TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` FAMILIES ESCAPE AS A NORTHLAND WILDFIRE BURNS. FIREFIGHTERS RACING TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE AMID CONCERNS TANE MAHUTA AND PRECIOUS KAURI FOREST ARE AT RISK. PEOPLE IN WAIPOUA ARE INTRINSICALLY LINKED TO THE NGAHERE, TO THOSE RAKAU, TO ALL THE SPECIES WITHIN. CHINA'S LIVE FIRE EXERCISES IN OUR BACKYARD DOMINATE TALKS IN BEIJING. AND HELPING PEOPLE LIKE ZOEY WALK TALL ` NEW DETAILS ON THE CHALLENGES DISABLED KIWIS FACE. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE, KATE MCCULLOUGH AND REBECCA SCHOLTZ. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. DOZENS OF FIREFIGHTERS IN NORTHLAND ARE RACING TO CONTAIN THE WAIPOUA FOREST FIRE BEFORE CONDITIONS WORSEN TOMORROW. WAIPOUA RESIDENTS EVACUATED LAST NIGHT ARE STILL UNABLE TO RETURN HOME, THE LOCAL MARAE NOW PREPPING FOR A WEEK'S WORTH OF FOOD AND SHELTER. THE 96ha FIRE IS THREATENING 20 HOMES IN THE SMALL FOREST SETTLEMENT AND RAGING THROUGH AN AREA NEAR THE LARGEST NUMBER OF KAURI, INCLUDING THE OLDEST AND TALLEST, TANE MAHUTA. YVONNE TAHANA IS AT THE SCENE. FROM THE SKY AND ACROSS THE GROUND, CREWS WORKING HARD TO STOP THIS WILDFIRE FROM SPREADING. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CONTAIN THE EDGES. JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO JUMPS` DOESN'T JUMP OVER AND START CLEARING UP EVERYWHERE ELSE. TODAY IS THE DAY THAT WE WANT TO DO THE MAJOR WORK TO PUT IN THESE CONTAINMENT LINES. CONTAINING THE FIRE BEFORE THE WINDS CHANGE. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS FRIDAY. OUR WEATHER OR FIRE BEHAVIOUR INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING IS THAT THE WIND MAY TURN TO EASTERLY. THIS WOULD PUSH THE FIRE BACK TOWARDS THE WAIPOUA SETTLEMENT. THAT SETTLEMENT IS WHERE RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES LAST NIGHT. SNOW TANE HAS A HOUSE THERE. IT'S BEEN DOWN THERE IN EXCESS OF 600 YEARS. THEY'VE PROVEN OVER THE YEARS THAT IT COULD'VE BEEN EVEN MORE THAN 600 YEARS OF SETTLEMENT DOWN THERE. SO IT'S A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE. PEOPLE FROM NEARBY WAIKARA MARAE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO ACTION TO LOOK AFTER DISPLACED WHANAU AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS FIGHTING THE FIRE. THE FIRST THINGS TO DO IS THE WHANAU CAME UP, PUT THE KETTLE ON, GOT A KAI GOING. OFFERING SHELTER ` MADE UP BEDS. WE'RE GETTING HEAPS OF BAKING DONE AS WELL AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT IT'S ALL READY FOR TOMORROW. YOU WANNA KEEP THEM GOING, EH? WE ALL NEED TO BE KEPT GOING, SO WE ALL NEED TO MAKE SURE THE KAI IS COMING ON. COLD WATER... WATER A MASSIVE ISSUE FOR THOSE IN THE LINE OF FIRE. WHERE THE FIRE TOOK HOLD, IT'S TAKEN OUT THE PUMP SHED WHERE THE PUMP SHED HAS ALL THE FILTER SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER DOWN INTO THE VILLAGE. IT JUST MEANS THESE HOUSES AT THE SETTLEMENT WILL NO LONGER HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER. LOCALS TOLD US THAT SMOKE WAS BLOWING OVER THE RANGES TO WAIMA IN HOKIANGA. AND APART FROM PEOPLE'S HOMES, THE BIGGEST FEAR OF COURSE IS THE THREAT TO THE FOREST ITSELF, WHICH REMAINS HOME TO THE LARGEST STAND OF KAURI IN THE COUNTRY, AND WHERE TANE MAHUTA STILL STANDS TALL AFTER 1500 YEARS OLD. WE'RE THE KAITIAKI OF THESE RAKAU, BUT THEY BELONG TO ALL OF AOTEAROA, AND WE WANT TO SEE THEM SAFE AS WELL AS OUR WHANAU. IT'S OF GRAVE CONCERN FOR US, THEIR WELL-BEING, THEIR SAFETY ` THAT IS OUR MAJOR PRIORITY. SO MUCH STILL AT STAKE FOR THIS ANCIENT FOREST. YVONNE, THIS IS A BIG JOB THAT COULD TAKE DAYS. WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS OVERNIGHT? VIEWERS MAY BE ABLE TO SEE A HAZE OVER MY SHOULDER, THE FIRE IS STILL BURNING. I SPOKE TO THE INCIDENT CONTROLLER AND THE LAST HOUR, HE TOLD ME FIREFIGHTERS HAD BEEN LUCKY WITH THE WIND TODAY, IT HAD REALLY DROPPED AND DIED AWAY. AND ALLOWED SHOPPERS TO REALLY ATTACK THE BLAZE.CONCERN NOW IS THE WIND SHIFTS TO THE EAST, PUSHING THE FIRE BACK TOWARDS THE SETTLEMENT. THE SETTLEMENT IS IN FORESTRY PINE BLOCKS, WHAT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DONE IS WIDEN THE FORESTRY ROAD BY 6M, M CREATING A NATURAL FIREBREAK. A WARNING TONIGHT, NORTHLAND AND THE WEST COAST REMAINS EXTREMELY DRY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THAT MEANS ANY SPARK CAN SET OFF A MASSIVE EVENT. THERE ARE FIREFIGHTERS HERE SET FOR THE NEXT WEEK, SIMON. A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY FOLLOWING A SHOOTING AT A POPULAR WATERFRONT PARK IN WHANGAREI. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SUBURB OF ONERAHI JUST AFTER 11am, WHERE THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. A SECOND INJURED PERSON WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. POLICE SAY THERE IS NO ONGOING RISK TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ARE APPEALING FOR WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD. THE DEFENCE FORCE IS CONTINUING TO TRACK THREE CHINESE NAVY SHIPS THAT RAISED ALARM WITH A RECENT LIVE FIRING EXERCISE IN THE TASMAN SEA. FOREIGN MINISTER WINSTON PETERS RAISED CONCERNS WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART DURING A MEETING IN BEIJING. THE PAIR ALSO SPOKE ABOUT CHINA'S CONTROVERSIAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH THE COOK ISLANDS. THIS IS A MEETING THAT COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A MORE CRITICAL TIME. WITH TWO CONTENTIOUS ISSUES ON THE TABLE, WINSTON PETERS AND CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTER WANG YI HAD PLENTY TO THRASH OUT. THE FIRST ` CHINA'S MILITARY PRESENCE IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD. WELL, WE DID PLACE ON RECORD OUR CONCERN, AND THE EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL HAVE A BETTER WARNING IN THE FUTURE. OVER THE WEEKEND, THREE CHINESE NAVY SHIPS UNDERTOOK A LIVE FIRING EXERCISE IN NEARBY INTERNATIONAL WATERS. PETERS ISSUED A BLUNT STATEMENT. THIS IS A FAILURE IN IT AT THIS TIME, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IT CORRECTED IN THE FUTURE. THAT FAILURE, HE SAYS ` THE FAILURE TO GIVE US ADEQUATE NOTICE. IT SIGNALS THAT THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT THAT NEW ZEALAND IS PART OF HAS SHIFTED, AND THIS IS A VERY VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THAT SHIFT. CHINA, WHICH HASN'T BROKEN ANY RULES, AND LABELLED CONCERN AS AN OVERREACTION, WILL, PETERS SAYS, CONSIDER PROVIDING GREATER NOTICE IN FUTURE. THEN THERE'S THE SECOND ISSUE ` THE COOK ISLANDS. OH, WE MADE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THEIR MISUNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A TRI-PARTIES FREE COUNTRY ARRANGEMENT WAS NOT CORRECT. THIS FOLLOWS THE SIGNING OF A SERIES OF AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE COOKS. WINSTON PETERS REMINDING HIS COUNTERPART THE COOK ISLANDS ARE A REALM COUNTRY OF NEW ZEALAND. WE HAD TO BE FRANK WITH THEM THAT WE WERE FACING THIS IRONY OF THIS COUNTRY THAT WE'VE WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH AS PART OF OUR REALM CONNECTION, AND THE ISSUE OF NON-DISCLOSURE. COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER MARK BROWN ALSO CLEAR ON HIS VIEW. I DON'T THINK IT'S PATERNALISTIC FOR NEW ZEALAND TO REQUIRE THE COOKS TO HAVE CONSULTATION AND DIALOGUE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS THAT THE COOKS WOULD SIGN THAT COULD OR WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON NEW ZEALAND'S INTERESTS. INTERESTS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY BEING PUT TO THE TEST. MAIKI SHERMAN, ONE NEWS. WE COULD BE CHOOSING OUR POLITICAL LEADERS EVERY FOUR YEARS INSTEAD OF THREE. LEGISLATION TO LENGTHEN THE PARLIAMENTARY TERM IS BEING INTRODUCED. WITH THE DETAILS, HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN. MAIKI, IS THERE SUPPORT FOR THIS IDEA? GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. LITTLE PARTIES ACROSS THE DIVIDE HAVE COME OUT TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA, AND THE GREENS OF COURSE. THIS IS PART OF THE COALITION AGREEMENT, BUSINESS NEW ZEALAND HAS ALSO COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEW ZEALAND ALSO ON THE BANDWAGON, IT TOO WOULD LIKE A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SINCE THE 1960S WAS PARTIES HAVE PUSHED FOR AN EXTENDED TERM BUT HAS BEEN VOTED DOWN. THEY FEEL THE MOMENTUM OF THEIR. THE THREE-YEAR TERM DOES COME AROUND QUICKLY, AND THERE IS` IN THE THIRD YEAR, YOU ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THE ELECTION, AND THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT AN EXTENDED PERIOD WOULD GIVE GOVERNMENTS LONGER TO PROGRESS AN AGENDA. I THINK SOMETIMES PARLIAMENT SHOULD SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK A FOUR-YEAR TERM WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO SLOW DOWN A BIT, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY TO SLOW DOWN A BIT, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DOING THINGS PROPERLY. WHAT ARE THE FISHHOOKS? THE POWER TO RUN SELECT COMMITTEES WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE OPPOSITION PARTIES. THAT COULD BE A POLITICAL DEBATING POINT BETWEEN PARTIES. THE NEXT STEP IS, THE LEGISLATION WILL BE DRAFTED, THEN IT WILL GO TO SELECT COMMITTEE. NATIONAL AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST HAVE ONLY VOWED TO SUPPORT IT TO THAT POINT, THEN THE DETAILS WILL BE THRASHED OUT IN PUBLIC. IN 2020, 1 NEWS POLLED ON THIS ISSUE. A PUBLIC LARGELY BACKED IT, WHETHER THAT SENTIMENT REMAINS THE SAME WILL FIND OUT. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS CONCEDED HIS COMMUNICATION COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER DURING A CONTROVERSIAL INTERVIEW THIS WEEK WHERE HIS DECISIVENESS WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION. THE ADMISSION COMES AS CHRISTOPHER LUXON BANGS THE DRUM FOR TRADE ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO VIETNAM. THE FULL VIETNAMESE V.I.P TREATMENT AS CHRISTOPHER LUXON ROLLS INTO TOWN. (FANFARE PLAYS) APPEARING ON VERY FRIENDLY TERMS WITH HIS COUNTERPART, AND AGREEING TO ELEVATE OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP TO VIETNAM'S TOP TIER. FOR NEW ZEALAND, THIS ALSO DEMONSTRATES OUR GREATER ENGAGEMENT IN THE REGION ` WE ARE PART OF THE INDO-PACIFIC AND OUR FUTURE SECURITY AND OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS REGION. THE HOPE IS THE DEAL MIGHT HELP SMOOTH ACCESS FOR NEW ZEALAND COMPANIES WANTING TO DO BUSINESS HERE. THIS KIWI CO-OWNS A COUPLE OF BARS IN HANOI ` THIS ONE'S A THUNDERSLAP. IT'S MADE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, BY A WOMAN. VERY GOOD IPA. HE'S BEEN HERE FOR 25 YEARS AND SAYS INVESTORS NEED TO GO IN WITH THEIR EYES WIDE OPEN. FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REALLY COMMITTED LONG-TERM VISION FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COUNTRY. IT'S NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME IN, DO ONE DEAL QUICKLY, MAKE MILLIONS AND WALK AWAY. IT'S NOT THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO CLEANING UP A LITTLE DOMESTIC MESS. CAN YOU CLEAR SOMETHING UP FOR NEW ZEALANDERS ` IF ANDREW BAYLY HADN'T RESIGNED, WOULD YOU HAVE SACKED HIM? YES. THAT WAS THE WORD THE PRIME MINISTER COULDN'T QUITE FIND, FOR THREE PAINFUL MINUTES, EARLIER THIS WEEK. WOULD YOU HAVE SACKED HIM IF HE HADN'T OFFERED TO RESIGN? WELL, HYPOTHETICAL. HE DID RESIGN. NO, I KNOW THAT. BUT JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION. WOULD YOU HAVE SACKED HIM? HE DIDN'T MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF A MINISTER. SO WAS IT A STACKABLE OFFENCE? WELL, I