NATIONAL'S ANDREW BAYLY RESIGNS AS A MINISTER AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH A STAFFER TURNS PHYSICAL. ALL BLACK CALEB CLARKE PLEADS GUILTY TO DANGEROUS DRIVING AND FAILING TO STOP FOR POLICE. WINSTON PETERS ANNOUNCES MORE RUSSIA SANCTIONS AS PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAYS HE'LL QUIT IN EXCHANGE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP. AND AROUND 70,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED IN NEW PLYMOUTH THIS WEEK FOR TE MATATINI. WE'LL GO THERE LIVE FOR THE BUILD UP. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. NATIONAL'S ANDREW BAYLY HAS RESIGNED AS THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND THE MINISTER OF ACC AFTER HE SAID HE PLACED HIS HAND ON THE UPPER ARM OF ONE OF HIS STAFFERS DURING AN ANIMATED DISCUSSION. HE DESCRIBED HIS BEHAVIOUR AS OVERBEARING. IT'S THE SECOND INCIDENT HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN AFTER HE CALLED A WORKER AT A BUSINESS HE WAS VISITING A LOSER. BAYLY RESIGNED ON FRIDAY, BUT NOW QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED ABOUT WHY IT TOOK THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL TODAY TO ANNOUNCE IT. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH HAS MORE. BRINGING THE FULL ARTILLERY TO BRING A FOCUS TO LAW AND ORDER, POLICE COMMISSIONER AND ALL,... AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, GANGS ARE NOT NICE PEOPLE. ...FLAUNTING HIS CRACKDOWN ON CRIME. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE OUR GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED NEW LAWS TO SUPPORT POLICE CRACKING DOWN ON GANGS AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER FORCED TO FOCUS ON CRACKING DOWN ON HIS OWN CABINET. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON LAW & ORDER? ANDREW BAYLY STRIKE TWO AND OUTTA HERE. I AM DEEPLY SORRY. BAYLY HAS ADMITTED HE WAS HAVING AN ANIMATED DISCUSSION ABOUT WORK WITH A STAFF MEMBER, AND HE PLACED A HAND ON THEIR RUPPER ARM. I TOUCHED THEIR UPPER ARM, AND IT IS A MATTER THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE. HE WOULDN'T DETAIL WHAT ANIMATED DISCUSSION ACTUALLY MEANT, OTHER THAN TO CALL IT LIVELY. IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT WAS A FACT THAT WE HAD AN ANIMATED DISCUSSION AND AT ONE POINT I PUT MY HAND ON THEIR UPPER ARM. THREE NEWS UNDERSTANDS HE GRABBED THE STAFF MEMBER, BUT NOT IN A VIOLENT OR SEXUAL MANNER. IT WAS... I HELD THEIR ARM. WAS THERE A COMPLAINT MADE? THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT. IT'S THE SECOND CONDUCT INCIDENT INVOLVING BAYLY. LAST OCTOBER, HE WAS FORCED TO PUBLICLY APOLOGISE FOR CALLING A WROKER AT A BUSINESS HE VISITED A LOSER, HOLDING AN 'L' SIGN UP ON HIS FOREHEAD AND ALLEGEDLY TELLING THEM TO, 'GO HOME. TAKE SOME WINE AND F... OFF.' THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY LAST WEEK ` THE PRIME MINISTER WASN'T INFORMED FOR TWO WHOLE DAYS. ON THE TUESDAY LAST WEEK, I WAS INFORMED ON THURSDAY. THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS OVER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. ON FRIDAY VERY LATE HE RESIGNED. THE PRIME MINISTER THEN DECIDED, DESPITE APPEARING BEFORE MEDIA ON SATURDAY,... CHRISTCHURCH, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO BE. ...TO SIT ON THE NEWS FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. IT SIGNIFICANT THAT WE MOVED AS FAST AS WE COULD OVER THE BREAK. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. I WOULD HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY DOING THIS INTERVIEW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. I HAD TO TALK TO MY FAMILY. I THINK IT IS REASONABLE HE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HIS OWN FAMILY ABOUT HIS DECISION, WHICH IS A VERY BIG ONE. HOW LONG DID YOU GIVE MPS? A COUPLE OF HOURS. BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND BAYLY WERE AT PAINS TO POINT OUT THAT THE RESIGNMATION WAS BAYLY'S OWN DECISION. I HELD MYSELF TO PERSONAL ACCOUNT. THIS IS MY DECISION. IN THIS CASE WE HAVE MINISTERS PSYCHING THEMSELVES WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD HAVE SHOWN LEADERSHIP. I HAVEN'T SACKED A MINISTER. HE HAD AN INCIDENT HAPPEN. HE HAS FELT VERY CLEARLY THAT HE DIDN'T MEET HIS OWN STANDARDS AND HE HAS RESIGNED HIMSELF. HE IS MAKING HIMSELF LOOK PARTICULARLY WEAK I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. IN ONE CASE A REFUSED A RESIGNATION BECAUSE THEY DISMISSED THEM. THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCIDENT LEFT UNANSWERED, BUT BAYLY SPOKE FOR JUST FOUR MINUTES AND 17 SECONDS... AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY. ...BEFORE DECIDING THAT WAS ENOUGH. SO, JENNA, BAYLY HAS RESIGNED, BUT WAS IT A SACKABLE OFFENCE? JUST TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID IN MY STORY, THERE IS NO SUGGESTION IT IS VIOLENT OR SEXUAL. IT DID NOT REACH THE THRESHOLD OF HAVING TO GO TO THE POLICE. IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE INTERACTION. IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT COMPLAINT WAS MADE, AND EVEN THEN IT TOOK HIM A COUPLE OF DAYS TO COME AROUND TO THE IDEA THAT HE WAS WRONG. THIS IS ALSO HIS SECOND STRIKE, AFTER LOSERGATE AT THE WINERY. CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS AT PAINS TO POINT OUT THAT HE HAD NOT SACKED BAYLY, THAT HE HAD RESIGNED. THAT COULD BE AN EXERCISE IN PRECEDENT-SETTING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INCIDENCES OF CALLS FOR COALITION MEMBERS TO BE SACKED. BAYLY HAS APOLOGISED PERSONALLY TO THE STAFF MEMBER INVOLVED AND MANY ARE DEVASTATED TO SEE HIM GO. BLUES AND ALL BLACKS WINGER CALEB CLARKE HAS ADMITTED TO DANGEROUS DRIVING AND FAILING TO STOP FOR POLICE AND IS DUE TO BE SENTENCED IN JUNE. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, CLARKE DROVE IN AUCKLAND IN A WAY THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC. OLLIE, WHAT'S CALEB HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS? HE HAS REACHED OUT AND A STATEMENT WHERE HE SAID HE MADE AN ERROR IN JUDGEMENT AND HE IS EXTREMELY EMBARRASSED BY HIS ACTIONS. THIS IS VERY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR CALEB CLARKE. YOU CAN TAKE THAT APOLOGY AS GENUINE. THEY HAVE BEEN WRAPPING A LOT OF SUPPORT AROUND HIM SINCE THE INCIDENT. HE WILL WANT TO GET HIS BACK INTO RUGBY AS SOON AS HE CAN. THIS HAS BEEN A PRETTY UNTIDY AND HE WILL BE WANTING TO GET BACK TO RUGBY. TONIGHT MARKS THREE YEARS SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE STARTED ` A WAR THAT HAS NOW COST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES. OVERNIGHT, PUTIN SET THE TONE FOR COMMEMORATIONS, BY UNLEASHING A RECORD NUMBER OF DRONES ON UKRAINE. AND THEN IN A SHOW OF HIS COMMITMENT TO ENDING THE WAR, THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT OFFERED TO RESIGN, IF THAT WOULD HELP BRING PEACE. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THE WAR IN UKRAINE HAS DRAGGED ON LONG ENOUGH THAT THOSE WOUNDED IN BATTLE HAVE RECOVERED AND ARE NOW RETURNING TO FIGHT. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) 'I COULDN'T STAY AWAY,' THIS SOLDIER SAYS, HAVING ALREADY LOST HIS LEG FOR HIS COUNTRY. PEACE AT ANY PRICE IS A MANTRA THAT STRETCHES FROM THE FRONTLINE TRENCHES TO THE MOST POWERFUL OFFICE IN KYIV ` PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TODAY DECLARING HE WOULD GIVE UP HIS JOB IN A HEARTBEAT. IF IT GUARANTEES PEACE OF UKRAINE, IF YOU REALLY NEED ME TO RESIGN, I AM READY. I CAN EXCHANGE IT FOR NATO. HE'S REFUSING TO GET EMOTIONAL, HE TOLD JOURNALISTS ` NO SMALL FEAT GIVEN THE U.S. BETRAYAL AND RUSSIAN MISSILES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BATTERING HIS COUNTRY. PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS ALWAYS HAD A FONDNESS FOR BIG STATEMENTS ON BIG DATES, AND HE WARMED UP FOR TONIGHT'S ANNIVERSARY BY SENDING A RECORD 267 DRONES TO TERRORISE 13 REGIONS. AT HOME, HE BOWED HIS HEAD IN TRIBUTE TO THE RUSSIAN LIVES LOST AS A RESULT OF HIS SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) 'YOU ARE THE MAIN HEROES,' PUTIN SAID. THE U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS TODAY BEEN ACCUSED BY DEMOCRATS OF SURRENDERING TO THE RUSSIANS, BUT HIS LACK OF LOYALTY HAS PROMPTED UKRAINE'S OTHER ALLIES TO DECLARE THEIRS EVEN LOUDER ` THE UK LEADING THE CHARGE WITH PRIME MINISTER SIR KEIR STARMER COMMITTING TO UK BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND AN INCREASE TO DEFENCE SPENDING. WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO PLAY OUR ROLE IF A FORCE IS REQUIRED IN UKRAINE ONCE A PEACE AGREEMENT IS REACHED. NEW ZEALAND TOO HAS TODAY ANNOUNCED ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND A FURTHER $3 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO A RELIEF AND RECOVERY FUND. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SAY DEMOCRACY IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. DEMOCRACY IS ALWAYS MESSY ` OTHERWISE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY DEMOCRACY ` BUT IT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. AS THE WAR GRINDS ON, EVERY CENT OF SUPPORT IS NEEDED. WORLD VISION ESTIMATES NEARLY 900,000 PEOPLE REQUIRE URGENT WINTER ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVE AND 12.7 MILLION UKRAINIANS ARE RELIANT ON HUMANITARIAN AID. THE ANNIVERSARY IS JUST ANOTHER DATE ON A CALENDAR THAT HAS BEEN DEFINED BY DARK DAYS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK. WE KIND OF ` I DON'T WANNA SAY NOT TO GET DISTRACTED, BUT WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT STOPPING, THINGS ARE NOT CHANGING. FOR US, IT'S JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT TO DO. UKRAINIANS CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PEACE, BUT THEY NEED MORE THAN ONE HIGHER POWER TO BE LISTENING. FRIEDRICH MERZ IS SET TO BECOME THE NEXT GERMAN CHANCELLOR, AFTER HIS ALLIANCE OF CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES WON THE NATIONAL ELECTION, AND WITH IT, THE RIGHT TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT. BUT THE MOST STUNNING RESULT OF THE NIGHT WENT TO THE ONE PARTY MERZ HAS SWORN NOT TO WORK WITH. THE FAR-RIGHT AFD PARTY SECURED ITS BIGGEST EVER SHARE OF THE VOTE WITH MORE THAN 20% ` DOUBLE WHAT IT ACHIEVED AT THE LAST ELECTION. ITV'S JAMES MATES REPORTS. IT WASN'T THE TRIUMPH THEY WERE HOPING FOR, BUT IT WAS A CLEAR WIN. AT THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT HEADQUARTERS, THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR TONIGHT. ACTUALLY FORMING A COALITION STRONG ENOUGH TO GOVERN MAY BE A WHOLE NEW BATTLE. FRIEDRICH MERZ WILL BE GERMANY'S NEW CHANCELLOR AND KNOWS THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION DEMANDS URGENCY. (SPEAKS GERMAN) 'THE WORLD OUT THERE ISN'T WAITING FOR US,' HE TOLD SUPPORTERS, ' AND IT ISN'T WAITING FOR LONG, DRAWN-OUT COALITION TALKS 'AND NEGOTIATIONS.' THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED BY THE FAR-RIGHT AFD, LED BY ALICE WEIDEL, WINNING ONE IN FIVE VOTES ` THEIR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE BY A LONG WAY. IF THEY WERE A NORMAL PARTY, A STRONG SECOND PLACE WOULD GIVE THEM A SAY IN COALITION BUILDING, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THERE