TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` BANKS REACT IMMEDIATELY TO ANOTHER OFFICIAL CASH-RATE CUT. WHILE INTEREST RATES CONTINUES TO FALL, WHAT'S EXPECTED TO RISE, HITTING KIWIS IN THE POCKET? WHO IS AND ISN'T SITTING AROUND THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, AS RUSSIA OUTLINES ITS BOTTOM LINES FOR ANY PEACE DEAL IN UKRAINE? PLUS... YAAAAAAAH! THE HYPE'S BUILDING ` DAYS OUT FROM ANOTHER WORLD TITLE SHOT, WHO'S BACKING JOSEPH PARKER TO WIN IN SAUDI ARABIA? CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS, FAITH HAMBLYN AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. ANOTHER BIG OCR CUT BY THE RESERVE BANK, SWIFTLY FOLLOWED BY OUR MAJOR TRADING BANKS ALL TRIMMING INTEREST RATES. THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE TICKING DOWN ANOTHER 50 BASIS POINTS, FROM 4.25% IN NOVEMBER TO 3.75%. FIVE YEARS AGO, IN MARCH 2020, WHEN COVID HIT, THE RATE WAS 0.25%. THIS GRAPH SHOWS ITS SHARP RISE, PEAKING AT 5.5% IN MAY 2023, BEFORE FINALLY DIPPING SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, WITH TODAY'S CUT BRINGING IT BACK BELOW 4%. WHILE THE RESERVE BANK SAYS INFLATION IS NOW UNDER CONTROL, IT'S WARNING THERE ARE STILL CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR OUR ECONOMY. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD HAS MORE. FALLING INTEREST RATES OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAVE COINCIDED WITH ANNELYSE'S HOUSE-HUNTING JOURNEY. IT'S SUPER-COMPETITIVE ` YEAH, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, HEAPS OF PEOPLE AT THE OPEN HOMES, AND THE PRICES JUST SEEM TO GO OVER WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AT THE MOMENT. GOOD NEWS, THEN, WITH ANOTHER DROP IN THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE. PROBABLY MEANS THAT WHEN WE ARE PAYING OUR MORTGAGE, WE CAN GO OUT AND AFFORD AVOCADO TOAST OR WHATEVER, BUT I GUESS IT'S JUST GONNA MEAN MORE COMPETITION, COS MORE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GONNA TRY AND LEND MORE, BECAUSE THEY CAN NOW. AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF UNCOMFORTABLE ECONOMIC NEWS,... ARE YOU COMFY? ...A REFRESHINGLY POSITIVE TONE FROM THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR TODAY. LOWER INTEREST RATES WILL ENCOURAGE SPENDING, ALTHOUGH, OF COURSE, ELEVATED GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY IS EXPECTED TO WEIGH ON BUSINESS INVESTMENT DECISIONS. BANKS MOVING FAST TODAY TO PASS ON SOME OF THOSE CUTS ` GOOD FOR MORTGAGE HOLDERS, BUT THE RESERVE BANK ALSO HOPING IT'LL BOOST LAGGING BUSINESS INVESTMENT. WHAT WE WILL SEE IS INCREASED COMPETITION BETWEEN BANKS AS DEMAND FOR LENDING GROWS, BECAUSE PRIVATE-SECTOR CREDIT GROWTH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SLOW, AND THE BANKS WILL BE SNIFFING AND HUNTING. WITH THE MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS DUE TO REFIX THIS YEAR, THAT LITTLE BIT OF CASH WILL BE WELCOMED. WHAT WE CAN SAY IN AGGREGATE ` THERE'S NZ BORROWERS WHO'S ACTUALLY PLAYED THINGS PRETTY WELL OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AS THEIR MORTGAGES ROLLED OFF IN 2023 AND '24, THEY STARTED FIXING FOR SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS. THE INFLATION GIANT HAS BEEN TAMED, BUT THE HIGH COST OF LIVING IS STILL RAGING. THE CHALLENGE WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS IS WE ARE SAYING INFLATION IS LOW, BUT THE PRICE LEVELS ARE STILL HIGH. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE GOING INTO THE SHOP, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A DISCOUNT, BECAUSE INFLATION IS NOW 2%. REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE DATA OUT TODAY SHOWS HOUSE PRICES REMAIN FLAT, WITH MORE LISTINGS POPPING UP. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST COMPANIES IS FEELING THE IMPACT OF HIGH RATES AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY VOLATILITY. WE FACED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULT TRADING CONDITIONS ACROSS ALL SECTORS, WHERE JULY TO SEPTEMBER WERE AMONG THE WORST MONTHS OF SOME OF OUR BUSINESS UNITS THAT WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. MORE RATE CUTS ARE PROMISED FOR THIS YEAR. OH MY GOSH. EVERY DAY AROUND THE DINNER TABLE, TALKING ABOUT INTEREST RATES, HOUSES ` IT IS EXHAUSTING. IT FEELS LIKE A SECOND JOB. A HOUSE-HUNTING JOB THAT'S NOT OVER YET. SO, KATIE, HOW CONFIDENT CAN PEOPLE BE IN MORE RATE CUTS TO COME? TAKING EVERYTHING FROM WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, YOU ARE LOOKING AT RATE CUTS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR, BRINGS OCR CLOSE TO 3%, PROBABLY A BIT SLOWER THAN WE HAVE SEEN, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK THOUGH, THE ECONOMY IS STILL AS SUBDUED HOUSE PRICES AREN'T GOING TO GROW AS FAST AS EXPECTED, UNEMPLOYMENT IS STILL HIGH AND STILL GOING TO RISE AT THE START OF NEXT YEAR, ALL HOPES THAT THE ECONOMY WILL PICK UP IN THE SECOND OUT OF THIS YEAR. THERE WERE SOME WARNINGS ABOUT GLOBAL ECONOMIC SHOCKS ` HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE? GLOBAL GROWTH IS SLOW, THERE ARE RISING ENERGY AND PETROL PRICES OVERSEAS, AND OF COURSE THAT FLOWS ONTO US AS WELL, AND THEN THERE IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH TROUT AND THE TARIFFS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE RESERVE BANK EXPECTS INFLATION TO STAY WITHIN ITS TARGET BAND FOR THE NEXT WHILE, AND MIGHT MAKE SOME UPS AND DOWNS IN THE NEXT WHILE, BUT IT'S STILL HARD FOR A CONSUMER TO GO AND SPEND NINE BUCKS ON BUTTER THANKS. AND FOR MORE ON WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT INTEREST RATES TO DO OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, HEAD TO THE NEWS PAGE ON TVNZ+. ON YOUR SMART TV, HEAD TO THE MENU ON THE LEFT, AND SCROLL DOWN TO 'NEWS'. THERE, YOU'LL ALSO FIND THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS. THE U.S. AND RUSSIA HAVE AGREED TO EXPLORE, 'ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES', DURING LANDMARK DISCUSSIONS ON ENDING THE UKRAINE WAR. IT'S FUELLING CONCERNS IN UKRAINE AND EUROPE, WHO WEREN'T INVITED TO THE TALKS, THAT DONALD TRUMP IS PUSHING FOR A TRANSACTIONAL TRUCE THAT FAVOURS RUSSIA. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON REPORTS. THE MOMENT AMERICA SHATTERED RUSSIA'S PARIAH STATUS AND MOVED TO MAKE IT A GLOBAL PARTNER ` ALL WITHOUT MOSCOW MAKING A SINGLE CONCESSION, IN FACT TOUGHENING ITS TERMS TOWARDS UKRAINE'S TOTAL CAPITULATION. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) TRANSLATOR: I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN SIDE HAS BECOME MORE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR POSITION. WHICH INCLUDES NO PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN UKRAINE AND ELIMINATING THE PROSPECT OF UKRAINE EVER JOINING NATO. JOURNALIST: IS THE US SIDE-LINING UKRAINE, MR SECRETARY? THIS FOUR-HOUR FACE-TO-FACE MEETING IS SEISMIC ` THE FIRST SINCE RUSSIA'S FULL-SCALE INVASION. BUT CRITICS SAY DONALD TRUMP DIPLOMACY IS PURELY TRANSACTIONAL; A FULL RETURN TO TRADE WITH RUSSIA, ESPECIALLY OIL, WOULD BE WORTH HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BEGINNING TO ENGAGE IN IDENTIFYING THE EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST SHOULD THIS CONFLICT COME TO A... UH, ACCEPTABLE END. (MISSILE BOOMS IN DISTANCE) NO MORE DETAILS ON HOW THE WAR WILL END, THOUGH, BUT BOTH SIDES WILL APPOINT HIGH-LEVEL TEAMS FOR NEGOTIATIONS. THE PRESIDENT` UH, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DETERMINED TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY. THAT'LL CONCERN UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT, THOUSANDS OF KILOMETRES AWAY IN TURKEY, NOT INVITED TO TODAY'S TALKS. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY APPEARING EXHAUSTED, INFURIATED. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) TRANSLATOR: UKRAINE AND EUROPE MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE TALKS. THE WAR IS RAGING IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD. AND I HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT NOT HAVING A SEAT. WELL, THEY'VE HAD A SEAT FOR THREE YEARS. A HALF-BAKED NEGOTIATOR COULD'VE SETTLED THIS YEARS AGO. THE UK PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, IS HEADING TO THE U.S. NEXT WEEK TO MEET WITH DONALD TRUMP. EUROPEAN ALLIES WILL BE HOPING HE CAN MAKE THE CASE TO BE PART OF NEGOTIATIONS. AFTER ALL, IT IS DONALD TRUMP WHO'S DECIDING THAT UKRAINE'S SECURITY IS EUROPE'S RESPONSIBILITY. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON WANTS ANOTHER EXPANDED EMERGENCY SUMMIT WITH EUROPEAN NATIONS, THIS TIME INCLUDING CANADA, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN TARGETED BY THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION. (AIR-RAID SIRENS WAIL) FOR ALL THE DIPLOMACY, RUSSIA'S ONSLAUGHT IN UKRAINE CONTINUES. THIS FRONTLINE TOWN IS OFTEN ATTACKED. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) RESIDENTS HERE DON'T BELIEVE THE KREMLIN WANTS PEACE. BUT RUSSIA NOW SENSES NOT JUST A TERRITORIAL VICTORY; THIS PICTURE IN ITSELF PUTS IT BACK ON THE TOP TABLE. IT'S A MASSIVE WIN, AND AS PEACE TALKS LOOK LIKELY TO FORGE ON, IT MAY NOT BE ITS LAST. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, LONDON. POPE FRANCIS HAS DEVELOPED PNEUMONIA IN BOTH HIS LUNGS, WITH THE VATICAN DESCRIBING HIS CONDITION AS 'COMPLEX'. THE 88-YEAR-OLD WAS ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL IN ROME ON FRIDAY AFTER SUFFERING A RESPIRATORY INFECTION FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. HE HAD PART OF A LUNG REMOVED AT THE AGE OF 21 AND HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN PRONE TO LUNG INFECTIONS. THE VATICAN SAYS THE PONTIFF IS IN 'GOOD SPIRITS'WITH THE VATICAN SAYS THE PONTIFF IS IN 'GOOD SPIRITS' AND IS 'READING, RESTING AND PRAYING'. TE PATI MAORI REMAINS DEFIANT, IN THE FACE OF ALLEGATIONS CENSUS DATA WAS MISUSED FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGNING. IT FOLLOWS THE HEAD OF STATS NZ RESIGNING YESTERDAY, AFTER TWO INQUIRIES FOUND SAFEGUARDS AROUND THE DATA WERE 'INSUFFICIENT AND UNACCEPTABLE'. POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN HAS DEVELOPMENTS. THE WOMAN AT THE CENTRE OF THE POLITICAL FIRESTORM, TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP, MP FOR TAMAKI MAKAURAU. TAKUTAI TENA KOE. CAN WE TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE REPORT YESTERDAY, PLEASE? AH, NO. WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS? IT'S A PARTY RESPONSE, AND YOU CAN REFER BACK TO THEM. THE FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MANUREWA MARAE DESPERATE TO TALK TO ANYONE ELSE BUT THE MEDIA. YOU'RE A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ` PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. EXCUSE ME. WHAT HAPPENED AT MANUREWA MARAE? SORRY ` NO COMMENT. WHAT HAPPENED AT MANUREWA MARAE? WAS IT APPROPRIATE TO USE IT AS A POLLING BOOTH? YOU CAN REFER BACK TO THE PARTY. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE IN ANY OF THOSE REPORTS. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FACED SCATHING CRITICISM YESTERDAY, BUT ALLEGATIONS OF WHETHER TE PATI MAORI MISUSED CENSUS DATA TO TARGET VOTERS REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. ALL THE KING'S HORSES AND ALL THE KING'S MEN HAVE ENDEAVOURED TO FIND WRONG-DOING BY THE NAUGHTY NATIVES ` THAT HASN'T OCCURRED. TE PATI MAORI ASKED POLICE TO INVESTIGATE LAST YEAR, HOPING TO CLEAR THEIR NAME, BUT NOTHING. NO, WE'VE HAD TO CALL THEM TO FIND OUT WHERE THE INVESTIGATION IS. CLAIMING THE CONSTANT PROBES ARE POLITICALLY AND RACIALLY MOTIVATED. THERE'S 13 AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO AUDITS AND REVIEWS ON US AND YOU DO GET A BIT SICK OF IT AND TIRED OF IT. WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO MUDDY THE WATERS WITH, 'THIS IS ALL ABOUT MY IDENTITY, PEOPLE ARE PREJUDICED, PEOPLE ARE RACIST' THAT'S WHAT NZERS ARE GETTING SICK OF. ONE ALLEGATION IS STAFF AT MANUREWA MARAE PHOTOCOPIED CENSUS FORMS, BUT HOW THEY WERE USED IS UNCLEAR. I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO ASK MANUREWA MARAE THIS, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PHOTOCOPIED FORMS FOR THEIR DATA INPUTTERS, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO ASK MANUREWA MARAE THIS, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PHOTOCOPIED FORMS FOR THEIR DATA INPUTTERS, THEY WOULD HAVE SENT THE ORIGINAL TO CENSUS. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS THAT SOMEBODY'S BEEN MISUSING DATA. WE'LL LET THE POLICE INVESTIGATION RUN ITS COURSE. HE SAYS THE THREE MAORI ORGANISATIONS UNDER INVESTIGATION THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IS ALSO IN FOR A SHAKE-UP, HAVING SIGNED OFF ON A VOTING BOOTH AT MANUREWA MARAE, WHICH WAS RUN BY TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP. THEY'VE ALREADY SAID THEY GOT SOME ASPECTS OF IT WRONG ` I'M SAYING THERE ARE, I THINK, QUESTIONS OF POLICY AND CONDUCT, THAT WE SHOULD PROBE A LITTLE BIT MORE. FUELLING CLAIMS THE TAMAKI MAKAURAU SEAT WAS STOLEN FROM LABOUR. PEENI HENARE'S SEAT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM. I'M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OF THAT. DO YOU THINK THE SEAT WAS STOLEN? I THINK IF IT WAS ONE OF MY MPS, I WOULD HAVE CHALLENGED THAT RESULT. I FEEL FOR PEENI HENARE. IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT POSITION FOR HIM TO BE IN AT THE MOMENT. THIS IS JUST BLATANT CRUDE POLITICS OF DISTRACTION, HATE THE HORIS, AND THEN DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMY. HA HA. THE ISSUE STILL FAR FROM OVER. MAIKI SHERMAN, 1 NEWS. AND WHILE THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IS FACING CRITICISM OVER ALLOWING THE POLLING BOOTH AT MANUREWA MARAE, AN INSIDER IS WARNING THE COMMISSION HAS LOST SO MANY I.T. EXPERTS IT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HOLD AN ELECTION RIGHT NOW. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. EVERY THREE YEARS, WE CAST OUR VOTES AND DECIDE WHO WE WANT TO RUN OUR COUNTRY. BUT SOME ARE WARNING ALL IS NOT WELL WITH THE ENTITY CHARGED WITH RUNNING OUR ELECTIONS. IT'S A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION'S I.T. STAFF ARE ABANDONING SHIP. DEDICATED I.T. EXPERTS AT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION HAVE BEEN TREATED APPALLINGLY. DURING A RECENT RESTRUCTURE, MANY OF THEIR I.T. TEAM CHOSE TO LEAVE RATHER THAN ACCEPT NEW ROLES THEY WERE OFFERED. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 14 VACANCIES. IT'S A WORRY. IF THEY ARE LOSING STAFF HAND OVER FIST ` AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, LOSING EXPERTISE ` IT'S A REAL WORRY, BECAUSE WE KNOW AN ELECTION COULD BE CALLED AT ANY TIME. A SENIOR MEMBER OF STAFF AT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IS NOW BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY TOLD 1 NEWS THAT ` AND THEY WARNED THAT SO MANY I.T. EXPERTS HAVE NOW LEFT, THE COMMISSION MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN AN ELECTION AT SHORT NOTICE. IS THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER A BIT OF A BASKETCASE? OH, I WOULDN'T DESCRIBE IT AS THAT, BUT` IT SOUNDS LIKE THEIR I.T. TEAM, THEY'RE LEAVING IN DROVES. HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU BY THAT? OH, WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I EXPECT THE COMMISSION TO BE READY AT ANY STAGE. I MEAN, IT'S FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE` THEY'RE MANAGING THEMSELVES PROPERLY. THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION REFUSED TO MAKE ANYONE AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT IN A STATEMENT SAID THEY WERE 'ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT' THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SCALE UP AND DELIVER AN ELECTION IF REQUIRED. BUT SOME DON'T BUY THAT. THINGS ARE VERY BAD AT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION. WE ARE LOSING DEDICATED I.T. PROFESSIONALS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTIONS ARE RUN WITH INTEGRITY. FRESH CONCERNS ABOUT AN ORGANISATION UNDER FIRE. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. AS THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A $2M FUND TO HONOUR THOSE WHO DIED IN STATE CARE AND ARE BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES, A PROTEST WAS BEING HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH, CALLING FOR BETTER SUPPORT AND FAIR COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVORS, FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT INTO ABUSE IN STATE CARE. THE NEW FUND WILL ALSO PAY FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TO DELIVER SERVICES TO SURVIVORS, BUT VICTIM ADVOCATE KEN CLEARWATER SAYS SURVIVORS HAVEN'T BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS. WHERE IS THE SURVIVOR VOICE IN ALL THIS? BECAUSE WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE ARGUING WITH SOME OF THE STUFF THEY'RE COMING UP WITH. HE TOOK TWO EQUINE THERAPY HORSES INTO THE ACC FOYER, AS HE DELIVERED A LETTER, AND SAYS WHAT IS MOST NEEDED IS A CALL CENTRE, TO ADVISE SURVIVORS ABOUT SUPPORT AND COMPENSATION. A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS SCAMS ARE BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT TYPES OF CRIME IN NZ, WITH 10% OF ALL KIWIS AFFECTED BY FRAUD OR DECEPTION IN THE LAST YEAR. RESEARCHERS BELIEVE WE'RE EVEN DEVELOPING A REPUTATION INTERNATIONALLY AS AN 'EASY TARGET'. THOMAS MEAD REPORTS. TODAY RODNEY MATHERS WAS ON HOLIDAY GETTING A BREAK FROM A LONG FIGHT FOR COMPENSATION AFTER HE LOST A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO A SCAM ` MYSTERIOUS FIGURES IMPERSONATING AN INSURANCE COMPANY HE WANTED TO INVEST IN. IT FELT TOTALLY LEGITIMATE, BECAUSE THE WEBSITE ` THEY HAD COPIED SUNCORP'S WEBSITE, THEY'D COPIED THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, THERE WAS AN ENDORSEMENT FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR. AND HE'S NOT ALONE. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF OFFENDING IN NZ, AND IT'S GROWING. DATA FROM THE NZ CRIME AND VICTIMS SURVEY SHOWING 10.3% OF ALL KIWIS EXPERIENCED FRAUD AND DECEPTION IN THE LAST YEAR. RESEARCHER JARROD GILBERT BELIEVES WE'RE DEVELOPING A BIT OF A REPUTATION AMONGST SCAMMERS. THEY WILL LOOK FOR COUNTRIES WITH WEAKNESSES. NOW, AS NZ FALLS BEHIND, HERE, AND WE BECOME WEAKER AND OTHERS BECOME STRONGER, AND WE BECOME WEAKER AND OTHERS BECOME STRONGER, WE BECOME A SOFT TARGET. HE WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO CREATE A NEW CENTRALISED SCAM CENTRE THAT BRINGS STATE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE COMPANIES TOGETHER. COS AS SOON AS THE SCAM IS IDENTIFIED BY ANY TECH COMPANY, BY ANY BANK, BY ANY INDIVIDUAL, IT CAN BE REPORTED THERE AND DISSEMINATED IMMEDIATELY. WHY? BECAUSE EVERYONE'S IN THE SAME ROOM AND IT CAN BE... THE MINISTER CLAIMS WORK IS UNDERWAY TO REDUCE OFFENDING. THE BANKS WILL SHORTLY BE RELEASING THEIR NEW CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH WILL DEAL SUBSTANTIALLY WITH THE ISSUE OF THAT, ALSO WORKING WITH THE TELCOS ` IN FACT, I MET WITH THE TELECOMMUNICATION FORUM THIS MORNING ABOUT THEIR CODE. THAT'S NOT WASHING WITH RODNEY, WHO'S BEEN TOLD HIS SCAMMER'S IN AUSTRALIA OR VIETNAM. THIS IS REALLY COSTING AVERAGE CITIZENS HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. THE SCAMMERS ONLY BECOMING MORE SOPHISTICATED, AS WE STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP. THOMAS MEAD, 1 NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI, IT'S BEEN DUBBED 'THE CITY KILLER' ` NASA WARNS THE CHANCES OF A RECENTLY DISCOVERED ASTEROID HITTING EARTH HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED; WHY EXPERTS SAY THERE'S NO NEED TO PANIC. THEN ` THEY'VE SUFFERED FLOOD AFTER FLOOD; NOW A PROPOSAL'S BEING FLOATED TO MOVE THIS ENTIRE WEST AUCKLAND TOWNSHIP TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. HOW IT COULD WORK ` NEXT. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE LAZY GARDENER'S GUIDE TO GROWING GREAT VEGES. AND THE DAIRY FARMER SAVING LIVES AT THE BEACH WITHOUT HAVING TO GET INTO THE WATER. PLUS ` CRICKETER LOU VINCENT ON LIFE AFTER A LIFE BAN. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. NAU MAI. HOKI MAI. THE HAWKE'S BAY TOWN OF WAIROA IS A STEP CLOSER TO BEING PROTECTED FROM FLOODING, AFTER MULTIPLE PLANS WERE WHITTLED DOWN TO ONE. THE PREFERRED OPTION IS A SPILLWAY, THAT WOULD REDIRECT THE RIVER DURING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS. BUT IT MEANS SOME MAORI LAND AND 16 HOMES WILL HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED. HENRY MCMULLAN EXPLAINS. AMANDA REYNOLD'S HOME WAS ONLY RECENTLY REBUILT, AFTER CYCLONE GABRIELLE, BUT IN A PLAN TO FUTUREPROOF THE REGION FROM FURTHER FLOODING, HER HOME WILL HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DIDN'T WANNA LOSE OUR HOUSE, BUT... (SIGHS) FOR OUR WIDER WAIROA WHANAU, THAT IS A SACRIFICE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED OVER $200M TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR FLOOD PROTECTION FOLLOWING CYCLONE GABRIELLE, WITH $70M RING-FENCED FOR WAIROA. IT'S TAKEN TWO YEARS TO GET TO THIS PIVOTAL POINT. I REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE WHAT THEY HAD WITH THEIR LAND. BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GAIN IS SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY WILL PROTECT WAIROA. IF WE WAIT TOO LONG, WE'RE GONNA GET ANOTHER FLOOD. WHILE THERE'S BEEN SOME LOCAL IWI OPPOSITION, THERE'S ALSO SUPPORT ` EVEN FROM THOSE WHO'LL LOSE THEIR HOMES. IF WE DO NOT FIND A FLOOD-PROTECTION SOLUTION BY THE END OF MARCH, WE WILL GO INTO CATEGORY THREE. THAT'S NOT A THREAT ` IT'S A BLOODY REALITY. OUR BUSINESSES AND HOMES WILL NOT BE INSURED. WE WILL LOSE MAJOR-PLAYER EMPLOYERS IN THIS TOWN, LIKE AFCO. WAIROA WILL DIE. MULTIPLE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT THE ONE THE TWO LOCAL COUNCILS AND THE CROWN-APPOINTED MANAGER AGREED ON IS PLAN 1C ` A SPILLWAY BETWEEN TWO RIVER BENDS, APPROXIMATELY 1KM IN LENGTH, AFFECTING 16 HOMES AND 6HA OF MAORI LAND. IT'S GONNA TAKE THAT CORNER OUT THERE. THEY USED TO HAVE THESE T-SHIRTS THAT THEY PRINTED HERE ` IT USED TO HAVE 'WAIROA FOREVER', AND THAT'S KIND OF ON THE MINDSET WE NEED TO BE. HOW DO WE PROTECT WAIROA? FOR WAIRAU, BY WAIROA. IT'S NOW UP TO THE AFFECTED HOMEOWNERS TO INDIVIDUALLY ACCEPT OR DECLINE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN GOING THROUGH THIS EVER AGAIN. A SACRIFICE THEY SAY IS NOT JUST FOR THEM, BUT FOR GENERATIONS THAT COME AFTER. HENRY McMULLAN, 1 NEWS. FLOODING'S FREQUENTLY AFFECTED THE AUCKLAND COMMUNITY OF KUMEU IN RECENT YEARS, TOO, WITH THE COUNCIL NOW PROPOSING TO MOVE THE TOWN CENTRE. AS ISOBEL PRASAD EXPLAINS, THE PLAN COMES AFTER OPTIONS TO TRY AND PERMANENTLY PROTECT THE TOWN FROM FUTURE FLOODS WERE RULED OUT. KUMEU IS NO STRANGER TO FLOODING. A SEVERE RAINSTORM INUNDATING STREETS, BUSINESSES AND HOMES IN 2021, AND AGAIN TWO YEARS LATER. THE RIVER'S COME RIGHT THROUGH AND RIGHT UP INTO THE COMMERCIAL AREA IN THE TOWNSHIP. THE FLOODING'S BECOMING WORSE AND WORSE OVER TIME WITH THE CHANGES IN CLIMATE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, AUCKLAND COUNCIL TOLD LOCALS IT HAD A PROPOSAL TO PROTECT AGAINST FURTHER FLOODING. THERE IS A LONGER-TERM COUNCIL PLAN TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW CENTRE TO THE WEST, AND THAT MAY CREATE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST WITH THE DIFFICULT SITUATION THE COMMUNITY IS IN. THE CURRENT CENTRE IS NOT VIABLE, SO I THINK THAT'S THE LOGICAL DIRECTION TO SHIFT IT. BUT IT'LL BE UP TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHETHER THEY WANT TO SHIFT. IT'S CONSIDERED THE BEST SOLUTION AFTER OTHER OPTIONS ` INCLUDING EXTENDING FLOODWAYS, A DAM, AND DIVERTING THE KUMEU RIVER ` WERE NOT VIABLE. ALL OF THOSE HAVE FLAWS, EITHER IN TERMS OF EXTREME COST OR IN TERMS OF LEAVING PEOPLE STILL AT RESIDUAL RISK. LOCAL GROUP FUTURE KUMEU SUPPORTS A PLAN TO SHIFT THE TOWNSHIP ` BUT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LOCATION TO THE COUNCIL'S PROPOSAL. IT WAS A NO-BRAINER, REALLY. AND IT'S ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY, IT'S CLOSE TO THE RAILWAY, AND IT DOESN'T FLOOD. BUT IT COULD TAKE DECADES AND RELIES ON INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING AN ALTERNATIVE HIGHWAY AND RAPID-TRANSIT NETWORK. THE BYPASS IS UNFUNDED. IT'S A ROAD OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. WE'D LIKE IT FUNDED WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS. IN THE MEANTIME, THE COUNCIL'S PUT IN AN EARLY ALERT SYSTEM TO WARN RESIDENTS OF FLOODING. BUT THIS LOCAL SAYS ACTION TO SHIFT THE TOWN IS NEEDED NOW. AND WHAT'S AT RISK? WELL, KUMEU WILL DIE. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. A STARK WARNING FOR THIS FLOOD-PRONE COMMUNITY. ISOBEL PRASAD, 1 NEWS. AUCKLAND MAYOR WAYNE BROWN'S CONFIRMED HE'S SEEKING RE-ELECTION FOR A SECOND TERM. THE 78-YEAR-OLD LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN TO AGAIN LEAD THE SUPERCITY THIS AFTERNOON. HE SAYS HE'S ASKING RATEPAYERS TO BACK HIM TO FINISH THE JOB. I WALKED INTO A $360m HOLE BEQUEATHED TO ME BY THE LAST MAYOR, FINANCE COMMITTEE AND GOVERNING BODY. IN SPITE OF THIS, WE MANAGED TO DELIVER THE LEAST WORST AND LOWEST METROPOLITAN RATE RISE IN THE COUNTRY. THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION ` BUT NO CONFIRMATION YET ` THAT WAYNE BROWN'S DEPUTY, DESLEY SIMPSON, COULD ALSO ENTER THE MAYORAL RACE. THE ELECTION'S HELD IN OCTOBER. THE ASTONISHING MOMENT A PASSENGER PLANE CRASH LANDED AT A CANADIAN AIRPORT AND FLIPPED OVER WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. YESTERDAY'S FLIGHT FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO TORONTO TOUCHING DOWN HARD, WITH EXPERTS SPECULATING THE RIGHT-SIDE LANDING GEAR MAY HAVE COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE RIGHT WING TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY. THE 80 PEOPLE ON BOARD WERE LEFT SUSPENDED FROM THEIR SEATS BEFORE RELEASING THEMSELVES ONTO THE CABIN CEILING AND ESCAPING THE AIRCRAFT. ONLY TWO PEOPLE INJURED IN THE CRASH REMAIN IN HOSPITAL. HAMAS SAYS IT'LL HAND OVER THE BODIES OF FOUR ISRAELI HOSTAGES TOMORROW, INCLUDING THE TWO YOUNGEST TAKEN CAPTIVE IN ITS OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK. WHEN YARDEN BIBAS WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS MONTH, HE DIDN'T KNOW HIS WIFE SHIRI AND CHILDREN KFIR AND ARIEL WERE DEAD. HAMAS CLAIMS THEY WERE KILLED IN AN AIRSTRIKE IN GAZA. THE GROUP'S NEGOTIATOR SAYS SIX LIVING HOSTAGES WILL BE RELEASED ON SATURDAY. ME U TONU MAI ` COMING UP ` IT'S A NEIGHBOURHOOD NIGHTMARE. THEY ARE NOW COMING UP OUR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WITH THEIR DIGGER. CLAIMS OF RETALIATION AFTER CALLING OUT UNCONSENTED WORKS NEXT DOOR ` WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNER'S SAYING ABOUT HIS ACTIONS. THEN ` LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) COULD AN ASTEROID IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM STRIKE OUR PLANET? NEXT ` THE ESTIMATED DATE OF POTENTIAL IMPACT. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED A VEGE GARDEN BUT DON'T HAVE A GREEN THUMB? WE'VE GOT THE LAZY GARDENER'S GUIDE TO GROWING GREAT VEGETABLES ` ONE SIMPLE STEP, THEN JUST ADD WATER. AND SWAPPING GREEN GRASS FOR BLACK SAND ` POLICE HAVE CHARGED A MAN (32) WITH BURGLARY AFTER OFFICERS RECOVERED A DOG MISSING FROM NELSON'S SPCA. THREE ANIMALS WERE UNACCOUNTED FOR AFTER THE BREAK-IN ON SUNDAY EVENING. POLICE SAY THEY LOCATED THE SUSPECT IN TAPAWERA, ABOUT 50KS FROM NELSON, WITH A MISSING DOG IN HIS VEHICLE. FRANKIE HAS NOW BEEN RETURNED TO THE SPCA, JOINING SIMBA, WHO WAS RECOVERED EARLIER. BORIS THE CAT, HOWEVER, REMAINS MISSING. CHASED, THREATENED AND LEFT FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES ` THAT'S THE CLAIM FROM NEIGHBOURS, AFTER TRYING TO RAISE THE ALARM OVER UNCONSENTED EARTHWORKS AT A WEST AUCKLAND PROPERTY. AUCKLAND COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING TAKING LEGAL ACTION, AND POLICE ARE NOW INVOLVED, BUT THE PROPERTY OWNER DENIES ANY WRONGDOING. JACOB JOHNSON REPORTS. THIS IS OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY! THIS IS THE MOMENT LISA YOUNG WAS CHASED UP HER DRIVEWAY BY A DIGGER. YES, I'M VIDEOING! IT'S ALL ON CAMERA! IT DIDN'T GET MUCH FURTHER ` POLICE WERE QUICKLY CALLED, AND ONE PERSON WAS CHARGED WITH RECKLESS DRIVING. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT, THIS MIGHT BE IT FOR ME. THIS FAMILY SAYS SINCE OCTOBER, THEY'VE WATCHED FROM THEIR FENCE, AS TREES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR. AND TRUCKS HAVE ARRIVED, DUMPING ALL SORTS OF ITEMS, FROM TIMBER TO CORRUGATED IRON TO PLASTIC. THEY'VE BEEN FILMING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. A LOT OF THIS LAND IN THIS AREA, INCLUDING THEIR OWN BACKYARD, GAVE WAY DURING CYCLONE GABRIELLE, BUT THEY SAY THEIR ATTEMPTS TO DOCUMENT THE ACTIVITY HAVE RESULTED IN RETALIATION. IT'S TERRIFYING, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THREATS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST US. THEY SAY THEIR BOUNDARY FENCE HAS BEEN SNIPPED AND CONCRETE THROWN THROUGH THEIR WINDOW. POLICE ACKNOWLEDGE A COMPLAINT WAS LAID, BUT THE MATTER'S CURRENTLY 'INACTIVATED'. 1 NEWS CALLED THE PROPERTY OWNER TO ASK ABOUT THE THREATS. IN A STATEMENT, AUCKLAND COUNCIL SAYS... ...TELLING THEM TO STOP, ADDING IT'S CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE ALL OPTIONS, WHICH INCLUDES SEEKING ENFORCEMENT ORDERS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT COURT. THE PROPERTY OWNER SAYS HE'S DOING LANDSCAPING WORK, AND IT'S ABOVE BOARD. THE COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT RESOURCE CONSENTS HAVEN'T BEEN ISSUED, AND THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO IT. OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ALSO HAVE CONCERNS. WELL, IT JUST MAKES ME SICK, TO BE HONEST. MIKE JENKIN'S LIVED HERE FOR 40 YEARS AND SAYS HE'S SEEN INSTANCES OF ILLEGAL EARTHWORKS IN THE AREA. ALL THE STUFF THAT WE SEE HERE ENDS UP IN THE SUBURBS BELOW, BLOCKING THE STREAMS, FLOODING PEOPLE'S HOMES AND, ULTIMATELY, INTO THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR. FEARFUL THAT'S WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE NEXT TIME IT RAINS. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. NOW, NO NEED TO PANIC, BUT THE CHANCES OF A 'CITY-KILLER' ASTEROID SMASHING INTO EARTH HAVE ROCKETED TO ITS HIGHEST RISK YET, ACCORDING TO NASA. SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE TRACKING THE ROCKY OBJECT HURTLING OUR WAY, WHICH WAS FIRST SPOTTED LATE LAST YEAR. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS HAS THE LATEST. JUST SIT BACK, AND ENJOY THE RIDE. ITS A PLOT STRAIGHT OUT OF AN ACTION MOVIE ` AN ASTEROID HITTING EARTH, LEAVING A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION. AND WHILE IT'S STILL VERY LOW, THE CHANCE OF A COLLISION WITH ASTEROID 2024 YR4 IS GROWING. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST NASA CALCULATION, THE SPACE ROCK HAS A 3.1% CHANCE OF HITTING US IN DECEMBER 2032. I DON'T THINK IT'S TIME TO PANIC JUST YET ` IT'S A LONG WAY OFF. IT'S LESS THAN A DECADE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH JUST YET TO PANIC. THE ASTEROID'S ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 40m 90m WIDE ` BIG ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY WIPE OUT A CITY. BUT IT MAY MISS US ENTIRELY AS ITS PATH BECOMES CLEARER. AT THE MOMENT, THE DATA KIND OF GIVES US A CONE, A TRAJECTORY GUESS, OF THE POTENTIAL TRAJECTORIES, AND AS THE INFORMATION INCREASES, THAT CONE WILL NARROW. AND AT THE MOMENT, THE EARTH IS SORT OF ON THE EDGE OF THAT CONE, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT AS THE DATA INCREASES, WE'LL EVENTUALLY BE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CONE. THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IS KEY FOR GETTING A CLEARER PICTURE. IN MID-MARCH, THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE WILL GATHER MORE ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS. THIS IS GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE IN NINE OF 10 CASES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REMOVE THESE OBJECTS FROM THE RISK LIST. HOWEVER, THIS IS STILL A 10% PROBABILITY THAT THIS OBJECT WILL REMAIN IN THIS LIST. NASA HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. LOOKS TO ME LIKE WE'RE HEADING STRAIGHT IN. IN 2022, IT FLEW A SPACECRAFT INTO AN ASTEROID, SUCCESSFULLY CHANGING ITS COURSE. ...IN THE NAME OF PLANETARY DEFENCE. ASTEROIDS POSING A RISK TO EARTH ARE RARE. IN 2022, THERE WAS ONE WHICH INITIALLY SHOWED A HIGH RISK, BUT WHEN MORE DATA WAS COLLECTED, IT FELL TO ZERO. SO HOPEFULLY THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS ONE AS WELL. A TENSE TIME FOR SCIENTISTS AS THE WORLD WAITS FOR THE NEXT UPDATE. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND YOU CAN SMELL THE START OF THE FORMULA 1 SEASON. AN ALL-STAR LAUNCH IN LONDON, INCLUDING LIAM LAWSON, RIGHT AT THE FOREFRONT OF FESTIVITIES, WITH PLENTY OF SUPPORT FROM HIS SUPERSTAR TEAMMATE. ACROSS IN SAUDI ARABIA ` ANOTHER KIWI UP IN LIGHTS, GRABBING ALL THE ATTENTION. PLUS ` THE CHIEFS AND THEIR RETURNING ALL BLACKS EYE UP THE OLD FOE, AND FOOTBALL'S NEW TRILOGY; THE PHOENIX CAPTAIN HAS A CLEAR MESSAGE FOR HIS KIWI RIVALS. AND THEN WEATHER ` YOU THINK WE'RE DONE WITH THE SHOWERS, BUT NOT JUST YET; KEEP THAT RAINCOAT HANDY. THERE'LL BE A BIT MORE SUNSHINE ABOUT THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY ON THURSDAY, BUT AS THE HEATING GETS GOING, THERE WILL BE SOME SHOWERS, PARTICULARLY INTO THE SOUTH AND WEST, BY THE TIME WE GET INTO THE AFTERNOON. BUT HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE ` AFTER SPORT. NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TONIGHT ` IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT FORMULA 1 IS OFFICIALLY BACK, THE 75th SEASON KICKING OFF WITH A FLASHY LAUNCH IN LONDON. ALL 20 DRIVERS AND THEIR TEAMS PARADED, AND RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT, NEW ZEALAND'S OWN LIAM LAWSON. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE HAS MORE. LIAM LAWSON'S COME A LONG WAY SINCE DRIVING THE BACK STREETS OF PUKEKOHE ` PULLING UP AT LONDON'S O2 ARENA, FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMPION TEAMMATE MAX VERSTAPPEN RIDING SHOTGUN, LAWSON KITTED OUT IN HIS OWN KIWI FLAIR. AND AMONG THE STARS ROCKING UP ` LEWIS HAMILTON, WITH HIS NEW TOUCH OF FERRARI RED; YUKI TSUNODA DOING, WELL, YUKI TSUNODA THINGS. I HAVE THAT SAME CAR IN JAPAN, SO I KNOW HOW TO DO DOUGHNUTS. IF I GET CAUGHT, THERE'S THE RESERVE DRIVER, SO... F1 KICKING OFF THEIR 75th YEAR IN HOLLYWOOD STYLE ` A TWO-HOUR TELEVISED SHOW, DRUMMERS, MUSIC STARS... # PUT SOME MILES ON IT. ...A SELL-OUT CROWD AND LAVISH TEAM PRESENTATIONS. ...THE GRAND REVEAL OF ALL THE F1 TEAM'S NEW LIVERIES. I SAY NEW; IT TURNS OUT MOST OF THEM HAVEN'T ACTUALLY CHANGED. IT'S VERY MUCH THE SAME FOR RED BULL RACING, BUT PULLING THE CURTAIN UP ON A NEW ERA. MAX IS JOINED BY YOUNG KIWI LIAM LAWSON. (CHEERING) LAWSON ALREADY BECOMING A FAN FAVOURITE, RECEIVING PUBLIC BACKING TODAY FROM VERSTAPPEN. I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T REALLY, UM, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE CAR. UH, YEAH. WE'VE SEEN EACH OTHER AT THE PHOTOSHOOTS. (CHUCKLES) BUT I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE FINE. YOU KNOW, UM... I'VE SEEN, OF COURSE, ALSO LIAM GROW THROUGHOUT THE JUNIOR TEAM, AND HE DEFINITELY DESERVES THE SHOT AT THE TEAM. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A PROPER PRE-SEASON. UM... SO IT'S BEEN QUITE STRANGE, TO BE HONEST, TO HAVE SO MUCH TIME. IT FEELS LIKE... HONESTLY, NOW I'M JUST READY TO GO ` GO RACING. A BIG TALKING POINT FOR THIS YEAR'S SEASON, THOUGH ` THE FIA'S CLAMP-DOWN ON SWEARING. DRIVERS CAN BE FINED, BANNED AND EVEN DOCKED POINTS. I PREFER NOT TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT. MIGHT GET ME IN TROUBLE. BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD... I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE F1 SWEARING BAN. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS, AS ROLE MODELS, NOT TO TURN THE AIRWAVES BLUE WITH COARSE LANGUAGE? LISTEN, I THINK IT'S A INDUSTRY LANGUAGE. TRAVELLING OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR, SO IF THE SHIT HITS THE FAN... (CHEERING) GORDON! PLEASE! ALL FUN AND GAMES NOW, BUT IN THREE WEEKS' TIME, FORMULA 1 75 IS ON. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER UNDER THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT IS JOSEPH PARKER. PARKER AND ENGLISHMAN DANIEL DUBOIS ARE IN COUNTDOWN MODE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AHEAD OF SUNDAY MORNING'S IBF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN. TODAY, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE GLITZ, THE GLAMOUR ` AND THE GLARES. JOSEPH PARKERRRR! IT'S THE GRAND ENTRY WE'VE COME TO EXPECT IN THE NEW WORLD BOXING CAPITAL, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. LOOK AT THIS MAN. THIS IS A MAN WHO'S COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SKIN, COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR ABILITIES. JOSEPH PARKER NOW JUST THREE DAYS AWAY FROM FIGHTING AGAIN FOR A WORLD TITLE, EIGHT YEARS SINCE HIS FIRST SHOT AT WINNING ONE OF THE TOP BELTS AND JUST OVER TWO YEARS SINCE HIS LAST DEFEAT. IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE ` GO OUT THERE, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. I HAVE CONFIDENCE, AND I'M GONNA PROVE TO EVERYONE THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK FROM A LOSS. A DIET OF NIGHT-TIME SPARRING AND CONDITIONING SESSIONS IN THE SAUDI CAPITAL REPLACED BY GLOBAL PROMOTIONS AND INTERVIEWS OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. ONE, TWO, THREE, GO. YAAAAAAAAH! MEET PARKER'S OPPONENT, BRUISING ENGLISHMAN DANIEL DUBOIS. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS TOILING AWAY AS A PRO, THE 27-YEAR-OLD LONDONER TOOK OVER THE VACANT IBF TITLE IN THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR, SHOCKING ANTHONY JOSHUA IN HIS FIRST DEFENCE IN SEPTEMBER. JUST HAVING AMBITION AND GOALS, AND WE'VE HAVEN'T STOPPED, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP, AND WE'RE HERE NOW. ONE OF THE MORE AWKWARD MOMENTS TODAY ` THE COMBATANTS WERE PUT IN THE SAME ROOM, DUBOIS DOING HIS BEST TO IGNORE PARKER. BOXING'S WHO'S WHO HAS AGAIN DESCENDED ON THE KINGDOM. SOON-TO-BE IBF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. 100%. IT'S COMING HOME ` IT'S COMING HOME TO IRELAND; IT'S COMING HOME TO NEW ZEALAND. YES, A NUMBER OF PUNDITS ARE PICKING PARKER BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND NEW SIZE, BUT MANY, INCLUDING THE BOOKIES, ARE PREDICTING DUBOIS' POWER WILL BE TOO MUCH. ROUND ONE OF THE PREFIGHT IS OVER BEFORE THE MAIN EVENT ON SUNDAY MORNING. KYLE JAMIESON'S MAKING A RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL CRICKET 12 MONTHS AFTER HIS LAST APPEARANCE. CALLED IN AS A LATE INJURY REPLACEMENT FOR THE BLACK CAPS, THE 30-YEAR-OLD FAST BOWLER'S ON HIS WAY TO PAKISTAN, REPLACING LOCKIE FERGUSON, WHO'S BEEN RULED OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY WITH A FOOT INJURY. JAMIESON WON'T PLAY IN TONIGHT'S FIRST GAME AGAINST HOSTS PAKISTAN. I'M SURE THERE'LL BE EYES ON HIM WITH HIS FIRST GAME BACK. BUT EVERYTHING HE'S BEEN DOING HAS BEEN, LIKE, PUSHING TOWARD HIS RETURN TO PLAY FOR INTERNATIONAL CRICKET AS WELL, AND WE'VE BEEN DELIGHTED, THE WAY HE'S FIRSTLY GOT THROUGH SUPER SMASH, BUT NOW GOT THROUGH A COUPLE OF GAMES IN THE FORD TROPHY AS WELL. JAMIESON'S IMPRESSED IN DOMESTIC CRICKET THIS SUMMER FOLLOWING A LENGTHY ABSENCE WITH A BACK INJURY. FROM A BENCH BOMB SQUAD TO AN ALL-BLACK-LADEN STARTING TEAM, THE CHIEFS HAVE A FORMIDABLE LOOK FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF SUPER RUGBY. THEY MEET THE OLD ENEMY CRUSADERS, WHO TOOK A STEP LAST WEEK TOWARDS LOOKING LIKE THEIR OLD SELVES. BRODYN KNUCKEY REPORTS. THINGS ALREADY KICKING INTO GEAR FOR ONE OF SUPER RUGBY'S PRE-SEASON FAVOURITES. WE WERE PRETTY PROUD OF THE PERFORMANCE. YOU KNOW, GAME ONE, YOU NEVER 100% KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA GO, BUT WE WERE, YOU KNOW, PLEASED WITH A LOT OF ASPECTS OF OUR GAME. A 25-14 WIN OVER THE DEFENDING CHAMPS AT EDEN PARK, THE CHIEFS KEEPING THE BLUES SCORELESS IN THE SECOND HALF, WHILE PILING ON 19 UNANSWERED POINTS. MCKENZIE HAS A GO! HE'S IN! THAT'S THE GAME! THEIR STACKED BENCH OF SIX ALL BLACKS ALSO DELIVERING, BUT TALK OF A POTENTIAL BOMB SQUAD SET-UP THIS YEAR QUICKLY DEFUSED. LAST WEEK WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY. LIKE, THEY JUST WEREN'T AS READY AS THE OTHER PEOPLE, AND IT'S A LONG SEASON ` LIKE, THESE GUYS ARE GONNA BE STARTING PROBABLY MORE GAMES THAN THEY'RE NOT. FOUR TEST PLAYERS PROMOTED TO START AGAINST THE CRUSADERS AT HOME ON FRIDAY, ALTHOUGH CORTEZ RATIMA AND SAMIPENI FINAU STILL TASKED WITH MAKING AN IMPACT, AND QUINN TUPAEA JOINING THEM IN THE RESERVES, AHEAD OF HIS 50TH GAME FOR THE CLUB. YOU SAW ON THE WEEKEND HOW IMPORTANT OUR BENCH WAS AND THE IMPACT THEY BROUGHT ON, SO THAT'LL BE MY JOB THIS WEEK, AND I'LL BE LOOKING TO DO MUCH OF THE SAME. THE CRUSADERS RUNNING A DIFFERENT ROUTE ` NOW THE CHASE IS ON! ...JUST ONE INJURY-ENFORCED CHANGE TO THE 23 WHO BEAT THE HURRICANES. MORALE HIGH, BUT TEMPERED WITH A REALISATION THEY HAVEN'T ACHIEVED ANYTHING YET. IT'S A GOOD START, ISN'T IT? BUT IT'S JUST THAT ` IT'S ONLY A START, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT ONE NOW. A WIN IN HAMILTON WOULD BE THEIR FIRST ON THE ROAD IN OVER A YEAR, LOSING ALL SEVEN AWAY GAMES IN 2024. IT'S A TOUGH COMPETITION. YOU KNOW, GOING UP TO THEIR HOME GROUND, AND IT'S THE BEST AGAINST THE BEST OF THE COUNTRY, SO A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. AN EARLY SEASON DERBY, BUT WINNING IT A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX MAY BE AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TABLE TO AUCKLAND FC, BUT WHERE THEY STAND ON THE A-LEAGUE LADDER IS IRRELEVANT THIS WEEKEND. THE THIRD DERBY IN AUCKLAND APPROACHING, AND WHILE THE PHOENIX ARE 2-0 DOWN, AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED, THEY'RE STARTING WITH A CLEAN SHEET. HERE'S KATE WELLS. IF ONE THING'S FOR SURE ` ALEX RUFER WON'T NEED HIS BEANIE IN AUCKLAND ON SATURDAY; THE FORECAST, FINE, WITH A 100% CHANCE OF ON-FIELD HEAT. LOOK, OBVIOUSLY, WOULD WE PREFER TO BE UP THERE WHERE THEY ARE? OF COURSE. BUT, IN GENERAL, I THINK IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO HAVE A DERBY HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. YOU CAN SEE THAT BOTH SETS OF FANS AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE REALLY GOT BEHIND IT. THE PHOENIX SKIPPER A BIG TALKING POINT IN THEIR LAST MEETING WITH AUCKLAND FC AFTER THIS FIERY EXCHANGE WITH LOUIS TOOMEY. NOW ALEX RUFER NEEDS TO BE VERY CAREFUL HERE, VERY CAREFUL INDEED. AND STEVE CORICA IS APOPLECTIC. WHEN ASKED HOW RUFER LOOKS BACK ON THAT MOMENT... I DON'T, TO BE HONEST. LOOK, THAT'S` WHAT'S HAPPENED HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT'S DONE IS DONE. FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WINNING THE GAME I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED, AND THAT'S IT. WHAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT... OH, IT'S GIVEN AWAY BY OLUWAYEMI! WHAT A MISTAKE! ...IS THE ERROR RATE, COSTING THE PHOENIX IN THE TWO PREVIOUS DERBIES. I MEAN, IF YOU CAN LIMIT BIG MISTAKES IN BIG GAMES, YOU GO A LONG WAY TO POTENTIALLY WINNING THE GAME. SO, YEAH, JUST KEEPING IT VERY SIMPLE IN WHAT WE WANNA DO. YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY STILL GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND PERFORM AND WORK HARD AND DO ALL THE THINGS PROPERLY THAT YOU DO EVERY WEEK. THE 10TH PLACE PHOENIX HAD JUST ONE WIN IN THEIR LAST SEVEN GAMES. MISSING FOR MOST OF THOSE WAS THEIR CAPTAIN, OUT FOR SIX WEEKS WITH GLANDULAR FEVER. YOU KNOW, I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FROM ANYWHERE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, SIX WEEKS TO SIX MONTHS. AND WHEN YOU GET TOLD THAT, IT'S PRETTY SCARY. SO, THANKFULLY AND LUCKILY, I'M BACK HEALTHY AGAIN, AND HERE WE ARE. SET FOR ANOTHER HIGH TEMPERATURE AFFAIR. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. FINALLY TONIGHT ` TIGER WOODS SUFFERED WHAT HE CALLS HIS 'MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT' OF HIS GOLF CAREER. PLAYING IN THE TGL VIRTUAL LEAGUE HE CREATED, THE FORMER WORLD NUMBER-ONE MISHEARD HIS CADDY'S YARDAGE READING. THE RESULT ` A STROKE ANY SUNDAY CASUAL CAN RELATE TO. (LAUGHS) 199. HE SAID 99YD! I PRESUMED 99. (LAUGHTER) NO, I HEARD YOU SAY 99. (LAUGHTER) I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS 199. THINGS NOT GETTING MUCH BETTER FOR WOODS OR HIS JUPITER LINKS TEAM, LOSING 10 HOLES TO THREE AGAINST NEW YORK. Comms issues. MAYBE HIS HEARING IS GOING. THANKS, ANDREW. STAY WITH US; DAN SAYS THERE IS A BIT MORE SUNSHINE IN THE MIX TOMORROW, BUT KEEP THAT RAINCOAT HANDY TOO. DETAILS NEXT. COMING UP SHORTLY ON SEVEN SHARP ` WE'VE GOT THE SIMPLE HACK TO MAKE YOUR GARDEN GROW THIS SEASON. HELLO. IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE HAD FRONTS DROPPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. LOW-PRESSURE THERE. THE MOST RECENT ONE. WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH. HIGH-PRESSURE STILL ON COURSE FOR THE WEEKEND. BLOBS OF COLOUR THERE. THE TROPICS MAY BE GETTING A BIT ACTIVE BY FRIDAY. MAYBE NEAR FIJI. MODERATE SHOWERS. WHILE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF STRONG WINDS BLOWING. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT. WE ZOOM IN CLOSE TO SEE A COLLECTION OF DRAFTS MOVING THROUGH. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN. THREE TIMES SINCE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTCHURCH AND ASHBURTON IN THE 20S. TOP TEMPERATURE FOR THE COUNTRY. A WARM NORTHWEST FLOW. THE AREAS OF CLOUD, THREE DIFFERENT FEATURES TO POINT OUT. THAT THE TEMPERATURES ELSEWHERE. BECAUSE THE FLOW, THE TOMATO RED. THE COOLER AIR IS TRYING TO CREEP IN. SOME LOWER SINGLE FIGURES TOWARDS THE DEEP SOUTH BY THE TIME WE GET TO FRIDAY MORNING AND SATURDAY MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS, ANOTHER ROUND. WE HAVE HAD A FEW NORTH IN DUNEDIN. MIDSOUTH CANTERBURY, RIGHT THE WAY TO DUNEDIN. I WATCH FOR HASST. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE THE CHANCE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. BUT WILL GO AWAY THAT IS THE SECOND ONE. THE FIRST ONE IS FADING, AND THE THIRD ONE. AS WE GO FOR THE DAY, WE SEE SHOWERS FADE. THAT LOOKS MOTH-EATEN. WHERE DID IT GO? IT IS A BETTER LOOKING DAY. NOT AS MANY SHOWERS, BUT TO THE SOUTH AND THE WEST, THERE IS THIS COMING IN. RAIN AND WIND INTO THE FAR SOUTH, COOLER AIR. THAT FIRST ONE IS SOME SHOWERS, NORTHLAND AND THE BAY OF PLENTY. IN BETWEEN, THERE IS DRIER WEATHER. THAT WILL COME IN FOR MANY THROUGH THE NIGHT. EARLY, AND THEN LATE FOR THE SHOWERS ONCE AGAIN. IT WILL BE SHOWERS OF A PART OF NORTHLAND. IN THE AFTERNOON, SHOWERS. SAME THING TOMORROW. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NORTH SHORE. THE ODD HEAVY ONE NORTH OF WARKWORTH. HAMILTON, SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. THEY TEND TO THIN OUT. SOME OF THOSE TEMPERATURES CREEPING UP IN A FEW PLACES AS WELL. BAY OF PLENTY, CENTRAL PLATEAU, NOT A BAD LOOKING DAY. A BIT MORE IN THE WAY OF SUNSHINE INTO THE MIX. EAST COAST, COULD BE THE TOP TEMPERATURE IN HASTINGS. MOSTLY FINE AND DRY. SHOWERS IN THE MIX FURTHER WEST. THOSE WILL BE THINNING EARLY, CNC FOR MOST OF THE DAY, IS LOOKING GOOD. THIS SAME SORT OF THING IN WELLINGTON. WIND EASING BACK. STILL PRETTY FRESH. THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD AROUND THE REGION. SUTHERLAND, YOU HAVE SHOWERS. THEY BURN OUT AND FADE AWAY. CHRISTCHURCH, EARLY, CLOUD. LOOKING AT THINGS FURTHER WEST, YOU HAVE A FEW OF THOSE SHOWERS. THE SECOND BATCH COMES IN LATER ON. YOU THINK YOU ARE DONE, THEN MORE COME IN AT NIGHT. YOU WILL SEE THAT. IN BETWEEN, A DRIER PATCH. A DRIER PATCH FOR QUEENSTOWN IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND RUN UNDER INTO THE NIGHT. COOLER AIR, DUNEDIN LATER ON. FRIDAY, THAT IS THE COOLER AIR. THAT IS THE SOUTH-WEST FLOW. I AM TALKING ABOUT IT AS THOUGH I AM SELLING SOMETHING.