GOOD EVENING. ANOTHER MAINLY FINE DAY, BUT WITH A COOLER SOUTHERLY FLOW. ZERO THIS MORNING AT DUNEDIN AIRPORT, AND THERE WAS SOME EARLY FOG IN HOKITIKA. SOME LIGHT SHOWERS BRUSHED EASTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT NOTHING SIGNIFICANT. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LARGE HIGH PUSHING IN OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND, SO THERE WON'T BE ANY SURPRISES IN THE FORECAST. 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. FRESH TEARS TWO YEARS ON AS CHRISTCHURCH PEOPLE GATHER TO REMEMBER THE DAY THAT CHANGED THE CITY FOREVER. AS THE REBUILD GATHERS MOMENTUM WE CALL ON THE ONES LEFT BEHIND ` STRANDED IN A RED-ZONED WASTELAND. STEWART MURRAY WILSON'S SENT BACK TO JAIL, BUT DENIES BREACHING HIS PAROLE CONDITIONS. AND THE COP PROSECUTING OSCAR PISTORIUS IS TAKEN OFF THE CASE TO FACE A MURDER CHARGE OF HIS OWN. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING FROM THE EVER-CHANGING FACE OF CHRISTCHURCH. RIGHT BEHIND ME, THE BROKEN HEART OF THE CITY ` ITS CATHEDRAL. AND EXACTLY TWO YEARS ON FROM THE DEADLY EARTHQUAKE, PEOPLE HAVE PAUSED AGAIN TO REFLECT ON WHAT HAPPENED AT 12.51 IN THE AFTERNOON. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF HOW THE DAY'S BEEN MARKED, STARTING WITH LISA DAVIES, WHO WAS AT THE CIVIC MEMORIAL SERVICE IN LATIMER SQUARE. LISA. THE COMMEMORATIONS CONTINUE THIS EVENING. THIS AFTERNOON SAW OVER 1000 CHRISTCHURCH PEOPLE CONVERGE ON LATIMER SQUARE. IT WAS CERTAINLY A SMALLER CROWD THAN LAST YEAR, BUT THE EMOTION WAS UNDIMINISHED. THOSE ATTENDING SAY IT FELT MORE INTIMATE AND MORE MOVING. THE TEARS STILL FLOW TWO YEARS ON. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, ALL THE SIGNS OF A CITY COMFORTING ITSELF. SMALL TOUCHES ON THE SHOULDER THROUGH THE SERVICE. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. THE CIVIC SERVICE COMBINED PRAYER AND SONG... AND MESSAGES TO THE FAMILIES, MANY WHO HAVE COME FROM OVERSEAS TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY, STANDING CLOSE. YOUR GRIEF IS STILL RAW. AND ONLY TIME CAN HELP NUMB THE PAIN OF YOUR LOSS. WREATHS WERE LAID ON THE TEMPORARY MEMORIAL. THE FIRST RESPONDERS FROM ALL OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE TREATED TO SPONTANEOUS APPLAUSE... APPLAUSE ...FROM A CROWD THAT WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT THEIR HEROES DID THAT DAY. LET US TAKE THIS TIME NOW FOR A MINUTE OF STILLNESS AND SILENCE. AT 12.51 ` THE MOMENT THE QUAKE STRUCK ` TIME TO REFLECT ON ALL THAT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 22ND. SILENCE A PROCESSION OF BEREAVED FAMILIES PAYING TRIBUTE, THEIR GRIEF UNDIMINISHED BY TIME AS THEY LAID THEIR FLOWERS FOR LOST RELATIVES, LAYER AFTER LAYER. JULIE HIBBS LEAVING FLOWERS FOR HER MOTHER. THERE WERE HEAPS OF HUGS FROM DIFFERENT FAMILIES. SO THAT WAS GOOD. AT THE CTV SITE, WHERE 115 LOST THEIR LIVES, THE BARRIERS WERE PULLED AWAY SO PEOPLE COULD PLACE FLOWERS ON ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE SHATTERED BUILDING. WE JUST LAID FLOWERS EXACTLY UNDERNEATH HER OFFICE. A PERSONAL TOUCH FOR THE WIFE HE LOST HERE. THE SITE OF THE CTV BUILDING TRANSFORMED FROM BARREN CONCRETE AND EXPOSED STEEL INTO A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO DIED HERE AND IN THE CITY BEYOND. CTV CURRENT AND FORMER STAFF, AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, LAID A WREATH HERE TONIGHT. NOW THEY ARE PICNICKING TOGETHER AT LATIMER SQUARE ` THEIR OWN PRIVATE WAY TO HONOUR THOSE THEY LOST. LISA DAVIES AT LATIMER SQUARE IN CHRISTCHURCH. WHILE THE MAIN SERVICE WAS UNDERWAY IN LATIMER SQUARE, OTHER COMMUNITIES MARKED THE DAY BY LAUNCHING FLOATING FLORAL TRIBUTES ON THE CITY'S RIVERS. JOY REID JOINED ONE GROUP GATHERED IN NEW BRIGHTON. BAGPIPES PLAY RELEASING BLOOMS WHILE OVERLOOKING BROKEN BEXLEY. IT'S TO REMEMBER AND THE COMMUNITY AND HOW IT PULLED TOGETHER, AND BEXLEY WILL ALWAYS BE HERE. A POIGNANT WAY TO MARK THE LOSSES HERE AND ACROSS THE CITY. IT'S REALLY NICE SEEING EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER. THE RIVER OF FLOWERS PART OF A SPECIAL LOW-KEY AND COMMUNITY-LED CEREMONY WHERE EMOTIONS FLOWED FREELY AS OLD AND YOUNG ALIKE REMEMBERED THE MOMENT THE QUAKE STRUCK. AS YOU GO THROUGH DAILY LIFE, YOU THINK, 'YES, EVERYTHING'S FINE.' AND THEN, TODAY, EVERY LITTLE PART MAKES YOU FEEL VERY EMOTIONAL. THE RIVER PLAYED A CENTRAL PART IN TODAY'S MEMORIAL. THE DUCKS TURNING ON A WELL-TIMED FLY-PAST. THE CHILDREN SHOWING THE RESILIENCE THAT'S STILL APPARENT HERE. STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL NEW BRIGHTON SCHOOL, TOLD THIS WEEK THEIR SCHOOL IS CLOSING, SINGING TODAY OF STRENGTH. CHILDREN SING STRENGTH THAT SHOWS NO SIGN OF WEAKENING. JOY REID, ONE NEWS. CHRISTCHURCH POLYTECHNIC MARKED THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE UNVEILING OF A MEMORIAL SCULPTURE. 28 OF THE 185 QUAKE VICTIMS WERE FROM THE POLYTECH. SONG SONG IS A LISTENING CHAMBER CREATED BY ARTISTS CHRIS REDDINGTON AND STUART LLOYD-HARRIS AND FEATURES 28 OVERSIZED STEEL STRINGS. I THINK THERE WAS A RESONANCE WITH THIS IDEA OF USING SOUND TO COMMEMORATE LIFE AND USING RESONANCE, AND YEAH, IT'S BEEN A HUGE PRIVILEGE, YEAH. I THINK CHRIS AND STUART HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. I THINK IT'LL GET WELL USED AND GIVE STAFF AND STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH IT FOR MANY YEARS. THE SCULPTURE IS DESIGNED TO INVITE INTERACTION AS WELL AS BEING A PLACE TO REFLECT. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN HUGE CHANGE IN THE CITY SINCE THE FEBRUARY QUAKE STRUCK. IN MANY AREAS THE SHOCK THAT SOON TURNED TO FRUSTRATION HAS MOVED ON AGAIN AND THERE ARE NOW REAL SIGNS OF PROGRESS. LORELEI MASON TAKES STOCK. IT'S NOW A COMMON SIGHT AROUND THE EASTERN SUBURBS ` A SAD, YET POSITIVE SIGN THAT THE CITY'S SHATTERED PAST IS FINALLY MAKING WAY FOR THE FUTURE. LAST YEAR WAS THE YEAR OF TRYING TO PLAN WHAT WE WERE DOING, BUT THIS YEAR WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE YEAR OF REAL ACTION. ACTION WHICH IS NOW SEEING HOPE RISING FROM THE ASHES AND SILT. 335 COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONSENTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED. 70% OF THE CITY BUILDINGS THAT NEEDED TO COME DOWN HAVE COME DOWN, AND THE CROWN'S NEGOTIATING WITH TWO-THIRDS OF CBD PROPERTY OWNERS OVER THE COMPULSORY PURCHASE OF THEIR LAND. IN THE RETAIL PRECINCT, INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPERS ARE WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS TO CUT DEALS. WE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO GET INVOLVED, BUT IF THINGS REALLY GET STYMIED, WE'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE. AND CONSTRUCTION ON THE FIRST CITY BLUEPRINT PROJECT, THE AVON RIVER PARK, WILL BEGIN IN APRIL. THE FIRST LOT WE WANT TO START IN THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS ` JUST ONE BLOCK AS PART OF THE CONCEPT TO WORK THAT UP AND SEE WHAT IT PHYSICALLY LOOKS LIKE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY COME AND HAVE A LOOK AT IT. NEGOTIATIONS WITH LANDOWNERS OVER THE FIRST ANCHOR PROJECT, THE CONVENTION CENTRE, ARE HALFWAY COMPLETE. RESIDENTIALLY, 6500 RED-ZONERS HOMEOWNERS HAVE NOW SETTLED WITH THE CROWN. MOST HAVE MOVED OUT, GIVING RISE TO CONCERNS THE EAST WILL SOON RESEMBLE A GHETTO. BUT THIS GRASSY STRETCH IN KAIAPOI WHERE 15 WRECKED HOMES ONCE STOOD IS A POSITIVE SIGN; IT'S THE FIRST STRETCH OF RED-ZONED LAND CERA HAS NOW RESURRECTED. PROGRESSING SLOWLY BUT SURELY TOO IS THE REPAIR OF 2000KM OF BROKEN PIPELINES UNDER THE CITY. HOWEVER THE JOB'S ONLY 15% COMPLETED SO FAR, MEANING YEARS OF TRAFFIC DISRUPTION AHEAD. WE'RE HERE UNTIL 2016. GET USED TO IT, GET SOME PATIENCE IN YOUR SYSTEM AND BE TOLERANT, COS THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. THAT WORK WILL HIT ITS PEAK BY JULY THIS YEAR. LORELEI MASON, ONE NEWS. AND CERA SAYS WHILE NEARLY ALL BUILDINGS HERE IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT HAD TO COME DOWN AFTER THE QUAKE ARE NOW DOWN, PROGRESS IS SLOWER OUT IN THE SUBURBS. MORE THAN 171,000 RESIDENTIAL INSURANCE CLAIMS WERE LODGED AFTER THE QUAKES. 18,500 OF THOSE HOMES WERE CLASSIFIED AS TOTAL REBUILDS OR NEEDING MAJOR REPAIRS. TWO YEARS ON, ONLY 3600 ` ABOUT ONE IN FIVE ` HAVE BEEN FIXED OR THE OWNERS PAID OUT. FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN CHRISTCHURCH, HOUSING IS STILL THE NUMBER-ONE ISSUE. SOME ARE RED-ZONED AND WAITING; OTHERS TRYING IN VAIN TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL. JOY REID REPORTS ON THE STRUGGLE. THIS SIDE OF THE STREET, TOTALLY, HAS NOW GONE. PAM ATKINSON'S ONE OF THE LAST STILL LIVING IN HORSESHOE LAKE. AND THERE'S ONLY THE TWO OF US AT THE BACK THAT ARE BASICALLY LEFT NOW. HER BUSTLING RED-ZONED SUBURB'S NOW AN OVERGROWN, DILAPIDATED GHOST TOWN. DOWN HERE NOW, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOBODY. IT'S LIKE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY EVERY TIME A-ANYONE GOES. AND LEAVE THEY DO. OF THE NEARLY 8000 RED-ZONED HOMES, THE MAJORITY HAVE MOVED ON. THE REST HAVE VARIOUS DEADLINES TO MOVE OUT OVER THE COMING MONTHS. WE'RE THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE. IN THE CITY, IT'S THE REBUILD TERRITORY. WE'RE JUST THE RED ZONE, WHERE A FEW UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING. BUT FINDING A HOME ISN'T EASY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LOOKING IN OVERCROWDED RENTAL MARKET. PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN REALLY POOR CONDITIONS, PAYING REALLY HIGH RENTS, KNOWING THAT, UH, THEY HAVE NO CHOICE. I'VE SPOKEN PERSONALLY WITH PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE IN THEIR GARAGES OR OUT THE BACK OF A BUSINESS PREMISES BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CAN'T FIND SOMEWHERE AFFORDABLE TO RENT, AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER FOUND THEMSELVES IN THIS PREDICAMENT. THE TENANTS PROTECTION ASSOCIATION SAYS SOME LANDLORDS ARE CHARGING EXORBITANT RATES OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS A NIGHT FOR TEMPORARY INSURANCE TENANTS. PREVIOUSLY, OF COURSE, THERE WAS NO WAY IN HELL THAT, UH, THEY WOULD HAVE EVER GOT THE SORT OF RENT THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. AS FOR PAM ATKINSON, SHE'S MAKING THE MOST OF HER LAST MONTHS HERE, LIVING OFF THE EMPTY LANDS... THERE ARE SOME HERE. ...AND RESCUING AND REVIVING ABANDONED PLANTS. IT` IT ISN'T ALL BAD. YOU LEARN YOU'VE GOT A STRENGTH THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD, I SUPPOSE. A STRENGTH THE CITY IS RELYING ON. JOY REID, ONE NEWS. THAT'S ALL FROM US HERE IN CHRISTCHURCH FOR NOW. LATER, BISHOP VICTORIA MATTHEWS ON HER HEARTFELT REACTION TO THE LOSS OF THE CITY'S LANDMARK CATHEDRAL. TO OTHER NEWS ` HUNDREDS MORE JOBS LOOK SET TO VANISH FROM WHAT WAS ONCE OUR LARGEST COMPANY. TELECOM'S CEO SIMON MOUTTER SAID AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF SKILLED WORKERS WILL GO IN A COST-CUTTING DRIVE. MR MOUTTER'S PROMISE OF 'FAST AND FEARLESS' CHANGE FOR THE COMPANY LITTLE COMFORT TO THOSE NOW WONDERING IF IT WILL BE THEIR JOBS ON THE LINE. LISA GLASS REPORTS. IT'S STILL IN PROFIT, BUT TELECOM STAFF NUMBERS ARE SET TO BE SLASHED. THE ECONOMY'S TOUGH OUT THERE, AND DESPITE OUR COST ACTIVITY TO DATE, OUR COST BASE UNFORTUNATELY REMAINS UNCOMPETITIVE. THAT MEANS JOBS WILL GO ` A LOT OF THEM, THOUGH NO ONE'S SAYING HOW MANY. THE COMPANY EMPLOYS ALMOST 8000 PEOPLE ` MANY OF THEM CONTRACTORS WHO WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR REDUNDANCY. THERE'S A REAL PRESSURE ON ANYBODY IN THE TELCO INDUSTRY TO FIND WORK, AND THIS WILL ONLY ADD TO THAT MIX, I THINK, FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. TELECOM SAYS IT HAS HIGHER COSTS THAN ITS COMPETITORS AND NEEDS TO SLIM DOWN. SIMPLIFY THE BUSINESS, WHICH IS ABOUT RADICALLY SIMPLIFYING THE WAY WE OPERATE, AND BUILDING A PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN LEAN AND AGILE ORGANISATION. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE COMPANY'S MOVED INTO GLAMOROUS NEW HEADQUARTERS. IN THIS $280 MILLION DEVELOPMENT THERE ARE 2500 WORKERS. MANY OF THEM ARE WONDERING NOW IF THEY'LL STILL HAVE JOBS. UNION MEMBERSHIP'S VIRTUALLY NIL HERE THANKS TO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT CHANGES BACK IN THE '90S. LABOUR SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PROTECTING SKILLED JOBS. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND A LOT OF ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH AND NOT DOING A GREAT JOB ON IT, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS INSTEAD OF AN ECONOMY IN THIS AREA THAT IS GROWING AND THRIVING, WE'RE SEEING A SHRINKING. THE PRIME MINISTER, JOHN KEY, SAYS THE CUTS ARE A PRIVATE COMPANY DECISION. WHAT WE CAN DO AS A GOVERNMENT IS TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT BUSINESSES COME IN AND SAY, 'LOOK, NZ'S A GOOD PLACE TO INVEST.' COLD COMFORT FOR TELECOM WORKERS, WITH ALL JOBS NOW UNDER THE MICROSCOPE TO SEE WHO WILL STAY AND WHO WILL GO. LISA GLASS, ONE NEWS. SEXUAL PREDATOR STEWART MURRAY WILSON IS BACK BEHIND BARS IN WANGANUI TONIGHT, AFTER A WOMAN COMPLAINED TO CORRECTIONS ABOUT HIM CONTACTING HER. THE 66-YEAR-OLD WAS BACK IN COURT TODAY, WHERE HE DENIED BREACHING HIS PAROLE CONDITIONS. SARAH BATLEY WITH THAT STORY. STEWART MURRAY WILSON'S ACCUSED OF OBTAINING A CELL PHONE AND USING IT TO CALL SOMEONE HE WAS BANNED FROM CONTACTING. HOW DO YOU PLEAD, GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? NOT GUILTY. THE NAME OF THE WOMAN INVOLVED WAS SUPPRESSED IN COURT TODAY, BUT ONE NEWS UNDERSTANDS IT IS NOT SOMEONE WHO WAS ORIGINALLY ON WILSON'S NON-ASSOCIATION LIST. IT'S BELIEVED THAT WOMAN INITIATED CONTACT WITH WILSON, BUT HIS RESPONSE CONCERNED HER ENOUGH THAT SHE COMPLAINED TO CORRECTIONS, WHO THEN BANNED HIM FROM MAKING ANY FURTHER CONTACT. THAT WAS LAST NOVEMBER. CORRECTIONS CLAIM HE IGNORED THAT BAN BY RINGING HER ON MONDAY. IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WILSON'S ESSENTIALLY UNDER HOUSE ARREST AT WANGANUI PRISON, NOT ABLE TO VISIT THIS PERSON, THAT PERSON'S NOT ABLE TO VISIT HIM, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT SORT OF BAD CAN COME OUT OF THIS. IT'S GOOD THAT THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAVE TAKEN THE STEPS THAT THEY HAVE BUT ALSO TO BE EXPECTED. PEOPLE HAVE SAID, 'I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN.' WILSON WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER SERVING 21 YEARS FOR MULTIPLE RAPES AND ASSAULTS AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS. HIS RELEASE INTO A UNIT ON THE GROUNDS OF WANGANUI PRISON WAS NEVER A POPULAR ONE WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS. I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT IF THERE WAS TO BE A BREACH, THAT IT'S A BREACH OF THIS NATURE AND NOT SOMETHING WHICH HAS ACTUALLY AFFECTED SOMEBODY OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF WILSON IS FOUND GUILTY OF BREACHING PAROLE, HE COULD BE BACK BEHIND BARS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS. SARAH BATLEY, ONE NEWS. A ROYAL PENGUIN DUBBED HAPPY FEET JUNIOR HAS DIED AFTER IT WASHED UP ON A BEACH NORTH OF WELLINGTON FIVE DAYS AGO. STAFF AT WELLINGTON ZOO CARED FOR THE CRITICALLY ILL PENGUIN BUT KNEW ITS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL WERE SLIM. ONCE YOU HAVE TOO MANY ORGANS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S JUST NO REVERSING THAT. WE GAVE HIM THE BEST CHANCE. WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO TRY AND FIX HIM UP, AND IT WAS JUST NOT TO BE FOR THIS LITTLE ONE. IT'S ONLY THE FOURTH CONFIRMED SIGHTING OF ROYAL PENGUINS IN THE NORTH ISLAND. THE BIRDS ARE NORMALLY FOUND ON MACQUARIE ISLAND, MORE THAN 2000KM FROM NZ. COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK ` A STUNNING DEVELOPMENT IN THE OSCAR PISTORIUS CASE. THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR IS REMOVED FROM THE INQUIRY AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER HIMSELF. IT'S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE ` A DEADLY ARGUMENT BREAKS OUT IN THE HEART OF LAS VEGAS. AND WHAT'S IN A NAME? SCIENTISTS MAKE AN AMAZING DISCOVERY ABOUT DOLPHINS. SOUTH AFRICA'S TOP DETECTIVE HAS BEEN PUT IN CHARGE OF THE OSCAR PISTORIUS MURDER INVESTIGATION. IT FOLLOWS THE REMOVAL OF THE CURRENT LEAD DETECTIVE IN A TWIST WORTHY OF A CRIME NOVEL. PISTORIUS DENIES MURDERING HIS GIRLFRIEND REEVA STEENKAMP LAST WEEK. THE BBC'S ANDREW HARDING IS IN COURT. CENTRE STAGE FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS TODAY ` THE DETECTIVE WHO'S BEEN LEADING THE INVESTIGATION INTO OSCAR PISTORIUS. NOW HILTON BOTHA HAS HIMSELF BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR A SHOOTING INCIDENT BACK IN 2011. YESTERDAY OSCAR PISTORIUS WEPT AS HE HEARD THE DETECTIVE DESCRIBE THE CRIME SCENE. BUT TODAY BOTHA LEARNED HE WAS BEING DROPPED FROM THE CASE BECAUSE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. IT NECESSITATED US TO THEN TRANSFER THE INVESTIGATION. IS BAD NEWS FOR THE DETECTIVE GOOD NEWS FOR OSCAR PISTORIUS? IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL. THE ISSUE WAS HARDLY MENTIONED IN COURT TODAY. INSTEAD, WITH THE PARALYMPIC STAR'S FAMILY WATCHING CLOSELY, THE FOCUS RETURNED TO THE DEATH OF REEVA STEENKAMP. AGAIN, THE COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS BEDROOM AND WHY OSCAR PISTORIUS RUSHED DOWN THE CORRIDOR TO SHOOT HIS GIRLFRIEND BEHIND A LOCKED TOILET DOOR. THE BATHROOM AND TOILET WINDOWS WERE UNBARRED. HE CLAIMS HE FEARED A BURGLAR HAD USED A LADDER OUTSIDE TO GAIN ACCESS, AND HE FIRED IN SELF-DEFENCE, KILLING REEVA BY MISTAKE. BUT THE PROSECUTION DESCRIBED PISTORIUS AS A VIOLENT MAN WHOSE STORY DID NOT ADD UP. THE PROSECUTION ARGUED THAT EVEN IF IT WERE TO GIVE OSCAR PISTORIUS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT ` THAT HE DID BELIEVE THERE WAS A BURGLAR IN HIS BATHROOM ` HE STILL WENT THERE TO KILL, FIRING FOUR SHOTS. THAT MADE HIM A MURDERER WHO DOES NOT DESERVE BAIL. TODAY NEWS THAT THE BLADE RUNNER, A ONE-MAN GLOBAL BRAND, HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM A NUMBER OF HIGH-PROFILE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. HARDLY A PRIORITY NOW FOR THE MAN AT THE HEART OF AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGAL STORM, WITH SOUTH AFRICA'S POLICE AND JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND A MURDER CASE WITH A NEW TWIST EVERY HOUR. THG 8 THE HEARING RESUMES THIS E WHEN THE MAGISTRATE IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON WHETHER PISTORIUS CAN BE FREED ON BAIL. POLICE IN LAS VEGAS BELIEVE AN ARGUMENT OUTSIDE A HOTEL PROMPTED AN ATTACK THAT'S LEFT THREE PEOPLE DEAD. A GUNMAN IN A RANGE ROVER FIRED SHOTS AT A MASERATI IN THE HEART OF LAS VEGAS'S BUSY TOURIST AREA. THE MASERATI THEN PLOUGHED INTO A TAXI, KILLING THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER. THE DRIVER OF THE MASERATI WAS ALSO KILLED. POLICE ARE STILL HUNTING FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE RANGE ROVER. THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S BLAMING REBELS FOR CARRYING OUT A BOMB ATTACK WHICH KILLED MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE. HUNDREDS MORE WERE INJURED BY THE CAR BOMB OUTSIDE THE RULING PARTY'S OFFICES IN THE CAPITAL DAMASCUS. ELSEWHERE, THE OPPOSITION CLAIMS 18 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A GOVERNMENT AIR STRIKE ON A REBEL FIELD HOSPITAL IN DARAA. AND IN INDIA AT LEAST 12 HAVE BEEN KILLED IN BOMBINGS IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF HYDERABAD. TWO BOMBS ATTACHED TO BIKES EXPLODED NEAR A CROWDED FRUIT MARKET. SO FAR NO ONE'S CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK. BACK HERE, AND EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE LEARNT MANA LEADER HONE HARAWIRA'S THREE NEPHEWS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY. TODAY WE CAN REVEAL HIS SON AND OTHER RELATIVES ARE ALSO FACING A RAFT OF CHANGES. HELEN CASTLES WITH THE STORY. HONE HARAWIRA'S SISTER, HINEWHARE, STEPPED DOWN FROM AN ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK AFTER NEWS BROKE THAT HER THREE SONS ARE FACING ASSAULT CHARGES. THEY'RE ALLEGED TO HAVE BEATEN A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY. NOW ONE NEWS CAN CONFIRM MORE OF THE HARAWIRA CLAN ARE FACING CHARGES RANGING FROM ASSAULT TO AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. THIS IS ONE OF MANY SAD OCCASIONS, NOT ONLY FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE INVOLVED, BUT EQUALLY SAD FOR THE WIDER WHANAU, THE HAPU AND THE NGAPUHI TRIBE. WI POPATA IS ANOTHER OF HONE HARAWIRA'S NEPHEWS AND A WELL-KNOWN ACTIVIST AT WAITANGI. HE'S CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ROBBERY, GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM AND THREE CHARGES OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. ONE NEWS HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT HONE HARAWIRA'S SON IS FACING CHARGES. HONE PURIPIRI HARAWIRA (38) IS DUE IN COURT NEXT WEEK, ACCUSED OF WILFUL DAMAGE AND THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. HE'S ALSO BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON IN A SEPARATE CASE. HONE HARAWIRA'S REFUSING TO COMMENT, BUT SOURCES CLOSE TO THE FAMILY SAY HE'S FURIOUS AND WASN'T MADE AWARE OF ALL THE ALLEGED OFFENDING UNTIL RECENT DAYS. NGAPUHI ELDER KINGI TAURUA SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE CAUSING A STIR IN HONE HARAWIRA'S TE TAI TOKERAU ELECTORATE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING TO ME THAT, UH, THEY ARE... ARE NOT SURE WHETHER, UH, HONE AND HIS FAMILY ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE, UH, TO BE REPRESENTING THIS PARTICULAR AREA. WHILE OTHERS ARE MORE SYMPATHETIC. SOMETIMES VERY UNFAIR TO HAVE THE, UH, ACTIONS OF A RELATIVE TO BE VISITED UPON YOU, BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF PUBLIC LIFE, SAD TO SAY. SOMETHING THE HARAWIRAS KNOW WELL. HELEN CASTLES, ONE NEWS. WE ALL KNOW DOLPHINS ARE ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT OF ANIMALS, ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. NOW A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THEY DON'T ONLY TALK, THEY ACTUALLY CALL EACH OTHER BY NAME. THE ABC'S MATT GUTMAN HAS THE STORY. < MAN: OH MAN. YOU GUYS HEAR THAT? LISTEN TO THE CHATTER OF HUNDREDS OF DOLPHINS OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST. AND WATCH THIS EXCLUSIVE VIDEO WE RECENTLY SHOT OFF THE BAHAMAS ` A DOLPHIN MOTHER CARESSING HER CALF AND THESE DOLPHINS GREETING US HEADS DOWN. YOU HEAR THOSE CLICKS? DOLPHINS WHISTLE DOLPHINS CAN LEARN TO READ SIGNS LIKE THIS, USE TOOLS, EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH HUMANS. THIS ONE TELLING A DIVER TO CUT IT FREE OF FISHING WIRE. BUT USE NAMES? A NEW STUDY OUT TODAY SHOWS DOLPHIN COMMUNICATION TO BE MUCH MORE LIKE OURS THAN WE EVER THOUGHT; THAT EACH DOLPHIN HAS ITS OWN DISTINCT SOUND, ESSENTIALLY ITS OWN NAME. LISTEN TO THIS. DOLPHIN WHISTLES ONE MALE BOTTLENOSE CLICKING OUT HIS SIGNATURE SOUND, BASICALLY CALLING OUT HIS NAME. ALMOST INSTANTLY, ANOTHER DOLPHIN RESPONDS,... DOLPHIN WHISTLES ...CALLING BACK TO HIM BY HIS NAME. THESE WHISTLES THAT THEY PRODUCE ARE ACTUALLY USED AS NAMES. THEY USE THEM TO KEEP IN CONTACT WHEN THEY'RE SWIMMING THROUGH VERY MURKY WATERS SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR SOCIAL GROUPS INTEGRATED AND OPERATING AS A UNIT. AND THE DOLPHINS THAT MOST COMMONLY COMMUNICATE LIKE THIS? MOTHERS AND CALVES. YOU SAID THAT, FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, ALMOST FROM BIRTH, THEY START TO HAVE THEIR SIGNATURE SOUND? ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, FROM LITERALLY WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING BORN, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE THE CALF VOCALISE, AND THE MOTHER WILL ALMOST MIMIC THAT. IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT ELSE THEY'RE SAYING. WEATHER TIME NOW, AND ANY SIGN OF ANY RAIN RELIEF THIS WEEKEND, KAREN? NOTHING SIGNIFICANT ON THE HORIZON, ALTHOUGH WE DID HAVE A FEW SHOWERS CATCHING EASTERN DISTRICTS TODAY. VERY WINDY THROUGH COOK STRAIT ` GALE SOUTH-EASTERLY AT TIMES. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ MOST OF US HAVE BEEN SPARING A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTCHURCH TODAY, INCLUDING THE TEAM DOWN AT SCOTT BASE. THIS IS THEIR TRIBUTE, COMPLETE WITH ROAD CONE. MINUS-12 THERE TODAY WITH LIGHT NORTH-EASTERLY AND LOW CLOUD. I'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST AFTER SPORT. AFTER THE BREAK ` A THE FUTURE OF SOLID ENERGY MAY LOOK SECURE IN THE SHORT TERM AT LEAST, WITH THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRMING IT WILL RESCUE THE TROUBLED STATE-OWNED MINING COMPANY. BUT JOB LOSSES AND POSSIBLE MINE CLOSURES LOOM, LEAVING 1200 WORKERS ANXIOUS AND UNCERTAIN. MEANWHILE, THE COMPANY SAYS IT'S NOW 'UNLIKELY' IT WILL SET UP A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR LIGNITE INDUSTRY DOWN SOUTH. RENEE GRAHAM REPORTS. SOLID ENERGY MINERS IN HUNTLY ON THEIR WAY TO ANOTHER UNION MEETING. FIVE MONTHS AGO, 68 MATES LOST THEIR JOBS. NOW ANOTHER ROUND OF REDUNDANCIES LOOM. WE'VE BEEN IN A CONSTANT STATE OF WORRY. I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY GOT USED TO IT OVER THE LAST YEAR, WITH THAT LAST ROUND OF REDUNDANCIES AND THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEVELOPING A THICK SKIN, I SUPPOSE. THE PRIME MINISTER'S CONFIRMED THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESCUE THE STRUGGLING STATE-OWNED MINING COMPANY BASED IN THE WAIKATO AND WEST COAST. JUST HOW IS BEING DISCUSSED BY TREASURY, BANKS AND SOLID ENERGY. IT'S STRUGGLING TO PAY A $400M DEBT, AND FURTHER JOB LOSSES OR MINE CLOSURES ARE POSSIBLE. THINGS ARE TOUGH HERE ON THE WEST COAST. WE LOST 230 DIRECT MINERS AT SPRING CREEK, ANOTHER 130 CONTRACTORS. A 150 MINERS IN THE PIKE RIVER MINE JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO AS WELL. SO THIS CERTAINLY IS A DAGGER THAT GOES FURTHER INTO OUR BACK. FINANCE MINISTER BILL ENGLISH SAYS SOLID ENERGY MADE SOME BAD GREEN-ENERGY INVESTMENTS, AND IT OVERESTIMATED THE VALUE OF COAL, AS THE MARKET DROPPED STEADILY OVER TWO YEARS. COAL WILL REBOUND. IT HAS IN THE PAST. IT'S A CYCLICAL INDUSTRY. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO KEEP ITS NERVE, INJECT SOME MUCH-NEEDED CAPITAL FOR THE SHORT TERM, AND THEY WILL REAP THE BENEFITS IN THE LONGER TERM. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE'S STILL COMMITTED TO THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY. BUT ONE ENERGY ANALYST SAYS IT WON'T BE AROUND MUCH LONGER. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT COAL IS A... A SUNSET INDUSTRY. IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST MORE THAN A FEW DECADES MORE BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO STOP IT. WORKERS GO BACK TO THE MINES TOMORROW, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. TWO YEARS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE MANY CHRISTCHURCH COMPANIES ARE CRYING OUT FOR WORKERS TO HELP REBUILD THE CITY. ONE SUGGESTION IS TO MAKE BENEFICIARIES APPLY FOR JOBS IN CHRISTCHURCH IF THEY CAN'T FIND WORK WHERE THEY LIVE. OUR LATEST COLMAR BRUNTON POLL CANVASSES WHAT SUPPORT THERE IS FOR THAT IDEA. DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH HAS THE RESULTS. 21 PEOPLE WORK FOR ELLIOT SCAFFOLDING IN CHRISTCHURCH. WE STRUGGLED WITH GETTING NZERS, SO I'VE GONE ABROAD. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW` TWO-THIRDS OF MY WORKFORCE NOW ARE FOREIGNERS. TREVOR ELLIOT LIKES THE IDEA THAT BENEFICIARIES WHO CAN'T FIND WORK SHOULD BE MADE TO APPLY FOR JOBS IN CHRISTCHURCH. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. WHY NOT GET THEM HERE? THIS IS WHERE ALL THE WORK IS, YOU KNOW. GET THEM DOWN HERE, GET THEM EMPLOYED. IN OUR LATEST POLL WE ASKED, 39% LIKE THE IDEA, BUT 53% DO NOT. THE REST WERE UNSURE. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING AT AT THE MOMENT? > WE'D PREFER THAT PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE DOWN SOUTH IN THE FIRST PLACE. WINZ CAN SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE THE RELEVANT SKILLS AND THE DETERMINATION TO GET A JOB. THE GOVERNMENT WON'T COMPEL PEOPLE TO MOVE TO CHRISTCHURCH. IT'S HAD ADVICE SHOWING THAT WOULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 16,000 NEW JOBS WERE CREATED IN CHRISTCHURCH LAST YEAR, AND THE ECONOMY'S GROWN BY WHAT IT SAYS IS A WHOPPING 7.5% IN THE LAST QUARTER. BUT LABOUR SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS MISSED THE BOAT. WE HAVEN'T HAD ADEQUATE TRAINING; WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE ON APPRENTICESHIPS IN READINESS FOR THE REBUILD, AND THAT IS A TRAGEDY THAT WE ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT AS A COUNTRY IMPORTING PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS TO DO WORK THAT NZERS COULD DO. ONE THING BOTH SIDES AGREE ` JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN CHRISTCHURCH ARE ON THE RISE. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. A 15-YEAR-OLD CHRISTCHURCH YOUTH HAS BEEN KILLED AFTER A STOLEN CAR HE WAS A PASSENGER IN CRASHED FOLLOWING A POLICE PURSUIT. THE TOYOTA SURF WAS REPORTED STOLEN AND FAILED TO STOP FOR POLICE, WHO ABANDONED THE CHASE SHORTLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CRASHED. THE DRIVER FLED THE SCENE BUT WAS LATER ARRESTED. HE'LL APPEAR IN CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT COURT TOMORROW. POLICE ARE HUNTING TWO MEN IN RELATION TO A SPATE OF ARMED ROBBERIES IN AUCKLAND. THEY BELIEVE THIS MAN, ALEX TEREORA (31), AND JOHN KOTEKA (34), ALSO KNOWN AS PAUL WILSON, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE ROBBERIES IN MOUNT EDEN ON SUNDAY. POLICE SAY MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS WERE FIRED AND VICTIMS HAD MONEY AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS STOLEN. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` IT WAS DAY OF REFLECTION IN CHRISTCHURCH AS PEOPLE GATHERED TO REMEMBER THE DEADLY EARTHQUAKE THAT ROCKED THE CITY TWO YEARS AGO. HUNDREDS GATHERED IN LATIMER SQUARE FOR AN OFFICIAL CIVIC MEMORIAL, AND ACROSS THE CITY, AT 12.51, THERE WAS SILENCE AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE 185 PEOPLE KILLED. FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN CHRISTCHURCH, HOUSING IS STILL THE NUMBER-ONE ISSUE. SOME ARE RED-ZONED AND WAITING, WHILE OTHERS ARE TRYING IN VAIN TO FIND AFFORDABLE RENTAL ACCOMMODATION. THE TENANTS PROTECTION ASSOCIATION SAYS SOME LANDLORDS ARE CHARGING EXORBITANT RATES OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS A NIGHT FOR TEMPORARY INSURANCE TENANTS. WHILE THE FOCUS TODAY IS ON THE PEOPLE OF CANTERBURY, TO MANY, CHRISTCHURCH'S CATHEDRAL SYMBOLISES THE CITY'S FORTUNES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT'S REBUILT AND WHAT INSURANCE IS PAID REMAIN LOCKED IN A LEGAL BATTLE WHILE A TRANSITIONAL CARDBOARD CATHEDRAL IS BUILT NEARBY. BISHOP VICTORIA MATTHEWS JOINED ME TO REFLECT ON THE DAMAGED CATHEDRAL'S IMMEDIATE FUTURE. IT'S FROZEN. UM, MY` MY HANDS ARE TIED. MY LIPS ARE SEALED BECAUSE THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS. AND SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET ON AND DO, WE CAN'T EVEN ENTER INTO CONVERSATION ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL PROCESS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BEYOND THAT, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT. TWO YEARS ON AND I KNOW YOU'VE JUST SEEN INSIDE THE CHURCH AGAIN. WHAT'S IT LIKE? IT BROUGHT TO MIND ONE OF THOSE AGONISING DEATHS WHERE YOU GO BACK EVERY DAY AND YOU SEE SOMEONE LOSING MORE AND MORE OF THEIR DIGNITY AND THEIR PERSONALITY AND THEIR SELF-HOOD, AND YOU FEEL ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS. THAT'S HOW I FELT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE IMAGES. IT LACKS DIGNITY. IT LACKS, UH, INTEGRITY, WHAT IT'S GOING THROUGH AT THE MOMENT. IN A PERFECT WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, SAY, A YEAR FROM NOW? WE WOULD BE IN THE TRANSITIONAL CATHEDRAL. THEY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED US TO USE THE INSURANCE MONEY TO, UH, COMPLETE THAT BUILD, UH, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. BISHOP MATTHEWS ALSO SAID WE NEED COMPASSION AND EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THEIR GRIEF. BUT THE CITYSCAPE IS CHANGING, AND WHILE ITS PEOPLE TODAY HONOURED THE VICTIMS OF TWO YEARS AGO, THE FOCUS IS GRADUALLY MOVING TOWARDS A REBUILT FUTURE. JENNY-MAY'S HERE WITH SPORT. NEAR DISASTER FOR AN OLYMPIC ROWER AT THE NATIONALS? SO HOW DID THEY MANAGE TO SORT THINGS? TONIGHT ALSO MARKS THE START OF THE SUPER 15 FOR THE NZ TEAMS. BUT IS THERE TOO MUCH RUGBY? A DEPARTING ALL BLACK TAKES A SWIPE. TIGER AND RORY SAY GOODBYE AT THE MATCH-PLAY CHAMPS. AND WE CHECK IN ON LYDIA KO. AND MEET 'FIRTHY', AND WHY HE'S BEEN NAMED NZ'S FAVOURITE CRICKET UMPIRE. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. AN OLYMPIC ROWING STAR ALMOST SUFFERED THE ULTIMATE EMBARRASSMENT AS THE NATIONAL FINALS GOT UNDERWAY IN TWIZEL. HAMISH BOND HAS MADE THE PAIR HIS OWN, BUT HE AND SOUTHERN TEAMATE JADE URU WERE PUT UNDER PRESSURE TODAY. ABBY SCOTT HAS ALL THE DRAMA. ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH-SAILING. YOU'VE GOT WIRES RUNNING FROM YOUR FOOT. YOU USE A... A RUDDER ATTACHED TO YOUR FOOT. SO, BASICALLY, JADE WAS SITTING THERE, TURNING HIS FOOT, AND NOTHING WAS HAPPENING, AND THE RUDDER WAS JAMMED SLIGHTLY OFF-CENTRE. SO WE WERE JUST GOING... OFF INTO THE MOUNTAINS. CHASING THEIR FIFTH NATIONAL TITLE AS A COMBINATION, HAMISH BOND AND JADE URU WERE BATTLING A BROKEN BOAT AS WELL AS THEIR OPPONENTS. NORMALLY I'M A PRETTY GOOD STEERER, SO HE WASN'T REALLY` HE WAS KIND OF` HE WAS A BIT WORRIED. THEY WERE PASSED BY EVERYONE. BOND KISSED HIS SIXTH PERSONAL TITLE GOODBYE. TO BE FAIR, I'D GIVEN UP. UM, I THOUGHT THAT WAS TITLE NUMBER SIX SORT OF FLOATING DOWN THE LAKE THERE. I, UM, BUT TO JADE'S CREDIT, HE SORT OF SAID,'NAH, KEEP GOING,' AND, UM, STARTED ROWING. ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT. THAT RACE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WARM-UP FOR THE FOUR BUT ENDED UP BEING... (CHUCKLES) THE HARDEST RACE SO FAR I'VE DONE ALL SEASON. BOND'S OLYMPIC TEAMMATE, ERIC MURRAY, WATCHING FROM THE BANKS. HE'S NEVER BEATEN BOND WHEN RACING AGAINST HIM IN A PAIR. SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT THERE RACING NOW COS I COULD HAVE, UH, CAPITALISED ON THEIR MISTAKE. (CHUCKLES) THE BOAT BREAKAGE JUST THE LATEST HURDLE. NAH, THE LAST FEW DAYS, I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT SICK AND, UM, SO I'VE HAD... THAT WASN'T IDEAL PREPARATION, AND WE CAME BACK, OBVIOUSLY, LATE FOR THE SEASON. DIDN'T START ROWING UNTIL AFTER NEW YEAR'S. SOUTHERN MADE IT A DOUBLE WITH EVE MCFARLANE AND GRACE PRENDERGAST WINNING THE WOMEN'S PAIR. OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST REBECCA SCOWN HAVING TO SETTLE FOR THIRD. THE MEN'S DOUBLE SCULLS SAW OLYMPIC GOLDEN BOY JOSEPH SULLIVAN TAKE OUT THE TOP SPOT WITH ROBBIE MANSON. SECOND PLACE WENT TO SULLIVAN'S OLYMPIC TEAMMATE'S BROTHER, HAYDEN COHEN, AND NATHAN FLANNERY. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. AS THE NZ SUPER RUGBY FRANCHISES START THE NEW SEASON TONIGHT, ONE OF OUR LEADING PLAYERS IS WARNING MODERN-DAY DEMANDS ARE ALMOST TOO MUCH. LOOSE FORWARD ADAM THOMSON ONLY MISSED SIX OF THE HIGHLANDERS' 71 GAMES IN THE LAST FIVE SEASONS. TOSS IN 29 TESTS AND PROVINCIAL RUGBY ` NO WONDER HIS 30-YEAR-OLD BODY IS EAGER FOR AN EASIER TIME IN JAPAN. ADAM THOMPSON IN FOR A DOUBLE! NOW WITH THE CONFERENCE TEAMS ` NZ TEAMS ` PLAYING EACH OTHER TWICE, IT'S LIKE A BATTLE EVERY WEEK, AND TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE GAMES IN A ROW REALLY HAMMERS THE BODY. AND THE EXTENT OF THE COMPETITION, IT'S GETTING LONGER AND HARDER. WHILE HE HAS ANOTHER MONTH OFF BEFORE HEADING TO JAPAN, THE PLAYER WHO TOOK HIS ALL BLACK PLACE, LIAM MESSAM, CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW SEASON TO BEGIN. GETTING EXCITED ABOUT ROUND ONE AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WATCHING AUSTRALIAN TEAMS LAST WEEK, I THINK THE BOYS WERE GETTING A BIT ITCHY TO REALLY START THE COMP. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS WILL BE HOPING HISTORY REPEATS AND THEY EDGE THE HIGHLANDERS AGAIN IN DUNEDIN TONIGHT. THREE DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE OF A DAMNING REPORT INTO THE AUSTRALIAN RELAY SWIM TEAM'S BEHAVIOUR AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS, THE SIX MEMBERS HAVE FRONTED A MEDIA CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY. THE MUCH-TOUTED FREESTYLE TEAM WAS EXPECTED TO WIN GOLD, EVEN CALLING THEMSELVES THE 'WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION'. BUT A REPORT RELEASED EARLIER THIS WEEK CALLED THE TEAM CULTURE TOXIC, WITH INCIDENTS OF DRUNKENNESS, BULLYING AND DOCUMENTED THE ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. IN A BONDING SESSION PRIOR TO THE OLYMPICS, THE SWIMMERS ADMIT TAKING THE SEDATIVE, STILNOX ` A SUBSTANCE BANNED BY THE AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, BUT DENY THIS HAD ANY EFFECT ON THEIR PERFORMANCE. IT WAS JUST A BIT OF A RELIEF FROM ALL THE PRESSURE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST RELAXED US A BIT, I GUESS, AND ALLOWED US TO SHARE SOME STORIES AND HAVE A BIT OF FUN. BUT, LIKE I SAID, COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE IN HINDSIGHT. THE SWIMMERS CLAIM THE BONDING SESSION WAS A TRADITION, THOUGH SWIMMING AUSTRALIA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE. COACH LEE NUGENT AND THE SWIMMERS WILL NOW FACE THE NEWLY FORMED INTEGRITY PANEL. THE TWO BIGGEST NAMES IN GOLF HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF THE SNOW-DELAYED FIRST ROUND OF THE WGC MATCH PLAY CHAMPS IN ARIZONA. WORLD NUMBER ONE RORY MCILROY HAS BEEN BEATEN ONE-UP BY A MUCH LESSER-KNOWN IRISHMAN SHANE LOWRY, WHO'S RANKED 68TH. 'BE RIGHT' WAS THE CALL. 'BE PERFECT' WOULD BE BETTER. AND THREE-TIME MATCH-PLAY CHAMPION TIGER WOODS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED EARLY AS WELL, TWO AND ONE BY CHARLES HOWELL III, WHO HASN'T WON A PGA EVENT IN SIX YEARS. LYDIA KO HAS MADE A SOLID START TO HER SECOND ROUND AT THE THAILAND OPEN, PICKING UP A BIRDIE ON THE THIRD HOLE. THE 15-YEAR-OLD RAN HOT AND COLD IN THE OPENING ROUND AT PATTAYA. THIS THE BEST OF HER FIVE BIRDIES. THERE'S NO PROBLEM THERE AT ALL. THAT IS STRAIGHT IN. SO LYDIA KO GOES TO MINUS-THREE. BUT BACK-TO-BACK BOGIES LATE IN THE ROUND LEFT HER WITH A THREE-UNDER PAR 69 IN A 15-WAY TIE FOR 10TH, BUT SHE'S ROARED UP TO FOURTH TONIGHT. THE BLACKCAPS WANT TO BOWL FIRST IN TOMORROW'S THIRD AND DECIDING ONE-DAYER AGAINST ENGLAND IN AUCKLAND. DESPITE FALLING WELL SHORT OF THE TOURISTS' TOTAL IN THE RECENT T20 LOSS AT EDEN PARK, THE BLACKCAPS BELIEVE CHASING WILL GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE OF AVENGING THEIR T20 SERIES DEFEAT. I GET THE FEELING IT'S A CHASING GROUND. EVEN THOUGH ENGLAND WON THAT GAME, BUT... YEAH, I GUESS YOU NEVER KNOW. IT SEEMS EVERY GROUND IN NZ AT THE MOMENT WITH THE SMALL BOUNDARIES AND PRETTY DECENT WICKETS, CHASING IS NOT A BAD OPTION. THE BLACKCAPS WILL BE WITHOUT MARTIN GUPTILL FOR THE MATCH AND THE UPCOMING TEST SERIES, WITH THE OPENER REQUIRING SURGERY ON HIS INJURED THUMB. ALSO SPENDING SOME QUALITY TIME OUT IN THE MIDDLE AT EDEN PARK TODAY, A 47-YEAR-OLD FONTERRA WORKER FROM THE TARANAKI TOWN OF HAWERA. KIMBERLEE DOWNS WENT TO MEET NZ'S FAVOURITE UMPIRE. PLACE IS A PICTURE, ISN'T IT? IT IS. IT'S LOOKING GOOD. GRASS IS SMOOTHER THAN MY LIVING ROOM CARPET. MEET KERRY FIRTH, BETTER KNOWN AS FIRTHY, AND NOW RECOGNISED AS NZ'S FAVOURITE CRICKET UMPIRE. MY, UM, SON NOMINATED ME. DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND NOT NORMALLY SPEECHLESS, BUT YEAH, STUMBLING AWAY AT THE MOMENT. THE 47-YEAR-OLD HAILS FROM THE TARANAKI TOWN OF HAWERA, WHERE HE WORKS AS FONTERRA'S MILK TREATMENT PLANT MANAGER IN WHAREROA. BUT IT'S NOT HIS DAY JOB THAT'S BROUGHT ON THE RADICAL CHANGE IN LOCATION; IT'S HIS 20-PLUS YEARS OF VOLUNTARY WORK IN THE MIDDLE. AS LONG AS KIDS WANT TO PLAY CRICKET, AND THERE'S A GAME THAT'S SHORT OF AN UMPIRE, THEN ANYONE CAN GIVE ME A CALL. IT'S WHAT CRICKET ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD NEEDS. YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR TIME BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE GAME. AND THEY'RE OUT THERE TO HELP OUT THE KIDS, GET THEM THROUGH A DAY. FIRTH'S DEDICATION REWARDED WITH A SNEAK PEAK OF THE PITCH AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S SERIES DECIDER BETWEEN THE BLACKCAPS AND ENGLAND,... SO HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN HAWERA? NO, NO NOTHING LIKE THAT. ...AS WELL AS THE CHANCE TO MINGLE WITH THE WORLD'S BEST. FOR ME, PREPARATION ` BACON AND EGGS IN THE MORNING, A QUICK CUP OF COFFEE, IN THE CAR, OFF TO THE CRICKET, OUT IN THE MIDDLE. UH, JUST TALKING TO CHRIS GAFFNEY BEFORE, THEY GO THROUGH TWO WHOLE DAYS OF PREPARATION. NO PREPARATION REQUIRED FOR TOMORROW, THOUGH. FIRTH, FOR ONCE, OUT OF THE MIDDLE AND INTO THE STANDS. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. NZ'S SPRINT CYCLE TEAM HAS CLAIMED SILVER AT THE WORLD CHAMPS IN BELARUS. DESPITE POSTING THE FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME, THE MENS' SPRINT TEAM WERE PIPPED BY GERMANY BY LESS THAN A HUNDREDTH OF A SECOND. CAN THEY TAKE THE GOLD? RACING ROUND THE TRACK, THE FINAL 250. IS IT GONNA BE NZ? IS IT GONNA BE GERMANY? WHOA, SO CLOSE ON THE LINE. IT IS A GOLD MEDAL FOR GERMANY. EDDIE DAWKINS WILL BE BACK IN ACTION TOMORROW, ALONG WITH OLYMPIC MEDALLIST SIMON VAN VELTHOOVEN, WHO CLAIMED SILVER YESTERDAY. KIWI DRIVER NICK CASSIDY (18) IS HOPING TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MITCH EVANS, FLYING TO PORTUGAL FOR GP3 PRE-SEASON TESTING. THE NEWS COMES TWO WEEKS AFTER CASSIDY CLAIMED BACK-TO-BACK NZ GRAND PRIX TITLES ` THE YOUNGEST DRIVER EVER TO DO SO. CASSIDY WILL TEST WITH A BRITISH-BASED TEAM THAT ALSO COMPETES IN FORMULA 1. AND FINALLY IN SPORT ` MARINA ERAKOVIC IS THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS AGAIN OF HER FAVOURITE TENNIS TOURNAMENT ` THE US INDOOR CHAMPS IN MEMPHIS. AFTER THE BREAK, KAREN'S BACK WITH YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER. HELLO, AGAIN. WE DID GET A FEW SHOWERS TODAY, AS FORECAST; NOTHING MUCH ` JUST A FEW SPRINKLES FOR EASTERN PARTS FROM KAIKOURA/WELLINGTON THROUGH TO EAST CAPE. THANKS TO ROY PRICE FOR THIS GREAT SHOT OF THE SUNRISE OVER HOUHORA HARBOUR IN NORTHLAND. THIS BRIGHT BAND OF CLOUD IS THE WEAK COLD FRONT THAT FLICKED UP THE EAST COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND TODAY, DROPPING A FEW SHOWERS ON ITS WAY THROUGH. IN BEHIND IT, THE SOUTHERLY FLOW PUSHED SOME OF THIS GREYER LOWER CLOUD ASHORE IN THE EAST. NOTHING MUCH GOING ON IN THE SOUTHERN TASMAN UNDER THE ADVANCING HIGH. BUT THIS LOW UP HERE IS DIRECTING A STRONG SOUTH-EASTERLY AND SOME HEAVY RAIN ONTO SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND AND EASTERN NEW SOUTH WALES. THIS INCOMING HIGH IS ANOTHER BIGGIE ` CENTRAL PRESSURE AROUND 1032 HECTOPASCAL. IT'S SET TO DOMINATE OUR WEATHER THROUGH THE WEEKEND BRINGING MOSTLY FINE WEATHER. THE TAIL OF THIS COLD FRONT MAY FLICK A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS OVER THE FAR SOUTH, AND THE SOUTH TO SOUTH-EAST FLOW AROUND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HIGH MAY DELIVER A FEW SPLASHES TO THE NORTH-EASTERN CORNER OF THE NORTH ISLAND. MAINLY FINE DAY OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND; JUST SOME COASTAL CLOUD AT FIRST. A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS MIXED IN IN THE FAR SOUTH AND AROUND BULLER. MAYBE SOME EARLY FOG PATCHES ABOUT THE WEST COAST. LOTS OF SUNSHINE INTO THE AFTERNOON, WARMING UP INLAND AREAS. SOUTH TO SOUTH-WEST BREEZES. CLOUD AND SHOWERS FOR NORTHERN HAWKE'S BAY AND GISBORNE. THOSE SHOWERS WILL CLEAR AWAY IN THE AFTERNOON. FINE EVERYWHERE ELSE. BRISK SOUTH TO SOUTH-EAST WINDS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ IT WAS THE CRUISE LINER QUEEN ELIZABETH'S FIRST VISIT TO THE PORT OF NAPIER TODAY ` UNDER GREY SKIES. VERY IMPRESSIVE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT. SEE YOU TOMORROW.