WHILE ISRAEL'S POLITICIANS DELAY, THE KILLING CONTINUES IN GAZA. THE CEASEFIRE DEAL IS LOOKING FRAGILE TONIGHT. WE HAVE THE LATEST. PROVISIONAL FIGURES SHOW A BIG DROP IN NCEA LEVEL ONE PASS RATES THIS YEAR. THE EDUCATION MINISTER FRONTS UP. THIS WEEKEND'S SAIL GP WINNERS MIGHT BE FOUND OFF THE WATER, WITH AUCKLAND BUSINESSES HOPING FOR A WINDFALL. AND LATER, WHY KIWIS ARE GOING CRAZY FOR COUNTRY MUSIC ` IT'S WHERE WE TURN WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, APPARENTLY. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND LELE SIMEON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI, AND WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. AT LEAST 83 LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST IN GAZA SINCE THE ISRAEL-HAMAS PEACE DEAL WAS AGREED. THE U.S SECRETARY OF STATE IS INSISTING THE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA WILL GO AHEAD ON MONDAY OUR TIME, DESPITE ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT REFUSAL TO RATIFY THE DEAL OVERNIGHT. AN END TO THE FIGHTING CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. AND A WARNING THAT THIS REPORT FROM ITV'S JOHN IRVINE CONTAINS CONFRONTING IMAGES. THIS MAY LOOK LIKE A NEW DAWN FOR GAZA, BUT IN FACT, IT'S AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE EARLY TODAY. AFTER GAZANS CELEBRATED THE CEASEFIRE NEWS, REALITY CAME CRASHING DOWN IN THE FORM OF A HEAVY BOMBARDMENT ` A BLUDGEONING REMINDER THIS WAR IS NOT OVER YET. THESE SEASONED AMBULANCE CREWS ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO GET PEOPLE OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBLE. ON THIS OCCASION, THEY RESCUED A BABY. (BABY CRIES) THEY GOT OUT ANOTHER CHILD, WHO ALSO APPEARED TO BE OK, BUT WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL JUST IN CASE. OTHER PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN THE BOMBINGS WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE. THIS GRIEVING MAN PLEADED WITH HIS DEAD SISTER. (SOBS) (SIRENS WAIL) THE HAMAS-RUN HEALTH MINISTRY HAS REPORTED DOZENS OF FATALITIES SINCE THE DEAL IN DOHA WAS ANNOUNCED. MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. IT SEEMS THE COUNTDOWN TO SUNDAY IS GOING TO BE A BLOODY ONE. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'I WOKE UP TO AN AIRSTRIKE HITTING MY HOUSE. 'IT FELT LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE. 'MY WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS WERE KILLED,' SAID THIS MAN. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'JUST LOOK AT THE DEVASTATION. '27 OF OUR NEIGHBOURS LOST THEIR LIVES,' SAID ANOTHER. EVEN BY THE STANDARDS OF THE DEADLIEST WAR EVER FOUGHT BY ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS, THESE AIR RAIDS LOOKED CYNICALLY VENGEFUL AND EXCESSIVE. THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL IN GAZA CITY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH MANY OF THE INJURED AND THE DEAD. DESPITE DECLARATION OF CEASEFIRE DECLARATION, THE ISRAELI DEFENCE ARMY DELIBERATES, BOMBING INNOCENT PEOPLES, LEADING TO MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MARTYRS AND INJURIES. AND SO WE ARE SO SURPRISED WHY THEY ARE DOING` WHY THEY ARE DOING THAT. THE AIRSTRIKES HAPPENED IN NORTHERN GAZA, WHERE THE ISRAELIS ARE ATTACKING SEVERAL DISTRICTS FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. THEY'RE DOING SO BECAUSE HAMAS KEEP ON MAKING LOCALISED COMEBACKS. A YEAR AGO, I WAS STANDING ON THIS SPOT TO REPORT ON FIGHTING IN EXACTLY THE SAME AREAS IN NORTHERN GAZA. THE PROBLEM FOR THE ISRAELIS IS THAT HAMAS KEEP RETURNING TO NEIGHBOURHOODS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY CONQUERED BY THE IDF, WHO THEN LEFT. THE CONCLUSION BEING DRAWN IS THAT THIS WAR IS ON A LOOP, MAKING IT BOTH PERPETUAL AND UNWINNABLE. IF ALL GOES WELL, THE TRAGIC CYCLE WILL BE BROKEN ON SUNDAY, MAKING THESE SOME OF THE LAST FATALITIES. GAZANS BELIEVE THAT RELIEF IS IN SIGHT, BUT IT'S STILL JUST OUT OF REACH. ISRAELI RESIDENTS ARE ALSO DESPERATE FOR AN END TO THE WAR, ESPECIALLY THE FAMILIES OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES, WHO ARE WAITING FOR NEWS ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES. NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY WITH THE DEAL THOUGH, AND THERE HAVE BEEN VOCAL ANTI-CEASEFIRE PROTESTS. BUT THERE IS PRESSURE ON BOTH HAMAS AND ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT TO STICK TO MONDAY'S DEADLINE. FROM JERUSALEM, ITV'S EMMA MURPHY HAS MORE. (TANK RUMBLES) THERE IS A DEAL IN PRINCIPLE, BUT NOT YET IN PRACTICE. THE ISRAELI MILITARY IS STILL VERY MUCH WAGING ITS WAR IN GAZA. THAT ITS POLITICAL MASTERS HAVE NOT YET VOTED TO APPROVE THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IS BEING BLAMED ON THE FOE THEY SAID THEY WOULD DESTROY BEFORE DOING ANY DEAL. THAT FOE, HAMAS, DENIES MAKING ANY ADDITIONAL DEMANDS. ISRAEL SAYS IT HAS. ISRAEL WANTS IT TO HAPPEN. OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM, THEY'RE IN DOHA RIGHT NOW. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS ACROSS THE LINE, BUT WE ARE DEALING WITH JIHADISTS. THIS IS NOT THE BANK OF ENGLAND. WHEN YOU MAKE A DEAL WITH JIHADISTS, IT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS. BUT THAT SAID, WE'RE WILLING TO PAY A PAINFUL PRICE TO GET OUR PEOPLE HOME. FOR THE RIGHT WING OF THE GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY, THAT PRICE IS TOO PAINFUL. FOR ONCE IN THIS WAR, THE COFFINS ARE EMPTY, BUT THEY'RE LAID OUT BY THE FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS KILLED ON OCTOBER 7th TO PROTEST AGAINST ISRAEL'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE CEASEFIRE DEAL. THEY, LIKE THE RIGHT WING OF THE GOVERNMENT, BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF HAMAS, THE BODIES OF ISRAELIS WILL FILL OTHER COFFINS IN THE FUTURE. MINISTERS AND PRIME MINISTER, IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT DEAL, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION. IT IS FAMILIES THAT DON'T KNOW NOW THAT