NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED TO WAKE UP TO. FLAGS FLEW AT HALF MAST AS THE USUAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE WERE SUSPENDED, AND MPS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS THAT TE PATI MAORI WILL BE FEELING TODAY. TAKUTAI WAS SUCH A PROFOUND NAME, HIGHLY REGARDED THROUGHOUT THE TRIBES OF OUR COUNTRY. LABOUR'S PEENI HENARE LOST THE TAMAKI MAKAURAU ELECTORATE TO KEMP AT THE 2023 ELECTION. DESPITE HER AND I HAVING CONTESTED THE ELECTION, HOW CLOSE WE WERE TOGETHER AND HOW WE WORKED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HEAR THIS NEWS IS... (CRIES) IT'S TRULY SHOCKING. BEFORE ENTERING PARLIAMENT, KEMP WAS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE BEFORE ENTERING PARLIAMENT, KEMP WAS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MANUREWA MARAE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. SHE LOVED MANUREWA MARAE. HER TIME AT THE MARAE BECAME THE SUBJECT OF A POLITICAL INVESTIGATION AFTER FORMER STAFF ANONYMOUSLY CLAIMED THAT CENSUS DATA WAS COPIED AND USED TO HELP TE PATI MAORI'S 2023 ELECTION CAMPAIGN. TE PATI MAORI STRONGLY DENIED ANY WRONGDOING. A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INQUIRY COULDN'T DETERMINE WHETHER PERSONAL DATA WAS IMPROPERLY USED. BUT IT FOUND UNACCEPTABLE DATA PROTECTION PROCESSES BY STATISTICS NEW ZEALAND WHICH HANDLED THE CENSUS. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE RESIGNED. TODAY KEMP WAS REMEMBERED FONDLY AS A COMMUNITY LEADER. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SOUTH AUCKLANDERS WHO ARE FEELING THIS AS A HEAVY LOSS. IT IS A DAY FOR GRIEVING A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY. TRAGICALLY, KEMP'S PASSING MARKS THE SECOND DEATH OF AN MP THIS PARTLIAMENTARY TERM. FA'ANANA EFESO COLLINS, WHO WAS A GREEN MP, DIED SUDDENLY IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR AFTER SUFFERING A CARDIAC ARREST AT A CHARITY RUN. I KNOW FA'ANANA AND I KNOW TAKUTAI CAME HERE WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS TO DO THE MAHI FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. TODAY IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE POLITICS. TODAY IS JUST ABOUT HUMANITY AND THAT SENSE OF FEELING AND THAT ALOFA AND THAT SHARED GRIEF AND SADNESS THAT WE HAVE FOR A WONDERFUL WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN LOST TO THIS PLACE. TAKUTAI KEMP HAD JUST CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY. SHE WAS 50. ZANE, THIS WILL TRIGGER A BY-ELECTION? A SAD DAY. ZANE, THIS WILL TRIGGER A BY-ELECTION? THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE OTHER MPS DIED. KEMP WAS VOTED IN BY THE PEOPLE OF AUCKLAND ELECTORATE WHICH HE REPRESENTED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT ONCE THE DEATH HAS BEEN REGISTERED TO SPEAK WILL ISSUE A NOTICE THAT THE SEAT AS THEY KEPT IN THE HOUSE. ONCE THAT HAS HAPPENED, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL WILL ISSUE A FORMAL COMMAND FOR A BY-ELECTION. IT WILL BE UP TO THE GOVERNMENT THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THE NATO SUMMIT HAS ENDED WITH A COMMITMENT FROM EUROPEAN MEMBERS TO INCREASE THEIR SPENDING ON DEFENCE TO 5% OF GDP IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS. THE PLEDGE - WHICH DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN DEMANDING SINCE HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE - CAPPED OFF A SUMMIT FOCUSSED ON APPEASING AND PRAISING THE US PRESIDENT. AND PRAISING THE U.S. PRESIDENT. NATO'S BOSS LED THE WAY. GOING SO FAR AS TO CALL TRUMP 'DADDY' OVER HIS HANDLING OF THE ISRAEL-IRAN WAR. JAMES MATES FROM ITV IS AT THE HAGUE. A SUMMIT FOCUSED ALMOST ENTIRELY ON TAKING CARE OF A PRESIDENTIAL EGO. DONALD TRUMP'S MIND WASN'T SOMETHING ELSE A LEAKED PENTAGON REPORT, SUGGESTING THAT HIS STRIKE AGAINST IRAN HAD NOT DONE AS MUCH DAMAGE AS HE CLAIMED TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS. THE PHOTOS FROM THE AIR SHOWED DAMAGE ON THE SURFACE. BUT HE SAID HIS INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED IN MONTHS. TRUMP SAID THIS WAS FAKE NEWS AND THAT THE NUCLEAR FACILITIES HAD BEEN UP LETTER RATED, AND THAT HIS BOMBS HAD BROUGHT PEACE, JUST AS SURELY AS THE TWO BOMBS IN WORLD WAR II. IT WAS SO BAD THAT IT ENDED THE WAR. SOMEONE SAID IN A CERTAIN WAY THAT IT WAS SO DEVASTATING ACTUALLY. IF YOU LOOK AT HIROSHIMA OR NEITHER NAGASAKI THAT ENDED THE WAR TOO. THAT WAS NOT CONTRADICTED BY OTHER LEADERS HERE. THEY CALLED HIM A MAN OF STRENGTH AND PEACE. RUTTE DALE IS THE FLATTERY UP AS TRUMP DESCRIBED HOW HE BROUGHT PEACE TO THE MIDDLE EAST. TWO KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL YEAR FIGHT LIKE HELL. YOU LET THEM FIGHT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN IT IS EASY TO STOP THEM. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO USE CERTAIN STRONG LANGUAGE. THE UK IS EXPANDING ITS NEW KILLER CAPABILITY WITH 12 F 35 STEALTH FIGHTERS FROM THE USA. I ASKED IF OPERATING LIKE THIS COULD BE SUSTAINED? HOW CAN THIS ALLIANCE CARRY ON FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IN THAT MODE ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO MANAGE THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY? THIS IS ENSURING THAT NATO IS UNITED, STRONG AND BIGGER. AND THAT WE PLAY OUR PART AS LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GENERATION AND NEXT GENERATIONS ENJOY THE PEACE THAT NATO HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ESTABLISH AT THE LAST 80 YEARS. IN OTHER WORDS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. THERE IS CONFIDENCE TONIGHT THAT FOR THE TIME BEING TRUMP'S COMMITMENT TO NATO AND ARTICLE 5 ARE STILL INTACT. I LEFT HERE SAYING THAT THESE PEOPLE REALLY LOVE THEIR COUNTRY. IT IS NOT A RIP-OFF, AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM PROTECT THEIR COUNTRY. AS HE BOARDED AIR FORCE ONE TONIGHT THERE SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER RECOGNITION IT IS NOT JUST TRUMP. KEEPING THE USA INVOLVED IN EUROPE WILL BE A LONG TERM SITUATION. NICOLA WILLIS IS WARNING SUPERMARKETS SHE COULD IMPOSE HARSHER PENALTIES WHEN IT COMES TO MISLEADING PRICE CLAIMS. THE ECONOMIC GROWTH MINISTER HAS WRITTEN TO THE MAJOR PLAYERS TO REMIND THEM OF THEIR NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE FAIR TRADING ACT. IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, REALLY ` THE PRICE THAT'S ADVERTISED TO YOU AT THE SUPERMARKET, OR THAT YOU SEE AT THE AISLE, SHOULD BE THE SAME PRICE AS YOU PAY AT THE CHECKOUT. YET SURVEYS BY CONSUMER NEW ZEALAND, COURT PROCEEDINGS BY THE COMMERCE COMMISSION SUGGEST THAT'S NOT THE CASE. TWO PAK 'N SAVES IN AUCKLAND HAVE JUST PLEAD GUILTY TO MISLEADING PRICING, AND THERE ARE PROSECUTIONS PROGRESSING. AND MY CONCERN IS THIS IS THE MOST BASIC STUFF. THIS IS A LEGAL OBLIGATION FOR THE SUPERMARKETS NOT TO MISLEAD THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING IT RIGHT. SO THEY SHOULD FIX IT AND FIX IT QUICK. THEY'RE IN A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SECTOR; THEY CAN AFFORD TO FIX THIS. AND IF THEY CARE ABOUT NEW ZEALAND SHOPPERS, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD IT DONE YESTERDAY. YEAH, $27b OF REVENUE A YEAR, AND I WONDER WHETHER THE SUPERMARKETS ARE, IN ESSENCE, RIPPING KIWIS OFF, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO CHECK ALL OF THIS WHEN THEY'RE AT THE SUPERMARKET. WELL, THAT'S MY CONCERN. SO IF ONE PERSON NOTICES THAT THEY WERE OVERCHARGED FOR THEIR BAG OF LEMONS, I THINK WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THAT THE SUPERMARKET SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY CHECK THAT ISN'T HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE, AND THEY FIX IT FOR EVERYONE. BUT AT THE MOMENT, WHAT I HEAR IS IT'S ALL PRETTY CASUAL. SOMEONE MIGHT MAKE A COMPLAINT IF THEY BOTHER TO, AND THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A FIX TO THE SYSTEM. IT'S 2025, SAM. EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH ELECTRONIC TICKETING SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRAIN THEIR STAFF, SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT DOES, AND THEY SHOULD ADVERTISE REALLY GOOD REFUND POLICIES, SO THAT EVERY KIWI SHOPPER KNOWS 'IF THOSE GUYS PRICE ME UNFAIRLY, 'I HAVE A RIGHT TO A REFUND AND TO GET MY MONEY BACK.' IF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE FAIRER, AND I BET THERE'D BE A WHOLE LOT LESS OF IT HAPPENING. YEAH, I MEAN, THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S FALLING TO THE LIKES OF CONSUMER NZ, FOR EXAMPLE, TO PICK UP ON THIS, AND THAT THE PUNISHMENTS AREN'T AS HARSH AS THEY COULD BE. SO CURRENTLY THE PUNISHMENT FOR MISLEADING PRICING IS ONLY AROUND $600,000 PER BREACH. YOU PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE WITH AUSTRALIA, AND IT'S $50m. SO ARE YOU GOING TO MATCH AUSTRALIA'S FINE YOU PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE WITH AUSTRALIA AND ITS $50m. SO ARE YOU GOING TO MATCH AUSTRALIA'S FINE TO GET A BETTER DEAL FOR KIWIS? YEAH. WELL LOOK, THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THAT HISTORICALLY THE COMMERCE COMMISSION HASN'T BROUGHT MANY PROSECUTIONS, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE I WANT TO LOOK AT ` DO WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE LAW TO MAKE IT EASIER TO PUNISH SUPERMARKETS WHEN THEY MAKE THESE BREACHES? AND THEN THE SECOND ISSUE IS I'M SUSPICIOUS THAT THE FINE ISN'T ENOUGH OF A THREAT RIGHT NOW TO ACTUALLY MAKE THEM INVEST IN THE CHANGES NEEDED. AND AS YOU SAY, IN AUSTRALIA, FINES CAN BE UP TO $50m. 600k IS THE MAXIMUM HERE, BUT THE COURTS DON'T EVEN ALWAYS IMPOSE THAT, SO I AM CONSIDERING WHETHER WE JUST LIFT THE FINES CONSIDERABLY IN THE ACT, SO THAT THE SUPERMARKETS CAN SEE FINANCIALLY THIS ISN'T WORTH IT. I THINK MORALLY THEY SHOULD FEEL AN OBLIGATION, BUT IF WE HAVE TO USE THE FINANCIAL STICK, I'M PREPARED TO. OK, AND WOULD THAT 'STICK' LOOK LIKE A $50m FINE? WELL, I THINK IT LOOKS MUCH CLOSER TO THAT AUSTRALIAN NUMBER THAN TO NEW ZEALAND'S LITTLE MINNOW NUMBER. CAN YOU GIVE US A BALLPARK FIGURE? ON THE SPECTRUM FROM 600K TO 50M` WELL, I WILL TAKE ADVICE TO CABINET, AND CABINET WILL MAKE A DECISION, BUT YEAH ` I THINK TENS OF MILLIONS IS MORE LIKE IT. OK. JUST FINALLY, LOOK ` THE CRACKDOWN ON SUPERMARKETS. THIS HAS LONG BEEN TALKED ABOUT. YOU'VE WRITTEN MULTIPLE LETTERS, YOU'VE PUT THE SUPERMARKETS ON NOTICE, BUT WHEN WILL WE ACTUALLY SEE SOME RESULTS HERE? WHEN WILL SHOPPERS EVER SEE PRICES COME DOWN WHEN THEY GO TO GET THEIR GROCERIES? WELL, THIS IS THE THING, SAM. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER TO ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED RETAILERS IN NEW ZEALAND TO SAY, 'COULD YOU PLEASE OBEY THE LAW?' AND WHAT I FIND IS EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE SUPERMARKETS, THEY COME OUT AND SAY, 'OH, LOOK, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, 'AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST JOB FOR KIWI SHOPPERS.' SO PART OF MY JOB IS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, AND TO MAKE CLEAR TO NEW ZEALANDERS WHEN THEY'RE BEING LET DOWN, SO THAT THEY ACTUALLY GET UP AND FIX IT. BUT THEN THE SECOND PART, AS YOU SAY, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW ` LIKE THESE FINES AND THE FAIR TRADING ACT ` WE DO. SO THIS IS ONE ISSUE, SAM. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE ARE LOTS OF ISSUES IN THE SUPERMARKET SECTOR, AND I HAVE A LARGE WORK PROGRAMME. I TOOK ADVICE FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND IN THE GROCERY SECTOR THROUGH A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. THERE'S SOME BIG THEMES COMING THROUGH THAT. I WILL SHORTLY BE TAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET ABOUT NEXT STEPS, AND YOU CAN EXPECT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE BEING HEARD FROM ME ABOUT WHETHER SUPERMARKETS NEED TO CHANGE. NEW ZEALAND RUGBY IS BACKING THE DECISION OF THE HOROWHENUA KAPITI UNION TO POSTPONE ALL GAMES THIS WEEKEND DUE TO REFEREE ABUSE. IT COMES AFTER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAD TO STEP IN TO PROTECT A MATCH OFFICIAL AT A COLLEGE GAME LAST SATURDAY WHO WAS BEING VERBALLY ABUSED AND PHYSICALLY INTIMIDATED. HERE'S ANTONY STEVENS. THERE WAS LITTLE ACTION AT THE LEVIN DOMAIN TODAY, THE MAIN GROUND FOR SENIOR RUGBY IN HOROWHENUA-KAPITI, AND THE GRANDSTAND WILL REMAIN EMPTY THIS SATURDAY, WITH ALL RUGBY ACROSS THE UNION CANCELLED DUE TO ONGOING ABUSE TOWARDS REFEREES. IT'S ALMOST A SYSTEMIC ABUSE OF MATCH OFFICIALS. THESE HARDWORKING VOLUNTEERS THAT GIVE UP THEIR TIME, THESE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE JUST BEEN COPPING ABUSE FROM ALL LEVELS. CEO COREY KENNETT DETAILED THE UNPRECEDENTED MOVE VIA THE HOROWHENUA-KAPITI WEBSITE, SAYING ` IT FOLLOWS A WARNING THE UNION MADE LAST MONTH IN OUR STATEMENT OF OUR POSITION A MONTH AGO, WE TALKED ABOUT TWO EVENTS THAT HAD HAPPENED JUST THE WEEKEND PRIOR, ONE OF WHICH WAS A REFEREE WAS STRUCK IN THE FOOT WITH A PIECE OF FIELD EQUIPMENT. ANOTHER ONE WAS WHERE A REFEREE WAS THREATENED THAT HE WOULD BE STABBED, SO WE'VE HAD SOME HORRENDOUS ONES. REFEREE ABUSE ISN'T JUST A PROBLEM FOR GRASS ROOTS RUGBY. OUR LEADING WHISTLE-BLOWER BEN O'KEEFFE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS FOLLOWING THE SUPER RUGBY FINAL BETWEEN THE CHIEFS AND CRUSADERS TWO YEARS AGO. TODAY THE SPORTS GOVERNING BODY, NZR, SAID ABUSE AT ALL LEVELS MUST STOP, AND IT BACKED THE HOROWHENUA-KAPITI UNION'S DECISION TO HALT ALL RUGBY IN PROTEST ` A MOVE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SEE 4755 PLAYERS SIDE-LINED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOROWHENUA-KAPITI'S ACTIONS AROUND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SIGNAL THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THAT KIND OF RESPONSE TO THEIR OFFICIALS, THAT'S REALLY AFFIRMING FOR OFFICIALS ABOUT THEIR VALUE, WHEN THEY'RE SUPPORTED REALLY WELL BY THE UNION IN THAT REGARD. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 1,522 REFEREES REGISTERED IN NEW ZEALAND, A DROP OF 3% SINCE 2023, AND NZR SAYS THIS LATEST INCIDENT WON'T HELP THAT DOWNWARD TREND. IT'S PROBABLY NO SECRET THAT RUGBY, LIKE A NUMBER OF SPORTS HAS HAD REAL CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF RECRUITING AND RETAINING ITS MATCH OFFICIALS. WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THAT. AND WHEN IT COMES TO PENALTIES IMPOSED FOR SPECTATORS WHO VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY ABUSE REFEREES... BECAUSE THERE IS A JUDICIAL PROCESS WHICH DEALS WITH MISCONDUCT, AND THERE'S A RANGE OF PUNISHMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THAT PROCESS, WITHIN REASON. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ONLY SO FAR THAT RUGBY CAN GO BEFORE IT BECOMES A MATTER THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY THE POLICE. WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE RECEIVE MULTIPLE-YEAR BANS. I'VE SEEN IN OTHER PROVINCIAL UNIONS WHO'VE HAD TEAMS TAKEN OUT OF THE COMPETITION FOR THE YEAR. SADLY, THERE'S BEEN LIFE-BANS. WE WANT TO AMP THOSE UP AS MUCH AS WE CAN. SO THE GRANDSTAND AT LEVIN DOMAIN CAN RETURN TO HOSTING FANS WHO ARE ONLY THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. LAURA'S HERE WITH THE WEATHER, AND IT A VERY WET DAY FOR SOME. YES, SOME HEAVY RAIN FOR WESTERN AND NORTHERN AREAS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND IN PARTICULAR TODAY. METSERVICE SAYS BEFORE THE END OF FRIDAY, NORTHERN PARTS OF TE WAIPOUNAMU WILL LIKELY SEE MORE THAN A MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN. THERE WERE ALSO SOME STRONG WINDS TODAY ` GUSTS OF MORE THAN 120K WERE RECORDED IN WELLINGTON. AND IT WAS WARM. WHANGANUI WAS THE WARMEST SPOT ON 21. THE COOLEST WASN'T IN THE NEGATIVES TODAY ` 5 DEGREES IN PALMERSTON NORTH. FRIDAY WILL SEE MORE SEVERE WEATHER ` HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. THE JURY IS ALMOST OUT IN A CASE THAT'S GRIPPED THE WORLD. NEXT ON THREE NEWS WE LOOK AT THE SO-CALLED 'MUSHROOM MURDER TRIAL' AS IT ENTERS ITS FINAL STAGES. IS THIS MAN THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY? THE UNLIKELY CANDIDATE WHO COULD BE NEW YORK'S NEXT MAYOR. AND THE NAME'S VILLENEUVE, DENIS VILLENEUVE ` THE DIRECTOR BEHIND THE TWO DUNE MOVIES IS SET TO TAKE ON THE NEXT JAMES BOND FILM. THE JURY IN THE AUSTRALIAN MUSHROOM MURDER TRIAL IS PREPARING TO DECIDE A CASE THAT HAS GRIPPED NOT ONLY THE NATION, BUT THE WORLD. ERIN PATTERSON STANDS ACCUSED OF MURDERING THREE OF HER IN-LAWS AND ATTEMPTING TO MURDER A FOURTH. SHE DENIES DELIBERATELY SERVING THEM POISONOUS DEATH CAP MUSHROOMS IN A BEEF WELLINGTON SHE COOKED FOR A FAMILY LUNCH. IN A BEEF WELLINGTON SHE COOKED FOR A FAMILY LUNCH. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE STORY. SOBS: I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS ERIN PATTERSON IN THE HOURS AFTER FOUR OF HER IN-LAWS FELL DREADFULLY ILL AFTER EATING HER BEEF WELLINGTON. NOW AFTER A MARATHON TWO-MONTH TRIAL, MORE THAN 50 WITNESSES AND 4 WHOLE DAYS OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS, THE JURY IN THE 'MUSHROOM MURDER TRIAL' IS TASKED WITH DECIDING HER FATE. THE 50-YEAR-OLD HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MURDERING THE 50-YEAR-OLD HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MURDERING HER FORMER IN-LAWS, DON AND GAIL PATTERSON, AND GAIL S SISTER HEATHER WILKINSON AFTER THE TRIO DIED DAYS AFTER ATTENDING A LUNCH AT HER HOME IN 2023. PATTERSON'S LAWYER COLIN MANDY CLOSED THE CASE, TELLING THE JURY IF THEY HAD 'ANY DOUBT' IN THE PROSECUTION'S CASE THEY SHOULD ACQUIT THE MOTHER OF TWO. HE SAID IT WAS 'RIDICULOUS' TO THINK ERIN PATTERSON WOULD HAVE COMMITTED THE MURDERS WITHOUT 'ANY MOTIVE'. HE ARGUED THIS WAS NO MURDER PLOT, JUST A WOMAN WHO PANICKED WHEN EVERYTHING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG. HE SAID ` HE REMINDED JURORS THAT PATTERSON CHOSE TO TAKE THE STAND, EXPOSING HERSELF TO SCRUTINY AND EMBARRASSMENT, AND INSISTED THE CROWN HADN T PROVED ITS CASE BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. THE PROSECUTION SAYS PATTERSON LIED REPEATEDLY ABOUT FORAGING MUSHROOMS, ABOUT A MUSHROOM DEHYDRATOR SHE LATER DUMPED, EVEN ABOUT BEING POISONED HERSELF. THEY ALSO SAY SHE RESET HER PHONE TO DELETE PHOTOS OF MUSHROOMS AND THE DEHYDRATOR. PATTERSON'S HUSBAND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE LUNCH TOO, BUT PULLED OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE OF THEIR FRAYED RELATIONSHIP. I'M DEVASTATED; I LOVED THEM. PROSECUTORS SAY THIS WAS ALL AN ACT. THE JURY IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DELIBERATING NEXT WEEK WHEN THEY WILL DECIDE ` WAS IT ALL A TRAGIC ACCIDENT OR MURDER ON THE MENU FOR FAMILY LUNCH? PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS NOW LEFT THE HAGUE WITHOUT MEETING THE U.S. PRESIDENT AT THE NATO SUMMIT, BUT HAS CONNECTED WITH MAJOR EUROPEAN LEADERS, INCLUDING UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT VOLODOMYR ZELENSKYY. LUXON SAYS IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO BE THERE, AND THAT IT HAS BEEN A HISTORIC SUMMIT. HE BELIEVES THERE ARE SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE SOME EFFICIENCIES AROUND DEFENCE SPENDING. WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IS THE PRICE OF DEFENCE ASSETS GOING UP AND DEFENCE AND PEACEMAKING INCREASED MARGINS. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER AND WORK ON OUR DEAL MEANT TO SIMPLIFY AND GET SOME SCALE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND ABILITY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO REITERATE NEW ZEALAND'S SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. THE POST'S THOMAS MANCH HAS BEEN TRAVELLING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. HE JOINED ME JUST BEFORE WE CAME ON AIR TO TALK ABOUT HOW SUCCESSFUL THE TRIP HAS BEEN. WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR HIM THAN MAYBE THEY HOPED. YOU KNOW, THE IP` THE OTHER LEADERS OF THE IP4 NATIONS ` THAT'S THE INDO-PACIFIC NATIONS THAT ARE PARTNER BUT NOT ALLY TO NATO ` DID NOT SHOW UP, LARGELY DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY THAT TRUMP HAD ON OFFER BEFORE THIS` BEFORE THIS SUMMIT. NONETHELESS, YOU KNOW, LUXON HAS MANAGED TO GET AROUND A NUMBER OF LEADERS. HE'S ACTUALLY ALMOST TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT HIS OTHER INDO-PACIFIC COLLEAGUES WEREN'T THERE. HE MET WITH ZELENSKY; HE MET WITH MERZ THE CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY; AND THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, MARK CARNEY ` ALL LEADERS` THOSE LATTER TWO ARE LEADERS HE HASN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET BEFORE. SO, YOU KNOW, HE MANAGED TO CAPITALISE ON IT NONETHELESS. YOU MENTIONED HE MET WITH ZELENSKY. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? AS NATO ALLIANCE LEADERS WERE MEETING FOR THEIR BIG FORMAL SUMMIT YESTERDAY, LUXON MANAGED TO GET A MEETING WITH ZELENSKY. THEY MET IN A LITTLE BILATERAL ROOM ON THE SIDE OF THE CONFERENCE SUMMIT. HE` YOU KNOW, IT WAS` IT SEEMED TO BE MORE OF A MEET AND GREET, A HANDSHAKE, A BIT OF A DISCUSSION. BEFORE THE BEFORE THE SUMMIT BEFORE THE BEFORE THE SUMMIT, LUXON ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GIVING $16m MORE TO UKRAINE. THAT WAS PROBABLY A POINT OF DISCUSSION, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE TERRIBLY MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE MEETING AFTERWARDS OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS VERY POSITIVE. OK. CAN WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT RUTTE'S STRANGE CHOICE OF WORDS, CALLING TRUMP 'DADDY'? YEAH. A WEIRD, WEIRD WAY TO APPROACH THAT, WASN'T IT? HE` RUTTE, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMIT, WAS VERY DIFFERENTIAL TO TRUMP, YOU KNOW? THE WHOLE IDEA SEEMED TO BE 'FLATTER THE KING. 'MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T` HE DOESN'T'` YOU KNOW, SORT OF, 'RETREAT OR THREATEN OR REACT TO THE ALLIANCE.' AND THE 'DADDY' COMMENTS SORT OF ENCAPSULATED THAT APPROACH IN ITS ENTIRETY, YOU KNOW? SO UNUSUAL (SIGHS). ON THE OTHER HAND, TRUMP GOT WHAT HE WANTED OUT OF THE ALLIANCE, AND THE ALLIANCE GOT WHAT IT WANTED OUT OF TRUMP. HE HASN'T HE HASN'T, YOU KNOW, THREATENED TO LEAVE; HE HASN'T, YOU KNOW, THREATENED TO LEAVE; HE HASN'T BEEN BADGERING OR BULLYING THEM AS MUCH AS BEFORE. THE POST'S THOMAS MANCH THERE IN BRUSSELS. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` THE 33-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM WHO COULD BE NEW YORK'S NEXT MAYOR. COULD HE ALSO BE THE SAVIOUR OF THE DEMOCRATS? AND LATER IN SPORT... WE SPEAK TO BLACK CAP KYLE JAMIESON ABOUT HIS INJURY STRUGGLES. DID NEW ZEALAND CRICKET RUSH HIM BACK TOO EARLY? (DEVICE CLICKS AND BEEPS) (SIREN WAILS) Heya. Oh, no, the goose is getting me! MAN OVER RADIO: Car 51. Yeah, CMH One Alpha receiving. Hey, look, reason I pulled you over is you've been speeding. MAN: I was only a few k's over. WOMAN: Same speed as everyone else. Come on, bro! I wasn't going that fast. How about you catch some real criminals? A few k's over... I'm not hurting anyone... (HORN BLARES) Hey, look, reason I pulled you over is you've been speeding. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. TRIBUTES AND TEARS HAVE BEEN FLOWING AT PARLIAMENT AFTER THE PASSING OF TE PATI MAORI MP TAKUTAI MOANA NATASHA KEMP AT AGE 50. AND THE NATO SUMMIT HAS ENDED WITH A COMMITMENT FROM EUROPEAN MEMBERS TO INCREASE THEIR DEFENCE SPENDING TO 5% OF GDP ` SOMETHING PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN DEMANDING SINCE HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE. ALSO AT NATO, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID BOTH SIDES IN THE ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT ARE 'TIRED AND EXHAUSTED AND WANTING TO GO HOME', BUT ISRAEL IS OF COURSE STILL WAGING WAR ON ANOTHER FRONT. AS WORLD LEADERS MET IN THE HAGUE, AT LEAST 46 PEOPLE WAITING FOR AID WERE KILLED IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN GAZA BY ISRAELI FIRE. CHANNEL FOUR'S ALEX TOMPSON HAS MORE. OBLITERATION THERE CERTAINLY IS IN IRAN, NO QUESTION. THIS ONE OF MANY APARTMENT BLOCKS STRUCK IN ISRAEL'S 12-DAY WAR. BUT IT IS OBLITERATION OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE TRUMP MANTRA. TOTAL OBLITERATION. OBLITERATED. COMPLETE AND TOTAL OBLITERATION. OBLITERATED. CUE ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSING THE NATION LATE YESTERDAY, SAYING 'AN HISTORIC END TO THE THREAT OF NATIONAL ANNIHILATION, 'NO LESS, HAS BEEN ACHIEVED'. (SPEAKS HEBREW) TRANSLATOR: 'WE DESTROYED THE MAIN ENRICHMENT FACILITY AT NATANZ, 'THE URANIUM CONVERSION PLANT AT ISFAHAN, 'AND THE HEAVY WATER INSTALLATION AT ARAK. 'OUR FRIEND PRESIDENT TRUMP STOOD ALONGSIDE US 'IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MANNER. 'ON HIS ORDER, THE U.S. MILITARY DESTROYED THE ENRICHMENT FACILITY 'DEEP UNDERGROUND AT BORDEAUX.' BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE LEAKED MILITARY REPORT SUGGESTING IRAN'S FORDOW UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR FACILITY HAD NOT BEEN OBLITERATED, IT'S NATIONAL NUCLEAR PROGRAM ONLY PUT BACK SIX MONTHS. FIRST THAT CLAIM AND THEN, HARDLY A COINCIDENCE, A COUNTERCLAIM THIS AFTERNOON FROM ISRAEL'S ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, WHICH ASSESSES THE WAR ` IN TEL AVIV, THE FORMER COMMANDER OF ARMY INTELLIGENCE ON IRAN GAVE US HIS BATTLE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CREATE A GREAT DAMAGE, AND THE REGIME UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE NUCLEAR WEAPON; IT'S ABOUT THE REGIME ITSELF, THE SECURITY FOR THE REGIME, AND THEY WON'T DO IT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I THINK THAT THEY WILL GO BACK TO THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN THE LONGER TERM, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE WILL HAVE TO DO SOME OPERATION IN ORDER TO STOP THEM. AND IN TEHRAN TODAY, IRAN'S PARLIAMENT VOTED AGAINST FUTURE COOPERATION WITH THE IAEA, THE GLOBAL NUCLEAR WATCHDOG. FROM THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, WHERE POWER REALLY RESIDES THOUGH, THE MESSAGE ` 'WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PEACEFUL NUCLEAR POWER.' BACK IN ISRAEL, TRUMP'S OBLITERATION MANTRA JUST WON'T CUT IT WITH THE FAR RIGHT. REINVIGORATED IN THEIR VIEW NOW THAT ONLY OVERTHROWING IRAN'S AYATOLLAH'S REGIME CHANGE WILL SUFFICE. TRANSLATOR: 'WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING HARD TO BRING DOWN 'THE REGIME, AND WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT; WE SHOULD DO IT.' (MAN LAMENTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) A FUNERAL THIS AFTERNOON IN TEL AVIV FROM THE OTHER WAR ` GAZA. (GUNSHOTS) RONEL BEN-MOSHE (20) ONE OF SEVEN SOLDIERS BLOWN UP IN THE STRIP YESTERDAY ` THIS THE NEWS DOMINATING HERE TODAY, NOT IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS. AND ANOTHER FUNERAL TODAY ` THIS ONE IN GAZA ITSELF FOR MAHMOUD ABU SHAREEAH, A JOURNALIST. MORE THAN 170 JOURNALISTS HAVE NOW BEEN KILLED THERE, ALMOST ALL OF THEM PALESTINIAN. ISRAEL BANS FOREIGN MEDIA FROM ENTERING THE STRIP. AS DEMOCRATS IN THE U.S. STRUGGLE TO FIND A WAY COMBAT DONALD TRUMP, A 33-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM IN NEW YORK THINKS HE HAS THE ANSWER. ZOHRAN MAMDANI IS ON COURSE TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR. HIS CAMPAIGN WAS BUILT ON A BROAD AND DIVERSE COALITION, AND HIS SUPPORTERS BELIEVE IT PROVIDES A TEMPLATE FOR THE PARTY GOING FORWARD. BUT OTHERS WORRY THAT WHAT WORKS IN NEW YORK WON'T WORK ELSEWHERE. CHANNEL FOUR'S KIRAN MOODLEY REPORTS. SOCIALISM! AH! TERRIFYING WORDS. IS THIS THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY? A YOUNG SOCIALIST AS PROUD OF HIS IDEOLOGY AS HE IS OF HIS AND NEW YORK'S IMMIGRANT ROOTS? HE WALKED THE LENGTH OF MANHATTAN, CREATING A MOVEMENT THAT MEANS HE'S THE FAVOURITE TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST CITY. IN THE WORDS OF NELSON MANDELA, IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT IS DONE. (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) ZORAN MAMDANI WAS AN OUTSIDER, A 33-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM BORN IN UGANDA AND A STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR JUST FOUR YEARS. BUT HE TAPPED INTO A CITY WANTING CHANGE. (CROWD CHANTS) MAMDANI! MAMDANI! MAMDANI! MAMDANI LEARNED LESSONS FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, UNDERSTANDING WHY DEMOCRATS LOST TO TRUMP. AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT IN THE FUTURE? BY TALKING TO VOTERS IN THE BRONX. THEY SHOULD MAKE ECONOMICS THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR CAMPAIGN PEOPLE WERE NOT REALLY FEELING IT IN THEIR POCKET. AND SO HE RAN ON AN AGENDA THAT CALLED FOR TAXING THE RICH SO THAT HE COULD OFFER... RENT FREEZE, FREE BUSES, UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE OR GROCERIES. THAT HELPED MAMDANI BUILD A DIVERSE COALITION. BUT HE STILL STRUGGLED WITH POORER NEW YORKERS WHO WENT TO HIS