NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA ARE MONITORING THREE CHINESE WAR SHIPS SAILING NEAR SYDNEY. SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED? A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY HAS BEEN CONVICTED IN THE U.S. OVER THE SHOOTING DEATH OF NEW ZEALANDER CHRISTIAN GLASS. HAMAS RETURNS THE REMAINS OF FOUR HOSTAGES, BUT ISRAEL CLAIMS ONE OF THEM IS THE WRONG BODY. AND A CRUEL BLOW TO JOSEPH PARKER'S HOPES OF BECOMING WORLD CHAMP AS HIS OPPONENT PULLS OUT OF THIS WEEKEND'S TITLE FIGHT BECAUSE OF ILLNESS. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. DEFENCE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS SAYS THE ARRIVAL OF THREE CHINESE WARSHIPS UNANNOUNCED OFF THE COAST OF SYDNEY IS A WAKEUP CALL FOR THE REGION, AND SHE'S WARNING NEW ZEALANDERS WE CAN'T HAVE ECONOMIC SECURITY WITHOUT NATIONAL SECURITY. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WARSHIPS, WHICH ARE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED EVER SEEN IN THESE WATERS. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH HAS MORE. JUST 270KM OFF THE COAST OF SYDNEY, AN UNEXPECTED SIGHT ` THREE CHINESE WARSHIPS HAVE ARRIVED UNANNOUNCED. I THINK IT'S SHOWING US THAT THEY CAN REACH THIS PART OF THE WORLD. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY. IT'S REALLY A CAPABILITY SHOW. THE HSS TE KAHA AND AN NZDF P8 POSEIDON HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE JOINT NEW ZEALAND-AUSTRALIA SURVEILLANCE MISSION TO MONITOR THE CHINESE VESSELS. AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER TOLD SKY NEWS THE SHIPS HAD BEEN WATCHED SINCE THE MOMENT THEY CAME CLOSE TO AUSTRALIA. THEY HAVE BEEN ABIDING BY INTERNATIONAL LAW. BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED BUT AN UNUSUAL EVENT. JUST AS THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE PRUDENT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE SURVEILLING THEM. WE'RE VERY AWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE KEEP AN EYE ON IT. AND PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? THERE'S NOTHING REALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S THE UN CONVENTION OF THE LAW OF THE SEA WHICH SO FAR IS NOT BEING BROKEN. JUDITH COLLINS SAYS THE SHIPS ARE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED VESSELS SEEN IN SOUTHERN WATERS, LISTING THEIR CAPABILITIES. 32-CELL VERTICAL LAUNCH SYSTEM; ANTI-SHIP CRUISE MISSILE WITH A RANGE OF 135 NAUTICAL MILES; TORPEDO-CARRYING MISSILES; VERY FAST SHIPS. YOU'RE DEALING WITH SHIPS WITH VERY SIGNIFICANT CAPABILITY PLUS ONE OF THEIR SUPPLY SHIPS, SO, YEAH, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. THE VESSELS' ARRIVAL COMES FOLLOWING A TRADING OF BARBS BETWEEN CHINA AND AUSTRALIA LAST WEEK, WITH THE AUSTRALIANS ACCUSING A CHINESE JET OF DROPPING FLARES WITH 30M OF AN AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PLANE PATROLLING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. BEIJING HIT BACK, ACCUSING THE AUSTRALIAN PLANE OF VIOLATING CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY AND ENDANGERING CHINESE NATIONAL SECURITY. AUSTRALIA HAD QUITE A DIFFICULT SITUATION RATHER RECENTLY, AND WHEN THEY WERE BEING SURVEILLED THEMSELVES. SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE DO IS UTTERLY WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE OF ACTIVITY. IT ALSO COMES FOLLOWING THE COOK ISLANDS SIGNING A STRATEGIC DEAL WITH CHINA IN SECRET, RAISING THE IRE OF NEW ZEALAND. DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S A SHOW OF FORCE BY CHINA? IT'S NOT A TERM I WOULD USE. I'D CERTAINLY SAY IT IS A CAPABILITY INDICATOR TO PROBABLY THEM AND FOR THEM TO SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD. COLLINS HAS LABELLED THE SHIPS' APPEARANCE AS A WAKEUP CALL NEW ZEALAND CAN NO LONGER LAY COMPLACENT WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL SECURITY. I THINK NEW ZEALAND HAS WORKED ON THE BASIS THAT AS LONG AS WE'RE ECONOMICALLY SECURE, THEN THAT'S IT. BUT ACTUALLY THERE IS NO ECONOMIC SECURITY WITHOUT NATIONAL SECURITY. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THE PACIFIC WHICH HAVE CAUSED SOME CONCERN. CONCERN THAT ONLY CONTINUES TO GROW AS CHINA INCREASES ITS FOOTPRINT IN THE PACIFIC. A TRANS PRIDE DRAG SHOW IN AUCKLAND TOMORROW HAS BEEN POSTPONED OVER SECURITY CONCERNS FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S DISRUPTIONS BY DESTINY CHURCH AT THE PRIDE PARADE AND DRAG STORY-TIME. BUT DESPITE ANXIETY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, OTHER PRIDE EVENTS ARE GOING AHEAD THIS WEEKEND, AND LABOUR'S SHANAN HALBERT SAYS THE POLICE MINISTER NEEDS TO 'DO MORE' TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. HERE'S GRACE THOMAS. THE EFFECTS OF THIS VIOLENT INTIMIDATION BY DESTINY CHURCH MEMBERS LAST WEEKEND ARE STILL BEING FELT BY THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED BY THE ACTIONS OF DESTINY CHURCH. THEY DO FEEL INTIMIDATED. THEY FEEL UNSAFE. DESPITE THIS, A NUMBER OF PRIDE EVENTS ARE STILL GOING AHEAD IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU THIS WEEKEND. POLICE SAY THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNCIL AND FESTIVAL ORGANISERS AND WON'T TOLERATE INTIMIDATORY BEHAVIOUR OR VIOLENCE. BUT SHANAN HALBERT SAYS THE POLICE MINISTER NEEDS TO DO MORE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY. THIS NEEDS TO BE TREATED THE SAME WAY THAT MARK MITCHELL TREATS GANGS. IF A MONGREL MOB MEMBER STORMED INTO A LIBRARY, HE WOULD BE HIGHLY CONCERNED. I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH FROM THE MINISTER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY, AND I'M CALLING ON HIM FOR FURTHER ACTION. WE REACHED OUT TO POLICE MINISTER MARK MITCHELL FOR COMMENT ON THESE ISSUES, BUT HE WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW AND WOULDN'T PROVIDE A STATEMENT. ONE OF THE EVENTS ORGANISED IN AUCKLAND THIS WEEKEND IS 'DEFYING DESTINY: A DAY OF QUEER POWER', A RALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE ACTIONS OF DESTINY CHURCH LAST WEEK. GREEN CO-LEADER CHLOE SWARBRICK IS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS. IT IS A RESPONSE TO THE UNFORTUNATE VIOLENCE WE HAVE SEEN, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT IS ABOUT BEING CRYSTAL CLEAR ` THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE PUT BACK IN THE CLOSET. WE ARE HERE, WE ARE QUEER, AND WE ARE PROUD. BUT THE ACT PARTY HAS TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICISING THE USE OF 'BASH BACK' IN THE RALLY'S POSTERS. IT'S KIND OF QUITE TYPICAL. WHAT I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT IN HUMAN HISTORY, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN MEETING OUTRAGE WITH OUTRAGE. AT A POINT IN TIME WHEN THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY IS SO EVIDENTLY AND VIOLENTLY UNDER ATTACK, THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS SHOULD BE. MEANWHILE, TE ATATU MP PHIL TWYFORD HAS WRITTEN TO THE CHARITIES REGULATOR ASKING FOR DESTINY CHURCH TO BE STRUCK OFF IN THE WAKE OF LAST WEEK'S VIOLENCE. IN THE COMPLAINT, HE SAYS DESTINY CHURCH HAS ENGAGED IN 'SERIOUS WRONGDOING' WHICH IS GROUNDS FOR DESTINY'S CHARITIES LOSING THEIR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE STATUS. ALREADY, ONE OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED HAS LOST THEIR JOB. THIS AFTERNOON, PACIFIC MEDIA NETWORK ANNOUNCED THAT FOLLOWING AN INTERNAL REVIEW, NIU FM PRODUCER BAILEY PALALA WAS NO LONGER AN EMPLOYEE. A FORMER COLORADO SHERIFF'S DEPUTY HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF KILLING OF NEW ZEALANDER CHRISTIAN GLASS IN JUNE 2022. GLASS WAS 22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE CALLED 911 IN DISTRESS ASKING FOR HELP AFTER HIS CAR GOT STUCK, CLAIMING HE WAS BEING FOLLOWED. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, GLASS REFUSED TO GET OUT OF HIS VEHICLE, WHICH LED TO DEPUTY SHERIFF ANDREW BUEN FIRING FIVE SHOTS AT HIM. JURORS FOUND BUEN GUILTY OF CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE, AND GLASS' DEATH LED TO CHANGES IN HOW OFFICERS ARE TRAINED TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. THE MAN WHO IMPORTED METHAMPHETAMINE DISGUISED AS BEER WHICH KILLED AN INNOCENT MAN WHO ACCIDENTALLY DRANK IT HAS BEEN JAILED FOR 22 YEARS. AIDEN SAGALA (21) BECAME CRITICALLY ILL IN MARCH 2023 AFTER DRINKING FROM A CAN WHICH HE BELIEVED CONTAINED BEER BUT ACTUALLY CONTAINED LIQUID METH. SAGALA DIED SEVERAL DAYS LATER FROM MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE, THE RESULT OF A SIGNIFICANT OVERDOSE. THE BEER WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY JIMMY HIMATJIT SINGH KAHLON, WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER AT A TRIAL IN OCTOBER 2024. THE BODIES OF FOUR ISRAELI HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BACK IN TEL AVIV. IT IS THE FIRST TIME HAMAS HAS RETURNED DEAD HOSTAGES SINCE THE GAZA CEASEFIRE BEGAN LAST MONTH. ACCORDING TO HAMAS, THEY INCLUDE A MOTHER AND HER TWO YOUNG SONS WHO THE MILITANTS CLAIM WERE KILLED IN AN ISRAELI AIR STRIKE IN NOVEMBER 2023. BUT THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS THE MOTHER'S REMAINS WEREN'T RETURNED AND ONE OF THE COFFINS CONTAINED AN UNIDENTIFIED BODY. ITV'S JOHN IRVINE REPORTS. WE ARE LED TO BELIEVE THAT WAR INVOLVES MEN OF FIGHTING AGE ` WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE ELDERLY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EXEMPT. AND YET THE COFFINS HANDED OVER BY HAMAS TODAY CONTAINED THE BODIES OF A MOTHER, HER TWO LITTLE SONS AND AN OCTOGENARIAN. NO AMOUNT OF POSTURING BY THE TERRORIST GROUP COULD DISGUISE THAT AWFUL TRUTH. ON THE FRONT OF THIS COFFIN WAS A PHOTO OF 9-MONTH-OLD KFIR BIBAS. THE BABY'S CAPTURE AND DEATH REPRESENT A NEW LOW IN AN OLD CONFLICT. BEFORE THE DEAD HOSTAGES WERE RETURNED TO ISRAEL, THE IDF CHECKED THEIR COFFINS FOR BOOBY TRAPS. THEN THE ARMED FORCES COULD HONOUR THEIR FALLEN COMPATRIOTS. PERHAPS THERE WAS A HINT OF ATONEMENT HERE TOO FOR FAILING TO PREVENT THEIR CAPTURE AND FAILING TO RESCUE THEM. (GROUP SINGS IN HEBREW) THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ISRAEL HAS WITNESSED A RELEASE OF HOSTAGE BODIES, AND THEIR RETURN GRIPPED THE COUNTRY. (SPEAKS HEBREW) (ENGINE RUMBLES) ALL FOUR DEAD WERE KIDNAPPED FROM KIBBUTZ NIR OZ. ODED LIFSHITZ (84) WAS A PEACE ACTIVIST. HIS DAUGHTER SHARONE LIVES IN LONDON. FOR ISRAELIS, THE IMAGES OF THE OTHER THREE VICTIMS BEING TAKEN BY HAMAS ARE THE SUM OF ALL FEARS ON FILM. A MOTHER, SHIRI BIBAS, TRYING TO PROTECT HER 4-YEAR-OLD BOY ARIEL AND THE BABY KFIR WHEN THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND TO PROTECT ALL OF THEM. (MUSIC PLAYS) IN THE TEL AVIV SQUARE THEY HAVE MADE THEIR OWN, RELATIVES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE HOSTAGES FOLLOWED TODAY'S EVENTS, SOME IN TEARS AS THEY DID SO. THERE WERE PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN EMPATHISE WITH THE GRIEVING FAMILIES. IT IS VERY CRUCIAL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT LEAVE EVEN ONE MORE HOSTAGE IN THE HANDS OF THE TERROR ORGANISATION THAT DID THIS HORRIBLE THING TO TWO BABIES. ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BIBAS FAMILY WERE HOSTAGES ` THE HUSBAND AND FATHER, YARDEN, WAS ONLY FREED EARLIER THIS MONTH. NOW HE MUST MOURN AS A SOLE SURVIVOR. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS MET DONALD TRUMP'S MILITARY ENVOY THE DAY AFTER THE U.S. PRESIDENT SAID HE WAS A 'TERRIBLE' LEADER AND A DICTATOR. THEY APPEARED FOR A PHOTO, BUT AMERICA ABANDONED A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT COMES AS REPORTS EMERGE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUTTING PRESSURE ON UKRAINE TO PAY BACK ITS MILITARY SUPPORT SO FAR BY HANDING OVER ITS PRECIOUS MINERALS. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. FOR UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT, WHO AFTER YEARS OF DEFENDING HIS COUNTRY'S FREEDOM HAS NOW BEEN LABELLED A 'DICTATOR', A SIMPLE QUESTION ` HOW ARE YOU? (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) 'ALWAYS FIGHTING, ALWAYS,' CAME THE REPLY. AND HE TURNED BACK TO THE FRONTLINE OF DIPLOMATIC BATTLE, WELCOMING DONALD TRUMP'S UKRAINE ENVOY TO KYIV A DAY AFTER THE U.S. PRESIDENT ACCUSED ZELENSKYY OF AVOIDING PEACE. A DICTATOR WITHOUT ELECTIONS... ZELENSKYY BETTER MOVE FAST OR HE WONT HAVE ANY COUNTRY LEFT. BETTER MOVE FAST. WHAT THEY DISCUSSED IN THEIR MEETING TODAY REMAINS UNKNOWN. THE AMERICANS PULLED OUT OF THE PLANNED PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE LAST MINUTE ` UKRAINE ABANDONED AT EVERY TURN. DONALD TRUMP REITERATING HIS TRUST OF RUSSIA FROM AIR FORCE ONE. I THINK THE RUSSIANS WANT TO SEE THE WAR END. THEY DO. THEY HAVE THE CARDS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN A LOT OF TERRITORY. THIS MAN, WHO BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION DUBBED 'RUSSIA'S MOST ENERGETIC PROPAGANDIST', TODAY MARVELLED AT HOW TRUMP HAS STARTED TO PARROT PUTIN. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) 'ALL THE PHRASES HE IS USING ARE RIGHT,' HE SAID. 'THEY ABSOLUTELY MATCH OUR VISION.' 'I KNOW THAT ZELENSKYY IS WATCHING US EVERY MORNING ` ENJOY,' HE ADDS. IN YET ANOTHER SIGN OF THE SPINNING WORLD ORDER, A KREMLIN SPOKESPERSON HAS ALSO TODAY RUSHED TO THE DEFENCE OF TRUMP, SAYING HE IS 200% RIGHT. THE PILE-ON CONTINUING FROM PODIUMS EAST AND WEST. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS OBVIOUSLY VERY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. THE FACT THAT HE HASN'T COME TO THE TABLE, THAT HE HASN'T BEEN WILLING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE OFFERED... THAT 'OFFER' INCLUDES UKRAINE ALLOWING THE U.S. ACCESS TO ITS CRITICAL MINERALS AS PAYBACK FOR THE AID THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHAT THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER, WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID IN HIS FIRST TERM AND WHAT WE'VE DONE SINCE. SO SOME OF THE RHETORIC COMING OUT OF KYIV, FRANKLY, AND INSULTS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP WERE UNACCEPTABLE. MONDAY MARKS THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THIS WAR, AND LIVES ARE STILL BEING LOST EVERY DAY. UKRAINIANS HAVE LONG ASKED ` WHEN WILL THIS END? NOW THEY ALSO ASK ` AT WHAT COST? ZELENSKYY IS DEFINITELY NOT A DICTATOR. HE HAS ALWAYS STOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY. THIS MAN DIDN'T EVEN VOTE FOR ZELENSKYY. TRUMP SAYS A LOT OF STUPID THINGS. OF COURSE WE NEED ELECTIONS, BUT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO HOLD THEM. THE WAR IS ONGOING. AS THE G7 LEADERS PREPARE A JOINT STATEMENT FOR THE ANNIVERSARY, THE U.S. IS NOW ALSO RESISTING A REFERENCE TO 'RUSSIAN AGGRESSION' IN THE DOCUMENT. EUROPE LEFT SHELL-SHOCKED AS ITS CLOSEST ALLY APPEARS TO BE GETTING INTO BED WITH ITS WORST ENEMY. (SPEAKS GERMAN) THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR FEELING BRAVE ENOUGH TO PUT HIS NECK OUT, DESCRIBING TRUMP'S WORDS AS 'DANGEROUS' ` BUT HE IS JUST DAYS AWAY FROM AN ELECTION HE IS EXPECTED TO LOSE. BRAVERY AT ANY COST ` AT GREAT COST ` WILL BE FRONT OF MIND FOR PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY THIS WEEK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. THE DONALD TRUMP FAITHFUL HAVE BEEN GATHERING NEAR WASHINGTON DC FOR THEIR ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE FOR ALL THINGS CONSERVATIVE. CHANNEL 4'S LINDSEY HILSUM WENT TO THE CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE, OR C-PAC, TO FIND OUT HOW THEY'RE FEELING ABOUT TRUMP 2.0. (AGGRESSIVE MUSIC) WHAT'S UP GUYS. HOW WE DOING? ON TO THE STAGE TO THE ENTHUSIASM, IF NOT EXACTLY ADULATION, OF THE CROWD ` VP JD, THE NUMBER TWO, THE WARM-UP ACT BEFORE THE MAIN EVENT. ELON MUSK WILL BE HERE ON THE CPAC STAGE! (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THE MAN OF THE MOMENT ON HIS CRUSADE TO SAVE THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER'S MONEY. AT LEAST THE VICE-PRESIDENT HAD A BETTER RECEPTION THAN LAST TIME HE ADDRESSED AN AUDIENCE. SHIFTING TO YOUR INCREDIBLE SPEECH AT THE MUNICH CONFERENCE ` DID YOU ALL WATCH THAT? (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) NOT EVERYBODY LIKED IT. YOU ALL LIKED IT; NOT EVERYBODY LIKED IT. THIS IS A GATHERING OF TRUE BELIEVERS WHO, UNLIKE FOOLISH EUROPEANS, UNDERSTAND THAT MIGRANTS SHOULD BE OUT AND FAR-RIGHT GOVERNMENTS IN. I'M NOT EVEN BLAMING THE EUROPEANS. I'M ACTUALLY SAYING YOU FOLLOWED THE LEAD OF JOE BIDEN INTO CENSORSHIP AND MASS MIGRATION; FOLLOW THE LEAD OF DONALD J TRUMP ` AND THAT'S FREE SPEECH, BORDERS AND SOVEREIGNTY. THAT IS THE FUTURE FOR OUR SHARED CIVILISATION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) HE'S QUITE CRITICAL OF EUROPE. I'M EUROPEAN ` WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? I THINK HE WANTS THE BEST FOR YOU, AND HE JUST REALLY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT` AGAIN, UNITY, RIGHT? YEAH. AGAIN, WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE. WE'RE