TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` SELLING NEW ZEALAND TO THE WORLD ` GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERS IN AUCKLAND GET THE HARD SELL. A VERY ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO TAKE SHELTER FROM THE GLOBAL STORM. CHRISTOPHER LUXON PITCHES AOTEAROA AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR BIG MONEY ` WHAT IT COULD HELP US BUILD NEXT. VLADIMIR PUTIN DONS FATIGUES AND HEADS TO THE FIGHTING AS A POSSIBLE CEASEFIRE WITH UKRAINE HANGS IN THE BALANCE. AND A HEARTFELT MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH IN A WORLD FIRST... AN AUSSIE PATIENT LEAVES HOSPITAL WITH AN ARTIFICAL HEART. CAPTIONS BY ABLE CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. 'AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION TO SHELTER FROM THE GLOBAL STORM'. THAT WAS THE PRIME MINISTER'S PITCH TO TOP INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS AT A SUMMIT IN AUCKLAND AS HE SOUGHT TO SELL NEW ZEALAND'S ECONOMIC POTENTIAL. COLLECTIVELY, THEY CONTROL $3 TRILLION, COLLECTIVELY, THEY CONTROL $6 TRILLION, SO DID THEY LOOSEN THE PURSE STRINGS? BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD WAS THERE, AND IS STANDING BY WITH ANALYSIS. FIRST HER REPORT. A ROLLCALL OF MINISTERS SELLING NEW ZEALAND'S CHARMS AND POTENTIAL. WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME. IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SECURITY, AND THE EFFECT OF EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS I WOULD CHOOSE NEW ZEALAND. THE WEALTH IN THIS ROOM IS IMMENSE. BETWEEN THEM THESE INVESTORS HOLD SIX TRILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDS. TENS OF BILLIONS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. MINISTERS SAYING 'HEY, COME BUILD SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, COURTHOUSES, A NEW 480-BED HIGH-SECURITY PRISON AT CHRISTCHURCH MEN'S. THE INTENTION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY OPEN UP, PARTICULARLY A BIG FOCUS ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. A DRY DOCK AT MARSDEN POINT ANOTHER PROJECT ON THE TABLE. (BELLS CLANG) A SMALL BUT NOISY GROUP OF PROTESTORS OUTSIDE FAILED TO DISRUPT PROCEEDINGS. REPORTERS WERE BANNED FROM THE ROOM WHERE THE SUMMIT WAS HELD, WITH MOST INVESTORS MEDIA-SHY. THOSE THAT DID SPEAK WERE KEEN TO THROW SOME CASH NEW ZEALAND'S WAY. THE ITALIANS ARE COMING BACK. ITALIAN CONSTRUCTION GIANT WEBUILD PUTTING IN A BID TO PARTNER WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT THE NEXT STAGE OF THE NORTHERN EXPRESSWAY FROM WARKWORTH TO TE HANA. WE'VE WON... THE LAST THREE LARGEST PPP PROJECTS IN AUSTRALIA, AND I THINK WE ARE VERY WELL EQUIPPED TO HOPEFULLY BRING SOMETHING GOOD TO NEW ZEALAND. INVESTORS SAY THEY WANT A CLEAR PIPELINE OF PROJECTS AND WHILE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ARE POPULAR - THEY WANT TO KNOW THERE'S A LINEUP OF THOSE TOO. IT'S ONLY FOUR AND THEY FINISH AT FOUR. THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION THAT WILL END QUICKLY. THE FINANCE MINISTER SAYS SOME INVESTORS ARE RAISING ISSUES WITH HER. PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THE REFORMS THAT WE'RE MAKING TO THE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT ACT. AND THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THE PIPELINE OF INVESTMENT, SO NOT JUST WHAT ARE THE NEXT FEW BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT WHAT WILL COME AFTER THAT. WE ARE MOVING FROM THE TALK INTO THE ACTION, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN. THE PRIME MINISTER CONFIDENT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN INTO INVESTMENT. KATIE, IS THAT CONFIDENCE JUSTIFIED? THE PRIME MINISTER IS TALKING THIS UP, THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO HIM. HE IS TAKING A LOT OF NIGHT, HE WANTS THAT FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO MAKE NEW ZEALAND AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION. WE DID HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THOSE NEW PROJECTS THAT HE IS PLANNING TO DO UNDER PPPS, BUT IT IS HARD, BECAUSE THE MEDIA IS NOT EVEN ALLOWED IN THE ROOM, THE SPEECHES ARE BEING STREAMED TO A MEDIA ROOM, THE PANEL DISCUSSIONS WE ARE NOT GETTING TO HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. BUT IN THIS AS WE HAD SPOKEN TO ARE KEEN TO PUT CASH HERE, THERE IS A PIPELINE OF PROJECTS, AND BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO IMPORTANT AS WHAT IS GOING ON THE SIDELINES, WITH IWI AND GOVERNMENT MINISTERS TALKING ABOUT DEALS AND WHERE INVESTMENT MIGHT TAKE PLACE, AND THINGS LIKE DATA CENTRES AS WELL. AND YOU'VE GOT SOME EXCLUSIVE DETAILS OF WHAT WE MIGHT HEAR TOMORROW? YET AGAIN, TOMORROW IS ANOTHER ROLLCALL OF MINISTERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR PORTFOLIOS, WE WILL HEAR FROM CHRIS BISHOP. HE WILL LAY OUT PLANS FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF A HARBOUR CROSSING IN AUCKLAND. WE WON'T FIND OUT IT WILL BE A TUNNEL OR HARBOUR BRIDGE, IT WILL BE MORE ABOUT A STUDY OR WHAT IS FEASIBLE, WHAT CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO GET THAT SECOND CROSSING DONE AND WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT STAGES OF THAT, I AM SURE BUT IT WILL BE ASKING FOR SOME OF THAT PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO GET THAT BUILT. ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE STILL SOME TIME OFF, WE'RE NOT SEEING SHOVELS ON THE GROUND YET, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE STUDIES, AND WE NEED THE CASH, AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PUT IN CASH TOO. POWERHOUSE IWI, NGAI TAHU AND WAIKATO ALSO SPOKE AT THE SUMMIT ALONGSIDE GOVERNMENT MINISTERS. THEIR LEADERS EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND GROW THE MAORI ECONOMY. MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI REPORTS. (ALL SING IN TE REO MAORI) THE COUNTRY'S WEALTHIEST IWI HAVE A MESSAGE FOR SOME OF THE WORLD'S WEALTHIEST INVESTORS. WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, NAU MAI HAERE MAI. THEY'RE THE ONLY NON-MP'S SPEAKING AT THE SUMMIT. I ALSO WANT TO UNLOCK MORE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN INDIGENOUS IWI MAORI ORGANISATIONS AND COMMERCIAL INVESTORS. BUT IWI SAY THE ONLY REASON THEY'RE HERE IS BECAUSE... WE HAD TO PUSH AND PRESS OUR CLAIMS IN ORDER TO BE PART OF THIS INVESTMENT SUMMIT. THAT'S THE REASON WE DID WANT IWI IN HERE, BECAUSE THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY GOT SOME GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. I SAID TO HIM, YOU CAN'T HAVE A SUMMIT WITHOUT MAORI. WE HAVE TO BE TALKING IN FRONT OF THE WORLD. AND NOW THEY CAN... TELLING INVESTORS TODAY. THE BIGGEST BENEFIT THAT INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS SHOULD SEE IS THAT THERE IS ONE CONSTANT IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT IS MAORI. GOVERNMENTS WILL COME AND GO, BUT IWI AND MAORI, WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE. THAT'S NOT ALL. WE CONTROL RESOURCES AND ASSETS THAT OTHERS DON'T. WE HAVE STRATEGIC LAND HOLDINGS IN BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND WITH DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS. WE HAVE RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL. THAT MEANS IWI MUST BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY CERTAIN CROWN-OWNED ASSETS, BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. WE ARE YOUR SECRET WEAPON. THE MAORI ECONOMY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO $126b SINCE 2018. WE'VE OUTPERFORMED NON-MAORI IN THIS COUNTRY, IN TERMS OF OUR RATE OF GROWTH. AND INVESTMENT IS SHIFTING AWAY FROM A RELIANCE ON PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE AQUACULTURE SPACE, RENEWABLE ENERGY, BUT IN FACT ALL AREAS OF INFRASTURCTURE PROJECTS. RENEWABLE ENERGY, BUT IN FACT ALL AREAS OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND THEY WANT IWI HELP TO DO THAT. THE IWI PRESENTATION ACTUALLY ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THEIR INVESTMENT. ACTUALLY WAS PROBABLY AN AREA THAT I HAD LESS OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BREADTH OF SOME OF THAT. MAORI ALREADY HAVE A TRACK-RECORD WITH FOREIGN INVESTORS. ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST SEAFOOD COMPANIES, SEALORD, IS A 50-50 JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN IWI AND JAPANESE COMPANY NISSUI CORPORATION. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH MAORI FOR OVER 30 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. DO YOU THINK INVESTORS AND THOSE IN CHARGE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THE MAORI ECONOMY SERIOUSLY? WELL, IF THEY DON'T, THEY SHOULD BE NOW. AN UNDENIABLE FORCE AT HOME, MAORI HOPE THE WORLD WILL NOW PAY ATTENTION TOO. TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI, 1 NEWS. THE PUSH FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMING AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRADE WAR SHOWS NO SIGNS OF ABATING, WITH NEW TARIFFS AND THREATS OF MORE TO COME. MINUTES AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S 25% TARIFFS ON STEEL AND ALUMINIUM ON CANADA AND EUROPE KICKED IN, BRUSSELS ANNOUNCED A RANGE OF COUNTER-MEASURES THAT WOULD TARGET UP TO $49b WORTH OF GOODS COMING FROM THE STATES. CANADA ALSO IMPOSED AN ADDITIONAL 25% TARIFF ON MORE THAN $50b WORTH OF GOODS. ON MORE THAN U.S. $50b WORTH OF GOODS. DONALD TRUMP PROMISING TO MATCH ANY RETALIATORY TARIFFS LIKE FOR LIKE. WELL, WE HAVE BEEN ABUSED FOR A LONG TIME AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE BEEN ABUSED, REALLY, FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE WILL BE ABUSED NO LONGER. DONALD TRUMP ALSO TOOK AIM AT IRELAND'S LOW TAX POLICIES AS THE IRISH PRESIDENT WAS VISITING THE WHITE HOUSE. HE ACCUSED IRELAND OF STEALING THE U.S. PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET TOO, AND WE ARE INVESTING A LOT MORE IN AMERICA NOW, AND PEOPLE MAY NOT REALISE, BUT RYANAIR, AIR C` (TRUMP CHUCKLES) THEY BUY MORE` THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, THEY BUY MORE BOEING AEROPLANES THAN ANYBODY ELSE OUTSIDE OF AMERICA. THE IRISH LEADER SAID THAT INVESTMENT WAS A BOOST TO THE U.S. ECONOMY AND EMPLOYED THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS. LATER IN THE BULLETIN, WE'LL LOOK AT THE FIGHT AGAINST FETANYL ` PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SAID STOPPING THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO AMERICA IS ONE REASON FOR THE TARIFFS. DOUBLE MURDERER SCOTT WATSON HAS APPEARED BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD, WHERE IT EMERGED HE WAS INVOLVED IN A MISCONDUCT INCIDENT IN PRISON LAST YEAR. THE 53-YEAR-OLD HAS SPENT NEARLY HALF HIS LIFE IN JAIL FOR THE MURDERS OF BEN SMART AND OLIVIA HOPE IN THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS IN 1998. CUSHLA NORMAN ATTENDED THE HEARING. THIS WAS SCOTT WATSON'S SIXTH PAROLE HEARING. HE WAS THERE IN A GREY PRISON UNIFORM, BUT HE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK, AS THE HEARING SET FOR AN UNUSUALLY LONG SIX HOURS. AS THE HEARING SAT FOR AN UNUSUALLY LONG SIX HOURS. THE BOARD HEARD WATSON STILL HAS A PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE AND CAN BE VENGEFUL. LAST YEAR, HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FIGHT, AND SOME TIME AGO HE THREW FAECES ON PEOPLE DURING A DISAGREEMENT. THE PAROLE BOARD WANTS TO UNDERSTAND HIS LEVEL OF RISK FOR RE-OFFENDING AFTER PREVIOUSLY RECEIVING REPORTS WITH DIFFERING VIEWS. THREE OUT OF FOUR PSYCHOLOGISTS SAID HE WAS A MEDIUM RISK, WHILE ONE CLASSED HIM AS HIGH. THAT PSYCHOLOGIST PUT A LOT OF WEIGHT ON WATSON'S DENIAL OF THE MURDERS, SAYING HIS LACK OF REMORSE IS CONCERNING, WHILE ANOTHER PSYCHOLOGIST SUGGESTED DENIAL ISN'T A RISK FACTOR. THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT HE'S STILL UNTREATED AND CAN BE NASTY WHEN FEELING SLIGHTED. THREE OF THE PSYCHOLOGISTS WORK FOR CORRECTIONS; ONE IS INDEPENDENT. SHE DESCRIBED HIS BARK AS WORSE THAN HIS BITE, AND SAID HE COULD BE RELEASED SAFELY, BECAUSE HE HAS ROBUST COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION ON WATSON'S PAROLE BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL ENVOY IS HEADING TO RUSSIA IN THE COMING DAYS TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CEASEFIRE AGREED WITH UKRAINE. DONALD TRUMP'S THREATENING FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS IF MOSCOW DOESN'T ACCEPT IT, BUT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S YET TO COMMENT PUBLICLY. INSTEAD, THE RUSSIAN LEADER VISITED KURSK IN THE WEST OF RUSSIA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE UKRAINIAN FORCES OCCUPIED PART OF THE REGION LAST AUGUST. RUSSIAN MEDIA IS REPORTING MOST OF IT HAS BEEN RECAPTURED. THE BBC'S JAMES WATERHOUSE HAS THE LATEST. NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY; VLADIMIR PUTIN WITH SOLDIERS IN CAMOUFLAGE. HE'S VISITING FORCES IN RUSSIA'S WESTERN KURSK REGION, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING BACK UKRAINIAN TROOPS. KYIV SEIZED SOME OF THIS TERRITORY LAST SUMMER, AND HOPED IT WOULD FORCE RUSSIA TO COMPROMISE. PUTIN BARELY REACTED UNTIL NOW.SORRY TO BE CHEEKY AS ANYWHERE LET US HAVE (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) TRANSLATOR: OUR TASK IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, IS TO FINALLY DEFEAT THE ENEMY WHO HAS DUG INTO THE TERRITORY OF THE KURSK REGION. THIS ON A DAY WHEN HE HAD A RARE POSITIVE MOOD IN KYIV'S PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY SEEMED PLEASED WITH AN AGREED TRUCE PROPOSAL, WITH THE U.S., CLAIMING IT SHOWED UKRAINE IS READY FOR PEACE. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) TRANSLATOR: TODAY, EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WHETHER RUSSIA WANTS A CEASEFIRE OR WHETHER IT WANTS TO CONTINUE KILLING PEOPLE, BECAUSE AMERICA HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS STEPS AND POSITION, AND UKRAINE HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS POSITION VERY CLEARLY. UKRAINE MAY BE BACK IN SYNC WITH THE U.S., BUT ITS LEADER STILL HAS HIS RED LINES, NEVER RECOGNISING THE TERRITORY MOSCOW HAS SEIZED BY FORCE. AMERICA'S UNPAUSING OF MILITARY AID IS A RELIEF, BUT NOT THE ANSWER TO HIS BATTLEFIELD PROBLEMS. RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE ALSO ADVANCING IN UKRAINE'S EASTERN DONETSK REGION, WHICH IS MOSTLY OCCUPIED. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) TRANSLATOR: WELL, I THINK THAT RUSSIA IS UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT THIS TRUCE DEAL, BUT DONALD TRUMP IS UNPREDICTABLE. I HOPE THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A REACTION THAT WILL NOT BE IN FAVOUR OF RUSSIA. THE U.S. PRESIDENT, HOWEVER, SOUNDED MORE UPBEAT. WE HAVE A FULL CEASEFIRE WHEN IT` IF IT KICKS IN. WE HAVE TO SEE. IT'S UP TO RUSSIA NOW, BUT WE'VE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH PARTIES, ACTUALLY. IF RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IS ANYONE TO GO BY, THE KREMLIN DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ENTHUSIASTICALLY WAITING FOR AMERICA'S PEACE VISION. WELL, NOBODY IS TALKING TO US. THEY KEEP SAYING NOTHING ABOUT UKRAINE WITHOUT UKRAINE, BUT THEY DO EVERYTHING ABOUT RUSSIA WITHOUT RUSSIA. WHAT RUSSIA IS DOING IS CONTINUING TO BOMBARD UKRAINIAN CITIES. (BOMB EXPLOSIONS) FOR ALL OF THE TALK OF PEACE, IT'S STILL HARD TO IMAGINE. AND THE U.S. ENVOY, STEVE WITKOFF, IS EXPECTED IN MOSCOW THIS WEEK. THE MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE TROUBLED SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME HAS CONFIRMED LUNCHES ARE NOW BEING FLOWN IN FROM AUSTRALIA. THIS WEEK, THE MAIN SUPPLIER OF SCHOOL LUNCHES LIBELLE WAS PLACED INTO LIQUIDATION. DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS LUNCHES ARE NOW COMING FROM ACROSS THE DITCH TO ENSURE KIDS KEEP GETTING FED, WHILE THE PROBLEM WITH LIBELLE IS SORTED OUT. LABOUR HAS LABELLED THE DEVELOPMENT 'DISGRACEFUL'. A BLESSING HAS BEEN HELD FOR A MATAMATA COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WAS FATALLY STRUCK BY A FREIGHT TRAIN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. DESPITE RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION, THE YOUNG WOMAN DIED OF HER INJURIES AT THE SCENE. KIWIRAIL SAYS THE DRIVER IS NOW ON LEAVE. OUR BAY OF PLENTY REPORTER JORDYN RUDD SENT THIS REPORT FROM MATAMATA. MATAMATA IS A COMMUNITY IN QUIET SHOCK AND SADNESS TODAY. IT'S THE SECOND DEATH OF A STUDENT ON THIS PART OF THE RAILWAY IN ALMOST 13 YEARS. A YEAR 11 STUDENT WAS STRUCK BY A TRAIN IN JULY OF 2012, AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE SAYING THEN THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO CHANGE. EVEN SINCE BEING HERE THIS AFTERNOON, I'VE SEEN AT LEAST TWO STUDENTS RUN ACROSS THE TRACKS. THE RAILWAY LINE RUNS STRAIGHT THROUGH OUR TOWN. RIGHT NEXT TO IT AS HIGHWAY 27. IT'S A BUSY ROAD. RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS HIGHWAY 27. IT'S A BUSY ROAD. I'LL CERTAINLY BE WORKING WITH THE AGENCIES ADVOCATING FOR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. A BLESSING OF THIS SITE WAS HELD THIS MORNING, ATTENDED BY WHANAU, FRIENDS, STUDENTS AND THE MAYOR. THERE'S A REAL RAWNESS TO THIS INCIDENT, COS IT'S SUCH A TRAGEDY, AND IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE, BECAUSE IN A SMALL, CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY, WE DO KNOW ONE ANOTHER. AN INVESTIGATION IS NOW UNDERWAY, WITH POLICE MAKING ENQUIRIES ON BEHALF OF THE CORONER, AND ANY WITNESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME FORWARD. E HAERE AKE NEI ` JUST AHEAD ` NINE MONTHS STUCK IN SPACE AND COUNTING. WHY THE MISSION TO FINALLY BRING THESE STRANDED ASTRONAUTS HOME HAS BEEN CALLED OFF. PLUS ` HE WAS ASKING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN GO FOR A PINT SOMETIME? (LAUGHTER) SO WE WERE LIKE, 'OK, MAYBE AFTER YOUR TRANSPLANT.' HAILED AS A GAME-CHANGER, THE INVENTOR CELEBRATES A PATIENT LIVING 100 DAYS WITH A TITANIUM HEART ` THE PROTOTYPE MADE WITH BUNNINGS PARTS. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` WOULD YOU LET YOUR KIDS DO THE SUPERMARKET SHOPPING? WE GIVE THEM THE GROCERY CART AND THE BANK CARD AND SEE HOW MANY TREATS THEY BUY. PLUS ` THE BIGGEST BILLFISHING COMPETITION IN THE WORLD ` WHY THERE'S MORE ON THE LINE THAN MARLIN. AND YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A BRAND-SPANKING-NEW FORD RANGER. (PHONE CHIMES) SONG: # You # You've got what I need... # Thank you, Sam! You're welcome, Wendy. # You're like medicine to me... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. ONCE A STRONGMAN PRESIDENT WHO BOASTED ABOUT KILLING DRUG DEALERS, FORMER FILIPINO LEADER RODRIGO DUTERTE IS NOW AT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AT THE HAGUE, IN THE NETHERLANDS. HE'S FACING CHARGES OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, BUT HIS SUPPORTERS SAY HIS HANDOVER TO THE COURT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. HERE'S CORAZON MILLER. IT'S A STEP CLOSER TO JUSTICE THESE FAMILIES NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D SEE. (SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: TO SEE A PRESIDENT, SOMEONE LIKE DUTERTE RECEIVE A WARRANT OF ARREST. THEIR SONS AND BROTHERS AMONG AN ESTIMATED 30,000 PEOPLE KILLED DURING DUTERTE'S PRESIDENCY. RODRIGO DUTERTE: ARE... (IMITATES BLADE CUTTING) BUT ALMOST ALL THOSE TARGETED WERE POOR; MANY EXECUTED WITHOUT TRIAL. (SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: 'HE SHOULD ADMIT ALL HE HAS DONE, ALL THE KILLINGS.' UNTIL THIS WEEK, IT HAD SEEMED HIS CLOSENESS WITH NEW PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS WOULD KEEP HIM SAFE. BUT THAT EVAPORATED WITH DUTERTE'S ARREST AND HANDOVER TO THE CRIMINAL COURT OF JUSTICE. WE OBLIGED BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMITMENTS TO THE INTERPOL, WHICH WE HAVE TO FULFIL. THE JUDGES HAVE FOUND REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT MR DUTERTE HAS COMMITTED THE CRIME OF MURDER. THIS WILL BE A LONG LEGAL... PROCEEDINGS, BUT I SAY TO YOU, I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE MY COUNTRY. OUTSIDE COURT, SUPPORTERS AND CRITICS RALLIED. WE WANT HIM TO BE JAILED ` WE WANT HIM TO SUFFER. TRANSLATOR: HE'S FACING ACCUSATIONS BECAUSE THE NEXT PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL IS APPROACHING. THEY'RE SCARED THAT DUTERTE SUPPORTERS WILL COME BACK. IF HE'S GOING TO BE CONVICTED, DEFINITELY, HIS ALLIES IN POLITICS AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS LIGHTLY. AND THEN SOME OF HIS POLITICAL ALLIES ARE NOW CONVINCING PEOPLE, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, THE SUPPORTERS, TO HAVE A PEOPLE-POWER REVOLUTION. A STANDOFF BETWEEN POLITICAL POWERHOUSES WHICH COULD SPARK UPHEAVAL FOR THEIR COUNTRY. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. TWO AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS WHO'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN ORBIT FOR NINE MONTHS WILL HAVE TO STAY THERE A LITTLE LONGER AFTER A MISSION TO RETRIEVE THEM WAS CALLED OFF. BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS WERE ONBOARD THE BOEING STARLINER TEST FLIGHT LAST JUNE. IT WAS SCHEDULED TO RETURN HOME AFTER AROUND A WEEK, BUT THAT BLEW OUT TO MONTHS AFTER MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. TODAY'S JOINT-LAUNCH NASA AND SPACE-X CREW-SWAP MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WAS SCRAPPED AFTER HYDRAULIC ISSUES. THERE'S NO WORD YET WHEN THEY'LL TRY AGAIN. IT'S BEING CALLED AN UNMITIGATED CLINICAL SUCCESS ` AN AUSTRALIAN MAN HAS LIVED MORE THAN A HUNDRED DAYS, WITH AN ARTIFICIAL TITANIUM HEART, WHILE USED AS A BRIDGE, AS THE PATIENT WAITED FOR A DONOR. EXPERTS SAY THE DEVICE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE PERMANENT. CHANNEL 9'S GABRIELLA ROGERS REPORTS. THIS TITANIUM ARTIFICIAL HEART, DECADES IN THE MAKING, SAVING THE LIFE OF AN AUSTRALIAN MAN IN HIS 40s WITH SEVERE HEART FAILURE. THIS PARTICULAR PATIENT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT TO A TRANSPLANT. HE WAS THAT SICK. THE OPERATION TAKING SIX HOURS AT SYDNEY'S ST VINCENT'S HOSPITAL; ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANCES TO HAPPEN IN THE FIELD OF HEART TRANSPLANT SURGERY. THIS IS A MOON SHOT AND IT WORKS, YOU KNOW, SO IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS. WEIGHING 650g, IT'S DESIGNED TO AVOID WEAR AND TEAR. A SPINNING DISC THAT PUMPS THE BLOOD IS SUSPENDED BY MAGNETIC FORCES, POWERED BY AN EXTERNAL BATTERY. ALL HE NEEDED TO DO WAS CHANGE HIS BATTERIES OUT. THAT WAS IT. THE SIZE OF THE DEVICE NOW, THOUGH, IS POTENTIALLY SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN A 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD. THE MAN RECEIVED THE ARTIFICIAL HEART LAST NOVEMBER, BECOMING THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO HAVE THE DEVICE FOR AS LONG AS HE DID ` 104 DAYS ` BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED WITH A HUMAN HEART, WHICH BECAME AVAILABLE LAST WEEK. HE'S THE SIXTH PATIENT IN THE FEASIBILITY TRIAL HERE AND THE U.S., AND THE FIRST TO LEAVE HOSPITAL WITH THE DEVICE. VERY, VERY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. YOU KNOW, HE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAD DIED OF HEART FAILURE, SO IT WAS VERY PERSONAL TO HIM. THE MAN TOLD DOCTORS HE FELT NORMAL. WOULD HE FEEL THE BUZZING OR ANYTHING? DIDN'T FEEL ANY OF THAT. HE WAS ASKING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, WE CAN GO FOR A PINT SOMETIME? (LAUGHS) YEAH. SO WE'RE LIKE, 'HEY, MAYBE AFTER YOUR TRANSPLANT.' (CHUCKLES) THE BIVACOR DEVICE INVENTED BY QUEENSLAND-BORN DR DANIEL TIMMS. HIS OWN FATHER DIED FROM HEART FAILURE IN HIS 50s. HE'D WORKED ON A PROTOTYPE WITH HIM, USING PARTS FROM BUNNINGS. AND TO SEE THAT ACTUALLY BE SUCCESSFUL AND HAVE THEM COME OUT, UM, YEAH, I JUST WISH IT WAS AROUND 20 YEARS AGO. ANOTHER FOUR PATIENTS HERE AND MORE THAN A DOZEN OVERSEAS WILL RECEIVE THE ARTIFICIAL HEART IN THE COMING MONTHS. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE IT WIDELY AVAILABLE IN TWO TO THREE YEARS. AND ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH ` KILLING AROUND 18 MILLION PEOPLE GLOBALLY EACH YEAR. STILL AHEAD ` FROM CARTEL SAFE HOUSES IN MEXICO TO AMERICA'S STREETS, HOW THESE SMUGGLERS GET FENTANYL ACROSS THE BORDER, AND WHY THEY BELIEVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CRACKDOWN WON'T WORK. IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS DRUG, IT'S VERY DEADLY. PLUS ` WHERE A CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT CAMERA WAS SET UP CAPTURING VISION OF A GREAT WHITE SHARK ON THIS OCCASION BITING OFF MORE THAN IT COULD CHEW. COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` IT'S A REAL SURF AND TURF NIGHT. FIRST ` REELING IN THE BIG FISH OFF THE COAST OF THE COROMANDEL. THEN ` THEY'RE TOP OF THE CHOPS ` THE BEST BUTCHERS IN THE LAND MEET IN A BATTLE FOR THE AGES. AND IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHAT GOES INTO PUTTING ON AN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL, WE'RE BEHIND THE SCENES AT WOMAD, AND THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING. PLUS ` TASKING 10-YEAR-OLDS TO UNDERTAKE THE SUPERMARKET SHOP. THE RESULTS AT 7. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI ` WELCOME BACK. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S TARIFFS ON GOODS FROM CHINA, CANADA AND MEXICO ARE PARTLY AIMED TO TARGET THE ILLICIT SMUGGLING OF FENTANYL INTO THE U.S. IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES, BBC CORRESPONDENT QUENTIN SOMMERVILLE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT WHERE IT'S MADE. A WARNING ` HIS REPORT CONTAINS IMAGES OF PEOPLE USING THE DRUG. WHERE MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES MEET, THE GROUND IS SHIFTING. (SIRENS WHOOP, WAIL) IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT, AND EVERY DRUG, EVERY VICE IS SERVED ON THE STREETS OF TIJUANA. HERE, IT'S DANGEROUS BEING A COP. SO FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, THEY KEEP THEIR FACES COVERED WHEN THEY'RE ON PATROL. THIS SMALL-TIME DEALER IS CAUGHT WITH A DOZEN WRAPS OF COKE AND SOME METH. THESE ARE STILL GOOD BUSINESS FOR THE CARTELS, BUT NOTHING MAKES THEM MONEY LIKE FENTANYL. BUT THIS DEADLY BUSINESS AND THE CARTELS ARE NOW ATTRACTING ATTENTION LIKE NEVER BEFORE. IF MEXICO CAN'T GET A GRIP ON ITS CRIMINALS, AMERICA SAYS IT WILL DO IT FOR THEM. THIS IS CARTEL COUNTRY, THE HEART OF THE FENTANYL TRADE. THE DRUG IS 50 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN HEROIN, 100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN MORPHINE. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE MEN BEHIND THE TRADE. THE U.S. HAS THESE MEN IN ITS SIGHTS. THEIR CARTEL HAS JUST BEEN DECLARED A TERRORIST ORGANISATION. BUT DESPITE THE THREATS, THEY SAY IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL. THIS ONE BATCH COULD POSSIBLY KILL THOUSANDS. AT THEIR REQUEST, THEIR VOICES HAVE BEEN ALTERED. YEAH. IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS DRUG. IT'S VERY DEADLY. MORE THAN THAT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT... YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN BIG TROUBLE. WHY DO YOU SELL FENTANYL? IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO DO IT. PEOPLE ASK FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW IT'S BAD. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASKING. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT. THIS SHIPMENT WILL GO THROUGH A LEGAL BORDER CROSSING IN THE FUEL TANK OF THIS CAR... RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES OF U.S. CUSTOMS OFFICERS. WHISPERS: WE WANT TO PUT THAT... WRAP THAT UP. THIS IS JUST ONE CAR, ONE DRIVER ` 5000 PILLS. BUT THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN HUNDREDS OF SAFE HOUSES ALL ACROSS THIS BORDER. MR TRUMP` MM-HM? HE'S DETERMINED TO STOP THE DRUGS TRADE. YEAH, WELL, LAST TIME HE WAS IN OFFICE, HE TRIED TO DO THE SAME THING AND NEVER HAPPENED, SO I THINK IT'S NEVER GOING TO END. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DEMAND. WHERE'S THE BIGGEST DEMAND? THE UNITED STATES. AND THE SECOND PART OF THE SERIES TOMORROW NIGHT LOOKS AT THE DEADLY EFFECT FENTANYL HAS ACROSS THE BORDER IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW, TO A SURPRISE CAMEO THAT REALLY ILLUSTRATES THE CURIOUS NATURE OF SHARKS. THIS GREAT WHITE EYEBALLING A CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT CAMERA IN FIORDLAND COLLECTING DATA ON FISH IN THE AREA. IT KEEPS CIRCLING ITS PREY ` THAT CYLINDER AT THE END OF THE POLE ` WHICH CONTAINS BAIT TO ATTRACT FISH TO THE CAMERA'S VICINITY. THEN... OPEN UP... THE EQUIPMENT NOW A METAL MEAL FOR THE SHARK TO REALLY GET ITS TEETH INTO. LUCKILY, THE GEAR STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE APEX PREDATOR'S POWERFUL JAWS. THE RESEARCHERS SHOCKED BUT AMAZED TO SEE THE MAJESTIC CREATURE IN ITS ENVIRONMENT. AWARD-WINNING NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR, GAVIN BISHOP, IS ABOUT TO HAVE HIS WORK IMMORTALISED AT TE PAPA MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM'S MODERN ART CURATOR IS IN CHRISTCHURCH LOOKING THROUGH HIS ORIGINAL WORKS TO SELECT WHAT BELONGS IN THE VAST COLLECTION THERE. LISA DAVIES HAS THE STORY. A WINDOW INTO THE CREATIVE WORLD OF GAVIN BISHOP. THE NAILS DOWN THE SIDE HERE ARE POPPING OUT BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE OF HER... ...HER MAJESTIC FLEECE. BIDIBIDI, THE DISCONTENTED SHEEP. OH, I LOVE THIS ONE. HIS FIRST OF MORE THAN 70 TITLES. THAT'S THE BOOK I CUT MY TEETH ON, REALLY. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING WHEN I STARTED THAT BOOK. HIS WORK HAS EVOLVED A LOT SINCE THEN. I SOMETIMES LOOK AT BOOKS THAT I DID NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO, AND I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER DOING THEM. BUT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, ONE THING WAS CLEAR ` HE WOULD CELEBRATE HIS BACKYARD. I'VE TRIED TO MAKE THE STORIES REFLECT THIS PART OF THE WORLD, SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN LOOK AT THEM AND THINK, YOU KNOW, 'I CAN RELATE TO THAT'. AND THEY CAN RELATE TO THIS ` THIS IS A TEDDY BEAR THAT I WAS GIVEN WHEN MY BABY BROTHER WAS BORN. TEDDY ONE-EYE. I BIT IT OFF AND SWALLOWED IT. TE PAPA WILL INCLUDE HIS WELL-LOVED BEAR IN THE COLLECTION OF HIS MANY TREASURES. FOR ME, I THINK ILLUSTRATIONS LIKE GAVIN'S ARE OFTEN THE FIRST ARTWORKS THAT CHILDREN HAVE CONTACT WITH IN THEIR LIVES. SO YOU'D CALL THIS YOUR FAVOURITE? I THINK SO. WHY? I'M QUITE PLEASED WITH THE IDEA THAT I HAD TO USE AN OLD ENGLISH NURSERY RHYME AS A STRUCTURE FOR A BOOK ABOUT NEW ZEALAND. IN A WAY, IT'S A KIND OF (CHUCKLES) ANTI-COLONIALISM BOOK. AND HE'S STILL CREATING NOW. I LOVE THIS ONE. FEELS LIKE A WOODCUT. PATU WON AN ILLUSTRATION AWARD JUST LAST YEAR. THESE ARE ALL TAKEN FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS IS MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER. THEY'LL BE LOOKED AFTER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF NEW ZEALANDERS TO KIND OF EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL ARTWORKS. TE PAPA'S LATEST TAONGA... IT'S A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO THE THOUSANDS, MILLIONS OF HOURS THAT I'VE PUT INTO THESE BOOKS. IT'S TERRIFIC. ...GIVING HIS ART LIFE BEYOND THE BOOKS IT LIVES INSIDE. LISA DAVIES, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND BACK TO MELBOURNE AND KIWI CONNECTIONS GALORE. HOT PROPERTY LANDO NORRIS IS WITH US NEXT WITH A VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND... ANYTHING I CAN GIVE BACK TO THEM IS AN HONOUR. ALSO ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, STEVEN ADAMS BRINGS A GOOD OLD MAUL TO THE NBA. PLUS ` THE HARSH ALL BLACK REALITIES FOR A DEPARTING CHIEF, AND WE'RE WITH THE NORTH CANTERBURY BROTHERS ABOUT TO TAKE ON A MOUNTAIN BIKING EPIC. WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS FOR FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND OVERALL IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE. THERE'S A NICE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE COMING IN. SO WITH THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME DECENT SUNSHINE MIXED WITH SOME CLOUDS THROUGH THE DAY. THERE COULD BE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS AROUND TOO. WILL YOU SEE ONE AT YOUR HOUSE? DETAILS AFTER SPORT. Hi! Could you do something for me? # You've got what I need... # Thanks. # You got everything I need # You're like medicine to me... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA, WELCOME TO SPORT, AND TONIGHT WE GO INSIDE THE MCLAREN FORMULA ONE TEAM. WHILE ALL KIWI EYES WILL BE ON LIAM LAWSON AT THE AUSSIE GRAND PRIX, MCLAREN'S DEFENDING THE WORLD CONSTRUCTORS TITLE, KEEPING HOLD OF STRONG NEW ZEALAND LINKS. HERE'S MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE IN MELBOURNE. THE FAMOUS MELBOURNE WALK... (LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS) BUT EVEN BEFORE THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER, IT'S MCLAREN BEING TALKED ABOUT AS THE TEAM TO BEAT. I KNOW. THAT'S ALL I SEE NOWADAYS ` IS THE EXPECTATION FOR US THIS SEASON. EVERYONE IS POINTING FINGERS AT US SAYING WE ARE MILES AHEAD OF EVERYONE, BUT HONESTLY I DON'T THINK WE ARE. I THINK WE ARE A LOT MORE EQUAL THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK. 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER UP LANDO NORRIS SPEAKING TO 1 NEWS AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX. THE TEAM ACHIEVING BIG THINGS LAST SEASON... ALL YELL: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! ...ADDING TO KIWI BRUCE MCLAREN'S LEGACY ENDING A RECORD 26-YEAR WAIT FOR A CONSTRUCTOR'S TITLE. HERE IN MELBOURNE, MCLAREN ARE THE FAVOURITES, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF NORRIS'S BREAK OUT SEASON LAST YEAR, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF HOME-GROWN TALENT, AUSSIE OSCAR PIASTRI. BOTH FEATURING ON THE TOP STEP LAST SEASON, BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE INCENTIVE TO GO AGAIN. I'VE GOT A LITTLE MESSAGE FROM A VERY SPECIAL PERSON. HELLO, LANDO. AMANDA MCLAREN HERE. JUST WISHING YOU AND THE TEAM ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THIS WEEK AND RACE IN MELBOURNE. AND I KNOW MY FATHER BRUCE WOULD BE SO PROUD ALL OF YOU. HOW SWEET. AMANDA AND BRUCE IS WHY WE ARE HERE. IT'S WHY I'M HERE AS PART OF MCLAREN. SO ANYTHING WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THEM IS AN HONOUR. AND MY ROLE IS TO TRY AND DO THE BEST I CAN, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE HER PROUD. NORRIS' CONNECTION TO NEW ZEALAND RUNS DEEPER THAN THAT. IN 2016, HE WAS RACING ON OUR SHORES, BAGGING HIS FIRST EVER GRAND PRIX VICTORY. LANDO NORRIS WILL TAKE VICTORY IN THE NEW ZEALAND GRAND PRIX. THAT TRAINING GROUND BREEDING A HANDFUL OF FORMULA ONE STARS, INCLUDING THIS KIWI, WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CHASE CHAMPIONSHIPS. IS THE MESSAGING AS SIMPLE AS THAT? YEAH, HONESTLY. THE DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP IS WHAT WE'RE ALL AFTER, AND SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT AS A KID, AND WINNING RACES ` I CAN DREAM IT UP IN MY HEAD ALL I LIKE, BUT I'VE GOTTA PUT THE WORK IN TO ACHIEVE IT. A NEW SEASON, A NEW BATTLE. TIME TO WALK THE WALK. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. AND HEAD TO TVNZ+ FOR MORE OF MICHELLE'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LIAM LAWSON. ON YOUR SMART TV HEAD TO THE MENU ON THE LEFT AND CLICK ON NEWS. THERE YOU'LL FIND HER CHAT WITH THE KIWI DRIVER. ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MORE EYE-CATCHING AND ENTERTAINING RUGBY PLAYERS IS BACK STARTING FOR THE CHIEFS THIS WEEKEND, IN THE CRUCIAL SHOWDOWN AGAINST THE BLUES IN HAMILTON, BUT SHAUN STEVENSON'S DAYS HERE ARE NUMBERED, AS HE COMES TO SOME FRANK REALISATIONS. BACK FROM JAPAN, BACK WITH HIS CHIEFS MATES... YES! ...FOR ONE LAST HURRAH. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY NOT GONNA BE THERE THE WHOLE TIME, SO I HAVE TO LOOK AFTER MY FUTURE. STEVENSON WAS ALLOWED TO MISS THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS OF SUPER RUGBY, RELEASED TO PLAY IN JAPAN FOR THE KUBOTA TEAM. HE'LL HEAD BACK THERE FULL TIME LATER THIS YEAR. THE SPORTING WORLD IS CRAZY. AND, YEAH, I GUESS BEING UP IN JAPAN, YOU KIND OF, UM... THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AROUND` OUTSIDE OF FOOTY, AND, UM... YEAH, I GUESS YOU OPEN YOUR EYES UP TO A LOT MORE. OUT OF ALMOST 200 FIRST-CLASS GAMES ACROSS A DECADE, STEVENSON PLAYED ONE TEST IN 2023. MANY BELIEVE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE; THOSE UP TOP, DISAGREE. YEAH, I GUESS, AFTER LAST YEAR IT WAS, UM... A PRETTY DISAPPOINTING YEAR. I THINK THE DISAPPOINTING THING WAS JUST THE FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF WHERE I WAS SITTING. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HELP` WELL, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THAT. A JOB TO DO, THEN, FOR THE CHIEFS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WITH ANOTHER WHIPPET, DAMIAN MCKENZIE. TWO WEEKS AGO, MCKENZIE'S SEASON LOOKED DONE, BUT HE'S BACK TO FACE THE BLUES ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THEY'RE PRETTY TOUGH ROOSTERS; EVERYONE'S SEEN OVER THE YEARS. SO, UM, YEAH, THANKFULLY THE KNEE INJURY DIDN'T AMOUNT TO MUCH MORE THAN SORT OF SOME BONE BRUISING. THE CHIEFS AND BLUES PLAYED ONLY FOUR WEEKS AGO IN ROUND ONE. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ARE NOW DESPERATE; ONE WIN OUT OF FOUR. ROLLING THE DICE, CALLING UP SECOND-FIVE XAVI TAELE (20) FOR HIS DEBUT. DO YOU THINK YOUR OLD MATE VERN WILL BE GETTING A BIT EDGY, A BIT FIDGETY WITH WHERE THEY'RE AT SO FAR? AH, THE OLD DOG'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN THROUGH THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS. ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT THEY'LL COME READY FOR A SCRAP. WE SHOULD SEE ANOTHER STATE HIGHWAY ONE CLASSIC IN SATURDAY NIGHT IN HAMILTON. CHIEFS WIN, AND THERE COULD BE OMINOUS SIGNS FOR THEIR NORTHERN NEIGHBOURS ON THEIR DRIVE HOME. KIWI BASKETBALLER, STEVEN ADAMS, IS STILL MAKING HEADLINES IN THE NBA ` EJECTED FROM HIS SIDE'S DEFEAT OF THE PHOENIX SUNS TODAY. THE HOUSTON ROCKETS BIG MAN GETTING IN A TANGLE WITH MASON PLUMLEE, UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED TO THE FLOOR. PLUMLEE NOW GETTING LOCKED UP WITH` THAT'S THE LAST GUY YOU WANT. AND HE TAKES HIM DOWN. AND PLUMLEE ENDS UP ON STEVEN ADAMS. IT'S LIKE A SUMO WRESTLING MATCH-UP OVER THERE. BOTH PLAYERS EJECTED. COINCIDENTALLY, PLUMLEE THE PLAYER ADAMS RESCUED FROM A HEAVY FALL IN 2018, WHEN HE COULD HAVE HAD AN EASY BUCKET. THE WARRIORS HAVE HAD NEARLY TWO WEEKS SINCE THAT POOR SHOWING AGAINST THE RAIDERS IN LAS VEGAS. IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO PROVE THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES THIS SEASON, BEATING THE MANLY SEA EAGLES AT HOME TOMORROW NIGHT WOULD BE A GOOD START. ZION DAYAL HAS MORE. THE MANLY SEA EAGLES FLY INTO AUCKLAND... I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M WATCHING. I SERIOUSLY CAN'T BELIEVE HOW GOOD MANLY ARE PLAYING. ...AS EARLY SEASON TITLE CONTENDERS. EASY TO SEE WHY AFTER A ROUND ONE DEMOLITION OF THE COWBOYS... IT'S A RIOT. ...CERTAINLY CATCHING THE EYE OF THOSE AT MOUNT SMART. OLAKAU'ATU, CHERRY-EVANS, YOU KNOW, THEIR WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS. THE TRBOJEVIC'S. YOU KNOW, THEY JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING IN THAT TEAM. ONE NAME MISSING FROM THAT LIST ` RECENTLY DEPARTED WARRIOR JAZZ TEVAGA. HE CALLS HIMSELF THE BOLD EAGLE NOW, SO... I CAN'T SWEAR HERE, EH. (CHUCKLES) I HOPE HE PLAYS REALLY WELL, BUT HE GETS FLOGGED. THAT'S ALL I WANT. HAVING SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME AT THE WARRIORS COMING OFF THE BENCH, HE'LL START ON FRIDAY IN THE NUMBER NINE JERSEY IN HIS RETURN TO AUCKLAND. I HOPE THEY ALL BUILD HIM AND RIP INTO HIM AND PUT HIM OFF HIS GAME. THE WARRIORS SUPPORTERS WOULD KNOW, LIKE, HE'S A COMPETITOR. HE'S VERY TOUGH. YEAH. WE'VE LOVED HAVING HIM. HE'S BROUGHT A LOT OF ENERGY OVER THE PRESEASON, AND I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY GOOD LAST WEEK. THE WARRIORS, ON THE OTHER HAND, VERY POOR IN THEIR SEASON OPENER. 11 DAYS TO PREPARE FOR TOMORROW NIGHT'S GAME ` MANLY ONLY SIX. IT'S EASY TO LOSE CONTEXT. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GO AND PLAY IN LAS VEGAS. YOU KNOW, WE EXPERIENCED IT LAST YEAR. UM... SO, YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LIKE A NORMAL PREPARATION. THIS IS A NORMAL PREPARATION, SO AS I SAID, THEY'LL BE AT THEIR BEST. THE REAL ACTIONS HAVE TO BE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, YOU KNOW. THAT'S WHERE IT MATTERS, AND WE'LL FIND OUT OUR REACTION THEN. BUT IF YOU ASK ME AM I CONFIDENT, AM I HAPPY THE WAY WE'VE GONE? I AM. REALLY AM. STOKED. TRAINING IS ONE THING ` DOING IT IN MATCHES A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE, BUT ONE THE WARRIORS NEED TO GET RIGHT ON FRIDAY. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS. THE 'CAPE EPIC' IS DESCRIBED AS MOUNTAIN BIKING'S TOUR DE FRANCE. TWO NEW ZEALANDERS WILL LINE UP AMONG THE PRO PELETON ON SUNDAY FOR THE START OF THE GRUELLING STAGE RACE IN SOUTH AFRICA. JORDAN OPPORT WITH NORTH CANTERBURY BROTHERS CRAIG AND BEN OLIVER. IT'S EVERY PRO-MOUNTAIN BIKERS' DREAM. TO LINE UP FOR THE RUTHLESS, RELENTLESS CAPE EPIC. I THINK IT IS MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST TRYING TO GIVE THE PROFESSIONAL TEAMS A REAL GOOD RUN FOR THEIR MONEY, JUST KIND OF BEING THE UNDERDOG, AND IF WE CAN BOTH TURN UP AND IN GOOD SHAPE LIKE WE ARE NOW AND STAY HEALTHY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, LIKE, I REALLY THINK WE CAN SURPRISE SOME PEOPLE. THEY'VE SPENT THE PAST FORTNIGHT IN SOUTH AFRICA ACCLIMATISING. BRO, IT'S A DROP SNAKE! BUT THE EXACT COURSE REMAINS A MYSTERY, CHANGING YEARLY. WE KNOW THE AREA THAT SOME OF THE TRAILS THEY'RE IN, BUT YOU CAN'T JUST GO AND FOLLOW THE EIGHT DAYS. IT'S KIND OF LIKE HOPING THAT WE GET TO A STAGE AND WE'RE LIKE, 'OH, WE DID THIS IN TRAINING A WEEK AGO', OR IT JUST STARTS A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR. THEY'LL TACKLE EIGHT STAGES IN EIGHT DAYS ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST RIDERS, 700KM AND 16,000M OF CLIMBING. THE PAIR MUST STAY WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF EACH OTHER, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. LAST YEAR WE HAD A BIT OF A DIFFERENT RACE SCHEDULE AND THEN WE CAME TOGETHER AT MARATHON NATIONAL CHAMPS WITHOUT TRAINING TOGETHER AT ALL, AND IT JUST LINED UP THAT WE HAD A SPRINT FINISH AND WE'RE AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE FIELD AT THE WALKER 100. SO I DON'T KNOW. THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT LIKE, YOU CAN'T REALLY SPLIT THE TWO BROTHERS UP, THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT BEING BROTHERS MIGHTN'T BE THE ONLY ADVANTAGE. I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE AT TRYING TO WIN A STAGE AND THEN. YEAH, IF WE COULD GET TOP FIVE OR TOP TEN OVERALL, THEY'D BE PRETTY GOOD AS WELL. MY NEW ZEALAND CYCLING PROJECT IS THIS FOR ONE REASON, AND THAT'S TO GIVE RIDERS AN OPPORTUNITY. IF THEY DO SCORE A STAGE WHEN WE'LL FINISH IN THE TOP FIVE, THEN I WOULD HOPE THERE'S SOME BIG TEAMS COME KNOCKING. WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY WELCOME THAT. AND I'D DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHIFT THE GUYS ON TO, YOU KNOW, BIGGER RIDES OFFSHORE. THESE BROTHERS IN A HURRY TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. FINALLY TONIGHT ` WE'VE CLAIMED OUR FIRST GOLD MEDAL IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES IN ITALY. AUCKLAND SNOWBOARDER COSMO ADAMS, WHO PICKED UP SILVER YESTERDAY IN THE GIANT SLALOM, EARNING TOP SPOT IN TODAY'S SLALOM. I FEEL OVER THE MOON. IT'S JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AND TO WIN GOLD. IT'S JUST... WOW. ADAMS IS ONE OF NINE KIWIS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, COMPETING ALONGSIDE 1500 OTHER ATHLETES FROM ONE HUNDRED COUNTRIES. IF THAT DOESN'T MOTIVATE YOU, NOTHING WILL. GREAT NAME FOR A SNOWBOARDER. THANKS SPORT. STAY WITH US ` DAN SAYS THERE IS MORE FINE WEATHER ON THE WAY FOR TOMORROW, BUT WILL IT LAST INTO THE WEEKEND? DETAILS NEXT. COMING UP AT 7 ` THE BLADES ARE SHARPENED AS THE NATION'S TOP BUTCHERS GEAR UP FOR THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN ` THE OLYMPICS OF MEAT. AND WE'RE AT THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE'S BIGGEST FISHING COMPETITION WITH A PRIZE POOL THAT'S BREAKING NEW GROUND. HELLO. WE ARE ON A GOOD RUN OF WEATHER OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A WEEK I SETTLING. IT'LL BE WARM. YOU TAKE ONE LOOK AT THE SATELLITE, AND YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. THERE IS SOMETHING A BIT MORE BEEFY, BUT THE WARMTH IN THE SPHERE PUTS THE WASH IN THIS AREA. HAMILTON ` SPOTS OF RAIN TO THE WEST COAST. THINGS WILL BE UP AND DOWN. A TOUCH OF FROST THIS MORNING. A CALL 16 AND 17 FOR THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND. HOW DOES IT LOOK FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS? AT HIGH PRESSURE. OVERALL HIGH PRESSURE. THAT SYSTEM MIGHT WORK TOWARDS FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY, BUT WITH THAT WARMTH IN THE ATMOSPHERE, IT WILL BE A VERY QUIET RUN. A COUPLE OF SHOWERS WILL COME TO LIFE. THEY ARE ONLY JUST HEAT OF THE DAY ONES, HIT AND MISS. WE'RE JUST SEEING SOME CLOUD BUBBLE UP IN AUCKLAND. YOU MIGHT SEE SOME HIGH CLOUD AT NIGHT BUT OTHERWISE WE ARE OK. BAY OF PLENTY WE ARE HERE. MIGHT JUST HAVE ONE OR TWO SHOWERS. EVERYONE ELSE YOU ARE FINE. IT MIGHT NOT BE AS CHILLY. SOME EARLY CROWD IN ONE OR TWO PLACES. FINE FOR TARANAKI. PICK IOSUA, YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD, LEVIN. IS A PRETTY DECENT DAY. NELSON TO BLENHEIM ` SOME MOISTURE COMING IN. YOU WILL BE SEEING SOME UPPER 20S IN CHRISTCHURCH, AND SOME EASTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. FIND FURTHER EAST. STILL SOME LOW FIGURES SO DON'T BE SURPRISED IF IT IS COOL. JUST GOING TO SEE SOME SCATTERED CLOUD IN THE DEEP SOUTH. SPOTS OF RAIN IN THE MILFORD SOUND ` YOU PAY A BREEZE. THERE ARE SPOTS OF RAIN FOR THE STEWART ISLAND. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, IT IS NOT BAD. A COUPLE OF SHELLS GOING INTO SATURDAY. FOR SUNDAY ` OVERALL LOOKING GOOD. THAT COULD BE A 30 DEGREE DAY. WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SUMMER LEFT IN THE TANK.