TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` FLASH FLOODING IN NELSON. THE CITY'S HIT BY A WEEK'S WORTH OF RAIN IN AN HOUR. THE FLAW IN NELSON'S FORECASTING ` SOAKED LOCALS FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF WARNING. WITH FEWER BEDS THAN HEALTH NEW ZEALAND'S OWN PROJECTED FUTURE NEEDS, DETAILS ABOUT NELSON HOSPITAL'S REBUILD ARE UNVEILED. AND WITH FOOD SAFETY TESTING NOW UNDERWAY, WE ASK A BUG EXPERT WHAT'S BEEN SERVED IN THIS SUPPLIED SCHOOL LUNCH. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE, LENA ERAKOVICH, AND ALEX WALKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED DOWNPOUR IN NELSON HAS FLOODED ROADS AND SHOPS, WITH ALMOST HALF A MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN FALLING IN JUST A FEW HOURS. EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPONDED TO A LARGE NUMBER OF CALL-OUTS WITH EXTRA SUPPORT BROUGHT IN, PROMPTING FRESH CALLS FOR THE CITY TO GET ITS OWN RAIN RADAR TO GIVE LOCALS BETTER WARNING. ABBEY WAKEFIELD REPORTS. NELSON CITY SWAMPED... AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE OVERWHELMED. WITNESSES SAY IT TOOK JUST 30 MINUTES FOR THIS MUCH RAIN TO FALL, CATCHING MANY BY SURPRISE. IT WENT FROM RAIN TO FLOOD... (CLICKS FINGERS) KINDA LIKE THAT. REALLY FAST. THERE WAS A REALLY BIG DOWNPOUR, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE WERE FLOODED. THIS MAN TRYING HIS BEST TO UNBLOCK THE DRAINS... AS CARS PUSHED THROUGH THE FLOODWATERS, WHILE THIS CYCLIST... (EXCLAIMS) ...FACED THE ULTIMATE RESISTANCE TRAINING. (SIREN BLARES) EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 20 CALL-OUTS AT FLOODED PROPERTIES. THIS BUSINESS OWNER RUSHED TO CHECK ON THEIR SHOP. I JUST GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE WIFE, AND SHE SAID, 'GET TO THE CAFE. IT'S FLOODING.' BUS SERVICES WERE SUSPENDED, AND SOME SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS CLOSED OR SENT STUDENTS HOME EARLY. THE WATER JUST KEPT ON RISING AND RISING. IT WAS PRETTY BAD. WE HAD CARS COMING THROUGH BOTH WAYS, PUSHING THE WATER OVER INTO THE COFFEE SHOP HERE AND THE BACK OF CHEAPSKATES. SO, YEAH, NOT GREAT. METSERVICE RECORDED MORE THAN 40mm OF RAINFALL, HALF THE AVERAGE AMOUNT FOR THE WHOLE MONTH, WITH MOST OF IT COMING DOWN IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS. ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH INTENSE BURSTS OF RAINFALL IS THE TIME IT TAKES TO COME THROUGH CAN OFTEN OVERWHELM THINGS LIKE DRAINS AND RIVERS. TODAY'S WEATHER EVENT REIGNITING CALLS FOR NELSON TO GET ITS OWN RAIN RADAR TO GIVE LOCALS MORE WARNING. WE'RE DEPENDENT, AT THE MOMENT, ON THE WELLINGTON RAIN RADAR, AND THAT IS NOT NEARLY AS ACCURATE AS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE ` ONE OF OUR OWN IN THE REGION. IT IS SUB-OPTIMAL. THE BEST RAIN RADARS ARE THE ONES WHERE YOU HAVE THEM WHERE YOU NEED THEM, BUT I THINK ANY MORE NEW ONES WOULD BE FANTASTIC TO SEE, BUT THEY ARE AN EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. AT $3M, METSERVICE WOULD NEED MORE GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT. THE FREQUENCY OF EVENTS LIKE THESE COULD MAKE THAT INVESTMENT SEEM MORE WORTHWHILE. ABBEY WAKEFIELD, 1 NEWS. LET'S BRING IN DAN. AND AFTER THIS DELUGE, THERE'S MORE TO COME? THIS IS TRACKING NORTH, SO THIS AREA OF RAIN, IT HAS TROPICAL MOISTURE IN IT. YOU CAN SEE THE ORANGE PER LEVEL, AND IT IS SQUEEZING WHICH OUT RIGHT AT THAT TIME AS IT WAS MOVING ACROSS THAT PART OF THE UPPER SOUTH. THAT PURPLE BIT, THAT AREA THERE, WHERE WAS IT? AT 10, 11 O'CLOCK, NOTICE HOW THE RADAR HAS BROKEN. IT DOESN'T GO UP AND DOWN THE RANGERS. THE FURTHER AWAY GOES, THE HIGHER IT GOES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THAT CONTINUES TO TRACK NORTH. NOW WE HAVE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHLAND. NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, OVERNIGHT, BUT WILL TRACK AWAY. TOMORROW IT WILL BE A BREATHER. MORE RAIN IS COMING IN ON WEDNESDAY, THUNDER FOR THURSDAY, BUT WILL KICK THROUGH. COLDER FOR THE END OF THE WEEK. MINISTERS VISITING NELSON TODAY AVOIDED THE DELUGE AS THEY REVEALED MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT ON A PARTIAL REBUILD OF THE CITY'S HOSPITAL. WHILE IT WILL ADD MORE BEDS, HEALTH NEW ZEALAND'S OWN RECENT PROJECTIONS SHOW IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR THE FUTURE. OUR NELSON BASED REPORTER JESSICA RODEN HAS MORE. NELSON HOSPITAL IS IN CRISIS. MINISTER'S VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE A SENIOR HEALTH NEW ZEALAND TEAM WAS FLOWN IN AFTER DOCTORS WENT PUBLIC WITH THEIR CONCERNS... WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE GOT SOME REVAMPED FACILITIES TO DO YOUR WORK FROM. COOL, YEAH. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. YES, IT'S EXCITING. ...ANNOUNCING MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS WILL GO TOWARDS ITS REDEVELOPMENT. I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE PRECISE FIGURES BECAUSE IT IS COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY AND THE BEST BANG FOR TAXPAYERS' BUCKS. THE NELSON HOSPITAL REBUILD HAS BEEN MOOTED FOR DECADES. IN 2023, THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A $1.1 BILLION ACUTE SERVICES BUILDING BUT ONLY ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR THE PLANNING STAGES. LAST WEEK, THIS GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A SMALLER BUILDING. IT WILL FEATURE AN ACUTE ASSESSMENT UNIT, A TRANSIT LOUNGE, A MODERN PHARMACY AND BLOOD BANK, AND DEDICATED SPACES FOR ASSESSMENT, REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT. IT HAS FEWER BEDS THAN LABOUR'S PLAN. THE ADVICE THAT WE HAD IN GOVERNMENT WAS THAT NELSON NEEDED 255 BEDS, AND THAT WAS OUR COMMITMENT AT THE ELECTION. UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT, 1 NEWS HAS OBTAINED HEALTH NEW ZEALAND'S OWN PROJECTIONS FOR NELSON HOSPITAL CAPACITY. THIS FINAL DRAFT FROM JUNE LAST YEAR SHOWS THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS THAT BY 2024, 221 BEDS WILL BE NEEDED ` OR 59 MORE THAN NOW. IS THAT BY 2042, 221 BEDS WILL BE NEEDED ` OR 59 MORE THAN NOW. THE PLAN ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK WAS 14 SHORT OF THAT. IT'S ALSO GOT A MASTER PLAN WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR FUTURE EXPANSION IF REQUIRED INTO THE FUTURE. SO HEALTH NEW ZEALAND IS DELIVERING IN THE SHORT TERM, ALSO THE LONG TERM, AND THIS FUNDING MEANS WE CAN NOW CRACK ON AND GET ON WITH IT. CONSTRUCTION WILL START LATER THIS YEAR, AND A NEW TEMPORARY WARD WILL ALSO BE ADDED IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. TEMPORARY, FULLY TRANSPORTABLE WARD FACILITIES THAT WILL PROVIDE UP TO 32 ADDITIONAL BEDS WHILE REDEVELOPMENT IS UNDERWAY. WHILE THIS REBUILD IS NOW CLOSER THAN EVER, IT WON'T BE COMPLETE UNTIL 2029, AND NELSON HOSPITAL IS CURRENTLY FACING SOME BIG CHALLENGES. AND JESS, WHAT DID THE MINISTERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ONGOING STAFFING CONCERNS AT NELSON HOSPITAL? OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I HAVE INTERVIEWED NINE SENIOR DOCTORS HERE IN NELSON ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS. NELSON HAS THE WORST WAIT TIMES OF ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE MINISTER TODAY SAID THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE, THE IMPACT THAT WAS HAVING ON PATIENTS LIVES. SIMEON BROWN SAID THAT HE EXPECTS THE REVIEWS, WHICH ARE TO BACK NEXT MONTH, WILL BE MADE PUBLIC, AND HE ALSO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE THAT WILL BE ACTED UPON. NICOLA WILLIS WAS IN TOWN TODAY, AND I ASKED WHETHER NELSON CAN EXPECT MORE FUNDING FOR RESOURCING AND STAFFING AS THOSE DOCTORS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR. SHE DIDN'T MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS TODAY, BUT WHAT SHE DID SAY WAS THAT IN THE BUDGET LAST WEEK, THERE WAS AN UPLIFTING FUNDING FOR HEALTH NEW ZEALAND, AND SHE HINTED THAT POTENTIALLY MORE FUNDING COULD BE ON THE WAY IF THAT IS WHAT IS FOUND IS NEEDED IN THOSE REVIEWS. IS IT A WORM, IS IT A CATERPILLAR, OR IS IT A MAGGOT? THAT'S THE QUESTION BEING ASKED AFTER A CREEPY-CRAWLY TURNED UP IN A GOVERNMENT SUPPLIED SCHOOL LUNCH. THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES FOOD SAFETY TEAM IS LOOKING INTO THE INCIDENT. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS HAS MORE. FROM FARM TO FORK. AND IT ALL STARTS HERE ` WITH HAND-PICKED SEASONAL PRODUCE... THE NEW CUT-PRICE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME PROMISES FRESH LOCAL FOOD FOR KIDS. EVERY MEAL MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARD. WELL, NOT EVERY MEAL, IT SEEMS. THIS CREATURE RECENTLY TURNED UP IN A SCHOOL LUNCH IN WEST AUCKLAND. NOW WE SEE THAT MAGGOTS ARE ON THE MENU FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THE SCHOOL LUNCH COLLECTIVE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT'S A MAGGOT, BUT RATHER A WORM FROM A POTATO. IT TOLD 1 NEWS THAT BECAUSE THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES IS NOW INVESTIGATING THE PRESENCE OF THE INSECT IN THE SCHOOL LUNCH, IT COULDN'T COMMENT FURTHER. THERE'S SERIOUS QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOOD SAFETY HERE, AND DAVID SEYMOUR HAS TO ANSWER THEM. LET'S DO THE INVESTIGATION, FIND OUT THE FACTS, AND IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A FIX, WE'LL DO A FIX. SO WE RAN THE PICTURES PAST A BUG EXPERT. THEIR VERDICT? IT'S NEITHER A WORM NOR A MAGGOT, BUT RATHER A CATERPILLAR THAT HAD BEEN WELL AND TRULY COOKED. THEY SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND SAFE TO EAT. SO BON APPETIT. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN 17 OTHER INCIDENTS RELATING TO THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME THIS YEAR THAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE FOOD SAFETY TEAM AT MPI. THEY INVESTIGATE EVERYTHING, AND OFTENTIMES, IT TURNS OUT TO BE A FALSE ALARM. SO LET'S TAKE IT SERIOUSLY UNTIL WE KNOW THE FACTS. MPI SAYS IT HAS SENT THE DEAD LARVA AWAY FOR TESTING AND EXPECTS THE RESULTS BACK NEXT WEEK. IT SAYS AT THIS STAGE, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A WIDER FOOD SAFETY ISSUE WITH SCHOOL LUNCHES. LABOUR SAYS KIDS DESERVE BETTER QUALITY. THAT IT'S QUALITY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD; THAT IT'S SAFE FOOD TO EAT; THAT IT'S ENOUGH FOOD; THAT IT SHOWS UP ON TIME. I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK. WE'RE GETTING 99%, 100% ON-TIME DELIVERY. WE'RE DOING IT FOR HALF THE PRICE LABOUR DID IT, AND FEEDBACK ON THE MEALS IS VERY POSITIVE. BUT ON THIS OCCASION, THOUGH, SOMEHOW A BUG IN THE SYSTEM. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. AND DAVID SEYMOUR IS TAKING PART IN THE RENOWNED OXFORD UNION DEBATE. IT FOLLOWS LABOUR MP WILLIE JACKSON'S APPEARANCE LAST YEAR, WHEN HE SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED AGAINST THE MOOT THAT BRITISH MUSEUMS ARE NOT VERY BRITISH. WHILE IN 1985, THEN PRIME MINISTER DAVID LANGE FAMOUSLY WON THE DEBATE THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS WERE MORALLY INDEFENSIBLE. NEXT MONTH, SEYMOUR WILL BE OPPOSING THE MOOT, 'NO ONE CAN BE ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND'. I THINK GOVERNMENT IS LEGITIMATE IF IT RESPECTS THE INDIVIDUAL. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND OUR LIVES APOLOGISING FOR THINGS THAT HAPPEN BEFORE WE'RE BORN, AND YET PEOPLE GET LET OFF THINGS THEY DID JUST LAST WEEK. THE DEBATE WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 6TH NZT JUST DAYS AFTER DAVID SEYMOUR BECOMES DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. A WARNING ` THIS NEXT STORY CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGES FROM THE START. AS PEOPLE IN THE OCCUPIED GAZA STRIP CONTINUE TO FACE DEATH DAILY, UNDER CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT AND THE THREAT OF STARVATION, NOW THE CALL FROM THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AS IT HOSTS A MEETING WITH MIDDLE EASTERN AND EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS ON HOW TO END THE WAR ` 'STOP SELLING WEAPONS TO ISRAEL'. CORAZON MILLER HAS MORE. THIS IS ASAMAN. HE IS 5 YEARS OLD. THESE ARE AMONG THE YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE IN THIS WAR ` REALLY SHOCKING. SKIN AND BONE. PARENTS INSIDE NASSER HOSPITAL IN GAZA'S SOUTH SHOWED THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY ONCE WERE COMPARED TO NOW. THESE CHILDREN ARE SO MALNOURISHED THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY WASTING AWAY. IT'S SHOCKING TO SEE THIS DEGREE OF MALNUTRITION, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE BLOCKADE. THAT, FOR THREE MONTHS, KEPT VITAL AID, FOOD, MEDICINE AND OTHER SUPPLIES OUT OF GAZA, ITS POPULATION PUSHED TO THE BRINK OF FAMINE. I DON'T THINK WE CAN UNDERPLAY OR OVERSCORE THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION AT THIS MOMENT. ISRAEL HAS DENIED GAZA'S PEOPLE ARE STARVING, AND SAYS IT'S ALLOWED AID THROUGH TO PREVENT A FOOD CRISIS. STILL, AID AGENCIES SAY IT'S NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH. SEEING A COUPLE OF` DOZENS, OR MAYBE 100 TRUCKS MAKE THEIR WAY IN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ` IT'S JUST THE VERY TIP OF WHAT IS REQUIRED, RIGHT? WE NEED 400 OR 500, 600 TRUCKS MOVING A DAY. PRESSURE'S ALSO GROWING FOR ISRAEL TO NOT JUST ALLOW AID IN, BUT TO DO ALL IT CAN TO END THE SUFFERING. SPAIN HAS URGED ITS ALLIES TO IMPOSE A WEAPONS EMBARGO ON ISRAEL... (SPEAKS SPANISH) TRANSLATOR: WE CANNOT SELL WEAPONS TO ISRAEL. THE LAST THING THAT THE MIDDLE EAST NEEDS RIGHT NOW IS WEAPONS, AND WE HAVE TO REVIEW THE LIST OF INDIVIDUAL SANCTIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE, AS WELL AS THOSE THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS. FOR NOW, ISRAEL HAS CONTINUED ITS STRIKES ON GAZA, SAYING IT'S HIT 100 TARGETS IN 24 HOURS AS A DEFENSIVE MEASURE TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS AND DESTROY HAMAS. THOSE ON THE GROUND QUESTION ISRAEL'S REAL GOAL WHEN AMONG THE CASUALTIES WERE AID WORKERS, MEDICS, WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ENTIRE FAMILIES. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: WE HAVE NO SAFE PLACE LEFT FOR US TO SEEK REFUGE IN. WE'RE JUST LIVING LIKE THIS. WE WAIT FOR THE TIME WHEN WE'LL BE STRUCK. SURVIVORS LEFT QUESTIONING EXACTLY HOW MUCH MORE DEATH AND DEVASTATION THEY CAN ENDURE. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. BACK HERE, BENEFICIARIES WHO MISS MEETINGS, DON'T FILL OUT FORMS OR REFUSE TO LOOK FOR WORK WILL NOW FACE NEW SANCTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION WHICH COULD SEE HALF OF SOMEONE'S BENEFIT PUT ON A PAYMENT CARD FOR FOUR WEEKS. THE CARD CAN ONLY BE USED AT APPROVED SHOPS FOR ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE GROCERIES AND TRANSPORT. PEOPLE WITH WORK OBLIGATIONS WHO DON'T COMPLY MAY HAVE TO DO AT LEAST FIVE HOURS OF COMMUNITY WORK A WEEK OVER FOUR WEEKS. LABOUR AND THE GREENS SAY IT WILL FUEL UNEMPLOYMENT. GREYHOUND RACING NEW ZEALAND IS HEADING TO COURT IN A BID TO STOP THE GOVERNMENT'S RACING BAN. IT WAS ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER WINSTON PETERS LAST YEAR TO PROTECT THE DOGS' WELFARE. GREYHOUND NEW ZEALAND SAYS THE INDUSTRY HADN'T BEEN ADEQUATELY CONSULTED ABOUT THE BAN AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE ITS DECISION 'TOO QUICKLY'. THE BAN IS SET TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT JULY. THERE ARE CONCERNS NEW SPEED LIMIT SIGNS OUTSIDE SCHOOLS AREN'T WORKING AS INTENDED, WITH COMPLAINTS SOME ARE TOO HARD TO READ, AND OTHERS HAVE THE WRONG INFORMATION. THEY'RE BEING ROLLED OUT AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S REVERSAL OF SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS INTRODUCED BY LABOUR. JACOB JOHNSON REPORTS. THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY MEANS LOTS OF FOOT TRAFFIC OUTSIDE THIS AUCKLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL. LOTS OF KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL WALK HOME. THERE'S LOTS OF CARS COMING BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE ROAD, SO FOR A BIKER LIKE ME, IT'S PRETTY HARD. ROADS LIKE THIS ACROSS THE CITY ARE GOING UP TO A 50KM/H SPEED LIMIT ` THAT IS, UNLESS IT'S PICK-UP OR DROP-OFF TIME, WITH THE SIGN SHOWING THE TIMES DRIVERS NEED TO SLOW DOWN. BUT CALLS ARE MOUNTING FOR SOME OF THE SIGNS TO BE CHANGED. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE SIGNS GOT THE WRONG NUMBER, RIGHT? HE'S TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE OUTSIDE A SCHOOL IN HIS LOCAL AREA ` THE NEW SIGN ASKS DRIVERS TO SLOW DOWN BETWEEN 2.25 AND 2.45` THE PROBLEM IS, SCHOOL FINISHES AT THREE. YEAH, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY COVERING THE TIMES WHEN KIDS ARE GETTING OUT FROM SCHOOL. I THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DOWNGRADE IN SAFETY FOR SCHOOL ZONES. WRONG INFORMATION NOT THE ONLY COMPLAINT ` SOME SAY THE SIX LINES OF RULES ON THIS SIGN OUTSIDE AVONDALE COLLEGE ARE TOO SMALL. IF YOU CAN'T READ IT IN YOUR DRIVING, YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THE KID IN FRONT OF YOU THAT'S CROSSING THE ROAD GOING TO SCHOOL. WHO KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE HAVING SPEED SIGNS AND EYE TESTS COMBINED INTO ONE? THE IDEAL SOLUTION, FOR US, IS THE ELECTRONIC SIGNAGE THAT ACTUALLY ONLY COMES ON WITH FLASHING LOWER SPEED LIMITS AT THOSE TIMES OF THE DAY. THE NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY SAYS IT'S UP TO THE ROAD-CONTROLLING AUTHORITIES ` WHETHER THAT'S THE LOCAL COUNCIL OR AUCKLAND TRANSPORT HERE ` TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO USE ELECTRONIC SIGNS OR STATIC ONES. WHILE SOME COUNCILS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE GOVERNMENT'S CHANGES, AUCKLAND TRANSPORT TOLD 1 NEWS IN A STATEMENT IT'S REQUIRED TO INTRODUCE VARIABLE SPEED LIMITS OUTSIDE SCHOOLS, ADDING IT'S AWARE OF COMMUNITY CONCERNS AROUND SOME OF THE NEW SIGNS, AND IS LOOKING AT OPTIONS TO COMMUNICATE THE SPEED LIMITS MORE CLEARLY. THE AA WOULD JUST HOPE THAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE LEARNING FROM THIS, AND ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY LOOK TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE END UP WITH SIGNAGE THAT'S CONSISTENT AROUND THE COUNTRY. HIS FEAR THAT SOME OF THESE SIGNS WILL CREATE CONFUSION RATHER THAN CLARITY. JACOB JOHNSON, 1 NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THE FORMER NATIONAL MP WHO SAYS WOMEN ARE COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S BID TO BALANCE TO BOOKS. NEXT ` WHAT SHE HOPES TO ACHIEVE BY SETTING UP A 'PEOPLE'S SELECT COMMITTEE' ON PAY EQUITY CHANGES. THEN ` A MOMENT OF TERROR FOR SUNDAY SHOPPERS AT A MELBOURNE MALL. WHAT THE (BLEEP) IS HAPPENING? WHAT HAPPENED IN THE AFTERMATH OF A BRAWL BETWEEN KNIFE-WIELDING TEENS THAT SAW ONE BYSTANDER LABELLED A HERO. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` WE'RE THERE EXCLUSIVELY INSIDE EMERGENCY HQ WHEN THEY PRESS THE NATIONAL ALERT BUTTON. SOMEWHERE IN THERE, THERE IS A MACHINE THAT CAN MAKE AN ENTIRE COUNTRY GO 'OOOHHH! OH-OH-OH!' PLUS ` INTEREST RATE CUTS ARE ON THE HORIZON ` COULD A SHORTER MORTGAGE FIX BE YOUR NEXT POWER MOVE? JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. A GROUP OF FORMER WOMEN MPs LED BY DAME MARILYN WARING ARE SETTING UP A PEOPLE'S SELECT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE GOVERNMENT'S PAY EQUITY CHANGES. THEY SAY THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T FOLLOWED DUE PROCESS AND ARE MAKING WOMEN COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. DEMELZA LESLIE REPORTS. DAME MARILYN WARING IS NO STRANGER TO POLITICS AND WOMEN'S ISSUES. THE FORMER NATIONAL MP PERHAPS BETTER KNOWN FOR THREATENING TO CROSS THE FLOOR FOR LABOUR'S ANTI-NUCLEAR BILL IN 1984, WHICH SAW MULDOON CALL A SNAP ELECTION AND LOSE. NOW IT'S HER STANCE ON PAY EQUITY THAT'S GOT HER RETURNING TO THE POLITICAL FRAY. I JUST HAVE A LOT OF DIFFICULTY IN SEEING PIECES OF LEGISLATION OF SUCH MAGNITUDE PASSED WITHOUT... EVIDENCE BEFORE THE HOUSE AND BEFORE PARLIAMENTARIANS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE GOVERNMENT RUSHED THROUGH CHANGES TO PAY EQUITY, STALLING DOZENS OF EXISTING CLAIMS AND RAISING THE BAR FOR FUTURE ONES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, SAVING THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT $12.8B. IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT THIS IS REQUIRED FOR THE BUDGET. DAME MARILYN HAS GATHERED A LINE-UP OF FORMER MPs FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO HOLD A PEOPLE'S SELECT COMMITTEE TO HEAR THE EVIDENCE SHE SAYS PARLIAMENT SHOULD HAVE HEARD. WE WANT TO KNOW WHY SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE NOT WELL-PAID BECAME THE COLLATERAL... DAMAGE, REALLY, TO BALANCE A BUDGET. IF THERE'S ANY DIFFICULTY GETTING INFORMATION, WE HAVE FRIENDS INSIDE PARLIAMENT WHO WILL LODGE QUESTIONS FOR US. THE UNOFFICIAL SELECT COMMITTEE WILL PROVIDE ANONYMITY TO ANYONE WHO REQUESTS IT. THEY'RE ACCEPTING PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS UNTIL THE END OF JULY AND PLAN TO HOLD THEIR FIRST SESSION IN WELLINGTON IN AUGUST. AND THIS SELECT COMMITTEE WILL GIVE WORKING WOMEN A CHANCE TO HAVE MORE DIGNITY. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS PEOPLE ARE FREE TO SHARE AND DEBATE THEIR VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE BUT HAS NO INTENTION TO CHANGE THE LAW. THE COSTS FOR THAT SCHEME HAD BLOWN OUT CONSIDERABLY AND THAT IT HAD DEPARTED FROM ITS EARLIER PURPOSE, WHICH WAS TO CORRECT SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION. THE COMMITTEE SAYS IT WANTS TO HEAR FROM THOSE FOR AND AGAINST THE CHANGES AND AIMS TO PRODUCE A REPORT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. DEMELZA LESLIE, 1 NEWS. THREE CHILDREN FROM THE SAME FAMILY ARE AMONG 12 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE HEAVIEST NIGHT OF BOMBING UKRAINE'S SUFFERED SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. AFTER UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY CRITICISED AMERICA'S 'SILENCE' OVER RECENT RUSSIAN ATTACKS, DONALD TRUMP TODAY TOLD REPORTERS, 'I'M NOT HAPPY WITH PUTIN.' THE BBC'S JAMES WATERHOUSE REPORTS FROM KYIV. SEARCHING FOR A THREAT NO OTHER EUROPEAN CAPITAL HAS TO FACE. (DISTANT EXPLOSIONS) THEY OFTEN COME IN THE DARK, AND IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE HEAVIEST NIGHTS FOR NOT JUST KYIV, BUT 30 CITIES ACROSS UKRAINE. (DISTANT GUNFIRE) HUNDREDS OF DRONES AND DOZENS OF MISSILES LAUNCHED BY RUSSIA... (DISTANT EXPLOSION) ...INTENT ON TERRORISING. PEOPLE LIE IN BED OR WAIT IN CORRIDORS TRYING TO AVOID THE THREAT FROM ABOVE. OTHERS HEAD UNDERGROUND. DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF AIR DEFENCES, KYIV GLOWS FROM FIRES ACROSS THE CITY. IN THE ZHYTOMYR REGION TO THE WEST, THE TRUE COST WAS LAID BARE. 'WE HEARD AN EXPLOSION,' SAYS IHOR. 'MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND 'ARE IN INTENSIVE CARE, AND THEIR CHILDREN DIED.' SIBLINGS STANISLAV, TAMARA, AND RAMON WERE ALL KILLED, SAY OFFICIALS. ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT ENDING THIS WAR, BUT THE FIGHTING IS ONLY INTENSIFYING. THIS DRONE STRUCK A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE CENTRE OF KYIV, BUT RUSSIA SAYS IT TARGETED MORE THAN 100 MILITARY SITES. GIVEN THE SCALE OF THE ATTACKS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST 48 HOURS, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN CEASEFIRE TERRITORY. THAT'S DESPITE THE COMPLETION OF A THREE-DAY PRISONER OF WAR EXCHANGE, WHERE 1000 UKRAINIANS WERE SWAPPED FOR THE SAME NUMBER OF RUSSIANS ` RARE COOPERATION. BUT AS THINGS STAND, THEY'RE LIKELY TO RETURN TO THE FIGHT. AND IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, DONALD TRUMP INTENSIFIED HIS CRITICISM OF VLADMIR PUTIN, SAYING, 'HE'S GONE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.' A SHOPPER'S BEING PRAISED FOR PINNING DOWN A KNIFE-WIELDING MAN AFTER A SUSPECTED GANG FIGHT AT A MELBOURNE MALL. A BRAWL BROKE OUT AT THE SHOPPING CENTRE'S FOOD COURT, LEAVING AT LEAST THREE MEN INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY. THERE WAS JUST A MAN LYING ON THE FLOOR, LIKE, SURROUNDED BY COPS WITH, LIKE, BLOOD ON THE FLOOR. THE OTHER MAN WITH THE BIG MACHETE STILL IN HIS STOMACH. THE INCIDENT IN THE CITY'S NORTHEAST SPARKING A PANIC, WITH PEOPLE FLEEING FOR THE EXITS OR RUSHING TO HIDE IN THE BACK OF SHOPS. ONE SHOPPER PERFORMED A CITIZEN'S ARREST ON A MASK-WEARING SUSPECT, HOLDING HIM UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED. VICTORIA POLICE SAY A 16- AND 15-YEAR-OLD WERE ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE OFFENCES, AND REMANDED TO APPEAR AT A CHILDREN'S COURT. A MURI AKE NEI ` THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT DRIVING LEVIN LOCALS ROUND THE BEND. I'M ABSOLUTELY GUTTED. COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED. WHO THEY WANT TO INTERVENE OVER COST-CUTTING ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY PROJECT. THEN ` A STATE-OWNED PEST ERADICATION COMPANY CULLED IN GOVERNMENT COST-CUTTING. WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE GOAL OF BEING PREDATOR-FREE BY 2050. THEN AT 7 ` ALL EYES ARE ON INTEREST RATES. IS 'SHORT TERM' THE NEW SMART TERM? AND IT'S THE TRIGGERING NOISE THAT ALERTS THE NATION. AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AS THEY PUSH THE BUTTON ` WE FIND OUT HOW IT ALL WORKS. AND IT ALL STARTED IN A SHED WITH NUMBER 8 WIRE AND WOOD. THE KIWI WHO'S BANKING BIG ON THE WORLD STAGE. IT WAS ON THE BBC, AND THEN IT WAS PICKED UP BY THE GUARDIAN, AND THEN IT WENT ON TO CLASSIC FM IN LONDON. AND THEN A GUY CALLED BENJAMIN SAW IT, AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR A PIANO AT THE TIME, AND HE THOUGHT, 'OH, WONDER IF I COULD, YOU KNOW, BUY ONE OF THEM.' AND THE MOST INTERESTING SPORT THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE HEADLINES COMING UP AT 7. THE HOROWHENUA COMMUNITY SAY THEY FEEL 'BLINDSIDED' BY CHANGES TO AN EXPRESSWAY SET TO START CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS YEAR. NZTA SAYS IT'S HAD TO REDUCE COSTS FOR THE PROJECT, BUT LOCALS SAY THEY JUST WANT THE ROUTE THEY WERE PROMISED. ABBEY WAKEFIELD REPORTS. IT WAS A KEY PART OF THE PLANNED EXPRESSWAY FOR THE HOROWHENUA COMMUNITY, A MAJOR INTERCHANGE FOR TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF LEVIN; BUT AFTER COST-CUTTING BY NZTA, LEVIN WILL NOW GET A ROUNDABOUT. I'M ABSOLUTELY GUTTED. COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED. WE'RE VERY DISAPPOINTED. THE PLANNED EXPRESSWAY WILL SPLIT OFF FROM STATE HIGHWAY 1 JUST NORTH OF OTAKI, JOINING UP AGAIN NEAR LEVIN. NZTA SAYS THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY, RELIABILITY, AND EFFICIENCY. DO YOU THINK THAT THESE CHANGES STILL ACHIEVE THAT? WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE THAN WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN. I THINK WITH THIS ROUNDABOUT COMING IN, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A REAL CHOKE POINT. WOODHAVEN GARDENS TRANSPORTS FRESH VEGETABLE CROPS AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT'S SO SHORT-SIGHTED. HOROWHENUA IS AN ABSOLUTE GROWTH REGION. AND FOR US, HAVING THAT FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY, A PROPER INTERCHANGE, MEANS THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE CONGESTION WE HAVE NOW. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JUST FOUR MONTHS' TIME, AND THE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 2029. NZTA HAS MADE CHANGES TO 20% OF THE PROJECT TO REDUCE COSTS AND SAYS THIS PROJECT'S NOT UNIQUE IN HAVING TO FIND SAVINGS. THE AGENCY SAYS IT LOOKED AT ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGES SOME OF THE CHANGES AREN'T WELCOMED BY SOME IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE BEEN WAITING OVER 10 YEARS FOR THIS PROJECT TO BEGIN. I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR FAULT THAT WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT SO LONG. SO THE DELAYS OBVIOUSLY HAVE PUSHED THE PRICE UP, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT SUFFER BECAUSE OF THAT. THIS IS A USER-PAYS ROAD, AND THE USERS THAT ARE PAYING FOR THE ROAD AREN'T GETTING WHAT THEY NEED. NATIONAL FOUGHT FOR THIS PROJECT IN 2019. NOW THE COMMUNITY HAS A MESSAGE FOR THE TRANSPORT MINISTER. YOU NEED TO INTERVENE, INTERVENE QUICKLY, AND YOU MAY FIND THIS HAS A REAL IMPACT AT THE NEXT ELECTION IF IT DOESN'T GO AHEAD AS IT SHOULD. AN URGENT CALL FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION BEFORE CONSTRUCTION STARTS THIS SPRING. ABBEY WAKEFIELD, 1 NEWS. IT'S FEARED NEW ZEALAND'S GOAL OF BECOMING PREDATOR-FREE BY 2050 IS UNDER THREAT, WITH THE CLOSURE OF A STATE-OWNED PEST ERADICATION COMPANY. IT'LL SAVE THE GOVERNMENT MORE THAN $12M IN OVERHEADS, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION PICKING UP THE WORKLOAD. BUT AS JAMES FLEURY REPORTS, THAT'S LEAVING CONSERVATIONISTS CONCERNED. OPERATING ACROSS 23,000ha, THE TEAM AT PEST FREE BANKS PENINSULA ARE ON A MISSION TO ERADICATE PESTS. WELL, PROBABLY OUR STAR PROJECT RIGHT NOW, EXACTLY THIS WEEK, IS THAT WE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT AKAROA TOWNSHIP IS POSSUM-FREE, SO THAT MEANS NO POSSUMS. BUT NOW ITS TEAM LEAD FEARS FOR THE FUTURE AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED 'PREDATOR FREE 2050 LIMITED', A COMPANY THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH, IS BEING DISESTABLISHED. IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE BOMBSHELL FOR US. I THINK FROM A PURELY HUMAN POINT OF VIEW, IT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY RUBBISH WAY TO WIND DOWN AN ORGANISATION ` TO TELL THEM ON BUDGET DAY. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION IS TAKING OVER THE WORK ` A DECISION SOME SAY IS NOT EVIDENCED-BASED. IT LOOKS LIKE A COST-CUTTING EXERCISE, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOT MUCH GROUNDING IN CONSERVATION STRATEGY. BUT DOC SAYS ABSORBING THE COMPANY'S WORK FITS WITH ITS EXISTING ACTIVITIES, WITH A PLAN IN PLACE TO TRANSITION PREDATOR-FREE PROJECTS, RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTS MANAGED. THEY'VE GOT VERY LITTLE EXTRA RESOURCE ` IF NOTHING EXTRA ` TO DO THE WORK, AND THEY WILL SHOULDER IT. THE CONSERVATION MINISTER SAYS CLOSING THE COMPANY WILL AVOID ANY DUPLICATION OF WORK, PROVIDE A MORE EFFICIENT PROGRAMME AND BE BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY. CONSERVATIONISTS SAY THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED SOME CONSULTATION. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AT THE SAME TIME AS A STRATEGIC REVIEW. IT'S KIND OF SLAP-BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRATEGY CONSULTATION ON BOTH PREDATOR-FREE AND BIODIVERSITY MORE GENERALLY. SO IT'S ODDLY TIMED TO SORT OF SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. THROUGH TO JUNE NEXT YEAR, 2026, WE WILL KEEP GOING. BUT BEYOND THAT, THE FUTURE IS VERY UNCLEAR, AND THAT IS VERY WORRYING. THE GOVERNMENT NOW SET TO SAVE MORE THAN $12M, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE CUTS UNCERTAIN. JAMES FLEURY, 1 NEWS. KATE'S HERE WITH SPORT ` AND LIAM LAWSON'S FINALLY ON THE BOARD IN F1? YES, A MEMORABLE RACE IN MONACO. THE KIWI PLAYED HIS PART BEAUTIFULLY, RESULTING IN POINTS FOR BOTH RACING BULLS DRIVERS. IT WASN'T SO ROSY AT THE BRICKYARD ` A DAY TO FORGET FOR SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN. PLUS, IT'S THE FINAL ROUND OF SUPER RUGBY ` FROM THE TEAMS FLYING HIGH TO THE ONES WHO NEED TO KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE PRIZE. AND IN WEATHER ` THAT FRONT, THAT ACTIVE FRONT CONTINUES TO TRACK ITS WAY NORTH THROUGH THE NIGHT-TIME INTO TOMORROW. SO WITH THAT, THERE'S STILL GONNA BE SOME HEAVY RAIN; THAT'LL BE ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND FIRST PART OF THE DAY. WATCH FOR SOME HEAVY DOWNPOURS ` SLOWLY EASING AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. FURTHER SOUTH, LOOKING GOOD ` JUST SOME SUN, SOME CLOUD, MAYBE THE ODD SHOWER. HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE, AFTER SPORT. VOICEOVER: Cheesy Bites are back. For a limited tiiiime. Oh hi Mr Stephenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. VOICEOVER: KIA ORA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. IT'S TAKEN EIGHT ROUNDS, BUT LIAM LAWSON'S FINALLY ON THE BOARD, SECURING HIS FIRST POINTS OF THE FORMULA 1 SEASON. THE RACING BULLS CARRYING OUT A BOLD TEAM STRATEGY IN MONACO, ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T POPULAR WITH EVERYONE ON THE GRID. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE HAS MORE.ALL VERY MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE HAS MORE. WELCOME BACK IN THE POINTS, MAN. GOOD JOB. JUST CALL HIM LIAM 'THE SHIELD' LAWSON, DEFENDING POSITION, CONTROLLING PACE... LIAM LAWSON IS HOLDING A LOT OF PEOPLE UP. ...PROVING MONTE CARLO DOESN'T REQUIRE FLASH, JUST FINESSE. YOU BEGAN TO BACK IT UP, BACK IT UP` TALK US THROUGH IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I WAS FLAT OUT. (LAUGHTER) IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT FINALLY, THE KIWI WITH A PERFORMANCE TO SMILE ABOUT ` BACK IN THE POINTS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST YEAR, IN A RACE HE PLAYED A MASTERSTROKE IN STRATEGY. THERE'S A NICE GAP OPENING UP IN FRONT OF LIAM LAWSON. LAWSON IN NINTH, HOLDING UP THE FIELD BY MORE THAN 20 SECONDS, ENOUGH TIME FOR TEAM-MATE ISACK HADJAR TO COMPLETE THE TWO MANDATORY PIT STOPS. NICE TACTICS FROM RACING BULLS. OUT COMES ISACK HADJAR, AHEAD OF LAWSON, AND IN EIGHTH PLACE. SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT GOING SLOW NO EASY TASK. WEIRD. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, WHERE HONESTLY, YOUR BRAIN STARTS GOING OFF AND ON, UH, IN RANDOM PLACES, TRYING TO KEEP CONCENTRATION. LAWSON SACRIFICING HIS OWN CHANCE FOR POINTS, BUT WHEN WILLIAMS IN BEHIND COPIED THE STRATEGY, RACING BULLS STRIKING BACK. BOX. BOX. COPY. LAWSON FINISHING EIGHTH, HADJAR SIXTH... BIG, BIG THANKS TO LIAM. BOTH WITH CAREER-BEST FINISHES AND CRUCIAL CONSTRUCTORS POINTS. YEAH, I OWE HIM THIS ONE, DEFINITELY. TO HAVE POINTS AND COME AWAY` IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY TOUGH THIS YEAR, SO FOR US NOW IT'S ABOUT USING THIS GOING FORWARD. BUT NOT EVERYONE HAPPY ` WILLIAMS CALLING IT MANIPULATION. OH, JUST A BIT DISAPPOINTED. IT'S NOT REALLY HOW WE WANT TO GO RACING I DON'T` YOU KNOW, I DON'T` I DON'T LIKE GOING RACING LIKE THAT. YOU CAN'T PIN THE BLAME ON THE RACING BULLS. THEY DID THE RIGHT THING ACCORDING TO THE RULES TO EXECUTE THE POINTS. UP FRONT, A DIFFERENT STORY ` A STRAIGHTFORWARD RACE FOR LANDO NORRIS FROM POLE TO PODIUM, TAKING THE CHEQUERED FLAG... MONACO, BABY! YEAH, BABY! ...ON THE TOUGHEST TRACK IN FORMULA 1, FINALLY, LIAM LAWSON WITH SOME TRACTION. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. MEANWHILE, A TOUGHER DAY FOR THE KIWI DRIVERS IN THE INDY 500, WITH SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN NOT EVEN MAKING IT TO THE START LINE FOLLOWING WHAT HE'S CALLING THE WORST MOMENT OF HIS LIFE. IT HAPPENED DURING THE CEREMONIAL PARADE LAPS OF THE BIG RACE, MCLAUGHLIN WARMING HIS TYRES BEFORE DISASTER STRUCK. OH NO. OH NO. WARMING HIS TYRES, SWERVING ` JUST TO PUT SOME TEMPERATURE INTO THE RUBBER ` AND JUST LOSES IT. ONE OF THE PRE-RACE FAVOURITES DISTRAUGHT. TEAM PENSKE HAD JUST FINISHED REBUILDING HIS CAR AFTER A BIG CRASH DURING ONE OF LAST WEEKEND'S PRACTICE SESSIONS. ROOKIE, UH` ROOKIE` I DON'T KNOW WHAT` I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. UM... YEAH, IT'S BY FAR THE WORST MOMENT OF MY LIFE, SO I'M JUST, UM... I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY DRAMATIC ` EVERYONE'S, 'WHATEVER,' ` BUT IT'S JUST, LIKE, I PUT SO MUCH INTO THIS RACE ` EVERYONE DOES ` AND I JUST, UH, DIDN'T EVEN GET TO SEE THE GREEN FLAG. SCOTT DIXON DID SEE THE GREEN FLAG ` ALTHOUGH HIS BRAKES WERE ON FIRE AROUND THE TIME OF MCLAUGHLIN'S CRASH ` EVENTUALLY PITTING ON LAP 31 FOR A FIX, FINISHING WELL DOWN IN 23RD. HIS TEAMMATE ALEX PALOU CLAIMED HIS FIRST INDY 500 VICTORY. THE WARRIORS BELIEVE THEIR DEFEAT TO THE ILL-DISCIPLINED RAIDERS AT MT SMART LAST NIGHT BOILS DOWN TO A LACK OF EXECUTION. THE WARRIORS' FIVE-MATCH WINNING STREAK SNAPPED WITH THE 16-10 LOSS, THE RAIDERS HOLDING ON DESPITE BEING REDUCED TO 12 PLAYERS TWICE IN THE CONTEST. WE HAD OUR CHANCES ` LIKE, SO MANY LITTLE CHANCES WHERE WE WERE CLOSE TO SCORING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WAS FRUSTRATING, BUT I WAS REALLY PROUD OF A LOT OF THINGS, PARTICULARLY OUR GOAL LINE DEFENCE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY TONIGHT. THE RESULT MEANS THE RAIDERS LEAPFROG INTO SECOND ON THE NRL LADDER, THE WARRIORS THIRD AFTER 12 ROUNDS. BUT PLAYMAKER LUKE METCALF STILL LEADS THE DALLY M STANDINGS WITH 31 POINTS ` VOTING NOW SECRET FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC TEAMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FIGHTING FOR A SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS, WITH JUST ONE REGULAR SEASON ROUND REMAINING. THE BLUES, WHO CURRENTLY SIT OUTSIDE OF FINALS CONTENTION, ARE COMING OFF A BYE WEEK. WING CALEB CLARKE ACKNOWLEDGING HE NEEDS TO PERSONALLY STEP UP, YET TO SCORE A TRY THIS SEASON. I JUST NEED TO GO BACK TO SIMPLER TIMES, AND I'VE HAD IT FROM VERN ` I PRACTICALLY JUST HAD TO STOP THINKING AND JUST PLAY AND HAVE FUN, BECAUSE THIS IS A SPORT I PLAYED AS A KID, AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST FUN, HAVING FUN WITH MY MATES. SO BOOT MYSELF UP THE BACKSIDE AND GET INTO GEAR. THE DEFENDING CHAMPION BLUES NEED TO WIN AGAINST THE WARATAHS ON SATURDAY TO HAVE A CHANCE OF MAKING FINALS. ON SUNDAY TO HAVE A CHANCE OF MAKING FINALS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE HURRICANES' PLAYOFFS SPOT IS ASSURED ` A WIN THIS WEEKEND WILL LOCK IN FOURTH PLACE. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF STAND-OUTS FOR THE WELLINGTON-BASED TEAM, BUT NONE MORE SO THAN BILLY PROCTOR, WHO'S MAKING A CLAIM FOR THE STARTING CENTRE SPOT IN BLACK. LUKE ROBINSON REPORTS. AFTER YET ANOTHER WIN, IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES AT HURRICANES HQ... (CHEERING) ...PREPARING FOR THEIR FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME ` ONE THAT AT TIMES MIDFIELDER BILLY PROCTOR THOUGHT HE MAY NOT PLAY IN. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE A DATE SET IN STONE ` IT WAS A BIT OF A NIGGLY PROCESS WITH MY LEG. UM... IT ACTUALLY TOOK US QUITE A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. THE HURRICANES MIDFIELDER BATTLED AN ACHILLES INJURY, MISSING THE FIRST NINE WEEKS OF THE SEASON, BUT SINCE HIS RETURN, HE HASN'T MISSED A BEAT. WELCOME BACK, BILLY! ONE OF THE FORM CENTRES OF THE COMPETITION, THE CANES' UNBEATEN FIVE-GAME RUN COINCIDING WITH PROCTOR'S COMEBACK. (CHEERING) IT'S PROCTOR WHO GOES IN. ...HIS FORM SURELY PUTTING HIM IN THE ALL BLACKS MIX. HE BRINGS HIS EXPERIENCE, HE BRINGS A CALMNESS IN THAT BACK LINE, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S` AT TIMES, SUPER RUGBY, YOU KNOW, THE BALL CAN BE GOING ALL OVER THE SHOW. IT PROBABLY COMES WITH A BIT OF TIME IN THE SADDLE AND, YOU KNOW, FEELING A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE AND A BIT CONFIDENT` OH, YOU KNOW, CONFIDENT IN MYSELF. AN INTERNATIONAL CALL-UP LAST YEAR... PROCTOR'S IN FOR A TRY! ...IN HIS FIRST TEST MATCH, ...IN HIS FIRST TEST MATCH, GIVING THE 26-YEAR-OLD ADDED DESIRE TO WEAR BLACK AGAIN. GETTING A TASTE OF IT LAST YEAR ` THAT'S DEFINITELY WHERE I WANT TO BE, AND, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND PLAYING, UM... YOU KNOW, FOR THE BEST TEAM, NEW ZEALAND. BEFORE THEN, THOUGH, HE'S HOPING TO HELP THE CANES BE NAMED THE BEST TEAM IN SUPER RUGBY. BUT I DON'T THINK THE BELIEF EVER LEFT THE GROUP, AND I THINK WITHIN THIS GROUP, WE'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT, UM` YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO... TO BE ONE OF THE BETTER TEAMS OF THE COMPETITION. WE'VE HAD A BIT OF ADVERSITY, WE'VE HAD A BIT OF, UM... PLAYER AVAILABILITY THROUGH INJURIES, NOT BEING THERE. ONE GAME LEFT, LOOKING FOR A BIG LIFT AS THE PLAYOFFS LOOM. LUKE ROBINSON, 1 NEWS. AN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON THAT HAD PROMISED SO MUCH ENDED IN DISAPPOINTMENT FOR CHRIS WOOD AND NOTTINGHAM FOREST. FOREST NEEDING TO BEAT CHELSEA TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF QUALIFYING FOR NEXT SEASON'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. THE ALL WHITES STRIKER MISSING A COUPLE OF GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S CHRIS WOOD! OH! (CROWD GROANS) WHAT A CHANCE. THAT HAD TO GO IN... IT DID. ...IF THEY WERE GOING TO TURN IT AROUND. CHELSEA WINNING 1-0 TO CLAIM A COVETED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT; FOREST FINISHING SEVENTH. LIVERPOOL FINALLY GETTING THEIR HANDS ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY AFTER GUARANTEEING TOP SPOT A MONTH AGO. ERIN ROUTLIFFE WILL PARTNER FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE VICTORIA AZARENKA WHEN HER FRENCH OPEN DOUBLES CAMPAIGN BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY, FOLLOWING THE LATE INJURY WITHDRAWAL OF GABI DABROWSKI. FOLLOWING THE LATE INJURY WITHDRAWAL OF GABY DABROWSKI. AND AS JENNY SUO REPORTS, SHE WASN'T THE ONLY SURPRISE BIG NAME AT ROLAND GARROS, AS ONE OF THE GREATS WAS FAREWELLED. 14 TIMES, HE WAS THE LAST MAN STANDING. OVER PA: RAFAEL NADAL! TODAY, 15,000 STOOD WITH HIM. (INSPIRING MUSIC) THE KING OF CLAY SERVED UP ONE LAST SURPRISE. AND LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR OLD PALS WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU. (SOARING MUSIC) COMPETITORS, COLLEAGUES, COMPANIONS. ALL OF US ACHIEVED OUR DREAMS AND WE BUILT AMAZING RIVALRIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IN A GOOD WAY ` BEING GOOD COLLEAGUES, AND RESPECT EACH OTHER VERY WELL. A CURTAIN CALL OF SORTS TO BEGIN THE SECOND GRAND SLAM OF THE YEAR, ONE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DRAMATIC FOR KIWI ERIN ROUTLIFFE, THE DOUBLES PLAYER SCRAMBLING AFTER A LAST-MINUTE INJURY WITHDRAWAL BY PARTNER GABY DABROWSKI. FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE VICTORIA AZARENKA SAVING THE DAY. I HAD SOMETHING CRAZY, LIKE, 48 HOURS TO, LIKE, FIND SOMEONE NEW TO PREPARE WITH. AND I JUST WENT DOWN MY LIST AND STARTED ASKING PEOPLE, AND, UM` YEAH, LUCKILY VIKA WANTED TO PLAY, SO I'M EXCITED. THE PAIR WITH JUST TWO DAYS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BEFORE THEIR DEBUT MATCH AGAINST SECOND SEEDS ITALIANS SARA ERRANI AND JASMINE PAOLINI. SHE'S AN AMAZING SINGLES PLAYER, SO I THINK SHE'LL BE SETTING ME UP FROM THE BACK, AND I'LL KIND OF BE LIKE THE NET PERSON ` JUST STICKING TOGETHER AND, LIKE, ENJOYING IT, AND, LIKE, COMMUNICATING A LOT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING WITH SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME. MORE FAMILIAR WITH HER MIXED DOUBLES PARTNER, MICHAEL VENUS. WE KIND OF UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. UM... YEAH, WE HAVE A GOOD TIME. BUT I WAS ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE LOCKER ROOM YESTERDAY AND REALISED, I THINK THIS IS THE 12TH YEAR IN A ROW NOW I'VE BEEN PLAYING HERE. HOPING FOR A BETTER START THAN LULU SUN, LOSING IN STRAIGHT SETS TO HER FIRST-ROUND OPPONENT, CANADIAN TEEN VICTORIA MBOKO. (CHEERING) FRUSTRATION, JUBILATION, EXHILARATION ALL TO COME AS A NEW ERA BEGINS AT ROLAND GARROS. JENNY SUO, 1 NEWS. KIWI MOUNTAIN BIKER SAMMIE MAXWELL HAS RETAINED HER LEAD AT THE TOP OF THE CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUP SERIES AFTER FINISHING SECOND IN THE LATEST ROUND IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THE 22-YEAR-OLD STARTING ON THE FOURTH ROW BUT WORKING HER WAY UP TO THE LEAD GROUP MIDWAY THROUGH THE SEVEN-LAP RACE, COMING DOWN TO A TIGHT FINISH WITH AUSTRIA'S MONA MITTERWALLNER. MAXWELL STRUGGLING TO CLOSE THE GAP. THEY STAND UP. IT'S GOING TO BE A SPRINT FINISH ` MONA MITTERWALLNER VERSUS SAMMIE MAXWELL HERE AT NOVE MESTO! AND IT'S MONA MITTERWALLNER WHO GETS THE JOB DONE! THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE SERIES IS IN AUSTRIA IN A FORTNIGHT. HAMISH KERR'S WON HIS FIRST DIAMOND LEAGUE EVENT OF THE YEAR, TAKING OUT THE MEN'S HIGH JUMP IN MOROCCO. KERR CLEARED 2.25M, LATER WINNING THE EVENT ON COUNTBACK. MADE IT LOOK EASY. THANKS. STAY WITH US ` DAN SAYS THERE IS MORE HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY, SO WHO'S IN THE FIRING LINE? DETAILS NEXT. COMING UP AT 7 ` MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES ARE DROPPING. DECISIONS ARE LOOMING ` WHAT TO DO WITH THE EXTRA CASH YOU'LL BE POCKETING. AND COULD THIS BE THE STRANGEST END TO A FOOTBALL MATCH EVER? JUST THROW IT IN THE CROWD. GO ON, THEN. PLUS ` THE BESPOKE BUSINESS WHERE SIZE REALLY DOES MATTER. WE'LL SEE YOU AT 7. VOICEOVER: Cheesy Bites are back. For a limited tiiiime. Oh hi Mr Stephenson. You're having a cheese dream, bro. VOICEOVER: IT'S A GOOD BET THAT THE RAINCOAT WILL COME IN HANDY. THERE IS A SYSTEM FOR TODAY, LOOK AT THE STREAM OF CLOUD, AIR AND MOISTURE FROM THE TROPICS. THE RAIN IS HARDER. THAT'S THE SYSTEM FOR MIDWEEK, AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE LATER IN THE WEEK WITH MUCH COLDER AIR.. THAT'S THE ONE TODAY, THIS IS THE ONE FOR WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY. THAT WILL KICK AWAY, BUT A BREATHER, THEN COLD SOUTH-WESTER. TODAY, WE SAW HEAVY RAIN TO PARTS OF NELSON. THAT WAS TIED TO UPPER ENERGY AND WAS JOE, THAT LUMP OF ORANGE GOING AWAY. SECOND SURGE FOR THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.� WE SAW INTENSE DOWNPOURS, BUT THEY WENT AWAY PRETTY QUICKLY. THAT SECOND SURGE, SQUEEZING THE CLOUDS. DARGAVILLE, HEADS UP, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THERE IS A WATCH FOR AUCKLAND TO TARANAKI. RIGHT THE WAY TO COROMANDEL. COULD BE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS ON THAT ZONE. THAT WILL EASE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, TOMORROW, CLEAR AWAY, LEFTOVER RAIN POSSIBLY FOR GISBORNE IN THE AFTERNOON.� A MUCH BETTER LOOKING DATE SHOWERS TAKE A LITTLE LONGER FOR THE COROMANDEL. BRIGHTENING DAY, SAME FOR HAMILTON. THAT CLEARS AWAY IN THE MORNING, 19DEGREES. REMEMBER, THE RAIN CLEARS AWAY IN THE MORNING, FOR MOST IT WILL PROVE TOWARDS THE AFTERNOON. SAME SORT OF THING FOR TAURANGA. COUPLE OF SHOWERS INTO THE AFTERNOON, 19. GISBORNE, RAIN CLEARING AWAY. MASTERTON IMPROVING. TARANAKI OVERNIGHT SHOWERS. WELLINGTON, FINE, DRY, JUST SOME SCATTERED CLOUD. NOT A BAD DAY FOR MUCH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. FINE EARLY, CLOUD. JUST SOME SCATTERED CLOUD, THAT IS ABOUT IT. MAYBE SOME CLOUD JUST TO THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. CHILLY START FOR QUEENSTOWN. A GOOD-LOOKING DAY. FOR MUCH OF THE DEEP SOUTH THINGS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. STUART ISLAND, CHILLY START. REMEMBER, WEDNESDAY. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A REAL ENGINE ROOM, MANY UNSTABLE AIR ` THURSDAY, YOU WILL BE GOING HANG ON A SEC.