MICHAEL HILL, JEWELLER. OUR MOST FAMOUS JEWELLER, SIR MICHAEL HILL, HAS DIED AGED 86. THE PRIME MINISTER LEADS TRIBUTES. A SHORT, SHARP ATMOSPHERIC RIVER IS MAKING ITS PRESENCE FELT UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY, BUT THE TASMAN DISTRICT BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE WEATHER WARNINGS. TRUMP BREAKS WITH NETANYAHU, SAYING THERE IS 'REAL STARVATION' IN GAZA, WHILE SLASHING THE DEADLINE FOR PUTIN TO END THE WAR IN UKRAINE. AS NURSES PREPARE TO STRIKE FOR BETTER PAY TOMORROW, THE GOVERNMENT AGREES TO HIKE THE FEES OF PUBLIC SECTOR BOARD MEMBERS. 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. WELCOME TO THREE NEWS. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS JOINED THE TRIBUTES TO SIR MICHAEL HILL, SAYING HE INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF KIWI ENTREPRENEURS. THE JEWELLERY GIANT DIED TODAY AGED 86 AFTER TAKING LEAVE FROM HIS BUSINESS IN APRIL FOR CANCER TREATMENT. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY LOOKS BACK AT HIS LEGACY. BUT HURRY, STOCK IS LIMITED. MICHAEL HILL, JEWELLER. HIS NAME AND HIS VOICE WERE A FIXTURE ON NEW ZEALAND TV FOR YEARS AFTER OPENING HIS FIRST JEWELLERY STORE IN WHANGAREI IN 1979 WITH A PHILOSOPHY TO MAKE JEWELLERY BUYING LESS INTIMIDATING AND MORE ACCESSIBLE. HELLO, CHRISTCHURCH ` MICHAEL HILL, JEWELLER. IT'S THE LAST WEEK OF MY GREAT ANNUAL SALE. FROM THAT SINGLE STORE, HE BUILT A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 300 ACROSS NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA. JEWELLERY IS THE MOST EMOTIONAL PURCHASE ONE MAKES IN ONE'S LIFE. A PASSIONATE MUSICIAN, HE ONCE DREAMED OF BEING A CONCERT VIOLINIST AND LATER STARTED THE MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION TO INSPIRE YOUNG MUSICIANS. JUST ANYTHING HE TURNED HIS MIND TO ` HE WANTED TO DO THE VERY BEST HE COULD, AND HE MOTIVATED THAT AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HE TOUCHED. SO I'VE BEEN BOMBARDED TODAY WITH MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE I DON'T EVEN KNOW TELLING ME HOW MICHAEL TOUCHED THEIR LIVES, AND AMONGST ALL OF THAT, HE WAS A FABULOUS FAMILY MAN. MARRIED TO LADY CHRISTINE FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN, MARK AND EMMA. I THINK A LOT OF IT'S FRIENDSHIP MORE THAN ANYTHING. TOLERANCE AND DOING THINGS TOGETHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO US. HIS SUCCESS DIDN'T START TILL HIS 40S, WHEN A DREAM HOUSE THE COUPLE WERE BUILDING BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A TURNING POINT WHERE I DECIDED THAT PROBABLY I HAD BEEN PLAYING THE FIRST 40 YEARS OF MY LIFE FAR TOO SAFE, AND SOMETHING SNAPPED INSIDE ME. I WILL ALSO GIVE YOU THIS MATCHING DIAMOND MATERNITY RING. A WONDERFUL MAN ` MAY HE REST IN PEACE. HE'S GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. A FEW THINGS ABOUT HIM ` THE FACT THAT HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS AN ENTREPRENEUR IN HIS 40S SHOWS IT'S NEVER TOO LATE; THE FACT THAT HE'S ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT SUCCEEDED BOTH IN AUSTRALIA AND IN CANADA. CLEARLY CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO NEW ZEALAND. A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSPERSON, BUT I UNDERSTAND QUITE THE PHILANTHROPIST AS WELL, ALSO INVOLVED IN GIVING TO CHARITY AS WELL. I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HIM. I'LL CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM HIM. HIS WORDS AND IDEAS AND CARTOONS WILL BE GOING AROUND IN MY HEAD FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I'M ABSOLUTELY SURE OF THAT. A PASSIONATE GOLFER, HE BUILT HIS OWN COURSE IN ARROWTOWN NOW HOME TO THE NZ OPEN. HILL HIMSELF HIT A GOLFING MILESTONE JUST EARLIER THIS YEAR. MICHAEL SCORED HIS FIRST HOLE-IN-ONE IN JANUARY. HE WAS KAYAKING EVERY DAY. HE WAS IN THE GYM EVERY DAY. AND HE SADLY GOT DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AT LATE FEBRUARY, MARCH. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS. AND MICHAEL WILL TAKE ON ANY CHALLENGE, AND FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL GET ON TOP OF IT, BUT SADLY, THAT WASN'T TO BE. SIR MICHAEL HILL WAS 86 YEARS OLD. MICHAEL HILL, JEWELLER. PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE ONCE AGAIN FEELING THE EFFECTS OF SEVERE WEATHER. IN NORTHLAND, SLIPS, SURFACE FLOODING AND FALLEN TREES ARE AFFECTING MOVEMENT AROUND THE REGION THIS EVENING, AND HUNDREDS OF HOMES ARE WITHOUT POWER. STATE HIGHWAY 1 ON THE BRYNDERWYNS SOUTH OF WHANGAREI WAS CLOSED FOR A TIME TODAY AND IS NOW DOWN TO ONE LANE. WHILE HEAVY RAIN CLOSED ROADS AND FLOODED PADDOCKS IN KAWAKAWA, NORTHLAND CIVIL DEFENCE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STRONG WINDS AND INTENSE DOWNPOURS IN PARTS OF THE REGION. SOME AREAS HAVE HAD OVER 100MM OF RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. AND A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS IN PLACE FOR THE BELEAGUERED TASMAN DISTRICT, WHICH IS STILL IN CLEAN-UP MODE FROM FLOODING EARLIER THIS MONTH. BUT, AS ANTONY STEVENS REPORTS, RESIDENTS ARE HOPEFUL THEY MAY HAVE DODGED A BULLET THIS TIME ROUND. FROM HIGH IN THE HILLS LOOKING OVER HIS RIWAKA FARM, THE DAMAGE TO FRANK HICKMOTT'S LAND FROM RECENT WEATHER EVENTS ISN'T IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS, BUT FROM GROUND LEVEL, THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE IS HEARTBREAKING. HIS VAST VEGETABLE CROPS NOW JUST A BED OF MUD AFTER THE CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH HIS PROPERTY BURST ITS BANKS JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AGO. WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE RIVER UP HERE COMING OUT A LOT MORE THAN IT SHOULD, BECAUSE ON THE BIG EVENTS LIKE THIS, IT WILL COME OUT, BUT IT COMES OUT TOO OFTEN ON LITTLE EVENTS. IT'S GETTING FRUSTRATING FOR EVERYONE. HICKMOTT IS A FOURTH-GENERATION AGRICULTURAL FARMER. BORN AND BRED ON THIS LAND, HE ADMITS HE'S NEVER SEEN SUCH A STRING OF CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENTS LIKE THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN HIS LIFE. WHILE HIS HOUSE REMAINS ORANGE STICKERED AS WELL, HE'S JUST RELIEVED TODAY'S DIRE FORECAST DIDN'T QUITE EVENTUATE. WE HAVEN'T DONE MUCH OF A CLEAN-UP WITH THIS. WE'LL LET IT DRY. SO WE'RE JUST VERY FORTUNATE THAT'S NOT IN OUR FRUIT. SO WE CAN LET IT LIE HERE. IT'S NOT KILLING ANYTHING. DESPITE THE REPRIEVE, HICKMOTT WAS IN PREVENTION MODE ` CLEARING THE CREEK FURTHER DOWN HIS PROPERTY IN CASE OF MORE RAIN. SLIPS CONTINUE TO CAUSE ISSUES INTO KAITERITERI BEACH, WHILE THE ONLY ROAD INTO MARAHAU REMAINS CLOSED. BUT ALL IN ALL, THERE'S A SENSE THE REGION DODGED A BULLET TODAY. I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE. SO WE'VE HAD FOUR OF THESE FORECAST. TWO OF THEM RESULTED IN VERY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, AND THE ONE BETWEEN THE FIRST TWO AND THIS ONE, YEAH, WE'VE DEFINITELY DODGED A COUPLE OF BULLETS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS. THESE PICTURES THOUGH SHOWING JUST HOW VULNERABLE THE REGION REMAINS ` TODAY'S RAINFALL EASILY FLOODING PARTS OF THE ALREADY WATER-LOGGED LAND. SOUTH IN TAPAWERA, ANOTHER AREA FLOODED BY BROKEN RIVER BANKS TWO WEEKS AGO WAS ALSO ON HIGH ALERT BUT ALSO GOT OFF LIGHTLY. ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS REMAIN IN PLACE FOR TASMAN, NELSON AND WESTERN MARLBOROUGH UNTIL LATE TONIGHT. JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER. I THINK THE WIND HAS LARGELY PASSED, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOO MUCH OF A FACTOR. IF YOU'RE IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE VULNERABLE, CERTAINLY STAY AWARE, PARTICULARLY AS YOU GO INTO THE EVENING, BECAUSE ONCE IT GETS DARK, EVERYTHING'S A BIT TRICKIER. AND WITH THE LONG-RANGE FORECAST LOOKING SUNNY FROM TOMORROW, THIS SODDEN REGION IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET THE RECOVERY BACK UNDERWAY. IMOGEN'S HERE WITH AN UPDATE ON THE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS THAT REMAIN IN PLACE, AND THERE'S PLENTY IN THE NORTH ISLAND, IMO? THERE'S A MIX OF YELLOW AND ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS STILL IN PLACE FOR COROMANDEL PENINSULA, BAY OF PLENTY AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING, WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME IN GISBORNE. THEY'LL STAY IN PLACE TILL 10 TONIGHT FOR NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND, THE SAME FOR TASMAN, NELSON, AND MARLBOROUGH, AND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT FOR TARANAKI. AND TAMAKI MAKAURAU HAS A THUNDERSTORM WATCH TILL MIDNIGHT AS WELL, WITH ONE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. WEDNESDAY'S FULL FORECAST IS AFTER SPORT. MORE THAN 36,000 NURSES WILL STRIKE TOMORROW AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH HEALTH NEW ZEALAND FAILED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER INSISTS NURSES ARE VALUED, BUT LABOUR IS QUESTIONING HIS PRIORITIES AFTER THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO INCREASE THE PAY OF PUBLIC SECTOR BOARD MEMBERS BY UP TO 80%. HERE'S POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT ZANE SMALL. THIS VIDEO WAS PUBLISHED BY THE NURSES' UNION AHEAD OF STRIKE ACTION TOMORROW. THE UNION HAS CONFIRMED THAT MORE THAN 36,000 NURSES WILL WALK OFF THE JOB FOR 24 HOURS AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH HEALTH NEW ZEALAND FAILED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. MY MESSAGE TO THE UNION, IS STRIKING IS NOT THE ANSWER. PATIENTS WILL HAVE THEIR CARE CANCELLED BECAUSE THE UNION HAS DECIDED TO STRIKE RATHER THAN NEGOTIATE. BUT THE UNION SAYS THERE WAS NO NEW OFFER TO PUT TO MEMBERS, AND CONCERNS REMAIN ABOUT SAFE STAFFING LEVELS. WE'VE PUT A BIG EFFORT INTO MAKING SURE THAT NURSES' REMUNERATION IS` REALLY SOME BIG INCREASES RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE POPULATION. I THINK IT SHOWS THE GOVERNMENT'S TWISTED PRIORITIES. THEY'RE SAYING THAT BOARD MEMBERS CAN GET UP TO 80% INCREASES IN THEIR PAY WHILST NURSES AND TEACHERS ARE BEING TOLD TO SETTLE FOR 1% OR LESS. A CABINET PAPER SHOWS THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO INCREASE THE TOP POTENTIAL PAY FOR PUBLIC SECTOR BOARD MEMBERS BY UP TO 80% FROM $90,000 A YEAR TO ABOUT $162,000 ` AN INCREASE THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS WAS NECESSARY TO ATTRACT TOP TALENT, WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR OFTEN OFFERING MORE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CROWN ENTITIES, WHICH ARE DELIVERING SOME OF OUR MOST CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES, ARE INCREDIBLY WELL GOVERNED AND WELL MANAGED AND WELL LED, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT` AND WE'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT WE NEED MORE COMPETITIVE PAYMENT FOR THOSE DIRECTORS. I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO SLIP THIS OUT QUIETLY, JUST AS I THINK THEY'D PREFER NOT TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'VE SOMEHOW FOUND DOWN THE BACK OF THE COUCH $300M FOR TOBACCO COMPANIES. THAT WAS A REFERENCE TO A CONTINGENCY SUM ` OR MONEY SET ASIDE TO COVER THE POSSIBLE FUTURE COST ` OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION LAST YEAR TO HALVE THE TAX ON HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR HTPs, MADE BY PHILLIP MORRIS. IT WAS MEANT TO BE A ONE-YEAR TRIAL TO FIND OUT IF CHEAPER PRICES FOR HTPs MIGHT ENCOURAGE SMOKERS TO SWITCH FROM CIGARETTES. THE TRIAL HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS BECAUSE HTPs WERE TEMPORARILY TAKEN OFF THE MARKET DUE TO REMOVABLE BATTERY RULES THAT NO LONGER EXIST. I THINK WHAT LABOUR AND WHAT IS BEING REPORTED IS REALLY DAMAGING AND UNHELPFUL. THE REDUCTION IN EXCISE TAX RESULTS FROM PEOPLE NOT SMOKING. WHY, DURING A COST OF LIVING CRISIS, HAS HS GOVERNMENT PRIORITISED $300M IN TAX BREAKS FOR A MULTI-NATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANY? THE MEMBER KNOWS IT'S NOT A TAX. THE MEMBER KNOWS IT'S A CONTINGENCY DUE TO LOSS OF EXCISE REVENUE. BUT IT WAS A FINANCIAL DECISION THAT LABOUR SEEMS TO SUGGEST COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THINGS LIKE A BETTER OFFER FOR NURSES. SO, ZANE, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE STRIKE TOMORROW? THIS IS A NATIONWIDE STRIKE. EVERY PLACE THAT HEALTH NEW ZEALAND PROVIDES HEALTH SERVICES. SO EXPECT TO SEE IT AT EVERY MAJOR CENTRE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HERE IN WELLINGTON. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND WANTS TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE HOSPITAL SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW DESPITE THE STRIKE ACTION, THOUGH IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 4300 PLANNED PROCEDURES WILL NEED TO BE POSTPONED. HEALTH NEW ZEALAND IS STANDING FIRM THAT THE OFFER MADE TO THE UNION IS A FAIR ONE AND THEY SHOULD RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, BUT THE UNION SAYS MEMBERS ARE UNDER START, UNDER RESOURCED AND OVERWORKED. CORRECTION: UNDERSTAFFED. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS DECLARED THERE IS 'REAL STARVATION' IN GAZA, CONTRADICTING THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER WHO INSISTS THERE'S NO SUCH THING. THE COMMENTS WERE MADE DURING A MEETING WITH THE UK PRIME MINISTER AS CASES OF MALNUTRITION CONTINUE TO CLIMB ON THE STRIP. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THE PRESIDENT OF MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE ` DONALD TRUMP LOOKED RIGHT AT HOME AS HE TOURED HIS SCOTTISH GOLF COURSE WITH THE UK PRIME MINISTER... (BAGPIPE MUSIC PLAYS) ...WELCOMING BOTH SIR KEIR STARMER AND HIS WIFE TO HIS RESIDENCE IN THEIR BACKYARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, BUT SHE'S VERY RESPECTED. THE FLATTERY SOON GAVE WAY TO THE REALITY OF THE WORLD. WITH THE GLOBE'S ATTENTION TILTED FIRMLY TOWARD THE SMALL STRIP OF GAZA, THE MEETING FOLLOWED SUIT. THOSE CHILDREN LOOK VERY HUNGRY, BUT WE'RE GIVING A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF FOOD, AND OTHER NATIONS ARE NOW STEPPING UP. I KNOW THAT THIS NATION IS, RIGHT HERE. IT'S A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CATASTROPHE. THE UN CLAIMS 60 GAZANS HAVE DIED FROM MALNUTRITION THIS MONTH ALONE, UP FROM 11 IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR. AND THE STARVING CONTINUE TO LOSE THEIR LIVES AS THEY FIGHT TO MAKE IT TO AID. TRANSLATOR: THEY SHOT THE YOUNG MEN. THEY KILLED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE HUNGRY. LET THE AID THROUGH WITH DIGNITY. MORE FOOD HAS NOW BEEN DROPPED BY PARACHUTE WITH ISRAELI CONSENT ` A STRATEGY ONE UN AGENCY CALLED 'INEFFICIENT AND EXPENSIVE'. BUT IT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE DESPERATION ` NOT JUST OF THOSE ON THE GROUND, BUT OF THE WORLD'S DESIRE TO HELP. TRANSLATOR: THE AID BEING DROPPED IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE STARVATION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WHILE MANY AROUND THE GLOBE CAN'T STAND TO SEE IT, THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER CAN'T SEE IT AT ALL ` DENYING ANY SIGN OF STARVATION. TRANSLATOR: WHAT A BOLDFACED LIE. WHAT A BOLDFACED LIE. THERE IS NO POLICY OF STARVATION IN GAZA, AND THERE IS NO STARVATION IN GAZA. WE ENABLE HUMANITARIAN AID THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE WAR TO ENTER GAZA. OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE NO GAZANS. DONALD TRUMP WASN'T PREPARED TO PUBLICLY CRITICISE ISRAEL TODAY. MR PRESIDENT, DO YOU THINK ISRAEL HAS DONE ALL IT CAN DO TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN GAZA? WELL, I THINK NOBODY'S DONE... ANYTHING GREAT OVER THERE. THE WHOLE PLACE IS A MESS. BUT HE DID PUBLICLY DISAGREE. SOME OF THOSE KIDS ARE` THAT'S REAL STARVATION STUFF. I SEE IT, AND YOU CAN'T FAKE THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE EVEN MORE INVOLVED. THE DETAILS OF THAT INVOLVEMENT ARE SCARCE. TRUMP VOWING TO SET UP SAFE FOOD CENTRES WHILE BOASTING OF HIS PEACEMAKING STREAK, DESPITE WALKING AWAY FROM CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS. STOPPED SIX WARS IN THE LAST` AVERAGING ABOUT A WAR A MONTH. LITTLE COMFORT FOR THE FAMILY OF THIS BABY GIRL, WHO WAS BORN VIA C-SECTION AFTER HER MOTHER WAS KILLED IN A RECENT STRIKE ON GAZA, AND WHO DIED HERSELF JUST HOURS AFTER THIS VIDEO WAS TAKEN. AND DONALD TRUMP HAS ALSO RAMPED UP THE PRESSURE ON VLADIMIR PUTIN, SLASHING THE DEADLINE FOR RUSSIA TO COME UP WITH A CEASEFIRE PLAN. TRUMP HAD GIVEN PUTIN 50 DAYS TO END THE WAR OR FACE HUGE SANCTIONS. NOW HE SAYS HE'S GOT 10 OR 12 DAYS. ITV'S DAN RIVERS REPORTS. (BANG!) THERE WAS LITTLE SIGN OF RUSSIAN COMPROMISE TODAY FROM THIS NEW VIDEO RELEASED BY THE KREMLIN. (BANG!) PRESIDENT PUTIN... APPEARED TO BE FLEXING HIS PROPAGANDA MUSCLES WITH FRESH COMBAT FOOTAGE EVEN AS PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUED A TIGHTER ULTIMATUM FOR A DEAL OVER UKRAINE. I'M DISAPPOINTED IN PRESIDENT PUTIN. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HIM. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK. AND I'M GONNA REDUCE THAT 50 DAYS THAT I GAVE HIM TO A LESSER NUMBER. DONALD TRUMP'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS RUSSIA HAS EVOLVED. I WILL GET IT SETTLED BEFORE I EVEN BECOME PRESIDENT. FROM TALKING ABOUT HOW HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN COULD END THE WAR... I WOULD GET A SETTLEMENT IN 24 HOURS. ...TO ISSUING DEADLINES, WHICH NOW ARE GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, DOING VERY SEVERE TARIFFS IF WE DON'T HAVE A DEAL IN 50 DAYS. I'M GONNA MAKE A NEW DEADLINE OF ABOUT 10... 10 OR 12 DAYS. TODAY, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WAS VISITING SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE VICTIMS OF THIS CONFLICT. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) DURING HIS NIGHTLY ADDRESS, HE PRAISED WHAT HE SAID WAS DONALD TRUMP'S EXPRESSED DETERMINATION TO END THE WAR. THEY ARE EMBOLDENED. THEY ARE PLEASED. THEIR MORALE HAS SKYROCKETED. FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE WILLIAM TAYLOR HAS SPOKEN TO SOURCES ACROSS UKRAINE TODAY WHO ARE BOLSTERED BY TRUMP'S HARDER ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA. I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS ON THE FRONT LINE. THEY TELL ME AS SOON AS THAT MESSAGE CAME OUT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS 50 DAYS, THEY THOUGHT WAS TOO LONG, BUT NONETHELESS, THE 50 DAYS AND THE WEAPONS ` WHEN THEY SAW THAT CHANGE, THE MORALE ON THE FRONT LINE SKYROCKETED AND THE MORALE AMONG THE UKRAINIANS. I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS. WHILE DONALD TRUMP'S POLICY ON RUSSIA APPEARS TO BE GETTING TOUGHER, VLADIMIR PUTIN'S POSITION HAS NEVER REALLY CHANGED. HE'S ALWAYS WANTED TO EITHER CONQUER UKRAINE OR TURN IT INTO A VASSAL STATE. BUT NOW HE'S FACING THE PROSPECT OF PUNITIVE NEW SANCTIONS, NOT ONLY ON RUSSIA BUT ON ANY OF ITS TRADING PARTNERS. TONIGHT, AS UKRAINIANS REMEMBERED THOSE WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING IN THIS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM... (ALL CHANT) ...THERE IS A GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT PERHAPS THE FATE OF UKRAINE IS NOW LOOKING LESS BLEAK. THE SCALES PERHAPS FINALLY FALLING FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EYES AS HE SEES WHAT PUTIN IS DOING TO AN ENTIRE GENERATION. JUST AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` SHOULD RURAL KIDS BE ABLE TO COLLECT EGGS, WATER PLANTS AND FEED THEIR CALVES WITHOUT IT BEING A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE? WE SEE WHY THIS IS EVEN BEING LOOKED AT. CHILLING SECURITY VISION CAPTURES A GUNMAN IN NEW YORK MOMENTS BEFORE HE SHOT DEAD FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A POLICE OFFICER. EXTREME HEAT CAUSES CHAOS IN PARTS OF EUROPE WITH SOME PLACES WEATHERING THEIR HIGHEST EVER TEMPERATURES ` ABOVE 50 DEGREES. WELCOME BACK. THEY SAY 'IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.' BUT THE MINISTER FOR WORKPLACE RELATIONS AND SAFETY IS IGNORING THAT OLD ADAGE. BROOKE VAN VELDEN WANTS TO CHANGE EMPLOYMENT LAWS SO FARM KIDS DOING CHORES LIKE COLLECTING EGGS AREN'T TREATED AS UNDERAGE EMPLOYEES. CURRENTLY, TECHNICALLY THEY COULD BE, WHICH RISKS CHILD EXPLOITATION ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THEIR PARENTS. BUT AS LLOYD BURR REPORTS, IT APPEARS TO BE A SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST. MUCKING IN ON THE FARM IS A RIGHT OF PASSAGE FOR RURAL KIWIS, BUT PICKING UP HAY OR FEEDING THE CHOOKS AND COLLECTING EGGS COULD TECHNICALLY BE CHILD EXPLOITATION, HENCE THE BLURRED FACES, SO THE MINISTER WANTS REFORM. TO ACTUALLY MAKE OUR LAWS FAR MORE OVERT AND MAKE THEM VERY OBVIOUS WHAT KIDS SHOULD AND CAN DO ON FARMS. BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT, THE LAW SAYS THEY CAN'T BE THERE. SHE'S PROPOSING TO DEFINE WHAT A FARM CHORE IS, TODAY ANNOUNCING... WHEN THOSE KIDS DO GROW UP AND START WORKING ON FARM FOR THEMSELVES, THEY'VE SEEN GOOD, MODERN, SAFE PRACTICES ON FARMS, AND THEY CAN OPERATIONALISE IT. WHAT ARE THE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH PICKING UP EGGS, THOUGH? WELL, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SAFETY CONCERNS PICKING UP EGGS. SO HOW WILL THEY LEARN WHAT GOOD SAFETY IS FROM PICKING UP EGGS? THAT'S WHAT YOU TARGETED IN YOUR PRESS RELEASE TODAY. THAT WAS JUST ONE EXAMPLE GIVEN TO US FROM MBIE ABOUT WHAT IS A LIGHT CHORE ON FARMS. CONFUSED? YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE. HOW DANGEROUS IS EGG COLLECTING FOR KIDS ON FARMS? I'VE NO IDEA WHETHER IT IS OR NOT. I'VE HAD NO REAL ADVICE ON THIS. MY KIDS HAVE COLLECTED EGGS FROM HEN HOUSES BEFORE. I'VE JUST SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THEY DO THAT, MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GET CLUCKED OR PECKED. TODAY, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW... ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM... FARMERS DOING SOME STUFF THAT'S A BIT CRAZY. PROBLEM IS, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CRAZINESS. HOW MANY CASES OF CHILD EXPLOITATION ON FARMS HAVE THERE BEEN? LOOK, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OF THOSE. WE CHECKED WITH THE JUSTICE MINISTER. DO YOU KNOW IF ANY FARMERS HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR THEIR KIDS COLLECTING EGGS? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, NO. AND WE ASKED MBIE, WHICH SAYS... AND JUST TO BE SURE, WE ALSO CHECKED WITH THE EDUCATION MINISTER. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY PLANT-WATERING INCIDENTS AT SCHOOLS THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT? I HAVE NOT HAD ANY INJURIES RAISED WITH ME AROUND WATERING PLANTS, NO. WORKSAFE COULDN'T SAY IF IT HAD EVER INVESTIGATED THOSE TYPES OF CHORES, SAYING... THE HEALTH MINISTER NOT CONCERNED. WHEN I WAS A KID AND WENT I WAS` OUT AND STAYED WITH MY UNCLE ON HIS FARM, I WENT AND COLLECTED THE EGGS, AND I'M STILL HERE. WE CHECKED WHETHER ACC HAD HAD ANY EGG-COLLECTING INJURY CLAIMS, BUT IT REPLIED... SO THE CURRENT LAW DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE MINISTER. BUT IF OUR RULES FOR FARMERS SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR KIDS WORKING ON FARM, WELL, THEN WE'VE GOT OUR RULES WRONG AND OUR RULES SHOULD BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THE MODERN REALITY OF FARM LIFE. I THINK THIS IS A POLICY IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM. NATIONAL'S FARMING MP GRANT MCCULLUM POSSIBLY SUMMING IT UP BEST. ARE THEY REGULATING FOR THE SAKE OF REGULATING? (SIGHS) UM... ULTIMATELY, THE... WELL... (CHUCKLES) WHILE THERE'S NOT A FOX IN THE HEN HOUSE, THERE'S A MINISTER, AND SHE'S ON A MISSION. A GUNMAN HAS KILLED UP TO FIVE PEOPLE BEFORE TAKING HIS OWN LIFE IN A NEW YORK OFFICE BUILDING. AMONG THE VICTIMS WAS A POLICE OFFICER WHO DIED IN A SHOOTOUT WITH THE GUNMAN. A SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED THE SHOOTER WALKING TOWARDS THE BUILDING WITH A GUN IN HAND. HE'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SHANE TAMURA (27) FROM LAS VEGAS. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE HE ACTED ALONE. AND A GUNMAN IN BANGKOK HAS ALSO SHOT AND KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AT A FOOD MARKET. VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK AT THE POPULAR FRESH FOOD MARKET INCLUDE SECURITY GUARDS. THE GUNMAN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE AT THE SCENE. POLICE ARE WORKING TO ESTABLISH A MOTIVE FOR THE ATTACK. THE OR TOR KOR MARKET IS POPULAR WITH LOCALS AND TOURISTS. THAILAND AND CAMBODIA HAVE AGREED TO AN IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE FOLLOWING DAYS OF DEADLY CLASHES AT THE BORDER, WHICH HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 35 PEOPLE AND DISPLACED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. BUT THERE ARE REPORTS THIS EVENING THAT THE THAI ARMY IS ACCUSING CAMBODIA OF CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS. THE CLASHES BEGAN ON THURSDAY AFTER A LAND MINE EXPLOSION WOUNDED FIVE THAI SOLDIERS. BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE BLAMED EACH OTHER FOR STARTING THE VIOLENCE, WHICH INCLUDED EXCHANGES OF GUN AND ROCKET FIRE ALONG THE BORDER. MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES. STILL AHEAD ON THREE NEWS ` WE GET YOU INSIDE THE CLASSROOMS OF THE FUTURE WITH A FIRST LOOK AT THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHING SPACES COMING SOON TO A SCHOOL NEAR YOU. AND LATER IN SPORT ` THE WARRIORS ANNOUNCE THE VENUE FOR NEXT YEAR'S ANZAC WEEKEND CLASH. SPOILER ALERT ` IT'S NOT AUCKLAND. THIS IS THREE NEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE IS OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT. ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS, JEWELLERY GIANT SIR MICHAEL HILL, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 86. FOR THE THIRD SUMMER IN A ROW, EXTREME HEAT IS CAUSING CHAOS IN PARTS OF EUROPE. THE HEAT, ALONG WITH DRY CONDITIONS AND STRONG WINDS, IS FUELLING DOZENS OF DEADLY WILDFIRES ACROSS THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. SOME PLACES ARE RECORDING THEIR HOTTEST TEMPERATURES EVER, WITH TURKEY REACHING OVER 50 DEGREES. ITV'S SEJAL KARIA HAS THE LATEST. SOUTHERN EUROPE IS BURNING, AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE STRUGGLING TO CONTAIN THE FLAMES. IN THE ALBANIAN ALPS, STEEP TERRAIN IS HAMPERING EFFORTS DESPITE ARMY SUPPORT. HOMES ARE NOW AT RISK, AND THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE. 'WE ARE DEALING WITH A VERY SEVERE FIRE THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL,' THE HEAD OF THE FIRE SERVICE SAYS. 'GIVEN THAT THERE ARE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS, THIS MAKES IT 'EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE WORKING NEAR THE FRONT.' IN GREECE, FAST-MOVING WILDFIRES HAVE BEEN THREATENING THE SUBURBS OF ATHENS. FLAMES TEARING THROUGH HOMES AS TEMPERATURES SOARED ABOVE 42 DEGREES AND FIRE RAGED IN THE SURROUNDING HILLS. 'IT'S JUST THAT THE WIND SUDDENLY MAKES GUSTS,' THIS MAN SAID, 'AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL DEVELOP.' NEIGHBOURING TURKEY HAS JUST RECORDED ITS HOTTEST DAY EVER ` 50.5 CELSIUS, WITH FIRES HERE CREEPING TOWARDS THE CITY OF BURSA IN THE NORTHWEST. AT LEAST 14 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. IN BULGARIA, THEY ARE BATTLING THE HUNDREDS OF WILDFIRES FROM THE AIR AS WELL AS THE GROUND. BUT FIREFIGHTERS ARE BEING STRETCHED, AND THE EU HAS NOW STEPPED IN TO HELP WITH ADDITIONAL HELICOPTERS AND AIRCRAFTS TO HELP TACKLE THE BLAZES. AND AN ALREADY DIRE SITUATION HERE HAS BEEN MADE WORSE. THIS FOOTAGE CAPTURING A SUSPECT APPEARING TO START A FIRE DELIBERATELY AND QUITE LITERALLY FANNING THE FLAMES. BULGARIA IS TAKING THIS SO SERIOUSLY, THIS MAN IS NOW FACING TERRORISM CHARGES. IN SOUTHERN ITALY, A DAY AT THE BEACH TURNED TO PANIC AS WILDFIRES CLOSED IN. WITH SMOKE SURROUNDING SUNBATHERS AND ROADS BLOCKED BY ADVANCING FLAMES, BEACHGOERS HAD TO BE RESCUED BY BOAT. THEIR ABANDONED CARS WERE QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FOR A THIRD SUMMER IN A ROW, EXTREME HEAT IS CAUSING CHAOS IN SOUTHERN EUROPE. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT NEXT, AND THIS LIONS CONTROVERSY ISN'T GOING AWAY? IT IS NOT. THIS IS THE PENALTY THAT WASN'T A PENALTY, THAT THE WALLABIES SAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PENALTY. IT REALLY DEPENDS WHICH HEMISPHERE YOU LIVE IN. RUGBY AUSTRALIA ARE NOT HAPPY AND ARE ASKING A WORLD RUBY. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON RUGBY AUSTRALIA'S REACTION TO IT NEXT. PLUS WE SPEAK WITH TARANAKI COACH NEIL BARNES AHEAD OF THE START OF THE NEW NPC SEASON. AND THE WARRIORS GET A NEW HOME FOR THEIR ANZAC DAY CLASHES. VOICEOVER: In these hallowed halls, dough met destiny. A revolution in pizza was born. The world's only original stuffed crust. Straight from the source... at Pizza Hut. VOICEOVER: Waitoa free range chicken turns the whole family... Dad? ...cosy. What's happening? I'm warm and cosy. But worried. You know what? I actually feel close to you all. Waitoa free range chicken. THREE NEWS SPORT, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEW SUZUKI FRONX. YOU WANT IT? FRONX GOT IT! HAVING PLAYED THE MAJORITY OF THEIR ANZAC DAY CLASHES ACROSS THE DITCH, THE WARRIORS WILL TAKE NEXT YEAR'S GAME TO THE CAPITAL. WHO THEY WILL FACE REMAINS A MYSTERY FOR NOW, WITH THE NRL DRAW STILL TO BE DECIDED FOR NEXT SEASON. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS THE WARRIORS HAVE PLAYED IN WELLINGTON, AND ORGANISERS ARE PROMISING THE OCCASION WILL BE A SPECIAL ONE. MITCH REDMAN HAS THE STORY. (WHISTLE TRILLS) IT'S ONE OF THE NRL'S SHOWCASE WEEKENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TASMAN, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2026, WELLINGTON WILL PLAY HOST TO AN ANZAC DAY ENCOUNTER. FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT IN THREE MAJOR CITIES AND NOW THE CAPITAL CITY FOR 2026, I THINK IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE THAT THIS COUNTRY CAN HAVE. LAST SEASON WAS JUST THE SECOND TIME SINCE 2015 THE WARRIORS GOT TO PLAY AT HOME ON APRIL 25TH. SINCE 2009, ANZAC DAY HAS ALMOST PREDOMINANTLY BEEN SPENT IN MELBOURNE ` A SITUATION THE WARRIORS FOUGHT TO CHANGE. UP UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, A CHALLENGE TO GET THE GAME BACK INTO NEW ZEALAND, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WHERE IT LANDED WAS THAT NEW ZEALAND DESERVE A GAME. FOR THOSE BRINGING EVENTS TO THE CAPITAL, THE WARRIORS ARE THE LATEST ADDITION TO A JAM-PACKED CALENDAR. EXPECTATION SEATS WILL BE SNAPPED UP. THE ANZAC GAME IS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PREMIUM GAMES ON THE CALENDAR, SO WE'RE ABSOLUTELY RAPT TO HAVE IT HERE AND SECURED IN WELLINGTON. FROM JULY THROUGH JUNE, WE'VE GOT A REALLY STRONG EVENTS PROGRAMME NOW, AND I GUESS THE WARRIORS MATCH ON ANZAC DAY IS PROBABLY THE ICING ON THE CAKE. THOSE FURTHER SOUTH NOT MISSING OUT EITHER. A GAME IN CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW STADIUM IS ALREADY LOCKED IN FOR 2026. THE NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS LIVING UP TO THEIR NAME. I GENUINELY BELIEVE THE CRUSADERS SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO PLAY THERE. AND THEN IF WE'RE` YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE A DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND, WHO KNOWS. BUT I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO PLAY THERE. AND THEN WE CAN COME AND CELEBRATE WITH A RUGBY LEAGUE GAME IN DUE COURSE. THE WARRIORS HAVE DONNED SPECIAL JERSEYS IN THE PAST TO HONOUR ANZAC DAY AND WELLINGTON; THE CEO PALMING OFF THAT DECISION TO SOMEONE ELSE. NAH, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE FASHION DESIGNERS WE HAVE AND THE ORGANISER. I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO YOU STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE FASHION WORLD. THE CAPITAL IN STORE FOR A SPECTACLE IN 2026, AND THE WAHS WANTING THE W FROM WELLINGTON COME ANZAC ROUND. KIWIS HALFBACK JAHROME HUGHES HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH THE MELBOURNE STORM WORTH $4.3M. THE FOUR YEAR DEAL MEANS THE REINING DALLY M MEDALLIST WILL REMAIN IN VICTORIA UNTIL THE 2030 SEASON. REPORTS SUGGEST HUGHES COULD HAVE PICKED UP AN EVEN GREATER CONTRACT WITH THE INCOMING PERTH BEARS OR PAPUA NEW GUINEA EXPANSION SIDES, WORTH $1.6M A SEASON. THE 30-YEAR-OLD HAS PLAYED 10 TESTS FOR THE KIWIS AND 167 NRL GAMES. IT'S COME UNDER HEAVY SCRUTINY IN RECENT YEARS, BUT TARANAKI COACH NEIL BARNES FEELS THE NPC IS ONLY GOING TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND WILL REMAIN A CORNERSTONE OF NZ RUGBY. THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION KICKS OFF ON THURSDAY, WITH TARANAKI'S FIRST RANFURLY SHIELD DEFENCE ON SATURDAY AGAINST NORTHLAND. NEIL BARNES JOINS ME NOW TO PREVIEW THE UPCOMING SEASON. NEIL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. IF WE START ON THE NPC AS A WHOLE, HOW BIG A ROLE DOES THIS COMPETITION HAVE TO PLAY IN THE NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LANDSCAPE? I'D SAY MASSIVE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE AVENUE FOR THE AMATEUR PLAYER TO PLAY THEIR WAY INTO PROFESSIONAL RUGBY, AND IF I HAD MY WAY, MOST OF THE PLAYERS COMING OUT OF NEW ZEALAND SYSTEMS WOULD COME AROUND THROUGH NPC TO EARN THE RIGHT TO GET INTO SUPER RUGBY. DO YOU FEEL IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE NPC HAS REALLY PROVEN WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT? YEAH, I'VE ACTUALLY ENJOYED THE WAY THE GAME HAS BEEN PLAYED AND HOW TIGHT THE COMPETITION IS. UM, YOU DON'T WANT A LOPSIDED COMPETITION. SO, YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF THE RURAL PROVINCES HAVE STEPPED UP, TO BE HONEST AND CAN FIT IT WITH ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY. AND THERE'S A MINDSET AT NPC TO PLAY THE GAME, WHICH I'M ENJOYING. AND I'VE GOT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT TO OUR REFEREES ON THAT NOTE AS WELL, BECAUSE, LIKE, THEY'VE GOT ALIGNED WITH US AS COACHES AS TO WHAT WE THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE, WHICH ISN'T ALWAYS ALIGNED TO WHAT WORLD RUGBY ARE DOING. OK, FROM A TARANAKI PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S ALWAYS A TARGET ON YOUR BACKS AS THE SHIELD HOLDERS. HOW IS YOUR SIDE PLACED HEADING INTO THE SEASON? OH, LOOK, WE'VE GOT A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF CONTINUITY IN OUR SQUAD. OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE LOST SOME LEADING PLAYERS, BUT THAT'S NORMAL. SO I'M HAPPY WITH WHERE WE'RE AT. UM, I'D LIKE TO THINK WE OFFER THAT SHIELD A FAIR BIT OF RESPECT IN THIS PROVINCE, UM, YEAH. AND I'M HOPING THAT WHEN WE PLAY NORTHLAND ON THE WEEKEND, THAT THE PROVINCE COMES OUT TO SUPPORT AND, UM, SHOWS THE RESPECT LIKE I TALKED ABOUT. A QUARTER-FINAL DEFEAT LAST SEASON ` HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO FUEL YOUR SIDE THIS YEAR? LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GOT A FEW THINGS WRONG IN THE FIRST HALF OF THAT GAME, AND WE'VE ALREADY VISITED THAT. AND THAT'S` YOU GET SOME OF YOUR BEST LEARNINGS WHEN YOU MAKE MISTAKES. UM, SO, YEAH, WE'RE WELL AWARE OF WHERE WE WENT WRONG THAT DAY. AND, UM, THE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN AWESOME IN THE WAY THEY'VE REACTED IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THE SEASON, SO I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH THE INPUT FROM THE TEAM. BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER IN SPORT THERE'S TWO TEAMS, AND THERE'LL BE A NORTHLAND CREW COMING DOWN HERE, AND THEY'LL BE PRETTY DAMN EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO TAKE THE LOG O' WOOD BACK TO THEIR PROVINCE. BUT HOW GOOD IS THAT? I MEAN, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IN NPC RUGBY ` THAT LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, THE FANS GETTING UP IT AS WELL. NEIL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. CHEERS, OLLIE. YOU'RE WELCOME, MATE. RUGBY AUSTRALIA WON'T BE MOVING ON FROM THE CONTROVERSIAL FINISH TO THE SECOND LIONS TEST ANY TIME SOON, REQUESTING A FORMAL EXPLANATION FROM WORLD RUGBY. THE WALLABIES WERE DENIED VICTORY IN THE SECOND TEST WHEN JAC MORGAN'S CLEAN-OUT ON CARLOS TIZZANO WENT UNPUNISHED AND THE RESULTING TRY TO THE LIONS WAS ALLOWED TO STAND. FORMER WALLABY MORGAN TURUNUI IS CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. PEOPLE HIGHER UP THE WORLD RUGBY, AND RUGBY AUSTRALIA WANT THIS TO GO FORWARD AND HAVE SOME SORT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND MESSAGING FROM WORLD RUGBY. RUGBY AUSTRALIA CEO PHIL WAUGH HAS ALSO BACKED JOE SCHMIDT'S COMMENTS, SUGGESTING THE DECISION WENT AGAINST WORLD RUGBY'S PLAYER SAFETY PUSH. MICHAEL BRACEWELL IS HOPING TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S PRESENTED ITSELF AFTER BEING CALLED INTO THE BLACKCAPS' TEST SQUAD AS INJURY COVER. BRACEWELL HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE SQUAD FOR THE FIRST TEST IN BULAWAYO FOLLOWING AN INJURY TO GLENN PHILLIPS. THE SPINNING ALL-ROUNDER LAST PLAYED A TEST FOR THE BLACKCAPS MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS MADE JUST EIGHT TEST APPEARANCES IN TOTAL. I THINK WE HAVE GOT GREAT DEPTH PARTICULARLY IN THIS BOWLING DEPARTMENT. I AM UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT IT IS PRETTY TOUGH TO FORCE YOUR WAY IN THERE, THAT WHEN YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, WE WILL TAKE IT WITH BOTH HANDS. IT'S A QUICK TURNAROUND FOR THE BLACKCAPS WHO TOOK OUT THEIR T20 TRI-SERIES LESS THAN THREE DAYS AGO ` THE FIRST TEST AGAINST ZIMBABWE GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW. THE MAN DUBBED BY MANY AS THE 'KIWI MESSI' HAS CALLED TIME ON HIS FOOTBALL CAREER ` MARCO ROJAS ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT AT THE AGE OF 33. ROJAS MADE 45 APPEARANCES FOR THE ALL WHITES AND PLAYED 155 GAMES IN THE A-LEAGUE, HAVING STINTS WITH THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX, MELBOURNE VICTORY AND BRISBANE ROAR. IN 2013 HE WAS AWARDED THE JOHNNY WARREN MEDAL ` RECOGNISED AS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE COMPETITION. ROJAS MADE A RETURN TO THE NIX LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, INJURIES LIMITED HIM TO JUST SEVEN APPEARANCES. FINALLY TONIGHT, THE ENGLAND WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM HAVE ARRIVED HOME TO PLENTY OF FANFARE FOLLOWING THEIR HISTORIC BACK-TO-BACK WIN AT THE EUROS. THE LIONESSES CELEBRATED WELL INTO THE NIGHT IN SWITZERLAND AFTER THEIR VICTORY OVER WORLD CUP CHAMPION'S SPAIN ON PENALTIES. IT WAS THEN A FLIGHT HOME TO SOUTHEND AIRPORT ` MANY STILL BLURRY-EYED ` AND A HEROES WELCOME ` THOUSANDS OF FANS SHOWING UP TO GREET THE WINNERS, SWARMING THE TEAM BUS ON IT'S WAY OUT. THEIR FIRST STOP ON HOME SOIL ` CELEBRATIONS AT NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET. I HOPE WE KEEP GROWING THE GAME TOGETHER, AS THE WOMAN'S GAME BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO COPY THE MEN'S GAME. WE HAVE OUR OWN IDENTITY AND OUR OWN SPECIALTY. WE HAVE SHOWN IT ON THIS TOUR AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. IT IS AN HONOUR AND LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD, AND CHEERS EVERYONE. THE CELEBRATIONS WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW WITH AN OPEN-TOP BUS PROCESSION THROUGH LONDON, ENDING WITH A CEREMONY OUTSIDE BUCKINGHAM PALACE. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHAT THAT TEAM MEANS TO ENGLAND. SO LOVED. LET THE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE THE GOVERNMENT IS OVERHAULING HOW CLASSROOMS ARE BUILT, PART OF A SHIFT AWAY FROM OPEN-PLAN LAYOUTS, WITH EDUCATION MINISTER ERICA STANFORD SAYS ALL FUTURE BUILDS WILL NOW FOLLOW A STANDARDISED DESIGN. AVA WHITWORTH VISITED NORTHCROSS INTERMEDIATE ON AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE, ONE OF THE SCHOOLS CHAMPIONING THE DESIGN. THESE CLASSROOMS DIDN'T COME IN WITH CONCRETE MIXERS AND SCAFFOLDING. THEY CAME IN BY CRANE, DROPPED IN SECTION BY SECTION, SCREWED STRAIGHT INTO THE GROUND. FOUR OF THESE SO-CALLED REPEATABLE DESIGNS NOW SIT AT NORTHCROSS INTERMEDIATE, BUILT OFFSITE BY SOUTHBASE AND INSTALLED IN JUST TWO MONTHS WITH NO DISRUPTION TO SCHOOL LIFE. THIS IS IDEAL FOR QUICK DEPLOYMENT OF CLASSROOMS. SO THIS SITE HERE, WHICH HAS GOT FOUR CLASSROOMS, WAS PART OF 50 CLASSROOMS WE DID AT 10 SCHOOLS ACROSS AUCKLAND IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW STANDARDISING CLASSROOM DESIGNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DITCHING OPEN-PLAN LAYOUTS OVER CONCERNS THEY LIMIT FLEXIBILITY. THEY SAY OPTING FOR OFFSITE BUILDS CUTS COSTS AND SPEEDS UP DELIVERY. THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, IF IT WAS TRADITIONALLY BUILT, WOULD BE EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS ONSITE. WE WERE TWO MONTHS ON SITE. WE CAME IN THROUGH THE BACK ROAD, JUST UP THE ROAD THERE, AND UNLOADED DOWN HERE SO THE SCHOOL REMAINED FUNCTIONING. IT'S ALREADY TRANSFORMING HOW SCHOOLS EXPAND. NORTHCROSS INTERMEDIATE'S ROLL HAS GROWN BY OVER 200 PUPILS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, NOW SITTING THEM AT 1500 STUDENTS. SO TO ACCOMMODATE THE ROLE, THEY ARE HOPING BY THE END OF 2026 THEY'LL HAVE EIGHT MORE OF THESE NEW CLASSROOMS, ESTIMATED TO COST AROUND 600 GRAND EACH. SOUNDS BIG, BUT THAT'S OPPOSED TO $1.1 MILLION. SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JONATHAN TREDAY SAYS THE TEACHERS ARE LOVING THE NEW CLASSROOMS, AND THE KIDS AREN'T COMPLAINING EITHER. YEAH, THEY'RE NICE, BUT I LIKE THE OPEN SPACE. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE LOTS OF MY FRIENDS IN HERE, AND, YEAH. I THINK IT'S A REALLY NICE, MODERN BIG AREA FOR OUR WHOLE CLASS, AND WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE IT. I THINK WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THESE CLASSROOMS. NOT EVERYONE GETS THESE, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY SPACIOUS, AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THE HEATERS ON IN THE WINTER. THEY LOOK REALLY NICE AND SUPER WARM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING LIKE THIS. AND WHILE THE DESIGN MIGHT BE SIMPLE, TREDAY SAYS IT DOES THE JOB, EXACTLY WHAT SCHOOLS NEED RIGHT NOW. THEY WON'T WIN ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS, BUT THEY ARE ROBUST, AND THEY'RE A VERY GOOD SIZE, AND I THINK FOR US THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE SIZE IS REALLY GOOD. YES. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT INITIATIVE BY THE MINISTER RATHER THAN SPENDING, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON CLASSROOMS. WE WANT PRACTICAL, GOOD, SOLID CLASSROOMS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE AWARD-WINNING. WITH HUNDREDS MORE CLASSROOMS ON THE WAY BUILT FASTER, CHEAPER AND WITH FEWER DISRUPTIONS, THIS COULD BE THE NEW BLUEPRINT FOR SCHOOLS ACROSS AOTEAROA. IMOGEN'S BACK, AND THE COOL NEWS IS THERE'S A METEOR SHOWER TONIGHT. THE BAD NEWS IS MOST WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT! WELL, THIS IS WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE. THIS IS A TIME-LAPSE TAKEN IN CANADA A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY TONIGHT'S BAD WEATHER WILL MEAN MOST OF US DON'T SEE ANY METEOR ACTIVITY. IF YOU ARE UP BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 1AM, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST TIME TO VIEW IT, WITH CANTERBURY, OTAGO AND THE FAR NORTH SAID TO BE THE BEST SPOTS TO CATCH A GLIMPSE. I'LL HAVE TOMORROW'S FORECAST AFTER THE BREAK. WILD WEATHER IS A GOOD REMINDER TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY CHECK LIST. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FOOD, WATER, BATTERIES AND PORTABLE CHARGERS. AMI, BRINGING YOU THREE NEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. THERE'S STILL A BIT OF WILD WEATHER TO COME WITH THAT BAND OF RAIN AND STRONG NOR'EASTERS MAKING ITS WAY EAST ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS STILL IN PLACE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. THINGS AREN'T LOOKING AS BAD TOMORROW, BUT THERE COULD BE A FEW THUNDERSTORMS AND EVEN HAIL FOR SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST COAST AND SOME PARTS ON THE EASTERN SIDE, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THINGS ARE LOOKING A LOT CALMER FOR THE TOP. AND TONIGHT'S RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO TOMORROW MORNING. IT'S RAINY STARTS BASICALLY ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE NORTH ISLAND, WITH THINGS EASING UP AS THE DAY GOES ON FOR MOST. COULD STILL BE THUNDERSTORMS FOR WEST AUCKLAND IN THE AFTERNOON, THOUGH, BUT OVERALL, WEDNESDAY WON'T BE AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN TODAY. THERE'LL STILL BE SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING FOR ALL, EASING FROM THE AFTERNOON. WESTERLY WINDS ALL ROUND. A BALMY 18 DEGREES FOR WHANGAREI. HEAVY FALLS FOR ALL BEFORE DAWN HERE. COULD BE SOME LOW CLOUD OR FOG AS WELL IN TOKOROA. FINE SPELLS WILL INCREASE AS THE DAY GOES ON. WHAKATANE COULD STILL SEE GALE NOR'EASTERLIES FIRST THING AS WELL. OCCASIONAL RAIN TO START THE DAY FOR ALL, BUT THINGS SHOULD CLEAR UP AS THE MORNING GOES ON, DEFINITELY BY LUNCHTIME FOR YOU IN GISBORNE. NOR'EASTERS WILL TURN NOR'WEST UP TOP HERE, TURNING TO WESTERLIES IN WAIRARAPA, AND IT'LL BE A RAINY START FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH. POSSIBLY HEAVY AND THUNDERY BEFORE DAWN IN TARANAKI, WHICH COULD ALSO HAPPEN IN THE AFTERNOON IN PALMY AND ALONG THE KAPITI COAST. JUST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TOMORROW IN NELSON; OTHERWISE, IT'S LOOKING MAINLY FINE FOR YOU TOMORROW. NOT SO MUCH THE SAME CASE FOR THE REST HERE. EVERYONE'S LOOKING AT SHOWERS, WHICH COULD GET HEAVY AND THUNDERY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HAIL EASING IN THE EVENING. THE AFTERNOON IS WHERE WE'LL SEE WET WEATHER MAKE AN APPEARANCE FOR ALL HERE, AND THOSE AT THE BOTTOM COULD ALSO SEE THUNDERSTORMS AND HAIL IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE DAY. WEST AND SOU'WESTERS ABOUT. AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE SAME THING DOWN HERE. SHOWERS DEVELOPING FROM THE AFTERNOON. THEY'LL BE ALL DAY FOR INVERCARGILL AND OBAN, WITH A BIG MIX OF SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND. DUNEDIN, TOMORROW'S SHOWERS WILL BECOME HEAVY AND MORE FREQUENT WITH THUNDERSTORMS AND HAIL POSSIBLE FROM AFTERNOON WITH SOU'WESTERLY WINDS. SAME STORY IN CHRISTCHURCH ` HEAVY AND THUNDERY SHOWERS FROM THE AFTERNOON WITH HAIL POSSIBLE AND SOU'WESTERS. WELLINGTON, YOU'LL HAVE SOME RAIN BEFORE DAWN. STILL COULD BE A SHOWER OR TWO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND NORTHERLY WINDS. OCCASIONAL RAIN WILL CLEAR IN THE MORNING IN HAWKE'S BAY. STRONG NORTH-EASTERLIES FIRST THING, TURNING TO LIGHT NORTH-WESTERS. TAURANGA, YOUR HEAVY RAIN BEFORE DAWN WILL TURN TO SHOWERS, AND YOUR STRONG NORTHERLIES WILL EASE BEFORE DAWN TOO. RAIN WITH LOW CLOUD OR FOG BEFORE DAWN FOR YOU, HAMILTON, THEN OCCASIONAL SHOWERS. YOUR NOR'EASTERS TURN WESTERLY IN THE MORNING, DYING OUT IN THE EVENING. AND IN AUCKLAND, TONIGHT'S RAIN HANGS AROUND TILL DAWN, THEN TURNS TO SHOWERS WHICH COULD BECOME HEAVY AND THUNDERY IN THE WEST FROM THE AFTERNOON. IT'S RAINING IN SYDNEY TOMORROW, WITH SHOWERS OR CLOUD FOR THE REST OF AUSTRALIA. AND ANOTHER SHOWERY DAY AS WELL FOR MOST IN THE PACIFIC. AS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK AND HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND, I KNOW THESE EMOJIS SUGGEST OTHERWISE, BUT THERE'S STILL WET WEATHER TO COME, WITH A DEEP LOW DIRECTING A STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW ON TO EASTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON THURSDAY. WE'LL SEE RAIN OR SHOWERS IN THE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE NORTH HANGING ROUND TILL SATURDAY AND AROUND NORTHLAND TILL FRIDAY. THURSDAY'S LOOKING QUITE WET FOR CANTERBURY BUT FINE ALONG THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST. IN FACT, THE WEST WILL BE THE PLACE TO BE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, WITH SHOWERS HANGING ROUND EVERYWHERE ELSE. CHECK OUT THE CHOPPY CONDITIONS THIS MORNING OUT IN THE GREYMOUTH BAR. RICHARD TELLS ME THE GALATEA DID SUCCESSFULLY CROSS IT, FULL OF HOKI! THAT IS THREE NEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON stuff.co.nz. I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2025