HI, EVERYBODY. A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN QUENCHED THE DEEP SOUTH, THE CANTERBURY FRINGES AND WELLINGTON TODAY, BUT THE WATER TANKER HAS NOW RUN DRY. A MONOLITHIC HIGH IS CARVING A HUGE HOLE IN THE SKY, PROMISING ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR DAYS OF FINE WEATHER. MORE SUNHATS AND SUNSCREEN, THIRSTY LIVESTOCK AND 30 DEGREES INLAND. THE FULL PICTURE COMING UP. 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. THE ARMY SHOOTS ITSELF IN THE FOOT AGAIN, AS LIVE FIRE CAUSES ANOTHER MASSIVE BLAZE. AN EMOTIONAL PLEA TO PHARMAC ` 'PLEASE PAY FOR A MIRACLE DRUG TO SAVE OUR LIVES.' A FURIOUS HILLARY CLINTON LASHES OUT IN A DRAMATIC FINAL APPEARANCE BEFORE CONGRESS. AND AN UGLY ROW MARS THE BEAUTIFUL GAME ` A TOP FOOTBALLER'S SENT OFF FOR KICKING THE BALLBOY, BUT IS THERE MORE TO THIS THAN MEETS THE EYE? AS WE GO TO AIR, THE ARMY IS BATTLING YET ANOTHER MASSIVE FIRE. THIS ONE'S BROKEN OUT NEAR THE ARMY BASE AT WAIOURU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTH ISLAND. IT COMES JUST A DAY AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT ON A RIFLE RANGE IN CANTERBURY. REPORTER SARAH BATLEY HAS THE LATEST FROM WAIOURU, AND SHE JOINS US NOW ON THE PHONE. SARAH. I'M STANDING ON FARMLAND EAST OF THE TRAINING GROUND THE FARM BORDERS IT THE FIRE SEEMS TO BE A FAIR DISTANCE AWAY I CAN SEE HELICOPTERS WORKING AND SMOKE COMING UP FROM BEHIND THE RANGE EARLIER THIS WEEK LOCALS COULD HEAR ARMY EXERCISE IT SOUNDED LIKE THUNDER A SPOKESMAN HAS CONFIRMED THE FIRE STARTED ON TUESDAY DURING AN EXERCISE CONDUCTED BY SINGAPORE FORCES THERE WAS NO RISK OF THE FIRE BREACHING THE BOUNDARY OF THE TRAINING AREA AND THE FIRE HAS BEEN CONTAINED TO A 5HA AREA KNOWN AS THE THREE KINGS THE TOTAL AREA BURNT IS AROUND 350HA ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO ASSIST IN DEALING WITH HOT SPOTS GRENADES HAVE BEEN BLAMED AS THE TRIGGER FOR YESTERDAY'S BIG RURAL BLAZE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CHRISTCHURCH. THE FIRE GOT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER SOLDIERS FROM BURNHAM MILITARY CAMP WERE TRAINING WITH EXPLOSIVES AT THE NEARBY WEST MELTON RIFLE RANGE. ALI PUGH REPORTS. SOLDIERS SCRAMBLED TO ASSIST FIREFIGHTERS IN DOUSING YESTERDAY'S BLAZE AFTER IT BROKE OUT ON THE ARMY'S FIRING RANGE. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS ADMITTED BETWEEN 60 AND 80 SOLDIERS WERE TRAINING WITH LIVE GRENADES. IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT THE FIRE WAS INITIATED DURING THE COURSE OF GRENADE TRAINING AT THE RANGE. THE FIRE SPARKED MASS PANIC AND EVACUATIONS AND THREATENED SEVERAL HOMES. SOME RESIDENTS ARE NOW QUESTIONING WHY THE ARMY ALLOWED EXPLOSIVES TO BE USED ON A 30-DEGREE DAY, GIVEN A LAWNMOWER SPARKED A FIRE ON THE SAME LAND JUST FOUR DAYS EARLIER. THEY SHOULD HAVE SHUT UP SHOP ABOUT 9 O'CLOCK YESTERDAY MORNING. BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A DEW IN THE MORNING, BUT IT SURE AS HELL DIDN'T LAST FOREVER. THE RURAL FIRE SERVICE FOR THE SELWYN AREA REFUSED TO COMMENT ON WHETHER THE ARMY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FIRING LIVE AMMUNITION IN AN AREA WITH A TOTAL FIRE BAN, SAYING THE AREA WHERE THE RANGE IS IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEFENCE FORCE FIRE SERVICE. I'VE JUST MADE THE POINT THAT THE GRENADE PRACTICE IS NOT A FIRE, SO YOU DON'T NEED A FIRE PERMIT FOR THAT. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, IT'S STILL HIGH EXPLOSIVE, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A FIRE RISK. ONE SOLDIER IS STILL IN HOSPITAL, SUFFERING SECOND-DEGREE BURNS TO HIS ARM AND FACE. THE ARMY'S NOW CALLED AN URGENT COURT OF INQUIRY INTO ITS SAFETY MEASURES. WE WILL TAKE ALL THE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CAUSE ANY FUTURE FIRES. ALL LIVE-FIRING ACTIVITY ON THE RIFLE RANGE REMAINS SUSPENDED. THE INQUIRY'S DUE WITHIN THE NEXT FORTNIGHT. ALI PUGH, ONE NEWS. AND THE ACTING CHIEF OF ARMY, BRIGADIER PETER KELLY, WILL BE ON BREAKFAST TOMORROW MORNING, TALKING ABOUT THESE FIRES STARTED BY ARMY EXERCISES. MEANWHILE, FIREFIGHTERS ARE STILL BUSY AFTER TWO BIG FIRES FURTHER NORTH. IN NORTHLAND, THEY'VE BEEN COUNTING THE COST OF THIS WEEK'S MASSIVE BLAZE, BOTH IN NATIVE WILDLIFE AND LOST PLANTATION. THE NZ SUPERANNUATION FUND LOST 45HA OF PINE FOREST. ON GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, FIREFIGHTERS HAVE CARRIED OUT CONTROLLED BURN-OFFS. THEY'RE PREPARING TO DEAL WITH EASTERLY WINDS, WHICH COULD BLOW EMBERS BACK ACROSS THE ISLAND. A DESPERATE PLEA'S GONE OUT FROM PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM A VERY RARE AND DEADLY DISEASE. THEY'RE CALLING ON PHARMAC TO FUND A SO-CALLED MIRACLE DRUG. BUT IT COMES AT A COST ` $500,000 PER PERSON PER YEAR. JOANNA HUNKIN EXPLAINS. ANDREA MURPHY SAYS SOLIRIS SAVED HER LIFE. I CALL IT A MIRACLE DRUG. FOR FOUR YEARS, SHE'S SUFFERED FROM PNH, A RARE BONE MARROW DISORDER THAT CAUSES RED BLOOD CELLS TO EXPLODE. TWO YEARS AGO, SHE BEGAN TAKING SOLIRIS. THE RESULTS WERE DRAMATIC. I'D HAVE SPASMS. SOMETIMES I'D HAVE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND THEY'D HAVE TO GIVE ME MORPHINE. AFTER THE DRUG, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THAT. NOW SHE'S JOINING THE CALL FOR PHARMAC TO FUND THE DRUG, AT A COST OF $500,000 A YEAR PER PERSON. IT'S BELIEVED EIGHT KIWIS WOULD RESPOND TO THE TREATMENT, AT A TOTAL COST OF $4M A YEAR. THE PNH SUPPORT GROUP'S RELEASED THIS MEDIA KIT, FUNDED BY ALEXION, THE COMPANY THAT MAKES SOLIRIS. THE FACT THAT PHARMAC HAVE NOT YET FUNDED ACCESS TO SOLIRIS OR ECULIZUMAB IN NZ IS REALLY BECOMING AN INCREASING PUBLIC SCANDAL. ONE NEWS UNDERSTANDS THIS CAMPAIGN'S PART OF A GROWING TREND WHERE DRUG COMPANIES LOBBY PHARMAC THROUGH THE MEDIA. SO, I THINK THERE'S A REAL WORRY WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOBBYING FOR SOMETHING IN WHICH THEY VERY PLAINLY HAVE A DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST. PHARMAC SAYS IT WON'T BE SWAYED BY SUCH CAMPAIGNS. IT IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES US EVEN MORE DETERMINED THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW OUR PROCESSES CAREFULLY. BECAUSE WHEN WE SPEND MONEY IN ONE AREA FOR ONE PARTICULAR DISEASE, WE'RE OFTEN PUTTING SOME OTHER GROUP AT A DISADVANTAGE. THE FACT IS THAT THESE CLAIMS ARE COMPETING WITH ONES FROM PEOPLE FOR DIALYSIS OR WHAT HAVE YOU FOR LESS FASHIONABLE, LESS NEWSWORTHY DISEASES. PHARMAC'S STILL CONSIDERING FUNDING SOLIRIS AND WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE AGAIN NEXT MONTH. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. A RENT-TO-OWN SCHEME WILL HELP SOLVE THIS COUNTRY'S HOUSING CRISIS. THAT'S WHAT THE GREENS ARE PROPOSING IN THEIR AMBITIOUS NEW HOUSING PLAN. BUT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WE SHOULDN'T BE BORROWING FOR HOUSING IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. HERE'S DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH. SHARISSA NAIDOO (25) AND HER PARTNER HAVE BEEN RENTING TOGETHER FOR FOUR YEARS AND ARE DESPERATE TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME. THE CONCERN IS IF WE'RE WANTING TO START A FAMILY AND MOVE INTO A HOUSE THAT'S MORE THAN ONE BEDROOM, WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. SHE'S WHO THE GREENS HAD IN MIND FOR THEIR NEW RENT-TO-BUY HOUSING SCHEME. SO MANY WHANAU ARE UNABLE TO SERVICE A MORTGAGE; DON'T HAVE THE SAVINGS FOR A DEPOSIT. THE GREENS WANT THE CROWN TO BUILD HOMES WORTH $300,000. TO LIVE HERE, YOU WON'T NEED A DEPOSIT. THE PAYMENTS WOULD BE $200 A WEEK TO COVER THE COST OF THE BUILD. AND ON TOP OF THAT, $100 A WEEK WOULD GO INTO A SAVING SCHEME, WHICH WOULD MEAN THE HOUSE COULD BE PAID OFF OVER ABOUT 25 YEARS. COMPARE THAT TO A BANK LOAN. FIRST YOU'D NEED A DEPOSIT, AND THEN THE PAYMENTS WOULD BE ABOUT $400 A WEEK OVER 25 YEARS. WE THINK IT IS AFFORDABLE, BOTH FOR GOVERNMENT AND FOR MIDDLE- AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THE GREENS HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED A HOUSING POLICY. THEY'VE JUST ANNOUNCED THE NEXT VERSION OF MONOPOLY. A GROUP REPRESENTING LANDLORDS SAYS THIS WOULD COST ALL TAXPAYERS. THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN TO PAY FOR THIS, AND ONLY A FEW LUCKY PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GET THESE HOUSES ARE GOING TO BE THE WINNERS. THE GREENS ALSO WANT A WARRANT OF FITNESS FOR RENTAL HOMES FOR THINGS LIKE INSULATION AND WEATHER-TIGHTNESS, AND ALSO WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW SO LANDLORDS CAN ONLY RAISE THE RENT ONCE A YEAR. WITH A NOD TO A FUTURE COALITION, THE GREENS SAY THE SCHEME WOULD WORK WELL WITH LABOUR'S HOUSING POLICY, WHICH PLANS TO BUILD 100,000 LOW-COST HOMES OVER 10 YEARS. THE GREEN PARTY SAYS IT'S TRYING TO MAKE NZ'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH PROPERTY JUST A BIT MORE AFFORDABLE. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. TE URUROA FLAVELL'S BID TO BE CO-LEADER OF THE MAORI PARTY HAS FAILED ` FOR NOW. BUT WHILE PITA SHARPLES REMAINS IN THE JOB, THE ISSUE'S FAR FROM RESOLVED. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN'S BEEN FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS AT THE ANNUAL RATANA CHURCH CELEBRATIONS. MICHAEL. THE MAORI PARTY SAYS IT WILL LEAVE THIS ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT JUST EATS UP MORE TIME IN WHICH THEY COULD HAVE ESTABLISHED LEADERSHIP AND WON ABCK SUPPORTY TE URUROA FLAVELL CAME BACK TO THE RATANA CELEBRATIONS TODAY WITH LITTLE TO SMILE ABOUT. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MEETING LAST NIGHT? WE JUST HAD A HUI, LIKE WE NORMALLY DO. PITA REMAINS THE LEADER FOR NOW. IS IT A JOB YOU STILL WANT? NO, YOU'VE SEEN OUR STATEMENT, SO THAT'S IT. A STATEMENT THAT ONLY SAYS DR SHARPLES IS SAFE FOR NOW, WITH ISSUES OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESSION SET TO BE REVISITED BY THE PARTY IN SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS. < TE URUROA COULD STILL TAKE OVER AS LEADER? I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ANY FURTHER. I THINK THE PRESS RELEASE SAYS EVERYTHING WE WANT TO SAY. TARIANA TURIA'S ALREADY SAID PITA SHARPLES SHOULD FOLLOW HER LEAD AND STAND DOWN, BUT SHE'S ADAMANT THIS LEADERSHIP CONTEST ISN'T A BITTER ONE. WE HAVE NOT FOUGHT. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS DEBATE AN ISSUE WHICH IS ALWAYS CONTENTIOUS ` IT DOESN'T WHETHER YOU'RE PAKEHA OR MAORI. BUT OPPONENTS ARE PREDICTING THE END OF THE MAORI PARTY. WE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WE BELIEVE WE'VE GOT THE POLICIES THAT THE MAORI PARTY PERHAPS DOESN'T HAVE TO REALLY BRING THE VOTE BACK TO LABOUR. I THINK HE SHOULD PROMOTE THAT. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. HE SHOULD GO ROUND NZ TELLING NZERS HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LABOUR, GREENS, MANA PARTY, ANYBODY ELSE COALITION, AND SEE WHETHER HE CAN GET IT OVER THE LINE IN 2014. A CHEAP SHOT, MAYBE, FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, BUT AT LEAST DAVID SHEARER SEEMS SAFE NOW FROM A DAVID CUNLIFFE CHALLENGE TO HIS LEADERSHIP WHEN THERE'S A VOTE IN A FORTNIGHT. I FULLY SUPPORT THE LEADER. AND YOU'LL BE VOTING ALONG THOSE LINES? > HE HAS MY BACKING, AND THERE'S NO CHALLENGE FROM ME. PEACE OF MIND PITA SHARPLES CAN ONLY WISH FOR. SO, MIKE, TODAY JOHN KEY AND DAVID SHEARER CAME TO RATANA. HOW WERE THEY RECEIVED? DAVID SHEARER GAVE A REASONABLE SPEECH BUT WAS WELL RECEIVED A RATANA SPOKESMAN PREDICTED LABOUR WOULD WIN THE NEXT ELECTION JOHN KEY GAVE A THEATRICAL SPEECH OUTLINING THE THINGS HIS GOVERNMENT HAS DONE FOR MAORI I'VE HAD PLENTY OF PEOPLE TELLING ME I SHOULD SACK HEKIA PARATA. GET RID OF HER, THEY SAID. YOU NAME ME` I CHALLENGE YOU, NAME ME ONE PERSON WHO CARES MORE ABOUT MAORI KIDS DOING WELL IN EDUCATION IN NZ THAT BEATS HEKIA PARATA. YOU WON'T NAME ANYONE. YOU WON'T NAME ANYONE. DESPITE HIS INSISTENCE IT'S CLEAR THAT THE BOND BETWEEN RATANA AND LABOUR IS STRENGTHENING RESCUE CREWS ARE ON THEIR WAY BACK TO BASE AS BAD WEATHER HOLDS UP THE SEARCH FOR AN AIRCRAFT MISSING IN ANTARCTICA WITH THREE CANADIANS ON BOARD. THE MISSING TWIN OTTER PLANE'S EMERGENCY LOCATOR BEACON WAS ACTIVATED LATE LAST NIGHT. REBECCA EDWARDS REPORTS. THE THREE CANADIANS WERE TRAVELLING ON A PLANE LIKE THIS WHEN IT WENT MISSING NEAR THE SOUTH POLE. NOW RESCUERS' ATTEMPTS TO REACH THEM ARE BEING SEVERELY HAMPERED BY THE HARSH ANTARCTIC WEATHER. DURING THE NEXT 12 HOURS, WE'RE PREDICTING SIMILAR CONDITIONS ` MORE SNOW AND VISIBILITY DOWN TO ABOUT 200M. SO UNTIL IT CLEARS, WE REALLY CAN'T MOVE ANY RESOURCES INTO THE AREA. THE PLANE WAS EN ROUTE TO THE ITALIAN BASE IN TERRA NOVA BAY WHEN AROUND 10 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT ITS EMERGENCY LOCATOR BEACON WAS ACTIVATED, AROUND 670KM FROM MCMURDO STATION. A US DC-3 SPOTTING PLANE'S BEEN CIRCLING ABOVE THE AREA FOR SEVERAL HOURS, BUT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT THE MISSING CREW BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER. THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF DAYLIGHT DOWN THERE, SO THEY MAY WELL GO OUT ONCE IT LOOKS LIKE THE WEATHER'S GOING TO START TO CLEAR. THE TWIN OTTER PLANE'S OPERATED BY CANADIAN COMPANY KENN BOREK AIR, AND MARITIME NZ SAYS THE CREW ON BOARD IS VERY EXPERIENCED. THE AIRCRAFT HAS A THREE-MAN SURVIVAL KIT ON BOARD WITH PROVISIONS FOR FIVE DAYS, PLUS MOUNTAIN TENTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT THEY'VE HAD TO PUT DOWN; THEY CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH US. NO ONE FROM THE KEN BOREK AIR WANTED TO TALK ON CAMERA, BUT THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE SAYS IT'S BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH ANTARCTIC OPERATIONS FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS AND THAT SAFE OPERATION IS ITS MOST IMPORTANT COMMITMENT. FRUSTRATED RESCUE COORDINATORS ARE NOW HOPING FOR A BREAK IN THE WEATHER, WITH CREWS AND PARAMEDICS ON STANDBY TO ENTER THE CRASH SITE AS SOON AS THE WEATHER ALLOWS. REBECCA EDWARDS, ONE NEWS. A FIERY AND EMOTIONAL HILLARY CLINTON HAS DEFENDED HER HANDLING OF LAST YEAR'S DEADLY ATTACK ON AMERICAN DIPLOMATS IN LIBYA. SHE LASHED OUT WHILE FACING SOME TOUGH QUESTIONING IN CONGRESS JUST DAYS BEFORE SHE STEPS DOWN AS SECRETARY OF STATE. THE ABC'S MARTHA RADDATZ HAS THE STORY. IT WAS A RIVETING DRAMA. SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON SEEN IN RARE PUBLIC FORM ` AT TIMES ANGRY, AGGRESSIVELY ON THE DEFENCE, AT ANOTHER POINT, CHOKING UP OVER HER FOUR LOST COLLEAGUES. FOR ME, THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF POLICY; IT'S PERSONAL. I STOOD NEXT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AS THE MARINES CARRIED THOSE FLAG-DRAPED CASKETS OFF THE PLANE AT ANDREWS. I PUT MY ARMS AROUND THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS, THE SISTERS AND BROTHERS, THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS, AND THE WIVES LEFT ALONE TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES OF THESE FOUR BRAVE AMERICANS STILL HAVE NOT GOT ANY ANSWERS THAT THEY DESERVE. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL GET THEM. AND THE SECRETARY DID NOT HESITATE TO SHOULDER THE BLAME. THE BUCK, SHE SAID, STOPPED WITH HER. AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOBODY IS MORE COMMITTED TO GETTING THIS RIGHT. BUT SHE INSISTED SHE NEVER SAW ANY OF THE REQUESTS FOR MORE SECURITY IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ATTACK. THEY DIDN'T COME TO ME. I DIDN'T APPROVE THEM; I DIDN'T DENY THEM. THAT MADE REPUBLICAN SENATORS POUNCE. HAD I BEEN PRESIDENT AT THE TIME AND I FOUND THAT YOU DID NOT READ THE CABLES FROM BENGHAZI, YOU DID NOT READ THE CABLES FROM AMBASSADOR STEVENS, I WOULD HAVE RELIEVED YOU FROM YOUR POST. I THINK IT'S INEXCUSABLE. CLINTON FIRED BACK IN ANGER WHEN SENATOR RON JOHNSON PUSHED HER ABOUT STATEMENTS BY UN AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE MADE ON TV IN THE DAYS AFTER THE ATTACKS. WE WERE MISLED THAT THERE WERE SUPPOSEDLY PROTESTS AND THEN SOMETHING SPRANG OUT OF THAT ` AN ASSAULT SPRANG OUT OF THAT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE FACT IS WE HAD FOUR DEAD AMERICANS. WAS IT BECAUSE OF A PROTEST, OR WAS IT BECAUSE OF GUYS OUT FOR A WALK ONE NIGHT WHO DECIDED THEY'D GO KILL SOME AMERICANS? WHAT DIFFERENCE AT THIS POINT DOES IT MAKE? IT IS OUR JOB TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN, SENATOR. TOMORROW CLINTON WILL INTRODUCE THE MAN NOMINATED TO REPLACE HER, JOHN KERRY, SO TODAY IS LIKELY THE LAST LONG LOOK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WILL HAVE OF HILLARY CLINTON FOR A WHILE, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT SHE HAS LEFT A VIVID IMPRESSION. COMING UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` THE PROSECUTION RESTS IN THE DEADLY DOHA MALL FIRE. AMERICA'S DAUGHTERS ARE NOW DEEMED ABLE TO SERVE NEXT TO AMERICA'S SONS ` THE US MAKES MILITARY HISTORY. PRINCE HARRY IS HOME FROM THE WAR BUT BACK INTO A STORM SPARKED BY REMARKS MADE ABOUT KILLING THE TALIBAN. AND THE LITTLE-KNOWN PARKING RULE THAT'S LANDED ONE TARANAKI DRIVER WITH A FINE. THE PROSECUTION HAS WRAPPED UP ITS CASE IN THE INQUIRY INTO THE DEADLY DOHA MALL FIRE. QATAR'S FIRE CHIEF SAYS THE BLAZE, WHICH KILLED NZ TRIPLETS AND 16 OTHERS, WAS STARTED WHEN A LIGHT BULB IN THE NIKE SHOP BURST, SETTING BOXES OF CLOTHES ALIGHT. THE TYPE OF BULB USED HAS BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE, BUT IS STILL WIDELY USED IN QATAR. THE DEFENCE IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK. THE US MILITARY HAS MADE HISTORY WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENCE ANNOUNCING A END TO THE BAN ON WOMEN IN COMBAT. FEMALE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINE IN CERTAIN ROLES, BUT IN A MATTER OF WEEKS THERE WILL BE NO RESTRICTIONS. ABC'S DAVID KERLEY REPORTS. IT IS A STUNNING TURNAROUND, A UNANIMOUS VOTE BY THE COUNTRY'S TOP GENERALS WHICH THE DEFENCE SECRETARY WILL ACCEPT ` TO REMOVE THE BAN ON WOMEN SERVING IN DIRECT COMBAT ROLES. THEY'VE PROVEN THEMSELVES TIME AND TIME AGAIN AFTER THE LAST 12 YEARS, AND FINALLY THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE RECOGNITION, WHICH IS KEY. IT WILL BE THE FIRST FULLY INTEGRATED MILITARY IN AMERICA'S HISTORY. BUT WITHOUT DISCERNIBLE FRONT LINES IN THE WARS OF THE PAST DECADE, WOMEN DID SERVE IN COMBAT ROLES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. THEY'VE BEEN DONNING FLAK JACKETS, HEAVY PACKS AND ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF FIREFIGHTS. WE'RE TAKING FIRE EVERYWHERE. I JUST REMEMBER HEARING THE PINGS OF THE BULLETS GOING BY ME AND HITTING THE GROUND BESIDE ME. I SHOT ONE GUY ` SAW HIM FALL. LEIGH ANN HESTER WAS THE FIRST WOMAN SINCE WWII TO RECEIVE THE SILVER STAR. HELICOPTER PILOT TAMMY DUCKWORTH LOST BOTH OF HER LEGS IN COMBAT AND IS NOW A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. I THINK AMERICA'S DAUGHTERS ARE JUST AS CAPABLE OF DEFENDING LIBERTY AND FREEDOM AS OUR SONS ARE. WHILE AN ABC NEWS POLL SHOWED THREE-QUARTERS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT WOMEN IN COMBAT, NOT ALL MEN SERVING AGREE. A YOUNG ENLISTED SOLDIER TELLS ABC NEWS THAT WOMEN IN DIRECT COMBAT WILL CREATE... THE MILITARY WILL GIVE SOME UNITS THE ABILITY TO ASK TO EXCLUDE WOMEN, BUT THE HEAD OF SPECIAL FORCES TOLD OUR MARTHA RADDATZ MORE THAN A YEAR AGO IT'S TIME. AS SOON AS POLICY PERMITS IT, WE WILL BE READY TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD. JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, FOUR WOMEN SUED THE PENTAGON TO GET ON THE BATTLEFIELD. NOW THEY MAY GET THEIR CHANCE. AND WOMEN HAVE PLAYED A COMBAT ROLE IN THE NZ ARMY SINCE JANUARY 2000. 30 FEMALE SOLDIERS ARE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS, INCLUDING IN AFGHANISTAN. PRINCE HARRY IS BACK HOME AFTER HIS LATEST TOUR OF DUTY, SWAPPING THE DESERT HEAT OF AFGHANISTAN FOR A WINTERY ENGLAND. BUT HE'S FLOWN BACK INTO CONTROVERSY AFTER EQUATING HIS SKILLS ON PLAYSTATION AND XBOX TO HIS PROWESS AT TAKING THE ENEMY OUT OF THE GAME. ABC'S LAMA HASAN REPORTS. IT WAS HIS CANDOUR ABOUT KILLING THE ENEMY; I'M ONE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT LOVES PLAYING PLAYSTATION AND XBOX, SO WITH MY THUMBS, I LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M PROBABLY QUITE USEFUL. HIS COMPARISON OF FIRING HIS ATTACK HELICOPTER WITH PLAYING A VIDEO GAME THAT HAS LANDED THE APACHE-FLYING PRINCE INTO CONTROVERSY. TONIGHT, AS HARRY ARRIVED HOME TO ENGLAND, HE AGAIN WAS ASKED ABOUT KILLING THE TALIBAN. THIS TIME THE PRINCE GAVE A STANDARD MILITARY LINE. YOU'RE ASKED TO DO THINGS THAT YOU'D EXPECT TO DO WEARING THIS UNIFORM. AND IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT, REALLY. PRINCE HARRY RETURNS TO HOME-TOWN HEADLINES CALLING HIM A ROYAL MISFIT; ANOTHER SUGGESTING HE MUZZLE HIMSELF, GUARD HIS TONGUE AND LEARN HOW TO SPEAK MORE LIKE ROYALTY. AT WAR, HARRY HAS PRIDED HIMSELF AS BEING JUST ANOTHER SOLDIER; LIVING, EATING AND SERVING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE OTHERS. BUT CRITICS SAY THE VIDEO GAME COMMENTS HAVE GIVEN THE ENEMY A RECRUITING TOOL. THE TALIBAN THEMSELVES PUT OUT A STATEMENT CALLING HARRY A COWARD. THEN THERE IS THE QUESTION: HAVE HIS COMMENTS MADE HIM AN EVEN GREATER TARGET? DO WE HAVE TO SEE THIS AS A POSSIBLE TARGETING OF HIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY? AND POSSIBLY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. SO IT DOES PUT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE SECURITY RESOURCES. SECURITY THAT SCOTLAND YARD WILL NOW BE UPDATING AND REVIEWING EVERY DAY THAT THE WARRIOR PRINCE IS BACK HOME. RESIDENTS OF CHRISTCHURCH'S PORT HILLS HAVE HAD A DRAMATIC REMINDER OF THE RISK THEY STILL FACE FROM UNSTABLE HILLSIDES. A HUGE BOULDER CRASHED THROUGH AN EMPTY HOME'S DECK LAST NIGHT, DESTROYING MUCH OF THE STRUCTURE. JOY REID CHECKED OUT THE DAMAGE. OUT OF THE BLUE, AND WITHOUT AN AFTERSHOCK'S PROMPTING, THIS CAR-SIZED BOULDER CAME CRASHING DOWN THE HILLS ABOVE SUMNER. IT HIT THE HOUSE, AND THE HOUSE SHOOK, AND A CLOUD OF DUST WENT UP. THE 40-TON ROCK TOOK OUT THE DECK AND BROKE A PILE SUPPORTING THE RED-STICKERED HOME. NO ONE'S BEEN LIVING HERE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, AND YOU CAN SEE WHY. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME A BOULDER'S DONE SOME DAMAGE HERE. A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING, I THINK, FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE AREA. THE BOULDER CAME FROM THOSE HILLS UP THERE ON TO AN EMPTY HOUSE JUST UP THIS LANE, BUT NOT EVERY HOUSE IN THIS AREA HAS BEEN RED-STICKERED. IN FACT, THERE ARE HOMES WITHIN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED METRES FROM THE HILLS, LIKE THESE ONES, WHERE FAMILIES ARE STILL LIVING. IT'S A PATCHWORK OF ZONING, AND IT'S RATHER DISCONCERTING WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THIS, WHERE A ROCK COMES OUT OF BLUE, WITH NOTHING TO SET IT OFF ` THAT NEARBY RESIDENTS COULD BE AFFECTED. TERRY HUGGINS LIVES AT THE HILL'S BASE, BUT HE'S NOT FAZED. I ACTUALLY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DON'T FEEL ANY FEAR. THE CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL'S THE BODY THAT'S ORDERED VARIOUS HOMEOWNERS TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE OF ROCKFALL DANGER. LAST NIGHT IS A STARK REMINDER OF WHY THEY'RE TAKING PRECAUTIONS. IT'S EQUALLY POSSIBLE THAT THE BOULDER COULD HAVE GONE RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE. AND IF WE DID NOT HAVE A SECTION 124 IN PLACE, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN. GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS ARE NOW WORKING OUT WHY IT CAME LOOSE. JOY REID, ONE NEWS. WEATHER TIME NOW. AND THE RAIN'S COME, BUT BARELY ENOUGH? A SCUFF. JUST A FEW MILS THROUGH CANTERBURY, UP THE EAST COAST AND INTO WELLINGTON. A VERY WEAK FEATURE NOW UP NEAR HASTINGS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ HERE'S PORT TIMARU AS THE SOUTHERLY AND FRONT FLICKED PAST THIS MORNING. ALL GOOD NOW. BACK WITH TOMORROW'S WEATHER LATER. UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE KENYA BUS CRASH IS FAREWELLED. WILL THE UK STAY IN THE EU, AND WHAT WILL A PULL-OUT MEAN FOR NZ EXPORTERS? PLUS, WE EXPLAIN WHY A TARANAKI DRIVER'S BEEN FINED FOR AN EASY GETAWAY. 1 BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON HAS PROMISED TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER TO STAY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION IF HE WINS THE NEXT ELECTION. BUT ANY BREAK AWAY FROM THE EU COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR KIWI EXPORTERS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY HAS MORE. IN 1975, BRITAIN HAD COLOUR TV, BUT THE CHOICE WAS BLACK AND WHITE AND THE VOTE 2-1 IN FAVOUR OF CLOSER TIES WITH EUROPE. BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER IS OFFERING WHAT A BIGGER MAJORITY NOW WANT ` ANOTHER VOTE. IT WILL BE AN IN-OUT REFERENDUM. JUST NOT YET. HE'S OFFERING THEM A VOTE FOUR YEARS FROM NOW ` AFTER THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION. CRITICS ACCUSE HIM OF PLAYING DOMESTIC POLITICS WITH THE FATE OF HALF A BILLION PEOPLE AND SOME OF THE RICHEST ECONOMIES NZ TRADES WITH. (SPEAKS FRENCH) TRANSLATOR: IMAGINE THE EU IS A FOOTBALL CLUB. ONCE YOU'VE JOINED UP AND YOU'RE IN THIS CLUB, YOU CAN'T THEN SAY, 'WE WANT TO PLAY RUGBY.' THE OTHER COUNTRIES WILL NOT ACCEPT SUCH AN ULTIMATUM REPRESENTED BY THE SPEECH. CHERRY-PICKING IS NOT AN OPTION. THAT'S BECAUSE DAVID CAMERON SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT THE CLOSE UNION FRANCE, GERMANY AND OTHERS ARE EMBRACING; JUST A LOOSE FEDERATION BUILT AROUND TRADE. ALL: HEAR, HEAR! IT'S GOING DOWN WELL WITH HIS TARGET MARKET, HIS REBELLIOUS TORY BACK BENCH. THE IMMEDIATE WIN FOR DAVID CAMERON OUT OF THIS SPEECH IS THAT IT'S STARTING TO SOOTHE SOME OF THE UNRULY ELEMENTS HERE IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. THE WIN FOR NZ IS THAT HE'S PUT THE SINGLE MARKET AT THE CORE OF HOW THE EU SHOULD FUNCTION. THAT'S THE PART THAT NZ'S MOST INTERESTED IN, WITH ITS $5B WORTH OF TRADE INTO THE EU EACH YEAR. THE OFFICIAL LINE IS THAT NZ IS HAPPY FOR BRITONS TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT. BUT IF BRITAIN PULLED OUT OF THE EU, WE WOULD LOSE A POWERFUL FRIEND AND NATURAL ALLY. AND EVEN THEIR TOUGH TALK ABOUT THREATENING TO EXIT IS MAKING THEM LESS USEFUL NOW IN DIPLOMATIC BATTLES THAT COULD WIND UP COSTING OUR EXPORTERS DEARLY. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE TURNED OUT IN TAURANGA TODAY TO FAREWELL ONE OF THOSE KILLED ON A SCHOOL TRIP TO KENYA. CAITLIN DICKSON (19) DIED WHEN THE MINIVAN SHE AND OTHERS FROM BETHLEHEM COLLEGE WERE TRAVELLING IN ROLLED. THE FUNERAL WAS HELD AT THE SCHOOL TO COPE WITH THE STEADY STREAM OF MOURNERS SEEN ARRIVING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. A JOINT FUNERAL FOR THE TWO OTHER NZERS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY. A TARANAKI WOMAN WAS LEFT BEWILDERED AFTER BEING FINED FOR A LITTLE-KNOWN PARKING INFRINGEMENT. JEAN RICHARDS THOUGHT PARKING BACKWARDS IN AN ANGLE CAR PARK WAS OK UNTIL SHE RAN INTO A WARDEN WHO KNEW THE RULES INSIDE AND OUT. HADYN JONES REPORTS. IN THE PROVINCES, PARKING ISN'T USUALLY AN ISSUE. THAT WAS UNTIL JEAN RICHARDS GOT A $40 TICKET JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS. IT HAD ON IT 'INCORRECT ANGLE PARKING', SO I THOUGHT, 'EH?' THE PROBLEM WAS, WHILE EVERY OTHER CAR WAS FACING FORWARDS, JEAN'S... BACK TO FRONT. THE CAR WAS BACK TO FRONT. BACKWARDS PARKING: GOOD FOR A QUICK GETAWAY. JUST GO FORWARD, STRAIGHT BACK. IT'S EASIER TO GET OUT. BUT IT'S ALSO ILLEGAL. JEAN FOUND THAT OUT WENT SHE WENT TO THE COUNCIL TO COMPLAIN. SHE SAYS, 'NO, IT'S BECAUSE YOUR CAR IS BACK TO FRONT.' AND I SAID, 'THAT'S MADNESS.' I SAID, 'NO ONE KNOWS THIS.' AND SHE QUITE AGREED, ACTUALLY. NEW PLYMOUTH MAYOR HARRY DUYNHOVEN HAS HAD A FEW PARKING TICKETS HIMSELF. YES, MANY, SADLY. NONE FOR PARKING BACKWARDS. HE SAYS IT'S A RARITY, BUT IT IS AGAINST THE RULES. IT'S NOT A BIGGIE. THIS ISN'T A HUGE THING THAT STAFF ARE GOING OUT LOOKING FOR. THEY'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PROPER PARKING. THEY'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOUR. IN NEW PLYMOUTH, IN 20 YEARS, ONLY 14 TICKETS HAVE BEEN DISHED OUT FOR PARKING BACKWARDS. HE'S OFF THE LINE. HE'S GONNA GET A TICKET, I'LL TELL YOU THAT. AND BACK AT THE PARKING LOT, JEAN RICHARDS STILL SWEARS BACKWARDS IS THE WAY TO GO,... IT'S SAFE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ...BUT SHE'S LEARNT HER LESSON. < YOU'LL PARK THAT WAY AGAIN, JEAN? NO. THAT GUY` THAT METER GUY SAID HE'S GONNA TICKET EVERYONE THAT PARKS THAT WAY. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER $40 TICKET. SHE WILL PARK FORWARDS FROM NOW ON, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. HADYN JONES, ONE NEWS. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT ` THE ARMY'S INVOLVED IN FIGHTING ANOTHER FIRE STARTED DURING LIVE AMMUNITION TRAINING. ABOUT 350HA OF LAND AT WAIOURU, IN THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND, HAS BEEN BURNT, BUT THE MILITARY'S SATISFIED THE DANGER IS CONTAINED. IT COMES A DAY AFTER AN ARMY EXERCISE STARTED A LARGE BLAZE IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE ARMY'S LAUNCHED AN URGENT INQUIRY INTO ITS SAFETY MEASURES AFTER IT WAS REVEALED GRENADES SPARKED THE BLAZE. AND TONIGHT WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE WAIOURU FIRE AT 10.30. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND ROSS TAYLOR IS BACK AT THE CREASE. BIT OF A SHAKY RESTART. MORE ON TAYLOR'S BATTING COMEBACK NEXT. AND IS JESSE RYDER'S INTERNATIONAL RETURN BECOMING LESS LIKELY? ALSO TONIGHT ` COULD THE NEW SENSATION OF AMERICAN TENNIS CAUSE ANOTHER MELBOURNE SHOCK? PLUS, WHEN BALLBOYS GO BAD ` WAS IT A CASE OF CHELSEA FRUSTRATIONS OR WELSH CHEATING? AND LOOK WHO'S BACK IN TOWN AND FACING UP TO SOME BOXING REALTIES. FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO CRICKET, AND WHEN ROSS TAYLOR TOOK LEAVE FROM THE BLACKCAPS, IT WAS ASSUMED WHEN HE WANTED BACK IN, HE'D JUST HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. BUT A SINGLE-FIGURE SHOWING FOR CENTRAL DISTRICTS TODAY PROVES HE NEEDS A LOT MORE TIME AT THE CREASE. MARK HATHAWAY REPORTS. DUMPED BLACKCAPS SKIPPER ROSS TAYLOR SKIPPING OUT FOR CENTRAL DISTRICTS, THEN GOING OUT FOR JUST FOUR RUNS, BEGGING THE QUESTION IS HE THE SHOO-IN TO THE BLACKCAPS EVERYONE EXPECTS? I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOT AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT TO SELECTION, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. I MEAN, THERE'S NO QUESTION ROSS IS OUR BEST BATSMAN IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT NONETHELESS THERE'S A FEW STEPS THAT HE NEEDS TO TAKE. IT IS ONLY ONE INNINGS AND TAYLOR'S FIRST INNINGS BACK AFTER A LONG BREAK, BUT ENGLAND WON'T MAKE LIFE EASY FOR ANY OF THE BLACKCAPS. AND IF ANYTHING, THE SMELL OF BLOOD FROM AN UNDERDONE BATSMAN COULD MAKE THEIR ATTACK HUNGRIER. AND ASIDE FROM FORM, TAYLOR STILL HAS A PATH TO TREAD TO SMOOTH THINGS OVER WITH BLACKCAPS COACH MIKE HESSON. COMING BACK INTO THE SIDE, IT WILL BE AWKWARD. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. SO SOME OF THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS WILL BE WITH MIKE HESSON AND TEAM MANAGEMENT, AND THEY WILL PROBABLY BE ONGOING FOR SOME TIME. WITH TAYLOR TAKING A REST FROM THE MEDIA, WE CAN ONLY SPECULATE HOW READY HE FEELS FOR INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. ANOTHER PLAYER STAYING ON THE DOWN-LOW BUT TAKING A BLOW TODAY, JESSE RYDER, WAS ALSO GONE FOR FOUR. A CONVERSATION BETWEEN BUCHANAN AND THE BIG HITTER LAST WEEK IS ALSO ADDING DOUBT. HIS CLOSENESS TO BEING BACK IN THE SIDE ` I FELT THERE WAS STILL A BIT OF A GAP THERE, BUT NONETHELESS THE NEXT MAJOR CONVERSATION WILL BE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND MIKE HESSON. SEEMINGLY, THE ONLY THING WE CAN BE SURE OF IS TAYLOR'S AND RYDER'S RETURNS ARE FAR FROM CERTAINTIES. MARK HATHAWAY, ONE NEWS. CONTROVERSY HAS ERUPTED IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL AFTER CHELSEA'S UPSET LOSS TO SWANSEA IN THE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS. ONE OF THE CHELSEA PLAYERS KICKED A BALLBOY. WAS IT A BRAIN SNAP OR A CASE OF UNDERHAND TACTICS? THIS IS THE INCIDENT WHICH HAS STUNNED FOOTBALL. WELL, THE BALLBOY IS NOW ROLLING AROUND, AND WE'VE GOT AN INCIDENT HERE. CHELSEA STRIKER BELGIAN EDEN HAZARD LASHED OUT AT SWANSEA BALLBOY CHARLIE MORGAN (17) WITH FIVE MINUTES TO PLAY AND SWANSEA UP 2-0 ON AGGREGATE, MORGAN APPEARED TO SMOTHER THE BALL. THE BOY KNOWS THAT HE WAS WASTING TIME, HAZARD WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GET THE BALL BACK, SO THEY APOLOGISED. THEY KNOW THAT WAS A MISTAKE, AND THAT'S IT. HAZARD WAS RED-CARDED FOR VIOLENT PLAY, BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST INCIDENT IN THE GAME. THE GOALKEEPER'S COMING OUT FOR A GOAL-KICK, AND HE ROLLS THE BALL VERY SLOWLY. HE'S BENT. ACCORDING TO HIS TWITTER PAGE, THE BALLBOY, A SON OF A SWANSEA BOARD MEMBER, KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HIS JOB WAS. THE BALLBOY KICKING COULD BECOME AS INFAMOUS AS TWO OTHER SLIPPERS IN WALES. ALL BLACKS PROP JOHN ASHWORTH IN 1978 ON WELSH GREAT JPR WILLIAMS, OR LEAGUE BAD BOY JIM MILLS' STOMPING OF KIWIS PROP JOHN GREENGRASS WAY BACK IN 1975, IRONICALLY ALSO IN SWANSEA. FRUSTRATION OR NOT, IT SEEMS CHELSEA WON'T BE WELCOMED BACK INTO THE VALLEYS ANY TIME SOON. ALSO GETTING A KICK IN THE GUTS TODAY, WEST HAM AND ALL WHITES DEFENDER WINSTON REID ` THRASHED 5-1 BY ARSENAL IN PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL. REID, TALKED UP AS A POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT CAPTAIN FOR RYAN NELSEN, FORCED AN EARLY CORNER, LEADING TO A WEST HAM OPENER. BUT FROM THEN ON, IT WAS ALL ARSENAL. PODOLSKI CAN CERTAINLY HIT THEM! WALCOTT'S CORNER... GIROUD! GIROUD... PODOLSKI'S ONSIDE... AND CAZORLA! THE GUNNERS PILED ON FOUR GOALS IN A WHIRLWIND 12 MINUTES TO START THE SECOND HALF. REID WAS DRAGGED IN THE 62ND MINUTE. JUST A DAY AFTER UPSETTING THE GREAT SERENA WILLIAMS, AMERICAN SLOANE STEPHENS (19) WAS BACK ON COURT TODAY AT THE AUSTRALIAN TENNIS OPEN. SO COULD HER ROLL CONTINUE AGAINST THE WORLD NUMBER ONE? KIMBERLEE DOWNS HAS BEEN WATCHING THE SEMI-FINALS. FROM RELATIVE OBSCURITY TO THE NAME ON EVERYONE'S LIPS. YOU'RE A BIG TWEETER. > DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FOLLOWERS YOU HAD BEFORE THIS MATCH? > YEAH, I HAD 17,000. AND NOW I HAVE 35,000. LAUGHTER MAKE THAT MORE LIKE 50,000 NOW ` AMONG THEM SINGER JOHN LEGEND AND BASKETBALL GREAT SHAQUILLE O'NEAL. O'NEAL TWEETED HIS CONGRATULATIONS, SAYING... SO, COULD SHE? LET'S HEAR THE WELCOME. THE 19-YEAR-OLD WAS BACK ON COURT LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER DEFEATING WILLIAMS TO FACE WORLD NUMBER ONE AND DEFENDING CHAMPION VICTORIA AZARENKA. UMPIRE: GAME ` AZARENKA. BLAME INEXPERIENCE, BLAME FATIGUE, BLAME YOUTH ` WHATEVER THE REASONING, AZARENKA'S SIMPLY BEEN TOO GOOD. GAME, FIRST SET ` AZARENKA. THAT'S THE OPENING SET ` GOES TO THE EXPERIENCE. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE IS ON TRACK FOR BACK-TO-BACK AUSSIE OPEN TITLES. IN TODAY'S FIRST SEMI, MARIA SHARAPOVA TOOK ON SIXTH SEED LI NA. NEITHER PLAYER HAD DROPPED A SET GOING INTO THE MATCH. THE WORLD NUMBER TWO BLINKED FIRST. AGAINST THE ODDS, SOME WOULD SAY. MAYBE SHARAPOVA SHOULD HAVE KEPT HER EYES CLOSED. IN A GRAND SLAM SEMI, SHE CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THIS. JUST TOO STEADY. TOO SOLID. TOO MANY UNFORCED ERRORS FROM SHARAPOVA. SIX DOUBLE FAULTS CONTRIBUTED TO HER DOWNFALL. LI THROUGH TO HER SECOND AUSSIE OPEN FINAL; AN ASTOUNDING UPSET ` 6-2, 6-2. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. AND ROGER FEDERER HAS OVERCOME A DETERMINED JO-WILFRIED TSONGA IN FIVE SETS TO SET UP A SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH ANDY MURRAY. THE FRENCH SEVENTH SEED, IN THE LIGHT SHORTS, PRODUCED SOME BRILLIANT SHOT-MAKING IN THE FOURTH SET TO FORCE THE DECIDER. BUT DESPITE A FEW OFF MOMENTS, FEDERER WAS STILL ABLE TO DELIVER WHEN IT COUNTED. CROWD: OH! OH, WHAT A SHOT! IS THAT IN OR OUT? I THINK IT'S CALLED IN. IT IS! IT TOUCHED THE TOP OF THE TAPE... WOW. TSONGA'S LIGHT-HEARTED GESTURE EASED SOME TENSION, BUT HE CREATED MORE AFTER THE MATCH, SUGGESTING WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS ARE 'TOO HORMONAL AND EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE 'TO WIN BIG MATCHES CONSISTENTLY'. IT'S ALMOST A YEAR SINCE GOLFING STAR LYDIA KO BURST ON TO THE WORLD STAGE, BECOMING, AT THE TIME, THE YOUNGEST PLAYER TO WIN A PROFESSIONAL EVENT. NOW KO IS IN SYDNEY TO DEFEND HER NEW SOUTH WALES OPEN TITLE. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL CAUGHT UP WITH HER. SHE HAS HER OWN PHOTO ON THE CLUBHOUSE WALL, HER OWN CAR PARK, HOLDS HER OWN PRESS CONFERENCE, AND EACH SWING ATTRACTS THE CLICK OF A CAMERA. HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED FOR LYDIA KO. INTEREST IS ALWAYS GOOD. BUT SOMETIMES YOU'RE, LIKE, 'OH, NOT AGAIN.' (LAUGHS) RETURNING AS THE DEFENDING OPEN CHAMPION AND THE WORLD'S LEADING AMATEUR BRINGS AN UNFAMILIAR PRESSURE FOR THE 15-YEAR-OLD. YEAH, IT DOES. YOU KNOW, I CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURE WITHIN MYSELF, AND I CAN SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS MORE. CONSTANT COMPANIONS MUM AND MUSIC HELP HER FOCUS. KO IS BRINGING A NEW ATHLETICISM TO HER GAME AS WELL. YEAH, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON HOW I WOULD BE ABLE TO IMPROVE d IN DISTANCE-WISE ND 8 EVERYTHING LIKE SHE'S ALSO LEFT PLENTY OF SWEAT OUT ON THE PRACTICE PUTTING GREEN TOO. THAT'S A HUGE PART OF MY CONFIDENCE, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PART, YOU KNOW. I GUESS POWER IS A SMALL PART, BUT PUTTING IS A HUGE PART IN GOLF. WHILE LYDIA KO WOULD LOVE TO TOP THIS LEADER BOARD COME SUNDAY NIGHT, SHE SAYS A REALISTIC GOAL FOR THIS TOURNAMENT IS A TOP-FIVE FINISH. THE FIELD OUT HERE IS VERY GOOD ` A COUPLE OF LPGA PLAYERS OUT HERE. SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A LOW GOAL. A BUILD-UP THAT'LL PUT KO IN GOOD STEAD FOR HER TILTS AT THE NZ AND AUSTRALIAN OPENS IN COMING WEEKS. STEVE MARSHALL, ONE NEWS, SYDNEY. AND YOU CAN'T KEEP THE SMILE OFF MICHAEL CAMPBELL'S FACE AT THE MOMENT AFTER ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR. CAMPBELL'S SHOT A FOUR-UNDER-PAR 68 OPENING ROUND IN QATAR TO BE JUST THREE SHOTS OFF THE PACE. FIVE BIRDIES FOR THE ROUND LEFT HIM TIED IN 11TH PLACE. OH, WELL HOLED, SIR. SUCH A POPULAR MAN WHEREVER HE GOES IN THE WORLD, CAMBO ` GREAT ATTITUDE; GREAT COMPANY. FINE COMPANY IN THE GALLERY AS WELL ` MEMBERS OF THE MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM, HAVING A BREAK FROM A TRAINING CAMP. PORTUGAL'S RICARDO SANTOS LEADS ON SEVEN UNDER AFTER FIRING FIVE BIRDIES ON THE BACK NINE. IN JUST OVER TWO WEEKS, HE'LL TAKE ON THE BIGGEST FIGHT OF HIS LIFE. SONNY BILL WILLIAMS SQUARES OFF AGAINST VETERAN SOUTH AFRICAN HEAVYWEIGHT FRANCOIS BOTHA IN BRISBANE. TODAY HE WAS BACK HOME TRAINING IN AUCKLAND. ABBY SCOTT WAS THERE. SONNY BILL WILLIAMS AND CAMERAS GO TOGETHER LIKE, WELL, BOXING AND GLOVES. IT SEEMS EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE RUGBY STAR IS GOING AHEAD OF HIS FEBRUARY 8 FIGHT. I GOT A GAME PLAN AGAINST HIM. CAN'T REALLY LET IT OUT OF THE BAG, BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, AND I THINK... I THINK IT'LL PAY OFF. LAST TIME WE SAW HIM IN THE RING, IT DIDN'T LAST LONG. LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL OVER! THIS TIME HE'S FIGHTING SEASONED VETERAN FRANCOIS BOTHA, WHO'S TRADED PUNCHES WITH THE BIGGEST NAMES OF THE SPORT ` LENNOX LEWIS, EVANDER HOLYFIELD, AND HE MANAGED FIVE ROUNDS WITH MIKE TYSON BEFORE A BRUTAL RIGHT HAND HAD HIM SEEING STARS. THAT'S ALL IT TOOK ` ONE SHOT. HE MAY NOT GET UP. BOTHA'S NOW 44, BUT MANY SEE HIM AS A BIG STEP UP FOR WILLIAMS. IN A BOXING SENSE, THIS PUTS ME OUT THERE IF I WIN ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, BECAUSE IT'S A WBA-SANCTIONED BOUT. BUT IF HE LOSES? UM, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE THE END OF IT. SO, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT'S BIG RISKS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S BIG REWARDS. THIS IS A MAN WHO'S MADE CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS FOR BIG REWARDS IN THE PAST. BUT IF THIS GAMBLE BACKFIRES, IT COULD COST HIM EVERYTHING. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. THANKS, ANDREW. AFTER THE BREAK ` THE RAIN'S COME AND GONE IN THE SOUTH. JIM'S HERE WITH THE NEXT ANTICYCLONE. HELLO AGAIN. BREAK OUT THE SUNSCREEN, AND PUT A JUG OF WATER IN THE FRIDGE. THE NEXT BIG ANTICYCLONE'S ABOUT TO SET UP CAMP FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ DON'T FORGET YOUR TOGS. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR THURSDAY. TONIGHT IS HERE AT 10.30 WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE MASSIVE FIRE STARTED AFTER AN ARMY MILITARY EXERCISE IN WAIOURU. CAPTIONS BY RICHARD EDMUNDS AND PIPPA JEFFERIES. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.