRE, FOR ME, STARTED A LONG TIME AGO. I CAN PROBABLY THINK BACK TO THAT 2023` END OF THAT SEASON, THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE THAT FIRE CAME FROM. BUT THEN AGAIN, WINNING THE WHOLE THING AND WANTING TO CREATE A LEGACY WITH THE BLUES DID ADD A FEW` A BIT MORE TO THE FLAMES. CLARKE SAYS THE DECISION TO SIGN FOR JUST ONE YEAR IS TO ENSURE ALL OPTIONS REMAIN AVAILABLE TO HIM BEYOND 2025. ANOTHER BIG NIGHT ON THE COUCH ` WOMEN'S TRIATHLON AND MEN SOON AFTER. WE COULD GET ANOTHER MEDAL. I HOPE THEY WILL BE OKAY ON THE RIVER. WE WILL SEE. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL SIGHT FOR BEACHGOERS IN RHODE ISLAND IN THE U.S AS A MASSIVE SWARM OF DRAGONFLIES TOOK OVER A BEACH. THE INSECTS WERE MET WITH A MIXED REACTION BY BEACH GOERS ` SOME TERRIFIED, AND SOME JUST IN AWE, WITH THEIR CAMERAS OUT CAPTURING THE EXPERIENCE. AN EXPERT SAID THE DRAGONFLIES WERE SIMPLY MIGRATING DOWN TO THE GULF OF MEXICO AS THEY DO EVERY YEAR. THEY DON'T STING OR BITE, AND ARE EVEN HELPFUL TO PEOPLE, AS THEY EAT MOSQUITOES ON THEIR FLIGHT PAST. HEATHER'S HERE NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING WEATHER. MUCH CALMER THAN THE LAST FEW DAYS? THINGS ARE SETTLING. JUST TWO ORANGE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNINGS, BUT THE HEAVY SNOW IN THE AREA WILL BE EASING RIGHT BACK BY TOMORROW MORNING. THEN IT GETS REALLY COLD. SEVERE FROST RETURNS OVERNIGHT FOR SPOTS LIKE ALEXANDRA, WITH MINUS 5 THE LOW. BLACK ICE ALSO AN ISSUE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WITH SOME OF THE LOWER ALTITUDE SNOW MELTING THEN FREEZING WITH THE SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES. MORE IN THE FULL FORECAST, NEXT. NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. THINGS ARE IMPROVING! WELL, FOR THE SOUTH THEY ARE. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS SPREADING OUT OVER A DECENT PART OF THE COUNTRY BUT THE TROUBLESOME TASMAN SEA LOW AND IT'S FRONTAL FRIENDS ARE STILL GATE-CRASHING, BUT MOVING NORTH TONIGHT. THE LOW CENTRE SHOULD LIE OVER THE NORTH TASMAN SEA BY MIDNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH THE FRONTS IMPACTING THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. FRIDAY, SATURDAY, MUCH THE SAME, SO IT'S MAINLY FINE TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. ANY RAIN WILL BE OUT EAST FROM CANTERBURY NORTH, WITH SHOWERS FOR BULLER AND NELSON. SNOW TO 300M. BUT 500 OVER MARLBOROUGH. TOMORROW THINGS IMPROVE ` FROST IN THE MORNING FOR SOUTHERN INLAND AREAS, WITH REDUCING SHOWERS OUT EAST ACROSS THE DAY. WINDS ALSO DYING OUT TOO. MORE ACTION HAPPENING OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, WITH HEAVY RAIN AT TIMES TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH FROM WHANGANUI ACROSS TO CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY. RAIN TOO IN THE NORTH, FROM WAIKATO ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP, THUNDERSTORMS, FOR NORTHLAND. TOMORROW, SCATTERED RAIN ALL OVER THE SHOW, WITH RAIN FOR GISBORNE, HEAVY UNTIL MIDDAY. SOUTH TO SOUEAST WINDS TOO, STRONG OVER THE CAPITAL. PLENTY OF CLOUD AND PLENTY OF SHOWERS, MIXED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BLUE SKY UP TOP. EASTERLIES FROM AUCKLAND NORTH, SOUEASTERS ELSEWHERE. RAIN ARRIVES FOR NORTHLAND IN THE EVENING. RAIN HERE TOO, MAINLY IN THE MORNING THOUGH, WITH SOUTH TO SOUEAST WINDS. THEY GET A LITTLE FRESH IN THE AFTERNOON FOR ROTORUA. RAIN, AND LIKELY TO BE HEAVY OUT EAST, EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE MORNING FROM HAWKE'S BAY SOUTH. GISBORNE, YOUR SHOWERS EASE TOMORROW NIGHT. SOUTH TO SOUEAST WINDS, STRONG IN THE MORNING. FINE SPELLS AND CLOUD AND SHOWERS, BUT THE SHOWERS ARE EASING. IT'S WINDY STRONG SOUEASTERLIES FOR TARANAKI AND WELLINGTON, NOT EASING