SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY AS TRAVEL DISRUPTION CONTINUES. STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE 'GLEE' ACTOR CORY MONTEITH FOLLOWING HIS DEATH IN A CANADA HOTEL. AND TWO OF THE BIGGEST STARS IN TRACK AND FIELD HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED SUBSTANCE. THE WILD WEATHER BATTERING THE CENTRAL AND LOWER NORTH ISLAND HAS CAUSED DISRUPTION TO ROADS, FERRY AND RAIL SERVICES. STATE HIGHWAY 1 AT THE DESERT ROAD REMAINS CLOSED, WHILE STATE HIGHWAY 2 OVER THE RIMUTAKA HAS REOPENED AFTER BEING SHUT EARLIER THIS MORNING. ONE NEWS REPORTER RENEE GRAHAM JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM RIMUTAKA. MetService is warning that snow showers are expected to continue until eight o'clock this evening. Snow showers should ease this afternoon. If you plan to travel along the desert road or state highway one that remains closed today due to snow. More snow is expected so won't be opening any time soon. 6000 households have lost electricity after power lines went down and high winds yesterday. Cook Strait ferries have resumed. If you plan to fly in and out of the capital today flights are back on, but there will be delays. THANKS, RENEE, LIVE FROM WELLINGTON. THE WILD WEATHER'S NO DOUBT CAUSED TROUBLE FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYMAKERS, BUT METSERVICE METEOROLOGIST DAN CORBETT SAYS THE WET AND WINDY CONDITIONS ARE SET TO IMPROVE LATER TODAY. IF YOU CAN HANG ON TODAY, MAYBE GIVE THE KIDS A COUPLE OF DVDS, A COUPLE OF BOOKS, TODAY'S A BIT OF A YUCKY DAY IN PLACES. IF YOU'RE TRAVELLING, JUST ALLOW SOME EXTRA TIME. BUT BY THE END OF THE WEEK ` AUCKLAND, FOR INSTANCE, 16 DEGREES, SUNSHINE; WELLINGTON, 14, SUNSHINE. SO WE WILL GET THERE. IT'S JUST WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH A YUCKY ROUGH START FOR THE WEEK. A BILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S GOING TO BANK FROM ITS CRACKDOWN ON BENEFICIARIES. FROM TODAY IF SOMEONE ON A BENEFIT FAILS A DRUG TEST OR HAS AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT, THEIR BENEFIT WILL BE CUT, OR IT WILL BE HALVED IF THEY HAVE A CHILD. THERE WILL ALSO BE PENALTIES IF BENEFICIARIES DON'T HAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OR SCHOOL. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NZERS TODAY. OVERALL, WE'RE SAYING THE BENEFIT SAVINGS COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1B AND $1.6B. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE. PAULA BENNETT DENIES THIS IS BENEFICIARY BASHING. AUCKLANDERS ARE SET TO FIND OUT THIS AFTERNOON HOW THEY'LL PAY FOR THE CITY'S FUTURE TRANSPORT PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS, INCLUDING A CITY RAIL LINK AND A TRANSPORT REVAMP IN THE CITY'S EAST, ARE EXPECTED TO COST UP TO $70B OVER 30 YEARS. MOST OF THE MONEY'S COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT, BUT AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS WILL HAVE TO FUND A $12B SHORTFALL. ONE NEWS REPORTER WILL HINE SAYS RATE INCREASES AND FUEL TAXES ARE LIKELY, AND A CONTROVERSIAL CONGESTION TAX IS ALSO ON THE TABLE. THAT'S THE BRAVE, SORT OF, BOLD IDEA, THAT WE'LL BE TAXING PEOPLE JUMPING ON TO THE MOTORWAY NETWORKS OR ENTERING THE CBD AT A GIVEN TIME. THAT'S A BOLD MOVE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT POTENTIALLY RAISE QUITE A BIT OF