DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. PIKE RIVER FAMILIES PUSH FOR PROGRESS AT A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY IN THEIR CAMPAIGN TO RECOVER THE MINERS' BODIES. FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES REMEMBER VETERAN BROADCASTER PHILLIP LEISHMAN, WHO LOST HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER OVERNIGHT. RICKI HERBERT RESIGNS AS HEAD COACH OF THE BOTTOM-OF-THE-TABLE WELLINGTON PHOENIX. AS WE GO TO AIR, A SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE RE-ENTRY TO THE PIKE RIVER MINE IS WINDING UP IN CHRISTCHURCH. FAMILIES OF THE MEN WHO DIED THERE TWO YEARS AGO ARE HOPING SOLID ENERGY AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN HELP THEM IN THEIR PUSH TO REGAIN ENTRY AND RECOVER THE BODIES. ONE NEWS REPORTER ALI PUGH JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM SOLID ENERGY IN CHRISTCHURCH. IN THE PAST 10 MINUTES THE MEETING HAS WRAPPED UP. THEY'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 7AM. A REPRESENTATIVE RUSHED THIS STATEMENT TO ME. THE EXPERTS HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE EXPLORING THE MAIN ENTRY TUNNELL. THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR THE FAMILIES. THE WORKING GROUP IS STILL UPSTAIRS. THEY'RE LOOKING AT TWO OPTIONS. THEY'RE TO DECIDE ON A PREFERRED METHOD. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO NEEDS TO SIGN THIS OFF. THE GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO THIS. A HAPPY DAY FOR THE FAMILIES. WE'LL SPEAK TO THEM SHORTLY. THANKS, ALI PUGH, LIVE FROM CHRISTCHURCH. LEGAL ACTION IS NOW LOOMING OVER THE NOVOPAY DEBACLE. TEACHING UNION THE PPTA SAYS IT'S LAUNCHING THE LEGAL ACTION ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBERS BECAUSE ITS PATIENCE WITH THE FLAWED PAYROL SYSTEM HAS ALL BUT RUN OUT. IT SAYS IT'S FRUSTRATED BY THE CONTINUING LACK OF PLANS TO HELP SCHOOLS AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEMS. THE UNION SAYS IT'S TALKING WITH ITS LAWYERS ABOUT THE BEST TYPE OF LEGAL CASE TO TAKE. IT SAYS IT WOULD TRADITIONALLY TAKE ACTION AGAINST SCHOOL BOARDS AS EMPLOYERS, BUT RECOGNISES THAT BOARDS ARE JUST AS FRUSTRATED BY THE ONGOING ISSUES WITH NOVOPAY AS THEIR STAFF. THERE ARE MORE CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS ABOUT DIRTY TACTICS SURROUNDING THE JAPANESE WHALING SEASON IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. JAPANESE WHALERS HAVE RELEASED NEW PICTURES WHICH THEY SAY SHOW ANTI-WHALING GROUP SEA SHEPHERD'S VESSEL RAMMING THE HARPOON SHIP TO HAMPER ITS REFUELLING. ALARM BLARES, MAN SPEAKS JAPANESE THE WHALING GROUP SAYS THE SEA SHEPHERD BOAT COLLIDED WITH ITS VESSELS AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. FOR ITS PART, THE SEA SHEPHERD GROUP CLAIMS IT WAS RAMMED BY THE JAPANESE, WHO ALSO LET OFF A CONCUSSION GRENADE. IT FOLLOWS A SIMILAR CONFRONTATION LAST WEEK, AND THE PRIME MINISTER HAS THIS MORNING CALLED FOR COOL HEADS TO PREVAIL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BATTLE. FUNDAMENTALLY, THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND TREACHEROUS WATERS. WE CAN'T PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT IF SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG THERE, AND WE THINK COOL HEADS SHOULD PREVAIL. NZ'S MADE ITS VIEWS VERY CLEAR, UH, IN RELATION TO, UH, WHALING. UH, WE ARE NOT A PARTY DIRECTLY TO THE CASE THAT THE AUSTRALIANS ARE BRINGING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, BUT WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT PROCESS, AND MY VIEW WOULD BE WE'D LIKE TO SEE AN END TO SCIENTIFIC WHALING, UH, IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS WATCHING THE SITUATION CLOSELY. 12 CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOLCHILDREN HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER REPORTEDLY SWALLOWING AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF PILLS. THEY WERE TAKEN TO CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FROM NORTHCOTE SCHOOL SHORTLY AFTER 10 THIS MORNING. THE CHILDREN, AGED BETWEEN 7 AND 9, COMPLAINED OF STOMACH PAINS, ALTHOUGH NONE OF THE 12 ARE BELIEVED TO BE IN A SERIOUS CONDITION. THEY'LL STAY IN CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL TO BE WATCHED. THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE AT THE TOP FOR NZ'S TOP CLUB FOOTBALL SIDE, THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX, AS THEY LANGUISH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE A-LEAGUE. RICKI HERBERT HAS TODAY RESIGNED AS HEAD COACH. ONE NEWS REPORTER SIMON BRADWELL JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM WELLINGTON WITH DETAILS. A SAD DAY FOR THE PHOENIX FANS. HERBERT IS POPULAR HERE. BUT HE'S RESIGNED SO HE CAN FOCUS ON HIS JOB AS THE ALL WHITES COACH. BUT ALSO A SENSE OF INEVITABLILITY ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. SO, SIMON, WHEN'S THE NEXT GAME FOR THE PHOENIX, AND WHO'LL BE RUNNING THE SHOW? CHRIS GREENACRE, ASSISTANT COACH, WILL STEP UP. THANKS, SIMON BRADWELL, LIVE FROM WELLINGTON. RAILWAY CROSSINGS WILL NOW BE CHECKED MORE REGULARLY FOLLOWING AN HORRIFIC ACCIDENT AT AN AUCKLAND LEVEL CROSSING. A YOUNG WOMAN REMAINS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER HER ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR BECAME STUCK IN THE TRACKS AND SHE WAS HIT BY A FREIGHT TRAIN. PASSERS-BY RUSHED TO THE YOUNG WOMAN'S AID, BUT WERE UNABLE TO FREE HER BEFORE SHE WAS CLIPPED BY THE ENGINE AND THROWN FROM HER WHEELCHAIR. THE PATH ACROSS THE MORNINGSIDE TRACK WAS UNEVEN AND HAD LARGE GAPS, WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN TEMPORARILY FIXED. ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST ENDURING TELEVISION PRESENTERS, PHILLIP LEISHMAN, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 61. HE FIRST APPEARED ON OUR SCREENS IN 1971, AND IN A LONG-LASTING CAREER, WAS STILL WORKING ON HIS GOLF SHOW TILL LATE LAST YEAR. FIVE MINUTES TO KICK-OFF, AND THE STAGE IS SET FOR A DRAMATIC FIRST TEST MATCH BETWEEN PHIL BENNETT'S 1977 LIONS AND TANE NORTON'S ALL BLACKS. FROM HIS START IN SPORTS, HE WAS ALWAYS A VIEWERS' FAVOURITE, AND MADE SURE HE LOOKED THE PART. ALWAYS VERY PROUD OF HIS BIG BOUFFANT HAIRDO, AND HE USED TO TEASE SOME OF US MORE RUGGED AND RAGGED-LOOKING CHARACTERS WITH THE LITTLE CREED THAT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY ON TV, IT'S HOW YOU LOOK. PHILLIP UNASHAMEDLY LIKED THE CAMERA, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CAMERA LOVED PHILLIP. HE REALLY MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN 1976. THE FIRST EVER OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY TO BE SHOWN LIVE IN NZ HAD MAJOR SOUND PROBLEMS. IN A WELLINGTON STUDIO, PHILLIP PARROTED INFORMATION GIVEN TO HIM ON THE PHONE BY KEITH QUINN IN MONTREAL. HE GOT ALL THE PRAISE; I DID ALL THE WORK, AND GOT NONE. AND, UH, HE NEVER REALLY LET ME FORGET THAT. AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS IN SPORTS, HE MOVED TO LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT AND THE GAME SHOW WHEEL OF FORTUNE. HI, EVERYONE. WELCOME ALONG. YES, IT IS CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE TIME. JULIAN MOUNTER WAS THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL AT THE TIME, OR THE HEAD OF TV ONE. HE COULDN'T BELIEVE I WOULD DO A GAME SHOW. HE WAS A BIT PATRONISING, 'OH, STAY IN SPORT. DON'T DO GAME SHOWS.' BUT THE MONEY WAS PRETTY ATTRACTIVE. BUT I ACTUALLY LOVED THE CHALLENGE OF WHEEL OF FORTUNE, BECAUSE EVERY DAY YOU HAD TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT PATTER. LATER THERE WAS A TRAVEL SHOW, AND ONCE A MISS NZ SHOW. THEN FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, A GOLF PROGRAMME, WHERE HE TRAVELLED THE WORLD AND TALKED TO THE GAME'S BEST. PHILLIP LEISHMAN WAS A CHARMING AND GENIAL MAN WHO VIEWERS LOVED FOR 40 YEARS. IN THIS INDUSTRY, YOU CAN'T ASK FOR MUCH MORE THAN THAT. HE'S SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, MICHELLE, AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN. NORTHLAND FARMERS STRUGGLING THROUGH ONE OF THE DRIEST SUMMERS IN YEARS HAVE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO DECLARE A DROUGHT IN THE REGION. FARMERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RURAL SUPPORT WORKERS HELD A TELECONFERENCE THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF THE LONG STRETCH OF SUNNY DAYS. THEY'VE ASKED THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY TO DECLARE WHAT'S CALLED A MEDIUM-SCALE ADVERSE WEATHER EVENT. THAT WOULD TRIGGER A RANGE OF RELIEF MEASURES FOR NORTHLAND FARMERS, INCLUDING ECONOMIC AID. FURTHER WATER RESTRICTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE KAIPARA REGION IN NORTHLAND AS THE BIG DRY CONTINUES. TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS. OIL GIANT BP HAS GONE ON TRIAL IN NEW ORLEANS OVER THE WORST ENVIRONMENTAL OFFSHORE DISASTER IN US HISTORY ` THE DEEPWATER HORIZON LEAK IN 2010. THE TRIAL WILL DETERMINE THE CAUSES OF THE EXPLOSION THAT LED TO THE SPILL AND DECIDE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE. THE ACCIDENT CLAIMED 11 LIVES AND RELEASED AN ESTIMATED 4 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. IT WILL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND COSTLIEST TRIALS IN DECADES AND COULD RESULT IN THE BIGGEST CIVIL FINE IN HISTORY. THEY'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY'LL GET A RESULT... WHICH WILL BOTH MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO RESTORE THE COAST ` ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA SEE ` BUT ALSO SEND A VERY POWERFUL SIGNAL TO EVERY OPERATOR IN THE GULF, EVERY COMPANY THAT'S DOING BUSINESS OUT THERE, THAT THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO CUT CORNERS TO TRY AND SAVE A BUCK TO DESTROY THE COAST IN THE MEANTIME. BUT SOME EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING BP WILL SETTLE OUT OF COURT BEFORE THE CASE WRAPS UP. THE BODY OF AN UNKNOWN NZ SOLDIER WHO LAY IN AN UNMARKED GRAVE IN BELGIUM FOR NEARLY A CENTURY IS FINALLY RECEIVING A PROPER BURIAL. THIS REPORT FROM EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY IN BELGIUM. FOR MORE THAN 95 YEARS AN UNKNOWN NZ SOLDIER HAS LAIN IN AN UNMARKED GRAVE IN THESE FROZEN FIELDS. AND SO IT'S TO THIS COLD, COLD PLACE THEY'VE COME TODAY TO GIVE