HELLO, EVERYONE. WHAT A TOPSY-TURVY AUTUMN WE'RE GETTING AT THE MOMENT. FROSTS DROVE PUKAKI DOWN TO NEGATIVE-5 OVER NIGHT, AND THEN KAITAIA SOARED TO 23 DEGREES UNDER WARM, SUNNY SKIES BY DAY. AND NOW A HUGE RAIN FACTORY IS TUMBLING OUT OF THE TASMAN SEA, BOUND FOR CENTRAL NZ. SO WE HAVE WEATHER WATCHES JUST AHEAD IN YOUR FORECASTS, 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. A FAMILY'S RELIEF ` ALL SING A MAN'S CONVICTED OF A MURDER THREE DECADES AGO, BUT NOT EVERYONE'S HAPPY. A COMMUNITY'S ANGER AT SYNTHETIC CANNABIS SELLERS ` THE PROTESTERS PUTTING PRESSURE ON SHOPKEEPERS. ROOMS WITH A VIEW ` THE HIGH-RISE HOTEL THAT'S ANOTHER SIGN CHRISTCHURCH IS BACK IN BUSINESS. AND A FRIGHTENING SIGHT ` SO WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THIS CARGO PLANE PLUNGE? A PENSIONER'S BEHIND BARS TONIGHT FOR A MURDER NEARLY 34 YEARS AGO. IT TOOK A JURY JUST OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF TO CONVICT MENZIES HALLETT OF THE KILLING AT A PETROL STATION. SHORTLY, RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS HAS REACTION FROM PEOPLE IN TURANGI WHO KNEW THE VICTIM, RODNEY TAHU. BUT FIRST, HER REPORT FROM THE HIGH COURT TRIAL IN ROTORUA. ALL SING WAIATA A SPONTANEOUS TRIBUTE FOR A MUCH-LOVED MAN MURDERED IN A RANDOM ACT OF ANGER. HE WAS A GOOD BLOKE. HE WAS A MAN WHO WORKED HARD AND WAS WELL RESPECTED IN HIS COMMUNITY. RODNEY TAHU'S FAMILY HAVE WAITED NEARLY 34 YEARS FOR A CONVICTION. IT CAME IN LITTLE OVER 90 MINUTES. YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF THE CHARGE OF MURDER. TAUPO PENSIONER MENZIES HALLETT WAS 38 YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRED AT RODNEY TAHU THREE TIMES, STANDING OVER THE PETROL STATION ATTENDANT AS HE LAY ON THE FORECOURT AND DELIVERING THE FATAL SHOT TO HIS HEAD. HE WAS ANGRY MR TAHU WOULDN'T REOPEN AND SERVE HIM. NOW, AT 72, HALLETT'S A CONVICTED MURDERER, LEAVING AN ANGRY WIFE TO FACE THE MEDIA. THE PACKED PUBLIC GALLERY WAS FULL OF EMOTION AS THE VERDICT WAS HANDED DOWN. RODNEY TAHU'S FAMILY AND SUPPORTERS DIDN'T LOOK AT HALLETT, BUT LEANT ON EACH OTHER AND WEPT. YESTERDAY HALLETT SUDDENLY CHANGED HIS STORY AND NO LONGER ADMITTED SHOOTING MR TAHU. IT'S ALL TAKEN A TOLL ON RODNEY TAHU'S FAMILY AND OTHER SUPPORTERS. HIS WIDOW COULDN'T FACE COMING TO COURT. THE TRIAL, THE MEDIA COVERAGE AND EVERYTHING HAS REOPENED THOSE OLD WOUNDS, AND TO SOME EXTENT HAS RUBBED THEM A LITTLE BIT RAW. THE CASE WAS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LONGEST-RUNNING UNSOLVED MURDERS. POLICE WHO ORIGINALLY WORKED ON IT HAVE EITHER RETIRED OR DIED. THE OFFICER WHO FINALLY SAW IT CLOSED WAS LOST FOR WORDS. THEY'RE, UM... THEY'RE... AFTER THREE DECADES, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE IS BEHIND BARS AND AWAITING SENTENCING IN JULY. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, ONE NEWS. THE FRUSTRATION AT HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET A CONVICTION IS EVIDENT FROM TWO MEN WHO KNEW RODNEY TAHU WELL. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS SPOKE WITH A DETECTIVE WHO WORKED ON THE CASE, AND THE OWNER OF THE TURANGI SERVICE STATION. ROGER BRYANT'S SHELL PETROL STATION IS LONG GONE, BUT THE MEMORY OF HIS EMPLOYEE AND FRIEND RODNEY TAHU IS STILL FRESH. AND FEELINGS TOWARDS HIS KILLER, MENZIES HALLETT, ARE RAW. I HOPE HE ROTS IN HELL. RODNEY TAHU WORKED HERE FOR THREE YEARS. HE WAS WELL LIKED IN TURANGI. EVERYBODY WAS FLABBERGASTED. AND IT WAS JUST A... A SAD, SAD THING. LOCALS WERE SHOCKED, BUT WORD WOULD SPREAD ABOUT WHO WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT. SMALL TOWN LIKE THAT, THEY KNEW WHAT THE STORY WAS. THEY KNEW HE DID IT. HE WAS KILLER MENZIES HALLETT ` A STRANGER TO THE TOWN WHO EVADED POLICE FOR NEARLY 34 YEARS. IT'S MORE FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU KNOW WHO THE BUGGER IS OR WHO THEY ARE AND YOU CAN'T TURN THE KEY ON THEM... AND GET THEM SENT AWAY... BECAUSE OF THE LAW THAT IT WAS AT THE TIME. THAT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING. HALLETT'S EX-WIFE COULDN'T TESTIFY THAT HE'D CONFESSED TO HER ABOUT KILLING RODNEY TAHU IN A FIT OF ANGER WHEN MR TAHU COULDN'T HELP FIX HIS CAR. RETIRED LOCAL POLICE OFFICER DON ORMSBY WORKED ON THE CASE. HE SAYS HE SMILED AS HALLETT WAS FINALLY ARRESTED, THANKS TO A LAW CHANGE ALLOWING HALLETT'S FORMER WIFE TO TESTIFY. TO ME HE WAS NOTHING BUT A COLD-BLOODED MURDERING BASTARD. DON ORMSBY REMEMBERS WARNING RODNEY TAHU, JUST DAYS BEFORE HE WAS KILLED, NOT TO ARGUE WITH DANGEROUS CUSTOMERS. 34 YEARS LATER, ROGER BRYANT SAYS IT FEELS STRANGE STANDING WHERE RODNEY TAHU LAY DYING. YOU JUST HOPE THAT JUSTICE CAN PREVAIL IN THE END. AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO. HOPE THAT'S FINALLY BEEN ANSWERED, AND A COLD CASE THAT'S FINALLY BEEN CLOSED. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, ONE NEWS. MORE PRESSURE'S GOING ON SHOPKEEPERS SELLING SYNTHETIC CANNABIS. WHILE SOME ARE REFUSING TO STOCK THE PRODUCT KNOWN AS K2, PARENTS HAVE BEEN PROTESTING OUTSIDE DAIRIES IN NAPIER THAT STILL HAVE IT ON THEIR SHELVES. THIS FROM MIKE THORPE. THIS CHRISTCHURCH DAIRY ISN'T WAITING UNTIL THE 9TH OF MAY TO REMOVE K2. IN FACT, THEY MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO KEEP THE PRODUCT OFF THEIR SHELVES A LONG TIME AGO. SOME PEOPLE COME IN, ASK ME AND MY HUSBAND. I ALWAYS SAY NO. I NEVER DO THAT. IT'S NO GOOD FOR PEOPLE. FURTHER NORTH IN NAPIER TODAY, A GROUP CALLING THEMSELVES THE NANNY BRIGADE LAUNCHED A PROTEST FOR A LOCAL STORE TO FOLLOW SUIT. WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING IT ANY MORE, AND WE'RE NOT LETTING THEM POISON OUR KIDS ANY MORE WITH THEIR STUFF JUST TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE SEEN TO TAKE A LEAD IN THIS MATTER, NOT JUST BECAUSE THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT, BUT ALSO IT SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS CALLING FOR ACTION. THE DIFFICULTY FOR LAWMAKERS AND THOSE TASKED WITH ENFORCING IT IS STAYING AHEAD OF THE GAME. THEY SAY WITH EACH SUBSTANCE THAT IS BANNED, ANOTHER ONE TAKES ITS PLACE. IT'S A CHALLENGE PETER DUNNE SAYS HE IS WELL AWARE OF. THAT'S WHY WE'RE MOVING TO CHANGE THE LAW ` TO SHIFT THE ONUS OF PROOF TO THE MANUFACTURERS. THE MINISTER SAYS IT'S THE NEXT STEP IN A CAMPAIGN TO STAMP OUT HARMFUL HIGHS. THAT LAW WILL BE IN PLACE BY THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, AND AT THAT POINT THE WHOLE GAME WILL CHANGE. BUT THE FIRST STAGE COMES IN JUST OVER A WEEK ` A DATE THE POLICE SAY CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH. NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE GREAT, BECAUSE ANYBODY THAT HAS K2 OR THOSE SUBSTANCES AND THOSE CHEMICALS INVOLVED WILL FACE PROSECUTION IF THEY ARE POSSESSING IT OR SELLING IT. BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THEY'RE EXPECTING BUSINESS TO BOOM BEFORE IT'S EXTINGUISHED. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST COMPANY IS SHEDDING 300 JOBS AS IT AIMS TO SAVE $65M A YEAR. THE CUTBACKS AT FONTERRA WILL BE IN ITS CORPORATE OFFICES. JOANNA HUNKIN HAS THE DETAILS. DAIRY GIANT FONTERRA'S PROFITS HAVE BEEN SOARING ` ITS INTERIM REPORT LAST MONTH RECORDED PROFITS OF $459M. BUT TODAY IT ANNOUNCED IT'S CUTTING BACK. 300 JOBS WILL GO FROM ITS CORPORATE OFFICE AT A SAVING OF AROUND $65M. NO ONE FROM FONTERRA WAS AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW TODAY, BUT IN A STATEMENT, IT SAYS THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL REDUCE DUPLICATION AND REMOVE LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT. THE WORLD OUT THERE IS GETTING A BIT SCARY FOR FONTERRA. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DROUGHT THEY'RE LOOKING AT COST STRUCTURES �THIS IS THE UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME IT'S THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF MAJOR CUTBACKS IN THE JOB MARKET. LAST MONTH TELECOM ANNOUNCED IT WOULD CUT AROUND 1200 JOBS FROM ITS WORKFORCE, WHILE CONTACT ENERGY'S SET TO LOSE 100 JOBS; THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ANOTHER 140. NORSKE SKOG LET 110 WORKERS GO IN JANUARY WHEN IT CLOSED ITS PULP AND PAPER MILL, AND IT'S ESTIMATED UP TO 1300 HOSPITAL KITCHEN WORKERS COULD LOSE THEIR JOBS IF A GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL GOES AHEAD. FOR JOBSEEKERS LIKE SUNITA SINGH, IT'S DEPRESSING NEWS. I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ALL THESE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS ` WHAT'S THE CHANCE I WILL GET ONE? EVERYONE WILL BE IN THE LINE FOR THAT SAME JOB I'M LOOKING FOR AND WHILE THE ECONOMY IS GROWING, ECONOMISTS SAY PROGRESS IS SLOW. THE WORLD'S STILL NOT IN THE BEST SHAPE THE EXPORT SECTOR IS STILL STRUGGLING CONSUMERS ARE STILL PRETTY CAUTIOUS WHICH MEANS SUNITA COULD BE SPENDING YET MORE TIME HERE AT THE STUDENT JOB SEARCH CENTRE. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. AND FARMERS ARE BEING URGED TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH FEED TO GET THROUGH THE WINTER, DESPITE RECENT RAIN STIMULATING GRASS GROWTH. FEDERATED FARMERS FEARS SOME IN THE NORTH ISLAND ARE OVERESTIMATING THEIR PASTURE RECOVERY. MATT MCLEAN WITH THE STORY. STEVE WYNN-HARRIS IS APPLYING NITROGEN TO HIS DRY PADDOCKS TO HELP HIS GRASS GROW. THE DROUGHT MEANS FARMERS LIKE HIM HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH LITTLE TIME TO DEVELOP THE PASTURE NEEDED TO FEED THEIR ANIMALS THROUGH THE WINTER. WE'RE STILL IN A DROUGHT MODE. IT'S A GREEN DROUGHT NOW, AND THE ISSUE IS TO BUILD FEED BEFORE THE WINTER, AND THAT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS GETTING NARROWER. FEDERATED FARMERS HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO HELP OUT. THERE'S JUST NOT GROWING SEASON TIME ENOUGH FOR THE FEED GROWTH THAT'S BEEN LOST THROUGH THE DROUGHT TO BE REPLENISHED. THEY'VE SENT AROUND OF 220,000 SOUTH ISLAND BALES OF HAY TO NORTH ISLAND FARMERS. BUT WITH THE RECENT RAIN, DEMAND FOR THE FEED'S BEEN DRYING UP, CAUSING CONCERN. WE'RE STILL IN A POSITION TO SUPPLY SURPLUS FEED OUT OF CANTERBURY INTO THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT WE DO NEED TO HEAR FROM THOSE FARMERS NOW, SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM. BECAUSE COME JUNE OR JULY, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA BE IN A POSITION TO HELP THOSE FARMERS OUT. THESE ARE THE REGIONS LISTED AS OFFICIAL DROUGHT ZONES, AND GIVEN THE CHALLENGING WINTER WHICH LIES AHEAD, THE GOVERNMENT'S UNLIKELY TO LIFT THOSE DROUGHT DECLARATIONS BEFORE THEY EXPIRE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE MINISTER IN CHARGE, NATHAN GUY, SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FARMERS TO PLAN AHEAD FOR HOW THEY'LL MANAGE THEIR FEED SUPPLY THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR. THESE PASTURES HAVE TAKEN A REAL HAMMERING WITH THE HEAT AND THE LONG PERIOD OF DRY, SO OFTEN THERE'S NOT AS MUCH GRASS IN A PADDOCK AS IT LOOKS WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS IT. A REMINDER THIS ESTIMATED $2B DROUGHT IS FAR FROM OVER. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. 1500 MOURNERS ARE GATHERING IN A REMOTE EAST COAST COMMUNITY TO FAREWELL POPULAR MP PARAKURA HOROMIA. IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE TANGI AT HAUITI MARAE IN TOLAGA BAY. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN IS THERE. WOMAN CHANTS KARAKIA CARRIED BY HIS SONS, BROTHER AND NEPHEWS, PAREKURA HOROMIA'S COFFIN MADE ITS WAY ONTO HAUITI MARAE. ALL CHANT HAKA TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MP'S VAST ELECTORATE JOINED OTHER MOURNERS FROM FURTHER AFIELD, LIKE MAORI KING TUHEITIA. I SEE THE MAORI KING IS WAITING AT THE GATE TO COME ON TO SHOW AND BRING HIS RESPECTS FROM THE TAINUI TRIBES TO TE AITANGA A HAUITI, BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSE FRIENDS, AND PAREKURA MOVED IN, UH... IN MANY REALMS ` FROM THOSE THAT WERE KINGS AND QUEENS, THROUGH TO PRIME MINISTERS, DOWN TO THOSE THAT WERE STRUGGLING ON THE STREETS. CURRENT AND FORMER LABOUR COLLEAGUES ALSO WERE HERE TODAY TO REMEMBER THE MAN KNOWN AS 'CHIEF'. AND I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN I WALKED OUT FROM TIME TO TIME, I THOUGHT, IN AND AMONGST THAT ELLIPTICAL DISCOURSE THAT HE TALKED, WHAT REALLY WAS HE SAYING? LAUGHTER LABOUR'S MAORI MPS ARE NOW WORKING ON WHO THEY WANT TO FILL THE VACANCY LEFT IN THEIR CAUCUS. AFTER PAREKURA, I SUSPECT THAT THE PERSON WHO IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO STEP INTO THOSE SHOES DARE NOT FOLLOW HIM AND CREATE A NEW MOULD, BUT THEN, HE WOULD WANT THAT. AWAY FROM THE DRIVING RAIN AND NUMEROUS SPEECHES, AN ARMY OF COOKS WORKED TO PREPARE SOME 1500 MEALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER IDEA OF JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY, THE LINE OF CARS THAT FOLLOWED THE HEARSE OUT OF GISBORNE THIS MORNING STRETCHED BACK 3KM AS IT MADE ITS WAY HERE TO TOLOGA BAY. THE PRIME MINISTER WILL JOIN MOURNERS HERE ON FRIDAY. ALL SING PAREKURA HOROMIA'S FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. A GROUP OF CHILD WELFARE ADVOCATES IS BACKING A MOVE TO FINANCE FOOD PROGRAMMES IN LOW-DECILE SCHOOLS. PARLIAMENT WILL CONSIDER A MANA PARTY BILL IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO PASS THE FIRST VOTE. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN HAS DETAILS. KIDS ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO FREE MILK FROM FONTERRA AS WELL AS FREE FRUIT AND BREAKFAST AT SOME LOWER-DECILE SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, CHILD ADVOCACY GROUPS SAY THOSE MEASURES DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH. AN ESTIMATED 80,000 CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL HUNGRY. THE MANA PARTY'S BILL WOULD PROVIDE FREE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES TO ALL DECILE ONE AND TWO SCHOOLS AT A COST OF A $100M A YEAR. A NEW COALITION OF 24 CHURCH, UNION AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IS TODAY VOWING TO LOBBY MPS TO AT LEAST GIVE IT A PROPER HEARING. ALL WE WANT IS TO GET IT TO SELECT COMMITTEE, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS; SO THAT PARLIAMENT CAN LOOK AT THIS ISSUE IN DETAIL. THE MANA PARTY ISN'T EXPECTING THE GOVERNMENT TO BACK ITS BILL, AND THE PRIME MINISTER WAS COY ABOUT IT WHEN ASKED TODAY. I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. I MEAN, I CAN GET YOU SOME ADVICE. HOWEVER, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HUNGRY KIDS DON'T LEARN WELL. WE HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT HUNGRY, SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY LEARN. WE HAVE OUR OWN METHOD WITH WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO GET FOOD INTO SCHOOLS, BUT WE'D CERTAINLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT IT. MANA PARTY LEADER HONE HARAWIRA HAD BEEN HOPING THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF UNITED FUTURE LEADER PETER DUNNE, HE COULD GET THIS BILL TO SELECT COMMITTEE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. BUT AFTER WEEKS OF SITTING ON THE FENCE, MR DUNNE HAS COME OUT TODAY STRONGLY AGAINST IT. THE PARENTS HAVE GOT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THAT RESPONSIBILITY. THE SCHOOLS PICKING UP THE BALL IN THEIR ABSENCE SIMPLY ABSOLVES THEM OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND I THINK THAT'S WRONG. LATE LAST YEAR AN EXPERT ADVISORY GROUP ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT A FOOD IN SCHOOLS PROGRAMME. THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSIDERING THE REPORT. A RESPONSE IS DUE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. IT COULD PAY TO CHECK YOUR WASHING MACHINE TONIGHT. UP TO 36,000 SAMSUNG CUSTOMERS COULD BE AFFECTED BY A FAULT WITH FOUR TOP-LOADER MODELS. THEY POTENTIALLY CAUSE ELECTRICAL SPARKS WHICH HAVE BEEN LINKED TO 15 FIRES IN AUSTRALIA. SAMSUNG SAYS IT'LL PAY FOR REPAIRS. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR MACHINE'S SERIAL NUMBER AGAINST THOSE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE AT ONENEWS.CO.NZ A QUICK UPDATE NOW ON THE FOUR-DAY-OLD CHEETAH CUBS WHO'VE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR MOTHER. THERE'S A FEAR THE FEMALE WON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT AT CHRISTCHURCH'S ORANA WILDLIFE PARK. STAFF ARE CARING FOR THE TRIO AROUND THE CLOCK AND SAY WHILE THE TWO MALES ARE NOW STABLE, THE FEMALE'S CONDITION HAS WORSENED. STILL TO COME ON ONE NEWS ` ANOTHER FINANCIAL HIT FOR KIWIS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA. AMANDA KNOX, THE AMERICAN STUDENT FALLING FROM THE SKY ` AN AMERICAN CARGO PLANE CRASHES IN AFGHANISTAN, KILLING ALL ON BOARD. AMANDA KNOX, THE AMERICAN STUDENT ACCUSED WITH HER BOYFRIEND OF MURDER IN ITALY, TELLS HER SIDE OF THE STORY. AND POLITICAL PASSION TURNS PHYSICAL. WHAT SPARKED THIS PARLIAMENTARY PUNCH-UP? TINKLING MUSIC Did you know you can enjoy roaming overseas without worrying about overspending? Roaming on your smartphone allows you to use maps, find restaurants, accommodation, attractions and keep in touch with everyone back in NZ. Whether you're away for business or holidays, you can use your phone just like you would at home. There's nothing to set up. You step off the plane and you're ready to go. Because overseas data and calling rates can vary, Telecom has created a free roaming app. It helps you manage your mobile costs while you're away, it has tips for keeping your bill down and lists the prices for services in this long list of destinations. The app also has info on data smart caps, which are designed to prevent overspending, and there's troubleshooting and support if you need it when you get there. Whether you want to keep up with your important emails or discover the local history, before you head off, get the app and feel more freedom to use your smartphone overseas. Find out more at techinasec.co.nz TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NZERS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA COULD SOON START PAYING A SPECIAL LEVY TO FUND A NEW DISABILITY SERVICES SCHEME THEY WON'T BENEFIT FROM. PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD SAYS THE PLAN WON'T BE INTRODUCED UNTIL AFTER THE SEPTEMBER ELECTION. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL EXPLAINS. AUCKLANDER NICOLA BUTLER HAS BEEN WORKING AS A SYDNEY ARCHITECT FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. SOON, SHE COULD PAY MORE THAN $500 A YEAR TO HELP FUND A NEW SCHEME TO CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ` A SCHEME SHE WOULDN'T BENEFIT FROM, BECAUSE SHE'S A NZER. I FEEL LIKE THEY JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT US. THEY TAKE OUR TAX MONEY, BUT THEY DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO US. BUTLER ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA FIVE YEARS AFTER THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED NZERS' ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES HERE. THE DISABILITY SCHEME'S THE LATEST BENEFIT THAT'S OFF LIMITS TO EXPAT NZERS, WHO PAY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS IN AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR. BLATANTLY DISCRIMINATORY ` VERY CLEARLY. THERE'S NO DENYING THAT NZERS ARE NOW THE ONLY GROUP THAT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE LEVY, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE DISABILITY INSURANCE. THE DISABILITY SCHEME'S SPECIAL LEVY WAS ARGUED BY ALL SIDES OF POLITICS TODAY, BUT FOR EXPAT NZERS, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. TAKE CROSSING THIS STREET, FOR EXAMPLE. IN THE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE OF BEING HIT BY A BUS, NZERS WHO ARRIVED HERE BEFORE 2001 WOULD RECEIVE DISABILITY SERVICES. THOSE WHO ARRIVED AFTER 2001 WOULD NOT. EXPATS ARE CALLING ON THE NZ GOVERNMENT TO OFFICIALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT HERE. IT'S DONE THAT FOR APPLES TO THE WTO AND WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL. WHY DOESN'T IT DO IT IN THIS CASE? I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN. IT'S ABOUT TIME JOHN KEY STOOD UP FOR US. FOR FOUR YEARS, MR KEY'S DISCUSSED EXPAT RIGHTS WITH MS GILLARD, BUT AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN LESS THAN LUKEWARM. STEVE MARSHALL, ONE NEWS. A GIRL (5) HAS DIED IN HOSPITAL A FORTNIGHT AFTER BEING RAPED IN CENTRAL INDIA. THE GIRL'S CONDITION HAD DETERIORATED SINCE SHE WAS ADMITTED WITH SEVERE BRAIN DAMAGE. IT'S BELIEVED THE CHILD WAS ABDUCTED FROM HER HOME AND THEN ABANDONED IN FIELDS AFTER THE ASSAULT. A MAN'S BEEN ARRESTED OVER THE ATTACK. A SPATE OF SEX ATTACKS ON YOUNG GIRLS HAS SPARKED OUTRAGE AND FIERY PROTESTS IN INDIA. AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN 70 INJURED AFTER A POWERFUL BOMB ROCKED SYRIA'S CAPITAL. THE ATTACK'S THE SECOND IN AS MANY DAYS IN DAMASCUS, WHICH IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY VIOLENT. THIS EXPLOSION HAPPENED IN A COMMERCIAL AREA OF THE CITY, ALTHOUGH ITS PRECISE TARGET IS UNKNOWN. NO ONE'S CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK. FRESH RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE HAS ERUPTED IN BURMA, WITH BUDDHIST MOBS ATTACKING MOSQUES AND SETTING HUNDREDS OF HOMES ON FIRE. LOCAL POLICE SAY HUGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE ANTI-MUSLIM LOOTINGS AND ARSONS, WHICH HAVE INJURED AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE. IT'S THE FIRST REPORTED RELIGIOUS ATTACK SINCE LATE MARCH, WHEN MORE THAN 4O PEOPLE DIED DURING A RAMPAGE THROUGH ANOTHER BURMESE TOWN. BOEING IS SENDING A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS TO AFGHANISTAN AFTER A CARGO PLANE CRASHED NEAR A US AIR BASE, KILLING SEVEN CIVILIAN CREW. CAPTURED ON A CAR'S DASHBOARD CAMERA, EYEWITNESSES SAY IT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF AROUND 400M WHEN IT SUDDENLY STALLED AND FELL OUT OF THE SKY. THE 747 JUMBO JET HAD TAKEN OFF FROM BAGRAM AIR BASE ON A FREIGHT RUN. THE TALIBAN HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THERE ARE NO NATO REPORTS OF MILITANT ACTIVITY AROUND THE BASE. AMANDA KNOX, THE AMERICAN STUDENT JAILED FOR MURDERING HER BRITISH FLATMATE, SAYS SHE WANTS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. SPEAKING PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE 25-YEAR-OLD'S REITERATED HER INNOCENCE. BUT AS THE BBC'S DAVID WILLIS REPORTS, DESPITE BEING ACQUITTED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, KNOX NOW FACES A RETRIAL. RELEASED ON APPEAL 18 MONTHS AGO AFTER SERVING FOUR YEARS IN AN ITALIAN PRISON. LAST MONTH AMANDA KNOX WAS TOLD THE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES INTEND TO RETRY HER FOR THE MURDER OF HER BRITISH FLATMATE, MEREDITH KERCHER. TODAY SHE GAVE HER REACTION. IT WAS INCREDIBLY PAINFUL. MEREDITH KERCHER'S BODY WAS FOUND IN THE BEDROOM OF THE HOME SHE SHARED WITH AMANDA KNOX IN THE ITALIAN TOWN OF PERUGIA. MS KNOX MAINTAINS IN HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY SHE WASN'T THERE AT THE TIME, AND SHE CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THE WAY SHE'S BEEN PORTRAYED IN THE PRESS. 'SHE-DEVIL WITH AN ANGEL FACE.' > 'SPHINX OF PERUGIA.' > I HAVEN'T HEARD THOSE. I MEAN, I'VE HEARD THE GIST OF THEM, AND, UH,... THEY'RE WRONG. IT'S ONE THING TO BE CALLED CERTAIN THINGS IN THE MEDIA, AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER THING TO BE SITTING IN A COURTROOM, FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE, WHILE PEOPLE ARE CALLING YOU A DEVIL. FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, I WAS A MURDERER, WHETHER I WAS OR NOT. AND I HAD TO LIVE WITH THE IDEA THAT THAT WOULD BE MY LIFE. ITALIAN PROSECUTORS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO DON'T BUY AMANDA KNOX'S CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE. NEITHER DO MEMBERS OF MEREDITH KERCHER'S FAMILY, WHO SAID TONIGHT THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN READING THE BOOK. HERE IN AMERICA, MEANWHILE, THE EFFORT TO REBUILD HER IMAGE IS ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY. AND ITALIAN PROSECUTORS SAY AMANDA KNOX'S MEMOIRS COULD BE USED AS EVIDENCE IN THE RETRIAL. A VERBAL STOUSH HAS TURNED PHYSICAL IN VENEZUELA'S PARLIAMENT, ERUPTING INTO A POLITICAL PUNCH-UP. FISTS FLEW AS TEMPERS FLARED, THE DEBATING CHAMBER RESEMBLING A BAR-ROOM BRAWL. THE FIGHT BEGAN AFTER AN OPPOSITION PARTY WAS REFUSED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AS DEBATE RAGED OVER THE RECENT ELECTION RESULT. SOME WERE LEFT BLOODIED AND BRUISED, BUT STILL WENT ON TV SAYING THESE BLOWS GIVE US MORE STRENGTH. TIME TO CHECK THE WEATHER NOW, AND THE FROSTS HAVE ARRIVED? RANFURLY DOWN TO MINUS-6 FROST INLAND FIRST THING FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ IT'S BEEN A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN GOLDEN BAY. TOMORROW IT ALL TURNS TO CUSTARD. WHAT ELSE IS FOR DESSERT, AFTER SPORT. COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, A WARNING AS HUNTING SEASON NEARS. A SEA OF ORANGE HAPPINESS WELCOMES A NEW DUTCH KING, SEALED WITH A KISS FROM MUM, THE NOW FORMER QUEEN BEA. AND MAY THE MUSIC BE WITH YOU ` NZ MUSIC MONTH KICKS OFF, WITH THE HELP OF SOME YOUNG KIWI TALENT. # COME ON, COME ON HOME. # , THE TALLEST BUILDING IN CHRISTCHURCH IS BACK IN BUSINESS, THE TALLEST BUILDING IN CHRISTCHURCH IS BACK IN BUSINESS, BOOSTING BED NUMBERS FOR PEOPLE VISITING THE QUAKE-DAMAGED CITY. THE RENDEZVOUS HOTEL WELCOMED ITS FIRST GUESTS THIS AFTERNOON, AS ALI PUGH REPORTS. 22 STOREYS HIGH AND BOASTING A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE REBUILD, CHRISTCHURCH'S RENDEZVOUS HOTEL, BACK IN BUSINESS... AND CHECKING IN ITS FIRST GUEST SINCE THE QUAKES. THAT'S ME. I'M REALLY EXCITED, ACTUALLY, TO BE THE FIRST GUEST TONIGHT. SO, YEAH, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH REFURBING THE HOTELS. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE ROOMS. THE BUILDING'S UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AFTER SUFFERING SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN THE FEBRUARY EVENT. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING. AND THAT'S ENSURED IT'S LIKELY TO RETAIN ITS TITLE AS THE SOUTH ISLAND'S TALLEST TOWER; THE SLIGHTLY SHORTER GRAND CHANCELLOR CAME DOWN LAST YEAR, AND SPECIAL CONSENT IS NEEDED FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD BEYOND SEVEN STOREYS. INTERESTINGLY, THE HOTEL'S FINDING GUESTS ARE ACTUALLY REQUESTING TOP LEVELS. A LOT OF THE GUESTS AND CUST ERS ^ THAT ARE COMING THROUGH ` A LOT OF THEM ARE REALLY KEEN TO BE UP HIGHER TO ACTUALLY HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE 171 NEW ROOMS ARE ALSO BOLSTERING A DESPERATE ACCOMMODATION DEFICIT. THE CITY LOST 3000 ROOMS WHEN THE CBD WAS BARRICADED. IT'S HAPPENING ` NEW COFFEE SHOPS, NEW BARS, RESTAURANTS; LIFE BACK INTO THE CBD. AT 4,750, THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE GUEST ROOMS IN THE CITY IS BACK TO 60% OF WHAT THERE WAS IN 2010, AND THIS EVOLVING GARDEN CITYSCAPE SHOULD BE UP TO 6000 ROOMS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. ALI PUGH, ONE NEWS. AUTUMN MARKS THE BUSIEST TIME ON THE HUNTING CALENDAR, AND EXPERTS WARN IT'S ALSO POTENTIALLY THE MOST LETHAL. THOUSANDS WILL HEAD OUT SHORTLY FOR THE DUCK-SHOOTING SEASON, AND IT'S ALSO A BUSY TIME FOR DEER HUNTERS. SARAH BATLEY LOOKS AT THE DANGERS. DUCK-SHOOTING SEASON STARTS THIS COMING WEEKEND, AND HUNDREDS ARE ALREADY OUT DEER STALKING. d THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS IS 8 RETURNING FROM A HUNTING TR IN THE KAIMANAWA RANGES, SOUTH OF TAUPO. THE ROAR IS ON, AND IT'S THE HUNTING SEASON, SO EVERYBODY'S OUT THERE. AND WE JUST FLEW BACK IN, AND LOOKING AT ALL THE AVAILABLE CAMPSITES, THERE'S JUST ABOUT PEOPLE ON ALL OF THEM. WELLINGTON HUNTER PHIL WHITELAW SAYS SAFETY IS A HUGE CONCERN AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. WE'RE QUITE SAFETY CONSCIOUS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER GUY. IT'S A CONCERN OF WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES YOU WEAR. FIGURES SHOW, ON AVERAGE, SOMEONE IS SHOT AND KILLED IN A HUNTING ACCIDENT EVERY YEAR. AMONG THE VICTIMS IS WELLINGTON SCHOOL TEACHER ROSEMARY IVES. SHE WAS BRUSHING HER TEETH AT A CAMPGROUND WHEN SHE KILLED BY HAMILTON HUNTER ANDREW MEARS. HE WAS SENTENCED TO MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN JAIL FOR THE FATAL MISTAKE. EXPERTS SAY TRESPASSING AND ILLEGAL SHOOTING MUST BE STOPPED AND HUNTERS CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL. BULLETS KILL. IT'S JUST ABOUT IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET. JUST MAKE SURE YOU IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET, AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. BULLETS ALSO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. AROUND 13 NEW CLAIMS ARE FILED ANNUALLY WITH ACC AS A RESULT OF HUNTING INCIDENTS. LOAD YOUR FIREARM ONLY WHEN READY TO FIRE; UM, ALWAYS POINT IN A SAFE DIRECTION ` SO MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE NEVER POINTING AT ANOTHER PERSON OR LIVESTOCK OR BUILDINGS; UM, AND TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS LOADED. THE DUCK-SHOOTING SEASON TRADITIONALLY RUNS FOR EIGHT WEEKS, BUT IN SOME REGIONS DUCK NUMBERS ARE DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND IT WILL ONLY RUN FOR A MONTH. SARAH BATLEY, ONE NEWS. AN UPGRADE OF INLAND REVENUE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM, COSTING UP TO ONE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS, HAS BEEN SIGNED OFF. REVENUE MINISTER PETER DUNNE SAYS THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS AT CAPACITY AND CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TAXPAYERS IN THE DIGITAL AGE. THE PROJECT WILL BE ROLLED OUT IN STAGES AND WILL BE PAID FOR OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD. THE NETHERLANDS TONIGHT HAS A NEW KING AFTER QUEEN BEATRIX HANDED THE CROWN TO HER SON PRINCE WILLEM-ALEXANDER. HIS INAUGURATION DREW ROYAL VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE MAN WHO HOPES TO BE NZ'S MONARCH. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY REPORTS. FROM THE SEA OF ORANGE WIGS, FLAGS AND SMILING FACES, YOU'D GUESS THE HOUSE OF ORANGE WAS AS POWERFUL AS THE DAY IT TOOK THE THRONE HERE IN 1815. I THINK THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME, AND FOR ME THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO STAND HERE TODAY. BUT THIS IS A MONARCH WITH LITTLE REAL POWER, APART FROM THE POWER TO PERSUADE. (SPEAKS DUTCH) TRANSLATOR: AS KING, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACTIVELY USE TRANSLATOR: AS KING, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACTIVELY USE THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM. HOWEVER GREAT OUR DIVERSITY, HOWEVER DIFFERENT OUR CONVICTIONS AND DREAMS MAY BE, EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD. AMONG THE ONLOOKERS, PRINCE CHARLES, WITH WIFE CAMILLA, WATCHED EUROPE'S YOUNGEST KING ` NEARLY 20 YEARS HIS JUNIOR ` COME INTO HIS INHERITANCE. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON ABDICATION FROM THIS PALACE ANY TIME, REALLY. WHAT'S PERHAPS MORE LIKELY IS THAT AT SOME POINT, QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL NOMINATE PRINCE CHARLES HER 'PRINCE REGENT' ` A KIND OF KING IN ALL BUT NAME ` AND EVEN THAT'S LIKELY TO BE YEARS AWAY. THERE ARE SMALL SIGNS OF PREPARATION FOR THAT DAY ` AMONG THEM, QUIET CONSENSUS GROWING THAT CHARLES WILL TAKE OVER AS HEAD OF THE 54-MEMBER COMMONWEALTH. IT WASN'T CERTAIN JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT AUSTRALIA AND NZ ARE SUPPORTING A SEAMLESS TRANSITION. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THE QUEEN PASSES AWAY, THAT IT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERS TO CHARLES. THERE IS NO PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH, NO ELECTION OR NO DECISION; IT'S AN AUTOMATIC TRANSFER. MUCH LIKE THIS UN-FUSSY TRANSFER IN AMSTERDAM. A SIMPLE SIGNATURE ENDED 33 YEARS AS QUEEN FOR THE NOW PRINCESS BEATRIX, WHO LATER SEALED THE ACT OF ABDICATION WITH A MOTHERLY PECK ON THE CHEEKS FROM A BALCONY JUST ABOVE THE CROWD. THE NEXT IN LINE TO THIS THRONE, HER GRANDDAUGHTER, CATHARINA-AMALIA, IS JUST 9 YEARS OLD. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. SOME OF AUCKLAND'S YOUNGEST MUSICIANS HELPED LAUNCH NZ MUSIC MONTH TODAY. SOUTH AUCKLAND SCHOOLKIDS JOINED BOYBAND TITANIUM IN AN ACOUSTIC VERSION OF THEIR HIT 'COME ON HOME'. # I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. # BABY, COME ON HOME. # COME ON, COME ON HOME. # NEARLY 300 GIGS AND EVENTS TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE LOCAL MUSIC WILL TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ORGANISERS SAY MUSIC MONTH, NOW IN ITS 13TH YEAR, HAS HELPED NURTURE MANY HOMEGROWN HITS. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES ` MENZIES HALLETT, THE MAN FOUND GUILTY TODAY OF MURDERING PETROL STATION WORKER RODNEY TAHU 34 YEARS AGO IS BEHIND BARS AWAITING SENTENCING IN JULY. EMOTIONAL SCENES ERUPTED IN AND OUTSIDE COURT AFTER THE JURY DELIVERED ITS VERDICT. TAHU'S FAMILY SAY THE HARDEST PART IS THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS KNOWN WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. DAIRY GIANT FONTERRA SAYS CUTTING 300 JOBS WILL REDUCE DUPLICATION AND REMOVE LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT. THE COMPANY SAYS THE JOBS WILL GO FROM ITS CORPORATE OFFICE IN AUCKLAND AND WILL SAVE $65M A YEAR. AND MORE ACCOMMODATION'S NOW AVAILABLE AFTER THE OPENING OF THE 171-ROOM RENDEZVOUS HOTEL. THE 22-STOREY BUILDING'S UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND IS THE TALLEST BUILDING IN CHRISTCHURCH AND THE SOUTH ISLAND. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. AN UNWANTED CRUSADER MAKES THE LIONS? WINGER SEAN MAITLAND ONE OF THREE KIWIS IN THE SIDE. SO WHO ELSE MADE THE CUT, AND WHY DIDN'T JONNY WILKINSON MAKE THE TOUR? ALSO TONIGHT ` HE'S GOING THE OTHER WAY TO EUROPE, BUT FLYING BRYAN HAS ONE LAST HURRAH IN NZ. PLUS ` THE GERMANS LOSE BUT MARCH ON IN FOOTBALL'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. AND FIERCE AMERICA'S CUP RIVALS COME TOGETHER TO HELP TWO OF THEIR OLD MATES. FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO INTERNATIONAL RUGBY, AND IT'S OFTEN BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE ULTIMATE HONOUR IN THE SPORT ` PLAYING FOR THE LIONS. DISCARDED CRUSADERS WINGER SEAN MAITLAND IS ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILL, NAMED IN THE SQUAD TO PLAY IN AUSTRALIA NEXT MONTH. IT'S A REMARKABLE ELEVATION. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY REPORTS. WITH THE KIND OF HYPE YOU'D EXPECT IF THEY WERE ANNOUNCING THE SPICE GIRLS ARE REFORMING, AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPERGROUP IS NAMED. APPLAUSE CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION NORTH OF THE BORDER. OBVIOUSLY I'M VERY LUCK TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND, YOU KNOW,... IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. THE HARD WORK STARTS NOW. WARREN GATLAND SAYS SIX NATIONS PERFORMANCES COUNTED HEAVILY IN HIS CHOICES, BUT HE SEEMS TO HAVE WATCHED THE YOUNG MAN FROM TOKOROA FOR LONGER. YOU KNOW, HE COMES FROM A PRETTY GOOD NZ PEDIGREE, IN TERMS OF HE PLAYED FOR ONE OF THE TOP RUGBY SCHOOLS IN NZ; HE'S COME THROUGH NZ SCHOOLBOYS, UNDER 20S SYSTEM; UM, HE PLAYED FOR WAIKATO WHEN HE WAS STILL AT SCHOOL; PLAYED FOR CANTERBURY AND THE CRUSADERS; HE'S GOT EXPERIENCE PLAYING SUPER RUGBY IN AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS. SAM WARBURTON (24) WILL LEAD A SQUAD OF 37, WITH 15 WELSHMEN. AN HONOUR WHICH VERY VERY FEW RUGBY PLAYERS ARE ABLE TO HAVE, AND NOW THE MOTIVATION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A TEST-WINNING SIDE. PLENTY HERE ARE KEEN TO SEE WARREN GATLAND LEAD THE LIONS TO VICTORY AFTER DEFEAT A DECADE AGO UNDER GRAHAM HENRY. THE PAIR HAVE SHARED NOTES, BUT WARREN GATLAND SAYS HIS OWN HISTORY MAY HELP HIM OVERCOME. I'M LUCKY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE LAST` TO HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH AS A PLAYER TO PLAY AGAINST THE LIONS AS WELL, AND THEN HAVING LIVED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN IRELAND, AND THEN IN LONDON, AND THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN WALES, I THINK I'M PRETTY WELL EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND CULTURALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT. A LIONS JERSEY IS A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN THESE PARTS. SEAN MAITLAND'S FOLLOWS JUST FIVE CAPS FOR SCOTLAND. NOW JUST ONE OF FOUR WINGERS FACING 10 MATCHES ON THE SEVEN-WEEK TOUR, HE'LL HAVE AMPLE CHANCE TO REWARD THEIR SHOW OF FAITH. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. SEVEN OUT OF THE 37 LIONS PLAYERS PICKED ARE FOREIGN BORN, SOUTH AFRICAN, KIWI, TONGAN AND SAMOAN INCLUDED. THE BIGGEST OMISSION WAS VETERAN FIRST FIVE JONNY WILKINSON, WHO WAS OFFERED A SPOT AFTER HIS STARRING ROLE FOR TOULON IN THE HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS. I RANG JONNY, AND HE WASN'T... HE APPRECIATED THE CALL, BUT HE WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR THE START OF THE TOUR, AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS COMMITTED TO TOULON, AND HE ALSO SAID HE'S STRUGGLING PHYSICALLY. THE LIONS' FIRST TOUR MATCH IS AGAINST A BARBARIANS SIDE IN HONG KONG IN JUST OVER FOUR WEEKS, AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FRENCH CLUB FINALS. THE LIONS LOST THEIR LAST SERIES IN AUSTRALIA 12 YEARS AGO, BUT THEIR RETURN DOWN UNDER HAS THE WALLABIES COACH UNUSUALLY EXCITED. SOME OF OUR PLAYERS HAVE EXPERIENCED WORLD CUP RUGBY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THIS IS... THE ANTE GOES UP EVEN FURTHER. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE RUGBY EXPERIENCE. IRISH CENTRE BRIAN O'DRISCOLL (34) IS THE SOLE SURVIVOR FROM THE 2001 SERIES. HE'S SET FOR HIS FOURTH LIONS TOUR. HE'S ONE OF THE ALL BLACKS' MOST RESPECTED OPPONENTS AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT PLAYS HIS LAST GAME IN NZ. WINGER BRYAN HABANA LINES UP FOR THE STORMERS AGAINST THE BLUES AT NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM. HE'S SIGNED TO PLAY IN FRANCE AT THE END OF SUPER RUGBY AND HASN'T BEEN OFFERED A NEW SPRINGBOK DEAL. EVEN OFF THE FIELD, IT'S HARD TO PIN DOWN THE FLEET-FOOTED BRYAN HABANA. FROM DRIVING THE TEAM VAN TO DRINKS TO WARM-UPS, HE REALISES HIS RUN IS ALMOST OVER. I'VE HAD A GREAT NINE YEARS PLAYING SUPER RUGBY. IT'S BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. AND AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE FOR OPPONENTS, INCLUDING THE ALL BLACKS,... INTERCEPT BY HABANA! THE BURGLAR'S BACK. ...FROM THE BULLS AND STORMERS AND 52 TRIES ` SEVEN OFF DOUG HOWLETT'S SUPER RECORD ` THROUGH TO 83 TESTS AND NEARLY 50 TRIES FOR THE SPRINGBOKS. A REAL RESPECTFUL MAN, ON AND OFF THE FIELD, SO HE'LL BE A BIG LOSS TO SOUTH AFRICA, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'LL PROBABLY BE A BIT EASIER FOR US FATTIES UP FRONT, YOU KNOW? (CHUCKLES) THAT'S PRETTY SPECIAL, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM A GUY I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST MEN NZ RUGBY'S EVER HAD. NZ'S ALWAYS THE BIGGEST TEST WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYING. YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA GET A BIG, PHYSICAL CONTEST; GUYS THAT ARE SKILFUL, BUT GUYS THAT IF YOU PLAY YOUR HEART OUT, THEY'RE GONNA RESPECT YOU AFTERWARDS. HE SAYS HE'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST HAKA HE FACED, BACK IN 2005; JOE ROKOCOKO WAS THE BEST HE PLAYED AGAINST; HE RATES JULIAN SAVEA AS THE NEXT BIG THING. IN WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE HABANA'S LAST TEST SCORE, WHO CAN FORGET THE IRB TRY OF THE YEAR LAST SEASON? AAAAAAND... WHAT A TRY. THE KICK DIDN'T COME OFF MY BOOT AS PLANNED. UM, AND, YEAH, LUCK FAVOURED THE BRAVE, AND I WAS ABLE TO FINISH IT OFF. JUST TO PROVE HE ISN'T SLOWING DOWN ` AT 30 NEXT MONTH ` THAT CHARGE DOWN AGAINST THE HURRICANES JUST LAST WEEKEND, HIS FIRST IN A DECADE. < WERE YOU ONSIDE AGAINST THE HURRICANES IN THAT CHARGE DOWN? (CHUCKLES) OF COURSE YOU WERE. I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET ASKED THAT A LOT, BUT, UM, YEAH, THE RULE SAYS THAT WE CAN START MOVING AS SOON AS THE KICKER TAKES A STEP. THESE EXPAT FANS WILL BE HOPING TO SEE BRYAN HABANA MOVING ON FRIDAY NIGHT FOR ONE LAST TIME. BORUSSIA DORTMUND HAS SURVIVED A REAL MADRID ONSLAUGHT TO SCRAPE INTO THE FINAL OF FOOTBALL'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 16 YEARS. REAL PEPPERED THE DORTMUND GOAL EARLY ON, TRYING TO PULL BACK THE THREE-GOAL DEFICIT FROM LAST WEEK'S 4-1 DEFEAT. BUT IT TOOK UNTIL THE 82ND MINUTE FOR THE GERMANS TO FINALLY CRACK. THEY'LL NEED SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE AS THE CROSS COMES IN, AND FINALLY! AND SERGIO RAMOS RIFLES IT HOME! DESPITE GOING DOWN 2-0 TODAY, BORUSSIA DORTMUND BOOKED ITS SPOT AT THE WEMBLEY FINAL ` 4-3 ON AGGREGATE ACROSS THE TWO GAMES. JUST DAYS INTO HIS HEAD COACHING ROLE WITH THE BREAKERS BASKETBALL FRANCHISE, DEAN VICKERMAN'S MADE THE CALL TO RELEASE BACK-UP PLAYER LEON HENRY FROM HIS CONTRACT. HENRY'S BEEN INVOLVED IN ALL THREE OF THE CLUB'S CHAMPIONSHIP WINS. VICKERMAN SAYS THE OPTION HAD BEEN ON THE CARDS FOR SOME TIME, BUT A FINAL DECISION WAS ONLY MADE THIS WEEK. THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE LEAGUE'S PLAYER POINTS CAP AND THE BREAKERS' DESIRE TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING REUBEN TE RANGI MEANS HENRY'S BEEN SQUEEZED OUT. THERE WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT IN HIS FACE, BUT, AGAIN, HE WAS HAPPY FOR A TEAMMATE, HAPPY FOR REUBEN TO... TO MOVE UP THE LADDER. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA MISS THE PLACE, AND WE'RE GONNA MISS HIM. WITH TE RANGI ADDED TO THE ROSTER, SEVEN OF THE CLUB'S 10 SPOTS WILL BE FILLED. HENRY'S NOW A FREE AGENT, SO CAN JOIN ANOTHER NBL CLUB, THOUGH HE MAY DECIDE TO GO WITH HIS FIANCE, SINGER AARADHNA, TO AMERICA TO HELP MANAGE HER CAREER. BITTER AMERICA'S CUP RIVALS GRANT DALTON AND SIR RUSSELL COUTTS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR TWO OF THEIR OLD MATES. BOTH HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE SAME ILLNESS, BUT IT CERTAINLY HASN'T ENDED THEIR GLITTERING YACHTING CAREERS. MARTIN TASKER HAS THIS STORY OF FIGHTING SPIRIT. PLOTTING THEIR WAY TO NEW SPORTING HORIZONS. DAVID BARNES AND RICK DODSON, AIMING FOR RIO IN 2016 ` BARNES, SKIPPER OF KZ-1 IN SAN DIEGO AND THREE TIMES A WORLD CHAMPION IN DINGHIES; DODSON ALSO A WORLD CHAMPION AND TWICE AN AMERICA'S CUP WINNER WITH TEAM NZ. BOTH WERE AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME UNTIL STRUCK BY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN THE LATE 1990S. ALL OF A SUDDEN, POW! EVERYTHING'S PULLED OUT FROM UNDER YOU. YOU ARE NOW... ALL YOUR MATES ARE GOING FORWARD, AND YOU'RE NOT. THEY ARE NOW, WITH HELP FROM THOSE MATES ` LIKE NEVILLE CHRICHTON, SKIPPER OF THE ALFA ROMEO YACHTS, WHO'S BOUGHT THE A PARALYMPIC BOAT; AND FORMER AMERICA'S CUP BACKER SIR MICHAEL FAY, WHO'S SUPPORTING THEIR CAMPAIGN. MY WIFE SAID... SHE SAID, 'YOU HAVE A SECOND CHANCE.' AND THAT'S THE WAY WE SEE IT. WHILE THEY FOUND MENTALLY THE SAILING SKILLS THAT TOOK THEM TO THE TOP ARE STILL INTACT, THE DEBILITATING EFFECT OF MS MEANS PACING THEMSELVES PHYSICALLY. YOU'VE GOT TO ACCEPT YOUR LIMITATIONS. BOTH OF US HAVE BALANCE ISSUES, AND THAT... YOU KNOW, BALANCE IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE. I CAN'T STAND` WE'RE GOOD WHEN WE SIT DOWN. YEAH. GOLD IN RIO IS THE TARGET, ALONG WITH LEAVING A PARALYMPIC LEGACY FOR NZERS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ACTUALLY TRY AND BE AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AND IF THEY CAN SEE US DOING IT AND SEE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WAY FORWARD. COUTTS AND DALTON ARE HELPING THE CAUSE ON FRIDAY, WITH THE VOICE OF YACHTING. PJ MONTGOMERY'S GOT A BIG JOB. HOW'S HE GONNA GO? I SUGGEST HE HAS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND, UH, YEAH... COS IT COULD END UP IN FLAMES. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. Great yarn. Great cause. THANKS, ANDREW. AFTER THE BREAK, THE SUNSHINE GOES ON HOLD. JIM HAS RAIN IN THE FORECAST. Don't miss your chance to personally own a part of Mighty River Power. Make sure you visit mightyrivershares.govt.nz while you still can to share in it. HI THERE. FOR NOW, THE CLEAR, COLD SOUTHERN SKIES AND THE NORTHERN INDIAN SUMMER ALL GO ON HOLD. A JUNGLE OF LOWS AND FRONTS IS APPROACHING CENTRAL SOUTH-WESTERN AREAS. THIS FROM GWILL PHILLIPS ATOP QUEENSTOWN'S REMARKABLES. NOW IT'S RAIN WE'RE WATCHING. NOW IT'S RAIN WE'RE WATCHING. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ SO LOOK OUT. FILL THE WOOD BOX AND GRAB YOUR FLEECIES. IT WON'T WORRY THIS GUY. HE LIVES IN THE MOUNTAINS. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY. FROM THE TEAM, GOODNIGHT.