THE FUTURE OF PHARMACEUTICALS IS NEXT ON THE U.S. PRESIDENT'S HIT LIST ` WE ASSESS THE IMPACT IT'LL HAVE ON ACCESS TO LIFE-CHANGING AND LIFESAVING MEDICINES. KIWIS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE COST OF LIVING AS NEW DATA INDICATES CONTINUING ECONOMIC GLOOM. AND CELEBRITIES IN SPACE ` A STAR-STUDDED FEMALE CREW BLASTS OFF ON A ROCKET POWERED JOYRIDE ` BUT WHAT WAS THE POINT? CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI ` WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. NEW ZEALANDERS WHO ARE RELIANT ON MEDICINE ARE BEING URGED NOT TO PANIC TONIGHT DESPITE STRONG INDICATIONS FROM DONALD TRUMP THAT PHARMACEUTICALS ARE NEXT TO BE TARGETED WITH TARIFFS. THE SECTOR WAS PREVIOUSLY LEFT EXEMPT FROM TRUMP'S UNIVERSAL TAXES, FITTING WITH A LONG-HELD AND GLOBALLY RESPECTED POLICY TO KEEP MEDICINE AFFORDABLE. BUT TODAY, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED IN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE, CASTING DOUBT OVER THE FUTURE OF CRITICAL DRUG SUPPLIES AND MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP... PRESIDENT TRUMP, SIR! WELCOME A WORLD LEADER INTO THE WEST WING... A WAR OF WORDS WITH A REPORTER WHILE YOU'RE IN THERE... LET'S HEAR THE QUESTION FROM THIS` A VERY LOW-RATED ANCHOR AT CB` CNN. A WORD ON THE TRADE WAR WITH CHINA... I DON'T BLAME CHINA AT ALL. I DON'T BLAME PRESIDENT XI. I LIKE HIM. HE LIKES ME. I MEAN, YOU KNOW... WHO KNOWS? WHO THE HELL CARES? AND TOP IT ALL OFF WITH A TRADEMARK U-TURN OF GLOBAL CONSEQUENCE ` A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH FOR MANY. LOOK, I'M A VERY FLEXIBLE PERSON. I DON'T CHANGE MY MIND, BUT I'M FLEXIBLE. THIS TIME, IT'S PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE PRESIDENT'S FLIP-FLOP FIRING LINE ` ORIGINALLY TRUMP HAD SAID THE SECTOR WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM TARIFFS, BUT HIS 'FLEXIBILITY' HAS LED US HERE, TO THIS UNDERSTATED NOTE POSTED TO THE AMERICAN FEDERAL REGISTER, ANNOUNCING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS KICKING OFF INVESTIGATIONS INTO IMPORTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND ITS THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY. A TARIFF IS A TAX, SO YOU EITHER TAKE THAT INTERNALLY AS A COMPANY, OR YOU HAVE TO PASS IT ON TO THE USERS, WHICH MAY WELL BE CONSUMERS, OR GOVERNMENTS THAT PROCURE. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CASH COMPANIES HAVE TO INVEST IN RESEARCH. WHICH MEANS LESS INNOVATIVE, GAME-CHANGING MEDICINES POTENTIALLY COMING OUT IN THE FUTURE. FOR YEARS, PHARMACEUTICALS HAVE BEEN LARGELY TARIFF-FREE ` PART OF A 1995 WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION AGREEMENT AIMED AT KEEPING MEDICINES AFFORDABLE. NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN THAT SITUATION WHERE PATIENTS ARE NOT GETTING THE MEDICINES THAT THEY NEED, AND FOR NEW ZEALAND IN PARTICULAR, GIVEN IN TERMS OF OUR MEDICINES ACCESS, WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCED, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL DEFINITELY BE KEEPING AN EYE ON. AUSTRALIA'S SCHEME, WHICH IS A NEAR-EQUIVALENT TO PHARMAC, HAS ALREADY BEEN RED-FLAGGED BY THE AMERICANS WITH U.S. DRUG GIANTS LOBBYING TRUMP'S TEAM, LABELLING THE SYSTEM 'EGREGIOUS'. WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING IT SOON. PHARMAC HAS SAID: BUT THEY ARE MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS, AND STAYING ENGAGED WITH SUPPLIERS AND RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE AMERICANS, WE'RE DOING SO IN A VERY POSITIVE, VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. WAY THE CHINA-AMERICA RELATIONSHIP IS NOT SO PRODUCTIVE, THE CHINA-AMERICA RELATIONSHIP IS NOT SO PRODUCTIVE, AND CHINESE PHARMACEUTICALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SLAPPED WITH TARIFFS. PRESIDENT XI IS CURRENTLY TOURING NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, BUILDING ALLIANCES AND POSITIONING CHINA AS THE WORLD'S MOST RELIABLE TRADING PARTNER. MEETING, LIKE` TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE SCREW THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? DOUGLAS PHARMACEUTICALS, AN AUCKLAND-BASED MANUFACTURER, EXPORTS AROUND 70% OF ITS PRODUCT, BUT WARNS IT'S AMERICANS WHO WILL PAY THE PRICE... IT'S OUR LARGEST EXPORT MARKET, SO IT IS OF CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY. HOWEVER I THINK HE WILL RUN INTO SOME ISSUES TRYING TO DO THIS, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS SUPPLIED TO AMERICAN PATIENTS ARE MADE OFFSHORE. DOUGLAS THINKS THE PRESIDENT'S RECENT DECISION-MAKING IS... BIZARRE. BUT TRUMP HAS TODAY CONFIRMED HIS COGNITIVE HEALTH CHECK WAS AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.. I GOT THE HIGHEST MARK, AND ONE OF THE DOCTORS SAID, 'SIR I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY GET, THAT KIND OF` THEM` 'THAT WAS THE HIGHEST MARK.' HIS GLOWING HEALTH REPORT A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW FOR THE MILLIONS NOW STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR OWN. LISETTE, HOW WORRIED SHOULD KIWIS BE ABOUT THEIR MEDICATION? IF YOU ARE A NEW ZEALANDER WHO RELIES ON YOUR MEDICINES, THERE IS NO MAJOR URGENT CAUSE FOR ALARM, WE DO HAVE SOME TIME, UNFORTUNATELY IT IS A BIT OF A WATCH THIS SPACE KIND OF SITUATION, I AM TOLD THIS KIND OF INVESTIGATION USUALLY HAS A 200 DAY TIMEFRAME, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ONGOING WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT IS PUT FORWARD. LISETTE, THANK YOU. ANOTHER HEALTH ISSUE IS BREWING ` MORE THAN 4000 NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROCEDURES COULD BE CANCELLED AS SENIOR DOCTORS PLAN TO GO ON STRIKE. THE UNION REPRESENTING THEM SAYS THOUSANDS OF ITS MEMBERS HAVE VOTED TO GO ON STRIKE OVER PAY ON MAY 1ST. THE ACTION WILL LAST FOR 24 HOURS, AND HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS IT COULD CAUSE THE CANCELLATION OF 4,300 PLANNED CARE PROCEDURES AND POSTPONE THOUSANDS MORE RADIOLOGY PROCEDURES SUCH AS MRIS. HEALTH MINISTER SIMEON BROWN SAYS THE STRIKE IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING AND WILL HURT PATIENTS. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BACKED HIS ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER'S CALL FOR HEALTH NEW ZEALAND TO STOP USING THE TERM PREGNANT 'PEOPLE' AND INSTEAD USE THE WORD WOMEN. CASEY COSTELLO WROTE TO HEALTH NZ SAYING MINISTRY OF HEALTH DOCUMENTS HAD REFERRED TO WOMEN AS PREGNANT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH A CERVIX, OR INDIVIDUALS CAPABLE OF CHILDBEARING. COSTELLO SAID SHE WANTED THIS CHANGED TO REFLECT THAT ONLY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF THE FEMALE SEX CAN GET PREGNANT AND BIRTH A CHILD, NO MATTER HOW THEY IDENTIFY. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS JUST TO HAVE CLEAR LANGUAGE AND COMMON SENSE LANGUAGE AND MOST NEW ZEALANDERS WOULD SAY PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE WOMAN AND THAT IS QUITE ACCEPTABLE. IN A STATEMENT, COSTELLO TOLD THREE NEWS CLEAR COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN WITH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. AND HER EDICT DIDN'T STOP HEALTH AGENCIES DEVELOPING RESOURCES FOR TRANS AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE. THE GOVERNMENT'S CELEBRATING WHAT IT CLAIMS IS A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME BUT SAYS IT HAS MORE WORK TO DO. MINISTERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF THE LATEST CRIME AND VICTIMS SURVEY YET TO BE RELEASED BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. THEY SAY IT SHOWS IN THE YEAR TO FEBRUARY THERE WERE 157,000 VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME. THAT FIGURE SURPASSES THE GOVERNMENT'S TARGET THAT FIGURE IS LOWER THE GOVERNMENT'S TARGET OF REDUCING VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME TO 165,000 BY 2029. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT SENDING A STRONG SIGNAL, THAT WE ARE NOT UP FOR THE CULTURE OF EXCUSES, WE ARE UP FOR HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, THAT NUMBER WILL BOUNCE AROUND A BIT, BUT WE FEEL PRETTY GOOD. JUSTICE MINISTER PAUL GOLDSMITH SAYS AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH IN PARTICULAR HAVE SEEN A DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME. A NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS A QUARTER OF NEW ZEALANDERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING. DESPITE GROWING EXPECTATIONS THAT INTEREST RATES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL, A MAJORITY WORRY THAT PRICE INFLATION WILL RISE DUE TO GLOBAL ECONOMIC HEADWINDS. AND AS ZANE SMALL REPORTS, NEARLY HALF OF RESPONDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JOB SECURITY. THIS IS DAY 36 ON HOME DETENTION. AJANI TE NAHU HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING HIS TIME ON HOME DETENTION IN GISBORNE ON CHARGES OF SUPPLYING DRUGS. 10 MONTHS TO GO. THE 23-YEAR-OLD POSTS VIDEOS ON TIKTOK ` CANDID UPDATES ABOUT HIS JOURNEY, INCLUDING LEARNING A NEW TRADE, AND IT'S EARNED HIM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIKES. IT'S MOSTLY ALL POSITIVE STUFF IN THE COMMENTS. IT'S COOL, PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT I'M DOING GOOD, THE RIGHT THING. BUT FINDING A PART-TIME JOB HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY WORK SINCE BEING ON HOME DETENTION. TRADE ME DATA OUT TODAY SHOWS THE LABOUR MARKET REMAINS TIGHT. THE NUMBER OF JOB APPLICATIONS INCREASED 8% BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH, COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. WE'RE CERTAINLY SEEING UNEMPLOYMENT RISE, AND WE'RE SEEING PARTICULAR COMPETITION AROUND ENTRY-LEVEL ROLES, WHICH I THINK REFLECTS THAT THIS JOB MARKET IS REALLY HITTING PEOPLE UNDER 35 THE HARDEST. A FEW OF MY COUSINS ARE TRYING TO FIND WORK AT THE MOMENT. THEY RECKON IT'S PRETTY HARD. UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE 2023 ` A HANGOVER EFFECT OF THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, AND A NEW IPSOS SURVEY OF JUST OVER 1000 NEW ZEALANDERS SHOWS NEARLY HALF ` 47% ` ARE WORRIED ABOUT JOB SECURITY, AND 1 IN 4 ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING. INFLATION, OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, HAS EASED SINCE IT SPIKED IN THE WAKE OF COVID LOCKDOWNS, AND THAT GAVE THE RESERVE BANK CONFIDENCE TO START SLASHING THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE ` THE BENCHMARK FOR INTEREST RATES. LAST WEEK, IT WAS CUT FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN A ROW, AND THE CENTRAL BANK SIGNALLED MORE CUTS TO COME. SO, OUR OCR PROJECTIONS, THEY GIVE FINANCIAL MARKETS GREATER CLARITY ON HOW WE PLAN TO MEET OUR COMMITMENT TO PRICE STABILITY. BUT THE IPSOS SURVEY SHOWS THAT DESPITE GROWING EXPECTATIONS INTEREST RATES WILL KEEP FALLING, 52% BELIEVE INFLATION WILL RISE IN THE YEAR AHEAD, DUE TO GLOBAL INSTABILITY, SUCH AS THE WAR IN GAZA, NOT TO MENTION THE UNCERTAINTY OF TRUMP'S TARIFF TURMOIL, WHICH HAPPENED AFTER THE SURVEY WAS TAKEN. NEW ZEALAND EXPORTERS WILL BE TRADING INTO A GLOBAL ECONOMY THAT ISN'T GROWING AS QUICKLY AS IT WOULD'VE BEEN WITHOUT THE TRADE BARRIERS, SO, WEAKER GLOBAL DEMAND, AND ALSO A GLOBAL ECONOMY THAT'S LESS EFFICIENCT, BECAUSE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE HAVING TO SORT OF RECONFIGURE THEMSELVES. FIGURES OUT TODAY SHOW FOOD PRICES INCREASED BY 3.5% IN THE 12 MONTHS TO MARCH. THE PRICE OF MILK WENT UP 16%, WHILE BUTTER PRICES SHOT UP BY 63.6%. HOWEVER, THOSE RISES WERE OFFSET BY LOWER PRICES FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. ALSO, THE PRICE OF PETROL WAS DOWN ` 6.2%. WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS AND THE PRESSURE THAT NEW ZEALANDERS ARE UNDER, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING US CUT THE WASTEFUL SPENDING AND ACTUALLY BRING INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES DOWN, AND FINALLY THE ECONOMY'S GROWING AGAIN. BUT THAT GROWTH THE PM SPEAKS OF IS YET TO BE FELT BY THOSE WHO STIL CAN'T FIND WORK. SO, ZANE, THERE'S AN UPDATE ON INFLATION THIS THURSDAY ` WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? THE LAST UPDATE IN JANUARY SHOW THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE WAS UNCHANGED FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A YEAR THAT THE RATE DIDN'T GO DOWN, SO WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE RATE IS BEGINNING TO TAKE UP AGAIN, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT FOOD PRICE INCREASE WE SAW TODAY, INFORMETRICS IS PICKING A RAISE OF 2.3%, MOST ECONOMISTS HOWEVER ARE EKING A ANOTHER OFFICIAL CASH RATE REDUCTION NEXT MONTH. ZANE, THANK YOU. AUCKLAND WILL BE GETTING A BRAND-NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL AS PART OF A $100M BOOST TO HELP DEAL WITH GROWING SCHOOL ROLLS. EDUCATION MINISTER ERICA STANFORD ANNOUNCED THE FUNDING FROM THE SITE OF THE NEW 600-STUDENT SCHOOL IN MASSEY. SHE SAYS THE MONEY'S BEEN FREED UP BY IMPROVING SCHOOL PROPERTY DELIVERY PROCESSES, LIKE STANDARDISED DESIGNS AND OFFSITE MANUFACTURING. AND THAT HAS LOWERED THE COST OF NEW CLASSROOM BUILDS FROM $1.2M. WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT THE AMOUNT OF CLASSROOMS WE ARE BUILDING REPEATABLE DESIGNS SO BILLS HAVE REDUCED BY 35%, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE PRICE DOWN BY ABOUT 28% THE MONEY WILL ALSO BE SPENT ON EXPANDING EXISTING SCHOOLS WITH GROWING STUDENT NUMBERS AND BUILDING NEW CLASSROOMS AT KAUPAPA MAORI EDUCATION PROVIDERS. A FORMER U.S. POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATALLY SHOOTING A YOUNG NEW ZEALAND MAN IN COLORADO IN 2022. CHRISTIAN GLASS WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES AFTER HE MADE A 911 CALL FOR HELP DURING WHAT'S THOUGHT TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THE FORMER ACT PARTY PRESIDENT CONVICTED FOR HISTORICAL SEXUAL ABUSE WILL HAVE HIS APPEAL HEARD IN JUNE. TIM JAGO WAS LAST YEAR CONVICTED OF INDECENTLY ASSAULTING TWO TEENAGERS HE KNEW THROUGH AN AUCKLAND SURF LIFESAVING CLUB IN THE 1990S. JAGO'S APPEAL WILL BE HEARD AT THE COURT OF APPEAL IN AUCKLAND, WHERE HE'LL ARGUE UNREASONABLE VERDICTS ON THREE CHARGES AND ISSUES WITH THE JUDGE'S SUMMING-UP TO THE JURY. WELLINGTON'S MUCH-LAUDED ELECTRIC PASSENGER FERRY ` THE FIRST IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ` HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE IN THE CAPITAL SINCE IT BROKE NEARLY A YEAR AGO. IKA RERE ` WHICH MEANS FLYING FISH ` WAS LAUNCHED TO GREAT FANFARE IN DECEMBER 2021. IT HAS CAPACITY TO CARRY 135 PASSENGERS BETWEEN WELLINGTON AND LOWER HUTT MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. HOWEVER, IT HASN'T DONE A TRIP SINCE BREAKING DOWN IN JULY, AS IT TOOK NINE MONTHS TO SOURCE A NEW PART FROM OVERSEAS. THE FERRY'S EXPECTED TO FINALLY RETURN TO SERVICE IN MAY. SINGER KATY PERRY PERHAPS DIDN'T THINK ANY OF HER OWN SONGS HAD THE GRAVITY FOR A TRIP TO SPACE, SO INSTEAD SHE SANG 'WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD' AS HER ALL-FEMALE CREW PREPARED TO BLAST OFF ON A JEFF BEZOS-OWNED BLUE ORIGIN TRIP TO THE STRATOSPHERE. THE STAR-STUDDED CREW INCLUDED TV PRESENTER GAYLE KING AND JOURNALIST LAUREN SANCHEZ, BEZOS'S FIANCE. ITV'S OLIVIA GUTHRIE HAS MORE. YOU GUYS` I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. LOOK AT THE MOON! AND JOURNALIST LAUREN SANCHEZ, BEZOS'S FIANCE. ITV'S OLIVIA GUTHRIE HAS MORE. YOU GUYS` I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU. LOOK AT THE MOON! SHE'S BEEN TO SPACE, AND SHE LIKED IT. (CHEERS, APPLAUSE) KATY PERRY KISSING A DAISY TO REPRESENT HER DAUGHTER. AND THEN THE GROUND AFTER TOUCHING DOWN SAFELY IN TEXAS. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ME YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH LOVE IS INSIDE OF YOU, LIKE, HOW MUCH LOVE YOU HAVE TO GIVE AND HOW LOVED YOU ARE UNTIL THE DAY YOU LAUNCH. PART OF A WOMEN-ONLY CREW ON BOARD BILLIONAIRE JEFF BEZOS'S SPACE TOURISM ROCKET. (BELL RINGS) THE POP STAR JOINED FIVE OTHERS: AN EX-NASA ROCKET SCIENTIST, A CIVIL RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER AND BEZOS'S FIANCEE, AMONG THEM WEARING BLUE BODYCON SUITS MADE BY THE DESIGNERS AT OSCAR DE LA RENTA. MAIN ENGINE START, 2, 1, IGNITION. KATY PERRY SANG WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD TO THE CREW AFTER LIFT-OFF. CELEBRITY FRIENDS ALMOST UNABLE TO WATCH BELOW. OPRAH THERE TO SUPPORT TV PRESENTER GAYLE KING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD OF MY FRIEND THAN TODAY. I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS. I WISH I HAD GONE, YOU KNOW? AND I SAID, 'THERE'S ONLY ONE TIME 'THAT ALL THE WOMEN ARE GOING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME.' YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE OTHER TRIPS, BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE FIRST TIME. THIS 'FIRST TIME' IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND WOMAN ONLY SPACE-TRIP. THE FIRST WAS VALENTINA TERESHKOVA'S SOLO FLIGHT IN 1963. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) KATY PERRY AND HER PALS HAD A TOTAL JOURNEY TIME OF AROUND 11 MINUTES. FOUR OF THEM SPENT AT THE KARMAN LINE, THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED BOUNDARY BETWEEN OUR PLANET AND SPACE, 62 MILES UP BEFORE PARACHUTING BACK DOWN TO EARTH. THIS WASN'T A RIDE, IT WASN'T A DESTINATION, IT WAS A JOURNEY AND IT WAS A SUPERNATURAL ONE. KATY PERRY HOPES HER JOURNEY INSPIRES YOUNG GIRLS TO BECOME ASTRONAUTS. SHE ALSO SAYS SHE'S 100% GOING TO WRITE A SONG ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE. LAURA IS HERE NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER ` AND THERE IS A SUBTROPICAL LOW HEADING OUR WAY? THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A GOOD VIEW OF THE SUBTROPICAL HEADING OUR WAY YES, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE WARNINGS OF AN INCOMING STORM TODAY ` THAT'S BECAUSE OF THIS LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT'S TRAVELLING SOUTHWARDS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FRONTS REACHING THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TOMORROW MORNING, AND THEN SLOWLY MOVING DOWN. YOU CAN SEE SEVERAL WARNINGS AND WATCHES IN PLACE. IT WILL NOT ONLY BRING VERY HEAVY RAIN, BUT ALSO VERY STRONG WINDS. I'M TALKING GALES, NOR'EASTERS OF UP TO 140K'S, AND BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD STRONG WINDS FROM THAT DIRECTION IN A WHILE, THERE'S RISKS OF DAMAGE TO TREES, POWERLINES, AND ANYTHING THAT ISN'T PROPERLY SECURED, LIKE TRAMPOLINES. NOW METSERVICE SAYS THESE WARNINGS COULD EXTEND TO OTHER AREAS AS THE SYSTEM TRAVELS DOWN THE COUNTRY. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS OF WHAT'S TO COME AFTER SPORT. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` TRIALS ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN OF A REVOLUTIONARY NEW SKIN CANCER VACCINE. AFTER THE BREAK, WE'LL SEE WHO COULD BENEFIT AND HOW IT MIGHT WORK. MORE TALKS AIMED AT A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AS THE STRIP'S BATTERED HEALTH SERVICES STRUGGLE TO GET BACK IN ACTION. AND LATER ` WHY THE SNL COMEDY SHOW HAS HAD TO APOLOGISE TO A WHITE LOTUS STAR. NEW ZEALAND'S MELANOMA RATES ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD ` THAT'S NOT NEW. WHAT IS NEW IS AN ANTI-CANCER VACCINE THAT'S SOON TO BE TESTED ON PATIENTS IN BRITAIN WITH ADVANCED FORMS OF SKIN CANCER. THE DRUG AIMS TO HELP THE BODY NOT JUST RECOGNISE AND ATTACK CANCER CELLS, BUT REMEMBER THEM, TO HELP STOP THE DISEASE RETURNING. ITV'S MAHATIR PASHA HAS MORE. GOOD MORNING. HELLO, ANNA. HOW ARE YOU? YEAH, I'M ALL RIGHT. PAUL THOMAS WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH ADVANCED SKIN CANCER IN 2017. TREATMENT HELPED, BUT THE DISEASE KEPT RETURNING. IN JULY LAST YEAR, THE GRANDFATHER OF FOUR (63) JOINED A CLINICAL TRIAL TO ACCESS WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED AS A REVOLUTIONARY NEW CANCER VACCINE. I'M JUST SO LUCKY. SINCE I'VE BEEN ON IT, THE TUMOURS HAVE` THEY'VE ALL SHRUNK. EVERY TIME I GO FOR A SCAN, THEY SEEM TO BE SHRINKING, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING FOR ME AND FOR THE TEAM. I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE GET THE OPPORTUNITY. I FEEL SO BLESSED THAT I HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY MYSELF. THAT OPPORTUNITY IS NOW HERE. IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT PATIENTS IN ENGLAND WITH ADVANCED STAGE MELANOMA, THE FIFTH MOST COMMON CANCER IN THE U.K, WILL BE GIVEN FAST-TRACK ACCESS TO THIS NHS TRIAL. WILL BE GIVEN FAST-TRACK ACCESS TO THIS NHS TRIAL. HERE, PATIENTS, IN ADDITION TO THE IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT THEY WOULD ORDINARILY RECEIVE, ARE GIVEN THE JAB. THE IDEA IS THAT THIS CREATES A DOUBLE HIT ON THE CANCER. THE IDEA IS THAT THIS CREATES A DOUBLE HIT ON THE CANCER. FIRSTLY, THAT WE ACTIVATE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND THEN SECONDLY WITH THE VACCINE, WE TELL THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WHAT THE CANCER SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND THAT IT IS FOREIGN. THE VACCINE PROGRAMME HAS ALREADY HELPED THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS WITH OTHER FORMS OF THE ILLNESS, INCLUDING BOWEL CANCER, AND THE AIM IS TO ROLL IT OUT TO 10,000 MORE BY 2030. WE REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS SORT OF TRIAL ROLLED OUT ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY. PEOPLE WANT TO BE PART OF TRIALS. THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR SOME OF THESE TREATMENTS. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS VOWED TO HELP FAST TRACK CLINICAL TRIALS AND CUT RED TAPE FOR RESEARCHERS, WITH OVER 200 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER. THE BATTLE AGAINST IT MIGHT BE FAR FROM OVER, BUT SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE PAUL, WILL FEEL LIKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CHARACTERISED THE DEADLY MISSILE STRIKE ON CENTRAL SUMY IN UKRAINE AS A 'MISTAKE.' SUMY, UKRAINE IT'S ALLEGED RUSSIA USED CLUSTER MUNITIONS TO MAXIMISE CASUALTIES, AT LEAST 34 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AS A RESULT. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HAS CALLED FOR A GLOBAL RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK, WITH SOME EUROPEAN LEADERS SAYING IT PROVES RUSSIA'S LEADERSHIP IS MOCKING THE US ADMINISTRATION'S GOODWILL. IN CAIRO, THE LATEST TALKS AIMED AT TRYING TO REVIVE THE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA HAVE ENDED WITHOUT AGREEMENT. HAMAS IS REPORTED TO BE CONSIDERING AN ISRAELI PROPOSAL TO RELEASE AT LEAST SOME OF THE HOSTAGES. AND IN GAZA, HEALTH WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE AFTER THE ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE HIT THE LAST FULLY FUNCTIONING HOSPITAL IN THE NORTH OF THE STRIP. CHANNEL FOUR'S HARRY FAWCETT HAS THE LATEST. IMAGES RELEASED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SHOW THE SCALE OF THE DAMAGE TO GAZA'S AL-AQSA HOSPITAL AFTER YESTERDAY'S ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE. ISRAEL GAVE A 20 MINUTE WARNING BEFORE THE ATTACK, WHICH DESTROYED A TWO-STOREY LABORATORY AND CAUSED MASSIVE DAMAGE TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. IT LEAVES JUST TWO OTHER HOSPITALS IN GAZA'S NORTH, BOTH OPERATING AT LESS THAN 20% OF CAPACITY. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: 'WE WILL NEED WEEKS TO RESTORE THE PLACE, 'AND IN SOME PARTS, MAYBE MONTHS. 'THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM 'IN THE RADIOLOGY AND LABORATORY DEPARTMENTS. 'THE DAMAGED EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE REPLACED 'BECAUSE OF THE BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON THE STRIP.' ISRAEL SAID, WITHOUT PROVIDING EVIDENCE, THAT IT HAD TARGETED A HAMAS COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE. FURTHER SOUTH, THE AFTERMATH OF ANOTHER STRIKE IN KHAN YOUNIS; AGAIN A WARNING TO LEAVE BEFORE A TENTED ENCAMPMENT FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE WAS BOMBED. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: 'THERE WERE 150 TENTS HERE, 150 FAMILIES. 'THERE ARE NO TENTS LEFT. THERE'S NOTHING LEFT. 'OUR HOMES WERE DESTROYED. OUR TENTS WERE DESTROYED. 'WHAT WILL WE DO NEXT? WHERE WILL WE GO?' ALL OF THIS ADDING TO THE ALREADY GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT GAZA'S HUMANITARIAN SITUATION. FOR OVER ONE MONTH NOW, NO AID, NO SUPPLY, NO ELECTRICITY, NOT A CRUST OF BREAD HAS ENTERED GAZA. ACCESS IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY ISRAEL. FOOD IS RUNNING OUT WHILE WAREHOUSES OUTSIDE GAZA ARE FULL WITH` FOOD IS ROTTING THERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET IN. THE EU AMONG THOSE CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THE LATEST TALKS IN EGYPT BREAKING UP WITHOUT A BREAKTHROUGH. HAMAS, THOUGH, REPORTED TO BE REVIEWING AN ISRAELI PROPOSAL FOR TEN ISRAELI HOSTAGES TO BE RELEASED AT THE BEGINNING OF A 45 DAY PAUSE. MAJOR STICKING POINTS REMAIN, BUT THE PROPOSAL IS REPORTED TO INCLUDE THE RESUMPTION OF HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA. CONSERVATIONISTS ARE WARNING A $10M INVESTMENT IN PROTECTIONS FOR AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF ISN'T ENOUGH TO AVERT AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER. A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PACKAGE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE, INCLUDING FUNDS TO SUBSIDISE SCHOOL STUDENTS' TRIPS TO THE REEF TO HELP THEM GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND THE ISSUES IT FACES. BUT CAMPAIGNERS AT THE AUSTRALIAN MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY SAY EDUCATION ALONE IS INSUFFICIENT, AND BIGGER, BOLDER COMMITMENTS ARE NEEDED. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` WE'RE LOOKING AT SHELL SHOCK AND WHY A HEAD-INJURY CHARITY IS URGING WAR VETS TO DONATE THEIR BRAINS TO SCIENCE. WHY BREWING AND SERVING CASK BEER COULD SOON BE A UNESCO PROTECTED CRAFT. AND LATER IN SPORT ` A FIRST-CHOICE ALL BLACK ANNOUNCES HIS DEPARTURE FROM NEW ZEALAND AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS IS THREE NEWS ` IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. NEW ZEALANDERS WHO RELY ON MEDICINE ARE BEING URGED NOT TO PANIC TONIGHT, DESPITE PRESIDENT TRUMP INDICATING PHARMACEUTICALS ARE NEXT TO BE TARGETED WITH TARIFFS. A NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS A QUARTER OF NEW ZEALANDERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING, WITH MANY WORRIED ABOUT JOB SECURITY. AND THE GOVERNMENT'S CELEBRATING WHAT IT SAYS IS A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME, BUT ADMITS IT HAS MORE WORK TO DO. A REPORT IN THE UK ASSESSING CONCUSSION HAS LED TO AN UNUSUAL APPEAL BEING MADE BY A HEAD INJURY CHARITY. BLAST-RELATED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS OFTEN EXPERIENCED BY SOLDIERS AS A RESULT OF BEING EXPOSED TO EVEN SMALL EXPLOSIONS. BUT DOCTORS SAY IT'S STILL HARD TO UNDERSTAND ITS PRECISE EFFECTS, AND TO GET THE DATA THEY NEED, THEY NEED TO EXAMINE ACTUAL HUMAN TISSUE. WHICH IS WHY, AS ITV'S GERAINT VINCENT REPORTS, THEY'RE ASKING BRITISH VETERANS TO MAKE WILLS DONATING THEIR BRAINS TO SCIENCE. THIS IS FOOTAGE OF BRITISH SOLDIERS ON OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2007. THEY HAVE PLANTED A SMALL AMOUNT OF EXPLOSIVE TO GAIN ENTRY TO A COMPOUND. THERE'S NO SOUND RECORDED HERE, SO YOU WON'T HEAR THE BLAST, BUT IF YOU WATCH CLOSELY, YOU WILL SEE IT. LOOK AT THE SOLDIERS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY ` JUST FOR AN INSTANT,, THE DUST ON HIS HELMET AND HIS BODY ARMOUR IS LIFTED INTO THE AIR. EXPLOSIONS BIG AND SMALL ARE PART OF THE BUSINESS OF WARFARE, BUT EVEN IF THEY DON'T THROW SOLDIERS ACROSS THE STREET, THEY WILL RATTLE THE CELLS INSIDE THEIR HEADS. THE SCIENTISTS CALL THAT MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. SO THE DANGER OF REPETITIVE TRAUMA IS THAT OFTEN IT CAN BE QUITE MILD, YOU KNOW, MINOR HITS OR MINOR PRESSURE WAVES, AND YOU THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE, WHILE THE REPETITION OF THIS TRAUMA OVER TIME, THEY CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE BRAIN ` EVEN IF MAYBE IT'S NOT AS FRIGHTENING, AS DRAMATIC AS ONE SINGLE SEVERE HIT TO THE HEAD. (INDISTINCT RT COMMS) IT WAS SO EASY FOR THE IRA AND OTHERS TO MOUNT AMBUSHES TO ATTACK YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, 500-POUND BOMB IN A CULVERT, MINE, WAS, YOU KNOW, COMMONPLACE. MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, TOM CLARKE WAS A YOUNG SOLDIER SERVING IN NORTHERN IRELAND. HIS BASE WAS THE TARGET FOR MORTAR ATTACKS. A MASSIVE EXPLOSION ` MY RIFLE GOT BLOWN OUT OF MY HAND. IT DOES FEEL AS IF YOUR WHOLE` EVERY ORGAN IN YOUR BODY'S TRYING TO TRY TO ESCAPE IT. CAMPAIGNERS FOR BETTER TREATMENT FOR BRAIN INJURIES SAY THERE NEEDS TO BE A BIG CHANGE IN THE WAY THE MILITARY HANDLES SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO EXPLOSIONS ` AND NOT JUST ON THE BATTLEFIELD. BRAIN INJURIES ARE RARELY DOCUMENTED. THEIR EXPOSURE TO REPETITIVE BLAST-TO-BLAST OVERPRESSURE IS ALMOST NEVER DOCUMENTED, AND SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR US TO KEEP US SAFE, AND THEY WENT THROUGH SOME PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT CAUSED BRAIN DAMAGE. THEY ARE DYING. SOME OF THEM ARE DYING BY SUICIDE, BECAUSE THEY AREN'T GETTING THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS, OR WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TREATMENT FOR THEM. DIAGNOSIS OF BLAST-RELATED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ALSO REMAINS A MEDICAL CHALLENGE ` THAT'S LARGELY BECAUSE MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE BRAIN CAN ONLY REALLY BE DONE POST-MORTEM. A PINT OF FLAT BEER SERVED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IS OFTEN WIDELY MALIGNED OUTSIDE THE UK, BUT IT COULD SOON BE PLACED ON A PAR WITH FRENCH BAGUETTES AND TURKISH COFFEE. A CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY TO GET THE PRACTICE OF BREWING AND SERVING CASK BEER RECOGNISED AS A PROTECTED CRAFT BY UNESCO. ITV'S MARTHA FAIRLIE EXPLAINS. UNFILTERED, UNPASTEURISED, UNPROCESSED ` AND AS YET UNRECOGNISED FOR ITS PLACE IN BRITISH CULTURE. CASK ALE MAY NOT BE TO EVERYONE'S TASTE, BUT ITS AFICIONADOS INSIST IT'S NEITHER WARM NOR FLAT. SO WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS IS THE HOP CHARACTER THAT IT HAS. THE HOPS ARE THE FUGGLE VARIETY THAT COMES FROM A FARM DOWN IN KENT CALLED HUKINS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING FOR 100 YEARS, AND WHAT IT BRINGS IS A REAL KIND OF HEDGEROW FRUITINESS AND A NICE, SUBTLE SPICINESS THAT REALLY CUTS THROUGH THE, KIND OF, THE RICHER MALT. THESE BEERS ARE MUCH, MUCH SOFTER, MUCH, MUCH, UH... I GUESS, KIND OF, SMOOTHER IN CHARACTER. JONNY GARRETT HAS LAUNCHED A PETITION TO SECURE A UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LISTING FOR CASK ALE ` AND THE PUBS THAT SERVE THEM. FOR ONE, IT'S DRUNK ALL OVER THE UNITED KINGDOM. WE'RE CERTAINLY, IN THE BEER WORLD, SORT OF THE ENVY OF THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THE, SORT OF, THE 4% BITTERSWEET, REALLY MALT-FORWARD BEERS THAT WE PRODUCE THAT ARE AT THEIR ABSOLUTE BEST ON CASK. SO IT'S A TRULY, SORT OF, UNIQUE CULTURE THAT WE'VE BUILT AROUND THESE VERY SPECIAL BEERS. UNLIKE ITS KEG COUNTERPARTS, CASK BEER'S DELIVERED TO THE PUB UNFINISHED AND GIVEN ITS FINAL FERMENTATION IN THE BARREL. ENSURING IT'S READY TO SERVE IS A SKILL IN ITS OWN RIGHT. IF IT'S NOT STORED PROPERLY AFTER THE POINT OF TAPPING ` IN OTHER WORDS, BY THE PUBLICAN OR BY WHOEVER'S DISPENSING IT ` THEN IT CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY. IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT AT A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE, AND NEEDS NOT TO BE` MUST NOT DISTURB IT, TO STIR UP THE SEDIMENT, AND YOU MUST NOT LEAVE IT IN THE CASK FOR TOO LONG. ARCHIVE: 'OPS. OH BOY, IT'S HERE AGAIN. AFTER CENTURIES OF PRODUCTION USING LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS, CASK ALE IS ALMOST UNIQUE TO BRITAIN. IT'S BEEN USED TO PAY PEOPLE FOR KIND OF HOT, SWEATY WORK ON FARMS. IT'S BEEN USED TO CELEBRATE, IT'S BEEN USED TO, KIND OF, REFRESH PEOPLE. IT WAS USED BECAUSE PEOPLE COULDN'T REALLY TRUST WATER ` SO I THINK IT DEFINITELY SHOULD BE PART OF OUR HISTORY. IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED BY UNESCO, CELEBRATED BY US. BUT I THINK OTHER THINGS SHOULD JOIN IT AS WELL. THE UK ONLY RATIFIED UNESCO'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE CONVENTION LAST YEAR, ANNOUNCING LAST WEEK THE CREATION OF AN INVENTORY OF LIVING HERITAGE. CASK ALE CAMPAIGNERS HOPE THEY CAN PULL IN PUBLIC SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. DELIGHTFUL, NICE WARM CUP OF BEER. NO THANKS. AND CHANGES COULD BE ON THE WAY WITH PHOENIX? HAS BEEN AN UNDERWHELMING SEASON, CURRENTLY LANGUISHING 11TH, WELL OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX. THAT IS THE DECISION THEY HAVE TO MAKE. WE HAVE THE RATHER BLUNT ASSESSMENT FROM PHOENIX BOSS DAVID DOME NEXT. PLUS ` MARK TELEA CONFIRMS THIS SEASON WILL BE HIS LAST IN NEW ZEALAND AS THE ALL BLACKS WINGER CONFIRMS A SHIFT OVERSEAS. AND PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE DROPS AN ALMIGHTY HINT SHE COULD BE ABOUT TO BACKTRACK ON HER INTERNATIONAL RUGBY RETIREMENT. GIANCARLO ITALIANO'S FUTURE AS PHOENIX COACH HANGS IN THE BALANCE, WITH THE CLUB TO MAKE A CALL ON WHETHER TO STICK WITH HIM OR GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION VERY SOON. AFTER LEADING THE PHOENIX TO THE ELIMINATION FINAL IN HIS FIRST SEASON IN CHARGE, ITALIANO'S SECOND SEASON HAS BEEN THE POLAR OPPOSITE ` FAILING TO EVEN MAKE THE TOP SIX AND LANGUISHING IN 11TH PLACE. AND WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE NEXT YEAR, GENERAL MANAGER DAVID DOME HAS SET ONE VERY CLEAR EXPECTATION. IT'S BEEN THE STORY OF THE PHOENIX SEASON... THEY POSTED IT ` HEADED IN BY ROGERSON! WELLINGTON ARE FALLING APART. ...CONCEDING GOALS AT A RAPID RATE, UNABLE TO WIN MATCHES AND SLIDING DOWN THE A-LEAGUE LADDER AT PACE. THIS SEASON HAS BEEN ONE TO FORGET FOR BOTH THE PHOENIX MEN AND WOMEN. WE THINK BOTH TEAMS HAVE UNDERPERFORMED AGAINST EXPECTATIONS. WE'VE ALWAYS SAID WE WANT TO BE TOP SIX, AND LOOKING LIKE NEITHER TEAM WILL BE TOP SIX. AND THAT'S PUT THE SPOTLIGHT SQUARELY ON THE MEN LEADING BOTH TEAMS. WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE A DECISION VERY, VERY SOON AS TO THE COACHING TEAMS GOING FORWARD. AFTER A STANDOUT FIRST SEASON IN WHICH THE PHOENIX FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON IN SECOND, THE HONEYMOON PERIOD IS WELL AND TRULY OVER FOR MEN'S COACH GIANCARLO ITALIANO. IT'S NOT AS BLACK AND WHITE AS 'TOP SIX, YOU'RE IN, OR YOU'RE OUT,' BUT IT CERTAINLY IS PART OF THE MIX OF THE KPI AND THE CRITERIA THAT COACHES GET MEASURED AGAINST. THAT COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR ITALIANO, WHO HAS ONLY MANAGED TO OVERSEE SIX VICTORIES THIS SEASON ` AND, DISAPPOINTINGLY FOR DOME, NONE HAVE COME AGAINST THEIR NEW RIVALS. AUCKLAND FC STILL THERE... (WILD CHEERING) AND NEYDER MORENO! AUCKLAND FC HAVE ENJOYED A BRILLIANT START TO LIFE IN THE A LEAGUE, SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE AND CLOSING IN ON WINNING THE PREMIERS' PLATE ` SOMETHING WELLINGTON HAVE NEVER ACHIEVED. THE WHOLE LEAGUE HAS BEEN SURPRISED BY HOW WELL THEY'VE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. THERE'S NO DOUBT THEY'VE SPENT GOOD MONEY ON THEIR SQUAD, AND FAIR PLAY TO THEM, THEY'VE RECRUITED REALLY, REALLY WELL. AND FOR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THE PHOENIX FROM NEXT SEASON, THEY'LL HAVE CLEAR OBJECTIVES TO MEET, ON TOP OF IMPROVING THEIR POSITION ON THE LADDER ` TOPPLE AUCKLAND FC FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT'S THE GAME WE WANT TO WIN MORE THAN ANY OTHER GAME IN THIS LEAGUE. AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WHEN WE WORK ON THE DRAW NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE TWO DERBIES AGAINST AUCKLAND HERE AT SKY, THAT WE'RE LOOKING` WE'RE GONNA TARGET THOSE GAMES, AND THE HEAD COACH WILL BE TOLD, 'YOU'VE GOT TO WIN THOSE GAMES.' EXPECTATIONS CRYSTAL-CLEAR ALREADY AS THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX PLOT THEIR PATH BACK TO BEING CONTENDERS. BLUES AND ALL BLACKS WING MARK TELEA WILL DEPART NEW ZEALAND AT THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER SIGNING A THREE-YEAR DEAL TO PLAY IN JAPAN. TELEA TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SAY TELEA'S PLAYED 75 GAMES FOR THE BLUES, AND AFTER MAKING HIS DEBUT IN 2022 HAS GONE ON TO PLAY 19 TESTS FOR THE ALL BACKS. PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE HAS HINTED SHE MAY NOT BE DONE WITH INTERNATIONAL RUGBY AFTER ALL FOLLOWING A STANDOUT SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI CAMPAIGN WITH THE BLUES. WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT FROM ALL INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S PARIS OLYMPICS, BUT SIGNED A ONE-YEAR DEAL TO PLAY FOR THE BLUES THIS SEASON. DESPITE REAFFIRMING AT THE TIME SHE HAD NO INTENTION TO CHASE THE BLACK JERSEY AGAIN, SHE'S REVEALED TO SKY SPORT'S AOTEAROA RUGBY POD, THIS SEASON'S MADE HER QUESTION HER RETIREMENT. IN MY HEAD, WHEN I RETIRED AFTER SEVENS. I WANTED TO GO OFF AROUND THE WORLD AND PLAY DIFFERENT RUGBY, AND THAT'S KIND OF STILL WHEN MY MIND IS, BUT PLAYING ALONGSIDE THESE GIRLS, IT MADE ME QUESTION COULD I GO AGAIN? WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE PLAYED 241 TIMES FOR THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS AND 24 TIMES FOR THE BLACK FERNS. ROCCO BERRY WILL MISS THIS WEEKEND'S CLASH WITH THE BRONCOS. HE WAS PUT ON REPORT AFTER SUNDAYS LOST OF THE STORM FOR A HIGH SHOT ON JACK HOWARTH. BERRY OPTED TO PLEAD GUILTY AND TAKE THE ONE MATCH BAN, RATHER THAN RISK BEING TWO MATCHES IF THE CHALLENGED WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DUST HAS HARDLY SETTLED ON HIS STUNNING MASTERS VICTORY, BUT RORY MCILROY IS ALREADY TARGETTING EVEN MORE SUCCESS THIS YEAR. MCILROY'S PLAYOFF VICTORY OVER JUSTIN ROSE COMPLETED THE CAREER GRAND SLAM. AND WITH MAJOR NUMBER FIVE LOCKED UP, MCILROY IS LOOKING TO CONTINUE HIS STRONG FORM THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. YOU CAN'T WIN ALL FOUR MAJORS IF YOU HAVEN'T WON THE FIRST ONE. THERE IS A LOT OF GOLF LEFT TO PLAY THIS YEAR. THE OPEN AT PORTRUSH, THE RYDER CUP, THERE IS A LOT OF GOLF LEFT THIS YEAR AND I HAVE GOTTEN OFF TO A GREAT START, OBVIOUSLY, AND CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP GOING. THE NEXT MAJOR IS THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH GETS UNDERWAY ON MAY 15TH. NEW ZEALAND TENNIS STAR LULU SUN IS HOPEFUL RECENT RESULTS WILL SPRINGBOARD HER BACK TO TOP FORM ON THE WTA TOUR. SUN RECENTLY LED THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM TO SUCCESS AT THE BILLIE JEAN CUP TOURNAMENT IN INDIA, HELPING THE KIWI WOMEN QUALIFY FOR NOVEMBER'S WORLD GROUP PLAYOFFS. SUN HAS STRUGGLED FOR CONSISTENCY SO FAR IN 2025, BUT BELIEVES SHE'S NOW IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO REPLICATE THE KIND OF FORM THAT SAW HER REACH LAST YEAR'S WIMBLEDON QUARTERFINALS. YEAH, DEFINITELY HELPS WITH A LOT OF MATCHES THIS WEEK` OR PAST WEEK. SO IT'S DEFINITELY NICE TO GET IN THOSE COMPETITIVE MATCHES AS WELL AS WITH HIGH-RANKED PLAYERS DURING THAT WEEK AS WELL. PREPARING FOR A RUN OF CLAY COURT EVENTS, STARTING IN MADRID. SUN IS CURRENTLY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, PREPARING FOR A RUN OF CLAY COURT EVENTS, STARTING IN MADRID. FINGERS CROSSED WE SEE HER BACK TO HER BEST. BUT PORTIA BACK? EXCITING. POPULAR LATE-NIGHT AMERICAN SATIRICAL SHOW 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' HAS APOLOGISED TO BRITISH ACTRESS AIMEE-LOU WOOD OVER A SKETCH THAT MOCKED HER APPEARANCE. WOOD, WHO STARS IN THE HIT SHOW THE WHITE LOTUS, DESCRIBED IT AS 'MEAN AND UNFUNNY'. ITV'S SEJAL KARIA HAS MORE. I WIN! I WIN! SHE IS THE SEX EDUCATION STAR NOW STEALING THE SHOW IN THE AMERICAN BLACK COMEDY WHITE LOTUS... OOH. I DON'T MEAN TO COMPLAIN, BUT THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH. ...AND FAST REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BEAUTIFUL IN HOLLYWOOD AFTER AIMEE LOU WOOD'S TEETH WERE THE SUBJECT OF A POORLY-JUDGED SKETCH ON THE LEGENDARY TV COMEDY SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE... ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S THAT? (LAUGHTER) (SCREECHING) OH, LOOK! A MONKEY! ...WHERE THE IMPERSONATOR WORE EXAGGERATED PROSTHETIC TEETH TO PARODY HER. (PAPARAZZI SHOUT) THE BRITISH ACTRESS RESPONDED BY CALLING IT 'MEAN AND UNFUNNY'. IN A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SHE WROTE SHE WASN'T THIN-SKINNED, AND LOVED BEING MADE FUN OF ` WHEN, SHE SAID: IT JUST FELT UNNECESSARILY CRUEL, AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE IT'S KIND OF GOT A PLACE IN COMEDY TODAY, AND I JUST THINK IT'S SO DISAPPOINTING THAT WE'RE STILL IN A SPACE WHERE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST COMEDY SHOW IN THE WORLD IS CHOOSING TO USE THEIR COMEDY TO TAKE THE MICK OUT OF A WOMAN'S APPEARANCE. IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE UNCANNILY PERFECT VENEERS HAVE BECOME THE NORM, MANY SEE HER SMILE AS INSPIRING, GIVING HER WHITE LOTUS CHARACTER A WELCOME AUTHENTICITY. AND SHE'S PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN ABOUT PEOPLE COMMENTING ON HER TEETH. (APPLAUSE) I MEAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE IMPACT MY TEETH ARE HAVING, AFTER BEING BULLIED FOR MY TEETH FOREVER, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE CLAPPING IN AN AUDIENCE COS I'VE GOT THESE GNASHERS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE HAS NOW APOLOGISED TO A WOMAN DARING TO EMBRACE HER NATURAL SMILE AND QUESTIONING MODERN BEAUTY STANDARDS IN HOLLYWOOD. HBO HAS MADE THE FIRST CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITS LIVE ACTION HARRY POTTER TELEVISION SERIES. THE ACTORS PLAYING HARRY POTTER, RON WEASLEY AND HERMIONE GRANGER HAVE NOT YET BEEN CAST. BUT NICK FROST, PAAPA ESSIEDU JANET MCTEER AND PAUL WHITEHOUSE ARE AMONG THE BIG NAMES OF THOSE WHO WILL BE APPEARING. IT'S EXPECTED TO HAVE SEVEN SERIES, EACH SEASON ADAPTING ONE OF THE JK ROWLING BOOKS. LAURA'S HERE NOW ` SO HOW LONG IS THIS WET AND WINDY WEATHER GOING TO LAST? ON SATURDAY, THERE STILL WILL BE PERIODS OF RAIN. THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL HAVE RAIN ON THE WEST THAT COULD BE HEAVY AND SPREADING EASTWARD AT TIMES. SO IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE EASTER BUNNY'S JOURNEY WILL BE A WET ONE. HOPEFULLY CHOCOLATE WON'T GET SOGGY. WILD WEATHER IS A GOOD REMINDER TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY CHECKLIST. NAU MAI ANO ` LOTS OF ACTIVITY COMING, ESPECIALLY FOR THE TOP OF THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW. THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE FROM THE TASMAN WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN AND VERY STRONG WINDS ` UP TO 140km/h NOR'EASTERS. THE RAIN WILL ARRIVE IN NORTHLAND AT 3am TOMORROW AND THEN SLOWLY MOVE DOWN. THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL BE MUCH MORE SETTLED, WITH A RIDGE BUILDING FROM THE SOUTH. IN TE WAIPOUNAMU, IT WILL BE A COLD NIGHT ` INVERCARGILL GETTING DOWN TO JUST 2 DEGREES, THEN, WHEN DAY BREAKS, THE EASTERN SIDE MAY GET SOME SHOWERS AND CLOUD, AND ON THE WESTERN SIDE, A MUCH FINER DAY, WITH SOME HIGH CLOUD TOWARDS THE END OF WEDNESDAY. IN TE IKA-A-MAUI ` IT WILL START WITH HEAVY RAIN EARLY ON ` EXPECTED FROM THE NORTH, AND FROM ABOUT THE AFTERNOON THE RAIN WILL EASE AND THEN PICK UP IN THE EVENING ALONG WITH THOSE VERY STRONG, GUSTY WINDS. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME RAIN FOR TAIRAWHITI AND HAWKE'S BAY, BUT ON THE WESTERN SIDE, MUCH MORE SETTLED, BUT STILL SOME SHOWERS AND STRENGTHENING WINDS. HAMILTON SHOULDN'T GET ANY SHOWERS, BUT FOR NORTHLAND, HEAVY RAIN, EASING FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THEN SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING FOR AUCKLAND AND WHITIANGA. EASTERLIES FOR EVERYONE, RISING TO GALE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS OF UP TO 120km/h POSSIBLE AT NIGHT. A CLOUDY WEDNESDAY FOR EVERYONE HERE WITH STRONG EASTERLIES ` THEY'LL BE AT THEIR STRONGEST AT NIGHT-TIME, SO SECURE THOSE TRAMPOLINES EARLIER IN THE DAY. OCCASIONAL RAIN FOR HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE ` EASTERLIES BECOMING STRONG IN THE AFTERNOON. FOR DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, IT'LL BE A CLOUDY ONE WITH A CHANCE OF A SHOWER. CLOUDY ON THE WEST SIDE TOO ` EASTERLIES AND SOU'EASTERS BECOMING STRONG AT TIMES. TARANAKI MAY GET AN AFTERNOON SHOWER OR TWO. HEADING TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` IT'S A FINE MIDWEEK FOR YOU ` SOME HIGH CLOUD DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. LIGHT WINDS INLAND FOR REEFTON AND SOU'EASTERS OR EASTERLIES ALONG THE COAST. ANOTHER COOL DAY AHEAD FOR YOU, AND CLOUD WITH A CHANCE OF A SHOWER FOR AREAS NORTH OF CHRISTCHURCH, AND NOR'EASTERS. SOME CLEAR, BRIGHT SKIES HERE, WITH LIGHT WINDS ` STILL VERY COOL HIGHS. OAMARU, YOU'LL GET GET CLOUDS AND PERIODS OF DRIZZLE, OAMARU, YOU COULD GET CLOUDS AND PERIODS OF DRIZZLE, CLEARING AFTER LUNCH. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES ` OTEPOTI DUNEDIN MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH EASTERLIES AND A HIGH OF 15 DEGREES. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, YOU'LL GET TO 14 ` CLOUDY WITH FRESH NOR'EASTERS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, AND MAYBE SOME DRIZZLE AT NIGHT. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON ` THE CLOUD WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT WEDNESDAY, AND THE SOU'EASTERS WILL GET STRONG AT TIMES. 16 YOUR HIGH. TE MATAU-A-MAUI HAWKE'S BAY ` OCCASIONAL RAIN AND THE EASTERLIES WILL RAMP UP FROM THE AFTERNOON. 19 AND 18 YOUR HIGHS. TAURANGA ` GETTING TO 21 TOMORROW. AND IT WILL BE A CLOUDY ONE WITH FRESH EASTERLIES. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON WILL ALSO BE CLOUDY, WITH STRONG EASTERLIES RISING TO GALE AT NIGHT. 20 DEGREES YOUR HIGH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND ` SCATTERED SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING. STRONG EASTERLIES, RISING TO GALE AT NIGHT, GUSTING 120km/h IN EXPOSED PLACES. OVERSEAS NOW ` PARTLY CLOUDY FOR MOST AUSTRALIAN CENTRES. SOME SHOWERS FOR SYDNEY AND HOBART. IN THE PACIFIC, STORMY FOR FIJI AND SHOWERS FOR MOST OTHER PLACES. THIS IS WHERE OUR STORMY WEATHER IS COMING FROM, SO WE'RE KEEPING A EYE ON THE TROPICAL LOW THAT'S NEAR VANUATU, HEADING SOUTH ` THAT COULD BE UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL CYCLONE. BACK HOME, WE HAVE SEVERAL RAIN AND WIND WARNINGS AND WATCHES IN PLACE, SO, UNSURPRISING THE OUTLOOK IS WET AND WINDY. SO WHAT IS HAPPENING? THAT LARGE, DEEP LOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHWARDS OVER THE TASMAN SEA FROM THURSDAY TO SATURDAY AND A STRONG MOIST NORTHEAST FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW SPREADS OVER THE COUNTRY, BRINGING RAIN TO MOST OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND. SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER WARNINGS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, BECAUSE THEY MAY AFFECT YOUR LONG WEEKEND TRAVEL PLANS. ON SATURDAY, THE LOW STARTS TO WEAKEN, AND A SOUTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTHERN SOUTH ISLAND. THAT'S YOUR WEATHER ` SOME SNAPS FROM A MORE SETTLED SOUTH ISLAND TODAY ` LAKE RUATANIWHA IN TWIZEL, AND UP THE ROAD AT LAKE TEKAPO FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS' SLALOM KAYAK CHAMPS. THEY ARE BRAVER THAN ME. IT WILL BE VERY CHILLY ` A BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF RIVER. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT ` THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ I'M SAMANTHA HAYES ` PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025