TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` A MONEY-MAKER THAT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD. SPACEX IS SET TO LAUNCH THE BIGGEST SHARE FLOAT IN HISTORY, MAKING ELON MUSK THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE. HOW A ROCKET COMPANY THAT MAKES SATELLITES AND AI MAY RESHAPE YOUR KIWISAVER. YOUNG KIWIS HAVE THEIR SAY ON THE PROPOSED SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR UNDER-16S. FOR SOME OF MY FRIENDS, IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. PLUS ` SHAKIRA KICKS OFF THE WORLD CUP. # AH, AH, LET'S GO. # FANS CELEBRATE, PROTESTERS CLASH, TEMPERS AND TALENT FLAIR IN THE FIRST MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT. MAY BE WITH AN OPENING HERE... AND THAT IS THE OPENING GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP. CAPTIONS BY SAM BAKER, LAURA YOUNG AND KATE PERCIVAL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. IT'S NEARLY LIFT-OFF FOR THE BIGGEST STOCK MARKET LISTING IN HISTORY, WITH THE KNOCK-ON EFFECT POTENTIALLY BOOSTING OR BLUNTING YOUR KIWISAVER. SPACEX, FOUNDED BY ELON MUSK, LISTS OVERNIGHT ` MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER INVESTORS ALLOWED TO BUY SHARES IN THE HIGH-PROFILE COMPANY FOR THE FIRST TIME. FOR CONTEXT, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS. THE COMPANY'S HOPING TO RAISE AT LEAST NZ$128B. THEY'RE SETTING AN INITIAL PRICE OF JUST OVER $231 A SHARE. THIS WOULD VALUE THE COMPANY AT MORE THAN $3 TRILLION, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD. IT WOULD ALSO TURN ELON MUSK, ALREADY THE RICHEST PERSON ON THE PLANET, INTO THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE. SO, WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING? IT'S NOT JUST ROCKETS ANY MORE. SPACEX WANTS TO EXPAND ITS OUT-OF-THIS WORLD VENTURES, INCLUDING ITS PROFITABLE STARLINK SATELLITE COMMUNICATION NETWORK, BUILDING AI DATA CENTRES IN SPACE, MINING ASTEROIDS, AND COLONISING MARS. CUSHLA NORMAN LOOKS AT HOW THE AMBITIOUS PLANS COULD AFFECT US HERE. FIVE, FOUR, THREE, IGNITION. A ROCKET COMPANY ON AN ASTRONOMICAL TRAJECTORY, WITH A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SECRET THAT ELON MUSK HAS ENORMOUS AMBITIONS TO BUILD DATA CENTRES IN SPACE AND GO TO THE MOON. HIS PLANS SET TO BE BOOSTED BY SPACEX'S FIRST PUBLIC OFFER, SELLING 4% OF THE COMPANY, WITH A QUARTER AVAILABLE TO RETAIL INVESTORS. SO, NORMAL, SORT OF, AVERAGE PERSON ON THE STREET HAS BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. AND THAT WAS A SPECIFIC SORT OF REQUIREMENT OR WISH FROM ELON MUSK. BASED ON ITS OWN VALUATION, THE COMPANY IS WORTH TWICE AS MUCH AS NEW ZEALAND'S HOUSING MARKET, BUT ONCE THE SHARES HIT THE STOCK EXCHANGE, THAT PRICE COULD CHANGE. PEOPLE THINK IT'LL GO UP ON THE FIRST DAY, AND IT MAY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY RISKY INVESTMENT. MUSK HAS A CONTROLLING STAKE IN THE COMPANY, AND IF HE DECIDES TO TILT THEIR FOCUS TO GETTING TO MARS, AS HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST, THAT MAY SEVERELY IMPACT THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROFITABLE. SPACEX WAS STARTED BY ELON MUSK IN 2002, GROWING INTO AN AEROSPACE, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND AI JUGGERNAUT. BUT ITS FUTURE WILL RELY ON WHETHER INVESTORS BELIEVE THAT GROWTH CAN CONTINUE. I MEAN, THEY ONLY MADE ROUGHLY US$20B OF REVENUES LAST YEAR. SO THEY'RE LISTING AT ALMOST 100 TIMES THE REVENUES. IT'S ALSO GOT COMPETITION TO THINK ABOUT, INCLUDING FROM NEW ZEALAND. THE COMPETITION IS CATCHING UP FAST, AND SO WE SHOULD BE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY WHAT ROCKET LAB DO. BUT WITH HUGE EARLY INTEREST, SPACEX IS EXPECTED TO JOIN THE NASDAQ 100, AN INDEX OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COMPANIES, MAKING ITS FORTUNES CLOSELY TIED TO MANY. PASSIVE INVESTORS THAT USE PASSIVE INVESTMENT VEHICLES WILL OWN A LITTLE BIT OF SPACEX ` NOT A LOT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO IMPACT YOUR KIWISAVER, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. THE PUBLIC SALE WILL MAKE ELON MUSK THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE, WITH THE FIRST SHARES EXPECTED TO HIT THE MARKET OVERNIGHT. CUSHLA NORMAN, 1 NEWS. HISTORY'S BIGGEST EVER FOOTBALL WORLD CUP IS OFF TO A FLYING START IN MEXICO. A FORECAST BILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE TUNING IN FOR THE FIRST OF THREE OPENING CEREMONIES AND A MATCH MEXICANS CELEBRATED INTO THE NIGHT. THIS COMPETITION CONTINUING TO ATTRACT CONTROVERSY, THOUGH, WITH CLASHES AT PROTESTS AROUND THE STADIUM. U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH HAS MORE. BARRICADES DOWN, FAN ZONES OPEN, AS THIS WORLD CUP KICKS OFF IN STYLE. (BLOWS VUVUZELA) VIVA MEXICO! NO ONE THROWS A PARTY LIKE MEXICO. (CHEERFUL MARIACHI MUSIC PLAYS) FANS FLOWING IN FROM FAR AND WIDE. WE JUST CAME OVER FOR THE OPENING MATCH, AND THEN WE'RE OFF TO SOME MATCHES IN THE STATES AFTER THIS. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY, SO WE'VE COME FOR THE OPENING GAME. THE FIRST OF THREE OPENING CEREMONIES LAUNCHING THE BIGGEST WORLD CUP EVER, FEATURING REGGAETON STARS... # QUE CALOR. # ...AND THE QUEEN OF FIFA ANTHEMS, SHAKIRA, THE HEADLINE ACT... # AH, AH, LET'S GO. # ...AT AN EVENT THAT SOME HAVE DESCRIBED AS LACKLUSTRE. THE FAN ZONE, THOUGH, DELIVERING THE GOOD VIBES. WHOO-HOO! UNBELIEVABLE. I'M LOOKING FOR SOME SOUTH AFRICAN FANS, THOUGH. I FEEL LIKE I'M THE LONE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT I KNOW THERE'LL BE SOME BAFANA BAFANA FANS IN THE STADIUM, SO EXCITED TO SEE. MEXICO'S PRESIDENT GAVE HIS MATCH TICKET AWAY CORRECTION: MEXICO'S PRESIDENT GAVE HER MATCH TICKET AWAY TO JOIN THOSE GATHERED OUTSIDE. BUT THERE ARE STILL NEW FLASHPOINTS ERUPTING AT A TOURNAMENT TINGED WITH CONTROVERSY. RIOT POLICE DEPLOYED AROUND THE STADIUM, PUSHING BACK DEMONSTRATORS. UNIONS, STUDENTS, THE