IT'S MIDDAY. A BLAZE FORCES AUCKLAND'S SOUTHERN MOTORWAY TO SHUT DOWN DURING RUSH HOUR. WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSIONS THAT LIT UP THE MORNING SKY? AS THE BIG PLAYERS RAKE IN BIG PROFITS, NATIONAL CALLS FOR AN INQUIRY INTO THE RETAIL BANKING SECTOR. WHY THEY WANT URGENT MOVEMENT. PLUS ` 'NOT ENTITLED TO A LIFE IN THE UK'. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT UNVEILS ITS PLAN TO STOP ILLEGAL MIGRANTS FROM CROSSING THE CHANNEL. CAPTIONS BY STEFFI DRYDEN AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023. AUCKLAND'S SOUTHERN MOTORWAY HAS REOPENED AFTER A TRUCK FIRE CLOSED IT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS MORNING CAUSING COMMUTER CHAOS IN RUSH HOUR. TESSA PARKER HAS BEEN MONITORING THE SITUATION ALL MORNING AND JOINS US NOW. TESSA, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE INCIDENT? KIA ORA. AROUND 3 AM THIS MORNING, A TRUCK CARRYING HIGHLY FLAMMABLE CONTAINERS CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE AND EMERGENCY HAS NOT SAID EXACTLY WHAT THE CHEMICALS WERE THAT WERE ON THE TRACK, NOR WHAT CAUSED THEM TO CATCH FIRE. ONE NEWS CAUGHT UP WITH THEM EARLY AND HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID. THE GUYS WHO ARRIVED HERE ORIGINALLY NOTICED THAT IT WAS A HAZARDOUS TRUCK, SO THEY HAD TO TAKE A VERY CAUTIOUS APPROACH. THERE WERE A LOT OF EXPLODING CANISTERS AND SUCH COMING FROM THE APPLIANCE, FROM THE TRUCK, AND LANDING IN THE GRASS AND ALL OVER THE MOTORWAY WHICH MADE THE SCENE VERY CHAOTIC. FIRE AND EMERGENCY EVACUATED AROUND 50 PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEXT TO THE MOTORWAY, DUE TO THE CHEMICAL NATURE OF THE FIRE. IT WAS DISRUPTION FOR A LOT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL BEFORE AND HE WAS WHAT SHE SAID. ABOUT 3am, I JUST WOKE UP TO, LIKE, THE MOST LOUD BANGS, AND I WOKE MY HUSBAND UP AND I SAID, 'WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S GOING ON?' AND WE THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE A REALLY LOUD CONCERT, SO WE WENT OUT ON TO OUR TERRACE, AND WE SAW, LIKE, EVERYTHING JUST EXPLODING AND JUST FIRE BOMBS AND JUST THE LOUDEST NOISES. IT WAS JUST CRAZY. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SMOKE IN THE AREA AND LOCALS WERE ADVISED TO SHUT THEIR WINDOWS AND DOORS. THAT HAS ALL CLEARED NOW. BY AND EMERGENCY HAVE SAID THEY ARE CONTINUING TO SEE FIRES LIKE THIS AS TRACKS CONTINUE TO CARRY IT MORE DANGEROUS GOODS. HOW WAS AUCKLAND DISRUPTED? STATE HIGHWAY ONE BETWEEN PAPAKURA AND TAKANINI WAS CLOSED FROM 3 AM TO ABOUT 10 AM. THAT WAS MAINLY THE NORTHBOUND LANES, BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, THIS FIRE CAUSED A LOT OF DEBRIS ACROSS THE MOTORWAY. DIVERSIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE BUT THESE WERE QUICKLY BLOCKED WITH LONG, LONG QUEUES OF TRAFFIC. RIGHT NOW, THE MOTORWAY IS FREE-FLOWING, BUT ON RAMPS LIKE THE ONE BEHIND ME ARE CLOSED SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THESE AREAS. THIS CLOSURE OF THE MOTORWAY CAUSED A LOT OF DISRUPTION FOR TRAVELLERS. I SPOKE TO SOME PEOPLE WHO DESCRIBE ATTENDING THEIR MORNING MEETINGS FROM THE PASSENGER SEATS; MAY BE BEING FIVE HOURS LATE TO WORK OR CHOOSING NOT TO GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL AT ALL. LISTEN TO WHAT SOME OF THEM SAID. I WAS TRAVELLING TO WORK THIS MORNING, AND THE TRAFFIC WAS SO BAD. LIKE, IT WAS A STANDSTILL FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. SO I WAS SO TIRED OF IT. WHEN IT SLOWLY STARTED TO MOVE JUST EVEN FOR, LIKE, A FEW MINUTES, I JUST PARKED MY CAR IN MCDONALD'S AND JUST STARTED WALKING. I'M LIKE, 'YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M WALKING HOME.' HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING IN TRAFFIC FOR? OH, I'D SAY ABOUT 2 HOURS NOW. YEAH. I JUST FEEL LIKE TURNING AROUND AND GOING BACK HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS MARCH MADNESS. IT IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN PEOPLE RETURN TO SCHOOL, UNI AND WORK. ORGAN ROWS ARE BUSIER. *AUCKLAND UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE SEEK MORE CRASHES LIKE THIS ON STATE HIGHWAY ONE, THIS LEVEL OF TRAFFIC MIGHT NOT BE OVER YET. THE NATIONAL PARTY IS CALLING FOR AN URGENT INQUIRY IN THE RETAIL BANKING SECTOR. IT COMES AS BANKS RECORD HIGH PROFITS WHILE MANY BORROWERS FACE INCREASED LENDING RATES. NATIONAL'S FINANCE SPOKESPERSON NICOLA WILLIS SAYS CUSTOMERS DESERVE ANSWERS AFTER A PROLONGED COST OF LIVING CRISIS. THE FUTURES OF 15 BIG CATS AT KAMO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE. THE NORTHLAND SANCTUARY HAS GONE INTO INVOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION. IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARK SAYS THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE CATS' WELFARE IS UNAFFECTED, AND SHE'S 'NOT DEFEATED' YET. SHE SAYS NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY WITH THE LIQUIDATOR AND THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. EVENTS ARE BEING HELD ACROSS AOTEAROA TODAY TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. MINISTER FOR WOMEN JAN TINETTI SAYS NEW ZEALAND'S MADE GREAT PROGRESS. IN PARTICULAR, EQUAL REPRESENTATION AROUND THE CAUCUS TABLE HAS LED TO MORE WOMEN-CENTRIC LEGISLATION. ...SUCH AS THE AMENDMENT TO THE EQUAL PAY ACT. THE DIFFERENCE THAT THAT'S MADE ` WE'VE HAD 10 SETTLEMENTS SINCE THAT TIME. WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT THE MISCARRIAGES BILL ` THE LEAVE FOR MISCARRIAGES ` THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO WOMEN. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT IN A WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT ACTION PLAN, THE FIRST OF ITS TYPE. IT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE ` FOR EVERY DOLLAR A PAKEHA MAN EARNS, A PASIFIKA WOMAN ONLY EARNS 75c. AS NEW ZEALAND'S SPACE SECTOR EXPANDS, THERE'S A PUSH TO GET MORE WOMEN INVOLVED. A NEW 'SPACE CLUB' HAS LAUNCHED TODAY, ENCOURAGING HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY. AEROSPACE ENGINEER KATE BREACH SAYS DIVERSITY IN THE SECTOR IS IMPORTANT. WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST OUT THERE. WE KNOW THE NZ SPACE SECTOR IS REALLY EXPANDING, AND WE REALLY NEED TO SEE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE IN NZ, BECAUSE DIVERSITY DRIVES INNOVATION, AND THE SPACE SECTOR NEEDS INNOVATION. CURRENTLY, WOMEN MAKE UP LESS THAN 20% OF THE SPACE WORKFORCE. THE UK GOVERNMENT UNVEILED ITS PLAN TO STOP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS CROSSING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL IN SMALL BOATS EACH YEAR. THE NEW BILL WILL BAN PEOPLE WHO ARRIVE IN SMALL BOATS FROM CLAIMING ASYLUM. THEY'D ALSO BE BANNED FROM RE-ENTERING THE UK AND BAN THEM FROM GAINING CITIZENSHIP. PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK CALLED THE NEW LEGISLATION 'TOUGH, BUT NECESSARY AND FAIR'. BBC'S POLITICAL EDITOR, CHRIS MASON. IT IS 5:30 IN THE MORNING. WE ARE HEADING FOR ONE OF THE BEACHES ON THE SOUTH COAST, WHERE MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED. THIS MORNING, WE WILL DISCUSS THE PRIME MINISTERS PLANS TO GET TOUGH ON SMALL BOAT CROSSINGS. RISHI SUNAK AND THE HOME SECRETARY SAY THIS IS PART OF WHAT THEY CALL A LARGER GLOBAL MIGRATION CRISIS, IS PEOPLE FROM POORER COUNTRIES TRY TO GET TO RICHER ONES. PEOPLE MUST KNOW THAT IF THEY COME HERE ILLEGALLY IT WILL RESULT IN THEIR DETENTION AND SWIFT REMOVAL. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, AND THEY KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN, THEY WILL NOT COME AND THE BOATS WILL STOP. RISHI SUNAK WAS IN DOVER THIS MORNING SEEING THE WORK TEAMS ALREADY DO HERE. HE SAYS HE WILL STOP THE BOATS, AS HE PUTS IT, AND IT IS ONE OF HIS FIVE PRIORITIES. FEW SUGGESTED WOULD BE EASY. SOME SAY HIS IDEAS ARE IMPRACTICAL. PITY IN THIS TOWN HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT IT. THEY COME INTO OUR GUIDANCE. *GARDENS THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHERE THEY HAVE WENT INTO A HOUSE UP THE ROAD LAST YEAR. IT IS NOT FAIR. NOT BE ON ANYONE. I THINK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASYLUM. IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. TOO MANY OF THEM COMING OVER. IF YOU ARE LEGAL, COME OVER WITH A PASSPORT, NOT A BOAT. THIS WAS THE VERY FAMILIAR SCENE HERE YESTERDAY AS MIGRANTS PICKED UP IN THE CHANNEL WERE PUT ASHORE. THE GOVERNMENT IS, FOR NOW, COMMITTED TO REMAINING IN THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. STRIKINGLY, THE HOME SECRETARY HAS WRITTEN TO MPS, SAYING THERE IS A MORE THAN 50% CHANCE THE PLANS ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW. IF BY THE TIME OF THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION YOU HAVE NOT STOPPED THE BOATS, WILL YOU HAVE FAILED? I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE IF I DID NOT THINK I COULD DELIVER ON THIS PROMISE. TO DATE MARKS THE START OF THIS PLANS NEW POLICY. THERE IS PLENTY MORE ARGUMENT TO COME. UKRAINE HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AFTER GRAPHIC FOOTAGE EMERGED APPEARING TO SHOW AN UNARMED SOLDIER BEING SHOT AND KILLED BY RUSSIAN FORCES. THE VIDEO ALLEGEDLY SHOWS RUSSIAN SOLDIERS OPEN FIRE ON A PRISONER OF WAR, BREAKING INTERNATIONAL RULES. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY HAS VOWED TO TAKE ACTION. (SPEAKS UKRAINIAN) TRANSLATOR: A VIDEO APPEARED TODAY SHOWING HOW THE OCCUPIERS BRUTALLY KILLED A SOLDIER WHO BRAVELY SAID TO THEIR FACE, 'GLORY TO UKRAINE'. I WANT US ALL TOGETHER IN UNITY TO RESPOND TO HIS WORDS. GLORY TO THE HERO, GLORY TO HEROES, GLORY TO UKRAINE, AND WE WILL FIND THE KILLERS. IT COMES AFTER INTENSE FIGHTING IN THE EASTERN CITY OF BAKHMUT, WHERE RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE MADE SMALL GAINS. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SAYS HE'S ORDERED THE REINFORCEMENT OF POSITIONS IN THE CITY TO PROTECT CIVILIANS. CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CONFLICT BETWEEN HIS COUNTRY AND THE U.S. IS INEVITABLE UNLESS THE U.S. CHANGES COURSE. BEIJING'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER, QIN GANG, HAS WARNED WASHINGTON IS HEADING FOR 'CONFRONTATION' AS CHINA DEFENDED ITS STANCE ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE. THE COMMENTS UNDERLINED THE DEEPENING TENSION BETWEEN THE WORLD'S TWO LARGEST ECONOMIES. TRANSLATOR: THE UNITED STATES PERCEPTION OF AND VIEWS ON CHINA ARE SERIOUSLY DISTORTED. IT REGARDS CHINA AS ITS PRIMARY RIVAL AND THE MOST SEVERE GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGE. THE SITUATION IS LIKE THE FIRST BUTTON AND A SHIRT IS PUT WRONG, WHICH RESULTED IN THE US AND CHINA POLICY BEING ENTIRELY DEVIATED FROM THE RATIONAL AND HEALTHY TRACK. THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THE U.S. IS ENGAGING IN SUPPRESSION AND CONTAINMENT OF CHINA RATHER THAN ENGAGING IN FAIR, RULES-BASED COMPETITION. TWO AMERICANS ARE BACK ON U.S. SOIL AFTER SURVIVING A DEADLY KIDNAPPING IN MEXICO THAT LEFT TWO OTHER U.S. CITIZENS DEAD. IT'S BELIEVED THE GROUP HAD TRAVELLED TO MEXICO FOR A MEDICAL PROCEDURE. THE ABC'S EM NGUYEN HAS THE LATEST. A TRAGIC ENDING TO THE SEARCH FOR FOUR AMERICANS KIDNAPPED IN MATAMOROS, MEXICO, AT GUNPOINT LAST WEEK. MEXICAN AUTHORITIES SAYING TWO OF THE VICTIMS WERE FOUND DEAD, THEIR BODIES ARE NOW HELD AT A MORGUE THERE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCING THE TWO SURVIVING AMERICANS ARE ALREADY BACK IN THE U.S. THIS VIDEO APPEARING TO SHOW THE GROUP AS THEY WERE BEING KIDNAPPED BY HEAVILY ARMED MEN AND THROWN INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK. THE FOUR AMERICANS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED... MCGEE'S MOTHER, WHO PREVIOUSLY SENT HER DAUGHTER, WENT TO MEXICO FOR A COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURE, TELLING ABC NEWS IN A PHONE CALL THAT THE FBI INFORMED HER HER DAUGHTER IS ONE OF THE SURVIVORS. MICHELLE WILLIAMS CONFIRMS TO ABC THAT HER HUSBAND, ERIC, IS THE OTHER SURVIVOR. MEXICAN OFFICIALS SAY HE WAS FOUND SUFFERING FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE LEG. U.S. OFFICIALS SAY GUNMEN BEGAN SHOOTING AT THE GROUP'S MINIVAN, WHICH HAD NORTH CAROLINA PLATES, THEN KIDNAPPED THE PEOPLE INSIDE. ONE MEXICAN BYSTANDER WAS ALSO KILLED. THIS PART OF MEXICO IS A PLACE AMERICANS ARE WARNED NOT TO TRAVEL TO. THIS IS CONSIDERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT, A LEVEL FOUR, WHICH SAYS THAT'S WHAT AFGHANISTAN IS, IS A LEVEL FOUR. THAT THESE ARE NOT PLACES THAT ANY AMERICAN SHOULD BE GOING. THIS INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTING THE DRUG-RELATED VIOLENCE OCCURRING SOUTH OF THE BORDER AMONG MEXICAN CARTELS. THE FBI ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DISMANTLE AND DISRUPT AND ULTIMATELY PROSECUTE THE LEADERS OF THE CARTELS. MEXICAN AUTHORITIES SAY AT LEAST ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO THE KIDNAPPING, ADDING THE BODIES OF THE TWO KILLED AMERICANS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE UNITED STATES LATER TODAY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` AFTER FOUR YEARS OF DISRUPTIONS, POLYFEST RETURNS TO THE STAGE. WE'RE LIVE FROM THE FESTIVAL. AFTER FOUR YEARS OF DISRUPTION MOSTLY DUE TO COVID-RELATED ISSUES, POLYFEST IS BACK. THE PASIFIKA FESTIVAL IS UNDERWAY AT THE MANUKAU SPORTS BOWL, WHERE ISOBEL PRASAD JOINS US FROM NOW. WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN THERE? THAT IS RIGHT, POLY FEST IS BACK. IT IS VERY ENOUGH TO SAY IT HAS STARTED OFF WITH A BANG. WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES FROM THE DIVERSITY STAGE THIS MORNING, INCLUDING TRADITIONAL CHINESE, INDIAN AND ALSO VIETNAMESE DANCERS. STUDENTS HERE ARE VERY EXCITED AND STOKED TO BE BACK PERFORMING IN FRONT OF CROWDS. WERE EXPECTING ABOUT 55 SCHOOLS TO TAKE PART OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. AS YOU MENTIONED, IT HAS BEEN A VERY TOUGH PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH THE 2019 MOSQUE ATTACKS AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. LAST YEAR'S POLY FEST WAS MOVED ONLINE, SO THESE SCHOOLS WERE NOT ABLE TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF A CROWD, WHICH WAS TOUGH. THIS TIME AROUND, THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR. ORGANISERS SAY THEY ARE EXPECTING MORE THAN 60,000 PEOPLE TO SHOW UP OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS. THAT IS A BIT DOWN ON WHAT THEY WOULD USUALLY SEE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE STILL ENCOURAGING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO GET DOWN HERE AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY. LOOKS LIKE THE SUN IS SHINING AS WELL. ENJOY. AFTER A THREE-YEAR WAIT, HARRY STYLES FANS FINALLY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED IN AUCKLAND LAST NIGHT. THIS WAS THE MOMENT BRITISH POP STAR ARRIVED ON STAGE. (CROWD SCREAMS, CHEERS) (HARRY STYLE'S 'MUSIC FOR A SUSHI RESTAURANT' PLAYS) AND YES ` STYLES REMINDED THE MT SMART STADIUM CROWD TO FILL OUT SOME IMPORTANT FORMS. AND ALSO, DID EVERYONE DO THE CENSUS THING? (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) STYLES ADDED SOME LOCAL FLAVOUR TO THE SETLIST, BELTING OUT THE WAIATA 'TUTIRA MAI NGA IWI', AMONG HIS OWN CLASSICS. THE BUSH FIRE RISK IS STILL HIGH IN NEW SOUTH WALES AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO SOAR. SYDNEY EXPERIENCED ITS HOTTEST MARCH NIGHT IN SIX YEARS, AN INCREASED LOAD FROM AIR CONDITIONERS LEADING TO RECORD ELECTRICITY DEMAND AND POWER OUTAGES. THE HEAT ALSO FUELLING AROUND 30 FIRES ACROSS THE STATE. SOME RESIDENTS NEAR ONE FIRE SOUTH WEST OF MUDGEE TOLD IT WAS TOO LATE TO EVACUATE. THE MERCURY'S EXPECTED TO STAY HIGH UNTIL TOMORROW. AS AOTEAROA RECOVERS FROM THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY FLOODING, IN THE UK, SCIENTISTS HAVE PRODUCED A 'FUTURE FLOOD MAP'. IT DETAILS HOW CLIMATE CHANGE WILL IMPACT FLOOD LEVELS AND COMMUNITIES, AND SHOWS DAMAGE COULD RISE BY MORE THAN 20% OVER THE NEXT CENTURY. THE BBC'S VICTORIA GILL HAS MORE. AS WATER TRICKLES THROUGH THIS WOODLAND IN CALDERDALE, A TEAM OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS IS GETTING TO WORK. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS JUST DIVERT THIS INTO THE WOODLAND. KATIE'S NEARBY HOME HAS BEEN FLOODED IN THE PAST BECAUSE IN THIS STEEP-SIDED VALLEY, HEAVY RAIN CAN SWELL THE RIVER VERY QUICKLY. HOW BAD DOES FLOODING GET IN THIS AREA? IT'S... (CHUCKLES) IT'S CATASTROPHIC. IT'S INCREDIBLY FAST, IT'S` IT'S A WAVE OF DESTRUCTION... IT'S PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HARD FOR PEOPLE HERE. THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED, DEVASTATING FLOODS HERE IN RECENT YEARS, AND WHEN THE WATER SUBSIDES, IT CAN TAKE MONTHS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES. ACROSS THE UK, DESTRUCTION FROM FLOODING COSTS AN ESTIMATED �700M EVERY YEAR. HERE AT THE FATHOM LABS IN BRISTOL, THEY'RE SIMULATING ALL OF THE CAUSES OF FLOODING, CREATING MAPS THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE TO PLAN AND PREPARE. WE'D CALL THIS A FLOOD HAZARD MAP. SO, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE SIMULATED THE PROBABILITY AND INTENSITY OF FLOODING ON EVERY RIVER IN THE UK. SCIENTISTS USED LAYERS OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT CAUSES FLOODING. THEY'VE MAPPED THE TERRAIN OF MAINLAND BRITAIN AND COMBINED THAT WITH DATA ON RAINFALL PATTERNS, HOW WATERS MOVE THROUGH OUR RIVERS AND AROUND OUR COASTAL AREAS. THEY'VE COMBINED ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH DETAILS FROM THE MET OFFICE ABOUT HOW EXACTLY CLIMATE CHANGE WILL AFFECT FLOOD RISK. EVEN IF WE CAN KEEP GLOBAL TEMPERATURES TO A 1.8-DEGREE INCREASE, THERE ARE AREAS WHERE FLOOD RISK WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY, INCLUDING THE SOUTHEAST AND NORTHWEST OF ENGLAND, AND SOUTH WALES. BUT THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHANGE ACROSS NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL ENGLAND AS WELL AS EASTERN AND NORTHERN SCOTLAND. THERE ARE MANY PLACES WHERE RISK IS GROWING AND BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITIES AND THE REGIONS WHERE THIS IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN ALLOWS US TO MAKE SENSIBLE INVESTMENT DECISIONS ABOUT MAKING INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS ENGINEERING STRUCTURES OR NATURAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT, OR INDEED MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY. A WARMER CLIMATE MEANS MORE EXTREMES, INCLUDING MORE HEAVY RAINFALL, BUT THIS NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE WILL BE AFFECTED DIFFERENTLY BY CLIMATE CHANGE. IT'S INFORMATION THAT WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR KATIE AND CALDER VALLEY'S NEXT GENERATION. TO SPORT, AND A BIG BLOW FOR THE HURRICANES, WITH CAPTAIN ARDIE SAVEA SIDELINED FOR A WEEK FOLLOWING HIS CONTROVERSIAL THROAT-SLITTING GESTURE AGAINST THE REBELS. THE INCIDENT, COMBINED WITH A YELLOW CARD, ENOUGH TO MERIT THE WEEK-LONG BAN FROM THE FOUL PLAY COMMITTEE. IT MEANS HE'LL MISS THE CANES' MATCH AGAINST THE BLUES IN WELLINGTON THIS WEEKEND. THE BLACKCAPS TOP ORDER IS FOCUSING ON MORE CONSISTENCY HEADING INTO THEIR NEXT TEST SERIES AGAINST SRI LANKA. KANE WILLIAMSON WILL BE A LATE ARRIVAL FOR THE SQUAD AS HE MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS GRANDMOTHER. SRI LANKA SIT THIRD IN THE WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AND NEED A SERIES WIN TO HAVE A CHANCE OF REACHING THE FINAL. WE'VE PLAYED SOME REALLY GOOD CRICKET OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS OR SO, AND TO, UM... TO BE THIRD ON THE TABLE IS QUITE PLEASING. BUT IT'LL BE A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT IF WE CAN BEAT THE BLACKCAPS AND GET INTO THE FINALS OF THE TEST CHAMPIONSHIPS. BUT CAPTAIN TIM SOUTHEE KNOWS THEY HAVE TO PUT THAT BEHIND THEM. IT'S ABOUT US PLAYING WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US. AND IT'S A DIFFERENT SURFACE, DIFFERENT OPPOSITION, SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO EMBRACE AND LOOKING TO` AGAIN, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND SHOW WHAT WE'VE GOT. THE BLACKCAPS WILL ALSO AUCTION OFF TWO SHIRTS FROM THE WIN OVER ENGLAND AT THE BASIN RESERVE TO HELP WITH THE CYCLONE RELIEF. EUROPEAN FOOTBALL'S GOVERNING BODY HAS TAKEN THE BLAME FOR CROWD PROBLEMS AT LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL IN PARIS. THE MATCH BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND REAL MADRID WAS DELAYED 38 MINUTES, AND POLICE WERE SEEN USING TEAR GAS ON FANS AFTER A BREAKDOWN IN CROWD MANAGEMENT AT STADE DE FRANCE. ALL LIVERPOOL FANS WHO ATTENDED THE MATCH WILL RECEIVE A REFUND, AND MADRID SUPPORTERS CAN ALSO APPLY FOR ONE. THE MOVE IS EXPECTED TO COST UEFA MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE FLEET OF THE 'OCEAN RACE' IS SOUTH WEST OF AUSTRALIA AS IT CONTINUES ITS TREK ACROSS THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. SWITZERLAND'S TEAM HOLCIM HOLDS A COMFORTABLE LEAD ON LEG THREE. THERE'S NO STOP-OVER IN NEW ZEALAND THIS TIME, BUT THE BOATS WILL PASS BETWEEN STEWART ISLAND AND AUCKLAND ISLAND BEFORE HEADING ON TO BRAZIL. THE 12,750-NAUTICAL MILE LEG IS THE LONGEST IN THE 50-YEAR HISTORY OF THE RACE AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A GRUELLING MONTH TO COMPLETE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. GIRL: Renewable means there's always more of it. Dad's hair is not renewable. VOICEOVER: Genesis are helping to create a low carbon future, powered by renewable energy. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. THAT'S IT FOR MIDDAY. TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TODAY'S BIG STORIES, HEAD TO THE 1 NEWS WEBSITE ` THAT'S 1news.co.nz. FROM THE WHOLE TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY STEFFI DRYDEN AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023.