GOOD EVENING. SOME FRONTAL RAIN FOR WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TODAY. LITTLE MORE SETTLED OVER THE NORTH ISLAND UNDER A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE. WESTERLIES HAVE BEEN SLOWLY PICKING UP OVER THE COUNTRY AND WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN TOMORROW. THERE'S ALSO SOME HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY FOR SOME PARTS. I'LL HAVE YOUR LONG WEEKEND FORECAST FOR YOU SHORTLY. 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. DOING THE FOUNDATION WORK ` THE PLAN TO BUILD A HOUSE A DAY IN QUAKE-HIT CHRISTCHURCH. WILL IT BE ENOUGH? THE DEAL TO MAKE YOUR HOME ALL WARM AND COMFY ` WHY YOU COULD MISS OUT ON MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT. PETER DUNNE'S BEEN FACING THE HEAT IN PARLIAMENT, BUT WILL HIS PARTY EVEN EXIST AT THE NEXT ELECTION? AND IF YOU'VE MET HERDS OF COWS ON THE ROAD TODAY, WE'LL EXPLAIN WHY SO MANY ARE ON THE MOVE. A BUILDING BOOM'S BEEN PROMISED FOR QUAKE-HIT CHRISTCHURCH. THE GOVERNMENT'S VOWED A NEW STATE HOME WILL GO UP EVERY WORKING DAY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. LORELEI MASON WITH THE DETAILS. A CHILLY EARLY MORNING PHOTO OP AT 18 WILDING STREET, ST MARTINS ` THE POSTER SITE TO LAUNCH THE GOVERNMENT'S AMBITIOUS NEW RESPONSE TO CHRISTCHURCH'S HOUSING WOES. A SEVERELY DAMAGED 1940'S STATE HOUSE USED TO STAND HERE, SOON TO BE REPLACED BY THREE TWO-BEDROOMED HOUSING NZ UNITS ` THE FIRST OF 700 NEW HOMES IN 17 CITY SUBURBS. THAT MAKES IT THE GREATEST GOVERNMENT HOUSE BUILDING PROGRAMME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY. IT'S PHASE THREE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW BUILDS PROGRAMME AFTER 95% OF THE CORPORATIONS HOUSING STOCK WAS QUAKE-DAMAGED. THE FIRST TWO PHASES SAW EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO 32,000 PROPERTIES. NOW, THANKS TO HOUSING NZ'S RECENT $320 MILLION INSURANCE SETTLEMENT, WORK CAN BEGIN TO REPLACE HOUSING STOCK CONSIDERED TOO DAMAGED TO BE ECONOMICALLY REPAIRED. HOUSING NZ SAYS THIS NEW PROGRAMME WONT JUST BE ABOUT REPLACING OLD STATE HOUSES WITH NEWER REPLICAS; SITES LIKE THIS WILL ACCOMMODATE NOT JUST ONE DWELLING BUT SEVERAL UNITS, MAKING BETTER USE OF THE LAND. AND IN WHAT IT'S CALLING A 'NEW MIXED HOUSING' MODEL, SOME WILL BE ON-SOLD TO OTHER SOCIAL HOUSING PROVIDERS, OTHERS STILL TO FIRST HOME BUYERS. WE'RE WANTING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT ALMOST GHETTO-LIKE, CONTINUOUS, BIG BLOCKS OF STATE HOUSING. WE'RE A LOT MORE INTO MIXED HOUSING ESTATES, BECAUSE ALL THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IS A BETTER MODEL OF SOCIAL HOUSING. COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE CAUTIOUSLY WELCOMING THE ANNOUNCEMENT. SOCIAL HOUSING'S FANTASTIC. BUT MAN, WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS IN THIS CITY WHO OWN THEIR OWN HOMES WHO ARE NOT GETTING SORTED. ALL IN ALL, I THINK THINGS ARE MOVING AS MUCH` AS SPEEDILY AS WE COULD POSSIBLY GET. CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED FOR 49 HOUSES ALREADY, WITH THE FIRST TENANTS DUE TO MOVE IN BY SEPTEMBER. LORELEI MASON, ONE NEWS. BUT VOTERS STILL DON'T BELIEVE ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO MAKE HOMES MORE AFFORDABLE, ACCORDING TO A ONE NEWS COLMAR BRUNTON POLL. PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO PUSH DOWN PRICES IS TO SPEED UP BUILDING CONSENTS FOR ALMOST 40,000 NEW HOUSES. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN HAS THE NUMBERS. THE GOVERNMENT IS TALKING TOUGH ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. THE SORT OF HOUSE PRICE RANGE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GET IS THE 400 TO 500 RANGE, IS THE AFFORDABLE. BUT KIWIS AREN'T BUYING IT. IN OUR LATEST ONE NEWS COLMAR BRUNTON POLL, WE ASKED VOTERS IF THEY THINK GOVERNMENT IS DOING ENOUGH TO KEEP HOUSING AFFORDABLE. 62% OF PEOPLE SAID NO. LESS THAN A THIRD SAID YES. THE REST WERE UNSURE. HAVE YOU BEEN CAUGHT ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL? > OH, IM NOT SURPRISED AT YOUR POLL. THE GOVERNMENTS ONLY JUST ANNOUNCED IN THE BUDGET TWO MAJOR BILLS FOR REFORM OF HOUSING. THE GOVERNMENT'S IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING A NEW LAW THAT WILL FAST-TRACK THE CONSENTING PROCESS FOR 39,000 NEW HOMES IN AUCKLAND OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AUCKLAND IS WHERE PROPERTY PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY 12% OVER THE PAST YEAR TO AN AVERAGE OF $665,000. BUT THE POLL SHOWS JUST OVER HALF OF NATIONAL'S OWN SUPPORTERS AREN'T CONVINCED ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO KEEP HOUSING AFFORDABLE. IF ELECTED, LABOUR WILL INTRODUCE A CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND SPEND $1.5B DOLLARS BUILDING 100,000 NEW HOMES OVER 10 YEARS ` SOME, IT SAYS, FOR LESS THAN $300,000. BUT THE PARTY'S SEEN NO BOOST IN THE POLLS AS A RESULT. IS 500,000 AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE FOR MOST NZERS? NO, ITS NOT. IT MIGHT BE AFFORDABLE FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY, BUT FOR MOST ORDINARY KIWIS, A $500,000 HOUSE IS WAY OUT OF RANGE. THIS POLL SHOWING THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE HOUSING ISSUE YET. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. TIME'S RUNNING OUT IF YOU WANT MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP MAKE YOUR HOME WARM AND COSY IN WINTER. THE DEADLINE'S FAST APPROACHING TO RECEIVE A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY, AND EXPERTS SAY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSES STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INSULATION. DANIEL FAITAUA REPORTS. AS THE COLD SNAP SETS IN, THIS AUCKLAND HOMEOWNER IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A WARMER WINTER. A BIT DRAFTY, THESE OLD HOUSES, ANYWAY, YOU KNOW. AND WITH THE SCHEME, THOUGHT, 'RIGHT, MIGHT AS WELL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.' HE'S BENEFITED FROM GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES FOR INSULATION UNDER THE WARM UP NZ HEAT SMART SCHEME. BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WILL MISS OUT ON THOSE SUBSIDIES FROM SEPTEMBER, WHEN ELIGIBILITY WILL BE MEANS TESTED. THE NEW PROGRAMME, HEALTHY HOMES, IS ABOUT TARGETING THOSE MOST AT NEED, THOSE ON LOW INCOMES AND THOSE WITH A COMMUNITY SERVICES CARDS. UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM, A SUBSIDY OF UP TO $1300 IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE LIVING IN A HOME BUILT IN 2000 OR EARLIER. BY THE TIME THE SCHEME ENDS IN SEPTEMBER, 230,000 HOMES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE BEEN INSULATED. BUT THE NEW SCHEME FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE CARD HOLDERS WILL SEE JUST 46,000 HOMES SUBSIDISED OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD. WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MANY MONTHS WITH GOVERNMENT TO BOTH KEEP THE SCHEME AND TO MAKE SURE IT'S EFFECTIVE. $350M WAS PUMPED INTO THE CURRENT SCHEME. THAT IS BEING SCALED BACK TO JUST $100M. THE INDUSTRY SAYS THAT WILL SEE 1500 JOBS GONE. UNTIL THE EXISTING SCHEME STARTS TO RUN DOWN, WHICH IS THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR, THERE WILL BE JOB LOSSES, MAINLY IN THE INSTALLERS. IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MANY. I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME JOB CUTS. ITS ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY 750,000 HOMES STILL NEED INSULATION. THE MINISTER SAYS THERE'S STILL ENOUGH FUNDING IN THE EXISTING SCHEME TO SUBSIDISE ANOTHER 15,000 HOMES BEFORE IT COMES TO AN END IN ANOTHER THREE MONTHS. SO IF YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT INSULATING YOUR HOME, HIS MESSAGE IS CLEAR AND SIMPLE ` 'GET IN QUICK'. SOMETHING ROY LENEY SAY'S HE'S PLEASED TO HAVE DONE. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. A POLITICIAN UNDER PRESSURE IS NOW FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN PARTY'S SURVIVAL. PETER DUNNE'S UNITED FUTURE HAS BEEN DEREGISTERED. WITH WHAT THIS MEANS AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION, LET'S GO TO POLITICAL EDITOR, CORIN DANN. UNITED FUTURE ONCE HAD EIGHT MPS IN PARLIAMENT IN 2002. IN RECENT YEARS IT'S JUST BEEN DUNNE IN OHARIU-BELMONT. AS IT CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S MUSTERED THE REQUIRED 500 PAID PARTY MEMBERS. IT'S NOW BEEN DEREGISTERED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION, THEY SAY THEY WILL WORK HARD TO GET THOSE NUMBERS BACK UP. THE PARTY'S PRACTICALLY A GONER. WHAT ABOUT PETER DUNNE? THIS LOOKS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF THE END, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT PETER DUNNE. IF HE CAN'T GET THOSE 500 SUPPORTERS, WHAT IS HIS FUTURE? I SUSPECT PETER DUNNE'S FUTURE MAY HINGE ON WHETHER NATIONAL PUTS UP A STRONG CANDIDATE. IF THEY DO, DUNNE MAY PACK IT IN. POLITICAL EDITOR, CORIN DANN. WE'RE NOW JUST OVER TWO HOURS INTO THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY PERIOD ON OUR ROADS. KEEPING AN EYE ON THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND TRAFFIC IS PAUL HOBBS, WHO JOINS US NOW. PAUL, HOW'S IT LOOKING? THERE'S BEEN FOUR CRASHES ON THE MOTORWAY IN THE PAST HALF HOUR. WITH BAD WEATHER FORECAST FOR MANY PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE POLICE ARE SAYING TAKE IT EASY ON OUR ROADS. THEY'VE LOWERED THE SPEED LIMIT TOLERANCE TO JUST 4KM/H OVER THE LIMIT. WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS. RURAL DRINK DRIVING IS A MAJOR PROBLEM TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. IF YOU'RE DRINKING ALCOHOL, PLEASE DON'T DRIVE. THE DRIVER IN A CHRISTMAS DAY CRASH THAT KILLED HIS TWO COUSINS HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 7� YEARS' JAIL. HETERAKA REIHANA WILL SERVE A MINIMUM NON-PAROLE PERIOD OF 3� YEARS FOR MANSLAUGHTER. REIHANA ADMITTED RACING AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 140KM/H BEFORE LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR NEAR TAURANGA. THE MOTHER OF TEENAGE SISTERS BROOKLYN AND MEREPEKA MOREHU-CLARK WAS CLEARED OF MANSLAUGHTER. POLICE SAY THEY'RE INVESTIGATING SEVERAL NEW LEADS IN THE CASE OF MISSING WELLINGTON WOMAN KAYE STEWART. THE FORMER ALL BLACKS PHYSIO DISAPPEARED EIGHT YEARS AGO WHILE WALKING IN THE RIMUTAKA FOREST PARK. HER FAMILY'S CONVINCED THE 62-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED, AND APPEALED FOR HELP ON ONE NEWS. SINCE THEN POLICE SAY A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE CALLED, BUT IT'S TOO EARLY TO CONFIRM IF THE INFORMATION'S SIGNIFICANT. THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER WIN FOR KIM DOTCOM'S LEGAL TEAM. POLICE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO RETURN DIGITAL FILES SEIZED DURING A RAID ON THE INTERNET MILLIONAIRE'S AUCKLAND MANSION. POLICE ARGUED AGAINST THE MOVE, SAYING IT'D BE EXPENSIVE TO SORT THROUGH THE VAST AMOUNT OF MATERIAL. BUT JUSTICE HELEN WINKELMAN RULED THE FILES NEED TO BE RETURNED. STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN BY POLICE TO TRY TO STOP MORE ANTI-MUSLIM PROTESTS TURNING NASTY. THEIR WARNING FOLLOWS THE COURT APPEARANCE OF ONE OF THE MEN ACCUSED OF HACKING TO DEATH A SOLDIER. ALEXI O'BRIEN WITH THE LATEST FROM LONDON. TIGHT SECURITY AS MURDER SUSPECT MICHAEL ADEBOWALE SPED INTO COURT IN CENTRAL LONDON. THE 22-YEAR-OLD SAT FOR MOST OF HIS BRIEF APPEARANCE HANDCUFFED, HIS RIGHT HAND BANDAGED, WITH PLAIN-CLOTHES POLICE ON EITHER SIDE. HE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY WALKING ` INJURIES SUSTAINED WHEN SHOT BY POLICE. DURING THE HEARING ADEBOWALE WAS TOLD HE'D BEEN CHARGED UNDER TERRORISM LAW WITH THE MURDER OF SOLDIER LEE RIGBY (25) AND OF POSSESSING A FIREARM. MICHAEL ADEBOLAJO, THE OTHER MAIN SUSPECT, IS STILL IN HOSPITAL YET TO BE QUESTIONED BY POLICE. WOOLWICH IS STILL A COMMUNITY IN DISBELIEF THAT A SOLDIER, ONE OF THEIR OWN, COULD BE A VICTIM TO SUCH VIOLENCE. OUTSIDE THE BARRACKS THE TRIBUTES CONTINUE TO MOUNT. SO TOO DOES THE ANGER. THE RIGHT-WING, ANTI-ISLAM ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE HAVE CLASHED WITH POLICE. MORE PROTESTS AND COUNTER PROTESTS WERE PLANNED FOR THE WEEKEND, INCLUDING A MARCH FROM THE WOOLWICH BARRACKS TO A MOSQUE NEARBY. NOW POLICE HAVE INSISTED ON A CHANGE IN VENUE. THE METROPOLITAN POLICE SAID THE RIGHT TO PROTEST IS STILL A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF DEMOCRACY, BUT THEY WANT TO WORK TO MINIMISE THE POSSIBILITY OF UGLY SCENES IN LONDON. AND THAT'S WHY THE PROTEST HAS GOT TO TAKE PLACE HERE, FAR FROM WOOLWICH, IN WHITEHALL. BUT ORGANISER NICK GRIFFIN'S PLANNING TO DEFY THE POLICE ORDER AND THREATS OF ARREST, TWEETING: WIDESPREAD CALLS FOR CALM FALLING ON DEAF EARS. ALEXI O'BRIEN, ONE NEWS, LONDON. COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LAID AGAINST CARTOONS AT THE CENTRE OF A RACISM ROW, BUT THE MAN WHO DREW THEM IS UNREPENTANT. AL NISBET'S BEEN ACCUSED OF POKING FUN AT POOR POLYNESIANS WITH HIS WORK IN TWO FAIRFAX NEWSPAPERS. CARTOONS ARE TO GET REACTION AND PROVOKE AND GET RESPONSE, YOU SEE, SO THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WITH A CARTOON. TWO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LAID WITH THE PRESS COUNCIL. RACE RELATIONS COMMISSIONER DAME SUSAN DEVOY ALSO PLANS TO TALK TO FAIRFAX MANAGEMENT. SHE SAYS THE CARTOONS DON'T MEET THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF 'RACIST'. HUNDREDS OF COWS HAVE BEEN ON THE MOVE AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT'S A TRADITION KNOWN AS GYPSY DAY. SHAREMILKERS, WHO 'SHARE' THEIR COWS BUT USUALLY DON'T OWN A FARM, PACK UP THEIR HOMES AND HERD AND HEAD FOR NEW PASTURES. MIKE THORPE JOINED THE DROVE. GYPSY DAY - ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN THE AGRICULTURAL CALENDAR. THE DAY WHEN SHARE-MILKERS END ONE CONTRACT BEFORE STARTING A NEW ONE TOMORROW. THERE'S PEOPLE MOVING FROM AS FAR AS THE BAY OF PLENTY TO GORE, AND PEOPLE MOVING FROM GORE TO BAY OF PLENTY, SO TO MAKE THAT ALL HAPPEN, IT'S A BIG TASK. IN SHORT, THEY'RE CHANGING JOBS AND SHIFTING HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME. IN JEREMY DUCKMANTON'S CASE, THE MOVE INCLUDES 560 COWS, AND THEY'RE HOOFING IT 17KM. I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE A GYPSY. IT'S BEEN A CRAZY COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT IT'S GOOD ` A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT GETTING THOSE STOCK MOVED AND HOUSES MOVED AND STAFF MOVED. IT'S A GOOD SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT, AND NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO DO EVERY YEAR. SO JEREMY MOVES OUT AND ANOTHER FARMER MOVES IN. FOR A JOB OF THIS SIZE, WE NEED SOMEONE WITH A FAIRLY HIGH SKILL LEVEL. JEREMY IS ALSO MOVING UP ` TO A 50/50 ARRANGEMENT, MEANING HE OWNS EVERYTHING BUT THE LAND. HE OWES EVERYTHING TOO. DAIRY FARMING IS BIG BUSINESS. JUST THIS WEEK FONTERRA FORECASTED ANOTHER SHARP RISE IN RETURNS, BUT THOSE ON THE FARM WILL TELL YOU THAT GREATER RETURNS COME FROM GREATER INVESTMENT AND WITH THAT, INCREASED RISK. I'VE BOUGHT BASICALLY A THOUSAND COWS FOR THIS JOB, SO YOU'RE TALKING THE THICK END OF A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS PRETTY SCARY WHEN I SAY IT ALL IN ONE GO. BUT HE AND HIS PARTNER, STACEY, WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. THERE'S TIMES OF THE YEAR WHERE WE SAY GOODBYE AT DARK AND COME HOME AT DARK, BUT THERE'S TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN YOU'VE GOT A GOOD LIFESTYLE AS WELL. WITH AN OFFICE LIKE THIS, MOVING DAYS LIKE THESE ARE ALL THE MORE WORTHWHILE. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. STILL TO COME ON ONE NEWS ` IT'S HUSH HUSH ` A NZ NAVY SHIP SLIPS INTO AMERICAN WATERS. BLAST OFF ` RUSSIAN ROCKETS GETS SYRIA'S PRESIDENT ALL FIRED UP AS HE TAKES AIM AT ISRAEL. THE RISE OF THE MACHINES ` CONCERNS ROBOTS LIKE THESE COULD DEVELOP INTO KILLER AUTOMATONS LIKE THE TERMINATOR. AND IT SUNK 500 YEARS AGO ` NOW A NEW HOME FOR HENRY VIII'S FAVOURITE BATTLESHIP. THE 30-YEAR FIGHT TO GET NZ NAVY SHIPS BACK INTO US MILITARY PORTS IS OVER. BUT NO ONE FROM THE DEFENCE FORCE IS ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT. THIS AFTERNOON THE NAVY FRIGATE TE MANA ARRIVED AT THE AMERICAN BASE IN GUAM, IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN HAS MORE. THROUGH THE WATERS OF NZ'S THAWING MILITARY RELATIONSHIP WITH AMERICA TE MANA HAS SAILED THIS AFTERNOON, RIGHT INTO THE US NAVAL BASE IN GUAM. THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS OUR NAVY'S BEEN GRANTED ENTRY INTO SUCH A PORT. IT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THE SENSE THAT IT REQUIRED THE SIGN OFF OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, BECAUSE IT'S EFFECTIVELY A US NAVAL BASE. THE LONG-STANDING BAN HAS BEEN THE PRICE NZ'S PAID FOR BARRING NUCLEAR SHIPS FROM OUR WATERS IN 1984. BUT AN UNSEEMLY SNUB LAST YEAR THAT SAW TE KAHA AND ENDEAVOUR LOCKED OUT OF PEARL HARBOR IN HAWAII WHILE THE JAPANESE AND GERMANS WERE TOLD ALOHA, CALLED FOR ACTION. WE'VE REALLY PUT THE ISSUE OF THE NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE HERE IN NZ AS KIND OF THE ROCK ON THE ROAD TO ONE SIDE, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THINGS WE CAN DO TOGETHER. BUT THOSE WHO PUSHED FOR NZ TO BE NUCLEAR FREE SAY WE SHOULDN'T RUSH IN TO A RETURN TO AN ANZUS-LIKE ALLIANCE. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO SEE IS FOR TENSIONS TO BUILD UP IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC OVER SOME OF THESE DISPUTED ISLANDS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND SEE THE UNITED STATES GET EMBROILED IN A BATTLE WITH THE CHINESE NAVY AND EXPECT US TO COME IN ON THEIR SIDE. AND THE FIRST VISIT BY A NZ SHIP TO AN AMERICAN BASE IS ACTUALLY SO SENSITIVE THAT NO ONE FROM THE NAVY IS ABLE TO BE INTERVIEWED ABOUT IT, NOT EVEN THE HISTORIAN AT THE NAVAL MUSEUM. JOHN KEY AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER THE ONLY ONES ABLE TO COMMENT ON TE MANA'S ARRIVAL IN GUAM. THERE ARE NO PLANS YET FOR A NZ SHIP TO SET SAIL FOR MAINLAND AMERICA, BUT NAVAL OFFICERS WILL BE TAKING PART IN AN EXERCISE IN SAN DIEGO NEXT MONTH. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. THAT FIELD EXERCISE, OR WAR GAME, HAS BEEN DUBBED OPERATION DAWN BLITZ BY THE US MARINE CORPS. ONE NEWS US CORRESPONDENT JACK TAME WILL BE IN SAN DIEGO TO COVER IT ` PART OF A MEDIA TEAM THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THE NZ TROOPS ON THE FINAL FIELD EXERCISE. ANOTHER LETTER LACED WITH THE DEADLY POISON RICIN'S BEEN SENT TO US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. OFFICIALS SAY THE THREATENING LETTER THEY INTERCEPTED IS SIMILAR TO ONE SENT TO NEW YORK MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND HIS GUN CONTROL LOBBY GROUP. IT SAYS THAT 'ANYONE WHO COMES FOR MY GUNS WILL BE SHOT IN THE FACE'. SEVERAL LETTERS SENT TO PUBLIC FIGURES CONTAINING RICIN HAVE BEEN INTERCEPTED IN RECENT WEEKS. A MISSISSIPPI MAN WAS CHARGED LAST MONTH FOR SENDING POISONED LETTERS TO THREE PEOPLE INCLUDING MR OBAMA. SYRIA'S PRESIDENT, BASHAR AL ASSAD, HAS WARNED ISRAEL THAT IT'LL RESPOND TO ANY AIR ATTACKS ON ITS TERRITORIES. IN A RARE TV INTERVIEW, HE ALSO SUGGESTED SYRIA MAY'VE RECEIVED RUSSIAN MISSILES, WHICH ISRAEL SEES AS A REAL THREAT TO IS SECURITY. BBC'S BRIDGET KENDALL REPORTS. (SPEAKS ARABIC) PRESIDENT ASSAD IN A RECORDED INTERVIEW ON LEBANESE TV TONIGHT, CLAIMING THAT RUSSIA IS FULFILLING ITS MISSILE CONTRACT WITH SYRIA, THOUGH IT DOESN'T SEEM AS THOUGH RUSSIA'S CONTROVERSIAL AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM HAS YET ARRIVED. TRANSLATOR: WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE RUSSIANS ON MANY TYPES OF WEAPONS. PART OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAS BEEN FULFILLED. AND WE AND THE RUSSIANS ARE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THESE CONTRACTS. IT'S THESE SOPHISTICATED RUSSIAN S300 SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES THAT EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON. THEY WOULD LET SYRIA SHOOT DOWN INCOMING AIRCRAFT AND MISSILES, A POTENTIAL THREAT TO FUTURE ISRAELI AIR STRIKES OR ANY INTERNATIONAL NO-FLY ZONE. JUST AS THE OUTSIDE WORLD TRIES TO ORGANISE A PEACE CONFERENCE, THE STAKES IN THIS CONFLICT ARE GETTING HIGHER. IN RECENT BATTLES OVER THE STRATEGIC TOWN OF QUSAYR, SYRIAN REBELS, MANY OF THEM SUNNI, HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES OUTNUMBERED AND SURROUNDED NOT ONLY BY SYRIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS BUT BY HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS, THE SHIA MOVEMENT FROM ACROSS THE BORDER IN LEBANON WHICH HAS CLOSE TIES TO IRAN. THE REAL DANGER IS THAT IT BECOMES DEEPLY SECTARIAN BETWEEN SHIA AND SUNNI, AND THAT WILL AFFECT THE POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST FROM THE LEVANT, FROM LEBANON, RIGHT THROUGH TO THE GULF. IT'S PARTLY BECAUSE NEGOTIATIONS MAY BE IN THE OFFING THAT THE FIGHTING AND POSTURING OVER THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA IS GETTING MORE INTENSE. BUT AS MORE WEAPONS AND FOREIGN FIGHTERS PREPARE TO POUR INTO SYRIA, THE DANGER IS THAT ANY PEACE TALKS MAY BE UNDERMINED AND THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. LEADERS OF SYRIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION GROUP NOW SAY THEY WON'T TAKE PART IN THE US-RUSSIA-SPONSORED PEACE TALKS IN GENEVA NEXT MONTH. THE BATTLE AGAINST THE RISE OF KILLER ROBOTS THAT COULD END UP LIKE THE ONES IN THE TERMINATOR MOVIES HAS GONE ALL THE WAY TO THE UNITED NATIONS. WHILE MACHINES LIKE THESE CAN ONLY KILL UNDER MAN'S CONTROL, FAST-DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY COULD MEAN AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS COULD KILL WITHOUT HUMANS MAKING DECISIONS. THE UN SAYS WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS. WAR WITHOUT REFLECTION IS MECHANICAL SLAUGHTER. THOROUGH AND COOL-HEADED REFLECTION IS CALLED FOR IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY LIFE ITSELF BUT ALSO THE VALUE OF LIFE AND THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN BEINGS IS PROTECTED IN THE LONG RUN. THE UN'S CALLING FOR ALL COUNTRIES TO AGREE ON A FREEZE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SO-CALLED KILLER ROBOTS. CONCERNS WERE ALSO RAISED ABOUT HOW THESE MACHINES WOULD CHANGE THE NATURE OF WAR AND CREATE A NEW ARMS RACE. THE DEATH TOLL FROM AN INTENSE HEAT WAVE THAT'S SO FAR KILLED 500 PEOPLE IN INDIA IS EXPECTED TO RISE AS SWELTERING CONDITIONS CONTINUE. HOSPITALS ARE INUNDATED WITH EXHAUSTED AND DEHYDRATED PATIENTS. TEMPERATURES HAVE SOARED TO MORE THAN 45 DEGREES. MONSOON RAINS THAT NORMALLY HELP EASE THE EXTREME HEAT HAVEN'T YET ARRIVED. THE SCORCHING HEAT'S ALSO CAUSED MASSIVE POWER CUTS, AS NETWORKS FAIL TO COPE WITH HIGH ELECTRICITY DEMAND TO RUN AIR CONDITIONERS AND FANS. NEARLY 500 YEARS AFTER SHE SANK AND 30 YEARS SINCE SHE WAS RECOVERED FROM THE SEA, HENRY VIII'S FAVOURITE WARSHIP, THE MARY ROSE, HAS NEW LIFE. THE WRECK AND THOUSANDS OF TREASURES FOUND ON BOARD ARE HOUSED IN A NEW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MUSEUM. BBC'S ROBERT HALL WENT TO THE OPENING IN PORTSMOUTH. MAN: THERE IS THE WRECK OF THE MARY ROSE. IT HAS COME TO THE SURFACE. THE 11TH OF OCTOBER 1982 ` THE DAY THE MARY ROSE CAME HOME. A WONDERFUL MOMENT. YOU HEAR ALL THE... HENRY VIII HAD WATCHED HIS FLAGSHIP FOUNDER DURING A BATTLE WITH THE FRENCH. ONLY 25 OF HER 400-STRONG CREW SURVIVED. THIS MONTH, AFTER DECADES OF ROUND-THE-CLOCK TREATMENT, THE SPRAYS OF WATER AND PRESERVATIVE WERE TURNED OFF AND THE MARY ROSE WAS READY FOR A NEW CHAPTER IN HER STORY. IN THE DECADE SINCE THE MARY ROSE WAS RAISED FROM THE SEA BED, SHE'S REMAINED ALONGSIDE HMS VICTORY, SEALED IN A PLASTIC TENT AND SPRAYED WITH WATER AND PRESERVATIVE CHEMICALS. THE CHALLENGE FACING THE ARCHITECT WAS HOW TO BUILD THIS 21ST-CENTURY MUSEUM AROUND THE MARY ROSE WHILST MAINTAINING THAT ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTING THE ANCIENT DOCK WHICH HAS BECOME HER HOME. A HOME WHICH PLACES THE RECOVERED STARBOARD SIDE OF THE HULL ALONGSIDE A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PORT SIDE, PACKED WITH THE CANNON, CARGO AND POSSESSIONS WHICH OFFER A PERFECT SNAPSHOT OF TUDOR LIFE. I'M STAGGERED. NEVER HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL TUDOR THINGS EVER BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER BEFORE. AT SOUTHSEA CASTLE, OVERLOOKING THE WRECK SITE, ARCHERS SALUTED THE CREW MEMBERS WHO DREW THE GREAT LONGBOWS RECOVERED FROM THE SEA BED. ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY MEAN WE CAN NOW MEET ONE OF THOSE MEN FACE TO FACE. ONCE THIS WAS A DEAD SHIP, AN INCOMPLETE JIGSAW. BUT NO MORE. THE MARY ROSE HAS BEEN REBORN. ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL EXHIBITS IS THE SKELETON OF THE SHIP'S DOG THAT WAS FOUND WITH THE WRECKAGE. WEATHER TIME NOW, AND THERE'S SOME HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY FOR SOME PLACES THIS WEEKEND, KAREN? HEAVY RAIN LIKELY IN WESTLAND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. UP TO 200MM ABOUT THE RANGES SATURDAY INTO EARLY SUNDAY, THEN MORE RAIN ON SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. MAYBE 400MM TO 600MM ALL UP ABOUT THE RANGES; LESSER AMOUNTS NEARER THE COAST. WATCH IN PLACE FOR HEAVY RAIN FOR FIORDLAND, OTAGO AND CANTERBURY FROM TOMORROW NIGHT. ALSO A WATCH FOR SEVERE GALES IN OTAGO AND CANTERBURY. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ I'LL BE BACK WITH THE OUTLOOK FOR THE LONG WEEKEND AFTER SPORT. COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK ` PRISON RELEASE ` IT'S NOT QUITE JAILHOUSE ROCK, MORE CELLHOUSE CHOIR. THE INMATES SINGING FOR CHARITY. AND SINGER AARADHNA WAKES UP WITH A HANDFUL OF MUSIC AWARDS. # WAKE UP. # WAKE UP. # WAKE UP. # GET UP. # GET UP. # GET UP. A NZERS WORKING IN AUSTRALIA WILL BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR RETIREMENT SAVINGS HOME WITH THEM FROM JULY THIS YEAR. CANBERRA TODAY SIGNED OFF THE FINAL STAGE OF THE PROCESS, ALLOWING WORKERS TO MOVE THEIR SAVINGS BETWEEN AUSTRALIAN PROVIDERS AND KIWISAVER. CURRENTLY, THAT MONEY IS 'LOCKED IN' UNTIL THE WORKERS REACH RETIREMENT AGE. COMMUNITY GROUPS FEAR MORE ORGANISATIONS WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER THE GOVERNMENT CUT TEMPORARY FUNDING TO HELP THEM SURVIVE THE RECESSION. JUST THIS WEEK, A NAPIER AFTER-SCHOOL CARE CENTRE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN WAS FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF LACK OF MONEY. GEORGINA BALL HAS THE STORY. YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GETTING CARE AND ATTENTION AT THIS AFTER-SCHOOL CENTRE IN NAPIER. BUT THE FUNDING'S NOW RUN DRY, AND ITS DOORS ARE CLOSING FOR GOOD. HE DOESN'T COMPREHEND IT... YET. HE DOESN'T KNOW. SO THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE MY HARDEST THING TO DEAL WITH. THE TRUST THAT RUNS THE CENTRE SAYS NOW THAT IT'S LOST ITS COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND GRANT, IT SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THE RUNNING COSTS OF $192,000 A YEAR. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GO ON CHARITABLE FUNDING, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN OUR PROGRAMME. THE TRUST IS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS OF ORGANISATIONS THAT UNTIL RECENTLY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND GRANTS PUT IN PLACE IN 2009 TO HELP THEM SURVIVE THE RECESSION AND GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. DOES HE HAVE ANY PLANS TO INTERVENE FOR THESE ORGANISATIONS AND THE MORE THAN 290 OTHERS WHO WILL LOSE FUNDING AS A RESULT? BUT THE FINANCE MINISTER TOLD THE HOUSE COMMUNITY GROUPS ALWAYS KNEW THE FUNDING WAS A ONE-OFF AND INSISTS SOME ARE WASTING MONEY ON ADMINISTRATION AND FUNDRAISING. IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING INTENSIVELY WITH THE NGO SECTOR TO FOCUS MORE ON OUTCOMES AND USE THE MONEY WE HAVE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFULLY. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO SAYS IT'S SPENDING $40M MORE ON THE NGO SECTOR THAN AT THE TIME THE TEMPORARY GRANT WAS INTRODUCED. BUT THAT'S COLD COMFORT FOR THESE CHILDREN. GEORGINA BALL, ONE NEWS. A CHARITY WHICH HELPS TEENAGERS IS ALSO IN TROUBLE. WE'LL HAVE THAT STORY ON ONE NEWS AT 6 TOMORROW NIGHT. A NEW CD ARRIVED ON THE MARKET TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT BY ANY OF YOUR USUAL CHART-TOPPERS. INSTEAD, A GROUP OF PRISONERS HAVE HIT THE RECORDING STUDIO, AND THE RESULTS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. MATT MCLEAN EXPLAINS. d WE WERE INVITED ALONG TO 8 AN ALBUM RELEASE PARTY. BUT INSTEAD OF THE USUAL COCKTAIL DRESSES AND RED CARPETS, IT WAS GREY TRACKSUITS AND PRISON CELLS. THIS IS THE SPRINGHILL MEN'S CHOIR. CHOIR SINGS TRADITIONAL SONG THEY SOUND REALLY REALLY GOOD. I'M VERY PROUD. I'M LIKE A FATHER WHO'S WATCHED HIS SON JUST WIN A GOLD MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS. FOR THE MOST PART, THE 44 MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR ARE LOCKED UP BEHIND BARS FOR A RANGE OF OFFENSES. BUT FOR JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS A DAY, THEY COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP TO REHEARSE, AND THE FINAL RESULT HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. NOT THAT IT WAS ALWAYS THIS GREAT. IN THE BEGINNING... THEY WERE TERRIBLE AS A CHOIR. THEY WERE FLAT. AND TYPICAL PACIFIC ISLANDERS, � YOU HAD SOME WHO SANG AT A VERY VERY HIGH SCREECHY TONE AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T SING AT ALL. BUT FAST FORWARD A COUPLE OF YEARS... AND THESE INMATES SHOW REAL TALENT. THEY'VE ALL COME FROM THE PACIFIC FOCUS UNIT AT SPRINGHILL PRISON. I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEVER DID BEFORE. NO MATTER WHO WE ARE, IT'S GOOD TO WORK TOGETHER AND LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND PEACE WITH EVERYBODY. THE CHOIR LEADERS SAY A MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS PROJECT WAS SHOWING THE MEN THEY COULD ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS. I THINK IT'S AN ACHIEVEMENT. AND THIS ACHIEVEMENT DIDN'T COME WITHOUT HARD WORK AND EFFORT THAT'S BEEN PUT IN. THE CD GOES ON SALE NEXT WEEK, AND ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE CANCER SOCIETY. MATT MCLEAN, ONE NEWS. KIWI SONGSTRESS AARADHNA'S MADE MUSIC HISTORY WITH HER DOO-WOP- AND MOTOWN-INSPIRED ALBUM. THE SAMOAN-INDIAN ARTIST WON ALL FIVE CATEGORIES SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR AT THE PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS. AMONG THE 29-YEAR-OLD'S GONGS ARE BEST SONG FOR HER NUMBER-ONE HIT, WAKE UP. # WAKE UP. # WAKE UP. # WAKE UP. # GET UP. # GET UP. # GET UP. SHE ALSO TOOK OUT BEST ALBUM AND BEST VIDEO FOR 'LORENA BOBBITT'. # HAVE YOU HEARD OF THAT GIRL LORENA BOBBITT? # WELL, YOU'RE GONNA MEET HER. # WHOA # LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES ` KIWI TAX PAYERS WILL FORK OUT $170M FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO HELP EASE THE CHRISTCHURCH HOUSING SHORTAGE. THE 700 NEW HOMES WILL REPLACE GOVERNMENT HOUSING STOCK TOO QUAKE DAMAGED TO REPAIR. AND PETER DUNNE IS NOW AN INDEPENDENT MP AFTER THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION DEREGISTERED HIS PARTY. IT FOLLOWS A REQUEST FROM THE PARTY ITSELF BECAUSE IT CAN'T GET THE 500 MEMBERS IT NEEDS TO BE OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED AS A POLITICAL ENTITY. UNITED FUTURE'S CONFIDENT IT'LL SORT OUT THE PROBLEMS AND HAVE ITS REGISTRATION RESTORED. JENNY-MAY'S HERE WITH SPORT - HIGHLANDERS' ALL BLACKS SENT TO THE BENCH. WHILE THOSE TWO WILL RIDE THE PINE, ONE OF THEIR ALL BLACKS TEAMMATES HAS FLOWN THE COOP. AU REVOIR AS AN ALL BLACK WING PACKS HIS GEAR FOR FRANCE. TAKING THE PLUNGE ONCE AGAIN ` OUR RECORD-BREAKING ROWERS GET BACK IN THE BOAT. AND KING JAMES SAVES THE HEAT IN GAME FIVE OF THE NBA SEMI-FINALS. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. 14-TEST WINGER HOSEA GEAR IS THE LATEST PLAYER TO FLAG HIS ALL BLACK CAREER, JUST WEEKS AFTER HIGHLANDERS TEAMMATE TAMATI ELLISON OPTED TO MOVE OFFSHORE. GEAR (29) REJECTED JAPANESE OVERTURES LAST SEASON, BUT WILL NOW HEAD TO FRANCE AFTER THE HIGHLANDERS COMPLETE THEIR MISERABLE SUPER 15 CAMPAIGN IN JULY. HERE'S STEPHEN STUART. TOULOUSE HAS BEEN DOING THE SUPER 15 ROUNDS IN NZ AND WAS AT CRUSADERS TRAINING THIS WEEK, AS THE FRENCH POWERHOUSE LOOKS TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN PLAYERS. BUT IT'S HOSEA GEAR (29) THEY'VE SNAFFLED AS A MEDICAL JOKER, OR INJURY REPLACEMENT. GEAR HAS STRUGGLED TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS AN ALL BLACK AFTER DEBUTING IN 2008, AND EVEN HIS BLOCKBUSTING PERFORMANCE FOR THE MAORI AGAINST ENGLAND IN 2010 FAILED TO EARN HIM A TRI-NATIONS RECALL. BUT HE MADE THE END-OF-YEAR TOUR, RELISHING THE EUROPEAN CONDITIONS, AND THE SELECTORS ADMITTED THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM BACK EARLIER. IN AND OUT OF FAVOUR, HE DIDN'T FEATURE AT THE 2011 WORLD CUP, BUT SIX OF HIS 14 CAPS CAME LAST YEAR, AND HE WAS AT THE WIDER TRAINING GROUP CAMP EARLIER THIS WEEK. I SUPPOSE INCONSISTENCIES OF BEING IN AND OUT OF THE ALL BLACKS HAS PLAYED A SMALL PART, AND, YEAH, AND JUST THE TIME AWAY FROM THE FAMILY; THAT'S REALLY REALLY TOUGH. BEFORE HE WINGS IT, GEAR HOPES TO NOTCH HIS 100TH SUPER APPEARANCE. MEANWHILE, TWO OF HIS ALL BLACK TEAMMATES AT THE HAPLESS HIGHLANDERS WILL HAVE TO COME FROM THE BENCH AGAINST THE BLUES TOMORROW. TO BE REALLY HONEST, NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW I'VE BEEN GOING AND, UH, BEEN A BIT HAPPIER WITH HOW I'VE BEEN GOING THE LAST FEW MONTHS, BUT, UH, START OF SEASON WAS A BIT OF SHOCKER BY ME. NONU'S ALSO RIDING THE PINE, WHILE LONG-TIME BLUE TONY WOODCOCK, WHO DIDN'T PLAY IN THEIR EARLIER CLASH, IS OUT INJURED, AS THERE ARE SEVEN CHANGES TO THE STARTING SIDE. THAT WILL ENCOURAGE SIR JOHN KIRWAN, WHO'S HOPING TO WIN HIS FIRST GORDON HUNTER MEMORIAL TROPHY AFTER BEING HIS BLUES TEAM MANAGER 13 YEAR AGO. GORDON WAS A FANTASTIC MAN AND STARTED ME OUT IN THIS INDUSTRY AT THE END OF MY CAREER WHEN I WAS NEEDING SOMETHING. AND WHILE THE BLUES STILL HAVE SUPER 15 ASPIRATIONS, IT'S JUST PRIDE AND A FEW ALL BLACK JERSEYS FOR THE SOUTHERNERS. STEPHEN STUART, ONE NEWS. AND GEAR'S MOVE TO FRANCE ONLY HIGHLIGHTS THE STRUGGLES FACING THEIR NATIONAL COACH. PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRE EXPRESSED CONCERN TODAY OVER THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THE COUNTRY'S DOMESTIC RUGBY COMPETITION. IT COMES AFTER EUROPE'S HEINEKEN CUP TURNED OUT TO BE A FRENCH-DOMINATED AFFAIR, WITH TOULON AND CLERMONT PLAYING EACH OTHER IN THE FINAL. IN THE BEGINNING, I THINK, IT WAS JUST NINE FRENCH PLAYER. SO IT WAS TWO WONDERFUL TEAMS, BUT I AM NOT SURE IT WAS TWO FRENCH TEAMS, YOU KNOW? SAINT-ANDRE SAYS HE HOPES HIS YOUNG SIDE'S MOVED ON FROM ITS HORROR SIX NATIONS CAMPAIGN, WHERE IT FINISHED LAST, WITH HIS FOCUS ON BUILDING A TEAM FOR THE NEXT WORLD CUP. OUR GOLD MEDAL-WINNING OLYMPIC ROWING PAIR OF ERIC BOND AND HAMISH MURRAY IS ABOUT TO RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR RECORD-BREAKING WIN. THE TWO ARE PART OF THE NZ TEAM HEADING TO EUROPE FOR THE FINAL TWO WORLD CUP REGATTAS. ABBY SCOTT WENT TO LAKE KARAPIRO TO SEE THEM. GETTING READY TO PLUNGE BACK INTO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION. BUT THE WORLD RECORD HOLDERS ARE OLDER, WISER AND PREPARING DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME. THERE WAS ZERO COMPROMISE, AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO WIN, BUT AS FAR AS GOING FORWARD IN THE SPORT, ERIC AND I, I DONT THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO DO ANOTHER FOUR YEARS LIKE THAT. NEW COACH AUSSIE NOEL DONALDSON IS DRIVING CHANGE. VARIETY IS AN ASPECT OF LONGEVITY AS WELL, SO THAT WAS A COLLECTIVE DECISION THAT WE DECIDED TO DO. PART OF THAT VARIETY IS KEEPING WATER-BASED SESSIONS TO ONE A DAY. WE'VE ALMOST TRAINED A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN JUST GOING OUT AND ROWING DAY IN AND DAY OUT, SESSION IN, SESSION OUT. AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR THE FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMPS. THE LAST SERIES THAT WE HAD HERE A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE PROBABLY STRUNG THREE OF OUR FASTEST RACES TOGETHER WE'VE EVER DONE IN A ROW. BUT IT'S ONE THING TO BE GOING FAST HERE AT KARAPIRO. THE TRUE TEST WILL BE IN EUROPE. WE WERE A NEW COMBINATION IN 2009. WE SORT OF BURST ONTO THE SCENE, SOMEWHAT. SO WE ARE AWARE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN. WE ARE LIVING PROOF. SO WE ARE PREPARED FOR NEW PEOPLE TO COME TO THE EVENT. AND THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE OLYMPICS IS THE TIME FOR NEW COMBINATIONS TO BE INTRODUCED. THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY GOLDEN BOYS BACK ON THE WATER. MAHE DRYSDALE ISN'T COMPETING AT THE EUROPEAN WORLD CUP EVENTS; INSTEAD, HE'S BEGINNING HIS ROAD TO RIO AT AUGUST'S WORLD CHAMPS. BUT FOR THIS TWOSOME, THAT JOURNEY BEGINS IN THREE WEEKS IN LONDON. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. KIWI TENNIS NUMBER ONE MARINA ERAKOVIC HAS PRODUCED HER BEST EVER PERFORMANCE ON CLAY, ADVANCING TO THE THIRD ROUND OF THE FRENCH OPEN. ERAKOVIC (25) HAS BEATEN 16TH SEED DOMONIKA CIBULKOVA 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. ERAKOVIC, WHO IS RANKED 92ND, OVERCAME TWO RAIN DELAYS TO BEAT THE OUT-OF-SORTS SLOVAK. ERAKOVIC FROM NZ HAS TAKEN THIS ONE. CIBULKOVA HAS REALLY STRUGGLED WITH HER FORM THIS YEAR. MARINA ERAKOVIC OF NZ ` A ONCE-PROUD TENNIS NATION; IT HASN'T ENJOYED MUCH SUCCESS OF LATE. THEY'VE GOT A PLAYER IN THE THIRD ROUND. WELL DONE. ERAKOVIC WILL FACE AMERICAN AND 17TH SEED SLONE STEPHENS IN THE THIRD ROUND. THE PAIR MET LAST YEAR, WHERE ERAKOVIC PREVAILED, THOUGH THE MATCH WAS ON HARD COURT. FORMER BLACKCAPS SKIPPER DANIEL VETTORI'S ADMITTED TO SOME NERVES AHEAD OF HIS RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL CRICKET TONIGHT. THE SPINNER'S BEEN NAMED TO PLAY IN NZ'S FIRST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL AGAINST ENGLAND AT LORD'S. VETTORI HASN'T BOWLED FOR NZ SINCE THE TWENTY20 WORLD CUP LAST SEPTEMBER AFTER BEING SIDELINED BY AN ACHILLES INJURY. I THINK IT'S STILL BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BOWLED IN AN INTERNATIONAL. I'VE ONLY BOWLED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN DOMESTIC GAMES AS WELL, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TREPIDATION GOING INTO IT, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. MEANTIME, FORMER AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL LUKE RONCHI WILL MAKE HIS DEBUT FOR NZ TONIGHT, OPENING THE BATTING AND KEEPING WICKET. WHILE SEAMER IAN BUTLER'S BEEN CALLED INTO THE ONE-DAY SQUAD AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE INJURED TRENT BOULT. AND BOULT'S MUSCLE TEAR MEANS HE'S EXPECTED TO BE OUT OF THE SIDE FOR UP TO EIGHT WEEKS. THAT WILL INCLUDE THE UPCOMING CHAMPIONS TROPHY, WHERE THE DRAMA IS ALREADY STARTING TO PLAY OUT. THIS IS THE RESPONSE FROM INDIA CAPTAIN MS DHONI WHEN ASKED ABOUT CORRUPTION IN THE IPL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM. LISTEN, IF I HAVE NOT ANSWERED, THEN THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S NO GOOD QUEST` UH, NO REASON WHY I SHOULD ANSWER YOU. BUT` SO WHEN THE RIGHT TIME COMES` BUT THE MOOD AS A TEAM HERE NOT AFFECTED? IT'S FANTASTIC. IT'S REALLY NICE. YEAH, WE'LL TAKE A QUESTION OVER HERE, PLEASE. THE BLACKCAPS' CHAMPIONS TROPHY CAMPAIGN STARTS AGAINST SRI LANKA IN JUST OVER A WEEK. THE MIAMI HEAT IS NOW ONLY ONE WIN AWAY FROM A THIRD STRAIGHT TRIP TO THE NBA BASKETBALL FINALS. LEBRON JAMES PRODUCED AN OUTRAGEOUS THIRD QUARTER, LEADING THE HEAT TO A 90-79 WIN OVER THE INDIANA PACERS TO A TAKE A 3-2 LEAD IN THE BEST OF SEVEN SERIES. HERE'S BLAIR NORTON. INDIANA'S SUPERIOR SIZE HAS BEEN A FACTOR IN THIS SERIES. THE PACERS' DOMINATION IN THE PAINT IS LOOKING SET TO CONTINUE. AND AGAIN THAT BEAUTIFUL JUMP HOOK. ROY HIBBERT AND PAUL GEORGE SCORED INDIANA'S FIRST 29 POINTS BETWEEN THEM AS THE PACERS TOOK AN EARLY LEAD. WHAT A MOVE BY GEORGE, SET UP BY AUGUSTINE. THE BIRDMAN, CHRIS ANDERSON, WAS BIRDBRAINED, COPPING A FLAGRANT FOUL AS TEMPERS FLARED. ONLY PACERS TURNOVERS KEPT THE HEAT IN THE HUNT AS THEY CLOSED TO WITHIN FOUR AT THE HALF. 11 FOR LEBRON JAMES. JAMES TRIED TO INSPIRE HIS TEAM AT THE BREAK; INSTEAD, HE INSPIRED HIMSELF. JAMES WITH A BEAUTIFUL SPIN TO BEAT HILL. HERE'S JAMES FROM IN CLOSE. THE KING CARRIED THE HEAT ON HIS SHOULDERS IN A VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE, OUTSCORING THE PACERS 16-13 BY HIMSELF IN THE THIRD QUARTER, SEEING THE HEAT OUT TO A 13-POINT LEAD. JAMES WITH A DEEP THREE. GEORGE TRIED TO INSPIRE A FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACK, FINISHING WITH 27 POINTS, BUT THE HEAT DIDN'T MELT. UDONIS HASLEM SHOT 8 FROM 9 FROM THE FIELD FOR 16 POINTS IN SUPPORT OF JAMES, WITH A GAME HIGH 30. JAMES WITH THE LAY IN. THAT'S LEBRON SHOWING HIS GREATNESS AND MAKING IT LOOK EASY, AND HIS ENGINE IN THAT THIRD QUARTER WAS INCREDIBLE. THE 90-79 WIN GIVING JAMES AND THE HEAT A CHANCE TO SECURE THE SERIES ON SUNDAY IN INDIANA. BLAIR NORTON, ONE NEWS. THANKS, JENNY-MAY. NEXT ON ONE NEWS, KAREN'S GOT YOUR FORECAST FOR THE LONG WEEKEND. THE LONG WEEKEND IS HERE. IT'S ALSO THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER TOMORROW. SO I DO HAVE SOME RAIN AND WIND IN THE FORECAST. HEAVY RAIN LIKELY IN WESTLAND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. UP TO 200MM ABOUT THE RANGES FROM SATURDAY INTO EARLY SUNDAY AND THEN MORE RAIN ON SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. MAYBE 400MM TO 600MM ALL UP ABOUT THE RANGES AND LESSER AMOUNTS NEARER THE COAST. THERE'S A WATCH IN PLACE FOR HEAVY RAIN FOR FIORDLAND, OTAGO AND CANTERBURY FROM TOMORROW NIGHT. THERE'S ALSO A WATCH FOR SEVERE GALES IN OTAGO AND CANTERBURY. MOSTLY FINE OVER THE NORTH ISLAND TODAY UNDER A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE. FRONTAL CLOUD OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND AND SOUTHERN TASMAN. THIS BRIGHT BAND UP HERE IS JET STREAM CLOUD ASSOCIATED WITH A DEVELOPING SUB-TROPICAL LOW FURTHER NORTH. A RIDGE CONTINUES TO DRIFT ACROSS NORTHERN NZ, WEAKENING SLIGHTLY TOMORROW AS IT BECOMES WEDGED BETWEEN THIS TANGLE OF FRONTS TO THE SOUTH AND A DEEPENING LOW MOVING DOWN FROM THE TROPICS. THE WEST TO NORTH-WEST FLOW WILL STRENGTHEN OVER SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, DRAGGING THIS FRONT OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND IN THE MORNING, WITH THESE ONES LINING UP FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. RAIN FOR THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND WITH SOME HEAVY, THUNDERY FALLS. HIGH CLOUD COVERS EASTERN DISTRICTS, WITH JUST A FEW SPOTS OF RAIN SPREADING FROM THE WEST. WEST TO NORTH-WEST WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN, ESPECIALLY OVER THE CENTRAL HIGH COUNTRY. THE NORTH ISLAND IS FINE AND SUNNY IN THE EAST. CLOUDY PERIODS EVERYWHERE ELSE, WITH A FEW SHOWERS AROUND KAPITI AND MANAWATU. MAYBE A FEW SPLASHES FURTHER NORTH TO WAIKATO. WEST TO NORTH-WEST WINDS PICKING UP IN THE SOUTH. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ HOPE THE WEATHER DOESN'T DISRUPT TOO MANY PLANS THIS LONG WEEKEND. SEE YOU TOMORROW. AND THAT'S ONE NEWS FOR FRIDAY.