IT'S MIDDAY. WHY THE POLICE ASSOCIATION'S EXPECTING 'UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSIONS' WITH THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE FACE OF 'INSULTING' PAY OFFERS. HOW BOEING'S LATEST AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTION HAS THE COMPANY IN THE FIRING LINE ONCE AGAIN. PLUS, WHY THE WORLD'S ON THE BRINK OF A BANANA CRISIS, AND WHAT'S BEHIND A SHARP RISE IN PRICES. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND MAIA CARR HEKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 THE MAN WHO STABBED AN AUCKLAND DAIRY WORKER TO DEATH DURING A ROBBERY HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO MURDER IN THE HIGH COURT IN AUCKLAND THIS MORNING. FREDERICK HOBSON FATALLY ATTACKED JANAK PATEL AS HE WAS WORKING IN THE 'ROSE HILL COTTAGE SUPERETTE' IN THE SUBURB OF SANDRINGHAM IN NOVEMBER 2022. THE ATTACK LED TO CALLS FOR MORE PROTECTION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT CRIME. HOBSON PLEADED GUILTY TO MURDER AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. FORMER GREEN MP GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN IS DUE TO APPEAR IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT LATER TODAY ON FOUR CHARGES OF SHOPLIFTING. THE FORMER LAWYER AND GREEN SPOKESPERSON ON JUSTICE RESIGNED FROM PARLIAMENT IN JANUARY AFTER REVELATIONS SHE ALLEGEDLY SHOPLIFTED AT 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS 4 SEPARATE INCIDENTS LAST YEAR. IT'S ALLEGED SHE TOOK GOODS VALUED AT MORE THAN $10,000 IN TOTAL. SOME POLICE OFFICERS ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD TO LIVE, EVEN MOVING BACK HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS, WITH THE POLICE ASSOCIATION CALLING THE GOVERNMENT'S LATEST PAY OFFER 'DEMORALISING'. POLICE OFFICERS HAVE REJECTED THE OFFER WHICH INCLUDES A $5000 PAY INCREASE BACKDATED TO NOVEMBER, AND A 4% RISE IN SEPTEMBER, AND ANOTHER NEXT YEAR. POLICE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CHRIS CAHILL SAYS OFFICERS ARE BARELY GETTING BY WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RATHER GIVE TAX BREAKS TO LANDLORDS. I GOT A REPORT YESTERDAY OF TWO OFFICERS, BOTH IN THE POLICE, HAD TO MOVE HOME TO LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS, SO THEY CAN GET RENTERS IN TO ACTUALLY PAY THEIR MORTGAGE; OTHERS THAT HAVE GOT $50 TO SPARE A FORTNIGHT AFTER PAYING THEIR MORTGAGE AND THEIR RATES, OTHERS WHO ARE PAYING $1400 A FORTNIGHT IN RENT, AND GIVES THEM VERY LITTLE MONEY LEFT TO LOOK AFTER THEIR TWO CHILDREN. CAHILL SAYS THE LATEST OFFER IS LOWER THAN WHAT WAS PUT FORWARD BY THE PREVIOUS LABOUR GOVERNMENT, DESPITE NATIONAL PROMISING TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIME. THERAPISTS WHO WORK IN SCHOOLS ARE IN LINE FOR PAY RISES OF UP TO 34% AFTER SETTLING A PAY EQUITY CLAIM JUST MOMENTS AGO. AN INVESTIGATION BY NZEI AND THE EDUCATION MINISTRY FOUND THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN UNDERVALUED BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE WORKFORCE IS WOMEN. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, MUSIC THERAPISTS AND SPEECH THERAPISTS ARE INCLUDED, BUT THE PAY INCREASES WILL VARY. AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER BOEING IS FACING INTENSE SCRUTINY AFTER REPORTEDLY FAILING DOZENS OF SAFETY AUDITS. IT'S THE LATEST BLOW FOR THE COMPANY, JUST DAYS AFTER ONE OF ITS PLANES EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION EN ROUTE TO AUCKLAND THIS WEEK. COURTNEY HAMMOND HAS MORE ON THE MOUNTING ISSUES FACING THE PLANE MAKER. CONCERNS ABOUT QUALITY CONTROL AT BOEING REACHING NEW HEIGHTS. THAT IS THE CEILING WHERE PEOPLE HIT THEIR HEADS ON THE ROOF. 50 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN THIS LATAM AIRLINES 787 DREAMLINER FROM SYDNEY TO AUCKLAND EXPERIENCED A MID-FLIGHT DROP ON MONDAY; THE AIRLINE BLAMING A 'TECHNICAL EVENT' FOR THE DRAMATIC LOSS OF ALTITUDE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRETTY INTERESTING EVENTS RECENTLY, AND THERE IS A LOT OF REPORTING, AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY SOME GENERAL CONCERN AND SOME REASONABLE CONCERN ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THE NEW YORK TIMES ALSO REPORTING THE COMPANY FAILED 33 OF THE 89 SAFETY CHECKS CARRIED OUT AFTER A DOOR PANEL BLEW OFF MID-FLIGHT ON THIS ALASKA AIRLINES PLANE IN JANUARY. INVESTIGATORS LATER FOUND FOUR BOLTS WERE MISSING ON THE 737 MAX JET. IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY. BOEING SEEMINGLY IS NOT FULLY COOPERATING, AND THAT'S A BIT TROUBLING. SOMEONE IS QUITE BADLY INJURED OVER THAT SIDE. THE INCIDENT'S CREATING PLENTY OF TURBULENCE FOR THE PLANE MAKER. I THINK BOEING IS DEFINITELY ATTRACTING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO ITSELF FOR THE WRONG REASONS, BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES AND AIRCRAFT BEING AFFECTED AND THE SORTS OF OUTCOMES CAUSING GRIEF FOR THEM AND THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN STARTED, AND THE LEGAL TROUBLE THAT IT HAS NOW BECOME INVOLVED IN. BOEING IS YET TO COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE LATAM AIRLINE MALFUNCTION, TELLING 1 NEWS IT'S GATHERING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLIGHT. THE PASSENGERS FROM THAT FLIGHT HAVE NOW REACHED THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, BUT IT'S STILL A TURBULENT TIME FOR ONE OF AVIATION'S BIGGEST NAMES. COURTNEY HAMMOND, ONE NEWS. CONSTRUCTION OF A JETTY IS UNDERWAY IN GAZA TO ALLOW THE FIRST AID DELIVERY BY SEA. THESE PHOTOS WERE PROVIDED BY THE CHARITY ARRANGING THE DELIVERY BELIEVED TO SHOW THE FIRST STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION OF A BASIC JETTY. A SMALL VESSEL CARRYING 200 TONNES OF AID IS EN ROUTE FROM CYPRUS, AND SHOULD ARRIVE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A PORT TO BE BUILT BY THE U.S. ARMY WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND ALLOW LARGER VESSELS TO DELIVER AID. BUT DISPLACED PALESTINIANS IN GAZA SAY THE AID DELIVERY WILL DO LITTLE TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION. AID AGENCIES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE ALIKE SAY IT'S JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF WHAT'S NEEDED. DISPLACED PEOPLE SAY THE VIOLENCE NEEDS TO STOP TO ALLOW ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR LIVES. AND THERE ARE FRESH ALLEGATIONS THAT THE ISRAELI MILITARY DETAINED AND PUNISHED CIVILIANS DURING ITS ATTACK ON GAZA. FOOTAGE HAS EMERGED OF WHAT'S SAID TO BE MEDICAL STAFF BEING DETAINED BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS AFTER THE ASSAULT ON THE NASSER HOSPITAL IN KHAN YOUNIS. ISRAEL DENIES MISTREATMENT OF CIVILIANS. THIS REPORT FROM THE BBC'S WYRE DAVIES CONTAINS IMAGES SOME MAY FIND CONFRONTING. NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS WAR, ISRAELI SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN FILMED STANDING OVER STRIPPED AND KNEELING DETAINEES IN GAZA. BUT THESE ARE MEDICAL STAFF, DETAINED AFTER THE ISRAELI ARMY OVERRAN THE NASSER HOSPITAL IN KHAN YOUNIS. MOST OF THEM ARE STILL HELD CAPTIVE. FOR WEEKS, THE MEDICS HAD WITNESSED ISRAEL'S MILITARY ADVANCE CLOSING IN AROUND THEIR HOSPITAL. (MISSILE EXPLODES) ON FEBRUARY THE 15th, AFTER GIVING WARNINGS, ISRAELI TANKS OVERRAN THE HOSPITAL. THERE WERE CHAOTIC SCENES AS TROOPS TOOK CONTROL. PATIENTS WHO HAD BEEN UNABLE TO EVACUATE WERE MOVED BY MEDICS FROM COLLAPSING WARDS. ISRAEL SAYS IT FOUND HAMAS WEAPONS, ALSO MEDICATION, WHICH THEY SAY SUPPORTS ACCOUNTS FROM ISRAELI HOSTAGES THAT THEY WERE HELD THERE. IN THE IDF'S OWN FOOTAGE, YOU CAN SEE THAT HOSPITAL PATIENTS HAD THEIR HANDS ZIP-TIED, DETAINED OUTSIDE IN THEIR BEDS AND WHEELCHAIRS. THIS WAS WHEN TROOPS ALSO DETAINED THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL ` AT LEAST 49 OF THEM ` FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR POSTS AND REMOVE THEIR SURGICAL CLOTHING. ISRAEL SAYS IT DID SO IN CASE THERE WERE CONCEALED WEAPONS, AND THAT AMONG THE 200 ARRESTED AT NASSER WERE TERRORISTS POSING AS MEDICS. HIS HAND BROKEN IN CAPTIVITY, DOCTOR AHMED SABAH IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW MEDICS TO HAVE SINCE BEEN RELEASED. HE SHOWS THE POSITIONS THEY WERE FORCED TO ADOPT FOR HOURS. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: THEY FORCED US TO KNEEL DOWN WITH OUR EYES BLINDFOLDED. THERE WAS A PIT IN THE GROUND AND WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD EXECUTE US AND BURY US THERE. WE SAID OUR PRAYERS, BUT THEY WERE JUST INTIMIDATING US. ISRAEL SAYS ANY ABUSE OF DETAINEES IS AGAINST IDF ORDERS AND IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. BUT CRUCIALLY, ACCORDING TO THE HOSPITAL MANAGER WHO DEALT WITH THE ISRAELIS DURING THE RAID, THE DETENTION OF SO MANY OF HIS STAFF LEFT HIS HOSPITAL WOEFULLY SHORT OF DOCTORS. THE ISRAELI ARMY SAYS IT OPERATED WITHIN NASSER IN A PRECISE AND FOCUSED MANNER, AND SAYS IT PROVIDED EQUIPMENT ENABLING IT TO FUNCTION AND TREAT PATIENTS. BUT WITH THE WAR CONTINUING, AND WITH MORE THAN 40 MEDICS STILL DETAINED OR MISSING, THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR WEEKS. HAITI'S PRIME MINISTER REMAINS STUCK OUTSIDE HIS OWN COUNTRY EVEN AFTER GIVING IN TO GANG DEMANDS AND RESIGNING. WHAT HIS DECISION MEANS FOR THE PEOPLE OF HIS COUNTRY IN THE GRIP OF A GANG CRIME WAVE IS NOW UNCLEAR. THE BBC'S WILL GRANT REPORTS FROM THE NEIGHBOURING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. AT THIS BORDER CROSSING BEHIND ME INTO HAITI, WHICH IS NOW LARGELY CLOSED, WE'VE SEEN THE DOMINICAN AUTHORITIES DEPORTING HAITIANS BACK INTO A COUNTRY IN THE GRIP OF ITS WORST, MOST ACUTE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS SINCE THE 2010 EARTHQUAKE. AND NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, A POLITICAL ONE TOO ` A POLITICAL VACUUM AFTER PRIME MINISTER ARIEL HENRY STOOD DOWN FOLLOWING A MEETING OF THE CARICOM NATIONS AND THE U.S STATE DEPARTMENT. FOR HIS PART, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, LORD CAMERON, PLACED THE BLAME AT A FAILURE TO HOLD ELECTIONS, CALLING THAT AN AGGRAVATING FACTOR. SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? WELL, UNFORTUNATELY FOR HAITI, THINGS CAN STILL GET FAR WORSE. THE GANGS WHO FORCED OUT MR HENRY WILL FEEL EMBOLDENED BY THAT, AND THEY ALREADY CONTROL AROUND 80% OF THE CAPITAL, PORT AU PRINCE. AND HOPES FOR AN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE LED BY KENYAN PERSONNEL ARE BEGINNING TO RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES AFTER THE KENYAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID IT WOULDN'T BE PUTTING POLICE ON THE STREETS OF PORT AU PRINCE WITHOUT A SITTING ADMINISTRATION. CONTROVERSIAL INFLUENCER ANDREW TATE AND HIS BROTHER CONTINUE TO DENY ANY WRONGDOING AFTER A NEW ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED FOR THEM IN THE UK FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL OFFENCES. A ROMANIAN COURT HAS APPROVED THEIR EXTRADITION TO THE UK, BUT ONLY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF LEGAL ACTION FOR SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS IN ROMANIA. THE BBC'S LUCY WILLIAMSON REPORTS. THEY'VE BEEN HERE SO MANY TIMES TO BATTLE ROMANIA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM. TODAY THEY WERE HERE TO FIGHT THE UK'S. TRISTAN IN HIS TRADEMARK COAT; ANDREW IN A JACKET EMBLAZONED WITH HIS NICKNAME, TOP G. AFTER A NIGHT IN CUSTODY, LITTLE SWAGGER FOR THE CAMERAS. THE RULING CAME QUICKLY ` EXTRADITION GRANTED TO FACE QUESTIONS OVER RAPE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE UK, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER ROMANIA HAS ITSELF TRIED THEM ON SIMILAR, UNRELATED CHARGES, AND IF FOUND GUILTY, AFTER ANY PRISON SENTENCE HAS BEEN SERVED. BOTH MEN HAVE DENIED ALL THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM. RELEASED FROM POLICE CUSTODY TODAY, BUT STILL UNDER A TRAVEL BAN, ANDREW TATE GAVE HIS RESPONSE. WE ARE INNOCENT MEN. NO, WE'RE VERY INNOCENT MEN, AND IN TIME EVERYBODY'S GOING TO SEE THAT. AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO FINISH THIS JUDICIAL PROCESS AND CLEAR OUR NAMES. ANDREW TATE, ONCE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST GOOGLED MEN, IS ADORED BY FANS AS A SUCCESSFUL MODEL OF MASCULINITY ` SEEN BY OTHERS AS A DANGEROUS INFLUENCE. TATE HIMSELF SAYS HE'S ABSOLUTELY A MISOGYNIST. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER A WOMAN WANTS TO BE A LAWYER OR A HOUSE MAKER OR A WEBCAM GIRL, UNLESS SHE HAS A MAN DIRECTING HER, (BLEEP) THEY'RE JUST NOT BUILT TO BE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT CREATURES. IN THE UK, SOME WOMEN HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF MEETING HIM, LIKE EVIE ` NOT HER REAL NAME ` WHO SPOKE TO THE BBC LAST YEAR AND IS BEING VOICED BY AN ACTRESS. THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE OUT THERE TO SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE WOMEN THAT HE'S HARMED DO EXIST. SO I THINK HE NEEDS TO JUST GET A BIT OF A REALITY CHECK AND ADMIT TO WHAT HE'S DONE. THE TATES' LAWYER SAID TODAY BOTH HIS CLIENTS WERE FULLY COMMITTED TO THE LEGAL PROCESS. ANDREW TATE, WHO ONCE PRAISED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS ROMANIA'S MORE LENIENT APPROACH TO SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIMS, IS NOW BATTLING THOSE CLAIMS IN BOTH ROMANIA AND THE UK. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE BIG ISSUES TO BE PEELED BACK WHEN THE WORLD BANANA FORUM MEETS THIS WEEK. FIRST GODZILLA, NOW ATOMIC KITTEN. WHY JAPANESE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WARNED TO STAY AWAY FROM A STRAY CAT. PLUS ` THE ALL WHITES LINE UP SOME INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION ` AND A RETURN TO A FAMOUS VENUE. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. FOOD PRICES HAVE SEEN THE LOWEST ANNUAL INCREASE IN FEBRUARY SINCE EARLY 2021, NEW NUMBERS FROM STATISTICS NEW ZEALAND SHOW THE COST OF FOOD WAS UP 2.1% IN THE 12 MONTHS TO FEBRUARY. THE DROP WAS DUE TO A LOWER ANNUAL INCREASE IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES, WHICH WERE DOWN 9.3% OVER THE PAST YEAR. A FRUSTRATED RESIDENT IN THE CHRISTCHURCH SUBURB OF ARANUI HAS BEEN LEFT BEMUSED BY THE REMOVAL OF AROUND A DOZEN CAR PARKS REPLACED BY BOLLARDS. HUNDREDS OF NEW BOLLARDS WERE INSTALLED TWO WEEKS AGO AS PART OF A PROJECT LED BY THE NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY. FINA FA'AMOE DESCRIBES THE SITUATION AS A 'NIGHTMARE', WITH ONLY TWO CAR PARKS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO USE A NEARBY PARK ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. NOBODY WAS CONSULTED FROM THE CLUB. THE ONLY ISSUE WE HAVE IS THAT THEY'VE BLOCKED OFF` THEY'VE PUT THEM UP JUST ON THE SIDE BEHIND ME DOWN THERE, WHICH LIMITS OUR PARKING FOR OUR VISITORS, AND ALSO OTHER COMMUNITY USERS WHO USE THE COMMUNITY HALL, WHICH IS JUST ACROSS FROM ME ON MY LEFT. CITY COUNCILLOR KELLY BARBER SAYS MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO BETTER INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF THE PLAN. A RULE FORCING THE CHIEF OMBUDSMAN TO RETIRE AFTER REACHING A CERTAIN AGE IS OUT OF DATE AND NEEDS A RE-WRITE, ACCORDING TO SOME. CHIEF OMBUDSMAN PETER BOSHIER IS BEING MADE TO RETIRE, WITH A 49-YEAR-OLD LAW PROHIBITING HIM FROM KEEPING HIS POST. HE TURNS 72 THIS SATURDAY. A SPECIALIST IN THE FIELD OF AGE AND WORK SAYS NEW ZEALAND NEEDS TO RE-ADJUST ITS PERCEPTIONS OF SO-CALLED 'RETIREMENT AGE.' NEW ZEALAND DOES NOT HAVE A RETIREMENT AGE. WHAT WE HAVE IS AN AGE OF ENTITLEMENT TO AN AGE PENSION, AND THAT'S 65, BUT NOTHING ELSE CHANGES ON YOUR 65TH BIRTHDAY. YOU GET THE PENSION AND YOU GET A GOLD CARD. PEARMAN SAYS MENTAL ABILITY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AS A HEALTH ISSUE, NOT AN AGE ISSUE. QUEEN CAMILLA'S BEEN ROYALLY AMUSED UPON MEETING HER LIKENESS IN DOLL FORM. THE DOLL WAS MADE TO MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, WHICH WAS LAST WEEK. THE QUEEN HOSTED A FUNCTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, DURING WHICH SHE WAS PRESENTED WITH THE 'QUEEN CAMILLA BARBIE'. SHE JOKED THAT THE DOLL MANUFACTURERS HAD TAKEN, QUOTE, '50 YEARS OFF HER LIFE'. RISING COSTS WORLDWIDE ARE SET TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WHEN THE WORLD BANANA FORUM MEETS TODAY. THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES AFFECTING SUPPLY OF THE POPULAR FRUIT, AS THE BBC'S MATT MCGRATH EXPLAINS. IN ITS NATURAL YELLOW WRAPPER, THE TASTY, NUTRITIOUS BANANA IS THE PERFECT PORTABLE SNACK. SOME 5 BILLION ARE IMPORTED INTO THE UK EVERY YEAR, MAINLY FROM ECUADOR, COLOMBIA AND COSTA RICA. BUT A KEY ELEMENT IN OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS FANTASTIC FRUIT IS COST. BANANAS ARE A RELATIVELY CHEAP FOODSTUFF, AND FOR CONSUMERS HERE AT CARDIFF MARKET AND AT SUPERMARKETS ALL ACROSS THE UK, THOSE PRICES HAVE REMAINED RELATIVELY LOW AND STABLE FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. THAT COULD SOON CHANGE, ACCORDING TO TOP BANANA ECONOMISTS. GLOBAL WARMING IS DRIVING AN INCREASE IN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT ARE HITTING PRODUCTION IN TROPICAL REGIONS CRITICAL TO SUPPLIES. INCREASINGLY POWERFUL FLOODS AND STORMS ARE ALSO BOOSTING THE SPREAD OF DISEASES, INCLUDING FUSARIUM WILT, A NASTY FUNGUS THAT HAS NOW MUTATED TO ATTACK THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR BANANA VARIETY, THE CAVENDISH. (CLAMOURING) AS WELL AS CLIMATE CHANGE, PRODUCERS ARE ALSO FACING INCREASING FERTILISER AND ENERGY COSTS, PARTICULARLY AS THEY ATTEMPT TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS. SO IN THAT TRANSITION PERIOD, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, ENERGY PRICES WILL REMAIN HIGH, AND THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT, OF COURSE, ON BANANA PRICES. I PROJECTED, YOU KNOW, IF SUPPLY REMAINS WHAT IT IS AT THE MOMENT, IF THERE'S NOT A MAJOR INCREASE IN SUPPLY, I PROJECT THAT BANANA PRICES COULD REMAIN RELATIVELY HIGH IN THE COMING YEARS. ANOTHER KEY ISSUE THAT WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE PRICES WE PAY FOR BANANAS IS SUSTAINABILITY. CONSUMERS WANT TO KNOW THAT THE FRUIT THEY BUY IS PRODUCED WITHOUT HARMING THE PLANET OR EXPLOITING WORKERS, BUT TO RAISE PRODUCTION STANDARDS WILL ALSO COST MONEY. DESPITE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING TO PAY MORE, THESE SHOPPERS IN WALES SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO DETER THEM FROM THEIR FAVOURITE FRUIT. I HAVE ONE EVERY DAY. JUST THE ONE? JUST ONE IN MY PORRIDGE EVERY MORNING. IF THEY WENT UP IN PRICE, WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO BUY THEM? I WOULD, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY'RE GOOD FOR MY HEALTH. I EAT ONE MOST DAYS. MOST DAYS? YEAH. IT'D BE A SHAME, BUT IF YOU WANT BANANAS, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE. IT'S THE SAME AS EVERYTHING. IT GOES UP AND COMES BACK DOWN. WHAT IF THEY DON'T COME BACK DOWN? WELL, THAT'S LIFE. RUSSIAN POLICE HAVE RAIDED BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS IN AN ONGOING CRACKDOWN ON WHAT THEY CALL 'INDECENCY'. MUSICIANS AND CONCERTGOERS WERE ARRESTED IN THE RAIDS, ACCUSED OF DISRESPECTING RUSSIA BY NOT ADHERING TO THE COUNTRY'S CONSERVATIVE IDEALS. IT'S A MANIFESTATION OF TOUGH CENSORSHIP RULES WHICH ARE SEEN AS PREVENTING 'NEGATIVE WESTERN INFLUENCES' FROM GAINING A FOOTHOLD IN RUSSIA. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD AFTER AN EXPLOSION COMPLETELY DESTROYED A HOUSE IN THE U.S. CITY OF PITTSBURGH. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE BLAST, WHICH WAS HEARD KILOMETRES AWAY FROM THE SCENE. TWO OTHER HOMES IN THE RURAL AREA WERE DAMAGED. A FOUR-MEMBER CREW FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION HAS SAFELY SPLASHED BACK DOWN TO EARTH AFTER A SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENT TO THE ORBITING OUTPOST. THE CREW, FROM THE U.S, JAPAN, RUSSIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION RETURNED TO EARTH WITH TIME-SENSITIVE MATERIAL FOR RESEARCH. IT TOOK JUST OVER A DAY FOR THE CAPSULE TO MAKE THE TRIP FROM SPACE. AND ROCKETLAB'S COMPLETED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH FROM ITS COMPLEX ON THE MAHIA PENINSULA EARLY THIS MORNING. THE MISSION, NAMED 'OWL NIGHT LONG' WILL DELIVER A RADAR SATELLITE FOR A JAPANESE EARTH IMAGING COMPANY TO ORBIT. IT'S THE SPACE COMPANY'S THIRD LAUNCH OF THE YEAR, AND 45TH ELECTRON ROCKET LAUNCH. RESIDENTS IN A WESTERN JAPANESE CITY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO STEER CLEAR OF A STRAY CAT WHICH REPORTEDLY FELL INTO A VAT OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS. GRAINY SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE CAPTURED THE CAT MAKING ITS ESCAPE, AND WET PAW PRINTS WERE FOUND ON THE FACTORY FLOOR. LOCALS HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO TOUCH THE FELINE SHOULD THEY FIND IT, BUT HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO GUIDANCE ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. SEARCHES ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE TOXIC TABBY, DUBBED 'ATOMIC KITTEN'. TO SPORT ` AND THE ALL WHITES HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR FIRST FIXTURE OF THE SEPTEMBER INTERNATIONAL WINDOW. NEW ZEALAND WILL FACE MEXICO AT THE FAMOUS ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. THE ALL WHITES PREVIOUSLY PLAYED MEXICO AT THE SAME VENUE IN 2010, MEXICO WINNING THAT GAME 2-NIL IN FRONT OF MORE THAN 90,000 FANS. THE TEAM WILL USE THE GAME AS A STEP TOWARDS ITS GOAL OF QUALIFYING FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP. NEW ZEALAND COACHES ARE SLOWLY TAKING HOLD OF SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RUGBY, WITH NEW ASSISTANT COACH TONY BROWN BEGINNING HIS TENURE WITH THE SPRINGBOKS. THE NEW LOOK SOUTH AFRICAN COACHING TEAM HAVE FRONTED MEDIA FOR THE FIRST TIME. BROWN'S ADDITION TO THE SPRINGBOKS STAFF MEANS THERE IS NOW A NEW ZEALAND COACH WITH EVERY RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. AS SOON AS RASSIE RUNG ME, I SAID YES, AND I GOT SO MUCH RESPECT FOR WHAT RASSIE'S DONE WITH SOUTH AFRICA, THAT I'M JUST EXCITED TO COME IN AND BE A PART OF IT. WATCH HIM OPERATE, LEARN FROM HIM. LEARN FROM ALL THE OTHER COACHES. THE NEW LOOK SPRINGBOKS COACHING TEAM WILL FACE WALES IN THEIR FIRST OUTING. NETBALL NEW ZEALAND ARE SIZING UP A BID TO HOST THE 2031 WORLD CUP. NEW ZEALAND MISSED OUT ON HOSTING LAST YEAR'S TOURNAMENT, WITH WORLD NETBALL PICKING SOUTH AFRICA OVER AOTEAROA'S BID. THE LAST TIME AOTEAROA HOSTED THE EVENT WAS IN AUCKLAND IN 2007. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE 2031 WORLD CUP HAVE YET TO BE CALLED FOR. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. Right now, this man is saving a woman from bleeding to death after complications during childbirth. - (YAWNS) - She's currently assisting a car-crash victim, with a serious brain bleed. And she's keeping a teenage boy alive, whose disorder is life-threatening. (INTRIGUING, PULSING MUSIC) Everyday people can save lives every day. WELCOME BACK. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. (ELTON JOHN'S 'I'M STILL STANDING') # YOU COULD NEVER KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE # YOUR BLOOD, LIKE WINTER, FREEZES JUST LIKE ICE # AND THERE'S A COLD, LONELY LIGHT THAT SHINES FROM YOU # YOU'LL WIND UP LIKE THE WRECK YOU HIDE BEHIND THAT MASK YOU USE # AND DID YOU THINK THIS FOOL COULD NEVER WIN? # WELL LOOK AT ME, I'M A-COMIN' BACK AGAIN # I GOT A TASTE OF LOVE IN A SIMPLE WAY # AND IF YOU NEED TO KNOW WHILE I'M STILL STANDIN', # YOU JUST FADE AWAY. # DON'T YOU KNOW I'M STILL STANDIN' BETTER THAN I EVER DID? # LOOKIN' LIKE A TRUE SURVIVOR, FEELIN' LIKE A LITTLE KID # AND I'M STILL STANDIN' AFTER ALL THIS TIME # PICKIN' UP THE PIECES OF MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU ON MY MIND # I'M STILL STANDIN' (YEAH, YEAH, YEAH) THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TODAY'S NEWS ONLINE AT 1news.co.nz FROM THE WHOLE MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY KATE MCCULLOUGH AND MAIA CARR HEKE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024