WILL BE NO COALITION WITH THE AFD. THE AFD IS PRO-PUTIN, ANTI-NATO, ANTI-EU. THEY ARE QUESTIONING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY. WE WILL NEVER WORK TOGETHER WITH THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE. THAT MEANS THE PARTY OF OUTGOING CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ, DESPITE A HUMILIATION TONIGHT, WILL HAVE TO STAY IN GOVERNMENT AS A JUNIOR PARTNER. BUT IT ALL MIGHT TAKE FRIEDRICH MERZ A LONG TIME TO SORT OUT. HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A STRONG LEADER, NOT JUST FOR GERMANY, BUT FOR EUROPE. BUT AS EVER WITH GERMANY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FORM COALITIONS, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOO EASY. IS IT GOING TO BE QUICK? HE WANTS IT TO BE QUICK. HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT WITH THE TWIN THREATS OF DONALD TRUMP AND VLADIMIR PUTIN, HE WANTS TO GET A NEW GOVERNMENT GOING QUICKLY. BACK AT THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT VICTORY PARTY, THERE WAS OPTIMISM THAT GERMANY MAY SOON BE BACK TO CENTRE STAGE. EUROPE REALLY NEEDS FRIEDRICH MERZ TO BE A STRONG LEADER. YES. IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? I HOPE SO. I SURE HOPE SO. I'M` WHAT DOES YOUR GUT TELL YOU? YES, HE WILL BE. IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT ` WE HAVE PUTIN ON THE ONE SIDE IN RUSSIA; WE HAVE TRUMP ON THE OTHER SIDE IN THE U.S.. BUT LURKING IN THE BACKGROUND WILL BE THE FEAR THAT IF THIS GERMAN GOVERNMENT DOESN'T GET IT RIGHT, THE FAR-RIGHT AFD WILL BE READY AND WAITING FOR THEIR NEXT CHANCE. LAURA'S HERE NOW WITH SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE EFFECT OF ICE MELT ON NZ. YES, WE KNOW THE ICE THAT SITS ON THE LAND OF ANTARCTICA HAS BEEN MELTING, AND NOW WE KNOW THIS RESULTS IN A DROP IN TEMPERATURE OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. AND FOR NZ, IT WILL MEAN FEWER HOT DAYS, WHICH MIGHT SOUND GOOD, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RATE AT WHICH THE CLIMATE IS WARMING, BUT THIS IS FAR FROM POSITIVE. I SPOKE TO THE LEAD RESEARCHER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, DR ANDREW PAULING. WE FOUND THAT WHEN YOU INCLUDE THIS MISSING FRESH WATER FROM THE MELTING OF ANTARCTICA, YOU GET COOLING OF THE OCEAN NEAR NZ. SO YOU GET COOLING OF ABOUT HALF A DEGREE TO THE SOUTHEAST OF NZ. SO YOU GET COOLING OF ABOUT HALF A DEGREE TO THE SOUTHEAST OF NZ. IT WILL BE FELT BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. AND THEN INTO THE FUTURE, IT ALSO HAS IMPORTANT IMPACTS ON THE OCEANIC CONDITIONS AROUND NZ THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR MARINE LIFE AND FISHERIES. SO THAT IT OFFSETS SOME OF THE PROJECTED CHANGES DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING INTO THE FUTURE SLIGHTLY ` IT DOESN'T FULLY CANCEL THEM OUT. SO SLIGHTLY LESS WARMING THAN HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, BUT THIS ISN'T A GOOD THING. WE KNOW THE ANTARCTIC IS MELTING, AND THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SEA LEVEL RISE, AND THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THAT AT ALL. AND THEN CLIMATE CHANGE IS A GLOBAL ISSUE, AND SO THIS HAS A LOCAL EFFECT ON NZ, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME EFFECT, SO THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS. MARINE LIFE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS VERY SENSITIVE TO WATER TEMPERATURE, SO THEY MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE TO FIND COOLER WATER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE EFFECT OF ICE MELT HAS BEEN LOOKED AT IN A NZ CONTEXT. DR PAULING SAYS MOST OTHER MODELS DON'T INCLUDE IT IN AN ACCURATE WAY. WE DID SEE A SMALL EFFECT ON THE PROJECTED NUMBER IN HEAT EXTREMES BY THE END OF THE CENTURY AS WELL. PREVIOUSLY MODELS OF HOT DAYS ` 25 DEGREES AND ABOVE ` WERE PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 27 DAYS PER YEAR BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. WHEN WE INCLUDED THIS FRESHWATER, THAT WAS REDUCED BY ABOUT TWO DAYS PER YEAR. SO IT'S A SMALL EFFECT, BUT IT WAS THERE, AND THAT WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE NORTH ISLAND. NOW, THE TASK IS TO USE THE ICE-MELT DATA AND SEE WHAT RESULTS COME USING DIFFERENT CLIMATE MODELS. OUR GROUP IS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO COMPARE THE OUTPUT OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT MODELS. SO HOPEFULLY OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE BRINGING OUT RESULTS FROM THAT WORK. AND WE WILL BRING YOU THAT TOO. IT WAS A FAIRLY SETTLED DAY TODAY, BUT NORTH OF US, THERE ARE TWO TROPICAL CYCLONES ` RAE AND ALFRED ` AND POTENTIALLY A THIRD FORMING LATER IN THE WEEK. CATEGORY ONE ALFRED IS OVER THE CORAL SEA, AND AUSTRALIA IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT. IT'S EXPECTED TO MOVE OFFSHORE TO THE NORTH OF QUEENSLAND'S COAST. BUT TROPICAL CYCLONE RAE IS TO THE EAST OF NADI, MOVING SOUTH/SOUTHWEST PAST FIJI'S OUTER ISLANDS AND THE WEST OF TONGA. BACK HOME, AND THERE IS A SEVERE RAIN WATCH UNRELATED TO THE CYCLONES. I'LL TELL YOU WHERE AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` AN UPDATE ON THE HEALTH OF POPE FRANCIS AS HE ASKS PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM. AND IT'S TIME FOR TE MATATINI AGAIN. WE'LL CATCH UP WITH THE HUI'S JULIAN WILCOX TO FIND OUT HIS FAVOURITES FOR THE KAPA HAKA CHAMPIONSHIPS. (MAN PANTING) VOICEOVER: Drivers on drugs get stopped on our roads more than you might think. Trouble is... Jesse. Jesse, Jesse! ...it's not always by the police. Look at me Jesse! Jesse look at me! Listen to me. You'll be okay, all right? We're gonna get you out, okay? Just remain calm. (SIRENS WAILING) POPE FRANCIS HAS ISSUED MESSAGES OF THANKS FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED AND ASKED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM. THE PONTIFF IS STILL RECEIVING HIGH-FLOW OXYGEN AT THE GEMELLI HOSPITAL IN ROME AS HE BATTLES DOUBLE PNEUMONIA AND CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. YESTERDAY, HIS CONDITION WAS DEEMED 'CRITICAL'. TODAY, THE VATICAN SAID HE'D HAD A 'RESTFUL NIGHT' AND 'SUFFERED NO FURTHER CRISIS'. ITV'S ELLIE PITT REPORTS. (CHOIR SINGS) IT WAS AN ARCHBISHOP WHO TOOK THE PLACE OF THE POPE TO CELEBRATE MASS IN THE VATICAN THIS MORNING, THOUGH THE HOLY FATHER WAS NOT FAR FROM THE CONGREGATION'S THOUGHTS. TRANSLATOR: WE FEEL POPE FRANCIS EVEN IN A HOSPITAL BED. WE FEEL HIM CLOSE TO US; WE FEEL HIM PRESENT IN OUR MIDST, AND THIS COMPELS US TO MAKE EVEN STRONGER AND MORE INTENSE OUR PRAYER THAT THE LORD WILL ASSIST HIM IN HIS TIME OF TRIAL AND ILLNESS. THAT ILLNESS BECAME NOTICEABLE TWO WEEKS AGO... (SPEAKS ITALIAN) ...WHEN BRONCHITIS BEGAN TO MAKE BREATHING DIFFICULT AND HE HAD TO STOP MID-SPEECH. SINCE THEN, HE HAS SPENT MORE THAN A WEEK IN THE HOSPITAL GEMELLI IN ROME AND YESTERDAY SUFFERED A PROLONGED ASTHMATIC ATTACK AND NEEDED BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) EVERY SUNDAY, THE POPE USUALLY GIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE WINDOW OF THE PAPAL PALACE. TODAY, IT WAS SHUT AGAIN AND INSTEAD A NOTE WAS PUBLISHED, BUT VATICAN SOURCES SAY HE PROBABLY WROTE THIS A FEW DAYS AGO. THE PROCESSION OF PILGRIMS INTO SAINT PETER'S SQUARE CONTINUES. SOME CHANT THE PONTIFF'S NAME AS THEY APPROACH. VIVA PAPA FRANCISCO! ALL: VIVA! I'M A HARD NUT TO CRACK, AND I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN I WALKED INTO THE BASILICA, I ACTUALLY HAD TEARS IN MY EYES. I SUPPOSE, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WE LIVE IN HOPE THAT HE'LL BE OK. AT THE END OF HIS MESSAGE TODAY, POPE FRANCIS ASKED PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR HIM. IT'S A REQUEST HE'S KNOWN FOR, BUT IT HAS EVEN GREATER URGENCY COMING FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED. 55 GROUPS FROM AROUND NZ ARE DESCENDING ON NEW PLYMOUTH FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST KAPA HAKA COMPETITION. TE MATATINI IS BEING HELD AT THE BOWL OF BROOKLANDS, NESTLED WITHIN PUKEKURA PARK. IT'S WHERE WE FIND THE HUI'S JULIAN WILCOX. KIA ORA, JULIAN. HUGE AUDIENCES ARE EXPECTED FOR THIS WEEK-LONG EVENT ` 70,000 ATTENDING AND 2.5 MILLION WATCHING. WHAT'S THE BUILD-UP LIKE THERE TODAY? THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR A GROUP WALKING THROUGH THE STAGE PREP AT THE MOMENT. THEY HAVE 15 MINUTES TO GET SETTLED. THIS MORNING, THE POWHIRI WAS AMAZING. WE HAD A 20 MINUTE POI FROM THE PEOPLE OF TARANAKI. IT IS A SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE AND PEACE. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF THE WELCOME TO ALL 55 KAPA HAKA. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT 70,000 PEOPLE ` PROBABLY MORE. THE SOUND IS AMAZING HERE. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE CREME DE LA CREME OF MAORIDOM. IT IS SOUNDING BRILLIANT. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PERFORMER AT TE MATATINI ` A LOT OF NERVES, I IMAGINE, BUT IS IT ALSO THE PINNACLE OF KAPA HAKA? IT IS THE BEST OF THE BEST. HAVE TO TELL YOU, I PERFORMED ONCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS HELD HERE IN TARANAKI. THE PRESSURE JUST GOING ONSTAGE IS IMMENSE, BUT IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOUR CULTURE, YOUR IDENTITY, THE PRIDE YOU HAVE ON THOSE ASPECTS. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE TIME. BUT IT IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WHAT MAORIDOM HOLDS DEAR. YOU WILL HEAR SOME VERY DIRECT POLITICAL COMMENTARY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO PASS ON. IF YOU WIN, LIKE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU. AND IT ALL CULMINATES WITH THE FINALS ON SATURDAY ` HOW IS IT JUDGED, AND WHO'S YOUR FAVOURITE? (LAUGHS) I WAS HOPING YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT, BECAUSE THAT PUTS ON A BIT OF PRESSURE. THE JUDGES HAVE FIVE DAYS. THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR JUDGES PER SECTION. THE ENTRY, THE MARCH OFF, THE POI, THE HAKA ` IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHO WILL WIN, THERE ARE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, TE WHANAU APANUI. IT IS TOO TOUGH TO TELL YOU. IT IS HARD TO PICK THE TOP 12. WHO KNOWS? IS THE ONLY ANSWER I CAN GIVE. KAPA HAKA WILL BE THE WINNER ON THE DAY. NICELY HANDLED. AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE KEEN TO GET AMONGST, BUT DON'T SPEAK TE REO, THERE ARE LIVE TRANSLATIONS AVAILABLE? YES THERE ARE. THERE IS A TRANSLATION APP. PEOPLE CAN GO ONTO THE WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD THE APP. YOU CAN LISTEN TO PEOPLE COMMENTING AND COMMENTATING ON THE PERFORMANCES IN ENGLISH SO YOU CAN GET A GREATER UNDERSTANDING IN THE CONTEXT, HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF EACH PERFORMANCE. YOU CAN WATCH IT ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF PLACES INCLUDING MAORI TELEVISION AND TVNZ. DOWNLOAD THE APP. JULIAN, THANK YOU. AFTER THE BREAK ON THREE NEWS ` WE'LL HAVE ALL THE BIG WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS IN LOS ANGELES THIS AFTERNOON. AND LATER IN SPORT, THE BLACKCAPS PREPARE FOR THEIR SECOND MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY, WITH A SEMIFINAL SPOT ON THE LINE. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE IS OUR TOP STORY SO FAR TONIGHT. NATIONAL'S ANDREW BAYLY RESIGNS AS A MINISTER AFTER WHAT HE CALLED 'AN ANIMATED DISCUSSION WITH A STAFFER' TURNED PHYSICAL. GEO NET HAS RAISED THE AVIATION COLOUR CODE AROUND WHAKAARI WHITE ISLAND TO ORANGE, MEANING THE VOLCANO IS EXHIBITING HEIGHTENED UNREST WITH INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF ERUPTION. THE COLOUR CODE IS TO HELP AIRLINES MAKE DECISIONS ON FLIGHT ROUTES, AND ORANGE IS THE SECOND HIGHEST LEVEL. IT COMES AFTER STEAM PLUMES, GAS AND ASH EMISSIONS WERE OBSERVED BY GEO NET CAMERAS OVER THE PAST WEEK. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE BLACKCAPS' FORTUNES AT THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY IN PAKISTAN, BUT THERE IS DISCONTENT SIMMERING OVER ANOTHER TEAM AT THE TOURNAMENT. SOME BRITISH MPS AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE CALLED FOR ENGLAND TO BOYCOTT THEIR NEXT GAME AGAINST AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK, BECAUSE OF THE TALIBAN'S CLAMPDOWN ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS. IT'S SEEN THE AFGHAN WOMEN'S TEAM FORCED INTO EXILE. CHANNEL 4'S JORDAN JARRET-BRYAN HAS MORE. A SOLITARY, ONE-WOMAN PROTEST AGAINST SUPPORTERS OF THE AFGHAN MEN'S CRICKET TEAM, ARZO PARSI HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR ENGLAND'S MATCH WITH AFGHANISTAN TO BE BOYCOTTED. SHE'S RECEIVED BACKLASH AND DEATH THREATS FOR STANDING UP FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. SHE LOOKS LIKE AN UGLY FACE! THIS FLAG WILL ALWAYS SHINE! ARZO WAS BORN IN KABUL, BUT LEFT FOR THE UK IN 1997, WHEN THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER. SHE BELIEVES CRICKET IS BEING USED TO WHITEWASH THE TALIBAN'S CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN. WE LOVE TO SEE OUR TEAMS WIN. WE LOVE TO SEE OUR TEAMS MAKE US PROUD AS A NATION, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT OUR TEAM IS PLAYING IN OUR NAME, BUT NOT FOR US. AND WE WOMEN ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THAT SOCIETY. IN AFGHANISTAN, WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE COURAGEOUSLY SPOKEN OUT IN A VIDEO RELEASED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. DESPITE THE RISKS. THEIR OPPRESSION IS BEING IGNORED, WHILST THE MEN CONTINUE TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND HAVE ALL THE BACKING OF AFGHANISTAN'S RULERS. FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND IN MOST AREAS OF PUBLIC LIFE HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY OUTLAWED SINCE THE TALIBAN RETURNED TO POWER IN 2021. THE MAJORITY OF AFGHANISTAN'S FEMALE TEAM ARE NOW IN EXILE IN AUSTRALIA. LAST MONTH, THEY HAD THEIR FIRST COMPETITIVE MATCH THERE, BUT THEY'VE HAD NO SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL, WHICH IS ALSO ALLOWING THE MEN TO PLAY, DESPITE ITS OWN RULES THAT TEST-PLAYING NATIONS MUST SUPPORT A WOMEN'S TEAM. NEARLY 200 PARLIAMENTARIANS CALLED FOR ENGLAND TO REFUSE TO PLAY AFGHANISTAN, DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE ICC. WHAT IS SO INSULTING ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE ICC ARE INVESTING �17M INTO THE AFGHAN CRICKET TEAM. YET NOTHING GOES TO THESE WOMEN. AND THE MESSAGE HAS TO BE THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND THAT WE DO INVEST IN THEM ACROSS THE WORLD, AND WE CELEBRATE SPORT ON A GLOBAL LEVEL. THE ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD HAS RESISTED PRESSURE TO BOYCOTT THE MATCH, SAYING IT BELIEVES UNILATERAL ACTION IS NOT THE WAY FORWARD. THE ECB SAID... THE TOURNAMENT IS NOW UNDERWAY, BUT THE ONGOING ISSUE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE PRESSURE OF THE CRICKETING AUTHORITIES TO ABIDE BY THEIR OWN RULES IS FAR FROM OVER. OLLIE'S HERE NEXT WITH SPORT ` AND WHAT ABOUT THE BLACKCAPS, OLLIE? WILL THEY PLAY AFGHANISTAN IN THIS TOURNAMENT? THEY PROBABLY WON'T MEET IN A SEMI-FINAL, BUT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT NEW ZEALAND'S CRITIC RESPONSE WOULD BE. IF THEY DID, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS. AT THIS STAGE, IT IS UNLIKELY. WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST OUT OF THE BLACKCAPS CAMP NEXT. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST OUT OF THE BLACKCAPS CAMP NEXT. PLUS, THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW AT THE VANCOUVER SEVENS. AND WE'RE AT THE LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER EVENT FOR THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN, WITH EVERYONE FROM PROFESSIONALS TO NOT-SO PROFESSIONAL TRYING TO QUALIFY. THREE NEW SPORT WITH SUZUKI, SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE STARS AT PLUNKETT. THE EQUATION IS A SIMPLE ONE FOR THE BLACKCAPS ` BEAT BANGLADESH TONIGHT, AND THEY'LL CLIP THEIR TICKET TO THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY SEMI FINALS. PAKISTAN'S LOSS TO INDIA LAST NIGHT SIMPLIFIED THINGS FOR THE BLACKCAPS, WHO ARE NOW ON THE CUSP OF ADVANCING WITH A GAME TO SPARE, ALTHOUGH THERE'S NO THOUGHT OF KNOCKOUT CRICKET JUST YET. FINAL PREPARATIONS UNDER THE LIGHTS FOR THE BLACKCAPS AHEAD OF A CRUNCH CHAMPIONS TROPHY MATCH UP ` AND AGAINST BANGLADESH, THEY CONFRONT A FAMILIAR FOE. WE'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE QUITE A FEW BILATERAL SERIES AGAINST THEM, SO THERE'S NOT TOO MANY NAMES ON THAT TEAM LIST WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. SO WE CAN TAKE SOME CONFIDENCE FROM THAT. CONFIDENCE ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN SHORT SUPPLY OF