THE JURY IN THE CASE OF JULIA DELUNEY, ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF HER MOTHER, HAS REACHED ITS VERDICT. NEW FIGURES SHOW A SURGE IN KIWIS DIPPING INTO THEIR KIWISAVER ACCOUNTS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WE REVEAL THE HUGE COST TO TAXPAYERS TO BREAK UP THE POLYTECH MEGA-MERGER, TE PUKENGA. THE CURRENT COLD SNAP PROVIDES A BOOST AND A WELCOME ATTRACTION AT A NELSON LAKES ALPINE VILLAGE. # FINISHED WITH MY WOMAN, BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T HELP ME WITH MY MIND. AND TRIBUTES GALORE FOR OZZY OSBOURNE, THE HARD ROCKING PRINCE OF DARKNESS WHO'S DIED AGED 76. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI HAERE MAI, MALO E LELEI, WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. THE WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HER MOTHER LAST YEAR HAS JUST BEEN FOUND GUILTY. JULIA DELUNEY HAD PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO KILLING HELEN GREGORY. IMOGEN WELLS HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE CASE AND IS WITH ME NOW. SO WHAT PLAYED OUT? JUST AFTER 5 PM THIS EVENING AFTER A MONTH-LONG TRIAL AND ROUGHLY 12 HOURS OF DELIBERATING, THAT WELLINGTON JURY CAME BACK WITH VERDICT THAT WAS GUILTY. JULIA DELUNEY GUILTY OF KILLING HER MOTHER, HELEN GREGORY. ALSO, SHORT TIME AGO, THE LEAD DETECTIVE WAS OUTSIDE COURT, AND WHILE HE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, HE PAID TRIBUTE TO HELEN GREGORY. I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF HELEN GREGORY, WHO HAVE HAD TO ENDURE THIS TERRIBLE AND TRAGIC JOURNEY. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN CAUGHT EVERY DAY OVER THE PAST MONTH AND SAT THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT AND CONFRONTING EVIDENCE. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN ALMOST UNBEARABLE AT TIMES. THE DIGNITY, COMPASSION, AND SUPPORT THE FAMILY HAS DEMONSTRATED EVERYDAY EVERYDAY IN THE TRIAL, HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. I HOPE THAT THE TRIAL AND TODAY'S VERDICT PROVIDES SOME ANSWERS UNCERTAINTY AS THEY MOVE INTO THE NEXT STAGE OF THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH WHAT MUST BE A REALLY TERRIBLE NIGHTMARE. WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT NIGHT IN JANUARY 2024? IT WAS AN AGREED FACT THAT JULIA DELUNEY WAS WITH HER MOTHER ON THE NIGHT THAT SHE DIED. THE DEFENCE ARGUED THAT AT ONE POINT THAT EVENING, JULIA DELUNEY SHE LEFT HER MOTHER'S HOME AND DROVE UP THE COAST TO GET HER HUSBAND AND THEN DROVE BACK, DEFENCE THAT SOMETHING WITHIN A 90 MINUTE WINDOW SOMEONE UNKNOWN COMMENT OF THE MOTHERS HOME AND KILLED HER. THE CROWN ARGUED THAT JULIA DELUNEY KILLED HER IN WHAT WAS A FRENZIED FINANCIALLY MOTIVATED ATTACK THAT WAS A RESULT OF A TOTAL LACK OF CONTROL, NOT SUGGESTING IT WAS SOMETHING PREMEDITATED. DURING THE TRIAL, THE JURY HEARD FROM FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS THAT JULIA DELUNEY RECEIVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM THE MOTHER IN BANK TRANSFERS THAT YEAR, LEADING UP TO HER DEATH, MONEY THAT WAS LOST TO CRYPTOCURRENCY INVESTMENT, THE CROWN SAID. THAT WAS VERY EVENT THAT THE JURY DECIDE HOW THE HIGHEST PROOF TO FIND THAT GUILTY VERDICT. NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR HER SENTENCING. THE FINANCE MINISTER HAS DESCRIBED HER MEETING WITH FONTERRA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE ABOUT SOARING BUTTER PRICES AS CONSTRUCTIVE AND ENGAGING. BUT IT SEEMS THE ONLY CONCLUSION THEY REACHED WAS THE NEED FOR MORE SUPERMARKET COMPETITION. AND RATHER THAN FIXING THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS, OPPONENTS SAY THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING IT WORSE, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS SIGNING A PETITION TO REVERSE THE PAY EQUITY CHANGES. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT ZANE SMALL REPORTS. (BRASS BAND PLAYS) ON THE STEPS OF PARLIAMENT, THE BRASS RAZZOO SOLIDARITY BAND PLAYED FOR UNION MEMBERS... (BRASS BAND PLAYS) ...WHO GATHERED TO OPPOSE THE CHANGES TO PAY EQUITY LAW. THE GOVERNMENT, WITHOUT ANY INDICATION DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, WITHOUT ANY SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS, EFFECTIVELY WENT INTO THE AUTHORITY AND THE COURTS AND RIPPED UP CLAIMS OF NEW ZEALAND WOMEN. THE GOVERNMENT SAVED NEARLY $13B BY AXING 33 PAY EQUITY CLAIMS AND NARROWING THE SCOPE OF THE LAW. REMEMBER, IN 2026, WE NEVER LET THIS SHIT-HEAD GOVERNMENT COME IN AGAIN. TODAY, UNIONS HANDED OVER A PETITION WITH MORE THAN 93,000 SIGNATURES, SEEKING TO REVERSE THE CHANGES. FROM THE NUMBERS THAT I SAW, I WAS SURPRISED HOW SMALL IT WAS, TO BE HONEST. LABOUR'S JAN TINETTI SAYS THE LAW CHANGE MEANT WOMEN MISSED OUT ON A PAY RISE. THIS IS CRITICAL TO COST OF LIVING. FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS MET WITH FONTERRA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE SOARING COST OF BUTTER. I'D CHARACTERISE IT AS A CONSTRUCTIVE AND ENGAGING MEETING. SO WHAT DID SHE LEARN FROM MILES HURRELL? IN RECENT YEARS, BUTTER ` WHICH WAS ONCE AN UNFASHIONABLE PRODUCT ` HAS GONE INTO HUGE DEMAND GLOBALLY, AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE PRICE THAT PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO PAY FOR IT INTERNATIONALLY. THOUGH, IT SEEMS THE ONLY CONCLUSION FROM THE BRIEFING THOUGH IT SEEMS THE ONLY CONCLUSION FROM THE BRIEFING ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF BUTTER FOR NEW ZEALANDERS WAS TO INCREASE SUPERMARKET COMPETITION. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CONTROL GLOBAL DAIRY PRICES. WHAT WE CAN INFLUENCE IS THE AMOUNT OF COMPETITION IN NEW ZEALAND'S GROCERY SECTOR AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK UNDERWAY TO PROGRESS THAT. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN SUPERMARKETS DOING VERY AGGRESSIVE BUTTER-BASED MARKETING. SO THEY WOULD BE DISCOUNTING THE PRICE OF BUTTER TO BRING THE CUSTOMERS IN TO BE ABLE TO SELL OTHER THINGS. THEN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, THAT COMPETITIVE ELEMENT HAS REALLY FADED, SO, YES, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT SUPERMARKET COMPETITION COMING BACK MIGHT REDUCE BUTTER PRICES. IT COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH. 'SIMPLICITY RESEARCH HUB' ANALYSIS SHOWS THERE WERE MORE THAN 50,000 HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS FROM KIWISAVER IN THE YEAR TO JUNE COMPARED TO ABOUT 18,000 FIVE YEARS AGO. IT'S NOT SURPRISING. WE'VE SEEN THIS INCREASE SINCE 2023. AS THE ECONOMY SLOWED, THE COST OF LIVING REALLY TOOK A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE AND JOB LOSSES STARTED, SO THIS IS VERY MUCH THE IMPACT OF THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS. AND WITH THE COST OF LIVING ONLY CONTINUING TO RISE, THESE UNION MEMBERS ARGUE WOMEN WORKERS SHOULD HAVE GOT A PAY RISE. AND, ZANE, YOU'VE JUST HEARD FROM ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT HAD THEIR PAY EQUITY CLAIMED AXED? SENTENCIN A PAY EQUITY CLAIM MADE IN BEHALF OF HEYSEL TEACHERS WAS ONE OF THE 33 CLAIMS THAT WAS ACT BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND IN THE PAST HOUR, THE UNION REPRESENTING THEM HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE REJECTED THE GOVERNMENT LATEST COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT OFFER, DESCRIBING IT AS INSULTING. THE UNION SAYS THE OFFER INCLUDED A PAY RISE OF 1% PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS AND A 2 1/2 THOUSAND DOLLAR ANNUAL PAYMENT. THE UNION SAYS THE OFFER DOES NOT REFLECT TEACHERS VALUES, SKILLS NOR THE RISINGS COST OF LIVING. THAT UNION MEMBERS WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE OFFER OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND THEY WILL DECIDE WHAT ACTION TO TAKE AND WHETHER THAT WILL INCLUDE STRIKE ACTION. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THREE NEWS CAN REVEAL HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT ASIDE TO DISESTABLISH THE COUNTRY'S MEGA-POLYTECHNIC. FOR YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS KEPT THE BUDGET FOR CLOSING TE PUKENGA SECRET. BUT POLITICAL REPORTER GLENN MCCONNELL FOUND A DOCUMENT THAT REVEALED JUST HOW MUCH ITS COSTING TAX PAYERS. THAT REVEALED JUST HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING TAX PAYERS. HERE'S HIS REPORT. IT'S NOT CHEAP TO UNMERGE THE MEGA-POLYTECH. LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNMENT LOCKED IN THE END OF TE PUKENGA. WE WILL RETURN REGIONAL DECISION-MAKING TO 10 POLYTECHNICS. MINISTERS DIDN'T SAY WHAT THE COST OF THAT MAJOR CHANGE WOULD BE. BUT TODAY, WE CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH HAS BEEN PUT ASIDE FOR THIS PROJECT ` IT IS $157M, AND IT COULD COST TAXPAYERS EVEN MORE. IS 157 WELL SPENT? WELL, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S BEING SPENT, DO WE? WE DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY, OR IF SHE IS EVEN GOING TO. WHAT'S THE COST LOOKING LIKE? LOOK, IT WILL BE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, BUT AN AMOUNT OF THAT WILL BE GETTING RID OF DEBT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONFIRMED THAT $157M CONTINGENCY. WHEN I ASKED THE MINISTER ABOUT IT ON TUESDAY MORNING, SHE SAID THE NUMBER WAS STILL BEING KEPT UNDER WRAPS DUE TO COMMERCIAL SENSITIVITY. BUT THE MINISTER DIDN'T KNOW HER OFFICIALS HAD ALREADY RELEASED THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH SHOWS THE TOTAL SUM INVOLVED. I DIDN'T REALISE IT HAD BEEN. WE HAVE GOT HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTS THAT WE ARE PROACTIVELY RELEASING. I THINK THERE IS FOUR TRANCHES OF THEM, AND THAT ONE HAS BEEN RELEASED. SO IT IS GOOD IT IS OUT THERE. WE DIDN'T RELEASE ANYTHING UNTIL THE CABINET'S DECISION. IT IS REALLY CONCERNING THAT THE MINISTER HAS SET UP A SECRET SLUSH FUND WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY, WITHOUT ANY CRITERIA, WITHOUT ANY DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. TE PUKENGA FORMED IN 2020 AS A COLLECTION OF 25 POLYTECHS AND TRAINING SCHOOLS. IT TEACHES ABOUT 250,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR, BUT MOST OF ITS FACILITIES WERE CASH-STRAPPED, THAT'S WHY LABOUR MERGED THEM. AND EVEN THOUGH TE PUKENGA RETURNED A SURPLUS LAST YEAR, IT'S STILL BEING WOUND BACK. I AM ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO GET DECISION-MAKING BACK INTO THE REGIONS. THE $157M CONTINGENCY IS JUST ONE COST. POLYTECHS THAT HAD SAVINGS ARE SPENDING THEM ON THE DE-MERGER AND ANOTHER $20M WAS SPENT WAS CONFIRMED EARLIER. WE KNOW THERE WAS $20M THE MINISTER HAD FOR STRATEGIC INVESTMENT, BUT THIS IS A HUGE SURPRISE. AND STAFF WILL BE GOING, 'YOU'VE GOT THIS MONEY. 'AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTED WHERE IT WAS INTENDED.' IS THAT $157M GOING TO BE SPENT? WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL ABOUT OCTOBER, NOVEMBER. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND USE THE RESERVES FIRST WITH TE PUKENGA, AND IF WE NEED TO USE THAT, WE WILL. STILL TOO EARLY TO KNOW THE FULL COS AND TOO EARLY TO KNOW WHAT COURSES AND CAMPUSES WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE MEGA-POLYTECH IS NO MORE. TWO DEVICES FOUND NEAR A MAN'S BODY IN AUCKLAND WERE VIABLE PIPE BOMBS, CAPABLE ` ACCORDING TO POLICE ` OF CAUSING DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURY. SPECIALIST TEAMS WERE DEPLOYED TO SAFELY IDENTIFY, REMOVE, AND DESTROY THE DEVICES DISCOVERED CLOSE TO THE BODY ON A WALKWAY NEAR STATE HIGHWAY 1 IN HIGHBROOK YESTERDAY MORNING. PARTS OF THE MOTORWAY WERE CLOSED WHILE INITIAL SCENE EXAMINATIONS WERE UNDERWAY, CAUSING WIDESPREAD TRAFFIC. INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH ARE ONGOING. THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF BLACK SABBATH HAVE PAID TRIBUTE TO SINGER OZZY OSBORNE, SAYING THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER LIKE HIM. THE BAND PLAYED THEIR FINAL GIG TOGETHER JUST THREE WEEKS AGO, WITH OZZY PERFORMING FROM A THRONE. HIS DEATH THIS MORNING AT THE AGE OF 76 HAS TRIGGERED A FLOOD OF TRIBUTES FROM SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN ENTERTAINMENT. HERE'S ITV'S NINAR NANNAR. # IN THE FIELD, THE BODIES BURNING # AS THE WAR MACHINE KEEPS TURNING. IT WAS A CONCERT THAT HAD BEEN DUBBED OZZY'S FINAL BOW. AFTER YEARS OF HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING A DIAGNOSIS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE, ROCK'S MOST FAMOUS FRONTMAN REUNITED WITH HIS ORIGINAL BLACK SABBATH BANDMATES FOR A TRIUMPHANT FAREWELL CONCERT IN THEIR HOME CITY. HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RISE UP FROM HIS THRONE ON STAGE, BUT HE HAD THE 40,000 IN THE CROWD, AS EVER, IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND. # ALL DAY LONG I THINK OF THINGS, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO SATISFY. BORN IN BIRMINGHAM, JOHN OSBORNE ` OZZY, AS HE CAME TO BE KNOWN ` LEFT SCHOOL AT 15 AND HAD SPELLS WORKING ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE, A FACTORY AND EVEN IN AN ABATTOIR. BUT WHEN HE JOINED HIS BRUMMIE BANDMATES TO FORM BLACK SABBATH IN THE LATE '60S, THEY WOULD BE CREDITED WITH CREATING A NEW GENRE OF MUSIC IN THE UK, HEAVY METAL. # ...AND YOU WILL LOVE, AND I WILL CRY. # ...AND YOU WILL LAUGH, AND I WILL CRY. THE LOUD GUITAR RIFFS TYPIFIED THE STYLE, BUT IT WAS OSBORNE'S PRESENCE AS A FRONT MAN, HIS DISTINCTIVE VOCALS, THAT MADE THE BAND STAND OUT. # DON'T YOU EVER, NO, NEVER SAY DIE. # MAINSTREAM SUCCESS FOLLOWED WITH TENS OF MILLIONS OF ALBUM SALES. NICKNAMED THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS, OSBORNE THREW HIMSELF INTO ROCK AND ROLL EXCESS, ADDICTIONS TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL, AND EXCESSIVE STUNTS, WHICH INCLUDED BITING THE HEAD OFF THE BAT THROWN ON STAGE DURING A CONCERT, ALL ADDED TO HIS IMAGE AS A ROCKER WHO WAS OUT OF CONTROL. LET'S GO CRAZY! YET AS A SOLO ARTIST, HE WOULD INCREASE HIS ALBUM SALES TO MORE THAN 100 MILLION IN ALL, WITH HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH WIFE SHARON OSBORNE, WHO WAS A SKILLED BUSINESSWOMAN, TURNING HIM INTO A HOUSEHOLD NAME. # TO LEARN HOW TO LOVE # AND FORGET HOW TO HATE. # IN THE HIT FLY-ON-THE-WALL MTV SERIES 'THE OSBORNES', HE WOULD HAPPILY PLAY ALONG WITH HIS IMAGE AS A FRAZZLED ROCKSTAR COPING WITH FAMILY LIFE. WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO PUT MY GUN, SHARON? UNDER THE BED? WHEREVER YOU WANNA PUT IT. I'LL PUT IT UNDER THE BED. IN RECENT YEARS, OZZY OSBOURNE'S PERFORMANCES TO SELL OUT CROWDS AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUED. TO SELL-OUT CROWDS AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUED. HE'D GIVEN UP DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND EMBARKED ON A NEW FITNESS REGIME, AND HE WAS OVERWHELMED, HE WOULD SAY, BY THE LOVE OF FANS WHO CONTINUED TO FOLLOW HIM. IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM, I WOULDN'T BE SITTING IN THIS HOUSE NOW. I WOULDN'T BE TALKING TO YOU. THEY ARE SO LOYAL. I MEAN, YOU CAN IMAGINE IN 50 YEARS WHAT'S COME AND GONE. THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOREVER FOR ME. ROCK AND ROLL! OUTRAGEOUS, HILARIOUS, HUGELY INFLUENTIAL, OZZY OSBOURNE REDEFINED THE IMAGE OF THE OVER-THE-TOP ROCK STAR. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER FIGURE IN MUSIC QUITE LIKE HIM. THE COLD SNAP THAT'S GRIPPING THE COUNTRY IS PROVING GREAT NEWS FOR RESIDENTS OF ST ARNAUD, THE SMALL ALPINE VILLAGE ON THE EDGE OF NELSON LAKES NATIONAL PARK. THE SUB-ZERO CONDITIONS HAVE RESULTED IN A LARGE POND TO COMPLETELY FREEZE OVER, AND LOCALS ARE GETTING THEIR SKATES ON TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. ANTONY STEVENS REPORTS. A PICTURE-PERFECT WINTER WONDERLAND. THIS POND, AS OF TODAY, AN ICE RINK, AND LOCALS ARE LOVING IT. OH, THIS IS AMAZING. LIKE, FOR US... FOR IT TO FREEZE HERE, WE NEED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE REALLY HARD FROSTS IN A ROW TO BUILD UP ENOUGH THICKNESS. UM, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT'S QUITE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. IT'S RARE FOR THE TEAPOT POND TO COMPLETELY FREEZE OVER, BUT A STRING OF SUB-ZERO DAYS HAS DONE JUST THAT, ICE SKATING A WELCOME RELIEF FOR LOCALS, FOLLOWING THE RECENT DEVASTATING FLOODS THAT HAVE RAVAGED THE REGION. WE LIKE TO BRING THE KIDS DOWN AND LET THEM HAVE A GO, LEARN HOW TO SKATE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SKATE ON A NATURALLY FORMED ICE SKATING RINK. THE MAKESHIFT TOURIST ATTRACTION ALSO AN ADDED BOOST FOR THE ALPINE VILLAGE, AS ITS MOST POPULAR DESTINATION, THE NEARBY RAINBOW SKI FIELD, REMAINS CLOSED DUE TO A LACK OF SNOW. IT'S LOOKING PROMISING. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SNOW FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS. THAT'S WHAT THESE CLEAR FROST DAYS WORK WELL FOR THEM AS WELL. THEY GENERATE AND MAKE THEIR OWN SNOW, AND THEN WE JUST WAIT FOR A NICE BIG SNOWSTORM AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME SKIING IN. IT WAS MINUS-4 DEGREES IN SAINT ARNAUD THIS MORNING. IT, LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IS GRIPPED BY A COLD SNAP CAUSED BY AN ONGOING HIGH-PRESSURE WEATHER SYSTEM. THE POSITIVES FROM THE MINUS-TEMPERATURES FREE FUN THE POSITIVES FROM THE MINUS-TEMPERATURES FREE FUN. IT DOESN'T LAST THAT LONG, SO YOU COME AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT. BUT WITH RAIN FORECAST FROM SUNDAY, ANYONE WANTING TO EXPERIENCE THIS WINTER WONDERLAND BETTER GET THEIR SKATES ON. IT WAS A CHILLY START FOR MANY AND A VERY STILL MORNING. LOTS OF YOU SENT IN YOUR MORNING SNAPS HERE. OFFICIALLY, DUNEDIN WAS THE COLDEST ON NEGATIVE-6 AND TAURANGA THE WARMEST WITH 16. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER COLD NIGHT AHEAD. WE'LL HAVE YOUR WEATHER A LITTLE LATER. ALSO COMING UP ` HUNGER HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MORE PEOPLE IN GAZA THE U.N. SAYS SOME OF ITS OWN STAFF HAVE BEEN FAINTING ON DUTY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FOOD. FRESH QUESTIONS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GEOFFREY EPSTEIN AFTER A NEWLY DISCOVERED PHOTO SHOWS THE PAIR AT ONE OF TRUMP'S WEDDINGS. AND SLAPSTICK IS BACK ` THE NEW 'NAKED GUN' FILM HAS PREMIERED OVERNIGHT. WHY ITS STAR PAMELA ANDERSON SAYS THE TIME'S RIPE FOR A BIT MORE SILLINESS. Oh...it's from Jade! Mhm, read it... Dearest Pepper and family... ...I hope this correspondence finds you well. I found out my Scotlandish Mum is actually somewhat famous. Yesterday she told me that... (THUD) ...when she was travelling around New Zealand, she got a part in a television advertisement. That's where I met your Da. (MUSIC PLAYS ON TV ADS) Is that him? No. What about this guy? No, wait for it. There we are. Where? There! How glamorous. Oh, heck! She told me. I tried so hard to find him. I tried everything. I loved you, but I knew I couldn't give you the life you deserved on my own. Did you get a good Ma and Da? (GRANT) (LAUGHS) You have his eyes. Maybe... Maybe we can try to find him. (MAN SPEAKS IN SCOTTISH ACCENT) Oh yeah, and it... ...turns out I've got a grandad too. Ooh, we're gonna need a bigger spa Grant. Yeah. VOICEOVER: WE WARN YOU ` IMAGES AND DETAILS IN THIS STORY ARE DISTRESSING. THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS WARNED THAT 'MALNOURISHMENT IS SOARING' AND 'STARVATION IS KNOCKING ON EVERY DOOR' IN GAZA. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID ANOTHER 15 PEOPLE DIED OF STARVATION IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, AS AID ENTERING THE STRIP CONTINUES TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED BY ISRAEL. THE U.N. AND OTHER AID ORGANISATIONS SAY THEIR OWN STAFF HAVE BEEN FAINTING ON DUTY DUE TO HUNGER. HARRY FAWCETT REPORTS. IT'S BECOME A DAILY SIGHT ` OVER 655 DAYS OF THIS WAR ` THE ENDLESS MARCH OF PARENTS BURYING CHILDREN. BUT 3-MONTH-OLD YAHIA WASN'T KILLED IN AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE; HIS BODY SIMPLY EBBED AWAY. TRANSLATOR: HE DIED FROM MALNUTRITION BECAUSE HIS FAMILY WERE UNABLE TO FEED HIM OR HIS SIBLINGS. THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE HIM WITH INFANT FORMULA OR NAPPIES. AT RANTISI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MORE AND MORE FAMILIES ARE SEEKING HELP FOR MALNOURISHED CHILDREN. THOSE BORN PREMATURELY OR WITH COMPLEX NEEDS REMAIN AT GREATEST RISK. BUT WITH ONLY A TRICKLE OF AID ENTERING THE STRIP SINCE LATE MAY, AFTER MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF TOTAL BLOCKADE, THAT RISK IS SPREADING. AND FOR SHARM, IT'S PARTICULARLY ACUTE. TRANSLATOR: THERE'S NO MILK, AND I DON'T HAVE THE NUTRITION TO BREASTFEED HER NATURALLY. HER HEALTH HAS DETERIORATED. WE HOPE THAT MILK AND NAPPIES FOR CHILDREN WILL BE ALLOWED IN AND THAT CROSSINGS WILL OPEN TO BRING IN FOOD. AS MOTHERS, WE WATCH OUR CHILDREN SUFFER, AND IT PAINS US. THIS LOVELY BABY IS 11 MONTHS OLD. IN SOUTHERN GAZA, AT NASSER HOSPITAL, THE SAME PHENOMENON. BABY SEELA SHOULD BE THREE TIMES HER CURRENT 3kg WEIGHT. SHE'S CARDIAC FREE AND NEUROLOGICALLY FREE. THE PROBLEM IN THIS BABY IS JUST ACUTE, SEVERE MALNUTRITION. THE MOTHER IS MALNOURISHED. SHE'S UNABLE TO GIVE BREASTFEEDING. (HORN BLARES) FAMILIES LIKE SEELA'S LOSING OUT IN THE BRUTAL COMPETITION FOR WHAT LIMITED AID GETS THROUGH. HERE IN GAZA'S FAR NORTH WEST, THEY HURL STONES AT THE AID TRUCK TO FORCE IT TO STOP. THEN IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. WATCH THE MAN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT. HE'S TOO LATE TO GRAB A BAG OF FLOUR, SO HE TRIES TO TAKE ONE, BRANDISHING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNIFE. THIS IS CLOSE TO WHERE GAZA'S HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS 67 PEOPLE SEEKING AID WERE KILLED BY ISRAELI FIRE ON SUNDAY. BUT STILL THEY COME, DAY AFTER DAY. TRANSLATOR: I'M SUFFERING TO PROVIDE FOR MY CHILDREN. I WENT TODAY TO GET A BAG OF FLOUR FOR THEM. A TRUCK WHEEL ALMOST RAN OVER MY HEAD, AND I WAS INJURED WHEN I GOT THE BAG. DESPERATION STILL AT THE REMAINING SOUP KITCHENS RELIANT ON TRADITIONAL AID MECHANISMS. TODAY, ONE PROVIDER SAID ITS STOCKS HAD BEEN ENTIRELY DEPLETED. TRANSLATOR: I SWEAR IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS SINCE I'VE EATEN, AND I CAN'T STAND. LOOK AT MY HANDS SHAKING. WE CAN'T STAND, AND MY SON IS CRYING, TELLING ME, 'I WANT TO EAT, DAD. I WANT TO EAT.' PEOPLE LIKE IBRAHIM UNABLE TO TAKE THE OTHER OPTION ` TO RUN THE GAUNTLET NEAR SITES BELONGING TO THE U.S.-ISRAELI BACKED GAZA HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION, WHERE HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IN DEER AL BALAH, ISRAEL'S LATEST GROUND INCURSION CONTINUES. THE MANY TIMES DISPLACED COMING BACK TO FIND THEIR CAMP DESTROYED. 'NO BELONGINGS, NOTHING EVEN LEFT TO COOK WITH,' SAYS MOHAMMED. (BOOM!) 'AND, LOOK, THEY'RE STILL BOMBING US.' IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE LIFE BREAKING DOWN YET FURTHER IN GAZA, BUT PEOPLE TALK OPENLY OF COMPETITION TO SURVIVE, OF SADNESS AT HAVING TO REFUSE OTHERS THE HELP THEY WOULD ONCE HAVE GIVEN ` ONE MORE THING TO ADD TO THE LIST OF WHAT'S BEEN LOST. GOVERNMENT FORCES IN SYRIA HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF CARRYING OUT A MASSACRE AT A HOSPITAL. HOSPITAL STAFF IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF SWEIDA TOLD THE BBC THAT PATIENTS WERE KILLED IN THEIR BEDS. VIDEO FROM THE HOSPITAL APPEARS TO SHOW DOZENS OF BODY BAGS LINING A CARPARK. IT COMES DURING AN EXPLOSION OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE THAT HAS LEFT THE CITY ENTIRELY CUT OFF FROM SUPPLIES. U.S. PROSECUTORS HAVE REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S FORMER GIRLFRIEND GHISLAINE MAXWELL. MAXWELL IS SERVING A 20-YEAR PRISON TERM FOR SEX TRAFFICKING. IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, U.S. DEPUTY ATTORNEY-GENERAL TODD BLANCHE SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS REACHING OUT TO HER TO ASK WHAT SHE KNOWS. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS COME UNDER FIRE OVER ITS HANDLING OF THE EPSTEIN FILES AND A RECENT DECISION NOT TO RELEASE THE REMAINING FILES. AND NEWLY DISCOVERED PHOTOS PUBLISHED TODAY BY CNN APPEAR TO SHOW JEFFREY EPSTEIN AT DONALD TRUMP'S 1993 WEDDING TO MARLA MAPLES. THE PHOTOS SHOW EPSTEIN AT THE PLAZA HOTEL IN NEW YORK. THAT PREDATES EPSTEIN'S KNOWN LEGAL ISSUES AND COMES AS TRUMP'S PAST RELATIONSHIP WITH EPSTEIN IS UNDER INCREASED SCRUTINY. ANOTHER IMAGE SHOWS THE TWO MEN TOGETHER AT A CAFE OPENING ` TRUMP THERE WITH TWO OF HIS CHILDREN, ALSO IN 1993, AND A VIDEO SHOWING THE TWO MEN TOGETHER IN 1999 AT A LINGERIE SHOW HAS ALSO BEEN BROADCAST. TRUMP HAS BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO. HE CALLS THEM FAKE NEWS. COMING UP ` PRINCE GEORGE HAS TURNED 12, AND TO CELEBRATE, MUM AND DAD HAVE RELEASED A SPECIAL VIDEO OF HIM PLAYING WITH HIS SIBLINGS. MAGIC BULLET OR MISFIRE? THE NEW 'NAKED GUN' FILM PREMIERS, WITH LIAM NEESON IN THE LEAD ROLE. AND IT'S EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO GO UNTIL THE GLASGOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES. WE ARE LIVE AT A SPECIAL EVENT STARTING THE COUNTDOWN. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. JULIA DELUNEY HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF HER MOTHER, HELEN GREGORY (79). NEW LAWS TO PROTECT GROUND BASED SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE FROM FOREIGN SPIES HAVE BEEN RUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT. THE SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE HAS SAID THAT SOME GROUPS OR BUSINESSES HAVE PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT MIGHT HAVE HELPED FOREIGN MILITARIES AND HARMED NEW ZEALAND'S INTERESTS. THE S.I.S. SAYS THEY ARE DISGUISED TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE FOR CIVILIAN USE. THE NEW LEGISLATION ALLOWS THE SPACE MINISTER TO ORDER A CUT IN POWER AND INTERNET SERVICES TO FACILITIES THAT BREACH THE RULES. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN QUESTION ARE THINGS LIKE GROUND-BASED SATELLITES, TRACKING SERVICES AND SIMILAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. I SPOKE A SHORT TIME AGO TO THE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS. WELL, WE'VE HAD A FEW INSTANCES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF PARTICULARLY FOREIGN ACTORS PERHAPS CONNING... (CHUCKLES) NEW ZEALAND` NEW ZEALANDERS INTO THINKING THAT THEY WERE A NEW ZEALAND COMPANY, THAT THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO USE GROUND-BASED SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LEGITIMATE PURPOSES, AND WE'VE BEEN RELYING IN THE PAST ON THE SECURITY AGENCIES BEING ABLE TO HAVE A WORD WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN RELY ON THAT ANY MORE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING GEOPOLITICALLY, AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE SOME STEPS. WHAT WERE BEHIND THESE INSTANCES? CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL? WHAT DID THEY COME TO NEW ZEALAND PRETENDING TO DO? WELL, IT'S QUITE EASY IN NEW ZEALAND FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT AS A SPACE NATION, WHICH OF COURSE WE ARE, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT, THAT ALL THE PEOPLE COMING TO` WANTING TO SET UP SOMETHING HERE IN SPACE THAT THEY ARE LEGITIMATE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BELIEVE IT, AND WE ARE ALWAYS KEEN TO DO BUSINESS AND INNOVATE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, OF COURSE, IS THAT GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION AT THE MOMENT IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT WAS IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, AND WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE OUR SECURITY AGENCIES HAVE HAD TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE LAND, FOR INSTANCE, 'YOU DO REALISE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH 'ARE, IN FACT, REPRESENTATIVES OF A PARTICULAR FOREIGN COUNTRY 'AND THAT THEY ARE NOT TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.' AND WHAT FOREIGN COUNTRY IS THAT? WELL, OF COURSE, YOU'D GO TO THE USUAL SUSPECTS, AND I DON'T NEED TO SAY WHICH ONES. AND WHO ARE THE USUAL SUSPECTS? WELL, I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHO DOES VARIOUS THINGS HERE. CHINA? RUSSIA? BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO` WELL, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REALISE THAT THIS IS NOT TO STOP ANY OF THE LEGITIMATE WORK THAT GOES ON WITH THE GROUND-BASED SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS VERY MUCH, THOUGH, AROUND MAKING SURE THAT NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE OUR EYES WIDE OPEN, AND THAT WHEN THERE ARE NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES INVOLVED, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO` I WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION, AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT OUR INTELLIGENCE SERVICE RAISED THESE CONCERNS IN A REPORT IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. SO WHY HAS THE LEGISLATION ONLY JUST COME THROUGH NOW? WELL, WE ACTUALLY RAISED IT AS AN ISSUE EARLIER THIS YEAR AS WELL. THE FACT IS, IS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, I'M TOLD, DO NOT HAVE QUITE THE SAME LEGISLATION AS WE HAVE. WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR 2017 SPACE LEGISLATION ` SPACE AND OUTER SPACE LEGISLATION. SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT AS AN AMENDMENT. SO WE'VE HAD TO START PRETTY MUCH FROM GROUND ZERO WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER NATIONS, COS OTHERS DON'T HAVE THIS ABILITY. IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO LET OUR PACIFIC NEIGHBOURS AND FELLOW PACIFIC NATIONS USE THIS SORT OF LEGISLATION THEMSELVES, COS WE'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THREATS IN THEIR BACKYARDS. WE KNOW NOW THAT WE HAVE THREATS IN OURS AS WELL. PRINCE GEORGE HAS TURNED 12, AND TO CELEBRATE, HIS PARENTS HAVE RELEASED AN INTIMATE, BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO OF THE FUTURE MONARCH HAVING FUN WITH PRINCESS CHARLOTTE AND PRINCE LOUIS. ITV'S CHRIS SHIP HAS MORE. THREE SIBLINGS ON THE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE ` GEORGE, CHARLOTTE AND LOUIS. A RARE GLIMPSE OF WILLIAM AND KATE'S CHILDREN AT HOME. THE PALACE SHARED THIS VIDEO THIS MORNING, ALONG WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FUTURE KING PRINCE GEORGE, WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS TODAY. (CHEERING) IT MEANS IT WAS 12 YEARS AGO, JULY THE 22nd 2013, THAT THIS MOMENT HAPPENED OUTSIDE THE FAMOUS LINDO WING DOORS OF ST MARY'S HOSPITAL ` DOORS ON WHICH SO MANY CAMERA LENSES HAD BEEN TRAINED FOR SO MANY DAYS. AT THAT POINT, GEORGE WAS THIRD IN LINE TO THE THRONE, AND THE MEDIA INTEREST IN HIM HAS NOT DIMMED AS HE'S GROWN UP. HE'S NOW ABOUT TO ENTER HIS FINAL YEAR AT LAMBROOK PREP SCHOOL. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HIS PARENTS WANT HIM TO GO NEXT. NOW SECOND IN LINE, OF COURSE, HE'S ATTENDED HIS GRANDFATHER'S CORONATION, KNOWING THAT ONE DAY ALL OF THIS WILL HAPPEN FOR HIM. BUT AS DAUNTING AS THAT MIGHT SEEM, WILLIAM AND KATE HAVE ALWAYS PUT THE PRIVACY OF THEIR CHILDREN FIRST. THE YOUNG PRINCE IS ONLY SLOWLY BEING INTRODUCED TO ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS ` THE IMPORTANT ONES, LIKE MEETING VETERANS AT THIS YEAR'S VE DAY COMMEMORATIONS. BUT MOSTLY THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES WANT GEORGE TO HAVE FUN LIKE 12-YEAR-OLDS SHOULD. OLLIE'S HERE NEXT WITH SPORT, AND THERE'S UNCERTAINTY OVER NETBALL'S FUTURE. ALL YOU DO THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO THE BROADCAST DEAL, OR LACK THEREOF IS FOR THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP NEXT SEASON. IT IS THE FINAL NEXT SUNDAY, BUT AS A STAND AT THE MOMENT, THIS PLAYERS AND COACHES DO NOT KNOW WHAT NEXT SEASON LOOKS LIKE OR IF THERE WILL BE A COMPETITION NEXT SEASON. WE HAVE BEEN CHATTING TO A FEW OF THE PLAYERS. WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM THE TACTIX NEXT, AS PLAYERS FEAR FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GAME. PLUS, ANTON LIENERT-BROWN EXTENDS HIS CONTRACT WITH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY. WHY HE WON'T BE WEARING A CHIEFS JERSEY NEXT SEASON. PLUS, THE COUNTDOWN TO THE GLASGOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES IS ON. ELLESSE ANDREWS JOINS US AS THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE MARKS ONE YEAR TO GO. THREENEWS SPORT, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEW SUZUKI FRONX. YOU WANT IT? FRONX GOT IT! FOR A TIME, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WOULDN'T GET OFF THE GROUND, BUT IN A YEAR, A SCALED-BACK GLASGOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES WILL OFFICIALLY GET UNDERWAY. SCOTLAND TOOK OVER THE HOSTING RIGHTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA LAST OCTOBER, WHO PULLED OUT DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. WHILE THE 2026 EDITION WILL SEE SPORTS LIKE HOCKEY, SEVENS AND SQUASH MISSING, FOR THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, IT'S FULL STEAM AHEAD, MARKING ONE YEAR TO GO AT AN EVENT IN AUCKLAND THIS EVENING. MITCH REDMAN IS THERE. MITCH. IT IS STARTING DEVELOP NICELY HERE AT THE AUCKLAND MUSEUM, AS EVERYONE STARTS TO PREPARE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN GLASGOW AND ONE YEARS TIME. ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AS THE TRACK CYCLING, AND ELISE ANDREWS JOINED US. HOW ARE YOU FEELING HEADING INTO YOUR THIRD COMMONWEALTH GAMES? IT IS SO EXCITING. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EVENTS. THERE WAS THE FIRST EVENT I EVER COMPETED IN WHEN I MADE IT INTO THE TEAM. I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR NEXT YEAR. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO NOW ONLY BE A YEAR AWAY? MUST BE A BIT SURREAL. I THINK FROM THE LAST COMMONWEALTH GAMES TO NEXT YEAR, THE TIME HAS FELT LIKE IT HAS ABSOLUTELY FLOWN BY. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THAT TIME. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET ON THE TRACK. YOU HAD A SUPER BUSY 2024 WITH THE OLYMPICS. HOW HAS 2025 BEEN? HAVE YOU HAD A BREAK? HERE AND THERE, YES, BUT I LOVE IT. I TAKE MY RATES WHEN I CAN, BUT IT HAS BEEN ABOUT REBUILDING AND RESETTING, AND I THINK THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. WHAT DOES A LIGHT LIKE THIS MEAN, GETTING TO CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS AND COLLEAGUES? SO MUCH FUN. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY ATHLETES I HAVE NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME, AND SO MANY PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT US AS WELL AS THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. IT IS A REALLY AMAZING THING TO BE HERE AND TO BE CATCHING UP WITH EVERYBODY AND CELEBRATING THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES. ALL THE BEST FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OCTOBER. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. IT IS CLEAR TO SEE THAT EVERYONE IS SUPER EXCITED FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, AND IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF MONTHS AGO THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN GOING AHEAD. CERTAINLY SOME HAPPY FACES HERE. ANTON LIENERT-BROWN HAS RE-SIGNED WITH NEW ZEALAND RUGBY BUT WON'T RUN OUT FOR THE CHIEFS NEXT SEASON. THE 30-YEAR-OLD WILL JOIN ARDIE SAVEA ON A SABBATICAL WITH THE KOBE STEELERS IN JAPAN, MEANING HE'LL MISS THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON NEXT YEAR. LIENERT-BROWN HAS EXTENDED HIS CONTRACT THROUGH TO 2028, WHICH MEANS THE 86-TEST VETERAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE ALL BLACKS AT THE NEXT WORLD CUP. THEY MIGHT HAVE AN ANZ PREMIERSHIP FINAL TO FOCUS ON, BUT MEMBERS OF THE CANTERBURY TACTIX HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS AROUND THE FUTURE OF THE COMPETITION. AS IT STANDS, THERE IS NO BROADCAST DEAL IN PLACE FOR NEXT SEASON, DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM NETBALL NEW ZEALAND A COMPETITION WILL TAKE PLACE. BUT THE UNCERTAINTY IS CAUSING ANXIETY AMONG SOME, WHO ARE DESPERATE