GOOD EVENING. IT WAS ANOTHER FINE DAY FOR MANY PLACES, BUT A FRONT LANDED IN THE FAR SOUTH AROUND LUNCHTIME AND HAS BEEN SPILLING SOME RAIN THERE. STRONG WINDS COMING IN AHEAD OF THE FRONT BUFFETED PARTS OF SOUTHLAND, WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA. LATER IN THE NEWS HOUR, I'LL TELL YOU HOW MUCH IMPACT THAT FRONT WILL HAVE ON OUR WEEKEND WEATHER. 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. A PACIFIC PARADISE IS BATTERED AS A DEADLY CYCLONE CUTS A DESTRUCTIVE PATH. IS ANOTHER ISLAND NOW IN ITS SIGHTS? YOU WON'T NEED DOCTORS' ORDERS, BUT DOES A PLAN FOR PHARMACISTS TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS SPELL DANGER? SHOULD 12-YEAR-OLDS GET A FREE MORNING-AFTER PILL? A HEALTH BOARD'S CONTROVERSIAL MOVE. AND HE'S EXPERIENCED THE GOLDEN GLOW ` A NEW JOB FOR AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION ROWER. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. A DEADLY CYCLONE'S HEADING FOR ANOTHER POPULAR PACIFIC TOURIST DESTINATION TONIGHT AFTER STORMING THROUGH SAMOA. THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND OTHERS ARE MISSING AS IT CAUSED WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION AND FLOODING. THIS SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWS THE SHEER SCALE OF CYCLONE EVAN, WHICH IS NOW EXPECTED TO HEAD TOWARDS FIJI. OUR PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER WITH THE LATEST. MAN: ALL UNDERNEATH WATER. THAT'S JUST ALL CHURNING RIGHT NOW. THE WAVE OF WATER EXPLODED OVER RIVERBANKS, SWEEPING OVER ROADS AND TAKING HOMES AND LIVES WITH IT. WE CAN ONLY PRAY FOR THE LORD'S INTERVENTION. CYCLONE EVAN HAS BEEN DISASTROUS FOR SAMOA, WITH THREE DEAD, INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN, AND OTHERS MISSING. IT'S LEFT LOCALS FEELING HELPLESS. PEOPLE ARE STILL WALKING PAST, TRYING TO MAKE TO HIGHER GROUND. INLAND, THE SCENE IS NOT MUCH BETTER. WHILE HIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN BATTERED, SAMOA'S FRUSTRATED PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN STRANDED IN AUCKLAND. THE PRIORITY, REALLY, IS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE ` ELECTRICITY LINES AND THE BUILDINGS. AND THE DAMAGE IS EXTENSIVE. MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. FRESH WATER AND FOOD IS A BIG CONCERN. MOST SHOPS ARE CLOSED, AND WHEN ONE OPENED ITS DOORS, IT WAS FACED QUEUES OF DESPERATE SHOPPERS. MANY RESIDENTS HAVE A TOUGH TIME AHEAD. THE POWER IS OFF TO MOST PEOPLE, SO FOR THE AVERAGE SAMOAN, IT MIGHT BE WEEKS OR IT MIGHT BE UP TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THEY GET POWER FULLY RESTORED. IT'S TOO SOON TO PUT A COST ON THE DAMAGE TO HOMES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. PARLIAMENT WILL BE MEETING NEXT WEEK TO LOOK AT WHAT'S NEEDED, INCLUDING HELP FROM DONOR COUNTRIES. WE ARE ONLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE CYCLONE SEASON, SO WE MAY HAVE A FEW MORE. THE PEOPLE OF SAMOA ARE PRAYING THAT IS NOT THE CASE. BARBARA DREAVER, ONE NEWS. AND THE CYCLONE'S DISRUPTING TRAVEL PLANS FOR HUNDREDS HERE IN NZ, INCLUDING SAMOANS TRYING TO GET HOME FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON. AMY KELLEY HAS MORE. BAGS PACKED BUT NOWHERE TO GO ` CYCLONE EVAN HAS HAMPERED TWAYNE LAUMUA'S PLANS TO GET HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. YEAH, NO, I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY PARTNER AND THE LITTLE ONE. FLIGHTS GOT CANCELLED. OBVIOUSLY, THE CYCLONE` IT'S JUST REALLY HARD LOOKING AT ALL THE PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK AND ALL THE UPDATES. I JUST FEEL REALLY HELPLESS JUST SITTING HERE. FLIGHTS BETWEEN NZ AND APIA HAVE BEEN CANCELLED SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING. CONDITIONS PERMITTING, AIR NZ WILL BE THE FIRST TO RESUME TONIGHT, AND IF SO, IT'LL PUT ON AN ADDITIONAL FLIGHT TO HELP CLEAR THE BACKLOG. VIRGIN AIRLINES CUSTOMER TWAYNE SAYS HE'S BEEN TOLD HE COULD BE WAITING MORE THAN A WEEK. THEY SAID, 'WE'VE SHIFTED YOUR... 'THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT IS CHRISTMAS DAY.' (CHUCKLES) 139 NZERS ARE CURRENTLY IN SAMOA. NONE HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT. WE'RE TOLD MANY HAVE BEEN MOVED TO HIGHER GROUND, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN STAYING IN BEACH FALES IN THE POPULAR ALEIPATA AREA AND THOSE STAYING IN THE CAPITAL, APIA. THIS VIDEO SHOW DAMAGE ON THE MAIN STREET. ONE OF THE LESSONS FROM THE TSUNAMI WAS TO BUILD ESCAPE ROUTES AS WELL AS ESCAPE SHELTERS ON HIGHER GROUND. SO NOW THAT THE HURRICANE HAS STRUCK, THE BEACH FALE OPERATORS HAVE NOW USED THESE FOR TOURIST SHELTERS. TRAVEL AGENTS ARE WORKING MADLY TO RE-JIG HOLIDAYMAKERS' ITINERARIES. BUT WITH THE CYCLONE NOW HEADED FOR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDS, THE QUESTION IS WHERE TO SEND THEM? FIJI IS IN THE LINE OF FIRE NOW AS WELL, AND WITH A LOT OF FLIGHTS EVERY DAY GOING THERE, THAT'S A MASSIVE CONCERN. PLANS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE NOW UP IN THE AIR, WHILE OTHERS FEEL TOTALLY GROUNDED. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS. AND YOU CAN SEE MUCH MORE VIDEO OF THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE CYCLONE ON OUR WEBSITE ` ONENEWS.CO.NZ. JOE KARAM SAYS HE'S OFFERED TO MEET THE JUSTICE MINISTER IN A BID TO SORT OUT DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CLAIM. HE SAYS THE PROCESS HAS BECOME AN UNSPEAKABLE MESS AND THERE'S NO NEED TO REVIEW THE FINDINGS OF A CANADIAN JUDGE. PAUL HOBBS WITH THIS UPDATE. WHERE TO FROM HERE? JOE KARAM MEETING WITH DAVID BAIN'S LAWYER MICHAEL REED. DAVID BAIN'S LEGAL TEAM HAD HOPED CANADIAN JUDGE IAN BINNE'S REPORT WOULD DRAW A LINE UNDER THEIR CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. JUST IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT IF HE HAD SAID THAT DAVID WAS GUILTY. DO YOU THINK THE MINISTER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THERE WERE FLAWS IN THE REPORT, THEN? OF COURSE NOT DAVID'S PRETTY USED TO BE SHAFTED BY THE NZ AUTHORITIES, AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING ELSE. JUSTICE BINNIE CONCLUDED THAT DAVID BAIN WAS INNOCENT AND RECOMMENDED HE RECEIVE COMPENSATION. BUT AT JUSTICE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS' INSTRUCTION, FORMER NZ HIGH COURT JUDGE ROBERT FISHER REVIEWED THE BINNIE REPORT, CONCLUDING IT WAS FLAWED ` SEEMINGLY SENDING THE WHOLE PROCESS BACK TO SQUARE ONE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS PROCESS IS NOT LIKE A CRIMINAL COURT CASE. IN COURT, THE PROSECUTION HAS TO PROVE SOMEBODY'S GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. HERE, DAVID BAIN HAS TO CONVINCE THE GOVERNMENT HE'S INNOCENT ON THE BALANCE OF PROBABILITIES. WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW IS A DISGRACE. JUDITH COLLINS HAS ALREADY SPENT A MOUNTAIN OF MONEY ON THE BINNIE AND FISHER FINDINGS ` $500,000. JOE KARAM OFFERED TO SHORT-CIRCUIT THE LEGAL BACK AND FORTH IN A CHANCE MEETING WITH THE MINISTER THIS MORNING. I SAID, 'THIS IS NOW AN UNSPEAKABLE MESS,' AND I SUGGESTED TO HER THAT A GOOD WAY FORWARD MIGHT BE FOR HER TO MEET WITH MICHAEL REED AND MYSELF. I SAID TO HIM THAT I'M NORMALLY QUITE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THINGS, BUT I'D HAVE TO GET ADVICE FROM JUSTICE ABOUT THAT, WHICH WOULD BE THE ONLY RIGHT AND PROPER THING TO DO. < DOES THAT GIVE YOU HOPE THAT THIS THING COULD BE OVER BY CHRISTMAS? NO, NO. YOU DON'T HOPE FOR ANYTHING, AND YOU DON'T GET TOO DISAPPOINTED. MR KARAM SAYS DAVID BAIN WON'T GIVE UP, SAYING HE'S JUST AS COMMITTED TO WINNING COMPENSATION AS HE WAS TO CLEARING HIS NAME. PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS. A MAN'S ADMITTED MANSLAUGHTER AFTER A TEENAGER DIED IN A FIGHT AT A POPULAR BAR AREA ON THE KAPITI COAST. THE KILLING OF ISAK MILLANTA (17) AND THE STABBING TO DEATH OF ANOTHER YOUNG MAN SOON AFTER IS TRIGGERING CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY. MATT MCLEAN EXPLAINS. MANAWANUI STEWART FACING UP IN COURT. MR STEWART, IN RESPECT OF THE CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER AND THE CHARGE OF ASSAULT, YOUR PLEAS OF GUILTY ARE RECORDED. STEWART (25) KILLED IZAK MILLANTA (17) AFTER A BRAWL THAT STARTED OUTSIDE A POPULAR BAR AREA IN PARAPARAUMU. JUST FIVE WEEKS LATER, SEAN STRONGMAN-LINTERN (20) WAS STABBED IN THE SAME AREA. WE NEED TO FEEL SAFE. WE NEED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S SAFE. IT WASN'T. IT PROMPTED THE POLICE TO INCREASE THEIR PRESENCE IN THE AREA AND THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ALCOHOL-CONTROL MEASURES. BUT JUST THIS WEEK, THE LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY RULED THE LOCAL RETRO BAR HAD NOT PLAYED ITS PART. ITS LIQUOR LICENCE HAS NOT BEEN RENEWED. THIS IS LIKE A HONEYPOT TO THE BEES. SO THEY ALL TEND TO CONGREGATE HERE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE A LATE LIQUOR LICENCE, YOU NEED TO MANAGE THAT REALLY WELL. POLICE TOLD ME THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CALLED HERE ON THE WEEKENDS TO STOP ALCOHOL-FUELLED VIOLENCE. THIS AREA, THEY SAY, IS A HOTSPOT FOR IT. BUT THEY'RE ADAMANT THINGS CAN CHANGE NOW THAT THE RETRO BAR CAN NO LONGER SELL ALCOHOL. THE OWNER OF THE RETRO BAR DIDN'T WANT TO COMMENT. BUT ANNA DENT (18), WHO KNEW IZAK MILLANTA, SAYS BLAME CANNOT BE PUT ON THE BAR. SOMEONE'S LOSING THEIR BUSINESS. PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE. IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE, NOT A ONE BAR IN PARTICULAR'S ISSUE. MEANWHILE, MANAWANUI STEWART WILL BE SENTENCED FOR THE MANSLAUGHTER OF IZAK MILLANTA IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. 8 PERSONNEL IS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT. A REPORT INTO THE ANZAC DAY IROQUOIS CRASH HAS FOUND CONFUSION OVER WHICH GOVERNMENT AGENCY SHOULD HEAD A HEALTH AND SAFETY PROBE. JEHAN CASINADER HAS MORE. IT WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN. BUT ON ANZAC DAY 2010, THREE MORE LIVES WERE LOST WHEN AN AIRFORCE IROQUOIS CRASHED NEAR WELLINGTON. A REVIEW HAS FOUND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FAILED TO INVESTIGATE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES SURROUNDING THE CRASH BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T CLEAR WHICH AGENCY WAS RESPONSIBLE. WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A CLARITY PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHY I ORDERED THE INVESTIGATION. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HIRE LABOUR INSPECTORS WITH MILITARY EXPERIENCE TO OVERSEE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN NON-COMBAT SITUATIONS. THAT WOULD INCLUDE MONITORING SAFETY MEASURES, INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS AND COORDINATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES. THE GOVERNMENT WAS CRITICISED BY THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE PIKE RIVER MINING DISASTER, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED A LACK OF OVERSIGHT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS. WE'VE GOT A HIGH FATALITY AND INJURY RATE IN NZ, AND A LOT HAS TO CHANGE. LAWYER HAZEL ARMSTRONG SAYS THE GOVERNMENT MUST CREATE AN INDEPENDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY BODY. THAT OPTION IS ON THE TABLE. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE THE BEST MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS PUT IN PLACE A SECOND REVIEW, ALSO RELEASED TODAY, FINDS THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS IMPLEMENTED ALMOST ALL CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY A DAMNING COURT OF INQUIRY INTO THE ACCIDENT. BUT NO ONE WAS PROSECUTED AFTER THE IROQUOIS CRASH. AND MORE THAN TWO YEARS ON, THE DEFENCE FORCE IS STILL CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF ANY OF ITS STAFF SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED. THE FATHER OF CRASH VICTIM BEN CARSON SAYS MORE ACTION IS NECESSARY. THE DEFENCE FORCE STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND SAY, 'YES, THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED, 'AND WE ARE GOING TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.' TO ENSURE THE MEN WHO DIED LEAVE A LEGACY IN THE LAW. JEHAN CASINADER, ONE NEWS. PHARMACISTS HAVE LONG FELT THEY COULD DO MORE WITH THEIR SKILLS NOW THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO MORE BUT THEY WILLB GETTING YOUR PRESCRIPTION ONLY COMES AFTER DOCTORS' ORDERS, AND NOT EVERYONE'S HAPPY WITH CHANGING THAT. PATIENT RIGHTS ADVOCATE CAROLYN MACKENZIE KNOWS FIRST HAND THE DANGERS OF MEDICAL MISHAPS. HER SISTER DIED IN AUSTRALIA AFTER A PRESCRIPTION MISTAKE. I THINK THAT WE OVER-MEDICATE. I THINK THAT WE MEDICATE MUCH TO CASUALLY. WE'RE MEDICATING MUCH TO YOUNG. AND SO WITH ALL THESE THINGS IN PLACE, ONE STARTS TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD JUST BE LEFT TO THE PHARMACISTS. BUT PHARMACISTS SAY THEY ARE CAUTIOUS CHANGES, WHICH THEY ARE MORE THAN ABLE TO HANDLE. I'M VERY EXCITED. IT'S GREAT FOR THE PROFESSION. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. FOR THE GOVERNMENT, IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PATIENTS TO GET THEIR MEDICINE. IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, A SUITABLE QUALIFIED PHARMACIST IS JUST AS CAPABLE OF MAKING THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION AS A GENERAL PRACTITIONER. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS RECOGNISING THAT THERE ARE CAPABLE PEOPLE OUT THERE. BUT THE CHANGE WILL COME WITH SAFEGUARDS. PHARMACISTS PRESCRIBING DRUGS, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL NEED TO DO AN EXTRA YEAR OF SPECIALIST TRAINING. THEY WILL ALSO BE MONITORED BY AND WORK CLOSELY WITH A SUPERVISING DOCTOR. INITIALLY, IT WILL ONLY APPLY TO PHARMACISTS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CENTRES. HOWEVER, DOCTORS REMAIN WARY. OBVIOUSLY, WE WHAT WE NEED TO AVOID IS A FRAGMENTATION OF CARE. WE DON'T WANT A SITUATION WHERE THE LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING AND THERE ARE ISSUES OF WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IF THERE IS AN ADVERSE OUTCOME. BUT PHARMACISTS SAY THE SAFEGUARDS ARE SUFFICIENT. PHARMACISTS WILL BE PRACTISING WITHIN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT. THE OVERSIGHT FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE OVERALL PATIENT MANAGEMENT STILL SITS WITH THE MEDICAL` THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER. IT'S LIKELY TO BE EARLY NEXT YEAR BEFORE THE FIRST BATCH OF PHARMACISTS CAN START PRESCRIBING, NOT JUST DISPENSING, DRUGS. SO, CORIN, HOW LONG BEFORE PEOPLE CAN JUST VISIT THEIR PHARMACIST FOR A PRESCRIPTION? IT'S GOING TO BE SOME YEARS BEFORE AN IDEPENDENT PHARMACIST WILL BE ABLE TO AT FRIST, THE LOCAL MEDICAL CENTRE WILL WORK WITH A PHARMACIST POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN. NOW TO PASSIONATE DEBATE ON A MOVE TO MAKE THE MORNING-AFTER PILL AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 12. THE TARANAKI HEALTH BOARD'S BEHIND THE PLAN IN A REGION WHERE ABORTION RATES ARE DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. REBECCA EDWARDS WITH THE STORY. MAKING IT TO GRADUATION ISN'T ALWAYS EASY WHEN YOU'RE A TEEN MUM. AND THIS SOLO MOTHER RECKONS YOUNG WOMEN WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING BETTER ACCESS TO THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILL. YOUNG CHILDREN THESE DAYS ARE HAVING CHILDREN THEMSELVES. THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE CHANCE TO GO OUT AND SORT THEIR EDUCATION OUT OR THEIR LIFE. IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THE TARANAKI'S DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD. IT SAYS PREGNANCY RATES FOR WOMEN UNDER 20 ARE ALARMINGLY HIGH IN THE REGION WHEN COMPARED NATIONALLY. AND TEENAGE ABORTION RATES ALSO ALMOST DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. NOW IT'S CONSIDERING A NEW HEALTH STRATEGY WHICH WOULD SEE THE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILL, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MORNING-AFTER PILL, MADE FREE THROUGH PHARMACIES FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN AGED 12 TO 24. IT'S QUITE TRAUMATIC FOR ANYBODY TO GO THROUGH A TERMINATION, AND I THINK WHATEVER WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR TERMINATIONS IS A GOOD THING. WHILE THE MORNING-AFTER PILL CAN ALREADY BE OBTAINED FREE THROUGH AGENCIES LIKE FAMILY PLANNING, IT CAN COST UP TO $50 WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. ANYTHING THAT INCREASES THAT ACCESS IS A POSITIVE THING. WE ALSO KNOW THAT COST IS A BARRIER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. TARANAKI WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST DHB TO OFFER FREE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION FOR UNDER-25S. CURRENTLY BOTH WAIKATO AND MID-CENTRAL DO IT, WHILE AUCKLAND TRIALLED IT FOR SIX MONTHS. NOW SOME ARE OUTRAGED BY TARANAKI'S MOVES. ANY PARENT WOULD BE HORRIFIED TO THINK THAT A 12-, 13- OR 14-YEAR-OLD COULD BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE AND THEN CAN JUST TURN UP TO THEIR PHARMACIST AND GET, IN THEORY, A LOLLY OVER THE COUNTER. THE DHB WILL DECIDE ON WHETHER TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL EARLY NEXT YEAR. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. COMING UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` WILL NEW LAWS HELP STOP CRUELTY LIKE THIS? AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BEING PROSECUTED? NEW DETAILS ARE REVEALED ABOUT THE DEATH OF A BRITISH NURSE FOUND HANGED AFTER A RADIO PRANK. AND A WARNING FOR THOSE OF YOU HOPING TO SAVE A DOLLAR BY DOING YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ONLINE. ONE NEWS HAS DISCOVERED THAT ONLY 1% OF ANIMAL CRUELTY COMPLAINTS MADE TO THE MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE MAKE IT TO COURT. THE GREEN PARTY SAY THIS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, BUT THE MINISTER IN CHARGE HAS REJECTED THEIR CRITICISM. RENEE GRAHAM REPORTS. IT'S ONE OF THE WORST KNOWN CASES OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN NZ. FIVE FORMER CRAFAR FARM MANAGERS FACE 714 CHARGES UNDER THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT. WHILE THE CASE AWAITS TRIAL NEXT YEAR, THE GREEN PARTY SAYS THE MINISTRY CHARGED WITH BRINGING SUCH CASES TO JUSTICE ISN'T DOING ENOUGH. FIGURES OBTAINED BY ONE NEWS SHOW IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, 1600 FARM ANIMAL WELFARE COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, BUT ONLY 20 RESULTED IN PROSECUTION. AND OUT OF 123 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WAY FARM ANIMALS WERE BEING TRANSPORTED, NONE MADE IT TO COURT. MANY TIMES COMPLAINTS ARE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO SEE SOMETHING, BUT WHEN IT'S INVESTIGATED, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY AN OFFENCE. OUR CONCERN IS THIS MAY BE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY INVESTIGATING WHEN THERE'S A COMPLAINT LAID. LAST YEAR THE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION SPCA BROUGHT 35 CASES TO COURT. THEY HAVE TO BE PRETTY SURE THAT A PROSECUTION'S GOING TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THEY'LL TAKE THAT PROSECUTION TO COURT, BUT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. THE MINISTRY SAYS PROSECUTIONS ARE NOT THE ONLY WAY TO IMPROVE WELFARE STANDARDS. IT OFTEN ISSUES WARNINGS, ORDERS OR ADVICE BEFORE IT TAKES LEGAL ACTION. MOJO MATHERS SAYS THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN ITS WELFARE ROLE AND ITS PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE. SHE WANTS AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONER TO MONITOR FARMS. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. WE HAVE AN ABSOLUTE MOTIVATION TO TREAT OUR ANIMALS WELL BECAUSE THAT'S OUR LIVELIHOOD. THE MINISTER SAYS A LAW CHANGE IS LIKELY TO IMPOSE TOUGHER SENTENCES AND HEAVIER FINES. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. MAORI PARTY CO-LEADER TARIANA TURIA SAYS HER DEPARTURE WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY. AFTER 17 YEARS IN THE JOB, THE 69-YEAR-OLD WILL STEP DOWN AT THE NEXT ELECTION, SAYING IT'S TIME FOR HER TO GO. POLITICS IS A DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE, AND PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS DISAGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT IS THE NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S REALLY ADVERSARIAL. I'LL BE REALLY GLAD TO KISS IT GOODBYE. TARIANA TURIA HELPED FORM THE MAORI PARTY IN 2004 AFTER SPLITTING FROM LABOUR OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEA BED ISSUE. HER PARTY DESCRIBED HER AS ONE OF NZ'S MOST INFLUENTIAL LEADERS. A KEY ALLY OF SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD HAS ADMITTED THE EMBATTLED LEADER COULD BE LOSING. RUSSIA SAYS IT'S MAKING PLANS TO EVACUATE ITS CITIZENS FROM THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY. IT COMES AS MORE AMATEUR VIDEO EMERGES OF AIR STRIKES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN THE BATTLE FOR THIS MILITARY AIRFIELD, WHERE REBEL FIGHTERS USED ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS. AND A CAR BOMB IN AN ARMY TOWN SOUTH OF DAMASCUS HAS KILLED 16 PEOPLE. UKRAINE'S NEWLY ELECTED PARLIAMENT HAS DISSOLVED INTO CHAOS FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. ALL SHOUT BRAWLS BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE OPPOSITION AND THE RULING PARTY OVER THE ELECTION OF PARTY OFFICIALS. POLITICIANS TRIED TO PHYSICALLY STOP A VOTE AND ENDED UP WRESTLING AND FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER UNTIL THE SESSION WAS SUSPENDED. JACINTHA SALDANHA, THE NURSE WHO DIED AFTER RECEIVING A PRANK PHONE CALL FROM AN AUSTRALIAN RADIO STATION, LEFT THREE SUICIDE NOTES ` ONE BELIEVED TO BE CRITICAL OF HOSPITAL STAFF. THE 46-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND HANGED IN THE NURSE'S ACCOMMODATION NEAR THE KING EDWARD VII HOSPITAL. TWO NOTES WERE FOUND NEAR HER BODY; ANOTHER IN HER BELONGINGS. MEANWHILE, THE TWO AUSTRALIAN DJS WHO MADE THE PRANK CALL HAVE BEEN GIVEN 24-HOUR SECURITY AFTER THE RADIO STATION RECEIVED DEATH THREATS. A STATUE DEDICATED TO ANTI-APARTHEID LEADER NELSON MANDELA HAS BEEN UNVEILED IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CITY OF BLOEMFONTEIN. AT THE UNVEILING CEREMONY, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA PAID TRIBUTE TO THE 94-YEAR-OLD, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS MADIBA. NELSON MANDELA IS CURRENTLY IN HOSPITAL RECOVERING FROM A LUNG INFECTION. MEANWHILE, THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HAS UNDERGONE FURTHER TREATMENT FOLLOWING COMPLICATIONS FROM HIS SURGERY. EARLIER THIS WEEK HUGO CHAVEZ HAD AN OPERATION TO HELP FIGHT HIS CANCER. THERE IS NOW SOME DOUBT THE 58-YEAR-OLD PRESIDENT WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND HIS OWN INAUGURATION IN JANUARY. A RUSSIAN VOLCANO DORMANT FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS HAS ERUPTED BACK INTO LIFE AND BECOME A POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION. PLOSKY TOLBACHIK HAS SPEWED ASH 3KM INTO THE AIR, SET FIRE TO A SMALL FOREST AND DESTROYED A NEARBY RECREATIONAL SPOT. HUNDREDS OF THRILL-SEEKING TOURISTS HAVE IGNORED THE DANGER WARNINGS AND FLOCKED TO SEE THE ERUPTION FOR THEMSELVES. G 8 WEATHER TIME NOW. SO ARE WE HANGING ONTO THE FINE WEATHER THROUGH THE WEEKEND, KAREN? IN MOST PLACES, WE ARE. JUST GOT TO GET RID OF THE FRONT OVER THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. THAT FRONT SPILLED RAIN ONTO SOUTHERN DISTRICTS. SOME HEAVY FALLS FOR FIORDLAND. STRONG GUSTY WINDS COMING IN AHEAD OF IT. BUT THAT FRONT HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY NOW. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I'LL HAVE YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST AFTER SPORT. UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` WE EXPLORE THE HIDDEN COSTS BEHIND SHOPPING ON THE INTERNET. HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE BIG ONE AND SAVE SOME MONEY. PLUS, THEY WON'T BE MISERABLE IF THEY WIN ` WE HAVE THIS YEAR'S NOMINATIONS FOR THE GOLDEN GLOBES. 1 1 RETAILERS ARE ENJOYING A BOOST AT THE TILL THIS WEEK AS THE CHRISTMAS BOOM STARTS TO TAKE HOLD, WITH PAYMARK FIGURES UP 4% ON THIS TIME LAST YEAR. BUT FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BAG A BARGAIN ONLINE, A WARNING ` YOU COULD OWE MORE THAN YOU REALISE. JOANNA HUNKIN EXPLAINS. SORTING THE GOOD CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS FROM THE BAD ` THOSE WHO'VE PAID THEIR CUSTOMS DUTY AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T. IT'S OFTEN NOT DELIBERATE. MOST ONLINE SHOPPERS DON'T REALISE THEY'RE LIABLE FOR DUTY AND GST WHEN THEY BRING GOODS INTO THE COUNTRY. THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE DUTY AND GST APPLICABLE IS THAT OF THE IMPORTER. OUR PEOPLE IN NZ NEED TO UNDERSTAND AS THE CUSTOMER, THEY ACTUALLY ARE THE IMPORTER. TO GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS AND WORK OUT ANY DUTY OWING, NZ CUSTOMS HAS CREATED THIS SPECIAL CALCULATOR. BUT THE NUMBERS CAN COME AS A SHOCK. YOU MIGHT THINK YOU'RE BUYING A PAIR OF SHOES FOR $300, BUT ADD TO THAT $30 DUTY, ANOTHER $50 GST AND A $38 IMPORT FEE, AND THAT PAIR OF SHOES IS NEARLY $420. OH. HOLY SHOOT. REALLY? NO, I DON'T PAY THAT. I KNEW THAT THERE WAS DUTY, BUT I GUESS I ASSUMED THAT IF YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT IT WOULD BE OKAY. THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT KNOW HOW COSTLY IT CAN BE. HOW MUCH DID YOU STUNG? UM, NEARLY $300. THIS IS WHERE YOUR ONLINE BARGAIN HUNTING CAN COME UNSTUCK, AS STAFF CHECK THE DECLARATION LABELS ON ALL PARCELS ARRIVING HERE AT THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE. THOSE LABELS DETAIL WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR PARCEL AND HOW MUCH IT'S WORTH. AND IF THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP... WE WILL SEND OUT ADVICE FOR DUTY AND GST TO BE PAID. UM, YOU'LL RECEIVE THAT IN THE MAIL, AND YOUR PARCEL WILL BE HELD UNTIL THE APPLICABLE RATES ARE PAID. WHICH COULD SEE SOME EMPTY STOCKINGS COME CHRISTMAS MORNING. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. IT'S BEEN 60 YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CHRISTCHURCH SOUTHERN MOTORWAY IS UP AND RUNNING. THE TRANSPORT MINISTER OPENED THE 10.5KM STRETCH OF ROAD, WHICH WAS FINISHED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND UNDER BUDGET. THE CITY IS STARTING TO MOVE FURTHER TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE WEST, AND SO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING NEW PROPERTIES OUT IN THOSE OTHER AREAS NOW KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT A VERY FAST ROUTE BACK INTO THE CITY. THE ROUTE WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED IN THE LATE 1960S AND IS THE LARGEST ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. AND IT'S BEEN A BIG DAY FOR CHRISTCHURCH POLICE TOO, MOVING INTO THEIR NEW QUAKE-RESISTANT BUILDING. THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WAS THE FIRST IN THIS MORNING, DEALING WITH EMERGENCY CALLS, ENDING 140 YEARS OF POLICING IN THE OLD CENTRAL STATION ON HEREFORD ST. A LOT OF STAFF POST-FEBRUARY THE 22ND WERE TRAUMATISED AND WON'T COME BACK INTO THE MAIN BUILDING, BUT THEY'LL COME HERE BECAUSE THEY WILL FEEL SAFE, AND IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. BUT THE BUILDERS AREN'T FINISHED YET. WORK IS STILL ON GOING TO GET IT READY FOR THE OTHER 500 STAFF TO MOVE IN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IF THE BIG ONE HITS, WILL YOU BE READY? MOST HOMES HAVE A TORCH AND PERHAPS SOME BOTTLED WATER, BUT IT'S FOOD THAT WILL KEEP YOU HEALTHY, AND NEW RESEARCH HAS FOUND YOU CAN DO THAT FOR JUST OVER $2 A DAY. SHARON FERGUSSON TESTED THE FINDINGS. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM NUTRIENTS AT MINIMUM COST. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIND FOODS THAT WOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH ENERGY FOR A PERSON OVER A DAY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO RESEARCHERS HAVE CALCULATED THE BASICS ` THAT'S FLOUR, RICE, PASTA, VEGETABLE OIL, WHOLE GRAIN OATS, SUGAR AND PEANUT BUTTER ` WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH NUTRITION AND ENERGY FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND COSTS ONLY $2.22 PER PERSON, PER DAY. NOW, IT'S HARD TO BE ACCURATE BECAUSE VERY LITTLE FOOD COMES IN SINGLE PORTIONS. SO I'LL AIM TO USE JUST THE BASICS TO FEED MY FAMILY OF FOUR FOR THREE DAYS. THEY SAY SIMPLY BUY EXTRA FOR YOUR PANTRY RATHER THAN STORE IT SEPARATELY AND RISK IT GOING OFF. IF AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS, FOOD'S THERE, AND MY FAMILY'S GOT SOMETHING TO EAT FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS TILL THE SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT CAN GET THROUGH TO US. SO DOES THAT PRICE OF $2.22 PER DAY STACK UP? SO $23.95. THAT'S NOT MUCH FOR FOUR PEOPLE FOR THREE DAYS. LET'S HAVE A LOOK. WOW, THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY CLOSE ` 1.99 PER PERSON, PER DAY. OBVIOUSLY I'VE GONE FOR QUITE SMALL PORTIONS, THOUGH. TO MEET ALL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, ADD DRIED PEAS FOR SPROUTING OR COOKING, WEETBIX, SULTANAS, PEANUTS, CANNED SARDINES, TOMATOES AND FRUIT. ADDED TO THE BASICS, THE COST INCREASES TO $7.10 PER PERSON, PER DAY. WHEN YOU'RE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS, AS YOU ARE IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU BURN THROUGH A LOT MORE ENERGY, RESEARCHERS HOPE THE FINDINGS WILL HELP PEOPLE BE BETTER PREPARED FOR DISASTERS. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. AN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SAGA IS LEADING THE PACK FOR JANUARY'S GOLDEN GLOBES. STEVEN SPIELBERG'S FILM 'LINCOLN' HAS PICKED UP SEVEN NOMINATIONS, INCLUDING BEST DIRECTOR AND BEST PICTURE. FILMS 'DJANGO UNCHAINED', 'ARGO' AND 'LIFE OF PI' ARE CLOSE BEHIND WITH FIVE NOMINATIONS APIECE. WE'RE STEPPED OUT UPON THE WORLD STAGE NOW. THE FATE OF HUMAN DIGNITY IN OUR HANDS. BLOOD'S BEEN SPILT TO AFFORD US THIS MOMENT NOW, NOW, NOW. LES MISERABLES IS UP FOR BEST MUSICAL, WITH LEAD ACTOR HUGH JACKMAN JOINING RICHARD GERE AND DENZEL WASHINGTON IN THE BEST ACTOR CATEGORY. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` WIDESPREAD EVACUATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN THE SAMOAN CAPITAL, APIA, AFTER CYCLONE EVAN BATTERED THE ISLAND, CLAIMING AT LEAST THREE LIVES. THE RED CROSS IS ORGANISING DISASTER TEAMS, AND OUR GOVERNMENT'S STANDING BY TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. CYCLONE EVAN IS NOW HEADING TOWARDS TONGA AND FIJI. LONG-TIME DAVID BAIN ADVOCATE JOE KARAM SAYS HE'S OFFERED TO MEET WITH THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, JUDITH COLLINS, IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE MR BAIN'S COMPENSATION CLAIM. MR KARAM SAYS THE PROCESS HAS BECOME A MESS AND CLAIMS THERE WAS NO NEED TO REVIEW THE FINDINGS OF CANADIAN JUDGE IAN BINNIE. AND PATIENT ADVOCATES ARE WORRIED GOVERNMENT PLANS TO ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN MEDICINES WILL ENDANGER PATIENT SAFETY. BUT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS PHARMACISTS WILL HAVE AN EXTRA YEAR OF TRAINING AND IT WILL BE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THE PLAN IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED. ANDREW'S HERE NEXT WITH SPORT, JOINING US LIVE FROM THE NZ RUGBY AWARDS AT SKY CITY. IT'S RUGBY'S NIGHT TO SHINE TONIGHT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL GUESTS JOINING US IN JUST A MOMENT. ALSO TONIGHT, THE WHEELS ARE ALREADY IN MOTION FOR THE ALL BLACKS IN 2013. WHAT CHANGES WILL BE MADE? WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE? PLUS, MORE SIX PACKS THAN THE BOSS SHOUTED AT THE STAFF CHRISTMAS PARTY ` THE FIGHT FOR LIFERS REVEAL THEY'RE READY FOR THE RING. AND MORE PROOF WHY PEOPLE THINK THIS BREAKER IS WORTHY OF BEING A LAKER. WELCOME BACK TO SKY CITY IN AUCKLAND AND NZ RUGBY'S ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT. WE'LL SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF STAR ALL BLACKS IN JUST A MOMENT AND ALSO HEAR FROM COACH STEVE HANSEN. BUT FIRST, ONE OF OUR GREATEST OLYMPIANS HAS BEEN APPOINTED CHEF DE MISSION OF THE OLYMPIC AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAMS. ROWING GOLD MEDALLIST ROB WADDELL IS THE NEW BOSS OF GOLDEN DREAMS. GLEN LARMER REPORTS. ROB WADDELL'S BEEN ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE HIS ENTIRE CAREER. WHETHER IT'S WINNING OLYMPIC GOLD IN SYDNEY OR BEING TEAM CAPTAIN AT TEAM NZ, WADDELL'S ALWAYS SET HIGH STANDARDS. NOW THE NZ OLYMPIC COMMITTEE WANT OTHER ATHLETES TO BENEFIT. I'M BIG ON PERFORMANCE. IT'S MY NUMBER-ONE CRITERIA. AND, I THINK, WORKING BACK FROM THAT, IT'S CREATING EVERYTHING AND PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WELL, HE WAS THE OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE IN A VERY STRONG FIELD, BUT ROB BRINGS WITH HIM 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPORT. AND HE DEMONSTRATES ALL THE SORTS OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT WE WOULD DESIRE IN A CHEF DE MISSION. WADDELL TAKES OVER FROM DAVE CURRIE, WHO WASN'T EVERYONE'S CUP OF TEA. HE WAS CRITICISED FOR 'HAKA OVERKILL', ESPECIALLY AT THE BEIJING GAMES BY DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLIST VALERIE ADAMS. AND IT SEEMS NO ONE IS UNDER ANY DOUBT AS TO WHAT WADDELL'S TOP PRIORITIES WILL BE. THE THING I'M REALLY BIG ON IS ATTENTION TO DETAIL. I KNOW WELL AT THIS LEVEL THAT 1% OF GETTING SOMETHING WRONG CAN MAKE UP FOR 100% OF THE RESULT. WADDELL SAYS THE ADAMS-CURRIE SITUATION IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HIGH STRESS, HIGH EMOTIONS YOU GET AT THE OLYMPICS. I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE WON. I'VE ALSO BEEN EXPECTED TO WIN AND DIDN'T DO SO WELL, AND I'VE BEEN A YOUNG UP-AND-COMER, SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT A GOOD KNOWLEDGE TO DRAW ON AND A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT WILL HELP. I THINK HE'S GOT A BLACK BELT IN LIKE EIGHT MONTHS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE GUY IS AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE, AND THEN OFF THE FIELD AS WELL. HE'S JUST GOT SUCH A KNOWLEDGE THAT HE'S GOING TO BE A REAL ASSET TO THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. WADDELL WILL JUGGLE HIS NEW ROLE WITH HIS TEAM NZ DUTIES UNTIL SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR. THEN IT'S FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR GLASGOW AND RIO. GLEN LARMER, ONE NEWS. TO TONIGHT'S RUGBY AWARDS HERE AT SKY CITY, WHERE THE TOUGHEST CALL APPEARS TO BE IN THE KEL TREMAIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY RICHIE MCCAW, CONRAD SMITH AND KIERAN READ GO HEAD TO HEAD. THE ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN-IN-WAITING JOINS US NOW. THE HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU OVER WHAT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR ` WHAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT? THE WAY WE PLAYED ON OUR OVERSEAS TOUR THE BREAK AHEAD NOW ` WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE TO DO OVER THIS BREAK? TRY TO GET AWAY FROM RUGBY, PRETTY MUCH. ENJOY FAMILY TIME AND GET YOURSELF PREPARED FOR ANOTHER SEASON. IT'S ALL ABOUT RECOVERY. GOOD LUCK. THE MAN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ALL BLACKS' SUCCESS THIS YEAR IS ALREADY PLANNING FOR A HUGE 2013 AND BEYOND. STEVE HANSEN TOOK ON ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN THE COUNTRY, MADE EVEN HARDER AFTER THE ALL BLACKS WON THE WORLD CUP LAST YEAR. HE'S UP TONIGHT FOR COACH OF THE YEAR. SO WHAT DO THE NEXT 12 MONTHS HOLD? HAPPY WITH HIS LOT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR AS HEAD COACH AS THE LEARNING CONTINUES. I LEARNT I GUESS THAT I COULD DO THE JOB, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. IT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE AND SELF-BELIEF. WHICH WILL BE NEEDED AGAIN IN 2013. HE'S ALREADY MET WITH SUPER COACHES TODAY TO HAND PLAYERS BACK AND PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR. APART FROM KEVEN MEALAMU AND RICHIE MCCAW, HE'S SURE OTHERS WON'T TAKE EXTENDED BREAKS. < THIS CURRENT BREAK IS NOT LONG ENOUGH, IS IT? IT'S NOT REALLY, NO. THE IDEAL PRE-SEASON IS WHAT WE GET EVERY TIME WE HAVE A WORLD CUP. BUT THAT'S UNLIKELY TO CHANGE, SO AFTER INTRODUCING NINE NEW CAPS THIS YEAR, MORE ARE LIKELY TO BE NEEDED NEXT, WITH ONE KEY AREA OF CONCERN. I THINK 12, YOU KNOW, WITH MA'A` LOSING SONNY, AND THEN IF MA'A GOT INJURED AFTER TAMATI, WHO'S NEXT? ONE CHANGE HE DOES WANT TO MAKE ` MOVING THE ALL BLACKS' GAME PLAN FORWARD AT PHASE PLAY. DID ENGLAND WORK YOU OUT? POSSIBLY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THAT ENGLAND PERFORMANCE. BUT CREDIT TO THEM ` THEY PLAYED WELL. LONG-TERM, HE SAYS HE HASN'T RE-SIGNED, AS YET, THROUGH TO 2015. I'M HAPPY TO BE THE COACH IN 2015, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, YEAH. WHAT ABOUT THE BIGGEST UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE RUGBY SEASON? WHAT WAS GOING ON? JUST GOT AN ITCHY NOSE, AND, YEAH, THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO KNOW, KNOW, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW, ANDREW, SO JUST WATCH AND ENJOY. FOR SOMEONE BACK HOME, OBVIOUSLY. YEAH. I SHOULD ITCH IT NOW. THAT MEANS, KIDS, DAD ` NOT THE ALL BLACKS COACH ` WILL BE WITH YOU AT THE BEACH SOON. BASKETBALL STAR CEDRIC JACKSON HAS ONCE AGAIN STOOD OUT FOR THE BREAKERS, HELPING THEM TO A RESOUNDING 97-76 WIN AGAINST CAIRNS. HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE CAME ON THE SAME DAY AS HIS NAME CROPPED UP IN DISPATCHES ABOUT THE LA LAKERS. HERE'S KIMBERLEE DOWNS. DAZZLING, ELECTRIFYING, DOMINANT. WOW. WHAT A PLAY BY CEDRIC JACKSON. THE STAR POINT GUARD SHOWED AGAIN WHY HE DESERVES ALL THE HYPE THE SAME DAY HIS NAME WAS PUT FORWARD AS A POSSIBLE OPTION FOR THE STRUGGLING LA LAKERS. HIS TEAMMATES ARE NOT HOLDING BACK ON THE PLAUDITS. CEDRIC WAS AMAZING. HE JUST SHOWED TONIGHT HOW ELECTRIC HE CAN BE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY POINTS HE HAD, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE A HELL OF A LOT. 32, TO BE PRECISE ` JACKSON'S HIGHEST POINTS HAUL IN THE BREAKERS' SINGLET. EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE ` THEY CAME FROM JUST 13 SHOTS. CEDRIC JACKSON, COULD YOU SEE HIM AT THE LAKERS? THEY COULD CERTAINLY USE A POINT GUARD WITH SOME QUICKNESS AND SOME DEFENSIVE ABILITY. JACKSON WAS TYPICALLY NONCHALANT ABOUT THE FERVOUR HE'S CREATING. EVERYTHING WILL PLAY OUT ITSELF, YOU KNOW? I JUST CAN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF MY JOB AREA. YOU KNOW, IF I GOT DISTRACTED, THEN ANYTHING WOULD'VE HAPPENED, AND, YOU KNOW, I LEARNED MY LESSON, SO I JUST WANT TO STAY FOCUSED AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS HERE WITH THE BREAKERS. THAT BUSINESS ` MAKING AMENDS FOR AN EMBARRASSING LOSS LAST WEEK. AND AS MUCH AS THE TAIPANS TRIED TO FLOOR THE HOME SIDE,... OH, HE GOT A KNEE IN THE GUTS. ...NOTHING WAS STOPPING THIS MAN PUTTING ON HIS MASTERCLASS. GETS TO THE CUP. LEFT HAND ROLLS IN. 30 POINTS. ALSO OF NOTE IN THE 21-POINT DRUBBING, DYLAN BOUCHER PUTTING UP 10 POINTS IN HIS 200TH GAME FOR THE CLUB ` HIS BEST TALLY IN ALMOST THREE YEARS. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. WE NOW HAVE VISUAL PROOF OF HOW SERIOUSLY MANU VATUVEI HAS TAKEN HIS TRAINING IN THE LEAD-UP TO HIS BOUT WITH OLYMPIC CHAMPION ERIC MURRAY. THOSE WHO THINK HE'LL GO EASY ON THE ROWER ARE IN FOR A SHOCK. HERE'S CRAIG STANAWAY. MANU VATUVEI'S DAYS OF BEING OVERWEIGHT AND OUT OF SHAPE APPEAR OVER FOR GOOD. YEAH, MY REGULAR PLAYING WEIGHT IS ABOUT 112, AND I'VE COME DOWN TO 104, SO... I'M PRETTY SURPRISED TODAY. I THOUGHT I'D BE AROUND 106, BUT, UM, YEAH, IT'S... I MIGHT GO HAVE A BIG FEED NOW. ERIC MURRAY IS 100 KILOS ` 3 KILOS HEAVIER THAN AT THE OLYMPICS. THE DAYS OF ATHLETES TREATING FIGHT FOR LIFE AS AN EXHIBITION ARE LONG GONE. CARLOS SPENCER, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS 89 KILOS. JARROD MCCRACKEN (42) WAS 99 ` LIGHTER THAN HIS LEAGUE-PLAYING DAYS MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO. WILLY MASON IS THE HEAVIEST ` 121 KILOS. HIS BIGGEST WORRY RIGHT NOW IS THE AUSTRALIAN TAX OFFICE TRYING TO WIND UP HIS NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS. I GOT A MESSAGE FROM WAYNE. I GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE MEDIA MANAGER, AND THEY SAID, 'EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL. DON'T STRESS.' IN FACT, ALL THE AUSSIES HAVE STAYED CLOSE TO THEIR PLAYING WEIGHTS. I PLAY AT, UH, 102. UM, BUT, ACTUALLY, I WENT DOWN TO ABOUT 97, BUT I'M BACK AT 102 NOW. I REGULARLY PLAY AROUND THAT ` 104-KILO TO 105-KILO MARK. AND THAT'S WHAT I WEIGHED IN AT ` 104.35. BOXING INSIDERS ARE ALREADY GALLEN'S BOUT WITH ALL BLACK HIKA ELLIOT WILL BE THE FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. CRAIG STANAWAY, ONE NEWS. AUCKLAND SWIMMER LAUREN BOYLE HAS BECOME JUST THE SECOND NZER TO CLAIM A GOLD MEDAL AT THE WORLD SHORT COURSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE 25-YEAR-OLD WON THE 800 FREESTYLE IN TURKEY AFTER STORMING TO THE FINISH IN 8.08.62. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM AND JUST REALLY HAPPY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE. BOYLE, WHO CAME FOURTH AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS, IS HAPPY WITH ROB WADDELL'S CHEF DE MISSION APPOINTMENT. BOYLE, WHO CAME FOURTH AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS, JOINS MOSS BURMESTER AS THE ONLY NZERS TO WIN GOLD AT THE CHAMPS. KIWI WORLD CHAMPION MOUNTAIN BIKER ANTON COOPER HAS SECURED AN ELITE CONTRACT WITH A PRO CYCLING TEAM, DESPITE BEING JUST 18 YEARS OLD. THE CHRISTCHURCH RIDER HAS BEEN WOOED BY A NUMBER OF PRO TEAMS FOLLOWING HIS WORLD CUP WIN IN SEPTEMBER. HE'S FINALLY DECIDED TO SIGN WITH CANNONDALE TEAM RACING AND WILL BE BASED IN EUROPE. HIS MANAGER SAYS THE PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES A FULL SALARY IS PRACTICALLY UNHEARD OF FOR SOMEONE RIDING AT AN AGE-GROUP LEVEL. HE'S ALMOST SIGNING AN ELITE CONTRACT IN A YEAR THAT HE WAS A JUNIOR, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO THE UNDER-23 CATEGORY DON'T EVEN GET SALARIES; THEY GET THEIR EXPENSES PAID AND MAYBE SOME BONUSES FOR GOOD RESULTS. I CAN'T SAY EXACT WORDS, BUT, UM, YEAH, IT'S NOT A BAD LIVING, I CAN TELL YOU THAT. COOPER SAYS BEING BASED IN EUROPE WHERE THE WORLD CUP EVENTS ARE HELD AND RIDING WITH TOP RANKED TEAMMATES WILL REALLY BENEFIT HIS RIDING WITH THE RIO OLYMPICS IN MIND. JUST BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, A CHANCE TO SAY HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO THIS MAN. RICHIE MCCAW IS OFF FOR A WELL-DESERVED SIX-MONTH BREAK. HE WON'T BE SEEN IN RUGBY UNTIL JULY NEXT YEAR. WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MISS? DON'T SAY MEDIA. PROBABLY WAKING UP ON A SUNDAY MORNING, STRUGGLING TO GET OUT OF BED I THINK I'LL START TO MISS THAT. OVER CHRISTMAS, YOU'RE WORRYING ABOUT BEING RIGHT TO PLAY AT THE END OF JANUARY. 12 YEARS AS A PRO WITHOUT BREAKS, IS IT A RELIEF TO HAVE THIS BREAK? I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. I THINK I'LL COME BACK REMEMBERING HOW MUCH I LOVE THE GAME WHERE DO YOU GO WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN RUGBY TALK? I'M GONNA SPEND A BIT OF TIME DOWN SOUTH. I'LL PROBABLY GO TO PLACES YOU DON'T USUALLY GO AS A RUGBY PLAYER. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR OUR FAITHFUL VIEWERS: TO EVERYONE IN NZ, I HOPE YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAYS. RICHIE MCCAW WITH US HERE AT THE RUGBY AWARDS. AFTER THE BREAK, KAREN HAS A SUMMERY WEEKEND FORECAST FOR MOST. HELLO AGAIN. SOME RAIN IN THE FAR SOUTH TODAY AS A FRONT MOVED THROUGH. WARM BLUSTERY WINDS AHEAD OF IT. AND HERE'S THAT FRONT ON THE SAT IMAGERY WEAKENING AS IT STRUGGLES NORTHWARDS AGAINST THE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. SOME HARMLESS HIGH CLOUD OVER CENTRAL AREAS. BRIGHT CLOUD TO THE NORTH WITH A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE. IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT US. THE HIGH PRESSURE HANGS IN THERE TOMORROW, COVERING MOST OF THE COUNTRY. TODAY'S FRONT PULLS AWAY TO THE EAST. THIS WARM FRONT JUST TICKLING THE SOUTH-WESTERN CORNER OF THE SOUTH ISLAND BEFORE SLIDING AWAY TO THE SOUTH. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S ALL FROM ME. ENJOY YOUR EVENING. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR FRIDAY. ONE NEWS TONIGHT WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON CYCLONE EVAN AND THE RUGBY AWARDS FROM 10.45. BUT FROM US, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY ANGELA ALICE AND FINN SCOTT-KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.