NEW FIGURES RAISE THE QUESTION ` ARE MIGRANTS USING NEW ZEALAND SIMPLY AS A STEPPING STONE TO GET INTO AUSTRALIA? THE U.S. AND ISRAEL PULL OUT OF CEASEFIRE TALKS WITH HAMAS. AMERICA SAYS IT'LL CONSIDER 'ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS' TO FREE THE HOSTAGES. HE HELPED MAKE WRESTLING A GLOBAL PHENOMENON. WE LOOK BACK AT THE REMARKABLE LIFE AND CAREER OF HULK HOGAN. AND WE ASK COACH ALLAN BUNTING WHY ONE OF OUR BEST LOVED BLACK FERNS, RUBY TUI, WON'T BE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI, MALO E LELEI, AND WELCOME TO THREENEWS. NEW FIGURES SUGGEST NEW ZEALAND HAS BECOME A LAUNCH PAD FOR MIGRANTS WANTING TO SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA. OFFICIAL DATA SHOWS NEARLY HALF OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS WHO APPLIED FOR AUSSIE CITIZENSHIP IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WERE BORN OVERSEAS, AND THE NURSES UNION IS ALSO SOUNDING THE ALARM AFTER A SURVEY OF NURSING STUDENTS FOUND 62% WOULD CONSIDER SEEKING A JOB ABROAD. BUT AS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT ZANE SMALL REPORTS, THE HEALTH MINISTER INSISTS PROGRESS IS UNDERWAY TO BOOST THE HEALTH WORKFORCE AND KEEP THEM HERE. THE MINISTER OF HEALTH CONCEDING AT THE CONFERENCE FOR GENERAL PRACTICE THAT THINGS NEED TO IMPROVE. WHEN PRIMARY CARE IS ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE TO LOCAL NEEDS AND PROPERLY SUPPORTED, WE SEE THE RESULTS ACROSS THE HEALTH SYSTEM ` FEWER HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS, BETTER MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS, AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. BUT FOR TOO LONG, THE SYSTEM HASN'T WORKED AS IT SHOULD. SIMEON BROWN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT DOCTORS ARE UNDER PRESSURE. I'M UNDER NO ILLUSION ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD, BUT LET ME BE EQUALLY CLEAR ` THIS GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO ACTION. THE GOVERNMENT IS INJECTING $175m INTO PRIMARY CARE THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, WITH $59m GOING TOWARDS GP FUNDING. NEXT YEAR, THE CRITERIA TO RECEIVE FUNDING WILL BE WIDENED TO INCLUDE RURAL NEEDS AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEPRIVATION. THE HEALTH MINISTER HOPES WILL LEAD TO FASTER ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE IN RURAL AREAS. TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN STAFF INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND TO ENCOURAGE DOCTORS TO FINISH THEIR TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND AND THEN STAY HERE, THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO FULLY COVER TRAINING AND EXAM COSTS. THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. BUT THE REALITY FOR HEALTH WORKERS IS AUSTRALIA OFFERS MORE. IT'S BETTER FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. OBVIOUSLY, THE WAGE GAP IS SIGNIFICANT, AND DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THAT UP BY THE GOVERNMENT SAYING THE GAP HAS CLOSED, IT HASN'T. AND SECONDLY, THE CONDITIONS ARE BETTER AND, IN PARTICULAR, IN MANY AUSTRALIAN STATES, THEY HAVE NURSE-PATIENT RATIOS. 30,000 NEW ZEALANDERS MOVED TO AUSTRALIA LAST YEAR, AND NEW FIGURES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS SHOW IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN 92,000 NEW ZEALAND NATIONALS APPLIED FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP, AND AROUND 48% OF THEM WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF NEW ZEALAND, WHICH COULD SUGGEST NEW ZEALAND MAY HAVE BECOME A LAUNCH PAD FOR MIGRANTS WANTING TO SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA. THAT MAY HAPPEN IN A FEW CASES, YES, BUT I THINK MORE LIKELY THIS REFLECTS THE LONGER AND MORE EXTENSIVE PATTERN OF NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS GOING TO AUSTRALIA NOT JUST IN HIGH NUMBERS NOW BUT FOR DECADES. PAUL GOULTER IS WORRIED ABOUT THE LURE OF AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE DESPITE NEW ZEALAND LOSING AROUND 12,000 NURSES TO AUSTRALIA LAST YEAR, THE UNION SAYS HEALTH NEW ZEALAND COULD ONLY OFFER JOBS TO 45% OF THE MID-YEAR COHORT OF NURSING GRADUATES THIS YEAR. OUR URGENT NEED TO HAVE MORE NEW ZEALAND-TRAINED NURSES GETTING JOBS IN NEW ZEALAND IS AGAIN THREATENED, AND THAT THREAT IS REAL BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THEY'RE MOVING TO AUSTRALIA. THE UNION IS GEARING UP FOR STRIKE ACTION NEXT WEEK OVER THE LATEST PAY OFFER. STRIKING ISN'T THE ANSWER. THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR CARE CANCELLED BECAUSE OF A DECISION BY THE UNION TO STRIKE. BUT STRIKING IS THE UNION'S WAY OF EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT STAFFING AND PAY TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT IS TESTING OUT NEW TECHNOLOGY WHICH WILL HELP CLAMP AND SEIZE THE CARS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T PAID THEIR COURT FINES. A NATIONWIDE TRIAL WILL BEGIN THIS WEEKEND, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY USED AT BREATH TESTING STATIONS. THE HANDHELD DEVICES WILL SCAN THE NUMBER PLATES OF PARKED CARS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE OWNERS HAVE OVERDUE FINES OR REPARATIONS. THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL HAVE CUT SHORT GAZA CEASEFIRE TALKS AND BROUGHT THEIR NEGOTIATING TEAMS HOME FROM QATAR. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SPECIAL ENVOY STEVE WITKOFF SAID THAT HAMAS' LATEST RESPONSE SHOWED 'A LACK OF DESIRE TO REACH A TRUCE' AND THAT AMERICA WOULD NOW CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO BRING THE HOSTAGES BACK TO ISRAEL AND CREATE A MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NATIONS' WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME SAYS A QUARTER OF THE PEOPLE IN GAZA ARE LIVING IN FAMINE CONDITIONS. THE UN SAID SUPPLIES OF FOOD ARE SO LOW THAT THE NUMBER OF MEALS PROVIDED BY AID AGENCIES' COMMUNITY KITCHENS HAD FALLEN FROM A MILLION A DAY TO 150,000. AND ONCE AGAIN, JOHN IRVINE'S STORY INCLUDES UPSETTING IMAGES. GAZA'S CHILDREN HAVE TO GROW UP FAST. INSTEAD OF TOYS, MANY ARE GIVEN POTS AND PANS AND ENTRUSTED WITH THE TOUGH TASK OF GETTING THEM FILLED AT A HECTIC STREET KITCHEN. FOR GAZANS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE EXORBITANT PRICES BEING ASKED IN MARKETPLACES FOR THE LITTLE THERE IS, HANDOUTS FROM KITCHENS LIKE THIS ARE ONE OF THE FEW OTHER OPTIONS LEFT WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING FED. BUT THESE KITCHENS ARE BECOMING RARER AND RARER, AND THE AID ORGANISATIONS SET UP TO FIGHT HUNGER SAY THAT IN GAZA, THEY'RE LOSING THE BATTLE. WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION, SO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA, ARE LIVING IN FAMINE-LIKE CONDITIONS. SO THIS MEANS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL HAS COME, OR THEY'VE HAD NO FOOD FOR MULTIPLE DAYS IN A ROW. ACCORDING TO GAZA'S HOSPITALS, MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM STARVATION SO FAR, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM CHILDREN. INFANTS ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, OFTEN BECAUSE THEIR MOTHERS ARE TOO MALNOURISHED TO BREASTFEED. 11-MONTH-OLD SILA IS LESS THAN HALF THE WEIGHT SHE SHOULD BE. HER MOTHER WAKES UP THREE TIMES A NIGHT TO MAKE SURE THE CHILD IS STILL ALIVE. TRANSLATOR: IN THIS WARD, WE LOST FOUR CHILDREN DUE TO MALNUTRITION. THIS IS NOT FAIR. I FEEL LIKE I'M LOSING MY DAUGHTER. ALL OF THOSE CHILDREN DIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FOOD, NO MILK. PLEASE HELP US. FOUR CHILDREN DIED IN JUST ONE DAY AND NIGHT. I FEEL I WILL LOSE MY DAUGHTER TOO. I WANT FOOD FOR HER. I WANT MILK. (PEOPLE BANG POTS) ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION IN GAZA IS NOT BEING WIDELY REPORTED IN ISRAEL, TODAY, THERE WAS A DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE A U.S. EMBASSY BUILDING IN TEL AVIV. I'M PERSONALLY A GRANDSON OF A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS USED TO SAY THAT STARVATION WAS THE WORST THING AND WORST SUFFERING, SO I FEEL A MORAL OBLIGATION TO END IT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. (SPEAKS ARABIC) IN THIS SOCIAL MEDIA POST, A GAZAN FATHER IS OFFERING A KIDNEY FOR A BAG OF FLOUR TO FEED HIS CHILDREN. AT GREAT RISK TO THEMSELVES, DOCTORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GIVE THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO HELP OUT IN GAZA'S REMAINING HOSPITALS. PROFESSOR NICK MAYNARD HAS JUST ARRIVED BACK IN ENGLAND, CONCEDING THAT EVEN THOSE HE WAS ABLE TO SAVE WILL PROBABLY DIE. THEY ARE SO MALNOURISHED, THEY CANNOT HEAL. HE SHARED HIS EXPERIENCES AND INSIGHTS WITH ITV'S GERAINT VINCENT. HELLO. NICK MAYNARD IS A SURGEON FROM OXFORD HOME FROM HIS LATEST TRIP TO GAZA WITH TESTIMONY OF A NEW, LETHAL THREAT TO ITS PEOPLE. THE MALNUTRITION WAS FAR WORSE. THE LACK OF FOOD, THE ALMOST COMPLETE CESSATION OF ALL AID AND FOOD COMING IN HAS MADE IT MUCH, MUCH WORSE. IN ONE CASE I REALLY WORRY ABOUT IT WAS A YOUNG GIRL CALLED HABIBA WHO, UM, HAD A TERRIBLE EXPLOSIVE INJURY WHICH REALLY DESTROYED THE LOWER PART OF HER OESOPHAGUS AND HER CHEST. I SPENT ALL NIGHT ONE NIGHT OPERATING ON HER. SHE'S BEING TUBE-FED VIA A TUBE I PUT INTO HER INTESTINES. WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND MORE FEED TO KEEP HER ALIVE, BECAUSE SHE WON'T GET BETTER. AND IF SHE DOESN'T GET BETTER, SHE'LL DIE. SHE WON'T GET BETTER WITHOUT THIS SPECIAL TYPE OF FEED THAT SHE NEEDS. THE MALNUTRITION IN THE NEWBORNS, IN THE SMALL TODDLERS AND THE YOUNG TEENAGERS WAS AWFUL. GETTING ENOUGH TO EAT IS SOMETHING THAT PREOCCUPIES ALL GAZANS NOW. AND THE UN SAYS AROUND 1000 OF THEM HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE TRYING TO COLLECT FOOD FROM THE AID DISTRIBUTION CENTRES, WHICH ARE OVERSEEN BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS. FATALITIES AND SEVERE INJURIES IN PREDOMINANTLY YOUNG TEENAGE BOYS, SOME OF THEM AS YOUNG AS 11 OR 12. AND EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, WE SAW A REALLY DISTURBING PATTERN OF INJURIES ` A CLUSTER OF DIFFERENT BODY PARTS BEING... TARGETED ON DIFFERENT DAYS. SO ONE DAY, THE KIDS WILL BE COMING IN WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE HEAD AND THE NECK. THE NEXT DAY, THEY'LL BE COMING IN WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE CHEST; THE NEXT DAY TO THE ABDOMEN. ALMOST LIKE A TARGETING PRACTICE, ALMOST LIKE A GAME. THE IDF CATEGORICALLY REJECTS THE CLAIMS OF INTENTIONAL HARM TO CIVILIANS. I'VE GOT A STATEMENT THEY RELEASED HERE. THAT'S NOT YOUR EXPERIENCE. ALL I CAN TALK ABOUT IS WHAT I'VE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES, AND IT'S INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT THE MULTITUDE OF INJURIES I HAVE SEEN CAN BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN DIRECT TARGETING OF THESE CHILDREN. PROFESSOR MAYNARD ARRIVED HOME FROM HIS FOUR-WEEK STINT AT NASSER HOSPITAL TO HEAR NEW CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL FROM HIS GOVERNMENT. THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DECLARED HIMSELF 'SICKENED AND HORRIFIED' BY THE PLIGHT OF GAZA'S CIVILIANS. WELL, IT'S ALL TALK, BUT NO ACTION. I WOULD LIKE OUR GOVERNMENT TO BE RECOGNISING THAT THERE IS A GENOCIDE BEING CARRIED OUT, RECOGNISING THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAR CRIMES BEING COMMITTED DAILY. AGAIN, ISRAEL REJECTS ACCUSATIONS THAT IT IS COMMITTING A GENOCIDE IN GAZA. BREAST MILK, AND YOU CAN'T GET IT. YOU'VE GOT NONE HERE. SO THE SUFFERING THAT THIS DOCTOR HAS SEEN HAS CONVINCED HIM OTHERWISE. THE PRESSURE TO OPEN THE FILES ON JEFFREY EPSTEIN HAS LED TO AN EXTRAORDINARY INTERVIEW IN A FLORIDA PRISON. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN MEETING GHISLAINE MAXWELL, THE FORMER GIRLFRIEND OF THE PAEDOPHILE FINANCIER. HERE'S ROBERT MOORE FROM WASHINGTON DC. WELL, THE EPSTEIN SCANDAL AND ALL THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT SWIRL AROUND IT IS REALLY THE STORY THAT WON'T GO AWAY, CONTINUES TO HAUNT THIS WHITE HOUSE. AND TODAY, AS YOU POINT OUT, AN EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT. ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEN IN WASHINGTON, THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, TODD BLANCHE, WENT DOWN TO TALLAHASSEE, THE STATE CAPITAL, TO A FEDERAL BUILDING THERE TO MEET UP WITH GHISLAINE MAXWELL. SHE IS THERE SERVING 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING OFFENCES. I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS AROUND THIS MEETING IS, DOES MAXWELL HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT MIGHT INCRIMINATE OTHER POWERFUL MEN, MEN OTHER THAN EPSTEIN, AND CONNECT THEM TO THESE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING RINGS? AND MANY CRITICS OF THE ENCOUNTER THAT HAPPENED TODAY POINT OUT, WELL, WHY WOULD MAXWELL TELL THE TRUTH? WOULD SHE NOT PUSH A NARRATIVE THAT DISTANCES DONALD TRUMP FROM EPSTEIN IN ORDER TO CURRY FAVOUR WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND POTENTIALLY TO GET A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON DOWN THE ROAD? AND WHILE ALL OF THAT WAS GOING ON, WE HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP HERE IN WASHINGTON, TOURING OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BUILDING ` CURRENTLY SOMETHING OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE. AND THAT WAS GOOD THEATRE, TOO, BECAUSE TRUMP AND JEROME POWELL, THE FED CHAIRMAN, HAVE A FAMOUSLY CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP. SO AS WE'VE SEEN ALL WEEK, THIS IS DONALD TRUMP TRYING TO MOVE THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON FROM EPSTEIN, TRYING TO REGAIN HIS POLITICAL FOOTING WITH HIS MOST LOYAL FOLLOWING. AND AFTER THAT WALKABOUT AT THE CENTRAL BANK, DONALD TRUMP AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR JEROME POWELL CLASHED ON CAMERA OVER THE RENOVATION COST. TRUMP ATTEMPTED TO AMBUSH POWELL BY CLAIMING IT COST MORE THAN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPORTED, BUT THE CHAIR HIT BACK PRETTY SWIFTLY. HAVE A LOOK. SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT $3.1B. IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT, OR A LOT. SO THE 2.7 IS NOW 3.1. I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. YEAH, IT JUST CAME OUT. YEAH, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT FROM ANYBODY AT THE FED. YEAH, IT JUST CAME OUT. THEY SET IT AT ABOUT 3.1 AS WELL. 3.1. 3.1, 3.2. THIS CAME FROM US? YES. I DON'T KNOW WHO GOES THERE. OH, YOU'RE INCLUDING THE MARTIN RENOVATION. THAT'S OUR ENTIRE CAPITAL. YOU JUST ADDED IN A THIRD BUILDING IS WHAT THAT IS. THAT'S A THIRD BUILDING. I KNOW, BUT IT'S A BUILDING THAT'S BEING BUILT. NO, IT WAS BUILT FIVE YEARS AGO. WE FINISHED MARTIN FIVE YEARS AGO. IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL WORK. BUT IT'S NOT NEW. DESPITE NEW LAWS RESTRICTING THE PROMOTION OF VAPES, ALMOST ONE-IN-10 RETAILERS HAVE FAILED COMPLIANCE CHECKS. SINCE MID-JUNE IT'S BEEN ILLEGAL FOR GENERAL RETAILERS TO DISPLAY VAPING PRODUCTS, FOR SPECIALIST RETAILERS TO HAVE THEM VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE, AND FOR DISPOSABLE VAPES TO BE SOLD AT ALL. ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS VISITED MORE THAN 100 AUCKLAND PREMISES IN JUNE AND FOUND 10 STORES IN BREACH OF THE LAW, INCLUDING ONE SELLING A DISPOSABLE VAPE. IN A SEPARATE OPERATION, 10% OF STORES SOLD VAPES TO CUSTOMERS UNDER 18. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SAYS THE BREACHES ARE 'CONCERNING' AND SHOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO. RETAILERS WHO FAILED THE CHECKS HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WHO CAN NOW ISSUE INFRINGEMENT FEES OF $2000. EVEN PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER WATCHED A WRESTLING MATCH KNOW HULK HOGAN, WHO DIED TODAY AGED 71. THE LARGER-THAN-LIFE ENTERTAINER BECAME A GLOBAL PHENOMENON IN THE 1980S AS THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION'S BIGGEST STAR. OUTSIDE OF THE RING, HE STARRED IN MOVIES, WON A CONTROVERSIAL COURT CASE AND BECAME A CHEERLEADER FOR DONALD TRUMP, REGULARLY APPEARING AT CAMPAIGN EVENTS IN THE RUN-UP TO LAST YEAR'S ELECTION. ITV'S FRED DIMBLEBY HAS MORE. HULK... HOGAN! FLAMBOYANT AND OUTRAGEOUS... IT IS DEAFENING IN HERE IN THE SKYDOME! IN THE WRESTLING RING AND BEYOND, HULK HOGAN'S PERSONA LIVED UP TO THE TITLE OF HIS THEME SONG, THE REAL AMERICAN. (CROWD ROARS) HE WAS A PIONEER OF WORLD WRESTLING, TRANSFORMING IT INTO THE GLOBAL GIANT IT IS TODAY. EVEN IN TOKYO, JAPAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF HULKOMANIACS RUNNING WILD. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO POPULAR. BORN IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF GEORGIA, HOGAN, WHOSE REAL NAME WAS TERRY GENE BOLLEA, STARTED HIS WRESTLING CAREER IN 1977... I DON'T BELIEVE IT! ...AND WITH HIS BULGING MUSCLES AND TRADEMARK YELLOW AND RED COSTUME, HE QUICKLY ROSE TO THE TOP. UNBELIEVABLE! HE'S AN ICON. HE'S PROBABLY DONE MORE FOR THE WRESTLING BUSINESS THAN ANY PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER, YOU KNOW, IN HISTORY. DONE SO MUCH, RIGHT? HE WAS LIKE... YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KNOWS THE ROCK ` ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS IN THE WORLD. EVERYONE KNOWS JOHN CENA ` ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARTS. EVERYONE KNOWS JOHN CENA ` ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS. THEY HAD THE CROSSOVER APPEAL. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO DO IT, REALLY, ON THAT MASSIVE SCALE. BUT HIS LOVE OF THE SPOTLIGHT WENT FURTHER THAN WRESTLING. HE HAD ROLES IN HOLLYWOOD MOVIES LIKE 'ROCKY III', 'MR NANNY', AND 'SANTA WITH MUSCLES', PROVING HIS CHARISMA COULD TRANSLATE BEYOND THE ARENA. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE. HIS LIFE WAS NOT WITHOUT ITS CONTROVERSIES, THOUGH. IN 2015, AUDIO OF HIM USING A RACIST SLUR WAS MADE PUBLIC. HE APOLOGISED FOR THE INCIDENT, BUT WWE TEMPORARILY CUT TIES WITH THEIR SUPERSTAR. LAST YEAR, HE WAS BACK ON THE PUBLIC STAGE... LET TRUMPOMANIA RUN WILD, BROTHER! ...SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. THE PRESIDENT POSTING ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM... I GOT MY PUMP BACK, MAN. YOU KNOW, THE PYTHONS ARE READY. HOGAN WAS A PERFORMER AND AN INNOVATOR, A MAN NOT WITHOUT HIS SCANDALS WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF WRESTLING FOREVER. BACK HERE, THE FROSTY MORNINGS CONTINUED TODAY. AUCKLAND, NAPIER AND GISBORNE HAD THEIR COLDEST STARTS OF THE YEAR, BUT OFFICIALLY, DUNEDIN HAD THE LOWEST MINIMUM ON NEGATIVE-7.5. EXPECT MORE FROSTS TOMORROW AND A FEW SHOWERS. I'LL HAVE MORE OF YOUR WEATHER A LITTLE LATER. COMING UP ` A CENTURY-OLD BORDER DISPUTE BETWEEN CAMBODIA AND THAILAND HAS REIGNITED, WITH HEAVY SHELLING AND AIR STRIKES KILLING CIVILIANS IN BOTH COUNTRIES. THE FIRST MAJOR PROTESTS IN UKRAINE SINCE THE INVASION PROMPTS A SWIFT BACKDOWN FROM PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. AND HER HIT SONGS AND ALBUM HAVE ALREADY GARNERED HER MULTIPLE AWARDS, BUT NOW THE POP STAR RAYE HAS RECEIVED SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR HER ROLE AS A CAMPAIGNER. THAI FIGHTER JETS HAVE BOMBED TARGETS IN NEIGHBOURING CAMBODIA AFTER TENSIONS OVER A LONG-RUNNING BORDER DISPUTE BOILED OVER. AN INITIAL CLASH QUICKLY ESCALATED FROM SMALL ARMS FIRE TO HEAVY SHELLING, KILLING AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE IN THAILAND. THE DISPUTE DATES BACK MORE THAN A CENTURY, BUT IT FLARED UP IN MAY, AND THE LEAK OF A PHONE CALL INTENDED TO CALM TENSIONS HAS ONLY WORSENED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. HARRY FAWCETT REPORTS. (MISSILES WHOOSH) CAMBODIAN TROOPS FIRING INTO THAILAND. WHICH SIDE SHOT FIRST STILL HOTLY CONTESTED. BUT THERE IS AGREEMENT HERE THAT THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS AND FAST-MOVING. INSIDE THAILAND, IMAGES OF DAMAGE DONE. THE THAI GOVERNMENT SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE KILLED SO FAR HAVE BEEN CIVILIANS. MILITARY SITES ALSO COMING UNDER FIRE. IN THAI BORDER VILLAGES, CIVILIANS SCRAMBLING FOR COVER. OTHERS EVACUATED TO A SAFER DISTANCE, FLEEING THE LARGEST SCALE FIGHTING FOR 15 YEARS. THAILAND AND CAMBODIA SHARE A MORE-THAN-500-MILE BORDER, PARTS OF WHICH REMAIN DISPUTED AFTER IMPRECISE DEMARCATION BY FRENCH COLONIAL AUTHORITIES IN 1907. THE MOST CONTESTED AREA HAS BEEN TOWARDS THE EAST, NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH LAOS, RELATING TO CLAIMS ON THE PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE ` RULED CAMBODIAN BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN 1962. BUT THIS FLARE-UP BEGAN FURTHER WEST, AROUND TA MUEN THOM TEMPLE, WHERE TWO THAI SOLDIERS LOST LIMBS TO LANDMINES IN RECENT DAYS. CLASHES NOW ERUPTING AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THE BORDER, INCLUDING ARTILLERY FIRE AND AIRSTRIKES BY A THAI F-16 FIGHTER JET. IT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN BREWING SINCE A CAMBODIAN SOLDIER WAS SHOT BY THAI FORCES IN MAY. HUN SEN, CAMBODIA'S FORMER AUTHORITARIAN LEADER, WHO STILL HOLDS REAL POWER IN A COUNTRY NOMINALLY LED BY HIS SON, VISITED THE BORDER AREA. THAILAND'S THEN-PRIME MINISTER PAETONGTARN SHINAWATRA MADE A PHONE CALL TO HIM IN A BID TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE ` A DECISION THAT BACKFIRED WHEN HE LEAKED A RECORDING IN WHICH SHE CALLED HIM 'UNCLE' AND CRITICISED HER MILITARY, RESULTING IN HER SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE. CAMBODIA'S GOVERNMENT HAS SO FAR NOT RELEASED ANY CASUALTY FIGURES. IT'S DEMANDING THE BORDER DISPUTE BE RESOLVED AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ` SOMETHING THAILAND'S LONG REJECTED. CHINA'S EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE SITUATION. MALAYSIA, CURRENT CHAIR OF THE ASEAN REGIONAL GROUPING, CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THAILAND'S MILITARY IS THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF ITS NEIGHBOURS, WITH A FOUR-TIMES-BIGGER BUDGET AND MORE ADVANCED U.S. WEAPONRY. WITH SO MANY CIVILIAN DEATHS, THERE ARE CALLS HERE FOR MORE PUNITIVE ACTION. BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE STEPPED BACK FROM ESCALATIONS IN THE PAST, BUT THIS ONE MAY YET HAVE FURTHER TO RUN. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS BACKTRACKED ON A LAW THAT WOULD HAVE STRIPPED THE INDEPENDENCE OF TWO ANTI-CORRUPTION ORGANISATIONS. AFTER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN PROTEST, ZELENSKYY SAYS THE NEW BILL WOULD REINSTATE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE TWO ORGANISATIONS. THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE THE LARGEST IN UKRAINE SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION IN FEBRUARY 2022. STILL TO COME ` A SPECIAL REPORT FROM INSIDE THE SYRIAN CITY OF SWEIDA WHERE AN OUTBREAK OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE HAS LEFT MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE DEAD. AND IN SPORT, A DOUBLE MILESTONE DAY FOR ISH SODHI, PICKING UP CAREER-BEST FIGURES AND HIS 150TH T20 WICKET. VOICEOVER: In these hallowed halls, dough met destiny. A revolution in pizza was born. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. INTERESTING IMMIGRATION DATA OUT TODAY ` NEARLY HALF OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS WHO APPLIED FOR AUSSIE CITIZENSHIP IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WERE BORN OVERSEAS, AND 62% OF NURSING STUDENTS SAY THEY'D CONSIDER SEEKING A JOB ABROAD. THE U.S. AND ISRAEL PULL OUT OF CEASEFIRE TALKS WITH HAMAS, SAYING THEY'LL CONSIDER 'ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS' TO BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME. A WEST COAST BEEKEEPER WHO HELPED RECOVER BODIES AFTER THE EREBUS DISASTER HAS GONE MISSING ON A TRAMP NEAR GREYMOUTH. ROY ARBON (75) IS OVERDUE FROM A WALK IN THE MT DAVY AREA, AND POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR ANY SIGHTINGS OF HIM SINCE WEDNESDAY. HE MAY BE WEARING A BLUE PUFFER JACKET AND SHORTS. ARBON WAS WORKING FOR THE ANTARCTIC DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH IN 1979 WHEN THE EREBUS CRASH HAPPENED, AND HE HELPED IN THE RECOVERY OPERATION. AS SYRIA CONTINUES TO NAVIGATE A PATH FORWARD AFTER THE HORRORS OF BASHAR AL-ASSAD'S REGIME, THE CITY OF SWEIDA HAS BECOME THE NEW HOT SPOT. SWEIDA IS MAINLY POPULATED BY DRUZE, AN ARAB COMMUNITY THAT STRADDLES SYRIA AND ISRAEL AND SERVES IN THE IDF. IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THEY'VE BEEN BATTLING BEDOUIN TRIBAL FIGHTERS AND GOVERNMENT FORCES, WITH THE DEATH TOLL OVER A THOUSAND AND THE NUMBER OF DISPLACED TOPPING 145,000 CHANNEL 4'S PARAIC O'BRIEN REPORTS. TRYING TO GET INTO SWEIDA TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. FIRST, WE APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST OF THE CITY AND COME ACROSS THIS ` SUNNI BEDOUIN FIGHTERS WHO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRESIDENT, FORMER ISLAMIST MILITANT AHMED AL-SHARAA. GOVERNMENT FORCES, THOUGH, ARE NOW STOPPING THEM FROM ENTERING THE CITY, AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. (RAPID GUNFIRE, HORNS BLARE) THE BEDOUIN, ARMED WITH GUNS AND SOME WITH CLIPPERS, USED TO SHAVE THE MOUSTACHES OF DRUZE MEN AND HUMILIATE THEM. WE'RE TOLD IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE INTO THE CITY IN THIS WAY, SO WE APPROACH FROM THE SOUTH INSTEAD. THE CLOSEST CHECKPOINT FLIES THE DRUZE FLAG, MANNED BY DRUZE MILITIA. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR ` WE ARE BACK IN CONTROL OF SECURITY INSIDE SWEIDA. OUR ULTIMATE DESTINATION ` THE CITY'S MAIN HOSPITAL, AND AS WE TRAVEL INSIDE, THE CHARRED REMAINS OF A COMPLICATED CONFLICT. AS WE ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL, A REMINDER THAT THE FIGHTING AND THE KILLING CONTINUES. THIS DRUZE MAN HAS JUST BEEN SHOT BY A SNIPER. HIS BROTHER CONVINCED IT WAS GOVERNMENT FORCES WHO DID THIS, NOT BEDOUIN FIGHTERS. THEN WE ARE BROUGHT TO WHERE THE BODIES ARE. AS WE APPROACH THE MORGUE, WE REALISE IT'S OUTSIDE IN THE YARD IN THE SWELTERING HEAT. THE BODIES ARE DECOMPOSING. IT IS HARD TO BREATHE HERE. SO, THERE'S A VERY, VERY STRONG SMELL. THE BODIES ARE STARTING TO DECOMPOSE HERE. LOTS OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN AWAY. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SENSE, THOUGH, OF THE LATEST FIGURES OF DEATHS IN SWEIDA OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS OR SO. THE FIGURE IS NOW 1265 DEAD. THE DOCTOR SAID HE'S EXPECTING THAT TO REACH 2000. THE SYRIAN NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT BOTH SIDES COMMITTED FIELD EXECUTIONS AND THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST A HUNDRED CIVILIANS AMONG THE DEAD. DOCTORS HERE TOLD US THAT MANY OF THE BODIES BROUGHT IN WERE SHOT AT POINT-BLANK RANGE. WHAT'S HAPPENED IN SWEIDA HAS FATALLY UNDERMINED TRUST IN DAMASCUS AMONG THE DRUZE. THE BIG QUESTION NOW ` FOR WHICH MINORITY IN SYRIA WILL TRUST DIE NEXT? TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A HUGE BLAZE IN CYPRUS, BRINGING THE DEATH TOLL FROM A SERIES OF WILDFIRES ON THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND AND IN NEIGHBOURING TURKEY TO 12. A BRUTAL HEATWAVE HAS PUSHED TEMPERATURES TO MORE THAN 44 DEGREES CELSIUS. POLICE SAID TWO CHARRED BODIES WERE FOUND ON THURSDAY IN A BURNT-OUT CAR THAT HAD BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE CYPRUS BLAZE, WHICH BEGAN OUTSIDE LIMASSOL YESTERDAY AND RAPIDLY ENGULFED A STRING OF MOUNTAIN VILLAGES NORTH OF THE CITY. THE FIRES HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE WORST ON THE ISLAND IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. AND MITCH, THE BLACK FERNS SQUAD HEADING OFF TO THE WORLD CUP HAS JUST BEEN NAMED. LAURA, A SQUAD OF 32 WILL HEAD OFF TO ENGLAND NEXT MONTH TO TRY AND WIN BACK-TO-BACK TITLES. 14 OF THOSE BLACK FERNS HAVE NEVER PLAYED AT A RUGBY WORLD CUP BEFORE, AND THERE WAS ONE PRETTY BIG OMISSION. RUBY TUI, THE STAR OF THE LAST WORLD CUP, HAS MISSED SELECTION. WE TALK THROUGH THE SELECTIONS WITH BLACK FERNS COACH ALLAN BUNTING NEXT. AND THEN LIAM LAWSON SPEAKS OUT ABOUT CHRISTIAN HORNER'S RED BULL EXIT IN THE LEAD-UP TO THIS WEEKEND'S BELGIAN GRAND PRIX. PLUS, WE SPEAK TO LAURENCE PITHIE, THE ONLY KIWI IN THIS YEAR'S TOUR DE FRANCE, WHO FEARED HE BROKE HIS BACK IN STAGE THREE. THREENEWS SPORT, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEW SUZUKI FRONX. YOU WANT IT? FRONX GOT IT! THE BLACK FERNS' 32-STRONG SQUAD FOR THE DEFENCE OF THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP TITLE HAS BEEN NAMED. CO-CAPTAINS RUAHEI DEMANT AND KENNEDY TUKUAFU WILL LEAD A TEAM WITH NINE FORWARDS OFF TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP, INCLUDING FRONT-ROWERS KATE HENWOOD AND ATLANTA LOLOHEA. AND RATHER UNSURPRISINGLY, BLACK FERNS SEVENS' RECRUIT JORJA MILLER GETS THE NOD IN THE LOOSE FORWARDS AFTER MAKING A HUGE IMPRESSION SINCE JOINING THE 15S PROGRAMME IN APRIL. THERE'S SEVENS INFLUENCE IN THE BACKS TOO THROUGH RISI POURI-LANE, WHO, LIKE MILLER, HAS ADDED A GREAT DEAL AT HALFBACK SINCE DECLARING HER 15S AMBITIONS. EXPERIENCE HAS GOT THE NOD OVER YOUTH AT FIRST-FIVE, WITH VETERAN KELLY BRAZIER SELECTED FOR HER FOURTH RUGBY WORLD CUP AND HER FIRST SINCE 2017, WHILE SUPERSTAR WINGER PORTIA WOODMAN-WICKLIFFE WILL ALSO GETS THE CHANCE TO WIN IT ALL AGAIN, COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NOTABLE EMISSIONS ` TWO HEROES FROM THE 2021 WORLD CUP WIN. NORTHLAND'S KRYSTAL MURRAY HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A NON-TRAVELLING RESERVE, AND RUBY TUI ` ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISABLE FACES OF THE WOMEN'S GAME ` HAS MISSED OUT COMPLETELY. I CAUGHT UP WITH BLACK FERNS COACH ALLAN BUNTING EARLIER AND BEGAN BY ASKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGE AHEAD. YEAH, MASSIVELY EXCITED. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS OF BUILDING DEPTH, AND WE'VE BEEN ON A BIT OF A JOURNEY, BUT, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE IN OUR SQUAD ` 17 PLAYERS FROM LAST WORLD CUP AND QUITE A FEW LADIES THAT HAVE BEEN TO THE PINNACLE EVENTS. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE YOUNG LADIES, YOU KNOW, THE FLAIR AND THE YOUTH THAT WE'VE GOT GOING THROUGH. SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS TIME FOR A WHILE NOW. AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY TO TAKE OFF ` 30 DAYS TO OUR FIRST GAME. NINE PLAYERS IN THAT SQUAD ARE OFF TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP, INCLUDING THE LIKES OF JORJA MILLER FROM THE SEVENS PROGRAM. I GUESS, WHAT HAS SHE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE SELECTED? YEAH, SHE'S A FAST LEARNER, AND SHE WANTED TO BE HERE. EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S GONE AND TAKEN IN, SHE'S LEARNT PRETTY QUICK. THE ONE THING ABOUT JORJA ` SHE SORT OF KNOWS HERSELF REALLY WELL AND KNOWS HER STRENGTHS, AND SHE LOOKS TO HAVE BIG IMPACTS IN GAMES, AND SHE'S BEEN AWESOME WITH THE OTHER LADIES AND HELPING OUT THE TEAM, AND I THINK SHE'S ONLY GOING TO GROW AND GET BETTER. AFTER NOT BEING INVOLVED IN 2021, KELLY BRAZIER COMES BACK INTO THE SQUAD FOR HER FOURTH WORLD CUP. WHAT EXPERIENCE DOES SHE BRING, ESPECIALLY ALONGSIDE RUAHEI AS WELL? YEAH, WELL, OH... KEL'S BEEN WITH ME QUITE A BIT YOU KNOW, FOR A WHILE IN THE SEVENS AND REALLY HELPED SET UP THAT PROGRAMME. AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT RU DOES FOR THE TEAM. NUT KELLY'S CALM, AND HER EXPERIENCE AND... TO BE ABLE TO COME ON AND FINISH GAMES OR EVEN START GAMES IF WE NEED AND JUST HER TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND HELPING THE YOUNGER PLAYERS. YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN MASSIVE. NOW, IT'S CLEAR YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TOO. RUBY TUI OBVIOUSLY THE BIG NAME MISSING FROM THE SQUAD. COULD YOU JUST SHED SOME LIGHT INTO THAT DECISION AND HOW RUBY TOOK YOUR CALL? YEAH, IT'S A TOUGH ONE. SHE'S BEEN EXCEPTIONAL IN WHAT SHE'S DONE IN WOMEN'S RUGBY. YOU KNOW, BUT IT WASN'T THE ONLY TOUGH CALL. THERE'S BEEN A FEW REAL TOUGH ONES. THE COMPETITION AND OUR SQUAD'S BEEN REALLY TIGHT. LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, A FEW TIMES, IT'S BEEN MILLIMETRES. AND, YEAH, DEFINITELY VERY TOUGH. BUT LIKE I SAID, NOW, WE'VE GOT OUR SQUAD HERE, AND THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF LADIES, YOU KNOW, BACK HOME THAT HAVE MISSED OUT TOO, AND OUR HOPES AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM. IT ISN'T QUITE THEIR TIME NOW, BUT I'M SURE THEIR TIME WILL COME. NOW BASED ON RANKINGS, ENGLAND ` THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY THE BEST WOMEN'S SIDE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. HOW EXCITING IS THAT PROSPECT OF TRAVELLING TO BRITAIN AND GETTING TO BEAT THEM AT HOME? YEAH, WELL, I WOULD` FOR US, OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON US, AND WE'VE GOT A SQUAD THAT HAVE BEEN TO BIG EVENTS AND DONE REALLY WELL AT PINNACLE EVENTS. SO WE'VE GOT THAT EXPERIENCE NOW, AND WE KNOW THAT THE PRESSURE'S GOING TO BE ON THEM. YOU KNOW THEY'RE EXPECTED TO SORT OF WIN EVERYTHING. THEY HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE NOW. AND TO BE ABLE TO GO OVER THERE ON THEIR HOME SOIL AND LET OUR LADIES LOOSE ` REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THE BLACKCAPS HAVE RETAINED THEIR PERFECT RECORD IN THE TRI-SERIES WITH ZIMBABWE AND SOUTH AFRICA, DEFEATING HOSTS ZIMBABWE BY 60 RUNS. THEY CAN NOW GO FIVE FROM FIVE WHEN THEY FACE SOUTH AFRICA IN TOMORROW NIGHT'S FINAL. THE WIN ALSO CONTINUES THEIR UNBEATEN START UNDER NEW HEAD COACH ROB WALTER AND HAS THEM TRACKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AHEAD OF FEBRUARY'S T20 WORLD CUP. GORDON FINDLATER WATCHED THE ACTION. SUPER WITH THE BAT, SUPERB WITH THE BALL, EXCELLENT IN THE FIELD. YES, THERE'S BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF SUPERLATIVES TO DESCRIBE THE BLACKCAPS IN ZIMBABWE. BUT THEY RODE THEIR LUCK EARLY AGAINST THE HOSTS OVERNIGHT. CATCH! AND, OH, DROPPED. TIM SEIFERT PUT DOWN ON 13. RACHIN RAVINDRA ALSO GIVEN A LIFE WHEN HE WAS ON JUST 15. CHANCE AGAIN. THREE MEN THERE. IT LANDS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM. THE HOSTS WOULD BE MADE TO PAY. THIS IS MILES. DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT LOOKING. UP, OVER, AND ON TO THE SCOREBOARD. RAVINDRA AND SEIFERT GOING ON TO AMASS A SECOND-WICKET PARTNERSHIP OF 108. SEIFERT CONTINUING HIS DREAM RUN AFTER BEING RECALLED INTO THE SIDE. IS IT OUT THE MIDDLE? YES IT IS. THAT IS BEAUTIFULLY STRUCK. HE FOLLOWED UP HIS GAME-WINNING 66 NOT-OUT AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA WITH A KNOCK OFF 75 FROM JUST 45 DELIVERIES. IT WOULD HELP THE BLACKCAPS SET ZIMBABWE 191 FOR VICTORY. THEY WOULD BE PUT INTO A SPIN EARLY ON. GONE. ISH SODHI WELL AND TRULY RELISHING HIS NEW ROLE BOWLING IN THE POWER PLAY. (EXCLAIMS) GONE. YEAH! BOWLED HIM. HE'S GONE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE STUMPS. SODHI GOING ON TO CLAIM AN INTERNATIONAL T20 CAREER-BEST 4/12 AND BECOME JUST THE SECOND BLACKCAP AFTER TIM SOUTHEE TO CLAIM 150 T20 WICKETS. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO PLAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO BE ABLE DO THAT. IT'S SOMETHING I'M REALLY PROUD OF, AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S A LOT MORE IN THE BANK. SODHI AND THE BLACKCAPS FAR TO STRONG, EVENTUALLY WINNING BY 60 RUNS. THEY MEET SOUTH AFRICA IN TOMORROW NIGHT'S TRI-SERIES DECIDER. LIAM LAWSON IS CONFIDENT IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL HEADING INTO THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX THIS WEEKEND. CHRISTIAN HORNER'S EXIT FROM FORMULA 1 HAS SEEN LAWSON'S FORMER RACING BULLS TEAM PRINCIPLE LAURENT MEKIES PROMOTED TO THE TOP RED BULL TEAM. THIS WEEKEND WILL BE THE FIRST TEST FOR ALAN PERMANE IN CHARGE OF RACING BULLS. LIAM LAWSON SAYS THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN SMOOTH. FOR US, NOTHING IS REALLY CHANGING. WE STILL APPROACH THE WEEKENDS THE SAME WAY. OBVIOUSLY, FOR LAURENT, I'M SURE HE'S GONNA BE VERY, VERY GOOD AT RED BULL, AND FOR US HAVING ALAN, WHO'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN IN THE TEAM NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH US, IT'S PERFECT HONESTLY FOR US. MAX VERSTAPPEN HAS ALSO ADDRESSED HIS FORMER TEAM PRINCIPLE'S EXIT. VERSTAPPEN SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK HORNER'S FIRING AT RED BULL WILL MATTER AT ALL. SOME HOUSEKEEPING NOW ` IN A REPORT ON THE CRUSADERS WINNING THE SUPER RUGBY LAST MONTH, WE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM SOME VIEWERS ABOUT THE WAY WE PORTRAYED THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IN THE LOCKER ROOM AFTER THE MATCH. WE HAVE REVIEWED THIS REPORT AND UPHELD THE COMPLAINTS, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE STORY FELL SHORT OF OUR OWN STANDARDS BY PORTRAYING EXCESSIVE DRINKING IN A POSITIVE AND DESIRABLE LIGHT. THREE NEWS UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE MESSAGING IN REPORTS CONCERNING ALCOHOL USE, AND WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS ERROR. AND FINALLY TONIGHT ` WHILE THE BIG NAMES LIKE TADEJ POGACAR AND JONATHAN MILAN ARE BATTLING FOR STAGE VICTORIES ON THE TOUR DE FRANCE. THEY CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEIR DEDICATED TEAMMATES WHO LITERALLY PUT THEIR BODIES ON THE LINE TO GIVE THEIR SENIOR RIDERS THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS. ONE OF THOSE RIDERS KIWI LAURENCE PITHIE (23) WHO IS RIDING IN HIS FIRST TOUR FOR RED BULL ` BORA ` HANSGROHE. OUR VERY OWN PADDY GOWER CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AND BEGAN BY ASKING WHAT IT'S LIKE BATTLING FOR POSITIONS IN THE PALETON. EVERY TEAM HAS THEIR RIDERS ARE A BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE AND IS TRYING TO PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE GO TO WAR AGAINST EACH OTHER EVERY DAY. THERE'S A LOT OF ARGUMENTS AND A LOT OF SHOULDERS OUT. I MEAN, WE'RE RIDING, YEAH, UPWARDS OF 50KM/H ALL THE STAGE. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU, AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE PRETTY PHYSICAL IN THE BUNCH. YEAH. AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU` YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 1.85M TALL. THAT'S 6FT IN OLD MAN'S LANGUAGE, UH, OLD PERSON'S LANGUAGE. YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ON THE BIGGER SIDE FOR THE PELOTON, AND IT IS YOUR JOB TO WIN THOSE BATTLES, TO HAVE YOUR ELBOWS OUT, TO PROTECT THEM ALMOST AT ALL COSTS. IS IT? YEAH, EXACTLY. THE SMALLER RIDERS WHO WE'RE PROTECTING, THEY'VE GOT A BIT LESS MEAT TO THEM, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY. SO THEY DON'T LIKE TO GO INTO THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF CYCLING TOO MUCH. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. WE'RE HERE TO REALLY GET OUR ELBOWS OUT, PUT OURSELVES IN THE DANGER A LITTLE BIT, TO PROTECT THEM. I MEAN, IT'S A NON-CONTACT SPORT, BUT IT GETS PRETTY PHYSICAL, YEAH, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE GRITTY SIDE OF IT. YEAH. AND YOU'VE CRASHED I THINK AS WELL. AT LEAST, YOU'VE CRASHED ONCE, I THINK? OR MORE? YEAH, I CRASHED IN STAGE THREE. I WAS TRYING TO HELP OUR SPRINTER. AT THE START OF THE TOUR, I HAD A ROLE OF DOING THE LEAD OUTS, AND, YEAH, WITH 3 K TO GO, WE WERE GOING 65KM/H HOUR, AND I WENT FLYING OVER THE HANDLEBARS AND HAD FIVE GUYS LAND ON TOP OF ME. AND NOW YOU'RE THERE, YOU KNOW, IS IT EVERYTHING YOU DREAMT OF? YEAH. I MEAN, IT HAS LIVED UP TO THE HYPE. IT'S INCREDIBLE ` THE ATMOSPHERE, THE PEOPLE ON THE ROADS. YOU CANNOT RIDE 1KM WITHOUT SEEING TENS OF` HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE SIDES OF THE ROADS EVERY DAY. AND I REALLY THOUGHT AT THE START, 'THIS IS INCREDIBLE,' AND IT WOULD DIE DOWN QUITE A LOT AS THE TOUR WENT ON, BUT IT'S ONLY GOTTEN BIGGER. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TOO MUCH FUN BEING RIGHT THERE IN THE PALATINE. THERE IS A LOT OF CONTACT GOING ON FOR A NONCONTACT SPORT. THE BRITISH POP STAR RAYE HAS ALREADY RECEIVED MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR HER SONG 'ESCAPISM' AND HIT ALBUM 'MY 21ST CENTURY BLUES', AND NOW HER CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER RECOGNITION FOR SONGWRITERS AND COMPOSERS IS TO BE RECOGNISED WITH A SPECIAL HONOUR. ITV'S RISHI DAVDA EXPLAINS. # AND BABY, BABY, YOU CAN GO... # AHEAD AND CRY... # THOOOOOSE... # RAYE'S VOICE HASN'T JUST BROUGHT CHILLS, IT'S BROUGHT CHANGE. THE SEVEN-TIME BRIT AWARD WINNER HAS TIRELESSLY USED HER PLATFORM TO CALL FOR THE BETTER TREATMENT OF SONGWRITERS AND COMPOSERS. SHE'S ALREADY GOT TWO IVOR NOVELLO AWARDS FOR SONGWRITING, BUT TODAY IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED RAYE WILL RECEIVE THE IVORS ACADEMY HONOUR LATER THIS YEAR, CELEBRATING HER CONTINUED CALLS FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRER PAY. WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO ESTABLISH A THING CALLED A PER DIEM, WHICH IS JUST A DIGNITY PAYMENT FOR SONGWRITERS WHEN THEY SHOW UP TO WRITE IN