TO SEE THE GAME GET BACK TO ITS GLORY DAYS. IT'S FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE TACTIX THIS WEEK AS THEY LOOK TO BREAK THEIR ANZ PREMIERSHIP TITLE DROUGHT ON SUNDAY. (PLAYERS SHOUT) BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE GAME, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT NOT TO HAVE ONE EYE ON WHAT THE FUTURE MAY LOOK LIKE. I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT WHERE NETBALL'S HEADING, IF I'M FRANK. YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE GAME, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY SAD TO SEE IT NOT EXIST IN THIS FORMAT. WITHOUT A BROADCAST DEAL FOR NEXT SEASON, PLAYERS WILL BE PLAYING FOR LOVE, NOT MONEY, AND THE ONGOING UNCERTAINTY HAS MADE FOR A TRYING END TO WHAT'S LARGELY BEEN A SUCCESSFUL SEASON ON COURT. I THINK FOR A LOT OF GIRLS, UM... WE'VE BEEN` NERVOUS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIG WORDS, WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF NEXT SEASON. THIS IS OUR LIVELIHOODS ` WE DO THIS AS A JOB ` SO IT IS QUITE SCARY NOT HAVING THAT CERTAINTY. NOT HELPING THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP'S FUTURE IS THE RELAXING OF NETBALL NEW ZEALAND'S ELIGIBILITY RULES. THE GOVERNING BODY ANNOUNCED A CHANGE TO SELECTION CRITERIA EARLIER THIS WEEK, MEANING PLAYERS PLAYING OVERSEAS CAN NOW BE CONSIDERED FOR SILVER FERN SELECTION. TACTIX DEFENDER KARIN BURGER SAYS IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE SOME PLAYERS WOULD BE LOOKING TO AUSTRALIA. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS, NOT JUST NETBALLERS, AND SO WE WANT THE BEST FOR OUR NETBALL BUT ALSO WHAT'S THE BEST FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORKED FOR GRACE NWEKE, WHO'S BEEN A STANDOUT FOR THE NEW SOUTH WALES SWIFTS AND WILL NOW BE ABLE TO HAVE HER CASE CONSIDERED FOR SILVER FERNS SELECTION. NETBALL NEW ZEALAND'S DECISION TO ANNOUNCE THE CHANGE IN THE WEEK OF THE GRAND FINAL HAS DRAWN CRITICISM FROM SOME, BUT TACTIX COACH DONNA WILKINS FEELS IT'S A DIFFICULT ONE TO SIT ON. AUSTRALIAN SIDES ARE ALREADY CONTACTING SOME PLAYERS. THEY NEED TO KNOW, SO THEY NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY STAND. A SENTIMENT SHARED BY EVERYONE AS NETBALL'S FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE. MICHELLE MONTAGUE HAS TODAY MADE HISTORY, BECOMING THE FIRST KIWI WOMAN TO BE SIGNED BY THE UFC. THE 31-YEAR-OLD IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HER DEBUT WHEN UFC RETURNS TO PERTH THIS SEPTEMBER. MONTAGUE COMPETED AT THE 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN WRESTLING AND HAS ALSO REPRESENTED WAIKATO IN RUGBY. FROM MATAMATA BUT CURRENTLY LIVING IN FLORIDA, MONTAGUE'S PROFESSIONAL RECORD STANDS AT SIX WINS AND ZERO LOSSES. THE BLACKCAPS LOOK TO BE HOT FAVOURITES TO TAKE OUT THEIR T20 TRI-SERIES IN ZIMBABWE. NEW ZEALAND BREEZED PAST SOUTH AFRICA FOR A SECOND TIME OVERNIGHT, PICKING UP A SEVEN-WICKET WIN. THE BLACKCAPS BOWLING ATTACK MANAGED TO RESTRICT THE PROTEAS TO 134/8 BEFORE TIM SEIFERT TOP SCORED WITH 66 NOT OUT. WE DIDN'T TAKE THE WICKETS THIS GAME AT THE START, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO RESTRICT THEM, AND THERE WAS PRESSURE THROUGHOUT. IT WAS PRETTY CLINICAL FROM THE BOWLERS AGAIN, AND WITH THE BAT, IT WAS PROFESSIONAL. THE BLACKCAPS REMAIN UNBEATEN THROUGH THE TOURNAMENT. THEY PLAY ZIMBABWE TOMORROW NIGHT BEFORE A FINALS OPPORTUNITY WITH SOUTH AFRICA ON SATURDAY. THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO WORK FOR THEIR WIN OVER THE FIRST NATIONS AND PASIFIKA 15, HOLDING ON FOR A 24-19 VICTORY. THE LIONS WERE DOING IT EASY IN THE OPENING 10 MINUTES, AS OWEN FARRELL HELPED SET UP THEIR FIRST TWO TRIES. BUT THE FIRST NATIONS AND PASIFIKA FIFTEEN WERE MORE THAN UP FOR IT AND LEVELLED THE SCORES AT HALF TIME. TWO SECOND-HALF TRIES WERE ENOUGH TO SEAL IT FOR THE LIONS AND REMAIN UNDEFEATED ON THEIR AUSTRALIAN TOUR. IT FELT A BIT FRANTIC AT TIMES. IF WE COULD HAVE BEEN A BIT CALMER, I THINK WE COULD HAVE SETTLED INTO WHAT WE DO AND DO THAT A BIT BETTER. THE LIONS WILL REMAIN IN MELBOURNE AHEAD OF THE SECOND TEST AGAINST THE WALLABIES AT THE MCG. MEANWHILE, THE WALLABIES HAVE HIT BACK AT CRITICISM FROM FORMER LIONS COACH SIR CLIVE WOODWARD FOLLOWING THEIR LOSS IN THE FIRST TEST. THE WORLD CUP-WINNING COACH SUGGESTED THE WALLABIES HAD A LOSING MENTALITY THAT REFLECTED THE CURRENT STATE OF AUSTRALIAN RUGBY FOLLOWING THEIR 27-19 LOSS IN BRISBANE. BUT WALLABIES WING HARRY POTTER SAYS THOSE SUGGESTIONS ARE RIDICULOUS. I THINK IT IS PRETTY RIDICULOUS TO SUGGEST THAT THE 23 PEOPLE WHO PLAYED ON THE FIELD AT THE WEEKEND HAVE A MENTALITY OF LOSING. THE WALLABIES CAN LET THEIR RUGBY DO THE TALKING ON SATURDAY, NEEDING TO WIN THE SECOND TEST TO KEEP THE SERIES ALIVE. 90,000 EXPECTED- BIGGEST LIONS CROWD IN HISTORY. THAT WILL BE A LION'S RECORD. I SAW YOUR FACE. MY NEEDS ARE MAGIC. A COMEDY FRANCHISE SOME MAY HAVE THOUGHT HAD RUN ITS COURSE IS BACK, WITH THE PREMIERE OF THE LATEST 'NAKED GUN' FILM. LIAM NEESON TAKES OVER FROM LESLIE NIELSEN, PLAYING HIS CHARACTER'S SON, FRANK DREBIN JR, WITH PAMELA ANDERSON HIS CO-STAR. SHE TOLD ITV'S RISHI DAVDA THAT A BIT OF SILLINESS IS NEEDED THESE DAYS. (JAUNTY MUSIC) FRANK DREBIN'S BIG SCREEN BUFFOONERY BROUGHT THE LAUGHS IN THE LATE '80s. LIEUTENANT DREBIN, POLICE SQUAD. CANCELLED AS A SERIES AFTER SIX EPISODES, 'THE NAKED GUN' THRIVED AS A FILM FRANCHISE, OFFERING ONE COMICAL MISHAP AFTER ANOTHER. I HAVEN'T HAD THE HEART TO CLEAN SINCE MY WIFE DIED. HOW DID SHE PASS? GREAT. 50 YARDS, EASY. NOW 31 YEARS AFTER THE THIRD INSTALMENT, IT'S BACK, STARRING THE CREAM OF THE HOLLYWOOD CROP, PAMELA ANDERSON AND LIAM NEESON. DO YOU REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL '88 'NAKED GUN' AND YOUR REACTION TO SEEING THAT? I REMEMBER SEEING THEM, YEAH. I SAW THEM IN THEIR TIME. I LOVE THEM. '88. YEAH, 89. FUNNY SCHOOLBOY, SCHOOLGIRL HUMOUR. SILLINESS IS NEEDED THESE DAYS. SOME MOVIE INDUSTRY EXPERTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE PURE GIGGLE FEST COMEDIES OF THE 2000s AND 2010s HAVE GONE MISSING POST-PANDEMIC... DISTORTED: WELCOME, NEW FRIENDS. ...WITH STUDIOS AND CREATIVES FAVOURING FEEL-GOOD PLOTS INCORPORATING HUMOUR. OPEN DOORS. (GRUNTS) 'THE NAKED GUN', WHICH IS IN CINEMAS ON THE 1st OF AUGUST, IS GETTING BACK TO OLD WAYS. SORT OF MADE EVERYTHING VERY HEARTFELT AND SWEET, AND WE NEED THINGS TO JUST BE STUPID SOMETIMES. THE MOVIE STRAIGHT UP WOULDN'T EXIST IF WE DIDN'T HAVE LIAM NEESON BASICALLY WILLING TO EXPEND THE 40-PLUS YEARS OF SERIOUS MOVIE ACTING CAPITAL THAT HE'S BUILT UP ON AN HOUR AND A HALF OF FART JOKES. SKILLS I HAVE ACQUIRED OVER A VERY LONG CAREER. LIAM NEESON'S STOIC STARE HAS BEEN A FEATURE OF HIS FILMOGRAPHY. I WAS DANCING. WHILE PAMELA ANDERSON IS IN THE MIDST OF A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CAREER RESURGENCE. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT PROJECT? WHAT'S PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS? (BOTH LAUGH) JUST BE HONEST. I'M NOT THERE YET. I'M JUST DOING IT FOR... I DON'T KNOW, JUST STARTING OUT. I'M JUST STARTING OUT. CLOSE DOORS. SINCE 'THE NAKED GUN' STARTED OUT, ITS INTENTION HAS BEEN CLEAR ` MAKING AUDIENCES LAUGH OUT LOUD. IMOGEN'S BACK NOW, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS LOOKING LIKE A WET WEEKEND FOR SOME. YES, LAURA, I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THIS BOUT OF BEAUT WEATHER WON'T BE STICKING ROUND FOR SOME. AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE WEEKEND, THE PICTURE GETS CLEARER, AND THAT FRONT WILL BE BRINGING RAIN OR SHOWERS TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY, ALONG WITH SOME SHOWERS IN THE UPPER NORTH. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS AFTER THE BREAK. NAU MAI ANO. IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY, GREAT NEWS ` TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR. THE HIGH PRESSURE IS MOVING EVER-SO-SLOWLY EAST, DOING A GOOD JOB KEEPING THIS FRONT AT BAY THAT WILL BE BRINGING SOME WET WEATHER LATER IN THE WEEK. GENERALLY QUITE SETTLED TOMORROW DOWN SOUTH. LOTS OF FROSTS ABOUT AND SOME MORNING FOG ABOUT, BUT CLEAR SKIES DOMINATE. CLOUD IN EASTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH COULD MEAN SHOWERS FOR GISBORNE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S FAIRLY SAFE TO PLAN FOR A SUNNY DAY. SOME MORNING FROSTS POSSIBLE. HAMILTON GETTING DOWN TO NEGATIVE-1, BUT A MAINLY FINE DAY. SOME PASSING CLOUD FOR WHANGAREI AND THE CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER. A CHILLY START FOR MOST HERE TOO, BUT ANOTHER BRIGHT SUNNY DAY WITH SOUTHERLIES EASING IN THE MORNING FOR TOKOROA AND THE AFTERNOON FOR EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY. CLOUD AROUND FOR GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY THAT COULD BRING THE ODD SHOWER IN THE MORNING. CLEAR SKIES FOR THE WAIRARAPA AND LIGHT WINDS. AREAS OF MORNING FROST FOR THESE PARTS, BUT A FINE THURSDAY AHEAD WITH SOU-EASTERLIES EASING IN THE MORNING FOR TARANAKI AND A NOR-EASTER RAMPING UP AT NIGHT FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. EVERYONE HERE SHOULD EXPECT FROSTS MORNING AND NIGHT. IN BETWEEN, YOU WILL ENJOY LOTS OF SUNSHINE ` ALL GETTING TO 13. WESTPORT REACHING 14 TOMORROW. MORNING LOW CLOUD FOR ALL OF CANTERBURY AND SEVERE FROSTS POSSIBLE. IT'LL BURN OFF TO A BLUE-SKY DAY WITH LIGHT WINDS. NORTHERLIES EASING AT NIGHT IN ASHBURTON. FROSTS AT BOTH ENDS OF YOUR DAY HERE, WITH CLEAR SUNNY SKIES AND MOSTLY LIGHT WINDS. JUST A NOR-WESTER FOR OBAN. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES. FINE AND FROSTY FOR DUNEDIN. A PARTICULARLY COLD START FOR MOSGIEL. AND THE CHATHAMS WILL HAVE OCCASSIONAL SHOWERS EARLY ON. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH ` A FROSTY START WITH MORNING FOG CLEARING TO ANOTHER SETTLED DAY. NORTHERLIES WILL STRENGTHEN IN THE AFTERNOON. 12 FOR YOU. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA WELLINGTON ` THE WARMEST LOW OF THE BUNCH. UPPER HUTT AND PORIRUA GETTING DOWN TO ZERO. SOME AREAS OF MORNING FROST AND A NORTHERLY WILL DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON. HAWKE'S BAY ` SOME CLOUD BEFORE DAWN, AND THEN A FINE MORNING WITH A FROST POSSIBLE. LIKE MOST, YOU'RE IN FOR A SUNNY DAY, WITH A SOU-WESTER EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. TAURANGA COULD ALSO GET A MORNING FROST, OTHERWISE A FINE THURSDAY WITH SOUTHERLIES EASING FROM LUNCHTIME. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON ` THE SOUTHERLIES WILL DIE OUT IN THE MORNING. YOU WILL GET A MORNING FROST BUT WILL BE REWARDED WITH ANOTHER SUNNY DAY AND A HIGH OF 14. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND ` MORNING FROSTS IN SHELTERED PLACES, BUT A BRIGHT CLEAR DAY, AND THAT SOU-EASTER WILL EASE FROM THE AFTERNOON, AND YOU'LL GET TO 15. OVERSEAS NOW. WINDY FOR ALICE SPRINGS. SUNNY SKIES FOR DARWIN UP TOP AND BRISBANE AND SYDNEY IN THE EAST. TO THE PACIFIC. SOME SHOWERS FOR EASTERN AREAS, AND CLEARER SKIES HEADING TO THE WEST. BACK HOME, IT WILL BE MAINLY FINE FOR THE NORTH ISLAND ON FRIDAY, WITH A FEW SHOWERS AROUND NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND AND COROMANDEL AS THAT HIGH PRESSURE MOVES TO THE EAST AND A COMPLEX TROUGH ARRIVES FROM THE TASMAN SEA. SATURDAY WILL LARGELY BE FINE FOR TE IKA A MAUI, BUT SUNDAY SEES SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SOUTH AND EAST. THE FRONT WILL BRING MORE SHOWERS TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, STARTING OFF IN THE WEST WITH RAIN IN FIORDLAND ON FRIDAY, SPREADING TO OTHER WESTERN AREAS OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. AND THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. THANK YOU TO RUBY, WHO SENT THIS PHOTO IN OF DEEP COVE, DOUBTFUL SOUND, WHILE SHE WAS ON A CRUISE FOR SCHOOL CAMP. CERTAINLY A STEP ABOVE MY SCHOOL CAMPS. I NEVER WENT ON A CRUISE. AND NEVER WENT TO THE DOUBTFUL SOUND. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THAT IS THREENEWS 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. CAPTIONS BY TOM CLARKE AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025