COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WERE FORCED TO CHANGE ROUTES TO AVOID POSSIBLE LIVE-FIRE EXERCISES BY THE CHINESE NAVY. DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER CHIEF STRATEGIST HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF GIVING A NAZI SALUTE AT A CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE. AND JOSEPH PARKER HAS SOME UNEXPECTED SUPPORT IN THE CROWD FOR HIS FIGHT IN SAUDI ARABIA. CAPTIONS JOHN GIBBS AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 KIA ORA, THIS IS THREE NEWS. SEVERAL FLIGHTS FROM SYDNEY TO NEW ZEALAND HAVE HAD TO DIVERT TO AVOID AIR SPACE ABOVE WHERE THREE CHINESE NAVAL SHIPS WERE PREPARING FOR LIVE-FIRE EXERCISES. PILOTS OF COMMERCIAL AIRLINES, INCLUDING AIR NEW ZEALAND, WERE WARNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DRILLS. THE NEW ZEALAND FRIGATE TE KAHA HAS BEEN SHADOWING THE SHIPS IN THE TASMAN SEA, AND PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS SPOKEN TO HIS AUSTRALIAN COUNTERPART ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE LATEST. AIRFORCE AND NAVAL ASSETS FROM NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE THREE CHINESE SHIPS OPERATING 277KM OFF THE COAST OF SYDNEY. AND THE SHIPS' ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTING COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS ACROSS THE TASMAN AFTER THEY WERE SAID TO BE DOING LIVE-FIRE DRILLS, ALTHOUGH NEITHER GOVERNMENT HAS SEEN PROOF THE LIVE FIRING ACTUALLY OCCURRED. THERE WAS CERTAINLY NO RISK OR DANGER TO ANY NZ OR AUSTRALIA ASSETS. HAVING SAID THAT, I WOULD SAY GOOD PRACTICE IS THAT, NORMALLY, WE WOULD HAVE 24 TO 48 HOURS' NOTICE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER PLACE TO DO LIVE-FIRE DRILLS OTHER THAN WHAT IS BELOW A VERY BUSY INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE. THE SHIPS ARE WELL OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA'S TERRITORIAL WATERS BUT INSIDE ITS EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE. THEIR PRESENCE IS LEGAL, BUT SOME COMMENTATORS HAVE LABELLED IT AN AGGRESSIVE DEMONSTRATION OF POWER AND CONTROL AND A SIGN OF WHAT'S TO COME. OUR PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T USE THAT LANGUAGE, BUT HE'S KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON DEVELOPMENTS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT HERE, WITH THE COMBINATION A DESTROYER, A FRIGATE, WITH THE CONFIGURATION A DESTROYER, A FRIGATE, A CRUISER AND A REFUELLER. IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT PILOTS ON AN EMIRATES AIRCRAFT FLYING FROM SYDNEY TO CHRISTCHURCH WERE DIRECTLY CONTACTED BY THE CHINESE MILITARY TO AVOID AIRSPACE OVER THE SHIPS OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA AND THAT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THEN TOLD QANTAS AND AIR NEW ZEALAND TO DO THE SAME. EMIRATES TOLD THREE NEWS ` AIR NEW ZEALAND SAID IT... NEITHER AUSTRALIA NOR NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY CHINA WHY THE THREE SHIPS ARE IN THE TASMAN OR WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE. LUXON AND AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT ABOUT IT, INCLUDING A PHONE CALL YESTERDAY. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY'RE WELL WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF INTERNATIONAL AND MARITIME LAW. WE BOTH AGREED THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ADVANTAGEOUS AND GOOD PRACTICE TO GET MORE 24 TO 48 HOURS' NOTICE. CHINA'S EVER-EXPANDING REACH IN THE PACIFIC IS RAISING FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT NZ'S SECURITY, LIKE WHETHER WE JOIN AUKUS. NO, NOT AT ALL. AUKUS IS ACTUALLY PLAYING INTO CHINA'S HANDS. AND AUKUS JUSTIFIES THE CHINESE NARRATIVE THAT THEY'RE CONFRONTED BY COUNTRIES WITH A COLD WAR MENTALITY TRYING TO CONTAIN CHINA AND PREVENT IT RISING AS A GREAT POWER. ACTUALLY, CHINA IS NOT THE ONLY THREAT TO THE RULES-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER WHICH NEW ZEALAND DEPENDS. BECAUSE, PATMAN SAYS, A NEW KIND OF THREAT COULD BE COMING FROM THE UNITED STATES. AND IN BREAKING NEWS ` THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE HAS REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE NAVAL TASK GROUP ADVISED OF A SECOND WINDOW FOR LIVE FIRING ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON. DEFENCE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS ADVISED THEY'D HAD CONFIRMATION THAT PERSONNEL ON THE NEW ZEALAND FRIGATE TE KAHA OBSERVED LIVE ROUNDS BEING FIRED FROM THE ZUNYI'S MAIN GUN. DEFENCE IS WORKING WITH THE NEW ZEALAND CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY TO ENSURE ALL AIRCRAFT ARE NOTIFIED. THE SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE, AIRCRAFT AND VESSELS IN THE AREA REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S MAIN CONCERN, AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS ITS CONCERNS OVER NOTIFICATION TIMES WILL BE COMMUNICATED APPROPRIATELY. DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER CHIEF STRATEGIST HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF GIVING A NAZI SALUTE WHILE ADDRESSING SPEAKERS AT THE C-CAP CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE. STEVE BANNON DENIES THIS, BUT IT HASN'T STOPPED COMPARISONS BEING DRAWN TO THE GESTURE USED BY ELON MUSK ON TRUMP'S INAUGURATION NIGHT. MEANWHILE, THE U.S. PRESIDENT IS CONTINUING HIS ATTACKS ON UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, SAYING HE'S 'SICK OF HIM'. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THE UNITED STATES HAS TRADED TEAMS ` DONALD TRUMP TODAY DECLARING PUTIN HAD THE POWER TO TAKE ALL OF UKRAINE IF HE WANTED. I'VE HAD VERY GOOD TALK WITH PUTIN AND I'VE HAD, UH, NOT SUCH GOOD TALKS WITH UKRAINE. UH, THEY DONT HAVE ANY CARDS, BUT THEY PLAY IT TOUGH. BUT WE'RE NOT` WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THIS CONTINUE. HAVING LABELLED ZELENKSYY A 'DICTATOR' SEVERAL TIMES THIS WEEK, TODAY THE U.S. PRESIDENT WAS ASKED... DO YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT PUTIN OF RUSSIA IS ALSO A DICTATOR? I THINK THAT PRESIDENT PUTIN AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET TOGETHER. UNWILLING TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER ABOUT A LEADER WHO RULES RUSSIA WITH AN IRON KGB FIST ` SILENCING INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND AVOIDING FAIR ELECTIONS; HIS KEY OPPONENTS IMPRISONED, EXILED OR DEAD. INSTEAD, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOW PREPARING TO ABANDON A GLOBAL EFFORT TO PROSECUTE PUTIN FOR WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN UKRAINE AND REFUSING TO SIGN A UN DOCUMENT RECOGNISING UKRAINE'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. TRUMP