OUR DEFENCE OFFICIALS RELEASE NEW PICTURES OF THE CHINESE FLOTILLA IN THE TASMAN AS CONCERNS ARE RAISED IT COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE. WHAT'S UP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HAND? SHOTS OF THIS BRUISE RAISE EYEBROWS INTERNATIONALLY OVER HIS HEALTH. AND A NEW PLAN TO TACKLE RETAIL CRIME WILL ALLOW BUSINESSES TO DETAIN SHOPLIFTERS, BUT CRITICS FEAR IT WILL LEAD TO VIGILANTE JUSTICE. CAPTIONS BY BRIGIT KELLY AND KATE MCCULLOUGH. 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. A TRANS-TASMAN WAR OF WORDS IS UNDERWAY OVER HOW LONG KIWI DEFENCE STAFF TOOK TO TELL AUSTRALIA ABOUT CHINA'S LIVE FIRING EXERCISE IN THE TASMAN SEA LAST FRIDAY. AS THAT DEVELOPS, SO TOO HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE CHINESE FLOTILLA INSIDE AUSTRALIA'S ECONOMIC ZONE MIGHT BE ACCOMPANIED BY A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH HAS THE LATEST. THESE SHIPS WERE CONCERNING ENOUGH. THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE TODAY RELEASED NEW PICTURES SHOWING THE FLOTILLA OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA. NOW, DEFENCE OFFICIALS BELIEVE WHAT'S UNDER THE WATER MAY BE MORE CONCERNING. I THINK WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE BOTH OUR NAVY AND AIR FORCE HAVE BEEN ON THE BALL. IT SHOWS THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED. ABC AUSTRALIA IS REPORTING A MILITARY FIGURE ` NOT AUTHORISED TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ` HAS TOLD THEM THAT THE WORKING ASSUMPTION WAS THE SHIPS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY A NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE... I THINK THAT THE CHINESE HAVE MADE A TACTICAL ERROR, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALERTED THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC TO THE FACT THAT THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEFENCE. ...BUT WE WERE ONLY ALERTED BY THEIR PRESENCE. NO FORMAL WARNING WAS ISSUED ABOUT INTENTIONS TO CONDUCT LIVE-FIRING EXERCISES UNTIL THEY WERE UNDERWAY, AND THIS ALERT WAS ISSUED ACROSS EMERGENCY CHANNELS. THIS UNVERIFIED AUDIO GAVE THE CO-ORDINATES OF THE CHINESE NAVAL TASK FORCE 630KM OFF THE COAST OF SYDNEY ON FRIDAY, AND WARNED AIRCRAFT AND MARINERS TO STEER CLEAR. IT WAS PICKED UP ABOUT 10AM ON FRIDAY BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT FROM VIRGIN AIRLINES WHO RADIOED IT BACK TO AIR AUTHORITIES WHO SUBSEQUENTLY PASSED IT ON TO THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE ` THAT WAS THE FIRST THEY HEARD, DESPITE NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES WORKING TOGETHER TO MONITOR THE VESSELS. WHEN THE WARNING WAS BROADCAST... IT WAS NEW ZEALAND'S TURN TO WATCH. THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE CHIEF REVEALING THE NZ NAVY DIDN'T SEND THROUGH NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. WE RECEIVED AT 1101 APPROXIMATELY 50 MINUTES OR LESS THAN AN HOUR SINCE THAT ADVICE CAME TO US FROM THE SERVICES. THE NEW ZEALAND TASK FORCE WAS AWARE AT THE SAME TIME. THE NEW ZEALAND NOTIFIED THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE WHO IS SEEKING ANSWERS ABOUT THIS. I CAN'T COMMENT ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW. IT IS LIKELY TO BE AN OPERATIONAL MATTER. HOW IS IT THAT IT WAS IN OUR QUICKER TO FIND OUT VIA A COMMERCIAL PLANE THAT THERE WAS A LIVE FIRING EXERCISE IN ONE OF OUR CLOSEST SECURITY PARTNERS? THE MILITARY REPORTING SYSTEM, FOR AN EVENT OF THIS NATURE, WILL GENERALLY LAG. THE CASE OF REPORTING YOU COULD DO WITH AN IMMEDIATE CALL FROM AN AIRCRAFT. NEW ZEALAND SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE NZDF. AS THE TRANS-TASMAN BLAME GAME HEATS UP, WINSTON PETERS HAS FLOWN TO THE EYE OF THE STORM ` DOING THE DIPLOMATIC CIRCUIT IN BEIJING AHEAD OF HIS MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER WANG YI THIS EVENING. GRABBING ANY OPEN AIR HE CAN TO DISCUSS A RANGE OF ISSUE INCLUDING THE SURPRISE ARRIVAL AND EXERCISES OF CHINESE SHIPS. THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAS TODAY WARNED THE WORLD HAS ENTERED A 'DANGEROUS NEW ERA'. IT COMES AS SIR KEIR STARMER ANNOUNCED THE SUDDEN AND CONTROVERSIAL DECISION TO IMMEDIATELY RAMP UP SPENDING ON DEFENCE ` SLASHING AID FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT. AID AGENCIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN LEFT STUNNED, ISSUING A DESPERATE PLEA ON BEHALF OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. MISSILES ARE FLYING ` INSULTS ARE TOO ` HE'S A DICTATOR, WITHOUT ELECTIONS. ...AND WITH TRUMP COSYING UP TO RUSSIA, THE UK HAS CALLED IT WHAT IT IS. HERE WE ARE, IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED... ...AND THAT MEANS PREPARING FOR THE WORST. THIS GOVERNMENT WILL BEGIN THE BIGGEST SUSTAINED INCREASE IN DEFENCE SPENDING SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR. BUT HARD POWER REQUIRES COLD HARD CASH, AND THE UK PRIME MINISTER IS RAIDING THE AID BUDGET TO PAY FOR IT ` CUTTING THE AID FUND BY A WHOPPING 40%, WHICH AMOUNTS TO AROUND $13B. THAT IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT I AM HAPPY TO MAKE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BUYING MIGHT, BUT BUYING FAVOUR. TRUMP'S PIVOT TOWARDS PUTIN HAS UNLEASHED A TORRENT OF CRISIS DIPLOMACY ` THE FRENCH PRESIDENT THE FIRST EUROPEAN LEADER TO BRAVE THE OVAL OFFICE ON A PEACE MISSION; NOW THE UK PRIME MINISTER IS PREPARING FOR HIS OWN WHITE HOUSE SHAKE-DOWN ON THURSDAY. TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT A DIRECT RESPONSE TO RECENT CALLS FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF. NATO SHOULD BE AT 5% NOT 2%. 