TONIGHT ON 1 NEWS ` CALLS FOR DISRUPTION TO BE BAKED INTO THE BANKING SYSTEM. OUR BIGGEST BANKS SLAMMED FOR PUTTING PROFIT AHEAD OF IMPROVING SERVICE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THEM COMPETE FOR YOUR CUSTOM? THE KNIVES ARE OUT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. HUNDREDS OF JOBS TO GO AS PART OF PROMISED COST-CUTTING. AND FROM HELPING KIDS TO HELPING NATURE ` THE GENEROSITY ONE COUPLE HOPES WILL INSPIRE OTHER KIWI RICH-LISTERS. CAPTIONS BY LENA ERAKOVICH, LELE SIMEON AND FAITH HAMBLYN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 NAU MAI KI KARERE TAHI I TENEI PO. WELCOME TO ONE NEWS THIS EVENING. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY TONIGHT. THE DREADED R-WORD IS BACK. GDP DROPPED 0.1% IN THE DECEMBER QUARTER. FOLLOWING THE FALL IN SEPTEMBER, IT'S TWO IN A ROW, AND THAT MEANS IT'S OFFICIAL ` WE'RE IN RECESSION. DOING WELL, HOWEVER ` THE BANKS, WHO GOT A SERVE FROM THE COMMERCE COMMISSION AS IT INVESTIGATES PERSONAL BANKING SERVICES. THE COMMISSION SAYS THE BIG FOUR BANKS, WHO HAVE 90% OF THE MARKET, HAVE FOCUSED ON PROFIT AND NOT INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY OR INNOVATION. IT'S CALLING FOR DISRUPTIVE FORCES TO BE INTRODUCED. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. LAST YEAR, ANZ MADE A WHOPPING $2.2B PROFIT FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 2023. BNZ POSTED A RECORD PROFIT OF $1.5B FOR THE SAME PERIOD, AND WESTPAC TOO ` IT RAKED IN $963M. WHILE ASB MADE MORE THAN $1.5B FOR THE YEAR TO JUNE 2023. IN A MOMENT, WE LOOK AT ONE OPTION TO INCREASE COMPETITION ` OPEN BANKING. FIRST, BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BRADFORD ON WHERE THE DISRUPTION COULD COME FROM, AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE WAY YOU BANK. SO WE HAVE A MAVERICK STREAK. THE SELF-STYLED MAVERICK, KIWIBANK WAS SET UP AS THE LOCALLY OWNED MARKET DISRUPTOR. WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT THE OWNER OF KIWIBANK REALLY GET BEHIND THAT AND TURN IT INTO A DISRUPTIVE FORCE. TO DO THAT, IT NEEDS PRIVATE INVESTMENT OR MORE CASH FROM THE GOVERNMENT. 90% OF THE BANKING MARKET IS TAKEN UP BY THE BIG FOUR, THEN THERE'S KIWIBANK AND A SMATTERING OF SMALLER PLAYERS, WHO STRUGGLE TO GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR. ARE KIWIS BEING RIPPED OFF? WELL, LOOK, I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF THAT, AND, CLEARLY, THE COMCOM HAS COME TO A VIEW THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME MEASURES AROUND COMPETITION. IT BECOMES THE IMPETUS OF POLITICIANS TO PROPERLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND TO PUT IN PLACE EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THAT FEELING OF CUSTOMERS BEING RIPPED OFF. THE FOUR BIG BANKS MAKE BIGGER PROFITS HERE THAN OVERSEAS. AND WHILE THEY'LL MATCH EACH OTHER'S OFFERS, THEY RARELY BEAT THEM. THE BANKS HAVE VERY HIGH, FREQUENT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT EACH OTHER IS DOING IN THAT MARKET, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY DO THERE IS THEY WILL CUT FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S REALLY NEGOTIATING, BUT THAT CUT WON'T GO ACROSS THE REST OF THE MARKET. AND THAT'S NOT JUST AT THE EXPENSE OF CUSTOMERS, BUT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TOO. IN THE '80s AND '90s, WE INTRODUCED EFTPOS AND INTERNET BANKING. WE'VE NOW FALLEN BEHIND ON THE INNOVATION FRONT, AND CUSTOMERS ARE MISSING OUT. THIS IS USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR MAYBE YOUR INTERNET EXPERIENCE, WHERE YOU CAN MOVE MONEY AROUND EASIER. YOU CAN FREE UP FUNDS, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUT OF YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT BE USED ON EVERYDAY USE WITHOUT IMPACTING YOUR FUNDS. NO BANK WOULD APPEAR ON CAMERA TODAY, ALL ISSUED STATEMENTS ` ANZ STRONGLY REJECTED CLAIMS PROFITS WERE TOO HIGH. THE COMMERCE COMMISSION MAKES A REALLY INTERESTING POINT THAT THE PROFITS THAT BANKS ARE MAKING ARE SIMPLY A REFLECTION OF THE SIZE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT THEY ARE, AND THEY THEN GO ON TO SAY THAT, ACTUALLY, REGULATION AND REQUIREMENTS AROUND REGULATIONS ARE WHAT ARE PROVIDING A REAL HINDRANCE. KIWIS AREN'T GETTING A FAIR DEAL, AND THEY SHOULD. THERE'RE 16 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RESERVE BANK AND GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER, WITH A FINAL REPORT DUE IN AUGUST. SO, KATIE ` SOME PRETTY SERIOUS FINDINGS THERE ` CAN WE EXPECT ANYTHING TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON? WE HAVE HEARD IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHEN IT IS BEEN SUPERMARKETS, FUEL, COMPANIES, BUILDING SUPPLIES, KIWIS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMPETITION - IT HAS TAKEN A MULTIPLE PAGE REPORT TO TELL US THE SAME THING ABOUT BANKS. WE HAD QUITE A DEFENSIVE STATEMENT FROM THE ANZ TODAY, THAT THEY ARE NOT MAKING AS MUCH MONEY AS PEOPLE THINK, SO REALLY THE BALL IS GOING TO BE IN THE COURT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION, TO TRY AND INNOVATE AND BRING US UP WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, BUT ALSO WHAT IT WILL DO WITH KIWIBANK, NATIONAL WAS QUICK TO SAY IT WOULD TALKED WAS COALITION PARTNERS ABOUT OPTIONS AND THE REGULATION WITH KIWIBANK, GETTING IN PRIVATE INVESTORS TO HELP, THAT MIGHT MEAN PARTIAL PRIVATISATION - ACT MIGHT BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT NEW ZEALAND FIRST UNLIKELY. THEY NEED TO LOOK AT PUMPING MORE CAPITAL INTO KIWIBANK - WHETHER THEY ARE WILLING TO DO THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. AS KATIE'S MENTIONED, THE REVIEW WANTS OPEN BANKING IN PLACE WITHIN TWO YEARS. SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS OPEN BANKING, AND HOW WILL IT HELP YOU? LAURA FRYKBERG'S BEEN FINDING OUT. MOVING YOUR MONEY OR MORTGAGE FROM ONE BANK TO ANOTHER, WHATEVER THE REASON, SHOULD BE SIMPLE, RIGHT? THE FACT IS, THOUGH, FOR MANY OF US, IT CAN SEEM JUST TOO DIFFICULT. I HAVEN'T TRIED ` I'VE BEEN MEANING TO FOR AGES, BUT I'VE JUST BEEN LIKE I CAN'T BE BOTHERED WITH THE ADMIN, TO BE HONEST. WITH A BANK THAT WAS DIGITAL FIRST, I FOUND IT EASY, BUT WITH OTHER OLDER BANKS, WHO HAVE BEEN SLOWER TO ADAPT TO THAT, IT HAS BEEN A BIT OF A BALL-ACHE. BUT THE COMMERCE COMMISSION SAYS IT COULD ALL BE SO MUCH EASIER THROUGH A SYSTEM CALLED OPEN BANKING THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CONTROL YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL DATA, AND FOR OTHERS, WHO YOU CHOOSE, TO ACCESS IT TOO, MAKING IT EASIER TO OPEN NEW ACCOUNTS AT DIFFERENT BANKS AND TO SHARE IT WITH THIRD PARTIES, LIKE APPS, TO HELP MANAGE YOUR BILLS. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE YOUR MONEY MORE FREELY, THEN THEY MIGHT DO MORE TO KEEP YOU. IT'S NOT A NEW IDEA ` WORK BEGAN ON IT IN 2017, BUT PROGRESS WAS DESCRIBED AS TOO SLOW, SO IN 2021, A NEW LAW WAS PASSED THAT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO SHARE DATA HELD ABOUT THEM WITH TRUSTED THIRD PARTIES. BUT THE SYSTEM IS STILL LAGGING BEHIND OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE THE UK AND AUSTRALIA. THE BANKING SECTOR HAS BEEN ON NOTICE FOR YEARS THAT THIS IS A REQUIREMENT. IN FACT, IT'S BEEN MANDATED BY GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DO THIS. IT IS FRANKLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT OPEN BANKING IMPLEMENTED IN NEW ZEALAND YET. IT DOES HAVE ITS CRITICS, THOUGH. SOME SAY IT COULD MAKE BANKING INFORMATION MORE VULNERABLE TO DATA BREACHES. THE WIDER THAT ACCESS IS, THE GREATER THE RISK THAT SOMEBODY CAN GET IN AND HAVE A BREACH, SO THERE IS A DEFINITELY A HIGHER RISK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES ON TO MANAGE THAT. WHILE IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS FOR OPEN BANKING HERE, THE COMMERCE COMMISSION WANTS IT FULLY OPERATIONAL BY 2026, TO GIVE US MORE SAY ON OUR FINANCES. LAURA FRYKBERG, 1 NEWS. AND FINANCE MINISTER NICOLA WILLIS WILL BE JOINING BREAKFAST LIVE. THAT'S TOMORROW FROM 6am. HUNDREDS OF JOBS ARE SET TO GO AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COST-CUTTING PLANS. ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK ` 9% OF STAFF AT THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND MORE THAN 25% AT THE HEALTH MINISTRY. DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN HAS REACTION. THESE CUTS, MAIKI, NOT UNEXPECTED ` BUT STILL CUTTING DEEP? THIS IS THE SHARP END OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COST-CUTTING PLANS, THIS IS THE HARSH REALITY. THIS MORNING AN EMAIL WAS SENT BY THE MPI BOSS - AROUND 40% OF POSITION SET TO GO ARE CURRENTLY VACANT, BUT ACTIVE ROLES ARE SET TO BE AXED. IT MENTIONED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD GROWN BY 1100 PEOPLE - BUT THAT COMES IS COLD COMFORT TO EMPLOYEES THAT RECEIVED THE NEWS THIS MORNING. ONE STAFFER TOLD US ANONYMOUSLY THAT STAFF ARE ANGRY AND CONFUSED AND WONDERING HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE JOBS. " HOW ARE WE GOING TO COPE WITH LESS STAFF - MOST TEAMS ARE RUNNING WITH HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY TODAY. YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE NOWADAYS. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A JOB FOR LIFE, THERE'S NO GUARANTEES. SO, YEAH, YOU'RE NERVOUS ALL THE TIME. HOW'S EVERYONE FEELING IN THERE? OH, KEI TE PAI. ORA TONU. I THINK PEOPLE ARE UNEASY, BUT YEAH. THANK YOU. THE UNION FOR THE MPI STAFF MEMBERS SAY THE AREA FACING BIGGEST CUTS AROUND BIOSECURITY AND AGRICULTURAL, THEY SAY FARMERS SHOULD BE ALARMED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE ON THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS SERVICES AND ALSO WARNED THAT EXPORT EARNINGS COULD BE PUT AT RISK. WE KNOW THE NUMBERS ` WHAT'S THE GOVERNMENT SAYING ABOUT ALL OF THIS? TODAY, THE ACT PARTY AND DAVID SEYMOUR PUT OUT A SOCIAL MEDIA POST IN REACTION TO THE NEWS OF JOB CUTS SAYING "GOOD" AND THAT IS EITHER TONE DEAF, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WAS FORCED TO DISTANCE ITSELF. WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING AROUND AND ASKING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR 6 � TO 7% OF SAVINGS, MOST OF IT WILL COME DOWN TO JOB LOSSES. HERE IS WHAT CHRIS LUXON HAD TO SAY. WE HAVE TO RIGHT-SIZE IT, AND SO... YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH TIME, AND IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT ALSO I'M CONSCIOUS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS IN MANY OTHER SECTORS ACROSS NZ WITH THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. SO PUBLIC SECTOR JOB CUTS ARE CERTAINLY NOT THE FIRST BUT ARE PAINFUL FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE NEWS TODAY. THANKS, MAIKI. THE PROFIT OF OUR BIGGEST COMPANY FONTERRA HAS JUMPED BY 23% IN ITS INTERIM RESULTS. NET PROFIT IS UP TO $674M. THE CO-OPERATIVE SAYS THE STRONG PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY HIGHER MARGINS AND SALES VOLUMES. PROFITS FROM CHINA HAVE JUMPED BY ALMOST 70%, BUT CORE OPERATIONS PROFIT HAS DROPPED BY A THIRD. FONTERRA SAYS IT REMAINS FOCUSED ON REDUCING COSTS AND IS WELL PREPARED FOR ANY DISRUPTION CAUSED BY OVERSEAS EVENTS. OUR FOREIGN SPY AGENCY, THE GCSB, ALLOWED A FOREIGN STATE TO DEPLOY SPYING HARDWARE HERE WITHOUT EVER ALERTING THE GOVERNMENT. THE INTELLIGENCE WATCHDOG DESCRIBED "SIGNIFICANT FAILINGS", AS SENIOR OFFICIALS WITHIN THE GCSB WERE ALSO KEPT IN THE DARK, AND IT'S POSSIBLE THE SYSTEM COULD CONTRIBUTE TO MILITARY TARGETING. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS EXPLAINS. FOR NEARLY A DECADE, OUR POLITICIANS WERE OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT THE GCSB HAD INSTALLED SPY HARDWARE ON BEHALF OF A FOREIGN NATION. IT COULD BE USED TO IDENTIFY TARGETS, POTENTIALLY FOR MILITARY ATTACKS. A DAMNING REPORT BY OUR INTELLIGENCE WATCHDOG TODAY SAYS OUR SPIES KEPT OUR POLITICIANS IN THE DARK FROM 2012 TO 2020. THE FACT THAT NONE OF OUR POLITICAL DECISION-MAKERS, THE APPROPRIATE MINISTERS AT THE TIME, NOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GCSB WERE AWARE OF THIS CAPABILITY IS ASTOUNDING. THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY EVENTS THAT WERE TIED TO, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND THEY WERE, OBVIOUSLY, CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS LEGISLATION. WHAT I'D SAY IS THAT HAS CHANGED ` OPERATING PRACTICE OF THE AGENCY HAS CHANGED AS WELL. CAN YOU SAY WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS USED TO HURT OR KILL? OH, LOOK, I CAN'T, AND I DON'T COMMENT ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. WHILE THE REPORT DOESN'T IDENTIFY THE STATE. PRESUMABLY ONE OF THE FIVE-EYE PARTNERS, AND I WOULD RECKON, PRESUMABLY ONE OF THE FIVE-EYES PARTNERS, AND I WOULD RECKON, PROBABLY, THE UNITED STATES ` THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY. THE EXACT NATURE OF THE HARDWARE HASN'T BEEN REVEALED, BUT IT COULD BE OPERATED REMOTELY BY THE FOREIGN STATE, AND WE CAN'T BE SURE IF IT WAS USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NZ LAW. IT IS WORRYING THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. AS A GOVERNMENT, YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR SECURITY AGENCIES ARE DOING AND INADVERTENTLY OR DIRECTLY SUPPORTING. SO, YOU HAVE A FOREIGN AGENCY OPERATING A HIGH TECHNOLOGY FOR ESPIONAGE PURPOSES ON NZ SOIL, AND NO ONE IN OUR CHAIN OF COMMAND WAS AWARE OF WHAT IT WAS DOING. GCSB BOSS ANDREW CLARK REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED, AS DID THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY. BENEDICT COLLINS, 1 NEWS. THE SECRETIVE COMMUNE OF GLORIAVALE NOW HAS LESS GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, WITH THE CO-ORDINATED MULTI-AGENCY RESPONSE LOOKING AT ISSUES RAISED BY LEAVERS, INVESTIGATIONS AND COURT CASES NO LONGER ACTIVE. NOW, A FORMER MINISTER WHO HELPED OVERSEE THAT WORK HAS SPOKEN OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. FOR YEARS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE BEEN GOING INTO GLORIAVALE, TRYING TO TACKLE EVERYTHING, FROM SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE TO WORKER EXPLOITATION. REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREATED, ALLEGATIONS OF SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, OF PEOPLE BEING FORCED TO STAY IN THAT PLACE AGAINST THEIR WILL. MICHAEL WOOD WAS THE WORKPLACE MINISTER WHEN A PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSIONER WAS APPOINTED TO COORDINATE ENGAGEMENT AND SHARE INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN 10 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKING INSIDE THE SECRETIVE COMMUNITY. SO, IT GAVE US THE ABILITY, AS A GOVERNMENT, TO KNOW WHETHER THINGS WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, OR WHETHER IT WAS, AS IT HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR SOME YEARS, A CASE OF THE LEADERSHIP THERE JUST NODDING THEIR HEADS AND, AS SOON AS NO ONE WAS LOOKING, GOING BACK TO THE OLD WAYS. THE JOINT RESPONSE WAS MANDATED TO END IN DECEMBER, AND THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S STILL DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT. PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT HAS A BETTER PLAN, OR ARE THEY JUST WALKING AWAY FROM THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. IN 2022, CABINET AGREED ON FIVE KEY OUTCOMES IT WANTED GLORIAVALE TO IMPLEMENT ` FOR WORK AT THE COMMUNE TO BE DONE WITHOUT THE THREAT OF PENALTIES, THOSE IN JOBS TO GET MINIMUM LEGAL ENTITLEMENTS, CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED AND NOT EXPLOITED FOR COMMERCIAL GAIN, NO TOLERANCE FOR ANY FORM OF AVOIDABLE SERIOUS HARM, AND FOR THOSE WANTING TO LEAVE GLORIAVALE TO ABLE TO DO SO FREELY, AND WITH HELP. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THEY WERE NOT BEING MET IN FULL, FOR THE TIME THAT I WAS INVOLVED, BUT THERE WAS MORE COORDINATED ACTION FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND THERE WERE SIGNS OF PROGRESS. A SPOKESPERSON FOR GLORIAVALE SAYS IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING, BUT THE COMMUNITY'S COMMITTED TO THE OBJECTIVES, EVEN WITHOUT AN ALL-OF-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE. THEY TOLD 1 NEWS IMPROVING HOW TO SUPPORT THOSE WANTING TO LEAVE HAS BEEN A PARTICULAR FOCUS. IT'S UNDERSTOOD 25 PEOPLE HAVE CUT TIES WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE CHRISTMAS. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE OVER THIS COMMUNITY FUNDING AND PUT PROPER SOCIAL WORKERS IN PLACE, TO RESETTLE THE FAMILIES OUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, AWAY FROM THIS ISOLATION AND AWAY FROM THIS PREDATION. THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED SAY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH GLORIAVALE AND WILL TAKE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WHEN IT MAKES SENSE. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. ONE PERSON HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT THAT SENT TAURANGA HOSPITAL INTO LOCKDOWN. THE HOSPITAL WAS VETTING PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ON ARRIVAL AND ASKING STAFF TO CARRY ID WHEN ARRIVING FOR THEIR SHIFTS AFTER A THREATENING PHONE CALL FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THIS MORNING. THE LOCKDOWN HAS NOW BEEN LIFTED, WITH THE HOSPITAL RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL OPERATIONAL STATE. MID-CANTERBURY FARMERS HOPE THE AQUATIC LIFE WILL RETURN TO A DRIED-UP LOCAL CREEK AFTER THEY'VE FINALLY BEEN ALLOWED TO REFILL IT. THEY SAY THE DELAY FROM THE REGIONAL COUNCIL GRANTING PERMISSION WAS UNNECESSARY. IT COMES AS THE GOVERNMENT HAS CLASSIFIED MORE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AS BEING IN DROUGHT, INCLUDING CANTERBURY. KATIE STEVENSON REPORTS. DRY AS A BONE ` A ONCE-THRIVING ECOSYSTEM BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES. YOU'D ALMOST THINK IT WAS THE SAHARA DESERT. FISH, EELS, EVEN CRAYFISH PERISHING WHEN ASHBURTON'S GREENSTREET CREEK DRIED UP. IT'D BE IN THE THOUSANDS, ABSOLUTELY, OF ALL SPECIES, AND THAT WOULD BE WITHOUT ALL THE LITTLE CRITTERS. USUALLY, IF THE WATERWAY'S LOOKING DRY, LOCAL FARMERS SUPPLEMENT IT USING THIS IRRIGATION WATER, BUT LAST YEAR, A CONSENT CHANGE BY ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY PUT A STOP TO THAT. WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN PLEADING WITH THEM TO ALLOW US TO PUT WATER INTO THIS CREEK. THE REASON FOR THE CONSENT REVIEW PROCESS WAS TO PROTECT THE LARGER CATCHMENT. USING BUCKETS AND FISHING NETS, FARMERS, LOCALS AND FISH AND GAME STAFF HAVE BEEN OUT HERE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO TRY AND SAVE THE FISH. FOR EVERY ONE THING THAT WE'LL SAVE, WE'LL PROBABLY WALK PAST 50 DEAD THINGS. FISH AND GAME COUNTING MORE THAN 200 CREATURES THEY HELPED SAVE. AFTER WEEKS OF SENDING EMAILS AND LEAVING MESSAGES, THESE LOCALS FINALLY GOT A RESPONSE FROM ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY TODAY. I'VE ALSO MADE THE DECISION TO RELEASE WATER INTO GREENSTREET CREEK. THAT WATER WILL BE RELEASED BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT I WANT TO HAVE A BETTER CONVERSATION WITH THEM. INTO THE FUTURE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP DOING THIS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO. THE CONDITIONS IN THE REGION ARE THE DRIEST FISH AND GAME HAS SEEN IN A DECADE. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT NO SIGNIFICANT RAIN IN THE FORECAST, AT THE MOMENT, AND I THINK THAT, UH, WE ARE GONNA SEE SOME MORE STREAMS THAT SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT. WITH THE GOVERNMENT TODAY RECOGNISING CANTERBURY AND OTAGO ARE IN A DROUGHT. WE HAVE 78,000KM OF RIVER, AND 70% OF THE COUNTRY'S GROUNDWATER IN THE FACE OF EL NINO AND CLIMATE CHANGE, IT IS DRYING UP. LOCALS JUST HOPEFUL SOME OF WHAT WAS ONCE HERE IN ABUNDANCE WILL RETURN. THERE'S ENOUGH THERE TO START AGAIN, AND IN TIME, IT'LL FLOURISH IF IT'S ALLOWED TO. FOR THESE CREATURES, THOUGH, IT'S TOO LATE. KATIE STEVENSON, 1 NEWS. COMING UP ` WHAT THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE PRINCESS OF WALES WAS TREATED IS NOW SAYING, AMID CLAIMS THREE OF THE STAFF THERE TRIED TO READ HER PERSONAL MEDICAL RECORDS. PLUS ` WHY MARK KNOPFLER HAS RE-RELEASED THIS 1980s TRACK, FORMING A SUPERGROUP TO DO SO, WITH 54 OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS MUSICIANS. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, ACTRESS OLIVIA COLMAN ON WHY HER LATEST FILM GETS A LITTLE BIT SWEARY. I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE JUST ASSUME IN THE '20s NOBODY SWORE, EVERYONE WAS VERY WELL-BEHAVED. AND THEY WEREN'T. (CHUCKLES) PLUS ` WHO'S POACHING ALL THE PETUNIAS IN CHRISTCHURCH? WE'RE ON THE HUNT TONIGHT AT 7. NAU MAI, HOKI MAI. PRESSURE IS MOUNTING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN UP A SPECIAL VISA PATHWAY FOR THOSE IN GAZA AFFECTED BY CONFLICT. MORE THAN 30 ORGANISATIONS SENDING AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER TO MAKE THE CHANGE, BUT SHE SAYS IT'S NOT THE ANSWER. CORAZON MILLER REPORTS. NEHAD AL-BATTANIJI'S CHILDREN MET THEIR GAZA FAMILY FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST BEFORE WAR BROKE OUT; SOME THEY'LL NEVER SEE AGAIN. THIS ONE, HE DIED, THE LITTLE ONE. AW. HE SAYS 77 OF HIS RELATIVES HAVE DIED, THE YOUNGEST JUST 8 MONTHS OLD. WHEN YOU LOSE ONE ONLY FROM THE FAMILY, IT HURTS YOUR HEART. BUT WHEN YOU LOSE LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS, YOU CAN'T IMAGINE. THE FAMILY HOME, ONCE FILLED WITH CELEBRATION, IS NOW RUBBLE. LAST NIGHT, MORE BAD NEWS ` ONE OF HIS BROTHERS WAS CAPTURED IN A RAID ON AL-SHIFA HOSPITAL. ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCES SAY IT HOUSED HAMAS OPERATIVES. THE TWO KIDS, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, TO THE SOUTH. SO THEY WALK ABOUT SIX TO SEVEN HOURS. THE KIDS LOST THEIR MUM, AND NOW THEY LOST THEIR DAD. TODAY 30 ORGANISATIONS HAVE SIGNED THIS OPEN LETTER, CALLING FOR THE OUR GOVERNMENT TO GRANT HUMANITARIAN VISAS TO PALESTINIANS. THIS ISN'T ABOUT STEPPING INTO THE WIDER GEOPOLITICS OF THE WAR IN GAZA ` IT'S ABOUT MILITARY PROTECTING FAMILIES WITH LINK TO PEOPLE HERE. IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT PROTECTING FAMILIES WITH LINK TO PEOPLE HERE. POLITICIANS ECHOING THAT CALL THIS AFTERNOON. EVERY DAY, THE SITUATION IN GAZA GETS WORSE, AND THE MINISTER NEEDS TO LISTEN TO THE PLEAS OF PALESTINIANS. FOR NOW, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS VISITOR VISAS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICT WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY. BUT SETTING UP A SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN PATHWAY IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED. IT WAS DONE FOR UKRAINIANS IN 2022, FOR AFGHANS IN 2021 AND FOR SYRIANS BACK IN 2015. THE MINISTER REFERENCING CANADA, WHERE NO PALESTINIANS HAVE ARRIVED, DESPITE SPECIAL VISAS. THIS IS A BORDER ISSUE AND A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, AND SIMPLY ISSUING A VISA IS ISSUING FALSE HOPE. AUSTRALIA, IT'S CREATED ABOUT 2000 VISAS, AND ABOUT 400 PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED. SO IT CAN BE DONE, BUT IT REQUIRES NOT ONLY TO CREATE A PATH, BUT ALSO CONSULAR ASSISTANCE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT. HE FEARS THERE'LL SOON BE NO ONE LEFT TO SAVE. CORAZON MILLER, 1 NEWS. THE UK'S PRIVACY WATCHDOG IS NOW LOOKING INTO WHETHER THE LONDON CLINIC WHERE THE PRINCESS OF WALES WAS TREATED DELAYED NOTIFYING IT, AFTER CLAIMS UP TO THREE HOSPITAL STAFF TRIED TO ACCESS HER PERSONAL NOTES. IT COMES AMID INTENSE SPECULATION ABOUT THE ROYAL'S HEALTH, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER FUELLING CONSPIRACY THEORIES, EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON REPORTS. THIS HAS BEEN A TRUSTED HOSPITAL FOR PLENTY OF HIGH-PROFILE PATIENTS, INCLUDING RECENTLY KING CHARLES, WHERE TREATMENT FOR AN ENLARGED PROSTATE LED TO HIS CANCER DIAGNOSIS. THERE ARE NOW ALLEGATIONS OF A PRIVACY BREACH THERE, WITH BRITISH MEDIA REPORTING THREE STAFF MEMBERS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR TRYING TO ACCESS PRINCESS CATHERINE'S MEDICAL RECORDS AFTER HER MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY IN JANUARY. THE LONDON CLINIC SAYS... IT'S JUST THE LATEST HEADACHE FOR KENSINGTON PALACE, FACING WAVES OF SPECULATION REGARDING KATE'S HEALTH, MUCH OF IT CONSPIRACY THEORIES SWIRLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE SPECULATING, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING INFORMATION, WHEN YOU'VE GOT THIS REAL HUNGER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, THEN YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO TRY TO SATISFY THAT HUNGER IN OTHER WAYS THAN JUST SPECULATING, FOR EXAMPLE, BY TRYING TO ACCESS INFORMATION THAT THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS LOOKING AT. WHEN PRINCESS CATHERINE LEFT HERE, TWO MONTHS AGO, AFTER MAJOR SURGERY SHE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED A COUPLE OF QUIET MONTHS OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT TO REST AND RECUPERATE. BUT THANKS TO HER OWN PERSONAL EDITING GAFFE, THE NEVER-ENDING RUMOURS AND INCIDENTS LIKE THIS, KATE CAN'T STOP MAKING HEADLINES FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. I THINK JUST LEAVE HER ALONE, HONESTLY. IT'S HER PERSONAL LIFE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE SHOULD BE PRIVACY, BUT THEN WHEN YOU'RE A ROYAL, THERE SHOULD BE SOME CLARITY AS TO WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HER. PRINCE HARRY'S ALSO IN A FIGHT FOR PRIVACY. HIS LAWYERS IN COURT TODAY ARGUING RUPERT MURDOCH KNEW HIS PAPERS WERE USING ILLEGAL METHODS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. ALL THIS LAYING BARE WHAT SOME CALL THE IRONY AT THE CENTRE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ` THEY CRAVE PRIVACY, BUT ALSO NEED PEOPLE TO BE INTERESTED IN THEIR LIVES. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, LONDON. ANDRE YOUNG, BETTER KNOWN AS DR DRE, HAS BEEN HONOURED WITH A STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME. THE AWARD-WINNING HIP-HOP PRODUCER WAS JOINED BY SOME OF THE FAMOUS ARTISTS HE'S WORKED WITH, INCLUDING SNOOP DOGG AND EMINEM, DR DRE SAYING HE'S PROUD OF HIS ROOTS, LIVING HIS DREAM AND ELEVATING THE EXPERIENCE OF HIP-HOP. GROWING UP IN COMPTON, I NEVER IMAGINED THAT I WOULD ONE DAY BE REPRESENTED HERE AMONG SOME OF MY CHILDHOOD HEROES. THOUSANDS OF FANS LINED LA's HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD TO CELEBRATE THE MILESTONE. ALSO MAKING A MARK, FORMER DIRE STRAITS FRONTMAN MARK KNOPFLER AND HIS 'GUITAR HEROES' SUPERGROUP, WHICH INCLUDES 54 GUEST ARTISTS. THEY'RE LOOKING TO CLIMB UP THE UK CHARTS, KNOCK BEYONCE OFF TOP SPOT, AND RAISE SOME MONEY FOR CHARITY AT THE SAME TIME. SEE WHO YOU CAN SPOT FROM A WHO'S WHO OF MANY OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC ROCK MUSICIANS ` NILE RODGERS, SLASH, BRIAN MAY AND RINGO STARR, TO NAME JUST A FEW. (SWEEPING CELTIC-ROCK INSTRUMENTAL) KNOPFLER HAS RE-RECORDED 'GOING HOME', THE INSTRUMENTAL THEME TRACK TO 1983 MOVIE 'LOCAL HERO'. HERE'S A SNIPPET OF THE NEW VERSION. (JOYOUS MULTI-GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL) STING AND ERIC CLAPTON, WHO HAVE PLAYED WITH KNOPFLER IN THE PAST, HAVE ALSO JOINED UP WITH HIM AGAIN. THE SONG HAS BEEN RELEASED TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST UK AND TEEN CANCER AMERICA. STILL AHEAD ` HE LIVES ON THE SAME ISLAND THAT NAPOLEON BONAPARTE WAS EXILED TO AND DIED, BUT HE'S BEEN THERE CONSIDERABLY LONGER. COMING UP ` THIS IS JONATHAN, THE WORLD'S OLDEST LIVING ANIMAL. JUST HOW OLD HE IS ` NEXT. PLUS ` IT CREATES BAD HABITS, WHEREAS NOW, I JUST FOLLOW THIS PLAN, AND I FEEL HAPPY. BACK HOME, JOSEPH PARKER CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK ` THE BOXER REVEALS WHAT'S BEHIND HIS CAREER RESURGENCE. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP, THE HUNT IS ON FOR THE WHEELIE BIN SCOOTER THIEF WHO IS STEALING PLANTS. PLUS ` JOIN US AS WE GO ON BOARD THE FLYING WOODEN WONDER THAT'S BEEN RESTORED TO HER FORMER GLORY. AND THE STAGE SHOW FROM AN AWARD-WINNING ARTIST WHO'S PUTTING DISABILITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. AUCKLAND COUNCIL HAS GOT AN EXTRA YEAR TO WORK ON ITS ZONING RULES, WITH AN EXTENSION GRANTED TO A CRUCIAL PLAN CHANGE. HOUSING MINISTER CHRIS BISHOP HAS GIVEN ANOTHER YEAR FOR CONSULTATION ON ALLOWING MORE DEVELOPMENT IN PARTS OF THE CITY. THE FLOODING OVER LAST YEAR'S AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND AND CYCLONE GABRIELLE BADLY AFFECTED PLACES WHERE INTENSIFICATION WAS PLANNED. THE ONE-YEAR EXTENSION WILL ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ZONING WORK FOR LIGHT RAIL, AS I SAID, THE IMPACT OF THE FLOODS, AND ALSO OUR INTENTION TO MAKE THE MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS OPTIONAL FOR AUCKLAND AND OTHER COUNCILS. CHRIS BISHOP SAYS HE'S ALSO CONSIDERING WHETHER WELLINGTONIANS WILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY DECISIONS OF ITS COUNCIL OR A HEARINGS COMMITTEE WHEN IT COMES TO MORE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CAPITAL. A PAIR OF RICH-LISTERS HAVE DISHED OUT A WHOPPING $100M OVER THE PAST DECADE AS PART OF THEIR OBJECTIVE TO HELP IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND. NOW EVERY DOLLAR HAS BEEN SPENT, NEAL AND ANNETTE PLOWMAN HOPE MORE WEALTHY KIWIS WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE. YVONNE TAHANA WENT TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE COUPLE'S GENEROSITY. INSIDE THIS LITTLE STEEL BOX IS A TUBE OF MAYONNAISE. IT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE IT, BUT THIS IS HIGH-TECH ` $30M TO HELP FUND AI PREDATOR-FIGHTING TECHNOLOGY. BECAUSE IT'S SO SENSITIVE, IT CAN DETECT THE LAST ANIMAL IN THE LANDSCAPE. SO IF WE'RE GONNA GET TO PREDATOR FREE NEW ZEALAND, IT'S THESE SORT OF TOOLS THAT ARE OPENING THE GAME. $10M SPENT RAISING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MAORI AND PACIFIC CHILDREN. THE EXTRAORDINARY SUPPORT THEY'VE GIVEN US HAS ENABLED US TO ACTUALLY OUTREACH TO 130 SCHOOLS, MORE THAN 30,000 KIDS. BEHIND IT ALL ` PUBLICITY-SHY KIWI COUPLE ANNETTE AND NEAL PLOWMAN, WHO MADE THEIR FORTUNE IN LAUNDRY SERVICES. 10 YEARS AGO THEY SET UP THE NEXT FOUNDATION, GIVING IT $100M. (APPLAUSE) THE MISSION ` TO SPEND IT ALL ON TRANSFORMATIONAL INITIATIVES LIKE PREDATOR-FREE 2050 PROJECTS. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AT A PRIVATE PARTY LAST NIGHT, THE PLOWMANS CELEBRATED EVERY LAST CENT BEING SPENT. ANNETTE PLOWMAN HAD A SIMPLE MESSAGE, ASKING THOSE WHO COULD TO GIVE AWAY HALF THEIR WEALTH DURING THEIR LIFETIME. IT'S SUCH A STRONG MORAL POSITION ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING. IT'S MORE REWARDING FOR THE PEOPLE. IT'S ACTUALLY DEALING WITH THINGS NOW, RATHER THAN PUTTING THEM OFF INTO THE FUTURE. NEARLY $4B GOES INTO THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR EACH YEAR. BUT WHAT MADE NEXT DIFFERENT IS ITS SIZE. THE NEXT FOUNDATION IS QUITE UNIQUE, AND IT IS QUITE PIONEERING IN MANY WAYS, IN TERMS OF THE SCALE AND THE AMBITION THAT THEY HAD AND HOW THEY WENT ABOUT DOING IT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHILE THE INVESTMENT HAS FINISHED, THE MAHI HASN'T. THEY SAY UNLESS SOMETHING GETS SCALED, THEN YOU'VE HAD A WONDERFUL HOBBY. WELL, WE WANT IT TO BE MORE THAN A HOBBY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT ACTUALLY BENEFITS NEW ZEALANDERS AND THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY. NEXT ITSELF IS CHANGING, SUPPORTING A NEW CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY, TO HELP SPREAD THE MISSION OF GIVING NOW. YVONNE TAHANA, 1 NEWS. APPLE GROWERS IN AUSTRALIA ARE HOPING TO TAKE A BIG BITE OUT OF THE MARKET WITH A NEW VARIETY. THE RED LOVE APPLE ` RED ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE AS WELL ` HAS BEEN 20 YEARS IN DEVELOPMENT. IT TAKES ITS NAME NOT ONLY FROM ITS COLOUR, BUT ITS HEART SHAPE WHEN CUT IN HALF. THE APPLE'S PRODUCERS SAY IT'S 15% TO 20% HIGHER IN ANTIOXIDANTS THAN STANDARD APPLES. THIS IS JONATHAN ` THE WORLD'S OLDEST KNOWN LIVING LAND ANIMAL. THE SEYCHELLES GIANT TORTOISE HAS EARNED AN ENTRY IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS AT 192 YEARS OLD. JONATHAN RESIDES ON ST HELENA, THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLAND WHERE NAPOLEAN BONAPARTE WAS EXILED. THE FORMER FRENCH EMPEROR DIED AGED 51, A DECADE BEFORE JONATHAN WAS HATCHED, AND HIS VET SAYS THE 19-DECADE-OLD TORTOISE IS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT ` AND JOSEPH PARKER HAS MADE IT CLEAR WHO HE WANTS TO TAKE ON NEXT. THE MAN HE WANTS TO FACE ISN'T THE ONE WHO HE'S CONTRACTED TO TAKE ON. PARKER OPENS UP IN HIS HAPPY PLACE, HOME WITH HIS FAMILY, BEFORE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THIS NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHARGE. PLUS ` IMPECCABLE TIMING FROM TWO OUR OF OUR CRICKETING STARS AND WELCOME BACK, SAIL-GP ` LYTTELTON PLAYS HOST TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST AGAIN. AND OUR HOT-SPOT WAS CULVERDEN TODAY, REACHING 26 DEGREES. SOME SUNNY SKIES STICKING AROUND FOR TOMORROW, BUT WE HAVE A SHIFT ON THE WAY ` WHO GETS THE WEEKEND SHOWERS? FIND OUT AFTER SPORT. NAU MAI KI NGA KORERO HAKINAKINA O TE WA ` WELCOME TO SPORT. AND THE COMEBACK IS NOT FINISHED YET ` FAR FROM IT. JOSEPH PARKER WANTS MORE, WANTS THE BIG NAMES AND ANOTHER WORLD TITLE. HIS RETURN TO THE TOP FLIGHT OF HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS HAS BEEN ONE OF SPORT'S GREAT REDEMPTION STORIES. WE VISITED PARKER TODAY, A RARE DAY OFF AT HOME IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. SHAKE HANDS. ALL RIGHT, SHAKE THIS HAND. JOSEPH PARKER IS BACK WITH THE BIG DOGS OF HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING ` ALTHOUGH THE FOCUS TODAY WAS MORE ON LITTLE PEOPLE. EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE FEELS LIKE IT'S PERFECT. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, PARKER'S FAMILY ` BACK WITH HIS WIFE AND FOUR DAUGHTERS AFTER HIS LATEST WIN, A COMEBACK VICTORY OVER CHINESE GIANT ZHI ZHANG TWO WEEKS AGO. HE'S CONTRACTED FOR A REMATCH AGAINST ZHANG, BUT BOXING DEALS CAN CHANGE QUICKLY. MY GUT'S SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT FIGHT OR A DIFFERENT FIGHTER. HE WANTS ANOTHER CRACK AT ENGLISHMAN ANTHONY JOSHUA. WE'RE BOTH INTERESTED IN THE REMATCH. LET'S DO IT AGAIN? YEAH, BUT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IF THEY WANT TO PUT IT ON ` YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN SAUDI ARABIA AND THE PROMOTERS. PARKER'S RE-POSITIONING AND RENAISSANCE IS QUITE REMARKABLE. AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD AND ANDY RUIZ, I HIT A DARK PLACE, THERE. IT'S JUST THAT NO ONE REALLY KNEW ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN YOU BECOME CHAMPION AT A YOUNG AGE, AND YOU GOT MONEY, AND YOU GOT EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOU, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE BEST THING FOR YOU. 18 MONTHS AGO, HIS CAREER DIPPED EVEN FURTHER ` A KNOCKOUT DEFEAT TO ENGLISHMAN JOE JOYCE. HOW SERIOUSLY DID YOU THINK ABOUT CHUCKING IT IN THEN? NEVER. INSTEAD, PARKER HIRED AN AMERICAN NUTRITIONIST AND FITNESS TRAINER, FORMER MMA FIGHTER AND MARINE GEORGE LOCKHART. EAT THIS. DO THIS. REST THIS TIME, TRAIN AT THIS TIME. AND MORE MUSCLE, MORE SPEED, MORE POWER. THE 32-YEAR-OLD NOW FINDS HIMSELF WINNING, HIGHLY RANKED AND LOVED BY THE BIG-MONEY SAUDI BACKERS. HE BELIEVES HE HAS THREE MORE YEARS IN THE GAME, TOPS. I THINK YEARS AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID YOU'D RETIRE AT 30. I SAID, 30, 31. YEAH. I THINK COVID SORT OF PUSHED THAT PLAN OUT. (CHUCKLES) AND WINNING ALSO PUSHES THAT PLAN OUT? YES, AND WINNING ALSO PUSHES IT OUT. THE PARKERS WILL SOON WELCOME A FIFTH CHILD, A SON, NEXT MONTH. HOW TIME FLIES. I WAS, LIKE, 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD. HOW TIME FLIES. HOW OLD DOES DADDY LOOK HERE? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE, LIKE, 13 OR 12. NO! I WAS 18. FROM BABYFACE TO HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER, AGAIN. MY PASSION FOR THE SPORT IS WAY STRONGER THAN IT WAS BEFORE. THE CAVALRY HAS ARRIVED, THE CAVALRY HAS ARRIVED, SOPHIE DEVINE AND MELIE KERR RETURNING TO THE WHITE FERNS AFTER THEIR WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE STINTS IN INDIA, THE PAIR BOLSTERING A NEW ZEALAND SIDE LOOKING TO LEVEL THE T20 SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND IN NELSON TOMORROW. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE REPORTS. SOPHIE DEVINE BACK AND IN THE BRIGHT NELSON SUN. ON MONDAY IT WAS THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF DELHI. GOES DOWN THE GROUND. CLEANLY STRUCK FOR SIX. IT'S BEEN A VERY NICE CHANGE. I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST ` BEING ABLE TO HEAR YOURSELF THINK HAS BEEN A NICE CHANGE. THE WHITE FERNS SKIPPER RETURNING AFTER HELPING ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE TO THEIR FIRST INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE. MELIE KERR ALSO BACK FROM WPL DUTIES, BOTH OF THEM NEEDING TO BRING THE FIREPOWER, AFTER THE FERNS FELL TO ENGLAND IN THE FIRST T20. HASN'T GOT IT. WE KNOW, WITH THIS ENGLAND SIDE, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY GOOD CRICKET FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE GAME. I THINK, FOR US, IT'S JUST ABOUT ADDING THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT TO THE GROUP, COS I THINK THEY'RE DOING SOME GREAT THINGS, OBVIOUSLY A BIT OF A LOSS FIRST UP, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY POSITIVE SIGNS. THAT POTENTIAL NEEDS TO DEVELOP FURTHER, WITH A WORLD CUP LOOMING. A YEAR AGO IT WAS DISSAPPOINTMENT, FAILING TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE KNOCK-OUT STAGES, LEADING DEVINE TO SLAM THEIR DOMESTIC COMPETITION. IF I'M BEING BRUTALLY HONEST, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S PREPARING US FOR INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. A YEAR ON, AND SHE SAYS THERE'S HUGE IMPROVEMENT, WITH NZA, NORTH-SOUTH AND SUPER SMASH, BUT DEPTH IS STILL LACKING. OH, LOOK, I THINK NEW ZEALAND CRICKET HAVE BEEN DOING SOME FANTASTIC THINGS. I THINK WE'VE GOTTA BE REALISTIC, THOUGH, THAT NEW ZEALAND IS A SMALL COUNTRY, WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE LIKES OF INDIA, WHO HAVE A BILLION PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE FIVE MILLION. SO I DON'T THINK I'M SPEAKING OUT OF TURN THERE, THAT WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO COMPETE, IN TERMS OF STRAIGHT OUT NUMBERS. WE ARE CERTAINLY ON AN UPWARD TREND. TIME IS PROBABLY GONNA TO BE THE KEY THING FOR THIS. YOU CAN'T SORTA SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND THINK EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ABLE TO BE PERFECT. LUCKILY FOR THE FERNS, THEY STILL HAVE TIME. ENGLAND TOMORROW, A WORLD CUP SIX MONTHS AWAY. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN CATCH LIVE COVERAGE OF THAT MATCH ON TV1 AND TVNZ+ FROM 12.30pm TOMORROW. CHRISTCHURCH'S PORT VILLAGE OF LYTTELTON IS ALL GEARED UP TO HOST SAIL-GP FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING. THE 10 TEAMS, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND, OFFICIALLY WELCOMED BACK TODAY AHEAD OF RACING STARTING ON SATURDAY. JORDAN OPPERT HAS MORE. (CONCH ECHOES, MEN CHANT) AS DAWN BROKE ON WHAKARAUPO LYTTELTON HARBOUR... SAIL-GP WAS ONCE AGAIN WELCOMED BACK TO OTAUTAHI AND RAPAKI MARAE. THIS CEREMONY THIS MORNING ` VERY SPECIAL FOR EVERYONE IN SAIL-GP, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY US BEING THE HOME TEAM, IT'S REALLY GREAT BEING WELCOMED DOWN HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS GET REAL FROM HERE. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM CURRENTLY SECOND ON THE LADDER, EIGHT POINTS BEHIND AUSTRALIA, WITH JUST FOUR STOPS ON THE CALENDAR REMAINING ` EVERY POINT CRUCIAL. YOU KNOW, AS WE RACE ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WE'RE ABOUT CONSISTENCY AND TRYING TO PUT THE BEST RACE WEEKENDS TOGETHER WE CAN, AND PUT US IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE END. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE AT HOME, AND WE WANT TO TRY AND WIN AT HOME. PLENTY AT STAKE FOR THE KIWIS, WHO WILL BE DRIVEN BY NEW DAD PETER BURLING, WHO MISSED THE SYDNEY GRAND PRIX. AND IN EVEN BETTER NEWS, THE FORECAST IS FAVOURABLE, RIVALRIES FIERCE, AND FANS ARE REACHING FEVER PITCH. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE GOING FOR? LOOK AT FLASH BOATS! THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FLOATING ROUND THAT HARBOUR. GOTTA HAVE A LOOK. ONE OF THE STAFF LIVES IN LYTTELTON AND SHE'S INVITED ALL THE STAFF TO HER PLACE. SO, IF YOU WANNA GO, WE CAN GO. (LAUGHS) WE WENT LAST YEAR AND LOVED IT. AND WE WERE ON THE STANDS. AND THE BOATS ARE RIGHT THERE, AND... WE'RE SUPPORTING DENMARK AND NEW ZEALAND. (LAUGHS) THE SITE'S LOOKING AWESOME. MORE FANS THAN LAST YEAR. RACING'S GONNA BE CLOSE, AND YEAH, WE CAN'T WAIT. WE'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY PUMPED TO GET INTO IT. (GROUP PERFORM HAKA) AND BEING AT HOME, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF MOTIVATION. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. NEW ZEALAND RIDERS HAVE MADE A STRONG START TO THE PARA CYCLING TRACK WORLD CHAMPS IN BRAZIL, WINNING TWO MEDALS AND SECURING ALL-IMPORTANT PARALYMPIC QUALIFICATION POINTS. NICOLE MURRAY CLAIMED BRONZE IN THE WOMEN'S C-5 TIME TRIAL. ANNA TAYLOR ALSO IMPRESSED, AFTER QUALIFYING FOURTH, TO TAKE SILVER IN THE WOMEN'S C-4 TIME TRIAL ANNA GRACE TAYLOR WITH THE FASTEST TIME ` 38.558. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM ARE LOOKING TO MATCH OR IMPROVE ON THEIR RECORD 10-MEDAL HAUL AT THE LAST WORLD CHAMPS. EXCITING MATCH-UPS AWAIT OUR INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLERS THIS YEAR, WITH BOTH THE MEN AND WOMEN DRAWN IN THE SAME GROUP AS OLYMPIC HOSTS FRANCE. SUPERSTAR KYLIAN MBAPPE IS EXPECTED TO SPEARHEAD THE MEN'S OLYMPIC SIDE COACHED BY THIERRY HENRY. BUT BEFORE THAT, THE ALL WHITES TAKE ON EGYPT ON SATURDAY AS PART OF AN INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT. PLAYING EGYPT IN EGYPT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE THERE, BUT YOU'D ASSUME IT'S GONNA BE A FAIR FEW. THIS IS A HUGE PART OF THE BIGGER PLAN OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, LIKE YOU SAID, AT THE OLYMPICS, BUT FURTHER ON, TRYING TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP IN 2026. NEW ZEALAND WILL BE WITHOUT INJURED STRIKER CHRIS WOOD, WHILE LIVERPOOL STAR MO SALAH ALSO SITS OUT THE FIXTURE. THE ALL WHITES WILL FACE EITHER TUNISIA OR CROATIA IN ANOTHER GAME NEXT WEEK. IN SEVERAL WEEKS' TIME, THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX MEN WILL VENTURE INTO RARIFIED AIR, THE A-LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS, AND GOING IN AS ONE OF THE TITLE FAVOURITES. THE WOMEN'S TEAM ARE ALSO CLOSE TO MAKING THE CUT FOR THEIR FINALS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, AND INTEREST IS BUILDING IN THE CAPITAL. HERE'S VICTOR WATERS. THE YELLOW FEVER, JUNIOR EDITION. CAN YOU PLEASE SIGN MY SHIRT? WHAT WOULD IT HAVE MEANT TO YOU AS A KID, HAVING A FEW PHOENIX PLAYERS COME TO SCHOOL AND DO A FEW DRILLS? PRETTY AWESOME, I THINK, JUST HAVING THE VISIBIILTY AND SEEING ROLE MODELS IN ACTION. IT'D BE COOL TO SEE PROFESSIONALS COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY. WELLINGTON PHOENIX PLAYERS DRIVING BOOT DONATIONS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED IN LOWER HUTT TODAY,. THE CLUB URGING FANS TO DONATE THEIR PRE-LOVED BOOTS DURING NEXT WEEK'S HOME GAMES. THE MORE ACCESSIBLE WE CAN MAKE SPORT AND KIDS COMING IN AND FEEL VALUED AND FEELING LIKE THEY'RE PART OF IT IS SUPER ENCOURAGING. NOT ONLY ARE THE NIX HOPING SUPPORTERS GET BEHIND THE INITIATIVE, BUT ALSO GET BEHIND THEM, AS BOTH TEAMS PUSH FOR THE A-LEAGUE FINALS. WITH TWO GAMES REMAINING, THE PHOENIX WOMEN ARE CURRENTLY FIVE POINTS OFF WHAT WOULD BE A FIRST PLAY-OFFS SPOT. I THINK WE DESERVE IT. I THINK AT THE START OF THE SEASON WE OBVIOUSLY VERY WELL. IT'S BEEN A ROLLERCOASTER WITH RESULTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS. WE'RE FIGHTING. I THINK IT'LL BE HUGE FOR THE CLUB. CURRENTLY TOP OF THE TABLE, THE MEN'S SIDE ARE ON TRACK TO EARN A HOME SEMI-FINAL. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HOSTED A PLAY-OFF MATCH IN NEARLY A DECADE. IFILL! WHAT A GOAL! PAUL IFILL! AND IT'S NOT JUST NIX FANS URGING THE TEAM TO HISTORY. I REMEMBER WATCHING THAT GAME WHEN I WAS A BIT YOUNGER AND SEEING THE STADIUM AS IT WAS. IT WAS AMAZING. AND I THINK WELLINGTON WILL REALLY GET BEHIND THE TEAM. THEY'RE IN A GREAT POSITION, SO I HOPE THAT THEY CAN CARRY ON ALL THE WAY. TO WIN THE LEAGUE OR TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD BE REALLY SPECIAL FOR THE CLUB. I THINK THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING TOWARDS THESE SORTS OF THINGS FOR SOME TIME NOW. SO WHAT BETTER TIME TO CREATE FOOTBALLING MEMORIES FOR KIDS LIKE THESE. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. THANKS, ANDREW. STAY WITH US. ERIN PAINTS A PICTURE OF THE WEATHER AT YOUR PLACE. DETAILS NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS HIT BY PLANT THIEVES AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING THOSE PLANTING THEM. PLUS, ONE OF THE HEROES FROM WORLD WAR 2 FINALLY MAKES IT BACK INTO THE SKIES AGAIN. AND ACTRESS OLIVIA COLMAN JOINS ME FOR A WICKED CONVERSATION ABOUT HER LATEST MOVE. SEE YOU SHORTLY AT 7. VERY CHILLY IN THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND ` WAIOURU WAKING TO MINUS-3 DEGREES. A STILL ENOUGH DAY FOR BALLOONING IN WAIKATO, BUT SOME STRONG WINDS IN LYTTLETON FOR SAIL-GP PREP. BUT SOME STRONG WINDS IN LYTTLETON FOR SAIL-GP PREP. IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WIDER VIEW, WE CAN SEE THE CLEAR PATCH WE'VE BEEN UNDER IS SLIDING OFF EAST. AND WE HAVE CLOUD BUILDING TODAY AND THIS ACTIVE BAND APPROACHING. BUT WATCH IT CURL AROUND, REACHING THE WEST LATE FRIDAY, AND SHOWERS SPREAD ACROSS THE TOP OF THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH ISLAND ON SATURDAY. BUT THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW, WE MOSTLY HOLD ON TO A DECENT DAY. SOME SHOWERS ON THE SOUTH COAST, BULLER AND MAYBE TARANAKI. CLOUD COVER FROM TIME TO TIME IN TE TAI TOKERAU, NORTHLAND. CLOUD COVER FROM TIME TO TIME IN TE TAI TOKERAU, NORTHLAND. WHITIANGA ` IT SLOWLY CLEARS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON, AND 22 OR 23 FOR ALL. SOME HIGH CLOUD ABOUT IN YOUR MORNING, TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND. IT'LL BE CLEAR SKIES FOR A TIME IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WITH A TOP OF 22. LOW CLOUD OR FOG TO START, KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON ` IT FINES UP. JUST SOME HARMLESS HIGH CLOUD IN THE MIX AND A TOP OF 21. IT'S NOT A BAD-LOOKING DAY FOR CENTRAL SPOTS ` THAT HIGH CLOUD HERE TOO, AND A FOGGY MORNING FOR TAUMARUNUI AND POSSIBLY TAUPO AS WELL, WITH 19 TO 21 DEGREES. IT'S A MOSTLY FINE ONE, TAURANGA. AGAIN, IT'S THAT HARMLESS HIGH CLOUD WE SEE HERE, AND A TOP OF 21. GET OUT AND ABOUT EARLY TO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE ` IN ROLLS THE CLOUD FROM AFTERNOON. ANOTHER POSSIBLE FROST FOR MASTERTON TONIGHT, AND A LOVELY 23 TOMORROW. PARTLY CLOUDY FOR ALL IN TE TAI HAUAURU, THE WEST. NEW PLYMOUTH HAS THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER FROM LATE MORNING AND RAIN ARRIVES AT NIGHT, WITH 20 DEGREES FOR YOU. PART SUN, PART CLOUD FOR YOUR FRIDAY, TE WHANGANUI A TARA WELLINGTON, AND A TOP OF 18 DEGREES. SHOWERS ARRIVE TO NELSON IN THE MORNING AND WESTPORT IN THE AFTERNOON. OTHERS SEE CLOUD BUILD AFTER LUNCH, AND 19 FOR MOST HERE. IT'S A MOSTLY FINE ONE, OTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, SOME HIGH CLOUD THROUGH THE DAY ` MORE COMING FROM THE SOUTH IN THE EVENING. A SOU'WESTER ARRIVING LATE MORNING AND PICKING UP FROM TIME TO TIME. 20 IS YOUR HIGH. SHOWERS DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON ON THE WEST COAST AND LOW CLOUD BUILDS IN THE EAST WITH 18 OR 19 DEGREES. GREY ABOVE FROM TIME TO TIME, TAHUNA QUEENSTOWN, AND A HIGH OF 19. CLOUDY FOR GORE AND AROUND THE SOUTH COAST ` MAYBE A SHOWER OR TWO AS WELL. MILFORD SOUND CLEARS UP, WHILE LOW CLOUD ROLLS INTO OAMARU IN THE EVENING. WITH 17 FOR YOU, ALONG WITH GORE. IT'S A MOSTLY GREY ONE, OTEPOTI DUNEDIN ` A SHOWER OR TWO FOR YOU AS WELL. AND A COOL 17 WITH THE ARRIVAL OF A SOUTHERLY. SATURDAY ` IT'S A SHOWERY DAY FOR MOST IN THE NORTH ` THEY COULD BE HEAVY TOO. SHOWERS CLEAR THE TOP OF THE SOUTH. RAIN FOR A TIME IN THE LOWER ISLAND, AND CLOUD COVER IN THE MIDDLE UNTIL EVENING SHOWERS IN THE EAST. BY SUNDAY, THAT'S MOSTLY MOVED THROUGH ` JUST A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE EAST OF BOTH ISLANDS, BUT RAIN DEVELOPS FOR WESTLAND AND FIORDLAND. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT