DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. TONIGHT ` COULD THE REPORT INTO DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CLAIM BE ABOUT TO BECOME PUBLIC PROPERTY? A LOSS AND A BACK DOWN FOR THE EDUCATION MINISTER OVER THE CLOSURE OF A NELSON SCHOOL. AND WHAT SORT OF JOB DOES THE ACTORS' ACTOR MAKE OF HONEST ABE? WE TAKE A LOOK AT LINCOLN FOR TONIGHT AT THE MOVIES. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. NZERS COULD FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THE REPORT INTO DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CLAIM BY THE END OF THE WEEK. JUSTICE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS IS CONSIDERING RELEASING THE DOCUMENT FOLLOWING CRITICISM FROM THE RETIRED CANADIAN JUDGE BEHIND THE REPORT. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN HAS THE 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, BUT I'M GIVING IT VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. 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. THE EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS SHE WON'T APPEAL AGAINST A HIGH COURT DECISION ON THE CLOSURE OF A SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL IN NELSON. A JUDGE RULED HEKIA PARATA'S DECISION WAS UNLAWFUL. THE MINISTER FIRST SAID SHE WOULD APPEAL, THEN CHANGED HER MIND. 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 THAT THE DECISION WAS OVERRULED AND THE SCHOOL IS NOW CONTINUING TO STAY OPEN FOR 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. < HOW LIKELY IS IT YOU ARE 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? BECAUSE I THINK THAT 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 SAFETY OF HER 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. WE'D REALLY HOPE THEY RE-LOOK AT THE OPTIONS THAT WE PUT ON THE TABLE. BUT ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN ` THESE STUDENTS WILL NOW BE BACK NEXT YEAR. DANIEL FAITAUA, 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. AND HISTORIC PROBLEMS WITH THE NOVOPAY SYSTEM ` 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 JUST WHERE OUR BANK 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 FULL-TIME 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. THEY'LL BE PAID OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, BUT THERE'S LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY TOO WILL BE CORRECT. 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. I DO KNOW THAT TALENT2 AND THE MINISTRY HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD. THEY HAVE VERY HIGH AMBITIONS AROUND CORRECTING SOME OF THE MISTAKES THEY'VE IDENTIFIED. SO, ONCE AGAIN, 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE PAYDAY. BUT NO ONE'S HOLDING THEIR BREATH FOR HOLIDAY CHEER. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE SACKED PRINCIPAL OF CHRISTCHURCH GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL OVER HER RETURN. THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AUTHORITY HAS RULED THE DISMISSAL OF PRUE TAYLOR LAST MONTH WAS UNJUSTIFIED. THE BOARD SACKED HER, CITING ISSUES AND TENSIONS WITH SENIOR STAFF. BUT NOW BOTH SIDES SAY THEY'VE AGREED ON MECHANISMS FOR RESOLVING THE ISSUES WHICH HAD ARISEN. 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 WOULD 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 GONNA 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 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. 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 IT PLAYS TRUE, YEAH, THEN OF COURSE WE ARE CONCERNED. AND EVEN ANY 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. AT LEAST ONE NZER'S AMONG 10 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CYBER CRIME RING BUST. AMERICAN AUTHORITIES SAY THE RING WAS TARGETING PEOPLE USING FACEBOOK. THEY SAY IT INVOLVED MALICIOUS SOFTWARE TO STEAL COMPUTER USERS' CREDIT CARD DETAILS AND OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION. IT'S ESTIMATED MORE THAN $1B HAS BEEN STOLEN. KEEPING CHOOKS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD AND COLLECTING THEIR EGGS HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY FASHIONABLE IN OUR CITIES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. NOTHING COULD BE HEALTHIER, YOU MIGHT THINK. BUT COULD THOSE VERY EGGS BE MAKING YOU SICK? WILL HINE EXPLAINS. 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. JUST AHEAD ` NORTH KOREA'S CRITICISED FOR LAUNCHING ANOTHER ROCKET. PLUS ` A FORMER NAPIER CITY COUNCILLOR IS CHARGED WITH ARRANGING TO KILL WITNESSES IN HIS MURDER TRIAL IN CANADA. SITAR PLAYS RAPIDLY AND TRIBUTES FLOW FOR THE LEGENDARY RAVI SHANKAR. , A FORMER NAPIER CITY COUNCILLOR CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE IS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO ARRANGE THE KILLING OF WITNESSES IN HIS TRIAL IN CANADA. POLICE SAY PETER BECKETT (56) HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH COUNSELLING TO COMMIT MURDER AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. HE'S ALREADY IN CUSTODY AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, LAURA LETTS-BECKETT. SHE DROWNED TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO AFTER BOATING ON A LAKE IN BRITISH COLOMBIA WITH BECKETT. ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING BANKS HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $2B FOR LAUNDERING MONEY FOR DRUG CARTELS AND TERRORISTS. BUT WITH HSBC MAKING NEARLY $40B IN PROFITS LAST YEAR, SOME SAY THE FINE'S JUST A SLAP ON THE WRIST. THE ABC'S BRIAN ROSS REPORTS. WHEN THE MOST RUTHLESS OF THE MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS WANTED TO HIDE THEIR MONEY, THEY WENT TO HSBC. SO DID TERROR GROUPS, INCLUDING HAMAS AND AL QAEDA, ALONG WITH IRAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES ON THE US FINANCIAL BLACKLIST ALL CUSTOMERS OF A BANK KNOWN WELL AROUND THE WORLD. WOMAN: HSBC ` THE WORLD'S LOCAL BANK. TODAY, US AUTHORITIES SAID THEY WERE FINALLY HOLDING THE BRITISH BASED BANK ACCOUNTABLE. HSBC HAD AGREED TO PAY A RECORD $1.92B IN FINES AND FORFEITURES. THE LARGEST FORFEITURE AMOUNT EVER. BUT GIVEN MUCH LESS PROMINENCE IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS A DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT WITH HSBC, IN EFFECT MEANING THERE WILL BE NO PROSECUTION OF THE BANK OR ITS TOP EXECUTIVES, DESPITE MORE THAN A DECADE OF DEALING WITH CRIMINALS AND TERRORISTS. THIS IS A VERY JUST, VERY REAL AND VERY POWERFUL RESULT. YOU DON'T THINK THE BANK GOT OFF EASY? NO, AND I DON'T THINK THE BANK THINKS IT GOT OFF EASY. BUT WITH $38B IN PROFITS OVER THE JUST LAST TWO YEARS ALONE, HSBC CAN EASILY AFFORD ITS $1.92B PAYMENT. THIS IS A SIGNAL TO OTHER BANKS THAT IF YOU DO THIS KIND OF STUFF, YOU'LL GET A PARKING TICKET, YOU'LL PAY THE FINE AND YOU'LL MOVE ON. SINCE THIS SUMMER, WHEN HSBC EXECUTIVES DUCKED QUESTIONS FROM ABC NEWS, THE BANK'S LAWYERS HAVE ARGUED THAT A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF HSBC COULD HAVE PUT THE BANK OUT OF BUSINESS IN THE US, COSTING LOTS OF JOBS AND DISRUPTING FINANCIAL MARKETS. NORTH KOREA BEEN SHARPLY CRITICISED FOR LAUNCHING ANOTHER ROCKET. THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS IT COULD IMPACT ON ASIA'S PEACE AND SECURITY. THE ROCKET IS THE SECOND TO BE SENT UP THIS YEAR, AS THE ABC'S MARK WILLACY REPORTS. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY BEING DISMANTLED, SATELLITE PICTURES SUGGESTING TECHNICAL GLITCHES WERE DELAYING THE LAUNCH OF NORTH KOREA'S UNHA-3 ROCKET. BUT JUST MINUTES AFTER ONE US THINK TANK HAD DECLARED THE LAUNCH WOULD BE DELAYED FOR 10 MORE DAYS, PYONGYANG HIT THE GO BUTTON. FOR THOSE UNDER ITS FLIGHT PATH, ON JAPAN'S OKINAWA ISLANDS, IT CAME AS A SHOCK. (SPEAKS JAPANESE) TRANSLATOR: DIDN'T THEY SAY THEY'D POSTPONE IT? WHAT? NORTH KOREA'S LAST ROCKET LAUNCH, IN APRIL, WAS LITERALLY A FLOP, WITH IT CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER LIFT-OFF. BUT THIS LAUNCH IS BEING DECLARED A STRATOSPHERIC SUCCESS, WITH ALL THREE STAGES OF THE ROCKET REPORTEDLY SPLASHING DOWN WHERE PLANNED. (SPEAKS KOREAN) TRANSLATOR: THE ROCKET HAS LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY FROM THE SPACE CENTRE, AND THE SATELLITE HAS GONE INTO ORBIT. THIS WILL BE PARADED AS A GREAT SUCCESS FOR NORTH KOREA'S YOUNG LEADER, KIM JONG-UN. BUT IT'S A MAJOR WARNING TO WASHINGTON, WITH PYONGYANG NOW ONE BIG STEP CLOSER TO DEVELOPING A BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABLE OF REACHING THE US MAINLAND. G 8 THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY WILL NOW CONVENE AN EMERGENCY MEETING, WITH THE HEAT TO GO ON NORTH KOREA'S CLOSEST ALLY, CHINA, WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN PLEADING WITH PYONGYANG NOT TO LAUNCH. BUT SANCTIONS HAVE SO FAR FAILED TO REIGN IN THIS ROGUE REGIME; RATHER, THEY SEEM TO EMBOLDEN IT EVEN MORE. TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN POURING IN FOR THE LEGENDARY INDIAN SITAR PLAYER RAVI SHANKAR, WHO'S DIED AGED 92. THE THREE`TIME GRAMMY WINNER WORKED WITH BOTH THE BEATLES AND THE ROLLING STONES. HE ALSO APPEARED AT THE GREAT WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 1969. RAVI SHANKAR DIED IN A CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS AWAITING SURGERY. HE'S SURVIVED BY TWO DAUGHTERS, INCLUDING AMERICAN SONGWRITER NORA JONES. JUST AHEAD ` DANIEL DAY-LEWIS BRINGS AMERICA'S GREATEST PRESIDENT BACK TO LIFE. I CAN'T END THIS WAR UNTIL WE CURE OURSELVES OF SLAVERY. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT US PRESIDENT EVER. HE BROUGHT AN END TO SLAVERY BEFORE JOHN WILKES BOOTH BROUGHT AN END TO HIM. SO THE MOVIE 'LINCOLN' STARRING THE ACTORS' ACTOR DANIEL DAY-LEWIS WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT MOVIE, BUT IS IT ANY GOOD? I RODE TO MY LOCAL THEATRE TO FIND OUT. SLAVERY, SIR ` IT'S DONE. 'LINCOLN' CERTAINLY LOOKS THE BUSINESS. IT'S EITHER THE AMENDMENT OR THIS CONFEDERATE PEACE; YOU CANNOT HAVE BOTH. BUT UNSURPRISINGLY, IT'S DANIEL DAY-LEWIS AS ABE HIMSELF WHO STEALS THE SHOW. ABOLISHING SLAVERY SETTLES THE FATE FOR THE MILLIONS NOW IN BONDAGE AND UNBORN MILLIONS TO COME. RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CAREER OF THE 16TH PRESIDENT, LINCOLN IS ABOUT THE WEEKS AND DAYS LEADING UP TO THE VOTE TO END SLAVERY AND THE CIVIL WAR. APPARENTLY DANIEL DAY-LEWIS TOOK THE ROLE SO SERIOUSLY HE INSISTED ON BEING ADDRESSED AS MR PRESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE FILM'S ENTIRE PRODUCTION, EVEN IN TEXTS. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WHO KNEW THEY DID TEXTING BACK IN 1865, AND SECONDLY, PERHAPS DANIEL DAY-LEWIS SHOULD TONE DOWN THE WHOLE SERIOUS ACTOR BIZ JUST A NOTCH. THAT SAID, THE RESULTS ARE WELL WORTH IT. FROM THE FIRST FEW FRAMES OF HIM APPEARING ON SCREEN, YOU REALLY DO BELIEVE YOU ARE WATCHING THE REAL PRESIDENT, AND HOW HE'D WALK, HOW HE'D TALK AND HOW HE POSSIBLY EVEN SENT A TEXT. EVEN WORTHLESS, UNWORTHY YOU OUGHT TO BE TREATED EQUALLY BEFORE THE LAW. TOMMY LEE JONES IS ALSO A GREAT WATCH AS REPUBLICAN HOUSE LEADER THADDEUS STEVENS, BAD WIG AND ALL, BUT THIS REALLY IS ALL ABOUT DANIEL DAY-LEWIS SAYING IMPORTANT THINGS WITH MUCH ACTORLY GRAVITAS. I CAN'T END THIS WAR UNTIL WE CURE OURSELVES OF SLAVERY. THIS AMENDMENT IS THAT CURE! YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO PASS THE AMENDMENT TO ABOLISH SLAVERY. SALLY FIELD IS LINCOLN'S WIFE, A SELF-CONFESSED NUT JOB, BUT FRANKLY, WHEN YOUR LEADING MAN SAYS STUFF LIKE THIS,... I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, CLOTHED IN IMMENSE POWER. ...YOU'RE FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE. YOU WILL PROCURE ME THESE VOTES. DESPITE SOUNDING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BILL CLINTON, GRANDPA SIMPSON AND ATTICUS FINCH, DANIEL DAY-LEWIS IS JAW-DROPPING. YES, HE AND THE MOVIE WILL BE OSCAR CONTENDERS, BUT WILL YOU WANT TO PUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS ASIDE TO WATCH WHAT IS A VERY WELL TOLD HISTORY LESSON? POSSIBLY NOT. SEVEN OUT OF 10 FROM ME. TO SPORT NOW, 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 APPEARED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN WELLINGTON TODAY. MARK HATHAWAY WAS THERE. FINALLY, NZ CRICKET IS GETTING SOMETHING RIGHT. SURELY 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. SO 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. 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. NOW HERE'S YOUR WEATHER WITH RENEE. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY HUGO SNELL AND CONOR WHITTEN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.