DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. THE KIWI MOTHER AT THE CENTRE OF A CANCER TREATMENT ROW HAS RENEWED HER FIGHT IN THE BRITISH COURTS. NOVOPAY FAILS TO DELIVER PROMISED CHRISTMAS CHEER WITH ITS FINAL PAY ROUND OF THE YEAR. PARTY PLANS ARE FINALISED AROUND THE WORLD AS DOOMSTERS PREPARE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD. THE NZ MOTHER WHO WANTS TO DELAY HER SON GETTING WHAT DOCTORS SAY IS LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT HAS BEEN BACK IN COURT. NEON (7) IS RECOVERING FROM AN OPERATION TO REMOVE A BRAIN TUMOUR AFTER A BRITISH JUDGE OVERRULED HIS MOTHER. BUT THE BATTLE IS NOW CONTINUING OVER FURTHER TREATMENT. THE BBC'S BRANWEN JEFFREYS. SALLY ROBERTS SPENT YESTERDAY IN HOSPITAL WITH HER SON. TODAY SHE WAS BACK AT THE HIGH COURT, TAKING ON BOTH DOCTORS AND HER FORMER HUSBAND. NEON ROBERTS IS JUST 7. HE'S GOT A COMMON TYPE OF BRAIN CANCER. DOCTORS WANT TO GIVE HIM THE STANDARD UK TREATMENT DESCRIBED AS THE GOLD STANDARD BECAUSE IT OFFERS MORE THAN 80% SURVIVAL, AND HIS DAD AGREES. BUT SALLY ROBERTS DOESN'T WANT NEON TREATED WITH THESE MACHINES. THEY TARGET INVISIBLE CANCER CELLS WITH RADIATION. SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS. EXPERTS SAY THESE ARE WELL-KNOWN AND CAN BE MINIMISED. RADIOTHERAPY COULD AFFECT A CHILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN, UH, AND THEREFORE THEY MIGHT NEED MORE SUPPORT IN SCHOOL. UH, IT CAN ALSO AFFECT THE HORMONE LEVELS IN THE BRAIN, BUT THIS IS LESS OF A PROBLEM AS THIS CAN BE MONITORED AND CORRECTED IF NECESSARY. MR JUSTICE BODEY REJECTED THE APPLICATION FOR FURTHER DELAYS. HE SAID THERE IS NOT THE LUXURY OF TIME IN THIS CASE AND ADDED THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE DECISIONS MADE ABOUT NEON'S TREATMENT. TOMORROW NEON'S MUM WILL GET ONE MORE CHANCE TO TRY TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF A CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT. THEN IT WILL BE UP TO THE JUDGE TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. EARLY REPORTS SUGGEST THE FINAL PAY ROUND OF THE YEAR FOR SCHOOL STAFF WAS ONCE AGAIN RIDDLED WITH ERRORS. THE TROUBLED NOVOPAY SYSTEM HAS CAUSED A HEADACHE FOR SCHOOLS, WITH THOUSANDS OF PAY BOTCH-UPS REPORTED IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. TEACHERS SAY THERE WAS STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE PAY ROUND OVERNIGHT, BUT OFFICIAL FIGURES WON'T BE RELEASED UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. THE GOVERNMENT'S ORDERED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM NEXT YEAR. AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND BEACHES ARE NOW ALSO POSING A RISK FROM THE PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONING THAT HAS SEEN MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PEOPLE HOSPITALISED IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAY THE AFFECTED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN POISONED BY EATING SHELLFISH CONTAMINATED BY ALGAE, WITH 13 ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL. PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONING CAUSES NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS WHICH CAN` TYPICALLY NUMBNESS OR TINGLING AROUND THE FACE AND LIPS AND EXTREMITIES. YOU MAY BE DIARRHOEA OR VOMITING, BUT IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WILL GET NEUROLOGICAL DISTURBANCE. YOU MAY GET HEADACHES. ALGAE LEVELS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH IN THE AREA AT THE MOMENT. THE AUCKLAND REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE SAYS THE SAME RISKS EXIST IN AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND, AND THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED NOT TO COLLECT SHELLFISH FROM TARANAKI TO MAUNGANUI BLUFF NORTH OF DARGAVILLE. PACIFIC LEADERS ARE MEETING IN AUCKLAND TODAY TO WORK OUT A CYCLONE SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR FIJI AND SAMOA FOLLOWING CYCLONE EVAN. REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE AND NZ CONSULATES HAVE OUTLINED AID PRIORITIES. COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND AUCKLAND COUNCIL WILL WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN. THE GROUP WILL FOLLOW A BLUEPRINT THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVISED AFTER THE TSUNAMI IN 2008. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REMAIN IN EVACUATION SHELTERS IN BOTH COUNTRIES, WITH HOMES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESTROYED BY FEROCIOUS WIND AND HEAVY RAIN. FINAL DAMAGE FIGURES ON THE DEADLY TORNADO THAT STRUCK THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF HOBSONVILLE EARLIER THIS MONTH HAVE BEEN REVEALED. THE TORNADO KILLED THREE MEN AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE AND LEFT A TOTAL OF 384 PROPERTIES WITH DAMAGE, 89 OF THOSE NEED MAJOR REPAIRS. 50 PROPERTIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN FIXED, ALLOWING THE FAMILIES TO RETURN HOME, WHILE A FURTHER 79 PROPERTIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE REPAIRED BY THE END OF JANUARY. THE TOTAL REPAIR BILL IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED $13M DOLLARS. ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S YOUNGEST KILLERS WILL SPEND THE NEXT THREE YEARS IN A SECURE YOUTH JUSTICE RESIDENCE. JORDAN NELSON (13) HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO AN 18-YEAR JAIL TERM FOR MURDERING HIS CAREGIVER ROSEMAREE KURTH, SHOOTING HER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. CHILD YOUTH AND FAMILY SAYS HE WILL REMAIN AT THE YOUTH JUSTICE RESIDENCE UNTIL HE TURNS 16. IT WILL BE A STAND-ALONE FACILITY, NOT ATTACHED TO AN ADULT PRISON, WHERE HE'LL HAVE HIS OWN ROOM AND WILL BE TAUGHT AT A SCHOOL ON SITE. THE JUDGE RULED THE 13-YEAR-OLD COULD BE FREED FROM JAIL IN SIX YEARS AFTER SERVING A THIRD OF HIS SENTENCE. WELLINGTON POLICE HAVE INTERCEPTED A PACKAGE OF THE DRUG COMMONLY KNOWN AS ECSTASY, WORTH AROUND $60,000. POLICE SAY A JOINT INVESTIGATION WITH CUSTOMS UNCOVERED A SOPHISTICATED DRUG SYNDICATE DISTRIBUTING THE DRUG MDMA. A WOMAN (25) HAS BEEN ARRESTED, AND POLICE SAY MORE ARRESTS ARE LIKELY. KIWIRAIL WORKERS NATIONWIDE HAVE HELD TWO MINUTES' SILENCE TO MARK THE PARTIAL CLOSURE OF DUNEDIN'S HISTORIC HILLSIDE RAIL WORKSHOPS. TRAINS WERE HALTED AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND SUPPORTERS LAID FLOWERS AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE WORKSHOPS IN SOLIDARITY FOR THE 90 WORKERS LOSING THEIR JOBS. UM, IT'S A PRETTY SAD DAY. UM, THIS IS THE END OF 130 YEARS, BUT WE'LL BE BACK. WHAT DOES 2013 HOLD FOR THESE WORKERS? > UM, UNCERTAINTY. YOU KNOW, THE WORLD ECONOMY'S STUMBLING. SOME HAVE GONE TO AUSTRALIA, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA ARE NOT THAT BRIGHT. THE WORKSHOPS' FOUNDRY WILL CONTINUE OPERATING, PROVIDING JOBS FOR 18 OF THE WORKERS. A LIGHT QUAKE HAS SHAKEN THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING. THE 3.7-MAGNITUDE TREMOR STRUCK JUST AFTER 6AM, 35KM SOUTH WEST OF WANGANUI. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF ANY DAMAGE, BUT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND FELT THE SHAKE. THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED FLOOD WARNINGS AND ALERTS FOR PARTS OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES. IT FOLLOWS 24 HOURS OF NEAR-CONTINUOUS RAIN IN WHAT IS ALREADY WATERLOGGED LAND. ONE OF THE WORST HIT AREAS IS HAMPSHIRE, FROM WHERE THE BBC'S ROBERT HALL REPORTS. WATER SPLASHES ANOTHER MISERABLE DAY AMONG SO MANY ` DARK SKIES OVER THE NEW FOREST AND PUDDLES THAT MERGED INTO STREAMS, FLOWING ACROSS THE ROUTES TO WORK AND CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. EARLY RISERS FROM CORNWALL TO ABERDEENSHIRE HAD BEEN MET WITH PERSISTENT RAIN AND ROADS WHICH COULD SO EASILY CATCH OUT THE UNWARY. THE NEW FOREST FJORDS, SO QUIET IN THE SUMMER, PRESENTED A PARTICULAR RISK. A POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER RESCUED A FATHER AND DAUGHTER FROM THIS VEHICLE NEAR THE TOWN OF BROCKENHURST. THE MESSAGE REPEATED SO OFTEN IN RECENT WEEKS IS STILL NOT GETTING THROUGH TO DRIVERS WHO ARE DRIVING TO FAST OR ARE FAILING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE WAY THAT FLOODING CAN CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH FJORDS. PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. PLEASE STAY AT HOME. DON'T MAKE THE JOURNEY UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, AND IF YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE THE JOURNEY, GO THE SAFE ROUTE. VILLAGERS PREPARED TO EVACUATE AND, REMEMBERING THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY FLOODS IN 2000, DID WHAT THEY COULD TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND THEIR BELONGINGS. HOPE THAT THESE WON'T BE TESTED. IF WE'RE LUCKY, THEY WON'T BE TESTED. IF THEY ARE TESTED, I HOPE THEY WORK. AS THE RAIN FELL, THE VOLUME OF CALLS FOR HELP ROSE, FIRE CREWS HELPING COUNCIL STAFF TO KEEP THE FLOODWATER MOVING IN CORNWALL. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY TEAMS MOBILISED TO PREPARE FLOOD DEFENCES ON THE RIVER SEVERN AND THE RIVER AVON. COMMUNITIES IN THE SOMERSET LEVELS ONCE AGAIN WATCHED THEIR FARMLAND DISAPPEAR ACROSS THE FLOODED PLAIN, MUDDY WATER SPILLING ACROSS ROADS WHICH HAVE BARELY BEEN OPEN IN RECENT WEEKS. AND THE RAIN ROLLS ON, BRINGING WITH IT FLOOD WATERS EXTENDING INTO THE WEEKEND AND THE THREAT OF TRAVEL DISRUPTION TO MUCH OF THE UK JUST WHEN WE NEEDED IT LEAST. IT'S BEEN REVEALED FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY ILL, BUT IS NOW STEADILY IMPROVING. THE 94-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A LUNG INFECTION AND HAS HAD SURGERY FOR A GALLSTONE. IT'S THE FIRST OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT NELSON MANDELA'S CONDITION HAD BEEN GRAVE, 13 DAYS AFTER THE ANTI-APARTHEID ICON WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT HAD INITIALLY SAID HE WAS HAVING MEDICAL TESTS, AND THE INFORMATION THAT FOLLOWED IN THE DAYS AFTERWARDS WAS OFTEN TERSE AND CONTRADICTORY. THE LAWYER FOR AN AMERICAN SOLDIER ACCUSED OF KILLING 16 AFGHAN VILLAGERS IN A SHOOTING IN MARCH HAS CRITICISED THE US ARMY'S DECISION TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY. ROBERT BALES IS ACCUSED OF PRE-MEDITATED MURDER AFTER THE ATTACK ON TWO VILLAGES IN THE SOUTHERN AFGHAN PROVINCE OF KANDAHAR. HIS LAWYER SAYS THE ARMY ISN'T TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SENDING BALES INTO A COMBAT SITUATION KNOWING HE WAS ALREADY SUFFERING FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. HE'S ALSO ACCUSED THE ARMY OF SENDING BALES INTO A COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL BASE AND TRYING TO LABEL HIM AS A ROGUE SOLDIER RATHER THAN ADDRESS ITS OWN MISTAKES. THERE'S BEEN MOUNTING CRITICISM OF THE BBC OVER THE NEARLY $900,000 PAY-OFF GIVEN TO ITS FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL. A COMMITTEE OF MPS HAS CALLED IT A CAVALIER ATTITUDE TOWARDS PUBLIC MONEY. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN CALLS FOR CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CORPORATION IS RUN FOLLOWING THE WIDE-RANGING CRITICISMS OF THE WAY IT HANDLED THE DROPPING OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENTERTAINER JIMMY SAVILE. THE BBC'S DAVID SILLITO REPORTS. FOR THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE BBC, THE PAPERS WERE GRIM READING TODAY. CHAOS, CONFUSION, MELTDOWN ` THE VERDICT ON HOW IT HANDLED THE DROPPED INVESTIGATION INTO JIMMY SAVILE WAS DAMNING. SO, TOO, IS A NEW REPORT INTO THE �450,000 PAYOUT FOR FORMER DIRECTOR-GENERAL GEORGE ENTWISTLE. THE MAN ON THE RIGHT HERE, THE BBC CHAIRMAN CHRIS PATTEN, PAID TWICE WHAT WAS OWED FOR A RESIGNATION IN ORDER TO AVOID A COSTLY LEGAL BATTLE. AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, THIS LOOKS WRONG, AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BETTER CALL TO SAY, 'OK, WE'LL PAY WHAT WE'RE CONTRACTUALLY DUE,' AND THEN CHALLENGE HIM TO TAKE THE BBC TO COURT. AND, OF COURSE, THE BBC IS STILL DIGESTING THE 185 PAGES OR SO OF THE POLLARD REPORT AND THOSE STINGING CRITICISMS ABOUT ITS INABILITY TO DEAL WITH A CRISIS, FIND OUT FACTS AND CRUCIALLY, ITS LACK OF LEADERSHIP. AND ONE OF THOSE LEADERS, THE BBC'S DIRECTOR OF NEWS HELEN BOADEN, TODAY RETURNED TO WORK THE DAY AFTER HER DEPUTY HAD RESIGNED. DO YOU THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT YOU'VE KEPT YOUR JOB AT THE BBC? THAT'S FOR OTHERS TO DECIDE. I'M JUST GOING IN TO DO MY JOB. HOW DO YOU TRY TO RESOLVE TRUST IN BBC NEWS NOW? BBC NEWS' HAS NEVER REALLY DIMINISHED. IT'S STILL THE MOST TRUSTED NEWS ORGANISATION IN THIS COUNTRY. GENTLEMEN, I HAVE TO GO IN. CAN IT STILL BE TRUSTED WITH YOU AT THE HELM? NICK POLLARD SAID, DURING THE SAVILE CRISIS, HER DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN IN VIRTUAL MELTDOWN. THE PRESSURE IS NOW ON FOR SOME REAL CHANGE. AND, OF COURSE, THE BBC WILL HAVE TO BRACE ITSELF IN THE COMING MONTHS FOR MORE REVELATIONS. THE SECOND INQUIRY LOOKING BACK OVER 40 YEARS OF THE BBC AND JIMMY SAVILE HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN. RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT HAS GIVEN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT TO MEASURES WHICH WOULD BAN AMERICANS FROM ADOPTING RUSSIAN CHILDREN. THE MOVE IS IN RETALIATION FOR US LAWS THAT BAR ENTRY TO AMERICA OF RUSSIANS ALLEGED TO HAVE VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS. MORE THAN 700,000 RUSSIAN CHILDREN ARE ORPHANS, BUT THE RATE OF ADOPTION IS VERY LOW. NEARLY 3500 CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED BY FOREIGN FAMILIES EACH YEAR, NEARLY A THIRD OF THEM BY AMERICANS. BUT A NUMBER OF CASES OF RUSSIAN CHILDREN BEING ABUSED BY THEIR AMERICAN ADOPTED PARENTS HAVE MADE HEADLINES IN RUSSIA. THERE HAVE BEEN PROTESTS AND A CANDLELIT VIGIL IN INDIA AFTER A STUDENT WAS GANG RAPED AND BEATEN ON A BUS. THE HOURS-LONG GANG RAPE HAS TRIGGERED OUTRAGE AND ANGER ACROSS INDIA. DEMANDS ARE GROWING FOR AUTHORITIES TO TAKE TOUGHER ACTION OVER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. DOCTORS TREATING THE VICTIM SAY SHE'S ON LIFE SUPPORT WITH SEVERE INTERNAL INJURIES. POLICE SAY SIX MEN RAPED THE WOMAN AS THEY WERE ON A BUS, PASSING THROUGH SEVERAL POLICE CHECKPOINTS. BACK HOME, A NEW TAXI CARD SCHEME IS BEING TRIALLED TO HELP GET AUCKLANDERS HOME SAFELY AND AFFORDABLY. 'RIDE SAFE' CARDS WILL OFFER FIXED RATE FARES FROM THE CITY CENTRE TO ANYWHERE IN AUCKLAND ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THEM ON CO-OP TAXIS DEPARTING FROM BRITOMART. FARES RANGE FROM $22 TO CITY FRINGE SUBURBS TO $130 TO HELENSVILLE AND GULF HARBOUR. AND 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR SPEEDING. OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, POLICE WILL AGAIN BE ENFORCING A LOWERED TOLERANCE FOR ANYONE BREAKING THE SPEED LIMIT. ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST ANY MOTORIST CAUGHT DRIVING MORE THAN 4KM/H OVER THE LIMIT. THE EXTENDED HOLIDAY PERIOD BEGINS AT 4 O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON AND RUNS THROUGH TO 7AM ON MONDAY 7TH JANUARY. THE FIRST MOVIE IN THE HOBBIT TRILOGY HAS HAD THE HIGHEST-EARNING OPENING WEEK OF 2012 AND THE FOURTH HIGHEST OF ALL TIME IN NZ. IT'S EARNED $3.2M IN ITS FIRST WEEK. BUT SIR PETER JACKSON'S BLOCKBUSTER HAS FAILED TO RAKE IN AS MUCH AS THE FINAL LORD OF THE RINGS FILM, WHICH ENDED ITS OPENING WEEK WITH $3.7M. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS AND THE SECOND TWILIGHT FILM ALSO HAD BETTER OPENING WEEKS. IT SEEMS MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD REALLY HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE DOOMSDAY BELIEF THAT THE END IS NIGH. ACCORDING TO SOME READINGS OF THE ANCIENT MAYAN CALENDAR THE WORLD WILL END EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, OUR TIME. HERE'S THE BBC'S NICK HIGHAM. HUMS STEADY NOTE WHATEVER ELSE IT MAY BE, THE END OF THE WORLD'S GOOD FOR BUSINESS. MEXICO'S YUCATAN PENINSULA, SITE OF THE ANCIENT MAYAN CIVILISATION, IS ENJOYING A TOURIST BOOM. THOUGH, ACTUALLY, SAW THE LOCALS, IT'S NOT THE WORLD THAT'S ENDING ` JUST ONE PERIOD IN THE MAYAN CALENDAR. TRANSLATES: WHAT IS ENDING IS A CYCLE, CALLED A BAKTUN, AND ANOTHER BAKTUN IS BEGINNING, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE. SO, AFTER EVERY 52 CYCLES ` THE LENGTH OF A BAKTUN ` OUR CALENDAR IS RENEWED. IN CHINA, ONE INVENTOR'S CREATED AN 'END OF THE WORLD' POD FOR THOSE HOPING TO SURVIVE ARMAGEDDON. IN BRITAIN, THERE ARE PLANS FOR PARTIES. I COULD DO A PARTY TOMORROW, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF IT IS THE END OF THE DAY TOMORROW, THEN THE PARTY'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, IS IT? SO JUST GET ONE LAST ONE IN. IN FRANCE, THE VILLAGE OF BUGARACH HAS BEEN SEALED OFF BY POLICE AND SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS AFTER RUMOURS SPREAD THAT THE LOCAL MOUNTAIN WOULD PROVE A SAFE HAVE TOMORROW. THE LOCALS FEARED AN ONSLAUGHT OF NEW-AGE SURVIVALISTS. THEY DID GET THESE TWO. WE DON'T THINK THE WORLD WILL END. NO, I DON'T THINK SO. < WOMAN: YOU CAME HERE JUST FOR THE FUN OF THE STORY? YEAH, YEAH. SAME AS THE JOURNALISTS. COME TO MEET SOME CRAZY PEOPLE, MAYBE SEE SOME UFOS IF WE'RE LUCKY. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE NICE. THOUGH IT MIGHT TAKE MORE THAN A UFO TO SURVIVE THIS, IF IT TURNS OUT THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT AFTER ALL. AND THE EXACT TIME FRAME FOR THE SUPPOSED MAYAN APOCALYPSE, OR END OF WORLD AS WE KNOW IT, AT 11 MINUTES PAST MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. AND IN SPORT ` ONE OF OUR GOLDEN ROWERS RECOMMITS TO 2016. 1 WITH ME NOW IS MARTIN ALLISON FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH RAKON? THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. ANOTHER PROFIT DOWNGRADE. THIS IS TE SIXTH OR SEVENTH FORM THEM. THEY ARE STRETCHING THEIR CREDIBILITY IN TERMS OF THEIR EARNING CAPACITY. THE MARKET DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO PRICE IT ANY MORE. IT IS A CONCERN. IT SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF NZ HOW HAS 2012 BEEN FOR INVESTORS? A GREAT YEAR FOR THE MARKET FIRST HALF WAS QUITE TOUGH ` THINGS LIKE SOE'S WHICH DIDN'T PASS. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL ` WHAT'S AHEAD FOR 2013? GO BACK AGAIN - MAYBE SOME SOE'S COMING TO MARKET. FONTERA WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. AUSTRALIA IS LOOKING POSITIVE. ONCE WE GET OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD MARKETS. THANK YOU, MARTIN ALLISON, FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. IN MIDDAY SPORT, OLYMPIC SINGLE-SCULL CHAMPION MAHE DRYSDALE HAS COMMITTED TO ROWING FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, TELLING ONE NEWS HE WANTS TO WIN ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL IN RIO. DRYSDALE IS TAKING A SIX-MONTH SABBATICAL BEFORE GETTING BACK INTO A BOAT. YOU KNOW, I'M CONFIDENT OF THE PROGRAMME I'VE GOT. UH, I CAN COMPETE, AND I CAN PERFORM TO MY BEST IN RIO. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT'S, UH, GOOD ENOUGH TO` TO STILL BE A` AN OLYMPIC OLYMPIC MEDALLIST. DRYSDALE'S ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS SEVEN OF THE NINE ROWING MEDALLISTS IN LONDON HAVE RECOMMITTED TO GOING TO THE NEXT OLYMPICS. ROWERS ERIC MURRAY AND HAMISH BOND HAVE PICKED UP YET ANOTHER ACCOLADE. THE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLISTS AND WORLD ROWING'S CREW OF THE YEAR HAVE PICKED UP THE PRESTIGIOUS LONSDALE CUP. THE NZOC AWARD RECOGNISES THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION BY OLYMPIC OR COMMONWEALTH ATHLETES FOR THE YEAR. PAST WINNERS INCLUDE ROB WADDELL, VALERIE ADAMS AND THE INAUGURAL WINNER FROM 1961, SIR MURRAY HALBERG. BLACK CAPS BOWLER TIM SOUTHEE WILL MISS THE TEST SERIES IN SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE OF A HAND INJURY. SOUTHEE RUPTURED A LIGAMENT IN HIS THUMB WHILE FIELDING FOR THE NORTHERN KNIGHTS AGAINST THE WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS. HE WILL BE OUT OF ACTION FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS. A DECISION ON WHO WILL REPLACE HIM IS YET TO BE MADE. THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS ARE HOPING THE NRL WILL APPROVE ITS CONTRACT WITH SONNY BILL WILLIAMS BY CHRISTMAS. REPORTS OUT OF AUSTRALIA SAY THE NRL SALARY CAP AUDITOR HAS AGREED TO REGISTER THE CODE-HOPPER'S ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE ROOSTERS. THE ROOSTERS DEAL IS BELIEVED TO BE WORTH ABOUT AU$600,000 FOR THE SEASON. NOW TO THE WEATHER. THERE'S A FRONT BRINGING RAIN AS IT MOVES OVER THE WEST COAST. THE ISOBARS ARE TIGHT, SO EXPECT STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS. IN THE NORTH, EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN CREEPS EVEN CLOSER, BRINGING UNSETTLED WEATHER ON SUNDAY. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ TO THE TOP STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE REPORTING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TROUBLED NOVOPAY SYSTEM TODAY. MURDERER JORDAN NELSON (13) WILL SPEND THE NEXT THREE YEARS IN A SECURE YOUTH JUSTICE RESIDENCE. AND PAULA BENNETT'S 'ZIP IT, SWEETIE' QUIP IN PARLIAMENT TO LABOUR MP JACINDA ARDERN HAS BEEN VOTED THE QUOTE OF THE YEAR IN AN ONLINE POLL. FINALLY, AN AMERICAN TRAFFIC OFFICER HAS BEEN DOING HIS BIT TO SPREAD SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER. TONY LEPORE (65) GETS HIS DANCE MOVES OUT EACH HOLIDAY SEASON. ENTERTAINING DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. LEPORE SAYS HE CAME UP WITH THE ROUTINE BECAUSE HE WAS GETTING BORED AFTER 25 YEARS ON THE JOB. FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HE TRIED TO KEEP HIS ANTICS SECRET FROM HIS BOSSES, BUT EVEN AFTER HE RETIRED, THEY CONVINCED HIM TO HIT THE STREETS AGAIN EACH YEAR OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD. THANKS FOR JOINING US. OUR NEXT NEWS IS AT 4.30PM, AND THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY LAUREN STRAIN AND JOHN LING. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.