Fog was the big weather story today, blanketing Auckland and Waikato and not wanting to budge, causing all sorts of problems for commuters and school-holidaymakers as flights were delayed or cancelled. Eastern parts of the North Island got the heavy rain, and in the deep south, it was another icy morning. Will it be the same again tomorrow? I'll have the forecast for your place shortly. 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 Bernadine Oliver-Kirby. Tonight ` travel chaos. Fog frustration at our biggest airport ` dozens of flights cancelled and thousands of passengers stranded. We're live for the latest. Preventing scenes like this ` some hope for building owners facing huge bills for earthquake-strengthening work. A tourist-bus crash leaves many injured and prompts a winter warning about the dangers of black ice. And a scientific stunner ` the God particle's finally found. We explain why it's so important. Kia ora, good evening. Thousands of air travellers remain stranded across the country tonight. And as the fog causing major disruption at our biggest airport slowly lifts, there could be more chaos tomorrow. Here's the number of flights hit at Auckland Airport ` at least 111 departures, both domestic and international have been affected. and a nearly 120 arrivals. Those figures include flights cancelled, diverted or rescheduled. For the latest, let's go live now to Joanna Hunkin at the airport. FORECASTERS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED THE FOG TO LIFT AT MIDDAY AND IT'S JUST IN THE PAST HOUR THAT IT'S STARTING ROLLING BACK IN IT'S CAUSED NEARLY 12 HOURS OF DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS INCLUDING ONE FROM BRISBANE THAT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR 8 HOURS THE WORST FOG IN 20 YEARS All packed up, but nowhere to go. PA: NZ5201 to Napier departing at 10 past 10 has been cancelled. School holiday plans going awry, as dense fog blanketed Auckland and the Waikato. We've obviously had some moisture over the past 24 hours. That saturates the atmosphere, but the one thing we've had through the course of the night as well has been clear skies, light winds, and that's the perfect recipe for the fog. More than 50 flights ` domestic and international ` were affected by the fog. Regional flights out of Auckland have been grounded most of the day, while others were subject to major delays. Passengers were disappointed. Air NZ doesn't seem to be making much of an effort to put me on an alternative flight to Wellington, hence getting me to Palmerston. It seems like a, uh, vacuum of information here. I'm not happy. But most accepted the situation with good humour. The weather's the weather, and that's the way it is. It could be a lot worse, I think. It's a long way home, and it's been a long night, but I guess we'll get there eventually. Air NZ was too busy dealing with the delays to be interviewed. It says it doesn't know how many passengers have been affected, but will be putting on more services to help clear the backlog over the coming days. For now, passengers are still waiting for clear skies, as a solid lump of fog is still stubbornly hanging about South Auckland. Jo, you've been talking to weather experts. How long's the fog expected to stick around? THE FOG HAS GONE FOR NOW BUT IT'LL BE BACK IN PATCHES ABOVE AUCKLAND AND THE WAIKATO THE WIND SHOULD HELP BREAK IT UP AND MOVE IT ON TOMROROW MORNING IF YOU'RE TRAVELLING TOMORROW, CHECK YOUR FLIGHT INFO AS THERE ARE STILL CHANCES OF DELAY Thanks, Joanna Hunkin in Auckland. There just might be a glimmer of hope for thousands of property owners around the country worried about how they'll pay for earthquake-strengthening work. ONE News has confirmed senior government ministers are now acknowledging tax incentives or some kind of grant may be needed to help owners of earthquake-prone buildings. Political editor Corin Dann has the exclusive details and joins us now live. SINCE THE CANTERBURY QUAKES, NZ'S BUILDING STOCK HAS COME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY TO ENSURE ITS UP TO THE REQUIRED BUILDING CODE. WHAT'S EMERGED NOW IS THAT THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS AREN'T UP TO STANDARD AND THE SIZE AND COST OF THE PROBLEMS IS NOW TOO BIG FOR COUNCILS AND INDIVIDUALS TO HANDLE ON THEIR OWN. In downtown Wellington, hundreds of buildings now bear yellow stickers showing they don't meet earthquake building standards. For affected apartment and office owners like Chrissy Hill, that carries a stigma, along with tens of thousands of dollars in strengthening work. You're feeling on the back foot. You're feeding like you are the baddie and you have got to do something about it, because, you know, you are responsible for everyone's safety. Local councils, police, quake safety standards and many have given owners 15 years to get up to scratch. But they acknowledge that since the Canterbury quakes, many owners aren't coping. Some of these people are under real stress. Not only are their buildings sometimes not up to standard, they're facing enormous increases in their premiums for insurance. But this is not just an issue for quake zones like Wellington and Christchurch. The Historic Places Trust estimates around 4000 heritage buildings around the country are earthquake-prone. The cost of strengthening them between $4b and $8b. So, should the government step in to help, like it did with leaky homes? The Revenue Minister and United Future Leader Peter Dunne says in his view, it should. There will have to be some government leadership in this matter, and whether that is in terms of financial assistance or whether it's in terms of some arrangements with local authorities or the property sector, I think, is yet to be determined. The Finance Minister, Bill English, is well aware of the looming earthquake-prone buildings issue, but his office says he won't consider the issue until after the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury quakes issues its finding on building standards. Still, for the likes of Chrissy Hill, just knowing that the government is at least prepared to consider lending a hand is a big step forward. So, Corin, how hopeful should property owners be that the government will come to their aid? OFFICIALS ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THIS ISSUE BEHIND THE SCENES, AND OWNERS SHOULD BE HEARTENED BY THIS. THE GOVERNMENT IS CERTAINLY WELL ACROSS THIS BUT SOME CAUTION IS REQUIRED ON DIRECT FINANCIAL INCENTIVE WHICH REVENUE MINISTER PETER DUNNE WANTS, BECAUSE WHILE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING GOVERNMENT MAY EVENTUALLY CONSIDER THE AID ISSUE, BILL ENGLISH WILL BE HARD TO CONVINCE, GIVEN THE STATE OF THE BOOKS. THIS REMAINS TO BE SEEN IN THE END, A LOT WILL HINGE ON THE CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKES ROYAL COMMISSION FINDINGS ON BUILDING STANDARDS. IF IT COMES BACJK AND SAYS THE STANDARDS NEED TO INCREASE, SHOULD IT SUGGEST WE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN WE THOUGHT, THEN GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REACH INTO ITS POCKETS. Thanks, political editor Corin Dann. The owner of a concrete-cutting company says his workers cut holes in the CTV building in the 1990s, and he wonders if this contributed to its collapse. But questioned at the royal commission hearing into the tragedy, he conceded his memories about the work are hazy. Lisa Davies has been at the inquiry. Claims today more than a hundred holes were cut into the CTV building structure back in the '90s. READS: When I heard about the collapse of the CTV building, I immediately thought about all the holes that had been drilled in the beams. Drilled into concrete and at times, through reinforcing steel, according to Daniel Munro's evidence. READS: The head contractor would tell us to cut right through the reinforcing, which we did. He owned a concrete grinding and polishing business and says between 1995 and 2000 his employees went to the CTV building numerous times. READS: All of our work was done on an 'all care, no responsibility' basis. However, counsel for the commission Mark Zarifeh queried the reliability of the evidence. < Would you accept that to rely on your memory < as to the number of holes and where they were drilled is dangerous? No. Memory is memory. Two USAR engineers studied the concrete beams closely after the building collapse. Mark Zarifeh pointed out they haven't found any holes. < They haven't seen any beams with drilled holes in them. That's not to say there aren't any. Daniel Morris was called to give evidence by lawyers for Alan Reay Consultants, the engineering firm that designed the CTV building. He told the commission he has no records to verify any of his claims. I'm not here to make things up. < No, no. I understand that. I specifically remember, and I believe it's relevant to the inquiry. An inquiry that now adjourns until next week. Lisa Davies, ONE News. A strong warning's out tonight about the dangers of black ice on the roads after a tourist-bus crash in Southland. Injured passengers were airlifted from the scene, including a nine-year-old in a serious condition. Police have been working all day to clear the road to Te Anau, near Mossburn, after the bus rolled. Joy Reid reports. This mangled mess a stark reminder of how dangerous winter roads can be. The bus has struck some treacherous road conditions ` very icy. It's lost control and spun around, overturned. The tour bus, filled with Chinese tourists, eventually collided with a power pole, injuring almost half of the 34 on board. It's been horrendous this morning ` just continuous frosts over last days, and then few showers of rain this morning just made driving conditions rather treacherous. The Worldway bus was headed for a day trip to Milford Sound, but the icy conditions meant it never made it around this bend. Instead tonight a boy (9) is in a serious condition suffering internal injuries in Dunedin Hospital. A man (55) is in Southland Hospital with chest and back pain, along with two women ` one with a fractured ankle, the other with chest, shoulder and neck injuries. The crash was witnessed by passengers on another bus travelling just in front. Suddenly, the other bus turned over. And I said` OK, we` slowly we go around. Go back and give them help. Police are now investigating the accident, and a Worldway spokesperson has told ONE News the driver was very experienced. Warning signs were in place and working. Several other crashes occurred in the same area this morning, and with more sub-zero temperatures forecast overnight, police say watch out. Joy Reid, ONE News. The V8 Supercars will roar back to Pukekohe next year at a cost of more than $10m to Auckland ratepayers. The government will also chip in for the upgrade of Pukekohe's racetrack in the five-year deal. But critics are wary and warn there is too much uncertainty. Donna-Marie Lever has the details. The tyres are finally set to be back on Auckland tar seal. Aye. This crucial vote paved the way for the V8 Supercars' return to Pukekohe. But it comes at a cost ` $10.6m over five years. There's going to be $7m of new money coming into the Auckland economy as a result of this event ` now, that's per annum, which is huge. Currently, there's not an event within our portfolio that we host annually that is delivering that level of return. Auckland will take over the event from Hamilton ` a council still paying the price of its failed $40m investment. The critical difference between the Hamilton proposal and this current proposal we've made a decision on today is that this is a sponsorship package. It's not an underwriting open-chequebook package. Council funds will be capped at $2.1m a year. If V8 Supercars have a budget blowout, it becomes their problem to deal with. There were many promises made to Hamilton retailers and Hamilton businesses that were never delivered. Five councillors voted against the move today, saying they've yet to be shown a full risk report and think it's a bad idea and bad timing. A lot of households are hurting. Rates are going up, and there just seems to be a lack of fiscal management around the political arm of this council. The deal includes a $6.6m upgrade of Pukekohe's racetrack. Government will fork out just over $2m of that as a one-off. While all major points have been agreed on by all parties, the contract itself has yet to be signed, and officials are hoping that will happen by the end of the month. And if it all gets the green light, racing will start April next year. Donna-Marie Lever, ONE News. Ewen Macdonald's family have spoken publicly for the first time since their son was found not guilty of killing Feilding farmer Scott Guy. Kerry and Marlene Macdonald say they've spoken with their son hundreds of times since his arrest, and they believe Tuesday's verdict was correct. They say they're 'totally at peace' with his assertion that he did not kill his brother-in-law. Their statement also says the trial's been 'brutal' for the Guy family and Scott's wife Kylee. And Ewen 'knows he is responsible for that, as well as the physical crimes he committed'. Ewen's parents say he has 'no words big enough to express his remorse or apologies'. It's believed he is in Manawatu Prison, awaiting his sentencing for arson and criminal damage. ONE News has discovered a surprising sequence of events in the lead up to the PSA outbreak here. A scientist says it could explain how the kiwifruit-vine-killing disease got into the country. Heather du Plessis-Allan has the details. It's possible PSA's ravage of half the country's kiwifruit vines started with a failure at the border. For it to get through is surprising. An official report released yesterday can't say how exactly PSA got here, but after some digging, ONE News has found a startling sequence of events. In mid-2009 a 4.5kg consignment of kiwifruit plants called 'anthers' arrived against import rules from China. In mid-2010, a 1kg package of pollen also arrived from China ` four months before PSA was detected. The shipments went to a pollen-importing company in Te Puke. Here's the pollen company on a map. Here's where the company's owners live. Here, across the road, PSA was first spotted in October 2010. But it's since emerged PSA was actually found at the owners' property two weeks earlier. You could say, 'Well, that's just a coincidence,' but it helps persuade the case that in actual fact it was that Chinese anther import that was the mistake. The anthers can't be tested because the pollen company discarded them ` simply threw them away in the rubbish. But the pollen from the second package has all been retrieved and tested positive for PSA. So we asked the ministry if it can rule out that import as the outbreak's cause. We don't know how PSA disease got into NZ. And after months of investigation, has the ministry traced where in China the imports originated? I can't tell you that information as I sit here, but I can check and get back to you. A surprising lack of information, given it's more than 18 months since PSA arrived in NZ. Heather du Plessis-Allan, ONE News. It's being ranked as a scientific discovery to rival those of Einstein, Newton and our own Sir Ernest Rutherford, who split the atom. Scientists say they've found the so-called 'God' particle, the glue that binds matter together to produce mass. The discovery of the Higgs Boson particle after almost 50 years of searching could explain how galaxies, planets and even human beings exist. The BBC's David Shukman reports. It's a discovery about the fabric of the universe that'll go down as one of the greatest in science. In the giant underground laboratory at Cern near Geneva, researchers have found a key to matter. In this circular tunnel, they've identified a new kind of particle, as predicted nearly 50 years ago by a British professor, Peter Higgs. Today he was in Geneva ` an emotional moment, hearing about the particle known as the Higgs-Boson. Well, I would like to add my congratulations to everybody involved in this tremendous achievement. For me, it's really an incredible thing that it's happened in my lifetime. LAUGHTER The scientists hunted for the Higgs-Boson by firing particles through the tunnel and forcing them to collide to reveal their inner workings. Ultimately, this is about a very basic quest to understand what the universe is made of, how from empty space, we get the planets and us. This involved digging into atoms deeper and deeper to reveal the incredibly small parts inside them ` so tiny, it's not clear how they had any kind of substance. And that's where the Higgs-Boson comes in ` a particle that acts like glue, giving other particles mass. For 50 years a theory, now a momentous discovery unlocking new areas of research. Stephen Hawking is among those offering praise. This is an important result and should earn Peter Higgs the Nobel Prize. I had a bet with Gordon Kane of Michigan University that the Higgs particle wouldn't be found. It seems I have just lost $100. The giant machines that did the research cost several billion pounds, and no one knows what spin-offs there might be. But when the electron and DNA were discovered, it took decades to see their massive potential. The Higgs-Boson could prove the same. So, what could this discovery mean for you? Find out from a Kiwi scientist working on the project later on Close Up, after the news hour at 7. Still to come on ONE News ` how safe are our security guards following the murder of an unpaid, untrained guard in Auckland? Truth or conspiracy theory? Could the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat have been poisoned? And the Shard in London's skyline ` Western Europe's tallest building set to become a city icon. Then at 7 ` cheerleading the sport ` how it could fund your child's education in the USA. Trade union leaders are calling for more attention to worker safety in the security industry. This comes as an Auckland security company faces legal action after the murder of a guard who was on an unpaid tryout. Charlotte Whale explains. Alone, unpaid, untrained. Union leaders say Charanpreet Dhaliwal should never have been working the night he was murdered. We think there is a problem with the attitude to health and safety amongst employers in this country that's got to be changed. Today CNE Security Ltd - the company that hired Mr Dhaliwal - denied charges that it failed to ensure his safety. It'd been contracted by Fulton Hogan to provide security for the Henderson site where Mr Dhaliwal died. There are calls for the construction giant to also face charges. Charanpreet that night was looking after their property, and they were benefiting from his labour. Helen Kelly says laws need to be put in place to ensure big companies are accountable for the actions of the businesses they hire. They clearly, with their own staff, have systems in place, and they shouldn't be able to contract out health and safety responsibility. Others say the situation is made worse by budget operators undercutting each other. Charanpreet Dhaliwal's mother's travelled from India to question CNE Security over her son's death. TRANSLATES: No one actually made contact on behalf of the company and never paid any condolence. TRANSLATES: No one actually made contact on behalf of the company and never paid any condolence. CNE Security has issued a statement saying it's a caring employer, committed to providing a safe workplace for its employees. And when Fulton Hogan was questioned over their possible responsibility for Mr Dhaliwal's death, it declined to comment. The case goes to a defended hearing in October. Charlotte Whale, ONE News. Less than two months before he's released, we can show you how one of NZ's most notorious sexual predators looks these days. Stewart Murray Wilson ` dubbed the Beast of Blenheim ` has appeared by video link at a High Court hearing in Christchurch, where the Corrections Department's applied for an extended supervision order. Mr Wilson's score indicated a high level of psychopathic traits, and that is particularly relevant when assessing risk of sexual recidivism. Corrections wants tight controls placed on Wilson beyond the normal three-year period. He'll be released from prison in September after 18 years in custody. Prime minister John Key's in Australia tonight selling NZ as an attractive investment. But Australia correspondent, Steve Marshall, who's following Mr Key, says discrimination against Kiwi expats has also come up. Steve joins us from Sydney. Steve. THIS LATEST VOTE OF CONTENTION IS A NEW AUSTRALIA LAW THAT EXCLUDES KIWIS FROM COMPENSION IF INJURED OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA THIS JUST ADDS TO THE LIST OF THINGS KIWIS ARE ALSO DENIED IT'S NOT AVAILABLE THE LIST GOES ON MEANWHILE, AUSTRALIANS LIVING IN NZ HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THESE SERVICES TO P[UT THIS TO JOHN KEY TODAY I think we've gotta put up a stronger proposition for them to stay than, you know, Australia putting up some reasons why they might not come. But, you know, I'd simply make the point that, you know, if the change can occur, that's great, but in the end, that's in the hands of the Australian government. THE BALL IS IN THE AUSTRALIAN'S COURT IT'S UNLIKELY THAT JULIA GILLARD WILL MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS AHEAD OF THE ELECTION Thanks, Australia correspondent Steve Marshall. New tests have revealed that the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat could've been poisoned. He died in 2004 from a massive brain haemorrhage after becoming violently ill. Recently his wife had his toothbrush and fur hat tested at a Swiss lab and says they came back positive for highly poisonous radioactive polonium. The Palestinian authority says Arafat's tomb will be opened so samples can be taken to verify the claim. A skyscraper touted to become one of London's most iconic sites has been finished, and its rise has been caught on time-lapse camera. The Shard ` named for its resemblance to a shard of glass ` is 310m high, the tallest building in Western Europe. It took 12 years to build and has 25 storeys of apartments, offices, restaurants and a five-star hotel. It wasn't cheap to make, though, costing around $3b. Weather time now. Are we going to have problems with fog again tomorrow, Karen? Hopefully not, but there is still some area of fog and low cloud around Auckland and Hamilton this evening. It should clear in Auckland overnight and Hamilton mid-tomorrow morning. It won't be as thick and soupy as it was today. Alexandra's fog this morning was freezing fog due to the icy minus-7-degree frost. Some heavy rain for eastern parts of the North Island over the last 24 hours. Take a look at the rain radar. See that heavy rain being pushed on to eastern parts, also north-eastern parts of the South Island. Still some rain over Northland this evening. For weather, see onenews.co.nz I'll be back with your Friday forecast and a look ahead to the weekend after sport. Coming up on ONE News ` the surprise announcement from South Korea that it will hunt down whales, but is it for science or the kitchen? And who's to blame for some of our tertiary students doing so badly in low-level courses? Tonight on Close Up ` they're accepted, she's rejected. Why are our laws ripping this family apart? EMOTIONALLY: My whole family have ended up getting residency, and I'm gonna have to go back to the UK. Plus, cheerleading ` the sport and how it could fund her university studies in the States. Close Up at 7, TV ONE. 1 NZ's joined other nations in condemning South Korea's intention to resume hunting whales in its waters. Like Japan, South Korea says it's only for scientific research. But our government's set to send a strong message of opposition at the highest level. Rebecca Edwards reports. It's a practice long despised by many Kiwis, and our government, like many times before, is condemning South Korea's plan to resume hunting whales. In those waters, there's very depleted stocks already. I mean, I think most people find the concept of killing whales abhorrent. South Korea stopped hunting whales soon after an International Whaling Commission moratorium banned it in 1986. But now it's following Japan's lead, and plans to use a loophole to resume hunting whales for scientific research. In an address to the International Whaling Commission in Panama, a South Korean delegate told participants the research is... But Greenpeace says scientific whaling is simply commercial whaling in disguise. There's no need to kill whales in order to find out more about the individuals, their biology or the populations. This can be done without harming them. ONE News wanted to interview the South Korean ambassador to NZ on this issue, but we were told it wasn't appropriate for them to comment. Our government says it hopes international reaction will be taken into account. They're looking at the issue and going through a scoping study, so we would hope that after that analysis they would see sense and not take a step down that direction. Our ambassador in Seoul is now taking up NZ's concerns directly with the south Korean government. Rebecca Edwards, ONE News. Many tertiary students are doing badly in low-level courses, according to an industry watchdog report out today. But who's to blame? Is it the students doing the bridging courses or is it the educators? Arrun Soma looks into the report. Putting pen to paper isn't so easy for some students, so they do bridging courses, like numeracy and literacy certificates, to go on to higher education. They make up a third of the tertiary sector, but a report's given the system a fail mark. We could do a huge amount better. The paper describes the completion rate for these learners as poor, saying of those it surveyed, less that 40% of students passed their course. The report says only a third of students go on to pursue a higher qualification ` a key rationale for publicly funded courses. Ako Aotearoa says half of all tertiary providers need to shape up, teach smarter and focus on student results from the day they start. We're not very good sharing good practice through the NZ system. It's too fragmented. There are too many people. The Students' Union agrees, saying education providers need to improve. Get your act together, lift your game, and that something that absolutely needs to happen. The government recently committed tens of millions of dollars to get disengaged youth into education. But what if those courses just aren't working? The Tertiary Education Minister told me he's concerned about these failures and low pass rates. He told me the government's already making changes, like incentivising providers to make sure students complete their courses. He said funding will be taken off educators who don't deliver. I see it as a number-one priority. An urgent priority, with thousands of students falling through the cracks. Arrun Soma, ONE News. Auckland bus services hit the brakes today as drivers rejected a proposed pay agreement. 900 drivers attended a union meeting that kept all NZ Bus vehicles off the road for much of the day, causing mass disruption to commuters. Annoying. Yeah, annoying. Inconvenient. You can't go anywhere. You know, they need to have time off to negotiate, but it's maybe better earlier in the morning, I would've thought. Negotiations will continue at the end of next week, but no disruptions to services are expected. Looking at our top stories tonight ` predictions of fog tomorrow mean travel chaos could continue into a second day. Heavy fog in Auckland blanketed the country's biggest airport, causing major disruption to flights today. Thousands of air travellers remain stranded across the country. The cost of earthquake strengthening may not have to be faced by property owners alone. There are indications from the government that they're considering tax breaks or even grants to help owners prepare their buildings. The moves depend heavily on the results of the royal inquiry into building standards. Police say less people would've been injured in a tourist-bus crash in Southland if they had been wearing seatbelts. 15 Chinese nationals were hurt near Mossburn when the bus rolled after hitting black ice. Only two of the 30 on-board were wearing seatbelts. Jenny-May with sport. New South Wales still got the blues. COOPER CRONK WAS OUTSTANDING WE GOT RIPPED OF AGAIN THOUGH! Some very sad Blues fans today, but you can't argue with seven in a row. But boy, was it a cracking game of footie. Wimbledon serves up its own master class. Roger Federer and Andy Murray put on a royal performance. And an about turn by officials gives double-amputee Oscar Pistorius his dream of running at the Olympics. Kia ora, welcome back. We're around three hours away from what can best be described as a redemption fight for Kiwi boxer Shane Cameron. He needs to beat American Monte Barrett for the WBO Asia-Pacific championship, or else he can kiss his heavyweight boxing dreams goodbye. For more let's cross live to Craig Stanaway at SkyCity. IT COULD ALL BE OVER FOR SHANE CAMERON? THIS IS A REAL REDEMPTION FIGHT MONTE BARRETT SAID 'THIS IS NOT A ROCKY MOVIE' BUT IN SOME WAYS IT IS ` A WORKING CLASS HERO AGAINST THE WORLD CHAMPION IF HE COULD BEAT THE MAN WHO SENT DAVID TUA INTEO RETIREMENT, I'D BE A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON TONIGHT. THERE'S THE CELEBRITY ELEMENT Thanks, Craig. Craig Stanaway, live from SkyCity in Auckland. Rugby league heavyweights Queensland and New South Wales slugged it out in one of the most dramatic State of Origin deciders ever. And predictably, the Maroons' seventh-straight series title was highlighted by controversy. Here's Stephen Stuart. Clever dummy running, blatant shepherding, or accidental obstruction? All three, probably. But the try to Justin Hodges stood and gave Queensland a crucial eight-point buffer just before half-time. Well, basically, I don't think you can do it. I don't think you can run behind your own man. Probably in club football it would have been a no-try, but on the night it was a try. Of course, the Maroons had a different take. Great try, wasn't it? I mean, obviously there was, um... you know, the video ump thought about the interference. Mind you, the Blues only had themselves to blame after allowing a try to concede the lead. Scores! They blew the restart, which ensured the Maroons would lead at half-time for the ninth match in a row. Robbie Farah's pinpoint kicking brought the Blues back into the game... Stuart! Stuart has scored! And then level, 20-20. ...deliberately looking to the centre. CHEERING Field-goal time. And from 40m out, Cooper Cronk wrote himself into Origin folklore. Once you get down to those single digits on the clock, anything can happen. Down to his training, his practise. He stayed back probably a half-hour last night, sorting field goals. The Blues still had time to snatch the win and the series. But junior Kiwi Ben Te'o rushed Mitchell Pierce as he went for the match-tying one-pointer. It's got the length, it's not got the direction, though. Just wanted to contribute, and it was very hard, very fast and physical, so I enjoyed it. So did Paul Gallon, despite he and his Blues being on the receiving end again. There's nothing, the referees, that cost either team the game. Like I said, it was a seriously cracking game of footy. And the Maroons's victory a fitting send-off for Petero Civoniceva. Stephen Stuart, ONE News. The reputation of first time Tour de France rider Greg Henderson has been given another boost today. Once again the Kiwi's delivered at exactly the right time to set up German teammate Andre Greipel for the sprint to the line. Here's Blair Norton. 50 riders jostling at nearly 60km/h is knife-edge stuff. That was the situation nearing the end of the 214-K stage from Abbeville to Rouen. Oh, they've gone down again. Mark Cavendish has gone down. Cavendish is in the middle of that at the moment. The world champion and the favourite for the sprint finish was dazed, confused and out of the running, clearing the way for Greg Henderson's Lotto Belisol team. The fourth man in that line is Andre Greipel. In front of him it's the Kiwi Greg Henderson. He said they other day, 'Oh, we were so close,' and he's today going to make sure he delivers his man into the ideal position. And that's just what he did, pulling off with less than 200m to ride. Can Greipel hold off Goss? Sagan is coming up over on the right. Greipel has won this. Petacchi can't go round him. Greipel, Petacchi on the line. The German with his 15th victory of the season and second career Tour de France stage win. Thank you very much, Greg Henderson. That was a sprint for 200m to go for Greg Henderson. He pulled off and let Andre Greipel get the victory. That was a well-timed acceleration. I'm just so happy to have those guys on my side and to have so strong riders lead me out, and that's what we wanted to reach, winning a stage. I'm so happy. Henderson sharing Greipel's joy, and now like Julian Dean before him, surely one of cycling's premier lead-out men. Blair Norton, ONE News. The weight of expectation is building on Scot Andy Murray after his latest performance at the Wimbledon tennis championship. He's now one win away from becoming the first British man to make the final for 74 years. The BBC's Tim Franks reports. The hard logic of a knockout tournament is that the competition tends to get tougher. And so now, facing Andy Murray, David Ferrer, a man they call ` apparently, as a compliment ` 'little beast'. Ferrer was certainly irrepressible ` that strange hybrid of panther-fast and dogged, leading to a break. APPLAUSE But then Murray unleashed himself, breaking back. CHEERING After an hour, a tiebreak, and it was Murray muzzled, his over-reliance on the drop shot making even the most composed face wince. First set to Ferrer. The second set, and Murray had to pound and pound all the way to a tiebreak. CHEERING It was tennis that made you hold your breath, not dare speak. BOTH GRUNT CHEERING After almost two and a half hours, it was one set all. The third set went with serve, until Murray remembered what he's supposed to be best at ` returning. That gave him break point, and the set 6-4. The fourth set swung back and forth to another tiebreak. And now Murray's turn to show the little beast who was the alpha male. CHEERING Next point, match point. CHEERING And so Andy Murray's is the final name to be tacked up on the semi-finals board. And yes, there's excited talk here about 'Can Andy Murray go this year one stage further or two stages further?' But let's not forget this ` this is his fourth consecutive year in the semi-finals, and that is a remarkable achievement. It was much easier work for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, both going through to the semi-finals in straight sets. Federer was sublime against Mikhail Youzhny, who tried everything against the Swiss but to no avail. At two sets down, the Russian went looking for some inspiration from the royal box. You know what I have to do? LAUGHTER Love it. Youzhny's asking the wrong box for advice. That's Andre, I think. (LAUGHS) The Andre being this one. Apparently he did have some tips, but as Youzhny said later, it was already too late. Finally in sport, it's set to become one of the most controversial events of the Olympic Games. South African runner Oscar Pistorius, the man who runs on carbon-fibre prosthetics, has been given the green light to compete in the 400m at London. Here's Mark Hathaway. The carbon-fibre-footed Oscar Pistorius is getting a feel for the London Olympic Stadium, where he'll line up against able-bodied athletes ` the first time a double amputee will compete at an Olympics. Pistorius is really flying here. He's too quick for disabled competition, and since 2008 has been clear to run against able-bodied athletes, where the 400m world record stands at 43.18 seconds. It's been there for 10 long years. Will he get it? He's done it. Pistorius recently missed the Olympic qualifying time of 45.3 by just under a quarter of a second, but South African Olympic chiefs have relaxed the rules ` a decision some will criticise, but Pistorius is used to conjecture. Sceptics argue his carbon clip-ons don't get tired. The legs are not giving me, you know, an unfair advantage. If they can prove they give me an advantage, I won't run any more. Let's get a time on him. 45.04. That's a PR. 45.04 would have placed Pistorius fifth in Beijing. But for the man who's been through so much to get the Olympics, the days of wondering what might have been are finally over. Mark Hathaway, ONE News. Thanks, Jenny-May. YOU PROMISED THAT IF THE BLUES LOST YOU'D WATCH ANNIE YOU'LL DO IT, BECAUSE YOU PROMISED After the break ` Karen says there's more fog and frost in the forecast. Next on Close Up ` they moved to NZ for a better life, but one daughter must go home for working too hard. A symbol of national pride or a walking billboard? The real price of rugby sponsorship. Plus ` could cheerleading fund your child's education in the USA? And the 'God particle' discovery. Forget the breakthrough bit. What on earth are they talking about? Close Up's here next, TV ONE. Hello again. Frosty and foggy again in southern parts of the South Island. Extensive fog over Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo and Taumarunui, with rain falling on eastern parts of the North Island. Been a fairly messy situation for a few days Complex trough of low pressure moving in from the Tasman over the North Island now, bringing in lots of moisture, hence the steady rain for northern and eastern parts of the North Island and lots of low cloud and fog. Narrow ridge over the South Island Frosty and foggy in inland areas. Cloud and drizzle pushing onto eastern areas in the onshore easterly. Western parts sheltered and fine. For weather, see onenews.co.nz That's all from me. Jim's back with you tomorrow to take you through a mostly fine weekend. No polar rodents this time. And that's ONE News for Thursday.