HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M HERE TO SPOIL YOUR WEEKEND. THE RAIN IS TUMBLING DOWN OVER MUCH OF NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, WAIKATO, WAITOMO AND TARANAKI. WE ALSO HAVE RAIN WATCHES AND WARNING FOR YOU, AND THUNDER OFF TARANAKI. BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THERE WILL BE DRY BREAKS FOR THAT RUN ON THE BEACH, AND ONE SHINY CORNER OF BLUE SKY. DETAILS JUST AHEAD. 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 POLICE OFFICER'S FACING SERIOUS DRUG CHARGES. WE REVEAL WHO HE IS AND HIS ALLEGED GANG LINKS. THE BID TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE. WE HAVE SURPRISING NEW FIGURES ON FOREIGNERS BUYING HERE. HE SPICED UP THE BEAUTIFUL GAME FOR FANS AROUND THE WORLD ` THE GLITTERING CAREER OF DAVID BECKHAM. WITHIN THE PAST HOUR IT'S BEEN REVEALED A POLICEMAN'S ONE OF NINE PEOPLE TO HAVE APPEARED IN COURT ON SERIOUS DRUG CHARGES. CONSTABLE PETER PAKAU (36) WAS ARRESTED THIS MORNING, ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE HEAD HUNTERS MOTORCYCLE GANG. WITH THE DETAILS, LET'S GO TO KATE LYNCH IN OUR AUCKLAND NEWSROOM. KATE. PETER PAKAU IS FACING 27 CHARGES IN TOTAL, INCLUDING USING THE POLICE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR DISHONEST PURPOSES, CONSPIRING TO MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY METHAMPHETAMINE OR P AND SUPPLYING METHAMPHETAMINE. IT IS ALLEGED THAT HE BEGAN ASSOCIATING WITH THE HEAD HUNTERS LAST FEBRUARY AND HAD BEGUN DEALING DRUGS THREE WEEKS AGO. ONE NEWS ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT HE WOULD PICK UP METHAMPHETAMINE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DELIVER IT TO DRUG DEALERS IN HIS POLICE CAR AND IN UNIFORM. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIM? HE WAS A UNIFORM CONSTABLE AT THE HENDERSON POLICE STATION. HE GRADUATED FROM POLICE COLLEGE IN 2008, AND HE WAS A MODEL STUDENT. HE EVEN RECEIVED THE POLICE ASSOCIATION'S PRIZE FOR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION IN HIS STUDENT GROUP. HE IS A FATHER OF FIVE AGED BETWEEN 1 AND 16 YEARS OLD. HIS WIFE, DIANNE, A CLINICIAN FOR THE WAIKATO DHB, WAS ALSO ARRESTED IN TODAY'S SWOOP. SHE IS FACING ONE CHARGE OF RECEIVING $2000 KNOWING IT HAD BEEN OBTAINED BY CRIME. THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE CASE, DETECTIVE INSPECTOR BRUCE SCOTT, SAYS THE POLICE AS A COMMUNITY ARE GUTTED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CLEARLY DISAPPOINTED THAT ONE OF OUR OWN WOULD ACT IN SUCH A WAY. THE STAFF WHERE HE WORKS ARE BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED AS WELL. SO, KATE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT CONSTABLE PAKAU'S COURT APPEARANCE? PAKAU SHED A TEAR IN THE DOCK. HE WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN WHEN HE FAILED TO GET NAME SUPPRESSION. PAKAU WAS DENIED BAIL AND REMANDED IN CUSTODY UNTIL THE 6TH OF JUNE. POLICE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SAY CONSTABLE PAKAU'S BEEN STOOD DOWN PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. KATE LYNCH IN OUR AUCKLAND NEWSROOM. NOW TO THE STRUGGLE FOR THOUSANDS OF NZERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAM ` OF OWNING A HOME. ONE MOVE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO COOL DOWN THE HOUSING MARKET IS POTENTIALLY PUTTING IT ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH OUR BIGGEST CITY. WE HAVE THAT STORY SHORTLY, BUT FIRST, NEW FIGURES THAT DISPEL A POPULAR BELIEF OF WHO'S TO BLAME FOR PUSHING UP PRICES. THIS FROM JOANNA HUNKIN. IT'S A WELL WORN STORY: CASHED-UP FOREIGN BUYERS SQUEEZING 'ORDINARY' NZERS OUT OF THE HOUSING MARKET. BUT NEW FIGURES SUGGEST IT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE. I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR EASY ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE MARKET'S RISING SO RAPIDLY. AND OF COURSE, IF YOU GO ALONG TO AN AUCTION, THERE'S ALWAYS HIGH VISIBILITY OF WHOEVER THE SUCCESSFUL PURCHASER IS. BUT THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T ACTUALLY BACK UP THE ANECDOTES. THE BNZ RESIDENTIAL MARKET SURVEY LOOKS AT HOW MANY PROPERTIES ARE SOLD EACH MONTH TO FIRST HOME BUYERS, INVESTORS AND OVERSEAS BUYERS. THE SURVEY OF MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE FOUND JUST 8% OF RESIDENTIAL SALES WERE TO OFFSHORE BUYERS. OF THOSE, ABOUT ONE IN SIX ARE BRITISH, FOLLOWED BY CHINESE, AND THEN AUSTRALIANS. AROUND HALF THE FOREIGN BUYERS PLAN TO MOVE HERE. BUT TONY ALEXANDER EXPECTS THAT WILL CHANGE. MY VIEW IS THAT THERE WILL BE AN UPWARD TREND, ESPECIALLY OUT OF CHINA, BECAUSE THERE'S SIMPLY SO MUCH GROWTH IN WEALTH THERE. I'M IN FAVOUR GENERALLY OF ADOPTING AUSTRALIA'S RULES, WHEREBY IF A FOREIGNER IS LOOKING TO BUY, THEY CAN ONLY BUY A NEW PLACE, THAT THEY ADD TO THE SUPPLY OF DWELLINGS IN THE COUNTRY. THE GREEN PARTY'S POINTED TO HONG KONG AS A SUCCESSFUL MODEL. LAST YEAR IT PUT A 15% TAX ON PROPERTIES BOUGHT BY FOREIGNERS, INSTANTLY COOLING THE MARKET, WHICH HAD BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE WORLD. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS FOREIGN INVESTORS AREN'T A CONCERN, AND THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T LOOKING TO CHANGE LEGISLATION. IF WE CAN DEAL WITH THE SUPPLY ISSUES, THEN YOU RETURN TO A SORT OF NORMALISED POSITION WHERE PEOPLE BUY HOUSES, BECAUSE THEY EITHER WANT TO INVEST IN THEM OR THEY WANT TO OWN THEM, BUT IN A SLIGHTLY MORE RATIONAL WAY. YESTERDAY'S BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENTS AIM TO FIX SOME SUPPLY ISSUES, AS THE GOVERNMENT SETS A TARGET OF 39,000 NEW HOMES FOR AUCKLAND IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS. JOANNA HUNKIN, ONE NEWS. THE QUEST FOR MORE NEW HOMES IN AUCKLAND IS ALSO COMING WITH AN ULTIMATUM. FINANCE MINISTER BILL ENGLISH IS WARNING THE COUNCIL THAT IF IT DOESN'T FREE UP LAND, THE GOVERNMENT WILL. DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH EXPLAINS. NZERS HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO DIGEST THE FINANCE MINISTER'S BUDGET, BUT THE CHANGES WITH HOUSING AREN'T GOING DOWN WELL WITH EVERYONE. IT'S NOT GOING TO GUARANTEE AFFORDABLE HOMES. BILL ENGLISH HAS TOLD THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL, 'IF YOU DON'T FREE UP LAND, WE WILL.' WE CANNOT LET 20 PLANNERS SITTING IN THE AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL OFFICES MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL WRECK THE MACRO-ECONOMY. WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN, AND WE WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN. AS PART OF THE BUDGET, MR ENGLISH HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION GIVING THE GOVERNMENT POWER TO OVERRIDE CONSENTS FOR SOME DEVELOPMENTS IF THE COUNCIL ISN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH. NO, WE'RE NOT COMING IN OVER THE TOP. THAT'S WHY WE'VE SET UP THE LEGISLATION ` SO WE CAN HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE COUNCILS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY KNOW THE DETAIL ON THE GROUND. THE GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK SIGNED A HOUSING AGREEMENT WITH THE AUCKLAND MAYOR AGREEING TO WORK TOGETHER, CALLED THE HOUSING ACCORD. AUCKLAND MAYOR LEN BROWN SAYS THERE ARE INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN THE HOUSING ACCORD AND THIS NEW LEGISLATION, AND HE'LL BE WRITING TO THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPRESS THOSE CONCERNS. HE WOULDN'T APPEAR ON CAMERA. THEY ARE BEING ARROGANT WITH LOCAL COUNCILS. LOCAL COUNCILS ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOMES, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO BULLY THEM INTO IT AND MAKE EXCUSES WHY THEY CAN'T DO IT. < IS THIS A POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT? NO, I DON'T THINK IT IS. I THINK PEOPLE MIGHT LIKE TO SEE SOME POWER STRUGGLE, BUT ACTUALLY IT ISN'T, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT COMMON OBJECTIVES HERE. THE HOUSING ISSUE'S ALSO IMPORTANT NOW THAT GLOBAL CREDIT RATING AGENCY STANDARD & POOR'S HAS PUT EIGHT NZ BANKS ON NOTICE BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF THE HOUSING BUBBLE BURSTING. MR ENGLISH SAYS THAT'S THE REASON HE'S TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOUSING MARKET. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. ANOTHER BIG BUDGET PUSH IS TO GET TOUGH ON EXPAT NZERS NOT PAYING BACK THEIR STUDENT LOANS. ONE NEWS HAS CAUGHT UP WITH ONE LIVING IN AUSTRALIA, WHO'S DETAILED HIS ONGOING BATTLE WITH INLAND REVENUE. SHARON FERGUSSON SPOKE TO THE FORMER STUDENT WHO ASKED NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED. A POTENTIAL KIWI STUDENT OF THE FUTURE IF HIS PARENTS DECIDE TO RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA TO LIVE IN NZ. DAD'S STUDENT LOAN IS THE DECIDING FACTOR. CERTAINLY, THE WAY THEY'VE SET UP THE SCHEME DOES NOT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PAY IT, AND IT DOESN'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME HOME. WHEN WILLIAM GRADUATED 15 YEARS AGO HE OWED $30,000. HE MADE MINIMUM PAYMENTS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT WITH INTEREST, THE LOAN INCREASED. BY THE TIME HE MOVED TO AUSTRALIA, HE OWED $40,000. THEN THERE WERE A FEW YEARS OF LOW OR NO EARNINGS AND NO PAYMENTS. THE DEBT INCREASED TO 60,000. LOOK, I WAS JUST REALLY UPSET EVERY TIME I TALKED TO THEM. I RANG UP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY I COULD SORT IT OUT WITH THEM, AND EACH TIME I FELT LIKE I GOT NOWHERE, AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY JUST REALLY DEPRESS ME. WITH HIS DEBT NOW GROWING QUICKLY AND NO REPAYMENTS BEING MADE, WILLIAM TWICE CALLED IRD FROM AUSTRALIA TO SORT IT OUT. BOTH TIMES HE WAS DISCOURAGED. HE ADMITS HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF IGNORING THE PROBLEM. HIS DEBT HAS NOW REACHED NEARLY $100,000. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU COULD SAY I DID BURY MY HEAD IN THE SAND. BUT I'M A BIT OLDER AND WISER NOW, AND I REALISE MAYBE HAD I MANAGED TO DEAL WITH IT SOONER, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, BUT I GUESS I'M DOING MY BEST NOW. THIS TIME THE IRD HAS BEEN FAR MORE HELPFUL. THE GUY I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH HAS BEEN REALLY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL AND GENERALLY PUT ME IN A POSITION WHERE AT LEAST I CAN TRY TO PAY SOME OF IT OFF. 10,000 LOAN DEFAULTERS ARE THOUGHT TO LIVE IN AUSTRALIA, MOST NOW WITH MASSIVE DEBTS AGAINST THEIR NAMES AND THE RISK OF BEING STOPPED AT THE BORDER IF THEY COME HOME. THE VERY EXTREME SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE COULD HAVE A PROBLEM IF THEY ARE GOING THROUGH ONE OF OUR AIRPORTS IS REALLY LIMITED TO A VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY CONTACTED, HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REPAY, WHO ARE CONSTANTLY CONTACTED, HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REPAY. EXTREME MEASURES THIS DAD HOPES WON'T DECIDE HIS CHILD'S FUTURE HOME. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. THE ISSUE OF STUDENT LOANS IS BEING HOTLY DEBATED ON OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY ON ONENEWS.CO.NZ. TWO PEOPLE HAVE NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER A CHRISTCHURCH MAN DIED OF BURN INJURIES. TERRANCE SMITH (55) DIED LAST WEEK AFTER BEING SEVERELY BURNED ON ANZAC DAY. SHAY WEBSTER AND JASON BARR ALREADY FACED CHARGES, NOW UPGRADED TO MURDER. THEY'LL BE BACK IN COURT NEXT WEEK. AN ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING IN HOUSE FIRES IS PROMPTING A WARNING FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES. THEY'RE ESPECIALLY TARGETING THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED, WHO THEY SAY ARE MOST AT RISK. RENEE GRAHAM HAS MORE. FARM WORKER HAMISH ALLAN (28) LOST HIS LIFE LAST WEEKEND IN A MASSIVE BLAZE THAT DESTROYED HIS RURAL HOME NEAR TAIHAPE. HIS FIANCEE WAS RESCUED BY A PASSER-BY. WHEN HE RETURNED FOR MR ALLAN, THE HOUSE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A YOUNG MAN THAT'S BEEN CELEBRATING HIS RECENT ENGAGEMENT, AND A LIFE TO BE GONE AT 28 YEARS OF AGE IS VERY VERY SAD. MR ALLAN PLAYED RUGBY FOR THE LOCAL UTIKU CLUB. IT'S PRETTY TOUGH, EH. IT'LL BE REAL TOUGH ON SATURDAY RUNNING OUT ON THE PADDOCK WITHOUT HIM. THE FIRE SERVICE SAYS MR ALLAN'S DEATH IS PART OF A SPIKE IN RESIDENTIAL FIRE DEATHS. SIREN WAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 2012, 12 PEOPLE DIED IN HOUSE FIRES. THIS YEAR IT'S 18, AND THERE'S SIX WEEKS TO GO. IN THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND IN MARCH, A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND MAN WAS KILLED IN A FIRE IN HIS FLAT. AND IN WELLINGTON, AN 83-YEAR-OLD DIED IN KARORI AFTER A FIRE STARTED IN HER BEDROOM. IT'S BELIEVED THE FIRE HERE WAS CAUSED BY SMOKING. THE FIRE SERVICE SAYS THE MAJORITY OF DEATHS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR THE ELDERLY. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE FRAIL OR NOT SO EASILY ABLE TO ESCAPE SMOKE OR FLAMES. WE'VE HAD 13 DEATHS OF PEOPLE OVER 50 AND FIVE OF THEM OVER THE AGE OF 70, AND THAT'S VERY VERY SAD. THE FIRE SERVICE WANTS RESIDENTS TO INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS, CHECK FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT OR ELECTRICAL SWITCH OVERLOADING AND AVOID SMOKING IN BED. I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AROUND CHECKING FIRE ALARMS AND SMOKE ALARMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING YOU'RE AWARE OF UNTIL SOMETHING TRAGIC LIKE THIS HAPPENS. AUTHORITIES ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE THAT KILLED HAMISH ALLAN. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. THE DEADLY COLLAPSE OF A CLOTHING FACTORY IN BANGLADESH IS FORCING RETAILERS AROUND THE WORLD TO QUESTION IF THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTING SO-CALLED SWEATSHOPS. GEORGINA BALL LOOKS AT HOW MUCH WE'RE IMPORTING FROM THE THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY AND WHAT STAND'S BEING TAKEN HERE. FASHION AT A HIGH PRICE. THESE IMAGES OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORKERS CRUSHED TO DEATH IN BANGLADESH THREW A SPOTLIGHT ON WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE ASIAN COUNTRY. BUT DO KIWIS KNOW THAT MANY CLOTHES SOLD HERE COME FROM SIMILAR SWEATSHOPS? NOT REALLY BOTHERED WHERE IT'S MADE. NOT AT ALL, NEVER. AS LONG AS IT LOOKS NICE, JUST GET IT. (LAUGHS) I NEVER REALLY NOTICE WHERE CLOTHES ARE MADE. INCLUDING ALL FREIGHT COSTS, CLOTHING IMPORTS FROM BANGLADESH WERE JUST UNDER $4M IN 2008, BUT HAD RISEN SHARPLY TWO YEARS LATER AND MORE THAN DOUBLED LAST YEAR. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK HARD AT ALL TO FIND CLOTHING MADE IN BANGLADESH. THIS T-SHIRT MIGHT BEAR THE UNION JACK, BUT IT WAS MADE IN BANGLADESH. IT COST US $40, BUT WAS LIKELY MADE FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE. CAMPAIGNERS HOPE SHOPPERS WILL NOW LOOK AT THE LABEL. IT MAKES IT AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO BUY, BUT, ACTUALLY, THAT COMES AT A COST OF LIVES OF WORKERS IN BANGLADESH. THIS WEEK, MAJOR OVERSEAS RETAILERS AGREED TO PROMOTE SAFER CONDITIONS. WE DON'T WANT AUSTRALIA AND NZ TO BE THE ODD COUNTRIES OUT WHEN OTHER RETAILERS AND BRANDS IN THE WORLD ARE COMING TO THE PARTY. MANY RETAILERS WHICH STOCK CLOTHES FROM BANGLADESH DIDN'T RETURN OUR CALLS. THE WAREHOUSE DID. IT SAID IT WILL REVIEW THE PACT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT WORKS CLOSELY WITH A VERY SMALL GROUP OF FACTORIES IN BANGLADESH, BUT CARRIES OUT ROBUST FACTORY INSPECTION. BUT CARRIES OUT ROBUST FACTORY INSPECTIONS. AND THE BEST WAY TO BENEFIT WORKERS IS TO CONTINUE TRADING WITH THEM, AND MAKE SURE STANDARDS ARE ADHERED TO AND IMPROVED. CAMPAIGNERS SAY IF MORE TRAGEDIES ARE TO BE AVOIDED, IT'S UP TO CONSUMERS AND RETAILERS HERE TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON. GEORGINA BALL, ONE NEWS. THE FOOTBALLER WHO BECAME FAMOUS FOR HIS STYLE OFF THE FIELD AS MUCH AS ON IT IS HANGING UP HIS BOOTS. DAVID BECKHAM WAS ADORED BY FANS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING WOOING PEOPLE IN WELLINGTON WHEN HE PLAYED HERE. DANIEL FAITAUA HAS MORE. d DAVID BECKHAM BROUGHT 8 THAT GLITTERING CAREE AND CELEBRITY STAR POWER TO NZ WHEN HE PLAYED FOR LA GALAXY IN 2007. BEEN HERE IN THIS AMAZING COUNTRY. IT HAS BEEN AN EXPERIENCE. AN EXPERIENCE THE WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL SAYS PUT THE CAPITAL ON THE FOOTBALL WORLD MAP. WE HAD A CONTRACT THAT SAID YOU GOT TO PLAY FOR 60 MINUTES. HE GRABBED THE CONTRACT AND SAID, 'I DIDN'T COME HER TO PLAY FOR 60 MINUTES. 'I CAME HERE TO PLAY FOR 90 MINUTES.' HE MIGHT NOT HAVE BROUGHT HIS FAMOUS WIFE VICTORIA, BUT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF FANS WHO TURNED OUT TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE SUPERSTAR, HE DIDN'T DISAPPOINT THEM IN THE FLESH. I THINK IT WAS AN AMAZING THING FOR YOUNG PLAYERS IN THE CITY TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE THAT PLAY HERE, SO IT WAS AN HELL OF AN ATMOSPHERE. AN ATMOSPHERE THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL TRIED TO REPLICATE ONLY TO BECOME A FIZZER, COSTING RATEPAYERS $1.79M. THEY MADE A COMPLETE HASH OF IT, LET'S FACE IT, AND EVERYONE ELSE HAD TO COP THE FLAK. BUT IN WELLINGTON, THE STAR WAS SURPRISINGLY DOWN TO EARTH, SNAPPED WITH DINERS AT A DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT. THE FOOTBALL STAR LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION WITH STAFF AT THIS SOUTH EAST ASIAN RESTAURANT, WHERE HE DINED ON A VEGETARIAN DISH. THAT DISH WAS POTATO CURRY, AND THE CHEF EVEN MANAGED TO TALK TO BECKHAM. AND THE CHEF EVEN MANAGED TO TALK TO BECKHAM. I JUST SAID, 'GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW IS WELLINGTON TREATING YOU?', AND HE SAID, 'IT'S VERY GOOD.' AND I SAID, 'GOOD LUCK WITH THE GAMES,' AND HE SAID THANK YOU. I'VE GOT NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR THE GUY. HE'S ALMOST ENGLAND'S ANSWER TO THE ROYALTY THING, ISN'T HE? IF NOT ENGLAND, THEN DEFINITELY HERE IN WELLINGTON. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. AND WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT BECKHAM'S CAREER ON THE PITCH LATER IN SPORT. STILL TO COME ON ONE NEWS ` TRAFFIC CHAOS AS A CRASHED TRUCK HANGS DANGEROUSLY OFF A BUSY MOTORWAY BRIDGE. FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER. IN AGONISING PAIN. STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS PUTS MORE PRESSURE ON THE WEST TO ACT. AND THE DARING AIR RAIDS ON GERMANY IN WORLD WAR II. WE'RE WITH A KIWI VETERAN IN THE UK AS THE DAMBUSTERS MARK A SPECIAL MILESTONE. A SPECTACULAR TRUCK CRASH THAT CLOSED ONE OF MELBOURNE'S BUSIEST ROADS FOR HOURS ENDED UP WITH THE VEHICLE HANGING PRECARIOUSLY OVER A BUSY OVERPASS. IT'S BELIEVED THE TRUCK, CARRYING A BOBCAT, SWERVED AFTER COLLIDING WITH A CAR BEFORE FLIPPING AND NEARLY TUMBLING OFF A SECTION OF ROAD. THE TRUCK DRIVER WASN'T SO LUCKY, FALLING 20M OFF THE OVERPASS. HE'S IN A CRITICAL CONDITION IN HOSPITAL. PRESSURE'S MOUNTING ON THE US AND BRITAIN TO INTERVENE IN SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR. IT FOLLOWS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT APPEARS TO SHOW THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THE TOWN OF SARAQEB. THE BBC'S IAN PANNELL REPORTS FROM THERE, AND YOU MAY FIND SOME OF THE IMAGES IN HIS STORY UPSETTING. A LOCALS ACTIVIST GAVE US THIS FOOTAGE. HE SAYS IT WAS TAKEN AS THE SHELLS LANDED. BANG! EYEWITNESSES ALLEGE AT LEAST TWO CANISTERS WERE DROPPED FROM IT. (MAN SPEAKS ARABIC) THEY SAY IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER THEY LANDED THAT CASUALTIES STARTED TO ARRIVE AT SARAQEB HOSPITAL. INDISTINCT CHATTER EIGHT PEOPLE WERE ADMITTED, APPARENTLY WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. (WHIMPERS IN PAIN) (GURGLES) THEY APPEAR TO BE VOMITING WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS. THE WORST AFFECTED WAS MARYAM KHATIB. RELATIVES CLAIM A DEVICE HAD LANDED IN HER GARDEN. THE MOTHER OF EIGHT LATER DIED LATER THAT DAY. HER DAUGHTER LIES NEARBY. HER TONGUE APPEARS DISTENDED. SHE'S FROTHING AT THE MOUTH. MOHAMMED IS HER ELDER SON. HE SAYS HE'D TRIED TO HELP HIS MOTHER, BUT SHE COLLAPSED IN HIS ARMS. TRANSLATOR: YOU COULDN'T BREATHE AT ALL. YOUR BODY WOULD BECOME REALLY TIRED. YOU'D LOSE ALL SENSES. YOU'D FEEL LIKE YOU WERE DEAD. YOU COULDN'T EVEN SEE. I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS. WE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOUSE BY ONE OF HER NEPHEWS. HE SHOWED US WHERE THE DEVICE IS SAID TO HAVE LANDED. SAMPLES FROM HERE AND FROM THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN SENT TO BRITAIN, FRANCE, TURKEY AND AMERICA. TEST RESULTS ARE PENDING. A BRITISH CHEMICAL EXPERT HAS LOOKED AT THIS MATERIAL AND SAYS THERE'S STRONG BUT INCOMPLETE EVIDENCE A NERVE AGENT WAS USED. TODAY, MOHAMMED KHATIB LIVES IN A TENT OUTSIDE TOWN, TOO AFRAID TO GO HOME. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED HERE. BUT IT'S LEFT BEHIND GRIEF AND DESPAIR. THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S REPEATEDLY DENIED CLAIMS IT'S USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS. A RECOVERY OPERATION IS UNDERWAY IN TEXAS AFTER A SWARM OF TORNADOES CLAIMED SIX LIVES AND LEFT SEVEN MISSING. OH MY GOD, LOOK AT IT. IT'S RIGHT ABOVE US! AT LEAST 12 TWISTERS HIT THE AREA, SOME PACKING WINDS OF UP TO 320KM/H. IN ONE NEIGHBOURHOOD, AN ENTIRE SUBDIVISION OF HOMES BUILT FOR THE POOR WAS WIPED OUT. AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. AND MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED IN BANGLADESH AS A CYCLONE BATTERS REMOTE FISHING VILLAGES IN THE SOUTH. FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. WINDS OF UP TO 100KM/H LASHED THE LOW-LYING COAST BUT HAVE NOW EASED. A NZER (94) WHO IS THE LAST SURVIVING DAMBUSTER PILOT HAS MADE THE LONG FLIGHT TO BRITAIN FOR SPECIAL COMMEMORATIONS. LES MUNRO WAS A MEMBER OF THE DARING GROUP THAT FLEW DANGEROUS MISSIONS INTO THE HEART OF NAZI GERMANY. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY REPORTS. A LANCASTER BOMBER SWEEPS ACROSS THE WATER SEVEN DECADES AFTER IT WAS FLOWN HERE, TRAINING MEN ON A TOP-SECRET MISSION. LES MUNRO IS BACK IN LINCOLNSHIRE WHERE HE WAS FIRST GIVEN HIS TARGET. I DON'T THINK THEY WERE ACTUALLY WORRIED ` THE CREWS ` VERY MUCH, BUT WHAT DID WAS THE ROUTE TO DAMS THROUGH THE HEAVILY DEFENDED AREA OF THE RUHR. THAT WAS MORE CONCERN THAN THE ACTUAL TARGET THAT WE WERE GOING TO BOMB. THEIR TALE HAS ALL THE ELEMENTS ` A WARTIME BOFFIN, HIS BOUNCING BOMB, A DASHING WING COMMANDER AND HIS PEERLESS CREWS. THEIR TARGET WAS THREE GERMAN DAMS. THEY SUCCEEDED IN DESTROYING TWO. HERE AT THE RAF MUSEUM IN LONDON, THE LANCASTER HAS PRIDE OF PLACE, AS DOES THE STORY OF THE DAMBUSTERS. IT EXEMPLIFIES NOT ONLY THE EFFORTS OF BOMBER COMMAND BUT ALSO THOSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE. IT TOOK SKILL AND DARING TO FLY AT 500FT PAST ARTILLERY. LES' AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY FLAK ON THE WAY IN, HAD SOME DAMAGE THE DAMAGE. THE DAMAGE PUT OUT THE MASTER COMPASS WHICH THEY DEPENDED UPON FOR THEIR NAVIGATION, WHICH IS EXTREMELY TRICKY FLYING AT LOW LEVEL, IN ANY CASE, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PUT OUT ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS. LES MUNRO TOOK A DIFFICULT DECISION AND TURNED BACK. THE DAMBUSTERS ARE ALSO EXCEPTIONAL BECAUSE THEIR RAID IS ONE OF FEW GIVEN WIDESPREAD ACCLAIM UNTIL RECENTLY. IT'S LESS THAN A YEAR SINCE THE QUEEN UNVEILED THIS MEMORIAL TO BOMBER COMMAND, SUCH HAD BEEN THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE HUGE NUMBERS OF CASUALTIES THEY INFLICTED ON GERMANY'S CIVILIAN POPULATION. THE DAMBUSTERS' RAID KILLED AT LEAST 1300. MORE THAN HALF WERE ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AND LABOURERS. IT CAN'T BE SAID THAT THIS RAID SHORTENED THE WAR, PREVIOUS CAPTION INCORRECT. OF A 133 DAMBUSTERS, ONLY TWO ARE LEFT, BUT THEIR STORY ENDURES. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. TO THE WEATHER NOW. LOOKS LIKE THE RAIN'S SETTING THE SCENE FOR A DAMP WEEKEND? THERE'S A MELEE OF CLOUDS AND RAIN SHOWERS ALL ORBITING OUT IN THE TASMAN AND WASHING DOWN OVER US. SO IT'S A MIX OF SHOWERS, RAIN, GREY SKY AND DRY PERIODS. THUNDER CELLS BURGEONED UP OFF THE NEW PLYMOUTH COAST. 25MM SINCE NOON. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ ALSO DOWNPOURS AND THUNDER ARE STALKING UP OAKURA. WARNINGS COMING UP FOR NELSON, BAY OF PLENTY. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. AFTER THE BREAK ` RESCUE DRAMA ON ONE OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN THE WORLD. WE HEAR FROM THE CLIMBER WHO FELL AND THE MATE WHO SAVED HIM. AND THE MAD SCRAMBLE FOR A BARGAIN AS THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST SECOND-HAND BOOK SALE KICKS OFF. 1 FARMERS COUNTING THE COST OF THE DROUGHT HAVE BEEN GIVEN A BUDGET BOOST TO HELP ENSURE WATER SUPPLY. BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SOME OF THE MAJOR IRRIGATION SCHEMES BEING PLANNED. MATT MCLEAN EXPLAINS. MARTIN BENNETT STRUGGLED THROUGH THIS YEAR'S MAJOR DROUGHT, BUT THINGS COULD'VE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. YEAH, IT WAS PRETTY CHALLENGING TO MANAGE OUR WAY THROUGH IT, BUT HAVING THE IRRIGATION WAS A REAL ASSET TO US. IRRIGATING HIS FARM MEANT HE DIDN'T NEED AS MUCH SUPPLEMENTARY FEED ` A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR MANY FARMERS THIS YEAR. IT ALLOWED US TO GROW OVER 4 TON OF FEED A DAY. A HUGE AMOUNT, AND IT'S JUST MANAGED TO KEEP OUR COWS AND MILK RIGHT THROUGH. THE GOVERNMENT TOO SEES HUGE BENEFIT. IN YESTERDAY'S BUDGET IT ANNOUNCED AN $80M CASH INJECTION FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. WE DON'T HAVE A WATER SHORTAGE ISSUE. WE HAVE A WATER STORAGE ISSUE. WE ONLY CAPTURE AND STORE ABOUT 2% OF THE RAINFALL. AND ALTHOUGH THAT RAIN IS FALLING NOW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED A PRETTY STRONG WARNING. WHEN THE NEXT DROUGHT HITS, FARMERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WON'T NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO STEP IN FINANCIALLY. BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT AN INCREASE IN IRRIGATION WILL MEAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THEY CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF WATER POLLUTION, AND THEY'LL BURDEN FARMERS WITH VERY HIGH LEVELS OF DEBT. NOT SO, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT. WATER STORAGE PROJECTS ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SOME WOULD SAY, THAN TAKING WATER OUT OF THE GROUND. SO, WE ARE FOCUSSED ON JOBS, INCREASED PRODUCTION AND IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT. ONE IDEA TO MAKE SURE FARMERS HAVE BACKUP WHEN NATURE DOESN'T OBLIGE. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. TWO MOUNTAINEERS ARE SAFELY BACK IN NZ AFTER A 36-HOUR RESCUE MISSION ON ONE THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS. AGO SCOTT SCHEELE FELL NEARLY 100M DOWN THE FACE OF THE PEAK CALLED THE WHITE WAVE, SPARKING A DRAMATIC RESCUE BY HIS CLIMBING BUDDY. MIKE THORPE REPORTS. WELCOME-HOME HUGS FOR THIS LUCKY CLIMBING PAIR; A FAR CRY FROM THE MOST UNFORGIVING OF ENVIRONMENTS. YEAH, IT'S A A RELIEF AND GLAD TO, YEAH, GET SCOTT BACK. FOX GLACIER MOUNTAIN GUIDE SCOTT SCHEELE AND QUEENSTOWN BUDDY BEN DARE WERE HERE IN THE HIMALAYAS, JUST 300M FROM THE PEAK OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAINS WHEN SCOTT PLUMMETED 90M. SCOTT WAS SORT OF 40M, 45M BELOW ME, HANGING UPSIDE DOWN, UNCONSCIOUS. AFTER SEEING HOW FAR HE'D COME DOWN, YEAH, I WAS FEARING THE WORST. IT DIDN'T END THERE. THE FALL TRIGGERED AN AVALANCHE. BEN WEATHERED THE STORM, THEN CLIMBED DOWN TO HIS DAZED MATE. OVERWHELMING RELIEF. IT WAS JUST GREAT TO SEE THAT, YEAH, HE WAS ALIVE, REALLY. AFTER A LONG MINUS-30 DEGREE NIGHT, BEN LOWERED SCOTT OUT AND RETURNED TO CAMP AT 600M. TEAMMATES ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BEACON, AND SCOTT WAS AIRLIFTED TO KATHMANDU HOSPITAL. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FRIEND SAVING YOUR LIFE? > ABOUT BEN SAVING MY LIFE? IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, YEAH. HE'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL. WITH NO RECOLLECTION OF THE INCIDENT, SCOTT'S JUST KEEN TO KEEP CLIMBING. < IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE QUITE UNAFFECTED. (CHUCKLES) DID I FALL? WHAT? UM, NO, SO, REALLY EXCITED TO GET BACK OUT ON THE ICE. THE WINTER CLIMBING SEASON CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH FOR THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SALE OF SECOND-HAND BOOKS IS UNDERWAY IN DUNEDIN TONIGHT. THE 24-HOUR BOOK SALE'S BEING TAKING PLACE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS NOW AND IS STILL GOING STRONG DESPITE THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF ONLINE BOOKS. MAX BANIA CHECKED IT OUT. MARCHING MUSIC PLAYS MIDDAY ON THE DOT, AND IT'S RUSH HOUR IN DUNEDIN. GIDDAY. HOW ARE YA? IN ITS 33RD YEAR, THE 24-HOUR REGENT THEATRE SALE BOASTS ALL SORTS OF SECOND-HAND BOOKS, EVEN ON SPELLING, AND CATERS FOR ALL SORTS OF SHOPPERS. PEOPLE COME FROM AUSTRALIA SPECIFICALLY COME TO THIS SALE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF DEALERS WHO COME FROM ALL OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND TO BUY STOCK FOR THE YEAR. BASICALLY, I PAY, LIKE, $500 FOR A TEXTBOOK, SO TO GET ONE FOR $2 IS PRETTY SWEET. THEN THERE'S THE HARD-WORKING VOLUNTEERS, WHO'VE SPENT THE YEAR PROCESSING A QUARTER OF A MILLION BOOKS. I INJURED MY THUMB LIFTING BANANA BOXES. PROBABLY LIFT ABOUT 2� TONS TO 3 TONS A WEEK THE PAST FEW WEEKS. BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING. BOOKS USED TO BE 50 CENTS EACH. NOW THEY'RE A DOLLAR. AND THE RISE OF E-BOOKS IS THREATENING TO PUSH PAPERBACKS OUT. THEY'RE HANDY. THEY CAN CARRY A LOT OF YOUR BOOKS AROUND, SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR CHOICES, BUT THEY STILL WONT BE TURNING A PAGE. THERE'LL COME A TIME WHEN WE JUST DON'T DO TRASHY THROWAWAY PAPERBACK NOVELS ANY MORE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A PLACE FOR PROPER BOOKS FOR BOOKY PEOPLE. THEY'RE JUST SUCH SATISFYING THINGS TO HOLD AND TO LOOK AT. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT BOOKS. THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S THE ISSUE OF COST. NOW, A NEW TITLE ON KINDLE MIGHT SET YOU BACK $15, BUT FOR JUST A DOLLAR HERE AT THE BOOK SALE I CAN PICK UP A LIFETIME'S WORTH OF WISDOM. THE GREAT BOOK SCRAMBLE ENDS MIDDAY SATURDAY. VOLUNTEERS ARE HOPING TO RAISE $140,000 FOR A DIGITAL FILM PROJECTOR FOR THE HISTORIC THEATRE. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES ` A POLICEMAN'S TONIGHT BEHIND BARS AFTER BEING CHARGED IN RELATION TO THE MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE. PETER PAKAU, WHO WORKED AT THE HENDERSON POLICE STATION IN AUCKLAND, WAS AMONG NINE PEOPLE ARRESTED, INCLUDING HEAD HUNTERS GANG MEMBERS. HE'LL APPEAR IN COURT AGAIN EARLY NEXT MONTH. NEW FIGURES DISPEL A POPULAR BELIEF THAT FOREIGN BUYERS ARE SNAPPING UP HOUSES, MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE AVERAGE KIWI TO OWN THEIR OWN HOME. THE LATEST BNZ SURVEY SHOWS JUST 8% OF RESIDENTIAL SALES WERE TO OFFSHORE BUYERS. OF THOSE ABOUT A SIXTH ARE BRITISH, FOLLOWED BY CHINESE, AND THEN AUSTRALIANS. AN ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING IN HOUSE FIRES IS PROMPTING A WARNING FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES. FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 2012, 12 PEOPLE DIED IN HOUSE FIRES. SO FAR THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN 18 DEATHS. JENNY-MAY'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND THE FIRST CRICKET TEST IS EVENLY POISED BETWEEN ENGLAND AND NZ. ENGLAND AT 160 FOR 4 MORE ON DAY ONE AT LORD'S AFTER THE BREAK. PLUS, FIND OUT HOW KIWI HEAVYWEIGHT JOSEPH PARKER WENT IN THIS AFTERNOON'S BOUT IN LA. STEVE ADAMS GETS CLOSER TO HIS NBA DREAM. WE TAG ALONGSIDE THE KIWI AT HIS TRIALS. AND FROM THE FUTURE STARS TO THE, WELL, 'HAS BEEN'. DAVID BECKHAM SAYS GOODBYE. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. THE OPENING DAY OF THE FIRST CRICKET TEST AT LORD'S WAS A DAY FOR THE PURISTS AS NZ RESTRICTED A PEDESTRIAN ENGLAND TO JUST TWO RUNS AN OVER. IT ENDED EVENLY POISED AS BLAIR NORTON REPORTS. ENGLAND'S BATSMEN MADE IT LOOK TOUGH FROM THE START AS THE BLACKCAPS OPENING PAIR PILED ON THE PRESSURE. BOWLED. THE MEMBERS FINDING IT HARD TO GET EXCITED AT THE AGONISINGLY SLOW RUN RATE. JONATHAN TROTT SEARCHED FOR SOMETHING TOO. HE'S GOT A MAP. PERHAPS HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE WAY FROM THE PAVILION TO THE MIDDLE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE WAS SOON HEADING. THAT COULD BE OUT. IT IS. STRANGE, STRANGE SHOT. BRUCE MARTIN LET ENGLAND OFF THE HOOK AT 48 FOR ONE. CATCH... DROPPED IT. THE BLACKCAPS GOT THE VITAL SCALP OF ALISTAIR COOK 19 RUNS LATER. EDGED. HAS IT CARRIED? I THINK IT HAS. A REALLY GOOD CATCH. THE ENGLAND CAPTAIN'S GONE. TROTT AND IAN BELL LOOKED OMINOUS,... THAT'S A LOVELY SHOT. PUTTING ON 45 FOR THE THIRD WICKET BEFORE BOULT STRUCK AGAIN. DEAN BROWNLIE PULLED IN A SCREAMER. OH, WHAT A BEAUTY THAT IS. I THINK A COUPLE OF NERVES MAYBE EARLY ON THIS MORNING, BUT ONCE I GOT SOME RHYTHM, I GAINED A BIT OF CONFIDENCE, SO IT WAS ALL GOOD. BOULT WITH 2 FOR 29, BEFORE NEIL WAGNER GOT BELL TO CHASE ONE. OH, WELL BOWLED. BEAUTIFULLY BOWLED ACROSS THE RIGHT HANDER. THE CHANGE OF ANGLE HAS DONE IT. PERSISTENT DRIZZLE ENDED PLAY AFTER 80 OVERS; ENGLAND AT 160 FOR FOUR. ENGLAND SPINNER GRAEME SWANN NO DOUBT LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS BOWL WITH MARTIN EXTRACTING PLENTY OF TURN ON DAY ONE. BLAIR NORTON, ONE NEWS. HAVING BATTLED TO SETTLE IN, THE TOP-ORDER ENGLISH BATSMEN FAILED TO CAPITALISE. PLAY STARTS HALF AN HOUR EARLIER TONIGHT TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME. ONE OF INDIAN CRICKET'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL CHARACTERS IS AT THE CENTRE OF MATCH FIXING CLAIMS IN THE IPL. FAST BOWLER SRI SREESANTH, WHOSE CONTINUAL VERBAL AGGRESSION ANGERED TEST RIVALS AND TEAMMATES ALIKE, IS ONE OF THREE PLAYERS FROM THE RAJASTHAN ROYALS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF SPOT FIXING IN THREE MATCHES EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE 30-YEAR-OLD PLAYED 27 TESTS AND TOOK 87 WICKETS, EIGHT OF THEM AGAINST NZ IN THE 2010 SERIES. IT'S DO OR DIE FOR THE HURRICANES AGAINST THE CHIEFS IN THEIR SUPER RUGBY CLASH WELLINGTON TONIGHT. AS USUAL, THE ERRATIC HURRICANES SIT MID-TABLE, BUT ARE HOPING THEIR PACK CAN REPEAT THE HEROICS OF SIX DAYS AGO AGAINST THE NO-NONSENSE CHIEFS. THAT'S PART OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER. YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA PREPARE WELL; YOU GOTTA GET BACK, YOU KNOW. SOMETIMES JUST GETTING BACK IN YOUR BED AND PLAYING AT HOME IS ENOUGH IN TERMS OF THAT SPARK. AND SPARK IS SOMETHING THE SECOND-PLACED CHIEFS ARE LOOKING FOR FROM ROBBIE ROBINSON, WHO'S BATTLING TO SHAKE OFF HIS PERSISTENT GROIN PROBLEM. UM, YEAH, IT'S` NOW IT'S AS GOOD AS IT'S GOING TO GET FROM NOW. UM, I'M HAPPY WITH WHERE IT'S AT, AND, YEAH, JUST GO THROUGH IT. WITH FOUR FRONT LINE BACKS SIDELINED, THE CHIEFS MAY HAVE TO RELY ON ANOTHER TOUGH FORWARD GRIND. TO THE NBA, AND THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS WILL MEET THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES IN THE WERSTERN CONFERENCE FINAL, THIS AFTERNOON BEATING GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 94-82. IN THE EAST, CARMELLO ANTHONY HAS HELPED THE NEW YORK NICKS STAY ALIVE IN THE PLAY-OFFS. MELLO SCORED 28 POINTS IN THE 85-75 WIN OVER THE INDIAN PACERS IN GAME FIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. IT'S SPINNING OUT, THEN HE PUTS IT UP. NO ONE ELSE TO TAKE ROY HIBBERT. HE DOES. WOW! THERE'S NO WAY, SPEED-WISE, THAT HIBBERT WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GUARD CARMELLO ANTHONY. THE PACERS STILL HOLD THE SERIES LEAD, 3-2. THE WINNER OF THE BEST-OF-SEVEN WILL FACE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS MIAMI HEAT IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL. STEVEN ADAMS DREAM OF PLAYING IN THAT BASKETBALL LEAGUE IS MOVING CLOSER AFTER A STRONG SHOWING AT THE NBA DRAFT COMBINE IN CHICAGO. THE KIWI TEENAGER AND 65 OTHER HOPEFULS ARE PUSHING FOR A HIGH SPOT IN NEXT MONTH'S DRAFT. US CORRESPONDENT JACK TAME WENT ALONG. ON A COURT OF 7FT CENTRES, STEVEN ADAMS WAS NO MORE THAN AVERAGE HEIGHT, YET, AS HE SHOWED OFF BEFORE MANAGERS FROM EVERY TEAM IN THE NBA, THE ROTORUA KID SEEMED RELAXED THAN MOST. OH, IT'S EXCITING, BRO! I HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE, SO I'M TRYING TO ENJOY IT, EH. IT'S EXCITING, BRO. THE FOUR-DAY NBA DRAFT COMBINE IS, IN ESSENCE, A TRIAL, WINDOW WHERE 66 OF THE WORLD'S BEST BASKETBALL ROOKIES ARE TESTED AS THEY VIE FOR THE SPOTS IN NEXT MONTH'S NBA DRAFT. I'M JUST TRYING TO GO AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE, SO JUST GONNA KEEP WORKING HARD, MAN. THE CORE SKILLS TESTING OF THE COMBINE SUITS ADAMS. HE HAD AN AVERAGE COLLEGE SEASON WITH PITTSBURGH, BUT ANALYSTS SAY HE SHOWS HUGE POTENTIAL. AND IN TWO DAYS HE'S ALREADY MET WITH 10 NBA TEAMS. UH, THERE WAS PHOENIX, DENVER, WASHINGTON AND NEW ORLEANS. YEAH, THEY WERE ALL GOOD. THEY SUPPLIED US WITH FOOD, SO THAT HELPED. FROM TESTING IN CHICAGO, THE NBA DRAFT ITSELF WILL BE HELD IN NEW YORK'S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. THE TOP 30 PLAYERS SELECTED WILL BECOME INSTANT MILLIONAIRES. SPENT ANY CASH? NAH, NOT YET, BRO. I HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, EH. WHAT ABOUT A NICE NEW FERRARI? TRUCK. YEAH, NEED A TRUCK. I NEED SOME LEG ROOM. MOST PROJECTIONS HAVE HIS STOCKS IMPROVING, BUT ADAMS SAYS HE DOESN'T CARE WHERE HE GOES. UH, JUST SOMEWHERE WARM. HE'LL LIKELY BE THE CHOSEN SOMEWHERE IN THE EARLY TWENTIES. JACK TAME, ONE NEWS, CHICAGO. ANOTHER KIWI DOING WELL IN THE STATES TODAY ` FLEDGLING HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER JOSEPH PARKER. WHILE HE NEVER LOOKED LIKE KNOCKING OUT NZER BRYCE RITANI, THE LOS ANGELES HIT-OUT WENT TO PLAN. CRAIG STANAWAY HAS BEEN RINGSIDE IN CALIFORNIA. THE 'WILD CHILD' PARKER. BELL DINGS A NEW NICKNAME, BUT COULD JOSEPH PARKER DISPLAY THE SAME EXPLOSIVENESS AGAINST A MORE SEASONED OPPONENT? CROWD EXCLAIMS WE WERE TOLD BRYCE RITANI WAS TOUGHER. HE WAS MUCH TOUGHER THAN ANYONE IMAGINED. THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT PARKER WAS HALF A SECOND QUICKER THAN RITANI IN EVERYTHING HE DID. HE DISPLAYED AN AWESOME JAB AND GREAT COMBINATIONS. CHEERING BUT NO MATTER WHAT HE THREW, RITANI TOOK IT IN SIX BRUTAL ROUNDS. CROWD EXCLAIMS ALL THREE JUDGES SCORED THE BOUT 60-50. PARKER WON BY UNANIMOUS DECISION. HE WAS VERY VERY CALM. HE WAS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. LIKE, EVERYTHING I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE FIGHT TONIGHT, WE GOT. SO I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER AS A TRAINER. IF RITANI EVER GIVES THE GAME AWAY, HE'S CLEARLY GOT A FUTURE IN STAND-UP COMEDY. I'VE BEEN HIT HARDER, BUT I KNOW I CAN TAKE A SHOT. THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO KNOW. HE WOULD'VE HAD AN EASIER FIGHT AGAINST SONNY BILL. SO, FIRST VICTORY ON AMERICAN SOIL FOR JOSEPH PARKER. BUT THERE'S NO PARTYING TONIGHT. IT'S BACK TO VEGAS IN THE MORNING TO FURTHER PREPARE FOR FRANCOIS BOTHA. THE RESULT CAUSES BARELY A RIPPLE OVER HERE. THE REFEREE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO PARKER WAS. YOU? YOU WON? BUT HE'S DEFINITELY MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS SOMEONE WHO CAN CLEARLY BOX. CRAIG STANAWAY, ONE NEWS, LOS ANGELES. AND JOSEPH PARKER WILL BE LIVE FROM LA WITH CRAIG STANAWAY ON SEVEN SHARP. SYMPATHY FOR DISGRACED CYCLIST LANCE ARMSTRONG FROM ARGUABLY THE WORLD'S BEST JOCKEY, FRANKIE DETTORI. HE'S BROKEN HIS SILENCE ON HIS SIX-MONTH COCAINE SUSPENSION, ACCUSING RANDOM DRUG TESTERS OF HOUNDING HIM. I FEEL LIKE LANCE ARMSTRONG. (CHUCKLES) THEY COME AND KNOCK ON MY DOOR AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY... THE FORMER HIGH-FLYING ITALIAN, WHO FELL OUT WITH POWERFUL GODOLPHIN STABLE, WILL RETURN TO RACE RIDING IN BRITAIN NEXT WEEK. AS WE REPORTED EARLIER, GLOBAL FOOTBALL BRAND DAVID BECKHAM IS HANGING UP HIS BOOTS. THE BBC'S DAN ROWAN WITH A LOOK BACK AT WHAT MADE THE PLAYER CALLED 'GOLDEN BALLS' SO SPECIAL. BECKHAM... YES! CROWD CHEERS HE WAS SPORT'S ULTIMATE CELEBRITY. IN HIS PRIME, THERE WERE FEW FINER FOOTBALLERS THAN DAVID BECKHAM AND CERTAINLY NONE MORE FAMOUS. BUT AT THE AGE OF 38, THE BEST-KNOWN PLAYER OF HIS GENERATION IS FINALLY CALLING IT A DAY. IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION, BECAUSE I STILL FEEL THAT I CAN PLAY AT THE TOP LEVEL AND STILL HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. BUT I ALWAYS SECRETLY SAID TO MYSELF I THAT I WANT TO GO OUT AT THE TOP. AS A YOUNGSTER, BECKHAM JOINED MANCHESTER UNITED, AND IN 1996, ANNOUNCED HIMSELF TO THE FOOTBALLING WORLD. AND BECKHAM... SULLIVAN OFF HIS LINE. CROWD CHEERS OH! ENGLAND SELECTION DULY FOLLOWED, BUT IN 1998, HIS STAR CAME CRASHING DOWN TO EARTH, SENT OFF AT THE WORLD CUP. AND A RED CARD FOR DAVID BECKHAM. HE WAS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE. BUT THE CAME REDEMPTION. SOON HE WAS ENGLAND'S CAPTAIN. NOW BECKHAM HAS SCORED FOR ENGLAND! HIS HERO STATUS RESTORED. AND HE'S DONE IT AGAIN! HIS LOOKS HELPED, OF COURSE, AS DID HIS MARRIAGE TO A SPICE GIRL. HIS STYLE AND SPONSORSHIPS HELPED BUILD A FORTUNE ESTIMATED AT �165M. BUT THE FAME WAS PUT TO GOOD USE TOO,... THE CITY OF LONDON. ...HELPING LONDON WIN THE 2012 OLYMPICS. HE EVEN STARRED IN THE OPENING CEREMONY. AFTER THE BREAK, A RAIN WATCH AND A RAIN WARNING. JIM HAS A WET WEEKEND FOR MOST. HI AGAIN. A RAIN BAND SLOSHED ACROSS NORTHLAND, BAY OF PLENTY AND TARANAKI SOUTH TO NELSON. PART OF A TANGLED TUMBLEWEED OF RAIN AND SHOWER BANDS RIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. BUT YOU'LL ALSO HAVE DRY OR PARTLY CLEAR PERIODS BETWEEN THE LINES OF RAIN SHOWERS. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ SO UNSETTLED IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE WEEKEND. YOU'VE SEEN A BIT OF THE KEA LATELY. AND WHEN BOEING AND AIRBUS ASKED THE KEA WHY HE USED WINGLETS, THEY WERE TOLD THEY REDUCE DRAG AND INCREASE LIFT. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR FRIDAY. FROM THE TEAM, GOODNIGHT.