GOOD EVENING. OUR RUN OF MOSTLY FINE WEATHER IS COMING TO AN END. THE HIGH GAVE US ONE MORE SETTLED DAY, BUT IT WAS A FOGGY START FOR MANY PLACES, AND FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF WELLINGTON WERE AFFECTED. LATER IN THE NEWS HOUR, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN THE RAIN IS LIKELY TO ARRIVE AT YOUR PLACE AND WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME HEAVY THUNDERY FALLS. 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. WELCOME TO THIS BACK-TO-BLACK BUDGET DAY SPECIAL LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT, A BUDGET WHERE BILL ENGLISH MAKES HEALTH AND EDUCATION THE BIG BUDGET BENEFICIARIES. AND THE FINANCE MINISTER INJECTS A RECORD AMOUNT INTO THE HOUSING SECTOR, TARGETING THOSE MOST IN NEED. IN OTHER NEWS ` CREATING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS FOR HUMANS ` A MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH PUTS US A STEP CLOSER TO CLONED BABIES. AND IS IT CREEPY OR COOL? IT'S THE FUTURE OF COMPUTING, ACCORDING TO GOOGLE GLASS, BUT THERE ARE PRIVACY FEARS. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO OUR ONE NEWS HOUR BUDGET 2013 COVERAGE ` THE BUDGET SET TO BRING US BACK INTO THE BLACK TO ALLOW WHAT THE FINANCE MINISTER CALLS SENSIBLE SPENDING. THAT'S PARTLY BASED ON: A PREDICTED OPERATING SURPLUS OF $75M IN 2014/15. THE BIGGEST SPEND IS JUST OVER $2B ON THE CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD. THERE'S OVER $1.5B GOING TO NEW HEALTH INITIATIVES IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. AND ACC LEVIES ARE BEING CUT BY $300M IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR. THE HEALTHY HOMES INSULATION PROGRAMME'S GETTING A $100M BOOST OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. $188M'S BEING SPENT ON GETTING PEOPLE OFF BENEFITS AND INTO WORK. EDUCATION, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO TERTIARY STUDY, GETS OVER $1B ACROSS THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. AND MERIDIAN ENERGY WILL BE THE NEXT PARTIAL SHARE FLOAT LATER THIS YEAR. TO HELP LOOK AT SOME OF THIS IN MORE DETAIL IS ONE NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN. CORIN, WE EXPECTED SOME OPTIMISM THIS YEAR. IS IT FAIR TO SAY THIS IS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM? It is cautious and safe. It is a careful budget all-rounder. He's got under the bonnet and he's trying to fix it up spending will come next year. HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE THE BIG WINNERS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT MATURE STUDENTS AND LOAN DEFAULTERS ARE BEING TARGETED, AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THE KITTY FOR COPS. BIG MONEY IS BEING INJECTED INTO HEALTH IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THE FINANCE MINISTER FINALLY HAS SOME CASH TO PLAY WITH. THIS YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A BIT MORE ROOM TO MOVE IN THE BUDGET. HEALTH WILL GET $1.6B OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THE CHRISTCHURCH RECOVERY IS GETTING $2.1B, AND EDUCATION WILL GET $900M OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THAT'S FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOLS. SO SOME MORE CASH FOR THE EDUCATION MINISTER, ALTHOUGH 170 MILLION OF THAT IS PAYING TO FIX LAST YEARS BUDGET BUNGLE ON CLASS SIZES. SO THOSE ARE THE WINNERS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LOSERS? POLICE WILL GET NO EXTRA MONEY. FOR PEOPLE OVER 40 WANTING TO STUDY, YOU'LL ONLY GET A STUDENT ALLOWANCE FOR 120 WEEKS, RATHER THAN THE CURRENT 200. THAT'LL ONLY SAVE THE GOVERNMENT JUST OVER $9M. AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE NEW SANCTIONS SO PEOPLE CAN BE ARRESTED AT THE BORDER IF THEY HAVEN'T PAID BACK THEIR STUDENT LOAN. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS KIWIS LIVING OVERSEAS TO PAY OFF THEIR LOANS FASTER, SO THERE WILL BE SOME NEW RULES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A $20,000 STUDENT LOAN AT THE MOMENT, YOU HAVE 35 YEARS TO PAY IT BACK. FROM NEXT YEAR, YOU'LL HAVE 15 YEARS. < SO IS THE MESSAGE, 'DON'T COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS < 'IF YOU HAVEN'T PAID BACK YOUR STUDENT LOAN?' NOT NECESSARILY. THE MESSAGE IS DO MAKE YOUR PAYMENTS. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THE GREENS SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S PICKED THE WRONG WINNERS AND LOSERS. THE LOSERS ARE FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS IS A BIG DEBT BUDGET. LABOUR'S NOT IMPRESSED EITHER. THIS IS A BLACKJACK BUDGET. THIS IS A BUDGET WHERE BILL ENGLISH HOLDS ALL THE CARDS, BUT HAS STACKED THE DECK AGAINST ORDINARY HARD-WORKING NZERS. MR SPEAKER, THAT WAS TRULY AWFUL. IT WAS LIKE` LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE IT WAS LIKE WATCHING MYSKY IN HALF-SPEED. I FOUND MYSELF DESPERATE TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL. THE FINANCE MINISTER'S HOPING THE PUBLIC'S MORE IN TUNE WITH HIS BUDGET. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. 3000 HOUSING NZ TENANTS LOOK SET TO BE KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AS THE GOVERNMENT MAKES A RECORD INVESTMENT OF ALMOST $3B OVERHAULING STATE HOUSING OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN HAS MORE. LIVING IN A FOUR-BEDROOM HOUSE WITH SIX KIDS AND TWINS ON THE WAY, CARISSA GRAHAM AND HER HUSBAND SAY THEY NEED HELP NOW GETTING INTO A BIGGER HOME, BUT HAVE BEEN OFFERED NOTHING BUT A LONG WAIT. A LOW INCOME FAMILY WITH EIGHT KIDS ` WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GO OUT PRIVATELY AND LOOK FOR A BIGGER HOUSE. IT'LL TAKE UP, YOU KNOW` WE'LL JUST HAVE NO MONEY TO LIVE. BUT THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES A RECORD $2.9B SPEND BY HOUSING NZ OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS CAN TURN THE TABLES FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED. COME 2014, SO-CALLED 'REVIEWABLE TENANCIES' WILL BE EXTENDED FROM JUST 10,000 TO 53,000 TENANTS, MEANING THEIR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE REVIEWED TO SEE IF THEY'RE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR STATE HOUSING. SOME OF THEM HAVE SUFFICIENT INCOMES NOW TO ACTUALLY PAY RENT IN THE MARKET IF WE CAN FIND THEM SOMEWHERE TO LIVE. THESE REVIEWABLE TENANCIES ARE A WAY OF KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS REVIEWABLE TENANCIES WILL SEE 1000 HOUSING NZ TENANTS MOVED ON IN 2015/16, AND DOUBLE THAT IN 2016/17. THE HOUSING MINISTER SAYS THE POLICY WILL ACTUALLY COST AN EXTRA $47M OVER THAT PERIOD, BECAUSE FUTURE TENANTS WILL BE IN THOSE GREATEST NEED, AND THEY'LL REQUIRE MORE HELP THAN THOSE ASKED TO LEAVE STATE HOUSES. THE GOVERNMENT'S ALSO GOING TO TRIAL A WARRANT OF FITNESS SCHEME ACROSS HOUSING NZ'S 69,000 PROPERTIES WITH THE AIM OF MAKING THEM WARMER AND DRYER FOR TENANTS AS WELL AS PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER OPPOSITION PARTIES. IT'S A NOD TO THE IDEA, BUT A FAILED IMPLEMENTATION. SO THE WARRANT OF FITNESS SYSTEM ISN'T GOING TO SORT OUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE, WHICH IS POOR QUALITY PRIVATE RENTALS. IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SORT THAT OUT, THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING USEFUL FOR FAMILIES. BUT IF SUCCESSFUL, THE HOUSING WARRANTS OF FITNESS WILL BE EXTENDED TO OTHER SOCIAL HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO PICK UP SOME OF THE SLACK THROUGH A $27M EXTENSION OF INCOME-RELATED RENT SUBSIDIES TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. A BIG RESPONSE WAS NEEDED, AND THE BIG RESPONSE HASN'T HAPPENED. YES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO AS A RESULT OF THIS BUDGET, BUT NOT TOO MUCH. DESPITE THE RECORD SPEND ON HOUSING NZ, ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSESSING WHETHER PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE HOUSING SUBSIDIES IS SHIFTING TO THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT HOW TOUGH IT IS FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS JUST GETTING ONTO THE PROPERTY LADDER. WHAT DOES THIS BUDGET DO THEM? It does quite a lot.The government has tried to boost the supply of houses. Price increases will be curbed and first home buyers will find it easier to get on the ladder. But some people feel it is too little too late. TODAY'S BUDGET CONFIRMS THE GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT OF 15 BILLION TO WHAT IS NOW AN ESTIMATED $40B RECOVERY BILL FROM THE CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKES. THAT'S JUST OVER 2 BILLION UP ON EARLIER ESTIMATES.. NEARLY HALF OF THAT EXTRA 2 BILLION IS BEING FUNDED FROM THE SHARE-OFFER PROGRAMME, AND GOES TO THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES PRECINCT. THE COMMITMENT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US. THAT BRINGS THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL TO $15B, ESSENTIALLY FROM THE PEOPLE OF NZ, AND THANK YOU. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WE DO NEED IT. MORE THAN 80 MILLION HAS ALSO BEEN EARMARKED FOR FUNDING FINAL LAND ZONING DECISIONS. BOTH BILL ENGLISH AND JOHN KEY WARNED THERE WOULD BE NO LOLLY SCRAMBLE IN THIS BUDGET. AND AS BUSINESS PRESENTER NADINE CHALMERS-ROSS REPORTS, THAT WHAT'S BEEN LAID OUT TODAY CERTAINLY LIVES UP TO THAT WARNING. BILL ENGLISH HAS BEEN THE BEARER OF BLEAK BUDGETS FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, BUT TODAY'S WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BIT BRIGHTER AS THE ECONOMY IMPROVES. INSTEAD, IT SHOWS A WAFER-THIN SURPLUS OF JUST $75M BY 2015. WHETHER IT'S 2015 OR 2016, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RED HERRING. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS SIGNS OF PROGRESS, AND THERE LOOKS TO BE ENOUGH CREDIBILITY IN REALITY IN THOSE PROJECTIONS TO GIVE US COMFORT, ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S SO SLIM ` ACC LEVIES ARE BEING CUT BY $300M NEXT YEAR AND POTENTIALLY $1B THE YEAR AFTER. THAT MEANS LESS COMES OUT OF YOUR PAY PACKET WHEN YOU PAY TAX EVERY WEEK AND COSTS EMPLOYERS LESS TO HIRE STAFF. OBVIOUSLY, IT REDUCES COST FOR US IN TAKING ON AN EMPLOYEE. BUT THE ACC LEVIES ARE NOT A SIGNIFICANT COST FOR A SMALL BUSINESS. FOR HOUSEHOLDS, THIS BUDGET DOES LITTLE TO OFFSET THEIR RISING COSTS. a few dollars extra in the hand but won't offset everyday living costs. THERE'S LITTLE TO GET EXCITED ABOUT, EVEN WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DOES GET BACK TO SURPLUS. THEY'LL THEN TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO GETTING DEBT DOWN TO 20% OF GDP BY 2020. IN TWO MORE YEARS, ACCORDING TO THIS BUDGET, OUR SUPERANNUATION BILL WILL EXCEED OUR EDUCATION BILL, AND THIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE GOVERNMENT'S ALSO WANTING TO REDUCE THE RISKS THAT COULD THROW THE ECONOMY OFF COURSE. PART OF THAT IS GIVING THE RESERVE BANK THE TOOLS IT'S BEEN AFTER TO CRACK DOWN ON HOUSING BUBBLES. THIS BUDGET CONFIRMED THAT WHILE A SURPLUS IS IN SIGHT, NATIONAL STILL HAS A TIGHT GRIP ON THE COUNTRY'S PURSE STRINGS. NADINE CHALMERS-ROSS, ONE NEWS. SO, CORIN, HOW MUCH SHOULD WE READ INTO THIS SMALL SUPRLUS? I wouldn't read too much into this. Bill English is pretty confident the numbers will go his way over the next two years. There are some other concerns that the government in this budget. There are no big ticket back pocket payment for middle New Zealanders. Mr English has left a bit but vulnerable on that front. CLENDON PARK SCHOOL IN SOUTH AUCKLAND FEEDS MANY OF ITS STUDENTS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. IN RETURN, THESE KIDS LOVE TO LEARN. BUT THERE'S NO EXTRA IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FOOD IN SCHOOLS PROGRAMME. EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT TO SEE THAT SUCH A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE HAS NOT GOT ANY FUNDING WHATSOEVER ATTACHED TO IT AS YET. INSTEAD, THE GOVERNMENT'S LOOKING TO THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR TO FUND IT. THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY AND ILL-PREPARED FOR A DAY IN THE CLASSROOM. WE EXPECT TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS AROUND THIS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IT'S ESTIMATED AROUND 80,000 NZ KIDS GO TO SCHOOL HUNGRY. THE PRINCIPAL HERE SAID THE NUMBER THEY SEE HAS QUADRUPLED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. SHE ALSO SAID CONDITIONS THAT USED TO BE RARE, LIKE RHEUMATIC FEVER AND SCHOOL SORES, ARE NOW COMMON. AND WHEN SHE HAS TO VISIT A STUDENT'S HOUSE, THOSE HOUSES ARE OFTEN OVERCROWDED. THIS IS WHERE THE SICKNESS IS. THIS IS WHERE THE ILL HEALTH IS. THIS IS WHERE CHILDREN NEED SO MUCH MORE TIME AND ATTENTION SO THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. AND MONEY IS GOING TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES. $100,000M OVER THREE YEARS FOR HOME INSULATION TARGETING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES; $35M TO HELP EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS LIKE GRANDPARENTS CARE FOR CHILDREN; AND OBTAINING CHEAPER WHITEWARE FOR BENEFICIARIES TO BUY USING A REPAYABLE GRANT, AND ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION FOR BUDGETING SERVICES. IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH WHEN YOU CONSIDER WE ARE THE AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE. WE'RE COMING ACROSS CHILD POVERTY ` HUGE NUMBERS OF KIDS NOT GOING TO SCHOOL CAUSE THEY CAN'T BE FED. THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO LOOKING AT CREATING A MICRO-LOAN SCHEME FOR THOSE ON LOW OR NO INCOMES, SOMETHING THIS ORGANISATION IS IN FAVOUR OF. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. NOW, WE HAVE MORE DETAILS IN THE BUDGET ABOUT ASSET SALES, CORIN, BUT IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT MERIDIAN ENERGY'S THE NEXT ONE UP FOR PARTIAL SALE LATER THIS YEAR. We are looking at an October float, for Meridian energy. There will be a huge issue. ASSET SALES STILL SET TO BRING IN $5B TO $7B. SHOWN IN BUDGET WITH FUTURE FUND PROCEEDS OF MIGHTY RIVER POWER USED FOR HOSPITALS IN CHRISTCHURCH. AND AFTER THE NEWS HOUR, THE PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY WILL BE LIVE ON SEVEN SHARP. AND WE'LL HAVE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS LATER IN THE PROGRAMME, BUT MEANWHILE, IT'S BACK TO WENDY IN THE STUDIO. THANKS, SIMON. AHEAD ` THE REST OF THE DAYS NEWS, INCLUDING A WHITE POWDER, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'D THINK. WHY KEEPING OUT SYNTHETIC DRUGS IS BECOMING OUR BIGGEST BORDER BATTLE. CLONING HUMANS TO CREATE BODY PARTS. SCIENTISTS SAY THEY'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH. AND MEET THE GOGGLE GOOGLE ARMY ` THE SOFTWARE DESIGNERS RECRUITED TO MAKE THESE HIGH-TECH GLASSES EVEN COOLER. 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 ILLEGAL SYNTHETIC DRUGS ARE CROSSING OUR BORDERS AT AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL, ACCORDING TO CUSTOMS. THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY SUBSTANCES NOW MAKE UP A THIRD OF ALL PRODUCTS SEIZED, AS PAUL HOBBS REPORTS. ON THE FACE OF IT, INNOCUOUS WHITE POWDER, BUT THESE ARE POTENTIALLY LETHAL SYNTHETIC DRUGS THAT CUSTOMS SAYS ARE CROSSING OUR BORDERS IN RECORD NUMBERS AND ARE FAST BECOMING ENTRENCHED IN OUR SOCIAL CULTURE. THIS IS FAR BIGGER THAN WE HAVE PROBABLY WITNESSED BEFORE, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO GO AWAY OVERNIGHT. CUSTOMS SAYS THESE SYNTHETIC DRUGS ARE LARGELY MADE IN CHINA AND SOLD OVER THE INTERNET. CUSTOMS HAS TARGETED OUR INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRES IN A FOUR-MONTH OPERATION CRACKING DOWN ON THEIR IMPORTATION, INTERCEPTING AROUND 15 PACKAGES A WEEK. THIS ONE WAS DISGUISED IN LIPSTICK. SOME COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES ARE VALUED AT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WE HAVE OFFENDING, THAT IF THEY CONTINUE TO GO UNDETECTED, WE BELIEVE WILL GROOM THEMSELVES INTO FAR MORE ORGANISED SYNDICATES. MOST OF THESE PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES ARE PASSED OFF AS ECSTASY. THE DRUGS ARE UNFORTUNATELY CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. AS SOON AS WE OUTLAW ONE THING, THEY GO OFF TO R&D AND INVENT THE NEXT DERIVATIVE. SIREN WAILS CUSTOMS SAYS THESE NEW DRUGS ARE INCREASINGLY VOLATILE AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL. WHAT'S DISTURBING ACCORDING TO CUSTOMS IS THAT SOME OF THESE DRUGS ARE TECHNICALLY LEGAL. A NEW BILL THAT'S CURRENTLY BEFORE PARLIAMENT WILL MAKE CUSTOMS' JOB A WHOLE LOT EASIER. THE PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES BILL WILL PUT THE ONUS ON IMPORTERS TO PROVE THE SAFETY OF ANY PRODUCT BEFORE IT CAN BE IMPORTED, MANUFACTURED OR SOLD. CUSTOMS SAYS THEY'VE MADE FOUR ARRESTS IN RECENT DAYS AND COMPLETED MORE THAN 100 INVESTIGATIONS AS A RESULT OF THEIR OPERATION. PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS. SCIENTISTS IN AMERICA HAVE TAKEN THE CONTROVERSIAL STEP OF CLONING CELLS TO CREATE HUMAN EMBRYOS. THE TECHNIQUE COULD LEAD TO WAYS OF GROWING REPLACEMENT TISSUE OR EVEN SPARE BODY PARTS. AND COMMENTATORS SAY THE RESEARCH CREATES THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE DAY CREATING CLONED BABIES. WILL HINE EXPLAINS. HERE'S THE MOMENT WHERE IT ALL BEGINS ` SCIENTISTS IMPLANTING CELL MATERIAL FROM A FLAKE OF SKIN FROM A BABY INTO A WOMAN'S FERTILISED EGG. THE RESULT? AN EMBRYO THAT BEGINS TO DEVELOP STEM CELLS, INCLUDING NERVE, LIVER AND PICTURED HERE, HEART CELLS. THE TECHNIQUE IS THE SAME THAT WAS FAMOUSLY USED TO CLONE DOLLY THE SHEEP IN 1996. WE APPLIED NOW THIS TECHNIQUE NOW TO HUMAN EGGS, AND WE'VE ABLE TO PRODUCE VERY EFFICIENTLY STEM CELLS NOW FROM PATIENTS' SKIN CELLS. IT'S THOUGHT SUCH CELLS COULD ONE DAY HELP TREAT CONDITIONS LIKE PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND SPINAL-CORD INJURIES. SCIENTISTS ARE ALREADY EXPERIMENTING WITH EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS CREATED IN FERTILITY CLINICS, BUT THOSE ARE LIABLE TO BE REJECTED BY A PATIENT'S BODY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF GENETIC MATCH. THIS LATEST TECHNIQUE OVERCOMES THAT PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE STEM CELLS ARE CREATED FROM THE PATIENT'S OWN SKIN. BUT CRITICS SAY EMBRYONIC RESEARCH IS INVASIVE AND HAS BEEN SURPASSED BY RECENT STUDIES ON ADULT STEM CELLS. THERE IS A NEED TO PRODUCE A FERTILISED EGG CELL, THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HUMAN BEING, AND THEN TO PULL OUT THE NUCLEUS FROM THAT CELL AND PUT IN A NUCLEUS FROM ANOTHER PERSON... THERE'S SOME HUGE ETHICAL ISSUES WITH THAT, QUITE APART FROM THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY. EXPERTS SAY CLONED EMBRYOS COULD ONE DAY BE IMPLANTED IN WOMBS AND GROWN INTO CLONED BABIES. THE AMERICAN SCIENTISTS SAY THEY DIDN'T TRY TO DO THAT, AND SIMILAR EFFORTS TRYING TO CLONE MONKEYS HAVE SO FAR FAILED. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. THE DEFENCE FORCE IS REVIEWING SECURITY FOR PERSONNEL IN AN ISRAELI-OCCUPIED REGION NEAR SYRIA AFTER A NZ SOLDIER WAS BRIEFLY ABDUCTED. THE ARMY OFFICER, WHO'S ON PEACEKEEPING DUTIES WITH THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS, WAS HELD FOR FIVE HOURS BEFORE BEING RELEASED SAFELY. IT IS A CONCERN. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING UN MISSIONS, SO THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT ` WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO A REVIEW. THE DEFENCE FORCE PUT RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONNEL GOING INTO SYRIA LAST MONTH BECAUSE OF THE DANGER FROM REBEL FORCES. SEVERAL TORNADOES HAVE SWEPT THROUGH TEXAS IN THE PAST FEW HOURS. KILLING AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE AND INJURING HUNDREDS MORE. THE TOWN OF GRANBURY IS THE HARDEST HIT SO FAR. HOMES HAVE BEEN FLATTENED, AND THERE ARE REPORTS OF CARS BEING FLUNG INTO THE AIR. RESCUE WORKERS ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THOSE TRAPPED OR INJURED. THE TORNADO WAS PART OF A MAJOR STORM SYSTEM THAT ALSO BROUGHT GIANT HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN. THE AMERICAN MAN ACCUSED OF IMPRISONING THREE WOMEN IN HIS OHIO HOME WILL PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES. ARIEL CASTRO IS FACING FOUR COUNTS OF KIDNAPPING AND THREE COUNTS OF RAPE. THE 52-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY ABDUCTED THE WOMEN AND HELD THEM HOSTAGE FOR AROUND A DECADE. MR CASTRO'S LAWYER SAID THE MEDIA WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEMONISE THE CLEVELAND MAN BEFORE PEOPLE HAD HEARD THE WHOLE STORY. A DOCTOR IN THE US HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO THREE CONSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF THREE BABIES. DR KERMIT GOSNELL WAS FOUND GUILTY OF DELIVERING THE BABIES ALIVE IN ILLEGAL LATE TERM ABORTIONS, THEN CUTTING THEIR SPINAL CORDS. THE 72-YEAR-OLD WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO APPEAL AND ANY CHANCE OF PAROLE, TO AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY. INTERNET GIANT GOOGLE IS PUSHING TO GET THEIR HIGH-TECH SPECS INTO NEW MARKETS BY CREATING MORE APPS TO GET BUYERS INTERESTED. THE GLASSES, WITH AN INBUILT COMPUTER, ALLOW WEARERS TO SURF THE WEB, TAKE PICTURES AND SEND MESSAGES WHILE ON THE MOVE. THE BBC'S RORY CELLAN-JONES GAVE THEM A GO. GATHERED IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS HELPING GOOGLE TO CONQUER NEW MARKETS. MAN: OK, GLASS. TAKE A PICTURE. SO FAR, ALL THE WORK ON GOOGLE GLASS, WHICH AIMS TO DELIVER THE INTERNET ON A SCREEN YOU WEAR LIKE GLASSES, HAS BEEN DONE INSIDE GOOGLE. NOW DEVELOPERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CREATE APPS TO TURN THIS INTO A PRODUCT CONSUMERS MIGHT ACTUALLY BUY. HERE'S MY FIRST GO WITH GOOGLE GLASS. TURN IT ON, NOW I'M SEEING A SCREEN OUT THERE ` QUITE A BIG SCREEN ` LOOKS LIKE A 20-INCH PLASMA, IN THE DISTANCE. OK, GLASS, TAKE A PICTURE. GLASS DINGS AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE CAMERAMAN. NOT A VERY GOOD PICTURE, BUT NEVER MIND. OK, GLASS, GET DIRECTIONS TO THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. NOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO FIND THOSE DIRECTIONS, BUT I'M GETTING THEM IN MY EYE. DING! AND I'LL GET SPOKEN DIRECTIONS TOO. HEAD NORTH-WEST. GLASS, TAKE A PICTURE. DING! THIS PRODUCT IS A LONG WAY FROM BEING IN THE HANDS OF CONSUMERS, BUT ALREADY CONCERNS ARE BEING RAISED. SOME WANT TO BAN IT FROM BEING USED BY DRIVERS, AND CASINOS SAY IT SHOULDN'T BE USED THERE. BUT THERE'S ONE QUESTION UPPERMOST IN LOTS OF PEOPLE'S MINDS ` IS THIS COOL OR IS IT CREEPY? I THINK IT'S CREEPY-COOL TECHNOLOGY. ARE YOU WORRIED THAT I'M RECORDING A VIDEO WITH YOU RIGHT NOW? IF WOULD BE CREEPY IF I DIDN'T KNOW, YES. TECHNOLOGY ENTHUSIASTS BELIEVE WEARABLE COMPUTERS WILL MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER. BUT MANY PRIVACY CAMPAIGNERS JUST DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY SEE. AND ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY, ONLY ONE IN 10 AMERICANS SAY THEY'D WEAR THEM REGULARLY. DROUGHT-STRICKEN FARMERS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY HAVE HAD THEIR FINAL SHIPMENT OF EXTRA FEED FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND DELIVERED TODAY. BUT THERE'S A WARNING THAT DESPITE THE RECENT RAIN, THE FLOW ON EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT WILL CONTINUE TO HIT FARMERS HARD FOR A LONG TIME YET. MATT MCLEAN EXPLAINS. THIS IS IT ` THE LAST OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY FEED SUPPLY SENT UP TO TAURANGA FROM DOWN SOUTH. THEY'VE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT. FEED WAS DESPERATELY SHORT HERE A MONTH OR SO AGO, AND RIGHT DOWN THROUGH THE CENTRAL PLATEAU. THIS YEAR'S DROUGHT WAS THE WORST THE COUNTRY'S SEEN IN 70-ODD YEARS, AND FARMERS HAVE BEEN HIT HARD. THE PASTURES ARE SUFFERING FROM THE STRESS THEY'VE BEEN UNDER, SO DON'T GROW AS WELL AS NORMAL. AND THAT PUTS PRESSURE ON IN TERMS OF THE ONGOING FEED SUPPLY. SO DON'T GROW AS WELL AS NORMAL. AND THAT PUTS PRESSURE ON IN TERMS OF THE ONGOING FEED SUPPLY. BAY OF PLENTY FARMER STEVE BAILEY SAYS THE FEED SHIPPED FROM THE SOUTH HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER. THIS DROUGHT'S BEEN QUITE SUBSTANTIAL, AND FARMERS HAVE HAD TO DIG INTO THEIR WINTER RESERVES NOW JUST TO GET THEMSELVES THROUGH. WE'RE NOW IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS A 'GREEN DROUGHT' ` THE PADDOCKS MIGHT LOOK LUSH, BUT UNDERNEATH, IT'S STILL DRY AS A BONE. AFTER SUCH A SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT, THIS WINTER WILL BRING CONTINUING PRESSURE FOR FARMERS. THEY'VE GOT GRASS IN THE GROUND, AND IT'S GROWING, BUT IT'S JUST NOT HERE YET. AND THEY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE HAD GRASS UP AROUND THEIR KNEES BY NOW AND LOCKING THINGS UP. BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE TILL A BIT LATER ON. AND AS A CONSEQUENCE AS WELL, WE'VE SEEN STOCK PRICES BE DOWN. AND SO A LOT OF FARMERS HAVE HAD TO SELL STOCK AND DE-STOCK. THIS DROUGHT IS SET TO COST THE COUNTRY AROUND $2B, A SITUATION THE GOVERNMENT WON'T WANT TO FIND THEMSELVES IN AGAIN. SO TODAY'S BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT HAS INCLUDED AN $80M INJECTION INTO IRRIGATION SYSTEMS TO ENSURE FARMERS HAVE CRUCIAL WATER SUPPLY. BUT WITH WINTER ON ITS WAY, IT WON'T BE WATER THAT'S THE PROBLEM. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. WEATHER TIME NOW, AND THERE'S MORE RAIN ON THE WAY FOR FARMERS FROM TOMORROW, KAREN? THAT'S RIGHT. OUR HIGH HAS BEEN GIVEN THE BOOT. THE RAIN CLOUDS ARE MOVING BACK IN, AND THEY WILL STAY FOR A FEW DAYS. MOSTLY FINE TODAY, THOUGH. UNDER THE FADING HIGH. FOGGY IN MANY AREAS THIS MORNING. METSERVICE HAS ISSUED A WATCH FOR HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND TOMORROW. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THIS IS TONIGHT'S GORGEOUS SUNSET OVER BACK BEACH IN NEW PLYMOUTH. I'LL HAVE YOUR FRIDAY FORECAST AND A LOOK AHEAD TO A DAMP WEEKEND AFTER SPORT. COMING UP ON ONE NEWS ` WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE SECRET LIVES OF OUR EARLIEST SETTLERS. THE FAMILY OF A YOUNG HUFFING VICTIM PAY TRIBUTE AT THE SPOT SHE DIED AS THE GOVERNMENT'S CALLED ON TO ACT. AND SKY CITY CASINO'S BOSS COMES KNOCKING TO BUY UP A PIECE OF TV REAL ESTATE. 1 THE BOSS OF SKY CITY CASINO HAS SIGNALLED HE'S PREPARED TO WALK AWAY FROM PLANS TO BUY TVNZ LAND UNLESS THE PRICE IS RIGHT. SKY CITY WANTS THE SITE TO BUILD A $400M CONVENTION CENTRE. LISA OWEN TALKED TO THE SKY CITY DELEGATION MOMENTS AFTER THEIR FIRST MEETING WITH TVNZ'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE. SKY CITY BOSS NIGEL MORRISON IS AFTER CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN A CUP OF SUGAR FROM NEIGHBOURS TVNZ. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE. IT NEEDS SOME OF THIS LAND OPPOSITE ITS CASINO TO BUILD THE $400M CONVENTION CENTRE TO THE GOVERNMENT-SPECIFIED STANDARDS. AND DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT DESCRIBING THE BROADCASTER AS A WILLING SELLER, THIS IS THE FIRST APPROACH FROM THE CASINO OPERATOR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A WILLINGNESS TO SELL, BUT IT IS A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US TO EXPLORE WHAT OPTIONS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THE GOVERNMENT'S TRADED OFF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN EXCHANGE FOR SKY CITY FOOTING THE DEVELOPMENT BILL. AND AS PART OF THAT, THE CASINO GIANT HAS TO NEGOTIATE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLS 'A STANDARD COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION' FOR THE LAND. WE ARE PREPARED TO BE FAIR, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE PARTIES WILL BE REASONABLE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND IF WE GET THERE, WE GET THERE; AND IF WE DON'T, WE DON'T. TVNZ MANAGEMENT SAYS THE BOARD WILL DECIDE IF IT SELLS, FOR WHAT PRICE AND WHETHER THE MONEY WOULD BE RE-INVESTED OR HANDED TO THE GOVERNMENT. (CHUCKLES) WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH THE MONEY? CERTAINLY, WE WOULDN'T EXPECT THEM TO DO IT FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN A REASONABLE COMMERCIAL PRICE IF THE BROADCASTER REFUSES TO SELL, SKY CITY BELIEVES IT STILL HAS OPTIONS. WELL, THERE MORE THAN A NUMBER OF WAYS OF SKINNING A CAT, ISN'T THERE? SO WHAT ARE THE OTHER OPTIONS? I DON'T KNOW. CHANGE THE DESIGN. BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FINAL SIGN OFF ON THE PLANS AND HAS ALREADY REJECTED AN EARLIER DESIGN SPREAD OVER SEVERAL FLOORS, WITH A SMALLER FOOTPRINT. TVNZ WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE AT ITS BOARD MEETING LATER THIS MONTH. LISA OWEN, ONE NEWS A CHRISTCHURCH CORONER INVESTIGATING HOW A YOUNG HUFFING VICTIM DIED HAS CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION. IT COMES AFTER INQUESTS INTO THE DEATHS OF THREE SOUTH ISLAND YOUTHS WHO INHALED BUTANE GAS TO GET HIGH. MIKE THORPE REPORTS. POIHAERE ERU DIED IN THIS CHRISTCHURCH PARK AFTER HUFFING BUTANE GAS WITH FRIENDS. SHE GETS UP, RUNS OUT ON TO THE LAWN AND DROPS DOWN LIKE THAT. AND THAT REALLY HAS TO HAVE BEEN FROM AN ACUTE CARDIAC EVENT. IT WAS AUGUST 2012, AND IT WAS THE FIRST THE 17-YEAR-OLD'S PARENTS KNEW OF HER DEADLY HABIT. FIRST TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS A ONE-OFF. I DIDN'T REALISE IT WAS AN ONGOING THING FOR HER. BUT POIHAERE'S FAMILY LEARNED AT THE INQUEST THAT ANY DOSE CAN PROVE FATAL. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT ANYONE WHO'S HUFFING BUTANE IS AT ANY TIME AT RISK OF DYING? THAT'S HOW IT SEEMS, YES. THE CORONER WAS ALARMED ENOUGH TO ISSUE A DELIBERATE AND DIRECT MESSAGE TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER PAULA BENNETT. AND I WOULD RECOMMEND TO HER THAT SHE DOES DIRECT THE MINISTRY TO INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF VOLATILE SUBSTANCES, IN PARTICULAR BUTANE INHALATION, WITHIN THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN'S ACTION PLAN. AND WITH A SPATE OF HUFFING DEATHS, EXPERT WITNESSES WERE CALLING ON THE INDUSTRY TO CONTRIBUTE TOO. PUTTING STRONG SMELLS OR STRONG COLOURS IN SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS MAY MAKE THEM LESS ATTRACTIVE. KEEP THEM OFF THE SHELVES. PUT THEM IN A LOCKED CABINET TO VOLUNTARILY INTRODUCE AN R18 CONTROL. WHILST THE CORONER'S FULL FINDINGS ARE RESERVED, POIHAERE ERU'S FAMILY ARE PUSHING ON. AN AWARENESS MARCH IS PLANNED FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER DEATH. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. DNA TESTS HAVE UNCOVERED NEW DETAILS OF HOW NZ'S EARLIEST SETTLERS LIVED. REMAINS FOUND IN MARLBOROUGH REVEAL THEY LIKELY CAME FROM EAST POLYNESIA AND ENJOYED A DIET OF MOA AND SEALS. MAX BANIA REPORTS. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT BROUGHT THE EARLIEST SETTLERS TO OUR SHORES 700 YEARS AGO, BUT ONGOING RESEARCH ANALYSING ISOTOPES FROM TEETH AND BONES RETRIEVED FROM THIS BURIAL SITE NEAR BLENHEIM IS SLOWLY BUILDING A PICTURE OF HOW THEY LIVED. SOME OF THEM HAD BEEN SUBSISTING LARGELY ON PROBABLY MOA, SOME HAD BEEN SUBSISTING ON MARINE MAMMALS SUCH AS SEALS, AND OTHERS HAD BEEN LIVING IN INLAND AREAS AND PROBABLY EATING FOODS FROM THE RIVERS AND THE LAKES. THE EARLIER GROUP OF PEOPLE, THEY WERE VERY DISTINCTIVE CULTURALLY AND IN THE WAY THEY WERE BURIED. NEW FINDINGS OUT TODAY SUGGEST THAT EARLIER GROUP MAY HAVE COME FROM EAST POLYNESIA AND SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND. IT IS SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL PREHISTORY, BUT THEN, OF COURSE, IN TERMS OF NZ PREHISTORY, THIS TAKES US ONE STEP FURTHER TO BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE CULTURE AND BIOLOGY OF THE FIRST NZERS. ALTHOUGH THE SETTLERS TRAVELLED WIDELY, THEIR DESCENDANTS BELIEVE WAIRAU BAR REMAINED A BASE CAMP, RETURNING THERE FOR BURIAL. LIKE WE DO IN THE PRESENT DAY STILL, AT THAT TIME SAW THE WAIRAU BAR AS THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMELAND, AND WHEREVER THEY LIVED AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY STILL WENT BACK TO THE WAIRAU TO MAINTAIN THAT CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST PLACE. THE RESEARCH CONTINUES, WITH BOTH SCIENTISTS AND IWI HOPING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN WITHIN THESE EARLY COMMUNITIES AND EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAME FROM MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS LET'S GO BACK TO WELLINGTON NOW FOR A FINAL LOOK AT TODAY'S BUDGET WITH SIMON AND CORIN. SO, CORIN, A PRETTY SAFE, CAUTIOUS AFFAIR FROM MR ENGLISH? IS MR ENGLISH KEEPING HIS POWDER DRY FOR ELECTION YEAR, PERHAPS? A HOLDING PATTERN BUDGET WAITING TO SEE IF THE RECPVERY COMES IN IS BILL ENGLISH THE FINANCE MINISTER WITH VISIONT O TAKE NZ FURTHER ON DOUBTS ON THAT NEXT YEAR IS ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR WE'D PROBABLY SEE SWEETENER IN ADVANCE THIS BUDGET DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR MIDDLE NZ DIRECTLY ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND AN AUSSIE IS GOING TO COACH THE SILVER FERNS. THE APPOINTMENT IS CERTAINLY CREATING SOME TALK IN NETBALL. MORE ON THAT NEXT, ALSO TONIGHT ` THE BLACKCAPS REVEALS THEIR PLANS FOR LORD'S. PLUS, KIERAN READ'S TIMING IS IMPECCABLE AGAIN. SO WHY ARE OTHER TEST CANDIDATES NOT EVEN STARTING THIS WEEKEND? AND WE'RE IN LA. A SPECIAL BOXING BUILD-UP FOR JOSEPH PARKER. FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO NETBALL, AND THE SPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN A HUGE SHAKE-UP, WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF AN AUSTRALIAN TO HELP COACH THE SILVER FERNS. FORMER AUSSIE CAPTAIN, AND AN ARCH-RIVAL OF NZ OVER 15 YEARS, VICKI WILSON IS THE NEW ASSISTANT COACH. SO HOW'S HER APPOINTMENT GOING DOWN HERE? KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. VICKI WILSON'S RENOWNED FOR HER SHOOTING HEROICS IN THE GREEN AND GOLD. NOW THE FORMER AUSSIE CAPTAIN'S GETTING USED TO A NEW LOOK ` BLACK. MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS DECISION, SO THAT'LL BE A NICE SURPRISE FOR THEM WHEN THEY SEE IT ON THE NEWS. A SHOCK HERE TOO. THE THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION IS THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SILVER FERNS COACHING SET-UP IN THEIR 75-YEAR HISTORY. HER ATTACKING CREDENTIALS ENOUGH TO BEAT OUT THREE KIWI APPLICANTS. SHE WAS THE MANTA SHOOTER BACK IN THOSE DAYS, SO, LOOK, I'M QUITE EXCITED JUST TO HAVE SOMEONE NEW AND FRESH, AND I'M SURE SHE'S GOT SOME NEW IDEAS. THE 48-YEAR-OLD'S COACHED VARIOUS AUSTRALIAN SIDES, INCLUDING THE QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS. SHE'S CONTRACTED THROUGH TILL THE END OF 2015, A STINT WHICH INCLUDES THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES DEFENCE AND A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE'D BE SOME NEW INNOVATIONS AND THAT VICKI WILL BRING A SENSE THAT WE HADN'T PREVIOUSLY HAD AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. BUT DON'T EXPECT MAJOR CHANGES ON COURT. SHE HAS THE EXPERTISE TO MAKE THOSE REALLY SMALL CHANGES THAT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING BY ONE GOAL. SO IT'S THAT LEVEL OF CHANGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. TAUMAUNU SAYS HER FORMER FOE WILL COMPLEMENT HER OWN DEFENSIVE EXPERTISE. OVERCOMING AN HISTORIC RIVALRY IS APPARENTLY NOT AS DIFFICULT AS IT SOUNDS. WE WERE COMPETITORS 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I PLAYED, AND A LOT CHANGES ONCE YOU HANG UP YOUR SKIRT. YOU GROW UP, YOU BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE MATURE. HER NEW KIWI COLLEAGUES ARE NOT EXPECTING TOO MUCH BACKLASH. THIS IS NOT A JOB FOR A FRIEND. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WAS DEFINITELY THE BEST PERSON FOR IT. WE CAN HAVE A FEW RIFFS ABOUT IT HERE AND THERE, WHICHH IS QUITE GOOD IF YOU SMACK TALK ON THE COURT, BUT, LOOK, I DON'T BLAME HER FOR COMING HER. WHO DOESN'T WANT TO COACH US? THE TEMPTATION APPARENTLY TOO MUCH FOR THIS AUSSIE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES IN SUPER RUGBY ` THE ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN-IN-WAITING IS BACK ON THE FIELD. NUMBER EIGHT KIERAN READ WILL MAKE HIS MUCH ANTICIPATED RETURN FOR THE CRUSADERS IN SATURDAY NIGHT'S CRUCIAL MATCH UP AGAINST THE BLUES IN CHRISTCHURCH. HERE'S BLAIR NORTON. KIERAN READ MIGHT HAVE BEEN NURSING HIS BIG TOE FOR NEARLY A MONTH, BUT DON'T THINK HE'S BEEN DOING NOTHING. WE GOT BACK FROM AFRICA, I WAS PRETTY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS AND HELPING THEM OUT AS MUCH AS I COULD. AFTER ANALYSING AND AGONISING OVER HIS SIDE'S PERFORMANCE, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE NOW HAS TO DELIVER. AND HERE IT COMES. KIERAN READ MAKES A GOOD BURST. I THINK IF WE CAN TRY AND ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE SPARK ON ATTACK IN TERMS OF DIRECTNESS AND MY CARRY, SO THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE LOOKING TO DO ` GIVE THE BOYS A BIT OF GO FORWARD. YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR COACH TODD BLACKADDER RUBBING HIS HANDS IN ANTICIPATION. KIERAN READ WHEN HE'S ON TOP OF HIS GAME IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD, AND HE JUST DELIVERS A PUNCH THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN DO. SO EVEN OUT THERE AT TRAINING, JUST HIS RUNNING LINES, JUST HIS EXPLOSIVENESS ` WE'LL NEED ALL OF THAT. THE NATIONAL SIDE WILL TOO. BLACKADDER DISMISSING SUGGESTIONS THE ALL BLACK TRAINING CAMPS COULD DERAIL HIS SIDE'S PROGRESS. WE KNEW ALL ALONG, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT TO BE SO. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW NEXT WEEK WE'VE GOT ONE TRAINING RUN, REALLY, ONE TEAM TRAINING RUN, AND THEN A CAPTAIN'S RUN. BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO GET ON WITH IT. FOR SOME, INCLUDING UTILITY BACK TOM TAYLOR AND LOCK DOMINIC BIRD, BEING NAMED FOR NEXT WEEK'S TRAINING CAMP HAS BEEN A HUGE BOOST. IT DOES GIVE YOU A BIT OF CONFIDENCE, BUT IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY ` THAT'S ALL IT IS. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'VE, KIND OF, SEALED THE DEAL. I MEAN, SEALING THE DEAL WOULD BE END OF YEAR TOUR, BUT IT'S THEM SAYING YOU'VE GOT A SHOT TO PROVE YOURSELF FOR THAT. PUTTING IN A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE IN A WIN AGAINST THE BLUES WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD START FOR AN ASPIRING ALL BLACKS TOO. BLAIR NORTON, ONE NEWS. AT THIS STAGE, UNWANTED BY THE ALL BLACKS, IN-FORM BLUES FLANKER LUKE BRAID IS STAYING PUT, BUT ADMITS HE'S DISAPPOINTED AT MISSING OUT ON THE WIDER TRAINING GROUP. BRAID SAYS HE HASN'T HAD ANY CONTACT WITH THE SELECTORS OVER WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO. IS THAT FRUSTRATING? > UM, I THINK I'M PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S PROBABLY A BIT FRUSTRATED. THEY ONLY TOOK ONE SEVEN. FIVE PLAYERS OUT OF THE TEST TRAINING GROUP WHO ARE AVAILABLE HAVEN'T MADE THEIR RESPECTIVE STARTING 15S FOR THIS WEEKEND. THEY INCLUDE ISRAEL DAGG AND BLUES MIDFIELDER FRANCIS SAILI, WHO'S ALSO ON THE SUPER RUGBY BENCH. < SOME MIGHT THINK HE'S A GUY IN THE ALL BLACKS' WIDER TRAINING GROUP, < BUT HE CAN'T MAKE HIS FRANCHISE TEAM. YEAH, THAT'D BE WRONG. YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN GREAT FOR US. BEEN PLAYING WELL ALL YEAR. WE JUST PICKED A DIFFERENT SORT OF SITUATION FOR THIS WEEK. THE BLUES HAVEN'T WON IN CHRISTCHURCH SINCE 2004, WHEN CARLOS SPENCER SCORED THAT INFAMOUS TRY, RUNNING TO THE SIDELINE TO DOT DOWN AND FINISHING THE MATCH WITH THIS. TO CRICKET. THE BLACKCAPS WILL WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO FINALISE THEIR LINE-UP FOR THE FIRST CRICKET TEST AGAINST ENGLAND STARTING AT LORD'S IN LONDON. ONE THING'S FOR SURE ` THEY'LL BOWL FIRST IF THEY WIN THE TOSS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY REPORTS. BRENDON MCCULLUM HAS PLENTY OF TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT THE FIRST ONE'S A NO BRAINER. JUST WITH WHAT'S FORECAST AND THE FACT THAT IT MAY NOT BE A FIVE-DAY GAME AS WELL, BOWLING FIRST IS GONNA GIVE YOU A GOOD JUMP IF YOU DO WIN THE TOSS. THE CAPTAIN IS STICKING WITH THE SEAMERS THAT HELPED THE BLACKCAPS TO WITHIN A WHISKER OF A RARE TEST SERIES VICTORY OVER ENGLAND IN NZ. WE KNOW THAT THIS CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER AS WELL. ENGLAND WILL CERTAINLY BE MORE AWARE OF US AND ARE OBVIOUSLY PLAYING IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD AS WELL, SO WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPROVE AS A TEAM FROM THE PERFORMANCE BACK HOME. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'LL NEED TO DO IF THEY'RE TO REPEAT THE HEROICS OF CHRIS CAIRNS AND COMPANY IN 1999, WHEN NZ CLAIMED THEIR FIRST AND ONLY TEST WIN AT THE HOME OF CRICKET. AND TAKES IT AWAY THROUGH THE ONSIDE. AND NZ HAVE WON THE SECOND TEST MATCH. FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL HERE AT LORD'S. I WATCHED ENGLAND TRAINING EARLIER. I'VE GOT TO SAY RIGHT NOW IT FEELS THERE'S A LITTLE MORE INTENSITY OUT THERE. BOTH SIDES MISSED THEIR CHANCES TO PUT AWAY THE TEST SERIES IN NZ. FOR ENGLAND, IT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT RULING A LINE UNDER THOSE PERFORMANCES; FOR NZ, IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING THAT MOMENTUM. YEAH, I GUESS LOOK AT THREE TESTS WE HAD BACK HOME AS WELL, AND YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THESE TWO-TEST SERIES AS WELL, AND I GUESS WE'VE GOT A FIVE-MATCH CONTEST AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY EVENLY POISED AT THIS POINT. EVENLY POISED IT MAY SEEM, BUT ENGLAND ARE HEAVY FAVOURITES TO KEEP NZ'S SOLE VICTORY AT LORD'S THEIR ONLY ONE. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS. CHELSEA HAS BECOME THE FIRST ENGLISH CLUB TO WIN THE EUROPEAN CUP, EUROPA LEAGUE AND THE CUP WINNERS' CUP, AFTER A DRAMATIC FINISH TO THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL IN AMSTERDAM TODAY. A LONG BALL WAS CLINICALLY PUT AWAY BY FERNANDO TORRES AGAINST BENFICA. IT'S 1-0 TO CHELSEA! BUT THIS HAND BALL GAVE THE PORTUGUESE THE CHANCE TO EQUALISE. CLUMSILY CONCEDING A CORNER IN THE LAST MINUTE OF INJURY TIME SAW CHELSEA SNATCH A 2-1 VICTORY. DUTCH DELIGHT, AND FRANK LAMPARD IS HOPING IT WON'T BE HIS LAST SILVERWARE FOR THE LONDON OUTFIT. OKLAHOMA'S DREAMS OF RETURNING TO THE NBA BASKETBALL FINALS HAVE BEEN DASHED, ELIMINATED BY THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES. MEANWHILE, DWYANE WADE FIRED UP THE MIAMI HEAT AGAINST THE CHICAGO BULLS, ONLY FOR NATE ROBINSON TO LEAD THE FIGHTBACK. THERE'S ROBINSON FROM WAY OUT. MAN CAN ELEVATE. THERE. ROBINSON. STEP BACK. ANOTHER THREE. WADE'S DODGY KNEE FORCED HIM OFF BRIEFLY, BUT HE RETURNED TO RUN DOWN THE BULLS. HE FINISHED WITH 18 POINTS AS THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS WON 94-91 TO REACH THEIR THIRD STRAIGHT EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL. RISING HEAVYWEIGHT JOSEPH PARKER HAS DROPPED 4 KILOS FOR TOMORROW'S BOUT AGAINST FELLOW KIWI BRYCE RITANI IN LOS ANGELES. HERE'S CRAIG STANAWAY. HEY, DAD. THE GOOD LUCK CHARM HAS ARRIVED SAFELY. JOSEPH PARKER'S DAD, DEMPSY, WAS NEVER GOING TO MISS TOMORROW NIGHT'S BOUT. THIS IS MY DAD'S FIRST TRIP TO AMERICA, AND IT'S MY FIRST TRIP TOO, SO TO SEE EACH OTHER ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD TOGETHER... IT'S AMAZING. AND DAD IS AMAZED AT THE DIFFERENCE IN HIS SON AFTER JUST FOUR WEEKS TRAINING IN THE STATES. HEAVYWEIGHT FROM NZ. A RECORD OF 4-0 AND FOUR KNOCKOUTS, JOSEPH PARKER! HE'S TRIMMED TO 105 KILOS. I BELIEVE I'VE STILL MAINTAINED THE POWER OR EVEN INCREASED IT WITH ALL THE WORKOUTS WE'VE DONE. BRYCE RITANI IS 18 KILOS HEAVIER, HE'S ALSO NEVER BEEN KNOCKED OUT. I GOT THIS DONE ON MY PALM. IT MEANS CHAOS. I DON'T KNOW WHY. IT'S FROM AN ANIME CARTOON, AND, YEAH, I LIKE PAIN, SO... HE'S GOING TO TAG ME A COUPLE OF TIMES TOMORROW, AND I'LL TAKE IT. SO AFTER BEING PURPOSELY PICKED FOR PARKER, WHAT DOES KEVIN BARRY WANT TO SEE? I WANT TO SEE HIM GET A BUNCH OF ROUNDS IN THIS FIGHT. IT WAS DESIGNED ON PURPOSE FOR HIM TO GET SOME ROUNDS. PARKER'S ALL RELAXED. HIS PROMOTERS AREN'T. THE MONEYMAKING BOTHA FIGHT LOSES A HEAP OF VALUE IF HE GOES DOWN TOMORROW. CRAIG STANAWAY, ONE NEWS, LOS ANGELES. THREE INDIAN CRICKETERS ARRESTED FOR SPO-TFIXSXING IN IPL MORE NEWS TO COME IN 24-48HORUS TYRES SQUEAL MOURNFUL STRINGS MUSIC If you're speeding and you crash, the car stops, but everything inside keeps moving. MOURNFUL MUSIC CONTINUES It's the same inside your body. MOURNFUL MUSIC CONTINUES SNAP! HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE FINE WEATHER TODAY. RAIN'S BACK TOMORROW AND METSERVICE HAS ISSUED A WATCH FOR HEAVY RAIN IN NORTHLAND. HERE'S THE VIEW FROM THE SATELLITE. A LOT MORE GOING ON THIS EVENING. OUR HIGH, SITTING OUT TO THE EAST OF US NOW, STILL PROVIDED A DECENT AMOUNT OF FINE WEATHER AFTER THE FOGGY START. BUT THE TASMAN IS CHOKED UP WITH BANDS OF FRONTAL CLOUD. GOT A LOW LYING NEAR TASMANIA. ALL OF THIS STUFF IS HEADING OUR WAY. THE LEADING BARRAGE OF FRONTS WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW, BRINGING IN THE RAIN AND FORCING THE HIGH TO MOVE ON. AND THEN WAITING IN THE WINGS TO PUT A DAMPNER ON OUR WEEKEND IS THIS LOW WITH ITS BANDS OF RAIN OR SHOWERS. RAIN FOR WESTERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, BUT THAT RAIN PRETTY PATCHY IN THE SOUTH-WEST. SCATTERED FALLS SPREADING OVER INTO EASTERN AREAS. THE RAIN EASING BACK TO ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE WEST IN THE EVENING. NORTHERLY WINDS OVER THE TOP HALF. LIGHT WINDS IN THE SOUTH. RAIN FOR NORTHERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND WITH SOME HEAVY, POSSIBLY THUNDERY FALLS. STARTS OUT OK FURTHER SOUTH, BUT HIGH CLOUD THICKENS UP, AND THEN THE RAIN WILL SPREAD TO MOST PLACES BY THE END OF THE DAY NORTHERLY WINDS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ HAD A LOVELY RUN OF NICE WEATHER, BUT THE RAIN'S BACK TOMORROW. AND SO IS JIM. BUT I'M SURE THAT'S JUST A COINCIDENCE. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR THURSDAY.