FIXING THE U.S., OBVIOUSLY. WE JUST STARTED, BUT WE'RE GOING 100 MILES AN HOUR. WE'RE NOT STOPPING. AND I THINK THE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE CATCHING UP. I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF IT'S GONNA GET BETTER UNLESS WE REALLY LEAD. BUT HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP GONE TOO FAR? LAST NIGHT, THE WHITE HOUSE PUT OUT A PICTURE OF HIM AS KING DONALD. HE PUT IT ON A TWEET. SO HE PUT OUT A TWEET 'I'M A KING.' THAT'S FINE, YOU KNOW? ELVIS PRESLEY SAID HE WAS THE KING, YOU KNOW. I MEAN... (CHUCKLES) THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIM A KING. HE IS THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD. YEAH. EXACTLY. AND FOR ONCE, WE HAVE A LEADER THAT'S STANDING UP RIGHT NOW AND FIGHTING FOR AMERICA FIRST, BUT EVERY COUNTRY'S CITIZENS FIRST. A FEW INTERNATIONAL ACOLYTES WERE THERE ` ONE USING WHAT MIGHT BE DESCRIBED AS THE ROYAL 'WE'. WE WANT A TRUMP REVOLUTION IN BRITAIN. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) WE WANT TO FLOOD THE ZONE. WE WANT ELON AND HIS NERD ARMY OF MUSKRATS EXAMINING THE BRITISH DEEP STATE. BUT AT CPAC, WHAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT IS DOMESTIC ISSUES ` STOPPING IMMIGRANTS CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER, REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE GOVERNMENT, TELLING MEN TO BE MEN AND WOMEN TO BE WOMEN. ALL CHANT: TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP! FIRST THEY WON THE ELECTION; NOW THEY THINK THEY'VE WON THE ARGUMENT AND IT'S TIME THE REST OF THE WORLD FELL IN BEHIND. LAURA'S HERE WITH TODAY'S WEATHER, AND IT'S STILL WARM FOR SOME? YES, HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE CONTINUE TO HAVE WARM WEATHER; TAURANGA TOO. QUITE A DIFFERENT STORY FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. ERIN SENT IN THIS PHOTO WITH THAT SOUTHERLY CHANGE. CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN ONLY GOT TO 19 DEGREES. BUT THAT COOLER AIR WILL REACH THE NORTH ISLAND, INCLUDING THE BAY, TOMORROW WITH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW PUSHING OUT THAT WARMER AIR. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF A FRUIT FLY ON THE NORTH SHORE, CONTROLS ON THE MOVEMENT OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN BIRKDALE ARE NOW IN PLACE. GERMANY'S FAR-RIGHT AFD PARTY IS ON TRACK FOR ITS BEST EVER RESULTS IN THE ELECTION THERE THIS WEEKEND. AND THE NAMES BOND AND BROCCOLI HAVE BEEN CRUCIALLY CONNECTED SINCE THE MOVIE FRANCHISE BEGAN ` SO WHY ARE THEY SPLITTING? WELCOME BACK. CONTROLS ON THE MOVEMENT OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN THE NORTH SHORE SUBURB OF BIRKDALE ARE NOW IN PLACE FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF A FRUIT FLY. A SINGLE MALE ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY WAS DETECTED LAST WEEK IN A SURVEILLANCE TRAP IN A BACKYARD, THE SAME SPECIES RECENTLY FOUND IN PAPATOETOE. WHILE THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY OTHER FLIES AT THIS STAGE, BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND IS URGING THE COMMUNITY TO BE VIGILANT THIS WEEKEND. THE FORMER BOSS OF SPANISH FOOTBALL LUIS RUBIALES HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER KISSING JENNI HERMOSO ON THE LIPS AFTER THE WORLD CUP FINAL. RUBIALES WAS ALSO FOUND GUILTY OF COERCION AFTER HE TRIED TO FORCE THE PLAYER TO SAY THE KISS WAS CONSENSUAL. HE HAS BEEN FINED MORE THAN NZ$18,000 AND BANNED FROM GOING WITHIN 200M OF HERMOSO OR CONTACTING HER FOR ONE YEAR. RUBIALES SAYS HE WILL APPEAL. HERMOSO DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS HAVING 'STAINED ONE OF THE HAPPIEST DAYS' OF HER LIFE AND SAID SHE HAD TO MOVE HER FAMILY TO MEXICO AFTER RECEIVING DEATH THREATS. GERMANS HEAD TO THE POLLS ON SUNDAY, WITH THE FAR-RIGHT AFD PARTY ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE ITS BEST EVER RESULTS. AND WHILE ALL THE MAINSTREAM PARTIES SAY THEY WILL REFUSE TO WORK WITH THE AFD IN GOVERNMENT, ITS PROXIMITY TO POWER IS CAUSING SERIOUS CONCERN. ITV'S JAMES MATES HAS MORE. THE MEDIAEVAL CITY OF WEIMAR ` THE CITY OF GOETHE AND OF JS BACH, BUT A CITY BETTER KNOWN NOW AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC, GERMANY'S FIRST EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY THAT COLLAPSED INTO NAZISM. HERE IN THE STATE OF THURINGIA, EUROPE WAS STUNNED RECENTLY BY A VICTORY FOR THE FAR-RIGHT AFD. COULD HISTORY NOW BE ABOUT TO REPEAT ITSELF? WEIMAR'S CENTRE-RIGHT MAYOR CAN SEE HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING. IS THIS JUST ABOUT IMMIGRATION, OR IS THERE SOMETHING MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT GOING ON HERE? (CHUCKLES) (SPEAKS GERMAN) 'I DO THINK IMMIGRATION PLAYS A VERY BIG ROLE,' HE SAYS. 'EVEN YOUNG PEOPLE HERE CAN SEE CHANGES IN THE CLASSROOM IN SCHOOLS, 'CHANGES IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ALL SINCE 2015.' CLEARLY MODERN GERMAN DEMOCRACY IS NOT ABOUT TO COLLAPSE IN THE WAY THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC DID, BUT GIVEN THE UNIQUE HORRORS OF THE NAZI REGIME THAT FOLLOWED WEIMAR, IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN ASSUMED THAT GERMANS, WHATEVER HAPPENED IN THE REST OF EUROPE, WOULD NEVER AGAIN EVEN FLIRT WITH THE FAR RIGHT. OUTSIDE A FAR-RIGHT ELECTION MEETING LAST NIGHT, PROTESTERS WERE NOT PREPARED TO TAKE THAT RISK. AS THEY EXCHANGED SHOUTS AND INSULTS WITH AFD MEMBERS WAITING TO GO IN, THEY ARGUED AGAINST COMPLACENCY. WE ARE AN ORGANISATION OF THE GRANDMAS AGAINST THE RIGHT. AND WE WANT TO SHOW THAT WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY RACISM IN GERMANY AGAIN. WE CAN SEE HOW IT