HOWDY, EVERYBODY. THE HOT GLASS CEILING REMAINS, WITH THE ANTICYCLONE ROTATING SLOWLY ABOVE US. WANAKA SMOULDERED IN 28 DEGREES TODAY; MURCHISON 29. NOW, THERE IS A BIT OF RAIN COMING IN FOR THURSDAY, BUT OVERALL THE HIGHS ARE THE ALPHA MALES OF THE 2013 SUMMER. THE NUMBERS FOR YOUR PLACE, COMING UP. BUT 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. TRAPPED IN THE TRACKS ` A WOMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR'S HIT BY A TRAIN. WE TALK TO A WITNESS WHO TRIED TO RESCUE HER. WILL THEY MAKE BIG STRIDES? WE HAVE ANALYSIS OF LABOUR'S NEW LINE-UP TO TAKE ON THE GOVERNMENT. THE FROCKS AND SHOCKS ` THE OSCAR WINNERS AND LOSERS ON AND OFF THE RED CARPET. AND WOULD YOU DRY YOUR DISHES WITH THE FACE OF RYAN GOSLING? HIS REACTION TO A KIWI-MADE TEA TOWEL. A WOMAN IS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION IN HOSPITAL TONIGHT AFTER SHE WAS HIT BY A TRAIN WHILE TRAPPED IN HER WHEELCHAIR. ONE NEWS HAS SPOKEN TO A WITNESS WHO FRANTICALLY TRIED TO HELP FREE THE WOMAN AS A FREIGHT TRAIN APPROACHED. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS HAS BEEN AT THE SCENE IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND. BELLS RING THESE OMINOUS WARNING BELLS CAME TOO LATE FOR A YOUNG WOMAN ` CLIPPED BY A TRAIN AND THROWN FROM A WHEELCHAIR WHEN THIS AUCKLAND RAILWAY CROSSING HAD HER TRAPPED. THE WOMAN'S MOBILITY SCOOTER WAS STUCK IN THE TRACKS. THE WOMAN'S MOBILITY SCOOTER WAS STUCK IN THE TRACKS. SHOCKED ONLOOKERS WERE CLEARLY STILL REELING JUST MOMENTS AFTER RESPONDING TO THE URGENT SITUATION AND TRYING DESPERATELY TO HELP. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET HER OFF, AND THEY COULDN'T. SO THEY JUST ENDED UP PUSHING HER CHAIR FORWARD, AND IT GOT STUCK. THE WHEELS WERE REALLY FIRMLY WEDGED. THEY SEEMED TO FIT EXACTLY. THE MOTORISED WHEELCHAIR SO HEAVY, IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT. THERE WAS BLOOD COMING OUT OF HER EAR AND THE LEFT SIDE OF HER HEAD. THE TRAIN DRIVER SAID HE THOUGHT HE'D GOT ALL THREE OF US, BECAUSE WE WERE THAT CLOSE TO THE TRAIN BEFORE HE SAW US DISAPPEAR. THE FEMALE JOGGER WHO TRIED TO HELP JUST SCRAPED OUT OF THE WAY. SHE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. THE WOMAN, WHOSE WHEELCHAIR WAS LEFT A TWISTED MESS, IS CRITICAL AND UNDER CLOSE WATCH. WARNING BELLS HAVE BEEN SOUNDING HERE ALL MORNING. WARNING BELLS HAVE BEEN SOUNDING HERE ALL MORNING. YOU CAN'T MISS THEM. WITNESSES, THOUGH, SAY THE WOMAN WAS CROSSING THE TRACK BEFORE THE BELLS WERE SOUNDING. BUT THAT 40-SECOND WARNING WASN'T ENOUGH. VIVIAN NAYLOR HAS WORKED WITH KIWIRAIL TO ADVISE ON DISABLED ACCESS. SHE VISITED THE SITE WITH ONE NEWS. THE PATH, WHICH WAS UPGRADED IN 2011, IS UNEVEN, WITH LARGE GAPS. IT'S NOT A CROSSING I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYBODY WITH A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT, WHETHER WALKING OR WHEELING, TO CROSS. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME GAP, AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME BUMPING. BUT WE WOULD EXPECT IT TO WORK. MATTIEU MEREAU ESCAPED UNHARMED. HE SAYS HE'S BADLY SHAKEN UP. A MEMBER OF KIWIRAIL STAFF WAS ON SITE THIS AFTERNOON, SUPERVISING EVERY CROSS. VIVIAN NAYLOR WAS ORDERED TO STAY OFF THE CROSSING, WHICH TODAY BROUGHT PEDESTRIANS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO DEATH. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, ONE NEWS. A 30-YEAR VETERAN AND A FORMER PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER ARE AMONG THOSE NOW CHARGED WITH TRYING TO TURN AROUND THE LABOUR PARTY'S FORTUNES. ANNETTE KING MAKES A COMEBACK TO THE FRONT BENCH AND ROOKIE DAVID CLARK IS PROMOTED IN LEADER DAVID SHEARER'S RESHUFFLE. WITH DETAILS, HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN. THIS RESHUFFLE IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THE BEST PERFORMERS POSSIBLE ON TO THE FRONT BENCH TO TAKE TO NATIONAL ON ISSUES LIKE HOUSING, HEALTH EDUCATION THEY NEED TO LAND SOME BLOWS LABOUR HAS STRUGGLED IN THE POLLS THIS YEAR LABOUR'S NEW DREAM TEAM OUT ON PARADE. THIS ADJUSTMENT WILL BE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF OUR FIREPOWER BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. DAVID SHEARER SHOWING, LIKE JOHN KEY WITH HIS CABINET RESHUFFLE, THAT HE'S NOT AFRAID TO TREAD ON TOES. IN A BIG SURPRISE, MR SHEARER HAS BROUGHT BACK THE BATTLE-HARDENED ANNETTE KING TO TAKE ON TONY RYALL IN HEALTH. RISING STAR CHRIS HIPKINS GETS EDUCATION. PHIL TWYFORD RELIEVES MS KING OF HER HOUSING DUTIES. ROOKIE DUNEDIN MP DAVID CLARK IS THE BOLTER, GETTING THE PRIZED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROLE. ON THE OUTER, THOUGH, IS ATTACK DOG TREVOR MALLARD, FALLING TO A POSITION THAT PUTS HIM OUTSIDE CABINET. JOINING HIM IN THE WILDERNESS ARE CHRISTCHURCH MPS LIANNE DALZIEL AND RUTH DYSON, WHILE NANAIA MAHUTA IS STRIPPED OF THE PRIME EDUCATION ROLE. WITH HER DEMOTION, LABOUR IS FORCED TO RELY ON SHANE JONES FOR A MAORI VOICE ON THE FRONT BENCH. HIS PLACE IS BEING HELD OPEN, AWAITING THE OUTCOME OF AN AUDITOR GENERAL'S INQUIRY INTO AN IMMIGRATION CASE HE OVERSAW WHEN A MINISTER. HIS PLACE WOULD BE OPEN TO HIM ONCE THAT REPORT COMES OUT, SHOULD THAT REPORT CLEAR HIM. AS FOR THE RECALLED ANNETTE KING, SHE LOOKS ANYTHING BUT JADED, COMING OUT SWINGING TODAY AT HEALTH MINISTER TONY RYALL. TONY RYALL DOES AND HAS INTIMIDATED THE HEALTH SECTOR. HE'S KEPT THE LID