TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` FINALLY FREE, BUT FRUSTRATED. PUT THEM IN A CAGE FOR 28 YEARS AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL. WHAT'S NEXT FOR STEPHEN STONE NOW THE CROWN WON'T PURSUE A RETRIAL FOR TWO MURDERS IN THE LATE 1980s? AN UPDATE ON OUR AGING FERRY FLEET AS COOK STRAIT CROSSINGS ARE CANCELLED DUE TO WILD WEATHER. AND MONEY MATTERS ` WITH THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO SCHOOL CURRICULUMS, WHAT'LL NOW BE TAUGHT? CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE, RUBY WEBB-SAGARIN AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 TENA TATOU KATOA ` GOOD EVENING. IT'S BEING CALLED 'A TRAVESTY' ` AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES IN JAIL, STEPHEN STONE HAS BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE 1989 MURDERS OF LEAH STEPHENS AND DEANE FULLER-SANDYS. THE CASE AGAINST STONE AND HIS CO-DEFENDANT, GAIL MANEY, STARTED UNRAVELLING LAST YEAR, THE CROWN ADMITTING THERE HAD BEEN A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE TO DISCLOSE DOCUMENTS. THE COURT OF APPEAL ACQUITTING MANEY AND QUASHING STONE'S CONVICTIONS, ORDERING A RETRIAL. TODAY, THE CROWN CONCEDED THERE'S NO LONGER SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR THAT TO GO AHEAD, AND STONE WALKED OUT OF COURT A FREE MAN. CUSHLA NORMAN WAS THERE. IT'S BEEN 26 YEARS FOR STEPHEN STONE, AND HE'S FINALLY A FREE MAN. HERE HE COMES. STEPHEN` (BLEEP) OFF. COULD YOU TELL US`? (BLEEP) OFF. FREE ` AND FURIOUS AT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. I WANT TO RUB` EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THAT, RUB THEIR NOSES IN THE GROUND. YOU KNOW, PUT THEM IN A CAGE FOR 28 YEARS AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL. NOW 55, HE'S MISSED OUT ON A LOT. I WENT TO JAIL, AND MY SON WAS 4 YEARS OLD. WHEN I GOT OUT OF HERE, HE WAS 34. YOU KNOW? I DON'T EVEN KNOW HALF MY GRANDKIDS. ARCHIVE: HE KILLED IN COLD BLOOD ` NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. THE NARRATIVE FROM THE '90s NOW SHATTERED, WITH THE CROWN ADMITTING THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR A RETRIAL. THE 1999 TRIAL FOR MR STONE THE 1999 TRIAL FOR MR STONE PROCEEDED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR KEY EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS. THREE OF THOSE WITNESSES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. ADDITIONAL ESR TESTING ON SAMPLES COLLECTED BY POLICE AT THE TIME HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT. BUT FOR HIS LEGAL TEAM, IT'S NOT A VICTORY. WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THIS IS A TRAVESTY. THIS IS A CASE THAT WAS ENGINEERED BY THE POLICE. THE EVIDENCE AGAINST ALL OF THESE DEFENDANTS WAS NOT CREDIBLE. STEPHEN STONE IS THE LAST OF FOUR DEFENDANTS TO BE ACQUITTED OF THE CRIMES. I THINK IT'S BEEN TORTURE FOR STEVE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, AND IT'S ALSO BEEN QUITE CONFUSING FOR US, NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE. IT ALL STARTED IN 1989, WHEN DEANE FULLER-SANDYS WENT MISSING WHILE FISHING, AROUND THE SAME TIME SEX WORKER LEAH STEPHENS DISAPPEARED. HER BODY WAS FOUND THREE YEARS LATER. IT'S THOUGHT DEANE FULLER-SANDYS CAME OUT TO THIS AUCKLAND WEST COAST BEACH TO GO FISHING. HIS VEHICLE WAS FOUND IN THE NEARBY CARPARK, SOME BELONGINGS ALONG THE BEACH. BUT A BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED, AND FOR EIGHT YEARS, POLICE SUSPECTED HE'D DROWNED. THEN POLICE STARTED GETTING TIPS AND LINKED THE TWO CASES ` A KNOWN CRIMINAL IN THEIR SIGHTS. IT WAS QUITE CLEAR THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION THAT STEPHEN STONE WAS THE PRINCIPAL PERSON INVOLVED. IN 1999, THE CROWN SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED FULLER-SANDYS WAS MURDERED IN GAIL MANEY'S GARAGE IN FRONT OF NINE PEOPLE. MANEY ORDERED STEPHEN STONE TO KILL HIM FOR STEALING HER THINGS. AFTER THE FIRST SHOT, STONE MADE FOUR OTHERS DO THE SAME, INCLUDING COLIN MANEY AND MARK HENRIKSEN. LEAH STEPHENS WAS ALSO THERE; SHE WAS KILLED BY STONE DAYS LATER OVER FEARS SHE'D TALK. THE FOUR OTHERS WERE CROWN WITNESSES AND GIVEN IMMUNITY. TWO OF THOSE WITNESSES HAVE SINCE RECANTED, AND THERE ARE SERIOUS DOUBTS OVER THE RELIABILITY OF THE OTHERS. THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS ` HOW DO FOUR PEOPLE GET WRONGFULLY CONVICTED ACROSS TWO DIFFERENT TRIALS FOR TWO ALLEGED MURDERS? POLICE SAY THEY'RE CONSIDERING WHAT EFFECT THIS DECISION WILL HAVE ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATHS OF DEANE FULLER-SANDYS AND LEAH STEPHENS, NOTING THEY HAVE ALSO STARTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE HANDLING OF THE ORIGINAL CASE. BUT TWO FAMILIES STILL HAVE NO ANSWERS. LEAH WAS A HUMAN BEING, AND I LOVED HER, AND SHE WAS A NICE GIRL, AND SHE WAS SO YOUNG, YOU KNOW, AND... IF STEPHEN DIDN'T DO IT, THEN WHO DID? STEPHEN STONE NOW PLANS TO GET BACK INTO WORK. I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT MYSELF. THERE'S SOME GOOD PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT I'M GONNA LOOK AFTER, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO ` SPEND MY TIME WITH THEM; (BLEEP) EVERYONE ELSE. THOSE EXPLETIVES, CUSHLA, A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW STEPHEN STONE'S FEELING. SO NOW HE'S FREE, WHAT'S NEXT?THIS OF HOW STEPHEN STONE'S FEELING. SO NOW HE'S FREE, WHAT'S NEXT? THE FIRST THING TO DO TODAY WAS VISIT HIS MOTHER'S GRAVE. HASN'T BEEN THERE SINCE HE WAS 21. FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK, HE IS KEEN TO APPLY FOR COMPENSATION. THAT IS A SEPARATE PROCESS WHERE AKC WILL ASSESS HIS CASE AND DETERMINE WHETHER HE IS INNOCENT ON THE BALANCE OF PROBABLE IT IS. THERE IS AN EXTRA HURDLE. FOR HIM TO GET COMPENSATION, THAT IS BECAUSE A RETRIAL WAS ORDERED. HE HAS TO PROVE THERE HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HIS TEAM HAS ARGUED THAT THERE HAS BEEN, BECAUSE I HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE. IS THERE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY? HIS TEAM IS SAYING IT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT BY A ROYAL COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY, BECAUSE THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED HERE, THEY COLLECTIVELY SERVE MORE THAN 40 YEARS, SO THEY SAY THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY. I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE POLICE ARE UNDER SCRUTINY FOR THEIR PROCESSES. THE IPCA HAS STARTED INVESTIGATING. THE ARATERE IS BEING RETIRED AND WILL STOP OPERATING THIS YEAR, MEANING JUST TWO INTERISLANDER FERRIES WILL BE CROSSING THE VITAL COOK STRAIT ROUTE TILL NEW FERRIES ARRIVE IN FOUR' YEARS TIME. ABBEY WAKEFIELD JOINS US NOW FROM WELLINGTON. WHAT'S THE REASON BEHIND TODAY'S DECISION? KIWI RAIL SAYS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX A DECAYING PART OF THE WHARF IN PICTON IT WOULD ONLY HAVE USED IT UP UNTIL 2029, WHEN THOSE TWO NEW FERRIES ARRIVE. REPORT ALSO SAID IT IS CRITICAL THAT WORKS OUT SUMMIT AREA FOR THE UPGRADE WORK TO BEGIN. THIS MEANS THAT 24 FEWER SAILINGS ACROSS THE COOK STRAIT WEEK. IT ALSO MEANS A LOSS OF SOME ROLES. KIWI RAIL HAS DESCRIBED THE ARATERE IS A WORKHORSE. IT HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE 1999, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY SPECIAL WORKPLACE FOR MANY OF THE CREW THAT HAS BEEN ON THAT SHIP. KIWI REAL SAID THEY WILL COPE WITHOUT IT. GOING FROM THREE FERRIES TO TWO FERRIES WILL REDUCE CAPACITY, BUT WE HAVE OUR TWO LARGEST FERRIES OPERATING, AND WE'LL` AND AS I SAID, WE'RE ENGAGING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS TO GET THE MOST EFFICIENT USE AND THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF DISRUPTION TO THEM IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD UNTIL THE NEW FERRIES ARRIVE. AND BAD WEATHER HAS LED TO FERRY CANCELLATIONS THERE TOO. HOW MANY SAILINGS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED? THE INTERISLANDER HAS CANCELLED ALL SAILINGS FROM THIS AFTERNOON ALL THE WAY UP TO FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THAT IS BECAUSE A 7 M SWELLS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE COOK STRAIT. THERE IS BEEN WIND GUSTS FORECAST FOR 130 KM/H IN THE CAPITAL. THAT COULD CAUSE FURTHER TRAVEL DISRUPTION. UNLESS YOUR JOB IS REPORTING ON THE WEATHER, PUT THE FIRE ON, GRAB A CUP OF TEA, AND STAY INSIDE. SO WILD WEATHER'S ROLLING IN, WITH WIND, RAIN, AND EVEN SNOW WARNINGS IN PLACE LET'S BRING ERIN IN NOW. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ERIN, WEATHER? LET'S PULL UP THE WIND SCENE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE VERY STRONG WINDS ABBEY'S TALKING ABOUT. THERE IN THE DARKER RED AND PURPLE COLOUR, DRIVING INTO COOK STRAIT FROM THIS EVENING AND ALL THROUGH TOMORROW BEFORE WORKING FURTHER UP THE EAST COAST. NOW, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE SOUTHERLY GUSTS IN WELLINGTON OF 110km/h, BUT IF WE'RE EXPECTING WIND GUSTS OF 120 K'S, 130 K's ` A LOOK BACK AT THE RECORDS ` THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN MORE THAN A DECADE. BUT IT'S NOT JUST WIND ` HEADS UP ESPECIALLY TO CANTERBURY UP THE KAIKOURA COAST. WE'RE LOOKING AT HEAVY RAIN PILING INTENSIFYING OVERNIGHT AND PERSISTENT THROUGH TOMORROW. PLUS, YOU CAN SEE THE WHITE THERE IN THE CANTERBURY HIGH COUNTRY ` WE'RE IN FOR SOME VERY EARLY LOW SNOW. THIS IS OUR CURRENT WEATHER WARNINGS MAP. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND WE'LL BREAK THAT DOWN LATER IN THE BULLETIN. PRISONERS ARE SET TO LOSE VOTING RIGHTS IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, WITH THE GOVERNMENT REINSTATING A PREVIOUS BAN. LABOUR'S 2020 LAW CHANGE, ALLOWING PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES LESS THAN THREE YEARS TO VOTE, IS BEING REVERSED. JUSTICE MINISTER PAUL GOLDSMITH SAYS CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY. BUT LABOUR SAYS ITS SENDING A SIGNAL TO PRISONERS THAT THEIR VOICES DON'T MATTER. DOCUMENTS RELEASED TO 1 NEWS SHOW THE COUNTRY'S CHIEF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER CLAIMS THE GROWING MUSLIM POPULATION HERE POSES A THREAT TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. THAT'S LEAD TO ACCUSATIONS OF ISLAMAPHOBIA AGAINST DR STEPHEN RAINBOW. HE'S APOLOGISED, BUT CRITICS WANT MORE DETAIL OVER FURTHER CLAIMS HE'S SAID TO HAVE MADE ABOUT THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY AT THE SAME MEETING. HERE'S SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. JUST A FEW WEEKS BACK... I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO JUSTIFYING IT. I'VE APOLOGISED, AND THAT'S IT. I WANT TO MOVE ON. ...OUR CHIEF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER PROMISING MPs HE'D DO BETTER AFTER CAUSING OFFENCE IN A MEETING WITH A JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADER ACCUSED OF ISLAMOPHOBIA OVER COMMENTS ABOUT THE THREAT MUSLIMS POSED TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. HE'S DISPUTED MANY DETAILS. SO LET'S BE VERY CLEAR. I HAVE APOLOGISED FOR ANY MISINTERPRETATION OF THOSE COMMENTS THAT I MADE. NOW 1 NEWS HAS OBTAINED NOTES OFFICIALS TOOK AT THAT MEETING OF WHAT HE DID SAY. THEY SHOW DR RAINBOW RAISED THE INCREASE IN MUSLIM IMMIGRATION AS A THREAT TO OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY. IT'S A DEEPLY ISLAMAPHOBIC COMMENT. I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD BE SCAPEGOATING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY LIKE THAT AND I THINK THAT IT ILLUSTRATES THAT HE'S DEEPLY UNSUITABLE FOR THAT ROLE. THE CHIEF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER SHOULD BE THE DEFENDER OF MINORITIES, AND THIS STATEMENT LOOKS LIKE AN ISLAMAPHOBIC ATTACK ON ONE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. IN THE LATEST CENSUS, ABOUT 1.5% OF NEW ZEALANDERS IDENTIFIED AS ISLAMIC. THE JUSTICE MINISTER, PAUL GOLDMSITH, TOLD 1 NEWS THAT HE WANTS THE CHEIF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISIONER TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH HIS COMMENTS IN THE FUTURE. THE MINISTER RECENTLY DEFENDED GOING AGAINST ADVICE IN APPOINTING DR RAINBOW TO THE ROLE, SAYING HE IS AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR. DR RAINBOW REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS STORY. HE HAS PUSHED BACK STRONGLY AGAINST ANOTHER ALLEGATION ` THAT HE DESCRIBED NEW ZEALAND'S AFGHAN COMMUNITY AS ANTI-SEMITIC ` AT THE SAME MEETING. I DID NOT SAY THAT WERE ATTRIBUTED TO ME ABOUT THAT. THE OFFICIAL'S NOTES SHOW DR RAINBOW DID REFER TO THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY, BUT AREN'T SPECIFIC. ONE OFFICIAL SAID THEY WOULD FOLLOW UP ON HIS COMMENTS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE THINGS SAID ABOUT THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY THAT WERE ERRONEOUS AND INAPPROPRIATE. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE. WE NEED A PROPER INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HE SAID. IN STATEMENT RECEIVED A SHORT TIME AGO, DR RAINBOW SAID HE STOOD BY HIS EARLIER APOLOGY, AND REGRETS THE HARM HE'S CAUSED. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. THOUSANDS OF PROCEDURES WILL BE POSTPONED TOMORROW WITH WIDESPREAD HEALTH STRIKES ` NURSES AND SUPPORT WORKERS NOW SET TO JOIN MORE THAN 5000 SENIOR DOCTORS WHO ARE WALKING OFF THE JOB. WITH MORE DETAILS, LET'S BRING IN JACOB JOHNSON. WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON PATIENTS? I THINK IT IS FURTHER SAY THE IMPACT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT AROUND 4300 PLANNED PROCEDURES ARE SET TO BE POSTPONED, AND SOME CLINICS WILL BE CLOSING THEIR DOORS AS SENIOR DOCTORS GO ON STRIKE FOR 24-HOUR IS TOMORROW. MANY OF THEM WILL BE GATHERING HERE OUTSIDE AUCKLAND CITY HOSPITAL AT AROUND 10 AM, BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES GOING ON STRIKE. ALMOST 430 NURSES HERE IN AUCKLAND AND 1000 SUPPORT WORKERS FROM ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH, THAT IS ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST HOME SUPPORT COMPANIES, WILL ALSO BE GOING ON STRIKE TOMORROW FOR AROUND TWO HOURS. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT HOSPITALS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WILL REMAIN OPEN. IF YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, THE ADVICE IS STILL TO GO UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD OTHERWISE. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS IT IS QUOTE, DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED THAT ITS LATEST OFFER HAS BEEN REJECTED. IT WOULD HAVE SEEN SENIOR DOCTORS RECEIVE BASE PAY INCREASES A FROM AROUND $8000-$30,000, DEFINING ON THEIR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE. THE ASSOCIATION APPEARANCE OF THE OFFER ISN'T ENOUGH. WHILE THOUSANDS OF PROCEDURES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE POSTPONED, IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE LOST EVERY DAY DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES. AND DOCTORS SAY THEY ARE INCREDIBLY SHORTSTAFFED IN THE REGIONS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK HERE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY, WHERE AROUND 300 UNION MEMBERS WILL BE WALKING ACROSS THE JOB IN LESS THAN SIX HOURS, TO HUNDRED OF THOSE COMING FROM TAURANGA HOSPITAL. AFTER TALKING TO DOCTORS AND OTHERS CONNECTED HOSPITAL, A GRIM PICTURE IS EMERGING OF JUST HOW SHORTSTAFFED THEY ARE, AN AS A RESULT, THOSE LONG SHORTLIST, A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE SEEMS THE LATEST PROBLEMS AT THIS HOSPITAL ARE CARDIOLOGY, RADIOLOGY. IT'S RELENTLESS, AND IT'S TIRING, AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO MEET THE DEMAND AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY WOULD LIKE US TO BE PROVIDING OR, YOU KNOW, THE REGION. AS FOR THE HOSPITALS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY, WHAKATANE IS SAID TO BE THE WORST AFFECTED IN TERMS OF STAFF SHORTAGES AND BURNOUT. IN JANUARY, WE REPORTED THAT IT GOT DOWNGRADED TO A PRIMARY BIRTHING SERVICE AFTER LOSING ALL OBSTETRICIANS. THE FEAR THAT WILL HAPPEN TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WITH PSYCHIATRY THE FIRST ON THAT LIST. THERE ARE, AS JACOBSON, DOCTORS STILL BEING RUSTED ON TO EACH HOSPITAL OVER THE STRIKE PERIOD, SUCH AS GRAHAM, WHO I SPOKE TO EARLIER, SO IF YOU DO NEED HOSPITAL ATTENTION, YOU WILL STILL BE SEEN. A TRAGIC ACCIDENT OR TRIPLE MURDER? OPENING ARGUMENTS HAVE BEGUN IN THE CASE GRABBING THE WORLD'S ATTENTION ` AUSTRALIAN WOMAN ERIN PATTERSON IS ACCUSED OF SERVING A DEADLY MUSHROOM LUNCH TO HER FAMILY, LEADING TO THREE DEATHS. THE HIGH-PROFILE TRIAL'S BEING HELD IN THE SMALL TOWN OF MORWELL, VICTORIA, ABOUT TWO HOURS EAST OF CENTRAL MELBOURNE. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT AZIZ AL SA'FIN REPORTS. THE SMALL MORWELL COURTROOM FILLED EARLY THIS MORNING AHEAD OF OPENING ARGUMENTS IN THE TRIAL OF ERIN PATTERSON, A CASE CAPTURING GLOBAL ATTENTION. THE JURY PRESENTED WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE FATAL EVENTS THAT HAPPENED HERE ON JULY 29 2023. THE PROSECUTION ALLEGES PATTERSON KNOWINGLY SERVED A BEEF WELLINGTON MEAL LACED WITH POISONOUS MUSHROOMS, WHICH KILLED THREE FAMILY MEMBERS AND LEFT A FOURTH FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE ` A LUNCH HER EX-HUSBAND, SIMON, WAS ALSO INVITED TO. LAWYER NANETTE ROGERS CLAIMED IN THE DAYS BEFORE HEATHER WILKINSON DIED, SHE QUESTIONED WHY PATTERSON SERVED HER OWN FOOD ON A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PLATE AND TOLD THE JURY WHILE PATTERSON ALSO FELL SICK, AND APPEARED DISENGAGED WHEN TOLD HER OWN CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN POISONED. THE DEFENCE ARGUED IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND PATTERSON NEVER INTENDED TO HURT ANYONE. THEY SAID SHE BELIEVED THE MUSHROOMS SHE USED WERE SAFE AND POINTED OUT PATTERSON HERSELF BECAME SICK. THE JURY'S TASK NOW ` TO DECIDE WHICH VERSION IS TRUE BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. MURDER IS ONE OF THE OFFENSES IN VICTORIA, WHICH THERE MUST BE A UNANIMOUS VERDICT, SO IF ONE PERSON DISAGREES, EITHER WAY, IT'S A HUNG JURY. SO IF ONE PERSON DISAGREES EITHER WAY, IT'S A HUNG JURY. JURORS WILL NEED TO AVOID OUTSIDE INFLUENCE CAN YOU JUST TALK TO ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT JUSTICE BILL NOT GOOGLING IT, ONLY SPEAKING WITH THE JURY AND NO ONE ELSE? IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. IT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL SAFEGUARDS OF A JURY TRIAL, THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, IS RIFE WITH OPINION, RIFE WITH RUMOURS THAT MAY NOT BE EVIDENCE. SOMETHING MAY INFECT THE JURY ROOM THAT NEITHER SIDE'S BEEN ABLE TO DEAL WITH. WITH THE TRIAL NOW IN FULL SWING, TRUE CRIME PODCASTERS AND FILM CREWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE DESCENDING AS THIS SMALL TOWN FEELS THE PRESSURE OF THE WORLD'S GAZE. AZIZ AL SA'AFIN, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. E WHAI AKE NEI. E WHAI AKE NEI ` DONALD TRUMP MARKS A MILESTONE IN HIS PRESIDENCY. AFTER 100 DAYS BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AMERICA IS A FREE, PROUD, AND SOVEREIGN NATION ONCE MORE. IN HIS FRENETIC FIRST FEW MONTHS BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE, WE LOOK AT WHETHER HE'S DONE WHAT HE PROMISED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THEN ` THE LIGHTS MAY BE BACK ON AFTER A HUGE BLACKOUT, BUT SPANIARDS ARE STILL IN THE DARK ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE MASS MAYHEM. WHAT THE COUNTRY'S GRID OPERATOR'S REVEALED. AND THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` IT'S ALL ABOUT AN OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE. THE FUTURE OF YOUR NEWS BULLETIN IS LOOKING BRIGHTER. AND WHAT DO HAY BALES AND CANDY HAVE IN COMMON? MORE THAN YOU THINK. THE SNACK-ABLE SOLUTION TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM. PLUS ` ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST ARCADE IS HITTING A NEW HIGH. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI. 100 DAYS INTO HIS PRESIDENCY, DONALD TRUMP'S HELD A RALLY IN MICHIGAN TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS AMERICA'S GOLDEN AGE. HE'S CALLING THE START TO HIS SECOND TERM 'HISTORIC'. BUT FOR SOME COMMENTATORS, INCLUDING ONE IN NEW ZEALAND, ANOTHER LABEL IS 'CHAOTIC'. LISA DAVIES EXPLAINS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES... ANNOUNCER: DONALD J TRUMP! ...BOASTING ABOUT HIS ACHIEVEMENTS. IN 100 DAYS, I'VE TAKEN MORE THAN 1000 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, AND I COULD RECITE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALL NIGHT LONG. SURROUNDED BY SCREENS SHOUTING '100 DAYS OF GREATNESS', HE PROMISED MORE OF THE SAME. WE WILL END INFLATION, SLASH PRICES ` WE'VE ALREADY ENDED INFLATION ` RAISE WAGES AND GIVE YOU THE GREATEST ECONOMY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. TRUMP PROMISED THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY FIRST 100 DAYS OF ANY PRESIDENT, HIS 142 EXECUTIVE ORDERS SMASHING THE PREVIOUS BEST. BUT THAT'S NOT HIS ONLY RECORD; HIS APPROVAL RATING JUST 39% ` THE LOWEST OF ANY POST-WAR PRESIDENT. I THINK THE SIMPLEST WORD IS 'CHAOS'. I THINK YOU'RE SEEING CHANGE IN EVERY AREA. EVERY DAY, WE GET POLITICAL WHIPLASH. YOU WAKE UP AND THERE'S MORE NEWS ABOUT CHANGE IN THE WORLD, AND IT'S A TIME WHEN WE NEED STABILITY. THIS HIS LARGEST POLITICAL EVENT SINCE HIS RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE, AND HIS SUPPORTERS HERE LAPPED IT UP. I JUST LOVE SEEING THAT HE'S GOING AFTER, LIKE, THE DEEP STATE AND AFTER, UM, CRIME. AMID THE TARIFF FLIP-FLOP TURMOIL, THE ONGOING UKRAINE WAR AND FIGHTS WITH THE JUDICIARY, HE'S DELIVERED ON MANY OF HIS ELECTION PROMISES. FOR SOME AMERICANS, THEY WILL SAY THAT HIS WORK ON IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. BUT HE SAYS THE TRUMP REGIME IS MAKING LIFE INCREASINGLY HARD FOR NEW ZEALAND. MR PETERS IS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB, AND HE'S TRYING TO KEEP NEW ZEALAND OFF THE RADAR OF TRUMP'S NEGATIVE ATTENTION. WITH TRUMP PROMISING MORE OF THE SAME... AND OUR MAGNIFICENT DESTINY IS CLOSER THAN EVER BEFORE. OUR GOLDEN AGE HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN. ...IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRICKY FOREIGN-POLICY DANCE HERE IS SET TO CONTINUE. LISA DAVIES, 1 NEWS. AND AFTER LEADING HIS PARTY TO AN UNLIKELY WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY HAS DOUBLED DOWN ON HIS CAMPAIGN MESSAGE, SAYING HIS COUNTRY WON'T BE INTIMIDATED BY DONALD TRUMP'S THREATS. THE LIBERAL PARTY SEEMED DOWN AND OUT, TRAILING IN THE POLLS, WITH THE CONSERVATIVES ` WITH A PRO-TRUMP LEADER ` WELL AHEAD JUST THREE MONTHS AGO. BUT ALL THAT CHANGED. LOOK AT THIS TURNAROUND. CARNEY, A FORMER CENTRAL BANKER, TAKING OVER FROM JUSTIN TRUDEAU AS PRIME MINISTER A SHORT TIME AFTER TRUMP TOOK OFFICE ` AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE U.S. PRESIDENT, WHO SAID HE'D MAKE CANADA AMERICA'S 51st STATE AND IMPOSE LARGE TARIFFS. CANADIANS REACTING AT THE BALLOT BOX, FLIPPING EARLIER POLLS. THE BBC'S JOHN SUDWORTH REPORTS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) CANADA HAS CHOSEN ITS MAN FOR THE MOMENT. AS IT REELS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRADE WAR, THIS IS ITS ANSWER. WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP THROUGH A CRISIS THAT WE DID NOT CREATE. WE WILL FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO GET THE BEST DEAL FOR CANADA. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, CANADA'S LIBERALS FACED ELECTORAL OBLIVION, 25 PERCENTAGE POINTS BEHIND THEIR RIVALS. MR TRUMP HAS CHANGED ALL THAT WITH HIS REPEATED PROMISE TO MAKE CANADA AMERICA'S 51st STATE. WE ARE CANADIAN. WE ARE STRONG, WE ARE PROUD, AND WE ARE NOT FOR SALE, MR TRUMP. THE POSITION THAT HE TOOK AGAINST TRUMP, I THINK, HAS BEEN EXACTLY WHAT CANADIANS WANT, CANADIANS NEED RIGHT NOW. CANADA'S ECONOMY IS FEELING THE HEAT FROM THE TARIFFS. SUPPLIERS AT THIS BUSINESS ARE ALREADY RAISING PRICES. THIS ELECTION WAS ALL ABOUT FIGHTING BACK. I THINK WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PRETTY HARSH STAND AGAINST THE U.S., AND I THINK THE REST OF THE WORLD IS GONNA DO THE SAME. FOR CANADA'S CONSERVATIVES, IT WAS A DISASTROUS NIGHT. THEIR POPULIST LEADER LOST HIS OWN SEAT AS HIS PERCEIVED SIMILARITIES TO MR TRUMP SUDDENLY BECAME A LIABILITY. CONSERVATIVES WILL WORK WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND ALL PARTIES WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF DEFENDING CANADA'S INTERESTS AND GETTING A NEW TRADE DEAL THAT PUTS THESE TARIFFS BEHIND US WHILE PROTECTING OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND THE CANADIAN PEOPLE. THE RESULT IS STARK PROOF OF DONALD TRUMP'S DISRUPTIVE GLOBAL IMPACT. HIS INTERVENTIONS HERE HAVE UPENDED THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. CANADIANS HAVE PUT THEIR TRUST IN A FORMER CENTRAL BANKER, A MAN WHO'S NEVER EVEN RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE BEFORE. AT A TIME OF EXISTENTIAL CRISIS, THIS COUNTRY IS ALSO TAKING A STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN. A MANHUNT'S UNDERWAY IN SWEDEN AFTER A SHOOTER KILLED THREE PEOPLE AT A HAIR SALON. THE ATTACKER FLED THE SCENE ON A SCOOTER, ACCORDING TO LOCAL REPORTS. TRAIN SERVICES AROUND THE CITY OF UPPSALA HAVE BEEN STOPPED, AND POLICE ARE GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR. THE INCIDENT COMES AFTER A MASS SHOOTING AT AN ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE IN FEBRUARY THAT CLAIMED 10 LIVES. WITH POWER RESTORED TO MILLIONS LEFT IN THE DARK IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, THERE ARE STILL NO ANSWERS OVER WHAT CAUSED YESTERDAY'S MASSIVE BLACKOUT. THE SUDDEN POWER CUT, THOUGHT TO BE THE LARGEST EVER IN EUROPE, COST SPAIN'S ECONOMY ALONE AN ESTIMATED $3b. AND AS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON REPORTS, THE DISRUPTION'S NOT OVER YET. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AN IMPROMPTU STREET PARTY CELEBRATING POWER RETURNING. (CROWD SINGS THE WHITE STRIPES' 'SEVEN NATION ARMY') BIT BY BIT, SPAIN'S ENERGY GRID COMING BACK ON. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING... (EXCITED SCREAMING, APPLAUSE) ...RELIEF AND JUBILATION IN MADRID, CHEERING HEARD FROM AROUND THE BLOCK. WE COULD SEE THAT MADRID WERE GETTING THE POWER BACK. WE COULD SEE THE LIGHTS COMING UP IN THE DISTANCE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, WE DIDN'T GET POWER BACK UNTIL 3am, WHICH WAS A LITTLE BIT SCARY, NOT KNOWING WHEN THINGS WERE GONNA COME BACK ON. AND AS DAYLIGHT BROKE, COMMUTER CHAOS ` DROVES OF TRAVELLERS WAITING TO BOARD TRAINS OR REBOOK TICKETS FOR TRIPS THAT WERE CANCELLED OR DELAYED. IT TOOK ALMOST 24 HOURS, BUT POWER HAS MOSTLY BEEN RESTORED AFTER EUROPE'S WORST BLACKOUT. THIS GRAPH ` THE LINE IN YELLOW ` SHOWING A BIG DIP IN ENERGY DEMAND, SPAIN LOSING 60% OF POWER IN JUST FIVE SECONDS. NEW ZEALANDER LARISSA FLEMING HAD JUST OPENED A NEW CAFE IN COSTA BLANCA JUST THREE DAYS EARLIER. SO QUITE AN EMOTIONAL DAY, I MUST SAY, HAVING LIVED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC HERE AS WELL. UM, IT DID GIVE A FEW FLASHBACKS, BECAUSE WHEN WE DECIDED TO CLOSE UP THE CAFE AND CALL IT A DAY, THE GAS STATIONS WERE CHAOS, THE SUPERMARKETS WERE CHAOS... SPAIN'S GRID OPERATOR SAYS THE OUTAGE WAS CAUSED BY A STRONG SURGE IN POWER, BUT IT'S UNCLEAR WHY THAT HAPPENED, WITH CONFLICTING REPORTS ON THE LIKELY TRIGGER. A CYBERATTACK WAS PREVIOUSLY ALL BUT RULED OUT, BUT THAT IS NOW BACK IN QUESTION, A SPANISH JUDGE ORDERING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE POSSIBILITY. (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN IS GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MATTER. REFORMS WILL BE MADE, AND NECESSARY MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT THERE ARE FEARS WITHOUT CONCRETE ANSWERS, A BLACKOUT LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, LONDON. E HAERE AKE NEI ` THE MPs DOBBING IN THEIR CHILDREN'S SPENDING HABITS. TOO MUCH ON BEAUTY PRODUCTS AND SKINCARE. ONLINE GAMING. TERRIBLE. HOW ALL KIWI KIDS WILL SOON GET SCHOOLED ON HOW TO HANDLE THEIR MONEY. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE RIVAL MEDIA OUTLET IN HAWKE'S BAY THAT'S STEALING SEVEN SHARP'S THUNDER. AND ` THEY DOT THE FIELDS LIKE MARSHMALLOWS, BUT WHAT'S INSIDE THAT PLASTIC WRAP MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. PLUS, WHAT'S GOT THESE TWEENS ` AND ONE REPORTER ` READY TO 'SHAKE IT OFF'? GET READY FOR A SURPRISE TWIST. AND SOMETHING SPECIAL IS HAPPENING IN THE HISTORIC HALLS OF THE AUCKLAND'S STRAND ARCADE ` AT 7. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR 14th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH A TOUR OF A SCOTTISH ISLAND. WILLIAM AND CATHERINE ARE SPENDING TWO DAYS ON THE ISLE OF MULL, THE FIRST TIME THE PRINCESS IS COMPLETING A MULTI-DAY ENGAGEMENT SINCE HER CANCER TREATMENT. WHILE LENDING A HAND AT A COMMUNITY HALL THEIR ROYAL FOUNDATION IS HELPING REFURBISH, CATHERINE REVEALED SHE'D GOT A CHAINSAW FOR CHRISTMAS. NO WORD YET ON WHAT GIFT SHE MIGHT'VE RECEIVED FOR TODAY'S ANNIVERSARY. MONEY WORRIES PLAGUE MORE THAN 50% OF KIWIS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY, BUT IT'S HOPED THE NEXT GENERATION WILL LEAVE SCHOOL BETTER EQUIPPED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 2027, ALL STUDENTS FROM YEAR ONE TO 10 WILL RECEIVE FINANCIAL LITERACY LESSONS. SAM OLLEY HAS MORE. BUDGETING ` TRICKY FOR YOUTH... GENERALLY DO YOU RECKON YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOOD WITH MONEY? UM, PROBABLY NOT. NOT REALLY. ...AND TRICKY FOR PARENTS, EVEN THE ONES RUNNING THE COUNTRY. MY CHILDREN? TOO MUCH ON BEAUTY PRODUCTS AND SKIN CARE. MY CHILDREN? ONLINE GAMING. TERRIBLE. THEIR NEW PLAN ANNOUNCED TODAY WILL SEE KIDS FROM AS YOUNG AS 5 GETTING A FINANCIAL EDUCATION. ABOUT NEEDS VERSUS WANTS, SPENDING VERSUS SAVING, AND AS WE GET OLDER AND OLDER, BUDGETING FINANCES, HOW TO WORK OUT DISCOUNTS, WHAT INTEREST LOOKS LIKE, WHAT INSURANCE LOOKS LIKE, HOW TO BE AWARE OF SCAMS. A LOT OF NEW ZEALANDERS STRUGGLE WHEN YOU GET FIVE DIFFERENT MORTGAGE OFFERS TO COMPARE THE NUMBERS ON EACH AND UNDERSTAND WHICH WOULD FINANCIALLY SUIT THEM BETTER. SO THIS IS A WIDESPREAD CHALLENGE AT ALL AGES IN POPULATION. THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR SETTING THE NEW CURRICULUM. EARLY RESEARCH SAYS THAT PROBABLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. I THINK WE ARE REALLY ARE LEAVING FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO CHANCE AT THE MOMENT. AND IF YOU DON'T GO DOWN THAT ROUTE, WE'RE LEAVING IT TO FAMILY INFLUENCERS ONLINE. WE KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS FACTUALLY CORRECT. THIS TEACHER SEEING THE KNOWLEDGE GAPS FIRST-HAND. SOME OF THEM ARRIVE WITH LOADS OF INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE GOT FROM HOME. LOTS OF THEM HAVE NOTHING. AND IF WE DON'T TEACH THEM, THEN THEY WON'T HAVE IT. I'LL PROBABLY USE IT WHEN I PROBABLY MOVE OUT, MAYBE GOING TO UNIVERSITY. WHEN I'M TRYING TO LIKE BUDGET MONEY AND SAVE FOR A HOUSE. PRACTISING TODAY... SO HOW MUCH IS IT? THERE'S A DEADLINE SALE THINGY. ...FOR BIG BUYS IN THE FUTURE. SAM OLLEY, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. AND AN INNOVATIVE IDEA IN BASKETBALL APPEARS TO HAVE THE WOBBLES ` MORE ON THIS FLUID SITUATION, WE SPEAK TO A PLAYER WHO SAYS HE'S OUT OF POCKET. ALSO TONIGHT ` FROM THE DANCE FLOOR BACK TO THE TRAINING PITCH, AUCKLAND FC GETS SET FOR A REGULAR SEASON SEND-OFF, WHILE WREXHAM FC LOOKS BOUND FOR WELLINGTON. AND ` RAW FISH AND POTATO SALAD, MOANA'S MOUNTAIN MAN ` THE REASONS FOR HIS BREAKTHROUGH SEASON, HIS FUTURE, AND THE NEXT YOUNG TALENT SET TO FOLLOW. AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 20 WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED AS A LARGE WEATHER SYSTEM PASSES OVER US ` WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. PLUS ` WHEN WILL WE SEE MORE SETTLED CONDITIONS RETURN? THAT'S ALL COMING UP, AFTER SPORT. (ENGINE REVS) Oh. OK, turn off the car. (PHONE RINGS) GIRL: Dad! Hey, man. Long time no talk. Yeah, just... I'm teaching Samara how to drive. (BRIGHT MUSIC) Hi! Could you do something for me? SONG: # Oh, baby, you... # Thanks. # You've got what I need # You got everything I need NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TONIGHT, THE PUSH INTO A NEW BASKETBALL FRONTIER APPEARS TO HAVE TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE ` THE FUTURE OF THE INDIAN PANTHERS NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM IS IN DOUBT, WITH PLAYERS AND COACHES ALLEGING THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAID, AND BOYCOTTING A GAME LAST NIGHT, FORCING IT TO BE POSTPONED. A CRISIS MEETING HELD BY THE LEAGUE TODAY. ZION DAYAL HAS THE LATEST FALLOUT. TRAVELLING DOWN UNDER TO JOIN THE INDIAN PANTHERS... ALEX ROBINSON, WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND. ...AMERICAN ALEX ROBINSON'S WELCOME FAR FROM WARM. I SEND MONEY BACK TO MY FAMILY EVERY MONTH, AND YOU DON'T GIVE ME WHAT I'M DUE FOR TWO MONTHS. IT'S JUST... IT'S INCONSIDERATE, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL, AND IT'S JUST WRONG ` IN A WAY, BULLYING. ROBINSON SAYS THE INDIAN PANTHERS DIDN'T PAY HIM WHAT WAS PROMISED. AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE; LAST NIGHT, PLAYERS BOYCOTTING A SCHEDULED MATCH AGAINST THE CANTERBURY RAMS. TODAY, AN EMERGENCY MEETING WAS HELD. IN A STATEMENT, THE LEAGUE CONFIRMED THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF DELAYED PAYMENTS LAST FRIDAY. YESTERDAY, THEY WERE INFORMED PLAYERS HAD BEEN PAID, BUT FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT'S INCIDENT, THEY'RE NOW WORKING THROUGH A NUMBER OF OPTIONS REGARDING THE TEAM'S FUTURE IN THE COMPETITION. ROBINSON HAD HAD ENOUGH AFTER FIVE GAMES, REFUSING TO PLAY. THE LIES AND THE FALSE PROMISES, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE ME GIVING THEM A PROPER HEADS-UP THAT I WAS GONNA SIT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I FELT LIKE THEY DESERVED TO BE TREATED THE SAME WAY THEY TREATED US. AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE, HIS CONTRACT ENDED ` ALONG WITH HIS ACCOMMODATION. 1 NEWS UNDERSTANDS OTHER IMPORTS ARE RELYING ON FOODBANKS AND HANDOUTS TO EAT. THEY LEFT ME OUT IN THE COLD. I HAD NO PLACE TO STAY. I'M SO HAPPY THEY STOOD UP FOR THEMSELVES, AND HOPEFULLY THEY GET WHAT THEY'RE OWED. IN THE PAST HOUR, THE INDIAN TIGERS' CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST FOR COMMENT. HE CLAIMS EVERY BODY HAS BEEN PAID BUT ADMITS THERE WERE DELAYS. ROBINSON'S FOUND REFUGE WITH THE NELSON GIANTS AND HASN'T LOOKED BACK. NEW ZEALAND BASKETBALL MIGHT BE WISHING THEY'D LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AT THOSE BEHIND THE INDIAN TEAM BEFORE INVITING THEM INTO THEIR COMPETITION. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS. WREXHAM FC AND THEIR HOLLYWOOD OWNERS HAVE CAPTIVATED MILLIONS WORLDWIDE. NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE COMING HERE TO PLAY THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX. A JULY PRE-SEASON GAME WOULD BE A COUP FOR THE 'NIX, AS THEY TRY TO TURN AROUND A DISAPPOINTING A-LEAGUE CAMPAIGN. LUKE ROBINSON REPORTS. WELSH CLUB WREXHAM FC ARE THE GLOW-UP STORY OF THE FOOTBALLING WORLD. PROMOTION, PROMOTION, PROMOTION! OWNED BY HOLLYWOOD STARS RYAN REYNOLDS AND ROB MCELHENNEY, THEY'VE BEEN PROMOTED THE PAST THREE SEASONS, NOW ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE... ALL CHANT: WE ARE GOING UP. SAID WE ARE GOING UP! ...REPORTEDLY HEADING DOWN UNDER IN JULY FOR A PRE-SEASON TOUR WITH A POSSIBLE GAME IN NEW ZEALAND. THERE'S ONLY TWO TEAMS THEY CAN PLAY IN NEW ZEALAND ` ITS EITHER AUCKLAND OR WELLINGTON PHOENIX. NO, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT, SO IT'S NOT` WE'RE NOT HAVING A GAME AGAINST WREXHAM. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF ANYWAY. WHICH LEAVES ONE TEAM. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY IT IS THAT THEY'RE GONNA MAKE A DECISION, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'D LOVE TO PLAY THEM. SO YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THEM? THERE'S BEEN THINGS GOING AROUND, BUT NO CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED. IT COULD BE THE PERFECT WAY TO KICK-START NEXT SEASON AFTER A DISAPPOINTING 2025 ` THE MEN'S TEAM 11TH WITH ONE GAME TO GO. A DEMOLITION JOB. NOT FINISHING IN THE TOP SIX, THAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM FOR US AS A CLUB, FOR BOTH TEAMS. DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY DISAPPOINTING FOR THE FANS, I FEEL THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE MEN, OFF THE BACK OF THE PREVIOUS SEASON, THAT WE EXPECTED BIG THINGS FROM THAT SQUAD. THE WOMEN FINISHING NINTH, BUT ON PAPER, THEY'RE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAMMES IN THE LEAGUE. PROBABLY THE BEST RESOURCED CLUB OFF THE PITCH, AND THAT SHOULD FLOW THROUGH INTO RESULTS, AND WE DIDN'T QUITE GET IT RIGHT. GETTING RECRUITMENT RIGHT IS KEY. KOSTA BARBAROUSES SCORED NEARLY 40% OF THE CLUB'S GOALS THIS SEASON, AND HE'S OFF CONTRACT. HE RARELY MISSES. THE REALITY IS THAT THERE'S NOBODY WHO'S INDISPENSABLE, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE THAT SOLID CONVERSATION WITH KOSTA TO SEE WHERE HE'S AT. PLENTY MORE CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD FOR A CLUB SEARCHING FOR THEIR OWN GLOW-UP. LUKE ROBINSON, 1 NEWS. THREE DAYS AFTER WINNING THE PREMIERS' PLATE IN THEIR FIRST SEASON, AUCKLAND FC ARE BACK INTO IT, PREPARING FOR THEIR FINAL MATCH OF THE REGULAR SEASON THIS WEEKEND WITH A SPRING IN THE STEP. JORDAN OPPERT REPORTS. PLAY, PLAY! LET'S GO. DUSTING THEMSELVES OFF AFTER A BIG FEW DAYS. LOVE IT. YEAH! NICE! YESTERDAY IT WAS RECOVERY; TODAY, IT'S REFOCUSING AT AUCKLAND FC. IT'S HARD AND IT'S NOT HARD, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL MORE TO ACCOMPLISH AND THERE'S STILL MORE TO ACHIEVE. BUT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THOSE LITTLE WINS, OBVIOUSLY ` CELEBRATE IT WHEN IT COMES ROUND ` BUT THEN REFOCUS BACK ON TO THE MAIN TARGET. SUNDAY'S HISTORIC PREMIER PLATE VICTORY ONLY FUELLING THE DESIRE TO GO ONE BETTER. (WILD CHEERING) THOUGH THEY DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF THEMSELVES AND BE TIPPED UP BY MELBOURNE IN THEIR FINAL REGULAR-SEASON MATCH. STILL WANT TO WIN THE GRAND FINAL ` DO THE DOUBLE, DO SOMETHING THAT NO ONE'S EVER DONE IN THE FIRST YEAR. ESPECIALLY AFTER THE GREAT WEEKEND WE HAD LAST WEEK, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'VE... YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING PRESSURE ON TEAMS EVERY GAME. SO MUCH SO STEVE CORICA SAYS THERE'LL BE NO RESTING PLAYERS THIS WEEKEND. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE WEEK OFF AFTER THIS GAME, SO THAT WILL BE THE TIME TO FRESHEN THEM UP A LITTLE BIT. IF THEY DON'T PLAY THIS GAME, THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE THREE WEEKS OFF WITHOUT A GAME, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT ANYWAY. NEITHER DO THE PLAYERS, PARTICULARLY SUNDAY'S SCORER MARLEE FRANCOIS. HITS THE POST BUT GOES IN! (CHEERING) THE DAM HAS BURST! HIS FIRST-EVER PROFESSIONAL GOAL IS STILL SINKING IN. I JUST WANNA KEEP PLAYING, KEEP PROVING MYSELF. I FEEL LIKE I'VE STILL GOT A LOT TO PROVE AS WELL. WHETHER IT'S CHAMPAGNE SHOWERS... (CHEERING) ...OR THE ONES FROM THE SKY... THIS IS PROBABLY THE CLEANEST IT'S BEEN FOR A GOOD FEW DAYS AS WELL. AUCKLAND FC CONTINUE TO PROVE THEY'RE ALL CLASS. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. JOE SCHMIDT WILL STAY ON AS COACH OF THE WALLABIES FOR AN EXTRA NINE MONTHS TO HELP HIS SUCCESSOR MAKE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION INTO THE ROLE. SCHMIDT WAS SET TO STEP DOWN AFTER THIS YEAR'S RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT HAS AGREED TO EXTEND HIS CONTRACT UNTIL JULY 2026, WHICH IS WHEN LES KISS FINISHES WITH THE QUEENSLAND REDS. THE FORMER RUGBY LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL TURNED UNION COACH WILL THEN LEAD THE WALLABIES THROUGH TO THE NEXT WORLD CUP. IT'S A PROCESS I STAYED OUT OF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I WAS ASKED, 'DO YOU THINK YOU COULD DOVETAIL WITH LEE AS WELL?' I SAID, 'YEAH, I DO.' I THINK WE WILL SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME PHILOSOPHY. A LIKE-MINDED PHILOSOPHY WILL ALLOW A PRETTY SMOOTH TRANSITION. THE PAIR COACHING IRELAND TOGETHER AT THE 2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP AND DELIVERING THREE SIX NATIONS TITLES. A KEY PLAYER IN MOANA PASIFIKA'S RISE IN THE CURRENT SUPER RUGBY SEASON APPEARS TO BE STAYING PUT. SINCE COMING INTO THE SQUAD, ONLY AS INJURY COVER, THEIR NEW BARNSTORMING NUMBER EIGHT HAS CARRIED THE BALL MORE TIMES THAN ANY OTHER PLAYER IN THE COMPETITION. OTHER TEAMS WILL NOW HAVE TO TRY TO STOP HIM NEXT SEASON AS WELL. YEAH, YEAH! HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE FINDS OF THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON ` LOOK AT THAT, THAT IS JUST RAW POWER. ...SEMISI TUPOU TA'EILOA OUT OF NOWHERE, WRECKING FORWARD PACKS AROUND THE COMPETITION. 1 NEWS UNDERSTANDS MOANA PASIFIKA HAS LOCKED HIM UP FOR NEXT SEASON, AT LEAST. YOU'LL STAY HERE? YEAH, YEAH, SOUNDS LIKE I'LL STAY HERE. BORN AND BRED IN MANGERE, BUT SCHOOLED AT OTAGO BOYS HIGH, A SOUTHLAND STAGS NPC PLAYER. THE 21-YEAR-OLD GETS THE CHANCE TO PLAY THE HIGHLANDERS AGAIN THIS WEEKEND, UP AGAINST OLD TEAMMATES AND FLATMATES. HE WAS AN INJURY REPLACEMENT FOR MOANA PACIFIC WHEN HE WAS ON OUR RADAR, AND HE S GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, AND GOOD ON HIM. WHAT DO YOU PUT YOUR FORM DOWN TO? THE BOYS, WE JUST LIFT EACH OTHER UP. AND JUST BEING AT HOME, WITH MY PARENTS ` I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THING. JUST GOOD TO BE BACK WITH MUM'S COOKING, I GUESS. (LAUGHS) COULD YOU SEE IT IN HIM EARLY ON? I'D SAY DEFINITELY NOT. (LAUGHS) HE HAD A BIT OF A BELLY, BUT HE DID SHOW UP, YOU KNOW. HE TRAINED HARD, AND HE SHOWED WHAT HE CAN DO. ALSO SHOWING HIS TALENT, COUNTIES-MANUKAU CENTRE-WING TEVITA OFA. THE 23-YEAR-OLD DIDN'T HAVE A SUPER DEAL SIX MONTHS AGO, NOW HE'S A STARTER. ONE OF THE FASTEST PLAYERS IN THE COMPETITION, HIS PREFERRED SPOT IS CENTRE. OH YEAH, HE CAN GOAL-KICK AS WELL. IS IT DRIFTING TOWARDS THE POST, (SHOUTS) OH, BOY! YEAH, I JUST NEEDED THAT ONE TEAM, OR ONE FRANCHISE TO BELIEVE IN ME. CAME IN HERE WITH A CHIP ON MY SHOULDER. AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS JUST, GOING OUT THERE, EVERY DAY, AT TRAINING OR WHETHER IT'S A GAME, JUST TRYING TO PROVE MYSELF. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES. HAPPY TO BE HERE ANYWAY. HOME` HOME FOR ME NOW. MOANA'S BIG TASK IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, MAKING SURE THEY RETAIN THEIR NEWLY DISCOVERED TALENT. FINALLY TONIGHT, AN AUDACIOUS CATCH IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ` FREAKISH, IN FACT. TORONTO BLUE JAYS' DAULTON VARSHO'S KNOWN FOR HIGHLIGHT REEL CATCHES, BUT TODAY PULLING OFF THE UNBELIEVABLE. OH-HO-HO! DID HE CATCH THAT BALL?! YES! HE CAUGHT THAT BALL! (LAUGHS INCREDULOUSLY) I MEAN, DAULTON, WE KNOW YOU WANT A GOLD GLOVE, AND WE KNOW YOU'RE GOOD, BUT QUIT SHOWIN' OFF, WOULD YOU? INCREDIBLY, IT'S VARSHO'S FIRST GAME BACK AFTER SHOULDER SURGERY. HIS HEROICS DIDN'T HELP THE SCORELINE, THOUGH ` THE BLUE JAYS DEFEATED BY THE RED SOX 10-2. THE BEST MOMENT OF THE GAME. STAY WITH US. ERIN'S HERE NEXT WITH MORE ON THAT WILD WEATHER SWEEPING ACROSS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. COMING UP AT 7 ` WE MEET THE STUDENT NEWS ORGANISATION THAT'S GIVING SEVEN SHARP A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. AND ` PLASTIC HAY WRAPS ARE OUT, SNACKABLE ONES ARE IN. A SOUTHLAND FARMER'S SAVVY SOLUTION. VOICEOVER: Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bites, 22 cheese filled bites around a pizza with more cheeeese. (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) Whoa! Oh hi Mr. Stevenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. We're inside your brain right now. Yeah, it's pretty weird aye. This is quite high up! VOICEOVER: NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. THE WILD WEATHER'S CERTAINTLY MOVING IN. WE CAN SEE THE HEAVY RAIN TRACK OVER CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND THROUGH THE DAY TODAY. WE'RE SEEING THE INTENSITY BUILD OVER THE LOWER NORTH AND CANTERBURY ESPECIALLY. WE ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON EASTERN BLADE PLENTY FOR RAINFALL. SOUTHERLY'S BUILDING TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. SWELLS OF SIX AND EVEN 7 M TO FOLLOW. THERE MAY BE SOME SNOW ON THE MOUNTAIN. LOOK AT THE HIGHS IN THE EAST AND THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY CHILLY DAY WE HAVE ACTIVE WIND WATCHES TO THE WEST COAST ALREADY. SOME ARE LIFTING SOON, BUT NOTE THE LONG MORNING TO CANTERBURY. AND WE HAVE A SNOW WARNING TO THE CANTERBURY HIGH COUNTRY OVERNIGHT. WE HAVE ROAD SNOWFALL WARNINGS SO DO CHECK IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO DRIVE. A SWELL WARNING TO THE LOWER NORTH, LAGS BEHIND THE STRONGER WINDS. RIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AS WELL. TOMORROW, WENDY AND A FEW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. THE AFTERNOON IS MOST IMPROVING THE. 19 OR 20 DEGREES. COST OF 100 K IN THE MORNING IN AUCKLAND. . 20 DEGREES. HAMILTON HAS A BIT OF CLOUD AND 19 DEGREES. RAIN OR SHOWERS THROUGH THE MORNING BUT THINGS DO IMPROVE LOOKING AT 17 DEGREES. SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON IN TAURANGA. WIND AND RAIN PICKING UP IN HAWKES BAY. IT'S COOL THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. RAIN COULD BE HEAVY THROUGH NEW PLYMOUTH AND 11. GUSTS OF 130 K'S. IT'S A MESSY DAY AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. ESPECIALLY KAIKOURA. A HIGH OF JUST 12. WET, WINDY, AND COLD IN CHRISTCHURCH. A WARNING IN PLACE UNTIL 9 PM. SNOW FALLING ABOVE 700 M. HIGH IS JUST 11. GAIL WINS IN THE ODD SHOWER FOR THE WEST, WHILE THE RAIN DOES EASE IN THE EAST. MAY BE JUST A MORNING SPRINKLE, AND A HIGH OF JUST EIGHT. FOR MILFORD SOUNDS, THE PICK OF THE BUNCH, A POSSIBLE SPRINKLE AND A LITTLE CLOUD. A GRAY DAY IN DUNEDIN, MAY BE A LIGHT SHOWER AFTER LUNCH AND A TOP OF 10. A FEW SHOWERS TO THE UPPER NORTH TO, AND RAIN CONTINUES IN MARLBOROUGH AND CANTERBURY. BY THE WEEKEND, IT IS A BETTER PICTURE. SOME SHOWERS, BUT MANY OF YOU WILL SEE THE SUN TO. STAY SAFE AND KEEP UP-TO-DATE.