FAMILY OF A KIWI PILOT KILLED BY SEPARATIST REBELS IN PAPUA SAY HE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE IF HE THOUGHT IT WAS UNSAFE. OUR NEWEST GOLD MEDALLIST IN THE OLYMPICS' NEWEST EVENT ` FINN BUTCHER CARVES UP THE COURSE IN THE KAYAK CROSS. GLOBAL STOCKMARKETS ARE TUMBLING AMID FEARS OF A U.S. ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN ` SO HOW DID WE GET ON? AND THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSON IS HANGING UP HIS BOOTS AFTER A 14-YEAR CAREER. CAPTIONS BY KATE HARRIS AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE KIWI PILOT KILLED IN CENTRAL PAPUA SAY HE NEVER WOULD HAVE FLOWN TO A PLACE IF HE THOUGHT IT WASN'T SAFE. GLEN CONNING WAS REPORTEDLY KILLED BY SEPARATIST REBELS IN A REMOTE VILLAGE IN THE MIMIKA DISTRICT. QUESTIONS ARE NOW BEING ASKED WHY THE COMPANY CONNING WORKED FOR ALLOWED HIM FLY IN SUCH A DANGEROUS AREA. JULIET SPEEDY REPORTS. THIS IS THE HELICOPTER GLEN CONNING HAD REPORTEDLY JUST LANDED WHEN HE WAS KILLED. WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED IN NEW ZEALAND'S AVIATION CIRCLES. HE'S WELL RESPECTED IN THE INDUSTRY AND VERY EXPERIENCED. YOU KNOW, LIKE, HE'S DONE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. GLEN WAS A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL. HE WAS... HE WAS VERY CAUTIOUS; HE WAS VERY HIGHLY SKILLED. VERY EXPERIENCED. THE 50-YEAR-OLD HAD FLOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT WAS KILLED WHILE WORKING AND FLYING FOR AN INDONESIAN AIR SERVICE. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN A CONFLICT ZONE, WHICH` HE REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GO IN THERE. THE RISK IS WELL KNOWN IN WEST PAPUA. AND HE WAS THEN` WHEN HE LANDED SOME HEALTH WORKERS IN A REMOTE AREA, HE WAS THEN ATTACKED. HIS FATHER, BILL CONNING, CALLED THE COMPANY TODAY TO TRY TO GET THE FACTS. I HAD HEARD THAT IT WAS A PROHIBITED AREA, AND HE SAID DEFINITELY NOT ` IT WAS NOT A PROHIBITED AREA. SO... WHOEVER CAME OUT WITH THOSE FACTS WAS INCORRECT, ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY. LOCAL POLICE SAY CONNING WAS KILLED BY THE SAME REBEL GROUP THAT 18 MONTHS AGO ABDUCTED ANOTHER KIWI PILOT, PHILLIP MEHRTENS, WHO REMAINS IN CAPTIVITY. CATHERINE DELAHUNTY SAYS THE INDONESIAN MILITARY OCCUPIES THE AREA AND IT QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ABOUT WHY THE COMPANY WAS GIVEN CONSENT TO FLY THERE. AND THE COMPANY THAT HE WAS WORKING FOR ALSO MUST TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. BOTH THOSE GROUPS SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIM BEING IN A VERY UNSAFE, DANGEROUS PLACE. CONNING WAS RENOWNED FOR NOT TAKING RISKS. HE WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN ANY UNDUE RISKS. HE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE INTO AN AREA IF HE KNEW IT WAS UNSAFE. YEAH, SO IT'S JUST TRAGEDY, REALLY. HE WOULD NEVER TAKE ANY RISKS, NO. THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT GLEN ` HE WAS VERY ADAMANT. HE WASN'T SCARED TO BE NOT PART OF THE SHEEP FLOCK. THREENEWS CONTACTED THE COMPANY CONNING WORKED FOR WITH QUESTIONS, BUT WE'VE HAD NO RESPONSE. THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S STILL GATHERING INFORMATION FROM ITS EMBASSY IN JAKARTA, WHO ARE LIAISING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES. AGAIN, I'D JUST REMIND NEW ZEALANDERS OUR ADVISORY HAS BEEN DO NOT TRAVEL TO PAPUA BECAUSE OF CIVIL UNREST. IT'S BEEN A LONG-STANDING DIRECTIVE FOR SOME TIME, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT KIWIS FOLLOW THAT. IT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE REALLY NEED` AFTER THE PHILLIP MEHRTENS KIDNAPPING AND THIS TRAGIC DEATH OF GLEN CONNING, WE REALLY NEED OUR GOVERNMENT TO START NEGOTIATING SERIOUSLY WITH INDONESIA FOR PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND SELF-DETERMINATION. THEY HAVE SAT ON THEIR HANDS FOR LONG ENOUGH. FRIENDS SAY THE HARD-WORKING FAMILY MAN WILL BE HUGELY MISSED. A REAL LOSS, REALLY. YEAH, HE WAS A REALLY GOOD GUY. GREAT FAMILY MAN, AND, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO LEAVE A REAL VOID. AND NOW MANY QUESTIONS AROUND EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY. IT WAS A DAY FOR KIWI GIANT-SLAYERS IN PARIS OVERNIGHT. FIRST FINN BUTCHER SURPRISED EVEN HIMSELF, BEATING THE WORLD CHAMPION HE CALLS HIS HERO TO CLAIM THE FIRST-EVER GOLD IN THE KAYAK CROSS. THEN THE WOMEN'S SPRINT TEAM GOT THE CYCLING CAMPAIGN OFF TO A FLYER WITH AN EQUALLY UNEXPECTED SILVER. IMOGEN WELLS HAS OUR LATEST KIWI SUCCESS STORIES FROM PARIS. IT IS THE BUTCHER! OH MY GOODNESS, HE'S BEATEN THE THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION! THE BUTCHER TAKES GOLD! A FIRST-TIME OLYMPIAN SECURING THE FIRST-EVER KAYAK CROSS OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. IT WAS CRAZY COMING OUT OF THE LAST STUFF. I WAS JUST LIKE, 'WHAT?! IS THIS ACTUALLY REAL?' NOT EVEN THE KIWI HIMSELF COULD HAVE PREDICTED SUCH A DREAM RESULT ` THE 29-YEAR-OLD GETTING THE EARLY JUMP ON HIS BRITISH RIVAL AND LONG-TIME HERO JOSEPH CLARKE... OH, FANTASTIC START FROM THE BUTCHER! ...BEFORE CARVING UP THE REST OF THE COURSE WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE RELATIVE EASE. CLARKE IS AFTER THE BUTCHER ON THAT UP-STREAM GATE. HE'S AROUND, BUT BUTCHER IS AWAY! IT LOOKS LIKE THE KIWI'S TO LOSE. BUT THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING, AS THE BIG MAN FROM SMALL-TOWN ALEXANDRA CHARGED THROUGH THE FINAL GATE. HIS DISBELIEF EVIDENT ` AND SHARED BY SOME OF HIS BIGGEST SUPPORTERS. OH MY GOD. I'VE LOST MY VOICE. WE WERE JUST SCREAMING FROM ONE END OF THE STADIUM TO THE OTHER. MY HEART'S BURSTING. YEAH. I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM. ALSO FLYING HIGH OVERNIGHT, THE WOMEN'S SPRINT TEAM. NEW ZEALAND WILL GO WITH THE SILVER. THEY'LL BE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED WITH THAT. BEATEN BY THE BRITS IN WORLD RECORD TIME, THE TRIO MORE THAN HAPPY TO SETTLE FOR SILVER. I FEEL LIKE IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE TO PROCESS EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED ` AND NOT ONLY JUST THE EVENTS OF THIS YEAR, BUT THE EVENTS OF THE PAST` WHOLE OLYMPIC CYCLE. BUT IT JUST MEANS THE WORLD TO BE HERE, AND TO BE IN AWESOME SHAPE WITH SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS. SHAANE FULTON ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE ABSENCE OF ONE OF HERS ` FORMER TEAMMATE AND MENTOR OLIVIA PODMORE, WHO DIED IN A SUSPECTED SUICIDE IN 2021. SO SPECIAL TO HAVE HER IN MY HEART, AND I KNOW SHE'S HERE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, AND... SO SPECIAL. A STUNNING START TO WHAT COULD BE A MEMORABLE MEDAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE KIWIS ON THE TRACK. IMOGEN JOINS US NOW FROM PARIS. IMOGEN, SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE THERE. BUT THE NEWS ISN'T SO GREAT OUT OF THE TRIATHLON TEAM? NO, IT HAS EMERGED THAT TWO OF OUR TRIATHLETES INCLUDING HAYDEN WILDE FELL SICK WITH E. COLI SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING THE INDIVIDUAL EVENTS LAST WEEK. WE UNDERSTAND THE ATHLETES WERE SICK FOR TWO DAYS, WHICH WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE MIXED RELAY. THEY WERE CLEAR TERESE, NEW ZEALAND FINISHING 14TH. THAT MAINLY DUE TO WILDE'S CRASH. THE BELGIANS COMPLETELY WITHDREW FROM THE EVENT. THEY SAID VIA A STATEMENT LESSONS WOULD NEED TO BE LEARNT AHEAD OF ANY OTHER FUTURE TRIATHLON EVENTS. THANKS SO MUCH. FEARS OF A U.S. RECESSION HAVE DELIVERED WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS 'A GLOBAL GUT-PUNCH' TO WORLD STOCK MARKETS. NEW EMPLOYMENT DATA OUT LATE LAST WEEK HAS SEEN WALL STREET PLUMMET, FOLLOWED BY OTHER MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT EXPERTS EXPECT THE IMPACT HERE TO BE MUTED. GRACE THOMAS HAS MORE. THE WORLD'S LARGEST STOCK EXCHANGE OPENING IN NEW YORK, BUT MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL. THERE'S A LOT OF TURMOIL IN THE MARKETS OUT THERE. IT SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF BLOODBATH. INVESTOR PANIC FUELLED BY FEARS THE U.S. ECONOMY IS HEADING INTO A RECESSION. CONCERN MOUNTED LAST WEEK AFTER THE RELEASE OF A U.S. JOBS REPORT WHICH SHOWED EMPLOYERS SLOWED THEIR HIRING LAST MONTH BY MUCH MORE THAN ECONOMISTS EXPECTED. SO EVERYBODY LOOKED AT THAT THOUGHT, 'HOLD ON.' NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS IN RECESSION IS UNEMPLOYMENT TICKS UP, WHICH MAKES PEOPLE SPEND LESS AND COMPANIES LAY OFF MORE PEOPLE, AND THIS WHOLE THING SPIRALS ON ITSELF. JAPAN'S NIKKEI WAS WORST HIT, YESTERDAY SUFFERING ITS BIGGEST DAILY LOSS SINCE 1987, ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN A RECOVERY TODAY. THERE'S A VERY CLEAR PATH THAT JAPAN IS DEFINITELY THE MARKET BEING AFFECTED THE MOST, BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER TECH-SAVVY MARKETS SUCH AS SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN THAT ALSO SUFFER A BIT OF THE LOSS. TECH, AND IN PARTICULAR AI STOCKS, WHICH HAVE POWERED MUCH OF 2024 S MARKET GAINS, HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. INVESTOR PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN, AND THE VALUATIONS OF THESE COMPANIES ARE GOING UP SO MUCH THAT PATIENCE HAS FINALLY RUN OUT. COUPLED WITH THOSE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING WITH U.S. GROWTH AND JAPAN, AND SUDDENLY PEOPLE ARE SELLING TECHNOLOGY SHARES. NEW ZEALAND'S STOCK EXCHANGE OPENED TODAY ` DOWN 1% AMID THE GLOBAL SELLOFF. FINANCIAL EXPERTS SAY WHILE OUR MARKET IS INSULATED TO A DEGREE, WE AREN'T IMMUNE TO CONCERNS OVER A GLOBAL DOWNTURN. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OUR OWN DATA TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE THIS WILL HAVE ON OUR ECONOMY GOING FORWARD. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS, 'DON'T PANIC.' WHAT WE'VE GOTTA FOCUS ON IN NEW ZEALAND IS FIXING OUR OWN ECONOMY, AND WE KNOW OUR MAJOR PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN 84% BLOW-OUT IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING. THE ADVICE TO WORRIED INVESTORS HERE IS TO SIT TIGHT AND DON'T MAKE ANY RASH DECISIONS ` AND MAYBE AVOID LOOKING AT YOUR KIWISAVER FOR A WHILE, WITH MORE VOLATILITY EXPECTED OVER THE COMING WEEK. FOR KIWISAVER INVESTORS, THIS IS PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT MARKETS DO. THOSE BALANCES, PROBABLY SOME UGLY FIGURES AT THE MOMENT. WITH MORE VOLATILITY EXPECTED OVER THE COMING WEEK. THE FINANCE MINISTER IS SEEKING URGENT ADVICE ON SKYROCKETING ELECTRICITY PRICES. IT COMES AS WINSTONE TIMBER AND PULP MILLS FACE POTENTIAL CLOSURE DUE TO THE RISING COSTS UP 600% SINCE 2021. AND AS POLITICAL REPORTER GLENN MCCONNELL EXPLAINS, HOUSEHOLDS WILL SOON BE AFFECTED TOO. THE POWER PINCH IS PUMMELLING BUSINESS, BUT THAT PAIN WILL SOON BE TRANSMITTING TO YOUR HOME. THE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET, I THINK... NOT A TECHNICAL TERM, BUT IT'S COOKED. NEW ZEALAND IS FACING THE HIGHEST WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. WHEN WE SEE THESE MASSIVE WHOLESALE INCREASES, THE REALITY IS THEY HAVE TO FLOW THROUGH INTO HOUSEHOLDS. IT'S LIKE A SNAKE EATING A PIG, RIGHT? IT HAS TO COME OUT, AND THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT FOR HOUSEHOLDS. THE RAPID SPIKE IN ELECTRICITY PRICES HAS THE GOVERNMENT SPOOKED, WITH NEWS THAT SKYROCKETING POWER BILLS COULD MEAN TWO PULP AND TIMBER MILLS IN THE NORTH ISLAND CLOSE, PUTTING 300-PLUS JOBS AT RISK. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SHANE JONES TOLD THREENEWS ON MONDAY THAT SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE. MY MESSAGE TO OUR ENERGY COMPANIES IS IF YOU CAN'T SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, THEN PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SOLVE THEM FOR YOU. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW EYEING UP A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO POWER GENERATORS. DOES THERE NEED TO BE AN INQUIRY INTO THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR? WELL, LOOK, I'M TAKING SOME IDEAS TO THE FINANCE MINISTER. WE'RE BOTH VERY CONCERNED. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING, WHICH IS ENQUIRING INTO WHAT WE THINK IS GOING ON HERE. I WOULD HAZARD A GUESS THAT THE RECKLESS DECISION OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT TO BAN GAS EXPLORATION HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SITUATION. BUT LABOUR ARGUES THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO CREDIBLE PLAN TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF POWER. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT FIND OF OIL AND GAS COMMERCIALLY OFFSHORE IN NEW ZEALAND SINCE THE EARLY 2000S. IT'S TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. ELECTRICITY RETAILERS SAY THERE ISN'T ENOUGH COMPETITION, AND THERE ISN'T ENOUGH POWER GENERATION. WHAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE FOR HOUSEHOLDS IS CONSTANT AND CONTINUED INCREASES PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. SMALLER ELECTRICITY RETAILERS LIKE ELECTRIC KIWI ARGUE THERE'S ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR GOING ON. THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW TALKING, IT LOOKS TOO TO BE WORRIED THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE. WHATEVER'S GOING ON, THE ULTIMATE LOSER IN ALL OF THIS IS YOU. LABOUR'S FINANCE SPOKESPERSON HAS CALLED FOR FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS TO RESIGN OVER THE CANCELLATION OF NEW FERRY BUILDS AT A POTENTIAL LOSS OF $1B. THE GOVERNMENT CANCELLED THE IREX PROJECT DUE TO BUDGET BLOWOUTS, LOSING APPROXIMATELY $500M IN SUNK COSTS. NOW THE MARITIME UNION ESTIMATES IT WOULD'VE COST ANOTHER $300-5O0M TO BREAK THE CONTRACT. LABOUR'S BARBARA EDMONDS SAYS WILLIS SHOULD STAND DOWN OVER THE LOSS OF TAXPAYER MONEY. YEAH, SHE TOTALLY SHOULD. AGAIN, IT WAS A RECKLESS DECISION SHE MADE WITH NO PLAN B. IT'S SHORT-SIGHTED, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN OFFICIAL INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTS THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH THE BREAK FEE'S GONNA BE. I THINK THAT'S LITTLE OVERBLOWN, AND SHE SHOULD TAKE A BREATH. WILLIS WON'T SAY WHETHER THE UNION'S FIGURES ARE ACCURATE. SHE SAYS ANY LOSSES FROM CANCELLING THE DEAL WILL BE LOWER THAN THE $3B IT WOULD'VE ENDED UP COSTING TO CONTINUE THE CONTRACT. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS PROMISING AN ARMY OF SPECIALIST POLICE OFFICERS TO BRING AN END TO THE VIOLENCE AND MAYHEM THAT HAS SWEPT ENGLAND OVER THE PAST WEEK. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 400 ARRESTS FOR WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER CALLS 'FAR-RIGHT THUGGERY' AGAINST POLICE, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND ORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. ITV'S PETER SMITH HAS THE LATEST. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) WHATEVER THE MOTIVATION OR EXCUSES FOR A WEEK OF WIDESPREAD DISORDER, THIS RIOT IN ROTHERHAM YESTERDAY WAS A BAYING MOB AND A HORRIFYING ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE. THEY TARGETED THIS HOTEL BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S HOUSING ASYLUM-SEEKERS. WITH THE FRONT DOOR SURROUNDED, AT THIS POINT, THEY TRY TO SET THE BUILDING ON FIRE. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) POLICE OUTNUMBERED AND OVERRUN. MORE WOOD IS PILED ON ` A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO FUEL THESE FLAMES ` AND THE DOORWAY THEY ARE BURNING HERE IS IN FACT THE FIRE ESCAPE FOR SOME 240 PEOPLE STILL STUCK INSIDE. RACIST SLOGANS ARE SHOUTED. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) THIS IS HATRED PROPELLED BY THE FAR RIGHT ` HERE, WITH A THIRST FOR A LYNCHING. (SHOUTING INTENSIFIES) WITH MORE PROTESTS NOW BEING ORGANISED AT HOTELS HOUSING ASYLUM-SEEKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT HELD AN EMERGENCY COBRA MEETING TODAY TO PREPARE A RESPONSE. WE WILL HAVE A STANDING ARMY OF SPECIALIST OFFICERS, PUBLIC DUTY OFFICERS, SO THAT WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH THIS WHERE WE NEED THEM. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) ROTHERHAM WAS THE CULMINATION AFTER DAYS OF DISORDER. IN SUNDERLAND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AN OLD POLICE STATION WAS RANSACKED, A CITIZENS' ADVICE BUREAU NEXT DOOR BURNED DOWN. PROTESTS CONTINUED OVER THE WEEKEND UNDER THE BANNER 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.' THE MESSAGES WERE OVERTLY ANTI-IMMIGRATION, ANTI-MUSLIM AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT. IN LIVERPOOL, THE MEANS WERE VIOLENCE, VANDALISM AND LOOTING. (HYSTERICAL GIGGLING) SCENES LIKE THIS ARE CAUSING FEAR ` A FEAR THAT IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE NOW FOR THE COUNTRY'S ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS, THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES COULD BE THE NEXT VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE. WE'RE NOT TAKING OUR KIDS TO THE PARK. WE'RE NOT TAKING THEM TO SUMMER CLUBS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE CITY CENTRE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE CINEMA. BECAUSE YOU SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE PLANNING OUT THERE. EVEN AMID THE MINDLESSNESS, POLICE BELIEVE THERE IS A CLEAR LEVEL OF PLANNING AND ORGANISATION TO THIS. IN ROTHERHAM, THEY EVEN SAW THE GROUP USING DIVERSION TACTICS TO STRETCH THEIR THIN BLUE LINES. WE SAW ADULTS HERE DIRECTING CHILDREN TO THROW ROCKS AT POLICE. (ROCKS CLATTER AGAINST SHIELDS) BACK AT THE HOTEL, RELIEVED RESIDENTS WATCHED THE ONGOING STREET BATTLE OUTSIDE AS IT CONTINUED INTO THE NIGHT, BUT NUMBERS SOON DWINDLED. THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE FIRE GOING, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOW RUNNING OUT OF ENERGY ` AND RUNNING OUT OF AMMUNITION FOR MISSILES TO THROW AT THE POLICE. RIOT POLICE LINED UP FOR ONE FINAL PUSH, BUT IT WASN'T NEEDED. IN THE END, IT WAS CONCERNED LOCAL RESIDENTS HERE WHO TALKED THIS GROUP INTO GOING AWAY. CHEERS, MATE. ALL RIGHT. SHAKE YOUR HAND? YEAH, THANK YOU. CHEERS, BUDDIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK IT'S LEARNED RACISM. IT'S` THEY'VE LEARNED IT FROM THEIR PARENTS, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY'RE HERE. THE HOTEL HAS NOW BEEN EVACUATED; IT'S NOW A CRIME SCENE. WE KNOW THERE WERE FAMILIES