Due to the live nature of Tonight, we apologise for the lack of captions for some items. TONIGHT ` THREE GRIEVING FAMILIES PAY TRIBUTE TO THE KILLED KIWI SOLIDERS. A NZER IS STABBED TO DEATH IN A BAR ROOM BRAWL IN THAILAND. THE RACE TO COURT IS ON IN WHANGANUI TO STOP THE BEAST OF BLENHEIM TAKING UP RESIDENCE. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. AS THE BODIES OF THE THREE NEW ZEALANDERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN ARE BROUGHT HOME, THEIR FAMILIES HAVE PAID TRIBUTE. CORPORAL LUKE TAMATEA'S FAMILY SAY HE WAS A NATURAL LEADER WHOSE PROUDEST LEGACY IS HIS FOUR DAUGHTERS. LANCE CORPORAL JACINDA BAKER IS DESCRIBED AS FEARLESS AND PRACTICAL. SHE WAS JUST NINE DAYS AWAY FROM HER TWENTY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY. AND PRIVATE RICHARD HARRIS'S FAMILY SAY HE'S SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIGHT UP THE ROOM WITH HIS SMILE. THEY ALSO SAY PRIVATE HARRIS KNEW THE RISK OF GOING TO A WAR ZONE. HIS UNCLE SPOKE TO LISA OWEN. DEVASTATED. HI-HIS MOTHER'S DEVASTATED THAT HER... HER BABY BOY HAS ENDED UP THIS WAY. THE HARRIS FAMILY WANT YOU TO KNOW PVT RICHARD HARRIS WAS SO MANY THINGS ` A LOVER OF RUGBY AND THE ODD COLD ONE, PRONE TO MISCHIEF, A GOOD BRO AND AN ADORED NEPHEW. HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE SMILE THERE, AND HE WAS A VERY HANDSOME BOY. UM, YEAH, HE WAS CHILLED OUT. YEAH. BUT HE WAS ALSO A PROUD SOLDIER, AND HIS FAMILY RESPECT THAT. WE ALL SORT OF, UM, KNEW THAT IT WAS A DANGEROUS GAME HE WAS IN ` BEING A SOLDIER ` COS THEY HAVE TO GO OFF TO WAR. BUT, UM, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT RICHARD REALLY WANTED TO DO, AND AS A WHANAU WE HAD TO SUPPORT HIM AS BEST AS WE COULD. THE WHANAU WAS LAST TOGETHER IN THE HOKIANGA IN APRIL. RICHARD WAS BACK FROM TIMOR AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO AFGHANISTAN. THE RISKS WERE OBVIOUS, AND THEY TALKED OPENLY ABOUT THEM. THEY ALL SAID THAT ` 'HEY, RICHARD, THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, YOU KNOW?' BUT, UM, HE SAID, 'AND THAT IS WHY I TRAIN HARD,' IS TO TRY AND HELP GET THROUGH THESE` THE SITUATIONS THAT HE WOULD, UH, FIND HIMSELF IN. BUT, UM, IT WASN'T TO BE THIS TIME. THE HARRIS' KNOW TWO OTHER FAMILIES ARE HURTING AS WELL. THE WAY HE TALKED ABOUT THEM, THEY WERE LIKE HIS FAMILY AWAY FROM US. BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME, WE TOOK OVER FROM WHERE THEY LEFT OFF. RICHARD'S FATHER NEVER SAW HIM SERVE HIS COUNTRY. HE DIED WHEN HIS SON WAS 2. NOW THEY'LL BE REUNITED IN HOKIANGA. HE'LL BE BURIED RIGHT BESIDE HIS FATHER IN OUR FAMILY URUPA THERE. LISA OWEN, ONE NEWS. MEANWHILE, THE MAIN REASON OUR TROOPS CAN'T LEAVE AFGHANISTAN EARLIER HAS BEEN REVEALED, AND PLANS FOR A RUN-DOWN RUNWAY ARE PIVOTAL. BUT AS MICHAEL PARKIN REPORTS, A FINAL PUSH INTO A NEIGHBOURING PROVINCE IS STILL LIKELY. IT'S NOT MUCH OF A RUNWAY, BUT THIS DUSTY STRIP HAS BEEN THE KEY TO GETTING KIWI TROOPS INTO BAMIYAN FOR ALMOST A DECADE. NOW PLANS BY A JAPANESE AID PROGRAMME TO TAR-SEAL IT TO MAKE IT MORE TOURIST-FRIENDLY APPEAR PIVOTAL TO THE TIMING OF NZ'S WITHDRAWAL. THE JAPANESE CAME BACK TO US, I THINK, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND SAID, LOOK, IN ALL REALITY, THEY WANT TO START IN MAY, AND ON THAT BASIS, WE REALLY NEED TO LEAVE BY APRIL. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE JAPANESE PLAN INCLUDES PUTTING A TUNNEL UNDER THE RUNWAY, WHICH, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL MEAN THE MILITARY PLANES NEEDED TO HAUL GEAR HOME WILL BE TOO HEAVY TO LAND. BUT IT APPEARS KIWI TROOPS WILL LEAVE FORWARD POSITIONS IN THE VOLATILE NORTH-EASTERN CORNER OF BAMIYAN EARLIER, BEFORE THE NEW YEAR AND THE HARSH WINTER ARRIVE. THEY, BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AND THE` AND THE CONDITIONS UP THERE, ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT BEFORE THE MAIN KIWI BASE IN BAMIYAN. THE EXACT TIMING OF THAT IS A MATTER OF DEBATE. SOURCES HAVE TOLD ONE NEWS THE DEFENCE FORCE STILL PLANS ON PATROLLING IN THE NEIGHBOURING PROVINCE OF BAGHLAN, WHERE THE INSURGENTS ARE BASED, WITH THE AIM OF PUSHING THEM FURTHER BACK INTO THE BAGHLAN, GIVING KIWI TROOPS THE TIME AND SPACE TO LEAVE THE DANGEROUS BASES. BASES THESE THREE FALLEN SOLDIERS CALLED HOME SINCE APRIL. THEIR BODIES ARE EXPECTED BACK IN NZ ON THURSDAY, AND THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE WILL ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS. BUT JOHN KEY WAS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS CORPORAL TAMATEA'S FACEBOOK CRITICISM JUST DAYS EARLIER OF HIS DECISION TO MISS THE RECENT SERVICE FOR LANCE CORPORALS DURRAR AND MALONE IN FAVOUR OF WATCHING HIS SON PLAY BASEBALL IN THE US. THIS WAS A VERY BRAVE NZ SOLDIER THAT LOST HIS LIFE IN THE DEFENCE OF NZ. I HAVE HUGE RESPECT FOR HIM, AND I DON'T INTEND TO ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT` ANY COMMENTS HE MIGHT HAVE MADE. A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE THREE SOLDIERS IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. A NZ MAN HAS DIED IN THAILAND AFTER REPORTEDLY BEING STABBED IN A BAR ROOM BRAWL. MEDICS TRIED TO SAVE ROBERT HOLLICK OUTSIDE THE BAR IN THE POPULAR BEACH RESORT OF PATTAYA, BUT HE DIED ON THE WAY TO HOSPITAL. POLICE HAVE CHARGED A SWEDISH MAN, ANDREAS RINGVALL, WITH HIS MURDER, AND SAY THIS IS THE WEAPON USED TO STAB MR HOLLICK THREE TIMES. THE ACCUSED'S GIRLFRIEND INSISTS HER BOYFRIEND WASN'T TO BLAME. THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS IT'S OFFERING CONSULAR HELP TO ROBERT HOLLICK'S FAMILY, BUT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED. THE LOCALS DON'T WANT HIM, A HIGH POWERED REVIEW'S FOUND THERE ARE SERIOUS SHORT COMINGS IN HOW TEACHERS ARE SCREENED. THE REVIEW INVESTIGATED HOW A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, HENRY TE RITO MIKI, WAS ABLE TO WORK IN SIX SCHOOLS. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER JESSICA MUTCH. WHEN CHILDREN ARE DROPPED OFF AT SCHOOL, THEY ARE IN THE CARE OF TEACHERS. BUT CONVICTED CHILD SEX OFFENDER HENRY TE RITO MIKI WAS ABLE TO ADOPT 53 ALIASES, ALL IN A BID TO STOP POLICE AND THE TEACHERS COUNCIL DISCOVERING HIS CRIMINAL PAST. THIS CASE IS EXTREME DUE TO THE COMPLICATED WEB WOVEN BY HENRY TE RITO MIKI. HIS CASE PROMPTED A MINISTERIAL INQUIRY; ITS FINDINGS MADE PUBLIC TODAY. IT SHOWED THERE ARE SERIOUS FAILINGS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS WAKE-UP CALL FOR ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANOTHER CASE LIKE THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. IF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE, THAT SHOULD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING. THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE A POLICE CHECK FOR ANYONE WHO MOVES FROM A PROVISIONAL TEACHING LICENSE TO FULL REGISTRATION. SCHOOLS HIRING A TEACHER MUST BE INFORMED IF THEY CHANGE THEIR NAME, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING MAKING TEACHERS USE BIOMETRIC PHOTO IDENTIFICATION WHEN THEY SWITCH SCHOOLS. THE TEACHERS COUNCIL IS IN CHARGE OF TEACHER REGISTRATION AND ADMITS THINGS NEED TO CHANGE. THE WHOLE SYSTEM AT EACH STEP NEEDS TO MAKE SURE IT IS COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY WITH EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S THE REASON THIS PERSON WAS ABLE TO GET IN THERE. IT'S ALSO BEEN REVEALED THE SEX OFFENDER WAS ARRESTED WHILE WORKING AT A SCHOOL IN 2009, BUT THE PRINCIPAL DIDN'T PASS ON INFORMATION TO THE TEACHERS COUNCIL, SO HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP WORKING. HE WORKED AT FOUR SCHOOLS... ...AND TWO OTHER SCHOOLS WHICH STILL HAVE NAME SUPPRESSION THE MINISTER ADMITS THE SYSTEM FAILED THESE CHILDREN AND HOPES THE REFORMS WILL STOP THIS EVER HAPPENING AGAIN. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. THE LOCALS DON'T WANT HIM, HIS LAWYER SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO THERE, AND NOW THERE IS DOUBT THE HOUSE FOR A NOTORIOUS SEX OFFENDER WILL BE READY FOR HIS ARRIVAL IN WANGANUI IN 10 DAYS TIME. STUART MURRAY WILSON IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE IN A RELOCATED HOUSE THERE, BUT NEXT MONDAY THE WANGANUI COUNCIL WILL HEAD TO COURT TO TRY TO STOP THAT HAPPENING. RENEE GRAHAM HAS MORE. THE SITE OUTSIDE THE WIRE OF WANGANUI PRISON IS STILL EMPTY, AND CORRECTIONS HAS AS LITTLE AS 10 DAYS TO TURN IT INTO A HOME. CORRECTIONS PLANS TO RELOCATE THIS STATE HOUSE FOR STUART MURRAY WILSON TO RENT, BUT FIRST IT MUST GET RESOURCE AND BUILDING CONSENTS AS WELL AS INSTALL AMENITIES LIKE WATER AND POWER. WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED THE SAFETY OF WANGANUI PEOPLE. THE COUNCIL SAYS THEY HAVE NO GROUNDS TO DECLINE APPLICATIONS FOR RESOURCE AND BUILDING CONSENT. BUT STILL, CORRECTIONS FACES A TIGHT TIME FRAME TO GET THE HOUSE READY. THE WANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL HAS UNTIL NEXT WEDNESDAY TO APPROVE THE BUILDING CONSENT, AND IT HAS UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY TO DECIDE ON THE RESOURCE CONSENT. BUT WILSON COULD BE OUT AHEAD OF THE OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE NEXT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST. WITH A BUILDING CONSENT, THAT'S JUST THE START ON YOU THEN BEING ABLE TO DO THE BUILDING WORK. THERE'LL BE A SERIES OF INSPECTIONS WITH THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. CORRECTIONS DECLINED AN INTERVIEW ON WHETHER IT'LL HAVE THE HOUSE READY IN TIME. ALL OF US IN NZ WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS MAN IS GOING TO BE, BUT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TELL US. THE CONDITIONS FOR WILSON'S RELEASE FACE TWO LEGAL CHALLENGES. ONE IS A JUDICIAL REVIEW REQUESTED BY WILSON HIMSELF. THE OTHER FROM THE WANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE HEARD HERE ON MONDAY AT THE HIGH COURT IN WELLINGTON. IT'S UNDERSTOOD AUTHORITIES ARE CONFIDENT THEIR PLANS WILL STILL GO AHEAD, BUT THE PAROLE BOARD IS PREPARING FOR A FRESH HEARING SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED. RENEE GRAHAM, NEWS. THE GOVERNMENT'S FLAGSHIP ASSET SALES PROGRAMME HAS HIT MORE TROUBLE. THE FINANCE MINISTER'S CONCEDED STATE OWNED COAL MINER SOLID ENERGY ISN'T IN A GOOD ENOUGH FINANCIAL POSITION TO BE SOLD. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN EXPLAINS. A MASSIVE SLUMP IN WORLD COAL PRICES HAS HIT SOLID ENERGY HARD. ITS INCOME WAS DOWN $200M THIS FINANCIAL YEAR ALONE, AND THAT'S RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN SHARES IN THE COMPANY COULD REALISTICALLY BE SOLD. OUR PRIMARY CONCERN ISN'T SO MUCH WHERE THEY FIT IN THE ASSET SALES PROGRAMME. IT'S MAKING SURE THEY ARE A VIABLE, SUSTAINABLE TAXPAYER-OWNED COMPANY. SO REGARDLESS OF THE SALES PROGRAMME, THEY'VE GOT SOME BIG CHALLENGES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS SAID MIGHTY RIVER POWER, GENESIS AND MERIDIAN WOULD BE THE FIRST ASSETS ON THE BLOCK. SO THE GOVERNMENT HAS SOME TIME TO WORK WITH SOLID ENERGY AND TRY TO GET IT FIT FOR SALE. WHEN SOLID ENERGY WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE MARKET WILL DEPENDENT ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, NOT THE LEAST OF THEM BEING OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD GET THE BEST PRICE FOR THAT COMPANY. SOLID ENERGY'S WOES COME AMIDST LEGAL ACTION OVER MIGHTY RIVER POWER AND QUESTIONS OVER THE ABILITY TO SELL MORE AIR NZ SHARES IN TOUGH MARKET CONDITIONS. ALL UP, THAT'S THREE OF THE FIVE COMPANIES WITH SOME LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY. AND THAT'S A WORRY FOR THE GOVERNMENT AS IT'S BANKED $5B TO $7B FROM THE SALES IN ADVANCE. WELL, IT'S A CON. THEY BANKED IT. THEY'RE QUITE HAPPY TO BANK IT. JOHN KEY HAS STUFFED THE SALE PROCESS UP FROM DAY ONE. HE SHOULD TAKE ADVICE OF THE PEOPLE OF NZ AND NOT SELL. THE QUESTION NOW FOR JOHN KEY IS, WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM TO PAY FOR HIS PROMISES? BUT BILL ENGLISH SAYS HE'S ACCOUNTING FOR THE MARKET UNCERTAINTIES. NO, IT DOESN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON GETTING TO SURPLUS DIRECTLY. THE EXTENT OF SOLID ENERGY'S FINANCIAL WOES SHOULD BECOME CLEARER LATER THIS MONTH WHEN IT RELEASES ITS ANNUAL RESULT. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. THE AUTHORITIES AND GROWERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO CONTAIN THE DEVASTATING KIWIFRUIT DISEASE PSA AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF THE FIRST CASE IN WAIKATO. AN ORCHARD NEAR TE AWAMUTU HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE INDUSTRY-CRIPPLING BACTERIA. A TWELVE-KILOMETRE PROTECTION ZONE'S BEEN SET UP AROUND THE CONTAMINATED ORCHARD. IT'S ESTIMATED PSA WILL COST THE INDUSTRY MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN WHALES POP UP OUT OF THE BLUE. FOR A GROUP OF KAYAKERS, A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A HUMPBACK WAS BOTH A THRILL AND THE FRIGHT OF THEIR LIVES. THIS FROM CHANNEL NINE'S TRACY VO. THE KAYAKERS WERE LOAFING ALONG IN THE SUN,... THE SEA BIRDS WERE DIVING FOR SARDINES,... WHEN 40 TONNES OF WHALE BURST OUT OF THE DEPTHS. SCREAMING THOSE SCREAMS ` PART FRIGHT, PART DELIGHT. THE HUMPBACK DISAPPEARED AND THEN ERUPTED OUT OF THE WATER AGAIN,... YELLING ...SENDING ANOTHER SHOCKWAVE ACROSS THIS BAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE WHALE WAS LUNGE-FISHING ` IT'S SPECTACULAR, BUT DANGEROUS FOR HUMANS. A REMINDER FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE TEMPTED NOT TO DELIBERATELY ENTER A WHALE'S PERSONAL SPACE. KEEP YOUR 100M DISTANCE FROM FEEDING WHALES OR WHALES THAT ARE BEHAVING AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IN THE SOUTHERN MIGRATION THE WHALES COME UP RIGHT BESIDE THE BOAT AND ROLL OVER AND HAVE A LOOK AT YOU. AND THERE WAS A LITTLE DELIGHT OF OUR OWN IN SYDNEY TODAY ` A BALL OF BAIT FISH JUST OUTSIDE THE BREAKERS AT NARRABEEN. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW, BIG OR SMALL,... SCREAMING THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SEE IN THE SEA. JUST AHEAD ` A WANNABE AMERICAN SENATOR CAUSES OUTRAGE WITH HIS VIEWS ON RAPE. AND WHY DRESSING HER PRE-SCHOOLER IN A PADDED BRA COULD SEE A MUM LOSE CUSTODY OF THE CHILD. DOOR SHUTS, RAUCOUS MALE LAUGHTER Yo, Donna! Sorry, Darryl. It's not Donna time; it's Mum time. Sit your drunken ass down there. Why? (LAUGHS) Why? (LAUGHS) Cos you lot are special to me. Aw. Look, I'm not saying anything till I have my lawyer present. (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) You're driving pissed too often, Darryl. Uncle Gav. Mum thinks you're dumb. Uncle Gav. Mum thinks you're dumb. No, you are! Hey! (KISSES, LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) I think you're all dumb. (LAUGHS) I think you're all dumb. Oh. Why? You need to talk to your nephews and you to your brother about you lot driving home pissed every weekend. You're no saint. You're no saint. Yeah, I know that. But we've all got to stop. Now, I've said my bit. Who wants to go next? Who wants to go next? (CHUCKLES) < This is awkward. 1 THE FAMILIES OF TWO DIVERS WHO DROWNED IN LAKE PUPUKE LAST YEAR SAY THEY HOPE LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE CORONER'S INQUEST INTO THE DEATHS OF DANIEL STONEHAM AND TYRON NORTH ENDED TODAY. JOANNA HUNKIN WAS THERE. A YEAR AFTER THE DEATH OF DANIEL STONEHAM AND TYRON NORTH, THEIR FAMILIES SAY THEY FINALLY HAVE CLOSURE. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE DIVERS, AND NICK, AND EVERYONE THAT HAS, UM, PR-PRESENTED INFORMATION TO HELP US TO GAIN THAT CLARITY AND, UM, FOR THEIR COURAGE TO GET UP AND SHARE THAT WITH US ALL. OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS, THEY'VE HEARD HOW THE MEN SET OUT ON A ROUTINE DIVE BEFORE DESCENDING TOO QUICKLY AND GETTING TRAPPED IN THICK MUD. THERE'S BEEN A FEW MISTAKES MADE, AND I HOPE THAT WE ALL JUST LEARN SOMETHING FROM IT, AND THAT, UH, MAKE IT SAFER FOR OTHER DIVERS IN THE FUTURE. BOTH FAMILIES SAY THEY'RE NOT LOOKING TO BLAME. IF, IN THE END, THE TRUTH CAN COME OUT, THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE FROM TODAY'S HEARING. PART OF THAT TRUTH ` THE MEN WERE CARRYING TOO MUCH WEIGHT FOR A FRESHWATER DIVE AND PANICKED WHEN THEY GOT INTO TROUBLE. MR NORTH AND MR STONEHAM FAILED TO ABORT THE DIVE WHEN THE CONDITIONS BECAME POOR OR CONDUCT THEIR EMERGENCY DRILLS WHEN THEY GOT INTO TROUBLE. THE POLICE DIVE SQUAD IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE MEN'S DEATHS. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CARRYING A TORCH, A DIVE KNIFE AND A WATCH. BUT THE MOST CONCERNING ISSUE WAS THEIR LACK OF EXPERIENCE. WHEN WE'RE DIVING LAKE PUPUKE AT THAT DEPTH, UH, IT'S A DEPTH TO BE RESPECTED. UM, THESE MEN WEREN'T EXPERIENCED WITH THAT KIND OF THING. DIVING REGULATIONS HAVE ALREADY CHANGED SINCE THE TRAGEDY. IT'S NOW COMPULSORY FOR ALL DIVERS TO CARRY A KNIFE. POLICE SAY AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED, THE MATTER IS NOW CLOSED. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. ONE OF AFRICA'S LONGEST-SERVING AND MOST INFLUENTIAL RULERS HAS DIED AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION ABOUT HIS HEALTH. ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI WAS 57 AND WAS BEING TREATED IN A HOSPITAL IN EUROPE. ZENAWI WAS A FORMER REBEL LEADER WHO LED ETHIOPIA FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. HE WON PRAISE FOR HIS ECONOMIC REFORMS BUT WAS INCREASINGLY CRITICISED FOR CLAMPING DOWN ON DISSENT. IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL AND PUZZLING PHENOMENON WHICH IS HUGE IN THE US BUT COULD COME CRASHING TO AN END THROUGH AN INTRIGUING COURT CASE. CHILD PAGEANTS, WHERE GIRLS ARE DRESSED IN PROVOCATIVE OUTFITS WITH TEASED HAIR, ARE BEING USED BY ONE AMERICAN DAD TO CLAIM CUSTODY OF HIS DAUGHTER. THE ABC'S LINSEY DAVIS HAS MORE. MADDY VERST'S BRIEF CAREER IS ALREADY ON HOLD. THIS PERFORMANCE ON TLC SHOW 'TODDLERS AND TIARAS' FROM WHEN SHE WAS JUST FOUR, DRESSED TO LOOK LIKE DOLLY PARTON, COULD ACTUALLY COST HER MOTHER CUSTODY. WHEN SHE WEARS THE FAKE BOOBS AND THE FAKE BUTT, IT'S JUST LIKE, IT'S AN ADDED, YOU KNOW, EXTRA BONUS. BUT NOW THAT OUTFIT, AND THE POTENTIAL SEXUALISATION OF KIDS IN THE CHILD PAGEANT WORLD, ARE BEING EXPLORED BY ANOTHER KIND OF JUDGE IN A HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS CHILD CUSTODY BATTLE. MADDY'S FATHER IS NOW FIGHTING FOR SOLE CUSTODY BECAUSE HE SAYS HIS ESTRANGED WIFE WAS SEXUALLY EXPLOITING THEIR DAUGHTER BY LETTING HER DRESS SO PROVOCATIVELY. AND THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY PLACED A BAN ON ANY PAGEANT ACTIVITY FOR MADDIE. SOME SAY IF THE FATHER WINS IT COULD SET A PRECEDENT THAT COULD PUT THESE CHILD BEAUTY PAGEANTS AT RISK. FOR THE JUDGE TO TAKE AWAY THE MOM'S RIGHT TO BE THE PRIMARY CUSTODIAN WOULD BE A VERY AGGRESSIVE MOVE, AND I THINK WOULD REVERBERATE IN OTHER CASES. MEANING IT COULD OPEN A DOOR FOR SIMILAR LAWSUITS OVER THESE PAGEANTS OR ANY CHILD ACTIVITY ONE PARENT MAY DISAGREE WITH. STACEY FITZGERALD, A CHILD PAGEANT MOM, CALLS IT 'CRAZY' THAT A MOM COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CUSTODY OVER BEAUTY PAGEANT PARTICIPATION. I FEEL LIKE IT'S A SCAPEGOAT FOR THESE FATHERS NOW TO TRY TO GET BACK AT THE MOMS. SHE CREDITS PAGEANTS WITH HELPING HER DAUGHTER PAIGE FIND HER CONFIDENCE. A DECISION IN THE VERST CUSTODY CASE IS EXPECTED AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH, WITH POTENTIALLY BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR THESE LITTLE CONTESTANTS EVERYWHERE. AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT CHILD PAGEANTS COMING HERE, LAST YEAR AN AMERICAN COMPANY BEHIND SOME OF THE MORE NOTORIUS CONTESTS HAD ITS PLANS TO HEAD TO NEW ZEALAND HALTED AFTER A STORM OF PROTEST. AN AMERICAN POLITICIAN IS FACING PRESSURE TO RESIGN AFTER MAKING CONTROVERISAL REMARKS ON THE HIGHLY-CHARGED ISSUE OF ABORTION. MISSOURI REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE TODD AKIN ARGUED AGAINST ABORTION FOR RAPE VICTIMS, CLAIMING SUCH PREGNANCIES ARE UNCOMMON IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT SEEMS TO ME, FIRST OF ALL, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM DOCTORS, THAT'S REALLY RARE. IS IF'S IS A LEGITIMATE RAPE, UH, THE FEMALE BODY HAS WAYS TO TRY TO SHUT THAT WHOLE THING DOWN. PRESIDENT OBAMA AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY WERE BOTH QUICK TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES, CALLING THE COMMENTS OFFENSIVE AND WRONG. THE US STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE HAS NO REASON TO FEAR PERSECUTION BY THE U.S. A SPOKESWOMAN DISMISSED THE AUSTRALIAN'S CLAIM THAT HIS WHISTLE-BLOWER WEBSITE WAS THE TARGET OF A U.S WITCH-HUNT. SHE ACCUSED HIM OF USING HIS ADDRESS FROM THE BALCONY OF THE ECUADORIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON TO DEFLECT ATTENTION FROM THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS HE'S FACING IN SWEDEN. HE IS MAKING ALL KINDS OF WILD ASSERTIONS ABOUT US, WHEN IN FACT HIS ISSUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER HE'S GOING TO FACE JUSTICE IN SWEDEN FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WIKILEAKS. THE SPOKESWOMAN DECLINED TO SAY WHETHER THE U.S WAS PLANNING ANY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST JULIAN ASSANGE OVER THE LEAKING OF CLASSIFIED DIPLOMATIC CABLES TWO YEARS AGO. JUST AHEAD ` MORE WORRY FOR THE WARRIORS AS THEIR COACH GETS THE CHOP. WHO'LL REPLACE BLUEY MCCLENNAN? AND I'LL BE BACK WITH MORE RAIN FOR THE SOGGY EAST COAST. THE HUNT'S ON FOR A NEW WARRIORS COACH AFTER THE SACKING OF BRIAN MCCLENNAN. LESS THAN A YEAR INTO THE JOB, MCLENNAN'S 14 DEFEATS OUT OF 22 GAMES HAS BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE CLUB TO STOMACH. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. FRONTING UP TO FAILURE ` BRIAN MCCLENNAN ACCEPTING THAT COACHES LIVE AND DIE BY THEIR RESULTS. SUNDAY'S SIXTH STRAIGHT DEFEAT SEALED HIS FATE. THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS, UM, MADE THE OUTCOME TODAY, UM, PRETTY INEVITABLE, TO BE HONEST. UH, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM. THE RESULTS HAVEN'T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT GUTS ME BECAUSE I AM NOT USED TO THIS. UH, BUT, YOU KNOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM. WHAT WENT WRONG? TOO MANY INJURIES TO TOO MANY SENIOR PLAYERS; TOO MUCH TRAVEL; AND TOO MANY CLOSE GAMES LOST. MCCLENNAN SHOULDERED THE BLAME. YEAH, I-I SIT UP THE FRONT, YOU KNOW? I-I, YOU KNOW, I-I LEAD IT. YEAH, IT COMES DOWN TO ME. IN THE END, IT WAS MCCLENNAN HIMSELF WHO POINTED TO THE REAL CONSEQUENCES OF A DIRE SEASON ` THE ROWS OF EMPTY SEATS THAT HE SAW AT THE WEEKEND. KIWIS COACH STEPHEN KEARNEY IS IN THE FRAME AS A REPLACEMENT, ALONG WITH INTERIM COACH TONY IRO, IN CHARGE FOR THE LAST TWO GAMES AND KEEN TO STAY THERE. OF COURSE, YEAH, I WILL PUT MY HAND UP. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AT THIS CLUB. UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BEST PERSON AND, UH, BUT THERE IS A TIME FRAME BECAUSE PRE-SEASON STARTS FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER. SO WE WANT THAT PERSON TO COME IN AND INFLUENCE ALL THE OTHER APPOINTMENTS. BLUEY A BIT BLUE ON HIS FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY, UH, IN ABOUT A DAY OR TWO'S TIME, DEPRESSION WILL START TO KICK IN AS IT DOES IN THESE MOMENTS, I GUESS, AND THEN, UH, I WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. BUT I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE WARRIORS AND, YOU KNOW, I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR GAME. AND WITH THAT, AN EMOTIONAL MCCLENNAN WAS GONE. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. WEATHER TIME NOW, WITH RENEE. HI EVERYONE, THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM GRADUALLY HEADS AWAY TO THE EAST DURING WEDNESDAY, BUT ROTATES RAIN BEARING TROUGH ON TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. AND THOSE TROUGHS KEEP THE RAIN GOING ON THE NORTH ISLAND EAST COAST ON WEDNESDAY. WE EXPECT THE COLD FRONT TO GRIND TO A HALT NEAR BANKS PENINSULA, THEN IN COMES THE EXPANDING RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE, CLEARING SKIES AS IT COMES. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