FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS IS ALL SMILES AFTER DELIVERING BIG KIWISAVER CHANGES, A BUSINESS BOOST, AND $12 BILLION IN PAY EQUITY SAVINGS BUT JUST OUT THE WINDOW, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SMILE ABOUT AS PROTESTERS RALLY OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT. CAPTIONS BY JASON CONRAN, TOM CLARKE AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. THE WAY THE POT OF MONEY IN YOUR KIWISAVER GROWS IS SET TO CHANGE ` FIRST UP, A WHOPPING $12.8B IS HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE SAVED FROM CHANGES TO PAY EQUITY CLAIMS FOR WOMEN. SO WHERE IS IT GOING? THE DEFAULT CONTRIBUTION FOR KIWISAVER IS RISING FROM 3% TO 4%. THAT'S FOR BOTH EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYERS. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS EXTEND TO 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS, BUT THE ANNUAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION IS SLASHED IN HALF, DOWN TO A MAXIMUM OF $260. TARGETED COST OF LIVING SUPPORT INCLUDES PRESCRIPTIONS BEING EXTENDED FROM THREE MONTHS TO 12. THE COST? $91M OVER FOUR YEARS. AND YOUNG PEOPLE HUNTING FOR A JOB ARE SET TO DO IT HARD. JOBSEEKER SUPPORT AND EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR 18- AND 19 YEAR-OLDS WILL BE SUBJECT TO MEANS TESTS AGAINST THEIR PARENTS' INCOMES. THEY WON'T GET IT IF IT'S DEEMED THEIR PARENTS CAN SUPPORT THEM. WE'VE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TONIGHT, THE 1 NEWS TEAM REPORTING LIVE WITH WHAT THE BUDGET MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WE BEGIN WITH OUR POLITICAL EDITOR, MAIKI SHERMAN, AT PARLIAMENT. WHAT KIND OF BUDGET HAS THE GOVERNMENT DELIVERED? CERTAINLY EXPERTS IN THE LOCKUP TODAY CALLED THE OLD SWITCHEROO BUDGET. TAKING MONEY FROM HERE AND SWITCHING IT OVER THERE. AS PART OF THE BUDGET THERE WERE AROUND 116 INITIATIVES CUT ACROSS THE PUBLIC SECTOR THAT BRODIN SAVINGS OF $5 BILLION, BUT THE BIGGEST SAVINGS OF ALL IN THE BIGGEST COUNT OF ALL WAS TO PAY EQUITY. THAT MONEY SET ASIDE FOR LOW PAID WOMEN WORKERS, AND THAT CUT DEEP (BLEEP) THEM. WHAT WAS THAT? I SAID (BLEEP) THEM. AS THE GOVERNMENT UNVEILED ITS BUDGET IN PARLIAMENT, THE MESSAGE OUTSIDE WAS CLEAR. (LOUD BOOING) SHAME ON YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING TO DESTROY THE SOCIETY THAT WE LOVE. TODAY, THE FINANCE MINISTER REVEALED HOW MUCH HAD BEEN SAVED UNDER PAY EQUITY CHANGES ` A WHOPPING $12.8 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. WITHOUT THIS REFORM, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE IN THIS BUDGET TO BE PUTTING THE EXTRA MONEY INTO HEALTH, TO BE PUTTING EXTRA MONEY INTO LEARNING SUPPORT. THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS, AND THERE ARE CHOICES. IT'S SAVING THEM MONEY, BUT YOU GOTTA TAKE IT FROM SOMEWHERE. LET'S TAKE IT OFF THE LOWEST-PAID PEOPLE AND GIVE IT TO THE RICHEST. WHO CARES (?) AS HUNDREDS PROTESTED... (CHEERING) ...WHAT REMAINS UNKNOWN IS HOW MUCH IS LEFT FOR FUTURE CLAIMS. WHY WON'T YOU TELL THEM HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE IS LEFT IN THE KITTY? BECAUSE THAT NUMBER IS COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE BECAUSE IT RELATES TO THE BARGAINING THAT THE CROWN WILL NOW UNDERTAKE. THERE WAS A WORD IN RESPONSE TO THAT TOO. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THIS (BLEEP) AT MY AGE ` 72. THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS GROWTH, WITH A NEW TAX INCENTIVE 'INVESTMENT BOOST' COSTING $1.7 BILLION A YEAR. IT ALLOWS A BUSINESS TO IMMEDIATELY DEDUCT 20% OF THE COST OF A NEW ASSET FROM ITS TAXABLE INCOME. HAWKE'S BAY FARMER WILL FOLEY SAYS AFTER A TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS FOR FARMERS, OPTIMISM IS SLOWLY RETURNING. WE ARE BEHIND ON INVESTMENT BECAUSE OF A COUPLE POOR YEARS, AND SO WE NEED TO CATCH UP. INVESTMENT BOOST MEANS CHEAPER TRACTORS. IT MEANS CHEAPER UTES. INCENTIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW US TO INVEST IN... IN CAPITAL AND IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY WILL BE A BIG BONUS. SURROUNDED BY A COALITION OF MEN AS WOMEN CONDEMNED HER OUTSIDE, NICOLA WILLIS LET NOTHING BREAK HER STRIDE. THIS IS NOT AUSTERITY; IN FACT, IT IS WHAT YOU DO TO AVOID AUSTERITY. THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE BUDGET THAT LEFT WOMEN OUT. FOR THE FLANAGAN FAMILY IN PAPAMOA, WATCHING BUSINESSES GET A BIG BOOST WAS DISAPPOINTING. I DON'T THINK HELPING THE BUSINESS IS GONNA DO ANYTHING REALLY FOR THE ECONOMY. WE NEED THE PEOPLE TO WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY. WITH THREE DAUGHTERS, THEY RECEIVE WORKING FOR FAMILIES, WITH AROUND $14 EXTRA A FORTNIGHT PROMISED UNDER THE BUDGET. REALLY, WE'RE LIKE ONE PAYCHEQUE AWAY FROM BEING TROUBLE IF ANYTHING WAS TO HAPPEN. AS AN ECE TEACHER, SHE'S HAPPY MORE FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SCHEME, WITH THE INCOME THRESHOLD RISING. FAMILIES THAT I LOOK AFTER THEIR CHILDREN ` THEY MISS BY ON THE THRESHOLD BY ONLY A FEW DOLLARS. AS NICOLA WILLIS HANDED OUT HER BUDGET... MR SPEAKER, I COMMEND THIS BUDGET TO THE HOUSE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) ...THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY WAS CLEAR. BACK TO MAIKI NOW. THE BIG NUMBERS ` ANY DETAILS OF WHEN THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE IN SURPLUS? AT THIS STAGE THE GOVERNMENT IS ON TRACK TO HIT SURPLUS IN AROUND FOUR YEARS TIME. IT IS WAFER THIN, JUST $200 MILLION, SO IF THERE IS ANOTHER NATURAL DISASTER, SAY ANOTHER FLOOD FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S ALL GONE. AND WHAT'S IN THERE FOR THE COALITION PARTNERS? CERTAINLY THE EX PARTE WAS CELEBRATING TODAY. MORE MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HELPING WITH THE SUBSIDY SIDE OF THINGS. $16 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THEY SAY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A BOOST FOR SUBSIDIES FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS SINCE 2010. THAT EQUATES TO AROUND $100 EACH YEAR FOR EACH STUDENT. DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS THIS IS NOT ABOUT RICH KIDS. HE'S IS THAT TRAINEES AND FARMERS WILL ALSO SCRIMP AND SAVE TO SAVE THEIR CHILDREN TO THOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND IT HAS NOT HAVE A BOOST IN A LONG TIME. WINSTON PETERS HAS SECURED A RATES REBATE FOR SUPER GOLD CARDHOLDERS, SAYING IT WILL AFFECT AROUND 66,000 HOUSEHOLDS. THE OLDER GENERATION WILL BE HAPPY WITH THAT IN TERMS OF SHANE JONES. PARTNERING UP WITH SOME OF THOSE PRIVATE COMPANIES, TO GET THOSE PROJECTS UNDERWAY. THOSE HAVE BEEN THE FOCUS TODAY FOR THE COALITION. AND AS WE'VE MENTIONED, KIWISAVER IS GETTING A MAJOR OVERHAUL. NEARLY 3.5 MILLION NEW ZEALANDERS BELONG TO THE KIWISAVER SCHEME. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS HAS THE DETAILS AND REACTION. THIS WAIKATO FAMILY HAVE A BIG MORTGAGE HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS, A MORTGAGE THEY DREAM OF KNOCKING OFF. PAYING THAT DOWN AS FAST AS WE CAN WILL ALLOW US TO STEP FORWARD ONCE IT'S ALL PAID OFF AND START SERIOUSLY SAVING FOR OUR RETIREMENT. NOW THERE ARE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE KIWISAVER RETIREMENT SCHEME. THE OVERALL POOL OF KIWISAVER SAVINGS IN NEW ZEALAND WILL GROW SIGNIFICANTLY. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY. FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR, THE DEFAULT CONTRIBUTION WILL RISE INCREMENTALLY FROM 3% TO 4% BY 2028, BUT WORKERS WILL BE ABLE TO OPT OUT. THE SCHEME WILL BE EXTENDED TO 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS. THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE HALVING ITS ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION FROM $520 TO $260, WHILE THOSE EARNING $180,000 OR MORE WON'T GET ANYTHING, SAVING THE GOVERNMENT $2.5B OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. DO YOU RISK UNDERMINING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF KIWISAVER BY HALVING THAT GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION? NO. THERE IS ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT THE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION INFLUENCES PEOPLE'S DECISIONS TO GO IN KIWISAVER. WELL, ARE THEY GONNA HALVE THE TAX THEY TAKE OFF THE PROFITS? OFFICIALS ADVISED AXING THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION ALTOGETHER. SO I THINK WE'VE STRUCK THE RIGHT BALANCE ` A BIT OF CASH, A BIT OF AN INCENTIVE, BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT IT MAKES KIWISAVER UNSUSTAINABLE IN THE LONGER RUN. LET'S BE CLEAR ` THIS GOVERNMENT HAVE RAIDED THE FUTURE RETIREMENT SAVINGS OF ALL NEW ZEALANDERS WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO KIWISAVER BY TAKING THE GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS AWAY. SOME ARE GLAD THERE'S A DECENT LEAD-IN TIME TO MANAGE THE CHANGES. IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE HEAD-SCRATCHER FOR PAYROLL, THAT'S FOR SUE, BECAUSE YOU CAN OPT IN, YOU CAN OPT OUT, YOU CAN OPT OUT ON A YEARLY BASIS OR NOT, OR YOU CAN GO TO 4% OR 3%. TREASURY, THOUGH, BELIEVES MANY BUSINESSES WILL JUST OFFER THEIR WORKERS LOWER WAGES AS A RESULT. THIS QUEENSTOWN TOURISM OPERATOR WASN'T RAPT. ESSENTIALLY, IT'S JUST GONNA BE ANOTHER COST TO THE BUSINESS, ISN'T IT, AND THE EMPLOYEE SO I THINK IT'S GONNA BE SLIGHTLY TOUGHER ON BOTH SIDES, TO BE HONEST. SOME WORRIED THEY'RE HAVING TO WEAR AN EXTRA COST WHILE THE GOVERNMENT PULLS BACK... THEIR ACTIONS DON'T MATCH THEIR INTENTIONS. ...IMPACTING THE FUTURE OF BIG AND LITTLE KIWIS ALIKE. BENEDICT, CHANGES UNVEILED AS WELL FOR THE 'BEST START' SCHEME THAT OFFERS SUPPORT TO NEW PARENTS. THAT'S RIGHT. THE BEST START PAYMENT HAS BEEN ABOUT SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND NEWBORN CHILDREN FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS. IT IS WORTH ABOUT $70 A WEEK. FOR SECOND AND THIRD YEARS THE PAYMENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MEANS TESTED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THEY WILL MEANS TEST THAT PAYMENT IN THE FIRST YEAR, SO THAT MEANS FOR FAMILIES THAT EARN MORE THAN $97,000, THEY WILL NO LONGER GET THE PAYMENT. IN A CLIMATE AND INEQUALITY CRISIS, THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM WHANAU WITH A NEW BABY AT HOME AND SETTING IT ON FIRE BY PLOUGHING IT INTO NEW FOSSIL FUEL EXPLORATION. THE FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS SAYS THAT THIS WILL NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL APRIL NEXT YEAR, SO SHE IS GIVING PURPOSIVE PARENTS MORE THAN NINE MONTHS. SHE SAYS MUM AND DAD'S CAN FACTOR THIS INTO THEIR DECISION-MAKING. MEANS TESTING IS ALSO BEING INTRODUCED FOR 18- AND 19-YEAR-OLD BENEFICIARIES. THEIR PARENTS WILL NOW COME UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. CUSHLA NORMAN EXPLAINS. THOSE IN THEIR LATE TEENS NOW HAVE LESS OF A SAFETY NET IF THEY CAN'T FIND WORK. IT WILL SOON BE ON MUM AND DAD, NOT THE STATE, TO PROP UP THEIR UNEMPLOYED TEENS IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT. THE JOBSEEKER BENEFIT WILL BE TOUGHER FOR 18-YEAR-OLDS AND 19-YEAR-OLDS TO GET. IT'S PRETTY UNFAIR, CONSIDERING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS ANYMORE. UM, I THINK IT LEAVES A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A TRICKY POSITION, LIKE SPECIFICALLY WITH HARMONY PEOPLE NEED JOBS AND HOW HARD IT IS TO GET JOBS AT THE MOMENT. THE GOVERNMENT ARGUES THE POLICY CHANGE PROVIDES THE MOTIVATION NEEDED TO FIND WORK. I THINK PARENTS ARE GOING TO WELCOME THAT POLICY, BECAUSE I HAVE MET WITH PARENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SAY TO ME, 'WHAT AM I MEANT TO DO TO GET MY SON OFF THE COUCH PLAYING PLAYSTATION 'ALL DAY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT JUST GIVES THEM A WELFARE CHEQUE?' I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOOD. I WASTED TOO MUCH TIME ON MY XBOX WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I SHOULD HAVE STUDIED MORE. FROM JULY 2027, THE GOVERNMENT WILL MEANS-TEST THE INCOMES OF PARENTS. HOW MUCH WILL PARENTS HAVE TO EARN FOR THEIR 18-YEAR-OLD OR 19-YEAR-OLD TO QUALIFY FOR JOB SEEKER? WELL, WE WILL BE MAKING FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THIS POLICY IN THE COMING WEEKS. WE RECOGNISE SOME 18-YEAR-OLDS OR 19-YEAR-OLDS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON PARENTAL SUPPORT, SO WE WANT TO HAVE NARROW EXCEPTIONS FOR THAT CASE. ONE OF THE THINGS IT'S DOING IS BASICALLY INTRODUCING A NEW AGE OF INDEPENDENCE IN NEW ZEALAND. BASICALLY, IT'S SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT FULLY INDEPENDENT FROM YOUR PARENTS UNTIL YOU'RE 20. THE CHANGE IS EXPECTED TO SAVE $164m OVER FOUR YEARS. IT DOES APPEAR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING PUNISHED FOR AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM THEY HAVE NOT CREATED. SO, WHAT DO PARENTS THINK? IT'S A HARD PUSH BACK ON PARENTS TO TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I PERSONALLY THINK... 18-YEAR-OLDS AND 19-YEAR-OLDS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AND FIND SOMETHING TO DO. THERE IS AN EXEMPTION, HOWEVER ` THOSE WHO ARE MARRIED, IN A CIVIL UNION, OR DE FACTO RELATIONSHIP WON'T HAVE THEIR PARENTS' INCOMES TESTED. CUSHLA, HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD THIS POLICY AFFECT? SIMON, I HAVE GOT SOME FIGURES FROM THE MINISTER'S OFFICE. 14 1/2 THOUSAND 18 AND 19-YEAR-OLDS ON THE BENEFIT. THE OPPOSITION CAME OUT ON THIS PRETTY STRONG. THEY SAY IT IS PUNCHING DOWN. THE GREENS SAY IT ASSUMES PEOPLE HAVE PARENTS WHO CAN SUPPORT THEM AND THAT IS OUR TOYS THE CASE. LABOUR SAYS IT EFFECTIVELY ESTABLISHES A NEW AGE OF INDEPENDENCE AT 20. THE POLICY IS STILL BEING WORKED THROUGH. AND ANOTHER $1B IS BEING PUT TOWARDS THE UPGRADE OF HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOTABLY, NELSON HOSPITAL WILL SEE A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING A NEW 128-BED IN-PATIENT BUILDING. WELLINGTON WILL GET A NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, AND BOTH AUCKLAND AND PALMERSTON NORTH HOSPITAL WILL SEE SOME CRITICAL REPAIRS COMPLETED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO CONTINUE THE WHAI KAINGA WHAI ORANGA MAORI HOUSING PROGRAMME. IT'S ROLLING MONEY INTO A GENERAL FLEXIBLE FUND THAT IT SAYS WILL HELP SEE THE DELIVERY OF HUNDREDS MORE SOCIAL HOMES AND AFFORDABLE RENTALS. CUTS ALSO TO TAXPAYER-FUNDED RADIO NEW ZEALAND, SET TO LOSE $4.6M A YEAR, 7% OF ITS ANNUAL BUDGET. THAT MONEY INSTEAD GOING TOWARDS A TOTAL OF $6.4 MILLION THE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTING IN LOCAL JOURNALISM PROJECTS AND REGIONAL NEWSROOMS. SO THOSE ARE THE BIG NUMBERS FROM THE BUDGET, BUT WILL IT ALL BE ENOUGH TO SORT OUT SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES? JACOB JOHNSON'S BEEN GAUGING REACTION AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHILE MANY STEP AWAY FROM THEIR WORK WHEN THEY RETIRE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR ART NAHILL. THE FORMER PHYSICIAN'S RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A TWO-WEEK TOUR AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THIS VAN, ASKING KIWIS ABOUT THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN THE HEALTH SECTOR. THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE WORRIED ABOUT ACCESS; LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO, DESPITE LIVING IN AN AREA FOR THREE YEARS ` AS EXAMPLE, UP IN KAITAIA ` UNABLE TO FIND A GP WITH BOOKS THAT WERE OPEN. HE SAYS THE 12-MONTH PRESCRIPTIONS WILL FREE UP SOME SPACE AT GP CLINICS, WITH FEWER PEOPLE BOOKING APPOINTMENTS FOR REPEATS; BUT SAYS ASIDE FROM THAT, THERE WERE NO BIG SURPRISES. TO ME, IT'S MORE FUNDING FOR THE AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF. THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING AN EXTRA $1.37 BILLION PER YEAR TO INCREASE HEALTH NEW ZEALAND'S BASELINE, WHICH IT SAYS WILL ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL 21,000 PLANNED CARE TREATMENTS ` A WELCOME BOOST FOR LYNETTE WALL, WHO'S BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR AN ORTHOPAEDIC APPOINTMENT FOR 47 WEEKS. HOPEFULLY IT'LL SHORTEN THE WAITING TIMES. I'M SORT OF IN TWO MINDS. DO I BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT? FURTHER SOUTH, IT'S BEEN A BUSY DAY FOR VOLUNTEERS AT THIS CHRISTCHURCH COMMUNITY GARDEN WHO RUN A FOODBANK FOR THOSE IN NEED. WE'RE DOING BETWEEN 50 AND 80 FOOD PARCELS A WEEK WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT. DAY-TO-DAY COSTS ARE A STRUGGLE FOR MANY WHO COME HERE, SO NEWS OF THE 1400 FORTNIGHTLY BOOST FOR MORE THAN 140,000 LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES TRAVELLED FAST HERE THIS AFTERNOON. BUT LORETTA BELIEVES IT'LL MAKE LITTLE DIFFERENCE. MOST FAMILIES HAVE GOT FOUR OR FIVE CHILDREN, SO $14 ISN'T GOING TO GO ANYWHERE. THE INVESTMENT BOOST TAX INCENTIVE A BIG TALKING POINT FOR BUSINESSES... WE NEED STIMULATION, AND THINGS LIKE THAT WILL GET PEOPLE BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING NEW STUFF. ...HOPING IT'LL HELP SPEED UP ECONOMIC GROWTH. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` JUST AHEAD ` THE REST OF THE DAY'S NEWS, INCLUDING AN OVAL OFFICE AMBUSH IN TRUE TRUMP STYLE. DEATH. PLUS, HE'S GOT THE NAME FOR IT ` HOW LONG MARK ROCKET'S HAD TO WAIT HORRIBLE DEATH. WHO HE CLAIMS ARE THE VICTIMS OF MASS MURDER IN SOUTH AFRICA.. AND HOW THE RAINBOW NATION'S PRESIDENT REACTED. PLUS, HE'S GOT THE NAME FOR IT ` HOW LONG MARK ROCKET'S HAD TO WAIT TO FINALLY BECOME THE FIRST KIWI IN SPACE. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, THEY'RE HANGING UP ON 3G. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR PHONE. AND TURNING SLASH INTO CASH ` THE INITIATIVE THAT'S QUINTESSENTIALLY KIWI AND TAKING FLIGHT. PLUS, THE GOOD OLD LUGE RIDE IS GOING GLOBAL, AND IT'S GAINING TRACTION. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. VOICEOVER: Get your free Consumers's Guide to Hearing Aids. New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. NAU MAI HOKI MAI. IN AUSTRALIA, TWO MEN HAVE BEEN KILLED BY RECORD FLOODS IN NORTHEAST NEW SOUTH WALES. AT LEAST TWO OTHER PEOPLE ARE MISSING. THOUSANDS OF RESCUERS ARE TRYING TO REACH TENS OF THOUSANDS LEFT STRANDED BY EXTREME AND UNRELENTING RAINFALL. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT AZIZ AL-SA'AFIN REPORTS. THESE FLOODS HIT HARD, FAST AND BEYOND ALL PREDICTIONS. HELLO! ANYONE IN THERE? IN SCENES REPEATED ACROSS THE REGION, THIS RESCUER HELPS A GRANDMOTHER ESCAPE HER HOME IN TAREE... I CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING WITH ME. OH. I'M SO SORRY. ...JUST ONE OF 50,000 CUT OFF BY RECORD RAINFALL. WE CAN TAKE SMALL MEDICATIONS, BUT THAT'S IT. UP THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR NEIGHBOUR HOLLY PILOTTO TOO ` WINCHED AWAY AS FLOODWATERS ROSE. BOATS FERRYING OTHERS TO SAFETY ` HAPPY TO BE ALIVE BUT FEARFUL OF WHAT THEY'LL RETURN TO. IT'S BROKE MY HEART. IT HAS. IT'S BROKE MY HEART. BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR EVERYBODY. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING. BUT THE FLOODING HAS TURNED DEADLY ` A 63-YEAR-OLD MAN'S BODY FOUND INSIDE HIS HOME THIS MORNING. THE PRIME MINISTER AND NEW SOUTH WALES PREMIER PAYING TRIBUTE. WHEN THERE'S THESE TERRIBLE NATURAL DISASTERS, THEY HIT ORDINARY FAMILIES IN TERRIBLE WAYS. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 500 RESCUES ALREADY, BUT DOZENS OF COMMUNITIES ARE STILL ISOLATED. THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASSURED WE ARE ON OUR WAY. WE'RE PRIORITISING THE ONES THAT ARE LIFE CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE IS IN THE WATER. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS OUR PRIORITY. THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRANDED ` WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU. SINCE THE DEVASTATING LISMORE FLOODS IN 2022, STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE IMPROVED ON THEIR RESPONSE. 2500 RESCUE CREWS ARE CURRENTLY DEPLOYED. WE ARE THROWING EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE'VE GOT AT THIS INCIDENT. WE'VE SEEN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NEVER FLOODED IN RECORDED HISTORY NOW FLOODING. WITH THE RAIN SHOWING LITTLE SIGN OF EASING, RESIDENTS WARNED THE WORST IS NOT OVER YET. AZIZ AL-SA'AFIN, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. TO THE U.S. NOW, WHERE A SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY AFTER THE FATAL SHOOTING OF TWO ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS IN WASHINGTON DC. POLICE SAY THE COUPLE, A MAN AND A WOMAN, WERE SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE OUTSIDE A JEWISH MUSEUM. THEY ALSO SAY THE SOLE SUSPECT, A MAN (30) FROM CHICAGO, THEN WENT INSIDE WHERE HE WAS DETAINED BY SECURITY GUARDS BEFORE CHANTING 'FREE, FREE PALESTINE'. PALESTINIANS IN GAZA ARE STILL WAITING FOR AID TO BE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN TWO DAYS AFTER ISRAEL PARTIALLY LIFTED ITS TOTAL BLOCKADE. THE U.N. SAYS AROUND A DOZEN AID TRUCKS HAVE NOW LEFT THE BORDER ZONE, WITH THE DELAY DUE TO FEARS OF LOOTING AND ISRAELI MILITARY RESTRICTIONS. AID AGENCIES HAVE BEEN WARNING ABOUT WIDESPREAD HUNGER AND STARVATION. MEANWHILE, ISRAEL'S LEADER HAS CONDEMNED FOREIGN AN ANDD DOMESTIC CRITICISM OF HIS BLOCKADE AND EXPANDED MILITARY OPERATION. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING HE WILL ONLY END THE WAR IF HAMAS RELEASES ALL REMAINING HOSTAGES, SURRENDERS POWER, AND ISRAELI FORCES ARE IN CONTROL OF THE WHOLE OF GAZA. DONALD TRUMP'S BEEN INVOLVED IN ANOTHER SPAT IN THE OVAL OFFICE WITH CAMERAS ROLLING. THIS TIME, THE U.S. PRESIDENT CONFRONTING SOUTH AFRICA'S LEADER, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, OVER UNPROVEN CLAIMS ABOUT WHITE FARMERS ` ALL REMINISCENT OF HIS FEBRUARY CLASH WITH UKRAINIAN LEADER VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. HERE'S U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH WITH WHAT UNFOLDED. IT STARTED SO WELL. SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ARRIVING AT THE WHITE HOUSE HOPING TO TALK TRADE AND TARIFFS, BUT WHAT WAS WAITING IN THE OVAL OFFICE WAS A LIVE TELEVISED AMBUSH, TRUMP STYLE. GENERALLY, THEY'RE WHITE FARMERS, AND THEY'RE FLEEING SOUTH AFRICA, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW` IT'S A VERY SAD THING TO SEE. WHAT TRUMP'S REFERRING TO IS A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT ALLEGES SOUTH AFRICA IS IN THE THROES OF A WHITE GENOCIDE. DEATH, DEATH, DEATH, HORRIBLE DEATH. AND JUST PUT THIS ON. IT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU. THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT'S THEN GIVEN A MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION. RAMAPHOSA APPEARING INCREASINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE AS HE WAS ACCUSED OF PRESIDING OVER A GENOCIDAL REGIME. YOU ALLOWED THEM TO TAKE LAND. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU DO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE LAND. NOBODY CAN TAKE` AND THEN WHEN THEY TAKE THE LAND, THEY KILL THE WHITE FARMER. AND WHEN THEY KILL THE WHITE FARMER, NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM. NO. THERE IS QUITE` NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM. THERE IS CRIMINALITY IN OUR COUNTRY. PEOPLE WHO DO GET KILLED, UNFORTUNATELY THROUGH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, ARE NOT ONLY WHITE PEOPLE. LOOKING ON, SOUTH-AFRICAN-BORN ELON MUSK, WHO FREQUENTLY MAKES CLAIMS ABOUT ANTI-WHITE RACIST VIOLENCE. WHAT IS TRUE IS THAT SOUTH AFRICA HAS A VERY HIGH MURDER RATE, BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THE MINORITY WHITE POPULATION IS A SPECIFIC TARGET. THAT HASN'T STOPPED TRUMP RECENTLY WELCOMING A GROUP OF WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS TO AMERICA AS REFUGEES. WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT FEEL THEY'RE BEING PERSECUTED, AND THEY'RE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. THE OVAL OFFICE IS SEEN AS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ROOMS IN THE WORLD, AND AS OF LATE, DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN USING IT TO STAGE LOUD, TELEVISED DISAGREEMENTS WITH OTHER WORLD LEADERS ON ISSUES THAT TRUMP IS PASSIONATE ABOUT, WHETHER THOSE ISSUES ARE REAL OR NOT. SOUTH AFRICANS UNIMPRESSED. IT'S A NEW TYPE OF DIPLOMACY, RIGHT, AND IT'S A TRUMP SHOW. RAMAPHOSA'S COMPOSED RESPONSE, THOUGH, SHOWING WORLD LEADERS ARE LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH TRUMP-BRANDED DIPLOMACY. LOGAN CHURCH, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. AEROSPACE ENTREPRENEUR MARK ROCKET IS SET TO BECOME THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER TO GO TO SPACE. HE'S BOUGHT A SPOT ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S ROCKET, AND ON A DATE LATER THIS YEAR STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED, WILL HEAD TO WHERE NO KIWI HAS GONE BEFORE. HE SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY TO ALI PUGH. MARK ROCKET'S HAD HIS EYES ON THE SKIES FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER. EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY SPACE TECHNOLOGY, SPACE, AND SPACE TRAVEL. AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, AT PRIMARY SCHOOL, I DID A PROJECT ABOUT THE PLANETS. BACK THEN, WE HAD NINE PLANETS. NOW WE'VE ONLY GOT EIGHT PLANETS. HIS DREAM SOON TO BE A REALITY. HE'S BOOKED ON BOARD BLUE ORIGIN'S 12th HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, MAKING HIM THE FIRST KIWI TO GO TO SPACE. FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE START OUR TRAINING THROUGH TO THE END, I'LL JUST BE, YOU KNOW, REVELLING IN THE JOURNEY. THE LAST BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT IN APRIL CARRIED POP STAR KATY PERRY. (GIGGLES) THE ROCKET SOARING 100km ABOVE EARTH INTO THE EDGE OF SPACE. THE NEXT VOYAGE WILL MIRROR THAT SAME JOURNEY ` ALL UP, AROUND 11 MINUTES CERTAINLY THE TRIP ITSELF IS PRETTY SHORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, BUCKLING IN, GETTING READY TO EXPERIENCE 3 Gs OF ROCKET-POWERED FLIGHT UP TO SPACE WILL BE PRETTY` PRETTY PHENOMENAL. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY UNBUCKLING BEING ABLE TO FLY AROUND THE CABIN IN ZERO GRAVITY, I THINK WILL BE A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR ME. MARK'S ALREADY A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE INDUSTRY HERE, EVEN CHANGING HIS SURNAME TO 'ROCKET' TO MATCH HIS PASSION. A CO-DIRECTOR OF ROCKET LAB BEFORE LEAVING AND FORMING KEA AEROSPACE, ITS SOLAR-POWERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TRAVEL TO THE STRATOSPHERE. MARK'S UPCOMING SPACE ADVENTURE TWO DECADES IN THE MAKING. HE BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST SPACE TICKETS EVER ON OFFER TO THE MARKET. I STARTED IN 2006. I BOOKED WITH VIRGIN GALACTIC. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT DELAYED. THE COUNTDOWN TO FINALLY LIFTING OFF NOW ON. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TICKET PRICE? AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T TALK ABOUT. IT'S A NON-DISCLOSURE ASPECT. BUT HE HOPES THESE VIEWS WILL SOON BE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK UP AT THE NIGHT SKY AND WONDER ABOUT OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE. AND, YEAH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIME. AND SOON MARK WON'T BE LOOKING UP TO THE SKY, BUT RATHER DOWN TO EARTH ` A FLIGHT THAT WILL LAUNCH THIS KIWI STRAIGHT INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS. ALI PUGH, 1 NEWS. E HAERE AKE NEI, COMING UP ` AN AMERICAN AND GLOBAL RUGBY SUPERSTAR. HI, I'M ILONA MAHER. WE'RE HERE TO TAKE ON THE BLACK FERNS. I'LL SEE YOU LATER IN SPORTS. AND WE ARE LIFE FROM PARLIAMENT, GOING THROUGH WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM BUDGET 2025. THEN AT 7 ` THE SIGNAL IS FADING FAST FOR 3G, SO IS YOUR PHONE ABOUT TO BECOME OBSOLETE? AND ` A LIFE IN BLOOM. FOR 50 YEARS HE'S SHAPED OUR GARDENS. NOW HE'S HANGING UP THE PRUNING SHEARS AND TAKING A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE. PLUS ` FROM THE STUNNING NORTH TO THE SPECTACULAR SOUTH. THE MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT THAT'S TRANSFORMING ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTRY. SEE YOU AT 7. WELCOME BACK. JUST RECAPPING THE HEADLINES FROM THE BUDGET. A BIG SHAKE-UP FOR KIWISAVER ` DEFAULT CONTRIBUTIONS WILL INCREASE TO 4% FROM APRIL 2028. THAT FIGURE MATCHED BY EMPLOYERS. THE GOVERNMENT IS HALVING ITS YEARLY CONTRIBUTION, THOUGH, TO $260 DOLLARS, AND THERE WILL NOW BE MEANS-TESTING TO $260, AND THERE WILL NOW BE MEANS-TESTING SO PEOPLE EARNING MORE THAN $180,000 DON'T GET IT, WHILE 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE. MEANS TESTING TOO FOR PARENTS OF UNEMPLOYED 18- AND 19 YEAR-OLDS, MEANS TESTING TOO FOR PARENTS OF UNEMPLOYED 18- AND 19-YEAR-OLDS, WITH A NEW 'ASSISTANCE TEST' FROM 2027 TO WORK OUT IF THEIR CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR THE BENEFIT. AND THE GOVERNMENT REVEALING TODAY IT'S CLAWED BACK CLOSE TO $13B OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FROM CHANGES TO THE PAY EQUITY SCHEME. AND FROM THOSE SAVINGS A BOOST FOR EDUCATION, WITH STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT GETTING WHAT'S CLAIMED TO BE THE GREATEST INVESTMENT IN A GENERATION, WITH $646m OF FUNDING. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS REPORTS. WELL DONE. LOOK AT THAT. 5-YEAR-OLD NAYVY ATTENDS AN OUT-OF-ZONE SCHOOL TO ACCESS LIMITED TEACHER AIDE HOURS. THANK YOU, WHAEA TYLA. NOW, CHILDREN THAT FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS WILL RECEIVE MORE SUPPORT IN YEAR ONE, WITH THE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AGED UP TO 5 EXTENDING ANOTHER YEAR. OH, YOU DID IT! YEAH, IT CAN BE VERY INTIMIDATING AND SCARY, AND SO THE MORE FUNDING THE BETTER. THE EXTRA SUPPORT FOR YEAR ONE STUDENTS ` GETTING $266m OF FUNDING. OTHER EDUCATION BOOSTS IN THE BUDGET ` $122m TOWARDS WHAT'S KNOWN AS 'ORS' FUNDING, WHICH SUPPORTS STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS; AND NEARLY $200m FOR THE PRIMARY SECTOR TO ACCESS A LEARNING SUPPORT COORDINATOR BY 2028. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN CRYING OUT FOR FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, KATE, SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT INVESTMENT. MY MESSAGE TO PARENTS IS THAT WE KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, WE KNOW THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT GETTING THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, BUT THAT CHANGES TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT AND MASSIVE ROLL-OUT. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) BUT SECTOR LEADERS SADDENED BY THE SPECIALIST ROLES CUT TO REPRIORITISE FUNDING, INCLUDING RESOURCE TEACHERS OF MAORI, AND LITERACY. IT'S BECOMING OBVIOUS, UH, THAT THE SECTOR IS BEGINNING TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THIS MINISTER, BECAUSE SHE HASN'T BEEN LISTENING. NZEI UNION HAS BEEN CALLING FOR FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS A TEACHER AIDE BEING IN EVERY CLASSROOM. THE GOVERNMENT TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH, SAYING ITS INITIATIVES WILL FUND AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION TEACHER AIDE HOURS FROM 2028. THIS PARENT HOPEFUL IT'LL LEAD TO MORE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL. I KNOW PARENTS THAT HAVE` THEIR SCHOOL HAS CALLED THEM TO SAY, 'YOUR KID CAN'T COME IN TODAY 'BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT, 'WE DON'T HAVE OUR TEACHER AIDE HERE.' RELIEF FOR SOME TODAY, WHILE OTHERS TAKE IN THEIR JOB CUTS. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. LET'S GO BACK TO MAIKI AND BENEDICT. SO, BIG PICTURE ` WHO'RE THE MAIN WINNERS AND LOSERS? CERTAINLY, BENEDICT, THERE'S BEEN PLENTY TO CHEW AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. ONCE WE START WITH SOME OF THE WINNERS. THE BIG WHEN OBVIOUSLY IS A BUSINESS, THAT THAT INVESTMENT BOOST THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWED TO LET PEOPLE CLAWBACK 20% IN TAX. THEY SAID IT'S ALL ABOUT GROWTH, THEY CLEARLY SEE THAT HAPPENING WITH BUSINESSES. IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, WE JUST HEARD THAT FROM KATE, THAT LEARNING SUPPORT IN CLASSROOMS. 600 MILLION ODD FOR THOSE TEACHERS. PARENTS HAVE BEEN CALLING OUT FOR SUPPORT. THERE WERE SOME BIG WINNERS IN THE HEALTH SECTOR AS WELL. WE DON'T HOW MUCH MONEY THE COVENANT IS GOING TO SPEND, BUT THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO A MAJOR REDEVELOP AND AT NELSON HOSPITAL. THEY ARE ALSO COMMITTING TO REDOING BASICALLY THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN WELLINGTON HOSPITAL AND AT PALMERSTON NORTH. THE OTHER THING I THINK MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS THAT MOVE AROUND EXTENDING THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS FROM THREE MONTHS TO 12. IN TERMS OF THE LOSERS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY, PAY EQUITY, THAT BIG NUMBER $12.8 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FOR THOSE LOW-PAID WOMEN WORKERS. THEY WOULD HAVE GOT THAT IF IT WAS NOT FOR THOSE CHANGES THAT THE GOVERNMENT RUSHED THROUGH UNDER URGENCY. WE SAW THE ANGER OUT ON THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUNDS. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY GUTTED. ALSO, YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY UNDOUBTEDLY FEEL LIKE THERE IS A WAR ON YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THIS GOVERNMENT, WITH THOSE CRUCIAL CHANGES. 18-YEAR-OLDS IN 19 NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE BENEFIT KIWISAVER IS GOING TO BE HARD BY THE COVENANT AS WELL. THAT BEST AT PAYMENT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP NEWBORNS. A LOT OF FAMILY ARE GOING TO BE MISSING OUT ON THOSE. THEY HAVE CALLED AT THE SWITCHEROO BUDGET. RADIO NEW ZEALAND HAVE TAKER BEGOT. FINANCE MINISTER HAS HAD TO TAKE A LOT AFTER THIS BUDGET. I MENTIONING IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS SO CONFRONTING, YOU SAW THINGS AIMED AT THE MINISTER, YESTERDAY, SHE HELD HER HEAD HIGH. HOW IT ALL ROLLS OUT WILL BE KNOWN OVER THE COMING DAYS WHEN THE FEEDBACK STARTS TO COME IN. THANKS TEAM. ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER BUDGET. AND MAIKI WILL HAVE MORE ON THE BUDGET ON BREAKFAST TOMORROW MORNING FROM 6am. AFTER FIRST OPENING IN 1880, ICONIC AUCKLAND DEPARTMENT STORE SMITH & CAUGHEY'S IS CLOSING IT'S DOORS FOR GOOD, DESCRIBING THE CURRENT TOUGH ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AS A 'PERFECT STORM'. ISOBEL PRASAD HAS MORE. AFTER 145 YEARS, THE END IS COMING FOR SMITH & CAUGHEY'S COATES, A STALWART OF AUCKLAND'S QUEEN STREET. THE DEPARTMENT STORE WILL CLOSE FOR GOOD IN 10 WEEKS. IT'S A REAL SHAME. SMITH & CAUGHEY'S, I USED TO COME IN WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, THIS HIGH, ON THE TRAM. MANY GOOD MEMORIES HERE. IT'S A GREAT STORE, AND I'VE BOUGHT QUITE A FEW PIECES THERE OVER THE YEARS. IT'S HEADED TUMULTUOUS YEAR. THE QUEEN STREET STORE WAS DOWNSIZED, AND THE NEW MARKET SHOP CLOSED LAST YEAR IN A BID TO SAVE THE BUSINESS, BUT THE FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENT IT WAS BANKING ON NEVER CAME TO FRUITION. AROUND 100 EMPLOYEES WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS. IT'S DEVASTATING. THIS IS THE LOSS OF AN ICON. I REALLY FEEL FOR THE FAMILY, FOR THE STAFF, AND FOR THE CENTRAL CITY. I MEAN, SMITH & CAUGHEY'S HAS BEEN HERE AS LONG AS ANY OF US CAN REMEMBER. SMITH & CAUGHEY'S IS SAYING THERE'S A PERFECT STORM OF FACTORS BEHIND ITS CLOSURE, INCLUDING INCREASING COMPETITION FROM NEW MALLS AND LUXURY BRAND STORES, AS WELL AS A DECLINE IN FOOT TRAFFIC AND INNER CITY ROADWORKS. BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE AS HARD AS IT'S BEEN, AND WE WANT TO SEE SOME PRACTICAL DECISIONS MADE THAT CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY, CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON BUSINESSES. SMITH & CAUGHEY'S ONLINE STORE WILL SHUT NEXT WEEK, WHILE THE DOORS TO THIS FLAGSHIP BUILDING WILL CLOSE FOR THE FINAL TIME ON JULY 31st. ISOBEL PRASAD, 1 NEWS. JENNY'S HERE NOW WITH SPORT. AND MOANA PASIFIKA HAVE JUST ONE KIWI SUPER RUGBY TEAM LEFT TO DEFEAT ` THE CHIEFS THE ONLY ONES YET TO FALL. SO HOW ARE THEY PREPARING FOR SATURDAY'S MATCH? PLUS ` WHETHER YOU KNOW HER FROM THE FIELD, THE PHONE OR FOR THE FLAMENCO ILONA MAHER HITS AOTEAROA TO TAKE ON THE BLACK FERNS. PLUS, TALK ABOUT BOUNCING BACK ` WHAT THIS BUZZER-BEATER MEANT FOR THE PACERS AS TWO ENGLISH SIDES LEAP INTO THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER FINE DAY ON THE CARDS FOR MANY TOMORROW. BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS, AND THE NEXT RAINMAKER IS WAITING IN THE WINGS. WHEN WILL IT ARRIVE? I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS, AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA. WELCOME TO SPORT. SHE'S FINISHED RUNNER-UP ON AMERICA'S 'DANCING WITH THE STARS', APPEARED ON LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS AND HAS A SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING UNRIVALLED IN WOMEN'S RUGBY. NOW ILONA MAHER IS IN TOWN TO TAKE ON THE BLACK FERNS, A TEAM LOOKING TO COLLECT THE LIKES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. KATE WELLS REPORTS. SHE'S A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR STEALING THE LIMELIGHT ON AND OFF THE RUGBY FIELD. IT'S REALLY EXCITING. I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY PLAYED IN NEW ZEALAND FIFTEENS. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE HAKA FIRST HAND IN THAT WAY, SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE IN A PLACE THAT LOVES RUGBY. IT'S STEEPED INTO THE CULTURE. ILONA MAHER ` A RUGBY PLAYER AND SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION WITH 5 MILLION INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS AND 3.5 MILLION ON TIKTOK... (DYNAMIC MUSIC) ...BOOSTING NOT ONLY WOMEN'S RUGBY, BUT ALSO THE GLOBAL GAME. PEOPLE COME OUT TO WATCH ME BECAUSE I'M THE FUNNY GIRL ON TIKTOK, SO IT IS A PRESSURE WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT TO WATCH YOU. YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM A GOOD PRODUCT, A GOOD SHOW. THE BLACK FERNS WILL BE LOOKING TO STEAL THE SHOW ON SATURDAY IN THEIR FINAL PAC 4 MATCH AT NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM... (LAUGHTER) ...FOR THE FIRST TIME UNLEASHING TWO SEVENS STARS ` JORJA MILLER STARTING AT OPENSIDE FLANKER, WHILE RISI POURI-LANE WILL DON THE NUMBER-NINE JERSEY, HER FIRST GAME OF FIFTEENS IN FIVE YEARS. BEEN A LITTLE WHILE. COVID YEAR 2020 WAS THE LAST TIME I PLAYED FOR BAY, BUT IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME CHALLENGE FOR MYSELF, GOOD OPPORTUNITY. I'M LEARNING A LOT. FELLOW SEVENS PLAYERS STACEY WAAKA AND THERESA SETEFANO ALSO STARTING, MAKING UP THE MIDFIELD. COACH ALLAN BUNTING HAPPY WITH THE TEAM'S PROGRESS EXACTLY THREE MONTHS OUT FROM THE WORLD CUP. I THINK WE'RE RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE. WE'VE GOT A REALLY COMPETITIVE GROUP OF LADIES. AND FOR ME LOOKING FORWARD, SELECTION'S GOING TO BE HARD. THE IMMEDIATE FOCUS IS WINNING THE PAC 4. THEY GO INTO THE FINAL MATCH LEVEL ON POINTS WITH CANADA; AND WITH AUSTRALIA, AND THE CANADIANS PLAYING ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WILL KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ON SATURDAY TO WIN OVERALL. PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE NOT NEEDING ANY CONVINCING WHEN ASKED WHO'S GOING TO WIN. BLACK FERNS. I... (BOTH LAUGH) THE SCOREBOARD MAY BE AGAINST THE U.S., BUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA VIEWS CERTAINLY WON'T. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. AND IN SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC, THE REFRESHED CHIEFS ARE READY FOR THE WAVE OF MOMENTUM ABOUT TO HEAD OVER THE BOMBAYS TO CHALLENGE THEM ON SATURDAY. MOANA PASIFIKA CHASING ANOTHER KIWI SCALP ` BOTH SIDES WELL AWARE OF WHERE THE GAME COULD BE WON OR LOST. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. IT WAS BEANIES ON FOR A BRISK TRAINING AT CHIEFS HEADQUARTERS THIS MORNING... (WHISTLE TRILLS) ...ALTHOUGH THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THE RED-HOT COMPETITION HEADING THEIR WAY ON SATURDAY. WE'D BE LYING IF WE SAID WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF THAT NOISE. THEY'VE GOT A BIT OF A HIT LIST, DON'T THEY? AFTER LAST WEEKEND'S BLUES BREAKTHROUGH, THE CHIEFS NOW THE ONLY KIWI SUPER RUGBY CLUB LEFT YET TO TASTE DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF MOANA PASIFIKA, TAKING NO RISKS THIS WEEK EITHER WITH A FULL-STRENGTH SQUAD. WE WANT TEAMS TO CHUCK THEIR BEST SIDES AT US, NOT BE THE SIDE THAT EVERYONE RESTS PLAYERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT IS WHAT HELPS US` HELPS MOTIVATE US. THE CHIEFS ALREADY WELL AWARE OF WHAT THEIR OPPOSITION CAN DO... WELL, THE SECOND HALF ` THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT ` HAS BELONGED TO MOANA PASIFIKA. ...OUTSCORED 28-7 IN THE SECOND HALF ...OUTSCORED 28-7 IN THE SECOND HALF, THE LAST TIME THE TWO SIDES MET IN ROUND SIX. A BIG FIRST 40 THE REASON THEY CAME AWAY UNSCATHED. THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE CHALLENGE MOST OF OUR SEASON, IS STARTING WELL, AND I'M SURE THE CHIEFS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT GAME AS WELL, AROUND FINISHING STRONG. SO, AGAIN, IT IS GOING TO BE MASSIVE FOR US. THERE'S ALSO PLENTY OF TALK AROUND SOME MOUTHWATERING MATCH-UPS. BUT THEY'VE GOT A GOOD LOOSE TRIO ` SO DO WE. SO I THINK OUR LOOSE TRIO IS GOING TO FRONT UP THERE. IT COULD BE THE DEFINING FACTOR, BUT ALSO THEY COULD NULLIFY EACH OTHER SO THAT MEANS EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO STAND UP. THE CHIEFS SIMULATING ARDIE SAVEA'S HEROICS AT TRAINING THIS WEEK ` WELL, TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES. BOYS HAVE BEEN JOKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE GOT THAT IN MY BAG OF THE TRICKS. ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE KNOWLEDGE IN ANOTHER CRUCIAL CLASH. WING LEEROY CARTER CHARGED WITH SHUTTING DOWN KYREN TAUMOEFOLAU. CHIPPED AHEAD, GATHERS, SCORES! EXCITING, I PLAYED WITH HIM WHEN I WAS WITH THE SEVENS, AND HE WAS PLAYING FOR TONGA, SO WE'VE COME UP AGAINST EACH OTHER QUITE A BIT ` AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. STILL TWO ROUNDS TO GO, BUT PLAYOFFS INTENSITY'S ALREADY KICKING OFF. BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. INDIAN PANTHERS ARE OFFICIALLY GONE, WITHDRAWING FROM THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE AFTER ADMITTING THEY COULDN'T MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE COMPETITION. THEIR SEASON STARTING TO UNRAVEL A MONTH AGO WHEN PLAYERS REFUSED TO TAKE THE COURT AGAINST CANTERBURY BECAUSE OF VARIOUS ISSUES AT THE TROUBLED CLUB, INCLUDING UNPAID WAGES. THE LEAGUE SUSPENDING THEM AND THREATENING EXPULSION BEFORE ADMITTING DEFEAT THEMSELVES. FORTUNATELY, I THINK THIS IS AS GOOD A DECISION AS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, CONSIDERING ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH, AND WE'RE IN A PLACE NOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING ON. THE LEAGUE STILL OPEN TO EXPLORING THE OPTION OF EXPANDING INTO OVERSEAS MARKETS. I DO THINK THAT, UH, EXPANDING INTO THE SOUTHEAST ASIA, EXPANDING INTERNATIONALLY, IS A FANTASTIC AREA OF GROWTH FOR THE LEAGUE. IN TERMS OF DOING THAT AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I CAN'T SAY WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL HAPPEN FOR SURE, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SAY THAT THE SAL'S NBL WOULD BE OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT, UH, OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT AREA IN THE FUTURE. THE SEASON WILL NOW BE COMPLETED WITH 11 TEAMS. ALL THE PANTHERS' GAMES WIPED FROM THE RESULTS. A WILD FINISH TO GAME ONE OF NBA'S EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS ` THE INDIANA PACERS EVENTUALLY BEATING THE NEW YORK KNICKS 138-135 IN OVERTIME. NEW YORK SEEMINGLY IN CONTROL OF THE MATCH. LEADING BY 16 POINTS WITH SEVEN MINUTES TO PLAY NEW YORK SEEMINGLY IN CONTROL OF THE MATCH, LEADING BY 16 POINTS WITH SEVEN MINUTES TO PLAY BEFORE THE PACERS RALLIED. THE GAME COMING DOWN TO THIS. HE'LL BACKPEDAL WITH THREE FOR THE WIN, AND... OH! HE'S GOT IT! (LAUGHS) TYRESE HALIBURTON'S CONFIDENCE A LITTLE PREMATURE ` REPLAYS SHOWING HIS FOOT WAS ON THE LINE MEANING IT WAS ONLY TWO POINTS, SENDING THE GAME TO OVERTIME. THE PACERS GETTING THE JOB DONE, HOWEVER, TO LEAD THE BEST OF SEVEN SERIES 1-0. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR AND MANCHESTER UNITED HAD THE CHANCE TO SALVAGE MISERABLE SEASONS WHEN THEY MET IN THIS MORNING'S EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL. AS WELL AS A EUROPEAN TROPHY, A SPOT IN NEXT SEASON'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WAS AT STAKE. LUKE ROBERTSON HAS THE ACTION. 17 YEARS OF WAITING SPARKING AN EMOTIONAL RELEASE. GLORY, GLORY, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR. SPURS HAVE GONE AND DONE IT AT LAST. SPURS HAVE GONE AND DONE IT AT LAST! THE GRITTIEST OF 1-0 WINS ELEVATING TOTTENHAM TO EUROPA LEAGUE GLORY. AGONY FOR FANS AND PLAYERS IN RED. ECSTASY FOR THOSE IN WHITE. FANS STARVED OF TROPHIES FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, TELLING ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN. ON THE FIELD, AND IT WAS A FINAL FULL OF CHANCES. THIS THE GAME'S ONLY GOAL. AND JOHNSON'S IN THERE! FROM THERE, TOTTENHAM'S MINDSET SHIFTED, THEIR TENUOUS LEAD TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. OFF THE LINE, VAN DE VEN. SPURS STAUNCH IN DEFENCE, THIS DESPERATE EFFORT THE BEST OF THE LOT. THAT WAS SOME CLEARANCE. HE FLEW. BUT AS THE RED DEVILS KEPT PUSHING, TOTTENHAM REFUSED TO BUDGE. FERNANDES. IT'S A HUGE CHANCE. ALEJANDRO GARNACHO. VICARIO GOT ACROSS. ONE LAST CHANCE, THE 96TH MINUTE. NOW OR NEVER FOR MANCHESTER UNITED. WHAT A SAVE, VICARIO. UNITED WITH 75% OF POSSESSION. 16 SHOTS. SPURS ONLY ONE SHOT ON-TARGET ` IT WAS ALL THEY NEEDED. SPURS ONLY ONE SHOT ON TARGET ` IT WAS ALL THEY NEEDED. THE SCRAPPY FINISH FROM BRENNAN JOHNSON THE DIFFERENCE, RESCUING AN UNIMPRESSIVE SEASON FOR THE NORTH LONDON CLUB, WHO ARE SETTING NEW TARGETS. THERE'S NO REASON NOW WHY THEY CAN'T GO INTO NEXT YEAR BELIEVING THEY CAN WIN AGAIN IN ANOTHER TROPHY. FOR NOW, THIS TROPHY FOREVER ETCHED WITH THE TOTTENHAM NAME, AS 17 YEARS OF HURT CAME TO AN OH-SO GLORIOUS END. AS 17 YEARS OF HURT CAME TO AN OH-SO-GLORIOUS END. LUKE ROBINSON, 1 NEWS. THEY ARE PROBABLY STILL PARTYING. STAY WITH US. WHAT THE WEATHER IS DOING AT YOUR PLACE, NEXT. COMING UP AT 7 ` 3G, 4G, 5G, WHAT'S WITH ALL THE Gs? WE DECODE THE 3G SHUTDOWN AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR PHONE AND TABLET. AND THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND THE LUGE ` A KIWI INNOVATION THAT'S TAKING ON THE WORLD. FROM FERGUSON ST FAIRY SPRINGS TO THE WORLD. FAIRY SPRINGS TO THE WORLD, YEAH. FROM ROTORUA TO THE WORLD! NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. A CHILLY START AGAIN FOR MANY, WITH FOG SETTLING IN THE VALLEYS, BUT THAT LIFTED TO A GORGEOUS SUNNY DAY FOR MANY. HERE IT IS FROM THE SATELLITE ` MOSTLY CLEAR. SOME HIGH CLOUD ABOUT AND BUILDING OVER THE LOWER SOUTH. TODAY'S HOT SPOT WAS KAITAIA, HITTING 20 DEGREES. TOMORROW THE THEME MOSTLY CONTINUES. SOME OVERNIGHT AND EARLY SHOWERS TO THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST COAST, BUT FINE AND FROSTY AGAIN IN THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY. A BIT OF CLOUD ABOUT FOR ALL HERE ` MAYBE AN AFTERNOON SHOWER FOR RUSSELL AND WHANGAREI ` AND 18 DEGREES. A MOSTLY GREY FRIDAY, TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND. MAYBE A FEW OF YOU WILL SEE A SPRINKLE, BUT A BETTER-LOOKING AFTERNOON AND A TOP OF 18. SAME GOES FOR YOU, HAMILTON. A FEW MAY SEE A SPRINKLE, BUT AFTER LUNCH YOU SHOULD SEE MORE SUN. AND 16 FOR YOU. MORNING CLOUD TENDS TO BURN OFF IN CENTRAL AREAS. IT MAY STICK AROUND IN TOKORORA, THOUGH. AND 16 IS YOUR HIGH. LOOKING AT A FINE FRIDAY, TAURANGA, AFTER SOME MORNING CLOUD DISAPPEARS, WITH 19 DEGREES. MORE FINE AND SUNNY ON THE MENU IN THE EAST. AND FROSTY IN MASTERTON, POSSIBLY DANNEVIRKE TOO, WITH HIGHS OF 15 AND 16 FOR YOU. MORNING CLOUD BURNS OFF FOR MOST IN THE WEST, BUT LEVIN'S THE PICK OF THE BUNCH ` FINE ALL DAY. 17 TO 19 FOR ALL. WALL-TO-WALL SUN IN THE CAPITAL, WITH A TOP OF 16. THE THEME CONTINUES AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. JUST WESTPORT SEES SOME CLOUD. MORE FINE SPELLS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON, AND 16 OR 17 DEGREES. A CRISP START, OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH. AND A STUNNING DAY, BUT COOL WITH 15. MORNING CLOUD COVER IN THE WEST, BUT MORE SUNNY TIMES CREEPING IN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON, WHILE IT'S FINE AND FROSTY IN THE EAST WITH 15 OR 16 FOR ALL. A GORGEOUS DAY FOR ALL HERE. EXPECT FROSTS IN WANAKA AND ALEXANDRA. AND A HIGH OF 14 FOR QUEENSTOWN. OAMARU'S FINE ALL DAY. OTHERS WILL SEE SOME CLOUD AND MAYBE A SHOWER TOO, WITH 14 TO 16. A SUNNY DAY WITH JUST A BIT OF HARMLESS HIGH CLOUD IN OTEPOTI DUNEDIN, AND A TOP OF 16. SATURDAY ` AND FINE IS THE THEME. A FEW MAY SEE A SPRINKLE IN THE UPPER NORTH, AND A FEW SHOWERS DO SPREAD FROM FIORDLAND UP TO THE WEST COAST LATE IN THE DAY. BUT MAKE THE MOST OF IT, BECAUSE SUNDAY, RAIN AND SHOWERS BUILD FOR MANY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. PARTS OF THE EAST WILL BE DRY, AND THE NORTH MOSTLY HOLDING ON TO A DRY DAY TOO, BUT MONDAY, IT'S THE NORTH ISLAND'S TURN. GOOD RUN HAD TO COME TO AN END.