HIM A PROPER BURIAL. NOT MUCH IS KNOWN ABOUT HIM. FROM HIS MARKINGS, HE MAY HAVE COME FROM THE CANTERBURY OR OTAGO REGION, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION OF THE BATTLEFIELD AND THE MAYHEM AND CARNAGE THAT WAS WROUGHT HERE, AND THE PASSAGE OF NEARLY A CENTURY, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW. THEY TRIED WITH FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND OTHER SOURCES TO NARROW IT DOWN TO FIVE POSSIBLE NAMES, BUT IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO IS LYING HERE. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM, AS WELL AS NZ, AUSTRALIA, THE LOCAL BELGIAN COMMUNITY, FROM GREAT BRITAIN, FROM GERMANY, FROM SOUTH AFRICA, BECAUSE THEY'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED ONE OF THEIR OWN, AND THEY NEEDED TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THIS IS DONE. IT WAS A SOLEMN SERVICE, AND ONE THAT REMINDS EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE ON THE EVE OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF WORLD WAR I, WHEN THERE WILL BE FOUR YEARS OF COMMEMORATION STRETCHING RIGHT ACROSS THE WESTERN FRONT HERE ` A TIME FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE WHO DIED. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, MESSINES. EARLY RESULTS FROM ITALY'S ELECTION SUGGEST THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT MAY SPLIT BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT, CREATING NEW ANXIETY FOR THE EUROZONE. PROJECTIONS SHOW FORMER PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI LEADING THE POWERFUL SENATE, WHILE THE CENTRE LEFT IS POISED TO TAKE THE LOWER HOUSE. THE CENTRE LEFT WAS PICKED TO EASILY WIN THE ELECTION. SILVIO BERLUSCONI IS FACING TRIAL FOR HAVING SEX WITH AN UNDERAGE PROSTITUTE AND HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY A STRING OF SCANDALS. BRITAIN'S MOST SENIOR ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERIC HAS RESIGNED. AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS PRIESTS. CARDINAL KEITH O'BRIEN IS STEPPING DOWN AS LEADER OF THE SCOTTISH CATHOLIC CHURCH. HE'S CONTESTING CLAIMS BY FOUR PRIESTS THAT HE MADE INAPPROPRIATE APPROACHES TO THEM DURING LATE-NIGHT PRAYERS OR MEETINGS. BUT, IN A STATEMENT, HE APOLOGISED TO THOSE HE HAD OFFENDED FOR 'FAILURES' DURING HIS MINISTRY. HE WAS DUE TO TAKE PART IN ELECTING A NEW POPE. HE NOW WON'T, MEANING BRITAIN WON'T BE REPRESENTED IN THE PROCESS. IT'S THOUGHT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE BECOME REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY SINCE THE UPRISING IN SYRIA BEGAN NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO. TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PLIGHT OF THE MOST VULNERABLE ` THE CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM HAVE WITNESSED THEIR PARENTS AND RELATIVES KILLED IN WHAT IS NOW A CIVIL WAR. THE BBC'S IAN PANNELL WENT TO NORTHERN SYRIA TO MEET SOME OF THEM. HIGH ON A CLIFF FACE IN A BEAUTIFUL VALLEY, TWO SMALL CHILDREN LEAD THE WAY TO THEIR NEW HOME. THEY WERE FORCED TO RUN AWAY FROM THEIR VILLAGE WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED BY GOVERNMENT FORCES. SO THIS IS NOW WHERE THEY LIVE ` IN A CAVE. IT'S COLD, DIRTY AND DAMP INSIDE. THEY'VE BEEN LIVING LIKE THIS FOR WEEKS, UNABLE TO ESCAPE ACROSS THE BORDER, TOO AFRAID TO RETURN HOME. AND THE DAYS ARE SPENT GATHERING WATER AND WOOD AND JUST TRYING TO KEEP WARM. WOMAN SPEAKS ARABIC TRANSLATOR: THE WORLD'S FORGOTTEN ABOUT US. THIS ISN'T A HOME. MILLIONS OF SYRIANS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES BY THE WAR. MANY HAVE FLED ACROSS THE BORDERS TO SAFETY, BUT MOST ARE TRAPPED ` REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THE WORLD HAS PLEDGED MILLIONS OF POUNDS IN FOREIGN AID, BUT VERY FEW WE MET HAD RECEIVED ANY OF IT. AND IN A CONFLICT WHERE ROCKETS ARE FIRED AT WILL, THEY'RE NEVER REALLY SAFE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE, WATCH THE GIRL'S HANDS CLENCH IN FEAR AS THE AREA IS SUDDENLY ATTACKED. BOMBS BLAST IN DISTANCE TRANSLATOR: WE HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE FOR LOTS OF THINGS. WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. WE WERE TAKEN TO SEE ANOTHER TUNNEL IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ORCHARD, AN OLD ROMAN BURIAL CHAMBER. THERE IN THE GLOOM WERE SEVEN SMALL BOYS IN HIDING. THEIR FATHER HAD BEEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING AND THEIR MOTHER HAD GONE LOOKING FOR FOOD. BUT THAT WAS HOURS AGO, AND THE BOYS WERE STILL WAITING ` COLD, HUNGRY AND SCARED. THE BOYS ASKED WHEN THEIR MUM WOULD BE COMING BACK. IT WAS AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION TO ANSWER. AND AS WE LEFT, THEY SAT STARING AT THE ENTRANCE, WAITING. AN OPERATION IS UNDERWAY TO RESCUE BRITISH EXPLORER SIR RANULPH FIENNES FROM AN EXPEDITION IN ANTARCTICA. THE 68-YEAR-OLD WAS INJURED WHEN HE FELL DURING SKIING TRAINING. HE USED HIS BARE HANDS TO FIX A SKI BINDING IN TEMPERATURES OF AROUND MINUS-30 DEGREES AND SUFFERED FROSTBITE. HIS EVACUATION TO SOUTH AFRICA IS BEING HAMPERED BY BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. HIS FIVE TEAMMATES ARE STILL PLANNING TO EMBARK ON A 3000KM TREK ACROSS THE CONTINENT DURING THE FREEZING WINTER. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. THEN IN SPORT ` WHY BEN BARBA IS OUT OF RUGBY LEAGUE INDEFINITELY. IN NEWS JUST IN, THE LABOUR MINISTER HAS ANOUNCED THE MINIMUM WAGE IS TO RISE. SIMON BRIDGES SAYS IT WILL GO UP 25C AN HOUR TO $13.75. THE TRAINING AND NEW ENTRANTS' MINIMUM WAGES WILL INCREASE FROM $10.80 TO $11, 80% OF THE ADULT MINIMUM WAGE. NOW TODAY'S MARKET NUMBERS. WITH ME NOW IS ANNE HARE FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. TOWER SELLS ITS INVESTMENT BUSINESS? THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. IT'S SOLD TO FISHER FUNDS FOR 79 MILLION. WE'VE YET TO KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN TO THE PROCEEDS. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR INDICATED HE'D LKE TO FOCUS ON FIRE AND GENERAL . IN AUSTRALIA, QBE INSURANCE WITH A FULL-YEAR RESULT? NET PROFIT UP 8%. 761 MILLION. THEY WERE BELOW GUIDANCE PARTLY DUE TO DISASTERS IN THE US LAST YEAR. THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THEIR PROFIT MARGIN. ON THE GOOD NEWS SIDE, INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE UP. AND A SOLID LIFT IN PROFIT FOR DELEGATS WINES? HALF-YEAR RESULT CAME UP WITH NET PROFIT UP 31% THEY'RE STILL IN LINE FOR THE FULL YEAR. THANK YOU, ANNE HARE, FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. MIDDAY SPORT. FOOTBALL COMMENTATORS BELIEVE RICKI HERBERT'S DEPARTURE AS THE PHOENIX HEAD COACH TODAY WAS INEVITABLE GIVEN THE POOR RESULTS OF THE BOTTOM PLACED A-LEAGUE CLUB. BUT, AS WE'VE HEARD. HE'LL REMAIN AS ALL WHITES COACH. MEANWHILE, IN ENGLAND, ALL WHITE WINSTON REID'S WEST HAM UNITED HAVE MARKED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CLUB LEGEND BOOBY MOORE'S DEATH HAVE MARKED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CLUB LEGEND BOBBY MOORE'S DEATH WITH A 3-2 PREMIER LEAGUE LOSS TO TOTTENHAM. SPURS SCORED FIRST THROUGH WINGER GARETH BALE BEFORE WEST HAM DREW LEVEL AND THEN TOOK THE LEAD. AND HE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO THE HAMMERS' FANS. HOWEVER, A GOAL-MOUTH SCRAMBLE GAVE SPURS THEIR SECOND BEFORE A BALE BOMB BROKE THE HAMMERS' HEARTS. A SHOT LIKE THAT! AMAZING, EVEN BY HIS STANDARDS. THE WIN LIFTS TOTTENHAM TO THIRD ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE. MAJOR CHANGES TODAY IN THE CAREER PATH OF UP-AND-COMING HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER JOSEPH PARKER. WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSMAN SIR BOB JONES HAS DECIDED TO STAND DOWN AS PARKER'S MANAGER AND ADVISOR. THE PAIR HAD WORKED TOGETHER FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. PARKER HAS ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL FIGHT IN CHRISTCHURCH ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND ALSO A BOUT IN AUCKLAND NEXT MONTH. ONE NEWS UNDERSTANDS HE'S THEN HEADING OFF TO LAS VEGAS TO TRAIN WITH KEVIN BARRY, THE FORMER TRAINER-MANAGER OF DAVID TUA. JUST 10 DAYS OUT FROM THE START OF THE NRL SEASON, ONE OF THE GAME'S BRIGHTEST STARS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY. BULLDOGS' FULLBACK BEN BARBA IS BATTLING A NUMBER OF PERSONAL ISSUES, AND HIS CLUB SAYS HE NEEDS PROFESSIONAL HELP. THIS FROM CHANNEL NINE'S DANNY WEIDLER. IT'S NOT JUST THE BULLDOGS WILL BE HURTING TONIGHT. IT'S KIDS EVERYWHERE WHO WORSHIP THE LITTLE MAN WHO GREW TO BECOME THE GAME'S BIGGEST STAR. HIS RISE TO THE TOP LAST SEASON WAS ONE OF THE GAME'S GREAT STORIES. HIS DEMISE A SPORTING TRAGEDY. DON'T THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THIS IS NOTHING OTHER THAN DRASTIC ACTION. WE'VE JUST SUSPENDED THE DALLY M PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND THE PIN-UP BOY OF THE GAME FOR 2013. THE CURSE OF BEING THE FACE OF THE GAME IS NOTHING NEW. BRETT STEWART, TODD CARNEY AND EVEN BENJI MARSHALL HAVE RUN INTO TROUBLE AFTER BEING PUT FORWARD AS THE PLAYER TO LOOK UP TO. TODAY THE DOGS GOT ON THE FRONT FOOT AND MADE BARBA'S PERSONAL TURMOIL PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT GAMBLING. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. IN A STATEMENT, BARBA SAID... THIS WAS BARBA AND CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART AINSLIE CURRIE IN HAPPIER TIMES. I'M GLAD SHE'S HOLDING ON TO MY ARM. BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE PRIVATELY FOR SOME TIME, AND HE MADE IT PUBLIC THROUGH POSTS ON INSTAGRAM BY DECLARING HIS LOVE FOR LAURAN TWEDDLE. THIS ANGERED CURRIE, THE MOTHER OF HIS TWO CHILDREN, WHO LABELLED TWEDDLE A HOMEWRECKER. ON THE WEEKEND, HE WAS OUT CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF DALY CHERRY-EVANS' FIRST CHILD, AND THE DOGS DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. ON THE FIELD, THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF BARBA'S DEMONS, SCORING THREE TRIES FOR THE INDIGENOUS ALL-STARS JUST A FORTNIGHT AGO. NO ONE IS SURE WHEN WE'LL SEE HIS MAGIC AGAIN. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR AFTERNOON WEATHER. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND JOHN LING CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013