TONIGHT, MORE THAN A BILLION CATHOLICS GRIEVE. # AMEN. # AS HIS FOLLOWERS FLOCK TO ROME TO MARK HIS DEATH, POPE FRANCIS IS STILL CHALLENGING CATHOLIC CONVENTION. WE'LL HAVE REACTION TO THE NEWS OF HIS DEATH AND EXPLAIN THE CENTURIES-OLD RITUAL TO CHOOSE HIS SUCCESSOR. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH, RUBY WEBB-SAGARIN AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI HAERE MAI KI NGA PURONGO O TE ONO KARAKA ` WELCOME TO 1 NEWS TONIGHT FROM OUTSIDE ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND, WHERE THE FAITHFUL HAVE FLOCKED THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO MARK THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS. THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES FROM VATICAN CITY, WHERE THEY'RE EXPECTING BIG CROWDS IN ST PETER'S SQUARE. AN OUTPOURING OF GRIEF RIPPLING ACROSS THE GLOBE AS CATHOLICS MOURN A POPE WHO BATTLED TRADITION AND THE POWERFUL AND FOUGHT PASSIONATELY FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN. POPE FRANCIS (88) DIED FROM A STROKE THAT LED TO HEART FAILURE. HE WORKED RIGHT TILL THE END, MAKING A SURPRISE APPEARANCE TO GREET A HUGE CROWD AT ST PETER'S SQUARE ON EASTER SUNDAY, DESPITE DOCTORS' ADVICE. FROM ARGENTINA, THE FIRST POPE FROM LATIN AMERICA HAD RECENTLY RETURNED TO THE VATICAN AFTER 38 DAYS IN HOSPITAL WITH PNEUMONIA. THE LEADER OF 1.4 BILLION CATHOLICS ACROSS THE WORLD IS KNOWN AS AN UNCONVENTIONAL, PROGRESSIVE REFORMER AND A STRONG VOICE FOR PEACE, HUMAN DIGNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE CENTURIES-OLD PROCESS NOW BEGINS TO FIND A NEW POPE. WE'LL EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS IN OUR EXTENSIVE COVERAGE, BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH 1 NEWS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON, OUTSIDE THE VATICAN. MEI, YOU'VE BEEN THERE SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING NEW ZEALAND TIME ` STILL, THE FAITHFUL COME. GOOD EVENING. YES, STILL THEY COME. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRICKLING IN FOR THE LAST FEW HOURS. POPE FRANCIS WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS HUMILITY, FOR HIS REJECTION OF THE LAVISH TRAPPINGS OF THE PAPAL, WHICH WAS REFLECTED IN HIS FINAL WISHES ` WANTING TO BE BURIED IN A SIMPLE TOMB, UNDECORATED IN A BASIC WOODEN COFFIN IN A CHURCH OUTSIDE THE VATICAN. THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT HIM THEY HAVE SAID HE HAS BEEN THE PEOPLE'S POPE, AND A POPE WHO WANTED TO BE AMONG HIS PEOPLE RIGHT TILL THE VERY END. (CROWD CHEERS) WHEELED OUT TO ADDRESS A CHEERING CROWD OF THOUSANDS FOR WHAT WOULD BE HIS FINAL PUBLIC APPEARANCE, A CLEARLY FRAIL POPE FRANCIS DELIVERING A SHORT EASTER SUNDAY MESSAGE. CARI FRATELLI E SORELLE, BUONA PASQUA. THE HOARSE WHISPER ALL HE COULD MUSTER. AN ARCHBISHOP READING THE ADDRESS ON HIS BEHALF, FOCUSING ON THEMES OF HOPE AND CALLING FOR PEACE IN CONTINUING CONFLICTS, INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST AND UKRAINE. (CHEERING) DESPITE SIGNS OF EXHAUSTION, IT'S CLEAR POPE FRANCIS WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN ST PETER'S SQUARE, CARRIED BY THE POPEMOBILE AMONG THE PEOPLE, AT THE HOLIEST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR CATHOLICS. (BELL TOLLS) THE NEWS OF HIS PASSING THE NEXT MORNING MADE FOR AN EASTER MONDAY LIKE NO OTHER, THE BELLS OF EVERY CHURCH ACROSS ROME RINGING OUT. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) TRANSLATOR: AT 7.35 THIS MORNING, THE BISHOP OF ROME, FRANCIS, RETURNED TO THE HOUSE OF THE FATHER. HIS ENTIRE LIFE WAS DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF THE LORD AND HIS CHURCH. THE ANNOUNCEMENT HE'D DIED CAME AROUND 10am HERE. LOCALS AND TOURISTS ` REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, RACE OR RELIGION ` FLOCKING TO THE VATICAN TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. HE LED WITH HUMILITY AND KINDNESS TOWARDS THE VULNERABLE, THE MOST VULNERABLE. WE DO NOT SHARE THE SAME RELIGION AS THE POPE ` WE'RE FROM ANOTHER RELIGION ` BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, BECAUSE WE RESPECT THAT HE, ER... HE'S A LEADER FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. AS NIGHT FALLS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE AT ST PETER'S SQUARE. AND EXPECT THE CROWDS TO GROW IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS AS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD DESCEND ON ROME. NEW ZEALANDERS AMONG THOSE GATHERED. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO BE HERE WHILE THIS IS ALL HAPPENING ` ONCE IN A LIFETIME, SO PRETTY AWESOME. JUST A MONTH AGO, POPE FRANCIS WAS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL AFTER BATTLING PNEUMONIA IN BOTH LUNGS. THOUGH HE WAS STILL UNWELL, MANY HAD HOPED HE WAS RECOVERING. EVERY TWO, THREE DAYS, HE WAS COMING OUT; HE WAS` THERE WERE NUNS KISSING HIS HANDS; HE WAS SHAKING HANDS, HE WAS WELCOMING CHILDREN. HE WAS DETERMINED TO WORK ON, SEEN HERE MEETING WITH U.S. VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE JUST AHEAD OF HIS EASTER ADDRESS ` IT WOULD BE HIS FINAL MEETING WITH A WORLD LEADER. THE POPE'S AN INCREDIBLE PERSON. I MEAN, HE HAD HUGE, YOU KNOW, CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE VULNERABLE AND IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. HE HAD AN INFORMALITY THAT I DON'T THINK WE'D SEEN FOR SOME TIME IN THE POPE. THE PONTIFF'S PERSONAL RESIDENCE NOW LOCKED AND SEALED, WITH PILGRIMS CONTINUING TO GATHER IN QUIET PRAYER, REMEMBERING POPE FRANCIS AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY PAPACY. SO MEI, WHEN IS THE FUNERAL, AND WHO IS LIKELY TO ATTEND? UNDER CATHOLIC CHURCH RULES, THE POPE'S FUNERAL MUST BE BETWEEN 4 TO 6 DAYS, SO IT COULD BE ON SATURDAY AT EARLIEST. THERE WILL BE MOURNERS AND WORLD LEADERS ` CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS CURRENTLY IN THE UK AND GOES TO GALLIPOLI FOR ANZAC COMMEMORATIONS. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER HE WILL MAKE IT HERE FOR THE FUNERAL, BUT ONE OF THE WORLD LEADERS WHO SAID HE WOULD BE COMING WAS DONALD TRUMP. HIM AND THE POPE HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE. THEY HAD AN AWKWARD MEETING IN 2017 AMIDST THEIR DIFFERENCES AND IDEOLOGY, PARTICULARLY AROUND IMMIGRATION, WHERE THE POPE CALLED HIS WALL ALONG THE BORDER UNCHRISTIAN, TO HIS VERY. OTHERWORLDLINESS WILL BE ATTENDING WHO HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE IF USE OF OF EFFUSIVE OF THE POPE AND HIS LEGACY. THANKS, MEI, AND WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU LATER IN THE NEWS HOUR. FRANCIS WAS VIEWED AS A MODERNISER WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. AN OUTSIDE CHANCE WHEN HE ASCENDED TO THE PAPACY 12 YEARS AGO, HIS TENURE WAS CHARACTERISED BY ATTEMPTS TO SOFTEN SOME OF THE CHURCH'S MORE HARD-LINE POSITIONS. BUONASERA. (CHEERING) A SIMPLE 'GOOD EVENING' FROM THE VATICAN SQUARE BALCONY STARTED HIS TENURE AS POPE, ONE WHICH WOULD SEE HIM TRAVEL TO MORE THAN 60 COUNTRIES, REACHING OUT TO MILLIONS FROM HIS CONVERTIBLE POPEMOBILE AND WORKING TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE CHURCH. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) A POPE OF MANY FIRSTS ` THE FIRST FRANCIS, THE FIRST FROM THE JESUIT ORDER AND, MOST NOTABLY, THE FIRST FROM OUTSIDE EUROPE IN MORE THAN A MILLENNIUM. (CHEERING) HIS SURPRISING ELECTION IN 2013 AFTER FIVE ROUNDS OF VOTING MARKING A CHANGE OF DIRECTION FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ITS HIERARCHY. A POPE WHO NEVER FORGOT HIS SIMPLE UPBRINGING IN ARGENTINA ` BORN JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO TO ITALIAN IMMIGRANT PARENTS, HE TRAINED AS A CHEMIST TECHNICIAN, EVEN MOONLIGHTING BRIEFLY AS A NIGHTCLUB BOUNCER. HE ENTERED THE JESUIT PRIESTHOOD IN HIS EARLY 30s AND WAS ORDAINED AS A CARDINAL IN 2001. AN OUTSIDE CHANCE TO THE PAPACY, ONE OF HIS FIRST ACTS WAS TO PAY HIS OWN HOTEL BILL ` LIVING UP TO THE MAN HE TOOK HIS NAME FROM, ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI, A CHAMPION OF THE POOR. IN ITALIAN: OFTEN SEEN IN THE BACK OF A HUMBLE FORD FOCUS, HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS INFORMAL STYLE. BUT HE TOOK ON THORNY ISSUES AND LEAVES A LEGACY OF SOFTENING THE CHURCH'S STANCE ON MATTERS SUCH AS HOMOSEXUALITY, HERE ASKED ABOUT GAY PRIESTS IN AN IN-FLIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE. IN ITALIAN: RECENTLY, HE ALLOWED BISHOPS TO BLESS SAME-SEX COUPLES AND WAS OPEN TO WOMEN IN CHURCH POSITIONS. (CLAMOURING) IN ITALIAN: BUT HE WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT CAME TO ABORTION, CONTRACEPTION, SURROGACY AND GENDER REASSIGNMENT. HE WAS THE FIRST POPE TO ADDRESS CONGRESS IN THE U.S... I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVITATION. ...ASKING THE WORLD'S RICHEST COUNTRY TO LOOK AFTER MOTHER EARTH... GOD BLESS AMERICA. ...AND THE FIRST TO VISIT THE ARABIAN PENINSULA. DURING HIS 12 YEARS, HE'S LED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THROUGH A REFUGEE CRISIS, MULTIPLE WORLD CONFLICTS AND THE COVID PANDEMIC. AND AS THE FACE OF THE CHURCH, HE'S APOLOGISED FOR THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN BY PRIESTS. IN ITALIAN: HE WAS KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S POPE, ALWAYS READY FOR A SELFIE, AND GREETED LIKE A ROCKSTAR ON HIS MANY VISITS OVERSEAS. THREE MILLION FAITHFUL FLOCKING TO MASS ON COPACABANA BEACH. HIS SMALL GESTURES THE MOST POWERFUL ` WASHING THE FEET OF THE ELDERLY AND PRISONERS INSTEAD OF PRIESTS ON HOLY THURSDAY. IN 2021, POPE FRANCIS HAD BOWEL SURGERY AND HAD BEEN IN A WHEEL CHAIR SINCE. HIS HEALTH SHAKY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS ` MOST RECENTLY ADMITTED FOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY IN JUNE. HE'S EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR A LESS ELABORATE FUNERAL THAN PAST POPES AND WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE BURIED OUTSIDE THE VATICAN IN MORE THAN A CENTURY. A SIMPLE FAREWELL FOR A MAN WHO BROKE WITH TRADITIONS TILL THE END. THERE'VE BEEN TRIBUTES FROM THE WORLDS OF RELIGION, POLITICS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS, FOR A POPE WIDELY SEEN TO HAVE MODERNISED THE CHURCH'S APPROACH TO SOCIAL ISSUES. IN SOME OF BUENOS AIRES' POOREST NEIGHBOURHOODS, THEY CAME TO REMEMBER A POPE WHO TOUCHED THEIR LIVES. (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: HE GAVE US BACK LIFE, HOPE, FAITH AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. A SIMPLE TRIBUTE FROM HIS HOMETOWN ` PART OF A WAVE OF GLOBAL GRIEF, FROM ASIA... (SPEAKS INDONESIAN) TRANSLATOR: THE WORLD HAS ONCE AGAIN LOST A ROLE MODEL WHO HAD A GREAT COMMITMENT TO PEACE, HUMANITY AND BROTHERHOOD. ...TO AFRICA AND AMERICA. HE WAS A GOOD MAN. HE WORKED HARD. HE, UH` HE LOVED THE WORLD, AND IT'S AN HONOUR TO DO THAT. HOLLYWOOD STARS POSTED THEIR TRIBUTES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ANTONIO BANDERAS SAYING... EVA LONGORIA POSTING... BACK IN BUENOS AIRES, A MURAL FOR TWO OF ARGENTINA'S MOST FAMOUS SONS. POPE FRANCIS WAS AN AVID FOOTBALL FAN ` AND A FAN OF SUPERSTAR LIONEL MESSI. THE SPORTING LEGEND TODAY POSTING... THE POPE'S DEATH TRIGGERS THE START OF CONCLAVE PROCEEDINGS, BY WHICH A NEW POPE IS ELECTED IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. HIS BODY IS CURRENTLY LAYING IN HIS RESIDENCE AT THE HOUSE OF ST MARTHA. HERE, HE'LL LAY IN REST FOR PRIVATE VISITS BY THE PAPAL HOUSEHOLD, VATICAN STAFF, HEADS OF STATE AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS. THE PONTIFF IS THEN MOVED TO ST PETER'S BASILICA TO LIE IN STATE FOR THREE DAYS IN A PLAIN OPEN CASKET, WITH THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS. THEN, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, IN AROUND FOUR TO SIX DAYS AFTER HIS DEATH, THE FUNERAL, WITH A MASS TAKING PLACE IN ST PETER'S SQUARE. THE POPE THEN CHOOSING TO BREAK WITH THE NORM AND BE BURIED ACROSS ROME IN A PLACE PERSONAL TO HIM ` THE BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE. VOTING FOR A NEW POPE HAPPENS INSIDE THE SISTINE CHAPEL, PART OF THE ST PETER'S COMPLEX. THIS IS A CENTURIES-OLD, HIGHLY SECRETIVE PROCESS FULL OF INTRIGUE. SIMON MERCEP HAS MORE DETAILS. THE DEATH KNELL RANG OUT ACROSS SAINT PETER'S SQUARE, A TRADITION WHEN A POPE DIES. NOW ANOTHER TRADITION BEGINS AS 135 CARDINALS, ALL MEN, GATHER IN ROME TO ELECT A NEW POPE. THEY'LL INCLUDE A NEW ZEALANDER, CARDINAL JOHN DEW OF WELLINGTON. AS THEY'VE DONE FOR CENTURIES, THEY'LL MEET IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN UTTER PRIVACY. THE CHAPEL IS EVEN SWEPT FOR LISTENING DEVICES. THE CARDINALS TAKE AN OATH OF SECRECY AND VOW NOT TO BE SWAYED BY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES. THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THEIR CELL PHONES. THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO READ THE NEWSPAPERS. THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN ANY SORT OF CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE MYSTERY OF THE CONCLAVE RECENTLY INSPIRED AN AWARD-WINNING MOVIE. THIS IS A CONCLAVE, CARDINAL, IT'S NOT A WAR. IT IS A WAR. AND YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO A SIDE. WHILE THAT'S FICTION, IT'S BELIEVED THE REAL CONCLAVE WILL HAVE ITS FACTIONS, ITS LOBBYING, AS CARDINALS CONSIDER CANDIDATES' LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND WHERE THEY'RE FROM. POPE FRANCIS CHOSE MOST OF THEM HIMSELF, AND THEY INCLUDE MEN FROM THE PHILIPPINES, FROM GHANA, AND FROM THE USA. FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'LL BE A CONCLAVE OF WHERE MORE THAN HALF OF THE CARDINAL ELECTORS, AS THEY'RE CALLED, ARE NON-EUROPEANS. THE VOTING CAN TAKE SEVERAL DAYS OR MORE. AT THE END OF EACH BALLOT, THEY WILL BURN THEIR BALLOTS. THE BALLOTS ARE BURNED TO KEEP THE VOTES SECRET. THEY'LL KEEP VOTING UNTIL ONE CANDIDATE WINS A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. A SPECIALLY BUILT CHIMNEY STACK WILL THEN REVEAL THE RESULT, AS CHEMICALS ARE ADDED TO THE FIRE TO ALTER THE COLOUR OF THE SMOKE. IF THE SMOKE BURNS BLACK OR BROWN, WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY POPE ELECTED. WHEN THE SMOKE BURNS WHITE, IT MEANS THERE HAS BEEN A POPE. THEN, HAS HAPPENED AT THE LAST ELECTION IN 2013, A PRONOUNCEMENT IS MADE. HABEMUS PAPAM! (CHEERING) 'WE HAVE A POPE,' HE'LL SAY, AND THE WORLD'S CATHOLICS WILL HAVE A NEW LEADER. SIMON MERCEP, 1 NEWS. AND MANY NEW ZEALANDERS MOURNED POPE FRANCIS AT SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY. CATHOLICS ARE THE LARGEST RELIGIOUS GROUP IN NEW ZEALAND, MAKING UP NEARLY 8% OF THE POPULATION. HERE'S KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS. CATHOLICS PERHAPS AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN GET FROM THE VATICAN... WE PRAY FOR THE HAPPY REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF POPE FRANCIS. ...UNITING WITH THE WORLD TO REMEMBER HOW POPE FRANCIS CHANGED THEIR LIVES. I'M GAY, AND I JOINED THE CHURCH WILLINGLY, AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD'VE DONE SO IF POPE FRANCIS HADN'T BEEN OUR POPE. FOR ME, HE WAS REALLY LIKE A FATHER, A FATHER FIGURE. SO IT REALLY DID SHOCK ME. BEING MAORI AS WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UH, HE REALLY SPOKE OUT TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AS WELL ` NOT ONLY IN THE AMERICAS BUT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND AS WELL. HERE IN AOTEAROA, WHERE MORE THAN 418,000 ARE CATHOLICS, ACCORDING TO THE LAST CENSUS, THE TIMING OF HIS DEATH ON EASTER MONDAY BRINGING COMFORT. WE WERE LIKE, 'WHAT A TIME TO... 'TO DIE, TO GO HOME TO THE FATHER.' PERHAPS HE WAS VERY AWARE OF WHERE HE WAS IN HIS LIFE'S JOURNEY, AND THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT ADDED MEANING AND POIGNANCY. FLAGS TODAY FLYING AT HALF MAST ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS LIKE THE BEEHIVE TO SYMBOLISE THE COUNTRY'S STATE OF MOURNING. THEY'LL ALSO BE AT HALF MAST TOMORROW AND AGAIN ON THE DAY OF THE POPE'S FUNERAL. THE POPE CONNECTED WITH KIWIS ON MANY OCCASIONS, MEETING WITH THE LATE MAORI KING FOR A PRIVATE CHAT AND SHARING A HONGI WITH A KIWI NEUROBIOLOGIST AT THE VATICAN. THOSE WHO MET THE PONTIFF SAY HE PUT EVERYONE AT EASE. I'M THINKING, 'I'VE GOT TO SPEAK ITALIAN. OH, WHAT DO I SAY?' AND RAPIDLY THINKING WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUMBLING, AND HE JUST SAYS, 'OH, CARNAGIO, DO NOT BE AFRAID.' THIS CHRISTCHURCH PRIEST SAYS BEING FACE TO FACE WITH THE POPE ` TWICE ` MADE HIS WORLD STOP. HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE BLESSED ME, AND THEN I EXTENDED MY HAND TO TOUCH AND SHAKE HIS HAND, AND EXTEND HIS HAND, YOU KNOW. AND HE ACTUALLY EVEN CARRIED THE BABY IN OUR GROUP, BECAUSE WE HAD A BABY IN OUR GROUP. SO THAT WAS VERY TOUCHING. PEOPLE SHARING WHAT THE PONTIFF MEANT TO THEM. WE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT POPE FRANCIS, AND ESPECIALLY HIS LOVE FOR THE POOR. THIS BISHOP SINGING THE SAME WAIATA HE SANG TO THE POPE... (SINGS WAIATA) ...AS HE AND OTHER CATHOLICS FAREWELL THEIR LEADER. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. AND OUR COVERAGE OF THE POPE'S DEATH CONTINUES OVER ON TVNZ+. TO FIND IT ON YOUR SMART TV, HEAD TO THE MENU ON THE LEFT AND CLICK ON 'NEWS'. THERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND THE REST OF THE DAY'S TOP STORIES. A MURI AKE NEI ` JUST AHEAD ` THE REST OF THE DAY'S NEWS, INCLUDING AN EXPERT'S ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS CLIFF IN THE CATLINS, AS THE INQUEST INTO THE DEATHS OF JOHN BECKENRIDGE AND HIS STEPSON RESUMES. WAS IT MURDER-SUICIDE, OR WERE THEIR DEATHS FAKED? PLUS ` AS THE VICTIM OF A BUS STOP HOMICIDE IN AUCKLAND IS IDENTIFIED, WHY POLICE ARE NOW SEEKING WITNESSES IN A WHITE UTE TO HELP WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE UNUSUAL LINK BETWEEN SPINACH, AN AIR FRYER AND A DVD PLAYER, AND HOW THEY ALL AFFECT YOUR POCKET. PLUS ` IT'S KNOWN AS THE BOOKSHOP AT THE END OF THE WORLD; FIND OUT WHY IT'S MORE POPULAR THAN EVER. AND GIVING KIDS THE ROLE MODELS THEY DESERVE FOR FREE. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. WAS IT MURDER OR A STAGED DISAPPEARANCE? THAT'S THE QUESTION BEING CONSIDERED AT A CORONIAL HEARING IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY AS THE COURT TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO SOUTHLAND BOY MIKE ZHAO-BECKENRIDGE (11). THE EVIDENCE CENTRING AROUND A CLIFFTOP SCENE IN SOUTHLAND WHERE A CAR PLUMMETED INTO THE OCEAN A DECADE AGO. THOMAS MEAD REPORTS. IT'S A QUESTION THAT'S PROVING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER ` WHAT REALLY HAPPENED ON THIS CLIFFTOP IN THE CATLINS 10 YEARS AGO? A SIMILAR LINE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN IN COURT TODAY. I HAVE NO WAY OF SAYING FOR CERTAIN. THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO GIVE AN OPINION ON THAT. I CAN'T GIVE YOU A STRAIGHT ANSWER. POLICE SAY THAT IT WAS HERE THAT JOHN BECKENRIDGE DROVE OFF THE EDGE IN MARCH 2015, PLUMMETING 70m WITH HIS STEPSON IN THE CAR IN AN ACT OF MURDER-SUICIDE. HE HAD PICKED UP MIKE ZHAO-BECKENRIDGE FROM SCHOOL IN INVERCARGILL IN VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER. BUT NO BODIES WERE FOUND IN THE CAR, AND NOW AN EXPERT HAS BEEN CALLED TO ASSESS WHETHER THIS WAS STAGED. THE VOLKSWAGEN TOUREG V8 OF JOHN BECKENRIDGE TRAVELLED UNDER POWER IN A STRAIGHT LINE ACROSS THE CLIFFTOP. MIKE'S MOTHER BELIEVES HER BOY IS STILL ALIVE. HER FORMER PARTNER WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT WITH FOUR KNOWN ALIASES. THE COURT WAS SHOWN VARIOUS WAYS THE CAR COULD'VE BEEN SENT OVER THE EDGE WITHOUT A DRIVER. SOMETHING WHERE A ROD WAS PHYSICALLY ATTACHED OR COULD BE TEMPORARILY BOUND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ` COULD'VE BEEN RIGGED UP FOR ABSOLUTELY MINIMAL COST, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING OF THIS KIND IN THE VEHICLE. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS UNDERWATER FOOTAGE TAKEN BY THE POLICE DIVE SQUAD, VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED, AND BY THE TIME THE WRECK WAS REMOVED, THE ACCELERATOR WAS GONE. THE EXPERT ALSO FINDING IT UNLIKELY THAT BECKENRIDGE GOT THE VEHICLE MOVING BEFORE JUMPING OUT, SAYING, ULTIMATELY ` THE OVERALL PROBABILITY OF THE VEHICLE HAVING LAUNCHED OFF THE CLIFFTOP WITHOUT A DRIVER AT THE CONTROLS APPEARS TO BE VERY LOW, WHEREAS THE PROBABILITY OF THE VEHICLE HAVING BEEN DRIVEN OFF THE CLIFF TOP IS HIGH. BUT... THAT IS NOT A PRECISE STATEMENT. AND THE MYSTERY CONTINUES. THE CORONER WILL THIS WEEK HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS HE WAS TOLD THE PAIR HAD ESCAPED ` WITH HELP. THOMAS MEAD, 1 NEWS. THE CORONER'S INQUEST FOR OLYMPIC CYCLIST OLIVA PODMORE'S SUDDEN DEATH RESUMED IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY, A MEDICAL EXPERT QUESTIONED ABOUT THE KEY FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE 24-YEAR-OLD'S EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. SPORTS EDITOR ABBY WILSON WAS IN COURT. A COURT A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME FOR THE FAMILY OF OLIVIA PODMORE. THE CORONER OPENING PROCEEDINGS WITH A MESSAGE FOR THEM. I WANT TO SAY TO FAMILY, UM, THAT I APOLOGISE FOR THE DELAY AND THE DISRUPTION IN THE INQUEST. A FOUR-MONTH DELAY DUE TO FAIRNESS AND SCHEDULING ISSUES, BUT THINGS RESUMED, WITH SCRUTINY ONCE AGAIN ON THE BORDEAUX INCIDENT IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE RIO OLYMPICS, WHERE PODMORE UNCOVERED AN INAPPROPRIATE ATHLETE-COACH RELATIONSHIP. WHAT HAS BECOME CLEARER TO ME IS JUST THE EXTENT AND THE SEVERITY OF THAT TRAUMA. THIS INDEPENDENT EXPERT WITNESS OUTLINING HIS BELIEF THAT HER ROLE AS A WHISTLE-BLOWER HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HER MENTAL STATE, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE 2018 RELEASE OF THE HERON REPORT. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WHISTLE-BLOWERS CARRY A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN OF DISTRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC, UM, PROBLEMS THEREAFTER. IN 2020, SHE SCORED HIGHLY IN A DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS TEST. CYCLING NEW ZEALAND'S INFORMAL ACTION QUESTIONED... DO YOU THINK IT'S SUFFICIENT ` SHE SCREENED THIS REMARKABLY HIGH RESULT ` TO SIMPLY ASK, 'ARE YOU OK?' SO, THERE'S A REAL DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT OLIVIA IS IDENTIFYING IN A SCREENING TOOL AS BEING SEVERE DISTRESS AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING ACCESSED IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE A RELATIVELY INFORMAL SETTING. HOW YOU CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW OR AN ASSESSMENT IS OFTEN KEY TO WHAT YOU FIND. DR ERIK MONASTERIO ALSO CRITICAL OF THE LACK OF A PROPER FORMAL ASSESSMENT. COUNSEL FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPORT NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGING THE WEIGHT HE PUT ON PODMORE'S NEGATIVE CYCLING EXPERIENCES IN LIGHT OF OTHER TOUGH SITUATIONS SHE'D FACED. IN EVIDENCE, I HEARD THE EXTENT TO WHICH OLIVIA WAS ALLEGEDLY BULLIED AND EXCLUDED, AND IN MY OPINION, FOR A YOUNG WOMAN AROUND THE AGES OF 18 AND 20 TO MEET THAT ADVERSITY ` THAT'S A VERY DOMINANT FEATURE. HE ADMITTED THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO HIS FINDINGS, HAVING NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO INTERVIEW PODMORE. HE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE WITHIN THE CYCLING NEW ZEALAND PROGRAMME. IT CERTAINLY HAS TAKEN VERY POSITIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE. EVERYTHING IT CAN, I'M NOT SURE. AS THE HEARING SOON DRAWS TO A CLOSE, THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THE CORONER WILL BE LOOKING AT. ABBY'S WITH US NOW. JUST ONE WITNESS TODAY, BUT LOTS OF QUESTIONS. WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT? HE IS WHAT WE CALL AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT WITNESS ` A SPECIALIST BROUGHT IN TO HELP THE CORONER UNDERSTAND COMPLEX SITUATIONS. HE IS A FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST, SO HE CAN LOOK AT OLIVIA'S MENTAL HEALTH IN THE LEAD UP TO HER DEATH. HE WAS THE REASON FOR THE DELAY. HE ALSO LISTENS TO EVERYTHING SAID IN COURT BEFORE HE HIMSELF TAKES TO THE STAND. THANKS, ABBY. POLICE ARE SEEKING WITNESSES IN A WHITE UTE WHO WERE CUT OFF BY A BLACK SUV TO COME FORWARD TO HELP WITH THEIR HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION AFTER A MAN WAS ATTACKED AT AN AUCKLAND BUS STOP OVER THE WEEKEND. THE VICTIM (33) HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY COLLEAGUES AS U.S. DOCTORAL STUDENT KYLE WHORRALL, WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY CONFIRMING THEY ARE PROVIDING CONSULAR ASSISTANCE TO HIS FAMILY. POLICE SAY THE PEOPLE IN THE UTE ARE CRITICAL TO HELP PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY NIGHT. WE BELIEVE THAT BLACK SUV IS INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME. WE ARE SEEKING TO IDENTIFY THAT CAR AND PARTICULARLY ITS OCCUPANTS. TO HELP US TO DO THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH THE OCCUPANTS AND DRIVER OF THE WHITE TOYOTA UTE. POLICE ALSO SAY THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVE AND WHETHER THE VICTIM KNEW THE TWO ASSAILANTS SEEN ATTACKING HIM. ME U TONU MAI, COMING UP ` HOW NEW ZEALAND IS SUPPORTING UKRAINE AS FIGHTING RESUMES IN THE KURSK REGION, WITH BOTH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF VIOLATING THE BRIEF EASTER TRUCE. I AM ALIVE OUTSIDE THE VATICAN CITY, WHERE BARRICADES HAVE GONE UP IN ST PETER'S SQUARE IN ANTICIPATION OF LARGE CROWDS GATHERING. THEN, COMING UP ON SEVEN SHARP ` HOW THE BLENDING OF ARCHITECTURE AND CULTURE ARE CREATING WORLD-LEADING DESIGN RIGHT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND. THERE'S ONLY 34 BUILDINGS THAT ARE FULL LIVING CERTIFICATION, AND THIS BUILDING AND NGA MOKOPUNA ARE ON TRACK TO BECOME TWO MORE. PLUS ` NOT EVERY CHILD GETS THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE ROLE MODELS, SO WHAT MAKES THIS EXPERIENCE SO DIFFERENT? WE'LL SEE YOU AT 7. VOICEOVER: Waitoa free range chicken turns the whole family... Dad? ...cosy. What's happening? I'm warm and cosy. But worried. You know what? I actually feel close to you all. Waitoa free range chicken. VOICEOVER: One minute you're doing a little DIY. The next you've done too much. With Tower, you can save $75 on every new comprehensive car or contents insurance policy. Ts&Cs apply. Got a minute? Get a quote. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, SAYS RUSSIA BROKE THE 30-HOUR 'EASTER TRUCE' NEARLY 3000 TIMES. MOSCOW THOUGH SAYS UKRAINE VIOLATED THE AGREEMENT, INSISTING ITS TROOPS STRICTLY OBSERVE THE CEASEFIRE. FIGHTING HAS NOW RESUMED IN THE KURSK REGION IN RUSSIA, WHERE TROOPS ARE LOOKING TO PUSH UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS BACK ACROSS THE BORDER AFTER THEIR OFFENSIVE INTO THE TERRITORY LAST AUGUST. AND PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS NEW ZEALAND IS EXTENDING ITS MILITARY SUPPORT OF UKRAINE UNTIL THE END OF NEXT YEAR. HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DURING HIS VISIT TO THE UK. IT BRINGS NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION TO $152m. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD A HUNDRED NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE PERSONNEL WORKING WITH THE BRITISH, AND WE'VE TRAINED TOGETHER ABOUT 53,000 UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS. LUXON ALSO VISITED KING CHARLES AND IS DUE TO MEET HIS BRITISH COUNTERPART, SIR KEIR STARMER, BEFORE HEADING TO GALLIPOLI TO MARK THE 110th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANZAC LANDINGS. BACK TO OUR TOP STORY ` HERE ARE THE MAIN POINTS AFTER THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS, THE 266th HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH. HE WAS LAST SEEN IN PUBLIC ON EASTER SUNDAY, BLESSING THOUSANDS IN ST PETER'S SQUARE. AFTER 12 YEARS AS LEADER, THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED THE PONTIFF (88) DIED EARLY THE NEXT MORNING OF A STROKE, WHICH LEAD TO HEART FAILURE. HIS FUNERAL COULD BE AS SOON AS FRIDAY. LET'S GO BACK TO OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON AT VATICAN CITY NOW. AND MEI, WHAT'S HAPPENING LATER TODAY? GOOD EVENING. THE CARDINALS WHO ARE HERE IN ROME WILL SOON BE MEETING. THEY WILL BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FINER DETAILS OF THE POPE'S FUNERAL. THEY ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT WIN OF THE POPE'S BODY WILL BE MOVED TO ST PETER'S BASILICA SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN PAY THEIR RESPECTS. THAT COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS TOMORROW MORNING. THE POPE'S DEATH HAS ALSO KICKED OFF A NINE DAY MORNING PERIOD. *MOURNING. AND MEI, GIVE US A SENSE OF THE MOOD THERE. WHAT ARE PEOPLE SHARING WITH YOU? IT'S A VERY SOMBRE MOOD. PEOPLE ARE VERY REFLECTIVE OF A POPE THAT HAS IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES. PEOPLE THAT WE TALK TO HERE ARE REALLY STUNNED BY THE FACT THAT HE IS NO LONGER HERE. HE HAS PASSED AWAY. MANY OF THEM WERE HERE OVER THE EASTER WEEKEND. THEY SAW THE POPE, THEY HEARD HIM SPEAK, AND SO EVEN THOUGH HE WAS REALLY ILL, THERE IS A SENSE OF SHOCK THAT HE HAS NOW DIED. BUT THERE IS ALSO A REFLECTION ON THE LIFE THAT HE HAD LIVED. THERE HAS BEEN CELEBRATION OF THE POPE AND JUST WHAT HE DID TO THE PAPACY, AND NOW EYES ALL TURNED TO THE NEXT PROCESS. PEOPLE START THINKING ABOUT KOIA NGA KORERO I AU ` THAT'S IT FROM ME WHAT POPE WILL TAKE OVER NEXT, AND INEVITABLY HOW HE WILL BE COMPARED TO POPE FRANCIS. HERE AT ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL IN AUCKLAND. NGA MIHI NUI. IT'S COMING UP TO 24 HOURS SINCE NEWS OF THE POPE'S DEATH REVERBERATED ACROSS THE GLOBE. MORE THAN A BILLION CATHOLICS NOW MOURNING A LEADER WHOSE LEGACY OF TIRELESSLY BATTLING FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE WENT BEYOND THE CHURCH ITSELF. WE'LL BRING YOU MORE COVERAGE TOMORROW. RIGHT NOW, IT'S OVER TO ZION IN THE STUDIO AND THE DAY'S SPORTS. THANKS, MELISSA. THE BLACK FERNS HAVE WELCOMED BACK A FAMILIAR FACE. WHAT CAUSED PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE TO BACKFLIP ON RETIREMENT? PLUS, WHO'S LOITERING AROUND THE BLACK KNIGHTS HQ WITH AUCKLAND FC ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY. AND RUGBY'S LATEST INITIATIVE AIMED AT REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF CONCUSSION ` AND WHAT ONE FORMER ALL BLACK THINKS OF IT. AND IN WEATHER, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS FOR WEDNESDAY. THERE IS SOME MUCH, MUCH QUIETER- LOOKING WEATHER ON THE HORIZON, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE OF LEFTOVER FRONTS ` THEY'RE GONNA SLIDE UP THE COUNTRY, SO WITH THAT, THERE'LL STILL BE A FEW SHOWERS; THOSE ARE MAINLY TO EASTERN AREAS AND TOWARDS THE FAR NORTH THROUGH THE DAY. BUT A LOT OF FINE WEATHER, AND AFTER THAT, CLEARS AWAY; HEADS UP FOR SOME COOLER NIGHTS. HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA, WELCOME TO SPORT. AND WELCOME BACK, PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE ` THE 33-YEAR-OLD COMING OUT OF INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT, SIGNING AN EIGHT-MONTH CONTRACT WITH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AS SHE EYES UP A THIRD RUGBY WORLD CUP. JORDAN OPPERT HAS MORE. IF SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI TAUGHT US ANYTHING IN 2025, DUMPED INTO THE EDEN PARK TURF. IT'S THAT PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE'S STILL GOT IT; AND IF IT TAUGHT HER ANYTHING, IT'S THAT SHE STILL WANTS IT. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS LIKE, 'YEAH, I CAN SEE MYSELF DOING WELL. 'I'VE GOT A LOT MORE TO GIVE AND A LOT MORE TO LEARN.' IN A HUGE BOOST FOR THE BLACK FERNS, THE 33-YEAR-OLD'S SIGNED AN EIGHT-MONTH CONTRACT AS SHE VIES FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP SELECTION, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST ` ONE YEAR AFTER SHE OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM INTERNATIONAL RUGBY FOLLOWING SEVENS GOLD AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS. I KNOW WHAT THIS COMMITMENT NEEDS ` I KNOW THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND, LIKE WAIRUA/SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT IT DESERVES. I KNOW SHE'S IN. FOR HER TO CHANGE... I KNOW SHE'S IN, AND I KNOW WHAT SHE'S GONNA BRING. SHE'S GONNA ENJOY THIS LAST PART OF HER JOURNEY, AND I KNOW WHAT SHE'S GONNA GIVE THIS TEAM OFF THE FIELD ` IT'S GONNA BE IMMENSE ` AND I THINK WE KNOW WHAT SHE DOES WITH OPPORTUNITIES ON THE FIELD. IT'S NO SECRET WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE WAS AFTER A CHALLENGE IN 2025, ON THE BRINK OF SIGNING AN NRLW CONTRACT BEFORE THE NRL BLOCKED IT DUE TO AN AMBASSADORIAL ROLE SHE WAS SET TO PLAY AT THE RUGBY WORLD CUP. I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO THERE FOR THE OPENING MATCH, AND I WAS WILLING TO FOREGO THAT, BUT IT REQUIRED A SIX-MONTH PAUSE. SO WITH ME ALREADY GOING THERE, IT KINDA SWITCHED THE CONVERSATION TO, WELL, I'M PLAYING AUPIKI, I'M REALLY LOVING RUGBY... WHAT HAPPENS FROM THIS? WHAT HAPPENED WAS A COMPLETE CHANGE OF HEART IN TERMS OF HER INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CAREER. HER DESIRE TO START A FAMILY, THOUGH, REMAINS VERY MUCH THE SAME. THIS YEAR WAS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES. THEN I WANNA HAVE BABIES. I WANNA POP OUT FOUR OF THEM. JUST NOT BEFORE ` HOPEFULLY ` TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ON THE FIELD ONCE AGAIN. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. AUCKLAND FC HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL HISTORY ON SUNDAY ` A WIN WOULD SECURE THEM THEIR FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE. BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO OVERCOME THE PERTH GLORY, WHO ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO TEAMS THEY'VE BEEN BEATEN BY THIS SEASON. PERHAPS THE AUSSIES ARE WARY A KIWI TEAM MAY WIN THEIR COMPETITION. CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THE INTEGRITY UNIT, THE DRUG TESTERS HERE. YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. ARE THEY? I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE, ACTUALLY, SO... YEAH, THEY ALWAYS TURN UP AT THE RIGHT TIME, DON'T THEY? AS THE A-LEAGUE FINALS APPROACH, THE FIRST TROPHY TO TICK OFF ` THE PREMIER'S PLATE, AS WINNERS OF THE REGULAR SEASON. IS THERE A TROPHY CABINET UPSTAIRS? UH, NOT YET. NOT YET. SO... DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA GO. BUT, UH... BUT WE'D LIKE TO GET IT DONE THIS WEEKEND, OBVIOUSLY, IN FRONT OF OUR HOME FANS. I THINK THEY DESERVE IT AS WELL. YOU CAN HEAR IT TODAY ON TRAINING. WE ARE NOT LAID BACK. WE ARE WORKING HARD, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON. SHOULD THE BLACK KNIGHTS BEAT PERTH GLORY ON SUNDAY, THEY'D BECOME THE FIRST NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM TO WIN A TROPHY. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULD'VE THOUGHT WE'D BE RIGHT HERE NOW, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. NO TROPHIES IN NEW ZEALAND. IT'S PRETTY HISTORIC AS WELL, TO TRY AND PUSH THROUGH TO, YOU KNOW, GET SOME SILVERWARE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE. GOALKEEPER ALEX PAULSEN WAS CLOSE LAST YEAR WITH THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX. IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. THIS COULD BE THE SAVE OF THE SEASON. IT'S BEHIND HIM! PAULSEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE BLACK KNIGHTS' IMPRESSIVE SEASON, BUT HIS FUTURE BEYOND 2025 IS LIKELY AWAY FROM AUCKLAND; ON LOAN FROM PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB BOURNEMOUTH, HE'S BEEN LINKED TO A MOVE TO THE SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE. DISAPPOINTED THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE HIM NEXT YEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU? I MEAN, IT'S ALL SPECULATION, ISN'T IT? SO... I THINK, PERSONALLY, FOR ME, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, FOCUS HERE ON AUCKLAND FC. LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, COS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR AUCKLAND, AND KINDA JUST WANNA FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET SOME SILVERWARE THIS` UM, BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. HE'LL WALK AWAY AT THE END OF THE SEASON AND DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT EMPTY-HANDED. CHRIS WOOD'S NOTTINGHAM FOREST HAVE INCHED CLOSER TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL NEXT SEASON AFTER BEATING A LACKLUSTRE TOTTENHAM 2-1. OH, AND WOOD'S GOING IN AGAIN! THIS TIME IT'S IN THE NET, AND IT'S GONNA COUNT. CHRIS WOOD GOT THE TOUCH, VICARIO WAS NOWHERE, AND THE FOREST FANS DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TOO LONG FOR A LEGITIMATE SECOND GOAL. WOOD SCORING HIS 19th LEAGUE GOAL OF THE SEASON. FOREST HAVE FIVE GAMES REMAINING AND MUST FINISH IN THE TOP FIVE TO GUARANTEE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL NEXT SEASON. STAYING WITH ENGLISH FOOTBALL, AND BOTH LEEDS UNITED AND BURNLEY ARE CELEBRATING PROMOTION BACK TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE. LEEDS THRASHING STOKE CITY 6-0, STRIKER JOEL PIROE SCORING FOUR GOALS IN THE FIRST HALF. THE CHAMPAGNE FLOWING A LITTLE LATER WHEN BURNLEY BEAT SHEFFIELD UNITED 2-1 TO CONFIRM PROMOTION FOR BOTH TEAMS FOR NEXT SEASON. ONE MORE TEAM WILL BE ADDED FROM A FOUR-WAY PLAYOFF. AMERICAN GYMNAST SIMONE BILES AND SWEDISH POLE VAULTER MONDO DUPLANTIS PICKED UP THE BIG GONGS AT THIS YEAR'S LAUREUS AWARDS IN MADRID, BILES WINNING THE AWARD FOR THE FOURTH TIME AFTER COLLECTING THREE GOLDS AND A SILVER AT LAST YEAR'S PARIS OLYMPICS FOLLOWING THREE YEARS AWAY FROM THE SPORT; DUPLANTIS DEFENDING HIS OLYMPIC TITLE, AS WELL AS BREAKING THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE 10th TIME. SOME HALFWAY-DECENT ATHLETES THINK THAT I WAS DESERVING OF THIS AWARD, SO THAT'S A PRETTY COOL THING. TEENAGE FOOTBALLER LAMINE YAMAL WINNING THE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR AWARD. WORLD RUGBY, NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AND THE PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION UNVEILED A NEW INITIATIVE AT EDEN PARK TODAY AIMED AT SUPPORTING CURRENT AND FORMER PLAYERS WITH THEIR BRAIN HEALTH. THE SERVICE ALREADY A HIT WITH ONE ALL BLACKS GREAT. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. WORLD RUGBY'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO TACKLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS FROM HEAD KNOCKS ARRIVING IN AOTEAROA. WE'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY BECOMING THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL UNION TO LAUNCH THE BRAIN HEALTH SERVICE, A WORLD RUGBY INITIATIVE DRAWING FROM INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND EXPERTS AIMED AT HELPING CURRENT AND FORMER PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS ACCESS SUPPORT AND INFORMATION AROUND POSSIBLE COGNITIVE DECLINE. SOME PLAYERS THINK THAT IF THEY WALK INTO A ROOM AND THEY CAN'T REMEMBER WHY, THAT MEANS THERE'S A PROBLEM, WHEREAS THEY DON'T REALISE THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY. THE SERVICE INCLUDES AN ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE AND 13 STANDARDISED ASSESSMENTS BY A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST, TESTING FOR SIGNS OF DEPRESSION, MEMORY LOSS, COGNITIVE ISSUES AND MORE. WITH THE AMOUNT OF NARRATIVE OUT THERE, IT'S ONLY NATURAL THAT PLAYERS ARE GOING TO FEEL A LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND CONCERN. SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT CAN SAY, ACTUALLY, 'YOU CAN ACT ON THAT.' THE TESTING GENERATES A REPORT THAT CAN THEN BE USED AS A BENCHMARK FOR FUTURE ASSESSMENTS, ANY WARNING SIGNS IMMEDIATELY TRIGGERING A NOTIFICATION TO A PLAYER'S GP AS WELL AS A SUPPORT PERSON DESIGNATED BY THE PLAYER WHEN THEY FIRST ENROL. IT'S ABOUT ALLEVIATING THAT ANXIETY AND HAVING THE SUPPORT PERSON THERE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THAT, BUT ALSO JUST TO NUDGE THEM FORWARD. THE SERVICE ALREADY A HIT AMONG THOSE WHO'VE TRIED IT. PLAYERS EVEN FROM YESTERYEAR WOULD HAVE LOVED IT 10 YEARS AGO, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S HERE NOW, IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, CURRENT PLAYERS AND PLAYERS FROM YESTERYEAR, IT'S A GREAT SERVICE, AND I THINK IT WILL OFFER A LOT OF PEACE OF MIND. WORLD RUGBY EAGER TO GET THE PROGRAMME INTO MORE UNIONS AND EVENTUALLY CEMENTING IT AS A GLOBAL RESOURCE ACCESSIBLE TO UNDER-20 INTERNATIONALS. THE NZRPA ARE KEEN TO GET THIS INTO THE PASIFIKA LANGUAGES AS WELL, SO THAT'S COMING DOWN THE LINE AS WELL. AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE A POSITIVE 'KNOCK-ON' EFFECT. BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. FINALLY TONIGHT ` ALL BLACKS AND WARRIORS PLAYERS PAST AND PRESENT WERE AMONG HUNDREDS WHO GATHERED AT ROSMINI COLLEGE IN AUCKLAND TODAY TO FAREWELL DR JOHN MAYHEW. FORMER ALL BLACKS WING JOHN KIRWAN, WHO WAS CELEBRANT FOR THE FUNERAL, SAYING DOC MAYHEW SAVED HIS LIFE. I HAD ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I JUST` MY REFERENCE TO MENTAL HEALTH WAS 'ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST', SO I THOUGHT I WAS GOING INSANE. AND I WENT AND SAW DOC MAYHEW, MY MATE. AND I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA RING THE INSTITUTION, I WAS GONNA GET LOCKED UP. AND HE SAID TO ME, 'JK, IT'S AN ILLNESS, NOT A WEAKNESS. 'AND YOU CAN GET BETTER FROM IT.' MAYHEW WAS ALL BLACKS TEAM DOCTOR FOR 16 YEARS, ATTENDING MORE THAN 200 ALL BLACKS MATCHES, INCLUDING 131 TESTS AND FOUR WORLD CUP CAMPAIGNS. HE ALSO SPENT 14 SEASONS WITH THE WARRIORS. DOC WAS REVERED BY ALL THE PLAYERS HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH, BE IT CLUB, BE IT PROVINCIAL, BE SUPER RUGBY OR ALL BLACKS. PLAYERS LOOKED UP TO HIM. MAYHEW GIVEN A STANDING OVATION AS HIS CASKET WAS CARRIED OUT, LEGENDS OF BOTH RUGBY AND LEAGUE THEN PERFORMING A HAKA. MAYHEW WAS 69. THAT'S IT FOR SPORT THIS EVENING. STAY WITH US ` WHAT THE WEATHER IS DOING AT YOUR PLACE, NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` FIND OUT WHAT KIWIS ARE SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON AND WHAT THEY'RE TURNING THEIR BACKS ON. PLUS, HOW A FORMER WHITE FERN IS MAKING SURE THE KIDS GET THE CHANCE TO FOLLOW A ROLE MODEL. WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY, AT 7. VOICEOVER: The couch, the comfiest seat in the entire chair family. So comfy it blurs the line between sitting apparatus and a bed. And that's why we invented the Economy Skycouch. Our chair/ sofa/ bed is available in our economy cabins. Just another way we help your time fly. (FUNKY MUSIC) VOICEOVER: Deals so good they're out of this wooooorld. Get stellar savings on any satellite ready phone when you buy interest-free on an eligible Pay Monthly plan. TXT in the middle of nowhere. Only with One New Zealand. hello, after what has been days of unsettling weather FINALLY SOME QUIETER WEATHER. NEW FRONTAL BOUNDARY KNOWCKING ON THE DOORSTEP TONIGHT. CAN ALREADY SEE SOME SPEPCKLY CLOUD. GRAB SOME LAYERS. TAURANGA ` 24 DEGREES TODAY. EVEN THE WEST COAST 20. FIRST TROUGH WORKING THROUGH DEEP SOUTH. THEN IT BENDS THE CORNER. BY THE END OF THE DAY BREEZE WILL SET IN. THEN COOL AIR COMES IN. BELOW ZERO IN LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. IT WILL BE CHILLY FOR DAWN SERVICE. SINGLE FIGURES FRIDAY MORNING. LEFTOVER SHOWERS FADE AWAY. LEFTOVERS ARE GONE THEN FLOW IS SOUTHERLY. EASTERN RODNEY CHANCE FOR LATE SHOWER. SHOWERS AROUND THE EDGES OF CENTRAL PLATEAU. CHANCE FOR MORNING SHOWER TAURANGA. SOME SHOWERS THROUGH THE DAY GISBORNE TO HAWKES BAY. A SOUTHERLY TOO. MOISTURE IN THE WEST. COOLER AIR COMING IN IN WELLINGTON. TE WAI POUNAMU ` COOLER FEEL, SHOWERS IN THE MORNING, SOUTHERLIES SLIDE THROUGH. FURTHER WEST LOOKING GOOD, THE ODD ONE IN THE MORNING. COUPLE OF SHOWERS DEEP SOUTH. DUNEDIN SEEING SOME CLOUD. STILL SOME WET WEATHER. THURSDAY WILL BE COLDEST MORNING. FFEW SHOWERS TO THE HIGH NORTH.