DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE FOR THE EDUCATION MINISTER AS HUNDREDS PROTEST THE SCHOOL CLOSURES IN CHRISTCHURCH. DID THE PRIME MINISTER USE HIS POLITICAL INFLUENCE OVER SKY CITY'S CONVENTION CENTRE DEAL? AND A TEARFUL OSCAR PISTORIUS APPEARS IN COURT AGAIN. WE HAVE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. AS WE GO TO AIR, OSCAR PISTORIUS HAS MADE AN EMOTIONAL APPEARANCE IN COURT IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAPITAL, PRETORIA. THERE WERE CHAOTIC SCENES OUTSIDE THE COURT, WHERE LAWYERS FOR PISTORIUS ARE ARGUING HE SHOULD BE GRANTED BAIL. REPORTS FROM INSIDE THE COURT SAY PISTORIUS WEPT AS THE PROSECUTION ARGUED HE SHOT HIS GIRLFRIEND, REEVA STEENKAMP, AS SHE WAS IN THE BATHROOM AT HIS HOME. BUT IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES, THE DEFENCE TEAM HAS ARUGED THE KILLING WASN'T MURDER. AS HIS HEARING TOOK PLACE, FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF REEVA STEENKAMP GATHERED IN PORT ELIZABETH FOR HER FUNERAL. OPPONENTS OF THE CLOSURE AND MERGERS OF CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOLS TOOK THEIR FIGHT TO THE STREETS THIS EVENING. MORE THAN 1000 TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS MARCHED TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OFFICES DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF HEKIA PARATA. GEORGINA BALL REPORTS. ANGRY CANTABRIANS SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE EDUCATION MINISTER ` THEY WON'T LET THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSE WITHOUT A FIGHT. TWO FOUR SIX EIGHT SAVE OUR SCHOOLS IT'S NOT TOO LATE. THE 1500-STRONG CROWD EARLIER PASSED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN HEKIA PARATA FOR HOW SHE'S HANDLED THE OVERHAUL OF THE CITY'S SCHOOLS. IT'S ABOUT THAT NO CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESSES SHE'S USED SO FAR AND REALLY WANTING TO SERIOUSLY TAKE UP HER COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE WITH US. WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE NZEI TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM IN THE STEPS GOING FORWARD, AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO THAT. BUT THAT'S COLD COMFORT TO SCHOOLS LIKE MANNING INTERMEDIATE, STILL REELING AFTER THE LATEST SHOCK THAT CLOSURE OR MERGER DATES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD, CREATING UPHEAVAL FOR PUPILS WHO'LL HAVE TO CHANGE SCHOOLS YET AGAIN AFTER JUST ONE YEAR. THE MINISTER MADE A CATEGORICAL STATEMENT THAT OUR YEAR SEVENS WOULD COMPLETE THEIR YEAR EIGHT HERE. AND THERE WERE NO CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO THAT. EXPERTS SAY SCHOOLS MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION IF THE GOVERNMENT'S BREACHED LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE RELIED ON THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO THEM, AND THEY NOW FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN LEAD UP THE GARDEN PATH AND MISTREATED. BUT WITH COSTLY LEGAL BATTLES OUT OF REACH FOR MOST SCHOOLS, THEY'RE LEFT HOPING THE MINISTER WILL BE WON OVER BY PUBLIC PRESSURE LIKE THIS. GEORGINA BALL, ONE NEWS. A NEW CONVENTION CENTRE AT AUCKLAND'S SKY CITY CASINO LOOKS LIKE GOING AHEAD. THAT'S DESPITE A REPORT FINDING THE GOVERNMENT GAVE SPECIAL TREATMENT TO SKY CITY WHEN IT NEGOTIATED A DEAL THAT WOULD GIVE THE CASINO OPERATOR UP TO 500 MORE POKER MACHINES. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN REPORTS. WITH THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S DEPUTY INVESTIGATING, PLANS TO BUILD A NEW $350M CONVENTION CENTRE AT SKY CITY HAVE, UNTIL NOW, REMAINED FIRMLY ON PAPER. BUT JOHN KEY BELIEVES TODAY'S REPORT MEANS THEY CAN NOW MOVE BEYOND THE DRAWING BOARD. THIS CLEARS THE WAY. THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS REPORT THAT SAYS WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT. IN FACT, THE REPORT SAYS THERE'S NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE THAT WOULD STOP A DEAL BEING DONE. THE DEPUTY AUDITOR GENERAL LAUNCHED HER INQUIRY AFTER CLAIMS FROM THE GREENS THAT JOHN KEY WAS TOO CLOSE TO SKY CITY AND GAVE IT PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE TENDER PROCESS. BUT TODAY'S REPORT REJECTED THAT CLAIM, SAYING THE DECISION TO GO WITH SKY CITY WAS NOT INFLUENCED BY INAPPROPRIATE CONSIDERATIONS. THE REPORT WAS, HOWEVER, SHARPLY CRITICAL OF OFFICIALS OVER THE SELECTION PROCESS AND FOUND THAT SKY CITY WAS PRIVY TO MORE INFORMATION THAN THE OTHER FOUR BIDDERS. NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE. IT WOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED ANY OF THE OUTCOMES AND THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE MADE BY LABOUR AND THE GREENS THAT THIS WAS A COSY DEAL BETWEEN NATIONAL AND SKY CITY HAVE BEEN UTTERLY REFUTED. THE OPPOSITION READS IT DIFFERENTLY. IT SHOWS THAT SKY CITY WAS ALWAYS THE PREFERRED OPTION, AND IN FACT, THEY GOT THE DEAL. SO JOHN KEY CAN'T SAY HE IS VINDICATED. IT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT. THE PROCESS WAS NOT ACCOUNTABLE. IT WASN'T EVEN-HANDED, AND SKY CITY HAD THE WORST TENDER OF THE FIVE. THE MINISTER WHOSE OFFICIALS OVERSAW THE TENDERING PROCESS ACCEPTS THE DEPUTY AUDITOR GENERAL'S FINDINGS THAT THERE WERE FLAWS. SHE DOES MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. SHE FELT THE EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST PROCESS WAS ALLOWED TO RUN ON FOR TOO LONG, UH, AND OFFICIALS WILL TAKE THAT ON BOARD. BUT STEPHEN JOYCE SAYS THE FACT SKY CITY WAS BUILDING THE CENTRE IN RETURN FOR POKIE MACHINES MADE IT A UNIQUE SITUATION. MR JOYCE AND SKY CITY SAY THEY ARE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD TO RE-ENGAGING IN NEGOTIATIONS TO GET A DEAL DONE. WHILE CRITICS REMAIN ANGRY OVER THE PROSPECT OF AN EXTRA 500 POKIE MACHINES IN AUCKLAND, OTHERS BELIEVE THE CONVENTION CENTRE COULD BENEFIT THE WHOLE COUNTRY. BETH BATES REPORTS. SKY CITY'S PLAN TO BUILD THE CONVENTION CENTRE FOR FREE WILL MEAN AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS WON'T PAY A CENT ` BUT IN RETURN, THE CASINO GIANT WANTS A LAW CHANGE ALLOWING IT TO RUN UP TO 500 MORE POKIES. REALLY? DO WE NEED THAT? DO WE NEED THE SOCIETAL FALLOUT OF THAT? FOR EVERY PERSON THAT GAMBLES, THE SALVATION ARMY SAYS ANOTHER SIX ARE AFFECTED, AND ALLOWING EXTRA POKIES GOES AGAINST MOVES EVERYWHERE ELSE TO CUT BACK. WE'VE SEEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAKE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO BETTER MANAGE THE NUMBER OF POKIE MACHINES IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND HERE WE HAVE, IN AUCKLAND CITY, AT SKY CITY, UM, A-AN INCREASE, POTENTIALLY. BUT SOME ARGUE THE SOCIAL COSTS WOULD BE OUTWEIGHED BY THE BENEFITS. THE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BRING AN EXTRA 20,000 VISITORS A YEAR, AND THEY'LL WANT TO SEE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THE WHOLE OF NZ CAN BENEFIT. THOSE 20,000 VISITORS THAT COME HERE FOR CONFERENCES ` THEY WILL NOT JUST COME TO AUCKLAND. DR CATHY CASEY IS AN AUCKLAND COUNCILLOR. SHE SAYS RATEPAYERS HAVE TOLD HER THEY DON'T WANT THE SKY CITY DEAL. LET'S OPEN THE BIDDING AGAIN AND GET A CONVENTION CENTRE FOR AUCKLAND THAT DOESN'T HAVE STRINGS ATTACHED, THAT OUR COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUCKLAND WANT. BUT THE CITY'S MAYOR, LEN BROWN, SAYS HE'S MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, AND THE QUESTION OF WHO PROVIDES IT IS UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE. BETH BATES, ONE NEWS. NZ'S SET TO FOLLOW AUSTRALIA AND INTRODUCE PLAIN PACKAGING FOR CIGARETTES. BUT THE GOVERNMENT ADMITS IT MAY NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN IF TOBACCO GIANTS WIN LEGAL CHALLENGES ACROSS THE TASMAN. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN EXPLAINS. TARIANA TURIA HAS AN ADDICTION TO TAKING ON THE TOBACCO COMPANIES, TODAY ANNOUNCING THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STRIP CIGARETTE PACKETS OF THEIR FAMOUS LOGOS. THIS MOVE TO PLAIN PACKAGING WILL REMOVE THE LAST REMAINING VESTIGE OF GLAMOUR FROM THESE DEADLY PRODUCTS. MS TURIA SAYS ALL GOING WELL, 8 IN PLACE NEXT YEAR. HOWEVER, THERE IS A 'BUT...' AS BIG AS THIS BOX IN THE PLAN. THE LAW WON'T COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL AUSTRALIA HAS FINISHED ITS BATTLES WITH TOBACCO GIANTS OVER THE RECENT INTRODUCTION OF THE GRUESOME PACKETS THERE. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WON THE COURT BATTLE, BUT CHALLENGES OVER TRADE AGREEMENTS BEFORE THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION COULD STUB OUT PLAIN PACKAGING IN BOTH COUNTRIES IF AUSTRALIA LOSES. PLAIN PACKAGING IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP. IT'S NOT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IF WE CAN TAKE IT. IF WE CAN, WE WILL, BUT ULTIMATELY IF WE CAN'T THEN WE WON'T. REACTING TO TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, TOBACCO FIRM PHILIP MORRIS SAYS... TARIANA TURIA SAYS THAT IF THE TOBACCO COMPANIES DO DECIDE TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT, IT WILL COST TAXPAYERS BETWEEN $3-6M FOR JUST THE INITIAL PROCEEDINGS. WHAT ANY TOBACCO COMPANY WOULD BE CLAIMING WOULD BE THAT ITS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN EXPROPRIATED OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY AND THAT OUGHT TO AMOUNT IN A SIGNIFICANT CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGNERS SAY OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T WAIT ON AUSTRALIA. THE GOVERNMENT'S GIVEN ITSELF A DEADLINE TO MAKE NZ SMOKEFREE BY 2025. THAT'S NOW 12 YEARS AWAY, SO WE SHOULDN'T BE HANGING AROUND WAITING. BUT THAT WAITING IS SET TO DRAG ON. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. ANTI-VIOLENCE PROTESTER HINEWHARE HARAWIRA IS STEPPING DOWN FROM CAMPAIGNS SHE'S WORKING ON AFTER ALLEGATIONS THREE OF HER SONS ASSAULTED A 12 YEAR OLD. POLICE SAY THE TRIO, AGED BETWEEN 30 AND 21 CHASED THE BOY INTO HIS AUCKLAND HOME, WHERE THEY PUNCHED AND KICKED HIM REPEATEDLY. ONE OF THE ACCUSED, TOHORA HARAWIRA ` HERE ON THE LEFT ` INSISTED ON FACEBOOK THAT HE'S INNOCENT, SAYING HE HASN'T BEEN FOUND GUILTY AND HASN'T GIVEN A STATEMENT. THE MEN WILL APPEAR IN COURT IN APRIL. THERE'S NO LET-UP FOR SCHOOL STAFF FROM THE NOVOPAY FIASCO. TEACHING STAFF SALARIES ARE BEING BANKED THIS EVENING, AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS WARNING TO EXPECT MORE MISTAKES. MANY STAFF STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED HOLIDAY PAY DATING BACK TO AUGUST, AND NOVOPAY'S PROBLEMS ARE BEING EXACERBATED BY NEW STAFF AND TEACHERS JOINING SCHOOL PAYROLLS. CONTACT ENERGY'S HALF-YEARLY PROFIT IS UP TO $88M. BUT DESPITE THE PROFITS, THE COMPANY IS STILL GOING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO LAY OFF 100 WORKERS. DANIEL FAITAUA EXPLAINS. WITH POWER STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONTACT ENERGY GENERATES A QUARTER OF NZ'S ELECTRICITY. THE COMPANY ALSO GENERATED A HALF-YEAR PROFIT OF $88M ` TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT COMES LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WAS CUTTING ITS WORKFORCE BY 10% AS A DRIVE TO SAVE $40M. AS I SAY, INVESTED MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO ONE WHICH IS NOW FOCUSED ON GETTING ITS OPERATIONS RIGHT AND SERVING THE CUSTOMER WELL. YOU KNOW, ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY THEY WOULD BE LAYING PEOPLE OFF. THEY SHOULD BE USING SOME OF THOSE PROFITS TO PROTECT THOSE JOBS. CONTACT ENERGY SAYS IT'S ENJOYED A MODEST INCREASE IN ITS NUMBER OF RETAIL CUSTOMERS DESPITE MORE COMPETITION IN THE MARKET. AROUND 30,000 CONSUMERS SWITCH ELECTRICITY COMPANIES EVERY MONTH. CONTACT ENERGY SAYS IT CAN'T RULE OUT A HIKE IN ITS POWER BILLS. I WOULD EXPECT STABLE-TO-SLIGHTLY-RISING AS A RESULT OF NETWORK AND SOME FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR SUPPLY-DEMAND, BUT STABLE WOULD BE A GOOD WORD. CONTACT ENERGY SAYS ITS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A $2B POWER STATION PROJECT AND ALSO UPGRADING ITS COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. THERE'S RELIEF TONIGHT FOR MORE THAN 80 MAINZEAL WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD. THEY'LL BE OFFERED JOBS BY ENGINEERING AND CONSULTANCY FIRM MWH, WHICH HAD BEEN IN A JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH MAINZEAL. THEIR JOBS WERE UNDER THREAT AFTER MAINZEAL WAS PUT INTO RECEIVERSHIP EARLIER THIS MONTH. JUST AHEAD ` A WARNING TO PARENTS AFTER A MAN'S ACCUSED OF LURING YOUNG GIRLS THROUGH THE INTERNET. AND A CALL FOR WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST BOTH SIDES IN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR. , THE WAY CHILDREN USE THE INTERNET HAS AGAIN SPARKED A WARNING FOR PARENTS TO BE EXTRA VIGILANT. THIS FOLLOWS THE COURT APPEARANCE OF A MAN ACCUSED WITH USING A FAKE FACEBOOK PROFILE TO CONTACT UNDERAGE GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 11. MATT MCLEAN WAS IN COURT. WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO FILM HIM, BUT INSIDE THE LOWER HUTT DISTRICT COURT THIS MORNING, A MAN (20) STOOD ACCUSED OF USING A FAKE FACEBOOK PROFILE TO LURE UNDERAGE GIRLS. IT IS OF A DISTURBING NATURE. HE HAS BEEN USING A PROFILE ON FACEBOOK UNDER THE NAME OF NICK DAVIS, AND I'D CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO COME FORWARD WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION. SOMEONE WHO CREATES FAKE PROFILES ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES IS KNOWN INTERNATIONALLY AS A 'CATFISH'. THE 20-YEAR-OLD, WHO WE CAN'T NAME, FACES TWO CHARGES. HE IS CHARGED WITH THREATENING TO REVEAL NAKED PHOTOGRAPHS BELONGING TO A GIRL (11) IF SHE DIDN'T MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH HIM ON FACEBOOK. HE IS ALSO ACCUSED OF TRAVELLING TO MEET AN 11-YEAR`OLD GIRL WITH THE INTENTION OF COMMITTING A CRIME. HIS NAME'S BEEN SUPPRESSED TO PROTECT HIS UNDERAGE VICTIMS. HE'S BEEN ORDERED NOT TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANTS, AND CANNOT ACCESS THE INTERNET. PARENTS NEED TO BE VIGILANT AROUND, UH, WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE ACCESSING ON FACEBOOK AND JUST HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, UM, OF THEM AT A YOUNG AGE. ONLINE WATCHDOG NETSAFE SAYS, ALARMINGLY, THESE CASES ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON. ADULTS ARE SOPHISTICATED AND THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE SKILLS T-TO TRICK YOUNG CHILDREN. AND, AS PARENTS, WE NEED TO HELP OUR YOUNGSTERS UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF LIVING ONLINE. THE ACCUSED (20) HAS BEEN REMANDED ON BAIL TO REAPPEAR IN THREE WEEKS. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. IT'S BEEN REVEALED IN COURT THAT A SECURITY GUARD BASHED TO DEATH ON HIS FIRST SHIFT HAD EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY. CHARANPREET DHALIWAL WAS ATTACKED AT THIS WEST AUCKLAND BUILDING SITE IN NOVEMBER 2011. HIS FORMER BOSS IS CHARGED WITH FAILING TO ENSURE HIS SAFETY, BUT CHRIS ELAVIA SAYS HE ONLY HIRED EXPERIENCED STAFF AND MR DHALIWAL WAS ALSO WORKING FOR CHUBB SECURITY. I DISCUSSED THE SITE TO HIM, TOLD HIM THAT THERE WERE THREE PORTA COMMS ` THREE CONTAINERS OVER THERE ` VERY LOW RISK; TO BE CAREFUL; IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WALK AWAY, DRIVE AWAY, SIT IN THE CAR. ELAVIA COULD BE FINED UP TO $250,000. THERE'S BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR ACTION ON SYRIA'S BLOODY CIVIL WAR. A UN PANEL SAYS IT'S TIME TO BRING CHARGES, CLAIMING WAR CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED, NOT JUST BY GOVERNMENT FORCES BUT BY THE OPPOSITION AS WELL. THE ABC'S TERRY MORAN REPORTS FROM DAMASCUS. THE ROAD FROM BEIRUT TO DAMASCUS ` WE DROVE INTO SYRIA ALONG THIS HEAVILY GUARDED ROUTE, CHECKPOINT AFTER CHECKPOINT AFTER CHECKPOINT. IT IS NOW A LIFELINE, AS DAMASCUS ` THE STRONGHOLD OF PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD ` BECOMES A CITY UNDER SIEGE. IT IS A DIRTY WAR IN A CRUCIAL COUNTRY. JUST LOOK AT THE MAP. THE CHAOS ENGULFING SYRIA THREATENS TO SPILL OVER INTO IRAQ ON ONE SIDE; ISRAEL AND LEBANON ON THE OTHER ` A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR THE US. EXPLOSION BOOMS THE UNITED NATIONS NOW ESTIMATES THAT 70,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING, THOUGH NO ONE REALLY KNOWS. A UN COMMISSION TODAY CALLED FOR WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS OF BOTH SIDES ` ASSAD'S GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS SOUGHT TO CRUSH THE REBELLION BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, AND THE REBELS, MANY OF WHOM ARE INCREASINGLY SEEN BY ORDINARY SYRIANS AS WARLORDS, GANGSTERS AND RELIGIOUS FANATICS WHO REGULARLY POST VIDEOS OF BEHEADINGS AND OTHER ATROCITIES ON YOUTUBE. CHANTING, GUN SHOT DAMASCUS IS QUIET TONIGHT ` SOME LIGHT TRAFFIC, NO ONE, REALLY, WALKING AROUND; 5 MILLION PEOPLE HUNKERED DOWN AS THE TERRIBLE WAR THAT'S TEARING THEIR COUNTRY APART HAS NOW ARRIVED HERE, IN FIERCE BATTLES RAGING IN THE CITY'S SUBURBS. SYRIA'S MANY MINORITIES LIVE IN TERROR OF A JIHADIST TAKEOVER OF THEIR COUNTRY. BEFORE WE CAME HERE, WE VISITED CHRISTIAN REFUGEES FROM SYRIA WHO HAD FLED TO BEIRUT. THEY SAID THEY WERE FORCED OUT OF THEIR VILLAGES BY MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS ` ETHNICALLY CLEANSED. THEY SUPPORTED THE REBELLION AT FIRST, BUT NOT NOW. THEY'VE LOST THEIR HOMES, THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEIR WAY OF LIFE. 'WE LIVED FREELY AS CHRISTIANS,' THIS MAN TELLS ME. 'PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS TREES AND DECORATIONS. 'BUT NOW WE ARE BEING TARGETED.' A DIRTY WAR. NO END IN SIGHT. WE SHOULD LET YOU KNOW WE'VE COME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE GOVERNMENT, WHO WANT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY TOLD. BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THE REBELLION HERE HAS CHANGED. AND ORDINARY SYRIANS INCREASINGLY JUST WANT THE FIGHTING TO STOP, AND THEY DREAD THE CHAOS THAT'S BEEN UNLEASHED HERE. BASHAR AL-ASSAD HIMSELF SEEMS TO KNOW THIS. THE MAN THE US SAID MUST GO TOLD A GROUP OF VISITORS TODAY, 'WE ARE SURE WE WILL WIN.' A NEW PROGRAMME TO HELP THOSE SUFFERING FROM OSTEOARTHRITIS IS HAVING REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR JOINT REPLACEMENTS ARE GIVEN INTENSIVE HELP TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET MORE ACTIVE. THE RESULT? MANY DON'T NEED AN OPERATION AT ALL. THE ABC'S SOPHIE SCOTT EXPLAINS. AFTER YEARS OF PAINFUL KNEES, YARIE NIKOLIC WASN'T HAPPY WHEN DOCTORS TOLD HER SHE'D NEED A DOUBLE KNEE REPLACEMENT. I WASN'T GONNA DO THAT. I WASN'T PSYCHOLOGICALLY PREPARED TO HAVE MY KNEES OPERATED ON. INSTEAD, SHE TOOK PART IN AN INNOVATIVE NEW PROGRAMME AT SYDNEY'S ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL. AS WELL AS REGULAR STRENGTH AND BALANCE EXERCISES, PATIENTS WORK WITH A TEAM OF EXPERTS, INCLUDING A DIETICIAN, SOCIAL WORKER AND PHYSIOTHERAPIST. AS WELL AS IMPROVING FUNCTION, BIG WEIGHT LOSS REDUCTIONS, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IMPROVEMENT IN OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR PARTICIPANTS. PATIENTS ARE SET INDIVIDUAL GOALS, AND HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE EXPERTS FOR SIX TO 12 MONTHS. FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE PATIENTS, THEY'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN PAIN, IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR FUNCTION, REDUCTIONS IN WEIGHT. EVERYONE ON THE PROGRAMME WAS ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT, BUT NOT ANY MORE. TODAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE ABOUT 10% TO 15% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED TO HAVE THAT BIG SURGICAL OPERATION. ALMOST 3M AUSTRALIANS HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS. DOCTORS WANT INTENSIVE LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMES LIKE THIS OFFERED TO PATIENTS MUCH EARLIER ` AS SOON AS THEY'RE DIAGNOSED. AS FOR YARIE, SHE'S DONE SO WELL, SHE DOESN'T NEED SURGERY. I FEEL GREAT. I REALLY FEEL GOOD. TO ME IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH IT, AND I JUST HOPE IT KEEPS GOING. AND SHE'LL STICK WITH THE PROGRAMME TO AVOID GOING UNDER THE KNIFE. JUST AHEAD ` AUSSIE SPORT SUFFERS ANOTHER BLOW. THIS TIME, IT'S A DEVASTATING REPORT ON ITS OLYMPIC SWIMMERS. AND THERE'S RAIN ON THE WAY, BUT NOT FOR SOME TIME YET. DETAILS AFTER THE BREAK. WELCOME BACK. AUSTRALIAN SPORT'S SUFFERED ANOTHER BLOW. A DAMNING REPORT ON THE DISMAL SHOWING OF THE AUSSIE SWIMMING TEAM AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS HAS BLAMED A 'TOXIC' CULTURE FOR THEIR WORST PERFORMANCE IN 20 YEARS. MARTIN TASKER HAS THE STORY. HEADING FOR LONDON, THE AUSTRALIANS WERE CONFIDENT OF ANOTHER SWAG OF MEDALS FROM THE POOL. INSTEAD THEY HAD TO SETTLE FOR JUST ONE GOLD ` TO A RELAY TEAM. THE LACK OF SUCCESS PROMPTED A REVIEW THAT'S BEEN SEVEN MONTHS IN THE MAKING AND PULLS NO PUNCHES. ATHLETES DESCRIBE A CULTURE OF TOXIC INCIDENTS, INCLUDING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, BULLYING AND CURFEW BREAKING. THEY TALKED OF THE GAMES VILLAGE BEING LIKE A CANDY SHOP OF DISTRACTIONS. THEIR MEMORY OF LONDON WAS OF A LONELY OR INDIVIDUAL OLYMPICS. SO DID THE CULTURAL PROBLEMS COST THEM MEDALS? UM, LOOK, I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT TODAY, BUT, UH, CLEARLY WE ARE WORKING ON THE CULTURE. WE RECOGNISE` THE BOARD OF SWIMMING AUSTRALIA RECOGNISES ` THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH CULTURE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE OLYMPICS AND OUT OF LONDON, AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. HENCE WHY WE HAD THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW. < THE BEHAVIOUR'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS TOXIC IN THE, UH, SWIMMING RANKS. < I MEAN, UH, WEREN'T YOU AWARE THAT THAT SORT OF BEHAVIOUR EXISTED? IT'S A PRETTY EMOTIVE WORD ` TOXIC. SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT, UM, BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES WEREN'T OVERTLY OBVIOUS. NO HEADS ARE ROLLING YET, BUT A SO-CALLED INTEGRITY PANEL IS BEING FORMED AND WILL PRESENT ITS FINDINGS TO SWIMMING AUSTRALIA. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. WEATHER TIME NOW, WITH RENEE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE HIGH CRAWLS SLOWLY ACROSS NZ, AND BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON, THE BULK OF IT IS CENTRED EAST OF THE COUNTRY. THE FRONT SCRAPES ON TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MAINLAND BY TOMORROW EVENING BUT HARDLY MAKES ANY IMPACT. A REPLACEMENT HIGH IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTH TASMAN SEA LATER TOMORROW, AND THEN COVER THE COUNTRY LATER THIS WEEK AND OVER THE WEEKEND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S YOUR WEATHER. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY CONOR WHITTEN AND ANNA BRACEWELL-WORRALL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.