TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` BUDGET WARNING, 'DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH'. SO, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WILL NOT BE A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. MONEY'S TIGHT AND CONDITIONS UNCERTAIN, SO WHO ARE THE LIKELY WINNERS FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET? DARK TIMES IN EUROPE AS A MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE ACROSS SPAIN AND PORTUGAL WREAKS HAVOC; STATES OF EMERGENCY ARE DECLARED. WHAT CAUSED THE BLACKOUT? DID SHE MURDER THREE PEOPLE WITH POISONOUS MUSHROOMS? A JURY'S NOW SELECTED IN AUSTRALIA FOR THE TRIAL SET TO GRIP TWO NATIONS. AND SHE GRIPPED A SPADE YESTERDAY ` NOW, TORY WHANAU REVEALS WHY SHE WON'T BE DIGGING IN FOR THE WELLINGTON MAYORAL JOB. CAPTIONS BY BRIGIT KELLY, RUBY WEBB-SAGARIN AMND TOM CLARKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A MASSIVE MYSTERY POWER OUTAGE CREATING CHAOS FOR MORE THAN 60 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTH-WESTERN EUROPE. PORTUGAL'S GRID OPERATOR IS BLAMING A RARE ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON FOR THE WIDESPREAD POWER CUTS, THE CONTINENT'S LARGEST EVER. TENS OF MILLIONS IN PORTUGAL, SPAIN, AND A REGION OF FRANCE PLUNGED INTO A SUDDEN AND LONG BLACKOUT. THERE WERE MAJOR TRAFFIC JAMS WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, EVACUATIONS FROM HALTED TRAINS AND DARK STATIONS, AND LONG LINES WHEN SHOP TILLS STOPPED WORKING. POWER HAS BEEN COMING BACK ONLINE, BUT WITH THE CAUSE STILL NOT CONFIRMED, BOTH SPAIN AND PORTUGAL HAVE DECLARED STATES OF EMERGENCY. SHORTLY, WE'RE LIVE TO EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON IN LONDON FOR THE LATEST ` FIRST, HER REPORT IN LONDON FOR THE LATEST ` FIRST, HER REPORT. PASSENGERS PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS ` NO POWER, NO INFORMATION. (SIRENS WHOOP) CHAOS DESCENDING AS ENTIRE CITIES BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL. ROADS GRIDLOCKED WITH POWER CUTS TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS, TOO. IT'S SCARY. IT SHOWS HOW DEPENDENT WE ARE ON IT. WE WERE ACTUALLY MOST AFRAID OF WALKING BACK HOME... WHEN IT'S DARK. ...WITHOUT THE STREETLIGHTS. HOSPITALS FORCED TO CUT SOME SERVICES, OPERATIONS AND MOVE PATIENTS, AND ELECTRIC TRAINS BROUGHT TO A SUDDEN HALT ` A TOTAL OF 11 STOPPED DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS, SOME PASSENGERS NEEDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE SPRING HEAT, OTHERS THROWN WATER AND FOOD BY LOCALS. AIR TRAVELLERS LEFT HIGH AND DRY WITH MANY PLANES GROUNDED. ADDING TO COMPLICATIONS, MOBILE PHONES STOPPED WORKING TOO. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO RECEPTION, OR BARS, AND YEAH, IT WAS A LITTLE SPOOKY. PLENTY OF NEW ZEALANDERS AMONG THE TENS OF MILLIONS HIT BY THE OUTAGES RIGHT ACROSS SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. THOSE WITH BACKUP GENERATORS HAD THEIR OWN PROBLEMS ` SHELVES EMPTIED AS PEOPLE STOCKED UP IN A FRENZY. IT FELT A BIT LIKE PRE-COVID DAYS, WHEN EVERYONE WAS STOCKING UP ON TOILET PAPER AND WATER. HITTING EARLY AFTERNOON, SCHOOLS AFFECTED TOO, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND TEACHER CAMERON ABBEY. SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES WERE QUITE SCARED, QUITE ANXIOUS. THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT HOME. EVEN THE TENNIS AT THE MADRID OPEN HAD TO BE ABANDONED, SPECTATORS FORCED TO LEAVE IN THE DARK, THE POWER CUT HAPPENING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A COCO GAUFF INTERVIEW. MAYBE I JUST NEED TO, LIKE, NOT GET A LOT OF SLEEP` (MIC CUTS) AUTHORITIES IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE. A CYBER ATTACK HAS BEEN ALL BUT RULED OUT. SUGGESTIONS HIGH TEMPERATURES AND A FAULTY POWER CONNECTION BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN HAVE BEEN MOOTED. TRANSLATOR: WE STILL HAVE NO CONCLUSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REASONS FOR THIS OUTAGE. STATE SECURITY FORCES HAVE INCREASED THEIR PRESENCE AND VIGILANCE ON THE STREETS AND ROADS. 30,000 EXTRA OFFICERS DEPLOYED ACROSS SPAIN TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC ND PROVIDE SECURITY, TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC aND PROVIDE SECURITY, THE NATION'S PRIME MINISTER APPEALING FOR PEOPLE TO STAY CALM. THERE'S A REAL SENSE OF HOW FRAGILE OUR SOCIETY REALLY IS, AND ALSO THE SENSE OF HOW EASY IT IS TO DESTABILISE... AN ENTIRE COUNTRY. MILLIONS LEFT IN THE DARK ` FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY ` NOW WAITING FOR ANSWERS TO SHED ANY LIGHT ON WHAT'S CAUSED EUROPE'S BIGGEST BLACKOUT EVER. MEI'S LIVE IN LONDON NOW. MEI, HAVE OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE CAUSE YET, AND WHEN WILL EVERYONE GET POWER BACK? SLEEPING AS THERE HAVE BEEN CHAIRS BRINGING OUT OVER HERE IN EUROPE, THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN NEW ZEALAND TIME AS POWER HAS BEEN TURNING ON SLOWLY IT IS STILL EARLY HERE, WE ARE YET TO GET OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR POWER BACK, BUT INITIAL REPORTS SAY 87% OF SPAIN HAVE POWER BACK, AND 85% OF PORTUGAL. WHILE THOSE NUMBERS SEEM HIGH, THE SCALE OF THIS OUTAGE AND SIZE OF THESE COUNTRIES, MEAN MILLIONS CAN STILL BE AFFECTED. THE CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN. IN PORTUGAL IT IS THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE A RARE ATMOSPHERIC EFFECT. NUMBERS WERE SO HIGH THAT IT CAUSED A SURGE. SOME ARE ADAMANT THAT THE ISSUE DID NOT ORIGINATE CLEAR, AND BLAME SPAIN. NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE HIGH-POWERED MEETINGS ABOUT THIS. POWER IS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE, AND IT SHOWS HOW FRAGILE IT CAN BE. PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ON EDGE WITHOUT THE CAUSE BEING UNKNOWN. AND BREAKFAST WILL HAVE THE VERY LATEST ON THIS STILL DEVELOPING STORY TOMORROW FROM 6am. BACK HERE, DON'T EXPECT ANY SWEETENERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET TO BE UNVEILED IN JUST OVER THREE WEEKS. FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS TODAY CONFIRMING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET 'WILL NOT BE A LOLLY SCRAMBLE' AS SHE ADMITTED IT'S NOT THE EASIEST TIME TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET. SHE ALSO SLASHED THE OPERATING ALLOWANCE ` THAT'S THE NEW MONEY AVAILABLE TO SPEND IN THE BUDGET ` FROM $2.4 BILLION TO $1.3 BILLION, MEANING LESS FUNDING FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND INITIATIVES. NICOLA WILLIS DID EMPHASISE INCREASED INVESTMENT IN SOME AREAS, INCLUDING HEALTH, EDUCATION, LAW AND ORDER, AND THE DEFENCE FORCE. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS HAS MORE DETAILS, REACTION, AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR YOU. WITH TRADE WARS AND UNCERTAINTY AFOOT, THE FINANCE MINISTER IS TREADING CAREFULLY. LET ME BE BLUNT ` IT'S NOT THE EASIEST TIME TO BE DELIVERING A BUDGET. NICOLA WILLIS BELIEVES WE'RE BORROWING TOO MUCH AS A COUNTRY AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR RESTRAINT. WHILE YOU CAN KEEP GIVING THE CREDIT CARD A HAMMERING FOR A WHILE, LEFT UNPAID, IT DOES EVENTUALLY GET DECLINED. THEY'VE BORROWED AN ADDITIONAL $12 BILLION IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IN ORDER TO FUND TAX CUTS. ONE OF THE REASONS THEY HAVE A BIG STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT THEY HAVE IS THAT THEY DELIVERED TAX CUTS THE COUNTRY SIMPLY COULDN'T AFFORD. NICOLA WILLIS SAYS THE FOCUS OF THIS BUDGET WILL BE HEALTH, EDUCATION, POLICE, AND DEFENCE. OUR SAVINGS AND REPRIORITISATION PROGRAMME, THAT'S GENERATED BILLIONS FOR INVESTMENTS THAT ARE REALLY NEEDED. BUT NICOLA WILLIS' NEW SPENDING ENVELOPE IS BEING CUT FROM $2.4 BILLION TO $1.3. BILLION. MUCH OF THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON THINGS LIKE NEW CANCER DRUGS. WE CAN'T CUT OUR WAY TO GREATER PROSPERITY. WE CAN'T CUT THE HEALTH SYSTEM FURTHER, WE CAN'T CUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM FURTHER. THERE WILL BE A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA TO EASE THE COST-OF-LIVING PRESSURES FOR SOME... I DO WANT TO REALLY BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR EXPECTATIONS. THE MEASURES ARE MODEST THIS IS NOT A BUDGET THAT IS A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. THE MEASURES ARE MODEST THIS IS ...DEPLOYING THAT AGE-OLD GO-TO LINE FOR THOSE EAGER TO APPEAR PRUDENT MANAGERS OF OUR ECONOMY. THAT IS NOT A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. IT WON'T BE A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. THERE CANNOT BE A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S A LOLLY SCRAMBLE. GRANT ROBERTSON USED TO SAY HIS BUDGETS WEREN'T GOING TO BE LOLLY SCRAMBLES EITHER. BUT THEY ALWAYS WERE. WE ASKED THE PUBLIC WHAT THEY THINK THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES SHOULD BE FOR THIS BUDGET. THE MAIN ONE IS THE HEALTH SECTOR. THAT'S WHERE THEY NEED TO PUT THE DOLLARS FIRST. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY POPULATION, YOU DON'T HAVE HAPPY PEOPLE. SIMPLE AS THAT. ON HEALTHCARE ` HOSPITALS, MEDICAL DEFINITELY. POLICE, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE. AND WHAT'S HURTING THEM MOST IN TERMS OF THE COST OF LIVING? SUPERMARKET PRICES FOR FOOD. I COULD MAKE A MEAL AT $10 A FEW YEARS AGO. NOW IT COSTS, LIKE, AT LEAST $30. IF THEY LOOK AT THE BASIC-NECESSITY FOODS, IF THEY CONTROL THE PRICE OF THAT, IT WOULD BE MUCH HELPFUL FOR THE PEOPLE. THE FINANCE MINISTER, THOUGH, TRYING TO KEEP EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK. BENEDICT, THE FINANCE MINISTER ALSO SAYING MOST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WON'T BE GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THAT'S RAISED FEARS FOR OUR PUBLIC SERVICES. NICOLA WILLIS SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE TO LEARN TO OPERATE IN NEW ZEALAND IS MORE LIMITED FISCAL MEANS. SHE SAYS THAT MEANS THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT MEANS THEY WILL HAVE TO GET MORE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK, AND THEY WILL NEED TO SHOW RESTRAINT WHEN IT COMES TO WAGE INCREASES FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS. THE UNION REPRESENTING PUBLIC SERVICES DESCRIBED TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT AS AN IRRESPONSIBLE RECIPE THAT WILL DAMAGE OUR PUBLIC SERVICES AND COULD LEAD TO JOB LOSSES. THE GREENS THEY DESCRIBED TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT SLASH AND BURN ECONOMICS THAT COULD TREAT OUR PUBLIC SERVICES. SHE SAID THAT LAST YEAR THE GOVERNMENT HAD THAT 6.5 SAVING TARGET FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR WHICH LED TO LOTS OF REDUNDANCIES AND JOB LOSSES. SHE SAYS THAT IS NOT THE CASE THIS YEAR, THEY ARE JUST ASKING THE PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS. FONTERRA IS SET TO CLOSE A HAMILTON MILK POWDER CANNING AND PACKAGING PLANT AFFECTING 120 WORKERS. THE DAIRY GIANT SAYING THE CLOSURE IS BECAUSE OF ITS DECISION TO FOCUS ON HIGHER-VALUE INGREDIENTS, SUCH AS ADVANCED PROTEINS AND MEDICAL NUTRITION. A CONSULTATION PROCESS IS UNDERWAY FOR EMPLOYEES WHO POTENTIALLY COULD BE REDEPLOYED. THE PLANT IS SET TO SHUT DOWN IN JULY. WELLINGTON MAYOR TORY WHANAU SAYS IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER REVEALING SHE WON'T BE CONTESTING ANOTHER TERM IN UPCOMING LOCAL ELECTIONS. THE SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES LESS THEN TWO WEEKS AFTER FORMER LABOUR LEADER ANDREW LITTLE CONFIRMED HE'D BE STANDING. WHANAU'S TERM AS MAYOR HAS BEEN FILLED WITH PUBLIC AND PERSONAL CHALLENGES, AS SAM OLLEY REPORTS. TORY WHANAU PUBLICLY TALKING CAMPAIGNING JUST YESTERDAY AT THE START OF THE CONTROVERSIAL GOLDEN MILE TRANSPORT PROJECT... IF I'M NOT RE-ELECTED BECAUSE OF THIS, I WOULD UNDERSTAND. ...BUT PRIVATELY PLANNING TO DROP OUT, THIS MORNING ENDORSING THE FORMER LABOUR LEADER. WITH ANDREW LITTLE PUTTING HIMSELF FORWARD FOR THE MAYOR, I DECIDED WHAT BETTER WAY TO UTILISE MY SKILLS AND PASSION FOR THE CITY ` STEP ASIDE, GIVE HIM THE CLEAR WAY FOR THE MAYORALTY AND ACTUALLY STILL RUN FOR COUNCIL, BUT IN THE MAORI WARD. SHE TOLD ME LAST WEEK THAT WAS HER PLAN. I THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH PERSONAL DECISION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THE FORMER GREEN PARTY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS ELECTED WELLINGTON'S FIRST MAORI MAYOR IN 2022. TAKING TWICE THE VOTES OF INCUMBENT ANDY FOSTER. AND WHILE SHE'S NOW FOLLOWING HIS FOOTSTEPS AS ANOTHER ONE-TERM MAYOR, SHE SAYS SHE'S PROUD OF HER TIME. THE HIGHEST-EVER INVESTMENT IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'VE ENABLED THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES WITH THE DISTRICT PLAN, WE'VE ENABLED THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES WITH THE DISTRICT PLAN, AND WE'VE DELIVERED CYCLEWAYS AND BUS LANES. BROKEN WATER PIPES, RISING RATES, COUNCIL INFIGHTING AND FLIP-FLOPPING ON AIRPORT SHARE SALES HAVE ALL TAKEN A TOLL ON HER MAYORALTY ` AND A PRIVATE TOLL TOO. IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING COUPLE OF YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD FOR MY FAMILY TO SEE SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS ONLINE AS WELL. SOME OF THE ABUSE THAT SHE WAS SUBJECTED TO WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. UNDER PRESSURE, SHE WENT PUBLIC ABOUT PERSONAL CHALLENGES ` PROBLEMATIC DRINKING, ADHD AND AUTISM TRAITS. WELL, I THINK SHE WAS DOOMED TO FAIL IN THE ELECTIONS. THE WHOLE THING IS JUST SO UNFORTUNATE, REALLY, BECAUSE SHE'S A DAMN GOOD LADY. I HOPE SHE IS ALL GOOD. YEAH, SHE'S HAD A ROUGH TIME. OPPONENTS LESS CHARITABLE... HER LEGACY? DISASTER, DISASTROUS. ...AND ARGUING LEFT-LEANING ANDREW LITTLE WON'T BRING POLITICAL CHANGE. I THINK HE HAS EXACTLY THE SAME POLICIES AS TORY DOES, AND SO THERE'S NO LIGHT BETWEEN. AND SO THERE'S NO LINE BETWEEN THEM. I'VE YET TO SORT OF LAY OUT A RANGE OF POLICIES. I THINK THERE ARE SOME REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND THE MEASURES THAT TORY HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR. FORMAL NOMINATIONS FOR MAYORAL CANDIDACY DON'T OPEN UNTIL JULY, BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY PUT THEIR HAND UP. VOTING STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 9TH. FOR NOW, AS ONE CONTENDER DROPS OUT, OTHERS STEP INTO CAMPAIGN MODE. SAM OLLEY, 1 NEWS. THE MAN WHO MURDERED JULIANA BONILLA HERRERA, WHILE ON PAROLE IN 2022, DIDN'T HAVE HIS CURFEW LOADED INTO THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM, A CORONER'S INQUEST HAS HEARD. SEVERAL CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT STAFF GAVE EVIDENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY. KATIE STEVENSON WAS THERE. TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS BEGAN WITH THE CORONER ONCE AGAIN SPEAKING TO JULIANA'S FAMILY, REMINDING THEM THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ATTENDING REMOTELY, THOSE INVOLVED IN THE INQUEST ARE VERY AWARE OF THEIR PRESENCE. THE COLUMBIAN NATIONAL (37) WAS KILLED IN HER ADDINGTON HOME IN JANUARY 2022 BY JOSEPH BRIDER, WHO'D BEEN OUT ON PAROLE FOR 72 DAYS. HE'D BEEN SERVING TIME FOR SERIOUS SEXUAL OFFENCES. THE COURT'S HEARD EVIDENCE FROM BRIDER'S CORRECTIONS CASE MANAGER WHO WE CAN'T IDENTIFY. SHE WAS ASKED, WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT, PRIOR TO HIS RELEASE, WOULD SHE HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT? THE WITNESS SAID NO, TELLING THE COURT SHE DOESN'T THINK ANYONE KNEW THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. A PROBATION OFFICER ALSO GAVE EVIDENCE, BECOMING EMOTIONAL AT POINTS. SHE EXPLAINED, FOLLOWING THE MURDER, SHE LEARNT BRIDER'S CURFEW HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY LOADED INTO THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM, DESPITE HER ASKING FOR THAT TO BE DONE MONTHS EARLIER. SHE'D STILL CHECKED HIS LOCATION ` ELECTRONICALLY ` DAILY, AND SAID HE NEVER DISCLOSED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HAVING A FEMALE NEIGHBOUR. ALL REPORTS HAD OUTLINED HIS MOST LIKELY VICTIMS WOULD BE FEMALE PARTNERS OR A MALE. SHE TOLD THE COURT THERE WERE NO SIGNS TO SUGGEST HE WOULD GO ON TO MURDER JULIANA. THE INQUEST CONTINUES TOMORROW. KATIE STEVENSON, 1 NEWS. MARK CARNEY WILL REMAIN CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER, BUT IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER HIS RULING LIBERAL PARTY HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO FORM A MAJORITY GOVERNMENT. THE WIN IS BEING CALLED A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND FOR THE FORMER CENTRAL BANKER WHO TOOK OVER AS THE COUNTRY'S LEADER AFTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU STEPPED DOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR. HIS PARTY WAS BEHIND IN THE POLLS BUT REGAINED POPULARITY BY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S TARIFFS. I HAVE A QUESTION ` WHO'S READY? (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) WHO'S READY? (CHEERING CONTINUES) WHO'S READY TO STAND UP FOR CANADA WITH ME? AS SEATS WERE BEING COUNTED, TRUMP POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT CANADIANS SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM TO BECOME AMERICA'S 51ST STATE. IN JUST OVER A WEEK, CARDINALS WILL START VOTING AT THE VATICAN TO CHOOSE THE NEXT POPE AND FORGE THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. AS ANNOUNCED OVERNIGHT, THE ANCIENT AND HIGHLY SECRETIVE PROCESS, KNOWN AS THE CONCLAVE, WILL START ON MAY SEVEN. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS IS IN VATICAN CITY. IT'S ALREADY GETTING POLITICAL, KATE? YES. THEY ARE STARTING THE CONCLAVE PROCESS LATER THEN THEY COULD HAVE, REFLECTING THEY WANTED MORE TIME TO PREPARE, WITH CARDINALS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. YES, THOSE SMEAR CAMPAIGNS HAVE STARTED. CONSERVATIVE CANADIAN AGENCY TAKING AIM AT A FILIPINO CANDIDATE. HE IS KNOWN AS THE ASIAN FRANCIS BECAUSE OF HIS SLIGHTLY MORE PROGRESSIVE STANCE IN THE CATHOLIC STANCE. THEY HAVE PULLED UP HER VIDEO OF HIM FROM 2019 SINGING IMAGINE. IT IS KNOWN AS AN ATHEIST AND THEM. ATHEIST ANTHEM. # IMAGINE ALL THE PEOPLE # SHARING ALL THE WORLD, WHAT THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE IS THAT HE DIDN'T SING ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS PARTS AND THAT SONG SUCH AS IMAGINE THERE IS NO HEAVEN. THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE SOME GROUPS ARE TRYING TO HAVE RIGHT NOW AHEAD OF THIS HIGHLY SPECULATIVE PROCESS. REMEMBER, SINCE 2013, THE LAST CONCLAVE, THERE IS NOW FAR GREATER SOCIAL MEDIA SATURATION, DISINFORMATION AND A BIGGER POLITICAL DIVIDE AROUND THE WORLD. AND HOW LONG IS IT EXPECTED TO LAST, KATE? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A NEW POPE? WELL... THE LONGEST WAS ON THE 13TH CENTURY. THAT PROCESS LASTED JUST UNDER THREE YEARS. IN MODERN TIMES, THE COMPLEX PROCESS HAS BEEN QUICKER. LAST TIME, POPE FRANCIS THE UNDERDOG EMERGED AS THE LEADER IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS. NOW, A SWEDISH CARDINAL HAS SAID THIS WEEK THAT THIS TIME IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE FAMILIAL TIES THEY DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER. E WHAI AKE NEI. WHY UKRAINE IS SCEPTICAL AS RUSSIA CALLS FOR ANOTHER BRIEF CEASEFIRE. ALSO COMING UP ` TRAGIC ACCIDENT OR TRIPLE MURDER? THE TRIAL OF ALLEGED POISONOUS MUSHROOMS COOK ERIN PATTERSON GETS UNDERWAY IN AUSTRALIA. PLUS ` IN PARIS, THE TRIAL OF A GROUP OF MEN DUBBED 'THE GRANDPA ROBBERS' BEGINS OVER THE KIM KARDASHIAN JEWEL HEIST. WHEN THE REALITY TV STAR WILL TESTIFY. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS ELECTRICALLY SAFE FOR WINTER. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI. VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS CALLED FOR A THREE DAY UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE IN THE WAR IN UKRAINE STARTING ON MAY 8TH ` THAT DATE COINCIDING WITH THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR TWO. BUT THE EASTER TRUCE WAS QUICKLY BREACHED, AND UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS DISMISSED THE PROPOSAL AS 'AN ATTEMPT AT MANIPULATION' BY PUTIN. THE BBC'S JAMES LANDALE REPORTS. FOR WEEKS, RUSSIA HAS BOMBARDED UKRAINE FROM THE AIR, A DEADLY RAIN OF MISSILES AND DRONES, CULMINATING IN THE DEVASTATING STRIKE ON KYIV LAST WEDNESDAY, LEAVING HUNDREDS MOURNING YET MORE DEAD. TODAY, THE MAN WHO ORDERED THOSE ATTACKS ADDRESSED RUSSIAN POLITICIANS IN ST PETERSBURG. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN) 'THE ABSOLUTE PRIORITY,' HE SAID, 'REMAINS FULFILLING THE SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION,' WHAT HE CALLS RUSSIA'S FULL-SCALE INVASION. BUT VLADIMIR PUTIN ALSO ANNOUNCED A THREE-DAY UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE NEXT WEEK, MAY THE 8TH, 9TH, AND 10TH ` A PAUSE IN THE FIGHTING THAT WILL COINCIDE WITH PARADES MARKING THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, ATTENDED BY AT LEAST SOME WORLD LEADERS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER DONALD TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HELD WHAT THEY BOTH SAID WERE PRODUCTIVE TALKS AT THE VATICAN, AND THE U.S. PRESIDENT THEN QUESTIONED WHETHER MR PUTIN REALLY WANTED PEACE OR WAS JUST LEADING HIM ON. HE IS INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH LEADERS OF BOTH COUNTRIES. HE WANTS TO SEE A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE. I UNDERSTAND VLADIMIR PUTIN THIS MORNING OFFERED A TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTS TO SEE A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. SOMETHING HE PROMISED TO ACHIEVE IN HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, NOT HIS HUNDREDTH. ALL THE WHILE, THE FIGHTING CONTINUES. RUSSIA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY HERE SHOWING ARTILLERY STRIKES ON UKRAINIAN POSITIONS, A REMINDER THAT IN THIS WAR, MANY CEASEFIRES HAVE BEEN CALLED, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN ENDURED. MANY CEASEFIRES HAVE BEEN CALLED, BUT NONE HAVE ENDURED. MEANWHILE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO HAS SAID THIS WEEK IS 'VERY CRITICAL', WITH THE U.S. DETERMINING IF IT'LL STEP ASIDE FROM TRYING TO BROKER A PEACE DEAL. IN VANCOUVER, THE CAR RAMMING SUSPECT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AS MORE DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT THE 11 PEOPLE KILLED. AMONG THE CROWD AT THE FILIPINO STREET FESTIVAL, A TEENAGE BOY WHO LOST HIS ENTIRE FAMILY AS HIS PARENTS AND 5-YEAR-OLD SISTER WERE RUN DOWN. POLICE HAVE CHARGED A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN AS THE CITY'S MAYOR SAYS THERE'LL BE A FULL REVIEW INTO THE EVENT'S SAFETY. AS DONALD TRUMP APPROACHES A HUNDRED DAYS BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE, HE HAS THE LOWEST JOB APPROVAL RATING AT THIS POINT OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT IN 80 YEARS. IN A POLL CONDUCTED BY OUR U.S. AFFILIATE, ABC NEWS, TRUMP SITS AT 39%. 53% SAY THE ECONOMY IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, WITH 72% SAYING THEY BELIEVE TRUMP'S POLICIES WILL LEAD TO A RECESSION. IN AUSTRALIA, THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TRIAL IS UNDERWAY OF A WOMAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING THREE RELATIVES WITH A POISONOUS MUSHROOM LUNCH TWO YEARS AGO. ERIN PATTERSON HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY A JURY FROM THE RURAL REGION IN VICTORIA, WHERE SHE LIVES, ERIN PATTERSON HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY. A JURY FROM THE RURAL REGION IN VICTORIA, WHERE SHE LIVES, HAS BEEN CHOSEN TODAY. INTERESTED PARTIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD DESCENDING ON THE COURT, AS AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT AZIZ AL SA'AFIN REPORTS. RARELY HAS A CASE CAPTURED SO MUCH ATTENTION. ... WITH THE ALLEGED MUSHROOM COOK TO BE TRIED IN HER OWN COMMUNITY. IT STARTED WITH A FAMILY MEAL IN JULY 2023. THAT TURNED DEADLY ` IT STARTED WITH A FAMILY MEAL IN JULY 2023 THAT TURNED DEADLY ` A BEEF WELLINGTON SERVED AT ERIN PATTERSON'S HOME IN RURAL VICTORIA ALLEGEDLY LACED WITH POISONOUS DEATH CAP MUSHROOMS. THREE PEOPLE ` PATTERSON'S FORMER IN-LAWS, DON AND GAIL; AND GAIL'S SISTER, HEATHER WILKINSON ` DIED AFTER THAT LUNCH. HEATHER'S HUSBAND, IAN, SURVIVED AFTER SPENDING WEEKS IN HOSPITAL FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS, POLICE LAUNCHED A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION. DETECTIVES SEIZING A FOOD DEHYDRATOR, SEARCHED RUBBISH BINS AND INTERVIEWED FAMILY MEMBERS. MONTHS LATER, POLICE CHARGED ERIN PATTERSON WITH THREE COUNTS OF MURDER AND FIVE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. A JURY OF 12 PEOPLE, PLUS RESERVES, HAS TODAY BEEN CHOSEN FROM ERIN PATTERSON'S OWN COMMUNITY. THE COURTS CHALLENGE WAS TO FIND JURORS WITH NO CONNECTION TO THE CASE WHATSOEVER IT'S NEARLY TWO YEARS, IF NOT TWO YEARS, THAT THIS ALLEGED OFFENDING OCCURRED, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEDIA INTEREST SINCE THAT TIME. THE REGIONAL TOWN OF MORWELL ALREADY PACKED WITH JOURNALISTS, CRIME PODCASTERS, AND FILM MAKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD; COURT SECURITY RAMPED UP DUE TO THE INTENSE PUBLIC INTEREST. WHY IS IT THAT THERE IS SO MUCH ATTENTION BROUGHT FORWARD BY THESE CASES? WELL, I THINK THIS CASE HAS ATTRACTED A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THE ALLEGED NATURE OF THE KILLINGS. SO I THINK IT'S THE INTRIGUE SURROUNDING POISON ` WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS ATTRACTS INTEREST OVER THE MILLENNIA. ERIN PATTERSON HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES AND HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED HER INNOCENCE. WITH OPENING ARGUMENTS UNDERWAY TOMORROW, THE WORLD NOW IN EAGER ANTICIPATION OF A TRIAL SET TO LAST AS LONG AS SIX WEEKS. AZIZ AL SA'AFIN, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. THE TRIAL HAS STARTED IN PARIS OF 10 PEOPLE ACCUSED OF ROBBING KIM KARDASHIAN OF HER JEWELLERY, INCLUDING HER $6.5M ENGAGEMENT RING. THEY'VE BEEN DUBBED 'THE GRANDPA ROBBERS' BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE. THE AMERICAN REALITY TV STAR WAS BOUND AND GAGGED, WHEN GUNMEN STORMED HER LUXURY HOTEL ROOM IN 2016. THE BBC'S HUGH SCHOFIELD REPORTS. THE ARRIVAL AT COURT OF YUNICE ABBAS. HE ADMITS BEING ONE OF THE MEN WHO BURST INTO KIM KARDASHIAN'S HOTEL ROOM NINE YEARS AGO. IN FACT, HE EVEN WROTE A BOOK ABOUT IT. IT WAS AT THIS VERY DISCREET PARIS ADDRESS THAT IT ALL TOOK PLACE. THREE MEN OVERPOWERED THE NIGHT WATCHMAN. TWO OTHERS WENT UPSTAIRS, TIED UP KIM KARDASHIAN AND DEMANDED THE RING, BY WHICH THEY MEANT THIS ` THE FABULOUSLY EXPENSIVE ENGAGEMENT RING GIVEN BY HER THEN-HUSBAND, THE RAPPER KANYE WEST. THEY TOOK IT AND PLENTY OF OTHER JEWELS. AS YUNICE ABBAS LATER RECALLED ` TRANSLATOR: THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TIME BETWEEN GOING IN AND GOING OUT. WE MUST HAVE STAYED BETWEEN 5 TO 7 MINUTES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WENT WELL. THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE. THE VICTIM GAVE HER JEWELLERY. THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE. AND ALL I HEARD... KIM KARDASHIAN HAS SPOKEN OF THE TRAUMA SHE WENT THROUGH, FEARING SHE WAS GOING TO BE KILLED. THE ACCUSED ARE NOW ALL OLD MEN, BUT THE PROSECUTION SAYS THERE WAS NOTHING INNOCENT OR GENTLEMANLY ABOUT WHAT THEY DID. OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM, THE WORLD'S PRESS HAS BEEN OUT IN FORCE. NO SIGN OF KIM KARDASHIAN HERE TODAY, BUT IT'S EXPECTED THAT SHE WILL BE OVER FROM AMERICA IN TWO WEEKS TIME BUT IT'S EXPECTED THAT SHE WILL BE OVER FROM AMERICA IN TWO WEEKS' TIME TO TELL THE COURT HER VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT. FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE ESTIMATED THE STOLEN ITEMS TO BE WORTH AROUND $10M. E HAERE AKE NEI. COMING UP ` THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST SOLAR FARM OPENS IN RAINY WEATHER ON THE CANTERBURY PLANES. WHEN SUNNY, HOW MANY HOMES THESE PANELS WILL PROVIDE POWER FOR. AND OUT OF HIS SEAT COMPETITIVELY SINCE THIS SCARY CRASH ` THE OTHER MOUNTAIN BIKING SKILLS THIS ASHBURTON TEENAGER HAS PERFECTED TO SECURE A PRO CONTRACT, EVEN THOUGH HE WON'T BE RIDING. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` HAVE YOU BEEN OFFERED A BARGAIN BECAUSE OF A CANCELLED ORDER? HOW TO SPOT WHAT'S A GOOD DEAL OR JUST CLEVER MARKETING. PLUS ` THE FASHION DESIGNER WITH A NOVEL APPROACH FOR MAKING CLOTHES AFFORDABLE, BY MAKING THIS JACKET VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE. AND THEY'RE SHARING LIFE LESSONS WITH THE NEXT GENERATION, SO, WHO'S QUEUEING UP TO JOIN? THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. (MUSIC PLAYING) VOICEOVER: Get twice the cha-ching! On your ring ring! We'll double your top up when you join One New Zealand on a $16 or above Myflex Prepay Plan. Terms apply. MS SUFFERERS ARE WAITING ON PHARMAC TO FUND A NEW TREATMENT THAT COULD SAVE AN ESTIMATED 1300 DAYS OF HOSPITAL INFUSION TIME NATIONWIDE. MEDSAFE HAS JUST APPROVED THE DRUG THAT KEEPS THE DISEASE AT BAY TO BE ADMINISTERED BY INJECTION. AND AS LISA DAVIES REPORTS, EXPERTS SAY IT COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER. GRAHAM WALKER MAY USE A CANE, BUT HE DOESN'T LET MS SLOW HIM DOWN. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. ITS ALL MANAGEABLE. HE'S SLOWED DOWN THE PROGRESSION OF HIS DISEASE WITH TIME-CONSUMING INTRAVENOUS TREATMENTS. IT TAKES A WHOLE DAY TO DO THE TREATMENT, AND IT TIES UP A WHOLE LOTS OF NURSES AND CLINICIANS. AROUND 1000 PATIENTS GET THE DRUG VIA IV IN NEW ZEALAND. NEWS MEDSAFE HAS APPROVED A MUCH FASTER 10-MINUTE INJECTION METHOD, VERY WELCOME. INFUSION CENTRES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, AND WE WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT THESE TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT WE CAN HELP PUSH FOR WILL RELIEVE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE. LAST YEAR WE MET BRUCE STREET, THREE YEARS AFTER HIS MS DIAGNOSIS, ABOUT THE ONGOING STRUGGLE TO GET FUNDED TREATMENT. THEY SORT OF DROPPED THE BOMBSHELL ` THE FUNDING'S AVAILABLE, BUT WE HAVE NO FACILITIES TO DO IT. WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED. HE WAS FORCED TO TURN TO THE PRIVATE SYSTEM FOR HELP. TIMES ALL WE'VE GOT. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY ROCHE BELIEVES TIME SAVED ADMINISTERING THE INJECTION COULD MEAN EIGHT EXTRA PATIENTS CAN BE SEEN AT EACH INFUSION CLINIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY PER DAY. THE SUBCUTANEOUS VERSION OF OCREVUS WON'T COST THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ANY MORE THAN THE CURRENTLY FUNDED INTRAVENOUS VERSION OF OCREVUS. BUT IT IS A MORE FLEXIBLE, TIME-SAVING, PATIENT-FRIENDLY VERSION. SHE SAYS ROCHE IS WORKING WITH PHARMAC TO TRY TO BRING THE NEW DRUG TO PATIENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IN A STATEMENT, PHARMAC SAYS ITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS HAS RECOMMENDED FUNDING THE DRUG, IN PART DUE TO THE HIGH DEMAND FOR INFUSION SERVICES. HOWEVER, IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER PROCESS TO MAKE IT ON THE LIST OF DRUGS THEY WANT TO FUND. TIME IS REALLY IMPORTANT, SO AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET THE TREATMENT AND SLOW DOWN THE ADVANCE OF IT, PEOPLE ARE WAY BETTER OFF. HOPING ANOTHER TREATMENT OPTION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR HIM... EXERCISE IS MEDICINE. ...AND OTHER MS SUFFERERS HERE SOON. LISA DAVIES, 1 NEWS. NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST SOLAR FARM HAS BEEN OPENED AT LAURISTON ON THE CANTERBURY PLAINS. MORE THAN 90,000 PANELS ARE NOW GENERATING UP TO 100 GIGAWATT HOURS OF ELECTRICITY A YEAR ` ENOUGH TO POWER 13,000 HOMES. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. ATTRACTING THE SUN AND PLENTY OF ATTENTION, THIS VAST LANDSCAPE OF NEATLY ORGANISED SOLAR PANELS IN CANTERBURY WAS ONCE HOME TO JUST CROPS, SHEEP, AND COWS. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST MAJOR CHANGE IT'S EVER SEEN, PROBABLY IN OVER 100 YEARS. BERNARD DALEY AGREED TO CONVERT THREE YEARS AGO. THE FLAT LAND IDEAL FOR 90,000 PANELS NOW ABLE TO POWER 13,000 HOUSEHOLDS. THERE YOU GO. (APPLAUSE) TODAY, THOSE BEHIND THE $104m PROJECT CELEBRATED... CHILDREN: # HAERE MAI... ...MINDFUL OF THE TARGET TO REACH NET ZERO BY 2050, WHEN ELECTRICITY WILL HAVE TO MEET 60% OF NEW ZEALAND'S ENERGY NEEDS. SO THAT'S MORE THAN A DOUBLING OF THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY THAT WE NEED IN THE SYSTEM EVERY DAY TO MEET THAT GOAL. THE SECOND IS AT LEAST 95% OF THAT ELECTRICITY NEEDS TO BE RENEWABLE, AND THAT'S CRITICAL TO THE LOW-EMISSIONS FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND. THIS IS THE BIGGEST OF FIVE LARGE-SCALE SOLAR FARMS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN NEW ZEALAND, AN EXPANDING INDUSTRY, WITH FOUR MORE FARMS ALREADY IN THE WORKS. AND WHILE THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR MORE, THERE ARE HURDLES. WE'RE SEEING REALLY STRONG DEMAND FOR THE PRODUCT, FOR CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT WE CAN BRING TO MARKET. GETTING THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TO BUILD THEM IS REALLY THE KEY CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE FACING AS A BUSINESS. THINGS LIKE RESOURCE CONSENTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE GOVERNMENT. WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE. UM, GETTING CONNECTED TO THE GRID, YOU KNOW, CAN TAKE SOME TIME, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THOSE APPROVAL PROCESSES ARE BEING STREAMLINED. IT TOOK THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE THE CANTERBURY SOLAR FARM, AND MOST OF THAT WAS SPENT ON PAPERWORK AND CONSENTS. I THINK THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO BE AN ENABLER, SO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE RMA SETTINGS RIGHT, TO ENCOURAGE MORE RENEWABLES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT FAST-TRACK PATHWAYS WITH BIG SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS. AND WITH MORE PANELS ON THE HORIZON, IT'S HOPED POWER PRICES WILL FALL. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. JENNY'S HERE NOW WITH SPORT, AND CAN THE BLACKFERNS GO BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK? YEAH, THE WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP BUILD UP BEGINS NOW ` 49 PLAYERS PUTTING THEIR HAND UP IN WELLINGTON, NOT ALL WILL MAKE IT. LET THE GAMES BEGIN.. PLUS ` WHY THIS FRESH FACED 14-YEAR-OLD MAY JUST PROVE TO BE THE IPL'S BARGAIN OF THE SEASON. AND WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A BUSY FEW DAYS OF WEATHER WITH HEAVY RAIN, STRONG WINDS, AND SNOW IN THE MIX. SO, IT'S RAINCOAT OR WINTER WOOLLIES. I'LL TELL YOU WHO NEEDS WHAT AFTER SPORT. VOICEOVER: Get your free Consumers's Guide to Hearing Aids. New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. (SONG): 'COLD AS ICE' BY FOREIGNER BEN: Hello? From the bank? Really? VOICEOVER: Know it's really ASB with Caller Check. (PHONE RINGING) # You're as cold as ice # We can verify it's us through the ASB Mobile Banking app. BEN: Oh, it is you ASB! Alright, I'm off. Where are you off to? To get the flu jab. You coming? Nah. I won't get the flu. Touch wood. (QUIRKY MUSIC) Touch wood. Kia ora! You here for the flu jab? Yeah. VOICEOVER: KIA ORA, WELCOME TO SPORT. THE COUNTDOWN'S ON TO THE WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP LATER THIS YEAR, 49 BLACKFERNS-HOPEFULS GATHERING IN WELLINGTON TO START THEIR PREPARATIONS. THE BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS ARE PROVEN PERFORMERS, AND ALREADY THERE'S CONFIDENCE IN THE GROUP. LUKE ROBINSON REPORTS. THE BLACK FERNS ARE BACK, AND THERE'S A REAL BUZZ. I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER BEEN EXCITED, LIKE, FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE WE'VE LINED UP FOR A FITNESS TEST AND I HAD A SMILE ON MY FACE. LIKE, THAT NEVER, EVER HAPPENS, SO IT'S PRETTY COOL TO BE BACK. THEIR FIRST CAMP IN A WORLD CUP YEAR, EXPECTATIONS HIGH FOR THE TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS... AND IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT? ...SO FAR, THINGS TRACKING EVEN BETTER THAN FOUR YEARS AGO. I ACTUALLY THINK WE'RE A STEP AHEAD ALREADY, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. AND UM, YEAH, LIKE, YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO CAMP, AND THAT FIRST TESTING BLOCK, I DUNNO, SOMETHING ABOUT A WORLD CUP ` THERE'S MORE PRESSURE. 49 PLAYERS ASSEMBLED, WITH A SQUAD FOR THE PACIFIC FOUR SERIES TO BE NAMED ON THURSDAY, THE INTERNAL JERSEY SCRAPPING IS IN FULL SWING. IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD ` IT'S NOT A NICE THING TO HAVE TO PICK PEOPLE, BUT IT'S` THEY'VE GOT A HEADACHE ON THEIR HANDS, COS EVERYONE'S PUTTING UP THEIR HAND, RIGHT? IT'S AWESOME. YOU WANT THE BEST TWO 15'S IN THE WORLD GOING AT EACH OTHER EVERY WEEK. WHAT WE SEE IS YOUNG TALENT COMING THROUGH AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON SOME OF THE SENIOR LADIES WHO'VE BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR A FAIR WHILE. ONE OF THE NEWEST FACES THEIR SKILLS AND BACKS COACH FORMER MAORI ALL BLACK RIKI FLUTEY. WITH THE WORLD CUP ONLY FOUR MONTHS AWAY, THEY HAVE JUST FOUR MATCHES TO PREPARE. I FEEL LIKE ALL PLAYERS WOULD SAY, 'YES WE WANT MORE GAMES', BUT REALITY IS WE CAN'T, SO WE'VE JUST GOTTA MAKE IT WORK WITH WHAT WE CAN. AND THEY'VE MADE IT WORK BEFORE. EVERYONE'S GOT ON BOARD AND GONE, 'RIGHT, THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP IS 'THE LAST ONE IN THE CABINET, MAN. WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AFTER IT'. A WINNING TEAM, WITH A WINNING MENTALITY, DETERMINED TO DOMINATE ONCE AGAIN. LUKE ROBINSON, 1 NEWS. THE BLUES WILL BE WITHOUT WING MARK TELE'A FOR THEIR NEXT THREE SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC GAMES AFTER HE WAS HANDED A SUSPENSION FOLLOWING HIS RED CARD ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS TIP TACKLE AGAINST THE REDS MEANS HE MAY ONLY PLAY ONE MORE GAME FOR THE BLUES BEFORE HEADING OFFSHORE NEXT SEASON. MEANWHILE THE FIFTH-PLACED HURRICANES, FRESH OFF THEIR AWAY WIN OVER THE BRUMBIES, HAVE NO SUCH PLAYER PROBLEMS ` INJURIES OR OTHERWISE. ESPECIALLY IN THE BACKS, ANYWAY. PROBABLY THIS WEEK'S BEEN THE FIRST WEEK WE'VE ACTUALLY DEBATED, UM, PICKING A SIDE, SO, UM... YEAH, IT'S BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE, AND SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTINUITY FROM THE WEEK BEFORE. ANOTHER BOOST AS THEY PREPARE TO FACE THE TABLE-TOPPING CHIEFS ` ALL BLACK BILLY PROCTOR HAS RESIGNED UNTIL 2027 WITH THE FRANCHISE. THE WARRIORS MAY BE FOURTH ON THE NRL LADDER, BUT DON'T TELL THEIR COACH THAT. HE'S DETERMINED NOT TO LET HIS SIDE GET AHEAD OF THEMSELVES. FOR A TEAM THAT'S HAD SENIOR PLAYERS SIDELINED WITH INJURIES, IT'S THEIR DEPTH AND SOME FRESH FACES WHO'VE HELPED THEM RISE TO THE TOP. KATE WELLS EXPLAINS. THE WARRIORS ARE IN GOOD HANDS. ALI'S! INJURIES TO BIG-NAME PLAYERS GIVING OTHERS A CHANCE TO STEP UP. THEIR AMBITION'S REALLY HIGH. THEY WANT TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME. THEY KNOW THEY'VE GOT TO WORK HARD, AND THEY'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. BUT THEY KNOW HOW MUCH FAITH WE'VE GOT IN THEM, AND THEY CERTAINLY ARE THE FUTURE. ONE OF THOSE STANDING OUT... LEIATAUA! ...ALI LEIATAUA ` THE 22-YEAR-OLD PLAYING EVERY MINUTE OF ALL EIGHT GAMES THIS SEASON. IN HIS THIRD YEAR WITH THE CLUB, ONLY NOW FEELING LIKE A FIRST-GRADER. LOOKS LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, BUT, YEAH, IT'S BEEN GOOD GETTING SOME GAME TIME IN, MAYBE WAITING SOME GUYS TO COME BACK FROM INJURY. NAH, WHO KNOWS? (LAUGHTER) YEAH, I THINK I JUST GOTTA KEEP DOING MY JOB WEEK IN WEEK OUT, YEAH. NOTHING OUT THE GATE OR TOO SPECIAL, JUST GOTTA TURN UP FOR THE BOYS AND PLAY MY ROLE. LEIATAUA PART OF A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS WHO PLAN TO BE AT THE CLUB LONG TERM. (CHATTER) WE'RE ALL BEST MATES. WE ALL THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY THE NEXT CROP. AND, UM, YEAH, YOU'VE SEEN THOSE BOYS ` LEKA, DEMETRIC, JACOB, YEAH, THEY'RE ALL PLAYING UNREAL FOOTY. SO, YEAH, I THINK WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO JUST KEEP PLAYING, AND, YEAH, HOPEFULLY BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME IF THE CLUB HAS US. WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, ANDREW WEBSTER WANTS THE TEAM TO FOCUS ON THE PRESENT; LOOKING TOO FAR AHEAD DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH HIM. I'VE LOOKED AT THE LADDER, ONLY BECAUSE I PRESSED THE WRONG BUTTON THE OTHER DAY INSTEAD OF THE DRAW, AND, YEAH, I WAS ANGRY AT MYSELF. HE IS, HOWEVER, ACROSS THE RETURN OF HIS INJURED PLAYERS ` DALLIN WATENE-ZELENIAK, ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK, AND CO-CAPTAIN JAMES FISHER HARRIS DUE BACK IN THE COMING WEEKS. BUT THEY'VE GOT SOME COMPETITION. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, HE BECAME THE YOUNGEST PLAYER TO FEATURE IN THE IPL. NOW, VAIBHAV SURYAVANSHI (14) HAS SET THE LEAGUE ALIGHT. THE TEENAGER WITH AN HISTORIC CENTURY, LEAVING SEASONED BOWLERS WATCHING ON. ZION DAYAL HAS MORE. IT'S NOT THE TEXTBOOKS, BUT THE RECORD BOOKS THAT VAIBHAV SURYAVANSHI IS REWRITING. A HUNDRED OF JUST 35 BALLS. IT'S THE 14-YEAR-OLD BOY. YES, 14 YEARS OLD, THE TEENAGER BECOMING THE YOUNGEST PLAYER TO SCORE A T20 CENTURY, TAKING JUST 35 BALLS TO RECORD THE SECOND-QUICKEST HUNDRED IN THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE BEHIND CHRIS GAYLE. FIRST TIME, MAYBE FOUR MONTHS BACK WHEN HE CAME FOR THE TRIALS, AND FROM THAT DAY ONWARDS, WE ALWAYS KNEW ` ALL OF US KNEW ` THAT WE FOUND SOMETHING SPECIAL. WHAT MADE THIS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE? THE BOWLERS HE TORE APART. FIRST, INDIAN TEST PACEMAN MOHAMMED SIRAJ. AND AGAIN. CATCH IT, KATIE, IT'S COMING UP HERE! NEXT, ISHANT SHARMA. NO MATCH! NEW BALLS PLAYS. THE FORMER INDIAN TEST BOWLER HIT FOR 28 RUNS IN THE FOURTH OVER... SIX MORE. ...THE GUJARAT TITANS TRYING EVERYTHING. SOME SPIN BEING INTRODUCED. NO DIFFERENCE. BUT NO ONE COULD QUITE BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING. AMAZINGLY, JUST HIS THIRD-EVER IPL MATCH. BEAUTIFULLY HIT FOR SIX MORE. I WAS JUST TELLING HIM KEEP GOING. HE WAS INCREDIBLE TODAY. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE SEEN. EVENTUALLY DISMISSED FOR 101, A MAN-OF-THE-MATCH EFFORT AND PLAYING A BIG PART IN THE ROYALS' EIGHT-WICKET WIN. WHAT AN INNINGS. SURYAVANSHI MAY JUST BE ONE OF THE IPL'S BEST BUYS, THE ROYALS RECRUITING HIM AT AUCTION FOR JUST OVER $230,000. FANS, TEAM-MATES, AND THE OPPOSITION IN AWE. TO DO IT IN FRONT OF THIS` THIS KIND OF CROWD AND IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, AGAINST A REALLY, REALLY GOOD BOWLING ATTACK ` I THINK IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL. BARELY A TEENAGER, THERE'S SURELY A LOT MORE TO COME. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS. STEVEN ADAMS' HOUSTON ROCKETS ARE ON THE BRINK OF ELIMINATION FROM THE NBA PLAYOFFS, TRAILING 3-1 TO THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS. A TENSE GAME FOUR OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS. AFTER A SLOW START, THE ROCKETS CLOSING A DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICIT, ADAMS KEEPING THE WARRIORS FROM THE NET. AND BROOKS IS ON HIM, CALLING HIS POST. WHACKED AWAY BY ADAMS INSIDE. PICKED UP, SHOT AWAY IN TIME. SANTOS GOT IT, BUNDLED INSIDE. SOME JIMMY BUTLER PRECISION SEALING THE WIN FOR THE WARRIORS 109-106. OFF THE COURT, STEPH CURRY ALSO BEATING ADAMS IN THE TEAM-MATE OF THE YEAR AWARD ` THE DUO VOTED 1-2 BY CURRENT PLAYERS, IN TERMS OF SELFLESS PLAY AND LEADERSHIP. LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER SUFFERING A MAJOR HEAD KNOCK, DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKER OLI NICHOLLS IS RETURNING TO THE WORLD CIRCUIT, ALTHOUGH NOT ON A BIKE. THE ASHBURTON TEEN SECURING A CONTRACT WITH A PROFESSIONAL JUNIOR OUTFIT AS THEIR MECHANIC. JORDAN OPPERT HAS THE STORY. OLI NICHOLS WAS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP-AGE-GROUP DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKERS UNTIL THIS PRACTICE RUN AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ANDORRA BROUGHT HIS BREAKOUT UNDER-19 SEASON TO AN ABRUPT END. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT CRASH? WHAT HAPPENED? UM, PFFT, MAINLY JUST A RIDER ERROR, UM, LOSS OF TRACTION GOING OFF A DROP AND JUST CAUSED ME TO GO STRAIGHT TO MY HEAD, REALLY, SORT OF GAVE ME A CONCUSSION AND SENT ME BACK. OFF HIS BIKE COMPETITIVELY SINCE THAT DAY IN AUGUST, THOUGH NEVER FAR FROM IT. I DON'T SAY IT PUT ME OFF, BUT JUST IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO RECOVER FROM IT. FEELING SLEEPY, NO ENERGY; WASN'T SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO, GETTING BACK ON THE BIKE, REALLY. SO HE WENT ALL IN ON HIS PART-TIME JOB FIXING BIKES IN ASHBURTON... THE TEAM, THEY'RE A REAL BIG HELP. THEY'VE TAUGHT ME FROM DAY ONE, AND I MEAN EVEN STILL TEACH ME NOW. IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT HARDER THAN WORKING ON ONE BIKE ALL THE TIME. IT'S SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. ...WHICH HAS SET HIM UP PERFECTLY FOR A FIVE-MONTH CONTRACT WITH PROFESSIONAL OUTFIT TEAM HIGH COUNTRY, AUSTRALIAN-OWNED AND MADE UP OF YOUNG AUSSIES AND KIWIS. HE'LL BE ONE OF THE TWO MECHANICS BACK ON THE JUNIOR WORLD SERIES CIRCUIT IN EUROPE, WHERE HE WAS RIDING. IT WAS PRETTY INSPIRING, REALLY. LIKE, HE'S ONLY A YOUNG GUY, BUT HE'S GONE A LONG WAY SO FAR. HIS CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN KNOCKED A WEE BIT SINCE HE'D SORT OF COME BACK. HE WASN'T DOING TOO MUCH RIDING, BUT, UM, YEAH, THIS SHOULD GET HIM BACK INTO IT. I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED TO HAVE A SECOND YEAR AT IT. UM, YEAH, MEET PEOPLE THAT I PREVIOUSLY MET AND BUILD THAT CONNECTION. AND SHOW OTHERS THERE'S A PATHWAY... BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. THANKS, SPORT. STAY WITH US. RENEE IS HERE NEXT WITH DETAILS OF WHERE IT'LL BE GETTING WET AND CHILLY. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE SIMPLE STEPS TO TAKE SO YOU'RE NOT RISKING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THIS WINTER. PLUS ` THE EX-COP AND RUGBY PLAYER TEAMING UP TO HELP STEER KIDS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY AT SEVEN. KIA ORA ` HELLO AGAIN, THE LOT GOING ON WEATHERWISE THIS WEEK. A COMPLEX WET WEATHER SYSTEM IS HEADING DOWN FROM THE NORTH BRINGING RAIN AND HUMID WINDS TO THE NORTH ISLAND. AS WE MOVE INTO WEDNESDAY THE SYSTEM AFFECTS THE WHOLE COUNTRY. IS EXPECTED TO BRING GALES AND HEAVY SNOWS TO PARTS OF CANTERBURY. IT WILL SIT EAST OF WAIRARAPA FROM THE TOP, HEAVY MORNING SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA AND RUSSELL. TURNING TO HEAVY SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. 22 DEGREES FOR MOST. TAMAKI MAKAURAU RAIN TURNING INTO SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. 22 IS THE HIGH. HAMILTON, RAIN MOVES IN AND A HIGH OF 22 DEGREES. ROCK AND ROLL ACROSS THE CENTRE NORTH, RAIN, HEAVY FALLS. FALLS WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES, ATOP OF 22 FOR YOU. TO THE EAST, HEAVY FALLS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS WILL BE STRONG. OCCASIONAL RAIN CLEARING AT NIGHT FOR HAWKES BAY. TO THE WEST, RAIN ROLES AND IN THE LATE MORNING. WELLINGTON, THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND FOR YOU, 16 DEGREES FOR YOU. HEAVY RAIN MORNING IN KAIKOURA, WESTPORT WITH A STRONG WIND WATCH. CHRISTCHURCH HAS A HEAVY RAIN MORNING IN PLACE AND SNOW BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. 13 AS YOUR HIGH. STRONG WIND AND RAIN WATCHES THROUGH HERE. REMAINING CLOUDY. HEAVY RAIN FOR ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. QUEENSTOWN MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH A CHANCE OF A SHOWER, LIGHT WINDS, 11 DEGREES. IT'S A FINE DAY FOR THE LOWER SOUTH. FIND SPELLS INCREASING AS THE DAY ROLLS OUT. THE NEED AND MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A SHOWER OR TWO. THE WET WEATHER CONTINUES INTO THURSDAY, YOU'LL NOTICE A DROP IN TEMPERATURE, A BIT OF EVERYTHING THIS WEEK. SOME SUN, RAIN, SOME STRONG WINDS, AND EVEN SOME SNOW.