DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. PRESSURE ON THE EMBATTLED EDUCATION MINISTER TO GO AS A TOP OFFICIAL QUITS. A LONDON COURT OVERRULES A KIWI MUM, PAVING THE WAY FOR LIFE-SAVING SURGERY ON HER YOUNG SON. AND WHY A RED TAPE BLUNDER IN AUSTRALIA MEANS CHRISTCHURCH QUAKE RESCUERS ARE MISSING OUT ON RECOGNITION. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. THE OPPOSITION'S DEMANDING JOHN KEY SACK THE EDUCATION MINISTER, HEKIA PARATA, AFTER THE LATEST CRISIS TO HIT THE DEPARTMENT. IT FOLLOWS THE SUDDEN RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY'S TOP OFFICIAL BARELY A YEAR INTO THE JOB. GEORGINA BALL REPORTS. THE SUDDEN RESIGNATION OF LESLEY LONGSTONE CAPS A DISASTROUS YEAR FOR THE EDUCATION MINISTRY. BUT DESPITE THAT, NEITHER HEKIA PARATA NOR JOHN KEY WOULD TALK TO THE MEDIA. THE GOVERNMENT'S CLEARLY DECIDED THEY'VE GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO. THEY'D RATHER DO THEIR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING THAN ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES AROUND RUNNING THE COUNTRY. THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THE MAN WHO DID APPEAR ON THEIR BEHALF INDICATED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MINISTER AND TOP OFFICIAL WAS SO BAD THAT LESLEY LONGSTONE HAD TO GO. KEY TO ANY MINISTRY SUCCEEDING IS AN EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MINISTER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE. AND, CLEARLY, IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE, AS IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. AND IT'S GOING TO COST US. WITH LESLEY LONGSTONE LEAVING JUST A YEAR INTO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, SHE'S LIKELY TO GET A SIX-FIGURE GOLDEN HANDSHAKE. MERRY CHRISTMAS. 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. CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE NOVOPAY PAYROLL SYSTEM FOR TEACHERS REFUSED TO GO AWAY, AND THIS MONTH, THE MINISTER WAS TAKEN TO TASK OVER THE ILLEGAL CLOSING SALISBURY SPECIAL SCHOOL. THE MINISTER HAS MADE SOME APPALLING DECISIONS IS IN THE LAST YEAR, AND SHE NEEDS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND RESIGN HERSELF. OTHERS SAY IF SHE DOESN'T, JOHN KEY SHOULD STEP IN AND SACK HER. JOHN KEY NEEDS TO ASK SOME VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS OF HER. IF SHE'S NOT WILLING TO RESIGN, HE NEEDS TO LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISE TO NZERS TO HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS FOR MINISTERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND HE NEEDS TO REMOVE HEKIA PARATA. BUT FOR THE MOMENT, HEKIA PARATA APPEARS SAFE ` THE PRIME MINISTER SAYING VIA A SPOKESPERSON HE DOES STILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS EMBATTLED MINISTER. GEORGINA BALL, ONE NEWS. SCHOOLS IN CHRISTCHURCH SAY IT'S ABOUT TIME HEADS ROLLED AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. HEKIA PARATA AND HER MINISTRY GENERATED HUGE CONTROVERSY IN THE CITY WHEN THEY EARMARKED DOZENS OF SCHOOLS TO BE MERGED OR CLOSED. ALI PUGH REPORTS. 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 LONDON COURT HAS OVERRULED A NZ MOTHER AND GIVEN A HOSPITAL APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH BRAIN SURGERY ON HER SON (7). SALLY ROBERTS HAD PREVIOUSLY WENT INTO HIDING WITH HER SON. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY HAS THE STORY. 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 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. PARENTS OF NEWBORN BABIES RECALLED TO HOSPITAL FOR HEARING TESTS ARE BEING URGED TO TAKE THEM IN FOR AN 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 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 ALARMING INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF KIDS ACCIDENTLY CONSUMING DRUGS, FROM HEAVY-DUTY SEDATIVES TO MAGIC MUSHROOMS AND P. POLICE ARE NOW WARNING ADULTS THEY CAN BE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. AMY KELLEY REPORTS. 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 OUR ROADS IS COSTING TAXPAYERS MORE THAN EXPECTED. AN INTERNAL AUDIT SEEN BY ONE NEWS SHOWS THE NZ TRANSPORT AGENCY'S PROJECTS ARE COMING IN OVER BUDGET AND NOT DELIVERING EXPECTED ECONOMIC BENEFITS. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN HAS THE STORY. 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 WON'T 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. THERE ARE RED FACES IN AUSTRALIA OVER AWARDS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO EMERGENCY WORKERS INVOLVED THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE. A GROUP OF HEROES HAVE BEEN DENIED RECOGNITION BECAUSE OF A RED TAPE BLUNDER. CHANNEL NINE'S SIMON BOUDA REPORTS. OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS RISKING THEIR LIVES IN THE RUBBLE OF THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE TO SAVE OTHERS AND IN TSUNAMI-DEVASTATED JAPAN, FACING A MAJOR NUCLEAR THREAT. NOW THEY'RE WORRIED THEY'VE BEEN SNUBBED; RECOGNITION OF THEIR HEROISM UNDER THREAT. THEY'RE NOT THE SORT OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK FOR ACCOLADES, BUT I THINK THEY DESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF RECOGNITION FOR WHAT THEY DID. A HUMANITARIAN OVERSEAS MEDAL WAS AUTHORISED BY GOVERNOR GENERAL QUENTIN BRYCE BACK IN APRIL. BUT A SIMPLE ERROR IN THE WORDING COULD MEAN THE ENTIRE AUSTRALIAN RESCUE TASK FORCE COULD MISS OUT. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S DECLARATION. IT STATES THAT THE RESCUE TASK FORCE SHOULD RECEIVE THE MEDAL ON THE CONDITION THAT THEY WERE IN THE DISASTER ZONE FOR A 14-DAY PERIOD. THE PROBLEM IS, THEY WERE ONLY DEPLOYED FOR 10 DAYS. QUEENSLAND FIRE AND RESCUE WORKED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE NEW SOUTH WALES COUNTERPARTS AFTER THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE. THEY'VE BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED IN THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE ORGANISATIONS. NOT EVEN TO GET ANY RECOGNITION THAT THEY WERE EVEN ACTUALLY THERE ` IT'S REALLY` IT DUMBFOUNDS ME. BOTH THE NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND FIRE COMMISSIONERS HAVE APPEALED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. JUST AHEAD ` AMERICANS TURN THEIR ANGER OVER LAST WEEK'S SCHOOL MASSACRE ON GUN-MAKERS. AND NATURE STOPS A TRAIN RIGHT IN ITS TRACKS. If you want to give your guests a special treat over the festive season, nothing beats the Bombay Berry. One part Bombay Sapphire gin, three parts cranberry juice and these huge home-made berry ice cubes. And the ice tray you need to make them is free when you buy Bombay Sapphire off The Mix stand this month. Bombay Sapphire is the perfect gin for mixing. It has a really light, citrusy style that doesn't overpower the other flavours of the drink. For a single serve, cut yourself a lime wedge. It's gonna help bring out the botanical flavours in the Bombay Sapphire. Fill your glass with your huge berry ice cubes, 40ml of Bombay Sapphire gin, top it up with cranberry juice ` about 120ml ` and just remember that same one part Bombay Sapphire to three part cranberry juice when you're making up a jug. Bombay Berry using Bombay Sapphire. Cheers. For the recipe... or go to themix.co.nz Look out for Bombay Sapphire and a free ice tray on The Mix stand this month while stocks last. themix.co.nz ` check it out. Meet Shelby and Greg. Hello. Hello. Hello. Whoa! They're both looking for better car-tons to get round in. Greg... is an egg. TYRES SQUEAL If only he'd been like Shelby and thought more about safety. CRASH! CRASH! Sorry! If you want to buy a new car, check safety first at our cracking new website. DOOR SHUTS, RAUCOUS MALE LAUGHTER Yo, Donna! Sorry, Darryl. It's not Donna time; it's Mum time. Sit your drunken ass down there. Why? (LAUGHS) Why? (LAUGHS) Cos you lot are special to me. Aw. Look, I'm not saying anything till I have my lawyer present. (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) You're driving pissed too often, Darryl. Uncle Gav. Mum thinks you're dumb. Uncle Gav. Mum thinks you're dumb. No, you are! Hey! (KISSES, LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) I think you're all dumb. (LAUGHS) I think you're all dumb. Oh. Why? You need to talk to your nephews and you to your brother about you lot driving home pissed every weekend. You're no saint. You're no saint. Yeah, I know that. But we've all got to stop. Now, I've said my bit. Who wants to go next? Who wants to go next? (CHUCKLES) < This is awkward. AID IS ARRIVING IN FIJI IN THE WAKE OF CYCLONE EVAN. THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS AND THERE'S A DESPERATE SHORTAGE OF FOOD AND DRINKING WATER. THE ABC'S LISA MACSIMOVIC REPORTS. THE WIND HAS EASED, AND THE MOPPING UP HAS BEGUN. AND THERE'S MUCH TO DO. AUTHORITIES RETURNED TO THE STREETS THAT WERE BATTERED ON MONDAY BY THE CATEGORY-FOUR CYCLONE EVAN AND 200KM/H WINDS. IT WAS THE BIGGEST STORM TO HIT FIJI IN TWO DECADES. POWER IS NOW BEING RESTORED TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND DEBRIS CLEARED. BUT FOR THE 8000 PEOPLE WHO REMAIN IN EVACUATION CENTRES, THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN. MANY ARE HOMELESS, AND THERE ARE FEARS THAT RAIN MAY CAUSE FURTHER FLOODING OVER THE COMING DAYS. AID AGENCIES SAY THE LACK OF DRINKING WATER IS PROVING A MAJOR PROBLEM. IT'S HOPED SOME ASSISTANCE FROM AUSTRALIA WILL GO SOMEWAY TO HELP. ALMOST 40 TONS OF SUPPLIES WERE LOADED ON TO A ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PLANE IN BRISBANE AND DELIVERED TO THE ISLAND NATION. THE CARGO INCLUDED 1500 FAMILY CARE PACKAGES, TARPS AND BASIC BUILDING EQUIPMENT. BARACK OBAMA IS WANTING TO REINSTATE A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS IN THE WAKE OF LAST WEEK'S SCHOOL MASSACRE IN CONNECTICUT. AND THERE ARE SIGNS AMERICANS ARE BEGINNING TO TURN ON COMPANIES THAT SELL GUNS. THE ABC'S CHRIS CUOMO REPORTS. WITH EACH BODY BURIED, CALLS FOR CHANGE. JUST TODAY, THE WHITE HOUSE VOICED SUPPORT FOR NEW GUN LAWS AND RENEWAL OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN ` WEAPONS THAT FIRE BULLETS IN RAPID SUCCESSION WITH EACH PULL OF A TRIGGER. ON THE GOVERNMENT'S HEELS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ALSO PROVING TO BE A POTENTIAL CATALYST. INVESTMENT MANAGER CERBERUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCING THE SALE OF ITS STAKE IN THE BIGGEST MAKER OF ASSAULT RIFLES. WHAT PROMPTED THE MOVE MAY BE INSTRUCTIVE. THE UNION REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA'S TEACHERS SAID IT WAS REVIEWING ITS DECISION TO INVEST $500M WITH CERBERUS BECAUSE OF ITS CONNECTION TO BUSHMASTER. TEACHERS FEEL VERY STRONGLY AND PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ADVOCATES FOR GUN CONTROL SEE THESE AS STRIDES IN THE DIRECTION OF CULTURE CHANGE ` MAKING ASSAULT RIFLES TABOO. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW GETTING BEHIND AND UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE DOLLAR THAT COUNTS, BUT IT'S THE SENSE, YOU KNOW, THE SENSE OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THEIR MONEY ` THE SENSE OF THE TYPES OF WEAPONS THAT WE'RE SELLING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. BUT IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING, SALES OF ASSAULT RIFLES HAVE JUMPED. SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW DEEP IS ANY CHANGE? FOR ANSWERS, WE GO DIRECTLY TO THOSE AT THE CENTRE OF THE CONVERSATION ` THE TEACHERS' PENSIONS OF THE BIGGEST STATES AND THE LARGEST MAKERS AND SELLERS OF ASSAULT RIFLES. I'M CALLING TO SEE IF BASS PRO SHOPS... IF WALMART... I WANNA KNOW IF CABELA'S... IF BUSHMASTER... SIX STATES RESPONDED. TWO DEFINITELY INVESTED MAKERS OF ASSAULT RIFLES. NONE HAS FOLLOWED CALIFORNIA'S LEAD YET. ON A CORPORATE SIDE, DICK'S SPORTING GOODS REPORTED TODAY IT'S REMOVING SOME MODELS OF ASSAULT RIFLES NATIONWIDE FOR THE TIME BEING. OF THE OTHER MAJOR GUN SELLERS, ONLY WALMART GOT BACK TO US, SAYING NO ASSAULT RIFLES ARE COMING OFF THE SHELF. BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY REMOVED AN AD FOR AN ASSAULT RIFLE OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE LOST IN NEWTOWN. THE AD WAS FOR THE ASSAULT RIFLE USED IN THAT MASSACRE. NOW TO SOME AMAZING PICTURES FROM THE AMERICAN STATE OF WASHINGTON AND A MUDSLIDE WHICH WAS SO POWERFUL IT DERAILED A MOVING FREIGHT TRAIN. THE LANDSLIP WAS CAUGHT ON AMATEUR VIDEO, SMASHING DOWN THE HILL AND KNOCKING SEVEN CARRIAGES OFF THE RAILS. RUMBLING, GRINDING THE CONTAINERS WERE HOLDING CHEMICALS USED IN CLEANING SUPPLIES AND FERTILISER. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. AUTHORITIES IN ECUADOR ARE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON AN ERUPTING VOLCANO. HOT ROCK AND GAS IS FLOWING DOWN THE SLOPES OF THE VOLCANO, AND LAVA'S SHOOTING A KILOMETRE INTO THE AIR. SOUTH AFRICA'S CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENT HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED LEADER OF THE GOVERNING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS. JACOB ZUMA WAS CHOSEN AGAIN DESPITE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS WHICH HAVE DOGGED HIS PRESIDENCY. THE BBC'S JOHN SIMPSON REPORTS FROM BLOEMFONTEIN. IT COULD BE THE FIRST WORLD ` CLEAN, TIDY, PROSPEROUS. EVEN THE BIKES ARE TOP OF THE RANGE. SOUTH AFRICA'S BLACK MIDDLE CLASS IS NOW THREE MILLION STRONG. THIS PLACE, BLOEMFONTEIN OR MANGAUNG, IS WHERE THE ANC WAS FOUNDED A CENTURY AGO. THE ANC'S CONFERENCE HERE HAS BEEN PEACEABLE, EVEN JOLLY. NOT EVEN THE DISCOVERY OF A WHITE EXTREMIST BOMB PLOT UPSET THINGS. JACOB ZUMA RECEIVED 2983 VOTES. CROWD ROARS IT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT JACOB ZUMA WAS RE-ELECTED THE ANC'S PRESIDENT BY A LANDSLIDE. HIS NEW DEPUTY, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, IS A FAMOUSLY SKILLED NEGOTIATOR AND A WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN. HIS ELECTION WILL BE POPULAR WITH FOREIGN INVESTORS. BUT HUGE PROBLEMS REMAIN. CHIEF AMONG THEM IS GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. SOMETHING PRESIDENT ZUMA HIMSELF HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF. IT'S 18 YEARS SINCE THE HISTORIC DEAL BETWEEN NELSON MANDELA'S ANC AND FW DE KLERK'S WHITE REGIME. TODAY, DE KLERK SPEAKS ABOUT MANDELA WITH AFFECTION AND RESPECT. NOT SO ABOUT PRESIDENT ZUMA. CORRUPTION IS NOW OUT OF HAND. THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN BAD FOR SOUTH AFRICA. THE UNRESOLVED ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION HAS MADE HIM UNSUITABLE AS A LEADER FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS IN SOUTH AFRICA. ONLY A SHORT DRIVE FROM THE ANC'S CONFERENCE HALL IS THIS PLACE, A DEPRESSING SQUATTER CAMP. A SINGLE TAP SERVES 700 PEOPLE HERE. SQUATTER CAMPS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PHASED OUT IN JUST TWO YEARS, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. NO ONE FROM THE ANC HAS BEEN NEAR THIS PLACE. WE DO SUFFER WITH THE SEWAGE. WE DO SUFFER WITH TOILETS AND WITH THE WATER. REALLY REALLY BAD. YOU CAN SEE ALSO ` WE HAVE GOT NOTHING HERE. THAT'S NOT HOW THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA WANTED THINGS TO BE, OF COURSE, BUT NELSON MANDELA'S REAL ACHIEVEMENT IS THE NORMALITY, THE ORDINARINESS OF EVERYTHING HERE. PEOPLE USED TO BE AFRAID THAT WHEN HE DIED, THE COUNTRY MIGHT FALL APART. WELL, THERE'S REAL ANXIETY ABOUT HIS HEALTH NOW, BUT NOBODY THINKS SOUTH AFRICA'S IN DANGER. J d JUST AHEAD ` A BADMINTON SU RSTAR 8 ATTRACTS HUGE CROWDS IN AUC AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS EAGLE TRIES TO SNATCH A BABY. NZ RUGBY LEAGUE IS WELCOMING NEW STATE OF ORIGIN RULES THAT'LL PUT A STOP TO KIWIS OPTING TO PLAY FOR AUSTRALIAN STATES. NOW PLAYERS MUST HAVE LIVED IN A STATE BEFORE THE AGE OF 13 OR BE THE SON OF AN ORIGIN PLAYER IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY FOR QUEENSLAND OR NEW SOUTH WALES. NZ RUGBY LEAGUE IS RELIEVED PROMISING KIWI PLAYERS PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT GREY, AND CERTAINLY FROM A NZ RUGBY LEAGUE POINT OF VIEW, IT'S REALLY POSITIVE. THE NEW RULES COME INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR. AND BADMINTON FANATICS FLOCKED TO A SPECIAL APPEARANCE IN AUCKLAND BY ASIAN SUPERSTAR LEE CHONG WEI. HE'S HERE ON HIS HONEYMOON, BUT WAS LURED AWAY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND SIGN AUTOGRAPHS. ORGANISERS ARE HOPING LEE CHONG WEI WILL ATTRACT HUGE CROWDS IF HE COMPETES IN NEXT YEAR'S NZ OPEN. A FAMILY IN THE CANADIAN CITY OF MONTREAL HAS HAD A VERY CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A GOLDEN EAGLE. THE BIG BIRD SWOOPED DOWN AND PICKED UP A BABY IN A PARK. LUCKILY THE LITTLE BOY WAS TOO HEAVY, AND THE EAGLE WAS FORCED TO DROP HIM. THE BABY WAS UNDERSTANDABLY A BIT SHAKEN, BUT OTHERWISE UNHARMED. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY HUGO SNELL AND JUNE YEOW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.