POPE FRANCIS IS BEING REMEMBERED FOR HIS HUMOUR, HUMILITY AND HUMANITY, AS THE WORLD MOURNS THE PASSING OF THE PEOPLE'S POPE. SHOCKING NEW EVIDENCE EMERGES AT A CORONIAL HEARING INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOHN BECKENRIDGE AND HIS STEPSON MIKE ZHAO-BECKENRIDGE. AUCKLAND POLICE REVEAL MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A BRUTAL BUS STOP ATTACK THAT LEFT AN AMERICAN DOCTORAL STUDENT DEAD. AND BLACK FERN PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE EXPLAINS WHY SHE BACK-FLIPPED ON HER RETIREMENT DECISION. CAPTIONS BY JASON CONRAN AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. MALO E LELEI. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. POPE FRANCIS IS BEING REMEMBERED AS A PONTIFF OF THE PEOPLE AND A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE. THE VATICAN SAYS HE DIED OF A STROKE AND HEART FAILURE, JUST HOURS AFTER MAKING A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT ST PETER'S SQUARE TO DELIVER AN EASTER GREETING. HE EVEN STOPPED TO BLESS BABIES ON HIS FINAL TRIP ON THE POPEMOBILE. FRANCIS WAS THE FIRST POPE FROM LATIN AMERICA AND ONCE WORKED AS A BOUNCER IN BUENOS AIRES WHILE HE STUDIED FOR THE PRIESTHOOD. AS HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SINCE 2013, HE WAS CONSIDERED A REFORMER, REACHING OUT TO HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITIES, RAILING AGAINST GREED AND THE EXCESSES OF CAPITALISM, AND CAMPAIGNING FOR ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT SOME BELIEVE HE SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER BEGINS OUR COVERAGE. POPE FRANCIS LIVED TRUE TO HIS MONIKER AS THE PEOPLE'S POPE UNTIL THE VERY END. HE DEFIED DOCTORS' ORDERS TO REST, DETERMINED TO SPEAK TO THE HOPEFUL CROWD ON EASTER SUNDAY, HOWEVER WEAKLY, HOWEVER BRIEFLY. CARI FRATELLI E SORELLE... 'DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HAPPY EASTER,' HE SAID. HE RODE IN THE POPEMOBILE THROUGH THE THOUSANDS, STOPPING TO BLESS BABIES ALONG THE WAY. A PERFECT PICTURE FOR WHAT WAS THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR. BUT WITHIN HOURS, THE VATICAN HAD DESCENDED INTO DEEP MOURNING. COM PROFUNDO DOLORE... TRANSLATOR: WITH DEEP SORROW, I MUST ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF OUR HOLY FATHER FRANCIS. AT 7.35 THIS MORNING, THE BISHOP OF ROME, FRANCIS, RETURNED TO THE HOUSE OF THE FATHER. THE SIMPLICITY OF THE POPE'S FINAL MESSAGE WAS TRUE TO THE INFORMAL AND UNDERSTATED STYLE THAT DEFINED HIS PAPACY. AND IT MIRRORED HIS VERY FIRST ADDRESS. BUONA SERA. NOT A BLESSING, JUST 'GOOD EVENING', SIGNALLING CHANGE FROM THE START. FRANCIS WAS DIFFERENT TO HIS PREDECESSOR, POPE BENEDICT, IN ALMOST EVERY WAY. HE CHOSE PLAIN VESTMENTS, LIVED IN BASIC ACCOMMODATION, TURNING DOWN THE LAVISH APARTMENT. AND HE WAS DRIVEN IN A FORD FOCUS. A POPE OF MANY FIRSTS. HE WAS THE FIRST JESUIT POPE, THE FIRST TO CHOOSE THE NAME FRANCIS, THE FIRST FROM THE AMERICAS. BORN IN BUENOS AIRES, HE WAS A NIGHTCLUB BOUNCER AND A CHEMIST, THEN EVENTUALLY AN ARCHBISHOP, RENOWNED FOR USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND FOR HIS CLOSENESS WITH THE CITY'S POOREST. AS POPE, HE QUICKLY GAINED A REPUTATION AS A MODERNISER, SPEAKING BOLDLY ON MIGRATION, WAR AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IT WON HIM WARM FAVOUR FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE FAITH, 'TIME' MAGAZINE NAMING HIM PERSON OF THE YEAR IN 2013. IT WAS WITHIN THE VATICAN THAT HIS TONE DREW CRITICISM, DIVISIONS EMERGING AS THE TRADITIONALISTS OF THE CHURCH FOUGHT AGAINST HIS SOFTENING STANCE ON ISSUES SUCH AS DIVORCE. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY, HE FAMOUSLY REPLIED 'WHO AM I TO JUDGE?' CHI SONO IO PER GIUDICARLO? AND IN 2023, HE PERMITTED PRIESTS TO BLESS SAME-SEX COUPLES. ALTHOUGH HE STOOD FIRM ON RULING OUT GAY MARRIAGE, IT WAS ENOUGH FOR THE CARDINALS, THE SO-CALLED PRINCES OF THE CHURCH, TO PUBLICLY QUESTION HIS JUDGEMENT. STILL, HE INSISTED THE CHURCH WELCOME EVERYONE, ADDRESSED FINANCIAL CORRUPTION IN THE VATICAN AND GREW THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE FAITH. HE ALSO SET UP A SPECIAL GROUP TO TACKLE CHILD ABUSE IN THE CHURCH. BUT MANY CATHOLICS FELT IT ALL MOVED TOO SLOWLY, AND HE FAILED TO QUELL THE SCANDAL COMPLETELY. (APPLAUSE) A GLOBAL LEADER, HE HELPED RESTORE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CUBA AND BUILT BRIDGES WITH THE MUSLIM WORLD. HE HAS CALLED ISRAEL'S BOMBING OF CIVILIANS IN GAZA SHAMEFUL... YUSUF! ...AND MADE A PHONE CALL TO THE STRIP TO BLESS THOSE THERE EVERY SINGLE NIGHT SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. IN RECENT YEARS, HIS DECLINING HEALTH SAW HIM START TO USE A WHEELCHAIR. AND IN 2022 HE WAS ALREADY IN A FRAIL STATE WHEN HE PRESIDED OVER POPE BENEDICT'S FUNERAL. FRANCIS WAS DETERMINED NOT TO RETIRE LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR HAD. BUT HE ALSO REFUSED TO OCCUPY THE VATICAN IN TITLE ONLY. AND WHILE A RECENT BOUT OF DOUBLE PNEUMONIA AT 88 YEARS OLD SAW HIM SPEND FIVE WEEKS IN HOSPITAL, HE STAYED HARD AT WORK, MEETING WITH THE QUEEN AND KING THIS MONTH, AND JUST THIS WEEKEND, WELCOMING THE VICE PRESIDENT, JD VANCE. I KNOW YOU'VE NOT BEEN FEELING GREAT, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU IN BETTER HEALTH. POLITICALLY ACTIVE UNTIL HIS LAST DAYS, HE RAISED CONCERN OVER TRUMP'S POLICIES AROUND MIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND PRISONERS, THE PRESIDENT GIVING HIS CONDOLENCES ALONGSIDE THE EASTER BUNNY. HE WAS A GOOD MAN. WORKED HARD. HE LOVED THE WORLD. U.S. FLAGS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO FLY AT HALF MAST. SO TOO HAVE THOSE IN THE UK, KING