APPLAUSE TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE. (BELL RINGS, CHEERING) SPACEX SOARS TO THE BIGGEST STOCK MARKET LAUNCH IN HISTORY. WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND REWARDS AS ELON MUSK KEEPS STAR GAZING? FIRE AND FOG DISRUPT TRAVEL FOR HUNDREDS OF AIR PASSENGERS IN WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND. DOZENS OF FLIGHTS CANCELLED. LEGENDS OF FOOTBALL AND FILM TURN OUT AS THE CO-HOSTS USA AND CANADA GET THEIR WORLD CUP CAMPAIGNS UNDERWAY. IT'S A SMASHING START FOR AMERICA. OH, YES! THIS IS ONE FOR THE ARCHIVES. AND CRICKETING GREAT KANE WILLIAMSON RETIRES. OUR RECORD RUN SCORER TELLS US WHY HE'S DECLARED ON HIS INTERNATIONAL CAREER. EIGHTH NEW ZEALANDER TO GET 100 ON DEBUT. A YOUNG KANE WILLIAMSON. LOOK AT THAT SMILE. CAPTIONS BY JOHNATHAN CHUI AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 ELON MUSK IS THE WORLD'S FIRST TRILLIONAIRE, AFTER SPACEX MADE THE BIGGEST STOCK MARKET LAUNCH IN HISTORY. THE ZEROES ARE EYE-POPPING. FORBES ESTIMATES HIS PERSONAL WEALTH AS NZ$1.8 TRILLION. THE ROCKET, SOCIAL MEDIA AND AI COMPANY LEAPT TO MORE THAN 3.6 TRILLION IN VALUE. MUSK SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE THE FICTION OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION. CUSHLA NORMAN HAS MORE ON THE RISKS AND REWARDS AHEAD. (TRIUMPHANT MUSIC, CHEERING) WITH ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF A ROCKET LAUNCH, IT WAS BLAST OFF ` SPACEX GOING LIVE ON THE SHARE MARKET. (CHEERING) FOUNDER ELON MUSK CELEBRATING AT HQ IN TEXAS, WHERE HE TOLD COLLEAGUES THIS. I GAVE SPACEX LESS THAN A 10% CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING AT ALL. NOW, THE COMPANY HE STARTED 24 YEARS AGO IS A STEP CLOSER TO HIS BIG VISION OF MAKING SPACE TRAVEL ACCESSIBLE. AND THAT'S WHAT SPACEX IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S TO TAKE THE FICTION OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION, AND CREATE AN EXCITING, INSPIRING FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. IN NEW YORK, WHERE THE COMPANY LISTED, SPACEX WAS FRONT-AND-CENTRE... (CLOSING BELL RINGS, CHEERING) ...TRADING CLOSING WITH SHARES UP AROUND 20%, MAKING SPACEX ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES IN THE WORLD. AND THE VALUATION OF THE IPO WAS ALMOST US$2T. AND TO PUT THAT IN A BIT OF PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE GDP OF AUSTRALIA. THE WORLD'S RICHEST MAN NOW A TRILLIONAIRE ON PAPER ` (GROANS LOUDLY) HIS WEALTH MORE THAN THE NEXT FOUR RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ` A NUMBER HARD TO COMPREHEND. IT WOULD BE ENOUGH SECONDS TO GET US BACK TO THE ICE AGE. SO IF YOU HAD A DOLLAR A SECOND, WE GOTTA GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE WOOLLY MAMMOTH TO GET ALL OF THAT MONEY THAT HE HAS TODAY. SPACEX LAUNCHES MORE ROCKETS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY OR COMPANY. IT USES THAT TO DEPLOY STARLINK SATELLITES, BUT THE BREAKDOWN OF WHERE IT HOPES TO MAKE MONEY LOOKS LIKE THIS ` THE SPACE LAUNCH MARKET IS WORTH $634B. THE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS MARKET, $2.7T. BUT THE BIG ONE SPACEX IS AFTER IS THE AI MARKET ` WORTH NEARLY $45.5T. AND SPACEX, AS MUCH AS THE NAME HAS 'SPACE' IN IT; IT'S AN AI COMPANY AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT? SO I THINK THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT AI IS GOING TO DRIVE IT. WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE TO SEE. IT'S NOT JUST ON THE ONE DAY ` WE HAVE TO SEE IT FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AT LEAST. WATCHING CLOSELY NOT JUST AVERAGE INVESTORS, BUT AI GIANTS ` ALSO KEEN TO GO PUBLIC LATER THIS YEAR. CUSHLA NORMAN, 1NEWS. AND TO TRY AND HELP YOU PICTURE JUST HOW MUCH $1.8 TRILLON ACTUALLY IS, A TRILLION IS A MILLION MILLIONS, SO TO HAVE ELON MUSK'S ESTIMATED WEALTH, TAKE WEDNESDAY'S GIANT LOTTO POWERBALL ` A $28 MILLION TICKET SOLD IN NETHERBY ` YOU'D HAVE TO WIN THAT ROUGHLY $64,285 TIMES, AND IMAGINE THAT'S A POWERBALL WIN EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE NEXT 176 YEARS. IT'S BEEN A DAY OF AIR TRAVEL UPHEAVAL ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND. IN AUCKLAND, FOG LED TO CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS FOR SEVERAL REGIONAL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHTS, WHILE FLIGHTS RESUMED AT WELLINGTON AIRPORT AFTER A FIRE LAST NIGHT DISRUPTED THE TRAVEL OF 1200 PASSENGERS. KATIE STEVENSON REPORTS. THE DAMAGE CLEAR TO SEE IN THE LIGHT OF DAY AFTER A FIRE GROUNDED FLIGHTS AT WELLINGTON AIRPORT LAST NIGHT; EMERGENCY SERVICES DESCENDING ON THE TARMAC. I SAW SMOKE COME OUT. COME OUT FROM THE BUILDING. IT'S NOT JUST SOME SMOKE. IT WASN'T IN THE BUILDING ` IT COMES OUT FROM THE BUILDING. THE SOUTHWEST PIER AND MAIN TERMINAL EVACUATED, WITH FLIGHTS DIVERTED FOR A TIME. WENT TO LINE UP AT THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE AND ALL THAT, AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, THEY EVACUATED THE WHOLE TERMINAL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, BUT SOME PASSENGERS WERE LEFT SCRAMBLING TO CHANGE THEIR PLANS. SO WE WERE ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE TRAVELLING TO NELSON. THOSE FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. I'VE BEEN REBOOKED FOR SUNDAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I NEED TO BE IN NELSON TOMORROW, SO THAT ISN'T GONNA WORK. FIRE AND EMERGENCY IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. THEY'VE NARROWED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE DOWN TO SOME WIRING IN A WALL CAVITY, SO THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION, I IMAGINE, AS THAT MOVES FURTHER INTO THE INVESTIGATION. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A WIRING FAULT AT THIS STAGE. BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL AT THE AIRPORT TODAY. THERE WAS ONE AIR NEW ZEALAND FLIGHT TO AUCKLAND WHICH WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN DIVERTED LAST NIGHT AND WASN'T ABLE TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME TO LEAVE THIS MORNING. AIR NEW ZEALAND SAYS IT'S ADDING MORE SEATS WHERE POSSIBLE TO HELP IMPACTED TRAVELLERS. MEANWHILE, IN AUCKLAND THIS MORNING, FOG BLANKETED THE CITY, CAUSING SEVERAL REGIONAL FLIGHTS TO BE CANCELLED OR DELAYED. RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED AT LUNCHTIME; A DISRUPTED DAY OF TRAVEL FOR MANY. KATIE STEVENSON, 1NEWS. OPTIMISM IS RISING FOR A DEAL TO END THE FIGHTING IN IRAN AND REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, WITH IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING 'A SETTLEMENT HAS NEVER BEEN CLOSER.' AFTER MORE THAN THREE MONTHS OF WAR, NEGOTIATORS FROM THE U.S. AND IRAN HAVE BEEN HASHING OUT A 'MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING'. ONE U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS THERE'S AN 80% TO 85% CHANCE OF A DEAL BEING REACHED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IT'S UNDERSTOOD IT WOULD REOPEN THE STRAIT, END THE U.S. BLOCKADE ON IRANIAN PORTS, AND KICK-START 60 DAYS OF TALKS TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME. A FATAL CRASH IN NORTH CANTERBURY IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE OF THE SINGLE CAR CRASH IN LOBURN AFTER 10 THIS MORNING. ONE PERSON DIED AT THE SCENE. ST JOHN SAYS ITS CREWS TRANSPORTED THREE PEOPLE TO CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL ` ONE CRITICAL, ONE IN A SERIOUS CONDITION, AND ONE WHO WAS MODERATELY INJURED. WHILE IT'S NOT OFTEN A DINNER MENU OPTION, LEAVES ARE NOW BEING LOOKED AT AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO FEED THE WORLD SHOULD MASS DISASTER STRIKE. A TEAM AT CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY IS INVESTIGATING HOW QUICKLY WE COULD BUILD FACTORIES TO PUMP OUT PROTEIN AND SUGAR AS A FOOD SOURCE USING THE GOODNESS OF GREENS. DONNA-MARIE LEVER EXPLAINS. COULD HAGLEY PARK IN CHRISTCHURCH HOLD THEY KEY TO GLOBAL HUNGER IF THE WORLD'S FOOD CHAIN CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP? THOSE GREEN LEAVES THAT WE SEE ACTUALLY DO HAVE PROTEIN IN THEM. BUT MANY OF THEM WOULDN'T BE GOOD TO EAT DIRECTLY. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PROCESSING THE LEAVES, GRINDING THEM UP, GETTING A LIQUID, AND THEN BOILING THAT LIQUID, AND YOU GET A LEAF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE THAT COMES UP TO THE SURFACE. WITH THE LEFTOVERS ABLE TO BE MADE INTO MORE FOOD BY TURNING THE FIBRE INTO SUGAR. WE'VE DONE SOME MODELLING OF QUICKLY SCALING UP THE FACTORIES TO DO THIS PROCESSING, AND WE THINK IT CAN MEET A LARGE FRACTION OF THE GLOBAL PROTEIN NEEDS. IT'S FOR WORST-CASE SCENARIO STUFF, LIKE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, SOLAR STORMS, WARS AND TSUNAMIS. AS THE SEVERITY INCREASES OF THE CATASTROPHE, THE FOOD PRICE WOULD INCREASE, AND SO IT JUSTIFIES MORE EFFORT TO BE PUT INTO THESE RESILIENT FOOD SOURCES. SOME WILL WORK AND SOME WON'T. SOME LEAVES ARE REALLY TOXIC, SO YOU DO NEED TO USE THE RIGHT SPECIES. THINGS LIKE LUCERNE OR CLOVER ARE PRETTY GOOD. EVEN GRASS CLIPPINGS COULD KEEP US ALIVE. POTENTIALLY. WE HAVEN'T TESTED THAT YET. WHILE THE PROJECT IS PART OF WIDER RESEARCH TO PREVENT MASS STARVATION IF GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS ARE SEVERELY DISRUPTED, IT COULD ALSO HAVE MORE IMMEDIATE BENEFITS, WITH A POTENTIAL INCOME BOOST FOR FARMERS. IF YOU CAN GET MORE FOOD AND MORE PROTEIN OUT OF THE SAME LAND, THEN, BASICALLY, THAT'S A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY OF DOING THINGS AND CAN ALSO BE PROFITABLE. PLANT PROTEIN HAS ALREADY HIT THE MARKET, WITH KIWI COMPANIES LIKE 'LEAFED' LEADING THE CHARGE. BUT, YEAH, THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT HOW TO BUILD THE FACTORIES REALLY FAST, SO THAT'S WHERE OUR MODELLING COMES IN. RESEARCHERS SAY GOVERNMENT BUY IN WOULD BE ESSENTIAL, BUT THE SCIENCE IS THERE AND READY SHOULD WE BE FORCED TO RELY ON THESE TO SURVIVE. DONNA-MARIE LEVER, 1 NEWS. IN A SURPRISE MOVE, ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S CRICKETING GREATS HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. OH, THAT'S PICKED AWAY ON THE ONSIDE FOR SIX. KANE WILLIAMSON ANNOUNCING HE'S LEAVING THE GAME MIDWAY THROUGH THE PRESENT TEST SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND. THE FORMER CAPTAIN AND LEADING BLACKCAPS RUN-SCORER WHO PLAYED AT LORDS LAST WEEK SAYS HIS DECISION HAS BECOME CLEAR OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. IT'S A FEELING, AND IT'S ALSO A REAL REFLECTION ON, FOR ME, PERSONALLY, ON HOW I'VE LOOKED TO DO IT AND PLAY THE GAME FOR SO LONG, AND THEN THAT SLIGHT FEELING OF THAT CHANGING. OVER HIS 16-YEAR CAREER, WILLIAMSON CAPTAINED NEW ZEALAND IN 40 TESTS AND LED THE BLACKCAPS TO VICTORY IN THE 2021 INAUGURAL WORLD TEST SERIES. MORE ON THIS LEGEND WITH THE BAT LATER IN SPORTS. TO THE FOOTBALL ` WORLD CUP AND HOST NATIONS CANADA AND THE U.S. BOTH HAVE POINTS ON THE BOARD AFTER THEIR FIRST MATCHES. BEFORE KICK-OFF, BOTH COUNTRIES STAGED THE OPENING CEREMONIES, SETTING THE TONE WITH SOME HIGH-ENERGY PERFORMANCES AND AN UNEXPECTED STAR. LAURA TUPOU EXPLAINS. FOOTBALL FEVER IN FULL FORCE. FIRST-TIME HOSTS CANADA TURNING TORONTO STADIUM RED, WELCOMING AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR INDIGENOUS HISTORY. THE OPENING CEREMONY PACKED WITH PERFORMANCES... # THIS IS HOW WE DANCE. # ...THE LINEUP INCLUDING TORONTO LOCALS AND PALESTINIAN-CHILEAN TALENT, THEN A CHANGE IN TEMPO, WITH MICHAEL BUBLE'S VELVETY VOCALS... # PLAY IT TO ME... ...BACKED BY A CHOIR, AND ALANIS MORRISETTE DELIVERING A POWERFUL NATIONAL ANTHEM. # OUR HOME AND NATIVE LAND... # HOPES SKY HIGH FOR LOCAL FANS. CANADA CHASING HISTORY AGAINST BOSNIA AND HERZOGOVINA, AIMING TO WIN THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP GAME. 1-0 DOWN, THEY EQUALISED IN THE 78th MINUTE... (CHEERING) ...COMING AWAY WITH A DRAW. THEN IT WAS AMERICA'S TURN IN THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE STADIUM IN LOS ANGELES, WHERE HOLLYWOOD STARS CAME TO SUPPORT. DAVID BECKHAM AND TOM CRUISE ROPED INTO SOME WORK, THEN A DRUMLINE, CALLING THE CROWD TO ATTENTION, BEFORE FOOTBALL-THEMED HYPE TRACKS. 20 SECONDS TILL GAME TIME. # GOALS, GOALS, GOALS. # RUN, RUN, RUN. # THE STADIUM STANDING READY FOR KATY PERRY, THE HEADLINE ACT, WITH A HEART-FELT PERFORMANCE. # ...WE'RE WISER, # WILL HEARTS STILL HAVE THAT FIRE? BUT IT WAS THIS NORWEGIAN BOY (10) WINNING HEARTS. # WHEN WE'RE OLDER, # WILL WE STILL LOOK UP IN WONDER? # THE CLOCK COUNTING DOWN. USA AND PARAGUAY FANS DOING THEIR BIT. (LOUD CHEERING) THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL HAS COME TO THE NATION OF SOCCER. THE U.S. TAKING FULL USE OF THEIR HOME ADVANTAGE, OUT FRONT FROM THE START, AND NETTING A HISTORIC FOURTH GOAL IN THE FINAL SECONDS, COMING AWAY WITH A WIN TO REMEMBER. LAURA TUPOU, 1 NEWS. CALIFORNIA'S WARM WEATHER IS MAKING THE ALL WHITES' NEW BASE FEEL MORE LIKE HOME, WITH JUST THREE TRAINING SESSIONS LEFT BEFORE THEIR FIRST MATCH OF THE WORLD CUP. AND BEING A FIFA EVENT, THE FACILITIES ARE WORLD CLASS, AS WORLD CUP REPORTER ZION DAYAL FOUND OUT. WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO. THIS IS WHERE THE ALL WHITES CALL HOME FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO WHILE THEY PREPARE FOR THE FIRST GAME OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP. THIS IS JUST THE SOCCER FACILITY, AND IT IS QUITE INCREDIBLE ` GRANDSTANDS AND ELITE LEVEL PITCH. AND IF WE GO UPSTAIRS THERE, WE GO INTO THE REST OF THE SPORTS FACILITY. SO LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK. YOU WOULD HONESTLY THINK THIS IS A HOTEL RESORT, BUT BEHIND ME IS THE SPORTS PAVILION, AND THAT'S WHERE THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM PLAYS, THE BASKETBALL TEAM PLAYS, AND IN THERE, THE FACILITIES ARE SECOND TO NONE. AND REMEMBER, THESE ARE STILL COLLEGE ATHLETES, UNIVERSITY ATHLETES. NOW, THIS IS A DIVISION ONE COLLEGE FOR SPORT. AND WE COME INTO THE ARENAS, AND MOST ARENAS ARE LIKE THIS. YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE STANDS, AND IT IS PRETTY SPECTACULAR. HOW MUCH DOES INVESTING IN GOOD FACILITIES LIKE THIS HELP FOR SUCCESS IN SPORT AT THE SCHOOL? IT'S TREMENDOUS, REALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE` AND WE'RE RUNNING A CAMP RIGHT NOW, WHERE A LOT OF YOUNG ATHLETES GET TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. AND WHEN YOU'RE COMPETING FOR SOME OF THE BEST KIDS IN THE COUNTRY, IT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE THIS KIND OF FACILITY TO SHOW OFF. DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT WHO'S TRAINING ON THE FOOTBALL GROUND AT THE MOMENT? YES. NEW ZEALAND. WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE WITH US, AND WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS FACILITY WITH THEM. NOW, AS WE WERE WALKING THROUGH, THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM VERY KINDLY GAVE ME SOME MERCHANDISE TO TAKE HOME. NOW, AT THE MOMENT, THIS FACILITY IS LOCKED DOWN BECAUSE OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP. THE SECURITY IS VERY, VERY HEIGHTENED AT THE MOMENT. WE'VE HAD SNIFFER DOGS AROUND. THERE is SECURITY EVERYWHERE FOR THE ALL WHITES, WHETHER THAT BE AT TRAINING OR THEIR TEAM HOTEL. THEY GET A POLICE ESCORT TO AND FROM TRAININGS AND TO AND FROM THE GAMES. BUT, SERIOUSLY, THIS FACILITY IS INCREDIBLE. THEY HAVE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO USE TO PREPARE FOR THE WORLD CUP. AND OUR WEBSITE 1news.co.nz WILL HAVE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE UPDATES ACROSS THE WORLD CUP, WITH A DEDICATED FIFA PAGE INCLUDING ALL THE ACTION, REACTION AND ANALYSIS. FILL THE TIN ` THAT'S BEEN THE PLEA FROM THE HURRICANES THIS WEEK, AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINAL IN THE CAPITAL. THE HIGH-FLYING TOP-RANKED 'CANES WELCOMING THE BLUES TO TOWN, WHO MAKE THE SEMI-FINALS AS THE FOURTH-RANKED TEAM. LUKE ROBINSON IS INSIDE THE STADIUM. AND, LUKE, ARE FANS DOING AS THEY WERE ASKED? KIA ORA JACK, THEY ARE SET TO OBLIGE WITH JUST UNDER AN HOUR UNTIL KICKOFF. CLUB GIVING AWAY TICKETS TO TONIGHT'S GAME TO MAKE IT AS LOUD AND CHEERY AS THEY CAN. 23000-25,000 EXPECTED HERE TONIGHT. HURRICANES SCORING THE MOST AND CONCEDING THE LEAST ALL SEASON. TAKING ON THE BLUES WHO HAVE HAD A HORROR SEASON. THE HURRICANES ARE THE FAVOURITES, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW SPORTS WORKS. THANKS, LUKE. JUST AHEAD ` MORE THAN A DOZEN TORNADOES CAUSE HAVOC ACROSS TWO AMERICAN STATES. THE CAMERA OPERATOR WHO WENT FROM FILMING THE CARNAGE TO HELPING A SURVIVOR. I THINK I GOT A BROKEN LEG. PLUS, A BIRTHDAY BOUT. 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! Don't take your eyes off this one. We could be in for an upset. VOICEOVER: Should've gone to Specsavers. Get 50% off lens options when you get two pairs from $169 or above. 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. DONALD TRUMP IS JUST DAYS AWAY FROM HOSTING A CONTROVERSIAL UFC FIGHT ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN. BUT QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED ABOUT WHO STANDS TO PROFIT FROM THE BOUT, WITH SOME ALLEGING CORRUPTION. U.S. CORRESPONDENT LOGAN CHURCH REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY CALL IT 'THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE'... (JACKHAMMER THUDS) ....NOW DOMINATED BY A MASSIVE ARENA ON THE WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN. FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR A UFC EVENT LIKE NONE OTHER TO MARK THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES ON A DAY THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE DONALD TRUMP'S BIRTHDAY. FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS EVENT WITH THEIR WHITE HOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND, AS PART OF OUR CELEBRATION AS A COUNTRY AND OUR 250 YEARS I THINK IS A GIFT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. MANY, INCLUDING SOME WITHIN THE UFC, HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER BE HOSTING SPORTING EVENTS, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE ROOM FOR CORRUPTION, AND WE ALREADY HAVE A CORRUPTED GOVERNMENT. ONE GROUP TRYING TO SUE TO STOP THE EVENTS HAPPENING, CLAIMING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WHITE HOUSE CAN'T BE USED TO HOST A FOR-PROFIT SPORTING EVENT. A JUDGE DECLINED TO HALT IT. THIS TEMPORARY ARENA, NICKNAMED THE CLAW, NOW DOMINATES THE DOWNTOWN DC SKYLINE. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN JUST HOW BIG THIS VENUE IS. THE STRUCTURE OVER THE ARENA IS 7M TALLER THAN THE WHITE HOUSE ITSELF. MEANWHILE, THESE GRANDSTANDS ARE EXPECTED TO FIT UP TO 4000 SPECTATORS DURING THE EVENT. MIXED VIEWS FROM LOCALS AND TOURISTS I SPOKE TO. IT'S CRAZY I HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE A FIGHT ON THE WHITE HOUSE, SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO SEE IT. IT IS DISGUSTING. IT IS OSTENTATIOUS. IT IS` AN EXORBITANT WASTE OF MONEY. YEAH, IT'S ODD. I THINK EVERYWHERE YOU GO AROUND DC AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE, THERE'S FENCING AND YEAH, THE ARENA, AND IT JUST FEELS VERY BIZARRE, I WOULD SAY. AS FOR THE FIGHTERS EXPECTED TO ENTER THIS ARENA, THEY SEE THIS AS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THIS SPORT, WHICH HAS SEEN RAPID GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS. I THINK IT'S A LOT LESS POLITICAL THAN PEOPLE THINK. IT'S A CELEBRATION OF AMERICA, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONVINCE THAT THIS IS NOT POLITICAL NAH, I'LL PUNCH YOU WHETHER YOU'RE LEFT, RIGHT, DOWN THE MIDDLE. I DON'T CARE. I'M GONNA HIT YOU. A CONTROVERSIAL EVENT HOSTED BY A CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENT. LOGAN CHURCH, 1NEWS, WASHINGTON, DC. AT LEAST 20 CONFIRMED TORNADOES HAVE TORN THROUGH AMERICA'S MIDWEST. THE DEATH TOLL FROM A WEEK-LONG RUN OF SEVERE STORMS THERE RISING TO THREE. IN THE LATEST BLOW, MULTIPLE TWISTERS TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF CHICAGO, DESTROYING DOZENS OF HOMES. ABC'S ALEX PEREZ REPORTS. TONIGHT, THE SAME SYSTEM THAT SPAWNED THE TORNADO OUTBREAK IN THE HEARTLAND, INCLUDING THIS MONSTER TWISTER, IS ON THE MOVE. OVERNIGHT, AN OUTBREAK OF MORE THAN A DOZEN DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES TEARING ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES; THIS ONE SOUTHWEST OF CHICAGO ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH THE TOWN OF STREATOR. (SIRENS AND HORNS BLARE) MOMENTS AFTER IT HIT... HEY! ...FREELANCE PHOTOJOURNALIST SCOTT LASKER SAYS HE HEARD A WOMAN SCREAMING FOR HELP ` LEADING HIM TO THIS MAN TRAPPED UNDER HIS HOUSE. ARE YOU OK? I THINK I GOT A BROKEN LEG. HERE YOU GO. OH MY GOD. HANDING THE CAMERA TO THE WOMAN, HE WORKED TO FREE THE MAN AS MUCH AS HE COULD... (GRUNTS) ...UNTIL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED AND GOT HIM OUT OF THE RUBBLE THE VIOLENT STORM ROLLED INTO THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD AND DESTROYED IT IN SECONDS. YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME HERE ` THESE HOMES COMPLETELY SHREDDED, AND IF YOU LOOK OVER HERE, THESE CARS ` WRECKED. HOME AFTER HOME LEVELLED ` THE TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION MILES LONG. EAST OF THERE AND OVER THE BORDER, A TANGLED MESS OF POWER LINES AND DEBRIS IN MERRILLVILLE, INDIANA. IT'S INSTANT HOMELESSNESS. YEAH, MAN. IT'S INSTANT HOMELESSNESS. DOES THIS OFFICIALLY MEAN WE HOMELESS? CONRAD JEFFERSON AND HIS WIFE, EBONY GOWNS, IN DISBELIEF; THEIR FAMILY LOST THEIR DREAM HOME IN SECONDS. IT'S JUST ABOUT US JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S OUR NEXT STEP, AND NOT HAVING A CLUE ON WHAT ARE THOSE. SURVEY CREWS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ARE OUT TONIGHT ASSESSING THE DAMAGE. AT LEAST TWO OF THE TORNADOES FROM THE OUTBREAK SO FAR ARE RATED EF3, WITH WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 136MPH. THAT'S ALMOST 220KM/H. AND THE WILD WEATHER IS FAR FROM OVER, WITH NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA AND WASHINGTON DC NOW IN THE FIRING LINE. KING CHARLES HAS LED TRIBUTES TO CELEBRATED BRITISH ARTIST DAVID HOCKNEY AFTER HIS DEATH AT THE AGE OF 88, CALLING HIM 'ONE OF LIFE'S TRUE ORIGINALS'. COLOUR IS A JOYFUL THING. I WANT MY ART TO BE JOYFUL, ACTUALLY. HOCKNEY WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS VIBRANT WORKS ` FROM SUN-DRENCHED PAINTINGS OF L.A. SWIMMING POOLS TO LANDSCAPES OF HIS NATIVE YORKSHIRE. HIS CAREER SPANNED SEVEN DECADES, AND HE WAS STILL STAGING EXHIBITIONS OF HIS WORK IN RECENT YEARS ` SOME CREATED ON HIS IPAD. ME U TONU MAI ` THE MID-WINTER CARNIVAL THAT WAS TOO POPULAR. HOW PAST OVERCROWDING HAS FORCED ORGANISERS OF DUNEDIN'S WINTER SOLSTICE EVENT TO GET CREATIVE. AND DOING HER COMMUNITY PROUD ` THE PASIFIKA FIRST AT A KIWI COMPETITION THAT HER FAMILY HOPE WILL INSPIRE. AND MORE FOG ON THE CARDS FOR MANY TOMORROW MORNING. BUT ONE ISLAND REMAINS MOSTLY SETTLED FOR THE DAY; WIND AND RAIN INVADES THE OTHER. I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS AFTER SPORT. THE FAMILY OF A 6-YEAR-OLD COOK ISLANDS DANCER IS HOPING THEIR DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY CAN INSPIRE OTHERS. MALIANA TUPOU HERE ROI HAS TAKEN OUT A TOP TALENT AWARD AT A NATIONWIDE PAGEANT, ALONG WITH A WINNING TITLE, BUT FOR HER FAMILY, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE AT STAKE. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER EXPLAINS. MALIANA (6) HAS NO PROBLEM STEPPING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT. BUT AT HOME, SHE'S HAPPIEST WITH THE COMPANY OF FAMILY AND HER DOGS. SHE LIKES THE SUN. SHE'S LIKE A MAN. (LAUGHTER) AND THIS IS MALI. (LAUGHS) YOU GET WHAT YOU GET. SHE RECENTLY TOOK OUT THE MINI MISS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PAGEANT. THEY ASKED ME A LITTLE BIT OF QUESTIONS, AND THEN THEY SAY, 'HOW OLD ARE YOU?' AND HOW OLD ARE YOU? 6. YOU KNOW, WHEN MY MUMMY WAS, UM, TALKING, AND` AND SHE SAID, UM, 'JUST DO IT, GIRL. JUST DO IT.' VERY PROUD OF MALIANA, BEING THE FIRST PACIFIC ISLAND... MINI MISS AOTEAROA. 2026 LIKE SHE SAID. YEP. (LAUGHS) MALIANA ALSO WON THE TALENT SECTION FOR HER COOK ISLANDS DANCING. NOT SURPRISING, AS SHE'S NO STRANGER TO PERFORMING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. AND WHEN THEY ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS THE WINNER OF HER AGE GROUP FOR LITTLE MISS MINI, IT WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD. SHE DONE IT. YOU KNOW? SO JUST SO PROUD. FOR THIS FAMILY, THOUGH, IT'S NOT ABOUT A TITLE; IT'S ABOUT A PROUD COMMUNITY. ESPECIALLY FOR COOK ISLANDS. IT'S SUCH A SMALL COUNTRY. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING IF WE PUT OUR MIND TO IT, THEN WORK TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE. COS THIS WAS NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL EFFORT; THIS WAS A WHOLE FAMILY EFFORT. AND THIS IS A FAMILY WHICH FACES CHALLENGES HEAD ON. MALIANA'S SISTER IS NOW DISABLED FOLLOWING A DEVASTATING ILLNESS, SO CHARITY WORK TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING. SHE'S DOING CHARITY WORK FOR KORU CARE, YOU KNOW, WHICH HELP CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. SHE WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE THAT HAD DISABILITIES LIKE HIS SISTER. SO, I MEAN, AND HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THE FAMILY HOPES MALIANA'S JOURNEY INSPIRES OTHERS TO AIM HIGH WHILE DOING GOOD. BARBARA DREAVER, 1 NEWS. DUNEDIN IS MARKING THE WINTER SOLSTICE A WEEK EARLY, WITH ITS MIDWINTER CARNIVAL THIS WEEKEND. THE ANNUAL EVENT IS SO POPULAR ORGANISERS HAVE REDUCED CAPACITY TO 8000 PEOPLE TO AVOID PREVIOUS OVERCROWDING. SAM OLLEY HAS MORE. CREATURES OF THE NIGHT LIFTING SPIRITS FROM LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. IT'S A TRADITION THAT HARKS BACK TO THE FIRE FESTIVALS OF EUROPE. LIT UP WITH BATTERY PACKS AND HATS.. SO, YOU JUST TURN IT ON AND OFF, LIKE... ON... OFF. ...AND SHINY ANIMAL COSTUMES. I'M DRESSED UP AS, UM, A BUTTERFLY MOTH. NOW IN ITS 29th YEAR, ORGANISERS SAY 30,000 HAVE ATTENDED PAST EVENTS. WE USED TO REALLY STRUGGLE, EVEN WITH THE BIG PROCESSIONS, HAVING OVERCROWDING AND PEOPLE GETTING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. INSTEAD OF STREET FESTIVITIES, IT'S NOW HELD IN THE GROUNDS OF AN 153-YEAR-OLD CHURCH TRANSFORMED INTO A CASTLE AND FAIRY GROTTO. WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO JUST DOWNSIZE. TO STOP OVERCROWDING OF THE PAST, THE CARNIVAL IS NOW SPLIT INTO FOUR SESSIONS, TICKETS LIMITED TO AROUND 2000 PER SLOT. BUT WE QUEUED AT THE GATE FOR 40 MINUTES TONIGHT. TODDLERS EVEN MORE EAGER. SHE'S NOT SCARED AT ALL, IS SHE? UM... OF CHARACTERS, NO, BUT OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE, SHE'S ACTUALLY REALLY SHY. PERFORMERS REHEARSING FOR THREE MONTHS. YOU'RE CONSTANTLY UP IN THE AIR. YOU'RE SPINNING. YOU'RE TRAINING. YOU DEFINITELY NEED A PRETTY GOOD FITNESS. LANTERNS ALSO PREPARED WEEKS AHEAD AT WORKSHOPS. THE LANTERNS, INCLUDING COCOONS, SNAILS AND KIWI, COMING TOGETHER FOR A PARADE AROUND THE CHURCH. THE TWO-DAY PARTY FINISHES TONIGHT. IT HAS A $200,000 BUDGET; THE CITY COUNCIL ITS BIGGEST SPONSOR. BUT FOR DECADES, THE EVENT HAS RELIED ON VOLUNTEERS. ALL THESE ARTISTS ARE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF, YOU KNOW, JUST TIRELESSLY. A SELL-OUT AGAIN EXPECTED IN OTEPOTI AT THIS COLOURFUL CARNIVAL. SAM OLLEY, 1 NEWS. ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEGEND SIR DAVID BECKHAM HAS BEEN HONOURED WITH A STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME. MR DAVID BECKHAM! (CHEERING) FRIEND TOM CRUISE WAS ON HAND, PRAISING WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS BECKHAM'S 'HOLLYWOOD STORY OF HARD WORK, DETERMINATION 'AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE ON SPORT AND CULTURE'. THE RED CARPET WAS OUT AND GREEN ASTROTURF IN AT THE LOS ANGELES CEREMONY, WHICH CAME AHEAD OF THE WORLD CUP GAME IN THE CITY. BECKHAM SAYS RECEIVING THE HONOUR WAS 'SURREAL'. ANDREW IS HERE WITH SPORT, AND KANE WILLIAMSON IS DONE WITH INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. AMAZING STILL TO LET THAT SINK IN. NOW GONE FROM ALL THREE FORMATS. WE'RE IN LONDON FOR THE SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT. IN TYPICAL WILLIAMSON FASHION, IN AN UNDERSTATED ROOM, ON A QUIET, CLOUDY DAY AT THE OVAL, WITH JUST TEAMMATES AND MANAGEMENT AROUND. PLUS, LIVE TO THE CAPITAL ` SUPER SEMI NUMBER TWO. LET'S HOPE IT'S MORE OF A CONTEST TONIGHT AFTER THE CHIEFS RUN AROUND AND THROUGH THE CRUSADERS, BURYING SOME PAINFUL PLAYOFF GHOSTS IN HAMILTON. DAY TWO OF THE WORLD CUP, AND THE AMERICANS IMPRESS WITH THEIR VENUES AND THEIR GOAL SCORING, WHILE AN ALL WHITES VETERAN IS ALL SET FOR HIS FIRST CUP, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS KIDS. ANEI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA, WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TONIGHT, THE SECOND SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC SEMI-FINAL ` THE HIGH FLYING NUMBER ONE SEEDED HURRICANES AGAINST THE STAGGERING BLUES. FOUR DEFEATS IN A ROW BUT STILL IN WITH A KNOCKOUT SNIFF. JOINING US OUT OF THE CAPITAL IS LUKE ROBINSON. A MASSIVE GAME HERE TONIGHT. BETWEEN 23,020 5000 FANS. ONE OF THE PLAYERS ARE WISHES HE WAS OUT THERE JOINS ME NOW. A REALLY DISAPPOINTING SEASON FOR YOU. HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN DEALING WITH ANOTHER REALLY BIG INJURY? IT HAS BEEN TOUGH. BACK-TO-BACK HAS BEEN PRETTY TOUGH. IT IS HARD NOT BEING PART OF IT WHEN THE BOYS HAVE BEEN GOING SO WELL. IT IS AWESOME TO BE PART OF THIS GROUP. BEING A PART OF IT AS YOU SAY IS A MASSIVE THING. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST THING TO KEEP THE TEAM CLICKING THE SEASON? JUST THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING EVERY WEEK. IT HAS BEEN A VERY LEVELHEADED GROUP WITH HOW WE HAVE HAD TO APPEAR. CREDIT TO THE GROUP. A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE A FEW BOYS WERE PLAYED 50 GAMES NOW. THEY ARE VERY LEVELHEADED. JUST GOOD PROBLEM-SOLVING ON THE RUN. THAT IS WHAT HAS IMPROVED THEIR PERFORMANCES. I AM SURE THE GROUP IS WELL AWARE OF THE HEAVY FAVOURITES YOU ARE THIS WEEK IN PARTICULAR AGAINST THE BLUES WHO HAVE HAD A FORM DIP THE SEASON. HOW DOES THE GROUP MAKE SURE THERE IS NO COMPLACENCY? JUST THE INTERNAL FOCUS. WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSION WITH THE SIDE. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND FINALS. THEY ARE STILL A GREAT TEAM, AND THEY ARE PRETTY HARD TO STOP WHEN THEY GET ON A RUN. WE WILL HAVE TO BE AT OUR BEST. ALL THE BEST FOR TONIGHT. JUST OVER 20 MINUTES UNTIL KICK-OFF TONIGHT. ALL TO PLAY FOR. A WIN FOR THE HURRICANE'S, AND THEY WILL HOST THE FINAL HERE IN WELLINGTON. THE BARRETT BROTHERS WILL BE IN ACTION. A BIG NIGHT IN THE CAPITAL FOR SURE. THANKS, LUKE, LIVE FROM WELLINGTON. THE WINNER OF TONIGHT'S GAME WILL TAKE ON THE CHIEFS. A WORD OF WARNING ` THE FOLLOWING IMAGES MIGHT MAKE YOU FEEL ILL IF YOU'RE A CRUSADERS FAN. THE DEFENDING CHAMPS WERE MAULED IN THE FIRST HALF IN HAMILTON, AS THE CHIEFS PAID THEM BACK FOR YEARS OF PLAYOFF MISERY. HERE'S BRODYN KNUCKEY. RUGBY IS AN 80-MINUTE GAME, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S DECIDED IN JUST 40. CHIPS AHEAD, REGATHERS. COOMBES-FABLING! VAA'I WITH HIM, GOES WIDE TO FOKETI, PASS BACK ON THE INSIDE! OH, THAT IS SENSATIONAL! WITH FARMERS AND ALL BLACKS COACHES IN TOWN, THE CHIEFS HAVING A FIELD DAY AGAINST THE CRUSADERS IN THE FIRST SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINAL IN HAMILTON ` A 49-12 WIN FORGED OFF THE BACK OF A STELLAR SIX-TRY FIRST HALF. FIRST HALF ` WE WERE ON. CLINICAL. ANY MISTAKE ` WE POUNCED. WE WERE REALLY ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. THIS WIN A LONG TIME COMING FOR THE CHIEFS AND THEIR COWBELL-CLAD FAITHFUL. MCKENZIE SLIPPING A LITTLE KICK THROUGH FOR TAUMOEFOLAU! GETS A BOOT TO IT ` KYREN TAUMOEFOLAU! BRILLIANT START BY THE CHIEFS! THE CRUSADERS BEATING THEM IN THE LAST FIVE PLAYOFF DERBIES, INCLUDING TWO FINALS. IT WAS BLOODY AWESOME TO SCORE 40-ODD POINTS IN THAT FIRST HOUR. IT WAS AMAZING. THE CHIEFS BROUGHT AN INTENSITY THAT WE COULDN'T HANDLE IN THAT FIRST 15 MINUTES, AND THEY PUT POINTS ON US EARLY, AND I THINK THAT PERFORMANCE FROM THEM WAS BUILDING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. BUT FOR HOW WELL THE HOME SIDE PLAYED, THE VISITORS DOING THEMSELVES NO FAVOURS ` MISSING TACKLES, MISSING TRY-SCORING CHANCES ` MISSING THE CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS THAT USUALLY MAKE THEM SO DANGEROUS THIS TIME OF YEAR. WE FELT WITH ABOUT 20 TO GO, WE WERE IN THIS. IT WOULD NEED TO TAKE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE, BUT WE TRUSTED THE GROUP. WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL GROUP. THE REALITY WAS THE QUALITY OF THE CHIEFS' SET PIECE JUST A YARD TOO FAR FOR US TO COMBAT. THIS THREE-YEAR CRUSADE OVER, ROB PENNEY DEPARTING WITH NO FUTURE PLANS BESIDES SOME FISHING. THE CHIEFS MUCH MORE CONCRETE ABOUT WHO THEY EXPECT TO SEE IN THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT FINAL NEXT WEEK. I THINK HURRICANES ARE PLAYING GOOD RUGBY, AND LAST MONTH'S EVIDENCE` YOU'D SUGGEST THAT IT'LL BE THE HURRICANES, YEAH. ALL EYES TO THE CAKE TIN TONIGHT, THEN, AFTER A STATEMENT MADE IN THE TRON. BRODYN KNUCKEY, 1 NEWS. IT'S BEEN A RECORD-BREAKING START TO SUPER RUGBY'S AUPIKI COMPETITION. ALMOST 12,000 FANS PILING INTO CHRISTCHURCH'S TEKAHA STADIUM FOR MATATU'S SEASON OPENER. IT'S THE MOST EVER FOR A DOMESTIC WOMEN'S GAME IN NEW ZEALAND, BEATING THE PREVIOUS RECORD BY AROUND 7000. CHIEFS MANAWA COULDN'T SPOIL THE PARTY; MATATU RUNNING IN EIGHT TRIES TO WIN 52-26. PUTS IT ON THE CHEST. BIG, WIDE BALL. GREAT VISION. GREAT PASS. AND A GREAT FINISH. KING GOES HIGH, WIDE AND OVER THE TOP. THERE'S THE FOOTWORK. EARLIER, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION BLUES ALSO OFF TO A WINNING START, BEATING THE HURRICANES POUA 42-7 ` AT ONE STAGE DOWN TO 14 PLAYERS AFTER BLACK FERNS LOCK MAAMA VAIPULU WAS SHOWN RED FOR THIS STRIKE. TO THE BIG NEWS OF THE PAST 24 HOURS ` KANE WILLIAMSON'S SUDDEN RETIREMENT FROM ALL INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. THE FORMER TEST CAPTAIN DECIDING THE BLACKCAPS LOSS TO ENGLAND AT LORD'S LAST WEEKEND WAS ENOUGH. WILLIAMSON GOES DOWN AS OUR GREATEST EVER BATSMAN ` NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING INTERNATIONAL RUN SCORER, NEARLY 20,000 RUNS ACROSS ALL FORMATS; IN TEST MATCHES, NEW ZEALAND'S HIGHEST RUN SCORER, JUST OFF THE MAGIC 10,000; 33 TEST CENTURIES; OUR SECOND MOST SUCCESSFUL TEST SKIPPER, JUST 10 DEFEATS IN 40 TESTS. THE ONE TEST FIGURE THAT PUTS HIM ALONGSIDE OTHER BATTING GREATS ` HIS AVERAGE ` A TICK OVER 54. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS WAS WITH KANE WILLIAMSON FOR HIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN LONDON. LAST WEEK, HE SIGNED OFF FROM LORDS; NOW HE'S DECLARED AFTER A LEGENDARY CAREER. I STAND HERE TO ANNOUNCE MY RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. THE WAY HE DID IT WAS VERY KANE WILLIAMSON ` UNDERSTATED, LITTLE FUSS, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A TEST SERIES WITH ENGLAND. WHEN I LOOK AT THE DRESSING ROOM NOW, AND I SEE THE TALENT AND THE JOURNEY THAT I THINK THIS TEAM IS LOOKING TO GO ON, IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT TIME FOR ME TO STEP AWAY, AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT. HE WILL GO DOWN AS NEW ZEALAND'S GREATEST BATSMAN, ARGUABLY OUR BEST EVER PLAYER. TOP CLASS. CERTAINLY EXCITED AT THE CHANCE TO PLAY. UM... I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S` THAT IT HASN'T SUNK IN YET, BUT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF NERVES AT THE MOMENT. SEEN AS A SCHOOLBOY PRODIGY, HE SCORED A CENTURY ON DEBUT IN INDIA IN 2010... EIGHTH NEW ZEALANDER TO GET 100 ON DEBUT, AND YOUNG KANE WILLIAMSON. LOOK AT THAT SMILE. ...AND PILED ON THE RUNS IN ALL THREE FORMATS. AND THAT'S BEAUTIFULLY WEIGHTED. HE WAS ALSO AN ASTUTE AND CLASSY CAPTAIN, EVEN IN DISAPPOINTMENTS, LIKE AFTER THE 2019 WORLD CUP FINAL. YOU JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT. BUT ALSO IN SUCCESS, WHEN HE LED THE BLACKCAPS TO THE 2021 WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS ` NEW ZEALAND. CRICKET CREED IS AN INDIVIDUALISTIC GAME IN MANY RESPECTS, CRICKET IS AN INDIVIDUALISTIC GAME IN MANY RESPECTS, BUT YOU KNOW, HE'S FOUND A WAY TO MAKE IT ABOUT THE TEAM ALWAYS. HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON THE TEAM AND YOUR CHANCES WITH THIS TOUR? I MEAN, YOU DON'T LOSE KANE WILLIAMSON OFF THE TEAM SHEET AND GET STRONGER, (CHUCKLES) SO... COS HE'S A LEGEND. A REPLACEMENT WILL JOIN THE SQUAD AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S SECOND TEST AGAINST ENGLAND AT THE OVAL. GIVING ANOTHER PLAYER A CHANCE TO STEP UP ` PART OF WILLIAMSON'S REASON TO RETIRE NOW. THE BLACKCAPS HAVEN'T PLAYED A TEST MATCH HERE AT THE OVAL FOR 27 YEARS, BUT EVEN ANOTHER FIRST FOR KANE WILLIAMSON AND HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER WASN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM WANT TO COMPETE AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALLY SEE... BEING ON A TEAM SHEET AND ADDING A COUPLE OF GAMES AS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. NO LONGER ON THE TEAM SHEET, BUT FOREVER WRITTEN INTO NEW ZEALAND CRICKETING HISTORY. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS, LONDON. THEY'RE ENTERING THE T20 WORLD CUP AS THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, BUT THE WHITE FERNS KNOW THAT WILL COUNT FOR LITTLE. NEW ZEALAND OPEN THEIR ACCOUNT AGAINST THE WEST INDIES TOMORROW MORNING, IGNORING THE TARGET ON THEIR BACKS. WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO WAS TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE START AGAIN. NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE I THINK WE'VE PLAYED SOME REALLY GOOD CRICKET OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 12 MONTHS, SIX MONTHS ESPECIALLY. AND I THINK IF` IT HOLDS US IN GOOD STEAD TO KNOW THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING WORKS. ENGLAND'S OPENED THEIR HOME WORLD CUP AT EDGBASTON, WITH A STRONG 87-RUN WIN OVER SRI LANKA. MATCH DAY TWO IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP, AND THE OTHER TWO CO-HOSTS HAVE OPENED THEIR CAMPAIGNS. THE UNITED STATES VS PARAGUAY IN THE IMPRESSIVE L.A. NFL STADIUM. THE AMERICANS ON FIRE IN THE FIRST HALF, UP 3-0. ...BEHIND TWICE AT EXTREME ALTITUDE AGAINST BOLIVIA. TO DRAW. THEY'RE UNDER PRESSURE. HUGE PRESSURE! LONDON RAISED STRIKER FLORIAN BALOGUN SCORING A DOUBLE. THE U.S. ROMPING HOME IN THE END 4-1. GIO REYNA, SON OF AMERICAN GREAT CLAUDIO REYNA, FLICKING IN THE FOURTH. CANADA'S OPENING GAME AN HISTORIC MOMENT IN TORONTO. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA UP EARLY BEFORE THE CANADIAN'S SOUTHAMPTON-BASED STRIKER STRUCK BACK. CANADA LOOKING TO OBLIGE HERE. IT'S CYLE LARIN! 1-1 IN THE END. IT'S CANADA'S FIRST EVER POINT AT A WORLD CUP AT THEIR THIRD TOURNAMENT. THE ALL WHITES ARE ON THE FINAL COUNTDOWN BEFORE THEIR OPENING GAME AGAINST IRAN ON TUESDAY IN THAT L.A. STADIUM. FOR VETERAN STRIKER KOSTA BARBAROUSES, MAKING A WORLD CUP HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. ZION DAYAL SPOKE WITH HIM IN SAN DIEGO. FROM MIRAMAR, WELLINGTON TO MIRAMAR, SAN DIEGO. THE WORLD CUP MAY JUST BE THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE SEE KOSTA BARBAROUSES IN NATIONAL COLOURS. WERE THERE EVER DOUBTS THAT THE WORLD CUP DREAM MAY NOT EVER HAPPEN? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. EVERY... EVERY CYCLE, I GUESS. EVERY FAILED PLAYOFF GAME. MEXICO, COSTA RICA, UM, PERU. THEY STILL SIT IN YOUR MIND? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. HAVING MADE HIS ALL WHITES DEBUT 18 YEARS AGO, HE'S CRACKED HIS DREAM. HE'S BEEN IN THE STATES SINCE MID-MAY AFTER HIS A-LEAGUE SEASON WITH WESTERN SYDNEY ENDED BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS. BUT HIS MELBOURNE-BASED FAMILY IS STILL CLOSE TO HIM. I KNOW YOUR FAMILY IS NOT HERE, BUT YOUR DAUGHTERS ARE ON YOUR BOOTS. YEAH. WHY HAVE YOU DONE THAT? AND, I MEAN, ARE YOU MISSING THEM QUITE A LOT AT THE MOMENT? YEAH. I MEAN, THEY'RE SORT OF MY INSPIRATION. YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE ME THE ENERGY TO CARRY ON, TO DO WHAT I'M DOING. I JUST WANT THEM TO BE PROUD OF ME, TO BE HONEST, TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE TELL THEIR FRIENDS THAT THEIR DAD WAS AT THE WORLD CUP. THE ALL WHITES HAVE THREE TRAINING SESSIONS LEFT HERE IN SAN DIEGO BEFORE THE FIRST GAME OF THE WORLD CUP. EVERYONE TRAINING TODAY BESIDES ALEX RUFFER. I HAVE SPOKEN TO DARREN BAZELEY. HE HAS SELECTED THE PLAYERS THAT WILL START AGAINST IRAN IN THREE DAYS' TIME. IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR MYSELF AND A LOT OF BOYS, AND EVERYONE WANTS TO PLAY. SO, YEAH, IT'LL JUST BE REALLY EXCITING, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN ENJOY IT AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE MOMENT. STARTING OR NOT, THESE 26 PLAYERS ARE SET TO EXPERIENCE MANY MOMENTS THEY WON'T FORGET. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS, SAN DIEGO. THINGS WARM UP AGAIN TOMORROW. BRAZIL, AUSTRALIA AND THE PLUCKY SCOTS ALL IN ACTION TOMORROW. COMING UP ` ERIN'S HERE WITH DETAILS OF APPROACHING HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. ON Q+A TOMORROW ` LABOUR'S PUBLIC TRANSPORT PITCH TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF LIVING. WILL A $20 CAP WORK? Q+A. 9am TOMORROW ON 1 AND TVNZ+. NAU MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. HARD TO BELIEVE THIS WOULD LIFT TO A STUNNING DAY. FOG AND FOG-BOWS FOR MANY THIS MORNING, AND POSSIBLE AGAIN TOMORROW, TOO. IT DID CLEAR TODAY. TOMORROW, THOUGH, SOME ARE IN FOR A WET AND WINDY SHIFT. TO THE SATELLITE ` IT WAS A GOOD LOOKING DAY FOR MOST. SOME WET SPOTS IN THE WESTERN AND UPPER SOUTH ISLAND. WHANGANUI HIT 18 TODAY. SOME WELL DOWN ON THAT TODAY ` 8 OR 9 DEGREES IN THE LOWER SOUTH. BUT TOMORROW WE SEE A WARM WIND SHIFT FROM THE SOUTH. SO INSTEAD OF 8 DEGREES, THAT BECOMES 14 ` EVEN WARMER WITH THE STRONG NOR'WESTER. OVERNIGHT, WIND AND RAIN ARE APPROACHING; RAIN BUILDING IN THE WEST COAST, SPREADING ACROSS THE LOWER SOUTH LATER IN THE DAY. RAIN WATCHES TO FIORDLAND AND THE WESTLAND RANGES, AND THE CANTERBURY HIGH COUNTRY IS IN FOR A VERY WINDY COUPLE OF DAYS. KAITAIA'S THE PICK OF THE BUNCH HERE. FOR THE REST, JUST A BIT OF CLOUD ABOUT. PATCHES OF EARLY FOG, AND 17 OR 18 DEGREES. PRIME CONDITIONS FOR MORNING FOG AGAIN IN TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND, BUT A MAINLY FINE DAY. 17 IS YOUR HIGH. A FOGGY MORNING FOLLOWED BY CLOUD COVER AND A POSSIBLE SPRINKLE FOR HAMILTON. A CHILLY 3 AND TOP OF 15. THE MORNING IS A BIT OF A BETTER PICTURE IN CENTRAL SPOTS ` SOME FOGGY PATCHES. CLOUD INCREASES, WITH A FEW SHOWERS IN THE MIX. WHAKATANE REMAINS DRY, AND 17 FOR YOU. GET OUT AND ABOUT IN THE MORNING IN TAURANGA ` FROM ABOUT MIDDAY YOU CAN EXPECT SOME CLOUDY TIMES. 18 IS YOUR HIGH. GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY TURNING ON A STUNNER. FURTHER SOUTH, SOME CLOUD, MAYBE A SHOWER FOR DANNEVIRKE, AND 15 FOR YOU. A GREY, SHOWERY SUNDAY IN THE WEST OF THE ISLAND, WITH 17 OR 18 DEGREES. CLOUD TO COME AND GO IN TE WHANGANUI A TARA WELLINGTON. A FEW SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE HARBOUR. BY EVENING, A NOR'WESTER REALLY PICKING UP. 16 IS YOUR HIGH. LOTS OF SUN ON OFFER AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. A BIT OF A WINDY ONE FOR BLENHEIM, THOUGH. SHOWERY IN WESTPORT ` PICKING UP LATE MORNING, AND 16 DEGREES. THOSE SHELTERED SPOTS WILL SEE THE FROSTS OR FOG FORM IN OTAUTAHI. A SUNNY DAY, AND A WARMER NOR'WESTER PICKING UP IN THE AFTERNOON, TAKING YOU TO 18 DEGREES. WET IN THE WEST; POSSIBLE HEAVY AFTERNOON FALLS FOR HOKITIKA. A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE IN THE EAST ` CLEAR, MAYBE WITH A FROST. A WINDY ONE FOR TWIZEL, AND ASHBURTON, YOU WERE 11 TODAY. 19 TOMORROW. GET OUT IN THE MORNING, TAHUNA QUEENSTOWN ` WIND AND RAINY TIMES THROUGH YOUR AFTERNOON. 13 DEGREES. MILFORD SOUND'S IN FOR A WET ONE. A WATCH IN PLACE ` WINDS REALLY PICKING UP, AND RAIN BY AFTERNOON FOR THE REST. OAMARU ` EVENING SHOWERS, BUT THAT WARM WIND MEANS WARMER TEMPERATURES. YOU MAY START OFF FINE AND FROSTY IN DUNEDIN, BUT CLOUD BUILDS TO A BIT OF RAIN BY EVENING; THOSE WINDS REALLY BECOMING GUSTY IN THE AFTERNOON. 17 IS YOUR HIGH. MONDAY ` THE WET AND WIND PUSH NORTH, CROSSING TO THE LOWER NORTH LATER IN THE DAY. FURTHER NORTH, STILL DRY. AND BEHIND THE WARM, A COLD SURGE TO THE SOUTH. TUESDAY, THOUGH ` RAIN SPREADS OVER THE NORTH. FEW SHOWERS TO THE UPPER SOUTH TOO. THINGS CLEAR FURTHER SOUTH, BUT WITH MORE RAIN APPROACHING, SO SOME ACTIVE WEATHER ON THE CARDS. AND THAT'S 1 NEWS THIS SATURDAY. FROM US, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY JOHNATHAN CHUI AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026