RIVAL, FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. HE HAD LED THE STATE FOR A DECADE, GUIDING IT THROUGH COVID AND TAKING ON DONALD TRUMP. BUT HE WAS THEN FORCED TO RESIGN OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS THAT HE ALWAYS DENIED. HE WAS STILL ENDORSED BY MANY TOP DEMOCRATS WHO WANTED A MORE MODERATE NAME TO REPRESENT THE CITY, AND CUOMO HAD A WARNING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. IF DONALD TRUMP WOULD GO THROUGH MR MAMDANI LIKE A HOT KNIFE THROUGH BUTTER. HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE WITH WASHINGTON. NO EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK CITY. HE WOULD BE TRUMP'S DELIGHT. SOME DEMOCRATS BELIEVE POLITICS WON'T WORK OUTSIDE PROGRESSIVE BIG CITIES, AND IN PARTICULAR, THEY'VE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT HIS APPROACH TO ISRAEL AND GAZA. SO I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE PHRASE GLOBALISED INTIFADA? I AM SOMEONE WHO I WOULD SAY AM` AM LESS COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF BANNING THE USE OF CERTAIN WORDS... LIKE, DOES THAT JUST MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE? LIKE THE PHRASE GLOBALISED INTIFADA FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA? I KNOW PEOPLE FOR WHOM THOSE THINGS MEAN VERY DIFFERENT THINGS. WHAT I HEAR IN SO MANY IS A DESPERATE DESIRE FOR EQUALITY AND EQUAL RIGHTS. THERE ARE NO KINGS IN AMERICA. MAMDANI STILL FACES A BATTLE IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION. HE'S UP AGAINST THE CURRENT MAYOR, ERIC ADAMS, AND CUOMO MAY STILL RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT. BUT FOR MANY OF THOSE WHO VOTED FOR MAMDANI IN THE PRIMARY, THIS WAS NOT JUST ABOUT A CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES, BUT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT FOR TOO LONG HAS BEEN DICTATED BY ESTABLISHMENT FIGURES CUT OFF FROM REALITY. THANK YOU. MAMDANI IS NOW CLOSE TO BECOMING NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR. MITCH, AN INJURY CLOUD IS HOVERING OVER THE ALL BLACKS ALREADY. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S THE CASE, SAM. CONFIRMATION THIS AFTERNOON THAT WALLACE SITITI WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY OF THE ALL BLACKS' UPCOMING GAMES AGAINST FRANCE. IT DOES ALLOW ONE OUSTED ALL BLACK TO HEAD BACK INTO CAMP THOUGH. WE'LL HAVE THE DETAILS ON WHO, NEXT. PLUS ` IS THIS BASKETBALL'S NEXT SUPERSTAR? COOPER FLAGG (18) IS FIRST PICK AT THE NBA DRAFT ` THE YOUNGEST SINCE LEBRON. AND THE TACTIX HAVE HISTORY IN THEIR SIGHTS AS THEY CHASE A FIRST GRAND FINAL AT HOME. VOICEOVER: Protect your Home and Contents with AMI. Get a $200 Prezzy Card when you take out a new policy for both before the end of June. Switch today at ami.co.nz or call 0800 100 200. AMI, on your side. INJURY HAS ALREADY STRUCK THE ALL BLACKS, NINE DAYS OUT FROM THEIR FIRST TEST AGAINST FRANCE. HERE IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED THIS AFTERNOON, WALLACE SITITI WILL MISS THE ENTIRE JULY SERIES AND REQUIRES SURGERY AFTER A HIGH ANKLE INJURY. IT'S A BIG BLOW TO THE ALL BLACKS LOOSE FORWARD STOCKS, THE 22-YEAR-OLD IS WORLD RUGBY'S REINING BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER OF THE YEAR. CRUSADERS FORWARD CHRISTIAN LIO WILLIE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO THE MAIN ALL BLACKS SQUAD. DALTON PAPALI'I REPLACES HIM, AS INJURY COVER. MEANWHILE, SUPER RUGBY SIDE ` MOANA PASIFIKA APPEARS TO BE FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. THE HERALD IS REPORTING CONCERNS ABOUT THE CLUB'S FINANCES - WITH OWNER AND PRIMARY BACKER THE PACIFIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SET TO LOSE LUCRATIVE WHANAU ORA CONTRACTS FROM NEXT MONTH. IN THEIR FIRST THREE SEASONS, MOANA PASIFIKA RECIEVED AROUND $8M IN NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT FUNDING. THE P-M-A HAS BEEN APPROACHED FOR COMMENT ON THE MATTER. BLACK CAP KYLE JAMIESON HAS OPENED UP ON THE LONG STANDING BACK INJURY WHICH HAS PLAUGED HIS CAREER FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. SINCE FIRST EXPERIENCING SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK IN 2022, A RECURRING STRESS FRACTURE HAS SEEN HIM MISS MORE CRICKET THAN HE'S PLAYED. THE IMPOSING PACE BOWLER BELIEVES THE SET BACK IS FINALLY BEHIND HIM, BUT HE'S HAD TO SEARCH FAR AND WIDE FOR A SOLUTION. GORDON FINDLATER CAUGHT UP WITH HIM. CARL JAMISON DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST. HOW CLOSE? FINGER GOES UP AND THE BATTERS WALKING. THREE WICKETS IN LAST MONTH'S IPL FINAL. THE LATEST REWARDS FOR WHAT HAS BEEN A TRYING THREE YEARS. LOOK, MY BODY'S THE BEST IT'S EVER BEEN. UM, IT WAS SORT OF A REALLY LONG PROCESS LAST YEAR, BUT AND` AND HAD TO SORT OF REBUILD FROM SCRATCH. IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR JAMIESON AFTER FIRST TRIGGERING A STRESS FRACTURE IN HIS BACK WHILE PLAYING AGAINST ENGLAND IN 2022. HE UNDERWENT SURGERY IN 2023 BUT SUFFERED A REOCCURRENCE OF THE INJURY EARLY LAST YEAR. YEAH, WE PROBABLY NEED A 30 MINUTE SIT DOWN TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE UNCOVERED. IN SHORT, JAMIESON DECIDED TO SEEK OUTSIDE HELP OF NEW ZEALAND CRICKET'S MEDICAL TEAM. AND ONCE HE DID, THE DISCOVERIES WERE EYE-OPENING. WE HAD TO OUTSOURCE IT, REALLY. JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, I BASICALLY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY FURTHER FROM BEING FIT-FOR-PURPOSE IF I TRIED. UM, SO THAT WAS, I GUESS, ALARMING TO HEAR. AND BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M GLAD I FOUND OUT AT 29 AND NOT 39. SO BASICALLY HAD TO GO BACK TO SCRATCH AND BUILD AND JUST, JUST READDRESS EVERYTHING. CHANGE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. UM, AND, AND... JUST BUILD THE FOUNDATION, WHICH I JUST DIDN'T HAVE. JAMESON GOING ON