DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. A TEACHER CONFESSES SEX CRIMES AGAINST STUDENTS AND LEAVES A SMALL FAR NORTH TOWN DIVIDED. THE GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN ITS PROPOSED BAN ON PRE-MIXED ALCOHOL DRINKS. AND FIND OUT WHAT THE ROYALS HAD TO SAY ABOUT HARRY'S ANTICS IN VEGAS. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. A SMALL FAR NORTH COMMUNITY STANDS DIVIDED TONIGHT AFTER THE DRAMATIC COURT APPEARANCE OF ONE OF ITS MOST TRUSTED MEMBERS. DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JAMES PARKER TEARFULLY ADMITTED DOZENS OF OFFENCES AGAINST STUDENTS AT A SMALL RURAL SCHOOL NEAR KAITAIA. HELEN CASTLES IS IN KAITAIA. IT WAS THE WORST-KEPT SECRET IN THE FAR NORTH ` A SEX OFFENDER IN THEIR MIDST FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. AND TODAY THAT OFFENDER, 37-YEAR-OLD JAMES PARKER, PLEADED GUILTY TO 49 SEX CRIMES ON BOYS UNDER 12- AND 16 YEARS OLD. < HOW DO YOU PLEAD? GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? GUILTY. THE KAITAIA DISTRICT COURT WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE WHO KNEW PARKER WELL. WORDS CAN NOT EXPRESS THE TOTAL SHAME, GUILT, REGRET AND SORROW THAT CONSUMES ME. MANY IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY BROKE DOWN IN TEARS. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME WILL KNOW... THAT I AM NOT THE MONSTER THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA PORTRAY ME TO BE. BUT I AM, HOWEVER, THE UNWILLING HOST OF A MOST TERRIBLE DISORDER. IT WAS HERE AT PAMAPURIA SCHOOL THAT JAMES PARKER MET AND GROOMED HIS VICTIMS. WE TRUSTED HIM. YOU KNOW, YOU TRUSTED HIM WITH YOUR KIDS. WITH YOUR MOKOS. AND TO KNOW` AND THEN TO FIND OUT THAT THAT'S WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING. PARKER WAS WELL KNOWN AND WELL-LIKED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE TOWN NOW DIVIDED, WITH SOME CHOOSING TO STAND BY HIM. I DON'T CONDONE THE BEHAVIOUR WHATSOEVER, BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S ONLY 37 YEARS. HE'S YOUNGER THAN MY KIDS, BUT HIS LIFE IS RUINED. HE'S MARKED. IRIS SIMEON'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WERE ALL TAUGHT BY PARKER. SHE SAYS HE WAS PART OF HER FAMILY. IF JAMIE CAME HERE TO HAVE A CUP OF TEA TOMORROW, HE COULD HAVE A CUP OF TEA. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S OFFERING TRAUMA SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL AND WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY. MEANWHILE THE SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS RESIGNED. PAMAPURIA SCHOOL HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A COMMISSIONER, AND THE PRINCIPAL HAS TAKEN LEAVE. QUESTIONS ARE NOW BEING ASKED AS TO WHY PARKER'S OFFENDING WAS ALLOWED TO CARRY FOR SO LONG. BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO TAKE ANY HINT OF THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOUR AND COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS REALLY SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATE THEM THOROUGHLY. JAMES PARKER WILL BE BACK IN THE KAITIA DISTRICT COURT FOR SENTENCING IN NOVEMBER. HELEN CASTLES, ONE NEWS. INVESTIGATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE INTO THIS MORNING'S DEADLY CRASH INVOLVING A POLICE CAR. MUM OF FOUR, LIKU ONESI, DIED ON HER WAY TO HOSPITAL AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS HAS MORE. A FAMILY MESSAGE FOR AN AUNT WHO WON'T BE COMING HOME. WE WISH WE COULD HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER DAY WITH YOU; TO SAY WE LOVE YOU AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. LIKU ONESI WAS KILLED ON HER WAY TO HER FAMILY CHURCH, WHERE SHE WORKED, WHEN THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE HER HUSBAND SIONE WAS DRIVING TURNED IN FRONT OF A SPEEDING POLICE VEHICLE. I HEARD THE BANG FIRST. THE CAVED-IN PASSENGER DOOR WAS HER SIDE OF THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE THAT A POWER POLE WAS ALSO TAKEN OUT. THIS INCIDENT IS EVERY POLICE OFFICER'S WORST NIGHTMARE. I AM SADDENED BY THE EVENTS OF TODAY. POLICE OFFICERS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY COME TO WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. WE NEVER WANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. WITNESSES SAY IT LOOKED LIKE LIKU ONESE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MOTHER OF FOUR'S HUSBAND REMAINS IN HOSPITAL. FAMILY SAY HE'S CONFUSED, AND STRUGGLING WITH THE LOSS OF HIS WIFE. THE OFFICER IN THIS CAR HAD HIS SIRENS AND LIGHTS ON AND WAS HEADING TO A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS. THE POLICE CAR WAS TRAVELLING THROUGH THIS BUSY ROAD WHEN IT CAME OFF RIGHT HERE AND SLAMMED STRAIGHT INTO THIS POLE, BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP IN THE DRIVEWAY. POLICE DON'T KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS GOING. IT'S ONLY THE SECOND FATALITY INVOLVING A POLICE CAR SINCE 1994. IN THIS CASE THE OFFICER SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, BUT IS SAID TO BE EXTREMELY DISTRESSED. THE FAMILY SAYS IT'S NOT ANGRY AND DOESN'T BLAME POLICE. IT'S GOD'S WILL. THE DISTRICT AND NZ POLICE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE INJURED MAN AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY. NEIGHBOURS HELPED CLEAR AWAY THE WRECKAGE. POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING HOW IT CAME TO THIS DEADLY MESS. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, ONE NEWS. THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY WILL BE POPPING CHAMPAGNE CORKS TONIGHT AFTER A PLAN TO BAN THE SALE OF PRE-MIXED DRINKS FROM BOTTLE STORES WAS SCRAPPED. INSTEAD, THE INDUSTRY WILL DRAW UP ITS OWN VOLUNTARY CODE ON RTDS, WIDELY BLAMED FOR FUELLING BINGE DRINKING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. THE MOVE COMES AMID A FACE-OFF BETWEEN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST BREWERIES AND AUCKLAND COUNCIL. GEORGINA BALL REPORTS. THIS IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ALCOHOL REFORM BILL IS SUPPOSED TO TACKLE ` OUT OF CONTROL BINGE DRINKING. BUT NOW IT'S BACKED OUT OF A PLAN TO BAN THE SALE OF PRE-MIXED DRINKS OR RTDS WITH MORE THAN 6% ALCOHOL AT OFF-LICENCES. THE BILL WILL INSTEAD LET THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY DRAW UP ITS OWN CODE FOR RTDS. IN OTHER CHANGES ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNMENT, PEOPLE UNDER 18 WILL HAVE TO GET THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF THEIR CAREGIVERS IF THEY WISH TO DRINK, AND TOUGH RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING PLACED ON SUPERMARKET ALCOHOL DISPLAYS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS ONE OF OUR BREWING GIANTS BATTLES AUCKLAND COUNCIL OVER ITS CLAMPDOWN ON THE SALE OF SINGLE BEERS AND RTDS AT INNER-CITY LIQUOR OUTLETS. SO FAR 69 OUT OF 80 OFF-LICENCE OUTLETS HAVE STOPPED SINGLE SALES, AND THE MAYOR SAYS THAT'S MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE. A FIVE-FOLD REDUCTION IN LIQUOR-LICENCE BAN BREACHES. BUT LION BREWERIES SAYS THE COUNCIL'S TAKEN THE LAW INTO ITS OWN HANDS. ONE NEWS HAS OBTAINED THIS LETTER SENT BY LION TO BOTH THE MINISTERS OF JUSTICE AND POLICE CALLING ON THEM TO REVIEW THE COUNCIL'S ACTIONS. THE RETAILERS, SOME HAVE BEEN THREATENED THAT IF THEY DON'T COMPLY, IT'LL BECOME A LICENSING ISSUE FOR THEM NEXT TIME THEIR LICENCE COMES UP FOR RENEWAL. IT IS NOT UNLAWFUL FOR SOMEBODY TO SELL SINGLE BOTTLES OF ALCOHOL. LABOUR SAYS LION'S FRIGHTENED OF FURTHER RESTRICTIONS IN THE NATIONWIDE ALCOHOL REFORM. IT DOES SMACK OF DESPERATION. I MEAN, WHY GO TO THE MINISTER WHEN YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL? LION SAYS RETAILERS WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION IF THE COUNCIL REVOKES ANY LIQUOR LICENCES BECAUSE OF SINGLE-SERVE SALES. GEORGINA BALL, ONE NEWS. TOBACCO GIANT BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO HAS LAUNCHED A BIG MEDIA CAMPAIGN AIMED AT HALTING PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE PLAIN PACKAGING FOR CIGARETTES. THE COMPANY'S ARGUING PLAIN PACKAGING WILL LOSE IT MILLIONS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. JOANNA HUNKIN EXPLAINS. THEY CLAIM THEY'RE STANDING UP FOR INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE, AND NOT JUST THEIR OWN. THIS ISSUE GOES FAR WIDER THAN TOBACCO. IT POTENTIALLY IMPACTS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE. IT, UM, DIMINISHES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR BRAND OWNERS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES. BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO HAS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAIN PACKAGING PROPOSAL JUST A WEEK AFTER CIGARETTE COMPANIES LOST A SIMILAR FIGHT IN AUSTRALIA. IT SAYS THE MOVE WILL FOSTER A TOBACCO BLACK MARKET AND MAKE CIGARETTES CHEAPER. WE CURRENTLY DIFFERENTIATE OUR PRODUCT THROUGH BRAND. IF WE CAN'T USE BRAND, THEN WE'LL BE FORCED TO USE` TO HAVE GREATER EMPHASIS ON PRICE. BUT ANTI-SMOKING GROUPS SAY THAT'S RUBBISH. THIS IS ALL ABOUT BAT'S BOTTOM LINE. IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONCERNS AROUND OTHER BUSINESSES, AROUND NZ EXPORTS. IT'S ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THEIR SHAREHOLDERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW GETTING RID OF THEIR BRANDING GETS RID OF THEIR ABILITY TO MARKET THEIR PRODUCT, PARTICULARLY TO NEW SMOKERS. OOH, I LIKE THIS ONE! THERE ARE ALREADY STRICT REGULATIONS AROUND TOBACCO ADVERTISING AND BRANDING. JUST LAST MONTH, THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED A RETAIL DISPLAY BAN, ORDERING SHOPS TO HIDE THEIR CIGARETTES BEHIND SCREENS LIKE THIS. EXPERTS SAY BRANDING IS STILL A POWERFUL MOTIVATOR. WHEN THE CONSUMER HOLDS THE BRAND IN THEIR HAND, IT'S STILL CREATING A MESSAGE. AND SO EVEN IF IT'S IN THEIR POCKET, THEY PULL OUT THAT PRODUCT, THEY PUT IT ON A TABLE, IT'S STILL COMMUNICATING. A LINE OF COMMUNICATION BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO'S WILLING TO PAY BIG BUCKS TO KEEP OPEN. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. AND TASMANIA COULD BE THE FIRST GOVERNING AUTHORITY IN THE WORLD TO BAN THE SALE OF CIGARETTES. THE STATE'S PARLIAMENT IS PUSHING FOR A NEW LAW TO STOP ANYONE BORN AFTER THE YEAR 2000 FROM BUYING TOBACCO. CRITICS CLAIM TASMANIA WILL BE TURNED INTO A NANNY STATE, ALTHOUGH CURRENT SMOKERS WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR HABBIT. TASMANIA HAS THE HIGHEST SMOKING RATE IN AUSTRALIA. TAME ITI'S LAWYER SAYS THAT WHATEVER THE MAORI ACTIVIST WAS DOING IN MILITARY-STYLE CAMPS IN THE UREWERAS, IT WASN'T ILLEGAL. ITI IS APPEALING AGAINST HIS CONVICTION AND SENTENCE FOR FIREARMS OFFENCES. HIS LAWYER SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ITI AND HIS CO-OFFENDERS WERE DOING AT THE CAMPS FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT THEY HAD NO CRIMINAL INTENT. THERE WAS AN ATMOSPHERE OF DISCIPLINE ABOUT IT, AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AT ALL THAT PEOPLE WERE PERTURBED. THE HEARING IS SET DOWN FOR TWO DAYS, BUT A DECISION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE MUCH LONGER. THE PRICE OF PETROL'S HIT A RECORD HIGH, AND THAT'S NOT ALL YOU COULD BE PAYING MORE FOR. FREIGHT AND COURIER COMPANIES SAY IT'LL MEAN THE COST OF GROCERIES AND ELECTRONICS WILL SOON RISE. RENEE GRAHAM HAS THE DETAILS. MOTORISTS SHAKING OUT EVERY LAST DROP OF FUEL FOLLOWING A 3C JUMP IN THE COST OF '91 OCTANE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST PRICE NZ'S EVER SEEN. FOR THIS WELLINGTON TAXI DRIVER, IT'S TOUGH. IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. (LAUGHS) Z WAS THE FIRST TO MAKE THE HIKE, FOLLOWED BY SOME BP AND CALTEX STATIONS. Z SAYS THE MARKET'S EXTREMELY VOLATILE DUE TO A FLUCTUATING EXCHANGE RATE, CONCERNS ABOUT CONFLICT OR SUPPLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, EUROPE AND THE US. THE STOCK OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE HELD IN TANKER IS AT A FIVE-YEAR LOW. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF THERE'S A DISRUPTION IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN, THERE'S VERY LITTLE BUFFER. IN 2012, PETROL STARTED OUT AT 207C A LITRE, THEN JUMPED TO 219C IN MARCH. THEN IT FELL BACK TO 197C IN JULY, WHICH WAS THE LOWEST PRICE SINCE JANUARY LAST YEAR. NOW IT'S SHOT UP TO MORE THAN $2.22 A LITRE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'VE RISEN BY 10% IN LESS THAN A SEVEN-WEEK PERIOD. THE ROAD TRANSPORT FORUM, WHICH REPRESENTS FREIGHT AND DIESEL MOTORISTS, WARNS THE PAIN IS GOING TO OCCUR WELL BEYOND THE PUMP. BETWEEN 12% AND 15% OF THE RETAIL PRICE OF ALL GOODS IS THE ROAD FREIGHT COMPONENT, WHETHER IT'S YOUR PACKET OF WEETBIX OR YOUR FLAT-SCREEN TV. Z SAYS WHEN PRICES GO ABOVE $2 A LITRE, THERE'S A 5% DROP IN THEIR SALES. IT'S VERY TOUGH. IT'S JUST SO MUCH COSTLIER, AND IT'S JUST TOO MUCH OVERHEADS. WHEN HIS INCOME DEPENDS ON BEING BEHIND THE WHEEL, LESS THE COST OF FUEL. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED STATE HOUSE TENANTS HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT FOR LYING TO HOUSING NZ ABOUT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. THE GOVERNMENT'S TOUTING IT AS A VICTORY BUT THE OPPOSITION SAYS IT DESERVES SOME CREDIT. POLITICAL REPORTER JESSICA MUTCH EXPLAINS. STATE HOUSING IS MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD ACCOMMODATION. BUT IT'S BEEN REVEALED MORE THAN 312 TENANTS HAVE BEEN RIPPING OFF THE SYSTEM, CLAIMING TAXPAYER-SUBSIDISED RENT WHEN THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR IT. IT'S 312 HOUSES NOW FREED UP FOR THOSE WHO GENUINELY NEED THEM. HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO BROKE THE RULES. TWO AUCKLAND TENANTS WERE RUNNING AN INTERNET BUSINESS FROM THEIR STATE HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS. THE BUSINESS WAS BRINGING IN MORE THAN $390,000. THEIR TENANCY HAS NOW BEEN TERMINATED. HERE'S ANOTHER ONE ` A WEST AUCKLAND TENANT WAS EVICTED AND FORCED TO PAY BACK MORE THAN $75,000. HE'D FAILED TO DECLARE HIS LONG-TERM PARTNER AND HER INCOME, AND WHEN HE WENT TO BUY THE STATE HOUSE, HE WAS FOUND OUT. WE PUT THESE EXAMPLES TO THE MINISTER. IS THAT EMBARRASSING FOR YOU, AS MINISTER, THAT THIS WAS ABLE TO CARRY ON? NO. I THINK RIGHT ACROSS THE BENEFIT SYSTEM IN NZ, WE GET A MINORITY WHO TAKE THE MICKEY IN SOME CASES AND WHO DO SERIOUSLY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN OTHERS. THE REALITY IS WE'RE NOT PUTTING UP WITH IT ANY MORE. A TEAM OF HOUSING NZ INVESTIGATORS HAVE UNCOVERED MORE THAN 300 TENANCY FRAUDS THIS YEAR, 241 LAST YEAR AND 114 IN 2010. ANNETTE KING SAYS THE MINISTER SHOULD BE GIVING CREDIT TO LABOUR BECAUSE THEY SET UP THE INVESTIGATION TEAM. I'M PLEASED THEY'RE PICKING UP PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFRAUDING THE SYSTEM. IT'S NOT RIGHT. SENTENCES FOR CONVICTIONS INCLUDE PRISON TIME, HOME DETENTION AND COMMUNITY WORK. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. JUST WHEN IT SEEMED HE'D PACKED IN HIS PLAYBOY LIFESTYLE, PRINCE HARRY HAS AGAIN EMBARRASSED THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR. PHOTOS HAVE EMERGED SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A NAKED PRINCE IN A LAS VEGAS HOTEL SUITE. CHANNEL NINE'S DENHAM HITCHCOCK REVEALS MORE. FROM THE FRONT... AND FROM THE REAR. WHICHEVER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, IT AIN'T PRINCE-LY. WITHOUT DOUBT, THESE ARE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PHOTOS OF PRINCE HARRY WE'VE EVER SEEN. FRIDAY NIGHT IN VEGAS, AND PRINCE HARRY WAS LETTING IT ALL HANG OUT, APPARENTLY CAUGHT PLAYING A GAME OF STRIP BILLIARDS. THE 27-YEAR-OLD'S HAD A BUSY WEEKEND, CHATTING UP GIRLS AT A VEGAS PARTY AND TAKING ON US GOLD MEDALLIST RYAN LOCHTE IN OF ALL THINGS, THE POOL. SO IT SEEMS SIN CITY HAS A NEW PLAYER IN TOWN. THIS IS THE HOTEL THAT HARRY CHECKED INTO, A $680 A NIGHT VIP SUITE. HE'S HERE FRESH FROM HIS DUTIES AS OLYMPICS AMBASSADOR, HERE FOR SOME QUIET REST AND RELAXATION. OF COURSE, HARRY'S PLAYED DIRTY BEFORE. THE DRUGS AND UNDERAGE DRINKING SCANDAL, THE PAPARAZZI PUNCH-UP, AND THE QUEEN WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE NAZI UNIFORM HE WORE TO A PARTY. BUT IT SEEMED HARRY HAD TURNED IT ALL AROUND. AN IMPRESSIVE MILITARY CAREER AND HIS FIRST ROLE AS ROYAL AMBASSADOR AND GENUINE BLOKE. AND DON'T FORGET THE CHARITY WORK, FROM AFRICA TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. BUT FOR THIS WEEKEND AT LEAST, THE PARTY PRINCE IS BACK. THESE PHOTOS DIDN'T STAY IN VEGAS, AND THIS HANGOVER WILL BE LONG AND PAINFUL. AND ANY DOUBT OVER THE VERACITY OF THE PHOTOS HAS BEEN ERASED WITH CLARENCE HOUSE VERIFYING THEY'RE REAL, BUT SAYING THAT THE YOUNG PRINCE WAS SIMPLY 'LETTING OFF STEAM.' JUST AHEAD ` A WARNING FOR PARENTS OVER THE LINK BETWEEN ANTIBIOTICS AND WEIGHT GAIN IN CHILDREN. AND THEY'RE THE UNICORNS OF THE SEA. FIND OUT WHY CLIMATE CHANGE COULD TURN THE NARWHAL INTO JUST A LEGEND. 1 ACROSS THE TASMAN, 25,000 JOBS ARE ON THE LINE AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MINING COMPANIES TAKES A BIG FINANCIAL HIT. BHP BILLITON HAS SHELVED PLANS TO BUILD THE WORLD'S LARGEST MINING PROJECT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THE COMPANY WAS FORCED TO CANCEL THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF HIGH CAPITAL COSTS AND A SLUMP IN COMMODITY PRICES WHICH CUT ITS ANNUAL NET PROFIT BY MORE THAN A THIRD. YOUNG CHILDREN SEEM TO CATCH EVERY VIRUS THAT GOES AROUND, AND ANTIBIOTICS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE. BUT A NEW STUDY HAS FOUND THAT IF GIVEN TOO SOON, THE MEDICINES CAN TRIGGER WEIGHT PROBLEMS. CHANNEL NINE'S GABRIELLA ROGERS EXPLAINS. CONCERN OVER THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS HAS CERTAINLY PUT PARENTS AND GPS ON GUARD. WHENEVER WE'RE PRESCRIBING ANTIBIOTICS, WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS. WE WOULD HAVE FAITH IN OUR GP LEADING US DOWN THE RIGHT PATH. A US STUDY INVOLVING MORE THAN 10,000 CHILDREN FOUND A LINK BETWEEN ANTIBIOTICS AND WEIGHT PROBLEMS. IT SUGGESTS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT EARLY ANTIBIOTIC USE MAY AFFECT SUBSEQUENT BODY WEIGHT. BABIES GIVEN THE DRUGS WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS WEIGHED MORE THAN THOSE WHO WEREN'T EXPOSED. THE STUDY FOUND BY THE AGE OF 3 THEY WERE 22% MORE LIKELY TO BE OVERWEIGHT. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERWEIGHT, IT'S ONLY 90 GRAMS THAT WAS SHOWN IN THIS STUDY. OUR INTESTINES CONTAIN HEALTHY BACTERIA THAT HELP ABSORB NUTRIENTS. IT'S FEARED ANTIBIOTICS KILL OFF THOSE BENEFITS. THIS NEW FINDING COMES ON TOP OF PREVIOUS REPORTS WHICH SUGGEST ANTIBIOTIC USE MAKES KIDS MORE PRONE TO DEVELOPING ECZEMA, ASTHMA, AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE. STILL, DOCTORS SAY, A CHILD'S RECOVERY FROM A BAD INFECTION IS THE PRIORITY. THEY'RE A MYSTERIOUS, RARELY SEEN CREATURE AND GLOBAL WARMING COULD MAKE THE NARWHAL EVEN MORE ELUSIVE. THEY'RE FOUND IN THE WATERS OF NORTH CANADA'S BAFFIN ISLAND. THE ABC'S LINSEY DAVIS VENTURED INTO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF 'THE UNICORN OF THE SEA.' THIS IS THE PRICE OF ADMISSION FOR A SHOT AT SEEING ONE OF THE MOST ELUSIVE CREATURES ON THE PLANET, THE NARWHAL ` THE SO-CALLED UNICORN OF THE OCEAN, WITH THAT SINGLE TUSK THAT CAN BE UP TO 10 FEET LONG. THEY'RE RUMOURED TO LIVE TO 90 AND DIVE A MILE BELOW THE SURFACE. IT'S THE STUFF OF FANTASY. THE PROBLEM IS THE ARCTIC SEA ICE IS MELTING FASTER THIS YEAR THAN ANY OTHER ON RECORD, AND IT EXPOSES THE NARWHAL TO PREDATORS, MAKING IT THE MOST VULNERABLE SPECIES IN THE ARCTIC TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THESE CRACKS ARE A STARK REMINDER OF THE REALITIES OF GLOBAL WARMING. THE ICE IS LITERALLY DISAPPEARING BENEATH OUR FEET. WELCOME TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. SO THIS IS OUR ARCTIC BASE CAMP. TOM LENNARTS IS OUR FEARLESS LEADER FROM ARCTIC KINGDOM POLAR EXPEDITIONS. WE TRAVEL TO THE EDGE OF THE ICE, AND THEN... HE'S JUST BEHIND THAT PACK OF ICE OVER THERE. AN ARCHED BACK OFF IN THE DISTANCE. WE TRY FOR A CLOSER LOOK. SUDDENLY WE HEAR SOMETHING TAKE A MASSIVE GASP FOR AIR. THERE IT IS. SEE THE WHALE RIGHT THERE? < THEY'RE ALL AROUND US NOW. BUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS THEY APPEAR, THEY'RE GONE, A LESSON IN WHY THEY'RE ONE OF THE LEAST-UNDERSTOOD CREATURES ON THE PLANET, AND WHY SOME SCIENTISTS WORRY THEY COULD DISAPPEAR BEFORE WE EVER GET A CHANCE TO KNOW THEM. THE NARWHAL'S TUSK IS ACTUALLY AN OVERGROWN TOOTH THAT GROWS THROUGH THE MAMMAL's UPPER LIP AND IT REACHES A LENGTH OF UP TO THREE METRES. JUST AHEAD IN SPORT, WE HEAR FROM THE BLUES' TWO SIRS. SO WHO'S THE BOSS ` THE NEW HEAD COACH OR THE NEW, OLD HEAD COACH? AND THE HIGH TAKES CONTROL FOR THURSDAY. THERE'S FROST AND FOG IN THE FORECAST. DETAILS AFTER THE BREAK. RUGBY'S WORST KEPT SECRET HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN AUCKLAND. FORMER ALL BLACKS COACH SIR GRAHAM HENRY WAS UNVEILED AS THE BLUES' NEW TECHNICAL ADVISER AND DEFENCE COACH. AND I'VE GOT A PASSION FOR IT. LOVE THE GAME, AND LOVE COACHING, AND THE INVOLVEMENT KEEPS ME YOUNG. HENRY'S LAST ROLE WITH THE BLUES WAS BACK IN 2003, WHEN HE WAS ALSO TECHNICAL ADVISOR. THE BLUES WON THE SUPER CHAMPIONSHIP THAT SEASON. AND JUST BEFORE WE GO THE WEATHER, SOME GOOD NEWS FOR OUR YOUNG FOOTBALL FERNS. THEY'RE 2-1 UP AGAINST THE HOSTS OF THE UNDER 20'S WORLD CUP, JAPAN. what a ball! it's 2! WEATHER TIME NOW WITH RENEE. HI EVERYONE, THE HIGH OVER THE NORTH TASMAN DOESN'T MOVE VERY MUCH, BUT THE HIGH TO THE SOUTH MOVES EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TOMORROW. TWO TROUGHS PUSH AROUND THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S YOUR WEATHER, SEE YOU TOMORROW. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. Captions by Hugo Snell and Sam Bradford.