HANDING PUTIN TWO BIG WINS FREE OF CHARGE AND TRIGGERING OUTCRY EVEN FROM WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY. THE WORLD IS WATCHING. THE STRENGTH OF OUR ALLIANCES IS ON THE LINE, AND THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRACY AND THE WORLD IS ON THE LINE IF WE DO ANYTHING ELSE THAN DEFEAT PUTIN. OUR OWN PRIME MINISTER COULDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION OF PUTIN'S POWER EITHER. IS PUTIN A DICTATOR? UH, WHAT I'D SAY TO YOU IS THAT I'VE MET ZELENSKYY THREE TIMES. MET HIM ONCE. I ADMIRE HIM GREATLY. MET HIM ONCE. I ADMIRE HIM GREATLY. BUT DIDN'T HESITATE WHEN IT CAME TO ZELENSKYY. IS ZELENSKYY A DICTATOR? NO. TRUMP'S JUSTIFICATION FOR A STAGGERING U-TURN ON THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT IS THAT HE'S QUOTE-UNQUOTE 'SICK OF HIM'. AMERICA NOW ALSO PUSHING FOR ACCESS TO UKRAINE'S RARE MINERALS AS A FORM OF PAYMENT FOR THEIR MILITARY SUPPORT. IT'S` UH, WE GET OUR MONEY BACK. ZELENSKYY HAS SAID HE IS WORKING ON A DRAFT AGREEMENT ON THE MINERALS AND HOPED FOR A 'FAIR RESULT' ` WORRIED ABOUT SIGNING AWAY THE KEY TO UKRAINE'S FUTURE ECONOMIC VIABILITY WITH NO ASSURANCES THE AID WILL EVEN CONTINUE. BUT THE U.S. SAYS ZELENSKYY HAS NO CHOICE. WELL, LOOK, HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE ` PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IS GOING TO SIGN THAT DEAL. THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR LABELLING DONALD TRUMP THE 'PRESIDENT OF PEACE'. JUST AS HIS FORMER STRATEGIST, STEVE BANNON, WAS ACCUSED OF GIVING A NAZI SALUTE ON STAGE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO RETREAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SURRENDER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO QUIT. FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!. AND AMEN. ADDING TO THE FIRESTORM FIRST SPARKED BY ONE OF TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE ` ELON MUSK ` ON INAUGURATION NIGHT. THE UNDERLINING OF A DIZZYING WEEK THAT HAS FEATURED THREE PRESIDENTS ` AT LEAST ONE OF THEM FIGHTING FOR PEACE, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THEM A DICTATOR. HAMAS HAS NOW HANDED OVER WHAT IT SAYS IS THE BODY OF THE ISRAELI HOSTAGE AND MOTHER SHIRI BIBAS AFTER SAYING IT HAD EARLIER MUDDLED UP HER REMAINS WITH OTHER BODIES BURIED IN RUBBLE. MEANWHILE, ISRAEL'S MILITARY HAS ACCUSED HAMAS, IN DISTRESSING TERMS, OF KILLING SHIRI BIBAS' TWO SMALL SONS WITH THEIR BARE HANDS. WHILE DNA TESTING CONFIRMED THAT BIBAS BOYS, ARIEL AND KFIR, WERE IN TWO OF THE COFFINS HANDED OVER YESTERDAY, THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO MATCH CONFIRMING THE IDENTITY OF THEIR MOTHER, SHIRI. THE IDF SAY THE BODY OF A GAZAN WOMAN WAS FOUND IN HER PLACE. THIS AS BIBAS' SISTER-IN-LAW HAS RESPONDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA USING PET NAMES FOR HER DEAD NEPHEWS. (SPEAKS HEBREW) HAMAS CLAIM THAT MRS BIBAS' REMAINS WERE MIXED UP WITH THOSE OF A GAZAN WOMAN ALSO KILLED IN AN AIRSTRIKE THAT DESTROYED WHERE SHE AND THE CHILDREN WERE HELD. BUT THE IDF SAYS THAT'S A LIE, BECAUSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE SMALL BOYS WERE NOT KILLED BY AN ISRAELI BOMB. ARIEL AND KFIR BIBAS WERE MURDERED BY TERRORISTS IN COLD BLOOD. THE TERRORISTS DID NOT SHOOT THE TWO YOUNG BOYS. THEY KILLED THEM WITH THEIR BARE HANDS. AFTERWARDS, THEY COMMITTED