THE GOVERNMENT TAKES A BIG STEP CLOSER TO INTRODUCING FOUR-YEAR PARLIAMENTARY TERMS, BUT DO KIWI VOTERS BACK THE CHANGE? A WOMAN HAS BEEN SHOT DEAD, A WOMAN HAS BEEN SHOT DEAD, AND THE SUSPECTED GUNMAN IS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION AS A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND BECOMES A SCENE OF VIOLENCE. ANOTHER BIG BLOW TO CLIMATE ACTION ` BP'S DITCHING ITS NET-ZERO COMMITMENT IN FAVOUR OF MORE DRILLING AND BIGGER PROFITS. AND LATER IN SPORT ` DESPITE A LACK OF TITLES, HE'S ONE OF SUPER RUGBY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES. SO HOW DID MUNSTER LURE CLAYTON MCMILLAN AWAY FROM THE CHIEFS. CAPTIONS BY LELE SIMEON AND TOM CLARKE. 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. THE GOVERNMENT IS STARTING THE PROCESS TO ENABLE A FOUR-YEAR TERM OF PARLIAMENT. ANY CHANGE TO THE THREE-YEAR TERM WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE OUTCOME OF A BINDING REFERENDUM, AND IT COULD BE VOTED ON AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR. ZANE SMALL HAS THE DETAILS. FIFTEEN MONTHS AGO, LABOUR'S RED REIGN CAME TO AN END AT THE 2023 ELECTION AS VOTERS CHOSE A NATIONAL-LED GOVERNMENT. YOU HAVE REACHED FOR HOPE, AND YOU HAVE VOTED FOR CHANGE. AND 15 MONTHS FROM NOW, POLITICIANS WILL BE BACK IN CAMPAIGN MODE TO PREPARE FOR THE 2026 ELECTION. THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WITH A THREE-YEAR PARLIAMENTARY TERM, BUT THAT COULD SOON CHANGE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO POTENTIALLY ALLOW FOR A REFERENDUM ON A FOUR-YEAR TERM FOR PARLIAMENT. IT'S SOMETHING ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR ADVOCATED FOR IN OPPOSITION. WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE TO A FOUR-YEAR TERM. OUR LAW-MAKING IS TOO RAPID; POLITICIANS DON'T LISTEN ENOUGH. NOW THAT ACT IS PART OF GOVERNMENT, HE HOPES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO IT'S NOT JUST A CASE OF THE SAME OLD CRAP TAKING AN EXTRA YEAR? NO, I THINK THAT YOU'LL GET MUCH HIGHER QUALITY CRAP OUT OF POLITICS AS A RESULT OF THIS. (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) NATIONAL'S COALITION AGREEMENTS WITH ACT AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST BOTH INCLUDE A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING A FOUR-YEAR TERM PROPOSAL THROUGH FIRST READING. THE COMMITMENTS DIFFER, THOUGH, AND TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT APPEASES BOTH. THE PROPOSAL IS MODELLED ON ACT'S ALREADY DRAFTED BILL, AND ANY CHANGE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A BINDING A REFERENDUM TO PLEASE NEW ZEALAND FIRST. I'M IN FAVOUR OF A FOUR-YEAR-TERM, AND I THINK THAT A REFERENDUM IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GAIN THE PUBLIC'S MANDATE FOR THAT KIND OF CHANGE. THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT HAVE ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY BEEN THAT NEW ZEALAND DOESN'T HAVE AN UPPER HOUSE, DOESN'T HAVE A SUPREME COURT THAT STRIKES DOWN LEGISLATION, AND SO A MORE REGULAR ELECTION IS JUSTIFIED ON THAT BASIS. TO INCREASE SCRUTINY, A CONDITION OF ACT'S BILL IS THAT, TO GET A FOUR-YEAR TERM, THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO HAVE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF NON-GOVERNMENT PARTY MEMBERS ON SELECT COMMITTEES. IF THEY DIDN'T AGREE TO THAT, IT WILL BE A THREE-YEAR TERM. THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO AND NOT EVEN KNOWING BEFORE THE ELECTION WHAT TYPE OF PARLIAMENT WE'RE VOTING FOR, THAT JUST SEEMS A RECIPE FOR CONFUSION. AND THE GOVERNMENT IS OPEN TO SIMPLIFYING IT FOR THE REFERENDUM. IT MAY WELL BE THAT A MUCH SIMPLER ARRANGEMENT IS JUST TO HAVE A CHOICE SIMPLY BETWEEN A THREE- AND A FOUR-YEAR TERM, AND SO WE'RE VERY MUCH OPEN TO THAT. IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE VOTED ON A FOUR-YEAR PARLIAMENTARY TERM. BACK IN 1967, VOTERS OPTED FOR THE STATUS QUO, WITH 68.1% CHOOSING TO MAINTAIN A THREE-YEAR TERM. THEN IN 1990, VOTERS AGAIN REJECTED A FOUR-YEAR PROPOSAL, WITH 69% CHOOSING TO KEEP THREE-YEARS. LAST MONTH, A HORIZON RESEARCH POLL SHOWED 40% SUPPORT FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM, WITH 30% UNDECIDED. SO HOW DO VOTERS FEEL ABOUT IT TODAY? I VOTED FOR FOUR YEARS, AND I'VE NEVER CHANGED MY OPINION ABOUT THAT. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THREE YEARS IS FAR TOO SHORT. FROM A STUDENT AND A YOUTH POINT OF VIEW, I THINK GIVING THEM AN EXTRA YEAR, WE CAN ALWAYS GIVE THEM A CHANCE AND SEE HOW IT GOES. I THINK THREE YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE THE LAST GOVERNMENT, SO ANOTHER YEAR WOULD'VE STRESSED ME OUT A BIT MORE. SO PROS AND CONS. PROS AND CONS VOTERS WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER AT THE BALLOT BOX. SO, ZANE, HOW SOON COULD A FOUR-YEAR TERM BE A REALITY? NOT FOR A FEW YEARS. THE PROPOSAL WILL GO TO A PARLIAMENT SELECT COMMITTEE. THE JUSTICE MINISTER SAID IT COULD BE MORE SIMPLIFIED. A REFERENDUM ON IT COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR AT THE ELECTION. IF KIWIS VOTE IN FAVOUR FOR IT IT WON'T COME AND MOVE TO EFFECT UNTIL THE 2029 ELECTION. UK ALLOWS TERMS OF UP TO 5 YEARS A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AFTER A PERSON WAS SHOT DEAD IN WHANGAREI IMOGEN WELLS JOINS US NOW WITH MORE DETAILS. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHO WAS INVOLVED? SAM, WE UNDERSTAND A WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD AT THE SCENE NEAR A PLAYGROUND IN THE SEASIDE WHANGAREI SUBURB OF ONERAHI, AND ANOTHER PERSON, WHICH WE ALSO UNDERSTAND IS THE SUSPECTED GUNMAN, WAS FOUND WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AND TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. POLICE WERE CALLED JUST AFTER 11 THIS MORNING, RECEIVING A REPORT OF AN INJURED PERSON. THEY'VE SET UP CORDONS IN THE AREA WHICH WILL BE IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME AS SCENE EXAMINATIONS CONTINUE, AND THEY ARE TONIGHT ASKING FOR ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION, AND ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE WITNESSED THE SHOOTING, TO COME FORWARD. AROUND 50 FIREFIGHTERS AND EIGHT HELICOPTERS HAVE MANAGED TO CONTAIN HALF OF A WILDFIRE IN NORTHLAND, WHICH NOW COVERS NEARLY 100ha THE FIRE BROKE OUT ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, FORCING AROUND 20 HOMES TO BE EVACUATED AS THE FLAMES SPREAD. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION. THE FIRE IS BURNING JUST 6KM AWAY FROM TANE MAHUTA, THE LARGEST KNOWN LIVING KAURI TREE. FIRE AND EMERGENCY SAY THE CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN AND REMIND THE NORTHLAND PUBLIC OF THE REGION'S RESTRICTED FIRE STATUS. DONALD TRUMP HAS HELD HIS FIRST CABINET MEETING, AND TRUE TO FORM IT WAS AS WIDE-RANGING AS IT WAS UNPREDICTABLE, WITH GAZA, CHINA AND EVEN THE PRICE OF EGGS ON THE AGENDA. BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT WAS TRUMP'S CONFIRMATION OF A MAJOR MINERAL DEAL WITH UKRAINE, BUT NO GUARANTEE OF U.S. SECURITY IN THE EVENT OF A PEACE DEAL. AND DESPITE NOT BEING A CABINET MEMBER, ELON MUSK HAD PLENTY OF INTERJECTIONS, AS WELL AS FAWNING PRAISE FOR TRUMP, UNTIL HIS BOSS TOLD HIM TO SIT DOWN. ITV'S DAN RIVERS REPORTS. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. ALL: AMEN. IN A WEEK IN WHICH A NEW WORLD ORDER APPEARED TO BE EMERGING, TONIGHT, DONALD TRUMP ALLOWED CAMERAS TO FILM THE POLITICIANS WHO WERE HELPING TO SHAPE IT. AMONG THOSE AROUND HIS CABINET TABLE, ELON MUSK. AND LET THE CABINET SPEAK JUST FOR A SECOND. (ALL LAUGH) ARE ANY OF YOU UNHAPPY WITH ELON? IF YOU ARE, WE'LL THROW HIM OUTTA HERE. (ALL LAUGH) BUT SOME OF THE FOCUS HERE WAS NOT ON COST CUTTING, BUT ON UKRAINE. THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMING AGAIN IT WILL BE EUROPE, NOT AMERICA, WHICH WILL UNDERWRITE ANY PEACE DEAL. WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE SECURITY GUARANTEES BEYOND VERY MUCH` WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EUROPE DO THAT. AND HE CONFIRMED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WILL BE COMING TO WASHINGTON TO SIGN A NEW AGREEMENT GIVING AMERICAN FIRMS ACCESS TO UKRAINIAN MINERAL WEALTH. IT'S A GREAT DEAL FOR UKRAINE, TOO, BECAUSE THEY GET US OVER THERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING OVER THERE. WE'LL BE ON THE LAND, AND, YOU KNOW, IN THAT WAY, IT'S SORT OF AUTOMATIC SECURITY, BECAUSE NOBODY'S GOING TO BE MESSING AROUND WITH OUR PEOPLE WHEN WE'RE THERE. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE APPEARED TO CONCEDE VLADIMIR PUTIN WOULD HAVE TO COMPROMISE FOR PEACE. WILL HE HAVE TO MAKE CONCESSIONS, PRESIDENT PUTIN? YEAH, HE WILL, HE WILL. HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO, AND I THINK` I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE WE GOT ELECTED, THAT WAR WILL COME TO AN END. LAST NIGHT IN UKRAINE, THERE WAS LITTLE SIGN OF THAT. RUSSIA CONTINUES TO PROSECUTE THIS WAR WITHOUT MERCY. A DRONE STRIKE IN KYIV DESPITE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CLAIM RUSSIA WANTS PEACE. THE FIRST STEP TO ANY CEASEFIRE MIGHT BE THE MINERAL DEAL, WHICH WOULD DRAW IN AMERICAN INVESTMENT. TRANSLATOR: IF WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE U.S. WILL BE ONE OF THE COUNTRIES, OR ONE OF THE LEADING COUNTRIES, WHO GIVES SECURITY GUARANTEES, THEN THIS COULD BE A SUCCESS OR THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FOR PEACE GROWTH OF THE UKRAINIAN ECONOMY. VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR. HOW WAS EVERYTHING? THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, HAS BEEN IN QATAR THIS WEEK, WHERE HE REJECTED THE IDEA OF EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPERS IN UKRAINE, CALLING IT A DECEIT. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) AS KEIR STARMER HEADS TO WASHINGTON THIS EVENING, THE SHAPE OF ANY FUTURE TRUCE REMAINS OPAQUE. BUT HIS PROMISE TO BOOST BRITAIN'S MILITARY BUDGET REFLECTS A NEW REALITY ` AMERICA CAN NO LONGER BE RELIED ON TO GUARANTEE PEACE IN EUROPE OR UKRAINE. HOPES FOR A GREENER FUTURE WERE DEALT A MAJOR BLOW TODAY AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST OIL COMPANIES PLEDGED TO RAMP UP FOSSIL FUEL INVESTMENT. BP HAS SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON ITS NET-ZERO COMMITMENTS, TO TRY TO DELIVER BIGGER PROFITS FOR ITS SHAREHOLDERS. IT'S SPARKED OUTRAGE FROM CLIMATE CAMPAIGNERS, WHO PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE COMPANY'S HEADQUARTERS OVERNIGHT. ITV'S JOEL HILLS REPORTS. WE ARE TAKING A NEW DIRECTION... AND SOME SAY THAT DIRECTION IS BACKWARDS. BP IS RE-EMBRACING OIL AND GAS. FIVE YEARS AGO, THE COMPANY BLAZED A TRAIL PLEDGING TO GO GREEN AT PACE. BUT TODAY THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE TOLD INVESTORS BP'S OPTIMISM THEN WAS MISPLACED AND THAT COVID, WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS MEANT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED. AND SO WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW WHERE, UM, NATIONS ARE PRIORITISING AFFORDABILITY, ASSURANCE OF FLOW, UH, SECURITY OF SUPPLY AND, THE TRANSITION JUST IS NOT BEING VALUED AS MUCH AS IT WAS. FIVE YEARS AGO, BP PLEDGED TO CUT OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION TO 1.6m BARRELS A DAY BY 2030. THREE YEARS LATER, IT CHANGED THE TARGET TO 2m BARRELS, AND NOW THE TARGET HAS BEEN DITCHED ALTOGETHER. INDEED, BP SAYS IT WILL GROW PRODUCTION TO UP TO 2.5m BARRELS BY 2030, WITH THE CAPACITY FOR MORE BEYOND THAT. BP IS ALSO SLASHING INVESTMENT IN LOW-CARBON FORMS OF ENERGY LIKE WIND AND SOLAR POWER, FROM �5.6b A YEAR TO AROUND �1.6b A YEAR. BP WAS AT THE VANGUARD OF EFFORTS BY ENERGY COMPANIES TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS. BP'S PROBLEM IS THAT RIVALS LIKE SHELL, CHEVRON AND EXXON ARE MAKING A LOT MORE MONEY. BP'S SHARE PRICE REFLECTS THIS, AND SOME OF THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE UNIMPRESSED. ALSO GONE IS BP'S PROMISE TO DEVELOP 50GW OF RENEWABLE POWER. THE COMPANY INSISTS IT IS STILL GOING GREEN, JUST MORE SLOWLY, AND IT PROMISES THAT BY 2050, THE AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GASES THE COMPANY PUTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE BALANCED BY THOSE IT REMOVES OR OFFSETS. ALTHOUGH SOME DOUBT BP WILL NOW HIT NET ZERO. ITS PLEDGE WAS ALREADY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE NOW, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE BECAUSE ITS SHORT TERM TARGETS ARE WEAKER. IT'S NOT A CREDIBLE STRATEGY TO GO SLOWER AND KEEP YOUR TARGET DATE THE SAME. (ALL CHANT) BP PROMISED! BP PROMISED! ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNERS WERE BOUND TO BE UPSET TONIGHT. SOME GATHERED OUTSIDE BP'S LONDON HEADQUARTERS TO EXPRESS THEIR DISMAY, BUT BP'S RESET IS DESIGNED TO RESTORE THE CONFIDENCE OF INVESTORS, REVIVE THE SHARE PRICE AND SILENCED WHISPERS OF POTENTIAL TAKEOVERS. IT'S EARLY DAYS, BUT TODAY, BP SHARE PRICE FELL. (ALL CHANT) NO PROFIT! NO PROFIT! LAURA JOINS US NOW WITH A CLIMATE CONTROVERSY HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. SO, LAURA, CAMPAIGNERS AND OPPOSITION MPs HAVE HIT BACK AT STATEMENTS BY THE CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER APPEARING TO SUGGEST THERE'LL BE NO FINANCIAL COST ` THIS IF WE DON'T MEET OUR PARIS AGREEMENT TARGETS. THAT'S RIGHT SAM TOLD ATTENDEES THE TARGETS WERE MORE FOR BIG COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND RUSSIA. HE TOLD THE AUDIENCE THEN THEY COMPLETELY CONTRADICT ACTIVELY OPPOSITE THING TO A FORM FARMING AUDIENCE, IT SIMPLY DOES NOT ADD UP. TO 1 OF THOSE AUDIENCES IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LIE. IT'S DANCING ON THE HEAD OF A PERSON AROUND THE WAY COUNTER METRICS OPERATE. YES, MINISTER SIMON WATTS WAS AT AN EVENTSHIRT ORGANISED BY WAIKATO FEDERATED FARMERS AND TOLD ATTENDEES THAT THE TARGETS THAT COUNTRIES SET UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT WERE MORE FOR BIG COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND RUSSIA, AND THAT NEW ZEALAND ONLY JOINED HE SAID YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INTENT TO MEET THEM, BUT IF YOU DON'T, NO ONE SENDS YOU AN INVOICE. IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN BP HAS PULLED BACK ON CLIMATE GOALS, AND THE U.S. HAS PULLED OUT OF THE AGREEMENT. TO DATE, THE MINISTER HAS STATED THAT HE'S VERY COMMITTED TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT, AND I'M A BIT CONCERNED FOR HIS AND NEW ZEALAND'S CREDIBILITY ON THE GLOBAL STAGE BECAUSE AMONGST HIS PEERS, THIS IS GOING TO LOOK QUITE FOOLISH AND IT'S PART OF A PACKAGE WHERE THE LUXON GOVERNMENT IS ROLLING BACK ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT WHEN ASKED IF NEW ZEALAND WOULD FOLLOW AMERICA'S LEAD, WATTS IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID ` THE EU IS NEW ZEALAND'S FOURTH LARGEST TRADING PARTNER. TWO-WAY GOODS AND SERVICES WERE VALUED AT NZ$20.2 BILLION IN 2022. IN 2024, THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WAS BROUGHT INTO FORCE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF METHANE SCIENCE AND THE NATIONAL 2050 METHANE REDUCTION TARGET 'FOR CONSISTENCY WITH NO ADDITIONAL 'WARMING FROM AGRICULTURAL METHANE EMISSIONS.' THE COMMISSION RESPONDED ` TWO TOTALLY AND CONTRADICTORY DIFFERENT THINGS ARE BEING TOLD TO THE PUBLIC AND TO OUR PARLIAMENT, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, TO THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. THAT IS NOT FAIR. IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT, AND IT IS NOT A WAY THAT I THINK NEW ZEALANDERS EXPECT POLITICS TO BE DONE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER CAME BACK TO ME IN A STATEMENT SAYING, 'THIS IS HOW THE PARIS AGREEMENT IS MEANT TO WORK: WE ALL AGREED 'TO SET TARGETS THAT REFLECTED OUR HIGHEST POSSIBLE AMBITION 'AND STRETCH US 'AND HAVE PUT IN PLACE MEASURES WITH THE INTENT OF ACHIEVING THEM, 'INCLUDING OUR DOMESTIC EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN.' TO TODAY'S WEATHER NOW ` AND IT HAS BEEN FAIRLY SETTLED AND DRY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. KAWERAU ` FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW ` HAS TAKEN OUT THE TOP TEMPERATURE. AND MOSTLY LIGHT WINDS ABOUT. THE WINDIEST SPOT ` PORT CHALMERS WITH JUST 41KM/H. I'LL HAVE DETAILS OF YOUR FRIDAY WEATHER, AFTER SPORT. COMING UP ` AS THE BODIES OF THE TWO YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF HAMAS'S INVASION ARE LAID TO REST IN ISRAEL, DONALD TRUMP HAS CAUSED OUTRAGE ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST, SHARING AN AI VIDEO OF HIS FUTURE FOR GAZA. IS IT TIME TO SHUTTER THE DREAM FACTORY? HOW OVERSEAS COMPETITION AND THE FIRES HAVE CREATED A NIGHTMARE FOR HOLLYWOOD'S FILM MAKERS. AND LATER ` OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH IS LOOKING UP AT THE TALLEST MURAL IN THE COUNTRY. 11 essential vitamins and minerals. Low GI, protein, high in fibre! It's amazing what they squeeze into an UP&GO. VOICEOVER: We squeeze more good stuff in, so you can get more out. Also available in a big value 12 pack. ISRAEL HAS RELEASED ANOTHER GROUP OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AND HAMAS HAS HANDED OVER THE BODIES OF FOUR HOSTAGES. AS PART OF THE FINAL SCHEDULED EXCHANGE IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL. IT FOLLOWS THE FUNERAL OF THE YOUNGEST HAMAS HOSTAGES, ARIEL AND KFIR BIBAS, AND THEIR MOTHER SHIRI WHICH SAW THOUSANDS OF ISRAELI'S TURNOUT IN A DAY OF MOURNING. FOR THEIR FATHER AND HUSBAND - YARDEN BIBAS - WHO SURVIVED CAPTIVITY, IT WAS ANOTHER MOMENT OF OVERWHELMING GRIEF. ITV'S JOHN RAY REPORTS. OF ALL THE TEARS TO FLOW, AND AMID ALL THE GRIEF AND DESPAIR, OF ALL THE TEARS TO FLOW, AND AMID ALL THE GRIEF AND DESPAIR, THE DESTRUCTION OF ONE FAMILY HAS COME TO SYMBOLISE A NATION'S TORMENT. SO TODAY, ISRAELIS IN THEIR THOUSANDS LINED THE STREETS FOR THE FUNERAL OF SHIRI BIBAS AND HER SONS ARIEL AND KFIR, THE YOUNGEST OF HAMAS'S HOSTAGES. ORANGE BALLOONS TO REPRESENT THEIR VIVIDLY-COLOURED HAIR AND A SINGLE COFFIN, SO THEY WILL BE FOREVER TOGETHER WITH THEIR MOTHER, WHOSE HUSBAND SPOKE DIRECTLY TO HIS LOST BOYS. TRANSLATOR: I'M SORRY I DIDN'T PROTECT YOU BETTER, HE SAID. BUT I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU, AND I MISS HEARING YOUR LAUGHTER. SHIRI'S DESPERATE BUT DOOMED ATTEMPTS TO SHIELD HER SON'S TOUCHED HEARTS. HAMAS CLAIMS THEY WERE ALL KILLED IN AN ISRAELI ATTACK. ISRAEL INSISTS THEY WERE MURDERED BY THEIR CAPTORS. YARDEN BASS WAS FREED EARLIER THIS MONTH, BUT TO ADD TO HIS AGONY, HIS WIFE'S REMAINS WERE AT FIRST MIXED UP WITH THOSE OF A PALESTINIAN WOMAN. HER FAMILY CALLED HAMAS 'MONSTERS', BUT ONE SISTER WAS ALSO HIGHLY CRITICAL OF HER OWN GOVERNMENT. TRANSLATOR: THEY COULD HAVE SAVED YOU, SHE SAID, BUT THEY PREFERRED REVENGE. THE BODIES OF FOUR MORE HOSTAGES... MEANWHILE, AN AI-GENERATED VIDEO SHARED BY DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN LABELLED BIZARRE AND OFFENSIVE. IT APPEARS TO SHOW HIS VISION FOR A FUTURE GAZA, INCLUDING A GOLDEN TRUMP STATUE, AND IMAGES OF THE U.S. PRESIDENT SIPPING DRINKS WITH BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE STORY. THE BIZARRE AI-GENERATED VIDEO, WHERE A GAZA AND RUINS IS TRANSFORMED INTO A GOLDEN PARADISE, AND LET'S PAUSE FOR THE MUSIC. (TRANCE MUSIC PLAYS) SHARED BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, AN APPARENT VISION OF WHAT TRUMP HAS CALLED THE RIVIERA OF THE MIDDLE EAST. ELON MUSK EATING HUMMUS. BEARDED BALLET DANCERS AND TRUMP HIMSELF MADE FROM GOLD. IT'S NOT KNOWN WHO MADE THE VIDEO, BUT IT WAS FIRST POSTED ONLINE BY ACCOUNTS NOT APPEARED TO BE AFFILIATED TO THE WHITE HOUSE. THE VIDEO ECHOES THE U.S. PRESIDENT'S RECENT COMMENTS ON GAZA THAT HAVE CAUSED OUTRAGE ACROSS THE WORLD. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PHENOMENAL, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE CUTE, I DON'T WANT TO BE A WISE GUY, BUT THE RIVIERA OF THE MIDDLE EAST, THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SO BAD` THIS COULD BE SO MAGNIFICENT. HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT PALESTINIANS LIVING THERE COULD BE RELOCATED TO OTHER COUNTRIES, A STATEMENT MANY CONDEMNED AS TANTAMOUNT TO ETHNIC CLEANSING. I ENVISION A WORLD, PEOPLE LIVING THERE, THE WORLD'S PEOPLE, I THINK YOU'LL MAKE THAT INTO AN INTERNATIONAL, UNBELIEVABLE PLACE. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS CALLED TRUMP THE GREATEST FRIEND ISRAEL HAS EVER HAD IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE PAIR LOUNGING TOGETHER, ENJOYING THE AI-GENERATED LUXURY OF IT ALL. GAZA RESIDENTS WATCHED TRUMP'S POST OF THE LAND AS A BEACH RESORT WITHOUT ITS MORE THAN 2 MILLION CURRENT INHABITANTS. TRUMP'S FORMER MEDIA ADVISER, WHO WAS SACKED DURING TRUMP'S LAST TERM IN OFFICE, BELIEVES THE PRESIDENT IS MENTALLY UNWELL. I MEAN, EVERYONE DOESN'T WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE HE'S THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, BUT TRUMP IS OBVIOUSLY GOT SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM, AND THAT ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT, UH, TRUMP GAZA VIDEO THAT HE POSTED ON HIS OWN TRUTH SOCIAL NETWORK, AND SO ANYBODY THAT LOOKS AT THAT, UH, WHETHER YOU'RE A CLINICAL PROFILER FOR MI6 OR THE CIA, I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH TRUMP. IT MAY LOOK COMICAL, BUT THIS IS FAR FROM A LAUGHING MATTER. A CEASEFIRE DEAL IS SET TO EXPIRE THIS WEEKEND, WHICH COULD BRING WAR BACK TO GAZA. STAY WITH US. THE GLITZ AND GLAM OF THE OSCARS IS JUST DAYS AWAY, BUT THERE'S LITTLE TO CELEBRATE ABOUT THE STATE OF HOLLYWOOD ` WHY THE SO-CALLED DREAM FACTORY IS FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. THE ANCIENT CITY OF POMPEI IS STILL GIVING UP ITS SECRETS ` THE NEWEST REVELATIONS ARE WINE-RELATED. AND LATER IN SPORT ` ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S BEST QUITS NEW ZEALAND RUGBY FOR A LUCRATIVE OVERSEAS POSTING. 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? A hard night the night before. Went out the next day riding. I was slightly hungover and going a bit quick. Accelerator stuck on. Clouded judgement. Made the wrong decision. Pulled the brake instead of the clutch. My brain just...just froze. The bike went down. I went down. Took the skin off all my arms. Smashed a few bones up. It just happened so quick. So, a hangover that lasted six months. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE GOVERNMENT IS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION FOR A FOUR-YEAR PARLIAMENTARY TERM, SUBJECT TO A BINDING REFERENDUM BUT THERE'S A CAVEAT. THE TERM WILL ONLY EXTEND IF THERE ARE GREATER CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH SELECT COMMITTEES. A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AFTER A WOMAN WAS SHOT DEAD IN WHANGAREI. IT'S UNDERSTOOD THE SUSPECTED GUNMAN HAS CRITICAL INJURIES. AND CLIMATE CAMPAIGNERS HAVE PROTESTED OUTSIDE BP'S HEADQUARTERS FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT ITS SLASHING ITS INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGIES TO RAMP UP OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN A BID TO GENERATE MORE PROFITS FOR ITS SHAREHOLDERS. MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG, A FORMER CHILD STAR WHO WENT ON TO CO-STAR IN TWO MILLENNIAL-ERA TV SHOWS ` BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER AND GOSSIP GIRL ` HAS