A STUDIO. THEY USUALLY JUST HAD TO WORK FOR FREE ON THE BASIS THEY MIGHT GET ROYALTIES IN THE FUTURE. IN THE PAST WEEK, WE MANAGED TO FINALLY GET THAT FROM THE MAJOR LABELS. WITHOUT RAYE'S ADVOCACY, WITHOUT HER RAISING THAT UP THE AGENDA, THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD'VE ACHIEVED THAT. EVERYONE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS SHOULD BENEFIT EQUALLY. I THINK THAT'S FAIR. YEAH. RAYE'S CAMPAIGNING HAS HELPED THE 27-YEAR-OLD CRAFT A LASTING LEGACY... # I DON'T WANT TO FEEL # HOW I DID LAST NIGHT. # ...AS SHE SHAPES THE MUSICAL CHARTS AND THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY. THE WEATHER HERE IS STARTING TO CHANGE, WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT'S BROUGHT ALL OUR LOVELY SETTLED DAYS MOVING AWAY. I'LL HAVE YOUR SATURDAY FORECAST NEXT. VOICEOVER: Waitoa Free Range Chicken, full of natural goodness and deliciousness. This looks great. but turns the whole family... Dad... ...cozy. What's happening? The meal that brings everyone together. I'm warm and cozy but slightly worried. I think this is one of those collective experiences. It's not reading my fingers. Just try face ID. I don't have any fingers. You know what. I actually feel close to you all. Waitoa Free Range Chicken. MAKING THE MOST OF THE WEATHER AND HEADING AWAY. KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE BY CHECKING LATCHES, AND SITTING THE HOUSE ALARM. AMI, BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. THE FROSTY STARTS AREN'T OVER QUITE YET, WITH LOTS OF CLEAR SKIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. TOMORROW, NORTH TO NORTHEAST FLOWS COVER THE COUNTRY AS THAT HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM CAUSES THE FRONT TO STALL TO THE NORTHWEST, SO MORE CLEAR SKIES THERE. THERE WILL BE SOME WET WEATHER ` MAINLY SHOWERS FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUTH AND PARTS OF THE UPPER AREAS OF THE NORTH ISLAND. IN TE WAIPOUNAMU THE SOUTH ISLAND, SOME SHOWERS FOR SOUTHLAND AND PARTS OF CENTRAL OTAGO. A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE MOTU TOO. IN TE IKA-A-MAUI, IN NORTHLAND, LOTS OF DRY WEATHER FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS. THE SHOWERS WILL MOSTLY BE ISOLATED, AND YOU'LL FIND THEM AROUND COROMANDEL UP TO NORTHLAND. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH A FEW SHOWERS FOR EVERYONE. THE DRY DAYS HAVE COME TO AN END. THE NOR'EASTER WILL BE STRONGEST AFTER LUNCH FOR NORTHLAND. A FROSTY START TO YOUR SATURDAY MORNING WITH CLOUD BUILDING, BRINGING A CHANCE OF A SHOWER. THE WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT FOR TAUPO. THE EASTERLIES WILL STRENGTHEN IN THE MORNING FOR TOKOROA AND A STRONG NOR'EASTER IN THE AFTERNOON FOR ROTORUA AND WHAKATANE. THE FINE WEATHER CONTINUES FOR THESE AREAS, THOUGH ` FROSTY TO BEGIN. COULD BE SEVERE IN MASTERTON, GETTING TO NEGATIVE-3. THEN A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY WITH NOR'EASTERS RAMPING UP FROM MIDDAY. A FEW FROSTS HERE TOO, WITH VALLEY FOG FOR PARTS OF TAUMARUNUI. CLEAR SKIES FOR MOST, THOUGH ` JUST SOME CLOUD ARRIVING IN THE AFTERNOON FOR THOSE NORTHERN AREAS. REEFTON COULD GET SOME MORNING FOG, BUT AGAIN A LOVELY BLUE SKY SATURDAY FOR ALL. THE WINDS WILL PICK UP IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT GENERALLY ANOTHER SETTLED DAY. SOME VARIABLE HIGH CLOUD WILL INCREASE IN THE MORNING FOR ALL OF CANTERBURY, BUT A SUNNY, DRY DAY FOR ALL. THE NOR'WESTER WILL EASE IN THE AFTERNOON IN BLENHEIM. A BIT OF CLOUD AROUND HERE. MAINLY FINE FOR ALEXANDRA. QUEENSTOWN AND PLACES IN SOUTHLAND COULD GET A MORNING SHOWER. TO OUR MAIN CENTRES NOW ` MOSTLY CLOUDY FOR OTEPOTI DUNEDIN. SOME SHOWERS TOO, BUT THEY SHOULD JUST BE IN THE MORNING. THE NOR'WESTER WILL EASE AFTER MIDDAY. YOU'LL GET TO 13 DEGREES. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH ` A MORNING FROST AND A FINE DAY, WITH MORNING NORTHERLIES DYING OUT. ALSO SOME HIGH CLOUD FOR A TIME BEFORE AND AFTER LUNCH. 15 YOUR HIGH. TE WHANGANUI A TARA WELLINGTON ` FINE WITH MORNING FROSTS IN SHELTERED PLACES AND NORTHERLY WINDS. SOME LOWER MINIMUMS HEADING NORTH, BUT THE CAPITAL WILL GET TO 13. TE MATAU-A-MAUI HAWKE'S BAY ` FINE AND FROSTY, ESPECIALLY FOR HASTINGS, WITH NOR'EASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON. 15 FOR NAPIER; 14 FOR HASTINGS. TAURANGA ` SOME CLOUDY PERIODS WITH A FEW SHOWERS. THE EASTERLIES WILL DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU'LL GET TO 16. KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON ` ALSO GETTING TO 16. THE CLOUD COULD BRING A MORNING SHOWER, WHILE THOSE EASTERLIES STRENGTHEN. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND COULD GET A SHOWER OR TWO AND WILL HAVE SOME CLOUDY PERIODS TO START THE WEEKEND. 16 YOUR HIGH ALSO. OVERSEAS, VERY SHOWERY FOR EASTERN PARTS OF AUSTRALIA; CLEARER SKIES TO THE WEST. AND OVER IN THE PACIFIC, SOME SHOWERS HERE TOO. FINER SKIES FOR THE COOK ISLANDS, NIUE AND FIJI. BACK HOME, THAT NORTH TO NORTHEAST FLOW WILL STRENGTHEN, COVERING THE COUNTRY ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THERE WILL BE SOME SHOWERS IN THE NORTH FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. SOME SHOWERS ` SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ` FOR THE TOP HALF OF THE NORTH ISLAND. TUESDAY, THERE'LL BE SOME RAIN THAT COULD BE HEAVY AT TIMES. FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP IN THE WEST ON SUNDAY, WITH HEAVY FALLS SOUTH OF THE GLACIERS ON MONDAY, THEN MORE HEAVY RAIN FOR THE NORTH AND WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND FOR YOUR TUESDAY. THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. THANKS SO MUCH TO HEATHER FOR SENDING THIS IN. A FOGGY AND FINE DAY IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND. WELL, THAT IS YOUR THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. 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