Final standings
1 - Nico Porteous (NZ) - 93.00
2 - David Wise (USA) - 90.75
3 - Alex Ferreira (USA) - 86.75
11 - Miguel Porteous (NZ) - 63.50
4:18pm - That will do us for the live coverage. Check out video highlights and a full wrap here.
4:16pm - Haka from the Kiwi team welcomes Nico off the podium and it's hugs all round.
4:11pm - To the ceremony, we go. Nico Porteous pumps his fist, as he steps to the top of the podium with a huge smile and a few hearty 'yewwwwws!'.
4:03pm - Check out a full wrap and highlights here.
4pm - "I can't believe it," - Porteous says to his coach, as he drapes an NZ flag across his shoulders.
Classy move from the Kiwi, who waited until the final athlete had got back to his feet from a crash to celebrate.
Utter dominance from Porteous, who wins New Zealand's third medal to round out the country's most successful Winter Olympics campaign ever.
3:56pm - Nico Porteous has become New Zealand's second ever Winter Olympic gold medallist!
The Kiwi laid down a statement in his opening run with a score nobody came close to, improving on the bronze he won at Pyeongchang 2018.
3:54pm - Hold your breath NZ, here comes the final athlete - Aaron Blunck from the US.
Huge air on the first hit, 1440 on the second...down he goes! It's gold for New Zealand!
3:53pm - Nico Porteous now, doesn't need much here but he's still trying to throw it down. Looks for the 1440 but doesn't complete the rotation.
But he's still just one athlete away from gold.
What can Blunck pull off next?
3:50pm - Birk Irving from the US now, on to his backside on the final landing!
Porteous next, then it will be all up to Aaron Blunck to try and deny the Kiwi gold.
3:48pm - Double Olympic champ David Wise now, perhaps Nico's biggest threat.
Sketchy second landing costs him some valuable speed, that won't be enough to leapfrog Porteous.
Three to go...
3:46pm - Canada's Brendon Mackay, stacks it on his final landing. Kiwis across the nation quietly pump their fists.
Four competitors left, including Nico.
3:45pm - Canada's Noah Bowman now... ends on his backside. That won't push the top three. Five athletes remain.
The gold medal tantalisingly close for Nico....
3:41pm - American Alex Ferreira up for his final run, currently in third. Highly technical run thee, putting it all out there.
Judges say...67.75. Missed the grab on his final trick. Six athletes to go!
3:40pm - Eight athletes to go. Simon D'Artois of Canada gets his best score of the day on the board.
3:37pm - Here comes Miguel Porteous, but his final ends with a crash on his second landing.
It's all up to younger bro now...
3:35pm - France's Kevin Rolland coming in hot, some nice variations and amplitude. The former bronze medallist claims a 79.25. Three of 12 down.
3:33pm - Again, Swiss Robin Briguet loses a ski. Uncanny. Two of 12 completed.
3:30pm - Britain's Gus Kenworthy gets us started in the final run. All cards set to be laid on the table here.
3:25pm - Clean run from Aaron Blunck - and the American scores a 78.25.
That will do us for run two. One run to go! Can anyone knock Nico Porteous out of the gold medal spot? It looks a very tall order right now, especially with these high winds.
3:23pm - Nico Porteous on deck! Can he improve on that massive opening run?
Lost a bit of speed after a shaky first landing, he'll just mail the rest of the run in, and he can afford to at the moment. Sitting very pretty in No. 1.
3:22pm - Another crash from American Birk Irving.
3:19pm - Here comes defending champion David Wise, and he crashes out on his second landing.
Nico's monster 93.00 has really put the pressure on the rest of the field, forcing his competitors to take risks.
3:17pm - Brendan Mackay from Canada going for it here, litte stumble on his final landing. Shouldn't trouble the top three.
Four left to complete their second run, including Nico Porteous.
3:12pm - Ferreira now, looking to improve on his third place. Clean and technical second run from the American.
Judges say... 83.75. He remains in third place.
3:07pm - Miguel Porteous now... stacks it on the first trick, just missed his take off and couldn't get his rotation going.
All down to run three now. He currently sits 8th.
3:06pm - Some serious air from France's Rolland. Scores a 77.25 on his second run.
3:01pm - Britain's Gus Kenworthy gets us underway in run two. Nasty looking crash for Kenworthy, who catches the top of the lip.
Briguet loses his ski. That wind is wreaking havoc.
2:58pm - To the end of the first run we come, and the Kiwi Nico Porteous is sitting pretty with a leading score of 93.00
Two runs to go.
Wind is really becoming a factor, every athlete has come to the bottom of their opening run shaking their head at the stiff breeze. No fear from Nico though, who has set a really high benchmark.
What does he left in the bag?
2:51pm - Here comes Nico Porteous to the top of the run...
Huge spins to start, 1620, switch duble cork 1080 - epic run to open the final for the Kiwi!
Let's see what the judges think....93.00! Into the gold medal position he goes.
2:49pm - Double Olympic champion David Wise lays down his first run - switch, switch double cork 1080, another massive double cork.
"It's wild out there," Wise says of the windy conditions.
He's pleased with that run and the judges validate that with a 90.75, into first he goes.
2:45pm - Canada's Noah Bowman sends a message with a run of 84.25 to bump Miguel down to third.
Eight of 12 athletes have now had their first run. Nico Porteous up very shortly.
2:42pm - American Alex Ferreira makes a statement with three consecutive double corks, takes the top spot with an impressive 86.75.
2:37pm - Miguel Porteous now - back to back switch double foot, double cork, double cork 1260 - best of the day so far!
Claims the early lead with a score of 63.50. Encouraging start.
2:35pm - Another crash, no genuinely threatening scores yet to register.
France's Kevin Rolland with a respectable run to claim top spot.
NZ's Miguel Porteous up next!
2:31pm - Modest score of 17.50 for Gus Kenworthy, who gets us underway.
2:28pm - Miguel Porteous will ride fourth, with brother Nico to follow in 11th.
Three runs in today's final, with the best score counting towards the table.
Clear skies but there's quite a breeze blowing, not as ideal as we'd inititally thought.
2:25pm - Welcome sports fans! Conditions are looking superb in Beijing for today's halfpipe final.
I can smell NZ medals in the air...
___________________________________________________________________________
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Beijing Winter Olympics, where Kiwi freeskiers Nico and Miguel Porteous will chase halfpipe medals on the penultimate day of competition.
Nico Porteous will enter the final as a gold-medal favourite, as reigning world champion and X-Games Aspen winner in his final Olympic dress rehearsal last month.
Four years ago, he became New Zealand's youngest Olympic medallist, when he captured bronze in this event, but since then, he has become one of the dominant halfpipe performers. Two days ago, he qualified second for the final, behind two-time world champion Aaron Blunck of United States, with twice Olympic champion David Wise lurking in fourth.
Neither of his two qualifying runs were the routine he's created specifically for Beijing, which he also uncorked at Aspen, where he pipped Blunck on the last run of the competition. Nico may need a similar performance today for victory.
Miguel Porteous qualified ninth for the this final, suggesting he could also be an outside medal contender.
The full field for the final is:
Gus Kenworthy (GBR)
Robin Briguet (Switzerland)
Kevin Rolland (France)
Miguel Porteous (NZ)
Simon D'Artois (Canada)
Alex Ferreira (USA)
Noah Bowman (Canada)
Brendan Mackay (Canada)
David Wise (USA)
Birk Irving (USA)
Nico Porteous (NZ)
Aaron Blunck (USA)
