AN HOUR OF POWER ENDS WITH A FULL SET OF MEDALS FOR OUR ROWERS, WITH SUPER-MUMS BROOKE FRANCIS AND LUCY SPOOR LEADING THE CHARGE. SURVIVORS SAY THEY'VE BEEN MADE TO FEEL LIKE MARCH 15 NEVER HAPPENED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ENDS ITS RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK. GENDER ELIGIBILITY IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE OLYMPICS AFTER A FEMALE BOXER QUITS A BOUT, SAYING SHE 'FEARED FOR HER LIFE'. PLUS WE FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING BEEF AND LAMB PRICES TO SOAR. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 TENA TATOU KATOA. MALO E LELEI. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. WE'VE ALL HEARD OF SUPER MUMS WHO CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING ` EVEN WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD IN ROWING LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER GIVING BIRTH. DESPITE ONLY TEAMING UP LAST YEAR, AND NOT HAVING WON ANY PREVIOUS EVENTS TOGETHER, BROOKE FRANCIS AND LUCY SPOOR HUNG ON OVER A GRUELLING LAST 500m TO WIN THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE SCULLS, PIPPING ROMANIA BY LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A SECOND. AND THAT WAS JUST THE START FOR OUR ROWING TEAM, WHICH SOON ADDED A BRONZE IN THE WOMEN'S COX-LESS FOUR AND COMPLETING THE SET WITH SILVER FOR THE MEN'S FOUR. IMOGEN WELLS JOINS US FROM PARIS. IMOGEN, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY FOR NEW ZEALAND ROWING. LAURA, 24-HOUR IS AGO NEW ZEALAND HAD TWO MEDALS, NOW WE HAVE FIVE AFTER THAT SPECTACULAR DAY ON THE WATER, AS THOSE GOLD MEDALLISTS WHO IS IT MENTIONED, HAD BECOME OVERNIGHT INSPIRATIONS, BECAUSE THEY PROVE THAT MUMS REALLY CAN DO ANYTHING. ('GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND' PLAYS) ...AFTER CLAIMING NEW ZEALAND'S SECOND GOLD OF THE PARIS OLYMPICS. HAS THIS MEDAL SUNK IN FOR YOU YET? ABSOLUTELY NOT. (LAUGHS) THE PAIR JUST MANAGED TO PIP THE WORLD CHAMPIONS FROM ROMANIA TO WIN THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE SCULL FINAL ON THURSDAY NIGHT. BUT IT ISN'T JUST THE VICTORY THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING ` ALSO THAT THE MEDALLISTS HAD BABIES IN 2022 BEFORE RETURNING TO ELITE SPORT. OUR GOAL THIS SEASON WAS TO BE GREAT MUMS AND TO BE GREAT ROWERS, AND WE KNEW THAT WE COULDN'T DO ONE IN ISOLATION OF THE OTHER. FORMER ROWER SONIA WADDELL, NEE SCOWN, KNOWS HOW HARD RETURNING TO PROFESSIONAL SPORT CAN BE. WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO COME BACK AS MUM 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS IT WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD AT ALL. IT WAS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR HEADS AROUND. SHE REPRESENTED NEW ZEALAND AT THE ROWING WORLD CHAMPS WHEN HER DAUGHTER SOPHIE WAS JUST 10 MONTHS OLD, AND AT THE ATHENS OLYMPICS IN 2000 WHEN HER DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST 2. BUT SHE ADMITS THINGS ARE FINALLY CHANGING. BECAUSE YOU HAVE DECIDED TO START A FAMILY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STOP YOUR SPORT. YOU CAN CARRY ON AND BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND OUR SUPER-MUMS ARE LIVING PROOF. ONCE WE KNEW WE WERE IN PARIS, IT WAS SORT OF, HOW HIGH CAN WE PUSH THE CEILING? WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE, AND WE ARE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER WORKING MUMS GOING BACK TO WORK. NOW IT'S TIME FOR A WELL-EARNED BREAK, NOT THAT MOTHERS EVER REALLY GET TIME OFF. AMAZING STUFF FROM OUR ROWING TEAM THERE, IMOGEN. BUT ON NOW TO ONE OF THE CONTROVERSIES OF THE GAMES, AND THE ISSUE OF GENDER ELIGIBILITY IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT. THIS TIME IN BOXING. YES, AN ITALIAN BOXER QUIT HER BOUT JUST 45 SECONDS INTO THE ROUND AFTER TAKING A HEAVY PUNCH FROM HER OPPONENT. SHE SAID IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO FIGHT HER ALGERIAN COMPETITOR, IMANE KHELIF, WHO HAS BEEN CLEARED TO COMPETE AT THE OLYMPICS BUT IS BARRED FROM THE WORLD CHAMPS AFTER FAILING A GENDER ELIGIBILITY TEST. ITV'S STEVE SCOTT HAS MORE. IMANE KHELIF HAS BEEN AT THE CENTRE OF SCRUTINY EVER SINCE SHE WAS DISQUALIFIED FROM LAST YEAR'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FOLLOWING A TEST WHICH ORGANISERS SAID PROVED SHE HAD A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER FEMALE BOXERS. BUT SHE DOES MEET THE OLYMPICS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, SO IS CLEAR TO FIGHT IN PARIS. SOLID, STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND. AFTER JUST 45 SECONDS OF HER BOUT TODAY, KHELIF'S OPPONENT, THE ITALIAN ANGELA CARINI, ABANDONED THE CONTEST AFTER TAKING A SECOND BIG PUNCH. LATER, SHE TOLD REPORTERS, 'I COULDN'T FIGHT ANY MORE. 'I FELT A STRONG PAIN IN MY NOSE. IT'S NOT SURRENDER, 'BUT HAVING THE MATURITY TO STOP. 'I HAD TO PRESERVE MY LIFE IN THAT MOMENT.' OUTSIDE THE BOXING ARENA, ALGERIAN FANS SAID THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST KHELIF WAS A WITCH HUNT AND SHE IS THEIR HEROINE. SHE HAS REALLY GENUINE CHANCES TO GET A GOLD MEDAL, AND IT'S A TACTIC TO GET HER DESTABILISED. SHE IS AN ALGERIAN ATHLETE, A WOMAN. SO WE SUPPORT IMANE KHELIF. AHEAD OF THE FIGHT, THE BODY WHICH BANNED KHELIF AND ANOTHER FEMALE BOXER WHO'S HERE IN PARIS AND IS DUE TO FIGHT TOMORROW, CRITICISED THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE'S STANCE HERE, SAYING IT RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPETITIVE FAIRNESS AND ATHLETE SAFETY. THEY HAVE COMPETED AND THEY CONTINUE TO COMPETE IN THE WOMEN'S COMPETITION. THEY HAVE LOST AND THEY HAVE WON AGAINST OTHER WOMEN. PREDICTABLY, TODAY'S EVENTS HAVE PROVOKED EXTREME REACTIONS. THEY WILL ONLY GET LOUDER IN THE DAYS AHEAD, AND FOR THE IOC, THEY WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE. FINALLY, IMOGEN, IT WAS A GOLDEN NIGHT FOR ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST STAR OF THE OLYMPICS. YES, AMERICAN GYMNAST SIMONE BILES HAS MADE HISTORY, WINNING GOLD IN THE ALL-AROUND FINAL FOR A SECOND TIME. ONLY TWO OTHER WOMEN HAVE TAKEN OUT THE SPORT'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS TITLE MORE THAN ONCE. BUT A GOLD MEDAL ` HER SIXTH OVERALL ` WASN'T THE ONLY PIECE OF JEWELLERY SHE WAS SHOWCASING. THE 27-YEAR-OLD DISPLAYING A DIAMOND ENCRUSTED GOAT NECKLACE, CEMENTING HER STATUS AS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. BACK HERE, THE GOLD MEDAL WINNING BLACK FERN SEVENS HAVE ARRIVED HOME WITH OLYMPICS BLING ON DISPLAY. TYLA KING LED THE TEAM OUT AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT THIS MORNING, HER NIECE AND NEPHEW EVEN HAD A GOLD MEDAL OF THEIR OWN FOR THE PLAYER. THE BLACK FERNS BECAME BACK-TO-BACK OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS AFTER WINNING THE COUNTRY'S FIRST GOLD MEDAL IN PARIS, BEATING CANADA 19-12. THE EMOTIONS ARE STILL VERY HIGH, I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL COME DOWN, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WILL FULLY SINK IN, BUT WHEN IT DOES I'LL PROBABLY BAWL MY EYES OUT (CHUCKLES). IT WAS LIKE, IN FRONT OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, 66,000 ODD PEOPLE AND ONE TOURNAMENT THAT EVERYTHING JUST CLICKED PERFECTLY, WE FOUND THAT FLOW, AND IT WAS FROM DAY ONE ALL THE WAY UNTIL THAT LAST GAME. WE TRIED NOT TO FOCUS ON IT TOO MUCH, THOUGH? OTHERWISE YOU LOSE THE MOMENT OF ENJOYING THE JOURNEY AND WE DID THAT, EVERY SINGLE DAY WE MADE SURE WE TURNED UP, JUST ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S COMPANY, HAD A BIT OF FUN, HAD A LITTLE BIT OF LAUGHTER, AND THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT IT ALL. A QUICK TURNAROUND FOR SOME OF THE PLAYERS HEADING ACROSS THE DITCH TO THE NRL THOUGH, STACEY WAAKA IS JOINING THE BRONCOS AND TYLA KING IS HEADED TO THE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS. TO OTHER NEWS NOW ` AND SURVIVORS AND VICTIM'S FAMILIES SAY THEY'VE BEEN MADE TO FEEL LIKE MARCH 15 NEVER HAPPENED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ENDED ITS OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE TERROR ATTACK. IT'S DITCHING THE FINAL EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INQUIRY, AND AT A COMMUNITY MEETING HELD TO EXPLAIN THE DECISION TODAY, MINISTERS LEFT SOME IMPORTANT PEOPLE OFF THE GUEST LIST, INCLUDING THE IMAM OF AL NOOR MOSQUE WHERE MOST OF THE 51 VICTIMS WERE KILLED. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY REPORTS. JUDITH COLLINS AND MATT DOOCEY ARRIVING AT A SMALL COMMUNITY CENTRE IN CHRISTCHURCH WHERE THEY'D INVITED THE MARCH 15 COMMUNITY TO HEAR THEIR PLANS. SALAM ALAYKUM. LESS THAN 10 MINUTES LATER, THEY LEFT. THEY THEN CAME TO THE MEDIA CONFERENCE THEY'D CALLED, WHERE THEY STAYED LONGER TO SAY THEY'RE BINNING EIGHT ROYAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS. THOSE NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, DEVELOPING AN ACCESSIBLE REPORTING SYSTEM TO REPORT CONCERNING BEHAVIOUR, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND AMENDING LEGISLATION ON HATE SPEECH. ON MARCH 15 2019, A TERRORIST OPENED FIRE ON WORSHIPPERS AT THE AL NOOR MOSQUE AND LINWOOD ISLAMIC CENTRE IN CHRISTCHURCH, KILLING 51 PEOPLE AND INJURING DOZENS OF OTHERS. TODAY ANNOUNCING THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IS NOW ALSO OFFICIALLY ENDING. COLLINS THINKS FIVE YEARS IS THE RIGHT TIME. ROSEMARY OMAR, WHO LOST HER SON TARIQ ON MARCH 15, ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY MEETING AND TOLD THREE NEWS THERE WERE MORE PARLIAMENTARY STAFF, INCLUDING POLICE, THAN THERE WERE MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. ROSEMARY OMAR SAID IT FELT LIKE THE OXYGEN HAD BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THE ROOM. MANY WHO ATTENDED SAID THEY WERE VERY UPSET AT THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT THERE AND WHAT THEY SAY IS A COMPLETE LACK OF REAL UNDERSTANDING OR COMPASSION BY JUDITH COLLINS OR THE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO THE IMAM OF AL NOOR, WHO FIRST HEARD THAT THIS MEETING WAS EVEN HAPPENING FROM THREE NEWS. HE SAID HE WASN'T TOLD AND HE WASN'T INVITED. THE OPPOSITION SAYS THEY WEREN'T CONSULTED AND THEY WOULD HAD SEEN ALL RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH AS WAS PROMISED. THERE WAS STILL SOME WORK OUTSTANDING BEFORE THE ELECTION THAT WE HADN'T YET FINISHED. I THINK IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT NOT ONLY ARE WALKING AWAY FROM THAT, BUT HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO ENGAGE WITH THE FAMILIES ABOUT THAT DECISION. THAT'S A REAL SLAP IN THE FACE FOR THEM. THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH HELL. DO YOU THINK ENOUGH'S BEEN DONE TO ENSURE WE'LL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER MARCH 15 IN THIS COUNTRY? WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY FOOLISH FOR ANYONE TO SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN LIKE THAT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. NOT WHAT THE IMPACTED COMMUNITY WANTS TO HEAR, WITH THE GOVERNMENT ENDING ITS RESPONSE TO NEW ZEALAND'S DARKEST DAY. AND JULIET SPEEDY JOINS US NOW. JULIET, HOW DO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FEEL ABOUT THE EIGHT ROYAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BEING DISCARDED? EVERYONE I'VE SPOKEN TO FEELS DISMAYED AND DISAPPOINTED THEY WERE PROMISED THE ROYAL COMMISSION WOULD AFFECT CHANGE AND CHANGE TO THIS COUNTRY. SHE FEELS PARTICULARLY UPSET ABOUT THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE GOING SOME DID WANT TO MEET THE TERRORIST AND THE TERRORISTS MOTHER AND HAVE A MOTHER TO MOTHER CONVERSATION, AND WITH SOME OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN HAPPENED FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT THIS IS TRAUMA THAT WILL LAST FOREVER, AND JUDITH COLLINS STUDIED KNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY. THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF ALL BLACK GREAT, JONAH LOMU, IS ACCUSED OF BEING INVOLVED IN A DRUG RING THAT IMPORTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF METH INTO THE COUNTRY. JOHN MAKATOA LOMU APPEARED IN THE MANUKAU DISTRICT COURT WHERE HIS NAME SUPPRESSION LAPSED. HE'S FACING CHARGES OF IMPORTING AND POSSESSING METH LOMU PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES AND WILL FACE A JURY TRIAL IN OCTOBER. AUCKLAND'S SKYCITY CASINO HAS ANNOUNCED THE EXACT DATES IT WILL SHUT DOWN AS PART OF ITS PUNISHMENT FOR FAILING TO MEET ITS HOST RESPONSIBILITY OBLIGATIONS TO A FORMER CUSTOMER. IT'LL CLOSE FOR FIVE DAYS FROM SEPTEMBER 9 TO 13 AFTER REACHING AN AGREEMENT WITH INTERNAL AFFAIRS. IT'S UNDERSTOOD THE SHUTDOWN WILL COST SKYCITY ABOUT $5M. IT'S THE FIRST VOLUNTARY CLOSURE OF A CASINO HERE. AN AUSTRALIAN BID TO TAKE OVER THE WAREHOUSE HAS FALLEN THROUGH. THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM, BACKED BY FOUNDER SIR STEPHEN TINDALL, PROPOSED A $590M BID FOR THE WAREHOUSE RETAIL GROUP. BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE THE REQUIRED 75% SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT. IT'S BEEN REPORTED TINDALL WANTED TO REPOSITION THE WAREHOUSE TO BECOMING A THIRD PLAYER IN THE SUPERMARKET INDUSTRY. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE DAY'S WEATHER. LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD ANOTHER ROUND OF AWESOME PHOTOS SENT IN, HEATHER? WHAT I'M LOVING IS HOW PEOPLE ARE SENDING IN SHOTS THAT FIT THE PURPLE THEME OF OUR STUDIO. EXAMPLE A FROM TE ANAU. EXAMPLE B FROM NELSON. THE RAIN TODAY HAS GENERALLY BEEN OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. KAIKOHE PICKING UP THE MOST WITH JUST SHY OF 40mm. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TOO. WELLINGTON ALSO HAD A FEED OF ONSHORE SOUTHERLY SHOWERS, BUT IT WILL EASE OFF TONIGHT. AND TOMORROW LOOKS GREAT THERE. UNLIKE NORTHLAND, WHICH IS WET ALL WEEKEND. DETAILS AFTER SPORT WITH LUCY. COMING UP ` A RARE MOMENT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN MOSCOW AND THE WEST SEES 24 PRISONERS EXCHANGED IN A LANDMARK SWAP INVOLVING SEVEN COUNTRIES. AND AS BREWERY CLOSURES BECOME ALARMINGLY REGULAR, WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY CAN BOUNCE BACK. POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED THE REMAINS FOUND IN A SHALLOW GRAVE ON A CANTERBURY FARM BELONG TO YANFEI BAO. A FORENSIC POST MORTEM WAS COMPLETED TODAY. IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE THE REAL ESTATE AGENT WENT MISSING, AND THE DISCOVERY OF HER REMAINS AT A RURAL GREENPARK PROPERTY ON TUESDAY CAME EIGHT WEEKS AFTER NEW INFORMATION CAME TO LIGHT. POLICE SAY THEY CAN'T SHARE FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE POST-MORTEM AS THERE'S A PENDING MURDER TRIAL. A PLANE CARRYING THREE AMERICANS HELD CAPTIVE IN RUSSIA, INCLUDING JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVIC, HAS TOUCHED DOWN ON U.S SOIL. THEY WERE AMONG 24 PEOPLE FREED IN THE LARGEST PRISONER SWAP BETWEEN MOSCOW AND THE WEST SINCE THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION. THE U.S HAD BEEN PUSHING FOR FORMER RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ALEXEI NAVALNY, TO BE PART OF THE EXCHANGE, BUT HE DIED IN FEBRUARY BEFORE IT COULD HAPPEN. IT'S BELIEVED A BOMB SMUGGLED INTO A HEAVILY GUARDED COMPOUND IN TEHRAN MONTHS AGO, IS WHAT KILLED HAMAS LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH. THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS DETONATED REMOTELY, SHATTERING WINDOWS AND PARTIALLY COLLAPSING AN EXTERIOR WALL. WHILE ISRAEL HAS NOT PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ASSASSINATION, IT CLAIMS TO HAVE KILLED ANOTHER HAMAS LEADER. THE IDF SAYS AN AIRSTRIKE IN GAZA LAST MONTH TOOK OUT MUHAMMAD DEIF, THE HEAD OF THE GROUP'S ARMED WING. IT'S CLAIMED HE WAS ONE OF THE ORGANISERS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED BEEF AND LAMB BECOMING RARE, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LIKE YOUR STEAKS. BUTCHERS SAY RED MEAT IS IN SHORT SUPPLY, AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS BELIEVE IT COULD BE DOWN TO POOR GRASS GROWTH. CAROLINE WILLIAMS EXPLAINS. WITH LESS BEEF AND LAMB AROUND... (COWS LOW) ...BUTCHERS ARE WARNING OF COSTLIER CUTS OF MEAT FOR MONTHS TO COME. THE PRICING IS INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY. WE'RE NOW BUYING OUR BEEF AT THE PRICE WE USED TO SELL IT AT, SO VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. THAT'S IF THERE IS ANY RED MEAT TO SELL AT ALL. THIS AUCKLAND BUTCHER SAYS HE'S COME CLOSE TO RUNNING OUT COMPLETELY. YEAH, OF COURSE SUPPLY IS A REAL ISSUE. SO WE'RE HAVING TO CONTACT A LOT OF DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS TO ENSURE THAT WE STILL GET PRODUCT IN SO THAT WE CAN SUPPLY OUR CUSTOMER. BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE KIT ARKWRIGHT SAYS IT'S NORMAL TO SEE A DIP IN SUPPLY AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS SEASON'S SCARCITY IS UNUSUAL. TRADITIONALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T THE GRASS GROWTH, THERE WON'T BE AS MANY LIVESTOCK THAT ARE READY TO BE PROCESSED AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. HOWEVER, DUE TO SOME OF THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS EARLIER IN THE YEAR, THAT LED FARMERS TO SEND LIVESTOCK OFF TO BE PROCESSED EARLIER IN THE SEASON THAN THEY PERHAPS MIGHT NORMALLY HAVE DONE. MEANWHILE, $1.1B WORTH OF RED MEAT WAS EXPORTED IN MAY, UP 3% ON 2023. THE VALUE ALSO WENT UP BY 9%, PUTTING MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF KIWI FARMERS. BUT THE SHORTAGE HAS NOT BEEN SO GREAT ON THE POCKETS OF KIWI CONSUMERS. SECONDARY CUTS, SUCH AS LAMB FLAPS AND BEEF CHEEKS, HAVE ALSO SHOT UP IN PRICE. THE CHEAPER CUTS ARE NO LONGER CHEAPER CUTS, REALLY. HE SAYS IT'S A CHALLENGE KEEPING PRICES AFFORDABLE. I WORK REALLY HARD TO TRY AND KEEP OUR PRICES AS LOW AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE CONSUMERS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING AS WELL AT THE MOMENT. BUT THERE'S HOPE ON THE HORIZON. WE LOOK TO THE SPRING WHEN THERE'LL BE WARMER WEATHER. LIKELY THE GRASS GROWTH WILL GO UP, AND THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE SUPPLY COMING ON. IN THE MEANTIME, THE ADVICE FOR CONSUMERS LOOKING TO MAKE THEIR MEAT GO FURTHER IS TO TRY SLOW COOKING CUTS, OR MIX SOME LENTILS INTO YOUR MINCE. COMING UP ` THE COUNTRY'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH CRAFT BEER BLOSSOMED PRE-PANDEMIC. BUT SINCE THEN, OUR THIRST FOR THE LIQUID GOLD APPEARS TO HAVE WANED. CAN THE INDUSTRY SURVIVE? AND THE DEPARTMENT STORE THAT'S DEFYING RETAIL EXPECTATIONS WITH QUEUES OUT THE DOOR. AND LATER IN SPORT, WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THE ACTION ON THE WATER AS OUR ROWERS WENT ON A MEDAL BLITZ IN PARIS. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. BROOKE FRANCIS AND LUCY SPOOR HAVE ADDED GOLD TO OUR OLYMPIC TALLY, OVERCOMING SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND BREAST FEEDING DEMANDS WHILE TRAINING TO WIN THE DOUBLE SCULLS. SURVIVORS AND VICTIM'S FAMILIES OF MARCH 15 ARE FURIOUS THE GOVERNMENT HAS ENDED ITS OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE TERROR ATTACK. IT'S DITCHING THE FINAL EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ROYAL COMMISSION INQUIRY. THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF ALL BLACK GREAT JONAH LOMU IS ACCUSED OF BEING INVOLVED IN A DRUG RING THAT IMPORTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF METH INTO THE COUNTRY. WELL, THE POLITICAL WEEK HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY HEALTH ` OR THE ILL-HEALTH ` OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM, BUT ALSO, TAX CUTS, MPS BEHAVING BADLY AND PIN-GATE ` A STOUSH OVER MPS WEARING LAPEL PINS WITH THEIR PARTY LOGOS. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH AND CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT TOVA O'BRIEN ARE WITH ME NOW TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THIS. HEY, GUYS. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. JENNA, LET'S START WITH YOU. THE HEALTH MINISTER HAS HAD A HUGE WEEK. NO DOCTOR OVERNIGHT AT DARGAVILLE HOSPITAL; THE NEED FOR A TELEHEALTH BACKUP AT KENEPURU HOSPITAL, TOO; AND LET'S NOT FORGET NURSES PROTESTING IN THAMES OVER STAFFING SHORTAGES. HOW HAS SHANE RETI HANDLED IT ALL? HE DEFINITELY COULD HAVE HANDLED THIS BETTER. THESE ARE THE CONCERNS COMING OUT FROM FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND PATIENTS. THOSE ARE THE VOICES THAT THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT WANTS TO LISTEN TO OVER THE SO-CALLED BUREAUCRATS AT HEALTH NEW ZEALAND AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. THAT'S LAUNCHED A KIND OF WAR ON THOSE GUYS AND WANTS US TO LISTEN TO THE FRONTLINE CONCERNS. BUT WHEN THOSE NURSES CAME OUT AND STARTED PROTESTING AT THAMES HOSPITAL, SAYING THERE WERE 20 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT SHORT, THE HEALTH MINISTER WAS QUITE DISMISSIVE OF IT, MAINTAINING HIS LINE THAT THERE IS NO HIRING FREEZE AND GAVE NO SORT OF SOLUTIONS AS TO WHEN THAT SITUATION MIGHT BE ENDING. THE SAME WITH DARGAVILLE HOSPITAL. HIS FIRST REACTION TO THAT NEWS OUT OF DARGAVILLE HOSPITAL WASN'T TO GO AND FIND OUT HOW MANY OTHER HOSPITALS THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING AT. HIS FIRST MOVE WAS TO GO AND FIND OUT HOW MANY TIMES IT HAD HAPPENED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS UNDER LABOUR'S WATCH. SO PLAYING A GAME OF FINGER-POINTING IN A BLAME GAME RATHER THAN SOLUTION-FINDING. DOMINATING THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK, TOVA, WHAT ABOUT THE PRIME MINISTER? SHOULD HE BE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS IS ALL PLAYING OUT? YEAH, I THINK HE SHOULD. I MEAN, THAT HEALTH MINISTER ROLE IS THE ULTIMATE HOSPITAL PASS IN THE CABINET, BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET IT PERFECT. ALSO, POLITICALLY, IF YOU DON'T GET IT RIGHT, IF YOU FAIL IN THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO, IT IS A FAST TRACK TO EROSION IN TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT. IT ALSO OVERSHADOWS THINGS. AS WE SAW THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO LAUD ITS TAX CUTS COMING INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK. THE HEALTH DEBACLE OVERSHADOWED ALL OF THAT. AND ANOTHER TOPIC THAT'S REALLY BEEN DOMINATING THE HEADLINES, JENNA, THESE TINY LITTLE BADGES ON LAPELS. WHY ARE THEY CAUSING SO MUCH DRAMA? THE ACT PARTY PERHAPS GOT A BIT OF A TASTE OF ITS OWN MEDICINE, WITH THE SPEAKER IMPLEMENTING A KIND OF GANG PATCH BAN OF HIS OWN SORTS, AND PARLIAMENT BANNING THE DISPLAY OF PARTY LOGOS. ACT THREW ITS TOYS OUT OF THE COTS. SAID IT DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE OFF ITS LITTLE LAPEL PINS OFF ITS SUIT JACKET, BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO WEAR THEM IN THE PAST. BASICALLY, IT ENDED UP THAT THESE GUYS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN QUESTION TIME. NOW, ACT ARGUES THAT THEIR BROADER POINT WAS THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THE SPEAKER WAS FOCUSING ON THE RIGHT ISSUE. THEY WERE UPSET WITH HIM THAT HE HADN'T RESPONDED TO A COMPLAINT THAT THEY HAD MADE. KAREN CHHOUR, THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER, WHO SAID SHE HAS FACED AN UNREASONABLE LEVEL OF PERSONAL ATTACKS AND ACTUALLY GOT QUITE AFFECTED BY IT, BROKE DOWN IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THREE NEWS, STARTED CRYING ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, AND THAT HAS KIND OF HAD THIS DOMINO EFFECT OF, MAYBE, A LOOK AT THE CULTURE IN PARLIAMENT. BACK TO PIN-GATE THOUGH ` THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THEY WERE SQUABBLING OVER A 1cm2 PIN, AND IT ENDED UP THAT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. THAT IS A FAILURE OF MPS IN THIS HOUSE. AND THE PUBLIC HATES THAT STUFF TOO AS WELL ` THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT MINISTERS WEREN'T ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT BECAUSE THEY WERE SO INTENT ON DEFENDING THEIR RIGHT TO WEAR A LOGO ON THEIR CHESTS. I'D ALSO POINT OUT THAT WE HAD THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER, KAREN CHHOUR, ON OUR STUFF POLITICAL PODCAST TOVA. AFTER JENNA'S INTERVIEW WITH HER, WHEN SHE WAS REALLY EMOTIONAL, AND WITH US, SHE WAS REALLY DEFENSIVE. WE WERE ASKING HER ABOUT BOOT CAMPS. WE WERE SEEKING REASSURANCES THAT SOME OF THE PRACTICES OF THE PAST, THE ABUSE OF THE PAST, AS WAS OUTLINED IN THE ROYAL COMMISSION ` THAT IT WOULDN'T BE REPEATED AGAIN IN THESE NEW GOVERNMENT BOOT CAMPS. AND INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING THOSE ASSURANCES ` AND SHE DID GIVE SOME ` KAREN CHHOUR, INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING THOSE ASSURANCES, SHE GOT REALLY DEFENSIVE, CALLED THE QUESTIONS 'REVOLTING', SAID WE WERE RETRAUMATIZING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. IT WAS A REALLY UNUSUAL RESPONSE FROM THE MINISTER BEFORE SHE KIND OF ABRUPTLY TOOK OFF HER HEADPHONES AND LEFT THE INTERVIEW AS WELL. SO I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THERE AS WELL. I HOPE, A) THAT THE ACT PARTY IS WRAPPING AROUND KAREN CHHOUR AND GIVING HER THE SUPPORT THAT SHE NEEDS, BUT ALSO, B) THERE ARE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED ALREADY BY THE OPPOSITION, BY CHRIS HIPKINS OF THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT KAREN CHHOUR IS ACTUALLY UP TO THE JOB. TOVA, JUST VERY QUICKLY, THE GREEN MP JULIE-ANNE GENTER HAS BEEN SANCTIONED. HOW BAD IS THAT FOR HER AND THE GREENS? YEAH. SO THIS AFTER SHE CROSSED THE FLOOR OF THE PARLIAMENT, STOOD OVER NATIONAL MP MATT DOOCEY, YELLED AT HIM. SHE HAS BEEN CENSURED BY THE PARLIAMENT. SHE HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY THE PARLIAMENT. SHE'S BEEN FORCED TO APOLOGISE TO THE PARLIAMENT, AND IN PARLIAMENT, AND THAT'S ABOUT AS BAD AS IT GETS. SHE HAS UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISED. SHE'S DOING DE-ESCALATION TRAINING, BUT BOY OH BOY. BETWEEN JULIE-ANNE GENTER, DARLENE TANA, GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN, JAMES SHAW LEAVING THE GREEN PARTY, THE PARTY REALLY IS LIMPING ALONG AT THE MOMENT. YES, THAT LIST IS ONLY GROWING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH AND CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT TOVA O'BRIEN. NEW ZEALAND'S CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY BOOMED IN THE 2010'S, BUT OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS IT HAS SUFFERED, WITH MANY BREWERIES TURNING OFF THE TAPS. OUR EXPLAINER EDITOR, LLOYD BURR, WENT TO FIND OUT IF THE WORST IS OVER - OR THERE'S MORE PAIN TO COME. THERE'S SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT BEER, THE COLOURFUL BRANDS, THE INTERESTING NAMES, THE REFINED OR WACKY OR QUIRKY LABEL DESIGNS... BLOWHOLE, OR BEARDED LADY? THE TASTE, AND THE VARIETIES, LAGER, PALE ALE, IPA, RED ALE, HAZY, PILSNER, SELTZER, BELGIAN, SOURS, ITS ENDLESS... 'TRIPPIN' BALLS.' THE TAPS THEY'RE POURED OUT OF, THE PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND THE SCENES... THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS. - WOW! THE MAGIC BOOMED DURING THE 2010'S BUT SINCE COVID, IT HAS BATTLED. COSTS ARE UP, EXCISE TAX IS UP, INFLATIONS UP, INGREDIENT SHORTAGES ARE UP, AND DEMAND AND SALES, DOWN. AUCKLAND'S THE BEER SPOT KNOWS THIS ALL TOO WELL. EVERYONE'S REALLY SORT OF... TIGHT MARGINS AT THE MOMENT. LAWRENCE VAN DAM'S BEER TAPS ARE SUPPLIED FROM MOST OF THE COUNTRY'S CRAFT BEER BREWERS, HE HAS A GOOD SENSE OF WHERE THE INDUSTRY'S AT. I EXPECT THERE WILL BE SOME MORE CASUALTIES IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS UNFORTUNATELY. EVEN SOME OF THE HIGHER-PROFILE ONES BECAUSE THEY'RE SO` SO CLOSE TO THE WIRE. ONE OF THOSE WAS BROTHERS BEER, WHICH WENT INTO VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATION LAST YEAR, OWING AROUND $5 MILLION. WE SOLD OFF ALL THE UNPROFITABLE BARS AND WE'RE BASICALLY JUST LEFT WITH THE MAIN BREWERY HERE IN MOUNT EDEN. DYLAN ADAMS STILL RUNS BROTHERS BREWING OPERATION - IT WAS BAILED OUT BY ITS CHINESE DISTRIBUTOR. WE WERE THE FIRST BREWERY THEY EVER IMPORTED FROM NEW ZEALAND, AND THEY ACTUALLY FELT A KIND OF ATTACHMENT AND DIDN'T WANT TO SEE US DISAPPEAR. WE'VE JUST HAD OUR FIRST EXPORT ORDER FOR ABOUT 20,000 LITRES, WHICH WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF MADLY PACKAGING NOW. OTHER BIG NAMES HAVE BEEN IN THE HEADLINES TOO, DEEP CREEK, BONEFACE, EPIC, DERELICT, COWABUNGA, NEW NEW NEW, AND ZEELANDT. ARE THERE GONNA BE OTHER COMPANIES THAT THAT FALL OVER, DO YOU THINK? I THINK PROBABLY THERE WILL, I HAVE HEARD ABOUT ONE OR TWO THAT ARE KIND OF` ON THE EDGE, SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES. SO, NOT THE BEST TIME TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY, UNLESS YOU'RE THESE GUYS. THIS IS OUR BEAUTIFUL BEER GARDEN. RORY CLARKE AND BUSINESS PARTNER VLARD PETROVIC TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AND OPENED SAINT LEONARDS, ON SOME DISUSED KIWIRAIL LAND AND AN OLD MECHANICS WORKSHOP. I KNOW OPENING A NEW BREWERY IN THIS KIND OF ECONOMY AND LIKE THE STATE OF EVERYTHING, FEELS A BIT SILLY. BUT WE LIKE TO THINK WE HAD A` WE HAD A PRETTY ROBUST BUSINESS MODEL. THAT MODEL, ONLY SELL THEIR BEER ON SITE. NO CANNING. NO KEGS TO PUBS. JUST HERE. THE BEERS TRAVELLED ABOUT 40M FROM WHERE IT WAS MADE. SHIT, THAT'S GOOD. (LAUGHS) THAT'S REALLY GOOD. TO GIVE THE INDUSTRY A MID-WINTER BOOST, SOME BEER DIE-HARDS ORGANISED AUCKLAND BEER WEEK, AND SAINT LEONARDS WAS PART OF IT. SO WE'VE HAD SPEED DATING. WE'RE DOING A BELGIANS-FOR-BEGINNERS COURSE. SO THIS BELGIAN ONE, CAN I COME ALONG TO THIS TONIGHT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I HEADED ALONG WITH A WEE CAMERA, APOLOGIES FOR THE TERRIBLE FOOTAGE, AND HAD A BELGIAN BEER DEGUSTATION OF WITTE, DUVEL, BLONDE, SAISON CHIMAY, OR LA CHOUFFE. I'M PROBABLY SAYING THEM WRONG AS WELL, BUT WHAT I DISCOVERED FROM THIS WEE PUB CRAWL IS THIS, OPTIMISM THAT THE WORST IS OVER. ENJOYING A BEER WITH MATES, A KEY TO THAT RECOVERY. LUCY'S HERE WITH SPORT NOW AND LUCY, THE MEDAL TALLY JUST KEEPS RISING! WE'LL HAVE ALL THE ON-WATER ACTION FOR YOU NEXT, PLUS, TEAM NEW ZEALAND MIGHT BE RACING AWAY FROM HOME, BUT FIND OUT HOW ONE IWI WILL BE WITH THEM ON THE WATER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE GRANT DALTON JOINS US LIVE FROM BARCELONA.. AND WILL JORDAN MAKES A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN TO THE RUGBY FIELD, SIX MONTHS AFTER HE WAS SIDELINED WITH A SHOULDER INJURY. WELCOME TO A NEW SWIFT WORLD WITH SUZUKI AND THREENEWS SPORT. NEW ZEALAND'S MEDAL HAUL AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED WITH THE FIRST OF THE ROWING FINALS UNDERWAY. AS WE REPORTED EARLIER, DOUBLE SCULLERS BROOKE FRANCIS AND LUCY SPOORS HAVE ROWED THEIR WAY TO OLYMPIC GLORY LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER BECOMING FIRST-TIME MUMS. IMOGEN WELLS JOINS US AGAIN FROM PARIS. IMOGEN, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. BUT THEY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES CELEBRATING OVERNIGHT. THEY WON'T BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN RAINING MEDALS HERE. THE KIWI CONTINGENT PICKING UP A GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE AFTER WHAT WAS SUCH A MAGICAL DAY AT THE WATER FOR OUR ROWING CREWS. BUT ROMANIA AT THE LINE. IT'S GOING TO BE THE KIWIS. THE CLOSEST OF CONTESTS KICKSTARTING A KIWI MEDAL BLITZ ON THE WATER. BROOKE FRANCIS AND LUCY SPOORS NARROWLY HOLDING ON FOR VICTORY IN THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE SCULLS. I'M FEELING SO OVERWHELMED, AND MY JAW IS SORE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SMILING ALL DAY. OVERCOMING THE REIGNING OLYMPIC AND WORLD CHAMPIONS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE EASY. THE ROMANIANS HAVE BEEN DOMINANT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND WE THOUGHT, WE NEED TO GET OUR BOW OUT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE MAKE MOVES, THAT IMPACTFUL. SO YEAH, WE WANTED TO BE BOLD. AND BOLD THEY WERE. AFTER MOVING PAST THE DUTCH AT THE HALFWAY POINT, THE KIWIS POWERED AHEAD. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT? CAN YOU ANSWER THIS KIWI CHARGE? HOLDING OFF THE FAST-FINISHING ROMANIANS TO SECURE THEIR SPOT ATOP THE OLYMPIC PODIUM AND CONTINUE A PROUD DOUBLE SCULLS LEGACY STARTED BY THE EVERS-SWINDELL TWINS. MOMENTS AFTER WATCHING HER SISTER TAKE GOLD, PHOEBE SPOORS TOOK TO THE WATER AS PART OF THE WOMEN'S FOUR, WHO ALSO EDGED ROMANIA TO CLAIM A BRONZE. AND THE KIWIS TAKE IT FROM THE TRADITIONALLY FAST-FINISHING ROMANIANS. BUT THE MEDAL HAUL DID NOT STOP THERE. THE MEN'S FOUR ` OLLIE MCLEAN, LOGAN ULLRICH, TOM MURRAY AND MATT MACDONALD WENT HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH USA FROM THE START, SETTLING FOR SILVER AFTER A HARD-FOUGHT FINAL 500M. WHEN EVERYONE IS HURTING, WE SORT OF KNUCKLE DOWN BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE PUT MORE HOURS IN THAN ANYBODY ELSE. SO WE JUST BELIEVE ON THAT AND GO FOR IT. SO IT WAS REALLY COOL. IT WAS A PRETTY NEAR-PERFECT RACE, SO WE CAN'T REALLY COMPLAIN. BUT INSTEAD CELEBRATE WHAT WAS A TRIUMPHANT DAY FOR THE KIWIS. OK, IMOGEN, WHO'S IN ACTION FOR US TONIGHT? THIS LIST IS LONG SO YOU WILL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME FOR RENTING OFF MY PHONE. WE WILL KICK THINGS OFF WITH OUR ROWERS. WE HAVE JACKIE KIDDLE AND COX. THEN TIME FOR SOME TRACK AND FIELD. IT WILL START WITH SAMUEL TANNER WITH THE DISTANCE RUNNING. THEN OVERNIGHT IT IS OUR TRAMPOLINE LIST DYLAN SCHMIDT. THE LIMB WILL BE HOPING TO JUMP BACK ONTO THAT PODIUM AFTER BAGGING A BRONZE IN TOKYO. THEN WE HAVE THE SHOT PUT TOMORROW MORNING, AND OUR KIWI SAILORS WILL BE OUT ON THE WATER AFTER YESTERDAY'S MIDDLE RACE HAD TO BE ABANDONED DUE TO LACK OF WIND. A BUSY DAY AHEAD FOR US HERE IN PARIS. OK, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THOSE ROWING RESULTS MEAN FOR OUR MEDAL TALLY. NEW ZEALAND MOVES INTO 12TH PLACE ON THE OVERALL TABLE, WITH TWO GOLD, TWO SILVER AND A BRONZE. CHINA REMAINS AT THE TOP WITH 11 GOLD MEDALS, AHEAD OF THE UNITED STATES IN SECOND AND FRANCE IN THIRD. MEANWHILE, RYAN FOX HAS PUT HIMSELF IN A STRONG POSITION AFTER THE OPENING ROUND OF THE MEN'S GOLF. FOX FIRED A FOUR UNDER PAR 67, HIS ROUND INCLUDING FIVE BIRDIES AND ONE BOGIE. IT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO PUT HIM IN A TIE FOR SIXTH, FOUR SHOTS BACK FROM LEADER HIDEKI MATSUYAMA FELLOW KIWI DANIEL HILLIER IS FOUR OVER, TIED FOR 56TH. AND IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY FOR OUR WINDSURFERS. JOSH ARMIT AND VEERLE TEN HAVE BOTH ADVANCED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE MEDAL RACES TOMORROW MORNING. BUT IT WAS SHEER FRUSTRATION FOR SAILORS ISAAC MCHARDIE AND WILL MCKENZIE. THEIR 49ER CLASS MEDAL RACE WAS ABANDONED TWICE DUE TO LIGHT WINDS, THE SECOND TIME WHILE THE KIWIS WERE IN GOLD MEDAL POSITION. THE RACE HAS BEEN RESHEDULED FOR TONIGHT. IN JUST OVER TWO WEEKS TIME, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A VERY DIFFERENT SORT OF SAILING WHEN THE FINAL AMERICA'S CUP PRELIMINARY REGATTA GETS UNDERWAY. IT'S THE FIRST AND FINAL TIME THE SIX TEAMS WILL GO HEAD TO HEAD IN THE AC75 BEFORE OFFICIAL RACING BEGINS. TEAM NEW ZEALAND CEO, GRANT DALTON JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM BARCELONA. GRANT, WHAT PROGRESS HAS THE TEAM MADE SINCE WE LAST SPOKE FOUR AND A HALF WEEKS AGO? WE JUST STEADILY BUILDING UP. WE HAVE BEEN QUITE FOCUSED ON WATCHING THE SAILING AND THE ROWING WITH HAMISH BOND AND PETE BLAIR. WE ARE A BIT FOCUSED ON THAT AS WELL. NEW SEALANT IS GOING SO WELL. OUR RACE COUNTERPOINTS ON 12 OCTOBER. WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT BUILDUP FACE AND THE OTHER TEAMS. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE ON POINT. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP LEARNING ON THE 20 NINTH. YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH SOME OF THE OTHER TEAMS TRAINING ON THE WATER. WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR BIGGEST THREAT? I THINK THE CONDITIONS WILL PLAY QUITE A BIT INTO THIS BECAUSE THE BOATS ARE QUITE CLOSE AND THEREFORE WHERE YOU POSITION YOUR BOAT AND THE WIND RANGE WILL TEND TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE FAST ENOUGH OR NOT. I WOULD HAVE PUT IT AS AMERICAN MAGIC. BUT SINCE THEN IT IS CLOSER. I'M NOT HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, BUT I'M REASONABLY GRAB THE AMERICA'S CUP IS NOT TOMORROW. YOU MIGHT NOT BE RACING IN AUCKLAND, BUT THE LOCAL IWI WILL BE REPRESENTED IN BARCELONA. CAN YOU TELL US HOW THEY'LL BE INVOLVED COME THE AMERICA'S CUP MATCH? WE HAVE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH NGATI WHATUA ORAKEI. WE HEARD THEY WERE CARVING A NEW WAKA AND WE DISCUSSED BRINGING IT HERE TO BARCELONA SO I CAN ESCORT US OUT EACH DAY. BUT IT EXPANDED MORE TO THAT AND NOW THERE IS KAPA HAKA GROUP COMING ON THE STAGE FOR THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY. IT IS A CONTINUATION OF THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP. IT IS THIS BEST MOMENT WE GO OUT THAT FIRST RACE WITH THE WAKA IN THE HAKA PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WILL SEE SOMETHING THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO THE TEAM TO HAVE A TOUCH OF HOME THERE WITH YOU? IT MEANS A LOT. THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE MOTIVATION. I KNOW WHEN WE ARE IN AUCKLAND ON THE 21 DEFENCE, HAVING THEM THERE WAS PART OF IT. JUST ADDS. IT IS LIKE THE ALL BLACKS DOING THE HAKA. IT MOTIVATES THE PUBLIC AND THE GUYS. PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL. A BILLION PEOPLE WILL SEE THE WAKA AND THE HAKA MANY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. WE LOOK FOR TO SEND THEM AND YOU. GRANT DALTON, LIVE IN BARCELONA, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. TO RUGBY NOW, AND VETERAN HALFBACK TJ PERENARA HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S LEAVING NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE 81-TEST ALL BLACK HAS SIGNED A THREE YEAR DEAL WITH THE BLACK RAMS TOKYO. AND WILL PLAY IN JAPAN LEAGUE ONE FROM THE BEGINNING OF 2025. IT'LL BE HIS SECOND STINT IN JAPAN, AFTER SPENDING TIME WITH THE RED HURRICANES IN 2021. FINALLY TONIGHT, WILL JORDAN HAS MADE A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO RUGBY PLAYING HIS FIRST GAME SINCE LAST YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN A PRE-SEASON MATCH FOR TASMAN TODAY. WITH THE ALL BLACKS FIRST TEST OF THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP JUST EIGHT DAYS AWAY, IT'S HOPED JORDAN COULD BE BACK IN BLACK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. GORDON FINDLATER WAS THERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR WILL JORDAN. MORE THAN NINE MONTHS ON FROM THE WORLD CUP FINAL IN FRANCE, TODAY HE FINALLY MAKE HIS RETURN TO THE FIELD AFTER UNDERGOING SHOULDER SURGERY. HOW YOU FEELING AFTER THAT WILL? GOOD, YEAH, NAH, ENJOYING IT, GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE TASSY COLOURS ON THE OLD CLUB GROUND, SO SORTA KILLED TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE THERE. HIS EFFECT IMMEDIATE, HELPING TASMAN DEFEAT SOUTHLAND 36-7 IN A PRESEASON MATCH IN CHRISTCHURCH. ALL BLACKS COACHES SCOTT ROBERTSON AND SCOTT HANSEN WERE JOINED BY RITCHIE MO'UNGA WATCHING ON. JORDAN COULD BE BACK IN BLACK AGAINST ARGENTINA NEXT WEEKEND. ARE YOU FEELING READY FOR TEST MATCH RUGBY? WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE'RE INTO CAMP ON SUNDAY, NICE TO PLAY 50 MINUTES TODAY, OBVIOUSLY NEXT WEEK WILL BE A DIFFERENT LEVEL, IF I'M OUT THERE. BUT WE'LL HAVE A CHAT WITH RAZOR ON SUNDAY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. TODAY ALSO PROVIDED MUCH-NEEDED MINUTES FOR DAVID HAVILLI, RECALLED INTO THE ALL BLACKS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD. I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE WAY I PLAYED IN SUPER RUGBY SO THE MESSAGE WAS JUST GO GET MY BODY RIGHT, AND I THINK I DID THAT. I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK INTO CAMP. IN FACT IT WAS A STACKED TASMAN SIDE FOR A PRESEASON MATCH, FELLOW ALL BLACKS ETHAN BLACKADDER AND NOAH HOTHAM ALSO TAKING THE FIELD, WHILE SOUTHLAND HAD NEW RECRUIT SEVU REECE RUNNING WATERS. IT'S A BIT OF A STITCH UP, YOU GUYS HAVING THAT MANY ABS ON THE FIELD TODAY. YEAH, THE SOUTHERN MAN NOW. I KNOW I SAW SEVU SIDELINE WITH THE WATERBOY BIB ON. MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE CHUCKED HIM OUT THERE TO EVEN IT UP. TODAY, NOT ABOUT THE RESULT THOUGH... A FIT AND HEALTHY WILL JORDAN MUSIC TO ALL BLACKS' EARS. JUST BEFORE I GO, THE WARRIORS ARE IN ACTION TONIGHT. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN COME AWAY WITH A WIN. UP THE WAHS. WE'VE HEARD A LOT IN RECENT MONTHS ABOUT RETAILERS STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH SUBDUED SPENDING IN A SLUGGISH ECONOMY, BUT A CHRISTCHURCH DEPARTMENT STORE THAT'S STOOD FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY IS BUCKING THE TREND, WITH CUSTOMERS FLOCKING TO ITS LATEST SALE. ZANE SMALL REPORTS. THERE'S A BARGAIN TO BE FOUND AT BALLANTYNES, AND CHRISTCHURCH CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN QUEUING UP TO GET FIRST DIBS. I REALLY LOVE THE FEELING OF A DEPARTMENT STORE. I LIKE THAT YOU GET CUSTOMER SERVICE. IT'S JUST FANTASTIC. BALLANTYNES WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1854, AND, DESPITE THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, THE DEPARTMENT STORE HAS EXPANDED TO INVERCARGILL. YAY! (CHEERING) SO WHAT'S THE SECRET TO ITS LONGEVITY? I GET ASKED THAT QUESTION A LOT, AND I GUESS WE JUST ALWAYS STAY REALLY CLOSE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. I GUESS WE TRY AND WORK HARD TO REMAIN CURRENT AND RELEVANT. THE LATEST RETAIL DATA SHOWS SPENDING WAS DOWN 2.3% IN THE YEAR TO JUNE. IN MAY, AUCKLAND DEPARTMENT STORE SMITH & CAUGHEY'S ANNOUNCED A PROPOSAL TO CLOSE ITS TWO AUCKLAND SHOPS EARLY NEXT YEAR AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY IN BUSINESS. IT'S A SAD DAY FOR THE STAFF. IT'S A SAD DAY FOR THE COMPANY. IT'S A SAD DAY FOR THE FAMILY. IT'S A SAD DAY FOR AUCKLAND. PRETTY GUTTED TO HEAR THAT THEY MIGHT BE GOING OVER NEXT YEAR. BUT EARLIER THIS WEEK, CHAIRMAN TONY CAUGHEY ANNOUNCED A SECOND PROPOSAL AFTER CONSIDERING FEEDBACK. THE NEWMARKET STORE WOULD STILL CLOSE, BUT A DOWNSIZED QUEEN STREET OPERATION WOULD REMAIN WITH FEWER STAFF AND A BOOSTED ONLINE OFFERING. A DECISION ON ITS FUTURE IS IMMINENT. FOR BALLANTYNES, IT'S ALL ABOUT ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS TO THE PHYSICAL STORE WITH SALES AND SEASONAL ATTRACTIONS. WE HAVE AN EVENTS TEAM WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ENTERTAINING YOUNG AND OLD. BECAUSE IT'S CROWDS LIKE THIS THAT KEEP THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR TRADITION ALIVE. AND YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE BALLANTYNES SUCCESS STORY TOMORROW IN THE PRESS. HERE'S AN UNUSUAL HEALTH PROBLEM ` SWALLOWING BEER BOTTLE CAPS. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL ANALYSES THE CASES OF THREE CANTERBURY MEN WHO ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED BEER BOTTLE CAPS DURING HEAVY DRINKING SESSIONS. ALL THREE ENDED UP IN THE CHRISTCHURCH E.D. OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD LAST YEAR. THE MEN AGED 30, 38 AND 55 WERE NOT CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER. IN ALL THREE CASES, THE MEN DIDN'T REMEMBER INGESTING THE CAPS. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH A LOOK AHEAD AT THE WEATHER, AND YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE RAIN FOR NORTHLAND? YEAH, THEY'VE EXTENDED IT. THE HEAVY RAIN WATCH IS NOW IN PLACE TILL 11PM SUNDAY. SO THE ENTIRE WEEKEND RUINED BY THAT LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM SITTING UP THE VERY TOP. THIS NOW HAS A HIGH CHANCE OF BEING UPGRADED TO AT LEAST AN ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNING. THE NEXT UPDATE IS IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. AS FOR EVERY ONE ELSE AROUND THE COUNTRY, WELL, GO TO THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT'S PERFECT, CLEAR AND CALM, BUT VERY FROSTY AND COLD. THE FULL FORECAST IS NEXT. WELCOME BACK. SOUTH ISLAND, IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE! THE WEEKEND IS A GOOD ONE WITH HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATING ALL WEEKEND. THE NEXT FRONT FOR YOU, NOT TILL SUNDAY NIGHT, WHICH ARRIVES OVER FIORDLAND AND PUSHES NORTH ON MONDAY. BUT THAT'S A NEXT WEEK PROBLEM. AS FOR THE NORTH ISLAND? THE FURTHER NORTH YOU ARE, THE WETTER AND WINDIER. THAT'S THANKS TO THAT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HANGING OUT OFF SCREEN, BUT JUST ABOVE THE COUNTRY, THE OCCLUDED FRONT CAUSING HEAVY RAIN. SO CHECK IT OUT SOUTH. YOU HAVE THE BEST START TO THE WEEKEND WITH A LOT OF SPACE BETWEEN THOSE ISOBARS, MEANING VERY LITTLE WIND. SO WITH IT FINE OVERNIGHT, YOU CAN SEE NO CLOUD. THERE WILL BE PLENTY WAKING TO FROST, MAYBE AN UNLUCKY SHOWER FOR THE KAIKOURA COAST, AND MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS, THEN MAYBE VERY LATE DRIZZLE FOR SOUTHERN FIORDLAND TOMORROW NIGHT. NOT SO LUCKY NORTH, PLENTY OF RAIN UP TOP HEAVY OVER THE FAR NORTH TONIGHT, CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTH AND EAST AND WINDS BECOMING WINDIER THE FURTHER NORTH YOU GO. AS FOR TOMORROW, FAIRLY EVIDENT WHAT NORTHLAND HAS, THERE WILL ALSO BE ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR THE COROMANDEL AND POSSIBLY GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY. EVERYWHERE ELSE SHOULD REMAIN FINE, RAIN WITH HEAVY FALLS FOR NORTHLAND. HAMILTON, EARLY FROST THEN FINE. AUCKLAND AND COROMANDEL, PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A COUPLE OF SHOWERS. FRESH EASTERLIES FOR ALL. AS YOU HEAD SOUTH, WITH FROST EARLY FOR THOSE INLAND WINDS FROM THE EAST OR SOU'EAST, BUT WON'T BE TOO STRONG. COULD WAKE TO CLOUD OR FROST, EITHER WAY, THE SUN DOMINATES IN THE AFTERNOON. GISBORNE, YOUR SHOWERS ARE GONE BY MIDDAY, THE SOUTHERLY EASES IN THE AFTERNOON. A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND, WITH MORNING FROST FOR MOST, AT LEAST FOR SHELTERED SPOTS ANYWAY. WINDS A LITTLE ALL OVER THE SHOW. OVER THE STRAIT, AND IT IS A STUNNER. SUNNY FOR EVERYONE, WINDS ARE PRETTY MUCH NON-EXISTENT. AND FROST IN THE MORNING, THEN AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH MOST DROPPING TO ZERO OR BELOW. IT IS COLD OUT EAST. SEVERE FROST FOR CHRISTCHURCH, WITH -5 TONIGHT. IT IS A BLUEBIRD DAY EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT WARM, AND DOESN'T TAKE LONG AFTER SUNSET FOR THE FROST TO RE-FORM TOMORROW NIGHT. SAME STORY FOR THE LOWER SOUTH, VERY FROSTY, VERY COLD, BUT THEN SUNNY. SOUTHLAND AND STEWART ISLAND, YOU'LL START WITH FOG, THEN IT CLOUDS BACK OVER TOMORROW NIGHT. DUNEDIN, WHAT YOU HAD TODAY, IS WHAT YOU'LL HAVE TOMORROW. FINE, FROSTY FIRST UP, THEN AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT, BUT CALM AND COLD ALL DAY. CHRISTCHURCH, YOUR SOUWESTERLY EASES TONIGHT, THEN NO REAL WIND AT ALL TOMORROW, JUST A SEVERE FROST AND THAT RETURNS TOMORROW NIGHT. FINALLY, WELLINGTON, YOUR STRONG SOUTHERLY WILL EASE TONIGHT. TOMORROW WILL HAVE A BIT OF FROST AROUND HUTT VALLEY FIRST UP, THEN ANY CLOUD CLEARS BY MIDDAY WITH A LIGHTER SOUTHERLY. HAWKE'S BAY, ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS LEFT TOMORROW, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. LAST OF THE CLOUD CLEARS TOO, FOR A GOOD CLEAR AND CALM SATURDAY AFTERNOON. NOT A LOT GOING ON HERE, THE PERFECT WEEKEND FORECAST. FINE. THAT'S IT, FINE. JUST AN EASTERLY FOR THE DAY, WITH A FEELS-LIKE HIGH OF 10. HAMILTON, DROPPING TO 2 TONIGHT, SO, LIKELY FROST FIRST UP FOR SHELTERED SPOTS. YOU HAVE HIGH CLOUD ROLLING IN DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH AN EASTERLY. AUCKLAND, YOU ARE RIGHT ON THAT LINE BETWEEN RAIN AND NO RAIN. SHOWERS POSSIBLE NORTH OF WHANGAPARAOA DURING THE AFTERNOON, BUT IF THAT FRONT OVER NORTHLAND DROPS, EXPECT SHOWERS FOR THE CITY CENTRE. TO OZ, SYDNEY FINALLY GETS A DAY WITHOUT RAIN. NOT SO LUCKY FOR MELBOURNE, HOBART AND CAIRNS, AND SHOWERS TOO FOR VANUATU AND FIJI, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE PACIFIC DRY. BACK TO US, AND THAT LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM IS STILL INFLUENCING THE WEATHER UP TOP, NOT REALLY MOVING EAST TILL MONDAY. GISBORNE WILL HAVE ISOLATED SHOWERS ON SUNDAY, THEY'LL TURN TO SCATTERED SHOWERS FROM MONDAY. REST OF THE WEEKEND HERE WILL BE A TOUCH CLOUDY, MONDAY SIMILAR, TUESDAY LOOKS NICE. TOP HALF OF THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL HAVE A DRY AND CALM END TO THE WEEKEND, ON MONDAY, SHOWERS RETURN IN THE WEST. AND THOSE SHOWERS WILL ALSO HIT COASTAL SOUTHLAND ON SUNDAY, THE DEEP SOUTH ON MONDAY, AND FIORDLAND AND STEWART ISLAND ON TUESDAY. SO TOMORROW LOOKS TO BE THE BEST DAY IN THE SOUTH TO HIT TO SLOPES, NOT MY CUP OF TEA. I'D RATHER VISIT TEKAPO AND SIT IN THE HOT POOLS. SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT TIME. WE RAN A STORY EARLIER ABOUT HOW A SHORTAGE OF BEEF AND LAMB IS DRIVING PRICES UP HERE, SO WE ASKED IF YOU WERE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY RED MEAT RIGHT NOW. JUST OVER HALF, 55% OF YOU, SAY YOU ARE STILL BUYING IT. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT, THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY EMAILING newsroom@stuff.co.nz OR HEAD TO THE STUFF WEBSITE. I'M LAURA TUPOU, PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. 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