A DEVASTATING DAY FOR TOKOROA AS KINLEITH MILL CONFIRMS ITS PAPER MILL IS SHUTTING DOWN AND 230 JOBS WILL GO. A MOTORCYCLIST DIED IN A CRASH INVOLVING A TRUCK, BRINGING AUCKLAND'S SOUTHERN MOTORWAY TO A STANDSTILL DURING RUSH HOUR. AND DONALD TRUMP REITERATES THE TRUST HE HAS IN VLADIMIR PUTIN BUT ALSO PROMISES UKRAINE WILL BE INVOLVED IN ANY END-OF-WAR NEGOTIATIONS. CAPTIONS BY MAEVE KELLY AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. MALO E LELEI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. 230 WORKERS AT KINLEITH MILL NEAR TOKOROA WERE GIVEN THE MESSAGE TODAY THAT THEY WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS. A UNION NEGOTIATOR RESPONDED WITH A THREE-WORD MESSAGE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER ` 'YOU HAVE FAILED.' JOE GALLAGHER SAID THERE WASN'T UNIVERSAL SUPPORT AMONG THE COALITION FOR HEAVY INDUSTRY. MILL OWNERS OJI FIBRE SOLUTIONS ARE CONTINUING WITH THEIR PLAN TO CEASE PAPER PRODUCTION AND ARE MOVING TO A FOCUS ON PULP. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH REPORTS. STEVEN REID MAKING THE CALL, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW IT'S OVER. WHEN THEY, UM, SHUT THE PAPER MILL LINE DOWN ON` AROUND THE 30th OF JUNE, THAT'S GONNA BE ME GONE. (CHUCKLES) OJI FIBRE SOLUTIONS CONFIRMED TO STAFF TODAY STEVEN'S WILL BE ONE OF THE 230 JOBS TO GO WHEN ITS PAPER OPERATION CLOSES AT THE END OF JUNE ` AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE CONTRACTORS. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SAFE OR NOT. JUST FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE GUYS WITH THEIR YOUNG FAMILIES IN THE PAPER MILL. I'M OK. IT'S THESE YOUNGER ONES THAT HAVE STARTED HERE, AND THEY'VE JUST, YOU KNOW... SAME TOO, YOUNG FAMILY, BUT... UM, JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE, AND NOW THEY DON'T` THEY'RE IN THE SHIT. THE IMPACT WILL BE FELT NOT JUST BY THE FAMILIES; THE KNOCK-ON EFFECTS TO THE SMALL WAIKATO TOWN OF TOKOROA WILL BE ENORMOUS. MAJOR EFFECT, UM, THE TOWN. LIKE... YEAH, LIKE I SAID, BUSINESSES ` LIKE, SUPERMARKETS, THE BUTCHER'S, LIKE, BUILDING BUSINESSES, ELECTRICIAN BUSINESSES, CARPET LAYERS, YOU KNOW, PAINTERS AND ALL ` LIKE, YEAH, WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO DO IT ALL AGAIN NOW. THIS TOWN WAS BUILT ON THIS MILL, AND THIS IS A BITTER BLOW FOR THE SOUTH WAIKATO. E TU NEGOTIATION SPECIALIST JOE GALLAGHER GAVE THE IMPRESSION THE WRITING HAD BEEN ON THE WALL. IN OUR VIEW, THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN ANYTHING THAT WE'VE SAID SERIOUSLY. UM, THERE'S CLEARLY BEEN A LACK OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THIS PLANT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, AND THAT'S FURTHER BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE POWER AND THE GAS PRICE. AS OF LAST NIGHT, MEGAWATT WAS $300 A MEGAWATT. YOU JUST CAN'T RUN A HEAVY INDUSTRY PLANT ON THAT. THE UNION HAD A POINTED MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER. YOU HAVE FAILED. YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED. YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT MANUFACTURING IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT NEW ZEALAND WORKERS, AND IT IS A DISGRACE. IN A STATEMENT, OJI CHIEF EXECUTIVE DOCTOR JON RYDER RECOGNISED... THREENEWS UNDERSTANDS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SHANE JONES SPOKE WITH THE CEO IN EARLY FEBRUARY TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A PLAN TO REDEPLOY SOME OF THE PAPER MILL WORKERS OVER TO THE PULP SIDE OF THE BUSINESS, POTENTIALLY THROUGH THE CO-FUNDING OF A CONDENSING TURBINE TO LOWER ELECTRICITY COSTS. THEY'RE TALKING A BIG GAME, AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT SHANE JONES AND WINSTON PETERS DID AND THE SIGNAL THEY SENT, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S UNIVERSAL SUPPORT IN THIS GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT HEAVY INDUSTRY. SO FOR THE WORKERS AFFECTED... YEAH, ALWAYS GOTTA HOLD THE HEAD UP HIGH AND... THERE'S PLENTY OTHER JOBS OUT THERE, EH. ...ALL THEY CAN DO IS TRY TO KEEP UP THE GOOD SPIRITS. DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH DR DIANA SARFATI HAS ANNOUNCEDSO DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH DR DIANA SARFATI HAS ANNOUNCED SHE WILL BE STEPPING DOWN FROM THE ROLE. SHE IS THE THIRD SENIOR HEALTH OFFICIAL TO RESIGN IN A WEEK FOLLOWING TE WHATU ORA CHIEF EXECUTIVE MARGIE APA AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DR NICHOLAS JONES. DR SARFATI SAID SHE APPRECIATED THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAD COME WITH LEADING THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH DURING A TIME OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WITHIN THE SECTOR. NEW HEALTH MINISTER SIMEON BROWN THANKED DR SARFATI FOR HER COMMITMENT, WHILE ACTING LABOUR HEALTH SPOKESPERSON PEENI HENARE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS TEARING APART NEW ZEALAND'S HEALTH LEADERSHIP. AND PEENI HENARE HAS JUST ACCUSED AN ACT MP OF 'MANSPLAINING' OVER A COMMENT HE MADE ABOUT PERIOD PRODUCTS IN A PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE. A WOMAN WAS MAKING AN ORAL SUBMISSION REGARDING BENEFIT SANCTIONS AND RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT FAMILIES NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD PERIOD PRODUCTS. TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT SIMON COURT HAD TO SAY. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE AWARE ` OR IF PEOPLE THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH ARE AWARE ` OF THE MENSTRUAL CUP, WHICH IS A REUSABLE PRODUCT AVAILABLE FOR ABOUT $15 FROM CHEMIST WAREHOUSE. DO YOU THINK IF PEOPLE KNEW MORE ABOUT HOW TO ACCESS PRODUCTS LIKE THAT, THAT THIS CONCERN, THIS ANXIETY YOU HAVE MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT MITIGATED? TE PATI MAORI'S MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI OBJECTED, SAYING SHE DIDN'T GET WHY A MAN WOULD ASK A WOMAN THAT QUESTION, CALLING IT 'ABSOLUTELY ABSURD, DISRESPECTFUL AND OFFENSIVE'. CENTRAL AUCKLAND'S ALREADY HEAVILY CONGESTED MOTORWAY SYSTEM CAME TO A LITERAL STANDSTILL DURING THE RUSH HOUR THIS MORNING. A MOTORCYCLIST DIED AFTER A CRASH INVOLVING A TRUCK NEAR THE GREENLANE ON RAMP AT AROUND 8am. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AND WANT TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO SAW THE INCIDENT UNFOLD. THE SOUTHBOUND LANES ON STATE HIGHWAY ONE WERE CLOSED FOR HOURS WITH TRAFFIC BACKED UP AS FAR AS THE HARBOUR BRIDGE. POLICE HAVE REOPENED A DECADE-OLD MURDER CASE ON THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND THE VICTIM'S MOTHER IS DESPERATE TO SEE IT SOLVED. DAVID ROBINSON WAS FOUND WASHED UP ON A WEST COAST BEACH 26 YEARS AGO WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO HIS HEAD. THIS WEEK, THE POLICE HAVE CANVASSED THE TINY SETTLEMENT OF KAKAPOTAHI, SOUTH OF HOKITIKA, LOOKING FOR NEW INFORMATION. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE STORY. DOOR TO DOOR IN THE TINY WEST COAST SETTLEMENT OF KAKAPOTAHI, POLICE REOPENING THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO A 26-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE. HE DIED AT 25. WHAT A WASTE OF LIFE, ISN'T IT? THAT HE... HE NEVER REALLY GOT TO EXPERIENCE ANYTHING EXCEPT BEING A VAGABOND AND A THIEF. JOAN'S SON DAVID ROBINSON WAS A LONER WHO TRAVELLED FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND HAD BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW. HIS BODY WAS FOUND WASHED UP ON A BEACH NORTH OF KAKAPOTAHI IN 1998. HE HAD A BULLET HOLE BETWEEN HIS EYES. POLICE BELIEVED HE'D BEEN SHOT ELSEWHERE ABOUT 10 DAYS EARLIER. IT'S ALWAYS EXTREMELY HARD. UNLESS YOU'VE LIVED IT AND EXPERIENCED THIS YOURSELF, PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S... IT'S VERY TIRING, AND IT'S VERY STRESSFUL. AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEWED LOCALS AND SEARCHED NEARBY BEACHES, BUSH AND RIVERS. THEY FOUND MANY OF ROBINSON'S POSSESSIONS ON THE SHORELINE, BUT LITTLE ELSE. AND THE INVESTIGATION WAS SCALED BACK; NO ARRESTS WERE EVER MADE. THERE'S DISAPPOINTMENT. I THINK IT STRIKES ME WHEN I JUST PONDER THAT, JUST... HOW HE DELIBERATELY MADE HIMSELF A LONER. I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY. I THINK IT'S SAD THAT HE DIDN'T COME BACK TO JOHN AND I AND APPROACH US AGAIN. HE WAS JUST AN ITINERANT GUY WHO` WHO... WHO WAS JUST WANDERING AROUND FROM PLACE TO PLACE, REALLY. LONG-TIME LOCALS IN THE SETTLEMENT HAVE THEORIES; SOUTH WESTLAND HAS ALWAYS HAD A ROBUST CANNABIS-GROWING TRADE. I REALLY SUSPECT THERE'S DRUGS INVOLVED ` UH, MARIJUANA PLOTS, YOU KNOW? AND HE'S PLEASED TO SEE POLICE ARE STILL ON THE CASE. THEY'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THAT CASE, AND THEY'RE ST` THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP. THEY'RE JUST AS HARD ON THE CASE AS THEY EVER WERE. DAVID ROBINSON'S MOTHER REFUSES TO GIVE UP HOPE. THIS MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME TO HAVE DAVID'S CASE SOLVED. POLICE SAY THEY WON'T GIVE UP EITHER AND ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH INFORMATION, BIG OR SMALL, TO COME FORWARD. AS THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO FRACTURE, NATO IS TURNING ITS ATTENTION TO NEW ZEALAND AND THE INDO-PACIFIC. THE EUROPEAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAS WARNED OF THE DARKEST TIMES SINCE WORLD WAR TWO, AND ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND, ARE BEING URGED TO INVEST IN DEFENCE SPENDING. IT COMES AS PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESSED ON WITH HIS PLANS TO NEGOTIATE A PEACE DEAL WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN, SAYING, 'I TRUST HIM. I KNOW HIM VERY WELL,' ALTHOUGH HE DID CONCEDE THAT UKRAINE WILL BE INVOLVED IN TALKS. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THE NATO FAMILY PHOTO IS TRADITION, BUT THIS FAMILY IS DIVIDED, AND THE SMILES CONCEAL A SENSE OF GLOOM THAT IS GROWING BY THE HOUR. WITH A SINGLE PHONE CALL, DONALD TRUMP HAS REINSTATED RUSSIA FROM INTERNATIONAL PARIAH TO SUPERPOWER. AND WHILE TODAY PUTIN WAS PLAYING IT COOL, ON RUSSIAN TELEVISION, THEY WERE BUOYANT. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) THE ANCHORWOMAN ASKING THE QUESTION ` HAS RUSSIA BEEN PROMISED KYIV OR ODESSA? TRUMP TODAY REITERATED THAT HE TRUSTS PRESIDENT PUTIN, SAYING HE KNOWS HIM WELL. AND SOMEBODY SAID, OH, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED ZELENSKYY FIRST. I DON'T THINK SO. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT RUSSIA WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL. I KNOW THAT ZELENSKYY WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL, BECAUSE HE TOLD ME THAT. BUT THE U.S. PRESIDENT'S IDEA OF WHAT A DEAL COULD LOOK LIKE FOR UKRAINE, REVEALED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, MUST BE HAUNTING KYIV. THEY MAY BE RUSSIAN SOMEDAY, OR THEY MAY NOT BE RUSSIAN SOMEDAY. THREE YEARS INTO A GRUELLING WAR, THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT HAS PROVEN HIS STAMINA AND IS DIGGING IN EVEN DEEPER... (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) ...INSISTING TODAY THAT NO DEAL WILL BE MADE WITHOUT UKRAINE'S INVOLVEMENT. BUT CAN HE REALLY FIGHT ON WITHOUT AMERICA? EXACTLY 80 YEARS AGO, THE SOVIET, BRITISH AND U.S. LEADERS STALIN, CHURCHILL AND ROOSEVELT MET IN CRIMEA TO CARVE UP THE WORLD FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO. THE WAR-RAVAGED OCCUPIED COUNTRIES WERE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD, AND THE GREAT POWERS DECIDED EVERYTHING. MIGHT WAS RIGHT. NOW, IN 2025, THAT IS A MANTRA THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION HAS FIRMLY SUBSCRIBED TO. WE CAN TALK ALL WE WANT ABOUT VALUES. VALUES ARE IMPORTANT. BUT YOU CAN'T SHOOT VALUES, YOU CAN'T SHOOT FLAGS, AND YOU CAN'T SHOOT STRONG SPEECHES. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR HARD POWER. EUROPE IS DESPERATE NOT TO BE SIDE-LINED, WORRIED THAT A TRUMP-PUTIN PARTNERSHIP WILL SQUEEZE THEM OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AS WELL AS UKRAINE AND RESULT IN A DIRTY DEAL. THERE CAN BE NO NEGOTIATION ABOUT UKRAINE WITHOUT UKRAINE, AND UKRAINE'S VOICE MUST BE AT THE AT THE HEART OF ANY TALKS. BUT AMERICA HAS MADE IT CLEAR ` EUROPEAN NATIONS MUST UP THEIR MILITARY SPENDING TO 4% OR 5%, A LEVEL HIGHER EVEN THAN THE U.S. NATO HAS HEARD THE WARNING AND IS SCRAMBLING. SPEND MORE. SPEND MORE. IT'S NOT JUST EUROPEAN ALLIES BEING CALLED OUT BY THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, BUT ALSO THOSE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION WITH GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA. I HAVE SOMETIMES MORE PHONE CALLS COMING OUT OF KOREA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ` FROM SENIOR POLITICIANS THERE ` THAN FROM SOME NATO ALLIES, SAYING THEY ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, THEY WANT US TO WORK CLOSER TOGETHER. OUR DEFENCE MINISTER, JUDITH COLLINS, IS DUE TO ENTER THE DIPLOMATIC CHESS MATCH IN GERMANY, WHERE THE U.S. VICE PRESIDENT, JD VANCE, HAS ALREADY TOUCHED DOWN. THE SECURITY CONFERENCE PROMISING TO DELIVER MORE BIG MOVES BY THE UNITED STATES. PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO TURN UNCLE SAM INTO UNCLE SUCKER. TRUMP HAS REVEALED RUSSIA WILL ALSO BE THERE, AND SO WILL UKRAINE. DON'T COUNT ON A FAMILY PHOTO. OK, LISETTE. WHAT'S EVERYONE EXPECTING FROM THIS MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE TOMORROW? AT THE MOMENT, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO EXACTLY WILL BE THERE FROM RUSSIA AND FROM UKRAINE. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE MEETING WILL LOOK LIKE. WHAT IS CRITICAL OF COURSE IS ENSURING THAT UKRAINE HAS A FAIR SEAT AT THE TABLE, AND THIS IS THE FIRST INDICATION OF WHAT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT PROCESS MIGHT LOOK LIKE. TRUMP TODAY WAS ASKED BY A REPORTER IF HE THOUGHT THAT UKRAINE DESERVED TO HAVE AN EQUAL ROLE IN THE PEACE TALKS, AND HE TOOK AN UNCOMFORTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPLY TO THAT QUESTION. EVENTUALLY, HE SAID, THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IT WASN'T A GOOD WAR TO GET INTO, AND THAT ALONE REALLY ALIGNS WITH THE MESSAGING FROM PUTIN THAT THIS WAR IS UKRAINE'S FAULT. ZELENSKIY REALLY IS THE LATEST OF THESE CLOSE US ALLIES TO REALISE THE WORLD IS A MUCH COLDER PLACE UNDER THE NEW AMERICAN MANAGEMENT. HE IS DEFINITELY NOT ALONE; CANADA HAD A MESSAGE FOR DONALD TRUMP TODAY, REMINDING THEM THEY WOULD BE FAR BETTER OFF AS THE 51ST STATE. AS WORLD LEADERS ARRIVED FOR THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE, THE CITY WAS ROCKED BY A CAR BEING DRIVEN INTO A CROWD. A 24-YEAR-OLD AFGHAN ASYLUM SEEKER ALLEGEDLY DROVE INTO A TRANSPORT WORKERS' UNION RALLY, INJURING AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE. GERMANY'S FEDERAL ELECTIONS ARE JUST 10 DAYS AWAY, AND COUNTER-TERRORISM OFFICERS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE INVESTIGATION DUE TO INDICATIONS THE SUSPECT HAD AN 'EXTREMIST BACKGROUND'. CHANNEL 4'S KEME NZEREM HAS MORE. JUST AFTER THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, CENTRAL MUNICH ` SCENES THAT POUR FUEL ON GERMANY'S POLITICAL DISPUTES OVER IMMIGRATION, WITH THE FAR RIGHT SOARING IN THE POLLS AHEAD OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GENERAL ELECTION SINCE REUNIFICATION. A CHILD'S PRAM AND A SHOE LIE CRUSHED IN THE STREET. 28 PEOPLE RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AFTER SOMEONE ` LATER CONFIRMED TO BE A FAILED AFGHAN ASYLUM SEEKER ` HAD RAMMED HIS CAR INTO A CROWD. (SPEAKS GERMAN) TRANSLATOR: A CAR CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF A DEMONSTRATION. WE SAW THE WHOLE THING. THEY WERE WALKING ALONG THE WHOLE STREET, AND WHEN THEY CROSSED THE INTERSECTION, A CAR DROVE INTO THE BACK OF THE CROWD. AS AN ARREST VIDEO EMERGED, THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR WAS FORCED TO COMMENT ON THE DIVISIVE ISSUE CURRENTLY HAUNTING GERMAN POLITICS. THE ALLEGED ATTACKER, WHO'D COME TO GERMANY AS AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR, REPORTEDLY HAD HIS ASYLUM APPLICATION REJECTED NEARLY A DECADE AGO. SO WHY WAS HE STILL IN THE COUNTRY? (SPEAKS GERMAN) TRANSLATOR: THIS PERPETRATOR CANNOT COUNT ON ANY LENIENCY. HE MUST BE PUNISHED, AND HE MUST LEAVE THE COUNTRY. HE'D ALSO REPORTEDLY BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE FOR DRUGS AND THEFT, BUT WHETHER HE WAS OPERATING ALONE OR PART OF A GROUP ISN'T YET KNOWN. TRANSLATOR: AT THE MOMENT, WE CAN NEITHER RULE OUT NOR CONFIRM OTHER PERPETRATORS. THERE ARE NO LEADS AT THE MOMENT. THE BACKGROUND IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL LETHAL ATTACKS BY NEWCOMERS TO GERMANY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. SIX DIED WHEN A SAUDI MAN DROVE INTO A CHRISTMAS MARKET IN MAGDEBURG. HE TURNED OUT TO BE A FAR-RIGHT ANTI-ISLAM ACTIVIST WHO'D RENOUNCED HIS FAITH. STILL, GERMANY'S INSURGENT FAR RIGHT PARTY, THE AFD, SAY THESE ACTS OF EXTREME VIOLENCE ARE PRECISELY WHY THEIR CONTROVERSIAL POLICY OF REMIGRATION IS SO POPULAR. THE AFD LEADER, ALICE WEIDEL, WHO'S BEEN COURTING SUPPORT FROM HUNGARIAN HARDLINER VIKTOR ORBAN, TODAY REPEATED HER TRUMPIAN DEMANDS FOR MASS DEPORTATIONS TO REVERSE THE IMMIGRATION STARTED BY ANGELA MERKEL IN 2015. (SPEAKS GERMAN) THE AFD ARE CURRENTLY POLLING SECOND BUT ARE UNLIKELY TO ASSUME POWER, AS GERMANY'S MAIN PARTIES REFUSE TO WORK WITH THEM. (SPEAKS GERMAN) (SIREN WAILS) BUT TODAY'S CARNAGE PROVOKES MORE IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS, FOR IT ALSO EMERGED THIS AFTERNOON THAT POLICE HAD FOILED AN ATTEMPTED BOMB ATTACK ON AN ASYLUM SHELTER NEAR DRESDEN BY SOMEONE DESCRIBED AS A GERMAN NATIONAL. HOW WILL TODAY'S EVENTS AFFECT THE ELECTION IN 10 DAYS' TIME? GRACE IS HERE WITH MORE ON TODAY'S WEATHER ` AND TEMPERATURES WERE SIZZLING FOR PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IT WAS CERTAINLY ONE HOT VALENTINE'S DAY. CHECK OUT THESE TEMPS ` ALEXANDRA RECORDED 31 DEGREES WHILE WANAKA GOT TO 30. A SIMILAR STORY FURTHER UP THE COUNTRY TOO ` UPPER HUTT ALMOST HIT 30 DEGREES TODAY, AND TAUMARUNUI SAW 29. THESE TEMPERATURES ARE SET TO CONTINUE BUT MIGHT BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOME RAIN. ME U TONU MAI ` I'LL HAVE THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. STILL TO COME ON THREENEWS ` A YEAR SINCE FIRE IN THE PORT HILLS FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF CRANKWORX, THE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL IS BACK, AND NEW FIRE SENSORS ARE BEING ROLLED OUT. IT'S A SMALL FLUSH FOR AUCKLAND'S MAYOR AND A GIANT LEAP FOR THE CITY'S PLAN TO REDUCE FLOODING AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. AND LATER IN THE SHOW, WE HIT THE STREETS ASKING THE BIG QUESTION OF THE DAY ` VALENTINE'S DAY ` LOVE IT OR HATE IT? WELCOME BACK. THE PROJECT TO REDUCE FLOODING AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN AUCKLAND HIT A MAJOR MILESTONE TODAY. THE SOUTHERN HALF OF WATERCARE'S $1.6b CENTRAL INTERCEPTOR WASTEWATER TUNNEL WENT LIVE. 200 GUESTS WERE THERE TO WATCH MAYOR WAYNE BROWN MARK THE MOMENT WITH A CEREMONIAL FLUSHING. THE SWITCH-ON OF THE SOUTHERN TUNNEL MEANS IMPROVED RESILIENCE FOR AUCKLAND'S WASTEWATER NETWORK, PARTICULARLY DURING FLOODS IN SUBURBS LIKE HILLSBOROUGH. BUT THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS SUCH AS CLEANER WATERWAYS AND BEACHES WON'T BE REALISED UNTIL THE REMAINING TUNNEL FROM MT ROSKILL TO HERNE BAY IS COMPLETED. POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT IN MARTINBOROUGH YESTERDAY THAT LEFT A TOURIST DEAD AND THREE OTHERS INJURED. A BRITISH NATIONAL WAS KILLED WHEN THE SHARED BIKE THEY WERE RIDING WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH A CAR ON PURUATANGA RD. THE THREE OTHERS ON THE BIKE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE ROAD HOSTS A NUMBER OF POPULAR VINEYARDS AND RESTAURANTS. THE MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING A NELSON POLICE OFFICER ON NEW YEARS DAY WILL KEEP HIS NAME SECRET FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER FORTNIGHT. SENIOR SERGEANT LYN FLEMING (62) WAS KILLED AFTER SHE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE IN BUXTON SQUARE. HER DEATH PROMPTED A NATIONAL OUTPOURING OF GRIEF. A MAN (32) APPEARED IN COURT VIA VIDEO LINK TODAY, WHERE HE DIDN'T ENTER A PLEA, WHILE HIS NAME WAS SUPPRESSED FOR ANOTHER FORTNIGHT. HE'LL REAPPEAR IN THE HIGH COURT IN NELSON ON FEBRUARY 28. EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, FIRE TORE THROUGH CHRISTCHURCH'S PORT HILLS, THREATENING THE ADVENTURE PARK AND SHAKING THE COMMUNITY. NOW, 12 MONTHS ON, NEW REAL-TIME FIRE SENSORS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED HIGH IN THE HILLS WHILE CRANKWORX, ONCE CANCELLED, IS BACK IN ACTION. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS MORE. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES ` THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL, CRANKWORX, BACK IN ACTION TODAY AT CHRISTCHURCH ADVENTURE PARK. REALLY BOUNCED BACK, AND THAT WE'RE STANDING HERE TODAY, JUST A YEAR OVER IS... OVER SINCE IT LAST HAPPENED IS REALLY TESTAMENT TO THE RALLYING, THE UNITY AND THE QUEST FOR REDEMPTION. EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, THE PARK WAS CLOSED AND CRANKWORX WAS CANCELLED AS FIRE ONCE AGAIN TORE THROUGH THE PARCHED PORT HILLS. RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED AND REELING. AND THAT'S BECAUSE ALMOST EXACTLY SEVEN YEARS EARLIER, AN EVEN BIGGER FIRE BLAZED THROUGH THOSE SAME HILLS. NINE HOUSES WERE DESTROYED, A FURTHER TWO WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED BY THE FIRES, AND HUNDREDS OF THOSE SAME RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED. BUT NOW THE BIKES ARE BACK, AND THE HILLS ARE, THIS SUMMER, FIRE FREE SO FAR. AND THE COUNCIL IS HOPING EXTENDING A FIRE SENSOR SYSTEM INTO THE PORT HILLS WILL KEEP THEM THAT WAY, TODAY LAUNCHING FOUR MORE FIRE SENSOR TOWERS PUT IN PLACE IN RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATING 2017 BLAZE. THE NETWORK USES SMART TECH TO CATCH FIRES EARLY, MAKING IT EASIER TO BOTH DETECT AND RESPOND. EACH SENSOR CAPTURES ENVIRONMENTAL AND WEATHER CONDITIONS, GIVING REAL-TIME UPDATES TO BOTH COUNCIL AND FENZ. MORE TOOLS TO HELP A COMMUNITY THAT'S NOW FLYING HIGH. IT'S COOL TO SEE, LIKE, PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHRISTCHURCH. 2025'S ALL ABOUT REDEMPTION FOR US, SO OUR DOWNHILL COURSE IS NAMED THE REDEMPTION COURSE. A DOWNHILL COURSE FOR THE MOUNTAIN BIKING AND PORT HILLS COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HOPING IT'S ALL UPHILL FROM HERE. STILL TO COME ON THREENEWS ` A FISHERMAN RECOUNTS HIS CLOSE CALL WHEN TRYING TO RESCUE A WOMAN DROWNING IN THE RAKAIA RIVER MOUTH. A KAYAKER OFF THE COAST OF CHILE WAS SWALLOWED BY A WHALE AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE. AND IN SPORT, THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX WELCOME BACK THEIR CAPTAIN, ALEX RUFER, AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S BIG GAME. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE IS OUR TOP STORY SO FAR TONIGHT. 230 WORKERS AT KINLEITH PAPER MILL IN TOKOROA FOUND OUT THEY LOST THEIR JOBS; THEY'LL FINISH AT THE END OF JUNE. IT WAS A FUN FAMILY OUTING THAT QUICKLY TURNED TO TRAGEDY AFTER A CHRISTCHURCH WOMAN DROWNED IN A RIVER NOTORIOUS FOR CATCHING PEOPLE OUT. NOW THE MAN WHO TRIED TO SAVE HER HAS SPOKEN OF THE MOMENT HE THOUGHT HE TOO WAS GOING TO DIE. NADINE ROBERTS HAS THE STORY. IT'S A MEMORY THAT'S HARD TO SHAKE. THE ONLY THOUGHT I HAD WHILE TREADING WATER IS, 'THIS IS HOW I'M GONNA GO. I'M GONNA DROWN.' AARON KNOWS HOW LUCKY HE IS TO BE ALIVE AFTER HE TRIED TO RESCUE A WOMAN WHOSE QUAD BIKE GOT STUCK ON A SPIT NEAR THE RAKAIA RIVER MOUTH LAST WEEKEND. AS RISING SWELLS BUFFERED THE SPIT, THE FISHERMAN TRIED TO TOW THE WOMAN'S BIKE, BUT BOTH WERE DRAGGED UNDER THE WAVES. I SAW HER FLOATING. I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST DOING THE YOU KNOW, DEAD MAN'S FLOAT, KEEPING BUOYANT. 