A DENT IN THE FERN ` HOW ONE OF OUR GREATEST OLYMPIANS HAS DESCRIBED THE CONTROVERSY AROUND ONE OF OUR WORST-EVER OLYMPIC PERFORMANCES. (PERFORMS HAKA) EXTRAORDINARY SCENES AT AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING, AS A NORTHLAND COUNCIL BECOMES THE FIRST TO VOTE OUT ITS MAORI WARD. HAS OUR PRIME MINISTER JUST QUESTIONED THE INTELLIGENCE OF OUR AUSSIE COUSINS? AND A BRUSH WITH DEATH ` HOW WE'RE TEACHING KIDS TO TAKE THEIR TEETH SERIOUSLY. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE AND JOHN GIBBS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 A HEATED MEETING IN KAIPARA TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF ITS MAORI WARD ENDED IN A DECISION TO GET RID OF IT AT THE NEXT ELECTION. COUNCILS MUST DECIDE WHERE THEY SIT ON THE ISSUE AFTER NEW LAWS STATE RETAINING MAORI WARDS NEEDS TO BE PUT TO A REFERENDUM. KAIPARA CURRENTLY HAS ONE MAORI WARD COUNCILLOR, BUT THAT POSITION WILL NOW NOT EXIST IN 2025. KARANAMA RURU WAS AT THE MEETING. (CROWD CLAMOURS) EXTRAORDINARY SCENES AT AN EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING ` KAIPARA'S LONE MAORI WARD COUNCILLOR, PERA PANIORA, NOT ALONE IN THE FIGHT TO KEEP THEM. (PROTESTORS CHANT HAKA) PROTESTERS GATHERED EARLY AHEAD OF THE MEETING TO LET IT BE KNOWN THEY WANT THEIR MAORI WARD TO REMAIN. (PROTESTERS CHANT HAKA) BUT IT'S THE VOTES OF THE 10 COUNCILLORS INSIDE THAT COUNT. THE PUBLIC WAS ALLOWED ITS SAY AHEAD OF THE DECISION. LOCAL IWI TE URI-O-HAU'S CHAIR RENO SKIPPER DEFENDED THE WARD. THIS IS DIVIDING OUR PEOPLE, LET'S BRING US TOGETHER. LET'S MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT'S BEST FOR KAIPARA, NOT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SIT AROUND THIS TABLE. AND 'DEMOCRACY NORTHLAND', OF WHICH THE MAYOR IS A MEMBER OF, DETERMINED NOT TO BE DROWNED OUT BY THE HAKA OUTSIDE. USE THE DEDICATED PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE USE THE DEMOCRAATIC PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO STAND AT THE NEXT ELECTION ARE ABLE TO WITH THE SAME VOTE THAT GOES IN THE BOX AS EVERYONE ELSE. COUNCILLORS MIRRORED THE TWO VIEWS ` TAUIWI COUNCILLOR ERYN WILSON COLLINS SPOKE OUT FOR HER COLLEAGUE PERA PANIORA. WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? HOW ELSE CAN WE DESTROY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH IWI? OTHERS DISAGREED. DO WE WANT TO BE LIVING IN A MODERN, LIBERAL, MULTI-ETHNIC, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, OR DO WE WANT TO DEVOLVE INTO THE DEMONSTRATION WE'VE SEEN TODAY, WITH A TOTAL DISRUPTION OF CIVIL DEMOCRACY TOWARDS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A TASTE OF TRIBAL RULE? (COUNCILLORS GROAN) UH, POINT OF ORDER. WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER? LANGUAGE. THE MAYOR HAD THE LAST SAY. KINDA IT HARKS BACK TO WHAT MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID ABOUT... SHH! ...WANTING OUR CHILDREN TO ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOUR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. HIS SPEECH PROMPTED PANIORA TO WALK OUT AND MIHI HER SUPPORTERS AHEAD OF THE CRUCIAL VOTE. ...MIHI TO THE PEOPLE... EACH COUNCILLOR WAS ASKED FOR THEIR VOTE. A DESPONDENT PANIORA AND WILSON COLLINS LISTENED. SIX VOTES FOR THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE WARDS, THREE AGAINST, ONE ABSTAINED ` A MUTED END TO A FIERY MEETING. PANIORA THEN TASKED WITH BREAKING THE NEWS TO HER SUPPORTERS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TE MOANA NUI O KAIPARA MAORI WARD HAS BEEN DISESTABLISHED. (CROWD BOOS, JEERS) SUPPORTERS TOLD HER TO BE STRONG... (ALL PERFORM HAKA) ...SUPPORT SHE'LL CHERISH THROUGH THE NEXT STAGES OF HIGH COURT PROCEEDINGS TO FIGHT THE DECISION. KAIPARA IS JUST ONE OF 78 COUNCILS AROUND THE COUNTRY, 45 OF WHICH NEED TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO KEEP MAORI WARDS OR NOT. THEY HAVE A DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 6TH. SHOULD COUNCILLORS DECIDE TO GET RID OF THEIR MAORI WARDS LIKE KAIPARA HAS, THAT WILL COME INTO EFFECT AT THE 2025 LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. IF COUNCILS VOTE TO KEEP THEIR MAORI WARD, IN 2025, THERE WILL ALSO BE A REFERENDUM ABOUT WHETHER THAT COUNCIL SHOULD ALSO HAVE MAORI WARDS. THE RESULTS WILL BE BINDING, AND COME INTO EFFECT AT THE 2028 LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. THE PRIME MINISTER MAY HAVE RUFFLED FEATHERS ACROSS THE DITCH TODAY ` SAYING WHEN HE TALKED TO AUSTRALIANS, IT PAYS TO BE 'INCREDIBLY SIMPLE.' IT WAS IN DEFENCE OF A REMOVAL OF TE REO MAORI FROM AN OFFICIAL INVITE. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH REPORTS. FROM LAYING CLAIM TO CROWDED HOUSE... (CROWDED HOUSE'S 'DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER') ...TO THAT UPSETTING UNDERARM INCIDENT... (CROWD JEERS) AND THAT'S A DISSAPOINTING FINISH. ...OUR BATTLES WITH OUR AUSSIE BUDS ARE LONG BUT GENTLY FOUGHT. NOW THE PRIME MINISTER HAS POKED THE KOALA BEAR ONCE MORE. AND WHAT I'D SAY TO YOU IN MY DEALINGS WITH AUSTRALIANS, IT PAYS TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND CLEAR AND USE SIMPLE ENGLISH. HE WAS BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS MINISTER'S DECISION TO REMOVE ALL TRACES OF TE REO MAORI IN AN INVITATION TO A MATARIKI CELEBRATION. THE PRIME MINISTER SAID IT NEEDED TO BE SIMPLE SO THE AUSTRALIAN MINISTER COULD UNDERSTAND IT. WE VALUE TE REO. WE SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE IN THIS COUNTRY SPEAKING BOTH LANGUAGES, IN THIS CASE, HE WAS ADDRESSING A LETTER TO A FOREIGN MINISTER. HIS COALITION PARTNERS BOWLING IN FOR BACKUP. I OFTEN HAVE TO SPEAK VERY SORRY FOR MY AUSSIE COUSINS. OPENING OCCASION IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING, AND THIS IDEA ABOUT SPEAKING TO SOME WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. PAUL GOLDSMITH ORDERED OFFICIALS TO REMOVE 'TENA KOE,' 'AOTEAROA,' AND 'NAKU NOA NA' ` MEANING 'YOURS SINCERELY' ` AND REPLACE THEM WITH ENGLISH IN HIS INVITE TO HIS AUSTRALIAN COUNTERPART. WHAT IS THE BIG PROBLEM WITH SAYING 'TENA KOE', WHICH MEANS 'HELLO' IN HIS OFFICIAL INVIITATION? GOLDSMITH CAME PREPARED WITH THE OFFICIAL INVITE THAT WENT TO NEW ZEALAND POLITICIANS. ...I HAVE HERE, RIGHT HONOURABLE CHRIS HIPKINS RECEIVE ON THESE IMITATIONS, AND DECLINED TO COME. HIPKINS WAS UP FOR A SCRAP, CHALLENGING THE PRIME MINISTER ON A LISTICLE OF MINISTERIAL MISJUDGEMENTS. DOES HIS MINISTER OF TRADE STATEMENT YOU ARE NOT IN MEXICO NOW, WE DON'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT, AND SUBSEQUENT DISMISSAL OF CONCERN, CALLING IT FRIENDLY BANTER, REFLECT THE BEHAVIOUR HE EXPECTS FROM HIS MINISTERS? IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THE MINISTER WITHDRAW AND APOLOGISE FOR THAT STATEMENT. HE FOLLOWED THAT WITH A QUESTION ON WHETHER THIS TWEET FROM WINSTON PETERS ENTERING THE GENDER DEBATE OVER BOXING AT THE OLYMPICS WAS APPROPRIATE. IT IS MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROVIDING A RUNNING COMMENTARY ON THE GENDER OF INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES CONSISTENT WITH THE STANDARD OF BEHAVIOUR THAT HE EXPECTS FROM HIS MINISTERS? EVENTUALLY, THE PRIME MINISTER HAD ENOUGH... IT IS ABOUT FAIRNESS. WINSTON PETERS SEEMS TO HAVE A FASCINATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S GENITALIA. WHAT I SAY TO THE MEMBER IS WHAT A PITY LINE OF QUESTIONS WE SEE TODAY. ANOTHER OUTBURST LIKE THAT, AND SOMEONE WILL TAKE AN EARLY DAY. (LAUGHTER) WHO LAUGHED THEN? CONSIDER YOURSELVES TOLD, MPS. A POLL CONDUCTED BY CURIA MARKET RESEARCH SHOWS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE GREEN PARTY TO USE THE WAKA-JUMPING LAW TO OUST ITS FORMER MP DARLEEN TANA FROM PARLIAMENT. TANA WAS BOOTED FROM THE GREENS AND HAS BEEN ASKED BY THE PARTY TO LEAVE PARLIAMENT OVER ALLEGATIONS SHE KNEW ABOUT CLAIMS OF WORKER EXPLOITATION AT HER HUSBAND'S BUSINESS. THE POLL FOUND 62% OF RESPONDENTS SUPPORTED THE PARTY USING THE WAKA-JUMPING LAW, ONLY 16% WERE OPPOSED. PARTY DELEGATES ARE DUE TO MEET IN SEPTEMBER TO DECIDE IF IT'LL USE THE LEGISLATION. ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S MOST DECORATED OLYMPIANS ` IAN FERGUSON ` SAYS NEW ZEALAND'S CONTROVERSIAL REPRESENTATION IN THE MEN'S TWO-PERSON CANOE SPRINT HAS LEFT A DENT ON OUR SILVER FERN. THE FOUR-TIME KAYAK OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST IS CALLING THE PERFORMANCE OF C-2 500 CREW ` MAX BROWN AND GRANT CLANCY ` 'A JOKE,' AS THEY FINISHED A DISTANT LAST IN AN EVENT THEY ONLY ENTERED TO GAIN QUALIFICATION IN ANOTHER. LUCY THOMSON EXPLAINS. IT'S BEEN LABELLED ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST EMBARRASSING PERFORMANCES ON THE OLYMPIC STAGE. THE KIWIS TRICKLE IN. THE MEN S C2 500 CREW OF MAX BROWN AND GRANT CLANCY RECEIVING A SYMPATHETIC APPLAUSE AFTER FINISHING MORE THAN 40 SECONDS SLOWER THAN THE NEXT-WORST FINISHERS IN THEIR HEAT. THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE NEXT ROUND, JUST AS SLOW. THE RACE WAS A JOKE. IT WAS. AND IT'S HARDLY A SURPRISE ` THEY'VE ONLY BEEN PRACTISING THE DISCIPLINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. CANOE RACING NEW ZEALAND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A LOOPHOLE IN OLYMPIC SELECTION TO QUALIFY AN ADDITIONAL TWO ATHLETES FOR THE GAMES, WHO COULD SUBSEQUENTLY ENTER THE K-4 500. I'M SURPRISED THE NZOC WAS OKAY WITH IT, I'M SURPRISED THE NZOC WAS OK WITH IT, BUT THERE MUST BE A REASON FOR IT. A DIFFERENT PAIR QUALIFYING THE BOAT AT FEBRUARY'S OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS REGATTA IN SYDNEY IN A RACE AGAINST JUST TWO OTHER CREWS, FEATURING PADDLERS AGED IN THEIR 60s AND 70s. IT SORT OF DOES PUT A DENT INTO OUR SILVER FERN, SLIGHTLY. IT'S A SHAME, BUT YOU CAN DO THAT. IT'S IN THE RULES." IT'S A SHAME, BUT YOU CAN DO THAT. IT'S IN THE RULES. THE ORGANISATION'S DECISION TO SEND A C-2 500 CREW ALSO COMING AT THE EXPENSE OF K1 PADDLER QUAID THOMPSON, ALSO COMING AT THE EXPENSE OF K-1 PADDLER QUAID THOMPSON, WHO LEGALLY QUALIFIED AT HIS BOAT AT THE SAME EVENT. THOMPSON TOOK THE SELECTION MATTER TO THE SPORTS TRIBUNAL, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. CANOE RACING NEW ZEALAND DEFENDING ITS SELECTION APPROACH, SAYING IT WAS OPERATING WITHIN THE RULES BY USING THE TWO QUOTA SPOTS TO FORM A PRIORITY K4 500 CREW AND THAT THE RARELY-SEEN DISCIPLINE IN THIS COUNTRY CAN BE VIEWED AS A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY. BUT THE RESULTS PROVE OTHERWISE ` THE PAIR CLEARLY UNWILLING TO OVER-EXERT THEMSELVES IN THEIR LEAST FAVOURED EVENT. IF THEY DIDN'T TURN UP ON THE START LINE, THEN THEY CAN'T RACE AT ALL AT THE OLYMPICS, FERGUSON SAYS THE PRESSURE'S NOW ON THE K4 TO PERFORM AND PROVE THEY'RE WORTHY OF THEIR OLYMPIC SPOT. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL DO WELL, AND NEW ZEALAND WILL SEE THE REASON THEY DID DO IT, AND THAT THEY ARE GOOD. BUT HE ADMITS IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK. I THINK A LOT OF COUNTRIES WILL BE LOOKING DOWN ON NEW ZEALAND FOR DOING THAT, BUT THEY CHOSE TO, AND NEW ZEALAND HAS TO PUT UP WITH WHAT COMES NEXT. AND NOT LET OURSELVES DOWN IN AN EVENT OF WHICH WE HOLD SUCH A PROUD HISTORY. LET'S GET TO PARIS AND OUR REPORTER THERE IMOGEN WELLS. IMOGEN, CANOE RACING ASIDE, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STRONG KIWI PERFORMANCES IN THE PAST DAY TO CELEBRATE? NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING OLYMPIC WAHINE AND HER TEAM MATES REMINDING US FROM DAY ONE OF COMPETITION WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF AND WHAT THEY ARE HERE TO DO. LISA CARRINGTON AND CO CHARGING THEIR WAY TO THE K-4 FINAL AND THE K-2 SEMI-FINALS. CARRINGTON WILL BE THE FIRST TO TEMPER EXPECTATIONS, THOUGH, THERE'S STILL A FEW MORE DAYS OUT ON THE WATER BEFORE THE FINAL RESULTS AND MEDALS ROLL IN. BUT STILL AWESOME TO SEE HER AND HER TEAMMATES BACK IN ACTION. THERE WAS ALSO WAHINE SUCCESS OUT AT THE TRACK CYCLING, WITH OUR WOMEN'S PURSUIT TEAM HEADING INTO THE FIRST ROUND WITH THE FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME. SO BESIDES OUR BIZARRE CANOEING PERFORMANCE, STILL PLENTY TO BE HAPPY ABOUT AND LOOK FORWARD TO. GOOD TO HEAR. THE NUMBER OF KIWIS OUT OF WORK HAS JUMPED TO 4.6%, UP FROM 3.6% THIS TIME LAST YEAR. TODAY'S LABOUR MARKET UPDATE SHOWED YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF THE INCREASE, WITH 14,000 MORE JOBLESS 15- TO 24-YEAR-OLDS THAN A YEAR AGO. ZANE SMALL REPORTS. 'YOUR GENUINE CLEARANCE STORE' ` THAT'S THE PROMISE AT APPLIANCE OUTLET, WHERE DAMAGED BRAND-NEW PRODUCTS, LIKE DENTED FRIDGES, ARE FIXED UP AND GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE. A WRITE-OFF, RIGHT? BUT WE'LL REPLACE THE DOORS AND SELL IT WAY CHEAPER. BUT EVEN THE CHEAPEST PRODUCTS CAN BE TOUGH TO SELL WHEN CUSTOMERS DON'T HAVE THE CASH TO SPARE. WE'VE FOUND THAT THERE'S BEEN A REAL DROP OFF IN FOOT TRAFFIC, AND PEOPLE ` WHEN THEY'RE HERE ` THEY'RE SPENDING LESS. THE LATEST RETAIL DATA FROM WORLDLINE SHOW CONSUMER SPENDING WAS DOWN 2.6% SHOWS CONSUMER SPENDING WAS DOWN 2.6% COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. CASHFLOW IS CRITICAL, AND THE FALL IN SPENDING PUTS PRESSURE ON BUSINESSES TO SAVE MONEY, AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN TODAY'S LABOUR MARKET UPDATE, SHOWING THERE ARE NOW 30,000 MORE PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED THAN A YEAR AGO. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS RISEN TO 4.6%, THE HIGHEST SINCE 2021 ` UP FROM 3.6% PERCENT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. UP FROM 3.6% THIS TIME LAST YEAR. THE DATA ALSO SHOWS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING FEWER HOURS THAN THEY'D LIKE INCREASED BY 326,000 IN THE PAST YEAR. WE HAD TO LOOK AT RESTRUCTURING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT WE'VE GOT COMMITTED TO FULL-TIME. YOUNG PEOPLE ACCOUNTED FOR ALMOST HALF THE INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WITH OVER 14,000 MORE 15-TO-24-YEAR-OLDS WITHOUT WORK. EMPLOYERS AREN'T HIRING RIGHT NOW, THAT MEANS IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THAT FIRST JOB. ECONOMIST MARK SMITH PREDICTS IT COULD GET EVEN HARDER, WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TIPPED TO EXCEED 5%. IT'S QUITE CLEAR THE LABOUR MARKET IS GETTING WEAKER, AND WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE JOBLESS NUMBERS GO UP AND PRESSURES ON INFLATION GO DOWN. AND THAT IS WHAT RESERVE BANK WANTED WHEN IT STARTED RAISING INTEREST RATES. IT IS MANDATED TO KEEP INFLATION DOWN, AND RISING UNEMPLOYMENT IS OFTEN SEEN AS A NECESSARY EVIL TO ACHIEVE THAT. FOR RUSSELL CLEMENTS, THERE IS AT LEAST A SILVER LINING. IT'S CERTAINLY A LOT EASIER TO FIND PEOPLE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING. IF ONLY HIS BUSINESS MODEL OF REPAIRING DAMAGED GOODS COULD WORK ON OUR ECONOMY. SO, ZANE, THE RESERVE BANK WILL ANNOUNCE THE LATEST CASH RATE NEXT WEEK. WILL THESE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES IMPACT THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN INTEREST RATE CUT? FROM THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH ECONOMIST TODAY, THERE IS CONCERN THAT IF THE RESERVE BANK KEEPS INTEREST RATES HIGH FOR TOO LONG AND THE LABOUR MARKET GETS TOO BATTERED, IT COULD CAUSE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DAMAGE, AND THE COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS HAS POINTED OUT THAT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS NOW HIGHER THAN THE UK, AUSTRALIA, AND THE USA. AS FOR THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE UPDATE, NEXT WEEK, MARK SMITH, HE IS STILL PICKING OCTOBER, BUT HE IS NOT RULING OUT ONE NEXT WEEK FOR A RATE CUT. THE DATA ALSO SHOW THAT ANNUAL WAGE INFLATION WAS 4.3%, MEANING THAT WAGES WERE GOING UP, BUT THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME RATE AS CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION. YOU CAN SEE WHY BUSINESSES ARE FINDING IT SO HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY. LOCALS IN TOKOMARU ARE BEING TOLD NOT TO DRINK THE TOWN'S WATER BECAUSE OF HEIGHTENED LEAD LEVELS. HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL HAS ISSUED A PUBLIC NOTICE AS A PRECAUTION, WHILE URGING LOCALS TO USE BOTTLED WATER FOR DRINKING, COOKING AND BRUSHING THEIR TEETH. MORE TESTING IS BEING DONE TO VERIFY THE RESULT. DENTAL DECAY IS THE MOST COMMON AND IRREVERSIBLE DISEASE IN NEW ZEALAND, AND IT STARTS YOUNG. THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN END UP NEEDING OPERATIONS IN HOSPITAL EVERY YEAR FOR DENTAL TREATMENT, BUT A PILOT PROGRAMME WHICH HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT IN A CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL HOPES TO CHANGE THAT, AS SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY FOUND OUT. TOOTHBRUSHING IS A ROUTINE PART OF THIS TE KOMANAWA ROWLEY SCHOOL CLASSROOM NOW. THESE KIDS KNOW WHY. TO KEEP OUR TEETH CLEAN. IT JUST GETS ALL THE GERMS OFF YOUR TEETH, JUST KEEPS THEM NICE AND WHITE AND CLEAN. IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET CAVITIES AND DON'T GET BUGS ON YOUR TEETH. THEY WILL BE BRUSHING TWICE A DAY EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL AFTER EATING AS PART OF A 10-WEEK PILOT PROGRAMME CALLED BYTE, WHICH THEY HOPE TO ROLL OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AFTER THE DENTAL VAN COMES THROUGH, SOME OF THEM DO HAVE TO GO OFF TO THE DENTIST, AND WE DO HAVE CHILDREN COME ALONG TO SCHOOL WITH SORE MOUTHS FROM SORE TEETH. SADLY, WE'RE NOT DOING VERY WELL AT ALL. WHAT WE'VE GOT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HALF THE KIDS ` PARTICULARLY MAORI AND PACIFIC KIDS ` HAVE GOT TOOTH DECAY, THOSE KIDS THAT HAVE GOT TOOTH DECAY, MAYBE HAVE GOT FOUR OR FIVE AFFECTED TEETH. DENTAL DECAY REMAINS THE MOST PREVALENT AND IRREVERSIBLE DISEASE IN NEW ZEALAND, WITH SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES FOR MAORI, PASKIFKA AND THOSE LIVING IN HIGH-DEPRIVATION AREAS, AND IT CAN HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH IMPACTS. LITTLE CAVITIES TURN INTO BIG CAVITIES, WHICH TURN IN ABSCESSES, WHICH TURN INTO LITTLE TRAIN WRECKS FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS ROUND THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR. 8000 CHILDREN END UP IN HOSPITAL IN THIS COUNTRY EVERY YEAR UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHETIC FOR DENTAL OPERATIONS. IT'S NOT A HAPPY PICTURE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ALL AVOIDABLE. TIMARU MAN BRENT SADLER KNOWS HOW BAD IT CAN GET. HE BRUSHES HIS TEETH MORE THOROUGHLY NOW. THEY PUT A WHOLE LOT OF DRAINS THROUGH HERE, AND A TRACHEOTOMY. HE SPENT 18 DAYS IN AN INDUCED COMA IN ICU AND HAD FOUR OPERATIONS OVER 39 DAYS IN HOSPITAL ` ALL FROM A DENTAL INFECTION. I COULD HAVE DIED. THERE ARE MANY ICU ADMISSIONS EVERY WEEK, AND THE NEED IS REAL TO TEACH THE CHILDREN GOOD HABITS YOUNG. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TWICE A DAY, EVERY DAY, FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES, BUT CRUCIALLY AT THE END, SPIT THE TOOTHPASTE OUT, BUT DON'T RINSE. IT WILL NOT ONLY HELP YOUR HEALTH, BUT SOMETHING ELSE TOO. WELL, IT DOES CHANGE YOUR BREATH. ANOTHER GREAT REASON FOR A GOOD BRUSH. GREAT OUTFIT FROM JULIET. HEATHER'S IN NOW WITH A RECAP OF THE DAY'S WEATHER ` FOGGY, FROSTY, FINE? HOW DID YOU GUESS? YES, IT WAS FROSTY AND FOGGY, ACTUALLY, HEAPS OF FOG ` CHRISTCHURCH, AUCKLAND, ROTORUA, HAMILTON, DUNEDIN, MOST OF THOSE CASES, IT WAS FREEZING FOG ` NOT EVERYWHERE, THOUGH. A STUNNING MORNING FOR TAURANGA. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN ` 30mm IN FACT, FOR MILFORD SOUND. THAT'S FROM THE FIRST PART OF OUR WIDESPREAD RAIN EVENT WHICH AFFECTS EVERYONE TOMORROW ` DETAILS AFTER SPORT. NEXT UP ON THREE NEWS ` THE 60-YEAR-OLD GOVERNOR KAMALA HARRIS. HAS PICKED AS HER RUNNING MATE AND HIS BIGGEST CLAIM TO FAME SO FAR. WE SEE WHY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED ELON MUSK TO STOP INFLAMMATORY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. AND IN PARIS, ALL EYES ARE ON OUR SPEEDY KIWI WOMEN ON AND OFF THE WATER. THE SOARING PRICE OF ELECTRICITY LOOKS SET TO CLAIM ANOTHER BUSINESS. 75 WORKERS AT THE PENROSE PAPER AND RECYCLING MILL HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY'LL LIKELY LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO KEEP THE MILL RUNNING. RISING ELECTRICITY COSTS HAVE ALSO FORCED WORKERS AT WINSTONE TIMBER AND PULP MILLS NEAR OHAKUNE TO DOWN TOOLS. COMMENTATORS AND THE ACT PARTY SAY WE'RE APPROACHING AN ENERGY CRISIS, BUT THE MINISTER SAYS THE GOVERNMENT WON'T LET THAN HAPPEN. WE JUST DO NOT HAVE THE GAS AVAILABLE NOW, SO THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING AT PACE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONSIDERING THE IMPORT OF L.N.G. THE AVERAGE MEGAWATT HOUR COST MORE THAN $1,000 THIS WEEEK. THAT'S 10 TIMES MORE THAN AUSTRALIA'S AVERAGE. AFTER THE ENERGY KAMALA HARRIS HAS INJECTED INTO THE DEMOCRATS' PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, SHE'LL BE HOPING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HER VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE WILL MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM. HIS NAME IS TIM WALZ. HE'S A FORMER TEACHER, THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, AND BEST KNOWN FOR RECENTLY DESCRIBING TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS AS 'WEIRD'. THE TWO APPEARED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AT A RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA. ITV'S ROBERT MOORE WITH THIS REPORT. (CROWD ROARS) THE DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE THEIR TOP TEAM ` THE PROSECUTOR FROM SAN FRANCISCO COMBINING WITH THE FORMER TEACHER FROM THE MIDWEST. KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ RECEIVED A RAPTUROUS REACTION FROM ACTIVISTS, WHO FEEL THIS MAY JUST BE A WINNING COMBINATION. OH, IT IS GOOD TO BE BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) IT WAS ALL CONFIRMED THIS MORNING IN A PHONE CALL FILMED AND PROMOTED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. TIM WALZ IS CURRENTLY GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, SWORN IN 5 YEARS AGO. I DO. CONGRATULATIONS. I DO. CONGRATULATIONS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) HE IS A MAN WHO IS WIDELY SEEN AS AN AUTHENTIC POLITICAL FIGURE, WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR... (CACKLES) ...WHO HAS AN UNAPOLOGETIC, PROGRESSIVE AND FOLKSY MIDWESTERN TOUCH. HERE, WALZ HAD JUST SIGNED A BILL PROVIDING FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES FOR ALL CHILDREN. BUT TIM WALZ ALSO HAS POLITICAL VULNERABILITIES THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE QUICK TO EXPLOIT. CROWD CHANTS: I CAN'T BREATHE, I CAN'T BREATHE! HE WAS THE GOVERNOR DURING THE MINNEAPOLIS RIOTS OF 2020 FOLLOWING THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD. AND HIS LIBERAL AGENDA WILL ALSO GIVE REPUBLICANS PLENTY OF AMMUNITION. SO AFTER A CHAOTIC FEW MONTHS, THE PERSONALITIES IN THIS CONTEST ARE FINALLY CLEAR. IT IS HARRIS AND WALZ VERSUS TRUMP AND VANCE. IF AMERICANS WANTED A CHOICE BETWEEN WILDLY CONTRASTING CHARACTERS AND POLICIES, WELL, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THAT. AMONG DEMOCRATS, THERE IS GENUINE EXCITEMENT AT THE SELECTION OF WALZ, BUT BY EMBRACING A PROGRESSIVE FIGURE, HARRIS IS ALSO TAKING A SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL RISK. AFTER A SECOND EMERGENCY MEETING AT DOWNING STREET, THE UK'S PRIME MINISTER HAS PROMISED COMMUNITIES THEY 'WILL BE SAFE' IN THE FACE OF THE VIOLENT UNREST EXPLODING ACROSS ENGLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND. DOZENS OF IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ARE NOW BEING TARGETED IN THEIR HOMES AND OFFICES, AND THERE ARE REPORTS OF MORE THAN 30 PROTEST GATHERINGS PLANNED OVER THE COMING DAY. ITV'S PETER SMITH WITH THIS REPORT. (SIRENS WAIL, CROWD CLAMOURS) THE VIOLENCE IS NOT YET LETTING UP. SCENES LIKE THIS HAVE ALMOST BECOME A NIGHTLY FIXTURE NOW, SPREADING TO NEW TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS ENGLAND. OI! POLICE WERE UNDER PRESSURE IN PLYMOUTH LAST NIGHT, AND THE RIOTERS ALSO RETURNED TO BELFAST. THIS SHOP HAD BEEN SET ALIGHT HERE ON SATURDAY ` WHAT LITTLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY THE SYRIAN OWNER WAS BURNED DOWN AGAIN LAST NIGHT. PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM A WAR-TORN COUNTRY FACING VIOLENCE AIMED AT THEM HERE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE NOW, YEAH... AND MY FAMILY ARE NOT SLEEPING. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) FOREIGN-OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN TARGETED. THE CROWD BELIEVED THE PEOPLE COWERING IN FEAR IN THIS BARBERS ARE MIGRANTS. THEY TRIED TO SMOKE THEM OUT. INSIDE, THERE ARE CHILDREN HIDING WITH THEIR PARENTS. THIS STARTED AS SOMETHING CALLING ITSELF A POLITICAL PROTEST UNDER THE BANNER 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH', BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE THIS IS WHAT THEY'VE BECOME. LAST NIGHT, ONE MAN WAS HOSPITALISED IN BELFAST WHEN A STREET MOB STAMPED ON HIS HEAD. POLICE SAY IT IS A RACIALLY MOTIVATED HATE CRIME. IN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THESE, WHICH AMOUNT TO A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, ALL OF US ACROSS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE RAISING THE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE, WE'RE FINDING THE RESOURCES TO SERVE THE PUBLIC IN THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT US TO DO. THESE RIOTS, FUELLED BY RIGHT-WING RHETORIC AND BASELESS ONLINE RUMOURS, HAVE BEEN ANTI-IMMIGRANT, ANTI-MUSLIM AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT. A HOTEL HOUSING ASYLUM SEEKERS IN ROTHERHAM HAD TO BE EVACUATED AFTER THE MOB TRIED TO BURN IT DOWN WITH FAMILIES STILL INSIDE. NOW MORE THAN 40 ADDRESSES FOR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, IMMIGRATION CENTRES AND CHARITIES THAT SUPPORT REFUGEES HAVE BEEN POSTED ONLINE WITH THREATS THEY WILL BE TARGETED NEXT. ONE LAWYER HAD HIS FAMILY HOME ADDRESS SHARED. HE HAS FLED HIS CITY AND IS NOW HIDING IN FEAR. I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS, WHO ARE 8, 10, AND 12, AND YOU UNDERSTAND IF YOU ARE LIVING IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCES, OF COURSE, YOU WILL NOT PUT YOUR CHILDREN AT RISK AT ALL. AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY REASON, BECAUSE MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS WHEN I` WHEN I HEARD THIS, OF COURSE, THAT WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY BEING TARGETED. THAT OK, GET YOUR PASSPORT, GET YOUR CREDIT CARD AND DEBIT CARDS AND JUST LEAVE THE COUNTRY. WE SPOKE TO ANOTHER IMMIGRATION LAWYER NAMED ON THE LIST WHO'S HAD TO CLOSE HER BUSINESS. WE'VE AGREED TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY DUE TO THE EXPLICIT THREATS AGAINST HER, BUT SHE SAYS THE LANGUAGE OF BRITISH POLITICS AND POLITICIANS HELPED FAN THESE FLAMES OF HATE. PHONE: HOW IS IT THAT ALL THE PROBLEMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IS NOW THE PROBLEM OF` IT'S NOW PROBLEMS CAUSED BY MIGRANTS? DO YOU FEEL LIKE A RACIST RHETORIC IN OUR POLITICS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? YES. YES. AND IT'S BEEN DONE DELIBERATELY. (FIREWORK WHIZZES, EXPLODES) THE CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE HAS NOW CHARGED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE IN CONNECTION WITH DISORDER. THE PRIME MINISTER IS HOLDING ANOTHER EMERGENCY COBRA MEETING TONIGHT, PREPARING FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF VIOLENCE THAT IS NO LONGER FEARED, BUT EXPECTED. AND THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED TECH BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AFTER HE SPOKE ABOUT THE RIOTING ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X. AFTER HE SPOKE ABOUT THE RIOTING ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, X. BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY HE RISKS INFLAMING THE VIOLENT UNREST WITH HIS COMMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE HIM SAYING CIVIL WAR IS INEVITABLE. THE OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR MUSK'S COMMENTS. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` AS TENSIONS MOUNT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WE FIND OUT IF KIWIS ARE HEEDING THE WARNINGS TO GET OUT NOW. AND IN SPORT ` DAME LISA CARRINGTON MAKES A PERFECT START TO HER OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN, WITH TWO WINS FROM TWO RACES. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT ` ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S MOST DECORATED OLYMPIANS, IAN FERGUSON, SAYS NEW ZEALAND'S CONTROVERSIAL REPRESENTATION IN THE MEN'S TWO-PERSON CANOE SPRINT HAS LEFT A DENT ON OUR SILVER FERN. A HEATED MEETING IN KAIPARA TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF ITS MAORI WARD HAS ENDED IN A DECISION TO GET RID OF IT AT THE NEXT ELECTION. THE NUMBER OF KIWIS OUT OF WORK HAS JUMPED TO 4.6%, UP FROM 3.6% THIS TIME LAST YEAR. GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE WORLD ` INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND ` ARE URGING THEIR CITIZENS TO LEAVE LEBANON AMID RISING TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ISRAELI WARPLANES FLEW OVER BEIRUT AND BROKE THE AIR BARRIER TWICE TODAY, SHAKING BUILDINGS AND STOKING FEAR AMONG THE CAPITAL'S RESIDENTS. GRACE THOMAS SPOKE TO ONE LEBANESE-KIWI LIVING IN BEIRUT. THIS IS BEIRUT. HENRI BOU SAAB LIVES IN THE HILLS OVERLOOKING BEIRUT. HENRI BOU SAAB LIVES IN THE HILLS OVERLOOKING BEIRUT. SITUATION IS STILL UNSTABLE, EVERYBODY ARE WORRIED. IRAN AND ITS ALLIES, LIKE HEZBOLLAH, WHICH IS BASED IN LEBANON, HAVE VOWED TO RETALIATE AGAINST ISRAEL, WHICH THEY'VE BLAMED FOR THE KILLING OF HAMAS POLITICAL LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH LAST WEEK, AS WELL AS A HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER IN LEBANON'S CAPITAL, BEIRUT. THERE ARE FEARS AN ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES COULD ENGULF THE COUNTRY. WE ARE LIVING IN A BAD SITUATION, ACTUALLY. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE WAR WILL ESCALATE. A GROWING NUMBER OF FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED OR SUSPENDED AT LEBANON'S ONLY COMMERCIAL AIRPORT IN BEIRUT. GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN TELLING THEIR CITIZENS TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY. 30 NEW ZEALANDERS ARE REGISTERED AS BEING IN LEBANON, 5 IN IRAN, AND AROUND 100 IN ISRAEL. OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ASKED CITIZENS TO LEAVE THERE IF THEY CAN. THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS IT'S HAD REQUESTS FOR CONSULAR ASSISTANCE. SO THEY WENT TO THE AIRPORT, AND THEY PANICKED THERE, BECAUSE TOO CROWDED, AND THEY SAID, 'THE FLIGHT, IT'S CANCELLED, COME TOMORROW.' OTHER PEOPLE, THEY SAID, 'YOU SHOULD WAIT TWO, THREE HOURS.' DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS BY THE U.S. AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO TRY TO DE-ESCALATE TENSIONS ACROSS THE REGION. US SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN SAYS NEGOTIATIONS TO END THE ISRAEL GAZA WAR 'HAVE NOW REACHED A FINAL STAGE.' WE ARE ENGAGED IN INTENSE DIPLOMACY, PRETTY MUCH AROUND THE CLOCK, WITH A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE ` ALL PARTIES MUST REFRAIN FROM ESCALATION. IT COMES AS HAMAS HAS NAMED ITS NEW POLITICAL LEADER, YAHYA SINWAR, AND THAT'S AN APPOINTMENT WHICH IS LIKELY TO PROVOKE ISRAEL; SINWAR'S CURRENTLY ON TOP OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST WANTED LIST. ISRAELI SECURITY AGENCIES BELIEVE HE MASTERMINDED THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, AND WE'VE HAD A GOOD RESULT IN THE SPEED CLIMBING? JULIAN DAVID WAS INCREDIBLE AND SPEED CLIMBING, ONE OF THOSE SPORTS THAT REALLY CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION OF THE AUDIENCE WE'RE LIVE TO PARIS NEXT WHERE THE KIWIS ARE LIGHTING IT UP IN ANOTHER SPORT ON ITS OLYMPIC DEBUT. PLUS, OUR KIWI WOMEN CONTINUE THEIR BRILLIANT START TO THE TRACK CYCLING CAMPAIGN, CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER SHOT AT GOLD. AND WE CATCH UP WITH LYDIA KO, WHO'S ONLY GOT ONE GOAL IN MIND AHEAD OF TEEING OFF IN HER THIRD OLYMPICS. IF YOU HADN'T HEARD OF SPEED CLIMBING BEFORE, THEN IT'S TIME TO TAKE NOTICE, BECAUSE KIWI CLIMBER JULIAN DAVID HAS DELIVERED A TRUE PERFORMANCE OF CLASS IN PARIS TO SURGE INTO THE QUARTER-FINALS. DAVID TOOK DOWN THE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION IN THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S THE CURRENT WORLD RECORD HOLDER NOW STANDING IN HIS WAY OF AN OLYMPIC SEMI-FINAL ON THE 15m WALL. IMOGEN WELLS IS WITH US NOW FROM PARIS. MY HANDS HURT FROM CLAPPING AND BANGING ON THE DESK IN FRONT OF ME AND THE MEDIA SPOT, JULIAN DAVID'S PERFORMANCE WAS SIMPLY BRILLIANT, IT WAS SO BRILLIANT HE PROBABLY EVEN SURPRISED HIMSELF, WITH HAD GOOD PERFORMANCES FROM KIWI CLIMBERS, OR THE WALL BLACKS AS THEY'RE KNOWN 5.20 SECONDS WAS ALL IT TOOK... THEY'RE NECK AND NECK RIGHT NOW! ...FOR JULIAN DAVID TO QUALIFY FOR THE SPEED CLIMBING QUARTER-FINALS WITH A NEW PERSONAL BEST. THE FACT THAT MY PB GOT ME INTO THE FINALS AS WELL IS PRETTY SPECTACULAR, SO CAN'T BE MORE HAPPY WITH THAT, CAN I? IN FACT, THAT WAS THE 19-YEAR-OLD'S SECOND PERSONAL BEST OF THE DAY. DURING HIS FIRST HEAT, HE LOST TO WU PENG OF CHINA. HOWEVER, HE DID SET A NEW PERSONAL BEST OF 5.24 SECONDS. BETTERING HIS LIFETIME BEST OF TWO-HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND. THEN HE FACED FORMER WORLD CHAMPION REEZA ALI-POUR OF IRAN IN HIS ELIMINATION HEAT, WHERE HE REACHED THAT LATEST PB AND BOOKED A SPOT IN THE QUARTER-FINALS. HIS ACTIONS POST-RACE SHOWING HOW MUCH THE IRANIAN MEANT TO HIM. HIM AND BUSTER ARE, LIKE, I GUESS, THE GODS OF THE SPORT, SO I HAD TO SHOW RESPECT, YEAH. THE QUARTER-FINALS TAKE PLACE THURSDAY NIGHT, BUT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION OVER WHO HE'LL BE GOING UP AGAINST. YOUR NEXT TEST IS THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER ` HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PREP MENTALLY FOR THAT? I'M NOT VERSING SAM AM I? SAM BEING 18-YEAR-OLD SAM WATSON FROM THE UNITED STATES, WHO SET A NEW OLYMPIC RECORD IN HIS OPENING HEAT. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. OH WELL, I VERSED HIM BACK IN DALLAS AT THE YOUTH WORLDS AND GOT MY ARSE KICKED, BUT I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS, SO HOPEFULLY I CAN PULL SOMETHING OFF. HOPEFULLY THAT MIGHT BE A THIRD PERSONAL BEST. WHAT A LEGEND OK, IMOGEN, IT'S AN ACTION PACKED DAY FOR THE KIWIS OVER THERE TODAY? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT THIS LIST IS LONG. WE HAVE OUR MULTI-HULL SAILORS GOING UP A WOMAN'S TEMPER SUIT COULD BE IN THE MIDDLE RACES AND ANOTHER MEDAL HOPEFUL HAMISH KERR IS COMPETING IN THE FINAL, I'M ONLY AN EXTRA LARGE COFFEE AFTER THIS, POSSIBLY EVEN TWO. DAME LISA CARRINGTON HAS MADE THE PERFECT START TO HER OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN, BREEZING THROUGH BOTH OF HER HEATS IN THE K4 AND K2 500. CARRINGTON'S DAY BEGAN IN THE K4 ALONGSIDE OLIVIA BRETT, ALICIA HOSKIN AND TARA VAUGHAN ` THE QUARTET COMFORTABLY WINNING THEIR HEAT AND ADVANCING STRAIGHT TO THE FINAL. IT WAS JUST AS EASY IN THE K2 500, WITH CARRINGTON AND HOSKIN'S WIN PUTTING THEM INTO THE SEMI-FINAL. WE KNOW THIS IS OUR BIGGEST STAGE, SO WE'RE NOT DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO DIMINISH HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR US. UM, SO AT THE MOMENT, REALLY STOKED THAT WE'VE MANAGED TO DO THE JOB SO FAR. UM, WE STILL HAVE FOUR MORE DAYS. THE MEN'S K-4 500 WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH THE QUARTER-FINALS AFTER FINISHING FOURTH IN THEIR HEAT. THE EQUATION IS SIMPLE FOR MICAH WILKINSON AND ERICA DAWSON ` FINISH AHEAD OF GREAT BRITIAN, AND A MEDAL IS THEIRS IN THE MIXED MULITHULL. THE KIWI DUO WILL HEAD INTO THE MEDAL RACE IN MARSEILLE IN FOURTH PLACE HAVING FINISHED 17TH, 3RD AND 7TH IN THE FINAL THREE REGULAR RACES, AND THEY'RE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEIR CHANCES OF NABBING A MEDAL. WE'RE IN THE PERFECT SPOT ` WE'RE IN FOURTH PLACE. WE'RE TIED ON POINTS FOR THIRD. WE'VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE BEHIND US. SO IT'S ALL TO GAIN, NOTHING TO LOSE. SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE FLAT OUT TOMORROW, AND WHAT WILL BE, WILL BE, BUT WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED. BOTH BRONZE AND SILVER ARE ON THE CARDS FOR THE KIWI CREW ` BEAT GREAT BRITAIN AND THEY'LL NAB BRONZE; BUT DO THAT AND BEAT ARGENTINA BY THREE POINTS, AND THEY'LL CLAIM SILVER. THE WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT HAVE CONTINUED NEW ZEALAND'S STRONG START ON THE TRACK, TOPPING THE OPENING ROUND OF QUALIFYING. THE TEAM OF ALLY WOLLASTON, EMILY SHEARMAN, NICOLE SHIELDS AND BRYONY BOTHA WERE COMFORTABLY THE TOP QUALIFIERS, BREAKING THE NATIONAL RECORD IN THE PROCESS. THEY'LL FACE OFF AGAINST ITALY IN THEIR HEAT FOR A SPOT IN THE GOLD MEDAL RACE. FINALLY TONIGHT ` LYDIA KO IS HOPING TO COMPETE AN OLYMPIC MEDAL TRIFECTA WHEN SHE TEES OFF IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE WOMEN'S GOLF LATER TONIGHT. HAVING WON SILVER IN RIO AND BRONZE IN TOKYO, THE TWO-TIME MAJOR WINNER IS NOW HOPING FOR GOLD IN PARIS. SHE'LL HAVE TO REDISCOVER HER BEST GOLF TO DO IT, THOUGH. HAVING SLIPPED TO 22ND IN THE WORLD, KO IS HARDLY IN CAREER BEST FORM. GORDON FINDLATER REPORTS. EVEN WITH EVERYTHING SHE'S ACHIEVED IN HER CAREER, THE MAGNITUDE OF BEING IN PARIS ISN'T LOST ON LYDIA KO. IT'S THE, I THINK, HIGHEST HONOUR FOR AN ATHLETE TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY AT THE OLYMPICS. AND KO KNOWS HOW TO PERFORM ON THAT STAGE AS WELL AS ANYONE ` SILVER AND RIO AND 2016, FOLLOWED BY BRONZE AND TOKYO THREE YEARS AGO. I FEEL LIKE IT'D BE A CINDERELLA STORY TO SAY YOU PLAYED THREE GAMES AND YOU'VE GOT ALL THREE COLOURS. YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT I HAVE MEDALLED IN THE OLYMPICS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BRING ANOTHER MEDAL FOR NEW ZEALAND. IF KO IS TO DO THAT, SHE'LL NEED A CHANGE IN FORM. SINCE RECORDING A WIN AND RUNNER-UP FINISH IN CONSECUTIVE LPGA TOUR EVENTS IN JANUARY, SHE'S BEEN ON THE SLIDE. I HAD MY FIRST TOP-10 IN A FEW MONTHS IN CANADA A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SO IT'S DEFINITELY NICE TO COME IN WITH A LITTLE BIT BETTER MOMENTUM. ADDING MOTIVATION IN THE HUNT FOR GOLD AS THE POSSIBILITY THIS COULD BE HER LAST OLYMPICS. DESPITE BEING JUST 27, KO HAS LONG STATED SHE PLANS TO RETIRE AT 30. JUST WITH ANY ATHLETE, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS, LIKE, GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE YOUR LAST ONE OR... BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW, LIKE, HOW FAR AHEAD, UM... WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN THAT, LIKE, UH, FOUR YEARS TIME, SO I JUST WANT TO ENJOY IT. AND SHE KNOWS THE PERFECT WAY TO DO JUST THAT. I REALLY DO HOPE THAT I CAN COME OFF WITH ANOTHER MEDAL, AND ESPECIALLY IF THAT WAS GOLD, UH, THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY AWESOME. WITH AN IMPRESSIVE STRIKE RATE TO DATE, IT WOULDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) CANNOT WAIT TO WATCH LYDIA TONIGHT. I'VE GOT THE ALARM SET EARLY, THAT POLE VAULT FINAL TONIGHT. SO MUCH TENSION IN THE POLE VAULT AS WELL. IT'S SHAKESPEARE AS YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD ` OR SEEN IT ` BEFORE. THE GLOBE THEATRE ON LONDON'S SOUTHBANK IS PERFORMING 'ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA', WITH SOME ACTORS USING SPOKEN ENGLISH AND OTHERS USING SIGN LANGUAGE. IT'S AIMED AT MAKING THEATRE MORE INCLUSIVE AND ALSO INCREASING AWARENESS OF SIGN LANGUAGE. ITV'S RISHI DAVDA HAS THE STORY. WE'LL FIGHT WITH HIM BY SEA. SHAKESPEARE ` SPOKEN AND SIGNED. LOVE TURNS TO TRAGEDY, AS ANTONY FALLS FOR CLEOPATRA. ...AND PITY YOU. ...AND PITY YOU. THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TELLING ` THE ROMANS RELY ON SPOKEN ENGLISH, THE EGYPTIANS ADOPT BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE. BEFORE REHEARSALS, IT TOOK MORE THAN A WEEK TO TRANSLATE TEXT TO GESTURE. THERE ARE 12 DEAF ARTISTS BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE, EVERY PERFORMANCE CAPTIONED ` THERE ARE 12 DEAF ARTISTS BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE, EVERY PERFORMANCE CAPTIONED ` THIS WAY OF STORYTELLING AIDING UNDERSTANDING. AROUND 150,000 PEOPLE USE BSL IN THE UK; 25,000 AS THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE. PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO INTRODUCE IT AS A GCSE NEXT YEAR, WHICH NADIA BELIEVES WILL IMPROVE INCLUSIVITY. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA WAS FIRST PERFORMED IN THE EARLY 1600s. THIS BILINGUAL PRODUCTION PRESENTING AN OLD PLAY IN A NEW WAY. ...TO THROW AWAY THE ABSOLUTE SOLDIER SHIP YOU HAVE BY LAND. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING WEATHER ` AND TOMORROW WILL BE A WET DAY, HEATHER? THE NEXT LOW IS ALMOST HERE. IN FACT, IT SENT OUT A COUPLE OF FRONTS TO ANNOUNCE IT'S ARRIVAL. SO THE SOUTHWEST HAS ALREADY HAD A LOT OF RAIN. BUT TOMORROW, THE CENTRE ARRIVES, AND THE MAIN RAIN BAND EXTENDS ALL THE WAY UP PAST NORTHLAND. SO, YES, A WET DAY TOMORROW ` AND WITH SNOW DOWN TO 700m IN THE SOUTH. SO ARTHUR'S PASS AND PORTERS PASS UNDER A ROAD SNOWFALL WARNING FROM 1pm TOMORROW AFTERNOON. MORE DETAILS NEXT. WELCOME BACK. OUR NEXT WEATHER SYSTEM HAS ARRIVED, ALREADY DRENCHING THE SOUTHWEST. IT'S A LOW OUT OVER THE TASMAN AND WILL MOVE OVER THE MAINLAND TONIGHT, SPINNING OUT A COUPLE OF FRONTS WHICH IMPACT ALMOST EVERYONE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. IT MEANS THE RIDGE THAT'S KEPT CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND CALM WILL SHIMMY FURTHER EAST. BUT A NEW RIDGE FOLLOWS THE LOW, ARRIVING THIS WEEKEND. SO THE RAIN CONTINUES TONIGHT FOR FIORDLAND AND SOUTH WESTLAND, WITH HEAVY FALLS. SHOWERS SPREAD UP THE WEST COAST, OVER THE NORTH AND SOUTH. TOMORROW, RAIN IN THE WEST CLEARS OUT FROM THE SOUTH AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. THAT DOES MEAN THE HEAVY RAIN MOVES UP OVER THE NORTH, BUT WILL EASE TO SHOWERS FROM LATE AFTERNOON. RAIN IN THE EAST TOO. SNOW ABOVE 700m FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. TONIGHT REMAINS FAIRLY CALM, JUST PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND NORTHEAST. TOMORROW, THOUGH, A DIFFERENT STORY ` RAIN SPREADS IN FROM THE WEST IN THE MORNING. HEAVY FALLS IN THE MIX, AND AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN TARANAKI AND WAIKATO. THE NORTHERLY WILL TURN MORE WESTERLY. SO A WET THURSDAY, I'M AFRAID, WITH MORNING SHOWERS TURNING TO RAIN FROM THE AFTERNOON, LIKELY HEAVY, AND YOU CAN SEE THE WIND SHIFT ` THE NORTHERLY TURNS WESTERLY, ROTATING WITH THAT LOW LATER IN THE DAY. A CLOUDY MORNING HERE. RAIN DEVELOPS LATE MORNING, HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE AFTERNOON AND NOT EASING TILL TOMORROW NIGHT, ALL WITH A NORTHERLY. IT'S A LATE ARRIVAL FOR THE RAIN OUT EAST ` SCATTERED RAIN KICKS IN FOR MASTERTON LATE MORNING; THEN FROM THE AFTERNOON, EVERYWHERE ELSE. WINDS FROM THE NORTH OR NOR'EAST. AND IF YOUR DAY STARTS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SUN, TAKE IT, BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN, AND THE RAIN WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES. STRONG NORTHERLIES FOR TARANAKI AND WELLINGTON. THAT LOW CENTRE IS RIGHT OVER THE NORTHWEST OF THE SOUTH, SO WINDS SHIFT ALL OVER THE SHOW, RAIN TOO, BUT IT RETURNS TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. THE ALPS WON'T SHIELD THE EAST THIS TIME. RAIN DEVELOPS TOMORROW MORNING, WITH SHIFTING WINDS FROM THE NOR'EAST TO A SOUTHERLY MUCH LATER IN THE DAY. SHOULD BE A TOP-UP OF SNOW FOR SOME OF THE SKI FIELDS. SHOWERS DEVELOP IN THE MORNING. RAIN FOR OAMARU ` IT EASES DURING THE AFTERNOON. WINDS SHIFTING DIRECTIONS OVER THE DAY. SO ALL IN ALL, IT'S NOT A COMPLETE DISASTER FOR DUNEDIN. SHOWERS DEVELOP IN THE A.M., BECOMING ISOLATED IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NORTHERLY TURNS SOU'WEST BEFORE MIDDAY. CHRISTCHURCH, YOU'LL WAKE TO GREY. THEN RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE MORNING, AND YOUR MORNING NOR'EASTERLY WILL TURN SOUTHERLY IN THE AFTERNOON. SIMILAR FOR WELLINGTON ` CLOUDY TO START, OCCASIONAL RAIN DEVELOPS IN THE MORNING. THE NORTHERLY WILL BE STRONG AT TIMES. AND THEN TOMORROW NIGHT WILL DO A 180, AND COME FROM THE SOUTH. HAWKE'S BAY, YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT ENDS TO YOUR THURSDAY. MORNING'S FINE, THEN SCATTERED RAIN MOVES IN DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH A DEVELOPING NORTHERLY. CLOUD DEVELOPS IN THE MORNING AROUND TAURANGA. RAIN ARRIVES IN THE AFTERNOON. HEAVY FALLS LIKELY, WITH A NORTHERLY, BUT EASING TO SHOWERS TOMORROW NIGHT. NO FOG TOMORROW, HAMILTON. INSTEAD, YOU'LL START THE DAY WITH SHOWERS, THEN RAIN AFTER LUNCH, WHICH WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES. NORTHERLIES TURN WESTERLY, AND SHOWERS AROUND AUCKLAND IN THE MORNING, WHICH TURN TO RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON, AND EXPECT THE ODD HEAVY FALL. NORTHERLIES ALSO TURN WESTERLY AFTER MIDDAY. IT'S MUCH CALMER IN OZ, APART FROM A FEW SHOWERS FOR MELBOURNE AND ADELAIDE, AND EVEN BETTER OVER THE PACIFIC ` I'LL EVEN HANDLE THE SHOWERS IN VANUATU WITH A HIGH OF 28 DEGREES. A LITTLE COOLER, THOUGH, FOR THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS. BACK HOME ` SHOWERS EASE FRIDAY, BECOMING ISOLATED IN THE NORTH. THEN THE WEEKEND'S GOOD. THE RAIN REMAINS OUT EAST ON FRIDAY, BUT EASES TO SHOWERS FOR GISBORNE EARLY SATURDAY, THEN CLEARS HAWKE'S BAY LATE SATURDAY. FRIDAY ` SHOWERS HERE WON'T EASE FOR TARANAKI TILL LATE FRIDAY. THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS SORT OF PEPPER EVERYONE FOR THE WEEKEND. RAIN EASES IN THE NORTH OF THE SOUTH ON FRIDAY, LEAVING ISOLATED SHOWERS. AND ANOTHER FRONT ARRIVES ON SUNDAY, SPREADING TO SOUTHLAND AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF OTAGO. SO A LOT GOING ON. THIS LATEST SYSTEM SHOULDN'T BE TOO SEVERE, JUST A LITTLE HEAVY AT TIMES, BUT IT'S WIDESPREAD. A LOT OF US ARE WET TOMORROW. GUMBOOTS AND BROLLY THEN, EH? EARLIER WE ASKED YOU IF YOU THOUGHT THE CONTROVERSIAL C-2 CANOEISTS SHOULD BE COMPETING AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS, AND IT'S MOSTLY A 'NO' FROM YOU ` 70% OF YOU, IN FACT. PERHAPS IT WAS A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSING 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 TOM CLARKE AND JOHN GIBBS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.