TILL TOMORROW NIGHT. LOOKING GOOD IN THE SOUTH NOW. MORNING HIGH CLOUD CLEARS, THEN THE SUN IS OUT ALL DAY. EASTERLIES EASE IN THE MORNING, SOUEASTERS FOR REEFTON AND WESTPORT, AND NO WIND REALLY FOR NELSON. IMPROVING OUT EAST TOO ` TIME TO GET OUT ENJOY THE NEW SNOW! JUST A FEW SHOWERS REMAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH THE SOUTH OR SOUEASTERLY EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. NOT WARM THOUGH, AT ALL. IT WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND, BUT IT'S COLD. SEVERE FROST IN THE MORNING FOR INLAND SPOTS. RISK IS THERE FOR BLACK ICE, BUT IT'S MOSTLY DRY. AND WINDS ARE VERY LIGHT. DUNEDIN - A REPEAT OF TODAY REALLY ` PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS. THEY'LL CLEAR IN THE MORNING WITH MORE SUN DURING THE AFTERNOON. WINDS ARE LIGHT. CHRISTCHURCH, IMPROVING FOR YOU, WITH A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY, STILL WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND SOUTHERLIES. SO YES, COLD, FEELS LIKE HIGH OF 3, BUT FRIDAY WILL BE GREAT. YOU'VE HAD A BIT OF RAIN WELLINGTON ` YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW IT'S EASING, WITH JUST SHOWERS TOMORROW, AND MAINLY AROUND THE EASTERN HILLS. WINDY THOUGH, STRONG SOUEASTERS EASE TOMORROW NIGHT. RAIN FOR HAWKE'S BAY, AND IT WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE RANGES. BUT THE AFTERNOON IS BETTER, JUST WITH STRONG SOUEASTERLIES. MORE RAIN FOR YOU TAURANGA, BUT IT IS EASING IN THE MORNING. SOUEASTERLIES FOR THE DAY ` A LITTLE COOL ` WITH A FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF 10. MORE RAIN FOR HAMILTON, BUT EASING ALSO IN THE MORNING AROUND THE SAME TIME THE SOUEASTERLY DEVELOPS. AUCKLAND ` PLENTY OF CLOUD TOMORROW, WITH A FEW SHOWERS, AND A DEVELOPING SOUEASTERLY IN THE MORNING. HIGH OF 15, WILL FEEL LIKE 9. ANOTHER DAY OF SHOWERS FOR SYDNEY, AND COOL TEMPS THANKS TO THE SOUTHERLY FLOW. AND IT'S NICE FOR THE PACIFIC, A BIT CLOUDY FOR NEW CALEDONIA, AND JUST A FEW SHOWERS FOR SAMOA. FIRST WEEKEND OF AUGUST, IT'S NEARLY HERE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL BE WET FOR NORTHLAND, THAT LOW CONTINUING TO DISH UP THE RAIN IN AN EASTERLY FLOW. MUCH BETTER HERE, WITH ONLY SHOWERS OUT EAST, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND LIKELY SUNDAY. SHOWERS TOO FOR WELLINGTON, BUT THE WIND IS SETTLING, AND THE WEEKEND IS GREAT HERE. NOT A BAD END TO THE WEEK FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND ` A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS FRIDAY IN THE NORTH, BUT THAT'S IT. AND COLD AND FROSTY BUT FINE AND SETTLED FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND, JUST SHOWERS ON SUNDAY FOR SOUTHLAND. AND FINALLY - WE'LL CLOSE OUT THE WEATHER WITH KIDS JUST BEING KIDS IN THE SNOW. WHAT A COOL PART OF THE COUNTRY TO GO TO SCHOOL IN! I LOVE A SNOW DAY. I AM HANGING ONTO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT FOUR MORE WEEKS OF WINTER. EARLIER WE ASKED YOU IF THE TAX CUTS WHICH HAVE COME INTO EFFECT TODAY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU, AND MOST OF YOU ` 76% ` SAY NO, THEY WON'T. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A SOUTH ISLAND BAKERY HAS TAKEN OUT THE SUPREME PIE AWARD. OUT OF 5,000 ENTRIES FROM 545 BAKERS, ARLYN THOMPSON FROM ARTISAN BY RANGIORA BAKERY WON THE TOP PRIZE FOR HER SLOW COOKED SUMATRA STYLE BEEF PIE. THE JUDGES SAID, AND I QUOTE, 'ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT, THAT'S THE PIE YOU WANT TO EAT.' FILLY SHE MAKES A VEGETARIAN ONE TOO. 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 SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE, I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND KATE MCCULLOUGH CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024