'THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED' ` THE BOSS OF STATS NZ IS TO STAND DOWN, AFTER AN INQUIRY INTO THE USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AT MANUREWA MARAE. POLICE APPEAL FOR HELP AFTER ANOTHER POSSIBLE SIGHTING OF MAROKOPA'S TOM PHILLIPS AND HIS CHILDREN. THE FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR YOUR BROKEN STUFF HEADS TO PARLIAMENT. AND WE ARE LIVE FROM NEW ZEALAND SPORT NIGHT OF NIGHTS. WHO WILL REIGN SUPREME AT THIS YEAR'S HALBERG AWARDS. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025. NAU MAI. HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. THE GOVERNMENT'S HEAD STATISTICIAN HAS FALLEN ON HIS SWORD AFTER AN INQUIRY FOUND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FAILED TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT PERSONAL DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THE CENSUS AND COVID VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS. THE INQUIRY WAS LAUNCHED AFTER WHISTLEBLOWERS CAME FORWARD ALLEGING DATA HAD BEEN MISUSED TO BENEFIT TE PATI MAORI IN THE 2023 ELECTION. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH HAS THE STORY. THE DRIVE TO GET MAORI COVID-19 VACCINATION RATES UP WAS A TOUGH ONE. GOVERNMENT PARTNERING WITH AGENCIES LIKE TE WHANAU O WAIPAREIRA, LED BY JOHN TAMIHERE. HE FOUGHT HARD FOR ACCESS TO DATA ABOUT THOSE WHO WEREN'T YET VACCINATED. EVENTUALLY, A COURT RULED IN HIS FAVOUR. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. BUT WHAT WAS DONE WITH THAT DATA HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A MAJOR INQUIRY WHICH FOUND MAJOR FAILINGS. THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND THAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE. I WAS SHOCKED AND IT WAS IN THE HEART OF THE PUBLIC TRUST IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. THE INQUIRY WAS SPARKED BY WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGATIONS LAST YEAR THAT CENSUS 2023 AND COVID-19 VACCINATION DATA PROVIDED TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS AT MANUREWA MARAE WAS MISUSED. IT FOUND UNACCEPTABLE DATA PROTECTION PROCESSES BY STATS NZ, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF A CONFIDENITALITY REQUIREMENT. IT ALSO FOUND THE AGENCY IGNORED STAFF CONCERNS ABOUT THE MATTER. I FIND IT IN AN ACCEPTABLE BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST. THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE SYSTEM. HOW CAN ANYONE HAVE FAITH THEIR PERSONAL DATA WILL BE PROTECTED? THEY HAVE EVERY REASON TO HAVE CONFIDENCE. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS REPORT AS IT HAS BEEN A MASSIVE WAKE-UP CALL FOR US. A WAKE-UP CALL SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF STATS NZ, MARK SOWDEN, TO STAND DOWN AT THE END OF MARCH. IT WAS ALLEGED CENSUS FORMS WERE PHOTOCOPIED AND ENTERED INTO A DATABASE OWNED BY WAIPEREIRA TRUST. THE PUBLIC SERVIES COMMISSIONER REFERRED THAT TO THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE INFORMATION WAS AND PROPERLY USED. THE OPPORTUNITY WAS LEFT OPEN, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. FOUR WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO USED TO WORK AT THE MARAE TOLD US LAST YEAR THAT THEY HAD MIXED TE PATI MAORI CAMPAIGN MATERIAL WITH OFFICIAL CENSUS DOCUMENTS. WE ADVOCATE FOR HER BY USING THE RESOURCES WE HAD. THAT WAS OUR JOB. THERE WAS ALSO AN ALLEGATION MANUREWA MARAE COLLECTED PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR ITS OWN PURPOSES FROM THOSE RECEIVING VACCINES AND THAT PERSONAL INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED AT THE POINT OF VACCINATION FOR A TE PATI MAORI TEXT-MESSAGE CAMPAIGN IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION. THOSE ALLEGATIONS HAVE BOTH BEEN REFERRED TO THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER. NEITHER JOHN TAMIHERE NOR CO-LEADER RAWIRI WAITITI WOULD COMMENT ON THE FINDINGS. ARE YOU GOING TO COME DOWN? HE DIDN'T COME ` INSTEAD A SPOKESPERSON DID, TO SAY NO COMMENT. IN THE PAST, THE PARTY HAS STRENUOUSLY DENIED ANY WRONGDOING. TAKUTAI TASH KEMP, WHO WON THE TAMAKI MAKAURAU SEAT FOR TE PATI MAORI, WAS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE MANUREWA MARAE. SHE NARROWLY BEAT LABOUR'S PEENI HENARE BY A MARGIN OF 42 VOTES. I HAVE NO DOUBTS SEAT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM. I CERTAINLY FELT THAT THE ELECTION IN THAT SEAT WAS UNFAIR. THE RESULT AND THAT SEAT WAS UNFAIR. THE FACT THE POLLING BOOTH WAS HELD AT THE MARAE DID DRAW INTO QUESTION THE RESULT. THAT WAS SUCH A CLOSE RESULT. THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE INQUIRY. SO, JENNA, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FROM HERE? WHILE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DOES HAVE POWER TO LOOK INTO PUBLIC SERVICES, IT DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER THROUGH THIS ENQUIRY TO LOOK INTO ANY OF THOSE OTHER PROVIDERS. THE TRUST AND MARAE, IT ONLY HAD THE ABILITY TO LOOK INTO THE PUBLIC SERVICES. THAT ENDED WITH ONE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS LOSING HIS JOB. THE NEW PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSIONER SET A STANDARD FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE GOING FORWARD. HE IS ORDERED THAT THERE WILL BE A PAUSE ON ANY NEW CONTRACT WITH THOSE THREE PROVIDERS UNTIL THOSE AGENCIES CAN SATISFY THE COMMISSION THAT THE CONTRACTS ARE FIT FOR PURPOSE. AS A RESULT, THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE CONSIDER IF CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO ELECTORAL LAW REGARDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE SWITCHING BETWEEN THE GENERAL ROLE AND THE MAORI ROLE. THE PREMISE THAT WOULD NOT EXPRESS A VIEW IF THAT WAS RIGHT OR NOT OR IF THERE NEEDED TO BE ANY ENQUIRY INTO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION. AND JENNA, ON ANOTHER NOTE ` LABOUR'S COME AT ACT OVER THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL; WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW? SHOTS FIRED TODAY BY DUNCAN WEBB. HE SAID THE ACT PARTY CAN'T BE BOTHERED PUTTING MP ON THEIR OWN TREATY PRINCIPAL'S BILL. THE JUSTICE COMMITTEE HAS SPOKEN TO HERE THE SUBMISSIONS MADE ON THAT LEGISLATION. THEY SAID THAT IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT ACT HAS PUT NEW ZEALAND THROUGH THE EXPENSE AND ANGUISH OF THIS DOOMED WILL, BUT TO REFUSE TO HEAR ORAL SUBMISSIONS IS DISRESPECTFUL, LAZY AND SHOWS IT IS OR A STUNT BY DAVID SEYMOUR. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK TO GET SOMEONE. POLICE ARE ASKING FOR PUBLIC HELP AFTER A REPORTED SIGHTING OF FUGITIVE FATHER TOM PHILLIPS AND HIS CHILDREN OVER THE WEEKEND. A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CALLED POLICE TO SAY THEY'D SEEN FOUR PEOPLE DRESSED IN CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHING SITTING IN A LAYBY ON STATE HIGHWAY 4 ON SUNDAY NIGHT, ABOUT 100M SOUTH OF THE TIKITIKI ROAD INTERSECTION OF MAPARA NORTH ROAD, SOUTH OF TE KUITI. PHILLLIPS HAS BEEN ON THE RUN WITH HIS THREE CHILDREN, JAYDA, MAVERICK AND EMBER, SINCE DECEMBER 2021. POLICE WANT ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE GROUP SEEN TO GET IN TOUCH. TE PATI MAORI CO-LEADER DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER HAS JOINED A PROTEST IN RAROTONGA, CALLING ON THE COOK ISLANDS' PRIME MINISTER, MARK BROWN, TO STAND DOWN. IT COMES AFTER BROWN SIGNED A CONTENTIOUS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA OVER THE WEEKEND, THE DETAILS OF WHICH WERE ONLY RELEASED PUBLICLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. BUT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WINSTON PETERS SAYS THERE ARE MORE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED AND HE IS ASKING THEY TO BE DO SO IMMEDIATELY. PROTESTORS GATHERED OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT IN RAROTONGA TODAY, AS LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES DEMAND COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER MARK BROWN RESIGN. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE LATEST. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER AMONG THE HUNDREDS AT THE COOK ISLANDS PROTEST AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S PRIME MINISTER, MARK BROWN, AND HIS GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA. TO SHOW HOW SINCERELY WE WANT TO KEEP OUR RELATIONSHIP AND OUR PASSPORTS WITH NZ. THE TE PATI MAORI CO-LEADER HAD JUST ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY, TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE WITH HER HUSBAND. WE ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT, AND I WASN'T AWARE OF WHAT HAD GONE ON WITH THE PASSPORT AND THE DELEGATION TO CHINA, AND SO THERE WAS THIS ASSUMPTION THAT I HAD ARRIVED FOR THAT. THE PROTEST ORGANISED BY THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY'S UNITED PARTY, WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER'S TRIP TO CHINA, WHERE HE HAS SIGNED A CONTROVERSIAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, UPSETTING THE NZ GOVERNMENT. I'M ASKING FOR YOU, AS PRIME MINISTER OF THIS COUNTRY, STEP DOWN. (CHEERING) I'VE PUT THEM ON NOTICE TODAY ` ONE, HE HAS TO RESIGN AS PRIME MINISTER OF THIS COUNTRY. SO I ASKED HIM THAT, BUT BEFORE THAT, I ASKED HIM TO APOLOGISE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COOK ISLANDS, MORE SO TO THE PEOPLE OF` THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. IT'S NOT LIKE HOME. THEY'RE NOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LARGELY ARE ACTIVE IN PROTESTING. SO WHEN THEY DO GET TO THAT POINT, IT'S A POINT OF REAL EXTREMES. THE PRIME MINISTER HERE HADN'T SEEN OR HEARD WHAT WAS IN THE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WE EXPECT TO SEE IT SHORTLY, WE'LL TAKE OUR TIME TO DIGEST IT, AND THEN WE'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COOKS THEMSELVES. THE COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT SAYS THE FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS SETS OUT A STRUCTURED FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE ENGAGEMENT IN AREAS OF PRIORITY INCLUDING... THEY SAID WITH THE SIGNING OF THE ACTION PLAN... DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WINSTON PETERS ISSUED A STATEMENT AFTER THE AGREEMENT WAS RELEASED, SAYING THEY NOTE ONLY ONE AGREEMENT WAS RELEASED, BUT BOTH CHINA AND THE COOK ISLANDS HAVE SAID MULTIPLE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED, AND THE GOVERNMENT HERE WANTS THEM ALL RELEASED WITHOUT DELAY. HE SAID CONSULATION AND TRANSPARENCY MUST LIE AT THE HEART OF THE COOK ISLANDS-NZ RELATIONSHIP. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE OUR LAND AND OUR OCEANS SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. DOES THIS MEAN THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE EXPLOITATION OF REALLY STRETCHED RESOURCES? SO THERE'S` YEAH, JUST REAL GRASSROOTS CONCERNS AND A LACK OF` A LACK OF TRUST NOW, I'M OVER HERE OFTEN, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS LOW BEFORE. WE ARE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NZ. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NZ, OUR CITIZENSHIP, AND ALSO WE WANT TO STAY CONNECTED WITH NZ, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR NZ PASSPORTS` WE'VE LIVED SORT OF LIKE FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS, AND WE WANT TO LIVE WITH A REPLATIONSHIP FOR ANOTHER 60 YEARS. MARK BROWN DID NOT FRONT UP TO THE PROTEST TODAY, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY FOR HIM OR HIS GOVERNMENT. A PROPOSED LAW THAT WOULD GIVE CONSUMERS THE RIGHT TO REPAIR PRODUCTS WILL GO BEFORE PARLIAMENT TOMORROW. THE LEGISLATION WOULD FORCE MANUFACTURERS OR IMPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT REPLACEMENT PRODUCT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE HERE OR THAT THERE IS SOMEWHERE GOODS CAN BE REPAIRED. ZANE SMALL HAS MORE. WHETHER IT'S REPAIRING AN OLD FAN OR SEWING A NEW HEM ON AN ITEM OF CLOTHING, IT'S ALL ABOUT FIXING RATHER THAN REPLACING STUFF AT YOUR LOCAL REPAIR CAFE, ORGANISED BY NON-PROFIT TRUST ` REPAIR NETWORK AOTEAROA. EVERYTHING WEARS OUT AND THINGS GO WRONG. WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP PRODUCTS BREAKING AND FAILING AND BITS FALLING APART. BUT THAT SHOULDN'T MEAN THE END OF THE ENTIRE PRODUCT. THAT PHILOSOPHY INSPIRED GREEN PARTY CO-LEADER MARAMA DAVIDSON TO DRAFT A RIGHT TO REPAIR LAW. IT WAS PULLED FROM THE BALLOT BOX IN APRIL LAST YEAR, AND WILL GO BEFORE PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW. IT WILL REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SPARE PARTS AND ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO FIX OUR OWN STUFF. SO IT'S GONNA SEND LESS WASTE TO LANDFILL. TAKE AN ELECTRIC JUG, FOR EXAMPLE. SAY THE LID BREAKS AND IT WON'T SHUT, AND THE PART NEEDED TO FIX IT ISN'T AVAILABLE, SO YOU REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. BUT UNDER THIS PROPOSED LAW, THE MANUFACTURER OR IMPORTER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE HERE IN NEW ZEALAND OR THAT THERE IS SOMEWHERE THAT IT CAN BE REPAIRED. IN PAUL SMITH'S CASE, THE TRIGGER SWITCH ON HIS DYSON VACUUM BROKE. HE EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO HUNT DOWN THE PART ONLINE. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT $10 SHIPPED TO ME. UM... I PUT IT BACK IN, AND I'M BACK WORKING AGAIN. BUT, I GUESS, THE POINT THERE IS... THAT WAS A REALLY COMPLICATED PROCESS. CONSUMER NEW ZEALAND SUPPORTS THE DRAFT LAW. WE'VE SEEN REALLY POSITIVE EFFECTS OF LEGISLATION IN THE UK IN 2021. AND THE FRENCH INTRODUCED A REPAIRABILITY INDEX IN THE SAME YEAR. BUT MIGHT FORCING MANUFACTURERS TO REPAIR BROKEN PRODUCTS JUST MAKE THEM PRICIER? IT SHOULDN'T GET MORE EXPENSIVE, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO COPE WITH PRODUCT RETURNS ANYWAY, RIGHT? THEY KNOW THEY'RE GONNA GET A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEIR PRODUCTS THAT FAIL, AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT THROUGH WARRANTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THE CONSUMER GUARANTEES ACT. SO THEY ALREADY ACCOUNT FOR THIS. IF THE DRAFT LAW GETS ENOUGH VOTES AT FIRST READING, IT'LL BE UP TO LAWMAKERS TO SCRUTINISE IT, AND DECIDE IF KIWIS GET THE RIGHT OT GET STUFF FIXED. LAURA'S HERE NOW WITH NEWS THAT ONE OF AUCKLAND'S RURAL CENTRES MIGHT BE ON THE MOVE BECAUSE OF FLOODING. YES, KUMEU, IN THE NORTHWEST OF AUCKLAND, IS NOT IMMUNE TO SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS. WHEN A SEVERE RAINSTORM HIT IN AUGUST 2021, IT FORCED THE EVACUATION OF HOMES, WITH UP TO 90MM OF RAIN FALLING EACH HOUR. THAT EVENT PROMPTED A REVIEW BY COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES OF THE FLOODING AND POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE FLOOD RISKS. THE COMMUNITY FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT THE ONLY 'REAL' SOLUTION WOULD BE TO MOVE THE TOWN CENTRE UP THE ROAD. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL BOARD CHAIR GREG SAYER, WHO WAS AT THE MEETING. I THINK IT HAS BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTING NEWS FOR THAT COMMUNITY ` THEY WERE HOPING THAT THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL COULD COME IN AS THE CAVALRY AND SAVE THE TOWNSHIP. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE. SO THE NEXT BEST THING IS TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE RISKS HERE GOING FORWARD. AND WHAT THEY CAN DO IS ALERT PEOPLE ABOUT THE FLOODING IN ADVANCE, STOP MORE HOUSING BEING BUILT IN THOSE FLOOD AREAS, AND PLAN TO MOVE THAT TOWNSHIP OVER TIME. THEY EXPLORED THREE OPTIONS BEFORE COMING TO THE CONCLUSION. ONE WAS A MASSIVE TUNNEL FROM THE KUMEU RIVER DOWN TO THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR TO DRAIN THE RIVER WHEN IT FLOODED. ANOTHER ONE WAS BUILDING A BIG DAM ABOVE THE TOWNSHIP TO CAPTURE THE WATER AT A FLOOD EVENT, AND THE THIRD ONE WAS WIDENING THE KUMEU RIVER SO MORE WATER COULD GET GET DOWN THE RIVER IN THE FLOOD EVENT. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY FOUND, WHICH WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO THE AUDIENCE, WAS NONE OF THOSE SOLUTIONS WOULD DROP THE FLOOD LEVELS BY OVER 1m, AND THE FLOOD LEVELS NEED TO DROP BY OVER 1m TO STOP THE TOWN FLOODING. SINCE AUGUST 2021, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER MAJOR FLOODS. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN PRONE TO FLOODING, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES IN THE CLIMATE, WITH HEAVIER RAIN EVENTS AND MORE INTENSE RAIN EVENTS, THAT FLOODING HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE INTENSE. AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF WHAT THEY CALL '100-YEAR' FLOOD EVENTS ` WELL, THEY'RE HAPPENING EVERY FEW YEARS NOW. SO THE TOWN CENTRE COULD BE MOVING NORTH TO GREENFIELDS THAT WERE ALREADY EARMARKED FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES, SO WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE COUNCIL TO NOT ALLOW THE CURRENT TOWN CENTRE TO EXPAND ANY MORE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MOVE THEIR SHOPS AND RETAIL CENTRE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ON TO HIGHER, SAFER GROUND. SOME RESIDENTS IN PREVIOUS FLOODS HAVE HAD THEIR PROPERTIES BOUGHT OUT BY COUNCIL, BUT OTHERS, INCLUDING