ON IT, HE'S KEPT IT NAILED DOWN. DAVID CLARK WAS STILL IN PRIMARY SCHOOL WHEN ANNETTE KING FIRST ENTERED PARLIAMENT. BUT IF HE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING ON NATIONAL'S BIG-HITTING STEVEN JOYCE, HE'S NOT SHOWING IT. STEVEN JOYCE, WELL, HE'S A TOUGH CUSTOMER, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. I THINK HE'S GOT A SOFT UNDERBELLY. HE'S LEFT HIMSELF OPEN, IN THAT HE HASN'T DELIVERED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. AS FOR WANNABE LEADER DAVID CUNLIFFE, MR SHEARER HAS LEFT HIM UNRANKED AND OUT OF THE TOP 20. BUT THERE WAS A SMALL PEACE GESTURE ` MR CUNLIFFE GIVEN THE ROLE OF REVENUE SPOKESMAN. SO CORIN, HOW BOLD HAS DAVID SHEARER BEEN? I THINK HE'S BEEN REASONABLY BOLD WE HAVEN'T SEEN MOVEMENTS IN THE TOP FIVE, BUT WE'VE SEEN CLARK AND TWYFORD PROMOTED NEW BLOOD COMING THROUGH WHEN YOU DUMP TREVOR MALLARD AND LIANNE DALZIEL DOWN HOUSEHOLD NAMES FROM THE HELEN CLARK ERA THAT'S GOING TO RUFFLE FEATHERS MALLARD IS TALKING UP HIS CHANCES AS A FUTURE ELADER DIVIDED NATURE OF THE CAUCUS ` DAVID CUNLIFFE CHALLENGING FOR LEADER SHEARER HAS GIVEN HIM AN OLIVE BRANCH TO RISE BACK THROUGH THE RANKS HE AND MOST OF HIS SUPPORTERS REMAIN ON THE OUTER SO FAR I THINK SHEARER HAS MADE A GOOD EFFORT CHARGES AGAINST ONE OF THE MEN ACCUSED OF ATTACKING A POLICE OFFICER IN KAWHIA HAVE BEEN DROPPED. JACK MAIKUKU (49) FACED TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULTING CONSTABLE PERRY GRIFFIN LAST MONTH. BUT HIS LAWYER SAYS AFTER REVIEWING FOOTAGE, POLICE NO LONGER BELIEVE HE WAS INVOLVED. ANOTHER MAN STILL FACES CHARGES. PEOPLE IN CHRISTCHURCH ARE A STEP CLOSER TO PAYING HIGHER POWER PRICES TO COVER THE COST OF THE EARTHQUAKE REBUILD. ELECTRICITY COMPANY ORION HAS APPLIED TO THE COMMERCE COMMISSION FOR THE INCREASE, WHICH'LL SEE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD PAYING AN EXTRA $8.70 A MONTH. MIKE THORPE HAS MORE. CANTERBURY HOUSEHOLDS ARE TODAY FACING UP TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF PAYING MORE FOR THEIR POWER. CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL-OWNED POWER PROVIDER ORION PROPOSED TO LIFT MONTHLY ELECTRICITY BILLS BY 5% TO COVER THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD, BUT THEY CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT COMMERCE COMMISSION APPROVAL. THEY'VE GOT 40 DAYS TO CONSIDER OUR APPLICATION, TO MAKE SURE IT COMPLIES AND THAT WE'VE GIVEN ENOUGH INFORMATION TO THEM. AND ROB JAMIESON SAYS ORION'S DONE ITS HOMEWORK TO QUALIFY THEIR BUMPED-UP PRICES. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER ORGANISATION THAT'S HAD TO PRODUCE 2000 PAGES TO JUSTIFY ITS EXPENDITURE, BUT WE'VE GLADLY DONE THAT, AND WE'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT. THE PROPOSED PRICE HIKE IS JUST THAT, A PROPOSAL, AND THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THERE'LL BE ROOM TO MOVE. I EXPECT THERE WILL BE SOME TO-ING AND FRO-ING. THE COMMISSION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL ENDEAVOUR TO GIVE THEM ALL THE ANSWERS. IT'LL BE A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS, I'M SURE. THE COMMERCE COMMISSION WILL NOW CARRY OUT A THOROUGH CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSAL BEFORE MAKING A DECISION IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR. IT WON'T BE UNTIL 1 APRIL 2014 BEFORE THE CHANGES COULD COME INTO EFFECT ` MEANING AT THIS STAGE, THE ONLY EXTRA BITE THIS WINTER IS LIKELY TO COME FROM NATURE. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. THE FAMILY OF A JAPANESE NURSE KILLED IN THE COLLAPSED CTV BUILDING IS ENRUSING HER MEMORY IS KEPT ALIVE. RIKA HYUGA'S PARENTS ARE GIVING SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TAKE UP NURSING. JOY REID WAS AT THE FIRST PRESENTATION. AT THE POLYTECH WHERE RIKA HYUGA HAD HOPED TO BECOME A NZ REGISTERED NURSE, SHE'S INSTEAD HELPING OTHERS REACH HER UNFINISHED GOAL. THIS FUND HAS COME ABOUT AS ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT'S COME OUT OF THE TRAGEDY OF THE EARTHQUAKE. RIKA HYUGA HAD TRAINED AS A NURSE IN JAPAN AND WAS STUDYING ENGLISH BEFORE GETTING REGISTERED AS A NURSE HERE. UNFORTUNATELY THE EARTHQUAKE MEANT THAT DREAM WAS NEVER REALISED. SHE DIED WITH 114 OTHERS IN THE CTV BUILDING. HER JAPANESE PARENTS WERE IN CHRISTCHURCH ON FRIDAY FOR THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY. WHILE THEY PREFER TO STAY IN THE BACKGROUND THEMSELVES, THEY'VE TOLD THE NURSING SCHOOL THEY'RE DETERMINED TO SEE THEIR DAUGHTER'S LEGACY LIVE ON. RIKA LOVED NURSING, AND ONE OF THE AIMS OF THE FUND IS TO LIVE OUT HER VISION, AND HER AMBITION, IN A WAY THAT SHE COULD NEVER DO. TODAY, FOUR NURSING STUDENTS AND TWO JAPANESE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN $2000 EACH, THANKS TO RIKA HYUGA'S PARENTS. I'M VERY HUMBLED. IT'S AN AMAZING GESTURE THIS GENTLEMAN HAS MADE TO KEEP THE MEMORY OF HIS DAUGHTER ALIVE. IT'S SUCH A GREAT PLEASURE TO THINK THAT MONEY CAN GO TOWARDS HELPING ME AND THEN I'M REALLY HELPING THEM IN HELPING THEIR DAUGHTER TO CONTINUE WITH HER NURSING. THE SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED TWICE A YEAR. JOY REID, ONE NEWS. THE BIG AWARDS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN THE PAST HALF HOUR AT HOLLYWOOD'S ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF THE BEST IN MOVIES. FASHION SHORTLY BUT FIRST THE OSCAR WINNERS AND THE QUEST TO MAKE TOMMY LEE JONES LAUGH BEGINS... NOW. FROM THE FIRST JOKE OF THE NIGHT, CONTROVERSIAL HOST SETH MACFARLANE WAS WALKING THE LINE ` WE SAW YOUR BOOBS. OR DANCING IT, AS THE CASE MAY BE. THE NIGHT HAD A THEME. MUSIC WAS A MAJOR FOCUS. HOLLYWOOD'S ELITE PAYING TRIBUTE TO 50 YEARS OF JAMES BOND FILMS. IT'S A RED GAUNTLET, OF SORTS ` HOLLYWOOD'S MOST FAMOUS FACES AND FINEST PHYSIQUES WALK BY MEDIA AND FANS, WITH MORE THAN A BILLION PEOPLE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD. BUT THERE IS ONE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR ` AFTER 84 YEARS OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS, THE ORGANISERS HAVE FINALLY GOT WITH THE REST OF US AND REBRANDED THE AWARDS 'THE OSCARS'. WETA DIGITAL HAD THREE FILMS NOMINATED FOR BEST VISUAL EFFECTS,... AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... 'LIFE OF PI'. ...BUT IT WASN'T WETA'S NIGHT ` 'JAWS' THEME PLAYS OR A NIGHT TO MAKE YOUR SPEECH TOO LONG. MUSIC GETS LOUDER THE PINCHING OF HER DRESS MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A STIR ON THE RED CARPET,... BUT ANNE HATHAWAY SOON HAD ANOTHER REASON TO STAND OUT AS BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS. MISS ANNE HATHAWAY. BEST ACTRESS WAS... JENNIFER LAWRENCE THIS IS NUTS. BEST ACTOR WAS DANIEL DAY LEWIS I'VE RECEIVED MORE THAN MY SHARE OF GOOD FORTUNE IN MY LIFE WHILE BEST FILM WENT TO BEN AFFLECK'S 'ARGO' AFTER HE WAS CONTROVERSIALLY SNUBBED A BEST DIRECTOR NOMINATION. BUT FOR SOME, THE BIGGEST COMPETITION HAPPENED BEFORE THE SHOW, ON THE RED CARPET. JOANNA HUNKIN CHECKS OUT THE OSCAR FROCKS AND SHOCKS. BRINGING SOME GOLDEN GLAMOUR TO THE RED CARPET. BUT THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S OSCARS WAS MORE 'FIFTY SHADES OF GREY'. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE LOTS OF REAL GLITZ AND GLAMOUR, AND IT SEEMED QUITE UNDERSTATED. SOME ADDED A SPLASH OF COLOUR IN RED, WHILE JANE FONDA STEPPED OUT IN THIS BOLD NUMBER. I JUST THOUGHT OF THE BANANA SPLITS, BECAUSE SHE WAS SO BRIGHT YELLOW AND LOOKED LIKE KRYSTLE CARRINGTON FROM 'DYNASTY'. THAT FACE CREAM SHE ADVERTISES MUST REALLY WORK, BECAUSE SHE LOOKS AMAZING. THE BRIDAL LOOK ALSO PROVING POPULAR. I'D LEAVE WHITE ALONE. IF I WAS GOING TO DO THE OSCARS, YOU GO FOR COLOUR, YOU GO FOR DIAMANTES, YOU GO FOR SEQUINS. IT'S THE REAL ONCE-A-YEAR TIME YOU CAN PUSH THE BOAT OUT AND WEAR EVERYTHING AT ONCE. FOLLOWING THAT CUE, THESE AUSSIES CUT A SPARKLING FIGURE. BUT OVERALL THERE WAS A DISTINCT LACK OF BLING ON THIS YEAR'S RED CARPET. THERE WAS A REAL DOWNTURN IN JEWELLERY THIS YEAR. USUALLY THAT GOES WITH THE ECONOMY. IF THE ECONOMY'S NOT IN A GOOD PLACE, THEY TEND TO WEAR DOWN ON THE JEWELS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE THE ECONOMY SEEMS A BIT BETTER. BUT THE JEWELLERY ` THEY'RE MISSING. MAYBE HARRY'S NOT LENDING THEM OUT ANY MORE. I DON'T KNOW. ONE STARLET NOT AFRAID TO ACCESSORISE: THE NIGHT'S YOUNGEST NOMINEE, QUEVENZHANE WALLIS. I LIKED IT, BECAUSE IT WAS SPARKLY AND FLUFFY. WHICH IS AS GOOD A REASON AS ANY. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. OUR US CORRESPONDENT JACK TAME JOINS US NOW FROM THE OSCARS. JACK? MANAGED TO SECURE A SATTELITE BOOKING. YOUR IMPRESSIONS, JACK? YOU HAVE TO GET THE ELBOWS OUT HERE IT'S BEEN A LONG EVENING HOLLYWOOD'S FINEST ARE MAKING THEIR WAY OUT THEY'VE BEEN SITTING DOWN FOR THREE HOURS BUT THE NIGHT IS YOUNG SEVERAL AFTER PARTIES TO GO WE'RE EXPECTING 1500 NOMINEES, WINNERS AND GUESTS AT THE GOVERNOR'S BALLS THE VANITY FAIR AFTER PARTY IS A BIG ONE THE KIWI NOMINEES CAN GO AND CELEBRATE AT A HOBBIT-THEMED PARTY A BIT OF FUN FOR THE KIWIS PLENTY OF TIME FOR WINNERS AND LOSERS ALIKE TO GET TIRED AND EMOTIONAL AND YOU'LL FIND ALL THE WINNERS ON OUR WEBSITE... ONENEWS.CO.NZ COMING UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` WILD WEATHER TEARS ACROSS AUSTRALIA'S EAST COAST LEAVING TOWNS FLOODED AND COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED. THE POPE BLESSES THE MASSES FOR THE LAST TIME AS MORE CONTROVERSY SWIRLS AROUND HIS PAPACY. AND WE MEET THE DUNEDIN WOMEN WHO LEFT THIS DISH IN STITCHES. TINKLING MUSIC Technology today is amazing. Did you know that these can help you answer all of those tricky questions that the kids like to ask, like why is the sky blue? Or why is water wet? I'm Matt, and I'm here to help you find out just how smart your smart devices really are. We'll discover the cool, fun and useful stuff; practical ideas, like how you can save on battery power or use roaming; we'll explore the wonderful world of apps, transforming your device into whatever you'd like it to be; and we'll tackle some of the topics that can sound a little bit tricky, like figuring out the Cloud or using your smartphone as a wireless hotspot, even if you don't know what that is yet. Stick with me and find out about all the incredible things you can do with your technology right now. I'll be here five nights a week with all sorts to show you. And there's a website where you can find out more. So if you're keen to get started, just head to techinasec.co.nz ONE OF NZ'S MOST ACCLAIMED ARTISTS WILL BE FAREWELLED AT A PUBLIC FUNERAL MASS IN DUNEDIN ON THURSDAY. RALPH HOTERE PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY FOLLOWING A SHORT ILLNESS. HIS CAREER SPANNED FIVE DECADES - LAST YEAR HE WAS AWARDED THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST HONOUR, THE ORDER OF NZ. HE WAS A MAN OF INCREDIBLY STRONG PRINCIPLE. HE KNEW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG, AND HE WAS VERY FIRM ON IT, WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE TO RECOGNISE BECAUSE HE WAS A VERY QUIET MAN AS WELL, AND A VERY PRIVATE MAN. MR HOTERE'S FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT DUNEDIN'S ST JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL AT 11 O'CLOCK ON THURSDAY. HIS BODY WILL THEN BE TAKEN TO HIS MARAE IN NORTHLAND FOR A PRIVATE TANGI. 75 FIREFIGHTERS ARE STILL CUTTING FIRE BREAKS AFTER A LARGE SCRUB FIRE NEAR MATAKANA, NORTH OF AUCKLAND. THEY ALSO DAMPENED DOWN HOTSPOTS, HELPED BY THREE HELICOPTERS. THE BLAZE IS UNDER CONTROL BUT PERSISTENT BREEZES ARE CAUSING MINOR FLARE-UPS. WE ARE GETTING SOME GOOD GUSTS COMING THROUGH. THAT'S HELPING US ON ONE FLANK, AND HINDERING US ON ANOTHER FLANK. SO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, UNFORTUNATELY. IT'S EXPECTED FIRE CREWS WILL BE AT THE SITE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. SEVERE WEATHER IS CONTINUING TO WREAK HAVOC ON AUSTRALIA'S EAST COAST, FORCING THOUSANDS TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES. THE TOWN OF KEMPSEY IN NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES IS STILL CUT OFF BY AN INLAND SEA, WHILE ACROSS THE BORDER IN QUEENSLAND THOUSANDS ARE BRACED FOR MORE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL HAS THE LATEST. A WATER SPOUT TWISTS AND TURNS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND AS ANOTHER WHIPS ACROSS THE WHITE WATER, TRIGGERING PANIC AT A LOCAL BEACH. MAN: DON'T GO NEAR THE TWISTER! SEVERE WEATHER IS ONCE AGAIN PUNCHING HOLES IN THE REPUTATION OF THE SO-CALLED 'SUNSHINE STATE'. FORECASTERS SAY THIS LATEST DELUGE IS HEAVY, BUT QUEENSLAND'S TOWNS SHOULD BE SPARED A SECOND FLOODING DISASTER THIS MONTH. AGAIN, THE MESSAGE IS, IF IT'S FLOODED, FORGET IT. DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS CAUSEWAYS OR BRIDGES THAT HAVE GOT FLOODWATERS GOING ACROSS THEM. NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES IS ALSO BEING DRENCHED, PADDOCKS NOW LAKES, WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED TO EVACUATE KEMPSEY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ALONG THE MID-NORTH COAST. MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE AND COUNTLESS ANIMALS REMAIN ISOLATED IN THE STRICKEN REGION TONIGHT. WE NOW MOVE TO GETTING PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCIES OUT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND TO MEDICAL ATTENTION. FURTHER SOUTH, KIAMA LOCALS WITH THE BEST VIEWS WERE MOST EXPOSED TO THE FREAK CYCLONIC WINDS THAT HIT THE SEASIDE TOWN. SEVERAL HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND 170 DAMAGED IN THE MAYHEM. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PLANE CRASH. I CAME OUT AND THERE WAS A HUNK OF ROOF RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY DOOR, ROOFING IRON ALL THE WAY DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. IN SYDNEY, THE CLEAN-UP IN MALABAR WAS MADE ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT BY ASBESTOS IN THE ROOFS THAT WERE PEELED OFF HOMES. AUSTRALIA'S SUMMER OF WILD WEATHER APPEARS TO BE FAR FROM OVER. STEVE MARSHALL, ONE NEWS, SYDNEY. THE OSCAR PISTORIUS CASE HAS TAKEN ANOTHER TURN WITH THE REVELATION THAT HIS BROTHER IS NOW FACING HOMICIDE CHARGES OVER THE DEATH OF A WOMAN IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. CHARGES AGAINST CARL PISTORIUS, A CONSTANT PRESENCE DURING HIS BROTHER'S BAIL HEARING, WERE ORIGINALLY DROPPED AFTER THE INCIDENT IN 2008. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CARL IS INNOCENT, AND THE CHARGE WILL BE CHALLENGED IN COURT. THE PISTORIUS FAMILY IS QUESTIONING THE SUDDEN REINSTATEMENT OF THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHARGES, WHICH COMES JUST A WEEK AFTER THE FORMER LEAD DETECTIVE IN THE CASE WAS ALSO SERVED WITH AN OLD ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. BRITAIN'S MOST SENIOR CATHOLIC CLERIC IS SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF INAPPROPRIATE ACTS. CARDINAL KEITH O'BRIEN HAS DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS, MADE BY THREE PRIESTS AND ONE FORMER PRIEST, WHICH DATE BACK TO THE 1980s. THE CARDINAL'S KNOWN FOR HIS OUTSPOKEN COMMENTS, MOST RECENTLY FOR SUGGESTING PRIESTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MARRY. HE'S EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN ROME LATER THIS WEEK TO TAKE PART IN THE UPCOMING CONCLAVE. DESPITE THE SCANDALS AND CONTROVERSY WHICH PLAGUED HIS PAPACY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAITHFUL HAVE PACKED ST PETER'S SQUARE TO HEAR POPE BENEDICT'S FINAL BLESSING. MANY HELD SIGNS THANKING THE POPE FOR HIS DEVOTION TO THE CHURCH. THE BBC'S ANDREW LITTLE WAS THERE. CHURCH BELLS TOLL A CHURCH BESIEGED BY SCANDAL NEEDS ITS FAITHFUL ALL THE MORE, AND TODAY THEY CAME. ANNA FIORDALISI IS 3�. HER PARENTS, FRANCO AND PATRIZIA, HOPE SHE'LL REMEMBER THIS DAY ALL HER LIFE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE HERE. WE COULDN'T` WE COULDN'T NOT BE HERE. CHEERING IT IS THE LAST TIME THEY'LL SEE POPE BENEDICT DO THIS ` HIS LAST ANGELUS PRAYER. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) HE MADE NO REFERENCE TO THE CRISES THAT HAVE PLAGUED HIS LEADERSHIP, AND THEY NEITHER EXPECTED NOR WANTED HIM TO. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) HE SAID HE WASN'T ABANDONING THE CHURCH, BUT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO SERVE IT IN A WAY BETTER-SUITED TO HIS AGE AND STRENGTH. I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR MANY EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE, AFFECTION, CLOSENESS AND PRAYER WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED IN THESE DAYS. STAND IN THIS SQUARE AMONG THE FAITHFUL, AND THERE'S NO MISTAKING THE DEVOTION POPE BENEDICT NOW INSPIRES. OH, IT'S IMPORTANT. UH, WE WILL REMEMBER FOREVER TO BE HERE, JUST TO SAY BYE. UH, WE LOVE THE POPE, AND WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE, YOU WANT TO BE THERE WHEN HE'S LEAVING. BUT THERE IS SADNESS HERE TOO. SADNESS FOR HIM, AND SADNESS THAT THIS, BY HIS OWN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, IS A CHURCH BESET BY BITTER INFIGHTING AND DAMAGED BY ITS HANDLING OF SUCCESSIVE SEX AND CHILD-ABUSE SCANDALS. 117 CARDINALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEGUN HEADING TO ROME TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ELECTING THE 266TH POPE. ITALY'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S POLITICAL FUTURE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE ITALIAN PEOPLE AFTER CASTING HIS VOTE FOR ANOTHER TERM IN OFFICE. HOWEVER, HIS TRIP TO THE BALLOT BOX WAS UPSTAGED BY THREE TOPLESS FEMINISTS SCREAMING "ENOUGH OF BELUSCONI". THE THREE-TIME PRIME MINISTER WAS FORCED FROM LEADERSHIP IN 2011 AMID ALLEGATIONS OF SEX PARTIES AND THE THREAT OF NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY. MONKS AT A TEMPLE IN NORTH-WEST CHINA ARE CELEBRATING THE COUNTRY'S ANNUAL LANTERN FESTIVAL WITH BUTTER AND COLD WATER. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BUDDHIST FOLLOWERS AND TOURISTS FLOCK TO THE TA'ER TEMPLE EVERY YEAR TO SEE INTRICATE CARVINGS MADE COMPLETELY FROM COLOURED BUTTER BLOCKS. IN ORDER TO STOP THE BUTTER MELTING IN THEIR HANDS THE MONKS MUST CONSTANTLY DUNK THEM IN ICE-COLD WATER. TO THE WEATHER NOW, AND IT'S SHAPING UP ONE OF OUR DRIEST SUMMERS? OTHER THAN A FEW SHOWERS THESE AREAS HAVE HAD NO RAIN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. YOU COULD ALMOST PUT AUCKLAND AND CANTERBURY IN THAT CATEGORY TOO FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THIS WAS HOW IT LOOKED UNDER A NEAR FULL MOON AT 4.30 THIS MORNING AT FOX GLACIER. BACK LATER WITH ANOTHER 'TAKE YOUR WATER BOTTLE' FORECAST. UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` KIWIBANK ANNOUNCES A HUGE PROFIT AS THE HOUSING MARKET KEEPS HEADING UP. IT'S YOUR MONEY; SO WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT PAYING A SWEDISH COMPANY TO HELP INSTALL ULTRA-FAST BROADBAND? AND THANKS TO A DUNEDIN ARTIST, YOU CAN NOW HAVE THIS DISH IN YOUR KITCHEN ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. ? SOME MORE BACKGROUND ON SOLID ENERGY'S FINANCIAL TROUBLES TONIGHT. THE STATE-OWNED MINING COMPANY WENT AHEAD WITH A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION PLAN THREE YEARS AGO, DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT'S DISAPPROVAL. THE PRIME MINISTER ADMITS SOLID ENERGY ASKED FOR A BILLION DOLLAR LOAN BACK IN 2009 TO INVEST IN A RANGE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROJECTS. THE GOVERNMENT SAID NO, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF BLOCKING IT FROM BORROWING MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES. WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO, THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT AT ALL COMFORTABLE WITH IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY WERE GOING WITH THEIR OWN FINANCING ` YOU COULD ARGUE NOT AS COMFORTABLE AS THE COMPANY WAS, BUT THEY WERE WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO DO THAT. THE PRIME MINISTER DOUBTS SOLID ENERGY IS NOW WORTH MORE THAN THE NEARLY $400M DEBT IT'S NOW CARRYING. QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED OVER WHY A EUROPEAN COMPANY WAS HIRED TO HELP WITH THE ULTRA-FAST BROADBAND SET-UP. TELECOMMUNICATIONS GIANT ERICSSON WILL SUPPLY THE DUCTING FOR THE CABLES, BUT THE GREENS SAY NZ FIRMS WERE NEVER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID FOR THE JOB. MATT MCLEAN EXPLAINS. IT'S SET TO REVOLUTIONISE THE WAY WE USE THE INTERNET ` ULTRA-FAST BROADBAND, COMING TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU. BUT THE GREENS CLAIM NZ COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CUT OUT OF THE LOOP. NZ MANUFACTURERS WHO COULD HAVE PRODUCED THIS DUCTING WEREN'T EVER REALLY GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN PITCH FOR THE CONTRACT. KIWI FIRM CHORUS WAS GIVEN THE CONTRACT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ROLL OUT THE BROADBAND NETWORK. THEY, IN TURN, HAVE HIRED SWEDISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY ERICSSON TO SUPPLY FIBRE DUCTING. THE GREENS SAY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT GAVE CHORUS THE CONTRACT, THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE IT A REQUIREMENT THAT NZ COMPANIES WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID FOR THE FIBRE DUCTING WORK. COUNTRIES ` SUCH AS AUSTRALIA, FOR EXAMPLE ` MAKE THAT PART OF POLICY WHEN TENDERING BIG GOVERNMENT JOBS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS NZ TAXPAYER MONEY. AND I THINK MOST NZERS WOULD LIKE NZ COMPANIES TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, AT LEAST, TO TENDER FOR THESE GIANT GOVERNMENT PROJECTS. BUT ERICSSON SAYS IT'S PLANNING ON BUILDING A FACTORY IN PORIRUA, CREATING 30 JOBS FOR LOCALS. LOCATING THE FACILITY IN NZ WILL, OF COURSE, ALLOW US GREATER FLEXIBILITY. BUT EPL, A CHRISTCHURCH-BASED FIBRE DUCTING COMPANY, SAYS IT'S MISSED OUT ON A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. I THINK THE TRAGEDY IS THAT FOR A BUSINESS LIKE US, IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT'S LOST FOR US TO GAIN SOME TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE. CHORUS COULDN'T BE REACHED FOR COMMENT, AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION AND CHORUS IS FREE TO HIRE WHOEVER IT LIKES FOR THE WORK ` WORK THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING ROLLED OUT. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. KIWIBANK HAS INCREASED ITS PROFIT, AND SAYS THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO CUSTOMERS SWITCHING FROM OTHER BANKS. AFTER-TAX PROFIT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF 2012 ROSE TO $58M, FROM $38M A YEAR EARLIER. KIWIBANK NOW HAS 10% OF THE PERSONAL BANKING MARKET AND SAYS IT'S GROWING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MIX OF THAT MARKET SHARE, WE'RE STRONGLY REPRESENTED IN THAT 18-45 AGE GROUP, AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT AGE GROUP FOR OUR FUTURE PROFITABILITY. PAUL BROCK ALSO SAYS HE THINKS HOME MORTGAGE RATES ARE ABOUT AS LOW AS THEY CAN GO, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE SURE. AND THOSE LOW RATES ARE HELPING TO FUEL THE CONTINUING RISE IN HOUSE PRICES AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. A REPORT BY ASB SAYS 59% OF THOSE SURVEYED EXPECT HOUSE PRICES TO RISE IN THE NEXT YEAR, ALTHOUGH JUST 13% THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO BUY. WITH INTEREST RATES THIS LOW, THERE IS A RISK SOME PEOPLE WILL LOAD UP WITH AN AWFUL LOT OF DEBT, EXPECTING INTEREST RATES TO STAY DOWN HERE FOREVER, AND THEN GET STUNG WHEN INTEREST RATES RISE. ONLY A QUARTER OF THOSE SURVEYED BELIEVE INTEREST RATES WILL GO UP IN THE NEXT YEAR, DOWN FROM THE LAST SURVEY. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` A WOMEN REMAINS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER BEING HIT BY A FREIGHT TRAIN IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF MORNINGSIDE WHILE TRAPPED IN HER WHEELCHAIR. TWO NEARBY JOGGERS TRIED TO HELP FREE THE CHAIR FROM THE TRACKS BUT COULDN'T BEFORE THE TRAIN SWEPT THEM ASIDE AND DRAGGED THE WOMAN SEVERAL METRES DOWN THE LINE. AND 'THE LIFE OF PI' HAS BEEN THE BIG WINNER AT TODAY'S OSCARS IN HOLLYWOOD, PICKING UP FIVE AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST DIRECTOR FOR ANG LEE. 'ARGO' WON BEST PICTURE. BUT IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING NIGHT FOR 'THE HOBBIT', FAILING TO WIN A SINGLE ONE OF THE THREE AWARDS IT WAS NOMINATED FOR. A KIWI DESIGNER HAS BECOME AN INTERNET HIT AFTER A TEA TOWEL FEATURING HOLLYWOOD HEARTTHROB RYAN GOSLING WAS PRESENTED TO THE ACTOR. HE WASN'T AS GRACIOUS AS HE COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT AS MAX BANIA DISCOVERED, THAT ISN'T WORRYING ITS CREATOR. AS KIWI OSCAR LINKS GO, THEY DON'T GET MUCH WEIRDER THAN THIS. THERE'S A LADY IN NZ THAT MAKES DISH TOWELS WITH YOUR FACE ON THEM. AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU ONE, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW IT EXISTS. THREE RYAN GOSLINGS ON A DISH TOWEL. (LAUGHS) 'HEY, GIRL, BET YOU'D RATHER BE DOING THESE DISHES.' (SNIGGERS) THAT'S WHAT THIS WOMAN THINKS YOU SAY. IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT THE SUN. < (LAUGHS) I CANT STARE DIRECTLY AT IT. THE 'NOTEBOOK' STAR TOOK HOME MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR FROM AN INTERVIEW FOR HIS LATEST FILM, 'GANGSTER SQUAD'. THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT ` IT IS THE END OF THE WORLD. THEY WERE RIGHT. THIS IS WHAT THEY MEANT. THIS IS WHY THEY STOPPED THE CALENDAR. COS THEY WERE, LIKE, 'YOU KNOW WHAT, 'THEY'RE GONNA START DOING DISH TOWELS ABOUT THAT KNUCKLEHEAD, 'AND IT'S NOT WORTH IT.' WE FOUND THE CLOTH'S CREATOR IN HER DUNEDIN STUDIO, STILL GRAPPLING WITH HER NEW-FOUND FAME. THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, I FELT REALLY MORTIFIED, JUST REALLY EMBARRASSED, BECAUSE HE SEEMED SO EMBARRASSED. I DO THESE DESIGNS TO HONOUR THEM IN SOME WAY, AND BECAUSE IT'S A FUNNY JOKE, I HOPE. AND YOU'VE GOT THIS CONNECTION, THIS AFFINITY WITH RYAN GOSLING NOW. HOW'S THAT? YEAH, IT'S GREAT. I THINK... YEAH, WE'LL PRETTY MUCH BE GETTING MARRIED SOON. COLLEEN'S NO FLASH IN THE PAN. THIS ALL BLACKS TEA TOWEL IS ARCHIVED AT TE PAPA. AS FOR HER NEXT PROJECT... I'VE GOT PLANS TO DO JAMES BOND DISHES. SO THIS MAY NOT BE THE LAST LEADING MAN LEFT LOST FOR WORDS. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND NRL LEAGUE IS STRUCK BY ITS FIRST BIG SCANDAL OF THE NEW SEASON. MORE ON BARBA'S PREDICAMENT NEXT. AS RUGBY MULLS OVER THE STRETCHED POWERS OF THE TV MATCH OFFICIAL, SUPER BOSSES HIT BACK AT CRITICS AFTER WEEK ONE. PLUS ` SHE LED THE BOYS AT THE START, BUT COULD DANICA PATRICK SCORE ANOTHER VICTORY FOR WOMEN IN AMERICA'S MANLY EVENT? AND IS ROWING ABOUT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE, REPEAT HISTORY, AND HAVE EIGHTS AT RIO IN 2016? FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO RUGBY LEAGUE. IT WAS ALMOST INEVITABLE ` A STAR PLAYER HAS BEEN STOOD DOWN BEFORE THE NEW SEASON HAS EVEN BEGUN. THE 2012 PLAYER OF THE YEAR, BULLDOGS FULLBACK BEN BARBA, IS OUT OF THE GAME INDEFINITELY. MARK HATHAWAY REPORTS. LAST YEAR'S SHOOTING STAR, BEN BARBA, CRASHING OUT OF THE NRL INDEFINITELY. BEN NEEDS HELP. HE NEEDS PROFESSIONAL HELP. IT'S UNDERSTOOD GAMBLING ISSUES AND A SPLIT WITH HIS LONG-TIME GIRLFRIEND DERAILED THE MERCURIAL FULLBACK, WHO KICKED OFF 2013 WITH THE FIRST EVER HAT-TRICK FOR THE INDIGENOUS ALL STARS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT BEN WILL GET THOUGH THIS. BUT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, HE NEEDS TO DO SOME GENUINELY HARD WORK AND CONFRONT MANY DIFFICULT PERSONAL ISSUES. AT A TIME WHEN AUSTRALIAN SPORT FACES A PLAGUE OF PROBLEMS, BARBA WAS A SHINING LIGHT IN THE MIRE OF DRUGS AND CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS. HIS STARDOM SHOT WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS LAST YEAR, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND HE'S HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE. HE RELEASED A STATEMENT TODAY APOLOGISING TO THE CLUB, FANS AND HIS FAMILY, INCLUDING HIS TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. THE DALLY M WINNER JOINS A LIST OF PLAYERS STRUCK BY THE CURSE OF BEING THE FACE OF THE NRL. BARBA, DUE TO FRONT THE SEASON LAUNCH ON WEDNESDAY, STRUCK DOWN IN SIMILAR FASHION TO OTHER FALLEN FRONT-MEN BRETT STEWART AND TODD CARNEY. COWBOYS CAPTAIN JONATHAN THURSTON'S BEEN RUSHED INTO THE FRONT-MAN ROLE. REPLACING BARBA NOT SO EASY FOR LAST YEAR'S RUNNERS-UP, THE BULLDOGS. AS A CLUB AND AS A GAME, WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND FOCUS ON BEN BARBA THE PERSON, NOT BEN BARBA THE PLAYER. THE ONE QUESTION FANS WILL WANT TO KNOW IS WHEN WILL BARBA BE BACK? A MORE CONCERNING QUESTION IS WHY ARE SO MANY TOP-LEVEL SPORTSMEN SQUANDERING THEIR DREAMS? MARK HATHAWAY, ONE NEWS. TO SUPER RUGBY, AND THE FIRST FULL WEEKEND OF MATCHES HAS THROWN UP A COUPLE OF ISSUES. THE EXTENDED POWERS OF THE TV MATCH OFFICIAL CAME INTO PLAY AND HAVE CREATED A FAIR AMOUNT OF DEBATE. THE BLUES WERE WORKING OUT THE KINKS TODAY AFTER A SUCCESSFUL START TO THEIR NEW CAMPAIGN. BUT THEY'RE STILL PONDERING THAT CALL AGAINST WINGER FRANK HALAI, WHICH COULD'VE PROVED A LOT MORE COSTLY. AND A YELLOW CARD FOR GOOD MEASURE. COULD YOU SAY IT WAS GOING TO BE A TRY? IN MY OPINION, IT WOULD BE NO. THEIR OPINION WAS YES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A HARSH CALL. THE COACH WAS TODAY CONTACTING COMPETITION OFFICIALS OVER THE PENALTY-TRY DECISION FOR PUSHING THE BALL DEAD INTENTIONALLY. YELLOW... GOLD WOULD HAVE SCORED A TRY. SO, THEREFORE, A PENALTY TRY. HE MADE A DELIBERATE CHOICE TO BAT THE BALL AWAY, RATHER THAN TO TRY TO FORCE THE BALL. SO THE IMPACT IS THAT IS THAT THE ACT IS, BY DEFINITION, FOUL PLAY. THE DECISION ALL PART OF THE NEW, EXTENDED POWERS OF THE TV MATCH OFFICIAL. BRAY DOES ADMIT, THOUGH, THIS BULLS TRY AGAINST THE STORMERS WAS RULED INCORRECTLY. THE TRY-SCORER WAS NEVER PLACED ON-SIDE AFTER THE KICK-THROUGH. THE OTHER ISSUE: BARREN STANDS IN WELLINGTON. ONLY 10,000 WENT TO SEE THE 'CANES-BLUES GAME. I'M NOT SURE EVERYONE'S... (CHUCKLES) READY TO` READY TO GET INTO RUGBY. BUT I'M SURE, COME THE CRUSADERS IN TWO WEEKS, IT'LL BE A PRETTY BIG MATCH. WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE LACK OF NUMBERS IN WELLINGTON ON SATURDAY? YEAH, I WAS, ACTUALLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS AMAZING. I WAS EXPECTING A REALLY FULL HOUSE. BLUES OFFICIALS ARE BUDGETING FOR A CROWD OF OVER 35,000 TO WATCH THEM TAKE ON THE CRUSADERS ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE PAIN OF 2012 AND A DOZEN DEFEATS NOW BECOMING A DISTANT MEMORY. THE HURRICANES ARE SWEATING ON THE RESULTS OF PHYSICAL TESTS ON CAPTAIN CONRAD SMITH, WITH THE STAR CENTRE CLEARED OF CONCUSSION. SMITH WAS IN THE THICK OF IT ON SATURDAY NIGHT ` A HEAD KNOCK IN THE 70TH MINUTE FORCING HIM INTO A PITCH-SIDE CONCUSSION ASSESSMENT. HE FELT FINE AFTER THE GAME WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM. HE WAS VERY CLEAR. BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS DETERMINE HOW BAD A CONCUSSION IS. SMITH NEEDS TO PASS TWO PHYSICAL TESTS TO BE GIVEN THE ALL-CLEAR TO HEAD TO BRISBANE ON WEDNESDAY TO FACE THE REDS. AND ANOTHER SMITH, FORMER WALLABY AND BRUMBIES GREAT GEORGE, IS BEING LINKED WITH A RETURN TO SUPER RUGBY AFTER PLAYING IN FRANCE AND JAPAN. IT'S UNDERSTOOD SMITH WILL CONFIRM A SHORT-TERM DEAL WITH AN AUSTRALIAN FRANCHISE THIS WEEK. AND FROM THE PACE AND POINTS OF SUPER RUGBY TO THE BLEAK SIX NATIONS. IRELAND SCORED THE ONLY TRY OF THIS MORNING'S MATCH AGAINST SCOTLAND. HOWEVER, FOUR PENALTIES TO HALFBACK GREIG LAIDLAW GAVE THE SCOTS A 12-8 VICTORY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE SCOTS HAVE WON BACK-TO-BACK GAMES SINCE 2001. THEY SIT THIRD ON THE TABLE BEHIND ENGLAND AND WALES. FORMER INDYCAR MOTOR RACING STAR DANICA PATRICK MADE HISTORY IN THE DAYTONA 500 TODAY. PATRICK BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO START FROM POLE POSITION IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT RACES. BUT COULD SHE HANG ON TO WIN? HERE'S STEPHEN STUART. RACING'S POSTER GIRL DANICA PATRICK MADE A SHOW-STOPPING ENTRANCE AHEAD OF THE 200-LAPPER AT DAYTONA WHICH IS BILLED AS 'THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE'. DAYTONA OFFICIALS WERE DESPERATE TO AVOID ANY REPEAT OF YESTERDAY'S FINAL-LAP DRAMA WHERE A CAR PLUNGED INTO THE CROWD INJURING 28 PEOPLE. THE DAMAGED FENCING WAS REPLACED OVERNIGHT, AND SEVERAL FANS WHO'D NARROWLY ESCAPED THE DEBRIS RETURNED TODAY, MANY TO SEE HOW PATRICK WOULD FARE AGAINST HARDENED NASCAR DRIVERS. AFTER BEING BEATEN OFF THE POLE, SHE WAS LUCKY TO MISS A HUGE PILEUP ON THE 33RD LAP WHICH TOOK OUT NINE CARS. MORE CARNAGE DOWN TOWARD TURN NUMBER ONE. JUST TRYING TO GET A STOP RIGHT THERE. BUT PATRICK POWERED INTO THE RECORD BOOKS WHEN SHE GRABBED THE LEAD ON LAP 90 ` THE FIRST WOMAN TO ACHIEVE THAT. ANOTHER CRASH FURTHER REDUCED THE FIELD. PATRICK WAS RIGHT IN CONTENTION, SITTING IN THIRD PLACE ON THE FINAL LAP, BUT THE ANTICIPATED FAIRY TALE FINISH NEVER HAPPENED ` OUTMANOUEVRED AS FIVE CARS SWEPT PAST HER AND SHE HAD TO SETTLE FOR EIGHTH, STILL THE BEST EVER RESULT FOR A FEMALE DRIVER. THE DAYTONA 500 GOES TO JIMMIE JOHNSON. I FELT IF WERE TO DIVE LOW ` I HAD A FEELING I WAS GOING TO GET FREIGHT TRAINED. RACE WINNER JIMMIE JOHNSON, WHO HAD ENDURED A MISERABLE RUN AT DAYTONA SINCE WINNING THE EVENT SEVEN YEARS AGO, WAS SIMPLY TOO FAST WHEN IT MATTERED MOST. STEPHEN STUART, ONE NEWS. TWO-TIME WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPION NATHAN NUKU NUKU HAS BEEN RUSHED BACK IN TO THE BLACK SOX JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THEY TRY TO REGAIN THEIR TITLE IN AUCKLAND. NUKU NUKU JOINED THE SQUAD TODAY AS COVER FOR CAPTAIN RHYS CASLEY, WHO'S STILL BEING BOTHERED BY A SHOULDER INJURY. THERE'S A LOT OF YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF JUST THAT HARD-NOSED MONGREL. AND THERE'S PLENTY OF IT IN THERE. IT'S JUST A CASE OF BRINGING IT OUT. THE BLACK SOX OPEN THEIR WORLD CAMPAIGN ON FRIDAY NIGHT. AMERICAN MATT KUCHAR HAS WON THE WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP, BEATING DEFENDING CHAMPION HUNTER MAHAN 2 AND 1 IN THE FINAL IN ARIZONA. KUCHAR CLAIMED HIS FIFTH PGA TOUR TITLE, GOING FOUR HOLES UP EARLY, AND HOLDING OFF MAHAN AS HIS CHALLENGE DRIED UP ON THE 17TH. ONE OF THE MORE EXCITING THINGS WAS SO SEE MY KIDS SAYING, 'WE GET TO TAKE THAT HOME?' IT'S PRETTY REWARDING. KUCHAR WAS ALSO REWARDED WITH THE $1.5M WINNER'S CHEQUE. TO FOOTBALL, AND SWANSEA CITY HAS WON ITS FIRST MAJOR TROPHY AND A SPOT IN NEXT YEAR'S EUROPA LEAGUE AFTER THRASHING FOURTH-TIER SIDE BRADFORD CITY IN THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL. NATHAN DYER GOT THE BALL ROLLING, SCRAMBLING HOME AFTER 15 MINUTES. STRIKER MICHU NEXT AS THE FLOODGATES OPPENED. 2-0, SWANSEA CITY! MICHU, THE RETURN TO DYER.. DYER... AND NATHAN DYER HAS SWANSEA'S THIRD! DYER WAS DENIED A HAT-TRICK WHEN JONATHAN DE GUIZMAN REFUSED TO GIVE UP THE BALL FOR A PENALTY. DE GUIZMAN SLOTTED THE SPOT-KICK, THEN GRABBED ANOTHER TO MAKE IT 5-0. THE CUP IS HEADING TO WALES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE COMPETITION'S HISTORY. NATIONAL ROWING TRIALS ARE LOOMING THIS WEEK AND SELECTORS ARE CONFIDENT THEY HAVE THE TALENT TO FIELD TWO EIGHTS. THE GOAL IS TO SEND A FULL CONTINGENT OF BOATS, INCLUDING TWO EIGHTS, TO RIO, AND FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL CHAMPS THERE'S A FEELING THE DEPTH OF TALENT IS THERE. ABBY SCOTT REPORTS. IT WAS OVER 40 YEARS AGO, BUT THE GOLDEN WIN IS FAR FROM FORGOTTEN. AND NZ HAVE WON THE GOLD MEDAL! IT'S THE ONE QUESTION WE GET ASKED ALL THE TIME: WHEN ARE WE HAVING AN EIGHT? THE ANSWER COULD BE: VERY SOON. OUR AIM IS TO TRY AND HAVE 14 BOATS AT RIO, AND 14 BOATS INCLUDES TWO EIGHTS. RECENTLY NZ ROWING HAS HAD A SMALL BOAT STRATEGY THAT'S PAID OFF, BUT SELECTORS SAY WITH THE YOUNG TALENT THEY SAW AT THE RECENT NATIONALS, EIGHTS ARE MORE REALISTIC THAN EVER. I'M REALLY REALLY STRONGLY COMMITTED TO IT, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE LOWER RANKS. THE TRICK IS KEEPING ANY DEVELOPMENT EIGHT TOGETHER. GETTING YOUNG TALENT LIKE EVE MCFARLAND AND GRACE PRENDERGAST TO COMMIT TO AN EIGHT OVER THE GLORY OF A SMALLER BOAT. I THINK I'D PREFER THE PAIR AT THIS STAGE. BUT WHO KNOWS, IT'S A WEE WAY OFF. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. UNTIL NZ ROWING COMMITS OUR BEST ROWERS TO AN EIGHT, IT WILL ALWAYS FEEL LIKE A CONSOLATION CREW FOR OUR ATHLETES. OUR MEN'S EIGHT MISSED QUALIFYING FOR LONDON BY FOUR SECONDS, BUT THE PERFORMANCE WOULD HAVE TO JUSTIFY THE SPEND. THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO GET MAXIMUM BANG FROM YOUR FUNDING BUCK, A DOUBLE WILL COST ABOUT $60,000 TO GET TO EUROPE FOR COMPETITION. WHEREAS AN EIGHT, LIKE THIS ONE, FILLED WITH PEOPLE WILL SET YOU BACK MORE THAN QUARTER OF A MILLION. SELECTORS ARE ADAMANT IF THE TALENT IS THERE, IT'S MONEY THEY'D FIND SOMEWHERE. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. THANKS, ANDREW. AFTER THE BREAK, JIM'S FORECASTING A HOT DAY FOR WAIKATO AND CANTERBURY. WEATHER'S NEXT. HI AGAIN. TROPICAL CYCLONE RUSTY IS CLOSING IN ON NORTH-WEST AUSTRALIA, BUT NO SUCH LUCK HERE. NO SIGN OF ANY RAIN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK, BAR A FEW SHOWERS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ NAPIER'S HAD A FAIRLY CLOUDY SUMMER, THANKS TO THE EASTERLIES. BUT THE CRUISE LINERS KEEP COMING. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR MONDAY. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR MONDAY.