NATIONAL WARMS UP FOR THE POLITICAL YEAR AHEAD, BUT ABORTION CONCERNS FOLLOW THE NEW HEALTH MINISTER INTO THE JOB. DONALD TRUMP MAKES HIS FEELINGS CLEAR AS A BISHOP CALLS FOR MERCY FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS AND TRANS PEOPLE. THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE, SO WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR INTEREST RATES? AND NOVAK DJOKOVIC IS BACK ON SPEAKING TERMS WITH BROADCASTER CHANNEL NINE AS HE TAKES A HUGE STEP TOWARDS A 25th GRAND SLAM TITLE. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND TUI TIPENE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI, WELCOME TO THREENEWS. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS AGAIN BEEN FORCED TO CLARIFY HIS COMMITMENT TO ABORTION LAWS AS THE NATIONAL PARTY CAUCUS KICKS OFF THE NEW YEAR IN HAMILTON. ABORTION RIGHTS ADVOCATES HAVE WRITTEN TO CHRISTOPHER LUXON RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT SIMEON BROWN TAKING OVER THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO GIVEN HIS VOCAL OPPOSITION TO ABORTION. AND AS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH REPORTS, IT WASN'T THE ONLY ISSUE DOGGING THE LEADER TODAY. PUMPED UP FOR THE YEAR AHEAD... THE NATIONAL PARTY GATHERING IN HAMILTON TO WHIP ITSELF INTO FIGHTING-FIT SHAPE FOR ITS SECOND YEAR IN GOVERNMENT... IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OUR TEAM AS ENERGISED AND READY TO GO FOR 2025. ...SOME ARRIVING SLIGHTLY BRUISED FROM A RUTHLESS START-OF-YEAR RESHUFFLE. I'M MORE FOCUSED ON LOOKING FORWARD HERE NOW. PROUD OF WHAT WE DID LOOKING BACK. DR SHANE RETI MERCILESSLY DUMPED FROM HEALTH TO MAKE WAY FOR SIMEON BROWN, A MAN WHO VERY VOCALLY OPPOSES ABORTION. MR SPEAKER, ALL LIVES MATTER, OLD OR YOUNG, MALE OR FEMALE, BLACK OR WHITE, BORN OR UNBORN. HE VOTED AGAINST ABORTION REFORM IN NEW ZEALAND, AND WAS ONE OF FEW NATIONAL MPs WHO CELEBRATED THE OVERTURNING OF AMERICA'S ABORTION RIGHTS. I THINK MY VIEWS ARE ON THE` ON THE PUBLIC RECORD. THOSE ARE MY PERSONAL VIEWS. BUT AS MINISTER OF HEALTH AND AS A GOVERNMENT, WE'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WE'RE NOT CHANGING THOSE LAWS. ABORTION RIGHTS GROUP ALRANZ WROTE TO THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY EXPRESSING CONCERN, SAYING, YOU PUT ON PAPER YOUR VOTING RECORD THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S ANTITHETICAL TO THE GOALS OF PROVIDING HEALTH CARE. IT JUST MAKES IT HARD FOR US TO... TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD. CAN YOU GIVE A CAST-IRON GUARANTEE THAT OUR ABORTION LAWS WILL NOT CHANGE UNDER YOUR WATCH? WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANY OF THE ABORTION LAWS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON FACED SIMILAR CONCERN WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED AS LEADER. CAN YOU JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION WHETHER YOU THINK ABORTION IS TANTAMOUNT TO MURDER OR NOT? THAT'S A YES OR NO QUESTION. THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY. I'M A PRO-LIFE` PRO-LIFE PERSON. SO YES. THAT'S WHAT A PRO-LIFE POSITION IS. IT EVENTUALLY LED TO HIM PROMISING TO RESIGN BEFORE EVER CHANGING ABORTION LAW. SO GIVEN THE APPOINTMENT OF SIMEON BROWN AS HEALTH MINISTER, CAN YOU GIVE WOMEN A CAST-IRON ASSURANCE THAT ABORTION LAWS WON'T CHANGE UNDER HIS WATCH? YES. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE TO THOSE LAWS. THE LAW ISN'T THE ONLY WAY ACCESS TO ABORTION COULD BE IMPACTED. THERE'S WAYS TO PUT POLICIES IN PLACE THAT MAKE THINGS EITHER MORE TEDIOUS FOR PATIENTS TO GET TO CARE, AFFECTING FUNDING TO THAT CARE, AFFECTING EVEN THE ABILITY OF PHARMACIES TO HAVE AVAILABLE MEDICATIONS. CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WOMEN ARE NERVOUS? OH, LOOK, I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR. WE'RE NOT CHANGING THAT LEGISLATION. THAT'S WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAID. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IF HE LOOKS TO REMOVE ANY ACCESS TO ABORTION SERVICES IN NEW ZEALAND, YOU WILL STEP IN. CORRECT. WE HAVE SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE TO WHAT THE CURRENT SETTINGS ARE AROUND ABORTION. NATIONAL DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUE TO CROP UP AND DISTRACT FROM AN ECONOMIC FOCUS, AS ITS POLLING IS IN THE DOLDRUMS. IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR POLLING OUT OF THE LOW 30s, WILL YOU BE THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD NATIONAL TO THE NEXT ELECTION? I'LL JUST SAY TO YOU, THE ONLY POLLS THAT HAVE MATTERED, AND I'VE SAID THAT RIGHT FROM WHEN I'VE TAKEN THIS JOB, IS THE NEXT ELECTION. YOU'LL STILL BE THE LEADER IF YOU CAN'T GET THE POLLS OUT OF THE LOW 30s? I'M FOCUSED ON DELIVERING FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. THE BIGGEST WINNER OF CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S RESHUFFLE, FIRST-TERMER, NOW MINISTER FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, JAMES MEAGER, WHO'S BEEN PEGGED AS A FUTURE LEADER, GIVING HIS BOSS ONE HECK OF A POLITICAL RUNWAY. AND HE'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC PRIME MINISTER FOR THE NEXT THREE, SIX, NINE, 12, 15 YEARS, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO GET NEW ZEALAND BACK ON TRACK. YOU WOULDN'T MAKE A RUN FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS? LAUGHS: ABSOLUTELY NOT. THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA RUN FOR` IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS? ABSOLUTELY NOT. THERE IS THE SMALL MATTER OF ELECTIONS TO WIN, OF COURSE. JENNA, THE PRIME MINISTER WILL DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH TOMORROW. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? ECONOMY, ECONOMY, ECONOMY. HE WILL BE MORE FUTURE FOCUSED ABOUT IT. HE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN INTRODUCE MORE COMPETITION INTO MARKETS, HOW WE CAN ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT, AND USE SOME OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES NEW ZEALAND HAS ` IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER HE GETS PUBLIC CUT THROUGH, BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THE VIBE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE A BIT GRUMPY. THE WEATHER IS OFF, THE COST OF LIVING IS STILL BITING PEOPLE. IT IS STILL A BIT TOUGH OUT THERE. SO WHILE SOME OF THOSE ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE STARTING TO TURN AROUND, THERE NOT FLOWING THROUGH TO HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS. MAIHI WILL FUTURE FOCUS HIS SPEECH, IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO DROP SOME SHORT-TERM HOPE IN THERE FOR A COUNTRY THAT FEELS A BIT FATIGUED WITH WAITING. YOU WILL OF COURSE BE ACROSS THAT TOMORROW FOR US. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TODAY, A SLIGHT PAUSE IN THE SPEED OF NEW POLICY. ONE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL PLEASE THE TECH TITANS WHO CELEBRATED WITH HIM YESTERDAY ` A NEW AI DATA CENTRE AT A COST OF 1 TRILLION NZD. BUT HE HASN'T HAD IT ALL HIS OWN WAY TODAY, STARTING WITH PRESIDENTIAL PRAYERS AT A SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE. ITV'S DAN RIVERS EXPLAINS. SINCE BEFORE THE WAR, NEWLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENTS HAVE ATTENDED WASHINGTON CATHEDRAL. TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PRESENCE HERE WAS SPUN AS A MOMENT TO OVERCOME A DIVISIVE ELECTION. (SINGS HYMN) THE SERMON, THOUGH, CARRIED A POINTED MESSAGE. UNITY IS NOT PARTISAN, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT CRIMINALS. THERE ARE GAY, LESBIAN AND TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN AND INDEPENDENT FAMILIES, SOME WHO FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES. DONALD TRUMP WAS STONY FACED. JD VANCE LESS SO. DESPITE THE PROMISE OF UNITY, THEIR FIRST 24 HOURS IN OFFICE HAVE BEEN COMBATIVE, ROLLING BACK BIDEN'S POLICIES WITH GUSTO. AFTERWARDS, THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMED WHAT MOST IN THE CATHEDRAL COULD HAVE GUESSED. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD SERVICE, NO. LAST NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE, DONALD TRUMP WASTED NO TIME SIGNING A FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, RANGING FROM PULLING OUT OF THE PARIS CLIMATE DEAL AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION TO AUTHORISING NEW ENERGY EXPLORATION AND CRACKING DOWN ON IMMIGRATION. TAKING A LARGE NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TO SECURE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. OK. SOUNDS REASONABLE. AND THEN, WHILE SITTING AT THE RESOLUTE DESK, A GIFT FROM QUEEN VICTORIA, THE PRESIDENT SUGGESTED HIS FIRST OFFICIAL TRIP MIGHT NOT BE TO AMERICA'S CLOSEST ALLY. SO FIRST FOREIGN TRIP... TYPICALLY HAS BEEN WITH UK. BUT WE DID IT` I DID IT WITH SAUDI ARABIA LAST TIME BECAUSE THEY AGREED TO BUY $450bn WORTH OF OUR PRODUCTS. AND THERE WERE SNUBS, TOO, FOR AMERICA'S IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS, WITH THREATS OF TARIFFS. WE'RE THINKING IN TERMS OF 25% ON MEXICO AND CANADA BECAUSE THEY'RE ALLOWING... VAST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ` CANADA'S VERY BAD ABUSER, ALSO ` VAST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO COME IN AND FENTANYL TO COME IN. AND THEN THIS HAPPENED. PRESIDENT TRUMP, DID PRESIDENT BIDEN LEAVE YOU A LETTER? HE MAY HAVE. WHAT` DON'T THEY LEAVE IT IN THE DESK? I DON'T KNOW. OH... WHAT'S IN THERE? THANK YOU, PETER. IT COULD HAVE BEEN YEARS BEFORE WE FOUND THIS. (LAUGHTER) WOW. THANK YOU. CAN WE READ THE OUTSIDE? MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL READ IT TOGETHER. LET'S READ IT. SO FAR, THE CONTENTS REMAIN UNKNOWN. BUT TODAY, FROM HIS NEW SECRETARY OF STATE... I, MARCO RUBIO... ...THERE WAS CLARITY ON HOW DONALD TRUMP WILL CALIBRATE HIS FOREIGN POLICY. EVERYTHING WE DO MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THREE QUESTIONS ` DOES IT MAKE US STRONGER? DOES IT MAKE US SAFER? AND DOES IT MAKE US MORE PROSPEROUS? POLITICAL SABRE RATTLING, AND LAST NIGHT, THE REAL THING. (BOLD MUSIC) DONALD TRUMP SAYS THIS IS A GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA. BUT THIS PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST RADICAL, UNPREDICTABLE AND PARTISAN ADMINISTRATIONS IN RECENT AMERICAN HISTORY. AMID THE HEAD-SPINNING DELUGE OF ORDERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, TRUMP'S PARDONING OF THE JANUARY 6TH RIOTERS HAS ARGUABLY CAUSED THE GREATEST SHOCKWAVE. THE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNED ON FREEING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR STORMING THE CAPITOL, BUT HAD INDICATED THE MOST VIOLENT OFFENDERS WOULD STAY LOCKED UP. INSTEAD, ALL 1500 DEFENDANTS ARE TO BE FREED, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ATTACKED POLICE OFFICERS. SIOBHAN KENNEDY FROM CHANNEL FOUR REPORTS. CHANTS: FREE J6! FREE J6! FREE J6! FREEDOM! FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF SOME IMPRISONED JANUARY 6TH RIOTERS BRAVED THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES TO GATHER OUTSIDE A D.C. JAIL LAST NIGHT, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR DONALD TRUMP TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE AND PARDON THEIR LOVED ONES. BOTH: FOR FREEDOM! FIRST, WE HAVE A LIST OF PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS RELATING TO EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 6TH 2021. OK, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE IS THIS? I THINK THIS ORDER WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 1500 PEOPLE, SIR. AND WITH THE STROKE OF A SHARPIE PEN, TRUMP WIPED CLEAN THE CONVICTIONS OF NEARLY ALL THOSE CHARGED WITH RANSACKING THE CAPITOL THAT DAY. SO THIS IS A BIG ONE. ONE OF THE WORST ATTACKS ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY SINCE THE CIVIL WAR, WHEN A PRO-TRUMP MOB STORMED THE BUILDING TO TRY AND UPEND THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION. FIVE PEOPLE DIED WITHIN DAYS OF THE ATTACK, AND MORE THAN 170 POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED. YET TRUMP, WHO WAS INDICTED IN RELATION TO JANUARY 6TH, HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT TO REFRAME THE RIOT, INSTEAD CALLING IT A DAY OF LOVE. FULL PARDON. WE HOPE THEY COME OUT TONIGHT, FRANKLY. AMONG THE CROWD, WE STOOD NEXT TO ERIC BALL AS HE SPOKE TO HIS SON, DANIEL. HEY, BUDDY... LOVE YOU. HEY, DAD. I LOVE YOU, DAD. SEE YOU IN A MINUTE. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU OUT. DANIEL WAS CONVICTED ON 12 COUNTS, INCLUDING ASSAULT AND SETTING OFF AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DURING A BATTLE WITH POLICE ON JANUARY 6TH. THE LONG NIGHTMARE IS ABOUT OVER. HOW DO YOU FEEL TOWARDS PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS EVENING? LOVE HIM. (CHUCKLES) YEAH. I'VE BEEN A SUPPORTER. I WAS THERE ON JANUARY 6TH. STOLEN ELECTION ` THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. AND YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT? OH YES. ABSOLUTELY. DEMOCRATS ON THE HILL WERE VISIBLY SHOCKED BY TRUMP'S MOVE. I WAS STUNNED AT THE SCOPE OF THOSE PARDONS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM WHO ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE, WHO WILL NEVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES. IT BASICALLY JUST GUARANTEES THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. AND TRUMP'S OWN VICE PRESIDENT INDICATED ON CNN THAT THOSE WHO COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES THAT DAY SHOULD PAY A PRICE. HERE'S BEEN MY BASIC ARGUMENT ABOUT JANUARY THE 6TH ` IF YOU BEAT UP A COP, OF COURSE, YOU DESERVE TO GO TO PRISON. IF YOU VIOLATED THE LAW, YOU SHOULD SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. BUT SOME OF THOSE RELEASED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS DID BEAT UP COPS AND WORSE. AS OF NOVEMBER, MORE THAN 1500 PEOPLE HAD BEEN FEDERALLY CHARGED, NEARLY 600 WITH ASSAULTING, RESISTING OR OBSTRUCTING POLICE. AND OF THOSE, NEARLY 170 WERE CHARGED WITH USING A DEADLY OR DANGEROUS WEAPON OR CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO AN OFFICER. MICHAEL FANONE WAS ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS. HE WAS DRAGGED INTO THE MOB ON JANUARY 6TH AND BEATEN SO HARD HE HAD A HEART ATTACK AND NEARLY DIED. REST ASSURED, I HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY MY COUNTRY. SIX INDIVIDUALS WHO ASSAULTED ME AS I DID MY JOB WILL NOW WALK FREE. NOT JUST THOSE WHO ASSAULTED OFFICERS. EVEN CRIMINALS LIKE ENRIQUE TARRIO, THE HEAD OF THE NOTORIOUS 'PROUD BOYS', WHO WAS SERVING 22 YEARS FOR THE MOST SERIOUS CRIME OF ALL ` PLOTTING TO OVERTHROW THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ON JANUARY THE 6TH ` WILL NOW ALSO WALK FREE. JUST LIKE HIS FELLOW MILITIAMEN PARADING THROUGH WASHINGTON, D.C. ON DAY ONE OF TRUMP'S NEW AMERICA. AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS OF DROPS, TODAY, THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE REMAINED THE SAME AT 2.2%. WHILE LOWER PETROL PRICES HELPED TO ALLEVIATE COST PRESSURES, RISING RENTS WERE THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE UNCHANGED INFLATION RATE. AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS, THERE WAS ALSO A SPIKE IN SOME FOOD PRICES. MICHAEL LAMB IMPORTS AND SELLS PREMIUM EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. SO FOR EXAMPLE, A CORATINA FROM ITALY, THIS IS A HIGH POLYPHENOLIC OLIVE OIL. IT'S A PRODUCT THAT COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, IS ABOUT 45% MORE EXPENSIVE. AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT. IN 2022 AND 2023, SPAIN HAD A BAD HARVEST. THERE WAS DROUGHT, THERE WAS A HEATWAVE, SO THE SPOT PRICE FOR COMMODITY OLIVE OIL WENT UP A LOT. THE AVERAGE PRICE OF 1 LITRE OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IS NOW MORE THAN $22. THE GOOD NEWS IS THOSE PRICES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO TREND DOWN NOW, FOLLOWING GOOD HARVESTS AT THE END OF 2024. BUT OLIVE OIL IS JUST ONE COMPONENT. OVERALL, FOOD PRICES INCREASED BY 1.5% IN THE 12 MONTHS TO DECEMBER. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE RISING COST OF SOME FOOD ITEMS PUTTING PRESSURE ON HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS. TODAY'S UPDATE FROM STATS NZ SHOWED RENT PRICES INCREASED BY 4.2% IN THE YEAR TO DECEMBER, MAKING UP ALMOST A FIFTH OF THE 2.2% ANNUAL INFLATION RATE. THAT 2.2% FIGURE IS UNCHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER QUARTER UPDATE. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO YEARS THAT THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE HASN'T DROPPED. I THINK THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO WATCH IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR. A LOT OF OUR FOOD IS IMPORTED, AND WITH THAT DOLLAR DROPPING WE COULD SEE FOOD PRICES PUSHING HIGHER OVER THE YEAR AHEAD. AND WHILE THE INFLATION RATE OF 2.2% IS STILL WITHIN THE RESERVE BANK'S TARGET OF BETWEEN 1% AND 3%, THE DOMESTIC INFLATION RATE IS STICKY, AT 4.5%. THERE ARE COMPONENTS TO THIS DATA THAT WE WANT TO SEE COMING DOWN ` RENTS ARE ONE OF THEM, AND THE OTHER ONE I'D PICK OUT IS RATES. DOMESTIC INFLATION'S BEING HELD UP BY CERTAIN PRICES LIKE RATES AND INSURANCE, BUT UNDER THE SURFACE, THE SOFT ACTIVITY WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR IS PULLING DOWN A RANGE OF DOMESTIC PRICES. THAT'LL BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF HOUSEHOLDS OVER THE COMING YEAR. HOUSEHOLDS UNDER LESS FINANCIAL PRESSURE IS WHAT BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE MICHAEL LAMB HOPE FOR. WE LAUNCHED SIX MONTHS AGO, SO IT WAS PROBABLY THE WORST TIME TO LAUNCH A PREMIUM PRODUCT INTO THE NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER FOOD SPACE, BUT I THOUGHT IF WE CAN SURVIVE THIS SO CALLED DOWN TIME, WE'LL PROBABLY DO OK WHEN THINGS GET BETTER. EXTRA OPTIMISM THAT BETTER ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WILL INCREASE DEMAND FOR THESE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL PRODUCTS. OK ZANE, WE KNOW THE INFLATION RATE HAS A HUGE BEARING ON THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE. SO HOW WILL TODAY'S FIGURES IMPACT THE NEXT REVIEW IN FEBRUARY? I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THE COMMENTARY SINCE THE START WAS RELEASED THIS MORNING, AND A GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG ECONOMISTS IS THAT DESPITE THOSE COST PRESSURES MENTIONED IN MY STORY, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE RESERVE BANK WILL PROCEED WITH ANOTHER 50 BASIS POINT CUT TO THE BENCHMARK LENDING RATE. WESTPAC BANK HAD EXPECTED A DROP IN THE INFLATION RATE, BUT THE ECONOMIST IN MY STORY TOLD ME HE IS EXPECTING ANOTHER 50 BASIS POINT CUT NEXT MONTH. WE'LL FIND OUT FOR SURE ON 19 FEBRUARY. THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE. GRACE IS HERE NOW WITH MORE ON TODAY'S WEATHER. AND IT GOT QUITE HOT FOR PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? SO SOUTH EAST TO NORTH EAST WINDS MEANT INLAND AND WESTERN AREAS WERE WARMEST. AND WANAKA HAS TAKEN THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURE AGAIN TODAY WITH A HIGH OF 31 DEGREES. BUT THE RAIN AROUND TAIRAWHITI WAS PERSISTENT AGAIN TODAY TOO. WHARERATA NEAR GISBORNE SEEING 77.4mm OF RAIN, WHILE WHAREKAHIKA HICKS BAY WAS THE WINDIEST WITH GUSTS OF 74km PER HOUR. ME U TONU MAI. I'LL HAVE THE FULL FORECAST AFTER SPORT. NEXT ON THREENEWS ` WHAT'S UP WITH OUR POLYTECHS? THERE ARE FEARS MORE COURSES WILL BE CUT AS THE TE PUKENGA DISESTABLISHMENT DRAGS ON. AND LATER, WHY ONE SCHOOL IS BEING FORCED TO HELP TEACH ITS STUDENTS HOW TO TALK ON THE PHONE. VOICEOVER: Craving a big burger? Well, we've got big value. The iconic Subway Footlong Sub. Because we know, size matters. DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A FIRE AT A SKI RESORT IN TURKEY. SOME OF THE VICTIMS TRIED TO JUMP OUT OF WINDOWS AFTER THE BLAZE BROKE OUT AT THE 12-STOREY HOTEL WHERE 234 PEOPLE WERE STAYING. THE DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 76, BUT IT'S FEARED IT COULD CLIMB HIGHER. NINE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE HOTEL'S MANAGER, HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OVER THE BLAZE, WHICH TOOK FIREFIGHTERS 12 HOURS TO EXTINGUISH. ANOTHER MAJOR NEW ZEALAND MEDIA ORGANISATION HAS ANNOUNCED A PROPOSED RESTRUCTURE OF ITS NEWSROOM. NZME IS PLANNING TO CUT 38 ROLES, WITH 14 OF THOSE FROM THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD, BUSINESSDESK AND NEWSTALK ZB. STAFF AFFECTED WERE TOLD OF THE PLAN IN A COMPANY MEETING THIS MORNING. NZME SAYS IT NEEDS TO MAKE MORE MONEY WHILE CATERING TO AUDIENCE DEMANDS. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROMISING CERTAINTY FOR POLYTECHS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AMID FEARS MORE COURSES AND TEACHERS ARE ABOUT TO BE CUT. NATIONAL CAMPAIGNED ON DISBANDING TE PUKENGA ` THE NETWORK OF MERGED POLYTECHS. BUT AS POLITICAL REPORTER GLENN MCCONNELL REPORTS, PROGRESS IS SLOW, LEAVING THE SECTOR ON EDGE. AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR DRAWS CLOSER, THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF TE PUKENGA ` ALL 240,000 OF THEM ` FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE WITH POLYTECHS IN A FIGHT FOR THEIR SURVIVAL. HARDLY ANY OF THEM CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT, AS I SAY, MAKING MAJOR CUTS TO STAFFING AND MAJOR CUTS TO PROVISION, MAJOR CUTS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE. SO FOR STAFF, IT'S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CERTAINTY. THEY'RE ALL LOOKING TO THE MINISTER FOR DIRECTION. LOOK, IT'S JUST SUCH AN IMPORTANT SECTOR. PENNY SIMMONDS HAS ALREADY STARTED UNDOING LABOUR'S POLYTECHS MERGER, TE PUKENGA. IT'S ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD. AND WAS SET UP TO TRY AND STOP CAMPUSES FROM CLOSING. LAST YEAR THREE NEWS REVEALED THAT JUST TWO OF THE 25 TE PUKENGA SCHOOLS HAD BEEN DEEMED VIABLE, PUTTING A QUESTION MARK OVER ALMOST EVERY CAMPUS. THEY ARE NOW RACING TO BRING THEIR COST DOWN TO MEET STUDENT DEMAND. AT THIS STAGE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE THERE WILL BE AROUND 10 THAT WILL BE VIABLE TO STAND ALONE, AND THEN A REMAINING NUMBER WILL GO INTO A FEDERATION TO HELP WITH THEIR VIABILITY. DOCUMENTS RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT SHOW TE PUKENGA IS PLANNING FOR CONSULTANTS TO WORK THROUGH THE YEAR ASSESSING THE VIABILITY OF EACH SCHOOL, AND THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AT THOSE SCHOOLS ARE OFFICIALLY SICK OF IT. IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR A MINISTER NOT TO HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION BY NOW. THE MINISTER HAS BEEN WARNED OF CHANGE FATIGUE DRAINING THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR. SHE'S BEEN TOLD THAT STUDENTS ARE NOW OPTING NOT TO ENROL, WORRIED THEIR CAMPUSES COULD CLOSE. QUITE FRANKLY, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT IT WAS DOING, BUT IT'S DRAGGING ON. BUT HERE'S A DEADLINE. LOOK, CABINET WILL BE MAKING A DECISION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BRUTAL YEAR FOR STAFF. TE PUKENGA DIVISIONS ARE GONNA HAVE TO CUT HUGE NUMBERS OF STAFF, CUT HUGE NUMBER OF COURSES. IN THE MEANTIME, THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO LEARN WHAT'S BEING CUT, WHICH POLITICS WILL GAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE, AND WHO WILL JOIN THE FEDERATION. THOSE IN THE FEDERATION WILL DELIVER A MIX OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TEACHING, WITH THE OPEN POLYTECH LEADING THE WAY. THEY'VE NOT CONSIDERED THE PUBLIC GOOD ASPECT AT ALL, AND WE THINK THAT AMOUNTS TO, YOU KNOW, GOING FOR A PRIVATISATION BY STEALTH OPTION. WE ARE LOOKING AT PARTICULARLY STANDALONE POLYTECHNICS, POLYTECHNICS IN A FEDERATION, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH PRIVATE PROVIDERS BECAUSE PRIVATE PROVIDERS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. ALL OPTIONS ARE STILL ON THE TABLE AS LECTURERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY READY FOR RESTRUCTURES. POLICE HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY AS THEY INVESTIGATE A DEATH THAT OCCURRED 900km AWAY IN NGARUAWAHIA. CHRISTCHURCH POLICE STAFF TRAVELLED SOUTH FROM WAIKATO TO EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANTS. MEMBERS OF THE ARMED OFFENDERS SQUAD WERE ALSO ON SITE AT THIS BARRINGTON STREET ADDRESS, WITH OFFICERS SPOTTED SEARCHING A PORSCHE AND HATCHBACK IN THE DRIVEWAY. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF TURIPAPA TUKERE, WHO DIED ON DECEMBER 27 AFTER BEING TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AMID REPORTS OF PEOPLE FIGHTING IN NGARUAWAHIA. POLICE SAY THEY'RE SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AS THEY INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO WAS INVOLVED. TWO OF THE FOUR MEN CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF A HOMELESS MAN IN NAPIER'S CBD LAST MONTH HAVE APPEARED IN COURT. BOY TAYLOR (58) WAS FOUND LYING ON THE ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF EMERSON AND HASTINGS STREETS IN THE EARLY HOURS OF DECEMBER 18TH. EMERGENCY SERVICES TRIED TO REVIVE HIM, BUT HE DIED AT THE SCENE. TWO MEN APPEARED VIA AUDIO VISUAL LINK TODAY CHARGED WITH MURDER AND ALSO WOUNDING WITH INTENT TO CAUSE GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM TO ANOTHER HOMELESS MAN. TWO TEENS ARE ALSO FACING MURDER CHARGES AND WILL APPEAR IN THE NAPIER HIGH COURT NEXT MONTH. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` THE NEW HOPES THAT THE NEW U.S. PRESIDENT WILL BE ABLE TO BRING PEACE TO UKRAINE, AS THE WAR'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY LOOMS. THE PLAN TO HELP MILLENNIALS AND OTHERS WHO DON'T LIKE TALKING ON THE PHONE. AND LATER IN SPORT ` NOVAK DJOKOVIC MAKES IT INTO HIS 50TH GRAND SLAM SEMIFINAL, BUT IT'S COME AT A COST. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS THERE'LL BE NO CHANGES TO ABORTION LAWS AFTER CONCERNS WERE RAISED BY PRO-CHOICE ADVOCATES ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF SIMEON BROWN TO THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO. AFTER SEVEN CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY FALLS, THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE HAS STAYED THE SAME AT 2.2%. AND AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS CAUGHT UP IN THE VIOLENCE OF JANUARY 6th AT THE CAPITOL SAY THEY FEEL BETRAYED AFTER DONALD TRUMP PARDONED THE RIOTERS. THERE'S FRESH HOPE IN UKRAINE THAT TRUMP'S INAUGURATION COULD SOON LEAD TO A PEACE DEAL WITH RUSSIA. ON HIS FIRST DAY IN CHARGE, TRUMP PUT PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT PUTIN TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO THE WAR. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED; MANY MORE HAVE BEEN INJURED. ITV'S EMMA MURPHY MET UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS RECOVERING FROM HORRIFIC INJURIES, WHO SAY THEIR SACRIFICE MEANS SURRENDER IS NOT AN OPTION. (MEN SING SOLEMNLY) UKRAINE IS PAYING A HIGH PRICE FOR RUSSIA'S WAR. (SINGING CONTINUES) NO ONE WILL SAY EXACTLY HOW MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED... (SINGING CONTINUES) THOUGH, OFFICIALLY, IT'S SAID TO BE 30,000. IN REALITY, IT'S LIKELY TO BE FAR, FAR MORE. EVERY DAY ACROSS THIS NATION, THERE ARE FUNERALS FOR THOSE KILLED ON THE FRONT LINE. (GUN SHOTS) (TRUMPET BLOWS, DRUM BEATS) THIS CEREMONY SCANT COMFORT FOR THE SACRIFICE. (CRIES) SO WHAT ACCEPTABLE PEACE CAN DONALD TRUMP PROPOSE AFTER SUCH UNACCEPTABLE LOSS? THE QUANTITY OF OPERATIONS. THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SURVIVED ARE ADAMANT UKRAINE CANNOT SIMPLY SURRENDER TO RUSSIA. ARTEM, A PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE THE WAR, LOST PART OF HIS HAND AND LEG IN A DRONE ATTACK IN AUGUST. THIS IS THE FIRST DAY HE'S WALKED SINCE. I AM VERY ANGRY. AND, UH... I WANT TO... I WANT THIS WAR` I WANT THIS WAR, UH, STOP. BUT, UH, I DON'T WANT TO... UH, GIVE RUSSIA SURRENDER. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALL LIVES, ALL THOSE PEOPLE, UH... WHO WERE IN THIS WAR... IT WILL BE... ALMOST WASTED? YEAH, YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. YES. THE SUPERHUMANS CENTRE IN LVIV TREATS THOSE WITH THE MOST COMPLICATED WAR INJURIES, MAKING PROSTHESES ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE, SUCH AS THE DEMAND. ALEKSEI LOST BOTH LEGS AND AN ARM. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) TRANSLATOR: SOMETHING FLEW RIGHT INTO THE TRENCH WHERE I WAS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. WHEN I OPENED MY EYES, THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS ALIVE. I SAW THAT MY ARM WAS TORN OFF AND MY LEGS WERE GONE. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT WE WANT PEACE, BUT WE WANT IT TO END FAIRLY SO THAT WE DON'T GIVE UP A PIECE OF OUR LAND. THE COUPLE'S SON IS ALSO SERVING. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) 'IF I DON'T HEAR FROM HIM FOR A DAY, IT'S VERY HARD.' LIUDMYLA TELLS ME. 'THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN AND THEY'RE DYING. 'NO ONE CAN KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO END. 'OF COURSE, IT WILL END IN VICTORY. BUT IT'S VERY, VERY HARD.' 50,000 PEOPLE HAVE LOST LIMBS IN THIS WAR SO FAR; MANY MORE WILL IF IT CONTINUES. THAT IS WHY THERE IS SUCH DESPERATION FOR PEACE, BUT NOT AT ANY COST. IT'S NOT JUST THOSE IN SERVICE WHO ARE PAYING THE PRICE OF THIS WAR. YAROSLAV BAZYLEVYCH'S ENTIRE FAMILY WERE KILLED FOUR MONTHS AGO WHEN A SHELL HIT THEIR HOME IN LVIV. THIS IS YOUR WIFE, YEVHENIA? YES. YARYNA... (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) 21. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) DARYNA WAS 18 AND EMILIA ` 7. YES. HE LONGS FOR PEACE DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP OR ANYONE, EVEN THOUGH HIS PERSONAL PEACE IS LOST FOREVER. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) TRANSLATOR: IT WOULD ONLY BE ACCEPTABLE IF RUSSIA BECAME SMALL AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT TO THE END. WE NEED THE HELP OF THE WEST. WE NEED THE WEST TO STOP TRADING NOT ONLY WITH RUSSIA, BUT ALSO WITH ITS ALLIES. DONALD TRUMP WANTS THIS WAR OVER QUICKLY. UNLIKE IN BUSINESS, THE DEALS HE MAKES NOW HAVE THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR A NATION. LIKE HIM, UKRAINE DOESN'T WANT A FOREVER WAR, BUT IT HAS SACRIFICED A LOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT PEACE AT ANY PRICE. PRINCE HARRY'S LATEST COURT APPEARANCE IN HIS LONG-RUNNING CASE AGAINST TABLOID NEWSPAPERS HAS BEEN DELAYED AFTER IT EMERGED THAT THE TWO SIDES ARE INVOLVED IN POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT TALKS AFTER YEARS OF LEGAL WARFARE. LAST NIGHT THE DUKE'S LAWYERS WERE DUE TO OPEN AN EIGHT-WEEK TRIAL BASED ON HIS ALLEGATIONS JOURNALISTS AT NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS USED UNLAWFUL TECHNIQUES TO PRY INTO HIS PRIVATE LIFE, AND EXECUTIVES COVERED IT UP. LAWYERS FOR BOTH SIDES REQUESTED A DELAY. THE TRIAL IS NOW SET TO START TONIGHT UNLESS A SETTLEMENT IS REACHED. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, AND IS THERE ANY STOPPING NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN MELBOURNE? HIS BIGGEST TEST MIGHT BE WITH THE MEDIA, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S COMING ON THE COURT. HE WAS AT HIS VERY BEST IN THE QUARTER-FINAL. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE AUSSIE OPEN NEXT AS NOVAK DJOKOVIC DELIVERS A MASTERCLASS ON ROD LAVER ARENA TO STORM INTO HIS 50th GRAND SLAM SEMI FINAL. AND WILL AUCKLAND FC GET THEIR SKIPPER BACK FOR THEIR TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH WITH ADELAIDE UNITED? NOVAK DJOKOVIC HAS OVERCOME INJURY AND THIRD SEED CARLOS ALCARAZ TO REACH HIS 50TH GRAND SLAM SEMIFINAL AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN, CALLING IT ONE OF HIS MOST EPIC ENCOUNTERS EVER. THE 10-TIME CHAMPION FOUGHT BACK FROM A SET DOWN TO BEAT ALCARAZ IN FOUR SETS AND SET UP A SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN WITH GERMAN SECOND SEED ALEXANDER ZVEREV. LUCY THOMSON WATCHED THE ACTION. TWO TENNIS HEAVYWEIGHTS, ONE EPIC, 3.5 HOUR SHOWDOWN ON THE FAMED ROD LAVER ARENA. (CROWD ERUPTS) HE WAS COMPELLING, HE WAS COMMANDING, AND ULTIMATELY HE WAS JUST A LITTLE TOO CUNNING FOR HIS YOUNGER OPPONENT. SEVENTH SEED, NOVAK DJOKOVIC OVERCOMING CARLOS ALCARAZ IN AN ENTERTAINING FOUR-SET FACE OFF. YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH THAT THIS MATCH TODAY WAS THE FINALS. HONESTLY, I... (CHEERING) UH... ONE OF THE MOST EPIC MATCHES I'VE PLAYED ON THIS COURT ` ON ANY COURT, REALLY. THE TENNIS ON DISPLAY NOTHING SHORT OF SENSATIONAL. OH HELLO! WHAT WAS THAT?! THE SPANIARD SECURING THE FIRST CRUCIAL BREAK OF THE MATCH... THE ALCHEMY OF ALCARAZ ON FULL DISPLAY. ...GOING ON TO WIN THE FIRST SET 6-3 (CHEERING) ROCK SOLID. A MEDICAL TIMEOUT AT THE BREAK, REVIVING THE SERBIAN IN THE SECOND. HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?! BUT ALCARAZ WASN'T GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. THAT'S A JOKE OF A FOREHAND. BUT ANYTHING HE COULD DO, THE 10-TIME CHAMPION COULD DO BETTER. (CHEERING) GAME, DJOKOVIC. WHAT A FOREHAND! AND FROM THERE, IT WAS DJOKOVIC IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. GAME AND SET ` DJOKOVIC. (CHEERING) BUT HIS ROAD TO THE FINAL AND 25TH GRAND SLAM TITLE ISN'T ABOUT TO GET ANY EASIER, WITH SECOND SEED ALEXANDER ZVEREV AND AN INJURY CLOUD HANGING OVER HIM. YOU KNOW, SINCE I'M STILL IN THE TOURNAMENT, I DON'T WANT TO REVEAL TOO MUCH, OBVIOUSLY. (CHUCKLES) BUT, YEAH, THE MEDICATION STARTED TO KICK IN AND THEY HELPED, NO DOUBT. I'LL SEE WHAT THE REALITY IS TOMORROW MORNING. IN THE WOMEN'S DRAW, TOP SEED ARYNA SABALENKA HAS BOOKED HER SPOT IN THE SEMIS, BEATING ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA, COMING BACK TWO BREAKS HAVE SERVE DOWN IN THE THIRD. HONESTLY, I WAS JUST PRAYING TODAY. I WAS JUST PRAYING TO... JUST, YOU KNOW, LIKE TRYING TO PUT THE BALL BACK IN THESE TOUGH CONDITIONS. IN THE MEANTIME, AMERICAN MADISON KEYS WILL FACE SECOND SEED IGA SWIATEK IN THE OTHER SEMI-FINAL. HER FELLOW COUNTRYMAN BEN SHELTON IS CURRENTLY ON COURT, ALSO HOPING TO MAKE IT INTO THE TOP FOUR, SETTING UP A MATCH WITH EITHER JANNIK SINNER OR ALEX DE MINAUR IN TWO DAYS' TIME. FORMER FOOTBALL FERNS COACH JITKA KLIMKOVA HAS FOUND A NEW JOB AS THE COACH OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC NATIONAL TEAM. KLIMKOVA QUIT HER JOB WITH THE FOOTBALL FERNS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AFTER AN EMPLOYMENT INVESTIGATION WAS CARRIED OUT INTO AN UNDISCLOSED MATTER. KLIMKOVA SIGNED A TWO DEAL WITH HER HOME COUNTRY, WITH HER NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL CONTRACT DUE TO END IN THE COMING MONTHS. AUCKLAND FC IS SET TO BE WITHOUT INFLUENTIAL SKIPPER HIROKI SAKAI FOR TONIGHT'S TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH WITH ADELAIDE UNITED. SAKAI MISSED LAST WEEK'S DEMOLITION OF MELBOURNE CITY UNDER THE A-LEAGUE'S CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS, AND STEVE CORICA IS EXPECTED TO STICK WITH THE SAME 11 FROM THAT MATCH. AUCKLAND FC ON TARGET AT TRAINING AND RIDING HIGH AS THEY HEAD BACK ACROSS THE DITCH. TOP OF THE TABLE ADELAIDE UNITED ARE NOW FIRMLY IN THEIR SIGHTS. THEY'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST SIDES IN THE A-LEAGUE GOING AROUND AT THE MOMENT. THEY'RE A VERY ATTACKING TEAM. UM, THEY'VE GOT SOME FANTASTIC PLAYERS GOING FORWARD. AND WE'VE GOT THE BEST DEFENCE, SO IT'S GONNA BE, I THINK, ONE OF THEM GAMES ` TIGHT GAMES. HAVING DEALT TO MELBOURNE CITY LAST WEEK WHEN THEY WERE TOP OF THE TABLE, STEVE CORICA WILL BE HOPING HISTORY REPEATS IN ADELAIDE TONIGHT. AND DESPITE FACING ONE OF THE BEST ATTACKING TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE, CORICA SPIES WEAKNESSES. THEY DO CONCEDE GOALS. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND SCORE A FEW AND KEEP A CLEAN SHEET AGAIN. THEY MAY HAVE TO DO THAT WITHOUT CAPTAIN HIROKI SAKAI. OOH, SAKAI HAS COPPED THE FULL BRUNT OF THAT. DESPITE COMPLETING HIS EIGHT-DAY CONCUSSION STAND DOWN FOLLOWING A NASTY BLOW IN THE LOSS TO PERTH, CORICA IS LIKELY TO STICK WITH THE SAME ELEVEN FROM LAST WEEK'S WIN, A SPOT ON THE BENCH NOT GUARANTEED EITHER. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT SAKAI SEES MINUTES, CORICA REMAINS LASER FOCUSED ON TOPPLING THE A-LEAGUE PACESETTERS. WE WANNA BEAT THEM. THEY'VE ONLY LOST ONCE. AND AT HOME THEY CREATE A REALLY GOOD ATMOSPHERE THERE AS WELL. IT'S A GREAT STADIUM TO PLAY IN. I'M SURE OUR PLAYERS WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IT'S A CHALLENGE AUCKLAND FC ARE MORE THAN UP FOR. THEY SCORE A LOT OF GOALS, SO WE'LL HAVE TO BE ON OUR METTLE AT THE BACK AGAIN. BUT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN SCORE GOALS AND HURT THEM, SO THEY'LL HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT US AS WELL. FIGHTING TALK AHEAD OF A TOP-OF-THE-TABLE SHOWDOWN THAT COULD PROVE TO BE A DEFINING MOMENT IN AUCKLAND FC'S SEASON. AN EMOTIONAL ALICE ROBINSON ADMITS SHE WASN'T SURE IF SHE COULD GET BACK TO THE TOP OF THE GIANT SLALOM PODIUM AFTER GOING NEARLY FOUR YEARS WITHOUT A WORLD CUP WIN. BUT THE 23-YEAR-OLD PUT IN A STUNNING RUN TO CLAIM VICTORY IN THE LATEST WORLD CUP IN ITALY. ROBINSON WAS FIFTH FASTEST AFTER HER FIRST RUN, AND EVENTUALLY BENEFITED FROM TWO OF THE TOP HOPES CRASHING OUT. A SUPERB SECOND RUN WAS ENOUGH FOR ROBINSON TO SURGE TO THE TOP OF THE STANDINGS, WHERE SHE EVENTUALLY STAYED. ROBINSON SAYS IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT JOURNEY BACK TO THE TOP. FOUR YEARS SINCE I LAST WON, AND THERE WERE DEFINITELY SOME TIMES IN THOSE FOUR YEARS WHEN I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS GONNA WIN AGAIN, SO I MEAN, TO BE BACK AND WINNING HERE IS SO SPECIAL, AND SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. TO GET BACK TO WINNING IS REALLY SPECIAL, SO... (LAUGHS) BUT YEAH, I'M JUST PROUD. IT'S THE FINAL WORLD CUP EVENT BEFORE NEXT MONTH'S WORLD CHAMPS IN AUSTRIA. ALMOST A YEAR TO GO UNTIL THE NEXT WINTER OLYMPICS. THAT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE. PUT THAT ON THE CALENDAR. IT'S A GIVEN THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR CELLPHONES, BUT IT'S NOT FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS. TEXTING, FACE-TIMING AND VOICE NOTES ARE THE NORM, BUT MANY ARE SO RELUCTANT TO SPEAK ON THEIR PHONES THAT ONE U.K. SCHOOL HAS SET UP A COURSE TO HELP. ITV'S BEN CHAPMAN LOOKS AT THE TALKING THERAPY. RING. RING. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE OLIVE GROVE BISTRO. HOW CAN I ASSIST YOU? THEY MAY BE THE SMARTPHONE GENERATION, BUT PHONING IS OFTEN THE LAST THING THEY USE IT FOR. MY NAME IS JASMINE DANIEL. MY MOBILE NUMBER IS` THESE ROLE PLAY SCENARIOS ARE PART OF A COLLEGE LESSON IN HOW TO HAVE AN OLD FASHIONED CONVERSATION. YOUR RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED FOR FOUR PEOPLE AT 7PM TOMORROW. IF THE PHONE RINGS, DO YOU ANSWER IT? NO. I TEND TO NOT ANSWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU DO INSTEAD? (CHUCKLES) I JUST DON'T ANSWER. MERCEDEZ IS ONE OF THOSE WITH PHONE PHOBIA. I CAN'T SEE THEIR FACE AND THEIR EXPRESSIONS. I FEEL LIKE IN PERSON, YOU CAN TELL A LOT MORE ABOUT BODY LANGUAGE. WHEREAS BEHIND THE PHONE, IT'S HIDDEN. THE COURSE AT NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE GIVES THEM SKILLS THEY'VE NEVER NEEDED TO LEARN. A SURVEY LAST YEAR FOUND 23% OF YOUNG PEOPLE NEVER ANSWER A CALL. 61% PREFER THE PREDICTABILITY OF A TEXT MESSAGE, WHILE 37% WOULD RATHER LEAVE A VOICE NOTE THAN SPEAK ON THE PHONE. THEY DON'T LIKE THE FEAR OF FAILURE AND THEY DON'T LIKE THE UNKNOWN. WITH A TEXT, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT. ON A TELEPHONE CALL, IT'S INSTANT. AND THAT MAKES YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE REALLY NERVOUS. (LINE RINGS) HI, MY NAME IS TYLER. I NEED TO MAKE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. SOCIAL MEDIA IS AWASH WITH PHONE ANXIETY VIDEOS... (LINE RINGS) HI, MY NAME'S` OH MY GOD. PLEASE DON'T ANSWER. PLEASE DON'T ANSWER. WELL, I'M NOT GONNA CALL THEM. YOU CAN CALL THEM. I WILL CALL THEM, THEN. THANK YOU. ...TO THE BEMUSEMENT OF OLDER GENERATIONS. SO USELESS. CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 40 MIGHT ROLL THEIR EYES A LITTLE BIT AT THIS? THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS WE DID. MY PARENTS ` THEY COULD NEVER TEXT WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER. THEY'D JUST HAVE TO CALL. SO I THINK IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT WE'VE GOT LESS EXPERIENCE IN IT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE AVAILABILITY TO TEXT AND STUFF. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR CALLING. THANKS, BYE. NOW A NEW GENERATION IS LEARNING THAT IT'S GOOD TO TALK. WE'RE APPROACHING THE LAST CHANCES TO SEE A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME COMET IN OUR SKIES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF NIGHTS. COMET 'C 2024 G3 ATLAS' LAST VISITED AROUND 160,000 YEARS AGO, BUT HAS BEEN VISIBLE FOR THE PAST WEEK. HAMISH LINDSAY CAPTURED THIS TIME-LAPSE OF THE COMET LAST NIGHT NEAR NELSON. GRACE IS HERE NOW ` AND WHILE THE SOUTH ISLAND HAS BEEN SPARED FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS, THEY'RE IN FOR SOME WET WEATHER? WE'VE GOT A FRONT OVER THE TASMAN SEA MOVING ON TO THE SOUTHWEST OF TE WAIPOUNAMU ` THE SOUTH ISLAND ` OVERNIGHT. THAT'S BRINGING ALL THE WET WEATHER WITH IT. HEAVY RAIN WITH POSSIBLE THUNDER FOR SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE ISLAND AS THE SYSTEM MOVES NORTHWARDS. E WHAI AKE NEI. I'LL HAVE THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. THE NORTH ISLAND IS IN FOR A REPRIEVE WHILE THE SOUTH ISLAND IS SET FOR SOME WET WEATHER. THE SOUTHEAST FLOW OVER THE NORTH ISLAND HAS WEAKENED TODAY AND WILL BE CLEAR OF US BY TONIGHT. BUT WHILE THE RAIN'S EASING UP NORTH, YOU CAN SEE THAT ACTIVE FRONT MOVING ON TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TOMORROW, BRINGING THE WET WEATHER WITH IT. AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS MORE SETTLED UP NORTH TOMORROW, THE RAIN WILL BE BACK FOR A FEW SPOTS IN THE EAST HEADING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SO WHILE TE WAIPOUNAMU ` THE SOUTH ISLAND ` GOT A BIT OF SUN TODAY, THE STORY CHANGES TOMORROW, AND IT MIGHT BE TIME TO DIG OUT THE RAIN JACKETS. THIS FRONT IS BUILDING IN THE TASMAN SEA AND SET TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO FIORDLAND AND OVER THE SOUTH; THAT RAIN WILL GRADUALLY SPREAD NORTHWARDS OVER THE ISLAND THROUGHOUT THE DAY. FOR MANY ACROSS TE IKA A MAUI THE NORTH ISLAND, IT'S A FINE LOOKING THURSDAY, AND MOSTLY A DRY DAY. THERE'LL BE THE ODD SHOWER SPRINGING UP AROUND THE HIGHER GROUND OF TAUPO AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY, BUT THEY WILL EASE OFF SOON ENOUGH. LOOKING VERY SETTLED FOR THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE ISLAND THOUGH. SO CLOUD AROUND IN THE MORNING FOR PARTS. A FEW OF THOSE ISOLATED SHOWERS AROUND AS I MENTIONED, BUT NOT BAD OTHER THAN THAT. KAITAIA AND WHANGAREI LOOKING PARTICULARLY GOOD. MAINLY FINE HERE. CLOUD WILL CLEAR UP FOR YOU, TAUPO, AND THERE'S THE CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON SHOWER FOR ROTORUA. HIGH OF 27 FOR TAURANGA. PLENTY OF CLOUD AROUND TO START THE DAY HERE. POSSIBLE EARLY SHOWER FOR GISBORNE AND NAPIER AND HASTINGS. MASTERTON GETS UP TO 29 DEGREES TOMORROW TOO. AND IT'S A GREAT LOOKING DAY HERE ` FINE EVERYWHERE. NEW PLYMOUTH WILL SEE SOME WESTERLIES LATER ON THAT BECOME STRONG FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OVER THE STRAIT NOW, MORNING CLOUD AROUND FOR PARTS OF THE WEST COAST. THEN WE'LL SEE THAT WEATHER SYSTEM START TO PUSH IN. RAIN DEVELOPING LATER ON FOR GREYMOUTH AND HOKITIKA. IT COULD GET THUNDERY TOO. OVER TO THE EAST, MORNING LOW CLOUD FOR CHRISTCHURCH, ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. THEN THE RAIN STARTS UP IN THE AFTERNOON. POSSIBLY HEAVY AND THUNDERY TOO. BLENHEIM IS THE PLACE TO BE, THOUGH ` FINE WITH A HIGH OF 30. FURTHER SOUTH, THAT FRONT MAKES AN APPEARANCE FROM THE MORNING, WITH RAIN DEVELOPING FOR EVERYONE HERE, WITH SOME HEAVY FALLS TOO. IT IS EXPECTED TO START TO EASE TO SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON. NOW TO OUR MAIN CENTRES. THAT RAIN WILL BECOME HEAVY FOR OTEPOTI DUNEDIN AT AROUND MIDDAY, BUT EASE TO SHOWERS FROM LATE AFTERNOON. SOUTHWESTERLIES WILL BE FRESH THEN TOO. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH WILL SEE SOME EARLY LOW CLOUD, POTENTIALLY A BIT OF FOG. OTHERWISE A FINE MORNING. THE WET WEATHER WILL REACH YOU IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT EASE TO SHOWERS IN THE EVENING. ANOTHER GOOD DAY FOR THE CAPITAL ` I HOPE YOU'RE KEEPING TALLY OF THIS. NORTHERLY WINDS MAY BECOME FRESH IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH OF 22 DEGREES HERE. AND OVER TO TE MATAU A MAUI HAWKE'S BAY, CLOUD WITH A POSSIBLE EARLY SHOWER FOR YOU TOMORROW MORNING, BUT THAT'LL CLEAR UP LATER ON. LIGHT WINDS FOR YOU. NAPIER GETS TO 25 DEGREES AND HASTINGS 27. TAURANGA LOOKING PRETTY FINE TOO. WESTERLIES DEVELOP IN THE MORNING, AND MAYBE THE ODD ISOLATED SHOWER IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU'RE IN FOR A HIGH OF 27 DEGREES. PATCHY FOG AROUND DAWN FOR KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, BUT FINE APART FROM THAT. WESTERLIES WILL BECOME FRESH FOR A TIME IN AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A HIGH OF 27 DEGREES TOO. AND IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS, BUT BECOMING FINE IN THE AFTERNOON. SOUTHWESTERLIES BECOME FRESH LATER ON. OVERSEAS NOW TO AUSTRALIA, AND LOTS OF CLOUD AROUND HERE, WITH THUNDERSTORMS FOR DARWIN AND SHOWERS FOR SYDNEY. AND NOT THAT GREAT OVER IN THE PACIFIC EITHER. BIT OF SUN PEEKING OUT FOR THE COOK ISLANDS. BACK TO US, THOUGH, SETTLED WEATHER ON FRIDAY THANKS TO A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE, BUT ON SATURDAY, A LOW OVER THE TASMAN SEA BRINGS SOME WET WEATHER OVER CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AOTEAROA. THAT WEATHER SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND ON SUNDAY, AND THAT IS FOLLOWED BY A STRONG SOUTH-TO-SOUTHWEST FLOW. SO SOME RAIN AROUND THIS WEEKEND HERE. IT'S ALSO LOOKING LIKE A WET WEEKEND FOR THE TOP AND WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT IT'S MORE SETTLED FURTHER DOWN SOUTH AND OUT EAST TOO. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON stuff.co.nz. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND TUI TIPENE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025