LATE. THE BLACKCAPS ARE RIDING HIGH IN THE MIDST OF A FIVE-MATCH WINNING STREAK. VERY GOOD SHOT. SWEETLY DOWN THE GROUND. A LARGE PART OF THEIR SUCCESS HAS BEEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THEIR BATTERS ` WILL YOUNG AND TOM LATHAM WERE THE STANDOUTS FROM THEIR WIN OVER PAKISTAN. THAT IS SUCH A GOOD SHOT. AND MITCHELL SANTNER FEELS IT'S THE CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE HELPED THE BLACKCAPS IN THEIR WINNING RUN. IT'S A NICE POSITION TO HAVE. THE LEAD IN WE HAD THAT TRI NATIONS SERIES WAS JUST A GOOD TIME FOR GUYS TO GET TIME IN THE MIDDLE AND AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF GAMES. DIFFERENT GUYS HAVE STEPPED UP, WHICH IS THE MOST PLEASING THING. IN THAT REGARD, TONIGHT WILL BE NO DIFFERENT ` BEAT BANGLADESH AND THEIR SEMI FINAL SPOT IS SECURE. BUT WHILE THE EQUATION MAY BE SIMPLE, MITCHELL SANTNER KNOWS THE CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF THEM ISN'T. WE'VE GOTTA BE ON. AT THESE BIG EVENTS, THEY CAN BEAT ANY TEAM ON THEIR DAY, SO LET'S HOPE IT'S NOT US. IF IT'S NOT, THE BLACKCAPS PREPARATION FOR KNOCK OUT CRICKET CAN BEGIN. THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS HAVE STORMED TO VICTORY IN THE FINAL OF THE VANCOUVER LEG OF THE WORLD SERIES WITH A DOMINANT 41-7 WIN OVER FIJI IN THE FINAL. THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS HARDLY HAD TO BREAK A SWEAT, CHARGING OUT TO A COMMANDING 27-0 LEAD TO BURY FIJI'S HOPES OF VICTORY BEFORE MAHINA PAUL PUT THE ICING ON THE CAKE IN WHAT WAS ANOTHER SATISFYING WIN IN VANCOUVER. THAT RUGGED HEAVY PRESSURE. THEY WILL GET ONE MORE. VANCOUVER ON ONE OF THEIR FAVOURITE STOPS. WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT COMES TO SUPPORT US. IT'S THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS' SECOND TOURNAMENT VICTORY IN THE CURRENT WORLD SERIES AND KEEPS THEM AT THE TOP OF THE STANDINGS. IF LIVERPOOL DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE ONE HAND ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY, THEN THEY CERTAINLY DO NOW. THIS MORNING, IT WAS THE FOUR-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS WHO WERE THEIR LATEST VICTIMS, AS THE REDS' 2-NIL VICTORY GAVE THEM AN 11-POINT BUFFER AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE. ITV'S CHRIS SKUDDER REPORTS. PEP CITY HAVE SIMPLY BEEN PUSHED OFF THE PERCH BY A NEW DOMINANT FORCE. LIVERPOOL'S AT THE TOP WAS ALREADY SIZEABLE LEAD, AND HERE IT WAS GOING INTO A DOUBLE DIGIT ADVANTAGE. THE PEENING EGYPTIAN SMILE AGAIN. THE PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL MAKES THEM CLEAR FAVOURITES TO WIN. THEY MUST HAPPEN RIGHT UP THERE TO FOR THE NEXT ROUND. LIVERPOOL HAVE SIMPLY OVERPOWERED THEIR MAJOR RIVALS THE SEASON. THE GOALS KEEP COMING FROM ALL ANGLES. TO NIL. FOR CITY, ONCE DOMINANT STAR, IT FEELS LIKE THE END OF AN ERROR. THAT MAY BE PREMATURE, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN NO MATCH FOR LIVERPOOL FOR ERUPTED IN, ONLY FOR CURTIS JONES A SCHOOL TO BE RULED OUT FROM THE SIDE. LIVERPOOL'S THIRD GOAL. IT DIDN'T MATTER. BARRING A COLLAPSE OVER THE CLOSING WEEKS OF THE SEASON, LIVERPOOL ARE ON COURSE TO BE COOL MANCHESTER UNITED'S RECORDED 20 ENGLISH TITLES. THE FINAL SPOTS IN THIS WEEK'S NEW ZEALAND OPEN AT MILBROOK HAVE BEEN DECIDED AT TODAY'S LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER EVENT IN CROMWELL. GORDON FINDLATER WAS THERE. SAM MCGILL COULD BE THE POSTER CHILD FOR THE NZ OPEN'S MONDAY QUALIFIER. YEAH, MATE, I'M JUST A BATTLER, BUT, HEY, I'M AN UNDERDOG, SO BATTLERS DO WELL, RIGHT? YES, THE FATHER OF THREE FROM CHRISTCHURCH WAS HOPING TO LEAVE THE FIELD IN HIS VAPOUR TRAIL TODAY. WE'RE RUNNING A BIT OF WATERMELON TODAY. IS THAT LUCKY? OH, I HOPE IT'S LUCKY. I DUNNO ` I GET A BIT NERVOUS OUT HERE. ANY GOLF TOURNAMENT I PLAY, I GET THE OLD BUTTERFLIES. SO SUCKING ON A VAPE KEEPS ME AT EASE AND GIVES ME SOMETHING TO CHUG ON WALKING DOWN THE FAIRWAYS, RIGHT? FOR MANY, TODAY'S LAST-CHANCE QUALIFIER WILL THEIR BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR, HOPING TO FULFIL THE DREAM OF PLAYING IN THE COUNTRIES MARQUE EVENT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY HERE. ANYBODY OUT OF THE 75, ANYBODY CAN GO LOW. AND IF YOU'RE LOW, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH PLAYING THE NZ OPEN ON THURSDAY. SHAUN JONES HAS PREVIOUSLY PLAYED THE OPEN TWICE AND LOOKED ON TRACK TO MAKE A THIRD APPEARANCE BEFORE A DOUBLE BOGEY AT THE PAR-5 15TH UNHINGED HIS ROUND. THE WINNER OF TODAY'S EVENT SHOOTING SIX-UNDER WAS CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL JARED DU TOIT, WHO HAS A TOP 10 FINISH AT A PGA TOUR EVENT ON HIS RESUME. HAD A GREAT TIME OUT THERE. SAW A COUPLE PUTS GO IN AND, YEAH, HAD A BLAST. THE LAST TWO SPOTS WOULD BE DECIDED BY A PLAYOFF BETWEEN THREE PLAYERS TIED AT FIVE-UNDER ` ONE OF THEM JAKE MEENHORST, WHO GOT THERE IN STYLE. OH! THE FIRST PLAYOFF HOLE SAW KIWI STEVEN OH SECURE HIS FIRST START AT MILLBROOK. IT FEELS AMAZING. I WAS SO NERVOUS ABOUT THE PUTTING, BUT JUST BE MYSELF. THEN TWO HOLES LATER... ANOTHER LOCAL, MEENHORST, OVERCAME AMERICAN MATTHEW SIPORIN TO BOOK HIS THIRD START AT THE OPEN. I HAD A CLOSE CALL AT THE AUSSIE OPEN LAST YEAR, WHERE I MISSED OUT IN A PLAYOFF, SO IT'S NICE TO GET OVER THE LINE THIS TIME FOR THE REST. THERE'S NOW 12 MONTHS TO PRACTICE BEFORE HAVING ANOTHER CRACK. YEAH, I DON'T PUT TOO MUCH OF THE WORK IN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. LIKE, YOU CAN SPEND HOURS ON THE RANGE AND FIND SOMETHING AND THAT. I'M GOOD FOR 10, 15 BALLS. STEP ON THE FIRST TEE, GIVE IT A CRACK, AND WHAT'S THERE IS THERE. I FOR ONE THINK 