EMANUEL MACRON FACT-CHECKS TRUMP ON UKRAINE AS WORLD LEADERS GATHER IN KYIV TO MARK THREE YEARS SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION. QUESTIONS EMERGE ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT FOUND OUT ABOUT CHINA'S LIVE-FIRE EXERCISES IN THE TASMAN SEA AS WINSTON PETERS TOUCHES DOWN IN BEIJING. TE MATATINI ` THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST KAPA HAKA FESTIVAL ` KICKS OFF IN NEW PLYMOUTH. FIND OUT WHY THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER. AND MICHAEL BRACEWELL AND RACHIN RAVINDRA LEAD THE WAY AS THE BLACKCAPS BOOK A SPOT IN THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY SEMI FINALS. CAPTIONS BY BRIGIT KELLY AND JASON CONRAN 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. WORLD LEADERS HAVE GATHERED IN KYIV ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIA'S INVASION, WITH A MESSAGE OF UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND CONDEMNATION OF VLADIMIR PUTIN. THEIR COMMITMENTS, THOUGH, WERE OVERSHADOWED BY THE ABSENCE OF DONALD TRUMP, WHO'S SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA AND FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT UKRAINE HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THE WAR. BUT TRUMP WENT A STEP TOO FAR TODAY FOR FRANCE'S EMANUEL MACRON WHO PUBLICLY CORRECTED THE U.S. PRESIDENT INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THIS FOURTH YEAR OF WAR STARTS, WITH THE END LOOMING LARGE. BUT WITH THE UNITED STATES NOTICEABLY ABSENT FROM THE LINE OF LOYAL ALLIES WHO TRAVELLED TO KYIV, PEACE ` AS UKRAINE HAS DREAMT IT FOR THE PAST THREE ` SEEMS LIKE A FADING FAIRYTALE. EVEN BEYOND THE BORDERS OF WAR-TORN UKRAINE, SOLIDARITY GLISTENED PROUDLY IN BLUE AND GOLD, WHILE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, SUPPORT IS DWINDLING BY THE HOUR. THE FRENCH PRESIDENT VISITING WASHINGTON ON A PEACE MISSION THAT STARTED WITH THE NOW-CUSTOMARY HANDSHAKE TUG OF WAR, BUT WARM WORDS. WE ARE PERSONAL FRIENDS. WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER, AND I THINK THE U.S. AND THE FRENCH ALWAYS STAND ON THE SAME SIDE ` THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THIS FRIENDSHIP IS FRAYED, AND AS TRUMP OPENED HIS BOOK OF ALTERNATIVE FACTS AND STARTED CLAIMING TO HAVE GIVEN BILLIONS IN FREE AID TO UKRAINE, WHILE EUROPE HAD ONLY OFFERED A LOAN, MACRON HAD TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, EUROPE IS LOANING THE MONEY TO UKRAINE. THEY GET THEIR MONEY BACK. NO. IN FACT, TO BE FRANK, WE PAID 60% OF THE TOTAL EFFORT, AND IT WAS ` LIKE THE U.S. ` LOANS, GUARANTEES, GRANTS, AND WE PROVIDED REAL MONEY, TO BE CLEAR. OK. WE HAVE $230B FROZEN ASSETS IN EUROPE, RUSSIAN ASSETS, BUT THIS IS NOT AS A COLLATERAL FOR LOAN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR BELONGING, SO THEY ARE FROZEN. IF, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IN THE NEGOTIATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH RUSSIA, THEY ARE READY TO GIVE IT TO US ` SUPER. IT WILL BE LOAN AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND RUSSIA WILL HAVE PAID FOR THAT. THIS IS MY WISH. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, IT IS OK WITH ME. THE FRENCH PRESIDENT'S FACT-CHECKING WON'T STOP TRUMP IN HIS TRACKS COMPLETELY ` ZELENSKY IS SET TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL ALLOW AMERICA TO ACCESS UKRAINE'S WEALTH OF MINERALS AS PAYBACK FOR AID. I DO DEALS. MY WHOLE LIFE IS DEALS. THAT'S ALL I KNOW IS DEALS. THE NEXT DEAL ` SIGNED WITHIN WEEKS, TRUMP BOASTED ` WOULD BE ONE OF PEACE IN UKRAINE. IT COULD LEAD TO WORLD WAR III IF IT'S NOT SOLVED. WHEN THE WAR BEGAN IN 2022, RUSSIA CLAIMED IT WOULD CAPTURE THE CAPITAL IN THREE DAYS, BUT UKRAINE HAS CLUNG TO ITS INDEPENDENCE ` WITH BACKUP FROM THE WEST ` AND TODAY'S GATHERING OF WORLD LEADERS IN KYIV WAS A DELIBERATE SHOW OF THAT ENDURING SUPPORT. WE HOPE WE CAN FINISH THIS WAR THIS YEAR. ZELENSKY MAKING A POINT OF FIRING UP A VIDEO LINK TO HIS BREAKAWAY ALLY IN WASHINGTON. WILL THERE BE SUPPORT FROM AMERICA? REASSURANCE FROM THE OVAL OFFICE IS IN DANGEROUSLY SHORT SUPPLY. AND IN A WEEK WHERE TRUMP BRANDED ZELENSKY A DICTATOR, UKRAINIANS MUST HAVE HOPED TRUMP'S ACTIONS WOULD BE KINDER THAN HIS WORDS. BUT TODAY, AMERICA VOTED AGAINST A UN RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE, SIDING WITH NORTH KOREA. I WILL BE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY. IN FACT, HE MAY COME THIS WEEK OR NEXT IN THE AGREEMENT, IN FACT, HE MAY COME THIS WEEK OR NEXT TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE NICE. I'D LOVE TO MEET HIM. WE'D MEET AT THE OVAL OFFICE. THE U.S. PRESIDENT REVEALING HE IS WILLING TO TRAVEL FOR A MEETING ` JUST NOT TO KYIV, WITH ZELENSKY, BUT TO MOSCOW, WITH PUTIN. SURE I WOULD GO THERE. AND HE'D COME HERE TOO. THE RUSSIAN LEADER WAS TODAY BUSY HOSTING THE LEADER OF RUSSIA'S MUSLIMS AND CLAIMING HE HADN'T EVEN DISCUSSED ENDING THE WAR IN DETAIL WITH TRUMP ` PUNCTUATING HIS POINT BY SENDING A WAVE OF DRONES AND MISSILES TO UKRAINE. (EXPLOSIONS BURST) MANY OF KYIV'S AIR DEFENCES ARE PROVIDED BY THE U.S, AND WHILE THAT SUPPORT IS WAVERING, RUSSIA'S CONTINUED ATTACKS ARE PROMISED. AND LISETTE ` TRUMP HAS BEEN CHALLENGED ON ANOTHER ONE OF HIS CLAIMS, THIS TIME BY VLADIMIR PUTIN. THAT'S RIGHT. ONE OF THE IDEAS BEING DISCUSSED BY THE UK AND FRANCE IS THE IDEA OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE. TROOPS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES THAT WOULD OPERATE ANY UKRAINE TO ADD AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY ONCE THE WAR HAS ENDED. THAT WAS RAISED BY THE FRENCH PRESIDENT AT OVAL OFFICE TODAY. HE ASKED TRUMP ABOUT IT AND HE SEEMED TO APPROVE OF IT. HE SAID THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT IF A PEACE DEAL WAS TO GO HEAD. WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT, IS THAT HE HAS BEEN UNDERMINED BY PUTIN, WHO AS YOU SAW IN THAT STORY SAID THAT HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE US PRESIDENT CONTAINED NO DETAIL ABOUT ENDING THE WAR. IT APPEARS THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN CAUGHT OUT INFLATING THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE WITH THESE NEGOTIATIONS. FOREIGN MINISTER WINSTON PETERS LANDED IN CHINA THIS AFTERNOON TO MEET WITH HIS COUNTERPART AS QUESTIONS STILL SWIRL OVER THE LIVE-FIRING EXERCISES BY CHINESE WARSHIPS OFF AUSTRALIA, THAT FORCED 49 FLIGHTS TO CHANGE COURSE. BACK HERE, DEFENCE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS IS PITCHING FOR AN INCREASE IN DEFENCE SPENDING. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH HAS THE LATEST. THE HMNZS TE KAHA WAS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO PREPPING FOR A TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT IT WAS NEEDED CLOSER TO HOME... THIS FIRST JOB, WHICH IS LOOKING AFTER NEW ZEALAND'S BEST INTEREST. ...DIVERTED TO THE TASMAN SEA TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANZAC MONITORING OF THREE CHINESE WARSHIPS, WHICH ARRIVED UNANNOUNCED OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA, AND, OVER THE WEEKEND, BEGAN LIVE-FIRE EXERCISES. IT WAS REVEALED TODAY, THAT A VIRGIN AIR PILOT FIRST ALERTED AIR AUTHORITIES TO THE EXERCISES AFTER THE CHINESE BROADCAST A WARNING MESSAGE OVER AN EMERGENCY RADIO CHANNEL. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEFENCE MINISTER CONFIRMED THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE RECEIVED THE WARNING AT THE SAME TIME, ACROSS THE SAME NETWORK. DOESN'T CONCERN YOU THAT IT WAS A VIRGIN PILOT THAT WARNED US RATHER THAN DEFENCE? THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE WAS CERTAINLY AWARE.. ON SATURDAY, THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO NEW ZEALAND REFUSED TO ANSWER THREE NEWS AS TO WHY THE SHIPS WERE HERE. WHY THEY CONDUCT IN LIVE FIRING EXERCISES? DO WE? KNOW. IF WE ARE GOING FROM ONE EXERCISE TO ANOTHER AND BECAUSE WE ARE INVOLVED IN THE NORTH KOREAN SANCTIONS WORK, AND BECAUSE WE JUST CAME OUT OF HAWAII FOR AN IMPACT EXERCISE FOR INSTANCE... IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND VESSELS SAILED THROUGH THE TAIWAN STRAIT, WHICH CHINA CLAIMS AS PART OF ITS DOMESTIC TERRITORY. THE AOTEAROA AS A TANKER. IT IS NOT A HEAVILY ARMED WARSHIP, AND WE WEREN'T DOING ANY LIVE FIRING. IF WE DID WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY GIVE NOTICE.. FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER WINSTON PETERS HAS JUST LANDED IN BEIJING, WHERE HE WILL MEET WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART WANG YI TOMORROW NIGHT. OVER THE WEEKEND, AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER PENNY WONG RAISED THE CONDUCT OF THE CHINESE SHIPS WITH WANG YI, WHEN THE PAIR MET ON THE SIDELINES OF THE G20 SUMMIT. TIM TODAY ALSO ENABLES US TO DISCUSS AGAIN OUR EXPECTATIONS AROUND SAFE AND PROFESSIONAL MILITARY CONDUCT. MEANWHILE, THE SHIP'S ARRIVAL HAS BROUGHT SHARPER FOCUS TO THE NEED FOR A MAJOR DEFENCE SPENDUP IN NEW ZEALAND. WE NEED INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE AND SHIPS. IN THE EARLY '90s, OUR NAVAL FRIGATE FLEET WAS DOWNSIZED FROM FOUR TO TWO, WHILE IN THE EARLY 2000S, OUR AIR COMBAT FORCE WAS DISBANDED. WE HAVE LOST THE CAPACITY TO TRAIN AND IT. I DON'T THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO AT THE MOMENT. ONE LESS-EXPENSIVE ITEM ON THE DEFENCE MINISTER'S SHOPPING LIST. WHILE THE CEASEFIRE HOLDS IN GAZA, ISRAEL HAS RE-DEPLOYED ITS SOLDIERS INTO THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. AND TODAY, TANKS ARE OPERATING THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES. IT'S ESTIMATED 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED ` AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY SAID THEY WON'T BE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME. THE REFUGEE CAMPS OF TULKAREM, NUR SHAM AND JENIN HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF THE VIOLENCE. ITV'S RACHEL YOUNGER REPORTS. THERE ARE FEW SIGHTS MORE SINISTER THAN THIS ONE. AND DESPITE LIVING UNDER ISRAELI MILITARY RULE, IT IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2002 THAT PALESTINIANS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK HAVE WITNESSED TANKS ON THEIR STREETS. WHEN THE CEASEFIRE CAME TO GAZA, ISRAEL'S BULLDOZERS CAME HERE, AND 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE NOW BEEN DISPLACED, AMONG THEM THE TURKMEN FAMILY, NOW LIVING IN A PRIMARY SCHOOL AFTER FLEEING JENIN. EVERY DAY WE TRY TO GO BACK, HOPING TO ENTER, BUT THE ISRAELI MILITARY PREVENTS US, SAYS NAZMI. 'THEY SET UP CHECKPOINTS, PLACED TANKS, STATIONED SOLDIERS. 'EVEN DRONES FLY ABOVE US NOW.' MILITARY CHECKPOINTS MEAN MOVING AROUND THE WEST BANK HAS LONG BEEN DIFFICULT FOR PALESTINIANS. NOW SOME JOURNEYS ARE ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS THE STREET OUTSIDE JANIN'S MAIN HOSPITAL. ONE OF THE DOCTORS, WHO I REACHED BY PHONE BUT DOESN'T WANT TO BE NAMED, SAYS PATIENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO GET IN AND STAFF ARE STRUGGLING TO OPERATE. AMONG THOSE HE COULDN'T HELP ` RIMAS AL-AMOURI (13), WHO WAS DEAD BY THE TIME SHE REACHED HOSPITAL. HER FAMILY, MOURNING HER THIS WEEKEND, SAY SHE WAS SHOT IN THE COURTYARD OF THEIR HOME, ONE OF FOUR CHILDREN KILLED IN THE PAST WEEK ACCORDING TO A PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION. THE ISRAELI MILITARY TOLD US IT TAKES MEASURES TO MINIMISE HARM TO UNINVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND EXAMINES CASES WHERE THEY ARE. BUT ITS COMMANDER IN CHIEF COULDN'T BE CLEARER. 