TO SAY THAT IF HE DIDN'T DECIDE TO VISIT OUTSOURCED SPORTS SCIENCE EXPERTS, HIS CAREER WOULD BE HEADING IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL. I COULD HAVE GIVEN MYSELF ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE WE NEVER ADDRESSED THE ISSUES THAT WERE GOING ON. AND RIGHT FROM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST ENTERED, I GUESS, PROFESSIONAL CRICKET. AND AS YOU GET OLDER, THINGS DON'T WORK QUITE AS WELL AS WHAT THEY DO WHEN YOU'RE 18, 19 AND, UM, JUST HAD TO ADDRESS IT. SO WHEN WE HAD MOMENTS WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SPIKED TOO QUICK AND I WAS PUSHED TOO FAST, UM, IT JUST` MY BODY DIDN'T, DIDN'T COPE WITH IT. THE 30-YEAR-OLD NOW FEELS LIKE HIS BODY MANAGED CORRECTLY, HAS PLENTY OF CRICKET LEFT, AND HE'S ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE. JUST SORT OF START A 12-WEEK BLOCK WHERE THE FOCUS IS, UM, I GUESS PERFORMANCE. NOW IT'S HOW DO WE HOW DO WE GET BETTER? HOW DO WE MAXIMISE WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE FIND YOUR CEILING? YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THAT? AND I STILL THINK I'M A LONG WAY OFF IT. AND THAT'S, I GUESS, THE EXCITING PART OF THESE NEXT SORT OF 12 WEEKS. A REBUILT JAMISON IS EVERY REASON FOR BLACK CAPS FANS TO GET EXCITED. OH, HE'S KNOCKED HIM OVER! ...AND INTERNATIONAL BATTERS TO BE FEARFUL FOR YEARS TO COME. THE WICKETS HAVE TUMBLED ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEW WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP CYCLE WITH AUSTRALIA AWAY TO THE WEST INDIES. AFTER ELECTING TO BAT FIRST, AUSTRALIA WERE ROLLED FOR JUST 180, WITH WEST INDIES SEAMER SHAMAR JOSEPH TAKING FOUR WICKETS FOR 46 RUNS. JOSEPH CAN COUNT HIMSELF UNLUCKY NOT TO HAVE TAKEN MORE, WITH SOME CONTENTIOUS UMPIRING AND POOR FIELDING. BUT THE WINDIES STRUGGLED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR EFFORT WITH THE BALL. SLUMPING TO 57/4 IN REPLY. AND THERE IT IS. AS THE 13TH WICKET OF THE DAY. HOW GOOD IS HE? THE WEST INDIES WON THE LAST TEST BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS IN BRISBANE LAST YEAR. THE TACTIX HAVE UNCHARTERED TERRITORY IN THEIR SIGHTS, AS THEY ENTER THE BUSINESS END OF NETBALL'S ANZ PREMIERSHIP. THE CHRISTCHURCH-BASED SIDE HAS NEVER HOSTED A GRAND FINAL. BUT, AS IT STANDS, THEY'RE ON TOP OF THE TABLE, AND IN POLE POSITION TO BREAK A DROUGHT THAT GOES BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE CANTERBURY FLAMES. THERE'S NO LOVE LOST ON THE TRAINING COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH RIGHT NOW. PERHAPS THAT'S THE REASON THE TACTIX HAVE FIVE WINS ON THE BOUNCE AND THERE'S HOPE THE GOOD TIMES KEEP ON ROLLING. OBVIOUSLY THAT FINAL POSITION, THAT TOP SPOT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. HAVING A HOME GRAND FINAL WOULD BE AMAZING. SEVEN ROUNDS IN WITH THREE LEFT TO GO, THE TACTX HOLD A ONE POINT LEAD ATOP THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP TABLE. THE MYSTICS ARE NIPPING RIGHT AT THEIR HEELS, FOLLOWED BY THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS, THE PULSE. THEY'RE WINNERS. THEY LIKE TO WIN. THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN. SO WE'RE EXPECTING A BIG GAME FROM THEM THIS WEEKEND. BOTH THE MYSTICS AND POLLS HAVE SOMETHING THE TACTIX DON'T, AND THAT'S RECENT TITLES. SINCE THE LEAGUE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1998, CANTERBURY HAS NEVER WON IT, NOR HAVE THEY HOSTED A FINAL AT HOME. AND THERE'S HOPE BOTH COULD CHANGE THIS SEASON. WE HAD A GOAL OF BEING IN THE TOP THREE, UM, HEADING TOWARDS THE END OF THE ROUND, BUT I THINK WE'RE NOW PUSHING FOR THAT FIRST PLACE AND IT WILL BE REALLY AWESOME TO GET A CHRISTCHURCH HOME FINAL. THE TACTICS HAVEN'T HAD TO LOOK FAR FOR INSPIRATION. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, WHEN I DID WATCH THAT CRUSADERS FINAL, I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING AND I GUESS IT INSPIRED A LOT OF US AS WELL. UM, TO ONE, HAVE THAT HOME GRAND FINAL, BUT ALSO TAKE IT OUT. BUT THEY'RE NOT QUITE THERE JUST YET. WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET TO THAT POINT. WE'RE NOT EVEN CEMENTED IN TOP THREE YET. UM. ANOTHER POINT WILL DO THAT FOR US. BUT YEAH, LOOK, IT WILL BE HUGE. AND, YOU KNOW, CANTABRIANS LOVE THEIR SPORT AND IT'S PRETTY COOL TO SEE EVERYONE DOING SO WELL. YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL THREE GAMES TO GO AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THOSE THREE ROUNDS. JUST A FEW MORE HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH AS FINALS NETBALL BECKONS. COOPER FLAGG (19) IN EN ROUTE TO EARN MORE THAN $1.5B BY THE TIME HE'S 32 AFTER BEING SELECTED FIRST BY THE DALLAS MAVERICKS IN TODAY'S NBA DRAFT. FOLLOWING A STANDOUT FRESHMAN YEAR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, THERE WAS LITTLE SURPRISE WHEN HIS NAME WAS CALLED FIRST. FLAGG WILL EARN OVER $100M DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS WITH THE FIRST PICK IN THE 2025 NBA DRAFT, THE DALLAS MAVERICKS SELECT COOPER FLAGG (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY. FLAGG WILL EARN OVER $100M DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS OF HIS ROOKIE CONTRACT, ASSUMING HE STAYS HEALTHY. MAX CONTRACT EXTENSIONS WILL SEE HIM PASS $1.5B IN JUST 14 YEARS. WHAT SETS HIM APART IS HE PLAYS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR. $100m A YEAR IN YOUR LATE TEENS. DOESN'T SOUND TOO BAD AT ALL, SAM! DUNE'S DENIS VILLENEUVE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEXT JAMES BOND MOVIE. THE AS-YET-UNTITLED FILM WILL BE THE FIRST SINCE AMAZON-MGM TOOK CREATIVE CONTROL OF THE LONG RUNNING FRANCHISE. VILLENEUVE'S TWO DUNE MOVIES HAVE BEEN WIDELY ACCLAIMED. WHAT'S TO BECOME OF OUR WORLD? THE PRODUCERS HAD ALWAYS MAINTAINED THEY WOULDN'T CAST THE NEXT BOND MOVIE UNTIL