WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT FORCE SPORT NZ TO SCRAP GUIDELINES AROUND THE INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY SPORT? A REPORT SAYS DONALD TRUMP WAS TOLD HIS NAME IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES, AS THE WHITE HOUSE RAMPS UP EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE BARACK OBAMA. A POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED OVER A FATAL PURSUIT IN NORTHLAND THAT LEFT A TEENAGE GIRL DEAD. AND LATER IN SPORT ` WE SIT DOWN WITH THE CHAIR OF NETBALL NZ TO ASK WHETHER THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP HAS A FUTURE. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND MAEVE KELLY. 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 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS CONDEMNED THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO WITHDRAW GUIDELINES FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY SPORT. THE GOVERNMENT DIRECTED SPORT NZ TO STOP ALL WORK ON GUIDELINES RELATING TO GENDER IN SPORT, AND TODAY THE CROWN ENTITY DID JUST THAT, ALONG WITH REMOVING ALL INFORMATION FROM ITS WEBSITE. AND WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS UNAPOLOGETIC, THE BACKLASH WAS SWIFT. WINSTON PETERS ON THE ATTACK IN DEFENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO FORCE SPORT NZ TO DITCH TRANSGENDER GUIDELINES. WE ARE OUT TO LOOK AFTER WOMEN, GIRLS, TO STAND UP FOR SAFETY AND TO STAND UP FOR FAIRNESS. AND THEY'RE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION, AND SOMEBODY HAS TO DEFEND THEM. FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2022, THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES WERE DESIGNED TO HELP SPORTING BODIES CONSIDER HOW TO MAKE PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY SPORT MORE INCLUSIVE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOW TOLD SPORT NZ TO CEASE ALL WORK ON THOSE PRINCIPLES IMMEDIATELY, AND PETERS IS UNAPOLOGETIC. EVERYBODY THAT SEEKS TO BE AN ALL BACK STARTS IN COMMUNITY SPORT. EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO THE TOP TEAM, WHETHER IT'S SOCCER, WHETHER IT'S RUGBY LEAGUE... WHETHER IT'S RUGBY, WHETHER IT'S BASKETBALL, ALWAYS STARTS IN COMMUNITY SPORT, SO THE RULES SHOULD NOT BE DIFFERENT. RIGHT. SPORT NZ CHIEF EXECUTIVE RAELENE CASTLE DECLINED AN INTERVIEW, BUT IN A STATEMENT SAID... NEW ZEALAND SHOULD BE A FAIR, INCLUSIVE, TOLERANT SOCIETY, ONE THAT'S ACCEPTING OF PEOPLE BEING WHO THEY ARE, AND I THINK THE BEST BODIES TO DETERMINE HOW THAT SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN SPORTING RULES ARE THE SPORTING BODIES THEMSELVES. DURING COALITION NEGOTIATIONS, NATIONAL AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST AGREED TO ENSURE PUBLICLY FUNDED SPORTING BODIES SUPPORTED FAIRNESS THAT WASN'T COMPROMISED BY GENDER-BASED RULES. WINSTON PETERS HAS NOW THREATENED TO CUT FUNDING TO ALL SPORTING CODES THAT DON'T COMPLY. IT'S A REAL SHAME TO ME WHEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSITIONS OF POWER USE THAT TO INFLICT PAIN ON PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO LIVE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. WOMEN'S RUGBY COMMENTATOR AND COACH ALICE SOPER SAYS YEARS OF POSITIVE PROGRESS HAS NOW BEEN UNDONE. THEY ARE REHASHING OLD ARGUMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S ABOUT THE CONTROL OF WHAT A WOMAN IS. AND I'M ALREADY HERE TO TELL YOU ` WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE. JUST LET US EXPRESS OURSELVES AND PLAY WITH EACH OTHER AND HAVE FUN, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT SPORT'S ALL ABOUT. NEW ZEALAND CRICKET ALLOWS TRANS WOMEN TO COMPETE IN FEMALE COMPETITIONS AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL, WHILE NEW ZEALAND RUGBY SAYS ITS POLICY IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED, ESPECIALLY IN THE WOMEN'S GAME. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'VE HAD REALLY POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT FROM THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN WOMEN'S RUGBY. AND THE THEMES THAT CAME THROUGH FROM THAT CONSULTATION WAS THAT THEY REALLY VALUED INCLUSION; THEY WANTED TO SEE PEOPLE INCLUDED ` DIDN'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE EXCLUDED FROM THE GAME ` BUT THEY ALSO WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT WAS STILL SAFE. INDIVIDUAL SPORTING ORGANISATIONS LEFT TO DECIDE WHAT INCLUSION SHOULD LOOK LIKE NOW THEY HAVE NO GUIDELINES TO WORK WITH. THE EPSTEIN FILES SAGA IS REFUSING TO GO AWAY FOR DONALD TRUMP, WITH REPORTS OUT TODAY THAT HIS NAME APPEARS MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE DOCUMENTS. TRUMP HAS REACTED ANGRILY AFTER FRESH FOOTAGE EMERGED OF HIM WITH THE DISGRACED PAEDOPHILE, SLAMMING IT AS 'FAKE NEWS' ` WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RAMPING UP PRESSURE ON HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES. THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOW POINTING THE FINGER AT FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SUGGESTING HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR TREASON. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE LATEST. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP... DESPITE A CORDIAL EXCHANGE IN THE OVAL OFFICE IN 2016, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND BARACK OBAMA HAS ALWAYS BEEN ICY COLD ` NOT SURPRISING GIVEN TRUMP SOUGHT TO EXPLOIT THE LIE ABOUT OBAMA'S PLACE OF BIRTH. TULSI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. BUT NOW THE WHITE HOUSE HAS TAKEN THE EXTRAORDINARY STEP OF PUTTING AMERICA'S TOP INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM TO SUGGEST OBAMA MAY NEED TO BE PROSECUTED FOR TREASON. THERE IS IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE THAT DETAIL HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM DIRECTED THE CREATION OF AN INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT THAT THEY KNEW WAS FALSE. THEY KNEW IT WOULD PROMOTE THIS CONTRIVED NARRATIVE THAT RUSSIA INTERFERED IN THE 2016 ELECTION TO HELP PRESIDENT TRUMP WIN, SELLING IT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS THOUGH IT WERE TRUE. IT WASN'T. GABBARD'S CLAIM IS THAT OBAMA ORCHESTRATED A SLOW-MOTION COUP ` WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS LONG DERIDED AS 'THE RUSSIA HOAX'. THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE FOUND AND THAT WE HAVE RELEASED DIRECTLY POINT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA LEADING THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PIECES OF EVIDENCE AND INTELLIGENCE THAT CONFIRM THAT FACT. ALL OF THIS APPEARS TO BE DELIVERING ON A TRUMP CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF PURSUING HIS ENEMIES AND SETTLING SCORES. OBAMA HAS CALLED THE TRUMP CLAIM 'RIDICULOUS', AND DEMOCRATS SAY THIS AMOUNTS TO A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT FROM THE EPSTEIN STORY, WHICH WAS GIVEN NEW LIFE TODAY. REPORTER: BREAKING NEWS NOW IN THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN CASE. BOTH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND NEW YORK TIMES REPORTING THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI TOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT HIS NAME APPEARED IN THE EPSTEIN FILES, ALLEGING TRUMP WAS TOLD BACK IN MAY AND THAT HIS NAME APPEARS MULTIPLE TIMES. LAST WEEK, THE PRESIDENT SAID BONDI TOLD HIM HIS NAME HADN'T APPEARED IN THE FILES. NEW IMAGES ALSO EMERGED SHOWING TRUMP AND EPSTEIN TOGETHER BACK IN THE 1990s, AND SENIOR REPUBLICANS ARE FEELING THE POLITICAL HEAT. THE SPEAKER PROMISING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WAIT, LET ME SAY` THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE WANT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO IS INVOLVED IN ANY WAY IN THE EPSTEIN EVILS TO BE BROUGHT TO SWIFT JUSTICE. WE WANT THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE LAW TO FALL UPON THEIR HEAD. DESPITE THAT, JOHNSON HEADED OFF CALLS FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FOR A VOTE, FORCING THE RELEASE OF THE EPSTEIN FILES BY STARTING SUMMER RECESS EARLY AND SENDING LAWMAKERS HOME TODAY. THE WHITE HOUSE SAY DEMOCRATS ARE NOW TRYING TO BRING DOWN TRUMP WITH THE EPSTEIN STORY JUST LIKE THEY DID OVER THE RUSSIA ALLEGATION. TRUMP'S SPOKESWOMAN SAYS HE WANTS JUSTICE. HE WANTS TO SEE ALL THOSE WHO PERPETUATED THIS FRAUD AGAINST OUR COUNTRY, WHO BETRAYED OUR COUNTRY AND THE CONSTITUTION, TO BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE. BUT ANY ATTEMPTS TO CHARGE OBAMA WITH CRIMES WOULD BE AN EXPLOSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL MOMENT FOR AMERICA. A POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED IN A FATAL PURSUIT OF A TEENAGER HAS NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH DANGEROUS DRIVING CAUSING DEATH. ANGEL RILEY (17) DIED AFTER HER CAR HIT A TREE IN NORTHLAND IN DECEMBER 2023. 'OFFICER A' IS BELIEVED TO HAVE FOLLOWED HER CAR AFTER SHE TURNED INTO A NEARBY STREET JUST BEFORE A POLICE CHECKPOINT IN WHANGAREI. POLICE TOLD ANGEL'S FAMILY A CHARGE OF DANGEROUS DRIVING CAUSING DEATH WAS LAID IN THE WHANGAREI DISTRICT COURT YESTERDAY AND THE OFFICER WILL APPEAR NEXT MONTH. THE RESERVE BANK'S CHIEF ECONOMIST HAS ISSUED A WARNING TO BUSINESSES ` TRUMP'S TRADE TARIFFS MAY WEAKEN GLOBAL GROWTH AND REDUCE DEMAND FOR OUR EXPORTS. BUT PAUL CONWAY SAYS THAT WEAKER DEMAND IS ALSO LIKELY TO MEAN LESS INFLATION PRESSURE, WHICH COULD HELP TO EASE THE COST OF LIVING. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT ZANE SMALL REPORTS. A DASH OF SALT, A SPRINKLE OF PEPPER AND A DECENT A CUP OF CHEESE, AND VOILA ` FRESH SCONES SERVED UP BY LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS... HERE WE GO. ...MADE FROM INGREDIENTS LEFT OVER FROM SUPERMARKETS. OOH. WE TAKE THE STUFF THAT THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO SELL, BUT COULD STILL BE EATEN. CHARITY 'FAIR FOOD' REDISTRIBUTES AROUND THREE TONS OF KAI PER DAY TO THOSE IN NEED. EVERY MONTH, WE SET A NEW RECORD FOR DEMAND. WE SHOULD NOT EVEN EXIST, AND WE'RE IN A GROWTH MARKET. HUNGER IS ON THE RISE. THERE'S NO QUESTION THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS IS CONTINUING TO GET WORSE FOR NEW ZEALAND FAMILIES. AND WITH THE COST OF LIVING ON THE RISE, THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING UNDER PRESSURE TO PROVIDE PAY INCREASES. PUBLIC-HOSPITAL NURSES ARE SET TO STRIKE FOR 24 HOURS NEXT WEEK OVER THE LATEST PAY OFFER AND CONCERNS ABOUT STAFFING, WHILE THE UNION REPRESENTING SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS HAS REJECTED THE LATEST COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT OFFER OF 1% PER YEAR, DESCRIBING IT AS 'INSULTING'. AND THAT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE PAY; THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT WAS NO OFFER FROM THE GOVERNMENT. I KNOW THAT NURSES AND TEACHERS APPRECIATE THAT NEW ZEALAND FINDS ITSELF IN TOUGH FINANCIAL TIMES, AND, LIKE ALL WORKERS, THAT MEANS THAT OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER THE GENEROUS PAY INCREASES THAT EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE IS CONSTRAINED. RIGHT NOW, THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY IS SUPPORTED BY HIGH EXPORT PRICES DUE TO STRONG DEMAND FOR MEAT AND DAIRY ` WHICH HELPS TO EXPLAINS WHY BUTTER IS SO EXPENSIVE. BUT TODAY, THE RESERVE BANK'S CHIEF ECONOMIST PUBLISHED A VIDEO IN WHICH HE WARNED THAT TRUMP'S TRADE TARIFFS MAY WEAKEN GLOBAL GROWTH AND REDUCE EXPORT DEMAND. IT'S TRUE THAT TARIFFS DO MAKE GLOBAL TRADE MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS EFFICIENT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO LIKELY TO SLOW GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHICH WILL MEAN LESS DEMAND FOR OUR EXPORTS AND SOFTER EXPORT AND IMPORT PRICES. THERE IS A SILVER LINING, HOWEVER, FOR HOUSEHOLDS UNDER FINANCIAL PRESSURE. GLOBAL TARIFFS AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY ARE LIKELY TO MEAN LESS INFLATION PRESSURES IN NEW ZEALAND OVER THE MEDIUM TERM. WHEREVER THERE ARE AREAS IN THE ECONOMY WHERE WE THINK WE HAVE GOVERNMENT LEVERS TO INFLUENCE PRICES, WE ARE USING THEM. AND TWO, WE ARE WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO GROW THE ECONOMY SO NEW ZEALANDERS' INCOMES CAN GROW SO THEY CAN GET AHEAD. THE FINANCE MINISTER CONFIDENT HER GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS COOKING TO HELP EASE THE COST OF LIVING. AND ZANE, THERE'S NEWS TONIGHT OF JOB CUTS ON THE WAY? THAT'S RIGHT. IT RELATES TO THE GOVERNMENTS DECISION TO DISESTABLISH THE ENTITY SET UP BY LABOUR TO MERGE THE POLYTECHNICS UNDER ONE BANNER. IT HAS BEEN REVEALED IN A CABINET PAPER ABOUT THE DISESTABLISHMENT THAT UP TO 900 JOBS COULD BE CUT, 500 PROGRAMS. THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTER TOLD US TODAY THERE ARE SOME MORE UP-TO-DATE ESTIMATES. SHE SAYS IT COULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 350 ROLES. THAT ARE STILL HUNDREDS OF JOBS, AND SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THE EXACT NUMBER IS NOT YET KNOWN. WE ALSO HEARING TONIGHT THAT 71 JOBS WILL BE CUT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THESE DECISIONS WERE NOT MADE LIGHTLY, BUT ARE NEEDED TO CONTINUE OPERATING SUSTAINABLY. MENTAL-HEALTH MINISTER MATT DOOCEY IS STANDING BY YOUTH-COUNSELLING SERVICE GUMBOOT FRIDAY, DESPITE QUESTIONS OVER WHY A MILLION DOLLARS IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING WENT UNSPENT. THE AUDITOR GENERAL HAS ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TENDER PROCESS FOR THAT FUNDING, BUT THE MINISTER SAYS THE CHARITY IS DOING AMAZINGLY WELL. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BRIDIE WITTON HAS MORE. HIGH PRAISE FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH MINISTER, MATT DOOCEY, FOR THE TEAM AT GUMBOOT FRIDAY. YOU'VE DONE AMAZINGLY WELL, SO... 30,000 SESSIONS. IT'S SUPPORTED 10,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN A YEAR. ON TOP OF THAT, THE NUMBER OF COUNSELLORS HAS GROWN TO WELL OVER 700 ON THE PLATFORM. OVER 175 NEW COUNSELLORS ` THAT'S A 33% INCREASE. THE GOVERNMENT GAVE $24M OVER FOUR YEARS TO MIKE KING'S YOUTH COUNSELLING CHARITY AS PART OF THE NATIONAL/NZ FIRST COALITION AGREEMENT. BUT THERE WAS ONE NOTABLE ABSENCE DURING DOOCEY'S VISIT ` ITS OUTSPOKEN FOUNDER, WHO LAST YEAR LANDED IN HOT WATER AFTER SAYING ALCOHOL WAS A SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL-HEALTH ISSUES. MIKE COULDN'T MAKE TODAY. HE SENDS HIS APOLOGIES. BUT ACTUALLY, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MIKE; THIS IS ABOUT GUMBOOT FRIDAY. THERE'S A TEAM HERE THAT, IN ESSENCE, RUNS THE PROGRAMME. SO, YOU KNOW, IT RUNS WELL WITH MIGHT NOT BEING HERE. NOT THAT HE'S OFTEN... NOT OFTEN HERE. SO WE CAN MANAGE JUST FINE WITHOUT HIM. BUT INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SUGGEST IT HASN'T ALL RUN WELL. WHILE GUMBOOT FRIDAY MET ITS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, $1M OF ITS $6M ALLOCATION FOR THE 2024 FINANCIAL YEAR WENT UNSPENT, BECAUSE DEMAND DIDN'T REACH EXPECTED LEVELS, AND THERE WERE DELAYS ONBOARDING NEW COUNSELLORS. THE UNSPENT MONEY WILL BE REDIRECTED TO OTHER MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES. THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE CONTRACT WITH GUMBOOT FRIDAY ` IT'S ACTUALLY AN OUTPUT CONTRACT RATHER THAN AN INPUT CONTRACT, SO WE'RE ONLY PAYING FOR THE SESSIONS THAT ARE DELIVERED. THE DOCUMENTS ALSO REVEAL TWO COUNSELLORS WERE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAMME FOR BILLING IRREGULARITIES. I THINK THAT SHOWS THEY'VE GOT THE RIGHT CLINICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES IN PLACE, CLEAR AUDITING, CLEAR GUIDELINES TO BE ON TOP OF THAT. THE AUDITOR GENERAL ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT A LACK OF OPEN COMPETITIVE TENDERING FOR GUMBOOT FRIDAY'S PUBLIC FUNDING, GIVEN IT WAS A COALITION AGREEMENT. IT WARNED THIS COULD UNDERMINE TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT. ALSO BE MINDFUL, WITH THE AUDITOR GENERAL, IT DID HIGHLIGHT AND DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT THAT WAS INBUILT INTO THIS CONTRACT, AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN MEASURE THE PERFORMANCE AND MEASURE THE DIFFERENCE IT'S MAKING. THE MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR CONTINUES TO FACE SIGNIFICANT WORKFORCE PRESSURES, WITH SHORTAGES OF TRAINED COUNSELLORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS LIMITING ACCESS TO TIMELY CARE. BUT DOOCEY IS CONFIDENT GUMBOOT FRIDAY CAN UPSCALE QUICKLY... GUMBOOT FRIDAY HAS RESPONDED TO THAT AND ONBOARDED A THIRD MORE COUNSELLORS. ...TO MEET AN EVER-GROWING DEMAND FROM YOUNG PEOPLE IN DISTRESS. THE GOVERNMENT IS GETTING RID OF LATE ENROLMENTS, TO SPEED UP THE FINAL COUNT IN FUTURE ELECTIONS. ENROLMENT WILL NOW CLOSE 13 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY BEFORE ADVANCE VOTING BEGINS. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GET AN OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION IN TWO WEEKS, AND IT WENT OUT TO THREE WEEKS, AND THE ADVICE I'VE HAD IS THAT IF WE DO NOTHING, IT'LL BE LONGER THAN THAT. A NEW OFFENCE IS ALSO BEING CREATED TO BAN FREE FOOD, DRINK OR ENTERTAINMENT WITHIN 100m OF A VOTING PLACE WHILE VOTING IS TAKING PLACE ` PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO $10,000. AN 18-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN RELATION TO A STREET FIGHT IN HAMILTON THAT LEFT ONE MAN DEAD AT THE WEEKEND. THE TEENAGER APPEARED IN HAMILTON DISTRICT COURT TODAY, ALTHOUGH THE DETAILS OF THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED. TYREECE TE PAIRI (20) HAD BEEN CELEBRATING HIS UPCOMING 21ST BIRTHDAY WHEN HE WAS FATALLY INJURED DURING AN ALTERCATION ON ALEXANDRA ST IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SUNDAY MORNING. NORTH ISLAND SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS CAN REJOICE, WITH TWO OF CENTRAL PLATEAU'S PREMIER SKI AREAS TO OPEN MORE RUNS AND FACILITIES AS EARLY AS TOMORROW AS THE SNOW SEASON RAMPS UP. A LACK OF EARLY WINTER SNOW AT WHAKAPAPA AND TUROA SKI FIELDS HAS FINALLY MADE WAY FOR MORE OF THIS KIND OF WORK, WITH STAFF BUSY CLEARING CHAIRLIFT TOWERS AND SWEEPING TRAILS IN PREPARATION FOR OPENING. WHAKAPAPA IS SET TO OPEN RUNS HIGHER UP THE MOUNTAIN FROM TOMORROW, WHILE TUROA'S DECLARED TOP-TO-BOTTOM RUNS WILL BE READY TO GO ON SATURDAY. LOOK, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE TUROA FULLY OPERATIONAL AND UP AND RUNNING AND HAVING ALL OF THE FACILITIES OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY. SO... FOR US, THIS HAS TAKEN A FEW EXTRA WEEKS THAN WE WOULD'VE LIKED, BUT WE'RE HERE NOW, AND WE'RE GONNA BE ROLLING ON THE HIGH NOON ON SATURDAY. THE LOWER-LEVEL LEARNERS' SLOPES ON BOTH MOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT THIS WEEKEND'S THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS SOME OF THE MORE CHALLENGING TERRAIN ON BOTH FIELDS. AND IT WAS A VERY COLD ` FREEZING ` START FOR MANY THIS MORNING. THESE PLACES ` DUNEDIN AIRPORT, TIMARU AND WANAKA ` HAD THEIR LOWEST TEMPERATURES OF 2025. AND DUNEDIN WAS OFFICIALLY THE COLDEST MAIN CENTRE TODAY, BUT IT IS SET TO WARM UP, WITH WIND AND RAIN TOO. I'LL HAVE MORE OF YOUR WEATHER A LITTLE LATER. ALSO COMING UP, THE HUNGER CRISIS DEEPENS IN GAZA ` MORE THAN 100 AID AGENCIES ACCUSE ISRAEL OF MAN-MADE MASS STARVATION. A TOP UN COURT GIVES PACIFIC NATIONS NEW AMMUNITION TO GO AFTER THE WORLD'S WORST POLLUTERS. AND A NEW BATTLE BREAKS OUT ON THE STREETS OF KYIV ` WHY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS ARE FURIOUS WITH THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. A MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A WOMAN IN CHRISTCHURCH LAST NIGHT. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE PARKLANDS ADDRESS AFTER THE WOMAN SUSTAINED CRITICAL INJURIES AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REVIVED. A NEIGHBOUR TOLD THREE NEWS SHE'LL NEVER FORGET THE SCREAMS SHE HEARD LAST NIGHT, AND POLICE ACKNOWLEDGED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DISTRESSING FOR THOSE ON THE STREET. A 36-YEAR-OLD MAN APPEARED IN COURT THIS MORNING CHARGED WITH MURDER. MORE THAN 100 AID AGENCIES HAVE ACCUSED ISRAEL OF PUSHING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS TOWARDS MASS STARVATION AND DEATH. ISRAEL HAS RESPONDED BY ACCUSING THE AID AGENCIES OF PARROTING 'HAMAS PROPAGANDA' AND SAID SUPPLIES LOADED ON MORE THAN 700 TRUCKS INSIDE GAZA ARE AWAITING DISTRIBUTION BY THE UNITED NATIONS. MEANWHILE, THE PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. HAS CALLED FOR A COALITION OF THE WILLING TO SAVE WHAT IS LEFT OF GAZA. ITV'S JOHN IRVINE IS IN TEL AVIV. (PLANE ENGINES RUMBLE) THIS AFTERNOON, AN ISRAELI PILOT PUT ON A LOW-LEVEL SHOW OF FORCE THAT WENT LARGELY UNNOTICED BY GAZANS, WHO ARE NOW MORE AFRAID OF STARVATION THAN BOMBS AND BULLETS. THESE DAYS, WHITE SACKS OF FLOUR ARE WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS ON. BUT WHILE ADAM AL SAFADI WAS CARRYING SOMETHING THAT LOOKS SIMILAR, IT WAS FAR MORE PRECIOUS ` THE BODY OF HIS BABY BOY. YOUSEF WAS JUST 40 DAYS OLD WHEN HE SUCCUMBED TO MALNUTRITION. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'WE CALL ON ALL THE WORLD ` SEND FOOD AND MILK,' SAID THIS GRIEVING FATHER. 'THERE ARE ALL THESE CROSSINGS, AND YOU CAN'T SEND MILK? 'IT'S NOT ROCKETS OR EXPLOSIVES. IT'S JUST MILK 'THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED HIM.' (TRUCK HORN BLARES) SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST AND THE FASTEST ` IN GAZA, FOR THE MOST PART, ONLY YOUNG MEN ARE UP TO THE PHYSICAL CHALLENGE OF RUNNING AFTER AND CATCHING AID LORRIES. LAW AND ORDER HAS BROKEN DOWN; ANARCHY RULES THE STRIP, AND WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW FRENZIED SECONDS, THE FOOD SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN PLUNDERED. OBVIOUSLY, THE ELDERLY, MOST WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND THE SICK HAVE NO CHANCE OF GETTING THEIR HANDS ON ANY FOOD HERE. AS WELL AS COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER, GAZANS FACE THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY OF BEING SHOT BY IDF SOLDIERS POSITIONED CLOSE TO AID DISTRIBUTION SITES. (MEN SHOUT) KILLINGS ARE SO COMMONPLACE THAT THIS WEEK, THE ISRAELIS HAVE PUT OUT THIS VIDEO SHOWING SOLDIERS ACTUALLY HOLDING FIRE AS THEY WATCHED HUNDREDS OF GAZANS FEVERISHLY PICKING CLEAN AN AID LORRY. (TRUCK HORN BLARES) THE DELIVERY OF AID HAS BECOME SO CHAOTIC AND DANGEROUS THAT THE U.N. SAYS THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS, MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED TRYING TO GET TO OR AWAY FROM DISTRIBUTION SITES. IMAM SHABAT IS A MOTHER OF FIVE. 'THERE IS SHOOTING AND DEATH, BUT I HAVE TO COME HERE 'BECAUSE MY CHILDREN ARE HUNGRY,' SHE SAID. 'I SWEAR THAT FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME,' SAID THIS MAN. (CLAMOURING) THE SITUATION IN GAZA HAS BECOME SO CRITICAL THAT TODAY AT THE U.N. IN NEW YORK, THE PALESTINIAN REPRESENTATIVE MADE THIS APPEAL. WE CALL FOR A COALITION OF THE WILLING TO TAKE EVERY ACTION NECESSARY ` NOW ` TO END THE GENOCIDE, TO UPHOLD INTERNATIONAL LAW AND SAVE WHAT IS LEFT OF OUR HUMANITY. ISRAEL CLAIMS THAT SINCE SATURDAY, MORE THAN 4000 TRUCKLOADS OF AID HAVE ENTERED GAZA BUT THAT THE U.N. HAS FAILED TO HAND OUT THESE SUPPLIES. HOWEVER, THE IDF ARE NOW IN CONTROL OF 75% OF THE GAZA STRIP, AND IN THE EYES OF MUCH OF THE WORLD, THAT MAKES ISRAEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AVOIDABLE SUFFERING THAT GAZANS ARE NOW HAVING TO ENDURE. THE WORLD'S HIGHEST COURT HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD FOR COUNTRIES TO SUE EACH OTHER OVER CLIMATE CHANGE. THE UNPRECEDENTED CASE WAS TAKEN TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE SIX YEARS AGO BY A GROUP OF PACIFIC LAW STUDENTS AND WAS THEN PICKED UP BY THE GOVERNMENT OF VANUATU. THE COURT'S 15 JUDGES RULED THAT COUNTRIES WHO FAIL TO PREVENT CLIMATE HARM COULD BE LIABLE FOR COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION. THIS RULING IS A LANDMARK MOMENT, AND IT'S CONFIRMED WHAT VULNERABLE NATIONS HAVE BEEN SAYING AND WE'VE KNOWN FOR SO LONG ` THAT STATES DO HAVE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THESE OBLIGATIONS ARE GROUNDED IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, THEY'RE GROUNDED IN HUMAN RIGHTS LAW, AND THEY'RE GROUNDED IN... THE DUTY TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. WHILE THE COURT'S OPINION IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING, IT WILL PUT MORE PRESSURE ON INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES TO LIVE UP TO THEIR PLEDGES. VANUATU HAS NOT RULED OUT LAUNCHING LITIGATION AGAINST MAJOR POLLUTERS LIKE AUSTRALIA. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` A HOUSE FIRE IN NEW PLYMOUTH LEAVES ONE PERSON DEAD AND A CHILD INJURED; A SHOCKED NEIGHBOUR DESCRIBES WHAT SHE WITNESSED. ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS GRIP UKRAINE AFTER PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SIGNS INTO LAW A CONTROVERSIAL NEW BILL. AND LATER, IN SPORT ` WHY COMPLACENCY WON'T BE A PROBLEM FOR THE WARRIORS AS THEY PREPARE TO FACE THE LAST-PLACED TITANS. (PHONE CHIMES) (BRIGHT MUSIC) Thank you, Sam. You're welcome, Wendy. Chillies. SONG: # Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh... # Here you go, mate. Thank you. (ENGINE REVS) MAN: OK, turn off the car. (PHONE RINGS) GIRL: Dad! Hey, man. Yeah, just...I'm teaching Samara how to drive. # Ooh-ooh-hoo... # Hi! Could you do something for me? # Ooh-ooh-hoo... # Thanks. # Ooh-ooh-hoo # Ooo-ooh # Oh, baby, you # You've got what I need # You got everything I need # You're like medicine to me # Oh, baby # You... # Hey, babe. I'm home. I made your favourite. # What I need # You've got everything I need # You're like medicine... # Too spicy? # To me, oh, baby... # I love it. Mm. VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Find your wonderful. New World. VOICEOVER: So, when my Scotlandish Mum was travelling around New Zealand, she got a part in a television advertisement. Aye! That's where I met your Da. I tried so hard to find him. 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! (STARTLED NOISES) (LAUGHS) You have his eyes. Maybe... maybe we can try to find him? (LAUGHS) (INDECIPHERABLE SCOTTISH ACCENT) THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE IS OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS CONDEMNED THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO WITHDRAW GUIDELINES FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY SPORT. IT'S BEING REPORTED A PERSON WHO DIED IN A FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN TARANAKI RE-ENTERED THE HOUSE TO GET THEIR CAR KEYS. POLICE CONFIRMED THIS MORNING A PERSON DIED AND A CHILD WAS INJURED IN THE FIRE IN THE NEW PLYMOUTH SUBURB OF WESTOWN. A NEIGHBOUR, WHO DIDN'T WANT TO BE NAMED, SAID SHE WAS SITTING IN THE LOUNGE JUST BEFORE 11pm WHEN SHE HEARD 'CRACKLING NOISES'. SHE SAYS SHE WENT OUTSIDE AND WAS SHOCKED AT HOW FAST IT ALL HAPPENED. BROKEN GLASS LITTERED THE SMALL FRONT SECTION OF THE PROPERTY THIS MORNING, WITH THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE CLEAR TO SEE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS, PROTESTING A NEW LAW THAT WEAKENS THE INDEPENDENCE OF TWO ANTI-CORRUPTION ORGANISATIONS. IT'S THE FIRST MAJOR DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THE ORGANISATIONS NEEDED TO BE CLEARED OF RUSSIAN INFLUENCE, BUT HE'S NOW SIGNALLING A BACKDOWN. ITV'S EMMA MURPHY REPORTS. A SECOND NIGHT OF PROTESTS ON THE STREETS OF UKRAINE ` A RARE SIGHT IN THESE DAYS OF WAR. 'VETO THE BILL,' THEY SHOUT IN SPONTANEOUS PROTESTS, WHICH BEGAN LAST NIGHT, AGAINST A NEW LAW SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT, GRANTING HIS OFFICE GREATER CONTROL OVER THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION BODIES. THE FURY HIGHLIGHTING HOW DEEPLY UKRAINIANS BELIEVE IN THE INDEPENDENCE OF THEIR INSTITUTIONS ` AND THEIR WISH TO ABIDE BY THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND ANTI-CORRUPTION THE EU HAS LAID DOWN IF THE NATION WISHES TO BE A PART OF THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTION. THE MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE FIGHTING CORRUPTION IS ONE OF THE BASICS ON THE WAY TO BECOME AN EU MEMBER, AND IT IS A PRECONDITION THAT THE STATE IS HAVING INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES. FIGHTING RUSSIA, HOWEVER, IS AN EVEN MORE BASIC DEMAND FOR UKRAINE AT THE MOMENT, AND THERE IS A FEAR THIS MOVE WILL LEAVE THOSE WHO ARM UKRAINE QUESTIONING THE ETHOS OF THE NATION THEY'RE SUPPORTING. IF THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS STOP TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, THAT MEANS THAT WE WILL BE ALONE IN OUR FIGHT WITH MOSCOW FEDERATION. UNFORTUNATELY, MOSCOW IS MUCH STRONGER, MUCH BIGGER, AND EVERY DAY, WE ARE LOSING SOME TERRITORIES. IF WE ARE LEFT ALONE, THAT MEANS THAT MOSCOW FEDERATION WILL COME TO OUR TERRITORIES, EVEN CONTROLLED BY UKRAINE RIGHT NOW, AND IT WILL EXTERMINATE ALL OF US. TONIGHT, SEEMINGLY IN RESPONSE TO THE SENSE OF UPROAR IN THE NATION AND BEYOND, THE PRESIDENT SUGGESTED AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAW HE AGREED ON ONLY 24 HOURS AGO. TRANSLATOR: OF COURSE, EVERYONE HAS HEARD WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THESE DAYS ` WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO EACH OTHER, ON THE STREETS. IT'S NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. WE'VE ANALYSED ALL THE CONCERNS, ALL THE ASPECTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE STEPPED UP. IN TURKEY, ANOTHER ROUND OF OPTIMISTICALLY NAMED PEACE TALKS ARE UNDERWAY ONCE MORE AMID THE FRUSTRATION OF A POPULATION DETERMINED THE SACRIFICES OF THE PAST YEARS WILL NOT BE WASTED. ONE OF THE DOCTORS WHO SUPPLIED 'FRIENDS' STAR MATTHEW PERRY WITH KETAMINE HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FOUR CHARGES OF DISTRIBUTION. SALVADOR PLASENCIA IS FACING UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER HE GAVE THE ACTOR THE DRUGS, KNOWING HE WAS A STRUGGLING ADDICT. PERRY WAS FOUND DEAD IN A HOT TUB AT HIS LOS ANGELES HOME NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO. AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THE 54-YEAR-OLD DIED FROM THE ACUTE EFFECTS OF KETAMINE. AND, MITCH, THE WARRIORS HAVE SHIFTED FOCUS TO THE GOLD COAST TITANS THIS WEEKEND? THEY HAVE INDEED, LAURA ` WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY DIFFICULT TO DO AFTER THAT LAST-MINUTE LEKA HALASIMA TRY AT THE WEEKEND. THE TITANS MAY BE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT THE WARRIORS HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THAT 66-6 THRASHING THEY WERE HANDED LAST YEAR. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE WARRIORS NEXT. AND THEN ` THE CHAIR OF NETBALL NEW ZEALAND ADDRESSES THE UNCERTAINTY CURRENTLY SURROUNDING THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP. PLUS, A PILE-UP ON STAGE 17 OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE THAT LED TO A CRAZY RACE TO THE FINISH. # It's time for the good times # Forget about the bad times, yeah # Holiday # Oh yeah, oh yeah # Holiday. # THREE NEWS SPORT, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEW SUZUKI FRONX. YOU WANT IT? FRONX GOT IT. THEY MIGHT BE IN THE TOP FOUR AND STILL RIDING THE HIGH AFTER ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC VICTORIES IN CLUB HISTORY, BUT WARRIORS COACH ANDREW WEBSTER BELIEVES HIS SIDE'S RECENT PERFORMANCES ARE WELL OFF WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BE COMPETITIVE COME PLAYOFF TIME. WHILE THIS WEEKEND'S MATCH AGAINST THE BOTTOM-OF-THE-LADDER GOLD COAST TITANS COULD BE SEEN AS AN EASY TWO POINTS, RECENT HISTORY BETWEEN THE CLUBS WOULD SUGGEST ANYTHING BUT. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. TWO CLUBS WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT STORYLINES LAST WEEKEND. IT'S CHARGED DOWN. PLAY ON, WARRIORS. CHARGING THROUGH! HALASIMA! HALASIMA HAS GONE FOR THE WARRIORS! WOW. WHAT ABOUT THAT? UNBELIEVABLE! (WHISTLE TRILLS) THE WARRIORS STILL ON A HIGH AFTER LEKA HALASIMA'S LAST-SECOND HEROICS AGAINST THE KNIGHTS. HE'S QUITE LEVEL-HEADED, LEKA. HE'S QUITE HUMBLE, AND I THINK ANYONE ELSE, THEIR HEAD WOULD BLOW UP, BUT HE'S STILL THE SAME LEKA. 'HUMBLING' IS PROBABLY A WAY TO PUT THE SEASON FOR THIS WEEK'S OPPOSITION. ADAM DOUEIHI. A WOBBLY OLD KICK, BUT IT'S THERE! THE GOLD COAST TITANS ROUTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LADDER AFTER THEIR LOSS TO WESTS TIGERS ` THE REACTION FROM COACH DES HASLER IN THE SHEDS AFTERWARDS ANYTHING BUT LEVEL-HEADED. HAVE YOU EVER GOT A TEAM OUT OF THE SHOWERS IN THEIR UNDIES BEFORE TO HAVE A GO AT THEM? NOT AS A HEAD COACH, NO. NOT AS A HEAD COACH? (LAUGHTER) NO, IT'S A JOKE. NO, I CAN'T REMEMBER ONE OF THOSE. WHILE THEY MAY BE LAUGHING AT THE TITANS' OFF-THE-FIELD ANTICS, THE WARRIORS ARE PREPARING FOR A BATTLE ON IT. THEY'RE ALSO OUT TO REDEEM ONE OF THE CLUB'S DARKEST DAYS ` LAST SEASON'S 60-POINT THRASHING ON THE GOLD COAST. THERE'S THE ICING ON TOP. THAT WAS A REALLY HARD DAY IN OUR HISTORY AS A CLUB, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT'S... IT'S AT THE FRONT OF OUR MINDS THAT, UM... I DON'T THINK THE TITANS ARE COMING HERE FEARING US THIS WEEK AT ALL. LIKE, THEY'RE NOT SITTING WHERE THEY WANT TO ON THE TABLE, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'D GO, 'OH NO, WE'VE GOTTA GO PLAY THE WARRIORS,' BECAUSE OF THAT DAY. AND WHILE VICTORY ON SATURDAY WOULD MOVE THE WARRIORS ONE STEP CLOSER TO A TOP-FOUR FINISH, THEIR COACH ISN'T DREAMING OF SILVERWARE YET. WE'RE NOT PLAYING OUR BEST FOOTBALL, BUT WE'RE STILL WINNING GAMES AT TIMES. LIKE, LAST FOUR GAMES WERE 50%, YOU COULD SAY. BUT, YEAH, I DON'T... BUT NOT AT THAT FINALS INTENSITY, SO WE'VE GOTTA EARN THAT OURSELVES. WITH REDEMPTION ON THE LINE, SATURDAY COULD BE THE TIME FOR THE WARRIORS TO SHOW THEY'RE THE REAL DEAL. THE ALL BLACKS' SCRUM IS LOOKING WELL SET FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WITH PROP FLETCHER NEWELL RE-SIGNING THROUGH TO 2028. THE-25-YEAR-OLD FRONT ROWER WAS A KEY COG IN THE CRUSADERS' TRIUMPHANT SEASON, INCLUDING A MEGA SHIFT IN THEIR GRAND-FINAL WIN OVER THE CHIEFS, PLAYING THE ENTIRE 80 MINUTES. NEWELL MADE HIS INTERNATIONAL DEBUT IN 2022 AND HAS PLAYED 25 TESTS, INCLUDING ALL THREE OF THE ALL BLACKS' RECENT MATCHES AGAINST FRANCE. SOUTH AFRICA COACH RASSIE ERASMUS HAS SWUNG THE AXE, DROPPING THREE BIG-NAME SPRINGBOKS IN HIS 37-MAN SQUAD TO PLAY THE WALLABIES NEXT MONTH. THERE'S NO ROOM FOR DOUBLE WORLD-CUP WINNERS LUKHANYO AM, FAF DE KLERK AND MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI, WITH THE EXPERIENCED TRIO ONLY NAMED ON STANDBY IN CASE OF INJURY. THE SPRINGBOKS HOST THE WALLABIES IN JOHANNESBURG ON AUGUST 16, BEFORE MEETING AGAIN IN CAPE TOWN A WEEK LATER. NETBALL NEW ZEALAND HAS ADDRESSED THE UNCERTAINTY CURRENTLY FELT BY PLAYERS AND MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE ANZ PREMIERSHIP. THE COMPETITION WILL GO AHEAD IN 2026, BUT A BROADCAST DEAL REMAINS TO BE DONE, AND PAY CUTS COULD BE ON THE CARDS. I SPOKE WITH CHAIRPERSON MATT WHINERAY EARLIER TODAY AND BEGAN BY ASKING HIM ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE GAME AND WHY CRUCIAL DEALS ARE YET TO BE DONE. WE'VE BEEN REALLY PLEASED WITH VIEWERSHIP AND WITH NUMBERS, BUT, LOOK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH BROADCAST ENVIRONMENT ` I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU; YOUR PARENT'S JUST BEEN SOLD FOR A DOLLAR. SO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE HARD.... THESE ARE CHALLENGING COMMERCIAL TIMES. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE'RE FACING INTO IS ` HOW DO WE PUT ON A GREAT ANZ PREMIERSHIP AND A GREAT HIGH-PERFORMANCE PATHWAY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP STRONG SILVER FERN TEAMS TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE INTERNATIONALLY OVER THE YEARS TO COME? JUST WITH THAT BROADCAST DEAL THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW SO IMPORTANT FINANCIALLY, IS THERE AN AGREEMENT ON THE HORIZON? AND ARE WE TALKING DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS UNTIL THAT MIGHT BE ANNOUNCED? WELL, WE'RE HOPING IT'S AT THE SHORTER END OF THAT. SO, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THAT. AND THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT BITS INVOLVED IN THAT ` SO, HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THE ANZ P, HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THE FERNS? BUT, YES, WE'RE WORKING TO THE SHORTER OF THAT HORIZON ` CERTAINLY THE SHORTER END. YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD IN THE RECENT WEEKS PLAYERS AND COACHES HAVE BEEN QUITE VOCAL ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY FACING. I GUESS WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU AND NETBALL NEW ZEALAND HAVE TO THOSE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED AT THE MOMENT? TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. THIS HAS TAKEN LONGER THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED. YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE DEARLY LOVED TO HAVE WRAPPED SOME OF THESE THINGS UP MORE QUICKLY. BUT THEY DO TAKE TIME; THEY'RE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE ARE COMMITTED TO A 2026 ANZ PREMIERSHIP SEASON WITH THE SAME SIX TEAMS, SAME TWO-ROUND FORMAT THAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR. WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THE COLLECTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AT THE MOMENT, SO CAN'T TALK TO THAT, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT PREMIERSHIP CONTINUING NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO GETTING IT IN FRONT OF OUR FANS; IT'S JUST TAKING US A BIT LONGER TO SORT OUT EXACTLY HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WILL PLAYERS BE LIKELY TO HAVE TO TAKE A PAY CUT OR SEE THE SALARY CAPS REDUCED? AND COULD THIS BE THE COMPETITION MOVING BACK TOWARDS MORE OF AN AMATEUR GAME? WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COLLECTIVE EMPLOYMENT NEGOTIATIONS, SO OBVIOUSLY CAN'T TALK TO THOSE, BUT WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO TALK TO THAT ONCE WE'RE THROUGH THAT AND ONCE WE'VE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PLAYERS. THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT PLAYING OUT IN PUBLIC ` AND BEHIND THE SCENES RIGHT NOW, I IMAGINE, TOO; HAS THERE BEEN A LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM NETBALL NEW ZEALAND, I GUESS, TO OUR TOP PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS? WE'VE STAYED VERY CLOSE TO THE PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION. WE'VE STAYED VERY CLOSE TO THE TEAMS, AND SO THAT'S THE MEANS BY WHICH WE PROVIDE COMMUNICATION THROUGH OUR SYSTEM. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE OBVIOUSLY` THIS IS NOT... THIS IS NOT COMMUNICATION BY MEDIA; WE DO THAT DIRECTLY, THROUGH THOSE PARTICULAR CHANNELS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY UP TO DATE. SOMETIMES, WHEN THINGS ARE CONTINUING` WHEN WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THINGS AND WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY A LOT TO UPDATE, THAT MAY CAUSE SOME FRUSTRATION ` WE GET THAT ` BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH THOSE IMPORTANT CHANNELS. AS BOARD CHAIR, DO YOU STILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE CEO AND THE REST OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GET NETBALL NEW ZEALAND THROUGH THIS CURRENT SITUATION? OH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD, AND THE BOARD IS WORKING VERY HARD WITH THEM. SO, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. JANNIK SINNER HAS REAPPOINTED HIS FORMER FITNESS COACH, WHO WAS TIED UP IN THE TENNIS STAR'S DOPING SCANDAL LAST YEAR. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED ANABOLIC STEROID LAST MARCH, WITH UMBERTO FERRARA AMONG TWO WHO WERE FIRED FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION. IN A STATEMENT, SINNER'S MANAGEMENT SAID FERRARA PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SINNER'S DEVELOPMENT TO DATE AND WOULD RETURN TO THE TEAM WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. SINNER SERVED A THREE-MONTH BAN FOR DOPING, PRIOR TO THE ITALIAN OPEN EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND FINALLY ` ITALIAN RIDER JONATHAN MILAN SURVIVED LATE CHAOS TO CLAIM VICTORY ON THE 17th STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE. WITH JUST 1km LEFT IN THE STAGE, THE SPECIALIST SPRINTER HAD HIS JOB MADE A WHOLE LOT EASIER WHEN A NUMBER OF HIS MAIN RIVALS WERE TAKEN OUT IN A HEAVY CRASH. OH, MASSIVE CRASH. OH, CRASH! AND A LOAD OF RIDERS HIT THE DECK, INCLUDING BINIAM GIRMAY, INCLUDING THE ISRAEL RIDERS, ONE RIDER FROM PICNIC, AND KADEN GROVES IS HELD UP AS WELL. IT LEFT THOSE THAT SURVIVED THE CARNAGE TO BATTLE IT OUT IN A SPRINT FINISH, MILAN CLAIMING HIS SECOND STAGE WIN OF THE TOUR. MILAN IS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE LINE, TO BE CHALLENGED BY JORDI MEEUS, BUT IT'S JONATHAN MILAN WHO WINS THE STAGE. MILAN NOW EXTENDS HIS LEAD IN THE POINTS TO 72. MEANWHILE, TADEJ POGACAR REMAINS IN CRUISE CONTROL, HOLDING A MORE THAN FOUR-MINUTE LEAD OF THE YELLOW JERSEY. ABSOLUTE CARNAGE. I CAN'T IMAGINE. THE MISSION OF GIRL GUIDING HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TEACH YOUNG WOMEN HOW TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION IN SOCIETY. SO HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO 2025? WELL, A NEW SET OF BADGES BEING INTRODUCED IN THE UK MIGHT PROVIDE SOME CLUES. GUIDES CAN NOW EARN A BADGE FOR TALKING ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND EVEN FOR SHARING THEIR FANFARE FOR TAYLOR SWIFT. SANGITA LAL HAS MORE. IT'S AN 'I'M A PHYSICIST' ONE, AND THIS ONE IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES, BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SCIENCE. THEY ARE A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF A NEW SKILL, SYMBOLISING GIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING. FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS, GIRL GUIDES HAVE ACHIEVED A NEW BADGE AFTER COMPLETING DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, AND NOW THERE ARE 72 NEW ONES TO AIM FOR. THESE BADGES HAVE ALL BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH HELP FROM US. THEY INCLUDE LAUGHING, SLEEPING WELL OR SHARING THEIR VOICE, TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO SPEAK UP FOR EQUALITY. WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THEY'VE MADE NEW BADGES? BECAUSE THE OLD ONES WERE BORING. WHY WERE THEY BORING? THERE WAS NO FUN. NO? THE HOLIDAY ONE LOOKS REALLY COOL. AND, LIKE, THE ANIMALS ONES. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT GETTING A BADGE? BECAUSE IT SHOWS I'VE TRIED SOMETHING NEW, EVEN IF I WAS FEELING A BIT NERVOUS ABOUT IT, AND IT'S A PHYSICAL THING THAT I CAN KEEP WITH ME. GIRL GUIDE THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH... PRINCESS ELIZABETH JOINED AT 11 YEARS OLD. THREE YEARS LATER, THOUGH, GIRL GUIDES WERE HELPING WITH THE WAR EFFORT, PROVIDING FIRST AID, CHILDCARE AND FUNDRAISING. SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL BADGES CREATED MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, LIKE HOSTESS, ARE NOW BEING CALLED CELEBRATIONS. BUT WHILE THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED, THE VALUES HAVEN'T ` NOW REFLECTING ISSUES RELEVANT TODAY. ONE OF THE NEW BADGES IS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE? YEAH. WHY? BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS IMPORTANT, AND IT'S GOOD IF YOUNGER PEOPLE, LIKE GIRLS, ARE LOOKING AT IT. COS THERE'S A MECHANIC ONE AND, LIKE, COS SOME PEOPLE ONLY THINK THAT BOYS CAN BE MECHANICS, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. PEOPLE THINK THAT GIRLS CAN DO LESS THAN BOYS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE. YEAH. MORE THAN 20,000 GIRLS HAVE DESIGNED THE NEW BADGES, ALL CENTRED AROUND THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS ` CHALLENGES THAT CAN HELP THEM BECOME STRONGER TOGETHER. AND GIRL GUIDING NZ TOLD US THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS WITH EXCITEMENT AND ARE LOOKING TO DIVE INTO THE DETAIL OF THE BADGES TO SEE WHETHER THEY CAN INCORPORATE SOMETHING SIMILAR INTO THE PROGRAMME HERE. EARLIER, WE ASKED YOU ` WITH THE PRICE OF BUTTER, IS MARGARINE AN ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE? AND JUST 30% OF YOU THINK IT IS. I TEND TO AGREE. BUT IT DEPENDS IF YOU PUT IT ON TOAST OR IN BAKING. WE WILL HAVE YOUR WEATHER NEXT. AND IT'S ANOTHER SETTLED DAY, BUT WET WEATHER IS INCOMING. STAY WITH US. AMI HAS BEEN PROTECTING NEW ZEALANDERS RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS. AMI, BRINGING YOU THREE NEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. ANOTHER CUT-AND-PASTE ` MOSTLY ` OF TODAY TOMORROW. YOU CAN SEE THAT FRONT INCHING CLOSER TO US, BUT, BOY, IS THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WORKING HARD TO KEEP IT AT BAY. IT DOES MEAN, THOUGH, FOR TOMORROW, WE WILL STILL SEE MAINLY SETTLED WEATHER AND COLD STARTS. FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, SOME CLOUD STARTING TO BUILD IN THE SOUTH-WEST AS THE FRONT NEARS, BUT FOR MOST OF TE WAIPOUNAMU ` FROSTY STARTS, CLEAR SKIES; LIGHT WINDS ARE THE DEFAULT. IN TE IKA-A-MAUI, AGAIN, SOME CLOUD BUILDING FROM THE NORTH BEFORE THE FRONT ARRIVES, BUT THAT WON'T BE UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY; LOTS OF CLEAR SKIES TO ENJOY BEFORE THEN. A MAINLY FINE DAY AHEAD; SOME STRONGER EASTERLIES IN THE MORNING FOR AUCKLAND AND THE AFTERNOON FOR WHITIANGA. THE CLOUD WILL INCREASE HEADING INTO THE EVENING UP TOP, WITH PERHAPS A SHOWER IN WHANGAREI. ANOTHER MORNING OF FROSTS FOR YOU, AND THEN A CLEAR, BRIGHT DAY. SOME FROSTS AGAIN IN THE EVENING ` COULD BE SEVERE IN TAUPO. FINE AND FROSTY HERE FOR YOUR FRIDAY ` OR, TECHNICALLY, FROSTY, FINE, THEN FROSTY AGAIN. LIGHT WINDS FOR ALL. A CHILLY START HERE TOO ` PARTICULARLY SO IN TAUMARUNUI. NORTHERLIES FOR THE CAPITAL AND NOR'EASTERS DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. A SETTLED DAY TO END YOUR WORKING WEEK, WITH CLEAR, SUNNY SKIES ALL AROUND AND SOME NOR'EASTERS ALONG THE COAST. THE NOR'WESTER WILL EASE AFTER LUNCH IN BLENHEIM, AND THE NORTHERLIES WILL RAMP UP IN THE AFTERNOON FOR CHRISTCHURCH. IN BETWEEN THE FROSTS, YOU ALL HAVE A FINE DAY AHEAD. THE CLOUD WILL START TO CREEP IN HERE ` MID-MORNING FOR OBAN, AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL OTAGO. HIGH CLOUD FOR INVERCARGILL. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES NOW ` AGAIN, MOSGIEL WILL HAVE A VERY CHILLY START, ON -4. A BIT MORE MILD FOR REKOHU, CHATHAM ISLANDS AND DUNEDIN ` A FINE FRIDAY AND A HIGH OF 13. OTAUTAHI, CHRISTCHURCH ` A COLD START FOR YOU TOO. OVER THE PORT HILLS, IN LYTTELTON AND IN AKAROA, IT WILL BE IN THE POSITIVES ` A CLEAR, BRIGHT DAY WITH MORNING AND EVENING FROSTS; 14 YOUR HIGH. TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA, WELLINGTON ` A FROSTY, THEN FINE START TO FRIDAY AND A FINE AND FROSTY END TO IT. THE TEMPERATURES WILL BE LOWER NORTH OF THE CAPITAL, NORTHERLIES STRENGTHENING IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU'LL GET TO 13. TE MATAU-A-MAUI, HAWKE'S BAY ` JUST LIGHT WINDS FOR YOU, AND SUNNY SKIES ALL DAY LONG. ANOTHER LUNCH BREAK OUTSIDE THIS WEEK ` WITH AN EXTRA LAYER. 51 FOR NAPIER, 14 FOR HASTINGS. TAURANGA WILL HAVE THOSE CLEAR SKIES DURING THE DAY WITH LIGHT WINDS, AND THEN A NOR'EASTER WILL DEVELOP AT NIGHT AND SOME CLOUD WILL START TO BUILD. 14 YOUR HIGH. KIRIKIRIROA, HAMILTON ` A FROSTY START; MINUS-2 FOR ALL AREAS, AND THEN A BLUE-SKY DAY WITH LIGHT WINDS. VERY SETTLED IN WAIKATO ` 14-DEGREE HIGH. TAMAKI MAKAURAU, AUCKLAND ` NOT AS COLD, BUT EXPECT FROSTS IN SHELTERED PLACES. AN EASTERLY WIND WILL RAMP UP IN THE MORNING, AND A BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY AHEAD. ANOTHER 15-DEGREE DAY. OVERSEAS NOW ` SOME HEAVIER FALLS FOR ADELAIDE AND A FEW SHOWERS IN OTHER PARTS TOO. CLEAR SKIES FOR SYDNEY. IN THE PACIFIC ` A SUNNY DAY TOO FOR FIJI, NIUE AND TONGA; SHOWERS FOR SAMOA AND THE COOK ISLANDS. BACK HOME ` A NORTH TO NORTH-EAST FLOW COVERS THE COUNTRY OVER THE WEEKEND, BRINGING A FEW SHOWERS TO THE NORTH OF THE NORTH ISLAND ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE REST OF TE IKA-A-MAUI SHOULD BE MAINLY FINE. ON MONDAY, THE TOP HALF ` FROM TAUPO NORTHWARDS ` WILL BE PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND RAIN IN NORTHLAND. THE SOUTH ISLAND WILL ALSO GET SOME OF THE WET STUFF FROM THE FRONT THAT ARRIVES FROM THE TASMAN ` FIRST DEVELOPING IN FIORDLAND ON SATURDAY, THEN SPREADING TO OTHER WESTERN AREAS ON SUNDAY. ON MONDAY THE RAIN COULD BE HEAVY AND PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EAST. AND THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. IT'S SO LOVELY SEEING EVERYONE'S PHOTOS OF THEM ENJOYING THE FINE WEATHER WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK. THANKS TO DOUGLAS FOR SENDING THIS IN OF AUCKLAND, TAKEN FROM RANGITOTO. 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 LAURA TUPOU. POMARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025.