STARTED IN 1933, AND IT'S DANGEROUS. IT'S SCARY. INSIDE THE HALL, MEMBERS OF THE AFD ARE CONFIDENT OF THEIR BEST EVER RESULT ON THE BACK OF A SLUGGISH ECONOMY AND A BIG RISE IN IMMIGRATION. POLLS SAY ONE IN FIVE GERMANS WILL VOTE FOR A PARTY THAT'S NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SEPARATE ITSELF COMPLETELY FROM THE UGLIEST SIDE OF GERMAN HISTORY. THEIR VICE-PRESIDENT SAYS BEFORE LONG, THEY WILL BE IN GOVERNMENT. WE WILL BE, DEFINITELY. NOT IN 2025. BUT I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT WOULD TAKE UNTIL 2029. I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE GENERAL ELECTIONS BEFORE 2029 AGAIN. SO YOU PREDICT NO AFD GOVERNMENT THIS TIME, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG. YES, THAT IS WHAT I'M PREDICTING. THAT IS NOT, SAY HIS SUPPORTERS, ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. MAYBE TRUMP SAYS AMERICA FIRST, AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TO SAY GERMANS FIRST IN GERMANY. AND THAT'S IT. NOT MORE. ON THE STREETS, THE PARTIES OF THE CENTRE FIGHTING A TRADITIONAL, RATHER GENTEEL CAMPAIGN, FACING A FAR-RIGHT INSURGENCY FOUGHT OUT ON TIKTOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THIS TIME, THE CENTRE MAY HOLD, BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER? STILL TO COME ON THREENEWS ` A NEW ERA FOR JAMES BOND. THE FRANCHISE'S DISTRIBUTION PARTNER, AMAZON, HAS TAKEN OVER CREATIVE CONTROL ` WHY HARDCORE 007 FANS ARE WORRIED. AND JUST FOR FUN, PADDY GOWER GETS SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO THE PERFECT MANU BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND OF THE WORLD CHAMPS. PLUS, JOSEPH PARKER'S HOPES OF BECOMING WORLD CHAMP ARE DOWSED AS HIS OPPONENT PULLS OUT OF THIS WEEKEND'S TITLE FIGHT. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE IS OUR TOP STORY SO FAR TONIGHT ` DEFENCE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS SAYS THE ARRIVAL OF THREE CHINESE WARSHIPS UNANNOUNCED OFF THE COAST OF SYDNEY IS A WAKEUP CALL FOR THE REGION. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NAVAL SHIPS. THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $200m ON REMOVING SEVEN LEVEL CROSSINGS AS PART OF AUCKLAND'S CITY RAIL LINK. MINISTER IN CHARGE CHRIS BISHOP SAYS THEY WOULD'VE CAUSED TRAFFIC HEADACHES, ADDING THEY'RE A SAFETY HAZARD. BETWEEN 2013 AND 2023, THERE WERE ALMOST 70 CRASHES, MORE THAN 250 PEDESTRIAN NEAR MISSES, AND 100 VEHICLE NEAR MISSES ON LEVEL CROSSINGS IN OUR BIGGEST CITY. THREE NEW ROAD BRIDGES AND ACCESS BRIDGES WILL BE BUILT INSTEAD. A NEW DOCUMENTARY SHINES A LIGHT ON ONE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN'S GREATEST CRIMES ` THE KIDNAPPING OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN. TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND PUT INTO CHILDREN'S HOMES IN RUSSIA OR ADOPTED INTO RUSSIAN FAMILIES. 'AFTER THE RAIN' IS ABOUT THE PARENTS OF TWO KIDNAPPED GIRLS AND THEIR UNFLINCHING EFFORTS TO GET THEM BACK. IT'S SHOWING IN CHINA TO COUNTER THE KIND OF ANTI-UKRAINIAN PROPAGANDA THAT'S TAKEN HOLD THERE AND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW ALSO APPEARS TO BELIEVE. ITV'S DEBI EDWARD MET THE FILM'S DIRECTOR. (LAUGHTER) 'AFTER THE RAIN' TELLS THE STORIES OF VERONIKA AND SASHA ` TWO UKRAINIAN GIRLS KIDNAPPED BY RUSSIA AND WHOSE FAMILIES RISKED THEIR LIVES TO GET THEM BACK. DURING 10 DAYS AT A THERAPY CENTRE IN ESTONIA, THEY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF BEING TOLD THEY'D BE GIVEN NEW PARENTS, AND IN THE CASE OF VERONIKA, DAYS SPENT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. THE ABDUCTION AND THE FORCED ASSIMILATION OF CHILDREN THE THOUGHT OF BEING SEPARATED FROM MY OWN CHILD IS UNIMAGINABLE. AND SO AS SOON AS I READ THAT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HAD ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR THE ILLEGAL DEPORTATION OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN, I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO TELL THAT STORY. THE BRITISH FILMMAKER SARAH MCCARTHY HAS A UKRAINIAN MOTHER. THIS PROJECT WAS PERSONAL FOR HER. SHE HAS COME TO BEIJING HOPING TO INTRODUCE THE STORY OF UKRAINE'S STOLEN CHILDREN TO AUDIENCES WHERE RUSSIA'S PROPAGANDA HAS TAKEN HOLD. WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THERE'S BEEN A REAL CONCERTED EFFORT WE'RE HERE IN CHINA AND MY CHINESE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES TELL ME THAT THAT HAS BEEN THE PARTY LINE ` THAT UKRAINE STARTED THE WAR AND RUSSIA WAS DEFENDING ITSELF, WHICH IS PATENTLY UNTRUE. AND IT'S SCARY TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS STARTING TO PARROT RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA TALKING POINTS. ON RUSSIAN STATE TELEVISION, CHILDREN TAKEN FORCIBLY FROM UKRAINE HAVE BEEN PARADED LIKE THEY WERE RESCUED, RATHER THAN KIDNAPPED. THERE ARE STILL MORE THAN 19,000 CHILDREN BEING KEPT ILLEGALLY IN RUSSIA. SASHA AND HER SIBLINGS WERE TAKEN AT A MILITARY CHECKPOINT WHEN SHE WAS JUST 5 YEARS OLD. THEIR FATHER WAS HELD AT A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND TORTURED FOR 45 DAYS. WHEN YVGENY WAS RELEASED, HE HAD NOTHING. HE HAD NO MONEY, NO FOOD. HIS HOUSE HAD BEEN BOMBED, AND HE STARTED REACHING OUT TO FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEERS AND NGOs TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GATHER WHAT HE NEEDED TO GET HIS CHILDREN. SARAH INTENTIONALLY DID NOT INCLUDE ANY WAR IMAGES IN THE DOCUMENTARY. I THINK THE POWER OF THIS FILM IS IT GIVES A PLATFORM TO THE CHILDREN. AND THE CHILDREN WILL TELL YOU VERY MATTER-OF-FACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, AND THERE'S NO REFUTING THAT. THESE CHILDREN WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY WERE TAKEN TO RUSSIA, AND ALL THE RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION IN THE WORLD CAN'T CHANGE THESE SIMPLE FACTS. YOU KNOW, THE GRANDMOTHER IN MY FILM WHEN UKRAINE'S FATE IS BEING TRADED ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, SHE WANTS THE WORLD TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO SHOULD FORM ITS FUTURE. THE NAME'S BOND ` JAMES BOND ` AND THE PRODUCER'S NAME IS BROCCOLI ` BARBARA BROCCOLI. SHE TOOK OVER THE FRANCHISE FROM HER FATHER, CUBBY BROCCOLI. BUT NOW THE LONG BOND-BROCCOLI ASSOCIATION IS COMING TO AN END, WITH THE FRANCHISE'S DISTRIBUTION PARTNER, AMAZON, ASSUMING CREATIVE CONTROL. ITV'S RISHI DAVDA HAS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. ('007' THEME MUSIC) FROM 'DR NO' IN 1962, IT'S BEEN A BROCCOLI BRAIN BEHIND... BOND. JAMES BOND. ...BUILDING A SPY FRANCHISE WITH A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE. DANIEL CRAIG BID FAREWELL TO 007 NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, NOTHING BUT RUMOURS. THE PAST ISN'T DEAD. WHEN AMAZON BOUGHT BOND'S PARENT STUDIO IN 2022, CREATIVE CONTROL WAS SHARED WITH BARBARA BROCCOLI AND MICHAEL G WILSON, BUT NOW, AMAZON'S IN THE DRIVING SEAT. THERE WAS A BIG CREATIVE IMPASSE BETWEEN THE BROCCOLIS, EON, AND AMAZON ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED WITH BOND. NOW THAT AMAZON HAVE THE CREATIVE REINS, I IMAGINE THAT THEY'LL BE DOING EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO GET IT DONE AND GET SOMETHING INTO PRODUCTION. VODKA MARTINI. EACH NEW INSTALMENT STIRRED, RATHER THAN SHOOK. CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO CONTINUE A CINEMATIC LEGACY. THIS IS WHAT REVOLUTION LOOKS LIKE. SOME WORRY AMAZON COULD DO WHAT DISNEY DID AFTER IT SNAPPED UP STAR WARS AND COMMISSIONED STREAMING SPINOFFS. ...TO WIN A MILLION POUNDS. IT'S ALREADY TRIED A 007 REALITY COMPETITION SHOW, THOUGH RIGHT NOW, MANY JUST WANT A MOVIE. THE FIRST THING THEY'LL DO TO SORT OF REASSURE PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE PROBABLY NOT OVER THE MOON TODAY IS TO SAY, 'LOOK, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE ONE 'BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME.' MY BIGGEST WORRIES ARE THAT THEY'LL TAKE IN A SORT OF DISNEY-FIED DIRECTION OF JUST RIPPING THE SOUL OUT OF IT AND TAKING IT INTO A PLACE WHERE ALL THE COLOUR'S DILUTED FROM IT. SOMEONE WHO'S FEELING MORE OPTIMISTIC IS AMAZON BOSS, JEFF BEZOS, ASKING HIS X FOLLOWERS THIS AFTERNOON ` THE BOOKIES' FAVOURITES RIGHT NOW ARE AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON, JAMES NORTON, AND THEO JAMES. FAREWELL TO ARMS. THE LONGER THE WAIT GOES ON FOR ANOTHER FILM, THE HIGHER EXPECTATIONS GET. FANS OF THE FRANCHISE HOPING THAT AMAZON CAN DELIVER. AS A QUICK ASIDE ` YES, THE BROCOLLIS ARE DESCENDED FROM THE GROWER OF THE FIRST VEGETABLE TO BEAR THE FAMILY NAME. A TALENTED FAMILY! OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT ` AND LATE DRAMA FOR JOSEPH PARKER? DANIEL DUBOIS PULLING OUT. THERE WILL BE NO HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT. THERE WILL BE A BIT OF THE UNKNOWN. WE'LL HAVE PARKER'S REACTION TO THE ELEVENTH-HOUR CHANGE OF OPPONENT NEXT AS THE KIWI HEAVYWEIGHT TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO MARTIN BAKOLE INSTEAD. SO WHAT'RE PARKER'S CHANCES OF VICTORY? AND RYAN FOX TURNS HEADS AT THE MEXICO OPEN WITH THE LONGEST PUTT OF THE SEASON SO FAR. JUST AS JOSEPH PARKER WAS PREPARING FOR HIS SHOT AT THE IBF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE, THE PAUSE BUTTON HAS BEEN HIT AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR. PARKER'S OPPONENT AND REIGNING CHAMP DANIEL DUBOIS HAS PULLED THE PIN ON THE SHOWDOWN DUE TO ILLNESS. IT LEAVES PARKER'S SHOT AT RETURNING TO THE TOP OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT MOUNTAIN IN LIMBO AND A DAUNTING REPLACEMENT FIGHT ON THE WAY. JOSEPH PARKER ARRIVED IN RIYADH IN THE SHAPE OF HIS LIFE. AS HE TOOK HIS SPOT ON STAGE FOR THE MAIN PRESS CONFERENCE, IT WASN'T CLEAR THEN JUST WHO HE WOULD BE FIGHTING. DUBOIS BEING ASSESSED ` WILL BRING MORE INFO. IF HE IS SICK, I HOPE HE GETS BETTER SOON, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SATURDAY. BUT PARKER WAS BRACING FOR ANYTHING, AND HE WAS READY. I AM READY TO GO. I'VE PUT IN THE HARD WORK IN IRELAND. I'M HERE NOW IN RIYADH. COME ON, SATURDAY. BY THE TIME THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WAS OVER AND PARKER WAS OFF STAGE, DANIEL DUBOIS HAD OFFICIALLY PULLED OUT DUE TO ILLNESS AND HE HAD A NEW OPPONENT ` THE HULKING FRAME OF MARTIN BAKOLE. I KNOW HE'S BEEN TRAINING HARD SO WHATEVER IS GONNA HAPPEN IS GONNA HAPPEN. A RELAXED OUTLOOK, BUT THIS WILL BE NO WALK IN THE PARK. BAKOLE IS RANKED INSIDE THE TOP FIVE WITH ALL FOUR MAJOR SANCTIONING BODIES AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF A 10-FIGHT UNBEATEN STREAK. REGARDLESS OF HIS OPPONENT, PARKER IS JUST RELIEVED HIS PREPARATION HASN'T BEEN FOR NOTHING. IT'S LAST MINUTE, BUT NOW WE GOT THE FIGHT LOCKED IN, AND IT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. IT'S NOT THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. WELL-KNOWN BOXING PROMOTER EDDIE HEARN FEELS IT COULD BE A TRICKY FIGHT FOR PARKER EVEN WITH BAKOLE ACCEPTING IT LAST MINUTE. IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE FIGHT ` MAY EVEN BE A BETTER FIGHT THAN THE DUBOIS FIGHT. ONE OF BAKOLE'S WEAKNESSES IS FITNESS, AND COMING IN AT SHORT NOTICE... BUT HE'S DANGEROUS, AND IT'S GONNA BE A HELL OF A FIGHT. FOR PARKER, AT THIS STAGE OF HIS PREPARATION, A FIGHT IS A FIGHT. I'M JUST HAPPY. LET'S GO. IT'S NOT THE HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE, BUT JOSEPH PARKER IS JUST AS MOTIVATED TO GET THE JOB DONE ON SUNDAY. AUCKLAND FC ARE BRACING FOR A FIRED-UP WELLINGTON PHOENIX IN TOMORROW'S KIWI DERBY, DESPITE THE 'NIX SITTING NINE PLACES BELOW THEM ON THE LADDER. IT'S BEEN ALL AUCKLAND IN THE DERBY MATCHES TO DATE, COMFORTABLY WINNING BOTH OF THEM SO FAR ` BUT AUCKLAND FC COACH STEVE CORICA SAYS PAST FORM DOESN'T COUNT FOR MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO A DERBY MATCH. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. IT'S A DERBY. IT'S A ONE-OFF GAME. WE ARE READY FOR WAR BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY PHYSICAL, WHICH IS WHAT DERBY SHOULD BE LIKE. WHILE THE PHOENIX MAY BE THE UNDERDOGS HEADING INTO TOMORROW'S CLASH, GIANCARLO ITALIANO IS KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE IN THE BUILD UP. WE DON'T TAKE IT ANY DIFFERENTLY. THERE ARE NO PUMP UP SESSIONS. IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL. I AM PLEASED WITH HOW THE GROUP IS GOING. AUCKLAND FC WILL MOVE EIGHT POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE WITH ANOTHER VICTORY TOMORROW. THE BLACKCAPS ARE CONFIDENT THEY'VE SET THEMSELVES UP WELL TO ADVANCE DEEP IN THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY AFTER A BIG FIRST UP WIN OVER PAKISTAN. THE BLACKCAPS ARRIVED IN RAWALPINDI AHEAD OF THEIR SECOND GROUP MATCH AGAINST BANGLADESH. WITH A CONDENSED GROUP STAGE IN WHICH THE TOP TWO ADVANCE TO THE SEMI FINALS, GLENN PHILLIPS FEELS THEY'VE SET THEMSELVES UP WELL. OBVIOUSLY, TWO OF OUR REALLY BIG GAMES. YOU HAVE TO WIN ONE OF THOSE TWO. BANGLADESH ARE A REALLY GOOD SIDE. THE BLACKCAPS FACE BANGLADESH ON SUNDAY BEFORE MOVING TO DUBAI FOR THEIR FINAL GROUP MATCH AGAINST INDIA. THE CHIEFS ARE HOPING A RETURN TO THE COMFORTS OF HOME WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TONIGHT AS THEY LOOK TO MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO TO START SUPER RUGBY. THE CHIEFS HAD TOO MUCH CLASS FOR THE BLUES IN ROUND ONE, AVENGING THEIR DEFEAT IN LAST YEAR'S FINAL. WITH THE CRUSADERS UP NEXT, DAMIAN MCKENZIE KNOWS THEY'LL HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN HAMILTON TONIGHT. OBVIOUSLY GOT A FIERCE RIVALRY WITH THE CRUSADERS. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND IT WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE ALL THE FANS OUT THERE. MCKENZIE WILL AGAIN START AT FULLBACK, WITH SQUAD INJURIES AND THE ABSENCE OF SHAUN STEVENSON LIMITING CLAYTON MCMILLAN'S OPTIONS IN THE OUTSIDE BACKS. FINALLY TONIGHT, RYAN FOX HAS SET STANDARDS ALREADY ON THE PGA TOUR, NAILING THE LONGEST PUTT OF THE SEASON SO FAR IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE MEXICO OPEN. SITTING AT ONE UNDER ON THE PAR-3 FIFTH, FOX HAD THIS MONSTER 92-FOOT PUTT FOR BIRDIE. TRY TO KEEP IT ON THE GREEN, RIGHT? THE KIWI IS A MAGICIAN. HOW ABOUT THAT? IT'S THE LONGEST PUTT OF THE SEASON BY 20 FEET. THE LONGEST PUTT OF LAST SEASON WAS 88 FEET. PRETTY DECENT, BUT HE IS STILL TIED FOR 31ST. FORGET ABOUT GOLF OR CRICKET ` THE MOST KIWI SUMMER SPORTING CONTEST IS ARGUABLY THE MANU WORLD CHAMPS. A SUPER QUALIFIER EVENT IS BEING HELD IN AUCKLAND THIS WEEKEND. PADDY GOWER CAUGHT UP WITH WORLD CHAMPS JUDGE FORMER ALL BLACK PIRI WEEPU IN WELLINGTON, WHOSE NIECE AND NEPHEW ARE TWO STARS OF THE SPORT. MY NAME'S ZERENITY, AND, HMM... WHAT'S YOUR VIBE? WHAT'S YOUR VIBE? GOOD VIBE, HYPE VIBE. YEAH. HYPE VIBES? AND I'M INTERVIEWING YOU WHY? WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED? MY MANUS. YEAH. ARE THEY GOOD, ARE THEY? YEAH. ARE YOU GONNA TEACH ME? YEAH. YOUR MANUS ARE GOOD? YEP. WHERE DID YOU COME IN THE COMPETITION THEN? FIRST. FIRST? OK, WHAT KIND OF MANU DID YOU DO? JUST A MANU. (LAUGHS) AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME, BRO? MY NAME'S JAHZIAH. YES. GOOD AT MANUS? YEAH, I'M ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT? YOU SAID YOU WERE STAPLE KING! YEAH, I AM STAPLE KING! WHY YOU TALK LIKE YOU WERE DOING MANUS? SO YOU'RE A STAPLE KING? YEAH. YEAH, SO THAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE MOVE ` THE STAPLE? YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET INTO MANUS THOUGH. OK, SO WE'LL SEE A STAPLE FROM YOU TODAY? YEAH. YEAH. AND YOU GUYS ARE TWINS, IS THAT TRUE? BOTH: YEAH. WHO'S THE OLDEST? ME. HIM. BY HOW MANY MINUTES? 16. 16 MINUTES? OK, GIVEN YOU A BIT OF A SIZE ADVANTAGE. (LAUGHS) HEIGHT ADVANTAGE, HEIGHT ADVANTAGE. I WAS GONNA SAY. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY? (LAUGHTER) AND PIRI WEEPU, WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I'VE COME TO CHECK OUT THEIR TRAINING. JUST TO SEE IF THEY'RE QUALIFIED TO GO TO THE Z MANU CHAMP FINALS. AND SINCE I'M A JUDGE... (LAUGHTER) OH NO! SINCE I'M A JUDGE... SHE WAS BLOODY AVERAGE LAST YEAR ON HER FIRST ONE, SO HOPEFULLY SHE CAN STEP UP THIS YEAR AND TAKE THE TITLE. YEAH. AND YOU'RE A JUDGE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO YOUR NIECE AND NEPHEW. MY NIECE AND NEPHEW. YEAH, SO YOU'LL SHOW NO FAVOURITISM, OBVIOUSLY. OH HELL NO. (LAUGHTER) YEAH. AND DO YOU GUYS RECKON YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT? YEAH. AND DO YOU GUYS RECKON YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT? YUP. YEAH. BOTH OF YOU THINK YOU CAN BE NEW ZEALAND... CHAMPS? YEAH. YEAH. WHAT MAKES YOU SO CONFIDENT? I'M STAPLE KING. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE THE STAPLE KING. YEAH. YEAH, WE'LL SEE. AND WHAT MAKES YOU SO CONFIDENT? COS I'VE WON TWICE. WILL YOU GIVE ME SOME TIPS? YEAH. OK, COOL. AND PIRI, YOU'LL JUMP AS WELL? OH, I DON'T KNOW. I JUST WANT TO CHECK YOURS OUT FIRST. (LAUGHTER) THIS IS THE (BLEEP) MANU, BROTHER. (SPLASH! LAUGHTER) THAT'S A COFFIN. WHAT WAS IT LIKE? PADDY, YOU GOTTA JUMP STRAIGHT. (SPLASH!) WHOA! PADDY NEED SOME MORE POINTERS. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER, AND A FINE WEEKEND AHEAD. PADDY FOLLOWS HIS OWN RULES. YES, NOT GREAT IF YOU'RE WANTING OR NEEDING RAIN. THE NORTH ISLAND WILL BE VERY DRY AND SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN IT HAS BEEN BUT STILL WARM IN PARTS. AND THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL GET SOME WET STUFF, BUT ONLY SHOWERS, MAINLY AROUND WESTPORT AND SOUTHLAND. THE DRY WEATHER IS STICKING AROUND FOR A BIT. I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL SATURDAY FORECAST NEXT. CLEAR OUT GUTTERS AND CUT BACK BRANCHES THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SUNNY WEATHER PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WET DAYS. CLEAR OUT GUTTERS AND CUT BACK BRANCHES THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME. AMI BRINGING YOU THREE NEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. A CHANGE IN THE WIND DIRECTION MEANS A DROP IN THE HUMIDITY, WHICH MEANS TONIGHT'S SLEEP SHOULD BE A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE. A SERIES OF COLD FRONTS CONTINUE TO WEAKEN AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT, AND THEN A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE FOLLOWS CLOSE BEHIND AND REMAINS DOMINANT OVER THE COUNTRY TOMORROW. ANOTHER SLOW-MOVING COLD FRONT WILL HANG AROUND THE FAR SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. A BIT OF OVERNIGHT RAIN FOR SOUTHLAND AND FIORDLAND. THAT FEATURE WEAKENS AS IT MOVES UP THE ISLAND. SOME AFTERNOON CLOUD IN SOUTHLAND AND THE WEST COAST, BUT IT'S LOOKING FINE IN THE NORTHEAST. THE RAIN AND CLOUD WILL MOVE AWAY OVERNIGHT TO A VERY DRY AND CLEAR DAY ` JUST SOME COOLER TEMPERATURES WITH THAT SOUTHWEST FLOW. IT WILL BE A FINE START TO THE WEEKEND FOR NORTHLAND, BUT SOME SOUTHERLY WINDS. A BIT OF PASSING CLOUD FOR THE REST AND SOME FRESH SOUTH-WESTERLIES EASING IN THE EVENING. A FINE SATURDAY FOR YOU HERE TOO; A LITTLE BIT OF MORNING CLOUD FOR TOKOROA. LIGHT WINDS IN TAUPO, AND THOSE SEA BREEZES ALONG THE COAST WILL DEVELOP FROM THE AFTERNOON. SOME MORNING CLOUD IN SOUTHERN PARTS AND A PARTLY CLOUDY MORNING FOR GISBORNE, BUT THEN YOU'RE JOINING THE REST WITH A FINE SATURDAY; JUST A COUPLE OF DEGREES COOLER THAN IT'S BEEN THIS WEEK. AGAIN, JUST SOME MORNING CLOUD THROUGH TARANAKI, WHANGANUI AND PALMERSTON NORTH, BUT THAT'S NOT STICKING AROUND. A FINE AFTERNOON FOR ALL. TO THE SOUTH ` FINE FOR NELSON, AND IT'S TAKEN US HALF THE FORECAST TO COME ACROSS RAIN. AND IT'S NOT EVEN RAIN ` RATHER A FEW SHOWERS, MAINLY IN THE MORNING. THEY COULD RETURN AT NIGHT FOR GREYMOUTH. AND THE SYMBOLS DON'T CHANGE FROM MORNING TO AFTERNOON HERE; JUST A FINE SATURDAY ALL ROUND FOR YOU. EASTERLIES WILL DEVELOP FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND AGAIN, SOME COOLER HIGHS ` 21 FOR MOST, 23 FOR BLENHEIM. THE MOST ACTIVE PART OF THE COUNTRY IS HERE, AND AGAIN, NOT HEAVY RAIN. FINE FOR ALEXANDRA; PARTLY CLOUDY FOR OAMARU AND QUEENSTOWN AND THEN A FEW SHOWERS FOR DUNEDIN AND SOUTHLAND. OTEPOTI, YOU COULD HAVE A SHOWER OR TWO OVERNIGHT AND AGAIN TOMORROW WITH SOME CLOUD. FRESH WESTERLIES EASING IN THE EVENING. A MORE SETTLED DAY TOMORROW, AND A LITTLE BIT WARMER THAN TODAY. YOU WILL GET A BIT OF CLOUD IN THE EVENING, BUT CLEAR SKIES DURING THE DAY. THOSE EASTERLIES WILL STRENGTHEN FROM THE AFTERNOON. SIMILAR DAY FOR WELLINGTON ` NO SHOWERS OR LIGHTNING HERE. A FINE SATURDAY. LIGHT WINDS AND AFTERNOON SEA BREEZES, THEN NORTHERLIES IN THE EVENING. THE CAPITAL GETTING TO 22; LOWER AND UPPER HUTT SHOULD REACH 24. HAWKE'S BAY, THOSE SOUTHERLIES WILL DIE OUT IN THE MORNING TO A FINE SATURDAY THAT SHOULD BE LESS HUMID WITH THE COOLER AIR PUSHING IT OUT OF TOWN. A GREAT DAY TO HEAD ALONG TO SEE THE HURRICANES TAKE ON THE FIJIAN DRUA. OUR STRING OF SUN SYMBOLS CONTINUES IN TAURANGA. OVERNIGHT, SOUTH-WESTERLIES AND SOME SEA BREEZES DEVELOPING EARLY AFTERNOON. HERE'S SOME CLOUD, BUT IT WILL PASS SO HAMILTON JOINS THE REST FOR A FINE, CLEAR AFTERNOON. FRESH SOUTH-WESTERLIES EASING INTO THE EVENING. AND A CUT-AND-PASTE FOR AUCKLAND ` JUST A DEGREE COOLER. WILL THE CONDITIONS FAVOUR AUCKLAND FC OR THE PHOENIX? WE WILL FIND OUT. IN AUSTRALIA, A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND AND A FEW SHOWERS PERSISTING FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN AREAS. AND SHOWERS IN THE PACIFIC; THUNDERSTORMS IN NADI. BACK HOME, AND THE LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL COVER NEW ZEALAND ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY, BRINGING MORE SETTLED WEATHER.. GREAT REASON TO HAVE A SWIM, BUT NOT IDEAL IF YOU ARE AFTER SOME RAIN. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTS ON TUESDAY, SO STILL SOME WARM HIGHS AROUND. NO RAIN IN SIGHT HERE ` JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUD OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ON TUESDAY, A FRONT FROM THE TASMAN SEA WILL MOVE NORTHWARDS OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND, BRINGING SOME SHOWERS TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AND PARTS OF THE EAST COAST. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO DID A CALL OUT, BUT I'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH SUNSET PHOTOS, SO HERE IS A SELECTION TO TAKE YOU INTO YOUR WEEKEND. BEAUTIFUL. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. IMOGEN AND THE TEAM WILL BE WITH YOU OVER THE WEEKEND AND I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN ON MONDAY. POMARIE. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.