'WELL, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA,' I THOUGHT. 'BETTER LOOK AFTER MYSELF AND KEEP BUOYANT.' AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND THE QUAD, AND IT WASN'T TILL WHEN I WAS ON THE QUAD I REALISED THAT... SHE WAS JUST ACTUALLY FLOATING COS SHE WAS GONE. THE TRAGEDY HAS DEEPLY IMPACTED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE TELLING US THEY'VE WITNESSED NEAR-MISSES ON THIS DANGEROUS STRETCH OF COASTLINE. NOW THEY WANT OTHERS TO KNOW HOW QUICKLY CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE. A DAY LIKE TODAY, THERE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT OF WHITEWASH COMING OVER AT THE REAL NARROW SPIT, AND SOME PEOPLE WILL BE TRYING TO FISH FOR KAHAWAI IN THE SURF, AND THE KIDS'LL BE PLAYING THERE IN THE LITTLE BIT OF WEE WHITE WATER. YOU KNOW, SEEMS QUITE HARMLESS, BUT IF A BIGGER WAVE COMES OVER, IT WILL JUST PUSH 'EM RIGHT INTO THE RIVER, INTO THAT FAST FLOW, AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO GET IT. ACCORDING TO WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND, EACH PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED IN THE RAKAIA RIVER SINCE 1989. OF THOSE, THREE DROWNED WHILE FISHING WITHOUT LIFEJACKETS AND ONE DIED WHILE RESCUING A SWIMMER. I COULD'VE NOT COME HOME, YOU KNOW? MY DAUGHTER WAS ASKING IF I WAS ALL RIGHT, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I COULD'VE BEEN GONE AND NOT GONE HOME TO FEED THE DOGS. WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE DANIEL GERRARD SAYS A THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN OUR RIVERS OVER THE PAST 45 YEARS, ALL OF THEM PREVENTABLE. HE SAYS BRAIDED RIVERS LIKE THE RAKAIA HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE HAZARDS, AS THEIR DEPTH AND FLOW CAN CHANGE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, MEANING IT CAN BE DEADLY IF CONDITIONS ARE UNDERESTIMATED ` AND DEVASTATING TO THOSE THEY LEAVE BEHIND. I BEEN WAKING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT... IF I SHOULD'VE THINGS DIFFERENTLY OR... SHOULD I HAVE NOT TRIED TO HELP, OR...? BUT YOU COULDN'T NOT TRY TO HELP, YOU KNOW? A PREVENTABLE DEATH THAT'S LEFT ONE MAN WITH A BAD MEMORY THAT'LL LAST A LIFETIME. NOW TO THAT AGE-OLD QUESTION ` WHEN IS ART NOT ART? ` AND WHAT COULD BE A NEW ANSWER. AN AUCTION HOUSE IS FACING THE WRATH OF THOUSANDS OF ARTISTS AFTER IT LAUNCHED AN AUCTION DEVOTED ENTIRELY TO PIECES CREATED WITH THE HELP OF A.I. CHRISTIE'S, IN NEW YORK, HAS DEFENDED ITS SHOW AND THE CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS IMPRESSED. ITV'S SALLY BIDDULPH HAS MORE. I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ART AND A.I. ART ANYMORE. ART AND A.I. ` THE LINES ARE BLURRING. IN THE FIRST AUCTION OF ITS KIND, CHRISTIE'S IN NEW YORK IS DEDICATING A SALE TO ARTWORK CREATED WITH THE HELP OF AUGMENTED INTELLIGENCE. IT FEATURES 20 LOTS, RANGING IN PRICE FROM $15,000 TO A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS ` WORK CREATED BY ARTISTS USING A.I., LIKE THIS HUGE DOUBLE PORTRAIT OF A FUTURISTIC WOMAN, CALLED 'EMBEDDING STUDY 1 AND 2', BY HOLLY HERNDON AND MATT DRYHURST. BUT THIS AUCTION IS DIVIDING THE ART WORLD ITSELF. MORE THAN 3000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A LETTER URGING CHRISTIE'S TO ABANDON IT, SAYING CREATORS' RIGHTS ARE NOT BEING RESPECTED. SO, TODAY'S GENERATIVE A.I. MODELS ARE BUILT BY TAKING HUGE AMOUNTS OF OTHER PEOPLE'S COPYRIGHTED WORK, OTHER PEOPLE'S ART, THEIR LIFE'S WORK, OFTEN; TRAINING MODELS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE NEW WORK IN SIMILAR STYLES, ERM, AND DOING THAT WITHOUT ASKING PERMISSION AND WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT. AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT THESE GENERATIVE A.I. MODELS COMPETE WITH WHAT THEY'RE TRAINED ON. THEY ARE COMPETING HUMAN CREATORS, HUMAN ARTISTS OUT OF A JOB. CHRISTIE'S HAVE FIRED BACK, SAYING IN A STATEMENT... THE SALE GOES LIVE NEXT WEEK AND CLOSES IN MARCH. IN A REAL-LIFE CASE OF 'JONAH AND THE WHALE', A KAYAKER OFF THE COAST OF CHILE WAS BRIEFLY SWALLOWED BY A HUMPBACK WHALE. ADRIAN SIMANCAS WAS PADDLING ACROSS THE FRIGID WATERS WITH HIS FATHER, WHO WAS FILMING THEIR ADVENTURE AT THE TIME. A HUMPBACK WHALE SURFACED UNEXPECTEDLY AND GOBBLED UP THE MAN AND HIS KAYAK BEFORE SPITTING THE WHOLE LOT OUT AGAIN A FEW SECONDS LATER. AFTER ADRIAN SCRAMBLED BACK INTO HIS KAYAK, BOTH MEN MADE A SAFE RETURN TO LAND. THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO GLASGOW TEAMS, CELTIC AND RANGERS, IS KNOWN AS THE MOST INTENSE IN WORLD FOOTBALL, WITH CATHOLICS SUPPORTING CELTIC AND PROTESTANTS SUPPORTING RANGERS. NOW, THE LATE CELTIC PLAYER TOMMY BURNS HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD FOR SAINTHOOD AND HIS SUPPORTERS SAY THAT AS A MAN WHO BRIDGED THE RELIGIOUS DIVIDE, HE COULD BE A CHANCE. ITV'S LOUISE SCOTT REPORTS. IDOLISING SPORTS STARS IS NOTHING NEW. IN SCOTLAND, CELTICS MIDFIELDER TOMMY BURNS WAS ONE OF THOSE MANY LOOKED UP TO. AS FOR BURNS, THAT'S A GREAT GOAL FOR CELTICS! FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES, HE PLAYED FOR THE GLASGOW SIDE BEFORE LATER BECOMING THEIR MANAGER. HIS DEATH IN 2008 AT THE AGE OF JUST 51 LED TO AN OUTPOURING OF TRIBUTES. TOMMY'S FUNERAL WAS ATTENDED BY SOME OF THE GREATS, WITH FORMER RIVAL TURNED FRIEND ALLY MCCOIST EVEN ONE OF THE PALLBEARERS. BUT THIS STORY IS NOT ABOUT HIS ANTICS ON THE PITCH; INSTEAD, IT'S ABOUT THE PERSON HE WAS OFF THE FIELD. ST MARY'S IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN THE CITY... AND IT'S WHERE TOMMY WAS ACTUALLY BAPTISED. PHILIP CHURCH AND CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN DECIDED TO BUILD THE CASE FOR TOMMY TO BE MADE A SAINT, WHICH INCLUDES EVIDENCE OF HIS HOLY ACTS. IN ONE OCCASION, SOMEONE APPROACHED A MEMBER OF THE BURNS FAMILY AND SAID, 'TOMMY SAVED MY LIFE.' AND THIS MAN WAS SUICIDAL. AND SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, TOMMY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND TALKED HIM OUT OF IT. AND THE CAMPAIGN HAS THE BACKING OF THE BURNS FAMILY. TOMMY'S FOUR CHILDREN BELIEVE IT WOULD BE AN HONOUR FOR THEIR DAD TO BE A SAINT, THE FIRST FOOTBALLER IN THE WORLD TO DO SO. DO YOU THINK OF YOUR DAD AS A SAINT IN WHAT HE DID? NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I THINK OF HIM JUST AS MY DAD. YEAH, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DONE IN HIS LIFE THAT WE NOW KNOW ` WE DIDN'T KNOW IN THE PAST, BUT AFTER HIS PASSING ` ALL THE LETTERS THAT CAME THROUGH TO US AND THE THINGS THAT HE'D DONE. WE THOUGHT HE WAS WORKING WHEN REALLY HE WAS AT HOSPITAL VISITING CHILDREN AND SICK PEOPLE. HE WAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD PERSON. SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, HE ABSOLUTELY DESERVES IT, YEAH. NOT ONLY WAS TOMMY A LEGEND IN THE CELTIC FAMILY, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT FEW COULD DO IN THIS CITY'S DEEP-ROOTED FOOTBALL RIVALRY ` HE BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN GREEN AND BLUE. SOME WOULD SAY IT TAKES A SAINT TO DO THAT. EVERYBODY, EVEN RANGERS FANS, RESPECT HIM AS A PERSON. YOU DON'T GET MANY PEOPLE LIKE THAT. FOOTBALL FANS ARE USED TO PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE, BUT IF THIS CASE GOES FORWARD, CELTIC MAY HAVE THEIR VERY OWN SAINT TO WATCH OVER THEM. LUCY'S IN WITH SPORT NOW ` AND THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON KICKS OFF TONIGHT. AS DOES. WHO BETTER TO GET US UNDERWAY THAN THE CRUSADERS AND THE HURRICANES? WE'RE LIVE TO CHRISTCHURCH AHEAD OF THE SEASON OPENER NEXT. PLUS, A FIRST FOR NEW ZEALAND AS QUEENSTOWN SKIER ALICE ROBINSON PICKS UP A SILVER MEDAL AT THE ALPINE SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. AND A BIG BOOST FOR THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX AS THEY WELCOME BACK THEIR CAPTAIN, ALEX RUFER, AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S GAME. TAKE THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT AND THREENEWS SPORT. QUEENSTOWN SKIER ALICE ROBINSON HAS CLINCHED NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST-EVER ALPINE SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL IN AUSTRIA OVERNIGHT. THE 23-YEAR-OLD PICKED UP A SILVER IN THE WOMEN'S GIANT SLALOM DESPITE BEING PIPPED FOR THE TITLE BY JUST 0.9 OF A SECOND IN A THRILLING FINAL RUN. IT'S THE BIGGEST ANNUAL EVENT ON THE SKI RACING CALENDAR... AND SO FAR FROM ALICE ROBINSON, NO NERVES OR BUTTERFLIES WHATSOEVER. ...AND THE KIWI DELIVERED A RUN MORE THAN WORTHY OF THE OCCASION. AND THE KIWI IS FLYING. SITTING SECOND AFTER HER FIRST RUN, THE 23-YEAR-OLD HAD HER FOCUS FIRMLY ON GOING ONE BETTER IN HER SECOND AND FINAL ATTEMPT. ROBINSON NOW LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAD. SURELY THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOLD. THE QUESTION MARK IS ` HOW FAR AHEAD? THE ANSWER ` A 1.72 SECOND LEAD OVER THE REST OF THE FIELD, WITH JUST OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST FEDERICA BRIGNONE TO RACE. THAT IS QUITE REMARKABLE. A POWER PLAY FROM THE NEW ZEALAND ATHLETE. BUT WHILE IT WAS POWER FROM THE KIWI, IT WAS POISE FROM THE ITALIAN. THIS IS LOVELY, FLUID, FLOWING SKI RACING FROM BRIGNONE. THE 35-YEAR-OLD HOLDING HER NERVE AND HOLDING ON TO CLAIM VICTORY BY JUST 0.9 SECONDS. BRIGNONE'S HEADING HOME. IT'S GOLD FOR ITALY. SURELY BRIGNONE HAS FINALLY GOT THERE. FEDERICA BRIGNONE! A MAGICAL GOLD MEDAL FOR THE ITALIAN SUPERSTAR! YEAH, I'VE BEEN DREAMING OF THIS MOMENT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I WAS ALWAYS SECOND, AND, UH, THIS IS JUST... YEAH, ONE OF THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, I THINK. ROBINSON AND HER FAMILY JUST AS OVERJOYED TO HAVE SECURED SILVER... TEARS OF JOY FOR ALICE'S MUM. ...AND NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST-EVER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL. SUPER RUGBY KICKS OFF IN JUST HALF AN HOUR'S TIME WHEN THE CRUSADERS TAKE ON THE HURRICANES IN CHRISTCHURCH. AFTER A DISMAL CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR, THE 14-TIME CHAMPIONS ARE LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK, BUT FACE A TOUGH TASK AGAINST LAST YEAR'S ROUND-ROBIN WINNERS. GORDON FINDLATER JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM APOLLO PROJECTS STADIUM ` AND GORDON, THE CRUSADERS ARE ALREADY RIDDLED WITH INJURIES. THAT IS RIGHT. MORE THAN A DOZEN CRUSADERS ALREADY ON THE INJURY LIST FOR TONIGHT'S GAME. THE AREA THEY WOULD BE MOST AFFECTED IN AS HOOKER. IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR TEAM ON PAPER, STILL A LOT OF ALL BLACKS. ONE OF THE PLAYERS WITH AN INJURY IS BRADEN. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT YOU BACK? HOPEFULLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU OUT THERE. LAST YEAR WAS A SEASON TO FORGET. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MESSAGE DURING THE OFF-SEASON AND HOW HUNGRY IS THIS TEAM TO TURN THINGS AROUND? IT'S SORT OF BEEN SCRAPPED. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW PAGE IN THE BOOK. CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF THE CRUSADERS JERSEY. WE ARE LOOKING TO START ON THE RIGHT FOOT THIS WEEK. YOU GET A COUPLE OF REALLY KEY GUYS BACK ` SCOTT BARRETT WHO MISSED A LOT OF LAST SEASON, WILL JORDAN WHO DIDN'T GET ON THE FIELD LAST YEAR. DIFFERENCE MAKERS FOR US. GREAT LEADERS AS WELL. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THEM OUT THERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. THE HURRICANE'S FINISHED TOP OF THE ROUND-ROBIN LAST YEAR. THEY HAVE A BIG LOSS IN ARDIE SAVEA. DO YOU STILL EXPECT THEM TO BE TITLE CONTENDERS? DEFINITELY. WE EXPECT THEM TO PLAY HURRICANE'S RUGBY. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING THEM OUT WIDE AND TAKING THE BALL DOWN INTO THEIR HALF. GET THAT WRIST RIGHT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. IT'S ONLY FEBRUARY. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT'S TOO EARLY TO PLAY RUGBY. I DON'T MIND A BIT OF FUN IN THE SUN. THE BLACKCAPS HAVE RECEIVED A BOOST AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S ODI TRI-SERIES FINAL AGAINST PAKISTAN IN KARACHI. PACE BOWLER LOCKIE FERGUSON HAS JOINED THE SQUAD AFTER COMPLETING HIS TIME PLAYING T20 CRICKET IN THE UAE. FERGUSON IS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION TONIGHT EVEN THOUGH HE'S SAID TO BE NURSING A HAMSTRING NIGGLE. YEAH, IF ANYONE'S GOT SMALL NIGGLES, WE'RE PROBABLY LIKELY TO BE JUST CONSERVATIVE AROUND THAT WITH THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY JUST AROUND THE CORNER. BUT LIKE ANY GAME, YOU GO INTO IT AND WE ALL WANT TO WIN IT, SO WE'LL CERTAINLY BE TRYING TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR THAT. IT'S NOT SUCH GOOD NEWS FOR RACHIN RAVINDRA. HE'S BEEN RULED OUT AS HE CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM A NASTY BLOW TO THE HEAD DURING THE BLACKCAPS OPENING TRI-SERIES MATCH. IT'S HOPED HE'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE OPENING MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY. ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK IS SET TO MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE FOR THE WARRIORS THIS SEASON WHEN THEY TAKE ON THE MELBOURNE STORM IN TOMORROW'S SECOND PRESEASON TRIAL. AFTER MISSING LAST WEEK'S OPENER WITH AN UNDISCLOSED INJURY, HE WILL START ON THE WING FOR TOMORROW'S CLASH. RTS SPENT MOST OF LAST SEASON IN THE CENTRES, BUT COACH ANDREW WEBSTER IS HOPING THE POSITIONAL CHANGE WILL HELP GET THE STAR MORE BALL. EVERYONE THINKS CENTRES GET MORE BALL, BUT IN RUGBY LEAGUE THEY DON'T ANYMORE. THEY... THEY GET TO TOUCH THE BALL WAY MORE ON KICK RETURNS. AND THAT'S WHERE HE'S DANGEROUS ON THE WING ` HE'LL GET 20 CARRIES, AND KNOWING ROGER, HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO CARRY FOR 300m. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIM, CHARNZE, AND, IF DALLIN IS FIT, DALLIN DOING THAT. LIKE, THAT'S A PRETTY COOL COMBINATION THERE ` A TRIPLE THREAT. THE WARRIORS WILL BE WITHOUT DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK, WHO IS EXPECTED TO MISS AT LEAST SIX WEEKS AFTER UNDERGOING WRIST SURGERY. WELLINGTON PHOENIX FANS ARE HOPEFUL THE RETURN OF THEIR CAPTAIN, ALEX RUFER, WILL BOOST THE SIDE AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S A-LEAGUE CLASH AGAINST THE VICTORY IN MELBOURNE. THE PHOENIX ARE CURRENTLY LANGUISHING IN 10TH PLACE ON THE LADDER, SIX POINTS BEHIND THE SIXTH-PLACE VICTORY, NEEDING A WIN TO KEEP THEMSELVES IN THE HUNT FOR THE PLAYOFFS. BUT HISTORY SHOWS THE 'NIX RARELY WIN IN MELBOURNE, WITH THEIR LAST 22 VISITS TO AAMI PARK ENDING IN DEFEAT OR A DRAW. THE MATCH KICKS OFF JUST AFTER 9.30. THAT IS YOUR SPORT FOR FRIDAY. PLENTY TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND. SOCIAL MEDIA APP TIKTOK IS BACK FOR AMERICAN USERS. GOOGLE AND APPLE HAVE BOTH RESTORED THE APP TO THEIR APP STORES AFTER A BAN CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 19. THE APP ` OWNED BY A CHINESE TECH COMPANY ` WAS OUTLAWED BECAUSE OF NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS. BUT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST MONTH TO DELAY THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN, ALLOWING TIKTOK TO CONTINUE ITS OPERATIONS IN THE U.S. TEMPORARILY. THERE ARE REPORTS KANYE WEST AND HIS WIFE OF TWO YEARS, BIANCA CENSORI, HAVE SPLIT UP. THE PAIR GRABBED HEADLINES AT THE GRAMMYS LAST WEEK WHEN CENSORI APPEARED ON THE RED CARPET IN A COMPLETELY SEE-THROUGH BODY STOCKING. REPORTEDLY, CENSORI HAS 'HAD ENOUGH' OF WEST'S RECENT BEHAVIOUR, INCLUDING ANTI-SEMITIC RANTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SELLING SWASTIKA T-SHIRTS. HOWEVER, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PAIR REFUTES THE REPORTS, SAYING THEY'LL BE SPENDING A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TOGETHER. AND IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY HERE ` AND WE WERE WONDERING IF PEOPLE ARE BECOMING A BIT INDIFFERENT TO IT. JULIET SPEEDY HIT THE STREETS OF CHRISTCHURCH TO FIND OUT IF KIWIS ARE CELEBRATING TODAY. WE'RE JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK OF VALENTINE'S DAY. OH, IF YOU'RE SINGLE, IT'S A BIT SAD. I'M HERE ON MY HONEYMOON WITH MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED. WILL YOU CELEBRATE IT? OOH. I PROBABLY WILL WITH MY SISTERS. GUYS, WE'VE GOT A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. YES? WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF VALENTINE'S DAY. OH, I HAVEN'T PLANNED ANYTHING, SO I'M SCARED. (LAUGHS) I DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, SO... A PRETTY EASY DAY FOR ME. (LAUGHS) IT'S QUITE COMMERCIALISED. FINISH THE SENTENCE ` NOTHING SAYS LOVE LIKE... A RING. (LAUGHS) A NIGHT OUT AWAY FROM THE KIDS. WHAT DO I THINK OF VALENTINE'S DAY? I'M A HOPELESS ROMANTIC, BUT MY WIFE'S NOT, SO, UM, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING. (LAUGHS) DO YOU TRY AND FORCE HER INTO IT? I USED TO TRY, BUT I KIND OF GAVE UP, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SHE NEVER REALLY RECIPROCATED, SO... (LAUGHS) SO BAKED BEANS ON TOAST TOMORROW? BAKED BEANS ON TOAST TOMORROW, FOR MYSELF ONLY. WE COME FROM ITALY. BUT IN ITALY, YOU'RE ROMANTIC ALL YEAR ROUND. (LAUGHS) YEAH, YEAH, I THINK SO. THE LOVE ` NO BOUNDARY. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF VALENTINE'S DAY? UM... WELL, I LIVE ON MY OWN, SO I DON'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I CAN REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST VALENTINE'S CARD I GOT, THOUGH. I CAN'T MENTION WHAT IT SAID IN IT. HOW OLD WERE YOU? OH, ABOUT 17. IS THAT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO KINKY? IT WAS A BIT RUDE, REALLY. OH. YEAH. I'M INTRIGUED. ARE YOU INTRIGUED? IT'S` WHAT DID IT SAY NOW, THEN? IT SAID, 'HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, DEAR LADY OF GREAT CHASTITY. 'WHEN CAN I HOPE TO GET THE KEY?' (LAUGHS) HE NEVER GOT IT. HE NEVER GOT IT. (LAUGHS) GRACE IS BACK WITH A LOOK AT THE FORECAST ` AND SOME COASTLINES COULD SEE BIG SWELLS THIS WEEKEND? THAT'S THANKS TO LOW PRESSURE ON THE WAY. IT'S PUSHING IN FROM THE NORTH ON SUNDAY AND BRINGING WET WEATHER AND WARM MUGGY AIR. IT'S ALSO DRIVING A FAIR BIT OF SWELL AROUND NORTHERN AND EASTERN COASTS. IT'LL BE FELT PARTICULARLY IN EXPOSED AREAS OF NORTHLAND, HAURAKI GULF, COROMANDEL AND PARTS OF TAIRAWHITI. SO WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON MARINE CONDITIONS ON SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON HITTING ON THE WATER. E WHAI AKE NEI ` I'LL HAVE THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. THERE'S A BIT OF A CHANGE IN THE AIR HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. THIS RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE THAT WE'VE BEEN ENJOYING IS STICKING WITH US OVERNIGHT, BUT YOU CAN SEE BY TOMORROW, IT STARTS GRADUALLY MOVING OFF TO THE EAST. A NORTH-EAST FLOW THEN STARTS TO BUILD OVER THE MOTU, WHICH IS BRINGING SOME WET WEATHER AND HUMID AIR TO NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF FINE, DRY WEATHER FOR OTHERS. LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT TE WAIPOUNAMU ` THE SOUTH ISLAND. A VERY SETTLED NIGHT HERE FOR YOU, WITH ONLY A FEW SHOWERS POPPING UP AROUND THE MARLBOROUGH REGION. THE CLEAR SKIES PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MOST OF THE ISLAND, SO IT'S LOOKING LIKE A GREAT SATURDAY HERE. LATER ON, YOU MIGHT FIND A BIT OF RAIN GRAZING THE LIKES OF FIORDLAND. OVER TO TE IKA A MAUI ` SHOWERS FROM AUCKLAND DOWN THROUGH TO THE WAIKATO OVERNIGHT. THAT CLEARS UP IN THE MORNING AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE ISLAND CONTINUE KEEP A HOLD OF THE FINE WEATHER. FURTHER UP NORTH AND DOWN THE EAST COAST, THAT NORTH-EAST FLOW IS SET TO BRING CLOUDY SKIES, SHOWERS AND LARGE EASTERLY SWELLS, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY SPELLS THE END TO OUR SETTLED RUN OF WEATHER. SO A CLOUDY START RIGHT UP THE TOP OF THE NORTH; SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA AND WHANGAREI. AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA WILL START TO SEE THE WETTER WEATHER FROM THE AFTERNOON. MORNING SHOWERS FOR THE LIKES OF TAURANGA. THE CLOUD CLEARS UP FOR TOKOROA LATER ON, BUT THE SHOWERS START UP FOR WHAKATANE IN THE AFTERNOON. TAUPO GETS TO A HIGH OF 25 DEGREES. MUCH MORE SUNSHINE IN THE EAST; FINE WEATHER FOR PLENTY HERE. TAIRAWHITI KEEPS A HOLD OF THE CLOUD, THOUGH, WITH NORTH-EASTERLY WINDS DEVELOPING AND THE CHANCE OF SOME SHOWERS. AND IT'S LOOKING GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND WITH PLENTY OF CLEAR SKIES. TAUMARUNUI IN FOR ANOTHER HOT DAY, GETTING TO 28 DEGREES; PALMERSTON NORTH NOT FAR BEHIND WITH 27. AND THERE'S MORE SUNSHINE FOR THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT STAYS DRY ALL DAY ` AND HOT. REEFTON GETS TO 29 DEGREES. POTENTIALLY SOME SHOWERS IN STORE OVERNIGHT. A FINE DAY FOR THE EAST AS WELL; NORTH-EASTERLIES DEVELOP IN THE MORNING FOR KAIKOURA AND CHRISTCHURCH, BECOMING FRESH FOR A TIME LATER ON. ASHBURTON IN FOR A HIGH OF 28. MORE OF A MIXED BAG FURTHER SOUTH; MORNING CLOUD FOR OAMARU, DUNEDIN AND INVERCARGILL. ANOTHER HOT DAY FOR ALEXANDRA ` 31 DEGREES IN STORE FOR YOU THERE. TIME FOR LOOK AT OUR MAIN CENTRES. A CLOUDY MORNING FOR OTEPOTI DUNEDIN, BUT FINE SPELLS INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. NORTH-EASTERLIES DEVELOP FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. NORTH-EASTERLIES FOR OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH TOO. IT'S SET TO BE A FINE DAY HERE, THOUGH. YOU'RE GETTING UP TO A HIGH OF 24 DEGREES. LOOKING GOOD FOR THE CAPITAL, TE WHANGANUI A TARA, TOO; FINE WITH NORTHERLY WINDS. 24 DEGREES HERE. NORTH-EASTERLIES DEVELOP IN THE MORNING FOR TE MATAU A MAUI HAWKE'S BAY ` BUT A DRY DAY HERE, GETTING UP TO 23 DEGREES FOR NAPIER AND HASTINGS. IT'S A CLOUDIER DAY IN STORE FOR TAURANGA WITH A FEW SHOWERS AROUND AS WELL AS EASTERLY WINDS. 23 DEGREES FOR YOU. THE CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER FOR KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON WITH NORTH-EASTERLIES DEVELOPING EARLY ON TOO. BUT THE FINE BREAKS INCREASE IN THE AFTERNOON HERE. AND CLOUD FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU TOO; A FEW SHOWERS AROUND, MAINLY FROM THE AFTERNOON. EASTERLY WINDS HERE AND A HIGH OF 25 DEGREES. LET'S HEAD OVERSEAS NOW. THUNDERSTORMS FOR SYDNEY WHILE PERTH GETS UP TO 35 DEGREES. AND THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN FOR FIJI, SAMOA AND TONGA. RAIN FOR VANUATU. OK, BACK HOME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE START OF NEXT WEEK. NORTHERN PARTS OF THE MOTU ARE IN FOR CLOUD AND SHOWERS WHICH ARE FEEDING DOWN AHEAD OF AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MAKING ITS WAY TO US. THAT WET WEATHER REACHES RIGHT DOWN THE EAST COAST, BUT THINGS START TO EASE UP SLIGHTLY ON TUESDAY. RAIN EXPECTED FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE NORTH ISLAND TO START THE WEEK TOO, BUT YOU CAN SEE THOSE TEMPERATURES STAY PRETTY WARM. NOW, THE SOUTH ISLAND IS EXPECTED TO STAY PRETTY DRY ON SUNDAY, BUT LOW PRESSURE BUILDING OUT IN THE TASMAN SEA MEANS THINGS CHANGE A BIT. SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S WETTER WEATHER FOR THE WEST COAST FROM TUESDAY, AND IT'S A SIMILAR STORY FROM SOUTHLAND UP INTO OTAGO THEN TOO, WITH PLENTY OF RAIN AROUND. FINISHING TONIGHT WITH THIS MOODY VALENTINE'S DAY SUNRISE IN MARLBOROUGH, SENT IN BY SETH. 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 LAURA TUPOU. PO MARIE ` GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY MAEVE KELLY AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.