GOOD EVENING. A FINE DAY AGAIN FOR MOST PLACES. JUST SOME POCKETS OF MORNING FOG AND A FEW SPOTS OF DRIZZLE. THE HIGH HOLDS FIRM OVER US AS WE HEAD INTO THE EASTER BREAK, BUT THERE'S ALSO A BUNCH OF DETERMINED FRONTS LINING UP IN THE TASMAN. LATER IN THE NEWS HOUR, I'LL TELL YOU WHERE TO EXPECT SOME RAIN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF ONE NEWS WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. CRICKETER JESSE RYDER IS IN A COMA AFTER AN ATTACK OUTSIDE A BAR. WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THE ASSAULT. AN EMOTIONAL PLEA FROM THE FAMILY OF THE ROAD WORKER SHOT DEAD ON THE JOB. PLEASE COME FORWARD. FEARS FOR THOUSANDS OF JOBS AT THE COUNTRY'S ONLY ALUMINIUM SMELTER AS A POWER STRUGGLE CONTINUES WITH A STATE-OWNED ELECTRICITY COMPANY. AND TELECOM AXES 1200 JOBS AND MORE STAFF CUTS COULD BE ON THE WAY. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. CRICKETER JESSIE RYDER LIES IN A COMA TONIGHT AS POLICE HUNT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACKING THE FORMER BLACKCAP OUTSIDE A CHRISTCHURCH BAR. POLICE SAY RYDER WAS ASSAULTED TWICE DURING TWO ALTERCATIONS IN WHICH HE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING A FRACTURED SKULL AND PUNCTURED LUNG. CRICKET OFFICIALS TODAY CONFIRMED THEY'D RECENTLY BOOSTED SUPPORT FOR THE PLAYER BECAUSE HE WAS BACK ON THE BOOZE. MORE ON THAT SHORTLY. FIRST LET'S GO LIVE TO MIKE THORPE AT CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL. I'M OUTSIDE CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL RYDER CRITICAL CONDITION HAS REMAINED THAT WAY SINCE THIS MORNINH THE VICIOUSNESS OF THE ASSAULT THAT LEFT JESSE RYDER FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE IN INTENSIVE CARE SHOCKED PATRONS WHO SAW IT UNFOLD THROUGH THIS WINDOW. I'D SAY MAYBE FIVE SECONDS HE WAS ON THE GROUND AND THEY WERE KICKING HIM VERY VERY HARD. EMMA FERGUSON SAYS SHE COULD HEAR THE IMPACT OF THE BLOWS FROM INSIDE THE BAR. HE GOT UP AND STUMBLED ACROSS THE ROAD, AND WHEN HE STOOD UP AFTER THE ATTACK, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HIM ON HIS FEET. BUT FOR RYDER, THE ASSAULT WOULDN'T STOP THERE. FOLLOWING THAT INCIDENT, RYDER AND TWO OTHER PERSONS WALKED ACROSS THE ROAD TOWARDS MCDONALD'S, WHERE HIS WELLINGTON TEAMMATES HAD BEEN PURCHASING SOME FOOD. A SECOND ALTERCATION HAS TAKEN PLACE AT THE ENTRANCE TO MCDONALD'S CAR PARK, INVOLVING ONE OF THE MALES FROM THE EARLIER GROUP. IN THAT INCIDENT, IT APPEARS THAT JESSE HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF A SERIOUS ASSAULT AND HAS SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES AS A RESULT. AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HADN'T INTERVENED. EMMA FERGUSON'S FRIEND WAS AMONG THEM. HE WAS RIGHT IN THERE. OBVIOUSLY JUST GOT IN THERE, LIKE THE GOOD GUYS USUALLY WILL PULL ALL THE GUYS OFF THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY ATTACKING HIM, AND REGAN I KNOW FOLLOWED HIM ACROSS THE ROAD TO CHECK AND SEE IF HE WAS OK. FROM WHAT HE SAID HE'D BEEN PHYSICALLY ILL AND WAS SHAKING AND DIDN'T LOOK TOO FLASH. POLICE ARE NOW TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE MEN INVOLVED IN THE BASHING. THERE ARE CCTV CAMERAS IN THE AREA AND WE ARE NOW GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOWNLOADING AND REVIEWING THAT FOOTAGE. BAR OWNER STEVE HOLMES HAS ALSO LOOKED AT THE FOOTAGE BEFORE HANDING IT TO POLICE. IT HASN'T ACTUALLY STARTED INSIDE THE PREMISES. IT'S STARTED OUTSIDE THE STREET. SO SOME FORM OF ALTERCATION. I WASN'T HERE SO I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE DETAILS. SO, LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE WORKING WITH THE AUTHORITIES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT DID HAPPEN. THERE IS NO INDICATION AT THIS STAGE THAT ALCOHOL WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ASSAULT. POLICE ARE SEEKING WITNESSES. I DON'T KNOW THE BACKGROUND TO WHAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON NOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TOOK PLACE. ALTHOUGH WITNESSES FEEL THAT MAY ONLY BE KNOWN BY RYDER AND THOSE WHO ASSAULTED HIM. IT DID SEEM LIKE AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK FROM WHERE WE WERE STANDING. THE LATEST FROM POLICE IS THAT NO ARREST HAS BEEN MADE YET THE AREA LITTERED WITH SECURITY CAMERAS ATTACKERS WILL BE IDENTIFIED RYDER'S OFF-FIELD TROUBLES FIRST HIT THE HEADLINES AFTER AN INCIDENT AT ANOTHER CHRISTCHURCH BAR. FIVE YEARS AGO, HE CUT HIS HAND TRYING TO BREAK INTO A TOILET AT 5.30 IN THE MORNING DESPITE HIS BATTLES WITH THE BOOZE, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN REGARDED AS A SPECIAL TALENT, HIGHLIGHTED BY HIS BEST TEST SCORE OF 201 AGAINST INDIA. BUT, IN LATE 2009, HE WAS FINED BY TEAM MANAGEMENT WHEN HE WHACKED A CHAIR AFTER BEING DISMISSED AND VERBALLY ABUSING MANAGER DAVE CURRIE. HE PUT HIMSELF ON AN INDEFINITE BREAK FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET IN MARCH LAST YEAR AFTER BEING AXED FROM THE ONE-DAY TEAM FOR GETTING INTO A VERBAL ALTERCATION WITH PATRONS AT A NAPIER BAR. JESSE RYDER'S CRICKET BOSSES AND MANAGER HAVE ALSO FLOWN TO CHRISTCHURCH TO SUPPORT THE BATSMAN. THEY SAY THEY'RE DEVASTATED BY THE ATTACK AND THAT TEAM PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT THE PLAYER WERE IN PLACE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS FROM ALI PUGH. JESSE RYDER'S FOUGHT BACK AGAINST HIS BATTLE WITH THE BOOZE AND HIS CHEQUERED PAST. NOW THE PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION IS JUMPING TO THE CRICKETER'S DEFENCE, STRESSING ALCOHOL WASN'T A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ATTACK. JESSE WAS HAVING A FEW DRINKS, UH, WITH HIS TEAMMATES AT THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR SEASON IN AIKMANS BAR. UH, THE ACTUAL ASSAULT WAS NOT AN ALCOHOL-FUELLED INCIDENT. HEATH MILLS SAYS RYDER HAS BEEN RECEIVING PROFESSIONAL HELP, AND IT'S INTENSIFIED IN RECENT WEEKS FOLLOWING CONCERNS ABOUT HIS WELL-BEING. UH, HE HAS HAD` DRUNK SOME ALCOHOL IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AT, UH, ONE OR TWO EVENTS, AND WE BECAME AWARE OF THAT, AND WE'VE TRIED TO REINVIGORATE THAT SUPPORT NETWORK AROUND HIM. CRICKET WELLINGTON SAYS TEAM PROTOCOLS WERE IN PLACE LAST NIGHT. RYDER WAS OUT WITH OTHER PLAYERS, WHO ALL ASSIST WITH ALCOHOL MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE TEAM. SO THE TEAM ITSELF HAS DISCUSSED IT AND ARE COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, WITH THE, UM, THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR JESSE. SO HE'S GOT TEAMMATES LOOKING OUT FOR HIM AS THEY LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. UM, THERE'S NOTHING, UM, PARTICULARLY SPECIAL ABOUT JESSE. HE DOESNT WANT TO BE TREATED SPECIALLY. HIS BOSSES SAY THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THE EMBATTLED PLAYER'S PERSONAL ISSUES. JESSE'S BEEN FIGHTING SOME DEMONS OVER THE YEARS, AND HE STRUGGLES WITH THEM, AND IT WILL BE AN ONGOING BATTLE FOR JESSE, AND WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP HIM. BOTH ORGANISATIONS SAY THEY'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH MESSAGES OF SUPPORT FOR RYDER, AND THEIR PRIORITY NOW IS FOCUSING ON HIS HEALTH. ALI PUGH, ONE NEWS. AND SPORTS WILL, OF COURSE, HAVE MORE ON JESSE RYDER, INCLUDING SHOCK AND SADNESS FROM THE CRICKETING COMMUNITY. AND AFTER THE NEWS HOUR ` THE OWNER OF THE BAR WHERE THE ALTERCATION BEGAN TALKS SEVEN SHARP THROUGH THE INCIDENT. TO DEVELOPING NEWS ` THE GOVERNMENT, IN THE PAST HALF HOUR, HAS JUST CONFIRMED ANOTHER BIG PRIVACY BREACH AT THE EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION. UNPRECEDENTED WERE CLAIMANTS OWED AN APOLOGY? GERRY BROWNLEE SAID YES THIS HAD TO BE DONE THANKS, SIMON BRADWELL IN WELLINGTON. IN OTHER NEWS, TEARS FLOWED AND ANGER ERUPTED AS THE FAMILY OF THE ROAD WORKER GUNNED DOWN NEAR TOKOROA MADE AN EMOTIONAL PLEA FOR HELP. GEORGE TAIAROA'S FAMILY BELIEVE THE MUCH-LOVED LABOURER WAS THE VICTIM OF A RANDOM SHOOTING. HELEN CASTLES REPORTS. A HEARTFELT PLEA FROM A HEARTBROKEN FAMILY. TEARFULLY: WHY WE'RE HERE IS TO FIND THE PERSON OR THE PEOPLE THAT HAS DONE IT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE HELPFUL IN GETTING US TO DO THIS. NINE DAYS AFTER GEORGE TAIAROA WAS GUNNED DOWN WHILE HOLDING A GO-STOP SIGN, HIS DEATH REMAINS A MYSTERY, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM. I KNOW THAT MY FATHER WAS LOVING, KIND AND GENEROUS MAN, AND WE ARE LEFT HERE WITH THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW A 67-YEAR-OLD MAN CAN BE TAKEN IN A SUCH A HORRIBLE AND VIOLENT MANNER. HIS WIFE, HELEN, IS CERTAIN HE WASN'T TARGETED. HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ENEMY. HE HAPPENED TO BE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME, AND THAT AREA THAT THAT HAPPENED IN IS KNOWN FOR DRUGS. BUT POLICE AREN'T SO SURE. CRIME IS NOT RANDOM, UM, AN-AND THESE SORT OF, UM, HOMICIDES IN NZ ARE VERY RARE. THE FOCUS OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ON THE BLUE JEEP CHEROKEE. POLICE SAY THEY'VE HAD VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRIVER, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY PROFILING PEOPLE OF INTEREST. GEORGE TAIAROA'S FAMILY SAY THEY DESERVE ANSWERS. THIS PERSON, WHOEVER THEY ARE, UM, THEY HAVE WHANAU. UM, THEY HAVE NEIGHBOURS. THEY MIGHT HAVE A PARTNER. THEY'RE PART OF A COMMUNITY. UM, THEY MUST HAVE SAID SOMETHING TO SOMEONE. AND MR TAIAROA'S FAMILY SAY THEY NEED ANSWERS TO GIVE THEM CLOSURE. HELEN CASTLES, ONE NEWS THERE ARE WORRYING SIGNS THE COUNTRY'S TIWAI ALUMINIUM SMELTER COULD CLOSE, THREATENING THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND THE SOUTHLAND ECONOMY. IT'S ALL BECAUSE THE SMELTER'S OWNERS AND ITS ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER, MERIDIAN ENERGY, CAN'T REACH A DEAL ON THE DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR POWER. NOW THE GOVERNMENT'S GETTING INVOLVED. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN'S FOLLOWING THE STORY. MIKE. THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T RUSHED TO BAIL OUT SOLID ENERGY BUT IT IS NOW PREPARED TO STEP IN TO SUBSIDISE A FOREIGN-OWNED COMMODITIES COMPANY THAT WILL ACTUALLY KEEP POWER PRICES HIGHER FOR YOU AT HOME. THE TIWAI POINT SMELTER IN SOUTHLAND USES 14% OF NZ'S POWER, AND FOR THAT REASON, IT CAN DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN OVER WHAT PRICE IT PAYS. TIWAI'S OWNER PACIFIC ALUMINIUM, A SUBSIDIARY OF RIO TINTO, SAYS IT'S SUFFERING FROM A WORLDWIDE DROP IN ALUMINIUM PRICES AND DECIDED IN JULY THAT IT WANTED TO RENEGOTIATE ITS 18-YEAR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY DEAL WITH MERIDIAN. BUT TODAY THE SOON-TO-BE SOLD-OFF POWER COMPANY ANNOUNCED A DEAL'S UNLIKELY. HOW FAR APART ARE YOU? IS IT TENS OF MILLIONS? HUNDRED OF MILLIONS? BILLIONS? I CAN'T` IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. WITHOUT A DEAL, THE SMELTER WILL CLOSE, COSTING 3200 SOUTHLANDERS THEIR JOBS, ACCORDING TO THE EPMU. IT WOULD ALSO MEAN AN OVERSUPPLY OF POWER ` GREAT FOR CONSUMERS BECAUSE PRICES WOULD GO DOWN. NOT SO GREAT FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE 420,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE PRE-REGISTERED FOR SHARES IN MIGHTY RIVER POWER, NOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE FLOATS OF MERIDIAN AND GENESIS, BECAUSE THE COMPANIES' PROFITABILITY WOULD DROP. BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSETS-SALE PROGRAMME, THEY DON'T WANT THE WHOLE THING TO GO SOUTH IF THE SMELTER LEAVES. THAT MEANS RIO TINTO HAS ENORMOUS BARGAINING POWER IN ITS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. I WOULDN'T WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, BUT THE TIMING DOES SEEM VERY COINCIDENTAL. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS THIS WEEK OFFERED A MODEST SUBSIDY TO RIO TINTO TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN IT AND MERIDIAN. < WHAT IS A MODEST AMOUNT, THOUGH? UH, LOOK, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE TO GO INTO THE FIGURES OF MONEY. < IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY. IT'S FAIRLY APPROPRIATE. AND I THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND OUT IN DUE COURSE ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER HAS BEEN. MERIDIAN DOUBTS THE BRITISH-AUSTRALIAN MULTINATIONAL REALLY NEEDS TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THEY HAD A US$16B POSITIVE CASH FLOW LAST YEAR, SO ALTHOUGH THEY'VE GOT DIFFICULTIES, OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE STILL MAKING MONEY. AT THIS STAGE, RIO TINTO IS ONLY SAYING A DEAL IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF IT, MERIDIAN, THE NZ GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHLAND CAN BE REACHED. AND MICHAEL, COULD THE CLOSURE OF TIWAI SEE OTHER GENERATORS SHUT DOWN? CONFIDENTIALITY MEANS NO ONE WILL SAYS IF OR WHEN TIWAI COULD BE SHUT DOWN BUT THE RAMIFICATIONS WOULD BE VERY WIDELY FELT, PARTICULARLY FOR THERMAL POWER GENERATORS LIKE GENESIS AND CONTACT, WHOSE SHARE PRICE DROPPED TODAY. BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GENERATE POWER AS CHEAPLY AS MERIDIAN'S HYDRO. TELECOM'S NOT RULING EVEN MORE STAFF CUTS AFTER TODAY CONFIRMING THE AXING OF UP TO 1200 JOBS. THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER SAYS THE CUTBACKS WILL MOSTLY AFFECT WORKERS IN THE BIG CENTRES. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. STAFF AT TELECOM'S MAIN HUBS IN AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF JOB CUTS THAT INDUSTRY OBSERVERS DESCRIBE AS INEVITABLE. THERE ARE JUST FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE AT THE TOP EARNING FAR TOO LARGE A SALARY FOR THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY. TELECOM SAYS SHEDDING JOBS IS PART OF THE COMPANY'S TRANSFORMATION FROM A NETWORK BUILDER TO A CUSTOMER-FOCUSED RETAILER. WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR COSTS BASE DOWN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PERFORM TO DELIVER THE SERVICES CUSTOMERS WANT. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALSO SAYS FEWER STAFF WILL MAKE THE TELCO A MORE NIMBLE COMPETITOR. BUT SOME SAY THE JOB CUTS COULD WORK AGAINST IT. IF 2DEGREES OR VODAFONE LAUNCHES SOMETHING THAT IS UNEXPECTED, THEIR ABILITY TO REACT MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT DILUTED WHILST THEY'RE DISTRACTED BY ALL OF THIS INTERNAL WORKING. AROUND 130 JOBS HAVE GONE IN AUSTRALIA. THE REST ` UP TO A THOUSAND HERE ` WILL GO BY JUNE. THE REDUNDANCIES COME IN THE MIDST OF AN ICT JOB SHORTAGE HERE, BUT EXPERTS SAY THE SECTOR NEEDS ENGINEERS AND SOFTWARE SPECIALISTS ` NOT THE MIDDLE MANAGERS BEING LAID OFF BY TELECOM. EVEN SO, THE GOVERNMENT IS HOLDING FAST TO ITS VIEW THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE SECTOR. WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND WHERE THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED WE CAN FACILITATE HOPEFULLY A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES FROM ONE COMPANY TO ANOTHER. AND THAT HIGH-LEVEL ASSISTANCE COULD BE ONGOING. TELECOM WON'T BE DRAWN ON FURTHER CUTS THIS YEAR. WE HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THE CHANGES THAT OCCUR OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE. A SURE SIGN MORE UNCERTAINTY LOOMS FOR THOUSANDS OF TELECOM WORKERS. NICOLE BREMNER, ONE NEWS. JERRY COLLINS' FATHER SAYS THERE WON'T BE A 'WELCOME BACK' PARTY FOR HIS SON UNTIL THE FORMER ALL BLACK EXPLAINS HOW HE GOT IN TROUBLE IN JAPAN. THE RUGBY PLAYER'S DUE TO RETURN TO NZ AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON. MATT MCLEAN SPOKE WITH HIS RELIEVED FAMILY. FRANKIE COLLINS HAS BEEN FIELDING CALLS ALL DAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS RELIEVED TO HEAR HIS SON FORMER ALL BLACK JERRY COLLINS HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL. I JUST FALL APART. I FEEL VERY HUMBLE FOR WHEN HE GET OUT AND THE PEOPLE THAT HELP HIM GET OUT. THAT'S THE FIRST THING. THE 32-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN IN CUSTODY SINCE FOR 10 DAYS. HE WAS ARRESTED AFTER BEING FOUND IN A CITY DEPARTMENT STORE WITH TWO KNIVES. I HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK LIKE A FATHER TO A SON, AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, WHAT WENT WRONG. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS JERRY COLLINS FELT THREATENED BY A GANG OF BRAZILIANS. ALL THAT INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE POLICE. IT FORMED PART OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT THE POLICE UNDERTOOK. IT FORMED PART OF AN IMPORTANT RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS WHICH WE UNDERTOOK. ARRANGEMENTS TO GET JERRY BACK TO HIS HOME HERE IN WELLINGTON ARE STILL BEING FINALISED, BUT IT'S UNDERSTOOD HE'LL RETURN TO NZ IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HIS LAWYER TOLD US HE'S EXCITED TO GET HOME AND THAT THERE'S NOW A VERY RECOGNISABLE JERRY COLLINS SMILE BACK ON HIS FACE. I THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE AND EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR JERRY ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE OUTCOME. BUT HE CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T EXPECT A CELEBRATION ON HIS RETURN. NO PARTY! I HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHAT WENT WRONG. AFTER THAT, THEN I MIGHT SAY HAVE A PARTY OR NO PARTY. JERRY COLLINS MUST PAY A $1900 FINE BEFORE HE RETURNS HOME. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` A MOTHER'S DISTRESS AT THE FINDINGS OF A REPORT INTO A MID-AIR COLLISION IN WHICH HER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DAUGHTER DIED. THE FACE OF A FIGHT FOR GAY MARRIAGE RIGHTS ` MEET THE WOMAN WHO WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES. AND A CRASH SURVIVOR'S PLEA TO DRIVERS AS YOU HEAD OUT ON OUR ROADS FOR AN EASTER BREAK. TINKLING MUSIC Did you know you can turn your smartphone into a guitar tuner, a flashlight or even a spirit level? You can do that and heaps more using apps. Now, you've probably heard people talking about apps and the cool stuff they've downloaded on to their smartphone. Well, app is short for application ` little software programs that can transform this into something completely different ` whatever you're into. There's super-handy stuff like mobile banking, but apps can also turn your smartphone into a GPS device for your car, a DJ setup; they can identify constellations the next time you're stargazing; they can even tell you how well you've slept; and who could forget games? Now, there are new apps coming out every day, and loads of them are free. Basically, if you've ever thought to yourself, 'Wouldn't it be handy if...?' well, the chances are somebody's already made an app for it. So head to techinasec.co.nz and try them out for yourself. A FATAL MID-AIR COLLISION BETWEEN TWO LIGHT AIRCRAFT THREE YEARS AGO OVER FEILDING WAS THE RESULT OF THE MOST BASIC ERRORS. THAT'S THE CONCLUSION FROM A TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH. BUT AS DANIEL FAITAUA REPORTS, THE FAMILY OF ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE CRASH SAY THE FINDINGS DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH. THE CRUMPLED REMAINS OF A CESSNA 152 AFTER IT COLLIDED MID-AIR WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. ALMOST THREE YEARS ON AND FINDINGS RELEASED BY THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION HAS FOUND BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE ON A COLLISION COURSE BECAUSE OF SOME FUNDAMENTAL ERRORS. IF THEY HADN'T DETECTED THE OTHER AIRCRAFT, IF THEY'D MADE A RADIO CALL, THAT WOULD'VE DIRECTED THEIR ATTENTION TOWARDS THE OTHER AIRCRAFT, WHERE THEY SHOULD'VE SEEN AND TAKEN AN AVOID ACTION. BASIC SAFETY RULES THAT COULD'VE SAVED THE LIVES OF STUDENT PILOT PATRICIA SMALLMAN AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR JESSICA NEESON. JESSICA NEESON'S MOTHER ISN'T SATISFIED WITH THE FINDINGS. I WAS DISAPPOINTED IT DIDN'T COME UP WITH ANY DEFINITIVE ANSWERS AND THAT IT EFFECTIVELY BLAMED THE MOST EXPERIENCED PILOT, WHICH WAS JESS. THE STUDENT PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT, MANOJ KADAM, SURVIVED AND HAS SINCE GRADUATED WITH A COMMERCIAL PILOT'S LICENCE. THAT'S DESPITE A CORONER'S HEARING WHICH FOUND OUT MR KADAM WAS A LESS-THAN-AVERAGE STUDENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. LYN NEESON SAYS THE REPORT SHOULD HAVE CALLED FOR TIGHTER REGULATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE BEST TRAINING THAT THEY COULD IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WASN'T RELIANT ON JUST HOW MUCH MONEY THE STUDENT CAN GIVE THEM. A SECOND REPORT INTO FLIGHT SAFETY TRAINING FOUND THERE WAS NO SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS IN THE INDUSTRY. THAT'S DESPITE FIGURES SHOWING AN INCREASE IN FLIGHT TRAINING FATALITIES ` 10 IN THE LAST DECADE. THE INVESTIGATION HAS RECOMMENDED THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY RE-EDUCATE PILOTS ABOUT SAFETY TO PREVENT ANOTHER TRAGEDY LIKE THIS ONE. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. YOU MAY SOON BE ABLE TO TAKE A TEST TO REVEAL YOUR INHERITED RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST, PROSTATE AND OVARIAN CANCER. BRITISH SCIENTISTS HAVE COMPARED THE DNA OF 200,000 PEOPLE ` HALF WITH CANCER AND HALF WITHOUT ` AND FOUND 80 GENETIC DIFFERENCES IN THE CANCER PATIENTS. THEY BELIEVE THIS COULD LEAD TO A DNA SCREENING TEST WITHIN FIVE YEARS. WE ARE REALISTICALLY GOING TO ENTER THE ERA OF PERSONALISED MEDICINE. WE'LL BASE TREATMENT AND SCREENING TYPES OF PROGRAMMES ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEVELS OF RISK. THE SAME APPROACH IS BEING USED TO LOOK AT THE INHERITED RISK OF BOWEL AND LUNG CANCER. RECLUSIVE NORTH KOREA IS CUTTING ITS LAST REMAINING MILITARY HOTLINE WITH THE SOUTH AS TENSIONS THERE ESCALATE. NORTH KOREA CLAIMS COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT NECESSARY WHEN WAR MAY BREAK OUT AT ANY TIME. AMERICA'S DESCRIBING THE LATEST THREAT AS PROVOCATIVE. IT COMES AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS PUNISHED NORTH KOREA WITH FRESH SANCTIONS FOLLOWING ITS NUCLEAR TEST LAST MONTH. AN 83-YEAR-OLD WOMAN'S CHALLENGED THE US SUPREME COURT AS IT CONSIDERS A CASE THAT COULD INCREASE THE RIGHTS OF GAY COUPLES. EDIE WINDSOR STOOD ON THE COURT STEPS AND TOLD THE WORLD IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STAND FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY. THIS FROM ABC'S TERRY MORAN. CHEERING 83 AND RADIANT ` EDIE WINDSOR HAD HER DAY IN COURT, AND WHAT A DAY IT WAS FOR HER. CROWD CHANTS: EDIE! EDIE! THIS WOMAN, BORN IN THE 1920S, HAS BECOME A KIND OF FOLK HERO TO COUNTLESS YOUNG AMERICANS IN THE TWENTY-TEENS. YOU GUYS, I'M TALKING TO YOU FREELY ` YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE BEEN HIDING IN THE CLOSET 10 YEARS AGO. HER CASE ARISES FROM THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, THEA SPYER. THEY SPENT 44 YEARS TOGETHER IN NEW YORK CITY. THEY FINALLY MARRIED IN 2007. BUT THEN AFTER THEA DIED IN 2009, EDIE, WHO LIVES ON A FIXED INCOME, WAS SUDDENLY HIT WITH $363,000 IN ESTATE TAXES ` TAXES NO STRAIGHT WIDOW WOULD PAY ` BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO RECOGNISE THEIR MARRIAGE UNDER THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT, WHICH... AFFECTING... TODAY IN COURT, JUSTICE RUTH GINSBURG SAID IT SEEMED LIKE A SECOND-CLASS SYSTEM FOR GAY COUPLES. BUT FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS ABOUT BEDROCK BELIEFS. WE'RE NOT MOTIVATED BY BIGOTRY. WE JUST BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE CREATED THE INSTITUTION, HE DIDN'T GET OUR ADVICE ON IT. HE DEFINED IT. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HE GOT IT RIGHT. SO EDIE WINSOR HAD HER DAY IN COURT. SHE WASN'T ALONE. I KNOW THAT THE SPIRIT OF MY LATE SPOUSE, THEA SPYER, IS RIGHT HERE WATCHING AND LISTENING, AND WOULD BE VERY PROUD AND HAPPY OF WHERE WE'VE COME TO. IT COULD TAKE THREE MONTHS BEFORE THERE'S A RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT. TWO FORMER POLICEMEN AND AN EX-PRISON OFFICER HAVE BEEN JAILED FOR SELLING PRIVATE INFORMATION TO A BRITISH NEWSPAPER. THEY'VE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF SEPARATELY SUPPLYING 'THE SUN' WITH DETAILS ABOUT PEOPLE, INCLUDING JON VENABLES ` ONE OF THE CHILD KILLERS OF TODDLER JAMES BULGER. THE PUBLIC NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT IF THEY GIVE THE POLICE INFORMATION, THAT INFORMATION WILL BE TREATED IN CONFIDENCE. THE MEN WERE GIVEN SENTENCES RANGING FROM 10 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS. BANKS WILL RE-OPEN IN CYPRUS LATER TONIGHT AND ARE PREPARING FOR A RUSH OF WITHDRAWALS. EXTRA CASH HAS BEEN SHIPPED IN TO SUPPLY WAITING CUSTOMERS. BANKS WILL OPEN FOR JUST SIX HOURS A DAY AND THERE'LL BE STRICT LIMITS ON HOW MUCH IS WITHDRAWN AND TRANSFERRED. BANKS ARE BACK IN BUSINESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO WEEKS AFTER A $15B BAILOUT. WEATHER TIME NOW. HOW'S IT LOOKING FOR OUR EASTER BREAK? FOR HOLIDAY MAKERS IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD WITH THE HIGH DELIVERING MOSTLY SETTLED WEATHER. BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME FRONTS IN THE TASMAN EDGING CLOSER. SO I DO HAVE SOME RAIN OR SHOWERS FOR SOME PARTS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I'LL BE BACK AFTER SPORT WITH YOUR EASTER FORECAST. NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` WE HAVE DETAILS ON MILLIONS SPENT IN BONUSES FOR STAFF AT DEBT-LADEN SOLID ENERGY. ALSO ` THE MESSAGE FROM A ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNER AS YOU TAKE OFF FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAYS. AND I'M LIVE AT THE BREAKERS AS THEY STRIVE TO GO A STEP CLOSER TO A THIRD STRAIGHT BASKETBALL CROWN. 1 ONE NEWS CAN NOW GIVE YOU DETAILS ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PAID IN BONUSES TO STAFF AT DEBT-LADEN SOLID ENERGY. IT'S ALSO BEEN REVEALED THE STATE-OWNED COMPANY'S OUTGOING BOSS WILL GET A $250,000 PAYOUT. CRITICS SAY IT'S A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE. HERE'S DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH. FROM NEXT WEEK THE FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL BE OFF THE PAYROLL AT SOLID ENERGY. BUT HE'LL GET $250,000 TO SEE HIM ON HIS WAY. IS THAT MONEY A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE FOR HIM? YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK TO THE COMPANY ABOUT THAT. IN TERMS OF WHAT THE BOARDS NEGOTIATED, YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE THAT UP WITH THEM. WE TRIED, BUT SOLID ENERGY REFUSED TO TALK. DON ELDER WAS ON A $1.3M PACKAGE. HIS BASE SALARY WAS JUST OVER $800,000. FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF HIS CONTRACT, HE'LL PICK UP $253,000, EVEN THOUGH HE'LL BE ON GARDENING LEAVE. HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD YOU EXPECT TO GET IF YOU RESIGNED AND THE COMPANY WAS DOING WELL? THIS IS BIZARRE. THIS IS A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE DRESSED UP AS A NOTICE PERIOD. WHEN IT COMES TO BONUSES, SOLID ENERGY HAS PAID OUT $23M OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT'S ARGUED THAT MINE WORKERS WHO WERE PART OF THE UNION GOT A BIG CUT. A LOT OF THE BONUSES ` NOT ALL BY A LONG WAY, BUT A LOT OF THEM ` ARE PART OF COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS. BUT A DOCUMENT OBTAINED BY ONE NEWS SHOWS THAT OF THE $23M IN BONUSES, $21M WENT TO PEOPLE ON INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS AND ONLY $2M WENT TO THOSE ON COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS WHO ARE PART OF THE UNION. YOU'VE GOT THE MANAGERS WHO GET $21M AND THE POOR OLD WORKERS GET A COUPLE OF MILL, AND THE PLACE IS GOING DOWN THE KAZOO. WE'RE NOT SURPRISED. THAT'S THE SORT OF CULTURE OF GREED AND EXCESS THAT WE'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND FROM SOLID ENERGY, UNFORTUNATELY. THE MINERS UNION SAYS IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE FAT CATS COLLECTING THE CREAM. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. POLICE SAY THEY KNOW IT'S AN AGE-OLD MESSAGE BUT THEY'RE URGING DRIVERS TO GET PLENTY OF REST AND WATCH THEIR SPEED AS THEY TAKE OFF FOR AN EASTER BREAK. LAST YEAR NO ONE WAS KILLED ON THE ROADS DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, BUT AS ONE DRIVER HAS LEARNED, EVEN THE MOST SAFETY CONSCIOUS MOTORIST CAN MAKE A NEAR-FATAL MISTAKE. PAUL HOBBS REPORTS. MARGARET MURRAY-BENGE STILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S ALIVE. ONE OF THE MIRACLES WAS THAT I WASN'T HIT FROM A TRUCK COMING THE OTHER WAY. THIS IS WHY ` HER CAR FLIPPED AND SMASHED AFTER HITTING A POWER POLE ON STATE HIGHWAY 29 NEAR TAURANGA. A LONG-TIME ROAD SAFETY ADVOCATE, MARGARET WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER A STRESSFUL DAY AND FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. GETTING ROUND THE MILLS REEF ROUNDABOUT AND THINKING, 'GEE. I FEEL TIRED. 'I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TO GO AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.' DID WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO ` I DROVE ON. AND THEN THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER WAS THE CRASHING OF METAL. DRIVER FATIGUE IS JUST ONE OF THE AREAS POLICE ARE URGING MOTORISTS TO BE AWARE OF OVER EASTER. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME AND REMEMBER THE ROAD'S A SOCIAL SPACE, SO LET'S ALL RELAX OUT THERE. LAST EASTER WAS UNPRECEDENTED ` NO ONE DIED ON THE ROADS. BUT THERE WERE STILL MORE THAN 500 NON-FATAL CRASHES. AND WITH PRETTY GOOD WEATHER EXPECTED AROUND MOST OF THE COUNTRY, COMBINE PARTIES, ALCOHOL AND CARS, AND PROBLEMS ARISE. SO THE MESSAGE IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRINK, STAY AWAY FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MAKE GOOD CHOICES ABOUT WHO YOU GET INTO A CAR WITH. EXPECT TO SEE MORE OF THESE GUYS ON THE ROADS, BUT DON'T BET ON MUCH TOLERANCE. LIKE THEY'VE DONE OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS ON HOLIDAY WEEKENDS, GO MORE THAN JUST 4KM/H OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND YOU'LL BE HIT WITH A TICKET. IT DOES SLOW PEOPLE DOWN AND IT CAN BE AN ANNOYANCE TO SOME, BUT WE MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR THAT. MARGARET MADE AN ERROR OF JUDGEMENT. SHE WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. POLICE SAY IF WE ALL MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, WE'LL ALL BE A LOT SAFER. PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS. A FALLOUT BETWEEN AN ONLINE SPAM-FIGHTING FIRM AND A COMPANY IT SAYS HOSTS DANGEROUS DATA HAS TRIGGERED ONE OF THE BIGGEST CYBER-ATTACKS EVER SEEN. SWISS-BRITISH COMPANY SPAMHAUS KEEPS A DATABASE OF BLACK-LISTED SITES TO HELP PROVIDERS BLOCK SPAM. d DUTCH DATA HOST CYBERBUNKER SN'T 8 HAPPY WITH MAKING THAT LIST AND IS ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO CRIPPLE SPAMHAUS' SYSTEMS. THE ATTACK'S BELIEVED TO HAVE SLOWED INTERNET SERVICE ACROSS EUROPE. EXPERTS SAY SIGNS OF AN INCREASE IN JUNK EMAIL CAN BE SEEN HERE. AND CERTAINLY I'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SPAM OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. NORMALLY I GET ONE OR TWO OVERNIGHT, BUT TODAY I WOKE UP TO FIND 20 OR 30 EMAILS COME IN. SPAMHAUS SERVERS HAVE RECEIVED UP TO 300 BILLION BITS OF DATA A SECOND ` AROUND SIX TIMES MORE THAN OTHER MAJOR ATTACKS. A BILL HAMMOND PAINTING'S BEEN THE BIG SELLER AT AN AUCTION OF SOME OF OUR MOST FAMOUS ART. THE 3M-WIDE WORK WENT FOR $250,000 IN AUCKLAND LAST NIGHT. SEVERAL PAINTINGS BY THE LATE RALPH HOTERE WERE SOLD, INCLUDING THIS ONE, WHICH FETCHED NEARLY $200,000. TONIGHT'S LEADING STORIES NOW ` AND CRICKETER JESSE RYDER'S IN A CRITICAL CONDITION IN AN INDUCED COMA AFTER A VICIOUS ASSAULT OUTSIDE A CHRISTCHURCH BAR. POLICE SAY THEY'RE LOOKING AT SECURITY FOOTAGE IN THE HUNT FOR THE ATTACKERS. A WITNESS TOLD ONE NEWS THE BEATING APPEARED TO BE UNPROVOKED. ALL EMAILS IN AND OUT OF THE EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN IN THE WAKE OF ANOTHER MAJOR PRIVACY BREACH. MINISTER GERRY BROWNLEE'S TAKEN THE EXTREME ACTION AFTER IT WAS REVEALED THE LATEST BREACH INVOLVES AROUND 2200 CLIENTS. AND THERE ARE SIGNS THE TIWAI ALUMINIUM SMELTER COULD CLOSE, COSTING MORE THAN 300,000 JOBS AND DAMAGING SOUTHLAND'S ECONOMY. IT'S BECAUSE THE SMELTER'S OWNERS AND ITS ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER, MERIDIAN ENERGY, CAN'T REACH A DEAL ON THE DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR POWER. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, LIVE FROM VECTOR ARENA AND THE BREAKERS' FIRST BASKETBALL PLAY-OFF. EXCITEMENT BUILDING HERE BUT SPORTS FANS ARE SPARING A THOUGHT FOR JESSE RYDER MORE ON THE RYDER SITUATION NEXT AS CONCERN FROM CRICKET DEEPENS FROM HIS WELLINGTON TEAMMATES RIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE GAME AND AROUND THE WORLD. PLUS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE MEN HERE TONIGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF HALFWAY. AND IS A MAN LAUDED IN RUGBY CIRCLES READY FOR A RETURN HOME TO PLAY? WELCOME BACK TO VECTOR ARENA IN AUCKLAND, AND THE OPENING GAME OF THE BREAKERS' PLAY-OFFS SERIES AGAINST THE SYDNEY KINGS. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BASKETBALL SOON, BUT FIRST, AS WE'VE ALREADY REPORTED ON ONE NEWS, CRICKETER JESSE RYDER IS IN AN INDUCED COMA IN HOSPITAL AFTER AN EARLY MORNING INCIDENT IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE ATTACK HAS ROCKED THOSE IN CRICKETING AND SPORTING CIRCLES. HERE'S ABBY SCOTT. ARRIVING HOME MINUS ONE OF THEIR OWN ` THE WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS SOMBRE, EMOTIONAL AND UNDERSTANDABLY NOT KEEN TO TALK. WE DON'T KNOW MUCH, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SAY. THEY ARE DEVASTATED. UM, THEY ARE VERY VERY CONCERNED FOR HIS WELL-BEING. A TEAM NIGHT OUT LEFT TEAMMATE JESSE RYDER CRITICALLY ILL IN HOSPITAL. THE SHOCK REVERBERATED THROUGH THE WIDER CRICKETING COMMUNITY TOO. MANY THOUGHT RYDER HAD PUT HIS TROUBLES BEHIND HIM. THERE'S ALWAYS THAT DANGER THAT, UH, PEOPLE WILL START SPECULATING AND, UH, MAKING JUDGEMENTS WHEN, REALLY, ALL HE NEEDS NOW IS THE... IS THE DIGNITY OF BEING ABLE TO, UH, HAVE THE FACTS BROUGHT OUT AND RECOVER IN HIS BATTLE FOR LIFE. FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS, RYDER TOOK A SELF-IMPOSED EXILE FROM THE BLACKCAPS EARLY LAST YEAR, BUT HE'D HAD AN IMPRESSIVE SEASON ON THE DOMESTIC CIRCUIT. HE'S AN ENDEARING, ENGAGING PERSON. HE'S GOT A SENSE OF HUMOUR THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T SEE THE GOOD SIDE OF HIM AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, HE WILL RECOVER ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND BE BACK PLAYING AS JESSE RYDER. RYDER WAS MEANT TO LEAVE NEXT WEEK TO BEGIN A NEW IPL CONTRACT WITH THE DEHLI DAREDEVILS ` A CONTRACT WORTH MORE THAN $300,000. HIS CRICKETING FUTURE SIMPLY NOT A PRIORITY. THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE ABOUT THE SITUATION FROM A CRICKET PERSPECTIVE BUT WE'RE JUST NOT THERE YET. THE ENTIRE FOCUS HAS TO BE ON JESSE AND HIS HEALTH AT THE MOMENT. RYDER HAD MADE HIS HEALTH A PRIORITY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, TAKING UP BOXING AS A SPORT, TRAINING WITH BILLY GRAHAM. YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE THE GUY, MATE. HE'S GOT SOME SPECIAL ABILITIES ALL AROUND HIM, AND THE LAST TIME I WAS WITH HIM, HE WAS PLAYING CRICKET, AND I SAW HIM AFTERWARDS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS TO PILES OF YOUNG KIDS. GRAHAM EVEN HAS PHOTOS OF IT. HE WAS PLANNING TO GIVE ONE TO RYDER NEXT TIME HE SAW HIM. THE FEAR NOW THAT HE MAY EVER GET THAT CHANCE. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. AND THE INCIDENT'S SEEN MUCH OF THE SPORTING COMMUNITY TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO OFFER THEIR SUPPORT TO RYDER. HIS IPL SIDE, THE DELHI DAREDEVILS, WISHED HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERING, WHILE ROSS TAYLOR WAS AMONG SEVERAL BLACKCAPS WHO TWEETED, 'THINKING OF YOU'. FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN MICHAEL VAUGHAN ALSO TWEETED, SAYING, 'DEVASTATING NEWS. HOPE JESSE CAN PULL THROUGH.' AND CHRIS GAYLE SAID HE'D HAVE THE BATSMAN IN HIS PRAYERS. THE ATTACK HAS AFFECTED MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE CRICKETING COMMUNITY TOO. RUGBY PLAYER ZAC GUILDFORD, WHO'S RECENTLY RETURNED TO THE CRUSADERS AFTER ALCOHOL ISSUES, SAYING, 'THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH JESSE. MUCH LOVE.' BOXER MONTY BETHAM SAID, 'COME ON, JESSE. 'SHOW US THE FIGHT YOU HAVE WITHIN.' WHILE BASKETBALLER PAUL HENARE SPOKE ABOUT THERE BEING SOME NASTY AND COWARDLY PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THAT HE HOPES HE PULLS THROUGH. RYDER HIMSELF SENT THIS TWEET ONLY A WEEK AGO, TALKING ABOUT HOW EXCITED HE WAS FOR THE UPCOMING INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, WHICH HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HEADING TO THIS WEEK. BACK TO THE BASKETBALL HERE, AND THE BREAKERS GO INTO TONIGHT'S FIRST NBL SEMI-FINAL AS HEAVY FAVOURITES OVER THE SYDNEY KINGS. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE TEAMS HAVE MET IN PLAY-OFFS, AND WHILE THE BREAKERS ARE HUNTING THREE TITLES IN A ROW, SYDNEY IS THE ONLY SIDE IN NBL HISTORY TO HAVE ACHIEVED THE FEAT. ONE OF THE KINGS' STAR PLAYERS THEN IS NOW A BREAKERS STALWART. HERE'S KIMBERLEE DOWNS. THEY DON'T COME MORE CLUTCH THAN CJ BRUTON. COMMENTATOR: BIG-TIME BASKETBALL AGAIN! A MERE 11 MONTHS AGO, THE 37-YEAR-OLD GUIDED THE BREAKERS TO BACK-TO-BACK NBL CHAMPIONSHIPS. NOW, WITH THE THREE-PEAT IN SIGHT, HE'S REFLECTING ON THE LAST TIME HE ACHIEVED THE FEAT ` 2005, PLAYING FOR THE BREAKERS' SEMI-FINAL OPPONENTS, SYDNEY. CJ BRUTON GETS THE PENETRATION, AND HE ABSOLUTELY FINISHES WELL. WELL, I WAS A LOT YOUNGER. NAH, I THINK, UH, TEAM- TEAM-WISE, I THINK THE LEAGUE WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE TALENT, I GUESS, AROUND THE COMPETITION. AND, FOR HERE, IT'S PLAYING FOR A COUNTRY INSTEAD OF PLAYING FOR A CLUB TEAM. THE 2012 FINALS MVP NOT KEEN TO DWELL TOO MUCH IN THE PAST. HE SAYS EVERY YEAR IS DIFFERENT. IN FACT, IF HE'S LEARNT ANYTHING... TREAT EVERY YEAR LIKE IT'S A NEW YEAR. I KNOW THERE'S BANNERS HANGING OVER OUR HEADS AND EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT HOW MANY TITLES WE'VE WON. d UM, PLAY IT LIKE IT'S YOUR 8 FIRST YEAR TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AND UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU WANTED IT THEN IS HOW MUCH YOU GOTTA WANT IT NOW. KINGS COACH SHANE HEAL NOT SO EAGER TO DISMISS BRUTON'S EXPERIENCE. JACKSON'S THE CURRENT MVP. HE'S A TERRIFIC PLAYER, AND WE HAVE TO DO A GOOD JOB TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE GAME, BUT, YOU KNOW, GUYS LIKE CJ BRUTON, THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, HE HASN'T HAD A BIG YEAR, BUT COME FINALS TIME, HE ALWAYS STEPS UP. THOUGH HE DOES BRUSH ASIDE PRE-MATCH TALK OF A BREAKERS WIN BEING A FORGONE CONCLUSION. THEY'VE BEATEN US ON THE BUZZER TWICE, UM, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAD A CONVINCING WIN, AND THEY HAD ONE CONVINCING WIN. SO, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE BOTH TEAMS ARE PRETTY EVEN. I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD GO THREE GAMES, BUT, AGAIN, IN SAYING THAT, YOU NEVER UNDERESTIMATE ANYBODY. BOTH SIDES TALKING THE TALK. WE'LL SEE TONIGHT IF IT TRANSLATES TO THE COURT. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. THE MIAMI HEAT'S NBA WINNING STREAK HAS ENDED AT 27 AFTER BEING UPSET 101-97 BY THE BULLS IN CHICAGO. LEBRON JAMES SCORED A GAME HIGH 32 POINTS AND PRODUCED SOME FIERCE FOURTH-QUARTER DEFENCE AS THE HEAT SCORCHED BACK INTO THE MATCH, BUT THE BULLS, MINUS INJURED ALL-STARS DERRICK ROSE AND JOAKIM NOAH, HELD ON TO SNAP MIAMI'S STREAK. AND THAT'S IT. THE STREAK WILL END AT 27. THE LAKER RECORD IS SAFE. THE HEAT FELL SIX WINS SHORT OF THE 1972 LA LAKERS' 33 GAME WINNING STREAK. ONE OF THE MORE VERSATILE AND SKILLED RUGBY PLAYERS TO HAVE MADE THE GRADE HERE IN THE PAST 10 YEARS IS COMING HOME. FORMER AUCKLAND AND BLUES BACK ISA NACEWA IS COMING HOME FROM LEINSTER IN IRELAND WITH HIS YOUNG FAMILY. A POSSIBLE RETURN TO AUCKLAND COLOURS AWAITS. MANY HAVE DESCRIBED ISA NACEWA AS A PLAYER WITH RARE TALENTS. THOSE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE COULD SOON BE UNLEASHED HERE AGAIN. YOU KNOW, FRIENDS COULDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY WITH, UM, THE DECISION THAT WE'VE MADE AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ENJOYED OUR TIME HERE AT LEINSTER IMMENSELY. NACEWA (30) SAYS HE'S RETIRING, BUT IT'S UNDERSTOOD HE WANTS TO PLAY CLUB RUGBY FROM MAY AND, IF FIT AND AVAILABLE, AUCKLAND ARE KEEN TO SIGN HIM FOR THIS YEAR'S PROVINCIAL COMPETITION. HE'S PLAYED OVER 100 FIRST-CLASS GAMES HERE, AND A CENTURY FOR LEINSTER IN IRELAND SINCE 2008. WHAT A KICK. ISA NACEWA. HAVING HIS EXPERIENCE IS HUGE. I MEAN, HE IS PROBABLY, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, YOUR BIGGEST UNLUCKY STORY. NACEWA PLAYED JUST A FEW MINUTES FOR FIJI IN THE 2003 WORLD CUP, MAKING THE AUCKLAND-BORN UTILITY BACK INELIGIBLE FOR NZ. IF HE HADN'T HAVE PLAYED FOR FIJI, DO YOU THINK HE WOULD'VE MADE THE ALL BLACKS? WITHOUT A DOUBT, I THINK. THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION. I'M NOT A SELECTOR, BUT HE WAS A SPECIAL RUGBY PLAYER. SO ANOTHER FORMER BLUE COULD ENTER THE MIX AGAIN. THEY HAVE MORE PRESSING CONCERNS AT THE MOMENT, THOUGH ` DESPERATE TO BEAT THE CHIEFS ON EASTER SATURDAY AND PLAY AGAIN AS A UNIT. TRYING TOO HARD TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS FOR THEMSELVES TO HELP THE TEAM OUT, SO IT'S A POSITIVE, BUT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO SOLVING THEM AS A TEAM. AS THE PAST ` NACEWA ` IS ON THE LIPS, THE FUTURE ` 135 KILO PROP OFA TU'UNGAFASI (20) ` MAKES HIS DEBUT OFF THE BENCH THIS WEEKEND. ALL YELL: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! YOU'D HOPE HIS SCRUMMAGING IS BETTER THAN HIS REVERSING OF THE TEAM BAMBINA. RIO DE JANEIRO'S HAVELANGE STADIUM, WHICH WILL HOST NEXT YEAR'S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP AND THE 2016 OLYMPICS, HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT ITS ROOF. BUILT FOR THE 2007 PANAMERICAN GAMES AT A COST OF ALMOST $200M, THE STADIUM HAS VISIBLE SIGNS OF CORROSION AND HAS BEEN CLOSED INDEFINITELY FOR REPAIRS. THE OLYMPIC TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS WILL BE HELD AT HAVELANGE BUT NOT THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES. IT'S CURRENTLY LEASED BY LOCAL FOOTBALL CLUB BOTAFOGO BUT IS FREQUENTLY USED BY OTHER TEAMS. BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU FROM VECTOR ARENA IN AUCKLAND, A QUICK GLIMPSE INSIDE THE BREAKERS TEAM, HALF AN HOUR BEFORE TIP-OFF. JOINING US IS BREAKERS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, FORMER TALL BLACK MIKE FITCHETT. THE LOSS TO PERTH ` NOTHING RIDING ON IT, BUT A LOSS. WHAT'S THAT DONE FOR THE TEAM? DISAPPOINTMENT, OF COURSE, BUT THEY WASHED IT AWAY QUICKLY. THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE TEAM HAS LOST THE FIRST PLAY-OFF. WHAT'S CHANGED THIS YEAR? THEY'RE NOT RESTING PLAYERS THIS YEARS. CJ HAD SOME WORDS TO THE TEAM THIS MORNING. CJ STOOD UP AND SPOKE TO THE PLAYERS. HAS THAT SPARKED THEM? IT WAS SOMETHING EVERYONE WAS THINKING, BUT HE WAS JUST DOING WHAT A GOOD LEADER DOES CLOSE TO 9000 FANS HERE TONIGHT, AND THEY'LL HAVE A THOUGHT FOR JESSE RYDERS. WHAT ARE THE BREAKERS' REACTIONS? SHOCK, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. IT'S A SITUATION THAT GUSY HAVE TO AVOID AS PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES/ FORMER TALL BLACKS MIKE FITCHETT. WE'LL HAVE A FULL RUNDOWN ON THE BREAKERS' FIRST PLAY-OFF TONIGHT IN THE LATE NEWS AT 10.20. WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THE JESSE RYDER SITUATION AS WELL. # There's a bloody big carrot in Ohakune and a tin gumboot in Taihape. # Masterton's got Golden Shears. # Palmerston North, it's all right here. # Wherever you're driving this weekend, do your bit to keep everyone safe on the road. HI, EVERYONE. EASTER BREAK IS HERE. IT'LL BE A FINE ONE FOR MOST, BUT WE ARE WORKING SOME RAIN AND SHOWERS INTO THE FORECAST. HERE'S THE VIEW FROM THE SATELLITE. BIG EMPTY SPACE OVER THE TASMAN AND MUCH OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND ISLAND. THAT'S HIGH PRESSURE AT WORK. THE DESCENDING AIR EVAPORATING THE CLOUD. BUT THERE WAS SOME POCKETS OF LOW CLOUD AND FOG THIS MORNING AND LITTLE BIT OF HARMLESS HIGH CLOUD OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND. THIS BRIGHER WHITE SWATHE IS FRONTAL CLOUD MOVING PAST TASMANIA AND PUSHING UP AGAINST THE SOU'WESTERN EDGE OF OUR HIGH. TOMORROW OUR HIGH DRIFTS EAST. THAT'LL ALLOW THIS FRONTAL SYSTEM TO EDGE CLOSER. A WEE LOW FORMING ON IT MID-TASMAN. THE STRENGTHENING NOR'WESTER COMING IN AHEAD OF THAT FRONT, PUSHING ON TO THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. WE ARE EXPECTING SOME RAIN WITH THIS FRONT, BUT NOT A GREAT DEAL. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S ALL FROM ME. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR THURSDAY.