2% IS RIDICULOUS. RIGHT NOW, THE TOP SPENDERS IN NATO ` AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP ` ARE POLAND, ESTONIA AND THE U.S.; THE UK TRAILS BEHIND AT 2.3. NEW ZEALAND ` ALTHOUGH NOT A NATO NATION ` CURRENTLY SPENDS 0.9%, BUT IS LOOKING TO INCREASE THAT TO 2. THE UK IS NOW TRYING TO HIT 2.5. AID AGENCIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN LEFT STUNNED, CLAIMING THE UK'S PUTTING GUNS OVER AID. AND AFTER DONALD TRUMP FROZE USAID, MANY, INCLUDING IN NEW ZEALAND, ARE PLEADING WITH LEADERS NOT TO FORGET THE PLANET'S POOREST. THESE ARE AREAS WHERE AID IS BOTH KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE AND SETTING THE GROUNDWORK IN TERMS OF STABILITY. THERE'S A REAL BLOWBACK TO NOT DOING THAT. I THINK ITS VERY SHORT-SIGHTED TO STRIP THE WORLD OF ITS GLOBAL AID BUDGET, REAPPLY THAT TO DEFENCE AND HOPE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE IN SAFER MORE PROSPEROUS TIMES GOING FORWARD. WHILE THE UK IS MOVING MOUNTAINS OF MONEY TO IMPRESS THE U.S., THE PRESIDENT'S ATTENTION IS FIRMLY FOCUSED ON FRIDAY'S VISITOR ` PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. I HEAR THAT HE IS COMING ON FRIDAY. CERTAINLY, IT'S OK WITH ME IF HE D LIKE TO. UKRAINE READY TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL ALLOW AMERICA TO ACCESS ITS RARE MINERALS AS PAYBACK FOR AID. HE WOULD LIKE TO SIGN IT TOGETHER WITH ME, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT S A BIG DEAL ` A VERY BIG DEAL. WITH A PEACE DEAL NEXT IN HIS SIGHTS AND UKRAINE IN THE FIRING LINE, ZELENSKYY IS DESPERATE TO REBUILD THE BURNING BRIDGE BETWEEN EUROPE AND AMERICA. AND LISETTE, SPEAKING OF TRUMP, IT APPEARS THAT INTERNATIONAL HANDSHAKING IS TAKING A TOLL? FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH THE FRENCH PRESIDENT, QUESTION STARTED SWELLING AROUND THIS MAKE UP COVERED BRUISE THAT HAS BEEN SPOTTED ON HIS RIGHT HAND. THIS IS OFTEN A SIGN OF AN IV DRIP OR A BLOOD THINNING MEDICATION. THE WHITE HOUSE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, AND HIS PRESS SECRETARY SAID HE HAS BRUISES ON HIS HANDS BECAUSE HE IS CONSTANTLY WORKING AND SHAKING HANDS ALL DAY. HE IS APPARENTLY A MAN OF THE PEOPLE AND HAS SHAKEN MORE HANDS OF ANY PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. IN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER HE WAS ASKED ABOUT HIS HEALTH AND ASSURED EVERYONE THAT HE WOULD ISSUE HIS FULL MEDICAL REPORT. QUICKLY, COMPARISONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH. IN HER FINAL DAYS SHE WAS OFTEN SEEN WITH THAT SERIOUS BRUISING ON HER HANDS. THE JUSTICE MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO EXPAND CITIZEN'S ARREST POWERS IN A BID TO TACKLE RETAIL CRIME. THE PROPOSED LAW CHANGE WOULD ALLOW RETAILERS AND SECURITY GUARDS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO INTERVENE AND RESTRAIN AN OFFENDER WHEN A CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED. BUT AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS, THE GOVERNMENT IS BEING ACCUSED OF ENCOURAGING VIGILANTE JUSTICE. BOTANY LIQUOR CENTRE IN EAST AUCKLAND, ALL BOARDED UP THIS MORNING. IT WAS TARGETED IN A RAM-RAID JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. IT'S SHOCKING. DESPITE SECURITY, INCLUDING BOLLARDS, THE OFFENDERS GAINED ACCESS AND TOOK OFF WITH STOLEN PRODUCT. THEY TOOK PREMIUM WHISKIES AS WELL AS VODKA AND SOME BRANDIES. POLICE SAY TWO STOLEN VEHICLES ARRIVED HERE, AND ONE OF THEM WAS USED TO GAIN ENTRY TO THE LIQUOR STORE. THE POLICE EAGLE HELICOPTER WAS DEPLOYED, AND THE OFFENDERS WERE LOCATED FLEEING IN ONE OF THE VEHICLES. A POLICE CHASE FOLLOWED, AND EVENTUALLY TWO MEN AGED 20 AND 24 ` ONE OF THEM A GANG ASSOCIATE ` WERE ARRESTED. THE COALITION GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO CRACK DOWN ON RETAIL CRIME, BUT ITS OWN FIGURES SHOW RETAIL THEFT IS UP 11%. TO TURN THAT AROUND, THE JUSTICE MINISTER TODAY ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO EXPAND CITIZEN'S ARREST POWERS. POLICE DO THEIR VERY BEST TO DEAL WITH ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY HAVE TO, BUT THE REALITY IS, YOU CAN'T HAVE A POLICE CAR ON EVERY CORNER. THE CRIMES ACT WOULD BE AMENDED SO THAT CITIZENS COULD INTERVENE TO STOP A CRIME HAPPENING AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. THE LAW WOULD CLARIFY THAT RESTRAINT COULD BE USED WHEN MAKING A CITIZEN'S ARREST, AND REASONABLE FORCE COULD BE USED IN DEFENCE OF PROPERTY. SO WHAT IS REASONABLE FORCE? NOT NECESSARILY A HEADLOCK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, JUST HOLDING THEM STEADY, AND THEN THE ROLE IS TO CALL THE POLICE. THE POLICY WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE MINISTERIAL ADVISORY GROUP FOR VICTIMS OF RETAIL CRIME, LED BY SUNNY KAUSHAL, WHO IN THE PAST HAS STRONGLY ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF DAIRY OWNERS LIKE JATESH ARORA. HE OWNED THIS DAIRY IN 2017, AND WAS ATTACKED DURING A ROBBERY AND SUFFERED HORRIFIC WOUNDS. NEW ZEALANDERS MUST HAVE THE LEGAL TOOLS TO PROTECT THEIR BUSINESSES, NEW ZEALANDERS MUST HAVE THE LEGAL TOOLS TO PROTECT THEIR BUSINESSES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR PROPERTIES. IT'S QUITE OFTEN UNFOLDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, AND POLICE CANNOT GET THERE FOR 10 OR 20 MINUTES, BUT WE DO HAVE SECURITY STAFF WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, LAST MONTH, WHEN A GROUP OF WOMEN ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO STEAL A TROLLEY FULL OF ITEMS FROM A MT WELLINGTON SUPERMARKET. A STAFF MEMBER TRIED TO STOP THEM BY BLOCKING THEIR EXIT WITH TROLLEYS, BUT THE TRIO PUSHED THROUGH AND ESCAPED, AND NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. LABOUR SAYS THE POLICY IS RISKY. IT'S GOING