'OUR FORCES HERE ARE DESTROYING TERRORISTS 'AND THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE,' SAYS BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, 'AND THEY'LL STAY AS LONG AS NECESSARY.' UNLIKE IN GAZA, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SUGGESTION THAT RESIDENTS WON'T BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES HERE HAS BEEN MET, SAY PALESTINIANS, WITH SILENCE. WORLD LEADERS, INCLUDING IN THE UK, HAVE FAILED EVEN TO CONDEMN THE ACTIONS OF THE ISRAELI MILITARY; AND THEY RISK BEING ALLIES TO ATROCITIES IN THE WEST BANK, AS THEY WERE DURING 15 MONTHS OF POINTLESS ISRAELI MILITARY ATTACKS ON PALESTINIANS IN GAZA. AND WHILE THE CEASEFIRE IS FRAGILE, THEIR PEACE SEEMS JUST AS ELUSIVE HERE, WITH DONALD TRUMP SAYING HE WILL DECIDE ON THE WEST BANK'S FUTURE SOON. THE UNITED NATIONS CHIEF SAYS THE WORLD'S 'WARMONGERS' MUST END THEIR DISDAIN FOR GLOBAL ORDER. ANTONIO GUTERRES WAS SPEAKING ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA. SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AFTER POLICE MOVED IN ON A LAND OCCUPATION IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. LAKE ROTOKAKAHI HAS BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL SITE DUE TO A PLANNED SEWERAGE SCHEME WHICH PLACES A SEWER LINE THROUGH AN AREA WHERE OVER 100 TIPUNA DIED DURING THE LAKE TARAWERA ERUPTION IN 1886. OPPONENTS HAVE TAKEN THEIR FIGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE ENVIRONMENT COURT, AND SAY THEY'VE BEEN PEACEFULLY AND LEGALLY HOLDING SPACE AT THE SITE SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. POLICE SAY PROTESTORS WERE ARRESTED AFTER THEY REFUSED TO LEAVE THE SITE. THE FIRST DAY OF TE MATATINI COMPETITON HAS KICKED OFF IN NGAMOTU NEW PLYMOUTH. AN UNPRECENDENTED 55 TEAMS, WITH AROUND 2000 PERFORMERS, WILL TAKE TO THE STAGE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, WITH REIGNING CHAMPIONS TE WHANAU A APANUI AMONG THOSE PERFORMING TODAY. GRACE THOMAS HAS THE ACTION. THE COMPETITION HAS WELL AND TRULY BEGUN AT TE MATATINI OPEN. THE COMPETITION HAS WELL AND TRULY BEGUN AT TE MATATINI. TE ROPU MANUTAKI, HAILING FROM THE TAMAKI MAKAURAU ROHE, HAD THE HONOUR ` OR MORE APTLY THE CHALLENGE ` OF OPENING THE PRELIMINARY COMPETITION. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL RETURN TO THE STAGE FOR OPOTIKI MAI TAWHITI, WITH THE KAPA ` OR GROUP ` WEARING PAREKAWAKAWA ` GREENERY THAT SYMBOLISES GRIEF. MUCH OF THEIR BRACKET WAS DEDICATED TO THE LATE RICKY MITAI, THEIR PREVIOUS MANUKURA TANE ` OR MALE LEADER ` WHO DIED UNEXPECTEDLY LAST YEAR AT JUST 36 YEARS OLD. TAKING THEM ON STAGE WITH US WAS AN HONOUR. JUST TO BRING THEM BACK IN FRONT OF` ON THEIR STAGE WHERE THEY PERFORMED. TE URI O MANUMANU MADE THEIR DEBUT TODAY. THEY'RE A NEW KAPA, BUT LED BY SEASONED PERFORMERS HUIA AND JOE PIHEMA, THEY MARK THE RETURN OF THE FIRST NGATI WHATUA GROUP TO PERFORM AT TE MATATINI SINCE 2002. AROUND 70,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE BOWL OF BROOKLANDS TO WATCH THE ACTION, WITH MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION EXPECTED TO TUNE IN ON TELEVISION OR ONLINE. THIS YEAR, TE MATATINI IS MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER. THE FESTIVAL'S APP HAS A 'HAKA TRANSLATE' TOOL, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDING REAL-TIME ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF ALL THE PERFORMANCES THIS WEEK. THERE'S ALSO AN AUDIO DESCRIPTION OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISION IMPAIRED. IT'S ABOUT OPENING UP THE POTENTIAL AND THE REACH FOR OUR WHANAU, IT'S ABOUT OPENING UP THE POTENTIAL AND THE REACH FOR OUR WHANAU, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE FESTIVAL, A TEAM OF MORE THAN 12 TRANSLATORS WILL PROVIDE COMMENTARY IN TONGAN, SAMOAN, COOK ISLANDS, FIJIAN, AND MANDARIN. BEING ABLE TO MATCH THAT ENERGY THAT THE PERFORMERS BRING TO THE STAGE ` I'M HOPING THAT'S WHAT OUR TRANSLATORS BRING WHEN THEY'RE DELIVERING TRANSLATIONS. THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE PLENTY OF ENERGY, WITH COMPETITION THIS YEAR EXPECTED TO BE FIERCE. LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONS AND THREE-TIME WINNERS TE WHANAU A APANUI ALSO PERFORMED TODAY, AS THEY SEEK TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE. THE NEXT FOUR DAYS ARE SET ASIDE FOR PRELIMINARY COMPETITION BEFORE THE 12 FINALISTS COMPETE AGAIN ON SATURDAY, WHEN THE WINNERS FOR TE MATATINI 2025 WILL BE CROWNED LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER. AND HASTINGS SURPASSED 30 DEGREES TODAY. YES IT GOT TO 31.9 DEGREES, THE HOTTEST PLACE IN THE LAND. NAPIER A SMIDGE BEHIND ON 31 DEGREES; MILFORD SOUND HAS HAD QUITE A BIT OF RAIN ` 121.7mm FROM MIDNIGHT. PRE-TROPICAL CYCLONES TO THE NORTH OF US. THEY ARE NOT IN DANGER OF REACHING US. ONE IS WEAKENING BUT ONE IS STRENGTHENING. IT'S PATH ISN'T LOOKING LIKE IT WILL MAKE RAINFALL IN AUSTRALIA. EXPECT THIS 1 TO BE A CATEGORY TWO. WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THIS, WITH WARNINGS AND PLACE IN THE PACIFIC. I'LL HAVE MORE OF TOMORROW'S WEATHER AFTER SPORT. COMING UP ` COULD THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW FOREIGN INVESTMENT SCHEME HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR A NEW SUPERMARKET OPERATOR? ONE COMMENTATOR SAYS, 'NOT WITHOUT BREAKING UP THE DUOPOLY FIRST.' THE VATICAN REVEALS THE POPE IS EATING AND EVEN WORKING, BUT HIS CONDITION REMAINS CRITICAL. AND ` SHE MADE HISTORY WITH BACK-TO-BACK GRAMMIES. SOUL SINGER ROBERTA FLACK HAS DIED AGED 88. A BUSINESS ACADEMIC SAYS NEW ZEALAND COULD ATTRACT UP TO 15% MORE INVESTMENT THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED REFORM OF THE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT ACT. BUT REGULATION MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR'S SUGGESTION THAT IT COULD HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR A NEW SUPERMARKET OPERATOR HAS BEEN MET WITH CAUTION. ZANE SMALL REPORTS. WHAT STARTED AS A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN JUNE 2023 IS NOW A BRIGHT BLUE BUILDING THAT WILL BECOME NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST IKEA STORE, REPRESENTING A MORE THAN $400m OVERSEAS INVESTMENT. THAT IS ENCOURAGING, AND I THINK THESE LATEST MOVES BY GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE IT EVEN MORE WELCOMING. THOSE LATEST MOVES INCLUDE A GOVERNMENT PLAN TO AMEND THE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT ACT, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO INVEST HERE. THE EXACT CHANGES TO THE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT ACT ARE STILL BEING DRAFTED, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT NEW ZEALAND WOULD BECOME A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO INVEST BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE FEWER BARRIERS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE SIMPLIFIED FOR INVESTORS TO ENABLE THE REGULATOR TO GRANT CONSENTS WITHIN 15 DAYS, DOWN FROM THE CURRENT 35, UNLESS THE APPLICATION COULD BE CONTRARY TO NEW ZEALAND'S NATIONAL INTERESTS. BASED ON THE OECD STUDY, IF WE CUT THE RESTRICTIONS FROM OUR CURRENT LEVEL TO THE OECD AVERAGE, THAT COULD RESULT IN ABOUT 15% INCREASE IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, FARMLAND AND FISHING QUOTA WOULD BE RETAINED. IF YOU'RE A SUPERMARKET AND YOU WANT TO COME TO NEW ZEALAND, OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE A BARRIER TO YOU. BUT THAT COMMENT ABOUT SUPERMARKETS HAS BEEN MET WITH CAUTION, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE GROCERY ACTION GROUP, THE REAL PROBLEM WITH LACK OF COMPETITION IN THE SUPERMARKET SECTOR IS THE DUOPOLY'S HOLD ON STRATEGIC LAND. AND THEY REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT, PARTICULARLY IN SUPERMARKETS, BREAKING THEM UP. SO WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? FORCING FOODSTUFFS AND WOOLWORTHS TO DIVEST SOME OF THE BUILDINGS THEY OWN, SOME OF THE BRANDS. SO THAT MIGHT BE FRESH CHOICE FOR WOOLWORTHS, OR IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, FOUR SQUARE OR PAK'nSAVE OR NEW WORLD, UM, FOR FOODSTUFFS. THEY'VE GOT TO GET RID OF SOME OF THOSE AND STRATEGIC AREAS HAT WOULD ALLOW A COMPETITOR TO REALLY BUILD SCALE QUICKLY. THAT WOULD ALLOW A COMPETITOR TO REALLY BUILD SCALE QUICKLY. BUT ALSO, NEW ZEALAND'S SMALL POPULATION IS SEEN AS A BARRIER TO OVERSEAS INVESTMENT. I DON'T THINK IT'S A MAGIC BULLET NOW TO GET, YOU KNOW, MORE COSTCOS OR MORE IKEA'S. THOSE COMPANIES USUALLY COME HERE AFTER OPERATING IN AUSTRALIA FOR A WHILE. WE ARE A SMALLER MARKET. A SMALL MARKET, PERHAPS, BUT WITH BIG AMBITIONS ` TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN COMPANIES TO ESTABLISH ROOTS ON KIWI SOIL. A WARNING ` THIS NEXT REPORT CONTAINS DISTURBING DETAILS. A FRENCH SURGEON HAS GONE ON TRIAL ACCUSED OF ABUSING NEARLY 300 CHILDREN WHILE THEY WERE ANAESTHETISED OR RECOVERING FROM OPERATIONS, AND THEN DETAILING HIS CRIMES IN NOTEBOOKS. JOEL LE SCOUARNEC (74) TOLD THE COURT HE HAD COMMITTED DESPICABLE ACTS. ITV'S SEJAL KARIA REPORTS. IT HAS BEEN A TORTUROUS WAIT FOR JUSTICE FOR THE ALLEGED VICTIMS OF A DOCTOR WHO TODAY WENT ON TRIAL IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CHILD ABUSE CASES. ONE VICTIM, AMELIE, WHO'S WAIVED HER RIGHT TO ANONYMITY, SAYS, 'I FEEL SAD AND I FEEL READY TOO.' ROLAND AND MAURICETTE VINET ARE HERE IN MEMORY OF THEIR GRANDSON MATHIS, WHO TOOK HIS OWN LIFE AS A RESULT OF THE ABUSE HE SUFFERED. 'I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE DOCTOR AND TELL HIM WHAT'S IN MY HEART,' MAURICETTE SAID, 'THAT HE KILLED OUR GRANDSON.' AND THIS IS THE MAN AT THE CENTRE OF THIS CASE, JOEL LE SCOUARNEC, A RETIRED SURGEON WHO, IT'S ALLEGED, SEXUALLY ABUSED A STAGGERING 299 VICTIMS, MOSTLY CHILDREN, SEXUALLY ABUSED A STAGGERING 299 VICTIMS, MOSTLY CHILDREN, IN 10 HOSPITALS OVER 25 YEARS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM WERE UNDER ANAESTHETIC AND UNCONSCIOUS. HE'S ADMITTED SOME, BUT NOT ALL, OF THE CHARGES. (SIREN WAILS) HE ARRIVED AT COURT IN A SMALL BRITTANY TOWN FROM PRISON, WHERE HE'S ALREADY SERVING A 15-YEAR SENTENCE FOR A PREVIOUS CONVICTION FOR THE RAPE AND ABUSE OF CHILDREN. CENTRAL TO HIS TRIAL ` CHILLINGLY DETAILED NOTEBOOKS, WHICH HE USED TO DOCUMENT DECADES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE NAMES OF 200 CHILDREN SAID TO BE HIS VICTIMS. AMELIE'S IS ONE OF THOSE THAT APPEARS IN ONE OF THE NOTEBOOKS. 'THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE ANSWERS TO A LIFETIME OF QUESTIONS,' SHE SAID, 'AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT WAS A DESCENT INTO HELL.' ACROSS FRANCE, CAMPAIGNERS HOPE TODAY'S CASE WILL MARK A TURNING POINT IN THE COUNTRY'S RECKONING WITH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. THE VATICAN SAID IN AN UPDATE TODAY THAT POPE FRANCIS IS SHOWING SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT BUT IS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. IT ADDED THAT HIS MILD KIDNEY ISSUES ARE NOT CONCERNING. CNN QUOTED VATICAN SOURCES SAYING FRANCIS CAN STILL MOVE, IS NOT BED-RIDDEN AND IS EATING NORMALLY. IT SAID THE POPE RECEIVED COMMUNION OVERNIGHT AND LATER RESUMED WORK, EVEN CALLING THE PARISH PRIEST OF GAZA, WITH WHOM HE'S BEEN IN FREQUENT CONTACT SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. STAY WITH US. AFTER THE BREAK ON THREE NEWS ` COMEDIAN DAI HENWOOD HAS SHARED AN UPDATE ON HIS HEALTH. THE 47-YEAR-OLD WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR BOWEL CANCER ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO, GOING PUBLIC IN 2023. AND LATER IN SPORT ` THE BLACKCAPS BOOK THEIR SPOT IN THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY SEMI-FINALS WITH A GAME TO SPARE. # THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE... # WE LOOK BACK ON THE LIFE OF ONE OF THE '70S BIGGEST MUSIC STARS, ROBERTA FLACK. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. QUESTIONS EMERGE ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT FOUND OUT ABOUT CHINA'S LIVE FIRE EXERCISES IN THE TASMAN SEA, AS WINSTON PETERS TOUCHES DOWN IN BEIJING. EMANUEL MACRON FACT-CHECKS TRUMP ON UKRAINE AS WORLD LEADERS GATHER IN KYIV TO MARK THREE YEARS SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION. POLICE HAVE COMPLETED A REVIEW INTO HISTORICAL SEXUAL ABUSE COMPLAINTS AGAINST FORMER NATIONAL PARTY CABINET MINISTER "AUSSIE" MALCOLM, AND SAY THEY WILL BE TAKING NO FURTHER ACTION. ANTHONY "AUSSIE" MALCOLM DIED LAST SEPTEMBER. POLICE THEN CONFIRMED HE WAS AT THE CENTRE OF AT LEAST THREE INVESTIGATIONS, TWO OF WHICH WERE STILL ACTIVE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. THE FIRST WAS LAUNCHED IN 1992. MALCOLM SERVED THREE TERMS IN PARLIAMENT AND WAS A MINISTER IN ROBERT MULDOON'S GOVERNMENT. POST-POLITICS, MALCOLM WAS INVOLVED IN THE NEW ZEALAND AMERICA'S CUP CAMPAIGN. COMEDIAN DAI HENWOOD HAS SHARED AN UPDATE ON HIS HEALTH, SAYING HIS BREATHING HAS DETERIORATED QUICKLY OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF TUMOUR ACTIVITY IN HIS LUNGS. THE 47-YEAR-OLD WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR BOWEL CANCER ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO, GOING PUBLIC IN 2023. HE'S SHARED A SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATE ON HIS CONDITION AFTER BEING FORCED TO POSTPONE SOME SCHEDULED LIVE SHOWS. I AM GOING INTO CHEMOTHERAPY AND BIT EARLIER THAN EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY, AND FINGERS CROSSED THAT WILL KNOCK THINGS BACK AND I WILL BE ABLE TO TALK, AND DO WHAT I LOVE DOING, WHICH IS COMEDY. HENWOOD HAS ANNOUNCED NEW DATES FOR HIS POSTPONED SHOWS IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND INVERCARGILL IN JUNE. THE SOULFUL VOICE AND GROUNDBREAKING LIFE OF SINGER-SONGWRITER ROBERTA FLACK HAS BEEN REMEMBERED FOLLOWING HER DEATH AT THE AGE OF 88. THE DOUBLE GRAMMY-WINNER WAS BEST KNOWN FOR HITS "KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG" AND "THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE". ITV'S RISHI DAVDA LOOKS BACK AT HER LIFE. # AND KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH THIS SONG. KILLING ME SOFTLY. # A VOICE SO SMOOTH, SO SOULFUL, OTHERS HAVE SPENT YEARS MIMICKING ` BUT NEVER QUITE MASTERING ` THE SOUND OF ROBERTA FLACK. # THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU. SHE ASTOUNDED AUDIENCES WITH HER NATURAL TALENT. # YOUR LOVE HAS CAPTURED ME. # TRAINED AS A CLASSICAL PIANIST, SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT BIG UNTIL HER 30S. # THE FIRST TIME... # EVER I SAW YOUR FACE. WHEN CLINT EASTWOOD USED HER RECORDING OF "THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE" IN THE FILM "PLAY MISTY FOR ME"... IT WAS NAMED SONG OF THE YEAR AT THE GRAMMYS. KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG. FLACK WON THE AWARD AGAIN THE NEXT YEAR, THE FIRST ARTIST TO DO SO. YOU'VE LOST SOMEONE WHO WAS A PIONEER. SOMEONE WHO DEFINITELY, UM, WHOSE MUSIC STILL RESONATES, IS STILL PART OF MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES, WHO WAS A TRAILBLAZER. AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE, WHO WASN'T JUST A SINGER, BUT WAS, UM, WAS A PRODUCER, ARRANGER, YOU KNOW, A HIT-MAKER. SHE USED HER PLATFORM TO ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. SHE AND STEVIE WONDER TOGETHER SPOKE OUT AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION # STRUMMING MY PAIN WITH HIS FINGERS. # IN THE MID-'90S, A NEW GENERATION WAS INTRODUCED TO HER MUSIC WHEN THE FUGEES COVERED ONE OF HER HITS. WHEN I RECORDED "KILLING ME SOFTLY" IN 1972, I HAD THE SAME KIND OF GOOSEBUMPS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SANG IT, PERFORMED IT, RECORDED IT, THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AS I DO NOW WHEN I HEAR THE FUGEES SING IT. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE SINGER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE AND LATER LOST HER ABILITY TO SING. # FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE. # TODAY, THE MUSICAL GREAT WAS REMEMBERED BY THOSE WHO KNEW HER BEST AS A PROUD EDUCATOR AND BOUNDARY BREAKER. A ULTRA ENDURANCE SWIMMER (53) HAS OVERCOME SOME CHALLENGING ODDS TO RAISE MORE THAN $10,000 FOR STARSHIP. BRIAN GRAY SPENT 30-PLUS HOURS IN THE WAIKATO RIVER OVER THE WEEKEND, SWIMMING FROM KARAPIRO DAM TO PORT WAIKATO ` A DISTANCE OF 150KM. BUT IT WASN'T ALL SMOOTH SAILING. HE STARTED AN HOUR LATE, AND TWICE DURING THE JOURNEY REALISED HE WAS SWIMMING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. I SOMEHOW GOT SPLIT UP FROM MY CREW, AND FOR AN HOUR AND 1/2, AND TURNED AROUND AND ACTUALLY SWAM UP THE RIVER FOR SOME REASON. GRAY SAYS THE WATER WAS WARM, AND HE'S NOT TOO SORE AFTER IT, SO MIGHT BE BACK SWIMMING NEXT WEEK. OLLIE'S HERE NEXT WITH SPORT. AND THE BLACKCAPS MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO. A BIG WINNING OVER BANGLADESH. ALLGOOD STUFF COMING OUT OF THE BLACK CAPS AT THE MOMENT. WE'LL HAVE ALL THE ACTION FROM THE BLACKCAPS BIG WIN NEXT. PLUS ` THE WARRIORS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN LAS VEGAS AHEAD OF THEIR NRL SEASON OPENER. AND WE CATCH UP WITH DANNY LEE AS HE RETURNS TO THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE. We were headed out for the weekend. It was a big party. Going way too fast in the group and started overtaking other riders. Didn't look behind me, pulled out, another bike came behind me and just... Boom! Four broken limbs, the hands, the legs. I was lucky to live. And it happened because I was riding for other people and I was riding like a d*ckhead man. It's pretty important to ride your own ride. Be yourself. (SHOES TAPPING) (KEYBOARD TYPING) Wow. Hey J, this project might need a bit of... zhuhzhing. Holler back, Warren. Please let me know your thoughts. Best regards. Warren? (MUSIC PLAYS) THE BLACKCAPS FEEL THEY'VE PUT THEMSELVES IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION TO MAKE A DEEP RUN IN THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY. THIS MORNING'S FOUR-WICKET VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH SECURED THEIR SEMI-FINAL SPOT. THEIR FINAL GROUP MATCH AGAINST INDIA, THOUGH, WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY TOP THEIR GROUP. AND IT WAS THE RETURN OF ONE OF THE SIDE'S MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS WHO PROVED THE DIFFERENCE. RACHIN RAVINDRA MADE IT LOOK EASY AGAINST BANGLADESH. HE DOES LOVE AN ICC MEN'S EVENT DOES RUSSIAN RAVINDRA. HIS FOURTH ONE DAY CENTURY, WAS PIVOTAL IN THE BLACK CAPS' VICTORY. AND A MATCH-DEFINING ONE FROM NEW ZEALAND'S POINT OF VIEW, PERHAPS. ALL FOUR OF THEM HAVE NOW COME AT ICC ODI TOURNAMENTS ` THE MOST BY A NEW ZEALAND PLAYER, MOVING PAST KANE WILLIAMSON AND NATHAN ASTLE, BUT RAVINDRA WAS TYPICALLY MODEST WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS MATCH-WINNING TONNE. I DON'T KNOW IF I MADE IT LOOK SIMPLE. I THINK, UH, THERE WERE DEFINITELY TIMES WHERE I STRUGGLED FOR TIMING. THEY STRUNG DOT BALLS, THEY BOWLED REALLY WELL AND DIDN'T GIVE ANY WIDTH AND, UH, BALLS TO SCORE OFF, BUT I THINK IT'S THE BEAUTY OF BATTING IN ONE DAY CRICKET ESPECIALLY ` YOU GO THROUGH EBBS AND FLOWS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. RAVINDRA AND TOM LATHAM RODE THEM THROUGHOUT THE BLACK CAPS INNINGS. AFTER HIS CENTURY IN THEIR FIRST MATCH AGAINST PAKISTAN, LATHAM WAS PLAYING THE SUPPORT ROLE THIS TIME. YEAH, KEEPS HIS HEAD OVER THE LINE OF THE BALL NICELY. BUT HIS KNOCK OF 55 WAS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO THE KIWI CHASE. TOMMY'S A GREAT MAN TO BAT WITH ` HE'S GOT SO MUCH EXPERIENCE, HE'S, OBVIOUSLY, CAPTAINED THE TEAM BEFORE, AND HE'S PLAYED SO MUCH CRICKET AND GETS ALONG WITH THEM REALLY WELL, SO FOR US IT'S JUST ABOUT BUILDING OUR PARTNERSHIP AND TRYING TO TAKE IT DEEP. THE PAIR DID JUST THAT, PUTTING ON 128 FOR THE FIFTH WICKET IN A PARTNERSHIP THAT PROVED THE DIFFERENCE. THE CHASE OF JUST 237 WAS DOWN TO SOME SUPERB WORK WITH THE BALL FROM MICHAEL BRACEWELL. CATCH! YES! GONE. CAUGHT AT MIDWICKET. BRACEWELL'S FIGURES OF FOUR FOR 26 WERE THE BEST OF THE BLACK CAPS BOWLERS. TRIES TO GO UP AND OVER ` EXTRA COVER ` RUNNING BACK... EXCELLENT CATCH. AND WHEN HE WASN'T DOING IT WITH THE BALL; HE WAS DOING IT IN THE FIELD. SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO GET IT. THE GUY THAT RAN THE FURTHEST FOR IT, ENDED UP WITH IT ` BRACEWELL! THE BLACK CAPS MAKING IT TWO FROM TWO AT THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY AND LOCKING IN THEIR SEMI-FINAL SPOT WITH A GAME TO SPARE. WITH INDIA UP NEXT, ANOTHER WIN WOULD SEE THE BLACK CAPS TOP THEIR GROUP AND ARRIVE AT THE KNOCKOUT STAGE, WITH THEIR TAILS VERY MUCH UP. THE WHITE FERNS ARE KEEPING AN EYE TO OCTOBER'S WORLD CUP IN INDIA AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR UPCOMING ODI AND T20 SERIES AGAINST SRI LANKA. ALL-ROUNDER EMMA MCLEOD (18), CANTERBURY BATTER IZZY SHARP AND AUCKLAND SEAMER BREE ILLING HAVE ALL EARNED THEIR MAIDEN CALL-UPS. COACH BEN SAWYER SAYS IT'S ABOUT BUILDING DEPTH AND FORMING NEW COMBINATIONS IN WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THEIR LAST OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO BEFORE THEY HEAD TO INDIA. I GUESS WE JUST WANT TO EXPAND ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2021 CUP, BUT ALSO PUT SOME OF THOSE COMBINATIONS IN PLACE FOR OCTOBER. MELIE KERR WILL MISS THE SERIES DUE TO HER WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE COMMITMENTS WITH THE MUMBAI INDIANS. SOPHIE DEVINE IS ALSO OUT FOR THE SERIES. MOLLY PENFOLD, LEA TAHUHU AND ROSEMARY MAIR ARE ALL UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY. THE COUNTRY'S TWO LIV GOLF STARS DANNY LEE AND BEN CAMPBELL ARE HOPING TO BRING THE PARTY ATMOSPHERE