17 PACIFIC ISLAND FORUM NATIONS UNITE OVER CHINA'S BALLISTIC MISSILE LAUNCH ` BUT WHICH COUNTRY REFUSED TO JOIN THEM? NEW ZEALAND RECORDS ITS THIRD-WARMEST WINTER AS THE UN WARNS THE WORLD IS ENTERING A DANGER ZONE OF EXTREME WEATHER. GLORIA STEINEM, A TRAILBLAZING FEMINIST WHO DEDICATED HER LIFE TO FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, DIES AGED 92. AND CODIE TAYLOR'S DROPPED AFTER 111 TESTS WHILE THE ALL BLACK SELECTORS MAKE AN EMERGENCY CALL TO ASAFO AUMUA. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND JOHNATHAN CHUI. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. WE START TONIGHT WITH A DEVELOPING STORY. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD FOLLOWING A SERIOUS FIREARMS INCIDENT IN NELSON THIS AFTERNOON. JUST BEFORE NOON POLICE RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALLEGED THEFT OF A SHOTGUN AT A STORE IN ANNESBROOK, UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE LOCAL HUNTING AND FISHING SHOP. POLICE SAY THE OFFENDER LEFT IN A VEHICLE BEFORE THEY ARRIVED. A SHORT TIME LATER, THEY WERE ALERTED TO A FIREARMS INCIDENT ON PARKERS ROAD, WHERE A MAN AND A WOMAN WERE BOTH FOUND DEAD. INITIAL ENQUIRIES SUGGEST THEY WERE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER, AND POLICE SAY THEY ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THEIR LOVED ONES. SCENE GUARDS AND CORDONS ARE IN PLACE IN THE QUARANTINE ROAD, PARKERS ROAD AND SANCTUARY DRIVE AREAS. POLICE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ANYONE ELSE IN RELATION TO THIS INCIDENT AND SAY THERE IS NO ONGOING RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IT FOLLOWS ANOTHER RECENT INCIDENT IN NEW ZEALAND INVOLVING A STOLEN FIREARM. ON AUGUST 13TH IN AUCKLAND, HAPAI OTENE WAS SHOT DEAD BY POLICE AS HE APPROACHED SYLVIA PARK SHOPPING PRECINCT CARRYING AN AIR RIFLE STOLEN FROM A GUN SHOP IN PENROSE. THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM HAS CONCLUDED WITH A JOINT STATEMENT FROM LEADERS CALLING OUT CHINA'S SURPRISE INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST IN JULY. CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS AT THE MEETING IN PALAU, AND SAYS PACIFIC NATIONS WILL 'NOT BE PUSHED AROUND 'BY FORCES AND POWERS OUTSIDE THE REGION'. BUT WITH NEW ZEALAND HOSTING THE FORUM NEXT YEAR, THE PRIME MINISTER COULD FACE ANOTHER DIPLOMATIC DILEMMA OF HOW TO INCLUDE TAIWAN WITHOUT UPSETTING CHINA. HERE IS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT ZANE SMALL. IT KICKED OFF WITH A DISPLAY OF CULTURE... (PERFORMERS SING) ...THE 55TH PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM, OR PIF, HOSTED BY PALAU. IT IS MY PROFOUND HONOUR TO WELCOME YOU. BUT THE EVENT HAS WRAPPED UP ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE; LEADERS CALLING OUT CHINA'S SURPRISE INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST IN JULY, WHICH FOLLOWED A SIMILAR TEST-FIRE IN 2024. A JOINT COMMUNIQUE STATING THAT MEMBERS ` ALTHOUGH IT'S NOTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOCUMENT THAT NAOERO ` FORMERLY NAURU ` DISASSOCIATES ITSELF WITH THIS PARAGRAPH; THE ISLAND NATION IS ALIGNED WITH CHINA. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS NORMALISED ACROSS THE REGION, AND WHEN YOU FIRE A CONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE INTO A NUCLEAR-FREE PACIFIC, GIVEN ALL THE HISTORY IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD ` NUCLEAR TESTING, AND` WHETHER IT'S BEEN IN FRENCH POLYNESIA, OUR LONGSTANDING NEW ZEALAND POSITION ON ANTI-NUCLEAR ` THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE, AND IT'S THE SECOND TIME IT'S HAPPENED. TRANSLATOR: CHINA HAS MADE ITS POSITION CLEAR MORE THAN ONCE ON THE TEST LAUNCH. THE PALAU SIDE PEDDLING THE ISSUE AND TRYING TO TAKE OTHER COUNTRIES' POSITION AS HOSTAGES ` IT IS ILL-INTENTIONED, AND ITS ATTEMPT WILL NOT SUCCEED. A UNIFIED PACIFIC VOICE IS CRITICAL IN GETTING BEIJING TO RESPECT SOVEREIGNTY. PALAU IS ONE OF JUST THREE PACIFIC STATES, ALONG WITH THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND TUVALU, THAT MAINTAINS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN RATHER THAN CHINA. THE SOLOMON ISLANDS RECENTLY SHIFTED ALLEGIANCE AWAY FROM CHINA AND ENTERED NEGOTIATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA. NAOERO AND KIRIBATI, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED TO CHINA, AND DO NOT RECOGNISE TAIWAN. NEW ZEALAND TREADS A CAREFUL MIDDLE PATH ` IT HAS INFORMAL TIES WITH TAIWAN, BUT OFFICIALLY ALSO RECOGNISES THE ONE CHINA POLICY THAT SAYS TAIWAN IS PART OF CHINA, BUT THAT ONLY GOES SO FAR. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED AROUND BY FORCES AND POWERS OUTSIDE OF THIS REGION. IT SETS THE SCENE FOR 2027, WHEN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM WILL BE HELD IN AUCKLAND. IN HOSTING THE EVENT, THE GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO FACE A DILEMMA ` A DIPLOMATIC DANCE OF ALLOWING TAIWAN A PRESENCE AT THE EVENT WITHOUT UPSETTING CHINA, WHICH CONSIDERS TAIWAN TO BE A BREAKAWAY PROVINCE. CHINA HAS ALREADY THREATENED CONSEQUENCES AFTER TAIWANESE OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM IN PALAU. IT WILL BE A HUGE DIFFICULTY FOR THE COUNTRY OVER WHAT IT WILL DECIDE TO DO. THE EASY APPROACH IS TO FOLLOW TRADITIONAL PROTOCOL WHEREBY YOU HAVE THE DIVISION BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND DIALOGUE PARTNERS. TAIWAN REMAINS A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER. OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE SPACE FOR THEM TO CONNECT WITH THEIR PARTNERS AT THE PIF AT THE OFFICIALS' LEVEL. BUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING THE FORUM ` THAT IS, IF HE WINS THE ELECTION. I THINK IT'S A SUPER EXCITING OPPORTUNITY. EXCITED TO HOST PIF 2027, EVEN IF IT COMES WITH A DIPLOMATIC HEADACHE. NEW ZEALANDERS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE 68 TO GET