TO PUT THOSE RETAIL WORKERS IN HARM'S WAY. THEY COULD END UP INJURED, OR IN THE WORST CASES, THEY COULD END UP BEING KILLED. A LOCAL AT THE SCENE OF THE RAM-RAID, WHO DIDN'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED, SHARED SIMILAR CONCERNS. YOU ARE CREATING A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE WILL USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. BECAUSE IT WOULD NO LONGER ONLY BE TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS WITH THE POWER TO ENFORCE THE LAW. ZANE JOINS US NOW. SO ZANE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REACTION TO THIS? IN THE PAST FEW HOURS, BRIAN TAMAKI, THE HEAD OF DESTINY CHURCH AND ITS AFFILIATE GROUP MAN UP, POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SAYING, 'HOW EXCITED I AM THAT MAN UP IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE INCREASED POWERS 'TO POLICE WHERE LAW AND ORDER HAS FAILED.' FROM THE RETAIL PERSPECTIVE, THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS THEM, FIRST UNION, HAS COME OUT QUITE STRONGLY AGAINST THIS POLICY, SAYING IT WOULD, 'PUT LOW-PAID WORKERS AT AN INCREASED RISK OF VIOLENCE AND LEGAL ACTION', SHARING SIMILAR CONCERNS THERE TO LABOUR. THE SAME CONCERN ECHOED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF RETAIL NZ, CAROLYN YOUNG, WHO SAID, AND I QUOTE ` 'IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE RISK OF VIOLENCE WOULD INCREASE 'IF RETAIL STAFF, SECURITY GUARDS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC 'ATTEMPTED TO DETAIN OFFENDERS.' THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THIS IS JUST THE FIRST SET OF INITIATIVES PUT FORWARD BY THE MINISTERIAL ADVISORY GROUP, AND TO WATCH THIS SPACE. THE TRIAL OF A 14-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF A FATAL STABBING AT DUNEDIN'S BUS HUB IS UNDERWAY. THE ACCUSED, WHO WAS 13 AT THE TIME OF THE ALLEGED MURDER, HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS MORE. THE TRIAL GOT UNDERWAY IN THE DUNEDIN HIGH COURT, AND THE MURDER-ACCUSED, WHO IS NOW 14, HAS NAME SUPPRESSION. HE'S ACCUSED OF MURDERING ENERE MCLAREN-TAANA AT A BUS STOP IN DUNEDIN IN MAY LAST YEAR. THE CROWN SAYS THE ACCUSED GOT OFF A BUS WEARING A SKI MASK, WHICH PARTIALLY OBSCURED HIS FACE, AND AFTER AN ALTERCATION WITH THE VICTIM, PULLED OUT A LARGE KNIFE OUT OF HIS BACKPACK AND STABBED HIM. THE DEFENCE SAYS THAT THE ACCUSED ACCEPTS THAT HE DID STAB HIM, BUT THAT IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL AND IN SELF-DEFENCE. THE TRIAL IS SET DOWN FOR THREE WEEKS. A NORTHLAND PENSIONER IN A LEGAL FIGHT OVER DAMAGE TO HIS HOME SAYS HE'S AT HIS WITS' END. HARVEY HAMDY'S (84) RUAKAKA HOUSE HAS CRACKS IN ITS WALLS AND DOORS THAT CLOSE ON THEIR OWN. BUT THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY WHICH BUILT THE HOME SAY THEIR FORMER CLIENT'S STORY IS TARGETED TO CAUSE THEM FINANCIAL HARM. NICK TRUEBRIDGE REPORTS. WELCOME TO HARVEY'S HOUSE. YOU MAY NOTICE A FEW ISSUES ` CRACKS IN THE WALLS... THEY FIXED IT. NOW IT'S GONE DOWN TO HERE. ...THEN THERE'S DOORS THAT CLOSE ON THEIR OWN... THAT'LL JUST CLOSE BY ITSELF. ...AND WATCH THIS MARBLE FREELY ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWSILL. I MEAN, IS THAT A NORMAL THING TO HAPPEN IN A HOUSE? OUTSIDE, CRACKS LIKE THESE HAVE APPEARED IN THE BRICK VENEER. A BUILDING SURVEYOR'S REPORT SAYS HARVEY'S HOUSE IS EXTENSIVELY OUT OF LEVEL. FOR YEARS, THE NOW 84-YEAR-OLD HAS SOUGHT A SOLUTION. AT MY WIT'S END, YES. AND IT STARTED GETTING WORSE WHEN JUNE GOT DEMENTIA. HARVEY'S TALKING ABOUT HIS PARTNER JUNE, WHO HE'S RECENTLY HAD TO MOVE INTO A REST HOME ` THE STRESS OF THE HOUSE AND JUNE'S HEALTH ALL TOO MUCH. TEARFULLY: BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG, YOU KNOW? SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. WHY IS SHE SUFFERING LIKE THIS? HARVEY'S HOUSE WAS BUILT BY HARRISON CONSTRUCTION, WHICH FORMERLY RAN THE LOCAL GOLDEN HOMES FRANCHISE. IN A STATEMENT, DIRECTORS CHRIS AND ADELE HARRISON SAID HARVEY'S STORY IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT, DEFAMATORY AND APPEARS TO BE TARGETED AT CAUSING THEM FINANCIAL HARM. HARVEY'S LAWYER SAID HIGH COURT PROCEEDINGS WERE FILED IN LATE 2023. HARRISON CONSTRUCTION, THE COUNCIL AND LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRM RS ENG, WHICH COMPLETED A STABILITY REPORT, ARE LISTED AS DEFENDANTS. IT'S HOPED A MEDIATION WOULD OCCUR. I MEAN, IT'S NEVER OUT OF MY MIND, AND... THE BILLS FROM THE LAWYER ARE GOING TO KEEP ON COMING UNTIL THIS ENDS. AND THAT'S WHY I NEED IT TO END QUICKLY. I DON'T NEED THIS (BLEEP) IN MY LIFE. IN A STATEMENT, RS ENG SAID ITS INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SITE PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION WERE CONSISTENT WITH AN EARLIER SUBDIVISION REPORT, WHICH ADVISED THE SITES, INCLUDING HAMDY'S LOT, WERE GENERALLY SUITABLE FOR CONVENTIONAL HOUSING. IT SAID ITS INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE EARLIER SUBDIVISION REPORT AND WITH NORMAL ENGINEERING PRACTICE. WHANGAREI DISTRICT COUNCIL WOULDN'T COMMENT WITH THE MATTER BEFORE THE COURTS. MEANWHILE, HARVEY WAITS FOR AN OUTCOME WITH ONE QUESTION ON HIS MIND. WHAT DID I DO WRONG? INSTEAD OF LIVING OUT HIS GOLDEN YEARS, HE'S LIVING IN A BROKEN HOUSE. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE DAY'S WEATHER, AND IT WAS LARGELY DRY AND SETTLED. THAT'S RIGHT ` NOT MUCH RAIN ABOUT AT ALL. 26.4mm IN WESTPORT THE MOST IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT WAS ALL OVER BY 6am. TAURANGA AND KAWERAU TOOK OUT TODAY'S TOP TEMPERATURE WITH 27.6 DEGREES. BUT LOTS OF PLACES IN THE NORTH ISLAND WERE VERY WARM TODAY. SLIGHTLY COOLER THROUGH THE SOUTH ISLAND. THAT WILL CHANGE SLIGHTLY TOMORROW. I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. NEXT UP ON THREENEWS ` THE MIGRANT WORKER WHO SANK DARLEEN TANA'S POLITICAL CAREER FACES AN UNHAPPY EXIT FROM NEW ZEALAND, UNABLE TO GET A VISA. THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HEIST HAS BEEN PULLED OFF. WE WILL TELL YOU WHICH COUNTRY HAS STOLEN $2.6bn. AND LORDE AND MARLON WILLIAMS HAVE COLLABORATED, WITH A NEW SONG IN TE REO MAORI OUT TODAY. WE'LL HAVE MORE A LITTLE LATER ON. A DEAL HAS BEEN REACHED TO RELEASE MORE THAN 600 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, WHO WERE INITIALLY MEANT TO BE FREED BY ISRAEL LAST WEEK. ISRAEL DELAYED THEIR RELEASE TO PROTEST WHAT IT SAYS WAS THE CRUEL TREATMENT OF HOSTAGES DURING THEIR RETURN BY HAMAS. AN AGREEMENT HAS NOW BEEN REACHED, AND ISRAEL WILL HAND OVER THE DETAINEES IN THE COMING DAYS, IN EXCHANGE FOR HAMAS RETURNING THE BODIES OF FOUR DEAD HOSTAGES. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CEASEFIRE ENDS THIS WEEKEND. TALKS ARE YET TO START FOR THE SECOND PHASE, BUT IT'S HOPED THIS LATEST EXCHANGE WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR THEM TO BEGIN. THE COALITION GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET IS STILL JUST UNDER THREE MONTHS AWAY, BUT TODAY THE GREEN PARTY ANNOUNCED THEY WILL DELIVER A GREEN BUDGET ALTERNATIVE. CO-LEADERS MARAMA DAVIDSON AND CHLOE SWARBRICK REVEALED THE PARTY'S PLANS AS PART OF THEIR STATE OF THE PLANET ADDRESS TODAY. THEY SAY IT WILL BUILD ON THEIR ALTERNATIVE EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN, RELEASED LAST YEAR. THE TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE BEEN HELD HOSTAGE TO FOR DECADES, HAS MADE THINGS WORSE FOR PROTECTING OUR PLANET, HAS DRIVEN WORSENING INEQUALITY, HAS NOT PROTECTED OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CONNECTION. WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT WHAT VALUES THE GREEN PARTY STANDS FOR AND THAT IS THE WORK WE WILL BE DOING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. CHLOE SWARBRICK SAYS THE GREEN BUDGET ALTERNATIVE WILL SHOW HOW THE WORLD CAN MOVE FROM THE STATUS QUO. THE MIGRANT WORKER WHOSE ALLEGATIONS OF EXPLOITATION LED TO AN MP BEING BOOTED OUT OF PARLIAMENT SAYS HE'S RECEIVED NO COMPENSATION, AND NOW CAN'T GET A VISA TO STAY IN NEW ZEALAND. SANTIAGO LATOUR PALMA CLAIMED HE'D BEEN EXPLOITED WHILE WORKING AT AN E-BIKE SHOP OWNED BY THE HUSBAND OF FORMER GREEN MP DARLEEN TANA. STEVE KILLGALLON REPORTS. THIS MAN SAID HE WAS EXPLOITED WHEN WORKING AT A BIKE SHOP OWNED BY DARLEEN'S HUSBAND. WHILE HE HAS NEVER RECEIVED COMPENSATION, HE DID GET A MIGRANT EXPLOITATION VISA HE HAS FOUND IT HARD TO SECURE ANOTHER PERMANENT JOB.. EXPLOITATION VISA. HE HAS FOUND IT HARD TO SECURE ANOTHER PERMANENT JOB. HE HAS WRITTEN TO MULTIPLE CASE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AND NOW, IRONICALLY, THE ONLY POLITICIAN BACKING HIM AS THE IMMIGRATION SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE PARTY THAT DARLEEN USED TO WORK FOR. SANTIAGO IS JUST ONE OF MANY WHO HAS FACED CHALLENGES IN THE WORKPLACE. IMMIGRATION SINCE THAT DATE EMPATHISE WITH HIM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT THAT HE CANNOT EXTEND HIS VISA. HE WILL NEED TO REAPPLY OR TAKE HIS CASE TO THE IMMIGRATION AND PROTECTION TRIBUNAL. THAT LEAVES SANTIAGO FACING THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING HOME TO ARGENTINA, WITH UNHAPPY MEMORIES OF HIS NEW ZEALAND EXPERIENCE. NORTH KOREAN HACKERS HAVE STOLEN $2.6bn IN CRYPTOCURRENCY IN THE BIGGEST HEIST EVER CARRIED OUT. THE HACKERS TARGETED BYBIT ` ONE OF THE LARGEST CRYPTOCURRENCY EXCHANGES IN THE WORLD ` WITH OVER 40 MILLION USERS. ACCORDING TO UNITED NATIONS REPORTS, STATE-BACKED NORTH KOREAN HACKERS HAVE STOLEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM BANKS AND CRYPTOCURRENCY FIRMS IN RECENT YEARS. THE HACKED MONEY FUNDS ROUGHLY HALF THEIR MISSILE PROGRAMME. STILL AHEAD ON THREENEWS ` THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE YOUNG TRAVELLERS KILLED IN THE LAOS METHANOL MASS POISONING SPEAKS OUT SO HER DAUGHTER'S DEATH WASN'T IN VAIN. SOME OF THE WORLD'S TOP RECORDING ARTISTS JOIN FORCES TO DEMAND ACTION OVER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. AND LATER IN SPORT, AN AGE-DEFYING SIGNING FOR FORMER ALL BLACK MA'A NONU. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. A TRANS-TASMAN WAR OF WORDS IS UNDERWAY OVER HOW LONG KIWI DEFENCE STAFF TOOK TO TELL AUSTRALIA ABOUT CHINA'S LIVE FIRING EXERCISE IN THE TASMAN SEA LAST FRIDAY. OUR DEFENCE MINISTER HAS JUST ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER, MONITORING THE CHINESE FLOTILLA. JUDITH COLLINS DIDN'T ADDRESS ANY NOTIFICATION DELAY AND STOOD BY THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE. WHEN BACKPACKERS VISITING LAOS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA STARTED FALLING ILL FROM SUSPECTED METHANOL POISONING LATE LAST YEAR, ONE MOTHER RACED HALF WAY ROUND THE WORLD TO BE WITH HER CRITICALLY ILL DAUGHTER. SIMONE WHITE DIDN'T SURVIVE. HER MOTHER, SUE, NOT ONLY HAD TO SWITCH OFF HER LIFE SUPPORT, SHE ALSO HAD TO REMOVE SIMONE'S BREATHING TUBE. THREE MONTHS ON, SUE AND SIMONE'S BEST FRIEND HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN THE HOPES IT WILL SAVE LIVES IN THE FUTURE. ITV'S CHLOE KEEDY WITH THE STORY. KEEP SMILE! SIMONE WHITE FLEW THROUGH LIFE WITH SUCH ENERGY. SHE HAD A GOOD LISTENING EAR. SHE WAS CARING, AMBITIOUS, EXTROVERTED ` JUST EVERYTHING THAT I NEEDED IN A FRIEND. THIS WAS SIMONE ON HER 28TH BIRTHDAY, LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE THEY SET OFF ON A HOLIDAY SHE WOULDN'T SURVIVE. THEIR TRIP TO LAOS HAD BEGUN EXACTLY AS THEY'D HOPED. THEY CHECKED INTO THIS BACKPACKER HOSTEL IN VANG VIENG. LATER, WHEN THEY HEADED TO THE BAR, STAFF WERE HANDING OUT FREE SHOTS. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE FREE WHISKY OR FREE VODKA SHOTS. WE HAD ABOUT 5 OR 6 THERE, OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 2.5 HOURS. WHEN I WAS DRINKING IT, I WASN'T REALLY, UM, GETTING A STRONG TASTE. SHE NOW KNOWS THAT'S BECAUSE SHE'D CONSUMED METHANOL ` A HIGHLY TOXIC CHEMICAL THE NEXT MORNING, SHE SAYS, THEY WOKE UP AT THE HOSPITAL, THE NEXT MORNING, SHE SAYS, THEY WOKE UP AT THE HOSTEL WITH WHAT ` THEY INITIALLY THOUGHT ` WAS A MILD HANGOVER. WE JUST FELT A BIT OFF. I CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE WHAT EXACTLY IT WAS, BUT IT WASN'T LIKE YOUR TYPICAL HANGOVER. LETHARGIC AND STRUGGLING TO MOVE, THEY DECIDED TO GO TO HOSPITAL, WHERE SIMON'S CONDITION STARTED DETERIORATING FAST. AT TWO IN THE MORNING, GOT A PHONE CALL FROM BETHANY AND THE DOCTOR IN THE HOSPITAL OVER THERE, JUST SAYING, 'YOU NEED TO GIVE PERMISSION FOR URGENT BRAIN SURGERY 'OR SIMONE'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.' BUT IT WAS JUST HORRIFIC, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY, AND AS SOON AS THEY SAID BRAIN SURGERY, I JUST KNEW SHE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT. SUE THEN HAD TO ENDURE THE 17-HOUR JOURNEY TO LAOS, NOT KNOWING WHETHER HER DAUGHTER WAS ALIVE OR DEAD. THE DOCTOR JUST SAID IT'S A CASE OF WAITING FOR HER TO PASS AWAY. SUE SAYS THAT DOCTORS EVENTUALLY EXPLAINED THAT THEY COULDN'T SWITCH OFF SIMONE'S LIFE SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS. SHE WAS TOLD SHE'D HAVE TO DO IT HERSELF. I HAD MY HUSBAND AND MY SON ON THE END OF THE PHONE. I LITERALLY TURNED OFF THE MACHINE, AND THEN 30 SECONDS LATER THE BACKUP VENTILATOR CAME INTO OPERATION, AND THE DOCTOR CAME IN AGAIN, ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, AND SAID, 'OH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NOW TAKE THE TUBE 'OUT OF HER MOUTH.' IT WAS JUST... JUST DEVASTATING. SIMONE WAS ONE OF SIX TOURISTS WHO DIED AFTER STAYING AT THE NANA BACKPACKERS HOSTEL, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED DOWN. A NUMBER OF WORKERS WERE DETAINED BY POLICE, BUT THE HOSTEL OWNER HAS PREVIOUSLY DENIED ANY WRONGDOING. I THINK IT'S VERY UNLIKELY ` ANY INDIVIDUAL, ANYWAY ` WILL BE CONVICTED OF THE CRIME, EVER. SUE AND BETHANY WANT TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF METHANOL POISONING. THEY SAY THEIR DAUGHTER AND FRIEND, WHO SO LOVED HER LIFE, WOULD NOT WANT HER DEATH TO HAVE BEEN IN VAIN. DRAKE HAS CANCELLED HIS UPCOMING NEW ZEALAND SHOWS JUST WEEKS OUT FROM WHEN HE WAS DUE HERE. THE RAPPER WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO PERFORM HIS FIRST AUCKLAND SHOW ON FEBRUARY 28. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY THE DATES WERE CHANGED TO MARCH 15 AND 16, DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. THAT SAME REASON HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR TODAY'S CANCELLATIONS, BUT NO NEW DATES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED YET. ALL TICKETS FOR THE AFFECTED SHOWS WILL REMAIN VALID FOR NEW DATES, OR A REFUND WILL BE PROVIDED. MORE THAN A THOUSAND ARTISTS ` INCLUDING SIRS ELTON JOHN AND PAUL MCCARTNEY, PLUS ANNIE LENNOX AND ABBA ` HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PROTECT MUSIC FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THEY'RE ASKING THE UK GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE A COPYRIGHT LAW IN A BID TO STOP ARTISTS' WORK BEING PLUNDERED BY GENERATIVE AI. ITV'S MARTHA FAIRLIE WITH THIS STORY. 12 TRACKS CO-WRITTEN BY MORE THAN A THOUSAND UK MUSICIANS. THE ALBUM, 'IS THIS WHAT WE WANT?' WAS RECORDED IN EMPTY STUDIOS IN PROTEST AT GOVERNMENT PLANS TO LET GENERATIVE AI DEVELOPERS USE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL WITHOUT PERMISSION TO TRAIN THEIR SERVICES. KATE BUSH, KNOWN FOR HER INNOVATIVE MUSIC, IS AMONG THOSE WORRIED THAT AI COULD SILENCE THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. # FUTURE IS COMING ON. # I AIN'T HAPPY... AS IS DAMON ALBARN, THE BLUR FRONTMAN BEHIND THE VIRTUAL BAND GORILLAZ. (MOURNFUL CELLO MUSIC) CELLIST ALISON MONCRIEFF-KELLY IS ALSO INVOLVED, FEARING AI COULD TAKE AWAY LIVELIHOODS AND MUSIC THAT TOOK A LIFETIME TO CREATE. OF COURSE, THERE'S A FINANCIAL ASPECT TO ANY OF IT, BUT THERE'S ALSO A PRINCIPLE BEHIND IT, WHICH IS ABOUT SOMETHING WHICH IS AUTHENTICALLY THE PROPERTY OF THE PERSON WHO CREATED IT. # SOS... SWEDISH POP SUPERSTARS ABBA CHANGED THE INDUSTRY WHEN THEY CREATED AVATARS TO PERFORM THEIR VIRTUAL SHOW. BUT BJORN SAYS MUSICIANS MUST BE ABLE TO CONTROL HOW THEIR WORK IS USED. THIS ALBUM IS REFLECTING THE WORRY RIGHT NOW IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT WON'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING REALLY GREAT FOR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. DO YOU THINK THAT AT ANY POINT AI COULD BE IN DANGER OF REPLACING REAL MUSICIANS, REAL MUSIC WRITERS, REAL PERFORMERS? YES, YES I DO. I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE. IT'S GOING VERY QUICKLY, AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE TO` YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO SAY TO OURSELVES, WE DON'T KNOW. THAT MIGHT HAPPEN AROUND THE CORNER. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES CHANGE IS NEEDED TO ALLOW AI SERVICES TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. BRITISH MUSICIANS HOPE THEIR MESSAGE WON'T GO UNHEARD. SINGER-SONGWRITER MARLON WILLIAMS IS SET TO RELEASE HIS FIRST ALBUM IN TE REO MAORI IN APRIL, BUT HAS TODAY PUT OUT THE SECOND SINGLE FROM TE WHARE TIWEKAWEKA, FEATURING LORDE. (BOTH SING IN TE REO MAORI) THE SINGLE'S CALLED KAHORE HE MANU E. WILLIAMS AND LORDE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE; HE SANG ON HER ALBUM SOLAR POWER, AND NOW LORDE IS RETURNING THE FAVOUR. IT SOUNDS GOOD. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, AND IT'S STRICTLY BUSINESS FOR THE WARRIORS IN VEGAS? TO HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME OVER THERE, BUT HAVING HEARD FROM THEM, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE ROUND ONE CLASH WITH THE RAIDERS. THEY GOT IN TROUBLE. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST OUT OF THE WARRIORS CAMP NEXT. PLUS, WHY DANIEL HILLIER HOPES THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN CAN BE A LAUNCHING PAD FOR A BIG YEAR AHEAD. AND MA'A NONU WINDS BACK THE CLOCK, SIGNING THE FRENCH TOP 14 SIDE TOULON AT THE AGE OF 42. All done, Ash? Yep, and not just with the playground, but the help of Xero accounting software, I can keep my cash flow flowing. Woah! By giving my customers more ways to pay. (LIVELY MUSIC) Thanks, Ash. Plus, I can see what's coming in and going out. So I can focus on... ...growing my business. (LIVELY MUSIC CONTINUES) It's business supercharge! Search Xero with an X. SAVOUR EVERY MOMENT WITH SUZUKI S-CROSS HYBRID AND THREENEWS SPORT. THE WARRIORS FEEL THEY'VE THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN ENJOYING ALL LAS VEGAS HAS TO OFFER, AND ENSURING THEY PUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WORK IN ON THE TRAINING PITCH. THIS WEEKEND'S SEASON OPENER AGAINST THE RAIDERS WILL HAVE A VASTLY DIFFERENT FEEL TO IT AS THE NRL CONTINUES ITS PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND THEY MAY HAVE SOME WAY TO GO JUST YET. THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF LAS VEGAS CREATE SOMETHING OF A DIFFERENT BACKDROP TO THE WARRIORS' ROUND ONE CLASH. VEGAS IS CRAZY. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON ALL THE TIME. BUT WHILE THERE'S PLENTY TO ENJOY IN SIN CITY, MAKE NO MISTAKE ` THIS IS VERY MUCH A BUSINESS TRIP. THE WORK ON THE TRAINING PADDOCK HAS FAR OUTWEIGHED ANY FUN ON THE VEGAS STRIP. WE'LL ATTACK TODAY; WE'LL ATTACK TOMORROW WHEN IT COMES. AND THE WARRIORS MIGHT ALREADY HOLD THE EDGE OVER THE RAIDERS, WHO WASTED LITTLE TIME LETTING LAS VEGAS PROVIDE A SUITABLE DISTRACTION ` TWO PLAYERS CAUGHT BRAWLING IN THE TEAM HOTEL AFTER A NIGHT OUT. WHILE THE WARRIORS HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN CHAINED TO THEIR HOTELS ROOMS, THEY FEEL THEY'VE FOUND THE RIGHT BALANCE. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS CAN BE DISTRACTING, BUT I THINK THE CLUB AND WEBBY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AT LETTING US EXPERIENCE VEGAS AND AMERICA FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT'S QUITE EYE-OPENING, BUT TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY SHOWED UP AT TRAINING AND REALLY ATTACKED IT. THE TWO ROUND-ONE VEGAS FIXTURES ARE PART OF A HUGE PUSH BY THE NRL TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE GAME OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, ALTHOUGH THE WARRIORS MAY HAVE A WAY TO GO IN THE RECOGNITION STAKES IN THE U.S. I THINK WE WERE WALKING AROUND, AND WHEN WE SAY WE'RE FROM NEW ZEALAND, EVERYONE ASSUMES WE'RE ALL BLACKS STRAIGHT AWAY. WE HAVE TO CORRECT THEM AND SAY, 'NO, RUGBY LEAGUE, WARRIORS.' THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO LET THEIR GAME DO MOST OF THE TALKING THIS WEEK. ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK NAMED TO START ROUND ONE ON THE WING. WE, SORT OF, SPOKE HEADING INTO CHRISTMAS, AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD DYNAMIC FOR OUR TEAM, AND I AGREED WITH IT, I BOUGHT IN AND JUMPED ON. AT THIS STAGE OF MY CAREER I'M GLAD TO BE ON THE FIELD. AND HOPEFUL THERE'LL BE PLENTY TO CELEBRATE ON SUNDAY IN THE PARTY CAPITAL OF THE U.S. THE HIGHLANDERS WILL BE WITHOUT PROP DANIEL LIENERT-BROWN FOR THREE WEEKS AFTER HE WAS SUSPENDED FOR A DANGEROUS CHALLENGE. LIENERT-BROWN HAD HIS YELLOW CARD UPGRADED TO RED FOR THIS CLEAN OUT ON BLUES HALFBACK TAUFA FUNAKI. IT'S GIVEN JAMIE JOSEPH SOMETHING OF HEADACHE IN THE FRONT ROW, WITH ETHAN DE GROOT'S INJURY PUSHING HIM TO THE BENCH. THEY HAD SMALL INJURIES THAT WE KNEW WOULD COME RIGHT, BUT IT IS HARD TO PREPARE PROPERLY, SO EXPERIENCED GUYS COMING OFF THE BENCH IN A STICKY GAME I THINK WILL HELP US. ELSEWHERE, SAMISONI TAUKEI'AHO WILL PLAY HIS FIRST GAME OF RUGBY SINCE LAST YEAR'S SEMI-FINAL DEFEAT, NAMED TO COME OFF THE BENCH FOR THE CHIEFS AGAINST THE BRUMBIES. FORMER ALL BLACK MA'A NONU'S PLAYING DAYS ARE SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN, SIGNING WITH FRENCH TOP 14 CLUB TOULON FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON, AGED 42. NONU ISN'T LIKELY TO SUIT UP FOR TOULON UNTIL AT LEAST THEIR CHAMPIONS CUP KNOCKOUT MATCH AT THE START OF APRIL. THE FORMER ALL BLACK'S LAST ON-FIELD APPEARANCE WAS IN JULY LAST YEAR, WHERE HE FEATURED FOR SAN DIEGO IN MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY. ELSEWHERE, TWO-TIME SPRINGBOKS WORLD CUP WINNER STEVEN KITSHOFF HAS BEEN FORCED TO RETIRE FROM RUGBY AFTER SUFFERING A SERIOUS NECK INJURY. THE 33-YEAR-OLD REVEALED HE WAS '2mm FROM DEATH' AFTER SUSTAINING THE INJURY IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. KITSHOFF PLAYED 83 TESTS FOR THE SPRINGBOKS, WINNING THE WORLD CUP IN 2019 AND 2023 WHEN THEY DEFEATED THE ALL BLACKS. SPRINGBOKS CAPTAIN SIYA KOLISI LED TRIBUTES FOR KITSHOFF, CALLING HIM A LEGEND OF THE GAME. DANIEL HILLIER HAS BIG PLANS THIS YEAR, HOPING TO ACHIEVE A TOP 10 FINISH ON THE DP WORLD TOUR ORDER OF MERIT, WHICH WOULD SEE HIM FOLLOW RYAN FOX IN SECURING A PGA TOUR CARD. HE HAS ANOTHER TASK FRONT OF MIND THIS WEEK, THOUGH, HOPING TO BECOME THE FIRST KIWI IN EIGHT YEARS TO WIN THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN. GORDON FINDLATER CAUGHT UP WITH HIM. IT'S BEEN QUITE THE START TO 2025 FOR DANIEL HILLIER ` A SECOND PLACE AT THE DUBAI DESSERT CLASSIC IN JANUARY, CURRENTLY HAS HIM FOURTH IN THE DP WORLD TOUR RANKINGS. I'VE WANTED TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID, AND, YEAH, NOW THAT I'M DOING IT, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. I'M SURE YOUNG DAN WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY PROUD OF WHERE I'M AT NOW. BEING INSIDE THE TOP 10 COME THE END OF THE YEAR COMES WITH A MASSIVE PRIZE ` A PGA TOUR CARD. I PLAYED A FEW TOURNAMENTS IN THE STATES, BACK WHEN I WAS AN AMATEUR, AND I REALLY ENJOYED THOSE, SO YEAH, IF I WAS TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY, I'LL TAKE IT WITH TWO HANDS AND GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT. THIS WEEK HE'S PLAYING UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF STEVE WILLIAMS ` A MAN THAT KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IN THE U.S.. HILLIER'S MAIN OBJECTIVE FOR NOW THOUGH ` WINNING HIS HOME OPEN. LIKE WE ALL SAY ` WE WANNA GET A KIWI BACK ON THAT TROPHY AGAIN. IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS, SO YEAH, HOPEFULLY I CAN GIVE IT A GOOD RUN THIS YEAR. HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THOSE PLANS. A MEMBER HERE AT MILBROOK, LIV GOLFER BEN CAMPBELL, KNOWS ALL THE SECRETS THIS WEEK'S COURSE HAS TO OFFER. JUST ABOVE THE FLAG THERE'S, LIKE, A BROWN PART THAT COMES OUT FROM THE HOUSE. AND THAT'S LIKE` THERE'S A GAP IN THE BUNKERS THERE. YOU KNOW THE PLACES TO AVOID AND THE PLACES YOU CAN ATTACK; YOU KNOW SPECIFIC FLAGS AND THAT, SO YEAH, IT'S DEFINITLY AN ADANTAGE. MEANWHILE, A KIWI WITH FORM ON HIS SIDE IS NICK VOKE. HE'S COMING OFF A WIN IN THE WEBEX SERIESIN SYDNEY LAST WEEKEND, AND HAS PROMISED QUITE THE CELEBRATION IF HE GOES BACK-TO-BACK. IF YOU WIN IS THERE GONNA BE A BIG MANA WAVE? OH, THERE'LL BE A BIG MANA WAVE AND A MANU RIGHT THERE IN THAT POND. YOU SEE THOSE FISH? THEY'D ALL BE GONE, MATE. THERE'LL BE A BIG EXPLOSION. THE FISH MIGHT BE SAFE FOR ANOTHER DAY THOUGH, HILLIER CLAIMING HIS NEW LUCKY MOUSTACHE COULD BE THE KEY TO VICTORY THIS WEEK. YEAH, SO I ACTUALLY SHAVED IT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, SO IT WAS A FRESH ONE FOR DUBAI, AND YEAH, SERVED ME WELL THERE, SO YEAH, HOPEFULLY IT CONTINUES TO DO THAT. AFTER A DAY OF SLUGGING IT OUT ON THE RANGE, HILLIER NOW LOOKING PRIMED FOR A RUN AT OUR NATIONAL TOURAMENT. SHOULD BE A STUNNING FEW DAYS THERE. A BIG BROWN TROUT NICKNAMED LUCKY HAS BECOME A VIRAL SENSATION AFTER TWO TEENAGERS RESCUED IT FROM A WATERY PRISON ON THE HUTT RIVER. A VIDEO OF THE MERCY MISSION HAS HAD 20 MILLION VIEWS SINCE LOGAN GRESSLEHNER AND HENDRIX BUTLER FOUND THE FISH FREAKISHLY TRAPPED IN A PUDDLE OF WATER. PADDY GOWER CAUGHT UP WITH THE PAIR. OH, GIDDAY, BRO. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? HEY, I'M LOGAN. AND WHAT'S YOURS, MATE? I'M HENDRIX. I HEAR YOU BOYS SAVED THE TROUT'S LIFE. YEAH, YEAH, JUST OVER THERE. NO WAY. BRO... WHAT? OH MY GOD. IS THAT A RAINBOW? NO, IT'S A BROWN, BUT IT'S LIKE` OH MY... LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU FIRST SEE HIM. WHAT DID YOU SAY TO EACH OTHER? UH, 'GEE, I THINK THERE'S A TROUT IN THERE, EH.' SOMETHING LIKE THAT. (LAUGHS) AND WHAT DID YOU` WHAT DID YOU SAY, MATE? I SAID, 'OH, MY GOD, THERE'S NO WAY.' YOU WERE WANDERING ALONG HERE... HOW WERE YOU HOLDING THE TROUT AT THIS POINT? OH, I WAS JUST HOLDING HIM UP LIKE I NORMALLY WOULD, AND JUST WALKING REAL SLOW SO HE DIDN'T GET ANY, LIKE` DIDN'T GET NERVOUS. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CHAT ON THE INSTAGRAM ABOUT JUST HOW SLOW YOU GUYS TOOK THIS TROUT. YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THOSE COMMENTS. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. IS IT TIME TO RESPOND TO THAT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE SAYING, 'HEY, THE BRO IS WALKING TOO SLOW WITH THE TROUT.' YEAH, YEAH. SO... JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE WASN'T TOO STRESSED OUT. I THINK IT WAS GOOD THAT WE TOOK IT SLOW, BECAUSE IF WE WERE RUSHING OR ANYTHING, DIDN'T WANT TO TRIP ON A ROCK, AND YOU KNOW, THAT COULD HAVE REALLY HURT THE TROUT IF WE DROPPED IT. SO YOU CHUCKED THIS UP ON INSTAGRAM, AND THEN WHAT STARTED HAPPENING? OH, LOGAN TEXT ME, LIKE, 'GO LIKE NEW VIDEO.' SO WENT AND LIKED THAT. AND THEN GOT A TEXT FROM HIM, LIKE, A DAY LATER OR SOMETHING, AND HE'S LIKE, 'OH, IT'S JUST GETTING HEAPS OF VIEWS', SO I LOOKED, AND IT HAD LIKE 4M OR SOMETHING THE FIRST TIME I LOOKED, SO YEAH, IT'S JUST MENTAL. WELL, I THINK THE FIRST DAY IT REACHED 10,000, AND THAT WAS UNUSUAL FOR ME. KEPT TELLING MUM AND DAD, 'OH, IT'S REACHED 10,000, 'THEN 20,000, THEN 100,000', AND IT REACHED A MILLION. I WAS SO EXCITED, AND THEN KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE, AND THEN NOTICED IT WASN'T STOPPING, AND IT KEPT GOING UP UNTIL IT REACHED 20M. DO YOU RECKON THAT YOU'LL EVER SEE LUCKY AGAIN? I MEAN, IT'S VERY POSSIBLE. COME DOWN HERE QUITE A LOT. I WOULDN'T EXPECT HIM TO HAVE GONE FAR. IF WE CAUGHT LUCKY, THAT'D BE CRAZY. THAT'D BE COOL IF WE COULD CATCH HIM ` BE A GOOD FIGHT. YOU'RE A GOOD KIWI FOR SAVING THAT TROUT, MATE. YOU'RE A GOOD KIWI FOR SAVING THAT TROUT AS WELL, MATE. YEAH, THANK YOU. ONE VERY LUCKY FISH. LAURA'S HERE WITH AN UPDATE ON THE TROPICAL CYCLONE THAT FORMED YESTERDAY. YES, THAT WAS TROPICAL CYCLONE SERU, WITH VANUATU ON THE LEFT AND FIJI TO THE RIGHT. IT'S A CATEGORY TWO, BUT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AS IT HEADS SOUTH, SOUTH-EAST. THERE'S ALSO ALFRED WHO WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON. HE'S A CATEGORY 2 BUT IS STRENGTHENING. NOW THIS ONE IS OFF THE EASTERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR IT TO REACH LAND, BUT ITS PATH IS ONLY FORECAST OUT UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING, WHERE IT'S STILL OVER THE CORAL SEA. IN NEW ZEALAND WE HAVE THESE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEMS THAT ARE KEEPING ALL THE ACTIVITY IN THE TROPICS AT BAY. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS NEXT. SON: See you, Dad. DAD: See you mate. DAUGHTER: I'm a Weet-Bix Kid. BOY 1: Wooooo! BOY 2: He's one. (WATER SPLASHES) MAN: Been one 60 years. WOMAN: And the rest... (LAUGHS) (KID SCREAMING) KID: I'll be one my whole life. MAN 2: Me too. ALL: Woah... RUGBY PLAYER: I'm a Weet-Bix Kid, are you? NAU MAI ANO. LOTS OF DRY WEATHER AHEAD FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY. A WEAKENING FRONT MOVES SLOWLY NORTH OVER THE TOP OF THE NORTH ISLAND AS A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM SPREADS OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM THE WEST. AND A COLD FRONT SWEEPS OVER HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE, ENDING THAT RUN OF VERY WARM TEMPERATURES. SO, THE SOUTH ISLAND ` NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY HERE. A DRY, CALM THURSDAY. SOME CLOUD ABOUT CANTERBURY. COULD BE A SHOWER LATE AFTERNOON IN SOUTHERN CANTERBURY AND THROUGH THE RANGES. NOT AN OVERLY HOT DAY AHEAD. TO THE NORTH ISLAND, AND CLOUD AND SHOWERS ABOUT HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE. SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AROUND AUCKLAND, THEN A CLEAR AFTERNOON FOR MOST, JUST SOME HEAVY SHOWERS SPRINGING UP IN CENTRAL PARTS. SO SOME PATCHY MORNING SHOWERS FOR PARTS OF AUCKLAND THAT WILL CLEAR IN THE AFTERNOON. THE OPPOSITE FOR NORTHLAND ` A FINE MORNING, WITH A POTENTIALLY SHOWERY AFTERNOON. AND LOOKING DRY IN HAMILTON AND THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA. CLOUDY PERIODS, WITH THE ODD SHOWER FOR ROTORUA AND TAUPO ` MAINLY FINE ELSEWHERE. WHAKATANE MIGHT GET A SHOWER FROM THE EVENING. CLOUD INCREASING, WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER FROM MORNING FOR GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY. DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON SHOULD STAY DRY, WITH SOME MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. SOME MORNING CLOUD FOR SOUTHERN AREAS, BUT A FINE THURSDAY. 23 FOR NEW PLYMOUTH ` GREAT CONDITIONS FOR THOSE COMPETING IN OR WATCHING TE MATATINI ` JUST SOME WESTERLIES STRENGTHENING AFTER LUNCH FOR YOU AND TAUMARUNUI. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` TE WAI POUNAMU ` SOME MORNING CLOUD TO START THE DAY, CLEARING TO A FINE. LIGHT WINDS AND AFTERNOON SEABREEZES ` LOVELY. THAT MORNING CLOUD WILL CLEAR FOR BLENHEIM AND KAIKOURA, BUT IT WILL STICK AROUND AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP FOR THE REST OF YOU. STRENGTHENING EASTERLIES AFTER LUNCH TOO. MORNING DRIZZLE FOR OAMARU. COULD BE A SHOWER IN INVERCARGILL, AND THE MORNING SHOWERS IN OBAN WILL CLEAR AFTER LUNCH. SOUTHERLIES DEVELOPING FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR SOUTHLAND. FRESH SOUTHWESTERLIES WILL EASE TONIGHT, AND YOU'LL WAKE TO A CLOUDY THURSDAY. IT WILL CLEAR UP THOUGH. LIGHT WINDS AND 20 DEGREES. A CLOUDY OL' DAY FOR THE GARDEN CITY; EASTERLIES STRENGTHENING IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY. CHRISTCHURCH ` THE HOTTEST OF THE BUNCH HERE ` REACHING 20. IT'LL BE A GOOD DAY IN WELLINGTON. A LITTLE BIT OF MORNING CLOUD, BUT THAT WON'T GET IN THE WAY OF A MAINLY FINE THURSDAY, PAIRED WITH LIGHT WINDS. IT'LL BE A GOODIE. 22 YOUR HIGH. NOW HAWKE'S BAY ` IF YOU WERE GETTING USED TO THAT 30 DEGREE WEATHER ` SORRY! A COOLER DAY AHEAD ` MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH A FEW MORNING SHOWERS. EASTERLIES RAMPING UP AFTER MIDDAY. TAURANGA ` A MAINLY FINE START, AND THEN A CHANCE OF A SHOWER FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND LIGHT WINDS FOR YOUR THURSDAY. WAIHI REACHING 27. A HOT DAY IN HAMILTON. ONCE THAT MORNING CLOUD CLEARS, YOU'LL REACH 28 DEGREES TOMORROW, AND LIGHT WINDS. AUCKLAND COULD GET SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS, BUT COME AFTERNOON THEY WILL CLEAR. SOUTHERLIES EASING HEADING INTO THE EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS FOR DARWIN, AND SETTLED FOR CAIRNS AND BRISBANE, BUT TROPICAL CYCLONE ALFRED IS SITTING TO THE EAST THERE AND STRENGTHENING. ITS PATH IS HEADING TOWARDS LAND, BUT IT'S FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL ITS PATH IS HEADING TOWARDS LAND, BUT IT'S FORECAST TO NOT MAKE LANDFALL AT THIS STAGE. MEANWHILE, IN THE PACIFIC ` STILL LOTS OF ACTIVITY AROUND, WITH TROPICAL CYCLONE SERU WEAKENING FROM A CATAGORY TWO TO A ONE AS IT MOVES SOUTH BETWEEN FIJI AND VANUATU AND HEADING OFF TO THE EAST, AWAY FROM ANY LAND. BACK HOME, AND SHOWERS WILL LINGER FOR WAIKATO AS THE HIGH PRESSURE CELL RETREATS TO NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS. SHOWERS AHEAD FOR TAURANGA AND TAUPO TOO AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. FRIDAY WILL BE FINE FOR ALL HERE AND WILL REMAIN DRY. AGAIN, GREAT WEATHER FOR TE MATATINI. AND MORE CLEAR SKIES FOR MOST HERE AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. DRY WEATHER FOR THE SOUTH ON FRIDAY. SOME WET WEATHER EDGING TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH AS A FRONT MOVES ONTO THE ISLAND. THANKS TO PAUL FOR THIS CLOUDY SNAP OF NELSON THIS MORNING, PROVING IT'S NOT ALWAYS CLEAR SKIES THERE. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW.