A QANTAS FLIGHT TAKING OFF FROM QUEENSTOWN IS DIVERTED TO CHRISTCHURCH AFTER LOUD BANGS AND FLAMES ARE SEEN COMING FROM ITS ENGINE. THE RACE TO THE BALLOT BOX BEGINS AS PARTY BILLBOARDS START SPRINGING UP JUST NINE WEEKS OUT FROM THE ELECTION. A SECOND PATIENT IN TWO MONTHS IS FOUND DEAD INSIDE A TOILET AT WAIKATO HOSPITAL. AND WHY RUGBY'S GREATEST RIVALRY WILL BE A MAGIC MOMENT FOR THE SITITI FAMILY. CAPTIONS BY BEN MOLLISON AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. IN THE PAST HOUR, A QANTAS PLANE HAS LANDED SAFELY IN CHRISTCHURCH AFTER A MID-AIR EMERGENCY FORCED IT TO DIVERT. THE SYDNEY-BOUND FLIGHT HAD TAKEN OFF FROM QUEENSTOWN AROUND 4pm, WHEN BROTHERS DANIEL AND CAMPBELL LONGMIRE SAY THEY HEARD LOUD BANGS AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM ITS ENGINE. I SAW A PLANE TAKE OFF, AND I JUST SAW IT'S LEFT ENGINE START SPITTING OUT FLAMES, AND THEN I, LIKE, GOT EVERYONE TO GO LOOK, COS I THOUGHT IT WAS A ONE-OFF THING. AND THEN IT WAS FLYING OVER, AND IT DID, LIKE, MAYBE SIX OR SEVEN, LIKE, FLAME BURSTS AND LOUD BANGS. APPARENTLY, IT WAS A COMPRESSOR STALL. WE WERE ALL A BIT SHAKEN. YEAH. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T SEE STUFF LIKE THAT EVERY DAY, SO, YEAH, JUST KIND OF TAKEN BACK, REALLY. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN HAS OFFICIALLY HIT THE STREETS, WITH POLITICAL HOARDINGS GOING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY EXACTLY NINE WEEKS OUT FROM POLLING DAY. PARTY LEADERS HAVE BEEN OUT HAMMERING HOME THEIR MESSAGES AND THEIR PROMISES, AS A TIGHT RACE ENTERS ITS MOST VISIBLE PHASE. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE STORY. ONE STREET CORNER, PLENTY OF POLITICAL REAL ESTATE. WITH EXACTLY NINE WEEKS TO GO, POLITICIANS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY PUT THE WRITING ON THE WALL. OPPORTUNITY LEADER QIULAE WONG AMONG THE CANDIDATES ON THE TOOLS. ONE DOWN, HOW MANY TO GO? WE'VE GOT 15 OR SO ACROSS AUCKLAND. WELL, ACROSS MT ALBERT. SHE'S PUTTING HERSELF FRONT AND CENTRE. LEARNING ON THE JOB. OH, DON'T USE THAT QUOTE. WONG IS ANGLING FOR A WIN IN MOUNT ALBERT ` A TRADITIONAL LABOUR SEAT SINCE 1946, WITH HEAVYWEIGHTS LIKE HELEN CLARK AND JACINDA ARDERN. YEAH, IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A STRONG LABOUR SEAT BUT I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S BEEN AN ELECTORATE THAT'S USED TO HAVING A PARTY LEADER AS ITS REPRESENTATIVE IN PARLIAMENT AND SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO THINK DIFFERENTLY AND THINK BIGGER ABOUT OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND. DRIVING DOWN YOUR TAXES HERE. ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR OUT IN EPSOM UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS IN A CAP AND BOMBER JACKET. MAGENTA HIS COLOUR DU JOUR. I TELL YOU WHAT, MADE SOME GOOD CHOICES AND SOME BAD CHOICES BUT THE MAGENTA WAS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES. EVERY YEAR, EVERY POLITICIAN'S DREAM IS MORE PEOPLE VOTE FOR THEM. AND HOARDINGS DAY ALWAYS A NEW CHANCE FOR HUGS, POLITICAL POT SHOTS, AND PROMISES. THE NATIONAL PARTY IS BEST WAY TO TAKE THE PARTY FORWARD, WE'VE GOT THE PLAN TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE WE GROW THIS ECONOMY, MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE. I MEAN GIVEN THIS IS ONLY ONE TERM OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S QUITE AMAZING THAT THEY'VE FALLEN SO BADLY. IT'S JUST GOES TO SHOW THEY'VE LOST THE FAITH AND CONFIDENCE OF NEW ZEALANDERS. NOT THE HERB GARDEN. SO WHEN THE NATIONAL PARTY IS TALKING ABOUT NO NEW TAXES, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS INCREASING THE COST OF LIVING THROUGH EVERY OTHER MEANS NECESSARY AND NOT TAXING THE SUPER RICH TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALL OF US SO DESPERATELY NEED. COMMENTATORS SAY THE RACE IS STILL ANYONE'S TO WIN. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS ELECTION IS ITS CLOSENESS. NORMALLY A FIRST-TERM GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T BE IN THE TIGHT SITUATION THAT THIS ONE LOOKS TO BE IN. AND THE OTHER FACTOR OF COURSE IS THE ENTRY OF THE OPPORTUNITY PARTY ` HAS THE POTENTIAL TO COMPLETELY UPEND THINGS. FOR NOW, THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR SPACE ON THE ROADSIDE. IN NINE WEEKS, WE'LL KNOW WHO'S WON SPACE IN PARLIAMENT. A SECOND PERSON HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD IN A WAIKATO HOSPITAL TOILET IN THE SPACE OF TWO MONTHS. HEALTH NZ SAYS THE PATIENT WAS LOCATED IN THE BATHROOM OF A SURGICAL WARD LAST MONTH. THE HOSPITAL SAYS THE WARD WAS FULLY STAFFED AT THE TIME, AND POLICE ARE NOT TREATING THE DEATH AS SUSPICIOUS. IT COMES LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER FATHER BRENT HORSBURGH DIED IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE SAME HOSPITAL AFTER WAITING NINE HOURS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. THOUSANDS OF WELLINGTONIANS MISSED OUT ON A SATURDAY SLEEP-IN THIS MORNING AFTER A 4.9 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE RATTLED THE CAPITAL AROUND 6.30am. MORE THAN 21,000 PEOPLE REPORTED FEELING THE SHAKE, BUT GEONET SAYS THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ALARM. THIS KIND OF EARTHQUAKE IS BREAD-AND-BUTTER FOR THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY. YOU SEE THIS EVERY FEW MONTHS. SOMETIMES WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THEM. THEY COME AND GO AND THEY DON'T TEND TO LEAD TO ANYTHING ELSE. GEONET SAYS THE QUAKE'S DISTINCT WAVES MADE IT FEEL LONGER AND STRONGER THAN TYPICAL QUAKES OF IT'S SIZE. THE MAORI QUEEN HAS DELIVERED JUST HER SECOND NATIONAL ADDRESS SINCE ASCENDING TO THE THRONE IN 2024. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) SPEAKING TO THOUSANDS GATHERED AT TURANGAWAEWAE MARAE, KUINI NGA WAI HONO I TE PO URGED FUTURE GENERATIONS TO TURN TRAUMA INTO TRIUMPH. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED MAORI WILL NEVER FORGET THE TRAUMA OF COLONISATION BUT SAID IT 'MUST NEVER BECOME THE LIMIT OF OUR STORY'. TOMORROW IS THE FINAL DAY OF THE WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION. THE DISCOVERY OF TWO WORKERS PULLED ALIVE FROM A HYDROPOWER TUNNEL IN NEPAL HAS GIVEN RESCUERS RENEWED HOPE MORE CAN BE SAVED. DOZENS OF RESCUERS HAVE BEEN DIGGING THROUGH MUD AND SLUDGE SINCE LAST WEEK'S FLASH FLOOD IN A BID TO FIND 42 WORKERS WHO ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR. ONE OF THE SURVIVORS SAID HE WAS TRAPPED AFTER HELPING OTHERS ESCAPE BUT KEPT HIS SPIRITS UP BY CHANTING HINDU MANTRAS. THE BODY OF A THIRD PERSON WAS ALSO RETRIEVED FROM ONE OF THE TUNNELS. A DISTRESSING TRIPLE-MURDER CASE THAT HAS CAPTURED GLOBAL ATTENTION HAS ENDED IN A DRAMATIC MISTRIAL AFTER JURORS WERE UNABLE TO AGREE ON A VERDICT. LINDSAY CLANCY ADMITS KILLING HER THREE CHILDREN BUT CLAIMS SHE WAS IN THE THROES OF POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS. ITV'S DAN RIVERS REPORTS. AND I'M GOING TO DECLARE A MISTRIAL. AFTER SIX DAYS OF DELIBERATION, THE CASE WHICH HAS TRANSFIXED AMERICA ENDED WITHOUT VERDICT. ALL RISE. LINDSAY CLANCY IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING HER THREE CHILDREN, BUT WHILE SHE ADMITTED THE KILLINGS, HER DEFENCE TEAM ARGUED SHE WAS NOT CULPABLE, BECAUSE SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS. OUTSIDE THE COURT, THE OFFICIAL WHO LED THE PROSECUTION FACED ACCUSATIONS THAT THE CASE WAS INSENSITIVE TO A SUFFERING MOTHER. INSENSITIVE? INSENSITIVE IS KILLING THREE CHILDREN. HER LAWYER HINTED AT HOW PERSONAL THIS CASE HAD BECOME. SHE'S LIKE` SHE'S LIKE A DAUGHTER TO ME. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THE LARGE CROWDS OF WOMEN DRESSED IN PINK CHEERING HER AS SHE ARRIVED EACH DAY WERE A SIGN OF JUST HOW IMPACTFUL THIS CASE HAS BEEN, DIVIDING THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THOSE WHO THINK SHE DESERVES SYMPATHY AND THOSE LIKE THE PRESIDENT WHO THINK HER ACTIONS SHOULD BE PUNISHED. SHE DID A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE THING. CAN'T BE WORSE. BUT YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE PRICE TO PAY IS. THERE'LL BE A PRICE. IT'S GONNA BE MENTAL INSTITUTION OR JAIL. I THINK THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A MISTRIAL. A SINGLE JUROR HAD BEEN HOLDING OUT AGAINST THE MAJORITY... ABILITY TO SEND THE JURY BACK. ...RESULTING IN TENSE EXCHANGES BETWEEN CLANCY'S DEFENCE TEAM AND THE JUDGE AS THEY ARGUED ABOUT HOW TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. THE COURT HEARD HOW LINDSAY CLANCY HAD TRIED TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE AFTER THE KILLINGS. AFTER CUTTING HERSELF, SHE JUMPED FROM AN UPSTAIRS WINDOW, LEAVING HER PARALYSED. THIS IS A CASE WHICH HAS GRIPPED AMERICA AND PROVOKED AN IMPORTANT DEBATE ABOUT THE MENTAL STRESS SOME NEW MOTHERS EXPERIENCE AND THE TERRIBLE TOLL IT CAN TAKE. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS VOTED TO ADOPT A NEW WORLD MAP ACCURATELY REFLECTING AFRICA'S TRUE SIZE. THE 16th CENTURY MERCATOR MAP ON THE LEFT DISTORTS THE RELATIVE SIZE OF LAND MASSES BY EXPANDING THOSE NEARER THE POLES. AS A RESULT, GREENLAND APPEARS TO BE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS AFRICA, EVEN THOUGH THE CONTINENT IS AROUND 14 TIMES BIGGER. THE UN RESOLUTION PASSED BY 164 VOTES, WITH THE U.S., THE ONLY COUNTRY TO VOTE AGAINST IT. NEW ZEALAND HAS A LONG LIST OF SUCCESSFUL RUGBY SIBLINGS, FROM THE BARRETTS TO THE SAVEAS, THE FRANKS, BROOKES, WHITELOCKS AND GOINGS. AMARANTE AND WALLACE SITITI ARE ALSO ON THAT LIST, BUT THIS WEEKEND, THEY'LL ENTER AN EVEN MORE EXCLUSIVE CLUB. MITCH REDMAN EXPLAINS. AT A COMMUNITY EVENT IN JOHANNESBURG, THE SITITIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOOKING STERN, BUT WALLACE AND AMARANTE HAD THEIR GAME FACES ON AHEAD OF THEIR OWN DOUBLEHEADER THIS SUNDAY MORNING. I THINK IT'S PRETTY SURREAL SOMETIMES. I'M STILL BUZZING OUT THAT I GET TO BE HERE WITH MY BROTHER. OBVIOUSLY IT'S ONLY JUST US TWO HERE, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE VILLAGE BACK HOME ` NOT ONLY IN AUCKLAND, BUT ALSO BACK IN SAMOA ` WHOSE PRAYERS AND WHOSE GUIDANCE HAS GUIDED US HERE. WHEN AMARANTE DEBUTED FOR THE BLACK FERNS A FORTNIGHT AGO, THE SITITIS BECAME THE FIRST BROTHER AND SISTER COMBO TO PLAY 15 A SIDE RUGBY FOR NEW ZEALAND IN NEARLY THREE DECADES. IT'S BEEN 28 YEARS SINCE XAVIER AND ANNALEAH RUSH PLAYED ON THE SAME DAY AND AT THE SAME STADIUM IN SYDNEY. YEAH, IT'S SPECIAL TO DO IT TOGETHER ON THE SAME DAY, RUNNING THE SAME NUMBER AS WELL, WHICH IS CRAZY. OVERNIGHT THEY'LL PLAY AT THE 94,000 CAPACITY FNB STADIUM AND THERE'LL BE NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE SITITIS IN ATTENDANCE. IT WASN'T PLANNED THAT HE WAS GONNA BE HERE. WE SORT OF HAD THIS DATE AT THE BACK OF OUR MINDS, EH? YEAH, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY IT COULD HAPPEN. UNDERSTANDABLY, DAD SEMO SITITI WAS CATCHING UP ON SLEEP AND COULDN'T APPEAR ON CAMERA TODAY, BUT HE SENT THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO THREE NEWS. THE FORMER SAMOAN INTERNATIONAL SAID THE OCCASION WOULD BE INCREDIBLY SPECIAL FOR NOT JUST THEIR FAMILY IN AUCKLAND, BUT FOR SAMOA AS WELL. SEEING BOTH HIS KIDS REPRESENT THEIR RESPECTIVE TEAMS FILLS HIM WITH IMMENSE PRIDE. FOR THE SITITI FAMILY, IT'S A REMINDER DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY WHEN YOU STAY COMMITTED TO YOUR VALUES AND NEVER GIVE UP. I DON'T THINK I'VE TOLD HIM YET, BUT HE'S A BIG INSPIRATION FOR ME. AND YEAH, THAT'S WHY I DON'T TELL HIM. I HAD TO PAY HER TO SAY THAT. YEAH, BUT HE'S A BIG INSPIRATION TO ME, JUST LIKE MY DAD, YEAH. BOTH SITITIS WITH A POINT TO PROVE TOMORROW. I THINK THE WAY WE PLAY RUGBY IS CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER, YEAH. WE GO OUT THERE, WE HAVE SOME FUN AND WE TRY TO PUT AN IMPACT IN THE GAME. AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS THE MINDSET. A BIG OCCASION MADE ALL THE MORE SPECIAL FOR WALLACE AND AMARANTE SITITI. STAY WITH US. STILL TO COME ON THREENEWS ` THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN TO OVERSHADOW THE THIRD TEST BETWEEN THE ALL BLACKS AND THE SPRINGBOKS. AND THE SMELL OF CANNABIS BRIEFLY HALTS PLAY AT THE U.S. OPEN, WHILE A DECISION TO INVITE 100 INFLUENCERS ALSO SPARKS CONTROVERSY. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) LEGENDARY JOURNEYS WITH SUZUKI JIMNY FIVE-DOOR AND THREENEWS SPORT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, THE ALL BLACKS COULD CLAIM A 2-1 WIN AGAINST THE SPRINGBOKS ON SOUTH AFRICAN SOIL OVERNIGHT. IT'S SET TO BE A SPECIAL OCCASION AT FNB STADIUM IN SOWETO, WITH A CAPACITY CROWD OF 94,000 PEOPLE EXPECTED. HERE IS MITCH REDMAN. THE ALL BLACKS NEED NO REMINDING OF WHAT'S AT STAKE IN SOWETO. LIKE A STATE OF ORIGIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, GETTING THROUGH. UM, 1-1 HERE IN AFRICA, SO IT'S A BIG ONE. SO.... YEAH. HOW GOOD IS IT TO GO PLAY AT THE SOWETO STADIUM, AND, UH... AND CHALLENGE OURSELVES AND TRY AND GET THE WIN. TO DO SO, THEY'LL NEED TO GET OFF THE MARK QUICKLY. THE ALL BLACKS WERE CAUGHT NAPPING IN THE SECOND TEST. LAST WEEK, THEY CAME OUT FIRING. YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO START WELL, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND WE DIDN'T. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR US IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ACTIONING WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO PLAN. AND IF IT DOESN'T, IT'S HOW FAST WE CAN ADAPT AND ADJUST QUICKLY TO THOSE THINGS. AFTER LAST WEEK'S LOSS, DAVE RENNIE OFFERED SOME WORDS OF ADVICE TO HIS SKIPPER. RENS MADE A BIT OF A THROWAWAY COMMENT THAT WINNING THE TOSS WOULD BE A GOOD STARTING POINT. WHAT'S YOUR STATISTIC SO FAR? I'VE LOST EVERY SINGLE COIN TOSS. THIS YEAR OR` THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR. (LAUGHTER) ARE YOU GOING HEADS OR TAILS? WHAT'S THE GO HERE? WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY? I DON'T KNOW. I'VE BEEN GOING HEADS, TAILS. THEN I'VE BEEN GOING, 'LORD, TELL ME.' STILL LOSE. WHAT WAY THE TOSS GOES ISN'T THE ONLY GAMBLE. ALL EYES ARE ON RASSIE ERASMUS AND WHETHER HE ONCE AGAIN MAKES LAST-MINUTE CHANGES TO HIS TEAM. FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SERIES, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT RAIN COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE GAME AT FNB STADIUM. THE SOUTH AFRICANS SAY THAT ISN'T GOING TO AFFECT THE GAME PLAN WHATSOEVER, BUT COULD IT AFFECT THEIR TEAM? OUR GAME PLAN HASN'T CHANGED. WE... THE WAY WE PREPARED ON MONDAY, IT'S STILL THE SAME. IF IT RAINS, IT DOESN'T RAIN. NO LATE CHANGES? NO. (CHUCKLES) ABOUT WHAT? ABOUT THE WAY WE PLAY? (LAUGHS) TO BE HONEST, I RAN OUT ON THE FIELD AND SAW THE KICK-OFF, AND I SAW THE HOOKER CHAN` OH, IT'S CHANGED. SO... (CHUCKLES) IT IS WHAT IT IS, MAN. LIKE FOR ME, I JUST` I'M A SIMPLE MAN. GO OUT THERE, PUT THE BOOTS ON AND PLAY FOOTY. ARDIE SAVEA IS OUT FOR NOT ONLY BRAGGING RIGHTS BUT REVENGE AGAINST HIS GOOD MATE SIYA KOLISI. HE'S THE ENEMY WHEN YOU'RE IN THE FIELD, YOU KNOW, AND HE SAW THE SAME WAY WHEN HE SAW MY BACK, AND I WAS CATCHING THE BALL. AND HE HEARD ME GO, 'AARGH!' BRO, I WAS LYING ON THE GROUND, AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS MY DAD'S VOICE SAYING, 'GET UP.' SO THAT'S WHY I GOT UP. THE EQUATION RELATIVELY SIMPLE FOR THE ALL BLACKS. IF WE DO LOSE, YOU CAN'T WIN THE SERIES. IT'S IN THE BEST CASE IS A DRAW. SO WE NEED TO WIN. HEADING TO BALTIMORE 2-1 UP WOULD BE QUITE THE FEELING FOR ARDIE SAVEA AND HIS MEN. HAWKE'S BAY HAVE STORMED BACK FROM A 17-POINT DEFICIT TO DEFEAT OTAGO AND REMAIN UNDEFEATED AFTER SIX ROUNDS IN THE NPC. IT WAS ALL OTAGO EARLY ON IN THE TOP-OF-THE TABLE CLASH ` THE VISITORS RUNNING OUT TO A 24-7 LEAD LATE IN THE FIRST HALF. THE SCRIPT WAS FLIPPED AFTER THE BREAK, THOUGH ` HAWKE'S BAY MOUNTING AN INCREDIBLE COMEBACK. SULLIVAN. GETTING A BIT TANGLED UP, AND NOW SOME SPACE. WHAT A SENSATIONAL RUN. AND THAT MIGHT JUST DO IT FOR HAWKE'S BAY. HAWKES BAY EVENTUALLY WON 35-24 AND ARE NOW EIGHT POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE. A FIRST HALF DOUBLE FROM TAINE TUAUPIKI HAS GIVEN THE WARRIORS A HALF-TIME LEAD IN THEIR FINAL MATCH OF THE REGULAR SEASON AGAINST THE MANLY SEA EAGLES. IT WAS THE VISITORS THAT MADE A BRIGHT START, THOUGH, JUMPING OUT TO AN EARLY EIGHT-POINT LEAD. HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T LAST LONG; THE WARRIORS ANSWERING BACK IN STYLE. OUTCOMES. CLARK. MARTIN. THE GAMES OPENED UP. WHAT A PASS. EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF THE WARRIORS LEAD 24-12. ARYNA SABALENKA HAS KEPT HER HOPES OF A THIRD CONSECUTIVE U.S. OPEN TITLE ALIVE - WINNING HER THIRD ROUND MATCH IN STRAIGHT SETS. IT WAS SOME ACTION AWAY FROM THE COURT THAT GRABBED HEADLINES, THOUGH. EARLY IN THE OPENING SET SABALENKA APPEARED BOTHERED BY SOMETHING, EVENTUALLY COMPLAINING TO THE CHAIR UMPIRE ABOUT A LINGERING SMELL OF CANNABIS. SOMEONE SMOKING WEED. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR THAT AT HOME, BUT APPARENTLY THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE SMOKING A LITTLE MARIJUANA. THE SMELL DIDN'T CAUSE HER TO MAKE A HASH OF IT ` THE BELARUSIAN GOING ON TO SMOKE HER OPPONENT IN JUST UNDER 90 MINUTES. IN THE MEN'S DRAW, DEFENDING CHAMPION CARLOS ALCARAZ ALSO ADVANCED TO THE FOURTH ROUND AFTER WINNING HIS MATCH IN STRAIGHT SETS. STAYING WITH THE U.S. OPEN, AROUND 100 SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE TOURNAMENT, IN A BID TO ATTRACT NEW FANS, EXCEPT, THE TENNIS NOW APPEARS TO BE GETTING IN THE WAY OF THEIR CONTENT CREATION. ITV'S CHARLIE FROST REPORTS. OK, GUYS, WE'RE BACK. THE INVASION OF INFLUENCERS LEAVING TENNIS FANS GRIMACING. HIS IS WHAT WAS GOING ON COURTSIDE AT THE U.S. OPEN EARLIER THIS WEEK. SOCIAL MEDIA MAKERS MORE INTERESTED IN SERVING LOOKS THAN WATCHING TWO-TIME CHAMPION NAOMI OSAKA, ON THE CUSP OF SERVING AT DEUCE AS SHE BATTLED OPPONENT ANASTASIA ZAKHAROVA IN THE FIRST ROUND. PLEASE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. ON THE SUITE BEHIND ME. THERE IS A LITTLE PHOTO SHOOT GOING ON BEHIND ME IN ONE OF THE SUITES, AND THERE THEY ARE. THERE WAS A MOMENT WHERE THERE WAS LIKE PEOPLE LIKE SHOUTING AND STUFF, AND YOU COULD HEAR IT QUITE CLEARLY. AND I THINK IT BOTHERED MY OPPONENT, TOO. I FEEL LIKE IT'S COMMON COURTESY TO LIKE, READ UP ON THE SPORT, ESPECIALLY LIKE THE ETIQUETTE. THE U.S. TENNIS ASSOCIATION HAVE ACCREDITED AROUND 100 INFLUENCERS FOR THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT, DOUBLE THAT OF 2025, TRYING TO GROW THE GAME AND BRING IT TO A NEW AUDIENCE. BUT IS THIS THE WAY TO DO IT ` WITH THE TENNIS A BACKDROP TO BRIGHTLY LIT PHOTO SHOOTS RATHER THAN THE MAIN EVENT? GRAND SLAMS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PLACES TO BE SEEN, STARS FILLING THE STANDS AT WIMBLEDON'S CENTRE COURT, WHERE THE RULES AROUND PROTOCOL ARE EVEN MORE RIGID. HERE YOU CAN ONLY GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT DURING CHANGEOVERS. IN NEW YORK, THEY THREW OUT THAT RULE IN 2024. BUT AS CRITICISM FOR THE RING LIGHT WIELDING INFLUENCERS HAS AMPLIFIED, THE U.S. OPEN ORGANISERS HAVE PUT UP SIGNS TO REMIND PEOPLE TO BE COURTEOUS. IN A WORLD WHERE MOBILE PHONES ARE MAKING US FORGET OUR MANNERS, MAYBE TENNIS CAN REMIND US OF ETIQUETTE. MORE GAME SET MATCH, THAN GAME SET SNAP. STILL TO COME ON THREENEWS ` THE REST OF YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER, including how your Father's Day is shaping up around the country WELCOME BACK. YOU'RE WATCHING THREENEWS. HERE IS OUR TOP STORY FOR YOUR SATURDAY EVENING. A QANTAS PLANE HAS LANDED SAFELY IN CHRISTCHURCH AFTER LOUD BANGS AND A BURST OF FLAMES WAS SEEN COMING FROM IT'S LEFT ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER IT TOOK OFF FROM QUEENSTOWN. TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER. WHATEVER THE WEATHER BRINGS, HIV MAKES HOME FEEL BETTER. HRV, BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. A SHOWERY WESTERLY FLOW AFFECTS NEW ZEALAND AS A COMPLEX LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED FRONTS APPROACH THE COUNTRY TODAY. STRENGTHENING NORTH WEST WINDS PRECEDE THE LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM AS IT APPROACHES, WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPING BEHIND IT AS IT TRACKS EAST OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND TOMORROW. A LARGE TROUGH THEN MOVES ON TO CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND TOMORROW AND EARLY MONDAY, BRINGING HEAVY RAIN TO MANY PLACES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY. CLOUD INCREASING IN THE MORNING, THEN A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPING TOWARD EVENING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY. AND IT IS A SIMILAR STORY HERE. CLOUDY WITH THE ODD SHOWER. THAT RAIN BECOMING MORE PERSISTENT AND HEAVIER IN THE EVENING FOR TOKOROA AND TAUPO. IT'S A SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER START TO FATHER'S DAY ON THE EAST COAST, BUT CLOUDS AND A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON FROM NAPIER THROUGH TO MASTERTON. AND IT IS LOOKING MUCH THE SAME OVER HERE TOO. CLOUD INCREASING WITH SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING, TURNING TO RAIN IN THE EVENING. STRONG AND GUSTY NORTHERLIES ARE EXPECTED FOR WELLINGTON. TO THE SOUTH ISLAND NOW, AND IT'S RAIN WITH HEAVY FALLS ON THE WEST COAST. THERE IS AN ORANGE RAIN WARNING IN PLACE FROM 6am SUNDAY. EXPECT UP TO 200mm OF RAIN ABOUT THE RANGES AND UP TO 90mm OF RAIN ABOUT THE COAST. POSSIBLE FLOODING. IT IS GOING TO BE WET HERE TOO. RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE MORNING. HEAVY AT TIMES FROM THE AFTERNOON FOR CHRISTCHURCH, ASHBURTON AND TIMARU. IN THE DEEP SOUTH, THERE WILL BE SHOWERS TURNING TO RAIN FOR A TIME IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON FOR QUEENSTOWN, ALEXANDRA AND DUNEDIN. OBAN GETS A SUNNIER AFTERNOON. ACROSS THE TASMAN NOW, IT IS LOOKING LIKE A FINE SPRING DAY. BRISBANE HAS A HIGH TOMORROW OF 33. AND ACROSS THE PACIFIC IS LOOKING QUITE WET HERE TOO. NOUMEA LOOKS LIKE THE PLACE TO BE ` A SUNNY 25 DEGREES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THE EXTENDED FORECAST. (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 REBECCA WRIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY BEN MOLLISON AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026