TONIGHT ` SHEARER GETS THE BACKING; CUNLIFFE GETS THE BACKBENCHES. THE BATTLE OF THE TWO DAVIDS COMES TO A HEAD. THE PRIME MINISTER RUBS SHOULDERS WITH BARACK OBAMA AND OTHER WORLD LEADERS TO HAMMER OUT A TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP DEAL. AND A SOUR NOTE AHEAD OF THE HOBBIT PREMIERE, WITH ANIMAL ACTIVISTS PLANNING A PROTEST. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. THE BLOODLETTING'S OVER FOR NOW, AND DAVID SHEARER HAS REASSERTED HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE LABOUR PARTY, FOR NOW. HE WAS GIVEN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AT AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF MPS IN WELLINGTON. AFTERWARDS MR SHEARER MOVED QUICKLY, IMMEDIATELY DEMOTING HIS RIVAL DAVID CUNLIFFE. DANIELLE STANBURY REPORTS. DAVID SHEARER CAME OUT FIRING AFTER SEEING OFF HIS CHALLENGER, DAVID CUNLIFFE. HE HAS BEEN UNDERMINING MY LEADERSHIP; HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ENDORSE MY LEADERSHIP; HE HAS SOUGHT TO FURTHER HIS OWN AMBITIONS; AND ALL OF THAT TOGETHER IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE LABOUR LEADER CALLED THE URGENT MEETING AFTER HIS RIVAL REFUSED TO PUBLICALLY SUPPORT HIM AT LABOUR'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AT THE WEEKEND. < WILL YOU CONTEST THE LEADERSHIP IN FEBRUARY? THAT IS NOT A MATTER FOR THIS CONFERENCE. THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE, NOT A LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. < THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION, THOUGH. < WILL YOU CONTEST THE LEADERSHIP IN FEBRUARY? I'VE GIVEN THAT NO THOUGHT WHATSOEVER. THIS LACK OF LOYALTY HAS LED TO DAVID CUNLIFFE BEING BANISHED TO THE BACKBENCHES AND STRIPPED OF HIS PORTFOLIOS. AS A LEADER, THIS WAS NECESSARY ` FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. AND WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD. I WANT TO GET THIS BEHIND US. I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE ISSUES THAT NZERS ARE MOST INTERESTED IN. HIS DEFEATED RIVAL, THOUGH, IS STAYING UNCHARACTERISTICALLY QUIET. I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO COMMENT. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON TODAY? > YES. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? > I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO COMMENT. DAVID SHEARER CAN HARDLY BE SURPRISED BY DAVID CUNLIFFE'S LEADERSHIP AMBITIONS ` HE RAN AGAINST HIM LAST YEAR AND LOST. THERE ARE ALSO RUMOURS DAVID CUNLIFFE WAS DOING THE NUMBERS WHEN PHIL GOFF WAS LEADER. UNTIL NOW, DAVID CUNLIFFE HAS RISEN EFFORTLESSLY THROUGH LABOUR'S RANKS AFTER ENTERING PARLIAMENT 13 YEARS AGO. HE'S BEEN THE HEALTH MINISTER AND IMMIGRATION MINISTER AND A POPULAR MP FOR NEW LYNN, IN AUCKLAND. HE WAS ALSO THE PROTEGE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER HELEN CLARK. BUT HIS RECENT ACTIONS HAVE HALTED HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. BUT HE MAY GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY NEXT FEBRUARY, WHEN LABOUR HOLDS ANOTHER LEADERSHIP BALLOT. DANIELLE STANBURY, ONE NEWS. THE FIRST FORMAL STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO BUY MORE THAN 100 QUAKE-AFFECTED PROPERTIES IN CENTRAL CHRISTCHURCH. IF A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT CAN'T BE FOUND, THEN COMPULSORY SALES COULD FOLLOW. AS MIKE THORPE REPORTS, THAT'S MET A MIXED REACTION. THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING THE CBD BLUEPRINT A REALITY HIT MAILBOXES TODAY. THE EASTERN FRAME WILL SPAN SEVEN BLOCKS, CLEARING EVERY BUILDING IN ITS PATH ` A PROCESS THAT ONE BUILDING OWNER SAYS HE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I HAVE NO INTENTION TO SELL TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND I WOULD NOT SELL TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO ON TOP OF THAT, CERA HAVE SAID TO ME THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT NOT ACQUIRING MY PROPERTY ANYWAY. SO WHY SHOULD I FILL OUT THEIR FORMS? BUT ANOTHER PROPERTY OWNER ALSO WITH LAND IN THE FRAME SAYS IGNORING CERA IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. THERE WILL BE LAND TAKEN OFF THEM. THEY WON'T HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK, AND THEY'LL BE ARGUING FOREVER AND SPENDING A LOT ON LEGAL FEES, AND I THINK YOU CAN WASTE YOUR MONEY GOING THERE. THE POWER OF CERA IS TOO GREAT. AND THEY BEGIN FLEXING THAT MUSCLE TODAY. IF LAND OWNERS CANNOT REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THIS LETTER DESCRIBES HOW THEIR LAND CAN BE COMPULSORILY ACQUIRED. AND IF THAT OCCURS, LAND OWNERS HAVE NO RIGHT TO OBJECT OTHER THAN TO GO TO THE HIGH COURT AND SEEK A JUDICIAL REVIEW. CERA NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY ` NOT AGAINST THEM. AS POWERFUL AS CERA IS, COMPULSORY ACQUISITION STILL REQUIRES THE SIGN-OFF OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. IT'S THEN PROCLAIMED THAT WE WILL TAKE THOSE PROPERTIES. THE MINIMUM TIMEFRAME OF THE LAW IS THAT 14 DAYS LATER THEY BECOME CROWN LAND, AND THEN THE COMPENSATION ISSUE IS DEALT WITH POST THOSE 14 DAYS. AND THAT COULD LEAVE PROPERTY OWNERS TO LIKE IT OR LUMP IT. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM A LARGE SCRUB FIRE'S NOW BEING WEIGHED UP. MORE THAN 30 FIREFIGHTERS TOOK NEARLY A DAY TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE. IN THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED WAITUNA WETLANDS NEAR BLUFF. MAX BANIA HAS MORE. BATTLING TO SAVE SOME OF SOUTHLAND'S MOST PRECIOUS LAND,... THE WAITUNA WETLANDS IS A SCIENTIFIC RESERVE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, SO, YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ECOLOGICAL LOSS IN SOUTHLAND. ...RURAL FIRE CREWS AND HELICOPTERS FROM AROUND THE REGION HAVE WORKED SINCE 6 LAST NIGHT TO QUELL THE SCRUB FIRE BURNING EAST OF INVERCARGILL. THE CHALLENGES ARE THE TERRAIN, IT'S VERY BOGGY, BEING A WETLAND AND DIFFICULT UNDERFOOT; THE WATER TABLE IS QUITE HIGH, MAKING IT VERY MARSHY, AND THE WEATHER ` THE WIND IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN INFLUENCING HOW THE FIRE'S GONNA BEHAVE. ALMOST 500HA WENT UP IN SMOKE. AN INVESTIGATION IS NOW UNDERWAY. THE BURNT-OUT AREA EXTENDS FROM THE COAST TO AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE BEHIND ME. AS IT'S COME THROUGH, IT'S LEFT THIS SOOTY, SULPHURY SMELL IN THE AIR. BUT IT'S DOWN AT GROUND LEVEL THAT IS OF MOST CONCERN. YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE HAS BURNT EVERYTHING OUT, RIGHT DOWN TO THE ROOT LEVEL, AND CONSERVATIONISTS ARE WORRIED IT COULD BE 50 TO 60 YEARS BEFORE THIS FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM IS BACK ON ITS FEET. WE'VE LOST A LOT OF VEGETATION. THE MANUKA. THERE'S A LOT OF CUSHION VEGETATION, MOSS, SMALL GROUND ORCHIDS. SO THAT PART OF THE VEGETATION IS COMPLETELY HAMMERED, COMPLETELY GONE. BY LATE AFTERNOON, WEARY FIREFIGHTERS HAD ONLY TWO THINGS ON THEIR MIND. A SHOWER. (LAUGHS) MAYBE A BEER. YEAH. BUT WITH SUMMER APPROACHING, THEY'RE URGING PEOPLE TO BEWARE OF THE FIRE RISK IN RURAL AREAS. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. THERE'S A GROWING PUSH FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. IN CAIRO, EGYPT IS HOSTING TALKS BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL, AND SOME REPORTS SUGGEST THE TWO SIDES ARE CLOSE TO A DEAL. THE HEAD OF THE UN, MEANWHILE, HAS GONE TO JERUSALEM FOR TALKS WITH ISRAEL. THE ABC'S PHILIP WILLIAMS REPORTS FROM ASHKELON. BOOM! WITH DEPRESSING CONTINUITY, THE THUNDER OF WAR CONTINUED. SIREN WAILS ISRAELI JETS ATTACK TARGETS IN GAZA. A MEDIA CENTRE THAT HAD BEEN HIT ALREADY WAS BOMBED FOR A SECOND DAY. THE ISRAELIS SAID IT CONTAINED HAMAS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. FUNERALS WERE HELD FOR CHILDREN KILLED IN AN EARLIER ATTACK AS THE LIST OF DEAD AND INJURED IN GAZA CONTINUES TO GROW. SIREN WAILS DOZENS OF ROCKETS WERE FIRED AT ISRAELI CITIES LIKE ASHKELON. TIME AND AGAIN, THE SIRENS SENT PEOPLE RUNNING FOR COVER. DESPITE THE ISRAELI IRON ZONE DEFENCES, SOME ROCKETS DID GET THROUGH. ONE HIT A SCHOOL. ALARM BLARES THERE WERE ONGOING ATTEMPTS IN CAIRO TO NEGOTIATE A CEASEFIRE, BUT THERE WERE NO CLEAR BREAKTHROUGHS. THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING ON AS WE SPEAK, AND I HOPE WE WILL REACH SOMETHING SOON THAT WILL STOP THIS VIOLENCE AND COUNTER-VIOLENCE. THE EXILED LEADER OF HAMAS, KHALED MESHAAL, SAID HIS ORGANISATION WOULD NOT ACCEPT ISRAELI CEASEFIRE DEMANDS AND ACCUSED THE ISRAELIS OF STARTING THE CONFLICT BY KILLING A HAMAS MILITARY COMMANDER LAST WEEK. AS THE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE, SO TOO DOES THE MOBILISATION OF ISRAELI FORCES ALONG THE BORDER. THE THREAT OF A LAND-BASED PUSH INTO GAZA IS STILL VERY MUCH A POSSIBILITY. CERTAINLY, THE HARDWARE IS BEING TRUCKED IN JUST IN CASE. WELL, THIS IS ALL PART OF THE MOBILISATION, GETTING READY IN CASE IT'S NEEDED FOR AN INVASION, AN INCURSION INTO GAZA. 75,000 RESERVISTS HAVE BEEN PUT ON ALERT, BUT WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE ISRAELIS SERIOUSLY INTEND TO GO IN. AND MAYBE AT THIS STAGE, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT EITHER. THE PEACE TALKS CONTINUE, AS DO PREPARATIONS FOR WHAT COULD BE A FAR BLOODIER BATTLE AHEAD. JOHN KEY, BARACK OBAMA AND FIVE OTHER WORLD LEADERS HAVE FINISHED TALKS ON THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP TRADE AGREEMENT, BUT IT'S A RIVAL DEAL THAT'S DOMINATING PROCEEDINGS AT THE EAST ASIAN SUMMIT IN CAMBODIA. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN IS IN THE CAPITAL, PHNOM PENH. MORE THAN HALF OF CAMBODIA'S 14 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 21, AND THIS YOUNG GROUP IS ABOUT TO WITNESS THE BIRTH OF WHAT COULD BE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. 16 WORLD LEADERS, INCLUDING JOHN KEY, ARE IN PHNOM PENH TO OFFICIALLY LAUNCH NEGOTIATIONS ON A REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP KNOWN AS 'RCEP' THAT WOULD LIFT TARIFFS AND LIBERALISE INVESTMENT RULES ACROSS THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION AND ITS POPULATION OF MORE THAN THREE BILLION; A DEAL THAT COULD OFFER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON THE TABLE. TPP COULD BE WORTH AROUND ABOUT $2B A YEAR TO THE NZ ECONOMY ` ABOUT 1% OF GDP. RCEP, ARGUABLY, IS EVEN BIGGER THAN THAT. THE UNITED STATES ISN'T PART OF THIS DEAL, WHICH INCLUDES MOST SOUTH-EAST ASIAN NATIONS, AUSTRALIA, INDIA, CHINA, AND OF GREAT INTEREST TO NZ, JAPAN, WITH WHICH WE HAVE NO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. THE RCEP AGREEMENT IS SET TO UNTANGLE THE SO-CALLED NOODLE BOWL OF BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS ACROSS THE ASIA-PACIFIC, BUT MANY OF THOSE STRANDS LEAD BACK TO BEIJING, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE THE TALKS. AND THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP IS CERTAINLY SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS TO JOHN KEY. THE PREMIER SAID HE WANTS TO SEE MORE NZ PRODUCTS BEING SOLD INTO CHINA. BUT THIS NEW ASIAN TRADE DEAL COULD CREATE TENSION FOR NZ AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE US-LED TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS, AS CHINA ISN'T A PART OF THAT PACT. THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT CONTRAST THIS AS SOMEWHAT OF A POWER PLAY BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES. I WOULDN'T REALLY PUT IT ON THOSE TERMS. I THINK THERE ARE INTERESTS IN BOTH DIFFERENT CAMPS FOR FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME REASON. SO FOR NOW, JOHN KEY'S SUGGESTING WE JUST GO WITH THE FLOW. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS, PHNOM PENH. HUNDREDS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN WELLINGTON HAVE VOTED TO REJECT THE GOVERNMENT'S PAY OFFER. THE MEETING'S PART OF A SERIES OF TALKS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO DISCUSS THE NEW CONDITIONS OF THE TEACHERS' COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT CONTRACT. THE VOTE WENT THE SAME WAY AT ANOTHER MEETING IN HAMILTON. TEACHERS HAVE ALSO VOICED CONCERN AT THE LANGUAGE USED IN A GERMAN EXAM. THEY SAY THERE WERE SEXUAL REFERENCES IN THE TEST SAT BY MORE THAN 450 NCEA LEVEL-2 STUDENTS. THERE'S NOW BEEN AN APOLOGY FROM THE QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY, AS DANIEL FAITAUA REPORTS. ADMITTING THEY GOT IT WRONG. FOR ANYBODY WHO IS OFFENDED OR HAS BEEN OFFENDED, WE UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISE FOR THAT. THE AUTHORITY IS APOLOGISING FOR THIS SONG USED AS A LISTENING EXERCISE IN THE NCEA LEVEL-2 GERMAN PAPER. (SINGS IN GERMAN) KNOWN AS WISE GUYS, THIS GERMAN BARBERSHOP-STYLE QUINTET HAVE CASHED IN ON SUCCESS IN THE GERMAN-LANGUAGE WORLD. (SINGS IN GERMAN) BUT THE SONG FELL FLAT WITH THIS LANGUAGE TEACHER, WHO SAYS THE LYRICS CONTAINED A SEXUAL REFERENCE WHICH LEFT STUDENTS FEELING UNEASY. I CAN GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF LINES HERE IN THE GERMAN, WHICH SAYS 'YOU ARE NICER THAN MY NEIGHBOUR, BUT I ASSUME IN BED 'A RELATIVELY LARGE AMOUNT COULD BE DONE WITH YOU'. THIS TEACHER, WITH 40 YEARS' EXPERIENCE, SAYS USING A SONG RATHER THAN THE TRADITIONAL SPOKEN TEXT CAUSED STUDENTS PROBLEMS. WHAT DISAPPOINTED ME THE MOST WAS THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T HEAR IT CLEARLY IN PLACES ` NOT OVERALL, BUT IN PLACES ` AND THEREFORE, THAT STOPS YOU FROM GETTING EXCELLENCE. GERMAN IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR LANGUAGES. ITS THE NATIVE TONGUE OF NEARLY A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE. BUT EXPERTS HERE SAY THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT THE CONTROVERSY MAY PUT STUDENTS OFF FROM LEARNING IT. THE QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY ADMITS IT KNEW THE RISKS OF USING THE SONG. IT WAS RAISED AS SOMETHING THAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE CONTROVERSIAL, SO IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE EXAMINATION PANEL. THEY REFLECTED ON IT, AND THEY FELT IT WAS STILL OK TO PROCEED. AND WITH MORE LANGUAGE EXAMS PROCEEDING OVER THE COMING DAYS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WILL BE WARY OF ANY MORE EXAM SURPRISES. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` PRODUCERS OF THE HOBBIT REJECT CLAIMS ANIMALS DIED FROM MISTREATMENT DURING FILMING. THE MAN BEHIND THE COLLAR-BOMB EXTORTION GETS A HEFTY JAIL SENTENCE. AND WHY IS A SUPPORT SERVICE FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS HAVING ITS FUNDING CUT? , A WEEK OUT FROM THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FIRST HOBBIT FILM, PRODUCERS ARE DENYING CLAIMS ANIMALS DIED FROM MISTREATMENT DURING THE MAKING OF THE MOVIES. REBECCA EDWARDS HAS THE DETAILS. THIS IS THE PAUATAHANUI FARM, NORTH OF WELLINGTON, WHERE ANIMALS USED DURING FILMING FOR THE HOBBIT FILMS WERE LOOKED AFTER. BUT NOW THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT THAT CARE WASN'T UP TO STANDARD. IT'S VERY CONCERNING. I MEAN, REALLY, THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS ALLEGEDLY HURT OR KILLED IS QUITE STAGGERING. PETA SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED THREE SEPARATE REPORTS FROM ANIMAL WRANGLERS, AND CLAIMS THAT 27 ANIMALS DIED AS A RESULT OF MISTREATMENT ON THE FARM, INCLUDING THREE HORSES, A DOZEN CHICKENS, SHEEP AND GOATS. AMONG THE ALLEGATIONS, THE WRANGLERS SAY HORSES FELL DOWN BLUFFS AND CHICKENS WERE MAULED BY POORLY SUPERVISED DOGS. HOWEVER, THE RSPCA BELIEVES THE ANIMALS WERE CARED FOR. THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT WILFUL NEGLECT. IN A STATEMENT, SIR PETER JACKSON SAYS THE HOBBIT PRODUCTION TAKES ANIMAL WELFARE VERY SERIOUSLY, AND HE REJECTS ACCUSATIONS THAT 27 ANIMALS DIED BECAUSE OF MISTREATMENT. HE SAYS SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS, MADE BY WRANGLERS DISMISSED FROM THE FILM MORE THAN A YEAR AGO ARE ONLY NOW BEING BROUGHT TO THE PRODUCERS' ATTENTION, AND AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY. IF YOU KNOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND YOU DON'T TELL SOMEONE IN A TIMELY FASHION, THEN YOU'RE A PARTY TO THAT OFFENCE, IN A TIMELY FASHION, THEN YOU'RE A PARTY TO THAT OFFENCE, AND SO I THINK IT REALLY TARNISHES THE ALLEGATIONS. REALISTICALLY, THIS MOVIE IS A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PRODUCTION WHERE NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES WERE SPENT MAKING SURE ANIMALS WERE SAFE. PETA REPRESENTATIVES SAY THEY'RE NOW PLANNING TO STAGE PROTESTS AT NEXT WEEK'S HOBBIT WORLD PREMIERE. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. THE MAN WHO CHAINED A FAKE COLLAR BOMB TO A SYDNEY SCHOOLGIRL'S NECK HAS BEEN JAILED FOR 13 YEARS. THE JUDGE SAYS PAUL PETERS CAUSED MADELEINE PULVER UNIMAGINABLE TERROR. THE ABC'S KARL HOERR REPORTS. MADELEINE PULVER WAS IN COURT AS THE MAN WHO TERRORISED HER WAS DEALT HIS PUNISHMENT. FOR ME, IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE SENTENCING, BUT TO KNOW THAT HE WILL NOT REOFFEND. WEEKS BEFORE THE OFFENCE, PAUL PETERS WAS CAPTURED ON CCTV PURCHASING A BASEBALL BAT FROM A SPORTS STORE ON THE CENTRAL COAST. HE WAS ARMED WITH THE BAT AND DISGUISED WITH A RAINBOW-COLOURED BALACLAVA WHEN HE WALKED INTO THE PULVER'S MOSMAN HOME. PETERS DENIED HE WAS RESPONSIBLE WHEN INTERVIEWED BY POLICE AFTER HIS ARREST IN THE UNITED STATES. POLICEMAN: I'M GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY. I JUST TOLD YOU WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY. OK. BUT PAUL PETERS LATER PLEADED GUILTY. HE TOLD A PSYCHIATRIST HE WAS LIVING OUT A SCENE IN HIS NOVEL BY LAYING EVIDENCE TO TRAP HIMSELF, LIKE SETTING UP THE EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE EXTORTION NOTE. JUDGE PETER ZAHRA WAS UNCONVINCED, BELIEVING THIS WAS MERELY AN ATTEMPT BY PETERS TO DISTORT HIS TRUE INTENTIONS. WE FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF RELIEF. AND THE JUDGE, I THINK, MADE HIM ACCOUNTABLE TODAY FOR BEHAVIOUR WHICH IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. MADELEINE PULVER SAYS HER ORDEAL CONTINUES. IT HAS BEEN A SURPRISE TO ME THAT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN MUCH HARDER THAN LAST YEAR, BUT I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND WE ARE ALL MAKING GREAT PROGRESS. IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT FOR HER TO BE HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT SHE SAT THROUGH AND HEARD WHAT THE JUDGE HAD TO SAY. THE REMORSE SHOWN BY PAUL PETERS WAS DESCRIBED AS GUARDED AND QUALIFIED. THE SENTENCING JUDGE WAS LEFT WONDERING IF HE HAD ANY REAL INSIGHT INTO THE IMPACT OF HIS CRIME. MADELEINE PULVER SAYS SHE'S NOW LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. NEXT YEAR SHE'LL BEGIN STUDYING AT SYDNEY UNIVERSITY. A SUPPORT SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IS SET TO SLASH ITS HELPLINE HOURS AFTER A QUARTER OF ITS FUNDING WAS CUT. THOSE WORKING IN THE SECTOR SAY IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING. AMY KELLEY REPORTS. AND JUST SLOW YOUR BREATHING DOWN. THEY'RE OFTEN THE FIRST PEOPLE A RAPE OR SEX ABUSE VICTIM OPENS UP TO, TAKING CALLS DAY OR NIGHT ` ON AVERAGE, 240 A WEEK. BUT WITH FUNDING SLASHED BY 25%, SUPPORT AGENCY 'HELP' SAYS TIME'S RUNNING OUT. WE KNOW IT'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE A 24-7 TELEPHONE HELPLINE, AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HAVING TO MAKE SOME STAFF REDUNDANT. THE AGENCY WAS IN THE SAME POSITION THIS TIME LAST YEAR, BUT THE GOVERNMENT CAME UP WITH ENOUGH CASH TO KEEP ITS CRISIS LINE OPEN UNTIL JULY. NOW 'HELP' SAYS IT'S FACING A $116,000 SHORTFALL FOR NEXT YEAR. SO ARE WE LOOKING AT A TELEPHONE LINE THAT MIGHT ONLY RUN 9 TO 5? > THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S A HUGE LOSS FOR VICTIMS, SAYS NICKI TONGS. SEXUALLY ABUSED BY HER CHILDHOOD BABYSITTER, SHE USED THE HELPLINE AT ALL HOURS DURING HIS TRIAL. DURING THE NIGHT I'D WAKE UP WITH NIGHTMARES, AND I'D BE QUITE DISTRESSED AND UPSET, SO I'D BE ABLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE THAT WOULD'VE ALREADY BEEN FILLED IN ON WHAT I'D GONE THROUGH THAT DAY, AND THEY COULD JUST HELP CALM ME DOWN, AND I'D HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO IN THOSE WEE SMALL HOURS WHEN YOU REALLY NEED SOMEONE. THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE SECTOR AS A WHOLE IS STRUGGLING, WITH NO ONE MINISTRY OVERSEEING AGENCIES. 'HELP', FOR EXAMPLE, IS JUGGLED BETWEEN MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH. WHEN WE SOUGHT GOVERNMENT COMMENT FOR THIS STORY, EACH AGENCY SEEMED TO THINK THE OTHER SHOULD BE FRONTING. IN THE END, NO ONE DID. SERVICES LIKE 'HELP' ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING SIMILAR FUNDING ISSUES. SOME ARE HAVING TO REDUCE THEIR SERVICES, SOME ARE HAVING TO CUT BACK DAYS; SOME ARE EVEN LOOKING AT CLOSURE. IT'S A CAUSE FOR ALARM AT A TIME WHEN SEXUAL ABUSE IS SO MUCH IN THE SPOTLIGHT. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS JUST AHEAD ` THE SPECTACULAR STAGE SHOW BUCKING A TREND IN FALLING TICKET SALES AT THE THEATRE. THINK HORSES IN THE THEATRE, AND IMAGES OF TWO BLOKES IN A DODGY PANTOMIME COSTUME COME TO MIND. BUT THE PRODUCTION 'WAR HORSE' IS A WORLD APART FROM THAT AND IS CREDITED WITH GIVING A SHOT IN THE ARM TO A FLAGGING THEATRE SCENE. THE ABC'S ADRIAN RASCHELLA REPORTS. HORSES WHINNY YOU KNOW THESE HORSES ARE NOT REAL, BUT IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE YOU SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF. YOU INSTANTLY` HEY. YOU INSTANTLY PROJECT YOUR OWN FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND PERCEPTIONS ON TO JOEY AND TOPTHORN AND THE OTHER HORSES. SO IT'S A MATTER OF AS SOON AS YOU STEP INTO THE THEATRE, MAGIC HAPPENS, AND IT'S UNEXPLAINABLE. HEY. IT TAKES THREE PUPPETEERS TO BRING EACH HORSE TO LIFE. THE EMOTIONAL PART FOR THE HEAD, FOR INSTANCE, IS THE EARS. AND THE EARS BOTH TELL US WHERE HIS ATTENTION IS, BUT THEY ALSO TELL US ABOUT HIS STATE OF ATTENTION. SO, ACTUALLY, IF HE'S RELAXED, HIS EARS ARE FORWARD, LIKE THAT, BUT IF I START SHOUTING AT HIM AND MAKING HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE FRIGHTENED, HIS EARS GO BACK, AND HE'S IN A SORT OF FLIGHT OR FIGHT MODE, THERE. AND THE COSTUMES ARE HEAVY. HOW PHYSICALLY DEMANDING IS THIS WORK? > IT'S NOT A WALK IN THE PARK... NO. ...AT ALL. WE'VE GOTTA KEEP ALL OUR THREE MINDS JOINED TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE BEING THAT'S ONLY THINKING ONE THING, NOT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS. THE PUPPETEERS HAVE SPENT MONTHS STUDYING EVERY SOUND AND MOVE A HORSE MAKES. IF HE STAMPS HIS FEET, WE TEND TO FLINCH, BECAUSE IF A REAL HORSE BRINGS ITS FOOT DOWN, THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL. SO WE TALK TO THE ACTORS THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE HORSE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF HOW DANGEROUS A HORSE WOULD BE, ALL OF THE TIME. AND THEY NEVER BREAK CHARACTER. (LAUGHS) NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS AND CHILDREN, RIGHT? 'WAR HORSE' IS CREDITED WITH GIVING THE WEST END A MUCH NEEDED LEG-UP WHEN THE GFC HIT THE UK, AND WORLDWIDE, IT'S SOLD MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION TICKETS. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY CONOR WHITTEN AND VIRGINIA PHILP. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2012