THEY WILL NEED TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN THAT WE'RE DEALING SINCE OCTOBER 7th. THE DEAL IS FAR FROM PERFECT IN TIMING OR DETAIL, BUT IT'S A DEAL THAT MAY SEE THE 98 HOSTAGES RETURNED. WE WANTED A BETTER DEAL. WE NEED TO RETURN EVERYBODY. WE PRAY FOR THEM. BUT WE WANTED IT AFTER 15 MONTHS, HAMAS GONNA BE DESTROYED, AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET SOME OF HIS DEMANDS. (SPEAKS ARABIC) HAMAS HAVE CLAIMED THE DEAL AS A VICTORY OVER ISRAEL, BUT THE DEAL HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, ADDING TO THE MORE THAN 47,000 PALESTINIAN LIVES LOST. THIS DEAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO. HAMAS HAS REPEATEDLY AGREED ON THE` ALL PROPOSALS BASICALLY PRESENTED, AND ISRAEL FOUND A WAY TO COME ABOUT AND NOT TO EXECUTE OR SIGN. BUT I BELIEVE WITH THE INCOMING U.S ADMINISTRATION HEADED BY DONALD TRUMP, I THINK THE EQUATION IS DIFFERENT, AND ISRAEL IS PRESSURED INTO NOT SABOTAGING THE DEAL THIS TIME AROUND. THERE ARE THREE NIGHTS AND TWO DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE CEASEFIRE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. HOW LONG THOSE DAYS AND NIGHTS MUST FEEL NOW. SPACE X HAS LOST ITS STARSHIP SPACECRAFT AFTER IT EXPLODED NOT LONG AFTER ITS 7th TEST FLIGHT TOOK OFF FROM SOUTH TEXAS TODAY. THREE, TWO, ONE... CROWD CHANTS: THREE, TWO, ONE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) WE HAVE LIFT-OFF. ELON MUSK'S COMPANY SAYS IT LOST TOUCH WITH THE SPACECRAFT, BUT VIDEO EMERGED ONLINE OF DEBRIS STREAMING ACROSS THE SKY, WHICH AFFECTED AIR TRAVEL IN FLORIDA. SPACEX SAYS IT EXPERIENCED A 'RAPID UNSCHEDULED DISASSEMBLY'. THEY DID SUCCESSFULLY GUIDE THE SUPER-HEAVY BOOSTER BACK TO A LANDING AT THE LAUNCH SITE, MAKING A MID-AIR TOUCHDOWN BETWEEN TWO EXTENDED ARMS, OR 'CHOPSTICKS', ATTACHED TO THE TOWER. GOOD NEWS FOR THE LABOUR PARTY, WITH THE FIRST POLL OF 2025 PUTTING THEM AHEAD OF NATIONAL. THE NEW TAXPAYERS' UNION CURIA POLL SHOWS LABOUR RISING 4 POINTS TO 30.9%, AND NATIONAL DOWN 4.6 POINTS TO 29.6%. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME LABOUR HAS LED NATIONAL IN THIS POLL SINCE APRIL 2023. ACT IS DOWN 2.2 POINTS TO 10.8%, THE GREENS ARE UP 1.2 POINTS TO 9.5%, WHILE TE PATI MAORI IS DOWN 0.2 TO 5.3%, AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST IS UP TO 8.1%. PROVISIONAL NCEA RESULTS SHOW A SHARP DECLINE IN LEVEL ONE ATTAINMENT. OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS LAST YEAR, 70% PASSED THE ASSESSMENT COMPARED TO 81.9% IN 2023. TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, ZANE SMALL SAT DOWN WITH EDUCATION MINISTER ERICA STANFORD. BUT FIRST, WE HEAR FROM AVONDALE COLLEGE STUDENT SOPHIA LONGSTAFF, WHO STUDIED HARD AND PASSED LEVEL ONE, BUT TOLD US SOME OF HER PEERS DID NOT. I WAS QUITE EXCITED, YEAH. AND IT DID GIVE ME CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I CAN PASS LEVEL TWO AND LEVEL THREE AS WELL IF I TRY HARD AND DO LOTS OF STUDYING. THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO DIDN'T PASS, AND THEY'RE A BIT UPSET ABOUT THAT. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS KIND OF HARD THIS YEAR. SO MINISTER, A 12 PERCENTAGE POINT DECLINE IN NCEA LEVEL ONE ATTAINMENT. WHAT HAPPENED? WELL, THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO SAY IS CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SAT NCEA LEVEL ONE, TWO AND THREE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLE SUCCESS. WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT LEVEL ONE WAS GOING TO DROP THIS YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THAT LITERACY AND NUMERACY ASSESSMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO SIT IN ORDER TO GET LEVEL ONE. WE COULD SEE LAST YEAR THAT THERE WERE A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS IT. THEY STILL DO HAVE ANOTHER TWO YEARS TO GET IT, SO ALL IS NOT LOST. AND I'D ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO BACK, AND WE WILL SUPPORT THEM. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH LITERACY AND NUMERACY. AND WHEN YOU ASK STUDENTS TO PASS A FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY ASSESSMENT, IT TURNS OUT ALL THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN CORRECT. WE HAVE A MASSIVE PROBLEM WITH LITERACY AND NUMERACY, AND THESE RESULTS EXPOSE THAT. OK. AND THERE'S FEWER SCHOOLS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN NCEA LEVEL ONE. IS IT STILL RELEVANT? AT THE MOMENT, I WOULD SAY NCEA LEVEL ONE IS RELEVANT, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO REPLACE IT WITH. BUT IT IS MY VIEW AND THE VIEW OF MANY EDUCATORS, THAT THREE YEARS OF HIGH-STAKES ASSESSMENT IS TOO MANY. WE'RE LITERALLY THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO THAT HAS THREE YEARS OF THESE HIGH-STAKES ASSESSMENT, AND IT'S TOO MUCH FOR OUR KIDS. SO WE WILL BE LOOKING SERIOUSLY THIS YEAR AT WHAT WE DO WITH LEVEL ONE. LOOK` AND IF WE DO END UP TALKING TO THE SECTOR AND AGREEING THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE IT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT DO WE REPLACE IT WITH? AND IT WILL LOOK LIKE SOMETHING LIKE GOOD LITERACY, GOOD NUMERACY, MAYBE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENCE IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE SCHOOL. BUT REALLY, LEVEL ONE NEEDS TO BE A RAMP INTO LEVEL TWO, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY QUALIFICATION. OK. AND WHAT ABOUT LEVELS TWO AND THREE? HOW DID STUDENTS DO? WE CAN SEE THIS YEAR THAT LEVEL TWO AND THREE AT THE MOMENT ARE ON PAR. WHAT I EXPECT, AND I'VE HEARD FROM NZQA, THAT ONCE THE FINAL RESULTS COME IN, THAT ACTUALLY LEVEL TWO AND THREE WILL BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WHICH IS GREAT. HOW DO YOU, AS EDUCATION MINISTER, PLAN TO RAISE LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS? 500,000 MATHS BOOKS GO OUT THIS YEAR TO 92% OF SCHOOLS, PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE, THAT HAVE ORDERED THEM. THOSE ARE DETAILED LESSON PLANS AND GUIDE BOOKS FOR TEACHERS, WORKBOOKS AND STUDY BOOKS FOR STUDENTS. SO MY MESSAGE TO PARENTS IS, WHEN YOU GO INTO YOUR CLASSROOM THIS YEAR, YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE LEARNING TO READ USING STRUCTURED LITERACY. THEY WILL HAVE A MATHS BOOK THAT YOU CAN GO INTO THE CLASSROOM, YOU CAN OPEN IT UP AND YOU CAN SEE HOW YOUR CHILDREN ARE DOING. AND THIS YEAR REALLY IS GOING TO BE THE YEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENABLE PARENTS TO KNOW WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING, SHOULD BE LEARNING, WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT, AND WHAT MORE CAN THEY DO IN THE HOME, BECAUSE THIS CAN'T ALL BE ON OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPALS. IT NEEDS TO BE ON OUR CAREGIVERS AND OUR PARENTS AS WELL. EDUCATION MINISTER ERICA STANFORD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE INAUGURAL AUCKLAND SAIL GP GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW WITH WATERFRONT BUSINESSES ALREADY EXPERIENCING A WELCOME BOOST FROM THE EVENT. HOSTED BY LYTTELTON THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE NEW ZEALAND LEG OF THE COMPETITION IS NOW DRAWING THOUSANDS OF FANS TO THE BIG SMOKE AND GIVING KIWIS THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE A MUCH TALKED-ABOUT WATERFRONT STADIUM. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THE TRAVELLING SAILING CIRCUS HAS ROLLED INTO AUCKLAND, AND TAKEN OVER. IT'S NOT JUST A BIG OPERATION. IT'S HUGE. WITH HIGH STAKES - HIGH SPEED RACING - SO CLOSE TO THE SHORE. THE CROWD HAS HIGH HOPES. I JUST WANNA SEE THEM GO PRETTY FAST. SEEING A BIT OF CARNAGE, I GUESS. THE SAILORS WILL BE HUNTING FOR SPEED, TRYING TO AVOID THE CARNAGE, AND SOAKING UP THE OCCASION. I DEFINITELY THOUGHT I'D NEVER SEE A GRANDSTAND AS BIG AS THIS, FOR A SAILING EVENT, ITS JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING DOWN TO SUPPORT THE EVENT AND THE TEAM. BECAUSE THE SUPPORT IS ALREADY POURING INTO TOWN. DO I BOTHER ASKING WHO YOU'RE SUPPORTING? UM... THERE'S ONE HERE. YEAH, I THINK IT'S CALLED... BLACK... BLACK FOILS. THAT'S THE ONE. YEAH, BLACK FOILS. BUT IT'S AUCKLAND'S ECONOMY THAT MOST ARE PICKING TO BE THE WEEKEND'S BIGGEST WINNER. WE DON'T HAVE A BIG PROGRAMME OF EVENTS LEADING INTO THE RACE WINDOW AND OUT OF THE RACE WINDOW. OF COURSE, WE HAVE A FEW. YOU CAN SOCIALISE FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE CLOSE THE STADIUM DOWN AND ENCOURAGE FANS TO GO TO AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS. THE WATERFRONT HOTSPOTS IN PARTICULAR ARE ALREADY TOASTING SAILGP. FULLY BOOKED AND SET TO CASH IN. WE ARE SO EXCITED. THE WHARF IS JUST FIZZING. THERE'S JUST AN AMAZING ENERGY EVERYWHERE. IT'S... IT'S AMAZING. DO YOU NEED THIS? OH, HUGELY. UM, I THINK FOR HOSPITALITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S BEEN A REALLY TOUGH YEAR, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR THE BUSINESSES ALONG THE WHARF. WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE BRIDGE LAST YEAR AND WE WELCOME THIS HUGELY. THE SPECTACLE HAS ALREADY STARTED HERE IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND, BUT IT HASN'T COME FOR FREE. AUCKLAND CITY HAS FORKED OUT OVER $1M TO SECURE THIS EVENT. BUSINESS OWNERS AND EVENT ORGANISERS ARE CONFIDENT THAT INVESTMENT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT. I THINK OURS IN CHRISTCHURCH WAS ABOUT $13.9M U.S LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S JUST FROM HAVING MORE VISITORS IN TOWN. THE INDIRECT BENEFITS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER OUR, YOU KNOW, 212 TERRITORIES THAT WE BROADCAST WORLDWIDE. SEEING THESE IMAGES OF RACING RIGHT IN FRONT OF AUCKLAND, THAT HAS A, I THINK, AN ENORMOUS BENEFIT AS WELL. FOR THE KIWI SAILORS, THE NEW ZEALAND STOP OF THE 14-LEG COMPETITION IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL ONE. IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HOME. BUT IT'S A NEW LOOK LINE UP FROM LAST YEAR. ANDY MALONEY LEAVING THE BLACK FOILS TO JOIN THE BRAZILIAN TEAM. THERE'S SOME GOOD BANTER IN THE WHATSAPP CHAT? THEY'VE DELETED ME FROM THE WHATSAPP CHATS, OBVIOUSLY. NO HARD FEELINGS, OF COURSE. I WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST SOME OF THE BEST ATHLETES IN THE WORLD IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME FANS, AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE... AND WIN. YEAH, YEAH, WE'LL BE TRYING. THE CITY AND FAR BEYOND WILL BE WATCHING. LAURA'S HERE WITH TODAY'S WEATHER, AND IT WAS PRETTY DRY. YES, DRIER THAN EXPECTED. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SEEMS TO BE KEEPING THAT WET WEATHER AT BAY FOR NOW. CAPE REINGA WITH JUST 2 MM, BUT STRONG WINDS OF 85km/h. ALEXANDRA WAS THE HOTTEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, JUST SHY OF 29 DEGREES. AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE TONIGHT'S TEMPERATURES WON'T BE AS COOL AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. JUST AHEAD ON THREENEWS, THE DEATH TOLL RISES. BUT ATTENTION TURNS TO THE REBUILD, EVEN WHILE THE L.A WILDFIRES ARE STILL BURNING. IS ONE OF YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS TO QUIT OR CUT BACK ON ALCOHOL? WE SEE WHY YOU MIGHT BE PART OF A GROWING GROUP. AND LATER, THE LEGAL WAR BETWEEN HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI STEPS UP A GEAR. WELCOME BACK. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS REMOVED THE FIRST LOT OF FUEL FROM HMNZS MANAWANUI WHICH SANK OFF THE COAST OF SAMOA. THE OPERATION RESOLUTION TEAM HAS RECOVERED FUEL AND OTHER POLLUTANTS FROM THE SHIP AND OFFLOADED IT AT THE PORT OF APIA USING A BARGE. IT COMES THREE MONTHS AFTER THE NAVAL VESSEL HIT A REEF, FORCING ITS CREW TO ABANDON SHIP. THE $106M VESSEL THEN CAUGHT FIRE AND SANK, LEAKING DIESEL AND LEAVING DEBRIS LITTERED ACROSS THE OCEAN. A REWARD FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING ARTHUR EASTON WILL EXPIRE IN ONE WEEK. AT THE END OF OCTOBER, POLICE ANNOUNCED A $100,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION THAT LED TO THE ARREST AND SUCCESSFUL CONVICTION OF THE PERSON WHO STABBED EASTON TO DEATH IN HIS PAPAKURA HOME NEARLY FOUR DECADES AGO. EASTON'S KILLING LED TO THE WRONGFUL CONVICTION OF ALAN HALL IN 1986. POLICE HAVE SO FAR RECEIVED MORE THAN 20 CALLS AND EMAILS WITH INFORMATION, AND HAVE TRAVELLED TO AUSTRALIA TO SPEAK WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THE COST OF USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN AUCKLAND WILL INCREASE FROM THE 2nd OF FEBRUARY. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT ANNOUNCED A RAFT OF CHANGES TODAY, INCLUDING A 5.2% INCREASE TO BUS, TRAIN AND FERRY FARES, AND THAT THEY'RE DITCHING THE 10% OFF-PEAK DISCOUNT. AT IS ALSO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BUS AND TRAIN FARE ZONES FROM 14 TO NINE, WHICH IT SAYS WILL MAKE IT CHEAPER TO TRAVEL INTO THE CITY FROM THE OUTER SUBURBS. THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE LOS ANGELES FIRES HAS RISEN TO 27, BUT THE SANTA ANA WINDS HAVE DIED DOWN, HELPING FIREFIGHTERS BRING THE BLAZES UNDER CONTROL. NEW DRONE VISION SHOWS THE MALIBU BEACHFRONT DESTRUCTION FROM THE PALISADES FIRE, WHICH IS JUST 22% CONTAINED RIGHT NOW. IT'S THE BIGGEST OF THE DESTRUCTIVE FIRES, AND INVESTIGATORS ARE YET TO ESTABLISH WHAT STARTED IT. ATTENTION IS NOW TURNING TO THE VAST CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION EFFORT THAT IS EXPECTED TO COST HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN ALCOHOL DRINKERS PLEDGE TO GIVE UP THE BOOZE, BUT IN SOME CASES, THEY WON'T PICK UP A PINT OR GLASS OF WINE EVER AGAIN. SOME ARE GIVING IT UP FOR HEALTH, OTHERS FOR THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEIR BACK POCKET. ITV'S TOBY WINSON TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT'S DRIVING THE BOOZE BACKLASH. TRADITIONALLY, ALCOHOL HAS BEEN TOP OF THE GUEST LIST FOR ALMOST ALL EVENTS IN THE UK, BUT THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT ALCOHOL IS CHANGING. ROUGHLY 1 IN 5 ADULTS ARE LIVING A SOBER LIFE, AND THIS TREND IS BEING LED BY YOUNG PEOPLE. ONE BEFORE 50. 49. STUDENTS AT LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY HAVE FORMED A SOBER SOCIETY TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T DRINK. SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T DRINK BECAUSE THEY NEVER REALLY HAVE. SOME PEOPLE DON'T DRINK BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS REASONS. SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. CONCERNS LIKE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, BEING IN CONTROL AND SAFETY HAVE LED TO AROUND A QUARTER OF 16-24 YEAR OLDS QUITTING. I THINK FOR ME, FOR WOMEN AT LEAST, THERE IS QUITE THAT SAFETY ELEMENT OF, YOU KNOW, 'DON'T WALK HOME ALONE IN THE DARK', YOU KNOW, KIND OF 'DON'T WEAR YOUR SHORT SKIRT IN CASE YOU GET ATTACKED'. DON'T BE TOO DRUNK. DON'T BE TOO OBVIOUS, JUST IN CASE ANY OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN. IT'S A PRECAUTION. I USED TO DRINK A LOT, AND IT AFFECTED MY LIFE IN SO MANY WAYS, AND EVENTUALLY I STARTED TO REALISE THAT I WANT A BETTER LIFE THAN THIS. AND I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I HIT ROCK BOTTOM TO MAKE A CHANGE. ACCORDING TO ALCOHOL CHANGE UK, AN ESTIMATED 15 MILLION PEOPLE ARE TAKING PART IN DRY JANUARY. BUT DESPITE THE RISE IN SOBRIETY, DEATHS FROM ALCOHOL-SPECIFIC CAUSES ARE INCREASING, AFTER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TURNED TO DRINK DURING THE COVID 19 OUTBREAK. COME IN. HELLO? IT'S RYAN. TOBY. HOW ARE YOU DOING? YEAH. GOOD. NICE TO SEE YOU. YEAH. YOU TOO. THANK YOU. DOCTOR RYAN BUCHANAN SAYS HIS LIVER WARD IS BUSIER THAN EVER. IS THE RISE IN SOBRIETY BRINGING ANY HOPE? MY SLIGHT CONCERN ABOUT IT, I SUPPOSE, IS WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN SOBRIETY, AND OVERWHELMINGLY, WE SEE PATIENTS DYING OF LIVER DISEASE WHO ARE FROM SOME OF OUR MOST MARGINALISED AND SOCIOECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED POPULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IF THIS RISE IN SOBRIETY IS KIND OF BEING DRIVEN THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHER AVENUES, DO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT? ARE THEY SEEING IT? UNLESS KIND OF ALL, ALL PARTS OF OUR POPULATION KIND OF BUY INTO THAT CULTURAL CHANGE, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS AND SPECIFICALLY ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS. SO ALTHOUGH MANY WILL BE FEELING THE BENEFITS OF THEIR NEWFOUND SOBRIETY, THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE OF ALCOHOL HARMS SAY MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE SEE AN IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH. STILL AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` CELEBRATED DIRECTOR DAVID LYNCH DIES JUST DAYS BEFORE HIS 79TH BIRTHDAY. WE SEE WHY KIWIS ARE INCREASINGLY A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MUSIC TASTE. AND THE SAIL GP SAILORS WEIGH IN ON WHO'LL BE FIRST TO CRACK 100km/h AT THIS WEEKEND'S AUCKLAND EVENT. (PHONE RINGS) Hey, babe. I got an earlier flight. (CHUCKLES) Really? What are you doing? Nothing. Uh, I gotta go. (BRIGHT PIANO MUSIC) Here you go, mate. Thank you. SONG: # You, you got what I... # Hey, babe, I'm home. I made your favourite. # You've got everything you need... # Too spicy? I love it. Mmm. # Oh, baby... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. PROVISIONAL NCEA RESULTS SHOW A SHARP DECLINE IN LEVEL 1 ATTAINMENT, BUT THE MINISTER HAS HINTED AT AN OVERHAUL OF THE QUALIFICATION. AND CENTRAL AUCKLAND BUSINESSES ARE HOPING FOR A BOOST FROM THIS WEEKEND'S SAIL GP EVENT BEING HELD THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE VISIONARY DIRECTOR OF MOVIE CLASSICS LIKE BLUE VELVET AND MULHOLLAND DRIVE HAS DIED. DAVID LYNCH, WHO WAS CELEBRATED FOR HIS UNIQUELY DARK VISION, PASSED AWAY JUST DAYS BEFORE HIS 79th BIRTHDAY. MANY PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR HIS GROUNDBREAKING 1990'S TV SERIES TWIN PEAKS. DOUGIE WAS YOUR CAR STOLEN? I'VE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU SOMETHING INTERESTING I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU LYNCH HAD BEEN VERY PUBLIC ABOUT BEING DIAGNOSED WITH EMPHYSEMA LAST YEAR, AND HAD SAID HE WOULDN'T BE LEAVING HOME FOR FEAR OF CATCHING A COLD OR COVID. ONE OF BOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST STARS IS RECOVERING IN INTENSIVE CARE AFTER BEING STABBED BY AN INTRUDER IN HIS MUMBAI HOUSE. SAIF ALI KHAN - ONE OF INDIA'S MOST BANKABLE STARS - CONFRONTED THE OFFENDER INSIDE THE HOME HE SHARES WITH HIS WIFE, BOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR, KAREENA KAPOOR AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE 54-YEAR-OLD ACTOR WAS STABBED SIX TIMES INSIDE THEIR LUXURY APARTMENT. MEDICS SAY HE IS NOW STABLE, AND OUT OF DANGER. ACTOR DIRECTOR JUSTIN BALDONI IS SUING BLAKE LIVELY AND RYAN REYNOLDS FOR MORE THAN $700m, ALLEGING THE COUPLE HAS SOUGHT TO DESTROY HIM AND HIS CAREER. HE ALSO CLAIMED THEY HIJACKED HIS FILM, 'IT ENDS WITH US', WHICH HE AND LIVELY STARRED IN. IT'S THE LATEST ESCALATION IN THE ONGOING BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. LAST MONTH LIVELY FILED A CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT, CLAIMING SHE WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED BY BALDONI DURING THE FILM'S PRODUCTION. SHE HAS NOW FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM TOO. FOLLOWING A RELATIVELY QUIET 2024, THIS YEAR IS POISED TO BE A BIG ONE FOR GAMERS. NINTENDO HAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THE SWITCH 2, THE SUCCESSOR TO THE POPULAR SWITCH CONSOLE, A WHICH SOLD 146 MILLION UNITS WORLDWIDE SINCE ITS RELEASE IN 2017. THE SWITCH 2 PROMISES A MORE POWERFUL AND REFINED GAMING EXPERIENCE. WHILE DETAILS REMAIN SCARCE, A MID-YEAR RELEASE DATE IS ANTICIPATED. THOUSANDS OF COWBOY HATS AND COWGIRL BOOTS ARE STARTING TO ARRIVE AT AUCKLAND'S EDEN PARK FOR WHAT COULD ARGUABLY BE THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST HOEDOWN. U.S COUNTRY MUSIC STAR LUKE COMBS IS PLAYING THE FIRST OF TWO SHOWS THERE TONIGHT, AND IT'S NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST STADIUM SHOW FOR THE GENRE. EXPLAINER EDITOR LLOYD BURR FINDS OUT WHY WE'VE BECOME OBSESSED WITH COUNTRY MUSIC. HE'S ALL OVER OUR BILLBOARDS, AND HE'S BEEN ALL OVER THE U.S BILLBOARD CHARTS, BUT WHEN DID NEW ZEALAND BECOME OBSESSED WITH LUKE COMBS? # YOU GOT A FAST CAR, # AND I WANT A TICKET TO ANYWHERE... HIS COVER OF 'FAST CAR' GIVING HIM FAST FAME HERE. THE BEER-DRINKING BAR BOUNCER TURNED NASHVILLE-BASED COUNTRY STAR IS MORE POPULAR THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. HE'S ABOUT TO NEARLY PACK OUT EDEN PARK TWICE. SO WHEN DID NEW ZEALANDERS BECOME SUCH WHISKY DRINKING, BANJO STRUMMING, COWBOY HAT-WEARING, LINE DANCING COUNTRY MUSIC FANS? LET'S HEAD TO NEW ZEALAND'S COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL TO FIND OUT ` GORE. THERE'S NO REAL RHYME OR REASON TO THAT, OTHER THAN PERHAPS COUNTRY MUSIC OFTEN TALKS ABOUT HARD TIMES, AND THE SONGWRITING IS REALLY` THE SONGWRITING IS KEY TO COUNTRY MUSIC. IT'S VERY CLEVER, IT'S WELL THOUGHT OUT AND IT RESONATES WITH SO MANY PEOPLE. ANNABEL ROY PROMOTES GORE'S ANNUAL TUSSOCK COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL. SHE SAYS THE GENRE'S HAD A PERFECT STORM. WE ALSO HAVE POP CULTURE LIKES OF YELLOWSTONE TO THANK FOR PUTTING COUNTRY MUSIC BACK ON THAT HUGE NETFLIX SCALE. IT'S MODERN-DAY WESTERNS AND THEY'VE MADE IT REALLY COOL AND PRETTY SEXY, SO THE MUSIC GOES ALONG WITH IT. # WHAT I WANT TO DO... GORE ALSO HOSTS THE GOLD GUITAR AWARDS. THE 2017 WINNER WAS JENNY MITCHELL, WHO PUTS IT DOWN TO THE PHENOMENAL SUCCESS OF THE PERSON WHO WON IT A DECADE BEFORE HER. KAYLEE BELL HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING. SHE` I WAS AT THE SUPERMARKET THIS MORNING, AND SHE WAS ON THE RADIO. # BOOTS AND ALL... I THINK THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT IS LIKE A HUGE, MOMENTOUS SHIFT, BECAUSE I WENT TO HER SHOW LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS, HERE IN WELLINGTON, AND THERE WAS SO MANY` HUNDREDS OF YOUNG, YOUNG GIRLS WITH PINK COWGIRL HATS ON, AND THEY WERE WATCHING HER AS IF THEY WERE AT THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE WORLD'S SHOW. SO IS KAYLEE BELL AND HER CATCHY COUNTRY POP TUNES THE REASON SO MANY KIWIS ARE GOING TO THIS GUY? WELL, LET'S BRING HER INTO THE STUDIO. WELL, KAYLEE, WELCOME TO THE` THE VIRTUAL HAYBARN. (LAUGHS) THE BARN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO BURST. THIS IS YOUR LAST INTERVIEW BEFORE YOU GO OFF AND HAVE YOUR BABY BOY. GO OFF AND HAVE A LITTLE COWBOY FOR OURSELVES. HER PREVIOUS BABIES HAVE BEEN HITS LIKE 'BOOTS AND ALL', 'KEITH,' # YOU PLAY THAT KEITH... 'GOOD THINGS', AND HER NEW SINGLE, 'COWBOY UP.' SHE'S HELPED COUNTRY BECOME MAINSTREAM. # HEY, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. DO YOU TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT? I THINK I'VE BEEN A PIECE OF IT, I DO. I THINK I'VE DEFINITELY` I'VE HAD A DREAM SINCE I WAS A KID TO ONE DAY WAKE UP AND HEAR COUNTRY MUSIC ON RADIO IN NEW ZEALAND` ON MAINSTREAM RADIO. AND I THINK I'VE BEEN WORKING MY BUTT OFF EVER SINCE TO TRY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND SEE THAT CHANGE. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S BEEN A COMBINATION OF THINGS. I THINK IT'S BEEN THE TIMING, I THINK IT'S BEEN JUST THIS` IT'S GLOBAL. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HAPPENING GLOBALLY RIGHT NOW. THAT'S THANKS TO THE LIKES OF TAYLOR SWIFT, WHO STARTED OUT IN COUNTRY... # ALL YOU'RE EVER GONNA BE IS MEAN. ...AND ARTISTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY PUT OUT COUNTRY ALBUMS LIKE BEYONCE AND POST MALONE. # I NEED SOME HELP... EVEN THE WIGGLES ARE ABOUT TO PUT OUT A COUNTRY ALBUM. YOU'RE ON THE WIGGLES' ALBUM. (LAUGHS) YOU'RE ON` WHAT'S IT CALLED? GIDDY UP, WIGGLE UP. GIDDY UP, WIGGLE UP. THAT WAS` THAT WAS COOL. THE MAN WHO'S HELPED BRING LUKE COMBS TO EDEN PARK IS PROMOTER BRENT ECCLES. KAYLEE BELL IS ON HIS BOOKS AS WELL, AND HE'S A HUGE COUNTRY MUSIC FAN. I THINK THE EMPHASIS IS ON FUN, AND I THINK THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN GO AND DRESS UP, PUT YOUR COWBOY BOOTS ON, PUT A COWBOY SHIRT ON AND TAKE YOUR GIRL OUT FOR A GOOD COUNTRY NIGHT WITH A COUNTRY BAND, AND A GREAT COUNTRY CONCERT. IT'S A LOT OF FUN, AND THEY'RE GREAT PLAYERS TOO. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING IT. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING SHOEYS, CARRYING ON, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. IT'S JUST` IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARMLESS, BUT IT'S GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. # OUT WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. HE SAYS WHILE IT SEEMS LUKE COMBS CAME FROM NOWHERE, IT WAS BUILDING UNDERGROUND AND OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM. LUKE COMBS DID NOT POP UP ON RADIO, WAS NOT REALLY ONLINE. THE PEOPLE DISCOVERED IT THEMSELVES. THE FIRST TIME WE PUT A LUKE COMBS SHOW UP WAS AT SPARK ARENA. WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA` IT SOLD OUT IN LIKE 10 MINUTES OR SO. IT WAS JUST LIKE, 'WHAT IS THIS?' YOU DON'T SEE IT. IT'S UNDER THE SURFACE. BUT HE'S BROKEN THROUGH THE SURFACE, AND TONIGHT HE'LL BREAK THROUGH EDEN PARK'S COUNTRY MUSIC CEILING. YEEHAW! LUCY'S HERE WITH SPORT NOW, AND IT'S BAD NEWS FOR ONE OF THE SAIL GP TEAMS? THIS WON'T BE ON THE START LINE THIS WEEKEND. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT OFF-WATER DRAMA FOR YOU SHORTLY. PLUS, PADDY GOWER SITS DOWN WITH NEW ZEALAND'S FAVOURITE SPORTING FRENEMY, JIMMY SPITHILL. AND THE QUEST FOR A QUICK SELFIE THAT WENT VIRAL AS THIS AUSSIE CRICKET FAN CRASHES HIS CAR IN THE PROCESS. VOICEOVER: I loooove you, insurance! That's what you think when you need to use it. But no one ever thinks that before they have to use it. So, we're making it simpler to get. Simple to change. Simply helpful. And simple to claim. More yeps, less nah's. And not freaky to pay for. So how do you feel about insurance now? We'll take it! State. # Ohhh! # THIS WEEKEND'S INAUGURAL AUCKLAND SAIL GRAND PRIX EVENT WILL GO AHEAD WITHOUT THE FRENCH. THE TEAM, WAS FORCED TO MISS THE OPENING EVENT OF THE SEASON IN DUBAI, AND EXPECTED TO REJOIN THE CIRCUIT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, UPON THE COMPLETION OF A TWELFTH RACE BOAT. BUT THE CHALLENGE OF REPURPOSING AN OLD AMERICA'S CUP AC-50 MEANS THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER FEW WEEKS FOR THE BOAT TO BE RACE READY. WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO GO, THE AUCKLAND WATERFRONT IS A HIVE OF ACTIVITY, BUT THERE'S A NOTABLE ABSENCE OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE AMONG THE TEAM FLAGS ON THE WATER. IT'S DEFINITELY SUPER TOUGH WHEN THE, UM, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH COMPONENTS FOR EVERYONE. FRANCE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE LEAGUE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPURPOSE AN OLD TEAM NEW ZEALAND AC 50 INTO AN F50 FOR THE EVENT AS MORE TEAMS JOIN THE CIRCUIT. YEAH, WE WENT THROUGH IT LAST SEASON, OBVIOUSLY MISSING TWO EVENTS WITH SAINT TROPEZ AND TORONTO, THE ITALIAN EVENT. AND YEAH, I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD HOW THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE IS KIND OF GIVING THEM, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE GROUND POINTS SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY KIND OF STAY IN IT FOR THE OVERALL. AS WE SAW IN DUBAI, FRANCE WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH FIVE POINTS TOWARDS THE OVERALL SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY'LL BE EASILY ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD WHEN THEY GET BACK INTO IT, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE FINALS AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO TO WIN THIS THING. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THEM BACK ON THE START LINE AS SOON AS, YOU KNOW, THE TECH TEAM CAN GET THEM THERE. AS FOR THE TEAMS LINING UP THIS WEEKEND, THEY'VE GOT ONE EYE ON THE ULTIMATE PRIZE AND THE OTHER ON BECOMING THE FIRST TEAM TO CRACK 100km/h. I THINK IT'S THERE FOR THE TAKING, AND ANYONE CAN PROBABLY GET IT. AND IT'LL JUST BE WHO WANTS TO GO TO GO GET IT? HOPEFULLY THE AUSSIES, BUT THERE'S 11 TEAMS ALL GOING FOR IT AND A LOT OF THINGS HAVE TO LINE UP. YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE RIGHT WIND CONDITIONS, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE RIGHT TIMING AND GET THAT PERFECT GUST TO REALLY GET RIPPING. SO YEAH, I HOPE WE WILL BE THE FIRST TO BREAK 100. THE BLACK FOILS - A LITTLE MORE COY. UM, I'M NOT SURE, TO BE HONEST. UH, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH THE BOAT PRETTY HARD TO GET UP OVER 100, BUT AS PEOPLE GET MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THESE T4's, I'M SURE YOU'LL SEE THAT. AND ONE MAN WHO WILL HAVE A VERY KEEN EYE ON THE ACTION THIS WEEKEND... IS THE AUSSIE KIWIS LOVE TO HATE. FRESH OFF AN UNSUCCESSFUL AMERICA'S CUP CHALLENGE WITH LUNA ROSSA, JIMMY SPITHILL IS NOW HEADING UP THE ITALIAN SAIL GP TEAM. HE SAT DOWN WITH PADDY GOWER TO DISCUSS ALL THINGS SAIL GP, INCLUDING HIS OWN PREDICTION ABOUT HOW FAST THE BOATS WILL GO. YEAH, WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, THE CANADIANS WERE TESTING THE FIRST PROTOTYPE OF THE T4. OF WHAT WE'RE ALL USING NOW IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND THEY, THEY GOT OVER 100. NO PROBLEM. SO, YEAH, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE I DON'T KNOW WHICH TEAM WILL BE FIRST, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS WEEKEND SOMEONE WILL BREAK THAT PRETTY QUICKLY. BUT LOOK, WHEN YOU'RE DOING THESE SORT OF SPEEDS NOW, AND WHERE THE SPORT'S DEVELOPED, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE'S MORE RISK. BUT IF YOU ASKED ANY OF THE ATHLETES AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THEY'D SAY IT'S BEEN A HUGE STEP FORWARD. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE CREDIBILITY WE'RE GETTING, YOU REALLY NEED REAL ATHLETES. IT'S MUCH MORE LIKE RACECAR DRIVING AND IT'S MUCH MORE EXCITING. SO YOU ARE COMPARING THIS TO RACING CARS? YEAH, IT'S MUCH MORE... I'D ACTUALLY SAY MORE LIKE MOTOGP BECAUSE IN MOTOGP YOU GET A LOT OF PASSING. YOU KNOW, FORMULA ONE IS ACTUALLY NOT VERY MUCH PASSING AT ALL. IF YOU WATCH A MOTOGP RACE, THEY GO, WELL, PROBABLY FASTER THAN THE F1 CARS. BUT THERE'S... IT'S SO MUCH MORE DYNAMIC AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT SAILGP IS LIKE. THE BEAUTY OF IT, TOO, IS THAT NO ONE HAS A TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE. EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME EQUIPMENT, ALL THE DATA. YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOUR COMPETITORS ARE DOING. SO IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO THE BEST TEAM. JUST LOOKING AHEAD TO THIS WEEKEND, THERE'S BEEN ONE RACE IN THE SAILGP AND NEW ZEALAND IS ON TOP OF THE TABLE. YOU ARE CURRENTLY AT THE BOTTOM AND PETE BURLING, AND YOU'VE RECENTLY LOST 2 AND YOU'RE UP AGAINST HIM THIS WEEKEND ON HIS HOME SEAS. UM, HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT? YEAH, I'M GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF BEING BEATEN BY PETE AND BLAIR. UM, NO, THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY, REALLY GOOD MATES OF MINE, AND, AND A VERY, VERY SOLID TEAM. YOU KNOW, THOSE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THE BENCHMARK TEAM. FOR US, IT'S ABOUT AT THIS STAGE REALLY THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT. HOW DO WE OUTLEARN AND JUST TRY AND START CLIMBING OURSELVES BACK UP THE LADDER. WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM AND YEAH, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO JUST TRY TO TAKE THE LESSONS AND HOPEFULLY... GET CLOSE TO THOSE GUYS. TENNIS WORLD NUMBER ONE ARYNA SABALENKA IS ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO AN AUSTRALIAN OPEN THREE-PEAT AFTER A TIGHT TWO-SET VICTORY OVER CLARA TAUSON. DOWN 5-3 IN THE OPENING SET, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION FOUGHT BACK TO TAKE THE FIRST 7-6. AN EARLY BREAK, THEN SAW HER TAKE CONTROL OF THE SECOND, BEFORE SEALING THE THIRD ROUND VICTORY WITH THIS SCORCHING BACKHAND. GAME SET MATCH MEANTIME, MEN'S SECOND SEED CARLOS ALCARAZ HAS EASED PAST NUNO BORGES 6-2, 6-4. AND IN THE DOUBLES, KIWI ERIN ROUTLIFFE AND HER PARTNER GABBY DABROWSKI ARE THROUGH TO THE FOURTH ROUND AFTER A 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 OVER BRITISH-CHILEAN DUO MAIA LUMSDEN AND ANNA SISKOVA. THE NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS HAVE STUNNED THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TO CLAIM VICTORY IN THEIR 100TH APPEARANCE AT SPARK ARENA. LAST NIGHT THEY BEAT THE TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 85-75 TO CHALK UP A NINTH WIN OF THE SEASON. SAM MENNENGA LED THE WAY WITH 29 POINTS. DESPITE THE WIN, THE BREAKERS ARE STILL LANGUISHING IN 9TH OVERALL, AHEAD OF THEIR NEXT GAME, AWAY TO THE SOUTH-EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX. FINALLY TONIGHT, AUSTRALIAN BATSMAN SAM KONSTAS HAS BECOME A FAN FAVOURITE ACROSS THE TASMAN WITH HIS EYE-CATCHING PERFORMANCES AGAINST INDIA. BUT ONE FAN'S QUEST TO MEET HIM HAS COME AT A COST. HE SPOTTED KONSTAS WALKING WITH HIS GEAR TO TRAINING AND DECIDED THIS WAS AS GOOD A MOMENT AS EVER TO MEET HIS HERO. SO HE QUICKLY REVERSED HIS OWN CAR INTO A PARK, JUMPED OUT AND TOOK OFF AFTER HIM. BUT THE FAN FAILED TO EITHER PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR APPLY THE HAND-BRAKE, AND IT SOON LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF NEARBY CAR. NO WORD IF THE SELFIE WAS ACHIEVED, BUT KONSTAS HAS VOWED TO DELIVER THE FAN SOME SIGNED MERCH. THE LINK SOME PEOPLE WILL GO TO. IF YOU THINK YOUR DOG IS SOMETHING SPECIAL, WAIT TILL YOU MEET HARVEY THE BORDER COLLIE. HE'S BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD'S BRIGHTEST DOGS, AND IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE WHY. HARVEY HAS MEMORISED THE INDIVIDUAL NAMES OF MORE THAN 200 TOYS. ITV'S AMY LEWIS WENT TO MEET HIM. HARVEY, GO FIND SUSHI. NORMALLY THEY SAY AN ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS, BUT THIS BORDER COLLIE IS A WIZARD AT MEMORISING WORDS. GOOD BOY, SO CLEVER. GO FIND MINCE PIE. HARVEY CAN RECOGNISE THE NAMES OF HUNDREDS OF TOYS AND BRING THEM TO HIS OWNER, IRENE. HEY! GOOD BOY. WHEN HE HEARS 'GO FIND', HE'LL JUST GO... IT'S LIKE, HONESTLY, IT'S LIKE 'I'M READY!'. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO FIND. YOU KNOW, TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO FIND BECAUSE I WANT TO WORK. WHAT REACTION DO YOU GET FROM OTHER PET OWNERS? THE SORT OF NORMAL PET DOG PEOPLE, THEY'RE QUITE SURPRISED WHEN I MENTION WE HAVE 203 TOYS. SO... BORDER COLLIES ARE KNOWN TO BE ONE OF THE SMARTEST BREEDS AND ARE OFTEN WORKING DOGS. HARVEY SPENDS HOURS EVERY DAY FINESSING HIS SKILLS. HARVEY, GO FIND STEAMROLLER. WELL, THE GREAT THING ABOUT HARVEY IS THAT HE DOESN'T JUST LISTEN TO IRENE, BUT ALSO COMPLETE STRANGERS. THERE WE GO, GOOD BOY. HARVEY IS SUCH A CLEVER CANINE. HE HAS TAKEN PART IN A HUNGARIAN UNIVERSITY STUDY, WHICH IS A LONG-TERM PROJECT TO UNDERSTAND HOW DOGS THINK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT HARVEY IS THAT HARVEY IS MORE SUBTLE, AND HE'S A MUCH MORE CALM AND COLLECTED DOG. HE LEARNS THE NAMES REALLY, REALLY FAST, BUT THAT TAKES ITS TOLL. AND AT THE END OF EVERY DAY, HARVEY LOVES PUTTING HIS PAWS UP. YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEST FRIENDS, ME AND MY DOG, AND I THINK THAT'S THE WHOLE FEELING OF THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE DOING THINGS TOGETHER AND WE JUST LOVE BEING TOGETHER, AND WE JUST LOVE DOING ACTIVITIES TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE. NO DOUBT MANY PARENTS WILL BE WATCHING AND WISHING THEIR CHILDREN WERE THIS DILIGENT AT TIDYING THEIR TOYS. GOOD BOY. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEEKEND WEATHER, AND HOW'S IT LOOKING? EVERYONE WILL STAY IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, AND THEN FROM TARANAKI DOWN TO WELLINGTON, EVEN THE TOP OF THE SOUTH AND ALONG PARTS OF THE EAST COAST, IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. SOME RAIN AND CLOUDS FOR THE LOWER SOUTH, AND NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND WILL SEE A RETURN OF BLUSTERY WINDS AND SOME RAIN. I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS FOR YOUR AREA NEXT. SUNNY WEATHER PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE REPAIR YOUR HOME FOR WET DAYS NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK, NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK, AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE FOR THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND AND THE SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. TOMORROW A BIT OF RAIN AND CLOUD MOVES IN, WITH WEATHER SYSTEMS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE COUNTRY. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE RUNS ACROSS THE NORTH OF NEW ZEALAND. NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND WILL SEE WETTER AND WINDIER WEATHER, AND IT WILL ALSO BRING MORE CLOUD TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. BUT CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND, IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. AND GREAT TIMING FOR YOUR THREE-DAY WEEKEND. IT'S LOOKING MAINLY FINE UP TOP AND TO THE EAST, JUST A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND. SOME SHOWERS DOWN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND AND THE WEATHER SYSTEM MOVING NORTH-EAST WILL MEAN SOME WET WEATHER FOR FIORDLAND, SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO. TO THE NORTH ISLAND, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, PERIODS OF RAIN FOR NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND, AND THOSE PERSISTENT EASTERLY WINDS. SOME SHOWERS IN EASTERN REGIONS AND WAIKATO, BUT LOTS OF SUN IN THE WEST FROM TARANAKI DOWN TO WELLINGTON. CLOUDY PERIODS AND FRESH EASTERLIES FOR EVERYONE HERE, AND THE ODD SHOWER ABOUT. HEAVIER FOR THE FAR NORTH. NORTHEASTERLIES ALONG THE COAST AND A PARTLY CLOUDY SATURDAY. CHANCE OF A SHOWER IN THE AFTERNOON FOR ALL EXCEPT TAUPO, WHERE IT SHOULD STAY DRY UNTIL EVENING. MORE CLOUD HERE WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THOSE EASTERLIES WILL DEVELOP IN THE MORNING FOR MASTERTON AND DANNIVERKE, AND WILL GET STRONGER AFTER LUNCH FOR GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY. SOUTHERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING FOR WHANGANUI. A CHANCE OF A SHOWER IN TAUMARUNUI, BUT OTHERWISE THIS IS WHERE THE FINE WEATHER IS FOR THE NORTH ISLAND, AND IT ISN'T LOOKING TOO SHABBY HERE EITHER. PARTLY CLOUDY IN PLACES, WESTERLIES DEVELOPING FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG THE WEST COAST. A BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY OUT EAST. A LITTLE BIT OF MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD, BUT A FINE AND DRY DAY, WITH NORTHEASTERLIES STRENGTHENING AFTER LUNCH. A FINE MORNING FOR QUEENSTOWN, AND THEN A FEW SHOWERS. MOSTLY CLOUDY EVERYWHERE ELSE WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN. OAMARU, YOU WILL STAY DRY. DUNEDIN ` A CLOUDY SATURDAY HERE. THE RAIN WON'T ARRIVE UNTIL THE AFTERNOON, WHEN THOSE NORTHEASTERLIES START TO PICK UP. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, IT'S A CUT AND PASTE OF TODAY. MORNING NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING, AND A FINE AND DRY DAY WITH SOME MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. SIMILAR STORY FOR WELLINGTON IN THAT TOMORROW WILL BE SIMILAR TO TODAY, BUT ONE DEGREE WARMER. YOU'LL TAKE IT, I'M SURE. A FINE START TO YOUR ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND, HAWKE'S BAY. YOUR WEEKEND WILL BE CLOUDY AT TIMES, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. JUST WATCH FOR THOSE EASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, TAURANGA. PARTLY CLOUDY AND DRY IN THE MORNING, A CHANCE OF A SHOWER FROM THE AFTERNOON, WHICH MIGHT BE NICE IF YOU'RE HEADING UP THE MOUNT. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, TOMORROW WILL BE SIMILAR TO TODAY ` PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON SHOWER AND LIGHT WINDS. TAMAKI MAKAURAU, CLOUDY PERIODS TOMORROW. SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SAILING STARTS, AND FRESH EASTERLIES. TO AUSTRALIA, AND IT'S LOOKING MOSTLY FINE. A FEW SHOWERS FOR BRISBANE AND SYDNEY, AND IN THE PACIFIC, A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT. FINE FOR NIUE AND THE COOK ISLANDS. BACK HOME, AND SHOWERY EASTERLIES CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND ON SUNDAY, AND BY TUESDAY, A LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING A STRONG EAST TO SOUTHEAST FLOW AND RAIN IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING HERE. MOST PLACES GETTING THOSE HEAVY FALLS ON TUESDAY, WITH GISBORNE GETTING AN EARLIER TASTE OF IT ON SUNDAY. BUT IT'S ALL LOOKING FAIRLY CALM AND FINE. A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND, BUT NOT A BAD LONG WEEKEND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE IT OFF. SOME RAIN FOR BLENHEIM ON SUNDAY, BUT THEN MOSTLY FINE, AND A CLEAR OUTLOOK FOR NELSON. RAIN ABOUT ON SUNDAY FOR PARTS HERE, BUT THEN JUST SOME CLOUD AROUND, AND A DRY START TO THE WORKING WEEK FOR MANY. AND I MUST SAY, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE A PHOTO TODAY ` WE HAD SO MANY GOOD ONES. BUT I LOVE THE MOODINESS CAPTURED BY JUSTIN. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON www.stuff.co.nz. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. POMARIE. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND LELE SIMEON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025