GOOD EVENING. IT WAS WARM AND BALMY OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, WITH TEMPERATURES INTO THE LOW 30S IN SOME PARTS. BLUE SKIES OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND; ALSO WARM IN AREAS AWAY FROM THE SEA BREEZE. A LARGE HIGH IS IN CONTROL OF OUR SKIES TOMORROW, BUT TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN IS STILL A MENACE LURKING TO THE FAR NORTH. LATER IN THE NEWS HOUR, I'LL TELL YOU IF IT'S LIKELY TO AFFECT 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. MORE PRESSURE ON THE EDUCATION MINISTER TO RESIGN AS HER TOP OFFICIAL QUITS AFTER A RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN. DANGER IN THE HOME ` WE REVEAL THE HIGH NUMBER OF CHILDREN ACCIDENTLY SWALLOWING DRUGS LYING AROUND THE HOUSE. A FAMILY UNITES IN GRIEF AS THEY MOURN THE LOSS OF FIVE LOVED ONES KILLED IN A WAIKATO CAR CRASH. AND A NZ WOMAN LOSES THE LEGAL BATTLE IN LONDON TO STOP HER SON FROM GETTING HOSPITAL TREATMENT. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. THE EMBATTLED EDUCATION MINISTER'S BEEN TAUGHT ANOTHER LESSON AFTER YET ANOTHER FAIL MARK. AND THERE ARE FRESH CALLS FOR HEKIA PARATA TO QUIT FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF HER TOP MINISTRY OFFICIAL BECAUSE OF A RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN. EDUCATION SECRETARY LESLEY LONGSTONE LEAVES JUST ONE YEAR INTO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, AND SHE'S LIKELY TO GET A SIX-FIGURE PAYOUT. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN WAS AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR MS PARATA, CORIN. NO, INDEED A DRAMATIC FINISH TO A NIGHTMARE YEAR IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR FOR NATIONAL ` BOTH THE MINISTER AND THE MINISTRY HAVE BEEN IN THE GUN ALL YEAR THE PRESSURE HAS BEEN BUILDING AND IT LED TO A RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN HEKIA PARATA CANNOT RELAX AND PUT HER FEET UP OVER SUMMER SHE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER MISTAKE THE TWO MOST POWERFUL FIGURES IN EDUCATION NO LONGER SEEING EYE TO EYE. THE KEY TO ANY MINISTRY SUCCEEDING IS AN EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MINISTER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE. AND CLEARLY IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THEN, AS IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. THE DECISION FOR LESLEY LONGSTONE TO RESIGN WAS APPARENTLY A MUTUAL ONE, MADE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF A MINISTRY THAT'S HAD A DISASTROUS YEAR. A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IS PART OF THE WAY FORWARD, AND LESLEY CERTAINLY SHARED THAT VIEW AS WELL. THE TROUBLE STARTED IN JUNE WITH A BUNGLED PLAN TO INCREASE CLASS SIZES. AFTER BACKING DOWN ON THAT, THE MINISTRY THEN MISHANDLED PROPOSED CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL CLOSURES AND MERGERS. ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE NOVOPAY PAYROLL SYSTEM FOR TEACHERS REFUSED TO GO AWAY, WHILE THIS MONTH THE MINISTER WAS TAKEN TO TASK OVER THE ILLEGAL CLOSING OF THE SALISBURY SPECIAL SCHOOL. HEKIA PARATA'S GONE ON HOLIDAY AND WOULDN'T FRONT. LESLEY LONGSTONE WAS ALSO OUT OF REACH. PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY WASN'T SPEAKING PUBLICLY EITHER TODAY, ALTHOUGH HE WAS HAPPY TO SHOW OFF HIS GANGNAM STYLE KOREAN DANCE MOVES AT A RADIO STATION. # ...OP, OP. # OPPOSITION PARTIES SAY IT'S HEKIA PARATA, NOT LESLEY LONGSTONE, WHO SHOULD RESIGN. WELL, ULTIMATELY THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ACCEPT THE BLAME FOR THE MESS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN EDUCATION, AND HEKIA PARATA IS THE MINISTER. THE BUCK STOPS WITH HER. AS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, LESLEY LONGSTONE EARNS WELL OVER $500,000 A YEAR. GIVEN HER CONTRACT HAD ANOTHER FOUR YEARS TO RUN, HER DEPARTURE WILL MEAN A COSTLY PAYOUT. THERE IS CONSIDERATION FOR THE FACT THAT THAT CONTRACT IS BEING ENDED EARLY. SO AN UNWELCOME CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR TAXPAYERS. MERRY CHRISTMAS. ALTHOUGH FOR AN OPPOSITION WITH THE EDUCATION MINISTER IN ITS SIGHTS, TODAY'S RESIGNATION IS A GIFT THAT COULD KEEP ON GIVING. CORIN, NO ONE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PREPARED TO FRONT ON THE ISSUE TODAY? PRETTY DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING THAT NO ONE WOULD FRONT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOTU WHAT WENT ON AND WHAT LED TO THIS RESIGNATION I THINK IT'S A BAD MOVE POLTIICALLY IT CREATES THE PERCEPTINO THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO BURY THIS AT CHRISTMAS I THINK YOU'LL SEE OPPOSITION PARTIES COME BACK HARD ON THIS NEXT YEAR WE HAVE TO SEE HOW BIG THE PAYOUT WILL BE THAT WILL DRAW SCRUTINY THE OPPOSITION WILL KEEP ON THIS ONE SCHOOLS IN CHRISTCHURCH SAY IT'S ABOUT TIME HEADS ROLLED AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. HEKIA PARATA AND HER MINISTRY WON NO FRIENDS IN CHRISTCHURCH WHEN THEY EARMARKED DOZENS OF SCHOOLS TO BE MERGED OR CLOSED. BUT TEACHING STAFF ALI PUGH'S SPOKEN TO DON'T WANT THE EDUCATION SECRETARY TO BE THE SCAPEGOAT. CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOLS HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF THE EDUCATION MINISTRY'S RECENT BLUNDERS, AND LOCAL PRINCIPALS SAY IT'S HIGH TIME THEY SAW A RESIGNATION FROM THE TOP. IT'S THE RIGHT AND HONOURABLE THING TO DO. PHILLIPSTOWN PRIMARY'S ONE OF MANY SLATED TO MERGE ` A PROPOSAL THE PRINCIPAL SAYS HASN'T BEEN HELPED BY MISINFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND THE RESIGNATION, BUT I'M VERY VERY KEEN TO SEE THESE MISTAKES ADDRESSED; NOT JUST PERHAPS A PERSON BLAMED. ACROSS TOWN, ANOTHER PRINCIPAL TODAY FAREWELLED SIX STAFF. BURNSIDE PRIMARY'S EARMARKED FOR CLOSURE. HE SAYS LESLEY LONGSTONE'S EXIT PROVES THE GOVERNMENT'S GOT IT WRONG. YOU THINK THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT'S WAY OF ADMITTING FAULT? > WELL, I HOPE IT IS. AND IF THIS IS THE START OF A MORE POSITIVE ERA, THEN THAT'S GREAT. AN ERA THAT'S SO FAR BEEN MARRED BY CONTROVERSIAL CLOSURES, COMMUNICATION BLUNDERS AND PAY FAILURES. AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, THE RESIGNATION COMES JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN ANNOUNCED IT'LL ALSO BE INVESTIGATING THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. IT SAYS IT'S ACTED WRONGLY IN ITS HANDLING OF REQUESTS FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSURES HERE. TODAY'S NEWS WAS NO SURPRISE TO MEMBERS OF THE TEACHER'S UNION, WHICH MET IN THE CITY. WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST SYMPTOMATIC THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATION AGENDA IS NOW TOTALLY IN DISARRAY. AND THE RESIGNATION OF THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION IS JUST ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF THAT. SCHOOLS ARE NOW HOPING THIS IS THE SIGN OF A GOVERNMENT BACKDOWN AS THEY PREPARE TO FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL NEXT FEBRUARY. ALI PUGH, ONE NEWS. A GRIEVING FAMILY WHO'VE LOST THEIR DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN IN A CAR CRASH WANT TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE ABOUT OBEYING THE RULES OF THE ROAD. LISA CROWLEY, HER PARTNER, RICHARD MELLING, AND THEIR THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WERE FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE OF THEIR CAR DOWN A BANK NOT FAR FROM THEIR HOME IN THE SMALL SETTLEMENT OF WHAKAMARU, SOUTH WAIKATO. BRODIE KANE REPORTS FROM THERE. IT WAS AN AGONISING VISIT TO A STRETCH OF ROAD THAT SEEMS SO HARMLESS NOW, BUT PROVED DEADLY FOR ONE YOUNG FAMILY. NOBODY YET KNOWS WHY. I JUST HAD TO BE THERE TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE HERE TOGETHER FOR THE LAST TIME FOREVER TOGETHER. INSIDE THIS MANGLED MESS OF A CAR WERE RICHARD MELLING AND HIS SON JORDON (11), MR MELLING'S PARTNER, LISA CROWLEY, HER SON BRODIE (2), AND THE COUPLE'S 3-WEEK-OLD BABY BOY WHO THEY WERE YET TO NAME. ALL OF THEM WERE KILLED WHEN THE CAR PLUNGED DOWN A BANK OFF STATE HIGHWAY 32. G THE FIRST THING THEY SAID 'WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GO TO THE CRASH SITE. IT'S PRETTY HORRIFIC.' FORESTRY WORKERS STUMBLED ACROSS THE CAR BY CHANCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE FAMILY HAD LAST BEEN SEEN ON SUNDAY EVENING. THE DEVASTATED CROWLEYS ARE ALSO MOURNING THE FACT THEY NEVER GOT TO MEET THEIR NEWLY BORN SECOND GRANDCHILD. THE EMPTINESS THAT IT LEAVES... YOU KNOW, THEY WERE OUR FIRST TWO GRANDCHILDREN. LISA CROWLEY WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THREE OTHERS WERE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, AND POLICE ARE STILL CHECKING ON THE FIFTH PASSENGER. IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WHETHER ALCOHOL OR SPEED WERE FACTORS IN THE CRASH. WHATEVER THE CAUSE, THESE TWO FAMILIES ARE NOW UNITED IN THEIR GRIEF. HE HAD A HEART OF GOLD. HE LOVED HIS KIDS. HE ADORED LISA. WHAKAMARU IS A TINY TOWN WITH UNDER A THOUSAND PEOPLE. EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS EACH OTHER. THE COMMUNITY IS GUTTED AT THE LOSS OF THIS WELL-LIKED FAMILY. THE CROWLEYS SAY THEY CAN'T CHANGE WHAT'S HAPPENED, BUT THEY CAN TRY AND STOP IT HAPPENING TO ANOTHER FAMILY, WARNING EVERYONE ON THE ROAD THIS CHRISTMAS TO TAKE EXTRA CARE. IT'S JUST NOT WORTH DYING FOR. THE POLICE, WHO ARE STILL TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, WANT TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO SAW THIS FAMILY AFTER SUNDAY NIGHT. BRODIE KANE, ONE NEWS. A LONDON COURT HAS OVERRULED A NZ MOTHER AND GIVEN A HOSPITAL APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH BRAIN SURGERY ON HER 7-YEAR-OLD SON. SALLY ROBERTS PREVIOUSLY WENT INTO HIDING WITH HER SON AND NOW WANTS TIME TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR HIS BRAIN CANCER. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY WAS AT COURT FOR THE RULING. NEON ROBERTS (7) HAS HAD BRAIN SURGERY, CHEMOTHERAPY AND IS ABOUT TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE AGAIN. WHILE HE FIGHTS CANCER, HIS MOTHER, SALLY, IS FIGHTING AGAINST THAT TREATMENT COURSE. ...AS HER LAWYERS PUT IT. THE AUCKLAND-BORN MOTHER DISAGREES WITH HER ESTRANGED BRITISH HUSBAND. SHE WENT INTO HIDING FOR ABOUT FOUR DAYS WITH NEON TO AVOID DOCTORS CONTINUING HIS CARE, AND SHE BELIEVES THAT TUMOUR RESIDUE THEY'VE JUST DISCOVERED MAY ONLY BE INFLAMED SCAR TISSUE. PARTWAY THROUGH THE HEARING, SALLY ROBERTS LEFT COURT AND FIRED HER LEGAL TEAM. SHE HAD TO BE ENCOURAGED BY THE JUDGE TO RETURN AND THEN TOOK THE STAND, ARGUING HER CASE HERSELF. SHE SAYS WANTS TIME TO CONSULT WITH EXPERTS IN ALTERNATIVE CANCER THERAPY IN THE US, GERMANY, RUSSIA AND CHINA BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES UK DOCTORS ARE EITHER UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO CONTRADICT EACH OTHER ON CANCER TREATMENTS. HOSPITAL LAWYERS HAVE CONVINCED A HIGH COURT JUDGE YOUNG NEON MUST UNDERGO SECOND-LOOK SURGERY TO REMOVE TUMOROUS BRAIN TISSUE, BUT THE LEGAL BATTLE IS NOW ON FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE. THE DOCTOR TREATING NEON TOLD THE COURT IT IS... UNLESS HE'S ALLOWED TO GIVE RADIATION THERAPY WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS AND IDEALLY JUST AS SOON AS THE BOY RECOVERS FROM SURGERY. THE RADIOTHERAPY DOSE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FROM WHAT IT WAS EVEN JUST 15 YEARS AGO. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S DELIVERED IN AN EARLY AND PRECISE MANNER. SALLY ROBERTS FEARS BRAIN DAMAGE FOR HER SON. DOCTORS ARGUE IT'S A RISK WORTH TAKING. SHE LEFT COURT SAYING NO MORE FOR NOW, HAVING SOLD HER STORY TO A BRITISH NEWSPAPER. THERE'S INTENSE INTEREST HERE IN THE MUM ON THE RUN WHO WON'T ACCEPT THE DOCTORS' WORD ON HER SON, BUT WILL HAVE TO LISTEN WHEN THE JUDGE RULES LATER THIS WEEK. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. NZ'S GIVING AN EXTRA $2M TO HELP OUT CYCLONE-HIT SAMOA AND FIJI. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE $1M OUR GOVERNMENT'S ALREADY DONATED TO BOTH COUNTRIES. AN AIR FORCE ORION THAT ASSISTED SAMOA WITH AERIAL ASSESSMENTS AFTER THE STORM HAS FLOWN TO FIJI TO HELP WITH SIMILAR WORK. PARENTS OF NEWBORN BABIES RECALLED TO HOSPITAL FOR HEARING TESTS ARE BEING URGED TO TAKE THEM IN FOR ANOTHER EXAMINATION. THIS COMES AFTER 2000 BOTCHED RESULTS WERE FOUND IN THE NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAMME. IT'S UNDERSTOOD SEVERAL SCREENERS FROM THE SIX HEALTH BOARDS INVOLVED WERE MISTAKENLY TESTING THEIR OWN HEARING INSTEAD OF THE BABIES'. SO FAR ONLY ONE OF THE INFANTS RECALLED HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A CONGENITAL HEARING DEFECT, BUT THERE COULD BE MORE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH EIGHT SCREENERS. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ` THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AND THAT THE REPORT` THE INVESTIGATION AND THE REPORT THAT WILL COME OUT OF THAT WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MEAN IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. 60,000 BABIES ARE SCREENED ANNUALLY IN THE TWO-YEAR-OLD PROGRAMME, WITH AROUND 150 ABNORMALITIES PICKED UP EACH YEAR. THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD ACCEPTS IT COULD HAVE DONE MORE TO PREVENT THE DEATH OF A BABY IN ITS CARE. THE 8-WEEK-OLD DIED FROM ACCIDENTAL ASPHYXIATION AFTER SHARING A BED WITH HIS MOTHER IN STARSHIP HOSPITAL. A CORONER'S REPORT RELEASED TODAY FOUND THE DHB'S NEONATAL UNIT LACKED GUIDELINES ABOUT PUTTING A BABY TO SLEEP SAFELY. WE DON'T AGREE WITH CO-SLEEPING. WE THINK THAT IT'S A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. HOWEVER, WE COULD HAVE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION IN A STRONGER WAY TO THIS FAMILY. THE DHB SAYS IT'S REVISED SAFE-SLEEPING POLICIES AND RECOMMENDS BABIES SLEEP FACE UP IN THEIR OWN BED, IN A SMOKE-FREE ROOM, ON A FLAT, FIRM MATTRESS. ONE NEWS HAS UNCOVERED STARTLING INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF YOUNG CHILDREN CONSUMING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, FROM HEAVY-DUTY SEDATIVES TO MAGIC MUSHROOMS AND P. AND POLICE TELL US ADULTS WHO LET DRUGS GET INTO LITTLE HANDS CAN BE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. AMY KELLEY HAS THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. THE REVELATION BABY JJ'S STEPDAD USED TO MAKE THE 2-YEAR-OLD SMOKE CANNABIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST APPALLING MOMENTS OF JOEL LOFFLEY'S MURDER TRIAL. JJ WOULD HAVE IT IN HIS MOUTH, AND LOFFLEY WOULD HAVE THE KNIVES ON THE STOVE. NOW ONE NEWS HAS DISCOVERED CHILDREN'S EXPOSURE TO DANGEROUS DRUGS IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN MANY MIGHT THINK. WE'VE FOUND THAT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, 316 CHILDREN HAVE CONSUMED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. MORE THAN HALF WERE UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE. 7% ` THAT'S AROUND 22 CHILDREN ` CONSUMED ILLICIT CLASS A DRUGS LIKE MAGIC MUSHROOMS, SPEED OR P. ANOTHER 56 ` OR 18% ` TOOK CLASS B DRUGS, INCLUDING ECSTASY AND CANNABIS. CLASS C PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WERE THE MAIN OFFENDERS. LORAZEPAM AND TRIAZOLAM ` SEDATIVES USED TO TREAT INSOMNIA AND ANXIETY ` ACCOUNTED FOR AROUND HALF OF ALL CASES. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE INGESTING THESE SORT OF SUBSTANCES, AND IF A CHILD WERE TO DIE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF INGESTING, FOR INSTANCE, METHAMPHETAMINE, THEN INDIVIDUALS MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND COULD BE FACING A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. HERE AT WAITAKERE HOSPITAL, DOCTORS HAVE TREATED A BOY JUST 17 MONTHS OLD FOR CONSUMING P THAT HE FOUND AT THE HOME OF ONE OF HIS MUM'S ACQUAINTANCES. PAEDIATRICIANS DESCRIBED THE EFFECTS OF SUCH A DRUG ON TINY BODIES AS 'DEVASTATING'. EVEN JUST A NORMAL AMOUNT OR EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT. THEY COULD HAVE SEIZURES, THEY CAN BECOME COMATOSE AND POSSIBLY DIE. TARANAKI POLICE ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A BOY (9) FOUND WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN HIS SYSTEM. FIGURES ON OTHER CHILD DEATHS LINKED TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AREN'T YET AVAILABLE. THE MESSAGE FROM POLICE: TREAT DRUGS LIKE A LOADED GUN AND STORE THEM ACCORDINGLY. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS. FIXING ROADS AROUND THE COUNTRY IS COSTING TAXPAYERS MORE THAN EXPECTED. JUST YESTERDAY THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED MOTORISTS WILL BE PAYING HIGHER FUEL TAXES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO FUND ROADING PROJECTS. BUT AN INTERNAL AUDIT ONE NEWS HAS SEEN SHOWS THE NZ TRANSPORT AGENCY'S PROJECTS ARE COMING IN OVER BUDGET AND NOT DELIVERING EXPECTED ECONOMIC BENEFITS. MICHAEL PARKIN REPORTS. THIS SOUTHBOUND PASSING LANE BETWEEN OTAKI AND WAIKANAE ON THE KAPITI COAST MIGHT BE A RELIEF FOR DRIVERS, BUT ACCORDING TO A JUST RELEASED INTERNAL NZTA AUDIT, IT WAS $300,000 OVER ITS $4.2M BUDGET AND HAS FAILED TO FULLY DELIVER ON ITS ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THIS SHOULD BE A REAL WARNING SIGN TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE AGENCY CALCULATES THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF A PROJECT BASED ON EXPECTED SAVINGS FROM CUTS TO TRAVEL TIME AND THE ACCIDENT RATE. AND ACCORDING TO THE AUDIT... THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, ABOUT VALUE FOR MONEY, ABOUT LESSONS LEARNT THAT WE'RE PICKING UP AND WE'RE USING IN OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING NOW. IN TOTAL, THE SIX PROJECTS REVIEWED BY THE AGENCY HAVE FALLEN $64M SHY OF THEIR PROJECTED ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND ARE 48% OVER THEIR INITIAL BUDGETS. THE BILLIONS THEY'RE PLANNING TO SPEND ON NEW STATE HIGHWAYS PROBABLY WONT DELIVER THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND SAFETY BENEFITS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. OF A BRIDGE WIDENING BETWEEN ROTORUA AND TAURANGA, THE AUDIT SAYS... AND OF A INTERSECTION UPGRADE IN NORTHLAND... THE BIG PROJECTS, WHICH AREN'T REVIEWED HERE, I MEAN, HAVE BEEN GOING EXTREMELY WELL. JUST LAST WEEK WE OPENED THE TE RAPA BYPASS ` CAME IN, YOU KNOW, MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME AND $40M UNDER BUDGET. THE NZTA SAYS THERE'S NO NEED TO STOP WORK ON ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS AS A RESULT OF THIS REVIEW. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. STILL TO COME ON ONE NEWS ` OUT OF THE HEARTBREAK OF A MASSACRE AT A US SCHOOL, THE PRESSURE MOUNTS TO CHANGE AMERICA'S GUN LAWS. THE QUEEN'S INVITATION TO THE INNER SANCTUM OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE GIFT OF 60 PLACEMATS. AND A TOURISM BOOST AS THE CRUISE CROWDS ARE SET TO FLOCK TO OUR SHORES. THE US SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY CLINTON, HAS PROMISED TO ACT FOLLOWING A SCATHING REPORT INTO SECURITY AT ITS DIPLOMATIC OUTPOSTS. THE REPORT FOLLOWS THE DEATHS OF FOUR AMERICANS, INCLUDING THE US AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA, AT ITS MISSION IN BENGHAZI. AN ARMED GROUP LINKED TO AL QAEDA INVADED THE CONSULATE ON SEPTEMBER THE 11TH. SECURITY AT THE COMPOUND WAS DESCRIBED AS GROSSLY INADEQUATE, WITH THE US STATE DEPARTMENT BLAMED FOR SYSTEMATIC FAILURES. THE RE-INSTITUTION OF A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS IN THE US FOLLOWING THE MASSACRE AT SANDY HOOK SCHOOL LOOKS TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA. THIS AS MORE FUNERALS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR THE 20 CHILDREN AND SIX ADULTS SHOT DEAD AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE BBC'S MARK MARDELL REPORTS FROM NEWTOWN. SHE LOVED ORCA WHALES AND HORSES. A CREATIVE, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL, HER PARENTS SAID AS JESSICA REKOS (6) WAS BURIED ` ANOTHER VICTIM OF A MASSACRE THAT'S CHALLENGING AMERICA. THAT TERRIBLE FRIDAY, AS PARENTS WAITED TO HEAR WHAT HAD HAPPENED INSIDE THE SCHOOL, A BRITISH-BORN PASTOR WAS WITH THEM. THERE WAS SILENCE. THERE WERE... THE OFFICIALS WERE LOOKING AT ONE ANOTHER, AND THEN THEY SAID, 'NO, THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS.' AND... (SIGHS) I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL EVER FORGET THE NOISE AS PEOPLE WEPT, WAILED, YELLED. IT WAS... A HORRIBLE NOISE. ALL CHANT THIS HORROR HAS CHANGED THE MOOD IN AMERICA ` FOR NOW, AT LEAST. THERE HAVE LONG BEEN THOSE WHO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST GUNS, BUT NOW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE WEAPON USED TO MURDER THE CHILDREN IS UNDER PRESSURE. THE BUSHMASTER WAS ADVERTISED JOKINGLY SUGGESTING IT WAS A PROP TO MASCULINITY. NOW A PRIVATE EQUITY COMPANY WITH A 95% STAKE IN THE FIRM IS SELLING UP BECAUSE OF WHAT IT CALLS THIS 'WATERSHED EVENT'. THERE'S NO CHANCE OF A BAN ON HANDGUNS. AMERICA'S HIGHEST COURT, THE SUPREME COURT, HAS RULED PLANS TO OUTLAW THEM IN CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON DC WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE MOST LIKELY MOVE WOULD BE A NEW LAW TO BAN MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT RIFLES AND MAGAZINES HOLDING NUMEROUS BULLETS. THE PRESIDENT'S SPOKESMAN SAID HE'LL BACK SUCH A BILL. THE GRIP OF THE GUN LOBBY HAS LOOSENED A LITTLE. AS YOUR SENATOR, I'LL PROTECT OUR SECOND-AMENDMENT RIGHTS. EVEN WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, WHOSE CAMPAIGN HAD FOCUSED ON GUN RIGHTS, HAS CHANGED HIS MIND. HE'S NOT ALONE. WHEN MY DAUGHTERS ASK ME FRIDAY NIGHT, 'DAD, YOU'RE IN THE SENATE ` 'WHY CAN'T WE PUT REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON ASSAULT WEAPONS 'OR THESE RAPID-FIRE AMMUNITION CLIPS?' I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER FOR 'EM. SO I, EVEN AS AN NRA A-RATED MEMBER, BELIEVE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. MORE ARE NOW PERSUADED THAT WEAPONS DESIGNED FOR WAR SHOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. AMERICA'S NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION HAS BROKEN ITS SILENCE AFTER THE SHOOTINGS, PLEDGING TO HELP STOP FURTHER MASSACRES. FIVE PAKISTANI WOMEN HAVE BEEN SHOT AND KILLED IN KARACHI WHILE WORKING ON A UN-BACKED POLIO VACCINATION PROGRAMME. NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MURDERS, BUT PREVIOUSLY THE TALIBAN HAVE THREATENED THE POLIO DRIVE. THE NATIONWIDE PROGRAMME AIMED AT REACHING A MILLION AT-RISK CHILDREN HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED IN KARACHI. THE QUEEN'S BECOME THE FIRST MONARCH TO ATTEND A BRITISH GOVERNMENT CABINET MEETING IN MORE THAN 200 YEARS. IT WAS ALL PART OF HER DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS, AND TO MARK IT, THE CABINET ORGANISED A SPECIAL PRESENT FOR HER MAJESTY. THE BBC'S NICHOLAS WITCHELL REPORTS. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THIS IS HOW BRITAIN WAS RUN ` BY THE MONARCH WITH HIS OR HER MINISTERS. BUT THAT HASN'T BEEN THE WAY OF THINGS FOR ROUGHLY 300 YEARS NOW. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN STUDYING HISTORICAL RECORDS. THE LAST TIME THE MONARCH ATTENDED A CABINET WAS IN 1781, DURING THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE. THE QUEEN SAT IN THE CHAIR WHICH IS NORMALLY OCCUPIED BY THE PRIME MINISTER. SHE DID WHAT SHE'S DONE WITH SO MANY GENERATIONS OF POLITICIANS ` SHE WATCHED AND SHE LISTENED. SHE SAID VERY LITTLE, BUT DID SHE DETECT ANY CABINET RIVALRIES? ANY TENSIONS, PERHAPS, BETWEEN THE COALITION PARTNERS? OF COURSE, WHATEVER SECRETS OF THE CABINET TABLE THE QUEEN MAY HAVE PICKED UP DURING THIS SHORT VISIT WILL NEVER BE KNOWN. THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF HAVING A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCH. SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE CONSULTED, TO ENCOURAGE AND TO WARN, BUT NEVER TO INTERFERE IN POLITICS. TODAY, THOUGH, WAS A MOMENT FOR SOMETHING ELSE: A CELEBRATION OF THE END OF HER DIAMOND JUBILEE AND A GIFT FROM THE CABINET. WHAT HAD THEY GOT HER? WELL, THE SIGHT OF THE CHANCELLOR REMINDED THE QUEEN OF THE GOLD BARS SHE'D BEEN SHOWN AT THE BANK OF ENGLAND. I SAW ALL THE GOLD BARS. YES. REGRETTABLY, SOME OF THEM DON'T BELONG TO US. SOME OF THEM WERE SOLD. WE'VE STILL GOT SOME LEFT. BUT THERE WERE NO GOLD BARS TODAY. INSTEAD THE CABINET HAD HAD A WHIP-ROUND, WHICH PRODUCED JUST ENOUGH TO BUY THE QUEEN 60 PLACEMATS TO MARK HER 60 YEARS OF SERVICE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANS TO HONOUR THE QUEEN BY RENAMING PART OF BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY QUEEN ELIZABETH LAND. THE POPULAR INTERNET PHOTOGRAPH-SHARING SERVICE INSTAGRAM HAS BEEN FORCED TO BACKTRACK OVER MOVES THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IT TO SELL THE PHOTOS OF USERS FROM NEXT MONTH. INSTAGRAM ALLOWS PHOTOS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS TO BE TRANSFORMED, BUT PROPOSED NEW TERMS OF SERVICE FOR INSTAGRAM, WHICH IS OWNED BY FACEBOOK, SPARKED MANY USERS TO DELETE THEIR ACCOUNTS. AFTER A WAVE OF PROTEST ONLINE, INSTAGRAM NOW SAYS IT HAS NO PLANS TO SELL PRIVATE PICTURES. WEATHER TIME NOW. WARM AND HUMID OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, AND THAT HIGH MOISTURE LEVEL CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS THIS MORNING, KAREN? YES, IT MADE LOTS OF LOW CLOUD THIS MORNING OVER PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND. FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW, FLIGHTS TO AND FROM NEW PLYMOUTH AIRPORT WERE DISRUPTED. BUT IT WAS ALL CLEAR AGAIN BY LATE MORNING. VERY WARM IN THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. HIGHS INTO THE LOW 30S. COOLER IN THE FAR SOUTH. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR THURSDAY FORECAST AND A LOOK AHEAD TO THE WEEKEND AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ON ONE NEWS ` A CRUISE BONANZA AS BIGGER AND BETTER SHIPS ARE EXPECTED TO HEAD OUR WAY. AND THE TRAP AIMED AT A RIVER PEST THAT'S WREAKING HAVOC ON OUR WATERWAYS. 1 THE BIGGEST CRUISE SEASON NZ HAS EVER SEEN IS UNDERWAY, WITH MORE THAN 7000 PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN AUCKLAND IN JUST THE PAST TWO DAYS. BUT WITH BIGGER AND BIGGER SHIPS ON THE WAY, AND MORE OF THEM, CAN WE COPE? DAMIAN CHRISTIE HAS THE STORY. A TYPICAL DECEMBER DAY IN AUCKLAND ` OVERCAST, MUGGY, LIGHT DRIZZLE; A GREAT WELCOME FOR THESE PASSENGERS. BUT THE CRUISE BOSS SAYS THE CITY OF SAILS REMAINS A HIGHLIGHT. OH, LOOK, AUCKLAND IS BY FAR AND AWAY ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR PORTS ` HAVING A PIER RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. THE CRUISE INDUSTRY INJECTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THE LENGTH OF THE COUNTRY ` EVEN PLACES YOU DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. TORANGO? WITH THE PANAMA CANAL BEING WIDENED NEXT YEAR, THE GATEWAY IS BEING OPENED TO EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS, MEANING BIGGER SHIPS AND MORE OF THEM. THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 208,000 PEOPLE; 750 PORT CALLS. I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION IS, 'CAN WE HANDLE MORE AND BIGGER SHIPS?' AUCKLAND'S ROLE IS CRITICAL. IF WE'RE GOING TO EXTRACT THE BEST POSSIBLE ECONOMIC VALUE, IT'S GOING TO COME FROM THESE CRUISE TRIPS ORIGINATING AND FINISHING IN NZ, AND AUCKLAND IS THE PRIME PLACE. WHAT WE LAUGHINGLY REFER TO AS SUMMERTIME HERE IN AUCKLAND MIGHT NOT BE IDEAL FOR THE TOURISTS, BUT IN RECENT YEARS IT'S BEEN THE ARRIVAL FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION, NO ONE TODAY SEEMS PARTICULARLY BOTHERED. PRETTY QUICK. WE HAD THE LITTLE SNIFFER DOGS, AND... NAH, IT WAS GOOD. THERE WAS A FEW WHINGERS ABOUT IT, BUT WE'VE HAD NO PROBLEM AT ALL. EVEN SO, INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY A REVAMPED SHED 10 ARRIVAL TERMINAL WILL BE A BIG STEP FORWARD. SO PEOPLE WILL FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE, RELAXED; TRANSITION WILL BE A LOT SMOOTHER. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A REAL SEAMLESS MOVE FROM THE SHIP TO SHORE. IT'S CERTAINLY A VERY POSITIVE STEP. WE'VE GONE AT A VERY GLACIAL PACE; WE'RE NOW AT A FAST CANTER. BUT BY NO MEANS ARE WE AT THE FINISHING LINE YET. CROSSING THE LINE IN TIME WILL GIVE RETAILERS A MUCH-NEEDED BOOST. YOU TAKE THE LADY SHOPPING. THERE'S ALWAYS A DRESS SHOP OR A SHOE SHOP. YEAH. WHEN YOU'RE MARRIED, YOU KNOW NOT TO SAY NO. DAMIAN CHRISTIE, ONE NEWS. MILLIONS OF LARGE ORANGE FISH CHOKING NZ'S LONGEST RIVER ARE NOW BECOMING FERTILIZER FOOD. KOI CARP ARE PESTS THAT COMPETE WITH NATIVE FISH AND STIR UP SEDIMENT. THEY'RE SO RAMPANT THE WAIKATO RIVER HAS BEEN UNDER SIEGE, BUT NOW THE FIGHT BACK IS UNDERWAY. SHARON FERGUSSON HAS MORE. NOTHING DEALS TO PESTS LIKE A GIANT CAGE... HOLD IT. ...ATTACHED TO A GIANT MULCHER. THEY'RE A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THEY CAN GET INTO REALLY BIG NUMBERS. KOI CARP WERE INTRODUCED IN THE '60S. IT'S THOUGHT THEY CAME IN WITH A CONSIGNMENT OF GOLDFISH. BUT THEY COMPETE WITH NATIVE FISH FOR FOOD, STIR UP SEDIMENT AND BREED LIKE RABBITS. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 60 YEARS OR PLUS, AND THE WATER QUALITY WAS` YOU COULD SEE INTO THE WATERWAYS. AND NOW WITH THE KOI SINCE THEY'VE COME, IT'S JUST DETERIORATED SOMETHING TERRIBLE. THE FISH DIGESTER GRINDS THEM INTO MULCH, BREWS IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND SPITS OUT CARP-ACHINO. IT CERTAINLY AIN'T COFFEE, ALTHOUGH IT HAS A PICK-ME-UP EFFECT ON TREES. IT TURNS OUT FISH FLESH IS PARTICULARLY HIGH IN PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN, SO THE FINAL PRODUCT IS BEING USED TO FEED NATIVE PLANTINGS ON RIPARIAN STRIPS. THE TREES THAT GET THE FISH FEED ARE DOING PARTICULARLY WELL. THE TRAP IS DESIGNED TO LET THE NATIVE SPECIES ESCAPE. THESE GUYS HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT MESH THERE AND HAVEN'T ACTUALLY BEEN CAUGHT, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL. FOR A LOT OF FARMERS, IT WILL BE A HUGE RELIEF FOR THEM, AND I GUESS THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS TO REPLICATE THIS APPROACH ACROSS THE CATCHMENT. IT'S HOPED SEVERAL MORE FISH DIGESTERS WILL BE FUNDED. WHILE THEY'RE NOT EXPECTED TO GET RID OF KOI CARP ALTOGETHER, GETTING NUMBERS UNDER CONTROL WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. NATIONAL MP LOCKWOOD SMITH HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY NAMED AS THE NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE UK, BUT DENIES IT'S A CASE OF A 'JOB FOR THE BOYS'. DR SMITH HAS BEEN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS AND WILL HEAD TO LONDON IN MARCH NEXT YEAR. HE ADMITS HE TALKED TO THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT THE COMMISSIONER JOB BEFORE HE BECAME SPEAKER. IT WAS DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, WHAT MY FUTURE MIGHT BE, BUT IN THIS WORLD, ONE, YOU KNOW, HAS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT ONE'S PROMISED, I MEAN, IF I HAD BOMBED OUT TOTALLY AS SPEAKER. I MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT MY FIRST PRIORITY WAS TO DO THE BEST JOB I COULD DO AS SPEAKER. LOCKWOOD SMITH HAS BEEN AN MP SINCE 1984 AND WAS EDUCATION MINISTER IN THE 1990S. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THERE ARE FRESH CALLS FOR EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA TO QUIT FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF HER TOP MINISTRY OFFICIAL. LESLEY LONGSTONE'S EXPECTED TO RECEIVE A TAXPAYER-FUNDED GOLDEN HANDSHAKE WORTH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. RELATIVES OF THE YOUNG FAMILY OF FIVE WHO DIED IN A CAR CRASH ARE URGING OTHER DRIVERS TO TAKE EXTRA CARE ON THE ROADS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. ALL FIVE DIED WHEN THEIR CAR PLUNGED DOWN A BANK OF STATE HIGHWAY 32 NOT FAR FROM THEIR SOUTH WAIKATO HOME. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND BALL TAMPERING WON'T GO AWAY IN CRICKET? PROBABLY NEVER WILL. THE AUSSIES FIRE UP OVER THIS ISSUE NEXT. ALSO TONIGHT ` RUGBY LEAGUE CLAMPS DOWN ON ITS ELIGIBILITY RULES FOR STATE OF ORIGIN. PLUS, SWIMMING'S NEW WORLD CHAMP IS HOME. IS SHE THE SPORT'S SAVIOUR FOR THE NEXT OLYMPICS? AND THIS ISN'T THE QUEUE FOR SANTA ` ONE OF ASIA'S BIGGEST SPORTS STARS IS HERE, SO WHO IS HE? FIRST UP TONIGHT ` TO SWIMMING, AND OUR LATEST WORLD CHAMPION HAS RETURNED HOME, READY TO PUT HER FEET UP AFTER A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. WITH IMPECCABLE TIMING, LAUREN BOYLE WON GOLD AT THE WORLD SHORT COURSE CHAMPS IN TURKEY. SO IS SHE THE SAVIOUR OF A TROUBLED SPORT? KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. SWIMMING NZ'S LATEST SUCCESS STORY, LEADING HER TEAM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. HER WORLD SHORT COURSE WIN IS PERFECT TIMING FOR A SPORT HAVING TO JUSTIFY THE INVESTMENT IT GETS. WE HAVE GOT SOME GREAT TALENT COMING FORWARD, AND THIS HAS JUST BEEN EMPHASISED BY LAUREN'S SWIM. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I'D BE ABLE TO GO AS FAST AS I DID, BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW MY TIMES WERE. THE 25-YEAR-OLD'S TRIUMPH COMES IN THE WAKE OF A FOURTH PLACING AT THE OLYMPICS. WELL, THAT IS BRILLIANT. A MASSIVE PERSONAL BEST BY LAUREN BOYLE. HER BEST IS EVEN BETTER FOR AN ORGANISATION THAT'S TAKEN A FUNDING CUT AFTER A TUMULTUOUS 2012. WE UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THEIR DECISION, AND THEY WILL REVISIT US AT THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER WE'VE ACHIEVED WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR. IT'S GIVEN THEM BREATHING SPACE WITH LONGER-TERM FUNDING TO BE BASED ON NEXT YEAR'S PERFORMANCE. THE ORGANISATION IS NOW KEEN TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION OFF BOYLE. WHILST LAUREN AT THE MOMENT IS THE FIGUREHEAD OF THAT TEAM, THERE ARE OTHERS COMING FORWARD, AND WE WON'T BE PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON LAUREN TO BE THAT SAVIOUR FOR US. ALL I CAN DO IS MY BEST, AND THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS DO. I TRAIN AS HARD AS I CAN, AND WHEN IT COMES TO RACING, I DO WHAT I CAN. BUT THE FACT REMAINS BOYLE'S THE ONLY ONE RACKING UP MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR. I'M NOT REALLY DOING IT FOR ANY KIND OF RECOGNITION OR ANYTHING. YET RECOGNITION IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S GETTING. SWIMMING NZ IS NOW NEEDING TO ENSURE SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WHEN IT COMES TO RIO 2016. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. BRENDON MCCULLUM HAS STARTED HIS CAPTAINCY OF THE BLACKCAPS WITH A WIN IN THEIR OPENING TOUR MATCH IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE TOURISTS HIT 140/8 ON A SLOW PITCH AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA A IN PIETERMARITZBURG. NEW CAP COLIN MUNRO TOP-SCORED WITH 39. MCCULLUM ADDED 32. TIGHT BOWLING FROM THE BLACKCAPS LIMITED THE SOUTH AFRICANS TO 116/9 IN REPLY. ANOTHER NEWCOMER, MITCHELL MCCLENAGHAN, TOOK 3/19. WELL, I THINK THE TEAM GOT WHAT WE WANTED, WHICH WAS A WIN AND TO GET SOME CONFIDENCE, AND I THINK WE'VE MANAGED TO ACHIEVE THAT. NZ WON BY 24 RUNS. THE FIRST OF THREE T20 INTERNATIONALS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA IS ON SATURDAY. THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS AREN'T LETTING BALL-TAMPERING ALLEGATIONS TAKE THE GLOSS OFF THEIR FIRST TEST WIN OVER SRI LANKA. THE SRI LANKANS CLAIMED TV REPLAYS SHOWED AUSTRALIAN PACE BOWLER PETER SIDDLE USING HIS FINGERNAILS TO RAISE THE SEAM OF THE BALL. HERE'S STEPHEN STUART. COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE DAY-THREE IMAGES SURFACED ON THE FINAL DAY AS PETER SIDDLE WAS TRYING TO BOWL AUSTRALIA TO VICTORY. THIS WILL BE ONE. HE KNOCKED OVER THE MIDDLE ORDER, FINISHING WITH FOUR WICKETS AND NINE FOR THE MATCH AND THEN HAD TO DEFEND HIMSELF. LAUGHTER YEAH. YEAH, NAH, I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND I THOUGHT TODAY, 'IF I RAN OUT THERE AND BALL-TAMPERED IN FRONT OF 15 CAMERAS 'AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE GAME 'THAT I'M GOING TO GET AWAY WITH IT?' NAH, THAT'S JUST A RIDICULOUS STATEMENT. CRICKET'S RULING BODY, THE ICC, AGREED, SAYING THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING. CAPTAIN MICHAEL CLARKE, WHO INSISTED HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE SRI LANKAN CONCERNS BEFORE THE MATCH FINISHED, WAS OFFENDED AT ANY SUGGESTION OF WRONGDOING. WE PLAY VERY HARD ON THE FIELD, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LINE YOU CAN'T CROSS. SIDDLE WAS ADJUDGED MAN OF THE MATCH AFTER LEADING A DEPLETED ATTACK. EDGE. HAS HE GOT HIM? YES, HE HAS. MICHAEL CLARKE'S GOT HIM. IF EVERYONE'S GOT THE HEART THAT HE HAS, WE'LL DEFINITELY GET BACK TO BEING THE NUMBER-ONE TEST TEAM IN THE WORLD. SIDDLE WAS DENIED A 10-WICKET HAUL BY MITCHELL STARC, WHO CLAIMED THE LAST FOUR SCALPS AS THE SUSPECT SRI LANKAN TAIL FOLDED IN THE FINAL HOUR ON A WEARING HOBART PITCH. OH, AND HE GETS HIM FINALLY! SO AUSTRALIA WON ON AND OFF THE FIELD. THE SIDES NOW HEAD TO MELBOURNE FOR THE BOXING DAY TEST. STEPHEN STUART, ONE NEWS. AMIDST ALL CRICKET'S ISSUES AND THE ONGOING DEBATE OVER THE USE OF EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND CRICKET IS MAKING A BOLD MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS AWAY, THEY'RE PLAYING THEIR NEXT THREE DOMESTIC T20 GAMES ON THE MAIN FIELD AT THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST SPORTS VENUE. AUCKLAND AND CANTERBURY TODAY COMPLETED THE NICETIES AT THE END OF THEIR FOUR-DAY MATCH ON EDEN PARK'S REDEVELOPED NUMBER-TWO GROUND. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE TWO TEAMS PLAY IN THE MAIN STADIUM. COULD IT BACKFIRE? > IF A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE TURN UP TO A 60,000-SEAT STADIUM, > IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK GOOD. > IT WON'T BACKFIRE. THANKS FOR... POINTING THAT OUT TO ME. CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT? > I'LL GUARANTEE THERE WON'T BE 200 PEOPLE TURNING UP, THAT'S FOR SURE. ORGANISERS ARE HOPING FOR 5000-6000 IN THE LOWER BOWL PART OF THE VENUE. FOR US TO RUN A GAME, IT'S IN THAT $30,000-50,000 BRACKET. SO THE GAMES ARE LIKELY TO RUN AT A LOSS. IS IT PART OF A PUSH TO GET MORE USE OUT OF EDEN PARK? IT'S MORE ABOUT US AND AUCKLAND CRICKET SAYING, 'LET'S USE THE FACILITIES HERE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE 'TO COME AND ENJOY WATCHING CRICKET IN A GREAT FACILITY.' FRIDAY NIGHT IN BUSY PRE-CHRISTMAS AUCKLAND WILL ALSO BE A TEST OF HOW CRICKET IS FARING AFTER THE TAYLOR-MCCULLUM-HESSON SAGA. WHAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN THOSE TWO GUYS, THOSE THREE GUYS, SHOULDN'T REALLY IMPACT ON THESE YOUNG GUYS COMING THROUGH. VINCENT AND OTHER PLAYERS SPOKEN TO TODAY BELIEVE IT'LL BE A BUZZ TO PLAY AGAIN ON THE FAMOUS FIELD,... THAT'S GONE! ...EVEN IF IT'S EMPTY. WHAT WE'LL DO IS JUST GET A LOT OF BLOW-UP DOLLS, BLOW 'EM UP NEXT TO THEM. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, IT COULD BE A COUPLE OF THOUSAND. IT'D BE A PRETTY QUIET CROWD. WE'LL SOON FIND OUT IF LOU'S DOLLS ARE NEEDED. AFTER YEARS OF CONFUSION AND ACCUSATIONS OF DODGY DEALINGS, THE AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE COMMISSION HAS CLARIFIED EXACTLY WHO'S ELIGIBLE TO PLAY STATE OF ORIGIN. THE RULING IS EXPECTED TO HAVE BIG BENEFITS FOR THE KIWIS TEST TEAM. HERE'S BLAIR NORTON. THE HEAVY HITTERS OF THE TRANS-TASMAN LEAGUE LAUNCHED A FIRST ANZAC TEST FOR CANBERRA TODAY. POWERBROKERS HERE ARE SURE TIGHTENING STATE OF ORIGIN'S ELIGIBILITY RULE WILL MAKE THE TRANS-TASMAN MATCH-UP CLOSER THAN EVER. A LOT OF PLAYERS, THEN, THAT GO THERE AT 15, 16, 17 WILL OBVIOUSLY STAY COMMITTED TO THE KIWIS. AS FAR BACK AS 1993, SOME QUESTIONED WHETHER KIWI MATTHEW RIDGE WAS ELIGIBLE TO PLAY STATE OF ORIGIN. SINCE THEN PLAYERS WITH NZ HERITAGE LIKE KARMICHAEL HUNT, JAMES TAMOU AND SAM KASIANO HAVE KEPT THE DEBATE RAGING, BRINGING INTO QUESTION WHO EXACTLY IS ELIGIBLE TO PLAY STATE OF ORIGIN. PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT GREY, AND CERTAINLY FROM THE NZ RUGBY LEAGUE POINT OF VIEW, IT'S REALLY POSITIVE. FROM 2013 NO PLAYERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY FOR NSW OR QUEENSLAND UNLESS THEY HAVE LIVED IN THAT STATE BEFORE THE AGE OF 13, OR UNLESS HE'S THE SON ON AN ORIGIN PLAYER. THE PLAYERS MUST ALSO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY FOR AUSTRALIA. UNDER THE NEW RULE, HUNT, WHO MOVED TO AUSTRALIA AT 11 YEARS OLD, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY FOR QUEENSLAND, WHILE JAMES TAMOU, WHO MOVED TO AUSTRALIA AT 13, WOULD NOT. THIS YEAR WE HAD PEOPLE LIKE SAM KASIANO, WHO AT SOME POINT HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN ONE OR THE OTHER. WHEREAS NOW, WITH THAT RULING, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ANY MORE. WHICH, FOR CURRENT PLAYERS LIKE MANU VATUVEI, CAN ONLY BENEFIT THE KIWIS. IT'LL BE AWESOME FOR US, COS I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TALENT IN THE NRL... AND PLAYERS THAT COULD PLAY FOR THE KIWIS. VATUVEI'S CHANCES OF REGAINING HIS PLACE IN THE KIWIS GOT A BOOST AFTER HIS 'FIGHT FOR LIFE' EXPERIENCE. I CAN TELL MY SPEED IS A LITTLE BIT FASTER AND I'M A LITTLE BIT STRONGER, SO HOPEFULLY I CAN MAINTAIN THAT. THE STUDENTS AT CHRISTCHURCH'S ARANUI PRIMARY SCHOOL WERE WELL AND TRULY IMPRESSED BY THE TRIMMER, SLIMMER VATUVEI. BLAIR NORTON, ONE NEWS. AND WHILE VATUVEI AND OTHER LEAGUIES WERE FRONTING UP AT FIGHT FOR LIFE OVER THE WEEKEND, A COUPLE OF PARRAMATTA EELS WERE DISHING IT OUT ON THE KING'S CROSS. RENI MAITUA HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING AFTER HE AND TOYOTA CUP PLAYER SHAUN ANDERSON HAD A SET-TO. ANDERSON KING-HIT THE FIRST-GRADE CAPTAIN-IN-WAITING BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED. ANDERSON'S CRYING FOUL AFTER HAVING HIS CONTRACT TORN UP. THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DECK ME OR SOMETHING, SO I STOOD BACK AND HIT HIM FIRST, AND THEN, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEN HE WAS OUT COLD ON THE GROUND. IT'S AN NRL PLAYER'S WORD AGAINST, YOU KNOW, AN UNDER-20S PLAYER'S WORD. STRAIGHT UP, THEY'RE GONNA PICK THE NRL PLAYER, AREN'T THEY? IT'S THE SECOND SACKING IN A WEEK AT PARRA. UP-AND-COMER JAMIL HOPOATE ` YES, SON OF JOHN ` IS GONE FOR BAD BEHAVIOUR AT ROOKIE CAMP. LEE CHONG WEI ARRIVED IN THE COUNTRY TODAY FROM MALAYSIA AND WAS INSTANTLY MOBBED. HAVEN'T HEARD OF HIM? MILLIONS HAVE. MARTIN TASKER JOINED THE CROWDS TO MEET THE SPORTING SUPERSTAR. THE AUTOGRAPH QUEUE STRETCHES RIGHT AROUND THE BUILDING IN AUCKLAND'S SKY CITY, AND WIELDING THE PEN AT THE END OF IT IS DATUK ` THAT'S LIKE SIR ` LEE CHONG WEI, WORLD NUMBER ONE BADMINTON PLAYER, OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALLIST AND HUGE DRAWCARD. HE WOULD BE LIKE... IF NOT MORE POPULAR THAN DAN CARTER HERE, LIKE, IN MALAYSIA, YEAH. HIS RECENT WEDDING, COMPLETE WITH CAVALCADE OF EXOTIC SUPERCARS, WAS TELEVISED LIVE. THE SUGAR-SWEET, ROMANTIC HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO WAS NEXT. AND GIVEN SUCH A HUGE FOLLOWING, BADMINTON NZ IS HOPING TO LURE HIM HERE FOR THE NZ OPEN NEXT YEAR. THIS GUY IS LIKE ROGER FEDERER IS IN SWITZERLAND. HE'S AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND IN HIS COUNTRY AND SO MUCH KNOWN AROUND THE ASIAN WORLD. IT WOULD BE JUST UNBELIEVABLE IF WE COULD SOMEHOW GET HIM TO NZ. THE NZ OPEN FALLS BETWEEN EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA AND TAHITI AND WILL DRAW MORE THAN 300 PLAYERS FROM UP TO 20 COUNTRIES. LEE'S RESPONSE TODAY WAS ENCOURAGING. I TRY. I TRY. WHAT IS IT THAT SETS HIM APART? > HE JUST GLIDES AROUND THE COURT, AND HE JUST HAS SO MUCH TIME TO PLAY THE SHUTTLE, AND IN BADMINTON THAT IS THE KEY ` TO BE POSITIONED WELL TO PLAY A GOOD SHOT. THE NZ OPEN IS IN APRIL AT THE NORTH SHORE EVENTS CENTRE. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. I'M SURE IT'LL BE WELL RUN. THANKS, ANDREW. AFTER THE BREAK ` KAREN SAYS A LARGE HIGH DELIVERS SETTLED WEATHER TO MOST PLACES TOMORROW. WARM AND HUMID AGAIN OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. TEMPERATURES INTO THE 30S IN THE EAST. PLENTY OF FINE WEATHER OVER THE COUNTRY TODAY UNDER THE HIGH. JUST A SMUDGE OF CLOUD PUSHING ON TO THE NORTH ISLAND FROM THE TASMAN. SEE THE OUTFLOW OF TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN SWEEPING DOWN FROM THE NORTH AND BRIGHT FRONTAL CLOUD PASSING TASMANIA ` A WARM FRONT-COLD FRONT COMBO. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS DEFINITELY CALLING THE SHOTS TOMORROW, PRODUCING A FINE, SETTLED DAY FOR MOST. JUST A BIT OF FRONTAL LEFTOVERS HANGING BACK OVER NORTHERN NZ. AS THESE FRONTS MOVE CLOSER, THE MILD NOR'WESTER WILL PICK UP OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND; RAIN ARRIVING IN THE SOUTH-WEST LATE IN THE DAY. TC EVAN COMING INTO VIEW. IT'S STILL 50/50 WHETHER IT'LL COME CLOSE. IT'S GOING TO BRING DOWN MOIST TROPICAL AIR AND PRODUCE RAIN OVER THE WEEKEND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S ALL FROM ME. SEE YOU TOMORROW. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY. TONIGHT'S HERE AT 10.30 WITH THE LATEST ON THE TURMOIL IN THE EDUCATION MINISTRY. BUT FROM US, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY RICHARD EDMUNDS AND PIPPA JEFFERIES. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2012