THINK GIVEN HOW CLEAR WE HAD BEEN ON THE FIRST INSTANCE` WHY CAN'T YOU JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION? THIS IS WHY YOU GET YOURSELF REPUTATIONALLY IN SO MUCH TROUBLE. HE'S BEEN ROASTED FOR IT SINCE. I SAID TO CHRISTOPHER LUXON BEFORE THE ELECTION, WHEN ASKED PUBLICALLY WHAT ADVICE I WOULD GIVE HIM. I SAID IF HE GOT ELECTED HE WOULD NEED TO LEARN TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. CLEARLY HE STILL HASN'T LEARNED HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. WHY COULDN'T YOU GIVE A 'YES' THE OTHER DAY IN THE INTERVIEW? EVERYONE BACK IN NEW ZEALAND IS TALKING QUITE A LOT ABOUT YOUR INABILITY TO GIVE A CLEAR YES TO THAT QUESTION THE OTHER DAY. WELL, LOOK, MAYBE I COULD HAVE GOT TO A YES MUCH QUICKER. MAYBE, INDEED. REGARDLESS, HE SURE ISN'T DWELLING ON IT... (DRUM THUMPS, APPLAUSE) ...SPENDING THE DAY SOAKING UP VIETNAMESE CULTURE, AND MAKING MORE INFLUENTIAL FRIENDS, AS THIS TRADE TRIP HEADS ON FOR HO CHI MINH CITY. IN HANOI FOR 1NEWS, BENEDICT COLLINS. A MOVE THAT COULD BRING POWER BILLS DOWN FOR ALL OF US IS UNDERWAY, WITH POWER COMPANIES SET TO GET EQUAL ACCESS TO SOME ELECTRICITY CONTRACTS. IT WOULD PREVENT THE COUNTRY'S FOUR 'GEN-TAILERS' GIVING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO THEIR OWN RETAIL BUSINESSES. THE ENERGY COMPETITION TASK FORCE SAYS IT WAS THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL POWER COMPANIES, AND IT'S ALREADY BEING WELCOMED. INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS AND RETAILERS LIKE OURSELVES SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS PRICES ON THE SAME TERMS THAT THE GENERATORS CURRENTLY PROVIDE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, ALLOWING US TO COMPETE MORE EFFECTIVELY. AN EIGHT-WEEK CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSAL IS UNDERWAY. THE TASK FORCE AIMS TO INCREASE COMPETITION AND LOWER PRICES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. DISABILITY ADVOCATES SAY MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH DISABILITY IN NEW ZEALAND. NEW DATA FROM STATS NZ SHOW ONE IN SIX NEW ZEALANDERS IS DISABLED. THAT'S 10% OF CHILDREN ` AROUND 98,000 ` AND OVER 750,000 ADULTS. HALF A MILLION DISABLED PEOPLE NEED MORE CARE IN AT LEAST ONE ASPECT OF THEIR DAILY LIVES. AN UNMET NEED COULD BE ` SUPPORT; REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO ALLOW A PERSON TO PARTICIPATE ON AN EQUAL BASIS; MEDICAL CARE; AND HOME MODIFICATIONS AND EQUIPMENT. BY FAR THE BIGGEST GROUP WITH UNMET NEEDS IS DISABLED KIDS IN SCHOOL ` 51%. THAT CAN INCLUDE REQUIRING A TEACHER AIDE, HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR TECHNOLOGY TO HELP WITH SCHOOLWORK. 34% OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE HAVE UNMET NEEDS TOO. WITH MORE ON THIS, HERE'S RYAN BOSWELL. DESPITE LIVING WITH A DEBILITATING RARE DISORDER, ZOE IS REFUSING TO SLOW DOWN. (SHRIEKS) THE 5-YEAR-OLD HAS SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY. SHE'S UNABLE TO RUN, JUMP AND CLIMB. THIS YEAR SHE STARTED SCHOOL, AND MUM'S FORCED TO GO TOO, AS THERE'S LITTLE SUPPORT. WE'RE STILL AWAITING A TEACHER AID FOR HER. 76% OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES HAVE UNMET NEEDS ` SO TOO DO 61% OF DISABLED ADULTS. THE STATISTICS I FOUND QUITE DAMNING. DISABLED ADULTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POOR WELLBEING. INCOMES WERE OFTEN INSUFFICIENT AND MANY FELT UNSAFE. GARY WILLIAMS HAS CEREBRAL PALSY AND HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR CHANGE, WORRIED THAT LIFE IS TOO TOUGH FOR TOO MANY. OFTEN HOUSING FAILS TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE'S NEEDS. WHILE ONE IN THREE WITH A DISABILITY HAVE A JOB, IT CAN BE A STRUGGLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT ONE. EMPLOYERS ARE AFRAID OF EMPLOYING A DISABLED PERSON. WE'RE ALSO SEEING THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF TRANSPORT. IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO AND FROM YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT? IN THE LAST BUDGET, THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED $1.1bn FOR DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES. THE SUPPORT FOR DISABLED PEOPLE ITSELF DOESN'T MEET THAT NEED. AND SO ACTUALLY THAT BUDGET NEEDS TO STRETCH ACROSS ALL AREAS OF GOVERNMENT. NOW THE MINISTRY IN CHARGE IS REWRITING THE DISABILITY STRATEGY, WHICH IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD. WE'LL BE WORKING THIS YEAR TO DEVELOP WITH COLLEAGUES ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT, SOME REALLY CONCRETE ACTIONS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN COMMIT TO. THE COMMUNITY KEEN TO CONTRIBUTE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SCHOOLS HAVE MORE INCLUSIVE PLAY AREAS. PLEADING FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD. RYAN BOSWELL, ONE NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` UP NEXT ` THE U.S. PRESIDENT HOLDS HIS FIRST CABINET MEETING WITH A SPECIAL GUEST. HEY, ELON, LET THE CABINET SPEAK JUST FOR A SECOND. (LAUGHTER) GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS AND UKRAINE ON THE AGENDA. PLUS, QUESTIONS OVER HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH FORCE. WE HAVE MORE REACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S BEEFED-UP CITIZEN'S ARREST PROPOSALS. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE RISING PRICE OF A FLAT WHITE. WHAT A CUP OF COFFEE CAN TELL US ABOUT THE WIDER ECONOMY. PLUS, IF YOU THINK HERDING CATS IS TOUGH, TRY WRANGLING PENGUINS. THE KIWI SCIENTISTS WORKING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR FLIPPERED FRIENDS. PLUS, THE HIGH-SPEED WORLD OF BLIND SKIING. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. VOICEOVER: Waitoa Free Range Chicken, full of natural goodness and deliciousness. This looks great. but turns the whole family... Dad... ...cozy. What's happening? The meal that brings everyone together. I'm warm and cozy but slightly worried. I think this is one of those collective experiences. It's not reading my fingers. Just try face ID. I don't have any fingers. You know what. I actually feel close to you all. Waitoa Free Range Chicken. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI. WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION CONTINUES TO BE VOICED AGAINST A GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL TO BROADEN CITIZEN'S ARREST LAWS TO HELP TACKLE RETAIL CRIME. THERE'RE CONCERNS IT'LL INCITE VIGILANTISM AND PUT EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC AT NEEDLESS RISK OF HARM. JACOB JOHNSON REPORTS. RETAIL CRIME IS SOMETHING MANY HAVE WITNESSED, BUT IF YOU COULD PHYSICALLY INTERVENE, WOULD YOU WANT TO? I THINK I WOULD STEP BACK AND JUST LET THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES DEAL WITH IT. JUST SMACK 'EM OVER WITH YOUR LEG AND PULL THEM ASIDE AND SAY, 'HERE, MATE'. THE PROPOSED CITIZENS ARREST REFORMS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY WOULD ALLOW ANYONE, FROM SHOPKEEPERS TO SECURITY GUARDS TO BYSTANDERS TO STEP IN TO STOP OFFENDERS AT ANY TIME. BUT HOW WIDELY ARE THESE CHANGES ACTUALLY WANTED? OUR MEMBERS HAVE TOLD US THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PHYSICALLY ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS IN STORE. THEY DON'T HAVE A SPACE TO DETAIN SOMEONE. DID YOU ACTUALLY GO TO RETAILERS AND SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL? OH, WELL, LOOK, THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RETAIL ADVISORY GROUP THAT SUNNY KAUSHAL HAS BEEN LEADING. HE'S BEEN TALKING TO A RANGE OF PEOPLE RIGHT ACROSS THE RETAIL SECTOR. THESE PROPOSALS PARTICULARLY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT THE SMALLER DAIRY OWNERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR A LONG TIME. SINCE IT WAS ANNOUNCED, THERE'S BEEN WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION FROM INDUSTRY BODIES AND UNIONS. OBVIOUSLY THE OPINIONS WILL BE DIFFERENT. WHAT WE TAKE, THE HOLISTIC VIEW OF ALL THE OPINIONS, PUT IT TOGETHER IN THE DRAFT, THIS IS WITH THE AGENCIES, AND LOOK AT THE INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES. THE REFORMS CALL FOR RESTRAINTS AND 'REASONABLE FORCE' TO BE ALLOWED TO DETAIN SOMEONE ` BUT THIS LEGAL EXPERT WANTS TO SEE SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT 'REASONABLE FORCE' MEANS. NOT LIKE YOU CAN ALWAYS PUT THEM IN A HEADLOCK, YOU CAN ALWAYS GRAB THEM THIS WAY ` IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT ARE THEY DOING THAT YOU NEED TO USE SUFFICIENT FORCE TO CONTAIN THEM, AND THAT'S` THAT'S HARD TO MEASURE. EVEN POLICE GET IT WRONG SOMETIMES. WE HAVE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH ASSAULTS OR EXCESS FORCE NUMEROUS TIMES A YEAR, AND IT IS A VERY HARD THING TO JUDGE. AS FOR THE MINISTER, HE SAYS IT'LL BE UP TO THE COURTS TO DECIDE WHAT'S REASONABLE FORCE. I THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN FIGURE OUT THAT HOLDING SOMEBODY, STOPPING THEM FROM CARRYING AWAY STOLEN GOODS IS REASONABLE FORCE. FOODSTUFFS, WHICH OWNS NEW WORLD AND PAK'N'SAVE SAYS ITS FOCUS REMAINS ON COLLABORATION WITH POLICE AND MEASURES LIKE ITS TRIAL OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY, WHILE WOOLWORTHS TOLD 1NEWS IT LOOKS FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES, JOINING THE CALLS FOR MORE DETAIL. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. DONALD TRUMP HAS HOSTED HIS FIRST ` AT TIMES LIGHT-HEARTED ` CABINET MEETING AS U.S PRESIDENT WITH ELON MUSK INVITED TO OUTLINE HIS EFFORTS TO REDUCE GOVERMENT COSTS. THE OVERALL GOAL HERE WITH THE DOGE TEAM IS TO HELP ADDRESS THE ENORMOUS DEFICIT. WE SIMPLY CANNOT SUSTAIN AS A COUNTRY A $2 TRILLION DEFICIT. TRUMP: ELON, LET THE CABINET SPEAK JUST FOR A SECOND... (LAUGHTER) ANYONE UNHAPPY WITH ELON? IF YOU ARE, WE'LL THROW 'EM OUT OF HERE. MUSK IS NOT A MEMBER OF CABINET BUT RUNS D.O.G.E, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S 'DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY'. ALSO DISCUSSED, UKRAINE LEADER VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY'S VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEKEND TO TALK ABOUT A DEAL TO SHARE RARE EARTH MINERALS WITH THE U.S. BUT BESIDES REPAYING AMERICA FOR MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT, IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT'S IN IT FOR UKRAINE. AS TRUCE TALKS WITH RUSSIA CONTINUE, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALREADY REJECTING GIVING SUBSTANTIAL SECURITY GUARANTEES AND TELLING UKRAINE TO 'FORGET ABOUT' JOINING NATO. U.S CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH REPORTS. AT DONALD TRUMP'S FIRST CABINET MEETING TODAY ` NEWS OF A VISITOR HE'S RECENTLY VILIFIED. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IS GOING TO BE COMING ON FRIDAY. THAT'S NOW CONFIRMED. TRUMP WANTS UKRAINE TO PAY FOR THE MILITARY AID ALREADY SENT OVER TO HELP DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST RUSSIA'S INVASION. WE'RE GOING TO BE SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL BE A VERY BIG AGREEMENT. WHILE THE DETAILS OF THIS UNSIGNED AGREEMENT AREN'T YET KNOWN, TODAY, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAID WHILE A FRAMEWORK HAD BEEN DECIDED ON, IT DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY SECURITY GUARANTEES OR U.S. MILITARY SUPPORT WHICH UKRAINE SEES AS VITAL TO DETER RUSSIA FROM INVADING AGAIN. WITHOUT FUTURE SECURITY GUARANTEES, WE WILL NOT HAVE REALLY JUST PEACE AND WE WILL NOT HAVE REAL CEASEFIRE, WHAT TRUMP HAS SPOKEN ABOUT, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, NOTHING WILL WORK. TRUMP SAYS THE DEAL IS WORTH MORE THAN $350 BILLION FOR AMERICA, ONE STUDY SAYS THAT'S AROUND THREE TIMES WHAT THE U.S. HAS ACTUALLY GIVEN UKRAINE. CRITICAL MINERALS ARE GENERALLY USED IN THREE BIG APPLICATIONS, IF YOU WISH. DIGITAL ECONOMY, SO SEMICONDUCTORS, STUFF LIKE THAT. ENERGY- CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES. AND THEN NUMBER THREE IS DEFENCE APPLICATIONS. THERE ARE QUESTIONS, THOUGH, AROUND WHAT'S RARE MINERAL WEALTH UKRAINE CAN OFFER AS THE MOST VALUABLE DEPOSITS ARE IN THE EAST. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAP OF DEPOSITS, RELEASED BY UKRAINE'S GOVERNMENT. AND THIS IS THE TERRITORY NOW CONTROLLED BY RUSSIA. AND THERE'S POTENTIALLY ANOTHER PROBLEM ` THEY HAVE RESOURCES, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THOSE CAN BE EXTRACTED PROFITABLY. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT LITHIUM AND RARE EARTHS AND ACTUALLY THOSE DEPOSITS, THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT THEM IS FROM THE SOVIET ERA. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW RELIABLE THAT IS. TODAY, TRUMP ALSO ROLLING OUT ANOTHER UKRAINIAN DREAM. NATO YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT. THAT'S BEEN, I THINK, THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON THE WHOLE THING STARTED. ` AN ARGUMENT LONG VOICED BY RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT. MEANWHILE, UKRAINE SEEMS TO BE STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, AS IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THIS IS A DEAL FOR PEACE OR AMERICAN PROSPERITY. LOGAN CHURCH, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. A SECTION OF BEACH IN THE GOLD COAST WAS SHUT OFF AFTER A PRACTICE TORPEDO WASHED UP MONTHS AFTER IT WENT MISSING. RESIDENTS WERE TOLD TO STAY AWAY FROM MAIN BEACH WHILE BOMB SQUADS INVESTIGATED. THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE CONFIRMED THE INERT DEVICE WAS USED RECENTLY IN A DRILL OFF THE QUEENSLAND COAST. THE PRACTICE TORPEDO HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG, BEST KNOWN FOR HER ROLES IN 'BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER' AND 'GOSSIP GIRL', HAS DIED AGED 39. THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANNA PLAY IT, THAT'S HOW WE'LL PLAY IT. NO, I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU ANY MORE. OH? YOU SHOULD BE. IT'S BEING REPORTED SHE RECENTLY HAD A LIVER TRANSPLANT AND MAY HAVE HAD COMPLICATIONS. SHE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HER NEW YORK CITY APARTMENT BY HER MOTHER. A MURI AKE NEI ` STILL TO COME ` DROUGHT IS DECLARED IN TARANAKI. I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD CONDITIONS LIKE THIS, THIS BAD. WHERE ELSE AROUND THE COUNTRY DRY CONDITIONS ARE ALSO AFFECTING PASTURE GROWTH. PLUS... AND AT TE MATATINI, HAKA TURNED TO POLITICS. FIND OUT WHO GOT CALLED A CRY BABY FROM THE STAGE. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` NOT SO HAPPY FEET. THE SCIENTISTS TRYING TO TURN AROUND A DECLINING PENGUIN POPULATION. GROUP SINGS CHEERFULLY: # LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, # LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA... # THEY WERE BIG IN THE '70s ` WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HENRY RUDOLF SINGERS? LOSING YOUR SIGHT DOESN'T MEAN LOSING SIGHT OF YOUR DREAMS. THE BLIND SKIER MAKING A COMEBACK. JOIN US ON THE COUCH AT 7. Where to from here, New Zealand? To amazing places, places of opportunity, technology, possibility, sustainability, every ability, places that are for all to enjoy ` yeah, everyone. Let's enjoy the path forged by those that came before us but also find new ones, maybe better ones. Life is our journey. Aotearoa ` our magnificent waka. NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. AT TE MATATINI, A HAKA NAMED 'TANGIWETO' OR 'CRY-BABY' HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO WINSTON PETERS, AS THE FESTIVAL AGAIN BECOMES A PLATFORM TO EXPRESS POLITICAL VIEWS. OUR MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI REPORTS FROM DAY THREE. TE PIKIKOTUKU O NGATI RONGOMAI DELIVERING A MESSAGE TO WINSTON PETERS... ...AND LAYING DOWN THEIR CHALLENGE... ...PERHAPS A NOD TO THIS INTERACTION WITH HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE LAST YEAR. LISTEN TO YOUR ELDERS, OK? I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT ONE PERSON IN THIS PARLIAMENT IS SO TRIGGERED. SO TRIGGERED... BY ME. THE YOUNG MP ADDING... (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) TE MATATINI HAS LONG BEEN AN ARENA WHERE HAKA AND POLITICS COLLIDE. (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) WHEN IT COMES TO KAPA HAKA, NO TOPIC IS OFF LIMIT. YOU CAN SLANDER ANYONE. INCLUDING POLITICIANS. WHEN YOU'RE CALLED OUT IN THE HAKA, IT ALSO RECOGNISES AN ELEMENT OF MANA. A PERSON HAS TO HAVE A DEGREE OF MANA TO BE THAT IMPORTANT, THAT A GROUP WOULD SPEND MONTHS AND MONTHS PRACTISING AN ITEM ABOUT YOU. BUT OUTSIDE OF TE MATATINI... TOITU TE MANA MOTUHAKE. ...CONTROVERSY HAS SWIRLED AT TIMES WHEN HAKA HAS BEEN USED TO MAKE A POLITICAL STAND. KA MATE, KA MATE, KA ORA... VERY SHORTLY I'LL BE COMING UP IN FRONT OF THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE FOR DOING A HAKA IN PARLIAMENT FOR THE VERY SAME REASONS THAT WHANAU ARE STANDING HERE ON THE STAGE TODAY. HE DOESN'T REGRET JOINING HANA. WE MAKE THE TIKANGA OF THE HOUSE. THE TIKANGA SHOULD BE OF THIS LAND. JUST LIKE IT IS ON THIS STAGE. THE MAMAE, THE PAIN THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE FEELING ` THIS IS THE IDEAL PLATFORM TO RELEASE SOME OF THAT. WE EXPRESS OURSELVES, WHETHER IT BE HERE ON STAGE, WHETHER IT BE ON THE FIELD, AND... YEAH. KEEP DOING IT. AND THEY ARE. (GROUP PERFORMS HAKA) IT'S A BIG DAY THERE TOMORROW, TE ANIWA. WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA? TOMORROW IS THE FINAL DAY OF HEATS BEFORE 55 GROUPS I WHITTLED DOWN TO THE FINAL 12, AND THAT TOP THREE GROUPS FROM EACH OF THE FOUR POOLS ARE SELECTED. IT IS CRUNCH TIME. THERE ARE SOME REALLY STRONG GROUP TAKING THE STAND TOMORROW. PAST WINNERS ARE AMONG THEM. PAST WINNERS HAVE ONE FIVE TIMES BEFORE. THERE ARE SOME HEAVY HITTERS. THE FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED JUST BEFORE 5.30 TOMORROW NIGHT, AND ONCE THAT DECISION IS MADE, THOSE GROUPS WILL HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN ON SATURDAY. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ANTICIPATION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT. WHEN IT IS MADE, THE SCORES FROM THE POOL STAGES WILL START AGAIN, THE SLATE WILL BE WIPED CLEAN AND THEY WILL NEED TO IMPRESS THE JUDGES ALL OVER AGAIN ON FINALS DAY. THANKS, TE ANIWA. A DROUGHT HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR THE TARANAKI REGION FOLLOWING MONTHS OF EXTREME DRY WEATHER. FARMERS ARE HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT STOCK LEVELS AND HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR CROPS. AND AS ABBEY WAKEFIELD REPORTS, OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE ALSO SUFFERING FROM DRY CONDITIONS. WHEN GUMBOOTS HIT THE PADDOCK... (WIND BLOWS) ...THIS IS NOT THE SOUND FARMERS WANT TO HEAR. (DRY RUSTLING) I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD CONDITIONS LIKE THIS, THIS BAD. NATHAN'S BEEN DAIRY FARMING IN TARANAKI FOR 10 YEARS ` HE'S GOT 600 COWS, BUT HAS HAD TO CULL 90. WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND YOU DRIVE TO THE PADDOCK AND CANNOT FEED YOUR COWS THE HIGH QUALITY GRASS THAT WE WANT TO, THAT IS REALLY REALLY TOUGH. DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN DECLARED ACROSS TARANAKI TODAY, WITH THE GOVERNMENT MAKING $30,000 AVAILABLE TO RURAL SUPPORT GROUPS IN THE AREA. TODAY'S DECISION IS A RECOGNITION OF JUST HOW SIGNIFICANT AND HOW SERIOUS THIS IS BECOMING AND IMPORTANTLY, ROLLING OUT SOME OF THAT SUPPORT DIRECT ON FARMS. THERE'S THIS STRANGE PSYCHOLOGICAL THING WHERE IT CAN BE ACTUALLY REALLY GREAT RELIEF TO HEAR IT IS THAT BAD, 'IT'S NOT JUST ME'. YEAH, AND JUST THAT RECOGNITION THAT TIMES ARE REALLY TOUGH. IT'S ONE OF THE DRIEST STARTS WE'VE SEEN SINCE AT LEAST ABOUT 1992, SO AN INCREDIBLY DRY START TO THE YEAR. TARANAKI FARMERS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES FACING DRY AND CHALLENGING CONDITIONS. THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON NORTHLAND, WAIKATO AND THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TOO. DRY CONDITIONS HAVE ALSO PROMPTED THE MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL TO CLOSE THE WITHER HILLS FARM PARK DUE TO THE FIRE RISK. EVEN THROUGH PLACES LIKE CANTERBURY, IT'S BEEN PRETTY DRY SO FAR IN FEBRUARY. WE HAD A PRETTY WET START TO THE YEAR, BUT SINCE WE'VE ARRIVED IN FEBRUARY IT'S BEEN A PRETTY DRY STORY. SO WE ARE SAYING WITH THOSE DRY CONDITIONS THERE'S A FIRE RISK AS WELL SO REALLY WORTH TAKING THE EXTRA CARE, EXTRA CAUTION, IF YOU'RE GOING OUT AND ABOUT. THOSE ON THE FARM, TRYING TO STAY OPTIMISTIC. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING FARMERS, I JUST HOPE THAT IT GOES TO THE FARMERS WHO REALLY NEED THE SUPPORT. AS THEY HOPE TO SEE LESS OF THIS, AND FOR RAIN TO FINALLY FALL. ABBEY WAKEFIELD, 1 NEWS. ZION'S HERE WITH SPORT ` NEW ZEALAND RUGBY ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE TO ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE NAME? THE CHIEFS SET TO LOSE THEIR HEAD COACH AFTER THIS SEASON, SIMON. CLAYTON MCMILLIAN REVEALS WHY HE WANTS OUT. AND LIAM LAWSON'S IN A SPIN IN BAHRAIN AS THE FORMULA ONE SEASON RAPIDLY APPROACHES. PLUS, WELLINGTON'S UNEARTHED A TALENTED TEENAGER. WE MEET THE KID WHO ALSO HAS EIGHT NATIONAL BMX TITLES TO HIS NAME. AND IN WEATHER, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS FOR FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND. THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. NICE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE COMING IN. SO WITH THAT, THERE'S SOME OF THAT TYPICAL MORNING CLOUD, LOTS OF SUNNY WEATHER, SOME DECENT FINE SPELLS. ONE LITTLE FLY IN THE OINTMENT ` WE'VE GOT A LITTLE DANGLING TROUGH AND WITH THAT, A COUPLE OF SHOWERS, BUT THOSE ARE MAINLY FURTHER NORTH. AND FOR THE WEEKEND, DETAILS OF COURSE COMING UP AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA, WELCOME TO SPORT. IT'S BEEN A BIG DAY AFTER A BIG WEEK IN CHIEFS COUNTRY. LEADING SUPER RUGBY-NOW-ALL BLACKS HOOKER SAMISONI TAUKEIAHO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED TO PLAY AFTER NEARLY NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE GAME. ON THE FLIP SIDE, CHIEFS COACH CLAYTON MCMILLAN REVEALED TODAY HE'S OFF OVERSEAS AT THE END OF THIS SEASON. ANDREW SAVILLE REPORTS. CLAYTON MCMILLAN HAS HAD A FIRM, CALM HAND ON THE CHIEFS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. (WHISTLE TRILLS) HE'S NOW SPREADING HIS WINGS. A BIT OF A SURPRISE? YEAH, YEAH. A SURPRISE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND THE TEAM. MCMILLAN REVEALED TO HIS TEAM TODAY HE'S HEADING TO THE FAMOUS MUNSTER CLUB IN IRELAND AFTER THE CURRENT SUPER SEASON. HE COACHED THE ALL BLACKS XV TO A WIN OVER MUNSTER LAST NOVEMBER, AND WAS THEN CONTACTED OVER SUMMER. A LOT'S BEEN MADE IN THE PAST ABOUT GAINING INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE. I'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED TO HAVE DONE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE HERE IN NEW ZEALAND FROM A COACHING PERSPECTIVE. THE FORMER POLICEMAN A BAY OF PLENTY STALWART ` TOOK OVER THE CHIEFS TOP JOB IN 2021. WE WERE IN A STICKY SITUATION. HADN'T WON A LOT OF FOOTY, CHANGES NEEDED TO BE MADE QUICKLY. HE CERTAINLY BROUGHT AN EDGE. SEMI-FINALS OR FINALS FOR THREE YEARS RUNNING. BEFORE MCMILLAN'S DEPARTURE, THOUGH, THERE'S THAT ELUSIVE TITLE TO WIN. (ALL GRUNT) A KEY FIGURE IN ANY POSSIBLE CHIEFS RUN, IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INJURY LIKE THIS, IT MAKES YOU APPRECIATE HOW GOOD FOOTY IS. I GUESS SOME THINGS YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED. BEING ABLE TO WALK PROPERLY IS ONE OF THEM. TEST HOOKER TAUKEIAHO BLEW HIS LEFT ACHILLES LAST JUNE IN THE SUPER SEMI-FINALS. AFTER SURGERY, HE HAD SETBACKS ALONG THE WAY. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE ON TOP OF THE WORLD, BUT THEN THE NEXT DAY OR A WEEK LATER, YOU GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE. THANKS TO MY GENETICS, I GUESS, THEY STAYED THE SAME. OTHER SILVER LININGS AFTER A LONG REHAB, PROVIDED BY THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD, ROME, WITH WIFE KAITLYN IN NOVEMBER. HOLDING MY SON WHEN HE WAS BORN JUST PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE. THAT'S THE PEAK IN MAN'S LIFE, BEING A FATHER FOR THE FIRST TIME. COMINGS AND GOINGS AT THE CHIEFS... (TRAIN HORN BLARES) AS SURE AS THE 11.45 ROLLING THROUGH A STEAMY HAMILTON TRAINING GROUND, THE CHIEFS ALREADY LOOK ODDS ON TO SEND THEIR COACH OFF IN STYLE. ANDREW SAVILLE, ONE NEWS. THE HURRICANES' DEPTH HAS BEEN TESTED EARLY IN THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON, BUT THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER TO A HANDFUL OF KEY PLAYERS RETURNING. THE CANES CURRENTLY WITHOUT FIVE ALL BLACKS DUE TO INJURIES, INCLUDING FIRST-CHOICE HOOKER ASAFO AUMUA, WHO'S BEEN OUT WITH A CALF INJURY, BUT COULD FEATURE SOON. HE HAD A LITTLE TWEAK 10 DAYS AGO, SO NOW IT'S HIM IN FULL TRAINING TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO IF WE CAN GET THROUGH NEXT WEEK, HE'LL BE PRETTY CLOSE. HE MIGHT STILL BE A WEEK EARLY. THE HURRICANES HOST THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE BLUES IN WELLINGTON ON SATURDAY. JOSH GEARY AND MICHAEL HENDRY ARE THE BEST OF THE KIWIS ON DAY ONE OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOLF OPEN IN QUEENSTOWN. THE PAIR TIED FOR NINTH, CARDING A FIVE UNDER PAR 66 OPENING ROUND. IT WASN'T SUCH A GOOD DAY FOR DANNY LEE IN HIS FIRST OPEN IN 16 YEARS ` FOUR OVER PAR, TIED FOR 147TH. MIGHT BE CLOSER TO THE EIGHTH GREEN ON REMARKABLES THAN IT IS TO THE 18TH FAIRWAY ON CORONET. HE'S HAD A FEW TEE SHOTS GO LEFT ON HIM ON HIS WAY TO THE HOUSE. THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD DOMINATED BY AUSTRALIANS ` HARRISON CROWE OUT IN FRONT ON 10 UNDER. HARRISON CROWE OUT IN FRONT ON 9 UNDER. KIWI FORMULA ONE DRIVER LIAM LAWSON HAS COME THROUGH HIS FIRST OFFICIAL PRE-SEASON DRIVE UNSCATHED ` JUST. THE RED BULL DRIVER HAVING ONE HAIRY MOMENT ON THE BAHRAIN COURSE IN AN OTHERWISE SOLID SESSION. BIG MOMENT, AND THE FIRST BIG MOMENT OF THE TEST. DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE DRAMATIC COMMENTARY ` YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH STUMBLES LIKE THIS IN PRE-SEASON. NICE CAR CONTROL UP UNTIL NOW. THIS LIAM LAWSON'S ONLY BLEMISH IN AN OTHERWISE ERROR-FREE TEST DRIVE. I MEAN, LOOK, THE WIND IS PRETTY TRICKY OUT THERE. AND I THINK IT JUST CAUGHT` CAUGHT LIAM OUT ON THE EXIT OF TURN TWO. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CARS HAVING` HAVING DIFFERENT MOMENTS AS THE GUSTS ARE PRETTY STRONG OUT THERE. BUT WHAT THIS DID SHOW IS THE YOUNG DRIVER'S POISE. LAWSON HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE REAR END OF THE CAR. HE'S ACTUALLY DONE A VERY GOOD JOB SO FAR. LAWSON EIGHTH FASTEST AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST DAY OF OFFICIAL TESTING IN BAHRAIN. I THINK TARGETS ARE TO BE FAST. TARGETS ARE TO BE WHERE THE TEAM NEEDS ME TO BE. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A GOAL WITH THE CONSTRUCTORS THIS YEAR, AND IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT, THEN IT MEANS I'M DOING MY PART. FAST OR NOT, THESE THREE DAYS OF OFFICIAL TESTING PRECIOUS FOR ALL 10 TEAMS TO COLLECT DATA FROM THEIR CAR, TWO WEEKS OUT FROM THE YEAR'S FIRST GRAND PRIX. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE GOOD. IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING. FOR ME, I'VE NEVER STARTED A SEASON, SO TO DO THE PROPER SORT OF PREPARATIONS IN THESE SORT OF DAYS IS GOOD FOR ME, BUT OBVIOUSLY A NEW CAR THAT WE'RE LEARNING AS WELL. I THINK LIAM'S HAD A GOOD FIRST, YOU KNOW, OFFICIAL SESSION FOR US, AND SETTLED IN WELL SO FAR. DESPITE DRIVING IN 11 FORMULA ONE RACES, LAWSON'S STILL CONSIDERED A ROOKIE AROUND THE PADDOCK, GIVEN THIS IS HIS FIRST FULL PRE-SEASON. I WAS HERE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS AS A RESERVE DRIVER, SO IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY FEEL NEW TO ME. IT JUST FEELS EXCITING, UM, TO OBVIOUSLY BE A DRIVER, TO DO THE PROPER STEPS BEFORE A SEASON. A SEASON THAT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER AS LAWSON GETS USED TO LIFE AS A RED BULL DRIVER. EUPHORIA IN LAHORE AFTER AFGHANISTAN SENT ENGLAND PACKING IN CRICKET'S CHAMPIONS TROPHY. ENGLAND SET 326 TO WIN; IBRAHIM ZADRAN SMASHING A CAREER BEST 177 OFF 146 BALLS. AFGHANISTAN JUST AS IMPRESSIVE WITH THE BALL; AZMATULLAH OMARZAI TAKING FIVE FOR 58. IT'S GOTTA GO NOW. HAS IT GONE FAR ENOUGH? HAS IT? IT HASN'T! (CROWD ROARS) IBRAHIM, WHO DID IT WITH THE BAT, HAS THE FINAL SAY WITH HIS HANDS. AND THERE'S AN INVASION HERE FROM AFGHANISTAN, AND WHY NOT? ENGLAND ALL OUT FOR 317. AFGHANISTAN, AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA ALL STILL A CHANCE OF GETTING THROUGH TO THE SEMIFINALS IN GROUP B. FORMER WHITE FERN AMY SATTERTHWAITE IS RETURNING TO THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, HELPING COACH THE NEW ZEALAND 11 AGAINST SRI LANKA IN LINCOLN THIS WEEK. SINCE RETIRING IN 2022, SATTERTHWAITE HAS HELD VARIOUS COACHING ROLES BOTH HERE AND ABROAD, MOST NOTABLY HELPING THE ADELAIDE STRIKERS TO BACK-TO-BACK BIG BASH TITLES. CRICKET IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND LOVED, AND BEING ABLE TO STAY INVOLVED HELPS THAT TRANSITION. OBVIOUSLY, IF I POTENTIALLY MOVE UP THE RANKS, IN TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY DOMESTIC LEVEL AND THEN POTENTIALLY HIGHER UP, MAYBE. LIKE I SAY, LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN AND OPEN TO ANY SORT OF OPPORTUNITIES. THE NZ 11 PLAY TWO 50-OVER MATCHES AHEAD OF THE WHITE FERNS SERIES AGAINST SRI LANKA STARTING ON TUESDAY. LIVERPOOL'S APPARENT MARCH TO THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE CONTINUED TODAY WITH A COMFORTABLE 2-0 WIN OVER NEWCASTLE. MIDFIELDER DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI SCORING EARLY TO GET THE BALL ROLLING BEFORE ALEXIS MACALLISTER MADE THE GAME SAFE MIDWAY THROUGH THE SECOND HALF. MACALLISTER! (CROWD CHEERS) THAT'S MORE LIKE IT FROM LIVERPOOL ` CALMNESS WITH A CLINICAL EDGE. LIVERPOOL NOW 13 POINTS CLEAR AFTER SECOND-PLACED ARSENAL DREW 0-0 WITH NOTTINGHAM FOREST; MANCHESTER CITY UP TO FOURTH AFTER A 1-0 DEFEAT OF SPURS. SITTING INTO THE PENALTY AREA AGAIN. HAALAND, IT'S A TAP IN! MANCHESTER CITY RUN IT THROUGH. YOU CANNOT GIVE ERLING HAALAND POSSESSION THERE. ELSEWHERE, MANCHESTER UNITED SURVIVED A BIG SCARE TO BEAT LOWLY IPSWICH 3-2. FINALLY TONIGHT, WHILE MOST 16-YEAR-OLDS ARE STARTING A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, PHOENIX STRIKER LUKE BROOKE-SMITH IS RE-WRITING THE A-LEAGUE HISTORY BOOKS. AND AS LUKE ROBINSON REPORTS, HE HAS PLANS ON ACHIEVING A FAIR BIT MORE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. HE WAS THE ONE BRIGHT SPARK IN AN OTHERWISE DARK DERBY DAY. LUKE BROOKE-SMITH. HE SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL AND THEY'RE BACK TO 3-1. LUKE BROOKE-SMITH BECOMING THE YOUNGEST GOAL-SCORER IN PHOENIX HISTORY. WHEN I HIT THE BACK OF THE NET, I SORT OF` I STILL DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. AND THEN I SAW THE VAR CALL AND I WAS LIKE, 'PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME.' IT COUNTED, AND BEGAN TO SINK IN FOR THE 16-YEAR-OLD. SAID, 'GOAL FOR NUMBER 29,' AND THAT SORT OF` I HEARD THE CHEER WITH THE YELLOW FEVER IN THE CORNER AND I WAS LIKE, 'OH, IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.' AND IT WAS MY MUM'S BIRTHDAY. SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SCORE IN FRONT OF THEM, AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE THERE. BROOKE-SMITH SIGNING WITH THE PHOENIX LAST YEAR, MAKING HIS A-LEAGUE DEBUT IN DECEMBER. COACH GIANCARLO ITALIANO RECOGNISING HIS POTENTIAL. YOU KNOW, PLAYING HIM AGAINST MEN CONSISTENTLY ` I HAVE NO PROBLEM PUTTING HIM IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. SO FOR ME YOU CAN ACCELERATE HIS LEARNING. BROOKE-SMITH'S BEEN GOING FAST FOR SOME TIME. THE YOUNGSTER ALSO AN EIGHT-TIME BMX NATIONAL CHAMPION, WHO HAD AMBITIONS OF BECOMING AN OLYMPIAN BEFORE JUMPING INTO FOOTBALL FULL-TIME. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I HADN'T EVEN PLAYED SENIOR FOOTBALL. I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT THE PEOPLE AROUND ME TO HELP ME DEAL WITH IT. I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP LEVEL-HEADED. HOPING FOR ANOTHER CAREER PROGRESSION NEXT YEAR. GOAL IS AT THE START OF THE SEASON, AND I SAID THE 2026 WORLD CUP, SO THAT IS MY AIM IN THE MID- TO LONG-TERM. IF HE GOES OUT AND HE STARTS SCORING REGULARLY NOW, WHY CAN'T HE GO TO A WORLD CUP? YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A BIT OF X-FACTOR ABOUT HIM. SOMETHING THE PHOENIX HOPE HE SHOWS MORE OFTEN TO HELP THEM RISE IN THE A-LEAGUE ONCE AGAIN. LUKE ROBINSON, ONE NEWS. GOOD ON HIM. CERTAINLY A BIG FUTURE AHEAD. STAY WITH US ` DAN SAYS THERE IS MORE FINE WEATHER ON THE WAY. DETAILS NEXT. COMING UP SOON ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE FASCINATING WORLD OF AUDIO DESCRIPTION HELPING THOSE WHO CAN'T SEE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. PLUS... GROUP SINGS CHEERFULLY: # LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, # LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA... # THEY WERE BIG IN THE '70s. HELLO. DESPITE A COUPLE OF WEEKS FRONTS, THINGS STAY MOSTLY FINE, BUT THINGS ARE BREWING AROUND THE EDGES. CATEGORY FOUR ` ALFRED TOMORROW. THE SOUTHERN OCEAN HAS OOMPH COMING OUR WAY. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON ALFRED AS WELL TO SEE WHERE IT GOES. ONE LITTLE DANGLING TROUGH TO THE NORTH-EAST. UPPER FRONT THERE. THE MAIN FRONT WILL BRUSH PAST. IT IS MOSTLY HIGH-PRESSURE. A LITTLE TROUGH FLICKS BY SPOTS OF RAIN FOR GISBORNE. MAYBE BY THE EVENING, EASTERN PARTS OF AUCKLAND COULD SEE SOME RAIN. SHOWERS ` THE ODD ONE TO MILFORD SOUND. EVERYONE ELSE LOOKING GOOD. A FEW SHOWERS MAY COME INTO THE MIX. YOU COULD SEE THOSE IN THE AFTERNOON. AUCKLAND HAS A MOSTLY FINE DAY. CLOUD HEAR AND THERE. COULD BE A FEW SHOWERS IN THE EVENING. LATE TODAY SHOWERS FOR HAMILTON. ALL TO DO WITH THAT TROUGH. BAY OF PLENTY HAS SHOWERS THROUGH THE DAY, PERHAPS TO THE CENTRAL PLATEAU. YOU WILL SEE SOME SHOWERS. MAY BE THINNING OUT BY THE END OF THE DAY. THE LEFTOVERS GOING AWAY. EVERYONE ELSE HAS MORNING CLOUD. YOU ARE FINE FOR THE WEST. VERY PLEASANT IN NEW PLYMOUTH TOWARDS THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. THIS IS A GOOD-LOOKING DAY. LIGHT WINDS. LOOKING FINE FOR NELSON. EARLY CLOUD FOR BLENHEIM. CHRISTCHURCH HAS MORNING CLOUD. MOST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND IN GOOD SHAPE. MORNING CLOUD. YOU KNOW THE DRILL. THEN IT IS GONE. NOTICE THE TEMPERATURES. THEY ARE STARTING TO CREEP UP. FINE FOR MUCH OF THE DEEP SOUTH. SOME LATE DAY SPOTS OF RAIN. SOME MORNING SHOWERS IN CHATHAMS. THE WEEKEND IS OK. A FEW SHOWERS NORTH. THERE IS A BIT OF RAIN. A WARM ONE TOO. WE WILL TAKE IT. HIGH-PRESSURE ON THE WEEKEND. IT IS LOOKING GOOD.