Howdy, everybody. Things are starting to get nasty in the oceans to the north of us. An active low is pushing in rain and gales and may soon be joined by debris from the storm that has deluged Fiji. Coming up ` an Easter countdown that some of you don't really want. 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. This is ONE News, with Simon Dallow and Wendy Petrie. Tonight, storm fears as flood-ravaged Fijians take refuge where ever they can ` we've the latest on the cyclone bearing down on the Pacific. Money moves ` tough proposals to crackdown on lone sharks who usually target the vulnerable. Dotcom court victory ` it's music to his ears as a judge gives him leave to record an album. And joy and jubilation in Myanmar as the country's famed pro-democracy campaigner wins a seat in Parliament. Kia ora. Good evening. Flood-devastated Fiji is tonight preparing for another battering. A cyclone packing strong winds and heavy rain is approaching the already-saturated islands. Flooding's so far killed four people, and it's estimated as many as 11,000 people are now in evacuation centres. We'll look at how travellers have been affected and get a live update on the storm shortly. First, Lisa Owen with the latest in the worst-hit western areas, where people are still without running water and there are widespread power blackouts. From above, it's easy to see how widespread the sea of mud and sludge is as it laps around these Nadi houses. People have saved what they can by piling their belongings on their rooves. I know some of the shops in Nadi have lost everything. They've lost all their stock, and not only with the water damage, but there's, like, mud all through their shops. Officials say the floodwaters are receding, but the problem is Cyclone Daphne is still to come. And now we've heard a tropical cyclone is on its way, we are really really worried. We just want to get back home. The Salvation Army is concerned that already strained evacuation centres won't cope with a second wave of bad weather and fleeing people. Floodwaters have cut off a number of roads. Some tourists are taking extreme measures to get home,... Two helicopters to get across. Hopefully at the airport we'll get an airplane back to Australia somewhere and get home. ...while some feel not enough is being done to help them out. I really think that the Fijian government should be doing something a little bit more just to help us get to the airport. Apparently the airport is open. We're just trying to get a flight out. Others say the real tragedy is those who have lost everything and simply can't leave. It's quite tragic to see people who are now homeless and kids walking in the streets in the water. Clean water and a lack of power are still major concerns. Distributing supplies via the badly damaged road network is also a problem. Where I live, we were having half an hour on power, half an hour off. That means people are struggling to communicate with the families they are cut off from. There's no electricity. We are running out of the cells on the mobile. We can't contact anyone. We are just stranded here. Tonight, their main concern is that Daphne will arrive under the cover of darkness. Now for an update on that storm system in Fiji and whether it'll have a sting its tail for us here. Let's go to our weather expert Jim Hickey. The Fiji storm has abated, but a new tropical cyclone, Daphne, has just developed southeast of Vanuatu. It's expected to track south of Fiji tonight, sideswipe, plunge. Now we have issues. Two lows ` Cape Reinga's gusting up around 90K east southeast already. MetService has put out a watch for tomorrow and Wednesday. The lowdown on the lows later. The flooding in Fiji's left hundreds of would-be holiday makers facing an anxious wait. Flights resumed this afternoon but foreign affairs is continuing to warn against all non-essential travel. Ruth Wynn-Williams reports. The closest this group of friends has got to enjoying their holiday in Fiji is when they almost touched down in Nadi on Sunday. Saw Fiji, even. Saw the tarmac and promptly turned around and came back home. A six-hour non-stop round trip because of flooding. We're still currently scheduled to go tomorrow morning, 7.45 tomorrow morning. That flight's supposed to go ahead as planned now that the Fiji government is allowing passengers back in. But Kylie Morris and her friends are pessimistic. The reality of being able to get to where we're staying and being able to buy food or water or electricity or anything like that is obviously probably fairly difficult at the moment. It's not what Fiji's tourism industry needs. House of Travel alone has more than 700 holidaymakers booked to visit from next week. This is obviously a key time, school holidays ` four weeks of the year people get away for holidays and this is one of the special ones. It's not only travellers who can't make it to Fiji ` it's also challenging the supply of vital aid like food and clothing. The Salvation Army has instead launched a financial appeal for help. And those who made the first flights out of Nadi have told ONE News about the devastation. (EXHALES) It was scary. The wind just didn't stop, the rain didn't stop, the flooding. It was just surreal. People were dying. A man died in a small van. His body was there for two days. It was all muddy, like, all water. That's what you could see. An empty Air NZ plane will arrive in Nadi this evening to bring more people home. But with more bad weather forecast, airlines say they're closely monitoring the situation. Ruth Wynn-Williams, ONE News. And you can find all the updates on the situation in Fiji, including travel information or numbers to help track down family members stuck on the islands, on our website tvnz.co.nz Judith Collins will pay for legal action herself in the defamation case against two Labour MPs and Radio NZ. The ACC Minister says she's carrying on her fight against Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little. Political reporter Jessica Mutch is following developments and joins us now with the latest. We heard this afternoon that taxpayers will not be paying for Judith Collins legal battle. This is a rare situation to be involved in a case like this. THE PRIME MINISTER IS BACKING JUDITH COLLINS. She feels very strongly that allegations have been made that just are not backed up by evidence and are not true, and she intends to take a stand. And any individual's free to do that. She's funding the action herself, so she's quite within her rights to make that call. NICK SMITH'S RESIGNATION HAS MEANT A RESHUFFLE FOR NATIONAL. WHAT'S THE LATEST? SEVERAL MPS GIVEN A PROMOTION TODAY. SIMON BRIGDES MINISTER CONSUMER AFFAIRS. CHRIS TREMAIN PROMOTED MINISTER SITTING AT CABINET TABLE. AMY ADAMS ` ENVIRONMENT PORTFOLIO. SENIOR MINISTERS DAVID CARTER AND TIM GROSER WILL ALSO PICK UP EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES. Thanks, Jessica Mutch at Parliament. Loan sharks are in for the biggest shakeup in a decade. A draft law to crack down on dodgy lenders was unveiled today. Arrun Soma's been looking at the details and also spoke to a mother who's still paying dearly. Queenie Boyce is drowning in debt. It feels as if I'm sinking all the time. Yeah, I'm not climbing steps; I'm actually going down. She's paying off her son's $6000 car loan after agreeing to be the guarantor. After payments were missed that debt increased to $9000 due to penalties, interest and fees. It's tearing me to bits just to know that I could've been fully established now. I could have used it on something else. I could have had a house now. I've got grandchildren now coming up in this world, and I've got nothing for them. She expects the loan to take a decade to pay off. The government has released draft legislation aimed at helping people like her. We need to provide better protection for borrowers and target lenders who are unscrupulous and irresponsible. The draft law changes include making it illegal to lend money if the borrower will end up worse off, giving people more time to back out of a loan and cancel the deal. Lenders must be registered before they can charge interest and fees and must follow a new code of responsible lending. We want those other guys that aren't part of that out of the market. We want them gone. But Labour and the Financial Sector Union say the measures don't go far enough. They want a cap on interest rates. But the government isn't keen, because it says a cap could limit people's access to loans. There are also calls for more education for borrowers. Some of the products are quite complex, and it's understanding all the implications of charges and interest and penalty fees. The changes are open for consultation. Too late for this borrower. I'm not getting anywhere at the moment. With loan sharks already biting, Queenie Boyce hopes others learn from her mistake. Arrun Soma, ONE News. Kim Dotcom is now allowed to use the internet, a swimming pool and a studio to finish recording a music album. But there's no word yet on whether the man charged with using a website to breach international copyright laws to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars will copyright that album. Amy Kelley's been in court. Kim Dotcom, all smiles as he left court. Well, I'm very happy to have access to the internet. It will make it much easier for me and my co-defendants to work on the case. Just one of a wish list of changes to bail conditions a judge has granted. He'll also be allowed twice-weekly visits to this recording studio to finish a dance-music album he's been working on for the last year. I take it the material he's going to record is going to be subject to copyright. > I take it the material he's going to record is going to be subject to copyright. > I have large legal bills, as everyone can imagine, so any kind of revenue stream is going to be welcome. The Crown's against Dotcom being allowed to leave home, adamant he's still a flight risk. < Mr Dotcom previously only travelled by private jet, < and the risk is that there might be an attempt to leave NZ by means other than normal travelling routes. You have to pay these people before they're going to start turning up and waiting at an airport for you, and he hasn't got anything like the funds to do it. But it appears Dotcom has got funds to finish his album, described as a collaboration with famous artists. # It's a hit! It's a hit! # These people had come from the United States and had collaborated with Mr Dotcom. The judge is also allowing Dotcom weekly visits from his three co-accused and use of a swimming pool at his Coatesville mansion. I'm already out on bail for quite some time. I'm still here, and I'm going to be here and see this through all the way to the end. The relaxing of bail conditions, music to his ears. Amy Kelley, ONE News. The man charged with the murder of Christchurch prostitute Mallory Manning faced her family in court today, with one supporter of Ms Manning yelling abuse at the 24-year-old. Mauha Fawcett entered no plea for the kidnapping and murder of the 27-year-old Manning. Her body was found in the Avon River in 2008. Police believe a number of people were involved, and say more arrests are possible. Fawcett will appear in court again at the end of April. Reported crime has fallen to a 15-year low, with 20,000 fewer offences in 2011 compared with the previous year. The largest regional drop was in Canterbury, down more than 22%. Drug offences nationwide fell nearly 10%. Is this the result of a tougher approach? Renee Graham investigates. Police figures show reported crime has fallen to the lowest level since 1996. The top brass says it's down to smart policing. It's more targeted policing, but it's also using the relationships and partnerships that we have with the community and with other agencies. Comparing 2011 with 2010, homicides dropped 14% to the lowest since 1995. and overall drug offending dropped almost 10%, cannabis down 11.6% and methamphetamine down 10.8%. Stats can fluctuate quite a lot between years for a whole lot of reasons, one being the weather might be bad and the police can't do as many operations. Regionally, Canterbury's reported crime fell by 22% due to more police patrols in quake-damaged areas, We've actually put in a lot of high visible, high intervention around those communities. Auckland City also saw an increase of more than 8% in reported crime. Nationally, some criminal activity has actually been on the rise. There were 450 more sexual assaults: an increase of nearly 15%. It's very hard to know if it's an actual increase in incidents or whether it's an increase in reports. Police have a target for the next few years. We're absolutely focused on achieving a 13% decrease in crime by 2014, 2015. The deputy commissioner says they're well on track. Renee Graham, ONE News. Crew members of a yacht carrying a renegade Norwegian adventurer and a NZer claim they were detained at gunpoint in Chile at the request of the NZ government. Jarle Andhoy and South Auckland man Busby Noble are on the yacht, which made an unauthorised trip to Antarctica. The government denies arranging the arrest. Foreign Affairs says it hasn't asked for, but would welcome a search of the yacht. The yacht's expected to continue its journey to Argentina tomorrow. A 34-year-old from the small Waikato town of Te Kauwhata is NZ' big Lotto winner. Trevor, a supermarket checkout operator who buys a ticket every week, already has plans for spending some of his $26m. A brand new car. I'd love to have a brand new car, maybe own my own house, which, hey, that's now possible. My life has always been about motorsport, and next season is going to open at Western Springs, and I can bet my bottom dollar that I'll be there opening night, ready to race. But he's not giving up his job and will be turning up to work tomorrow. And at 7 you can catch Close Up's interview with NZ's newest big winner as well as vote in their text poll on how big you think lotto jackpots should be. Ahead on ONE News, from house arrest to Parliament ` it's victory to the lady in Myanmar. Wedged down a well with little air ` what happened next to this toddler in China? And a new push to stop our children drowning ` who's paying for thousands of free swimming lessons? Police and Mines Rescue still can't agree who should be in control in the event of another explosion like the one which killed 29 men at Pike River. Both parties have given submissions as the Royal Commission into the disaster reaches its final stages. Lisa Davies is in Greymouth and joins us now live. Lisa. WENDY, THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE COMMISSION GOT UNDERWAY A YEAR AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY. THIS IS THE 11TH WEEK OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE HAVE BEEN 270 INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED, TO ASSESS HOW TO MAKE SURE A MINING DISASTER LIKE PIKE NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. THESE ARE THE SUBMISSIONS FROM TODAY ALONE, ALL CONTAINING RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. The families of the Pike 29 arriving at the commission. Many of those who waited for them on that dreadful day in November and the harrowing days which followed have sat in a dignified and solemn vigil behind us in this courtroom. The police, criticised for decision-making delays at the time of the disaster, argued they should still be the lead agency should a mine disaster of a similar scale occur again, but conceded NZ Mines Rescue should play a greater role in the future because of its mining expertise. < Should they have been involved, do you think? Well, with the benefit of hindsight, bearing in mind what we're dealing with here, the answer has to be yes. Mines Rescue critical of their stance, insisting a mine expert should control the incident, not police. Mines Rescue's position is that it didn't work effectively. And I think it would be fair to say that it is surprising, in my submission, to still have the police advocating a system such as this. We think the whole thing should have been run from Pike River itself. In its final submission, the Department Of Labour, which has come under fire for inaction over failings at Pike River Mine, is advocating more regulatory control at every stage of the mining process, including its new high hazards unit, with more mines inspectors. Would the department accept that prior to Pike, it lost its focus? A question yet to be answered on this quest to make the mining industry safer. We owe it to the sacred memory of the 29 men. An onerous task that will rest with the three commissioners once this final public phase ends. So, Lisa, what's the reaction to the Department Of Labour proposal? THE MINERS UNION QUICK TO CRITICISE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR'S PROPOSED CHANGES, SAYING THEY DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH; THAT ALTHOUGH THEY ARE MAKING THE RIGHT NOISES, IT'S SCANT ON DETAIL WHEN IT COMES TO WORKERS HAVING A SAY; AND THEY BELIEVE THE MARGINALISATION OF WORKERS AT PIKE RIVER LED TO AN INABILITY TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE MINE'S SAFETY. Thanks, Lisa Davies in Greymouth. Burmese groups in NZ have welcomed the election victory of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But they say it could still be years before any real change and for now, control remains in the hands of Myanmar's military. The BBC's Fergal Keane reports. A typical morning of the late dry season, but one when freedom edged forward in Burma. Queues have been forming since dawn. 'I voted for Aung San Suu Kyi,' Daw Hla told me. 'She's for democracy ` that's why I love her.' By the day's end, Aung San Suu Kyi's seat would be won despite her misgivings about electoral fraud elsewhere. Yet for some voters, it's hard to trust the state. This is not freedom. We are always... We are always suffering from their control. For many, the crackdowns and jailings that defined political life in this country seem part of history now, even for ex-political prisoners. Last election, you know, the political parties are also many restriction, and the people are intimidated, they are afraid of, but not now, this time. At the pro-democracy headquarters, unofficial results were announced. Many constituencies showed their candidates winning. There was joy, though Parliament will for now still be controlled by the military. In all of this, it's vital to remember that gulf between the ambitions of the democrats and the government, which sees the by-elections as a way of ending its international isolation. Aung San Suu Kyi, however, wants this to be a stepping stone to a national poll that will bring her party to power. And Aung San Suu Kyi's party now claims it's won 44 of the 45 seats up for grabs in the by-election. Rebel forces in Syria are to get more help after a meeting of Western and Arab nations in Turkey. Several Gulf states have offered to pay the salaries of those defecting from the military to join the Syrian Free Army. The United States is boosting its aid by $15m and is also sending communications equipment and medical support. There's still no decision to arm the rebels. A thousand people, including 14 NZers, have reached dry land after being stranded on a cruise ship for 24 hours. The Azamara Quest had been drifting off the southern Philippines after its engines were disabled in a fire. Now it's limped into a port in Borneo, with NZ's Deputy High Commissioner there to greet the Kiwis on-board. Everything seemed normal to me except for the very hot temperatures. Everything seemed normal to me except for the very hot temperatures. I just met with the NZers who were on the cruise, and they seemed fine. The rest of the cruise has been abandoned. Passengers will receive a full refund and a voucher towards another cruise. Firefighters in China have had a struggle on their hands rescuing a boy (2) from an abandoned well. The boy was heard crying from the bottom of the narrow shaft. Rescuers pumped oxygen down to help him breathe and made several failed attempts before pulling him out with ropes. He's being treated in hospital. And more than 600 fishermen have been rescued in Russia after getting stranded on an ice flow. The metre-thick sheet of ice drifted 500m out to sea after breaking off. Helicopters and ships ferried the men back to safety. Fishing through ice holes is a popular winter pastime in Russia. Now for a weather check, this time here. Rain coming? Yep, gales too. That's the pattern for the week ` rain and gales in the north, fine over most of the mainland. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz At least he's not eating a native tree. Taranaki possums know how to sweeten up for Easter. The latest on another unwanted guest, this time from the tropics, after sport. Up next on ONE News ` four months after the election, what do NZers think about the partial sale of state assets? And they're in the swim ` why thousands of schoolchildren are enjoying free lessons. When it comes to winning the big one, how much is too much? Tonight ` should Lotto jackpot up to it's $30m limit or be divided into smaller prizes? Text A to 8875 if you're keen on the big wins, or text B if you prefer smaller jackpots and more winners. And we'll hear from the $26m winner. so I would like to think Peter Dunne could stand up and say he opposes it. But it appears voter support for asset sales has picked up slightly since we last asked the question in a November poll. Then, just 26% of people supported the plan, I think that shows you that people are starting to think through the issue and see an increasing merit in the argument. It also shows you the government's got more work to do. Public opinion not enough to stop part of these assets ending up in private hands. Michael Parkin, ONE News. Midwives are protesting against plans to move acute maternity services from Wanganui to Palmerston North. They say the move will force several hundred women with high-risk pregnancies to travel, instead of getting care locally at less risk. For every woman who's had a baby, and if you've ever been in a situation where you've needed an on-call obstetrician in that emergency second, uh, we're looking at getting them an ambulance to travel over, which sometimes could be 40 minutes plus. The DHB says the plan's the best way to deal with inadequate staffing at Wanganui Hospital, but it's now extended the consultation period for another month. More than 37,000 Auckland school children are to get free swimming lessons after a big cash injection from Water Safety NZ. It's a bid to improve our drowning toll, which is one of the worst in the developed world. Lacey Wilson reports. These Pt England schoolchildren making a splash, but not all of them feel confident. I thought I would drown. I don't really go swimming all the time. My mum has work, and no one can bring me here. Sport Auckland's learn-to-swim project aims to provide swimming lessons to those who wouldn't normally get the chance, and so far it seems to be working. I can do freestyle, and I'm even looking forward to going into the deeper pool. I think I'm pretty good, I think. A bit more confident than before. The project's been extended thanks to an extra $500,000 from Water Safety NZ. Our children need to learn the basic life skills of learning to swim and survive. 200 low-decile Auckland schools will benefit, year three to six pupils getting up to 10 lessons a year with a professional instructor. So we've got people in there actively helping children. Our kids themselves are getting quality instruction. But many believe this should be rolled out in every school across the country, with funding from the Ministry Of Education, because the current school curriculum doesn't do enough. There needs to be a level of targets and distances as well as a number of sessions that an individual needs to have, but that has to come from the ministry. But with only about a fifth of 12-year-olds having basic swimming skills, any extra help is welcomed. Lacey Wilson, ONE News. Looking at our top stories tonight ` Fiji is preparing for another battering as Tropical Cyclone Daphne bears down on the flood-ravaged islands. The disaster's claimed four lives. As many as 11,000 people are now in evacuation centres, and tourists remain stranded. Tough new rules to control loan sharks are a step closer. The proposed new laws will make it illegal to lend money if the borrowers will end up substantially worse off. People will also have more time to back out of a loan and cancel the deal. And alleged internet pirate Kim Dotcom has had his bail conditions relaxed. he can now use the internet and a swimming pool at his Coatesville mansion. He can also visit a studio twice a week to finish recording a dance-music album. Andrew's here with sport, and Jacko Gill pulls out of his Olympic bid. We hear from both sides next on this hot issue. So why no Gill? The kid's the best shot-putter in the country, he's qualified ` now he's not going. Yep. That's a cock-up. Uh... Gill's father also talks to us next. Plus ` what's up with Jesse Ryder and another incident? And why are the Souths celebrating like they're Trevor the check-out operator? World junior shot-put champion Jacko Gill has pulled out of his bid to make the Olympics. A shoe-in a few weeks ago, Gil missed out on being named in the initial squad for London. This was Jacko Gill throwing the 7.26kg shot in December, beating the mark of 20.3m he thought would send him to London. 20.38. I have six months until Olympics, and, yeah, I think I can do well there, and obviously I've got a lot to improve on. But his throw of 20.38m only met the 'B' qualifying standard, and when the initial group of track-and-field athletes for London was named last week, it only included 'A' qualifiers. There was disappointment, big disappointment from Jacko. He felt that the goalposts had been moved. Athletics NZ deflecting claims of a mistake, with the country's best shot-putter not going to London. I suppose that's the way it would be interpreted by some people. He said he did the mark, the 20.3m that was originally told. He expected to be named just after the NZ nationals. It hasn't happened. There was a blunder made. Gill and his family decided over the weekend he'd pull out of Olympic contention, uneasy about the prospect of having his selection confirmed so close to the games. It's the uncertainty of selection, and it will only be named some two weeks before the Olympics actually start, and it'll be in the middle of him competing at the world juniors, and he says he just can't train on that sort of doubt. And as far as the Gills are concerned, it's case closed. There is now way we would ever accept selection now. To us it would be seen as trying to hold the selectors over a barrel or put pressure on Athletics NZ. That's exactly what Athletics NZ is likely to face over the next few days as a bright young hope for London is now extinguished. Blair Norton, ONE News. Troubled cricketer Jesse Ryder is to face a disciplinary hearing following a heated on-field argument in a Wellington club match on Saturday. Witnesses ONE News spoke to today to say Ryder took exception to sledging from an opponent. They say an umpire had to intervene, as the situation looked like getting physical. Late last week Ryder's management said he would be playing in the Indian Premier League with the support of a psychologist, but denied he would be susceptible to sledging. Nah, no not at all. He tends to` tends to have a bit of fun with that himself. So I don't think it's an issue. Ryder may face suspension, the severity of any punishment will be up to the hearing commissioner. The Chiefs are on their way to Perth tonight on the back of their best-ever start in Super Rugby history ` four wins out of five from an almost brand-new team, and they hit the road with no new injuries. For some of the players, they're heading towards a whole new frontier. Many big hands make light work ` just look at the Chiefs today at Auckland Airport. A lot of our success has been built around character and hard work. Apart from four wins in a row, there's also a zip in the Chiefs other teams are missing, as new players embark on a first visit to Africa via Perth. As a young fella, never been to that part of the world before. So I'm really excited to get over there and see it and see what it's all about. He's used to being away from home. The 20-year-old Christchurch Boys' High product and the tallest Kiwi in the competition has been a find. Didn't know what to expect, really, but, uh, didn't expect to be in this position at all. Retallick is one of a dozen players now starting in Super teams from last year's world champion Under-20s. Three are in the Chiefs and all are booming. We are a little bit surprised. We picked them cos they're good kids who we think will have a big future and hopefully a long future in the Chiefs' jersey, uh, but their opportunities have come early and they've really stood up. The Chiefs' new wave is balanced by a 30-year-old big kid ` a Test prop who's played every minute of every game so far ` the leading Kiwi try scorer with four, wearing those pink boots for cancer research. Sona, which bag are the pink boots packed in? Uh, no pink boots. Next week. Really? Staying at home? Yeah, stay at home. Taking yellow. A winning rugby team in blue in Auckland. Now there's a change, if only passing through for a few hours. The Blues are about to suffer another long-term injury hit to their troubled campaign. Officials are set to confirm tomorrow All Blacks lock Anthony Boric will be out for at least the next two months. Boric has a bulging-disc problem in his neck. It's understood if the injury doesn't settle after the time off, surgery is an option with a lot longer out of the game. The Blues have already lost two other All Blacks, Jerome Kaino and Isaia Toeava, to injury for the rest of the year. The South Sydney Rabbitohs have consigned Benji Marshall's West Tigers to a further week of NRL misery after pulling off a huge comeback. The game looked out of reac I T game looked out of reach for d S But two late tries brought things to a deadlock and golden-point extra time. It's over! It's over! It looks a bit like Shaun Timmins at Origin! He's got the goal! He's got the drop goal! That's four straight losses for the Tigers, who are 14th on the table. All White Shane Smeltz has set up an A-League showdown with his former club, the Wellington Phoenix, after starring for his Perth glory outfit. It was a classic Smeltz poaching job as he scored all the goals in the 3-0 victory. And now Smeltz is on! CROWD CHEERS Here's Smeltz, right through the middle. It's been his night. The Phoenix confident they can blunt Smeltz despite his seven goals in the last two games. When you match it up, you know, we're probably very competitive across the park with them, but, you know, Shane's got an X-factor, and he finds the back of the net when he needs to in vital games. But we've tended to deal with him reasonably well, and I'm not sure our total focus will be on him. The winner of Saturday's eliminator goes to week three of the play-offs and a do-or-die shot at the grand final. d And in England, the race 8 for top-four sports and Champions League football continues in the English Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur went a step closer to sealing their passage to Europe next season with a 3-1 win over Swansea, Emmanuel Adebayor heading them home to leave Spurs in fourth place. And it's headed in by Adebayor! America or Florida, wherever you are. And that's Adebayor again! Oh! And former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll got the kind of reception you'd expect on your first visit back to St James' Park wearing a Liverpool shirt and diving into the penalty area. New favourite Papiss Cisse did the job for the Magpies, 2-0, Newcastle sixth and climbing. Hayden Paddon has taken another step closer to his dream of driving in the full World Rally Championship, winning his first Super 2000 title in Portugal. Paddon overcame electrical problems early in the rally, flying from third to first overnight as leader Yazeed Al-Rajhi pulled out with his own mechanical problems. It's not the way we wanted to win, but it is 25 points, and it puts our championship right back on track, so of course, we're very happy. The win moves Paddon into second in the Super 2000 standings. Leader, Irishman Craig Breen, isn't competing in June's Rally of NZ. And a muffed pit stop has robbed Kiwi Scott Dixon a chance of victory at Indycars' Grand Prix of Alabama. Early on, a quick pit stop helped Dixon into the lead, but after 40 laps out in front, a slow tyre change left him trailing Australian Will Power. Power held on for his first win of the season. It was stupidity for us to get ourselves in that situation, you know? We had a quick car, I think we were quicker behind Will. I tried to push. But when you're behind, you lose so much downforce and grip, and I burnt the rear tyres off it towards the end. Dixon's second straight runners-up finish leaves him second in the standings, two points behind Helio Castroneves. The Central Pulse netballers have shown their easy-beat tag might be a thing of the past, pushing the highly fancied Northern Mystics in their trans-Tasman season opener. The Robin Broughton-led Pulse pushed out to a two-goal lead midway through the second quarter, the teams tied at half- and three-quarter time. But the Mystics showed their class in the final minutes to ease away to a hard-fought 51-47 win. How's that for precision? WHISTLE BLOWS Contact, wing defence. CROWD CHEERS The Mystics hit 50. The Mystics now face traditional rivals the Magic in Hamilton next Sunday. She's been out of top-class coaching for a decade, but Leigh Gibbs is now back, determined to make sure Canterbury restores its reputation in the trans-Tasman competition. The new campaign for Gibbs begins tonight against the West Coast Fever in Perth. Here's Blair Norton. More depth. Good work, Jo. When it comes to netball, Leigh Gibbs knows what she likes... Good work, Ama. Good protecting. ...and what she doesn't. (GROANS) Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. After a seven-hour flight, Gibbs' Tactix will start their season tonight against former Aussie coach Norma Plummer's West Coast Fever. A lot of respect for Norma, and I know that, um, you know, she'll have her team well drilled and ready to go. It's her first significant head coaching role since she finished with the Canterbury Flames back in 2001. I haven't coached in this environment, so I always like to challenge and test myself, so I guess this provided that opportunity. Gibbs retired from playing after captaining the Silver Ferns to a world championship win in 1987. She then took up coaching, leading the Silver Ferns between 1993 and '97. Have you still got it? > Who will know? (CHUCKLES) Ask me this time next year. (CHUCKLES) You could argue it's a no-lose situation for Gibbs. The Tactix have finished bottom of the heap the last two years. She's, uh, cracking the whip. No, I want it really flat and hard. Wanting to mould the team together, and, um, yeah. No, everyone's really excited about the potential. Set up quickly. Certainly want to get off the bottom of the rung. You're wasting your time if you just go through the motions. My role with the Tactix is not a one-year hit and run. Gibbs also has the responsibility of developing the Tactix of the future. But it will be the current crop she'll most likely be judged on. ALL: Team! Blair Norton, ONE News. Thanks, Sport. After the break ` some severe weather in your forecast. Jim has details. Are these huge Lotto jackpots just too much? What about divvying up the pool into smaller prizes? We'll hear what the latest big winner thinks, and what about you? Should Lotto jackpot up to its $30m limit or be divided into smaller prizes? Text A to 8875 if you're keen on the big jackpot wins, or text B to 8875 if you prefer smaller jackpots and more winners. Hi there. Rough stuff coming for the North Island for the next three days. Two lows are inbound. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz