HOWDY, EVERYBODY. TODAY WINTER TOOK CONTROL, ALBEIT THREE DAYS EARLY. SNOW SWIRLED AROUND DUNEDIN CBD, DISRUPTING TRAFFIC AND SCHOOLS, AND COATED SOUTHLAND FARMS RIGHT TO SEA LEVEL. NOW THE SNOW IS TUMBLING DOWN FROM THE CENTRAL PLATEAU TO THE RIMUTAKA ROAD. COMING UP ` PICTURES AND WARNINGS OF THE ICY INVADERS FROM THE ANTARCTIC ICE SHELF. 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 DRIVING DANGER. A POLAR BLAST BRINGS SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND, CLOSING ROADS AND SCHOOLS. WARNINGS ARE ALSO OUT IN THE NORTH AS FREEZING TEMPERATURES CAUSES HEADACHES FOR MOTORISTS. AND THERE'S MORE TO COME. A BREAKFAST BOOST AS THE GOVERNMENT UNVEILS ITS FREE FOOD FOR SCHOOLS PLAN. BUT IT'S LEFT ONE MP SPITTING TACKS. AND ALL BLACKS CENTRE CONRAD SMITH CALLS TIME-OUT AS HIS FORMER COACH SIR GRAHAM HENRY SAYS SORRY. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. HOPE YOU'RE KEEPING WARM TONIGHT AS THE FIRST BIG CHILL OF THE YEAR HITS THE COUNTRY. THE POLAR BLAST HAS DUMPED HEAVY SNOW, CLOSED ROADS, SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS AND CAUSED TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. AND THERE'S MORE SNOW, HAIL AND HIGH WINDS EXPECTED AS THE COLD SNAP MOVES NORTH. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE. OUR REPORTERS ARE STANDING BY TO BRING YOU THE LATEST FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE START WITH MEGAN MARTIN, WHO'S BEEN ACROSS THE DISRUPTION IN SOUTHLAND AND OTAGO. TRAFFIC STRUGGLED ON DUNEDIN STREETS TODAY AS TEMPERATURES HOVERED AROUND FREEZING. MOTORWAYS LEADING INTO AND OUT OF THE CITY SLID TO A STANDSTILL AS WINTER'S FIRST BURST OF SNOW BIT THE SOUTH. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE IN THE SNOW, AND, YEAH, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO BE DOWN HERE AGAIN FOR A WHILE. TOO DIFFICULT TO TOW OUT, THESE CARS WERE LEFT ABANDONED. THE CITY'S EMERGENCY VEHICLES WERE BETTER PREPARED. MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY TOOK SHANKS' PONY. PRETTY COLD. TRIED TO COME UP THE HILL IN THE CAR AND DIDN'T GET VERY FAR. JUST ON MY WAY BACK HOME. MANY OF THE REGION'S SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, WHICH MEANT A DAY OF SNOWBALLS AND SLEDS. WENT OUT THE WINDOW HAD A LOOK. YEAH, IT WASN'T VERY BIG, BUT IT'S STILL ENOUGH TO CANCEL SCHOOL. THERE WAS ONLY ONE FLIGHT AT QUEENSTOWN'S AIRPORT TODAY, BUT A CHANCE AT LEAST FOR THEM TO TRY OUT 'HELGA' THE NEW SNOW BLOWER. IT'S NOT EVEN DUCK WEATHER, WITH SNOW RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAKE'S EDGE. IT IS GOOD, HOWEVER, FOR THE SKI FIELDS, WHO WELCOME THE DUMP WITH OPEN... WINGS. FURTHER SOUTH IN KINGSTON, FARMERS WERE OUT IN THE ELEMENTS. THIS IS AS BAD AS I'VE EVER SEEN IT. THE ROADS ARE ATROCIOUS BUT GRADERS FINALLY BROUGHT THE BACKLOG OF TRAFFIC THROUGH. WITH PLENTY OF WARNING AND NOT QUITE AS MUCH SNOW, FARMERS IN SOUTH OTAGO WERE WELL PREPARED. IT'S VERY EARLY IN THE PIECE FOR US. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF WINTER FEED. WE'RE ALL PRETTY GOOD AT THE MOMENT, FOR US SHEEP FARMERS, ESPECIALLY. AND HERE'S ONE MAN HAPPY WITH THE WINTRY WEATHER. IT HAS AN IMPACT LATER ON WHEN PEOPLE START BUYING THE FIREWOOD ONCE THE SNOW'S GONE. YEAH, THAT CERTAINLY HELPS THINGS ALONG, SO I GUESS A BIT OF SNOW HELPS SOMEONE SOONER OR LATER. ONE BUSINESS MAKING WOOD WHILE THE SNOW FALLS. THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF THE SNOWBALL BEING MADE IN THE STORY. IT SNOWED MOST OF THE DAY IN THE CITY. AS NIGHT FALLS, IT'S GOING TO FREEZE. POLICE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STAY HOME TONIGHT. THANKS, MEGAN MARTIN IN DUNEDIN. FURTHER NORTH, CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENTS ARE BEING WARNED TO PREPARE FOR A COLD NIGHT. THE ICY SNAP'S BROUGHT SNOW AND STRONG WINDS TO THE CANTERBURY REGION. MAX BANIA IS ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS AND JOINS US NOW. IT HAS BEEN WET, WINDY AND COLD IN CHRISTCHURCH. MORE SHOULD BE ON THE WAY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. THIS WAS MIDDAY TODAY. THAT SOUTHERLY WAS MOVING QUICKLY. IT BROUGHT HORIZONTAL HAIL WITH IT. THE RAIN AND SLURRIES MADE RUGDY DIFFICULT. GOOD NEWS FOR SOME ` THERE SHOULDN'T BE SNOW IN THE CITY, BUT VERY COLD FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WHAT ABOUT ROAD CLOSURES? CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE? USE CHAINS, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. TRAFFIC FLOWING WELL AT THE MOMENT. ALL DRIVERS TAKE CARE. THE WILD WEATHER'S ALSO CLOSED ` ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY ` THE MAIN ROUTE FROM WELLINGTON TO WAIRARAPA. DANIEL FAITAUA IS AT RIMUTAKA HILL AND JOINS US NOW. IT'S VERY BITTER HERE. THE ROAD REMAINS OPEN. SLEET WAS DUMPED IN THE LAST HALF HOUR. THAT'S A CONCERN FOR THE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BACKED UP. MANY MOTORISTS HAVE BEEN PATIENT. MOTORISTS MADE THE MOST OF THE SNOW. I JUST THINK IT HARDLY SNOW HERE, AND WHEN IT HAPPEN, IT JUST... IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS, REALLY. IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS FOR CONTRACTORS. THEY'VE BEEN ASSISTING STUCK VEHICLES. MOTORISTS IN THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND ARE ALSO NAVIGATING PERILOUS CONDITIONS AS THE SNOW AND ICE SETTLES. STATE HIGHWAY 1 BETWEEN TAIHAPE AND RANGIPO IS NOW CLOSED. AND THERE'S SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS ACROSS THE REGION. SARAH BATLEY IS HUNKERING DOWN IN WAIOURU. SARAH. LOCALS SAY THE SNOW STARTED AT 2AM THIS MORNING. ABOUT 4PM IT REALLY CAME DOWN. IT MADE DRIVING DIFFICULT. I'VE BEEN STUCK MYSELF. TRUCKS HAVE BEEN GETTING STUCK. SARAH, WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS OF THE ROAD REOPENING TONIGHT? IT'S SNOWING SO HEAVILY, AND MORE SHOULD FALL TONIGHT. THE DESERT ROAD WILL STAY SHUT. AUTHORITIES ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON OTHER ROADS. THE WINTRY WEATHER ALSO BROUGHT THUNDERSTORMS, LIGHTNING AND HIGH WINDS TO OUR BIGGEST CITY. FIRE CREWS HAVE BEEN BUSY WORKING TO REMOVE A TREE THAT FELL ON THIS HOME IN SOUTH AUCKLAND AFTER GALE FORCE WINDS HIT THE AREA. THE FIREMAN SAID THERE'S A LOT OF WEIGHT ON THE ROOF AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORRIED THAT IT MIGHT ACTUALLY` THE WHOLE THING MIGHT COLLAPSE. THIS 170 YEAR-OLD NORFOLK PINE TREE IN MISSION BAY WAS SPLINTERED BY A LIGHTNING BOLT. IT HAD TO BE CUT DOWN AS IT BECAME TOO MUCH OF A SAFETY RISK. AND IN PORT WAIKATO, STRONG WINDS TORE THE ROOF OFF THIS HOME, AS WELL AS SMASHING WINDOWS AND TOSSING A TRAMPOLINE OVER THE FENCE. NOW FOR THE LATEST ON WHERE THE ICY BLAST IS HEADING, HERE'S JIM HICKEY. THIS AIR MASS HAS COME FROM 70-80 SOUTH, RIGHT OFF ANTARCTICA. THAT'S WHY QUEENSTOWN AND WAIOURU HAD A HIGH OF 1 AND TE ANAU 3. BUT SNOW IS EASING IN THE SOUTH AND NOW FALLING ACROSS THE INLAND NORTH. BUT THAT TOO WILL EASE IN THE MORNING. FREEZING LEVEL WAS 2000M YESTERDAY. IT'S DOWN TO 800M NOW, 300M OVERNIGHT. IT'S SNOWING RIGHT ACROSS THE PLATEAU, CLOSING THE DESERT ROAD. SKIES ARE CLEARING FROM THE WEST IN THE MAINLAND. INLAND ROADS WILL BE ICY ` MINUS-8! PARENTS SHOULD CHECK TO SEE IF SCHOOLS ARE OPEN BEFORE PUTTING THE KIDS ON THE BUS. MORE DETAILS AND FORECASTS COMING UP AFTER SPORT. AND YOU CAN KEEP RIGHT UP TO DATE WITH DEVELOPMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE, ONENEWS.CO.NZ, WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE LATEST WARNINGS, ROAD CLOSURES AND PHOTOS AND VIDEO FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN OTHER NEWS, MORE KIWI KIDS ARE SET TO BECOME WEET-BIX KIDS. THE GOVERNMENT'S REVEALED ITS FREE FOOD FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAMME IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CEREAL MAKER SANITARIUM AND FONTERRA. IT'LL BE ROLLED OUT TO 1000 LOW DECILE SCHOOLS FIRST, THEN OFFERED TO OTHER SCHOOLS. BUT AS DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR JESSICA MUTCH REPORTS, THE PLAN'S LEFT A BITTER TASTE FOR ONE MP. HE TUHA. (SPITS) FOOD IN SCHOOLS DIDN'T GO DOWN WELL WITH HONE HARAWIRA. IT'S A... IT'S A BLOODY INSULT. THE GOVERNMENT DISHED UP ITS PLAN TO PROVIDE BREAKFAST FOR LOW DECILE SCHOOLS WITH HELP FROM FONTERRA AND SANITARIUM. THIS IS A SIMPLE BREAKFAST, ONE THAT GENERATIONS OF NZERS HAVE GROWN UP WITH ` WEET-BIX AND MILK. THE REST WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO BIG CORPORATES. IT WILL COST TAX PAYERS $9.5M OVER FIVE YEARS. THAT'S $1.9M A YEAR. AND ANOTHER $1.5M WILL BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN'S CHARITY KIDSCAN TO PAY FOR THINGS LIKE SHOES AND RAINCOATS. THE PROGRAMME WILL BE ROLLED OUT TO UP TO 1000 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR RANKED DECILE ONE TO FOUR. IT WILL BE OFFERED TO HIGHER DECILE SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR. AT THIS KURA KAUPAPA IN AUCKLAND, THEY ALREADY HAVE A FOOD IN SCHOOLS PROGRAMME AND SAY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE SEE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS COMING TO SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE HUNGRY. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THE CHILD TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM TO BE PREPARED FOR KARAKIA, BE PREPARED FOR LEARNING? THE PRIME MINISTER MAINTAINS IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS TO FEED THEIR KIDS. I COULD MAKE LOTS OF JUDGMENTS ABOUT THAT, BUT IN THE END, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT NZ CHILDREN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LEARN. LABOUR SAYS THIS DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. BEYOND PUTTING FOOD IN SCHOOLS, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS DEMONSTRATED ABSOLUTE LACK OF INTEREST IN ADDRESSING WIDER POVERTY ISSUES. THIS DEAL IS SET TO LAST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. BOTH SANITARIUM AND FONTERRA HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THIS PROGRAMME FOR THE LONG TERM. THEY ESTIMATE THEY'LL BE FILLING 100,000 HUNGRY TUMMIES EACH WEEK. JESSICA MUTCH, ONE NEWS. TO BREAKING NEWS ` A 7-YEAR-OLD BOY HAS GONE MISSING IN HASTINGS. POLICE SAY THE BLOND HAIRED BOY WAS LAST SEEN AT THE NEW WORLD SUPERMARKET CAR PARK IN FLAXMERE ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO THE CHILD IS ONLY LIGHTLY CLAD. THE SALE OF MERIDIAN ENERGY ` THE NEXT STATE-OWNED ASSET TO GO ON THE BLOCK ` MIGHT YET BE DELAYED. CONCERN'S MOUNTING OVER WHETHER ENOUGH NZERS WILL BUY INTO THE COMPANY IN THE WAKE OF A SHARP FALL IN MIGHTY RIVER POWER SHARES. THEY'VE BOUNCED BACK A BIT TODAY, RISING 6C. BUT LOOK AT THIS ` HOW IT'S PERFORMED SINCE LISTING EARLIER IN THE MONTH. YOU CAN SEE THE TREND SHOWING A GRADUAL SLIDE. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN REPORTS. MIGHTY RIVER SHARES SURGED WHEN LISTED THIS MONTH. I NOW DECLARE MIGHTY RIVER POWER FLOATED. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FIRST TIME INVESTORS GETTING THE GOVERNMENT'S MUCH-HOPED-FOR POSTIVE SHAREMARKET EXPERIENCE. BUT THE POST-FLOAT BUZZ IS WELL AND TRULY FADING. THE PRICE HAS TANKED. IT STARTED AT THE LOW END AT THE BEGINNING, ANYWAY. BY LATE TODAY, MIGHTY RIVER POWER SHARES WERE TRADING AT 6 CENTS BELOW THEIR LISTING PRICE OF $2.50. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE IN TO THAT HAVE, I THINK, WOULD HAVE GONE IN WITH A LONGER-TERM VIEW ABOUT THE RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS THE 113,000 KIWIS WHO BOUGHT INTO MIGHTY RIVER POWER TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE, AS IT NEEDS MANY THOUSANDS MORE TO INVEST IN THE MUCH LARGER MERIDIAN ENERGY IF IT'S TO HIT ITS KIWI OWNERSHIP CRITERIA. OUR INTENTION IS TO REACH THE 85%. WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT. THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES WITH THE MRP FLOAT, BUT WE GOT THERE. ALTHOUGH WHEN PRESSED, MR ENGLISH CONCEDED THAT A LACK OF LOCAL DEMAND COULD FORCE A DELAY. NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET THE CRITERIA THAT THE GOVERNMENT LAID DOWN, I SUPPOSE, WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. OTHER OPTIONS TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL MERIDIAN SALE ALSO NOW INCLUDE SELLING THE 49% STAKE IN TWO CHUNKS. SO WHAT THEY DOING NOW IS SELLING IT OFF IN TWO GOES, SO THEY CAN MINIMISE THE DAMAGE. IT'S A POLICY THE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF. MARKET INSIDERS STRESS NOTHING FUNDAMENTAL HAS CHANGED ABOUT THE MIGHTY RIVER POWER IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. THEY SAY THERE'S EVERY CHANCE IT'LL BE BACK IN THE BLACK BY THE TIME MERIDIAN IS FLOATED. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. NEXT ON ONE NEWS ` A LABEL YOU'LL NO LONGER BUY IN YOUR SUPERMARKET. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THESE BANANAS? FLYING THEIR FLAG. A MASS RIGHT-WING PROTEST ON LONDON STREETS IN THE WAKE OF A SOLDIER'S KILLING. AND WATCH OUT FOR THIS. SEE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY SOME CRANE CARNAGE. TINKLING MUSIC Did you know that it's possible to watch your favourite TV shows from any room in the house? You may have heard of TV On Demand, websites where you can access hundreds of the best local and international shows legally and for free. Several Kiwi TV channels now have an On Demand service. It's the place you go if you've missed a programme and want to catch up, or if someone's hogging the remote. How does it work? Well, with most sites, it's as easy as clicking on the show that you want to watch. It will start to play, and then you're in control to pause for a cuppa or skip back and forward. And best of all, with your laptop and some tablets and smartphones, you can watch from just about anywhere in your house. So why not stay in bed and catch up on your favourite drama, or follow along with a cooking show from the kitchen? You could even try watching TV from your hammock. Have a go. And you can find a list of Kiwi On Demand sites at techinasec.co.nz A FRESH FOOD GIANT IS DITCHING IS 'ETHICAL CHOICE' BANANAS AFTER CLAIMS THAT ITS FILIPINO SUPPLIERS ARE EXPLOITING WORKERS. A 100-PAGE REPORT COMMISSIONED BY OXFAM ACCUSES DOLE OF BEING COMPLICIT IN THE USE OF CHILD LABOUR AND ABUSING MINIMUM WAGE LAWS. LISA OWEN HAS MORE. FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO YOUR SUPERMARKET, DOLE MARKETS ITS BANANAS AS AN ETHICAL CHOICE. BUT PEEL BACK THE LAYERS, AND SOME SAY THE REALITY IS FAR LESS PALATABLE. NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. NOT AT ALL. THEY PLAY TICK THE BOX SO WE THAT THINK WE'RE BUYING THE RIGHT THING. WHAT'S CAUGHT SHOPPERS' EYES IS THIS OXFAM-COMMISSIONED REPORT INTO DOLE BANANA SUPPLIERS IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT MAKES A STACK OF ALLEGATIONS, INCLUDING... ONE OF THE CHILDREN INTERVIEWED WAS 14 YEARS OLD, WORKING EIGHT TO 12 HOURS A DAY AND BEING PAID ` IN NZ DOLLARS ` AROUND $10 FOR A DAY'S WORK. IT ALSO CLAIMS WORKERS ARE SUFFERING FROM EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. MOST OF THE BANANA WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED BY MIDDLEMEN, BUT OXFAM SAYS DOLE SHOULD POLICE ITS WHOLE SUPPLY CHAIN. DESPITE THEIR CLAIMS OF ETHICAL CHOICE ON THEIR STICKERS, IT APPEARS THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING ACTUALLY IN THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS IS ANYTHING BUT ETHICAL. THIS AFTERNOON DOLE ANNOUNCED IT'S DITCHING ITS ETHICAL CHOICE LABEL. ALTHOUGH IT BELIEVES THE BRAND ISN'T MISLEADING, IT SAYS THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE LABEL IS A DISTRACTION. THE COMPANY REFUSES TO COMMENT ON THE OXFAM REPORT UNTIL IT COMPLETES ITS OWN INVESTIGATION. CONSUMERS, THOUGH, ARE WEIGHING IN. I THINK A LOT OF THOSE BIG MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS HAVE A SIDE THAT WE DON'T HEAR VERY MUCH ABOUT. OXFAM SAYS THE ETHICAL CHOICE LABEL MAY BE GONE BUT QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN OVER DOLE'S LABOUR PRACTICES. LISA OWEN, ONE NEWS. A BLOCKADE ON NZ MEAT AT THE CHINESE BORDER HAS FINALLY BEEN LIFTED. CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE SIGNED OFF ON NEW PAPERWORK FOR SOME OF THE SHEEP AND BEEF ORDERS STUCK AT DOCKS. THAT MEANS IT'LL BE UP TO THE IMPORTERS AND THE AGENTS TO COME AND COLLECT THOSE CONTAINERS, AND THAT'LL BE UP TO THEM. SO ALL PROBABILTY, TODAY OR TOMORROW, SO IT'S GREAT NEWS. MR GUY SAYS IT'LL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE BACKLOG TO BE CLEARED. OFFICIALS ARE IN TALKS WITH THE MEAT INDUSTRY ABOUT COMPENSATION. HUNDREDS ARE EXPECTED AT A MEMORIAL LATER TONIGHT TO MARK A YEAR SINCE NZ TRIPLETS AND 16 OTHERS DIED IN A SHOPPING MALL FIRE. TWO YEAR OLDS LILLIE, WILLSHER AND JACKSON WEEKES WERE AMONG THOSE KILLED IN THE DOHA BLAZE. THEIR PARENTS, MARTIN AND JANE, WILL MARK THE ANNIVERSARY IN AUCKLAND AND ARE NOW EXPECTING TWINS IN AUGUST. THE FIRE'S BEEN BLAMED ON AN ELECTRICAL FAULT, BUT A COURT VERDICT ON WHO'S RESPONSIBLE IS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH. AN EXTREME RIGHT-WING LEADER SAYS MUSLIMS HAVE HAD THEIR ARAB SPRING, NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE ENGLISH SPRING. THE WARNING CAME AT THE RALLY JUST DAYS AFTER SOLDIER LEE RIDGY HAS HACKED TO DEATH IN A LONDON STREET. THIS FROM ALEXI O'BRIEN. ALL CHANT: WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK! WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK! ON THE STREETS OF LONDON, BATTLE LINES ARE BEING DRAWN. ALL CHANT: SCUM, SCUM, SCUM, SCUM, SCUM, SCUM! IN ISLAM WE SEE EVIL, AND WE WILL PROTEST IT. THE RIGHT-WING, ANTI-ISLAM ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE MARCHING TO WESTMINSTER. ALL CHANT INDISTINCTLY ALL CHANT: EDL OFF OUR STREETS! EDL OFF OUR STREETS! AN ANTI-FASCIST GROUP HOLDING A COUNTER-PROTEST NEARBY. POLICE WERE SO AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TENSIONS ERUPTING TODAY THAT THE EDL ARE BEING KEPT ON THIS SIDE, WHILE ON THE OTHER SIDE, BEHIND A ROW OF POLICE AND POLICE VANS ARE THE OTHER PROTESTERS. BUT EVEN THEIR BEST EFFORTS COULDN'T PREVENT BOTTLES AND STICKS BEING THROWN. POLICE DONNING HELMETS TO PUSH THE GROUPS FURTHER APART. 13 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED. IT'S UNDOUBTABLE THAT THEIR PROPAGANDA HAS AIDED THE INCREASE IN ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS SINCE THE WOOLWICH ATTACK. THE LATEST ATTACK ` PETROL BOMBS THROWN AT GRIMSBY MOSQUE, WHILE WAR MEMORIALS IN LONDON WERE SPRAYED WITH GRAFFITI. WE BECAME REALLY WORRIED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, OUR PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THE MOSQUE, BECAUSE OF SOME PEOPLE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND ISLAM. BUT MOST PEOPLE HAVE REACTED TO DRUMMER RIGBY'S MURDER IN SORROW, NOT ANGER. THESE BIKERS MAKING A NOISY TRIBUTE TO THE YOUNG SOLDIER. A COMMUNITY STILL GRIEVING FOR A LIFE CUT SHORT. ALEXI O'BRIEN, ONE NEWS, LONDON. AID ORGANISATIONS FEAR THERE'LL BE AN INCREASE IN BLOODSHED IN SYRIA AFTER THE EUROPEAN UNION DECIDED TO END AN ARMS EMBARGO. IT MEANS THAT FROM AUGUST, BRITAIN AND FRANCE CAN SUPPLY WEAPONS TO REBELS FIGHTING PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD. BRITAIN SAYS IT HOPES THE MOVE WILL FORCE THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT INTO NEGOTIATIONS TO END THE TWO-YEAR CONFLICT. AND IT'S GETTING DEADLIER IN IRAQ, WITH MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE KILLED IN A DOZEN BOMBINGS IN BAGHDAD. THE WORST WERE TWO EXPLOSIONS SEVERAL HUNDRED METRES APART IN A SHIITE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WHERE AT LEAST 13 DIED. THERE'S BEEN INCREASING TENSION BETWEEN SHIITE AND SUNNI MUSLIMS IN IRAQ. THERE'S BEEN A SCARY SIGHT FOR RESIDENTS OF A NINE-STOREY APARTMENT BUILDING IN RUSSIA. CRASH! WITNESSES SAY THE CONSTRUCTION CRANE COLLAPSED DURING STRONG WINDS. ABOUT 250 PEOPLE LIVE IN THE BUILDING, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. SEVEN CARS WERE CRUSHED AND BALCONIES DAMAGED. TIME TO UPDATE OUR WEATHER NOW. STILL SNOWING UP ON THE PLATEAU? RIGHT ACROSS! SNOWING NOW AT TAIHAPE AND TOP OF THE NAPIER-TAUPO HIGHWAY. TREACHEROUS DRIVING THERE OVERNIGHT. TAUMARUNUI WILL HAVE SNOW. DESERT ROAD'S CLOSED. PICTURE HERE FROM MAC GARDNER. SNOWING ACROSS THE INLAND NORTH! WARNING! FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THREE DAYS AGO I WENT TO CORONET PEAK IN QUEENSTOWN FOR A LOOK. TODAY IT LOOKED LIKE THIS AFTER 30CM OF NEW SNOW, 40CM UP TOP. BACK WITH WARNINGS AFTER SPORT AS HAIL PATROLS THE EAST COAST AND SNOW BLANKETS THE INLAND NORTH. COMING UP ON ONE NEWS, A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE ON A PART OF EVEREST NAMED AFTER SIR EDMUND HILLARY. MINDING THEIR LANGUAGE. THE LESSONS FROM MAORI FOR A GROUP OF WELSH LANGUAGE TEACHERS. AND THE GREENGROCER WHO KEPT BATTLING CAPTAIN MAINWARING ` A DAD'S ARMY FAVOURITE DIES. . PROMINENT EDUCATORS AND ACADEMICS ARE AMONG A GROUP PLEADING WITH MPS NOT TO INTRODUCE CHARTER SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOLS WILL BE RUN BY PRIVATE GROUPS AND CAN BE STAFFED BY UNQUALIFIED TEACHERS. CRITICS SAY THEY'RE A POLITICALLY DRIVEN FAD THAT'LL PUT MAORI AND PASIFIKA STUDENTS AT RISK. WILL HINE REPORTS. IT'S HEADS DOWN, TAILS UP AT THE BILINGUAL KIA AROHA COLLEGE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. WE NEED TO ADDRESS CHILD POVERTY. ITS PRINCIPAL HAILS THE SPECIAL CHARACTER SCHOOL AS A SUCCESS AND SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTRODUCE MORE OF THEM, INSTEAD OF BACKING THE NEW CHARTER PARTNERSHIP MODEL. LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ` THE PARTNERSHIP'S NOT WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES; THE PARTNERSHIP IS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE SPONSORS. IT'S A CALL ECHOED IN THIS OPEN LETTER FROM A GROUP OF TEACHERS AND ACADEMICS TO POLITICIANS. THE LETTER SAYS CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE A SERIOUS WRONG TURN FOR EDUCATION THAT WILL EXPLOIT THE VULNERABLE. IT ASKS MPS NOT TO EXPERIMENT WITH CHILDREN. BUT THE MAN PUSHING CHARTER SCHOOLS SAYS IT'S TIME TO TRY NEW THINGS. THESE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THAT LETTER ARE SIGNING UP TO A CONTINUANCE OF INSTITUTIONALISED EDUCATION FAILURE FOR MAORI AND PACIFIC IN THIS COUNTRY. AND WE'RE NOT INTO THAT. I DON'T THINK MANY MAORI AND PACIFIC PEOPLE LOOK TO JOHN BANKS FOR THEIR ANSWERS. THEY LOOK TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND TO THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP AND PARTICULARLY TO THEIR OWN EDUCATORS. AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MAORI PARTY, CRUCIAL TO PUSHING THE CHARTER SCHOOLS BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT, LOOKS SET TO STAY. WE'RE SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE WE'VE CONSIDERED IT AND WE'VE HAD SUBMISSIONS FROM MAORIS IN EDUCATION. WE'VE LISTENED TO THEM, AND WE'VE AGREED WE SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY. THE FINAL HURDLE IS EXPECTED TO BE LATER THIS WEEK WHEN THE BILL GETS ITS FINAL READING. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. A GROUP OF WELSH LANGUAGE TEACHERS ARE HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAORI. THEY'RE PART OF A DRIVE TO REVIVE THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. PAUL HOBBS EXPLAINS. (CHANTS 'KAPA O PANGO') WALES HAVEN'T BEATEN THE ALL BLACKS IN 60 YEARS. THE HAKA, NO DOUBT, FACED WITH A SENSE OF DREAD. BUT IN A WEST AUCKLAND CLASSROOM, WELSH EMOTIONS ARE MORE UPBEAT. IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE. THESE FIVE WELSH TEACHERS ARE IN NZ FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE HOW THE MAORI LANGUAGE IS TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS. IT'S BASICALLY TO SHARE GOOD PRACTICE AND TO LOOK AT TECHNIQUES OF TEACHING A LANGUAGE AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. WHILE LEARNING WELSH IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WALES, IN NZ, MAORI IS ONLY A MUST AT PRIMARY SCHOOL. KIA TIAIA A AHAU. BUT HERE AT MASSEY HIGH SCHOOL, ONE IN FIVE MAORI STUDENTS LEARNS THE CORE SUBJECTS LIKE ENGLISH AND SCIENCE IN MAORI. THE TEACHER WAS SPEAKING NO ENGLISH, JUST MAORI. SO THAT'S VERY SIMILAR WITH US. AND DESPITE HOW IT LOOKS, WELSH IS A LOT LIKE MAORI. THEY'RE BOTH PHONETIC ` YOU SAY IT LIKE IT'S SPELT. THEY LIKE THE 'CHHHHHH', THE 'CHURRRRR' AND THE 'INNGGG' SOUNDS. YOU KNOW WELSH HAS BECOME MORE COOL THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW, THAN WHEN I FIRST STARTED TEACHING. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IWI ARE? THIS WELSH FACT-FINDING MISSION FOLLOWS A SIMILAR VISIT BY MAORI TEACHERS TO WALES LAST YEAR. BOTH THE WELSH AND THE MAORI LANGUAGES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE BOTH LANGUAGES SURVIVE. (SPEAKS WELSH) 'A COUNTRY WITHOUT ITS OWN LANGUAGE IS A COUNTRY WITHOUT A HEART.' PAUL HOBBS ONE NEWS CLIMBERS TAKING ON EVEREST COULD GET HELP ON THE MOST CHALLENGING PART, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER SIR EDMUND HILLARY. THE HILLARY STEP'S THE FINAL OBSTACLE ON THE WORLD'S TALLEST MOUNTAIN. NOW A BRITISH NEWSPAPER SAYS THERE'S A PLAN TO PUT A LADDER ON IT. SOME SAY IT'S NEEDED TO EASE CONGESTIONS AS CLIMBERS COME DOWN FROM THE TOP. OTHERS DISAGREE. TO SEE A LADDER PERMANENTLY FIXED TO THE HILLARY STEP WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT SACRILEGIOUS, IN MY VIEW. 520 PEOPLE HAVE REACHED THE PEAK OF EVEREST THIS YEAR. TOMORROW WE LOOK AT CRITICISM OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CLIMBING EVEREST ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIR EDMUND'S ASCENT. THERE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR PATIENTS LEFT SERIOUSLY DISABLED BY A STROKE. FRANK MARSH (80) IS ONE OF NINE TAKING PART IN A STEM CELL TRIAL AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY IN SCOTLAND. HE SAYS HIS LEFT HAND'S IMPROVED TO THE EXTENT HE CAN NOW GRIP THINGS LIKE HAND RAILS. IT'S THE FIRST STAGE OF THE TRIAL, IN WHICH STEM CELLS ARE INJECTED INTO THE PATIENTS' DAMAGED BRAINS. SCIENTISTS SAY NONE OF THE PATIENTS EXPERIENCED ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS. A FACE FAMILIAR TO DAD'S ARMY FANS HAS DIED, AGED 86. IN THE WARTIME COMEDY, BILL PERTWEE PLAYED GREENGROCER AND AIR RAID WARDEN, HODGES. HIS CHARACTER CONSTANTLY CLASHED WITH CAPTAIN MAINWARING. ARE YOU ASKING THE ARMY TO RETREAT? WHY NOT? YOU'VE HAD PLENTY OF PRACTICE LATELY. THE FIRST CHOICE TO PLAY CAPTAIN MAINWARING WAS PERTWEE'S COUSIN, JON. THE PAIR ACTED TOGETHER IN WORZEL GUMMIDGE. JUST THREE MEMBERS OF THE CORE CAST OF DAD'S ARMY ARE STILL ALIVE, INCLUDING FRANK WILLIAMS ON THE RIGHT, WHO PLAYED THE VICAR. UPDATING THE STORY DOMINATING TONIGHT'S NEWS... ONE OF THE MAIN ROADS OUT OF WELLINGTON HAS BEEN CLOSED AGAIN IN THE PAST HALF-HOUR. THE RIMUTAKA HILL'S BEEN SHUT TO TRAFFIC AS THE FIRST BIG CHILL OF THE YEAR GRIPS THE COUNTRY. SNOW'S BEEN FALLING STEADILY IN THE FAR SOUTH, CLOSING ROADS, SCHOOLS AND AIRPORTS. THERE'S MORE SNOW, HAIL AND HIGH WINDS EXPECTED AS THE COLD SNAP MOVES NORTH. MOTORISTS IN THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND ARE ALSO NAVIGATING PERILOUS CONDITIONS AS THE SNOW AND ICE SETTLES. STATE HIGHWAY 1 BETWEEN TAIHAPE AND RANGIPO IS NOW CLOSED. AND THERE'S SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS ACROSS THE REGION. RENEE GRAHAM HAS THE STORY. A CAR DITCHED, A TRUCK UPENDED ` EVEN AT BEST, IT'S A DICEY DRIVE FOR CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND MOTORISTS A BIG TRUCK HAS BECMOE STUCK WE HAAVE JUST CLEARED IT EVEN AT BEST, IT'S A DICEY DRIVE FOR CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND MOTORISTS ON THE DESERT ROAD. HEAVY SNOW AND ICE ARE MAKING VISIBILITY AND DRIVING CONDITIONS TREACHEROUS. NOT NICE. (LAUGHS) PRETTY ROUGH, AND A BIT SLIPPERY. FIRST SNOW FALL. IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THAT'VE NEVER SEEN SNOW, TAKING VIDEOS. FORECASTERS ARE WARNING MORE SNOW IS ON ITS WAY FOR THE CENTRAL AND LOWER NORTH ISLAND. THE HEAVIEST FALLS ARE EXPECTED NEAR TAIHAPE, WITH UP TO 35CM FOR SOME AREAS. SAFETY MESSAGE. DRIVE CAREFULLY, REASSESS YOUR NEED TO DRIVE. A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH IS IN PLACE FOR WANGANUI, TAUMARUNUI, TAUPO AND THE WAIRARAPA. THIS IS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT SNOW AHEAD OF THE SKI SEASON. TOURISTS WHO'VE NEVER SEEN POWDER LIKE THIS BEFORE ARE THRILLED. IT'S NORMALLY COLD IN MELBOURNE BUT IT'S NEVER SNOWED WHAKAPAPA AND TUROA SKI FIELDS GOT A 10CM BASE, BUT THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE AN EARLY OPENING. WE'RE SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON 29TH OF JUNE FORECASTERS SAY SNOW FLURRIES SHOULD CLEAR ACROSS THE REGION BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. SARAH BATLEY, ONE NEWS. EARLIER BREAKING NEWS THE BOY HAS BEEN FOUND SAFE AND WELL ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND CONRAD SMITH REVEALS HIS FUTURE PLANS. MORE FROM THE ALL BLACKS CAMP NEXT. AS THEIR OLD BOSS IS FORCED TO SAY SORRY, THE BLUES BRING IN THE HARD MEN. BUT WHO'S FALLEN OVER IN TRAINING? PLUS ` THE FORECAST IS FOR RAIN IN LEEDS. CAN JIM HICKEY AND YORKSHIRE'S SUMMER SAVE THE BLACKCAPS? AND WE HAVE A WORLD FIRST FOR SOME YOUNG KIWI ADVENTURERS. FIRST UP TONIGHT, TO ALL BLACKS RUGBY, AND ONE OF THE TEAM'S BACKLINE GENERALS HAS CONFIRMED HE'S TAKING AN EXTENDED BREAK FROM THE GAME. CENTRE CONRAD SMITH WILL START HIS LEAVE IN OCTOBER. ABBY SCOTT HAS BEEN AT THE TEST CAMP IN MT MAUNGANUI. BATTERED, BRUISED AND BADLY IN NEED OF A BREAK, AND THE INTERNATIONAL SEASON HASN'T EVEN STARTED... I COULD GO ONE OR TWO YEARS AND MAYBE THAT WOULD BE IT, BUT IF I HAD LONGER BREAKS, AND I THINK MOST GUYS WOULD SAY THE SAME, THEN YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF PLAYING MAYBE THREE MORE YEARS. THAT WOULD MEAN ANOTHER WORLD CUP FOR THE 66-TEST CENTRE. SO CONRAD SMITH'S DECIDED HE'LL TAKE A FIVE-MONTH BREAK AFTER THIS YEAR'S RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP. I'D RATHER HE WENT ON A SABBATICAL THAN RETIRED, SO STILL A LOT OF RUGBY LEFT IN HIM. BUT IT'S JUST AN INDICATOR THAT PLAYERS NEED TO STEP OUT AND GET THAT DECENT BREAK, GET THEIR BODIES RIGHT. SMITH SAYS THAT'S PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING 10 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. YOU JUST PLAY THAT LONG AND IT'S THAT BUSY A SCHEDULE THAT YOU CAN'T DO MUCH ELSE. HE MANAGED TO ESCAPE TO AFRICA TWO SUMMERS AGO, EVEN IF HE COULDN'T QUITE ESCAPE RUGBY, AND HE PLANS TO DO MORE TRAVEL DURING THIS BREAK. HE'LL MISS THE ALL BLACKS' END OF YEAR EUROPEAN TOUR, BUT WILL RETURN FOR SUPER RUGBY IN 2014. THE 31-YEAR-OLD'S THE LATEST SENIOR PLAYER TO TAKE AN NZRU ENDORSED SABBATICAL. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN GET A GLOBAL SEASON, I THINK WE PROBABLY WILL SEE SABBATICALS IN CONTRACTS. BUT IF IT MEANS MORE FAMILIAR FACES STICKING AROUND TILL THE 2015 WORLD CUP, YOU CAN BE SURE HANSEN WON'T BE COMPLAINING. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. SIR GRAHAM HENRY HAS ISSUED A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO SUPER RUGBY OFFICIALS. THE BLUES ASSISTANT COACH WAS FORCED TO MAKE A STATEMENT AS PART OF HIS PUNISHMENT FOLLOWING A HEARING INTO THOSE REFEREE COMMENTS HE MADE TO US LAST WEEK. THE BLUES ARE STILL CALLING FOR MORE OPEN DIALOGUE WITH OFFICIALS. 'I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.' SIR GRAHAM HENRY ALL SMILES TODAY FOR HIS TEAM AND VISITING SCHOOL KIDS, BUT HE WAS QUIET AFTER LAST WEEK'S BURST. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME. I DON'T KNOW. HE'S PROBABLY A BLIND TMO, IS HE? AND HE GOT YELLOW CARDED FOR DELIBERATELY KNOCKING THE BALL DOWN. IT'S BULLSHIT. THIS IS AN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, AND WE NEED PERSONALITIES, AND WE NEED COLOUR, AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES. EARLIER TODAY THE WORLD-CUP-WINNING COACH HAD TO ISSUE HIS APOLOGY. HE SAYS HE DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND MATCH OFFICIALS. HE WAS TRYING TO BE HUMOROUS, BUT SOME OF HIS COMMENTS DIDN'T ACHIEVE THAT. IN THE FUTURE, HE WILL WATCH WHAT HE SAYS. THE BLUES HEAD COACH SAYS THE PUNISHMENT WAS PROBABLY FAIR. I KEEP HARPING BACK TO WHAT THE NRL DO. I THINK THEY HAVE A VERY PUBLIC DEBATE AND THINGS ARE A LOT MORE OUT IN THE OPEN. I THOUGHT LAST WEEK WAS A POSITIVE, WITHOUT THE PERSONAL SIDE OF IT. KIRWIN REVEALED HIS PERSONAL SIDE IN THAT HALF-TIME SPEECH AIRED DURING THE LOSS TO THE BRUMBIES LAST SATURDAY. I'M A VERY EMOTIONAL PERSON. THAT'S WHAT I DO. I'M PRETTY PLEASED YOU DON'T HAVE SOUND, COS MY MUM WOULD BE PRETTY DISAPPOINTED IN ME. THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF HIM JUST BLOWING UP AT US. WE ACTUALLY DID DESERVE IT. AFTER TWO DEFEATS IN A ROW, A FIERY TRAINING RUN TODAY WATCHED BY ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ALL BLACKS ` LEAVING FLANKER LUKE BRAID INJURED WITH A GROIN STRAIN. ANOTHER LOSS AND THE BLUES REALISE THE PLAY-OFFS ARE GONE. THEY'RE HOPING THEY WON'T NEED TO MAKE A BIGGER APOLOGY. NZ IS SET TO PROVIDE THREE OF THE FOUR RUGBY COACHES FOR THE HOME NATIONS, WITH VERN COTTER CONFIRMED FOR THE SCOTLAND JOB. IRONICALLY, COTTER FOLLOWS HIS FORMER BAY OF PLENTY ASSISTANT COACH, JOE SCHMIT INTO AN INTERNATIONAL HEAD COACHING JOB ` HE'S WITH IRELAND. AFTER TWO SEASONS AS A CRUSADERS ASSISTANT COACH, THE 51-YEAR-OLD HAS ENJOYED HUGE SUCCESS WITH POWERHOUSE FRENCH CLUB, CLERMONT. VERN COTTER WILL STAY FOR A SEVETH SEASON BEFORE TAKING UP THE SCOTTISH ROLE IN JUNE NEXT YEAR. NETBALL NZ BOSS RAELENE CASTLE HAS A CHANCE OF BECOMING THE FIRST FEMALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN NRL LEAGUE AFTER BEING SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROLE AT THE BULLDOGS. AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE MIGHT BE CHASING ONE OF OUR OWN, BUT THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THEIR MITTS ON ANOTHER, WITH CANBERRA'S JUNIOR KIWI JOSH PAPALI'I IN LINE TO MAKE HIS STATE OF ORIGIN DEBUT NEXT WEEK AFTER BEING NAMED IN AN EXTENDED QUEENSLAND SQUAD. MEANWHILE, WARRIORS SIGNING JAYSON BAKUYA SCORED HIS NINTH TRY OF THE SEASON LAST NIGHT AS THE SHARKS BEAT THE TABLE-TOPPING RABBITOHS 14-12 IN CRONULLA. IT'S AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR STORY. THE BLACKCAPS ARE DESPERATE FOR RAIN SO THEY CAN SALVAGE A TEST CRICKET DRAW, THIS TIME IN THE SECOND MATCH AGAINST ENGLAND. NZ TRAILS BY 300 RUNS WITH JUST FOUR WICKETS IN HAND AFTER ANOTHER DOMINANT ENGLAND DISPLAY ON DAY FOUR IN LEEDS. KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. DON'T LET THE LEEDS SUN FOOL YOU. HEADING INTO DAY FOUR, ENGLAND WAS WELL AWARE OF GLOOMY WEATHER ON THE HORIZON. THE REAL QUESTION NOT IF BUT WHEN THEY WOULD DECLARE. IT WOULDN'T BE WHEN ALASTAIR COOK WAS BATTING LIKE THIS. JUST A PUSH, BUT WELL TIMED. THE 25-YEAR-OLD SKIPPER NOTCHING UP HIS 25TH TEST CENTURY ` TWO MORE THAN THE ENTIRE NZ TEAM COMBINED. THE BLACKCAPS WITHOUT THE INJURED TRENT BOULT STRUGGLING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH. IT FINALLY CAME AT THE HANDS OF KANE WILLIAMSON. SLIGHT MISCUE, AND A SIMPLE CHANCE. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, THOUGH THE WICKETS DID FALL MORE FREQUENTLY. HE'S NOT PLAYED THIS ONE VERY WELL. COOK EVENTUALLY CALLING FOR THE DECLARATION WITH A 467-RUN LEAD, LEAVING IT LATE ENOUGH TO RAISE QUESTIONS OVER HOW MUCH ENGLAND'S MINDS ARE ALREADY ON THE ASHES AND GIVING THE KIWIS HOPE THEY COULD HOLD OUT FOR A DRAW. STILL, THERE WAS A CERTAIN INEVITABILITY ABOUT THIS. FIRST WICKET OF THE INNINGS GOES. PETER FULTON OUT FOR 5, TO BRING HIS TOTAL RUNS THIS SERIES TO 36. ENTER GRAEME SWANN. LOOKS TO GO ACROSS, AND HE'S BEEN GIVEN! CATCH IT! ALL: YEAH! ROSS TAYLOR BATTLING ON, A SOLO ACT OF DEFIANCE EVENTUALLY REWARDED. THAT'S 50 FOR ROSS TAYLOR. HIS PROMISING 79-RUN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEAN BROWNLIE BROUGHT TO AN ABRUPT END BY STEVEN FINN, WHILE MARTIN GUPTILL WAS NEVER GOING TO PROSPER AGAINST SPIN. EDGED! GONE! TAYLOR, THOUGH, LOOKED SET AND COMFORTABLE. IT WOULD TAKE QUITE A DELIVERY TO DISMISS HIM. OH, BOWLED HIM! MERCIFULLY FOR NZ, BAD LIGHT CAME TO THE RESCUE. THEY'LL BE HOPING FOR EVEN WORSE WEATHER TONIGHT TO SAVE THE TEST. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. BATTING ON TILL AFTER LUNCH ON THE FOURTH DAY COULD ULTIMATELY COST ENGLAND VICTORY AS IT LEFT THEM HALF AN HOUR LESS TO BOWL AT THE BLACKCAPS. RAIN IS FORECAST TONIGHT ON DAY FIVE. TO TENNIS, AND A HUGE UPSET WAS ON THE CARDS ` FOR A WHILE ` ON DAY TWO AT THE FRENCH OPEN. UNSEEDED GERMAN DANIEL BRANDS' FIRST-SET WIN AGAINST THIRD SEED RAFAEL NADAL PUT THE SEVEN-TIME CHAMPION ON THE ROPES. NADAL, WHOSE RECORD AT THE TOURNAMENT IS 53 WINS AND JUST ONE LOSS, SURVIVED A SECOND-SET TIE BREAKER, EVENTUALLY WINNING IN FOUR SETS. AND WHAT A WAY TO FINISH IT. NADAL IS THROUGH. IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM. I THINK HE PLAYED A FANTASTIC MATCH, AND HE PUT ME IN A VERY TRICKY SITUATION. SO VERY HAPPY TO BE THROUGH. IT'S FANTASTIC NEWS. ONE WHO ISN'T THROUGH IS FIFTH SEED TOMAS BERDYCH, GOING DOWN TO HOME FAVOURITE WILDCARD GAEL MONFILS IN A FOUR-HOUR FIVE-SET THRILLER. AT 39, VETERAN FOOTBALLER KEVIN PHILLIPS IS HEADING BACK TO THE BIG TIME AFTER HIS INJURY TIME PENALTY EARNED CRYSTAL PALACE PROMOTION INTO THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE. IT WAS A RUN FROM YOUNGSTER WILFRIED ZAHA WHICH DREW THE FOUL FROM WATFORD'S MARCO CASSETI, GIVING PHILLIPS THE MOST IMPORTANT KICK OF HIS CAREER, WHICH STARTED AT WATFORD 20 SEASONS AGO. TWO MONTHS SHORT OF HIS 40TH BIRTHDAY, PHILLIPS SCORES! AND CRYSTAL PALACE, ONE FOOT IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE. PALACE HOLDING ON IN A THRILLING FINISH, ENDING AN EIGHT-YEAR WAIT FOR THE EAGLES' RETURN TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE. TOMORROW MARKS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIR EDMUND HILLARY'S FIRST ASCENT OF MOUNT EVEREST. HIS SPIRIT IS STILL ALIVE IN OUR YOUNG ADVENTURERS. FOUR KAYAKERS HAVE JUST RETURNED HOME AFTER ACHIEVING THEIR OWN WORLD FIRST. HERE'S BLAIR NORTON. IT'S AN EXPEDITION THESE FOUR SOUTH ISLAND PADDLERS WILL NEVER FORGET. I'M PRETTY SURE I'LL TICK IT DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO PERSONALLY, AND MY TEAM MATES AS WELL. A $20,000 HILLARY GRANT FROM SPORT NEW ZEALAND HELPING THESE YOUNG KIWI ADVENTURES CONQUER THE GRAND CANYONS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEAS CHIMBU RIVER AT THEIR SECOND ATTEMPT. THE TRIP ITSELF FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. THERE WAS A RAFTING ATTEMPT IN THE '80S, AND THEY WERE CARRIED OUT BY LOCALS ` ALL THEIR GEAR AND WHAT NOT, AND OUR FAILED ATTEMPT TWO YEARS AGO, SO, NAH, IT WAS A WORLD FIRST. THE EXHIBITION HEADED INTO THE PAPUA NEW GUINIAN HIGHLANDS, WHERE THEY PUT THEIR BOATS IN NEAR DENLAGU MISSION. FROM THERE THREE LONG DAYS OF CHALLENGING CANYONS AND UNCHARTERED WHITE WATER. 40KM DOWN THE CHIMBU RIVER TO THE KUNDIAWA. IT'S A DANGEROUS SPORT. THIS WAS JORDY SEARLE ACTING AS A GUIDE FOR A RED BULL GROUP HERE LAST YEAR. THE PAPUA NEW GUINEAN RIVER JUST AS TOUGH. PART OF IT WERE AS CHALLENGING AS WE'VE EVER PADDLED. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS CLASS FIVE, AND THERE WAS SOME THAT WAS TOO HARD, AND WE HAD TO WALK AROUND TO KEEP THINGS SAFE. SAFETY ALWAYS ON THE MIND, WITH WARNINGS OF UNPREDICTABLE LOCALS. THEY WERE ECSTATIC AND JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE US. FOR A LOT OF THESE CHILDREN UP THERE IT'S PRETTY ISOLATED AND NONE OF THEM HAD SEEN WHITE PEOPLE BEFORE. BUT THEY MAY SEE THESE GUYS AGAIN. ALREADY THERE'S TALK OF HEADING BACK TO TAKE ON MORE UNTAMED RIVERS. BLAIR NORTON, ONE NEWS. THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS HAVE BOOKED A PLACE IN NBA BASKETBALL'S FINALS SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS. AFTER SWEEPING THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS, BEATING THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 93-86. TONY PARKER LED THE WAY WITH A SEASON HIGH 37 POINTS, AS THE SPURS WHITEWASHED THE GRIZZLIES FOUR GAMES TO ZIP. THE SPURS ARE GOING BACK TO THE NBA FINALS. FIRST TIME SINCE 2007. THE SPURS WILL FACE EITHER THE MIAMI HEAT OR INDIANA PACERS IN THE FINALS. THE OTHER GENDER WAS ALSO IN ACTION TODAY WITH PHOENIX MERCURY DEBUTANT BRITTNEY GRINER BECOMING THE FIRST FEMALE TO DUNK TWICE IN A GAME, HER TWIN THROWDOWNS TWO OF JUST SEVEN DUNKS IN WNBA HISTORY. WOULDN'T LOOK OUT OF PLACE IN NBA HI AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS COLD SNAP. SNOW'S BLANKETING HUGE CHUNKS OF THE INLAND NORTH AS HAIL AND THUNDER CONTINUE TO HIT THE EASTERN COASTS. HERE'S A PICTURE OF HERMAN, TAKEN BY HAYLEY JONES. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ IN ARROWTOWN TODAY, THE SOUTHERN SNIPER OPENED THE FRIDGE. THE ROADS STAY DICEY. CHECK ROAD REPORTS AND LOCAL SCHOOLS FIRST THING TOMORROW. MANY OF YOU WILL AWAKE TO A WINTER WONDERLAND. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS THIS TUESDAY.