FAMILIES OF MISSING PEOPLE ALL TAKING TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST THE GOVERNMENT. OOH, MEXICO ` MAY BE WITH AN OPENING HERE... AND THAT IS THE OPENING GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP! ON THE FIELD, THOUGH, MEXICO'S OPENING SALVO AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA SENDING THE AZTECA WILD. (CROWD ROARS) PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM SHARING HER NATION'S PRIDE AT A 2-0 WIN. TRANSLATOR: THIS IS WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS ` THESE TRIUMPHS AFTER SO MUCH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHAOS. I BELIEVE THIS HELPS ALL CITIZENS OF MEXICO QUITE A BIT BECAUSE WE NEED TRIUMPHS. MEXICANS NEED TRIUMPHS. LESS REASON FOR JOY IN JOHANNESBURG, BUT SUPPORT STILL STRONG FROM OCEANS AWAY. THIS IS WHO WE ARE. THIS IS WHAT WE DO. WE'RE THE UNDERDOGS, AND WE DO PERFORM BETTER WHEN WE COME FROM THE BOTTOM UP. BACK IN MEXICO, LATIN CULTURE WINNING THE DAY AS THIS WORLD CUP BEGINS WITH A BANG. AND THE PARTY HEADS NORTH FROM MEXICO TOMORROW MORNING, AS LOGAN REPORTS. NOW THAT MEXICO HAS HAD THEIR OPENING CEREMONY, TOMORROW CANADA, AND THEN THE UNITED STATES, WILL GET THEIR TURN. THAT MEANS THAT THE FAN FESTIVAL SITES RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM HERE IN DC TO LOS ANGELES, WHERE I'M HEADED NEXT, WILL OPEN TO MILLIONS OF FANS. OFFICIALS HOPING THESE SITES WILL GIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE MATCHES, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HOW EXPENSIVE THESE GAMES ARE TO GO SEE, A CHANCE TO STILL GET AMONGST THE ACTION. AS FOR THE ALL WHITES, WELL, THEY'LL BE THANKFUL THEY'RE TRAINING IN BREEZY SAN DIEGO AND NOT HERE IN 35 DEGREES IN THE NORTHEAST OF AMERICA. BUT WITH THREE COUNTRIES, 16 HOST CITIES, AND MORE THAN 100 MATCHES, THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF FOOTBALL, OR, AS WE CALL IT HERE, SOCCER, TO COME. THE FOOTBALL MIGHT BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PACIFIC, BUT FANS HERE WERE IMMEDIATELY OUT IN FORCE. MEXICANS LIVING HERE WERE TRYING TO CREATE THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE HOME ADVANTAGE, COMING TOGETHER IN AUCKLAND FOR THE OCCASION. BONNIE JANSEN JOINED THEM FOR THE MATCH. FROM MEXICAN WAVES TO MARGARITAS. THEY MAY BE 11,000KM AWAY FROM THE ACTION, BUT THE PASSION IS JUST AS STRONG. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU THE WORLD CUP HAS FINALLY KICKED OFF? YEAH, VERY HAPPY. IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING, ESPECIALLY BEING THE HOME NATION. IT'S HARD BEING AWAY, BUT THIS IS A GOOD EXCUSE FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AS MEXICANS, EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. AND QUICKLY FEELING AT HOME. ALL CHANT: MEXICO! MEXICO! THEIR TEAM WASTING NO TIME GETTING ON THE BOARD. THIS IS PASSION. THIS IS LIFE FOR US. OUTSIDE OF MEXICO, FINDING THE COMMUNITY, BEING ABLE TO WATCH IT WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE IS REALLY GREAT. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY HERE WITH US TO CELEBRATE THIS AMAZING WORLD CUP. THIS BAR'S OWNERS READY TO LIVE UP TO THEIR HOME NATION'S HOSTING DUTIES. WE WILL TRY TO GIVE THIS... HOME TO AUCKLAND, TO EVERY SINGLE LATIN AMERICAN GAMES. MEXICO'S FANS HOPING TO BE HERE THE MOST, BACKING THEIR COUNTY'S CHANCES TO GO DEEP INTO THE TOURNAMENT. WE'RE GONNA WIN THIS WORLD CUP. WE HAVE TO. WE'RE THE HOME COUNTRY. BUT IN REALITY WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA MAKE IT OUT OF THE ROUND OF 16. A 2-0 WIN OVER SOUTH AFRICA ` THEY'RE OFF TO A GOOD START. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD. I'M REALLY HAPPY! THANK YOU, MEXICO! YOU GUYS HAVE 'UP THE WAHS' ` WHEN WE WANNA CHEER FOR MEXICO, WE GO, 'VIVA MEXICO.' MEXICAN PASSION SETTING THE STANDARD FOR THE TOURNAMENT AHEAD. BONNIE JANSEN, 1 NEWS. YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE HAD THEIR SAY ON THE PROPOSED UNDER-16S SOCIAL MEDIA BAN. THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER IS PUSHING FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD AS THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE BAN INTO LAW. ABBEY WAKEFIELD SAT DOWN WITH SOME INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS TO HEAR THEIR PERSPECTIVES. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THE GOVERNMENT BANNED SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER-16S? I WOULDN'T FEEL THE BEST BECAUSE ITS, LIKE, FOR SOME OF MY FRIENDS, THE ONLY WAY I CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. IT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND, LIKE, EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS AND STUFF. MANY KIWI KIDS SHARE SIMILAR THOUGHTS AND OPPOSE AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER THAT SURVEYED 85 YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THEIR LIVES, BUT THEIR VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES HAVE BEEN MISSING, I THINK, TOO MUCH FROM THIS DISCUSSION, AND SO THIS REPORT DIRECTLY PRESENTS THEIR VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES. THESE WELLINGTON INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS ARE AGED BETWEEN 12 AND 13. WHAT DO YOU USE YOUR APPS FOR? UM, WELL, FOR TIKTOK, BEDROTTING, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD THING. WHAT IS BEDROTTING? WELL, IT'S JUST STAYING IN A BED, SCROLLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY WANT MORE NUANCED RESTRICTIONS. I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA COULD BE GOOD FOR CHILDREN, LIKE, ABOVE THE AGE OF 12 OR 13, IF THEY'VE SHOWN THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH FOR IT. MAYBE, LIKE, MODERATION OF SORTS. LIKE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE RATHER THAN JUST REMOVING IT COMPLETELY. LOTS OF KIDS KNOW WHAT'S GOOD AND WHAT'S WRONG. DEPENDS HOW YOU'VE, LIKE, GROWN UP. THEY'RE ALSO VERY AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. SOMEONE TRIED SENDING ME FEET PICS OR SOMETHING, WHICH IS VERY DISTURBING AND QUITE WEIRD, AND THEY WERE LIKE, 'SEND ME FEET PICS,' OR SOMETHING, 'TO THIS USER,' AND STUFF. WHICH WAS VERY WEIRD. WHAT APP WAS THAT ON? DISCORD AND TIKTOK. AND DO YOU KNOW WHO THE PERSON WAS? NO. I KNOW, LIKE, THERE'S, LIKE, PEOPLE THAT PRETEND TO BE KIDS AND TRICK PEOPLE ONLINE. BETTER REGULATION OF THE PLATFORMS THEMSELVES ONE OF SEVEN REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS. COS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A POSITIVE THING, RIGHT, YOU GET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE AND IT CAN BE QUITE FUN. BUT I GUESS WE NEED SOME SORT OF POLICY IN PLACE TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM SEEING THINGS ON THE SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA THAT COULDN'T BE FUN. SOMETIMES THAT CONTENT IS BEING PUSHED TO THEM. THEY'RE NOT GOING LOOKING FOR IT. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT TO PUT THAT STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY BACK ON THESE TECH COMPANIES. THESE KIDS SAY THEY'RE NOT THE PROBLEM, IT'S THOSE CONTROLLING WHAT ENDS UP ON THEIR SCREENS. ABBEY WAKEFIELD, 1 NEWS. EXPERTS ARE WARNING NEW ZEALANDERS TO PREPARE FOR MORE EXTREME COASTAL FLOODING. A NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDY SAYS THAT WORLDWIDE, THE LIKELIHOOD OF EXTREME COASTAL SEA-LEVEL EVENTS HAS QUADRUPLED IN A CENTURY. THE MEDIAN FREQUENCY OF A ONE-IN-100-YEAR FLOOD ` THAT'S A 1% CHANCE OF AN EVENT OCCURRING IN A GIVEN YEAR FROM SEA-LEVEL RISE ` HAS INCREASED TO A ONE-IN-EIGHT-YEAR FLOOD, A 12.5% CHANCE. AND THE FREQUENCY IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE. LOCALLY, THAT MEANS MANAGEABLE, ONE-OFF NUISANCE FLOODING BECOMES A CHRONIC FLOODING RISK. AND THE SOLUTIONS ` LIFTING FLOOR LEVELS, BUILDING SEA WALLS OR RELOCATION ` ARE PERMANENT. JAMES FLEURY LOOKS AT THE ISSUE AND THE IMPACT HERE. 10M SWELLS ARE NOT UNHEARD OF IN WELLINGTON. EARLIER THIS WEEK, MUCH OF THE SOUTH COAST LOOKED LIKE THIS. BUT WHILE THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL, LOCALS SAY THEY'VE SEEN WORSE. EVEN IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD THREE ` LIKE TWO QUITE BIG ONES ` WHERE DEBRIS HAS COME UP ALL THE WAY TO THE FENCE AND THE HOUSE. AND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THESE EVENTS ARE ONLY BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. A NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDY HIGHLIGHTING WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON'S FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF THESE EXTREME SEA LEVELS, WHICH IS WHAT ONE OF THE PAPERS WAS TALKING ABOUT, HAS GONE UP DRAMATICALLY FROM A ONE-IN-A-HUNDRED-YEAR EVENT TO A ONE-IN-A-SIX-MONTH EVENT. COMPARING THE CAPITAL TO OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD... SO, THE SEA LEVEL DOESN'T VARY VERY MUCH. SO THE SIGNAL OF INCREASING SEA LEVELS, YOU FEEL IT FASTER IN WELLINGTON. THE IMPACT MORE PRONOUNCED HERE, WITH THE AVERAGE TIDE RANGE JUST 1M. SEA LEVEL RISE HAS EATEN INTO ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE TIDE RANGE. WHEREAS IF YOU'VE GOT A 4M TIDE RANGE, A QUARTER OF A METRE IS JUST A SMALL PROPORTION. THIS SEAWALL IN ISLAND BAY HAS PROTECTED THE COMMUNITY SINCE THE 1930s. DAMAGED IN A 2013 STORM, RESIDENTS CAMPAIGNED TO FIX IT. IT DOES HAVE HERITAGE STATUS, AND IT IS THAT HERITAGE STATUS AND THE HISTORICNESS OF THIS WALL THAT SAVED IT IN THE END. CLAIMING IF IT WASN'T REBUILT, PARTS OF ISLAND BAY WOULD BE UNINHABITABLE. THE ROAD WOULD DISAPPEAR. ALL THOSE HOUSES, RIGHT BACK AS FAR AS TRENT ST ` THEY WOULD BECOME UNLIVEABLE. SHORLAND PARK WOULD HAVE DISAPPEARED. THE MAYOR SAYS CLIMATE RESILIENCE IS COSTLY. WE DO NEED GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS, IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THE EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION ARRANGEMENT, WHERE IF THERE'S AN EARTHQUAKE, GOVERNMENT HELPS INDIVIDUALS... WITH MONEY TO BUY THEIR HOUSE, OR WHATEVER HAS TO HAPPEN. THIS WEEK'S HEAVY SWELLS... A SIGN OF WHAT'S TO COME. JAMES FLEURY, 1 NEWS. THE AUDITOR-GENERAL IS WEIGHING UP A REQUEST FROM LABOUR TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO RECORD-KEEPING IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE. IT FOLLOWS REVELATIONS CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S FORMER CHIEF POLICY ADVISOR MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM FONTERRA AND Z ENERGY AND RECEIVED HAND-DELIVERED DOCUMENTS FROM THEM BUT DIDN'T KEEP AN OFFICIAL RECORD. THE COMPANIES WERE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO AMEND A LAW WHICH KILLED OFF A CLIMATE EMISSIONS COURT CASE. THE GOVERNMENT DID AMEND THE LAW. LABOUR'S CAMILLA BELICH SAYS THE LACK OF RECORD-KEEPING ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH AND RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE IS MEETING ITS OBLIGATIONS. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THE SITUATION'S BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND THE OMBUDSMAN AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS ARE ALSO INVESTIGATING. SECURITY GUARDS WERE AMONG EIGHT PEOPLE ARRESTED BY QUEENSTOWN POLICE FOLLOWING A MAJOR DRUG OPERATION IN THE TOURIST TOWN. OFFICERS FOUND CLASS-A DRUGS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 60g OF COCAINE, AND $120,000 IN CASH AFTER MULTIPLE SEARCH WARRANTS OVER TWO MONTHS. FIVE OF THE ALLEGED OFFENDERS WERE WORKING AS BOUNCERS AT LOCAL BARS AND CLUBS, WITH A SECURITY COMPANY NOW LOSING ITS LICENCE. POLICE SAY IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE PEOPLE WORKING IN ROLES INTENDED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE DOING THE OPPOSITE. THE COWBELLS WILL BE RINGING IN WAIKATO TONIGHT ` THE CHIEFS HOSTING THE CRUSADERS, WITH THE FIRST SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINAL CLASH UNDERWAY IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. THE CHIEFS ARE RANKED HIGHER, BUT THE CRUSADERS ARE THE CRUSADERS AND HISTORICALLY HAVE A STRONG AWAY RECORD COME KNOCKOUT GAMES. BRODYN KNUCKEY IS INSIDE WAIKATO STADIUM. BRODYN, WHAT'S THE MOOD THERE? AS YOU CAN HEAR AND PROBABLY SEE BEHIND ME, THE FANS ARE HERE. IT IS ACCEPTED TO BE A SELL-OUT SEMI-FINAL BETWEEN THE CHIEFS AND CRUSADERS. TONIGHT IS A BIT OF A CHANCE FOR THE CHIEFS TO SMOOTH OVER A COUPLE OF CHIPS ON THEIR SHOULDER. THEY LOST BOTH THE DERBY GAMES TO THE CRUSADERS, BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY THE LAST TWO TIMES THEY HAVE FACED OFF IN THE PLAY-OFFS, THE CRUSADERS CAME OUT ON TOP INCLUDING IN 2023 WHEN THE TITLE WAS DECIDED IN HAMILTON. IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, THEY HAVE ALSO GOT RECENT FORM ON THEIR SIDE. THEY HAVE LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE BETTER SIDES IN THE SECOND-HALF OF THE SEASON AFTER A SLOW START INCLUDING BEATING THE CHIEFS IN CHRISTCHURCH JUST LAST MONTH. I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW OTHER CHIEFS GOING TO GET ONE OVER THE BLACK AND RED JUGGERNAUT? YOU WILL HAVE TO STICK AROUND IN SPORT. WE WILL BE INVITING ONE OF THE CHIEFS CAPTAINS FOR SOME INSIGHTS. ARE BIT OF SHAKIRA THERE. A MURI AKE NEI, AFTER THE BREAK ` TEENS RECRUITED ONLINE TO KILL. (GUNSHOTS) WHO'S BEHIND ONE OF THE WORLD'S GROWING CRIME PROBLEMS? PLUS, NEW THREATS ` THEN FRESH CLAIMS OF AN IMMINENT DEAL BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN. THE ADMISSION TODAY FROM DONALD TRUMP ABOUT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'S APPETITE FOR ESCALATION. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` RESEARCH SAYS WE'RE MORE RULE-ABIDING AROUND BATMAN. WE TEST THE THEORY. AND THE TOWN THAT TOOK ON HARRODS CELEBRATES A MILESTONE. WE BELIEVE EVERY KIWI HAS THE RIGHT TO TRADE UNDER HIS OWN NAME IF HE WISHES TO, SO... HARRODS OF LONDON HAS NO STANDING IN NEW ZEALAND AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED. PLUS, REBELLION AGAINST AGEISM ` COULD CIRCUS TRICKS BE THE ANSWER? JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. VOICEOVER: We all know the rules. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) The pantry piece is just the piece you eat while you decide whether or not you're going to eat a piece. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) Hello Chocolate Lovers! DONALD TRUMP CLAIMS A DEAL TO END THE WAR WITH IRAN IS IMMINENT, CANCELLING PLANS FOR NEW MILITARY STRIKES. THE U.S. PRESIDENT SAYS A SETTLEMENT'S BEEN APPROVED BY 'THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF IRANIAN LEADERSHIP', BUT TEHRAN HASN'T CONFIRMED THE DEAL. ABC'S RACHEL SCOTT HAS MORE. HOURS AFTER THREATENING TO HIT IRAN VERY HARD AND SEIZE THE COUNTRY'S OIL INDUSTRY, PRESIDENT TRUMP ABRUPTLY BACKING OFF, CLAIMING THERE IS NOW A DEAL TO END THE WAR. WE JUST MADE A GREAT SETTLEMENT OF... THE WAR WITH IRAN, AND WE'RE GONNA BE, UH... SUBJECT TO FINALISATION OF DOCUMENTS WE SHOULD GET DONE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IRAN AND THE U.S. HAVE BEEN TRADING FIRE FOR DAYS. AND THIS MORNING, PRESIDENT TRUMP UPPING THE ANTE, SAYING THE U.S. WOULD BE TAKING KHARG ISLAND ` THE HEART OF IRAN'S OIL ECONOMY ` AND THAT THE U.S. WOULD THEN ASSUME TOTAL CONTROL OF THEIR OIL AND GAS MARKETS. PRESIDENT TRUMP ACKNOWLEDGING WAR-WEARY AMERICANS MIGHT NOT BE ON BOARD. IRAN'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR WITH THIS WARNING, SAYING... AND THIS AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT TRUMP POSTING HE HAD CANCELLED THE SCHEDULED STRIKES AND BOMBINGS, ADDING... YOU HAVE SAID BEFORE THAT IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES WERE CLOSE TO A DEAL. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET. WHY ARE YOU SO CONVINCED THAT THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT? UH, BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN A POUNDING. THEY'VE TAKEN A POUNDING LIKE VERY FEW PEOPLE COULD TAKE, AND THEY WANNA MAKE THE DEAL A LOT MORE THAN I DO. A SOURCE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE TALKS TELLS ABC NEWS THE DEAL IS VERY CLOSE AS MEDIATORS HAVE HIT SOME BREAKTHROUGHS. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THE AGREEMENT WOULD IMMEDIATELY REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM WOULD BE YET TO COME. IT'S A VERY STRONG MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT IS A LITTLE CONCEPTUAL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA GET DONE. AND IF IT DOESN'T GET DONE FOR ANY REASON` WHICH I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT NOT HAPPENING. THEY WANT TO SIGN IT AS MUCH AS I DO OR MORE. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE BELIEVES IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE DEAL. BUT TONIGHT, IRAN'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYING IRAN HAS NOT REACHED A FINAL CONCLUSION. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS A FORMAL SIGNING CEREMONY COULD TAKE PLACE AS EARLY AS THIS WEEKEND. ONE PERSON'S BEEN KILLED IN THE U.S. STATE OF IOWA AS DAMAGING STORMS STRETCH FROM THE COUNTRY'S MID WEST TO NORTH EAST. MORE THAN 90 MILLION AMERICANS ARE UNDER SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS. AT LEAST A DOZEN TORNADOES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH THUNDERSTORMS, HAIL AND WINDS EXCEEDING 140km/h. AND AN EL NINO CLIMATE PATTERN THAT COULD 'TURBOCHARGE' EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS GLOBALLY HAS OFFICIALLY FORMED IN THE PACIFIC ACCORDING TO AMERICAN METEOROLOGISTS. IT'S FEARED THE NATURAL SEA WARMING CYCLE COULD FUEL MORE INTENSE HEATWAVES, DROUGHTS AND FLOODS. THE U.S. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S WARNING IT COULD RANK AMONG THE STRONGEST EL NINO EVENTS EVER RECORDED. FORECASTERS HERE EXPECT EL NINO TO MEAN A DRIER, WARMER AND WINDIER WINTER FOR MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, LEADING TO A DRIER SPRING. THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOSPITALISED AFTER A GAS EXPLOSION DESTROYED SEVERAL HOMES IN THE U.S. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. (BOOM!) A NEIGHBOUR SAYS THEY HEARD A HISSING SOUND BEFORE MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS THAT COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED ONE HOME AND SET FIRE TO TWO OTHERS. POLICE BELIEVE A LEAK FROM A PROPANE CYLINDER IGNITED CAUSING THE BLASTS. CRIMINAL GROUPS ARE INCREASINGLY TARGETING TEENAGERS ONLINE, RECRUITING THEM TO CARRY OUT SERIOUS AND VIOLENT CRIMES. FROM AUSTRALIA TO EUROPE, AUTHORITIES SAY THE TREND IS GROWING AND BECOMING MORE BRAZEN. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. A FATHER AND DAUGHTER RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES AT A SYDNEY SCHOOL AMBUSHED BY A GUNMAN. THE BRAZENNESS OF THIS CRIME IS SHOCKING. IT'S VIOLENT IN ITS NATURE. IT'S PUBLIC IN ITS ORIENTATION. AND, OF COURSE, IT'S CONCERNING TO US AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. POLICE BELIEVE THE GUNMAN IS A YOUNG CONTRACT KILLER, RECRUITED ONLINE VIA THE DARK WEB. IT'S APPALLING THAT SOMEONE WOULD ATTEMPT TO RECRUIT A CHILD TO COMMIT THESE KINDS OF ATROCIOUS VIOLENT ACTS. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FATHER WAS THE INTENDED TARGET DUE TO FAMILY TIES TO AN UNDERWORLD GROUP. WHAT WE ARE SEEING AT THE MOMENT IS A CHANGE IN THE ORGANISED CRIME ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE SEEING CRIME AS A SERVICE. IN EUROPE TOO... (GUNFIRE) ...AUTHORITIES SAY MORE AND MORE TEENAGERS ARE BEING TARGETED. THESE KIDS ARE BEING RECRUITED FOR THE MOST VICIOUS CRIMES ` FOR KILLINGS, FOR BOMBINGS, FOR ABDUCTIONS. THIS TAKES PLACE ONLINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GAMING PLATFORMS. THE RECRUITMENT OF TEENS BY CRIMINAL ORGANISATIONS IS NOW ONE OF EUROPE'S BIGGEST POLICING CHALLENGES. THIS WOMAN'S SON (16) WAS A VICTIM... IT'S STILL HARD TO BELIEVE. SOMETIMES, I FEEL LIKE I'M DREAMING. LIKE, A NIGHTMARE. ...LAST YEAR SHOT DEAD WHILE WALKING HOME. HE WAS NOT THE INTENDED TARGET; THE GUNMAN RECRUITED ONLINE BY A GANG. THE KIDS DID THE DIRTY WORK FOR THEM, AND THEN... THEY JUST THROW THEM AWAY LIKE GARBAGE. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM. NEW ZEALAND'S ONLINE SAFETY WATCHDOG, NETSAFE, SAYING SUCH RECRUITMENT ISN'T COMMON HERE BUT OTHER EXPLOITATION IS AND IT RARELY STARTS WITH A REQUEST TO DO SOMETHING HARMFUL OR ILLEGAL. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` THEY CALL THEMSELVES 'BLOOD BROTHERS'. HAVING A BIT OF A CHAT, A BIT OF BANTER. FOUR MEN, TEN YEARS, AND 1200 VITAL BLOOD AND PLASMA DONATIONS. FOUR MEN, 10 YEARS, AND 1200 VITAL BLOOD AND PLASMA DONATIONS. WHAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK? THEN, FOUND ON A KAYAK IN THE NORTH SEA KILOMETRES FROM SHORE. THE DRAMATIC END TO THIS DOG'S UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` WHY A SMALL KIWI TOWN TOOK ON HARRODS OF LONDON AND WON. AND WOULD BATMAN MAKE YOU BEHAVE BETTER? THE SEVEN SHARP SOCIAL EXPERIMENT TESTING THE THEORY. PLUS, LEGO'S UNVEILED IT'S LARGEST SET. CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IT IS? THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS AND NEW MIGRANTS TO NEW ZEALAND IS INCREASING, ACCORDING TO STATS NZ. OVERSEAS ARRIVALS WERE OVER 280,000 IN APRIL, UP 21,000 FROM THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR. THE BIGGEST RISE WAS IN VISITORS FROM CHINA, AFTER VISA-FREE TRAVEL FOR ELIGIBLE CHINESE PASSPORT-HOLDERS WAS INTRODUCED LAST NOVEMBER. AND THERE WERE RECORD VISITOR NUMBERS FOR APRIL FROM AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA. MIGRATION IS UP TOO, WITH A 2% RISE IN ARRIVALS FOR THE YEAR TO APRIL. MIGRANT DEPARTURES FELL 7%. THAT'S AN ANNUAL NET MIGRATION GAIN OF ABOUT 22,000 PEOPLE. THE NEW ZEALAND BLOOD SERVICE IS CELEBRATING RECORD GROWTH IN PLASMA DONATIONS THIS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR WEEK. BUT IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH. THEY NEED 4000 NEW PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO GIVE OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IN ORDER TO MEET DEMAND FOR BLOOD AND PLASMA PRODUCTS. KATIE STEVENSON REPORTS. IT'S NOT WHERE YOU'D USUALLY MEET FOR A CATCH-UP... BUT THESE CHRISTCHURCH MEN HAVE FORGED A FRIENDSHIP THROUGH THEIR FORTNIGHTLY VISITS TO THE BLOOD DONOR CENTRE, FIRST MEETING MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. WE'VE SORT OF FOUND THAT WE'RE ALL DONATING TOGETHER AND KIND OF JUST STARTED TALKING TO EACH OTHER AFTERWARDS, HAVING A BIT OF A CHAT... A BIT OF BANTER CAME ABOUT, AND THEN WE SORT OF JUST... ON SUCH A REGULAR BASIS, SO WE KIND OF COULDN'T RESIST. GO OUT FOR A CUP OF COFFEE, CARRY ON THE CHAT, AND IT'S JUST BUILT FROM THERE. MORE THAN 25,000 NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE GIVEN PLASMA IN THE PAST YEAR, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DONORS THE BLOOD SERVICE HAS EVER RECORDED. EVERY 18 MINUTES, SOMEONE IN NEW ZEALAND REQUIRES BLOOD OR BLOOD PRODUCTS. THE NEW ZEALAND BLOOD SERVICE NEEDS TO COLLECT MORE THAN 5000 DONATIONS A WEEK TO MEET THAT DEMAND. ALL THE PLASMA PRODUCTS CAN BE DONE INTO SO MANY MORE MEDICINES THAN JUST OLD BLOOD, SORT OF THING. AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE CANCER-RELATED, SORT OF THING. SO IT'S JUST, YEAH, KEEN TO KEEP ON DOING, UM... PAYING IT FORWARD AT SOME STAGE, YOU KNOW. I MIGHT NEED IT MYSELF. WE'RE CONSTANTLY SURPRISED BY THE GENEROSITY OF KIWIS TURNING OUT TO DONATE. BUT WE ALWAYS NEED MORE. THE DEMAND KEEPS GROWING, AND THERE'S ATTRITION AMONGST THE DONOR COMMUNITY. LIFE HAPPENS, PEOPLE GET UNWELL, AND THEY CAN NO LONGER DONATE. SO WE NEED TO KEEP ADDING MORE DONORS TO OUR LIFESAVING TEAM. IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS SEEKING 4000 NEW DONORS... IT'S PRETTY EASY, YOU KNOW. IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT AN HOUR OUT OF YOUR DAY, REALLY. IT'S EASY TO DO, AND THE TEAM HERE ARE GREAT, SO WHY WOULDN'T YOU? COLLECTIVELY, THESE FOUR HAVE MADE CLOSE TO 1200 DONATIONS. WE EVEN HAVE A WHATSAPP GROUP THAT WE KEEP IN CONTACT WHILE IN BETWEEN THE WEEKS THAT WE'RE NOT DONATING. NOW THAT I'M JOINED IN WITH THIS GROUP OF GUYS, THERE'S` THE PRESSURE'S ON TO KEEP COMING. OTHERWISE, YOU GET RASPBERRIES IN THE CHAT GROUP. THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BLOOD BROTHERS BUILDING A COMMUNITY AND SAVING LIVES ONE DONATION AT A TIME. KATIE STEVENSON, 1 NEWS. A DOG'S BEEN REUNITED WITH HIS VERY WORRIED OWNER AFTER BEING SWEPT OUT TO SEA BY A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND WHILE SITTING SOLO ON AN INFLATABLE KAYAK. AFTER A TWO-HOUR SEARCH OFF THE NORTHEAST ENGLAND COAST INVOLVING NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS, A TOUR BOAT SPOTTED BRUCE THE ALSATIAN 4KM OUT TO SEA. HOW ARE YOU, BUDDY? YOU'RE THE GOODEST OF BOYS. BRUCE'S OWNER SAID HE'D TRY TO SWIM AFTER THE KAYAK WHEN IT WAS BLOWN OUT OF REACH BUT COULDN'T KEEP UP, INSTEAD RETURNING TO SHORE TO RAISE THE ALARM. THE WATER TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS JUST 8 DEGREES. BRUCE'S RESCUERS SAY HE WAS COLD BUT QUICKLY RECOVERED FROM HIS ORDEAL. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND WE'RE UNDERWAY. GREAT TO SEE THE WORLD CUP HAS BEGUN. ALL EYES WERE ON MEXICO CITY TODAY. WE'RE KEEPING TABS ON THE ALL WHITES' BUILDUP. AND WE'RE AT THE USA-MEXICO BORDER, WHERE OVER THIS FENCE, THE ALL WHITES' NEXT OPPONENTS ARE GETTING READY. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS AFTER THE BREAK. ALSO TONIGHT, WE GO LIVE TO THE FIRST SUPER SEMI-FINAL IN HAMILTON. AUPIKI AIMS FOR A CROWD RECORD IN CHRISTCHURCH ON THE OPENING WEEKEND. AND SPAIN 1982 ` WE MARK THE START OF THE '26 WORLD CUP WITH SOME OF OUR PIONEERING GREATS. AND THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER FOR SOME TODAY, BUT WILL IT RETURN? WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE WEEKEND HAS IN STORE. GOOD NEWS FOR SOME, WHILE IT'S WET AND WINDY FOR OTHERS. I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. You know, coffee spikes your cortisol. Yeah, but it's good for your liver. Pro tip, magnetic hydration. (DOG BARKS) (QUIRKY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) Cardio ruins muscle gains. Hey! Standing ruins your knees. Sleep is overrated. Sitting is hard on your hips. (UNINTELLIGIBLE CHATTER) (NOTIFICATION BEEPS) (QUIRKY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CONTINUES) NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA, WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TONIGHT, THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY ` TWO MATCHES ON THE OPENING DAY. IT WAS THE FIRST ONE IN MEXICO CITY THAT CAPTURED THE WORLD'S ATTENTION AS THE HOSTS MADE THE BEST POSSIBLE START. BONNIE JANSEN HAS THE ACTION. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DREAM WORLD CUP STARTS... AND THAT IS THE OPENING GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP. ...THIS IS IT. SCORED BY JULIAN QUINONES. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BORN IN COLOMBIA, BUT HE'S A HERO OF MEXICO RIGHT NOW. FOUR YEARS OF ANTICIPATION ANSWERED IN JUST NINE MINUTES. MEXICO EXPLODING INTO SONG, THERE WAS NO STOPPING THIS PARTY AT THE AZTECA. AND THIS PLACE IS SHAKING. TRANSLATOR: WE ALL FEEL THE ADRENALINE AND THE GOOSEBUMPS. IT IS A MOMENT I'LL CARRY WITH ME ALL MY LIFE. I FELT THAT ALL THE SACRIFICES I MADE TO BE HERE WERE WORTHWHILE. THE BIGGEST WORLD CUP TO DATE, COMPLETE WITH 48 TEAMS, FINALLY HERE. A REMATCH OF THE 2010 OPENER BETWEEN MEXICO AND SOUTH AFRICA, THE WORLD'S 13TH RANKED SIDE DANGEROUS FROM THE OUTSET. AN EARLY CHANCE, AND A SUPERB SAVE BY WILLIAMS. BAFANA BAFANA STRUGGLED TO FIND ANY RHYTHM, SLOPPY DEFENDING AND POOR DISCIPLINE NOT HELPING EITHER. AND THE PUNISHMENT HERE IS GOING TO BE SEVERE. NOT THE ONLY TIME THEY WERE PUNISHED, THEMBA ZWANE ALSO SENT OFF LATE, BUT BY THEN THE GAME WAS ESSENTIALLY GONE. THAT'S A GREAT BALL ` JIMENEZ! MEXICO, THOUGH, WOULDN'T COME AWAY UNSCATHED. RED CARD, CESAR MONTES. AND THIS REALLY IS TURNING INTO A GAME TO REMEMBER. THE MOST PLAYERS SENT OFF IN A WORLD CUP OPENER, AND ONLY ONE SHY OF THE FOUR RED CARDS SHOWN ACROSS THE ENTIRE 2022 TOURNAMENT. TRANSLATOR: A VICTORY AT THE START IS A GOOD OUTCOME. COULD IT GET BETTER? OF COURSE. AND SHOULD. MEXICO AIMING TO GO DEEP INTO THIS WORLD CUP, BUT FOR NOW, THEY'VE GOT THE PARTY STARTED. BONNIE JENSEN, 1 NEWS. ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT TEAMS AT THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP IS THE ALL WHITES FIRST OPPOSITION ` IRAN. A TEAM SOME THOUGHT MIGHT NOT EVEN MAKE KICK OFF GIVEN THE POLITICAL TENSIONS WITH THE U-S. WORLD CUP REPORTER ZION DAYAL REPORTS. IF YOU FOLLOW SAN DIEGO'S SKYLINE SOUTH, YOU'LL END UP AT A BIG METAL WALL. THIS IS THE BORDER BETWEEN THE USA AND MEXICO. WE'RE CURRENTLY IN SAN DIEGO, BUT OVER THAT WALL IS TIJUANA, MEXICO. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE THE ALL WHITES' NEXT OPPONENTS, IRAN, ARE BASED. THEY'VE HAD TO MOVE TO MEXICO FROM THE U.S. AS TENSIONS ROSE. EVEN NOW, A NUMBER OF THEIR SUPPORT STAFF HAVE BEEN DENIED VISAS TO COME INTO THE U.S. FOR THE WORLD CUP. THE MIDDLE EAST SIDE UNDER STRICT SECURITY BUT MANAGING TO MAKE TIME FOR THEIR FANS. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MEANT TO BE BASED IN ARIZONA. TRANSLATOR: FOOTBALL IS UNPREDICTABLE. UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. DURING THE PAST YEAR, OUR COUNTRY EXPERIENCED TWO IMPOSED WARS, AND THE SITUATION FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE WAS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. IRAN WILL PLAY ALL THREE OF THEIR GAMES IN THE U.S., STARTING WITH NEW ZEALAND ON TUESDAY. THEY'LL ONLY FLY IN A DAY BEFORE A MATCH AND LEAVE SOON AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL GAME THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND THIS IS WHAT WE FEEL THE RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS IRANIAN, AS A PERSIAN PEOPLE, I WOULD SAY. AND WE WANT TO GIVE A GOOD IMPRESSION TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE HERE TO CALL FOR THE PEACE, CALL FOR UM, TO BE UNITED. NOW TRYING TO PREPARE LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM, BUT SINCE DECEMBER, THEIR PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN UP IN THE AIR, CREATING UNCERTAINTY FOR THEIR OPPONENTS LIKE THE ALL WHITES. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT BEEN PERFECT AND IDEAL ` THEIR SITUATION OF HAVING TO COME INTO A WORLD CUP AND WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT THEY'RE HERE, WE'RE READY FOR THE GAME, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY FOR THE GAME. AND GIVEN EVERYTHING THEY'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH JUST TO GET HERE, THEY'LL BE HOPING SPORT REALLY CAN PROVIDE A REASON TO UNITE. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS, SAN DIEGO. MEANWHILE, BACK HOME, IT'S SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC SEMI-FINAL TIME ` FOUR NEW ZEALAND TEAMS FEATURING FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE THE CLOSER CONTEST, THE CHIEFS HOST ARCH-RIVALS THE CRUSADERS TONIGHT IN HAMILTON. BRODYN KNUCKEY IS AT THE STADIUM AND JOINS US NOW. BRODYN. KIA ORA, THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF BUZZ THIS WEEK. WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE ERROL BRAIN JOINING US. THEY'RE A SIDE THAT TENDS TO PEAK FOR FINALS, AND I KNOW THE GUYS WELL. WE'RE IN FOR A CHANCE. YOU WERE HERE 30 YEARS AGO ` WHAT'S CHANGED? WE WERE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PROFESSIONAL MEANT THEN. I KNOW TONIGHT IS A BIG DEAL. JUST QUICKLY, ALMOST NEARING A SELL OUT! OH, IT'S AWESOME. WE NEED OUR CROWD TO GET BEHIND OUR PLAYERS. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST TONIGHT. THERE YOU HAVE IT. THANKS, BRODYN. BRODYN KNUCKEY LIVE FROM HAMILTON. HISTORY BECKONS IN SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI TOMORROW, WITH A RECORD DOMESTIC WOMEN'S RUGBY CROWD EXPECTED IN CHRISTCHURCH. MORE THAN 10,000 TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD SO FAR FOR TOMORROW'S MATCH BETWEEN MATATU AND CHIEFS MANAWA ` THAT'S DOUBLE THE CURRENT RECORD. A SPECIAL OCCASION, ESPECIALLY FOR FORMER NETBALLER PARIS LOKOTUI, WHO'LL MAKE HER AUPIKI DEBUT AT LOCK. YOU KNOW, LOOKING OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, IN REFLECTION, IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY. BUT JUST SUPER EXCITED AGAIN TO GET OUT ON SATURDAY AND, KIND OF, JUST SHOW WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. MATATU THE ENVY OF THE DEFENDING CHAMPION BLUES, WHO HOST THE HURRICANES POUA AT EDEN PARK IN THEIR ROUND ONE FIXTURE. I WAS HERE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, AND IT WAS LITERALLY JUST ONE GAME, AND WE COULD BARELY FILL ANY SEATS IN ONE SIDE OF THE STADIUM. SO TO SEE THAT THEY'RE SELLING THAT MANY TICKETS IN THE NEW STADIUM, LIKE, THAT THEY'RE EVEN ABLE TO PLAY THERE IS REALLY AWESOME FOR OUR GAME. THE BLUES OUT TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR THEIR OWN SUPPORTERS. POUA WERE WINLESS LAST SEASON. BOXING HAS NAMED ITS FIRST NEW ZEALAND TEAM SINCE AN INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED BY THE SPORT INTEGRITY COMMISSION INTO BULLYING CLAIMS AGAINST NATIONAL COACH BILLY MEEHAN. SEVEN ATHLETES HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR NEXT MONTH'S COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN GLASGOW, NEARLY ALL OF THEM OFF TO THEIR FIRST GAMES. LIKE 18-YEAR-OLD FINBAR O'SULLIVAN, WHO WAS TAUGHT TO BOX BY NONE OTHER THAN THE TONGAN WARRIOR ` OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST PAEA WOLFGRAMM. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO TAKE ME ON THE PADS, YOU KNOW, TEACH ME HOW TO, LIKE, THROW PUNCHES. O'SULLIVAN'S ALSO RELATED TO 1974 COMMONWEALTH GAMES WRESTLING GOLD MEDALLIST DAVID ASPIN, WHO WAS AT TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT. WITH THE FIFA WORLD CUP KICKING OFF TODAY, MEMORIES OF 1982 COME FLOODING BACK FOR MANY OF US, ESPECIALLY FOR THE COACHES AND PLAYERS WHO WERE PIONEERS OF NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL. THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS THEY FORMED A BOND THAT EXISTS TO THIS DAY. ARCHIVE: YOU'RE RUNNING NOW HAS GOT TO BE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BLOODY CALL OF DUTY. 44 YEARS AGO, NEW ZEALAND QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT'S A TIME OF YOUR LIFE THAT, UM, IT WILL NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU, AND I DON'T THINK IT'LL EVER BE ERASED. 15 GAMES OVER NEARLY 18 MONTHS JUST TO QUALIFY ` FROM HERE TO AUSTRALIA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA ` HIGHLIGHTED BY A TEENAGE WYNTON RUFER. RUFER WITH A CHANCE. AND IT'S A GREAT GOAL! WE WERE AMATEUR PLAYERS. WE HAD TO TAKE LONG PERIODS OFF WORK. HERE WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE FAMILY AFLOAT AND ALSO ENJOYING THE GAME THAT WE LOVE. UPSET WINS AND HISTORIC VICTORIES EVEN BEFORE MAKING THE CUP, WHERE THEY WERE DRAWN IN GROUP SIX, ARGUABLY THE TOUGHEST GROUP ` BRAZIL, KENNY DALGLISH'S SCOTLAND AND THE SOVIET UNION. THERE'S A CHANCE COMING IN FOR BALTACHA. WE LOST ALL THREE GAMES, AND IT WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR US PERSONALLY, BUT I THINK WE WERE STILL THERE ON TOP OF EVEREST. DESPITE THE MASSIVE GULF, NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST CUP GOALS CAME AGAINST THE SCOTS. CHALLENGING... AND SCORES! CAPTAIN, STEVE SUMNER, AND HIS BUNCH OF AMATEURS FACING THE GODS OF BRAZIL IN THEIR LAST MATCH ` SOCRATES, FALCAO, JUNIOR AND ZICO. WHAT A MAGNIFICENT GOAL BY ZICO. WELL, I THINK FOR THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THAT GAME, I WAS HIS SHADOW. (CHUCKLES) I FOLLOWED THEM ALL OVER THE FIELD, AND SAID NOBODY WAS GETTING HIS SHIRT EXCEPT ME. 'I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.' (CHUCKLES) EVEN TRADESMEN THAT COME IN HERE, THEY GO, 'WHAT SHIRT'S THAT ONE THERE, MATE?' OUSTED IN THE SECOND ROUND BY EVENTUAL WINNERS ITALY, MANY BELIEVE THAT BRAZIL'S SIDE WAS THE BEST TO NEVER WIN THE CUP. NUMBER TWO FROM ZICO. PEOPLE THAT I'VE ONLY SEEN ON TELEVISION, AND HERE I AM IN SPAIN, PLAYING AGAINST THEM IN THE WORLD CUP. THE WAY THEY PLAYED, THE WAY THEY MOVED THE BALL AROUND, UM, MOST OF THE TIME WE WERE WATCHING THEM DO THAT. IT WAS A BIT OF A BLUR, REALLY. (CHUCKLES) NO, NO. WHAT ABOUT ADVICE FOR THE CURRENT TEAM? YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT RIGHT, YOUR HEAD RIGHT, AND YOUR HEART RIGHT. DESPITE ALL THIS TIME, ARE YOU STILL THE GAFFER, AND THEY'RE STILL YOUR BOYS? (CHUCKLES) ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING CHANGES. A LITTLE BIT SLOWER. STILL TAKING THE PISS OUT OF EACH OTHER AS WE DO. IT'S IN THE BLOOD, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. I COULD SEE THEM IN THE DRESSING ROOM NOW ` THE ANGER, THE JOY, ALL THE EMOTIONS THAT WE WENT THROUGH. IT WAS JUST QUITE AN INCREDIBLE TIME. A TIME THAT STILL COMES TO LIFE EVERY FOUR YEARS NEARLY 50 YEARS LATER. AND HERE'S WOODDIN AGAIN. THE BALL WAS SAVED FOR HIM, AND HE PUTS IT IN! SO GOOD. GREAT MEMORIES THERE. AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN KEEP UP TO DATE ON ALL OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES. THAT'S IT FROM ME. DAN HAS YOUR WEATHER NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` FORGET THE GYM. SELF-OPTIMISE YOURSELF WITH THE CIRCUS WORKOUT. AND BATMAN'S FIGHTING A NEW CRIME ` BAD BEHAVIOUR. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA TEST IF THIS ACTUALLY WORKS, BUT, I MEAN, PEOPLE SEEM INTO IT. VOICEOVER: Get your free Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids. New Zealand's only independent guide to all the latest models. Choose the right hearing aid for your lifestyle and budget. Call 0800 45 45 42 for your free copy. NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. MANY WAKING TO YET ANOTHER STUNNING, CRISP WINTER'S DAY. RAIN MOVED THROUGH THE LOWER SOUTH OVERNIGHT, BUT CLEARED AGAIN BY MORNING. LOOKING AT THE SATELLITE, WE CAN SEE THAT RAIN-BAND TRACK UP THE SOUTH ISLAND, BREAKING UP AND WEAKENING AS IT GOES. A BIT MORE CLOUD ABOUT TOO, BRINGING AN END TO THAT STUNNING RUN OF CLEAR DAYS FOR SOME. NEW PLYMOUTH AND PALMERSTON NORTH ` OUR HOT SPOTS TODAY WITH 17 DEGREES. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, A FEW RAINY SPOTS IN UPPER SOUTH ISLAND, AND THAT CONTINUES TO TRACK NORTH. SO IN THE AFTERNOON, THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND IS IN FOR SOME SHOWERS. BUT STILL PLENTY OF SUN ON OFFER. A FEW SHOWERS OVER NORTHLAND THROUGH THE MORNING - A FINER AFTERNOON. WHITIANGA'S FINE. 16 OR 17 DEGREES. JUST A FEW OF YOU MAY SEE A MORNING SPRINKLE IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND. AN AFTERNOON IN THE SUN, AND STILL A COOL 16. NOT AS COOL AS WAIKATO THOUGH, WAKING TO THOSE PATCHES OF FOG AND FROST, BUT THAT ALL CLEARS TO A STUNNING DAY. AND 14 IS YOUR HIGH, HAMILTON. A NEAR CLEAR RUN OF SUN IN THE CENTRAL NORTH, CRUNCHY UNDERFOOT TO START. CLOUD BUILDING TO A DRIZZLY EVENING IN TAUMARUNUI, AND 15 FOR YOU. A PICTURE PERFECT WINTER'S DAY FOR YOU, TAURANGA. FINE, LIGHT WINDS AND HIGH OF 16. YOU MAY SEE A MORNING SPRINKLE IN GISBORNE. ALL THE REST WAKING TO A POSSIBLE FROST. AND A COOL 14 TO 16 DEGREES FOR ALL. THINGS START DRY IN THE WEST OF THE ISLAND. FROM LATE MORNING, CLOUD INCREASES TO SOME RAIN THAT'LL COME AND GO THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AND 15 FOR MANY OF YOU. SOME GREY PATCHES IN THE CAPITAL, PACK THE BROLLY TOO, THERE'S JUST THE CHANCE YOU'LL SEE A SHOWER - MORE TOWARD EVENING. NORTHERLIES PICKING UP IN THE MORNING AND TOP OF 14. NELSON'S LOOKING AT A DRIZZLY MORNING. WESTPORT, THE ODD RAINY PATCH. OTHERS MOSTLY FINE AND DRY. AND 15 OR 16 FOR ALL. FOG TO TOP AND TAIL YOUR DAY IN OTAUTAHI, CHRISTCHURCH. LOTS OF SUN IN BETWEEN A CHILLY 2 TO START AND TOP OF 12 DEGREES. ON AND OFF RAIN IN GREYMOUTH, AND A MOSTLY CLOUDY ONE FOR HOKITIKA. YOU MAY SEE THAT FOG BOOKEND YOUR DAY IN THE EAST TOO, BUT IT'S A STUNNER. A HIGH OF JUST 7 FOR TWIZEL. EARLY MORNING AND AGAIN EVENING CLOUD COVER IN TAHUNA, QUEENSTOWN. BUT PLENTY OF THE GOOD STUFF IN BETWEEN. YOU'LL NEED THOSE LAYERS STILL ` 10 IS YOUR HIGH. MILFORD SOUND, THAT CLOUD MAY BECOME SOME DRIZZLY TIMES IN THE AFTERNOON. OTHERS ALL RETURN TO THE CRISP, CLEAR DAYS. A HIGH OF JUST 10 FOR GORE. SAME FOR YOU OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN. FINE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY, UNTIL SOME EVENING CLOUD CREEPS IN. 4 TO START AND 12 IS WHERE YOU FINISH. SUNDAY ` HEAVY RAIN TRACKS UP THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST COAST, THAT SPREADS TO SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO LATER IN THE DAY. THE NORTH ISLAND SEES A FEW SHOWERS IN THE WEST AND LOWER ISLAND, OTHERWISE STILL MOSTLY FINE. MONDAY ` THAT HEAVY RAIN HAS TRACKED UP THE SOUTH ISLAND, CROSSING TO THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND, MOSTLY CLEARING ONCE IT'S PASSED. AND THE UPPER NORTH REMAINING DRY. SO, A BIT OF A MIXED BAG WEEKEND, BUT ENJOY IF YOU'RE HOLDING ON TO THE GLORIOUS WEATHER.