SOME BUSINESS OWNERS, WORRY WHAT FUTURE DOWNPOURS MIGHT BRING. MY SENSE WAS A MAJORITY OF THEM, WHO HAVE BEEN FLOODED SO MANY TIMES, MANY OF THEM CAN'T GET INSURED ANY MORE ` KNOW THAT SOMETHING POSITIVE NEEDS TO HAPPEN; EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T THE PERFECT NEWS THAT THEY WANTED, THEY NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A PLAN TO MOVE THEM OVER TIME SO THEIR BUSINESSES CAN RELOCATE. SO WATCH THIS SPACE ` IT'S AN ISSUE THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES MAY FACE IN THE FUTURE. BUT TODAY'S WEATHER, OR LAST NIGHT'S, WAS MUGGY FOR MANY OF US. THESE ARE JUST THE TOP-FOUR WARMEST OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES. OTAKI ONLY GOT A COUPLE OF DEGREES WARMER DURING THE DAY. THAT FEED OF WARM AND HUMID AIR ACROSS THE COUNTRY HELPS SPARK OFF THUNDERSTORMS. THERE ARE SOME WARNINGS IN PLACE ` I'LL TELL YOU WHERE, AFTER SPORT. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` THE LUCKY ESCAPE AFTER A PASSENGER PLANE CRASH-LANDS AND FLIPS IN CANADA. A COLD SNAP IS EXPECTED TO MAKE WIDESPREAD FLOODING WORSE AFTER A SERIES OF STORMS IN THE U.S. AND LATER ` IT'S REAL RESEARCH ` WHY DANCING IN THE KITCHEN COULD BE ALL THE EXERCISE WE NEED. EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE EMERGED FROM A HASTILY-ARRANGED SUMMIT IN FRANCE, WITH PLEDGES TO 'STEP UP', BUT NO CLEAR PLAN ON HOW TO AVOID BEING SIDELINED BY THE U.S. AND RUSSIA OVER THE WAR IN UKRAINE. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SIR KEIR STARMER DESCRIBED UKRAINE AS A GENERATIONAL ISSUE AND CALLED FOR THE U.S. TO PROVIDE A BACKSTOP TO PREVENT RUSSIA FROM INVADING AGAIN. IT CAME AS THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVED IN SAUDI ARABIA FOR FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART. ITV'S JAMES MATES HAS THE LATEST. EUROPE MAY NO LONGER BOAST THE FIGHTING FORCES IT ONCE HAD, BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY GOOD AT THE CEREMONIAL STUFF. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A LAST-MINUTE SUMMONS TO PARIS, BUT THE ELYSEE PALACE WAS READY. KEIR STARMER WALKED AROUND FROM THE BRITISH EMBASSY NEXT DOOR, AN OFFER OF BRITISH TROOPS FOR A UKRAINE PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN HIS POCKET ` A STRATEGIC TURNING POINT FOR THE CONTINENT, HE CALLS THIS. WHETHER THAT'S REMOTELY PRACTICAL IF THE AMERICANS ARE NOT PARTICIPATING OR AT LEAST GUARANTEEING SUCH A FORCE, IS DOUBTFUL. AND CERTAINLY BY THE TIME GERMANY'S OLAF SCHULTZ ARRIVED, HIS OFFICIALS WERE POURING COLD WATER ON THE IDEA. SUCH ARE THE PROBLEMS PRESIDENT MACRON WILL HAVE PRODUCING A UNITED EUROPEAN POSITION. HE SPOKE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED ` NOW HE NEEDS THE CONTINENT TO RESPOND WITH ONE VOICE. EUROPE HAS ARMED, SUPPORTED AND FUNDED UKRAINE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE WAR, AND YET ITS LEADERS FIND THEMSELVES IN THERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO STAY RELEVANT TO THE ENDING OF THIS CONFLICT. THAT'S HOW MUCH TRUMP HAS TURNED THE NORMAL RULES OF DIPLOMACY ON THEIR HEAD. THE TALKS WENT ON AN HOUR AND A HALF LONGER THAN SCHEDULED, WITH GROWING ACCEPTANCE OF HOW MUCH MORE EUROPE NEEDS TO DO. BUT THERE'S STILL A RELIANCE ON A U.S. COMMITMENT THAT, UNDER TRUMP, MAY JUST NOT BE THERE. I'M PREPARED TO CONSIDER COMMITTING BRITISH FORCES ON THE GROUND ALONGSIDE OTHERS, IF THERE IS A LASTING PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT THERE MUST BE A U.S. BACKSTOP, BECAUSE A U.S. SECURITY GUARANTEE IS THE ONLY WAY TO EFFECTIVELY DETER RUSSIA FROM ATTACKING UKRAINE AGAIN. IN THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THE NEW ERA THAT WE ARE IN, NOT CLING HOPELESSLY TO THE COMFORTS OF THE PAST. IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SECURITY, FOR OUR CONTINENT. NOTHING COULD MAKE THAT CLEARER THAN THE WAY DIPLOMACY IS MOVING ON WITHOUT EUROPE. AS THE LEADERS SPOKE IN PARIS. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO WAS IN SAUDI ARABIA READY FOR FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH THE RUSSIANS TOMORROW. THE MAN HE'LL MEET, PUTIN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, DELIGHTING IN THE FACT THAT HE HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND EUROPE DOESN'T. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) 'THE EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHY HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE,' HE SAID, 'SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD DO AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. 'WHY SHOULD WE INVITE THEM AT ALL?' UKRAINE'S VLADIMIR ZELENSKYY IS ALSO IN THE MIDDLE EAST VISITING THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. BUT IS HE INVITED TO THE SAUDI TALKS TOMORROW? NO. ANY NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT UKRAINE WITHOUT UKRAINE WILL HAVE NO RESULT, HE PROMISED. THE LEADERS HEADED BACK TO THEIR CAPITALS THIS EVENING, MANY WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING ` EVEN PRESIDENT MACRON, NORMALLY SO KEEN TO HAIL PROGRESS AND HIS ROLE IN ACHIEVING IT, IS KEEPING SILENT FOR NOW. IT DOESN'T SUGGEST THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT HE MAY HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR. AND PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS NEW ZEALAND WILL ALSO CONSIDER SENDING TROOPS TO UKRAINE IN A PEACEKEEPING ROLE IF THERE IS A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT. NEW ZEALAND ALREADY HAS ARMY PERSONNEL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TRAINING UKRAINIAN FORCES. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE WOULD BE OPEN TO SENDING TROOPS INTO UKRAINE ITSELF IF THERE WAS A PEACE DEAL, BUT THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. WE PARTICIPATE IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD. ARE PEOPLE DO A GREAT JOB IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT IF PEACE IS ESTABLISHED. LABOUR AGREES THAT NEW ZEALAND SHOULD BE READY TO DEPLOY PEACEKEEPERS TO UKRAINE. CUSTOMS STOPPED 101kg OF COCAINE AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT ON SATURDAY ` BELIEVED TO BE THE BIGGEST SEIZURE OF THE DRUG AT A NEW ZEALAND AIRPORT. THE 85 BRICKS OF COCAINE WERE FOUND IN BAGS THAT HAD ARRIVED ON A HAWAIIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT. CUSTOMS SAYS INQUIRIES ARE ONGOING IN RELATION TO THE DRUGS, WHICH HAVE AN ESTIMATED STREET VALUE OF MORE THAN $35m. A PLANE CARRYING 80 PEOPLE HAS CRASH-LANDED AT AN AIRPORT IN TORONTO BEFORE FLIPPING UPSIDE DOWN. REMARKABLY, THERE WERE NO FATALITIES, BUT 15 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, THREE OF THEM CRITICALLY. HERE'S ITV'S DAN RIVERS. YEAH, WE'VE GOT IT` THE AIRCRAFT THERE'S UPSIDE DOWN AND BURNING. THE FUSELAGE OF FLIGHT 4819 LYING ON ITS ROOF AT TORONTO'S PEARSON AIRPORT, THE BUSIEST IN CANADA. VIDEO TAKEN BY PASSENGERS SECONDS AFTER THE CRASH GIVES A SENSE OF THEIR REMARKABLE ESCAPE. WE JUST LANDED ` OUR PLANE CRASHED. IT'S UPSIDE DOWN. FIREFIGHTERS ON SITE. UPSIDE DOWN. EVERYBODY'S... MOST PEOPLE APPEAR TO BE OK. WE'RE ALL GETTING OFF. SOME` SOMETHING GOING ON. THIS WAS TAKEN INSIDE MOMENTS EARLIER AS PASSENGERS REALISED HOW LUCKY THEY WERE TO ESCAPE WITH THEIR LIVES. I WAS JUST IN A PLANE CRASH. OH MY GOD. ALL 80 PASSENGERS AND CREW HAVE SURVIVED, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPORTS OF MULTIPLE INJURIES. THREE PEOPLE ARE IN A CRITICAL CONDITION, ONE OF WHOM IS A CHILD. THE PLANE WAS COMING INTO LAND FROM MINNEAPOLIS, OPERATED BY DELTA AIRLINES. THERE'S NO CLUE YET AS TO HOW IT ENDED UP INVERTED, OR WHETHER THE EXTREME COLD OR HIGH CROSSWINDS MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. (BUFFETING WIND BLOWS) WITH THE WIND WHIPPING AROUND, THEY MAYBE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROL WHEN THE RUNWAYS ARE VERY SLIPPERY, YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH CONTROL OF KEEPING THE AIRCRAFT STRAIGHT ` IT'S MORE AWKWARD. BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE A CAR, IT KIND OF SKIDS A LITTLE BIT AND SUCHLIKE. SO I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT. SOME FOOTAGE SHOWS PLUMES OF BLACK SMOKE JUST AFTER IMPACT, AND IT APPEARS THE BLAZE WAS CONTAINED BEFORE IT SPREAD INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. THE SWIFT ACTION OF BOTH THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE CABIN CREW ENSURING, AGAINST THE ODDS, EVERYONE MADE IT OUT ALIVE. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` THE POPE HAS HIS HOSPITAL STAY EXTENDED. HIS CONDITION IS DESCRIBED AS COMPLEX. AND LATER IN SPORT ` WHICH DAME WILL IT BE WHEN IT COMES TO WINNING TONIGHT'S HALBERG SUPREME AWARD? THIS IS THREE NEWS ` IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE HEAD OF STATS NZ WON'T SEEK REAPPOINTMENT AFTER A DAMNING REVIEW INTO THE USE OF CENSUS AND VACCINATION INFORMATION. POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR INFORMATION AFTER A POSSIBLE SIGHTING OF FUGITIVE FATHER TOM PHILLIPS AND HIS THREE CHILDREN ON SUNDAY. A GROUP WAS SPOTTED DRESSED IN CAMOUFLAGE IN A LAYBY ON STATE HIGHWAY 4 NEAR TIKITIKI ROAD. AND TE PATI MAORI CO-LEADER DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER HAS JOINED PROTESTS IN RAROTONGA AGAINST THE COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT. THE INDEPENDENT POLICE CONDUCT AUTHORITY HAS CALLED FOR NEW STAND-ALONE LEGISLATION AIMED AT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PROTESTERS AND ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY. IT UNDERTOOK A REVIEW OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, INFORMED BY 168 COMPLAINTS ARISING FROM ANTI-TRANS ACTIVIST POSIE PARKER'S APPEARANCE AT ALBERT PARK IN 2023, AND PROTESTS AROUND THE WAR IN GAZA. AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS A NEW REGULATORY REGIME FOR ADVANCE NOTIFICATION BY ORGANISERS OF PROTEST ACTIVITY, AND A SPECIFIC OFFENCE RELATING TO THE PICKETING OF PRIVATE RESIDENCES. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, POLICE ATTENDED AND MONITORED AT LEAST 140 PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE POPE'S STAY IN HOSPITAL HAS BEEN EXTENDED AS DOCTORS CONTINUE TO TREAT WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED AS A COMPLEX CLINICAL CONDITION. THE 88-YEAR-OLD WAS ADMITTED LAST WEEK TO UNDERGO TREATMENT FOR BRONCHITIS, BUT A CHANGE IN DIAGNOSIS PROMPTED A CHANGE IN TREATMENT, AND THE VATICAN SAYS HE WILL STAY IN HOSPITAL FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY. DOCTORS SAY THE POPE IS IN A STABLE CONDITION AND DOESN'T HAVE A FEVER. ARGENTINA'S FAR-RIGHT PRESIDENT IS FACING IMPEACHMENT CALLS AND A FRAUD INVESTIGATION AFTER PROMOTING A CRYPTOCURRENCY THAT PROMPTLY COLLAPSED. JAVIER MILEI SHARED A LINK ON X TO A CURRENCY CALLED LIBRA WHICH HE SAID WOULD HELP FUND SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT CAUSED THE PRICE TO SHOOT UP, BUT THEN NOSEDIVE, LEAVING MANY INVESTORS OUT OF POCKET. CRITICS HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS A RUG-PULL, WHERE INSIDERS PUMP UP THE PRICE OF A CRYPTOCURRENCY, THEN DUMP THEIR OWN STOCK BEFORE IT CRASHES. AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A SERIES OF STORMS IN THE U.S. A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, WHERE HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM FLOODWATERS. IT'S NOW FEARED PLUNGING TEMPERATURES WILL ONLY MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE FOR THOSE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. ITV'S BAIRBRE HOLMES REPORTS. SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE U.S. HAS BEEN LASHED BY FIRE AND ICE. NOW THE LATEST WAVE OF EXTREME WEATHER HAS BROUGHT DEADLY FLOODS AS HEAVY RAIN CAUSED RIVERS AND CREEKS TO BURST THEIR BANKS IN EASTERN STATES OVER THE WEEKEND. AMONG THOSE KILLED IN KENTUCKY, A MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER (7) WHO DIED WHEN THEIR CAR WAS SWEPT AWAY BY FLOODWATER AFTER TAKING A WRONG TURN. SHE WAS GOING TO PICK HER HUSBAND UP AT SOME FAMILY MEMBERS', SO THEY COULD GO HOME. AND SHE GOT TURNED AROUND IN THE STORM AND TOOK A WRONG TURN, AND WENT THE WRONG WAY AND ENDED UP ON THE BRIDGE. A STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED IN KENTUCKY AFTER HISTORIC FLOODS WRECKED HOMES, ROADS AND BRIDGES. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, AT LEAST 1000 PEOPLE WERE RESCUED, AND ALMOST 40,000 HOMES LEFT WITHOUT POWER. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE LOCAL, THE STATE, THE NATIONAL, AND EVEN THE CREWS COMING IN FROM OTHER PLACES THAT ARE HELPING OUR PEOPLE FIND SAFETY AND FIND SHELTER DURING WHAT IS CONTINUING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE FACED. BUT IT WASN'T JUST KENTUCKY THAT WAS AFFECTED ` EIGHT STATES FROM WEST VIRGINIA TO ALABAMA WERE BATTERED BY STORMS AND PLACED UNDER FLOOD WARNINGS, AND THE THREAT HASN'T EASED. THE WEEKEND'S WEATHER WAS CAUSED BY A POLAR VORTEX, BUT THAT'S MOVING WESTWARDS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNING OF LIFE-THREATENING COLD OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WITH TEMPERATURES IN PARTS OF MONTANA EXPECTED TO DIP AS LOW AS MINUS-45C THIS WEEK, ADDING TO THE ROLL CALL OF STATES CAST INTO CRISIS BY THE ELEMENTS. LUCY'S HERE WITH SPORT NOW, AND AUCKLAND FC HAVE RE-SIGNED THEIR CAPTAIN. YES, SAM. HIROKI SAKAI IS STICKING AROUND FOR ANOTHER SEASON. WE HEAR FROM HIM NEXT. FOR THE COMPETITION LEADERS AND WELLINGTON PHOENIX. PLUS ` WHAT'S BEHIND THE NRL'S AMBITIOUS PLAN PLUS ` WHAT'S BEHIND THE NRL'S AMBITIOUS PLAN TO GET U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO THE WARRIORS GAME IN LAS VEGAS? AND WE'RE LIVE FROM THE HALBERG AWARDS AFTER ANOTHER SPORTING YEAR TO REMEMBER. LEGENDARY JOURNEYS WITH SUZUKI JIMNY 5 AND THREENEWS SPORT. A RECORD MEDAL HAUL AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS WILL BE AT THE CENTRE OF CELEBRATIONS TONIGHT, AT THE ANNUAL HALBERG AWARDS. THE NZ TEAM COLLECTED 20 MEDALS IN PARIS LAST YEAR ` 10 OF THOSE GOLD, HIGHLIGHTING WHAT WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPORTING YEAR ON THE WORLD STAGE. OLLIE RITCHIE JOINS US NOW FROM SPARK ARENA WITH ONE OF THOSE GOLD MEDALLISTS. OLLIE. THAT'S RIGHT, WHAT A YEAR OF SPORT IT WAS INDEED ` SO MANY MEDALS AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS, 20 ALL UP, AND ONE OF THOSE GOLD-MEDALLIST IS WITH ME NOW. WHEN YOU REFLECT ON 2024, JUST A SPECIAL WAS THAT 12 MONTHS FOR YOU? IT STILL FEELS LIKE A DREAM A LITTLE BIT, BUT SUPER STOKED WITH HOW WE WENT, LOOKING BACK, IT WAS A BIT EXHAUSTING, BUT WE WENT OUT TO TRY AND WIN A MEDAL, WE NOT ONLY DID THAT BUT WE WON GOLD. COULD YOU TAKE US BACK INTO THAT MOMENT, THEY GOLD-MEDAL WAS WITHIN YOUR GRASP, HOW YOU FELT AT THAT POINT? TAKE US INSIDE YOUR PREPARATION. THAT MOMENT THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER, BE CLEAR IN THE FINAL BAR, RUNNING AROUND THE FIELD, WAS PROBABLY THE EASY PART, THE NERVES OF ALMOST MISSING IT, AND ALMOST IN THE FINAL, WAS WHAT SAT AROUND IN MY MIND WAS THE HARD, NUGGETY BITS THAT GOT ME HOME. IT WAS INTOXICATING TO PUT MY FOOT DOWN AND KNOW THAT THIS JUMP ` TO HAVE THE JUMP HAPPEN, CLEARING THE BAR, IT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY, BUT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT. THERE WAS TALK OF SHARING THE GOLD-MEDAL. I KNOW WHAT YOUR ANSWER MIGHT BE... THERE WAS TALK EXTERNALLY, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SPORT IS A WAY TO ENGAGE THE POPULATION, AND INSPIRE PEOPLE AT HOME TO DO AMAZING THINGS, I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE IS CAPABLE OF DOING THAT, SO FOR ME, THE PROSPECT FOR ME TO GO OUT PUT MY TALENTS ON SHOW WAS SO MUCH MORE TANTALISING THAN BEING ABLE TO SHARE A GOLD. SO EVEN IF I HAD WON SILVER, I WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH MY DECISIONS. DOES IT BRING IT ALL BACK FOR YOU TONIGHT? I THINK THE ACCOLADES, WHAT PEOPLE COMPARED ME TO, TO BE SHARING IT WITH THESE PEOPLE IS REALLY COOL. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE NEVER KNOW WHERE THEY MIGHT GO, I THINK A COMPETITION MOMENT IS MORE CONTROLLABLE, BUT IF I CAN ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST TONIGHT, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. HAMISH KERR IS NOMINATED FOR SPORTSMEN OF THE YEAR, IF HE WINS THAT, HE IS IN LINE FOR THE SUPREME AWARD. OLLIE RITCHIE, ENJOY YOUR NIGHT. AUCKLAND FC ARE ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT SEASON, TODAY RE-SIGNING CAPTAIN HIROKI SAKAI FOR ANOTHER YEAR WITH THE CLUB. WITH THE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER WINDOW OPEN, COACH STEVE CORICA ADMITS HE WAS QUICK TO 'LOCK HIM UP', HAVING BEEN A KEY PART OF THE CLUB'S SUCCESS SO FAR. WHEN IT COMES TO AUCKLAND FC'S WINNING FORMULA, HIROKI SAKAI IS A KEY PART OF THE EQUATION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND TODAY, THE CLUB ANNOUNCED THEY'VE RE-SIGNED HIM ON ANOTHER ONE-YEAR DEAL. # NA-NA, NA-NA, NA-NA-NA-NA... # NOT A DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT A VERY EASY DECISION. A SENTIMENT SHARED BY BOTH PARTIES, WITH SAKAI PART OF THE DEFENSIVE UNIT THAT'S KEPT NINE CLEAN SHEETS, AND CONCEDED ONLY 12 GOALS THIS SEASON. AND CONCEDED ONLY 2 GOALS THIS SEASON. ONCE THE JANUARY WINDOW IS OPEN, OBVIOUSLY, OTHER TEAMS COULD SPEAK TO OUR PLAYERS, BUT WE LOCKED HIM UP PRETTY MUCH IN TIME FOR THAT. (LAUGHS) ...NOT UNDERESTIMATING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUITY WHEN IT COMES TO NEXT SEASON'S ROSTER, AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH OFF-CONTRACT PLAYERS. WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AT THE MOMENT, BUT, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THERE'S STILL 10 GAMES TO GO ` STILL A LOT OF POINTS TO... TO GAIN OR LOSE. ...STARTING THIS WEEKEND WITH ANOTHER DERBY AGAINST THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX AT AN ALL BUT SOLD-OUT MOUNT SMART STADIUM. WE KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL NOW AFTER TWO DERBIES, AND AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT` YOU KNOW, DERBIES ARE WON ON THE SECOND BALL, AND THE FIGHT THAT YOU SHOW, AND THE DESIRE TO WIN, REALLY. THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOT IN THEM, NORMALLY, AND I DON'T THINK THIS ONE WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT. ALTHOUGH THE 'NIX WILL BE HOPING FOR A DIFFERENT RESULT ` CURRENTLY 0 FROM 2, AND NEEDING A WIN TO MOVE THEM INTO PLAYOFF CONTENTION. I THINK IT'LL BE VERY FIERY, AS THE FIRST TWO HAVE BEEN. STEVE CORICA HOPING AUCKLAND FC CAN DIRECT THAT FIRE TOWARD A THIRD DERBY WIN OF THE SEASON. THE BLACKCAPS FEEL THEY'RE AS WELL PLACED AS THEY CAN BE, HEADING INTO THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY STARTING TOMORROW. THE SIDE ARE UNBEATEN ACROSS THEIR FOUR ONE-DAYERS IN THE BUILD-UP TO THE TOURNAMENT, WINNING THE TRI SERIES WITH PAKISTAN AND SOUTH AFRICA, AS WELL AS THEIR WARM-UP GAME AGAINST AFGHANISTAN. TOM LATHAM FEELS THE TIME THEY'VE SPENT IN PAKISTAN CONDITIONS HAS PREPARED THEM WELL. I GUESS WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR BOTH SITUATIONS, WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE PLAYED, BATTED FIRST, AND SECOND IN A COUPLE OF THE GAMES AS WELL SO I GUESS ALL BASES HAVE BEEN COVERED. THE BLACKCAPS OPEN THEIR CHAMPIONS TROPHY CAMPAIGN AGAINST PAKISTAN IN KARACHI TOMORROW NIGHT. AFTER FALLING WELL SHORT OF THEIR OWN STANDARDS, THE BLUES ARE TRYING TO 'PICK THE POSITIVES' FROM THEIR OPENING SUPER RUGBY LOSS TO THE CHIEFS. THE REMATCH OF LAST YEAR'S FINAL COULDN'T PRODUCE THE SAME RESULT AS THE CHIEFS SPOILED THE START OF THE BLUES' TITLE DEFENCE. WINGER CALEB CLARKE SAYS THE TEAM IS FIRED UP TO MAKE AMENDS THIS WEEK. IT'S A GREAT REALITY CHECK, AVOIDS BELIEF IN THE SAME, A HURTING TEAM IS A DANGEROUS TEAM, SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND TO MAKE AMENDS AND RIGHT THOSE WRONGS. THE BLUES' NEXT OPPONENTS, THE HIGHLANDERS, WILL LIKELY HAVE A SIMILAR ATTITUDE, AFTER BEING PIPPED IN THE 80TH MINUTE BY THE WARATAHS IN THEIR OPENING GAME. AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE COMMISSION CHAIR PETER V'LANDYS HAS RAMPED UP HIS CAMPAIGN TO GET U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO THE WARRIORS' NRL SEASON OPENER IN LAS VEGAS APPEARING ON PRIME-TIME BREAKFAST TELEVISION IN AMERICA. AFTER TRUMP RECENTLY ATTENDED BOTH THE SUPER BOWL AND DAYTONA 500, V'LANDY'S HAS PERSONALLY INVITED HIM TO ALLEGIANT STADIUM ON MARCH 2ND, SAYING IT WOULD GIVE THE GAME EXPOSURE 'MONEY CANNOT BUY'. MR PRESIDENT, WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TOUGHEST GAME ON EARTH, RUGBY LEAGUE IN THE WORLD'S SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL WE KNOW THAT YOU LOVE REGIONAL SPORTS, THERE IS NO MORE BRUTAL SPORT THAN RUGBY LEAGUE. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE STADIUM AT LAS VEGAS. FORMER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS INVITED TO LAST YEAR'S GAMES, BUT HE POLITELY DECLINED. A LITTLE BIT AMBITIOUS? IT WAS A GOOD PITCH, WE WILL SEE. NOW, IF YOU'RE JUST ABOUT TO START THE COOKING, OR CLEANING UP, CAN WE SUGGEST GETTING YOUR GROOVE ON AT THE SAME TIME? SCIENTISTS SAY 20 MINUTES OF DANCING IN THE KITCHEN, OR ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE REALLY, CAN HAVE SOME GENUINE HEALTH BENEFITS AND HELP US MEET OUR DAILY EXERCISE GOALS. ITV'S JONATHAN BROWN HAS MORE. # OH, MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR. # YOU BETTER NOT KILL THE GROOVE. BUSTING A MOVE IN THE COMFORT OF HER OWN KITCHEN. # MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR. # WHEN POP STAR SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR BROUGHT HER LIVE-STREAMED HOME DISCOS TO THE MASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC, LITTLE DID SHE KNOW SHE'D UNEARTHED AN EXERCISE HACK. THAT'S BECAUSE RESEARCH BY AMERICAN ACADEMICS HAS PUT A NEW SPIN ON DANCING SOLO, SUGGESTING IT ENHANCES YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH, AS MUCH AS ACTIVITIES LIKE SWIMMING OR RUNNING. IT'S QUITE A NICE THING TO HEAR, THAT I DON'T NEED TO GO FOR A RUN, I CAN JUST DANCE, WHICH IS GREAT. DANCER CERYS IS ON HER FEET, TEACHING OTHERS FIVE HOURS A DAY. THEY'RE MOVING AND NOT THINKING THIS IS EXERCISE, LIKE YOU WOULD IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE GYM OR GO FOR A RUN. ANYONE CAN DANCE, SO JUST START AT HOME. JUST PUT ON SOME TRACKS, MOVE AROUND. WHETHER THEY WERE TAP DANCING OR DAD DANCING, THE STUDY'S LAB TESTS SHOWED IT ALL INCREASED HEART RATES AND OXYGEN INTAKE IN A SIMILAR WAY TO WORKOUTS; GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE AT THIS WORKSHOP IN LEEDS. I CAN'T HELP TAPPING AT HOME BECAUSE THE RHYTHMS ARE JUST SO ADDICTIVE. I LOVE IT ` I LOVE THE ENDORPHINS IT GIVES YOU. YOU JUST FEEL BETTER. DO YOU FEEL SILLY WHEN YOU'RE DANCING AT HOME ON YOUR OWN? YES. (LAUGHS) BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MUSIC IS SO GOOD, YOU FORGET IT. YOU KNOW, YOUR LEGS JUST GO BY THEMSELVES. LETTING GO OF YOUR INHIBITIONS COMES MORE EASILY TO SOME THAN OTHERS. DR PETER LOVATT'S BEEN STUDYING THE IMPACT OF MOVEMENT ON THE BODY AND MIND FOR 20 YEARS. IF WE'RE COMPLETELY STILL, THAT'S NOT GONNA GIVE US THE KICK THAT WE NEED. BUT WHEN WE START MOVING A BIT MORE FREELY AND WE GET OUR HEART PUMPING, THEN WE SEE THE HEALTH BENEFITS. # WHY DOES IT FEEL SO GOOD? ACADEMICS RECOMMEND GIVING UP 20 MINUTES TO THE GROOVE PER DAY, SO MAYBE THE SECRET TO BETTER HEALTH IS CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. # WHY DOES IT FEEL SO GOOD? # SOMEBODY GET DR LOVATT ON DANCING WITH THE STARS. THANKFULLY FOR VIEWERS, DANCING IN THE STUDIO ISN'T GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH. YES, A THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN PLACE FOR THESE AREAS, FROM NORTH CANTERBURY TO SOUTHLAND ` THAT' UNTIL 9 O'CLOCK TONIGHT AT THIS STAGE. NOW, I'M TOLD BY JULIET SPEEDY THAT THERE'S BEEN LIGHTNING IN CHRISTCHURCH SINCE THE NEWS HAS BEEN ON. AND CHRISTCHURCH ISN'T ALONE, WITH SOME ACTIVITY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OVER THE PAST THREE HOURS TOO. I'LL HAVE ALL YOUR WEDNESDAY WEATHER NEXT. A.M.I. HAS BEEN PROTECTING NEW ZEALANDERS RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS. A.M.I., BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO ` AND IT'S ANOTHER STICKY NIGHT AHEAD, BUT SOME COOLER AIR IS SET TO ARRIVE AT THE END OF THE WEEK ` SO, WEDNESDAY ` THAT LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES EASTWARDS AND RIGHT AWAY TO THE SOUTHEAST TOMORROW. THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN UNSETTLED SHOWERY WESTERLY FLOW ACROSS BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS. SO WESTERN AREAS WILL SEE A LOT OF CLOUD, SHOWERS AND SOME RAIN, BUT CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN WILL GET SOME SHOWERS TOO. ON THE WHOLE, IT SHOULD BE THE DRIER SIDE OF THE ISLAND, FROM CANTERBURY NORTH, AND SOME WARM TEMPERATURES ALONG THE EAST COAST. NOW, AFTER LUNCH, IT'LL BE ANOTHER AFTERNOON OF POTENTIAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN OTAGO AND SOUTHERN CANTERBURY. FOR THE NORTH ISLAND, BRACE FOR ANOTHER HUMID NIGHT SIMILAR TO LAST NIGHT, THEN SOME WET WEATHER FOR WELLINGTON TO START THE DAY. TARANAKI AND WAITOMO WILL GET SOME SHOWERS THROUGHOUT WEDNESDAY. NOW, LIKE THE SOUTH ISLAND, THE EAST IS LOOKING DRIER ` SOME STICKY CONDITIONS IN STORE FOR HAWKE'S BAY AGAIN WITH THAT WESTERLY FLOW. A FINE START TO YOUR WEDNESDAY ` UP TOP ` SOME CLOUD CREEPING IN FROM ABOUT MIDDAY. HAMILTON THE OUTLIER ` PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON SHOWER. AND CLOUDY PERIODS FOR MOST OF YOU HERE ` AND YOU MIGHT HAVE AN AFTERNOON SHOWER TOO. TAURANGA ` THOSE NORTHERLIES WILL EASE IN THE EVENING. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, WITH SOME GUSTY NORTHWESTERLIES. THE CLOUD SHOULD HOLD OFF FOR EVERYONE ELSE UNTIL AT LEAST THE AFTERNOON. AND MORE CLOUD IN NORTHERN AREAS, BUT SHOWERS THAT'LL BE CONFINED TO THE MORNING FOR THE KAPITI COAST AND WELLINGTON. AND NEW PLYMOUTH, WHANGANUI AND KAPITI ALL WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS OF 19 ` SO, A MUGGY ONE AHEAD. IT'LL BE A WET WEDNESDAY HERE ` LESS SO FOR NELSON, WITH JUST SOME CLOUD IN THE AFTERNOON. BUT FOR THE REST, THOSE SHOWERS WILL BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND POSSIBLY HEAVY WITH THUNDERSTORMS. NOW, OVERNIGHT SHOWERS THAT WILL CLEAR FOR BLENHEIM; SOME CLOUD AROUND ELSEWHERE. EXPECT SOME SHOWERS AFTER LUNCH ` PERHAPS HEAVY AND THUNDERY FOR TIMARU. A CLOUDY DAY IN OBAN, AND A FINE AFTERNOON FOR INVERCARGILL. NOW, THE REST OF YOU ` EXPECT SHOWERS THAT ARE MORE INTENSE IN THE AFTERNOON. OAMARU, THEY MAY EVEN COME WITH HAIL. DUNEDIN, YOUR WEDNESDAY STARTS PARTLY CLOUDY, STRONG SOUTHWESTERLIES, WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THEN THEY BECOME MORE FREQUENT LATER IN THE DAY. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH ` FIRSTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE HOT. 29 YOUR HIGH. THERE WILL BE SOME CLOUD AROUND. A CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON SHOWER AND NORTHWESTERLIES. WELLINGTON, YOU'VE GOT A WARM NIGHT AHEAD OF YOU ` 18 DEGREES. YOU'LL WAKE TO CLOUDY PERIODS WITH A FEW SHOWERS, BECOMING CONFINED TO THE RANGES IN THE MORNING. THEN FINE SPELLS FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND STRONG NORTHERLIES. NOW, IT'LL BE MUGGY HERE TONIGHT. AND THEN A WARM, FINE HUMID WEDNESDAY ` SOME CLOUD ARRIVING FROM THE AFTERNOON. A WARM NIGHT HERE TOO FOR TAURANGA. A FINE MORNING ` SOME CLOUD DEVELOPING BY AFTERNOON WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER. NORTHERLIES EASING IN THE EVENING. HAMILTON ` PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER IN THE AFTERNOON. NORTHWESTERLY WINDS AND A HIGH OF 26 FOR EVERYONE. ANOTHER MUGGY NIGHT HERE ` THEN FINE, BUT CLOUD DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER. NORTHWESTERLIES TO AUSTRALIA, AND SHOWERS FOR THE NORTH, EAST AND SOUTHEAST AREAS. AND IN THE PACIFIC, THE WEATHER IS LOOKING RELATIVELY FINE FOR THE COOK ISLANDS, WITH THUNDERSTORMS FOR THOSE ISLANDS TO THE NORTH. BACK HOME AND ON THURSDAY, SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS, WILL REMAIN, MAINLY IN THE NORTH AND WEST OF THE ISLAND. NAPIER ` THOSE TEMPERATURES STAYING WARM. AND DROPPING OFF A BIT FOR THE WEEKEND. SOME SHOWERS HERE FOR THE REST OF THE WORKING WEEK, BUT IF YOU HAVE SATURDAY OFF, YOU CAN ENJOY THE FINE WEATHER. A SERIES OF FRONTS MOVE ON TO THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM THE SOUTHWEST TOMORROW, SO SOME SHOWERS WILL STICK AROUND, AND A SOUTHERLY CHANGE BRINGS WET WEATHER TO PARTS OF SOUTHLAND AND FIORDLAND. AND A BEAUTY OF A PICTURE OF AUCKLAND TODAY, TAKEN FROM WYNYARD QUARTER, MAYBE EVEN FROM A BOAT. EITHER WAY ` BEAUTIFUL. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025.