A MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FINDS MORE THAN 30,000 SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS WERE WRONGLY SUSPENDED. A NEW REPORT'S PREDICTING SLUGGISH HOUSE PRICE GROWTH, BUT CHRIS HIPKINS IS ADAMANT THERE'LL STILL BE ENOUGH CAPITAL GAINS TAX TO FUND LABOUR'S HEALTH POLICIES. A RESEARCHER AT ANTHROPIC QUITS OVER FEARS ADVANCED AI COULD KILL OFF HUMANITY IN 10 YEARS, CONCERNS ECHOED BY AN EXPERT STILL WORKING INSIDE THE COMPANY. AND THE DOLPHINS PREPARE FOR A HOSTILE WARRIORS CROWD, BUT COMMENTATOR MATTY JOHNS SAYS THE HOME EXPECTATION COULD WORK AGAINST THE WAHS. CAPTIONS BY JULIE TAYLOR AND JASON CONRAN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026 NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. WELCOME TO THREENEWS. THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS ADMITTED THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PENSIONERS, VETERANS AND BENEFICIARIES WERE UNDERPAID BECAUSE OF TWO SEPARATE ISSUES STEMMING FROM A LAW PASSED UNDER URGENCY LAST YEAR. ITS REVIEW FOUND 16,270 PENSIONERS MISSED OUT ON WINTER ENERGY PAYMENTS. ALSO, 14,450 BENEFICIARIES HAD THEIR MAIN OR SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS INCORRECTLY CUT. THOSE BENEFIT UNDERPAYMENTS TOTALLED MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION. MSD SAYS PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR MAIN BENEFIT CUT WERE UNDERPAID BY AN AVERAGE OF $390, WHILE PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS CUT, LIKE THE ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENT AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, WERE UNDERPAID BY AN AVERAGE OF $140. POLITICAL REPORTER EMMA RICKETTS HAS THE FALLOUT. THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS SORRY. I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGISE TO EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN AFFECTED. SOME PEOPLE DID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS BUT STILL HAD THEIR PAYMENTS SUSPENDED. THE MINISTRY TODAY RELEASED FINDINGS FROM A REVIEW INTO TWO SEPARATE ERRORS THAT LEFT THOUSANDS OF NEW ZEALANDERS UNDERPAID, BOTH STEMMED FROM LEGISLATION PASSED UNDER URGENCY LAST YEAR. MSD IS USED OF DOING... AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES IN A RANGE OF WAYS, INCLUDING AT PACE. THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE. WE GOT THIS WRONG. THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES PEOPLE ON SOME BENEFITS TO REGULARLY CONFIRM THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE NOT CHANGED. THE MINISTRY UNDERESTIMATED THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORKLOAD FROM THIS, MEANING THOUSANDS OF BENEFITS WERE INCORRECTLY CUT. THE LARGEST UNDERPAYMENT WAS $3,000. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ON VERY LIMITED INCOMES. TO BE DENIED UP TO $3,000 IN SUPPORT THAT THEY WERE OWED IS MASSIVE. THE OTHER ISSUE WAS A POLICY ERROR THAT MEANT THOUSANDS OF PENSIONERS DID NOT RECEIVE THE WINTER ENERGY PAYMENT. THE LARGEST UNDERPAYMENT, $301 FOR A SINGLE PENSIONER, IS OVER THREE MONTHS' WORTH OF MISSING MONEY. STAFF WERE RAISING CONCERNS, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE LEGISLATION ITSELF. THE QUESTIONS WERE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, BUT AS THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS, THE ADVICE WAS CONSISTENTLY GOING BACK TO OUR STAFF SAYING THIS WAS HOW THE POLICY WAS INTENDED TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THIS WAS HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK, BECAUSE THAT'S THE LEGISLATION. LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED UNDER URGENCY. BUT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAS APOLOGISED BEFORE, IT WASN'T TAKING THE BLAME TODAY. WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, I MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR GETTING THINGS DONE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE NEED TO SPEED THINGS UP. IT SEEMS FROM THE REVIEWERS, THOUGH, NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT WINTER ENERGY PAYMENTS IN THIS CONTEXT DURING POLICY DEVELOPMENT. IS IT THAT SIMPLE? JUST NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT IT? AT ONE LEVEL, YES. CHIEF EXECUTIVE DEBBIE POWER IS TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ERRORS. WE DEAL WITH 1.3 MILLION NEW ZEALANDERS. WE TAKE 100,000 CALLS A WEEK. WE DEAL WITH 10.3 MILLION DECISIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. I THINK WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB. MY STAFF OUT THERE AT THE FRONT LINE TURN UP EVERY DAY AND DO GREAT WORK FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. I THINK WE HAVE, UM, NOT DONE OURSELVES PROUD TODAY. BUT CHRIS HIPKINS IS POINTING THE FINGER AT THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER AND THE RUSHED LAW. THIS IS NOT THE SORT OF THING THAT I WOULD TOLERATE IN A GOVERNMENT THAT I LEAD. LOUISE UPSTON FORCED THIS LAW CHANGE THROUGH PARLIAMENT. SHE CLEARLY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO READ IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. ABSOLUTELY, SHE'S A FANTASTIC MINISTER. I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM SAY THAT TO THE 14,000-PLUS I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM SAY THAT TO THE 14,000-PLUS NEW ZEALANDERS WHO ARE SEVERELY INJURED, SICK OR DISABLED, WHO WRONGFULLY HAD THEIR BENEFITS SUSPENDED AS A RESULT OF THE RUSHED DECISION MAKING OF THIS MINISTER. LOUISE UPTON REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED. OK, EMMA, MINISTER LOUISE UPSTON REFUSING TO FRONT UP TODAY. IS SHE TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY, THOUGH? LOUISE UPSON WAS VERY QUICK TO APOLOGISE FOR THE ISSUE WITH THE WINTER ENERGY PAYMENTS, WHICH WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF A MISTAKE IN THE LAW THAT SHE PASSED. BUT SHE TOOK 19 DAYS TO APOLOGISE TO THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE OTHER ISSUE, WHICH AS WE HAVE LEARNED TODAY LEFT SOME BENEFICIARIES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS UNDERPAID. SHE HAS BEEN QUITE RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON ALL OF THIS, WHILE THE REVIEW IS ONGOING. ANOTHER REVIEW WAS COMPLETED, IT SEEMS THAT SHE IS STILL QUITE RELUCTANT. SHE REFUSED A REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW TODAY, BUT HER OFFICE DID SEND UNDERSTATEMENT. SHE SAID THAT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THESE PAYMENTS WAS FRUSTRATING AND UNACCEPTABLE, AND SHE APOLOGISED AGAIN TO THOSE AFFECTED. THE MINISTER SAID SHE IS PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTED THAT IT TOOK SO LONG FOR MSD TO WORK OUT THERE WAS A WIDER ISSUE GOING ON. AND SHE LAID OUT CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MINISTRIES TO STRENGTHEN ITS PROCESSES TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT STILL HAS TO GO BACK AND FIX ITS LAW CHANGE. A NEW REPORT SAYS HOMEOWNERS MAY HAVE TO WAIT THREE YEARS FOR HOUSE PRICES TO RETURN TO 2021 LEVELS. ASB'S ECONOMIC UPDATE PREDICTS 'MODERATE HOUSE PRICE RECOVERY IN THE COMING YEARS', WITH CAPITAL GAINS 'HARDER TO ACHIEVE THAN IN THE PAST'. BUT CHRIS HIPKINS IS CONFIDENT IT WON'T AFFECT SOME OF LABOUR'S HEALTH POLICIES, WHICH RELY ON CAPITAL GAINS TAX FOR FUNDING. HERE'S POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT ZANE SMALL. WELL, HELLO. LOVELY OF YOU ALL TO BE HERE TO GREET US. CHRIS HIPKINS WALKING STRAIGHT INTO A BLUNT ASSESSMENT OF THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE. PEOPLE ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC RIGHT NOW. YEAH. SO THAT IS THE MAIN CONCERN. THE OWNER OF A PRINTING FIRM IN AUCKLAND SPEAKING ABOUT MORALE. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? LESS MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS, SO, OBVIOUSLY, LESS SPENDING. HIPKINS HIT THE STREETS OF SANDRINGHAM TODAY, CAMPAIGNING WITH MICHAEL WOOD... (HORN TOOTS) ...LABOUR'S CANDIDATE FOR MT ROSKILL. HE'S HOPING TO MAKE A POLITICAL COMEBACK AFTER RESIGNING FROM POLITICS IN 2023 FOR FAILING TO MANAGE SHAREHOLDING INTERESTS THAT CONFLICTED WITH HIS MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS. LOOK, FROM TIME TO TIME, PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. PRETTY RARELY, THOUGH, I'D HAVE TO SAY, ACROSS THE THOUSANDS OF CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD. RAIKESH NAIDOO ALSO MAKING AN APPEARANCE. THE FORMER COP-TURNED-LABOUR CANDIDATE RECENTLY RECEIVED AN APOLOGY FROM POLICE OVER ACCUSATIONS HE WASN'T FORTHCOMING ENOUGH ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR PARLIAMENT. I'M SATISFIED IT'S THE END OF THE MATTER. GRATEFUL FOR THE APOLOGY. BUT LABOUR HASN'T RECEIVED AN APOLOGY FROM NATIONAL AFTER THE ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY PARTLY UPHELD A COMPLAINT AGAINST AN ATTACK AD THAT CLAIMED LABOUR'S CAPITAL GAINS TAX WOULD HIT KIWISAVER. THE NATIONAL PARTY CAN'T CAMPAIGN ON THE TRUTH. THEY CAN'T CAMPAIGN ON THEIR OWN TRACK RECORD, SO ALL THEY'RE DOING IS MAKING UP LIES ABOUT THE LABOUR PARTY. BUT NATIONAL IS NOT BACKING DOWN. BECAUSE LABOUR TRIED TO SAY THAT THEIR CAPITAL GAINS TAX HAS BEEN 'MISREPRESENTED' BY US. LABOUR WANTS TO INTRODUCE A CAPITAL GAINS TAX THAT IS GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT ON A LOT OF BUSINESSES, A LOT OF NEW ZEALANDERS. NATIONAL IS STILL PUSHING THIS MESSAGE THAT YOUR CAPITAL GAINS TAX WILL AFFECT BUSINESSES BECAUSE IT APPLIES TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS TODAY? OH, LOOK, IT'S JUST DESPERATION FROM NATIONAL. LABOUR EXPECTS TO RAISE $2.8 BILLION FROM ITS 28% CAPITAL GAINS TAX ON COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PROPERTIES. BUT THAT RELIES ON HOMEOWNERS MAKING A CAPITAL GAIN, AND ASB'S LATEST ECONOMIC REPORT NOTES THAT HOUSE PRICES ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 15% BELOW HISTORIC PEAKS. OVER THE 30 YEARS BEFORE COVID, HOUSE PRICES WENT UP SIX-FOLD ` 6% PER ANNUM INCREASES. WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT SOMETHING A LOT MORE MODERATE THAN THAT, MAYBE 4% TO 5% OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AHEAD. OUR CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS BASED ON A 3% PROPERTY PRICE INCREASE SO WE'RE WELL AND TRULY WITHIN THAT RANGE, SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO ADJUST OUR PLANS BASED ON THAT FORECAST. LABOUR PLANS TO USE THE REVENUE FROM ITS CAPITAL GAINS TO FUND THREE DOCTOR VISITS PER PERSON PER YEAR, WHICH HIPKINS HIGHLIGHTED AT HIS PUBLIC MEETING IN WELLINGTON LAST NIGHT. WE WILL MAKE IT FREE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND TO GET YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS SO WE DON'T HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ENDING UP IN OUR HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. HIPKINS HOPING POLICIES LIKE THAT WILL CONVINCE VOTERS TO TICK RED. AND, ZANE, CHRIS HIPKINS REACTED STRONGLY TO ACT'S NEW POLICY TO WIND DOWN THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL. A NEW POLICY FROM THE ACT PARTY TO WIND DOWN THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL ONCE REMAINING HISTORICAL CLAIMS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1975 TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON CLAIMS BROUGHT BY MAORI REGARDING CROWN BREACHES OF THE TREATY. EX-LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR SAID TODAY THAT WHILE HE SUPPORTS TREATY SETTLEMENTS, HE BELIEVES THAT THE TRIBUNAL HAS BECOME TOO POLITICAL WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT, ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISESTABLISHED ONCE THE SETTLEMENTS ARE FINISHED. CHRIS HIPKINS IS FIRMLY AGAINST THAT. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO ONE LAW FOR ALL, AND ONE FUTURE TOGETHER, WE WILL CAMPAIGN FOR THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL TO FINISH THE HISTORIC SETTLEMENTS THAT WERE LODGED BEFORE 2008 AND THEN CEASE TO OPERATE. IT'S ANOTHER REASON WE CAN'T AFFORD THREE MORE YEARS OF THIS GOVERNMENT. THEY'VE TAKEN RACE RELATIONS BACK ABOUT 40 YEARS ALREADY. NOW THEY WANNA TAKE RACE RELATIONS BACK 200 YEARS. THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL STILL HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN ENSURING THAT WE, AS A COUNTRY, ARE UPHOLDING THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE UNDER THE TREATY. CHRISTOPHER LUXON ALSO COMMENTED ON THIS TODAY. HE SAID THE MINISTER FOR MAORI CROWN RELATIONS OF THE NATIONAL PARTY IS CURRENTLY DOING A REVIEW OF THE WAITANGI TRIBUNAL, AND HE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY SOON. MT ALBERT GRAMMAR HAS CONFIRMED THE PERSON KILLED BY A TRAIN IN WEST AUCKLAND YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF ITS STUDENTS. FLOWERS WERE LAID NEAR THE BALDWIN AVE STATION THIS MORNING, WHERE POLICE CONFIRMED A TEENAGE BOY HAD DIED. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED JUST BEFORE 3.30 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. A PASSENGER WHO WAS ON BOARD THE TRAIN TOLD STUFF THE TRAIN BRAKED SUDDENLY. ANOTHER PERSON REPORTED HEARING THREE OR FOUR BANGS. IN A MESSAGE TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, HEADMASTER PATRICK DRUMM EXPRESSED HIS 'GREAT SADNESS', SAYING THE SCHOOLS 'THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE STUDENT'S FAMILY, 'AND WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THEM.' ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROMISES TO CHANGE ALMOST EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES, BUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE BUILDING IT ARE INCREASINGLY WORRIED. A FORMER RESEARCHER AT ANTHROPIC SAYS THE COMPANY IS DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY THAT IS 'GAMBLING WITH OUR LIVES', AND A SENIOR SCIENTIST STILL WORKING THERE SAYS HE BELIEVES THERE'S A GREATER THAN 10% CHANCE AI COULD 'KILL ALL HUMANS' WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE. SENIOR REPORTER JULIET SPEEDY HAS THE STORY. IT FEELS FAMILIAR TO HOLD AND COMFORTABLE TO USE WITH ONE HAND. SLEEKER, SMARTER, AND INCREASINGLY POWERED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. APPLE UNVEILING ITS LATEST FLIPPABLE IPHONE DUO OVERNIGHT. IT'S COMBINING THE UTILITY OF TWO PRODUCTS INTO ONE. BUT AS THE TECHNOLOGY BECOMES MORE POWERFUL AND MORE PERVASIVE, SOME OF THE VERY PEOPLE BUILDING IT ARE SOUNDING INCREASINGLY ALARMING WARNINGS. A RESEARCHER FROM AI GIANT ANTHROPIC, THE COMPANY BEHIND POPULAR CHATBOT CLAUDE, HAS QUIT, PUTTING THE CHANCE OF ADVANCED AI 'KILLING ALL HUMANS' WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE AT GREATER THAN 10%. JACOB COXON'S POST ON X VERY QUICKLY WENT VIRAL, WITH OVER 100,000,000 VIEWS. THEN CAME AN EXTRAORDINARY ENDORSEMENT FROM INSIDE THE COMPANY. SENIOR ANTHROPIC SCIENTIST EVAN HUBINGER RESPONDING ` AND OTHER WHISTLE-BLOWERS ARE WARNING THESE AI COMPANIES ARE MOVING FAR TOO QUICKLY. THERE'S A VERY PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT THAT THEY'VE ALL BEEN MAKING TO THEMSELVES, WHICH IS, 'IF WE DON'T DO IT, SOMEONE ELSE WILL, 'AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO DO IT FIRST.' DANIEL KOKTAJLO USED TO WORK AT OPENAI, BUT RESIGNED OVER THE FIRM'S FAILURE TO REDUCE EXTINCTION RISKS. IF WE GET TO THIS AI TRANSFORMATION, THEN THE FUTURE WILL BE AS DIFFERENT TO THE PRESENT IN THIS WAY AS THE PRESENT IS TO THE MIDDLE AGES. UNLESS THERE IS INTERNATIONAL REGULATION AND COORDINATION... THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE WHOLE WORLD VERY DRAMATICALLY. ALSO PREDICTING THE END OF HUMANKIND. WE MIGHT NOT BE ALIVE IN 10 YEARS. AN APOCALYPTIC PREDICTION, BUT FAR FROM AN UNCONTESTED ONE. SOME VERY EXTREME BELIEFS. NOW, OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL SAY THEY HAVE INSIGHTS OTHERS OF US DON'T, TO WHICH I WOULD, AS A SCIENTIST, SAY, 'WELL, THEN, SHOW US WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.' WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT AI HAS A 10% ALL THE WAY UP TO 25% CHANCE ` BY THE WAY, THE NUMBERS CHANGE EVERY YEAR ` SINCE AI HAS BEEN LAUNCHED. THE GOVERNMENT HERE STILL GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO REGULATE A TECHNOLOGY EVOLVING AT EXTRAORDINARY SPEED. LOTS OF UPSIDES WITH AI, WHICH I THINK WE NEED TO EMBRACE, BUT ALSO WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE DANGERS, BUT WE NEED TO WORK WITH INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS AND PARTNERS TO BUILD THOSE REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SHOW LEADERSHIP HERE. IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE TASMAN TO WHAT OUR AUSTRALIAN NEIGHBOURS ARE DOING, THEY'RE SHOWING LEADERSHIP. NEW ZEALAND IS NOT. WE WANT TO CATCH UP WITH THEM. THE PREDICTIONS MAY BE DISPUTED, BUT THERE'S LITTLE DISAGREEMENT THAT AI ISN'T WAITING FOR GOVERNMENTS TO CATCH UP. IMO'S HERE NOW WITH TODAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, AND IT WAS A WARM DAY OUT EAST. YEAH, NICE AND WARM, GETTING EVER SO CLOSER TO 20 DEGREES. TOLAGA BAY TAKING TODAY'S TOP TEMPERATURE OF 19, WITH A CRISPY MINUS-1 DOWN IN TE ANAU. WINDY ROUND THE REMUTAKAS, AND ASHBURTON HAD A PRETTY WET MORNING. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON THREENEWS ` THERE ARE CALLS FOR NEW ZEALAND TO DO MORE TO HELP AS FIJI DECLARES AN HIV OUTBREAK AS A NATIONAL CRISIS. DONALD TRUMP URGES HIS SUPPORTERS TO VOTE AT THE UPCOMING MIDTERMS AS HIS APPROVAL RATINGS HIT A NEW LOW. AND NEW RESEARCH ON WHY DRINKING YOUR COFFEE OR TEA EXTRA HOT COULD BE PUTTING YOUR HEALTH AT RISK. (SONG): 'CRISPY' # Uh-uh, Crispy... # VOICEOVER: The new KFC Liquid Gold sauce is here. Our biggest dip yet, with even bigger flavour. Liquid Gold. It's worth every dip. 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. Have you seen my boxxcost? What? My boxxcost? What's a boxxcost? Nah. $4.99. La la la la la... VOICEOVER: All this for $4.99. FIJI'S CABINET HAS DECLARED ITS HIV OUTBREAK A NATIONAL CRISIS. IT'S EXPERIENCING ONE OF THE WORLD'S FASTEST-GROWING HIV EPIDEMICS, WITH A 14-FOLD INCREASE IN INFECTIONS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. HEALTH RESEARCHERS HERE ARE URGING NEW ZEALAND TO DO MORE TO HELP. MOLLY SWIFT REPORTS. IN FIJI, ONE CHILD IS BORN WITH HIV EVERY WEEK, AND ONE CHILD DIES FROM AIDS-RELATED ILLNESSES EACH MONTH. WE ARE DECLARING IT AS A NATIONAL CRISIS UNDER EMERGENCY POWERS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FIJI TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY. THE FIJIAN GOVERNMENT SAYING THERE NEEDS TO BE A BROADER NATIONAL EFFORT TO STOP THE SPREAD, WHICH HAS ACCELERATED ALONGSIDE INCREASED METHAMPHETAMINE USE. IT HAS STARTED OFF WITH NEEDLE SHARING, BUT IT IS MOVING, SO IT'S BECOME A GENERALISED EPIDEMIC NOW. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT'S NOT ONLY IMPACTING THOSE PRIMARY RISK GROUPS, BUT IT IS NOW, UM... MOVING THROUGH SOCIETY, THROUGH OTHER MODES OF TRANSMISSION. TV3 HAS BEEN COVERING FIJI'S BATTLE WITH HIV SINCE A FEATURE ON CAMPBELL LIVE IN 2005. ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES IS OVERCOMING CULTURAL TABOOS, BUT ATTITUDES ARE SLOWLY CHANGING IN THE CITIES AND VILLAGES LED BY THE CHURCH. BUT FIJI IS LOSING ITS BATTLE. IT'S SEEN A SHARP RISE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WITH OVER 2000 PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH HIV LAST YEAR, AND IT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTH FROM FIJI AND OTHER ISLANDS TO NEW ZEALAND, HAVE FAMILY LINKS, EDUCATION LINKS, WORK, AND SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN CASES AMONGST OUR PACIFIC POPULATION. A HEALTH NEW ZEALAND SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE OUTBREAK IN FIJI IS CONCERNING AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT NEW ZEALAND AND THE REST OF THE PACIFIC. HOWEVER, THEY ADDED IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT NEW ZEALAND WILL EXPERIENCE AN OUTBREAK OF A SIMILAR MAGNITUDE. THANKS TO NEEDLE EXCHANGE SERVICES, HIV TESTING, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, NEW ZEALAND HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF HIV INFECTION IN THE WORLD. A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION CENTRE BRIEFING URGES US TO USE OUR EXPERTISE TO HELP OUR PACIFIC NEIGHBOURS. WE COULD BE DOING MORE BILATERALLY TO SUPPORT FIJI. WE HAVE GREAT EXPERTISE IN HIV HERE, A GREAT TRACK RECORD OURSELVES, SO SHARING THAT EXPERTISE, FUNDING ` THERE'S A DESPERATE NEED FOR MORE FUNDING. NEW ZEALAND DONATED $4 MILLION LAST YEAR TO HELP FIGHT THE OUTBREAK. BUT HEALTH RESEARCHERS SAY IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS FOR FIJI. AND IT IS REACHING A TIPPING POINT. THERE NEEDS TO BE, UM... COORDINATED EFFORT, SO NEW ZEALAND DOES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S NOT A FIGHT FIJI CAN FACE ALONE. THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL HAS BEEN BACK ABOVE US$100 A BARREL, THE RESULT OF THE MOST INTENSE WARFARE YET BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE CONFLICT BEGAN. ON US FORECOURTS, THE PRICE OF DIESEL IS AT RECORD LEVELS. NO WONDER PERHAPS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S COMING IN NOVEMBER'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HOLDING A SPECIAL PRE-ELECTION CONVENTION IN TEXAS TO TRY TO SHORE UP SUPPORT GENERALLY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE RACE FOR A KEY TEXAN SENATE SEAT. ITV'S DAN RIVERS HAS MORE. (VEHICLES PASS) THIS IS A PLACE MOST DRIVE THROUGH, NOT TO. # MAKE THIS COUNTRY STRONG AGAIN... # THE TOWN OF LOT IS A SPECK YOU'D BE PUSHED TO FIND ON A MAP IN THE VAST RURAL HINTERLAND OF TEXAS. BUT LISTEN CAREFULLY AND YOU CAN HEAR THE GROWING RUMBLE OF DISCONTENT. DONALD TRUMP IS... WELL, IF I MAY, DERANGED. HE IS A LIAR. YOU SAY HI TO MY FRIEND? HELLO. RENA SCHROEDER VOTED REPUBLICAN ALL HER LIFE, INCLUDING TWICE FOR TRUMP, BUT NO LONGER. HE'S DESTROYING AMERICA. WHEN I SEE HIM PUTTING GOLD STATUES IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND FIGHTING TO GET A BALLROOM, WHEN I'M HERE IN RURAL TEXAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE WATER FOR OUR CATTLE, WATER FOR OUR LIVESTOCK. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S CONDUCIVE WITH MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. ARE YOU TELLING ME THEN, AFTER 30 YEARS OR SO, THAT TEXAS MIGHT BE WON BY THE DEMOCRATS? I BELIEVE SO, 100%. IT'S THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE BEEN LIFELONG REPUBLICANS. THEY'RE BREAKING RANK, MEANING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE REPUBLICAN ANY LONGER. HI, SWEETIE. HER DECISION TO CHANGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE DEMOCRATS HASN'T JUST PROVOKED ANGER. (WIND CHIMES TINKLE) IT'S LED TO DEATH THREATS IN THIS TRADITIONALLY DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE BASTION. I GOT A PHONE CALL. HE SAID, 'I'M GOING TO BURN YOU, 'BURN YOUR FAMILY, BURN YOUR HOUSE, AND THEN BURN ALL YOUR HORSES.' BUT BECAUSE I'M NOT INTIMIDATED EASILY, I SAID, 'WELL, YOU TRY THAT, 'BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT OUT OFF OUR PROPERTY.' RENA ISN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES, BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TAKING A POLITICAL GAMBLE AS HE HEADS TO TEXAS. DESPITE AN EMERGENCY SLIDE BEING DEPLOYED ON HIS NEW PLANE, HE DID EVENTUALLY GET AIRBORNE EN ROUTE TO A LAVISH CONVENTION LESS THAN TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. (UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS) THE DEMOCRATS THINK THEY CAN TAKE THE SENATE SEAT HERE AND POSSIBLY CONTROL OF CONGRESS, PINNING THEIR HOPES.... AND POSSIBLY CONTROL OF CONGRESS, PINNING THEIR HOPES... ...ON A YOUNG FORMER TEACHER, JAMES TALARICO, OR AS TRUMP CALLS HIM... TALA-FREAKO. CROWD CHANTS: USA! BUT TRUMP'S CANDIDATE, KEN PAXTON, HAS FACED ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION, WHICH HE'S DENIED. TEXAS IS PREPARING TO SHOW OFF ITS HERITAGE THIS WEEK, BUT THOSE ATTENDING ARE BRUSHING OFF SUGGESTIONS ITS TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICAN POLITICS ARE SHIFTING. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH TRUMP'S PERFORMANCE? I AM. I-I'M VERY HAPPY WITH HIS PERFORMANCE. I WANT THE GAS TO COME DOWN, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S HIGH. IT'S A SHAME THAT OUR CANDIDATE... COULD BE BETTER, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. LIKE I SAID, IT COULD BE A BAG OF BEANS AND I WOULD VOTE FOR THE BEANS. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NEVER HELD A MIDTERM CONVENTION. THEY'RE CALLING THIS ONE 'TRUMPAPALOOZA.' BUT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT THIS MAY CAUSE FURTHER DISAFFECTION AMONG REPUBLICANS WHO ARE ALREADY FED UP WITH TRUMP. # AMERICA... # THE LONE STAR STATE MIGHT BE DECISIVE IN ESTABLISHING IF TRUMP'S GRIP ON POWER IS LOOSENED. STAY WITH US. AFTER THE BREAK ON THREENEWS ` WE TALK TO A VISITING CLIMATE EXPERT, WHO SAYS NEW ZEALANDERS SHOULD STOCK UP NOW SO THEY'RE READY FOR EL NINO. ROYALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GATHER IN NORWAY TO BID A FINAL FAREWELL TO KING HARALD. AND WHILE THE DOLPHINS HEAD TO AUCKLAND TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THE WARRIORS' FRENZIED FANBASE, MATTY JOHNS WONDERS IF THE HOME EXPECTATION COULD WORK AGAINST THE WAHS. Did you know Phone Dollars are for phones? Yeah... and the sky is blue. ...and my hair is long. ...and you are a guinea pig. Bit windy. I am vibrating. Whoop... Might need a new phone. Pepper's on TV. Yep. Phone Dollars... are for phones. Obviously. And action. Phone Dollars, take four. So Phone Dollars are for phones. Do I need to say that? Yeah, we, we do need to say that. Do I have to say I'm from One New Zealand? There's logos everywhere. Yeah. We just need you to say it. One New Zealand Phone Dollars are for phones. Good? Yeah, well, that's the ad. Phone Dollars are for phones, obviously. And cue sound effects. THIS IS THREENEWS. IF YOU'VE JUST JOINED US, HERE ARE OUR TOP STORIES SO FAR TONIGHT. A MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT REVIEW HAS FOUND MORE THAN 30,000 SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS WERE WRONGLY SUSPENDED. A RESEARCHER AT ANTHROPIC QUITS OVER FEARS ADVANCED AI COULD KILL OFF HUMANITY IN 10 YEARS, CONCERNS ECHOED BY AN EXPERT STILL WORKING INSIDE THE COMPANY. A COCKPIT CAMERA CAPTURED THE HORRIFYING MOMENT A HELICOPTER'S ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A MOUNTAIN FACE, KILLING TWO MEN ON BOARD LAST MAY. PILOT TIM BROWN AND HUNTING GUIDE SEAN ROACH DIED IN THE ACCIDENT AT MT ASPIRING. AN INTERIM REPORT BY THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION FOUND MARKS ON ROCKS AND TUSSOCK AT THE CRASH SITE. THE BLADES WERE DESTROYED AND THE HELICOPTER FELL ABOUT 30M DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE. BROWN AND ROACH HAD BEEN TAKING PART IN AN AERIAL-ASSISTED TROPHY-HUNTING TRIP INVOLVING TWO HELICOPTERS. KIWISAVER NEST EGGS HAVE HIT A NEW HIGH, WITH THE AVERAGE BALANCE TOPPING $40,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE LATEST FINANCIAL MARKETS AUTHORITY'S ANNUAL KIWISAVER REPORT SHOWS BALANCES ROSE 11% AND CONTRIBUTIONS CLIMBED 8.2% MORE THAN 112,000 NEW MEMBERS ALSO SIGNED UP. HOWEVER NEARLY A THIRD OF WORKING-AGE PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE SCHEME AREN'T CURRENTLY CONTRIBUTING. THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION HAS DECLARED A NEAR 100% CHANCE EL NINO WILL PERSIST THROUGH TO FEBRUARY 2027, DESCRIBING THE WEATHER EVENT AS 'SUPERSIZING BEFORE OUR EYES'. GRAEME RIDDELL, FROM CLIMATE CONSULTANCY GROUP MARSH, IS WARNING NEW ZEALANDERS TO PREPARE NOW FOR WHAT'S COMING IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. HE SAT DOWN WITH IMO EARLIER TODAY. PEOPLE IN BRITAIN HAVE BEEN ASKED TO STOCK UP ON FOOD BECAUSE OF THIS EL NINO. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT HOW SERIOUSLY THIS ONE'S BEING TAKEN? I THINK IT TELLS US JUST A LITTLE BI ABOUT HOW UNPRECEDENTED THIS IS. WE'VE NEVER SEEN, IN KIND OF MODERN MEASUREMENTS, ANY EL NINO TO THE SCALE THAT THIS IS. AND WHAT WE MEASURE IS A LITTLE PATCH OF OCEAN AND HOW DIFFERENT THAT TEMPERATURE IS IN THAT PATCH OF OCEAN TO THE LONG TERM AVERAGE. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT KIND OF THE AVERAGE OF ALL THE MODELS BEING ABOUT 3.5 DEGREES HOTTER THAN THAT LONG-TERM AVERAGE. NEW ZEALANDERS WILL REMEMBER KIND OF BIG, HISTORICAL ONES. SO, 1978` 1998-1999, 1997 WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, AND IT WAS PLUS-2.4 DEGREES VERSUS THAT LONG-TERM AVERAGE. 2015-2016 WAS SIMILARLY A REALLY BIG ONE. LOTS OF INDONESIA WAS ON FIRE. SINGAPORE WAS BEING HAZED OUT. THAT WAS ABOUT PLUS-2.6. SO WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING KIND OF PLUS-3, PLUS-3.4. WE'RE ALREADY TRACKING AT PLUS-2.9, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST THAT'S EVER BEEN RECORDED. AND IT'S ONLY SEPTEMBER. IT'S SUPPOSED TO PEAK IN NOVEMBER. SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS JUST WE DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THIS WILL PLAY OUT. YOU TALK ABOUT INDONESIA, SINGAPORE. LIKE I MENTIONED, THE STOCKING OF FOOD IN BRITAIN. WHAT WILL THE KNOCK-ON EFFECTS OF THOSE SITUATIONS BE HERE IN NEW ZEALAND? SO, I THINK IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE KIND OF COST OF RAW MATERIALS AND COST OF GOODS AND COST OF MOVING THINGS AROUND IN OUR GLOBALISED WORLD. SO, WE'RE SEEING KIND OF ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA, HEAT AND DROUGHT EFFECTIVELY IMPACTING ON FOOD PRODUCTION. WE CAN SEE THAT PLAYING OUT IN NEW ZEALAND AS WELL, WHEN WE HAVE AN EL NINO TO KIND OF... SOUTH ISLAND IS OK, APART FROM THE EAST. SO WE GET LOTS OF DROUGHT ON THE EAST AND THE NORTH ISLAND AS WELL. SO IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL YIELD. WE SEE THE SAME IN INDONESIA AND THE PHILIPPINES. INDIA HAS HAD ITS WEAKEST MONSOON SEASON IN RECORDED HISTORY THUS FAR. SO, ALL OF THAT WILL IMPACT ON FOOD PRODUCTION. AND THEN YOU COMPOUND IT WITH IT IS ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE TO MOVE THINGS AROUND THE WORLD, SO IT'S ABOUT 14 TO 15 TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE TO GO THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL RIGHT NOW THAN IT WAS 12 MONTHS AGO. A HUGE AMOUNT OF THAT IS OBVIOUSLY TO DO WITH THE IRAN CRISIS AND THE COST OF MOVING THINGS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE THEY'RE DROPPING HOW MANY PASSAGES CAN GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE WATER LEVELS IN THE CANAL. SO YOU KIND OF COMPOUND THESE COSTS, AND ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE PAID FOR BY SOMEONE, AND IT'S OFTEN GOING TO BE THE COST OF THE FINAL PRODUCED GOODS. THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS, ESSENTIALLY, IS WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY. YEAH. CAN WE EVEN PREPARE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT, RIGHT? SO, FOR BUSINESSES, IT'S... AND HOUSEHOLDS AS WELL, I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND GETTING READY FOR IT. SO, FOR BUSINESSES, IT'S KIND OF UNDERSTANDING, WHAT ARE YOUR POWER DEPENDENCIES? WHAT ARE YOUR WATER DEPENDENCIES? DO YOU HAVE CONTINGENCIES? FOR HOUSEHOLDERS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU PUTTING ENOUGH WATER IN YOUR WATER TANKS NOW WHEN IT'S THERE AND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE REDUNDANCIES? A FOR THE KIND OF WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, IT'S GETTING READY FOR STORMS. ACTUALLY IT'S NOT EVEN A DROUGHT CONCERN. IT'S ABOUT STORMS. SO MAKING SURE THINGS ARE TIED DOWN. SO I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT COULD HAPPEN, WHAT'S PLAYED OUT IN THE PAST, AND THEN GOING, 'WHAT COULD I DO ABOUT IT JUST NOW?' SO UNDERSTAND YOUR SUPPLY CHAINS, UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR PRODUCTS EVEN COME FROM IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS. AND THEN GOING, 'CAN I LOCK IN PRICES NOW?' 'CAN I STOCKPILE MATERIALS AND RAW GOODS?' AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO NOW INSTEAD OF NOVEMBER WILL PROBABLY SAVE MONEY GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, GRAEME. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS SO MUCH, IMOGEN. ROYAL FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE GATHERED IN OSLO TO FAREWELL NORWAY'S KING HARALD. PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCESS ANNE REPRESENTED KING CHARLES, JOINING THE WALKING PROCESSION BEHIND THE LATE MONARCH'S COFFIN. THE WINDSORS AND THE NORWEGIAN ROYAL FAMILY ARE RELATED THROUGH QUEEN VICTORIA. KING HARALD WAS EUROPE'S OLDEST MONARCH WHEN HE DIED LAST MONTH, AGED 89. UK AIRPORTS ARE SCRAMBLING TO RECOVER AFTER AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OUTAGE FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF ABOUT 2000 FLIGHTS. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS WERE STRANDED, SOME WAITING ON PLANES FOR HOURS, WHILE OTHERS SPENT THE NIGHT SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR OF HEATHROW AIRPORT. THE OUTAGE ONLY LASTED A FEW HOURS, BUT COULD COST THE AVIATION SECTOR MORE THAN NZ$200 MILLION. DRINKING VERY HOT TEA OR COFFEE MAY TRIPLE THE RISK OF OESOPHAGEAL CANCER, ACCORDING TO AN OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDY. RESEARCHERS TRACKED NEARLY ONE MILLION PEOPLE OVER 14 YEARS, MAKING IT THE LARGEST ANALYSIS OF ITS KIND. EXPERTS SAY STEAMING LIQUID CAN DAMAGE CELLS LINING THE OESOPHAGUS AS IT TRAVELS TO THE STOMACH. THEIR ADVICE ` LET YOUR DRINK COOL SLIGHTLY BEFORE TAKING THE FIRST SIP. OLLIE'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND DOLPHINS ARE BRACING FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF WARRIROS FANS? THE DOLPHINS TOUCHDOWN IN AUCKLAND TONIGHT AND WERE GREETED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITH CHANCE FOR THE WARRIORS. THEY ARE EXPECTING AN ONSLAUGHT WHEN THEY GET TO MOUNT SMART. WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM THE DOLPHINS NEXT AS THEY TOUCH DOWN IN AUCKLAND AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S CLASH WITH THE WARRIORS. WHY ONE EXPERT WONDERS IF HOME GROUND MAY BE MORE A BURDEN AND BEN SHELTON SEES OFF CARLOS ALCARAZ IN A MATCH THAT WILL GO DOWN IN U.S. OPEN HISTORY. (DOOR KNOCKS) Aaah...hi, occupied! Hi. Hello. Ah... I recently got back from Scotland. Congratulations. Yup! Found my Scotlandish mother and grandfather, and Pepper had turned into an entirely different woman. She's been closing in on the identity as to my biological father. The guy from this ad, we find him first. Okay. So... do you remember him? Yeah, of course. That's my mate, EJ. Anyway, we've come all this way to ask you one simple question. So, are you EJ? No. I'm Neil. Can I finish up now? (POUNDING ROCK MUSIC) BORN TO ADVENTURE WITH SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES AND THREENEWS SPORT. THE DOLPHINS HAVE TOUCHED DOWN IN AUCKLAND AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S QUALIFYING FINAL WITH THE WARRIORS, UNDER NO ILLUSIONS AS TO WHAT'S WAITING FOR THEM AT MT SMART. CONTENDING WITH A RED-HOT WARRIORS SIDE IS ONE CHALLENGE. DOING THAT IN FRONT OF THEIR BOISTEROUS FAN BASE IS QUITE ANOTHER. THE DOLPHINS TOUCHING DOWN IN AUCKLAND TO RELATIVE CALM, ALTHOUGH IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO GET A REMINDER THEY ARE AN ENEMY TERRITORY NOW. HELL NO. (LAUGHS) AND THERE'S PLENTY MORE OF THAT TO COME WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT MT SMART STADIUM ON SATURDAY. (FANS CHANT) THEY KNOW AS WELL AS ANYONE THEY ARE ABOUT TO WALK INTO A CAULDRON OF WARRIORS FANS ON SATURDAY NIGHT. I JUST KNOW ONCE WE RUN OUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF BOOS HERE AND THERE, BUT... THAT'S THE THING ABOUT FINALS FOOTY. YOU'VE GOT TO EMBRACE THAT ADVERSITY WHEN YOU GET OVER THERE. SO JUST STAY TOGETHER AND... I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE SO LOUD, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR EACH OTHER ON THE FIELD. IT'LL BE THE BEST NIGHT CLUB IN AUCKLAND. AWESOME. BEST TICKET IN TOWN. THE WARRIORS FORTRESS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE FILLED TO THE BRIM ` TICKETS SOLD OUT IN MERE MINUTES ` BUT THE DOLPHINS AREN'T SHYING AWAY FROM THE EXPECTED HOSTILITY. YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE LOUD. I EXPECT IT TO BE A LITTLE BIT HOSTILE AS WELL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALRIGHT. THAT'S THE SORT OF GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY. BUT WHILE THE SELL-OUT CROWD IS AN EXTRA ELEMENT FOR THE DOLPHINS TO CONTEND WITH, PREMIERSHIP WINNER MATTY JOHNS WONDERS IF IT MAY IN FACT BE A BURDEN FOR THE WARRIORS. THERE'S A LOT OF EXPECTATION IN AUCKLAND. THERE'S A REAL FEELING, THERE'S A SENSE OF DESTINY AROUND THIS SIDE. IT'S GOING TO BE A FULL HOUSE, FAIR BIT OF PRESSURE ON THE DOLPHINS. AND A BIT LIKE THE NEW SOUTH WALES` SORRY, THE WAHS. IF THE WARRIORS ARE TO GET OVER THE LINE, COOPER CRONK FEELS ONE MAN IN PARTICULAR IS THE KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS. I JUST FEEL FISHER HARRIS IS THE GUY. LIKE, I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVEN'T... HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S TRULY WON MULTIPLE COMPS, EXPERIENCED WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND THEY WILL BE GOING, 'FISH, WHAT DO WE DO?' YEAH. AND HE'LL BE GOING, 'THIS IS WHAT WE DO. FOLLOW ME.' IT'S WORKED WELL FOR THE WARRIORS SO FAR THIS SEASON. NOW HOPING THE INSPIRATIONAL LEADER CAN DELIVER MORE OF THE SAME IN THE FINALS. BLACK FERNS CAPTAIN RUAHEI DEMANT'S NORTHERN TOUR IS OVER. DEMANT SUFFERED A CALF INJURY DURING THE BLACK FERNS WIN OVER SOUTH AFRICA AND WILL TAKE NO PART IN THE REMAINING THREE GAMES. EXPERIENCED HOOKER GEORGIA PONSONBY WILL ASSUME THE CAPTAINCY FOR THE TOUR. IT WASN'T JUST THE LATEST FINISH IN U.S. OPEN HISTORY BUT A MATCH THAT WILL GO DOWN AS AN ALL-TIME CLASSIC. BEN SHELTON'S STUNNING FIVE-SET VICTORY OVER CARLOS ALCARAZ KEPT ARTHUR ASH STADIUM ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT UNTIL 3.33am IN NEW YORK. GORDON FINDLATER HAS MORE. AFTER MORE THAN FOUR AND A HALF HOURS ON COURT AND PAST 3.30 IN THE MORNING, THERE WAS FINALLY A WINNER. (CROWD ERUPTS) WHAT A BATTLE. AMERICAN BEN SHELTON (23) PREVAILING OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION CARLOS ALCARAZ IN A MATCH FOR THE AGES. THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF BEN SHELTON'S CAREER. FOR ME, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, MY COACHES AND MY TEAM OVER THERE, ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS OVER HERE, OR THE CITY OF NEW YORK THAT SHOWED UP TONIGHT TILL 3am. (CHEERING) THEY WERE TREATED TO THE BEST TENNIS SEEN AT THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT YET. (CHEERING) YEP. YEP. (LAUGHS) THE FIRST SET SETTING THE TONE ` A TIEBREAKER WHICH WENT THE WAY OF ALCARAZ. HA HO! THE INTENSITY ONLY RAMPED UP FOR THERE, WITH BOTH PLAYERS PUSHING THEIR BODIES TO THE LIMIT. (CHEERING) (LAUGHS) THE MARATHON MATCH WOULD TAKE ITS TOLL, THOUGH. DURING A CHANGE OF ENDS IN THE FOURTH SET, ALCARAZ WAS SEEN ASKING A CAMERA OPERATOR TO MOVE AWAY BEFORE APPEARING TO BE SICK INTO HIS TOWEL. MIRACULOUSLY, HE WOULD END UP WINNING THE SET TO STAY ALIVE. (YELLS) GAME AND FOURTH SET, ALCARAZ. IN THE END IT WAS SHELTON WHO WON THE TEST OF ENDURANCE. NOW INTO THE SEMIS, HE'S HOPING TO BECOME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO WIN THE MEN'S TITLE SINCE ANDY RODDICK IN 2003. TODAY ANOTHER LOCAL HOPE MARCHED ON IN THE WOMEN'S DRAW. (CHEERING) COCO GAUFF WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY, SURVIVING A SECOND SET TIEBREAKER BEFORE DEFEATING MIRRA ANDREEVA IN THREE SETS. (CHEERING) GAUFF NOW LOOKING TO REACH HER SECOND U.S. OPEN FINAL, WHILE SHELTON IS HOPING TO END 23 YEARS OF AMERICAN AGONY AT FLUSHING MEADOWS. FORMER BLACKCAPS COACH MIKE HESSON'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT AS PAKISTAN'S TEST COACH IS OFF TO A ROUGH START. HIS SIDE IS ONCE AGAIN BATTLING, ALL OUT FOR JUST 133 IN THEIR FIRST INNINGS. HESSON WAS USHERED INTO THE ROLE AFTER PAKISTAN FELL TO HEAVY DEFEATS IN THE FIRST TWO TESTS BUT SAYS IT'S NOT UP TO HIM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT MOVE WAS THE RIGHT ONE. IF YOU HAVE A BRILLIANT WEEK HERE, WHEN THE TEST MATCH, WOULD IT BE RIGHT, OR IS THIS JUST A SHORT-TERM FIX? I CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DEALT A SET OF CARDS, AND I HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. THEY'RE CURRENTLY STRUGGLING TO DO THAT, TRAILING ENGLAND BY 23 AHEAD OF DAY TWO GETTING UNDERWAY LATER TONIGHT. DEFENDING CHAMPIONS PARIS ST GERMAIN GOT THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAMPAIGN OFF TO A RED-HOT START, OVERWHELMING SLOVAKIAN CLUB SLOVAN BRATISLAVA 6-1. IT WAS ALL ONE-WAY TRAFFIC. PSG WASTED NO TIME PILING ON THE PRESSURE AGAINST THE SIDE, MAKING JUST THEIR SECOND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE APPEARANCE. THAT IS AGAINST THE POST. AND THE REBOUND DRILLED IN. AND HE SETS IT UP. LAST SEASON'S RUNNERS-UP, ARSENAL, ALSO MADE A WINNING START, DEFEATING NAPOLI 1-0. MEANWHILE, LIVERPOOL CAME BACK FROM A GOAL DOWN TO DEFEAT ATLETICO MADRID 2-0. THINK THE SPORTING THEATER OF THE DAY WAS IN YOUR OLD STOMPING GROUND, REBECCA. IT'S SUCH A SHAME IT HAPPENED AT 3.30 IN THE MORNING. THANK YOU, OLI. SOUTH AFRICA IS A LONG WAY FROM THE SMALL FAR NORTH SETTLEMENT OF OPONONI. BUT TE KAREE-HANA TOI, BETTER KNOWN AS TEEKS, HAS BRIDGED THE GAP WITH HIS MUSIC. THE AWARD-WINNING, CHART-TOPPING R&B AND SOUL ARTIST HAS JUST FINISHED HIS FIRST TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA AND WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE RECEPTION. HE SPOKE TO MITCH REDMAN. THERE'S NO WAY I WAS GONNA COME HERE AND NOT SING 'FIRST TIME', BECAUSE, LIKE, (CHUCKLES) THAT'S A SONG THAT'S` EXACTLY. THAT'S THE SONG THAT KIND OF TOOK OFF AND MADE IT HAPPEN FOR ME HERE. # FINALLY, # WE ARE HERE NOW... I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET OVER HERE FOR A WHILE, LIKE, EVER SINCE THE SONGS TOOK OFF, AND I FINALLY MADE IT. SO I'M GLAD. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. # OH... AND THE RECEPTION, YEAH, COS THE CROWDS HERE HAVE BEEN NOTHING LIKE I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. (CROWD SINGS) ONE, THEY'RE, LIKE, SO LOUD, COS THEY SING EVERY SONG. THEY KNEW ALL THE WORDS TO ALL MY SONGS, LIKE, WORD FOR WORD, WHICH I DIDN'T REALLY` I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT. YOU KNOW, LIKE, I EXPECTED MAYBE ONE OR TWO SONGS, BUT THEY KNEW EVERY SINGLE SONG, AND THEY KNEW EVERY SINGLE LYRIC. COULD HARDLY HEAR OURSELVES ON STAGE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW` WHICH IS A FIRST FOR ME, SO IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN UNREAL. # MY BOY, PRETTY LIKE A SUNRISE. # SO SOON... I'M AT A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I DON'T WANNA WRITE SAD SONGS. THIS RECORD, I JUST WANTED TO BE A BIT MORE PLAYFUL. AND I HAD A LOT OF FUN MAKING THIS ALBUM. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS A BIT MORE` MORE SUMMERY. # I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS... THE LAST ALBUM, WHICH WAS 'SOMETHING TO FEEL', WHICH CAME OUT IN 2021, I WROTE A BIT` LIKE, I WROTE A LOT OF SAD SONGS, SLOW BALLADS, AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT. AND SO, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, MAN. I JUST WANT TO ENJOY MY LIFE. AND, UM... YEAH, THIS IS` THAT'S WHAT THIS ALBUM IS PRETTY MUCH, BASICALLY. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF, UM, PUTTING A NEW ZEALAND ONE TOGETHER. WE'RE STILL FINALISING A FEW THINGS. SO I'M GOING TO BE PLAYING IN AUSTRALIA IN NOVEMBER. UM, AND, YEAH, WE MOST LIKELY WILL DO NEW ZEALAND IN EARLY 2027. SO MAYBE FEBRUARY, MARCH. UM... SO, YEAH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. A MALIBU MANSION BELONGING TO ACTOR NICOLAS CAGE IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING SWALLOWED UP BY A MASSIVE SINKHOLE. IT OPENED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE 'LEAVING LAS VEGAS' STAR'S BEACHFRONT PROPERTY, AND IT KEEPS EXPANDING. SO FAR, MORE THAN 30 HOMES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED. IMO'S BACK NOW. SO, HOW'S THAT WEEKEND WEATHER LOOKING? NOT TOO BAD AT ALL, REBECCA. STILL GOING TO BE ON THE SLIGHTLY COOLER, SOU'WESTERLY WIND SIDE, AND APART FROM THIS BURST OF SHOWERY SATURDAY ACTIVITY DOWN AND AROUND THE BOTTOM HERE, WE'RE LOOKING MOSTLY DRY, INCLUDING FOR THAT 6PM WARRIORS KICK-OFF AT GO MEDIA. SUNDAY, THEN, LOOKING LIKE THE PICK OF THE BUNCH. YOUR FULL FORECAST IS AFTER THE BREAK. (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING) You got this. Let's go. One more. Nearly there! VOICEOVER: Packed with 17g of protein to Get Up & Go. VOICEOVER: What a time to be into all things music. Get Spotify Premium on us with a Spark Unlimited Data Mobile Plan. - Definitely could be a Toyota ad they'd have four go-getter entrepreneurs in a Rav4, eh? - But this is an Ezi Car Rental. - I don't wanna be in an ad. - So now do you think it's a Toyota ad? - Nah. It's just New Zealand. Earn Bunnings Rewards in every aisle, whether you're just popping in or stocking up for a project. Simply download the Bunnings app, scan your Bunnings card, and see your points stack. Ts and Cs and exclusions apply. Join Bunnings Rewards today and earn more in every aisle. HRV VENTILATION HELPS REDUCE ASTHMA TRIGGERS AT HOME. HRV, BRINGING YOU THREENEWS WEATHER. KIA ORA E TE WHANAU, WELCOME BACK. LET'S GET INTO YOUR WEATHER FORECAST. THAT COLD FRONT WILL KEEP SHIFTING UP AND AWAY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. LOOKING CLEARER DOWN SOUTH, WHICH WILL MEAN SOME CRISPY FRIDAY MORNINGS, WITH A SHOWERY SOU'WEST FLOW MOVING IN AS WELL. WE WILL SEE SOME SHOWERS CREEP IN RIGHT DOWN SOUTH, WHICH WILL DO THE CLASSIC TREK ALONG THE WEST COAST, BUT WE WILL SEE THEM SPILL ON TO THE OTHER SIDE, REACHING UP INTO CANTERBURY LATER ON IN THE DAY. STRONG WINDS KICKING AROUND AS WELL. THE DREGS OF THIS SYSTEM WILL BE HANGING ROUND TOMORROW MORNING, BUT CLEAR EARLY ON. THEN FRIDAY'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD OVERALL, WITH SOME CLOUD ROLLING IN FOR WESTERN AREAS AS THE DAY TRUCKS ALONG. SO, STILL A FEW SHOWERS TO FILTER THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING, DRYING UP BY THE AFTERNOON, WHICH IS WHEN THE SOU'WESTERS WILL BE GUSTY. SOME MORNING SHOWERY STUFF AROUND HERE AS WELL, CLEARING UP TO SOME CRACKER AFTERNOONS ALL ROUND. SOU'EASTERS TURNING WESTERLY IN LAND. CLOUDY AND RAINY OR SHOWERY STARTS FOR ALL, WITH MORNING FROSTS FOR MASTERTON, LINGERING LONGEST IN GISBORNE, BUT THINGS TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER EVERYWHERE ELSE. GREAT STARTS FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT A BIT OF A CLOUDIER LOOKING AFTERNOON ON THE CARDS, WITH A STRONG MIX OF WINDS MAKING THEMSELVES KNOWN. NELSON, YOU WILL BE WAKING TO A BIT OF FROST FIRST THING. YOU'RE IN FOR A FINE FRIDAY. BUT IT'S A SHOWERY ONE FOR THE REST OUT WEST. WEST AND SOU'WESTERLY WINDS. TEXTBOOK FINE AND FROSTY ONE ON THIS SIDE. IN THE NEGATIVES HERE, WITH SOME CRAZY TEMPERATURE TURNAROUNDS, THEN A FEW AFTERNOON SHOWERS FOR COASTAL CANTERBURY FROSTS ON THE MENU FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL. THEN FROM LATE MORNING, SHOWERS HIT SOUTHLAND, SPREADING TO THE REST FROM AFTERNOON. GUSTY WESTERLIES FOR THESE PARTS TOO. FRIDAY'S LOOKING FINE IN DUNEDIN, THEN SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS MOVE THROUGH. WESTERLIES GUSTING TO 90, THEN, AS WELL. CHRISTCHURCH, A VERY FROSTY START, BUT LOTS OF LOVELY SUNSHINE. SHOWERS ABOUT THE PENINSULA. SOU'WESTERS AFTER LUNCH. SUNSHINE FOR WELLINGTON, YES, BUT WINDY. THE SOUTHERLIES TURN STRONG NOR'WESTER BEFORE TURNING SOUTHERLY AGAIN IN THE EVENING. HAWKE'S BAY, OCCASIONAL EARLY RAIN SHIFTS OFF NICE AND PROMPTLY. SOU'WESTERS DIE OUT IN THE AFTERNOON. CLOUDY WITH THE ODD SHOWER FOR YOU, TAURANGA, THEN SOME FINER SPELLS. SOU'EASTERS WILL TURN WESTERLY FROM AFTERNOON. HAMILTON, CLOUDY WITH THE ODD SHOWER FOR YOU AS WELL. ALSO GETTING SOME FINER SPELLS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. RAIN TO START IN AUCKLAND, EASING TO THE ODD SHOWER WITH FINE SPELLS AFTER LUNCH. GUSTY SOU'WESTERS FROM THEN, AS WELL. ANOTHER MOSTLY SETTLED DAY FOR AUSTRALIA TOMORROW, THANKS TO A BIG, STRONG HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM, WITH SOME SHOWERS FOR QUEENSLAND. 30 AND FINE IN SAMOA TOMORROW, WITH A DECENT DOSE OF THE SUNNY STUFF. STILL A FEW FRIDAY SHOWERS IN THE MIX NOW. THE SOU'WESTERS WILL MEAN IT WON'T BE TOO WARM, BUT WE DO HAVE A GOOD FEW DAYS OF DRY WEATHER AHEAD OF US. THERE WILL BE A GOOD SMATTERING OF THE SUNNY STUFF TO ENJOY OVER THE WEEKEND AS AUSTRALIA'S RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES ITS APPROACH TOWARDS US. THERE WILL BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND THIS WEEKEND FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND, MAINLY FOR COASTAL AREAS, PUSHING THROUGH OTAGO LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. TONIGHT'S WEATHER PICTURE IS BROUGHT TO US BY OUR VERY OWN OLLIE RITCHIE, WHO SNAPPED THIS AT 6.36 THIS MORNING ON HIS RUN. HE CLOCKED 9.5km IN 52 MINUTES, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T LET ME SEE HIS STRAVA, SO I WILL CALL IT AN UNCONFIRMED RESULT, PENDING INVESTIGATION. YOU KEEP LOOKING INTO THAT. 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 JULIE TAYLOR AND JASON CONRAN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2026