TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` WHAKAARI WHITE ISLAND OWNERS WIN THEIR APPEAL AGAINST CONVICTIONS OVER THE 2019 TRAGEDY AT THE VOLCANO. A VICTIM'S FAMILY SPEAKS OUT. A SHAKE UP IN THE WAY OUR SUBURBS ARE SHAPED. FROM WATER TO ROADS. A NEW WAY TO PAY FOR MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. WHAT IT'LL MEAN FOR RATEPAYERS. AND MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE DEATH OF ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S CINEMA GREATS. THE OSCAR-WINNING LEADING MAN GENE HACKMAN IS REMEMBERED. ALL RIGHT, POPEYE'S HERE! GET OFF THE BAR AND GET ON THE WALL. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU, TUI TIPENE AND LELE SIMEON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 THE OWNERS OF WHAKAARI WHITE ISLAND SAY THEY HOPE TODAY MARKS THE END OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO 2019'S DEADLY ERUPTION WHICH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 22 PEOPLE. THEY'VE WON AN APPEAL AGAINST A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONVICTION, THE HIGH COURT FINDING THEIR COMPANY DID NOT MANAGE OR CONTROL THE ISLAND. OUR BAY OF PLENTY REPORTER JORDYN RUDD HAS MORE. OOOH! OOOH! FOLLOW ME! LIVES CHANGED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES ON THE AFTERNOON OF DECEMBER 9TH 2019. WHAKAARI WHITE ISLAND EXPLODING IN ASH, SLUDGE AND NOXIOUS GASSES, CLAIMING LIVES AND LEAVING OTHERS PERMANENTLY SCARRED. BROTHERS ANDREW, JAMES, AND PETER BUTTLE OWN THE ISLAND. AT ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, THEIR COMPANY, WHAKAARI MANAGEMENT LTD, WAS FINED A MILLION DOLLARS, AND ORDERED TO PAY ALMOST $5m IN REPARATION TO THE VICTIMS, FOR BREACHING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT. WE WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE BUTTLES WILL DO. THE WORLD IS WATCHING. TODAY, THAT CONVICTION WAS QUASHED. IN A HIGH COURT JUDGMENT, JUSTICE SIMON MOORE SAID THE COMPANY DID NOT MANAGE OR CONTROL THE ISLAND. IT SIMPLY OWNED THE LAND AND PERMITTED WALKING TOUR OPERATORS TO VISIT. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S QUITE GOOD NEWS FOR THE BUTTLES. WE'VE NEVER HELD THEM TO ACCOUNT. I THINK WHERE WE'VE GONE WRONG AS A NATION IS, WE'VE PUT ALL OUR FAITH IN THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AND INTO WORKSAFE. AFTER THE ERUPTION, WORKSAFE LAID CHARGES AGAINST 13 DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING THE BUTTLE BROTHERS AND THEIR COMPANY. NOBODY GOES OUT THERE TO HURT ANYONE, NO ONE GOES OUT THERE TO KILL ANYONE, AND THEY ALL WERE FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES THEY WERE TOLD THEY HAD THAT WERE CORRECT. IN A STATEMENT WORKSAFE SAID... MEANWHILE THE LAWYER FOR THE BUTTLE BROTHERS SAID... IT'S NOT GOING TO BRING ANYBODY BACK AND TO POINT BLAME ISN'T WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. WE'RE ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT ADVENTURE-BASED TOURISM IS DONE CORRECTLY. CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES FOR SIX OTHER ENTITIES PROSECUTED BY WORKSAFE FOLLOWING THE DISASTER REMAIN. JORDYN RUDD, 1 NEWS. A FORMER AUCKLAND UNDERTAKER HAS ADMITTED TO INTERFERING WITH HUMAN REMAINS AND SCAMMING CLIENTS. FIONA BAKULICH WORKED FOR TIPENE FUNERALS, KNOWN FOR THEIR REALITY TELEVISION SERIES 'THE CASKETEERS'. JACOB JOHNSON WAS IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT, AND FILED THIS REPORT. FIONA BAKULICH REMAINED EXPRESSIONLESS, STANDING IN THE DOCK THIS MORNING, AS HER LAWYER ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS FOR ALL THE CHARGES SHE WAS FACING ` TWO COUNTS OF INTERFERING WITH HUMAN REMAINS AND 12 COUNTS OF OBTAINING MONEY BY DECEPTION, AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $18,000. MOST OF THOSE CHARGES RELATE TO BAKULICH CONVINCING FAMILIES TO PAY HER FOR COVID IMMUNISATIONS AND TREATMENTS FOR THEIR DECEASED LOVED ONES, WHICH WEREN'T REQUIRED OR ADMINISTERED. SHE ALSO DECEIVED SOMEONE INTO PAYING FOR INJECTIONS TO TREAT AN INFECTION ON THE GENITALS OF A DEAD LOVED ONE, WHICH AGAIN, WERE NEITHER NEEDED NOR ADMINISTERED. AS A FUNERAL DIRECTOR, THE DEFENDANT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE BODY OF THE DECEASED WERE CREMATED, BURIED, OR INTERRED IN LINE WITH REGULATIONS SET BY AUCKLAND COUNCIL. THE DEFENDANT WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED WERE OFFERED AND OBTAINED, WITHOUT DECEPTION, THE REQUIRED SERVICES. THE COURT HEARD HOW THE UNDERTAKER HAD MISHANDLED TWO BODIES AS WELL. HER OFFENDING CAME TO LIGHT AFTER THE CASKETS WERE DAMAGED DURING CYCLONE GABRIELLE. IN ONE CASE, IT WAS REVEALED SHE'D WRAPPED A BODY IN PLASTIC; IN THE OTHER, THE BODY WAS PLACED IN THE CASKET WITHOUT ANY PROTECTIVE COVERING OTHER THAN CLOTHING. FIONA BAKULICH WORKED FOR TIPENE FUNERALS IN AUCKLAND AND HAS APPEARED ON THE REALITY TV SHOW 'THE CASKETEERS'. THE COMPANY'S DIRECTORS DECLINED TO COMMENT. BAKULICH WAS GRANTED BAIL AND WILL BE SENTENCED IN APRIL. A NEW FUNDING SYSTEM FOR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IS BEING INTRODUCED IN A BID TO GET MORE HOMES BUILT. SET LEVIES FOR COSTS SUCH AS WASTEWATER AND ROADING WILL BE CHARGED TO DEVELOPERS. IT'S HOPED IT'LL BE THE END OF RATEPAYERS HAVING TO COUGH UP. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS HAS MORE. WHEN A NEW PROPERTY'S BUILT, THE DEVELOPER PAYS THE LOCAL COUNCIL A CONTRIBUTION FOR THE COST OF WATER AND ROADING INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN WILL THIS BE OPEN? IT'S GOING TO BE FINISHED, END OF MAY. EACH COUNCIL SETS ITS OWN COST, AND IT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HOUSING GROWTH. THIS IS THE SHOWHOME COMING TOGETHER. THIS DEVELOPER SAYS LOWER HUTT USED TO HAVE NO FEE, WHICH ACTED AS AN INCENTIVE, BUT THAT CHANGED RAPIDLY. FIVE YEARS ON, OUR DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INCREASING TO THE LIKES OF 300% OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS - A BACKLOG OF 140 HOMES OR APPLICATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL IS NOW ONLY 14. NOW THE GOVERNMENT'S AIMING TO BRING CONSISTENCY, DITCHING CONTRIBUTION FEES IN A PROPOSED LAW CHANGE, AND INTRODUCING SET DEVELOPMENT LEVIES TO STOP RATEPAYERS PICKING UP THE CHEQUE. IN AUCKLAND THEY ESTIMATE THAT $330 MILLION IN GROWTH INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS FOR DRURY WILL BE MET BY RATEPAYERS. THERE'LL BE A STANDARD METHOD FOR CALCULATING LEVIES, AND A REGULATOR WILL OVERSEE THE LEVY PRICES. IT GIVES THE COUNCIL MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN IT. HE'S GOT OUR SUPPORT AT THE MOMENT. WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FLEXIBLE TOOLS AND FUNDING FOR COUNCILS FOR A LONG TIME SO THIS IS A REALLY SOLID START. DEVELOPERS ARE CAUTIOUSLY WELCOMING THE CHANGE TOO. CONSISTENCY FOR US AND THE COUNCIL SAVES COSTS ON RESOURCES, TIME AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE END USER GETS A CHEAPER PRODUCT. THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION LATER THIS YEAR, AND HAVE IT PASSED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT-YEAR. THE NEW FINANCIAL SYSTEM WOULD BE IN PLACE BY 2027. OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES INCLUDE ALLOWING COUNCILS TO SET A SPECIFIC RATE FOR A DEVELOPMENT, REFORMING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND FINANCING ACT, AND ALLOWING MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS TO CHARGE LEVIES TO THOSE WHO'LL BENEFIT, LIKE NEARBY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. IT WILL LEAD TO A MORE TRANSPARENT SYSTEM, A MORE PREDICTABLE SYSTEM, A MORE CERTAIN SYSTEM, AND IT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO FOR GROWTH. HE SAYS THE FINANCIAL CHANGES ARE THE BIGGEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S SEEN IN MANY YEARS. COUNCILS SAY THEY CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING NELSON POLICE SENIOR SERGEANT LYN FLEMING HAS TODAY DENIED CHARGES OF MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER. BUT THE 32-YEAR-OLD ADMITTED OTHER CHARGES IN RELATION TO THE NEW YEAR'S DAY INCIDENT. JESSICA RODEN WAS IN COURT. THE ACCUSED MAN PLEAD NOT GUILTY TODAY TO A RAFT OF CHARGES, INCLUDING MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER. HE PLEAD GUILTY TO TWO CHARGES, WHICH WERE DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED. THIS FOLLOWS THE DEATH OF LYN FLEMING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, AFTER SHE AND COLLEAGUE ADAM RAMSEY WERE STRUCK BY A VEHICLE IN BUXTON SQUARE CAR PARK IN CENTRAL NELSON. THE HEARING HAPPENED TODAY IN BLENHEIM, BECAUSE OVER THE WEEKEND, THE NELSON COURTHOUSE WAS CLOSED UNEXPECTEDLY FOR EARTHQUAKE STRENGTHENING. MEMBERS OF LYN'S FAMILY DID COME HERE TODAY FOR THE HEARING, WHILE OTHERS ALSO WATCHED ONLINE. IT'S EXPECTED AT THIS STAGE THAT THE TRIAL WILL BE THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. THE ACCUSED MAN'S LAWYER TODAY, INDICATING HE WOULD LIKELY APPLY TO HAVE THE TRIAL MOVED OUTSIDE OF NELSON. A MAN CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF HAWKE'S BAY TEEN ARIKI RIGBY HAS PLEADED GUILTY TODAY. JIMMY HEREMAIA (32) PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF MURDER AND ARSON. RIGBY'S BODY WAS FOUND IN A BURNT-OUT CAR IN A HAVELOCK NORTH RESERVE IN 2022. FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR POLICE INVESTIGATION, HEREMAIA WAS ARRESTED LATE LAST YEAR. AND A SECOND MAN WAS ALSO ARRESTED, ADMITTING PARTY TO ARSON. THE PAIR WILL BE SENTENCED IN APRIL AT THE NAPIER HIGH COURT THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS TACKING THE BLAZE IN WAIPOUA FOREST WILL DOUBLE TOMORROW IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE CONDITIONS SAFE FOR EVACUATED RESIDENTS TO RETURN. FIRE AND EMERGENCY SAY THERE'LL BE AROUND 100 CREW ON THE GROUND. HELICOPTERS AND HEAVY MACHINERY WILL ALSO BE DEPLOYED. THE AIMS IS TO PUSH IN ON THE CONTAINMENT LINES AND HAVE THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. A CREW WILL BE USING THERMAL IMAGING OVERNIGHT TO IDENTIFY HOTSPOTS. A POLICE INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY IN THE U.S STATE OF NEW MEXICO AFTER THE BODIES OF OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE WERE FOUND IN THEIR HOME. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'D BEEN DEAD FOR SOME TIME, AND WHILE THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF INJURY, POLICE HAVEN'T RULED OUT FOUL PLAY. THE ACTOR (95) WAS FOUND IN A SIDE ROOM NEAR HIS KITCHEN, WHILE BETSY ARAKAWA (65) WAS FOUND IN A BATHROOM. A DOG WAS ALSO FOUND DEAD. POLICE SAY THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A GAS LEAK OR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. TRIBUTES ARE BEING PAID TO THE ACTOR GENE HACKMAN, WHO WON TWO OSCARS IN A CAREER THAT SPANNED MORE THAN SIX DECADES. THE BBC'S DAVID SILLITO LOOKS BACK AT HIS MOST MEMORABLE WORK. AYE, POPEYE'S HERE. MAYBE WE SHOULD START WITH THIS. GET OFF THE BAR AND GET ON THE WALL. GENE HACKMAN AS POPEYE DOYLE IN THE FRENCH CONNECTION ` AN OSCAR-WINNING MASTERPIECE. COME ON. TURN AROUND! TURN AROUND! MOVE! WAIT! OR MAYBE SUPERMAN, IN WHICH HE PLAYED THE EVIL REAL ESTATE DEALER LEX LUTHER. AND LEX BABY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHERE HE IS. HERE, RELAXING IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THE WORLD IS A BIG PLACE. AS IT TURNS OUT, I HAVE THIS AFFINITY FOR A... BEACHFRONT PROPERTY. LET'S HIT IT. IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY STANDOUT PERFORMANCES. I'M HAVING A BALL ` SCRAPPIN' AND YELLIN'. I'VE GOT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS ON MY MIND THAN THAT GARBAGE. BUT HE'S WORKED HARD FOR IT. HE WAS IN HIS MID-30s BEFORE HE HAD ANY REAL SUCCESS. BONNIE AND CLYDE... TAKE A GOOD LOOK, POP. I'M BUCK BARROW. ...WON HIS FIRST OSCAR NOMINATION. TO THE BARROW BOYS! AND AFTER THAT, HIS BIG BREAK ` BLEAK, BRUTAL, GRIPPING. THE FRENCH CONNECTION TURNED HIM INTO ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S MOST COMPELLING TOUGH GUYS. BUT THE ROLE DIDN'T COME NATURALLY. MATTER OF FACT, THE SECOND DAY OF SHOOTING, I HAD ASKED THE DIRECTOR TO REPLACE ME BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I COULD DO IT. I WAS POPPING THESE GUYS IN THE MOUTH AND PLAYING THIS TOUGH GUY, AND IT WAS` IT WAS REAL TOUGH. I HAD NEVER PLAYED A ROLE QUITE THAT DEMANDING. AND AFTER A WHILE, YOU PUNCH SOMEBODY LONG ENOUGH, YOU GET KIND OF USED TO IT, YOU KNOW? I AIN'T GONNA HURT NO WOMAN. BUT HE DID GET VERY GOOD AT IT... I'M GONNA HURT YOU. WITH AN OSCAR FOR 'UNFORGIVEN' AND ANOTHER NOMINATION FOR 'MISSISSIPPI BURNING'. NOW, YOU EITHER GO ON THE RECORD FOR US RIGHT NOW, OR IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR ASS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, NOT JUST THE BLACK KIDS. HE DEMANDED HIGH STANDARDS, BOTH OF HIMSELF AND THOSE AROUND HIM. HE WAS A GREAT ONE. HE WAS A TOUGH NUT, GENE HACKMAN, BUT HE WAS REALLY GOOD. AND HE WAS REALLY DIFFICULT. WE CAN SAY IT NOW, BUT HE WAS A TOUGH GUY BECAUSE.. OLDER, GREAT ACTORS DO NOT GIVE YOUNG DIRECTORS MUCH OF A CHANCE. AND ALL THIS FROM AN ACTOR WHO WAS, ALONG WITH HIS LIFELONG FRIEND DUSTIN HOFFMAN, VOTED 'LEAST LIKELY TO SUCCEED' AT ACTING SCHOOL. HE MAY HAVE LACKED TRADITIONAL FILM IDOL GOOD LOOKS, BUT HE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A STAR. AND FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, WHO DIRECTED GENE HACKMAN, DESCRIBED HIM TODAY AS 'INSPIRING AND MAGNIFICENT IN HIS WORK AND COMPLEXITY'. IN THE PAST HALF HOUR, THE TOP 12 KAPA HAKA AT TE MATATINI HAVE FINALLY BEEN ANNOUNCED, INCLUDING REIGNING CHAMPS TE KAPA HAKA O TE WHANAU APANUI AND PAST WINNER TE WAKA HUIA. OUR MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI REPORTS. (MAN SINGS IN TE REO MAORI) IT'S THE FINAL STAND BEFORE THE FINAL SHOW. THE TOP 12 MAY HAVE BEEN DECIDED... (ALL SING IN TE REO MAORI) ...BUT MANY HERE HAVE ALREADY WON THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE. SEE THE MAGIC, HEAR THE MAGIC, FEEL THE MAGIC. WE NEED THAT. ON THE EVE OF THE LAST DAY, THE FEELING ON THE GROUND IS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE. WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITES SO FAR? TE TAUMATA. WOW, THEY WERE HOT. HE WHAKAUE. NGA TUMANAKO. ME TE AHIKAROA! THE NEXT GENERATION OF KAIHAKA ARE INSPIRED. I'M COMPETING AGAINST ROLE MODELS TOO, YEAH. AND EVEN THOSE NOT FROM HERE ARE MOVED. I'M AMAZED AT HOW GOOD THEY ARE. I AM GOBSMACKED. I CAN'T EVEN GET AROUND THE WORDS, NEVER MIND THE ACTIONS. IN A WORD, GOOSEBUMPS. YEAH, IT'S JUST GOOSEBUMPS. YOU JUST START GETTING GOOSEBUMPS WHEN YOU HEAR THEM, YOU KNOW, HEAR THE HAKA AND HEAR THE WAIATA. IT'S JUST, YEAH, SOMETHING SPECIAL. (ALL SING IN TE REO MAORI) WHILE THEY ALL CAME TO WIN, EVEN SOME OF OUR KAPA HAKA GREATS HAVE BIGGER PRIZES WAITING BACK AT HOME. ...I WHANAU MAI I NGA WIKI KI MURU NEI. KORO WILL BE HOME SOON. ...TENEI TO PAPA, TO KOROUA, PAPA D, E KI ANA KI A KOE. MWAH! WITH JUST ONE MORE DAY TO GO... AND A FINAL CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR MARK. TE ANIWA, THE FINALISTS ARE ALL SET. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TOMORROW? TOMORROW IS ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE. IT IS FINAL STAY AFTER A VERY LONG WEEK. TO TALK TO US IS SCOTTY MORRISON. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TOP 12? I THINK THE JUDGES HAVE BEEN SAFE WITH THEIR SELECTIONS. THERE IS NO BOLTERS OF THE TOP 12, SO THERE ARE PRETTY MUCH WELL-ESTABLISHED GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN REGULAR IN THE FINAL STAY, AND SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I THINK THERE WERE SOME GROUPS THAT HAVE PERFORMED OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS WHO WERE OUTSTANDING, SOME OF THE GROUPS FROM HERE IN TARANAKI. MURI WHENUA WERE AWESOME THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE ESTABLISHED GROUPS HAVE MADE IT THE WRONG REPUTATION. IN SAYING THAT, SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE VERY EXPERIENCED WITH FINALS AND PARTICIPATING HERE IN TE MATATINI, THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE A RUN ON THE FINAL STAY. THEY MIGHT PERFORM AT 90% DURING THE PULL PERIOD, BUT WHEN THEY HIT THE FINALS, IT GOES UP. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A WEEK. HAS THERE BEEN A MOMENT THAT REALLY DRAWS YOU? THE POWHIRI. THEY ARE KNOWN HERE FOR THE PROPHETS WHO WERE VERY STRONG ADVOCATES OF PEACE AND OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE. IN THE HOSPITALITY AND THE TRANQUIL NATURE OF THE PEOPLE HERE WAS LAID DOWN AT THE POWHIRI. IT HAS BEEN A THEME THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. AS YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. YOU FELT SO COMFORTABLE HERE AND OVERWHELMED WITH THE GENEROSITY OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE THAT IT IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO LIVE TOMORROW AFTERNOON. WE HAVE BEEN SPOILED. HOPEFULLY THIS TIME TOMORROW WE KNOW WHO THE WINNERS ARE. THANKS, TE ANIWA AND SCOTTIE. JUST AHEAD ` CONTROVERSIAL INFLUENCERS THE TATE BROTHERS WHO ARE FACING SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES IN ROMANIA ARE UNEXPECTEDLY ALLOWED TO FLY TO THE U.S. NEXT ` THE QUESTIONS RAISED OVER THE MOVE AND THE BROTHERS' LINKS TO DONALD TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE. THEN OPENING THE THROTTLE ON TRADE WITH VIETNAM. BUT COULD THERE BE SPEEDBUMPS AHEAD? HOW CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S NAVIGATING THE COUNTRY'S PAST ISSUES WITH CORRUPTION. FEELING LIKE THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE IS ALWAYS GRUMPY? SCIENCE HAS A NAME FOR IT ` MISERABLE MAN SYNDROME. BUT WHAT'S THE CURE? AND SHE'S BACK ` 12 YEARS OLD, FEARLESS, AND READY TO TAKE ON THE MANU WORLD CHAMPS AGAIN. CAN SHE FINALLY CLAIM THE TITLE? PLUS ` AMATEUR ACTORS FROM DARGAVILLE HAVE BEEN PLUCKED FROM THEIR LOCAL THEATRE TO PERFORM ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA. NAU MAI HOKI MAI. BOOSTING BUSINESS HAS BEEN THE FOCUS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE FINAL DAY OF HIS TRIP TO VIETNAM. WHILE ONE KIWI COMPANY'S ALREADY SEEING THE BENEFITS, TRADING THERE CAN HAVE ITS CHALLENGES. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS EXPLAINS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON RIDING HIGH IN VIETNAM... STAND OUT OF THE WAY, TEAM. (CHUCKLING) ...WHERE HE'S COME TO TRY TO TURBO-CHARGE TRADE. WE ARE INVESTING IN RELATIONSHIPS HERE IN VIETNAM SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT MONEY INTO KIWI'S BACK POCKETS. BUT DOING BUSINESS IN VIETNAM ISN'T ALWAYS STRAIGHTFORWARD. IN RECENT YEARS, VIETNAM HAS LAUNCHED A MASSIVE ANTI-CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN, IN AN OPERATION KNOWN AS BURNING FURNACE. VAST NUMBERS OF OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED FOR CORRUPT PRACTICES, AND IT'S CLAIMED THE SCALPS OF SOME OF VIETNAM'S TOP POLITICAL LEADERS, INCLUDING THEIR FORMER NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN SEEN HERE WITH JACINDA ARDERN IN 2022. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT KIWI COMPANIES ARE RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS HERE? IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE RAISED WITH ME, BUT WHAT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH WAS, IN MY TOP TO TOPS WITH ACTUALLY ALL FOUR LEADERS, THEY TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR GOVERNANCE, AND MAKING SURE THEY WERE CRACKING DOWN ON CORRUPTION, AND THERE HAS BEEN A BIG FOCUS ON THAT. WHAT WILL NEW ZEALAND'S ADVICE BE TO COMPANIES HERE WHO MIGHT BE COMING UP AGAINST HAVING TO PAY BRIBES OR COMING UP AGAINST CORRUPTION? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR PAYING BRIBES AT ALL, BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH OUR DELEGATION HERE. I'M CHRIS, NICE TO MEET YOU. PART OF HIS MISSION HERE ` TALKING UP KIWI COMPANIES TO THE VIETNAMESE. ITS A VERY CLEVER PRODUCT. VERY, VERY CLEVER. FOR ONE BUSINESS, THAT'S ALREADY HELPED OPEN DOORS WITH VIETNAM'S GOVERNMENT. WE USE SATELLITE DATA TO BASICALLY TRACK EVERY VESSEL ON THE OCEAN IN REAL TIME AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY. AND WE USE THAT TO DETECT RISKS TO SOVEREIGN BORDERS. INCLUDING SUSPECTED SABOTAGE OF UNDERSEA CABLES. EVEN IN SOME SITUATIONS WITH SABOTAGE, WE CAN GIVE A GOOD SENSE OF WHO THESE CHARACTERS ARE. AND THAT ALLOWS AGENCIES TO TAKE ACTION FASTER. AND THAT HAPPENS A FAIR BIT AROUND HERE, DOES IT? OH, IT JUST HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO IN TAIWAN. AND THEY APPREHENDED A COUPLE OF VESSELS THAT THEY SUSPECT THAT WERE INVOLVED. AND WHILE THE PRIME MINISTER WAS DINING OUT ON A LOCAL DELICACY ` SNAILS ` HE'LL BE HOPING THIS VISIT DELIVERS SPEEDY RESULTS FOR KIWI COMPANIES. BENEDICT'S LIVE FROM HO CHI MINH NOW. AND BENEDICT, THE PRIME MINISTER'S HAD TO TREAD QUITE CAREFULLY WITH A SENSITIVE INVESTIGATION INVOLVING BOTH NATIONS. TELL US ABOUT THAT. THIS RELATES TO AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN NEW ZEALAND LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR THE VIETNAMESE PRIME MINISTER CAME TO NEW ZEALAND FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT. IT IS ALLEGED THAT SEVERAL OFFICIALS CONNECTED WITH THAT VISIT ASSAULTED PEOPLE IN A WELLINGTON RESTAURANT. I ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER WHETHER HE HAD RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VIETNAMESE COUNTERPARTS THIS WEEK AND HE TOLD ME, NO HE HASN'T. MY UNDERSTANDING IS HE HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED AND DEFEATED IT COULD BE SEEN AS INTERFERENCE AND COULD BE SHOWING PREJUDICE. CHRISTOPHER LUXON DID TELL US THAT THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE AND VIETNAMESE POLICE ARE WORKING CLOSELY ON THIS CASE AND THAT THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE TRAVEL TO VIETNAM LAST WEEK TO SEE OF HOW THEY CAN GET THESE OFFICIALS BACK TO NEW ZEALAND TO FACE JUSTICE. THE PROMISE OF TOLD US HIS TOP CONCERN AS THE VICTIMS. THANKS, BENEDICT. PHARMAC CHIEF EXECUTIVE SARAH FITT IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER SEVEN YEARS IN THE ROLE. THE BOARD OF THE DRUG-BUYING AGENCY THANKED SARAH FITT FOR HER LEADERSHIP, AND SAID IT WOULD START RECRUITING HER REPLACEMENT SHORTLY. PHARMAC'S ORGANISATION HAS BEEN UNDER REVIEW SINCE DECEMBER WITH CHAIRWOMAN PAULA BENNETT CALLING FOR IT TO BE 'SHORT AND SHARP'. SELF-CONFESSED MISOGYNIST AND INFLUENCER ANDREW TATE AND HIS BROTHER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE ROMANIA, AND FLY BY PRIVATE JET TO FLORIDA, DESPITE FACING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RAPE CHARGES. THE PAIR HAD BEEN UNDER A TRAVEL BAN, BUT QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED OVER WHETHER A STRONG LINK TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS BEHIND ROMANIA'S U-TURN. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON REPORTS. FRESH OFF A PRIVATE JET AND BACK IN FLORIDA. THE LATEST TWIST IN THE CASE OF SELF-DESCRIBED MISOGYNIST ANDREW TATE. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WHERE IT'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, AND I THINK MY BROTHER AND I ARE LARGELY MISUNDERSTOOD. WITH MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS WORLDWIDE, HIS FANS SEE HIM AS A MODERN ROLE MODEL OF MASCULINITY. OTHERS SAY HE'S DANGEROUS. UK POLICE LINKING HIM TO THE RADICALISATION OF BOYS AND YOUNG MEN, RESULTING IN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. THERE'S A LOT OF OPINIONS ABOUT US, A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO AROUND ABOUT US ON THE INTERNET. WE'VE YET TO BE CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME IN OUR LIVES EVER. SINCE THEIR ARREST IN ROMANIA IN 2022 ON CHARGES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING, ANDREW AND TRISTAN TATE HAVE BEEN UNDER A TRAVEL BAN OVER THE YEARS, JAILED OR UNDER HOUSE ARREST WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS SEIZED. NOW, MUCH OF THAT HAS SUDDENLY BEEN RETURNED AND BAIL CONDITIONS DRAMATICALLY LOOSENED. IT'S UNCLEAR WHY. DONALD TRUMP IS THE FUTURE OF THE WESTERN WORLD. WHAT IS CLEAR IS ANDREW TATE'S A BIG DONALD TRUMP FAN. ONE OF HIS LAWYERS NOW WORKS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. TRUMP'S SPECIAL ENVOY RECENTLY RAISED THE BROTHER'S CASE WITH ROMANIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER. YEAH, I JUST KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. WE'LL CHECK IT OUT. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW. OTHERS AREN'T CONVINCED. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING TO THE WORLD THAT ANYONE WITH THE MONEY AND INFLUENCE CAN ESCAPE UNPUNISHED IN ROMANIA? THE TATE BROTHERS ARE DUE BACK IN ROMANIA AT THE END OF MARCH AND STILL FACE SEPARATE RAPE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES IN THE UK. THE ALLEGED VICTIMS ARE FURIOUS. THEY'RE JUST DISGUSTED, DISMAYED, DISTRAUGHT. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. WHY WOULD THE SO-CALLED MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD INTERVENE ON, ON THE BEHALF OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S WORST AND MOST PROLIFIC ALLEGED SEX TRAFFICKERS AND RAPISTS? WHETHER THE TATE'S RETURN TO ROMANIA REMAINS TO BE SEEN. FOR NOW, THEY'RE STAYING CLOSE TO SOME POWERFUL FRIENDS. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, LONDON. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE U.S SLAPPED A 10% TARIFF ON CHINESE IMPORTS, DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE NOW PLANS TO DOUBLE IT FROM NEXT WEEK. IT CAME AS THE U.S. PRESIDENT SAID PLANS FOR A 25% TARIFF ON PRODUCTS FROM MEXICO AND CANADA WILL ALSO GO AHEAD NEXT WEEK FOLLOWING A MONTH-LONG PAUSE ` POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA HE SAID NOT ENOUGH ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN TO STOP THE FLOW OF THE DRUG FENTANYL INTO THE U.S. LEADERS OF BOTH MEXICO AND CANADA SAY THEY HOPE TO REACH A DEAL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO TARIFFS COMING INTO FORCE ON MARCH 4TH. E HAERE AKE NEI, STILL AHEAD ` IT'S BEEN UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY AFTER CONCERNS WERE RAISED LAST YEAR ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE. NEXT ` THE MAJOR CHANGE AT CHRISTCHURCH'S ORANA WILDLIFE PARK REVEALED TODAY. PLUS, AFTER YEARS CAMPAIGNING AND DONATING, WE'RE AT THE OPENING OF THE SOUTHERN CHARITY HOSPITAL. I'LL TELL YOU WHEN THE FIRST PATIENTS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE DOORS. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` IS YOUR PARTNER'S BAD MOOD MORE THAN A BAD DAY? 'MISERABLE MAN SYNDROME' IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK. AND BEST BOMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE ARE MAKING WAVES. WE CATCH UP WITH A FATHER-DAUGHTER DYNASTY PLANNING TO MAKE A SPLASH AT THE WORLD MANU COMPETITION. PLUS, A MOUNTAIN IN CHINA HAS THE INTERNET HOWLING. DO YOU THINK THIS PEAK LOOKS LIKE A GIANT PUP? THAT AND MUCH MORE COMING UP AT 7. Um, where's my phone? It's right there, son. No. I'm certain that's your phone. No. This is my phone. The one with the googly camera, no scratches. This is not my phone day Santa. This is mine boy frog. Not true gnome king. Is so Man-Witch. Elf lord. Elf lord. Mince and cheese. Mince and cheese. Not-ting. Yes it is. You could ditch that old dunger. There's a few ways I can get you a new one. Yes! this is your... Shhh... VOICEOVER: We've made it easy to get you a new phone, whenever you want. One New Zealand, let's get connected. KIA ORA MAI ANO. CHRISTCHURCH'S ORANA WILDLIFE PARK HAS APPOINTED A NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOLLOWING SEVERAL REVIEWS OF ITS ANIMAL WELFARE PRACTICES AND CULTURE. RACHEL HAYDON IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM OF NEW ZEALAND IN NAPIER. SHE REPLACES LYNN ANDERSON, WHO HELD THE TOP JOB AT THE ZOO FOR 28 YEARS, BUT RESIGNED LAST YEAR AMID SEVERAL EXTERNAL REVIEWS. THE ZOO ASSOCIATION AND M.P.I INVESTIGATING AFTER A 1NEWS SERIES WHERE 20 WHISTLE-BLOWERS CAME FORWARD WITH CONCERNS. A REPORT IN DECEMBER RECOMMENDED EXTENSIVE CHANGES, WHICH THE ZOO ACCEPTED AS IT BEGINS WHAT IT CALLS A 'JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION'. THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE STARTS IN APRIL. A NEW HOSPITAL HAS OPENED TODAY, INSPIRED BY THE LATE CANCER-SUFFERER BLAIR VINING'S CAMPAIGN FOR MORE ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE. AFTER YEARS OF FUNDRAISING AND CONSTRUCTION, THE SOUTHLAND CHARITY HOSPITAL WILL SERVE THOSE UNABLE TO ACCESS CARE THROUGH THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SYSTEMS. OUR REPORTER IN THE SOUTH JARED MCCULLOCH REPORTS. A BUCKET LIST DREAM. NOW OFFICIALLY, A REALITY. WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT A LOVELY SOUTHERN ROGUE WOULD INSPIRE SUCH TREMENDOUS CHANGE. MANY HANDS INVOLVED TO REALISE BLAIR VINING'S VISION. BETTER TREATMENT, BETTER CANCER CARE FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS. THE SOUTHLAND FARMER DIED FROM AGGRESSIVE BOWEL CANCER IN 2019. TOLD IT'D TAKE TWELVE WEEKS TO SEE AN ONCOLOGIST AND GIVEN EVEN LESS TIME TO LIVE. NOW, THE SOUTHERN CHARITY HOSPITAL'S OPEN, GIVING HEALTH AND DENTAL ACCESS TO THOSE IN NEED. WHAT DO YOU THINK BLAIR'S THINKING RIGHT NOW? PROBABLY NOT WORDS THAT I CAN SAY, BUT I FEEL LIKE HE WOULD BE LOUD AND SHOUTY AND HE WOULD JUST BE SO PROUD OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON, AND I THINK HE'D BE SMILING AND HE'S PUT THE SUN ON FOR US YET AGAIN, SO I'M PRETTY GRATEFUL. GRATEFUL THROUGH 13,000 BRICKS. BELTS ON THE FIELD FROM HIS FAVOURITE GAME, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. RED, BLACK AND WHITE - ALL IN A BID TO RAISE THE FUNDS. TO CONVERT A TAVERN INTO THEATRE ROOMS. IT'S ENORMOUSLY HEARTWARMING AND I THINK AS WELL THAT JUST REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY REALLY FEELS THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS PLACE AND YEAH, I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT TO THEM. THE PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE CARE HERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE MISS OUT ALTOGETHER. TODAY, A DAY OF FINAL CHECKS. WE'VE GOT THE DENTAL CHAIR THERE. WE'RE READY TO GO IN AND GETTING STARTED REALLY AND GETTING THOSE PROCEDURES DONE. AND FINISHING TOUCHES. THERE WE GO, THAT'S ME. BRENT DAVIDSON'S ONE OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS ON THE PROJECT. MY SON PASSED AWAY WITH CANCER 10 YEARS AGO, AND I'VE GOT A BRICK HERE, OF COURSE, WITH HIS NAME ON IT, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE JUST TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. NOW THE BUILD'S COMPLETE AFTER SIX TIRELESS YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING. DO YOU FEEL BUGGERED AFTER ALL THIS TIME? (LAUGHS) THAT'S DEFINITELY HOW I FEEL. IT'S BEEN LONG AND THERE'S BEEN DEFINITE CHALLENGES. I'M DEFINITELY GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO HAVE A WEE TWO WEEK HOLIDAY COMING UP. A SHORT BREAK BEFORE GETTING STRAIGHT BACK IN TO THE NEXT BIG CHAPTER. JARED MCCULLOCH, 1 NEWS. JARED, WHEN ARE THE FIRST PATIENTS EXPECTED? VERY SOON IN FACT. THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE MEDICAL SERVICES ABOUT THE REFERRALS OF THOSE FIRST PATIENTS AND THEY ARE EXPECTED AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH. AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN LOOKING OUT FOR MEDICAL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND THEY HAVE QUITE A LIST TO GET THEM. THERE HAS BEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FROM AS FAR AWAY AS AUCKLAND TO PROVIDE SPECIALIST NEED. IT WAS VERY VISIBLE WITH THE CROWDS THAT WERE HERE. MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE TURNED UP. EVERYONE HELPED WITH THE BUILDING AND RENOVATION OF THE HOSPITAL. THOSE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE. THEY WILL ENSURE TO GET THROUGH AS MANY PATIENTS AS THEY CAN DO THIS HOSPITAL, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS HELPED TO BLAIR ACHIEVE HIS WISH. ANOTHER WEEKEND, ANOTHER BIG GAME FOR AUCKLAND FC. SO WHAT WILL A WIN TOMORROW MEAN ON THE A-LEAGUE TABLE? AS TWO OLD MATES MEET WITH VERY DIFFERING GOALS. YOU WANT GOALS, OR BASKETS? STEPH CURRY GOES ON A RECORD-BREAKING RUN IN THE NBA. PLUS ` THE FOURTH EDITION OF SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI IS UPON US. WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME ROUND? AND IN WEATHER, WE'RE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND, AND OVERALL, IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO BAD. WE'VE GOT AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FRONTS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE WILL BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND. BUT OTHERWISE, THERE'S SOME MORNING CLOUD, A GOOD-LOOKING DAY, SOME DECENT SUNSHINE, BUT HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE AFTER SPORT. ANEI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TONIGHT THERE'S NO LET UP FOR THE NEW AUCKLAND FC FOOTBALL TEAM. JUST A WEEK AFTER A CRUSHING VICTORY IN THE LOCAL DERBY, AUCKLAND NOW FACES A TOP-OF-THE-TABLE SHOWDOWN AGAINST ADELAIDE UNITED. A WIN TOMORROW AND THEY'LL PUT EVEN MORE SPACE BETWEEN THEM AND THE CHASING PACK. WINNERS ARE BIG GRINNERS ` JUST ASK AUCKLAND FC MANAGER STEVE CORICA. ANNA MOWBRAY DANGLED SOME CAR KEYS IN FRONT OF YOU. IT WAS A BET I WON. IT WAS A BET I WON. SO I HAD A BET WITH ANNA ABOUT THE THIRD DERBY, IF WE WERE TO WIN IT. SO, YEAH, I GOT A CAR FOR A WEEK. A NEW CAR FOR A WEEK. YEAH. NOT A TORANA OR A COMMODORE? NO, DEFINITELY WASN'T. BUT IT WAS A VERY NICE CAR. CORICA WAS ON FOOT TODAY, DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND, MEETING UP WITH AN OLD MATE, NOW ADELAIDE UNITED COACH. WHAT AUCKLAND FC HAS DONE THIS SEASON ` HAS THAT SURPRISED YOU? I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT EVERYONE BY SURPRISE. IT'S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR THE LEAGUE AS WELL TO SEE ANOTHER NEW SIDE THAT'S COME IN AND DONE THE RIGHT THINGS. QUITE APT, CORICA WAS BESIDE A SILO IN DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND TODAY. THE LAST TIME THE SIDES MET, THE COACH WENT A TAD NUCLEAR. ADELAIDE GOING UP 2-1 IN THE FIFTH MINUTE OF STOPPAGE TIME, ONLY FOR AUCKLAND FOUR MINUTES LATER, TO SNATCH THEIR SIGNATURE LATE GOAL, DRAWING THE MATCH AWAY 2-2. CUE THE COACH GETTING A LITTLE EXCITED. STEVE CORICA SAYS, 'HAVE SOME OF THAT ADELAIDE!' CORICA WILL JUSTIFIABLY PUMPED TOMORROW IF THEY WIN. AUCKLAND WILL LEAP OUT TO AN 11-POINT LEAD AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE. I THINK IF AUCKLAND WIN TOMORROW, THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH WON THE PREMIER'S PLATE. IS THE TOP SPOT SECURE? NO, I DON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. I THINK, UM... YEAH, EVEN IF IT'S 11 POINTS CLEAR, THERE'S STILL 8 GAMES ` THERE'S A LOT OF POINTS LEFT TO PLAY FOR. YOU DON'T GET THE KEYS TO THAT IF YOU WIN THE LEAGUE? I WISH. IT'S A REAL NICE BOAT, ISN'T IT? THE WAY THE FIRST SEASON'S GOING, WHY NOT AIM HIGH? MICHAEL HENDRY REMAINED IN THE LEAD PACK AFTER ROUND TWO OF THE NEW ZEALAND OPEN, CARDING A FIVE-UNDER PAR 66 TO BE TIED SEVENTH. JOINING HIM THERE IS FELLOW KIWI JOSH GEARY. A GREAT BACK NINE HAD HIM FINISHING FIVE UNDER PAR, SIX SHOTS OFF THE LEAD. THE EYES ARE MOVING UP AND DOWN. THAT TENDS TO MEAN ITS ONLINE. IS ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN. STEVEN ALKER JUST SNEAKING THROUGH TO THE WEEKEND AFTER BACK TO BACK BIRDIES THIS AFTERNOON. KOREAN GUNTAEK KOH CURRENTLY LEADS AT 16 UNDER. ROUND THREE OF SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC OPENS TONIGHT, WITH MOANA PASIFIKA AT THEIR NEW HOME GROUND, HOSTING THE HIGHLANDERS. A SPECIAL EVENING AT NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM FOR NEW MOANA NUMBER EIGHT, SEMISI TUPOU TA'EILOA. BORN AND RAISED IN AUCKLAND, BUT HE LEFT AT 13 TO BOARD AT OTAGO BOYS HIGH. YEAH, IT WAS DIFFERENT. IT WAS DIFFERENT ` A LOT DIFFERENT FROM HOME. (CHUCKLES) I THINK I NEEDED IT, EH, JUST BEING AROUND A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. THE SOUTHLAND STAG (21) IS A FORMER FIRST-15 TEAMMATE OF SPEEDY NEW HIGHLANDERS FULLBACK FINN HURLEY. OH, HE'S STILL THE SAME, EH. STILL A LITTLE BEAST. STILL A LITTLE BEAST RUNNING AROUND, AND JUST SHOWCASING WHAT HE CAN DO, TO BE HONEST. TUPOU TA'EILOA WAS AN INJURY SQUAD BACKUP PLAYER UNTIL JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. MEANWHILE, THE FOURTH EDITION OF SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW. BUT IN 2025, THERE'S MORE ON THE LINE. PLAYERS NEEDING TO BALANCE TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES, WHILE ALSO WANTING TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN A WORLD CUP YEAR. KATE WELLS REPORTS. (POP MUSIC PLAYS) THE BLUES WOMEN LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN GAME DAY, AND JUST ONE DAY OUT, IT'S SAFE TO SAY THEY'RE LOCKED IN. IT'S A BIG YEAR, BUT MOST OF THE FOCUS IS ON THE BLUES AND SERVING THE BLUES, PERFORMING FOR THE BLUES. THERE'S NO DOUBT SOME ARE THINKING ABOUT A BLACK JERSEY TOO. THE BLACK FERNS OUT TO DEFEND THEIR WORLD CUP TITLE IN ENGLAND IN LATE AUGUST. PERSONALLY, I JUST GO OUT TO BE MY BEST, WEEK ON WEEK, AND SO, I GUESS, AUPIKI IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW WE'VE BEEN GROWING AS A TEAM, HOW I'VE BEEN GROWING AS A PLAYER. BLACK FERNS' SELECTORS IN CONTACT WITH AUPIKI COACHES AND PLAYERS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR; SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DISTRACTING BUT WILL ALSO BRING EXCITEMENT. HOPEFULLY IT GETS A FEW MORE EYES ON AUPIKI, AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW THAT AS SPECULATION DRAWS NEARER. BUT FOR PLAYERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSING` AND, I GUESS, STAFF TOO ` FOCUS ON THE JOB THAT'S AHEAD, PERFORM IN AUPIKI AND THOSE SORTS OF SELECTIONS AND BITS AND PIECES IN THE NEXT PART WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. SATURDAY SEES THE DEFENDING CHAMPION BLUES AGAINST HURRICANES POUA AND CHIEFS MANAWA HOSTING MATATU. THE TROPHY SHARED AROUND IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS. THE POUA ` THE ONLY TEAM YET TO WIN THE COMPETITION. BUT WITH THE SEASON CONSISTING OF ONLY SIX ROUNDS, PLUS A FINAL, TEAMS WHO START SLOWLY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. YOU'VE GOTTA HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND, UM... WE'RE CLEAR WITH HOW WE WANNA GO THIS YEAR, AND WHAT WE WANNA WORK ON. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO REACHING OUR POTENTIALLY THIS YEAR, AND PUTTING OUR GAME PLAN OUT THERE AND DOING IT JUSTICE. DO THAT AND TITLES AND TOURNAMENTS COULD BE AROUND THE CORNER. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. F1 TESTING IS OVER FOR LIAM LAWSON, AFTER DRIVING THE THIRD MOST LAPS ON THE PENULTIMATE DAY IN BAHRAIN. NEXT UP ` THE MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX. THE FORMULA ONE ROOKIE FINISHING SEVENTH FASTEST, DESPITE SOME CAR ISSUES EARLY ON DAY TWO. RED BULL TEAMMATE MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKING OVER TOMORROW ` SOMEONE LAWSON WILL NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THIS YEAR. WHAT IS A GOOD YEAR FOR LIAM LAWSON? I THINK HE NEEDS TO BE QUALIFYING WITHIN TWO TENTHS OF MAX. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THE POINTS ARE PAID, HE NEEDS TO BE THERE WITHIN ONE OR TWO PLACES OF MAX. THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX OPENS THE FORMULA ONE SEASON IN TWO WEEKS' TIME. BACK HOME, THE SUPERCARS SEASON IS UNDERWAY, AND THE COUNTDOWN'S ALREADY ON FOR ITS RETURN TO TAUPO IN APRIL. SOME OF THE DRIVERS HEADING OVER FOR A RECCE, AS KIWI FANS PONDER WHO COULD BE OUR NEXT BIG NAME. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. IT'S NOT THE SORT OF TRACK THESE DRIVERS ARE USED TO... GOT SOME ALTITUDE GOING ON. ...BUT GETTING A LAY OF THE LAND IN TAUPO SIX WEEKS OUT FROM THE KIWI SUPERCARS ROUND IS HELPING THEM GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS. LAUGHS: OH, HEY! IT'S ONE OF THOSE WEEKENDS IN THE YEAR, WHERE IT FEELS REWARDING WHEN YOU DO WELL. ANTON DE PASQUALE BACK WITH A NEW TEAM, AFTER BEING CROWNED THE ROUND WINNER LAST YEAR... (CHEERING) ...PIPPING KIWI ANDRE HEIMGARTNER, WHO FINISHED SECOND, DESPITE TAKING OUT THE FIRST RACE. THE 29-YEAR-OLD HAS EXTRA REASON TO CHASE THE JASON RICHARDS MEMORIAL TROPHY. AND FOR OUR TEAM, IT'S VERY SPECIAL I DRIVE FOR THE SAME TEAM THAT JASON DROVE FOR, AND THE SAME NUMBER AND EVERYTHING. SO, YEAH, IN OUR TEAM, IT CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT. AND, UM, EVERYONE GETS QUITE EMOTIONAL WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE HE IS A BIG PART OF OUR TEAM. THAT DESIRE TO WIN ALSO FUELLED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME NEW ZEALAND'S NEXT CHAMPION. AS A KIWI, YOU ALWAYS WANNA BE THE POSTER KIWI, AND YOU GROW UP WATCHING PEOPLE LIKE GREG MURPHY AND STUFF, SO YOU ALWAYS WANNA BE, LIKE, THAT, I GUESS, HERO OF NEW ZEALAND. THERE'S FIVE KIWI DRIVERS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING RYAN WOOD (21), NOW IN HIS SECOND SEASON, AFTER IMPRESSING AS A ROOKIE. I RACE PRETTY HARD, USUALLY, AND I THINK IN ROUND ONE, I TOOK A BIT MORE OF A PROBABLY MINDFUL APPROACH, AND A BIT MORE OF A` YOU KNOW, SEEING THE BIG PICTURE AND TRYING TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE AS FAST AS I CAN, INSTEAD OF HAVING THE MOST BATTLES. AHEAD OF APRIL'S RACE, TALKS CONTINUE ABOUT A SECOND EVENT IN AOTEAROA FROM AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR. OTAGO'S HIGHLANDS A FIRM FAVOURITE, WHILE CHRISTCHURCH'S RUAPUNA CIRCUIT ALSO EMERGING AS A CONTENDER. AS PEOPLE HAVE SEEN GOING INTO TAUPO AND THE AMAZING SCENERY AND ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO THERE, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER EVEN FURTHER SOUTH IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. SUPERCARS TEEING UP PLENTY OF STORYLINES ALREADY. BOTH: OH MY! BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. THE WOMEN'S BLACK STICKS ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINAL OF THE NATIONS CUP FOLLOWING A COMEBACK WIN, 3-1, OVER SCOTLAND. THE KIWIS CONCEDING IN THE FIRST TWO MINUTES OF THE MATCH, BEFORE A GOAL FROM KAITLIN COTTER LEVELLED THE SCORE GOING INTO THE FINAL QUARTER. THE BLACK STICKS PULLING AWAY WITH TWO LATE GOALS TO SEAL THE WIN. (CHEERING) AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE THE GOAL! SO SCOTLAND HAVE TAKEN THEIR KEEPER OFF. THERE'S A CHANCE HERE FOR NEW ZEALAND TO JUST RAMP HOME THE PAIN. WE WENT DOWN EARLY ON, SO THEN WE JUST HAD TO STAY COMPOSED, JUST KIND OF GET THE BALL AROUND AND GET IT MOVING, AND NOT PANIC TOO MUCH, SO THEN WE COULD SCORE A GOAL. THEY NOW ADVANCE TO SUNDAY MORNINGS SEMIFINAL, WHERE THEY WILL TAKE ON CHILE. WHILE MOST OF THE ATTENTION IN THE NBA RECENTLY HAS BEEN ON OTHER TEAMS, SHARPSHOOTER STEPH CURRY HAS REMINDED THE BASKETBALL WORLD THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ARE STILL VERY MUCH A THREAT ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT. CURRY SCORING A REMARKABLE 12 3-POINTERS, AS PART OF A 56-POINT PERFORMANCE. LEADING HIS SIDE TO A 121-115 WIN OVER THE ORLANDO MAGIC. COMMENTATORS SAYING CURRY MADE IT LOOK 'STEFFORTLESS'. STEPH FROM THREE-QUARTER COURT! CURRY HITS A THREE FROM BEYOND MIDCOURT. CURRY'S SCORED 10 OR MORE 3-POINTERS A RECORD 26 TIMES. THE BENCHMARK IN A SINGLE GAME, THOUGH, IS STILL 14 SCORED BY FORMER TEAMMATE KLAY THOMPSON. THE SPLASH BROS ONE AND TWO. THANKS, ANDREW. STAY WITH US, DAN SAYS IT'S A MIXED BAG THIS WEEKEND ` HOT FOR SOME AND DAMP FOR OTHERS. DETAILS NEXT. COMING UP AT 7 ` IRRITABLE, GRUMPY AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE, MORE THAN A BAD MOOD; IT'S CALLED MISERABLE MAN SYNDROME, BUT IS THERE A CURE? AND WHO WILL TAKE THE SPLASHDOWN CROWN AT THE WORLD MANU COMPETITION THIS WEEKEND? HELLO. THE SPY A COUPLE OF FRONTS SITTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MOST OF US CAN GET THROUGH OUR TO-DO LIST THIS WEEKEND. YOU CAN SEE THE LOVELY CLASH OF THE HIGH-PRESSURE. THE BIG SWIRL THEY ARE. TROPICAL CYCLONE ALFRED CATEGORY THREE. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FURTHER SOUTH. THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THERE IS NO WIND TO PUSH IT AWAY. IT LOITERS OVER THE AUSTRALIAN COAST OVER THE WEEKEND. WILL BE WATCHING WHETHER IT ALL GO TOWARDS US OR TOWARDS QUEENSLAND, BUT WE DO GET AN IMPROVING RANGE CHANCE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND WHICH HAS BEEN BONE DRY IN PLACES. PUT A BIG CIRCLE NEXT TUESDAY ` THAT WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT WEEK. AUCKLAND, YOU DON'T NORMALLY SAY 28 DEGREES WITH THE TOP TEMPERATURE FOR THE COUNTRY. QUITE A CONTRAST TEMPERATURE WISE, AS THAT TROUGH PUSHES THROUGH. HAWKE'S BAY ` 22 TODAY. TOMATO RED IS WARM. MORE WARMTH IN THE NORTH-WEST. OF THE WAY YOU SEE SOME DOTS OF BLUE ` STILLS AND CLOUD. TROUGH IS GONE AND THEN IT JUST CONVERGES THE WINDS. IT'S REALLY HIT AND MISS. PATCHY RAIN BUT MOSTLY IS TOWARDS FIORDLAND, IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE WESTERN, OTHERWISE YOU ARE OK. THERE MAY BE SOME SUNSHINE IN THE SAME SORT OF THING FOR AUCKLAND. IN THE MORNING, IT MAY LOOK A BIT DAMP AND A BIT GREY. HAMILTON, SOME SHOWERS FOR YOU. IT DOES BRIGHTEN UP. YOU STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS SO JUST BEAR THAT IN MIND FOR THROUGHOUT THE DAY. BRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON FOR YOU. JUST LOOKING AT 25 FOR NAPIER. TE MATATINI ` SOME LOVELY LOOKING WEATHER. FLOW SHIFTS AROUND. A BIT OF A NORTHERLY FOR WELLINGTON. BUT YOU STILL HAVE A GOOD DAY. NELSON, BLENHEIM ` YOU MAY SEE SOME SPOTS OF RAIN. ALL LOOKING FINE. SPOTS OF RAIN IN THE MORNING. WATCH FOR THOSE GUSTY WINDS. LOOK AT THE FIRE DANGER THE RED IS EXTREME. JUST BEAR IN MIND AHEAD OF THAT FRONTAL BOUNTY. LOOKING INTO THE DEPTH SOUTH ` THAT RAIN HAS HEADED INTO MILFORD SOUTH TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY. DUNEDIN, MAYBE SOME LATE DAY SHOWERS. SUNDAY IT'S NOT BAD LOOKING SUNDAY. WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY WHICH COULD GO. WE CAN GET OUTSIDE TO ENJOY THE FINE WEATHER.