HELLO, EVERYBODY. THE TINDER-DRY GROUNDS IN CANTERBURY AND THE FAR NORTH HAVE AGAIN BEEN RAKED BY FIRE, AND ANOTHER ANTICYCLONE IS ON THE WAY WITH MORE SAPPING, HOT, DRY WEATHER. BUT SOUTHERN FIREFIGHTERS GET A LITTLE HELP TONIGHT WITH A SPURT OF RAIN AND A COOL WIND CHANGE. BEYOND THAT, THE OUTLOOK'S NOT TOO FLASH. 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. FORCED TO GET OUT ` MASSIVE FIRES FLARE UP AGAIN NEAR CHRISTCHURCH AS FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE BLAZES IN NORTHLAND. AT RATANA, THE MAORI PARTY LOOKS SET TO BE EMBROILED IN A LEADERSHIP BATTLE. WELCOME BACK, MATISSE. A MIRACULOUS RETURN HOME FOR THE GIRL WHO CAPTURED OUR HEARTS. AND KANE WILLIAMSON POWERS THE BLACKCAPS TO A HISTORIC VICTORY AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA. FIREFIGHTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE SPENT A TOUGH DAY BATTLING A SERIES OF LARGE BLAZES. NEARLY 200 FIREFIGHTERS FOUGHT TO CONTROL BIG FIRES IN NORTHLAND, GREAT BARRIER AND CHRISTCHURCH, WITH SMALLER FIRES FLARING UP NEAR TAUPO AND HAMILTON. THE CHRISTCHURCH BLAZE STARTED IN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ALI PUGH JOINS US NOW LIVE TO EXPLAIN. THE DEFENCE FORCE CONFIRMED THEIR SOLDIERS WERE DOING LIVE FIRING PRACTISE AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IGNITING THE BLAZE THAT HAS BURNT MORE THAN 1KM OF FARMLAND THAT FIRE IS NOW UNDER CONTROL 60 FIREFIGHTERS WERE HERE MANY ARE STAYING TO AVOID FLARE-UPS IT'S HOT AND WINDY HERE THOSE CONDITIONS HELPED THE BLAZE GET OUT OF CONTROL SO QUICKLY WAVES OF FLAMES TEARING THROUGH TINDER-DRY FARMLAND. THE THIRD FIRE HERE IN AS MANY WEEKS. THREE IN THE LAST FORTNIGHT GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER I HOPE THEY'LL FINISH NOW FIVE HELICOPTERS AND 16 FIRE TRUCKS FOUGHT THE BLAZE ` ITS FRONT STRETCHING FOR OVER 1KM. LIVESTOCK HAD TO BE MOVED THROUGH THE CHOKING SMOKE TO AVOID THE FIRE AS IT CHARGED ON. WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF HORSES, FARM ANIMALS, AND THERE'S, LIKE, NOTHING WE CAN DO. FUEL TANKS WERE REMOVED FROM THE NEARBY AERODROME, AND BOTH AN IHC RESIDENCE AND A LOCAL RIDING SCHOOL NEEDED TO BE EVACUATED. NO LESSONS TODAY, NO I THINK WE'D BETTER GET HOME BEFORE THINGS GET WORSE DESPITE THE HIGH FIRE DANGER, SPELT OUT HERE AT THE DEFENCE FORCE GATE, ARMY BOSSES ADMIT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE THIS RANGE IS USED FOR LIVE FIRING AND EXPLOSIVES WE'RE YET TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE THE BLAZE INJURED ONE MEMBER OF THE DEFENCE FORCE RECEIVED MINOR BURNS HE'S BEEN TREATED FOR THOSE AS THE BATTLE AGAINST THE BLAZE CONTINUES, FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE NOW TRYING TO WORK OUT IF THIS FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE DEFENCE FORCE TOLD US THESE SOLDIERS WERE ALLOWED TO BE DOING THIS LIVE FIRING, DESPITE THE CONDITIONS THEY SAY THEY MITIGATE THE CONDITIONS THEY HAVE SINCE SUSPENDED ALL ACTIVITY ON THE RANGE UNTIL THE CAUSE IS DETERMINED AND SAFETY MEASURES ARE REVIEWED AND FIREFIGHTERS ON AUCKLAND'S GREAT BARRIER ISLAND ARE BRACING FOR NIGHTFALL WITH A HUGE BLAZE STILL BURNING. IT'S ALREADY DESTROYED MORE THAN 100HA OF SCRUB, AND THERE'S CONCERN IT COULD FLARE UP AGAIN. LISA OWEN REPORTS. THESE ARE THE SCARS FROM A RUNNING BATTLE. 112 HA OF SCRUB AND PINE RAZED IN A FIRE THAT TOOK HOLD ABOUT 30 HOURS AGO. IT LOOKED LIKE A HORRIFIC, UM,... SUNSET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN THE SPARKS GOING UP INTO IT JUST LIKE FIREWORKS EXPLODING. AND IT COULD TAKE DAYS OR WEEKS TO COMPLETELY SNUFF OUT THE FLAMES. THE PEAT IN THE UNDERGROWTH IS ONLY FUELLING IT. IT WAS PRETTY INTENSE, PRETTY SCARY. THE BLAZE SPREAD THROUGH THE NIGHT, JUMPING THE ROAD AND THREATENING TO SWALLOW THE POLICE STATION AND HOUSES ON A NEARBY RIDGE. WE COULD SEE THE FLAMES. LIKE, AT TIMES, IT WAS GOING AT LEAST 20M ABOVE THE CANOPY OF THE LARGE PINES. AND THEN IT WOULD CONSUME A WHOLE TREE, AND IT WOULD JUST GO UP LIKE A ROCKET. AT ITS PEAK, IT CLOSED THE AIRPORT AND SOME ROADS. IT'S FROM UP HERE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE FIRE DAMAGE. WE CAN FOLLOW THE SCORCHED PATH AS IT WEAVES ITS WAY BACK UP THROUGH THE BUSH. IT'S AS IF A GIANT WEED-EATER HAS SLASHED AND BURNED ITS WAY THOUGH WHAT WAS REGENERATING SAND DUNES AND BEYOND. FIREFIGHTERS, MANY OF THEM VOLUNTEERS, ARE FERRYING WATER TO TROUBLE SPOTS. IT'S HOT, DIRTY, UNRELENTING WORK. HAVE YOU HAD MUCH SLEEP? > I HAD FOUR HOURS LAST NIGHT. THREE CHOPPERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE, TAKING AIM WITH THE BEST WEAPONS AVAILABLE ` MONSOON BUCKETS. ON AN ISOLATED ISLAND, FIRE IS SOMETHING TO FEAR. IT'S HUGE, HUGE. IT'S OUR BIGGEST DANGER ON THE ISLAND, IS FIRE, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH IT. IN AREAS OF PROTECTED BUSH ON GREAT BARRIER, RESIDENTS CAN ONLY CUT FIRE BREAKS OF UP TO 10M. WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE, THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT ENOUGH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AS THE LOCAL BOARD, WE WOULD BE REVISTING WITH AUCKLAND