REVENUE, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE ADDED BONUS OF REDUCING CONGESTION. BUT GETTING THAT ACROSS THE LINE COULD BE TOUGH, AND THE PRELIMINARY REPORT WHICH HAS COME OUT, THIS GROUP HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THERE'S POLITICAL CHALLENGES AROUND IT, CONVINCING NOT JUST CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS THAT, HECK, WE'RE GONNA TAX YOU WHEN YOU DRIVE INTO THE CITY. THAT COULD BE A TOUGH ONE TO GET ACROSS THE LINE. ONE NEWS REPORTER WILL HINE. THE CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL HAS JUST NAMED THE MAN TO INVESTIGATE THEIR CONTROVERSIAL BOSS. TONY MARRYATT HAS BEEN STOOD DOWN PENDING AN INQUIRY OVER THE ACCREDITATION DEBACLE THAT SAW THE COUNCIL LOSE ITS POWER TO GRANT BUILDING CONSENTS. ANOTHER MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HAS JUST FINISHED. THE MAYOR REVEALING WHO WILL DECIDE MARRYATT'S FATE. WE'VE EMPLOYED MR PETER WINDER, WHO IS A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT. HE WAS ALSO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT NZ BACK IN 2001, I THINK ` 2001 THROUGH 2003. AND HE'S THE PERSON WHO'LL BE CARRYING OUT THAT INQUIRY. THE INVESTIGATION IS EXPECTED TO COST AROUND $50,000 AND WRAP UP BY MID-AUGUST, WITH THE OUTCOME MADE PUBLIC THEN. THE IDENTITY OF THE JURORS WHO ACQUITTED A NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH VOLUNTEER OF MURDERING AN UNARMED BLACK TEENAGER IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR WILL REMAIN A SECRET FOLLOWING ANGRY REACTION TO THE VERDICT. THE SHOOTING OF TRAYVON MARTIN (17) HAS SPARKED PROTESTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND A HUGE DEBATE ON RACIAL PROFILING. GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, WHO ALWAYS SAID HE WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENCE, WAS CLEARED ON ALL CHARGES. THE BBC'S DAVID WILLIS REPORTS. WOMAN: ...JURY FIND GEORGE ZIMMERMAN NOT GUILTY. THE DRAMATIC CONCLUSION TO A TRIAL THAT HAS DIVIDED AMERICA. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH VOLUNTEER GEORGE ZIMMERMAN NEVER DENIED SHOOTING DEAD AN UNARMED BLACK TEENAGER. LAST NIGHT, HE WAS CLEARED OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. I THINK THE PROSECUTION OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN WAS DISGRACEFUL. I'M THRILLED THAT THIS JURY KEPT THIS TRAGEDY FROM BECOMING A TRAVESTY. TRAYVON MARTIN'S FAMILY WEREN'T IN COURT FOR THE VERDICT. HIS PARENTS LATER CALLED IT HEART-BREAKING AND THEIR DARKEST HOUR. JUSTICE FOR... CROWD CHANTS: ...TRAYVON MARTIN! AND IN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST. TRAYVON MARTIN WAS WALKING TO THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX WHEN HE WAS TACKLED BY GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, WHO BELIEVED HE WAS PART OF A GANG THAT HAD BEEN TARGETING THE LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD. NOBODY ELSE WITNESSED THE STRUGGLE THAT FOLLOWED, BUT A NEIGHBOUR'S CALL TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PICKED UP THE SOUND OF CRIES FOR HELP FOLLOWED BY THE FATAL GUNSHOT. GUNSHOT BY THE TIME POLICE ARRIVED, TRAYVON MARTIN WAS DEAD. CENTRAL TO THIS CASE WAS FLORIDA'S CONTROVERSIAL GUN LAWS WHICH ALLOW THOSE WHO OWN FIREARMS TO SHOOT SOMEBODY IF THEY FEEL THEY'RE IN DANGER OF BEING KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. CITING THAT LAW, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN ALWAYS ARGUED THAT HE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENCE. TRIBUTES ARE FLOWING IN FOR 'GLEE' ACTOR CORY MONTEITH, WHO WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS VANCOUVER HOTEL ROOM OVER THE WEEKEND. THE 31-YEAR-OLD PLAYED TEEN HEARTTHROB FINN HUDSON ON THE HIT SERIES. HIS CO-STARS SAY THEY'RE 'STUNNED AND HEARTBROKEN'. THE ABC'S LINZIE JANIS REPORTS. # OH, WHY YOU LOOK SO SAD? # CORY MONTEITH, WHO PLAYED THE FOOTBALL HERO TURNED SINGING HEARTTHROB FINN HUDSON IN THE FOX HIT 'GLEE',... # HELLO, I LOVE YOU. LET ME JUMP IN YOUR GAME. # ...WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS VANCOUVER HOTEL ROOM SATURDAY AT THE AGE OF 31. STAFF BECAME WORRIED WHEN MONTEITH FAILED TO CHECK OUT ON TIME AND FOUND THE STAR'S BODY UNRESPONSIVE IN HIS ROOM. THE DECEASED HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ACTOR CORY MONTEITH (31), WHO ACHIEVED GREAT FAME ON THE POPULAR TV SERIES 'GLEE'. VANCOUVER POLICE SAID THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY APPARENT, BUT THE STAR WAS CLEARLY DECEASED WHEN PARAMEDICS ARRIVED. THEY'VE RULED OUT FOUL PLAY. SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS SHOW THE STAR ENTERING HIS HOTEL ROOM ALONE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SATURDAY MORNING. I DON'T THINK I WANT TO BE YOUR BOYFRIEND. MONTEITH HAD ALWAYS BEEN OPEN ABOUT HIS LIFELONG BATTLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WHICH HE SAID STARTED WITH DRUGS AT THE AGE OF 13. THE ACTOR VOLUNTARILY CHECKED HIMSELF INTO A TREATMENT CENTRE BACK IN APRIL. IT WAS HIS SECOND TIME IN REHAB. TWITTER'S BEEN FLOODED WITH AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR THE LATE STAR. TWEETS FROM CO-STARS LIKE MARK SALLING, WHO PLAYED ONE OF CORY'S BEST FRIENDS, PUCK, ON 'GLEE'. HE SIMPLY WROTE THE WORD 'NO'. KRISTEN CHENOWETH, WHO ALSO APPEARED ON THE SHOW, WRITES... AND 'MODERN FAMILY' STAR ERIC STONESTREET, A BIG GLEEK, WROTE... KALEY CUOCO ADDED... I'M MARRYING YOU AND NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER. MONTEITH WAS FAMOUSLY INVOLVED ONSCREEN AND OFF WITH ACTRESS LEA MICHELE. THE TWO WERE WORKING ON THE FIFTH SEASON OF 'GLEE'. # ...PRETENDING. # THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE IS DUE TO GIVE BIRTH ANY DAY NOW, AND BRITISH BUSINESSES ARE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE A WELCOME BOOST AFTER A POOR SUMMER. ONE ANALYST FORECASTS MILLIONS IN EXPORT ORDERS FOR THE UK AS THE WORLD BUYS ITS SHARE OF SOUVENIRS AND BABY GEAR. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY REPORTS. AS BABY SHOWERS GO, THIS IS IMPRESSIVE. OK, THEY'RE MOSTLY HERE FOR A GANDER INSIDE THE WALLS OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE GARDENS, BUT BABY IS VERY MUCH ON THE MIND. THERE ARE 200 BUSINESSES HERE THAT OFFICIALLY FEED, CLOTHE OR FURNISH THE ROYALS. MANY ALREADY PRESTIGIOUS BRITISH MARQUES SEIZING THE CHANGE TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THAT ASSOCIATION. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS SOMETHING WE ALL SEE THE ROYALS DOING ` ACTING AS, KIND OF, CELEBRITY ENDORSERS OF BRITISH PRODUCTS. IT'S NO SURPRISE, THEN, THAT THE ROYAL BIRTH WILL BE A HUGE ECONOMIC OCCASION AS WELL. THE ROYAL BABY IS EXPECTED TO BE WORTH $470M TO BRITAIN'S ECONOMY OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. WITH SALES OF BABY-RELATED BOOKS, DVDS AND OTHER MEDIA CLOSE TO $150M AND MORE THAN $150M IN TOYS AND SOUVENIRS. EVERYONE IN THE BRITISH MOTHER-AND-BABY INDUSTRY IS GRATEFUL TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS FOR TURNING THE EYES OF THE WORLD ON TO THE UK AND ON TO UK-DESIGNED MOTHER-AND-BABY BRANDS. THE ANALYSTS ALSO EXPECT A 13% LIFT IN SALES OF PRAMS AND PUSHCHAIRS AS SHOPPERS SPEND MORE KEEPING UP WITH THE CAMBRIDGES. YEAH, I'LL DEFINITELY START LOOKING AT WHAT SHE'S BUYING. IT MUST BE GOOD IF SHE'S BUYING IT. (CHUCKLES) SHOPPING AND ROYALTY ` THE TWO PILLARS OF MODERN BRITAIN. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. ON THE DAY MANY PREDICTED WOULD BE THE DELIVERY DATE OF THE ROYAL BABY, FIRST-TIME FATHER-TO-BE PRINCE WILLIAM HAS INSTEAD ENJOYED A GAME OF POLO WITH HIS BROTHER, PRINCE HARRY. DESPITE THE CHARITY MATCH BEING PLAYED MORE THAN 160KM AWAY FROM LONDON AND HIS HEAVILY PREGNANT WIFE, THE PRINCE LOOKED RELAXED AS HE GREETED LOCALS. WAS ONE OCCASION WHEN I THINK HIS HORSE MUST'VE BEEN TIRED AND HE LEFT THE FIELD AND NOBODY ELSE DID. AND I THOUGHT, 'HEAVENS, HAS THERE BEEN A MESSAGE?' IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT IF PRINCE WILLIAM HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE, HE COULD HAVE BEEN BACK AT HER SIDE IN LONDON WITHIN AN HOUR WITH THE HELP OF A POLICE ESCORT. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. THEN IN SPORT ` ANOTHER TRACK AND FIELD DRUGS SCANDAL. AND JIMMY ANDERSON LEADS ENGLAND TO A TENSE WIN IN THE FIRST ASHES SERIES. A WITH ME NOW IS DAVID CHEAPE FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. NO NEWS FROM THE LOCAL MARKET TODAY, SO A LOOK BACK TO LAST WEEK AND SOME STRONG NUMBERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. Yes there were and that was really on the back of positive comments about the fed continuing its easy monetary policy. Designed to assist the struggling US economy. Companies like American express and Google announcing the second-quarter numbers. TELL US ABOUT THE ECONOMIC NEWS DUE OUT OF CHINA THIS AFTERNOON. It is expected to slow in the second quarter. That will be watched globally but particularly in Australia. They are very dependent on the continuing Chinese growth story. TO MIDDAY SPORT ` TWO OF THE BIGGEST STARS IN TRACK AND FIELD WILL MISS NEXT MONTH'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AFTER FAILING DRUG TESTS. TYSON GAY, THE AMERICAN WHO'S THE FASTEST MAN IN THE WORLD THIS YEAR, AND FORMER 100 METRES WORLD RECORD HOLDER ASAFA POWELL HAVE BOTH TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED SUBSTANCE. THIS FROM THE BBC'S KATIE GORNALL. THEY'RE TWO OF THE FASTEST MEN EVER TO TAKE TO THE TRACK. BUT TODAY'S EVENTS HAVE PUT THE BRAKES ON THEIR CAREERS. NEWS OF TYSON GAY'S FAILED DRUGS TEST WAS FIRST TO EMERGE WHEN HE CONFIRMED HE'D TESTED POSITIVE FOR AN UNNAMED BANNED SUBSTANCE. THOSE WITHIN THE SPORT WERE LEFT IN SHOCK. IT DOES SHOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE THAT BIG A STAR, YOU ARE GOING TO BE CAUGHT. THEY ARE GOING TO COME AFTER YOU AND THEY ARE GOING TO TARGET YOU, AND WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT, THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A GOOD THING. BUT GAY, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL REVERBERATE AROUND THE SPORT. JUST HOURS LATER, THE SPORT WAS ROCKED AGAIN. THIS TIME ASAFA POWELL, WHO HELPED JAMAICA TO OLYMPIC GOLD IN BEIJING, ADMITTED HE'D TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED STIMULANT. IN A STATEMENT HE SAYS... ONE THING IS CERTAIN, THE ABSENCE OF TWO OF SPRINTING'S MOST HIGH-PROFILE STARS IS A MAJOR BLOW TO THE SPORT AHEAD OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEXT MONTH. THE FIRST ASHES CRICKET TEST ENDED IN DRAMATIC FASHION. AUSTRALIA LOOKED ON COURSE TO SNATCH AN IMPROBABLE VICTORY BUT FELL JUST SHORT. THE BBC'S JOE WILSON REPORTS. ENGLAND ARRIVED WITH VICTORY IN THEIR SIGHTS, BUT WHO'D BE THE MAN? BROAD? WOULD IT BE SWANN? JUST FOUR WICKETS TO TAKE. JOE ROOT? DON'T WORRY. INSIDE THE GROUND, THEY KNEW THE BOWLER TO WIN THE MATCH. WITH JAMES ANDERSON BOWLING AND ALASTAIR COOK CATCHING, ENGLAND MOVED TO THE THRESHOLD OF VICTORY. THREE WICKETS FELL. COOK DROPPED SIDDLE ONCE BUT MADE UP FOR IT WITH HIS SECOND CHANCE. 231/9. COOK MUST'VE FELT LIKE HE'D GRABBED THE MATCH. BUT BRAD HADDIN'S NOT THE TYPE OF AUSTRALIAN TO ACCEPT DEFEAT. THREE CONSECUTIVE FOURS OFF STEVE FINN. HE WENT PAST 50. AUSTRALIA NEEDED FEWER THAN 50. JAMES PATTINSON WAS BATTING NUMBER 11 AND NOT PLAYING LIKE IT. EVERY RUN WAS TAKING AUSTRALIA CLOSER TO THE VICTORY THAT HAD SEEMED WAY BEYOND THEM. GOING ALL THE WAY. SIX. 26 NEEDED. HADDIN LAUNCHED THE BALL. STEVE FINN WAS UNDER IT. STEVE FINN COULD WIN THE TEST... OR NOT. BATTING, BOWLING, FIELDING ` THIS MATCH WAS CONCLUDED WITH TECHNOLOGY. ENGLAND APPEALED NOT OUT. THEY WANTED THE REPLAYS, REVIEW. AND THE SMALLEST GLIMMER ON A THERMAL-IMAGE CAMERA REVEALED TINIEST CONTACT WITH BAT ON BALL. IT WAS THE HOT SPOT WHICH GOT RID OF HADDIN. HE HAS GIVEN BRAD HADDIN OUT. ENGLAND WON BY 14 RUNS AFTER 10 WICKETS IN THE MATCH FROM THE TIRELESS ANDERSON. I FOUND SOME RHYTHM THIS MORNING, WHICH THE CAPTAIN COTTONED ON TO AND KEPT ME GOING FOR 13 OVERS. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST DELIGHTED THAT WE COULD` IT DID GET TIGHT AND WE STAYED CALM EVEN WHEN WE WERE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER. SO THAT WAS THE KEY FOR US TO WINNING THE GAME, I THINK. KIWI DRIVER SCOTT DIXON HAS CAPPED A MEMORABLE WEEKEND IN TORONTO WITH HIS THIRD INDYCAR WIN IN A ROW. STARTING IN POLE POSITION, DIXON STARTED STRONGLY BEFORE PULLING AWAY FROM THE PACK. THIS IS INCREDIBLE! THREE WINS IN A ROW AND A $100,000 BONUS TO SCOTT DIXON. LITTLE HARDER TODAY. THE RACE WAS A LITTLE MORE FASTER PACE THAN YESTERDAY'S ONE, SO I WAS DEFINITELY TRYING TO HANG ON THERE. HE'S NOW SECOND IN THE OVERALL INDYCAR STANDINGS, BEHIND HELIO CASTRONEVES. THE KIWI PAIR COMBINATION OF ERIC MURRAY AND HAMISH BOND CONTINUE TO PROVE UNSTOPPABLE DESPITE FACING THEIR LARGEST FIELD THIS YEAR AT THE THIRD WORLD ROWING CUP REGATTA IN SWITZERLAND. THEY ONCE AGAIN SHOWED THEIR DOMINANCE. THEIR GOLD WAS ONE OF THREE FOR THE NZ TEAM. ABBY SCOTT REPORTS. HOW DO YOU BEAT THE SEEMINGLY UNBEATABLE? IF IT WAS ME RACING US, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO GET IN FRONT. THE SPANISH DECIDED THAT SOMETHING WAS TO GO OUT HARD, FAST AND EARLY. THEY'VE GONE FOR A FLYER HERE. I'LL BE SURPRISED IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS. THE KIWIS IN FOURTH, BUT BY THE 1000M MARK, IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL. TO BE HONEST, I MEAN, ALL THE OTHER CREWS SEEM TO HAVE SETTLED ALMOST FOR THE FIGHT FOR SILVER AND BRONZE. THE WORLD'S BEST MAKING IT A RECORD-EQUALLING 15 CONSECUTIVE INTERNATIONAL TITLES. WE ARE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED THAT, 'HEY, THEY'RE A LENGTH IN FRONT OF US, SO WE'VE GOT TO CATCH THEM.' SO I THINK IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE DEPTH IN THE FIELD AT THE MOMENT. DEPTH IN QUANTITY, BUT PERHAPS THE QUALITY IS LACKING. THE TRADITIONAL POWERHOUSES MISSING FROM THE FINAL. THE MEN'S DOUBLE OF ROBBIE MANSON AND MICHAEL ARMS CREATING THEIR OWN WINNING STREAK,... THEY ARE, AT THE MOMENT, IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN. ...UNBEATEN INTERNATIONALLY SINCE TEAMING UP IN MARCH. THE MEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT FOUR IS ANOTHER CREW TO CLINCH THREE FROM THREE WORLD CUPS,... THIS IS A BIT OF A MASTERCLASS HERE FROM THIS KIWI LIGHTWEIGHT FOUR. ...WINNING BY NEARLY A BOAT LENGTH OVER THE DANISH. THE WOMEN'S PAIR OF REBECCA SCOWN AND KAYLA PRATT SEALED THE FIRST MEDAL OF THE DAY. A SLOW START MADE THINGS TOUGH,... THE NZERS ARE COMING BACK AT THE BRITISH HERE. THEY'RE HAVING A REALLY GOOD CRACK AT THEM. ...HAVING TO SETTLE FOR THEIR SECOND WORLD CUP SILVER BUT SHAVING HALF A BOAT LENGTH OFF THE GAP. SILVER TOO FOR THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE, BUT GOLD WAS OH SO CLOSE. LOOK AT THIS GUSTO FROM THE NZERS. OUR PLAN IS TO DO A BIT MORE THROUGH THAT MIDDLE 1000, GET A BIT MORE SPEED OUT OF THE START SO THAT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE AND NOT HAVING TO DO THAT CHASE DOWN AT THE END. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE SURE TO BE WORKING ON AHEAD OF AUGUST'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. ABBY SCOTT, ONE NEWS. BRITAIN'S CHRIS FROOME HAS WON THE GRUELLING 15 STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE, RACING UP THE GRUELLING MONT VENTOUX AND BLOWING OFF RIVAL ALBERTO CONTADOR. AND CONTADOR'S GOT TO HOLD ON. LOOK AT THE REVVING OF FROOME. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PYRENEES. AND HE PICKED UP QUINTANA, AND HE BLEW HIM AWAY. AND NOW HE'S GONE. CONTADOR HAS GONE AS WELL NOW. THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE` HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO RIDE A WAITING GAME IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE THIS YEAR. HE SAID HE WANTED TO GO OUT AND ATTACK THE TOUR DE FRANCE, AND THIS IS WHAT HE'S PUTTING THINGS TO RIGHT. FROOME IS JUST THE SECOND RIDER IN 100 EDITIONS OF THE RACE TO WIN A STAGE IN THE YELLOW JERSEY, AND HE COMPLETED THE DAY'S 242KM 29 SECONDS CLEAR. FROOME'S OVERALL LEAD IS NOW MORE THAN FOUR MINUTES OVER DUTCHMAN BAUKE MOLLEMA. NZ GOLFER STEVEN ALKER REMAINS IN CONTENTION FOR HIS FIRST WIN IN FOUR YEARS. PLAYING IN THE UTAH CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE SECOND LEVEL AMERICAN TOUR, ALKER BIRDIED THE 14TH HOLE IN HIS FINAL ROUND TO GET TO 22 UNDER FOR THE TOURNAMENT AND TIED FOR THE LEAD WITH FOUR HOLES TO PLAY. BUT ON A DAY OF HOT SCORING, NONE WAS HOTTER THAN YOUNG AMERICAN WILL WILCOX, WHO BURIED THIS PUTT ON HIS FINAL HOLE FOR A 59. JUST THE FOURTH TIME THE LOW NUMBER HAS BEEN ACHIEVED ON THE SECOND TIER TOUR. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JESSICA BOELL AND DESNEY SHAW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013