2026 WILL FINALLY BE MCGILL'S YEAR. LEE WARN HAS WHEELED HIS WAY AROUND MORE THAN 20 'ROUND THE BAY' EVENTS IN HIS TIME, AND THIS YEAR, HE WANTS TO TICK OFF ALL THREE ` IN AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH. GRACE THOMAS CAUGHT UP WITH THE COLOURFUL CHARACTER AHEAD OF THE AUCKLAND RACE. LEE WARN HAS BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR SINCE HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD, AFTER HE BROKE HIS BACK IN A SCOOTER ACCIDENT. I STRUGGLED WITH BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR, WHAT A DISABILITY MEANT, HOW TO REACT TO OTHER PEOPLE, THE WORLD AROUND ME, PEOPLE STEALING MY ACCESSIBLE CARPARKS! BUT I EVENTUALLY STARTED TO PUT MY HAND UP AND SAY YES TO THINGS. AND THIS IS WHAT SAYING YES TO THINGS STARTED TO LOOK LIKE FOR LEE. HE'S RACKED UP A RAFT OF SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS., INCLUDING ULTRA-MARATHONS AROUND THE WORLD. HE'S ALSO BECOME A REGULAR AT ROUND THE BAYS, KNOWN FOR HIS ICONIC COSTUMES. I JUST HAD A THOUGHT IN MY HEAD AND IT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH ` 'I'M GONNA DO IT IN A GORILLA SUIT.' AND I WAS LIKE, 'OH, OK, I HAVE TO DO IT NOW.' I THINK THERE WERE SEVEN WHEELCHAIR RACERS AT THE TIME AND I CAME COMPLETELY LAST, BUT I LOVED IT. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. MANY OF HIS COSTUMES HAVE BEEN HOT AND HEAVY AND HAVEN'T MADE RACING EASY. BUT THEY'VE MADE PEOPLE LAUGH, AND LEE SAYS THAT'S WHAT COUNTS. WHEN I WAS AT THE START LINE, A GUY COMES OVER TO ME AND GOES, 'WHO HAVE WE GOT HERE?' AND I'M LIKE, 'I'M THE BATMAN.' I'M IN CHARACTER AND HE SAYS, 'WHERE ARE YOU FROM?' AND I SAY, 'THE BAT CAVE.' AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME ARE JUST WETTING THEMSELVES LAUGHING. AND LITERALLY, IT'S JUST THAT. WITH THE TRIFECTA OF ROUND THE BAYS IN HIS SIGHT, LEE HAS ALREADY TICKED OFF WELLINGTON'S RACE, WHERE HE WAS THE 'BAT MAN' ` COVERED IN BATS OF THE SPORTING TYPE. AND AUCKLAND IS NEXT UP THIS SUNDAY. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FUN. THE IDEA OF DOING ALL THREE ` IT'S LIKE, WHY NOT? I CAN DO ALL THREE. BUT LEE HOPES HE CAN INSPIRE PEOPLE TO JUST GIVE ONE A GO. EVERYONE'S EVEREST LOOKS DIFFERENT. EVERYONE'S CHALLENGES LOOK DIFFERENT. AS MUCH AS THERE'S DIFFERENT DISABILITIES OUT THERE, THERE'S DIFFERENT WINS. THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR LEE IS THE 2026 TOKYO MARATHON ` AND YES, HE'LL BE IN FULL COSTUME THERE, TOO. VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING BATMAN ON THE START LINE. IT LOOKS HOT, BUT LOOKS GOOD. NEW ZEALAND ACTRESS ANNA SAWAI WAS AMONG THE BIG WINNERS AT THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS FOR HER PERFORMANCE IN SHOGUN. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE HIGHLIGHTS. THE GLITZ, THE GLAM, THE PAM ON MORE OF A GOLD THAN RED CARPET. THE 31ST ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS IN LOS ANGELES STREAMED LIVE ON NETFLIX. HOSTED BY THE ALSO-NOMINATED KRISTIN BELL... # DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ACTOR? # ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR BREAK? # ...WHO QUICKLY NOMINATED THE PLAYERS ON LIFE'S REAL STAGE. THIS CITY AND PEOPLE IN IT HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH THE RINGER, AND THE MOST ATTRACTIVE TABLE HERE ARE RIGHT OVER THERE. BUT LESS KIND COMMENTS ABOUT POLITICS AND POWER. WE CAN'T LET GREED CONTINUE TO DENY GLOBAL WARNING. LEADING THE NOMINATIONS WERE THE MUSICAL FILM 'WICKED' AND THE TELEVISION SERIES 'SHOGUN' EACH SECURING FIVE NODS. NEW ZEALANDER ANNA SAWAI TAKING OUT BEST FEMALE ACTOR FOR HER WORK IN THE DRAMA SERIES SET IN 17th CENTURY JAPAN. LAST YEAR WHEN THIS SHOW CAME OUT, ALL I WANTED WAS FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH IT, SO THIS IS BEYOND MY WILDEST EXPECTATIONS. BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES ALSO GOING TO SHOGUN. I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A DREAM OF A DREAM. BABY REINDEER'S JESSICA GUNNING WON BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN BABY REINDEER FOR CHANGING MY LIFE, AND TO RICHARD GADD FOR MAKING MY DREAMS COME TRUE. BUT RICHARD GADD HIMSELF MISSED OUT TO COLIN FARRELL'S PERFORMANCE IN THE PENGUIN. JANE FONDA, NOW 87, PICKED UP THE PRESTIGIOUS LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, HONOURING HER SIX-DECADE-LONG CAREER AND LONG COMMITMENT TO ACTIVISM. I GOT WHERE I AM BY KNOWING WHO TO FEAR. I MADE ONE OF MY MOST SUCCESSFUL MOVIES IN MY 80s. PROBABLY IN MY 90s I'LL BE DOING MY OWN STUNTS. BEFORE QUICKLY MOVING TO POLITICS. A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HURTING BY WHAT IS COMING OUR WAY. WE MUSTN'T FOR A MOMENT KID OURSELVES HOW BIG THIS IS. THIS IS HUGE. ACCLAIMED MOVIE CONCLAVE IS ABOUT A PAPAL ELECTION AND THE CAST ACKNOWLEDGED THE CRITICALLY ILL REAL-LIFE POPE... WE JUST WANT TO SEND BEST WISHES TO POPE FRANCIS. ...BEFORE LATER TAKING OUT 'BEST CAST' FOR THE FILM. BEST MOTION PICTURE CAST TO... 'CONCLAVE'. I'VE NOT BEEN ELECTED TO SPEAK; I'VE BEEN NOMINATED. BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE TO NEWCOMER TIMOTHEE CHALAMET, PLAYING BOB DYLAN IN 'A COMPLETE UNKNOWN'. I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATS. I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T TALK LIKE THAT, BUT I DO. THE FEMALE ACTOR AWARD TO LONG-TIMER DEMI MOORE FOR 'THE SUBSTANCE'. I WATCHED AND LISTENED AND LEARNED FROM YOU. YOU HAVE ALL BEEN MY GREATEST TEACHERS. MANY WILL BE BACK IN THEIR FINEST GARMENTS AGAIN FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS IN ONE WEEK. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER ` AND THERE'S A HEAVY RAIN WATCH. YES, FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST COAST ` SPECIFICALLY FIORDLAND NORTH OF DOUBTFUL SOUND AND THE WESTLAND RANGES. IT'S BEEN BROUGHT ON BY THIS FRONT MOVING UP THE ISLAND, AND THIS WATCH IS IN PLACE UNTIL MIDDAY TOMORROW. SO EXPECT A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN. BEAR IN MIND THEY MAY APPROACH WARNING CRITERIA. AT THIS STAGE, THERE'S A MODERATE CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING. NOW, THIS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY'S FORECAST TOMORROW. I'LL HAVE ALL THOSE DETAILS NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. PLENTY OF FINE WEATHER AHEAD FOR EVERYONE THIS WEEK, BUT TONIGHT, A FRONT FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL BRING SOME RAIN AND CLOUD, AS IT MOVES ON TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AND SPREADS UP THE ISLAND TOMORROW. CANTERBURY, NELSON AND BULLER SHOULD REMAIN FAIRLY DRY, ALONG WITH THE NORTH ISLAND, WITH THE HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM REMAINING DOMINANT THERE. BUT IN TE WAI POUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND, THE WETTEST SPOTS FOR TUESDAY WILL BE FIORDLAND AND THE RANGES OF WESTLAND, WHERE HEAVY RAIN WATCHES ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE. THE EASTERN AREAS WILL BE PATCHY ` SOME RAIN AROUND MIDDAY ` AND SOME EVENING DRIZZLE IN CANTERBURY. IN TE IKA A MAUI, MORE OF THE SAME ` A GENERALLY DRY TUESDAY, BUT THERE WILL BE A FEW SHOWERS SPRINGING UP IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND AND PARTS OF THE COROMANDEL, AND BAY OF PLENTY, SOME CLOUD IN WESTERN AREAS AND GETTING QUITE HOT IN THE EAST, PARTICULARLY HAWKE'S BAY. SO FOR THE TOP OF THE NORTH, EXPECT A PARTLY CLOUDY START, WITH THE CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER FOR NORTHLAND AND WHITIANGA. SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR AUCKLAND AND MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON. SOME CLOUD ABOUT HERE TOO AND YOU COULD GET A MORNING SHOWER, THEN FINE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, WITH THOSE SHOWERS RETURNING IN THE EVENING FOR ROTORUA AND TAURANGA. A FINE TUESDAY FOR YOU HERE. SOME STRONG MORNING NORTHWESTERLIES FOR MASTERTON, AND STRONG IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR GISBORNE, REACHING 28 WITH 30 AND 31 IN THE BAY. YOU'LL GET SOME MORNING CLOUD HERE, BUT IT WILL CLEAR TO A FINE AFTERNOON, WITH FRESH WESTERLY WINDS FOR WHANGANUI, PALMERSTON NORTH AND KAPITI COAST. STRONG NORTHERLIES FOR THE CAPITAL. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` HOKITIKA, YOU'LL HAVE SOME SHOWERS TURNING TO HEAVY RAIN IN THE MORNING. MOST OTHER PARTS WILL GET RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON TOO. NELSON, STAYING FINE UNTIL THE EVENING ` OCCASIONAL RAIN FROM LATER AT NIGHT. A FINE DAY FOR BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, BUT THEN HEADING SOUTH, THERE'S CLOUD FOR EVERYONE ELSE ` A BURST OF RAIN AROUND MIDDAY, AND THEN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. OBAN, A SHOWER OR TWO FOR YOU. BUT FOR EVERYONE ELSE, IT WILL BE A WET START WITH SOME MORNING RAIN, THEN PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS, EVENTUALLY CLEARING TO FINE IN THE EVENING. DUNEDIN, THAT RAIN WILL BE HEAVIEST IN THE MORNING ` CLOUD FOR MOST OF THE DAY TOO. SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS AND A HIGH OF 21 FOR YOU, MOSGIEL, AND THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. CHRISTCHURCH, THAT CLOUD WILL INCREASE IN THE MORNING, A BRIEF PERIOD OF RAIN AROUND MIDDAY, THEN ONE OR TWO SHOWERS POSSIBLE FROM AFTERNOON. NORTHWESTERLIES, TURNING SOUTHERLY AT NIGHT. NO RAIN FORECAST FOR WELLINGTON ` A FINE DAY, WITH SOME MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. STRONG NORTHERLIES, EASING AT NIGHT AND A HIGH OF 21 AND SLIGHTLY WARMER UP THE COAST. AND NEARLY 10 DEGREES WARMER IN HAWKES BAY ` ANOTHER VERY WARM DAY FOR YOU; 30 AND 31 DEGREES. CLEAR SKIES, JUST SOME NORTHWESTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING. PARTLY CLOUDY START FOR TAURANGA, WITH A CHANCE OF A MORNING AND EVENING SHOWER. NORTHERLIES WILL STRENGTHEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY. A FINE TUESDAY FOR HAMILTON ` JUST SOME MORNING CLOUD AND WESTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HIGHS OF 27. AUCKLAND, A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY TOMORROW WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS, MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND LIGHT WINDS. AUSTRALIA, THUNDERSTORMS FOR DARWIN AND PARTLY CLOUDY IN SOUTHERN AREAS. AND IN THE PACIFIC ` TROPICAL CYCLONE RAY, A CATEGORY TWO CYCLONE, HAS CAUSED A BIT OF DAMAGE IN FIJI AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED BY FIJI, TONGA AND SAMOA. BACK HOME, AND A WEAK FRONT MOVES ON TO THE NORTH ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY. A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF NZ ON THURSDAY, THEN IT WILL RETREAT TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON FRIDAY, AS ANOTHER FRONT APPROACHES THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM THE WEST. SO REASONABLY SETTLED WEATHER FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR THE LAST WEEK OF SUMMER. AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL EARLY MORNING VIEW OF MORRINSVILLE SENT IN BY JESS AND A WAIRARAPA VIEW FROM A HORSE. THAT IS THREE NEWS 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. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025.