TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` MONEY MATTERS. IS THE OUTLOOK LOOKING BRIGHTER? NEW FIGURES REVEAL THE ECONOMY'S BOUNCED BACK; THE INDUSTRIES SHOWING POSITIVE GROWTH ` AND THOSE IN A SLUMP. HOW THIS COULD AFFECT YOUR FUTURE. BUTTER BUTTERS BETTER ` DAIRY GIANT FONTERRA MAKES A MASSIVE PROFIT, SO WHY IS BUTTER SO EXPENSIVE IN NEW ZEALAND? AND RUNNING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS ` (CHEERING) THE KIWI TRACK SENSATION BECOMES THE YOUNGEST EVER TO RUN A MILE UNDER FOUR MINUTES. CAPTIONS BY MAEVE KELLY, JASON CONRAN AND BRIGIT KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI KI KARERE TAHI I TENEI PO ` WELCOME TO 1 NEWS THIS EVENING. THE ECONOMY IS SLOWLY SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE, GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FIGURES FROM THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF 2024 SHOWING THE COUNTRY EMERGING OUT OF A RECESSION AND STARTING TO GROW ` JUST ` AT 0.7%. THE GDP NUMBERS OUT ON THE DAY OUR BIGGEST COMPANY, FONTERRA, POSTED A WHOPPING PROFIT, DAIRY AMONG THE BRIGHT SPARKS IN A STILL GLOOMY ECONOMY. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD HAS MORE. THE POPULARITY OF THESE CINNAMON ROLLS IS RISING ALMOST AS FAST AS THE DOUGH. THESE LINES START BUILDING FIRST THING. WHEN WE STARTED, IT WAS LIKE A TWO-MAN JOB, BUT NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE HAVING TWO EXTRA STAFF MEMBERS. IN THE FUTURE ` WELL, NOT EVEN IN THE FUTURE ` NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER STAFF COMING IN. A GOOD SIGN AS UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO RISE. THE RECESSION OVER, AND FINALLY SOME GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF 2024, BUT ANNUAL GROWTH IS STILL DOWN ON DECEMBER 2023. WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR, AND WHAT NEW ZEALANDERS EXPERIENCED, WAS A VERY TOUGH BEGINNING TO THE YEAR, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THIS DATA IS THAT THE RECOVERY IS NOW UNDERWAY. I WANT TO SEE THAT RECOVERY ACCELERATE. DAIRY AND TOURISM THE GROWTH AREAS. F0NTERRA WEATHERING GLOBAL ECONOMIC VOLATILITY, WITH THE DAIRY GIANT'S HALF-YEAR PROFITS UP 16%. OF COURSE, WE PLAY IN MOST MARKETS GLOBALLY, SO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE UNCERTAIN WORLD WE LIVE IN WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS ACROSS THE WORLD. THAT SAID, WE ARE WELL SET UP TO DEAL WITH THOSE CHALLENGES. THE INCREASING NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS MEANS SPENDING ON ACCOMMODATION, DINING OUT AND RENTAL CARS IS ALL UP. ARE YOU WORRIED THAT WE'RE BACK TO BEING TOO RELIANT ON A COUPLE OF SECTORS TO KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING? I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY HAS MANY GREEN SHOOTS ACROSS A NUMBER OF SECTORS. SOMETHING THIS ROTORUA COSMETICS RETAILER IS BANKING ON AS SHE EXPANDS HER BUSINESS. WE OPEN THIS IN THE HOPES OF, YOU KNOW, BRINGING PEOPLE IN, BUT ALSO GIVING THEM THAT WARM FEELING, YOU KNOW? LETTING THEM SEE WHO WE ARE AS BUSINESS OWNERS AND, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCING OUR PRODUCTS IN PERSON. DOMESTIC SPENDING REMAINS FLAT AS FALLING INTEREST RATES SLOWLY KICK IN. SOME OF THAT BEING SPENT ON SMALL TREATS. WE'VE PRETTY MUCH PUMPED OUR NUMBERS UP TO 400, 500, DEPENDING ON WHICH DAY IT IS. WE ACTUALLY STARTED OFF WITH 128. UM, WERE GETTING SOLD WITHIN 30 MINUTES. THIS STREET IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN HIT HARD BY CITY RAIL LINK CONSTRUCTION, SO BUSINESSES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO REVIVE IT. WE'RE HAVING GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR NEIGHBOURS. I PURPOSELY CHOSE A STREET, VICTORIA STREET WEST ` FIGURED OUT THAT THERE'S NO BAKERY HERE. SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS, WITH TIKTOK TURNING THIS STORE INTO A VIRAL SENSATION WITHIN DAYS OF OPENING. I THINK THEY SHOWED THE, LIKE, SALTED CARAMEL ONE. I WAS LIKE, 'THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS.' LIKE, 'I HAVE TO GO CHECK IT OUT.' WHAT'S YOUR MOST POPULAR FLAVOUR? UM... HOMEMADE CREAM CHEESE SAUCE. A SWEET RESULT IN SOME STICKY ECONOMIC TIMES. DISTRACTING AS LETTERS, THOSE FIGURES ARE ENCOURAGING. ARE THERE ENOUGH SIGNS THAT A RECOVERY'S ON THE WAY? THE ONLY PERSON EXCITED ABOUT THESE FIGURES IS NICOLA WILLIS. IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT SIGN OF GROWTH AND THAT POSITIVE FIGURE. IT IS HIGHER THAN MOST EXPECTED. BUT THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN BOUNCING ALONG CLOSE TO 0 FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. SO NOTHING EXCITING THERE. WE ARE SEEING SOME GOOD NUMBERS IN EXPORTS TODAY, BUT SOME OTHER AREAS ARE STILL REALLY HURTING CONSTRUCTION IN PARTICULAR. DOWN 3%. THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. AND UNEMPLOYMENT, OF COURSE, STILL REALLY HAVING AN IMPACT. SEEING COMPANIES AND REDUNDANCIES, COLLAPSING AND OF COURSE THERE IS THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AND THAT IS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. THE GLOBAL ECONOMY WILL SLOW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. NOBODY IS SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE TARIFFS. IT COULD AFFECT ON TERROR. THOSE ARE THE ISSUES, AND THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T GET TOO EXCITED, AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE VERY SLOW MODERATE GROWTH. CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM. THANKS, KATIE. AS WE'VE MENTIONED, KIWI DAIRY GIANT FONTERRA APPEARS TO BE CREAMING IT, MAKING MORE THAN $700M IN HALF-YEAR PROFIT. SO, WHY ARE NEW ZEALANDERS PAYING SO MUCH FOR BUTTER? CUSHLA NORMAN EXPLAINS. THE PRICE OF BUTTER SEEMS SKY HIGH ` IT'S SHOT UP 60% IN THE PAST YEAR TO AN AVERAGE OF $7.32 FOR 500G. SHOPPING AROUND, WE FOUND THE CHEAPEST BLOCK ` $6.89 FROM PAK'nSAVE. AND ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE IS $10.50, AT FRESHCHOICE. NOW, PUTTING THEM IN PERSPECTIVE, A YEAR AGO, THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS JUST $4.50. SO WHAT'S BEHIND THE STEEP INCREASE ` ESPECIALLY WHILE FONTERRA'S DOING SO WELL? KIWIS PAYING NEARLY $10 FOR A BLOCK OF BUTTER WILL LOOK AT THESE RESULTS AND SAY, 'WHY ON EARTH AM I BEING RIPPED OFF AT THE SUPERMARKET?' WELL, 'RIPPED OFF' IS CERTAINLY NOT THE TERM THAT I WOULD TALK TO. YOU CAN SEE THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET, WHICH IS FEEDING THE MILK PRICE, THE COST OF GOODS SOLD THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND THAT FLOWS BACK TO OUR FARMER SHAREHOLDERS FROM A MILK-PRICE PERSPECTIVE. BUT, ULTIMATELY, THE PRICE OF BUTTER AND CHEESE AND LIQUID MILK IS IN THE DOMAIN OF THE RETAILERS. THE PRICE OF BUTTER IS DETERMINED BY INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. ACROSS THE WORLD, PRODUCTION HAS SLOWED. WEATHER IS A FACTOR, AS WELL AS THE WAR IN UKRAINE, WHICH HAS PUSHED ENERGY PRICES UP ` MEANING IT COSTS MORE TO MAKE BUTTER. AND NEW ZEALAND'S $6.89 IS NOT LOOKING TOO BAD COMPARED TO WHAT WE COULD FIND IN OVERSEAS SUPERMARKETS. THIS BRITISH-MADE BLOCK WILL SET YOU BACK THE EQUIVALENT OF $8.83. AND IN AUSTRALIA, THEIR CHEAPEST LOCAL PRODUCT IS AROUND $7.60. INDIA HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST PRICES BUT ALSO HAS PROTECTIONIST POLICIES. AS ONE ECONOMIST POINTED OUT TO ME, IF WE WANT CHEAP BUTTER, THEN WE'D BE LOOKING AT SUBSIDIES AND/OR REGULATION ` THAT WOULD MEAN FARMERS SPENDING LESS OF THEIR PROFIT, LEADING TO WEAKER ECONOMIC GROWTH OVERALL. CUSHLA NORMAN, 1 NEWS. THE DEFENCE FORCE IS LOOKING TO CULL HUNDREDS OF CIVILIAN ROLES AS IT AIMS TO CUT COSTS, BUT THERE ARE WARNINGS IT WILL UNDERMINE OUR MILITARY'S CAPABILITY AT A TIME OF GLOBAL UNREST AND GROWING PRESSURE TO BOOST OUR DEFENCE BUDGET BY BILLIONS. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. JUST WEEKS AGO, THREE CHINESE WARSHIPS... (BOOM!) ...WERE FIRING THEIR WEAPONS IN THE TASMAN SEA. (BOOM! BOOM!) NOW OUR DEFENCE FORCE IS LOOKING TO GET RID OF NEARLY 400 CIVILIAN ROLES. THESE ROLES ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE NEW ZEALAND IS COMBAT READY. THE GOVERNMENT'S ADAMANT THE CUTS WON'T UNDERMINE OUR SECURITY. WE EXPECT THEM TO CONSTANTLY DECIDE WHAT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO USE OUR RESOURCES, AND I PERSONALLY AM HAPPY TO SEE THAT GOING TO OUR SOLDIERS, OUR ARMED PERSONNEL WHO LITERALLY DEFEND OUR COUNTRY. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE A BLOW TO THE MILITARY STAFF. HAYDEN RICKETTS WAS IN THE INFANTRY FOR 26 YEARS. HE SAYS CIVILIAN STAFF DO A VITAL JOB BACKING UP OUR SOLDIERS. CIVILIAN AND MILITARY STAFF WORK HAND IN GLOVE. ONE CAN'T DO THEIR WORK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE OTHER. IN A STATEMENT TO 1 NEWS, THE DEFENCE FORCE SAID TODAY'S DECISION IS NOT ONE IT'S MADE LIGHTLY. IT SAYS IT'S HAD TO FIND SAVINGS TO STAY WITHIN ITS BUDGET WHILE MAINTAINING COMBAT READINESS. THIS PUTS THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCE WHERE HE HAS TO CHOOSE TO MAINTAIN HIS MILITARY OUTPUTS OR PAY HIS STAFF. IN THIS CASE, HE'S CHOSEN TO MAKE WORKFORCE CUTS TO THE CIVILIAN STAFF. SOME DO FEAR IT WILL MAKE US LESS SAFE. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON OUR DEFENCE FORCE AND ON THE SECURITY. IT'S ABOUT SAVING MONEY, NOT ABOUT THE SECURITY OF NEW ZEALAND. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. OPERATIONALLY, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEFENCE FORCE TO MAKE SURE ITS DECISIONS DON'T IN ANY WAY UNDERMINE OUR OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY. LABOUR SAYS IT'S HYPOCRISY FROM THE GOVERNMENT. ON THE ONE HAND, THEY SAY THEY WANT TO INCREASE DEFENCE FORCE SPENDING, AND YET TODAY THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY'RE STILL GONNA HAVE JOBS BECAUSE THEY'RE CUTTING DEFENCE FORCE SPENDING. WHAT THEY SAY AND WHAT THEY DO ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS. ALL WHILE IT'S CLEAR OUR MILITARY HAS A BIG ROLE TO PLAY. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. OVERSEAS NOW, AND UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED A LIMITED TRUCE WITH RUSSIA DURING A CALL WITH DONALD TRUMP LABELLED 'POSITIVE' YET FRANK'. LABELLED 'POSITIVE' YET 'FRANK'. THE CHALLENGE NOW TO IMPLEMENT THE TERMS, WITH BOTH SIDES STILL TRADING BLOWS ON EACH OTHER'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON WITH THIS UPDATE. JUST HOURS AFTER THE START OF A SUPPOSED PARTIAL CEASEFIRE, UKRAINE'S NATIONAL RAILWAY SAYS ITS ENERGY FACILITIES WERE HIT... (DRONE WHINES, EXPLODES) ...WITH CONTINUING WAVES OF DRONE ATTACKS ALSO HITTING TWO HOSPITALS IN NORTH-EAST UKRAINE, WHERE THERE ARE FEARS RUSSIA IS GATHERING TROOPS FOR A MASS OFFENSIVE. RUSSIA, MEANWHILE, SAYS UKRAINE STRUCK AN OIL FACILITY JUST ACROSS ITS BORDER. DESPITE THIS, U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP INSISTS PEACE HAS NEVER BEEN CLOSER FOLLOWING WHAT HE SAID WAS 'A VERY GOOD CALL' WITH UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, TODAY. THE U.S. SAYS THE PARTIAL CEASEFIRE AGAINST ENERGY WILL BE SOON BE BROADENED TO INCLUDE THE BLACK SEA, PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO OFFERING TO RUN AND OWN UKRAINE'S NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS. AMERICAN OWNERSHIP OF THOSE PLANTS WOULD BE THE BEST PROTECTION FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY CALLED THE CONVERSATION 'POSITIVE, SUBSTANTIVE AND FRANK', BUT HE'S STILL SCEPTICAL ON PUTIN'S DESIRE FOR PEACE. 'PUTIN'S WORDS ARE AT ODDS WITH REALITY,' HE SAYS. WESTERN ALLIES AGREE. (SPEAKS GERMAN) TRANSLATOR: WE'VE SEEN THE ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE DIDN'T LET UP IN THE FIRST NIGHT AFTER THIS SUPPOSEDLY GROUND-BREAKING, 'GREAT' PHONE CALL. SO PUTIN IS PLAYING A GAME, AND I'M SURE THAT THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT WON'T BE ABLE TO STAND BY AND WATCH FOR LONG. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS THAT RUSSIA ENDS ITS WAR OF AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE. UKRAINE HAS AN UNDENIABLE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF ` ON ITS OWN AND SUPPORTED BY ITS PARTNERS. THE UK AND FRANCE CONTINUE TO DRIVE TALKS ON A POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPING COALITION. 30 DEFENCE CHIEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND, ARE MEETING IN LONDON TONIGHT. SHUT OUT OF MAIN TALKS, THIS IS EUROPE NOT SITTING IDLE, PLOUGHING AHEAD WITH PLANS RUSSIA HAS ALREADY REJECTED. AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE, A GLIMMER OF JOY TODAY ` WRAPPED IN UKRAINIAN FLAGS, 175 PRISONERS OF WAR AND MORE THAN 20 SOLDIERS RETURNED HOME. (CHEERING) RUSSIANS TOO ON THEIR WAY BACK IN ONE OF THE LARGEST PRISONER EXCHANGES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN ` A WELCOME STEP ON THE LONG ROAD TO PEACE. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, LONDON. AND THE ROAD TO PEACE IS LONG IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS WELL, ISRAEL ADDING GROUND TROOPS TO ITS RENEWED OFFENSIVE ON GAZA, AIMED AT FORCING HAMAS TO RELEASE THE REMAINING HOSTAGES. CONTINUING AIRSTRIKES HAVE KILLED A NUMBER OF HAMAS OFFICIALS, BUT HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS TOO, INCLUDING 183 CHILDREN, ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL HEALTH MINISTRY. CORAZON MILLER REPORTS. ISRAEL'S SOLDIERS ARE RECLAIMING A KEY BATTLEGROUND OF THE WAR IN GAZA. AS PART OF JANUARY'S CEASEFIRE DEAL, ISRAEL HAD WITHDRAWN ITS TROOPS FROM THE NAZARIM CORRIDOR, THE STRIP OF LAND THAT SPLITS GAZA'S NORTH FROM ITS SOUTH. ISRAEL SAYS IT'S A LIMITED GROUND OPERATION, BUT COMBINED WITH ITS ONGOING AERIAL BOMBARDMENT, IT SHOWS HOW ISRAEL'S RENEWED MILITARY OFFENSIVE IS ESCALATING. TRANSLATOR: IF ALL THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES ARE NOT RELEASED AND HAMAS IS NOT EXPELLED FROM GAZA, ISRAEL WILL ACT WITH AN INTENSITY THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN. THE LOCAL HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS NEARLY 450 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE CEASEFIRE'S COLLAPSED ON TUESDAY. (SPEAKS ARABIC) ISRAEL SAYS IT'S GOING AFTER TERROR TARGETS. FIVE SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIALS ARE AMONG THE DEAD, BUT FOOTAGE OUT OF GAZA SHOWS MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE TOO. ON JUST THE FIRST DAY OF ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES, 183 CHILDREN WERE KILLED, THE LOCAL HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS. THE U.N. SAYS THAT'S THE LARGEST ONE-DAY TOLL IN THE LAST YEAR. (WOMAN SOBS) PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AND AID WORKERS UNABLE TO FIND SAFETY ` EVEN IN DESIGNATED HUMANITARIAN ZONES. TRANSLATOR: WE WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF STRIKES TONIGHT. WHILE WE RAN TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, WE FOUND A SECOND MISSILE HAD BEEN FIRED. THE U.N. TODAY CONDEMNING THE STRIKES AND MOURNING THE DEATH OF ONE OF ITS WORKERS. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA IS... UNCONSCIONABLE. BUT ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS NEGOTIATIONS TO FREE HOSTAGES WILL ONLY CONTINUE UNDER FIRE. TRANSLATOR: WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO ACHIEVE ALL THE GOALS OF THIS WAR ` SECURING THE RELEASE OF ALL OUR HOSTAGES AND ELIMINATING HAMAS. (CALLS IN ARABIC) A FIGHT MOST OF HIS OWN PEOPLE NOW DON'T WANT. I DON'T WANT THE WAR TO RESTART. ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS IS TO BLAME FOR REJECTING PEACE PROPOSALS, WHILE HAMAS BLAMES ISRAEL FOR VIOLATING THE CEASEFIRE. ALLAHU AKBAR... WITHOUT A RESOLUTION, IT'S CIVILIANS PAYING THE HIGHEST PRICE. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. BACK HERE, AND A SECOND AUCKLAND FUNERAL DIRECTOR CHARGED WITH MISHANDLING BURIALS HAS APPEARED IN COURT, DENYING ALL CHARGES. THE MAN (53) HAS INTERIM NAME SUPPRESSION. HE'S CHARGED WITH NEGLECTING TO PROPERLY SEAL AND LINE A CASKET AND OBTAINING MONEY BY DECEPTION AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $18,000. POLICE INVESTIGATED AFTER BODIES WERE DISINTERRED FOLLOWING THE AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY FLOODS AND CYCLONE GABRIELLE IN EARLY 2023. FIONA BAKULICH, A FORMER UNDERTAKER AND STAR ON 'THE CASKETEERS' SHOW, HAS ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY TO 14 CHARGES RELATED TO THE HANDLING OF BODIES AND OBTAINING MONEY BY DECEPTION. SHE'LL BE SENTENCED NEXT MONTH. TVNZ SAYS IT'S COMFORTABLE WITH A PROGRAMME HOSTED BY A FORMER WARRIORS PLAYER FACING SERIOUS DRUG CHARGES STAYING ON THE 'TV SHOWS' PAGE OF THE TVNZ+ STREAMING PLATFORM. IT'S BEEN REPORTED WAIRANGI KOOPU IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION AND SUPPLY OF COCAINE. HE HAD NAME SUPPRESSION, BUT THAT'S NOW LAPSED. KOOPU APPEARED ON VARIOUS TV PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING THE CROWD GOES WILD, CELEBRITY TREASURE ISLAND AND THE ROAD TO TE MATATINI. THE 44-YEAR-OLD PLAYED MORE THAN 150 GAMES FOR THE WARRIORS BETWEEN 1999 AND 2008. NOW TO AN ASTONISHING FEAT THAT'S STUNNED THE ATHLETICS WORLD ` SAM RUTHE (15) FROM TAURANGA SHOWING STAGGERING FORM TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER TO RUN A SUB-FOUR-MINUTE MILE. THE TEENAGE SENSATION RAN 3:58.35 IN AUCKLAND LAST NIGHT TO SET THE NEW WORLD RECORD. LIKE AN HOUR BEFORE, IT WAS LOOKING... IT WAS LOOKING A BIT WINDIER, AND IT WAS POURING DOWN, SO I WAS GETTING A BIT SCARED. BUT THE WEATHER CLEARED ` NO RAIN ON THE TRACK ANYMORE. LIKE, JUST ALL SEEMED TO PLAY OUT PERFECTLY. PERFECTLY, ALL RIGHT. NICE ONE! AND WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM SAM AND HIS PROUD DAD LATER IN SPORT. E WHAI AKE NEI ` ALSO LATER IN SPORT ` THE NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS HAVE BEEN SOLD, WITH A BIG CLEAN-OUT ALREADY UNDERWAY. SO WHO ARE THE NEW OWNERS? ALSO JUST AHEAD ` GROUNDED FOR A FEW MORE YEARS YET; WHEN IT'S HOPED DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND WILL FINALLY TAKE OFF. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` THINK BEFORE YOU HIT 'REPLY'. THE LATEST AND BEST ADVICE ON HOW TO SPOT A SCAM. PLUS ` WE ALL DO IT, BUT HAVE WE BEEN DOING IT WRONG? THE RIGHT WAY AND THE WRONG WAY TO BREATHE. AND WE CELEBRATE NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST DANCE COMPANY. SEE YOU AT 7. 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, HOKI MAI. OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY IS LOOKING TO BOOST VISITOR NUMBERS BY TARGETING INDIA. AIR NEW ZEALAND AND AIR INDIA ARE NOW EXPLORING DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES FROM 2028, BUT THE VISA APPLICATION PROCESS REMAINS A STICKING POINT. POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN IS IN INDIA WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND FILED THIS REPORT. MUMBAI, THE ECONOMIC HUB OF INDIA... (CAR HORNS BEEP) ...IS WHERE DEALS ARE DONE ` AIR NZ AND AIR INDIA PROMISING A DIRECT FLIGHT. THE CATCH IS IT'S NOT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS ` AND ON THE PROVISO OF NEW AEROPLANES. YES, WE'VE GOT PACING ITEM, I GUESS, OF ACCESS TO AIRCRAFT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING FROM A GOVERNMENT'S POINT OF VIEW TO MAKE SURE IT'S SEAMLESS. AND THAT EXTENDS TO VISAS. THERE IS SOME CRITICISM FROM INDIANS AROUND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE VISA PROCESS. WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT AGAIN? YEAH, I MEAN, WE'RE UP FOR REMOVING, AS I SAY, THE BARNACLES OFF THE BOAST, YOU KNOW, AS I SAY, THE BARNACLES OFF THE BOAT, YOU KNOW, AND IF THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S FRUSTRATING ACCESS INTO NEW ZEALAND, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS. WITH 1.4 BILLION PEOPLE, TOURISTS AREN'T THE ONLY FOCUS. ONE KIWI COMPANY IS ALSO HELPING INDIA'S WOULD-BE HOMEBUYERS. INDIA IS A VERY UNBANKED SOCIETY. IT'S A VERY CASH SOCIETY. MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CREDIT SCORE, SO FOR THE BANK TO SAY YES, THEY REALLY HAVE TO RELY ON THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY. FIN-TECH COMPANY VELOCITY GLOBAL HAS DIGITISED INDIA'S PROPERTY VALUATIONS AND LENDING. DOCUMENTS WERE BEING TRANSFERRED, AND IT WAS TAKING WEEKS. AND SO VELOCITY LAUNCHED, DIGITISING THIS PROCESS FOR BANKS, DIGITISING THE VALUERS, AND SUDDENLY THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN IN HOURS. THE COMPANY NOW WORKING WITH OVER 20 INDIAN BANKS. BEING IN INDIA HAS GIVEN US TREMENDOUS CREDIBILITY ACROSS THE REGION, SO IT MEANS WE'RE NOW LIVE IN UAE; AND WE CAN GO TO ALL THE OTHER SURROUNDING MARKETS, COS THEY PRETTY MUCH SAY, 'IF YOU CAN DO IT INDIA, YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE.' ALSO FEATURED ON THE TRIP... EVERY TIME I'VE GONE OVERSEAS, I'VE TRIED TO TAKE A KAPA HAKA TEAM WITH ME, BECAUSE I ACTUALLY THINK THAT REALLY UNLOCKS, ACTUALLY, A LOT OF THE RELATIONSHIP. CULTURE AND CUSTOM GO HAND IN HAND WITH BUSINESS AND EVERYDAY LIFE. I THINK IT'S JUST NATURAL AND NORMAL TO NOT SEPARATE THEM. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CRITICS WHO ARGUE THAT THE MAORI CULTURE IS VALUED MORE BY THIS GOVERNMENT WHEN IT'S ON THE GLOBAL STAGE AS OPPOSED TO BACK HOME? I DISAGREE. LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT WE PUT INTO TE MATATINI. LOOK AT THE SUCCESS OF IT THIS YEAR. WE STRUGGLE AT HOME, AND WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BUT ON THE WORLD STAGE, WE'RE ONE KAUPAPA, AND THAT'S THE BETTERMENT OF ALL PEOPLE. CULTURE AND ART HELPING TO CLOSE THE GAP. ART IN PARTICULAR IS A SPACE WHERE IT'S ABOUT EXCHANGE AND CONNECTION AND A DREAMING SPACE, REALLY. THE DREAM OF A COMPREHENSIVE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP BECOMING A REALITY. SO, MAIKI, CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS ADMITTED OUR VISA SYSTEM ISN'T PERFECT. HOW MUCH OF AN ISSUE IS THIS? WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT NEW ZEALAND IS HOPING TO ACHIEVE FROM A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH INDIA, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. BETTER ACCESS TO NEW ZEALAND VISA, WHETHER TOURISM OR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, REALLY IS A BIG ISSUE. THAT'S ALSO ONE OF OUR BIG BARGAINING CHIPS WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT A FORMER INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NEW ZEALAND WHO WAS REFUSED A VISA ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT SIMPLY AN EXAMPLE OF THE RIGMAROLE AND COMPLEXITY OF OUR IMMIGRATION SETTINGS WHEN IT COMES TO VISAS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT. THE BIG DISCUSSIONS POLITICALLY WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND FIRST AND NATIONAL. WE KNOW NEW ZEALAND FIRST'S POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION. SHANE JONES HAS MADE DISPARAGING REMARKS WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW FAR THE PARTNERS CAN AGREE ON TERMS OF MOVING THOSE VISA SETTINGS FOR INDIA AS THE OFFICIAL NEGOTIATIONS FOR AN FTA GET UNDERWAY. KIA ORA. IN ANY OTHER WORKPLACE, SPENDING NINE MONTHS AWAY FROM HOME UNEXPECTEDLY MIGHT BE GROUNDS FOR HEAVY COMPENSATION ` BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE FOR THE NASA ASTRONAUTS WHO JUST RETURNED TO EARTH. SUNI WILLIAMS AND BUTCH WILMORE WERE STUCK ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AFTER THEIR MISSION, SET DOWN FOR JUST EIGHT DAYS, TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TURN. THEY'VE BEEN UNDERGOING MEDICAL CHECKS, WITH ONE EXPERT WARNING THEY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED PERMANENT PHYSICAL CHANGES. THAT IS NONE OTHER THAN SUNI WILLIAMS. SMILES, WAVES AND A FEW WOBBLES AS THESE ASTRONAUTS EMERGED FROM THEIR RETURN CAPSULE... ELATION AND CHEERS THERE. ...WHEELED AWAY ON STRETCHERS TO SEE WHAT NINE MONTHS IN SPACE DID TO THEIR BODIES. THE WHOLE REHABILITATION PROCESS TAKES A COUPLE OF MONTHS, REALLY, UNTIL THEY'RE BACK TO FULL PHYSICAL STRENGTH AGAIN. BUT THAT INITIAL PHASE OF STOPPING, FEELING DIZZY, OF REGAINING BALANCE BUT THAT INITIAL PHASE OF STOPPING FEELING DIZZY, OF REGAINING BALANCE AND HAVING STRENGTH TO WALK AROUND NORMALLY ` THAT'S JUST TWO OR THREE DAYS. SUNI WILLIAMS AND BUTCH WILMORE SPLASHED DOWN YESTERDAY OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA. CREW 9 BACK ON EARTH. IT FOLLOWS A 17-HOUR JOURNEY FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WHICH BECAME THEIR HOME AFTER A TEST FLIGHT ON THIS BOEING SPACE CRAFT LAST JUNE TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TWIST ` SENT BACK TO EARTH EMPTY BECAUSE OF HELIUM LEAKS AND THRUSTER ISSUES. IT TURNED AN EIGHT-DAY MISSION INTO NINE MONTHS, LEAVING SOME TO WONDER OVER COMPENSATION. NASA SAYS WHILE ASTRONAUTS DON'T GET OVERTIME PAY, THEY DO RECEIVE A SMALL INCIDENTAL PAYMENT FOR EVERY DAY IN SPACE, MEANING THE PAIR WOULD GET AROUND 2000 NZD ON TOP OF THEIR SALARY. WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO DO ALL SORTS OF SCIENCE, SPACE WALKS... IT'S VARIED AND PRETTY AWESOME, ACTUALLY. BOTH ASTRONAUTS WERE WELL PREPARED FOR AN EXTENDED STINT AT THE SPACE STATION, SPENDING HOURS A DAY EXERCISING. BUT ONE EXPERT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME PERMANENT CHANGES. BODY FLUIDS MOVE TOWARD THE HEAD, AND THAT CREATES A KIND OF PRESSURE WITHIN THE SKULL, AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN FLATTEN THE BACK OF THE EYE, AND SOMETIMES THE EYE SHAPE NEVER RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER COMING BACK FROM SPACE. THEY'LL UNDERGO A 45-DAY POST-MISSION RECOVERY REGIME WITH A PERSONAL TRAINER AS THEY READJUST TO EARTH'S GRAVITY. SUNI WILLIAMS' FAMILY SAY THEY COULDN'T BE PROUDER. I THINK SHE'S INSPIRED A LOT OF YOUNG GIRLS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I THINK SHE'S TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A REUNION ` NINE MONTHS LATER THAN PLANNED. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. A MURI AKE NEI ` COMING UP ` ARE THERE ANY CIA SECRETS? THE FINAL DOCUMENTS ON THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ARE RELEASED. AND WE ARE HERE AT THE AUCKLAND VIADUCT FOR THE NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS. UP NEXT, WHO IS WHO ON THE SHORTLIST FOR THE BIG AWARD. THEN, AT 7 ` LOST PHONE, JOB OFFER, COURIER CAN'T DELIVER? SCAMMERS ARE HITTING HARD; WE'LL TELL YOU HOW TO OUTSMART THEM. AND ` IT'S SIMPLE, FREE AND A WELL-BEING GAME-CHANGER ` EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW ALL OF US CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THE AIR AROUND US. PLUS ` SMALL, OVERLOOKED AND NEARLY EXTINCT ` MEET THE KIWIS SAVING ONE OF OUR RAREST PLANTS. ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP AT 7. VOICEOVER: Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bites, 22 cheese filled bites around a pizza with more cheeeese. (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) Whoa! Oh hi Mr. Stevenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. We're inside your brain right now. Yeah, it's pretty weird aye. This is quite high up! VOICEOVER: PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED IN DALLAS ON NOVEMBER 22nd, 1963. MORE THAN 60 YEARS LATER, THE MURDER STILL GRIPS AMERICA WITH COUNTLESS CONSPIRACY THEORIES. NOW THE FINAL BATCH OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED. THE BBC'S NOMIA IQBAL HAS BEEN TAKING A LOOK. ARCHIVE: HIS RENDEZVOUS WITH GRIM DESTINY BEGINS A LITTLE AFTER NOON TIME. OF ALL THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES, NONE OF THEM HAVE BURNED AS HARD AND FOR AS LONG AS PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S MURDER. A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT LEE HARVEY OSWALD WAS THE KILLER. HE WAS SHOT DEAD AFTER BEING MOVED IN BETWEEN JAILS. PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW. PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW WHY HE WAS KILLED. MANY AMERICANS DO NOT BELIEVE HE ACTED ALONE. THE 1991 HOLLYWOOD FILM 'JFK' DEPICTED HIM AS BEING KILLED BY THE CIA, FUELLING THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES FURTHER. THESE ARE THE ASSASSINATIONS OF PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY, SENATOR ROBERT F KENNEDY, AND THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. THAT'S A BIG ONE, HUH? PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO HAS ADDED VOICE TO THOSE THEORIES TOO, SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FULLY RELEASE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS. MOST OF THE DOCUMENTS AREN'T EASY TO DECIPHER. THERE IS, HOWEVER, THIS LETTER FROM 1978. A MAN WROTE TO THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON SAYING HE HAD PREVIOUSLY WARNED OF A PLAN TO KILL THE PRESIDENT. LOOK, ANYBODY WHO THINKS WE'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS, 'HERE ARE THE CO-CONSPIRATORS 'IN THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F KENNEDY,' IS GOING TO BE IN FOR A RUDE SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. AMERICA IS SO FULL OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES, BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT JUST ENDURES. IT'S` IT'S THE ONE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. WELL, YES, WE HAD SOME CONSPIRACY THEORIES BEFORE NOVEMBER 22ND, 1963, BUT THIS SUPERCHARGED, ALMOST, THE INDUSTRY. ARCHIVE: IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES BEFORE HE ARRIVES AT THE TRADE MART. JOHN F KENNEDY'S LEGACY IS INTERTWINED WITH THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES, LEAVING AMERICAN SPLIT ON IF THE ASSASSINATION WAS AN UNSOLVED MURDER OR A VIOLENT ACT OF JUST ONE MAN. FILES HAVE BEEN RELEASED BEFORE ` DURING TRUMP'S FIRST TERM; JOE BIDEN'S; AND ALSO IN 1975, WITH A MEMO SHOWING OSWALD WAS NOT IN CONNECTED TO THE CIA. THE NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR WILL BE UNVEILED SHORTLY AT A GALA DINNER AT AUCKLAND'S VIADUCT EVENTS CENTRE. CORAZON MILLER IS THERE. SO, WHO ARE THE FINALISTS, CORAZON? IN TOTAL, WE HAVE 21 FINALISTS BEING CELEBRATED HERE THIS EVENING. AS YOU CAN SEE PROBABLY, IT IS SAID TO BE A BIG EVENING. MORE THAN 850 GUESTS WHO HAVE TURNED UP TO HELP CELEBRATE THESE NEW ZEALANDERS FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING TO MAKE AOTEAROA A BETTER PLACE. THE VARIOUS KIWIS ON THE SHORTLIST ARE ARTISTS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SUPPORTING PROFESSIONALS, AND EVEN SOME YOUNG, DIGITALLY SAVVY KIWIS. WE HAVE THREE NAMES. DAME LISA CARRINGTON, OUR MOST DECORATED OLYMPIAN WHO IS BEING GIVEN CREDIT FOR HER PERSEVERANCE. PROFESSOR BEV LAWTON, BEING GIVEN CREDIT FOR THAT WORK SHE IS DONE IN WOMEN'S HEALTH, MOST RECENTLY IN SELF ANALYSIS FOR SPV. SARAH HIRINI, PART OF THE GOLD WEDDING BLACK FERNS SQUAD AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS LAST YEAR. THREE INCREDIBLE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK IN THEIR VARIOUS FIELDS. WE DO NOT KNOW WHO WILL TAKE OUT THE BIG TITLE OF NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR. WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK THIS EVENING. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO STAY UP TOO LATE YOU CAN TUNE INTO BREAKFAST TOMORROW TO FIND OUT THE WINNER, AND SEE THE LIST OF WINNERS ACROSS ALL SEVEN CATEGORIES. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. AND WHAT ABOUT THIS KID SAM RUTHE? AT 15, THE YOUNGEST TO RUN A MILE IN UNDER FOUR MINUTES. WE HAVE THE RUN, THE AFTERMATH AND THE FUTURE ALL COMING UP NEXT AS ACCOLADES FLOW AFTER THAT STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT ` INCLUDING ONE FROM A RUNNING LEGEND. NOBODY'S EVER BEEN ` IN NEW ZEALAND ` ANYTHING LIKE SAM. ALSO TONIGHT ` A MASSIVE CLEAN-OUT AT THE BREAKERS BASKETBALL TEAM AS WELL-CONNECTED NEW OWNERS WITH A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND MOVE IN. PLUS ` A YEAR'S A LONG TIME IN SUPER RUGBY; THE BLUES AND CRUSADERS READY TO GO AT IT AGAIN, AT DIFFERENT ENDS OF THE TABLE. AND A YOUNG KIWI IN THE THICK OF IT IN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS SPORTING EVENTS. AND FINE AND TO THE WEEK FOR MOST. RAIN WATCHES HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO WARNINGS AND ARE STILL IN PLACE ON NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TONIGHT ` IF WE WEREN'T EXCITED ABOUT SAM RUTHE, WE WILL BE NOW. THE 15-YEAR-OLD FROM TAURANGA BECOMING THE YOUNGEST ATHLETE IN HISTORY TO RUN A SUB-FOUR-MINUTE MILE ` FASTER THAN CURRENT WORLD CHAMP NORWEGIAN JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN AT THE SAME AGE. JENNY SUO WITH THE TEEN SENSATION. LESS THAN 14 HOURS AFTER THE LESS-THAN 4 MINUTES THAT CHANGED SAM RUTHE'S LIFE. I'M ACTUALLY FEELING QUITE GOOD. LIKE, IT'S JUST STARTING TO SINK IN HOW BIG THAT RACE ACTUALLY WAS. (BANG!) A SHOT AT HISTORY THE 15-YEAR-OLD WASN'T GOING TO WASTE. I WAS REALLY JUST THINKING, 'HOW GOOD AM I FEELING ` 'ARE MY LEGS TIGHTENING UP?' AND, LIKE, 'CAN I ACTUALLY DO THIS?' THROUGHOUT THE RACE I FELT MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE, SO... SAM TANNER'S SMILING! SAM RUTHE'S RIGHT THERE! WHOOHOO! CROSSING THE LINE AT 3:58.35 IN FRONT OF A RAUCOUS CROWD AT AUCKLAND'S MT SMART STADIUM. IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU GOT ONE SHOT AND ONE CHANCE TO DO IT, THERE'S NOT ANOTHER TIME WHEN HE WAS 15 THAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE A SHOT, SO TO DO IT IN THAT MOMENT UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE ` I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HIM FOR PULLING IT OFF. THIS, ON TOP OF AN ALREADY STELLAR SEASON ` SETTING THE WORLD'S FASTEST TIME FOR A 15-YEAR-OLD IN THE 3000M, THEN TYING WITH TRAINING PARTNER AND OLYMPIAN SAM TANNER IN THE 1500M AT THE TRACK AND FIELD NATIONAL CHAMPS, TANNER PACING HIM LAST NIGHT. WITHOUT HIM THERE PACING, I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T HAVE GOT IT. SAM IS WAY BETTER THAN ME. I THINK HE KNOWS THAT... (LAUGHS) SO HE DOESNT MIND ME TAKING A COUPLE OF HIS NATIONAL RECORDS. KIWI SIR JOHN WALKER FIRST BROKE THE 4 MINUTE MILE IN 1975. HIS COACH, ARCH JELLY, STUNNED BY RUTHE'S SPEED. PETER SNELL, JOHN WALKER ` YOU KNOW, FANTASTIC RUNNERS, BUT THERES NO WAY THEY WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING AT 15. NO BODY'S BEEN ` IN NEW ZEALAND ` ANYTHING LIKE SAM. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR NEXT WEEKEND'S MAURIE PLANT MEET IN MELBOURNE ATTRACTING OCEANIA'S BEST ` NOT THE ONLY UPCOMING TEST, THOUGH. I'VE ALSO GOT A COUPLE OF TESTS, THOUGH; NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. WHAT IS IT? I GOT A ACCOUNTING TEST. FAST, BUT THERE ARE SOME TIMES YOU STILL CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM. JENNY SUO, 1 NEWS. MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AT THE BREAKERS BASKETBALL FRANCHISE, WITH A MASSIVE CLEANOUT AT THE CLUB, WHICH IS NOW UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. 1 NEWS UNDERSTANDS STAFF AT THE BREAKERS WERE ISSUED LETTERS EARLIER THIS WEEK STATING THEY'LL LOSE THEIR JOBS ` INCLUDING CEO LISA EDSER. IT'S UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE PLAYING ROSTER AND COACHING STAFF ARE LIKELY TO BE RETAINED, INCLUDING HEAD COACH PETTERI KOPINEN. NEW NEW ZEALAND OWNERS WILL TAKE OVER, LED BY LONG-TIME WELLINGTON BUSINESSMEN LEON AND STEPHEN GRICE. THE BROTHERS HEAD RAKO SCIENCE, COMING TO THE FORE DURING COVID WITH SALIVA-TESTING KITS. LEON GRICE IS ALSO A FORMER NZ CONSUL GENERAL BASED IN L.A. THEY'VE PURCHASED THE FRANCHISE FROM AMERICAN MATT WALSH, WHO'D OWNED THE CLUB SINCE 2018. LIAM LAWSON'S IN STORE FOR ANOTHER GRAND PRIX FULL OF DISRUPTIONS, WITH RED BULL AND OTHER FORMULA 1 TEAMS HIT WITH FREIGHT DELAYS INTO CHINA. RED BULL, MCLAREN, MERCEDES AND ASTON MARTIN ARE THE TEAMS REPORTEDLY AFFECTED. TWO FLIGHTS CARRYING ESSENTIAL RACE CARGO FROM MELBOURNE TO SHANGHAI WERE DELAYED. TYRE MANUFACTURER PIRELLI ALSO CAUGHT UP IN THE DISRUPTIONS. TEAMS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR PARTS LATE LAST NIGHT, LEADING TO THE FIA RELAXING CURFEW RULES. THEY'RE EXTENDING PREPARATION TIME TO ALLOW TEAMS TO ASSEMBLE THE CARS THROUGH THE NIGHT TO BE READY FOR TOMORROW'S FIRST PRACTICE SESSION, AROUND 4:30 OUR TIME. IF THERE'S ONE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SUPER RUGBY SHOWDOWN, THIS IS IT. BLUES-CRUSADERS, EDEN PARK, MORE THAN 20 ALL BLACKS INVOLVED. THE SCRIPT FROM LAST YEAR HAS BEEN FLIPPED ` THE BLUES STRUGGLING, THE CRUSADERS BACK NEAR THE TOP OF THE TABLE. AND AS JORDAN OPPERT REPORTS, THERE'S LITTLE LOVE LOST. ANOTHER WEEK IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPION BLUES. ONE WIN IN FIVE SO FAR ` ALMOST BOTTOM OF THE TABLE. THERE'S NOTHING I CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, BAD ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. WE CAN'T CATCH A BREAK AT THE MOMENT. THAT'S THE FEELING INSIDE. NOW WITH FEARS SKIPPER PATRICK TUIPULOTU COULD ALSO JOIN THE INJURY WARD, HAVING LEFT TRAINING EARLY. THE CRUSADERS KNOW JUST HOW MUCH OF A TOLL LOSING KEY CAVALRY CAN HAVE. DO YOU FEEL EMPATHY FOR AUCKLAND? I DON'T THINK ANYONE LIKES TO SEE PEOPLE BEING DEALT A NEGATIVE HAND OF ANY SORT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BLUES THOUGH. (CHUCKLING) PENNEY ABLE TO PICK FROM A FULL COMPLEMENT OF PLAYERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS TENURE, ALTHOUGH EVEN THAT DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE INITIAL OMISSION FROM THE PLAYING 23 OF THEIR HIGH-FLYING WING. SPRING AWAITS FOR NUMBER FIVE. CAN HE` YES! YES HE CAN! (WHISTLE TRILLS) FIVE TRIES, MACCA SPRINGER. HE'S NOW ON THE BENCH. ANOTHER INJURY TO BRAYDEN ENNOR CALLED FOR A MIDFIELD RESHUFFLE. DISAPPOINTING WEEK AT THE START. BUT, YOU KNOW, SEE THE PLAYERS THAT WE'VE GOT ON THE TEAM AND THE PERFORMANCE THEY ARE PUTTING OUT TOO ` YOU CAN'T REALLY BE TOO DOWN ON THAT. I THINK NEXT JOB FOCUS FOR ME IS JUST TRAINING WELL TO SHOW THEM THAT I COULD BE OUT THERE. I THINK HE'S GOT, YOU KNOW, A MASSIVE FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT SPEED. I'M PROBABLY BIASED HERE, BUT I THINK HE'S ACTUALLY FASTER THAN WILL JORDAN. HE'S PROBABLY THE FASTEST IN THE CRUSADERS. THAT COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO'S JUST TWO OFF BECOMING SUPER RUGBY'S ALL-TIME TOP TRY SCORER, ALTHOUGH THERE'S A MORE PRESSING TARGET TO OVERCOME FIRST. AWARENESS IS HIGH IN REGARDS TO OUR LACK OF ABILITY TO WIN AWAY. UM... WE'VE GOTTEN CLOSE A COUPLE OF TIMES. KEY FOR US IS MAKING SURE THAT WE WE'RE WATERTIGHT IN WHAT WE TRY TO ACHIEVE THIS WEEK, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AROUND PENALTIES, DISCIPLINE, SET PIECE, THE WHOLE THING. TRADITIONAL FOES DESPERATE TO WIN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. KIWI MUAY THAI FIGHTER SARAH SIRAJ IS ONE WIN AWAY FROM A TITLE SHOT IN HER WEIGHT DIVISION. ON THE CARD FOR THIS WEEKEND'S KING OF THE RING, THE 18 YEAR OLD GOES IN ALSO MANAGING A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES. ZION DAYAL HAS MORE. THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO SARAH SIRAJ. THERE'S THE 18 YEAR OLD WHO CAN PACK A PUNCH... BUT ONLY IN THE RING. I'M NOT A VIOLENT PERSON (LAUGHS) OUTSIDE OF KICKBOXING. SHE'S CURRENTLY RANKED NEW ZEALAND'S NUMBER ONE WBC MUAY THAI FIGHTER IN THE 53.4KG CATEGORY. HER LOVE FOR THE SPORT, THOUGH, COMING BY WAY OF SOME HOME TRUTHS FROM HER FATHER. HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, BUILD CONFIDENCE. BEING MUSLIM, YOU KNOW... DARKER SKIN TONE ` BLACK, I GUESS ` UM, HE JUST WANTED US TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ABLE TO PROTECT OURSELVES. A TRAILBLAZER IN THIS COUNTRY FOR FEMALE MUSLIM FIGHTERS, BUT ONLY AFTER WATCHING AUSTRALIAN BOXER TINA RAHIMI. KIND OF, LIKE, REASSURED ME IT'S OK. LIKE, I CAN GET INTO THE RING AND WEAR THE HIJAB. IT SHOULDN'T BE A BARRIER. I HOPE THERE ARE OTHER FEMALE MUSLIM FIGHTERS OUT THERE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE INSPIRED BY ME. HER OPPONENT ON SATURDAY 11 YEARS HER SENIOR. TAKING ON OLDER COMPETITORS SOMETHING SHE'S DONE THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. SHE'S MORE THAN PROVED THAT SHE CAN HANG WITH THEM ` AND BEAT THEM. I LOVE GETTING IN THE RINGS WITH THOSE GIRLS. LIKE, THEY JUST PUSH ME TO BECOME BETTER. BUT WHAT MAKES PREPARATION FOR THIS FIGHT EVEN HARDER ` SIRAJ IS OBSERVING RAMADAN. EATING AT 4am, NO FOOD OR WATER UNTIL SUNSET, ALL WHILE JUGGLING UNIVERSITY AND INTENSE TRAINING. THE MINUTE IT'S TIME TO BREAK OUR FAST, I HAVE A FEW` I HAVE A... SIP SOME WATER, SOME DATES, AND THEN I GO PRAY. AND THEN I COME BACK AND WE GET STRAIGHT BACK INTO IT. SEEING HER THEN POP UP FOR TRAINING AND THEN JUST, LIKE, SMASH IT, IT'S AN AMAZING THING. AND WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHT NIGHT, SHE MAY HAVE AS LITTLE AS 15 MINUTES TO BREAK FAST BEFORE COMPETING. EVEN THOUGH I'M FASTING, I'M FEELING MORE LIKE I'M JUST SO READY. I'M JUST SO READY FOR THIS FIGHT. AND READY TO STEP OUT OF THE SHADOWS INTO THE BIG TIME. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS. IT'S ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST WATCHED SPORTING EVENTS, STRETCHING OVER NEARLY A MONTH. AMERICAN COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S MARCH MADNESS ` UNIVERSITY TEAMS IN A KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT, FINDING A NATIONAL MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CHAMPION. ONCE AGAIN, SEVERAL YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS WILL FEATURE. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. IT'S ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RECOGNISED BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS. THE MADNESS HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN. THE NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALSO KNOWN AS MARCH MADNESS, PITTING THE BEST 64 UNIVERSITIES IN A CUTTHROAT KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT. SOLD-OUT ARENAS, MILLIONS OF VIEWERS GLOBALLY ` TERTIARY TRIBALISM AT ITS FINEST. I DON'T THINK US KIWIS CAN ACTUALLY GRASP LIKE THE LEVEL OF FANDOM AND BASKETBALL THAT WE'RE IN. ANIWANIWA TAIT-JONES ONE OF EIGHT KIWIS FEATURING THIS YEAR, ALREADY MAKING PLENTY OF NOISE HIMSELF. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE KID ON UC SAN DIEGO? ANIWANIWA TAIT-JONES IS THEIR BEST PLAYER. AFTER THREE YEARS IN DIVISION II, WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, TAIT-JONES TRANSFERRING TO DIVISION I SCHOOL UC SAN DIEGO. THE COACHES WERE JUST TRYING TO GET ME TO COME, AND YEAH, MAN, IT WAS A NO-BRAINER. THE WELLINGTON GUARD MAKING A BIG IMPACT. TAIT-JONES WITH THE SLAM. AVERAGING 20 POINTS, SIX REBOUNDS AND FOUR ASSISTS, HIS PLAY EARNING HIM THE BIG WEST CONFERENCE MVP AWARD. THAT KID'S PLAYING UNBELIEVABLE BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW. LIKE, LEGITIMATELY ALL-AMERICAN LEVEL BASKETBALL. SOME OF THE CREDIT ALSO GOING TO HIS LATE MENTOR KENNY MCFADDEN. HE'S ALWAYS THERE, OPENING UP THE GYM. YOU KNOW, HE BELIEVES IN ME WHEN OTHERS DON'T. A BELIEF TAIT-JONES STILL CARRIES WITH HIM TODAY. HE WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED, BUT I KNOW HE'S UP THERE RIGHT NOW LOOKING DOWN ON ME, SMILING. SAN DIEGO FACE FIFTH-SEEDS MICHIGAN TOMORROW AFTERNOON. ANALYSTS BELIEVING THEY CAN CAUSE AN UPSET. I'M SUPER EXCITED, MAN. I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY THEM. AND, WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, THE NBA DRAFT COULD BECKON. I'VE HAD NBA TEAMS, NBA AGENTS HITTING ME UP, AND THEY'RE LIKE, 'OH YEAH, I'VE GOT KLAY THOMPSON. 'I'VE GOT UM, STEPH CURRY. I'M LIKE, 'UH, WHAT?' LIKE... IT'S CRAZY TO THINK THAT LITTLE, OLD KID FROM NEW ZEALAND IS BEING MENTIONED IN THE SAME LINES AS THESE GUYS. COMPARISONS HE CERTAINLY CAN'T BE MAD ABOUT. BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. WE WILL KEEP OUR EYE ON MARCH MADNESS. PROOF THAT NZ BASKETBALL IS PRODUCING A LOT OF TALENT. THANKS. STAY WITH US. ERIN'S HERE WITH YOUR MAINLY FINE FRIDAY FORECAST, BUT RAIN'S ON THE WAY FOR SOME OVER THE WEEKEND. COMING UP AT 7 ` IS YOUR PHONE BLOWING UP WITH JOB OFFERS AND LOST PARCELS? SCAMMERS ARE SLICKER THAN EVER. WE LOOK AT THE RED FLAGS YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR. AND 30 YEARS OF BOLD MOVES AND GLOBAL IMPACT ` BLACK GRACE ISN'T JUST LOOKING BACK; THEY'RE LEAPING FORWARD. SEE YOU AT 7. WELCOME BACK. TODAY MARKS THE AWESOME EQUINOX, SO SLIGHTLY WINTRY SCENES ARE TO BE EXPECTED. AS THE COOL TRACKS NORTH, LIGHTS TESTING TO MOUNT TARANAKI OVERNIGHT. THIS SPINNING LOAD CONTINUING TO PUSH MORE AND MORE RAIN INTO THE AREA. TEMPERATURES ARE RECOVERING SOMEWHAT. HAMILTON IS OUR HOSPITAL TOMORROW, EXPECT ANOTHER JUMP UP IN TEMPERATURE. CHECK OUT CENTRAL OTAGO ` NEARLY 30 DEGREES IN MID-MARCH. FOR ALEXANDRA, WELL ABOVE WHAT WE'D EXPECT. BUT THAT DOESN'T LAST LONG, AS A RAIN SYSTEM ARRIVES THROUGH SATURDAY, DRAGGING THE COOLER SOUTHERLIES BACK INTO PLAY. THE RAIN WARNING TO THE WAIROA DISTRICT HAS JUST BEEN LIFTED; GISBORNE'S WATCH IN PLACE UNTIL MIDNIGHT, AND YOU CAN EXPECT MORE RAIN AND SHOWERS IN THE EAST TOMORROW. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S A DECENT DAY. IT'S A MOSTLY FINE FRIDAY UP TOP ` JUST THE CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON SPRINKLE. WHITIANGA, IF YOU GET A SHOWER, IT'LL BE MORE LIKELY IN THE EVENING. HIGHS OF 24 OR 25. LOOKING GOOD IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU, AUCKLAND. CLOUD ROLLS LATER IN THE DAY, AND YOU'RE BACK TO A WARM 26. A MAINLY FINE DAY, KIRIKIRIROA, HAMILTON. IF YOU'RE PLANNING A BBQ, THERE IS A CHANCE CLOUD MAY PRODUCE SOME EVENING SHOWERS. 26 IS YOUR HIGH. IT'S NOT A BAD DAY THROUGH THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND. WHAKATANE WILL SEE A SHOWER OR TWO FROM AFTERNOON; JUST THE CHANCE OTHERS WILL SEE A SPRINKLE TOO. AND 24 FOR TAUPO. AGAIN, IT'S THE AFTERNOON THAT MAY SEE A SHOWER OR TWO IN TAURANGA, BUT A DECENT DAY, AND 25 IS YOUR HIGH. YOU'LL SEE PERIODS OF RAIN IN GISBORNE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING; IT BEGINS TO EASE, AND THE SUN POKES THROUGH IN THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND DRIZZLE FURTHER SOUTH, BUT THE DAY IMPROVES FOR ALL, THAT SYSTEM KEEPING TEMPERATURES IN CHECK STILL. NEW PLYMOUTH'S THE PICK OF THE BUNCH HERE ` FINE ALL DAY. OTHERS SEE SOME CLOUD BURN OFF TO AN AFTERNOON IN THE SUN, AND 22 TO 24 DEGREES. A SIMILAR STORY IN THE CAPITAL ` JUST SOME MORNING CLOUD TO CONTEND WITH. 20 IS YOUR HIGH. LOTS OF SUN ON OFFER AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. NELSON AND WESTPORT START WITH SOME GREY TIMES; IT ARRIVES BACK TO WESTPORT IN THE EVENING TOO. 20 TO 22 DEGREES. A FINE DAY ON THE CARDS, OTAUTAHI, CHRISTCHURCH; THERE MAY BE SOME PATCHES OF MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD. A NOR'EASTER, YOU'LL NOTICE. 19 IS YOUR HIGH. THE SUN AND CLOUD MIX HERE, BUT THEN IT CLEARS IN THE EAST. TIMARU AND ASHBURTON WILL FEEL COOLER THAN LAST NIGHT ` 22 AND 23 ARE YOUR HIGHS. YOUR RUN OF GORGEOUS AUTUMNAL DAYS CONTINUES, TAHUNA, QUEENSTOWN ` STARTING OFF A LITTLE CHILLY, BUT THEN A HIGH OF 24. WANAKA AND ALEXANDRA, THE MERCURY'S REALLY RISING. 29 IN ALEXANDRA. MILFORD SOUND, YOU SEE CLOUD AND THEN A DRIZZLY AFTERNOON WITH THE APPROACHING SYSTEM. OTHERS ALL LOOKING AT A PRETTY GOOD DAY ` MAYBE JUST A BIT OF CLOUD COVER ` AND GORE HITTING 24. ANY MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF TO A SUNNY AFTERNOON IN OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN, WITH 22 DEGREES. SATURDAY ` A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS NORTH OF WAIKATO. NO MORE RAIN TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT THE RAIN MAY BE HEAVY OVER FIORDLAND. A FEW SHOWERS FROM BULLER DOWN TO WESTLAND AS WELL AS OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND. SUNDAY ` THOSE SHOWERS TRACK FURTHER UP THE SOUTH ISLAND. ANOTHER FINE ONE IN THE NORTH ISLAND'S EAST. SOME CLOUD AND ISOLATED SHOWERS ELSEWHERE IN THE NORTH. SO THE DAYS GETTING SHORTER THAN THE NIGHTS FROM HEREON IN. THE DAYS WILL BE GETTING SHORTER THAN THE NIGHTS.