TONIGHT ON ONE NEWS ` PUTIN'S PRICE FOR PEACE. AS HIS FORCES PUSH ON, THE RUSSIAN LEADER REVEALS EXTENSIVE DEMANDS BEFORE A CEASEFIRE WITH UKRAINE. WHAT NOW FOR DONALD TRUMP'S BID FOR A QUICK RESULT? CONSENSUS FOR ANOTHER CROSSING, BUT NO PROMISES, SO ARE INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS READY TO SHOW US THE MONEY? AND SLAMMED FOR SNATCHING A BABY WOMBAT FROM ITS MUM... LOOK AT THE MOTHER ` IT'S LIKE, CHASING AFTER HER. FIND OUT HOW THIS INFLUENCER'S GOT FORM FOR ANIMAL STUNTS. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. VLADIMIR PUTIN SAYS IN PRINCIPAL HE'S IN FAVOUR OF A CEASEFIRE IN THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE, BUT HIS LIST OF DEMANDS HAS QUASHED ANY HOPE OF A QUICK DEAL. THE RUSSIAN LEADER SAID THERE ARE 'QUESTIONS 'THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED' OVER THE AGREEMENT ALREADY HAMMERED OUT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE U.S. HIS SERIES OF SWEEPING CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE MET INCLUDE UKRAINE NOT REARMING DURING ANY CEASEFIRE, AND AID TO KYIV BE HALTED. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY LABELLED THE RESPONSE 'MANIPULATIVE', AND CALLED FOR MORE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA. DONALD TRUMP SAID IT WAS 'PROMISING', BUT 'NOT COMPLETE', AND HE SEEMED RESPONSIVE TO PUTIN'S SUGGESTION THAT HE MIGHT CALL HIM. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON JOINS US SHORTLY WITH THE VERY LATEST. FIRST, HER REPORT. THERE'S A NEW BLOCK ON THE ROAD TO PEACE ` RUSSIAN SUCCESS. REPORTS SAY IT'S CLOSE TO RETAKING ALL ITS LAND IN KURSK, UKRAINE'S BIG BARGAINING CHIP IN NEGOTIATIONS. (SHOUTS) UKRAINE SEIZED LARGE PARTS OF IT SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE U.S PAUSED INTELLIGENCE SHARING LAST WEEK, RUSSIA REINFORCED ITS OFFENSIVE. WHAT THE RUSSIANS ARE DOING IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, WHICH IS TO SNUFF OUT THE KURSK POCKET, WHICH IS RUSSIAN TERRITORY, BEFORE THEY GO INTO ANY NEGOTIATIONS. THE U.S HAD PUT THE BALL IN RUSSIA'S COURT AFTER GETTING UKRAINE TO AGREE TO A 30-DAY CEASEFIRE EARLIER THIS WEEK ` DONALD TRUMP SENDING HIS SPECIAL ENVOY TO MOSCOW TO PRESENT THE PROPOSAL. AHEAD OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, VLADIMIR PUTIN ESSENTIALLY SAYING, 'YEAH, NAH'. TRANSLATOR: WE AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT THE FIGHTING MUST END, BUT IT HAS TO BE AN AGREEMENT THAT LEADS TO A LONG-TERM PEACE ` THAT REMOVES THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE CRISIS. THAT'S IN LARGE PART UKRAINE'S MOVE TOWARDS NATO MEMBERSHIP. BUT PUTIN ALSO RAISING QUESTIONS AROUND POLICING A TRUCE ON THE VAST FRONTLINE, UKRAINIAN REARMAMENT AND PUNISHMENT FOR ANY VIOLATIONS. RUSSIA'S ALSO REJECTED THE IDEA OF A PEACEKEEPING FORCE, UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT CALLING PUTIN'S RESPONSE 'MANIPULATIVE AND PREDICTABLE.' TRANSLATOR: PUTIN IS, OF COURSE, AFRAID TO TELL PRESIDENT TRUMP OUTRIGHT THAT HE WANTS TO PROLONG THIS WAR AND CONTINUE KILLING UKRAINIANS. THIS IS A FAMILIAR TACTIC. PUTIN RARELY SAYS NO DIRECTLY, BUT ENSURES THAT NO MEANINGFUL PROGRESS CAN BE MADE. DONALD TRUMP, WHO HAS PUT A LOT OF STOCK IN A QUICK PEACE DEAL, MORE POSITIVE AS HE MET WITH THE HEAD OF NATO. HE'S ALREADY LAYING OUT SOME OF THE FINER DETAILS. THERE'S A POWER PLANT INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, A VERY BIG POWER PLANT INVOLVED. WHO'S GOING TO GET THE POWER PLANT, AND WHO'S GONNA GET THIS AND THAT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A` IT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS, BUT PHASE ONE IS THE CEASEFIRE. BUT ON UKRAINE'S FRONT LINES, HOPE CLASHES WITH REALITY. TRANSLATOR: THEY STORM OUR POSITIONS EVERY DAY. PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY. I DOUBT THERE WILL BE A TRUCE. TRANSLATOR: I'VE ALREADY LOST A LOT OF MY FRIENDS. I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL WILL BE GOOD. BUT YOU CAN'T TRUST RUSSIA. AND MOMENTUM APPEARS TO BE ON RUSSIA'S SIDE ` DAY BY DAY, GAINING MORE TERRITORY, MORE CARDS TO TAKE TO NEGOTIATIONS THAT IT APPEARS IN NO RUSH TO JOIN. MEI, AS YOU SAID IN YOUR STORY, RUSSIA'S REJECTING THE IDEA OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING FORCE IN UKRAINE, BUT PLANS ARE PLOUGHING AHEAD ANYWAY? GOOD EVENING. CHRISTOPHER LUXON TODAY CONFIRMING HE WOULD JOIN THE LIKES OF THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ON A PHONE CALL TONIGHT AROUND A COLLISION OF THE WILLING. THIS IS LED BY THE UK AND FRANCE, AND IS MADE UP OF TROOPS MAINLY FROM EUROPE WHO ARE WILLING TO GO TO UKRAINE FOR PEACEKEEPING DUTIES IF THERE IS A CEASEFIRE. RUSSIA HAVE NOT AGREED TO ANY PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AND HAVE NOT REALLY AGREED TO A CEASEFIRE. IT SHOWS HESITANCY AND RELUCTANCE. RUSSIA IS MAKING GAINS IN UKRAINE AND HAS NO INCENTIVE FOR A CEASEFIRE, BUT PUTIN COULDN'T JUST SAY A STRAIGHT NO TO DONALD TRUMP. HE HAS BEEN PAINTED AS THE GOOD GUY BY DONALD TRUMP. IT IS UKRAINE THAT HAS BEEN SEEN AS DRAGGING ITS HEELS. THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL THE US DO NOW. TALKS CONTINUE IN MOSCOW, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL THE US DO IF RUSSIA SAYS NO TO A CEASEFIRE? WITH SCENE DONALD TRUMP FLEXES POLITICAL MIGHT, TURNING ON AND OFF UKRAINIAN AID. WILL HE DO ANYTHING SIMILAR TO HIS GOOD FRIEND PUTIN? THANKS, MEI. A SURVEY OF AUCKLAND'S SEABED WILL GET UNDERWAY AS THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS OPTIONS FOR A SECOND HARBOUR CROSSING. IT'S YET ANOTHER STUDY IN THE LONG HISTORY OF AUCKLAND DEVELOPMENT PLANS, BUT NOW THERE'S CROSS-PARTY SUPPORT, THE DETAILS REVEALED AS THE MUCH-HYPED INVESTMENT SUMMIT WRAPPED UP. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD REPORTS. IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH, BUT IN A SIGN OF PROGRESS, A JACK-UP BARGE SIMILAR TO THIS WILL SOON UNDERTAKE A GEOTECHNICAL STUDY OF AUCKLAND'S SEABED. TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE DELIVERABILITY BETWEEN A BRIDGE AND A TUNNEL. BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S MAKING NO PROMISES ABOUT WHETHER IT WILL BUILD A BRIDGE, A TUNNEL, HOW MUCH IT'LL COST, OR HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE, VERY DELIBERATELY. THE HISTORY OF THIS STUFF, RIGHT, IS POLITICIANS DO A DESKTOP STUDY, IT TAKES FOREVER, IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, AND THEN EVERYONE GETS EXCITED ABOUT A PARTICULAR OPTION, AND THEN THEY ANNOUNCE IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING TALKED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE DELIVERABLE AND HOW THE FINANCING AND HOW THE ECONOMICS MIGHT STACK UP OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF PROJECT. FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE ALREADY INTERESTED IN HELPING FUND IT. NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED WHAT THE BEST OPTION IS, BUT WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED, YES. AMIDST A WAVE OF GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, LABOUR'S FINANCE SPOKESWOMAN WAS THE ONLY OPPOSITION MP TO TAKE TO THE STAGE AT THE SUMMIT. THE LABOUR PARTY COMMITS TO WORKING CONSTRUCTIVELY AND ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TO HELP ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO THIS COUNTRY. WITH A BIG CAVEAT... THE NEXT LABOR GOVERNMENT WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY STEP TOWARDS THE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OR OPERATION OF OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, PRISONS, OR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT MEANS YES, LABOUR SUPPORTS FOREIGN INVESTMENT ` BUT WITHIN LIMITS. SO WE'VE SAID THAT WE WILL HONOUR CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO. OBVIOUSLY, WHERE A CONTRACT IS, WHERE THEY'RE UP TO NEGOTIATIONS WHEN WE GET IN, WE WILL HAVE A LOOK. KIWIS ARE OVER PROJECTS BEING TURNED ON AND TURNED OFF, TURNED ON, TURNED OFF, THROUGH DIFFERENT POLITICAL CYCLES. A NUMBER OF INVESTORS SAY THIS BIPARTISAN APPROACH, AND THE FACT LABOUR WERE PRESENT AT THE SUMMIT GIVES THEM MORE CONFIDENCE. AS AN INVESTOR WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE BACKING OF SOCIETY THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, NATURALLY. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO SIGNALLING MORE TOLL ROADS, INCLUDING ON PENLINK AND OTHER ROADS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. OUR POSITION IS AS LONG AS THERE IS A FREE ACCESS IN AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE. AS THE SUMMIT CLOSED, THE PRIME MINISTER NO DOUBT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. A NUMBER OF THE INVESTORS HAVE REACHED OUT SAYING 'WE'D LOVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.' HOPING THE HARD SELL TURNS INTO REALITY. PERHAPS THE BIGGEST SIGN OF SUCCESS WAS NEWS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE ITALIAN COMPANY THAT'S BEEN BUILDING THEIR $1.6bn INTERCEPTOR TUNNEL HERE IN AUCKLAND AND HAD PLANNED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY WHEN THAT WAS DONE HAS DECIDED TO STAY. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER WANTED TO HEAR ` THAT COMPANIES KNEW THERE WERE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE, AND THERE WAS WORK COMING UP FOR THEM. THAT'S WHY THE PRIME MINISTER COMES AWAY FROM THE SUMMIT THINKING IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS. THAT BIPARTISANSHIP YOU'VE HEARD TALKED ABOUT HELPS TOO ` LABOUR BEING ON THE FLOOR, SITTING IN THERE FOR MEETINGS, HAVING A VOICE ON THE STAGE, AND CRUCIALLY, MEETING WITH INVESTORS OFF TO THE SIDE, TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THEIR PLANS TOO ` ALL OF THAT GIVES INVESTORS SUCCESS AND MAKES NEW ZEALAND LOOK LIKE A SAFE HAVEN, A SAFE PLACE TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE. OF COURSE, IT'S NOW WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD, INVESTORS GO AWAY AND ACTUALLY SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATE PUTTING THOSE MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO NEW ZEALAND. THAT REALLY IS THE BIG CHANCE. AS I HEARD ONE INVESTOR SAY TO A MINISTER, 'LOOKS GOOD. 'LOVE THE LOOK OF THAT PROJECT, 'BUT I'LL WAIT NOW FOR THOSE EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO OPEN UP.' BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD THERE. IN THE LATEST ESCALATION OF THE GLOBAL TRADE WAR, TRUMP'S THREATENING TO IMPOSE A 200% TARIFF ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FROM THE EU UNLESS THE UNION BACKTRACKS ON ITS 50% TARIFF IT IMPOSED ON U.S SPIRITS. THE RAPID TIT-FOR-TAT ESCALATION OVER THE LAST 36 HOURS HAS ROILED FINANCIAL MARKETS AND RAISED FEARS OF A GLOBAL RECESSION, BUT THE U.S PRESIDENT IS UNDETERRED. I'M NOT GOING TO BEND AT ALL ` ALUMINIUM OR STEEL OR CARS. WE'RE NOT GONNA BEND. WE'VE BEEN RIPPED OFF AS A COUNTRY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE'VE BEEN SUBJECTED TO COSTS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE SUBJECTED TO. THE TRADE ROW IS RAISING FEARS AMONG BUSINESSES OF THE POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING EFFECTS EVEN HIGHER TARIFFS COULD BRING. HALF OF THE BUILDINGS IN SOUTH DUNEDIN ARE AT RISK OF FLOODING, WITH THE THREAT SET TO INCREASE, AND THE COST TO FIX IT COMING IN AT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE GLOOMY FORECAST IS OUTLINED IN COUNCIL REPORTS, WITH FEEDBACK BEING SOUGHT ON THE BEST SOLUTION. DONNA-MARIE LEVER REPORTS. LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO, SOUTH DUNEDIN WAS SWAMPED. IN 2015, ANOTHER MAJOR DELUGE, WITH SIMILAR SCENES OVER THE YEARS LEAVING THE CITY'S SOUTH WATERLOGGED. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE. WE ANTICIPATE MORE AND MORE WATER. WE'VE GOT MORE RAIN COMING DOWN, WE'VE GOT THE SEA COMING UP AND PEOPLE IN LOW-LYING AREAS ARE THE MEAT IN THE SANDWICH. AND AS WE SEE IN SOUTH DUNEDIN, THEY'RE GETTING SQUEEZED OUT. RESEARCH HAS FOUND HALF OF ALL SOUTH DUNEDIN BUILDINGS ARE AT RISK OF FLOODING NOW, RISING TO ALMOST 70% IN 2100. IT'S GLOBAL WARMING, AND IT'S A GLOBAL DISASTER THAT'S HAPPENING, THAT'S UNFOLDING. IT'S REALLY A CALL TO ACTION, AND IT TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. SEVEN OPTIONS ARE NOW ON THE TABLE, WITH PRICE TAGS FROM $2bn TO $7bn OVER 75 YEARS. THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT SCENARIOS SEE SOME PLANS FOCUS ON MAJOR NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE OTHERS INCLUDE MASS RELOCATION OF HOMES. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IN THE FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE RAIN, AND I THINK MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE. THEY SHOULD FIGHT IT AND DO MORE MAINTENANCE WORK. I THINK THEY NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND A BIT LIKE CHRISTCHURCH, THERE'S BEEN A WARNING SIGN THAT THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT. ANOTHER OPTION ` CONTINUE ON AS IS. THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO THE WORST OUTCOMES, REALLY. SO MORE FLOODING, MORE DAMAGE TO HOMES, DROP IN PROPERTY VALUES AND THE LIKE. SO THAT'S THE ONE WE PROBABLY WANT TO AVOID. THE ISSUE IS FAR FROM ISOLATED TO SOUTH DUNEDIN. WE'RE GETTING MULTIPLE HUNDRED-YEAR FLOODS IN MANY LOCATIONS, AND IT'S GOT TO THE STAGE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT A HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD IS ANY MORE. THE REPORTS WILL GO TO COUNCIL, THEN THE COMMUNITY, WITH OFFICIALS WANTING THE PLAN LOCKED IN WITHIN TWO YEARS. DONNA-MARIE LEVER, ONE NEWS. THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN AT GLORIAVALE HAS BEEN RULED AN ACCIDENT AND NOT SUICIDE. SINCERE STANDTRUE WAS FOUND WITH CRITICAL INJURIES IN A PAINT SHOP WHERE HE WORKED AT THE WEST COAST COMMUNE IN 2018. WHILE THE SPECIFICS OF HIS DEATH CANNOT BE REPORTED ON, THE CORONIAL INQUEST HEARD EVIDENCE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AT GLORIAVALE PLAYED 'BLACKING OUT GAMES', WHERE THEY COMPRESSED THEIR NECKS UNTIL THEY PASSED OUT. THE CORONER FOUND THE 20-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BLACK HIMSELF OUT. PETROL-HEADS IN MELBOURNE ARE REVVED UP ` FORMULA ONE'S 2025 SEASON IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF. AMID THE ROARING ENGINES AND SQUEALING TYRES, GRAND PRIX FANS ARE GETTING THEIR FIRST CHANCE TO SEE KIWI DRIVER LIAM LAWSON BEHIND THE WHEEL AT ALBERT PARK. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE IS IN AMONGST IT. MICHELLE, FIRST PRACTICE ` WHAT'S THE DAY BEEN LIKE FOR FANS? IT'S BEEN A HUGE DAY, ESPECIALLY FOR KIWI FANS FINALLY GETTING TO SEE LIAM LAWSON RACING THAT RED BULL CAR. HE FINISHED 16TH IN HIS FIRST PRACTICE SESSION. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR FANS. WITH BEEN HERE FROM THE EARLY HOURS, WHERE HUNDREDS WERE ALREADY LINING UP, SOME GETTING HERE AS EARLY AS TWO IN THE MORNING, OR TRYING TO BE THE FIRST THROUGH THE GATES TO CLAIM PRIME POSITION. THE GRAND PRIX IS ONCE AGAIN A SELL-OUT. IT COMES AS ORGANISERS ADDED EXTRA TICKETS TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH PUBLIC DEMAND. IT IS EXPECTED 450,000 FANS ARE EXPECTED TO GO THROUGH THE GATES THESE WEEKS. YOU WOULD IMAGINE THAT MANY OF THEM WOULD BE KIWIS. I'LL BE BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER IN SPORTS TO HAVE MORE ON LAWSON'S FIRST DAY ON THE TRACK. WE'LL SEE YOU LATER, MICHELLE. AND A REMINDER, MICHELLE'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LIAM LAWSON IS ON TVNZ+. 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. ALL RIGHT, GET READY TO LOOK TOWARDS THE SKY TONIGHT. IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? NO, IT'S A RARE BLOOD MOON, LIKE THE ONE BEHIND ME HERE., DUE TO SPARK A SPECTACULAR SIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN JUST OVER AN HOUR'S TIME. NOW CONJURE UP SOME MAGIC ` PRESTO! TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS PHENOMENON OCCURS, A LUNAR ECLIPSE HAPPENS WHEN THE EARTH, MOON, AND SUN ARE DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH EACH OTHER. NOW, THIS ISN'T TO SCALE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE MOON IS BEHIND OUR PLANET IN THE MIDDLE, WITH THE SUN ON THE OTHER SIDE. AS THE MOON PASSES THROUGH THE EARTH'S SHADOW, THE ECLIPSE OCCURS WHEN WE BLOCK SUNLIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING THE MOON. STARGAZERS WILL SEE THE MOON WITH A REDDISH HUE, HENCE ` BLOOD MOON. LET'S GO LIVE NOW ` NOT NOTICEABLE JUST YET. IT'LL RISE FROM THE EAST. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FROM THE POSITION OF OUR LIVE SHOT THERE, THAT'S TO THE RIGHT OF THE SKY TOWER. THE LUNAR ECLIPSE DUE TO START JUST AFTER 7.30 THIS EVENING, PEAK BETWEEN 8.00 AND 8.30, AND END BY 11. THE LAST BLOOD MOON OCCURRED IN 2022. E WHAI AKE NEI ` SECRECY OVER THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL LUNCHES BEING FLOWN IN FROM AUSTRALIA. PLUS THE UNWELCOME SURPRISE THAT SAW THIS FOOD LEFT UNEATEN AT ONE AUCKLAND SCHOOL. THEN, A TOURIST'S WOMBAT-SNATCHING ANTICS THAT OUTRAGED AUSTRALIANS, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER. TAKE A BABY CROCODILE FROM ITS MOTHER AND SEE HOW YOU GO THERE. WHAT THE AMERICAN INFLUENCER'S NOW SAID AMID CALLS FOR HER TO BE DEPORTED. Jimmy. (DOOR CLOSED) (MAN CHEWING) Okay. What should I write? How are we going to sell it? The car or boyfriend? What about tidy but slow. Yeah, you should definitely mention it's not very quick. We're selling the car. It's got a little exhaust. (LAUGHS) - Oh. - What about, um... Uh, wait, are we talking about this car? Oh, God. (DOOR CLOSED) I think you should say. (THUNDERSTORM & RAIN PATTERS) VOICEOVER: When you list your car on AutoTrader. You could also win your own billboard ONE SCHOOL TODAY RECEIVED FROZEN FOOD TO SERVE TO ITS STUDENTS. IT COMES AS THE SCHOOL LUNCH COLLECTIVE, THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING MEALS, REFUSES TO SAY HOW MANY MEALS THEY'RE FLYING IN FROM AUSTRALIA TO TOP UP THEIR SUPPLIES. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. AT THIS AUCKLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL TODAY, BINS OF UNEATEN LUNCHES. PIZZA ROLLS, UNOPENED AND FROZEN. THE FOOD WAS DELIVERED FROZEN SOLID AND THE SCHOOL HAD NO MEANS TO HEAT THEM WELL, THEY'VE GONE HOME HUNGRY. MOST KIDS DID NOT EAT THEM. THEY WERE SHOCKING. TODAY'S DELIVERY FOLLOWS A STRING OF DISAPPOINTING MEALS. WE'VE HAD THE AUSTRALIAN LASAGNE, THAT IS A VERY POOR QUALITY, JUST HORRIBLE. THE KIDS DON'T LIKE THEM. LABOUR SAYS IT'S APPALLING THAT LUNCHES ARE NOW COMING IN FROM OZ. THOUSANDS OF JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THEIR DECISION TO GO FOR A CUT-PRICE OPTION. THE IDEA THAT NOW THEY'RE GIVING UP ON NEW ZEALAND SUPPLIERS ALTOGETHER AND FLYING THEM IN FROM AUSTRALIA IS FRANKLY RIDICULOUS. I'D PREFER IT IF IT WAS NEW ZEALAND PROVIDERS AND MAYBE THIS IS A SHORT-TERM PIECE. THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL LUNCH COLLECTIVE, PAUL HARVEY, REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED BY 1 NEWS TODAY OVER THE ONGOING PROBLEMS. THE SCHOOL LUNCH COLLECTIVE IS ALSO REFUSING TO TELL THE PUBLIC HOW MANY SCHOOL LUNCHES IT'S FLYING IN FROM AUSTRALIA. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS MINISTER DAVID SEYMOUR'S TRYING TO GET ON TOP OF THE FOOD QUALITY AND SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS. LET DAVID RUN IT. HE'S FULLY ACCOUNTABLE. I HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR DELIVERING IT. HE'S WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD AT IT AND LET HIM CLOSE IT OUT. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN AN ABJECT FAILURE. IT'S TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE COCK-UP, 100% OF THEIR OWN MAKING. BACK AT MASSEY PRIMARY, THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT QUITTING THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. WE MAY WELL END UP DOING THAT, BECAUSE OUR AIM IS TO FEED OUR KIDS. WE'RE LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND, WHERE OUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE BEST FOOD, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP PUTTING UP WITH THIS. PATIENCE WEARING THIN WITH THE NEW SCHOOL LUNCH MODEL. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. A SERIAL RAPIST FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING NINE WOMEN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS BEHIND BARS. JOHN HOPE MUCHIRAHONDO WAS FOUND GUILTY LAST YEAR ON 11 COUNTS OF RAPE AND SIX OF UNLAWFUL SEXUAL CONNECTION. IN SENTENCING TODAY AT THE HIGH COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH, SIX WOMEN READ VICTIM STATEMENTS DETAILING THE IMPACT OF HIS OFFENDING. MANY SUFFER ONGOING NIGHTMARES; OTHERS SAID THEY COULD NO LONGER TRUST MEN. SOME OF THE VICTIMS WERE FILMED, AND DIDN'T KNOW THEY'D BEEN RAPED UNTIL THEY WERE CALLED BY POLICE. MUCHIRAHONDO WAS GIVEN A MINIMUM NON-PAROLE PERIOD OF 10 YEARS. AN AMERICAN INFLUENCER FILMED SNATCHING A BABY WOMBAT AWAY FROM ITS DISTRESSED MOTHER IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL BREACH OF HER AUSTRALIAN VISA. SOME THERE ARE CALLING FOR SAMANTHA STRABLE, KNOWN ONLINE AS SAM JONES, TO BE DEPORTED, AND EVEN THE PRIME MINISTER'S CONDEMNING HER ACTIONS. NINE NEWS' ERIN RAMSEY REPORTS. (MAN LAUGHS) THERE'S NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THIS ` A WOMAN GRABBING A WOMBAT JOEY FROM THE SIDE OF AN AUSTRALIAN HIGHWAY. LAUGHS: LOOK AT THE MOTHER. IT'S LIKE` IT'S CHASING AFTER HER. THE MARSUPIAL CLEARLY IN DISTRESS AS ITS MUM CLOSES IN. SHE IS (BLEEP). THE JOEY IS RETURNED TO THE GRASS, BUT MUM IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. SO IF SHE RAN AWAY, THAT BABY WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHERE TO FIND MUM AGAIN. THE WOMAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUNT, SAM JONES, A SELF-PROCLAIMED OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST AND HUNTER FROM THE UNITED STATES. EARLIER VIDEOS POSTED TO HER ONLINE ACCOUNTS SHOW HER PICKING UP ECHIDNAS AND A BABY SHARK. THE SHOCKING SOCIAL MEDIA STUNT HAS SINCE BEEN TAKEN DOWN, WHERE THE INFLUENCER CLAIMED THE MUM AND BABY WADDLED OFF TOGETHER, BUT NOT BEFORE AUSSIES HAD THEIR SAY ONLINE, CALLING THE TOURIST AN ` ANOTHER SAYING SHE SHOULD BE DEPORTED. A PETITION ALSO LAUNCHED, PENNED TO ANTHONY ALBANESE. IT'S JUST AN OUTRAGE. TAKE A BABY CROCODILE FROM ITS MOTHER, AND SEE HOW YOU GO THERE. THE INFLUENCER POSTED AN APOLOGY TO TIKTOK, BUT FOR MANY, SHE'S ALREADY OVERSTAYED HER WELCOME. AUSTRALIA'S HOME AFFAIRS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION YESTERDAY INTO WHETHER SHE'D BREACHED HER VISA, BUT TODAY THE INFLUENCER LEFT THE COUNTRY. AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS, DONATELLA VERSACE IS STEPPING DOWN AS CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FASHION HOUSE VERSACE. SHE TOOK OVER THE ROLE AFTER THE 1997 MURDER OF HER BROTHER, GIANNI, AND WENT ON TO OVERSEE THE DESIGN OF HUNDREDS OF THE ITALIAN BRAND'S COLLECTIONS. THE 69-YEAR-OLD WILL NOW FOCUS ON VERSACE'S PHILANTHROPIC WORK. JUST AHEAD, IT'S KILLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS EVERY YEAR. THE SO-CALLED 'ZOMBIE DRUG' DUO OF FENTANYL AND TRANQUILISER THAT'S ENSLAVING ADDICTS. NEXT ` A WORKER ON THE FRONTLINE ON WHETHER TRUMP'S WAR ON DRUGS WILL END SCENES LIKE THIS. THEN, THE KLEPTOMANIAC CAT WITH A THING FOR SOCKS. HOW MANY WOULD HE BRING BACK A DAY? PROBABLY EIGHT OR NINE. A DAY? A DAY. HOW HIS FAMILY'S BEEN FORCED TO GET CREATIVE TO RETURN HIS ILL-GOTTEN GAINS. AND IN WEATHER, WE'RE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. OVERALL, IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO BAD. IT'S WEAK HIGH PRESSURE, A COUPLE OF FRONTS COMING THROUGH. SO WITH THOSE WE ARE GOING TO SEE A FEW SHOWERS, SOME SUN, SOME CLOUD IN THE MIX, MOST OF THOSE SHOWERS MAINLY TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE WEST. AND IT'S WARMING UP ` SOME SPOTS THIS WEEKEND, YOU COULD SEE 30 DEGREES. HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE AFTER SPORT. DONALD TRUMP'S TARIFFS ON CHINA, CANADA AND MEXICO ARE DESIGNED, IN PART, TO PUT PRESSURE ON THOSE COUNTRIES TO STOP THE FLOW OF FENTANYL INTO THE U.S. CARTELS MAKE THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID IN LABS AND THEN SMUGGLE IT ACROSS THE BORDER. A WARNING ` THIS STORY CONTAINS EXTREMELY CONFRONTING IMAGES, INCLUDING PEOPLE USING THE DRUG. SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND IT DISTRESSING. THE BBC'S QUENTIN SOMMERVILLE LOOKS AT THE DEADLY EFFECTS OF FENTANYL IN THE U.S. THE WAR ON DRUGS IS BEING LOST ON AMERICA'S STREETS. THERE ARE CASUALTIES ON EVERY CORNER ` FENTANYL AND THE TRANQUILLISER XYLAZINE ARE USED OPENLY. SIR, YOU GOTTA GET UP. YOU AT THE TURNSTILE. YO. HE'S OK. THIS STUFF IS SO DEADLY, AND IF YOU'RE NOT USED TO THIS SUPPLY, IT CAN BE VERY, VERY ADDICTIVE, DANGEROUS AND STUFF. SO HERE AT SUNSHINE HOUSE, WHERE USERS ARE AT THEIR MOST DESPERATE, MOST VULNERABLE, ROS DISPENSES HUGS. CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG? TEARFULLY: THAT WAS` THAT WAS SO MUCH. THIS IS SO MUCH HELPFUL FOR US. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BEING HERE. I DO. IT'S SOMEWHERE SAFE FOR THOSE TRAPPED IN ADDICTION. YOU TREAT US LIKE WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS. FOR JOHN, IT'S BEEN A LIFELINE. I'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY ALL MY LIFE. THE FENTANYL, THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS THE WORST I'VE EVER SEEN. AND THIS FENTANYL WILL GET YOU SO HOOKED ON IT, THAT YOU HAVE TO GET MORE. SO THEY PUTTING IT IN EVERYTHING. JOHN'S WHOLE LIFE IS IN THE SUITCASE HE DRAGS THROUGH THE STREETS. HE SURVIVED ONE FENTANYL OVERDOSE ALREADY, BUT AT 56, HE DOESN'T THINK HE'LL SURVIVE ANOTHER. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE WAR ON DRUGS IS IT DIDN'T WORK THEN; I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GONNA WORK NOW. ROS BATTLES ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY AGAINST FENTANYL OVERDOSES. AND DESPITE AMERICA'S PRESSURE ON MEXICO, SHE DOESN'T EXPECT THAT TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON. WHEN THERE'S ONE SUBSTANCE TAKEN AWAY, THERE'S ANOTHER SUBSTANCE TO REPLACE IT. SO WHEN THERE WAS HEROIN, NOW THERE'S NO MORE. NOW THERE'S FENTANYL. WHEN THERE'S NO FENTANYL, NOW IT'S GOING TO XYLAZINE. SO IT'S LIKE` THEY'LL FIND A WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE ADDICTED SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF PEOPLE` OFF OF THE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE. THIS YOUNG WOMAN FOUND OVERDOSED WAS LATER REVIVED. THE GRIM REALITY IS, THOUGH, THAT AMERICA'S OPIOID DEPENDENCY IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS MEXICO'S CARTELS. FENTANYL IS 50 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN HEROIN, AND ITS LACK OF ODOUR MAKES IT HARD TO DETECT WHEN BEING SMUGGLED ACROSS THE U.S BORDER. EVERYONE ON BOARD A PASSENGER JET THAT CAUGHT FIRE SHORTLY AFTER AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN COLORADO HAS ESCAPED UNHARMED. THE AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT WAS DIVERTED TO DENVER AIRPORT AFTER REPORTS OF ENGINE VIBRATIONS, WITH A FIRE THEN BREAKING OUT WHILE IT WAS TAXIING. PASSENGERS EVACUATED ON TO ONE OF THE PLANE'S WINGS BEFORE BEING HELPED TO THE GROUND. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION. HE'S A CAT BURGLAR PREYING ON HIS OWN CHRISTCHURCH COMMUNITY. JASPER THE FELINE THIEF STEALS SO MUCH FROM HIS SUMNER NEIGHBOURS, HIS OWNERS HAVE SET UP A FACEBOOK PAGE TO REUNITE PEOPLE WITH THEIR BELONGINGS. LISA DAVIES HAS MORE. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) THIS IS MORE OF A SMUG SHOT THAN A MUG SHOT. SO CAN YOU JUST SHOW ME THE SCALE OF THE CRIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE? OK. (LAUGHS) OH MY GOSH. YEAH. THAT'S THE LATEST HAUL, ANYWAY. YOU SEE, JASPER'S GOT FORM. HE'S A FELINE FELON. THIS REALLY AMUSES ME ` THE STOLEN SOCK. DO YOU THINK HE CAN READ? (LAUGHS) I WOULDN'T PUT IT PAST HIM. HE'S A VERY SMART CAT. HE STARTED LOOTING WHEN HE WAS JUST 6 MONTHS OLD; HE'S NOW 6. HOW MANY WOULD HE BRING BACK A DAY? PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE. A DAY? A DAY. RHIAN ROBERTS IS ONE OF HIS MANY VICTIMS. I'VE EVEN MANAGED TO MAKE A PAIR. AWESOME. (LAUGHTER) I SUPPOSE WE ALL APPRECIATE THE SINGLE-SOCK PHENOMENON, BUT IN OUR HOUSE, JUST OVER THERE, IT WAS LITERALLY TAKING ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. HELLO, JASPER. DO YOU THINK HE FEELS PROUD OF THIS? I THINK SO, YEAH. I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD FEEL PROUD ABOUT IT, BUT... JASPER, I THINK, IS VERY PROUD OF BEING A FAMOUS CAT. (LAUGHS) I CAN TELL BY HIS LITTLE GRIN. BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS CRIMES... (PURRS) ...THIS PURRING PERPETRATOR HAD NO COMMENT. IT'S A 'PURRFECT' SITUATION FOR HIM, ISN'T IT? (LAUGHS) YEAH. HEARD THAT JOKE MORE THAN ONCE. HIS THIEVING IS WELL-DOCUMENTED. MY MUM CAME UP WITH A BOOK. ...AND HIS UNCLE ILLUSTRATED IT. BUT JASPER'S NOT ALL BAD ` HE BRINGS A LOT OF JOY TO HIS FAMILY. NOT SO MUCH JOY TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR SOCKS, BUT` (LAUGHS) THEY'VE STARTED A FACEBOOK PAGE... WHOA! TO LET THEIR NEIGHBOURS KNOW WHERE THEIR BELONGINGS HAVE GOT TO... LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE, JASP. ...AND SET UP THIS BOX AT THEIR FRONT GATE TO RETURN HIS ILL-GOTTEN GAINS, BUT JASPER IS UNREPENTANT. (JAZZY MUSIC) BEFORE WE EVEN LEFT, HE WAS CASING OUT HIS NEXT BREAK-IN. JENNY'S HERE NOW WITH SPORT, AND THINGS HEATING UP JENNY'S HERE NOW WITH SPORT, AND THINGS HEATING UP ON THE RACETRACK IN MELBOURNE. TWO PRACTISE RUNS IN, HOW'S THE KIWI F1 DRIVER LIAM LAWSON LOOKING AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S SEASON OPENER? AND WE'RE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED THE TEENAGE DREAMER GET TO THIS POINT ` WHY THEY FRONTED UP WITH MILLIONS. PLUS, MORE SUCCESS ON THE WORLD STAGE.. WANAKA'S LUCA HARRINGTON MAKES KIWI HISTORY IN FRANCE. AND WHY MATATU SHOULD PREPARE FOR A DOGFIGHT AGAINST THE BLUES IN NELSON TOMORROW. KIA ORA, WELCOME TO SPORT AND THE FORMULA ONE RACE WEEKEND IS HERE. THE DRIVERS, INCLUDING OUR VERY OWN LIAM LAWSON GETTING THEIR FIRST TASTE OF THE ALBERT PARK TRACK THIS AFTERNOON FOR OFFICIAL PRACTICE AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE'S BEEN WATCHING THE ACTION AND JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM MELBOURNE. GOOD EVENING. THE FIRST DAY OF ACTION HAS CERTAINLY DELIVERED. ESPECIALLY WITH LIAM LAWSON OUT ON TRACK, IT WASN'T THE BEST START FOR LIAM LAWSON, 16TH FASTEST IN THE FIRST PRACTICE SESSION OVER A MINUTE OFF THE PACE. HE DIDN'T HELP HIMSELF, BRUSHING THE WALL EARLY IN HIS DRIVE. HIS TOUCH, THOUGH, CERTAINLY NOT AS DRAMATIC AS THE ONE BY HAAS DRIVER OLLIE BEARMAN WHO CRASHED INTO THE WALL, HALTING THE SESSION AS THEY CLEARED THE TRACK. AS EXPECTED, MCLAREN'S LANDO NORRIS WAS QUICK ` FASTEST IN THE FIRST HIT-OUT. THE SECOND PRACTICE SESSION JUST OVER HALFWAY THROUGH, AND BOTH FERRARI CARS SHOWING GOOD PACE. A FRUSTRATING AFTERNOON FOR THE RED BULL CARS SO FAR ` MAX VERSTAPPEN 15th, AND LIAM LAWSON 16th FASTEST. BUT DESPITE THE TIMES, TODAY MARKS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN LAWSON. NO RUNNING. EASY! NO RUNNING. THE FIRST TIME THE CARS HIT THE ALBERT PARK STREET CIRCUIT, BUT EVEN MORE SPECIAL FOR THESE GUYS. LET'S GO, LIAM. THIS IS YEARS OF BELIEF AND INVESTMENT. REACHED HIS GOAL, NOW HE JUST HAS TO STAY THERE. AND YEAH... FINGERS CROSSED. THESE ARE LIAM LAWSON'S DAY ONE BACKERS, 1 NEWS RIDING ON BOARD WITH THEM TODAY, ALL MAKING THE TRIP ACROSS THE DITCH TO WATCH WHAT WAS ONCE A DREAM BECOME REALITY. HE WAS REALLY YOUNG, BUT HE ONLY HAD ONE DESIRE ` THAT WAS TO GET TO FORMULA 1. THAT WAS IT, FULL STOP. SO HE CAME INTO THE OFFICE WITH HIS MUM AND A LITTLE PITCH, AND SAID, WOULD YOU BE UP FOR A LITTLE BIT OF THIS? AND WE SAID, UH, 'WE THINK YOU'VE GOT THE GOODS, 'SO YOU CAN HAVE THE DOUGH.' SEEING A SPARK IN A YOUNG TEENAGER'S EYES, THERE'S DARYL FROM INVERCARGILL WHO GAVE HIM A BED TO SLEEP IN WHILE RACING AT TERETONGA, JOHN KEAST LOANED HIM A GENERATOR AND RAN HIS CAR FOR A SEASON. AND HE HANDED A TIMESHEET OVER AND I'M HAVING TO LOOK AT IT I, SAID 'THIS IS YOUR GENUINE TIMESHEET?' HE SAID YES. I SAID, 'WHOO MAN, YOU'RE QUICK.' SINCE THEN, EVERYONE'S STUCK AROUND, THANKS LARGELY TO LONGTIME MANAGER GRANT MCDONALD, WHO CONVINCED THEM ALL TO BACK NEW ZEALAND MOTORSPORT'S NEXT STAR. VERY EXCITING. I MEAN- HIS DREAM TO BE IN A RED BULL CAR SINCE HE WAS A YOUNG TEENAGER AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE. EVERYONE, INCLUDING LIAM, WAS TOLD IT WASN'T POSSIBLE, BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP THE BELIEF AND NEITHER DO WE. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED IN LAWSON... WE LOOKED AT SIX MONTHS AGO HOW MUCH WE'D SPENT, UM, GETTING HIM THERE AND I SAID TO GRANT, I SAID, 'I'M PLEASED THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON- YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THAT ON DAY ONE, BECAUSE I SAID, 'THE ELEPHANT WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST TOO BIG TO CHEW.' IF HE DOES WELL, WE GET OUR MONEY BACK. IF HE FAILS, WE DON'T. WE GET NOTHING. AND THE PRIORITY NUMBER ONE FOR ALL OF US IS MUM AND DAD GET A HOUSE, BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, SOLD THEIR HOUSE SO HE COULD GET TO WHERE HE IS. AND, AND- THAT'S IT. THEY GET THEIR HOUSE AND THEN WE MAY GET OUR MONEY BACK. LAWSON ON HIS WAY NOW, RACING FOR ONE OF FORMULA 1'S MOST DOMINANT TEAMS. HEY, (CHUCKLES) TODAY WE'RE THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A KIWI WHO'S JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER KIWI WHO'S A BATTLER AND MATE, HE'S GOING TO BE WORLD CHAMPION, TRUST ME. THEY BACKED THE DREAM, NOW THE FUTURE IS IN LIAM LAWSON'S HANDS. NOW TODAY HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT JUST GETTING LAPSE UNDER THE BELT AND PUSHING THE CAR, IT ONLY MATTERS WHEN THE STOPWATCH STARTS IN THE CHEQUERED FLAG COMES DOWN. THIS IS THE THIRD PRACTICE SESSION AND THEN AND ONLY THEN WE WILL KNOW WHERE HE STANDS. LIVE FROM MELBOURNE, MICHELLE PRENDEVILLE. MORE SUCCESS ON THE SLOPES FOR THE KIWIS ` LUCA HARRINGTON'S BEEN CROWNED THE FREESKI BIG AIR CRYSTAL GLOBE CHAMPION IN FRANCE. A THIRD-PLACED FINISH AT THE SIXTH AND FINAL STOP ON THE FREESKI BIG AIR WORLD CUP TOUR ENOUGH FOR HIM TO CLAIM THE OVERALL TOP SPOT FOR THE SEASON. ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE SPORT, SWITCH RIGHT TRIPLE... 18! LET'S GO THIS TIME. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE. COMING INTO THE SEASON, I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS EVEN POSSIBLE, AND YEAH, TO BE STANDING HERE HOLDING THIS GLOBE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. HARRINGTON'S THE FIRST KIWI TO WIN THE FREE-SKI CRYSTAL GLOBE. NEW RUGBY UNION CHAIRMAN DAVID KIRK HAS HIS FEET UNDER THE DESK AFTER TAKING OVER FROM DAME PATSY REDDY. HE COMES IN FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF DISHARMONY AND UNCERTAINTY FROM PROVINCIAL SQUABBLING TO FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. ANDREW SAVILLE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AT A RUGBY CHARITY FUNCTION, HIS FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE TAKING OVER AS CHAIR. RUGBY LUMINARIES DESCENDED ON THE NORTH SHORE CLUB TODAY WITH A FAMILIAR FACE IN AN ALL-STAR CROWD. LOTS OF PEOPLE TELLING ME LOTS OF THINGS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE GAME, AND THERE'LL BE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH IDEAS ABOUT HOW THE GAME CAN BE IMPROVED. FORMER ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN DAVID KIRK AT THE GET-TOGETHER RAISING FUNDS FOR NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES RUGBY AND RUGBY FOR LIFE, A CHARITY STARTED IN NORTHLAND TO HELP CLUBS OPERATE AND KEEP KIDS PLAYING. THE GAME SHOULD BE DECENTRALISED, IT SHOULD BE OWNED AT THE GRASSROOTS, AS THIS IS, BUT NZR HAS GOT TO ENCOURAGE THINGS, IT'S GOT TO ENCOURAGE THEM. WE'VE GOT TO TURN UP, WE'VE GOT TO BE PART OF IT. THEY MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE, ENJOYABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE KIDS LOVE IT. AMONG THE MANY REUNIONS TODAY... YOU'RE LOOKING YOUNGER. ...FORMER COACH OF THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY CLUB IN THE MID-80S AND HIS FORMER HALFBACK, NOW NZR CHAIRMAN. I THINK HE WILL KNOW THAT THE FOUNDATIONS ARE MASSIVELY IMPORTANT ALL I KNOW, SAV, IS IF WE CAN GET THE COMMUNITY GAME STRONG, STRONGER... AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY GAME- MIGHT HAVE A NATIONAL CLUB COMPETITION, FOR EXAMPLE. KIRK TOOK OVER AS CHAIR A MONTH AGO, WITH A CV FULL OF RUGBY AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE. A BIG CHALLENGE FOR THE WHOLE GAME, BUT FOR THE BOARD AND I THINK WE'VE PROBABLY JUMPED THIS HURDLE AS A BOARD IS TO GET ALIGNMENT ` TO BE WORKING TOGETHER ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE SAME THINGS. AND IF I THINK ABOUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY OVER THE LAST 2 OR 3 YEARS, WE HAVEN'T HAD ALIGNMENT. BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS GOOD. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, DURING THE WHOLE SILVER LAKE BUSINESS, PEOPLE WERE AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS. CORRECT? WELL, YES, WE WERE FINDING FAULT WITH EACH OTHER. YES. BUT... THINGS ARE OKAY. WELL, YES. I MEAN, THE TIMES HAVE MOVED ON. DAVID KIRK SAYS THERE MUST BE FOCUS ON WINNING AT THE TOP, A STRONG COMMUNITY GAME AND STRONG FINANCIALS. THE NEW CHAIRMAN THEN, READY FOR A LENGTHY AND EYE-OPENING TIME AHEAD. ANDREW SAVILLE, 1 NEWS. ROUND THREE OF SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI SEES A TOP OF THE TABLE MATCH, MATATU HOSTING THE BLUES IN NELSON TOMORROW, A GAME BLACK FERNS COACH ALLAN BUNTING'S BOUND TO BE WATCHING CLOSELY, WITH INTRIGUING MATCH-UPS ACROSS THE PARK. HERE'S KATE WELLS. THERE'S A DOGGED DETERMINATION AT BLUES HQ... (HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS) ...AS THEY PREPARE TO TAKE ON THEIR SOUTH ISLAND RIVALS. THEY'RE QUITE A WELL-OILED UNIT, THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER, THEY'RE QUITE CLINICAL AND SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BACK UP OUR PHYSICALITY AND OUR CONNECTION. DESPITE BEING THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BLUES HAVE STARTED THE SEASON WELL. LAST WEEK, PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE GETTING THEM OUT OF TROUBLE AGAINST CHIEFS MANAWA. IT'S PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE! SHE'S DONE IT TIME AND AGAIN ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND NOW DOES IT FOR THE BLUES! FOR OUR GIRLS TO STAY IN THAT FIGHT LAST WEEK IS VERY ENCOURAGING AND REALLY PROUD OF WHAT THEY DID. AND... PORTIA DOES WHAT SHE DOES. IF I WAS WEARING 13 AND I WAS DEFENDING PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE, HOW MANY WORLD CUPS, HOW MANY SEVENS WORLD CUPS, WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEARS, JUST THE AURA AND INTIMIDATION SHE BRINGS, I'D BE- I'D BE A BIT SCARED. BUT THIS MATATU SIDE HAS NO FEAR, PLAYING WITH FREEDOM THIS SEASON. AND HERE GOES KAEA NEPIA ` THAT IS ABSOLUTE BRILLIANCE. COMING IN FROM MATATU. HARD FOR THEM TO SCORE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE BALL, SO WE WANT TO TRY AND HANG ON TO IT AND SCORE A FEW TRIES OF OUR OWN. WHILE WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE HAS BEEN THE TALK OF THE TOWN UP NORTH, KAEA NEPIA IS TAKING THE SOUTH BY STORM. WEAVING HER WAY THROUGH, ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT TO GET THROUGH ANY OF THAT DEFENCE. THE 19-YEAR-OLD FROM THE BAY OF PLENTY, SCORING TWICE AGAINST THE HURRICANES POUA LAST WEEK. WHEN I PLAY AT MY BEST, I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST SMILING, HAVING FUN, VIBING WITH THE GIRLS. YEAH, GOOD ENERGY. THAT ENERGY WILL BE ESSENTIAL. IT'S SOMETHING THE BLUES DON'T LACK. YEAH!!! KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. FROM TODAY, SPORTING BODIES CAN ADOPT A NEW INTEGRITY CODE AUCKLAND CITY FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE HAVING TO JUGGLE THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE WITH TWO BIG TOURNAMENTS ON THE HORIZON. THE AMATEUR SIDE WILL COMPETE IN THE OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN A FORTNIGHT BEFORE PLAYING IN JUNE'S FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP IN THE UNITED STATES ` MOST OF THE TEAM EITHER WORKING OR STUDYING. YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S` JUST TRYING TO SPEND ALL OUR LEAVE ON FOOTBALL, REALLY. OUR PARTNERS AT HOME AREN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. WE LOVE THIS CLUB, WE LOVE PLAYING FOR AUCKLAND CITY, AND THE CAMARADERIE WE HAVE WITH THE BOYS IN THE TEAM IS SO CLOSE. THE CLUB WORLD CUP TROPHY STOPPING IN AUCKLAND TODAY ON ITS WORLD TOUR. AUCKLAND CITY WILL PLAY EUROPEAN GIANTS BAYERN MUNICH AND BENFICA AND ARGENTINA'S BOCA JUNIORS. THANKS, JENNY. COMING UP, DAN SAYS IT'S A MIXED BAG FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT A WARM ONE FOR SOME OF US TOO. DETAILS NEXT. DESPITE A FEW SHOWERS, IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO BAD OVERALL. WE STILL HAVE THE WARMTH IN THE ATMOSPHERE. JUST A HEADS UP, THAT LITTLE CLOUD AIMS TOWARD MELBOURNE ON SUNDAY. WE GET THAT SYSTEM MONDAY AND TUESDAY, SOME ENERGY FROM THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. PUT TUESDAY ON THE CALENDAR IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR RAIN. THAT WILL FALL APART, LOTS OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DOING WELL. GOING INTO A WEST NORWEST, MORMON EASTERN AREAS SOME 30S. HOW WILL IT BE OUTSIDE? FIT OF PATCHY CLOUD IN THE NORTH ISLAND. IN THE MORNING, A FRONT FADES APART IN TARANAKI IN THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND, JUST GONE. A BREEZE TOWARDS THE DEEP SOUTH. COUPLE OF SHOWERS AND KAITAIA. THE FRONT FADES AWAY, SOME CLOUDS LAPPED TOWARD WESTERN PARTS OF AUCKLAND. A FINE DAY OVERALL. HAMILTON, SAME SORT OF THING. A CHANCE OF SHOWER LATE IN THE DAY. EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY, ALL LOOKING FINE. AROUND THE REGION, SAME SORT OF THING AS WELL. TEMPERATURES REALLY WARMING, CLOSE TO 30 HERE, 26, 27. COUPLE OF SHOWERS, A WEEK TROUGH FADES AWAY... A NORTHERLY IN WELLINGTON. WESTPORT, YOU HAVE 20 . IN CHRISTCHURCH, IT GOES NORTHERLY. THAT'S HOW WE SEE THINGS ` OTHERWISE DRY, SOME SHOWERS ON THE WEST COAST. SOME EARLY CLOUD, IT JUST FIZZLES AS YOU FINISH THE DAY. A COUPLE OF SPOTS OF RAIN IN QUEENSTOWN, DON'T EXPECT MUCH. ALEXANDRA, 28. SOME REAL WARMTH COMING IN. MILFORD SOUND, SOME SHOWERS. THEN WE BRIGHTEN THINGS UP, HEADS UP ` DUNEDIN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 22. IT IS LOOKING FINE. SUNDAY, THE WEST COAST HAS SOME SHOWERS, AT THE WARM DAY. LOOKING AT THINGS FOR MONDAY , SOME TINY WEE ISOBARS. YOU SEE THAT LUMP OF RAIN, WET WEATHER FOR TUESDAY. WEEKEND NOT LOOKING TOO BAD. REMEMBER YOU CAN KEEP RIGHT UP TO DATE WITH ANY DEVELOPMENTS ON OUR STORIES TONIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE, 1news.co.nz. NOW IT'S OVER TO SCOTTY STEVENSON WITH THE WHITE FERNS VS SRI LANKA IN THE FIRST T20 FROM HAGLEY OVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH.