Due to the live nature of Tonight, we apologise for the lack of captions for some items. Tonight ` hopes are fading as a father and son remain missing following a boating tragedy. The Greens call in the experts to do the numbers and claim asset sales aren't needed. And the new drug craze in Australia ` they're called pick-and-mix parties and the results can be fatal. Kia ora. Good evening. A family's worst fears look to have been realised tonight following a boating tragedy in South Auckland yesterday Kia ora. Good evening. A family's worst fears look to have been realised tonight following a boating tragedy in South Auckland yesterday which saw a father and son lost when their dinghy capsized. Wilhemena Shrimpton has the latest from our Auckland news room. THE SEARCH HAS GONE ON FOR 24 HOURS. THE POLICE HAVE FOUND THE BODY OF A 7 YEAR OLD BOY THEY FOUND HIM UNDER THE BRIDGE HE IS ONE OF TWO WHO WENT MISSING. POLICE HAVE CALLED OFF THE SEARCH FOR HIS FATHER BUT WILL SEARCH TOMORROW The government's so-called zero Budget is being hammered by the Greens and Labour. The Greens have honed in on the controversial sale of state assets. Russel Norman casts a long shadow, but it's that of a zero Budget he's concerned about. Whether it's an increase in prescription charges, whether it's larger class sizes, or less affordable housing, the poor decisions of the government on the Budget put it into a hole and ordinary NZers have to pay the price. The government is touting the partial sale of state assets as a way to dig ourselves out of debt. ALL CHANT: Aotearoa's not for sale! Now following protests and petitions, the Greens have called in economic analysts to tear apart the partial float, stressing the impact of letting shares in four power companies and Air NZ end up in foreign hands. External debt is just plain bad. External debt is going to the loan shark. The government says selling shares will raise between $5b to $7b, which will be invested in other assets like schools and irrigation. But BERL says there's a better way. There's a hundred billion dollars of term deposits that our mom-and-pop investors have in trading banks in NZ. Why not get some of them to lend directly to government? We asked Treasury to provide us advice; they provided us advice that supported the mixed ownership model, and I'm much more of mind to accept the Treasury advice than I would be of, basically, BERL's. Labour's also on the attack in the lead-up to Thursday's Budget. A zero Budget is not something to boast about. Zero Budget is an admission more of failure. A zero Budget means zero growth. But the Prime Minister says this is the responsible path. But high-tech manufacturers are likely to be one of the few to win out in the Budget as the government looks for ways to boost NZ's earning power. Political editor Corin Dann explains. After a decade of developing this trimaran dingy, Auckland's Weta Marine is now exporting to 20 countries. Looking back now it's been a lot of hard work, but at the time you are really passionate about the product and you just make things happen. But experts who specialise in finding great Kiwi ideas like this Crushpak container say passion isn't enough. NZ companies are very good at coming up with ideas, but unfortunately we're not very good at commercialising them ` that is, making money from them. So more focus on this area is certainly a good idea. The government recognises it's a problem, and at the last election promised high-tech manufacturers help in the form of more state-funded research and science. At the time, that promise included turning state science institute IRL into in an 'advanced technology institute', doubling its size and increase staff levels to 700 within five years; new facilities in Christchurch and Auckland; and funding to the tune of $120m to $150m over five years. Industry analysts say a new institute could eventually be a big boost to the economy. Oh, it's huge. So if you look at our TIN100 report, high-tech manufacturing is by far the largest part of that group of 100 companies. And the potential for growth is such that I think it can lead NZ's future economic growth. Our farmers have already become world-beaters thanks in part to taxpayer-funded science. The hope is that with the same support, our manufacturers can also find greener pastures. And one final Budget note ` $65m is being redirected to drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment for prisoners. The announcement was made at Rimutaka Prison near Wellington, where about two-thirds of inmates come in with some kind of drug or alcohol issue. One prisoner, who didn't want to be named, says the six-month programme he did was essential. I was a junkie for pretty much half my life, and, yeah, on the outside they tried giving me drug-and-alcohol counselling before, but it never took and I was just too busy getting high. But when I got here, yeah, I pretty much didn't have anywhere to run. Some of the extra funding, which is coming from the overall corrections budget, will also go on prisoner education. The High Court in Christchurch has been told the semen of murder accused George Gwaze was found on the sheets and underwear of his niece Charlene Makaza. The Crown says the 10-year-old was sexually violated and murdered by her uncle Mr Gwaze. A DNA profile expert today told the court traces of his semen were found on the crotch of three pairs of her underwear, as well as her skirt and bed sheet. The defence says it got there in the wash, which the ESR scientist admits was a possibility. So if you have semen-stained item in a load of washing, there is an opportunity for small numbers of sperm to transfer from that semen-stained source randomly, if normal washing procedures are adhered to, randomly to other items. She said it was not possible to say how long the semen had been on the garments. Police investigating the murder of former journalist Derek Round say it's likely he knew his killer, and they say the killer was probably in contact with Mr Round shortly before he was killed last week. Could be a friend, could be just an acquaintance or could be someone he met during his day-to-day activities. Investigators have been combing a property in the Wanganui suburb of Aramoho where Mr Round's blue Jaguar was seen around the time of his death. Police say they're still searching for the red long-sleeved top and black sleeveless leather vest that's crucial to the case. The reshaping of Christchurch is reaching another critical phase, with submissions closing on a plan for the future. The city council's proposing a 7.5% rates rise, but that's not all people are taking issue with, as Ali Pugh reports. Christchurch City Council's the second-largest property owner in the country, topped only by the government. Selling down some of its assets to recoup funds for the rebuild was raised at the weekend by the government. Today it was the turn of a Christchurch business group. We should be investigating the sensibilities of realising cash from some of those investments. It's one of more than 2000 responses that have been submitted since the council released its most crucial draft plan ever. A lot of interest ` overwhelmingly in the facilities rebuild. The council's preferred options for its major facilities are outlined in the document, including the town hall and the art gallery both getting repaired; the convention centre and QEII getting rebuilt on new CBD sites and a new 35,000-seat uncovered rugby stadium. We have disagreed with them in relation to the roof, whereas we think the city deserves a roofed stadium, so we're submitting they should add a roof. And to pay for all this, the council's draft plan proposes a total rates increase of 7.5%. It's a hike that some Christchurch residents say is not fair. Ordinary people purely cannot afford it. I just don't approve. I just don't think it's fair. The rates themselves are an impost on the community and something that works against investment in Christchurch, and that's the last thing that we need. The council's take on the public's contribution will be revealed in their final city plan, which is released next month. More than 100,000 Auckland ratepayers could face big increases under the city's long-term draft. Under government legislation, if you live in Auckland, your rates will be calculated according to the capital value of your property. When Auckland became a supercity, it gained one mayor, one council. But by government legislation, it also gained one way to set rates, which will mean big increases for some. The rate increases for old areas, particularly in Auckland in some of these areas, is going to be quite substantial to those homeowners, and I guess my concern is a lot of them probably don't know it's coming. From July, rates will be set according to the capital value of your home. That means even though the base increase is small,... 3.6% average across Auckland City, so 3.6% more in rates than last year. ...some ratepayers whose homes have increased a lot in value are facing rises of nearly 50%. Is it a fair system? It's as fair as we've got. If you're still confused,... Hello, John. Hi. Good afternoon. Welcome. Come in. ...here's hoping retiree and avid money-man John Feringa can help. Click on rates again, and check out our rate guide... And there it is. And there it is, and you just type in your street number. Using an online calculator on the council's website, he can work out his rates could be increasing by up to $200. Do you think the information is easy to find? If you know where to go, like everything else in life. And while he think's he'll be OK, he says many others his age ` whose homes will increase in value but whose incomes remain the same ` could struggle. They have to reduce their standard of living, because there's a limited income they've got and that will only go so far. Ratepayers will find out exactly how much they can budget on after the council adopts the plan on Wednesday. The changes to the rating system was signalled back when the Supercity came into being, but critics say ratepayers don't know about the changes because they can be difficult to calculate. The council's said it's doing everything it can to negate the increase and that the 10% cap is going to save 125,000 ratepayers from an increase in the double digits. And it's not just homeowners but also Auckland businesses facing hefty rates rises. Figures obtained by TVNZ reveal that some businesses in central Auckland could see increases of up to 88% over the next three years ` a cause for concern for many small business owners who are already feeling the pressure of a weakened economy. It is a concern, because I know I'm gonna have a rent increase this year, so a rates increase. What else is coming up? I've just had to pay a lot of income tax. I feel like I've just been paying for the last three or four months just bills and taxes. Some of the areas where business owners are set to be hardest hit include Mt Eden, Kingsland, Sandringham and Balmoral. It's the bane of many motorists, but relief may finally be in sight. The clamping industry and government have agreed on a voluntary code of conduct, which includes a maximum fee of $200. The Consumer Affairs Minister met the heads of clamping firms in Auckland to draft a code. There are things in the code that are I think many in the industry weren't that keen on, but I think all in all we've got a good code of conduct for the industry. The voluntary code is yet to be finalised, but the minister says he will consider regulation if the industry doesn't comply. Just ahead, the new drug craze that has Sydney teenagers risking their lives. And feeling the other's pain. How a special bond between twins saved a life. 1 The jury trying the man accused of murdering Emily Longley still appears to be considering whether he is guilty of killing her. Jurors have asked the judge if they're entitled to take into account Elliot Turner's lack of action after a physical fight with Emily Longley. Turner has said he wasn't aware Emily Longley was dead until he woke his mother Anita, but that he first wrote a letter apologising to her for his actions and making plans to leave the country. There's been a massive suicide-bomb attack in Yemen. At least 40 people were killed during a rehearsal for a military parade in the capital, Sanaa. It's not known yet who carried out the attack, but Yemen is a stronghold of militants linked to Al Qaeda. Teenagers in Sydney are playing a new and potentially lethal game of Russian roulette with prescription drugs. The new fad is called a pick-and-mix pill party. Channel Nine's Dimity Clancey explains. It's the new breed of party ` pharmaceutical drugs served on a plate and eaten like lollies. LAUGHTER Friday night in Marrickville. There's the usual ` cannabis, beer, cigarettes. But it's not enough. By midnight, out comes a box of Ritalin, used for treating ADHD. CHEERING Why do you do it? From forging prescriptions to raiding their home medicine cabinets. The latest research found for every 23 young adults, at least one took prescription drugs recreationally. They admit it doesn't always end well. But they don't always know what they're taking. At a pick-and-mix party, the drugs are mixed in a bowl, turning the night into a game of Russian roulette. They think` Because it's prescribed medication, they think it's safe. Alarmingly, medical experts say more people are now dying from prescription drug abuse than heroin and cocaine combined. It is a mega, mega problem. Inside St Vincent's Hospital emergency department, Dr Gordian Fulde paints the picture. You could have a serious gastric haemorrhage just from one of these pills. There are the health side effects, and then there's the devastation when drugs claim a life. There will never be a pain as bad as losing a child. The bond between twins is sometimes described as unbreakable, but for one set of twins, it's also been life-saving. Brenton Gurney went to the doctor complaining of bad headaches, but it was his twin Craig who turned out to have a brain tumour. 38-year-old twins Craig and Brenton Gurney have always been inseparable. Since they were young, they shared a special bond, Craig often feeling Benton's pain. I had a reaction to some sort of maybe pesticide or something they were using up there, and came out in this sort of glowing rash, and Craig had been back in Sydney and had experienced the same sort of symptoms. When Brenton developed headaches, he convinced his brother to take part in a trial about emotion well-being where both would receive and MRI. Brenton's scan was clear, but Craig's showed a golf-ball-sized tumour. There's no doubt in my mind that his actions in getting involved in the study effectively saved my life. In a unique operation, Craig's tumour was removed through surgery through his nose. We had a good removal of the tumour, and the next day Craig was up and fighting fit and was ready to go home. We actually had to convince him to stay. The brothers are urging others to take part in trials run by the Australian twin registry. I guess it's like anything. You've got almost a duty or a responsibility as a twin to want to make a difference to other people's lives. Already the twin research is paying off. Researchers have uncovered new clues about what makes people resilient. What we have found is that those regions deep in the brain that are central to emotion processing are not strongly determined by genetics. They're actually a lot more strongly determined by environment. As for the brothers, doctors can't say for sure whether they have a telepathic connection, but researchers say it shows just how little we really know about how the brain works. Just ahead, we mark the passing of a music legend with a tribute to The Bee Gees' Robin Gibb. And some of our rain gauges get a few splashes, otherwise it's jerseys, sunglasses and the odd brolly. Details coming up. The Bee Gees may have been one of the greatest bands of all time, but it was Robin Gibb's voice that often stood out. The singer has died at the age of 62 after losing his long battle with cancer. Channel Nine's Peter Harvey looks back on his remarkable life. Robin Gibb was one-third of a talented band of brothers, destined to win international fame as singers and songwriters ` The Bee Gees. The Brothers Gibb ` Robin, Barry and Maurice. Phenomenal. I mean, it was such a different sound. It was a sound, in my opinion, that didn't exist. Promoter Kevin Jacobsen arranged their first recording, beginning a show business success story that would span four decades and three continents. # Stayin' alive. Stayin' alive. # The Gibb family immigrated to Australia from Britain in the late 1950s to Bayside, Brisbane, later moving to this house in Sydney's beachside Maroubra. The brothers quickly became regulars on the Australian teen TV scene. # The spicks and the specks of the girls... # They became one of the most prolific groups of all time. More than 220 million records sold. # I started a joke... # Robin's clear vibrato voice ` a hallmark of the era's pop hits. Professional success continued as songwriters. "Chain Reaction" a huge hit for Diana Ross. # Get in the middle of a chain reaction... # Sadly, the group was haunted by personal tragedy. A younger brother, Andy, died in 1988. Then Robin's twin brother, Maurice, passed away in 2003 from the same bowel condition that saw Robin admitted to hospital in London last month. He had been planning a reunion tour with older brother Barry, who is now the sole survivor. It's not a job. It's not something you retire from. It's something that you do. It's just your life. Well, it most certainly was his. Weather time now with Renee. Thanks, Greg. Looking rather nice again tomorrow for most places as a ridge of high pressure builds over the country. A low near northern NZ slowly moves away to the north-east. For weather, see tvnz.co.NZ And that's your weather. I'll see you tomorrow. That's it from us here on Tonight. And you can stay up to date by logging on to our website at tvnz.co.nz