THE BOSS OF THE DRUG FUNDING AGENCY PHARMAC HAS QUIT AFTER A TURBULENT TIME IN THE TOP JOB. HOW USER PAYS IS ABOUT TO BE APPLIED TO URBAN GROWTH. WE'LL EXPLAIN HOW IT WILL WORK. THE DEATHS OF DOUBLE OSCAR-WINNER GENE HACKMAN, HIS WIFE AND THEIR DOG ARE DEEMED SUSPICIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT INVESTIGATION. AND LATER IN SPORT, SIBLING RIVALRY TAKES ON NEW MEANING AS THE SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI GETS UNDERWAY. CAPTIONS BY BRIGIT KELLY AND SAM BAKER. 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. AFTER MONTHS OF PRESSURE, THE BOSS OF PHARMAC HAS QUIT. SARAH FITT'S RESIGNATION FROM THE DRUG BUYING AGENCY WAS ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON. SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONENT JENNA LYNCH IS WITH ME. JENNA, YOU HAVE BEEN EXPECTING THIS, HAVEN'T YOU? WHEN THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR PHARMAC WERE REFUSING TO EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN HER LAST YEAR, THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL, IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF HOW THE EXIT WOULD HAPPEN AND WHEN. THE LATEST REFUSAL OF EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE CAME AFTER THE DRUG BUYING AGENCY FUMBLED THE HANDLING OF THE SWITCH AND SUPPLY OF MENOPAUSE PATCHES. THAT WAS JUST THE LATEST PUBLIC OUTCRY AGAINST AN AGENCY THAT HAS LONG TRAVELLED THE PATIENT COMMUNITY. PATIENTS AND PATIENT ADVOCATES FOR YEARS HAVE RAISED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CULTURE. A DAMNING REVIEW A FEW YEARS AGO FOUND IT HAD A FORTRESS MENTALITY AND WAS NOT PATIENT CENTRIC IN 2023. SHE WAS FORCED TO APOLOGISE AFTER SHE WAS FOUND TO MAKE DISPARAGING COMMENTS ABOUT THE PATIENTS IN THAT SPACE. WE ASKED THE BOARD IF THEY HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN HER. NO I WOULDN'T SAY THAT. WE ARE LOOKING IN THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING AND TALKING TO HER ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHANGES MIGHT MEAN. WE DON'T WISH FOR HER TO RESIGN AND WISH HER THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE.. PAULA BENNETT ISSUED A FURTHER REVIEW ON THE COMPANY LAST WEEK. IT WAS CONSIDERING SOME FEEDBACK IT GOT FROM PATIENT WORKSHOPS IT HELD LAST YEAR ` NEITHER OF WHICH PAINTED PHARMAC IN A GOOD LIGHT. PAULA BENNETT SAID THAT THE RESIGNATION WAS NOT OUTCOME OF THOSE BOARD MEETINGS. SHE SAID SARAH TENDERED HER RESIGNATION BEFORE SHE CONSIDERED THOSE MATTERS. JENNA, HOW IS THE PATIENT ADVOCATE COMMUNITY REACTING TO THIS NEWS? I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW OF THEM TODAY. THEY HAVE HAD SOME SERIOUS RUN-INS WITH SARAH. PHARMAC WOULDN'T FUND THE MEDICINES OF THIS WOMAN AND SAYS THAT SHE IS HAPPY SARAH HAS GONE. THIS MAN FOUGHT FOR YEARS AGAINST THE COMPANY AND SAID THAT THIS RESIGNATION WAS LONG COMING. HE LOOKS FULL TO THE FUTURE AND HOPE SOMETHING CHANGES. I HOPE THEY RECRUIT SOMEONE OVERSEAS WHO HAS MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE AREA. I THINK IF WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE COMPANY, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY THEN BY GETTING SOME NEW BLOOD IN. SARAH DID NOT WANT TO COMMENT TODAY WHEN WE ASKED HER. SHE WILL END HER JOB IN MAY. 'GROWTH PAYS FOR GROWTH' ` THAT'S THE CATCH-PHRASE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING MODEL ANNOUNCED TODAY. ZANE SMALL HAS THE DETAILS. THE PLATFORM IS UP, AND THE ESCALATOR IS OPERATIONAL AT THE SOON-TO-BE CITY RAIL LINK STATION IN MT EDEN ` AN AREA THAT, AS ARCHITECT MAT BROWN POINTS OUT, HAS ENORMOUS POTENTIAL FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. I THINK, WHEN THE CRL OPENS IN AUCKLAND, IT'LL BE A REALLY GOOD TEST TO SEE WHAT AN OVERNIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM WILL MAKE TO... THE VALUE OF LAND AROUND THOSE NODES. BUT NEW HOUSING REQUIRES INFRASTRUCTURE ` SUCH AS WASTEWATER AND ROADING ` AND THAT COST OFTEN FALLS TO COUNCILS, AND, ULTIMATELY, RATEPAYERS. SO TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON CREATING AND MAINTAINING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN AREAS LIKE THE CITY RAIL LINK CORRIDOR, THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING MODEL. UNDER THIS NEW SYSTEM, COUNCILS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS WILL BE ABLE TO CHARGE DEVELOPERS FOR THEIR SHARE OF AGGREGATE INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH COSTS ACROSS AN URBAN AREA, OVER THE LONG TERM. THE DEVELOPER WOULD ABSORB THE COST OF THE LEVY, AND THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE PRICE OF THE DEVELOPMENT. AND IT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO 'GO FOR GROWTH'. IT WILL ALLOW FOR HOUSES TO BE BUILT, AND IT WILL ALLOW COUNCILS TO FUND THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THAT HOUSING GROWTH. THE INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER'S ASPIRATION IS THAT IN THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO, WE'LL SEE APARTMENT BLOCKS DOTTED ALONG THE CITY RAIL LINK LINE. BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INCENTIVE TO DEVELOP AROUND THE INNER CORE OF THE CRL STATIONS, SO THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM IT WILL SHARE SOME OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN. THERE'LL BE SEPARATE LEVIES THAT ARE RING-FENCED FOR EACH SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICE, SUCH AS DRINKING WATER, WASTEWATER AND TRANSPORT. SO, HOW MUCH WILL THESE LEVIES BE? IT WILL DEPEND. I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER YOU WANT, BUT IT WILL DEPEND ON THE GROWTH CHARGE, THE LEVEL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED, THE LEVEL OF THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. IT DEPENDS ON THE DETAIL OF IT AND HOW IT COMES TOGETHER IN THE END. THERE'S A CONCERN THERE THAT IT'S CHANGEABLE OVER TIME. DESPITE NOT HAVING THE DETAILS YET, LOCAL COUNCILS ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE MORE FUNDING TOOLS TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON RATEPAYERS. WHAT THIS ALLOWS US IS IF THAT GROWTH WILL PAY FOR GROWTH, THEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP ALL SORTS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND LAND, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA COME ON TO THE COUNCIL BALANCE SHEET, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO DROWN OUR RATEPAYERS. WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY, AND WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE. IF THIS ALLOWS OTHER PEOPLE TO PAY FOR IT OR FUTURE RATEPAYERS TO PAY SOME COSTS AND DEVELOPERS TO PAY SOME COSTS, WE CAN DO MORE. LIKE FORGING AHEAD WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS. SO, ZANE, WHEN MIGHT THIS COME INTO EFFECT? THE INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THESE ARE BIG CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO GET RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DETAIL YET. CHRIS BISHOP SAID THAT THE AIM IS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION INTO PARLIAMENT BY SEPTEMBER AND COME INTO ACTION NEXT YEAR. GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY ALSO CONSIDERING A NEW POLICY TO SHARE GST POLICY. WATCH THAT SPACE.. THE FAMILY OF ARIKI RIGBY SAY THEY'RE RELIEVED THE MAN CHARGED WITH THE TEENAGER'S MURDER HAS NOW ADMITTED KILLING HER. JIMMY HEREMAIA (32) PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF MURDER AND ARSON IN THE HIGH COURT AT NAPIER THIS MORNING. THE 18-YEAR-OLD'S BODY WAS FOUND IN A BURNT-OUT CAR IN A CAR PARK BESIDE THE TUKITUKI RIVER ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF HAVELOCK NORTH ON SEPTEMBER 5TH 2022. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, HEREMAIA MET RIGBY ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER DEATH. THEY FORMED A CLOSE CONNECTION UNTIL AN ARGUMENT OVER HER WEARING HIS MONGREL MOB T-SHIRT. HE CAN'T GET OUT OF IT. I AM RELIEVED AND CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO BE OVER. A SECOND MAN, ROPINE PAUL (29), EARLIER THIS MONTH PLEADED GUILTY TO A CHARGE OF BEING A PARTY TO THE ARSON. THE MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING NELSON POLICE OFFICER SENIOR SGT LYN FLEMING HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY. THE TASMAN MAN (32) APPEARED BEFORE THE HIGH COURT IN BLENHEIM THIS MORNING, THE MATTER HAVING SHIFTED FROM NELSON DUE TO THE COURTHOUSE'S TEMPORARY CLOSURE FOR SEISMIC STRENGTHENING WORK. A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, SOME BELIEVED TO BE FLEMING'S FAMILY MEMBERS, SAT IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WATCHED VIA AUDIOVISUAL LINK. THE MAN HAS INTERIM NAME SUPPRESSION AND HAS DENIED MURDERING FLEMING IN CENTRAL NELSON'S BUXTON SQUARE CAR PARK ON NEW YEAR'S DAY AND ATTEMPTING TO MURDER SENIOR SGT ADAM RAMSAY. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER PLAYED HIS TRUMP CARD AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY. HE HAND-DELIVERED A PERSONAL LETTER FROM KING CHARLES TO PRESIDENT TRUMP INVITING HIM TO THE UK FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED SECOND STATE VISIT. AND AS ITV'S ROBERT PRESTON EXPLAINS, IT WAS A DIPLOMATIC MASTERSTROKE. SO MUCH AT STAKE IN THEIR FIRST WHITE HOUSE RENDEZVOUS. PRESIDENT TRUMP, CAN YOU GET A PEACE DEAL DONE ON UKRAINE? YES, WE CAN. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU, SIR? WE CAN. WE WILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO... STRAIGHT TO THE OVAL OFFICE IN WHAT LOOKED ALMOST LIKE A LOVE-IN. WE CAN SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GETTING ALONG ON EVERY ONE OF THEM. WE'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS RELATIONSHIP. AND FRANKLY, THE PRIME MINISTER AND I HAVE MET TWICE BEFORE. AND WE GET ALONG VERY FAMOUSLY, AS YOU WOULD SAY. AND THANKS TO A LETTER FROM OUR MONARCH TO THEIRS, STARMER DEFINITELY GOT OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. SO, THIS IS A LETTER FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING. UM, IT'S AN INVITATION FOR A SECOND STATE VISIT. THIS IS REALLY SPECIAL. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED. AND I THINK THAT JUST SYMBOLISES, UH, THE STRENGTH OF THE RELATIONSHIP. YES. WHAT I HAVEN'T GOT YET IS YOUR ANSWER. (LAUGHTER) I DO NEED TO... THE ANSWER IS YES. ON BEHALF OF OUR WONDERFUL FIRST LADY, MELANIA, AND MYSELF, THE ANSWER IS YES. ON WHETHER THERE WILL BE STEEP TARIFFS ON UK EXPORTS, TRUMP MADE CLEAR HIS TARGET IS PRIMARILY THE EU, NOT US. WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY'RE TREATING OUR PEOPLE NOW. WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY'RE TREATING OUR COMPANIES. AND THEN WHAT MATTERS MOST ` IF UK SOLDIERS' BOOTS WILL BE ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE AFTER A POSSIBLE PEACE DEAL WITH PUTIN, WILL TRUMP PROVIDE A SECURITY BACKSTOP IF IT ALL GOES WRONG? IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WOULD. AND WE'RE GONNA BE SIGNING REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT AGREEMENT FOR BOTH SIDES, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GONNA GET US INTO THAT COUNTRY. WE'LL BE WORKING THERE. WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING THERE. AND SO IN THAT SENSE, IT'S VERY GOOD. IT'S A BACKSTOP, YOU COULD SAY. YOU'RE SEEING PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TO SIGN THIS DEAL ON MINERALS AND ENERGY THAT COULD BE HUGELY IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES. WILL YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APOLOGISE TO HIM FOR CALLING HIM A DICTATOR? WE'RE GONNA GET ALONG REALLY WELL, OK? WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT. I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM. WE'VE GIVEN HIM A LOT OF EQUIPMENT AND A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY HAVE FOUGHT VERY BRAVELY. NO MATTER HOW YOU FIGURE, THEY HAVE REALLY FOUGHT. SOMEBODY HAS TO USE THAT EQUIPMENT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY BRAVE. (APPLAUSE) THEN THE FINAL FORMALITIES, WHEN STARMER WAS TOLD HE WOULD GET SOMETHING SUCCESSIVE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN DESPERATE FOR ` A U.S. TRADE DEAL. IN THAT SAME OVAL OFFICE MEETING, PRESIDENT TRUMP RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS AFTER HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THE AUKUS DEFENCE PACT. WHAT IS THAT? WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA, THE U.S. AND BRITAIN SIGNED THE DEAL NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO, WHICH AIMS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTER HAS DOWNPLAYED THE GAFFE, SAYING, IN THIS BUSINESS, THERE ARE A LOT OF ACRONYMS TO REMEMBER. TODAY MARKS FIVE YEARS SINCE NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 WAS CONFIRMED. IMOGEN WELLS IS HERE NOW WITH A LOOK BACK AT THOSE FIRST DAYS, MONTHS AND MILESTONES. SAM, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT FEELS LIKE IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO BUT ALSO ONLY HAPPENED JUST YESTERDAY. OUR FIRST CASE WAS A WOMAN IN HER 60S WHO HAD ARRIVED FROM IRAN ON FEBRUARY 28TH 2020. A WEEK AND A BIT LATER, ON MARCH 11TH, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION DECLARED THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK A PANDEMIC. SOON AFTER, OUR GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A $12b COVID ECONOMIC PACKAGE, INCLUDING MONEY FOR HEALTH, AND SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES AND INCOMES. ON MARCH 20TH, NEW ZEALAND'S BORDERS WERE SLAMMED SHUT TO EVERYONE EXCEPT NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS. WE CLOSED OFF THE REST OF THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. THE COUNTRY WENT INTO ALERT LEVEL TWO. THREE DAYS LATER, WE MOVED TO ALERT LEVEL THREE, AND 48 HOURS LATER, ON MARCH 25, NEW ZEALAND WAS PUT INTO A STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND WE BEGAN OUR FIRST LEVEL-FOUR LOCKDOWN. GO HOME TONIGHT AND CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBOURS. AND START A PHONE FREE WITH YOUR STREET. PLAN HOW YOU WILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, BUT ONLY IF WE STICK TOGETHER, SO PLEASE BE STRONG AND BE KIND. ON MARCH 29TH, OUR FIRST COVID-19 RELATED DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED ` A WOMAN IN HER 70S FROM THE WEST COAST. A MONTH LATER, THE COUNTRY DROPPED TO ALERT LEVEL THREE, AND WE TURNED TO TAKEAWAY OUTLETS IN OUR DROVES BEFORE GOING TO ALERT LEVEL TWO ON THE 14TH OF MAY. AND ON THE 9TH OF JUNE, WE GOT BACK TO LEVEL ONE. BUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THE COUNTRY AND AUCKLAND ARE MOVED IN AND OUT OF VARIOUS ALERT LEVELS AND TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEMS, NOT FORGETTING THAT 107-DAY WHOPPER IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND IN THE LATTER HALF OF 2021. THERE HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO THREE MILLION CASES OF COVID REPORTED HERE SINCE THAT FIRST ONE BACK IN 2020 AND 4500 DEATHS HERE HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIRUS. WHILE THE LOCKDOWNS AND RESTRICTIONS HAD PLENTY OF CRITICS, HEALTH EXPERTS ESTIMATE NEW ZEALAND'S MEASURES SAVED AROUND 20,000 LIVES. MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE DEATHS OF HOLLYWOOD LEGEND DOUBLE OSCAR-WINNER GENE HACKMAN, HIS WIFE, BETSY ARAKAWA, AND ONE OF THEIR DOGS AT THEIR NEW MEXICO HOME. POLICE SAY ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A CRIME, THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SUSPICIOUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE MORE INVESTIGATION. HACKMAN'S DEATH NOW CASTS A DARK SHADOW OVER OSCARS WEEK. ITV'S NINA NANNAR REPORTS. PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEADS, GET OFF THE BAR AND GET ON THE WALL! HE WAS AN ACTOR WHO DOMINATED THE SCREEN, WHO INFLUENCED THOSE WHO FOLLOWED, BUT WHO STEPPED AWAY TO ENJOY RETIREMENT GRACEFULLY. BUT TODAY, THE NEWS THAT THAT HAS BEEN SHATTERED ` THE BODIES OF THE ACTOR (95) AND HIS WIFE, BETSY ARAKAWA (63), WHO WAS A CLASSICAL PIANIST, WERE FOUND AT THEIR HOME IN SANTA FE BY A MAINTENANCE WORKER. THEY WERE IN SEPARATE ROOMS AND HAD APPARENTLY BEEN DEAD FOR SOME TIME. AN OPEN PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE AND SCATTERED PILLS WERE FOUND NEAR ARAKAWA. ONE OF THEIR DOGS WAS ALSO FOUND DEAD. WITH NO IMMEDIATE SIGNS OF A GAS LEAK, THE CAUSE OF DEATH REMAINS A MYSTERY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A STRUGGLE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING THAT WAS MISSING FROM THE HOME OR DISTURBED, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A CRIME THAT HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THAT. THE WINNER IS MR GENE HACKMAN. (LAUGHS) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) GENE HACKMAN WAS A DOUBLE OSCAR-WINNER, REGARDED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTORS OF ALL TIME. THERE WERE THREE CARS, SEVEN MEN INVOLVED. FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, HE STARRED IN SOME OF HOLLYWOOD'S MOST ICONIC FILMS. I'LL HAVE THAT .32, BOB. HIS POWERFUL PRESENCE AND VERSATILITY IN DEMAND FROM FILMMAKERS LIKE FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA AND CLINT EASTWOOD. ALL I EVER WANTED TO DO. UH... SO FEW PEOPLE EVER GET WHAT THEY REALLY WANT IN LIFE. WHAT THE HELL KIND OF WAY TO ACT IS THAT? HE WAS AN ACTOR'S ACTOR AND SERIOUS ABOUT HIS CRAFT. PAYING TRIBUTE TODAY, ONE OF HIS CO-STARS IN THIS FILM SAYS HE WAS INTENSE TO WORK WITH. I WATCHED HIM ONCE DO, LIKE, 25 TAKES WHERE HE DID IT PERFECTLY. 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. DON'T GO IN THERE, GENERAL. IT'S A TRAP. LUTHOR, YOU POISONOUS SNAKE! HE DIDN'T ALWAYS PLAY THE TOUGH GUY, BECOMING A COMIC BOOK VILLAIN IN THE FIRST TWO SUPERMAN MOVIES. A FATHER OF THREE, TODAY, HIS GRIEVING FAMILY ISSUED A STATEMENT. GENE HACKMAN WAS NO STRANGER TO THE OSCARS RED CARPET, AND WITH PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THIS WEEKEND'S AWARDS, FILM FANS EXPRESSED SHOCK AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT STARE AT THE TV WHEN HE WAS ON IT, AND HE ALWAYS MADE EVERY MOVIE HE WAS IN PRETTY GREAT. HE'S A LEGEND, RIGHT? SO THIS IS KIND OF A SHOCK. THE ONLY THING THAT I REGRET ` HE DOESN'T HAVE A STAR ON THE WALK OF FAME, AND HE SHOULD. HOLLYWOOD HAS LOST A GREAT IN TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER, AND ANOTHER SETTLED DAY. YES, AND THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER. HALF OF TODAY'S EXTREMES WERE AT AIRPORTS. AUCKLAND AIRPORT AND ALEXANDRA THE HOTTEST WITH 28 DEGREES; COLDEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE DUNEDIN AIRPORT AND TE ANAU. THE MOST RAINFALL WAS TAURANGA WITH NOT MUCH RAIN AT ALL ` JUST OVER 14MM. JUST OVER 14MM. IN A DRY MONTH. THERE IS SOME RAIN AND I WILL TELL YOU WHERE AFTER SPORT. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` A WARNING IT MIGHT BE HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO STAND IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF INCREASING HOSTILITY TOWARDS CANDIDATES. THE SOUTHERN CHARITY HOSPITAL FINALLY OPENS ITS DOORS, REALISING A DREAM OF MELISSA VINING AND HER LATE HUSBAND, BLAIR. A FORMER TIPENE FUNERALS EMPLOYEE FLEECED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM RELATIVES OF PEOPLE WHO DIED, BY TELLING SOME THAT THEIR DEAD LOVED ONES NEEDED COVID-19 VACCINES. THE FUNERAL HOME WAS MADE FAMOUS BY THE TV SERIES THE CASKATEERS. FRESH DETAILS OF THE OFFENDING HAVE BEEN REVEALED IN COURT AS FIONA BAKULICH ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS TO TWO COUNTS OF MISCONDUCT RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS, AND 12 CHARGES OF OBTAINING BY DECEPTION. THE COURT HEARD SHE TOLD SEVEN VICTIMS THEIR DECEASED FAMILY MEMBERS NEEDED COVID JABS, WITH BAKULICH RECEIVING BETWEEN $750 AND $1300 FOR THE VACCINES THAT WERE NOT ADMINISTERED. LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEW ZEALAND SAYS MORE MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT LOCAL COUNCILLORS FROM ABUSE AND ESCALATING HOSTILITY OR FEWER CANDIDATES WILL PUT THEIR HANDS UP TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE WARNING COMES AS CANDIDATES START THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR THIS YEAR'S LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. BRIDIE WITTON REPORTS. NEARLY A DECADE IN POLITICS, AND NOTHING PREPARED HER FOR THIS. AND HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO STAND UP IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY, POINT AT ME, AND SAY, 'YOU SHOULD BE SHOT'. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL CARRY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. ALEX CRACKETT IS A LOCAL COUNCILLOR IN INVERCARGILL, RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN THE CITY SHE LOVES, BUT IT COMES WITH A COST. I'VE HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME IN THE SUPERMARKET, ACCOSTING ME. I'VE HAD NOTES LEFT ON MY WINDSHIELD. I'VE HAD PEOPLE SHINING TORCHES THROUGH MY LOUNGE WINDOW, BECAUSE THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, FOUND OUT WHERE I LIVE. SHE IS NOT ALONE. LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEW ZEALAND SURVEYED MAYORS, CHAIRS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVES LAST YEAR. THREE QUARTERS SAID THAT FACED AGGRESSIVE AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR IN PUBLIC MEETINGS. ONE THIRD HAD EXPERIENCED IT WHEN SHOPPING OR COLLECTING THEIR KIDS FROM SCHOOL. HALF SAID IT WAS WORSE THAN A YEAR AGO. ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SUSAN FREEMAN-GREENE, IS HOPEFUL NEW STALKING LEGISLATION ` NOW BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE ` WILL MAKE PEOPLE SAFER. WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THINKING ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IN TERMS OF HARASSMENT AND STALKING, ARE REALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE BILL INTRODUCES NEW STALKING AND HARASSMENT OFFENCES TO ENSURE PEOPLE CAN BE PROSECUTED EFFECTIVELY. IT NOTES STALKING BEHAVIOUR CAN BE HARD TO RECOGNISE, OFTEN ESCALATES QUICKLY AND POSES A SERIOUS RISK OF HARM. DESPITE THE HARASSMENT, CRACKETT IS CERTAIN SHE WANTS TO STAY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO STOP ME AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS JUST SO REWARDING. BUT SHE WANTS A CULTURAL CHANGE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE AWARENESS ON TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE FOR YOU RATHER THAN... WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW. A REMINDER FOR THE PUBLIC AS CANDIDATES START THEIR LOCAL BODY CAMPAIGNS THIS YEAR. THE WAIPOUA RIVER FIRE IN NORTHLAND CONTINUES TO GROW DESPITE BEING 50% CONTAINED. IT'S NOW 100ha IN SIZE AND WITH A 4.5KM PERIMETER. CHOPPERS AND GROUND CREWS CONTINUE BATTLING THE BLAZE WHICH BROKE OUT ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND HAS FORCED THE EVACUATION OF AROUND 20 HOMES. EMERGENCY OFFICIALS HOPE TO HAVE THE FIRE FULLY CONTAINED BY TOMORROW EVENING. AFTER SIX YEARS AND $6m, THE SOUTHERN CHARITY HOSPITAL IS OFFICIALLY OPEN. DRIVEN BY MELISSA VINING, THE HOSPITAL IS A PROJECT SHE AND HER LATE HUSBAND, BLAIR, BEGAN FOLLOWING HIS TERMINAL BOWEL CANCER DIAGNOSIS. IT'S DESIGNED TO CATER FOR PATIENTS IN THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND WHO CAN'T ACCESS TIMELY HEALTHCARE THROUGH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SYSTEMS. IT HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL DAY. YEAR. JUST TAKING OFF HIS BUCKET LIST AND JUST SEEING THE INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY FINALLY COME TO TUITION, AND BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS AND START HELPING PEOPLE. THE FIRST PATIENTS ARE EXPECTED IN MARCH. BUSINESS OWNERS NOW HAVE A FREE TOOL TO BETTER PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR FUTURE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS. AFTER THE DEVASTATING AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY FLOODS AND CYCLONE GABRIELLE, NAVIGATING THE CLEAN UP AND INSURANCE PROCESSES WERE A CHALLENGE FOR MANY, SO AUCKLAND COUNCIL HAS DEVELOPED A PLATFORM CALLED CLIMATE WISE TO MAKE THAT LESS STRESSFUL. HERE'S LAURA AGAIN. AUCKLAND'S SKIES DUMPED MORE THAN HALF A YEAR'S RAINFALL DURING ITS ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND IN 2023. THE DEADLY SEVERE WEATHER EVENT RENDERED A NUMBER OF HOMES UNLIVEABLE, AND WORKPLACES UNSAFE. THE CEILING UP HERE WAS FALLING IN, AND THEN WE COULD FEEL THAT IT WAS GETTING DANGEROUS, BECAUSE THERE WAS WATER COMING THROUGH OUR LIGHT FITTINGS. IT WAS RISING IN THE BASEMENT, SO I JUST SAID TO THE GUYS, 'LOOK, THIS IS DANGEROUS. 'WE NEED TO SWITCH OFF THE POWER AND GET OUT.' GAIL HUNTER'S RESTAURANT, PAPA'S ITALIAN EATERY, WAS OPEN THAT FRIDAY NIGHT, WHEN THE STORM HIT. THERE WAS, LIKE, WAVES GOING THROUGH THE SHOP, SO IT WAS A REALLY SCARY NIGHT, AND DEVASTATING FOR US. SHE SAYS DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH HAS BEEN A HUGE UNDERTAKING. WE STRIPPED AND RE-DID THE BASEMENT ` NEW CONCRETE, NEW DRAINAGE, NEW WIRING ` AND THE CEILING UP HERE. BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND HARD WORK TO GET TO THAT STAGE. THERE WERE $670M WORTH OF INSURANCE CLAIMS AFTER 2023'S WEATHER EVENTS FROM AUCKLAND BUSINESSES ALONE. IT PROMPTED AUCKLAND COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A FREE WEBSITE CALLED CLIMATE WISE TO HELP PREPARE FOR FUTURE EVENTS. A LOT OF THE VIDEOS THAT YOU SEE ON THE WEBSITE WERE FOR FREE, JUST, REALLY, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE SEEING THE IMPACTS AND RECOGNISING THE GAP AND THE NEED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. IT'S AIMED AT SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS OWNERS. I THINK, ACROSS THE REGION, PEOPLE'S APPETITE TO RISK CHANGED, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT WE COULD REALLY SPEED UP THE PROJECT. IT DISTILS ALL THE INFORMATION BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO MAKE A ROBUST PLAN. WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE TAKE YOU WEEKS, PROBABLY, OF JUST SEARCHING ONLINE AS TO WHERE TO START. THE INSURANCE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE PROJECT. IF IT MAKES PEOPLE THINK OF THIS BEFORE AN EVENT HAPPENS, IT CAN SAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES A LOT OF GRIEF TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN GET BACK UP ON THEIR FEET AND START MAKING MONEY AGAIN FOR THEMSELVES. WHICH REQUIRES PEOPLE KNOWING THEY ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS. IT'S BEEN INTERESTING, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STILL SAYING, 'WE THOUGHT PAPAS WAS CLOSED AND WE WERE SO SAD'. CLIMATE WISE IS NOW JUST A CLICK AWAY, AND IS RELEVANT FOR BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. STILL TO COME ` WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP BEHIND THE EASING OF THE TRAVEL BAN AGAINST NOTORIOUS INFLUENCER AND ALLEGED RAPIST ANDREW TATE? BABY, SHE'S A FIREWORK ` SINGER KATY PERRY IS SHOOTING OFF TO SPACE. PLUS, LATER IN SPORT ` HAMISH KERR ALSO HAS SOME HIGH-FLYING PLANS. THE GOLD MEDALLIST TALKS TO PADDY GOWER. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE BOSS OF PHARMAC, SARAH FITT, HAS RESIGNED FOLLOWING MONTHS OF PRESSURE AFTER THE DRUG BUYING AGENCY SWITCHED MENOPAUSE PATCHES. THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING IT EASIER FOR LOCAL COUNCILS TO CHARGE DEVELOPERS A LEVY TO HELP COVER INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS. AND U.S. POLICE ARE TREATING THE DEATHS OF HOLLYWOOD ACTOR GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE AS SUSPICIOUS AS THEY AWAIT A TOXICOLOGY REPORT. NORTH KOREA APPEARS TO HAVE SENT ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO RUSSIA'S FRONT LINE, DESPITE SUFFERING HEAVY CASUALTIES. IT'S THOUGHT ANOTHER 3000 SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE KURSK REGION ON TOP OF THE ESTIMATED 12,000 SENT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. CHANNEL 4'S LINDSEY HILSUM REPORTS. EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING, BUT IT'S A FIGHT TO THE DEATH. ABOUT 4000 OF THE 12,000 NORTH KOREAN TROOPS SENT TO BOOST RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. NOW ANOTHER 3000 OR SO ARE ON THEIR WAY. THIS WEEK, THE LARGER THAN LIFE NORTH KOREAN LEADER WATCHED THEIR PROWESS ON THE RANGE. HE'S SENT WEAPONRY AS WELL AS SOLDIERS TO RUSSIA IN EXCHANGE FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND BUDGET SUPPORT. TODAY, IN MOSCOW, PRESIDENT PUTIN WAS MEETING A NORTH KOREAN DELEGATION. ON TUESDAY, THE U.S. VOTED WITH THEM AND AGAINST UKRAINE IN A UN VOTE. ACCORDING TO THE RUSSIAN LEADER, IT'S ONLY PESKY EUROPEANS LIKE SIR KEIR STARMER WHO ARE GETTING IN THE WAY OF HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) TRANSLATOR: WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE IS SATISFIED WITH THE RESUMPTION OF RUSSIAN U.S. CONTACTS. SOME WESTERN ELITES ARE STILL DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN INSTABILITY IN THE WORLD. AND THESE FORCES WILL TRY TO DISRUPT OR COMPROMISE THE DIALOGUE THAT HAS BEGUN. THIS MORNING, A RUSSIAN DELEGATION DROVE TO THE U.S. CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL FOR FURTHER TALKS ABOUT IMPROVING DIPLOMATIC TIES. TRANSLATOR: THE FIRST CONTEXT WITH THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGE HOPE. THERE IS A MUTUAL READINESS TO WORK TO RESTORE RELATIONS AND GRADUALLY SOLVE HUGE SYSTEMIC STRATEGIC PROBLEMS IN THE GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE. JUST A FEW METRES FROM THE KREMLIN, THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR WAS AMONGST OTHER EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS LAYING FLOWERS AT THE PLACE WHERE THE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN BORIS NEMTSOV WAS ASSASSINATED 10 YEARS AGO TODAY. HE WAS SHOT AFTER RUSSIA ANNEXED CRIMEA AND AFTER HE SAID THIS WAR BELONGS TO PUTIN. IT'S A CYNICAL, DECEITFUL, BLOODY, FRATRICIDAL WAR AGAINST OUR BROTHERS IN UKRAINE. NOT A VIEW, IT SEEMS, SHARED BY THE CURRENT AMERICAN PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS DENIED REPORTS THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION PRESSURED ROMANIA TO RELEASE CONTROVERSIAL INFLUENCER ANDREW TATE AND HIS BROTHER, TRISTAN. THE PAIR FLEW BACK TO THE U.S. TODAY AFTER A TRAVEL BAN WAS SUDDENLY LIFTED. THE TATES WERE ARRESTED IN 2022 ON RAPE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES AND BARRED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY AMID CONCERNS THEY WOULDN'T RETURN. THEIR DEPARTURE COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER ROMANIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER REVEALED A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE BROTHERS' CASE AT THE RECENT MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE. POP ICON KATY PERRY IS TRADING THE STAGE FOR THE STARS. # BABY, YOU'RE A FIREWORK. # COME AND LET YOUR COLOURS BURST. # THE SINGER IS SET TO SHOOT ACROSS THE SKY WHEN SHE LIFTS OFF AS PART OF AN ALL-FEMALE CREW ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S NEXT SPACE FLIGHT. SHE'LL BE JOINED BY FIVE OTHERS INCLUDING TV HOST GAYLE KING AND JOURNALIST LAUREN SANCHEZ, THE FIANCE OF JEFF BEZOS, WHO OWNS BLUE ORIGIN. LUCY'S HERE WITH SPORT NOW, AND THE WOMEN'S SUPER RUGBY SEASON GETS UNDERWAY THIS WEEKEND. LUCY: AND CERTAINLY IS AND IT IS A BIG YEAR WITH WOMEN'S RUGBY WITH THE WORLD CUP FAST APPROACHING. BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING MOTIVATING THE TEAMS AHEAD OF THE SUPER AUPIKI SEASON. PLUS, THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX ARE OPTIMISTIC THEY CAN STILL MAKE THE A-LEAGUE TOP SIX. SO HOW DO THEY PLAN TO TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND? AND HIGH JUMPER HAMISH KERR'S LOFTY GOAL ` WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT HEIGHT HE'S SOARING TO NEXT. (MAN PANTING) VOICEOVER: Drivers on drugs get stopped on our roads more than you might think. Trouble is... Jesse. Jesse, Jesse! ...it's not always by the police. Look at me Jesse! Jesse look at me! Listen to me. You'll be okay, all right? We're gonna get you out, okay? Just remain calm. (SIRENS WAILING) VOICEOVER: Introducing the new Subway Signature Menu. All your favourites made with just the right amount of cheesy, cravey, saucy goodness. Now that's the Subwaaayyy to Tastytown, where that Sub is the Mayor but you're also allowed to eat the Mayor. TAKE THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT AND THREENEWS SPORT. THE FOURTH SEASON OF SKY SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI GETS UNDERWAY THIS WEEKEND, KICK-STARTING A PIVOTAL YEAR FOR WOMEN'S RUGBY. WITH THE WORLD CUP IN ENGLAND LOOMING LARGE, TEAMS ARE ANTICIPATING A LIFT IN INTENSITY AS PLAYERS EYE NATIONAL SELECTION. BUT, IN THE SOUTH, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF RIVALRY THAT'S MOTIVATING THE SIDE TO UP THEIR GAME. THERE'S NO RIVALRY QUITE LIKE SIBLING RIVALRY, AND THIS SEASON AT MATATU, THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF IT. WE'VE ALSO GOT WINNIE AND FIA, TAYLA AND KEIGHLS AND WHITNEY AND JESSIE, SO WE'RE A TEAM OF SISTERS. AND ALANA BREMNER COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO BE BACK PLAYING ALONGSIDE HERS ` WITH SISTER CHELSEA OPTING TO RETURN HOME TO THE SOUTH ISLAND AFTER TWO SEASONS WITH CHIEFS MANAWA ` BRINGING THE SIBLING COUNT TO FOUR. AFTER PLAYING AWAY FROM ALANA, IT'S REALLY SHOWED HOW SPECIAL IT IS TO BE PLAYING WITH HER. I THINK MUM AND DAD AT HOME ARE PRETTY HAPPY AS WELL. THEY CAN ALL BE IN THE MATATU KIT. THAT ASIDE, COACH WHITNEY HANSEN CAN SEE THE BENEFIT OF WORKING ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER. AFTER ALL, HER SISTER JESSIE IS THE TEAM'S MENTAL SKILLS COACH. SHE ABSOLUTELY MAKES ME A BETTER COACH EVERYDAY, ACROSS ALL THE SISTERS, I THINK THERE'S A PIECE WHERE IT'S THAT CONNECTION ` THEY'VE PLAYED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME. THEY KNOW HOW EACH OTHER PLAY AND HOW TO PLAY OFF EACH OTHER. AND THE TEAM'S HOPEFUL THAT WILL SET THEM APART THIS YEAR AS ALL FOUR TEAMS RAMP UP THE INTENSITY, WITH NOT ONLY AN AUPIKI TITLE, BUT WORLD CUP SELECTION UP FOR GRABS. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. IT'S A BIG YEAR, BUT MOST OF THE FOCUS IS ON BLUES, AND SERVING THE BLUES, AND PERFORMING FOR THE BLUES, AND IF WE DO OUR BEST HERE, THAT WILL COME EVENTUALLY. A SENTIMENT SHARED BETWEEN TEAMS. BIGGER THAN, PROBABLY, THINGS LIKE THE WORLD CUP IS THE GROWING OF THE WOMEN'S GAME. EVERY YEAR IT GETS BETTER, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S OUTSIDE IT, SUPER AUPIKI TENDS TO RISE IN THAT SPACE EVERY YEAR. STARTING TOMORROW, WHEN CHIEFS MANAWA HOST MATATU AND THE BLUES LOOK TO KICK-START THEIR TITLE DEFENCE, WITH A WIN AGAINST THE HURRICANES POUA. TO RUGBY LEAGUE, AND WARRIORS HALFBACK LUKE METCALF IS DRAWING ON THE EXPERIENCE OF BOTH CURRENT AND FORMER PLAYERS AS HE PREPARES TO RUN OUT IN THE NUMBER SEVEN JERSEY THIS WEEKEND. THE TEAM'S BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH FANS AHEAD OF THEIR NRL OPENER AGAINST CANBERRA, AND WHILE IT'S A NEW POSITION FOR METCALF, HE'S CONFIDENT HE CAN STEP UP AS THE WARRIORS' NEW PLAYMAKER. I FEEL READY. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE WAITED A WHILE. I HAVE LEARNT OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE ME WHO I HAVEN'T LOOKED UP TO HIS MENTORS AND I FEEL I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I AM MORE THAN READY TO STEP UP. THE MATCH GETS UNDERWAY AT 1PM NEW ZEALAND TIME ON SUNDAY. THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX ARE OPTIMISTIC ONE POSITIVE RESULT CAN STILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR SEASON AS THEY LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THEIR DERBY DEFEAT TO AUCKLAND FC LAST WEEKEND. DESPITE STILL REELING FROM THEIR 6-1 DEMOLITION, COACH GIANCARLO ITALIANO SAYS THE TEAM HAVE TURNED THEIR FULL ATTENTION TO TONIGHT'S MATCH AGAINST MELBOURNE CITY AND STILL BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE THE TOP SIX, DESPITE ENTERING THE ROUND NINE POINTS BEHIND SIXTH-PLACED CITY. IT'S MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STEADYING THE SHIP AND REFOCUSING ON ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND MAKE SURE THE FOCUS IS ON CITY AND NOTHING ELSE. THE MATCH KICKS OFF IN JUST OVER HALF AN HOUR'S TIME. NOT CONTENT WITH AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, CANTERBURY HIGH JUMPER HAMISH KERR NOW WANTS TO CLEAR THE 'CEILING HEIGHT' OF THE AVERAGE HOME. KERR HAS REVEALED THAT JUMPING 2.4M IS HIS NEXT BIG TARGET ` A HEIGHT THAT WOULD ALSO SEE HIM BREAK THE CURRENT OLYMPIC RECORD AT THE 2028 LOS ANGELES GAMES. PADDY GOWER CAUGHT UP WITH THE FLYING KIWI, AND THEY BEGAN BY DISCUSSING HOW HE'S GOT TO WHERE HE IS TODAY. I REALLY LOVED HIGH JUMP WHEN I WAS YOUNG. WHEN I WAS, PROBABLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 10 OR 11, WAS WHEN I STARTED JUMPING, AND I WASN'T TALL BACK THEN, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO WHAT I WAS NOW, AND SO PART OF ME JUST FEELS SO GRATEFUL THAT I ACTUALLY DID GET THIS TALL. BUT BEING TALL HELPS WITH THE HIGH JUMP, OBVIOUSLY? YEAH, MASSIVELY. LIKE I THINK, UM... LIKE, THE SHORTEST GUYS ON TOUR WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOUT 190, AND THEN I'M ONE OF THE TALLER GUYS ON TOUR. THERE'S A COUPLE GUYS WHO ARE A COUPLE OF CENTIMETRES TALLER THAN ME, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYONE IS BETWEEN ABOUT 190 AND 2M, SO YEAH, DEFINITELY IS A BARRIER TO ENTRY THERE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU USE ALL YOUR OTHER, SORT OF, PHYSICAL QUALITIES AS WELL. YEAH, BECAUSE LET'S GO THROUGH HOW HIGH YOU CAN JUMP. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS 2.36M AT THE OLYMPICS, AND THEN AT THE WEEKEND, HERE IN NEW ZEALAND ` HOW HIGH DID YOU JUMP AT THE WEEKEND? SO I JUMPED 2.30 IN THE WEEKEND ` SO 6CM LESS THAN WHAT I DID AT THE OLYMPICS ` BUT I MEAN, GIVEN THE TIME OF YEAR I'M IN AT THE MOMENT, I'M JUST SO STOKED FOR THAT. LIKE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT AS A TEAM. LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I, KIND OF, KNOW WHERE I'M AT IN MY TRAINING A LOT OF THE TIME, AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING A FEW THINGS DIFFERENTLY, AND I THINK ` DEFINITELY LAST YEAR ` WE REALLY STEPPED UP. I WENT FROM ABOUT SEVENTH IN THE WORLD AT THE START OF THE YEAR TO, OBVIOUSLY, TOP IN THE WORLD BY THE END, SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY JUST EVIDENCE OF WHERE WE'RE MOVING TO. AND, YEAH, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY TO THINK THAT I'M ESSENTIALLY JUMPING A 30CM SCHOOL-RULER ABOVE MY HEAD. AND BEING ALREADY QUITE A TALL PERSON MYSELF, IT'S` YEAH, IT'S PRETTY WEIRD. EVEN I KIND OF LOOK AT THE BAR AFTER THE COMPETITION WHEN ALL THE HYPE HAS KIND OF DIED DOWN AND SORT OF THINK, LIKE, HOW THE HECK HAVE I GOTTEN OVER THAT? BUT, YEAH, IT'S A` IT'S DEFINITELY AN ART TO IT, THAT'S FOR SURE. YEAH, WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW HIGH IT IS, COS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 1.98M; YOU'RE JUMPING 2.30M-PLUS. THAT'S THE HEIGHT, I GUESS, OF THE CEILING. ALMOST. YEAH, WELL, COULD YOU TEST IT ACTUALLY WHERE YOU ARE NOW? JUST IF YOU JUST STAND UP, CAN YOU TOUCH THE CEILING WITH YOUR HAND? JUST STAND UP. SO, YEAH... SO IF THIS... SO THE CEILING IS 2.40M. YES. SO I HAVE JUMPED LIKE 2.30M, WHICH IS LIKE THAT HIGH. YEAH. AND THE OLYMPICS WAS 2.36M, WHICH IS NEARLY 2.40M. MAYBE LIKE HERE. AND THE WORLD RECORD ` THE WORLD RECORD IS 2.45M, I THINK. 2.45M, YEP. SO I SUPPOSE FOR ME THE NEXT GOAL IS TO JUMP 2.40M. BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE QUITE A KEY HEIGHT, AND ALSO BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF COOL TO BE ABLE TO JUMP OVER A CEILING. (LAUGHS) AND SO, YOU KNOW, GREAT MOTIVATION THERE. BUT 2.45 IS AMAZING. LIKE, I MEAN, THAT WAS A RECORD SET IN THE '90S. AND, UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME AMAZING GUYS EVER SINCE WHO HAVE KIND OF COME CLOSE TO THAT BUT NEVER QUITE KICKED IT OFF. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT I COULD, IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BE GETTING UP TO THAT HEIGHT. BUT I THINK FOR NOW, DEFINITELY 2.40M IS THE BIG GOAL. AND JUST BEFORE I GO, SAM, MICHAEL HENDRY IS THE BEST OF THE KIWIS ` TIED FOR FOURTH AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF THE NEW ZEALAND GOLF OPEN AT MILLBROOK. GOOD LUCK TO THE KIWIS STILL IN IT. IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE AN EVENING CUP OF TEA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LET IT BREW A LITTLE LONGER. SCIENTISTS HAVE UNCOVERED SOME HIDDEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF A STRONG CUPPA. THEY SAY BLACK TEA CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HEAVY METALS IN WATER, AS ITV'S SAM HOLDER EXPLAINS. FROM ITS ORIGINS IN CHINA... ARCHIVE: DARJEELING TEA IS HIGH GRADE. ...TO THE GRAND ESTATES IN INDIA, AND THEN SUPERMARKET SHELVES IN BRITAIN. TEA DRINKERS HAVE LONG EXTOLLED THE VIRTUES OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR DRINK, BUT WHAT AMERICAN SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE LEAVES COULD BE HELPING TO FILTER OUT TOXIC HEAVY METALS FROM THE WATER THEY'RE BREWED IN ` THE KIND OF CONTAMINANTS THAT CAN ` IN LARGE QUANTITIES ` CAUSE CANCER, KIDNEY FAILURE AND A HOST OF OTHER DISEASES. FOR TEA EXPERT DON MEI WHO DRINKS HIS BREW IN THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE GONG FU STYLE, THESE FINDINGS ARE NO SURPRISE. TEA HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A MEDICINE IN CHINA, EVER SINCE EVER, THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. THESE STUDIES JUST ARE... OUR ATTEMPT` WHICH IS REMARKABLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER, WE'RE STILL ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISMS BEHIND IT. IN SIMPLE TERMS, HEAVY METAL IONS ALREADY WITHIN THE WATER, STICK TO THE SURFACE OF THE LEAVES AND GET TRAPPED. A STANDARD INFUSION OF THREE MINUTES CAN REMOVE 15% OF LEAD IN A MUG OF TEA, AND THE LONGER THE LEAVES ARE IN THERE, THE MORE HEAVY METALS ARE REMOVED, WHICH MEANS SOMETHING LIKE ICED TEA ` BREWED FOR 24 HOURS ` ABSORBS THE MOST. TEA PURISTS WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT LOOSE LEAF IS BEST, BUT EVEN PAPER TEABAGS REMOVE THE HEAVY METALS. HOWEVER, TEA BAGS MADE OF COTTON AND NYLON DO VIRTUALLY NOTHING. TEA IS NOWHERE NEAR THE MOST EFFECTIVE FILTER ` THAT'S CHARCOAL OR REVERSE OSMOSIS ` THOUGH IT DOES PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE. METALS CAN GET INTO OUR DRINKING WATER THROUGH OLD PIPES, THROUGH INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION. I THINK IT REALLY OPENS UP POTENTIAL NEW HORIZONS FOR LOOKING AT BIOMATERIALS, NATURAL MATERIALS TO CLEAN WATER. THE AMERICAN STUDY FOUND GROUND BLACK TEA DOES THE BEST JOB, BUT OTHER LEAVES ` NOT JUST TEA ` ALSO WORK. THEY JUST DON'T TASTE QUITE AS GOOD. LOVE A GOOD CUP OF TEA. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER, AND HOW'S THE FIRST WEEKEND OF AUTUMN LOOKING? IT SEEMS SO BIZARRE. DEPENDS WHERE YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY. THE NORTH ISLAND'S IN FOR SOME SHOWERS AND CLOUD. THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH WILL HAVE TWO FRONTS ARRIVING ` ONE TOMORROW, THEN ONE ON SUNDAY ` BUT FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, IT WILL FEEL A LOT LIKE SUMMER. I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST NEXT. MAKING THE MOST OF THE WEATHER AND HEADING AWAY. KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE BY CHECKING LATCHES. A.M.I., BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. AND IT'S GOODBYE TO SUMMER. METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY OVER AFTER TODAY, SO WHAT WILL THE NEXT SEASON HAVE IN STORE? WELL, OVERNIGHT THAT WEAKENING FRONT WILL SWEEP OVER THE TOP OF THE NORTH ISLAND. TOMORROW, THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE, BUT A FRONT WILL REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH. A FINE START TO THE DAY HERE, BUT THEN AS THAT FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTH WEST ` AROUND LUNCH TIME ` IT WILL BRING WET WEATHER. BUT IT WILL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES UP, BECOMING PATCHY AS IT GETS TO CENTRAL OTAGO. NELSON, MOTUEKA AND AROUND TO THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND SHOULD REMAIN DRY OVERNIGHT. SOME SHOWERS LINGERING THROUGH CENTRAL AREAS, BAY OF PLENTY AND EASTERN NORTHLAND. TOMORROW IS MOSTLY DRY TO START, THEN SOME SHOWERS FOR WESTERN NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND, EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY AND TOWARDS TAIRAWHITI RANGES. MORNING SHOWERS ARE ON THE CARDS FOR MOST UP TOP, CLEARING BY AFTERNOON. KAITAIA AND HAMILTON YOURS, THOUGH, WILL ARRIVE IN THE AFTERNOON ` EASTERLY AND NORTHEASTERLY WINDS AROUND TOO. MORE OF THAT DRIZZLY WEATHER HERE, BUT THINGS SHOULD CLEAR UP IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE DAY FOR ALL, WITH STRENGTHENING WINDS AFTER LUNCH. ANY MORNING CLOUD AROUND HERE WILL CLEAR, MAKING FOR A FINE AFTERNOON OUT EAST. WESTERLY AND NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. NORTHERLIES FOR GISBORNE. A FINE SATURDAY FOR MOST HERE. TAUMARUNUI COULD SEE SOME EARLY SHOWERS, AND IT'LL BE A CLOUDY AFTERNOON FOR SOME, WITH A MIXTURE OF WESTERLIES AND NORTHWESTERLIES TO TE WAIPOUNAMU. AND IT'LL BE A CLOUDY START FOR THE TOP OF THE SOUTH, WITH THE CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS, BUT THINGS WILL CLEAR AFTER MIDDAY. SEA BREEZES IN NELSON, WITH SOUTHWESTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE EVENING. A DAY FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES HERE, THAT'S FOR SURE. APART FROM SOME MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD, IT'S FINE WEATHER ALL ROUND HERE. CHRISTCHURCH, YOU WILL SEE AREAS OF LOW CLOUD OR FOG FIRST THING. NORTHERLIES FOR MOST, WITH AFTERNOON SEA BREEZES FOR KAIKOURA. BIT OF A MIXED STORY HERE ` IT'LL BE MAINLY FINE FOR MANY, WITH THE CHANCE OF EVENING SHOWERS, BUT INVERCARGILL AND OBAN YOU'RE IN FOR RAIN, AND IT COULD GET HEAVY FOR YOU, INVERCARGILL. A CALM DAY FOR DUNEDIN. YOU'LL HAVE LOW CLOUD OR FOG TO START, THEN IT'LL FINE UP, WITH SOME LIGHT RAIN IN THE EVENING, ACCOMPANIED BY SOUTHERLY WINDS. CHRISTCHURCH, IT'LL BE A FINE DAY FOR YOU APART FROM THAT SAME FOG I MENTIONED. NORTHERLY WINDS FOR YOU, AND A HIGH OF 27. WELLINGTON, YOUR CLOUD WILL CLEAR IN THE AFTERNOON, BRINGING YOU FINE SPELLS. FRESH NORTHWESTERLIES. 24 FOR THE HUTT VALLEY. YOUR CLOUD WILL CLEAR AS WELL, HAWKE'S BAY, AND YOU'RE IN FOR A FINE AFTERNOON, WITH NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE EVENING ` THOSE WARM TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TOO. THERE'LL BE A FEW SHOWERS TOMORROW FOR TAURANGA; THEY WILL EASE AS THE DAY GOES ON. NORTHWESTERLY WINDS IN THE AFTERNOON. HAMILTON, YOU'RE IN FOR A PARTLY CLOUDY SATURDAY, WITH THE CHANCE OF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND SOME LIGHT WINDS. 27 FOR YOU. AND IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND ` THOSE NORTHEASTERLIES WILL EASE IN THE MORNING. YOUR MORNING WILL BE CLOUDY, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS THAT'LL CLEAR AFTER LUNCH. ACROSS THE DITCH ` PARTLY CLOUDY, BUT FINE IN PERTH AND ALICE SPRINGS, AND TROPICAL CYCLONE ALFRED IS BECOMING LESS LIKELY TO MAKE LANDFALL ON THE QUEENSLAND COAST, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE DOWNGRADED TO A CATEGORY TWO TOMORROW. AND IT'LL BE A WET AND HUMID WEEKEND FOR SATURDAY FOR THE PACIFIC. BACK HOME, AND A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, SO SETTLED WEATHER IS EXPECTED UNTIL TUESDAY, WHEN SHOWERS ARRIVE FOR SOME. HEAVIER FALLS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK FOR EVERYONE HERE, BUT DRY DAYS AHEAD OF IT. THE TOP OF THE SOUTH, GREYMOUTH THE OUTLIER, WITH RAIN TAKING YOU INTO NEXT WEEK. AND ANOTHER FRONT WILL REACH THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND ON SUNDAY AND MOVE UP, BUT WEAKEN. AND THAT'S YOUR WEATHER. AND LAST NIGHT I SAID TODAY'S COMMUTE WOULD BE SUNNY IN AUCKLAND, AND KATHY HAS CAPTURED THAT PERFECTLY. WELL DONE, LAURA. YOU MADE IT. 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. IMOGEN AND THE TEAM WILL BE HERE WITH YOU OVER THE WEEKEND, AND I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN ON MONDAY. CAPTIONS BY BRIGIT KELLY AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025