TO THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN THIS WEEK, BUT AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR THEY'RE EXPECTING MORE OF LIV'S BIG NAMES TO VENTURE TO MILLBROOK FOR THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN. WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST NAMES IN GOLF CURRENTLY PART OF THE SAUDI-BACKED TOUR, IT COULD SEE THE TOURNAMENT BECOME BIGGER THAN EVER. GORDON FINDLATER CAUGHT UP WITH THEM. HE'S ONE OF OUR GREATEST GOLFING EXPORTS, BUT DANNY LEE ON HOME SOIL IS A VERY RARE SIGHT. YOU TELL EVERYBODY HE'S SINGLE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. IT'S LIKE 14/15 YEARS, I THINK. A BUSY PGA TOUR SCHEDULE PREVENTED LEE FROM COMPETING IN HIS HOME OPEN IN THE PAST. NOW PART OF THE LIV TOUR, THE MORE RELAXED SCHEDULE HAS GIVEN HIM TIME TO TEE IT UP AT MILLBROOK. MUD BALL? THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR OUT ON LIV AND I LOVE EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF IT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I WON MY VERY SECOND EVENT IN TAUSON. THAT WAS A VERY SPECIAL FEELING. AND THIS YEAR NEW ZEALAND HAS A SECOND LIV GOLF MEMBER IN BEN CAMPBELL. THE QUEENSTOWN LOCAL RECENTLY GETTING THE CALL UP TO PLAY ON THE TOUR, WHICH IS KNOW FOR IT'S MUSIC AND PARTY ATMOSPHERE. ARE YOU ENJOYING THE ROWDYNESS? YEAH. ADELAIDE WAS AMAZING, YOU KNOW? INCREDIBLE CROWD'S THERE. IT'S COOL ` THE WHOLE CITY GETS BEHIND THE EVENT, AND THEY TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT, WHICH IS REALLY COOL. WITH THE ADELAIDE EVENT TAKING PLACE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE OPEN, FELLOW LIV PLAYER LUCAS HERBERT HAS MADE THE TRIP TO QUEENSTOWN, AND EXPERTS MORE TO FOLLOW NEXT YEAR. I KNOW A FEW GUYS CAME HERE ON HOLIDAY LAST WEEK. I'M NOT SURE WHY MORE GUYS ARENT PLAYING. THIS IS AN AMAZING SPOT. IT MAY BE THE BEST SPOT TO SPEND A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS IN BETWEEN EVENTS. THE FACT YOU CAN PLAY A GOLF TOURNAMENT IN THE MIDDLE WITH A SPOT IN A MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP. I'M RUNNING OUT OF REASONS WHY YOU WOULDN'T COME. I'M RUNNING OUT OF REASONS WHY YOU WOULDN'T COME. IT WOULD BE A MAJOR COUP FOR THE TOURNAMENT IT WOULD BE A MAJOR COUP FOR THE TOURNAMENT WITH THE LIKES OF JON RAHM, BRYSON DECHAMBAU AND CAMPBELL'S TEAMMATE BUBBA WATSON ALL PART OF LIV. GET ON THE BLOWER TO BUBBA LIKE SURELY HE'S KEEN TO COME ISN'T HE?? YEAH, LIKE, TALKED TO THE TEAM ABOUT IT. NEXT YEAR, IF CAMPBELL AND LEE CAN SELL THE BOYS TRIP TO THE TEAMS... NEXT YEAR COULD BE QUITE THE OPEN. THE NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF ONE OF THE NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF ONE OF THEIR GREATS, KEVIN BRASWELL, WHO'S DIED, AGED 46. THE AMERICAN UNDERWENT EMERGENCY HEART SURGERY IN JAPAN LAST MONTH, WHERE HE'D BEEN COACHING SINCE 2021. BRASWELL FIRST PLAYED FOR THE BREAKERS IN 2010, BEFORE HELPING THEM TO A MAIDEN TITLE THE FOLLOWING SEASON WHERE HE WAS NAMED SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR. HE THEN COACHED THE BREAKERS IN 2018-2019 BEFORE HEADING OFF-SHORE. RIEKO IOANE IS DEMANDING THE BLUES LEADERSHIP GROUP BE BETTER AS THEY DESPERATELY CHASE THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON. THE BLUES WERE NO MATCH FOR THE HIGHLANDERS IN DUNEDIN, WHO STUNNED THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS UNDER THE ROOF. I NEEDS TO BE BONE DEEP WITH MY PREPARATIONS. IT IS EASY TO LET YOUR ACTIONS BE LOUDER THAN WORDS. AS LEADERS WE SEE THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THAT. RIEKO IOANE THINGS DON'T GET ANY EASIER FOR THE BLUES, WITH A THIRD KIWI DERBY IN A ROW THIS WEEKEND, THIS TIME AGAINST THE HURRICANES IN WELLINGTON. THE WARRIORS ARE ANTICIPATING A 'FINALS FOOTY' ATMOSPHERE AS THEY READY THEMSELVES FOR THIS WEEKEND'S NRL SEASON OPENER AGAINST THE CANBERRA RAIDERS IN LAS VEGAS. THE TEAM HAS SPENT THE LAST 24 HOURS FAMILIARISING THEMSELVES WITH THEIR NEW ENVIROMENT AND ADJUSTING TO THE WARM, DRY CONDITIONS AS THEY PREPARE FOR SUNDAY'S ENCOUNTER. I DEFINITELY THINK IT WILL BE TIGHT. EARLY ROUNDS ARE ALWAYS YOU WANT TO COMPLETE. IF YOU DO THAT YOU GO AWAY WITH THE GAME. IN LAS VEGAS, EVERYONE TELLS ME IT IS A BIT OF A FINALS ATMOSPHERE. I THINK WE MIGHT SEE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. EARLY ON I EXPECTED TO BE VERY PHYSICAL. THE MATCH KICKS OFF AT ONE O'CLOCK HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. WE ARE AT THE POINT IN THE SEASON WHERE OPTIMISM IS HIGH.. FAMILIES IN A SCOTTISH TOWN AWOKE IN TERROR AFTER A VAN CONTAINING FIREWORKS WAS DELIBERATELY SET ALIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. HOMES WERE EVACUATED AND ROADS WERE CLOSED AFTER THE VEHICLE ` WHICH WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY BETWEEN BLOCKS OF HOUSES ` EXPLODED. POLICE HAVE APPEALED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A MAN SEEN LEAVING THE SCENE OF WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS A WILFUL VEHICLE FIRE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. IN THE UK, THREE PEOPLE HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE THEFT OF A SOLID GOLD TOILET FROM THE ANCESTRAL HOME OF WINSTON CHURCHILL. THE $10.5 MILLION, 98kg TOILET WAS PART OF AN ART EXHIBITION, AND WAS FULLY PLUMBED AND FUNCTIONAL. POLICE SAY IT WAS LIKELY BROKEN UP AND SOLD. PROSECUTORS TOLD THE COURT A GANG OF FIVE SMASHED THEIR WAY INTO BLENHEIM PALACE WITH SLEDGEHAMMERS IN SEPTEMBER 2019 IN A RAID THAT TOOK JUST FIVE MINUTES. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER, AND ANOTHER HEAVY RAIN WATCH. YES. FOR WESTLAND AS THAT FRONT MOVES UP THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, THERE'S A WATCH IN PLACE, BUT THAT FRONT WILL WEAKEN AS IT REACHES THE TOP OF TE WAI POUNAMU. AND THE SOUTH ISLAND CAN SAY GOODBY, FOR NOW, TO THAT WET STUFF, AND KNOW SOME FINE WEATHER IS COMING YOUR WAY. I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS, NEXT. AMS HAS BEEN PROTECTING NR'S ` RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE ` FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS. BRINGING YOU THREE NEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. IF YOU'VE HAD HEAVY DOWNPOURS TODAY, YOU WILL SEE A VERY DIFFERENT STORY TOMORROW. BUT TONIGHT, THAT WEAKENING FRONT WILL FINISH ITS JOURNEY UP THE WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, REACHING WELLINGTON IN THE MORNING, WHILE A NEW HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM SPREADS OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM THE WEST, TOMORROW, SO ONCE THAT FRONT MOVES AWAY, YOU'RE SET FOR A FAIRLY DRY DAY. MARLBOROUGH MIGHT GET THE LAST OF IT IN THE MORNING, BUT THEN JUST A FEW SHOWERS ABOUT CANTERBURY AND SOME CLOUD THERE TOO. THAT FRONT WILL ARRIVE IN THE MORNING FROM THE SOUTH, BRINGING A CLOUDIER START TO THE DAY, WITH SPELLS OF RAIN FOR THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. AS IT WEAKENS, SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED IN TARANAKI AND HAWKES BAY. A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND IN THE MORNING AND PERHAPS A SHOWER OR TWO FOR AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. IN THE AFTERNOON, NORTHLAND, YOU MIGHT GET A SHOWER ALSO. SOME CLOUD ABOUT TO THE WEST TO START THE DAY. THAT SHOULD CLEAR FOR TAUPO. A FINE WEDNESDAY FOR MOST. THAT CLOUD MAY ARRIVE IN THE EVENING FOR WHAKATANE. SOME OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR MASTERTON. LATE MORNING SHOWERS FOR DANNEVIRKE AND THEN SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS FOR HAWKES BAY. GISBORNE SHOULD AVOID ALL THE WET STUFF, BUT WILL HAVE SOME STRONG SOUTHERLIES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF WEDNESDAY. MORNING SCATTERED RAIN FOR WELLINGTON AND THE KAPITI COAST. A FEW SHOWERS HEADING NORTH TOO, BUT AFTER LUNCH THAT SHOULD MOSTLY CLEAR. WHANGANUI AND TARANAKI ` THOSE WESTERLIES WILL EASE IN THE EVENING. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` AND SOME CLOUD OVERNIGHT, AND PERHAPS SOME HEAVY RAIN BEFORE DAWN FOR THE WEST COAST, BUT THEN A CLOUDY, DRY DAY IS EXPECTED FOR YOU. STRONG MORNING NORTHEASTERLIES FOR MOST. BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA ` A FEW MORNING SPOTS OF RAIN TOO, BUT THEN YOU'LL BE CLEAR OF IT. A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE REST OF YOU. SOME MORNING CLOUD FOR QUEENSTOWN AND ALEXANDRA, BUT THEN A FINE DAY. A FEW SHOWERS FOR OBAN, CLEARING LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. DUNEDIN ` A FINE WEDNESDAY, BUT BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER FROM THE EVENING, RIGHT WHEN THOSE SOUTHWESTERLIES WILL BEGIN TO EASE. CHRISTCHURCH ` MOSTLY CLOUDY MORNING FOR YOU, WITH SOME PATCHY DRIZZLE; THAT WILL THEN CLEAR TO FINE. THOSE MORNING SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BE TURNING NORTHEASTERLY IN THE AFTERNOON. WELLINGTON ` SOME MUGGINESS OVERNIGHT, AND THOSE NORTHERLIES WILL TURN SOUTHERLY IN THE MORNING AS THAT FRONT ARRIVES, WITH SCATTERED RAIN. IT WILL CLEAR IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH FINE SPELLS INCREASING. A FINE START FOR HAWKES BAY, BUT THEN SOME SHOWERS ` WHICH YOU HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF RECENTLY. THEY'LL DEVELOP AFTER LUNCH, AND SOUTHEASTERLIES WILL STRENGTHEN FROM THE AFTERNOON. IT'LL BE A BEAUTIFUL, FINE DAY FOR TAURANGA ` A LITTLE BIT OF MORNING CLOUD, BUT THAT WILL QUICKLY CLEAR. SOME LIGHT WINDS AND 26 DEGREES FOR ALL THESE AREAS. WEDNESDAY WILL BE MOSTLY CLOUDY IN HAMILTON, SOUTHWESTERLIES DEVELOPING FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. EVERYWHERE HERE ON 26 ALSO. AND AUCKLAND WILL WAKE TO CLOUD, WITH ISOLATED, LIGHT SHOWERS. THAT WILL CLEAR TO FINE. LIGHT WINDS, BUT SOME STRONGER SOUTHWESTERLIES FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST OF AUSTRALIA TOMORROW. SOME SHOWERS IN THE NORTH TOO, AND STORMY AROUND PARTS OF THE PACIFIC, WITH THOSE THREE TROPICAL CYCLONES. WE'RE KEEPING A PARTICULARLY CLOSE EYE ON CYCLONE SERU, TRACKING SOUTH EAST OF VANUATU. BACK HOME, AND A HIGH PRESSURE CELL PREVAILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THURSDAY, BRINGING LOTS OF DRY WEATHER, BUT IT WILL RETREAT TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON FRIDAY, SO A FEW SHOWERS TO TAURANGA AND TAUPO HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. BUT IT SHOULD STAY FAIRLY SETTLED AND DRY FOR THE BOTTOM AND WEST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, THOUGH, AND ALSO THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. LOOKING LIKE A CLEAR RUN TO THE WEEKEND. A FEW SHOWERS IN INVERCARGILL ON SATURDAY AS A FRONT MOVES ONTO THE SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT WEAKENS. SO LOTS OF FINE WEATHER AHEAD, AND FINE OR OTHERWISE, WE LOVE TO LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS. HERE IS A FINE SHOT THOUGH OF THIS MORNING'S SUNRISE AT PAPAMOA BEACH. 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 BRIGIT KELLY AND JASON CONRAN CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025