CHARLES EXPRESSING A HEAVY HEART OVER THE POPE'S PASSING. CHRISTOPHER LUXON JOINED THE TRIBUTES ALSO. CHOIR SING HYMN: # SICUT ERAT IN PRINCIPIO, ET NUNC, ET SEMPER... HIS LEGACY REFLECTED IN THE FACES OF THE FAITHFUL, WHO GATHERED IN THEIR THOUSANDS TO PRAY AT SUNSET IN THE SAME SQUARE HE MADE HIS LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE. # GLORIA PATRI ET FILIO... HIS DETRACTORS WILL BE EAGER TO CHANGE COURSE WITH HIS SUCCESSOR. BUT FOR THOSE WHO LOVED HIM, FRANCIS WAS A DISRUPTOR WHO OVERCAME FIERCE RESISTANCE TO HELP RESTORE THE IMAGE OF A HURTING CHURCH, A POPE WHO LIVED AND LED IN THE EXAMPLE OF HIS NAMESAKE, SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, A CHAMPION FOR THE POOR, FOR PEACE AND FOR THE PLANET. CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS AROUND NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF POPE FRANCIS. KIWI PRIESTS WHO MET HIM HAVE BEEN REMEMBERING HIM AS A HUMBLE MAN WHO CARED MOST FOR THE POOR. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS. GOVERNMENT FLAGS FLEW AT HALF MAST TODAY IN HONOUR OF THE 88-YEAR-OLD POPE. AND CATHOLICS AROUND THE COUNTRY WENT TO SPECIAL MASSES IN LARGE NUMBERS, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE. HE'S BEEN A GOOD SHEPHERD. IT'S VERY SAD, I KNOW. HE WAS A VERY INSPIRING MAN, AND I THINK HE LED THE CHURCH VERY WELL. IT'S A VERY SAD DAY. HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN AND A GREAT LEADER OF THE CHURCH. WE ONLY HOPE THAT HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS THE SAME BELIEFS AS HE HAD. AUCKLAND BISHOP STEVE LOWE MET THE POPE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALWAYS MEMORABLE. AND THERE HE WAS, WALKING ALONG, BY HIMSELF, DRESSED IN WHITE. AND I WAS UP A FLIGHT AND A HALF OF STAIRS, AND I WAVED. HE WAVED BACK. IT WAS USUALLY LIKE THIS AT THE POPE'S LODGINGS AT CASA SANTA MARTA. HE'D JUST WALK IN AND OUT, AND HE'D OFTEN CHAT TO PEOPLE HE ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE WAY. THERE HE WAS IN FRONT OF ME, WITH HIS HAND OUT. AND I WAS SHOCKED, THINKING, 'WHAT ON EARTH DO I SAY? WHAT LANGUAGE DO I SPEAK?' THE LEADER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH PUTTING PEOPLE AT EASE. A HUMBLE SERVANT. HE DIDN'T LIKE BEING CALLED THE POPE. HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS THE BISHOP OF ROME. IN WELLINGTON, AT ST MARY OF THE ANGELS, THE FAITHFUL PRAYED TOO. NOT PERFECT. NO ONE IS. BUT HE HAD THAT BIG HEART FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE OBVIOUSLY ON THE MARGINS. ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP SIR DAVID MOXON VISITED THE POPE OFTEN IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE HOLY SEE, THE VATICAN. IT WAS LIKE SITTING DOWN WITH YOUR FAVOURITE UNCLE. IT WAS JUST A RELAXED, ORDINARY EXPERIENCE WITH A VERY COMPASSIONATE, AVUNCULAR HUMAN BEING. THE ARCHBISHOP REMEMBERS THE POPE AS A VERY HUMBLE MAN WHO WANTED TO WALK HIS TALK. FORD FOCUS CARS, SMALL CARS. NO BIG ENTOURAGES. HE CARRIED HIS OWN BRIEFCASE. QUEUED FOR BREAKFAST IN THE HOSTEL HE LIVED IN, ON THE THIRD FLOOR. AND THAT WAS A BREAK FROM EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE BEFORE. NOT EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN PRAISING POPE FRANCIS. CHRISTOPHER LONGHURST, FROM THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS, RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING... THAT ISSUE WILL BE JUST ONE OF MANY TO BE WEIGHED BY THE 135 CARDINALS AT THE CONCLAVE IN THE COMING WEEKS. (CONGREGATION SING HYMN) WE'RE GOING TO PRAY FOR THE ELECTION OF A NEW POPE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GOT IN MIND FOR US AND THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD. AND I HOPE THAT WE GET A HUMBLE MAN OF GOD. AN ELECTION WHICH WILL CHOOSE A POPE TO COMPLETE THE REFORMS POPE FRANCIS WANTED TO MAKE, OR ONE WHO WILL RETURN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO MORE CONSERVATIVE VALUES. THE POPE'S DEATH NOW TRIGGERS A CENTURIES-OLD PROCESS OF RITUALS AND TRADITIONS THAT CULMINATES WITH A CONCLAVE TO CHOOSE HIS SUCCESSOR. LISETTE IS HERE NOW WITH THE DETAILS. INSIDE THE VATICAN, THE RITUAL BEGINS WHEN A DOCTOR IS SUMMONED TO CERTIFY THE PONTIFF'S DEATH, BEFORE THE BODY IS PLACED IN A COFFIN AND HIS PAPAL RING REMOVED AND DESTROYED. POPE FRANCIS' APARTMENT IS THEN SEALED OFF, SYMBOLISING AN OFFICIAL END TO THE PONTIFICATE. HISTORICALLY, THIS WAS DONE TO PREVENT LOOTING. ON WEDNESDAY HIS BODY IS MOVED TO ST PETER'S BASILICA FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS. THE FUNERAL TRADITIONALLY TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND SIXTH DAY AFTER DEATH, AND IS MARKED BY A PUBLIC MASS ATTENDED BY WORLD LEADERS AND HEADS OF STATE. THIS SIGNALS THE START OF 'NOVENDIALI', A PERIOD OF OFFICIAL MOURNING THAT GOES ON FOR NINE DAY. DURING THIS TIME, CARDINALS ARRIVE IN ROME TO PARTICIPATE IN A CONCLAVE TO ELECT THE NEXT POPE. ONLY THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 80 ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. THE CARDINALS VOTE IN SECRET SESSIONS, AND THE BALLOTS ARE BURNED IN A SPECIAL STOVE AFTER EACH SESSION. TO BECOME POPE, A CANDIDATE MUST RECEIVE TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTE. WHITE SMOKE SIGNALS THE CHURCH HAS A NEW LEADER, BLACK SMOKE MEANS THE CARDINALS NEED TO VOTE AGAIN. IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR CONCLAVES TO LAST A FEW DAYS ` ALTHOUGH THE LONGEST IN HISTORY LASTED TWO YEARS AND NINE MONTHS. PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAD AN AUDIENCE IN LONDON WITH KING CHARLES JUST HOURS AFTER POPE FRANCIS DIED. LUXON SAID THEY SPOKE ABOUT THE POPE'S