THE NATIONAL PARTY CELEBRATES ITS 90TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WITH THE PRIME MINISTER DECLARING IT THE START OF ITS ELECTION CAMPAIGN. RELIEF FOR NEW ZEALANDER EVERLEE WIHONGI AND HER FAMILY ` SHE'S BEEN RELEASED AFTER TWO MONTHS IN ICE DETENTION. AND HENRY NICHOLLS MARKS HIS RETURN TO TEST CRICKET WITH A CENTURY FOR THE BLACKCAPS AGAINST ENGLAND. CAPTIONS BY KATE PERCIVAL AND KATE MCCULLOUGH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI, WELCOME TO THREENEWS. THE NATIONAL PARTY'S 90th ANNUAL CONFERENCE KICKED OFF IN LOWER HUTT TODAY, WITH THE PRIME MINISTER DECLARING IT THE START OF THE PARTY'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN. CHRISTOPHER LUXON TOLD ATTENDEES TO GET ORGANISED, BECAUSE WORK WOULD START THE MOMENT THEY WALKED OUT THE DOOR. MOLLY SWIFT REPORTS. THE LOWER HUTT EVENTS CENTRE A SEA OF BLUE THIS WEEKEND, AS NATIONAL PARTY MEMBERS GATHER FOR THEIR ANNUAL MEETING. I THINK IT'S 140 DAYS TILL THE ELECTION. WE ARE VEYR MUCH READY TO GO. IT WAS ALL SMILES TODAY, DESPITE THE PARTY POLLING THE WORST IT HAS IN GOVERNMENT SINCE THE 1990S. RECENT POLLING HAS PUT NATIONAL AT 29%, SUGGESTING THIS ELECTION IS SHAPING UP TO BE A CLOSE RACE. BUT CAMPAIGN CHAIR SIMEON BROWN IS OPTIMISTIC. WE'RE REALLY POSITIVE HERE. THERE'S A REALLY GOOD VIBE. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD AS A PARTY TO FIX THE BASICS AND BUILD THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. AND WE'RE SEEING SOME REALLY GOOD RESULTS IN THE ECONOMY, IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND LAW AND ORDER. TODAY'S AGENDA INCLUDED... GEARING UP FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION. OUR VOLUNTEERS WILL BE OUT THERE KNOCKING ON DOORS, SPEAKING AT PUBLIC MEETINGS, TALKING TO VOTERS AND MAKING THE CASE WE ARE FIXING THE BASICS. AND A RETIREMENT ` FORMER MINISTER ANDREW BAYLY IS LEAVING POLITICS, AFTER PREVIOUSLY SAYING HE WOULD CONSIDER SEEKING A LIST-ONLY POSITION FOR NATIONAL. THE MP FOR PORT WAIKATO WAS IN PARLIAMENT FOR 12 YEARS, BUT QUIT HIS MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS LAST YEAR AFTER HE PLACED A HAND ON A STAFF MEMBER'S ARM DURING WHAT HE CALLED AN 'ANIMATED DISCUSSION'. IT FOLLOWED A PREVIOUS INCIDENT WHERE HE ALLEGEDLY MOCKED AND REPEATEDLY CALLED A WORKER A LOSER DURING A MINISTERIAL VISIT TO A WINERY IN MARLBOROUGH. NATIONAL IS THE FIRST PARTY TO HOLD ITS AGM THIS YEAR. ACT AND LABOUR WILL BOTH HOLD THEIRS NEXT WEEKEND. AND WHILE THERE WERE NO BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY, NATIONAL PARTY LEADER CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE AN ELECTION POLICY TIED TO THE ECONOMY TOMORROW. NEW ZEALANDER EVERLEE WIHONGI HAS BEEN RELEASED AFTER TWO MONTHS IN ICE DETENTION. THE NEWS BLOG WEB WORM HAS POSTED A PICTURE OF HER EATING HER FIRST BURGER SINCE BEING RELEASED. BUT SHE'S BEEN LEFT WITHOUT HER PASSPORT, GREEN CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENCE. THE 37-YEAR-OLD WAS RETURNING TO THE U.S AFTER A THREE-WEEK HOLIDAY IN NEW ZEALAND IN EARLY APRIL, WHEN SHE WAS DETAINED BY ICE BECAUSE OF A 2016 CANNABIS CONVICTION. SHE WAS LATER MOVED FROM CALIFORNIA TO ARIZONA. EVERLEE'S FAMILY PLAN TO GET HER HOME TO WISCONSIN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I'M