GOOD EVENING. SAMOA AND FIJI HAVE TAKEN A HAMMERING FROM TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN. NOW IT'S HEADING DOWN OUR WAY, BUT WEAKENING AS IT MOVES OVER COLDER SEAS. WE'LL HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF THE DAMAGE THE CYCLONE HAS LEFT IN ITS WAKE, AND I WILL LOOK AT WHERE ITS HEADING AND THE LIKELY IMPACTS ON OUR WEATHER IN THE COMING DAYS. 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 HORRIFIC START TO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ` SEVEN PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN TWO CAR CRASHES IN THE SAME AREA. THE CLEAN-UP BEGINS AFTER CYCLONE EVAN BATTERS FIJI ` KIWI TOURISTS TELL ONE NEWS ABOUT THEIR MOMENT OF TERROR. DRAMATIC PICTURES OF THE RAGING TORRENT OF WATER THAT'S LEFT UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AND A LOOMING HEALTH CRISIS IN SAMOA. AND MORE PAIN AT THE PUMP ` THE PRICE OF PETROL'S GOING UP. WE REVEAL WHY THE GOVERNMENT'S RAISING FUEL TAX. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. WE BEGIN WITH A HORROR START TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WITH SEVEN PEOPLE KILLED IN TWO CRASHES NEAR TOKOROA. MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE DEATHS OF FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE CHILDREN, FOUND IN A CAR THAT HAD SMASHED INTO A TREE. IT'S TONIGHT NOT KNOWN HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN THERE. THE CAR WITH FIVE OCCUPANTS WAS FOUND DOWN A BANK ON WHAKAMARU RD, JUST SOUTH OF TOKOROA. THE DOUBLE FATALITY OCCURED ON STATE HIGHWAY 1 JUST NORTH OF ATIAMURI. FOR MORE, BRODIE KANE JOINS US NOW. BRODIE, WHAT'S THE LATEST INFORMATION YOU HAVE? A MASSIVE CLEAN-UP HAS BEGUN ACROSS FIJI AS IT DEALS WITH THE DESTRUCTION WROUGHT BY CYCLONE EVAN. WITH NO FATALITIES REPORTED, THE ISLAND NATION APPEARS TO HAVE COME THROUGH THE TROPICAL CYCLONE RELATIVELY UNSCATHED. EVAN'S NOW HEADING SOUTH TOWARDS NZ AFTER HITTING FIJI AND KILLING AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE IN SAMOA. SHORTLY, WE'LL CROSS LIVE TO BARBARA DREAVER FOR MORE ON A LOOMING HEALTH CRISIS IN SAMOA. FIRST, OUR REPORTER PAUL HOBBS JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM FIJI. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE JUST HOURS AGO THE CYCLONE WAS IN FULL FORCE THE COUNTRY IS STILL DEALING WITH IT BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S A PLEASANT SUMMER EVENING WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES. A MASSIVE CLEAN-UP HAS BEGUN ACROSS FIJI AS IT APPEARS TO HAVE ESCAPED THE DEATHLY GRIP OF CYCLONE EVAN RELATIVELY UNHARMED. CYCLONE EVAN ARRIVED WITH A FATAL RECORD, PROMPTING LOCALS TO FEAR AND PREPARE FOR THE WORST. BUT 24 HOURS LATER, EVERYONE IS SAFE. EVERYONE IS GOOD. IT'S A SENSE OF RELIEF FOR FAMILY IN THE VILLAGES. NO ONE IS HURT. BUT IT LEFT ITS MARK. HOMES WERE LOST AS GUSTS OF AROUND 200KM/HR BATTERED THE COUNTRY'S WEST COAST. THOUSANDS OF LOCALS TOOK SHELTER AT EVACUATION CENTRES. WE DON'T KNOW, WHEN WE GO BACK, THE HOUSE WILL BE THERE OR NOT. THIS CRIPPLED WOMEN SADLY ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER. I'M SO SORRY. (SOBS) FOR A CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL GROUP, THOUGH, THE CYCLONE SERVED UP AN UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE. LIKE, AT SOME STAGES IT WAS A BIT FREAKY WITH THE HOWLING WIND, BUT I ACTUALLY QUITE ENJOYED IT. SHE WASN'T ALONE. (LAUGHS) THIS SCHOOL TRIP SEEMED TO HAVE IT ALL. SO THIS WAS MY BEDROOM BEFORE THE ROOF COLLAPSED. A MASSIVE GUST OF WIND CAVED IN THE CEILING. AND I WAS DOWN ON MY KNEES, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTERWARDS THAT I REALISED IT ACTUALLY SPILT ABOVE MY HEAD AND FELL AROUND ME. AT THE TOURIST RESORT OF DENARAU, EVAN'S FORCE TRAPPED A PALMERSTON NORTH FAMILY IN THEIR UNIT. WHEN IT GOT TO ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK, THERE WAS NO WAY ANYBODY WAS GOING OUTSIDE. WE'VE LIVED THROUGH IT, AND YEAH, WE'RE HERE TO TELL THE TALE, BASICALLY. AND SO HAS FIJI, THIS RESILIENT PACIFIC NATION GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS IN TYPICAL ISLAND STYLE. THE CYCLONE'S TOLL WILL BE GREAT, BUT IT HASN'T WIPED THE SMILE OFF ITS PEOPLE'S FACES. NOW, KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON CYCLONE EVAN AND HOW IT COULD AFFECT US HERE ` ONE NEWS WEATHER EXPERT KAREN OLSEN. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT, KAREN? THIS IS TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN. IT IS NOW A CATEGORY THREE STORM AND IS MOVING AWAY FROM FIJI IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. AND IT'S WEAKENING AS IT MOVES OVER COOLER SEAS. AT THIS STAGE IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'LL PASS WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED KILOMETRES OF THE TOP OF NZ DURING THE WEEKEND. BY THE TIME IT GETS CLOSE, IT WON'T BE A TROPICAL CYCLONE ANY MORE, BUT IT'LL STILL BE DRAGGING DOWN LOTS OF WARM, MOIST TROPICAL AIR WITH IT. THAT MEANS WE COULD GET HEAVY RAIN IN AREAS OPEN TO STRONG ONSHORE WINDS. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT EVAN'S TRACK. WE THINK IT'LL PROBABLY SWING AWAY FROM THE NORTH ISLAND AND INTO THE NORTH TASMAN ON SUNDAY, BUT IF IT DECIDES TO HEAD TOWARDS EAST CAPE, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT SCENARIO AS WELL. WE ARE KEEPING CLOSE TABS ON IT AND WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE WITH ANY DEVELOPMENTS. I'LL BE BACK WITH MORE LATER IN THE BULLETIN. THANKS, KAREN. AND IT'LL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE THE SCARS INFLICTED BY CYCLONE EVAN HEAL IN SAMOA. THE COUNTRY'S NOW FACING A TYPHOID EPIDEMIC TO ADD TO ITS WOES. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER IS LIVE IN THE CAPITAL, APIA, WHERE MEDICAL TEAMS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. BARBARA. THIS IS THE REASON WHY THERE ARE SO MANY HEALTH ISSUES HERE LOOK AT THIS MUCK THERE'S NO RUNNING WATER TO CLEAN UP WITH AND THE OWNER'S LIVING UPSTAIRS THIS IS A BREEDING GROUND FOR DISEASE IF IT HADN'T ALREADY BEEN TOUGH ENOUGH, SAMOA IS BRACING FOR ITS NEXT DISASTER ` A LOOMING HEALTH CRISIS. IT'S MAJOR, NATIONWIDE. YUP. HERE'S THE PROBLEM ` MOST HOMES STILL HAVE NO RUNNING WATER. VILLAGES ARE GETTING THEIR SUPPLIES FROM UNSANITARY POOLS LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OPTION. I THINK IF NO WATER, IT'S NO LIFE. HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH CYCLONE-RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESS. AS OF NOW WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF INJURIES. AND THEN WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT, SEEING A LOT OF CHILDREN WITH DIARRHOEA. BUT THE FEAR NOW IS TYPHOID. WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED AND DOING ALL WE CAN TO PREVENT THAT. WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH WHO TO TRY AND MOBILISE SOME TYPHOID, YOU KNOW, VACCINATIONS FOR US. TO TRY AND MOBILISE SOME TYPHOID, YOU KNOW, VACCINATIONS FOR US. RED CROSS IS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL AUTHORITIES. THEY'RE FINDING HUGE PROBLEMS IN THE HOMES THEY'RE VISITING. INFECTIONS ARE RIFE AND CONDITIONS UNLIVEABLE. THE RISK OF DISEASE SPREADING IS HIGH IN THESE DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHY TEAMS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO HELP CONTAIN IT. THE FLASH FLOODS CAUSED BY CYCLONE EVAN WASHED UP A RAFT OF DEBRIS, WHICH IS ADDING TO THE UNSANITARY CONDITIONS. THERE'S QUITE A BAD ODOUR OF DEAD ANIMALS ` THERE'S QUITE A BAD ODOUR OF DEAD ANIMALS ` THE PIGS, THE DOGS, THE CHICKENS ALL AROUND HERE. THE GROWING HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE STRETCHING MEDICAL AUTHORITIES TO THE LIMIT. CAN WE COPE? ALREADY THE STAFF ARE VERY TIRED ` BOTH THE HOSPITAL AND OUT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT EVERYBODY IS TRYING. THEY'RE NOW PREPARING TO MEET A CHALLENGE THEY KNOW WILL TEST THEM TO THE LIMIT. THE NZ RED CROSS IS SENDING EXTRA STAFF TO HELP PUT EXTRA WATER TANKS INTO VILLAGES NZ GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GIVE ANOTHER $550,000 FOR IMMEDIATE USE IT WILL ALSO LOOK AT WHAT ELSE IT CAN DO TO HELP BACK TO THE DEADLY CRASHES FOR MORE, BRODIE KANE JOINS US NOW. THE FIVE PEOPLE KILLED WERE A FAMILY OF FIVE A MAN (37), WOMAN (23) AND THREE CHILDREN IT'S NOT KNOWN WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED BUT THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE THE VEHICLE WAS DISCOVERED THIS AFTERNOON I'M JOINED BY THE TAUPO AREA COMMANDER STEVE BULLICK A TRAGIC DAY FOR YOU IS THERE ANYTHING MORE YOU CAN TELL US? THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL INVOLVED WE'RE DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WE HOPE TO PROVIDE CLOSURE TO THE FAMILIES WE'VE ALSO HAD A DOUBLE FATALITY NOT FAR AWAY WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? A VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CRASH NEAR TOKOROA IT KILLED TWO INDIAN NATIONALS VISITING NZ A TRAGEDY FOR NZ AND FOR THE FAMILIES IN INDIA SO THE INVESTIGATIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE CAUSE OF THE TRAGIC CRASHES FUEL-TAX INCREASES WILL SEE YOU PAYING MORE FOR YOUR PETROL OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT'S RAISING THE TAX BY 3C ANNUALLY FROM NEXT YEAR THROUGH TO 2015. IT'S AIMED AT GETTING THE COUNTRY'S ACCOUNTS BACK IN SURPLUS WITH SOME EXTRA MONEY FOR NEW SPENDING. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN HAS THE DETAILS AND SOME GRUMPY MOTORISTS. FILLING UP BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD IN SUMMER BREAK IS PAINFUL ENOUGH. BUT COME 2015, MOTORISTS WILL BE COUGHING UP ANOTHER 9C A LITRE. IT'S ALREADY PRETTY HIGH ALREADY, EH? PAY AS YOU GO ` LOVE IT. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS. MORE THAN 40% OF THE LISTED PRICE OF A LITRE OF PETROL IS MADE UP IN GOVERNMENT TAXES, WITH THE REST GOING ON THINGS LIKE SHIPPING AND IMPORT MARGINS. NOW THE GOVERNMENT'S TAPPING MOTORISTS FOR MORE IN ORDER TO MEET A FUNDING SHORTFALL IN ITS MAJOR ROAD BUILDING PROGRAMME. WE WANT TO BRING FORWARD THE START DATES FOR A NUMBER OF THOSE MAJOR PROJECTS. ACTUALLY, WE SHOULD BE DEFERRING THESE PROJECTS AND SPENDING OUR TRANSPORT DOLLARS ON SMARTER PROJECTS. BUT THE NEW PETROL TAX ALSO SERVES ANOTHER PURPOSE; MR ENGLISH ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WITHOUT IT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T GET THE BOOKS BACK IN THE BLACK BY 2014/15. WITHOUT THE CHANGES, WE WOULD HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE SURPLUS TRACK. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MR KEY ` 9C MORE A LITRE ON YOUR PETROL PRICES IN ORDER TO SCRAPE ACROSS THE LINE INTO SURPLUS. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FORECAST, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ONLY HAVE A $66M SURPLUS IN 2014/15. THAT'S $130M LESS THAN FORECAST JUST SIX MONTHS AGO. GROWTH WILL BE WEAKER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, AT 2.5% IN COMING YEARS, ALTHOUGH STILL BETTER THAN MANY OF OUR TRADING PARTNERS. AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW 6% IN TWO YEARS. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET d REMAINS WEAKER THAN 8 WE WOULD WANT TO SEE IT. SO WHILE MOTORIST MAY TAKE A HIT IN JULY FROM THE TAX HIKE, THEY MAY YET ALSO BENEFIT NEXT YEAR WITH THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRMING THAT IT'S PUT SOME $800M ASIDE FOR NEW BUDGET SPENDING. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. THE WIFE OF JAMES TAKAMORE HAS WON THE LONG-RUNNING LEGAL BATTLE TO HAVE HIS BODY RETURNED FOR BURIAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. HE DIED SUDDENLY IN CHRISTCHURCH FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT HIS TUHOE RELATIVES TOOK HIS BODY AND BURIED IT BESIDE HIS FATHER AT THE FAMILY MARAE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. HIS PARTNER OF 20 YEARS, DENISE CLARKE, AND THEIR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THAT MOVE THROUGH THE COURTS. TODAY THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN THEIR FAVOUR. VERY EMOTIONAL, YEAH. I HAVEN'T GOT MY HEAD AROUND IT YET. I CAN'T BELIEVE ITS ACTUALLY COME TO THE DAY. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. IT'S JUST BEEN SO LONG. THE COURT RULED THAT AS EXECUTOR, UNDER COMMON LAW, DENISE CLARKE HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE HIM EXHUMED AND BURIED IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE CONMAN WHO SWINDLED THREE MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS VICTIMS, INCLUDING TWO TOP CASINO EXECUTIVES, HAS BEEN JAILED FOR EIGHT YEARS. LOIZOS MICHAELS SCAMS EVEN STUNG THE NATIONAL PARTY PRESIDENT AND ALL BLACK LEGEND JONAH LOMU. WILL HINE WAS AT THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT. TODAY WAS THE DAY OF RECKONING FOR LOIZOS MICHAELS, SENTENCED ON 30 CHARGES OF FRAUD. HIS TWO BIGGEST VICTIMS ` FORMER CEO OF CHRISTCHURCH CASINO, STEPHEN LYTTELTON AND THE CASINO'S HEAD OF OPERATIONS, PETER ARBUCKLE. MICHAELS FLEECED THEM OF MORE THAN $2.5M AFTER CLAIMING TO BE A CORPORATE PLAYER WITH LINKS TO WEALTHY OVERSEAS FAMILIES. HE ALSO TRIED TO DECEIVE NATIONAL PARTY PRESIDENT PETER GOODFELLOW AND TOLD ANOTHER VICTIM HE HAD TIES TO FORMER ALL BLACK SUPERSTAR JONAH LOMU. THIS WAS ALL AT GREAT FINANCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COST TO THE VICTIMS. THIS WAS ALL AT GREAT FINANCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COST TO THE VICTIMS. AS I'VE SUBMITTED, IT WAS HIGHLY PRE-MEDIATED. IT WAS ALSO, THE CROWN SUBMITS, RUTHLESS. EXCERPTS FROM VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS WERE READ TO THE COURT. EXCERPTS FROM VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS WERE READ TO THE COURT. THEY TOLD OF SUFFERING THAT INCLUDED IMMENSE DISTRESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND LOSS OF REPUTATION. THEY ALL EXPRESS A SENSE OF BETRAYAL, THEY ALL EXPRESS A SENSE OF BETRAYAL, DEVASTATION AND HUMILIATION. IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOREVER BY THIS FRAUD. ONCE OUT OF JAIL, MICHAELS MIGHT NOT BE OUT OF TROUBLE ` HE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION IN AUSTRALIA, AND AUTHORITIES HERE ARE EXPECTING A CALL. WE WOULD EXPECT THEM, AFTER THE SENTENCING, TO COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE THEY MIGHT WANT TO GO WITH THEIR CASES. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY UP TO THEM, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE WE CAN. MICHAELS WILL SPEND NEARLY FOUR YEARS BEHIND BARS BEFORE HE'S ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. FLIGHTS RESUMED AT WELLINGTON AIRPORT THIS AFTERNOON AFTER FOG FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF NUMEROUS FLIGHTS. 20 REGIONAL AIR NZ FLIGHTS TO AND FROM THE CAPITAL WERE CANCELLED DUE TO LOW-LYING CLOUD. BUT DESPITE CONDITIONS IMPROVING, THE METSERVICE WARNS THE LOW CLOUD IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TOMORROW MORNING. NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` HE'S FEELING MORE ENERGISED: A PATIENT'S VERDICT ON A TRIAL DRUG FOR A DEBILITATING DISEASE. TEARS FOR THEIR CHILDREN ` THE FIRST OF THE FUNERALS FOR THE YOUNG LIVES LOST IN A MASS KILLING. AND WATCH OUT FOR THIS ` WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE SHELLFISH WITH LETHAL SIDE EFFECTS. HOPES ARE HIGH FOR THE FUTURE OF A NEW DRUG TO TREAT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AN AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE WHICH AFFECTS MORE THAN 3000 NZERS. IT'S BEEN DEVELOPED HERE, AND IN EARLY TRIALS HAS ALREADY IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF SEVERAL PATIENTS. HEALTH REPORTER LORELEI MASON EXPLAINS. STEPHEN MUDGWAY HAS BEEN MAKING THE TRIP INTO CHRISTCHURCH'S CLINICAL TRIALS UNIT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. ALL RIGHT. USUAL BED. LINING UP ALONGSIDE OTHER MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS FOR A WEEKLY DOSE OF HOPE ` A DRUG CALLED MIS416. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE A CURE, BUT IT MAKES LIFE A LOT MORE BEARABLE. HE SAYS WITHIN HOURS OF HIS FIRST SHOT, HIS HAND-EYE CO-ORDINATION IMPROVED, AS DID HIS EYESIGHT, AND HE COULD STAND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. I WENT FROM 18 HOURS TO ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE HOURS' SLEEP, AND I COULD SEE A FUTURE, WHEREAS BEFORE THAT I COULDN'T SEE A FUTURE ` THE FUTURE WAS JUST DARK AND DIM. CURRENT DRUGS FOR SECONDARY PROGRESSIVE MS ONLY TREAT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE. BUT MIS416 IS THE FIRST AIMED AT MODULATING THE PART OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WHICH IS ATTACKING ITSELF. WE'VE GOT AN IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL IN THESE PATIENTS, WE'VE GOT AN IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL IN THESE PATIENTS, AND WE ARE RAMPING UP THAT PART OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR REGAINING CONTROL. BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE THIS YEAR, 15 PATIENTS CAME ONCE A WEEK TO THIS CLINICAL TRIALS UNIT TO GET INJECTED WITH 500 MICROGRAMS OF MIS416. SINCE THE TRIAL ENDED, SEVERAL PATIENTS HAVE REMAINED ON THE DRUG ON A COMPASSIONATE BASIS. STEPHEN MUDGWAY IS ONE OF THEM. I'D FIND IT VERY HARD GIVING UP THIS DRUG, COS I WOULDN'T LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE WAY I WAS. WE CERTAINLY AREN'T TAKING THE PATIENTS ALL THE WAY BACK TO BEING IN PERFECT HEALTH, BUT WHAT WE DO SEEM TO BE DOING IS REVERSING DISABILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED OVER THE PRECEDING SIX TO 12 MONTHS. THE DRUG HAS COST $50M TO DEVELOP SO FAR AND HAS JUST GAINED A US PATENT. THE NEXT, LARGER TRIAL, INVOLVING 150 PATIENTS, WILL BEGIN IN AUSTRALIA NEXT YEAR. LORELEI MASON, ONE NEWS. SECURITY AT SCHOOLS AROUND AMERICA HAS STEPPED UP AS STUDENTS RETURN TO CLASS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE A MASS SHOOTING. IT COMES AS FUNERALS ARE HELD FOR TWO OF THE 20 CHILDREN SHOT DEAD AT SANDY HOOK IN NEWPORT, CONNECTICUT. REBECCA EDWARDS REPORTS. THE SORROW TOO MUCH FOR SOME, AS NOAH POZNER (6) WAS THE FIRST TO BE FAREWELLED IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT; HIS MOTHER TELLING STORIES ABOUT HER BOY. WHEN SHE TOLD HIM, 'I LOVE YOU,' HIS ANSWER WAS, 'NOT AS MUCH AS I LOVE YOU.' ANOTHER FUNERAL, JUST A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY, FOR JACK PINTO, ALSO JUST 6; THE YOUNG SPORTS FAN HONOURED BY HIS FAVOURITE NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALLER. JESSICA REKOS WAS ANOTHER OF THE SMALL VICTIMS. SHE LOVED HORSES AND WANTED COWGIRL BOOTS FOR CHRISTMAS. HER GRIEF-STRICKEN PARENTS HAVE SPOKEN OF THE DESPERATION THEY FELT ON THE DAY OF THE SHOOTING. I JUST POINT-BLANK FOUND A STATE TROOPER AND WAS, LIKE, 'ARE THERE ANY SURVIVORS? YOU KNOW, 'ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT, STANDING HERE AS A PARENT, 'MY CHILD IS GONE?' AND HE SAID, 'YES.' TODAY IT WAS REVEALED THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO ADULT SURVIVORS OF THE SHOOTING. INVESTIGATORS WILL IN FACT SPEAK WITH THEM WHEN IT'S MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE, AND CERTAINLY THEY WILL SHED A GREAT DEAL OF LIGHT ON THE FACT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS TRAGIC INVESTIGATION. FOR THE EACH LIFE LOST, THOUGH, MEMORIALS ARE GROWING, SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS DOING SERVICE AS SYMBOLS OF GRIEF. WHILE THE SCHOOLS IN NEWTOWN REMAIN CLOSED, IN OTHER AREAS, CHILDREN RETURNED TO THEIR CLASSROOMS, SOME UNDER POLICE GUARD. WITH SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY REMAINING A CRIME SCENE, UP TO A HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS ARE NOW SETTING UP AN UNUSED MIDDLE SCHOOL IN A NEIGHBOURING TOWN FOR THE STUDENTS. AND AS THE DEBATE HEATS UP OVER AMERICA'S CONTROVERSIAL GUN LAWS, SO IS INTEREST IN THE WEAPONS. YESTERDAY WAS THE BIGGEST DAY WE'VE EVER DONE IN 20 YEARS. TODAY WILL PROBABLY ECLIPSE THAT. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT FACING A TOUGH ROAD IF HE WANTS TO MAKE CHANGES IN A COUNTRY WHERE FOR SOME, GUNS HAVE BECOME A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. THE NURSE AT THE CENTRE OF THE ROYAL PRANK CALL HAS BEEN BURIED IN SOUTHERN INDIA. JACINTHA SALDANA'S HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN WERE AMONG THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT A PRAYER SERVICE. AFTERWARDS SHE WAS LAID TO REST IN A CEMETERY IN SHIRVA. HER DEATH IS BEING INVESTIGATED IN LONDON AS AN APPARENT SUICIDE. THERE'LL BE A NEW INQUEST INTO THE DEATH OF BRITISH SINGER AMY WINEHOUSE BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL CORONER WASN'T QUALIFIED. WINEHOUSE'S DEATH WAS RECORDED AS ACCIDENTAL ALCOHOL POISONING. THE CORONER WAS APPOINTED BY HER HUSBAND, DESPITE NOT HAVING THE FIVE YEARS' EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. IT'LL BE REHEARD NEXT MONTH. WEATHER TIME NOW. VERY WARM AND HUMID OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT SOME RELIEF FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND TODAY, KAREN. A COOLER, DRIER AIR MASS SPREAD UP OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT IT STAYED MILD AND MUGGY OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. SCATTERED RAIN FOR MANY AREAS. THAT HUMID AIR PRODUCED LOW CLOUD AND FOG OVER WELLINGTON. THAT CLOSED THE AIRPORT FOR A TIME THIS MORNING. WE NOW HAVE A FRONT DRAGGING A COOLER AND DRIER AIR MASS UP OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND, FORCING OUT THE TROPICAL AIR. AND ON THE RAIN RADAR, YOU CAN SEE THE SCATTERED AREAS OF RAIN OVER THE NORTH ISLAND AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND PRODUCED BY THE HUMID AIR MASS OVER US. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I'LL HAVE TOMORROW'S FORECAST AFTER SPORT; ALSO A LOOK AHEAD TO WEEKEND. JUST AHEAD ON ONE NEWS ` WE'VE AWARDS FOR MORE QUAKE HEROES. ALSO, THE WARNINGS OVER SHELLFISH ` WHAT COULD MAKE YOU VERY SICK AT THE BEACH. AND WE GET AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE LATEST CUTTING EDGE DEVELOPMENTS FOR OUR CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATORS. 1 THE LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE PARTIAL SALE OF MIGHTY RIVER POWER IS NOW HEADING TO THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND. THE MAORI COUNCIL WANTS TO DELAY THE SALE OF 49% OF THE POWER GENERATOR, SAYING IT'LL COMPROMISE THE GOVERNMENT'S NEGOTIATION WITH MAORI ON WATER RIGHTS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE HIGH COURT DISPUTED THAT, BUT THE COUNCIL'S NOW BEEN GIVEN THE OK TO LEAPFROG ITS APPEAL FROM THE HIGH COURT TO THE SUPREME COURT. THE CASE WILL BE HEARD IN JANUARY. HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'RE SEEING THE WORST OUTBREAK OF PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONING EVER IN BAY OF PLENTY. 10 PEOPLE HAVE NEEDED HOSPITAL TREATMENT, AND THE DEADLY DANGER'S ACROSS A GROWING AREA OF THE NORTH ISLAND. HELEN CASTLES HAS MORE. IT'S SHELLFISH LIKE THIS THAT'S OFF LIMITS AT DOZENS OF BEACHES THIS SUMMER. IT LOOKS SAFE ENOUGH, BUT EATING IT COULD LEAD TO PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONING. THE TOXINS THAT CAUSE THIS POISONING HAS BEEN KNOWN TO KILL PEOPLE OVERSEAS. THERE HAVE ALREADY REPORTS OF PEOPLE BEING ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY AREA, SO THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. IF LEVELS RISE MUCH MORE, WE COULD BE SEEING FATALITIES. THE SHELLFISH CONTAMINATION HAS SPREAD ALONG LARGE AREAS OF COASTLINE FROM HOKIANGA DOWN TO TARANAKI. IN BAY OF PLENTY HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED PEOPLE ARE IGNORING THE WARNING SIGNS. PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO IGNORE THEM ARE BASICALLY PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE, IN THIS CASE, POTENTIALLY WITH THEIR LIVES. IN THE PAST WEEK, 20 PEOPLE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY HAVE BEEN POISONED. 10 WERE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL. SYMPTOMS KICK IN WITHIN 24 HOURS. THEY INCLUDE... CHRIS DOUGLAS HAD A LUCKY ESCAPE ` HE'D FALLEN SICK AFTER EATING POISONED PIPI. NUMB IN THE FINGERS AND NUMB IN THE TOES. AND IT STARTED MOVING UP THE OLD BODY, YOU KNOW, COME UP PAST MY ANKLES AND UP TO MY KNEES, AND IT MOVED FROM MY FINGERTIPS UP TO MY ELBOWS. PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONING IS CAUSED BY TOXINS FROM ALGAE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT COOKING CONTAMINATED SHELLFISH DOESN'T REMOVE THE TOXINS. IT IS OK TO EAT CRAYFISH, CRABS AND FISH AS LONG AS YOU DON'T EAT THE GUTS. THE TOXIC ALGAE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO REMAIN IN THE WATER FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS. HELEN CASTLES, ONE NEWS. THE SLICK TECHNOLOGIES SEEN IN TELEVISION CRIME SHOWS SUCH AS CSI ARE NO LONGER SCIENCE FICTION. CRIME SCENE FORENSICS INVESTIGATOR ESR IS DEVELOPING AND USING NEW DEVICES WHICH WILL TRANSFORM DNA ANALYSIS AND POLICE WORK. RENEE GRAHAM GOT AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK. THE WORLD OF FORENSIC CRIME FIGHTING IS GETTING MORE AND MORE HIGH-TECH. AND NZ RESEARCH SCIENTISTS WITH ESR ARE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF DEVELOPMENTS. THE COMBINATION OF TECHNOLOGIES IS GONNA RESULT IN A LARGE LEAP FORWARD. FOR THREE YEARS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH POLICE ON MOBILE DNA TESTING LABORATORIES FOR IMMEDIATE ANALYSIS AND DATA BANK SEARCHES AND UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES WITH THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS TO MAP SCENES AND IDENTIFY BODIES, DEBRIS OR WEAPONS. ESR AIMS TO PROCESS EVIDENCE AT A CRIME SCENE AT A MUCH FASTER RATE. SO NEW TECHNOLOGIES, LIKE THIS LED DEVICE, ALLOWS THEM TO FIND TRACE EVIDENCE ON THE SPOT, LIKE FOOTPRINTS, BLOOD AND FIBRES. NONE WOULD BE VISIBLE WITHOUT THE SPECIAL LIGHT. IF YOU CATCH AN OFFENDER EARLIER, THEN POTENTIALLY YOU'RE REDUCING VICTIMISATION IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE POTENTIALLY, THE PERSON COULD HAVE GONE OUT AND CONTINUED OFFENDING. LIVE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY MEANS POLICE CAN TALK DIRECTLY TO SCIENTISTS AT THE LAB AND TRANSMIT EVIDENCE. CAN YOU SEE THE CARTRIDGE CASES? ESR IS ALSO IMPROVING 3D SOFTWARE THAT GIVES JURORS DETAILED VIRTUAL TOURS OF A CRIME SCENE. ACADEMY-AWARD-WINNING FORMER WETA WORKSHOP WIZARD SEB MARINO IS LEADING THAT WORK ON GRAPHICS SO REALISTIC THEY'LL BE LIKE A PHOTO. THEY COULD ZOOM IN, THEY COULD PULL UP INFORMATION, LIKE BLOOD-SPATTER ANALYSIS, DNA SAMPLES ` ALL SORTS OF AND ANY SORT OF INFORMATION THAT IS DEEMED TO BE RELEVANT. ESR SAYS THE TECHNOLOGIES IT'S DEVELOPING HERE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HELP CRIME FIGHTING ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. MORE QUAKE HEROES ARE RIGHT NOW BEING HONOURED FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN CHRISTCHURCH DURING THE FEBRUARY 22ND DISASTER. 172 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS ARE BEING RECOGNISED, AS MIKE THORPE REPORTS. FATHER OF TWO JAIME GILBERT DIED A HERO. HIS SELFLESS ACT SAVED THE LIFE OF HIS SISTER AND COST HIM HIS OWN. AMY WILL COLLECT HER BROTHER'S AWARD ON HIS BEHALF. THEIR FATHER SAYS THEY BOTH DESERVE IT. SHE'S A FANTASTIC ROLE MODEL TO HER OWN KIDS, BUT ALSO TO JAIME'S KIDS AS WELL ` JUST IN TERMS OF HAVING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK, COMING THROUGH THE WORST AND SEEING A BRIGHT FUTURE. THE GILBERT FAMILY IS COMING IN FORCE TONIGHT, INCLUDING JAIME'S LITTLE ONES. THEY KNOW THAT DAD'S IN HEAVEN, AND AFTER TODAY THEY'LL KNOW WHAT A HERO HE IS. AND EVERYBODY SAYS SO, SO IT MUST BE TRUE. ALSO RECOGNISED, THE LAWYER WHO LOWERED HIS STAFF ONE BY ONE FROM THE SIXTH FLOOR OF THE FORSYTH BARR BUILDING AFTER THE STAIRWELL COLLAPSED. MY WIFE IS ACTUALLY THE OFFICE MANAGER, SO SHE VOLUNTEERED TO GO. AND AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED AND OBVIOUSLY WASN'T KILLED, I THINK THE OTHERS BEGAN TO HAVE FAITH THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY A METHODOLOGY THAT WAS GOING TO WORK. HIS STAFF SAY THEY'VE LONG RECOGNISED HIS HERO STATUS. WE GRABBED ON TO HIS SHOULDERS, AND HE WAS THE ONE WHO HELPED THROW US OUT THE WINDOW, I GUESS. NOW, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT SINCE WE PUT THESE POSTERS UP, THAT SOMEHOW GRANT SAVED THE BEER, AND THEN MOVED TO SAVE THE WIFE. BUT THAT ISN'T QUITE THE WAY IT HAPPENED. IN SOME CASES SUPERHEROES EMERGED IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTER THE QUAKE. AND IN SOME CASES, EVEN BECAME SUPERHEROES. 'FLATMAN' BEGAN BY DROPPING SUPPLIES TO FRIENDS, THEN STARTED MAKING DONATIONS TO TOTAL STRANGERS. I'M BLOWN AWAY. LIKE, I NEVER THOUGHT WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS THAT I'D GET TO WHERE I AM THESE DAYS. IT'S SAID THE WORST OF TIMES BRING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE. TONIGHT'S RECIPIENTS ARE PROOF OF THAT. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. UPDATING TONIGHT'S LEADING STORIES ` SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TWO ROAD ACCIDENTS IN WAIKATO. A FAMILY OF FIVE, THE YOUNGEST JUST 3 WEEKS OLD, WERE FOUND IN A CAR WHICH HAD SMASHED INTO A TREE. POLICE SAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE WRECKAGE WAS JUST SOUTH OF TOKOROA. A SEPARATE CRASH ON STATE HIGHWAY 1 JUST NORTH OF ATIAMURI KILLED TWO INDIAN NATIONALS ON HOLIDAY IN NZ. A HUGE CLEAN-UP'S BEGUN ACROSS FIJI AS IT DEALS WITH THE DESTRUCTION LEFT BEHIND BY CYCLONE EVAN. IN SAMOA, LACK OF RUNNING CLEAN WATER IS CREATING FEARS OF A TYPHOID OUTBREAK, STRETCHING ALREADY-OVERLOADED HOSPITALS TO THE LIMIT. AND YOU'LL BE PAYING MORE FOR YOUR PETROL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AS A RESULT OF FUEL TAX INCREASES. IT'S BEING RAISED BY 3C ANNUALLY THROUGH TILL 2015 AS THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO GET THE ACCOUNTS BACK IN SURPLUS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND THE GOVERNMENT HANDS OUT COLD HARD CASH ` THE FULL RUNDOWN ON SPORT NZ'S BIG MONEY ALLOCATION NEXT. AS A COUPLE OF PROMINENT SPORTS GET THE COLD SHOULDER, ONE GETS A SLAP, BUT THREE RECEIVE AN EARLY VISIT FROM SANTA. SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHAT'S HIS WELL-KNOWN LITTLE HELPER DOING SPREADING EARLY CHEER? A SURGICAL FIRST FOR RUGBY ` WHEN WILL THIS ALL BLACK PATIENT RETURN? AND NOT QUITE JAMES BOND IN SKYFALL, BUT CLOSE ` WE'RE THERE FOR A SPECIAL GOLFING REUNION AFTER A WINDFALL YEAR. FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO THE THORNY ISSUE OF SPORTS FUNDING. THE TAXPAYER-FUNDED SPORT NZ HAS HANDED OUT ITS PRE-CHRISTMAS CASH FOR THE NEXT FOUR-YEAR CYCLE. OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS FROM LONDON ARE THE BIG WINNERS, ALONG WITH RUGBY SEVENS, BUT SWIMMING, MEN'S HOCKEY AND CRICKET ARE THE BIGGEST LOSERS. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. THE GOLDEN WALL OF FAME PROVIDES THE IDEAL ENTRANCE INTO AUCKLAND'S MILLENNIUM INSTITUTE FOR THE FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE MADE IT CLEAR SUCCESS IN LONDON IS BEING REWARDED. THERE'S NO DOUBT IF SPORTS CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT, OVER TIME, THEY HAVE CONSISTENCY IN TERMS OF RESULTS, THEN THERE'S MORE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE'RE GOING TO BACK THEM. NO SURPRISE, THEN, THAT THE TOP THREE OF CYCLING, ROWING AND YACHTING ALL ENJOY INCREASES IN THEIR FUNDING FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THROUGH TO RIO, WHILE IN THE SECOND TIER, INVESTMENT IN MEN'S SEVENS HAS MORE THAN QUADRUPLED, WITH EQUESTRIAN THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARY AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SPORT. THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF ATHLETES THAT REALLY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE VERY TEAM-ORIENTED, AND WE BELIEVE THERE'S SOME GREAT POTENTIAL. ON THE DEBIT SIDE, SWIMMING, MEN'S HOCKEY AND CRICKET SUFFER FUNDING CUTS, WHILE GETTING ENOUGH TO SET THEIR HOUSES IN ORDER. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE $1.4M THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET BACK ON TRACK. WE DO NEED RESULTS, AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE, AND WE NEED TO GET BETTER... BETTER OUTCOMES IN 2014, '15 AND '16. BAUMANN MADE NO APOLOGIES FOR TARGETING FOR SUCCESS; PODIUM PLACES THE PROOF. FOR A SMALL COUNTRY LIKE NZ, POPULATION OF 4 MILLION, TO WIN MEDALS IN SIX SPORTS IS QUITE... QUITE INCREDIBLE. AND THE BENEFIT? WELL, THE BENEFIT IS THAT IT UNITES A NATION. IT MAKES US FEEL PROUD. SOME STARS, LIKE SHOT PUT CHAMPION VALERIE ADAMS AND GOLFING SENSATION LYDIA KO, ARE BEING CATERED FOR INDIVIDUALLY. AND DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL THE SPORTS WILL BE HELD IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. THE FIRST CRICKET TEST BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND SRI LANKA IN HOBART HAS BEEN STRUCK BY ALLEGATIONS OF BALL-TAMPERING. THE SRI LANKANS HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF THE BALL BY AUSTRALIA DURING THEIR FIRST INNINGS ON DAY THREE. THE MATCH ITSELF IS PROVING FAR LESS INTRIGUING; IT'S HEADING FOR A DRAW. AUSTRALIA'S TRYING HARD TO BOWL THE TOURISTS OUT ON THE FINAL DAY. TWO LBWS WERE OVERTURNED ON APPEAL; THIRD TIME LUCKY. OH, THAT'S CLOSE! THIS TIME, THIS IS OUT! THIS'LL BE PLUMB. SRI LANKA NOW 218/5 IN THE FINAL SESSION; A DRAW ALL BUT GUARANTEED. ENGLAND HAS EKED OUT ITS FIRST TEST SERIES WIN IN INDIA IN 27 YEARS AFTER COMFORTABLY DRAWING THE FINAL MATCH. IAN BELL AND JONATHAN TROTT BOTH SCORED CENTURIES AS THEY BATTED THE HOME SIDE OUT OF THE FOURTH TEST IN NAGPUR. THEIR FOURTH-WICKET STAND OF 208 SOAKED UP 80 OVERS. EVERYONE'S CONTRIBUTED, AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T PRAISE THEM ENOUGH FOR THEIR EFFORT AND... THEIR WILLING` WILLINGNESS TO LEARN. THERE WILL BE LITTLE TIME TO PARTY, AS THE FIRST OF THE T20 GAMES STARTS ON THURSDAY. AND DETAILS OF THE EIGHT-YEAR LICENCE AGREEMENT FOR CARTER'S CRUSADERS FRANCHISE HAVE BEEN REVEALED. THE CRUSADERS' SIX PROVINCIAL UNIONS WILL ALL INVEST IN THE FRANCHISE, WITH CHRISTCHURCH MINING ENTREPRENEUR BRENT FRANCIS UNDERWRITING THE ORGANISATION. THIS WILL GIVE US A DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODEL AND ABILITY TO CREATE RESERVES, TO HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME PROFIT AND PAY OUT SOME DIVIDEND AND JUST RUN IT LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS SHOULD. A NEW SIX-MEMBER BOARD WILL BE APPOINTED NEXT YEAR, INCLUDING TWO INDEPENDENTS. HAMISH RIACH WILL CONTINUE ON AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE. ALL BLACKS LOCK ANTHONY BORIC IS ON TRACK TO MAKE A REMARKABLE RETURN TO RUGBY AFTER MAJOR NECK SURGERY. BORIC IS IN PRE-SEASON TRAINING WITH THE BLUES AND HAS CONFIRMED HE'LL START CONTACT WORK IN JUST THREE WEEKS' TIME. IT'S A COMPLETE TURNAROUND AFTER HE CONTEMPLATED RETIREMENT. A STEAMY AUCKLAND SUMMER'S DAY AND THE GUT-BUSTING ONE TREE HILL. PUSH THROUGH! PUSH THROUGH! BUT THERE'S NO PLACE ANTHONY BORIC WOULD RATHER BE. IT MADE ME APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, HOW COOL IT IS TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SPORTSMAN. AND HOPEFULLY, I CAN KEEP GOING FOR A FEW MORE YEARS. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THAT DREAM CRASHED AROUND HIM. BORIC HAD NECK ISSUES FOR A FEW SEASONS, BUT DURING SUPER RUGBY BACK IN MARCH, A BULGING DISC WAS DISCOVERED. IT WAS RETIREMENT OR MAJOR SURGERY. HE MADE THE BIG CALL TO OPERATE, BECOMING THE FIRST PRO RUGBY PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY TO UNDERGO DISC-REPLACEMENT SURGERY. THEY WENT IN THROUGH HERE, MOVED THE THROAT OUT OF THE WAY, PRETTY MUCH WENT AND PULLED THE DISC OUT ` IT LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF CHEWING GUM ` AND THEN JUST CLIPPED IN A METAL REPLACEMENT. SO NO SCREWS, NOTHING LIKE THAT; NO BONE GRAFTS. THE INJURY AND RECOVERY TIME MEANT BORIC PUT HIS ENGINEERING BACKGROUND TO GOOD USE ` HE'S FOUR PAPERS OFF HIS DEGREE. I WENT AWAY AND HAD A REAL JOB FOR A WHILE, FOR A FEW MONTHS, AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, I KNOW I'D PREFER DOING THIS. SINCE THE OPERATION HIS RECOVERY HAS BEEN NIGH ON PERFECT; IT'S NOW THE MENTAL CHALLENGE OF TAKING FULL CONTACT. HE HAS A SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST INVOLVED WITH HIM TO TRY AND ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT HE HAS. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO SAY, GAME ONE, HE'LL BE AVAILABLE TO BE SELECTED. BORIC RATES THE CURRENT PRE-SEASON UNDER NEW BLUES COACH SIR JOHN KIRWAN AS THE TOUGHEST HE'S EVER FACED. BODY LANGUAGE! HEAD UP! BUT HE ISN'T COMPLAINING, AS HIS SECOND CHANCE AWAITS. FOOTBALL, AND RACISM IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT YET AGAIN ` THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT COMING FROM RUSSIA, WHERE ZENIT ST PETERSBURG'S BIGGEST SUPPORTERS CLUB, LANDSCRONA, HAS CALLED FOR A BAN ON BLACK OR GAY PLAYERS. THIS JUST TWO DAYS AFTER PHOENIX STRIKER PAUL IFILL WAS ALLEGEDLY THE VICTIM OF RACIAL SLURS PLAYING IN ADELAIDE. THE SPECTATOR IN QUESTION HASN'T BEEN FOUND AND APPEARS TO BE CONTINUING OLD TRAITS. ADELAIDE, IN THAT REGARD, IT'S NO SURPRISE FOR ME, WHAT'S HAPPENED, EVEN THOUGH PAUL IFILL IS SAYING IT'S AN ISOLATED CASE. BUT I KNOW OF A VERY WELL-KNOWN CASE THAT HAPPENED JUST 10 YEARS AGO WITH THAT SAME CLUB. THE RUSSIAN SITUATION DOESN'T SURPRISE RUFER EITHER. THE COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO STAGE A CREDIBLE WORLD CUP IS IN DOUBT AGAIN. WE CAN SEE NOW, IN 2018, IF THEY'RE GONNA GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, IN THAT REGARD. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO LIFT THEIR GAME. LANDSCRONA SAYS IT'S NOT RACIST, BUT SEES THE ABSENCE OF BLACK PLAYERS AT ZENIT AS 'AN IMPORTANT TRADITION'. ARSENAL HAS BOUNCED BACK FROM A SHOCK LOSS TO BRADFORD WITH A 5-2 ROMP AT READING TODAY. ARSENAL PUT SEVEN ON READING THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED, AND WITH SPANISH PLAYMAKER SANTI CAZORLA GRABBING A HAT-TRICK, THEY WENT 4-NIL UP TODAY. HEADED HOME BY CAZORLA. CAZORLA - THREE. ONCE AGAIN THEY'VE MADE IT LOOK SO SIMPLE. PODOLSKI, CAZORLA ` HAT-TRICK! HIS FIRST TRAVEL IN ARSENAL COLOURS. CAZORLA THEN LINKED WITH THE RECALLED THEO WALCOTT FOR THE FIFTH AS THE GUNNERS IMPROVED TO FIFTH IN THE FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP. ECSTASY AND AGONY FOR JACK WILSHERE, ALTHOUGH HE DID FINISH THE MATCH. AUCKLAND GOLFER CATHRYN BRISTOW HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR NEXT YEAR AFTER FINISHING IN A SHARE OF 25TH AT HER QUALIFYING SCHOOL IN MOROCCO. MEANWHILE, MEN'S PRO MICHAEL HENDRY IS HOME AFTER A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR IN HIS CAREER. HERE'S KIMBERLEE DOWNS. APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING. MICHAEL HENDRY'S DONE WELL, BUT NOT QUITE THIS WELL. NO. NO HONKING. AND ARRIVING HOME, IT WASN'T JUST THE SPONSORED ASTON MARTIN CATCHING THE KIWI GOLFER'S EYE. AW. HENDRY REUNITED WITH WIFE TARA ` THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE SEEN EACH OTHER SINCE HIS FRANTIC DASH FOR THE START LINE OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN, A TEE-OFF HE ONLY MADE AFTER SHE CHARTERED A PLANE TO GET HIM TO SYDNEY. I SAID, 'LOOK, BABE, I KNOW IT'S REALLY LATE, BUT... 'I KIND OF NEED YOU TO SORT THIS OUT NOW. 'OTHERWISE I DON'T THINK WE'LL MAKE IT.' SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY RECEPTIVE TO IT, THANKFULLY. SHE'S, LIKE, 'YEAH, OK, I'LL DO THAT.' DIDN'T THINK WE'D BE RINGING AROUND PRIVATE JET COMPANIES AT 3 IN THE MORNING. (LAUGHS) OR THAT THEY'D BE ANSWERING THEIR PHONE. HENDRY, FITTINGLY, ARRIVED BACK ON TARA'S BIRTHDAY, AND, YES, HE'D ALREADY SENT HER FAVOURITE ROSES. THE GOLFER CLEARLY HAPPY TO BE HOME AFTER A LONG END TO THE SEASON. HIS BID TO REGAIN TOP SPOT ON THE AUSTRALASIAN ORDER OF MERIT WAS DEFEATED WHEN HE FINISHED 35TH IN HIS LAST TOURNAMENT IN COOLUM. PROBABLY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING THING ABOUT IT WAS I PLAYED WELL ENOUGH TO PROBABLY GET THERE. I JUST DIDN'T CAPITALISE ON SOME GOOD PLAY OVER THE WEEKEND. SO, YEAH, A LITTLE FRUSTRATING. BUT HE STILL HAD A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. THE AUSTRALASIA PGA TOUR EARNED HIM A COOL $250,000 ` A VAST IMPROVEMENT ON A DISAPPOINTING 2011. PERFORMING REALLY WELL AFTER A PERIOD OF SOME QUITE POOR FORM ` WHERE I WAS DOING A BIT OF SOUL-SEARCHING, TO BE HONEST ` WAS REALLY SATISFYING. AND, WHILE HE'S OPTIMISTIC FOR NEXT YEAR,... I WON'T BE TOUCHING MY CLUBS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AT LEAST. ...REALLY, WHO COULD BLAME HIM? KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. THE MAN VOTED THE WORLD'S BEST RUGBY PLAYER IS BACK HOME AND SPREADING THE CHRISTMAS CHEER. DAN CARTER USED HIS TWITTER ACCOUNT TODAY TO ALERT FOLLOWERS TO THREE AUCKLAND LOCATIONS WHERE HE'D BE GIVING AWAY HIS EXCESS ALL BLACKS GEAR. THE ONLY CATCH: IT WAS FIRST IN, BEST DRESSED. ALL MY ALL BLACK KIT JUST GOT BACK INTO THE COUNTRY YESTERDAY, TO BE HONEST. I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAVE... COLLECTED MOST OF THE ITEMS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO I THOUGHT OF A FUN WAY TO GIVE IT, YOU KNOW, TO MY FANS. AFTER PLAYING SANTA CLAUS, WHAT DOES CARTER WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? SIMPLY TIME SPENT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. GOOD MAN, DANIEL. HE DIDN'T GIVE AWAY HIS UNDIES. AFTER THE BREAK ` KAREN SAYS IT'LL BE A DAMP START IN MANY PLACES, STILL VERY WARM AND MUGGY OVER THE NORTH ISLAND THIS EVENING, BUT A LITTLE COOLER AND MORE COMFORTABLE OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND AS A DRIER SOUTHERLY AIR MASS PUSHES NORTHWARDS. MESSY SKIES AGAIN. LOTS OF CLOUD AROUND IN THE HUMID AIR. COUPLE OF WEAK FRONTS OVER THE COUNTRY ` ONE OVER THE NORTH ISLAND THAT SPILLED SOME RAIN TODAY. COOLER AIR FOLLOWED THIS FRONT AS IT MADE ITS WAY UP THE SOUTH ISLAND. ANOTHER FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE TASMAN. AND UP HERE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN MOVING INTO VIEW. STAYS WARM AND MUGGY OVER THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW. THE FRONTS AND TROUGHS HANGING AROUND. COUPLE OF WEAK FEATURES GIVE THE SOUTH ISLAND A BIT OF A NUDGE. NOTHING MUCH WITH THEM. A HIGH IS SPREADING ON TO THE SOUTH ISLAND, HELPING TO CLEAR THE SKIES THERE. MORNING RAIN FOR FIORDLAND. FEW SHOWERS FURTHER NORTH, AND SOME BRIEF EARLY SPLASHES FOR SOUTHLAND. THEN MOST PLACES GET A FINE AFTERNOON. JUST THE ODD SHOWER CONTINUING IN THE WEST. ALSO EXPECTING SOME LOW CLOUD TO ROLL ON TO THE CANTERBURY COAST IN THE EVENING. FRESH WESTERLY IN THE FAR SOUTH; OTHERWISE NOT MUCH WIND. FINE IN THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. LOW CLOUD AND A FEW AREAS OF RAIN OR SHOWERS EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE HUMID AIR, THEN BECOMING MOSTLY FINE IN THE AFTERNOON. JUST A FEW SHOWERS POPPING UP OVER GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY. LIGHT WINDS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S ALL FROM ME. SEE YOU TOMORROW. POLICE HAVE JUST RELEASED THE NAMES OF THE FIVE PEOPLE KILLED IN A CAR CRASH NEAR TOKOROA. THEY WERE RICHARD JOHN MELLING (37); HIS PARTNER, LISA MICHELLE CROWLEY (23), WHO WAS THE DRIVER; AND THREE CHILDREN ` JORDAN LEWIS MELLING (11), BRODY JOHN CROWLEY (2) AND A 3-WEEK-OLD BABY YET TO BE NAMED. POLICE SAY THEY'RE UNSURE HOW LONG THE CAR WAS DOWN THE BANK BEFORE IT WAS DISCOVERED. TWO INDIAN NATIONALS WERE ALSO KILLED IN A SEPARATE CRASH IN WAIKATO. THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR TUESDAY. AND WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON SEVEN DEAD IN CAR CRASHES IN WAIKATO ON ONE NEWS TONIGHT AT HALF PAST 10. FROM THE 6 O'CLOCK TEAM, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY RICHARD EDMUNDS AND FAITH HAMBLYN.