LABOUR AND NATIONAL ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF LYING OVER CHANGES TO THE PAY EQUITY SCHEME - SO DOES IT REPRESENT A PAY CUT FOR WOMEN? ALARMING NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO FORMER DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER JEVON MCSKIMMING. SHOCKING IMAGES OUT OF GAZA TONIGHT GIVING THE WORLD A GLIMPSE OF JUST HOW DESPERATE THE SITUATION THERE IS FOLLOWED BY SCENES OF JOY AS A US HOSTAGE IS RELEASED. PRESIDENT TRUMP GOING OVER ISRAEL'S HEAD TO SECURE HIS FREEDOM. PLUS A U.S TOYMAKER DECLARES CHRISTMAS IS SAVED AFTER A DRAMATIC THAWING IN THE TRADE WAR WITH CHINA. CAPTIONS BY LELE SIMEON AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI, MALO E LELEI, AND WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. IT WAS LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE TODAY, AS DEBATE OVER THE COALITION'S PAY-EQUITY OVERHAUL ROLLED INTO A SECOND WEEK. THE OPPOSITION SAYS IT EQUATES TO A PAY CUT FOR WOMEN. NOT SO, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT, AND IT RECKONS THE COUNTRY'S JUST AN EARTHQUAKE AWAY FROM GOING BROKE. LLOYD BURR HAS MORE. IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE THE GOVERNMENT'S PAY-EQUITY BOMBSHELL, AND THE SHOCKWAVES STILL HAVEN'T SUBSIDED. THEY'VE BEEN LYING TO NEW ZEALANDERS ALL ALONG. LABOUR'S RESORTING TO LIES AND MISINFORMATION, FRANKLY. BOTH SIDES ACCUSING THE OTHER OF LYING, OVER WHETHER WOMEN'S PAY IS BEING CUT. TAKING MONEY AWAY THAT WOMEN WERE OTHERWISE GOING TO GET IS A CUT. WE'RE NOT CUTTING WOMEN'S PAY. THEY ARE CUTTING WOMEN'S PAY. THEY ARE TAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WOMEN WERE GOING TO RECEIVE, AND THEY'RE CUTTING IT ` THAT'S CUTTING WOMEN'S PAY. WE ARE NOT CUTTING EQUAL PAY ` WE ARE NOT CUTTING WOMEN'S PAY. THE DEBATE NOW ONE OF SEMANTICS. BUT THE PAY RISES WON'T BE AS BIG AS THEY WOULD'VE BEEN OTHERWISE? WELL, WE ARE YET TO SEE, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A NEW LAW IN PLACE, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE NOW ABLE TO SUBMIT CLAIMS THAT HAVE MERIT AND HAVE THEM ASSESSED TO SEE WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN GENDER DISCRIMINATION, AND THEN TO USE THE GUIDANCE OF THE LAW TO REACH SETTLEMENTS. THE SIZE OF THOSE SETTLEMENTS CAN'T BE KNOWN. MINISTER, YOU'RE DUE IN THE HOUSE, I'M AFRAID. AND IN THE HOUSE, NEARLY EVERY OPPOSITION QUESTION WAS ABOUT PAY EQUITY. WOULD THE PRIME MINISTER TAKE UP THE OFFER OF ANY OF THE MANY HARDWORKING WOMEN THAT HE HAS CUT OFF FROM PAY-EQUITY CLAIMS, TO SPEND A DAY IN THEIR SHOES, CHANGING NAPPIES, DELIVERING BABIES, OR EDUCATING YOUNG CHILDREN, OR DOES HE PLAN TO IGNORE THEM, AS HE'S IGNORED GOOD LAW-MAKING PRACTICE? I'D JUST SAY TO THAT MEMBER, WE ARE NOT CUTTING OFF PAY-EQUITY CLAIMS. WHY IS SHE CONTINUING TO GASLIGHT THE ESTIMATED 150,000 WOMEN WHO ARE SAVING HER BUDGET? THERE IS NO MAGIC POT OF MONEY AVAILABLE TO WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM EVERY EYE. ACTUALLY, A COUNTRY MUST ALWAYS LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS. NICOLA WILLIS APPLYING THAT SENTIMENT TO SOMETHING ELSE TODAY, ESSENTIALLY SAYING WE'RE NEARLY BROKE. NZ IS NOW APPROACHING ITS DEBT CEILING, WHICH IS TO SAY IF A SIGNIFICANT EVENT WERE TO HAPPEN, BE IT AN EARTHQUAKE, A SIGNIFICANT CLIMATIC EVENT, AN OUTBREAK OF DISEASE, THEN NZ HAVING TO BORROW MORE, WOULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE IT COULD BECOME VERY CHALLENGING TO PAY THAT MONEY BACK, AND WE COULD ENTER AN INTEREST RATE AND DEBT SPIRAL. WHILE OUR COUNTRY IS BEAUTIFUL, IT TENDS TO HAVE THE ODD EARTHQUAKE OR FLOOD THAT WE NEED TO PUT MONEY INTO COLLECTIVELY TO RECOVER FROM. HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THAT CEILING? WELL, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL CEILING. A CYNIC MIGHT SAY THE GOVERNMENT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DIVERT THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM PAY EQUITY. OF COURSE, NICOLA WILLIS IS SCAREMONGERING. ASIDE FROM PAY EQUITY, THOUGH, AND BEING A NATURAL DISASTER AWAY FROM GOING BROKE, WILLIS WAS CONTINUING HER PRE-BUDGET MONEY SPRINKLE. I AM ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTING AN EXTRA $100M TO THE ELEVATE VENTURE CAPITAL FUND AT BUDGET 2025, UNLEASHING A NEW GENERATION OF START-UP BUSINESSES IN NZ. THE ELEVATE FUND WAS LAUNCHED BY LABOUR IN 2020 AND HAS INVESTED IN COMPANIES LIKE DAWN AEROSPACE AND HALTER. WILLIS SAYS INVESTING IN KIWI START-UPS IS VITAL, GIVEN THE VOLATILE GLOBAL CLIMATE. THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER IS UNDOUBTEDLY UNDERGOING PROFOUND CHANGE. WE ARE SEEING A SHIFT FROM RULES TO POWER, FROM ECONOMICS TO SECURITY AND FROM EFFICIENCY TO RESILIENCY. AND RESILIENCY IS SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT WILL NEED, WITH THE PAY-EQUITY DEBATE SHOWING NO SIGNS OF ABATING. AND, LLOYD, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONCEDED IT WON'T MEET ITS POLICE RECRUITMENT TARGET? QUITE A LOT GOING ON AT PARLIAMENT TODAY. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN 2023 TALK ABOUT BOOSTING POLICE NUMBERS, ONE OF THOSE PARTIES WAS NEW ZEALAND FIRST. THEY MANAGED TO GET EVENTS THEIR COALITION AGREEMENT. THEY COMMIT TO TRAINING NO MORE THAN 500 NEW PLACE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS. THAT MEANS BY NOVEMBER. STUFF REPORTED JUST 13 NEW OFFICERS HAD BEEN RECRUITED AND THEY NEEDED AN EXTRA 487 EXTRA OFFICERS TO BE TRAINED IN ORDER TO HIT THAT NOVEMBER DEADLINE. THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER WINSTON PETERS WASN'T SO FORTHCOMING.. WHY HAVEN'T YOU FULFILLED THAT PROMISE TO GET 500 NEW COPS? OH, DON'T BE A STUPID LITTLE SCHOOLBOY. IT'S A FAIR QUESTION. DON'T BE A STUPID LITTLE SCHOOLBOY. OH, YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY TO YOU? GET WITH THE PROGRAMME, SUNSHINE. GROW UP. YOU'RE SELLING LIKE A MORONIC STUCK RECORD. YOU GUYS ARE A DISGRACE. THERE ARE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT PORNOGRAPHY ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON THE WHEN YOU'VE GOT NOTHING, ATTACK THE JOURNALIST, THAT'S WHAT WINSTON DOES. WE HAVE THEY SHIFTED THE GOALPOST WHO? BY THE NEXT ELECTION THEY'LL HAVE ANOTHER 500 EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS TRAINED. IT COULD BE SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT PORNOGRAPHY ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON THE WORK COMPUTER OF FORMER DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER JEVON MCSKIMMING IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS POTENTIAL OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL. POLICE MINISTER MARK MITCHELL WON'T GIVE ANY DETAILS WHILE TWO INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY. BUT HE'S ACKNOWLEDGED THE CONTROVERSY COULD AFFECT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN POLICE. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE LATEST. IF JEVON MCSKIMMING WAS HOME YESTERDAY, HE WASN'T ANSWERING THE DOOR OR ANY QUESTIONS. BUT THE COUNTRY'S FORMER SECOND TOP COP WON'T BE DRIVING IN POLICE UNIFORM AGAIN ` HE'S RESIGNED, WITH MOUNTING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM. THE POLICE MINISTER KNOWS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICE WILL BE RATTLED. WHEN YOU SEE ME HAVING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN THIS WAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. THERE ARE MEDIA REPORTS MCSKIMMING WAS CONFRONTED WITH ALLEGATIONS OF PORNOGRAPHY ON HIS POLICE-ISSUED COMPUTER, AND THAT THAT'S NOW BEING INVESTIGATED AS ALLEGED OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL ` WHICH IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE UNDER NEW ZEALAND LAW. I'M NOT GONNA TALK AT ALL TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND MR MCSKIMMING'S RESIGNATION OR HIS SUSPENSION LAST YEAR, OR MY ACTION IN MOVING TO DISMISS HIM. AND I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW EVEN THE NATURE OF SOME OF THE CURRENT ALLEGATIONS, SO I JUST COULDN'T COMMENT ON THEM. NO, I'M NOT AWARE OF THE ALLEGATIONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S BEING DEALT WITH BY THE POLICE MINISTER AND THE COMMISSIONER. THE CLASSIFICATION OFFICE CONSIDERS CONTENT OBJECTIONABLE IF IT PROMOTES OR SUPPORTS SPECIFIC TYPES OF HARMFUL BEHAVIOURS WHICH INCLUDES... MCSKIMMING APPLIED FOR BUT MISSED OUT ON THE TOP JOB LAST YEAR. BEFORE THAT, HE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY COMMISSIONER UNDER THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT. DID YOU KNOW HIM, WAS HE A NICE GUY, YOUR DEALINGS WITH HIM? I FOUND HIM VERY PROFESSIONAL TO WORK WITH, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I'M IN A POSITION TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENT ON THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM. A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY ALONG WITH A SEPARATE REVIEW BY THE INDEPENDENT POLICE CONDUCT AUTHORITY. IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT PERHAPS EVERYONE CAN AGREE ON WHEN IT COMES TO DONALD TRUMP, FRIENDS AND FOES ALIKE, IT IS HIS SHEER UNPREDICTABILITY. WALL STREET AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL MARKETS HAVE NOT ENJOYED THAT OF LATE, AND WE WILL COME TO HIS MOVE TO ROLL BACK TARIFFS ON CHINA IN A MOMENT. BUT TONIGHT HIS DECISION TO GO OVER THE HEAD OF THE ISRAELIS AND NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH HAMAS HAS RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF AN ISRAELI-AMERICAN SOLDIER HELD HOSTAGE. IT WAS, HAMAS SAID, A 'GOODWILL GESTURE' TOWARDS THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT ` SIGNIFICANTLY, PERHAPS, NOT TEL AVIV. DONALD TRUMP IS HOPING THE RELEASE CAN PAVE THE WAY TOWARDS A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, WHOSE ENTIRE POPULATION, ACCORDING TO THE UN, IS IN IMMINENT DANGER OF FAMINE. AND A WARNING ` THIS STORY BY ITV'S JOHN IRVINE CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGES. PRESIDENT TRUMP SETTING OFF ON A TRIP FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE. GIVEN THAT ONE OF HIS PLEDGES IS TO CALL THE GULF ARABIAN RATHER THAN PERSIAN, IT'S A VISIT THAT COULD END UP BEING BOTH NAME-CHANGING AND GAME-CHANGING. HIS FLIGHT PATH HAS HIM GOING OVER THE HEADS OF THE ISRAELIS, WHICH IS SOMETHING HE DID DIPLOMATICALLY TODAY BY SECURING THE RELEASE OF THE AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER. HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS SINCE OCTOBER 7TH 2023. AND HE'S COMING HOME TO HIS PARENTS, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT NEWS. I MEAN, TO ME, IT'S BIG NEWS. THEY THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD. THE RELEASE WAS NEGOTIATED BY TRUMP ENVOY STEVE WYCKOFF, WHO, ONCE HE HAD CONFIRMATION, HANDED THE PHONE TO THE FREED HOSTAGE'S MOTHER. EDAN? (SHRIEKS) (SOBS) THEY JUST RELEASED A PHOTO OF YOU. YOU LOOK UNBELIEVABLE. WOW. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND SOON, AFTER 583 DAYS OF SEPARATION, SHE WAS ABLE TO TELL HIM EVERYTHING IN PERSON. (SHRIEKS) (SOBS) HAMAS SAY TODAY'S RELEASE IS A GOODWILL GESTURE, WHICH THEY HOPE WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER CEASEFIRE AND THE RESUMPTION OF AID SUPPLIES INTO GAZA. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH, GIVEN TODAY'S NEWS THAT THE STRIP'S ENTIRE POPULATION IS NOW EXPERIENCING ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY. THE WAIT AT STREET KITCHENS USED TO BE ORDERLY ` NOW, FEEDING FRENZIES LIKE THIS ARE COMMONPLACE, AND EVERYONE KNOWS THERE PROBABLY WON'T BE ENOUGH TO GO ROUND. PEOPLE WHO MISS OUT ARE REDUCED TO TRYING TO SCAVENGE MORSELS FROM POTS ALREADY PICKED CLEAN. THE ISRAELI SIEGE, PREVENTING FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE FROM GETTING INTO GAZA, IS NOW INTO ITS THIRD MONTH. THE WAR HAS CHANGED MORE THAN JUST THE COMPLEXION OF THE LANDSCAPE. BOXES OF THE SPECIAL BABY MILK THAT WOULD SAVE THESE TINY LIVES ARE STUCK JUST A FEW MILES AWAY AT THE BORDER. UNLESS THINGS CHANGE, THE TRAJECTORY FOR 5-MONTH-OLD SIWAR IS TRAGICALLY CLEAR. 'PLEASE OPEN THE BORDERS IMMEDIATELY,' SAID THE CHILD'S GRANDMOTHER, 'OUR CHILDREN ARE DYING A SLOW DEATH. 'WE HAVE NO HEALTHCARE, NO FLOUR OR MEAT ` NOTHING.' THIS BOY IS CHASING A WATER TRUCK, HOPING FOR DRIPS. HE'S RUNNING BECAUSE GAZA IS RUNNING OUT. AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, DONALD TRUMP HAS WALKED THE U.S. BACK FROM ECONOMIC CRISIS UNVEILING A 90-DAY THAW IN THE TRADE WAR WITH CHINA. WASHINGTON AND BEIJING HAVE AGREED TO DRASTICALLY ROLL BACK TARIFFS ON EACH OTHER'S GOODS ` BUOYING GLOBAL MARKETS. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. (CHEERING, BELL CLANGING) IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE THE WALL STREET APPLAUSE MATCHED THE MOOD OF THE MARKETS, BUT TODAY STOCKS WERE GLOWING GREEN. 41 DAYS SINCE LIBERATION DAY CAME CAPITULATION DAY ` AN UNEXPECTED DRAMATIC DE-ESCALATION IN THE TRADE WAR. WE ACHIEVED A TOTAL RESET WITH CHINA AFTER PRODUCTIVE TALKS IN GENEVA. WHAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED IS A 90-DAY TRUCE ON STRATOSPHERIC TARIFFS. THE RELATIONSHIP IS VERY, VERY GOOD. I'LL SPEAK TO PRESIDENT XI MAYBE AT THE END OF THE WEEK. AMERICA'S TARIFFS ON CHINA HAVE BEEN SLASHED FROM 145% TO 30%. ALTHOUGH, 20% OF THAT IS A SEPARATE FENTANYL-RELATED TAX. AND CHINA HAS RECIPROCATED BY CUTTING THE SAME AMOUNT ` DROPPING FROM 125% TO 10%. THE GOOD NEWS DELIVERED AFTER TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN SWITZERLAND, DURING WHICH CHINA MADE IT VERY CLEAR IT DIDN'T WANT TO FIGHT WITH AMERICA, BUT WOULD ALWAYS SAFEGUARD ITS OWN INTERESTS. WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO HURT CHINA. CHINA WAS BEING HURT VERY BADLY. THEY WERE CLOSING UP FACTORIES. THEY WERE HAVING A LOT OF UNREST. THE WAR BETWEEN THE WORLD'S TWO LARGEST ECONOMIES HAD PRODUCED EXTREME ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES, TRUMP'S SHOCK-AND-AWE APPROACH TO TARIFFS THREATENING TO TRIGGER A RECESSION. AND TODAY EXHAUSTED BUSINESS OWNERS BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF. CHRISTMAS WILL BE SAVED. AND OUR HOPE IS, FROM HERE, IS THE 30% WILL MAYBE GO DOWN TO 10% OR LESS. BUT FOR A MAN WHO TOUTS THE ART OF THE DEAL, DONALD TRUMP IS CERTAINLY DOWNPLAYING THE SAYING, 'YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.' I COULD BE A STUPID PERSON AND SAY, 'OH, NO, WE DON'T WANT A FREE PLANE.' WHILE VISITING THE GULF THIS WEEK, TRUMP PLANS TO ACCEPT A JET, DUBBED A FLYING PALACE, FROM THE QATARI ROYAL FAMILY, FOR USE AS AIR FORCE ONE, BUT ONLY FOR HIS TERM. AFTER THAT, IT WILL GO TO HIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION. BUT HE'S DISMISSING DEAFENING CRITICISM THAT IT'S AN ETHICAL MISSTEP, OR WORSE, A BLATANT BRIBE. THEY'RE GIVING US A FREE JET. I COULD SAY, 'NO, NO, NO, DON'T GIVE US ` 'I WANNA PAY YOU A BILLION OR $400M OR WHATEVER IT IS,' OR I COULD SAY, 'THANK YOU VERY MUCH.' THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF DEFENDING HIS DECISION THROUGH THE WORDS OF GOLFING GREAT SAM SNEAD. HE HAD A MOTTO, 'WHEN THEY GIVE YOU A PUTT, YOU SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 'YOU PICK UP YOUR BALL, AND YOU WALK TO THE NEXT HOLE.' A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STUPID. THEY SAY, 'NO, NO, I INSIST ON PUTTING IT.' THEN THEY PUT IT, AND THEY MISS IT. PUSHED FURTHER ON THE QATARI CONFLICT, WHILE ALSO FENDING OFF HEADLINES THAT HE'S CAVED TO CHINA, AFTER BEIJING CALLED HIS BLUFF ON TRADE, TRUMP REVERTED TO REPEATING HIS OWN FAMOUS WORDS, CRYING 'FAKE NEWS'. AND YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER, COS YOU'VE BEEN EMBARRASSED ENOUGH, AND SO HAS YOUR NETWORK. YOUR NETWORK IS A DISASTER. ABC IS A DISASTER. THE PRESIDENT MORE THAN READY TO BELIEVE THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A FREE LUNCH, OR, IN THIS CASE, FREE PLANE. IMOGEN'S HERE WITH A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER AND ASHBURTON WAS OUR HOTTEST SPOT TODAY! IT WAS, LAURA, SITTING ON A LOVELY LOOKING 22 DEGREES, FAR WARMER THAN OUR COLDEST TEMPERATURE IN MASTERTON ` A CHILLY 0.8. NOW, TOMORROW IS LOOKING VERY DIFFERENT. THE WARMEST IT'LL GET IN THE SOUTH ISLAND IS 15 DEGREES. ALEXANDRA, TODAY'S TEMPERATURE WILL FEEL LIKE A DISTANT MEMORY. I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. STILL AHEAD ON THREENEWS. WILL THERE OR WON'T THERE BE UKRAINE PEACE TALKS THIS WEEK? QUESTIONS REMAIN AS A DEADLINE PASSES. SEAN DIDDY COMBS' SEX TRAFFICKING AND RACKETEERING TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK ` THE COURT HEARS HOW HE EXPECTED TO BE TREATED LIKE A KING AND LATER ` DREAMS COME TRUE FOR THIS KIWI WALLACE AND GROMMIT FAN, BRINGING A CLAYMATION GADGET TO LIFE. THE FAMILY OF A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY KILLED IN AN ATV CRASH ON SUNDAY HAVE THANKED THE CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOR ITS OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AS THE FAMILY COMES TO TERMS WITH THE 'DEVASTATING LOSS'. JIMMY SCHICK DIED AND HIS FATHER, RODNEY SCHICK, WAS CRITICALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH ON FRENCH PASS ROAD, KARAPIRO. JIMMY'S BROTHER, OLI, AND A FRIEND ALSO SUFFERED SERIOUS AND MINOR INJURIES IN THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAPPENED IN A REMOTE PART OF THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE SCHICK FAMILY, ACCORDING TO THE CAMBRIDGE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE. RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACKS ON UKRAINE ARE CONTINUING, DESPITE DEMANDS FROM EUROPE, UKRAINE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR A CEASEFIRE, AHEAD OF POTENTIAL PEACE TALKS LATER THIS WEEK. A DEADLINE WAS SET FOR THIS MORNING BY A GROUP OF WORLD LEADERS, FOR RUSSIA TO AGREE TO AN UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE; OTHERWISE IT WOULD FACE SEVERE SANCTIONS. THAT HAS PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF ANY CEASEFIRE OR ANY WORD ON WHAT THE SANCTIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE. RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT, PUTIN, HAS SO FAR IGNORED THE ULTIMATUM, BUT DID OFFER TALKS IN TURKEY LATER THIS WEEK ` IT'S UNCLEAR IF THEY WILL HAPPEN NOW. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY HEAD TO TURKEY TO TRY TO FACILITATE A MEETING. A COURT IN NEW YORK HAS HEARD HOW SEAN DIDDY COMBS ALLEGEDLY THREATENED, DRUGGED AND VIOLENTLY COERCED WOMEN INTO HAVING SEX, AND THEN COVERED IT UP WITH THE HELP OF HIS ASSOCIATES. HIS DEFENCE TOLD JURORS THE MUSICIAN MAY HAVE COMMITTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND ` THE R&B SINGER CASSIE ` BUT HE ISN'T A SEX TRAFFICKER. AND A WARNING THAT THIS REPORT FROM ITV'S DAN RIVERS CONTAINS DETAILS OF THE ALLEGATIONS WHICH YOU MAY FIND UPSETTING. AT A TRIAL WHICH IS GRIPPING AMERICA, THE FAMILY OF RAP STAR SEAN DIDDY COMBS ARRIVED AT COURT IN MANHATTAN, TO HEAR THE PROSECUTION SET OUT A LITANY OF CHARGES AGAINST HIM. INSIDE, COMBS, NOW WITH GREY HAIR AFTER MONTHS IN DETENTION, LISTENED AS THE JURY WAS TOLD ABOUT THE SEX TRAFFICKING AND ORGANISED CRIME CHARGES HE FACES SPANNING 20 YEARS. MAYBE SOMEBODY'S GOING IN. THE CASE IS EXPECTED TO RELY ON EVIDENCE GATHERED DURING THIS FBI RAID ON ONE OF HIS HOMES LAST YEAR, AND THIS VIDEO, SHOWING COMBS ATTACKING HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND, CASSIE VENTURA, AT A HOTEL IN LOS ANGELES IN 2016, SETTING OUT THE PROSECUTION CASE, EMILY JOHNSON TOLD THE JURY... IT HAS A MASSIVE RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT CULTURE. IT HAS A MASSIVE RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT CULTURE. LEGAL EXPERTS SAY HE FACES CHARGES NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ORGANISED CRIME. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PUT TOGETHER, THESE DIFFERENT STATUTES, IN BOTH THE STATES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO COMBAT THE MOB, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY HARD TO GET TO THE MOB BOSS. AND IF YOU THINK OF IT IN THE CONTEXT OF DIDDY, HE WOULD KIND OF CONCEIVABLY BE THE MOB BOSS HERE. SEAN COMBS BEING ON TRIAL IS A REALLY MONUMENTAL DAY HERE. LISA BLOOM IS REPRESENTING VICTIMS IN SEPARATE CIVIL CASES AND THINKS THIS COULD BE A WATERSHED FOR THE MUSIC WORLD. IT IS ABSOLUTELY A #METOO MOVEMENT FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, IN MY OPINION, REPRESENTING VICTIMS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS LONG OVERDUE FOR A #METOO RECKONING. FOUR VICTIMS WILL GIVE EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL, BUT MANY MORE ARE MAKING ALLEGATIONS, SOME ABOUT DIDDY'S ENTOURAGE. HE CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME, AND HE LOCKED IT, AND I WAS LOOKING AT HIM, LIKE, FEARING, HONESTLY, MY LIFE WAS FLASHING BEFORE MY EYES. I THOUGHT, 'WHAT AM I GONNA DO?' HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I'M NOT GETTING OUT OF HERE. AND I BASICALLY TALKED MY WAY OUT OF IT. # HOLD UP. # THAT'S CRAZY. # A MAN WHOSE NAME WAS LITERALLY UP IN LIGHTS, WHO BECAME NOT JUST A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST, BUT A BUSINESS MOGUL, NOW FACES SICKENING ALLEGATIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE SIMPLY TOO GRAPHIC TO BROADCAST. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` IS IT TIME TO DITCH HOLLYWOOD FOR BOLLYWOOD? WE ASK THE HEAD OF THE FILM COMMISSION. PLUS ` WE REVEAL THE SURPRISE NEW RED-CARPET RULES AT CANNES. HOW A KIWI YOUTUBER RECREATED ONE OF WALLACE AND GROMIT'S MOST FAMOUS SCENES ` JAM TOAST SPLAT AND ALL. AND LATER IN SPORT... RIEKO IOANE BREAKS HIS SILENCE ABOUT HIS BIG MOVE TO IRELAND. BUT WHAT SORT OF RECEPTION IS HE EXPECTING AFTER HIS FEUD WITH JONNY SEXTON? VOICEOVER: One minute you're doing a little DIY. The next you've done too much. With Tower, you can save $75 on every new comprehensive car or contents insurance policy. Ts&Cs apply. Got a minute? Get a quote. THIS IS THREE NEWS. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES. THE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION ARE ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF LYING OVER WHETHER CHANGES TO THE PAY-EQUITY SCHEME EQUATE TO A PAY CUT FOR WOMEN. THERE ARE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT PORNOGRAPHY ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON THE WORK COMPUTER OF FORMER DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER JEVON MCSKIMMING IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS POTENTIAL OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL. AND THE UN IS WARNING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF GAZA IS AT CRITICAL RISK OF FAMINE. IT'S BEEN JUST OVER A WEEK SINCE U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED A 100% TARIFF FOR MOVIES PRODUCED IN, 'FOREIGN LANDS,' BECAUSE HOLLYWOOD IS, IN HIS WORDS, DYING. WHILE TRUMP'S OFFICIALS LOOK AT HOW THIS MIGHT WORK IN PRACTICE, THIS COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR FILM INDUSTRY. ANNIE MURRAY, THE NEW ZEALAND FILM COMMISSION CEO, IS IN FRANCE AT THE CANNES FILM MARKET, WHICH IS ABOUT TO START TOMORROW. KIA ORA, ANNIE. NO DOUBT THIS WILL BE A HUGE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION THERE. KIA ORA, LAURA. YES, IT'S COMING UP IN EVERY ROOM WE WALK INTO, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT ` IT'S A SHORT CONVERSATION, BECAUSE, A WEEK LATER, WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY DETAIL ON WHAT THESE PROPOSED TARIFFS MIGHT MEAN. IT'S EARLY MORNING OVER HERE, AND I'VE JUST WOKEN UP, TO SEE IN THE MEDIA THAT A LETTER HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO PRESIDENT TRUMP BY SOME STUDIO HEADS AND UNIONS, AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCTION TO STAY IN AMERICA, AS OPPOSED TO IMPOSE TARIFFS ON WHAT'S CALLED RUNAWAY PRODUCTION, WHICH IS CONDUCTED ELSEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND, BUT ALSO AROUND AMERICA. THERE ARE INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCTION IN OTHER PARTS OF AMERICA, OTHER THAN CALIFORNIA. SO IT REALLY IS A CALIFORNIA ISSUE. HOW HAS THIS KIND OF THREAT, THOUGH OF A TARIFF CHANGED THE GAME A BIT? ACTUALLY, IT HASN'T CHANGED ANYTHING, BECAUSE THERE IS NO DETAIL, AND THERE IS NO POLICY IN PLACE. SO IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, WE'RE JUST GETTING ON WITH BUSINESS. SO WE'VE BEEN IN MUMBAI, ON OUR WAY OVER HERE, LOOKING AT REACTIVATING CO-PRODUCTION AND INBOUND PRODUCTION FROM INDIA. IT'S ACTUALLY THE BUSIEST MOVIE MARKET IN THE WORLD. 3000 MOVIES ARE MADE EVERY YEAR IN INDIA, AND THEY'RE ALL FINANCED BY PRIVATE EQUITY. SO THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY BUOYANT PART OF THE WORLD. WE CAME THROUGH LONDON, WHERE WE ACTIVATED A WHOLE BUNCH OF MEETINGS FOR OUR PRODUCERS, WHO ARE TRAVELLING WITH US TO WORK UP CO-PRODUCTION IDEAS WITH THE UK, WHICH IS ALSO A BUSY CO-PRODUCTION MARKET FOR NEW ZEALAND. SO FOR THE INDEPENDENT CINEMA WORLD, WE SEE CO-PRODUCTION AS THE FUTURE. IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY TO SHARE RESOURCES, TO INCREASE BUDGETS, AND TO GET FILMS DISTRIBUTED AND TO INTO MORE THAN ONE MARKET. WE'VE GOT 18 CO-PRODUCTION ARRANGEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD, AND OUR TRAVEL HERE NOW ON THIS DELEGATION IS TO ACTIVATE A LOT MORE CO-PRODUCTION. YES, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS TRIP WAS ORGANISED BEFORE THESE COMMENTS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP. BUT IS THIS THE WAY FORWARD TO TO LOOK AT MARKETS OTHER THAN THE U.S., EVEN THOUGH THEY DO MAKE UP A LARGE A LARGE CHUNK OF OUR $3.3B FILM INDUSTRY HERE? INBOUND PRODUCTION IS ONE PART OF WHAT WE DO. BUT ACTIVATING NZ STORIES IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO. SO THE CANNES FILM MARKET IS ALL ABOUT THE NEW ZEALAND STORIES AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CREATIVES TO WORK WITH CREATIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO CREATE EXCELLENT NEW ZEALAND FILMS AND TO GROW THIS INDUSTRY FOR OUR COUNTRY. AWESOME. WELL, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A VERY BUSY DAY AHEAD BEFORE THE FILM MARKET KICKS OFF TOMORROW. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. WELCOME, LAURA. THANK YOU. ANNIE MURRAY WAS SPEAKING THERE FROM CANNES. THE FILM FESTIVAL THERE OPENS TONIGHT AND IS KNOWN AS HAVING PROBABLY THE MOST RIGIDLY CONTROLLED RED CARPET IN THE WORLD. NOW IT HAS A NEW STIPULATION ` NO NUDITY. CANNES HAS UPDATED ITS DRESS POLICY ON THE EVE OF ITS 78TH EDITION TO READ THAT, NUDITY IS PROHIBITED ON THE RED CARPET, AS WELL AS IN ANY OTHER AREA OF THE FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL HAS ALSO NOTED THAT VOLUMINOUS OUTFITS THAT HINDER THE PROPER FLOW OF TRAFFIC OF GUESTS AND COMPLICATE SEATING IN THE THEATRE ARE NOT PERMITTED. STRICT ORGANISERS ALSO BANNED SELFIES IN 2018, CALLING THEM GROTESQUE. ONE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST ACTS WAS TO TAKE A SLEDGEHAMMER TO ITS FOREIGN AID BUDGET. THE EFFECTS WILL BE LIFE-ALTERING FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN VIETNAM. AMERICAN TROOPS FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE AGAINST THE COMMUNIST NORTH VIETNAMESE. 58,000 AMERICANS DIED, AND 3 MILLION VIETNAMESE. AMERICA LEFT BEHIND UNEXPLODED BOMBS AND DEADLY CHEMICALS THAT U.S. FUNDING WAS STILL PAYING TO CLEAR UP, 50 YEARS AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR ENDED. BUT THEY'D ONLY CLEARED 40% OF THE COUNTRY WHEN THE FUNDING WAS STOPPED. ITV'S DEBI EDWARD REPORTS. (SQUEALING) HE'D ONLY GONE A FEW PACES BEFORE A FAMILIAR TONE SOUNDED ON HIS METAL DETECTOR. IN THE MOST BOMBED PLACE ON EARTH, THIS IS A DANGEROUS JOB, AND WE ALL MOVED BACK WHILE HE DISCOVERED WHAT WAS IN THE GROUND. THERE WAS ONLY SHRAPNEL RECOVERED ON THE MORNING WE JOINED THE DEMINING TEAMS IN VIETNAM, BUT IN THIS AREA, THEY FOUND MORE THAN 200 UNEXPLODED BOMBS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. PEACE TREES IS ONE OF SEVERAL AMERICAN-FUNDED ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO MAKE THE LAND SAFE AGAIN, AND REPAIR RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. SEVERAL OF THEM CONSIDERED THE MOST DANGEROUS ITEMS. THAT DUAL MISSION HAS BEEN THREATENED BY DONALD TRUMP'S DECISION TO SHUTTER U.S. AID. RIGHT NOW, THE CONCERN ON WHAT HAPPENED IF ALL OF THESE RESOURCES OR ACTIVITIES HAVE TO BE STOPPED. HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN THERE WAS THAT PAUSE? IT MUST HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTING. YEAH, WORRIED, DISAPPOINTED. BUT THE ALARMS IN EACH OF US IS ON WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FUNDING IS STOPPED. NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE DEMINING TEAMS WERE WORKING, WE MET NHUNG. ONE SUMMER'S DAY IN 2022, SHE WAS IN THE BACK GARDEN WHEN THERE WAS A BIG EXPLOSION AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. HER HUSBAND WAS FIXING THE DOORWAY AND HAD TRIGGERED AN OLD CLUSTER BOMB. SHE FOUND HIM COVERED IN BLOOD, KILLED INSTANTLY. IT'S LEFT HER AND HER DAUGHTER ALL ALONE. ARCHIVE: IT WAS THEN THAT THE SKY RAIDER MADE THE THIRD RUN. THE VIETNAM WAR ALSO SAW THE WORLD'S BIGGEST USE OF CHEMICALS IN WARFARE, INCLUDING THE INCENDIARY SUBSTANCE NAPALM. THE SIGHTS WHICH GREETED US WERE AWFUL. ALMOST THE FIRST PERSON WE SAW WAS A LITTLE GIRL, AGED ABOUT 9, RUNNING UP THE ROAD. IN 1972, OUR CAMERAS CAPTURED THESE NOTORIOUS IMAGES OF A YOUNG GIRL NAKED, HER CLOTHES BURNED FROM HER BODY AFTER NAPALM WAS DROPPED ON HER TOWN. THE USE OF NAPALM AND AGENT ORANGE, A PERNICIOUS HERBICIDE USED TO STRIP THE LAND, HAVE HAD THE GRAVEST OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS. AT THIS SUPPORT CENTRE IN CAM LO, WE MET CHILDREN BORN WITH PHYSICAL AND LEARNING DISABILITIES BLAMED ON CONTAMINATION IN THE FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES. THE CENTRE RELIES ON FUNDS FROM AN AMERICAN NGO, WHOSE BUDGET HAS BEEN SLASHED. AND FROM THE SUMMER, THEY'VE TOLD NURSE THUONG SHE WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE THEIR HELP. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT. AND AUCKLAND FC ARE FEELING CONFIDENT AHEAD OF THE PLAYOFFS. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM AUCKLAND FC NEXT AS THEY LOOK TO START THE PLAYOFFS WITH A WIN ON THE ROAD. PLUS THE WORLD'S BEST WOMENS SEVENS PLAYER BEGINS THE SWITCH TO FIFTEENS AHEAD OF THE BLACK FERNS WORLD CUP DEFENCE. AND RIEKO IOANE IS READY TO FEEL THE LOVE FROM IRISH FANS AS HE GETS SET FOR A SIX MONTH SABBATICAL WITH LEINSTER. (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! ROADSIDE RESCUE WILL BE. zhuhzhing. Holler back, Warren. Please let me know your thoughts. Best regards. Warren? (MUSIC PLAYS) VOICEOVER: Cheesy Bites are back. For a limited tiiiime. Oh hi Mr Stephenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. THREE NEWS SPORT WITH SUZUKI ` SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE STARS WITH AWHINA PLUNKET. THEY'VE ALREADY CREATED HISTORY THIS YEAR WINNING THE PREMIERS PLATE IN THEIR FIRST SEASON, BUT FOR AUCKLAND FC THE REAL WORK STARTS NOW. AUCKLAND WILL GET THEIR FIRST TASTE OF THE A LEAGUE PLAYOFFS THIS WEEKEND WITH THE FIRST LEG OF THEIR SEMI FINAL AGAINST MELBOURNE VICTORY. AND THE COMPETITION PACE SETTERS WON'T BE HOLDING ANYTHING BACK IN THEIR TILT FOR A LEAGUE GLORY. BACK TO WORK AFTER HAVING THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS OFF, BUT IT WAS NO HOLIDAY FOR AUCKLAND FC. IN THEIR SIGHTS, MELBOURNE VICTORY, AND GRABBING AN ALL-IMPORTANT FIRST LEG WIN. FINALS FOOTBALL IS DIFFERENT, YOU CAN SEE THE INTENSITY LEVELS GO UP, THEY'RE A GOOD TEAM MELBOURNE AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT. MELBOURNE VICTORY ARE A TEAM WHO'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. FOUR TIMES THEY'VE BEEN CROWNED A-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. AND WITH THE FIRST LEG ON THEIR PATCH, STEVE CORICA IS HAPPY TO GET THE MIND GAMES STARTED. OBVIOUSLY AN AWAY GAME, I WOULD SAY THE PRESSURE IS MORE ON THEM BEING THE HOME TEAM, THERE'S LESS PRESSURE ON US GOING AWAY FIRST. THE ONLY PRESSURE ON AUCKLAND FC IS WHAT THEY PUT ON THEMSELVES. AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MELBOURNE JUST TO AVOID DEFEAT, KNOWING THEY HAVE THE SECOND LEG TO COME. THE MINDSET IS TO GO THERE AND WIN, IF YOU GIVE THEM A NEGATIVE MINDSET THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR US. IN AUCKLAND'S FAVOUR - THEY HAVEN'T LOST TO MELBOURNE VICTORY IN AUCKLAND'S FAVOUR ` THEY HAVEN'T LOST TO MELBOURNE VICTORY THIS SEASON WITH A WIN AND A DRAW IN THEIR TWO MEETINGS. AND HAVING ALREADY CREATED HISTORY WINNING THE PREMIERS PLATE, THEY'RE HUNGRY FOR EVEN MORE. I'M SURE THAT THE LEAGUE DOESN'T WANT AN AUCKLAND OR NEW ZEALAND TEAM TO WIN, IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE THE FIRST. AUCKLAND FC LOCKED AWAY THE FIRST PIECE OF SILVERWARE AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON, AND ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE ROAD TO THEIR SECOND. WE'RE THE PREMIERS, SO WE'RE CONFIDENT. AUCKLAND FC HOPE CAN TRANSLATE TO A FIRST PLAYOFF VICTORY. HURRICANES WINGER KINI NAHOLO HAS TORN HIS ACL AND WILL MISS THE REST OF SUPER RUGBY. NAHOLO WENT DOWN WITH A NON-CONTACT KNEE INJURY DURING HIS TEAM'S WIN OVER THE CHIEFS IN WELLINGTON WITH HURRICANES CONFIRMING TODAY HE'LL REQUIRE SURGERY. THE EXPECTED RECOVERY TIME MEANS NAHOLO IS UNLIKELY TO PLAY FOR TARANAKI'S IN THE NATIONAL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THE WORLD'S BEST SEVENS PLAYER IS HOPEFUL OF MAKING HER BLACK FERNS 15S DEBUT IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS WEEKEND. JORJA MILLER WAS RECENTLY NAMED WOMEN'S SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR. SHE'S NOW WITH THE BLACK FERNS AHEAD OF THEIR SECOND PAC4 MATCH AGAINST CANADA AS SHE LOOKS TO PUSH HER CASE FOR WORLD CUP SELECTION. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. HAVING DOMINATED THE SEVENS GAME IN RECENT YEARS, JORJA MILLER NOW HAS HER EYES ON HELPING THE BLACK FERNS GET TO THE TOP OF THE 15-A-SIDE GAME. THE CHALLENGE IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY EXCITES ME, NOT THAT SEVENS ISN'T CHALLENGING COS, OH MY GOSH, IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST SPORTS EVER. IT HASN'T EXACTLY LOOKED THAT WAY FOR THE 21-YEAR-OLD, THOUGH. SINCE MAKING HER BLACK FERNS SEVENS DEBUT AS A TEENAGER. EFFORTLESS! JORJA MILLER! SHE WENT TO WINNING WORLD RUGBY'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN 2023. THIS MONTH, SHE UPGRADED, NAMED SEVENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR. BUT TRANSLATING THAT TO 15S WILL COME WITH IT'S CHALLENGES. PROBABALY FOR ME COMING INTO THE FORWARDS ` THE PHYSICALITY. USED TO SEVENS, USED TO LITTLE BODIES AND HEAPS OF SPACE. NOW IT'S KIND OF THE HIT 'EM UPS, THE BIGGER BODIES, THE BIG TACKLES, BUT I THINK THAT EXCITES ME. BEING AN OPEN-SIDE FLANKER, I LOVE THE DIRTY STUFF AROUND THE RUCKS. MILLER IS ONE OF SEVERAL SEVENS PLAYERS LOOKING TO MAKE THE BLACK FERNS SQUAD FOR AUGUST'S WORLD CUP, HER FIRST OPPORTUNITY COULD COME AGAINST CANADA ON SATURDAY. YOU KNOW, THEY WILL GET GAME TIME. JUST DEPENDS ON WHEN, BUT YOU KNOW ALL OF THEM WILL GET GAMETIME BY THE END OF THIS. I'D LOVE TO DEBUT IN NEW ZEALAND. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE PLAYING AT HOME SO IF THAT OPPORTUNITY ARISES, THAT WOULD BE REALLY EXCITING. IF THAT DOES HAPPEN CANADA'S FORWARD PACK WILL POST A LARGE CHALLENGE. IT WAS IN CHRISTCHURCH 12 MONTHS AGO THEY STUNNED THE BLACK FERNS. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, CANADA BEAT NEW ZEALAND! I KNOW THAT THE PLAYERS WILL BE UP FOR IT. YOU KNOW THEY WILL HAVE THAT LITTLE BIT BETWEEN THEIR TEETH AND A LITTLE BIT OF REDEMPTION AND THERE'LL BE THAT FEELING OF PAYBACK. THAT COMBINED WITH COMPETITION FOR WORLD CUP SPOTS, THERE'S NO REASON THE BLACK FERNS SHOULDN'T BE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS. RIEKO IOANE ACCEPTS IT MAY NOT BE A POPULAR MOVE WITH FANS THERE, BUT HE'S EXCITED BY THE CHALLENGE OF HIS UPCOMING SABBATICAL TO IRISH CLUB LEINSTER. IOANE ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH HE'D BE SKIPPING NEXT YEAR'S SUPER RUGBY COMPETITION TO PLAY FOR IRELAND FOR SIX MONTHS. THE 81-TEST ALL BLACK HAS FOUND HIMSELF OFFSIDE WITH IRISH FANS FOLLOWING HIS FEUD WITH FORMER FIRST-FIVE JOHNNY SEXTON, BUT HE SAYS ANY ANIMOSITY IS WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK. FANS WILL BE FANS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NO STRANGER TO A BIT OF THIS. YOU KNOW, I THINK RUGBY NEEDS MORE OF THIS. AND, YEAH, I LOVE THE SIDE OF THE GAME AND, BUT LOOK, YEAH, LOOK, AS I SAID, IT IS, IT IS WHAT SEEMS 50/50 AND, YEAH, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHEN I'M OVER THERE. IOANE SOUNDED OUT ALL BLACKS TEAM MATE JORDIE BARETT WHO'S COMING TO THE END OF HIS OWN SABBATICAL WITH LEINSTER, WITH BARRETT ONLY REINFORCING IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION. A DOUBLE BOOST FOR THE WARRIORS CLASH WITH THE DOLPHINS IN BRISBANE ON SATURDAY WITH CO-CAPTAIN JAMES FISHER-HARRIS NAMED TO START AND WINGER ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK NAMED ON THE EXTENDED BENCH. DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK HAS KEPT HIS SPOT ON THE WING AFTER MAKING HIS FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE SEASON LAST WEEKEND FOLLOWING A 12-WEEK LAYOFF WITH A WRIST INJURY. THE SPEEDSTER ADMITTING THE COMPETITION FOR SELECTION HAS BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE TEAM SITTING SECOND ON THE LADDER. IT BRINGS OUT THE BEST AT TRAINING. EVERYONE'S COMPETING, GOING HARD AGAINST EACH OTHER AND THE BETTER WE TRAIN AND WANTING TO TAKE EACH OTHER'S POSITIONS, JUST ELEVATES TRAINING AND THEN ELEVATES OUR GAME ON THE WEEKEND AND JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. IT'S QUITE COOL. THE WARRIORS 7-2 RECORD IS THE BEST START THE CLUB'S HAD TO A SEASON IN 20 YEARS. THE PLAUDITS ARE FLOWING FOR ONE OF INDIA'S GREATEST BATTERS, WHO'S ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM TEST CRICKET. HERE VIRAT KOHLI, WHO'S ALSO INDIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CAPTAIN, VIRAT KOHLI, WHO'S ALSO INDIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CAPTAIN, IS STEPPING DOWN JUST A MONTH OUT FROM A FIVE-TEST TOUR OF ENGLAND. KOHLI HAD ALREADY RETIRED FROM T20 INTERNATIONALS. HE PLAYED 123 TESTS OVER A 14-YEAR CAREER, SCORING MORE THAN 9200 RUNS. HE REALLY GOT UNDER THE AUSSIE SKINS. WE WILL MISS THAT. TIME FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE THAT MENTAL. I AM SURE THE ENGLISH ARE HAPPY. THANK YOU. A KIWI INVENTOR AND WALLACE AND GROMIT FAN HAS TURNED ONE OF THE FILM FRANCHISE'S WACKIEST INVENTIONS INTO REAL LIFE. JOSEPH HERSCHER CREATED HIS OWN VERSION OF THE FAMOUS MORNING SCENE FROM THE MOVIE THE WRONG TROUSERS. SUCH WAS HIS DEDICATION TO GETTING IT RIGHT, IT TOOK 65 TAKES TO PERFECT THE TRICKIEST PART. HE SPOKE TO ITV'S CARI DAVIES. OH, STEADY ON. ARGH! OW! IT'S A CHILDHOOD DREAM COME TRUE. NEVER MIND WISHING FOR ONE OF WALLACE'S MACHINES ` WHEN JOSEPH HERSCHER GREW UP, HE WENT AHEAD AND BUILT ONE. THE REAL-LIFE INVENTOR HAS BEEN CREATING CONTRAPTIONS SINCE HE WAS 5 YEARS OLD. SO, OF COURSE, HE ARRIVED TO OUR CHAT IN THIS MECHANICAL CHAIR. WALLACE'S BREAKFAST MACHINE WAS HIS LARGEST BUILD TO DATE. I'VE ALWAYS SORT OF IMAGINED, LIKE, HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT FOR REAL? LIKE, IS IT POSSIBLE? AND, LIKE, 'I THINK SO?' IT IS PERFECT. THE SPLAT ON THE TOAST IS PERFECT. HOW ON EARTH DID YOU DO THAT? IT TOOK 65 TAKES TO GET IT ` OVER AND OVER. BUT ALSO WE WORKED OUT, COS THE JAM KIND OF, LIKE, SPREADS OUT THROUGH THE AIR, WE USED SOME CLEVER CHEMISTRY TO CREATE, LIKE, A SLIGHT SKIN ON THE JAM BALL, AND THEN IT BURSTS WHEN IT HITS THE TOAST. SO I KNEW THAT WAS GONNA BE HARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FINALLY GET THAT ONE MAGICAL MOMENT, IT'S QUITE BEAUTIFUL. TRIAL AND ERROR IS ALL PART OF THE FUN. IT'S NEVER TOO LONG BEFORE WORK BEGINS ON THE NEXT IDEA. SO WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? I'M MAKING A BODY WASH APPLICATION CONTRAPTION, AND I'VE GOT A MOP HERE THAT THE BODY WASH GETS SQUIRTED ON TO. AND THEN THE MOP, THE DRILL TURNS ON THAT. I MEAN, IT'S VERY AGGRESSIVE BODY WASH APPLICATION ` THAT'S FOR SURE. HIS 7 MILLION-PLUS SUBSCRIBERS WILL EAGERLY AWAIT THE FINAL REVEAL. THANKS TO HIS LATEST VIDEO, HE NOW HAS FANS AT WALLACE AND GROMIT HQ, WHO SAID, 'CRACKING JOB, JOSEPH.' IMOGEN'S BACK AND HOW'S THE WEEKEND SHAPING UP? FRIDAY IS LOOKING MOSTLY FINE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT THAT RAIN BAND THERE ON THE WEST COAST STARTS TO SPREAD ON SATUDAY. WHICH IS GOING TO BE A WET ONE FOR MANY. YOU CAN SEE SOME IT CREEPING IN UP NORTH TOO, AND THEN HEAVY RAIN LOOKS LIKELY TO SET IN ON SUNDAY. I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS NEXT. A.M.I, BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. WELCOME BACK AFTER A DRY DAY FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY. TOMORROW SEES QUITE A FEW SHOWERS SCATTERED ACROSS BOTH ISLANDS, AND THAT RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE'LL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE OVER THE NORTH ISLAND FOR ANOTHER COUPLE DAYS YET. CLOUD IS THE BIG THEME TOMORROW WITH PLENTY DOWN SOUTH. THERE'S A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS ABOUT. 15 WILL BE THE WARMEST IT GETS, AND IT'S ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL OF YOU THAT'LL HIT IT. MORE CLOUD TO GO AROUND FOR THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW TOO WITH PATCHES OF FOG, AND THE ODD SHOWER FOR SOME. 20 DEGREES THE HIGH UP HERE FOR WHANGANUI. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THOSE RIGHT UP TOP WITH THE POTENTIAL OF SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. FINE FOR WHITIANGA AND HAMILTON. SOUWESTERLY WINDS. SOUTHERLIES FOR KAITAIA. FINE FOR ALL HERE APART FROM SOME EVENING CLOUD FOR TAUPO, ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. SOU AND SOUWESTERLIES HERE TOO. DYING OUT IN THE MORNING. A CLOUDY START FOR ALL WITH SHOWERS AROUND MIDDAY FOR GISBORNE. SOU AND SOUEASTERLIES ABOUT. TURNING NOREASTERLIE FOR DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. NEW PLYMOUTH'LL HAVE SHOWERS BEFORE DAWN WITH A PARTLY CLOUDY START FOR EVERYONE. CHANCE OF MORNING FOG FOR TAUMARANUI. AND A BIG MIX OF WINDS. MORE CLOUD HERE WITH THE CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS FOR ALL APART FROM NELSON. LIGHT WINDS ABOUT EVERYWHERE TOO. CLOUDY STARTS HERE WILL CLEAR TO FINE. NOREASTERLIES FOR KAIKOURA AND TIMARU. NOREASTERLY WINDS ABOUT FOR MOST IN THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. AND IT'LL BE FINE AND FROSTY OR MOST RIGHT DOWN SOUTH. SHOWERS ABOUT FOR STEWART ISLAND. AND A BIG MIX OF WINDS ABOUT DOWN HERE AS WELL. DUNEDIN ` YOUR WEDNESDAY IS LOOKING FINE APART FROM SOME MORNING CLOUD. WESTERLY WINDS, DYING OUT IN THE MORNING. THAT MORNING CLOUD WILL CLEAR TO FINE IN CHRISTCHURCH. WITH SOUTHERLIES, TURNING NORTHEASTERLY LATE MORNING. EASING AT NIGHT TIME. IT'LL BE PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE CAPITAL. WITH SOUTHERLIES TO START THE DAY TURNING NORTHERLY IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 IS YOUR HIGH HAWKES BAY HAS THE CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWERS, CLOUD BREAKING UP IN THE AFTERNOON. AND SOUTHERLIES EASING THEN TOO. WEDNESDAY'S LOOKING FINE FOR YOU, TAURANGA. YOU'LL HAVE SOUWESTERLY WINDS. DYING OUT IN THE MORNING. AND A HIGH OF 19 A FINE DAY'S ON THE CARDS FOR HAMILTON TOO. WITH LIGHT WINDS ABOUT AND AFTERNOON SOUTHWESTERLIES. 19 IS ALSO YOUR HIGH AND IN AUCKLAND, IT'S GOING TO BE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH A SHOWER OR TWO THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AND SOUTHWESTERLIES DYING OUT IN THE EVENING. BRISBANE, SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE ARE ALL IN FOR SHOWERS TOMORROW, BUT IT'S LOOKING FINE IN PERTH. AND NEW CALEDONIA AND VANUATU MANAGE TO ESCAPE THE SHOWERS. IN THE PACIFIC. TAKING A LOOK AT HOW THE END OF THE WEEK IS SHAPING UP, AND AS I MENTIONED THAT RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN DOMINANT ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE MOVING AWAY TO THE EAST ON SATURDAY. NORWESTERLIES WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THEN TOO. ALSO FRIDAY COULD SEE WEST TO NORWEST GALES BECOMING SEVERE OVER PARTS OF THE WAIRARAPA AND TARARUA DISTRICTS ` EMPHASIS ON COULD. NOW, A WEAKENING FRONT'LL START TO MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND ON THURSDAY. FOLLOWED BY A SHOWERY, WESTERLY FLOW ON FRIDAY, AND THEN A COMPLEX TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE STARTS TO APPROACH THE SOUTH FROM THE TASMAN SEA. AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND BRINGING WITH IT PLENTY OF RAIN OR SHOWERS AND I KNOW IT'S NOT UP ON THE SCREEN BUT AS WE SAW SUNDAY'S ALREADY LOOKING MEGA-WET. FOR QUITE A FEW OF US, IN THE MEANTIME, HOW'S THIS FOR A SUNRISE? LINDA TOOK THIS IN MT PLEASANT, DOWN IN CHRISTCHURCH. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON WWW.STUFF.CO.NZ I'M LAURA TUPOU. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW.