TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` JAPAN'S FORMER LEADER IS GUNNED DOWN ON THE STREET. POLICE SCRAMBLE TO FIND A MOTIVE AMID SHOCK AT THE DEADLY VIOLENCE IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S SAFEST SOCIETIES. COVID LOOMS LARGE, AND MORE PATIENTS ARE ON THE WAY ` WE'RE INSIDE TWO OF OUR BUSIEST HOSPITALS AS THEY GEAR UP FOR A SECOND SURGE OF COVID. PLUS ` RUGGED UP FOR THE RUGBY. DUNEDIN IS HOSTING A SELL-OUT CROWD AS IRELAND TRIES TO KEEP THEIR SERIES HOPES ALIVE. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND KATE MCCULLOUGH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2022 JAPAN IS IN MOURNING AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF THE COUNTRY'S FORMER AND LONGEST SERVING PRIME MINISTER. SHINZO ABE WAS SHOT ON A STREET CORNER AS HE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR A COLLEAGUE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION. THE KILLING SENDING SHOCKWAVES THROUGH A COUNTRY THAT HAS EXTREMELY LOW LEVELS OF GUN VIOLENCE. YVONNE TAHANA REPORTS. ON AN ORDINARY STREET CORNER, SHINZO ABE APPEALS TO JAPANESE VOTERS. NOT FAR AWAY THIS MAN IS WAITING. AN UNTHINKABLE ACT IS ABOUT TO UNFOLD. SHOT TWICE, MR. ABE FALLS TO THE GROUND. SECURITY REACTS QUICKLY, AND AN IMPROVISED WEAPON IS FOUND NEARBY. A 41-YEAR-OLD MAN, TETSUYA YAMAGAMI'S BEEN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. POLICE FOUND MORE HOMEMADE WEAPONS IN HIS APARTMENT. TRANSLATOR: HE HELD A GRUDGE AGAINST A SPECIFIC ORGANISATION AND BELIEVED THE POLITICIAN WAS PART OF IT. THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER WAS FLOWN TO HOSPITAL, HIS WIFE RUSHING TO BE NEAR HIM. BUT HOURS LATER, THE 67-YEAR-OLD WAS DEAD. TRANSLATOR: MR. SHINZO ABE WAS TAKEN IN TODAY, AT 12.20 AT THE EMERGENCY CARE CENTRE. HE WAS IN A STATE OF CARDIAC ARREST. HE WAS GIVEN INTENSIVE CARE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE PASSED AWAY TODAY, AT 17.03. IN TOKYO THE CURRENT PRIME MINISTER - A FRIEND - HELD BACK TEARS. TI PRAYED THAT SOMEHOW HIS LIFE WOULD BE SPARED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I PRAYED THAT SOMEHOW HIS LIFE WOULD BE SPARED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE'S GONE. THIS IS A TERRIBLE DAY, I HAVE NO WORDS. THE ASSASSINATION PROMPTING AN OUTPOURING OF SORROW FROM WORLD LEADERS. TODAY, I'M KEEPING HIS WIFE AND FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS AND THE UNITED STATES IS STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR ALLY, JAPAN. MANY OTHERS POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING JACINDA ARDERN, WHO SHARED IMAGES OF THE PAIR TOGETHER. HIS HAWKISH VIEWS PUT HIM OFFSIDE WITH NEIGHBOURS CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA. HE PUSHED FREE TRADE AND HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. AND FOR A DECADE HE WAS THE DOMINANT FORCE IN JAPANESE POLITICS, STEPPING DOWN IN 202O DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS. IN JAPAN, CITIZENS REMEMBERING A LEADER PUSHED TO MOVE THE COUNTRY AWAY FROM ITS POST-WAR PACIFISM. I FEEL REALLY SORRY. FOR A LONG TIME HE HAD TRIED SO HARD TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY THRIVE AGAIN AND HE REALLY MADE MANY EFFORTS TOWARDS THAT. I'M VERY SORRY THAT HE'S GONE. I FEEL SHOCKED. JAPAN HAS SOME OF THE TIGHTEST GUN CONTROL LAWS IN THE WORLD, WITH ONLY ONE DEATH BY FIREARM RECORDED LAST YEAR IN THE COUNTRY OF 125 MILLION. I NEVER THOUGHT A GUN WOULD BE USED, USING A GUN IN JAPAN? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. THE IMPACT AND SHOCK OF TWO LOUD GUNSHOTS, LIKELY TO BE FELT IN JAPAN FOR SOME TIME. YVONNE TAHANA, 1 NEWS. ALREADY STRETCHED HOSPITALS ARE PREPARING FOR AN INCREASE IN ADMISSIONS IN THE COMING WEEKS, WITH CASES OF COVID-19 ON THE RISE. ONE MODELLER SAYS A NEW STRAIN OF COVID IS EMERGING SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD EVERY THREE MONTHS. TODAY, MORE THAN 9000 NEW CASES WERE REPORTED. THERE ARE MORE THAN 60,000 ACTIVE CASES IN THE COUNTRY ` THAT INCLUDES CASES IDENTIFIED IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS THAT ARE NOT YET CLASSIFIED AS RECOVERED. 570 PEOPLE ARE IN HOSPITAL AND 22 HAVE DIED WITH COVID. THE NUMBERS ARE CREEPING UP. THIS TIME LAST MONTH, THE AVERAGE OVER SEVEN DAYS WAS NEARLY 6000. TODAY, IT'S AROUND 8500 ` THIS AS THE LATEST VARIANTS ARE GETTING BETTER AT EVADING OUR IMMUNITY. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS NEW WAVES AREN'T UNEXPECTED AND THE COUNTRY IS PREPARED. NICOLE BREMNER HAS THE LATEST. NORTHLAND'S BUSY NURSES ARE ABOUT TO GET BUSIER. WE'VE GOT RISING COVID CASES AGAIN, WE'VE GOT INFLUENZA HITTING, AND WE'VE GOT STAFF SICKNESS BECAUSE OF THAT. FURTHER SOUTH, AT MIDDLEMORE HOSPITAL, A RISE IN COVID CASES IS ALSO ON THE RADAR. ONE OF THE SCENARIOS WOULD SEE IT GO HIGHER THAN THE` THAN WHAT WE SAW IN MARCH. WHAT WAS THE PEAK IN MARCH? FOR THE NORTHERN REGION, IT WAS ABOUT 12,000 CASES A DAY WE PEAKED AT, SO THE WORST SCENARIO WOULD SEE US REACHING THOSE LEVELS AGAIN. I THINK IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY, REALLY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT BE HEADING INTO A SECOND COVID PEAK OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. MIDDLEMORE'S ALREADY DEALT WITH MORE COVID CASES THAN ANY OTHER HOSPITAL, AND THEY'RE PREPARING FOR A SURGE. THIS HOSPITAL EXPANDED TO ABOUT FIVE WARDS' WORTH OF COVID, SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN. AT THIS STAGE, THAT'S NOT THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE SCENARIOS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR. DEDICATING FIVE WARDS TO THE TREATMENT OF COVID PATIENTS MEANS AROUND 150 PEOPLE IN NEED OF HOSPITAL CARE. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON CURRENT CASES, BUT IF EVERYONE DOES THEIR BIT, THE ORANGE SETTING IS ENOUGH TO KEEP US SAFE. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY MASK WEARING IS STILL IMPORTANT, AS IS KEEPING FLU AND COVID VACCINATIONS UP TO DATE. WE REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MOVE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE WITH THEIR HERD IMMUNITY THAT OCCURS WITH EVERYONE BEING VACCINATED. AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF COVID GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON. DR JACKSON SAYS NEW STRAINS LIKE THE BA.4 AND BA.5 VARIANTS WILL KEEP EMERGING. WE SEEM TO BE PRODUCING ABOUT ONE EVERY THREE MONTHS AROUND THE WORLD, AND AS LONG AS IT'S STILL SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD AND A LOT OF COUNTRIES HAVE KIND OF GIVEN UP TAKING ANY SORT OF PRECAUTIONS AGAINST IT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE CONSTANTLY MORE AND MORE. THE FOCUS NOW ON THE COMING WEEKS, WITH COVID CASES CONTINUING TO CLIMB BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF AUGUST. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. POLICE HAVE CHARGED A MAN WITH MURDER AFTER A DAYLIGHT ASSAULT IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF GREY LYNN THIS MORNING. THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED AT ABOUT 8.30 IN THIS CENTRAL CITY STREET. POLICE SAY A WOMAN DIED AT THE SCENE. ONE WITNESS TOLD 1 NEWS PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO SHIELD THE WOMAN FROM THE ALLEGED OFFENDER, A MAN WHO WAS TASERED BY POLICE BEFORE BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. POLICE ARE ALSO INVESTIGATING ANOTHER SHOOTING IN AUCKLAND, THIS TIME IN THE SOUTHEAST SUBURB OF FLATBUSH. SHOTS WERE FIRED AT THIS PROPERTY AT A DOWNSTAIRS WINDOW AND AT LEAST TWO UPPER FLOOR ROOMS. LOCALS HEARD GUNFIRE AT AROUND 10 LAST NIGHT. LAST NIGHT, I HEARD FOUR SHOTS. A BIG GUN, YOU KNOW. AND AFTER LIKE` IN THREE SECONDS, THE CAR DRIVE AWAY FAST. FLATBUSH IS ONE OF SEVERAL SUBURBS CAUGHT UP IN RECENT GANG VIOLENCE. POLICE TODAY REPEATED THEIR APPEAL FOR INFORMATION ON ILLEGALLY OWNED FIREARMS. 'MATIKE MAI MATARIKI'... THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA... HAS BEEN THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S TE PATI MAORI ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THE PARTY SAYS IT'S ENERGISED AND CONFIDENT.. AFTER RECENT POLLS SUGGEST IT COULD HOLD THE BALANCE OF POWER AT THE NEXT ELECTION. KATIE BRADFORD REPORTS. TE PATI MAORI, STANDING PROUD AS 2022 SEES IT REVITALISED AND ENERGISED AHEAD OF A 2023 ELECTION CAMPAIGN, KICKING OFF WITH FIGHTING WORDS FROM A NEW PRESIDENT, BUT AN OLD POLITICAL FACE. MAORI PARTY MUST, MUST TURN THAT AROUND. AND THERE'S ONLY ONE PARTY THAT CAN DO THAT. AIN'T THE GREENS, AIN'T LABOUR, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THAT DIRTY ROTTEN ACT PARTY. RECENT ONE NEWS KANTAR PUBLIC POLLS SUGGEST TE PATI MAORI WILL BE KEY TO EITHER A LABOUR GREEN OR A NATIONAL ACT COMBO. AND THAT THE CO-LEADERS BELIEVE, IS HELPING A REGENERATION OF THE PARTY. THE MOVEMENT WAS ON THE RISE ALREADY, BUT WHAT IT HAS DONE IS HELP TO CONSOLIDATE THE HARD WORK. ABOUT 250 MEMBERS ENJOYED PANELS FEATURING A WHO'S WHO OF MAORIDOM, AND DISCUSSING SOME KEY TOPICS. WHAT DOES DECOLONISING LOOK LIKE FOR US NOW IN AOTEAROA? BUT A NOTICEABLE SHIFT, WITH A YOUNGER CROWD THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. SO IT'S NOT JUST SINGING TO WARM THE CROWD UP, BUT LEARNING A NEW TIK TOK. WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS JUST AS MANY YOUNG AS YOU DO AS OLD. 70% OF MAORI ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 40, AND I PUT THAT THIS ROOM REFLECTS THAT. RAWIRI WAITITI DETERMINED TO KEEP THE KEY SEAT OF WAIARIKI, BUT AWARE THE PARTY ALSO NEEDS TO SNATCH MAORI ELECTORATE SEATS FROM LABOUR. WE MUST PUT OUR HAND UP TO STAND IN ALL THE SEATS. WE MUST BE COMPETITIVE ON ALL THE SEATS. NOT ONLY TO SHOW AOTEAROA THAT TE PATI MAORI ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE, BUT IT'S TO SHOW OUR MOKOPUNA THAT WE MUST ALWAYS STAND. THE FOCUS ON THE FIGHT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION AND NOT LETTING THE DIVISIVENESS OF ISSUES SUCH AS THREE WATERS REFORM AND CO-GOVERNANCE BRING THEM DOWN. THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE GOT A WHOLE 'NOTHER DIVISIVE RHETORIC, BUT THAT'S FOR THEM TO WORRY ABOUT. FOR US, WE ARE ABOUT PROVIDING A FUTURE FOCUS. DETERMINED TO KEEP DANCING TO THE TUNE THAT ENSURES PROGRESS FOR MAORI AND AOTEAROA. KATY BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. HMNZS AOTEAROA IS IN HAWAII FOR THE START OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED TO BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL MARITIME EXERCISE. NAVIES FROM 26 NATIONS ARE INVOLVED, PRACTISING EVERYTHING THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION MIGHT NEED ` FROM DISASTER RELIEF TO ANTI-SUBMARINE TACTICS. SAM KELWAY IS IN HONOLULU AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. SAM, TELL US ABOUT NEW ZEALAND'S INVOLVEMENT UP THERE. NEW ZEALAND HAS SAID THE AGM INTO THIS, IT'S ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD AND PROVIDE SUPPLIES SUCH AS FOOD AND WATER AND AMMUNITION. WE DID HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND WE SPOKE TO A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIA THERE, AND WE EXPECTED SOME TOP US OFFICIALS. THEY SEEM PRETTY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING SO FAR. AN EXPERIENCED HUMANITARIAN RELIEF SHIP, THEY BRING A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO DO THOSE OPERATIONS, WHICH WILL HELP THE REST OF THE NAVIES WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH EXPERIENCE. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, SAM? THEY WILL GO TO SEE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY WILL ALSO GO ONTO THE VESSEL AS WELL AND BRINGING THOSE PICTURES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. 26 NATIONS, 38 SHIPS, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO ON THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BEHIND ME THERE. THAT ITSELF HAS 5000 CREW. IT IS 200 M LONG AND ABOUT 60 TO 70 M WIDE. THEY WILL BASICALLY PLAY A GAME OF BATTLESHIPS LIKE YOU AND I MIGHT HAVE PLAYED WHEN WE WERE KIDS, AND THEY WILL GO AND COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WORKING COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PACIFIC REMAINS NICE AND SAFE. A BUSY COUPLE OF DAYS AHEAD OF US, WE WILL BRING YOU ALL THE ACTION AND EXERCISES ON ONE USE AND BREAKFASTS. THANKS, SAM, LIVE FROM HONOLULU. RUSSIAN FORCES IN UKRAINE ARE EXPECTED TO LAUNCH A NEW OFFENSIVE TO SEIZE MORE TERRITORY IN THE COUNTRY'S EAST. AS HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES, UKRAINIAN FORCES ARE UTILISING CHEAP DRONES AND HOMEMADE BOMBS TO TARGET RUSSIAN TROOPS. THE BBC'S JONATHAN BEALE REPORTS. NEAR THE FRONT LINE, CLOSE TO THE CITY OF SLOVYANSK, UKRAINIAN TROOPS PREPARE TO TARGET RUSSIAN POSITIONS. THEY KNOW THIS NEXT BATTLE WILL BE CRUCIAL. I ASSUME THAT THE SLOVYANSK IS THE NEXT BIG... AIM FOR RUSSIANS. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP PUTIN? SURE. YOU CAN? WE WILL. BLASTS OF ARTILLERY ` THE FAMILIAR SOUNDS OF THIS WAR. BUT THERE'S ALSO A QUIETER, HARDER TO SEE BATTLE INVOLVING DRONES AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE, JAMMING AND TRACKING SIGNALS. THE RUSSIANS HAVE A LOT OF STUFF FOR BLOCKING THE DRONES, FOR BLOCKING THE SIGNAL WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL, WITH THE CAMERA AND SO ON. IT'S ALSO A DANGEROUS GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK, AS WE SOON FOUND OUT. (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRR) JUST HEARING SOME SOUND OF AIRCRAFT. THEY TOLD US, THE UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS HERE, TO TAKE COVER UNDER THE TREES. THE RUSSIANS ARE FLYING OVER THESE POSITIONS, TRYING TO SPOT WHERE THEY ARE. IT'S, UH, RUSSIANS... THEY'VE BEEN USING DRONES, SMALL, CHEAP ONES TO SPOT ENEMY POSITIONS AND DIRECT ARTILLERY. THEY'VE ALREADY LOST FIVE, BUT THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE GETTING RESULTS. BACK AT BASE THEY'RE EVEN MAKING THEIR OWN BOMBS TO TARGET THE RUSSIANS. ONE TANK MAY BE... UP TO 100 SOLDIERS AND FIVE OR SIX AMMUNITION, YEAH. OK. SO WE HAVE A GOOD RESULTS FOR THE 10 PEOPLE. THE RUSSIANS AREN'T JUST TRACKING THEIR DRONES. THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO JAM COMMUNICATIONS. BUT U.S TECHNOLOGY'S HELPING OVERCOME THAT. AT ANOTHER SECRET LOCATION, THEY'RE USING ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF STARLINK SATELLITE UNITS PROVIDED BY ELON MUSK. RUSSIA'S ALREADY TARGETING THE CITY OF SLOVYANSK. IT STILL OUT-GUNS UKRAINE AND HAS THE ADVANTAGE IN ELECTRONIC WARFARE. HOME-GROWN INGENUITY AND WESTERN SUPPORT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. BUT IS IT SUFFICIENT TO HALT THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE? A SMALL COMMUNITY NEAR CHRISTCHURCH IS PROTESTING OVER A PLAN TO BUILD AN INTENSIVE FARMING OPERATION NEAR THEIR HOMES. THE PROPOSAL WOULD SEE FOUR COMPOSTING FEED BARNS ESTABLISHED IN THE PRISTINE LOCATION, HOUSING MORE THAN 2000 COWS. THOMAS MEAD REPORTS. KAITUNA VALLEY ON BANKS PENINSULA ` IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE, BUT IS NOW HOME TO A BITTER DISPUTE. WE FOUND OUT BY ACCIDENT, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OURSELVES, BUT ALSO WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING PROPOSED. A LOCAL FARMER WANTS TO BUILD AN INTENSIVE CATTLE OPERATION HERE WITH FOUR COMPOSTING FEED BARNS, A LITTLE LIKE THESE ONES, HOUSING 2200 COWS. THE IDEA'S ANGERING MANY IN THE COMMUNITY... BANKS PENINSULA IS OUR SPECIAL PLACE. ...SPARKING A PROTEST LAST MONTH. RESIDENTS ARGUE THE LAND IS PRONE TO FLOODING AND FEAR CONTAMINATION COULD LEAD TO THE NEARBY LAKE ELLESMERE. INDUSTRIAL FARMING WITH 2000, 2200 CATTLE LIVING 24 HOURS A DAY IN A BARN IS NOT THE RIGHT KIND OF AGRICULTURE. LAKE ELLESMERE AT THE MOMENT ALREADY IS SO TOXIC. I CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE, IF THERE'S FLOODING, WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO THE AREA. THE CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED TWO BARNS AND IS NOW CONSIDERING A VARIATION ALLOWING ANOTHER TWO. ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY IS CONSIDERING IT TOO. OFFICIALS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO PUBLICLY NOTIFY THE CONSENT. THIS IS AN RMA PROCESS, AND THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO PUBLICLY NOTIFY THIS IS MADE BY OUR STAFF. THE FARMER, BRENT THOMAS, PICTURED HERE, SAYS IT WILL PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY WAGYU BEEF FOR THE EXPORT MARKET. IN A STATEMENT, HE SAID ` AND FLOODING DOES NOT OCCUR WHERE THE BARNS ARE PLANNED, SO NEARBY WATERWAYS ARE PROTECTED. BOTH COUNCILS SAY THEY ARE FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS, BUT SO FAR, NEITHER HAS CONSULTED THE PUBLIC. WE WILL SEE THE OPERATION FROM OUR HOUSE, FROM BEDROOMS, KITCHEN, OUTSIDE, LIVING AREA. THE DISPUTE IS SURE TO CONTINUE AS TWO VERY DIFFERENT VISIONS OF THE FUTURE COLLIDE. THOMAS MEAD, 1 NEWS. DUNEDIN IS HOSTING ITS BIGGEST RUGBY GAME IN ALMOST A DECADE TONIGHT. THE ALL BLACKS ARE IN TOWN, ALONG WITH THE IRISH RUGBY TEAM ` A SIGHT THAT WILL WARM THE HEARTS OF SOUTH ISLAND RUGBY FANS. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE IS IN FORSYTH BAR STADIUM. HOW ARE YOU GOING, MICHELLE? I CAN CONFIRM THAT IT'S VERY COLD AND WET HERE IN DUNEDIN. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW BECAUSE WE ARE INSIDE AND UNDER THE ROOF HERE AT FORSYTH BARR STADIUM. STADIUM THERE ARE 28,000 TICKETS THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD. IN THE SERIES AGAINST THE IRISH, AND IT IS CERTAINLY LIT UP THE CITY TODAY. WE CAUGHT UP WITH SOME FANS. I THINK THEY WILL WIN. IRISH VICTORY. 20 POINT ONE. BRING IT HOME, OR BLACKS. SHOULD BE AN AWESOME GAME. WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO WIN? IRELAND. WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO TO WIN? SCORE LOADS OF TRIES. ONE MORE WIN AND THE ALL BLACKS WILL WRAP UP THE SERIES, IT WILL BE DONE AND DUSTED, AND IT IS LOOKING PRETTY LIKELY. THEY HAVEN'T LOST A MATCH UNDER THE ROOF HERE EVER. THE IRISH WILL BE COMING OUT HERE FIRING, AND WILL LOOK TO LEVEL THE SERIES. THANKS, MICHELLE, IN FOR A GOOD NIGHT, LIVE FROM DUNEDIN. ELON MUSK PULLS OUT OF HIS CONTROVERSIAL DEAL TO TAKE OVER TWITTER, AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY'S NOT HAPPY. NEXT ` WHY THE WORLD'S RICHEST MAN COULD NOW BE FORCED TO COUGH UP A BILLION DOLLARS. DIGGING IN ON DAY ONE OF A NATIVE PLANTING PROJECT THAT'LL TAKE YEARS TO COMPLETE. HOW THESE TREES WILL HELP RESTORE THE HEALTH OF A NEARBY HARBOUR. PLUS WE MEET WITH 21 PUPPIES. TWITTER SAYS IT'S LAUNCHING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ELON MUSK AFTER HE PULLED OUT OF A $70B DEAL TO BUY THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY. THE WORLD'S RICHEST MAN MAY BE IN FOR A BIG BILL, THANKS TO A BILLION-DOLLAR 'BREAK-UP FEE'. WILSON LONGHURST REPORTS. (DANCE MUSIC PLAYS, CHEERING) THE TESLA TITAN NO LONGER WANTS HIS HANDS ON TWITTER TOO. ELON MUSK IS BAILING OUT OF HIS $44b DEAL TO BUY TWITTER. ENDING WEEKS OF SPECULATION, THINGS HAD SOURED BETWEEN THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY AND THE WEALTHIEST MAN ON EARTH. IN APRIL, BOTH PARTIES AGREED ELON MUSK WOULD BUY TWITTER, BUT THE DEAL QUICKLY HIT SPEED BUMPS. HE THINKS IT'S MORE LIKE 20%, AND MR MUSK'S LAWYERS CLAIM THEY'RE BEING KEPT IN THE DARK ON THOSE GHOST PROFILES. TWITTER ADMITS IT'S REMOVING MORE THAN A MILLION ACCOUNTS A DAY, BUT IT'S NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. HE'S TRIED TO WALK AWAY, AND THE WAY THESE CONTRACTS ARE STRUCTURED, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR BUYERS TO WALK AWAY. NOW PREDICTIONS OF A MARKET FREEFALL. IT'S GONNA BE A SHOCK TO TWITTER. THIS IS GONNA BE A GAME OF THRONES COURT BATTLE BETWEEN MUSK AND THE TWITTER BOARD. WHETHER A BLUNT TACTIC FOR A BETTER DEAL OR A GENUINE WITHDRAWAL,... (CHEERING) ...ELON MUSK MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DANCE HIS WAY OUT OF THIS ONE EASILY. WILSON LONGHURST, 1 NEWS. THE RACE TO FIND THE UK'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER IS UNDERWAY WITH THREE CONSERVATIVE MPS PUTTING THEMSELVES FORWARD TO REPLACE BORIS JOHNSON. FORMER CHANCELLOR RISHI SUNAK THROWING HIS HAT IN THE RING TODAY. I'M STANDING TO BE THE NEXT LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND YOUR PRIME MINISTER. HE'S EXPECTED TO BE JOINED BY A LONG LIST OF CONTENDERS WITH A TIMETABLE FOR THE LEADERSHIP CONTEST TO BE CONFIRMED NEXT WEEK. IT COMES AS THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, SIR KEIR STARMER, WAS TODAY CLEARED OF BREAKING COVID LOCKDOWN RULES IN 2021. THE LABOUR LEADER HAD PLEDGED TO QUIT IF HE'D BEEN FINED BY POLICE. VOLUNTEERS BRAVED WET WEATHER TODAY TO BEGIN AN AMBITIOUS TREE PLANTING MISSION IN PORIRUA. IT'S HOPED THE NEW PLANTS WILL ONE DAY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE HARBOUR. LARISSA HOWIE EXPLAINS. THEY DIDN'T LET THE RAIN STOP THEM DIGGING IN. THIS HELPS THE PLANTS GROW. SO LET'S NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE RAIN. THESE PORIRUA VOLUNTEERS ARE PLANTING THOUSANDS OF NATIVE TREES ON BANKS AROUND CANNONS CREEK. THE CREEK RUNS INTO A DIRTY PORIRUA HARBOUR. THE SEABEDS CAN'T BE FISHED FOR NGATI TOA ANYMORE. WE'VE GOT SO MUCH SALT AND SEDIMENT THAT HAS WASHED DOWN THESE STREAMS. WE'VE LOST A LOT OF INDIGENOUS BIODIVERSITY OUT WITH THE NGAHERE ` THE FOREST CLEARING FOR FARMING PRACTICES. SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT THAT PROBABLY WASN'T THE BEST DECISION TO MAKE BACK IN THE DAY. THE COUNCIL AND LOCAL IWI ARE JOINING FORCES WITH SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES TO RESTORE THE HARBOUR. THE GOAL IS TO PLANT AROUND 6 MILLION TREES ON BANKS LIKE THIS SURROUNDING THE HARBOUR OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. ONCE THEY GROW, THEY'LL BLOCK SEDIMENT FROM SEEPING INTO THE WATERWAYS. IT'S THE SEDIMENT WHICH HAS PLAGUED PORIRUA HARBOUR FOR YEARS. SEDIMENT LEVELS ARE THE KILLER FOR OUR HARBOUR. ALL OF THE PLANTS THAT OUR FISH DEPEND ON FOR NURSERIES ARE GETTING SMOTHERED BY SEDIMENT. WE'VE HAD 40,000 TONS IN JUST FROM ONE STREAM. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF 10-TON TRUCKS DEPOSITING SEDIMENT INTO OUR HARBOUR. BE NICE TO COME BACK WHEN I COME AND VISIT THE FAMILY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH HERE, AND IT'LL ALL BE NATIVE. BE ABLE TO HEAR ALL THE BIRDS, SEE ALL THE ANIMALS THAT YOU ONLY LOOK AT IN BOOKS. BUT IT'LL TAKE HUNDREDS MORE PLANTING DAYS LIKE THIS TO GET THERE. WE'VE CAUSED THIS. SO IF EVERYONE GETS OUT HERE AND UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT OUR NATURAL AREAS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TODAY TO REPAIR YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. LARISSA HOWIE, 1 NEWS. CHINA IS CONTINUING TO PURSUE ITS ZERO-COVID STRATEGY, DESPITE THE ONGOING IMPACT ON ITS ECONOMY AND CITIZENS. MASS TESTING REMAINS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE AS AUTHORITIES LOOK TO STAMP OUT INFECTIONS BEFORE THEY CAN SPREAD. KATIE STEVENSON SPOKE TO ONE KIWI WHO'S JUST RETURNED HOME FROM SHANGHAI. A WELCOME DELIVERY. HERE COMES MY WATER. SHANNA AND HER NEIGHBOUR SHARING SUPPLIES DURING SHANGHAI'S RECENT 62-DAY LOCKDOWN. IT WAS VERY STRICT, YEAH. AND WE HAD TO BE TESTED EVERY DAY. WE HAD TO DO EITHER AN ANTIGEN TESTS OR A PCR TEST, AND WE HAD TO BE READY WHENEVER THEY WERE ON THE HORN YELLING AT US LIKE, 'OH, COME DOWN FOR A TEST.' AND SO IT WOULD BE FROM 6 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, OR IT COULD BE 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. CHINA STILL HAS A ZERO-COVID POLICY WITH MASS TESTING, TRACKING AND STRICT ISOLATION. JUST A HANDFUL OF CASES CAN SPARK CITYWIDE LOCKDOWNS. CASES IN SHANGHAI ARE, ONCE AGAIN, INCREASING. THEIR ZERO-COVID POLICY WAS WORKING QUITE WELL TWO YEARS AGO. WORKING PRETTY WELL ONE YEAR AGO. IT'S NOT WORKING AT ALL RIGHT NOW. AND IT'S CAUSING MASSIVE DISRUPTION, DISLOCATION AND SOME ANGER AMONG THE CHINESE POPULATION. POSITIVE CASES ARE SENT TO ISOLATION CENTRES. SHANNA SAYS THEIR REPUTATION WAS TERRIBLE. ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS TAKEN TO A CAMP, AND THERE WASN'T ENOUGH BEDS, SO THEY PUT A COT BESIDE THE TRASH, AND THAT'S WHERE SHE WAS MEANT TO SLEEP AND GET BETTER. THE STRICT APPROACH IS ALSO AFFECTING THE ECONOMY. WHILE CHINA HAD EXPECTED 5.5% GDP GROWTH THIS YEAR, IN ALL REALITY, IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSER TO THREE OR TWO. BUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT ECONOMIC SACRIFICE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR HOSPITALS DON'T GET OVERWHELMED AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY DON'T END UP WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, OR EVEN MILLIONS OF CHINESE DYING FROM COVID. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD IS JUST GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH. FOR SHANNA, BEING HOME HAS BEEN A WELCOME CHANGE. IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE. HAVEN'T SEEN MY FRIENDS' KIDS AND MY NEPHEWS, AND SEEING HOW MUCH BIGGER THEY'VE GOTTEN IN THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS SINCE I'VE MANAGED TO SEE THEM. CATCHING UP FOR THE LOST TIME TAKEN BY THE PANDEMIC. KATIE STEVENSON, 1 NEWS. 21 PUPPIES DISCOVERED AFTER BEING ABANDONED LAST MONTH, HAVE TODAY HAD A HAPPY REUNION, ALONG WITH THEIR FOSTER FAMILIES. WHEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HEAD TO THEIR FOREVER HOMES. THEN WE REVIEW 'THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER', DIRECTED BY OUR OWN TAIKA WAITITI. KIDS, GET YOUR POPCORN OUT. LET ME TELL YOU THE STORY OF THE SPACE VIKING. SO DOES THE FILM'S QUIRKY HUMOUR HIT THE MARK? AND WHILE IT WAS WARM IN PARTS OF THE NORTH TODAY ` 20 IN WHANGAREI AND HAWKES BAY, 6 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE ` THE SOUTHERLY TOOK HOLD IN THE SOUTH AND IS TRACKING UP THE COUNTRY TOMORROW, WITH MORE MESSY WEATHER FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. I'LL HAVE ALL THE DETAIL AFTER SPORT. IT WAS THE BIGGEST SINGLE ANIMAL-DUMPING IN THE PAST DECADE. 21 PUPPIES, DISCOVERED ON THE BANKS OF THE WAIMAKARIRI RIVER, ALMOST THREE WEEKS AGO. BUT AFTER BEING RESCUED AND SENT TO FOSTER HOMES, THEY WERE REUNITED IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY. LISA DAVIES WAS THERE. TRUE PUPPY LOVE. AWWWWW. TINGED WITH A LITTLE SIBLING RIVALRY. AS THE CUTEST OF SURVIVORS WERE BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER, EACH ONE NAMED AFTER A HARRY POTTER CHARACTER FROM HAGRID TO HEDWIG. YOU'RE SO CUTE. THE POTTER PUPPIES POSING FOR A FAMILY PHOTO WITH THEIR FOSTER PARENTS, WHO'VE OPENED THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES TO THE IRRESISTIBLE ORPHANS. EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE THEIR FAMILY, IT'S THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SO WE THOUGHT HOW MUCH FUN WOULD IT BE TO PLAY WITH THAT MANY PUPPIES? WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE THEM A BETTER START NOW. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE SPCA THREE WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE EMACIATED, AND FLEA RIDDEN. THEY WERE SO SKINNY WE WERE LIKE ARE THEY STAFFY CHIHUAHUA MIXES, BUT THEY GREW OUT OF THAT PHASE VERY QUICKLY. PUP PU PUP! NO-ONE IN THIS ROOM COULD BELIEVE PEOPLE WOULD BE SO CALLOUS, DUMPING AT LEAST TWO LITTERS OUT IN THE COLD. OH I LOVE HAVING PUPPIES, IT'S HARD GIVING THEM BACK. I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN DO THAT TO DUMP LITTLE PUPPIES. DISGUSTED REALLY, ABOUT HOW PEOPLE COULD DO SUCH A THING. BUT ALL OF THIS LOVE HAS SEEN SOME OF THE DOGS DOUBLE IN SIZE NOW. ITS CRAZY TO THINK THEY'RE THE SAME LITTLE PUPPIES THAT WERE SO TIRED AND LETHARGIC AND FULL OF WORMS. IN ABOUT A MONTH, ALL OF THESE PUPPIES INCLUDING LITTLE PYGMY PUFF HERE WILL BE READY FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES. THEY JUST HAVE TO GET THEM DESEXED AND VACCINATED, AND THEY'RE READY FOR YOU. IF YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF THEM, JUST CONTACT THE SPCA. IT'S LIKE PUPPY THERAPY, YOU JUST FEEL SO JOYFUL. YOU JUST FEEL SO MUCH LOVE. IT WAS CERTAINLY VERY HARD TO LEAVE HERE WITHOUT ONE, LISA DAVIES, ONE NEWS. THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER HIT NEW ZEALAND CINEMAS THIS WEEK. IT'S DIRECTED BY OUR VERY OWN TAIKA WAITITI AND INCORPORATES PLENTY OF HIS TRADEMARK HUMOUR. HERE'S OUR FILM REVIEWER, RICHARD MARTIN. KIDS, GET THE POPCORN OUT. LET ME TELL YOU THE STORY OF THE SPACE VIKING. THOR IS BACK, AND HE'S BROUGHT HIS OLD PAL TAIKA WAITITI WITH HIM. AFTER THE SMASH HIT SUCCESS OF 'THOR: RAGNAROK', TRANS-TASMAN BESTIES HEMSWORTH AND WAITITI HAVE RETEAMED FOR 'THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER'. STARTED THIS JOURNEY 10, 11 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S BEEN A JOY TO RECREATE THE CHARACTER EACH TIME, AND IN PARTICULAR, WORK WITH TAIKA AND REALLY DO SOMETHING REALLY DIFFERENT AND FRESH. AND THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. THIS TIME AROUND, THE STORY PITS THOR AGAINST GORR, THE GOD BUTCHER, WHO, AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, WANTS TO BUTCHER ALL GODS. ALL GODS WILL DIE. THINGS GET COMPLICATED WHEN THOR'S EX-GIRLFRIEND SHOWS UP LOOKING A LOT MORE SUPERPOWERED THAN WHEN WE LAST SAW HER. JANE?! NOW, I WISH I COULD SIT HERE AND SPIEL SOME UNDYING PRAISE FOR THE FILM, BUT MY FEELINGS ARE COMPLICATED. NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK ILL OF TAIKA WAITITI ON NATIONAL TELEVISION IN NEW ZEALAND. I'M NOT INSANE. BUT THE FILM'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG. 'LOVE AND THUNDER' DOUBLES DOWN ON ALMOST EVERYTHING FROM 'THOR: RAGNAROK'. THE VISUALS ARE MORE STRIKING; THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE STRONGER, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE JOKES. BUT THAT ALSO MEANS THERE ARE MORE THAT FALL FLAT. (SCOFFS) YEAH, RIGHT. HAVING SAID THAT, THIS ISN'T JUST 'RAGNAROK' AGAIN. 'LOVE AND THUNDER' IS ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS AND WHERE TO GO NEXT, WHEREAS 'RAGNAROK' WAS WHERE WE'VE BEEN. YOU KNOW, AS AN AUDIENCE, I DON'T WANNA SEE SOMETHING FAMILIAR. I WANNA SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I WANNA BE ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT AND HAVE IT BE UNEXPECTED. YEAH. IF IT'S THE SAME AGAIN AND AGAIN, THEN WHAT'S THE POINT? WITH MARVEL FILMS, THERE'S SUCH A TIGHT QUALITY CONTROL. EVEN THE WORST ONES ARE PRETTY GOOD. AND DON'T GET ME WRONG ` THIS IS FAR FROM ONE OF THE WORST ONES. I NEED TO FIGURE OUT... EXACTLY WHO I AM. RICHARD MARTIN, 1 NEWS. WE'RE LIVE INDOORS IN JUST A MOMENT. FROM A 16-YEAR-OLD AT HASTINGS BOYS HIGH IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A FLASH TO THE ALL BLACKS. TWO OF FOLAU FAKATAVA'S CLOSEST MENTORS ARE WITH US BEFORE HIS BIG NIGHT AHEAD. PLUS ` THE GOLDEN RUN ENDS AT WIMBLEDON FOR A SPECIAL KIWI FAMILY. AND WHAT CAN'T HE DO? NBA MEGASTAR STEPH CURRY NAILS A NEW KIND OF JUMP SHOT. NAU MAI KI NGA KORERERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. AND TO TEST MATCH SATURDAY NIGHT ` DUNEDIN PLAYING HOST TO THE ALL BLACKS' SECOND CLASH WITH THE IRISH, WHO ARE DESPERATE TO IMPROVE ON LAST WEEKEND. IT MIGHT BE COLD, IT MIGHT BE WET, BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS UNDER THE ROOF AT FORSYTH BARR STADIUM IN DUNEDIN, WHICH IS WHERE MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE JOINS US FROM LIVE. MICHELLE. GOOD EVENING. YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT PNO THE CONDITIONS TO BE PERFECT HERE AT FORSYTH BARR STADIUM. WHICH HAS WAITED 4 YEARS TO HOST. IT'S GONNA BE FAST PACE AND HIGH TEMPO. HERE IS GRANT FOX. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS TONIGHT? IRELAND WILL LIFT. THEY GOT OUR RESPONSE. THEY'LL RESPOND. WE NEED A LIFT. IF WE DELIVER WHAT WE DELIVERED IT WON'T BE GOOD ENOUGH. IT'LL BE A CRACKER TONIGHT. I JUST THINK THEY'LL BRING MORE INTENSITY. THE INTENSITY LEVELS WILL LIFT BUT YOU EXPECT THAT. NEXT WEEK WILL BE YOUR FINAL TEST WITH THE ALL BLACKS. WHERE'S YOUR FOCUS GONNA BE? IT'LL BE NEAT IF HE CAN CARRY ON FOR ANOTHER WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME GRANT. ALL BLACK SELECTOR AND TONIGHT ALTHOUGHT THE ALL BLACKS HAVE NEVER LOST UNDER THE ROOF THE IRISH HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR SUCCESS HERE. THANKS, MICHELLE. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE LIVE FROM DUNEDIN. A SPECIAL NIGHT AHEAD FOR ONE ALL BLACK DEBUTANT ` HIGHLANDERS HALFBACK FOLAU FAKATAVA PLAYS OFF THE BENCH, HIS GAMBLE COMING TO NEW ZEALAND AS A TEENAGER PAYING OFF. HE'S BECOME ONE OF THE MOST EYE-CATCHING PLAYERS IN WORLD RUGBY. COUPLE OF HARD METRES. FAKATAVA HAVING A GO. HE'S OVER! THE NON-STOP HALFBACK ARRIVED JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AGO FROM TONGA ON SCHOLARSHIP TO HASTINGS BOYS' HIGH. I MET HIM THE FIRST DAY I WALKED IN AND THOUGHT, 'WHO'S THIS KID? HE IS OUT THE GATE!' IT'S HARD TO FATHOM, LIKE 15 YEARS OF AGE, COMING, LEAVING EVERYTHING YOU KNOW, LEAVING HOME, GOING TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, SPEAKING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE ` WITH JUST A BELIEF AND DESIRE TO PLAY FOOTY AND BE AN ALL BLACK. YES, HE HAD A MAGIC TOUCH BACK THEN AS WELL. DESPITE HOMESICKNESS, A LOCAL TONGAN FAMILY, THE SCHOOL AND THEN THE HAWKE'S BAY UNION TOOK FAKATAVA UNDER THEIR WING. HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH BECAME HIS NPC COACH. THE AMOUNT OF TIMES I WALKED INTO THE CHANGING ROOM AT LUNCHTIME AND HE WAS CUTTING GUYS' HAIR TO GET SOME EXTRA MONEY. I RECKON THAT FIRST YEAR, WE WENT THROUGH A DOZEN PAIRS OF BOOTS FOR HIM, BECAUSE HE WOULD JUST GIVE THEM AWAY TO OTHER KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND HE HAD NOTHING. MAGPIES AND HIGHLANDERS SKIPPER ASH DIXON MADE SURE FAKATAVA HEADED SOUTH FOR SUPER RUGBY IN 2019, CONVINCING THEN HIGHLANDERS COACH AARON MAUGER TO SIGN HIM UP. WE WERE TALKING AND TALKING AND TALKING; HE HADN'T SEEN A LOT OF HIM, AND I SAID, 'YOU'VE GOTTA TRUST ME, 'AND YOU'VE GOTTA SIGN THIS GUY.' I COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL IN THIS KID, LIKE HE JUST NEEDED NURTURING I GUESS, AND A BIT OF HELP. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INSTINCT AND PLAYING WHAT'S IN FRONT OF HIM ` WILL HE DO THAT TONIGHT? HE WILL ALWAYS BACK HIMSELF AND EXPRESS HIMSELF, AND I THINK THE ALL BLACKS WILL GIVE HIM THE KEYS TO DO THAT. FROM NUKUA'LOFA TO NORTH DUNEDIN, HASTINGS IN-BETWEEN, FOLAU FAKATAVA REALISES A DREAM TONIGHT IN HIS NEW HOME. A FEW RAISED EYEBROWS AND PERHAPS SOME EXTRA NAMES JOTTED DOWN IN THE BLACK FERNS WORLD CUP SQUAD AFTER THEIR TRIAL MATCH IN PUKEKOHE. UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF THE NATIONAL COACHES, TEAM RAWATA, HERE IN BLACK, PUTTING OPPONENTS NGALI-NGALI TO THE SWORD. THEIR EFFORT LED BY FIRST FIVE VICTORIA SUBTRIZKY-NAFATALI, WHO HASN'T PLAYED FOR THE FERNS SINCE THEY WON THE WORLD CUP IN 2017. FORMER SKIPPER AND LOCK ELOISE BLACKWELL ALSO IMPRESSING AS A DOMINANT FORWARD PACK SET THE PLATFORM FOR A BIG WIN. KALOUNIVALE. SHE GETS IT TO DU PLESSIS. SOME FANCY FOOTWORK AND SUPPORT PLAY FROM ELOISE BLACKWELL! WHAT A TRY TO RAWATA. WAYNE SMITH AND CO. NO DOUBT HAPPY WITH THE ATTACKING INTENT ON DISPLAY AS RAWATA NOTCHED UP A 59-5 VICTORY ` THOUGH HE WAS LESS THRILLED WITH THE ONE-SIDED RESULT. YEAH, WE TRIED TO PICK TWO PRETTY EVEN TEAMS. CLEARLY, THAT DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT LIKE THAT, FOR VARIOUS REASONS. BUT, UM... YOU KNOW, I THINK AS SELECTORS, WE'VE JUST GOT TO BE OBJECTIVE, HAVE A LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS ON EACH SIDE, AND WE'VE GOT SOME HARD DECISIONS COMING UP. SMITH MAKING IT CLEAR THEY'LL CONTINUE TO ASSESS PLAYERS DURING THE FARAH PALMER CUP AND TWO UPCOMING TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA AS THEY WORK TOWARDS THEIR FINAL SQUAD SELECTION. STEVEN ALKER'S DREAM YEAR ON THE SENIOR TOUR CONTINUES, WITH THE KIWI IN A TIE FOR THE LEAD HALFWAY THROUGH THE LATEST MAJOR ` ALKER PICKING UP FOUR BIRDIES IN HIS SECOND ROUND AT THE SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN OHIO, SHARING THE LEADERBOARD'S TOP SPOT AT SIX UNDER. HIS BOGEY-FREE ROUND COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER IF A FEW EXTRA PUTTS HAD DROPPED. OH, IT STAYED THERE. ANOTHER ONE BURNS THE EDGE. IT STAY` HE GOT A LITTLE BIT FAR OUT, JUST OUTSIDE THE EDGE, AND IT DID NOT MOVE. ALKER'S WON THREE TIMES THIS SEASON ON THE TOUR, INCLUDING THE SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP MAJOR CROWN. NOVAK DJOKOVIC HAS BOOKED HIMSELF AN EIGHTH WIMBLEDON FINAL IN WHAT PROMISES TO BE A BLOCKBUSTER AGAINST AUSTRALIAN NICK KYRGIOS. TO GET THERE, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION HAD TO DISPATCH ANOTHER PLAYER FROM THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD ` NEW ZEALAND-RAISED CAMERON NORRIE, WHOSE PARENTS TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY FROM AUCKLAND TO BE COURTSIDE. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT DANIEL FAITAUA REPORTS. WITH THE NUMBER ONE SEED, NOVAK DJOKOVIC, ON HIS BACK, CAM NORRIE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WALKING INTO THIS MATCH KNOWING THE ODDS WERE AGAINST HIM. HE'S PLAYING AGAINST A GUY WHO HASN'T LOST AT CENTRE COURT FOR 26 MATCHES ` OVERWHELMING FAVOURITE, NOT JUST TO WIN TODAY BUT TO WIN THE WHOLE THING, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH TASK. BUT THE CROWDS WERE BEHIND HIM, THOUSANDS QUEUING UP JUST TO CHEER ON THE LOCAL HOPE. I'M PICKING NORRIE. BRITS LOVE AN UNDERDOG, SO GOOD LUCK TO NORRIE TODAY. FOR ME? NORRIE. NORRIE'S GONNA WIN. NORRIE HAS STAYED UNDER THE RADAR DURING HIS EIGHT MONTHS' REIGN AS BRITISH NUMBER ONE, BUT THAT IS ALL CHANGING HERE IN WIMBLEDON, AS HE FINDS HIMSELF IN THE FULL GLARE OF HE SPOTLIGHT. WITH NO INTENTION OF EASING HIS WAY INTO THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF HIS CAREER,... THAT'S A GREAT FIRST GAME! ...KIWI-RAISED NORRIE BROKE DJOKOVIC AND MADE IT COUNT, WINNING THE FIRST SET 6-2. BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE THE SIX-TIME WIMBLEDON CHAMPION LONG TO FIND HIS RHYTHM, TAKING THE SECOND AND THIRD SET. NORRIE'S PARENTS, WHO FLEW IN FROM AUCKLAND'S BUCKLAND'S BEACH, WATCHING ON NERVOUSLY. TORTURE PLUS ONE, PROBABLY. I'M NOT A GREAT WATCHER. IT'S JUST` YOU JUST CAN'T INFLUENCE THE MATCH. AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOURS, DJOKOVIC SECURED HIS PLACE IN THE FINAL. PROUD NORRIE DELIGHTED WITH THE REACTION, BUT HE WON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. A LOT TO BE PROUD OF, AND I THINK I NEED JUST A COUPLE DAYS TO UNWIND, AND I THINK, LOOKING BACK ON IT ALL ` IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF POSITIVE MEMORIES AND POSITIVE FIRSTS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT I TICKED OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME, SO IT'S BEE A LOT OF FUN. HE MAY HAVE LOST IN THE END, BUT HE'S DEFINITELY WON THE HEARTS OF A COUPLE OF NATIONS ALONG THE WAY. DANIEL FAITAUA, 1 NEWS, WIMBLEDON. FINALLY TONIGHT ` WE'RE USED TO SEEING STEPH CURRY NAIL IT FROM LONG RANGE ON THE BASKETBALL COURT, BUT HIS TALENTS NOW OFFICIALLY STRETCH TO THE FAIRWAY, THE AVID GOLF FAN WITH A SHOT MOST OF US CAN ONLY DREAM OF AT A CELEBRITY TOURNAMENT AT LAKE TAHOE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS WITH HIS LATEST INSTALMENT OF SPORTING ENTERTAINMENT. STEPH CURRY SECOND SHOT ON THE PAR 4 13TH. HONESTLY, IS THERE ANYTHING THIS MAN CAN'T DO? NEARLY 90 METRES UP THE HILL. CURRY COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE SHOT GO IN, BUT BOY, DID HE HEAR IT. THAT IS SO GOOD. THE CELEBRATIONS AKIN TO WINNING, MAYBE NOT ANOTHER NBA CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT AT LEAST A PLAYOFF GAME. THE FEELING OF THAT VERSUS MAKING A THREE POINTER? I CAN MAKE A THREE POINTER IN MY SLEEP, ALL DAY LONG. BROTHERS SETH AND DAD DELL PLAYING ALONGSIDE HIM IN THE CELEBRITY TOURNAMENT, BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR. WHICH HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A FAMILY TRADITION. YOU'RE GOING TO GET A NICE LITTLE BET GOING WITH THE HANDICAPS AND ALL THAT. SO I'M PRETTY SURE WE ONLY HAVE TO SAY THE LOSER'S GOTTA JUMP IN THE LAKE. FAMILY OF BASKETBALLERS. CHECK. STEPH MAKING IMPOSSIBLE SHOTS. CHECK. ALL THAT WAS MISSING; SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED TRASH TALK. A CERTAIN NBA GREAT, HAPPY TO OBLIGE. FIRST OF ALL, HE'S A FLASH IN THE PAN. I NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. AND SO FAR I'M CORRECT. BUT HE'S THE THIRD BEST SHOOTER THIS TIME. AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH ROOM TO TALK. OH, YOU CAN BET THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF CHAT. AFTER ALL, CURRY ONLY WON HIS FOURTH NBA TITLE THREE WEEKS AGO. IN FACT, YOU COULD SAY HIS MIND BOGGLING ATHLETIC FEATS ARE NOW PAR FOR THE COURSE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS. SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST ANNOYINGLY GOOD AT EVERYTHING. ERIN HERE NEXT WITH YOUR WEATHER. AND THE NEWS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. JACK TAME: ON Q+A TOMORROW ` ONE CLINIC, TWO STAFF MEMBERS, 90 PATIENTS IN A DAY. IS OUR HEALTH SYSTEM BUCKLING UNDER THE COVID-19 SURGE? Q+A TOMORROW, 9AM, TVNZ 1. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT RED SKY IN THE MORNING ` SHEPHERD'S WARNING. AND THE SNOW CERTAINLY ARRIVED TO THE SOUTH. AND LOOKING BACK ON TODAY ` WE CAN SEE THIS VERY MESSY SYSTEM JUST WORKING ITS WAY UP TE WAI POUNAMU, THE SOUTH ISLAND, DELIVERING THAT WIND, RAIN AND SNOW. SNOW LOWERING TO 500m AND 600m THIS AFTERNOON. TOP-UP FOR THE SKI FIELDS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR GETTING UP THE SLOPES IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE HOLIDAYS. MANY OF THE WARNINGS ARE EXPIRING LATER THIS EVENING OR EARLY HOURS OF SUNDAY MORNING, BUT SNOW STILL FALLING ON SEVERAL MOUNTAIN PASSES AND CANTERBURY HIGH COUNTRY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. THE WIND WARNINGS TO THE WEST COAST LIFT EARLY TOMORROW, BUT THE RAIN TO COROMANDEL, BAY OF PLENTY IS MONDAY INTO TUESDAY, WITH MORE WARNINGS LIKELY TO COME. BUT IF WE LOOK AT TOMORROW, THIS SYSTEM TRACKS NORTH WITH COLD WINDS AND RAIN, AND IT'S JOINED BY ANOTHER BIG SYSTEM FROM THE WEST THAT'S BRINGING RAIN TO THE LIKES OF TARANAKI TOMORROW AND EVERYONE WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS. BUT UP TOP TOMORROW ` IT'S A MOSTLY GREY DAY, WITH A FEW MORNING SHOWERS. BUT THE NOR'WESTERLY KEEPING THINGS WARM, WITH 19 FOR MOST. TAMAKI MAKAURAU, AUCKLAND, A SIMILAR PICTURE ` GREY WITH SHOWERS THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY, AND 18 IS YOUR HIGH. KIRIKIRIROA, HAMILTON ` OVERCAST, AND THE SHOWERS PICK UP AFTER LUNCH. 17 FOR YOU. RAINY IN TAUPO AND TAUMARUNUI. IT COULD BE HEAVY IN TAUMARUNUI IN THE MORNING, BUT THINGS EASE TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. ALL OTHERS HAVE A SHOWERY DAY. 12 FOR TAUPO. IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT, MAKE IT THE MORNING, TAURANGA; SHOWERS PICKUP IN THE AFTERNOON. 17 IS YOUR HIGH. THE WET ARRIVES LATE MORNING TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY, ALONG WITH A SOUTHERLY. THE MORNING RAIN EASES FURTHER SOUTH, BUT CHILLY ` JUST 10 DANNEVIRKE AND MASTERTON. A WET MORNING IN THE WEST, EVEN SQUALLY AND THUNDERY IN NEW PLYMOUTH. A BETTER AFTERNOON THOUGH. 11 FOR PALMERSTON NORTH. RAIN AND WIND EASE IN THE MORNING, TE WHANGANUI A TARA, WELLINGTON ` JUST A FEW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. 9 IS YOUR HIGH. THE RAIN TO COME AND GO TO NELSON AND WESTPORT, SHOWERS TO OTHERS, AND THE SOUTHERLY WINDS EASING; BUT A HIGH OF JUST 9, KAIKOURA. OTAUTAHI, CHRISTCHURCH ` AN AFTERNOON OUTDOORS IS ON THE CARDS, THE SOUTHERLY DYING OUT BUT STILL JUST 9. RAINY PERIODS ON THE WEST COAST WITH STRONG, GUSTY EASTERLIES, BUT JUST SOME MORNING SHOWERS IN THE EAST. 10 ON THE COAST. TAHUNA, QUEENSTOWN ` FROSTS FOR YOU, BUT THEN A CLOUDY DAY. CHILLY MINUS 2, AND JUST 6 IS YOUR HIGH. MILFORD SOUNDS, A WIND WARNING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, BUT A FINE DAY. OTHER CENTRES WILL SEE CLOUD COME AND GO, MAYBE THE ODD SHOWER. COLD ` JUST 7, MILFORD SOUND AND GORE. OTEPOTI, DUNEDIN ` A CLOUDY MORNING, BUT THINGS FINE UP. BUT AGAIN COLD, ON JUST 8. BUT NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE START OF THE HOLIDAY WEEK ` SHOWERS BECOMING RAIN FOR THE NORTH ISLAND AND RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE TOP OF THE SOUTH, WITH STRONG WINDS. AND TUESDAY ` I'M SO SORRY ` RAIN WITH HEAVY FALLS IN THE NORTH ISLAND AND NORTH AND EASTERN AREAS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE WEEK, TOMORROW AND THURSDAY ARE THE SLIGHTLY BETTER DAYS. I HOPE YOU'VE GOT YOUR INDOOR ACTIVITIES SORTED. AND THAT'S 1 NEWS THIS SATURDAY. FROM US, KA KITE APOPO ` SEE YOU TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND KATE MCCULLOUGH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2022