DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. JAILED FOR 18 YEARS. A YOUNG KILLER'S SENTENCED FOR SHOOTING HIS CAREGIVER. STILL NOWHERE TO BE SEEN, BUT THE PRESSURE'S STILL ON HEKIA PARATA AND HER BOSS. AND WE'RE TALKING TO THE OSCAR-WINNING DIRECTOR OF THE AMAZING-LOOKING 'LIFE OF PI'. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S YOUNGEST MURDERERS IS BEGINNING AN 18-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE TONIGHT FOR KILLING HIS CAREGIVER. THIRTEEN YEAR-OLD JORDAN NELSON SHOT ROSEMAREE KURTH IN APRIL. BUT THE JUDGE RULED NELSON COULD BE FREED IN SIX YEARS. REBECCA EDWARDS REPORTS. JORDAN NELSON (13) WAS SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN JAIL FOR MURDER. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PERIOD OF 18 YEARS IMPRISONMENT IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE SEEN AS CRUSHING BY SOMEONE JORDAN'S AGE. LAST MONTH, THE TARANAKI YOUTH PLEADED GUILTY TO SHOOTING HIS CAREGIVER ROSEMAREE KURTH (50) IN THEIR OKOKI HOME IN RURAL TARANAKI. HE WALKED TOWARDS THE KITCHEN. MS KURTH HAD HER BACK TO HIM WHILE SEATED AT THE KITCHEN TABLE DOING A JIGSAW PUZZLE. JORDAN TOOK AIM, FIRED AND KILLED MS KURTH BY SHOOTING HER IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD. TODAY THE COURT HEARD HOW THE TEEN BLAMED HER FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO VISIT HIS MOTHER. THREE PEOPLE FROM ROSEMAREE KURTH'S FAMILY READ EMOTIONAL VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS TO THE COURT, INCLUDING HER PARTNER, A MAN JORDAN NELSON HAD COME TO CALL GRANDAD. HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST PERSON TO FIND MS KURTH'S BODY. WHEN I RETURNED FROM ACROSS THE RIVER ON THAT HORRIBLE DAY AND SAW TWO BLOODY DRAG MARKS LEADING IN TO THE SPARE ROOM AND SEEING ROSE LAYING ON THE FLOOR, BLOOD COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF HER HEAD, HER MOUTH AND EARS, I THOUGHT MY WORLD HAD ENDED. TO THIS DAY, 8 MONTHS LATER, I STILL CANNOT READ NOR LISTEN TO WHAT YOU DID TO MY MUM ON THAT DAY. I'VE HEARD IT ONCE, AND IT'S A SICKENING PAIN. IN IMPOSING THE 18-YEAR SENTENCE, THE JUDGE SAYS HE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE NATURE OF THE CRIME, WITH NELSON'S AGE AND LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL NO DOUBT BE EXPLAINED TO JORDAN THAT HE HAS THE ABILITY TO SEEK PAROLE AFTER SERVING ONE-THIRD OF THE SENTENCE. THERE'S NO WINNERS HERE. THIS IS A VERY SAD CASE. AND WHAT WE ARE RELIEVED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THE VICTIM'S FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE TO ENDURE A HIGH COURT TRIAL. JORDAN NELSON WILL HAVE HIS 14TH BIRTHDAY IN PRISON NEXT MONTH. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. THE QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER HEKIA PARATA SHOULD REMAIN AS EDUCATION MINISTER REFUSE TO GO AWAY, EVEN THOUGH SHE AND HER BOSS, JOHN KEY, STILL WON'T COMMENT. THE EDUCATION SECRETARY'S RESIGNATION YESTERDAY IS FUELLING SPECULATION ABOUT HER POSSIBLE FATE IN A NEW YEAR CABINET RESHUFFLE. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER, MICHAEL PARKIN. I DO. PRANK WEDDING VOWS IN A RADIO JOKE ARE THE ONLY QUESTIONS JOHN KEY'S BEEN PREPARED TO ANSWER IN THE LAST TWO DAYS... LAUGHTER ...DESPITE THE HEAD OF THE EDUCATION MINISTRY RESIGNING AND CALLS FROM THE SECTOR TO SACK THE MINISTER HEKIA PARATA. WELL, THEY THINK THAT YOU'LL FORGET ABOUT IT OVER CHRISTMAS. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN AT SCHOOL NEXT YEAR AND WHAT HAPPENS. CROWD CHANTS: HECK NO, HEKIA! YES, AT THE END OF A YEAR SHE'S SPENT IN THE HEADLINES, HEKIA PARATA HAS ALSO GONE TO GROUND. IN FACT, ONLY NATIONAL'S YOUNGEST MP HAS BEEN PREPARED TO DEFEND THE MINISTER. DO YOU THINK THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION SITS THERE EVERY NIGHT ON THE COMPUTER SORTING OUT THE NOVOPAY THING AND PAYING TEACHERS? NO, THEY DON'T. THAT'S AN OPERATIONAL ISSUE. THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. BUT THE RESIGNATION OF LESLEY LONGSTONE YESTERDAY, LITTLE OVER 12 MONTHS INTO HER FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, MEANS HEKIA PARATA HAS OUSTED HER ONLY FALL-GUY, SO SHE'LL NEED AN A-PLUS MARK IN 2013 TO STAY IN THE ROLE. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG HEKIA CAN SURVIVE? SHE HAS VERY LITTLE TRUST LEFT, I THINK, WITHIN THE SECTOR. THAT'S HER MAJOR PROBLEM, REALLY ` THEY WANT HER OUT. LAUGHTER JOHN KEY'S LIPS REMAIN SEALED, THOUGH... I'M NOT KISSING HIM! ...ON WHETHER HE'LL GIVE IN AND SHIFT HEKIA PARATA TO A SAFER PORTFOLIO WHEN HE RESHUFFLES HIS CABINET IN JANUARY. I'M ASTONISHED SHE TOOK THE JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO SADLY, IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH YEAR FOR HER IN 2013. THREATENED STRIKES BY CHRISTCHURCH TEACHERS AND INTRODUCING CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE LIKELY TO PUT HEKIA PARATA ON THE WRONG SIDE OF PROTEST PLACARDS AGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. MEANWHILE, ONE OF THE EDUCATION MINISTER'S BIGGEST HEADACHES ` NOVOPAY ` HAS ITS LAST ROLL-OUT BEFORE CHRISTMAS TONIGHT. IT'S NOW BEEN REVEALED MORE THAN $1M WAS SPENT ON CONSULTANTS AND TESTING OF THE NOVOPAY SYSTEM, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IGNORED. SHARON FERGUSSON HAS MORE. VERY SPARKLING, READY FOR CHRISTMAS. STUDENTS AT CARLSON SCHOOL FOR CEREBRAL PALSY ARE READY FOR CHRISTMAS. OK, BYE! STAFF ARE MORE THAN READY. MY OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR SAID TO ME AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, 'EVERY DAY FOR FOUR MONTHS I'VE COME TO WORK 'AND THERE ARE MORE OF THESE ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. 'AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I WORK, HOW MANY FORMS I FILL IN, 'HOW MANY PHONE CALLS I MAKE.' IN AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT, FAYE PHILP SAYS HER ADMINISTRATORS ARE COMPLETELY ABSORBED IN NOVOPAY ERRORS AND... SHE CALLS THE NOVOPAY SYSTEM A FINANCIAL TRAVESTY AND A MATTER OF HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND SHE CALLS FOR TALENT 2 ` THE COMPANY THAT RUNS NOVOPAY ` TO BE SACKED. G 8 LESLIE LONGSTONE HAS R BUT THAT ACTUALLY HASN'T CHANGED ANYTHING FOR US AND WON'T UNTIL SOMEBODY ACTUALLY SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND TALENT 2, YOU'RE JUST NOT CUTTING THE MUSTARD. MANY STAFF HAVE RECEIVED THIS WITH THEIR PAY SLIPS. IT'S FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AND ON IT IS A NUMBER THAT STAFF CAN CALL IF THEY'VE BEEN UNDERPAID TO ARRANGE A MANUAL PAYMENT. TROUBLE IS, THE NUMBER DOESN'T GO THROUGH TO ANYONE WHO'S A PAYROLL SPECIALIST; IT SIMPLY GOES THROUGH TO THE MAIN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ANSWERPHONE. IF YOU WANT THE RESOURCING CONTACT CENTRE, PRESS 'ONE'. MEANWHILE, LABOUR HAS RELEASED DOCUMENTS SHOWING HOW MUCH WAS SPENT ON CONSULTANTS AND TESTING OF NOVOPAY PRIOR TO LAUNCH. WELL, THE GOVERNMENT SPENT ABOUT $1M ON CONSULTANTS AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS NEW PAYROLL SYSTEM. A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT WAS TESTING THE SYSTEM WITH THE USERS, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GONNA HAVE TO INPUT THE DATA TO SEE WHETHER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO WORK. THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, 'NO, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK,' AND THE GOVERNMENT WENT AHEAD AND DID IT ANYWAY. AS STUDENTS HEAD HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, SCHOOLS HOPE TONIGHT WILL BRING THE GIFT OF A CLEAN PAY ROUND. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. MP'S ARE GETTING A 1.9% PAY RISE, BACKDATED TO JULY. THE PRIME MINISTER GETS AN $8000 BOOST TO MORE THAN $419,000 A YEAR. CABINET MINISTERS WILL GET NEARLY 5000 MORE, AND BACK BENCHERS ARE ALSO IN FOR A PAY INCREASE. I THINK IT SAYS THAT THERE'S A REAL DOUBLE STANDARD IN THAT POLITICIANS, AND PARTICULARLY THE MINISTERS, ARE PREPARED TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES, BUT THEY DON'T APPLY THE SAME RULES TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THEM. THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION AUTHORITY IS IN CHARGE OF SETTING MPS' SALARIES. FORMER RUGBY LEAGUE STAR TAWERA NIKAU HAS HAD HIS ASSAULT CONVICTION SET ASIDE. JUSTICE EDWIN WYLIE RULED NIKAU'S LAWYER WAS MISLED WHEN THE JUDGE IN FEBRUARY'S TRIAL INDICATED HE DIDN'T NEED TO HEAR NIKAU. THAT GAVE LAWYER GARY GOTLIEB THE IMPRESSION THE POLICE HADN'T MADE ITS CASE BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. JUSTICE WYLIE SAYS NIKAU SHOULD'VE BEEN DISMISSED WITHOUT CONVICTION. INSTEAD, HE WAS CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING HIS DAUGHTER. A HARD-WORKING PETROL STATION OWNER WHO FOUGHT BACK AGAINST AN ARMED ROBBER BELIEVES HIS ACTIONS ARE A WARNING TO OTHER CRIMINALS. AND IT WAS ALL CAPTURED ON CAMERA. AMY KELLEY TALKED TO THE BRAVE BUSINESSMAN IN WEST AUCKLAND. THIS WAS PETROL STATION OWNER ZAHID CHAUDRY'S FIRST EVER BREAK-IN, AND THANKS TO HIS FEISTY FIGHTBACK, IT COULD WELL BE THE LAST. WHEN A MASKED GUNMAN STORMED IN DEMANDING MONEY LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, MR CHAUDRY DECIDED HANDING OVER HIS HARD-EARNED CASH WASN'T AN OPTION. I AM WORKING SEVEN DAYS HERE, NO HOLIDAY FOR ME, AND 14 HOURS A DAY, AND SOMEONE COME IN AND SAYS, 'GIVE ME MY MONEY.' I'M NOT LIKE THAT PERSON. PUSHING AND RELENTLESSLY PUNCHING THE INTRUDER, MR CHAUDRY FORCED HIM OUT OF THE STORE. I HAVE TO TAKE HIM OUTSIDE BECAUSE IF HE SHOOT ME INSIDE, NOBODY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. OUT ON THE FORECOURT, HE CHASED THE CHUBBY CRIM IN CIRCLES UNTIL HE FELL BACKWARDS OVER A SPEED BUMP, AT WHICH POINT MR CHAUDRY RIPPED OFF HIS MASK AND THE INTRUDER TOOK OFF. THIS MAN HAD A GUN. WEREN'T YOU AFRAID OF BEING SHOT? WE ARE MUSLIM ` I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ONE FINAL DAY. THAT DAY, NOBODY CAN CHANGE. IF THAT DAY IS MY DAY, I WILL PASS AND NOBODY CAN SAVE ME. POLICE AREN'T CONDONING MR CHAUDRY'S CHOICE TO FIGHT BACK. THE EFFECTS OF IT COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE HAD THE FIREARM BEEN DISCHARGED, BUT ON THIS OCCASION, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO BE COMMENDED FOR HIS BRAVERY, AND HE DID ACT ON INSTINCT. DETECTIVES WANT ANYONE WHO RECOGNISES THE ROBBER ` A MAORI OR PACIFIC ISLANDER AGED 30 TO 45 ` OR THIS, HIS GETAWAY CAR, TO GET IN TOUCH BEFORE ANOTHER HARD-WORKING SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER BECOMES A TARGET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A NICE DAY. AMY KELLEY, ONE NEWS. THE TRIAL INTO THE DOHA MALL FIRE THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF NZ TRIPLETS IN MAY HAS FINALLY BEGUN. ALL SEVEN DEFENDANTS WERE IN COURT, INCLUDING THE OWNERS OF THE CRECHE WHERE 19 PEOPLE DIED ` AMONG THEM LILLIE, WILLSHER AND JACKSON WEEKES. A CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICER TOLD THE COURT THE VILLAGGIO MALL HAD BEEN REPEATEDLY FINED FOR USING A HIGHLY FLAMMABLE PAINT IN ITS DECORATIONS. THE INQUEST INTO THE HORRIFIC DEATH OF A BOY IN A THERMAL MUD POOL IN ROTORUA HAS HEARD OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF FENCING OFF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. THE CORONER'S ASKED WHY THERE WASN'T A BETTER BARRIER AT THE POOL, BUT THE LOCAL COUNCIL SAYS IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING A BALANCE. WILL HINE HAS MORE. BOXING DAY 2010, THIS PHOTO TAKEN NOT LONG BEFORE TOROMON TOROMON, IN THE BLUE JUMPER, LOST HIS LIFE. THE 10-YEAR-OLD WAS WALKING ON THIS WALL IN ROTORUA'S KUIRAU PARK WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL INTO THE HOT POOL. ON THE DAY TOROMON DIED, THE WATER TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 75 DEGREES, AND THE LEVEL WAS A LOT HIGHER. WITH A NEAR VERTICAL FACE AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE WALL, THE POLICE SAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR TOROMON TO GET HIMSELF OUT. TOROMON WAS HAULED OUT BY HIS BROTHER, BUT DIED IN HOSPITAL FOUR DAYS LATER. HIS MOTHER AND FATHER DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT THROUGH A FRIEND SAY THEY WANT ANSWERS ABOUT WHY THE AREA WAS FENCED AFTER TOROMON DIED. THE FACT THEY PUT THE FENCE UP, THAT MEANS THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG AND IS NOT SAFE ` THAT'S WHAT THE FAMILY THINKS. THE CORONER, TOO, IS ASKING QUESTIONS. GIVEN THAT, AND THAT THERE ARE THE FAMILY SITTING ON IT, THERE'S TOROMON HIMSELF ` HE'S OBVIOUSLY CLIMBED UP ON TO IT ` HOW IS THAT ROCK WALL AN EFFECTIVE BARRIER TO PREVENTING PEOPLE GOING IN THE POOL? BUT THE COUNCIL SAYS OTHER WARNING SIGNS WERE IN PLACE, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS THE WALL WASN'T FOR CLIMBING ON. 3 MILLION PEOPLE HAD BEEN THERE, AND WE HADN'T HAD ANY INCIDENTS WITH IT BEFOREHAND, AND IT CERTAINLY HADN'T BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BEFOREHAND. HE SAYS THE WHOLE REGION'S COVERED IN HOT POOLS. IN THIS PARK ALONE, WE'VE GOT 188 SPRINGS. PHYSICALLY FENCING EVERY INDIVIDUAL ONE OFF IS QUITE A MISSION AND QUITE A TASK. AND THE COUNCIL SAYS TOO MANY FENCES FRUSTRATE VISITORS, WHO CLIMB OVER TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT THE POOLS. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` PLANS TO EXPAND A SOUTH ISLAND SALMON FARM SHARPLY DIVIDES A LOCAL COMMUNITY. AND BARACK OBAMA VOWS TO ACT QUICKLY TO GET POWERFUL GUNS OFF AMERICA'S STREETS. A A SOUTH ISLAND SALMON FARM HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO DEVELOP FOUR NEW SITES IN THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS. KING SALMON SAYS IT WILL INJECT CASH INTO THE COMMUNITY, BUT SOME LOCALS SAY THE PROPOSAL COULD DAMAGE PRISTINE WATERS FOREVER. SIMON BRADWELL REPORTS. BOAT-BUILDER PETER BEECH'S FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS FOR SIX GENERATIONS. HE SAYS TODAY'S DECISION IS BAD NEWS FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME. THE POLLUTION FROM THESE FARMS WILL TURN THIS PLACE INTO A CESSPIT. THE EPA DECLINED RESOURCE CONSENT FOR FIVE SITES KING SALMON WANTED, BUT ALLOWED FOUR OTHER SITES, INCLUDING TWO IN THE WAITATA REACH AREA. KING SALMON ALREADY OPERATES SIX FARMS IN THE SOUNDS. THE COMPANY SAYS THAT INJECTS CASH INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE. WE COULD HAVE CREATED 370 NEW JOBS FROM THAT SPACE. WE COULD HAVE CREATED $300M WORTH OF ANNUAL VALUE. IN SEPTEMBER, LOCALS STAGED A PROTEST FLOTILLA AT THE SITES TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR CLAIMS THAT THE FARMS WILL CREATE TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS AND POLLUTION. JUST LIKE A SHEEP FARMER, THERE IS AN EFFECT IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA WHERE WE FARM, BUT IN 25 YEARS OF OPERATION, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A REMOTE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT. BUT THE OPPONENTS SAY THE PROPOSAL HAS DONE DAMAGE FAR BEYOND THAT. IT HAS PUT BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER. IT HAS PUT LIFELONG FRIENDS AGAINST EACH OTHER. IT HAS CAUSED DIVISIONS THAT WILL PROBABLY NEVER HEAL. THE EPA'S REPORT RUNS TO 356 PAGES, BUT IN ESSENCE, THE AUTHORITY ACCEPTS THERE WILL BE SOME DAMAGE TO WATER QUALITY AND THE LANDSCAPE, BUT THAT DAMAGE CAN BE EFFECTIVELY MANAGED. SUBMITTERS HAVE TWO MONTHS TO RESPOND, BUT THE EPA SAYS THE DECISIONS WILL STAND. SIMON BRADWELL, ONE NEWS. AUSTRALIAN POLICE ARE VOWING MORE STING OPERATIONS AND ARRESTS AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF LARGE-SCALE CORRUPTION AND ORGANISED CRIME AT SYDNEY AIRPORT. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL REPORTS. SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ` AUSTRALIA'S MAIN GATEWAY FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS, BUSINESS PEOPLE AND DRUGS AND GUNS ALLEGEDLY BROUGHT IN BY THE GUARDIANS OF THE BORDERS, CUSTOMS OFFICERS. THERE IS ALWAYS THE RISK THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COULD END UP WORKING FOR THE CROOKS, AND WHERE THAT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE GOT TO HUNT THEM DOWN AND WEED THEM OUT. EIGHT BORDER PROTECTION AND SYDNEY AIRPORT EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO AN ALLEGED DRUG RING WORKING OUT OF THE AIRPORT. PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, COCAINE, STEROIDS AND WEAPONS ARE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED IN BY THE WORKERS, WHO ALLEGEDLY HAVE LINKS TO AN OUTLAW BIKIE GANG AND MIDDLE-EASTERN CRIME GROUPS. WHEREVER THEY ACT IN A WAY THAT HELPS CRIMINALS, THAT'S THE MOST SERIOUS THING THAT I COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. THE SECRET INVESTIGATION STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S BELIEVED THE CORRUPT CELL WAS OPERATING WELL BEFORE THAT. THE LAST INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS ARRESTED HAS BEEN WITH CUSTOMS FOR SIX YEARS. OUR INQUIRIES REALLY STARTED AROUND THAT TWO-YEAR MARK, AND WE ARE LOOKING BACK FURTHER THAN THAT TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN FIND. UP TO 20 BORDER PROTECTION AND AIRPORT STAFF ARE THOUGHT TO BE INVOLVED. YOU CAN EXPECT MORE STINGS. YOU CAN EXPECT MORE ARRESTS. THESE STUNNING REVELATIONS HAVE ALSO TRIGGERED A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF HOW AUSTRALIA'S CUSTOMS AGENCY OPERATES. A THREE-MEMBER PANEL HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO OVERSEE WIDE-RANGING CHANGES. AUSTRALIA'S CUSTOMS AGENCY IS ON NOTICE. STEVE MARSHALL, ONE NEWS, SYDNEY. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS VOWED TO ACT QUICKLY TO GET HIGH-POWERED GUNS OFF AMERICA'S STREETS. AS MORE FUNERALS WERE HELD FOR VICTIMS OF LAST WEEK'S SCHOOL MASSACRE, BARACK OBAMA OUTLINED HOW HE WOULD TACKLE NEW GUN CONTROL LAWS. ABC CORRESPONDENT KIM LANDERS HAS MORE. AT GUN STORES AROUND THE NATION, BUSINESS IS STILL BRISK. CUSTOMERS ARE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT POSSIBLE NEW RESTRICTIONS. WELL, PEOPLE ARE THINKING THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A ASSAULT BAN ` NUMBER ONE. AND ALSO, UM, THEY'RE AFRAID ` NUMBER TWO. THEY WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. AN IMPATIENT BARACK OBAMA HAS NOW ASKED HIS VICE PRESIDENT TO SPEARHEAD THE EFFORT TO TACKLE GUN VIOLENCE. TO COME UP WITH A SET OF CONCRETE PROPOSALS NO LATER THAN JANUARY ` PROPOSALS THAT I THEN INTEND TO PUSH WITHOUT DELAY. HE KNOWS TALK OF GUN-CONTROL STIRS DEEP PASSIONS. LIKE THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, I BELIEVE THAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT GUARANTEES AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. THIS COUNTRY HAS A STRONG TRADITION OF GUN OWNERSHIP THAT'S BEEN HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. BUT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES THE MASSACRE HAS BEEN A WAKE-UP CALL, AND HE THINKS THERE'S ENOUGH PUBLIC SUPPORT TO REINSTATE THE BAN ON MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS, TO RESTRICT THE SALE OF HIGH-CAPACITY AMMUNITION CLIPS AND TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON BUYERS BEFORE ALL GUN PURCHASES. BUT HE'S BRISTLED WHEN CHALLENGED ABOUT WHY HE'S DONE NOTHING ABOUT THOSE ISSUES DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE. I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DEALING WITH THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AN AUTO INDUSTRY ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE, TWO WARS. UM, I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN ON VACATION. FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT DAY, FUNERAL PROCESSIONS HAVE BEEN ROLLING THROUGH NEWTOWN. THE PRESIDENT HOPES TO OUTLINE HIS PLAN, TO TRY TO STOP ANY MORE MASS KILLINGS, IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH IN LATE JANUARY. SOUTH KOREA HAS ELECTED ITS FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT. SHE'S THE CONSERVATIVE PARK GEUN HYE ` THE DAUGHTER OF A FORMER MILITARY RULER. THE NEW PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED TO REVIVE THE ECONOMY, CREATE JOBS AND INCREASE WELFARE SPENDING. SHE ALSO WANTS TO REENGAGE WITH NORTH KOREA AND HOLD A SUMMIT WITH ITS LEADER KIM JONG-UN. JUST AHEAD ` THE NEW 3-D MOVIE, THE LIFE OF PI, THAT'S BEING TIPPED TO WIN AN OSCAR. He gets angry over nothing, his wife gets scared, and he controls his kids by hurting them. His brother, his parents, his neighbours, friends and his workmates. They've all noticed how he treats his family, but no one's speaking up. It's hard to know what to do. Hey, Geoff. Hey, Geoff. Hey, mate. Hey, Geoff. Hey, mate. Saw your boy the other day. Oh, yeah? But the sooner you reach out to someone with a family violence problem, the sooner they can get help to change. Find out more at... HE WON AN OSCAR FOR HIS WORK ON BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. NOW DIRECTOR ANG LEE'S BEING PICKED AS A FAVOURITE FOR NEXT YEAR'S AWARDS FOR HIS BIG SCREEN ADAPTATION OF THE NOVEL 'LIFE OF PI'. JOANNA HUNKIN SAT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR IN AUCKLAND. 'MY NAME IS PI PATEL. I HAVE BEEN IN A SHIPWRECK. 'I AM ON A LIFE BOAT, ALONE WITH A TIGER.' IT'S A FANTASTICAL TALE OF SURVIVAL THAT'S CAPTIVATED READERS EVER SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED 11 YEARS AGO. BUT FEW BELIEVED 'LIFE OF PI' WOULD WORK ON THE BIG SCREEN, INCLUDING ITS DIRECTOR, ANG LEE. WELL, I WAS INTRODUCED BY A FRIEND OF MINE, AND I INTRODUCED IT TO MY WIFE, MY TWO KIDS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR WEEKS. BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT'S A MOVIE. EVENTUALLY, HE ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE, USING 3D AND CGI TO BRING THE STORY TO LIFE. WATER SPLASHES IT WAS A LONG AND TENSE PROCESS. WHILE WE'RE EDITING, STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO PUT THE MOVIE TOGETHER, IN THE MEANTIME, FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, WE'RE STILL CREATING THE IMAGES, SO WE'RE EDITING WITH HALF-BAKED IMAGES, WHICH IS NOT REALLY CONVINCING. FOR THREE YEARS, WE HAD THIS HIGH ANXIETY THAT 'HOW'S THIS GONNA WORK? IS IT GONNA WORK AT ALL?' DOUBTS HE'D NEVER ENCOUNTERED ON EARLIER PROJECTS LIKE 'BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN' AND 'CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON'. UNLIKE THE OTHER MOVIES, I SHOT THE MOVIE, I PUT IT TOGETHER. ON THE FIRST FRIENDS AND FAMILIES' SCREENING, I GET A VIBE WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD. BUT THIS REALLY IS VERY HARD TO TELL. AUDIENCES HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE DECIDING. THE FILM'S ALREADY MADE MORE THAN $240M AT THE BOX OFFICE AND IS BEING PICKED AS THE FRONT-RUNNER FOR NEXT YEAR'S OSCAR RACE. # OH, OH, PARADISE... # BUT FIRST, IT'S TIME FOR THE DIRECTOR TO SLOW DOWN, ENJOYING A TWO-WEEK BREAK IN THE SOUTH ISLAND BEFORE THE AWARDS SEASON KICKS OFF. TIGER GROWLS JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. AND LIFE OF PI OPENS IN CINEMAS HERE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. NOW TO THE WEATHER. THERE'S A HEAVY RAIN WARNING IN PLACE FOR WESTLAND. EXPECT SOME HEAVY DOWNPOURS FROM EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY JESSICA BOELL AND FINN SCOTT-KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2012