INSIDE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ` DISPLACED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED ONCE MORE, BUT THE VIOLENCE THEY ARE FLEEING IS HERE IN THE UK. HEATHER'S HERE NOW WITH A RECAP OF THE DAY'S WEATHER. LOOKS LIKE A GOOD DAY TO BE OUTSIDE? IF JUMPING OUT OF PLANES OR OFF THE PORT HILLS, IS YOUR CUP OF TEA, THEN SURE, TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY TO DO IT. VERY CALM, VERY DRY WEATHER, THANKS TO A RIDGE. THERE WAS FOG, LIKE OVER HAMILTON AT SUNRISE, AND THERE WAS FROST AS FAR NORTH AS AUCKLAND. WHENUAPAI AIRFIELD THE COLDEST SPOT IN AUCKLAND, WITH 1.7. TOMORROW LOOKS LIKE A REPEAT, MOST IN THE NORTH ISLAND STARTING THE DAY AROUND 4 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ` PROTESTERS STORM THE HOME OF THE BANGLADESHI PRIME MINISTER AFTER SHE QUITS HER JOB AND THE COUNTRY. AND LATER ` HAVE MISTAKES OF THE PAST LED TO THE CURRENT CRISIS IN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM? HEALTH NZ HAS U-TURNED AND WILL NOW ALLOW CANCER PATIENTS ACCESS TO KEYTRUDA BEFORE GOVERNMENT FUNDING OFFICIALLY BEGINS IN OCTOBER. THE DRUG COMPANY HAS OFFERED THEM FOR FREE, AND HEALTH NZ INITIALLY TURNED THEM DOWN UNTIL THE HEALTH MINISTER STEPPED IN. NOW LABOUR IS CALLING FOR THE HEALTH MINISTER TO GO, SAYING HE'S WEAK AND NOT ACROSS HIS BRIEF. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH. THIS LITTLE VIAL IS A MIRACLE FOR SOME ` LIFE-PROLONGING CANCER DRUG KEYTRUDA. IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE FUNDED BY PHARMAC THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S CANCER DRUG FUNDING BOOST AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER, BUT WHEN THE DRUG SUPPLIER OFFERED TO SUPPLY IT FREE TO PATIENTS BEFORE THEN, HEALTH NZ TURNED THEM DOWN. IT BEATS ME WHY IT HAPPENED, BECAUSE IT WAS CLEARLY THE WRONG DECISION. WHEN A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IS OFFERING FREE MEDICINE AND YOU CAN` IN MANY INSTANCES, IT WOULD MEAN THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE TREATED MORE EASILY ON OUR HEALTH SYSTEM, WE SHOULD TAKE IT. THE HEALTH AGENCY TOLD ONCOLOGISTS ON FRIDAY TO NOT PUT ANY PATIENTS ON THE EARLY-ACCESS FREE DRUG PROGRAMME. THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MERCK SHARP AND DOHME WROTE AN URGENT LETTER TO THE HEALTH AGENCY CITING SERIOUS RISKS SOME PATIENTS MAY BE DENIED ACCESS IN FUTURE DUE TO PHARMAC ELIGIBILITY RULES. HEALTH NZ STUCK TO ITS GUNS. WHEN THE PM GOT WIND OF IT YESTERDAY, HE ORDERED HIS HEALTH MINISTER TO STEP IN. THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS YESTERDAY MORNING ABOUT SOME CHALLENGES. I DIGESTER THAT DURING THE DAY, AND ASKED THEM TO RELOOK, TO FIND A WAY FORWARD. BY THIS AFTERNOON, A U-TURN. HEALTH NZ CONFIRMING 20-30 PATIENTS CAN GET EARLY ACCESS TO THE DRUG LATER THIS MONTH. IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION BY PATIENTS, BUT IT SHOWS THE GOVT IS COMPLETELY CHAOTIC ON ITS FLAGSHIP POLICY AROUND CANCER HEALTH NZ SAYS IT CONSIDERED THE PROPOSAL ON THURSDAY, THEN INFORMED THE HEALTH MINISTER ABOUT IT LATE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. RETI ONLY STEPPED IN YESTERDAY AFTER IT WAS MADE PUBLIC. IF IT HAD A WIDER IMPACT, I WOULD EXPECT A HEADS UP. IT SEEMS LIKE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT BEING SET FORWARD ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DELIVERING ON THIS POLICY. AS A RESULT, A GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE NEARLY GOING TO MISS OUT ON MEDICINES THEY ARE OVERDUE FOR. IT'S NOT THE ONLY INFO RETI'S STRUGGLING TO GET FROM HEALTH NEW ZEALAND ABOUT OUR CRIPPLED HEALTH SYSTEM. WHEN NEWS OF DOCTORLESS HOSPITALS RELYING ON TELEHEALTH BROKE, HE COULDN'T SAY HOW MANY. TODAY HE DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER FOR HOW MANY NURSING VACANCIES THERE WERE ACROSS THE HEALTH SYSTEM. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE KNOWN WHEN THEY REACHED THAT DECISION POINT WHAT IT WAS. SHANE RETI DOES NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION. HE SHOULD BE RELIEVED OF THAT JOB. DID THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A HEALTH MINISTER TO NOT KNOW HOW ANY VACANCIES? HE IS A VERY WEAK MINISTER. PATIENTS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT. THE PRESSURE ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM SPILLING OVER AND HEAPING ON THE MINISTER. ALL RIGHT, JENNA JOINS US NOW. AND JENNA, THE GOVERNMENT'S COMING UNDER PRESSURE TOO ON ITS EDUCATION POLICY ` WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? THE GOVERNMENT CAME OUT OVER THE WEEKEND AND DROPPED THIS DEVASTATING NEW FIGURE THAT ONLY 22% OF YEAR EIGHT STUDENTS WERE AT CURRICULAR LEVEL FOR MATHS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON CALLED IT A SYSTEM FAILURE. 22% SOUNDED SHOCKING, BECAUSE IT WAS A DRAMATIC DROP OFF FROM THE 45% THAT PREVIOUS DATA SHOWED. THIS STUDY HONED IN ON YEAR EIGHT STUDENTS, WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY THEY LOOKED ACROSS A RANGE OF AGE GROUPS. THIS TIME, YEAR EIGHT STUDENTS WERE TESTED AGAINST THE NEW CURRICULUM WHICH HASN'T BEEN INTRODUCED IN SCHOOLS YET. THEY WERE TESTED AGAIN SOMETHING THEY HADN'T BEEN TAUGHT. LABOUR IS SAYING THAT IS MOVING THE GOLD POSTS AFTER KICKING THE BALL. THE GOVERNMENT IS UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT IT. THEY SAY TOO MANY KIDS SHOW UP TO HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT KNOWING THE BASICS, AND THEY HAD TO TAKE ACTION. THE PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH HAS RESIGNED AND FLED THE COUNTRY AFTER PROTESTERS DEFIED A MILITARY CURFEW AND STORMED HER OFFICIAL RESIDENCE. IT COMES AFTER WEEKS OF VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND AUTHORITIES THAT'S LEFT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DEAD. SEJAL KARIA FROM ITV REPORTS. IT WAS A DRAMATIC END TO A 15-YEAR AUTOCRATIC RULE, WITH GLEE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER, SHEIKH HASINA, HAD FLED. PROTESTERS STORMED HER RESIDENCE, TAKING WHAT THEY COULD AND CELEBRATING HER DEPARTURE. EXTRAORDINARY IMAGES OF PEOPLE LYING ON THE BED OF A LEADER WHOSE GRIP ON POWER, ONCE ABSOLUTE, NOW GONE. (PROTESTERS SHOUT) THE ANGER THAT HAD BEEN DRIVING CROWDS ON TO THE STREETS OF BANGLADESH, ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS THAT TODAY PROVED UNSTOPPABLE. REPORTS SUGGEST SHEIKH HASINA FLED IN THIS ARMY HELICOPTER BOUND FOR INDIA. THE COUNTRY'S ARMY CHIEF MAKING A TELEVISED ADDRESS TO THE NATION... (SPEAKS BENGALI) ...CONFIRMING SHEIKH HASINA HAD LEFT THE COUNTRY, AND THE MILITARY WOULD HELP FORM AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT. ON THE STREETS, CROWDS WERE JUBILANT AND CELEBRATING. (BOOM!) A FAR CRY FROM THE VIOLENCE SEEN IN THE LAST MONTH IN THE CAPITAL, DHAKA. THERE HAVE BEEN CLASHES WITH POLICE AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTED. 200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHAT STARTED OUT AS ANGER OVER A CONTROVERSIAL QUOTA SYSTEM FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS TURNED INTO DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE PRIME MINISTER. (SPEAKS BENGALI) THIS MAN BLAMING HER, SAYING IF SHEIKH HASINA HAD ACTED IN A JUST WAY AND MET THE DEMANDS EARLIER, ALL OF THIS CARNAGE WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. SHEIKH HASINA HAD BEEN IN POWER FOR 15 YEARS. HER DEPARTURE IS A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR BANGLADESH, A COUNTRY THAT IS NOW CALLING FOR A NEW LEADER TO TAKE IT TO A NEW FUTURE. COMING UP ` WHAT'S GONE WRONG WITH OUR HEALTH SYSTEM? WE GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING TO FIND OUT IF MISTAKES FROM THE PAST ARE BEHIND THE CURRENT CRISIS. AND LATER IN SPORT, WE'VE GOT MORE ON A BRILLIANT DAY IN PARIS, INCLUDING HOW ONE OF OUR CYCLISTS OVERCAME A CAREER-THREATENING INJURY TO TAKE HOME SILVER. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF A KIWI PILOT KILLED IN CENTRAL PAPUA SAY HE NEVER WOULD HAVE FLOWN TO A PLACE IF HE THOUGHT IT WASN'T SAFE. GLEN CONNING WAS REPORTEDLY KILLED BY SEPARATIST REBELS ON MONDAY. FEARS OF A U.S. RECESSION HAVE DELIVERED WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A 'GLOBAL GUT PUNCH' TO WORLD STOCK MARKETS, BUT EXPERTS HERE ARE EXPECTING THE IMPACT TO BE MUTED. AND FINN BUTCHER HAS SURPRISED EVEN HIMSELF, BEATING THE WORLD CHAMPION HE CALLS HIS HERO TO CLAIM THE FIRST EVER OLYMPIC GOLD IN THE KAYAK CROSS. SOME WOOLWORTHS WORKERS HAVE VOTED TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER PAY AND STAFFING ISSUES. AROUND 10,000 FIRST UNION MEMBERS WILL TAKE ACTION, INCLUDING WEARING STRIKE STICKERS THAT SAY UNDERPAID, UNDERVALUED AND UNDERSTAFFED. ONE DUTY MANAGER SAYS SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO SHOP AT WOOLWORTHS DESPITE HER STAFF DISCOUNT. WOOLWORTHS IS OFFERING A 6.6% PAY RISE TO AN HOURLY RATE OF ABOUT $26.60 AN HOUR. THE WORDS 'HEALTH CRISIS' HAVE BEEN THROWN AROUND SO OFTEN AND SO CASUALLY IN RECENT YEARS, BUT BEHIND THE POLITICAL PROMISES AND POINT-SCORING IS SOMETHING THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED ` TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KIWIS WHO AREN'T GETTING THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. SO HOW DID THE HEALTH SYSTEM GET INTO THIS MESS? HERE'S OUR EXPLAINER WITH EDITOR LLOYD BURR. WELL, 'MESS' IS NOT A WORD THAT SHOULD BE USED TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING AS VITAL AS A PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, BUT IT IS PRETTY APT AT THE MOMENT. BUT HOW DID WE GET HERE? THAT IS THE QUESTION. THE ANSWER IS WITH A LOT OF TINKERING BY MULTIPLE GOVERNMENTS OVER MANY DECADES. NOW, THIS MIGHT GET A BIT DENSE, SO PLEASE STRAP YOURSELVES IN. IT STARTS IN 1901, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WAS ESTABLISHED, AND THAT WAS AMID FEAR THE BUBONIC PLAGUE WOULD REACH OUR SHORES. NOW, IT DID, BUT IT WASN'T TOO SERIOUS. IN 1922, IT DROPPED 'PUBLIC' FROM ITS NAME. THERE WAS SOME POST-SPANISH FLU REFORM, THERE WAS SOME POST-SPANISH FLU REFORM FOCUSED ON STREAMLINING THE NATIONAL SYSTEM. 16 YEARS LATER, THE SOCIAL SECURITIES ACT CAME ALONG WITH MICHAEL JOSEPH SAVAGE. THIS WAS THE FIRST BUILDING BLOCK OF THE WELFARE STATE AND A UNIVERSAL AND FREE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM. THE FIRST CHUNK OF REFORMS CAME IN THE '50s. FUNDING WAS CENTRALISED TO A MINISTER OF HEALTH, AND THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF NEW BUREAUCRACY. THERE WAS A HOSPITAL COUNCIL, A BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ITS 18 DISTRICT OFFICES. THERE WERE 29 HOSPITAL BOARDS AND 230 TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS GPs. THEN CAME THE '80s, AND DAVID LANGE'S RADICAL REFORMS. THE MINISTER WAS ALL-POWERFUL WITH JUST ADVISORY COMMITTEES, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 14 NEW AREA HEALTH BOARDS. BUT TINKERING WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. THE JIM BOLGER YEARS. A MINISTER FOR CROWN HEALTH ENTERPRISES WAS ROLLED OUT. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BECAME A MINISTRY, A NEW COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, AND UNIT, BUT THAT COMMISSION WAS SCRAPPED AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS. 14 AREA HEALTH BOARDS WERE REPLACED WITH 23 CROWN HEALTH ENTERPRISES, OVERSEEN BY FOUR NEW REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES OF NORTHERN, MIDLAND, CENTRAL, AND SOUTHERN. HOSPITALS RAN AS FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS, AND GPs BANDED TOGETHER IN ASSOCIATIONS TO HELP RUN PRIMARY SERVICES. BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG THOUGH, BECAUSE IN CAME THIS GUY ` WINSTON PETERS. '96 SAW EVEN MORE CHANGES. THE CROWN HEALTH ENTERPRISES MINISTER ` GONE, AND A GUIDELINES GROUP AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION SET UP. THE 23 ENTERPRISES BECAME 24 HOSPITAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE FOUR REGIONAL AUTHORITIES WERE MERGED INTO ONE HEALTH FUNDING AUTHORITY. A NATIONWIDE ELECTIVE SURGERY BOOKING SYSTEM WAS LAUNCHED. THEN HELEN CLARK AND HER OVERHAUL. THE MINISTRY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REFORMED AND ASSUMED THE ROLE OF THE HEALTH FUNDING AUTHORITY. THE 24 HOSPITAL HEALTH SERVICES WERE SCRAPPED AND REPLACED WITH 21 DHBs ` DISTRICT HEALTH BOARDS ` WHICH HAD ELECTED MEMBERS AND MAORI REPRESENTATION. WE ALSO SAW PUBLIC HEALTH UNITS, THE HEALTH PROMOTION AGENCY AND PRIMARY HEALTH ORGANISATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED DURING THIS TIME TOO. WHANAU ORA CAME ALONG IN 2010 WITH JOHN KEY. THEN CAME THE ARDERN ACT. THAT PRETTY MUCH FELL ON ALL OF THAT. THE 21 DHBs WERE ALL MERGED INTO ONE ` HEALTH NZ TE WHATU ORA, WHICH HAS FOUR REGIONAL DIVISIONS. THERE WAS THE MAORI HEALTH AUTHORITY ` TE AKA WHAI ORA ` BUT AS WE KNOW, CHRISTOPHER LUXON SCRAPPED THAT AS WELL. SO THAT'S THE BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM EXPLAINED. SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS AS WE HAVE SEEN LOVE TO TINKER WITH + AND ARE ABOUT TO AGAIN LOVE TO TINKER WITH ` AND ARE ABOUT TO AGAIN IN A BID TO STOP THE CURRENT HEALTH CRISIS. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT. AND THE WAIT FOR MORE MEDALS DIDN'T LAST LONG? NO, THAT'S WHAT WE DO WE GO A NIGHT WITHOUT AND THEN WE WENT TO IN ONE GO. WHAT A BRILLIANT NIGHT. FINN BUTCHER AMAZING. HE NEVER LOOKED LIKE HE WOULD LOSE. HE HIT THE MINDSET THAT HE WOULD WIN. AND IN THE BRILLIANT SILVER TO START THE TRACK CYCLING CAMPAIGN AS WELL. WE ARE LIVE TO PARIS WITH MORE ON A BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE KIWIS. THAT STARTED WITH NEW ZEALAND'S NEWEST GOLD MEDALLIST, FINN BUTCHER, AND THE NEW SPORT THAT'S QUICKLY MADE A SPLASH IN PARIS. AND OUR WOMEN'S POLE VAULT TRIO SURGE INTO THE FINAL, BUT NOT BEFORE SOME CHAOTIC SCENES IN QUALIFYING. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE WITH SUZUKI IGNIS AND THREENEWS SPORT. NEW ZEALAND HAS ROARED BACK INTO LIFE AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS WITH A DAY TO REMEMBER BOTH ON THE WATER AND ON THE TRACK. FINN BUTCHER'S BRILLIANCE IN THE KAYAK CROSS SAW THE MAN FROM ALEXANDRA STAND ATOP THE PODIUM, WINNING NEW ZEALAND'S THIRD GOLD MEDAL OF THESE GAMES. IN A NEW EVENT FOR THIS YEAR'S OLYMPICS, BUTCHER BEAT GOLD MEDAL FAVOURITE JOE CLARKE OUT OF THE BLOCKS, AND HE NEVER LOOKED BACK. IMOGEN WELLS IS WITH US FROM PARIS IMOGEN WELLS IS WITH US FROM PARIS. AND IMO, IF KIWIS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT KAYAK CROSS BEFORE, THEY CERTAINLY WILL NOW. HOW COULD THEY NOT? THE SPORT IS MAKING ITS DEBUT IN PARIS. BUTCHER HAS GIVEN US A GOLDEN REASON TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT. HE WAS QUICK FROM THE GET GO, STORMING INTO POSITION. HE WAS NOT GOING TO RELINQUISH. PADDLING HOME TO SECURE OUR THIRD GOLD AT THESE GAMES. IT IS THE BUTCHER! OH MY GOODNESS. HE'S BEATEN THE THREE TIMES WORLD CHAMPION! A NEW OLYMPIC SPORT AND A NEW KIWI GOLDEN BOY. THE BUTCHER TAKES GOLD! IT WAS A DREAM. AND, YEAH, TO BE COMING TRUE, IT'S, LIKE... YEAH, IT'S INSANE. SO I'M STOKED. YES, FIRST-TIME OLYMPIAN FINN BUTCHER HASN'T HAD TO WAIT LONG TO FIND OUT WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION, AND HE DID IT WITH A VOCAL CONTINGENT OF TRAVELLING SUPPORTERS. # THERE'S ONLY ONE FINN BUTCHER. # WE ARE HIS NUMBER-ONE SUPPORTERS! AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LOADS OF KIDS THAT LEARN KAYAKING IN ALEXANDRA, AND FINN HAS SHOWN THAT YOU CAN SHOOT FOR THE MOON AND BLOODY ACHIEVE STARDOM AND GREATNESS. WITH A GOLD MEDAL AROUND HIS NECK, IT'S FAIR TO SAY BUTCHER IS NO LONGER FAMOUS IN JUST ALEXANDRA. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COPE WITH COMING FROM QUITE AN UNKNOWN SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND TO BEING THE BIGGEST STORY OF THE DAY IN NEW ZEALAND? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. (CHUCKLES) WHILE IT WAS ALL SMILES WITH COMPETITORS DURING A SELFIE ON THE PODIUM, THE NATURE OF THE SPORT MEANT IT WAS ANYTHING BUT AT THE START LINE. BUTCHER GETTING THE JUMP ON THE FAVOURITE FOR GOLD, GREAT BRITAIN'S JOE CLARKE. OH, FANTASTIC START FROM THE BUTCHER. JOE AND NOAH HAD A WEE BIT OF A TUSSLE AND, LIKE, HONESTLY, IT TAKES ONE STROKE, PROBABLY. AND THEN I MANAGED TO GET IN FRONT AND THEN HOLD IT FROM THERE. BUTCHER MAKING IT NO SECRET A FAST START HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE GAME PLAN. WE KNEW FROM THE WORLD CUP HERE LAST YEAR, AND ALSO A LOT OF OTHER CROSS RACES, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE KEY SPOT, REALLY. SADLY, THERE WASN'T THE SAME SUCCESS FOR LUUKA JONES IN HER FINAL OLYMPIC GAMES ` ELIMINATED IN THE SEMI-FINAL. HER TEAM-MATE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS WEREN'T LOST ON HER, THOUGH. WE'RE SUCH A SMALL SPORT, TRYING TO COMPETE ON THE WORLD STAGE WITH, YOU KNOW, EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THIS MEDAL WILL GO A REALLY LONG WAY TO HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION COME THROUGH. ANY MESSAGE TO FUTURE KAYAK CROSSERS? UM, GET INTO IT. IT'S, UH` AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S PRETTY FUN. WITH SCENES LIKE THIS, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO PICK UP A PADDLE? FINN BUTCHER'S GOLD WAS JUST THE START OF A BRILLIANT DAY. OUR NEXT SUCCESS CAME ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS, WITH OUR TRACK CYCLING TEAM GETTING UNDERWAY WITH A CRACKER START. THE WOMEN'S SPRINT TEAM PUT ON A SUMMING PERFORMANCE TO SECURE SILVER. NEW ZEALAND WILL GO WITH A SILVER. THEY'LL BE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED WITH THAT. AND THE KIWIS COULDN'T REDUCE THE BRITISH ADVANTAGE. BUT THERE IS NO DISAPPOINTMENT AMONG THIS GROUP, ONLY PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT, WITH NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST-EVER MEDAL IN THE WOMEN'S TEAM SPRINT. JUST BEING ABLE TO GET A SILVER OLYMPIC MEDAL NEXT TO THEM WAS INSANE. THIS SILVER MEDAL IS MADE EVEN MORE REMARKABLE BY THE ADVERSITY THEY FACED IN THE PROCESS. A SERIOUS HIP INJURY THREE YEARS AGO NEARLY SPELT THE END OF SHAANE FULTON'S CYCLING CAREER. WE'VE JUST GOT SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT TEAM AND LINING UP WITH THESE TWO GIRLS TODAY HAS JUST MEANT THE ABSOLUTE WORLD TO ME. PETCH IS AT HER SECOND GAMES IN HER SECOND DISCIPLINE, COMPETING IN BMX IN TOKYO AND ONLY MAKING THE SWITCH TO THE TRACK LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. BEING ALONGSIDE THESE GIRLS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY AND JUST SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF. THAT DREAM QUICKLY BECAME REALITY ON WHAT WAS THE PERFECT START TO NEW ZEALAND'S TRACK CYCLING CAMPAIGN. WITH PLENTY OF MEDAL CHANCES STILL TO COME, THE WOMEN'S TEAM SPRINT COULD BE JUST THE START OF A MEMORABLE WEEK ON THE TRACK. OK, IMO, ANOTHER BIG MEDAL FAVOURITE STARTS HER CAMPAIGN SOON? YES, SHE SURE DOES. NEW ZEALAND'S MOST DECORATED OLYMPIAN, LISA CARRINGTON, GETS UNDERWAY IN JUST A FEW HOURS, STARTING OFF WITH THE K FOR 500 HEATS. NEW ZEALAND HAS A VERY GOOD SHOT FOR THE MEDAL. THIS IS A TEAM THAT WON THE WORLD CHAMPS IN 2023 AND WILL BE LOOKING TO BACK THAT UP. WE HAVE GOT SOME MORE TRACK CYCLING ACTION WITH THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S PURSUIT TEAMS. THE MEN ARE ALREADY THROUGH TO THE FIRST ROUND. NO IMMEDIATE MEDAL ACTION HERE. IT IS ALL ABOUT LAYING SOME MORE FOUNDATIONS. PERFECT. SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS MORE ON THE WAY. THERE'S BEEN CRAZY SCENES IN THE WOMEN'S POLE VAULT QUALIFYING. WITH JUST 11 ATHLETES CLEARING 4.55m, ALL THREE KIWIS HAVE NOW QUALIFIED FOR THURSDAY MORNING'S FINAL, WHICH WILL FEATURE A WHOPPING 20 COMPETITORS. ELIZA McCARTNEY WAS ONE OF THOSE 11 VAULTERS TO CLEAR THE MARK, BUT WITH AT LEAST 12 NEEDED TO MAKE UP THE FINAL FIELD, IT RESULTED IN A COUNTBACK TO PREVIOUS SUCCESSFUL HEIGHTS. THAT BENEFITED FELLOW KIWIS OLIVIA McTAGGART AND IMOGEN AYRIS, WHO BOTH CLEARED 4.40m ON THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT AND LANDED A SPOT IN THE FINAL. QUALIFIERS ARE REALLY CRAZY EVENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE AS TO WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED TODAY. SO NOTHING'S GUARANTEED, SO EVERY HEIGHT THAT I GET, EVERY JUMP I DO, LIKE, IT'S` IT IS LIKE, 'OK, GOOD.' MEANWHILE, THERE WERE FIREWORKS IN THE MEN'S FINAL, WITH SWEDE MONDO DUPLANTIS BREAKING HIS OWN WORLD RECORD TO CLAIM GOLD. THIS FOR THE WORLD RECORD... YES! MAGNIFICENT! OLYMPIC HISTORY WRITTEN! THE MARK OF 6.25m WAS 1cm BETTER THAN HIS OWN EFFORT FROM EARLIER IN THE YEAR. INCREDIBLE STUFF, THAT. THE WARRIORS ARE ADAMANT SHAUN JOHNSON'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLUB AND HIS SPORT WILL CONTINUE LONG AFTER HE LEAVES THE PLAYING FIELD. THE STAR HALFBACK'S ANNOUNCED HE'S RETIRING AT THE END OF THE SEASON, AFTER MORE THAN 13 YEARS AND 265 APPEARANCES IN THE NRL. LUCY THOMSON REPORTS. JOHNSON DUMMIES AND RUNS. CLASSIC SHAUN JOHNSON! HE'S THE CLUB'S LEADING ALL-TIME POINTS SCORER AND THE KING OF THE COMEBACK. VINTAGE SJ! WHAT A COMEBACK STORY HE HAS BEEN THIS YEAR. NOW SHAUN JOHNSON IS CALLING TIME ON HIS CAREER AT THE CLUB WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. I WOULDN'T WANT IT ANY OTHER WAY. WITH 265 NRL APPEARANCES TO HIS NAME, NEWS OF HIS DEPARTURE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW FOR HIS TEAMMATES. EVERYONE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ONE DAY, BUT THEY WERE SHOCKED. IT RATTLED A FEW OF THEM. IT WASN'T STRAIGHT-FORWARD DECISION FOR JOHNSON TO MAKE EITHER. I STILL HAVE THAT, LIKE, LITTLE KID IN ME THAT'S LIKE, 'THIS IS MEAN,' YOU KNOW, LIKE, RUNNING OUT. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE OBVIOUSLY MADE THIS DECISION, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THERE'S NO LOVE THERE FOR THE GAME. THE NEWS JUST AS TOUGH FOR THE CLUB, WHERE HE'LL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION ACROSS THE BOARD. ON THE FIELD, HE'S A TALENT THAT EVERYONE ASPIRES TO BE LIKE, BUT OFF THE FIELD, HE'S BEEN A CREDIT TO HIMSELF, THE WAY HE'S MET SUCH A HIGH DEMAND IN THE COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE SECTOR, AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THAT AND BALANCE OUT WITH WINNING A GOLDEN BOOT AND PLAYING FOR HIS COUNTRY. THAT JERSEY IS THE ONE I HOLD IN THE MOST HIGH REGARD, AND I'VE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF WEARING THAT JERSEY AND REPRESENTING OUR COUNTRY, SO... HOPEFULLY IT'S A SPACE I CAN BE PART OF DOWN THE TRACK. EVEN IF HE HASN'T TOLD HIS KIDS HE'S LEAVING YET. I WANT THEM TO THINK I'M THAT COOL DAD FOR A LITTLE LONGER YET. AND WITH A HANDFUL OF REGULAR-SEASON GAMES STILL TO PLAY, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT. THE ALL BLACKS ARE RELISHING THE PROSPECT OF WILL JORDAN'S RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL RUGBY AS THEY LOOK TO BEGIN THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ON A WINNING NOTE. JORDAN MISSED THE CRUSADERS' SUPER RUGBY CAMPAIGN AFTER UNDERGOING SHOULDER SURGERY AND HAS PLAYED JUST ONCE THIS YEAR, IN A PRE-SEASON HIT-OUT FOR TASMAN. BUT HIS RETURN TO THE ALL BLACKS HAS HIS TEAMMATES EXCITED. HE'S LOOKING GREAT, WILL. HE'S LIKE THE FERRARI ` BRING HIM OUT OF THE GARAGE AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND HE'S READY TO GO, SO... IT'S GREAT TO SEE HIM PLAY, UM, SOME NPC IN THE WEEKEND WITH TASMAN, SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HIM BACK OUT THERE RUNNING. JORDAN IS NO GUARANTEE TO START, WITH BEAUDEN BARRETT AND RUBEN LOVE ALSO OPTIONS AT FULLBACK. ANOTHER BIG NIGHT TONIGHT. LISA CARRINGTON BACK IN ACTION. A FIRST LOOK AT HOW SHE MIGHT GO. SHE HAS OUR FERRARI ON THE WATER. SHE IS OUR FERRARI ON THE WATER. SMITH AND CAUGHEY'S HAS BEEN SAVED. THE AUCKLAND DEPARTMENT STORE WHICH HAD BEEN SLATED FOR CLOSURE NEXT YEAR WILL NOW REMAIN OPEN ON QUEEN ST ` BUT AS A SMALLER STORE ON JUST THE GROUND FLOOR. IT'LL SAVE AROUND 100 JOBS. BUT THE NEWMARKET STORE WILL CLOSE EARLIER THAN PLANNED, POSSIBLY NEXT MONTH. TO PICTON NOW, WHERE THE REHABILITATION OF AN ADORABLE BABY SEAL HAS DELIGHTED LOCALS AND HOLIDAYMAKERS. MEET OLIVER, WHO WAS FOUND MALNOURISHED AND MOTIONLESS ON A JETTY AFTER A SEVERE STORM. FACING DEATH IF HE DID NOT FEED, THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION GRANTED A GROUP OF FRIENDS PERMISSION TO NURSE HIM BACK TO HEALTH. THEY GAVE US TWO WEEKS, AND IN THAT TWO WEEKS WE WERE COMING DOWN HERE TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY CATCHING HERRINGS AND GIVING THEM TO HIM WHILE HE WAS STILL ALIVE, SO HE HAD TO GET THE INSTINCT TO KILL IT AND EAT IT. CATCHING HERRINGS AND GIVING THEM TO HIM WHILE THEY WAS STILL ALIVE, SO HE HAD TO GET THE INSTINCT TO KILL IT AND EAT IT. LOVE THE COMMITMENT. THE CARERS SAY OLIVER HAS REGAINED HIS WEIGHT AND INDEPENDENCE BUT STILL COMES BACK EVERY FEW DAYS TO VISIT. NO DOUBT HOPING TO GET A FEED OF FISH. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE INCOMING WEATHER. ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS ON THE WAY, HEATHER? TRUE, BUT THIS ONE LOOKS LIKELY TO BEHAVE BETTER THAN SOME. IT'S CURRENTLY SITTING OFF THE NEW SOUTH WALES COAST AND WILL ARRIVE OUT WEST VERY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, WITH THE CENTRE JUST OFFSHORE BETWEEN NELSON AND TARANAKI. THEN IT SKIRTS UP THE COAST BEFORE CROSSING NORTHEAST FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. YES, THERE'LL BE A BIT OF RAIN, BUT IN TERMS OF SEVERE WEATHER, LIKELY ONLY TO BE A COUPLE OF WATCHES FOR THURSDAY. MORE IN THE FULL FORECAST, NEXT. NAU MAI ANO ` WELCOME BACK. ANOTHER MAYBE FOGGY AND MAYBE FROSTY START TOMORROW. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL VERY SLOWLY RETREAT TO THE EAST, SO ANOTHER CALM AND CLEAR NIGHT TONIGHT, AND FOR MOST OF US TOMORROW. YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GETTING CLOSE, THOUGH, AND THAT'S THE NEXT LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM, SET TO CROSS THE TASMAN AND APPROACH THE WEST TOMORROW NIGHT. ANNOUNCING ITS ARRIVAL ` A COUPLE OF TROUGHS FOR THE SOUTHWEST, AND A NORTHERLY FLOW FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THE SHOWERS START TO BUBBLE UP FOR FIORDLAND AND SLOWLY SPREAD OUT UP THE WEST COAST. EVERYONE ELSE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND TONIGHT WILL BE FINE, WITH FROST DEVELOPING. TOMORROW, AFTER THE FINE AND FROSTY START, CLOUD STARTS TO CREEP IN, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE NORTH FROM LATE AFTERNOON AND STRENGTHENING WINDS. SUPER CALM TONIGHT AROUND THE NORTH ISLAND. PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN THOSE ISOBARS. MOST WILL ALSO BE FINE TOO. JUST ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE WEST FROM MANAWATU UP TO AUCKLAND. TOMORROW, THOSE CLEAR CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO BRING POCKETS OF MORNING FOG AND FROST AS FAR NORTH AS AUCKLAND. BY LATE AFTERNOON, DEVELOPING CLOUD LEADS TO ISOLATED SHOWERS IN PARTS. SO YES, YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY ` POSSIBLE FROST AND FOG AS FAR NORTH AS AUCKLAND. ONCE THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, THE DAY IS FINE, WITH MOSTLY LIGHT WINDS. A SLIGHT NOR'EASTER PICKS UP IN THE AFTERNOON. MORNING FROST AND POSSIBLE FOG FOR THE USUAL SUSPECTS. THE DAY WILL BE MOSTLY FINE TILL LATE AFTERNOON, WHEN CLOUD INCREASES, AND POSSIBLE SHOWERS HIT TAUPO AND ROTORUA. FINE AND FROSTY OUT EAST, MAYBE EVEN FOG TOO FOR MASTERTON. NORTHERLIES FOR MOST, PICKING UP IN THE AFTERNOON. DANNEVIRKE, YOUR WIND WILL BE FROM THE NORTHWEST. FOGGY AND FROSTY FOR TAUMARUNUI. MORNING FROST FOR THE HUTT VALLEY TOO. SUN DOMINATES FOR ALL DURING THE DAY, WITH THE ODD SHOWER KICKING IN LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING FOR THOSE NEAR A COAST. IF IT'S CLEAR, EXPECT FROST; IF IT'S CLOUDY, EXPECT RAIN. THAT'S THE MORNING; THEN SHOWERS SPREAD NORTH DURING THE AFTERNOON, REACHING NELSON LATE TOMORROW NIGHT. ALL WITH A NORTHERLY. DRY OUT EAST, BUT FROSTY FIRST THING. NORWESTERLIES DEVELOP IN THE MORNING, THEN CLOUD ROLLS IN FROM LATE AFTERNOON AND INTO TOMORROW NIGHT. AND FROSTY FOR THE USUAL SPOTS IN THE LOWER SOUTH. MORE CLOUD EXPECTED OVER THE DEEP SOUTH, AND THAT WILL LEAD TO EVENING SHOWERS. WINDS MOSTLY FROM THE NORTH OR NORTHEAST. FOR YOU, DUNEDIN, THAT WILL BE A NORTHERLY TO GO WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL FINE MORNING, COUPLED WITH AREAS OF FROST. CLOUDS START TO DEVELOP INTO THE AFTERNOON. CHRISTCHURCH, EXPECT YOUR NORMAL WINTER'S MORNING ` FINE AND FROSTY. NOREASTERLIES DEVELOP BEFORE MIDDAY; THEN CLOUD INCREASES TOMORROW NIGHT. WELLINGTON ` MORNING FROST FOR THE HUTT VALLEY, WITH SUN FOR ALL IN THE MORNING. LATE AFTERNOON, CLOUD ROLLS IN WITH A FRESH NORTHERLY, MAYBE WITH SHOWERS. FINE FOR HAWKE'S BAY, APART FROM AREAS OF MORNING LOW CLOUD AND FROST. THERE'S A NORTHERLY DETECTABLE FROM THE AFTERNOON. TAURANGA, ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY. YOU'LL HAVE A NOR'EASTERLY WHICH DEVELOPS AFTER LUNCH YOU'LL HAVE A NOR'EASTERLY WHICH DEVELOPS AFTER LUNCH, WITH A HIGH OF 15. ANOTHER FOGGY AND MAYBE FROSTY START FOR HAMILTON. WINDS ARE LIGHT, SO YOU'LL BE RELYING ON THE SUN TO BURN OFF THE FOG; THEN FINE. AND AUCKLAND, YOU WILL WAKE TO PATCHY MORNING FOG. THOSE IN SHELTERED SPOTS LIKELY TO HAVE A LIGHT FROST. AND A NORTHERLY DEVELOPS IN THE AFTERNOON. TO OZ ` A COUPLE OF TROUGHS ARE DELIVERING SHOWERS TO BRISBANE AND OUT WEST OVER PERTH. AND SHOWERS EXPECTED FOR VANUATU AND THE COOK ISLANDS. THE OTHER ISLANDS WILL HAVE EITHER PLENTY OF SUN OR PLENTY OF SUN WITH THE ODD CLOUD. BACK HOME ` ONCE THE END-OF-THE-WEEK SHOWERS OR MAYBE EVEN RAIN CLEARS THE UPPER NORTH, SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD. CENTRAL AND BAY OF PLENTY HAVE A SIMILAR OUTLOOK, BUT OUT EAST, THE SHOWERS WILL SPILL OVER INTO THE WEEKEND. STRONG NORTHERLIES FOR NEW PLYMOUTH ON THURSDAY. SHOWERS HIT EVERYONE FROM FRIDAY. THE RAIN WILL HIT THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ON THURSDAY AND WILL POSSIBLY BE HEAVY. AND DRYER FOR THE LOWER HALF, BUT WITH CLOUDY PATCHES. LOOKING DRY FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEKEND. FINALLY TONIGHT ` ANOTHER HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE SENDING IN THEIR WEATHER PICS. THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY IS SEEING WHAT THE WEATHER'S LIKE IN YOUR HOOD. SEND THEM TO weatherpics@stuff.co.nz. FANTASTIC. EARLIER WE ASKED YOU IF YOU THOUGHT IT WAS TIME THE GOVERNMENT STEP IN ON ELECTRICITY PRICES, AND A WHOPPING 91% OF YOU THINK IT IS. YOU EMPHATICALLY THINK IT IS TIME SOMETHING WAS DONE. 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 SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY KATE HARRIS AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024