DEATH, BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT WHAT OTHER ISSUES THEY DISCUSSED. IT CAME ON THE SAME DAY THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSION OF MILITARY SUPPORT TO UKRAINE UNTIL THE END OF 2026. IT INCLUDES THE DEPLOYMENT OF UP TO 100 DEFENCE FORCE PERSONNEL TO TRAIN UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS IN THE UK AND EUROPE. BACK HOME NOW ` AND THE PERSON WHO DIED AFTER BEING ASSAULTED AT AN AUCKLAND BUS STOP HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY COLLEAGUES AS U.S. DOCTORAL STUDENT KYLE WHORRALL. THE 33-YEAR-OLD WAS STUDYING ENTOMOLOGY, AND MAY HAVE BEEN OUT LOOKING FOR INSECTS WHEN HE WAS ASSAULTED JUST BEFORE 10pm ON SATURDAY. POLICE BELIEVE HE WAS ATTACKED BY AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE WITH AN UNKNOWN WEAPON AFTER THEY EXITED A BLACK SUV NEAR THE BUS STOP ON ST JOHN'S RD. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, OUTSIDE THE BUS SHELTER. THE ATTACK HAS OCCURRED AND AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE VICTIM. THERE IS POTENTIALLY AT LEAST A THIRD PERSON ` POTENTIALLY A THIRD PERSON AND OTHERS IN THE VEHICLE. FOLLOWING THE ATTACK, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY FLED TOWARDS COLLEGE ROAD ` TO MY RIGHT ` AT SPEED. DETECTIVE INSPECTOR BALDWIN SAYS THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OCCUPANTS OF A WHITE TOYOTA UTE THAT WAS FORCED TO BRAKE WHEN THE BLACK SUV DID A U-TURN ON ST JOHN'S RD PRIOR TO THE ATTACK, AT AROUND 9.51pm. SHOCKING NEW EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED AT A CORONIAL HEARING INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOHN BECKENRIDGE AND HIS STEPSON MIKE ZHAO-BECKENRIDGE A DECADE AGO. THE PAIR VANISHED IN 2015, AND JOHN'S CAR WAS FOUND SUBMERGED AT THE BOTTOM OF A CLIFF NEAR CURIO BAY, IN SOUTHLAND. AN INQUEST IN 2023 HEARD TWO POSSIBLE OUTCOMES ` THAT THEY HAD DIED IN A MURDER-SUICIDE, OR ESCAPED OVERSEAS. A THREE-DAY HEARING HAS BEEN SET DOWN THIS WEEK TO ASSESS NEW EVIDENCE. THAT INCLUDES A REVELATION THAT PAUL WATSON, WHO OWNS THE CLIFFTOP LAND CENTRAL TO THE CASE, ALLEGEDLY TOLD HIS COUSIN OLIVER THE PAIR SURVIVED. OLIVER WATSON'S EVIDENCE WILL BE THAT DURING THE PHONE CALL PAULA WATSON SAID, ", WE HELP THEM OUT AND THEY ARE A LIVE. HOWEVER, PAUL WATSON IS EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO THIS EVIDENCE AND SAY IT'S UNTRUE. THE HEARING ALSO HEARD FROM A CRASH EXPERT, WHO USED A MODEL CAR TO DESCRIBE WHY HE THOUGHT SOMEONE MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR WHEN IT WENT OVER THE CLIFF. NEW RESEARCH BY WORLD VISION HAS FOUND INCREASED EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS ARE KEY DRIVERS FOR RISING CONFLICT AND HUNGER IN SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST FRAGILE COUNTRIES. THE AID ORGANISATION SURVEYED NEARLY 4000 PEOPLE FROM 12 COUNTRIES ACROSS CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH ASIA, OCEANIA, AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. 90% OF RESPONDENTS SAY CLIMATE CHANGE IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. WHEN YOU RELY ON THE LAND FOR YOUR SURVIVAL, SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS LIKE DROUGHT AND FLOODING CAN TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE THE RAINS FAIL IN AFGHANISTAN THREE YEARS IN A ROW? WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE SCARED TO DIG A WELL IN SYRIA BECAUSE IT MIGHT DRY UP YOUR NEIGHBOUR'S WELL AND CAUSE CONFLICT THERE? WHAT'S IT LIKE WHEN THE RAINS FINALLY COME, AND THEY SWEEP AWAY YOUR CROPS AND N YOUR HOME? THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE REAL IMPACTS ON REAL PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. LIKE IN AFGHANISTAN, WHERE TORRENTIAL RAINS AND EXTENSIVE FLOODING IN GHOR AND FARYAB PROVINCES KILLED MORE THAN 130 PEOPLE LAST YEAR. AYATULLA, WHO WAS INTERVIEWED FOR THIS RESEARCH, SPOKE ABOUT HOW HE LOST EVERYTHING. THAT'S UP TO AROUND $9.20. WHEN THESE CLIMATE SHOCKS HAPPEN, THERE ISN'T THE TYPE OF RESPONSE FROM LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WE'RE USED TO. WHEN WEATHER EVENTS HAPPEN SUCH AS THE FLOODING WE JUST HAD OVER EASTER, AND POWER CUTS, WE EXPECT OUR GOVERNMENT, WE EXPECT THE COUNCIL, WE EXPECT THE SERVICES TO KICK IN AND SUPPORT US. AND THAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT, IN THE MOST FRAGILE PLACES IN THE WORLD ` NOT ONLY ARE THEY THE HARDEST HIT, BUT OF COURSE THERE'S THE LEAST IN TERMS OF RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO THOSE CRISES. AND SOMETIMES THAT RESPONSE CAN LEAD TO CONFLICT, OR EVEN MIGRATION, LIKE IN SOMALIA AND HONDURAS, WHERE MANY LEAVE IN SEARCH FOR SOMEWHERE MORE STABLE. THIS IS REALLY A WAKE-UP CALL, I THINK, FOR ALL OF US. AND GRANT BAYLDON SAYS KIWIS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY COMMITTING TO MEETING OUR CLIMATE TARGETS, SUPPORTING THE COUNTRIES IN THIS SURVEY, AND HELPING WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES, LIKE THE CURRENT HUNGER CRISIS IN DROUGHT-STRICKEN PLACES, MAKING NOT ONLY THE EARTH A PRIORITY THIS WORLD EARTH DAY, BUT THOSE WHO LIVE ON IT TOO. TODAY'S TOP TEMPERATURE WAS IN TAURANGA, WITH 23.8 DEGREES. WE'LL HAVE MORE OF YOUR WEATHER AFTER SPORT. ALSO AHEAD, WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF A MAN AND A WOMAN? WINSTON PETERS WANTS THE LAW TO CLARIFY. TRUMP DEFENDS HIS DEFENSE SECRETARY'S SECOND CHAT GROUP GAFFE, CALLING IT ` YOU GUESSED IT ` 'FAKE NEWS'. AUCKLAND MAYOR WAYNE BROWN HAS BEEN FINED $150 FOR MAKING A VIDEO CALL WHILE DRIVING. BROWN BEAMED INTO HIS COUNCIL'S TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING VIA VIDEO EARLIER THIS MONTH, WHILE HE WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL. HE LATER ACKNOWLEDGED HIS MISTAKE AND APOLOGISED. POLICE CONFIRMED BROWN HAS BEEN FINED AND GIVEN 20 DEMERIT POINTS. NEW ZEALAND FIRST HAS INTRODUCED A BILL TO ENSURE THE BIOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF A WOMAN AND A MAN ARE 'DEFINED IN LAW' IT COMES JUST DAYS AFTER BRITAIN'S HIGHEST COURT RULED THAT BIOLOGICAL ` AND NOT TRANS WOMEN ` MEET THE DEFINITION OF A WOMAN UNDER EQUALITY LAWS. WINSTON PETERS SAID IN A STATEMENT HIS PARTY'S BILL IS NOT ABOUT BEING 'ANTI' ANYONE OR ANYTHING, BUT THAT THE LAW SHOULD REFLECT BIOLOGICAL REALITY AND PROVIDE LEGAL CERTAINTY. IT'S A BUSINESS THE WORLD SHOULDN'T NEED ` A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES PROSTHETIC LIMBS FOR CHILDREN IN GAZA WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED IN WAR. BUT NOW, THANKS TO FUNDING OUT OF NEW ZEALAND, YOUNG ONES WHO HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IN THE ONGOING CONFLICT COULD SOON HAVE ACCESS TO 3D-PRINTED PROSTHETICS, WHICH ARE CHEAPER AND FAR FASTER TO MAKE. IMOGEN WELLS HAS THE DETAILS. SINCE ENDING THE CEASEFIRE WITH HAMAS IN MARCH, ISRAEL HAS CUT OFF ALL SUPPLIES OF DRINKING WATER, FOOD, FUEL AND HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA. CROWDS LINING UP FOR HOURS TO GET THEIR SHARE. THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLING THESE ACTIONS WAR CRIMES. AND JUST AS SHOCKING ARE THE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN LEFT WITH AMPUTATED LIMBS, A TRAGIC REALITY OF THIS ONGOING WAR, AND ONE RITAJ IS LIVING OVER AND OVER. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'MY LEG'S BEEN AMPUTATED THREE TIMES,' SHE SAYS. SHE NOW HAS A PROSTHETIC LIMB. EVERY TIME THERE'S A NEW SITUATION WHERE GAZA IS BOMBED OR ATTACKED IN SOME OTHER WAY, THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT ARE HURT. SO THE NUMBERS KEEP INCREASING. RIGHT NOW, HANDMADE PROSTHETICS ARE RELIED ON, BUT THAT COULD ALL BE ABOUT TO CHANGE. THANKS TO FUNDING FROM UNICEF AOTEAROA AND THE FEDERATION OF THE ISLAMIC ASSOCIATIONS OF NEW ZEALAND, A 3D PRINTING PILOT IS LAUNCHING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IN JORDAN, SPECIFICALLY FOR KIDS. IT WOULD MEAN LIMBS COULD BE CREATED FAR FASTER, COST AROUND A SIXTH OF THE PRICE, AND MEAN CHILDREN AREN'T HAVING TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS, BECAUSE ALL THE SPECIALISTS NEED IS A SCAN FROM A PHONE. GAME-CHANGING ACCESS FOR KIDS LIKE RITAJ, WHO SAYS HER FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO ARE RIDE HER SCOOTER AND PLAY FOOTBALL. THIS CONFLICT NEEDS MUCH MORE THAN PROSTHETICS TO REALLY, UH, SERVE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, BUT SOMETHING THAT LOOKS RELATIVELY SMALL WHEN YOU'RE NOT THE ONE EXPERIENCING THAT OBSTACLE, UH, IS ACTUALLY GIGANTIC IN THE IMPACT IT HAS. THE FUNDING OUT OF NEW ZEALAND IS JUST FOR THE PILOT, BUT IT'S HOPED MORE WILL BE SECURED TO EXTEND IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RUNNING, JUST HAVING THE OPTION TO MOVE AROUND. IT'S ABSOLUTELY LIFE-CHANGING. LIFE-CHANGING FOR KIDS INJURED IN A WAR THEY DID NOTHING TO CAUSE. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BACKING HIS DEFENCE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH AFTER REPORTS THAT HE HAD SHARED SENSITIVE DETAILS ABOUT AIRSTRIKES IN YEMEN TO A SECOND SIGNAL CHAT. THE GROUP INCLUDED HIS WIFE, HIS BROTHER, AND PERSONAL LAWYER. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS LABELLED THE STORY 'FAKE NEWS' AND IS BLAMING IT ON 'DISGRUNTLED LEAKERS' INSIDE THE PENTAGON. CHANNEL 4'S SIOBHAN KENNEDY REPORTS. (BAND PLAYS BRIGHT FANFARE) THE CUSTOMARY WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL, THIS YEAR BROUGHT TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME BY META, THE COMPANY RUN BY TRUMP'S NEW TECH BUDDY MARK ZUCKERBERG, AND OTHERS LIKE AMAZON... AND GO! ...WHO APPARENTLY WERE ONLY TOO HAPPY TO PAY THE UPWARDS OF $75,000 FEE TO BE CORPORATE SPONSORS OF THE ANNUAL EVENT. ONE. TWO. (WHISTLE BLOWS) BUT THIS YEAR, THE FOCUS WAS LESS ABOUT EGGS ROLLING AS HEADS ROLLING, SPECIFICALLY THE POTENTIAL OUSTER OF HIS BLUNDER-PRONE DEFENCE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH, WHO ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, HAD SHARED CLASSIFIED PLANS ` FOR A SECOND TIME ` ON UPCOMING ATTACKS ON HOUTHI MILITANTS, THIS TIME WITH HIS WIFE AND BROTHER, IN ANOTHER UNSECURED GROUP CHAT. NOT THAT THE PRESIDENT SEEMED PERTURBED. PETE'S DOING A GREAT JOB. EVERYBODY'S HAPPY WITH HIM. IT'S JUST FAKE NEWS. THEY JUST BRING UP STORIES. I GUESS IT SOUNDS LIKE DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES. YOU KNOW, HE WAS PUT THERE TO GET RID OF A LOT OF BAD PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING. BUT THE TIMES CITED MULTIPLE SOURCES THAT SAID HEGSETH'S CHAT ON THE MESSAGING APP 'SIGNAL' INCLUDED THE SPECIFIC FLIGHT SCHEDULES FOR THE F-18 FIGHTER JETS TARGETING THE HOUTHIS IN YEMEN, THE SAME TOP SECRET DATA THAT WAS ACCIDENTALLY SHARED WITH THE EDITOR OF THE ATLANTIC MAGAZINE IN ANOTHER SIGNAL CHAT AHEAD OF THE ATTACKS THAT WAS REVEALED IN A STUNNING EXPOSE LAST MONTH. BUT JUST AS HE DID THEN, HEGSETH CAME OUT FIGHTING TODAY. SEE, THIS IS WHAT THE MEDIA DOES. THEY TAKE ANONYMOUS SOURCES FROM DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEES, AND THEN THEY TRY TO SLASH AND BURN PEOPLE AND RUIN THEIR REPUTATIONS. NOT GOING TO WORK WITH ME, BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT, PUTTING THE PENTAGON BACK IN THE HANDS OF WAR FIGHTERS. AND ANONYMOUS SMEARS FROM DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEES ON OLD NEWS DOESN'T MATTER. BUT IT WASN'T AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE THAT PENNED A SCATHING EDITORIAL ON HEGSETH ` RATHER, HIS FORMER PENTAGON SPOKESMAN, WHO HAD ONLY STOOD DOWN 48 HOURS BEFORE BUT FELT COMPELLED TO RESPOND AFTER THE LATEST REVELATIONS. IN IT, JOHN ULLYOT WROTE OF THE TOTAL CHAOS INSIDE THE PENTAGON, FROM LEAKS OF SENSITIVE OPERATIONAL PLANS TO MASS FIRINGS. HE LATER WARNED OF EVEN BIGGER BOMBSHELL STORIES COMING THIS WEEK. JUST THE SAME OLD STUFF FROM THE MEDIA. THAT'S AN OLD ONE. TRY FINDING SOMETHING NEW. AN EGG FOR YOU? BUT IF THERE ARE NEW, BIGGER BOMBSHELLS TO COME... EVERYBODY HAVING A GOOD TIME? ...THE PRESIDENT AND HIS DEFENCE SECRETARY MAY FIND THOSE GOOD TIMES SHORT-LIVED. STILL TO COME ` ARE THOSE CONSTANT PINGS GETTING TOO MUCH? NEW RESEARCH REVEALS HOW PHONE NOTIFICATIONS ARE AFFECTING PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND ONCE AGAIN, CHRIS WOOD COULD ` HEADING HOME, TO KEEP NOTTINGHAM FOREST'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DREAM ALIVE. 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. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE IS TOP STORY. POPE FRANCIS IS BEING REMEMBERED AS THE PEOPLE'S POPE AND A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE. THE VATICAN SAYS HE DIED OF A STROKE AND HEART FAILURE JUST HOURS AFTER MAKING A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT ST PETER'S SQUARE TO DELIVER AN EASTER GREETING. THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY HAS UPHELD TWO COMPLAINTS FROM ACTION FOR SMOKEFREE 2025 AGAINST THREE NEWS FOR BREACHING BROADCASTING STANDARDS IN TWO REPORTS AIRED IN JULY 2024. THE FIRST REPORT, AIRED ON JULY 26th, ALLEGED LINKS BETWEEN ASH AND THE PRO-VAPING LOBBY IN AUSTRALIA. THE BSA FOUND IT BREACHED FAIRNESS, BALANCE, AND ACCURACY STANDARDS. THE BSA CONCLUDED THE BROADCAST CREATED A MISLEADING, UNBALANCED, AND UNFAIRLY NEGATIVE IMPRESSION OF ASH BY FAVOURING CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES AND FAILING TO ADEQUATELY PRESENT ASH'S POSITION. THE SECOND REPORT, AIRED ON JULY 30th, CLAIMED A SCHOOL HAD REFUSED TO ALLOW ITS STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ASH'S ANNUAL YEAR 10 VAPING SURVEY DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT ASH'S STANCE ON YOUTH VAPING. THE BSA FOUND THIS MISLEADING AND UNFAIR, AS IT PRESENTED OUTDATED INFORMATION AS BREAKING NEWS, WITHOUT TELLING VIEWERS THE INFORMATION WAS FROM 2021. THE BSA CONCLUDED THAT THREENEWS FAILED TO ENSURE ACCURACY BY NOT PROVIDING IMPORTANT FACTUAL CONTEXT. THE COMMENT FROM ASH INCLUDED IN THE REPORT DID NOT ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE ISSUES RAISED. THE AUTHORITY HIGHLIGHTED SHORTFALLS IN EDITORIAL PROCESSES AND OVERSIGHT, EMPHASISING THE NEED FOR ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS IN REPORTING. THREE NEWS REGRETS THE ERRORS THAT WERE MADE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE AUTHORITY ORDERED THE BROADCAST OF THIS STATEMENT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE BREACH OF BROADCASTING STANDARDS TO OUR AUDIENCE AND TO REMEDY THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO ASH'S AND ITS DIRECTORS' REPUTATION. FOR YEARS, IT'S BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. DEEP BENEATH GENEVA, THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER ACCELERATES PARTICLES CLOSE TO THE SPEED OF LIGHT, THEN SMASHES THEM INTO ONE ANOTHER AND MEASURES THE RESULTS. BUT CHINA IS FAST CATCHING UP. AND FOR EUROPE TO RETAIN ITS EDGE, THE SOON-TO-BE BOSS OF CERN SAYS A HUGE NEW COLLIDER IS NEEDED. ITV'S MARTIN STEW REPORTS. THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER IS CURRENTLY SWITCHED OFF FOR MAINTENANCE, WHICH MEANS WE'RE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL 100m UNDERGROUND TO SEE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SCIENCE EXPERIMENT UP CLOSE. SO, THIS IS THE EXPERIMENT, AS WE APPROACH IT FROM ONE END. THE WHOLE CAVERN IS ABOUT 45m OR 50m LONG. FOR 18 YEARS, PARTICLES HAVE BEEN COLLIDING INSIDE THESE TUNNELS AT NEARLY THE SPEED OF LIGHT, TO RECREATE THE MOMENTS JUST AFTER THE BIG BANG. WE BASICALLY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF COLLISIONS OF VERY HIGH-ENERGY PARTICLES ` 40 MILLION PICTURES A SECOND. WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW NATURE WORKS, AT THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL. THEY DISCOVERED THE HIGGS BOSON, A PARTICLE WHICH EXPLAINS HOW THINGS GET MASS. BUT TO GO FURTHER, THEY WANT TO BUILD BIGGER ` MUCH BIGGER. AT NEARLY 100km IN CIRCUMFERENCE, THE FUTURE CIRCULAR COLLIDER, OR FCC, WOULD BE THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT RING AND TWICE AS DEEP. HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST, AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PERSUADE GOVERNMENTS TO PAY THAT? THE FCC WILL COST 15 BILLION SWISS FRANCS. THAT'S �13 BILLION. SPREAD OVER 15 YEARS. AND IT'S SHARED BETWEEN THE 24 MEMBER STATES OF CERN AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. TO CONVINCE THE GOVERNMENTS, I THINK THERE ARE MANY ARGUMENTS. ONE IS THE SCIENCE. BUT THEN THERE'S THE WIDER ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WORKING RIGHT AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL THEN FILTER DOWN INTO THE ECONOMY. THAT HAPPENED WITH THE INTERNET, WHICH WAS INVENTED AT CERN, AS WAS CLOUD COMPUTING. BUT THERE IS A MORE PRESSING DRIVER FOR THIS DECISION ` CHINA. THE GOVERNMENT THERE IS CONSIDERING PLANS TO BUILD A GIANT COLLIDER OF ITS OWN. WE REALLY HAVE TO STAY AT THAT FOREFRONT, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE LEAD IN EUROPE, COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. UPGRADES SHOULD TIP THE NEEDLE IN EUROPE'S FAVOUR, FOR THE NEXT DECADE AT LEAST. BUT TO KEEP THIS CONTINENT AS THE CENTRE OF PARTICLE SCIENCE EXCELLENCE LONG-TERM WON'T COME CHEAP. PEOPLE ARE BEING URGED TO TURN OFF THEIR PHONE NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. A NEW STUDY COMMISSIONED BY 2 DEGREES REVEALS THAT HALF OF KIWIS FEEL OVERRUN BY NOTIFICATIONS. FOR GEN Z, THE FIRST GENERATION TO GROW UP ENTIRELY ONLINE, NEARLY 40% SAID THEY REGULARLY FELT OVERWHELMED, PANICKED, OR ANXIOUS. SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS WERE THE BIGGEST CULPRITS. WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE AND WHAT LURED HER BACK TO THE BLACK JERSEY NEXT. AND WHAT LURED HER BACK TO THE BLACK JERSEY NEXT. WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE AND WHAT LURED HER BACK TO THE BLACK JERSEY NEXT. PLUS, AUCKLAND FC WALK HEAD-FIRST TOWARD HISTORY, JUST A POINT AWAY FROM WINNING THE PREMIER'S PLATE IN THEIR FIRST SEASON. AND CHRIS WOOD FIRES HOME HIS 19th PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL OF THE SEASON TO LIFT NOTTINGHAM FORREST BACK INTO THIRD PLACE. (DYNAMIC MUSIC) THREE NEWS SPORT WITH SUZUKI, SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE STARS WITH WHANAU AWHINA PLUNKET. THE BLACK FERNS HAVE RECEIVED A MASSIVE BOOST THE BLACK FERNS HAVE RECEIVED A MASSIVE BOOST IN THEIR BID TO DEFEND THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP TITLE LATER THIS YEAR, WITH PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE ANNOUNCING SHE'S COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT. ORIGINALLY DECLARING THE END OF HER INTERNATIONAL CAREER AFTER WINNING OLYMPIC GOLD WITH THE BLACK FERNS SEVENS LAST YEAR, THE 33-YEAR-OLD PUTS THE CHANGE OF HEART DOWN TO HER CAMPAIGN WITH THE BLUES IN SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. SHE'S BEEN A DOMINANT FORCE IN BOTH THE SEVENS AND 15S GAME FOR THE PAST DECADE. PORTIA WOODMAN. YOU'RE KIDDING ME! THAT IS MAGNIFICENT! NOW, LESS THAN 12 MONTHS ON FROM DECLARING SHE HAD PUT ON THE BLACK JERSEY FOR THE LAST TIME, PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE ADMITS RETIREMENT WASN'T FOR HER. APPARENTLY NOT. THE WOODMAN-WICKLIFFES DON'T KNOW WHAT RETIREMENT MEANS. I THINK WE SHOULD JUST ERASE IT FROM OUR VOCABULARY. THE U-TURN HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH MISSING THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, THOUGH. THE KEY CONTRIBUTOR MUCH CLOSER TO HOME. TO BE HONEST, THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS DECISION I'VE COME TO WAS BECAUSE OF THE AUPIKI BLUES. AND NOT JUST BECAUSE IT ENDED WITH A TITLE. A MOVE FROM HER USUAL POSITION ON THE WING INTO CENTRE, PLAYING ALONGSIDE PLAYMAKER RUAHEI DEMANT. FOR ME, SHE HAS SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE. SHE'LL PUT EVERYONE INTO A HOLE, AND SHE CAN COMMUNICATE. SHE KNOWS EVERYONE'S STRENGTHS. I THINK THAT'S WHY I DID SO WELL THERE. SHE'LL NOW JOIN DEMANT AT BLACK FERNS CAMP LATER THIS WEEK, THE 33-YEAR-OLD LOOKING TO ADD TO HER TWO WORLD CUP TRIUMPHS IN 2017 AND 2021. THE HOME TOURNAMENT DIDN'T END EXACTLY HOW SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED, THOUGH, FORCED FROM THE FIELD WITH CONCUSSION. YOU KNOW, I SEEN HER FACE AFTER THAT GAME, SHE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SHE FINISHED HOW SHE'D WANTED WITH THE 15S. SO I REMINDED HER OF THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES. AND THEN REMINDED HER ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ENGLAND AND THE CHANCE TO WIPE SOME SMILES OFF FACES OVER THERE WOULD BE PRETTY COOL. THE CHALLENGE OF THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE TEAM PLAYING AT A HOME WORLD CUP IS ONE WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE KNOWS WON'T BE EASY. THEIR PLAYERS HAVE BEEN AROUND. THEY'RE FULLY PROFESSIONAL. THEY'RE PLAYING SOME AMAZING RUGBY. BUT I LIKE A CHALLENGE, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE GIRLS IN THE ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT CHALLENGE AS WELL. WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP. WE'RE NOT GONNA BOW DOWN TO ANYONE. WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE IT OUR BEST CRACK, DEFINITELY. AFTER THAT, SHE HASN'T RULED OUT A STINT IN THE NRLW. BUT IT'S MORE LIKELY SHE'LL PRIORITISE LIFE OFF THE FIELD. AND THEN I WANNA HAVE BABIES. I WANNA POP OUT, LIKE, FOUR OF THEM. IF THEY'RE ANYTHING LIKE SHE IS RUNNING ON THE LOOSE, IT'S SURE TO KEEP HER BUSY. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AND THE PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION, ALONGSIDE WORLD RUGBY, HAVE INTRODUCED A WORLD FIRST BRAIN HEALTH SERVICE TO HELP PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS MONITOR THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF HEAD KNOCKS. BOTH RETIRED PLAYERS AND THOSE STILL PLAYING WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS INDEPENDENT ADVICE AND SERVICES ONLINE, WHICH HELPS IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS FOR DEMENTIA AND PROVIDES PERSONALISED INSIGHTS TO OPTIMISE PLAYERS' COGNITIVE WELL-BEING. FORMER ALL BLACKS CENTRE CONRAD SMITH SAYS THE SERVICE IS A GAME-CHANGER FOR RUGBY. IT'S A NEURO EXAM. IT'S NOT A TREATMENT. BUT IT GIVES YOU AN ASSESSMENT THAT IS A MASSIVE, GIVE YOU MASSIVE PEACE OF MIND AS A PLAYER. THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH THAT AND GONE THROUGH THE TEST, KNOWING YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN. THE SERVICE WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT IN IRELAND LAST YEAR FOR RETIRED PLAYERS, BUT NEW ZEALAND IS THE FIRST TO OFFER IT FOR CURRENT PLAYERS AS WELL. AUCKLAND FC ARE WALKING HEAD-FIRST TOWARDS HISTORY THIS WEEKEND AS THEY LOOK TO LOCK UP THE PREMIER'S PLATE IN JUST THEIR FIRST SEASON IN THE LEAGUE. A WIN OR DRAW AGAINST PERTH GLORY ON SUNDAY WILL BE ENOUGH TO ENSURE THEY FINISH THE REGULAR SEASON ON TOP OF THE TABLE AND GRAB THEIR FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE ` ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT THE ONE THEY'RE HUNGRIEST FOR. THERE'S A SPRING IN THE STEP OF AUCKLAND FC, A SOLITARY POINT AWAY FROM MAKING HISTORY. WIN OR DRAW AGAINST PERTH ON SUNDAY AND THE PREMIER'S PLATE IS THEIRS. WINNING A TROPHY, YOU KNOW, IN OUR FIRST SEASON ` IT'S SOMETHING REALLY SPECTACULAR, I THINK, FROM THE CLUB ALL THE WAY UP, YOU KNOW, FROM THE OWNERS, THE CEO. YOU KNOW, WE WORKED HARD TO GET TO THIS POSITION. AUCKLAND VERY NEARLY WRAPPED IT UP OVER THE WEEKEND. HAD WESTERN SYDNEY'S WINNING GOAL OVER MELBOURNE CITY NOT BEEN RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE. WE WERE HAVING DINNER, WE WERE WATCHING THE GAME TOGETHER, AND I CAN SAY THAT EVERYONE ERUPTED. WE THOUGHT WE HAD DONE IT RIGHT THEN. BUT SEALING IT AT HOME WOULD BE PARTICULARLY SPECIAL. IT'S EVEN BETTER THAT THEY DIDN'T WIN, SO WE CAN WIN IT AT HOME IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CROWD IN FRONT OF THE PORT AND GO MEDIA STADIUM. YEAH, WE'LL FINISH IT OFF THIS WEEKEND. THEY FEEL THEY OWE IT TO THEIR FANS TO DO SO. AUCKLAND FC HAVE ENJOYED BUMPER CROWDS ALL SEASON, AND ARE KEEN TO LOCK AWAY THE CLUB'S FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE IN FRONT OF THEM. THE PORT HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE SUPPORTED ALL THE BOYS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOSING, OR EVEN WHEN WE'RE WINNING AS WELL, THEY'VE BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT US ALL THE WAY THROUGH. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, GIVING IT BACK TO THE FANS, GIVING IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL IS` I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SPECIAL. GET THE JOB DONE ON SUNDAY, AND AUCKLAND FC WILL BECOME THE FIRST KIWI SIDE TO WIN ANY TROPHY IN THE A-LEAGUE, AND THEY'VE GOT NO INTENTION OF STOPPING THERE. THE BIG PICTURE IS WINNING THE GRAND FINALS, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THEM TO CELEBRATE ONCE WE GET THE PREMIER'S PLATE, AND ENJOY THAT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY SPECIAL, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BIG TROPHY IS THE GRAND FINAL. NO TEAM HAS EVER WON BOTH IN THEIR FIRST SEASON IN THE LEAGUE. GIVEN THE WAY AUCKLAND FC HAVE ANNOUNCED THEMSELVES, IT WOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE IF THEY BECOME THE FIRST. CHRIS WOOD HAS FIRED NOTTINGHAM FOREST BACK TO THIRD IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, AND ONE STEP CLOSER TO A SPOT IN NEXT YEAR'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. TAKING ON TOTTENHAM, ELLIOT ANDERSON GAVE FOREST AN EARLY 1-0 ADVANTAGE. JUST MINUTES LATER, IT LOOKED LIKE WOOD HAD DOUBLED THE LEAD, BUT THE GOAL WAS RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE. THANKFULLY, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. WHAT IS GOING ON AGAIN. THIS TIME IT IS GOING TO COUNT. WOOD GOT THE TOUCH. THE FOREST FANS DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TOO LONG FOR A LEGITIMATE SECOND GOAL. TOTTENHAM CLAWED A GOAL BACK LATE, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH, FOREST WINNING 2-1. A TOP-FIVE FINISH WILL SEE THEM QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. WOOD IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. IF THE MONA LISA WAS A PIECE OF MUSIC, WHAT WOULD IT SOUND LIKE? WHAT ABOUT MONET'S 'WATER LILIES', OR EDVARD MUNCH'S 'THE SCREAM'? A COMPOSER HAS COME UP WITH MUSICAL INTERPRETATIONS OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST PAINTINGS TO HELP BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY THEM. ITV's BEN CHAPMAN REPORTS. (PLAYS LILTING, THOUGHTFUL MELODY) IF YOU CLOSED YOUR EYES, WHAT IMAGE WOULD THIS MUSIC CONJURE UP? COMPOSER BOBBY GOULDER HAS REIMAGINED IN SOUND THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS PICTURE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN IT. A LOT OF US, LIKE MYSELF, FIND IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE VISUAL ARTS. IN A MUSEUM, IT'S QUITE COMMON TO HAVE MAYBE A VERBAL AUDIO DESCRIPTION, LIKE, 'THERE IS A WOMAN IN THE FOREGROUND 'WITH SOME MOUNTAINS BEHIND HER.' BUT YOU DON'T REALLY GET A SENSE OF THE FEELINGS THAT MIGHT BE PORTRAYED IN THE PAINTINGS. HE'S HELPED CREATE AN ALBUM, 'SOUND OF A MASTERPIECE'. (KEYS TINKLE, WATER PLOPS) EACH TRACK A COMBINATION OF MUSIC AND EFFECTS TO ALLOW VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH A PAINTING. SO, THOSE DROPS ARE ACTUALLY PITCHED TO BE LIKE THE PIANO MUSIC THAT I WROTE. PART OF AN EFFORT TO MAKE ART MORE INCLUSIVE. (BOLD, EVOCATIVE MUSIC PLAYS) THESE STUDENTS AT NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER ARE ALL EITHER BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER SEEN DAVID HOCKNEY'S 'A BIGGER SPLASH'. BUT ITS MUSICAL INTERPRETATION, THEY TOLD ME, MADE THEM FEEL SOMETHING. I THINK IT'S USEFUL IN THAT IT KIND OF HELPS TO CONVEY THE MOOD OF THE PICTURE. WE GO ON HOLIDAY TO MAJORCA, SOMETIMES. AND I HAVE SOME GREAT MEMORIES. SO IT'S JUST, LIKE, BROUGHT BACK SOME OF THOSE. THE SOUND OF THE PIECE JUST KIND OF, LIKE, TOOK ME DOWN, DOWN, DOWN INTO THE DEPTHS OF MY THOUGHTS, AND IT RELAXED ME. (MOODY, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS) THE COLLECTION OF SEVEN TRACKS, SOME