GOOD EVENING. OUR RUN OF HIGH WEATHER CONTINUES WITH HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATING. JUST SOME LIGHT, DRIZZLY RAIN FOR WESTLAND AS A WEAK FRONT MOVED PAST. FRONTS ARE NOW STARTING TO PILE INTO THE TASMAN. LATER IN THEW NEWS HOUR, I'LL TELL YOU HOW LONG OUR HIGH IS SET TO HOLD THEM AT BAY. 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. TERROR AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL. WE HEARD SHOTS, AND EVERYBODY WENT ON THE GROUND. WE ALL HUDDLED, AND I KEPT HEARING THESE BOOMING NOISES. YOUNG CHILDREN RUN FOR THEIR LIVES AS A HEAVILY ARMED GUNMAN KILLS 27 PEOPLE. A TEACHER TELLS US HOW SHE KEPT HER CLASS CALM. AND AN EMOTIONAL PRESIDENT OBAMA MOURNS THE DEATHS OF THE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ONES. IN SAMOA, THE CYCLONE CLEAN-UP BEGINS. WE VISIT ONE VILLAGE WIPED OUT BY THE STORM. AND WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE WEATHER HERE THESE SUMMER HOLIDAYS. VIGILS HAVE BEEN HELD AS AMERICA MOURNS THE 27 PEOPLE SLAUGHTERED BY A GUNMAN IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S WORST MASS SHOOTINGS. THE DEAD INCLUDED 20 PRIMARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN CUT DOWN IN THEIR CLASSROOM. THE SHOOTER, WHO ALSO DIED, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ADAM LANZA (20) THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN SEVEN YEARS AGO. ON HEARING THE NEWS, DISTRAUGHT PARENTS SWARMED TO THE SCHOOL IN THE SMALL TOWN OF NEWTOWN IN CONNECTICUT. US CORRESPONDENT JACK TAME IS THERE, AND HE JOINS US NOW LIVE. JACK. WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM WHAT HAS BECOME A MAKESHIFT MEDIA CENTRE. BEYOND THOSE FIELDS IS A SMALL WOODED AREA. IT IS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THERE TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. EVIL VISITED THIS COMMUNITY. ON A DAY LIKE ANY OTHER, IN A MIDDLE AMERICAN TOWN LIKE ANY OTHER, SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAME A SCENE OF APPALLING VIOLENCE. I SAW SOME OF THE BULLETS GOING PAST THE HALL THAT I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO, AND THEN A TEACHER PULLED ME INTO HER CLASSROOM. WE HEARD, LIKE, SHOTS, AND EVERYBODY WENT ON THE GROUND, AND MS MARTIN JUST CLOSED THE DOOR. THE SHOOTING BEGAN AROUND 9.30. SCHOOL WAS IN SESSION WHEN A YOUNG GUNMAN BEGAN KILLING CHILDREN AND STAFF. I WAS IN THE GYM, AND I HEARD, LIKE, SEVEN LOUD BOOMS. AND THE GYM TEACHERS TOLD US TO GO IN THE CORNER, SO WE ALL HUDDLED, AND I KEPT HEARING THESE BOOMING NOISES. POLICE SAID HIS SHOOTING WAS CONFINED TO TWO ROOMS. MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST EMERGENCY CALLS, ARMED POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE, COMBING THE BUILDINGS FOR THE SHOOTER. WE ALL WENT OVER TO A CORNER, AND THE TEACHER WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP US. ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS HAD MACHINE GUNS. IT WAS EXCRUCIATING FOR PARENTS. WITH INFORMATION SCARCE, THEY RUSHED TO THE SCHOOL AND WAITED DESPERATELY AT THE CORDON'S EDGE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO BE HURRIED TO SAFETY. SO MANY PARENTS WERE LEFT WAITING. THERE WERE THREE CHILDREN THAT CAME OUT. ONE OF THEM HAD A VERY BLOODY FACE. IT WAS A VERY VIOLENT SCENE. AND THERE WERE TWO OTHER ONES THAT THEY WERE IN THE ARMS OF A STATE TROOPER. THEY DID NOT MOVE. THEIR FACE WAS VERY PALE. THERE WERE 18 CHILDREN THAT WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCHOOL. THERE WERE TWO THAT WERE TRANSPORTED TO AREA HOSPITALS AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT AREA HOSPITALS. AND THERE WERE SIX ADULTS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE AT THE SCHOOL. AS THE GOVERNOR HAS REPORTED, THE SHOOTER IS DECEASED. REPORTS SAY HE WAS A LOCAL MAN WHOSE MOTHER VOLUNTEERED AT THE SCHOOL. ANOTHER BODY, BELIEVED TO BE HERS, WAS FOUND IN AN APARTMENT. I KNOW THERE IS NOT A PARENT IN AMERICA WHO DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME OVERWHELMING GRIEF THAT I DO. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO DIED TODAY WERE CHILDREN, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 10 YEARS OLD. THEY HAD THEIR ENTIRE LIVES AHEAD OF THEM ` BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS, WEDDINGS, KIDS OF THEIR OWN. WHAT YESTERDAY WAS A SLEEPY, UNKNOWN TOWN IS TONIGHT ON LOCKDOWN. THE SCHOOL'S LOCATED JUST A FEW HUNDRED METRES BEHIND ME, BUT AT THE MOMENT THIS IS AS CLOSE AS POLICE WILL ALLOW ANYONE TO GO. THEY'VE SET UP CORDONS RIGHT THROUGHOUT TOWN. THEY SAY THEY'LL BE WORKING AT THE SCENE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. AND AS DETECTIVES SEARCH FOR ANSWERS, EXPECT MORE QUESTIONS TOO, MORE DEBATE ON AMERICA'S GUN CULTURE. THE MASSACRE AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY IS EXTRAORDINARY IN ITS LEVEL OF CALLOUS VIOLENCE, BUT IT'S JUST ANOTHER FIGURE IN A GRIM TALLY. THERE ARE STILL SO MANY UNKNOWN DETAILS. POLICE HAVE BEEN SLOW IN RELEASING INFORMATION. THE GUNMAN WAS FOUND WITH THREE OR FOUR FIREARMS AT THE SCENE. WHAT COULD HAVE MOTIVATED THIS YOUNG MAN TO KILL SO MANY PEOPLE? THANKS, JACK. JACK TAME, LIVE FROM CONNECTICUT. TRIBUTES ARE BEING PAID TO THE BRAVERY OF TEACHERS IN THE FACE OF TERROR. THE ABC SPOKE TO ONE WOMAN WHO TRIED TO SHIELD HER 15 YOUNG PUPILS FROM HARM. I TOLD THEM TO BE QUIET. I TOLD THEM WE HAD TO BE ABSOLUTELY QUIET. BECAUSE I WAS JUST SO AFRAID THAT IF HE DID COME IN, AND THEN HE WOULD HEAR US, AND THEN HE WOULD MAYBE JUST START SHOOTING THE DOOR. SO I SAID, 'NO. WE JUST HAVE TO BE ABSOLUTELY QUIET.' UM, AND I SAID, 'THERE ARE BAD GUYS OUT THERE NOW. 'WE NEED TO WAIT FOR THE GOOD GUYS.' I JUST` I JUST` I JUST` I WANTED US TO BE OK. AND I'M SO, SO SADDENED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, IN THIS SITUATION, ARE NOT OK. AND SO I'M HEARING THE GUNFIRE IN THE HALLWAY, AND I'M THINKING IN MY MIND, 'I'M THE FIRST CLASSROOM. 'WHY ISN'T HE COMING?' YOU KNOW? I'M THINKING, 'WE'RE NEXT.' AND IN MY MIND, I'M THINKING, 'AS A 6-YEAR-OLD, 7-YEAR-OLD, 'WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WHAT ARE YOUR`?' AND I'M THINKING THAT I HAVE TO ALMOST BE THEIR PARENT ` LIKE, I HAVE TO TELL THEM` SO I SAID TO THEM, 'I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH,' AND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OK. COS I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LAST THING THEY WERE EVER GONNA HEAR. I THOUGHT WE WERE ALL GONNA DIE. UM, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S OK ` YOU KNOW, TEACHERS AND... BUT I WANTED THEM TO KNOW SOMEONE LOVED THEM, AND I WANTED THAT TO BE ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THEY HEARD, NOT THE GUNFIRE IN THE HALLWAY. KAITLIN ROIG AND HER CHILDREN SQUEEZED INTO A TINY BATHROOM, HUDDLING TOGETHER UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED. THE SHOOTING'S THE LATEST IN A NUMBER THIS YEAR, THE MOST RECENT, IN AN OREGON SHOPPING MALL ON TUESDAY, LEFT THREE DEAD. A MASSACRE IN JULY AT A MOVIE THEATRE IN COLORADO KILLED 12 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED 58. G 8 IN AUGUST, SIX PEOPLE DIED IN A SHOOTING AT A SIKH TEMPLE IN WISCONSIN. THE DEADLIEST IN US HISTORY INCLUDE THE KILLING OF 13 PEOPLE AT A US ARMY BASE IN TEXAS IN 2009. IN 1999, TWO STUDENTS SHOT DEAD 12 CLASSMATES AND A TEACHER DURING A RAMPAGE AT COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL IN COLORADO. BUT THE WORST MASS SHOOTING WAS AT VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY IN 2007, WHEN 32 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. SAMOAN POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED TO ONE NEWS THAT FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY CYCLONE EVAN, INCLUDING A GIRL (3). IT'S FEARED MORE HAVE PERISHED. EVAN IS NOW ON A DIRECT PATH TOWARDS FIJI AND IS GAINING STRENGTH. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER IS IN A SMALL SAMOAN VILLAGE DESTROYED BY THE CYCLONE, AND SHE JOINS US LIVE. BARBARA. BEHIND ME IS WHAT USED TO BE THE VILLAGE OF MAGIAGI. IT'S STRETCHED DOWN THE VALLEY FOR SEVERAL KILOMETRES, BUT THE RIVER HERE BROKE ITS BANKS, SWEEPING AWAY EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH, INCLUDING PEOPLE. WE WERE WITH POLICE WHEN THEY FOUND THE LATEST VICTIM. THE HUMAN COST OF CYCLONE EVAN IN MOUNTING. THIS IS NOW A RECOVERY OPERATION. AS YOU SEE, NOW WE HAVE JUST FOUND ONE BODY ` A MALE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 30 AND 40. WE'RE CONTINUING OUR SEARCH FOR OTHER MISSING PEOPLE. THIS IS THE SECOND BODY TO BE FOUND AFTER CYCLONE EVAN. POLICE ARE NOW TAKING HIM TO THE MORTUARY. THE MAN WAS ONE OF A NUMBER OF MISSING PEOPLE THE POLICE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR. EARLIER IN THE DAY, ONE NEWS SPOKE TO HIS SISTER. TRANSLATOR: THANK GOD THAT ALTHOUGH WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR MY BROTHER, BUT MOST OF OUR FAMILY IS ALIVE, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN. BUT NOW HER WORST FEARS HAVE BEEN REALISED. WE WALK DOWN TO HER VILLAGE OF MAGIAGI, WIPED OUT BY A RIVER WHICH SWALLOWED EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH. WE HEAR HOW FAMILIES FORMED A HUMAN CHAIN, WINCHING THEIR CHILDREN TO SAFETY. WHEN THE STORM HIT OUR SIDE HERE, ALL THE FAMILIES ` THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR HOUSES AND ALSO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. BUT NOTHING COULD SAVE THEIR HOUSES, THE WATER RISING UP TO 5M. THE TAGI TIAULI FAMILY ARE ONE OF DOZENS HERE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING THEY OWN. TRANSLATOR: WE LOST OUR HOUSES. THERE'S NO CLOTHES. BASICALLY NOTHING RIGHT NOW. WE JUST PRAY TO GOD THAT HE HELPS US. AROUND 50 FAMILIES ARE SHELTERING IN THIS CHURCH CENTRE. MANY HERE ARE DISTRESSED AND STILL IN SHOCK. JUST... I'M SORRY. WHEN THEY COME WITH JUST THEIR CLOTHES ON, WE SAY, 'DON'T WORRY ABOUT THINGS. NEVER MIND. JUST WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE.' BUT CYCLONE EVAN HAS DESTROYED MANY LIVES AND MUCH PROPERTY, AND NOW THE PEOPLE OF MAGIAGI ARE LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES. THEY CAN DO WITH ALL THE HELP THEY COULD GET. NZ IS COMING TO THE PARTY ON THAT ` SENDING $50,000. THE US GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE STEPPING IN. ANY DONOR ASSISTANCE IS MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER, LIVE FROM SAMOA. AS SAMOA STARTS PICKING UP THE PIECES, FIJI IS PREPARING TO FACE THE FULL FORCE OF THE STORM. ONE NEWS REPORTER PAUL HOBBS HAS ARRIVED IN NADI. WELL, THE WEATHER HERE IS INCREDIBLY PLEASANT AT THE MOMENT. IT'S HOT AND HUMID. BUT THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE FROM FIJIAN OFFICIALS IS THIS IS LITERALLY THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM ` EVAN IS SLOWLY MOVING TOWARDS FIJI. AND THEY SAY THEY'RE UNABLE TO PREDICT THE EXACT PATH OF IT YET ` WHERE IT WILL HIT FIJI ` BUT THEY'RE SAYING IT WILL HIT THIS NATION AND IT WILL HIT IT HARD. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF WARNINGS GOING OUT IN THE PAST 48 HOURS, AND LOCALS ARE BEGINNING TO STOCK UP ON EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. NOW, WE SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF KIWI TOURISTS WHO WERE COMING OVER HERE ON THE SAME FLIGHT AS US, AND THERE WAS, TO BE HONEST, A FAIR AMOUNT OF TREPIDATION. BUT FIJIAN OFFICIALS SAY THAT HOTELS HERE ARE BEST EQUIPPED` TOURIST RESOURCES ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE CYCLONES THAT THEY GET ON A REGULAR BASIS HERE AND IT'S PROBABLY LOCALS IN VILLAGES WHO ARE MOST AT RISK ` VULNERABLE TO FLYING DEBRIS AND SUCHLIKE. SO AT THE MOMENT THE PREDICTION NOW IS THAT EVAN WILL STRIKE HERE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MONDAY, LATE SUNDAY NIGHT ` THE EARLY HOURS OF MONDAY MORNING. WE'LL HEAR FROM PAUL TOMORROW AS THE CYCLONE HITS FIJI. WAIKATO IWI AND THE MAORI COUNCIL HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP IN APPEALING A JUDGE'S DECISION TO BACK THE GOVERNMENT OVER WATER RIGHTS. THEIR ATTEMPT TO HALT THE PARTIAL SALE OF MIGHTY RIVER POWER WAS OVERRULED IN COURT EARLY THIS WEEK. APPEAL PAPERS HAVE BEEN FILED, AND A HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE IN LATE JANUARY. CHILD,YOUTH AND FAMILY'S COME UNDER FIRE FOR FAILING TO ACT ON REPEATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT A COUPLE WITH A TRACK RECORD OF ABUSE, VIOLENCE AND NEGLECT. A FAMILY COURT JUDGE WAS SO SHOCKED AT CYFS' LACK OF PROTECTION OF THE COUPLE'S FOUR CHILDREN SHE'S REFERRED THE CASE TO THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER. AMY KELLEY HAS THE DETAILS. IN HER 15 YEARS WORKING IN DOMESTIC-ABUSE SUPPORT, JANE DRUMM HAS NEVER SEEN A CASE QUITE LIKE THIS ` FOUR CHILDREN ALLOWED TO LIVE WITH THEIR FATHER, A CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST, AND MOTHER, WHO HAD A TRACK RECORD OF NEGLECT. THEIR CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN DESTROYED. I FEEL REALLY REALLY SAD. OVER NINE YEARS, CYFS RECEIVED 20 NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT THE FAMILY FROM POLICE, TEACHERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THEIR CONCERNS RANGING FROM A CUT TO ONE CHILD'S HEAD TO THE YOUNGSTERS BEING LEFT HOME ALONE OVERNIGHT. THERE'S CLEARLY BEEN A SYSTEMS BREAKDOWN WHERE YOU'VE HAD POSSIBLY VERY BUSY SOCIAL WORKERS WITH WAY TOO MANY CASES TO DEAL WITH AND NOT LOOKING RIGHT THROUGH THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE CASE. FAMILY COURT JUDGE DALE CLARKSON ORDERED THE CHILDREN BE REMOVED FROM THE COUPLE'S CARE AND HAS REFERRED THE CASE TO THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER. HER REPORT CRITICISED "SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES IN CYFS' PERFORMANCE". CYFS WOULDN'T BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS STORY, BUT IN A STATEMENT TO ONE NEWS, ITS HEAD ADMITS THAT THE AGENCY LET THESE CHILDREN DOWN. BERNADINE MACKENZIE SAYS SHE AGREES WITH THE JUDGE'S RULING THE CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THEIR PARENTS SOONER AND APOLOGISES FOR THE FACT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THE CHILDREN ARE NOW LIVING WITH A CYFS CAREGIVER WHILE THE AGENCY CONDUCTS A REVIEW OF ITS INVOLVEMENT WITH THEIR FAMILY, PROMISING TO SHARE ITS FINDINGS WITH THE PUBLIC. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS. COMING UP ON ONE NEWS ` ANGER AND PROTEST ON THE STREETS OF EGYPT AS THE COUNTRY PREPARES TO VOTE ON A NEW CONSTITUTION. WILL IT RAIN ON YOUR TENT THIS CHRISTMAS? WE HAVE THE OUTLOOK FOR YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY SPOT. AND BUCKETS OF CHRISTMAS BEAUTY HAVE BECOME VINES OF DYING FRUIT ` WHAT'S KILLING OUR CHERRIES? JUST HOURS AWAY FROM EGYPT'S HISTORIC VOTE ON A NEW CONSTITUTION, CLASHES HAVE FLARED UP BETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF EGYPT'S PRESIDENT. ALL YELL OPPONENTS SAY THE DRAFT DOCUMENT HAS BEEN CRAFTED POORLY, IS TOO ISLAMIST AND WILL DEEPLY DIVIDE THE COUNTRY. BUT PRESIDENT MORSI INSISTS THE CONSTITUTION IS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE TRANSITION FROM HOSNI MUBARAK'S RULE. THE VIOLENCE REPORTEDLY BROKE OUT AFTER A CLERIC AT A MOSQUE URGED WORSHIPPERS TO VOTE YES. AND AS TENSIONS BUILD ACROSS EGYPT, BBC CORRESPONDENT LYSE DOUCET HAS BEEN GAUGING OPINIONS FROM VOTERS IN THE FINAL HOURS BEFORE THE POLLING BOOTHS OPEN. THE MOOD IS FESTIVE IN TAHRIR SQUARE ON THE EVE OF THIS CRUCIAL VOTE. BUT THE BIRTHPLACE OF EGYPT'S REVOLUTION IS STILL A PLACE OF PROTEST. NOW IT'S AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION, A DRAFT DRIVEN BY THE POWERFUL MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD THEY SAY TOO VAGUE ON ISSUES LIKE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THIS QUIET VILLAGE OF AL ADWA IS WHERE PRESIDENT MORSI WAS BORN. MOST EGYPTIANS LIVE IN RURAL AREAS. MOST ARE POOR. THIS NEW CONSTITUTION AFFECTS EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES, FROM RIGHTS TO RELIGION, TO THE ROLE OF THE STATE. 'I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE AT THE POLLING STATION 'WITH MY WIFE AND FAMILY,' SAYS SAID AL-IBRAHIM, 'THIS CONSTITUTION GIVES POWER TO THE POOR.' BUT A HALF HOUR'S DRIVE AWAY IN THE TOWN OF ZAGAZIG, THE PRESIDENT'S FAMILY HOME IS NOW ENCIRCLED BY BARRICADES. IT WAS RECENTLY TARGETED BY ANGRY PROTESTERS. IT'S NOT HARD TO FIND PEOPLE'S VIEWS HERE. HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR CONSTITUTION? BOTH: YES. YES. YES? READ IT. YOU'VE READ IT? A REVOLUTION GAVE EGYPTIANS NEW FREEDOM TO SPEAK THEIR MIND. BOTH TALK TOGETHER NO. NO` NO. OUR STRAW POLL IN THE STREETS QUICKLY TRANSFORMS INTO EMPASSIONED DEBATE. THIS IS VERY HEALTHY, YOU KNOW. THE PEOPLE SAY YES, THE PEOPLE SAY NO ` THE OUTCOME IS THERE'S NO FIGHTING. EVEN THE RESULT` WHATEVER THE RESULT, WE ARE` THE MAN SAYS NO JUST A SECOND` I SAY YES. BUT WE CAN SHAKE HANDS. TOMORROW'S VOTE IS A MAJOR STEPPING STONE IN EGYPT'S TUMULTUOUS JOURNEY FROM AUTHORITARIAN RULE TO DEMOCRACY, BUT THIS NATION IS NOW DEEPLY DIVIDED OVER WHERE IT'S HEADING. RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS INSISTED THAT HIS COUNTRY HAS NOT CHANGED ITS POSITION ON SYRIA AND NEVER WILL. IT COMES A DAY AFTER RUSSIA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ADMITTED PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD'S FORCES MAY LOSE. MEANWHILE, THIS AMATEUR VIDEO PURPORTS TO SHOW SYRIAN REBELS BATTLING GOVERNMENT FORCES IN ALEPPO AND ATTACKING A GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THERE'S GROWING UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF AILING FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA. THIS MEDICAL CONVOY WAS SEEN LEAVING A PRETORIA HOSPITAL THOUGHT TO BE TREATING THE 94-YEAR-OLD. BUT EARLIER IN THE WEEK GOVERNMENT SOURCES SAID HE WAS BEING TREATED AT ANOTHER FACILITY. NELSON MANDELA WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL SEVEN DAYS AGO FOR AN ACUTE LUNG INFECTION. BRITISH HEALTH ADVOCATES ARE CALLING ON A NATIONWIDE SUPPLEMENT PROGRAMME TO STOP THE RISE OF A DISEASE MORE ASSOCIATED WITH VICTORIAN-ERA POVERTY. CASES OF RICKETS IN THE UK HAVE INCREASED FOUR FOLD IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, AND A QUARTER OF ALL CHILDREN ARE VITAMIN-D DEFICIENT. A FEAR OF SUNBURN AND SKIN CANCER IS BEING BLAMED FOR THE RISE. THERE SHOULDN'T BE A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE NEED TO MAKE ENOUGH VITAMIN D FROM THE SUN AND THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR SKIN FROM SUNBURN, BECAUSE FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO GET ENOUGH SUN TO MAKE VITAMIN D WITHOUT GETTING SUNBURN. RICKETS POSES A REAL RISK FOR NZ CHILDREN TOO, WITH A RECENT SURVEY FINDING 10% OF CHILDREN AGED 24 MONTHS DEFICIENT IN VITAMIN D. ITALIANS HAVE WOKEN UP WITH VISIONS OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS WITH HEAVY SNOWFALL BLANKETING MUCH OF THE COUNTRY. THE CITIES OF MILAN AND TURIN WERE TURNED INTO WINTER WONDERLANDS, CREATING A BIT OF TROUBLE FOR MOTORISTS. A WEATHER FRONT CAUSED TEMPERATURES TO PLUMMET, DUMPING OVER 10CM OF SNOW. THE COLD, SNOWY WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. NO SIGN OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS FOR US ` THE OPPOSITE, IN FACT, FOR MOST, WITH CHRISTMAS DAY SET TO BE A STUNNER. THE GOLDEN WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR MANY OF THE HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS, BUT THE MAINLAND SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR A BIT MORE RAIN THAN IN THE NORTH. OUR OWN KAREN OLSEN HAS THE DETAILS. AN EXPLOSION OF POHUTUKAWAS AROUND THE COUNTRY MEANS JUST ONE THING ` SUMMER'S HERE. THE SUNNY SEASON'S BLOOMING RELUCTANTLY, THOUGH, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH ISLAND. SO CAN THE NORTH ISLAND EXPECT ANOTHER WET AND WINDY SUMMER? THIS YEAR, THE EXPECTATION IS FOR THE REVERSE ` THE WETTEST CLIMATE TO BE EXPERIENCED IN THE SOUTH-WEST AND THE DRIEST IN THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE OPPOSITE OF LAST YEAR. A REVERSAL OF FORTUNES BADLY NEEDED BY BUSINESS SUCH AS HOLIDAY PARKS. I THINK PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE WARY FROM THE WEATHER FORECASTING OF LAST YEAR OR THE WEATHER WE HAD THE PREVIOUS SUMMER. FARMERS, THOUGH, ARE LESS KEEN FOR BONE-DRY CONDITIONS. LAST YEAR'S MIXED BAG SPELLED BOOM TIME FOR DAIRY DOLLARS. PRETTY DRY. WORST CASE SCENARIO, WE'LL HAVE TO SORT OF DRY COWS OFF AND, YOU KNOW, STOP PRODUCING MILK, REALLY, WHICH HURTS EVERYTHING. A PERFECT SUMMER WOULD BE, LIKE, 30MM OF RAIN ONCE A WEEK, PREFERABLY ON A MONDAY NIGHT. SO IS SANTA CLAUS DELIVERING THE CASH COW AGAIN? WHILE THERE'S STILL A POSSIBILITY OF A TROPICAL LOW BRINGING A BRIEF SPOT OF RAIN TO THE NORTH AND NORTH-EAST, IT'LL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH ALREADY DRY CONDITIONS. SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS ACROSS ALMOST ALL OF THE NORTH ISLAND AS WELL AS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ARE NOW WELL BELOW WHERE THEY SHOULD BE FOR THE TIME OF YEAR. WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE OVER THE WAIKATO, HASTINGS AND PARTS OF WELLINGTON, CHRISTCHURCH AND OTAGO. BUT WHILE NORTHERN FARMERS LIKE DARRYL COULD BE OUT OF LUCK, WEST COASTERS MAY WANT TO KEEP THEIR GUMBOOTS HANDY. A WEAK EL NINO INFLUENCE COULD MEAN COOLER CLIMATES FROM TARANAKI TO WELLINGTON AND THE SOUTH ISLAND'S WEST COAST. YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE HAVING AN 18 OR 20 DEGREE DAY DOWN SOUTH. THE WEST COAST WILL STILL GET RAIN. ITS SUMMER RAINFALL TOTALS ARE QUITE LARGE ON AVERAGE ANYWAY. BUT IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FOR THE MAINLAND. NELSON AND CANTERBURY FEATURE IN OUR TOP 10 PLACES TO PITCH A TENT THIS SUMMER. ALL GOING WELL, IT'LL BE SLIP, SLOP, SLAP SUMMER IN PAIHIA, WHANGAMATA, MOTUEKA AND NEW BRIGHTON BEACH ` AN OUTLOOK THAT'S GOT THE TICK OF APPROVAL FROM MOST. THE SUMMER MONTH HERE ` IT'S NOT SO WARM THAN THE LAST YEARS, BUT IT'S OK. IT'S BETTER THAN GERMANY. (LAUGHS) AND IT CERTAINLY WAS VERY NICE IN MANY PLACES TODAY AS THE HIGH REIGNS SUPREME. GREAT DAY TO BE OUT AND ABOUT. NOT SO PERFECT, THOUGH, FOR FARMERS LOOKING FOR RAIN. A COUPLE OF BLEMISHES. LIGHT DRIZZLY RAIN FOR WESTLAND, AND A LITTLE COOL IN THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND DUE TO A FRESH NORTH-EASTERLY COMING OFF THE SEA. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I HAVE YOUR SUNDAY FORECAST AFTER SPORT. TELL YOU WHERE YOU'LL NEED THE BROLLIE. UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` THE TWIN THREATS TO YOUR CHRISTMAS DINNER ` WHAT'S KILLING THE COUNTRY'S CHERRIES? PLUS, THE HUNT FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE. AND WE HAVE THE SECRET FOR KEEPING IT HEALTHY ONCE YOU GET IT HOME. 1 IF CHERRIES ARE ON YOUR CHRISTMAS MENU, EXPECT TO PAY MORE FOR THEM THIS YEAR. THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM ORCHARDISTS, WHOSE CROPS HAVE BEEN BLIGHTED BY A COLD AND WET OTAGO SPRING. AND THEY'RE ALSO FACING A NEW THREAT, AS MAX BANIA REPORTS. THEY'RE SYMBOLS OF A KIWI SUMMER. BUT AN UNSETTLED SPRING MEANS CHRISTMAS CHERRIES COULD BE IN SHORT SUPPLY. AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE SORT OF RUNNING BEHIND TIME AND STRUGGLING TO HAVE ENOUGH CHERRIES FOR THE CHRISTMAS MARKET. UNSEASONABLY COLD AND WET WEATHER HAS HIT CENTRAL OTAGO HARD, WITH PRICES HITTING $14 A KILO ` SEVERAL DOLLARS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR ` AND ORCHARD WORKERS BEING TURNED AWAY. PROBABLY LIGHTER THAN IT'S BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. A LOT OF FROST IN NOVEMBER THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. UH, I STARTED WHEN I WAS 13 ` FROST-FIGHTING. THE FROSTS COME AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME FOR THESE CHERRIES, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WHOLE BUNCHES OF THEM HAVE BEEN KILLED OFF. THIS IS A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF CHERRY OVER ON THESE TREES, AND NORMALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE BRANCHES WOULD BE FULL OF THEM, BUT THIS YEAR, THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO SEE. 12 MONTHS AGO, WE VISITED HARRY ROBERTS' PACKING CENTRE NEAR ALEXANDRA AS THEY PREPARED FOR A BUMPER SUMMER. SINCE THEN, THEY'VE BEEN HIT INDIRECTLY BY A NEW PEST, THE VARROA MITE, WHICH IS DESTROYING BEE POPULATIONS. YEAH, OUR POOR OLD BEES ARE STRUGGLING IN THE SPRING. THEY'RE NOT AS STRONG AS THEY WERE. IT'S NO GOOD FOR US RIGHT NOW. GROWERS ARE LOOKING INTO USING BUMBLEBEES INSTEAD TO POLLINATE THEIR CROPS. BUT THERE'S RESEARCH BEEN DONE ON THAT, AND THEY SEEM TO BE QUITE HARDY CHARACTERS, THOSE BUMBLEBEES. THEY COME OUT IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE HOPING FOR AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT IN THE FORM OF WARM, SUNNY WEATHER TO HELP CATCH UP WITH PUBLIC DEMAND. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. THE CHRISTMAS BUZZ IS IN FULL SWING AT THE VATICAN, WITH THE TRADITIONAL LIGHTING OF A GIANT TREE IN ST PETER'S SQUARE CROWDS TURNED OUT TO WITNESS THE TREE LIGHT UP AND THE NATIVITY SCENE IN THE SQUARE. THE CEREMONY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A BUSY FESTIVE SEASON FOR THE POPE, WHO'LL HOLD MASS ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN ST PETER'S BASILICA AS WELL AS SPEECHES ON CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY. TRYING TO FIND THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE CAN BE A MISSION, BUT MEGAN MARTIN RECKONS SHE'S UNCOVERED THE SECRET ON A DUNEDIN HILLSIDE. I'M THINKING BIG, AND HE'S THINKING SMALL. HUNTING DOWN THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE. LET'S FIND OUR TREE, GUYS. FIRSTLY, KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. QUITE FAT AND ROUND, DO YOU THINK? INCLUDE OTHER OPINIONS,... I WANT A BIT MORE HEIGHT. WHAT HEIGHT ARE YOU THINKING, PAPA? ...BUT STICK TO YOUR GUNS. TOO SMALL. TOO SMALL. BEFORE LONG, THE PERFECT TREE WILL STAND OUT... I REALLY LIKE THE SHAPE OF THAT. ...AND THEN FALL DOWN. < WOW! CHANCES ARE YOU'LL FIND A PERFECT TREE HERE... WE HAVE A WINNER. ...AT DUNEDIN'S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM. YOU SHAPE THE TREE TO HOW IT'S GROWING, SO SOME OF THEM ARE SHORT AND FAT AND SOME ARE TALL AND SKINNY. IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR, RUN BY JOHN, FENELLA, THE KIDS AND JESS THE DOG. AND, OF COURSE, SANTA'S DEER ARE AN ADDED BONUS. THEY ARE REINDEER, OF COURSE. WE ONLY HAVE THEM TILL THE 24TH, SADLY, AND THEN THEY'RE OFF WITH SANTA. KIDS HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS ON HOW THAT HAPPENS. PERHAPS IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC ABOUT HIS SLEIGH, AND IT GOES THROUGH THE HARNESS, INTO THE REINDEER SO THAT THEY CAN FLY. NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE, BUT THAT'S A GUESS. FAKE TREES ARE OUTLAWED HERE. OOH! IT'S LIKE A KNIFE IN THE HEART. AND I HOPE NONE OF THE TREES HEARD THAT. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REAL THING. I LIKE A TREE THAT'S SORT OF NICE AND ROUND AND NOT TOO SCRAGGLY AT THE BACK. AS LONG AS IT'S NICE ON THREE SIDES, I'M HAPPY. (LAUGHS) I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE INSIDE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR CHRISTMAS TREES ALIVE ONCE THEY'RE IN THE BUCKET AT HOME. DISSOLVE TWO DISPRIN AND A TEASPOON OF SUGAR IN A GLASS OF WATER, AND THEN FEED IT TO YOUR TREE EVERY DAY. LEAVING YOU WITH A HAPPY TREE AND HAPPY CUSTOMERS,... PERFECT. ...AND THEY'LL BE BACK THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. MEGAN MARTIN, ONE NEWS. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` CANDLELIT VIGILS HAVE BEEN HELD IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT FOLLOWING ONE OF THE WORST MASS SHOOTINGS IN US HISTORY. 27 PEOPLE WERE GUNNED DOWN, INCLUDING 20 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN, BEFORE THE GUNMAN TURNED HIS WEAPON ON HIMSELF. OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE KILLER, ADAM LANZA (20) HAD A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS, BUT HIS MOTIVE IS STILL UNCLEAR. THE NZ GOVERNMENT HAS PLEDGED $50,000 TO THE SAMOAN RELIEF EFFORT AND WILL SEND AN ORION AIR FORCE PLANE TO HELP RECOVERY EFFORTS. POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY CYCLONE EVAN, AND IT'S FEARED MORE HAVE PERISHED. EVAN IS NOW ON A DIRECT PATH TOWARDS FIJI AND IS GAINING STRENGTH. JENNY-MAY'S HERE WITH SPORT. A BIG NIGHT OF BOXING AHEAD WITH FIGHT FOR LIFE. TWO PRO FIGHTS I'M INTERESTED IN. LEAGUE V RUGBY. WE'LL TAKE YOU RINGSIDE AFTER THE BREAK. PLUS, WE'LL REVEAL THE FORMER TOP 10 TENNIS PLAYER TO BE HEADING DOWN UNDER. KIWI SWIMMER LAUREN BOYLE CELEBRATES ON HER 25TH BIRTHDAY. THE RUGBY GONGS ARE HANDED OUT FOR THE YEAR WITH A LARGELY PREDICTABLE LIST OF WINNERS. AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE LAKERS? IT'S TROUBLE FOR ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESFUL TEAMS. NZ SWIMMER LAUREN BOYLE'S COME AGONISINGLY CLOSE TO SECURING BACK-TO-BACK GOLDS AT THE WORLD SHORT-COURSE SWIM CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TURKEY. BOYLE, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PICTURE, TURNED FOR THE LAST LENGTH IN FRONT IN THE 400M FREESTYLE BUT WAS JUST PIPPED. IS IT GONNA BE BOYLE? SOKOLOVA? IS IT GONNA BE COSTA SCHMID? COULD IT BE COSTA SCHMID AT THE TOP? IT'S GOTTA BE VERY CLOSE. IT WAS COSTA SCHMID. OH, THAT'S FANTASTIC. YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BIRTHDAY PRESENT. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE WON MEDALS HERE, AND IT'S A BIG BREAKTHROUGH FOR ME. BOYLE'S BRONZE IS STILL A LANDMARK RESULT FOR NZ SWIMMING. SHE'S BECOME THE FIRST KIWI TO WIN TWO MEDALS AT THE SAME WORLD SHORT-COURSE CHAMPS ` ALL ON HER 25TH BIRTHDAY. BOYLE NOW HAS A DAY OFF BEFORE HAVING A CRACK AT THE 200M FREESTYLE. IN AWARDS SEASON, THE SAFEST BET OF THE YEAR WAS SURELY RICHIE MCCAW TAKING TOP HONOURS, AND SO IT PROVED. THE ALL BLACKS SKIPPER (31) WAS NAMED THE KELVIN TREMAIN MEMORIAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN AUCKLAND LAST NIGHT. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. ONCE AGAIN WEARING OUT THE CARPET ON THE PATH TO THE STAGE ` RICHIE MCCAW. HIS TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTES OF AN OUTSTANDING, RELENTLESS WORK RATE AND INSPIRING LEADERSHIP EARNING THE KEL TREMAIN TROPHY FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN ITS 18-YEAR HISTORY. THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR SKIPPER AS EVER CREDITED HIS TEAMMATES. YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE BLOKES YOU GET TO PLAY ALONGSIDE, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN PRETTY PRIVILEGED TO BE AMONGST A PRETTY GOOD BUNCH THIS YEAR, AND I JUST LOVE WHAT I DO, AND WHEN YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, YOU DO IT AS WELL AS YOU CAN. COACH OF THE YEAR STEVE HANSEN GAVE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE SKIPPER-COACH RELATIONSHIP HELPING GARNER SO MANY AWARDS AT HOME AND ABROAD. YEAH, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS. WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED, HE WAS A CHEEKY MONKEY, AND HE HASN'T CHANGED MUCH, REALLY ` JUST BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE OPINIONATED. LAUGHTER A SHARED OPINION BETWEEN THE TWO SET THE TONE THAT CREATED TEAM OF THE YEAR. HE SAID, 'THERE'S A CHOICE HERE. WE CAN EITHER JUST MEANDER ALONG AND JUST HOPE IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT AND LIVE ON LAST YEAR, OR WE CAN TAKE IT TO A LEVEL THAT` WHERE YOU EARN THE RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF WORLD CHAMPIONS. CONRAD SMITH TOOK OUT SUPER RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR, LIKEWISE ROBBIE FRUEAN IN THE ITM CUP, WITH RAVINIA EVERITT WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR. BUT THE TOP VOLUNTEER DELIVERED THE STAT OF THE YEAR WITH THIS UNIQUE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR FOR THE GROWTH OF THE GAME IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. THE SAUSAGE SIZZLE THE YEAR BEFORE REQUIRED SOMETHING LIKE 350 SAUSAGES ON A SATURDAY, AND NOW IT REQUIRES 750 SAUSAGES. LAUGHTER A THOUSAND SAUSAGES IS NEXT SEASON'S TARGET. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. BOXING'S PREMIER EVENT OF THE YEAR IS UPON US. HOW WILL OLYMPIC CHAMPION ERIC MURRAY DO AGAINST MANU VATUVEI? WILL TROY FLAVELL CLOCK WILLIE MASON? FOR THE LATEST ON FIGHT FOR LIFE, WE'RE JOINED BY CRAIG STANAWAY. EXHIBITION BOUTS WITH PRIDE. COLONEL BOB, 16 OUNCE GLOVES MAKE A DIFFERENCE? IF YOU GET WHACKED HARD ENOUGH, THE BRAIN CAN EXPLODE INTO A CONCUSSION. IT'S STILL DANGEROUS. CALM IT DOWN. PEOPLE HAVE HAVING TEA. JOSEPH PARKER ` IM HESITANT TO PUMP UP HIS TYRES. HE'S RAW AND YOUNG, COACABLE. I MET HIM THE OTHER DAY. MAYBE GET A WORLD TITLE. HE'LL GET A KNOCKOUT TONIGHT? YES. THANKS, CRAIG. NEXT YEAR'S COMPETITOR. CRAIG STANAWAY LIVE FROM TRUSTS STADIUM. ANOTHER OF TENNIS' COLOURFUL CHARACTERS WILL BE AT NEXT MONTH'S HEINEKEN OPEN, BUT WITHOUT A ROOF, THE AUCKLAND EVENT WILL STRUGGLE TO ATTRACT THE BIGGEST NAMES. FORMER WORLD NUMBER SEVEN GAEL MONFILS HAS BEEN GIVEN A WILDCARD INTO THE TOURNAMENT, BUT IT'S UNLIKELY THE TOP FOUR WILL GRACE THESE SHORES ANY TIME SOON. THAT ANDY MURRAY OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT CAN PLAY A WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND BE IN MELBOURNE AT 6.30 ON A SATURDAY NIGHT GIVES US A MUCH BETTER BARGAINING POWER WITH THEM THAN SAYING, 'OH, LOOK, WE HOPE WE'LL GET YOU THERE SATURDAY NIGHT, 'BUT IT MIGHT BE SUNDAY NIGHT, DEPENDING ON WEATHER.' MONFILS WILL BE ONE OF THE FEW PLAYERS IN AUCKLAND CAPABLE OF UPSETTING DEFENDING CHAMPION DAVID FERRER. THE NORTHERN KNIGHTS HAVE LOST THEIR UNBEATEN RECORD IN CRICKET'S TWENTY20 DOMESTIC CHAMPIONSHIP, LOSING TO OTAGO. THE VOLTS BATTED FIRST, SCORING A HANDY 173/7, WITH SOUTH AFRICAN RYAN TEN DOESCHATE TOP SCORING WITH 65 OFF 45 BALLS. NO CHANCE FOR WILLIAMSON. AND HE'S OFF-SPINNERS. HAS HE GOT ONE HERE? NO. FAR ENOUGH. GONE FOR HALF A DOZEN. ALL THE WAY. THE KNIGHTS COULDN'T CHASE DOWN THE TOTAL, WITH BLACKCAPS TEST SQUAD MEMBER NEIL WAGNER CLAIMING 3/41. OTAGO WON BY 11 RUNS. AUSTRALIA HAS DECLARED AT 450/4, AS THEY TIGHTEN THEIR GRIP ON SRI LANKA ON DAY TWO OF THE FIRST TEST IN HOBART. NO CENTURY TODAY FOR MICHAEL CLARKE. THE AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN OUT FOR 74. THE DISMISSAL NOT TROUBLING MICHAEL HUSSEY, MR CRICKET BRINGING UP HIS 100 AFTER LUNCH. THERE HE GOES. OVER THE TOP. OVER THE TOP! TAKEN? NO! THAT'LL BE 100 FOR HUSSEY. IT HAD ALL THE DRAMA IN THE WORLD. HE SEES THE FUNNY SIDE OF IT. SRI LANKA ARE NOW BATTING. THEY'RE CURRENTLY 16/0. AND ENGLAND'S CRICKETERS ARE IN A STRONG POSITION ON DAY THREE OF THE FOURTH TEST AGAINST INDIA IN NAGPUR. INDIA ARE STRUGGLING IN THEIR FIRST INNINGS AFTER ENGLAND WAS DISMISSED FOR 330. THE BBC'S JOE WILSON REPORTS. DON'T LET IT BE SAID THAT NAGPUR IS UNPREPARED. AROUND THE CRICKET GROUND THEY WERE TAKING NO CHANCES ` SECURITY THAT BEFITS THE HUGE NEW STADIUM. TROUBLE IS IT WAS BUILT SO FAR FROM ANYWHERE ONLY THE DEVOTED MADE IT THERE BY MORNING. ALL: INDIA! THERE WERE PRECIOUS FEW INSIDE TO SEE MATT PRIOR MAKE A VALUABLE 50. HE'S WELL-ESTABLISHED ASSET IN ENGLAND'S SIDE. JOE ROOT IS A SURPRISE, A GIFT. FEW EXPECTED HIM EVEN TO PLAY HERE WHEN HE FACED 229 BALLS TO MAKE 73. HE MAY LOOK 21 GOING ON 12, BUT HE COULD NOT HAVE BATTED WITH MORE MATURITY. GRAEME SWANN BASHED SOME TIMELY RUNS TOO, MAKING HIS FIFTH TEST 50 IN HIS 50TH TEST, ENSURING ENGLAND GOT TO 330. THAT TOTAL LOOKED GOOD, BUT IT DEPENDED ON THE OTHER TEAM. VIRENDER SEHWAG ONLY ENTERTAINED ENGLAND ` CLEANED UP FOR NOUGHT. ANDERSON HAD GOT RID OF A BIG PROBLEM IN THE FIRST OVER. BY THE CLOSE, ENGLAND HAD FOUR WICKETS ` ANDERSON THREE, INCLUDING SACHIN TENDULKAR. HE'S THE WORLD'S GREATEST EVER RUN-SCORER, BUT HE MAY NEVER BAT IN A TEST AGAIN, AND INDIA MAY NOT HAVE A WAY BACK IN THIS MATCH. THEY'RE 243 BEHIND. NZ GOLFER JOSH GEARY'S BEEN ON A HOT RUN DURING THE THIRD ROUND OF THE AUSTRALIA PGA AT COOLUM. GEARY RATTLED OFF FOUR STRAIGHT BIRDIES AT ONE STAGE TO ROCKET UP THE LEADERBOARD. SHOTS LIKE THIS SAW HIM FINISH SIX UNDER. GENEROUS PIN POSITION BACK THERE. HAVE A LOOK AT THAT. GEARY, FIVE SHOTS ADRIFT OF CLUBHOUSE LEADER ANTHONY BROWN, SHOWED THE DEFTEST OF TOUCHES FROM THE SAND. OH! WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT, AND HE IS RED HOT RIGHT NOW. LAST WEEK'S AUSSIE OPEN WINNER, PETER SENIOR (53), ALSO KNOCKED IN PLENTY OF BIRDIES TO BE TIED FOR THIRD. ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL SPORTING TEAMS IN HISTORY HAS JUST ABOUT HIT ROCK BOTTOM. DESPITE BEING ONCE AGAIN A TEAM FULL OF SUPERSTARS, THE LA LAKERS ARE OFF TO THEIR WORST START TO AN NBA SEASON IN TWO DECADES. SO WHAT'S GOING ON? GLEN LARMER REPORTS. 16 NBA TITLES, ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISABLE TEAMS IN WORLD SPORT, BUT THESE ARE NOT GREAT DAYS FOR THE LA LAKERS. IT'S A TEAM THAT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY STABILITY. THERE'S NO REAL SENSE OF PURPOSE IN WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THE LAKERS HAVE STARTED THE SEASON HORRIBLY ` 10 WINS FROM 24 GAMES. HERE THEY ARE GETTING DONE BY THE NEW YORK KNICKS THIS WEEK. THEY'RE LANGUISHING IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE. JUST THREE TEAMS ARE BEHIND THEM. THEY'RE ALREADY ON TO THEIR SECOND COACH THIS SEASON AS THEY TRY TO FIND ANSWERS. THE GUYS ARE PLAYING HARD. WE'VE JUST GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO KEEP WORKING ON AND TRANSITION OVER AND TRY TO GET OUT OF THIS OBVIOUS SLUMP. BUT HOW IS THE QUESTION THAT NEEDS ANSWERING. THE LAKERS HAVE REGULARLY BEEN GIVING UP BIG FIRST-QUARTER LEADS TO OPPONENTS. PLAYING CATCH-UP ISN'T WORKING, AND SOLUTIONS SEEM THIN ON THE GROUND. WHAT I'LL TRY TO DO IS TRY TO DO MORE BY DOING LESS, BY DOING MORE. (LAUGHS) IF THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, THEN WHAT DOES IS THE LAKERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR ROSTER. TWO-TIME NBA MVP STEVE NASH IS OUT INJURED, AND OTHER STARS PAU GASOL AND DWIGHT HOWARD ARE ALSO STRUGGLING. WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS TO SOLVE. OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR GUYS BACK AND TRY TO BE A BETTER TEAM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE STRUGGLING. FOR A TEAM THAT'S ONLY MISSED THE PLAY-OFFS TWICE SINCE 1976, THE PRESSURE IS ON. GLEN LARMER, ONE NEWS. KINLOCH TRIATHLETE GRAHAM O'GRADY HAS WON THE FIRST TRI-SERIES RACE OF THE SUMMER, CANTERING TO VICTORY IN ROTORUA. THE 30-YEAR-OLD FINISHED WELL AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION. HIS FOCUS IS NOW ON NEXT MONTH'S BIG RACES IN TAURANGA AND AUCKLAND. I DON'T THINK I HAD ANY WEAKNESSES OUT THERE, SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AHEAD AT TAURANGA AND AUCKLAND, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANY WEAKNESSES AGAINST THE QUALITY FEW THAT ARE GONNA BE THERE. TODAY'S WIN WAS O'GRADY'S THIRD IN AS MANY WEEKS. I'M GONNA GO UNDERDOG ` ERIC MURRAY OVER MANU VATUVEI. THANKS, JENNY-MAY. AFTER THE BREAK, KAREN TELLS US HOW LONG THE FINE WEATHER IS SET TO HANG AROUND. A FINE SUMMER'S DAY FOR MOST OF US. JUST SOME LIGHT RAIN FOR WESTLAND. THERE ARE SOME RAIN CLOUDS CLOSING IN ON THE SOUTH ISLAND. AT THIS STAGE, THERE IS A WATCH IN PLACE FOR A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN IN FIORDLAND AND SOUTH WESTLAND LATER ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES OVER THE COUNTRY TODAY UNDER A GOOD RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE. YOU CAN MAKE OUT A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUD OVER THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. BRIGHTER CLOUD TO THE NORTH ASSOCIATED WITH A TROUGH AND A FRONT. TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN NOT EVEN IN FRAME ` WELL TO THE NORTH-EAST. BUT A LOT MORE ACTION IS MOVING INTO THE TASMAN ` CLUSTER OF FRONTS, TROUGHS AND LOWS; ALL HEADING EASTWARDS. OUR HIGH WILL KEEP MOST OF THEM AT BAY. BUT THIS WARM FRONT WILL CROSS THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND TONIGHT, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER WEAK, WARM FRONT EMBEDDED IN THIS WARM, MOIST NORTH-WEST FLOW. THAT'S WHERE THE RAIN FOR FIORDLAND IS GOING TO COME FROM CLOUDY PERIODS IN THE WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. SOME DRIZZLE ABOUT THE FIORDS TURNING TO RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. MAYBE A FEW SPOTS SNEAKING ACROSS INTO SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO AS HIGH CLOUD THICKENS UP THERE. STAYING FINE IN THE NORTH. NORTH-EASTERLY WINDS ALONG THE COASTS. THOSE WINDS STRONG IN THE SOUTH-WEST. LIGHT WINDS INLAND. FINE AND SUNNY OVER MUCH OF THE NORTH ISLAND. JUST A FEW BITS OF CLOUD AROUND. WARM INTO THE AFTERNOON WITH HIGHS AROUND THE MID-20 MARK. NORTH TO NORTH-WEST WINDS FRESHENING ABOUT THE COASTS. LIGHT WINDS INLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT. SEE YOU TOMORROW. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR SATURDAY. FROM THE ONE NEWS TEAM, GOOD NIGHT.