SUPERANNUATION UNDER A NEW PROPOSAL BY OUTGOING NATIONAL MP ANDREW BAYLY. HE'S USING HIS LAST DAYS IN PARLIAMENT TO PUSH ALL PARTIES TO START RAISING THE AGE, WARNING OF FURTHER PAIN IF IT'S DELAYED ANY LONGER. AVA WHITWORTH REPORTS. THE AGE NEW ZEALANDERS CAN GET SUPER COULD GRADUALLY RISE FROM 65 TO 68 UNDER A PROPOSAL FROM OUTGOING NATIONAL MP ANDREW BAYLY. HE WANTS THE CHANGE TO START IN 2029, WITH THE ELIGIBILITY AGE INCREASING BY ONE MONTH EVERY YEAR UNTIL IT REACHES 68 IN 2065. IT'S NOT A RADICAL CHANGE, AND IT GETS AWAY FROM A BIG JUMP THAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. HIS MODELLING, FROM A RESEARCH PAPER PUBLISHED IN ASIA LAST MONTH IN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, SUGGESTS NEW ZEALAND'S SUPERANNUATION BILL COULD ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST 30 CENTS OF EVERY TAX DOLLAR BY 2065, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 19 CENTS TODAY. THIS IS WHY THIS IS AN ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAKE THE CHANGE, BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN, AND IT S MORE LIKELY GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN, AND IT'S MORE LIKELY GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT CRISIS OR THE CRISIS AFTER THAT. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT GETS TO A POINT WHERE IT HAS TO MAKE A CHANGE, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE BRUTAL. THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE IN POOR HEALTH OR PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS TO ACCESS THE PENSION EARLIER AT A LOWER RATE. CURRENTLY, ANYONE LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT OR CITIZEN AND IS AGED 65 YEARS OR OLDER CAN RECEIVE SUPERANNUATION PAYMENTS. A SINGLE PERSON LIVING ALONE RECEIVES JUST UNDER $1300 EVERY FORTNIGHT. IF YOU HAVE A FLATMATE, YOU GET SLIGHTLY LESS, AND IF YOU'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP, YOU'LL RECEIVE $984. YOU CAN STILL RECEIVE THESE PAYMENTS IF YOU RE WORKING. BUT SHOULD THE AGE BE RAISED? IT'S A TOPIC THAT IS STILL SPARKING PLENTY OF DEBATE. NO, I'M DEAD AGAINST IT. PEOPLE HAVE PAID IN FOR YEARS. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, THAT'S FOR SURE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY AFFORDABLE. DEPENDS ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. SOME PEOPLE WANNA KEEP WORKING. I'M STILL WORKING, SO... I RECOGNISE A FUNDAMENTAL REFORM IS NECESSARY, BUT JUST UPPING THE AGE I THINK IS TAKING A SHORTCUT. THEY NEED TO DO MORE THAN THAT. THE TAXPAYERS' UNION SAYS THE CHANGE IS NEEDED TO PROTECT YOUNGER GENERATIONS FROM A GROWING BILL. I THINK AS LONG AS WE HAVE NOTICE, I THINK THAT IF WE CHANGE THE AGE NOW, WE HAVE TIME TO PREPARE. YOU KNOW, I VE HOPEFULLY GOT 40 MORE YEARS OF WORKING YOU KNOW, I'VE HOPEFULLY GOT 40 MORE YEARS OF WORKING BEFORE SUPERANNUATION GIVES ME TIME TO PREPARE, BUT WHAT'S MORE TERRIFYING IS REACHING 65 AND HAVING A GOVERNMENT WHO CANNOT AFFORD THIS AT ALL. ONLY ACT AND NATIONAL HAVE INDICATED ANY SUPPORT TO CHANGE SUPERANNUATION ELIGIBILITY. LABOUR WANTS TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO, WHILE NEW ZEALAND FIRST IS FIRMLY AGAINST RAISING THE AGE. LOOK, THIS NEEDS CROSS-PARTY SUPPORT, SO IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY. FOR NOW, 65 REMAINS THE MAGIC NUMBER. WHETHER IT STAYS THAT WAY IS ANOTHER QUESTION. THE MAN ACCUSED OF CARRYING OUT A VIOLENT RAMPAGE IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF EPSOM LAST MONTH CAN NOW BE NAMED. SHALTY HETA (49) APPEARED IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT THIS MORNING PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO 17 CHARGES THROUGH HIS LAWYER. HE'S ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A JOGGER, STEALING A CAR, RUNNING DOWN THREE TEENAGE CYCLISTS AND KILLING A DOG. HETA REMAINS IN CUSTODY AND WILL REAPPEAR IN DECEMBER. A FORMER LOTTO PRESENTER HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 MONTHS' HOME DETENTION. RUSSELL HARRISON DELIVERED GOLD BULLION TO THE COMANCHEROS 'INTERNATIONAL COMMANDER' IN TURKEY. HE THEN WENT ON TO POCKET MORE THAN $500,000 FOR A GOVERNMENT JOB HE BARELY WORKED IN WHILE HE AWAITED TRIAL. THE 56-YEAR-OLD PLEADED GUILTY TO MONEY LAUNDERING EARLIER THIS YEAR. CATRIN OWEN HAS MORE. RUSSELL HARRISON STOOD IN THE DOCK AT THE HIGH COURT ON FRIDAY, SUPPORTED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HE'D BEEN ARRESTED IN 2021 AS PART OF A GLOBAL FBI STING TARGETING ORGANISED CRIME. THE FORMER LOTTO PRESENTER AND ENTERTAINER'S ARREST THAT YEAR CAME JUST DAYS AFTER HE'D STARTED WORKING AT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AS A KAIARAHI, OR FAMILY COURT NAVIGATOR. WHEN THE MINISTRY FOUND OUT ABOUT HARRISON'S ARREST, HE WAS SUSPENDED ON FULL PAY FOR FIVE YEARS. HE WENT ON TO EARN ABOUT $500,000. EARLIER THIS YEAR HARRISON ADMITTED A CHARGE OF MONEY LAUNDERING. HE HAD DELIVERED SIX GOLD BARS TO NEW ZEALANDER DUAX NGAKURU, THE COMANCHEROS' 'INTERNATIONAL COMMANDER' IN TURKEY. RON MANSFIELD KC SAID THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT FALL FROM GRACE FOR THE OTHERWISE COMMUNITY-MINDED MAN. JUSTICE MICHAEL ROBINSON ACCEPTED HARRISON HAD BEEN RECKLESS IN THE OFFENDING. HARRISON WAS SENTENCED TO 10 MONTHS' HOME DETENTION. HARRISON WASN'T THE ONLY ONE IN COURT ON FRIDAY ` MARAE TRUSTEE JUSTIN TE KOWHAI, WHO HEADED UP THE SYNDICATE FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY, WAS SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT FOR HIS ROLE IN THE SYNDICATE. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS PRESSING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO CLOSE GLORIAVALE'S PRIVATE SCHOOL AFTER IT CANCELLED ITS REGISTRATION YESTERDAY, BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS OVER WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT FOR THE MORE THAN 80 STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED THERE. MOLLY SWIFT HAS MORE. FOR DECADES, CHILDREN IN GLORIAVALE HAVE RECEIVED THEIR EDUCATION BEHIND THE COMMUNITY'S GATES. BUT THAT COULD ALL CHANGE ` THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS SHUTTING IT DOWN, AND HAS THE BACKING OF THE NEW CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ON THE FRESH EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE. IT IS THE ONLY APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. IT COMES AFTER MULTIPLE DAMNING REVIEWS INTO THE SCHOOL. THE NORM FOR THEM WAS JUST HARSH PUNISHMENT, PUNITIVE DISCIPLINE, AND DEFINITELY POOR EDUCATION STANDARDS. THE REALITY IS IT BECAME BLATANTLY OBVIOUS WHEN PEOPLE WERE LEAVING GLORIAVALE IN THE LAST DECADE, AND INTEGRATING INTO OTHER SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION SETTINGS, AND THERE WERE BIG GAPS ` REALLY BIG GAPS, AND THAT BECAME VERY APPARENT. THE CHILDREN WILL BE TRANSITIONED TO ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PATHWAYS, WHICH COULD INCLUDE ATTENDING LOCAL SCHOOLS, SUCH AS AWAHONO, WHICH HAS ALREADY HAD EXTRA BUILDINGS PUT ON IT IN PREPARATION. THE IDEA BEING THE CHILDREN WOULD COME INTO THIS TRANSITIONAL SPACE. THEY WOULD BE NURTURED, CARED FOR, LOOKED AFTER, EDUCATED, ASSESSED, GIVEN EXTRA SUPPORT WHERE NECESSARY, AND IT MIGHT GIVE PARENTS TIME TO CONSIDER WHAT THE NEXT STEPS MIGHT BE. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TRIED TO CANCEL THE SCHOOL'S REGISTRATION BACK IN DECEMBER, BUT GLORIAVALE IS TAKING THAT DECISION TO THE HIGH COURT, WITH THE SCHOOL STAYING OPEN IN THE MEANTIME. BUT A NEW REPORT HAS FOUND THE SCHOOL WAS STILL UNSAFE, SO YESTERDAY THE MINISTRY WENT BACK TO COURT TO APPLY FOR THAT INTERIM ORDER TO BE LIFTED AND CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE CLOSURE. THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AS WELL ` THE MINISTRY DID. BUT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A PROCESS, AND I HAVE ABSOLUTE AND UTTER CONFIDENCE THAT ELLEN MACGREGOR-REID ` THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ` MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SAYS IT WILL WORK WITH THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE THE MOST PRACTICAL TIMING FOR THE SCHOOL'S CLOSURE, WITH ADVOCATES HOPING IT WILL BE BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SO I'M HOPING THERE WILL BE SOME BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES AT THESE LOCAL SCHOOLS WHO WILL EMBRACE GLORIAVALE FAMILIES, EMBRACE THE CHILDREN WITH FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE, AND PERHAPS OPEN UP THEIR EYES TO SOME OF THE BEAUTY AND KINDNESS THAT EXISTS OUT HERE. BUT THE GLORIAVALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL BOARD HAS BEEN REPORTED AS SAYING THAT IT STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH THE MINISTRY'S DECISION, AND IS CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS TO CHALLENGE IT. THE ALL BLACKS ARE EYEING A BIG TURNAROUND AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S THIRD TEST WITH THE SPRINGBOKS AS THEY EYE A 2-1 SERIES LEAD. TO DO THAT, COACH DAVE RENNIE HAS MADE A BIG CHANGE IN THE FORWARD PACK, DROPPING VETERAN CODIE TAYLOR. MITCH REDMAN IS WITH US NOW FROM JOHANNESBURG. MITCH, WHAT'S BEHIND THE CHANGE? AFTER BACK-TO-BACK TESTS AGAINST THE SPRINGBOKS, HE SAYS THIS MOVE IS ABOUT GETTING SOME FRESH LEGS ON THE PADDOCK. TAYLOR MAY HAVE HAD A FEW ISSUES AT LINEOUT TIME LAST WEEK, BUT THROUGHOUT THE SERIES, HE HAS SAID IF THEY ARE GOING TO WIN THEY WILL NEED MORE THAN 23 MEN. AUMUA HAS HAD PLENTY OF IMPACT OF THE BENCH THIS SERIES. NOW HE GETS A CHANCE TO SHOW HIS EXPLOSIVE SELF RIGHT FROM KICK-OFF. IT MIGHT NOT HAVE FELT LIKE IT AT TIMES, BUT NEW ZEALAND HAS JUST EXPERIENCED ITS THIRD WARMEST WINTER. TEMPERATURES WERE 1.1 DEGREES ABOVE THE WINTER AVERAGE, AND WITH EL NINO FORECAST TO PEAK THIS SUMMER, THE UN IS WARNING IT COULD BECOME A 'SUPERSIZED' EVENT. CARLOS NORTON REPORTS. THREE EYES FROM THREE STORMS MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE PACIFIC ` A DEPICTION OUT OF A SCARY CHILDREN'S BOOK, WHIPPED UP FROM A MONSTROUS EL NINO EVENT THAT'S GROWING IN STRENGTH. THESE FORECASTS SHOW AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF NEARLY 100% THAT EL NINO WILL PERSIST THROUGH TO FEBRUARY 2027. THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT COULD BECOME THE STRONGEST ON RECORD. THIS EL NINO WILL DELIVER A MAJOR BLOW TO COMMUNITIES, ECONOMIES, AND SUPPLY CHAINS ACROSS THE GLOBE. EL NINO IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING CLIMATE PATTERN, AND ISN'T CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION WARNS IT COULD EXACERBATE THE WARMING ALREADY BEING DRIVEN BY GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. THE POWERFUL 2023-2024 EL NINO CONTRIBUTED TO 2024 BEING THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS RECORD IS BROKEN. THAT COULD MEAN MORE HEAT, MORE DROUGHT, AND MORE EXTREME WEATHER AROUND THE GLOBE. BUT EL NINO DOESN'T MEAN A SPECIFIC STORM IS COMING OUR WAY. EL NINO IS NOT LIKE A STORM OR A WEATHER SYSTEM. IT ISN'T LIKE, 'HEY, KIDS, GATHER AROUND, LET'S LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. 'THERE IT IS ` EL NINO.' IT BASICALLY LOADS THE DICE FOR INCREASED CHANCES FOR CERTAIN OUTCOMES. SO WHAT COULD THOSE LOADED DICE MEAN FOR NEW ZEALAND? SO IT LOOKS LIKE WITH A STRONG EL NINO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE QUITE WET CONDITIONS FOR THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT QUITE DRY CONDITIONS FOR THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE COUNTRY, AND EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO NORTHLAND. MEANING WHILE THE WEST COULD SEE FLOODS, THE EAST COULD SEE THE OPPOSITE. AND BEFORE EL NINO REALLY GETS GOING, THE WEEKEND IS SET TO BRING MORE WILD WEATHER. WIND GUSTS OF OVER 200KM/H WERE RECORDED IN CANTERBURY TODAY, MAKING FOR SOME BUMPY LANDINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH. A WILD WEEKEND AHEAD, AND POTENTIALLY A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME. LET'S BRING IMO IN NOW ` JUST HOW WILD IS OUR WEEKEND LOOKING? WELL, EXPECT A BIT MORE OF THE SAME. WE'VE GOT STRONG WIND WATCHES ISSUED RIGHT DOWN THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY FROM 7AM TILL 7PM, AND ONE ROUND CANTERBURY HIGH COUNTRY 11AM TIL 9PM. THE WEST TO NOR'WESTERS COULD APPROACH GALE IN EXPOSED PLACES, AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE THESE UPGRADED TO ORANGE. THEN ANOTHER SYSTEM HITS OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY. I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` TWO WORKERS ARE RESCUED FROM A HYDROPOWER TUNNEL IN NEPAL AS GRIEVING FAMILIES BEGIN HOLDING SYMBOLIC CREMATIONS FOR THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES. GLORIA STEINEM, THE FEMINIST CRUSADER WHO INSPIRED THE MODERN WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE U.S., DIES AGED 92. AND AS THE COST OF GROCERIES, PETROL AND POWER SPIKE, WE LOOK AT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO TO EASE THE PAIN FOR HOUSEHOLDS. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM A HYDROPOWER TUNNEL IN NEPAL NINE DAYS ON FROM THE DEADLY FLASH FLOOD. TEAMS ARE STILL WORKING TO RESCUE MORE PEOPLE THOUGHT TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE. MORE THAN 1200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 5000 OTHERS ARE MISSING. MANY FAMILIES ARE TRYING TO REMEMBER AND HOLD FUNERALS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES ANY WAY THEY CAN, SOME BURNING SACRED GRASS EFFIGIES AS REPLACEMENTS FOR BODIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FOUND YET. GLORIA STEINEM, A TRAILBLAZER OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD, HAS DIED AGED 92. SHE SPENT MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND ONCE SAID, 'A LIBERATED WOMAN IS ONE WHO HAS SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE AND A JOB AFTER.' ITV'S NINA NANNAR LOOKS BACK ON HER LIFE AND LEGACY. AMERICAN WOMEN WERE ON THE MARCH FOR EQUALITY, AND AT THEIR HELM WAS A JOURNALIST TRYING TO EFFECT CHANGE AMONGST POLITICIANS. GLORIA STEINEM HAD MADE HER NAME GOING UNDERCOVER AS A PLAYBOY BUNNY IN 1963 TO EXPOSE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR WOMEN THERE. (APPLAUSE) SHE WOULD GO ON TO BE HAILED A FEMINIST TRAILBLAZER, FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND CALLING FOR THE LEGALISATION OF ABORTION. IN 1957, SHE'D BROKEN THE LAW BY HAVING THE PROCEDURE. OVER THE YEARS, MALE DOMINATED LEGISLATURES AND COURTS HAVE TOSSED AROUND WOMEN'S RIGHTS LIKE A POLITICAL FOOTBALL. THE CURRENT THREAT TO THE RIGHT TO ABORTION IN NEW YORK IS THE MOST SERIOUS AND THE MOST STARK EXAMPLE OF THIS KIND OF MANOEUVRING WITH WOMEN'S LIVES. WITH HER FAMOUS STREAKS IN HER HAIR AND LARGE GLASSES, SHE BECAME WELL KNOWN AS AN ACTIVIST, BUT ALSO A TARGET FOR THOSE OPPOSED TO THE POLITICAL MOVEMENTS SHE CO-FOUNDED ` SUCCESSFULLY FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHT TO HAVE CREDIT CARDS AND MORTGAGES IN THEIR OWN NAMES AND THE FREEDOM TO WORK. THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR OURSELVES. AND THE SECOND BIG ISSUE IS HAVING TWO JOBS WHILE MEN HAVE ONLY ONE, BECAUSE MEN ARE NOT YET CARING FOR CHILDREN AS MUCH AS WOMEN ARE. TODAY, THE FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY CLINTON, PAID HER TRIBUTE. CLINTON: I SAW IN MY OWN LIFE OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 10 TO 15 YEARS GLORIA PUSHING ON THOSE DOORS TO FINALLY GET THEM OPEN ` NOT ONLY FOR HER TO WALK THROUGH, BUT FOR HER TO LEAD LITERALLY MILLIONS OF OTHERS. AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX SAID ` AND FROM OPRAH WINFREY ` WE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO DISCOVER, EACH OF US, WHO WE CAN BE. SEVERAL DRAMATISATIONS OF HER LIFE CEMENTED HER STATUS AS A GLOBAL ICON, BUT GLORIA STEINEM CONTINUED FIGHTING ON MANY FRONTS. IN 2017, SHE ADDRESSED THE HISTORIC WOMEN'S MARCH THE DAY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST INAUGURATION. JUST THIS MARCH IN WASHINGTON TODAY REQUIRED A THOUSAND MORE BUSES THAN THE ENTIRE INAUGURATION. A THOUSAND MORE... (CHEERING) FROM THE WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTRE TO HER FEMINIST MAGAZINE MS., WHAT GLORIA STEINEM FOUNDED, WHAT SHE CHANGED, IS STILL HAVING AN IMPACT TODAY. SHE WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY PLACE IN HISTORY. STAY WITH US. STILL TO COME ON THREE NEWS ` AS THE COST OF LIVING KEEPS CLIMBING, WE LOOK AT WHAT LEVERS THE GOVERNMENT COULD PULL TO OFFER KIWIS SOME RELIEF. UBER LAUNCHES THE UK'S FIRST DRIVERLESS MINICABS ACROSS LONDON ` ALTHOUGH GOOD LUCK FINDING ONE. AND LIAM LAWSON GETS ANOTHER CHANCE IN THE RED BULL HOT SEAT, BUT HE'S GOT TO HANDLE THE BIG ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD AFTER AN ALLEGED THEFT OF A SHOTGUN AT A STORE IN THE NELSON SUBURB OF ANNESBROOK. THE MAN ACCUSED OF CARRYING OUT A VIOLENT RAMPAGE IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF EPSOM LAST MONTH CAN BE NAMED AS SHALTY HETA (49). AND NEW ZEALAND HAS JUST EXPERIENCED ITS THIRD-WARMEST WINTER, WITH NATIONWIDE TEMPERATURES 1.1 DEGREE ABOVE THE WINTER AVERAGE. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN 11-1 SPLIT AMONG JURORS AFTER SIX DAYS OF DELIBERATIONS IN THE LINDSAY CLANCY MURDER TRIAL. THE FORMER NURSE DOESN'T DENY KILLING HER THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN 2023, BUT HER DEFENCE TEAM ARGUES SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS. TENSIONS FLARED IN COURT TODAY AFTER A NOTE FROM THE JURY SAID ONE MEMBER WOULD NOT FOLLOW THE JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS ON REASONABLE DOUBT. ITV'S DEBI EDWARD REPORTS ` AND A WARNING THAT HER STORY CONTAINS SOME DISTRESSING DETAILS. DID LINDSAY CLANCY KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG? IT IS THE TRIAL THAT HAS GRIPPED AMERICA AND PROMPTED A DEBATE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. THERE IS NO POINT IN FURTHER HUMILIATING SOMEONE... THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION DELIBERATING THE SAME QUESTION AS THE JURY. MY PREDICTION ` HUNG JURY RESULTING IN A MISTRIAL. DID LINDSAY CLANCY MURDER HER THREE CHILDREN IN COLD BLOOD, OR DID SHE TAKE THEIR LIVES AND ATTEMPT TO TAKE HER OWN DUE TO POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS? HER FOUR-WEEK TRIAL IN MASSACHUSETTS IS COMING TO AN END. IN JANUARY 2023, WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS OUT SHOPPING, LINDSAY CLANCY TOOK THEIR THREE CHILDREN INTO THE BASEMENT OF THEIR HOME AND STRANGLED THEM USING EXERCISE BANDS. WHEN PATRICK CLANCY RETURNED HOME, HE FOUND LINDSAY IN THE GARDEN. SHE HAD JUMPED FROM AN UPSTAIRS WINDOW, LEAVING HER PARALYSED. HE THEN FOUND THEIR CHILDREN. CORA (5), DAWSON (3) AND 8-MONTH-OLD CALLAN WERE ALL UNRESPONSIVE. AND WHEN YOU SAW DAWSON, WHAT CONDITION WAS HE IN? UM, I KNEW HE WAS GONE. DURING THE TRIAL, THE DEFENCE PRODUCED PHONE RECORDS SHOWING THAT LINDSAY HAD TRIED TO SEEK HELP FROM MULTIPLE DOCTORS AND GET HERSELF ADMITTED TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. THOSE WORDS WERE TYPED IN BY THE USER. SHE HAD SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR TERMS LIKE 'HALLUCINATIONS', 'PSYCHOSIS' AND 'PARENTING PRESSURE'. HER MOTHER-IN-LAW SHARED MESSAGES IN WHICH LINDSAY SAID SHE WAS TERRIFIED ABOUT TAKING THE MEDICATIONS SHE WAS ON AND ASKING FOR HELP. SHE REACHED OUT TO ME IN NOVEMBER AND TOLD ME THAT SHE FELT UNWELL. (CHEERING) HUNDREDS OF WOMEN WEARING PINK T-SHIRTS HAVE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE COURT TO SUPPORT LINDSAY CLANCY, HER CASE TRIGGERING A CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. LINDSAY CLANCY IS FACING EITHER LIFE IN PRISON OR AN INDEFINITE TERM IN A SECURE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. SHE HAS ALREADY SENTENCED HERSELF TO A LIFETIME OF GUILT. PETROL, MORTGAGE RATES, GROCERY AND POWER BILLS HAVE ALL SPED WELL AHEAD OF WAGES, AND THAT'S LEFT KIWIS SPENDING MORE OF THEIR SALARIES ON THE ESSENTIALS. SO WITH THE ELECTION LOOMING, CAN THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESE SPIKING PRICES? STUFF MONEY EDITOR DAMIEN VENUTO JOINS ME TO SHARE WHAT THE EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY, AND, DAMIEN, LET'S START ON FUEL. 91 HIT $3.50 IN AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON BEFORE SETTLING AROUND $3. WHAT LEVERAGE DOES THE GOVERNMENT REALLY HAVE THERE? REBECCA, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LEVERAGE THE GOVERNMENT HAS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT MAKES UP YOUR FUEL PRICE. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT ` AROUND $1.50 OF THAT $3 ` IS MADE UP OF IMPORT DUTIES AND IMPORT MARGINS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER. IT'S BASED ON THE FUEL PRICE OR IT'S BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICE. THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO IS SHIFT THE AMOUNT THAT'S CHARGED ON THE FUEL EXCISE DUTY, BUT TO DO THAT TAKES MONEY AWAY FROM INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVING ROADS. SO IT'S A TRADE-OFF THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PLAY WITH. AND THE WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW WHEN BUDGETS ARE REALLY TIGHT IS REALLY LOW. WE WILL SEE HOW THAT CHANGES UP TO THE ELECTION, DAMIEN. WHAT ABOUT MORTGAGE RATES? IS THERE ANY WAY TO, SORT OF, FORCE MORE COMPETITION? WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE? WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE OCR IS DETERMINED BY THE RESERVE BANK, WHICH IS INDEPENDENT, SO THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. ONCE AGAIN, THAT BASELINE ` THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT. BUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO IS INCREASE THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION WE HAVE AMONG THE BIG BANKS. NOW, SAM STUBBS FROM SIMPLICITY SPOKE TO ME ABOUT THIS, AND HE SAID ONE THING THAT WE COULD DO IS LIST KIWISAVER ` ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A HUGE INFLUX OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT OR CAPITAL INVESTMENT FROM NEW ZEALANDERS INTO KIWIBANK SO THAT KIWIBANK COULD BECOME A MORE COMPETITIVE ENTITY AND THAT COULD LEAD TO LOWER MORTGAGE RATES FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. AGAIN, THE POLITICAL WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT IS UP FOR QUESTION, BECAUSE IT DOES COME DOWN TO SELLING A STATE ASSET. AND THE PRICE OF MINCE MADE HEADLINES RECENTLY. WE ALL SAW IT. YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THESE SPIKING PRICES AND THESE GROCERY ITEMS COME DOWN TO? SO, AGAIN, THE PRICE OF MINCE AND THE PRICE OF FOOD AND THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING GENERALLY ` A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE OIL PRICES THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY HIGH OVER THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. SO IF YOU LOOK AT EVEN PACKAGING ` THE PLASTIC THAT'S WRAPPED AROUND THE FOOD THAT WE BUY ` THE COST OF THAT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE OIL PRICE. AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTIMATED THAT THEY'D LIKE TO INVITE OR INCENTIVISE A THIRD PLAYER TO ENTER THE MARKET. THAT WOULD BE... I'M SURE EVERY NEW ZEALANDER WOULD WELCOME THAT, BUT THAT IS A LONG-TERM PLAN. IT'S A LONG PROCESS. AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN, EVEN WITH COSTCO IN AUCKLAND ` IT'S A REGIONAL IMPACT BEFORE IT BECOMES A NATIONAL IMPACT. YOU NEED A BIG FOOTPRINT TO BE AN EFFECTIVE RETAILER. YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING, ISN'T IT? LOOKING AT HOUSING AND POWER BILLS ` WHERE DO WE STAND? IS THERE GOING TO BE LONG-TERM RELIEF? THIS ONE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A BUGBEAR TO ME, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SO MANY OPINIONS FROM SO MANY POLITICIANS ON THIS TOPIC, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY COHESIVE PLAN. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT OUR POWER PROVIDERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY NEED $26 BILLION INVESTED OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. THAT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. SO THE LIKELIHOOD OF POWER PRICES COMING DOWN ANYTIME SOON SEEMS VERY, VERY UNLIKELY. WHAT WE NEED IS BASICALLY A SUSTAINABLE GENERATION STRATEGY AND A PLAN FOR WHERE POWER GOES NEXT, AND PARTICULARLY WHERE POWER GOES OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. YEAH, THESE ARE LONG-TERM PROBLEMS THAT NEED PROBABLY LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. DAMIEN VENUTO, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ANALYSIS. MDMA CAN NOW BE PRESCRIBED TO TREAT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN NEW ZEALAND. MEDSAFE HAS AUTHORISED TWO EXPERIENCED PSYCHIATRISTS TO USE MDMA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS ECSTASY. IT WILL BE ADMINISTERED UNDER SUPERVISION IN THE PRESCRIBER'S CLINIC AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN. PATIENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE MDMA HOME. LAST YEAR, MEDSAFE APPROVED THE PRESCRIPTION OF MEDICINAL PSILOCYBIN, OR MAGIC MUSHROOMS, FOR TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION. TECHNOLOGY HAS PROVIDED NEW WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO CHEAT AFTER AN AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT WAS CAUGHT WEARING SMART GLASSES IN AN EXAM. THEY WERE SEEN WEARING THE EYEWEAR AFTER A PRE-TEST ANNOUNCEMENT EXPLICITLY STATED THAT NO SMART GLASSES OR WATCHES WERE ALLOWED. THE STUDENT HAD THE GLASSES TAKEN OFF THEM AND WAS GIVEN A PENALTY OVER THE INCIDENT. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT ` AND YOU'VE GOT MORE ON THE ALL BLACKS TEAM. THE LINEUP IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS THE ALL BLACKS NEED IT TO. A REAL ONUS ON THE FORWARD PACK TO DELIVER AGAINST THE SPRINGBOKS. WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST OUT OF ALL BLACKS CAMP NEXT. PLUS, THE BLACK FERNS SPRING A SELECTION SURPRISE AHEAD OF THEIR OWN CLASH WITH SOUTH AFRICA. AND BACK IN THE RED BULL SEAT ` LIAM LAWSON ON ANOTHER BIG ADJUSTMENT AHEAD OF THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX. ADVENTURE CHARGED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD. SUZUKI E VITARA AND THREE NEWS SPORT. WITH VICTORY IN THE GREATEST RIVALRY SERIES AT STAKE, DAVE RENNIE HAS PULLED THE TRIGGER ON A MAJOR CHANGE TO HIS FORWARD PACK AHEAD OF SUNDAY'S THIRD TEST AGAINST THE SPRINGBOKS. 111-TEST HOOKER CODIE TAYLOR HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE 23 ALTOGETHER, WITH ASAFO AUMUA PROMOTED TO START AND SAMISONI TAUKEI'AHO MOVING ON TO THE BENCH. THE CHANGES KEEP COMING IN THE PACK, WITH SAM DARRY HANDED A START AT LOCK ALONGSIDE TUPOU VAA'I. PETER LAKAI'S FORM OFF THE BENCH HAS BEEN TOO GOOD TO IGNORE ` HANDED HIS FIRST TEST START SINCE THE OPENING GAME OF THE YEAR. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE BACKLINE, BUT ON THE BENCH, FABIAN HOLLAND AND WALLACE SITITI ARE SURE TO BE CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE SOME IMPACT. IT'S A BOLD CALL FROM RENNIE AS HE SEEKS AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM HIS SIDE TO ENSURE THE ALL BLACKS CAN'T LOSE THE SERIES. HERE'S MITCH REDMAN. AFTER WINNING EIGHT OF THEIR LAST TEN AT ALTITUDE, THE ALL BLACKS SHOULD FANCY THEIR CHANCES THIS WEEKEND. I LIKE THAT STAT. YEAH, WE CERTAINLY DON'T SEE IT AS A NEGATIVE, PLAYING UP HERE. BUT WITH AN ELEMENT OF FATIGUE SETTING IN, DAVE RENNIE HAS ROLLED OUT SOME REINFORCEMENTS; AFTER NOT BEING INVOLVED IN EITHER TEST, SAM DARRY HAS BEEN HANDED A START AT LOCK. I FOUND OUT ON MONDAY. DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY HEADS UP, SO IT WAS A WEE BIT OF A SURPRISE AT FIRST. HE'LL LINK UP WITH TUPOU VAA'I, WHO RETURNS TO THE SECOND ROW, PUSHING FABIAN HOLLAND TO THE BENCH. WITH A SPOT AT BLINDSIDE FLANKER OPENING UP, PETER LAKAI HAS A BIG NIGHT AHEAD OF HIM IN THE NUMBER SIX JERSEY. HE'S NOT A BIG LOOSE FORWARD COMPARED TO, MAYBE, SOME OF THE OTHER MEN ON THE FIELD, ESPECIALLY IN THE OPPOSITION, BUT HE'S REALLY PHYSICAL. HE HITS IN TACKLE AND CLEAN, AND THEN HE'S A HELL OF AN ATHLETE. AFTER A TOUGH NIGHT OUT IN CAPE TOWN WITH THE LINE OUT, IT'S BEEN BACK TO BASICS THIS WEEK. TALKED A LOT ABOUT DRILL, WHICH IS KIND OF YOUR LIFT AND JUMP BEING, I GUESS, WORLD-CLASS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY TOUGH FOR THE HOOKER IF WE'RE NOT DOING THAT, BECAUSE HE'S HITTING HIS MARK, AND WE MIGHT NOT BE GETTING THE RIGHT JUMP OR LIFT. WE'VE MADE A COUPLE OF SHIFTS FROM A LINEOUT POINT OF VIEW. I WON'T DIVULGE TOO MUCH, BUT, UM... THAT WE THINK WILL MAKE THE TASK A LOT EASIER. WHICH IF TRUE, WILL BE MUSIC TO THE HOOKER'S EARS; CODIE TAYLOR IS NOTICEABLY ABSENT THIS WEEK, ALLOWING ASAFO AUMUA HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE HIS WORTH. I SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN 23 GUYS TO WIN THE SERIES HERE. DAVE RENNIE DOING SOME TINKERING TO HIS TEAM LIST FOR THE THIRD TEST; PERHAPS THE PERFECT POTION TO GO 2-1 UP AGAINST THE 'BOKS. MITCH IS WITH US NOW FROM JOHANNESBURG. MITCH, ALL THE TALK THIS WEEK HAS BEEN ABOUT SCRUMS. DID DAVE RENNIE HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE ISSUE TODAY? DAVE RENNIE TRIED TO PUT OUT THAT FIRE YESTERDAY. THE SOUTH AFRICANS AFTER THOSE COMMENTS DO SEEM TO STILL BE QUITE RUFFLED BY DAVE RENNIE HAD TO SAY. THEIR SENTIMENTS GET UP BY AIRING THOSE COMMENTS IN THE MEDIA, DAVE RENNIE WAS TRYING TO GET A MESSAGE ACROSS TO OFFICIALS. HE DOWNPLAYED THAT SAYING HE WAS ASKED A QUESTION AND SAID THERE WAS NO NARRATIVE. A LITTLE BIT MORE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS AND TWO CULTURES AS WE APPROACH THE THIRD TEST. THE SPRINGBOKS WOMEN'S COACH HAS QUIT TWO DAYS OUT FROM HOSTING THEIR FIRST-EVER TEST AGAINST THE BLACK FERNS. SWYS DE BRUIN HAS REPORTEDLY WALKED OUT AFTER A PAY DISPUTE WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY UNION. THERE'S NO SUCH ISSUES IN THE BLACK FERNS' CAMP, WHO TODAY SPRUNG A COUPLE OF SURPRISES IN TEAM NAMING. HERE'S MITCH AGAIN. HANNAH KING HAS BEEN HANDED THE KEYS TO THE FIRST FIVE JUMPER IN WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST TEST OF HER BLACKBURN'S CAREER SO FAR. WITH A BIG THREE TEST TOUR OF EUROPE COMING UP, COACH WHITNEY HANSON HAS DECIDED TO PUT RUAHEI DEMANT ON THE BENCH. EVERY TIME SHE'S COME ON FOR US THIS YEAR, SHE'S SHOWN WHAT SHE CAN DO, SO THIS GAME'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GROW HER GAME DRIVING, HER GAME MANAGEMENT, AND SHE'S REALLY EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. DEMANT WILL SHARE THE CAPTAINCY DUTIES WITH GEORGIA PONSONBY, WHO IS SET TO LEAD THE BLACK FERNS SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE'S A PHENOMENAL LEADER FOR US ON AND OFF THE FIELD. SHE'S GOT A NUMBER OF GAMES UNDER HER BELT. SHE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PLAY IN BIG MATCHES, AND HER VOICE AND LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION WILL BE REALLY CRITICAL IN THIS GAME. ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE BLACK FERNS IN THEIR SHORT TIME HERE IN JOHANNESBURG HAS BEEN THE ALTITUDE; THEY'VE BEEN HIT PRETTY HARD BY THE THIN AIR HERE IN JOHANNESBURG. THE ALTITUDE STUFF HAS DEFINITELY TAKEN A BIT OF A TOLL IN TRAINING AND THEY'RE FEELING THAT, BUT WE ALSO DID A LOT OF PREP IN THE BUILD-IN AROUND THE MENTAL PERFORMANCE SIDE OF THAT. THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO PHYSICALLY. THE LAST TIME BOTH SIDES MET WAS AT LAST YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN THE QUARTER-FINALS. WHILE THE BLACK FERNS DID BLOW OUT IN THE END, IT WAS 10-10 AT HALF TIME. THEY COME OUT AND SHOWED EXACTLY WHAT THEY COULD DO IN THE FIRST HALF, AND THAT'S OUR JOB ` TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SO WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE THEM THE POSITION THAT THEY HAD IN THAT GAME. WOMEN'S RUGBY ARE ABOUT TO APPEAR IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST STADIUMS, AND IT'S A SPECIAL HOMECOMING OF SORTS FOR AMY DU PLESSIS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SHE REALISED HOW HUGE THAT EVENT ACTUALLY WOULD BE, UNTIL SHE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS AND SAW GRANDAD'S STANDING THERE, AND I THINK JUST TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IN FRONT OF YOUR WHANAU IS HUGE, AND WHEN THEY'RE SO FAR AWAY. TO GET A MOMENT TO COME HOME AND DO THAT FOR HER HAS BEEN REALLY` WILL BE REALLY SPECIAL. THIS HISTORIC CLASH BETWEEN THE BLACK FERNS AND SPRINGBOK WOMEN WILL KICK OFF AT 11.30 LOCAL TIME IN NEW ZEALAND. LIAM LAWSON HAS ARRIVED AT MONZA AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS SECOND RACE WITH RED BULL'S SENIOR TEAM, FILLING IN FOR ISACK HADJAR. THE KIWI ADMITS IT HASN'T BEEN IDEAL PREPARATION FOR THE WEEKEND, WAITING TO FIND OUT WHICH OF THE TWO RED BULL TEAMS HE'LL BE DRIVING FOR. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. IS HE IN A RACING BULL, OR IS HE IN A RED BULL? THAT WAS THE QUESTION FOR LIAM LAWSON EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH UNCERTAINTY AROUND ISACK HADJAR'S RECOVERY FROM A FRACTURED WRIST. IT MADE PREPARING FOR THIS WEEKEND'S ITALIAN GRAND PRIX NO EASY TASK. WHICH SET OF ENGINEERS HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING TO SINCE ZANDVOORT? BOTH, HONESTLY. BEEN DOING BOTH. JUST TO STRIKE` TO TRY AND STAY READY FOR BOTH. OBVIOUSLY BOTH TEAMS, BOTH CARS TO KNOW, SO, YEAH. THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT TO DRIVE, SO IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING GOING BETWEEN THE TWO, EVEN JUST IN THE SIMULATOR. THROWN IN THE RED BULL SEAT AT LATE NOTICE TWO WEEKS AGO, LAWSON MANAGED A SOLID SEVENTH PLACE FINISH AT THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX. HE'S NO DOUBT HOPEFUL OF AT LEAST MATCHING THAT IN MONZA. AT LEAST NOW I'VE HAD THAT, IT SHOULD BE A BIT EASIER TO ADJUST. WE ALSO HAVE THREE PRACTICE SESSIONS HERE. IT'S A MUCH MORE NORMAL WEEKEND, SO, YEAH, IT'S ANOTHER GOOD OPPORTUNITY. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD YET EXTEND ANOTHER RACE, WITH NO ASSURANCES THAT HADJAR'S FRACTURED WRISTS WILL BE HEALED FOR NEXT WEEKEND'S SPANISH GRAND PRIX. IN MADRID WITH THE KERB STRIKING AND EVERYTHING, I DON'T SEE HADJAR COMING BACK EITHER, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS RED BULL, I WOULD GO, 'HEY, LET'S BE SMART. 