LESS RELAXING, IS NOW AVAILABLE TO STREAM, WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO THE SIGHT-LOSS CHARITY THE RNIB AND ALLOWING NEW MINDS TO PICTURE SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST WORKS OF ART. I'LL HAVE YOUR WEDNESDAY WEATHER NEXT. AND IT IS SETTLING DOWN, BUT COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE ON THEIR WAY. STAY WITH US. AMI HAS BEEN PROTECTING NEW ZEALANDERS, RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE, FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS. THREE NEWS WEATHER, WITH AMI. NAU MAI ANO. WE'VE HAD A FEW DAYS OF CHALLENGING WEATHER FOR MANY PARTS, BUT IT IS CHANGING. A COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT, BRINGING RAIN TO PARTS AS IT MOVES NORTH. AND IT WILL ALSO BRING THOSE COOL SOUTHERLY WINDS. SO AN END TO MUGGY EVENINGS, WITH SOME SINGLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND IN PARTICULAR. FOR TE WAIPOUNAMU THE SOUTH ISLAND, THE WET WEATHER WILL MOVE UP THROUGH CANTERBURY AND MARLBOROUGH, STAYING MOSTLY ON THE EAST SIDE, WITH FINER SKIES ON THE WEST. BUT ONCE WE GET THROUGH WEDNESDAY, IT WILL BE MUCH COLDER IN THE EVENING. CANTERBURY AND CENTRAL OTAGO ARE LOOKING AT OVERNIGHT LOWS AROUND 1 DEGREE HEADING INTO THURSDAY. IN TE IKA A MAUI THE NORTH ISLAND, SOME MORNING SHOWERS FOR WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA AND SOME EVENING SHOWERS FOR NORTHLAND. AND A LOT OF CLOUD AROUND. SO, STARTING UP TOP ` PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR MOST. IT COULD GET HEAVY IN THE EVENING FOR NORTHLAND. IN HAMILTON, THOUGH, IT SHOULD STAY DRY. BUT YOU WILL HAVE SOME CLOUD ABOUT. MORNING CLOUD FOR EVERYONE HERE TOO. AND THE ODD SHOWER ALONG THE COAST AND FOR YOU IN ROTORUA. OTHERWISE, IT WILL BE A FINE WEDNESDAY. SOUTHEASTERLIES BECOMING FRESH FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND THE EVENING IN TAUPO. A SHORT BURST OF RAIN IN THE MORNING FOR DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. AND A FEW SHOWERS TURNING TO BRIEF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON FOR GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY. TAUMARUNUI COULD WAKE TO SOME FROST AND MORNING CLOUD, BUT OTHERWISE A FINE DAY. A BIT OF RAIN LATE MORNING FROM WHANGANUI HEADING SOUTH. AND AGAIN A CLOUDY KIND OF DAY. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND ` FINE APART FROM MORNING AND EVENING CLOUD FOR MOST. CLOUDY PERIODS FOR NELSON, WITH SOUTHEASTERLIES STRENGTHENING IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY. A PARTLY CLOUDY MORNING WITH A FEW SHOWERS HERE, CLEARING TO FINE AFTER LUNCH IN CHRISTCHURCH. AND SOUTHERLIES EASING IN THE AFTERNOON FOR EVERYONE ALONG THE COAST. A FEW SHOWERS OVERNIGHT HERE, BUT THEN A MAINLY FINE MID-WEEK, WITH A LITTLE WIND FOR STEWART ISLAND, BUT THEN A VERY COOL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES NOW. OTEPOTI DUNEDIN, FRESH SOUTHWESTERLIES, EASING BEFORE DAWN AND A PERIOD OF RAIN, ALL BEFORE THE SUN RISES. THEN MAINLY FINE BUT BECOMING FROSTY HEADING INTO THE EVENING. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, MORNING SHOWERS WILL CLEAR TO A FINE AFTERNOON WITH FRESH SOUTHERLIES EASING. AND LIKE DUNEDIN, YOU'LL REACH 12, BUT IT WILL FEEL MORE LIKE 11. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE A COOL NIGHT, WITH FROST FORMING IN SHELTERED PLACES. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON, PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH BRIEF RAIN IN THE MORNING. FRESH SOUTHERLIES DEVELOPING BEFORE DAWN. IT SHOULD ALL CALM DOWN A BIT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY. 14 DEGREES YOUR HIGH. TE MATAU-A-MAUI HAWKE'S BAY, A FEW SHOWERS, TURNING TO BRIEF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH FRESH SOUTHEASTERLIES, GETTING TO 18 AND 17 DEGREES. TAURANGA, A FEW DEGREES WARMER, ON 21. MORNING CLOUD AND THE ODD SHOWER WITH SOUTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING. BUT AFTER LUNCH, IT SHOULD BE FINE. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON, SOUTHWESTERLIES, TURNING FRESH SOUTHEASTERLY IN THE MORNING, WITH SOME CLOUD ABOUT. BUT THEN AN OTHERWISE FINE DAY, AND 21 DEGREES. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS, CLEARING BY EARLY MORNING. AND SOUTHERLY WINDS, TURNING EASTERLY IN THE AFTERNOON. 22 FOR YOU. RIGHT, OVERSEAS NOW. SOME SUNSHINE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF AUSTRALIA. AND A FEW SHOWERS FOR EASTERN AREAS. AND IN THE PACIFIC, A FEW 30s HERE, BUT MOSTLY SHOWERS, AND SOME RAIN FOR PORT VILA. BACK HOME, HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES FROM THURSDAY, SO LOTS OF CLEAR SKIES. JUST SOME SHOWERS AT THE VERY TOP OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND AROUND THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. BUT IT WILL BE GETTING VERY CHILLY OVERNIGHT, HEADING INTO FRIDAY. TAUPO WILL GET DOWN TO 2 DEGREES, AND ACTUALLY YOU ALL GET DOWN TO SINGLE DIGITS. SO IF YOU'RE HEADING TO THE DAWN SERVICE FOR ANZAC DAY, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE COLD. TAKE SOME LAYERS. OTHERWISE, A DRY DAY FOR MOST. SOME SHOWERS AT THE VERY TOP AND CLOUD ABOUT ON THE WEST COAST. BUT GENERALLY A MUCH MORE SETTLED OUTLOOK AND RUNWAY HEADING INTO THIS LONG WEEKEND. THANKS TO BRETT FOR SENDING IN THIS SPECTACULAR PHOTO OF THE AURORA AUSTRALIS, THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS, AT THE POPULAR VIEWING SPOT ORETI BEACH. THAT IS YOUR THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON stuff.co.nz. I'M LAURA TUPOU. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY JASON CONRAN AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025