WHOA! THERE'S SOME SPRAY COMING UP. THREAT-TO-LIFE GALE WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND MULTIPLE STATES OF EMERGENCY DECLARED. WE KEEP YOU ACROSS MAJOR WEATHER ISSUES IN CANTERBURY AND THE CAPITAL AS RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO TAKE THE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY. THOUSANDS OF SENIOR DOCTORS WALK OFF THE JOB WITH THOUSANDS OF PROCEDURES DELAYED. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO END THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION? FIGURES SHOW THE U.S ECONOMY HAS CONTRACTED SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE. HE SAYS IT'S ALL BIDEN'S FAULT. AND FAN FAVOURITE RUBY TUI IS IN DANGER OF MISSING THE WORLD CUP AFTER BEING LEFT OUT OF THE FIRST BLACK FERNS SQUAD OF THE SEASON. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. 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. CHRISTCHURCH AND SELWYN ARE TONIGHT UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY AS HEAVY RAIN CAUSES FLOODING, HIGH RIVERS AND ROAD CLOSURES ACROSS PARTS OF CANTERBURY. WELLINGTON IS ALSO WEATHERING A RARE 'THREAT TO LIFE' WIND WARNING, THE HIGHEST WARNING POSSIBLE WITH RESIDENTS BEING URGED TO TAKE THE RISK SERIOUSLY. WE WILL BE LIVE TO THE CAPITAL SHORTLY, BUT FIRST, SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS BEEN IN THE CANTERBURY TROUBLE SPOTS AND BEGINS OUR COVERAGE. LOCALS IN SELWYN DISTRICT SAY THE TORRENTIAL RAIN IS THE WORST THEY'VE SEEN IN HALF A CENTURY. YOU MUST BE VERY WORRIED? AND HAVE YOU HAD ANY OFFER OF SANDBAGS YET? SO YOU'RE JUST WAITING FOR COUNCIL? SANDBAGS, THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE FOR MANY... ...AND TOP OF THE TO-DO LIST TODAY. SANDBAGGING STATIONS WOULD BE AT LEESTON, DOYLESTON, SHEFFIELD AND GLENTUNNEL RIGHT NOW. THE RAIN ACROSS CANTERBURY HAS BEEN RELENTLESS FOR THE BEST PART OF TWO DAYS. AT 4.00pm, CHRISTCHURCH OFFICIALLY JOINED SELWYN IN A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY. CHRISTCHURCH HAS JUST PUT THEMSELVES INTO A STATE OF EMERGENCY AS WELL. WE CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF WATER. ...WATER THAT'S CLOGGING ROADS, CLOSING SCHOOLS, BRINGING DOWN TREES AND BRINGING DAILY LIFE TO A STANDSTILL. OH, IT'S HORRENDOUS. MY DAUGHTER'S ON CRUTCHES AND WE'VE JUST HAD AN AWFUL TIME GETTING THROUGH THE WEATHER. AND WHEN WE SAW IT WAS FLOODED IT WAS JUST, LIKE, CRAZY. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED HERE? ABOUT 40 YEARS. AND YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD? NO. DID YOU SLEEP MUCH LAST NIGHT? I DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE VERY MUCH UNTIL I GOT UP THIS MORNING AND HAD A LOOK OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ON WITH THEIR DAY, SIMPLY COULDN'T. IN SELWYN, HOUSES WERE FLOODED, MANY IN CHRISTCHURCH WERE CLOSE. AND WITH IT BEING AUTUMN, FALLEN LEAVES MADE A BAD SITUATION WORSE. BECAUSE IT'S AUTUMN, ALL THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN OFF THE TREES, THEY'VE GONE DOWN THE GUTTER, THEY'RE BLOCKING UP THE SUBS, NOTHING'S HELPING. ROADS AND RIVERS BECAME ONE AND THE SAME. THIS IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF ROADS ACROSS THE CITY AND THE WIDER DISTRICT THAT HAVE GOT AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WATER ON THEM. WE ARE BESIDE A RIVER HERE WHICH IS BREACHED RIGHT INTO THE ROAD, AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTITATE BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE ROAD, AND IT'S CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARS COME THROUGH THE WATER. IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT, DON'T, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND AND YOU'RE MAKING WAVES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT ALL GOES INTO PEOPLE'S HOUSES IT'S GONNA GET UP THEIR NOSE AND NO-ONE NEEDS THAT, NO-ONE NEEDS EXTRA GRIEF. AND IT WASN'T JUST RAIN. FURTHER SOUTH IN TEKAPO, SNOW FELL THICK AND FAST, BLANKETING THE REGION IN A SURPRISE EARLY BLAST OF WINTER. AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT WARNING ALL RESIDENTS TO STAY ALERT AND ACROSS INFORMATION. FROM FLOODS TO FLURRIES... ...CANTERBURY'S WILD WEATHER IS FAR FROM OVER. AND JULIET, WHAT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT? THE RAIN WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE FINISHED BY NOW. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. HIGH TIDE IS DUE WITHIN THE HOUR. THERE IS A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CHRISTCHURCH, BANKS PENINSULA AND THE SELWYN DISTRICT. THEY PUT A STATE OF EMERGENCY HERE SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAPPEN OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, BECAUSE FLOODING AND SLIPS ARE STILL A MAJOR RISK. THE ADVICE IS IF YOUR HOME IS WARM AND DRY, STAY IN IT. DO NOT GO OUT UNLESS ABSOLUTELY VITAL. TAKE SHELTER WHILE THIS MAJOR WEATHER EVENT HOPEFULLY PASSES SOON. AS WE REPORTED EARLIER, WELLINGTONIANS ARE UNDER A RARE THREAT-TO-LIFE WIND WARNING. GLENN McCONNELL IS LIVE FOR US ON THE SOUTH COAST. GLENN, HAVE THE WINDS PEAKED? THE WINDS ARE REALLY INTENSE RIGHT NOW. MET SERVICE ISSUED A SEVERE WIND WARNING. THAT REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING. 140km/h. IT IS CLOSING ROADS. WE HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON A TOUR. RESIDENCE NEAR US HAVE BEEN TOLD TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO STAY TONIGHT. EASTBOURNE, THE ROAD IS CLOSED INTO THERE. THE REASON WELLINGTON'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS SO CONCERNED IS BECAUSE AT 8 PM IT WILL BE HIGH TIDE. THAT WILL CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR PLACES ON THE COAST. WE WILL HAVE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. MORE UPDATES ON STUFF THROUGH THE NIGHT. BUT IT WASN'T JUST THE WIND CAUSING CHAOS IN THE CAPITAL. HERE'S HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED. TRAFFIC MOVED AT SNAIL'S PACE THIS MORNING, WITH FLOODING FROM THE HUTT RIVER MAKING DRIVING EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AROUND EASTBOURNE ` DEBRIS CREATING OBSTACLES FOR MOTORISTS AND WIND WHIPPING UP THE WATER AT LYALL BAY. IT IS CRAZY. THE SOUTHERLY IS BLASTING IN! BUT ACTUALLY` OH! THERE'S SOME SPRAY COMING UP AND GETTING US. IT'S NOT REALLY RAINING VERY MUCH, BUT THE WATER COMING UP OUT OF THE OCEAN IS HUGE. IT'S NO SURPRISE THIS WAS JUST ONE OF FOUR FLIGHTS THAT MANAGED TO GET OUT EARLY THIS MORNING, WITH GUSTS OF 111km/h. (WIND HOWLS) THE PLANES WERE SOON GROUNDED AND ALL FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF WELLINGTON CANCELLED. PLAN Bs HAD TO BE FOUND. I'VE BEEN REBOOKED FOR TOMORROW MORNING, AND I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE FUNERAL. AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE TELLING US THE NEXT FLIGHT OUT IS IN TWO DAYS, ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS NO BUENO FOR US. AND WHERE WERE YOU FLYING TO? TO DUBLIN. YEAH. IRELAND. SO VIA` VIA AUCKLAND. SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO NOW? UH, RE-BOOK. RE-BOOK FLIGHTS. FIGURE IT OUT, YEAH. WE CHECKED THE FERRY, BUT THE FERRY WAS ALSO OVERBOOKED, ALSO CANCELLED. CANCELLED, BECAUSE WAVES OF UP TO 7m WERE EXPECTED ACROSS THE STRAIT. (WIND HOWLS) AN ORANGE HEAVY-SWELL WARNING FOR MOST OF THE COAST AND AROUND WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA, CONDITIONS FIT FOR KING TIDES, NOT POWER LINES, SOME COMING DOWN, CUTTING ELECTRICITY TO PARTS OF THE REGION AND LARGE TREES WEREN'T SPARED EITHER. WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE. YEAH. AND SO WE'D JUST MOVED IN- (CHUCKLES) AND THEN THIS HAPPENED. SO IT WAS KIND OF A BIT 'WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD'. THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WERE HEADING, HOME, AFTER SOME SCHOOLS FINISHED EARLY AND VICTORIA UNIVERSITY CLOSED AT MIDDAY. (WIND RUSTLING) BUT IT DIDN'T DETER EVERYONE THE HURRICANES BRAVING THE CONDITIONS AT TRAINING TODAY AND REALLY LIVING UP TO THEIR NAME. IMOGEN'S HERE WITH THE LATEST. AND HOW LONG IS ALL OF THIS WILD WEATHER SET TO LAST? WELL, LAURA, THERE IS STILL MORE TO COME TONIGHT GOING INTO TOMORROW AS WELL. WELLINGTON'S RED WIND WARNING IS IN PLACE UNTIL 3am TOMORROW MORNING. YOU CAN SEE THOSE WINDS THERE SURGING UP INTO THE CAPITAL. AND A RED WARNING IS AS BAD AS IT GETS ` THESE ARE RESERVED ONLY FOR THE MOST EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. THE ADVICE IS TO STAY INDOORS, AVOID TRAVEL AND BE READY FOR POWER AND COMMUNICATION OUTAGES IF YOU HAVEN'T, OF COURSE, ALREADY BEEN AFFECTED. ON TOP OF THAT, THE CAPITAL'S HEAVY RAIN WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH UNTIL LUNCHTIME TOMORROW, WITH ONE ALSO IN PLACE IN THE WAIRARAPA SOUTH OF MASTERTON UNTIL 4pm. AND THERE'LL BE STRONG WINDS FOR COASTAL WAIRARAPA OVERNIGHT AS WELL. MORE HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED ALONG THE KAIKOURA COAST AND IN CANTERBURY UNTIL 6am TOMORROW MORNING, AND THOSE STRONG WIND WARNINGS ALONG THE EAST COAST DOWN SOUTH FINISH IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TOMORROW TOO. THE LATTER HALF OF FRIDAY IS WHEN WE'LL START TO SEE CONDITIONS ACROSS THE BOARD CLEAR HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS LATER ON. THOUSANDS OF SENIOR DOCTORS AROUND THE COUNTRY WENT ON STRIKE FOR 24 HOURS AT MIDNIGHT OVER THEIR STALLED PAY DISPUTE. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS MORE THAN 4,000 PROCEDURES HAD TO BE POSTPONED AS A RESULT OF TODAY'S ACTION, BUT THE DOCTORS' UNION SAYS THAT FIGURE PALES AGAINST THE NUMBER OF PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TO BE DELAYED EVERY DAY AS A RESULT OF CHRONIC STAFF SHORTAGES. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS. WHEN DOCTOR'S RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK... ALL: STAND UP, FIGHT BACK! IT'S THE FIRST TIME SENIOR DOCTORS HAVE BEEN ON A 24 HOUR STRIKE. THEY WALKED OFF THE JOB AT MIDNIGHT. SOME CLINICS ARE CLOSED, BUT HOSPITALS AND EDs REMAIN OPEN TODAY. STAND UP... ALL: FIGHT BACK! THE DOCTORS SAY THEY'VE BEEN OFFERED 1.5% ` THAT'S BELOW INFLATION. THEY'RE DEMANDING 12% PLUS AN INCREASE TO COVER THE RISING COSTS OF MEDICAL EDUCATION. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND, TE WHATU ORA, SAYS THERE'S NO SPARE CASH. THERE'S NO MORE MONEY IN OUR COFFERS. WE'VE PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD, IT'S CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH. THE OFFERS AMOUNT TO INCREASES OF BETWEEN $8,000 AND $29,000 ON A SENIOR DOCTOR'S BASE SALARY. MOST OF US DON'T HAVE TO TRAIN FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS IN ORDER TO DO THE JOB THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN. WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS, MOST OF US, ON A DAILY BASIS. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND PUT A CREDIBLE OFFER ON THE TABLE, UNFORTUNATELY THE UNION DECIDED NOT TO PUT THAT TO ITS MEMBERS. THEY SHOULD HAVE, INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH THE STRIKE WHICH IS CAUSING DISRUPTION OF CARE TO PATIENTS. THE UNIONS SAY THEY ARE ALSO IN AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE, AND SENIOR DOCTORS EARN MUCH MORE IN AUSTRALIA THAN THEY DO HERE. THIS STRIKE IS AS MUCH ABOUT PAY AS IT IS ABOUT THE SHORTFALL OF SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICERS. THE DOCTORS HERE SAY THAT'S AROUND 25% AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT IS AS BAD AS 45% IN PLACES LIKE GISBORNE. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS THAT FIGURE IS CLOSER TO 10% ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS MEANS THAT THE REMAINING SENIOR DOCTORS ARE HAVING TO BE THE GLUE HOLDING TOGETHER A BROKEN HEALTH SYSTEM. THEY'RE HAVING TO DESPERATELY TRY TO PROVIDE INCREASING LEVELS OF PATIENT DEMAND AND NEED. RECRUITING DOCTORS IS TOUGH AND IT IS A COMPETITIVE MARKET, BUT I THINK PEOPLE COME TO WORK FOR MORE THAN JUST MONEY. I THINK PEOPLE COME TO WORK FOR THE VALUE OF THE SERVICE THEY DO, THE PEOPLE THEY WORK FOR. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND ESTIMATES 4,300 PLANNED PROCEDURES WILL HAVE TO BE POSTPONED DUE TO THE STRIKE. THERE ARE TOO MANY NEW ZEALANDERS ALREADY WAITING TOO LONG AND WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IS NOT GOING TO ASSIST WITH THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING ON TOP OF THOSE WAIT LISTS. I WANT TO APOLOGISE TO PATIENTS WHO ARE INCONVENIENCED, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT NUMBER IN PROPORTION TO THE MANY, MANY THOUSANDS, I THINK, WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE 70-80,000 PEOPLE AWAITING SURGICAL PROCEDURES WHO ARE JUST WAITING ONE DAY MORE. IN THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT, THERE'LL BE WHAT'S CALLED A 'FACILITATION CASE CONFERENCE' TOMORROW. THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AUTHORITY WILL TALK TO BOTH SIDES ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS TO TAKE. FRESH FROM CELEBRATING HIS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE ` THE BEST START TO A PRESIDENCY IN HISTORY, APPARENTLY ` YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT NEWS OF A SHRINKING ECONOMY MIGHT DAMPEN DONALD TRUMP'S SPIRITS. BUT NO ` TURNS OUT IT WAS ALL BIDEN'S FAULT, AND IT'S NOT JUST TRUMP SAYING THAT. HIS CABINET AGREED WHOLEHEARTEDLY AS THEY TOOK TURNS LAVISHING PRAISE ON THE BOSS AND THANKING HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. HERE'S ROBERT MOORE. AS HE RETURNED TO THE WHITE HOUSE LAST NIGHT AFTER A RALLY IN MICHIGAN MARKING THE 100th DAY OF HIS SECOND TERM, DONALD TRUMP'S GRIM LOOK MATCHED THE ECONOMIC DATA THAT IS EMERGING, WITH U.S GROWTH STALLING AND FEARS OF A RECESSION LOOMING. CORE GDP... D... A-AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW... YOU PROBABLY SAW SOME NUMBERS TODAY. BUT AT A CABINET MEETING TODAY, TRUMP INSISTED HIS PREDECESSOR CAN BE BLAMED FOR THE SUDDENLY LIMPING ECONOMY. THAT'S BIDEN. THAT'S NOT TRUMP, BECAUSE, UH, WE CAME IN ON JANUARY. THIS ARE QUARTERLY NUMBERS. AND WE CAME IN AND, UH... I WAS VERY, UH... UH... AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT BIDEN WAS DOING IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. PRESIDENT, YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS HAS FAR EXCEEDED THAT OF ANY OTHER PRESIDENCY IN THIS COUNTRY. BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR, I BELIEVE WE'RE MAKING THE MILITARY GREAT AGAIN. THERE WAS THE NOW-NORMALISED PRAISE OF TRUMP AROUND THE TABLE... AND AMERICANS ARE SAFER BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. ...SOUNDING MORE LIKE A NORTH KOREAN GATHERING THAN A TRADITIONAL U.S CABINET MEETING. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU. YOU ARE` YOU HAVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER. YOU GOT THE TARIFFS AND THEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING IN. AND THE COMMERCE SECRETARY CLAIMED THAT TARIFFS ARE BRINGING INVESTMENT BACK TO THE U.S ON A COLOSSAL SCALE. YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THE COMPANIES COMMITTED TO BUILDING IN AMERICA. TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES HAVE COMMITTED OVER $2.5 TRILLION TO BUILD IN AMERICA BASED ON YOUR TARIFFS. BUT THE REALITY IS IN THE NUMBERS. AFTER A PERIOD OF SUSTAINED GROWTH OVER MANY QUARTERS, AMERICA'S GDP ` ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION ` DECLINED BY 0.3% IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, COINCIDING EXACTLY WITH THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY. MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ` THE ECONOMY SHRANK. NEGATIVE. THE FIRST NEGATIVE SINCE THE PANDEMIC. THE TARIFFS HAVE CERTAINLY TRIGGERED BUSINESS AND CONSUMER UNCERTAINTY ON A GLOBAL SCALE. # AND I GLADLY STAND UP... # BUT TO DONALD TRUMP, THIS IS ALL ABOUT LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD, AND LAST NIGHT, HE WAS IN THE MIDWEST, PROMISING NEW FACTORIES AND NEW JOBS. BECAUSE OF MY TAXATION AND TARIFF POLICIES, WHICH ARE POLICIES OF COMMON SENSE AND GENIUS, BE BIGGER AND STRONGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. COMPANIES WILL BE POURING BACK INTO MICHIGAN. (CROWD ROARS) HE HAS CALLED THIS AMERICA'S GOLDEN AGE, BUT WITH THE ECONOMY SLOWING AND HIS POLICIES CAUSING DISLOCATION AROUND THE WORLD, THAT BRANDING MAY BE OPTIMISTIC AT BEST. BACK AT THE CABINET MEETING, ELON MUSK WAS THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION. (CLEARS THROAT) THAT I SAY I WEAR A LOT OF HATS. (LAUGHTER) HE WAS GIVEN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AMID SPECULATION HE WILL SOON LEAVE GOVERNMENT AND RETURN TO HIS BUSINESSES. YOU REALLY HAVE SACRIFICED A LOT. YOU'VE BEEN TREATED VERY UNFAIRLY. THEY DO LIKE TO BURN MY CARS, WHICH IS NOT GREAT, YOU KNOW. COULD BE BETTER. (CHUCKLES) I WANNA JUST CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE'RE OFF TO A GREAT START. A FORMER BOSS OF NEW ZEALAND RUGBY BELIEVES A NEW COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TOYOTA AND THE ALL BLACKS WILL BE A MASSIVE COUP FOR NZR. TOYOTA HAS REPORTEDLY SIGNED A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEAL FOR THE NAMING RIGHTS TO THE ALL BLACKS TRAINING KIT, REPLACING BRITISH COMPANY INEOS, WHICH QUIT ITS SIX-YEAR SPONSORSHIP AFTER JUST THREE YEARS ` A DEAL WHICH WAS WORTH $20 MILLION ANNUALLY. BUT FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE DAVID MOFFATT SAYS THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP WILL CREATE AN EVEN BIGGER WINDFALL FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. INEOS WAS TRYING TO TEAR UP A CONTRACT THEY SIGNED IN GOOD FAITH. THEY NEEDED TO RECTIFY IT. I THINK THIS IS VERY POSITIVE FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. BOTH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AND TOYOTA DECLINED TO CONFIRM THE DEAL WHEN CONTACTED BY THREENEWS TODAY. COMING UP ` THE WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING THREE RELATIVES WITH A TOXIC MUSHROOM MEAL IS ON TRIAL IN AUSTRALIA. WE WILL SEE SOME OF THE NEW EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN COURT NEXT ON THREENEWS. ALSO AHEAD ` IT'S 50 YEARS SINCE THE FALL OF SAIGON. WE SEE HOW VIETNAM IS MARKING THE END OF THE 20-YEAR WAR. VOICEOVER: The new Subway signature chicken pepperoni. A perfect pairing of tender, strips of chicken and pepperoni with melty mozzarella. Sub-perb. Yeah, I think that works. AUSTRALIANS VOTE THIS WEEKEND TO ELECT THEIR NEXT PRIME MINISTER, AND WHILE INCUMBENT ANTHONY ALBANESE IS LEADING THE OPINION POLLS, HE HAS A 20-YEAR-LONG CURSE TO BREAK. THE PM POINTED OUT TODAY THAT IN THE BRUTAL WORLD OF AUSSIE POLITICS, NO PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED AFTER SERVING A FULL TERM SINCE 2004. BUT AS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH REPORTS, THE TRUMP EFFECT MIGHT HELP HIM TURN THAT AROUND. HI-VIZ, HARD HATS, CUDDLING BABIES, SAMPLING PASTRIES, THE HALLMARKS OF AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. WITH TWO DAYS LEFT TO WOO, THE TWO MEN SCRAPPING IT OUT TO LEAD AUSTRALIA ARE CLOCKING UP EVERY PHOTO OP. AND THIS EERILY FAMILIAR LIBERAL PARTY SLOGAN IS NOT THE ONLY LIKENESS TO NEW ZEALAND'S LAST CAMPAIGN. WE CAN HELP FAMILIES WITH THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. LABOUR HAS A REAL PLAN FOR COST OF LIVING SUPPORT. WE'VE ALREADY ACTED ON COST OF LIVING. ...THIS COST OF LIVING CRISIS. AUSTRALIA'S ELECTION IS COMING DOWN TO THE SAME BIG ISSUE KIWIS FOUND THEMSELVES VOTING ON IN 2023 ` THE ECONOMY, AS THIS AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR SO ELOQUENTLY PUT IT ON ABC'S 'FOUR CORNERS'... THEY KNOW THE ECONOMY IS (BLEEP) AND THEY JUST WANT SOMEONE TO UN-(BLEEP) IT. AND THEY'RE NOT SEEING THAT FROM EITHER PARTY AT THE MOMENT. YES, THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS STRETCHES TRANS-TASMAN. ARE AUSTRALIANS BETTER OFF NOW THAN THEY WERE BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED? WHAT THEY'LL CONSIDER IS WHO HAS THE BEST OFFER FOR THEM IN THREE YEAR'S TIME. IF THE PM CAN'T BE STRAIGHT WITH AUSTRALIANS, I WILL BE ` AUSTRALIANS ARE WORSE OFF UNDER THIS GOVERNMENT. IT'S SOMETHING THE INCUMBENT, ANTHONY ALBANESE'S STRUGGLED TO GET A HANDLE ON IN HIS FIRST TERM, HIS LABOUR PARTY NOW CAMPAIGNING ON A TAX CUT PACKAGE. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING IT TOUGH. AAP PACIFIC EDITOR BEN MCKAY TOLD THREE NEWS THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT DURING THE ELECTION... THE QUESTION HAS BECOME LESS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MORE ABOUT THE CHOICE, THE CHOICE BEING, 'DO YOU WANT ANTHONY ALBANESE'S GOVERNMENT 'OR DO YOU WANT PETER DUTTON'S COALTION GOVERNMENT?' AND I THINK THE VIBE IN THE ELECTION IS THAT REALLY, PEOPLE HAVE NARROWED DOWN THAT CHOICE AND GONE, 'I DON'T REALLY WANT PETER DUTTON AS PRIME MINISTER.' ...PERHAPS BECAUSE OPPOSITION LEADER PETER DUTTON HAS FAILED TO FIRE... POLICY DETAILS WENT BY THE WAYSIDE, HE WASN'T PREPARED ON A LOT OF LEVELS AND IT'S RESULTED IN QUITE A CHAOTIC CAMPAIGN. ...PERHAPS BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE PLAYING ON AUSTRALIAN'S MINDS... AND IN TODAY'S UNCERTAIN TIMES, AUSTRALIANS ARE LOOKING FOR CERTAINTY. ...THE TRUMP EFFECT. IT'S BEEN` THE MAJOR EFFECT THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN` IT'S MADE AUSTRALIANS A LITTLE BIT MORE CAUTIOUS, I MEAN, WITH A FRACTIOUS WORLD, A DANGEROUS WORLD, I THINK PEOPLE ARE LESS INCLINED TO TAKE A PUNT ON A NEW PRIME MINISTER. DESPITE ALBANESE LEADING THE POLLS, HE'S NOT COUNTING ANY CHICKENS, BECAUSE THE AUSTRALIAN VOTING PUBLIC AND ITS BACKSTABBY, COUP-HAPPY POLITICIANS, CAN BE BRUTAL. WE TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. NO PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED IN THIS COUNTRY HAVING SERVED A FULL TERM SINCE 2004. HE'S HOPING TO TURN THAT SAVAGE STATISTIC AROUND COME SATURDAY. THE TRIAL IS CONTINUING OF THE AUSTRALIAN WOMAN ACCUSED OF USING POISONOUS MUSHROOMS TO MURDER HER IN-LAWS AT A FAMILY LUNCH. THREE OF ERIN PATTERSON'S GUESTS DIED AFTER EATING A BEEF WELLINGTON CONTAINING DEATH CAP MUSHROOMS. IN COURT, THE JURY HEARD CLAIMS MS PATTERSON SERVED HER OWN FOOD ON A DIFFERENT-COLOURED PLATE TO THOSE OF HER RELATIVES. ITV'S SAM HOLDER HAS MORE. ERIN PATTERSON ALWAYS DENIED SHE MEANT TO POISON HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND'S PARENTS, AUNT AND UNCLE. HERE, SPEAKING SHORTLY AFTER THE MEAL THAT LEFT THREE DEAD ` INDIVIDUAL BEEF WELLINGTONS STUFFED WITH DEADLY MUSHROOMS. HERE, SPEAKING SHORTLY AFTER THE MEAL THAT LEFT THREE DEAD ` SOBS: GAIL'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING BUT GOOD AND KIND TO ME. AND IAN AND HEATHER WERE SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO ME, AND I'M SO DEVASTATED. SHE IS NOW ON TRIAL FOR MURDER, AND SIGNIFICANT NEW EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED. HER FATHER- AND MOTHER-IN-LAW, DON AND GAIL PATTERSON, AS WELL AS HER HUSBAND'S AUNT, HEATHER WILKINSON, DIED AFTER BEING FED DEATH CAP MUSHROOMS. THE COURT HEARD THAT, WHILE IN HOSPITAL, HEATHER WILKINSON SAID ` WILKINSON'S HUSBAND, IAN, WHO'S A PASTOR, SURVIVED AFTER GETTING A LIVER TRANSPLANT. ERIN PATTERSON HAD INVITED THE GROUP TO LUNCH WHILE ATTENDING ONE OF HIS SERVICES. SHE CLAIMED SHE WAS ILL. THE PROSECUTION TOLD THE COURT ` BOTH DEFENCE AND PROSECUTION AGREE SHE DID NOT HAVE CANCER. BEFORE THE LUNCH, PATTERSON HAD VISITED A WEBSITE WHERE USERS UPLOAD LOCATIONS OF DIFFERENT MUSHROOMS. TWO USERS POSTED ABOUT DEATH CAP MUSHROOMS IN THE TOWN OF LOCH AND OUTTRIM. PATTERSON'S PHONE SHOWED SHE THEN VISITED BOTH. PATTERSON INITIALLY TOLD POLICE SHE BOUGHT, RATHER THAN FORAGED, THE MUSHROOMS, AND CLAIMS IT WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE TRIAL IN RURAL VICTORIA IS DUE TO LAST FOR SIX WEEKS. VIETNAM HAS CELEBRATED THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE WAR THERE. TO AMERICANS, IT WAS THE FALL OF SAIGON ` THE END OF A LONG, COSTLY AND HUMILIATING MILITARY AND FOREIGN POLICY FAILURE. BUT TO THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT RULERS, TODAY HAS BEEN SEEN AS THE ANNIVERSARY OF RE-UNIFICATION, WHEN THE COMMUNIST NORTH OVERRAN THE AMERICAN-BACKED SOUTH. ITV'S DEBI EDWARDS HAS MORE. THE GRAND PARADE, AS IT WAS BILLED, WAS PACKED WITH PATRIOTISM AND VIETNAMESE CHARACTER. THIS WAS THE BIGGEST EVENT VIETNAM HAS STAGED FOR ITS REUNIFICATION DAY, AND THE STREETS OF HO CHI MINH CITY WERE A SEA OF RED TO CELEBRATE THE COUNTRY'S 50th ANNIVERSARY. THE MILITARY UNITS WHICH FOUGHT TO SECURE VICTORY IN THE CITY, ALSO KNOWN AS SAIGON, TOOK CENTRE STAGE, PUTTING ON A PRACTICE PERFORMANCE FOR THE CROWDS. (SPEAKS VIETNAMESE) ARCHIVE: ...THE HELICOPTERS WERE LANDING... THE SCENES OF CELEBRATION TODAY WERE A FAR CRY FROM THE CHAOTIC EVACUATION THAT HAS DEFINED THE DAY NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS DECLARED VICTORY AND THE FALL OF SAIGON. OUR JOURNALISTS WERE AMONG THOSE FORCED TO FLEE ON HELICOPTERS FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, A HUMILIATING RETREAT FOR THE U.S AND FAILURE TO HALT THE COMMUNIST FORCES. (SPEAKS VIETNAMESE) RETIRED VIET CONG LIEUTENANT COLONEL NIEN WAS AWARDED MEDALS FOR HIS ROLE IN THE WAR. HE SHARED HIS MEMORIES OF 'LIBERATION DAY', AS HE CALLS APRIL 30. (SPEAKS VIETNAMESE) VETERANS, FAMILIES AND GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER VIETNAM WANTED TO BE PART OF THEIR COUNTRY'S SPECIAL DAY. THE SPECIAL DAY IS 50 ANNIVERSARY. IT SHOWS OUR PROUD OF MY COUNTRY. MY COUNTRY ` VERY PEACEFUL, VERY HAPPINESS, AND THE PEOPLE ARE REALLY FRIENDLY. A FLY PAST BY FIGHTER JETS DREW THE BIGGEST CHEERS... (CHEERING) STATE TV GIVING VIEWERS A COCKPIT VIEW. A DAY FOR SO LONG MARKED WITH UNCERTAINTY HERE IN SAIGON HAS BEEN RE-CAST AS A CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY AND PRIDE. THIS WAS NOT JUST AN OCCASION TO REMEMBER THE END OF WAR, BUT A DISPLAY OF THE RESILIENCE AND UNITY THAT FOLLOWED. VIETNAM IS TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACK, TO A BRIGHTER AND MORE PEACEFUL FUTURE. STILL AHEAD ON THREENEWS ` PAUA TO THE PEOPLE. WHY THE LONGER SEASON FOR COLLECTING THE SHELLFISH HAS SOME IN KAIKOURA WORRIED. 40 YEARS AFTER TELLING US ALL TO RELAX, THE ONCE VERY CONTROVERSIAL BAND 'FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD' GOES BACK ON TOUR. HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT ` CHRISTCHURCH AND SELWYN ARE TONIGHT OPERATING IN STATES OF EMERGENCY AS HEAVY RAIN CAUSES FLOODING, AND WELLINGTON IS UNDER A RARE THREAT-TO-LIFE GALE WARNING UNTIL 3 TOMORROW MORNING. SENIOR DOCTORS ARE DUE BACK ON THE JOB AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, ENDING AN UNPRECEDENTED STRIKE OVER THEIR PAY DISPUTE. KAIKOURA HAS JUST BEGUN ITS LONGEST PAUA SEASON IN ALMOST A DECADE. OFFICIALS SHORTENED THE SEASON AFTER THE 2016 EARTHQUAKE DUE TO ITS IMPACT ON STOCKS. THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT HAS RECOVERED BUT AS BRIE-ELLEN HARDING FOUND OUT, CONCERNS ARE NOW BEING RAISED A BOUT HOW TO POLICE THOSE WITH MORE TIME TO GATHER. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE SPOTS IN THE COUNTRY... (ETHEREAL MUSIC) ...A PLACE THAT BOASTS NATURAL WONDERS ON LAND AND SEA. BUT THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN THE SAME ALONG THE KAIKOURA COAST SINCE THE DEVASTATING 2016 QUAKES. THE REALITY IS, ALONG THE KAIKOURA COASTLINE, WITH THE UPLIFT, 41% OF THE INTERTIDAL REGION, THAT'S THE AREA THAT'S COVERED IN WATER AT LOW TIDE, IS NOW OUT OF THE WATER PERMANENTLY, SO IT IS NOT THE SAME COASTLINE ANYMORE. A COASTLINE THAT'S LONG BEEN A LIFELINE FOR THIS REGION, AND NOW IT CAN ADD AN EXTENDED PAUA SEASON TO ITS RECOVERY. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE INUNDATED WITH DOZENS OF DIVERS IN THE WEEKENDS. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, RECREATIONAL PAUA GATHERING ON THE KAIKOURA COAST HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO A TWO MONTH PERIOD. BUT JUST WEEKS AGO, OCEANS AND FISHERIES MINISTER SHANE JONES EXTENDED IT, CITING THE CONTINUING RECOVERY OF THE PAUA STOCK. FOR SOME OF THOSE INVOLVED, THE NOW FOUR MONTH SEASON IS LONG ENOUGH. WE'RE STILL NOT A COASTLINE THAT'S BACK INTO RE-BALANCE POST THE EARTHQUAKE. AND THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT HOW THIS NOW HEALTHIER, BUT STILL VULNERABLE STOCK WILL BE MANAGED. WE KNOW HOW MUCH PAUA IS TAKEN OUT OF OUR COASTLINE COMMERCIALLY. WE KNOW HOW MUCH PAUA IS TAKEN OUT OF OUR COASTLINE CULTURALLY, BUT WE CAN'T ACCURATELY RECORD HOW MUCH PAUA IS TAKEN RECREATIONALLY. A LONGER POWER SEASON BACK ON IN KAIKOURA, BUT COMING WITH THE NEED TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN TAKING TODAY AND ENSURING IT THRIVES TOMORROW. LUCY'S IN WITH SPORT ` AND RUBY TUI IS OUT. YES LAURA, IT HAS COME AS A SURPRISE TO MANY, BUT SHE'S NOT THE ONLY WORLD CUP WINNER WHO WON'T BE THERE AS COMPETITION FOR NATIONAL SPOTS RAMPS UP. PLUS, LYDIA KO OPENS UP ABOUT THE LOWS THAT PRECEDED THE BEST YEAR OF HER CAREER SO FAR. AND BARCELONA AND INTER MILAN CAN'T BE SEPARATED AFTER A SIX-GOAL THRILLER IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. (SHOES TAPPING) (KEYBOARD TYPING) Wow. Hey J, this project might need a bit of... zhuhzhing. Holler back, Warren. Please let me know your thoughts. Best regards. Warren? (MUSIC PLAYS) SHE WAS THE STAR OF THE VICTORIOUS HOME RUGBY WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN IN 2022, BUT NOW RUBY TUI FINDS HERSELF ON THE OUTER FOUR MONTHS OUT FROM THE DEFENSE OF THE BLACK FERNS' TITLE IN ENGLAND. THE 33-YEAR-OLD IS THE SHOCK OMISSION FROM THE BLACK FERNS SQUAD FOR THIS MONTH'S PACIFIC FOUR SERIES, AS COACH ALLAN BUNTING REWARDS PLAYERS WHO DELIVERED THROUGHOUT SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI. GORDON FINDLATER REPORTS. SHE WAS THE VOICE OF THE NATION DURING THE BLACK FERNS' VICTORIOUS HOME WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN THREE YEARS AGO.... # TUTIRA MAI NGA IWI... CROWD: # AUE! # ...TATOU, TATOU E. # BUT NOW RUBY TUI FINDS HERSELF ON THE OUTER, THE BIGGEST NAME OMITTED FROM ALLAN BUNTING'S SQUAD FOR THE PACIFIC FOUR SERIES. YEAH, I'VE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT WITH RUBY, BUT THE PERSON THAT RUBY IS, SHE'S TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD, BUT SHE'S HERE TO SERVE AND GIVE AND LEARN. SHE'S PRETTY COMPETITIVE AND SHE WANTS TO GET BACK IN TOO. THE FORMER SEVENS STAR HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BLACK FERNS SINCE MAKING THE SWITCH IN 2022, EVEN CHOOSING TO SKIP LAST YEAR'S OLYMPICS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE 15-A-SIDE GAME IN THE AUGUST WORLD CUP. OH, THERE'S A PRETTY TIGHT RACE OUT THERE IN THE OUTSIDES, ISN'T THERE? AND, YEAH, SHE HASN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING WRONG, BUT WITH THE THREE THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED... YOU KNOW, YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY TOUGH ONE. SHE'S NOT THE ONLY HIGH-PROFILE PLAYER TO BE OVERLOOKED. LOCK CHELSEA BREMNER AND FULLBACK RENNE HOLMES ALSO OUT. WE WERE LOOKING AT CONSISTENCY THROUGH AUPIKI AND WE'VE SELECTED UPON THAT. ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS ` UNCAPPED BRAXTON SORENSEN-MCGEE (18). SLIPS OUT OF ONE, GETS RID OF A SECOND AND HERE SHE GOES AGAIN! A STANDOUT SEASON WITH THE BLUES SEEING HER EDGE OUT HOLMES. SHE'S AN INSTINCTIVE PLAYER, YOUNG, REALLY BRAVE. SHE'S SOLID IN DEFENCE. AND RENNE'S HAD A FEW INJURIES OVER THE LAST BIT, BUT THE LAST COUPLE OF GAMES IN AUPIKI SHE REALLY STOOD UP AGAIN AND TRIALLED QUITE WELL, SO NOW WE'VE GOT COMPETITION AT FULLBACK WHICH WE PROBABLY HAVEN'T HAD. THAT COMPETITION IS LIKELY TO RAMP UP WHEN THEY FACE AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE USA LATER THIS MONTH, THOSE IN THE SQUAD LOOKING TO PUSH THEIR CASE FOR WORLD CUP SELECTION. WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT MORE DEPTH NOW WE DIDN'T HAVE BACK THEN AND THAT'S BEEN THE GOAL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. DEPTH THAT THE FACE OF THE LAST WORLD CUP WILL NOW HAVE TO OVERCOME IF SHE'S TO CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK CROWNS. LYDIA KO HAS OPENED UP ABOUT THE LOWS THAT PRECEDED ONE OF THE BEST YEARS OF HER GOLFING CAREER. IN A RARE AND FRANK INTERVIEW WITH GOLF.COM, THE WORLD NUMBER THREE REVEALED HOW SHE WENT FROM CRYING IN A HOTEL ROOM TO BEING INDUCTED INTO THE LPGA HALL OF FAME, AND WHAT'S LEFT TO ACHIEVE BEFORE SHE TURNS THIRTY. TWO PUTTS TO GO FROM LEGEND TO IMMORTAL. 2024 WAS UNDENIABLY LYDIA KO'S YEAR. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) A WEEK AFTER WINNING GOLD AT HER THIRD AND FINAL OLYMPIC GAMES, THE NOW-28-YEAR-OLD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE LPGA HALL OF FAME. THOSE THINGS COMBINED DON'T HAPPEN, NOT TO EVERYONE, AND IT HAPPENED. AND THEN JUST A WEEK LATER, SHE WON A THIRD MAJOR. THE CHANCE I WAS GONNA WIN A WOMEN'S OPEN AT ST ANDREWS, THE HOME OF GOLF ` IT'S, LIKE, SLIM... IF THERE'S A WORD THAT'S UNDER SLIM AND UNDER ZERO, THAT'S WHERE I WAS LIVING IN. ONLY 12 MONTHS EARLIER, SHE COULDN'T EVEN MAKE THE CUT AS SHE BATTLED THROUGH ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES OF HER CAREER. YEAH, IN '23, THERE WAS A LOT OF UPSET CRYING, I WOULD SAY. KO WENT 16 STRAIGHT TOURNAMENTS WITHOUT A TOP 20 FINISH AND SHOT THE WORST ROUND OF HER CAREER. I REMEMBER BEING ON THE PHONE WITH MY HUSBAND AND I WAS LIKE, 'I DON'T KNOW WHY,' AND HE WAS LIKE, 'HEY, GOLF IS NOT JUST IT TO YOUR LIFE.' AND I WAS LIKE, 'YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.' EVERYTHING WAS JUST SO PERSONAL, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND ME WOULD JUST ALWAYS SAY, 'HEY, IT'S JUST NOT YOUR TIME. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE AROUND US 'AND YOU'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.' BUT WHEN THE SCORES DON'T SHOW, IT'S PRETTY HARD TO CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT. KO SAYS OVERCOMING THE MENTAL CHALLENGE OF THAT YEAR WAS AN ACHIEVEMENT IN ITSELF. WHAT GOES IN BETWEEN THE TWO EARS, I THINK THAT CAN GET SCARY, AND I JUST WASN'T SURE IN '23, AND TO SAY THAT I'VE COME AT THE MOST IMPORTANT WEEK OF MY CAREER AND I'VE LITERALLY EXCELLED AND DID THE BEST I COULD AND FINISHED ON TOP, I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED MYSELF BEING IN THAT POSITION A YEAR BEFORE. SO I WAS JUST REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY I'D OVERCOME MY OWN DEMONS. AND AS THE PROMISE SHE MADE HERSELF AT 17 ` TO RETIRE AT 30 ` DRAWS NEAR... EVEN IF IT STOPPED NOW, THERE'S NOTHING THAT I'D REGRET. I STILL HAVE THE GOAL OF MAYBE WINNING THE CAREER GRAND SLAM. WHICH WOULD INVOLVE WINNING A FOURTH MAJOR TITLE ` A FEAT ONLY SEVEN FEMALE GOLFERS HAVE ACHIEVED TO DATE. HEY, IF THE BIGGEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, HAPPENED, LIKE, WHY NOT? LESS THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER BECOMING THE NEWEST TEAM IN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE, THE INDIAN PANTHERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FROM THE COMPETITION AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF CONTRACTUAL BREACHES. ON TUESDAY, THE PANTHERS MATCH AGAINST THE CANTERBURY RAMS WAS CALLED OFF AFTER PLAYERS REFUSED TO TAKE THE COURT OVER A PAY DISPUTE. TODAY, THE LEAGUE'S COMMISSION SUSPENDED THE SOUTH AUCKLAND TEAM FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. AT LEAST ONE PANTHERS PLAYER HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT SALARY PAYMENTS BEING DELAYED OR NOT MADE AT ALL. STEVEN ADAMS AND THE HOUSTON ROCKETS LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY AFTER BEATING THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 131-116 TO PULL THE BEST OF SEVEN SERIES BACK TO 3-2. ADAMS WENT SCORELESS IN THE MATCH, BUT HAD SIX REBOUNDS AND PRODUCED THIS DIME OF AN ASSIST IN THE THIRD QUARTER. LATER ON IN THE GAME, THINGS GOT HEATED. DYLAN BROOKS AND SPENCER ARE MIXING IT UP... BOY, LOOK OUT. JACKSON IS SHIPPING SHANGOON. MEANWHILE, IT'S SEASON OVER FOR LEBRON JAMES AND LUKA DONCIC, THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS DEFEATED 103-96 BY THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES TO LOSE THE SERIES 4-1. HOSTS BARCELONA HAVE TWICE COME FROM BEHIND TO DRAW 3-3 WITH INTER MILAN IN THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LEG-ONE SEMI-FINAL. MARCUS THURAM OPENED THE SCORING FOR INTER AFTER JUST 30 SECONDS WITH AN OUTRAGEOUS BACK-HEEL FLICK. DUMFRIES DOUBLED THE LEAD SOON AFTER BEFORE SOME INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE FROM TEEN SENSATION LAMINE YAMAL BEGAN BARCELONA'S COMEBACK. SIMPLY SENSATIONAL. BUT THE ACTION WAS FAR FROM OVER ` FERRAN TORRES HAD RAPHINHA TO THANK FOR BARCELONA'S EQUALISER BEFORE DUMFRIES SCORED HIS SECOND TO PUT INTER BACK IN THE LEAD. IT DIDN'T LAST LONG, THOUGH, THANKS TO A WONDER STRIKE FROM RAPHINHA. HE STEPS OVER IT, WHAT A GOAL THAT IS! 3-3 THE FINAL SCORE WITH ALL TO PLAY FOR WHEN THE TEAMS MEET AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY. THAT IS SPORT FOR THURSDAY, LAURA. MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO, THE BAND 'FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD' TOLD US TO 'RELAX'. BACK THEN, IN THE 1980S, HOLLY JOHNSON AND HIS BAND WERE MOULD BREAKERS ` ONE OF THE FEW OPENLY GAY POP ACTS. HOLLY WAS ALSO OPEN ABOUT HIS HIV DIAGNOSIS IN A TIME OF HOSTILE ATTITUDES. A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE, BUT NOT THE GROUP'S DESIRE TO TOUR, AS ITV'S NINA NANNAR FOUND OUT. (MYSTERIOUS SYNTH MUSIC) THE SONG CAUSED A MIXTURE OF OUTRAGE AND FASCINATION. BANNED BY THE BBC, IT WENT TO NUMBER ONE ANYWAY. # RELAX, DON'T DO IT # WHEN YOU WANNA GO TO IT. FOR FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD'S FRONT MAN, HOLLY JOHNSON, THE '80s WERE A CELEBRATION OF BEING GAY, FLAMBOYANT AND HEDONISTIC. # RELAX, DON'T DO IT. # WE ARE IN LONDON'S FAMOUS HEAVEN NIGHTCLUB, WHERE JOHNSON REMEMBERS THE BAND'S FIRST GIG HERE. IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE 81, 82, 83. WE WERE UP ABOVE IN A CAGE. YOU WERE IN A CAGE? WE WERE IN A CAGE. AND WE DID OUR ACT, YOU KNOW, THAT INCLUDED RELAX AND TWO TRIBES. I WAS WEARING LEATHER KNICKERS. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS HOW WE PERFORMED IN THOSE DAYS. THOSE DAYS ARE NOW THE SUBJECT OF HIS TOUR MARKING FOUR DECADES SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE BAND'S DEBUT ALBUM 'WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME'. TODAY, HE IS GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY. IN THE EARLY '90s, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HIV AND WAS TOLD HE COULD HAVE AS LITTLE AS TWO MONTHS TO LIVE. DESPITE THE SOCIAL STIGMA AT THAT TIME, HE WENT PUBLIC WITH THE ILLNESS AND SAYS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY SHUNNED HIM. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD EVER SAY YOU'VE GOT TWO MONTHS OR TWO YEARS TO LIVE. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS WILL OCCUR. IT'S A WRONG THING TO DO, I BELIEVE. ADVANCEMENTS IN HIV MEDICATION MEAN JOHNSON CAN CELEBRATE TODAY NOT ONLY WITH A TOUR, BUT AN EXHIBITION IN LIVERPOOL DEDICATED TO HIS MUSIC AND STATUS AS AN LGBTQ+ ICON. WE LOOK AT THE GENDER ISSUES GOING ON RIGHT NOW. IT'S A VERY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, ISN'T IT? I'M A SYMPATHISER WITH TRANS PEOPLE. THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY'RE IN THE WRONG BODY ` HOW CAN YOU NOT FEEL SOMETHING FOR THAT CONDITION? THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE YOUR FINAL TOUR, IS IT? WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. AND IT'S BETTER TO LIVE HERE IN THE NOW AND ENJOY THAT. # THE POWER OF LOVE, # A VOICE FROM ABOVE. # HIS MUSIC HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME ` AND SO HAS HE. IMOGEN'S BACK NOW. AND HOW IS THE WEEKEND SHAPING UP? A LOT MORE SETTLED IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE'VE HAD, THAT'S FOR SURE. A DEEP LOW TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH IS MOVING AWAY ON SATURDAY WITH THOSE STRONG SOUTHERLIES FINALLY EASING. WITH A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE COUNTRY, THERE'LL STILL BE A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE ` WHEN IS THERE NOT? I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST NEXT. (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. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. TODAY'S WILD WEATHER IS SET TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW FOR SOME. WELLINGTON'S STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE EASED BY TOMORROW MORNING, AND BREAKS IN THE RAIN ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING IN CANTERBURY, WHERE THINGS ARE LOOKING A LOT MORE SETTLED TOMORROW THAN THEY HAVE BEEN FOR MANY, WITH A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVING ON TO THE SOUTH ISLAND. THERE'S STILL A BIT MORE TO COME, THOUGH, FOR THE NORTH-EASTERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, INCLUDING STRONG WINDS, AND MORE SNOW COULD FALL THIS EVENING FOR HIGHER PARTS OF CANTERBURY, ARTHUR'S PASS AND LINDIS PASS. AND WET WEATHER IS STILL HANGING AROUND THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, PARTICULARLY FOR THE WAIRARAPA AND WELLINGTON REGIONS, EASING IN THE LATTER PARTS OF TOMORROW. SHOWERS KICKING IN AROUD MIDDAY FOR AUCKLAND UPWARDS ` POSSIBLY GETTING HEAVY AND THUNDERY, EASING COME EVENING. MAINLY FINE WITH THE ODD SHOWER FOR THE REST WITH WESTERLIES TURNING SOUTHERLY FOR MOST. LOOKING MUCH BETTER OUT HERE THAN IT HAS BEEN ` FINE EVERYWHERE BAR WHAKATANE. YOUR SHOWERS WILL CLEAR COME AFTERNOON. A MIX OF SOUTH AND SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS ABOUT. A FINE START IN GISBORNE BEFORE SHOWERS DEVELOPING LATE EVENING. IT'S RAIN EVERYWHERE ELSE WITH A HEAVY WARNING IN PLACE FOR MASTERTON UNTIL 4pm TOMORROW. STRONG SOUTH AND SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS HERE TOO. CLOUDY IN NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARANUI WITH PERSISTENT RAIN ON THE CARDS FOR EVERYWHERE ELSE, PARTICULARLY IN WELLINGTON. THERE'LL BE STRONG WINDS EVERYWHERE HERE AS WELL, SO PLEASE DO BE VIGILANT. EVERYONE HAS THE CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWERS BEFORE CLEARING TO FINE HERE. SOUTH-WESTERLY AND SOUTH-EASTERLY WINDS ABOUT, EASING AT NIGHT. EARLY HEAVY FALLS AND STRONG SOUTHERLY GUSTS FOR KAIKOURA, BOTH EASING IN THE MORNING. SHOWERS OR OCCASIONAL RAIN ELSEWHERE, CLEARING COME AFTERNOON, WITH FRESH SOUTH AND SOUTH-WESTERLIES. APART FROM THE ODD MORNING SHOWER FOR MOST AT THE BOTTOM HERE, IT SHOULD BE A FINE DAY WITH LIGHT SOUTH-WESTERS AND WESTERLIES ABOUT. DUNEDIN, YOUR FRIDAY WILL BE CLOUDY WITH THE ODD EARLY MORNING SHOWER BECOMING FINE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH WESTERLY WINDS. MORE RAIN TO COME TONIGHT, CHRISTCHURCH, WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS CLEARING TO CLOUD IN THE AFTERNOON TOMORROW. YOU'LL HAVE FRESH SOUTHERLIES TURNING TO LIGHT WESTERLIES. WELLINGTON, MORE RAIN TONIGHT, THEN HEAVY FALLS ALL DAY TOMORROW EASING TO EVENING SHOWERS. GALE SOUTHERLIES REMAIN TILL THE AFTERNOON AND THE HEAVY SWELL WARNING'S IN PLACE UNTIL 6pm. CLOUD INCREASING IN THE MORNING FOR HAWKE'S BAY, THEN RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. SOUTH-WESTERLIES BECOMING STRONG THEN TOO. TAURANGA, YOU ARE IN FOR A FINE FRIDAY WITH SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS ` A NICE CHANGE TO THE SHOWERS YOU'VE HAD ALL WEEK. A HIGH OF 19. MAINLY FINE IN HAMILTON TOMORROW WITH THE ODD EARLY-MORNING SHOWER. WESTERLIES TURNING SOUTHERLY IN THE MORNING. AUCKLAND, IT'S WIDESPREAD, HEAVY SHOWERS FOR LUNCH WITH POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE WEST AND NORTH BEFORE A FINE AFTERNOON. IT'S LOOKING PARTY CLOUDY FOR MOST IN AUSTRALIA TOMORROW... ...WITH SHOWERS FOR MOST IN THE PACIFIC ` BUT SUNNY IN NIUE! LOOKING NOW TO THE WEEKEND, AND A DEEP LOW TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND CONTINUES TO MOVE AWAY TO THE NORTH-EAST OF NEW ZEALAND. ON SATURDAY, WITH THOSE STRONG SOUTHERLIES FINALLY EASING, AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD FROM THE SOUTH WEST. THAT RIDGE WILL EXTEND OVER MOST OF THE COUNTRY ON SUNDAY THROUGH TO THE START OF NEXT WEEK, WHICH MEANS FAR MORE SETTLED WEATHER IS ON THE CARDS FOR MOST OF US. THERE WILL SOME SHOWERS FOR THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS ON SUNDAY BUT OTHERWISE, A MOSTLY FINE DAY IS ON THE CARDS, WITH MONDAY LOOKING SIMILAR ` A FEW SHOWERS HERE AND THERE, AND A BIT OF CLOUD, BUT OTHERWISE FINE. IT'S BEEN A MASSIVE DAY OF WEATHER, WE DO HOPE YOU'RE SAFE, YOU'RE DRY, AND YOU ARE WELL. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SENT IN PICTURES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TODAY. THE SNOW IN TEKAPO LOOKED BEAUTIFUL, VERY DIFFERENT SCENES TO THOSE COMING OUT OF WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH OF COURSE, THAT'S FOR SURE. ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND ALEX BACKHOUSE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025