COUNCIL. IN THE MEANTIME REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED, AND MORE ARE ON THE WAY FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND. NIGHT TIME WILL BE THE TEST. THAT'S WHEN FLARE-UPS CAN CREEP UP. LISA OWEN, ONE NEWS. NORTHLAND FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN RUN OFF THEIR FEET, BATTLING A HUGE FIRE NEAR KAIPARA. AND WITH THE CONTINUING DRY WEATHER, PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE AT THEIR GREATEST FIRE RISK IN YEARS. WILL HINE REPORTS. TODAY NORTHLAND CONTINUED TO BURN, MORE THAN 200HA OF BUSH SCORCHED AND SMOKING. THREE HELICOPTERS AND 80 FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE FLAMES AND WILL BE BACK TOMORROW. WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVERAL DAYS YET, EVEN IF THE FIRE DOES... DOES SLOW DOWN THIS EVENING. FIRES HAVE ALSO RAGED IN TAUPO, WAIKATO AND OTHER AREAS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. CONDITIONS HAVEN'T HELPED THE FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S BEEN A WARM, DRY START TO THE YEAR WITH BELOW-AVERAGE RAINFALL THROUGH THE EAST AND NORTH OF THE COUNTRY. METSERVICE FORECASTERS SAY THAT WEATHER'S SET TO CONTINUE UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF THE MONTH, WITH ANY RAIN LIMITED TO A FEW SHOWERS. MANY REGIONS HAVE ALREADY MOVED TO AN EXTREME FIRE DANGER, WHILE OTHERS SAY THEY WON'T BE FAR BEHIND, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOTTEST PART OF THE YEAR STILL TO COME. IN SOME AREAS OF OUR DISTRICT WE'RE GOING TO 30 DEGREES, AND WE'VE HAD SOME REASONABLY GOOD WINDS. THAT'S DRIED US OUT EXTREMELY FAST. SO IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD. MAKING MATTERS WORSE, SOME OF THE FIRES ARE SUSPECTED ARSONS. WHILE WE WERE HERE YESTERDAY MOPPING UP, THERE WAS ANOTHER SMALL FIRE ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED BEHIND THE CREW. JUST BE WARNED, THOUGH, IF PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT DELIBERATELY LIGHTING FIRES, THEY WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE MAXIMUM. FIREFIGHTER RANKS WILL BE BOLSTERED BY THE RETURN THIS EVENING OF 12 PERSONNEL WHO'VE BEEN FIGHTING FIRES IN AUSTRALIA. THEY'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF DAYS' REST AND BE AVAILABLE TO BE DEPLOYED IN NZ. BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO MANAGE ANYTHING WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH AT THE MOMENT. ABOUT 150 FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON STANDBY TO HEAD TO HOTSPOTS AS REQUIRED. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. SO, WHAT'S BEHIND THOSE HOT, DRY CONDITIONS? LET'S BRING IN WEATHER MAN JIM HICKEY. THE SUMMER ANTICYCLONES STARTED ARRIVING BACK IN NOVEMBER, AND SUMMER HIGHS KEEP THE RAIN AWAY. AND THEY'RE QUICKLY REPLACING EACH OTHER, LIKE THE PRESENT SITUATION. BETWEEN THEM, HOT NOR'WESTERS REALLY COOK UP ALREADY DRY EASTERN AREAS. THE EXCEPTION'S THE WEST COAST. CHRISTCHURCH IS STILL AROUND 27 DEGREES NOW AND LOOK HOW LITTLE RAIN'S FALLEN. LESS THAN HALF THE MONTHLY AVERAGE WE DO HAVE A WEE PULSE OF RAIN UP THROUGH CANTERBURY TO HAWKE'S BAY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, THEN HOT AND DRY AGAIN FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS. ANY RAIN WILL BE SPORADIC, WITH ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS REACHING THE DROUGHT ZONES. MORE DETAILS LATER. THANKS, JIM. HE'S ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S RICHEST MEN, WHO WAS SO ALARMED BY OUR RECORD ON CHILD ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HE DECIDED TO FUND HIS OWN INQUIRY. SIR OWEN GLENN HAS NOW NAMED THE EXPERTS WHO'LL JOIN HIS THINK TANK ON TACKLING THOSE PROBLEMS. AND AS JOANNA HUNKIN REPORTS, HE HOPES TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS TO THE UNITED NATIONS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THESE PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE. THESE PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED. SIR OWEN GLENN'S NOT WAITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT, ORDERING HIS OWN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INQUIRY INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE. MY GOAL IS TO HAVE MY MOMENT IN FRONT OF THE UNITED NATIONS, WHO TOOK A VERY STRONG INTEREST IN NZ'S PROBLEM OVER DECADES NZ HAS AN APPALLING HISTORY IN VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE. TODAY HE NAMED 24 KIWI EXPERTS WHO'LL JOIN HIS THINK TANK TO FIND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO A DEVASTATING PROBLEM. WE'VE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE NOW WHO ARE REALLY KEEN; LOTS OF DIFFERENT SKILLS AND EXPERTISE; GOODWILL; MONEY FROM OWEN GLENN. SO LET'S JUST SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND NOT WAIT FOR GOVERNMENTS TO THINK, 'OH, RIGHT, OK, WE BETTER DO SOMETHING.' SIR OWEN'S CONFIDENT POLITICIANS WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. IF THIS ISSUE BECOMES THAT PROMINENT IN THE PUBLIC THINKING, EVERY MEMBER OR EVERY CANDIDATE STANDING FOR PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WHAT IS YOUR STAND ON THIS? TODAY, PAULA BENNETT MADE HER STAND CLEAR. ANYTHING THAT THIS` FINDINGS THAT COME OUT, ANYTHING THAT THIS INQUIRY GETS, WE JUST WANT TO TAKE IT AND USE IT, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS. THE THINK TANK WILL SPEND THE NEXT NINE MONTHS SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CHARTING LINKS AND POSSIBLE CAUSES. THEY'LL ALSO BE INTERVIEWING VICTIMS OF ABUSE, WITH HUNDREDS ALREADY COMING FORWARD TO SHARE THEIR STORIES. WHERE NECESSARY, WE ARE SUPPLYING ADVOCATES TO ASSIST THEM. IF NECESSARY, AND IF THEY'VE GOT NOWHERE WITH THEIR PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I'VE PLEDGED THAT TO THEM. SO WE'VE PUT THE MONEY IN TO GIVE THEM THE LEGAL BACKING THAT THEY NEED. THE INQUIRY'S EXPECTED TO DELIVER ITS FINDINGS BY APRIL 2014. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. A MAORI PARTY LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE IS THE HOT TOPIC AT THE START OF THIS YEAR'S RATANA CHURCH CELEBRATIONS. WE CAN CONFIRM TE URUROA FLAVELL WANTS TO TAKE OVER FROM PITA SHARPLES AS CO-LEADER. AND ANOTHER COMPLICATION IS PITA SHARPLES' APPARENT WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH MANA LEADER HONE HARAWIRA. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN JOINS US NOW. MICHAEL. THIS IS TARIANA TURIA'S MARAE THE THREE MAORI PARTY MPS ARE MEETING INSIDE DISCUSSING THE LEADERSHIP CONTEST THIS WILL MAKE OR BREAK THE PARTY AT THE NEXT ELECTION A VITAL ALLY FOR JOHN KEY TE URUROA FLAVELL WAS ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET AT RATANA PA FOR THE INDIGENOUS AINU PEOPLE OF JAPAN WHILE APPARENTLY TRYING TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER MAORI PARTY CO-LEADER PITA SHARPLES, OFFICIALLY CHALLENGING FOR HIS JOB. HE WANTS THE JOB? OH, HE'S KEEN, YEAH. TE URUROA'S NOW CHALLENGING FOR THE CO-LEADERSHIP OF THE MAORI PARTY? WHERE DO YOU GUYS GET THESE SORTS OF STORIES FROM, EH? PITA SHARPLES. IT SEEMS TO BE A BATTLE THE PARTY WANTED IN PRIVATE. < WHY ARE YOU CHALLENGING FOR THE MAORI PARTY LEADERSHIP? WELL, WHO SAID I WAS? < PITA SHARPLES. WELL, THAT'S GOOD. WHATEVER HE HAS TO SAY, I'LL LEAVE IT WITH HIM. ADDING TO THE TENSION, AN OFFER FROM MANA PARTY LEADER HONE HARAWIRA TO FORM SOME SORT OF MAORI POLITICAL ALLIANCE. I WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT TO BE PARTY TO DISCUSSIONS ON LEADERSHIP POLICY AND DIRECTION, AND I WOULD ACTUALLY THINK MAORI PEOPLE WOULD WANT ME TO BE THE LEADER. PITA SHARPLES IS ENTERTAINING THE IDEA, DESPITE OUSTING HONE HARAWIRA FROM THE MAORI PARTY IN 2011. THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING. I MEAN, IT'S A BIT SILLY TO HAVE TWO MAORI PARTIES, ISN'T IT? BUT TARIANA TURIA'S NOT INTERESTED. IF I GO ON PAST EXPERIENCE, AND IF I'M BEING REALLY HONEST ABOUT IT, IT WAS A HORRENDOUS EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONE THAT I PERSONALLY WOULD CARE TO REPEAT. HONE HARAWIRA, WHATEVER HE SAYS, THAT'S FOR HIM TO SAY. I SUSPECT HE'S BEING FUNNY AND FAILING DISMALLY. ANY HARAWIRA ALLIANCE WOULD END NATIONAL'S COALITION WITH THE MAORI PARTY. I THINK HONE HARAWIRA'S MADE HIS POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO THE NATIONAL PARTY VERY CLEAR. AND IT'S MUTUAL. SO IT'S FAR FROM HARMONIOUS IN THE WORLD OF MAORI POLITICS. SO, MICHAEL, HOW LONG COULD THIS LEADERSHIP BATTLE TAKE TO SORT OUT? THIS MEETING WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW WE MAY KNOW TOMORROW HOW IT'LL PLAY OUT, BUT IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR SHARPLES SAYS HE WOULD STILL WANT TO STAY ON AS MAORI AFFAIRS MINISTER EVEN IF HE ISN'T LEADER THAT MAY BE HARD FOR FLAVELL TO STOMACH IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'LL BE ANOTHER REVIEW OVER WHETHER DAVID BAIN SHOULD GET COMPENSATION. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS A SECOND REVIEW WILL 'MOST PROBABLY' HAPPEN. THIS COMES AFTER JUSTICE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS CRITICISED FORMER CANADIAN JUDGE IAN BINNIE'S REPORT, WHICH SAID DAVID BAIN SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. THE REPORT AND A PEER REVIEW OF IT HAVE ALREADY COST TAXPAYERS $500,000. YES, OF COURSE I'M MINDFUL OF THAT, BUT I'M ALSO MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS DONE PROFESSIONALLY AND RIGHT, AND THIS IS A VERY HIGH PROFILE SITUATION. JUDITH COLLINS IS EXPECTED TO UPDATE CABINET AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY ON POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR SETTLING DAVID BAIN'S CLAIM. A FAR NORTH JUDGE HAS DESCRIBED THE ACTIONS OF A KAITAIA MINISTER AS DRAMATIC IN THE EXTREME. ERIC REID (64) WAS SENTENCED TO NINE MONTHS' HOME DETENTION AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF TAKING AND POSSESSING INTIMATE PHOTOS TAKEN UP WOMEN'S SKIRTS. PAUL HOBBS REPORTS. SCURRYING FROM HIS CAR, THE DISGRACED MINISTER TRIED TO TAKE COVER BEHIND HIS LAWYER AND SLIP INTO COURT UNNOTICED. < MR REID, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO SAY ABOUT YOUR ACTIONS? ERIC REID BOLTED FOR THE COURT'S BACK ENTRANCE. < MR REID, ARE YOU ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE? THE 64-YEAR-OLD WAS CONVICTED OF 49 CHARGES OF TAKING AND POSSESSING INTIMATE PHOTOS LOOKING UP THE SKIRTS OF HIS TWO FEMALE VICTIMS ` ONE JUST 16; THE OTHER MIDDLE-AGED. ONE OF HIS VICTIMS, IN A STATEMENT, SAID REID.... REID TOOK THE OFFENDING PHOTOS ON HIS IPHONE, BOTH AT THIS KAITAIA CHURCH WHERE HE SERVED AS A PASTOR FOR MANY YEARS AND AT THE TE AUPOURI TRUST WHERE HE ALSO WORKED. REID WOULD EITHER REACH BEHIND HIS UNSUSPECTING VICTIM AND TAKE A PHOTO OR, AS IN THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES, HE WOULD SNAP SHOTS AFTER DRILLING HOLES IN THE WALL WHICH LOOKED THROUGH TO WHERE HIS VICTIM WAS SITTING. REID WAS CAUGHT IN THE ACT LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS SPOTTED THROUGH AN OPEN OFFICE DOOR. KAITAIA HAS BEEN ROCKED BY A NUMBER OF SEX ALLEGATIONS. A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN AND A SCHOOL TEACHER FACE SEPARATE CHARGES OF SEXUALLY ABUSING BOYS. POLICE SAY REID'S OFFENDING IS UNRELATED AND MINOR IN COMPARISON. BUT HIS PREVIOUSLY UNBLEMISHED RECORD AND REPUTATION ARE NOW IN TATTERS. A MAN OF THE CHURCH SHATTERING THE TRUST OF A COMMUNITY ALREADY REELING. PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS. SHE WAS THE YOUNG GIRL WHOSE PLIGHT CAPTURED OUR HEARTS. MATISSE REID WAS BORN WITH A RARE BOWEL CONDITION, AND HER ONLY HOPE WAS A LIFE SAVING OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW, AFTER SIX YEARS, SHE'S BACK. DANIEL FAITAUA HAS THE STORY. A WELCOME HOME FOR THE GIRL NAPIER CALLS ITS OWN. WE HAD A GOOD TIME IN PITTSBURGH, BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD TO BE HOME. TAKING IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF A TOWN SHE BARELY REMEMBERS. I WAS 7 WHEN WE LEFT; MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS 2. SO WE'RE, KIND OF, THE ONES WHO THINK PARTS OF IT'S A BLUR. IT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE 4-YEAR-OLD WE FIRST MET BACK IN 2006. < WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY? CHRISTMAS DAY, IN DECEMBER. BORN WITH A RARE BOWEL CONDITION, MATISSE REID LIVED IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN... (CRIES) ...AND WITH THE EXHAUSTING RITUAL OF BEING FED THROUGH A TUBE. THEN A GLIMMER OF HOPE ` A LIFE-SAVING OPERATION, COSTING OVER $1M, IN PITTSBURGH. THE FAMILY'S PLIGHT CAPTURED NZERS, AND DONATIONS TRICKLED IN. THE FAMILY MOVED TO AMERICA, BUT YEARS ON A WAITING LIST FOLLOWED. THEN THERE WAS THE UNEXPECTED $100,000 DONATION FROM BAD-BOY CHEF GORDON RAMSAY. HE GAVE THE MONEY AFTER BEING THREATENED WITH A MILLION-DOLLAR LAWSUIT FOR NOT SHOWING UP AT A CHARITY DINNER TO RAISE FUNDS TO COVER MATISSE'S OPERATION. TWO YEARS AGO, SHE UNDERWENT 12 HOURS OF SURGERY FOR A BOWEL TRANSPLANT THAT'S GIVEN HER THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THE REST OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED. YEAH, SO, LIKE, NOW I CAN ACTUALLY EAT WITHOUT FEELING SICK. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE JOURNEY MATISSE HAS TAKEN; EVEN HARDER WHEN YOU KNOW SHE'S JUST 12 YEARS OLD. HER PARENTS, WAYNE AND JODEE, ARE IN NO DOUBT THE STRUGGLE, SACRIFICE AND HARDSHIP HAS BEEN WORTH IT. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW LONG IT'S GONNA LAST OR HOW WELL SHE'S GONNA DO, BUT, YOU KNOW, HER FUTURE IS DEFINITELY BRIGHTER THAN IT WAS PRE-TRANSPLANT. NOW THE CHALLENGE IS TRYING TO LIVE A RELATIVELY NORMAL LIFE. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. COMING UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` NOVOPAY'S PROBLEMS CONTINUE. ANOTHER PAY ROUND IS RIDDLED WITH FAULTS, FORCING PRINCIPALS TO DEMAND ACTION AGAIN. THE HAWKS RETAIN POWER IN ISRAEL, BUT ONLY JUST. WHAT DOES TODAY'S RESULT MEAN FOR THE PEACE PROCESS? AND HE'S BUZZED SOME OF THE GREAT LANDMARKS. NOW THE JETMAN IS HERE AND READY TO TAKE YOU ON A WORLD-FIRST FLIGHT. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS' DEMANDS FOR AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF NOVOPAY HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE AUDITOR GENERAL. THE PRINCIPALS FEDERATION IS CONCERNED AN INTERNAL REVIEW BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ` SCHEDULED FOR APRIL ` IS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. OUR REVIEW IS REALLY AROUND, 'IS THIS HORSE READY TO BRING BACK TO LIFE, 'OR IS IT DEAD AND SEND IT TO THE KNACKERS?' BECAUSE WE LACK CONFIDENCE THAT NOVOPAY CAN COME GOOD. AND I THINK EVERY TAXPAYER IN THE COUNTRY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. CAN THIS BE FIXED? SHOULD IT BE FIXED? THE NEXT PAYDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE FRAUGHT WITH PROBLEMS BECAUSE AROUND 300 SCHOOLS STILL HAVEN'T SENT IN INFORMATION ON NEW STAFF OR CHANGES TO CONTRACTS. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU LOOKS SET TO KEEP HIS JOB, BUT ONLY JUST, AFTER SUPPORT FOR HIS RULING COALITION WAS SLASHED IN THIS MORNING'S GENERAL ELECTION. MR NETANYAHU CALLED EARLY ELECTIONS, IN THE HOPE OF BOLSTERING SUPPORT FOR HIS PARTY ` A MOVE WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE BACKFIRED. THE BBC'S WYRE DAVIES EXPLAINS. ALL CHANT LIKUD PARTY ACTIVISTS CELEBRATING TONIGHT IN TEL AVIV. ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF SEATS HELD BY THE GOVERNING COALITION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SLASHED, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S LIKUD PARTY SAYS IT CAN FORM ANOTHER GOVERNMENT. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN WEAKENED. THESE ARE THE VOTERS WHO WALKED AWAY FROM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: IDEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS JEWS WHO LIVE IN SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN WEST BANK ` SETTLEMENTS REGARDED AS ILLEGAL UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. THEY USED TO VOTE FOR THE LIKUD PARTY, BUT SAY NETANYAHU'S ABANDONED THEM. AND MANY HERE ARE AGAINST HIS OFFICIAL POLICY OF SUPPORTING A PALESTINIAN STATE. I DON'T THINK, HERE, ANYONE EVER HAD A THOUGHT THAT THEY WANTED TWO STATES. I WAS VERY UPSET WITH BIBI NETANAYAHU'S LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU VOTED EARLY TODAY ` CONFIDENT HE WAS UNLIKELY TO LOSE HIS JOB, BUT ALSO KNOWING HE MIGHT WELL HAVE TO GOVERN AT THE HEAD OF AN EVEN-MORE-RIGHT-WING COALITION. IN A BID TO MAKE UP GROUND ON THE RIGHT, MR NETANYAHU HAS ORGANISED EVEN MORE BUILDING IN THE SETTLEMENTS. AND THERE'S BEEN NO PROGRESS IN THE PEACE TALKS WITH THE PALESTINIANS. SOME ARE CONCERNED THAT WITH CRITICAL DECISIONS TO MAKE, THE PRIME MINISTER COULD ISOLATE ISRAEL EVEN FURTHER. IF THEY HAVE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WITH THE EXTREME RIGHT WING AND THE ULTRA-RELIGIOUS, THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL CLASH WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, CLASH WITH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION... THE CENTRIST 'FUTURE PARTY', LED BY FORMER JOURNALIST YAIR LAPID, COULD NOW PLAY A ROLE IN A MORE MODERATE GOVERNMENT. BUT NETANYAHU COULD STILL DECIDE TO BRING IN THE RIGHT-WINGER NAFTALI BENNETT ` ANOTHER NEWCOMER WHO'S SHAKEN ISRAEL'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. A SERIES OF CAR BOMB ATTACKS IN BAGHDAD HAS KILLED 17 PEOPLE AND FUELLED FEARS OF RISING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE. TWO EXPLOSIONS HIT SECURITY CHECKPOINTS, KILLING SOLDIERS AND SECURITY PERSONNEL. A THIRD WENT OFF IN A CROWDED MARKETPLACE. DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ATTACKS, WHICH ARE BEING BLAMED ON SUNNI INSURGENTS. A BRITISH WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF DRUG TRAFFICKING IN INDONESIA. LINDSAY SANDIFORD WAS ARRESTED IN MAY LAST YEAR AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE 5KG OF COCAINE INTO BALI. LAWYERS FOR THE GRANDMOTHER (56) SAY SHE WILL APPEAL THE DECISION. TRANSLATOR: I THINK THE JUDGES DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION LINDSAY'S REMORSE FOR HER ACTIONS. IN HER PREVIOUS STATEMENTS, SHE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT SHE REGRETTED WHAT SHE DID, AND SHE'S APOLOGISED TO THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA. INDONESIAN JUDGES SAYS MRS SANDIFORD HAS DAMAGED BALI'S REPUTATION AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. TO THE WEATHER NOW. A BIT OF RAIN, BUT NOT ENOUGH? SHOWERS IN FIORDLAND, WESTLAND AND SOUTHLAND FOG FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO INVERCARGILL FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ COMING UP AFTER SPORT ` A WELCOME LICK OF RAIN FOR CANTERBURY. UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` HUNDREDS OF TRAVELLERS ARE LEFT HIGH AND DRY AGAIN. WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THE ARATERE'S ONGOING PROBLEMS. WE'RE AT BETHLEHEM COLLEGE AS THE SURVIVORS OF A FATAL KENYAN BUS CRASH ARE WELCOMED HOME. AND FORMATION FLYING WITH A WING AND SOME THRUST ` HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE JETMAN IN THE SKIES ABOVE AUCKLAND. , SURVIVORS OF THE MINIVAN ACCIDENT THAT KILLED THREE NZERS IN KENYA SAY THEY CAN'T REMEMBER THE CRASH. SOME OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO WERE ON THE BETHLEHEM COLLEGE TRIP ARRIVED BACK IN TAURANGA TODAY. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS REPORTS. # YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS AND NEVER GIVES UP. # BACK ON COLLEGE GROUNDS, A WELCOME HOME FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE KENYAN BUS CRASH. IT WAS QUITE AN EMOTIONAL TIME, SEEING THE FAMILY, BUT REALLY GOOD TO SEE MUM AND DAD. SAM MCDOUGALL (19) WAS AT THE BACK OF THE MINIVAN WHEN IT ROLLED. I WOKE UP IN THE VAN, TRYING TO GET UP. d HE ATTEMPTED TO HELP TAURANG DR BRIAN JOHNSTON AND HIS WIFE GRACE, AND KENYAN MAN CHRISTOPHER MMATA, WHO WERE ALL KILLED IN THE CRASH. BASICALLY, I JUST WENT AROUND THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I SAW, ASKING, 'ARE YOU OK? WHAT'S HURTING? WHAT'S SORE?' AND IF THEY RESPONDED TO ME, USUALLY I'D JUST MAKE SURE THEY WERE OK. THE GROUP WAS IN KENYA AS PART OF AN ANNUAL TRIP TO DO AID WORK AT ARK QUEST SCHOOL IN A SMALL VILLAGE NORTH-WEST OF NAIROBI. A WEEK ON, A VIGIL IS CONTINUING AT THE BETHLEHEM CHAPEL ` WORDS OF CONDOLENCE FROM A STUNNED COMMUNITY DRAWING ON ITS CHRISTIAN FAITH. HUNDREDS ARE EXPECTED HERE TOMORROW FOR CAITLIN DICKSON'S FUNERAL, A CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE. FIVE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, THOUGH, ARE STILL IN NAIROBI ` ONE SO INJURED IT'S NOT YET KNOWN WHEN SHE'LL RETURN HOME. MEANWHILE, THESE STUDENTS ARE ALREADY KEEN TO GET BACK,... YOU JUST WON'T GO TO KENYA AND COME BACK THE SAME. ...DESPITE THE SCHOOL TRIP OF A LIFETIME ENDING IN HEARTBREAK. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, ONE NEWS. SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY STRAIN OF NOROVIRUS IS GROWING HERE AT AN ALARMING RATE. TESTS SHOW THE MAJORITY OF OUTBREAKS LATE LAST YEAR WERE THE SO-CALLED SYDNEY 2012 STRAIN, SUPERSEDING THE OLD NEW ORLEANS STRAIN. AND OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM HAS LITTLE RESISTANCE TO THE MUTATED VIRUS. NOROVIRUS IS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC-HEALTH CONCERN, BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS, CAN BE EASILY TRANSMITTED FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ILLNESS. SCIENTISTS SAY IN MOST CASES VOMITING AND DIARRHOEA WILL MAKE YOU SICK FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE ELDERLY AND BABIES ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE. KIWI AVIATION FANS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A WORLD-FIRST FLIGHT ` STRAPPED TO THE WING OF A JETPACK. SWISS PILOT YVES ROSSY, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JETMAN, IS PLANNING TO TAKE EVERYONE AT THIS WEEKEND'S INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW ON A HAIR-RAISING RIDE. BETH BATES REPORTS. YVES ROSSY IS THE ONLY MAN IN THE WORLD TO HAVE FLOWN WITH A JET-PROPELLED WING. NICKNAMED 'JETMAN', THE FORMER PILOT SPENT 18 YEARS CREATING HIS CARBON FIBRE FLYING MACHINE. AND THIS WEEKEND SPECTATORS AT NZ'S INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW WILL BE IN FOR A TREAT. FOR THE FIRST TIME, A CAMERA STRAPPED TO THE WING WILL BROADCAST A FLIGHT LIVE. WITH THESE BIG SCREENS AND THE CAMERA FROM MY WING, YOU WILL BE ON BOARD... WITH ME, AND I WILL DO A COMMENTARY OF WHAT I'M DOING. JETMAN'S FIRST FLIGHT MADE AVIATION HISTORY IN 2006, MANOEUVRING THE 55KG PACK WITH JUST HIS BODY. SO, THERE IS NOT A STICK OR A BAR OR HANDLES. IT'S JUST... LIKE BIRDS. HIS FLIGHTS BEGIN 1700M ABOVE GROUND. AFTER 10 MINUTES IN THE AIR, HE USES A PARACHUTE TO LAND. IT'S REALLY FUN, COS IT'S SO UNNATURAL FOR A HUMAN TO FLY LIKE THAT. SO ALWAYS I HAVE TO SAY, 'OH YEAH, IT WORKS.' SO IT'S REALLY A GOOD FEELING, YOU KNOW? BUT YVES ROSSY SAYS HIS MILLION-DOLLAR MACHINE IS STILL VERY MUCH A PROTOTYPE AND WON'T BE IN THE SHOPS ANY TIME SOON. IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BUY, LIKE A FERRARI. IT'S NOT JUST 'TURN THE KEY'. YOU HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED SKYDIVER. LEAVING THIS WEEKEND'S LIVE BROADCAST THE CLOSEST MOST OF US WILL EVER GET TO EXPERIENCING THE AIR UP THERE. BETH BATES, ONE NEWS. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` EMERGENCY SERVICES HAVE NOW MANAGED TO BRING A LARGE FIRE NEAR CHRISTCHURCH'S WEST MELTON UNDER CONTROL. THE BLAZE BROKE OUT AT THE ARMY RIFLE RANGE AND SPARKED A NUMBER OF EVACUATIONS. MEANWHILE, FIREFIGHTERS ON AUCKLAND'S GREAT BARRIER ISLAND SAY IT COULD TAKE WEEKS TO PUT OUT A BLAZE WHICH IS BEING FUELLED BY SLOW BURNING PEAT. AND TE URUROA FLAVELL HAS REVEALED HE IS CHALLENGING PITA SHARPLES FOR THE CO-LEADERSHIP OF THE MAORI PARTY. BUT SUGGESTIONS BY FORMER MEMBER AND MANA LEADER HONE HARAWIRA TO FORM A POLITICAL ALLIANCE WITH THE MAORI PARTY HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY FLAVELL AND TARIANA TURIA. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND RYAN NELSEN RETIRES FROM ALL FOOTBALL. MORE ON NELSEN'S DECISION NEXT. ALSO, A FULL RUNDOWN ON THIS REMARKABLE CRICKET WIN IN SOUTH AFRICA, INCLUDING KANE WILLIAMSON'S STUNNING INNINGS. WHO ELSE DO THE BLACK CAPS HAVE TO THANK? WE'RE IN NAPIER FOR THE DUMPED CAPTAIN'S RETURN, BUT WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OVER ROSS TAYLOR'S INTERNATIONAL RECALL? THE PRESENT VERSUS THE FUTURE ` CAN SERENA STRENGTHEN HER GRIP ON ANOTHER TITLE AGAINST THE NEXT AMERICAN GENERATION? AND ONLY JUST SOLVENT ` 10TH IN THE ENGLISH FOURTH DIVISION, BRADFORD CITY IS BACK FROM THE DEPTHS. TO THE BLACKCAPS' CRICKET WIN IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT FIRST TONIGHT, TO FOOTBALL. AND ONE OF OUR GREATEST PLAYERS HAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED. ALREADY BIDDING FAREWELL TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE IN ENGLAND, RYAN NELSEN (35) HAS CONFIRMED IN THE LAST FEW HOURS HE'LL NO LONGER PLAY FOR THE ALL WHITES. THERE WILL NOW ONLY BE MEMORIES OF RYAN NELSEN IN HIS BELOVED WHITE SHIRT. THE DREADED, DELAYED, BUT INEVITABLE CALL CAME THIS AFTERNOON FROM CANADA. HE CONTACTED ME, SO I GOT BACK TO HIM. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRAINING TWICE A DAY. SO, YEAH, LOOK, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW GREAT IT WAS AND WORLD CUPS, ETC. AND HE'S ON A DIFFERENT VENTURE NOW; A DIFFERENT TASK AHEAD OF HIM. UP UNTIL TODAY, NELSEN HAD REMAINED SURPRISINGLY QUIET ON HIS PLAYING FUTURE, HAVING LIMITED CONTACT WITH OFFICIALS BACK HERE. HIS OWN CONFIRMATION CAME IN TORONTO TODAY. YOU LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL, BUT WHEN THE PLAYING SIDE, KIND OF` YOU KNOW... PLAYING I DIDN'T REALLY ENJOY AS MUCH AS COACHING IT, AND WHEN THAT WAS HAPPENING, I KNEW IT WAS TIME. THERE CAN BE UPS AND DOWNS LIKE WE'RE EXPERIENCING AT THE MOMENT. BUT IT'S A GOOD, HARD TASK. HE'S CERTAINLY GOT THAT CHARACTER AND NATURE TO GRIND THROUGH IT. SO NELSEN WON'T BE SEEN IN MARCH'S OCEANIA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS OR THE NEXT STAGE OF QUALIFYING FOR BRAZIL 2016. FELLOW DEFENDERS WINSTON REID AND TOMMY SMITH ARE PRIME CANDIDATES TO TAKE OVER AS CAPTAIN. SO HOW WILL NELSEN BE REMEMBERED? HE'LL BE ONE OF THE TWO OR THREE BEST WE'VE EVER HAD. < NUMBER ONE AHEAD OF WYNTON? DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, I THINK. A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY HE'S PROBABLY BEEN OUR BEST LEADER. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE LOSS WE'VE HAD TODAY. THERE'S NO GLITZY FAREWELL FOR THE ALL WHITES DOWN-TO-EARTH CAPTAIN. SYMBOLIC IN A WAY, RYAN NELSEN'S FINAL INTERNATIONAL OUTING LAST OCTOBER WAS IN HIS HOMETOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH IN FRONT OF HOME FANS. YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT NZ CRICKET AND THE BLACKCAPS, BUT THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 80 YEARS OF TRYING, THE NATIONAL TEAM HAS CAPTURED A SERIES OF ANY SORT IN SOUTH AFRICA, WINNING THE SECOND ONE-DAYER BY 27 RUNS. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. FINALLY, SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE ` AN HISTORIC FIRST SERIES WIN IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE BLACKCAPS. BOWLED HIM. ALL OVER. THE START WAS HARDLY PROMISING, THOUGH ` 0/1, WITH MARTIN GUPTILL OUT FOR A DUCK. CRIES OF 'CATCH' HERE. 32/2, WITH BJ WATLING GONE FOR 12. BIG SHOUT. HUGE SHOUT. ENTER KANE WILLIAMSON, MOVING SWIFTLY TO HIS 50. THAT'S NICELY PLACED. TWO MORE FOURS HELPED TO BRING UP THE BLACKCAPS' HUNDRED. SO, TWO BOUNDARIES OFF THE FIRST THREE BALLS. HIS OWN DULY FOLLOWED, FROM 100 BALLS. THAT'S ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL HUNDRED NUMBER THREE. THE PARTNERSHIP WITH GRANT ELLIOTT WAS WORTH 127 BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE ON 48. GOT HIM! THAT'S HIM GONE. SKIPPER BRENDON MCCULLUM CAME OUT SWINGING... FANTASTIC SHOT. ...AND WENT OUT SWINGING. BOWLED HIM. WILLIAMSON WAS THE ROCK ` 145 NOT OUT IN NZ'S 279/8. INITIALLY THE CHASE, ON A GOOD WICKET, LOOKED EASY FOR SOUTH AFRICA. GRAEME SMITH AND COLIN INGRAM SCORED QUICK FIFTIES. IT'S AN EDGE. THE BLACKCAPS NEEDED WICKETS AND SUDDENLY GOT THEM. OOH, GOTTA HURRY. GOTTA HURRY. OH, I RECKON HE'S GONE! THAT WAS THE FIRST OF FIVE RUN-OUTS. HE MIGHT'VE GOT A FINGER ON THAT. OOH, ANOTHER DIRECT HIT. KLEINVELDT'S DROPPED HIS BAT. THE BEST WAS FROM GUPTILL, MAKING AMENDS FOR HIS DUCK. IS THAT ANOTHER ONE? ADD A COUPLE OF FINE CATCHES. NATHAN MCCULLUM. THE BLACKCAPS WON BY 27 RUNS. I'M VERY VERY PROUD OF THE BOYS. I THOUGHT THEY SHOWED SO MUCH CHARACTER OVER THE LAST TWO GAMES. WE KNOW WE'VE STILL GOT A GAME TO GO, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY ENJOY THE MOMENT OF TONIGHT. WILLIAMSON WAS MAN OF THE MATCH. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. KANE WILLIAMSON HELPED THE KIWIS BECOME JUST THE THIRD SIDE, BEHIND ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA, TO WIN AN ODI SERIES IN THE REPUBLIC. THOSE FIVE RUN-OUTS EQUALLED THE RECORD FOR MOST IN A ONE-DAY INNINGS FORMER BLACKCAPS SKIPPER ROSS TAYLOR IS BACK IN THE INTERNATIONAL FOLD A LOT SOONER THAN FIRST EXPECTED. TAYLOR'S BEEN NAMED IN A NATIONAL 11 TO PLAY ENGLAND IN TWO T20 WARM-UP MATCHES IN WHANGAREI IN TWO WEEKS. HIS RETURN TO FIRST CLASS CRICKET TOOK A STEP UP TODAY. MARK HATHAWAY'S IN NAPIER FOR TAYLOR'S CENTRAL DISTRICTS COMEBACK. BACK FACING DELIVERIES, BUT WANTING TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND. ROSS TAYLOR LET HIS CENTRAL DISTRICTS COACH DO THE TALKING. LAST YEAR'S BLACKCAPS CAPTAINCY BLOWOUT HAS BLOWN OVER. WE'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO THAT TOPIC. I THINK IT'S BEEN WELL DISCUSSED. WE'RE REALLY MORE CONSCIOUS ABOUT HIM GETTING BACK TO CRICKET AND DOING WHAT HE LOVES DOING AND FEELING RELAXED AND PRODUCING FOR US ON THE PARK. CD'S SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST, GARY HERMANSSON, OFFERED HIS ADVICE. THE FIX-IT JOB ON NZ'S TOP BATSMAN IS FAR FROM COMPLETE. ALTHOUGH HE'S NOT WILLING TO TALK TO MEDIA, TAYLOR'S TEAMMATES SAY HE'S RELAXED AND AT HOME IN THE CD SETUP. QUESTIONS DO REMAIN, HOWEVER, OVER WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE FOR THE OUSTED CAPTAIN TO WALK BACK INTO THE BLACKCAPS FOLD FOR THE ENGLAND SERIES. I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME UNDERLYING SCARS IN THERE IN TERMS OF GOING BACK TO PLAYING FOR THE BLACKCAPS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE MANAGEMENT TEAM THERE AND ROSS WILL NEED TO WORK THROUGH. ONE PLAYER WHO'S BEEN PART OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE BLACKCAPS SQUAD SAYS THE CONTROVERSIALLY APPOINTED NEW COACH AND CAPTAIN ARE BEING ACCEPTED. < DO THE BOYS HAVE FAITH IN THEIR NEW CAPTAIN? YEAH, YEAH, DEFINITELY. YOU KNOW, BAZ HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND HE'S A GREAT PLAYER AND A GREAT LEADER. SO, YEAH, THE BOYS DEFINITELY HAVE FAITH IN HIM. < AND THE COACH? YEAH. YEP, THE COACH. OBVIOUSLY HE'S BEEN UNDER PRESSURE AS WELL, BUT THE GUYS ARE BACKING HIM UP, SO, YEAH. A ONE-DAY SERIES WIN IN SOUTH AFRICA ATTESTS TO THAT. A TEST SERIES WIN AGAINST ENGLAND IN MARCH? TAYLOR PULLING ON THE WHITE JERSEY CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH. MARK HATHAWAY, ONE NEWS. SHE'S BEEN THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PLAYER SO FAR AT THE AUSTRALIAN TENNIS OPEN. SERENA WILLIAMS ENTERED HER QUARTER-FINAL MATCH TODAY WITHOUT LOSING A SET. BUT THE NEW CHALLENGE FOR SERENA WAS FACING THE 19-YEAR-OLD FUTURE OF AMERICAN TENNIS. KIMBERLEE DOWNS HAS THE ACTION. AMERICAN SLOANE STEPHENS (19) GREW UP IDOLISING SERENA WILLIAMS. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HER NERVES GOING INTO HER FIRST OPEN QUARTER-FINAL, UP AGAINST THE 15-TIME GRAND SLAM CHAMPION. WELL, WHAT A START FROM STEPHENS. STEPHENS IS THE YOUNGEST WOMAN INSIDE THE TOP 40. NO GREAT SURPRISE, THEN, THAT THE FIVE-TIME AUSSIE OPEN WINNER DREW FIRST BLOOD. THERE IT IS. WILLIAMS HAS WON THE FIRST SET. ALL ON SCRIPT, BUT THEN STEPHENS DID WHAT ONLY ONE OTHER PLAYER'S MANAGED THIS TOURNAMENT ` BREAK THE THIRD SEED'S SERVICE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, GAME-CHANGER. WATCH HOW SHE PULLS UP. THE LEFT LEG PERHAPS JARRING. OOH, YES. WILLIAMS FORCED OFF THE COURT AFTER INJURING HER BACK; THE POWER IN HER SERVE DIMINISHED. THE SECOND SET WENT STEPHENS' WAY. CROWD: OH! WELL, NO SECRET HOW SHE'S FEELING. COULD IT BE? THE BIGGEST UPSET OF THE TOURNAMENT? FAST-FORWARD, AND FACE THE UNTHINKABLE: MATCH POINT FOR THE TEENAGER. AND THAT'S IT! CHEERING STEPHENS CAN'T BELIEVE IT. SHE'S THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINAL. OH, WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THAT? FOR A WHILE, NOT EVEN STEPHENS. OH MY GOD. I... I... I DON'T EVEN KNOW... OH MY GOODNESS. CHEERING CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE THAT THAT'S WHO YOU WOULD HAVE BEATEN TO MAKE YOUR FIRST SEMI-FINAL? NO! CHEERING ARE YOU GONNA GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT AFTER THIS? YES, I SAID I WAS GONNA BUY ONE THING, BUT NOW I'M GONNA BUY TWO. NO TIME FOR SHOPPING JUST YET, THOUGH ` SHE'LL GO UP AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMP VICTORIA AZARENKA IN THE SEMIS TOMORROW. THE BELARUSIAN DEFEATED SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA 7-5, 6-1 EARLIER TODAY. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. BREAKERS BIG MAN ALEX PLEDGER IS CONFIDENT HE'LL BE BACK ON THE COURT FOR TOMORROW NIGHT'S NBL BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST SYDNEY. PLEDGER INJURED HIS ANKLE DURING THE TEAM'S 1-POINT WIN OVER WOLLONGONG LAST THURSDAY. HE WAS FORCED TO SIT OUT THEIR VICTORY AGAINST ADELAIDE OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER PLAYING 85 CONSECUTIVE GAMES. IT'LL TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET IT TO 100%, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING MORE THAN GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY ON. AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER A DAY UNTIL THE GAME, STILL, AND IT SHOULD BE... IT SHOULD BE FINE. THE BREAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR EIGHTH WIN ON THE TROT, WITH THEIR LAST LOSS AGAINST SYDNEY BACK IN EARLY DECEMBER. FINALLY IN SPORT, FOOTBALL FAIRY TALES DON'T COME MUCH BIGGER THAN BRADFORD CITY, AS THEY TOOK ON PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE ASTON VILLA IN A LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL. 10 YEARS AGO, THE BANTAMS WERE IN THE TOP FLIGHT AS WELL BUT NOW FIND THEMSELEVS IN THE FOURTH DIVISION ` A CLUB THAT WAS BROKE IN BOTH SENSES OF THE WORD. ALTHOUGH VILLA WENT AHEAD FIRST, IT WAS BRADFORD DEFENDING THE AGGREGATE LEAD AND THEN EXTENDING IT. AND THEY'VE DONE IT! HANSEN. JAMES HANSEN. THE TOTAL PAYROLL FOR BRADFORD IS LESS THAN VILLA'S SALARIES FOR ONE WEEK. BRADFORD BECOMES THE FIRST FOURTH-TIER SIDE TO MAKE THE CUP FINAL IN 51 YEARS. THANKS, ANDREW. AFTER THE BREAK, JIM'S GOT SOME RAIN IN THE FORECAST, BUT BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS IT. HELLO AGAIN. YES, A BIT OF RAIN FOR OTAGO AND CANTERBURY, BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. NOT ALL BAD NEWS IN CANTERBURY, THOUGH ` THE HOT, SUNNY WEATHER IS GREAT FOR THE WHEAT HARVEST IN THE NORTH. THANKS TO ANN. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ LET'S HOPE TONIGHT'S FRONT DROPS A NICE BUCKETFUL ON CANTERBURY. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY RICHARD EDMUNDS AND CONOR WHITTEN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013