THEY FOUND A DIRECTOR, AND DEVELOPED A SCREEN PLAY. IN A STATEMENT VILLENEUVE SAID HE GREW UP WATCHING BOND FILMS. ADDING IT IS A MASSIVE HONOUR, AND RESPONSIBILITY. LAURA'S BACK WITH WHERE ALL THOSE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE. HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY A HEAVY RAIN WATCH FOR THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS, THE RANGES ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS FOR TARANAKI, TASMAN, BULLER, NELSON AND MARLBOROUGH. A HEAVY RAIN WATCH FOR THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS, THE RANGES OF GREY DISTRICT, DUNEDIN AND NORTH OTAGO FROM TOMORROW AFTERNOON. ALSO PARTS OF BAY OF PLENTY, ROTORUA, TAUPO, TAIHAPE AND NORTHERN WHANGANUI. ALSO REGIONAL TARANAKI. SO PACK THE RAINCOAT FOR THE LAST DAY OF TERM 2. I'LL HAVE TOMORROW'S FULL FORECAST, NEXT. VOICEOVER: Yay, insurance! If only people thought that before they had to use it. That's why at State we're making insurance simpler to get and simple to claim. More Yeps, less Nahs. How do you like insurance now? Oh... VOICEOVER: From simplicity comes invention. Cheese meets dough a timeless dance imagined anew. The new cheese-encrusted triple cheese stuffed crust. Only at Pizza Hut. VOICEOVER: Miss Takes, Miss Fortune and Miss Haps - you can't control when they visit. So serene. But with Tower you can take control of your insurance. Buy, manage and claim easily online and build the insurance policy that works for you. Tower. Forward thinking. NAU MAI ANO. LOTS MORE RAIN ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO THE WEST MOVES ONTO CENTRAL AREAS BEFORE HEADING NORTH AND EXTENDS A SERIES OF FRONTS AND TROUGHS, BRINGING HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE WEATHER TO MANY. HEAVIER RAIN FURTHER SOAKING THE LIKES OF NELSON, TASMAN AND MARLBOROUGH TOMORROW, AND LOTS OF SHOWERS ELSEWHERE. STRONG NORTHEASTERLY WINDS, WITH PERSISTENT RAIN FOR THE TOP OF THE NORTH. FOR MOST OTHERS, THE RAIN INTENSIFIES, AND THEN EASES OFF. STRONG NORTHERLIES AND OVERNIGHT RAIN AND POTENTIAL THUNDERSTORMS FOR NORTHERN AREAS ` THAT SHOULD THE EASE AROUND MIDDAY, AND THE HEAVY RAIN COULD RETURN IN THE EVENING FOR KAITAIA AND AUCKLAND. HEAVIER RAIN IN THE MORNING FOR OTHER AREAS, AND SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. HEAVY FALLS FROM LATE MORNING IN TOKOROA, AND THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR EVERYONE ELSE. ALSO, STRONG NORTHERLIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IN THE EAST IT'S A CLOUDY START FOR MOST, WITH SOME RAIN IN THE SECOND HALF OF YOUR FRIDAY. IT SHOULD CLEAR IN THE EVENING IN MASTERTON, AND AGAIN FRESH NORTHERLY OR NOREASTERLY WINDS. OCCASSIONAL RAIN TO START HERE, AND THEN IT WILL RAMP UP FROM LUNCH, EASING IN THE EVENING. TARANAKI COULD GET SOME THUNDERSTORMS AT NIGHT THOUGH. STRONG WINDS FOR ALL TOO, MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON. PERSISTENT RAIN FOR NELSON THAT COULD GET HEAVY AND THUNDERY IN THE EVENING. EASTERLIES ALSO DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. FOR THE REST, JUST SOME ON-AND-OFF RAIN AND GUSTY EASTERLIES. HEAVY FALLS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE DAY FOR MARLBOROUGH. NOT SO INTENSE FOR EVERYONE ELSE. SOU-WESTERS BECOMING FRESH IN THE AFTERNOON, AND A FEW SHOWERS TO START. THAT'LL SWITCH TO SOME OCCASSIONAL RAIN FROM THE AFTERNOON. INVERCARGILL AND OBAN, YOU'LL HAVE A CLOUDY DAY, WITH THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER. LET'S LOOK AT OUR MAIN CENTRES NOW ` NOT MUCH BETWEEN DUNEDIN'S LOW AND HIGH TOMORROW. FRESH SOUTHERLIES IN THE MORNING, AND THE SHOWERS WILL TURN TO INTERMITTENT RAIN AFTER LUNCH. OTAUTAHI ` THE RAIN WILL DEVELOP IN THE MORNING, BUT WILL BE ON-AND-OFF, CLEARING AT NIGHT WHEN THOSE FRESH WESTERLIES ARRIVE. 11 DEGREES YOUR HIGH. WELLINGTON ` STRONG NORTHERLIES, EASING BEFORE DAWN. THE OCCASSIONAL RAIN WILL BECOME MORE PERSISTENT AND HEAVY FROM THE AFTERNOON, BUT WILL CALM DOWN HEADING INTO THE EVENING. HAWKES BAY ` CLOUDY, WITH SOME AFTERNOON AND EVENING RAIN. FRESH NOR-EASTERLY WINDS DURING THE DAY, EASING AT NIGHT. 19 FOR NAPIER. 18 FOR HASTINGS. TAURANGA ` STRONG NORTHERLIES IN THE MORNING. SPORADIC RAIN WILL BECOME PERSISTENT AND HEAVY FROM LUNCHTIME AND TURN TO SHOWERS THAT COULD BE HEAVY AT NIGHT. KIRIKIRIROA ` PATCHY RAIN WILL RAMP UP FROM LATE MORNING, THEN A FEW SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND THE WINDS WILL DIE DOWN THEN TOO. 17 FOR YOU. TAMAKI MAKAURAU ` RAIN WILL GET HEAVIER LATE MORNING, THEN EASE, AND THEN RETURN IN THE EVENING. STRONG NORTHERLIES, GALE IN EXPOSED PLACES, EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. 18 DEGREES. OVERSEAS NOW ` DRY FOR MOST CENTRES HERE, JUST SOME SHOWERS IN SYDNEY. AND IN THE PACIFIC, LOTS OF SHOWERS. FINE FOR FIJI, AND JUST SOME DRIZZLE IN NEW CALEDONIA. BACK IN AOTEAROA ` SHOWERS FOR THE NORTH ISLAND ON SATURDAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST, BUT THEY WILL EASE. SUNDAY ` THERE WILL BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS THAT WILL CLEAR FOR MOST PLACES, APART FROM THE TOP OF THE NORTH, AND THEN MONDAY SOME PATCHY SHOWERS IN THE WEST. FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND ` SATURDAY, THERE WILL BE HEAVY RAIN IN THE EAST, WITH SNOW TO 600m ABOUT OTAGO AND CANTERBURY. GALE SOU-WESTERS TOO AND SCATTERED SHOWERS ELSEWHERE. SUNDAY ` SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE SOUTH, AND A FEW SHOWERS IN THE EAST, AND MONDAY SHOWERS IN THE WEST, AND PARTLY CLOUDY ELSWHERE. SO IF YOU ARE HITTING THE ROAD ` OR THE SKIES ` FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, CHECK THE FORECAST FOR THE BEST DAY TO TRAVEL THE ROUTE YOU'RE TAKING. AND THAT'S YOUR WEATHER. THANKS, ANDRINA, FOR THIS SNAP. THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW.