THE WORLD CUP PARTY GETS UNDERWAY IN MEXICO CITY, AND THE REF PAINTS THE TOWN RED IN THE OPENING MATCH, WHILE IT KICKS OFF OUTSIDE THE FANZONE TOO. AFTER CALLING OFF STRIKES, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ANNOUNCED THE U.S. HAS ENDED THE WAR WITH IRAN, BUT IRAN INSISTS NOTHING IS FINALISED YET. AND IT'S OUR FASTEST-GROWING TOWN, WITH TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ALMOST AS FAMOUS AS ITS SCENERY. WHAT ARE THE FUTURISTIC PLANS TO FIX IT? CAPTIONS BY KRISTIN WILLIAMS AND JOHNATHAN CHUI. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. IT'S FINALLY ARRIVED ` FOOTBALL'S WORLD CUP HAS KICKED OFF WITH AN OPENING CEREMONY IN MEXICO CITY'S AZTECA STADIUM, AND A 2-0 VICTORY FOR THE CO-HOSTS. SHAKIRA WAS AMONG THE STARS TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF 80,000 FANS. THE FIREWORKS MATCHING THOSE ON THE PITCH, WITH THE REF DOLING OUT THREE RED CARDS. AND THERE WAS CHAOS IN THE CITY CENTRE, WHERE THOUSANDS SCUFFLED AS THEY TRIED TO ENTER A FAN ZONE. ADAM HOLLINGWORTH REPORTS. MEXICO HAS HOSTED A WORLD CUP OPENING CEREMONY A RECORD THIRD TIME. IT WAS A GOLDEN AZTECA WELCOME, BUT WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL TREATMENT OF IRAN, AND AN AFRICAN REF, IT CONTAINED AMBITIOUS CLAIMS. FOOTBALL UNITES US ALL. EL FUTBOL NOS UNE A TODOS. SHAKIRA WAS THE STAR TURN, ALONGSIDE NIGERIA'S BURNA BOY ` PERFORMING THE OFFICIAL WORLD CUP SONG DAI DAI. BUT THEN, TIME, FINALLY, FOR THE FOOTBALL FIESTA TO START. VAMOS! THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF, THE BIGGEST EVER SEEN ON PLANET EARTH. AND JUST NINE MINUTES IN, THE HOSTS WERE IN RAPTURES. AND THERE'S OPENING GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP. THE DARK HORSES OF MEXICO DOMINATING SOUTH AFRICA'S BAFANA BAFANA. BUT THE REF DOMINATING THE HEADLINES. OH, RISKY CHANGE! AND THE PUNISHMENT HERE IS GOING TO BE SEVERE ` IT'S A RED CARD. BRAZILIAN WILTON SAMPAIO DISHING OUT THREE OF THEM IN A 2-0 WIN FOR MEXICO. (PEOPLE CLAMOUR, SHOUT) ON THE OUTSIDE, THERE WERE SCUFFLES WITH POLICE AS PEOPLE TRIED TO ENTER THE FAN ZONE SHORTLY BEFORE KICK-OFF. EARLIER, THERE WERE PROTESTS BY TEACHERS DEMANDING PAY RISES, AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO'VE DISAPPEARED IN MEXICO'S DRUG WAR. (PROTESTERS CHANT) IN NEW ZEALAND, THE MOOD WAS MORE CELEBRATORY FOR MEXICANS. (CHEERING, SINGING) MEXICAN FANS TOOK OVER THE CHILEAN RESTAURANT EL ORIGEN IN AUCKLAND, AND IN THE LATER KICK OFF, SOUTH KOREA TOOK ON CZECHIA. BY COMPARISON, THIS GAME HAS BEEN QUITE QUIET AND CAGEY UNTIL THE HOUR MARK WHEN THE CZECHS SCORED, AND HERE AT THE POCHA RESTAURANT, THERE HAVE BEEN GROANS. OBVIOUSLY, WITH KOREAN HOSPITALITY, WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE KOREAN NATIONAL TEAM IN TERMS OF THE WORLD CUP. EVEN IF WE LOSE THIS ONE, THERE'S TWO MORE GAMES TO GO, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT DURING THOSE TWO MATCHES AS WELL. NO NEED FOR DIPLOMACY, WHEN THIS HAPPENED... THE SHOT IS... IN! (FANS SHOUT, CHEER) THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF WORLD CUP FOOTBALL COMING TO US FOR 38 MORE DAYS. DONALD TRUMP DECLARED 'WE ENDED THE WAR WITH IRAN TODAY', ANNOUNCING THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED TO A 'VERY STRONG MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING' TO STOP THE FIGHTING. THE NEWS HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY THE MARKETS, WITH THE PRICE OF OIL DROPPING, BUT TEHRAN HAS POURED COLD WATER ON THE OPTIMISM. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. THE CAGE IS SET FOR DONALD TRUMP'S 80TH BIRTHDAY BASH ` A UFC OCTAGON IN PRIDE OF PLACE. BUT BEYOND THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN, THE PRESIDENT HAS DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR THE FIGHTING TO STOP. JUST HAD A BIG DAY. I KNOW YOU'LL NEVER BE SATISFIED, BUT THAT'S OK. THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL. ANNOUNCING A 'GREAT SETTLEMENT' HAS BEEN REACHED WITH IRAN JUST HOURS AFTER THREATENING MAJOR STRIKES. THEY WANT TO SIGN IT AS MUCH AS I DO, OR MORE. I WOULD SAY THEY WANT TO SIGN IT MORE ` MAYBE A LOT MORE. BUT IT'S A VERY DETAILED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, ALSO AGREED TO BY MANY OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE OVER THEM, AND EVERYBODY WANTS IT DONE. INCLUDING, TRUMP SAYS, THE SUPREME LEADER. I UNDERSTAND THE ANSWER IS YES. ONE OF THE LONGSTANDING STICKING POINTS, A HALT TO THE ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM, ALSO APPARENTLY SORTED. IT WILL NOT PURCHASE, DEVELOP IN ANY WAY` ANY SHAPE` IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, A NUCLEAR WEAPON. THEY WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. BUT AS HAS BECOME A WARTIME TRADITION, IRAN HAS QUICKLY REFUTED TRUMP'S CLAIMS ` TELLING STATE MEDIA NOTHING HAS BEEN FINALISED; THE U.S. PRESIDENT ADAMANT IT WILL BE SOON. THE STRAIT WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN AS SOON AS WE SIGN, WHICH COULD BE SOON, VERY SOON. MAYBE OVER THE WEEKEND. IN EUROPE. THE MARKET IS CLINGING TO THE GOOD NEWS... (BELL RINGS) ...HOPEFUL A DEAL WILL GET OIL FLOWING AGAIN. U.S. STOCKS RALLIED TO THEIR BEST DAY IN TWO MONTHS, AND BRENT CRUDE PRICES PLUNGED BELOW $90 A BARREL. OIL PRICES DROPPING LIKE A ROCK. THE RELIEF IS NEEDED. THE WORLD BANK TODAY WARNED ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL DROP TO ITS SLOWEST SINCE THE PANDEMIC ` CUTTING ITS GLOBAL GROWTH FORECAST FOR THIS YEAR TO 2.5%; CITING SURGING ENERGY PRICES, RISING INFLATION, AND HIGHER BORROWING COSTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS CONFLICT IS COMING AT A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD. WE HAVE HAD SIX YEARS OF SUCCESSIVE SHOCKS, AND THIS IS ANOTHER SHOCK. SO THE GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL SPACE IS QUITE LIMITED. AMID THE GLOBAL PINCH, THERE IS ALSO PRESSURE ON COUNTRIES TO INCREASE DEFENCE SPENDING. TODAY THE UK DEFENCE SECRETARY RESIGNED ` ACCUSING THEIR EMBATTLED PRIME MINISTER OF JEOPARDISING THE SECURITY OF THE COUNTRY BY NOT FUNDING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. THE ARMED DEFENCES MINISTER ALSO QUIT JUST HOURS LATER, THROWING SIR KEIR STARMER INTO DEEPER CRISIS. IT'S VERY HARD FOR A LEADER TO LOOK CREDIBLE WHEN A VERY LOYAL DEFENCE SECRETARY HAS QUIT OVER THIS, WHEN THAT LEADER HAS ACTUALLY GONE OUT THERE AND SHOWCASED THE THREAT, TALKED ABOUT THIS, BEEN VERY PROMINENT ON STAGE TALKING ABOUT IT; PROMOTING OUR LEADERSHIP ROLE IN DEFENCE. YOU KNOW, TRUMP SAID ALL THIS, AND THEN HAS JUST FALLEN SO FAR SHORT. DONALD TRUMP IS ALSO FACING ACCUSATIONS OF BEING ALL TALK, BUT THERE IS HOPE THE BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT CAN SECURE THE GIFT OF PEACE THIS WEEKEND. MOST QUERIES BUYING A HOME TODAY ARE SPENDING AT LEAST 40% OF THEIR INCOME ON THEIR MORTGAGE. BUT WHERE YOU LIVE CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE THE PICTURE. JANIKA HAS CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS FOR US. THE INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK OF WHAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR YOUR HOUSING COSTS IS 30% TO 35% OF INCOME BEFORE TAXES TAKEN OUT. SO HOLD THAT FIGURE IN MIND. MOST PEOPLE PAY 40% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME BEFORE TAXES TAKEN OUT TO MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. THAT IS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. DOES WHERE YOU LIVE CHANGE THINGS? DEFINITELY. WELLINGTON IS NOW MORE AFFORDABLE IN CHRISTCHURCH. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE WITH THE AVERAGE INCOME TODAY, YOU WOULD SPEND 34% ON MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS. IN CHRISTCHURCH, IT IS 38%. THAT IS BECAUSE WHILE WELLINGTON HOUSE PRICES HAVE DROPPED SHARPLY, INCOMES THERE ARE STILL COMPARATIVELY HIGH. IN AUCKLAND, THOUGH, HOUSEHOLDS SPEND 47% OF THEIR INCOME ON MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS. IT IS THE HIGHEST AMONGST THE MAIN CENTRES. NELSON AND TAURANGA AND FAR BEHIND THEM. AND THEN THERE IS QUEENSTOWN. I IMAGINE THAT AS A CATEGORY OF ITS OWN. DEFINITELY. A HOUSEHOLD WITH A TYPICAL LOCAL INCOME WOULD NEED TO SPEND 87% OF INCOME ON THEIR HOME TO BUY IT. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS YOU ARE EARNING ELSEWHERE OR BRINGING SOMETHING ELSE TO THE TABLE. IN THESE CENTRES HOUSEHOLDS SPEND ONLY 1/4 OF THEIR INCOMES ON THE MORTGAGE. THEY ARE UNDERNEATH THE INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK OF 30% TO 35%. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW YOUR REGION SHAKES UP, DO HAVE A LOOK. WELL, LET'S HEAD BACK TO QUEENSTOWN NOW, WHERE IT'S NOT ONLY HOUSING COSTS CAUSING HEADACHES, BUT GRIDLOCKED TRAFFIC, TOO. NOW, BACKERS ARE TURNING SKYWARD FOR THE ANSWER ` THEY RECKON IF YOU CAN'T BE BOTHERED SITTING IN TRAFFIC, THEN TRAVEL ABOVE IT IN CABLE CARS, AUTONOMOUS PODS, AND AN UBER IN THE SKY. HERE'S SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY. THE SCENERY MAY BE WORLD FAMOUS, BUT THE TRAFFIC IS BECOMING INFAMOUS. THE QUEENSTOWN COMMUNITY ARE DESPERATE FOR ACTION. I THINK THEY'RE REALLY SICK OF DRIVING AROUND ROAD CONES AND BEING STUCK IN THESE TRAFFIC JAMS. FOR MOST LOCALS, BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, LONG DELAYS, AND FRUSTRATION ON ROADS IS A DAILY REALITY ` MUCH OF IT FUNNELLED THROUGH A SINGLE ROAD CORRIDOR LINKING FRANKTON, NEAR THE AIRPORT, TO CENTRAL QUEENSTOWN. WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IS WE'VE ALSO GOT THE SECOND-BUSIEST ROAD IN NEW ZEALAND, OR SINGLE-CARRIAGEWAY ROAD. SO FRANKTON ROAD JUST BEHIND US HERE IS NOW SEEING OVER 10,000` SORRY, 10M VEHICLE MOVEMENTS A YEAR, SO HUGE TRAFFIC. QUEENSTOWN IS THE FASTEST-GROWING TOWN IN NZ ` ITS POPULATION IS DOUBLING AROUND EVERY 12 TO 14 YEARS, AND THAT'S WITHOUT THE MILLIONS OF TOURISTS COMING IN HERE EVERY YEAR, TOO. BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE HASN'T KEPT UP, AND THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS HAVE GOT WORSE AND WORSE. QUEENSTOWN'S GEOGRAPHY HAS LONG MADE TRANSPORT PLANNING DIFFICULT, SO ATTENTION IS INCREASINGLY TURNING SKYWARD. FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT PLANS TO BUILD A CABLE CAR CONNECTING THE AIRPORT TO THE TOWN CENTRE. THAT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF QUEENSTOWN'S UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY ` WE'RE JAMMED BETWEEN THESE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS AND LAKES, WE'VE GOT RIVERS, AND WE'VE GOT VERY LITTLE SPACE TO EXPAND ROADS. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING, A LOT MORE PEOPLE NEEDING TO MOVE AROUND, BUT NO MORE SPACE TO MOVE MORE ROADS. NOW THE RACE IS ON TO FIND A BETTER WAY AROUND TOWN. ONE PROPOSAL WOULD SEE COMMUTERS AND VISITORS TRAVELLING ABOVE THE TRAFFIC ALTOGETHER ON A CABLE CAR LINKING THE AIRPORT WITH CENTRAL QUEENSTOWN. THE CABLE CAR HAS ABOUT THE SAME CAPACITY AS A BUS EVERY MINUTE ` HEADING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SO THAT TRANSLATES TO 3000 PEOPLE PER HOUR. IT'S SEEN ALSO AS AN AFFORDABLE OPTION, IT'S SEEN ALSO AS AN AFFORDABLE OPTION, WITH TICKETS AT AROUND $6 PER RIDE. THE OTHER IS WHOOSH ` A NETWORK OF AUTONOMOUS PODS TRAVELLING ABOVE EXISTING ROADS AND HAILED THROUGH AN APP; DUBBED 'THE UBER OF THE SKY'. THE UBER ASPECT RELATES TO IT BEING ON-DEMAND, SO NOT LIKE A BUS OR A FERRY WHERE YOU HAVE TO STAND AROUND WAITING ON A TIMETABLE. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ORDER UP ONE OF THE WHOOSH CABINS ON AN APP, IT'LL COME TO YOU OR THE STOP YOU'RE WAITING AT. A GROUP OF QUEENSTOWN BUSINESS LEADERS ARE BACKING WHOOSH ` PROMINENT NAMES LIKE NZ SKI, SKYLINE, QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT, AND REMARKABLES PARK. IT'S A REAL ECONOMIC ISSUE, AS WELL AS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. IT JUST SUCKS SITTING AROUND IN TRAFFIC. AND THE PRESSURE ISN'T EASING ANY TIME SOON. WE'RE SEEING ROUGHLY ABOUT 3m VISITORS A YEAR COMING INTO THE DISTRICT, WHICH PUTS A LITTLE BIT OF STRAIN ON A DISTRICT WHEN YOU HAVE 50,000 PEOPLE LIVING HERE. SO IT'S HOW DO YOU FUND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN YOU HAVE 3M VISITORS HERE, 50,000 RESIDENTS, AND MAKING SURE WE DELIVER A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE VISITORS, AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE. SOUTHERN INFRASTRUCTURE'S CABLE CAR PLAN WAS RECENTLY REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S FAST-TRACK CONSENTING PROCESS. THE WHOOSH GROUP SAYS THE ISSUE IS NOW URGENT. BOTH PROPOSALS SAY THEIR SOLUTION ISN'T THE SILVER BULLET, AND THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER. BECAUSE IT'S NOT A MATTER OF ONE SOLUTION ` THE DISTRICT NOW NEEDS MANY. LET'S CATCH UP WITH JULIET IN QUEENSTOWN, NOW, AND A BIG STORY HAS BROKEN DOWN THERE TODAY? CAN YOU TELL US? YES, IT IS TO DO WITH A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING IN QUEENSTOWN's NIGHTLIFE THAT IS LIKELY TO RAISE SOME EYEBROWS. POLICE SAY THEY HAVE ARRESTED EIGHT PEOPLE ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE SUPPLY OF CLASS A DRUGS. WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THAT FIVE OF THEM WERE ALLEGEDLY WORKING AS DOOR MEN AT QUEENSTOWN'S BARS AND CLUBS. THIS INCLUDES COCAINE, MDMA AND KATE AMAIN. ONE PLACE HAS LOST ITS LICENCE. THE POLICE HAVE SAID THAT INVESTIGATIONS ARE FAR FROM OVER. THEY ARE URGING THAT ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP TO COME FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. THREE NEW ZEALAND POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS. ONE IS AN AUCKLAND OFFICER IN HIS 60S FACING 11 CHARGES OF CHILD EXPLOITATION AND BESTIALITY MATERIAL. ANOTHER AUCKLAND OFFICER IN HIS 50S IS CHARGED WITH NINE COUNTS, AND A THIRD OFFICER IS FROM WELLINGTON. THE CHARGES RELATE TO ALLEGED OFFENDING IDENTIFIED DURING THE REVIEW OF POLICE INFORMATION SECURITY CONTROLS AFTER THE JEVON MCSKIMMING SCANDAL. THE FORMER DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES INVOLVING CHILD EXPLOITATION AND BESTIALITY IMAGES. THE CHARGES ALLEGE OFFENDING BETWEEN AUGUST 2023 AND OCTOBER LAST YEAR. THE AUCKLAND OFFICERS ARE DUE TO APPEAR IN COURT IN THE COMING DAYS. IMO'S HERE NOW WITH TODAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, AND ONE SPOT ALMOST GOT TO 20! CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR, SAM. FAREWELL SPIT WAS THE LUCKY SPOT ` GETTING 19 DEGREES. OUR LOWEST TEMP SINCE MIDNIGHT WAS A VERY COOL -3 IN CULVERDEN. NOT A LOT OF WIND, AND NOT REALLY A LOT OF RAIN AS FAR AS MILFORD SOUND IS CONCERNED. I'LL BE BACK AFTER SPORT WITH HOW THE WEEKEND IS LOOKING. STAY WITH US ` STILL AHEAD ON THREENEWS. THE BRUTAL JOB MARKET, AND THE ALARMING NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SAYS, 'GET THEM OUT MINING.' FIREWORKS LIGHT UP ONE OF BARCELONA'S MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS ` THE TALLEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD ` AFTER A BLESSING FROM POPE LEO. AND UP LATER, HOLLYWOOD LEGEND JASON MOMOA POPS UP IN PONSONBY TODAY; SPRAYPAINTING, HE SAYS, FOR THE FIRST TIME. WELCOME BACK. IT IS A TOUGH ECONOMY OUT THERE ` PERHAPS MOST BRUTAL FOR YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 109,000 YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 15 AND 24 WHO ARE NOT IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING. TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK NOW THAN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. HERE IS REBECCA WRIGHT WITH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MINISTER, JAMES MEAGER. WHEN YOU HEAR THAT NUMBER, WHAT DO YOU THINK? YEAH, I THINK IT'S TOO HIGH. AND TO BE BLUNT, I THINK IT SUCKS. I THINK IT SUCKS FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S TERRIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY, WHEN WE'RE RELIANT ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THE WORKERS AND THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW, AND WE'VE GOT AN AGEING POPULATION, AND WE ARE MORE AND MORE RELIANT ON A SMALLER AND SMALLER WORKFORCE. SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD, WELL-EDUCATED, WELL-ADJUSTED YOUNG PEOPLE COME THROUGH. THOSE NUMBERS ARE CLEARLY TOO HIGH. BACK IN 2009, WE HAD THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE NUMBER BACK THEN OF YOUNG PEOPLE NOT IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM, WAS 50,000 TO 60,000, GIVE OR TAKE, AND THIS WAS A NATIONAL CRISIS. NOW IT'S 109,000, AND I DON'T HEAR STORIES WEEK-TO-WEEK ABOUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE A BIT COMPLACENT ABOUT IT NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE COMPLACENT. I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE CLEARLY HIGHER. I THINK THERE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FOCUS ON THAT. I THINK OUR SYSTEMS DO A BETTER JOB AT RESPONDING AND RECOGNISING WHERE THE NEED IS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMMES IN AND AROUND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE. AND SO, WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE HIGH, MAYBE IT IS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE RECOGNISING THAT EARLY AND ARE ACTUALLY INSTITUTING PROGRAMMES TO DEAL WITH IT. I MEAN, THE YOUTH GUARANTEE CAME AROUND` THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOING UP, THOUGH, HAVEN'T THEY? I THINK OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, YEAH, THEY HAVE. YEAH. AND SO IT JUST MEANS WE NEED TO WORK HARDER ABOUT BRINGING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON OUT THERE FOR THOSE 109,000 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR TRAINING? YEAH, I THINK IT'S TOUGH FOR THEM. I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE FOR NEW ZEALAND. I MEAN, SOME OF THEM WILL BE 16 AND 17 AND WOULD HAVE LEFT SCHOOL FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. SO I THINK THEY'LL BE SITTING THERE AND THINKING, 'WELL, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS, 'WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND LOOK LIKE FOR ME?' AND IF WE DON'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB ABOUT SAYING TO THEM, WELL, THERE WILL BE GOOD, WELL-PAYING JOBS FOR YOU HERE IN SECTORS ACROSS THE BOARD, AND MAYBE IN SOME SECTORS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN AS EMBRACING OF IN THE PAST. AND YOU THINK OF WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE PROBABLY ARE LOOKING TO AT THE MOMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF STATS. I MEAN, IT'S DROPPED OFF RECENTLY, BUT I THINK THE NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE GOING TO AUSTRALIA WERE LAST HIGHEST AT THE END OF 2023, MID-2023. IT'S DROPPED BACK A BIT SINCE THEN. BUT WHAT DO THEY GO TO AUSTRALIA TO DO? WELL, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WENT OVER THERE TO GO AND WORK IN VERY LARGE MINES IN PERTH. NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE BECAUSE PERHAPS WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT RELUCTANT TO DO AS MUCH MINERAL EXPLORATION AND PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE QUITE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ENTRY-LEVEL, BASIC, WELL-PAYING JOBS THAT ACTUALLY YOUNG PEOPLE LOVE TO DO IT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF REALLY TALENTED, HARDWORKING YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND I COME ACROSS THEM EVERY DAY IN MY PORTFOLIO, AND WE DO A DISSERVICE TO THEM IF WE SAY THE ONLY PATHWAY IS UNIVERSITY AND AN OFFICE JOB. I THINK THAT'S NOT A NOT A GOOD MESSAGE TO SEND THEM. I ACTUALLY THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO AS A COMMUNITY TOO, WHICH WOULD BE` AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYERS OUT HERE THAT DO THIS ` BUT BE A BIT BRAVER AND BOLDER ABOUT TAKING YOUNG PEOPLE ON AND GIVING THEM A BIT OF MENTORSHIP AND A BIT OF A BREAK AND A BIT MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY, COS IT'S THAT CATCH 22, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T GET A JOB WITHOUT EXPERIENCE, AND YOU CAN'T GET EXPERIENCE WITHOUT HAVING HAD A JOB. AND SO, IF IT ALL FALLS ON THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT TO TRY AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS, I THINK DECADES HAVE SHOWN THAT WE AREN'T MAYBE THE BEST AT DOING THAT. JAMES MEAGER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE UK HAVE BEEN TARGETED ON SNAPCHAT, WITH CRIMES INCLUDING RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. POLICE SAY OFFENDERS ARE USING THE SOCIAL MEDIA APP TO PREY ON VICTIMS ` ONE OF WHOM WAS AGED JUST 7. HERE'S ITV'S PAUL BRAND. AND A WARNING, HIS STORY CONTAINS SOME UPSETTING DETAILS. IT'S BEEN CALLED A SAFE HAVEN ` A PICTURE CAME THROUGH OF A MAN'S NAKED BODY. NOT FOR CHILDREN, BUT FOR THEIR PREDATORS. TRACKING DOWN VICTIMS FROM ONLINE TO IN-PERSON. I WAS WORRIED HE'D, LIKE, HURT MY FAMILY. SNAPCHAT IS BEING USED TO ABUSE CHILDREN ENTICED BY THE APP. WANT ME TO GET SOME COLOURS OUT? BECAUSE SHE'S STILL A YOUNG TEENAGER, WE'VE CHANGED SOPHIE'S NAME. IN FACT, MOST OF HER CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED SINCE SHE WAS MESSAGED OUT OF THE BLUE BY A PAEDOPHILE USING A FAKE NAME ON SNAPCHAT. MY DAUGHTER WAS GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL, AND SOPHIE CAME DOWN TO ME AND SAID, 'MUM, I'VE RECEIVED MESSAGES OFF A NUMBER I DON'T KNOW. 'BUT IT SAYS HIS NAME IS TOM BAILEY.' IT'S THOUGHT THE MAN USED THIS MAP FUNCTION TO FIND CHILDREN IN HIS AREA BEFORE SENDING SOPHIE MESSAGES AND PICTURES UNSOLICITED. HOW EXPLICIT WERE THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOUR DAUGHTER WAS RECEIVING? IT WAS CRUDE AND DISGUSTING, AND I WAS PHYSICALLY SICK. WE'RE ARRESTING OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY MONTH WHO ARE COMMITTING THIS KIND OF ABUSE. BUT IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE, AND WE NEED TO TURN OFF THE TAP THAT IS ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN. SOPHIE STILL WORRIES HER ATTACKER COULD USE SNAPCHAT TO FIND HER. WE HAD TO GET SECURITY CAMERAS AROUND THE HOUSE BECAUSE SHE WAS PETRIFIED. ABSOLUTELY PETRIFIED. BET SHE WAS. FEARS ECHOED BY THE MINISTER, CONSIDERING BANNING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN. I JUST WONDER, AS A PARENT YOURSELF, WHAT YOUR SORT OF INSTINCTIVE REACTION IS TO THAT? HORROR. FEAR. WE'LL BE COMING FORWARD WITH OUR PROPOSALS IMMINENTLY. BUT I THINK THE REASON WHY PARENTS HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF A BAN IS BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLICITY. IT'S A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT EXPECTATIONS. AND THE UK GOVERNMENT IS SET TO ANNOUNCE SOME FORM OF BAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER-16S NEXT WEEK. WE'LL BRING YOU THAT NEWS WHEN IT HAPPENS. STICK WITH US ` WE HAVE MORE TO COME, INCLUDING WHAT FILMS ARE ABOUT TO DROP IN THE U.S. SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SEASON, WITH THE LATEST FROM ONE OF THE MEGA STARS OF AMERICAN CINEMA, STEVEN SPIELBERG. A FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT A FAMED BARCELONA CHURCH MARKS 100 YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF ITS CELEBRATED ARCHITECT. AND IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINALS TO GET UNDERWAY. WE'RE WITH STEPHEN DONALD AS THE CHIEFS LOOK TO FEND OFF THE CRUSADERS. We got a new car you have to plug in. How far does it go? Turns out it went for one huge argument. I'm driving and it's my stereo! For two wee stops. (BARKS) One masterpiece. Girls! (ALL LAUGH) Four unlucky possums... hang on... FIVE! And two drivers. Do you know your left? So pretty far. Fast charge on the road and pay like you're at home. With Genesis at ChargeNet stations. ASB EMPLOYEE: How's life going with the new addition? BOTH: Ummmmmmmm... AMY: Oohhh... (TOY SQUEAKS) I think we might need a bit more room. Maybe a reno? VOICEOVER: The new Subway Footlong Peri Peri-Style Chicken Sub. Hot grilled chicken. Freshly cut salad. Tangy and spicy peri peri sauce. Made fresh, just for you. Good food. Good value. That's Subway. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. THE WORLD CUP PARTY IS UNDERWAY IN MEXICO CITY, AND THE REF PAINTED THE TOWN RED IN THE OPENING MATCH, WHILE IT KICKED OFF OUTSIDE THE FAN ZONE, TOO. PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED OFF FURTHER MISSILE STRIKES AND HAS ANNOUNCED THE U.S. HAS ENDED THE WAR WITH IRAN, BUT IRAN INSISTS NO FINAL DEAL HAS BEEN REACHED. AND A SECURITY COMPANY HAS LOST ITS LICENCE AFTER FIVE GUARDS WORKING AS DOORMEN IN QUEENSTOWN WERE ARRESTED FOR DRUGS. A FORMER NEW ZEALAND DETECTIVE HAS BEEN CHARGED OVER A DRUGS BUST ON AUSTRALIA'S GOLD COAST. AUSTRALIAN MEDIA REPORTED TODAY THAT 'KELLY' PENNEY, WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE WHANGAREI POLICE, WAS ARRESTED LAST MONTH ON MULTIPLE CHARGES ALONGSIDE AN AUSTRALIAN BUILDER. AUSTRALIAN POLICE SEIZED 23KGS OF COCAINE, ALONG WITH 10,000 MDMA PILLS, STEROIDS, CANNABIS AND CASH. PENNEY WAS DENIED BAIL AND IS DUE TO REAPPEAR IN COURT NEXT MONTH. SOUTH AUCKLAND RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED THIS AFTERNOON AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT INSIDE A HOME. FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO THE PROPERTY IN OTARA AT AROUND 12.30, WHILE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS WERE ON STRIKE. FIRE AND EMERGENCY SAYS THE FIRE WAS WELL-INVOLVED WHEN CREWS ARRIVED, AND ENCROACHING ON A NEIGHBOURING PROPERTY. THE HOUSE WAS PART OF A SINGLE-LEVEL DUPLEX, AND BOTH HOUSES WERE VACANT. THE FIRE WAS EVENTUALLY BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. TRACK INSPECTIONS ARE CONTINUING ON WELLINGTON'S JOHNSONVILLE TRAIN LINE AFTER LAST SATURDAY'S INCIDENT INVOLVING A METLINK PASSENGER TRAIN. LAST NIGHT, KIWIRAIL MOVED THE SECOND SECTION OF THE TRAIN THAT DIVERTED ONTO A RUN-OFF TRACK AND COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE BARRIER. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE INJURED. AS PART OF THE REMOVAL PROCESS, THE CARRIAGES WERE WRAPPED IN POLYTHENE BEFORE BEING LOADED ONTO A TRUCK. IT COULDN'T BE TAKEN BACK ON THE TRACKS, BECAUSE WHEN IT CONCERTINA-ED IT BECAME TOO WIDE TO FIT INTO THE TUNNELS. KIWIRAIL SAYS THEY FOCUSED ON ASSESSING THE DAMAGE TO THE TRACK, BUT CAN'T SAY YET WHEN THE LINE WILL BE REOPENED TO TRAINS. THE BIG U.S. SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SEASON IS KICKING OFF WITH THE FILMMAKER WHO ARGUABLY INVENTED THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER. STEVEN SPIELBERG SCARED A GENERATION OUT OF THE WATER WITH JAWS, AND THEN WENT INTO ALIEN TERRITORY WITH CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AND E.T, AND NOW HE CONTINUES HIS EXTRATERRESTRIAL SHENANIGANS WITH HIS LATEST FILM ` DISCLOSURE DAY. HERE'S KATE RODGER WITH FILMTHREE. I CAN SEE THEM. (OMINOUS MUSIC) THE KING OF THE CROWD-PLEASING SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER IS BACK, AND HE'S BACK BACK TELLING STORIES EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL. WHO IS JOSH O'CONNOR RUNNING FROM? WHY IS LOVELY, SHNUGGLY COLIN FIRTH BEING MEAN TO PEOPLE? AND WHY IS EMILY BLUNT TALKING FUNNY? (CLICKS, HISSES REPEATEDLY) AFTER CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AND THE BELOVED E.T., THIS FEELS LIKE THE COMPANION PIECE, REALLY, THAT SPIELBERG HAS HAD BREWING ON HIS STOVETOP FOR YEARS, AND NOW HE RECKONS THE WORLD IS READY. FULL OF THINLY DELIVERED CONSPIRACY AND INTRIGUE, THE FILM FOLLOWS DANIEL AS HE RUNS FROM PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE, GIRLFRIEND AND FORMER NUN-WANNABE JANE IN TOW, THEY'RE ON A MISSION TO DELIVER A BACKPACK FULL OF SECRETS TO COLMAN DOMINGO. WHAT AM I DOING? WHAT AM I DOING? (BOOM! TYRES SCREECH) CHASING THEM, ARE MEN IN BLACK WITH GUNS WHO HAVE THE COLLECTIVE STRIKE RATE OF A STORMTROOPER. THE WHY OF IT ALL? WELL, I'M NOT HERE TO SPOIL YOUR FUN, BUT LETS JUST SAY, THIS SOON-TO-BE-DISCLOSED WORLD-ALTERING REVELATION, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. IT'S SCIENCE-FICTION, OR SOME MAY BELIEVE, SCIENCE FACT. IT GUTS ME TO MY SPIELBERG-LOVING CORE TO REPORT MY INTENSE AND INDEED HEARTBREAKING DISAPPOINTMENT IN DISCLOSURE DAY. GORGEOUSLY TOLD CINEMATICALLY, OF COURSE. INDISPUTABLY SPIELBERGIAN. BUT THE STORY ITSELF? IT WAS SO OBVIOUS IT WAS, DARE I SAY IT, UNIMAGINATIVE, AND ACHINGLY PEDESTRIAN. LOOK, I WANTED TO BELIEVE, BUT THE ONLY ALIEN FEELING I WAS LEFT WITH WAS THAT I FELT NOTHING IN A SPIELBERG FILM. THREE STARS. SO WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN FLOCKING TO THE MOVIES TO WATCH? HERE'S THIS WEEK'S TOP FIVE. WELL, THAT'S IT FOR FILMTHREE THIS WEEK. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO ` OFF TO THE MOVIES YOU TROT. DRONES AND FIREWORKS HAVE LIT UP THE SKIES OVER SPAIN'S FAMED SAGRADA FAMILIA BASILICA IN BARCELONA. THE LIGHT DISPLAY MARKED 100 YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF CELEBRATED ARCHITECT ANTONI GAUDI. DRONE VISUALS SHOW A RECENTLY FINISHED TOWER LOOMING LARGE OVER THE CITY, TOPPED OFF BY A DRAMATIC CROSS WITH ARMS POINTING IN FOUR DIRECTIONS. THE EVENT COINCIDED WITH POPE LEO'S VISIT TO THE ICONIC CATHEDRAL, AND IS THE FIRST VISIT TO SPAIN BY A POPE IN 15 YEARS. ELON MUSK, ALREADY THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD, IS SET TO BECOME THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE. SPACEX HAS RAISED USD$75B FROM FINANCIAL FIRMS AHEAD OF IT BECOMING A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY TONIGHT, IN WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE THE HIGHEST-VALUE STOCK LISTING IN HISTORY. SHARES ARE PRICED AT USD$135 EACH. MITCH IS IN WITH SPORT, AND IT'S VERY NEARLY SEMI-FINAL TIME IN SUPER RUGBY. YES. CHIEFS AND CRUSADERS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. THE LATEST MOUTHWATERING PLAY-OFF BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS. WILL CATCH UP WITH STEPHEN NEXT. AND THEN THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS UNDERWAY, WHERE THERE WERE RED CARDS LEFT RIGHT AND CENTRE IN THE OPENING MATCH. PLUS ` RYAN FOX IS THERE OR THEREABOUTS AFTER THE OPENING ROUND OF THE CANADIAN OPEN, WHERE HE'S OUT TO DEFEND HIS CROWN. (BRIGHT PIANO MUSIC) (PHONE CHIMES) Thank you, Sam! You're welcome, Wendy. SONG: # You, you've got what I need # You've got everything you need # You're like medicine... # VOICEOVER: Wonderful stories enter our stores every day. Thank you so much. Find your wonderful. New World. THREENEWS SPORT, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEW SUZUKI FRONX. WITH MORE RED CARDS THAN GOALS IN THE OPENING GAME, THE FIFA WORLD CUP GOT OFF TO A FLYER THIS MORNING. IN FRONT OF A SOLD-OUT HOME CROWD, MEXICO CLAIMED A 2-0 WIN AGAINST WHAT ENDED UP BEING A NINE-MAN SOUTH AFRICAN OUTFIT. THE DAY ONE FIZZ FLOWED INTO THE AFTERNOON, WITH SOUTH KOREA SECURING A COMEBACK WIN. THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT ON EARTH OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY. IT ONLY TOOK EIGHT MINUTES FOR MEXICO TO SCORE THE FIRST GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP. OH, MEXICO MAY BE WITH AN OPENING HERE. THERE SIT HE OPENING GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP! SENDING A CAPACITY CROWD OF NEARLY 81,000 INTO OVERDRIVE. SCORED BY QUINONES. (MARIACHI MUSIC PLAYS) AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY MARIACHI MUSIC FOR THE FIRST HALF, AS MEXICO TOOK A 1-0 LEAD INTO THE BREAK. EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF, SOUTH AFRICA NEEDED THEIR OWN SPECIAL MOMENT. BUT THEY WOULD'VE RATHERED IT WASN'T THIS. OOOOH. RISKY CHALLENGE. AND THE PUNISHMENT HERE IS GOING TO BE SEVERE. IT'S A RED CARD. SPHESPHELO SITHOLE SENT OFF FOR SOUTH AFRICA FOR DENYING A GOAL-SCORING OPPORTUNITY. A SIGN OF WHAT WAS TO COME FOR BOTH TEAMS. AS TWO FURTHER RED CARDS WERE DISHED OUT MEXICO'S SKIPPER CAUGHT OUT FOR DOING THE SAME AND SHOWN RED FOR THIS CHALLENGE IN STOPPAGE TIME. IN THE END, MEXICO SCORED A 2-0 WIN TO KICK OFF THEIR CAMPAIGN AND GO TO THE TOP OF GROUP A. THEIR GROUP-MATES, SOUTH KOREA AND CZECH REPUBLIC, WERE IN ACTION THIS AFTERNOON, WITH THE CZECH'S FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET IN THE 58TH MINUTE. LONG THROW HEADED ON IT'S END! BUT SOUTH KOREA WEREN'T DOWN AND OUT. BIG CHANCE! THE SHOT IS... IN! OH. IT IS IN THE MIDDLE AND... SCORES! KOREA FROM 1-0 DOWN TO 2-1 UP. A 2-1 WIN FOR SOUTH KOREA. DAY ONE DONE, WITH 38 MORE MAGICAL DAYS TO COME. THE CHIEFS WILL BE LOOKING TO GET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY THE AGAINST THE CRUSADERS TONIGHT, AS THE SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINALS GET UNDERWAY. EVERY TIME THE CHIEFS HAVE MET THEM IN THE KNOCKOUTS IN RECENT YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN THE ONES KNOCKED OUT. A SHORT TIME AGO, I CAUGHT UP WITH SKY SPORT PRESENTER STEPHEN DONALD, AND BEGAN BY ASKING HIM WHETHER HIS BELOVED CHIEFS CAN BREAK THE CRUSADERS CURSE. OH, LOOK, I THOUGHT THEY COULD'VE BROKEN IT PROBABLY THE LAST THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, BUT THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT DONE. ON PAPER, OF COURSE, THEY CAN. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN ASPECT THAT IT MUST BE IN THEIR HEADS NOW. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT A FEW OF THEM WILL WANT TO PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT. LIKE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE DAMIAN MCKENZIE, HE'S IN A POSITION THAT INFLUENCES THE RESULT. HE'S IN A POSITION THAT MANAGES THE GAME. AND LOOK, THEY PROBABLY HAVEN'T GOT IT RIGHT A COUPLE OF TIMES AGAINST THE CRUSADERS IN THE BIG GAMES, IN THE KNOCKOUT GAMES, SO I'M SURE FOR SOMEONE LIKE DAMIAN MCKENZIE, THIS IS PERSONAL. HE WANTS TO GET THE JOB DONE. IT'S SEMI-FINAL TIME. BECAUSE AS A TEAM, YOU'RE LITERALLY JUDGED ON HOW YOU GO IN THESE TIGHT GAMES, AND THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE TIGHT. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS RIVALRY THAT JUST SEEMS TO HAVE INTENSIFIED IN RECENT YEARS. IS THERE A GENUINE DISLIKE BETWEEN SOME OF THE PLAYERS IN BOTH OF THESE TEAMS? TO BE FAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S QUITE AS PERSONAL OR AS INTENSE AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONCE UPON A TIME. I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY INTENSE FROM A POINT OF VIEW THAT THERE'S BIG GAMES THAT ARE GETTING DECIDED NOW, AND THERE'S QUALITY FOOTY. OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD TWO GREAT GAMES OF FOOTY THIS YEAR, AND THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF NIGGLE. I THINK FROM THE PERSONAL ASPECT, IT PROBABLY PEAKED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT'S JUST TWO GREAT TEAMS GOING AT IT. AND LET'S BE HONEST, THEY'RE PUTTING ON SOME OF THE GAMES OF THE YEAR EVERY SINGLE YEAR AT THE MOMENT, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TWO THAT WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR. ABSOLUTELY. AND ANOTHER TIGHT ONE, OF COURSE, IN WELLINGTON TOMORROW NIGHT BETWEEN THE HURRICANES AND THE BLUES. DO YOU THINK THAT THE CANES WILL BE HEADING TO THEIR FIRST GRAND-FINAL IN 10 YEARS? YOU HAVE TO THINK SO, DON'T YOU? YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT THE WAY THE HURRICANES HAVE PLAYED` THE WAY THEY PLAYED IN THE WET LAST WEEK WAS AMAZING. AND THAT THEY'VE JUST SHOWN THAT THEY CAN PLAY IN ALL CONDITIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD NULLIFY THAT WONDERFUL ATTACKING FOOTBALL, BUT IT HASN'T. THEY'RE SO WELL PRIMED AND SKILLED AT THE MOMENT. IT'LL TAKE SOME UPSET. BUT I GO BACK TO THE CASE. YOU LOOK AT THE BLUES TEAM. ON PAPER, THAT TEAM SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO WELLINGTON, AND ON THEIR DAY, THEY SHOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR THE HURRICANES. BUT RIGHT NOW, WHERE THE BLUES ARE AT, WHERE THE HURRICANES ARE AT, YOU'D HAVE TO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE HURRICANES GRAND-FINAL TO HOST NEXT WEEK. NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THE GROUND STAFF HAVE PUT OUT A PERFECT TRACK DOWN THERE FOR TONIGHT. DO YOU THINK THE CHIEFS CAN GET THIS ONE DONE THIS YEAR? LOOK, I'M SURROUNDED BY A FEW CRUSADER PEOPLE IN COMMENTARY, WITH MARSH AND THE LIKES HANGING AROUND TODAY, SO LET'S HOPE SO. BUT LOOK, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT GAME OF FOOTY. IT'S BEEN AWESOME ALL YEAR, THESE TWO TEAMS, AND LOOK, I THINK THEY CAN. I THINK THEY SHOULD. BUT, AS YOU SAY, IT'S THE CRUSADERS, SO YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. BUT FINGERS CROSSED IT'S A CHIEFS TEAM THAT'S A PART OF THE FINAL NEXT WEEK. WELL, HAVE A GREAT CALL DOWN THERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THAT'S SKY SPORT PRESENTER STEPHEN DONALD. THANKS, GUYS. AND YOU CAN CATCH TONIGHT'S MATCH BETWEEN THE CHIEFS AND CRUSADERS ON SKY SPORT 1 FROM 7.05. SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI IS SET TO START IN RECORD-BREAKING FASHION WHEN THE MATATU TAKE ON CHIEFS MANAWA IN TOMORROW'S OPENING ROUND MATCH. AROUND 10,000 TICKETS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOLD FOR THE MATCH AT ONE NZ STADIUM IN CHRISTCHURCH. WITH THE PREVIOUS RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR A DOMESTIC WOMEN'S RUGBY MATCH SITTING AT 4,800, THEY'RE ON TRACK TO MORE THAN DOUBLE IT. THINK THE MOMENTUM OF THE WOMAN'S GAME HAS SHOWN THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO SUPPORT US. IT IS QUITE HARD TO GET PEOPLE HERE, SO TO SELL THE NUMBER OF TICKETS IS OVERWHELMING. A DREAM COME TRUE. VERY EXCITING. MEANWHILE, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION BLUES KICK OFF THEIR TITLE DEFENCE WHEN THEY HOST THE HURRICANES POUA IN TOMORROW'S OTHER OPENING ROUND GAME. RYAN FOX HAS MADE A STRONG START IN HIS DEFENCE OF THE CANADIAN OPEN. HE FIRED A FOUR-UNDER-PAR 66 IN HIS OPENING ROUND TO SIT JUST TWO SHOTS OFF THE LEAD AT TPC TORONTO. IT COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER, THOUGH. FOX HAD FIVE BIRDIES IN THE OPENING 11 HOLES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONVERT OPPORTUNITIES LATE IN HIS ROUND. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. IT WASN'T THE FINISH RYAN FOX WAS HOPING FOR AT TPC TORONTO. (CROWD GROANS) MISSED OPPORTUNITIES ON THE BACK NINE LIKELY TO HAVE RYAN FOX DISAPPOINTED AFTER A STRONG START TO HIS CANADIAN OPEN DEFENCE. DISAPPOINTING PAR FIVE TO END A GOOD DAY EARLY ON THE PUTTER WAS RUNNING HOT; FOX MAKING TWO BIRDIES IN THE OPENING THREE HOLES. (CROWD CLAMOUR) GOOD FOR PACE AND LINE. HE'D THEN MAKE BOGIE ON THE PAR FOUR FIFTH HOLE BEFORE ROUNDING OUT THE FRONT NINE WITH TWO MORE BIRDIES. BEAUTIFUL SHOT FROM RYAN. AND COME THE PAR THREE 11TH, IT LOOKED LIKE SCORING WOULD COME JUST AS EASY ON THE BACK NINE. THERE IT IS, FOXY. OH, HE DECIDES NOT TO USE THE SLOPE, AND HE HITS A GOOD ONE THERE. HE'D MAKE THAT PUTT TO MOVE TO FOUR UNDER. BUT FROM THERE, FOXY WOULD MISS A NUMBER OF BIRDIE OPPORTUNITIES; THE PUTTER GOING COLD, AND THE WEDGES NO LONGER DIALLED IN. HE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD WITH THE WEDGES TODAY. UNTIL THEN. HAVING NO ISSUES IN THE CLOSING HOLES WAS FOX'S PLAYING PARTNER BROOKS KOEPKA. JUMPY LIE. BARE. BARRON. TRYING TO GET AS MUCH SPIN AS POSSIBLE. (APPLAUSE) TREMENDOUS. THE FIVE-TIME MAJOR WINNER ENJOYING THE DAY OUT WITH FOX AND CANADIAN NICK TAYLOR. WE HAD A GOOD TIME. IT'S A GOOD GROUP, I THINK, FIRST OFF. I ENJOYED PLAYING WITH THOSE GUYS. THEY'RE QUITE FUN. CHATTY WHILE WE'RE PLAYING, WHICH WAS GREAT. IT SEEMED TO WORK FOR KOEPKA, FINISHING WITH A SIX UNDER 64 TO BE IN A SIX-WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD. (CROWD CLAMOURS) THE AMERICAN SETTING THE PACE, BUT JUST TWO SHOTS BACK, HIS KIWI PLAYING PARTNER IS RIGHT IN THE HUNT. THE SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS AND BRISBANE BRONCOS HONOURED ONE OF THEIR OWN OVERNIGHT, WITH THE BUNNIES WEARING A SPECIAL WHITE-OUT KIT FOR TEAMMATE JAI ARROW, WHO WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE. PRE-MATCH, THE 30-YEAR-OLD, WHO'S BEEN FORCED TO RETIRE, RUNG SOUTH SYDNEY'S LEGACY BELL, BEFORE BEING PRESENTED WITH A BRONCOS JERSEY FROM FORMER TEAMMATE ADAM REYNOLDS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE SEE IN THIS MOMENT. TEARS FLOWING FREELY BETWEEN THE PLAYERS. WITH ARROW WRITTEN ACROSS THEIR BACKS, THE RABBITOHS CLAIMED A 48-6 WIN OVER THE BRONCOS. ALEX JOHNSTONE SCORING FOUR TRIES IN HIS TEAM'S WIN. AND FINALLY TONIGHT ` TIM PAYNE MANIA HAS NOW MADE ITS WAY ON TO THE FORMULA 1 GRID THANKS TO FELLOW KIWI LIAM LAWSON. DRIVERS EXPERIENCED WORLD CUP FEVER TODAY AS THEY ARRIVED IN CATALUNYA AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND'S GRAND PRIX. WHILE MANY OF THE DRIVERS ARE FOOTBALL FANATICS, IT TURNS OUT THAT'S NOT QUITE THE CASE FOR LIAM LAWSON. NEW ZEALAND IN GROUP G HOW FAR WILL THEY GO? I KNOW THE LEAST ABOUT FOOTBALL IN THIS ROOM HONESTLY. I'M JUST SUPPORTING TIM PAYNE. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. MEANWHILE, THERE WERE NO CURLY QUESTIONS FOR LEWIS HAMILTON BUT PLENTY OF CURLY HAIR. YES, THE SEVEN-TIME WORLD CHAMPION HAS DITCHED HIS SIGNATURE BRAIDS IN FAVOUR OF HIS NATURAL LONG CURLS. THEY MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS NEW STYLIST. STYLIST AND GIRLFRIEND. FANS GOT A SURPRISE TODAY WHEN HOLLYWOOD STAR JASON MOMOA WAS SPOTTED IN AUCKLAND'S PONSONBY. THE ACTOR WAS SIGNING A MURAL PAINTED BY A LOCAL ARTIST IN HONOUR OF HIS UPCOMING FILM SUPERGIRL. THE MURAL FEATURES BOTH MOMOA AND AUSTRALIAN ACTRESS MILLY ALCOCK, WHO PLAYS SUPERGIRL. ARTIST MATT GRIFFIN SAYS HE WAS STOKED THE ACTOR DROPPED BY. BLANK SAID. SPENT A BIT OF EXTRA TIME IN A SPACE. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE THIS IN MY YOUTH. THE FILM SUPERGIRL IS DUE FOR RELEASE LATER THIS MONTH. A BEAR THAT ROAMED THE STREETS OF A JAPANESE CITY FOR FOUR DAYS, FORCING MASS SCHOOL CLOSURES, HAS BEEN CAUGHT. THE WANDERING ANIMAL HAD SPARKED PANIC, WITH RESIDENTS URGED TO SHELTER INSIDE, LOCK THE DOORS AND NOT PUT RUBBISH OUT AT NIGHT. IT WAS TRACKED DOWN TO A PRIVATE PROPERTY AND TRANQUILLISED BY A VET. SEPARATELY, AN 'EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT' BEAR THAT INJURED FOUR PEOPLE IN FUKUSHIMA IN NORTHERN JAPAN REMAINS AT LARGE AFTER APPARENTLY UNLATCHING A WINDOW WHILE EVADING CAPTURE. LET'S SEE HOW THE WEEKEND'S LOOKING WEATHER-WISE. IMO, WHAT'S THE VERDICT? AS WE SO OFTEN LIKE TO SAY IN WEATHER LAND, 'IT'LL BE A MIXED BAG, SAM.' THE TAIL END OF THAT FRONT'S STILL KICKING ROUND THE WEST COAST TOMORROW, BUT SHOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD SATURDAY FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. THEN SUNDAY, AGAIN, FINE FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. BUT THIS OL' THING, A NEW FRONT, IS GONNA HIT, AND ITS GOT A BIT MORE HEFT TO IT THAN THE LAST BAND OF RAIN. I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST, NEXT. HAPPY FRIDAY, AND HAPPY ALMOST FIRST SUPER SEMIS TIME. I'LL BE DONE BEFORE KICK OFF, DON'T WORRY. SO STICK WITH ME FOR NOW. THAT FRONT'S STILL WEAKLY FLOATING UP THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT IT WILL LINGER ROUND THE TOP OF THE WEST FOR MOST OF TOMORROW, WITH TENDRILS REACHING THE MANAWATU WHANGANUI REGION IN THE AFTERNOON. BUT PUTTING THE WEST ASIDE, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, WITH SUN, SUN AND MORE SUN FORECAST. IT JUST WON'T BE VERY WARM. THE NORTH ISLAND'S ALSO IN GOOD SATURDAY SHAPE, WITH THAT HIGH PRESSURE KEEPING THINGS MOSTLY CALM. BUT THERE WILL BE SOME SHOWERS CROPPING UP AROUND THE PLACE. CLOUDY AND A BIT SHOWERY TO START UP TOP, WITH SOME MORNING SOUTHERLIES KICKING AROUND. BUT THINGS DO CLEAR UP RATHER NICELY, BUT THERE'LL BE AFTERNOON SHOWERS FOR KAITAIA. IT'LL BE ANOTHER NIPPY, FROSTY WAKE-UP THIS WAY, BUT HOW'S THAT FOR A SATURDAY ` ALL SUNSHINE, ALL DAY. LIGHT WINDS, WITH JUST SOME CLOUD CREEPING IN IN THE EVENING INLAND. GISBORNE, TONIGHT'S EVENING SHOWERS COULD LINGER INTO THE MORNING, BUT THAT ALL CLEARS TO A FINE LOOKING SATURDAY MORNING. FROSTS FOR THE REST. LATE EVENING SHOWERS FOR DANNEVIRKE. CLOUD WILL BUILD AND WILL MEAN SHOWERS OR RAIN FROM THE AFTERNOON FOR MOST. WELLINGTON, THOUGH, AT THIS STAGE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'LL STAY NICE AND DRY FOR THE CANES V BLUES. IT'S GONNA BE A WET ONE FROM NELSON DOWN. HOKITIKA, THOUGH, THAT FRONT SHOULD'VE CLEARED YOU COMPLETELY, SO JUST CLOUD FOR YOU. MIX OF WINDS HERE WON'T BE A DROP THIS WAY. THERE'LL BE SOME MORNING AND EVENING FOG ABOUT CANTERBURY. AND BLENHEIM, YOUR MORNING CLOUD WILL CLEAR UP, SO EVERYONE'S IN FOR A CRACKER AFTERNOON, AND THIS IS THE BEST I'VE SEEN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY LOOKING IN AGES ` A SUNNY SATURDAY WITH LIGHT WINDS. IT'LL JUST BE VERY, VERY NIPPY. AND DUNEDIN, YOU'LL HAVE SOME FOG BEFORE AND AFTER ALL THAT SUNSHINE, WITH NORTHERLIES ROLLING THROUGH IN THE EVENING. CHILLY 12-DEGREE HIGH FOG AT BOTH ENDS OF THE DAY FOR CHRISTCHURCH TOO, BUT IT'S A GOODLOOKER IN THE MIDDLE. NOREASTERS AND ALSO JUST 12 FOR YOU. WELLINGTON ` SEMI-FINAL DAY IS BE OVERCAST WITH NORTHERLIES PICKING UP IN THE MORNING, BUT IT SHOULD STAY DRY, AND IT'LL DROP TO 12 BY KICK-OFF. SHOULD BE A GORGEOUS DAY IN HAWKE'S BAY ONCE ANY FROSTS MELT AWAY. WINDS AND THE SAME TEMPERATURE-WISE. TAURANGA ` YOU ARE LOOKING AT ALL SUNSHINE, ALL DAY. LIGHT WINDS AND A 16-DEGREE HIGH. 9 DEGREES, BUT DRY RIGHT NOW IN HAMILTON. DROPPING ALL THE WAY TO 2 OVERNIGHT. BUT TOMORROW'S LOOKING GREAT AFTER SOME MORNING FOG AND FROST. AUCKLAND, OVERCAST TO START, THEN THE SUN COMES OUT. SOUTHERLIES DIE AWAY EARLY ON. 16 DEGREES. A COLD FRONT'S GONNA SKIM ACROSS THE SOUTH EASTERN AUSSIE STATES. PLENTY OF WET STUFF AND DIPS IN TEMPERATURE FOR THE LIKES OF MELBOURNE AND ADELAIDE. AND FIJI'S SUN WAS BRIEF ` INSTEAD, SHIFTING TO SAMOA AND THE COOK ISLANDS. TAKING A LOOK AT THINGS AT THE DAYS AHEAD ` SHOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD SUNDAY FOR THE NORTH ISLAND AS THAT HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM STICKS AROUND FOR A WEE WHILE LONGER. EVEN MONDAY'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR MOST. BUT THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION GOING ON DOWN SOUTH IN THE FORM OF A FRESH BAND OF RAIN, SO THAT FRONT HITS IN THE AFTERNOON AND IS GOING TO SWEEP UP AND OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND AND WILL PUSH UP AND ON TO THE NORTH ISLAND ON MONDAY. MAKING ITS WAY TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY BY TUESDAY MORNING. SO MAKE THE MOST OF ANY GOOD STUFF IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY IF IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON STUFF.CO.NZ I'M SAMANTHA HAYES. PO MARIE. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY KRISTIN WILLIAMS AND JOHNATHAN CHUI. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026