DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. TONIGHT ` BROKEN LINES COULD BREAK THE BANK FOR SOME, WITH CHRISTCHURCH POWER COMPANY ORION TO HIKE CHARGES. A MOBILE CRACKDOWN BY POLICE WHO ARE SET TO HIT ANYONE PHONING AND DRIVING WHERE IT HURTS. AND LOVED BY MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD ` WE PAY TRIBUTE TO AUTHOR BRYCE COURTENAY. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. QUAKE-BATTERED CANTABRIANS ARE FACING ANOTHER BLOW. COUNCIL-OWNED ELECTRICITY PROVIDER ORION IS SET TO INCREASE CHARGES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF ITS QUAKE-DAMAGED NETWORK. BUT THERE'S CONCERN THOSE ALREADY STRUGGLING WILL BE HARDEST HIT. MIKE THORPE REPORTS. THE EARTHQUAKE LEFT A SHATTERED CITY AND A BROKEN ELECTRICITY NETWORK. WIRES COME OUT OF THE POLES HERE. LINESMEN WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO RECONNECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES. NOW THE COST OF THAT DAMAGE WILL BE PICKED UP BY MANY WHO ARE DOWN AND NEARLY OUT. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST SURVIVING, AND THEY DON'T NEED MUCH MORE TO TIP THEM OVER. THE $155M REPAIR AND UPGRADE EQUATES TO A MINIMUM MONTHLY POWER BILL INCREASE OF 5% FROM 2014 TO 2019, A COST SOME BELIEVE SHOULD BE MET BY GOVERNMENT. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SITS DOWN WITH ORION AND WORKS THE ISSUES THROUGH WITH THEM. I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR JUST TO ASK THE PEOPLE OF CHRISTCHURCH TO ABSORB MORE OF THE COST OF REBUILDING THE CITY. THE COUNCIL-OWNED COMPANY IS REGULATED BY THE COMMERCE COMMISSION, AND ULTIMATELY THE TOTAL BILL IS AT THE DISCRETION OF RETAILERS LIKE MERIDIAN AND CONTACT. WE DON'T CONTROL THAT IN ANY WAY. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO JUST OUTLINE OUR IMPACT, WHAT WE CONTROL. ORION SUPPLIES ALMOST 200,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES. AND THE COST OF SERVICING THEM IS INCREASING. RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THE ONE BEHIND ME MIGHT INDICATE GROWTH IN A NUMBER OF SECTORS, BUT ELECTRICITY ISN'T ONE OF THEM. WITH THOUSANDS OF HOMES DEMOLISHED IN THE RED ZONE, A NEW HOME DOESN'T ALWAYS EQUATE TO NEW CUSTOMERS. THEY'RE NOW INVITED TO SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK WITH ORION. YES, I EXPECT PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY DON'T WANT PRICES PUT UP. I RESPECT THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE TRADE-OFFS THAT PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER. AND A COLD WINTER WITHOUT HEATING ISN'T ONE OF THEM. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. BURMA'S FAMOUS PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER HAS TAKEN A SWIPE AT OUR GOVERNMENT FOR CALLING THE COUNTRY MYANMAR. AUNG SAN SUU KYI MADE THE POINT AFTER MEETING JOHN KEY IN THE BURMESE CAPITAL, NAYPYIDAW, FROM WHERE POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN SENT THIS STORY. FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, NZ HAS PAID A PRICE FOR HAVING NO DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH BURMA. EIGHT K AIRMAN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR LIE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH CEMETERY, AND THEIR GRAVES HAVE NEVER BEEN VISITED BEFORE BY A DIGNITARY FROM THEIR HOMELAND. IT'S A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF NZ TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM. FROM WARTIME FIGHTERS, IT WAS THEN ON TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST HIGH-PROFILE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNERS. AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHO IS NOW THE OPPOSITION LEADER, SPENT 15 YEARS UNDER HOUSE ARREST AT THE HANDS OF BURMA'S MILITARY JUNTA. < IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT NZ DEMOCRACY IN PARTICULAR < THAT YOU LIKE? WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE NZERS HAVE A GOOD CONTROL OVER THE GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THERE WAS ONE BONE OF CONTENTION ` THE RECENT DECISION BY JOHN KEY'S GOVERNMENT TO START CALLING THE COUNTRY MYANMAR. I HAVE MADE THE POINT THAT MYANMAR WAS IMPOSED ON THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A 'BY YOUR LEAVE' TO THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WERE NOT ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF IT. JOHN KEY'S ALSO COME HERE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN THE EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE CAPITAL CITY OF NAYPYIDAW TO MEET WITH THE GENERAL-TUNED-PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN. THE PAIR DISCUSSING A RECIPROCAL VISIT TO NZ NEXT MONTH. DID YOU QUESTION WHEN THE MILITARY MIGHT TAKE LESS OF A > ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT HERE? > WE DIDN'T DIRECTLY, BUT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD THAT THAT IS PART OF THE PROGRAMME THAT THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH. ONE NEWS WANTED TO LEARN MORE FROM THE MAN NOW LEADING DEMOCRATIC REFORM. MAY WE ASK THE PRESIDENT A QUESTION? > I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. NO, APPARENTLY. BUT THE PRESIDENT DID APPROACH THE MICROPHONES AND DELIVERED A NINE-MINUTE SPEECH ABOUT HIS GOVERNMENT'S GOALS, BUT PROVIDED NO OPENING FOR AN ACTUAL QUESTION. SO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA MAY NOT BE AS ROBUST AS IN NZ. BAND PLAYS 'GOD DEFEND NZ' NEVERTHELESS, JOHN KEY LEAVES BELIEVING BOTH NATIONS ARE BECOMING MORE ATTUNED TO EACH OTHER. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS, NAYPYIDAW. FOUR PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM ENROLLING FOREIGN STUDENTS. THAT'S BECAUSE OF CONCERNS SOME ARE BREAKING IMMIGRATION LAWS BY WORKING TOO MANY HOURS. AMY KELLEY HAS THE STORY. SCHOOLS LIKE THE AOTEAROA TERTIARY INSTITUTE SAY THEY'RE SETTING MIGRANTS UP FOR A NEW LIFE, BUT IMMIGRATION'S INVESTIGATING WHETHER THIS CAMPUS AND OTHERS ARE FACADES FOR FACILITATING ILLEGAL WORK. MANY OF THE COLLEGES HAVE QUITE LEGITIMATE REASONS TO HAVE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, SOME CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE AND THAT COLLEGES MAY BE CHANNELLING STUDENTS INTO EMPLOYMENT IN INAPPROPRIATE CONDITIONS. ATI'S OWNER RECEIVED THIS FAX LATE YESTERDAY, TELLING HER IMMIGRATION IS SUSPENDING VISA PROCESSING FOR THE SCHOOL AND SHE CAN'T ENROL ANY MORE FOREIGN STUDENTS. IT'S HUGE. OBVIOUSLY IT'S EDUCATION, BUT IT'S BUSINESS AS WELL. WE NEED STUDENTS TO RUN, BASICALLY, AND IF THERE ARE NO STUDENTS, WE CAN'T RUN. THE SUSPENSION AFFECTS FOUR PRIVATE TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS WITH CAMPUSES RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND A TOTAL OF 834 FOREIGN STUDENTS BETWEEN THEM. IMMIGRATION'S INVESTIGATING DIRECT LINKS BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS AND POTENTIALLY EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYERS, SIMILAR TO THOSE ONE NEWS EXPOSED EARLIER THIS YEAR, OFFERING BELOW THE MINIMUM WAGE. TWO OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE SITES IN TAURANGA. THEIR LINKS WITH THE LOCAL KFRUIT INDUSTRY ARE NOW UNDER SCRUTINY. BUT THE TYPES OF EMPLOYERS WHO COULD BE INVOLVED VARIES HUGELY. THEY RANGE FROM HORTICULTURE, VITICULTURE RIGHT THROUGH TO HIGH STREET STORES AND ONE-MAN BUSINESSES. IMMIGRATION'S LETTER TO ATI HIGHLIGHTS A WORKPLACE AGREEMENT, UNDER WHICH STUDENTS WORKED UP TO 40 HOURS A WEEK, BREACHING VISA CONDITIONS. IT ALSO SAYS ON TWO RECENT VISITS TO THE SCHOOL THERE WERE NO STUDENTS PRESENT. BECAUSE IT WAS THE TWO-WEEK BREAK. TWO-WEEK TRIMESTER BREAK. EDENZ COLLEGES IS ALSO DENYING ANY WRONGDOING AND SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE. THE OTHER TWO SCHOOLS WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO COMMENT TODAY. NZIS OFFICES APPEARED TO BE EMPTY. THOSE AT THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT WERE LOCKED. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS POLICE ARE PREPARING A BLITZ ON DRIVERS USING MOBILES BEHIND THE WHEEL. POLICE SAY THEY'RE NOTICING A GROWING NUMBER OF MOTORISTS BREAKING THE LAW. HELEN CASTLES HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM. THESE DRIVERS SEEM OBLIVIOUS, DESPITE THE FINE AND DEMERIT POINTS THEY FACE IF CAUGHT BY POLICE BEHIND THE WHEEL AND ON THEIR PHONES. SITTING AT THE LIGHTS. JUST HABIT, I THINK. MAINLY HABIT. SO, YEAH. THE LAW WAS BROUGHT IN 2009, YET THE NUMBER OF DRIVERS WHO ARE FLOUTING THE CELL-PHONE BAN IS ON THE RISE. WE WERE IN AUCKLAND CITY FOR ONLY 10 MINUTES THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE WE FOUND HALF A DOZEN DRIVERS USING A CELL PHONE, AND JUST 10 MINUTES ON THE STREETS WITH POLICE BEFORE AN OFFICER PULLED OVER A MAN FOR EXACTLY THE SAME REASON. THE RED VAN BACK HERE, AND THE GUY'S TEXTING ON THE PHONE. SO WE'LL JUST PULL UP NEXT TO HIM. YOU'RE USING YOUR PHONE WHILST DRIVING. I'M GOING TO WRITE YOU AN INFRINGEMENT NOTICE FOR THAT. THE COUNTRY'S NEW TRAFFIC BOSS FINDS IT FRUSTRATING. A SUCCESS MEASURE FOR ME IS LESS INFRINGEMENT NOTICES AS WE GET MORE COMPLIANCE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE WRITING MORE NOTICES. WE WANT LESS. MORE THAN 11,000 DRIVERS WERE CAUGHT BREAKING THE BAN IN THE PAST YEAR. THAT'S ALMOST 2000 MORE DRIVERS THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MANY OF THOSE IGNORING THE LAW SEEM TO BE YOUNG DRIVERS. WHEN TEENAGERS GET A TEXT, IT'S SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THEM NOT TO RESPOND TO THAT TEXT. AND IF THEY DON'T ANSWER IMMEDIATELY, THEIR MATES JUST BOMB THEM. THEY JUST INUNDATE THEM WITH TEXTS. 'WHERE ARE YA?' VODAFONE OFFERS A SOLUTION. BEFORE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY, TEXT 'DRIVE ON' TO 760 AND AN AUTOMATIC REPLY TO INCOMING MESSAGES WILL SAY 'SORRY, I'M DRIVING'. TEXT 'DRIVE OFF' TO 760 TO CANCEL THE SERVICE. OTHERWISE, GETTING CAUGHT COULD BE COSTLY - AN $80 INSTANT FINE AND 20 DEMERIT POINTS. GET CAUGHT FIVE TIMES IN TWO YEARS AND YOU COULD AUTOMATICALLY LOSE YOUR LICENCE. HELEN CASTLES, ONE NEWS. NZERS RETURNING HOME AFTER WORKING IN AUSTRALIA WILL SOON BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR RETIREMENT SAVINGS WITH THEM. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S PASSED A LAW ALLOWING SUPERANNUATION FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO KSAVER ACCOUNTS FROM NEXT JULY. UNTIL NOW, KS COULDN'T BRING THEIR SAVINGS HOME UNTIL RETIREMENT AGE. FOR A LOT OF THEM, OF COURSE, IT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR INCOME, AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH IT. UH, BUT I THINK THEY ALSO LIKE TO SEE THEIR SAVINGS SUPPORTING THE NZ ECONOMY. BILL ENGLISH SAYS MUCH OF THAT MONEY COULD BELONG TO NZERS. POLICE INVESTIGATING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A ROTORUA WOMAN HAVE FOUND A BODY IN A FOREST NEAR THE CITY. MICHELLE HOFFMAN-TAMM WENT MISSING A FORTNIGHT AGO. ANOTHER WOMAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HER, AND POLICE SAY MORE CHARGES ARE LIKELY. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. POLICE WON'T SAY WHAT LED THEM TO THIS BAY OF PLENTY FOREST WHICH GAVE UP A GRISLY SECRET AFTER JUST HALF A DAY'S SEARCHING. I CAN CONFIRM TODAY THAT AT ABOUT 2.30PM, ROTORUA POLICE LOCATED A BODY IN A FOREST AREA JUST OFF STATE HIGHWAY 38. POLICE HAVE YET TO FORMALLY IDENTIFY THE BODY BUT HAVE CONTACTED THE FAMILY OF MICHELLE HOFFMAN-TAMM. THE 51-YEAR-OLD'S DISAPPEARANCE TWO WEEKS AGO WAS OUT OF CHARACTER AND TRIGGERED THIS EMOTIONAL APPEAL ON WEDNESDAY. MICHELLE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, LOVE, PLEASE COME HOME. WE MISS YOU, WE LOVE YOU AND WE CAN'T COPE MUCH FURTHER THAN THIS. THE MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WAS LAST SEEN ON NOVEMBER THE 7TH AFTER SPENDING THE AFTERNOON DOING ODD JOBS FOR HER SISTER. ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK, SHE SAID, 'I'LL PACK UP NOW, 'BECAUSE YOU WANT TO COOK YOUR TEA.' AND I WAS HAVING MYSELF A WINE. AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED A WINE, AND SHE HAD TWO SMALL DRINKS AND THEN SAID, 'I'VE GOT TO GET HOME.' MS HOFFMAN-TAMM THEN SET OFF ON HER BIKE TO VISIT A FRIEND. IT WAS DISCOVERED AT THIS INTERSECTION MIDWAY BETWEEN HER HOME AND THE HOUSE AT THE REAR OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS UNDER GUARD, AWAITING A POLICE SEARCH. POLICE ARE NOW APPEALING FOR SIGHTINGS OF A TWO-TONE SUBARU CAR AT THE TIME OF THE DISAPPEARANCE. WE'RE LOOKING AT SIGHTINGS OF THIS VEHICLE PARTICULARLY BETWEEN THE 7TH AND 11TH OF NOVEMBER. A ROTORUA WOMAN (44) WAS GRANTED NAME SUPPRESSION IN COURT TODAY. SHE'S CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING MICHELLE HOFFMAN-TAMM, AND POLICE EXPECT TO LAY MORE CHARGES. THE IDENTITY OF THE BODY IS EXPECTED TO BE KNOWN AFTER A POST-MORTEM IS CARRIED OUT TOMORROW. NICOLE BREMNER, ONE NEWS. THE MAD BUTCHER HAS TEAMED UP WITH A DUNEDIN-BASED COMPANY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BLADDER CANCER. SIR PETER LEITCH HAD A RARE CHANCE TO MEET THE SCIENTISTS WHO'RE HELPING HIM IN HIS OWN PERSONAL BATTLE. MAX BANIA WAS THERE. NICE TO SEE YA. HOW ARE YOU GOING? ALL RIGHT? HIS CHARITY WORK HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS, BUT TODAY IT WAS SIR PETER LEITCH'S TURN TO SAY THANK YOU. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE THEY PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN MY LIFE. THEY DO THEIR TESTS AND LET ME KNOW IF IT'S CLEAR OR NOT, AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PEACE OF MIND. SO TO COME AND MEET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AFTER YOUR LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT. DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE FORM OF BLADDER CANCER THREE YEARS AGO, THE HUMBLE BUTCHER TURNED PHILANTHROPIST HAS BEEN A GUINEA PIG FOR DIAGNOSTICS COMPANY PACIFIC EDGE... NOW I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN I PEE IN THAT LITTLE JAR. ...AND ITS REVOLUTIONARY NON-INVASIVE TEST FOR THE DISEASE, KNOWN AS CXBLADDER. THE TRADITIONAL BLADDER CANCER TEST INVOLVES AN UNCOMFORTABLE VISIT TO THE UROLOGIST AND OFTEN GENERAL ANAESTHETIC. PACIFIC EDGE HOPES THEIR TEST WILL ONE DAY BE AVAILABLE ONLINE SO YOU CAN USE IT IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. WE HAVENT YET COME ACROSS A UROLOGIST WHO DOESN'T LIKE THE TECHNOLOGY, AND THEY'RE TAKING IT UP IN EVER INCREASING RATES THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA AND NZ. THE COMPANY'S OPENING A NEW LAB IN THE UNITED STATES NEXT YEAR, WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING A $100M BUSINESS BY 2018. I SHOULD BE IN THE RING, TO BE FAIR. I'M FIGHTING FIT. NO, I'M GOOD, MATE. I'LL ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES, BUT, NO, I'M FIGHTING FIT. LOT OF PEOPLE WORSE OFF THAN THE BUTCHER. HE WANTS MORE KS TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. AND WITH A 98% RELIABILITY RATE, TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS IS MAKING THAT A FAR EASIER PROSPECT. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` PEACE BREAKS OUT ON THE STREETS IN GAZA, BUT CAN THE TRUCE WITH ISRAEL LAST? AND IN HIS OWN WORDS ` THE WRITER BEHIND THE POWER OF ONE FAREWELLS HIS READERS. 1 A DEGREE OF NORMALITY MAY HAVE RETURNED FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND SOUTHERN ISRAEL AS THE CEASEFIRE CONTINUES TO HOLD. BUT THERE ARE DOUBTS ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE TRUCE, AS THE ABC'S MATT BROWN REPORTS. FREE OF THE THREAT OF ISRAELI AIR STRIKES, THE GUNMEN OF HAMAS RETURNED TO THE STREETS OF GAZA. ISRAEL KILLED SCORES OF ITS FIGHTERS, BUT AS HAMAS BURIED THE LAST TO DIE, THE GROUP CLAIMED A GREAT VICTORY. IN BOTH GAZA AND ISRAEL, THE TRUCE WAS BACKED UP BY THREATS OF MORE WAR. INTERPRETER: 'IF THEY WANT PEACE, THEY WILL GET PEACE; 'IF THEY WANT WAR, THEY WILL GET WAR.' INTERPRETER: 'THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE SET FOR THE OPERATION WERE ACHIEVED. 'I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CITIZENS WHO EXPECT AN EVEN TOUGHER RESPONSE. 'WE ARE PREPARED FOR THAT TOO.' AS GAZA'S RESIDENTS CAME OUT TO STOCK UP AFTER A WEEK OF CONFLICT, THE TERRITORY'S BATTERED ECONOMY BEGAN TO BUBBLE BACK TO LIFE. INTERPRETER: 'WHEN THERE'S WAR, 'NO ONE COMES OUT TO SHOP BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED AND STAYING AT HOME. 'NOW THAT THERE'S CALM, THEY'RE COMING OUT TO GET THE BASICS.' SINCE HAMAS SEIZED CONTROL FIVE YEARS AGO, AN ISRAELI BLOCKADE HAS DECIMATED EXPORTS AND QUASHED IMPORTS, CRIPPLING THE ECONOMY. AS PART OF THE TRUCE, ISRAEL'S PROMISED TO OPEN ITS CROSSINGS, BUT THERE'S NO DETAIL ABOUT HOW MUCH OR HOW FAST. ON GAZA'S SOUTHERN BORDER WITH EGYPT, THE TUNNELS USED TO SMUGGLE IN FOOD AND WEAPONS WERE DEALT A HEAVY BLOW BY ISRAELI AIR STRIKES. THEY LEFT HUGE CRATERS IN THE SANDY SOIL JUST A FEW HUNDRED METRES FROM THE BORDER. THE TUNNELS HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONSTANT ISRAELI COMPLAINTS, AND THEY HAVE YET AGAIN PUNCHED ENORMOUS HOLES IN THE TUNNEL NETWORK. BUT HAMAS SAYS IT WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO RE-ARM, AND DESPITE THIS KIND OF DESTRUCTION, IT SEEMS CERTAIN THE SMUGGLING WILL CONTINUE. THE ISSUE WASN'T EVEN DETAILED IN THE TRUCE AGREEMENT, AND REBUILDING THE TUNNELS IS ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY ` ANOTHER THORNY PROBLEM THAT COULD EASILY BRING THE DEAL UNDONE. A DAY AFTER WINNING PRAISE FOR BROKERING THE CEASEFIRE, EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMED MORSI IS FACING ANGER AT HOME. HE'S ISSUED A DECREE GIVING HIMSELF MORE POWER. HIS SUPPORTERS ARE DELIGHTED, SAYING IT MEANS FORMER PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK IS LIKELY TO UNDERGO A NEW TRIAL. BUT SECULAR EGYPTIANS FEAR IT'LL GIVE THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD THE POWER TO DOMINATE THE NEW EGYPT. LAST WEEK'S ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION CHANGE OF NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN CHINA HAS BEEN CLOSELY SCRUTINISED AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN HONG KONG. THE BBC'S JOHN SIMPSON SAYS THERE'S GROWING CONCERN IN THE FORMER BRITISH COLONY ABOUT CHINA'S GROWING INFLUENCE. 15 YEARS AFTER IT WAS HANDED BACK TO CHINA, HONG KONG STILL SEEMS AS BRITISH AS EVER. IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING TO REASSURE THE EXPATS. IT GIVES THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THEMSELVES THE FEELING OF BEING DIFFERENT, SPECIAL. AND THEY STILL FIRE OFF A NOON DAY GUN. I WAS HERE FOR THE HANDOVER OF HONG KONG BACK IN 1997. THE LAST CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE CONVENTION CENTRE OVER THERE. AND I MUST ADMIT, I ASSUMED, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT HONG KONG WOULD SIMPLY BECOME SUBMERGED IN THE GREATER CHINA, BUT IT HASN'T WORKED OUT LIKE THAT AT ALL. AND IN FACT, IN RECENT MONTHS, SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY'S BEEN HAPPENING HERE. DEMONSTRATORS BRANDISHED THE OLD COLONIAL FLAG, UNION JACK AND ALL, WHEN THE CHINESE PRESIDENT CAME TO VISIT. PEOPLE HERE ARE INCREASINGLY WORRIED THAT CHINA'S TRYING TO REMAKE THE PLACE IN ITS OWN IMAGE. AND WHEN CHINA TRIED TO FORCE HONG KONG SCHOOLS TO TEACH THE CHINESE VERSION OF HISTORY, SO MANY PEOPLE TURNED OUT TO PROTEST THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAD TO BACK DOWN AND WITHDRAW THE SCHEME. AN OPINION POLL HERE THE OTHER DAY SHOWED THAT ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF PEOPLE THINK OF THEMSELVES AS HONG KONGERS MORE THAN CHINESE. THERE'S REAL PRESSURE FOR MORE DEMOCRACY, WITH ELECTIONS FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE PERHAPS IN 2017. BUT WILL CHINA LIKE THAT? IT'S GOING TO BE A COLOSSAL TASK ` IT'S HOW TO MOVE TOWARDS DEMOCRACY AND ALSO APPROVED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. THE 3:30 AT SHA TIN. RACING'S ANOTHER BRITISH LEGACY ` ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHARACTERIZE THIS PLACE. SO IS CLEAN GOVERNMENT. WHEN BRITAIN HANDED OVER HONG KONG, IT HAD THE BEST AND MOST TRANSPARENT ECONOMY ON EARTH. 15 YEARS ON, THE SENSE HERE OF FREEDOM AND BEING DIFFERENT IS STRONGER THAN EVER. TRIBUTES ARE POURING IN FOR BEST-SELLING AUTHOR BRYCE COURTENAY WHO'S DIED AT THE AGE OF 79. HIS BLOCKBUSTER STORIES CAPTIVATED MILLIONS OF READERS AROUND THE WORLD. CHANNEL NINE'S MARK BURROWS LOOKS BACK ON HIS REMARKABLE CAREER. IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN THREE HOUSEHOLDS IN AUSTRALIA HAS A BRYCE COURTENAY BOOK. A MAN NEVER LOST FOR WORDS. A MONTH AGO, HE EVEN DELIVERED HIS OWN EULOGY. I'VE HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE, BUT PART OF THAT WONDERFUL LIFE HAS BEEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO PICK UP A BRYCE COURTENAY BOOK AND READ IT AND ENJOY IT. SOUTH-AFRICAN BORN, BULLIED GROWING UP IN AN ORPHANAGE, HE TOLD STORIES TO KEEP HIS TORMENTORS AT BAY. MOST OF HIS WORKING LIFE WAS SPENT IN ADVERTISING. AT AGE 55, HE WROTE THE POWER OF ONE, AN INTERNATIONAL HIT THAT WAS MADE INTO A MOVIE. HE BECAME A WRITING POWERHOUSE, PRODUCING A BOOK A YEAR. HE SAID MANY LOOK UPON HIM NOT AS A WRITER OF BOOKS BUT A CREATOR OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS. BY 6, 6.15, I'M WRITING, AND I DON'T GET UP FROM MY DESK UNTIL 6.15 AT NIGHT. HE WAS NEVER A FAN OF THE LITERATI ` THOSE CRITICS WHO WERE UNIMPRESSED BY SALES OF 20 MILLION BOOKS. I THINK IT WAS LIKE CROCODILE DUNDEE FIRST UP, THAT HE WAS JUST TOO POPULAR. AND THE CRITICS WANT SOMEONE TO BE SOMEONE YOU CAN'T TOUCH, BUT HE WAS TOUCHABLE. HE WAS EVERYMAN, AND HE JUST LOVED BEING OUT THERE AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AND TELLING STORIES, AND I DON'T THINK THEY LIKE THAT. HE RECORDED HIS LAST MESSAGE A MONTH AGO, ABOUT THE TIME HE RELEASED HIS LAST BOOK. ALL I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, AS SIMPLY AS I POSSIBLY CAN,... VOICE BREAKS: ...THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUST AHEAD ` THE CAPITAL'S GRIPPED BY HOBBIT FEVER AHEAD OF THE PREMIERE OF PETER JACKSON'S FILM. HOBBIT FEVER IS TAKING HOLD IN WELLINGTON AS THE CAPITAL PREPARES TO HOST THE MOVIE'S WORLD PREMIERE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO LINE THE STREETS ON WEDNESDAY. REBECCA EDWARDS LOOKS AT HOW THE CITY IS GEARING UP FOR THE BIG DAY. BIT BY BIT, THE CITY'S BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE MIDDLE OF MIDDLE EARTH. WAITANGI PARK IS BECOMING THE CITY'S OWN MINI SHIRE. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, WE'VE GOT GREAT WEATHER FORECASTS, AND WE EXPECT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS, THIS MARKET WILL HOST MORE THAN 30 ARTISTS FROM GLASS BLOWERS TO LEATHERWORKERS, JEWELLERS AND SCULPTORS; MOST OF WHOM HAVE WORKED ON THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE HOBBIT FILMS. LIKE THIS PETONE-BASED COMPANY. IT'S DESIGNED AND WEAVED MANY OF THE TEXTILES WORN BY CHARACTERS IN THE FILMS, INCLUDING GANDALF'S MYSTICAL SILVER SCARF FROM THE HOBBIT MADE ON THIS 120-YEAR-OLD LOOM. AND ON THE WATERFRONT, THE GLOAMING, AN EXHIBITION FULL OF CREATURES OF FANTASY. THEY'VE TAKEN SEVEN YEARS TO SCULPT. FOR MANY, A STROLL AROUND THE CITY HAS BECOME A BIT OF AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER NOW. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY FINN SCOTT-KELLY AND VIRGINIA PHILP. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2012