'WE'RE GONNA GET A COUPLE MORE WEEKS OF RECOVERY, 'AND WE'LL PREPARE LIAM PROPERLY FOR MADRID.' GIVEN LAWSON ONLY FOUND OUT ON WEDNESDAY THAT HE WAS DRIVING FOR RED BULL, A FULL WEEK OF PREPARATION WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME. THE WAY THEY DRIVE, THE BALANCE OF THE CAR IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT. SO, YEAH, WITHOUT SAYING TOO MUCH, IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT CAR TO DRIVE. IF HIS LAST RACE IS ANYTHING TO GO BY, LAWSON COULD ONCE AGAIN PROVE ADAPTABILITY IS FAST BECOMING HIS SPECIALITY. ANOTHER TOP SEED HAS FALLEN AT THE U.S. OPEN, WITH WORLD NUMBER FOUR FELIX AUGER ALIASSIME BUNDLED OUT IN THE SECOND ROUND BY RUSSIAN KAREN KHACHANOV. THE CANADIAN TOOK THE OPENING SET IN A TIE-BREAKER, BUT IT WAS ALL KHACHANOV FROM THERE, WINNING IN FOUR SETS. THE THIRD SEED LATER REVEALED HE WAS FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER. DIDN'T FEEL WELL, WAS DIZZY, SEEING SPOTS. THAT'S THE END OF THE TOURNAMENT FOR ME. SIXTH SEED ALEX DE MINAUR ALSO MADE AN EARLY EXIT ` DEFEATED IN STRAIGHT SETS. MEANWHILE, TOP SEED ALEXANDER ZVEREV DID IT TOUGH ONCE AGAIN, NEEDING FIVE SETS AND MORE THAN FOUR-AND-A-HALF HOURS ON COURT TO DEFEAT HIS UNSEEDED FRENCH OPPONENT; THE MATCH FINISHING AFTER 2AM LOCAL TIME. IN THE WOMEN'S DRAW, THERE WERE WINS FOR ELENA RYBAKINA AND 2023 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION COCO GAUFF. THE EXCUSE OF NOT FEELING WELL, THOUGH? UBER AND BRITISH TECH COMPANY WAYVE HAVE ROLLED OUT LONDON'S FIRST SELF-DRIVING TAXI SERVICE. TO BEGIN WITH, JUST 15 VEHICLES WILL OPERATE IN THE CITY WITH A HUMAN DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL JUST IN CASE FOR EMERGENCIES. HOWEVER, THE CHANCES OF ACTUALLY LANDING A ROBO-TAXI ON REQUEST ARE SLIM WHEN COMPARED TO THE MORE THAN 100,000 PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES IN THE CAPITAL. LONDON IS ONLY THE SECOND CITY IN EUROPE TO HAVE THE SELF-DRIVING UBER VEHICLES. IMO'S BACK NOW. TELL US ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM SUNDAY. WELL, REBECCA, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING. THIS COMPLEX LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATED FRONTS TAKES OVER MOST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW BEHIND IT WHICH IS GONNA SEND TEMPERATURES DOWN. IT THEN HITS THE NORTH ISLAND EARLY MONDAY. THIS WILL BE ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON. I'LL HAVE YOUR FULL FORECAST NEXT. HRV VENTILATION HELPS REDUCE ASTHMA TRIGGERS AT HOME. HRV, BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. NAU MAI ANO. WELCOME BACK. HAPPY FRIDAY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND. TODAY'S FRONT SHIFTS UP AND OFF THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY TONIGHT, MAKING WAY FOR A SHOWERY WESTERLY FLOW TOMORROW, AND BEHIND THAT IS THE COMPLEX LOW SYSTEM WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, SET TO HIT LATER ON OVER THE WEEKEND. TOMORROW, MORE HEAVY RAIN ALONG THAT WEST COAST, PUSHING INTO PARTS OF OTAGO. SOUTHLAND GETTING WET TOO, WITH ANOTHER PRETTY WINDY DAY TOMORROW ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND. A FAR CALMER-LOOKING DAY, WIND AND RAIN WISE, FOR THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW, BUT THOSE WEST TO NOR'WESTERS WILL STILL REMIND YOU THEY ARE THERE. LOOKING AT SOME SHOWERS FOR WESTERN AREAS FROM THE AFTERNOON. LOTTA LOVELY SUNSHINE EMOJIS FOR THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY'S SATURDAY. COULD POSSIBLY BE THE ODD SHOWER FLITTING THROUGH NORTHLAND. BIG MIX OF WESTERLIES UP HERE. STARTS OFF CLOUDY HERE, BUT JUST YOU WAIT TILL THE AFTERNOON ` IT'LL BE A BINGO SUNNY ONE WITH TEMPERATURES TO MATCH AT THE BEACH. WESTERLIES DIE OUT AS THE DAY TRUCKS ALONG. ALL SUN ALL DAY ACROSS THE BOARD OUT EAST. NICE AND WARM UP TOP, TOO, BUT THERE'LL BE THOSE STRONG NOR'WESTERS KICKING AROUND. A LOVELY START TO THE WEEKEND HERE, BUT YOU WILL FIND SHOWERS START TO DEVELOP NORTH OF WELLY CBD AS YOU HEAD TOWARDS THE AFTERNOON. STRONG NOR'WESTERS HERE AS WELL. CLOUDY START FOR NELSON, THEN THESE SHOWERS COULD HIT YOU AS THEY PICK UP ALONG THE COAST, GETTING HEAVIER IN THE AFTERNOON. WEST AND NOR'WESTERS. A NOT-TOO-BAD DAY ON THE OTHER SIDE ` JUST SOME HIGH CLOUD TO CONTEND WITH. NOR' AND NOR'WESTERS ABOUT AND SOME FAIRLY DECENT TEMPERATURES. WE'LL SEE THOSE WESTERLIES APPROACH SEVERE GALE RIGHT DOWN THE BOTTOM HERE. SHOWERS ALL DAY AS WELL. STRONG WINDS FOR THE REST; SHOWERS AROUND FOR QUEENSTOWN TOO. STRONG WESTERLIES ALL DAY FOR YOU, DUNEDIN, BUT THE SUN WILL BE OUT. THEN, YOU MIGHT SEE A FEW EVENING SHOWERS. OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHUCH, SATURDAY'LL BE MAINLY FINE WITH HIGH CLOUD. NOR'WESTERS AND A HIGH OF 18. A GREAT MORNING IN THE CAPITAL ` CLOUDIER IN THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS UP THE COAST. WINDS WON'T BE AS STRONG AS THEY WERE TODAY. HAWKE'S BAY, ENJOY THIS START TO THE WEEKEND ` 20 DEGREES, SUNSHINE, BUT THOSE PESKY NOR'WESTERS. ANOTHER GOOD DAY FOR AIMS, TAURANGA. BIT OF MORNING CLOUD, THEN A LOVELY AFTERNOON. 19 THE HIGH. HAMILTON, YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN OVERCAST DAY WITH WESTERLIES DYING OUT IN THE EVENING. MAINLY FINE IN AUCKLAND ` THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER, BUT SHOULD BE CLEAR AS FOR THAT 5pm KICK-OFF AT GO MEDIA STADIUM. GOT A FRESH COLD FRONT SWEEPING AROSS TAZZIE AND VIC TOMORROW, WITH ANOTHER DAY OF WARM, WARM TEMPERATURES UP THAT EASTERN COASTLINE. AND THAT IS A VERY WET SATURDAY IN THE PACIFIC, WITH NEW CALEDONIA SITTING VERY PRETTY WITH THAT SUNSHINE-FILLED DAY. SO, SUNDAY ` FATHERS' DAY. NOT TOO BAD ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT RAIN WILL BE DEVELOPING IN THE WEST. BUT IT'S MONDAY TO KEEP AN EYE ON, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A VERY FAST-MOVING FRONT HITTING THE SOUTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. THAT'S THEN GOING TO FLICK UP AND ON TO THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY FOR WHAT'S LOOKING LIKE A VERY WET COMMUTE. SO IT'S LOOKING LIKE A SOGGY SOUTH ISLAND SUNDAY. SHOULDN'T BE TOO WINDY, IF THAT'S ANY CONSULATION. AND THAT RAIN WRAPS BACK ROUND, PUSHING INTO EASTERN AREAS MONDAY. TUESDAY, THOUGH, SOME MUCH-NEEDED, FAR MORE SETTLED WEATHER. I'VE SAID IT ONCE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN ` SPRING HAS SPRUNG, SO THE WEATHER IS WEATHERING, BUT WE ALSO GET GORGEOUS SUNRISES LIKE THIS, CAPTURED BY JO NEAR THE MOUNT THIS MORNING. 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 REBECCA WRIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. CAPTIONS BY REBECCA SCHOLTZ AND JOHNATHAN CHUI. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026