GOOD EVENING. THE SUMMER ANTICYCLONE WILL HANG ON INTO NEXT WEEK, SO WE STAY FINE. BUT ITS DYNAMICS ARE FIRING UP AFTERNOON HEAT SHOWERS AND SQUASHING OUT COOL MORNING CLOUD. AND THE DRY SOUTHERN FARMS GET NO RELIEF TOMORROW AS THERMOMETERS HIT 25 DEGREES TO 30 DEGREES. FORECAST DETAILS COMING UP. 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. THE DAVID BAIN COMPENSATION BATTLE ROLLS ON. THE JUSTICE MINISTER OUTLINES ERRORS AS THE AUTHOR AND CANADIAN JUDGE HITS BACK. CELEBRATING VICTORY AGAINST THE EDUCATION MINISTER ` HEKIA PARATA FLIP-FLOPS ONCE AGAIN AS SHE FACES NEW PRESSURE OVER PAY PROBLEMS. KIM DOTCOM GETS INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, BUT WE REVEAL HOW MUCH THE LEGAL BATTLE TO EXTRADITE HIM IS COSTING TAXPAYERS. AND A HOT NUMBER FOR A WEDDING. WE CHECK OUT KIWIS MARKING SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS ON A SPECIAL DATE. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. NZERS COULD FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THE CONTROVERSIAL REPORT INTO DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CLAIM BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. JUSTICE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS IS CONSIDERING RELEASING THE DOCUMENT, FOLLOWING CRITICISM FROM THE RETIRED CANADIAN JUDGE BEHIND THE REPORT. JUSTICE BINNIE HIT BACK AFTER MS COLLINS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF HIS JUDGMENTS. AND TODAY, SHE OUTLINED A COUPLE OF ERRORS. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN'S FOLLOWING THIS STORY. IN A BIG DEPARTURE FROM HER FORMER STANCE, JUDITH COLLINS SAYS SHE MAY SOON RELEASE REPORTS INTO DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CLAIM. I'M JUST CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO BE IN MR BAIN'S INTEREST OR IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE FOR ME TO RELEASE THEM. THE ABOUT FACE COMES FOLLOWING RETIRED CANADIAN JUDGE IAN BINNIE'S COUNTER-ATTACK OVER THE JUSTICE MINISTER'S CRITICISM THAT HE MISUNDERSTOOD NZ LAW IN HIS REPORT, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO RECOMMEND DAVID BAIN BE COMPENSATED. THE FIRST IS RELYING ON INCORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN IN EVIDENCE. JUSTICE BINNIE SAYS: JUSTICE BINNIE SAYS IT'S UNFAIR FOR JUDITH COLLINS TO NOW KEEP HIS REPORT FROM DAVID BAIN, GIVEN SHE'S SHOWN IT TO THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL WHO HAS FOUGHT FOR 17 YEARS TO UPHOLD MR BAIN'S CONVICTION. THE DECENT THING IS TO SPEAK TO BOTH SIDES. YOU DON'T JUST SPEAK TO ONE SIDE, DON'T TELL THE OTHER SIDE WHAT YOU'RE DOING; DON'T EVEN SHOW THE OTHER SIDE YOUR REPORT. BAIN ADVOCATE JO KARAM SAYS HE'S REQUESTED THE REPORT FROM JUDITH COLLINS MANY TIMES. DAVID BAIN, TO PUT IT SORT OF BLUNTLY, IS APPARENTLY BEING SHAFTED AGAIN BY NZ AUTHORITIES, WHICH IS DISTRESSING FOR HIM AND TIME CONSUMING FOR US AND NOT FAIR. BUT THE JUSTICE MINISTER HAS A WARNING. IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP DAVID BAIN PUTTING FORWARD A REPORT IN WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE WOULD STAND UP TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY. JUDITH COLLINS SAYS SHE'LL MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO RELEASE JUSTICE BINNIE'S REPORT WHEN A PEER REVIEW BY LOCAL LAWYER ROBERT FISHER IS COMPLETED THIS WEEK. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS 5000 SCHOOL STAFF WERE NOT PAID THEIR HOLIDAY PAY OVERNIGHT, AND WHILE THEY'VE BEEN PROMISED THE MONEY TONIGHT, MANY HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IT'LL BE CORRECT. MEANWHILE, HISTORIC PAY PROBLEMS, SOME OUTSTANDING SINCE AUGUST, ARE STILL NOT FIXED. SHARON FERGUSSON HAS THE DETAILS. JUST TWO MORE SLEEPS TILL SCHOOL BREAKS UP. AND WHILE THESE CANTERBURY STUDENTS COUNT DOWN, THEIR PRINCIPAL ADDS UP. OUR CONCERN IS THAT A LOT OF THE ERRORS IN THIS PAY ROUND STRIKE TO OUR OPERATIONS GRANT, SO THAT'S MONEY THAT'S ACTUALLY COMING OUT OF OUR SCHOOL BANK ACCOUNT NOW, AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE JUST HOW MUCH IS COMING OUT, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR BANK ACCOUNT BALANCES SIT AT THE MOMENT. IN WHAT'S BECOME A PREDICTABLE CYCLE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE NOVOPAY SYSTEM, THIS TIME, SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING ISSUES WITH RECLAIMING MONEY THAT'S BEEN OVERPAID. WHILE FULLTIME TEACHERS ARE EFFECTIVELY PAID BY THE MINISTRY, SUPPORT STAFF SUCH AS TEACHER AIDES, CARETAKERS AND OFFICE WORKERS ARE PAID FROM A SCHOOL'S OPERATIONS BUDGET. SCHOOLS ARE CONCERNED THAT WHEN THESE STAFF ARE OVERPAID, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR GETTING THAT MONEY BACK WILL FALL TO THEM. IF IT'S NOT RECOVERED, THE SCHOOLS LOSE, NOT THE MINISTRY. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT'S UP TO NOVOPAY TO RECLAIM THAT. OUR PROBLEM IS COMMUNICATING THE ERRORS WITH NOVOPAY SO THAT WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT MONEY BACK AGAIN. MEANWHILE, 5000 HOLIDAY PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED 24 HOURS. BUT THERE'S LITTLE CONFIDENCE THEY'LL BE RIGHT WHEN THEY ARE PAID, WHICH IS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THEM DON'T GIVE US A LOT OF CONFIDENCE. WE DO KNOW THAT TALENT2 AND THE MINISTRY HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD. THEY HAVE VERY HIGH AMBITIONS AROUND CORRECTING SOME OF THE MISTAKES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. SO, ONCE AGAIN, 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE PAY DAY. BUT NO ONE'S HOLDING THEIR BREATH FOR HOLIDAY CHEER. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. A CHANGE OF HEART FROM THE EDUCATION MINISTER AFTER THE HIGH COURT RULED SHE ACTED UNLAWFULLY OVER PLANS TO SHUT DOWN A SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL IN NELSON. DANIEL FAITAUA EXPLAINS. A VICTORY DANCE AT SALISBURY SCHOOL, AS STAFF, PARENTS AND STUDENTS AT THIS RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL IN NELSON CELEBRATE THE LIFELINE THROWN TO THEM BY THE HIGH COURT. I'M JUST SO HAPPY THE DECISION WAS OVERRULED AND THAT THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO STAY OPEN FOR THE NEXT YEAR. BUT FOR EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA, THERE'S BEEN LITTLE TO CELEBRATE, WITH THE COURT RULING HER PLAN TO CLOSE SALISBURY WAS UNLAWFUL AND DISREGARDED THE RISK TO THE STUDENTS OF PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE IF REMOVED FROM A GIRLS' SCHOOL. AT FIRST, HEKIA PARATA REFUSED TO RULE OUT FURTHER COURT ACTION. ARE YOU GOING TO APPEAL? THOSE ARE THE SORT OF MATTERS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. BUT LATER, A CHANGE OF HEART. WELL, I'VE HAD AN HOUR TO DECIDE THAT I WON'T BE APPEALING. WHY WON'T YOU BE APPEALING? I THINK WE'VE BEEN GIVEN HELPFUL ADVICE. WE NEED TO TAKE IT. THE GREEN PARTY HAS CALLED FOR HER TO STEP DOWN. SHE HAS DISPLAYED A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE CHILDREN, AND DOESN'T THAT MAKE HER UNFIT TO BE A MINISTER OF EDUCATION? I REMAIN POWERFULLY COMMITTED TO EDUCATION FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN ACROSS NZ, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THAT. THE PRIME MINISTER IS BACKING HIS MINISTER. IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO BREAK A FEW EGGS TO MAKE AN OMELETTE. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS NOW CALLING ON THE MINISTER TO MEET WITH THEM ABOUT THE FUTURE. WE WILL BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE MINISTRY, WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEM, AND REALLY HOPE THEY RELOOK AT THE OPTIONS. BUT ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN ` THESE STUDENTS WILL NOW BE BACK NEXT YEAR. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. THIS INCIDENT IS YET ANOTHER HICCUP IN WHAT'S BEEN A TUMULTUOUS FIRST YEAR AS EDUCATION MINISTER FOR HEKIA PARATA. IN JUNE, HER DECISION TO INCREASE CLASS SIZES SPARKED PUBLIC OUTRAGE AND THREATS OF STRIKE ACTION. SHE HAD TO SCRAP THE PLAN WITHIN TWO WEEKS. AND LAST MONTH SHE STEPPED BACK FROM A SUGGESTED MERGER BETWEEN FOUR CHRISTCHURCH HIGH SCHOOLS, CLAIMING IT WAS NEVER A POSSIBILITY. IN DEFIANCE OF INTERNATIONAL WARNINGS, NORTH KOREA HAS LAUNCHED A LONG-RANGE ROCKET, WHICH REPORTEDLY PASSED OVER THE JAPANESE ISLAND OF OKINAWA. NORTH KOREA'S GOVERNMENT INSISTS IT'S SUCCESSFULLY PUT A ROCKET CARRYING A SATELLITE INTO SPACE. BUT WORLD POWERS HAVE CONDEMNED THE LAUNCH, SAYING IT'S MERELY A DISGUISED BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST. NORTH KOREA IS BANNED FROM CONDUCTING MISSILE- AND NUCLEAR-RELATED TESTS UNDER UN SANCTIONS. THE JAPANESE MILITARY WAS PUT ON HIGH ALERT BEFORE THE LAUNCH. AN OVERHAUL OF THE COUNTRY'S MINING SAFETY REGULATIONS COULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT'S JUST UNVEILED HOW IT PLANS TO IMPLEMENT ALL 16 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PIKE RIVER ROYAL COMMISSION. MIKE THORPE HAS DETAILS. NEVILLE ROCKHOUSE IS MORE FAMILIAR THAN MOST WITH THE DANGERS OF UNDERGROUND MINING. THE FORMER PIKE RIVER SAFETY MANAGER'S SONS WERE BOTH UNDERGROUND WHEN THE MINE EXPLODED. DANIEL ESCAPED, BUT BEN AND 28 OTHERS NEVER CAME HOME. THEIR LEGACY HAS TO BE REFORMS ACROSS THE BOARD. THIS THING CANNOT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN, AND IT'S REINFORCED IN LEGISLATION. THE TIMEFRAME FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNED NEW REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WOULD SEE... IT'S A TIMEFRAME THE GOVERNMENT'S PROMISING TO MEET. WELL, I GAVE AN UNDERTAKING IN PRETTY BLUNT TERMS TO THE POOR FAMILIES AT GREYMOUTH THAT IT'D ALL BE PUT IN PLACE, BOTH LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY AND ALL OTHER TYPES OF REFORMS BY THE END OF 2013, AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITTED TO, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND NEVILLE ROCKHOUSE BELIEVES THIS TIME THEY'LL DELIVER. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE LOOKED LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO CARRY THROUGH WITH WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT WAS REQUIRED, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'VE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO DO IN THE PAST HAS NOT MATERIALISED. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO EXPANDED THE PLAN SO NEW REGULATIONS WILL APPLY TO THE ENTIRE MINING INDUSTRY, NOT JUST UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS. WE'LL KNOW JUST HOW WELL THE PLAN'S RECEIVED ON THE WEST COAST TOMORROW WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH PIKE RIVER FAMILIES. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. GRISLY DETAILS HAVE BEEN REVEALED ABOUT THE MURDER OF ROTORUA WOMAN MICHELLE HOFFMAN-TAMM. HER LOVER GWENDA SLOANE'S ADMITTED MURDERING THE 51-YEAR-OLD. SLOANE STABBED HOFFMAN-TAMM 33 TIMES. HER BODY WAS LEFT LYING ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR FOR OVER A DAY BEFORE SLOANE BURIED THE BODY UNDER RUBBISH IN A FOREST NEAR MURUPARA. WEEKS LATER, SLOANE ADMITTED ASSAULTING THE VICTIM AND LATER LED POLICE TO THE SITE. POLICE ARE TONIGHT INVESTIGATING THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. THE 23-YEAR-OLD'S BODY WAS FOUND EARLY THIS MORNING BY FAMILY MEMBERS IN A SLEEP-OUT ATTACHED TO A HOUSE IN PAPAKURA. SHE WAS LAST SEEN BY FAMILY AT ABOUT 8.30 AND DISCOVERED AT 7.30 THIS MORNING. THE FAMILY ARE DISTRAUGHT. THEY'RE SPEAKING TO US AND MAKING STATEMENTS TO US AT THE MOMENT. A POST-MORTEM WILL BE HELD TOMORROW, WHILE A SCENE EXAMINATION IS EXPECTED TO LAST A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER MONTHS AT THE CENTRE OF A COURTROOM DRAMA, INTERNET MOGUL KIM DOTCOM IS TONIGHT PREPARING FOR A DIFFERENT ROLE ` AS SANTA IN A CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME. BUT WHILE TICKETS WILL ONLY COST YOU A FEW DOLLARS, THE LONG-RUNNING LEGAL SAGA OVER HIS EXTRADITION HAS COST SEVERAL MILLION, AND THE METER'S STILL RUNNING. JOANNA HUNKIN HAS DETAILS. KIM DOTCOM RELISHING THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME TAKING A STARRING ROLE IN A CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME AS SANTA DOTCOM. WE BOTH LOVE TO GIVE. WE BOTH HAVE THIS SUPERNATURAL POWER TO SLIP DOWN CHIMNEYS WITH EASE, AND WE BOTH HAVE BUSHY WHITE BEARDS. DOTCOM'S TAKEN TOP BILLING IN THE PLAY, AHEAD OF OTHER KIWI CELEBS, TESTAMENT TO THE PUBLIC'S FASCINATION WITH THE MAN. BUT THAT GROWING POPULARITY DOESN'T CARRY WEIGHT IN THE COURTROOM. WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBLIC IS JUST A SIDESHOW, SO FAR AS THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS CONCERNED. JUDGES ARE TRAINED TO IGNORE THAT SORT OF THING. DOTCOM'S EXTRADITION BATTLE'S BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN NZ'S HISTORY. FIGURES RELEASED TO ONE NEWS UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT SHOW UP TO FIVE CROWN LAWYERS HAVE SPENT MORE THAN 6000 HOURS WORKING ON THE CASE. CROWN LAW WON'T SAY HOW MUCH THAT'S WORTH, BUT IN A PRIVATE FIRM CHARGING UP TO $600 AN HOUR, THAT BILL WOULD COME TO TO MORE THAN $3M. THERE'S AN AWFUL LONG WAY TO GO, AND THERE COULD BE AN AWFUL LOT MORE HOURS CLOCKED UP. AND I THINK TO SAY WE ARE HALFWAY THERE MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC. BUT THE GOVERNMENT COULD DECIDE IT'S NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE. ON THE INFORMATION THE GOVERNMENT NOW HAS AND WITH THE VARIOUS COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL MIGHT LOOK AT THIS SITUATION, MIGHT REVIEW IT AND SAY, 'WE DON'T THINK THERE'S A SUFFICIENT CASE TO GO FURTHER.' MEANWHILE, IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION, IT SEEMS DOTCOM'S ALREADY WINNING. HE'S A MASTER AT THE SOUNDBITE. HE KNOWS WHEN TO SHUT UP AND LOOK INDIGNANT. HE'S DEFINITELY USED THE MEDIA AND AGREED TO THOSE INTERVIEWS WITH A REAL AGENDA TO TURN WHAT WAS PERHAPS A NEGATIVE PERCEPTION AT THE BEGINNING INTO A POSITIVE ONE. AND SOME WOULD SAY HE'S DONE IT WELL. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. TELECOM IS APOLOGISING TO UP TO 400,000 CUSTOMERS WHO'VE BEEN FACING BROADBAND OUTAGES AND SAYS IT'S WORKING ON A COMPENSATION PACKAGE. AMY KELLEY REPORTS. FOR BRUCE HUDSON, HAVING NO INTERNET'S BEEN MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE. THE WEBSITE DEVELOPER ESTIMATES HE'S FALLEN THREE DAYS BEHIND AND IS NOW PLAYING CATCH-UP. AND, FRANKLY, EVERY HOUR THAT I'M AWAY FROM THAT PROJECT LITERALLY REMOVES INCOME FROM MY BOTTOM LINE. HIS WAS ONE OF UP TO 400,000 BROADBAND CONNECTIONS THAT WENT DOWN AFTER PROBLEMS WITH A TELECOM SOFTWARE UPGRADE EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING, AND AGAIN LAST NIGHT, WHEN THE CHRISTCHURCH SERVER, TO WHICH TELECOM SHIFTED INTERNET TRAFFIC, OVERLOADED. MANY AFFECTED CUSTOMERS COULDN'T RECONNECT UNTIL AROUND 9 THIS MORNING. CURRENTLY THE SERVICES ARE STABLE. WE'VE GOT A TECHNOLOGY TEAM WHO ARE FOCUSED ON KEEPING IT THAT WAY, AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND TEAM WHO ARE LOOKING RIGHT ACROSS THIS ENVIRONMENT AND ASKING, 'IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE COULD DO OR INVEST IN IT 'TO MAKE THIS AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE?' THE OUTAGES COME AT A CRUCIAL TIME OF YEAR FOR BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY RETAILERS. A QUARTER OF THE COUNTRY'S EFTPOS MACHINES WENT DOWN AS A RESULT OF TELECOM'S PROBLEMS, AND THEN THERE'S THE IMPACT ON INTERNET SHOPPING. TELECOM PROMISES IT'S WORKING ON WAYS TO MAKE IT UP TO CUSTOMERS AND WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WHETHER THAT BE SOMETHING AROUND SERVICES, SOMETHING AROUND COMPENSATION, OR WHETHER OTHER THINGS ARE APPROPRIATE. COMPENSATION COULD JUST BE ENOUGH TO KEEP CUSTOMERS FROM SWITCHING PROVIDERS, AS LONG AS THIS DREADED SCREEN DOESN'T SHOW UP AGAIN ANY TIME SOON. I'M OUT OF TIME! CHRISTMAS IS COMING. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN I SEE THAT MESSAGE. SOMETHING TELECOM TOLD US IT CAN'T RULE OUT. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS. THREE WEEKS SINCE ITS WORLD PREMIERE HERE, THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY HAS BEGUN FOR NZERS. HUNDREDS FLOCKED TO MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS OF THE FIRST HOBBIT FILM. BUT WHILE IT MAY HAVE BEEN EAGERLY AWAITED, IT'S NOT QUITE THE JOURNEY EVERYONE WAS HOPING FOR, AS REBECCA EDWARDS REPORTS. AS THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT, THESE DWARVES HAD PLENTY TO CELEBRATE,... ADVENTURE, AND A LOT OF CHARACTER, A LOT OF SCENERY. I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME. ...JOINING THE CROWDS FLOCKING TO THEATRES FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC SCREENINGS OF 'THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY'. I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE THE FIRST IN THE WORLD. AWESOME. AWESOME ATMOSPHERE. INDUSTRY INSIDERS ARE PREDICTING THE FILM TO RAKE IN AS MUCH AS $850M AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE. THAT WOULD BE MORE THAN THE THIRD LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY ` THE RETURN OF THE KING. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TAKINGS WOULD BE LESS THAN THE EIGHTH AND FINAL FILM IN THE HARRY POTTER SERIES. MANAGEMENT HERE AT READING CINEMAS IN CENTRAL WELLINGTON, MANY SAY THE DEMAND FOR THIS FILM HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING. MORE THAN HALF OF THIS ENTIRE MULTI-COMPLEX HERE IS DEDICATED TO 'THE HOBBIT', SCREENING THE MOVIE 20 TIMES A DAY. SO FAR, REVIEWS HAVE BEEN MIXED. WHILE CRITICS HAVE PRAISED LEAD ACTOR MARTIN FREEMAN'S DEPICTION OF BILBO BAGGINS, MANY OF THEM SAY THE TWO HOUR, 40 MINUTE FILM IS TOO LONG, WHILE OTHERS ARGUE THE NEW 3-D, 48 FRAME-PER-SECOND FORMAT IS HARD TO WATCH. ALL THE FRAMING AND THE 3D THINGS ALMOST TOOK AWAY A LITTLE BIT FROM WHAT THEY'D ACTUALLY DONE WITH THE FILM. WE'RE GOING AGAIN ON SUNDAY! THE BOOK WAS MAGICAL. THAT WASN'T. THE FILM WASN'T. IT WAS JUST ALL BATTLES AND FIGHTING. THIS WAS JUST SO CLEAR. IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE THERE. I'M BLOWN AWAY BY THE REALITY OF IT, YEAH. AND MORE FANS AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE HAVING THEIR SAY WHEN THE FILM OPENS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TOMORROW AND THE USA ON FRIDAY. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. OUR MILITARY CHIEF'S TALKING ABOUT SEX CHARGES AGAINST TWO SOLDIERS NEXT ON ONE NEWS. ALSO, SHOPPERS IN SHOCK AS A GUNMAN OPENS FIRE IN A BUSY MALL. WE'VE AN UPDATE ON NELSON MANDELA'S CONDITION AS HE FIGHTS A LUNG INFECTION IN HOSPITAL. AND WHO'S THE MOST DESIRABLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD? WE'VE THE OUTCOME OF A POLL. THE DEFENCE FORCE BOSS SAYS HE'S CONCERNED TWO SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A WOMAN IN AN ARMY TRUCK ON A MILITARY BASE. POLICE SAY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER A FUNCTION AT THE WAIOURU ARMY CAMP BAR TWO MONTHS AGO. LIEUTENANT GENERAL RHYS JONES SAYS THE ARMY'S COOPERATING WITH THE CIVILIAN POLICE INVESTIGATORS. IF THAT'S TRUE, YEAH, THEN OF COURSE WE ARE CONCERNED, AND EVEN THE RUMOURS OR ACCUSATIONS OF THAT, WE DO TAKE SERIOUSLY. THE TWO SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN STOOD DOWN AND ARE SET TO APPEAR IN COURT NEXT MONTH FOR A PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE. MORE INTERPRETERS WHO'VE HELPED OUR TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN WILL GET THE CHANCE OF A NEW LIFE IN NZ. A RESETTLEMENT OFFER'S BEING EXTENDED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE THOSE WHO'VE RESIGNED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THIS REALLY CAPTURES ANYONE WHO COULD POSSIBLY SAY THAT THEY MAY POTENTIALLY BE AT RISK AND THAT NZ HAS SOME SORT OF DUTY OF CARE TOWARDS THEM. IT'S ESTIMATED 116 PEOPLE, INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS, WILL COME TO NZ. A MAN'S BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH IN LONDON OF A WELL-KNOWN WELLINGTON PUNK ROCKER. METROPOLITAN POLICE SAY STEVEN ANDREWS (46) WAS KILLED IN THE LONDON SUBURB OF PUTNEY AFTER A FIGHT OUTSIDE A PUB. A MAN'S BEEN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MURDER AFTER TURNING HIMSELF IN AT THE POLICE STATION IN EXETER. A GUNMAN'S GONE ON A SHOOTING RAMPAGE, TERRORISING CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS AT A MALL IN AMERICA. AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED BEFORE POLICE SAY THE MAN SHOT HIMSELF DEAD IN PORTLAND. PANICKED CUSTOMERS TOOK COVER BEHIND SHOP COUNTERS. ONE WITNESS DESCRIBED SEEING A MAN WEARING A HOCKEY MASK, CARRYING AN ASSAULT RIFLE. ONE PERSON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND IS BEING TREATED IN HOSPITAL. SITAR MAESTRO AND MULTI GRAMMY AWARD WINNER RAVI SHANKAR HAS PASSED AWAY. SHANKAR WAS KNOWN ACROSS THE WORLD AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR INDIAN MUSIC. HE APPEARED AT THE WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 1969, AND EVEN INFLUENCED POP MUSIC GROUPS LIKE THE BEATLES. FATHER TO JAZZ SINGER NORAH JONES, SHANKAR WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL IN CALIFORNIA LAST WEEK FOR BREATHING PROBLEMS. HE WAS 92. REVERED LEADER NELSON MANDELA HAS SUFFERED A RECURRENCE OF A LUNG INFECTION, BUT MEDICS SAY HE'S RESPONDING TO TREATMENT. THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT'S SPENDING A FOURTH DAY IN HOSPITAL IN PRETORIA. WITH THE LATEST, HERE'S THE BBC'S ANDREW HARDING. NELSON MANDELA REMAINS OUT OF SIGHT IN THIS PRETORIA HOSPITAL. HE'S BEING TREATED FOR AN UNSPECIFIED LUNG INFECTION. BUT THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM NOW, INCLUDING AN OLD FRIEND WHO SPENT YEARS IN THE SAME PRISON, ARE SOUNDING QUIETLY CONFIDENT. I ASSURE YOU, IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT IS UNTOWARD, I'M SURE WE'LL KNOW, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO GIVE ME THAT IMPRESSION. AND HOME IS HERE, DEEP IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRYSIDE. NELSON MANDELA WAS CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY EARLY THIS YEAR WITH HIS FAMILY. THE FORMER LEADER OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST APARTHEID HAS WITHDRAWN FROM PUBLIC LIFE, BUT POOR HEALTH HAS NOW PROMPTED THREE TRIPS TO HOSPITAL IN UNDER TWO YEARS ` ONCE FOR ANOTHER CHEST INFECTION; ONCE FOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY. THE NEWS THAT NELSON MANDELA IS BATTLING A LUNG INFECTION IS BOUND TO RAISE ANXIETY LEVELS HERE. THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT MAY BE GETTING THE BEST CARE AVAILABLE, BUT PEOPLE KNOW ALL TOO WELL THAT HE'S 94, HE'S INCREASINGLY FRAIL AND NOW HE'S ILL AGAIN. WHAT DOES HE MEAN TO YOU? EVERYTHING. HE MEANS EVERYTHING TO US. WHY? BECAUSE HE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. WE ARE WHO WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE OF HIM. HE'S STILL A FATHER. HE'LL ALWAYS REMAIN A FATHER TO US. HE MEANS A LOT, YOU KNOW. THAT'S WHY WE NEVER TALK OF ANYTHING HAPPENING TO HIM IN ANY CASE. WE ALWAYS TALK OF HIM GETTING WELL SOONER. APPLAUSE AND SO THE WAIT GOES ON FOR MORE NEWS AND ANOTHER GLIMPSE OF THE MAN WHOSE LIFE HAS SO OFTEN SEEMED INSEPARABLE FROM THE FATE OF SOUTH AFRICA. WHILE IN JAIL IN THE 1980s, NELSON MANDELA WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH TUBERCULOSIS. HIS LUNGS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN HE WORKED IN A PRISON QUARRY. THE ARMY CHIEF IN EGYPT'S HOSTING NATIONAL UNITY TALKS TONIGHT AMID A GROWING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS. IT FOLLOWS RIVAL RALLIES IN CAIRO AHEAD OF A CONTROVERSIAL CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM THIS WEEKEND. CRITICS SAY PRESIDENT MOHAMED MORSI'S DRAFT CONSTITUTION DISREGARDS THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND IGNORES PERSONAL FREEDOMS. IT'S BEEN REVEALED THE BRITISH NURSE FOUND DEAD AFTER A ROYAL PRANK CALL BY RADIO HOSTS LEFT A NOTE FOR HER FAMILY. THE CONTENTS OF JACINTHA SALDANHA'S MESSAGE FOR HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN HAVEN'T BEEN REVEALED. THE AUSTRALIAN RADIO STATION BEHIND THE HOAX CALL SAYS IT'LL DONATE ADVERTISING MONEY OF AT LEAST $600,000 TO THE FAMILY. NOW FOR A LOOK AT WHAT OUR WEATHER'S UP TO... LOOKS LIKE THE FINE'S HANGING ON INTO NEXT WEEK IN MOST AREAS. JUST A COUPLE OF WEAK CLOUD BANDS FLICKING ACROSS, BUT SETTLED. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ BACK WITH YOUR FORECASTS AFTER SPORT. BEWARE THE AFTERNOON BUILD UPS. JUST AHEAD ON ONE NEWS ` SEE WHO'S BEEN JUDGED THE MOST DESIRABLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD. IT'S KNOWN AS A DOOZY ` WHERE YOU CAN NOW CHECK OUT A CAR ONCE OWNED BY HOLLYWOOD STARS. AND IS IT A LUCKY DATE? WHY IT'S BEEN A POPULAR DAY TO GET MARRIED. 1 BACKYARD CHICKENS ARE POPULAR AS A DAILY SOURCE OF FRESH, HEALTHY EGGS. HOWEVER, A WORRYING STUDY SUGGESTS THE BIRDS COULD ALSO BE A SOURCE OF UNTOLD ILLNESS. HERE'S WILL HINE WITH THE FINAL PART OF HIS SERIES ON CAMPYLOBACTER. IT'S TIME FOR BREAKFAST AT THE CHARLESWORTHS'. HI, CHOOKIES. GOOD MORNING. HERE, CHOOKY CHOOK CHOOKS. THE FIVE HENS GET SOME SCRAPS AND CHICKEN FEED. IN RETURN, THEY LAY A HANDFUL OF EGGS. IT GIVES THE KIDS A SENSE OF SOMETHING TO LOOK AFTER AND TEACHES THEM A BIT OF EMPATHY AND THINGS, AND THEY'VE REALLY ENJOYED HAVING THEM. I THINK I PROBABLY ENJOY HAVING THEM JUST AS MUCH, BUT... I'M THE MAD LADY THAT TALKS TO THEM. BUT BIRDS LIKE THESE COULD BE MAKING YOU SICK. IN A WORLD-FIRST STUDY, GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS TESTED THE FAECES OF JUST UNDER 300 BACKYARD CHOOKS. WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE SAMPLES CONTAINED CAMPYLOBACTER, AND 86% OF THE FLOCKS WERE POSITIVE. ALTHOUGH SOME LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION WAS EXPECTED, THE HIGH LEVELS CAME AS A SURPRISE. THE LAB NOW BELIEVES BACKYARD CHICKENS ARE MAKING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SICK EACH YEAR, POSSIBLY EVEN THOUSANDS. IT'S BECOME A MORE POPULAR ACTIVITY, AND I THINK THEY FAIL TO REALISE THAT IT'S A BIT DIFFERENT TO YOUR CAT OR YOUR DOG IN THAT THEY DO HAVE WHAT IS A QUITE SERIOUS ILLNESS POTENTIALLY TRANSMITTED VIA THEIR FAECAL MATERIAL. PEOPLE ARE BEING REMINDED TO WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER COLLECTING EGGS AND COMING INTO CONTACT WITH CHICKENS ` PRACTICES WHICH HAVE KEPT THIS BROOD SAFE. IT'S BEEN A REALLY HEALTHY EXPERIENCE. THE KIDS HAVE NEVER BEEN SICK, AND CERTAINLY NOT, I DON'T THINK, FROM THE CHOOKS. THE GOOD NEWS? EGGS THEMSELVES DON'T CARRY THE BACTERIA SO WON'T MAKE YOU ILL. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. LAST FRIDAY, ONE NEWS PROMOTED A STORY WRONGLY STATING CHICKENS BRED FOR EATING WERE FED GROWTH HORMONES. GROWTH HORMONES ARE NOT LICENSED IN NZ, AND THE POULTRY INDUSTRY'S BANNED THEM FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. RIGHT NOW, A UNIQUE AND EXTREMELY VALUABLE PIECE OF AUTOMOBILE HISTORY IS BEING UNVEILED IN CENTRAL OTAGO. A MODEL J DUESENBERG CAR ONCE OWNED BY HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR CAROLE LOMBARD HAS ARRIVED AT ITS NEW HOME IN WANAKA'S WARBIRDS AND WHEELS MUSEUM. MAX BANIA HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE LOOK. IT'S OFTEN CALLED THE GREATEST AMERICAN CAR EVER BUILT THIS IS THE TOP OF THE TREE. YOU DON'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS. SO PRESTIGIOUS IT COINED A POPULAR PHRASE. IT'S A DOOZY! THIS IS A 1934 MODEL J DUESENBERG, ONE OF FEWER THAN 500 MADE, THE ONLY ONE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, PAINSTAKINGLY RESTORED TO ITS FORMER SPLENDOUR HERE IN WANAKA. I DESCRIBE MYSELF AS THE CARETAKER OF THIS CAR BECAUSE YOU NEVER REALLY OWN A DUESENBERG. YOU JUST LOOK AFTER IT UNTIL THE NEXT PERSON GETS IT. THE DUESENBERG WAS A PLAYTHING OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS. ITS ORIGINAL OWNER WAS THE HIGHEST PAID ACTRESS OF THE 1930S, HOLLYWOOD STAR CAROLE LOMBARD, THE WIFE OF CLARK GABLE. THEY SAY THEY HAVE A TOP SPEED OF 134MPH. DON'T KNOW IF I'D WANNA BE DRIVING AT THAT SPEED. AND IN CASE YOU WONDERED WHY AMERICANS CALL A CAR BOOT A 'TRUNK'... I THINK SHE PROBABLY WOULD'VE PUT HER BIG MAKE UP BAG AND A BOTTLE OF BOOZE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS CAR ISN'T FOR SALE, BUT THE SAME MODEL DID SELL RECENTLY AT AUCTION FOR NZ$12M. CAROLE LOMBARD PAID US$17,000 FOR THIS CAR IN 1934. THAT'S SIX TIMES WHAT A DOCTOR EARNED IN A YEAR. SO WHILE IT'S OFF THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST, YOU CAN NOW SEE IT ON DISPLAY IN WANAKA YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A LOVER OF CLASSIC CARS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. IT'S STUNNING. THEY'RE VERY RARE, AND THEY'RE JUST A VERY SEXY MOTOR CAR. THIS DOOZY LOOKING RIGHT AT HOME IN ITS SPECTACULAR NEW SURROUNDINGS. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. AND FROM A BEAUTIFUL SET OF WHEELS TO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. HUNGER GAMES STAR JENNIFER LAWRENCE HAS BEEN NAMED THE WORLD'S MOST DESIRABLE WOMAN IN A POLL BY WEBSITE ASKMEN.COM THE ACTRESS (22) ROSE FROM NUMBER 47 LAST YEAR, BUMPING PREVIOUS WINNER SOFIA VERGARA TO 12. THE MOST NOTABLE DROP WAS REALITY STAR KIM KARDASHIAN, FALLING 90 PLACES TO 98 OUT OF 99. OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` JUSTICE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS SAYS SHE'S CONSIDERING RELEASING THE REPORT INTO DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CASE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER THE CANADIAN JUDGE BEHIND THE REPORT CRITICISED MS COLLINS' HANDLING OF THE AFFAIR. AND THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL STAFF FACE ANOTHER NIGHT OF WAITING TO SEE IF THEY'LL GET THEIR HOLIDAY PAY. NOVOPAY FAILED TO MAKE THE CORRECT PAYMENT TO 5000 PEOPLE TODAY, BUT SAYS THEY'LL HAVE IT SORTED BY TOMORROW. SCHOOL EMPLOYEES SAY THEY'VE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. AND NZ CRICKET RETURNS SERVE ON THE ROSS TAYLOR SOAP OPERA. CHAIRMAN CHRIS MOLLER AND CEO DAVID WHITE HAVE FRONTED, CHAIRMAN CHRIS MOLLER AND CEO DAVID WHITE HAVE FRONTED, SO WHERE TO FROM HERE IN THE CAPTAINCY DRAMA? WILL HEADS ROLL? IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL? PLUS, TEAM NZ REACHES A MAJOR MILESTONE AFTER SOME MORE GRUELLING ENCOUNTERS ON THE GULF. WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES AS SUPER RUGBY TEAMS PUT IN THE PRE-SEASON PAIN. AND REMEMBER THESE ICONIC IMAGES? THE QUEEN STREET MILE RETURNS. AND WHY'S THIS JURASSIC SCENE CAUSING TROUBLE ACROSS THE DITCH. FIRST UP TONIGHT ` TO THE ISSUE THAT WON'T GO AWAY ` CRICKET'S CAPTAINCY SAGA. AND DESPITE CALLS FOR ADMINISTRATORS TO BE SACKED OVER THE ROSS TAYLOR ISSUE, THE CHAIRMAN OF NZ CRICKET SAYS HEADS WON'T ROLL. CHRIS MOLLER FRONTED ON THE DRAMA FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY IN WELLINGTON, CALLING FOR HELP FROM FORMER PLAYERS. MARK HATHAWAY WAS THERE. FINALLY, NZ CRICKET IS GETTING SOMETHING RIGHT. EVERYBODY HERE THINKS NZ CRICKET SHOULD APOLOGISE TO ROSS AND HIS FAMILY FOR THE WAY WE HANDLED THINGS IN THE LAST WEEK. I MEAN, THE PROCESS WAS NOT GOOD, YOU ALL AGREE WITH THAT, SURELY. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO BE ASKED THAT QUESTION. THEN QUICKLY GOING BACK INTO THEIR SHELL WITH THE REVELATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AROUND ROSS TAYLOR'S DISMISSAL HAD COME TO LIGHT BUT WOULD BE KEPT IN THE DARK FOR NOW. WELL, I'M NOT MAKING ANY COMMENT ON THOSE MATTERS. I'M NOT PREPARED TO DISCUSS ANY MORE. NO COMMENT. I DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ANY FURTHER, REALLY. NO HEADS ARE GONNA ROLL. THERE ARE NO CAPITAL OFFENCES. CAPITAL` I MEAN, HANGING OFFENCES IN ALL OF THIS. SO THE BOARD IS SAFE FOR NOW, BUT CHANGES ARE ON THE CARDS. ON-FIELD PERFORMANCE OF THE BLACKCAPS ULTIMATELY LED TO ROSS TAYLOR'S POORLY HANDLED DUMPING. NOW THE OFF-FIELD PERFORMANCE OF THE NZ CRICKET BOARD IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT, WITH CHANGES SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR. AT THE END OF SUMMER, THE BOARD WILL BE RE-ELECTED, AND MOLLER IS CALLING FOR EX-PLAYERS TO PUT THEIR HANDS UP. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT A FACTOR IN THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT MORE FORMER INTERNATIONALS TO PUT THEMSELVES FORWARD FOR THE BOARD IS THAT IT IS AN ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY ROLE. SO ARE EX-PLAYERS MONEY HUNGRY AND NOT PREPARED TO GIVE BACK TO CRICKET? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF NZ CRICKET PICKING UP THE PHONE. MORRISON, FOR ONE, WOULD PUT HIS HAND UP, BUT ISN'T EXPECTING A CALL. HE DOES, THOUGH, SEE VALUE IN HAVING CRICKET MINDS ON THE CRICKET BOARD. THAT'S BEEN A MISSING LINK FOR A LONG TIME, AND NOW THE SHIP'S SINKING, THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY. NEXT YEAR'S CHANGES ARE SET TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET ON THE BOARD, WHILE TODAY'S LACK OF A ROLLING HEAD SHOWS IT'S HARD TO GET BOOTED OUT ANYWAY. MARK HATHAWAY, ONE NEWS. WHILE THE RUCTIONS CONTINUE OFF THE FIELD, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN NEIL WAGNER CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK ON IT FOR THE BLACK CAPS. WAGNER'S LOOKING TO DRAW ON HIS EXPERIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICAN CONDITIONS AND ADD TO HIS TWO TEST MATCHES DURING THE UPCOMING TOUR. IT'S A BIT OF A DREAM COME TRUE. SOMETHING I'VE LOOKED FORWARD TO MY WHOLE LIFE TOO. PLAYING INTERNATIONAL CRICKET AND TO REPRESENT NZ. GOING BACK TO MY PLACE OF BIRTH IS VERY EXCITING, AND GET TO SEE THE FAMILY OVER THERE AS WELL, AND IT'S BEEN MY FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY IN ABOUT SEVEN YEARS, WHICH WILL BE PRETTY GOOD. NOT SO GOOD FOR CENTRAL DISTRICTS QUICK BOWLER ADAM MILNE ` HE'S BEEN RULED OUT OF THE T20 SQUAD BECAUSE OF AN ACHILLES INJURY. HE'LL BE REPLACED BY WELLINGTON'S MARK GILLESPIE, LAST SEEN IN BLACKCAPS COLOURS WITH A FIVE- THEN SIX-WICKET BAG IN THE TESTS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA IN MARCH. THE FIRST VERSION OF TEAM NZ'S AC72 IS BACK IN THE SHED TONIGHT, WHERE IT WILL MORPH INTO VERSION 2 FOR LAUNCHING IN FEBRUARY, ALL THE NUMBERS SUGGESTING IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERABLY QUICKER. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. A COMPARATIVELY BENIGN FINAL DAY FOR NZ, THE AC72 NOTCHING UP THE MAXIMUM SAILING TIME ALLOWED TWO DAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, WITH INVALUABLE INFORMATION STORED FOR THE NUMBER CRUNCHERS. IF THEY THEY TELL ME THAT CERTAIN CHANGES WHICH ARE INCORPORATED IN THE BOAT PRODUCE BETTER NUMBERS, THEN RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT NO REASON TO DISBELIEVE THEM, BECAUSE THE FORMULAS ARE WORKING. WHAT'S BEEN REALLY IMPRESSIVE EVERY TIME WE'VE BEEN OUT HERE IS HOW CALM AND CONTROLLED THE CREW SEEMS TO BE WHEN PUTTING THIS COMPARATIVELY UNKNOWN BOAT THROUGH ITS PACES. WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN THE PAST 30 DAYS, THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING THIS BOAT TO THE LIMIT. THE MOST TESTING DAY IN QUESTION WAS LAST THURSDAY, WHEN A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH HOBSONVILLE. 28 KNOTS OF BREEZE SUSTAINED AVERAGE BOAT SPEEDS OF 42 KNOTS AND LOADS THE HIGHEST EVER. AND ONE OF THE SIGNICANT THINGS IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF GLEN ASHBY AND DEAN BARKER ON THAT DAY. BUT EVERY TIME WE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BOAT WOULD WANT TO BURY. YOU COULD HEAR GLEN IN THE HEADPIECE SAYING, 'OK, PUT IT UP A BIT. LETS GO FASTER. LETS GET IT GOING. 'LET'S GO FASTER. LET'S GO FASTER.' AND THE BOAT WOULD COME BACK UP ON ITS FOILS AND CLEAR THE NEXT WAVE. THE DESIGNERS IN THE CHASEBOAT WERE TUNED IN AND ON EDGE. THE GUYS ARE INCREDIBLY PROFESSIONAL, AND GLEN IN PARTICULAR, IN THOSE CONDITIONS, IS A VERY COOL CUSTOMER, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A HINT OF THINGS GOING UP A NOTCH. LESSONS LEARNED WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A MORE REFINED VERSION TWO. TO THE EYE THERE WILL BE CERTAIN FEATURES THAT WILL BE OBVIOUS, BUT IT'S WHAT'S UNDER THE SKIN THAT IS WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT IS. THE SAILORS AND THE SPIES STALKING THEM ARE NOW TAKING A CHRISTMAS BREAK. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. AFTER A NEAR 30-YEAR ABSENCE, AUCKLAND'S QUEEN STREET GOLDEN MILE IS BEING RESURRECTED. THE EVENT IS THE BRAINCHILD OF SIR JOHN WALKER, WITH PROCEEDS GOING TOWARDS HIS 'FIND YOUR FIELD OF DREAMS' FOUNDATION. I HOPE THAT 4500 RUNNERS COMPETE IN DIFFERENT DIVISIONS. 70,000 PEOPLE TURN OUT TO WATCH IT. I MEAN, IT'LL BE VERY POPULAR. SIR JOHN HOPES TO RAISE AROUND $500,000 THE EVENT, SCHEDULED FOR APRIL NEXT YEAR. THE LAST TIME THE RACE TOOK PLACE WAS 1983, WHEN KENYA'S MIKE BOIT RAN THE FASTEST MILE EVER RECORDED. HIS 3.28 EVEN BETTERING THAT LAST MINUTE INTERLOPER. FORMER KIWI JARROD MCCRACKEN'S OPENED UP ON WHY HE'S STEPPING INTO THE RING AT THE FIGHT FOR LIFE THIS WEEKEND. MCCRACKEN, ON THE RIGHT, PLAYED 22 TESTS FOR THE KIWIS THROUGH THE 1990S. HE'S FIGHTING FORMER ALL BLACK CARLOS SPENCER AND IS COMMITTED TO RAISING MONEY FOR PROSTATE CANCER, GIVEN HIS FATHER HAS THE CONDITION. ALSO ON THE CARDS IS A WOMEN'S FIGHT BETWEEN AUSTRALIAN PRO AND MODEL LAURYN EAGLE AND 40-YEAR-OLD NZER DANIELLA SMITH, WHO'S DISMISSED HER AGE AS A FACTOR. I NEVER FORGET SUGAR RAY LEONARD TELLING ME, WHEN I ASKED HIM, 'WHAT SHOULD I DO TO BECOME A WORLD CHAMPION?' AND HE SAID, 'MAKE BOXING YOUR LIFE.' SO I HAVE. SHE'S A VERY CREDIBLE OPPONENT. YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER FOUGHT ABROAD, SO THAT'S A BIG FACTOR. I'VE PREPARED THE SAME AS ANY FIGHT. I TAKE IT 100% SERIOUSLY, AND I FOCUS ALL MY ENERGY INTO IT. SMITH'S REVEALED SHE'S BEEN RECEIVING A SURPRISING NUMBER OF EMAILS FROM AUSTRALIA HOPING SHE'LL BEAT EAGLE. THE BLUES HAVE OPENED THE DOORS TO THEIR GRUELLING SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON TRAINING. TODAY THE SQUAD TOOK TO AN INNER-CITY CROSS FIT GYM AND WAS PUT THROUGH THE WRINGER. OUR CAMERAS WERE THERE TO WITNESS THE PAIN. THE SESSION ENDED WITH A SPIDER CRAWL UP AN INNER-CITY STREET. KEEP IT UP, BOYS. LET'S GO. LET'S GO. TOUCH. TOUCH. NICE, BOYS. NICE. GOING THROUGH STUFF LIKE THIS WITH YOUR BOYS, WORKING HARD TOGETHER ` I GUESS IT BRINGS US CLOSER TOGETHER. UNFORTUNATELY, CAN'T HAVE A BEER AFTERWARDS, COS WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN TOMORROW. THE INSTRUCTORS AT THE INFAMOUS LUDUS MAGNUS GYM DIDN'T HOLD BACK. IS THIS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANNA GET OUT OF A SESSION LIKE THIS? YEAH, SO BIT OF OLD SCHOOL STUFF. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD. CAN'T GET AWAY FROM IT. CAN'T ESCAPE. SOME OF THE TIGHT FORWARDS ALSO SPILLED BLOOD FOR THE CAUSE. IT ALL RESUMES AGAIN TOMORROW. EVER SINCE SIR EDMUND HILARY CONQUERED MT EVEREST, NZERS HAVE BEEN UP THERE WITH THE BEST ADVENTURERS IN THE WORLD. IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT'S INVESTED NEARLY $500,000 THROUGH GRANTS TO KEEP THAT HAPPENING. AND AS ABBY SCOTT EXPLAINS, IT'S JUST COMMITTED THE LATEST $84,000. THEY GO WHERE FEW HAVE BEEN; WHOO! THEY DO WHAT NO ONE HAS DONE BEFORE ` SEVEN KIWI TEAMS TAKING ON WORLD FIRSTS. WE'RE JUST A BUNCH OF AMATEUR KIWIS WHO'VE JUST TAUGHT OURSELVES MOUNTAINEERING JUST FROM A TRAMPING AND ROCK-CLIMBING BACKGROUND, AND NOW WE'RE GOING OFF AND CLIMBING THIS UNCLIMBED PEAK. THESE TWO ARE PART OF A FOUR-MAN TEAM THAT'S TACKLING WHITE WAVE, A 7000M PEAK IN THE HIMALAYAS. IT WOULDN'T BE HALF THE CHALLENGE IF WE KNEW THE WAY UP THERE ` IF WE KNEW IT'D BEEN DONE BEFORE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE HILLARY EXPEDITION GRANTS ARE FOR ` MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE. BUT IT'S NOT JUST CLIMBING TRIPS. WE ATTEMPTED IT LAST YEAR, BUT I LOST MY BOAT, AND A FEW OTHER DIFFERENT FACTORS ` BASICALLY TIME, MONEY ` STOPPED US BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO GO BACK AND, HOPEFULLY, GET IT IN THE BAG THIS TIME. THEY'RE HEADING BACK TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO BE THE FIRST TO PADDLE THE GRAND CANYONS OF THE CHIMBU RIVER. TWO YEARS AGO A GRANT FUNDED THEIR FIRST TRIP, BUT WHILE THERE, THEY FOUND ANOTHER FIRST THEY WANTED TO ATTEMPT. WE'D FIND IT VERY HARD TO BE ABLE TO SELF-FUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO, REALLY, SPORT NZ HAS MADE THIS POSSIBLE. $84,000 FOR THE OFTEN-FORGOTTEN ADVENTURE SPORTS; THESE TWO TEAMS ARE GETTING $20,000 EACH. IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND SHOW, HEY, NZERS CAN ACHIEVE, GO TO THESE PLACES THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN TO IN THE WORLD AND SHOW WE'RE UP THERE WITH THE BEST IN THE WORLD. JUST LIKE SIR EDMUND HILLARY DID 60 YEARS AGO. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. THE AUSTRALIAN PGA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP IS DUE TO BE PLAYED FOR THE LAST TIME AT THE COOLUM COURSE STARTING TOMORROW. YOU'D THINK, 'NO GREAT ISSUE,' BUT HOLD ON ` THE REASON WHY OFFICIALS ARE UPSET AND SHIFTING THE TOURNAMENT? ORGANISERS HAVE PAINTED 61 SPONSORS' LOGOS AND SLOGANS ON FAIRWAYS AND HAVE ALSO ERECTED A 20M-LONG DINOSAUR ON THE COURSE. ALL THE GUYS ` THE AUSSIE GUYS ` WE'VE KNOWN A LOT OF THEM FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS SAID ABOUT COOLUM, 'SUCH A GOOD WEEK AND SUCH A RELAXED WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS,' AND IT'LL BE A SHAME IF THE TOURNAMENT'S NOT HERE ANY MORE. PLAYERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO LIFT AND PLACE BALLS IF THEY LAND ON ANY OF THE ADS. AS FOR JEFF THE DINOSAUR, AUSSIE OPEN WINNER PETER SENIOR SAYS IT'S OK, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T CRAP EVERYWHERE. WHAT? MY WORDS, NOT HIS! THANKS. NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` JIM SAYS THE FINE WEATHER'S HANGING ON,... MOSTLY. AND WHAT'S MADE? IT SUCH A NICE DAY FOR A WEDDING? HELLO. SUMMER'S ARRIVED WITH OUR STRONG HIGH SETTLING THINGS DOWN AND BRINGING THE SUNSHINE. TYPICALLY, WE'LL GET AREAS OF MORNING AND AFTERNOON CLOUD, BUILD-UPS ALONG THE RANGES. A FEEBLE TROUGH PAINTED SOME HIGH CIRRUS CLOUD OVER AUCKLAND THIS MORNING. PART OF YESTERDAY'S WEAK FRONT. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ � WHERE ELSE WILL YOU FIND SNOW ON THE BEACH IN JULY AND A SUNNY 20 DEGREES IN DECEMBER? BEFORE WE GO, JUST IN CASE YOU HADN'T REALISED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TODAY'S DATE, IT'S THE 12TH OF THE 12TH 2012. IT'S THE LAST TIME WE'LL EXPERIENCE THIS NUMERICAL ODDITY THIS CENTURY, AND SOME TOOK ADVANTAGE OF WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE A LUCKY DAY. THIS FROM JOY REID. AT 12:12 ON THE 12TH DAY OF THE 12TH MONTH IN 2012, NATALIE JOHNSON STARTED HER WALK DOWN THE AISLE ACCOMPANIED BY 12-YEAR-OLD TWINS. TODAY IS THE DAY YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE 12.12.12 AND THEN I THOUGHT, ACTUALLY,WE COULD DO SOMETHING WITH THE TIME THERE,' SO I DID. THE THEME OF THEIR WEDDING IS CENTRED AROUND WHAT THEY HOPE IS A LUCKY NUMBER. I TAKE YOU NATALIE TO BE MY LAWFUL WIFE. AND WHILE THEY WERE CELEBRATING THEIR NUPTIALS,... ALL SING: # HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. # ...A CELEBRATION OF A DIFFERENT KIND WAS HAPPENING ACROSS TOWN. BROOKLYN CODYRE TURNS 12 AT 12 O'CLOCK TODAY. IT'S REALLY AMAZING THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME, AND, LIKE, MY FAMILY'S, LIKE, REALLY PLEASED, AND THEY THINK I'M REALLY SPECIAL AND STUFF. SELWYN RAWIRI WANTED TO MARK THE OCCASION AS WELL,... MACHINE BUZZES ...AND HE LITERALLY MARKED IT. TO GET THAT SAME DATE AGAIN IS GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER 100 YEARS. A MILESTONE NEITHER HE OR MOST OF US ARE LIKELY TO SEE AGAIN. MR AND MRS DAVID AND NATALIE COOKSON! AND ONE THIS HAPPY COUPLE HOPES IS A GOOD OMEN FOR HAPPY YEARS AHEAD. JOY REID, ONE NEWS. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER THE 12TH 2012. TONIGHT'S HERE AT 10.30. Captions by Anna Bracewell-Worrall and June Yeow. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air.