TONIGHT ON 1NEWS ` A TRIPLE HOMICIDE IN ROTORUA. EMERGENCY SERVICES CALLED TO A HOME FINDING TWO CHILDREN DEAD AND A WOMAN FATALLY INJURED. AN INVESTIGATION'S UNDERWAY; A MAN FOUND AT THE ADDRESS IS CHARGED. OFFICIALS FRONT UP ON THE 1NEWS INVESTIGATION REVEALING THOUSANDS OF HUNGRY KIWIS WERE TOLD FOOD IS 'NOT AN ESSENTIAL NEED'. BUT IS ANYONE APOLOGISING? ONE YEAR ON FROM THE TOM PHILLIPS SHOOTING, WHAT MAROKOPA LOCALS SAY THEY STILL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CASE. AND JONAH LOMU'S MUM ON HER RUGBY LEGEND SON AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS KIDS. I HAVE TO ANSWER THIS STRAIGHT. I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM. CAPTIONS BY BEN MOLLISON AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 TENA TATOU KATOA. GOOD EVENING. A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION'S UNDERWAY FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF A WOMAN AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN ROTORUA. POLICE SAY THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE STILL BEING DISCOVERED, BUT A MAN'S APPEARED IN COURT. JAMES FLEURY'S ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS AND JOINS US NOW FROM WELLINGTON. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US, JAMES? EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO A HOUSE ON HIGH STREET IN THE SUBURB OF GLENN HOME AROUND 1030 LAST NIGHT. GLENN HOME IS IN ROTORUA. IT'S ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FROM THE CENTRE OF TOWN. WHEN EMERGENCY SERVICES ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, THEY FOUND TWO YOUNG KIDS DEAD, AND A WOMAN WITH LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. THEY SAID THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO TRY AND KEEP HER ALIVE, BUT SHE DIED A SHORT TIME LATER AT THE SCENE. POLICE ALSO LOCATED A MAN AT THIS PROPERTY AND THEY SAY HE HAS BEEN ASSISTING THEM WITH THEIR ENQUIRIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IT WAS CONFIRMED TO US LATER THIS AFTERNOON THAT A MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, HE HAS APPEARED IN ROTORUA COURT TODAY AND HE HAS BEEN REMANDED IN CUSTODY. HE IS SET TO REAPPEAR BACK IN COURT IN ABOUT A MONTHS TIME. WE ALSO WENT TO ROTORUA'S MAYOR TODAY FOR COMMENT ABOUT THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. SHE SAID IT'S NOT ONLY TRAGIC FOR THOSE INVOLVED, THE FAMILIES, BUT ALSO THE WIDER COMMUNITY. HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY. OUR ROTORUA COMMUNITY'S REALLY HEARTBROKEN AT THIS TRAGIC LOSS, AND AT THIS TIME, THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE VICTIMS AND OF COURSE THE LOVED ONES AND ALL THOSE IMPACTED, INCLUDING OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FRONT LINE STAFF WHO HAD TO RESPOND TO THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. WE DO KNOW THAT POLICE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THIS, SO THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED PRESENCE OF POLICE AT THE SCENE, BUT THEY WILL GIVE US ANSWERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. POLICE SAY THEY NOT SEARCHING FOR ANYONE ELSE IN RELATION TO THIS INCIDENT, BUT THEY DO SAY THEY ARE GOING TO BE AT THE SCENE AT THIS PROPERTY ON HIGH STREET FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS. THERE IS A DETAILED EXAMINATION, FRIENDS EXAMINATION WHICH IS NOW TAKING PLACE. THANKS, JAMES. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY OFFICIALS WILL NOT APOLOGISE AFTER TELLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE APPLYING FOR HELP WITH HUNGER THAT FOOD WAS 'NOT AN ESSENTIAL NEED'. AFTER 1NEWS REVEALED THAT LAST NIGHT, STAFF THERE CALLING IT AN ADMIN ERROR. MSD FINALLY FRONTING AN INTERVIEW TODAY, AS THE MINISTER ALSO FACED QUESTIONS. THOMAS MEAD REPORTS. FOR DAYS, LOUISE UPSTON HAS REFUSED INTERVIEW REQUESTS ABOUT HER MINISTRY'S MISTAKE. MINISTER UPSTON, CAN I JUST ASK... TODAY APPEARING FOR A NATIONAL PARTY POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE KIWIS, AND DO YOU APOLOGISE? I THINK THE FIRST THING IS, THE RESPONSE IN TERMS OF THE DELIVERY OF EMERGENCY AND FOOD GRANTS ACROSS TO NEW ZEALAND IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT IT'S BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. LAST NIGHT, 1NEWS REVEALED THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAD REPEATEDLY TOLD KIWIS APPLYING FOR GRANTS TO HELP WITH HUNGER THAT FOOD WAS 'NOT AN ESSENTIAL NEED'. THE 'ADMIN ERROR', AS THE MINISTRY CALLS IT, REPEATED IN MORE THAN 8000 APPLICATIONS OVER SIX YEARS. WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS 0.1% OF ALL TRANSACTIONS THAT MSD UNDERTAKES AROUND HARDSHIP GRANTS. OPPOSITION PARTIES BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD SAY 'SORRY'. I DON'T THINK JUST REGARDING THIS OR DISMISSING IT AS JUST AN 'ADMIN ERROR' AFFECTING A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IS GOOD ENOUGH. FOR THE MINISTER TO APOLOGISE, TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THINGS GETTING WORSE FOR VULNERABLE NEW ZEALANDERS. THIS AFTERNOON, THE MINISTRY FRONTED UP... WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT FOOD IS ESSENTIAL, AND WE KNOW IT IS ESSENTIAL. ...STICKING BY THEIR TEAM... ARE YOU CONCERNED? I'VE GOT REALLY GOOD CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF. ...AND THEIR DECISIONS. THERE'S A RANGE OF CODES THAT... OUR STAFF CAN USE WHEN THEY'RE RECORDING THEIR DECISIONS IN TERMS OF GRANTS OR DECLINES. AND IN THESE CASES, IN SOME SITUATIONS, MORE APPROPRIATE CODES COULD HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. A REMINDER HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL STAFF AROUND PROPER PRACTICE. IS THE MINISTRY MAKING ANY APOLOGY FOR THOSE MISTAKES? UM, OUR STAFF WORK REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND AND WORK THROUGH, UH, DIFFERENT CLIENT SITUATIONS. WHY NOT JUST SAY SORRY? LOOK, (STAMMERS) I KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TIMES FOR NEW ZEALANDERS, AND THEY WILL SEEK OUT AND REACH FOR SUPPORT FROM US, AND I'VE GOT ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF. ARE YOU AVOIDING THAT QUESTION? UM, I DON'T THINK I'M AVOIDING THE QUESTION. IT IS AROUND` I'VE GOT CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF. MEANWHILE AT THE POLICY LAUNCH IN AUCKLAND EARLIER TODAY, A RANGE OF DELICACIES ON OFFER FOR ALL. I APPRECIATE THAT THEY'VE FALLEN SHORT ON THIS OCCASION, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'LL DO BETTER. THE MINISTER UNWILLING TO BE DRAWN ON AN APOLOGY EITHER. THOMAS MEAD, 1NEWS. TODAY MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE FUGITIVE FATHER TOM PHILLIPS WAS SHOT DEAD BY POLICE IN AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE ON A RURAL KING COUNTRY ROAD. IN A CASE THAT GRIPPED THE COUNTRY, THE MAROKOPA MAN WENT INTO HIDING WITH HIS CHILDREN FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS AFTER A CUSTODY DISPUTE. POLICE ALLEGED HE COMMITTED SEVERAL THEFTS AND AN ARMED ROBBERY OF A TE KUITI BANK. THE CHILDREN'S MOTHER JOINED POLICE IN CALLING FOR PHILLIPS TO SURRENDER FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN ` CALLS THAT WENT UNHEEDED. ON SEPTEMBER 8TH LAST YEAR, AFTER AN ATTEMPTED BREAK IN AT A PIOPIO STORE, POLICE FOLLOWED HIM NORTH INTO RURAL WAITOMO, WHERE PHILLIPS SHOT AND SERIOUSLY WOUNDED ONE OFFICER, BEFORE ANOTHER OFFICER OPENED FIRE, IN A SHOOTING THE IPCA RULED WAS JUSTIFIED. REPORTER SIMON MERCEP HAS BEEN BACK IN THE DISTRICT, GAUGING THE COMMUNITY MOOD A YEAR ON AND TO ASK WHAT QUESTIONS LOCALS WANT ANSWERS TO. A YEAR AGO, A QUAD BIKE, AND THEN POLICE VEHICLES WERE REMOVED FROM THE SCENE OF TOM PHILLIPS DEATH. ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A MARK ON THE ROAD TO MAROKOPA. THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE WAS GONE, THE EMOTIONS REMAIN. FOR SOME, THE TRAGEDY IS STILL CLOSE TO HOME. THESE ARE LOCAL PEOPLE AND WE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY MYSELF, FAMILY FROM THE COAST, THIS IS FAMILY, THESE ARE FRIENDS, SO IT'S NOT A JOKE, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY GUT WRENCHING. TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS, A FATAL SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE IN THE` A YEAR ON, SOME INFORMATION REMAINS SUPPRESSED. AND TVNZ'S BLURRING THE CHILDREN'S IMAGES TO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY. FOR MANY HERE, THEIR WELFARE IS FRONT OF MIND. IT'S JUST BEEN NICE TO KNOW, NUMBER ONE, THE KIDS ARE OK, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RUMOUR MILLS GOING AROUND. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE. OTOROHANGA'S MAYOR WANTS TO KNOW HOW A CUSTODY DISPUTE ENDED IN TRAGEDY. THAT IS PROBABLY THE QUESTION IS ` HOW DID IT GET INTO THE MESS IT GOT INTO? YOU KNOW, WHAT INITIATED IT, WHAT GOT IT ALL STARTED. IF YOU COULD FIND SOME ANSWERS FOR THAT FOR THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE AWESOME. SOME ANSWERS MAY COME FROM JUSTICE SIMON MOORE'S INQUIRY. HE'S INVESTIGATED HOW AGENCIES LIKE THE POLICE DEALT WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PHILLIPS CHILDREN. WAITOMO'S MAYOR SAYS HE WASN'T CONSULTED, BUT SUGGESTS LOCAL LEADERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN. TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER OR BRING LEADERS IN THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY TOGETHER, TO BREAK THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, WERE THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL THIS. IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT ROOT CAUSE LAY IN A FAMILY COURT RULING THAT TOM PHILLIPS DISAGREED WITH. IN THE EARLY DAYS, PHILLIPS, AN EXPERIENCED BUSHMAN, BECAME A HERO TO SOME. JOKES OF 'THE WORLD'S GREATEST HIDE AND SEEK PLAYER,' WERE GOING AROUND. IT ALMOST BECAME LIKE A MEME, LIKE A RUNNING JOKE. BUT THAT VIEW SHIFTED. TO THE FEAR THAT THE CHILDREN WERE EXPOSED AND SOMETHING MIGHT GO WRONG. POLICE KNEW PHILLIPS WAS ARMED, AND WHILE THEIR ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE THE FAMILY CAME UNDER SCRUTINY, NEV WELLS BACKS THEM. A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR THEM, I THINK. THERE WAS THERE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE AN EASY ANSWER FOR THE POLICE. SOON AFTER TOM PHILLIPS' DEATH, HIS PARENTS DELIVERED A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY HERE IN MAROKOPA THROUGH A LETTER IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. THEY SINCERELY APOLOGISED FOR ALL THE TROUBLE, LOSS OF PROPERTY AND PRIVACY CAUSED BY THEIR SON. THEY SAID THEY'D NEVER AGREED OR SUPPORTED HIS ACTIONS AND THEY ENDED THEIR LETTER SAYING, 'WE ARE TRULY SORRY FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE HAD TO ENDURE.' WAS THAT WELL RECEIVED, DO YOU THINK? ABSOLUTELY, YEAH. THEY ARE GOOD STANDING CITIZENS OF OUR AREAS. KANE WHAREPOURI VISITED MAROKOPA AS A YOUNGSTER AND REMEMBERS THE PHILLIPS FAMILY. YOU KNOW, YOU'D JUST FRIENDLY WAVE, AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO FISHING, THEY MIGHT GIVE YOU SOME. HIS THOUGHTS ARE ALSO WITH THE CHILDREN'S MOTHER. LIKE, THE STRESS THAT SHE MUST HAVE BEEN UNDER AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN HUGE. TERRIBLE. NO WINNING. NO WINNERS OUT OF THIS ORDEAL. SO, YEAH, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE. LET THINGS MOVE ON, REALLY. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A REALLY STRANGE THING, AND PEOPLE FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH. WE DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT TO BE IN THE LIMELIGHT. WE LIKE BEING OUT IN THE REMOTE WEST COAST. THEY'RE KEEN TO MOVE ON, BUT ARE UNLIKELY TO FORGET. BECAUSE WHEN WE HEAR THE SIRENS GO OFF, YOU STILL THINK, 'I WONDER IF THAT'S HIM,' BECAUSE THEY WERE CHASING HIM FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. SIMON JOINS ME NOW. WHEN DO WE EXPECT THAT GOVERNMENT INQUIRY TO BE RELEASED AND WHAT MIGHT IN IT? I UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT IS AIMING TO RELEASE IT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO. WE THINK THAT IS TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN'S PRIVACY. WE THINK IT WILL COVER WHETHER THE INSTITUTIONS DID ALL THEY DID TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. IT'S NOT SO CLEAR HOW THIS ALL BEGAN. WE DO KNOW THAT IT LOOKS AT HOW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INTERACTED WITH THE FAMILY COURT. HE HAS SAID HIS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WIDE-RANGING AND DETAILED. OTHER ISSUES ARE UNRESOLVED, INCLUDING THAT CONTROVERSIAL DOCUMENTARY? SO THE POLICE ARE YET TO COMPLETE THEIR OWN REVIEW INTO HOW THEY ENGAGE WITH THAT DOCUMENTARY CREW. TONIGHT THAT LEAVES? OVER WHETHER THAT PROJECT WILL SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. THERE IS NO INFORMATION TONIGHT ON WHETHER ANYONE ELSE HELPED TOM PHILLIPS. FAMILY COURT ORDERS MEAN WE CAN'T SAY MUCH AT ALL ABOUT HOW THE CHILDREN ARE, OTHER THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN THE CARE OF RUNNING AT TIME TAMARIKI. THE POLICE OFFICER THAT WAS SHOT AND INJURED IS SAID TO HAVE RECOVERED WELL. THANKS, SIMON. YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE STORY STREAMING NOW ON THE TVNZ+ NEWS PAGE. NATIONAL IS PROMISING COUNCILS A BIGGER CUT OF TOURISM DOLLARS, BY CHANGING THE WAY IT DIVIDES UP THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEVY. THE PARTY SAYS IT'S A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE TO A BED TAX, BUT SOME COUNCILS AREN'T FULLY CONVINCED. AUCKLAND'S MAYOR SAYS IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THE CITY IS STILL SHORT BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. CUSHLA NORMAN REPORTS. WHOO! FROM THE ADVENTURE CAPITAL, TO STARGAZING COUNTRY, OUR TOP SIGHTSEEING SPOTS ARE TO GET A BIGGER SLICE OF THE TOURISM FUNDING PIE WITH NATIONAL PLEDGING TO RE-DISTRIBUTE THE $100M PER VISITOR LEVY. OUR APPROACH GIVES REGIONS THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO MANAGE TOURISM PRESSURES FUNDED BY INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, NOT BY A NEW TAX ON KIWIS. NATIONAL'S REJIG OF THE LEVY WOULD START IN JULY AND LOOK LIKE THIS ` CONTINUED FUNDING FOR DOC AT $100m A YEAR, A SMALLER POT OF $50m TO SUPPORT TOURISM GROWTH, AND $86m EACH YEAR FOR COUNCILS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL GUESTS THEY HOST, RISING TO $106m BY 2031. THEY'RE USING OUR SERVICES, THEY SEE THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, SO THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS A RECOGNITION THAT MONEY NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THOSE COMMUNITIES. NOW A PARTICULAR ROAD OR WATER PIPE DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER THE VISITOR IS FROM OR WELLINGTON OR FROM WASHINGTON. BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ENSURE OUR LOCAL COUNCILS HAVE THE ABILITY TO INVEST. NATIONAL IS SELLING IT AS A 'PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE' TO A BED TAX, BUT TO MAKE IT STACK UP, A TOP-UP IS NEEDED. WE ARE CONTRIBUTING $100m OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WHICH WILL COME FROM FUTURE OPERATING ALLOWANCES. THAT'S SO WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINE AT DOC DOING THEIR JOBS AND SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE STILL HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR STRATEGIC TOURISM PRIORITIES. THEY'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO LOOK AT MEANS AND WAYS OF SUPPORTING TOURISM, AND NOW TO BEGIN, THEY HAVEN'T RESTORED IT, BUT TO BEGIN TO SPEND THAT IVL FUNDING ON WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR FEELS A BIT DISINGENUOUS. UNDER NATIONAL'S PLAN, QUEENSTOWN WOULD GET ABOUT $17m, WHILE AUCKLAND WOULD NET THE MOST AT $19m IN THE FIRST YEAR. THE MAYOR WAYNE BROWN SAYING IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT STILL LEAVES THE CITY $8m SHORT OF THE $27m NEEDED FOR MAJOR EVENTS, PUTTING AT RISK THE LIKES OF ALL BLACKS TESTS AND SAILGP. THE MAYOR SAYS WATCH THIS SPACE FOR A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL TOMORROW. CUSHLA NORMAN, 1NEWS. THE GOVERNMENT'S MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR GOLDEN VISA SCHEME, WHERE FOREIGNERS CAN INVEST THEIR WAY INTO THE COUNTRY, IS BEING EXPANDED. THE GROWTH CATEGORY WHICH REQUIRES A $5m INVESTMENT WILL INCLUDE BUILD-TO-RENT DEVELOPMENTS. BUT, AS BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT JASON WALLS REVEALS IN THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT, THE GREENS WANT THE WHOLE SCHEME SCRAPPED. THIS SOON-TO-BE-COMPLETED APARTMENT BLOCK, ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL IN THIS COUNTRY SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AS BUILT-TO-RENT. WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING NEW HERE; IT'S JUST NEW TO NEW ZEALAND. BUT WE THINK THAT THIS WILL BECOME POPULAR OVER TIME. THESE TYPES OF SCHEMES, WHEREBY DEVELOPERS CONSTRUCT APARTMENTS DESIGNED TO BE RENTED OUT LONG TERM RATHER THAN SOLD, ARE POPULAR OVERSEAS. IF YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE OECD, ABOUT 42% OF PEOPLE LIVE IN APARTMENTS, BUT IN NEW ZEALAND IT'S ONLY 5%. BUT THE GOVERNMENT KEEN TO SEE MORE BUILT LIKE THIS. BUILD TO RENT IS GOING TO BE POTENTIALLY SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING FOR NEW ZEALAND IN TERMS OF PEOPLE GETTING INTO HOMES. TODAY ANNOUNCING THE GOLDEN VISA PROGRAM WILL BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE INVESTING IN FUNDS THAT MANAGE BUILD-TO-RENT SCHEMES. WE'RE VERY JUST SLOWLY DIPPING OUR TOE IN THE WATER WHEN IT COMES TO THE GROWTH CATEGORY AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. AND SO THIS IS OUR FIRST FORAY INTO HOUSING WHEN IT COMES TO THE GROWTH CATEGORY. THE GOLDEN VISA SCHEME IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE THAT INVEST AT LEAST $5M INTO ACTIVE INVESTMENTS SUCH AS BUILD-TO-RENT SCHEMES OR AT LEAST $10M INTO LOWER RISK INVESTMENTS SUCH AS BONDS OR EQUITIES. SO FAR, $5B WORTH OF APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, MOST FROM THE U.S., CHINA AND HONG KONG. THIS DEVELOPER SAYS THERE'S BIG MONEY TO BE MADE IN BUILT-TO-RENT. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMING ASSET CLASSES AROUND THE WORLD. IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO OTHER PROPERTY PEOPLE, YOU COMPARE THAT TO OFFICE OR INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER ASSET CLASSES, IT'S RIGHT UP IN THE TOP 10%, 20%. THE GREENS THOUGH, UNCONVINCED. THE GREEN PARTY WOULD ABOLISH THE GOLDEN VISA SCHEME BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE WEALTH OF AMERICAN MULTI-MILLIONAIRES TRICKLE DOWN TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE. INSTEAD, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS ACTUALLY FUND OUR ALREADY PUBLICLY-OWNED, PUBLICLY-RUN, BUILD-TO-RENT SCHEME. THAT'S CALLED KAINGA ORA. JUST TO SAY, 'WE DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE,' LIKE THE GREENS WOULD SAY IS JUST SO INCREDIBLY SHORT-SIGHTED. THEY ARE TAKING NEW ZEALAND BUSINESSES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND BUILDING UP A NEW GENERATION OF HOUSING. JASON WALLS, 1NEWS. E WHAI AKE NEI ` JUST AHEAD. STUDENT WELLBEING. THE CHRISTCHURCH HIGH SCHOOL INITIATIVE HELPING TURN THE LOSS OF A SON INTO WIDER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. AND THIS IS SOME OF THE DAMAGE AFTER ANTI-MIGRANT PROTESTERS CLASHED WITH THE UK AUTHORITIES IN THE ENGLISH CITY OF PORTSMOUTH. I HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE SCENE AFTER THE BREAK. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THE LIFE GOAL ACHIEVED BY A VERY TALENTED SINGER. THIS IS THE GOAL OF EVERY SINGER ` TO COMPETE AND HOPEFULLY WIN THE SONG QUEST IN FRONT OF KIRI TE KANAWA HERSELF. PLUS ` HOW OUR FEEDBACK GENERATED EVEN MORE FEEDBACK. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. Insurance is sorted! VOICEOVER: Switching to Tower is easy. Get 2 months on us when you buy new Comprehensive car insurance online. Excludes GST and levies. Plus, get covered in minutes! Ts&Cs apply. Switch to Kiwi. Switch to Tower. IN THE UK, THE LATEST ANTI-MIGRANT PROTEST, LED BY A NEW FAR-RIGHT MOVEMENT, HAS DRAWN CROSS-PARTY POLITICAL CONDEMNATION. SOME 100 PROTESTORS CLASHING WITH POLICE IN PORTSMOUTH AND TRYING TO STOP MIGRANTS BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE COASTAL CITY. LED BY THE FOUNDER OF GROWING ANTI-MIGRANT GROUP 'PATRIOT PLATFORM', IT WAS SPARKED BY THE ARRIVAL OF AROUND 120 ASYLUM SEEKERS ON ONE BOAT. THEIR 10-HOUR JOURNEY IN A DINGHY FROM FRANCE RAISING FEARS ABOUT NEW TACTICS BY PEOPLE SMUGGLERS. IT'S FAR LONGER AND FURTHER WEST THAN THE USUAL CALAIS CROSSINGS, WHERE THE CHANNEL IS MUCH NARROWER, BUT PATROLS ARE MORE FREQUENT. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS WENT TO PORTSMOUTH TO SPEAK WITH LOCALS. A SOMETIMES VIOLENT CONFRONTATION THAT WENT THROUGH THE NIGHT. ACTIVISTS TRYING TO BLOCK MIGRANTS RESCUED ON THIS BOAT FROM BEING TAKEN TO A PROCESSING CENTRE. THE SEASIDE CITY PEACEFUL TODAY, THOUGH SIGNS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AND ANGER REMAIN. I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN INVADED HERE FOR 300, 400 YEARS IN THIS AREA, AND TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO ON OUR AREA WAS JUST SHAMEFUL. KURT STECHMAN HAS LIVED HERE HIS WHOLE LIFE. HE WASN'T AT THE PROTEST. HE SHARES A LOCAL PRIDE IN PORTSMOUTH'S MARITIME HISTORY. SHIPS LEFT HERE FOR THE D-DAY LANDINGS AND THE FALKLANDS WAR CULTIVATING A FEELING OF DEFENCE. AS MUCH AS I CONDEMN VIOLENCE, I DON'T CONDEMN THEM FOR BEING HERE AND DOING WHAT THEY DID, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST ALL THEIR FRUSTRATION COMING OUT OF THEM. BUT WITH POLICE VEHICLES DAMAGED AND SEVERAL OFFICERS INJURED, EVEN ANTI-IMMIGRATION PARTY REFORM UK ISN'T ON SIDE. DO YOU AS THE LOCAL REFORM LEADER CONDEMN THAT BEHAVIOUR? LOOK, I BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST. THE SECOND IT GOES INTO VIOLENCE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A 43% DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING BY BOAT, BUT PROTESTERS POINT TO THE COSTS OF DEALING WITH MIGRANTS AND CRIME SOME COMMIT. FRANCE IS SAFE. THEY HAVE IT ALL, THEY'RE LOOKED AFTER, THEY'RE CARED FOR OVER THERE, AND THEN THEY COME ACROSS AND MAKE THIS DANGEROUS CROSSING. FOR WHAT? FOR OUR BENEFIT SYSTEM, PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKELY. PORTSMOUTH'S PROTEST CAME A DAY AFTER MASKED MEN BLOCKED THE PORT OF DOVER, WHERE ASYLUM SEEKERS USUALLY COME ASHORE. THIS PROTEST HAS A DIFFERENT SPARK. IT WAS THE ARRIVAL OF THE MIGRANTS BY BOAT TO A NEW CITY, BUT THERE'S A STRONG ANTI-MIGRANT SENTIMENT THAT LINKS THEM ALL. THE CONCERN JUST ISN'T GOING AWAY. BOTH WERE LEAD BY FAR RIGHT ACTIVIST AND CONVICTED CRIMINAL, DANNY THOMAS. A SLOGAN OF HIS GROUP PATRIOT PLATFORM IS, 'TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.' AND I GET WIND THAT THERE'S MIGRANTS THAT HAVE COME OFF THE NORTH COAST OF FRANCE. I LITERALLY LIVE THERE. I MEAN, THEY COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A WORSE PLACE. HE SAYS THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1NEWS, PORTSMOUTH. IN GERMANY, THE CHANCELLOR'S RULED OUT WORKING WITH AFD AFTER THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT, PRO-RUSSIA PARTY WON A REGIONAL ELECTION. FRIEDRICH MERZ TELLING REPORTERS IN BERLIN ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY'S RISE WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES. AFD DIDN'T QUITE GET THE VOTES FOR AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY BUT COULD STILL CREATE GERMANY'S FIRST FAR-RIGHT STATE GOVERNMENT SINCE WWII. IN SERBIA'S CAPITAL, BELGRADE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR THE FUNERAL OF CONVICTED WAR CRIMINAL RATKO MLADIC, WIDELY KNOWN AS THE BUTCHER OF BOSNIA. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF GENOCIDE FOR HIS ROLE IN THE 1995 SREBRENICA MASSACRE WHEN AROUND 8000 BOSNIAK MUSLIMS WERE KILLED. IT'S DESCRIBED AS EUROPE'S WORST ATROCITY SINCE WWII. MLADIC WAS 84. A CHRISTCHURCH HIGH SCHOOL IS PIONEERING A NEW APPROACH TO STUDENT WELL-BEING, WITH NEW ZEALAND RANKED LAST AMONG OECD COUNTRIES FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. THE INITIATIVE AT ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY COLLEGE, HAS BEEN FOUNDED BY PARENTS WHO LOST THEIR SON TO SUICIDE. LISA DAVIES REPORTS. BLESSING THIS HOUSE OF LIGHT ` TE WHARE RAMA, A SANCTUARY FROM STRUGGLE. WHEN OUR SON WAS BORN` SORRY. I'LL JUST... I'LL GET THIS. WE NAMED HIM LUCCA, WHICH MEANS BRINGER OF LIGHT. WE DIDN'T KNOW THEN JUST HOW TRUE THAT NAME WOULD BECOME. TWO YEARS AGO, THEY LOST LUCCA, THEIR BELOVED SON (17) TO THE MENTAL HEALTH BATTLE HE FOUGHT SO BRAVELY. THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR WHAT IT IS TO LOSE A CHILD, AND I WOULD NOT WISH IT ON ANOTHER MOTHER, ANOTHER FATHER, ANOTHER FAMILY. AND THAT'S WHY THE GIBBONS FAMILY FORMED THE LIGHTHOUSE TRUST, TO RAISE MONEY TO MAKE THIS POD HAPPEN. THE STATISTICS ARE FRIGHTENING, AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT. ANNA'S TRAINING IN HERE WILL INTERCEPT THOSE THOUGHTS BEFORE THEY GET TO THE POINT OF HEAVINESS. ARTHUR WALSH (18) IS ONE OF THOSE SHE'S COACHED, TO TEACH BOYS HOW TO REGULATE THEIR NERVOUS SYSTEM. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO JUST CRACK ON AND REALLY HELP THE BOYS. STUDENTS QUEUING TO TRY OUT THE SPACE THAT FEELS LIKE A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON ` WITH COCOON SEATING AND WEIGHTED BLANKETS. IT'S A NICE, CALM PLACE AWAY FROM ALL THE EXTERNAL NOISE, AND JUST A NICE ESCAPE FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. ON TOP OF THEIR GRIEF, THEY HAVE PUT THE BOYS AT OUR SCHOOL ABOVE THAT AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE. A SECOND CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL WILL OPEN A POD NEXT YEAR, WITH NEW EVIDENCE SHOWING EARLY INTERVENTION BRINGS MUCH BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THIS AGE GROUP. WAIT LISTS ARE FAR TOO LONG THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SEVERITY BEFORE THEY CAN ACCESS SERVICES. WHEN I HAD THE VISION FOR THIS POD, THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT I SAW ` MY ARMS WRAPPED AROUND ALL 700 OF YOU BOYS. TODAY, ALL OF THOSE BOYS WRAPPED THEIR ARMS AROUND THE GIBBONS WHANAU IN THE MOST POWERFUL WAY FOR SHARING THEIR LOVE OF LUCCA WITH THEM. LISA DAVIES, 1NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JONAH LOMU'S MUM, HEPI. WHEN I SEE THE DOCUMENTARY COME UP, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T STOP CRYING. AS FANS EMBRACE A NEW DOCO ON THE ALL BLACKS LEGEND, HIS MUM REVEALS DETAILS OF A DIVIDED FAMILY. AND A CAR EXPLODES INTO A FIREBALL DURING A RACE IN CHINA. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AFTER A RIVAL STOPS AND RIPS THE DOOR OFF THIS BURNING CAR TO TRY AND RESCUE THE DRIVER TRAPPED INSIDE. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` MEET THE MUSICIAN WHO'S BARELY KNOWN IN NEW ZEALAND YET HAS SUDDENLY FOUND HIMSELF ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST MUSIC CHARTS IN THE WORLD. PLUS, THE SCHOOL BELL THAT STOPS CLASS AND THE GOOD NEWS THAT FOLLOWS. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. IN WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED AS AN UNUSUAL MOVE, KING CHARLES HAS CLARIFIED PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN'S STATUS AS NON-WORKING ROYALS NOW THEY'RE LIVING BACK TO THE UK. A LETTER'S BEEN SENT FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY OFFICIALS ON THE KING'S BEHALF SAYING, 'THE CHARITABLE WORK OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS 'IS A PERSONAL MATTER FOR THEM.' THE LETTER TO 'AVOID DOUBT OR CONFUSION' ALSO SAYS THE COUPLE ARE NOT TO BE ADDRESSED AS HIS AND HER ROYAL HIGHNESS. THE MOTHER OF THE LATE GREAT JONAH LOMU HAS REVEALED SHE HASN'T SEEN THE ALL BLACK LEGEND'S SONS IN YEARS. THE NEWS OF THE STRAINED FAMILY RELATIONSHIP COMES DAYS AFTER A FILM CELEBRATING JONAH'S LIFE WAS RELEASED IN CINEMAS. HEPI LOMU SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY WITH IN-DEPTH'S INDIRA STEWART. THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED LOMU FILM IS UNITING FANS, BUT BACK HOME, IT'S REVEALED A DEEPLY DIVIDED FAMILY. SPEAKS TONGAN: I HAVE TO ANSWER STRAIGHT THIS. I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM. MAYBE LONG TIME AGO AFTER JONAH DIED THEY BRING HERE, THAT'S ALL. DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE ` I'M LYING. BUT, HONEST. JONAH'S WIDOW, NADENE, AND HIS TWO SONS, WERE INVITED TO THE FILM'S PREMIERE EVENTS BUT DIDN'T ATTEND. THE FILM TOUCHED ON ALL THREE OF LOMU'S MARRIAGES, BUT DIDN'T DISCLOSE THE ONGOING STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NADENE AND HIS FAMILY. BUT THIS DOESN'T MATTER TO ME, THEY WATCH OR NOT WATCH. SPEAKS TONGAN: LOMU'S FAMILY SAY THEY WERE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE FILM'S PRODUCERS, INCLUDING SHARING THEIR NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN HOME VIDEO TAPES. CAPTAIN JONAH LOMU. (APPLAUSE) NADENE WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, BUT PULLED OUT AND LATER TOOK LEGAL ACTION TO BLOCK THE FILM. PEOPLE HAVING THAT SENSE OF FEELING LIKE THEY HAD AN ENTITLEMENT ABOVE MYSELF AND THE CHILDREN. BUT THE FILM GOT THE GREEN LIGHT IN 2024, AFTER THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE RULED AGAINST NADENE'S CLAIMS. BUT SOMETIMES... EVERYTHING OF JONAH IS BELONG TO THEM. AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER, LOMU WAS WORTH MILLIONS, BUT THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF THAT TODAY IN THE HUMBLE MANGERE HOME HE GREW UP IN. JUST A MOTHER AND HER MEMORIES. BUT SOMETIMES, I CAN'T. INDIRA STEWART, 1NEWS. AND INDIRA'S FULL STORY IS ALSO STREAMING ON TVNZ+. YOU'LL FIND IT ON THE NEWS PAGE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DAY'S STORIES. A BRITISH RACING DRIVER SAYS HE'S ONLY ALIVE THANKS TO THE QUICK ACTIONS OF A HEROIC RIVAL WHO PULLED HIM OUT OF HIS BURNING CAR. THE FRIGHTENING INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING A RACE IN CHINA, WHERE AN INVESTIGATION IS NOW UNDERWAY INTO THE TRACK'S SAFETY PROTOCOLS. HERE'S THE BBC'S KATIE GORNALL WITH HOW THE RESCUE UNFOLDED. 20 MINUTES INTO THIS RACE IN SHANGHAI, OLLIE MILLROY FOUND HIMSELF MOMENTS FROM DEATH... OH MY GOODNESS! ...TRAPPED IN A FIREBALL BEFORE ARRIVAL CAME TO THE RESCUE. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS FOOTAGE FROM INSIDE DUTCH DRIVER LOEK HARTOG'S CAR. HE SEES MILLROY'S BURNING FERRARI AND RUSHES TO SAVE HIM, TEARING THE DOOR OFF, GRABBING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND, IN THE SPACE OF JUST OVER A MINUTE, PULLING HIM FROM THE CAR. THE BRITISH DRIVER SUFFERED MULTIPLE FRACTURES, SEVERE CONCUSSION AND A COLLAPSED LUNG. IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, HE SAID... HE CALLED HARTOG A SUPERHERO. ORGANISERS OF THE CHINA GT APOLOGISED FOR THE INCIDENT AND SAID... BUT MILLROY'S TEAM BELIEVED THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND HAS WITHDRAWN FROM ANY RACES ORGANISED BY CHINA GT. THE BRITISH DRIVER IS CURRENTLY IN A STABLE CONDITION IN INTENSIVE CARE. HE OWES HIS LIFE TO ONE MAN'S INSTINCT TO HELP. LOEK HARTOG SAYING AFTER THE INCIDENT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE DECISION TO MAKE WHEN HE SAW THE CAR TURN INTO A FIREBALL AHEAD. ABBY'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND INSIDE WARRIORS CAMP AHEAD OF A BIG WEEKEND? A DEFINITE LIFT AND INTENSITY. ALSO A SHIFT IN SCRUTINY, TOO. SECURITY'S OUT AND NO ROOM FOR PRYING EYES, AS ONE OF THEIR YOUNG GUNS REVEALS THE CHALLENGES HE FACED CHOOSING LEAGUE IN HIS HOMETOWN. ALSO THE CHANGE TO FUNDING CRITERIA THAT'S LEFT OUR FASTEST MAN ON THE OUTER. WILL HE STAY OR WILL HE BE ANOTHER TO GO? AND IN WEATHER, WE HEAD INTO WEDNESDAY. THINGS AREN'T LOOKING TOO BAD OVERALL. TRYING TO HANG ON TO SOME FINE SPRING WEATHER, BUT CHANGES AGAIN COMING IN FROM THE SOUTH AND THE WEST. THROUGH THE DAY FOR A LOT OF US IT'S SUNSHINE AND CLOUD, BUT UP NORTH COULD BE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS. AND DOWN SOUTH, A NEW FRONT WORKS IN WITH SOME MUCH, MUCH COLDER AIR. HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE, AFTER SPORT. KIA ORA WELCOME TO SPORT. FINALS FEVER HAS ARRIVED AT MT SMART WITH THE WARRIORS ALREADY SELLING OUT THEIR HOME STADIUM FOR THIS WEEKEND'S NRL QUALIFYING FINAL AGAINST THE DOLPHINS. ALSO EXTRA MEASURES IN PLACE AT THEIR TRAINING GROUND TO GIVE THEM EVERY ADVANTAGE. ZION DAYAL REPORTS. MOUNT SMART IS IN FINALS LOCKDOWN. PICK ANYONE OUT YOU DON'T LIKE. SECURITY, THE TRAINING FIELD BLACKED OUT, THE WARRIORS MEAN BUSINESS. NO, WE'VE HAD, LIKE, A COUPLE OF, EMAILS NAH JOKES. BLOCK OUT ALL EXTERNAL CHARACTERS, AS WE SAY. PEOPLE LIKE TO WATCH TRAINING, AND, YEAH, JUST MAKE SURE IT'S ABOUT US. GOOD NEWS HEADING INTO SATURDAY'S QUALIFYING FINAL ` LEKA HALASIMA AND JACKSON FORD GOOD TO GO. THE WARRIORS COMING INTO THE FINALS OFF A RECORD-BREAKING REGULAR SEASON. HERE IT IS FOR HARRIS. TAVITA, HE NAILS IT! BUT NOW IT'S A NEW START. WE KNOW THE INTENSITY OF FINALS GOES UP, BUT THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY'VE WORKED ON ALL YEAR MATTER. AND THEY MATTER MOST. AND DON'T FORGET THOSE, AND MAKE SURE YOU BRING THAT ON GAME DAY. ONE PLAYER WHO'S MAKING EVERY WEEK COUNT... BORN IN SAMOA, RAISED IN WELLINGTON, A PRODUCT OF THE TE AROHA EELS, JACOB LABAN'S LEAGUE CAREER MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IF HE STAYED IN THE CAPITAL. THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE DOUBTING ME IN WELLINGTON. LIKE, I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR ME TO PLAY RUGBY LEAGUE IN GENERAL. DO YOU MIND ASKING WHY PEOPLE MAY HAVE DOUBTED YOU? OH, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW WELLINGTON, IT'S JUST ALL RUGBY. WHICH, I GET IT. YOU KNOW, THE ALL BLACKS ARE, YOU KNOW, THRIVING THROUGH THAT TIME. AND I JUST FELT LIKE I WANTED TO PLAY RUGBY LEAGUE AND PEOPLE WEREN'T LEADING ME. THAT'S PROBABLY WHY I MOVED UP TO KELSTON. YOU KNOW, GETTING CLOSER TO HERE, THE WARRIORS. THE 22 YEAR OLD SCORED EIGHT TRIES, AVERAGING 80 RUNNING METRES, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ZESTY BOYS, TOO ` THE NAME GIVEN TO THE YOUNG GROUP OF FORWARDS. YEAH, IT'S PRETTY COOL LIKE WE CAME THROUGH TOGETHER. I THINK THAT'S WHAT JUST MAKES US SO SPECIAL. LIKE, WE'VE WORKED UP TOGETHER. CAN I ASK ABOUT THE HAIR? IT'S A BIT ZESTY, ISN'T IT? JUST FOR MY MUM. OH, YEAH? YEA, NAH. SO SHE CAN NOTICE YOU? THE NEW BLONDE LOOK. WORKING A TREAT. NOW TIME TO TEST IT UNDER THE NRL'S BRIGHTEST LIGHTS. ZION DAYAL, 1 NEWS. THE SPRINGBOKS ARE STICKING WITH CONSISTENCY AS THEY NAME A VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED SIDE FOR THE FINAL TEST AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS. CHESLIN KOLBE, WHO BROKE HIS JAW, IS REPLACED IN ONE OF ONLY TWO CHANGES. RASSIE ERASMUS STICKING WITH WHAT WORKED IN SOWETO. THEY ARE PEAKING HOPEFULLY. GAME THREE AND FOUR WAS ALWAYS THE PLAN. AND TRY AND KEEP CONTINUITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT OFTEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND WIN A SERIES AGAINST NEW ZEALAND. THE ALL BLACKS CAN ONLY HOPE TO DRAW THE SERIES AFTER LOSING THE THIRD TEST, EXPECTED TO MAKE A NUMBER OF INJURY AND ROTATIONAL CHANGES FOR THIS WEEKEND'S MATCH IN BALTIMORE. MASSIVE EMOTIONAL DISAPPOINTMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT TO PLAY FOR IN OUR MINDS, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WIN THIS WEEKEND AND TIE THE SERIES 2-2 WHILE WE GO HOME KNOWING WE'RE IN A BETTER SPOT THAN WHEN WE ARRIVED. THE LONG TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA MEANS RENNIE HAS NOW COACHED THE ALL BLACKS FOR LONGER IN THE REPUBLIC THAN HE DID IN THE BUILD-UP AT HOME. HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPORT FUNDING HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD TO COME BY, BUT SOME DEVELOPMENT ATHLETES SAY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS ACCESS TO THE GYM COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. HPSNZ HAS RECENTLY TIGHTENED ITS CRITERIA, CUTTING THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AND ATHLETES IN THEIR SYSTEM, LEAVING SOME CONCERNED FUTURE STARS WILL FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. MICHELLE BANKS INVESTIGATES. TIAAN WHELPTON IS ALWAYS CHASING SPEED, BUT RECENTLY HE'S BEEN HELD BACK. I'M IN A BIT OF A TRICKY SPOT. I'M TRAINING OUT OF MY COACH'S GARAGE HALF THE TIME, OR OUT OF THE GYM AT ST PETER'S, WHERE I DO A BIT OF PART-TIME WORK, AND IT'S TRICKY. IT'S NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION TO BE IN. UNTIL MARCH, NEW ZEALAND'S FASTEST MAN WAS SUPPORTED BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPORT. HE HAD ACCESS TO SERVICES LIKE PHYSIOS, NUTRITION AND THE GYM. BUT FUNDING CUTS HAVE TIGHTENED THE CRITERIA, WHICH WHELPTON NOW DOESN'T MEET. HE'S TOP EIGHT OR TRACKING TOWARDS TOP EIGHT. BUT ULTIMATELY, WE UNASHAMEDLY TARGET THOSE ATHLETES THAT ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO BE IN THE SYSTEM AND DO THE JOB FOR THEM PROPERLY. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN 100 ATHLETES HAVE BEEN CUT. WELLINGTON'S HIGH-PERFORMANCE FACILITY IS BEING SHUT DOWN. AS FOR OTHER TAXPAYER FUNDED FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY... ARE THEY FULL? ABSOLUTELY NOT. THOSE IN THE SYSTEM SAY DURING OFF-PEAK TIMES, THE GYMS ARE NOWHERE NEAR CAPACITY. IT MEANS I'M JUST TRAINING ELSEWHERE. YOU WANT SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CHASING THE SAME GOALS AS YOU, AND YOU SHOW UP, AND IF THERE'S NO ONE THERE, IT'S HARD TO AMP YOURSELF UP. THE AGE-OLD SAYING 'IRON SHARPENS IRON' IS REALLY TRUE. I WOULD PAY A MEMBERSHIP IF I COULD. BUT IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE. IT'S NOT A COMMUNITY GYM. IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL GYM. THESE ARE` SPECIALIST PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ARE IN THERE. WE'RE REQUIRED UNDER SAFETY LAW TO HAVE PROPER SUPERVISION IN THERE. IF YOU LET THE NINTH PERSON IN, HOW DO YOU TELL A 10TH PERSON THEY CAN'T COME IN? MEETING HIGH-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN HARD FOR KIWI SPRINTERS. GAMES GOLD MEDALLIST ZOE HOBBS DOESN'T EVEN TECHNICALLY MEET THE TOP EIGHT CRITERIA, BUT HPSNZ SAYS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEGOTIATING SPECIAL CASES RESTS WITH THE NATIONAL SPORTING BODIES. AS FOR OUR PREVIOUS FASTEST MAN, WELL, HE LEFT FOR AUSTRALIA. I RECENTLY DID A TRAINING CAMP OVER IN PERTH, AND ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA WAS SO WONDERFUL. THEY GRANTED ME ACCESS TO USE THEIR HIGH-PERFORMANCE FACILITIES. AND IT SEEMS TO ME IRONIC THAT I GET TREATED BETTER BY, YOU KNOW, MY COMPETITORS, REALLY. IN TWO CYCLES' TIME, IS THERE CONCERN THAT THOSE TOP ATHLETES ARE GONE AND THERE IS NOT THIS NEXT GROUP COMING THROUGH? WELL, AGAIN, IT'S A SPORT-BY-SPORT CONSIDERATION. AND THE PATHWAY, THE TALENT ID AND THE TALENT DEVELOPMENT, IS THE SPORT'S RESPONSIBILITY. WE CAN HELP ENABLE IT, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE SPORTS HAVE TO TAKE THAT OWNERSHIP. ATHLETICS NEW ZEALAND WOULDN'T SPEAK TO ME ON CAMERA BUT SAY WHELPTON WAS GIVEN AN EXTRA FOUR MONTHS OF SUPPORT TO TRY AND HELP HIM TO IMPROVE HIS PERFORMANCE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT, WHICH HE COULDN'T DO, ADDING THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THINGS LIKE GYM ACCESS OR PHYSIOS TO EVERY ATHLETE. WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO HELP ATHLETES. WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO ENHANCE THE SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY, AND UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MOMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AT LEAST FOR NOW, THIS SOUTH AFRICAN-BORN SPRINTER SAYS IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FORCE HIM OFFSHORE. MICHELLE BANKS, 1NEWS. NEW ZEALAND WILL HOST THE SQUASH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2028, JUST FOUR MONTHS OUT FROM THE SPORT'S OLYMPIC DEBUT. LIKE AT THE RECENT SQUASH OPEN IN CHRISTCHURCH, THE MAIN COURT WILL BE CLAD IN GLASS AND ERECTED AT THE NEW CONVENTION CENTRE IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND. CRUCIAL RANKING POINTS WILL BE UP FOR GRABS AS PART OF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING. TO HAVE WORLD CHAMPS IN NEW ZEALAND IN THE SAME YEAR, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXCITING. WE'RE SORT OF PLANNING FOR THAT TO BE A BIG YEAR AND PUTTING A LOT OF STUFF INTO WORKS TO BE READY FOR THAT. SO, LIKE, JUST SUPER EXCITED. THE WORLD CHAMPS WILL BE RUN IN FEBRUARY, ALONGSIDE THE INAUGURAL WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS. IT IS A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EVENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING ON IS LITERALLY THE BIGGEST EVENT EVER HELD GLOBALLY FOR SQUASH. GOVERNMENT AND THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL WILL CHIP IN $1M EACH. THE PRIZE PURSE FOR THE EVENT WILL BE $2.5M. DESPITE BIG NAMES FALLING AROUND HIM, TOP SEED ALEXANDER ZVEREV IS COMFORTABLY THROUGH TO A U.S. OPEN QUARTER-FINAL. HIS STRAIGHT-SETS WIN OVER LUCIANO DARDERI MEANS HE'S ONE OF ONLY THREE TOP-10 SEEDS LEFT ON THE MEN'S SIDE. I THOUGHT MY LEVEL WAS VERY CONSISTENT. IT WAS JUST HE STARTED PLAYING INCREDIBLY WELL IN THE THIRD SET. HAPPY TO BE IN THE QUARTER-FINALS, AND HAPPY TO BE PLAYING THIS WAY. TOP SEEDS FALLING IN THE WOMEN'S DRAW TOO; FORMER CHAMPION AND WORLD NUMBER EIGHT IGA SWIATEK DUMPED OUT IN THE ROUND OF 16. TALL FERN MCKENNA DALE'S LIT UP THE TAUIHI BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN RECENT YEARS, AND THIS SEASON SHE'S BACK WITH THE MAINLAND POUAKAI. BUT BEING IN CHRSTCHURCH IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST PLAYING FOR A TITLE CONTENDING CLUB, AS JORDAN OPPERT EXPLAINS. BACK AT COWLES STADIUM, WHERE A YOUNG MCKENNA DALE ONCE DARED TO DREAM. I STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL HERE, LIKE, I HAD MY FIRST EVER BASKETBALL CAMPS RIGHT IN THIS GYM, SO IT'S DEFINITELY A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT BEING ABLE TO BE BACK HERE. YOU SEE, DALE WAS BORN IN AMERICA BUT LIVED IN CHRISTCHURCH UNTIL THE AGE OF EIGHT. SHE THEN MOVED TO CONNECTICUT WITH HER KIWI DAD STARTED AS A PROFESSOR AT THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY. HOW SPECIAL FOR YOU IS THE CHRISTCHURCH CONNECTION? IT'S REALLY SPECIAL. MY DAD GREW UP HERE. I SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS HERE GROWING UP, SO PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, HAVE A BUNCH OF FAMILY HERE. AND THE DALE SURNAME IS WIDELY RECOGNISED HERE, TOO. DAD DARREN IS A FORMER 400 M NATIONAL SPRINT CHAMPION WHO COMPETED AT THE 1990 AUCKLAND COMMONWEALTH GAMES. DARREN DALE, THE NEW ZEALANDER. THE DESIRE TO DON A DIFFERENT KIND OF BLACK SINGLET THE REASON MCKENNA FIRST JOINED THE TAUIHI LEAGUE IN 2023, VIA COLLEGE STINSON BROWN AND VIRGINIA UNIVERSITIES. MY PARENTS ARE MY BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS. MY MUM ALSO PLAYED BASKETBALL AND SOFTBALL IN COLLEGE. THEY PUSHED ME TO BE MY BEST. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS LIKE EVERY ATHLETE HAS, BUT I REALLY ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE SECOND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE ON THE BASKETBALL COURT. THREE SEASONS ON, SHE IS MADE A REAL MARK ON THE GAME, CLOSING IN ON THE DOMESTIC LEAGUES ALL TIME POINTS SCORING RECORD WHILE SOLIDIFYING HER SPOT IN THE TALL FERNS SQUADS. JUST BEING A CITIZEN OF NEW ZEALAND HAS OPENED A LOT OF DOORS FOR ME. IT'S ALLOWED ME TO PLAY IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. AND TO BE PART OF A NATIONAL TEAM IS JUST SUPER, SUPER REWARDING. IT'S HONESTLY BEEN THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I'VE BEEN SO THANKFUL FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY I'VE GOTTEN AS A NEW ZEALAND PLAYER. BASKETBALL IS TAKEN HER ALL OVER THE WORLD... GOOD JOB, GUYS. ...BUT THERE REALLY IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME. ALWAYS CALL TO SET A SECOND GENERATION REPRESENTING NEW ZEALAND. AND DON'T FORGET ` YOU CAN KEEP UP TO DATE ON ALL OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES. HEAD TO OUR NEWS PAGE ON TVNZ+ OR OUR WEBSITE 1news.co.nz. THAT'S IT FROM ME. DAN HAS YOUR WEATHER NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` ANSWERING YOUR FEEDBACK SEEMS TO GENERATE EVEN MORE FEEDBACK. PLUS, THE SCHOOL WITH AN IMPRESSIVE MUSICAL ALUMNI NOW HAS ANOTHER SINGER MAKING THEIR MARK. AND WHO'S WON A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF FREE DINNERS? FIND OUT AT 7. # Happy birthday Rolly, Happy birthday Rolly # VOICEOVER: We're celebrating 70 years of being made in New Zealand. That's a big deal. It's 70 years of employing local Kiwis. And providing comfort and quality for you and your whanau It's decades of sustainable practices. And of course, who could forget... Rolly! Celebrating 70 years of Purex made in New Zealand. Soft on you, soft on our environment. THERE IS A SLIM RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE THAT BROUGHT MANY OF US AREN'T GREAT LOOKING DAY. FURTHER NORTH, LOOKING GOOD, AS WE GET SOME SUN WE GET SOME WARMTH. WE START SEEING THINGS BLOOM. A GORGEOUS LOOKING TIME. SPRING OF COURSE DOES THAT, AND THEN DOES THAT VERY QUICKLY. AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE, AND THE NEXT LITTLE THING COMING IN, A STRIP OF CLOUD WITH LUMPS BEHIND IT. CAN YOU NOTICE THAT BIG AIR OF HIGH PRESSURE? THAT IS A BIG HIGH. FOR SPRING, WE ARE NORMALLY INTO THE MORE BLUSTERY TYPE STUFF. THAT IS ALL DOWN TO EL NINO. NOTICE WHAT IT IT IS DOING. NOTICE HOW IT SQUEEZES, IT GETS PINCHED OFF. YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE MARINO HANDY, BUT IT IS BECOMING WARMER AS WE GO THROUGH. ONE HIGH-PRESSURE SPINNING IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A BIT OF A CHANGE AS THOSE SYSTEMS CLOSE IN. MOST OF US IN THAT RANGE, 11, 12, 13 UP UNTIL THE UPPER TEENS. THE SLOW BENDS ITS WAY TOWARDS THE NORTH OF THE NORTH ISLAND. THE SPOTS OF BLUE WORK AND INTO THE LATE MORNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CONVERGING WINDS SET OFF SOME DOTS OF BLUE MAY BE TO THE CENTRAL PLATEAU. THAT IS THE BLOB OF BLUE, COLD AIR. THAT IS GOT THE COLD SEARCH. REMEMBER, IT IS CHANGING. DOWN SOUTH YOU WILL NOTICE THAT CHANGE WITH THE CLOUD AND BREEZE PICKING UP AS YOU GO INTO THE EVENING. THAT SYSTEM WORKS AND TO PARTS OF NORTHLAND. FOR AUCKLAND, HEADS UP IN THE MORNING GOING INTO THE AIRPORT. THERE MAY BE SOME FOG. FINISH OFTEN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE. HAMILTON TWO, A BE A LATE THEY SHOWER. 16, PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. A COUPLE OF PLACES, YOU MIGHT GET A CHANCE OF A SHOWER. GO FURTHER EAST, YOUR DAY IS FINE. A CHILLY START. THE LAYERS ARE STILL NEEDED. DON'T PUT THEM AWAY JUST YET. WELLINGTON, YOU GET A GOOD-LOOKING DAY. WE WILL PICK UP A NORTHERLY BY THE END OF THE DAY. THERE WAS ALWAYS INDICATION THERE IS A FRONT SOMEWHERE. SOUTH ISLAND, NELSON GETS EARLY CLOUD. FOR CHRISTCHURCH, A CHILLY START. 15 DEGREES FOR THE AFTERNOON. SOME MORNING CLOUD BUT THE DAY LOOKS FINE. WEST COAST, REMEMBER THE FRONT COMING IN. SOME LATE DAY SHOWERS. A CHILLY START FOR TWIZEL. QUEENSTOWN, EVENING SHOWERS. HEADS UP GOING INTO THE NIGHT TIME, SOME ROAD SNOW POTENTIALLY. EVERYONE ELSE HAS THE LATE DAY RAIN MOVING IN. DUNEDIN, YOU ARE OTHERWISE OKAY. INTO THE NIGHT TIME, YOU HAVE THE SNOW LEVELS. INTO THE DEEP SOUTH. AND THEN WE QUIETENED DOWN. FRIDAY LOOKS BETTER. WE HAVE THE HIGH-PRESSURE MAY BE COMING IN. BUT THERE IS ONE TROUGH JUMPING AROUND.