DIED AGED 39. I WANTED A LEGACY AT YALE. IF YOU EXCUSE ME, I AM NOW GOING TO GET DRUNK ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU ALL SEEM EXCITING. POLICE RESPONDED TO A 911 CALL AT A LUXURY RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN NEW YORK WHERE SHE WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS AND UNRESPONSIVE. THE ACTOR WAS DECLARED DEAD AT THE SCENE. IT'S UNDERSTOOD TRACHTENBERG RECENTLY HAD A LIVER TRANSPLANT. PREPARATIONS FOR HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR HAVE GONE INTO OVERDRIVE WITH THE OSCARS NOW JUST DAYS AWAY. BUT EVEN AS THE STARS GATHER, LA'S STATUS AS THE MOVIE-MAKING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY PRECARIOUS. EXCEPT FOR LOCKDOWN, LAST YEAR SAW THE LOWEST OF NUMBER FILMING DAYS EVER, AND THERE WERE A THIRD FEWER PRODUCTIONS THAN IN 2019. MEANWHILE, THIS YEAR'S FIRES HAVE PRESENTED A WHOLE NEW SET OF CHALLENGES. ITV'S NINA NANNAR REPORTS. IT'S HOLLYWOOD'S BIG WEEK, THE CHANCE TO CELEBRATE WHAT IT'S FAMOUS FOR. ARCHIVE: HERE THEY ARE AT GRUMMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD TO SIGN THEIR NAMES AND PRINT THEIR HANDS AND FEET... STEEPED IN SCREEN HISTORY, IT HAS LONG BEEN A MAGNET FOR FILM STARS AND FILM MAKERS, GLAMOROUS AND UNIQUE, BUT THIS TRADITION IS FACING CHALLENGES. THE DEVASTATING L.A. FIRES TOOK LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS IN A PLACE WHERE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS THE LIFEBLOOD FOR SO MANY. # YOU GOT TO KNOW, SO LET'S START. # L.A. RESIDENT MYRON KIRSTEIN EDITED THE FILM WICKED AND IS NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR, BUT HE HAD TO GIVE UP EDITING THE SECOND WICKED MOVIE FROM HIS ALTADENA HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HIS HOUSE SURVIVED, BUT HE POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRES IN HIS NEIGHBOURHOOD. THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY WHO LIVED IN ALTADENA AND ARE LOOKING FOR WORK, LET ALONE A PLACE TO LIVE. YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO WORK MORE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN LOS ANGELES TO HELP GIVE BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THESE CRAFTSMEN WHO HAVE SPENT SO MUCH OF THEIR YEARS BUILDING UP HOLLYWOOD. AND THEY NEED IT. THEY NEED IT SO BAD. RIGHT NOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU EVEN BEGIN REBUILDING COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS. IT STILL LOOKS LIKE THE SET OF A HOLLYWOOD DISASTER MOVIE. ALTADENA IS A HUB FOR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES HERE, THE SO-CALLED BELOW-THE-LINE WORKERS, TECHNICAL CREW IN FILM AND TV PRODUCTION, A DIVERSE AND MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN THIS ` ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES ON EARTH. SHOVELLING COAL HERE IN PHILADELPHIA, I'M AFRAID. NOW CHEAPER LABOUR AND HIGHER TAX INCENTIVES ARE LURING FILMMAKERS AWAY. THE OSCAR-NOMINATED EPIC 'THE BRUTALIST', WAS MADE IN HUNGARY FOR AROUND �8m, MUCH LESS THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN L.A. NOT A BAD VIEW FROM THE WINDOW? NO, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S THE BRITISH CINEMATOGRAPHER ON THE FILM, LOWELL CRAWLEY, WHO'S ALSO UP FOR AN OSCAR THIS WEEKEND, MOVED TO L.A SIX YEARS AGO. YOU LIVE IN L.A. WOULDN'T YOU RATHER WORK HERE NEAR TO YOUR HOME? YES, ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE WONDERFUL CREWS HERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, COMMERCIALS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD HAVE SHOT HERE NOW FOR VARIOUS REASONS ARE SHOOTING ELSEWHERE. THEY MIGHT BE SHOOTING IN MEXICO OR CANADA OR PRAGUE OR, UM, AND THEY WILL FLY ME, BUT THEY WON'T FLY EVERYBODY. CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR IS PLANNING TO DOUBLE THE TAX CREDITS FOR PRODUCTIONS IN THE STATE TO $750m, AND ACTOR VIN DIESEL HAS ANNOUNCED FILMING ON THE NEXT INSTALMENT IN THE FAST AND FURIOUS FRANCHISE WILL RETURN TO L.A. HOLLYWOOD IS UNDER PRESSURE TO COMPETE. THE UK HAS PUT A TON OF EFFORT AND TIME AND MONEY AND THOUGHT AND INCENTIVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT IS DRAWING MAJOR, MAJOR PRODUCTIONS FROM PEOPLE LIKE DISNEY, NETFLIX, MARVEL MOVIES ARE BEING SHOT THERE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR L.A. BECAUSE CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN VERY SLOW TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER. HOLLYWOOD STILL PROVIDES FILMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TOURISTS. THE RACE IS ON TO HOLD ON TO THE FILMMAKERS TOO. AFTER NEARLY 2000 YEARS, THE ROMAN CITY OF POMPEII IS STILL REVEALING SOME OF ITS HISTORY. ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE UNCOVERED A WALL PAINTING WHICH WAS ALREADY 100 YEARS OLD WHEN THE CITY WAS BURIED BY VOLCANIC ASH MOUNT VESUVIUS ERUPTION IN 79 AD. ITV'S IAN WOODS HAS MORE. POMPEII CONTINUES TO GIVE UP ITS SECRETS ALMOST 2000 YEARS AFTER IT WAS LOST TO THE WORLD. THE LATEST EXAMPLE ` LIFE-SIZE FRIEZES DECORATING THE WALLS THE LATEST EXAMPLE ` LIFE-SIZE FREEXERS DECORATING THE WALLS THE LATEST EXAMPLE ` LIFE-SIZE FREEZERS DECORATING THE WALLS OF A BUNKERING ROOM IN A NEWLY EXCAVATED VILLA IN THE SHADOW OF MT VESUVIUS. WHAT'S EXCITING ARCHAEOLOGISTS IS THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND FRESCO EVER UNCOVERED TO FEATURE THE GOD OF WINE, DIONYSUS. DEVOTEES BELIEVED HE HAD THE POWER OF RESURRECTION. THIS DISCOVERY IS A KIND OF REBIRTH, BUT NOT QUITE WHAT BELIEVERS HOPED FOR. WE SEE HIS FOLLOWERS, AND AT THE CENTRE, WE SEE WHAT SEEMS TO BE JUST A NORMAL WOMAN, BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE CLEAR WHETHER SHE IS A MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE OR SOMEONE WHO WE COULD HAVE MET HERE IN THE STREETS OF POMPEII 2000 YEARS AGO. IT DATES FROM AROUND 40 YEARS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, SO IT'LL ALREADY HAVE BEEN A CENTURY OLD WHEN POMPEII WAS DESTROYED. OUR FASCINATION WITH THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS AND THE BURIAL OF NEARBY TOWNS IN PUMICE AND ASH IS SUCH THAT IT OFTEN FEATURES IN BOOKS AND MOVIES. ARCHIVE: EXCAVATION FORCES HAVE BEEN REMOVING THE LAVA INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS. POMPEII WAS ONLY REDISCOVERED IN THE 18TH CENTURY. AND NEARLY 300 YEARS LATER, ONLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE 66-ACRE SITE HAS BEEN FULLY EXCAVATED. THE BURIED TREASURE HAS BEEN DISPLAYED IN MUSEUMS WORLDWIDE, ALONG WITH CASTS MADE OF SOME OF THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE DISASTER. ITS POPULARITY AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION CREATES ITS OWN PROBLEMS. THE NUMBER OF DAILY VISITORS IS NOW LIMITED TO HELP PRESERVE THE REMAINS. BUT THE LATEST DISCOVERY WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW. SMALL GROUPS WILL BE ALLOWED IN BY APPOINTMENT, EVEN AS ARCHAEOLOGISTS CONTINUE TO UNCOVER MORE ROMAN DECOR NEARBY. LUCY'S HERE WITH SPORT AFTER THE BREAK. AND ONE OF OUR MOST PROMISING COACHING TALENTS IS HEADING OVERSEAS? THAT IS RIGHT. CLAYTON MACMILLAN HAS SIGNED A DEAL WITH MUNSTER, MEANING THIS WILL BE HIS LAST SUPER RUGBY SEASON. SO WHAT DOES NEW ZEALAND RUGBY MAKE OF THE MOVE? AND COULD IT PAVE THE WAY FOR A FUTURE ALL BLACKS COACHING ROLE? PLUS, IT'S BEEN DUBBED ONE OF THE BEST ONE DAY CENTURIES EVER ` AFGHANISTAN OPENER IBRAHIM ZADRAN SMASHES 177 TO SEND ENGLAND CRASHING OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY. AND LIAM LAWSON GETS IN A SPIN IN HIS FIRST OFFICIAL OUTING FOR RED BULL. (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) NEW ZEALAND RUGBY HAS DECLARED IT'S BACKING CLAYTON MCMILLAN IN HIS DECISION TO LEAVE THE CHIEFS AND THE COUNTRY AT THE END OF THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON. FOR A COACHING OPPORTUNITY OFFSHORE. MCMILLAN WILL TAKE OVER AS HEAD COACH OF IRISH CLUB SIDE MUNSTER, WHICH HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR. BUT WHILE RUGBY BOSSES HERE SAY IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION FOR NOW, THEY'RE HOPEFUL HE'LL RETURN TO THE FOLD IN THE FUTURE. CLAYTON MCMILLAN TURNING HIS BACK ON NEW ZEALAND RUGBY FOR NOW. THE TIMING IS JUST RIGHT TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE AND SEE IF I CAN, UM... CUT THE MUSTARD UP IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. GRANTED AN EARLY RELEASE WITH ONE YEAR LEFT ON CONTRACT AS CHIEFS HEAD COACH, MCMILLAN HAS SIGNED WITH MUNSTER THROUGH UNTIL 2028 AND WILL JOIN THE CLUB IN JULY. THIS IS THE RIGHT CALL FOR THE RIGHT MAN AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND WE BACK HIM, AND WE'VE GOT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE'LL BE KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH HIM. MCMILLAN HAS LED THE CHIEFS FRANCHISE TO THREE SUPER RUGBY FINALS SINCE TAKING OVER AS HEAD COACH IN 2021... HE'S CERTAINLY LEFT, I GUESS, THE CHIEFS IN A BETTER PLACE THAN HE FOUND IT. ...AND IS THOUGHT TO HAVE A BRIGHT COACHING FUTURE IN NEW ZEALAND, HAVING LED THE ALL BLACKS 15 ON THEIR NORTHERN TOUR LAST YEAR AND PREVIOUSLY COACHED THE MAORI ALL BLACKS. I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO MY CAREER. A LOT HAS 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. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER COACHING ROLE AT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. BUT CHRIS LENDRUM SAYS THERE IS NO DOUBT THE EXPERIENCE GAINED OFFSHORE WILL BETTER EQUIP HIM FOR WHEN HEAD COACHING ROLES ARISE IN THE FUTURE. IN TIME, IF CLAYTON GOES AND IS REALLY SUCCESSFUL AT MUNSTER AND HAS A WHOLE LOT OF GLOBAL EXPERIENCE ON HIS CV, THEN HE WILL BE A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR ANY NATIONAL PROGRAMME AROUND THE WORLD, AND THAT INCLUDES THE ALL BLACKS. BUT FOR NOW, HE'S GOT HIS SIGHTS SET ON ROUNDING OUT HIS SUPER RUGBY TENURE WITH A SUPER RUGBY TITLE. SOME OF THE BIG-NAME KIWIS ARENT FAR OFF THE PACE IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN IN MILLBROOK. JOSH GEARY WAS THE BEST OF THE LOCAL HOPES IN THE MORNING, CARDING A FIVE-UNDER-PAR 66. HIS EFFORT WAS LATER EQUALLED MICHAEL HENDRY JOINING HIM AT FIVE UNDER AND THE BEST OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS. IT IS A PERFECT AMOUNT. ONE THING YOU MIGHT WORRY ABOUT ABOUT PLAYING AN AFTERNOON ROUND IS THAT YOU MIGHT GET A BIT OF WIND COME., BIT OF A SHAKY START THE FIRST FEW HOLES. MADE A FEW ROUGH SWINGS AND MISSED A FEW GOOD CHANCES, BUT TO COME HOME STRONG AND GET MY FIRST BOGEY ON 13, IT WAS GOOD TO BOUNCE BACK WITH THREE BIRDIES ON THE TROT. HAPPY AS. THE 'STAR OF THE SOUTH' HAS PUT IT'S HAT IN THE RING FOR THE COUNTRY'S RICHEST HORSE RACE. 3-YEAR-OLD 'FILLY PIVOTEL TEN' WAS PURCHASED FOR JUST $15,000 AT THE 2022 WEANLING SALES, AND NOW, IN JUST OVER A WEEK'S TIME, SHE'LL RACE FOR AN EYEWATERING $3.5M IN THE FIRST EDITION OF THE NZB KIWI. TRAINED AND RIDEN BY CANTERBURY'S SAMANTHA WYNNE, IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR THE IRISH-BORN KIWI. GORDON FINDLATER CAUGHT UP WITH THEM. SAMANTHA WYNNE AND PIVOTAL TEN HAVE STRUCK UP QUITE THE PARTNERSHIP. HAVING RECENTLY GONE OUT ON HER OWN AS A TRAINER, THE STAR FILLY HAS HELPED PUT HER ON THE MAP. IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE, LIKE, IT, AND THE FACT THAT I TRAIN ON MYSELF, I JUST HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF, TO BE HONEST. PIVOTAL TEN IS NOW REGARDED AS ONE OF THE BEST 3-YEAR-OLDS IN THE COUNTRY. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WYNNE'S SMALL STABLE WERE EXPECTING WHEN SHE FIRST ARRIVED. WE TOOK HER ON AND SHE WAS JUST SO QUIET IN THE BARN. ACTUALLY, DIDN'T RIDE HER FOR THE FIRST 2 OR 3 WEEKS BECAUSE I HAD TO RIDE THE ROUGHER ONE. ONCE THE PAIR DID TEAM UP, IT'S BEEN QUITE THE RUN OF SUCCESS. FIVE WINS IN A ROW, THEIR MOST RECENT AT THE SOUTHLAND GUINEAS. SHE'S EIGHT LENGTHS IN FRONT. THE STAR OF THE SOUTH, PIVOTAL TEN! WAY TO GO THERE! THE PENNY IS STARTING TO DROP ON HER NOW AND THAT'S SCARY BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING BEFOREHAND, BUT SHE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW. AND SO SHE STARTED TO REALLY ENJOY IT AND WANTING TO JUMP AND TRUCK A BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, BUT WITHOUT OVERDOING IT. SO SHE'S JUST THE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL. HER NEXT TEST WILL SEE HER GO UP AGAINST AUSTRALASIA'S BEST ` PIVOTAL TEN NOMINATED BY SELANGOR TURF CLUB FOR NEXT WEEKEND'S $3.5M NZB KIWI SLOT RACE. I HAD A LOOK AT THE NOMINATIONS HERE TODAY AND NEARLY DIED WHEN I SEEN THE TRAINERS THERE, AND... AND THEN I WAS TOLD THAT NO FEMALE RIDER HAS A RIDE IN THE RACE EITHER. AND I SAID, THERE'S LITTLE OLD ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM ALL. YOU KNOW, I JUST HOPE I CAN NOT LET ANYBODY DOWN, YOU KNOW? I HOPE I CAN DO IT JUSTICE. MAKING THE STORY EVEN MORE REMARKABLE, THE FILLY WAS PURCHASED FOR JUST $15,000 AT THE 2022 WHEELING SALES BY OWNER COLIN WHITMAN. BIDDING FOR 15! IT IS A NICE LITTLE STORY, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU IT CAN HAPPEN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE HORSE. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PAY MILLIONS AND BARELY WIN A MAIDEN, YOU KNOW. AND THE ONLY SOUTHERNER IN THE FIELD, SHE'S SURE TO ATTRACT PLENTY OF SUPPORT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THE JOB JUSTICE AND DO THE SOUTH ISLAND PROUD, YOU KNOW. A BIG WIN AT ELLERSLIE WOULD CERTAINLY DESERVE A FEW MORE CARROTS. ENGLAND'S BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF CRICKET'S CHAMPION'S TROPHY, AFTER A RECORD CENTURY FROM ONE OF THEIR OPENING BATSMAN HELPED AFGHANISTAN TO A SENSATIONAL EIGHT-RUN VICTORY. IBRAHIM ZADRAN SMASHED THE TOURNAMENT'S HIGHEST-EVER INDIVIDUAL SCORE OF 177 OFF 146 BALLS, WITH 12 FOURS AND SIX SIXES, GUIDING THEM TO A TOTAL OF 325/7. JOE ROOT HELPED KEEP ENGLAND IN THE HUNT, NOTCHING UP 120 OFF 111 BALLS, BUT AFGHANISTAN HELD THEIR NERVE, EVENTUALLY BOWLING THEM OUT FOR 317 TO SECURE THE WIN. AS IT'S GONE FAR ENOUGH? IT HASN'T. THERE IS AN INVASION HERE FROM AFGHANISTAN. WHY NOT. AFGHANISTAN MUST NOW BEAT TWO-TIME CHAMPIONS AUSTRALIA IN THEIR FINAL GROUP B MATCH AT THE SAME VENUE TOMORROW TO SEAL THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT ICC TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL. FINALLY TONIGHT ` LIAM LAWSON HAS HAD A TUMULTUOUS FIRST OUTING FOR RED BULL ON THE FIRST DAY OF FORMULA ONE TESTING IN BAHRAIN. LAWSON SPUN HIS NEW RB-21 WHILE COMPLETING A LAP AROUND THREE HOURS INTO THE MORNING SESSION. IT IS A BIG MOMENT. HE HAS ACTUALLY KEPT IT MOSTLY ON THE TRACK AS WELL. DESPITE THE INCIDENT, THE KIWI COMPLETED 58 LAPS AND FINISHED EIGHTH FASTEST OVERALL. HOPEFULLY IT IS HOME FEW EARLY NERVES BEFORE THE SEASON GETS UNDERWAY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TIME. THAT IS WHY YOU DO THE TRAINING ` SO YOU CAN PUSH IT OUT THERE ON THE TRACK. SUMMER IS SCREECHING TO A HALT BUT NOT BEFORE ANOTHER FESTIVAL IN OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. FLARE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES STREET ART, AND THIS YEAR'S EVENT HAS A BIG DRAWCARD. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY WENT TO CHECK IT OUT. SUMMER IS SCREECHING TO A HALT, BUT NOT BEFORE ONE LAST FESTIVAL IN OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, AND THIS ONE IS A MAD ARRAY OF COLOUR. FLARE FESTIVAL IS ACTUALLY A FESTIVAL OF MURALS. AND GET THIS ` THE TALLEST MURAL IN THE COUNTRY IS BEING PAINTED ON THE SIDE OF AN INNER CITY HOTEL. AND I'M SORRY, AUCKLAND, YOU DID HAVE THE TALLEST MURAL, BUT THIS ONE IS BEATING IT BY JUST ONE STOREY. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO CATCH UP WITH THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED IT, AND WE EVEN GOT TO GO UP IN A SCISSOR LIFT TO SEE IT BEING DONE. MY NAME IS JACOB YIKES. I PAINT THE DTR CREW. SO, THE HEIGHT OF THE MURAL ITSELF WILL BE ABOUT 53M. THE AMOUNT OF PAINT ` I'VE USED ABOUT 300 LITRES OF DULUX PAINT AND ROUGHLY 350 CANS OF SPRAY PAINT. SO INITIALLY, I STARTED WITH A GRID, SO ALL THE, LIKE, SQUIGGLY RED LINES IN HERE WERE ALL OVER THE WALL AT FIRST. UM, AND THEN I OVERLAID THE IMAGE ON MY PHONE, AND I CAN BASICALLY SEE WHERE EVERYTHING GOES. THIS PART RIGHT NOW I'M JUST KIND OF FREE HANDING, THIS PART RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST KIND OF FREE HANDING, JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE LAST LITTLE BIT THAT I HAD LEFT OUT. SORT OF THE GIST OF THE MURAL REALLY IS KIND OF LIKE DERIVED FROM MY SUBCONSCIOUS, EFFECTIVELY. UM, IT'S` I WOULD CLASS IT AS LIKE A SURREALISM-TYPE MURAL. I HAVE LOST TRACK OF HOW LONG I'VE BEEN UP HERE. I'VE GOT, UM... I'VE GOT SOMEONE COMING TO HELP ME SHORTLY, BUT, I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE, LIKE, I'M PRETTY MUCH JUST TAPPED INTO WHAT I'M DOING. IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PAINT SOMETHING THIS SCALE, OBVIOUSLY. UM, WHEN I WAS INITIALLY ASKED TO DO IT, I WAS KIND OF A VERY KEEN BUT ALSO KIND OF WARY AT THE SCALE OF IT AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PAINT WHATEVER I WANT ON IT AS WELL. FLARE FESTIVAL IS ON FEBRUARY 20TH 7TH TO MARCH 9TH, AND IT'S FREE. FLARE FESTIVAL IS ON FEBRUARY 27TH TO MARCH 9TH, AND IT'S FREE. AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, STREET TOURS AND OTHER THINGS. SO IT'S TIME TO PAINT THE TOWN RED. ACTUALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO LEAVE THAT TO THE PROFESSIONALS. GOOD ADVICE. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER. AND THE END OF SUMMER IS APPROACHING. YES, IT'S OFFICIALLY AUTUMN ON SATURDAY, SEEMS STRANGE, BUT WE WILL SEE THIS SEASON OUT WITH SUNNY SKIES FOR LOTS OF PLACES. THE EASTERN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE WARMEST, SOME REACHING THE EARLY 30S. THERE MAY BE SOME SHOWERS FOR THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND THIS WEEKEND THERE MAY BE SOME SHOWERS FOR THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND THIS WEEKEND, THOUGH, AND THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND, WILL GET SOME TOO WITH TWO FRONTS ARRIVING ` ONE ON SATURDAY, THE OTHER ON SUNDAY. I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST, NEXT. NAU MAI ANO. THIS MONTH HAS BEEN A DRY ONE FOR MANY. SOME NORTH ISLAND AREAS MIGHT PICK UP A BIT MORE RAIN TOMORROW, BUT FOR MOST, IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR THE MONTHS SHORTFALL. BUT FOR MOST, IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR THE MONTH'S SHORTFALL. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, THAT WEAKENING FRONT MOVES SLOWLY UP THE EASTERN NORTH ISLAND AS THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM TO THE WEST SPREADS OVER TE WAI POUNAMU THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT THEN SHIFTS TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTS OF AOTEAROA AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM THE WEST. SO NOT TOO MUCH ACTION HERE. THAT HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM MEANS IT WILL BE A LARGELY DRY, THAT HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM MEANS IT WILL BE A LARGELY DRY AND A CLEAR DAY FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND WITH LIGHT WINDS, WITH JUST A BIT OF DRIZZLE AND CLOUD IN EASTERN AREAS. WE CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR TE IKA-A-MAUI. IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG. CENTRAL AREAS COULD SEE SOME HEAVY SHOWERS AS THAT FRONT SWEEPS OVER AND BRINGS THE ODD SHOWER TO PARTS OF COROMANDEL AND WAIKATO. AND THEN, TO THE WEST, IT'S LOOKING DRY. EASTERLIES WILL DEVELOP IN THE MORNING HERE. THEN A PARTLY CLOUDY START FOR NORTHLAND THAT WILL CLEAR FOR KAITAIA, FOR NORTHLAND. THAT WILL CLEAR FOR KAITAIA, BUT WHANGAREI WILL GET A SHOWER OR TWO. WHITIANGA SHOWERS WILL ARRIVE AFTER LUNCH. MORNING SHOWERS FOR SOME HERE. IT WILL GO ALL DAY FOR ROTORUA. BUT COME AFTERNOON, IT WILL CLEAR ALONG THE COAST, BUT THEN IT'LL BE TOKOROA AND TAUPO'S TURN. MOSTLY CLOUDY START HERE WITH A CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER, BUT THOSE FINE SPELLS WILL INCREASE IN THE AFTERNOON. MASTERTON THE HOTTEST PLACE HERE ON 24. AND IT'S A FINE MORNING HERE AND AFTERNOON TOO FOR MOST PLACES. TAUMARUNUI ` THOSE SHOWERS WILL ARRIVE FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND THEY COULD BE HEAVY AND THUNDERY. IT'S MORE SETTLED IN THE SOUTH. SOME MORNING CLOUD FOR NELSON. AND A PARTLY CLOUDY DAY FOR THE WEST COAST AND THEN OVERCAST IN THE EVENING WITH A CHANCE OF A SHOWER. A BIT OF MORNING CLOUD AND DRIZZLE FOR KAIKOURA AND SOME CLOUD ABOUT A BIT OF MORNING CLOUD AND DRIZZLE FOR KAIKOURA, AND SOME CLOUD ABOUT IN CHRISTCHURCH, BUT THEN FINE IN THE AFTERNOON. EVENING CLOUD ARRIVING FOR ASHBURTON, AND, TIMARU, A FINE FRIDAY ON THE CARDS FOR YOU HERE ` AND, TIMARU. AND TIMARU. A FINE FRIDAY ON THE CARDS FOR YOU HERE ` HAVEN'T SAID THAT FOR A WHILE. SOUTHWESTERLIES DEVELOPING FOR A BIT IN THE AFTERNOON IN QUEENSTOWN, AND SOME EVENING CLOUD FOR INVERCARGILL AND OBAN. DUNEDIN ` FINE APART FROM MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. NORTHEASTERLIES WILL BE FRESH IN EXPOSED PLACES. CHRISTCHURCH ` STRONG NORTHEASTERLIES IN THE MORNING. THEN YOU'LL HAVE CLOUD EITHER SIDE OF YOUR DAY WITH FINE SPELLS IN THE AFTERNOON. WELLINGTON, WHAT CAN I SAY? ANOTHER GOOD DAY AHEAD FOR YOU. LIGHT WINDS, THEN NORTHERLIES DEVELOPING AT NIGHT. A SIMILAR TEMPERATURE TO TODAY ` 24. THOSE EASTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN THE MORNING FOR HAWKES BAY. THEN A MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY WITH A CHANGE OF A SHOWER OR TWO. A WET START HERE. TAURANGA ` NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING. THEN MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS, MAINLY BEFORE LUNCH. A FINE MORNING FOR KIRIKIRIROA. THEN THAT CLOUD WILL DEVELOP TOWARDS MIDDAY WITH A FEW SHOWERS FROM AFTERNOON WITH NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING. AUCKLAND ` THE MORNING COMMUTE WILL BE DRY TOMORROW. A MAINLY FINE FRIDAY WITH PASSING CLOUD. NORTHEASTERLIES STRENGTHENING AFTER LUNCH. TO AUSTRALIA, AND PARTLY CLOUDY ALONG THE EAST COAST. TROPICAL CYCLONE ALFRED IS STRENGTHENING AND IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN ON SUNDAY AND REMAIN OVER THE CORAL SEA. AWAY FROM LAND IN THE PACIFIC, AWAY FROM LAND. IN THE PACIFIC, THE WEATHER HAS CALMED DOWN SOMEWHAT BUT COULD GET SOME THUNDERSTORMS IN NADI. BACK HOME, AND SOME SHOWERS TO START THE WEEKEND FOR MOST HERE. A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, SO SOME FINER WEATHER FOR THESE AREAS. MORE DRY WEATHER FOR TE MATATINI IN TARANAKI AND A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT SHOULD BE MOSTLY FINE. BLENHEIM GETTING UP TO 29 ON MONDAY. A FRONT WILL MOVE OVER THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND ON SATURDAY AND WEAKEN, AND THEN ANOTHER FRONT WILL DO THE SAME ON SUNDAY. SO SOME SHOWERS EXPECTED. AND THAT'S YOUR WEATHER I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS LOVELY SUNRISE FROM KEKERENGU IN MARLBOROUGH, A GREAT START TO THE DAY. BEAUTIFUL, LAURA. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT, THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON stuff.co.nz. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CATPIONS BY LELE SIMEON AND TOM CLARKE. 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