PARLIAMENT PASSES A BILL THAT ALLOWS COMPANIES TO UNINTENTIONALLY KILL PROTECTED WILDLIFE LIKE KIWI. THERE ARE CALLS FOR RESTRAINT AS PAKISTAN VOWS TO MAKE INDIA 'PAY THE PRICE' FOR CROSS-BORDER AIRSTRIKES. BLACK SMOKE MEANS 'TRY AGAIN'. THE FIRST VOTE OF THE CONCLAVE FAILS TO YIELD A NEW POPE. AND APPARENTLY THEY CALL THIS WORK. JULIET SPEEDY GETS AN EARLY RUN ON THE SLOPES, THANKS TO A PRE-SEASON SNOW DUMP AT MT HUTT. CAPTIONS BY ALEX BACKHOUSE AND JAMES BROWN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF GREEN-LIGHTING THE KILLING OF KIWI. NEW LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FOR THE ACCIDENTAL DEATHS OF NATIVE WILDLIFE DURING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WAS PASSED UNDER URGENCY TODAY. IT COMES AMID MOUNTING PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO REVERSE ANOTHER BILL IT RUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT, WITH PROTESTS PLANNED FOR TOMORROW AGAINST THE CHANGES TO PAY EQUITY. HERE'S POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JENNA LYNCH. UNLOADING PRECIOUS CARGO. INSIDE THESE BROWN BOXES, THE WEE BROWN BIRD WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE. IS THE MOST VALUABLE CARGO I'VE EVER HAD IN MY PLANE. AND THAT DOES INCLUDE MY CHILDREN. THE LITTLE SPOTTED KIWI'S GREAT HOMECOMING. KIWI PUKUPUKU HAVEN'T BEEN PRESENT AROUND THE NELSON REGION FOR OVER 100 YEARS. SO THEY'RE RETURNING BACK HOME. THE EFFORT TO SAVE THE KIWI HAS BEEN ENORMOUS. BUT TODAY, PARLIAMENT PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ENABLE THE LEGAL KILLING OF NATIVE SPECIES, INCLUDING KIWI. IT IS GOING TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE MOMENT THIS GOVERNMENT DECIDED THAT ROADS AND COALMINES NEEDED PROTECTING FROM SKINKS AND KIWI, RATHER THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND. THE ISSUE AROSE THROUGH THE TRANSPORT AGENCY BUILDING THE MT MESSENGER BYPASS, A 6km ROAD THAT'LL DIVERT AWAY FROM THE CURRENT STEEP, WINDING ROAD IN NORTH TARANAKI. BUT THE PROJECT ENCROACHES ON THE HOME OF PROTECTED SPECIES ` THE NORTH ISLAND BROWN KIWI, KOKAKO, LONG-TAILED BATS AND STRIPED SKINKS. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION HAD GIVEN THE TRANSPORT AGENCY PERMISSION TO MOVE THE NATIVE SPECIES OUT OF THE WAY AND ESCAPE PROSECUTION, SHOULD THEY KILL ANY ACCIDENTALLY THAT IS NORMAL. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. BUT THIS TIME THE HIGH COURT RULED THAT ILLEGAL, SO THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN TO MAKE IT LEGAL AGAIN. WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH COURT DECISION AT MT MESSENGER IS SORT IT AND FIX IT, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEW ZEALAND'S HISTORY, IT HAS ENABLED FOR THE AUTHORISATION FOR THE KILLING OF WILDLIFE IN AN ACT THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THEM. GREENPEACE LABELLING IT 'THE KIWI-KILLING BILL'. NO, THIS IS ENSURING THAT ROADS AND MINES AND JOBS CAN FLOURISH. LOOK, THERE'S THOUSANDS OF KIWIS. LEGALISING THE KILLING OF NATIVE WILDLIFE IS TRUMPIAN STYLE ENVIRONMENTAL VANDALISM. I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF NEW ZEALAND VOTERS WOULD BE UP IN ARMS TO KNOW THAT THIS GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SACRIFICE KIWI AND OTHER NATIVE WILDLIFE JUST TO BUILD ROADS FASTER, THE LEGISLATION PASSED UNDER URGENCY, MUCH LIKE THE CONTROVERSIAL PAY EQUITY CHANGES PASSED YESTERDAY, WHICH HAVE SPARKED AN UPROAR. THE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL COME FROM THE POCKETS WORKING IN JOBS THAT ARE UNDERVALUED. PROTESTS ARE PLANNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOMORROW, AFTER THE GOVERNMENT BOOKED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS FOR ITS BUDGET, THROUGH MAKING IT HARDER TO PROGRESS PAY EQUITY CLAIMS. IT IS THE CASE THAT THE NUMBER OF NEW INITIATIVES IN THIS BUDGET WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT SOME OF THE SAVINGS WE ARE MAKING, AND THOSE SAVINGS HAVE ALLOWED US TO INVEST MORE IN BIG CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS THAN WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN THE CASE. THE GOVERNMENT WON'T SAY HOW MUCH MONEY IT SAVED FROM CHANGING THE LAW. IS THE FUNDING THAT IS COMING FROM WOMEN'S PAY THE BIGGEST GENERATOR OF SAVINGS IN YOUR BUDGET? I REJECT THE STATEMENT IN THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION. WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY WOMEN'S PAY AWAY. SO THEY'VE GOT A FIGURE, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS. IS THE MAJORITY OF THE SAVINGS COMING FROM THE PAY EQUITY BILL. LOOK, I'LL MAKE THAT CLEAR AT THE BUDGET, BUT SAVINGS HAVE COME FROM A NUMBER OF SOURCES. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO REDACTED ALL THE ADVICE IT RECEIVED ON POSSIBLE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS, ON THE BASIS OF IT BEING LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. WE ARE ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY, BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HUMAN RIGHTS ADVICE THAT WAS GIVEN TO GOVERNMENT, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS ARE FOR WOMEN. THE LAW CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. THE PROPER GOVERNMENT ADVICE PROCESS WASN'T FOLLOWED, DUE TO FEAR OF IT LEAKING. EVEN MOST NATIONAL'S MPs WERE KEPT IN THE DARK WHILE THE POLICY WAS DEVELOPED. WE BRIEFED TO THE CAUCUS ON SUNDAY NIGHT. THE PRIME MINISTER NOT CONCERNED ABOUT A BACKLASH FROM WOMEN VOTERS. NEW ZEALAND MEN AND WOMEN ACTUALLY APPRECIATE HAVING A GOVERNMENT THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO THEM. AND OF COURSE, WHEN I TALK TO WOMEN OR MEN, WHAT EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON IS THE COST OF LIVING. OF COURSE, PART OF THE EQUATION OF THE COST OF LIVING IS HOW MUCH YOU GET PAID. JENNA JOINS US NOW. HOW CLINICALLY DAMAGING IS THIS FOR THE GOVERNMENT? THOSE QUESTIONS THAT NICOLA WILLIS IS FACING ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS IS GENERATED IN SAVINGS ARE NOT GOING AWAY. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT TO REMAIN A SECRET. THE OVERALL POOL OF MONEY THE GOVERNMENT KEEPS FOR PAY EQUITY CLAIMS IS KEPT SECRET, YOU CAN KEEP THE OLD NUMBER SECRET, OR THE NEW NUMBER SECRET, ALL PEOPLE ARE ASKING IS WHAT IS THE GAP IN THOSE NUMBERS? NATIONAL IS PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HEARTENED BY A POLL RELEASED TODAY BY THE TAXPAYER'S UNION, THEY ARE UP 1.1 POINTS, A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT ON THE LEFT, BUT IT DID HAVE SOME NUMBERS THAT WOULD BE VERY CONCERNING , FOR THEM IN THERE AND THAT IS THE RIGHT TRACK, RUN TRACK. 56% BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS GOING ON THE WRONG DIRECTION, A DROP OF 8.5% FROM LAST MONTH. THIS POLL DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SHOCK POLICY, PROPERLY AFTER THE BUDGET, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEE HOW MUCH IMPACT THIS HAS HAD ON THEIR VOTER BASE. ALL THE BEST FOR THE COMING MONTHS JENNA AS YOU HEAD ON MATERNITY LEAVE. PROPER WON'T TO DO SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AT PARLIAMENT SOME DAYS. OVERSEAS NOW, AND THE WORLD IS AWAITING PAKISTAN'S RESPONSE TO INDIA'S AIRSTRIKES THAT KILLED 31 PEOPLE. PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER IS PROMISING TO 'AVENGE EACH DROP OF BLOOD', AS INDIA IS ACCUSED OF 'IGNITING AN INFERNO' IN KASHMIR AND PUNJAB. AS ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS, FEARS ARE GROWING THAT THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO NUCLEAR POWERS WILL ESCALATE. INDIA'S RESPONSE TO AN ATTACK ON ITS CIVILIANS WAS THE LARGEST SERIES OF AIRSTRIKES CARRIED OUT IN DECADES. INDIA SAYS IT ATTACKED NINE TERROR CAMPS, BUT LOCALS IN MUZZAFFARABAD SAY THEY WERE UNARMED CIVILIANS. 31 PEOPLE ARE DEAD, 57 INJURED. INDIA SAYS 15 ARE DEAD ON ITS SIDE OF THE LINE OF CONTROL. INDIA STRUCK DEEP INTO PAKISTANI TERRITORY, INTO UNDISPUTED REGIONS, TARGETING, IT SAYS, MILITANT GROUPS FIGHTING INDIAN CONTROL IN KASHMIR. THESE ACTIONS WERE MEASURED, NON-ESCALATORY, PROPORTIONATE AND RESPONSIBLE. THEY FOCUSED ON DISMANTLING THE TERRORIST INFRASTRUCTURE AND DISABLING TERRORISTS LIKELY TO BE SENT ACROSS TO INDIA. (SPEAKS URDU) PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER SPOKE TO THE NATION AND SAID INDIA HAD MADE A MISTAKE, AND VOWED THEY MUST PAY. AND PAKISTAN SAYS ITS RESPONSE WILL BE AT A TIME AND A MEANS OF ITS CHOOSING. STILL DISPUTED, THOUGH, IS THE NUMBER OF INDIA'S JETS SHOT DOWN IN ITS OWN AIRSPACE. PAKISTAN SAYS IT DOWNED FIVE. THE TWO ARMIES ARE ALSO EXCHANGING ARTILLERY FIRE ACROSS THE LINE OF CONTROL ` 13 INDIANS REPORTED KILLED, SIX FROM PAKISTAN. THE CATALYST, A BRAZEN ATTACK TWO WEEKS AGO THAT KILLED 25 INDIAN NATIONALS AND ONE NEPALI AT A BEAUTY SPOT IN INDIAN-CONTROLLED KASHMIR. SURVIVORS SAID HINDU MEN WERE SINGLED OUT BY THE ATTACKERS. PAKISTAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT. THEY WOULD CLAIM IT IS PROPORTIONATE, BECAUSE THAT CLAIM WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT PAKISTAN WAS BEHIND THE TERRORIST ATTACK ` SOMETHING THAT PAKISTAN DENY. AND ALSO, PAKISTAN DID DENOUNCE THE ATTACK ON THE 22 OF APRIL, AFTER IT OCCURRED. THIS PROTEST IN KARACHI CALLED ON THE PAKISTANI MILITARY TO RETALIATE. AND ACROSS INDIA, CIVIL DEFENCE DRILLS PREPARED THE POPULATION FOR A POSSIBLE ATTACK. INDIA MAY FEEL THAT, GIVEN ITS MILITARY PREPONDERANCE, THAT IT CAN PUSH THE ENVELOPE A BIT FURTHER. BUT FOR BOTH SIDES, I THINK THERE WILL BE A CONCERN TO TRY TO KEEP THIS TIT-FOR-TAT ACTION WITHIN CERTAIN BOUNDS. NEITHER SIDE WANTS NUCLEAR WAR. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE FACE. HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN COMMUNITIES ARE WORRIED FOR FAMILY MEMBERS. THE POLICE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO LEADERS OF BOTH COMMUNITIES, WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN TALKING THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES. WE DEFINITELY WANT NOT IT TO ESCALATE. AND WE ARE HAVING GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S OUR JOB. AND WE HAD A SESSION WITH POLICE ALSO. AND WE ARE ENSURING THAT THIS DOESN'T GET... THIS DOESN'T RUIN OUR GOOD BROTHERHOOD THAT WE HAVE HERE. I THINK GENERALLY IN NEW ZEALAND WE DO REALLY WELL WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CROSS-CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS. AND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN LONG-STANDING NOW, WHICH IS EXCELLENT. WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULT THINGS TO SOME EXTENT. SO THOSE RELATIONSHIPS HERE HOLD, AND THAT'S A POSITIVE FOR US, YEAH. THE NEXT FEW HOURS WILL BE TENSE AND COULD BE DECISIVE. THE FIRST PLUME OF SMOKE HAS BILLOWED FROM THE FAMOUS VATICAN CHIMNEY. BUT IT WAS BLACK SMOKE, SIGNALLING THE WAIT FOR A NEW POPE GOES ON. IT CAME TWO HOURS LATER THAN EXPECTED. WHY? WELL, WE'LL PROBABLY NEVER KNOW. AN OATH OF SECRECY MEANS THAT WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE SISTINE CHAPEL STAYS INSIDE THE SISTINE CHAPEL. AND THE 133 CARDINALS WILL BE BACK INSIDE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF VOTING IN A FEW HOURS' TIME. ITV's JAMES MATES HAS MORE. THE FIRST SMOKE OF THIS CONCLAVE, THE RESULT OF THE FIRST VOTE IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL. IT IS BLACK, PREDICTABLY, BUT TOOK TWO HOURS LONGER TO PRODUCE THAN HAD BEEN ADVERTISED. NO REASON GIVEN FOR THE DELAY, NOR ANY INDICATION HOW THE VOTE HAD GONE. BUT THAT'S ALMOST THE POINT. NEITHER THE CROWDS WAITING IN ST PETER'S SQUARE FOR THIS MOMENT OF HISTORY NOR THE WORLD BEYOND ARE MEANT TO KNOW. (CHOIR SING LATIN HYMN) ONE OF THE SMALLEST ELECTORATES IN THE WORLD ` CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST FINELY DRESSED ` HAD GATHERED FOR MASS IN ST PETER'S BASILICA THIS MORNING. THEIR PRAYERS ARE FOR GUIDANCE AND FOR WISDOM IN MAKING THEIR CHOICE. THEY WERE ADDRESSED BY THE VATICAN'S MOST SENIOR CARDINAL, HIMSELF TOO OLD TO VOTE, STERNLY TELLING HIS COLLEAGUES ` EVEN AT TIMES WAGGING A FINGER ` THAT WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDED NOW WAS NOT THE TRIUMPH OF ONE FACTION OVER ANOTHER, BUT UNITY. IL MONDO DI OGGI ATTENDE MOLTO DALLA CHIESA... 'TODAY'S WORLD EXPECTS MUCH FROM THE CHURCH,' HE TOLD HIS FELLOW CARDINALS. 'THIS IS ALSO A STRONG CALL TO MAINTAIN THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. 'THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH IS WILLED BY CHRIST. THE 133 CARDINALS STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE PROCESSED FROM THE PAULINE CHAPEL TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AMONG MICHELANGELO'S RENAISSANCE MASTERPIECES IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL. IT IS HERE THEY WILL CAST THEIR VOTES, THEIR CHOICE HANDWRITTEN ON A SINGLE BALLOT PAPER. AMONG THEM THERE ARE FAVOURITES, MEN WITH SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, BUT PERHAPS TOO FACTIONAL TO WIN OVER TWO-THIRDS OF THE CONCLAVE. TO HAVE 45 VOTES AND THEN TO ARRIVE TO 89 VOTES, IT'S LIKE THE MT EVEREST, SO IT'S NOT EASY. WILL IT TAKE A LONG TIME? WHAT IS SURE, IT WILL NOT BE A QUICK CONCLAVE. SO AT LEAST ONE OR TWO DAYS ARE NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE TREND OF THE DIFFERENT VOTERS. THE VATICAN'S DEMANDS FOR TOTAL SECRECY WERE SPELLED OUT IN THE OATH THEY MUST ALL SWEAR. 'WE PROMISE AND SWEAR TO OBSERVE WITH UTMOST FIDELITY 'THE SECRET CONCERNING EVERYTHING RELATED IN ANY WAY 'TO THE ELECTION OF THE PONTIFF.' EACH VOTER IN TURN CAME FORWARD TO GIVE THAT SOLEMN PROMISE. ...QUAE MANU MEA TANGO. AND WITH THAT, PUBLIC ACCESS IS OVER, THE VATICAN'S MASTER OF CEREMONIES CLOSING THE ORNATE DOORS THAT WILL NOW BE WATCHED OVER BY SWISS GUARDS POSTED OUTSIDE. FROM NOW ON, WE CAN DO NO MORE THAN WAIT FOR THE SMOKE, BLACK OR WHITE. THE POLICE WATCHDOG SAYS OFFICERS WERE JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING MATU REID. THE 24-YEAR-OLD OPENED FIRE ON A CENTRAL AUCKLAND CONSTRUCTION SITE IN JULY 2023. AFTER KILLING TWO COLLEAGUES AND INJURING A NUMBER OF OTHERS, REID ENTERED A PARTIALLY CONSTRUCTED LIFT SHAFT, WHERE HE SHOT AT POLICE, BEFORE HE WAS FATALLY SHOT. TWO OFFICERS WERE HIT. THE IPCA REPORT SAYS THE OFFICERS WHO SHOT REID WERE ACTING IN SELF-DEFENCE BECAUSE THEY FEARED FOR THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF OTHERS. IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED. FIRE AND EMERGENCY ARE INVESTIGATING A BLAZE THAT ENGULFED A WORK AND INCOME NEW ZEALAND BUILDING IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF GLEN INNES THIS MORNING. 15 CREWS ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT VEHICLES WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE FIRE, JUST AFTER 7 THIS MORNING ON MAYFAIR PLACE, AS BILLOWING SMOKE CAUSED DISRUPTIONS FOR MORNING COMMUTERS. CREWS SPENT THE REST OF THE MORNING DAMPENING DOWN HOTSPOTS AND FIRE INVESTIGATORS WERE ALSO AT THE SCENE. THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SAYS THERE WERE NO CLIENTS OR STAFF INSIDE THE OFFICE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THE SKI SEASON ISN'T DUE TO BEGIN UNTIL NEXT MONTH, BUT CANTERBURY'S MT HUTT HAS HAD SO MUCH SNOW THEY MAY BRING OPENING DAY FORWARD. LAST WEEK'S STORM BROUGHT ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF SNOW TO THE SKI AREA AND THREE NEWS WAS TAKEN UP FOR AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY EVEN GOT A RUN IN. EVERY STORM HAS A SILVER LINING ` OR, IN THIS CASE, WHITE. MT HUTT UNDER A GLORIOUS BLANKET OF SNOW OVER A MONTH OUT FROM OPENING DAY. JMAC, HOW GREAT IS THIS? TELL US ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE NOW. FOR US, THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS. MOST OF THE WINTERS WE'VE SEEN IN LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, WE'VE HAD NOTHING ON THE GROUND RIGHT UP TO OUR SCHEDULED OPEN DAY. SO FOR THIS TO ARRIVE THIS EARLY, WITH THIS AMOUNT OF SNOW, IT'S THE BEST NEWS WE COULD POSSIBLY HOPE FOR. THIS HELICOPTER BRINGING THE FIRST STAFF IN TO MT HUTT AFTER LAST WEEK'S STORM, TO SEE THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SNOW. AND HOW BIG A JOB WAS IT TO DIG THE PLACE OUT? IT'S TAKEN US DAYS TO DIG THIS PLACE OUT. WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW ON THE DECK, THE SNOW WAS UP TO OUR SHOULDERS. CANTERBURY'S STORM BROUGHT TREACHEROUS RAIN AND DAMAGING FLOODS TO MANY PARTS OF CANTERBURY. BUT FOR MT HUTT, IT BROUGHT ONLY GOOD NEWS. THE FIELD ISN'T DUE TO OPEN FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, ON JUNE 13. BUT WATCH THIS SPACE. THE KEEN QUESTION ON MANY SNOW BUNNIES' LIPS ` WILL OPENING DAY CHANGE? LOOK, WE'RE CERTAINLY CONSIDERING THAT RIGHT NOW. IT MAKES SENSE, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE GOT, BUT THERE IS STILL A BIT OF WORK TO DO. AND THEY ARE HOPING THIS YEAR BREAKS A BIT OF A SPELL. IT ARRIVED IN APRIL, AND THERE'S A SAYING AROUND HERE, WHICH IS, 'SNOW IN MAY NEVER STAYS.' BUT HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF SNOW ARRIVE AT THE END OF APRIL, WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET HOW LONG THAT WILL STICK AROUND. SO MAYBE WE SAY, 'THE SNOW IN APRIL, WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL.' THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE START OF THE SEASON. WELL, IT HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET. TO BE ABLE TO SKI LIKE THIS IN MAY IS AMAZING. 60cm TO 70cm OF SNOW ON THE GROUND NOW, AND THEY'RE HOPING THERE WON'T BE TOO MUCH WARM, WINDY WEATHER AHEAD TO IMPACT THAT. BUT GIVEN WE'RE UP HERE, WE MIGHT AS WELL GET IN ONE LAST RUN WHILE WE CAN. STAYING WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND, STAYING WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND, LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER. AND IT WAS WET IN SOME PARTS. YES, MILFORD SOUND GOT THE MOST RAIN TODAY ` 118mm. AND THAT IS LIKELY TO INCREASE THIS EVENING TOO. WHANGANUI GOT THE TOP TEMPERATURE ` 24. AND TAUMARUNUI AGAIN TOOK OUT THE COLDEST MINIMUM, WITH 1 DEGREE. NOW THE RAIN IS STILL SLOWLY MOVING UP THE SOUTH ISLAND AND WILL REACH THE NORTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE WET FOR MOST TOMORROW. AND THERE ARE SOME WARNINGS IN PLACE. I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON THE NEWS AHEAD ` FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN GIVES HIS FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE LEAVING OFFICE AND RIPS INTO PRESIDENT TRUMP OVER HIS HANDLING OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE. MOTOWN LEGEND SMOKEY ROBINSON IS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BY FOUR FORMER HOUSEKEEPERS. AND WE TAKE YOU INSIDE NZ POST'S MAMMOTH NEW PROCESSING CENTRE THAT IS THE SIZE OF FOUR RUGBY FIELDS. VOICEOVER: Cheesy Bites are back. For a limited tiiiime. Oh hi Mr Stephenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. VOICEOVER: WE WARN YOU ` THIS NEXT STORY CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGES FROM THE START. IT'S BEEN ANOTHER DAY OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN GAZA, WHERE MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES. TWO OF THE STRIKES WERE SIMULTANEOUS, ONE HITTING A RESTAURANT IN GAZA CITY, THE OTHER, AN INTERSECTION ABOUT 100M AWAY. CHANNEL FOUR'S PARAIC O'BRIEN REPORTS. IF THIS IS THE PREAMBLE TO ISRAEL OCCUPYING MOST OF GAZA, THEN THE JOURNEY WILL BE EVEN BLOODIER, WILL BE LITTERED WITH EVEN MORE BODIES THAN THE WORLD HAS COME TO EXPECT. AN AIRSTRIKE NEAR A RESTAURANT AND MARKET IN GAZA CITY TODAY KILLED AT LEAST 23 PEOPLE. MOST OF THIS IS TOO GRAPHIC TO SHOW. INSIDE THE RESTAURANT, PEOPLE STILL SITTING AT TABLES. SOME ARE ALIVE, MOST ARE NOT. AND OUTSIDE, THE BODY OF A CHILD. (INDISTINCT SHOUTING) (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: WHAT HAPPENED? WHILST WE WERE AT THE RESTAURANT, THERE WAS A STRIKE. EVERYONE DIED. THE YOUNG PEOPLE DIED. I CAN'T EXPLAIN. THEY WERE NEAR THE ENTRANCE, THERE WAS A LAKE OF BLOOD. POOLS OF BLOOD EVERYWHERE. (BOOM!) OVERNIGHT, THERE WERE ALSO TWO STRIKES AT A SCHOOL SHELTERING DISPLACED GAZANS AT THE AL BUREIJ CAMP IN THE CENTRE OF THE STRIP. THE FIRST KILLED 20 PEOPLE, THE SECOND, NINE. OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS, AT LEAST 92 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, ACCORDING TO LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS. ISRAEL'S NEW PLAN IS TO EXPAND ON THE 50% OF THE STRIP THEY CURRENTLY CONTROL. THE STATED OBJECTIVES ` OCCUPY MOST OF GAZA, DESTROY HAMAS, SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES. THE LOGISTICS FORCE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO MOVE TO AN AREA IN THE SOUTH OF THE STRIP. THE PUSH FACTOR, SCENES LIKE THESE. THE PULL FACTOR, MILITARY-CONTROLLED HUBS IN THOSE AREAS, GIVING OUT FOOD AND AID. ISRAEL'S HAARETZ NEWSPAPER IS REPORTING THAT CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN ON ONE OF THOSE ZONES. ALLAHU AKBAR. THE FUNERALS OF THOSE KILLED IN GAZA CITY THIS MORNING TOOK PLACE THIS AFTERNOON. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS SAID THAT THE ISRAELI MILITARY ARE, QUOTE, 'ON THE EVE OF AN INTENSE ENTRY INTO GAZA.' IN OTHER WORDS, THESE SORTS OF SCENES... ...FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. FOUR WOMEN WHO WORKED AS HOUSEKEEPERS FOR SINGER SMOKEY ROBINSON HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THE MOTOWN LEGEND ABUSED THEM DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS, WHILE HIS WIFE TURNED A BLIND EYE AND BERATED THEM. ITV's FAYE BARKER HAS THE DETAILS. # DIAMONDS IN THE BACK, SUNROOF TOP... JUST LAST WEEK, MOTOWN LEGEND SMOKEY ROBINSON WAS PROMOTING HIS LATEST ALBUM ON PRIMETIME AMERICAN TV. TODAY HE FACES A $50M LAWSUIT. THE THREE WOMEN HERE WEARING FACE MASKS ARE AMONG FOUR OF THE 85-YEAR-OLD'S FORMER HOUSEKEEPERS WITH DAMNING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE. THE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF ACTION AGAINST MR ROBINSON, IN PARTICULAR, ARE SEXUAL BATTERY, ASSAULT, FALSE IMPRISONMENT, GENDER VIOLENCE, AND CREATING A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT. ROBINSON AND HIS WIFE, FRANCES, ARE BEING SUED FOR MILLIONS FOR A STRING OF OFFENCES ALLEGED TO HAVE HAPPENED OVER 17 YEARS, FROM 2007. THE WOMEN SAY MANY OF THE ASSAULTS TOOK PLACE AT THE HOME IN CHATSWORTH, L.A., WITH ACCOUNTS THAT ROBINSON WOULD SUMMON THEM TO HIS SO-CALLED 'BLUE BEDROOM'. AMONG THE ACCUSATIONS TOWARDS FRANCES ROBINSON IS THAT SHE KNEW ABOUT HER HUSBAND'S BEHAVIOUR. SHE USED THEIR STATUS AS WELL AS THE OUR CLIENTS' RELIANCE ON THEIR LIVING WAGE IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM IN CHECK. # PEOPLE SAY I'M THE LIFE OF THE PARTY... SMOKEY ROBINSON'S LONG CAREER AS A SONGWRITER, ARTIST AND PRODUCER BEGAN IN THE MID-'50s AT THE BIRTH OF MOTOWN. # THE TEARS OF A CLOWN. HIS MUSIC OVER THE DECADES HAS EARNED HIM SPOTS IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME. # I'M GONNA BEG YOU TO STAY. SMOKEY AND FRANCES ROBINSON ARE YET TO COMMENT ON THE ACCUSATIONS. THE WOMEN'S LAWYERS, MEANWHILE, SAY NO POLICE REPORTS OR CRIMINAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS, SCIENTISTS IN THE UK ARE ON A MISSION TO RID THE WORLD OF UNSIGHTLY FRUIT SALADS. THEY'VE CREATED A BANANA THAT DOESN'T GO BROWN SO FAST. AND LATER IN SPORT, NEW ZEALAND RUGBY OPENS UP THE BOOKS TO REVEAL A BIG LOSS LAST YEAR. (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! THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF GREEN-LIGHTING THE KILLING OF KIWIS. NEW LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FOR THE ACCIDENTAL DEATHS OF NATIVE WILDLIFE DURING MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WAS PASSED UNDER URGENCY TODAY. THE WORLD IS AWAITING PAKISTAN'S RESPONSE TO INDIA'S AIRSTRIKES ON ITS NEIGHBOUR, THAT KILLED 31 PEOPLE. FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PRESSURE ON UKRAINE TO CEDE TERRITORY TO RUSSIA AMOUNTS TO MODERN-DAY APPEASEMENT. IN HIS FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE LEAVING OFFICE, BIDEN TOLD THE BBC HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A BREAKDOWN IN U.S.-EUROPE RELATIONS UNDER TRUMP. HE WAS ALSO ASKED HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT TRUMP'S INFAMOUS MEETING WITH UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IN THE OVAL OFFICE. I FOUND IT SORT OF BENEATH AMERICA, IN THE WAY THAT TOOK PLACE. IN THE WAY THAT WE TALK ABOUT NOW THE GULF OF AMERICA. MAYBE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE BACK PANAMA. MAYBE WE NEED TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND. MAYBE CANADA SHOULD BE... WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? WHAT PRESIDENT EVER TALK LIKE THAT? ASKED IF HE LEFT IT TOO LATE TO LEAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE LAST YEAR, BIDEN SAID HE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE MATTERED, BUT THAT THINGS MOVED SO QUICKLY IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO WALK AWAY. IT HAS BEEN REVEALED ONE DIRECTION STAR LIAM PAYNE DIED WITHOUT A WILL, LEAVING BEHIND A $54M FORTUNE. CHERYL TWEEDY, HIS FORMER PARTNER, HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS OF HIS ESTATE. UNDER UK LAW, THE MONEY IS LIKELY TO BE PLACED IN A TRUST FOR HIS SON BEAR (8). THIS MEANS THAT PAYNE'S GIRLFRIEND, KATE CASSIDY, WHO HAD BEEN WITH THE SINGER FOR TWO YEARS, WILL RECEIVE NOTHING. THE 31-YEAR-OLD DIED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR AFTER FALLING FROM A THIRD-FLOOR HOTEL BALCONY IN BUENOS AIRES. WEIGHTWATCHERS HAS FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN THE U.S. AMID STIFF COMPETITION FROM FAT-LOSS JABS LIKE OZEMPIC. IN ITS HEYDAY, THE COMPANY REVOLUTIONISED DIETING, SHAPING HOW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ATE AND EXERCISED. OPRAH WINFREY WAS ONCE AN AMBASSADOR AND A BOARD MEMBER. HOWEVER, IN RECENT TIMES, THE FIRM HAS STRUGGLED TO KEEP CUSTOMERS AS MORE PEOPLE TURN TO CONVENIENT WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS. FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY HELPS WEIGHTWATCHERS GET RID OF A $1.6B DEBT, AS IT PIVOTS INTO A TELEHEALTH SERVICE. WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A SHARP DROP IN THE NUMBER OF LETTERS NEW ZEALAND POST DELIVERS, THE BOOM IN ONLINE SHOPPING HAS SEEN IT OPEN A BRAND NEW PARCEL DEPOT THE SIZE OF FOUR FOOTBALL FIELDS. BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FASTER DELIVERIES. BEHIND THE SCENES, IT'S ALSO A HIGH-TECH FRONT-LINE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLICIT GOODS AND BIOSECURITY THREATS. AVA WHITWORTH REPORTS. AT A GLANCE, IT'S A SLEEK NEW POSTAGE HUB. BUT INSIDE THE NEW NZ POST PROCESSING CENTRE, THERE'S MORE GOING ON THAN JUST MAIL SORTING. SNIFFER DOGS PATROL, X-RAYS SCAN THOUSANDS OF PARCELS, AND SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES ARE OPENED UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF CUSTOMS AND MPI. WE GET THE INFO FROM NEW ZEALAND ABOUT ALL THE PACKAGES COMING IN. WE GET THE INFO FROM NEW ZEALAND ABOUT ALL THE PACKAGES COMING IN. WE ARE ABLE TO SCREEN THAT ELECTRONICALLY. THE OFFICERS ARE ALSO ABLE TO MANUALLY LOOK AT THE INFORMATION, AND WE TARGET THE PACKAGES THAT WE WANT. WE'RE HERE AT NZ POST'S NEW AUCKLAND PROCESSING CENTRE, WHERE ON THIS 30,000m2 SITE THEY ARE COMING TOGETHER EVERY DAY TO PROCESS AROUND 30,000 PACKAGES AN HOUR. MPI AND CUSTOMS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO GO THROUGH PEOPLE'S PACKAGES AND STOP THINGS LIKE THIS KETAMINE HERE FROM COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY. METHAMPHETAMINE, FOUND IN PARCELS ARRIVING FROM OVERSEAS, WERE AMONG THE INTERCEPTIONS MADE. BUT IT ISN'T JUST DRUG BUSTING. BIOSECURITY HAS ALSO RAMPED UP, THANKS TO NEW TECH. WE'VE GOT INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING EXTREMELY CLOSELY, AS YOU'VE SEEN, WITH OUR DOGS TODAY. IT'S A SYSTEM. BUT OUR TECHNOLOGY IS ALLOWING US TO PROCESS HIGH-RISK ITEMS, MAKE SURE WERE FINDING THREATS TO THE BORDER, TO PROTECT OUR $54B PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. THE NEW CENTRE IS PART OF NZ POST'S $200M 10-YEAR TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME, THEIR BIGGEST INVESTMENT YET, DESIGNED TO DOUBLE CAPACITY AND KEEP PACE WITH BOOMING ONLINE SHOPPING. I THINK THE KEY MESSAGE FOR NZ POST IS THAT THEY NEED TO MAXIMISE THE INVESTMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE HERE. OF COURSE, AS POST CONTINUES TO DECLINE AND PARCEL GROWS, THEY NEED TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE. AND PART OF DOING THAT IS HAVING MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE. ENHANCED SCANNING, INTELLIGENCE TOOLS AND A LOT OF DOG POWER ARE MAKING IT HARDER FOR ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR UNWANTED TO SNEAK THROUGH. AND WHILE YOU WAIT FOR YOUR ONLINE ORDERS TO ARRIVE, SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE DOGS AND TECH, MAKING SURE THEY'RE SAFE TO OPEN. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, AND THE BLACK FERNS HAVE NAMED THEIR FIRST SIDE OF THE YEAR. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE BLACK FERNS, AN 18-YEAR-OLD WILL MAKE HER TEST DEBUT. AN 18-YEAR-OLD WILL MAKE HER TEST DEBUT.A STAR AN 18-YEAR-OLD WILL MAKE HER TEST DEBUT.A I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT 18. I CERTAINLY WASN'T PLAYING FOR MY COUNTRY. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE BLACK FERNS, AS RUGBY'S NEXT BIG STAR GETS SET TO MAKE HER MARK IN THE BLACK JERSEY. AND A NEARLY $20M LOSS FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. WHY THE NATIONAL UNION SAYS IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS. SHE WAS ONE OF THE STAND-OUT PERFORMERS IN SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI, AND BLUES SENSATION BRAXTON SORENSEN-MCGEE (18) WILL NOW GET THE CHANCE TO REPLICATE THAT FORM IN THE BLACK JERSEY. SORENSEN-MCGEE WILL START AT FULLBACK FOR THE BLACK FERNS IN THEIR OPENING TEST OF THE YEAR AGAINST THE WALLAROOS. AND WITH THEIR WORLD CUP DEFENCE EDGING CLOSER, THE BLACK FERNS ARE DESPERATE TO START AS THEY MEAN TO GO ON. (ALL SCREAM) A MOMENT TO CHERISH FOR BRAXTON SORENSEN-MCGEE, NAMED TO START AT FULLBACK AGAINST THE WALLAROOS ON SATURDAY. CELEBRATED BY HERE TEAMMATES CELEBRATED BY HER TEAMMATES BEFORE AN ALL-IMPORTANT CALL HOME TO FAMILY. SORENSEN-MCGEE'S DEBUT FOR THE BLACK FERNS SHOULD COME AS LITTLE SURPRISE, HAVING STOOD OUT FOR THE BLUES IN SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI. SHE'S FLAIR. SHE'S INSTINCTIVE. SHE'S HAD AN AWESOME AUPIKI, AND FOR HER TO REPRESENT HER FAMILY AND COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME IS A PRETTY SPECIAL MOMENT, AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BEHIND HER. SORENSEN-MCGEE'S NATURAL TALENT HAS TURNED HEADS ALL YEAR, AND THE 18-YEAR-OLD HAS HAD NO SHORTAGE OF INTEREST. SHE TURNED DOWN A STINT IN THE NRLW WITH THE WARRIORS TO PRIORITISE RUGBY. ALLAN BUNTING IS CONFIDENT THE BLACK FERNS' NEWEST SENSATION IS READY FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF TEST RUGBY. SHE'S BEEN HERE THROUGH AUPUKI, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR HER. I HOPE SHE GOES AND ENJOYS HER MOMENT. I KNOW HER FAMILY'S GONNA BE OVER HERE. YEAH, I THINK SHE'S GONNA GO AND HAVE SOME FUN. IT'S A SENTIMENT SHARED BY THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED WITH HER ALL YEAR. I THINK I'VE SAID IN SO MANY INTERVIEWS ABOUT BRAXTON, BUT I STILL HAVE SO MUCH.... I WANNA SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW AMAZING SHE IS. SHE'S SMART, SHE WORKS HARD, AND SHE PLAYS FREE. WHILE ONE BLUES STANDOUT WILL DEBUT, BUNTING HAS KEPT THE RETURNING PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE ON ICE FOR NOW. WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE'S TIME WILL NO DOUBT COME, BUT SHE IS VERY MUCH A KNOWN QUANTITY. SATURDAY'S OPENING TEST OF THE YEAR IS ABOUT THOSE LESS KNOWN, AND STARTING TO BUILD THE GAME THEY WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE WORLD CUP. THIS IS A REALLY BIG YEAR, AND SO I THINK WE JUST WANNA GET THE COMBOS TOGETHER, START SEEING HOW OUR GAME PLAN WILL COME OUT AGAINST OTHER TEAMS. BUNTING HAS ALREADY CAST ASIDE FOUR PLAYERS FROM THE 2022 WORLD CUP SQUAD. SATURDAY'S PAC FOUR OPENER IS SET TO PROVIDE A TIMELY STATE OF PLAY, THREE MONTHS OUT FROM THEIR WORLD CUP DEFENCE. RECORD REVENUE OF $285M FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY A LOSS OF $19.5M FOR 2024. THE LOSS IS DOWN TO $11.7M GOING TO THEIR NZR-PLUS DIGITAL STRATEGY, WHILE $7.8M IS DUE TO FOREIGN EXCHANGE LOSSES RELATED TO VARIOUS SPONSORSHIPS PAYMENTS. CEO MARK ROBINSON SAYS WHILE THE LOSS WAS SIGNIFICANT, THERE IS REASON FOR OPTIMISM. OVERALL, THE PATH OF DIRECTION WE ARE REALLY ENCOURAGED BY, FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN GRASSROOTS, AND THE INNOVATIONS THERE, THAT SEES IMPROVEMENTS YEAR-ON-YEAR, THROUGH TO EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING WITH INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY AROUND EMERGING MARKETS, THE USA, ASIA, SRI LANKA, PLACES LIKE INDIA, BETWEEN GRASSROOTS AND INTERNATIONAL GAME, WE ARE DOING GOOD THINGS. ROBINSON EXPECTS THE NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH TOYOTA, AS WELL AS THE SETTLEMENT WITH INEOS TO HELP FORECASTS FOR NEXT YEAR. THE LOSS IS NEW ZEALAND RUGBY'S THIRD IN A ROW, AND LARGER THAN THE $8.9M DEFICIT FOR 2023. THE BATTLE FOR TOP SPOT IN SUPER RUGBY HEADS TO CHRISTCHURCH THIS WEEKEND. THE WINNER OF THE CHIEFS AND CRUSADERS WILL PUT THEMSELVES IN THE BOX SEAT FOR A HOME RUN THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS. GORDON FINDLATER TAKES A LOOK AT TWO INTRIGUING MATCH-UPS HEADING INTO THE CLASH. ALL BUSINESS AT RUGBY PARK TODAY, THE CRUSADERS WELL AWARE OF THE TASK THAT AWAITS THEM ON SATURDAY. 'GOOD' IS NOT GONNA BE GOOD ENOUGH. WE NEED TO BE BETTER. YOU KNOW WE'RE GONNA NAIL EVERYTHING RIGHT AND GIVE THAT EXTRA EDGE IN THAT PHYSICALITY PART OF THE GAME, AND THAT'S WHAT WILL SHUT DOWN THE CHIEFS. IT'S NOT JUST THE CHIEFS' PHYSICALITY OCCUPYING THEIR MINDS, DAMIEN MCKENZIE BACK IN THE 10 JERSEY THIS WEEK AFTER MISSING TWO GAMES WITH A HAND INJURY. IT'S A TOUGH PLACE. IT'S PRETTY HOSTILE. THE CROWD GETS IN BEHIND THEM, SO IT'LL BE A COLD NIGHT I ASSUME. FACED WITH THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF MARKING MCKENZIE IS RIVEZ REIHANA, MAKING HIS FIRST START AFTER TAHA KEMARA SUSTAINED A SEASON-ENDING KNEE INJURY. HE'S GOT THREATS ACROSS THE PARK, EH? HE'S A RUN`FIRST 10 BUT THEN HE CAN ALSO PUT HIS OUTSIDES INTO SPACE, WHETHER THAT'S OFF THE FOOT OR THROUGH HIS PASSING GAME. YEAH, HE'S GOT IT ALL. REIHANA WAS ONCE AN UNDERSTUDY TO MCKENZIE, PART OF THE CHIEFS SQUAD FOR THREE SEASONS. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP EVERYONE AND RIVEZ IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE KEPT AROUND HERE, BUT HE MADE A CAREER DECISION TO GO DOWN AND AT THE MOMENT IT'S WORKING FOR HIM, SO WE'RE PLEASED FOR HIM. ANOTHER INTRIGUING MATCH-UP IS IN THE LOOSE FORWARDS, ALL BLACK WALLACE SITITI GOING UP AGAINST CHRISTIAN LIO WILLIE, A QUALIFIED DENTIST WHO LAST YEAR MADE THE ALL BLACKS 15 AND IS MAKING A STRONG CASE FOR HIGHER HONOURS. I'VE GOT MASSIVE RESPECT FOR WALLY. GOT PRETTY CLOSE TO HIM OVER THE ABS TOUR LAST YEAR AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO SEE HIM BACK. ENJOYED HIS JOURNEY GETTING BACK, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT MAN, LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT THERE, DOING MY BEST FOR OUR TEAM. THAT'S LIKELY TO INVOLVE GETTING THE BETTER OF HIS FELLOW NO.8 IN CONTACT AREAS ` THE PHYSICALITY EXPECTED TO RESEMBLE THE FINALS. YOU'RE A DENTIST, DO YOU THINK WALLACE MIGHT NEED SOME NEW TEETH AFTER THE WEEKEND? (LAUGHS) THAT'S CRAZY. NAH, I LOVE WALLACE, I'LL CATCH UP WITH HIM AFTERWARDS MAN, BUT ON THE FIELD, THERE'S NO BROTHERS ON THE FIELD. WITH TOP SPOT UP FOR GRABS, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE NOTHING TOOTHLESS ABOUT SATURDAY'S CLASH. ARSENAL'S HOPES OF A FIRST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE GO ON, AFTER LOSING THEIR SECOND LEG SEMIFINAL 2-1 TO PARIS ST GERMAIN IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL. TAKING A 1-0 LEAD INTO THE MATCH, PSG DOUBLED THAT IN THE 27th MINUTE WITH THIS STUNNING VOLLEY, AND THEN PUT THE TIE BEYOND DOUBT MIDWAY THROUGH THE SECOND HALF. HE HASN'T OUT WITHOUT. ASHRAF HAKIM JUST MAY HAVE SENT PARIS ST GERMAIN INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL THE GUNNERS PULLED ONE BACK SOON AFTER, BUT IT WAS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. PSG NOW ON TRACK FOR ITS FIRST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CROWN. THEY FACE INTER MILAN IN THE FINAL IN MUNICH ON JUNE 1. BOTH THE TALL BLACKS AND TALL FERNS HAVE SUFFERED DOUBLE DIGIT LOSSES IN THEIR OPENING MATCHES OF THE TRANS-TASMAN THROWDOWN. THE TALL BLACKS MADE A PROMISING START AGAINST AUSTRALIA, LEADING AT BOTH THE QUARTER AND HALF-TIME BREAKS. THAT WAS BEFORE THE BOOMERS TOOK CONTROL LATE IN THE THIRD. ABLE TO SHAKE OFF DAVISON AND MAKE HIM PAY. HE NOW HAS FIVE OF 10 FROM DOWNTOWN. RUNNING IT DOWN. GLOVER FROM WAY DOWNTOWN. THE TALL BLACKS GOING ON TO LOSE 80-68. THE TALL FERNS SUFFERED A SIMILAR FATE TRAILING THE OPALS THROUGHOUT THEIR MATCH, WHICH FINISHED 88-70. ALL FOUR TEAMS TRAVEL TO THE SUNSHINE COAST FOR GAME TWO ON FRIDAY. HE'S ALREADY EXPERIENCED A DEMOTION HIMSELF THIS YEAR AND NOW LIAM LAWSON HAS LIKELY PLAYED A ROLE IN ANOTHER DRIVER EXPERIENCING THE SAME. ALPINE HAVE CONFIRMED JACK DOOHAN HAS BEEN REPLACED BY FRANCO COLAPINTO FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FIVE RACES. DOOHAN AND LAWSON BOTH HAD DAYS TO FORGET AT THE LAST ROUND IN MIAMI, CRASHING INTO ONE ANOTHER ON THE OPENING LAP. THE AUSSIE BECAME THE SECOND DRIVER TO BE REPLACED THIS YEAR, FOLLOWING LAWSON'S DEMOTION AT RED BULL. AT LEAST LIAM LAWSON WENT TO ANOTHER F1 TEAM. OUT IN THE COLD COMPLETELY. DON'T DRIVE INTO LIAM LAWSON. IT'S THE BANE OF EVERY BANANA LOVER'S EXISTENCE. AS SOON AS THE SKIN COMES OFF, THE FLESH INSIDE BEGINS TO BROWN. BUT NOW A BIOTECH COMPANY IN THE UK HAS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED THE FRUIT SO IT CAN STAY YELLOW FOR UP TO 12 HOURS AFTER BEING PEELED. IT'S BEING SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN COMBATING UNNECESSARY FOOD WASTE AND EXTENDING SHELF LIFE. HERE'S ITV's MARTIN STEW. IT'S THE PERENNIAL PROBLEM. ONCE PEELED, YOUR BANANA BEGINS TO BROWN ` AN UNAPPETISING MUSH MORE LIKELY BOUND FOR THE BIN THAN A FRUIT SALAD. WE FAST-FORWARD EVOLUTION. AT TROPIC LAB IN NORFOLK... ...SO WE CAN DO IT IN ONE YEAR, RATHER THAN THOUSANDS OF YEARS. ...A SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION. WE KNOW THE GENES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BROWNING OF THE BANANA FRUIT. FOR THE BROWNING OF THE BANANA FRUIT. SO WE HAVE MODIFIED THESE GENES AND THEREFORE NOW OUR NON-BROWNING BANANAS THAT YOU CAN CUT THEM, AND THEY WILL REMAIN FRESH AND YELLOW FOR MUCH LONGER. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MAKING YOUR FRUIT SALAD LOOK MORE APPEALING. BANANAS ARE THE MOST EATEN FRUIT IN THE WORLD, YET 50% OF THEM, IT'S ESTIMATED, GET THROWN AWAY. IN THE UK THAT EQUATES TO 1.4 MILLION BANANAS ENDING UP IN THE BIN EVERY SINGLE DAY. NON-BROWNING BANANAS ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR SALE IN AMERICA. AND THEY COULD BE LEGAL HERE SOON TOO, THANKS TO A BILL READ IN PARLIAMENT TODAY. IT ALLOWS SO-CALLED 'PRECISION BREEDING' BUT NOT GM CROPS. GENETIC MODIFICATION IS A PROCESS WHERE YOU'LL TAKE A GENE FROM A DIFFERENT ORGANISM, A DIFFERENT SPECIES, AND INTRODUCE IT INTO THE GENOME OF THE PLANT THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH. SO WE ABSOLUTELY DON'T DO THAT. ALL WE ARE DOING IS CHANGING VERY SPECIFIC DNA SEQUENCES WITHIN THE BANANA THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. IN WALTHAMSTOW MARKET... I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD MESS THEM ABOUT. ...SOME SCEPTICISM. YOU'RE NOT TRUSTING THE SCIENTISTS? I'M NOT TRUSTING THE BANANA. (LAUGHS) BUT SOME ARE IN FAVOUR. OTHERWISE THEY END UP IN THE FREEZER, AND THEY JUST LIVE THERE FOREVER. AND APPARENTLY THEY'LL BE USED FOR BANANA BREAD ONE DAY, BUT IT NEVER SEEMS TO HAPPEN. SCIENTISTS HOPE BAKING'S LOSS WILL BE FRUIT SALAD'S GAIN. NOW THEY NEED TO GET RID OF THE AWFUL STRINGY BITS. LAURA'S HERE WITH WEATHER WARNINGS. YES, CHECK THIS OUT ` MOST OF THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE A WARNING OR A WATCH IN PLACE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. FOR FRIDAY, THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED IN EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY, TONGARIRO, TARANAKI AND NORTHLAND ALONG WITH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR YOU TOO. SEVERE WIND WATCHES FOR NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND AND TARANAKI-WHANGANUI, SO A VERY BUSY WEATHER DAY TOMORROW. BUT IT WON'T RUN INTO YOUR WEEKEND. I'LL HAVE THE FULL FORECAST NEXT. VOICEOVER: Yay, insurance! If only people thought that before they had to use it. That's why at State we're making insurance simpler to get and simple to claim. More Yeps, less Nahs. How do you like insurance now? Oh... WILD WEATHER IS A GOOD REMINDER TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY CHECKLIST. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FOOD, WATER, BATTERIES AND PORTABLE CHARGERS. AMI, BRINGING YOU THREE NEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE WET AND WINDY IN PARTS ` I WILL WARN YOU NOW, THERE ARE NO FINE SUN SYMBOLS IN TOMORROW'S FORECAST. THOSE FRONTS PUSH UP AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BRINGING LOTS OF RAIN TO MOST OF NEW ZEALAND AND SOME THUNDER, TOO. THE SOUTH ISLAND HAD ITS FAIR SHARE OF WET WEATHER TODAY AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW, BUT THEN IT WILL MOSTLY CLEARS FROM LUNCH AS THOSE RAIN BANDS HEAD NORTH, BUT THE SOUTHERLIES WILL BRING SOME COOLER TEMPERATURES. RAIN OVERNIGHT FOR WESTERN PARTS AND BAY OF PLENTY AND THEN IT'LL HANG AROUND FOR MOST OF THE DAY, EASING, BUT STILL THERE RIGHT UNTIL THE EVENING. ALSO SOME VERY STRONG WINDS FOR PARTS OF NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND IN PARTICULAR, LOTS OF CLOUD COVER TONIGHT. IT WILL BE WARM, LOWS OF 18 FOR SOME, BUT RAINY WITH HEAVY FALLS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE MORNING FOR KAITAIA AND WHANGAREI AND STRONG NORTHEASTERS GUSTING 90km IN EXPOSED PLACES. FOR EVERYONE ELSE, THE RAIN WILL EASE TO SHOWERS FROM LUNCHTIME. IT WILL BE WET HERE, TOO, SHOWERS TURNING TO RAIN IN THE MORNING AND GETTING HEAVY. IT WON'T START TO EASE UNTIL THE EVENING SO EXPECT SOME SLOWER, MORE CAUTIOUS COMMUTES TOMORROW ON THE ROAD. FRIDAY WILL START CLOUDY WITH NORTHEASTERS PICKING UP AND THE RAIN WILL JOIN THE PARTY LATE MORNING AND STICK AROUND UNTIL THE EVENING, WHEN THOSE WINDS TURN SOU'WESTERLY. NEW PLYMOUTH AND TAUMARUNUI WILL HAVE MORNING RAIN THAT COULD GET HEAVY ` EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. FOR EVERYONE ELSE, THE HEAVIEST FALLS WILL BE AFTER LUNCH AND THEN START TO CALM DOWN IN THE EVENING. SIMILAR PICTURE FOR THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, NORTHERLIES TURNING SOUTHWESTERLY FOR THE WEST COAST REGION AND RAIN ` IT COULD GET HEAVY AND THUNDERY CLEARING TO THE ODD SHOWER IN THE AFTERNOON. THE EASTERN AREAS DON'T ESCAPE THE WET STUFF EITHER ` RAIN, POSSIBLY HEAVY. KAIKOURA ` GUSTY NOR'WESTERS TURNING SOU'WESTERLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND THE SHOWERS WILL EASE AFTER DINNER. OBAN ` FINE UNTIL MID-MORNING AND THEN A FEW SHOWERS. FOR THE REST THERE WILL BE ON-AND-OFF RAIN IN THE MORNING, BUT THAT WILL EASE AND THOSE FINE BREAKS WILL INCREASE AFTER LUNCH. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES NOW. OTEPOTI DUNEDIN ` PERIODS OF RAIN, CLEARING TO MAINLY FINE FROM THE AFTERNOON WITH THE ODD SHOWER. SOUTHWESTERLIES WILL EASE AND YOU'LL GET TO 14 TOMORROW, QUITE A BIT COOLER THAN TODAY. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH ` FRESH NORTHERLIES, TURNING SOUTHERLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THAT RAIN STARTS TO DEVELOP. IT WILL TURN TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EASE IN THE EVENING. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON ` RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING, HEAVY FOR A PERIOD IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN EASING TO SHOWERS FROM EVENING AS NORTHERLIES TURN SOUTHERLY. AS NORTHERLIES TURN SOUTHERLY. 17 YOUR HIGH. TE MATAU-A-MAUI PERIODS OF RAIN FROM LATE MORNING AND SETTING IN FOR THE DAY. THE NORTHEASTERS WILL PICK UP IN THE MORNING, AND CHANGE TO SOUTHWESTERLY IN THE EVENING WHEN THAT RAIN EASES. TAURANGA ` SHOWERS TURNING TO RAIN IN THE MORNING, WITH HEAVY FALLS. THEY'LL EASE TO SHOWERS IN THE EVENING AS THE NORTHERLY TURNS SOUTHWESTERLY. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON ` THE SHOWERS WILL GET HEAVIER IN THE MORNING AND BECOME MORE PERSISTENT, AND THEN EASE FROM LATER ARVO WHEN THE NORTHEASTERLIES CHANGES SOUTHWESTERLY. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND ` RAIN WITH HEAVY FALLS, EASING TO A FEW SHOWERS FROM LATE AFTERNOON, CLEARING AT NIGHT. STRONG NORTHEASTERLIES, GUSTING 90km IN EXPOSED PLACES, CHANGING SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING INTO THE EVENING. LET'S HEAD OVERSEAS NOW. FINE ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA AND IN THE PACIFIC, MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIJI. LET'S HEAD BACK HOME NOW, NOW IT WILL BE WELCOME NEWS THAT THE WEATHER IS ALSO TAKING A BREAK THIS WEEKEND ON SATURDAY THE FRONT WILL MOVE AWAY TO THE EAST AND A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE COUNTRY. THE START OF THE WORKING WEEK WILL SEE THAT RIDGE COVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PARTS WHILE A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW STRENGTHENS OVER THE SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. AND JUST A FEW SHOWERS FOR DUNEDIN, QUEENSTOWN AND INVERCARGILL ON SATURDAY ` BUT GENERALLY A MORE SETTLED OUTLOOK. THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. THANKS, JACKIE KELLY OF PAPAMOA FOR SENDING THIS PHOTO IN OF MAUAO OR MT MAUNGANUI UNDER CLOUD.