HUNKER DOWN ON THE SOUTH, EVERYBODY. YOU'RE ON THE WAY TO MINUS-3 IN CENTRAL. THERE'S SNOW ON THE ALPINE PASSES. AUCKLAND'S HAD NEARLY 2 INCHES OF RAIN, AND 100MPH WIND GUSTS AT THE ENTRANCE TO MANUKAU HARBOUR. COMING UP, IMPROVING WEATHER AND FALLING TEMPERATURES. 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. THE POLICEMAN FIGHTING FOR HIS CAREER ` SO WHAT DID HE SAY TO A WOMAN THAT'S PUT HIS JOB ON THE LINE? HOW ASIAN NZERS ARE BEING CONNED OUT OF CASH AND JEWELLERY. A ONE NEWS EXCLUSIVE ON A GLOBAL SCAM. A HENS' NIGHT TAKES A DEADLY TURN ` THE BRIDE-TO-BE'S ONE OF THE CASUALTIES WHEN A LIMO CATCHES FIRE. AND THE POLITICIAN UNDER PRESSURE ` THE WAIT FOR WORD ON AARON GILMORE'S FATE. A LAWYER IS WARNING A HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL AGAINST STRAYING INTO RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AS IT CONSIDERS A DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST THE ANGLICAN BISHOP OF AUCKLAND. EUGENE SISNEROS CLAIMS THE RIGHT REVEREND ROSS BAY IS REFUSING TO LET HIM TRAIN AS PRIEST BECAUSE HE'S IN A GAY RELATIONSHIP. LISA OWEN WITH THE STORY. EUGENE, OR GINO, SISNEROS BELIEVES HE HAS A CALLING TO BE A PRIEST,... SORRY. IT WOULDN'T BE PROPER FOR ME TO DO ANY COMMENT UNTIL THE TRIBUNAL'S HEARD BOTH SIDES. ...BUT HE CLAIMS THE ANGLICAN BISHOP OF AUCKLAND IS STOPPING HIM FROM FOLLOWING IT BECAUSE HE'S GAY AND IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN. INSIDE, THOUGH, EUGENE SISNEROS TOLD THE TRIBUNAL HE'D BEEN... MR SISNEROS WORKS AS AN EVENT COORDINATOR AT AUCKLAND'S ST MATTHEW IN THE CITY CHURCH. HE EVEN GIVES SERMONS THERE AND SAYS PARISHIONERS OFFERED HIM THEIR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. ACCORDING TO GINO SISNEROS, NO ONE AT THAT CHURCH OPENLY DISAPPROVES OF HIS WISH TO BE A PRIEST. BUT HE CLAIMS THE RIGHT REVEREND ROSS BAY DOES. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE CHURCH HAS A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IN A GENERAL WAY. AND I'D RATHER THAT WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO WORK THAT OUT THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES. THE ST MATTHEW'S CONGREGATION WROTE TO THE BISHOP, SAYING THE CHURCH'S DISCRIMINATORY POLICY WAS WRONG AND DEEPLY EMBARRASSING. BISHOP BAY WROTE BACK. THAT THERE WAS A CURRENT PRACTICE OF NOT PROCEEDING WITH ORDINATION OF A PERSON IN A SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIP. THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND'S LAWYER WARNED THE TRIBUNAL AGAINST STRAYING INTO THE AREA OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS. WE SAY THAT THE DOMESTIC TRIBUNAL AND COURTS OF A COUNTRY HAVE NO PLACE TELLING A CHURCH WHAT IT BELIEVES OR OUGHT TO BELIEVE. HE SAYS THAT WOULD BREACH THE BILL OF RIGHTS. THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND AND THE OTHER BISHOPS AND LEADERS OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH ARE NOT DEAF OR BLIND TO THE ISSUE WHICH BRINGS THE COMPLAINANT TO THE TRIBUNAL, BUT WE SAY THE CHURCH SHOULD BE LEFT TO ITS OWN PROCESSES. THE CHURCH MAINTAINS GINO SISNEROS IS UNSUITABLE FOR ORDINATION NOT BECAUSE HE'S GAY, BUT BECAUSE HE'S IN A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE. LISA OWEN, ONE NEWS. A POLICEMAN'S FIGHTING FOR HIS CAREER TONIGHT, ACCUSED OF SEEKING SEXUAL FAVOURS IN EXCHANGE FOR LETTING A WOMAN OFF A DRIVING OFFENCE. WANGANUI CONTSTABLE HAYDEN BRADLEY DENIES THE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION CHARGE, WHICH CARRIES A PENALTY OF UP TO SEVEN YEARS' JAIL. HADYN JONES IS COVERING THE CASE AT THE HIGH COURT IN NEW PLYMOUTH. WANGANUI CONSTABLE HAYDEN BRADLEY, FLANKED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND WITHOUT A UNIFORM, FACES A CHARGE THAT IF PROVEN COULD END HIS CAREER. HOW DO YOU PLEAD? BRADLEY IS ACCUSED OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION, A RARE CHARGE IN THIS COUNTRY FOR A POLICE OFFICER. IT'S ALLEGED BRADLEY PULLED OVER A WOMAN ON THIS WANGANUI STREET IN FEBRUARY 2012. THE 27-YEAR-OLD WAS DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED, AND BRADLEY DIDN'T CHARGE HER. LATER BRADLEY CONTACTED HER. THERE WERE TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS, AND EVENTUALLY A MEETING IN A MUFTI POLICE CAR. IN THE MEANTIME, THE WOMAN HAD TOLD THE POLICE ABOUT BRADLEY. SHE HID HER PHONE IN HER POCKET, AND LISTENING ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE WERE THE WANGANUI POLICE. A WARNING NOW ON HOW ASIAN WOMEN ARE BEING CONNED OUT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. POLICE HAVE LINKED MORE THAN 10 THEFTS IN AUCKLAND TO SIMILAR CRIMES IN MELBOURNE, SAN FRANCISCO AND VANCOUVER. IN ONE CASE, A WOMAN HANDED OVER $40,000 IN CASH AND JEWELLERY, BELIEVING SHE WAS CURSED. KATE LYNCH HAS MORE. POLICE SAY IT'S A GLOBAL SCAM. THIS RE-ENACTMENT VIDEO WAS PRODUCED BY AMERICAN POLICE AFTER THIEVES STOLE MORE THAN $1M FROM ELDERLY ASIANS IN SAN FRANCISCO. NOW IT'S HAPPENING HERE. THERE WAS AN ASIAN WOMAN WHO APPROACHED ME, AND SHE WANTED ME TO HELP HER TO FIND A CHINESE DOCTOR TO CURE HER DAUGHTER. AND THAT'S HOW IT STARTS. THE SCAMMERS CHAT WITH ELDERLY CANTONESE- AND MANDARIN-SPEAKING WOMEN, CONVINCING THEM THEY HAVE BAD LUCK. THEY OFFER TO HELP GET RID OF THE CURSE BY CLEANSING THEIR VICTIMS' MONEY AND JEWELLERY. THE VICTIM IS TOLD TO PUT VALUABLES IN A BAG AND NOT TO LOOK IN THE BAG OR ELSE THE BLESSING IS INEFFECTIVE. WHEN THE BAG IS OPENED A MONTH LATER, THEIR PRIZED POSSESSIONS ARE GONE. IT ESSENTIALLY WORKS ON SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL BELIEFS OF THESE PEOPLE, TYING INTO BAD LUCK AND HAVING... SOMEONE ABLE TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THAT BAD LUCK. DETECTIVES SAY IT MIGHT SOUND CRAZY, BUT VICTIMS HERE HAVE BEEN CONNED OUT OF MORE THAN $280,000. IN ONE CASE, THREE WOMEN APPROACHED THEIR VICTIM AT AN AUCKLAND FLEA MARKET. THEY CONVINCED HER TO HAND OVER $30,000 WORTH OF CASH AND JEWELLERY. THERE HAVE BEEN 12 VICTIMS SO FAR, BUT POLICE BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY MORE, TOO ASHAMED TO COME FORWARD. THEY NORMALLY FEEL EMBARRASSED AND STUPID THAT THEY FELL FOR THE SCAM. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SCARED TO COME TO US. THESE ARE THE WOMEN POLICE WANT TO SPEAK TO IN CONNECTION WITH THE SCAM. BUT THEY'RE UNSURE IF THEY'RE STILL IN THE COUNTRY. KATE LYNCH, ONE NEWS. UNDERFIRE MP AARON GILMORE HAS AVOIDED CONFRONTING OUR CAMERAS IN THE WAKE OF REVELATIONS ABOUT HIS BOOZY BEHAVIOUR. BUT HE COULDN'T ESCAPE TODAY AT A GATHERING WITH COLLEAGUES IN CHRISTCHURCH. THIS FROM DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH. AN EVENT FOR MPS IN CHRISTCHURCH MEANS THERE'S NO MORE HIDING FOR NATIONAL MP AARON GILMORE ` STEPPING OUT OF A BUS AND INTO A BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS. ARE YOU RESIGNING, AARON? WILL YOU STEP ASIDE? HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER? SO, DOES THE MP HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? NO, I'LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW. HE DID A LOT OF BIG TALKING AT THE HERITAGE HOTEL IN HANMER SPRINGS ON SATURDAY LAST WEEK. A WITNESS SAYS AARON GILMORE THREATENED TO CALL IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND GET THE WAITER FIRED, AND HE ASKED, 'DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?' EARLIER IN THE DAY, AARON GILMORE WAS SO KEEN TO AVOID QUESTIONS THAT WHEN THE OTHER MPS CAME OUT THE FRONT DOOR, HE SLIPPED OUT THE BACK. JOHN KEY STILL HASN'T SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH AARON GILMORE. HE'S LEFT THAT TO HIS CHIEF OF STAFF. JOHN KEY SAYS HE HAS RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE FROM THE MP SAYING SORRY. AND JOHN KEY IS STANDING BY HIM. UH, WELL, HE'S QUITE A BRIGHT GUY, UNDERNEATH ALL THIS. THE MP, RANKED 59 OUT OF 59 NATIONAL MPS, IS STILL COLLECTING A $144,000 TAXPAYER SALARY. HE'S A PAID MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. HE'S GOT A JOB TO DO. IF HE'S GOT SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER TO THE MEDIA, THEN HE SHOULD GO AND ANSWER THEM. AARON GILMORE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE. THERE ONLY ONE DOOR INTO THE CAUCUS ROOM AT PARLIAMENT TOMORROW. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. JOHN KEY'S LOOKING AT AN UNCOMFORTABLE ALLIANCE WITH NZ FIRST LEADER WINSTON PETERS TO PASS CONTROVERSIAL NEW SPY LEGISLATION. THE DRAFT LAW WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY BUREAU TO SPY ON NZERS SO LONG AS IT HAS APPROVAL FROM THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITY WARRANTS. LABOUR AND THE GREENS WON'T SUPPORT IT, SO MR KEY'S NOW APPROACHING MR PETERS FOR SUPPORT. I'VE WRITTEN TO MR PETERS THIS AFTERNOON, AND ASKED HIM IF HE'D LIKE A MEETING AND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BILL WILL BE INTROUCED ON THURSDAY, AND WITH NZ FIRST'S SUPPORT COULD BE LAW BY THE END OF THE YEAR. FEARS ARE GROWING THAT VIOLENCE IN SYRIA COULD SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION AFTER IT CALLED ISRAELI AIR STRIKES A 'DECLARATION OF WAR'. IT'S VOWING TO RETALIATE AFTER MILITARY TARGETS IN DAMASCUS WERE HIT. ABC'S ALEX MARQUARDT WITH THE LATEST. A MASSIVE FIREBALL AS A ROCKET FINDS ITS TARGET. MEN SHOUT IN ARABIC SHOUTS OF 'GOD IS GREAT' AS ONE OF THE MILITARY SITES THAT SYRIA ACCUSES ISRAEL OF BOMBING GOES UP IN SMOKE. SYRIA SAID ISRAEL STRUCK THREE MILITARY TARGETS AROUND THE CAPITAL, DAMASCUS, INCLUDING A RESEARCH CENTRE THAT REPORTEDLY DEVELOPS CHEMICAL WEAPONS. (SPEAKS ARABIC) 'WE WILL NOT ACCEPT BEING HUMILIATED,' SYRIA'S INFORMATION MINISTER SAID ANGRILY. HE WARNED THAT THE ISRAELI ATTACK 'OPENS THE DOOR TO ALL POSSIBILITIES.' SUNDAY'S ATTACKS COME JUST TWO DAYS AFTER ANOTHER ISRAELI AIR STRIKE, REPORTEDLY AGAINST A SHIPMENT OF IRANIAN-MADE MISSILES HEADING TO THE MILITANT GROUP HIZBOLLAH. AMERICA'S MAIN CONCERNS IN THIS CONFLICT ARE THAT ADVANCED MISSILES OR CHEMICAL WEAPONS COULD FALL INTO THE WRONG HANDS; THAT SYRIA'S WAR BECOMES A REGIONAL WAR, LEADING TO A POSSIBLE US INTERVENTION, WHICH WOULD RAISE ALREADY-DANGEROUS TENSIONS WITH IRAN. ISRAEL DIDN'T CONFIRM IT WAS BEHIND THE LATEST ATTACKS, BUT MOVED TWO OF ITS FAMED IRON DOME ANTI-MISSILE BATTERIES INTO THE NORTH JUST IN CASE. I WOULD EXPECT ISRAEL, IN THE COMING DAYS, TO KEEP A VERY LOW PROFILE, SPEAK AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND HOPE THAT IT'LL PASS WITHOUT ANY RETRIBUTION. ON THE STREET, FEARS OF RETALIATION WERE EVIDENT. YOU THINK THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF REACTION FROM HIZBOLLAH OR SYRIA? YES. I THINK... AND I'M AFRAID FROM THIS. IT'S BELIEVED AROUND 70,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING TWO YEARS OF CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA. THE FAMILIES OF THE TOURISTS KILLED IN A SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER TO ASK HIM TO CHANGE THE LAW SO IN FUTURE SOMEONE'S HELD TO ACCOUNT. THIS COMES ON THE DAY A CORONER HAS RELEASED HIS FINDINGS INTO THE CRASH. IN IT, HE CALLS FOR URGENT SAFETY CHANGES. JOY REID WITH THE STORY. NINE PEOPLE DIED WHEN THE SKYDIVING PLANE CRASHED AT THE END OF THE FOX GLACIER RUNWAY JUST AFTER TAKE-OFF ON SEPTEMBER 4 2010. TODAY THE CORONER RELEASED HIS REPORT. IT DEFINITELY BRINGS ABOUT A BIT OF CLOSURE. JAKE MILLER LOST HIS DAD, TANDEM MASTER ROD MILLER, IN THE CRASH. HE APPLAUDS THE CORONER'S CONCLUSION THAT THE CRASH WASN'T SOLELY DUE TO OVERLOADING. TO SUGGEST THAT WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS RIDICULOUS. SO THE CORONER HAS SAID HE BELIEVES SOMETHING ELSE HAS TO HAVE CAUSED THE NOSE TO VEER UP IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND WE DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT. THE CORONER HAS RECOMMENDED MANDATORY PASSENGER RESTRAINTS BE URGENTLY CONSIDERED. HE ALSO SUGGESTS SUCH AIRCRAFT CARRY NO MORE THAN SIX PASSENGERS. THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY SAYS IT ALREADY HAS A WEIGHT-RELATED RULE AND IS LOOKING INTO THE RESTRAINT ISSUE. OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT WE DON'T, BY MAKING THAT A REQUIREMENT, CREATE A DIFFERENT SET OF SAFETY ISSUES. THE FAMILIES OF THE FOUR OVERSEAS TOURISTS KILLED HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER, ASKING FOR THE CONCEPT OF NEGLIGENCE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NZ'S LEGAL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS A PRIVATISED ACCIDENT INSURANCE SYSTEM. JOHN KEY SAYS HE'S READ THE LETTER. THERE'S SOME THINGS HE'S ASKING FOR WHICH AREN'T POSSIBLE; WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WON'T WANT TO CHANGE ITS POSITION ON, AND THEY ARE LARGELY IN RELATION TO ALLOWING, ESSENTIALLY, PARTIES TO SUE. BUT SOME OF THE FAMILIES STILL WANT SOMEONE HELD TO ACCOUNT. THERE SEEMS TO BE NOBODY WHO WILL STAND UP AND SAY, 'YES, THERE WERE THINGS THAT WEREN'T DONE 'THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT MAY HAVE PREVENTED THIS CRASH.' THEY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANOTHER AIR ACCIDENT LIKE IT. JOY REID, ONE NEWS. WEATHER EXPERTS SAY THE 'COLD KICK' IS STILL TO COME IN THE WAKE OF STRONG WINDS AND RELENTLESS RAIN. THE WILD BURST LEFT MORE THAN 1000 WEST AUCKLAND HOMES WITHOUT POWER OVERNIGHT IN A SURE SIGN WINTER'S ON ITS WAY. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS HAS MORE. THE SUDDEN HIT OF WIND AND RAIN PELTED THE NORTH THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. AUCKLAND'S BEEN RUN OFF ITS FEET TONIGHT. CREWS ACROSS THE CITY WERE KEPT BUSY WITH A CLEAN-UP THAT WOULD CONTINUE WITH MORE THAN 40 CALL-OUTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. OBVIOUSLY WE HAD ONE COME OVER, AND WE'RE NOT TOO SURE IF... HOW STABLE THE OTHER ONES ARE. UPROOTED TREES CAUSED MORE THAN JUST A ROADBLOCK. FELLED LINES LEFT AROUND 1300 WEST AUCKLAND HOMES MAKING DO FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. I THINK WE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 4 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, DIDN'T WE? A ROUGH END TO A SLEEPLESS NIGHT. THE WINDOWS WERE... THIS IS WHERE AUCKLAND'S BAD WEATHER CAME FROM ` THE WEST COAST. WINDS HERE REACHED NEARLY 150KM/H. THE RAIN HAS EASED, BUT GALE WARNINGS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. NO STRANGERS TO WIND, TODAY WELLINGTONIANS BATTLED WATER AS BAD WEATHER TRAVELLED SOUTH,... LOOK AT ME! (LAUGHS) WE SAW SOME VERY HEAVY RAIN IN A VERY SHORT SPAN OF TIME. I THINK IN THE TWO HOURS BETWEEN 9 AND 10 O'CLOCK, WE SAW 35MM. ...TURNING CITY ROADS TO RIVERS. IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. WE HAD, LIKE, BUSES GOING PAST SMASHING WAVES INTO THE WINDOW, LIKE, THIS HIGH. THE WATER WAS SITTING ABOUT HERE. EMERGENCY SERVICES IN WELLINGTON RESPONDED MORE THAN 70 TIMES, AND THE AIRPORT WAS FORCED TO SUSPEND FLIGHTS. IN NZ WEATHER, MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TROPICS AND THE POLES, WE CAN GET SOME GRUNT IN OUR WEATHER. THAT WEATHER SENDING A CLEAR REMINDER WINTER IS NEARLY HERE. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS, ONE NEWS. ONE OTHER NOTE ON THE WEATHER ` THE FINAL COST OF THE DEADLY TORNADO THAT HIT THE WEST AUCKLAND SUBURB OF HELENSVILLE IS $8.7M, $2M MORE THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED. THE INSURANCE COUNCIL SAYS THE BULK OF THE CLAIMS WERE FOR HOUSE AND CONTENTS. MORE THAN 300 HOMES WERE DAMAGED IN THE TORNADO, WHICH KILLED THREE PEOPLE IN DECEMBER. COMING UP NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` THE CROWN ALLEGES NIKKI ROPER TOLD A FELLOW PRISONER HE WAS GOING TO KILL HIS MISSUS. A HENS' PARTY GOES HORRIBLY WRONG IN CALIFORNIA. WHAT CAUSED THIS LIMO TO SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. DEADLY CLASHES ON THE STREETS OF THE BANGLADESHI CAPITAL AS HARDLINERS DEMAND DEATH FOR BLASPHEMERS. AND A FIREBALL ERUPTS ACROSS AN AIRSHOW IN SPAIN AS THE PILOT LOSES CONTROL AND HEADS FOR THE CROWD. TINKLING MUSIC Did you know you can connect your laptop to the internet using your smartphone? It's pretty handy, and it's really quick to do. It's called creating a Wi-Fi hotspot or tethering. So, say you're out and about and you need to email an important presentation from your laptop, but you don't have any internet access. That's all right. Just create a Wi-Fi hotspot using your smartphone and use it to connect your laptop to the internet. Your boss won't even know you've left the building. I just turn on the portable Wi-Fi hotspot option in my