HORRIFIC ACTS TO COVER UP THESE ATROCITIES. RELATIVES OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES ARE URGING THE PRIME MINISTER TO STICK WITH THE TRUCE, BUT THIS EVENING, HE SOUNDED ANGRY. I VOW THAT I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THE SAVAGES WHO EXECUTED OUR HOSTAGES ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO WALK THIS EARTH. TONIGHT, HAMAS ARE CLAIMING THAT A BODY THEY HANDED OVER TO THE RED CROSS LATE THIS EVENING IS THAT OF MRS BIBAS. THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT IS LOOKING INTO THE REPORT. SIX LIVING HOSTAGES ARE DUE TO BE FREED TOMORROW, BUT BY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, PHASE ONE OF THE TRUCE WILL BE OVER. AND WITH SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS ON PHASE TWO YET TO START, THE CEASEFIRE ITSELF MIGHT HAVE ALSO RUN ITS COURSE BY THEN. FOUR CHURCHES IN MASTERTON HAVE SUFFERED DAMAGE IN A CLUSTER OF SUSPICIOUS FIRES OVERNIGHT. THE FIRES STARTED FROM AROUND 4.25AM, WITH CREWS FROM ACROSS THE WAIRARAPA REGION BATTLING THE FLAMES. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBLE ARSONS, AND SAID THREE OTHER CHURCHES WERE ALSO TARGETED BUT DID NOT CATCH FIRE. THE CHURCHES IMPACTED ARE THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY, ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, MASTERTON, MASTERTON BAPTIST CHURCH, AND EQUIPPERS CHURCH MASTERTON. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` THE POPE'S DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN AN UPDATE ON THE 88-YEAR-OLD'S HEALTH, AS HE BATTLES A PNEUMONIA INFECTION IN HOSPITAL. THE CHIEFS THRASH THE CRUSADERS IN HAMILTON ` A NEW RECORD WIN OVER ROB PENNEY'S MEN. AND LOOK WHO'S POPPED UP TO SUPPORT JOSEPH PARKER AHEAD OF HIS HEAVY-WIGHT FIGHT IN RIYADH. A MAN WHO STABBED AUTHOR SIR SALMAN RUSHDIE MULTIPLE TIMES HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT. IN THE AUGUST 2022 ATTACK, NEW JERSEY MAN HADI MATAR LEAPT ON STAGE DURING A LECTURE FROM RUSHDIE, STABBING HIM 15 TIMES. IT LEFT RUSHDIE WITH SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING DAMAGE TO HIS LIVER, VISION LOSS IN ONE EYE, AND A PARALYSED HAND FROM NERVE DAMAGE. THE CONVICTED MAN FACES MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN PRISON. A WEEK AFTER GOING INTO HOSPITAL WITH PNEUMONIA, THE POPE'S DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN AN UPDATE ON HIS HEALTH. THEY SAY HIS CONDITION ISN'T LIFE-THREATENING; HE'S RESPONDING TO THE STRONGER DRUGS THEY ARE GIVING HIM, BUT HE'S NOT OUT OF DANGER YET. HIS DOCTORS ADDED THE 88-YEAR-OLD IS CRACKING JOKES, AND RECENTLY LEFT HIS BED TO PRAY IN THE HOSPITAL CHAPEL FOR 20 MINUTES. POLICE OFFICERS AND SECURITY WERE ON HAND IN TE ATATU TODAY AS A PRIDE FESTIVAL EVENT TOOK PLACE. THE EXTRA SUPPORT WAS STATIONED AROUND THE COMMUNITY CENTRE WHERE PEOPLE WERE GATHERING AFTER PROTESTERS STORMED A SIMILAR EVENT IN THE SAME BUILDING LAST WEEK. COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE LEFT RATTLED WHEN A GROUP LINKED TO DESTINY CHURCH TRIED TO DROWN THEM OUT LAST SATURDAY. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY SAID MANY OF THEM WERE STILL FEELING FRAGILE, BUT WERE DETERMINED TO COME TOGETHER. THE BIGGEST MULTI-DAY FESTIVAL IN AUSTRALASIA IS UNDERWAY IN CHRISTCHURCH. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY IS AMONG THE REVELLERS AT ELECTRIC AVENUE, WHERE THE DEMAND FOR THIS EVENT IS THROUGH THE ROOF. IT SURE IS, THIS IS NOW THE BIGGEST MULTI-DAY FESTIVAL AND ALL OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE WANT TO BE AUSTRALIA AND ANYTHING, FOR THE MIND IS SUCH THAT THERE IS A WAITLIST OF ALMOST 20,000 PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT COME ALONG, THE BIG HEADLINE IS THE PRODIGY OUT FROM THE UK, AND IF YOU ARE AS OLD AS ME, YOU WILL KNOW THEM AS A HUGE BAND IN THE 90S. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE DAY'S SPORT. THE CHIEFS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEMSELVES AS THE TEAM TO BEAT EARLY IN SUPER RUGBY, NOT JUST DEFEATING, BUT HUMILIATING THE CRUSADERS 49-24 IN HAMILTON LAST NIGHT. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. IT'S BY FAR THE BIGGEST STATEMENT YET IN THIS YEAR'S SUPER RUGBY COMPETITION. SENDS IT TOWARDS THE POSTS. THE FLAGS GO UP. IT'S A CRUSHING WIN FOR THE CHIEFS. YES, THERE WAS PLENTY TO GRIN ABOUT IN HAMILTON. THE 49-24 WIN THE CHIEFS' LARGEST EVER VICTORY OVER THE CRUSADERS. THAT WAS PLEASING. WE SCORED SOME BEAUTIFUL TRIES, AND GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE CROWD THAT TURNED UP. EARLY ON IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE MATCH WAS DESTINED TO BE ONE-WAY TRAFFIC ` KYLE PRESTON CONTINUING HIS DREAM START WITH THE CRUSADERS. OH, I DON'T BELIEVE IT. HE'S IN AGAIN. THAT'S HIS FOURTH TRY THIS SEASON. THE VISITORS KEPT WITHIN AN ARM'S LENGTH DURING THE FIRST HALF, AND 48 MINUTES IN, THEY MADE IT ALL SQUARE. AND IT IS GOOD. AND IT'S 17-17 IN HAMILTON. IT WOULD BE ALL DOWNHILL FOR THE CRUSADERS FROM THERE AS THE CHIEFS SPRUNG INTO LIFE. AND NOW SOME SPACE FOR LEROY CARTER. CARTER PUTS THE SHOULDER IN. HE'S IN FOR THE TRY. THEY'VE GOT NUMBER TO BURN LAST. CARTER SENDS THE PASS AWAY. FINAU'S IN. THE CHIEFS SCORING TWICE IN AS MANY MINUTES TO OPEN UP A SIZABLE GAP, AND THEY WEREN'T DONE THERE. GOOD ANGLED RUN FROM PARKER ` BREAKING THEM OPEN. TUPOU IS GOING TO GET A TRY IN HIS 50TH. (WHISTLE TRILLS) THE HOSTS RUNNING IN A TOTAL OF SEVEN TRIES IN THE BONUS POINT WIN. VAII ` HE CAN SET IT UP. AND TUPOU IS GOING TO GO BACK-TO-BACK. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL BY THE CHIEFS! THAT IT CERTAINLY WAS. FOR THE CRUSADERS THOUGH ` CAUSE FOR CONCERN, LEAVING MANY WONDERING IF IT'S GOING TO ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE YEARS. WE'VE GOT A QUALITY GROUP, PROUD MEN. I'D LOVE TO THINK THAT, AND I'VE GOT FULL FAITH THAT THEY WILL BOUNCE BACK. THE CRUSADERS NOW HAVE A BYE WEEK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT WHILE THEY CHIEFS LOOK TO KEEP THE BALL ROLLING. THE HURRICANES HAVE A MATCH ON THEIR HAND LATE ON AGAINST THE FIJIAN DRUA IN NAPIER. AFTER GOING TO THE BREAK WITH A THREE-POINT LEAD OVER THE HURRICANES, THE DRUA TURNED ON THE STYLE EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF WITH AN 80M TRY. HE GETS IT BACK, ON THE INSIDE, OH, THAT'S A TRY. IT STARTED ON THE 22. THE DRUA LED WITH JUST MINUTES LEFT BEFORE WELLINGTON SCORED A LIKELY MATCH-WINNING TRY. THE FINAL SCORE ` 38-34. JOSEPH PARKER'S HAD A STRANGE CAREER FIRST ` FORCED TO WEIGH IN BY HIMSELF, WITH HIS LAST MINUTE REPLACEMENT OPPONENT MARTIN BAKOLE STILL TRAVELING TO SAUDI ARABIA. PARKER'S BEEN ROBBED OF A CHANCE TO WIN THE IBF TITLE WITH HIS ORIGINAL OPPONENT DANIEL DUBOIS PULLING OUT DUE TO ILLNESS. DUBOIS NOT THE ONLY ONE PLAYING POLITICS THOUGH ` WINSTON PETERS IS IN RIYADH FOR THE BIG FIGHT, WISHING PARKER LUCK TODAY. AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND HERE TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT AS WELL, AND MY WHOLE TEAM. BUT IT'S BEEN CRAZY, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MARTIN BAKOLE FOR TAKING THIS FIGHT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING IN THE RING WITH HIM TOMORROW AND GOING TO WORK. AND IN ANOTHER LAST-MINUTE REPLACEMENT, JOSH PADLEY ` AN ELECTRICIAN FROM ENGLAND ` HAS HAD TO TAKE LEAVE FROM HIS DAY JOB, CALLED IN TO FIGHT AMERICAN SHAKUR STEVENSON FOR THE WBC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE. IT'S ALL AUCKLAND FC IN THE THIRD EDITION OF THE NEW ZEALAND DERBY ` THE A-LEAGUE LEADERS RUNNING RAMPANT EARLY AGAINST THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX. THE HOME SIDE WERE KEPT SCORELESS FOR THE FIRST HALF HOUR, BUT AFTER THAT, THE FLOODGATES OPENED. AUCKLAND FC, STILL THERE! ONCE NOT ENOUGH! SAYS NAMAR STILL THERE, FAR POST! AND HEADED IN BY ROBINSON WELLINGTON ARE FALLING APART. EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF, AUCKLAND LEAD 4-1. ALICE ROBINSON HAS CONTINUED HER FINE FORM, LANDING HER FIFTH GIANT SLALOM WORLD CUP PODIUM IN SIX EVENTS THIS SEASON. QUICKEST AFTER THE FIRST ROUND, AND ON HER SECOND RUN, WAS RIGHT IN THE HUNT FOR THE TITLE COMING TOWARDS THE FINISH. THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE ABOVE NOW, ALICE ROBINSON HAS TO TAKE SECOND PLACE ONCE AGAIN ROBINSON'S BACK ON THE SLOPES OVERNIGH, WITH THE SECOND EVENT OF A BACK-TO-BACK WEEKEND IN ITALY. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE PRODUCES TAURANGA WAS THE HOTTEST SPOT IN THE COUNTRY TODAY, HITTING 26 DEGREES. I'LL HAVE YOUR SUNDAY WEATHER NEXT. WILL IT BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN AUCKLAND FOR THE MANU WORLD CHAMPS QUALIFIER EVENT AT THE WATERFRONT? WELCOME BACK, YOU'RE WATCHING THREE NEWS. HERE IS OUR TOP STORY FOR YOUR SATURDAY EVENING ` THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE HAS REPORTED A SECOND WINDOW FOR LIVE-FIRING ACTITIVY FROM THREE CHINESE NAVAL SHIPS CONDUCTING EXERCISES OFF THE COAST OF SYDNEY. EARLIER, FROM SYDNEY TO NEW ZEALAND HAVE HAD TO DIVERT TO AVOID AIR SPACE ABOVE WHERE WERE PREPARING FOR LIVE-FIRE EXERCISES. COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WERE FORCED TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. THAT RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS DOMINANT OVER THE COUNTRY, SUNDAY WHOO SEES SHOWERS FOR SOME, AND IT IS GOING TO BE A PARTLY SHOWERY, CLOUDY DAY TOMORROW IN THE NORTH, CHANCE OF SHOWERS EVERYWHERE EXCEPT FOR WHITIANGA, YOUR CLOUD WILL CLEAR IN THE MORNING, AND IT WILL BE A CLEAR AFTERNOON FOR EVERYONE, SHOWERS FOR ALL IN THE MORNING, MASTERSON YOU ARE IN FOR SOUTHERLIES, MORNING CLOUD FOR ALL BAR NELSON THEY COULD BE SHOWERS FOR WESTPORT REEFTON AND GREYMOUTH, SOUTHERLIES WILL DIE IN KAIKOURA BY THE EVENING SHOWERS FOR ALL EXCEPT QUEENSTOWN AND ALEXANDRA, IT IS A HOT SUNDAY EVERYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA, 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 IMOGEN WELLS. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. THANKS FOR JOINING US. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025