JOINED NOW BY EVERLEE'S MOTHER BETTY. HOW RELIEVED ARE YOU TONIGHT, BETTY? OH, JUST REALLY RELIEVED. WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE HER AFTER 70 DAYS NOW. SO JUST VERY RELIEVED, VERY HAPPY. I THINK ANY PARENT CAN... YOU KNOW. YOU'RE AT THE AIRPORT, ON YOUR WAY TO EVERLEE. WHAT'S NEXT? SO... WE ARE GOING TO SEE HER, WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME FAMILY THINGS, HER TWO BROTHERS ARE DRIVING DOWN FROM UTAH. WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME STUFF TO HELP HER FEEL LIKE SHE IS BACK IN THE REAL WORLD. THEN WE HAVE TO GET HER THINGS TOGETHER. ICE NEVER GAVE BACK HER PASSPORT, DRIVER'S LICENSE OR GREEN CARD. IS THIS THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE BATTLE? OR DO YOU CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR ANSWERS HERE? I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS. AFTER HER GOING THROUGH THIS, AND HEARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH IN THESE DETENTION CENTRES, IT HAS REALLY MADE US WANT TO HELP THEM AS WELL. BECAUSE THIS IS CRAZY. I WOULDN'T WANT ANY OTHER FAMILY TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. BETTY WIHONGI, THANK YOU. CHRISTCHURCH HAS RECORDED ITS HOTTEST JUNE DAY EVER ` 25 DEGREES. MULTIPLE WILDFIRES ARE BURNING ACROSS CANTERBURY, INCLUDING A LARGE FIRE OUTSIDE HAWARDEN THAT HAS PROMPTED WATER RESTRICTIONS. FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW ZEALAND SAID IT WAS ALSO ATTENDING WILDFIRES AT MOUNT CULVERDEN, KIRWEE, ROLLESTON, GEBBIES VALLEY AND WAIAU. THE DEADLY ATTACKS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON WERE BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED TODAY BY AMERICA ANNOUNCING A CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH. BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE, HEZBOLLAH KILLED FOUR OCCUPYING IDF SOLDIERS. ISRAEL RETALIATED WITH STRIKES THAT KILLED 47 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SEVEN WOMEN AND TWO CHILDREN. AFTER THE CEASEFIRE, ISRAEL REPORTEDLY CARRIED OUT 12 MORE AIR RAIDS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE 45TH AND 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD J. TRUMP. DONALD TRUMP UNVEILED HIS NEW AIR FORCE ONE PLANE TODAY, A GIFT FROM QATAR, AND THE U.S PRESIDENT WAS FLYING HIGH... THOSE SHIPS ARE FLOWING OUT OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT LIKE NOBODY'S EVER SEEN BEFORE, ACTUALLY. THERE WERE A LOT OF` ABOUT 700 OF THEM, AND THEY'RE POURING OUT. THE OIL IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. ...CELEBRATING THE END OF THE WAR IN IRAN AND HIS GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL... BIBI NETANYAHU IS A WARRIOR PRIME MINISTER, AND HE SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS THAT. ...AFTER EARLIER CRITICISING ISRAELI OFFICIALS FOR PUTTING THE U.S-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS AT RISK WITH THEIR ATTACKS ON LEBANON. RELATIONSHIP WITH NETANYAHU IS... IT'S GOOD, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM A LITTLE BIT... SANE. ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO CONTROL ISRAEL FROM ATTACKING LEBANON? YEAH. I WILL BE. HOW? UH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR ME, AND THEY DO AS I SAY. THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT DONALD TRUMP SIGNED WITH IRAN THIS WEEK WAS MEANT TO SPELL PEACE FOR LEBANON TOO. BUT INSTEAD, ISRAEL HAS INTENSIFIED ITS ATTACKS THERE, WITH 47 PEOPLE KILLED IN WHAT LEBANESE AUTHORITIES CLAIM WAS THE SECOND DEADLIEST DAY FOR THE COUNTRY DURING THE CURRENT CONFLICT. THE STRIKES WERE A PAYBACK ATTACK AFTER HEZBOLLAH KILLED FOUR ISRAELI SOLDIERS. THE FLARE-UP IN VIOLENCE PROMPTING TEHRAN TO ABRUPTLY SCRAP NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE U.S AT THIS SWISS HOTEL, WHERE THE CLOCK IS TICKING TO GET THE PEACE DEAL FINALISED. IT'S 60 DAYS, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DEAL, OTHERWISE WE` WE WILL DO THINGS THAT WON'T MAKE THEM HAPPY. THE U.S PRESIDENT HAS BEEN UPSETTING HIS OWN ALLIES FOR FAR LESS, CURRENTLY LOCKED IN A WAR OF WORDS WITH ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER AFTER CLAIMING SHE BEGGED HIM FOR A PHOTO DURING THEIR RECENT G7 MEETING, AND ADDING THAT HE FELT SORRY FOR HER. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) TODAY, GIORGIA MELONI SAID SHE WAS ASTONISHED AT TRUMP'S COMPLETELY MADE-UP STATEMENTS. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) THE LEBANESE ARE DESPERATELY HOPING THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO HIS CLAIMS OF PEACE, BUT IT IS A DESPERATE HOPE. A RENEWED CEASEFIRE HAS NOW BEEN DECLARED BETWEEN HEZBOLLAH AND ISRAEL, AND OFFICIALS FROM BOTH SIDES HAVE SAID THEY'LL ABIDE BY THE TRUCE, BUT WARNED AGAINST VIOLATIONS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY PROMISED 65 DAYS AGO WHEN THE CEASEFIRE WAS FIRST DECLARED. DRIVERS WERE TRAPPED FOR HOURS IN BACKED-UP TRAFFIC AFTER A TWO-VEHICLE CRASH ON THE JOHNSONVILLE-PORIRUA MOTORWAY NORTH OF WELLINGTON LAST NIGHT. THE CRASH LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND ONE CRITICALLY INJURED. MEANWHILE, ONE PERSON HAS DIED IN A CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION ON GREAT BARRIER ISLAND THIS AFTERNOON. AND IN PATUTAHI JUST OUTSIDE GISBORNE, ONE PERSON DIED AND 11 WERE INJURED IN A SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH INVOLVING A VAN. A NEW YORK-BASED PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM HAS BOUGHT A MAJORITY STAKE IN THE BLACK FOILS. MSP SPORTS CAPITAL ADDS THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM, WHICH WAS OWNED BY THE SAILGP LEAGUE, TO A PORTFOLIO THAT INCLUDES THE X GAMES AND A HOST OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL TEAMS. CARLOS NORTON HAS MORE. THE BLACK FOILS TRAINING IN HALIFAX AHEAD OF THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX, SAILING ON A HIGH AFTER ANNOUNCING MSP SPORTS CAPITAL AS THEIR NEW MAJORITY OWNERS. IT'S A NATURAL EVOLUTION FOR THE TEAM AS THE OVERALL LEAGUE HAS GROWN AND OUR TEAM HAS GROWN. UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING A PARTNERSHIP NOW WITH MSP'S GOING TO TAKE THE TEAM TO NEW LEVELS. THE DEAL LINKS THE BLACK FOILS WITH THE SPORTING PORTFOLIO OF GREATS ` INCLUDING THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE'S EVERTON AND THE MCLAREN FORMULA 1 TEAM. PETER BURLING AND BLAIR TUKE WILL REMAIN AS CO-CEOS AND HOPE THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT WILL BRING THEM MORE INTERNATIONAL TROPHIES. WE'RE NOW DETERMINED TO MAKE SOMETHING OF THAT AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE TEAM TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THE TEAM HASN'T RACED SINCE THEIR DRAMATIC RUN-IN WITH FRANCE IN FEBRUARY... IN FEBRUARY... WATCH OUT! (BLEEP!) ...WHICH LEFT THEM FACING FOUR MONTHS ON SHORE. NOW THEY'VE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ITS REPLACEMENT ` MANAWATITI. ALL: MANAWATITI. SUPER EXCITING MILESTONE FOR THE GROUP TO GET BACK ON THE WATER YESTERDAY, COMMISSIONING THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW BOAT BEHIND US, NEW LIVERY. AND, YEAH, A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AMONGST THE GROUP TO GET BACK RACING ON THE WEEKEND. TODAY THEY'VE GOT THEIR TRAINING WHEELS ON. WE'VE HAD TO WAIT FOUR MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE HORSE AND GO SAILING, SO IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF JUST FEELING IT OUT, MAKING SURE WE'RE CONFIDENT AS A GROUP. BUT THE TEAM BELIEVES THE ENFORCED BREAK HAS GIVEN THEM TIME TO RESET AND REFOCUS. WE TAKE THAT AS ACTUALLY STRENGTH, I THINK, COMING INTO THE WEEKEND, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THAT ONLY GETS YOU SO FAR, AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND TRY AND PROVE OURSELVES, AND SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO AS A UNIT. NOW THE BLACK FOILS HAVE THE CHANCE TO PROVE THEY'RE STILL AMONG SAILGP'S ELITE. THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX BEGINS AT 7am TOMORROW. AND COMING UP IN SPORT, WE'RE IN THE CAPITAL AHEAD OF WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED THE BEST FINAL IN SUPER RUGBY HISTORY BETWEEN THE HURRICANES AND CHIEFS. AND HENRY NICHOLLS MARKS HIS RETURN TO TEST CRICKET WITH A CENTURY FOR THE BLACKCAPS AGAINST ENGLAND AT THE OVAL. $9.99? Is that us then? Is what us? Lunch. I put it in the group chat. No you didn't. Might be the group chat about the group chat. Awkward! VOICEOVER: Lunch sussed for $9.99. WELCOME BACK. A WOMAN WHO WENT INTO A CROCODILE ENCLOSURE TO RESCUE A 3-YEAR-OLD BOY HAS BEEN PRAISED FOR HER HEROIC ACTIONS. IT'S UNDERSTOOD SHE'S THE CO-OWNER OF JOHNSON'S ZOO, THE FAMILY OPERATION IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE, WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. TODAY POLICE SAID A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ATTEMPTED MURDER HAS BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL AS HE IS 'UNFIT FOR INTERVIEW'. THE BOY IS CRITICAL BUT STABLE IN HOSPITAL. (DYNAMIC MUSIC) ADVENTURE CHARGED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD. SUZUKI E VITARA AND THREE NEWS SPORT. IN JUST UNDER AN HOUR, WHAT'S BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED GRAND FINALS IN SUPER RUGBY HISTORY GETS UNDERWAY IN THE CAPITAL, WITH THE HURRICANES HOSTING THE CHIEFS. LET'S HEAD STRAIGHT THERE, WHERE SKY SPORTS COMMENTATOR AND FORMER ALL BLACK MILS MULIAINA JOINS US. AND MILS, ONE VERSE TWO. THIS HAS ALL THE TRIMMINGS OF THE FINAL FOR THE AGES, DOESN'T IT? OH, IT CERTAINLY DOES. YOU KNOW, IT HAS` IT'S BEEN TOUTED POSSIBLY THE BEST, YOU KNOW, SUPER RUGBY FINAL IN HISTORY. THE DOWNSIDE TO IT IS WELLINGTON'S CERTAINLY TURNED UP, AND THERE IS A LOT OF WIND. A LOT OF WIND AND A LOT OF PEOPLE. 35,000 FANS WILL PACK INTO THE SOLD-OUT STADIUM. HOW MUCH OF AN ADVANTAGE IS THAT FOR THE 'CANES? OH, LOOK, IT'S MASSIVE. AND TICKETS WERE SOLD OUT IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW QUICK THEY WERE REALLY SNAPPED UP. HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE, IT'S JUST THAT ` IT'S THE COMFORT OF BEING AT HOME, PREPARING IN YOUR OWN GROUNDS, YOU KNOW, SLEEPING IN YOUR OWN BED AND THEN SORT OF WAKING UP AND BEING AROUND YOUR OWN SORT OF ENVIRONMENT. THEY'VE BEEN FANTASTIC ` THIS WELLINGTON CROWD HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN BEHIND THEIR TEAM, AND SO THEY SHOULD BE, BECAUSE MAN, THEY HAVE PLAYED SOME FANTASTIC RUGBY. YOU KNOW, THEY'VE SPREAD THE BALL OUT. THEY'VE BEEN GIVING THE BALL A LITTLE BIT OF AIR, AND THEY'VE BACKED IT UP ALSO BY SOME PHYSICALITY OUT FRONT WITH THEIR FORWARD PACK. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, THE CHIEFS COME IN IN SOME HOT FORM. THE WAY THEY DISMANTLE, THE CRUSADERS LAST WEEK. THEY PLAY A SIMILAR STYLE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE WEATHER IS GOING TO PLAY A BIG PART. IT'S REALLY WINDY. WILL TEAMS WANT TO THROW THE BALL AROUND IN THESE CONDITIONS OR WILL THEY BE CONTENT TO JUST SORT OF TRY AND KEEP THINGS TIGHT. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE INTERESTING QUESTION COME 7.05. I DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS A CHIEFS FAN MYSELF, BUT THEY HAVE MADE THE LAST THREE GRAND FINALS AND LOST THEM ALL. HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL BE PLAYING ON THEIR MIND? OH, I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A LOT OF, I SUPPOSE, MOTIVATION TO GET THAT RIGHT. THREE FINALS IN A ROW. I MEAN, GREAT THAT THEY'VE GOT THERE, BUT THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALWAYS COME AWAY AND NOT QUITE GRASPED THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THOUGH, THEY'VE GOT A HURRICANES SIDE THAT HAVE NOT WON FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT CERTAINLY THERE'S NOT MUCH WORD COMING OUT OF THE CHIEFS CAMP TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SUGGESTING THAT THEY'RE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, GRABBING AT THE FACT THAT THEY'VE LOST THESE LAST THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS. BUT THEY'RE HIGHLY MOTIVATED. AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY COME HERE IN WELLINGTON AND DO IT IN FRONT OF THIS 35,000-PACKED STADIUM. FINALLY, WITHOUT BEING BIASED, WHO ARE YOU PICKING TO LIFT THE TROPHY LATER TONIGHT? WELL, I'M NOT BEING BIASED AT ALL, BUT THE CHIEFS ARE GONNA WIN. YEAH. OK? SO, UM, IT'S HEART ON YOUR SLEEVES SORT OF STUFF. BY HOW MUCH? I DON'T KNOW. I JUST WANT THEM TO WIN. IT'S THREE AND WHAT YOU SAID` YOU MENTIONED THREE THEY'VE LOST. PLEASE WIN, CHIEFS. I'M GRINNING EAR TO EAR. I LOVE TO HEAR IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SKY SPORTS COMMENTATOR MILS MULIAINA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AND YOU CAN WATCH THE FINAL LIVE ON SKY SPORT ONE. KICK-OFF IS AT 7.05. THE WHITE FERNS' T20 WORLD CUP TITLE DEFENCE IS STILL ALIVE, BUT ONLY JUST, AFTER IRELAND ALMOST PULLED OFF A SENSATIONAL UPSET AT SOUTHAMPTON. WINLESS AFTER TWO GAMES, NEW ZEALAND GOT OFF TO ANOTHER HORROR START WITH THE BAT, SLUMPING TO 10 FOR 3. THEY CRAWLED TO 140 FOR 6 FROM THEIR 20 OVERS, AND THAT WAS HELPED WITH SUZIE BATES BLASTING 14 OFF THE FINAL OVER. IRELAND, THOUGH, WERE MAKING LIGHT WORK OF THE CHASE, CRUISING AT 116 FOR 1 BEFORE THE KIWIS TURNED THE SCREWS. LAST BALL OF THE KERR OVER. SHOULD BE OUT. IS OUT. TWO IN THE OVER. CHARGES. NOW THEN, SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE THIS. FROM NEW ZEALAND'S POINT OF VIEW... IT'S TAKEN. SUZIE BATES IS UNDER IT. I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE AS A SIDE, AND I THINK IT'S JUST MORE THE MENTAL SIDE OF THE GAME AND HOLDING OUR NERVE IN KEY MOMENTS, AND TODAY WE DID THAT. THE WHITE FERNS WINNING BY 4 RUNS TO MOVE UP TO FOURTH IN THEIR GROUP. THEY STILL HAVE TO BEAT BOTH SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF REACHING THE SEMIFINALS. A COMEBACK CENTURY FROM HENRY NICHOLLS HAS PUT THE BLACKCAPS IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE SECOND TEST WITH ENGLAND AT THE OVAL. MATT HENRY WAS THE STAR EARLY ON DAY THREE, TAKING 5 WICKETS TO DISMISS THE HOSTS FOR 291. THAT GAVE THE BLACKCAPS A SECOND INNINGS LEAD OF 100. AND AFTER LOSING THE OPENERS CHEAPLY, NICHOLLS, IN HIS FIRST TEST IN NEARLY A YEAR, PRODUCED A MASTERCLASS ON HIS WAY TO AN 11TH TEST CENTURY. IT'S A DRAG DOWN. NICHOLLS HELPS HIMSELF. LOVELY WAY TO MARK YOUR RETURN TO THE NEW ZEALAND SIDE, FILLING THE BIG SHOES OF KANE WILLIAMSON. I CERTAINLY KNEW WHEN I WAS COMING IN FOR HIM THAT I WASN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO REPLACE HIM. HE'S JUST SUCH AN INCREDIBLE PLAYER. BUT I JUST REALLY ENJOYED BEING BACK IN THE TEAM, AND EVEN THE FIRST THING, BEING BACK IN TEST MATCH CRICKET. NICHOLLS WILL RESUME DAY 4 ON 119 AND DARYL MITCHELL 32. THE BLACKCAPS 252 FOR 3 ` AN OVERALL LEAD OF 352. THE UNITED STATES HAS ADVANCED TO THE KNOCKOUT STAGE OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP WITH A GAME TO SPARE, AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE 2-0 WIN OVER AUSTRALIA IN SEATTLE. THE CO-HOSTS WERE GIFTED AN OWN GOAL AFTER JUST 11 MINUTES, THE AMERICAN'S THEN DOUBLING THEIR LEAD JUST BEFORE THE BREAK IN CONTROVERSIAL FASHION. THE FLAG IS UP. IT IS NOT GOING TO COUNT. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) USA 2, AUSTRALIA NIL. AND SCOTLAND'S HOPES OF PROGRESSING OUT OF THE GROUP STAGE REMAIN ALIVE DESPITE CONCEDING THE FASTEST GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR AGAINST MOROCCO ` JUST 71 SECONDS. BARELY 60 SECONDS PLAYED. THAT'S HOW IT STAYED. SCOTLAND FACE FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS BRAZIL NEXT, THE SOUTH AMERICANS POSTING THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE CUP WITH A 3-0 WIN OVER HAITI. RYAN FOX WILL HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND AT THE U.S. GOLF OPEN, BUT ONLY AFTER AVOIDING THE CUT MARK OF 4-OVER BY JUST ONE STROKE. HE'S WELL OFF THE PACE SET BY WYNDHAM CLARK THOUGH ` THE AMERICAN FIRED A SECOND ROUND 69 TO SIT AT 7-UNDER, BUILDING A FOUR-STROKE LEAD AT THE HALFWAY MARK. FELLOW AMERICAN HARRY HIGGS HAD A BELTER, AFTER FORGETTING HIS PANTS FOR THE FIRST ROUND AND HAVING TO PLAY IN SHORTS. HE DRAINED THIS 75 FOOT MONSTER TO FINISH THE DAY 1-UNDER AND IN A TIE FOR SEVENTH. AFTER THE BREAK, IT'S A MIXED BAG IN THE WEATHER. WHILE CHRISTCHURCH HAS RECORDED ITS HOTTEST JUNE DAY EVER ` 25 DEGREES ` OTHER REGIONS ARE DEALING WITH HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. VOICEOVER: Sometimes damage can be a bit of a mystery... Oh no, who put that there? Make sure you're covered with Tower, Canstar's insurer of the year for home and contents, 3 years running, and get $200 off new house insurance today. Ts and Cs apply. WELCOME BACK. YOU'RE WATCHING THREENEWS. HERE ARE THE TOP STORIES FOR YOUR SATURDAY EVENING. THE NATIONAL PARTY'S CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WITH THE PRIME MINISTER DECLARING IT THE START OF ITS ELECTION CAMPAIGN. NEW ZEALANDER EVERLEE WIHONGI HAS BEEN RELEASED AFTER TWO MONTHS IN ICE DETENTION. THE ATTACKS IN LEBANON WERE BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED TODAY BY AMERICA ANNOUNCING A CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH. A STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW SPREADS OVER THE COUNTRY AS A FRONT MOVES UP THE SOUTH ISLAND. CHRISTCHURCH RECORDED THE HOTTEST TEMP IN THE COUNTRY TODAY, A HIGH OF 25 DEGREES. IT'S LOOKING WET ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND, WHILE IN THE NORTH, SHOWERS WILL TURN TO HEAVIER RAIN TOMORROW. PLENTY OF CLOUD AROUND TO START THE DAY TOMORROW, WITH THE SHOWERS JOINING THE PARTY FROM THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. IT WILL BE WET ALL DAY IN HAMILTON THOUGH. PATCHY DRIZZLE TO BEGIN FOR MOST HERE, BUT TURNING TO RAIN IN THE MORNING. THINGS WILL CLEAR IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH NORTHWESTERLIES DYING OUT IN THE EVENING ALSO. IT'S WET TO START IN DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON, EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. AND IT'S MOSTLY CLOUDY EVERYWHERE ELSE WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWERS. THERE IS RAIN ACROSS THE BOARD HERE, POSSIBLY HEAVY IN THE MORNING FOR TAUMARANUI, EASING TO ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. POSSIBLY HEAVY IN THE AFTERNOON FOR WHANGANUI AND PALMY. WELLINGTON WILL SEE A SEVERE NORTH-WESTERLY GALE IN EXPOSED PLACES, GUSTING 120km/h. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND NOW, AND IT'S WET BEFORE DAWN, BUT EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE MORNING, AND A FINE EVENING FOR MOST. LIGHT WINDS IN THE MIX AS WELL. LOOKING TO THE EAST COAST, AND IT'S WET TO START, BUT IT WILL CLEAR EARLY, BECOMING MAINLY FINE FOR MOST. A BIT OF DRIZZLE HANGING AROUND CHRISTCHURCH AND MUCH COOLER TEMPS, BACK DOWN TO A HIGH OF 12. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY, IT IS FINE. SOME OVERNIGHT FOG FOR ALEXANDRA, AND JUST A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS BEFORE DAWN FOR EVERYONE. WESTERLIES IN THE MIX AS WELL. ACROSS THE DITCH, AND IT'S WET IN BRISBANE, BUT A PEARLER DOWN THE COAST IN SYDNEY. AND IT'S A MIXED BAG ACROSS THE PACIFIC. NOW LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE START OF YOUR WORKING WEEK. (AMBIENT MUSIC) THAT IS THREENEWS FOR TONIGHT. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND INFORMATION ON stuff.co.nz. I'M LISETTE REYMER. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY KATE PERCIVAL AND KATE MCCULLOUGH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026