smartphone, and then on my laptop, I can find my smartphone's Wi-Fi and connect to it like any other Wi-Fi network. So clever. You don't need any other special gadgets. Most new smartphones come equipped. You'll just need to make sure you've got enough mobile data included in your plan. Have a go now so you can create a Wi-Fi hotspot next time you need one. And for more step-by-step instructions, head along to techinasec.co.nz A MAN (24) HAS DENIED HE MURDERED A YOUNG CHRISTCHURCH MOTHER IN HER LINWOOD HOME JUST DAYS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY CHOKING HER. ALI PUGH WAS IN THE HIGH COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH FOR THE START OF NIKKI ROPER'S TRIAL. THE NAME OF ALEXSIS TOVIZI IS TATTOOED ON THE FACE OF NIKKI ROPER (24), THE MAN THE CROWN SAYS CALLOUSLY KILLED HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND IN AN ACT FUELLED BY REVENGE AND JEALOUSY ` A CHARGE HE DENIES. NOT GUILTY. ALEXIS TOVIZI (21), A POLYTECH STUDENT WITH A YOUNG SON, WAS FOUND DEAD BY POLICE IN DECEMBER 2010. THE YOUNG MOTHER WAS TUCKED INTO BED AT HER LINWOOD HOME. WE CAN'T SHOW YOU ANY MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE COURT TODAY. AFTER NIKKI ROPER ENTERED HIS NOT GUILY PLEA, THE JUDGE ORDERED ALL CAMERAS BE SWITCHED OFF. THE CROWN TOLD THE COURT ALEXSIS DIED OF ASPHYXIATION, AND WAS EITHER MURDERED BY BEING CHOKED IN A SLEEPER HOLD, OR BEING DROWNED IN A POT OF WATER. NIKKI ROPER WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE ALEXSIS' DEATH OCCURRED ` IN CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY CHOKING HER SOME MONTHS EARLIER. THE CROWN SAID THAT ON HIS RELEASE, A FELLOW INMATE SAID TO HIM: TO WHICH ROPER REPLIED: AND THEN, SOON AFTER HIS ARREST FOR ALEXSIS' DEATH, HE TOLD ANOTHER MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER: ROPER ALLEGEDLY TOLD POLICE IN AN INTERVIEW THAT ALEXSIS HAD PUT HER HEAD IN A POT OF WATER, AND THEN HELD HIS HAND ON HER HEAD. 42 WITNESSES WILL BE CALLED OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, MANY OF THEM OTHER PRISON INMATES. ALI PUGH, ONE NEWS. A WEBSITE LABELLED 'IRRESPONSIBLE' BY THE NZ BAR ASSOCIATION, HAS GONE LIVE. THE CONTROVERSIAL SITE 'JUDGE THE JUDGES' HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE SENSIBLE SENTENCING TRUST, WHERE IT GIVES ITS OWN VERDICTS ON SENTENCES HANDED DOWN. THE MOVE HAS ALSO BEEN SLAMMED BY POLITICIANS, WHO SAY THE SITE TRIVIALISES THE ISSUES AROUND SENTENCING. IMMIGRATION NZ SAYS IT DIDN'T KNOW A REFUGEE WHO CAME HERE FROM AUSTRALIA WAS ACCUSED OF PEOPLE SMUGGLING, DESPITE A UN REPORT ON THE MAN. IRAQI-BORN MAYTHEM RADHI (35) IS WANTED BY AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES IN RELATION TO THE 2001 SINKING OF AN OVERLOADED FISHING BOAT WITH THE LOSS OF 350 LIVES. MR RADHI WON AN APPEAL AGAINST EXTRADITION TO AUSTRALIA, BUT AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES ARE APPEALING THAT FINDING. UNDER OUR LAW, PEOPLE-SMUGGLING CLAIMS PREVENT ACCEPTANCE HERE AS A REFUGEE. BUT OFFICIALS TOLD AN AUSTRALIAN CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH ALLEGATIONS. A WOMAN AND FOUR MEMBERS OF HER BRIDAL PARTY HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN HORRIFIC CAR FIRE ON THEIR WAY TO A HENS' PARTY. FOUR OTHERS AND THE DRIVER MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE BURNING LIMOUSINE ON A BUSY MOTORWAY BRIDGE IN CALIFORNIA. THE ABC'S CLAYTON SANDELL REPORTS. THE PICTURES ARE TERRIFYING ` CAPTURED WHEN A STRETCH LIMOUSINE BURSTS INTO FLAMES. NINE WOMEN WERE PASSENGERS INSIDE, CELEBRATING THEIR FRIEND'S UPCOMING MARRIAGE. BUT AS THE LIMO CROSSES A BRIDGE OVER SAN FRANCISCO BAY SATURDAY NIGHT, FIRE ERUPTS NEAR THE BACK. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. SOME GOOD SAMARITANS DID STOP AND ASSIST AND TRY AND PULL PEOPLE FROM THE FIRE. BUT UNFORT` IT'S JUST AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. FOUR OF THE WOMEN, SUFFERING BURNS AND BREATHING SMOKE, ESCAPE, BUT FIVE OF THEIR FRIENDS, INCLUDING THE BRIDE-TO-BE, WERE KILLED. INVESTIGATORS ARE NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHY THE LIMO, A 1999 LINCOLN, CAUGHT FIRE. THE COMPANY, SAN FRANCISCO-BASED LIMO STOP, DID NOT RETURN OUR CALLS. BUT TODAY THE NATIONAL LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION WEIGHED IN, SAYING THE 110,000 PROFESSIONALLY CHAUFFEURED CARS ON US ROADS ARE SAFE, SAYING... INVESTIGATORS WILL NOW CAREFULLY EXAMINE THAT LIMO AND TALK TO WITNESSES, HOPING TO PIECE TOGETHER THE MYSTERY OF HOW A NIGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CELEBRATION TURNED SO DEADLY. LOCAL MEDIA ARE REPORTING THE WOMAN FOR WHOM THE PARTY WAS BEING THROWN WAS SET TO BE MARRIED IN JUNE IN HER NATIVE PHILIPPINES. AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND UP TO 45 PEOPLE INJURED IN VIOLENT CLASHES IN DHAKA. POLICE FIRED RUBBER BULLETS AND TEAR GAS AFTER MEMBERS OF A HARD LINE ISLAMIC GROUP BLOCKED ROADS, TORCHED SHOPS AND THREW ROCKS AT THEM. THE GROUP AND ITS SUPPORTERS ARE DEMANDING NEW BLASPHEMY LAWS THAT REQUIRE THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ANYONE DEFAMING ISLAM. MEANWHILE, AT THE SITE OF THE COUNTRY'S WORST INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT, THE DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN TO AT LEAST 620. SEARCH SQUADS ARE STILL PULLING BODIES FROM THE RUBBLE OF THE GARMENT FACTORY ALMOST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEADLY COLLAPSE. A SUICIDE BOMBER DRIVING A CAR PACKED WITH EXPLOSIVES HAS KILLED AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE IN SOMALIA'S CAPITAL. THE BOMBING, TARGETING A QATARI DELEGATION TRAVELLING IN A CONVOY, KILLED AND INJURED BYSTANDERS IN THE CITY'S BUSY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THIS LATEST ATTACK IS ONE OF SEVERAL CLAIMED BY ISLAMIST REBEL GROUP AL-SHABAAB, AFTER THEY WERE PUSHED OUT OF THE CITY IN 2011. A VINTAGE SPANISH AIR FORCE JET HAS CRASHED AT A SHOW NEAR THE CAPITAL, KILLING THE PILOT AND INJURING THREE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS WERE AT THE AIRSHOW NEAR MADRID WHEN THE 1950S JET TRAINER FAILED TO PULL OUT OF A SHALLOW DIVE DURING THE DISPLAY. IT SLAMMED INTO A NEARBY HANGER AND EXPLODED IN A FIREBALL, SERIOUSLY INJURING THE PILOT WHO LATER DIED IN HOSPITAL. THREE OTHERS WERE TREATED FOR BURNS AND SMOKE INHALATION. AFTER ONE FAILED ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE DITCH, LONG DISTANCE NZ KAYAKER SCOTT DONALDSON HAS HEADED OUT TO SEA AGAIN. THE ROTORUA EXTREME SPORTSMAN IS TRYING TO BECOME THE FIRST SOLO KAYAKER TO CROSS THE TASMAN. HE FIRST SET OFF FROM COFFS HARBOUR ON ANZAC DAY, BUT HAD TO RETURN TO SHORE WHEN HIS SATELLITE PHONE GOT WET. NOW HE FACES HEADWINDS. I GOT A BIT OF A WEAKER HEADWIND, SO UM... IT'S JUST PART OF THE GAME, SO, UM, PROGRESS WON'T BE HUGE, NO DOUBT. THEN THAT HOPEFULLY IS FOLLOWED UP WITH A BIT OF TAILWIND. DONALDSON HOPES TO REACH NZ IN ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. TO OUR WEATHER NOW. THE STORMY WEATHER OVER AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND'S FINALLY PULLING AWAY? THE LOW IS NOW WEAKENING AND DRIFTING EAST OVER BAY OF PLENTY, SO NORTHERN RAIN HAS EASED. BUT WARNINGS REMAIN FOR NORTH CANTERBURY FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ PICTURES TAKEN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. WELLINGTON AIRPORT'S BEEN CLOSED, WITH GALES. HERE'S WHAT THE STORM'S DONE TO THE OCEAN OFF NEW PLYMOUTH. HEAVY SEAS AND AN OFFSHORE SOU'EASTER ELEVATED A MASSIVE SURF. FORECASTS AFTER SPORT WITH ANDREW. UP NEXT ` WE GO INSIDE THE FIRST STAGE OF CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL'S MULTIMILLION DOLLAR REDEVELOPMENT. OUR TOP MAORI BUSINESS LEADER IS STOPPED AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT FOR CARRYING A DANGEROUS WEAPON. HAS PRINCE HARRY ACCIDENTLY SPILLED THE BEANS, OR IS IT ALL A BLUFF? 1 ISSUES AROUND HOUSING ARE SET TO PLAY A BIG PART IN NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET, WITH THE FINANCE MINISTER SAYING AUCKLAND'S OVERHEATING REAL ESTATE MARKET COULD PLACE THE WHOLE ECONOMY AT RISK. THE WARNING COMES AS FIGURES OUT TODAY SHOW TAX REVENUE'S UP. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN LOOKS AT WHAT THAT COULD MEAN NEXT WEEK. NATIONAL WANTS RHEUMATIC FEVER RATES CUT BY TWO-THIRDS. TODAY IT ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WILL NEARLY DOUBLE THE FUNDS TO DO THAT. REALLY, THE MOST INVESTMENT THAT'S EVER BEEN MADE IN THIS PROJECT IN NZ'S HISTORY. THE EXTRA MONEY IS A SIGN PERHAPS THAT AFTER FOUR TIGHT BUDGETS, THE SHACKLES ARE COMING OFF A LITTLE BIT. WE'VE GOT THE GOVERNMENT'S BOOKS UNDER REASONABLY GOOD CONTROL. WE WANT TO FOCUS NOW ON ENSURING THAT THE KIND OF BENEFITS PEOPLE EXPECT TO FLOW AFTER A PRETTY TOUGH FOUR OR FIVE YEARS CAN FLOW. TREASURY ACCOUNTS TODAY DO PAINT THE PICTURE OF AN IMPROVING ECONOMY. TAX REVENUE IS UP $535M IN THE YEAR TO MARCH, WHILE THE DEFICIT IS NOW $250M LOWER THAN FORECAST AT $5B. IF THE TREND CONTINUES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EASILY HIT ITS SURPLUS TARGET IN 2014/15. BUT UNIONS SAY THERE'S LITTLE BENEFIT YET FOR WORKERS. THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT, WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, ARE NOT SEEING ANY OF THE BENEFITS. THEY'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING WAGE INCREASES, AND THEY'RE FEARFUL FOR THEIR JOBS. BILL ENGLISH HAS DONE WELL TO GET THE BOOKS BACK IN SHAPE AND CONTEND WITH THE COSTS OF THE CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD. WHERE HE'S BEEN LESS SUCCESSFUL IS FIXING WIDER PROBLEMS SUCH AS OVERINVESTMENT IN HOUSING. HE'S NEVER BEEN WILLING TO TAKE THE HARD DECISIONS THAT ARE NEEDED TO REBALANCE THE ECONOMY TOWARDS JOBS-BASED GROWTH TOWARDS THE EXPORT SECTOR. WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE KIND OF PRESSURES THAT COULD PUSH THIS ECONOMY OFF THE POSITIVE TRACK IT'S ON, SO WE ARE KEEN TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT FROM THE HOUSING MARKET. BILL ENGLISH'S PREFERRED METHOD TO SLOW HOUSE PRICES IS TO INCREASE LAND AVAILABILITY. WHAT'S CLEAR IS THAT HOUSING'S NOW SHAPING UP AS A KEY THEME FOR NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. LOBBY GROUP FAMILY FIRST IS CONSIDERING APPEALING A DECISION TO HAVE IT DEREGISTERED AS A CHARITY. IT'S BEEN RULED THE NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION HAS A STRONG POLITICAL FOCUS AND DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CHARITY. THE GROUP CAMPAIGNED AGAINST ANTI-SMACKING LEGISLATION AND THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL. WHAT IT'S MORE SAYING IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR VIEW ON FAMILIES, AND THE COMMISSION DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT VIEW, AS THEY DID IN WITH OURS, THEN YOU SHOULD BE DEREGISTERED, AND THAT'S A PRETTY WORRYING EFFECT. FAMILY FIRST SAYS IT'LL CONTINUE ITS WORK. THE MAORI BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN LEFT BEMUSED AFTER HE WAS FORCED TO STORE HIS TROPHY IN THE HOLD BY OFFICIALS AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT. IAN TAYLOR FROM ANIMATION RESEARCH WAS STOPPED BY SECURITY BECAUSE THE TROPHY, A PATU, OR TRADITIONAL MAORI CLUB, WAS CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. HE SAYS, 'MATE, THIS IS A MARTIAL ARTS WEAPON. 'I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO PUT IT ON BOARD.' BUT HE WAS REALLY REALLY NICE ABOUT IT. HE SAID THAT, AND THEN HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAYS, 'BUT, HEY, GOOD ON YOU FOR WINNING IT!' THE PATU WAS CHECKED IN AS CARGO WHILE MR TAYLOR'S BROTHER WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE A POCKET KNIFE THROUGH THE SAME SECURITY CHECK. CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL IS ABOUT TO REVEAL ITS FIRST BRAND-NEW WARD AFTER THE FACILITY SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE FEBRUARY 2011 QUAKE. IT'S PART OF A $600M REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HOSPITAL, OF WHICH THE FIRST PART WILL OPEN TOMORROW. HEALTH REPORTER LORELEI MASON REPORTS. THE BEDS ARE MADE, THE CURTAINS HUNG, THE STAFF ORIENTATED ` ALL THIS NEW $6M MEDICAL WARD NEEDS NOW IS THE PATIENTS. THIS IS PURPOSE-BUILT, SO WE'VE GOT THE FACILITIES WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE CARE THAT THE PUBLIC OF CHRISTCHURCH WHO ARE COMING IN HERE REQUIRE. THIS NEW MEDICAL-ASESSMENT WARD WILL PROVIDE 36 PATIENT BEDS ` 10 MORE THAN THE OLD WARD IT REPLACES. AMONG THOSE 36 BEDS, THREE NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOMS, PROVIDING CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO NEED INTENSIVE ISOLATION NURSING. AND WITH A BUSY INFLUENZA WINTER WORKLOAD AHEAD, THAT'S A BONUS ` AS IS THE ABILITY FOR THIS WARD TO ADMIT PATIENTS STRAIGHT FROM THEIR GP. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMBULANCE BAY AT THE FRONT OF OUR NEW UNIT, SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO THROUGH EMERGENCY, THEY'LL COME FROM OUR FRONT DOOR DIRECTLY INTO THE UNIT. IT'S THE FIRST NEW WARD COMPLETED IN ADVANCE OF THE CANTERBURY DHB'S LONG-AWAITED $600M REDEVELOPMENT. TWO FURTHER NEW WARDS, WITH 60 MORE BEDS, ARE DUE TO OPEN IN AUGUST. IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP OF GETTING A HOSPITAL BACK TOGETHER AND STARTING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FEBRUARY QUAKE WREAKED HAVOC, TEARING APART WALLS, CLOSING WARDS AND FORCING OTHER WARDS LONG ABANDONED ` LIKE THREE AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL ` TO REOPEN TO COPE WITH PATENT LOADS. IT'S LIKE A VERY VERY LARGE JIGSAW PUZZLE, WHERE WE'RE CONSTANTLY MOVING PEOPLE AROUND IN ORDER TO MAKE SPACE. AND WITH ANOTHER FIVE YEARS OF MAJOR BUILDING WORKS AHEAD,... OUR ABILITY TO PROGRESS THOSE WORKS WILL BE ENTIRELY DIRECTED BY WHAT THE CLINICIANS ALLOW US TO GET ACCESS TO. ...IT'LL REMAIN A CHALLENGE FOR SOME TIME YET. LORELEI MASON, ONE NEWS. THERE'S A NEW CHALLENGE FOR ROYAL BABY WATCHERS, WITH REPORTED COMMENTS FROM PRINCE HARRY ADDING TO CONFUSION OVER WHETHER IT'S A BOY OR GIRL. AN APPARENT SLIP OF THE TONGUE BY THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE INDICATED SHE WAS HAVING A DAUGHTER. NOW BRITISH NEWSPAPERS SAY PRINCE HARRY'S TELLING HIS FRIENDS THE ROYAL COUPLE IS EXPECTING A BOY. BUT PERHAPS HE'S SIMPLY MUDDYING THE WATERS, TO KEEP US ALL GUESSING. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` A WANGANUI POLICEMAN IS FIGHTING TO SAVE HIS CAREER AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SEEKING SEXUAL FAVOURS IN EXCHANGE FOR LETTING A WOMAN OFF A DRIVING OFFENCE. CONSTABLE HAYDEN BRADLEY SPENT HIS FIRST DAY IN COURT DENYING THE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION CHARGE, WHICH CARRIES A PENALTY OF UP TO SEVEN YEARS JAIL. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH HAS SAID A GAY MAN WANTING TO BECOME A PRIEST IS NOT BEING BARRED BECAUSE HE IS GAY, BUT BECAUSE HE IS IN A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE. EUGENE SISNEROS TOLD THE HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL TODAY THAT HE HAS BEEN DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THIS DISCRIMINATION. AND IT'S EXPECTED UNDERFIRE NATIONAL MP AARON GILMORE WILL BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN HIS ACTIONS AT CAUCUS TOMORROW. MR GILMORE WAS AT AN EVENT IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY, STILL REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT AN INCIDENT AT A HANMER SPRINGS HOTEL LAST WEEK. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND THE CRUSADERS AND DAN CARTER BACK TO THEIR OLD SELVES. HEAR THE RELIEF ON THE MAINLAND GOOD EFFORT AGAINST THE BRUMBIES WE HEAR FROM CARTER AND CO NEXT. IT'S VINTAGE PLAY FROM THE STAR 10, BUT WHAT ARE HIS THOUGHTS FOR THE TEST SEASON? THE CHIEFS AND THEIR TMO TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. SO WHICH DECISION DO OFFICIALS ADMIT THEY GOT WRONG? PLUS, SONNY BILL'S AT IT AGAIN FOR THE ROOSTERS. AND WE'RE AT BADMINTON TO SEE IF A KIWI CAN WIN THE FAMOUS TITLE AGAIN. FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO SUPER RUGBY, AND JUST WHEN IT APPEARED TO BE ALL DOOM AND GLOOM ON THE ALL BLACKS FRONT, CUE THE RETURN OF DAN CARTER. IN JUST HIS FIFTH START OF THE SEASON, CARTER WAS A STANDOUT LAST NIGHT IN THE CRUSADERS WIN OVER THE BRUMBIES IN CANBERRA. BUT WHAT ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS FOR THE TEST SEASON AHEAD? BLAIR NORTON REPORTS. BACK ON HOME SOIL AND DESERVEDLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A WEEK OFF WITH THE BYE. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE TWO HEAVYWEIGHTS WERE JUST COUNTER-PUNCHING THE WHOLE GAME UNTIL IT REALLY SORT OF OPENED UP, AND WE KNEW IT WOULD COME DOWN TO THOSE MOMENTS, AND WE TOOK THEM, WHICH WAS GREAT. AFTER A SHAKY START, DAN CARTER IMPOSED HIMSELF, MARSHALLING THE TROOPS AND TAKING ON THE LINE. HE'S FOUND THE RHYTHM. BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BALL THERE. A TIMELY SHOW OF FORM WITH HIS ALL BLACK MIDFIELD PARTNERS LOOKING SHAKY. WHO KNOWS WHO'LL BE AVAILABLE, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, GUYS THAT DO FILL-IN ROLES DO IT WELL, SO I'M SURE IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE. NEITHER'S THE CRUSADERS' FORM ALL OF A SUDDEN, AFTER THE MUCH AWAITED RETURN OF THE PHYSICAL AND AGGRESSIVE PACK, THE LOOSIES CAUSING HAVOC. WE KNEW WE HAD TO PUT PRESSURE ON THAT BREAKDOWN AND FORCE THEM INTO MISTAKES, AND IT'S ALWAYS PLEASING WHEN CAN FORCE TURNOVERS AND SCORE DOWN THE OTHER END. THE CRUSADERS REWARDED FOR A MORE CONFRONTATIONAL GAME PLAN. POPS IT UP. OH, BRILLIANT SKILL, AND GUILDFORD FOR THE CORNER... WHAT A TRY! BENCHED FULLBACK ISRAEL DAGG ANSWERED TODD BLACKADDER'S CHALLENGE IN STYLE. SO A BREAKOUT, AND FRUEAN... AND HE'S GOT NUMBERS ON THE INSIDE, HE'S GOING TO GIVE IT TO DAGG... IT JUST TOOK THAT ONE ACTION, THAT ONE MOMENT, AND I CAN JUST SENSE THAT HE'S BACK TO BEING HIMSELF, AND IT'S JUST GREAT. THAT TRY SEALED A 30-23 WIN, THE CRUSADERS' FIRST VICTORY IN CANBERRA FOR A DECADE, AND A SIGN THAT THIS TEAM COULD WIN AN EIGHTH SUPER TITLE. BLAIR NORTON, ONE NEWS. IN THE CHIEFS-REBELS GAME LAST FRIDAY WAS INCORRECT. THE CALL COST GARETH ANSCOMBE A FOURTH TRY. I THINK THE LAST DECISION AGAINST THE CHIEFS, WHICH WAS RULED AS A KNOCK-ON, I THINK WE HAVE AGREED IS INCORRECT, AND THAT YOU CANNOT PROVE THAT THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS KNOCK-ON BY THE PLAYER WHO COMES THROUGH ON THE REBELS HALFBACK. HOWEVER, THE TWO SUSPECT PASS RULINGS, WHICH WERE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT, HAVE BEEN REGARDED AS THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION, TRAVELLING FORWARD, RATHER THAN BEING PASSED FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SEEING THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY TO WHAT THEY ARE. AND I THINK THE CONSENSUS FROM THE PEOPLE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN HOW THEY COULD HAVE JUSTIFIED THOSE DECISIONS. UP UNTIL THE WEEKEND THERE HAVE BEEN 124 TMO REFERRALS, AT AN AVERAGE OF TWO PER GAME. MEANWHILE, THE CHIEFS HAVE CONFIRMED RICHARD KAHUI WILL HAVE SHOULDER SURGERY AND ANOTHER FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS OUT OF THE GAME. THE NZ SEVENS RUGBY TEAM HAS WON ITS 11TH IRB WORLD SERIES TITLE. A WIN IN THE QUARTER-FINALS IN GLASGOW AGAINST ARGENTINA WAS ENOUGH TO CLINCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THE NZ SIDE THEN BEAT WALES IN THE SEMIS, BUT LOST TO SOUTH AFRICA IN THE FINAL, AFTER LEADING 14-7 AT ONE STAGE. WE'VE SEEN SO MANY. OH, WHAT A CLEVER CHIP THROUGH. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. TAKING THREE DEFENDERS AT THE TIME, THEY MUST SCORE, SURELY. HENDRICKS, DOES HE GET THERE? YES, I THINK SO! SOUTH AFRICA WON 28-21. IT'S THEIR THIRD TOURNAMENT WIN IN THE SERIES ` THEY BEAT NZ IN ALL THREE FINALS THEY PLAYED. ANOTHER KIWI AND TWO TOP EUROPEAN RIDERS STAND BETWEEN VETERAN EQUESTRIAN ANDREW NICHOLSON AND A HUGE BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS PAYDAY. NICHOLSON IS LYING FOURTH HEADING IN TO THE SHOWJUMPING AFTER A TESTING CROSS COUNTRY PHASE. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY REPORTS FROM BADMINTON. ANDREW NICHOLSON'S WINNING STREAK ON NEREO HAS LOOKED UNBREAKABLE. HERE, THEY FINISHED CLEAR WITH A SECOND TO SPARE, DESPITE LOSING A SHOE ON THE FINAL TURN. HE LOST THE RIGHT SHOE, AND YOU'VE GOT TO TURN SHARP RIGHT. AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TO TURN, I FELT HIM SLIPPING, WHICH MEANS THEY SHIFT OUT TO KEEP THEIR BALANCE, AND... YOU KNOW, A YOUNGER HORSE, POSSIBLY, WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE CORNER. BUT HE... HE KNOWS HIS JOB. THERE'S A $400,000 PRIZE PURSE RIDING ON THIS ` HANDY FOR AN ELITE ATHLETE WHO ALSO HAS A DAY JOB REARING FUTURE CHAMPIONS. ANDREW NICHOLSON TRAINED THAT HORSE, AND HE'LL BE RIDING TO WIN LATER TODAY ` NOT JUST THIS EVENT, BUT THE GRAND SLAM OF THREE FOUR-STAR EVENTS ` AND SET A RECORD FOR THE FIRST RIDER TO RIDE IN FOUR UNDEFEATED. HE DEALT WITH JUMPS THAT SPILLED OTHERS AND STOPPED A ROYAL RIDER IN HER TRACKS. BUT HE DIDN'T OUTFOX HIS MAIN RIVAL, OR NZ'S BOLD YOUNG HOPE, JOCK PAGET. THERE'S A GLARE ON THE WATER ` GOING INTO THE LAKE. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SEEN... THERE'S BEEN A FEW PROBLEMS IN THE LAKE THIS AFTERNOON, AND NOT REALLY THIS MORNING. I THINK THAT'S COS OF THE GLARE GOING IN. AND THE HUNTSMAN'S CLOSE ` THERE'S A DIFFERENT LIGHT THIS AFTERNOON FROM THIS MORNING, SO, YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY... AND I WALKED THE COURSE AT THE TIME I WAS RIDING IT YESTERDAY. THAT WAS A TIP FROM FELLOW OLYMPIC TEAMMATE MARK TODD, WHO FOUND BOTH THE COURSE AND HIS RIDE WANTING. I THINK THIS A SOFTIE, REALLY. I DON'T THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MORE TESTING, WHICH IS A SHAME, CONSIDERING THE STANDARD OF FIELD WE'VE GOT HERE. BUT THEY'RE ALL THERE TO BE JUMPED, AND MISTAKES CAN BE MADE, AS I'VE PROVED. (CHUCKLES) WHICH FAVOURS BADMINTON DEBUTANT MICHAEL JUNG. THE METHODICAL GERMAN OLYMPIC AND EUROPEAN CHAMPION LOST NOTHING FROM A DOMINANT DRESSAGE SCORE. HE'LL NEED TO DROP TWO RAILS IN THE FINAL PHASE TO GIVE ANDREW NICHOLSON A CHANCE. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS. SONNY BILL WILLIAMS GAVE A REMINDER OF HIS BRUTE STRENGTH AS THE ROOSTERS PUMMELLED PENRITH 30-6 TO MOVE TO OUTRIGHT THIRD ON THE NRL LEAGUE LADDER. THE SECOND ROWER MUSCLED HIS WAY THROUGH FOUR PENRITH PLAYERS TO SCORE A CONTROVERSIAL TRY IN THEIR WIN OVER PENRITH. HE'S SCORED. HE'S BOUNCED THE BALL OVER THE LINE. I THINK THE BALL TOUCHES. OH, HE'S TACKLED. HE'S ACTUALLY PROMOTED THE BALL AFTER HE'S TOUCHED THE GROUND. AND HE'S HELD IN A TACKLE. CENTRE MICHAEL JENNINGS MADE A TRIUMPHANT RETURN FOR THE ROOSTERS AGAINST HIS FORMER CLUB, WITH TWO TRIES IN THE 30-6 ROMP. MANU VATUVEI IS SET TO SIGN A 3-YEAR DEAL HE MADE HIS DEBUT 9 YEARS AGO AN INQUIRY INTO AUSTRALIAN RACING'S MOST HIGH-PROFILE RIFT HAS STARTED IN SYDNEY. LEADING TRAINER GAI WATERHOUSE IS ACCUSED OF PASSING ON INFORMATION ABOUT ONE OF HER STAR HORSES TO HER BOOKMAKER SON ` AN AFFAIR WHICH INVOLVES SOME COLOURFUL CHARACTERS. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL HAS MORE. TOM WATERHOUSE, ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST BOOKMAKERS, AHEAD OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST CAPTIVATING RACING INQUIRY. HIS MOTHER, GAI, IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL HORSE TRAINERS. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE INQUIRY? SHE USED TO TRAIN FOR MULTIMILLIONAIRE JOHN SINGLETON UNTIL AN UGLY SPLIT-UP LAST MONTH AFTER HIS HORSE MORE JOYOUS RAN SECOND-LAST IN A MAJOR RACE. SINGLETON CLAIMS GAI PASSED ON INFORMATION ABOUT THE FITNESS OF MORE JOYOUS TO HER BOOKIE SON TOM. THAT'S NAIVE ` TO THINK THAT WIVES AND HUSBANDS AND SONS WON'T TALK. I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS. SINGLETON CLAIMS THAT BEFORE THE BIG RACE, TOM WATERHOUSE TOLD RUGBY LEAGUE LEGEND ANDREW JOHNS THAT MORE JOYOUS WAS 'OFF' AND COULD NOT WIN. JOHNS REFUSED TO FRONT THE INQUIRY TODAY, BUT SAYS HE NEVER DISCUSSED THE HORSE'S HEALTH WITH TOM WATERHOUSE. THIS DRAMA, WHICH STARTED HERE AT SYDNEY'S ROYAL RANDWICK RACECOURSE, IS BEING PLAYED OUT IN AUSTRALIA'S MAINSTREAM MEDIA. IT'S BEEN BRANDED A RACING SOAP OPERA, WITH A STAR-STUDDED CAST THAT ALSO INCLUDES A COLOURFUL FORMER JOCKEY AND A NOTORIOUS BROTHEL OWNER. THE WATERHOUSE NAME IS NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY. GAI'S BOOKMAKER HUSBAND, ROBBIE, WAS WARNED OFF RACECOURSES FOR MORE THAN A DECADE FOR HIS ROLE IN THE FINE COTTON SCANDAL WHEN A RING-IN HORSE WON BIG IN 1984. LIVELIHOODS AND REPUTATIONS ARE ON THE LINE AS THE SCRUTINY OF AUSTRALIA'S RACING ELITE CONTINUES. STEVE MARSHALL, ONE NEWS, SYDNEY. THE CANTERBURY TACTIX ARE ON TRACK TO SHAKE OFF NETBALL'S WOODEN SPOON TAG AFTER RECORDING BACK-TO-BACK WINS OVER THE NORTHERN MYSTICS. AND THEY DIDN'T NEED OVERTIME THIS TIME, IN THE BOTTOM-OF-THE-TABLE CLASH. HERE'S ABBY SCOTT. YOU'RE MEANT TO START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON, AND THE MYSTICS SEEM TO INSIST ON STARTING DISASTROUSLY ` WELL READ. UNABLE TO FIND THEIR SHOOTERS. TOO MUCH ON THAT FROM RASMUSSEN. DEVELOPMENT PLAYER ERIKANA PEDERSON (18) WAS AT CENTRE FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THE INEXPERIENCE SHOWED. BUT EVEN CAPTAIN MARIA TUTAIA COULDN'T FIND CATHRINE LATU. TUTAIA FORCING IT INTO THE CIRCLE. WE WERE ALL PRETTY BAD IN THAT FIRST QUARTER. I DON'T THINK IT'S TIME TO BE NAILING ONE PERSON ` CONVERSELY, THE TACTIX WERE MAKING THINGS LOOK EASY ` UP AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, 19-10. MYSTICS COACH RUTH AIKEN DEFENDED HER FOURTH DIFFERENT MIDCOURT SELECTION IN SEVEN GAMES. THAT HAD BEEN WORKING VERY WELL IN TRAINING, BUT IT DIDN'T QUITE FIRE, AND TO BE FAIR, TACTIX PUT GREAT PRESSURE ON IT. PEDERSON WAS BENCHED, BUT THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE. AT ONE STAGE IN THE THIRD QUARTER, THE GAP WIDENED TO 14. PREGNANT CO-CAPTAIN ANNA HARRISON COULD ONLY WATCH ON. BUT EVEN HER SIGNATURE MOVE COULDN'T SAVE THEM. DESPITE A LATE DRIVE TO COME WITHIN 3 IN THE FINAL QUARTER, THEY EVENTUALLY SUCCUMBED 57-61. LAST YEAR'S PRELIMINARY FINALISTS HAVE JUST ONE WIN TO THEIR NAME. IT'S NOT ABOUT GIVING UP AT THIS STAGE. IT'S ABOUT FINDING THAT PERFORMANCE THAT I KNOW IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. WE JUST GOT TO TURN A BIT FASTER. WITH THE SEASON ALREADY HALFWAY THROUGH, THEY'RE QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF TIME. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. IRENE AND THE MAGIC PLAYING IN AUSTRALIA TONIGHT INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY GIVE HER A ROUGH TIME AFTER THE BREAK, JIM HAS AN IMPROVING WEATHER OUTLOOK ` HI AGAIN. OUR LOW'S TRACKING ACROSS BAY OF PLENTY NOW, THEN OUT INTO THE PACIFIC TONIGHT. WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED. WE STILL HAVE A RAIN WATCH. AND WE'VE HAD SNOW. THIS ATOP THE HUMBOLDT MOUNTAINS ABOVE GLENORCHY. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ FOR NOW, A BIT OF MOISTURE AND A RAW SOUTHERLY MEAN ONE THING UP IN THE PASSES. FRANK PARKER AND LIZ NEEDHAM CELEBRATED A 70TH BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK. FOR THEIR PLANE LIKE MOST 70-YEAR-OLDS, THE PLANE HAS FALSE TEETH