DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. A RESTRUCTURE FOR SOLID ENERGY AND A BIG LOAN FROM THE GOVERNMENT. JUST HOURS TO GO UNTIL AMERICA'S GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVELY SHUTS DOWN. CAN THEY BREAK THE DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS? AND NOTE TO SELF - GET OUT THE VODKA AND CHAKA KHAN CD. BRIDGET JONES IS BACK. WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, THE MINISTER FOR STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES HAS ANNOUNCED A RESTRUCTURE FOR MINING COMPANY SOLID ENERGY. IT WILL INVOLVE A SHARE ISSUE TO THE COMPANY'S CREDITORS AND A SIGNIFICANT LOAN FROM THE GOVERNMENT. ONE NEWS POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT. SOLID ENERGY IS IN DEBT. IT'S CUT 700 JOBS TO STAY AFLOAT. TODAY IT HAS A DEAL WITH BANKS. SO THAT IT CAN TRADE BACK TO PROFITABILITY $100M LOAN FROM GOVERNMENT THE GOVERNMENT WILL INJECT UP TO $55M. BANK HAS AGREED TO REDUCE THE DEBT BY $75M IN EXCHANGE FOR PREFERENCE SHARES. THEY ARE NOT VOTING, BUT MEANS ITS GOT A STAKE IF THE COMPANY WAS TO BE WOUND UP. THAT WILL REDUCE DEBT BURDEN TO $300M MARK SOME BREATHING SPACE THERE'S JUST FIVE HOURS TO GO BEFORE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN THE US, BUT THERE'S STILL NO PROSPECT OF A DEAL BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. AND, AS THE BBC'S MARK MARDELL EXPLAINS, THAT MEANS 800,000 PEOPLE COULD BE OUT OF A JOB AS OF TOMORROW. THE USA WOULDN'T BE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. BUT SHE WOULD. A SHUTDOWN WOULD MEAN NO VISITORS FOR THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, NONE TO NATIONAL PARKS, LIKE THE GRAND CANYON. MOST GOVERNMENT OFFICES WOULD CLOSE. THOUSANDS WOULD BE SENT HOME FROM WORK. RUBBISH COULD PILE UP ON THE STREETS. BUT AT LEAST THERE'D BE NOBODY TO GIVE YOU A TICKET OR COLLECT TAXES. AND STILL WORSE COULD BE AHEAD. A BIGGER ROW LOOMS ABOUT THE DEBT LIMIT. IT'S PEOPLE LIKE THESE CAMPAIGNING OUT IN VIRGINIA WHO ARE BEHIND THE CRISIS. REPUBLICANS ARE PAINFULLY AWARE THEIR CORE SUPPORTERS LOATHE THE PRESIDENT'S CHANGES TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM... YOU'RE OPPOSING OBAMACARE? GOOD, YOU'RE WITH US. ARE YOU MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE OBAMACARE? OH, OPPOSE. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SIGN THIS PETITION HERE TO TELL THAT YOU OPPOSE OBAMACARE? SURE. ...AND SEE NO HIGHER CAUSE THAN TRYING TO DAMAGE IT EVEN IF IT'S NOT LIKELY TO SUCCEED. SO REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE HAVE LINKED DELAYING OBAMACARE WITH THAT CRUCIAL VOTE ON FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT. I CONSIDER MYSELF A TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN. WE'RE NOT SAYING SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE JUST SAYING LET'S DELAY OBAMACARE FOR ONE YEAR. THAT'S A REASONABLE ASK. THE SENATE, CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS, DOESN'T THINK THAT LINK IS REASONABLE AT ALL. THEY ACCUSE THE REPUBLICANS OF BEHAVING LIKE SPOILT CHILDREN, HOSTAGE TAKERS, EVEN TERRORISTS, AND THEY'VE THROWN OUT THE PLAN. EVEN SOME SENIOR REPUBLICANS DESPAIR OF THEIR COLLEAGUES' TACTICS. SOME PEOPLE INTERPRET THIS AS THE MINDSET OF A PERMANENT MINORITY WHO ONLY KNOW HOW TO LOB GRENADES AND DO GUERRILLA WARFARE. (GROWLS) HE MAY NOT HAVE AN AUDIENCE FOR HIS DISPLAY TOMORROW. THE CAPITAL ZOO WOULD ALSO CLOSE IF THERE'S A SHUTDOWN. BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE THE SNARLING AND BARING OF TEETH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SOMEONE BLINKS AND SLINKS AWAY DEFEATED. THE US PRESIDENT SAYS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WILL HAVE AN ECONOMIC EFFECT ON EVERY AMERICAN. BARACK OBAMA SAYS ANY SHUTDOWN WOULD PUT A HALT ON THE POSITIVE PROGRESS THE US ECONOMY IS FINALLY MAKING. THE IDEA OF PUTTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S HARD-EARNED PROGRESS AT RISK IS THE HEIGHT OF IRRESPONSIBILITY, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN. LET ME REPEAT THIS ` IT DOES NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN. ALL OF THIS IS ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE. HE SAYS WHILE HE HOPES CONGRESS WILL DO 'THE RIGHT THING', HIS HEALTHCARE LAW WILL TAKE EFFECT ON WEDNESDAY AS PLANNED. THE DREAM OF OWNING YOUR OWN HOME MAY BE FURTHER OFF FOR SOME TODAY. NEW LENDING RESTRICTIONS HAVE COME INTO EFFECT AS THE RESERVE BANK TRIES TO COOL THE HOUSING MARKET. BRIAR WELLS REPORTS. 481. SAVING FOR A FIRST HOME IS ALREADY HARD SLOG. FOR MANY, IT'S JUST GOT HARDER. I THINK A LOT OF FIRST HOME BUYERS HAD ALREADY GIVEN UP, AND I GUESS THESE RULE CHANGES HAVE PUSHED THAT FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT. THOSE RULES WILL SEE MOST BUYERS REQUIRED TO HAVE A MINIMUM 20% DEPOSIT TO GET A MORTGAGE. MORTGAGES BROKERS EXPECT A DROP IN BUSINESS. WE'RE, SORT OF, THINKING IT WILL DROP IT BY ABOUT 30%. SO THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. YOU KNOW, WITH THAT SORT OF DROP, IT HAS TO HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE HOUSING MARKET. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE RESERVE BANK WANTS. THE TIGHTENING-UP'S AN ATTEMPT TO REIN IN A RAMPANT HOUSING MARKET. I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF THAT ALREADY. APPARENTLY THE OPEN HOMES THIS WEEKEND WERE A LOT LIGHTER. THERE WERE A LOT LESS OFFERS PUT ON PROPERTIES. BUT LABOUR SAYS THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WOULDN'T PLACE THE BURDEN ON FIRST HOME BUYERS. A COMBINATION OF A CAPITAL GAINS TAX AT THE SPECULATIVE END, IMPROVED SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOMES THROUGH KIWIBUILD WOULD STABILISE THE MARKET AND PREVENT THE KIND OF BUBBLES THAT WE'VE SEEN. EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY 30% OR 40% OF FIRST HOME BUYERS NOT BEING ABLE BUY. THE REALITY IS I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT EARLY ON ` PROBABLY AS MUCH AS 60%. IF THESE CHANGES DON'T CALM THE MARKET, THE RESERVE BANKS HINTED MORE DRASTIC CHANGES COULD BE IN STORE. BRIAR WELLS, ONE NEWS. LAWYER DAVINA MURRAY HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 50 HOURS OF COMMUNITY WORK FOR SMUGGLING CONTRABAND ITEMS INTO PRISON. MURRAY WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SNEAKING AN IPHONE, CIGARETTES AND A LIGHTER TO CONVICTED MURDERER AND RAPIST LIAM REID. IT WAS REVEALED DURING THE TRIAL SHE HAD ENTERED INTO A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. DAVINA MURRAY'S APPLICATION TO BE DISCHARGED WITHOUT CONVICTION WAS DENIED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S PUTTING 400 STATE HOUSES UP FOR SALE TO FIRST-HOME BUYERS AND HELPING THEM WITH DEPOSITS. THE SCHEME WILL APPLY ONLY TO AVERAGE- OR LOW-INCOME EARNERS IN CERTAIN PROVINCIAL AREAS. THE FIRST-HOME BUYERS WILL BE GIVEN 10% OF THEIR DEPOSIT AND WILL HAVE PRIORITY WHEN SURPLUS HOUSING NZ STOCK IS UP FOR SALE. THE FIRST 40 HOMES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BUY FROM NEXT MONDAY. POLICE NATIONAL CRIME STATISTICS ARE OUT THIS MORNING, AND CRIME LEVELS HAVE FALLEN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. REPORTER LACEY WILSON JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM CHRISTCHURCH, WHERE CRIME LEVELS ARE STILL BELOW THOSE PRE-QUAKE. LACE, WHAT DO THE FIGURES SHOW? NATIONALLY, POLICE ARE BOASTING A DROP OF 7.5% BUT SOME FIGURES ARE WORRYING SEXUAL ASSAULTS HAS RISEN 11% METH DRUG DEALING SEEMS STEADY MOST DISTRICTS REPORTED A DECREASE, CANTERBURY ROSE A LITTLE, BUT IT'S STILL LOWER THAN BEFORE THE QUAKE THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S DEFENDING ITS DECISION TO MERGE TWO CHRISTCHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOLS AS THE LEGAL BATTLE ENTERS ITS SECOND DAY AT THE HIGH COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH. PHILIPSTOWN SCHOOL LAUNCHED A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO MERGE IT WITH NEARBY WOOLSTON SCHOOL, CLAIMING IT WAS UNLAWFUL. THE HEARING'S EXPECTED TO FINISH TODAY, ALTHOUGH A DECISION IS LIKELY TO BE RESERVED. AN ACCIDENT AND COMPENSATION LOBBY GROUP IS CAMPAIGNING FOR ACC TO FOCUS MORE ON ITS CLAIMANTS. THE 'ACC FUTURES COALITION' SAYS THE SCHEME SHOULD PUT MORE IMPORTANCE ON REHABILITATION AND OFFER TO RETRAIN PEOPLE IF NECESSARY. IF WE DO INVEST THERE, WE'LL GET THE RETURN IN TAX AND IN PRODUCTIVITY AND IN ENGAGEMENT. WE WON'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE NOW, WHICH IS PEOPLE GETTING DEPRESSED AND ISOLATED IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST BEEN CUT OFF. ACC'S ANNUAL REPORT WILL BE RELEASED THIS AFTERNOON. THE COUNTRY'S LONGEST-RUNNING EMPLOYMENT DISPUTE IS FINALLY BEING HEARD IN COURT TODAY. RADIO NZ AND ITS FORMER HEAD OF NEWS, LYNNE SNOWDON, HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN LEGAL WRANGLING FOR A DECADE. RADIO NZ EALAND SACKED MISS SNOWDON, ACCUSING HER OF BLOWING HER BUDGET BY $300,000, BUT LYNNE SNOWDON SAYS THE COMPANY'S RECORDS ARE FALSE AND SHE SHOULD BE REINSTATED. MISS SNOWDEN'S ALSO REPORTED THE BROADCASTER TO THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE. FROM TODAY, VISITORS TO STEWART ISLAND WILL PAY A $5 LEVY TO HELP PAY FOR THE ISLAND'S INFRASTRUCTURE. SOUTHLAND DISTRICT'S MAYOR WAS FIRST TO PAY THE FEE, WHICH SHOULD RAISE $175,000 FOR THE COMMUNITY EACH YEAR. FOOTPATHS, TOILETS, WALKING TRACKS ` ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SO BADLY NEEDED AND NEEDED IN THE FUTURE. CUT IT BACK TO $2.50 EACH WAY, AND IT'S PRETTY MINIMAL, REALLY. AND, UH, FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT, WELL, SMALL COMMUNITY, BIG RESULTS. ALMOST 40,000 PEOPLE A YEAR VISIT THE ISLAND, WHICH HAS A PERMANENT POPULATION OF JUST 400. OVERSEAS, TWO COMMUTER TRAINS HAVE COLLIDED IN CHICAGO, INJURING NEARLY 50 PEOPLE. THE CRASH HAPPENED WHEN A TRAIN CARRYING PASSENGERS DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR WAS HIT BY ANOTHER EMPTY TRAIN. PART OF THE PASSENGER TRAIN WAS CRUSHED, BUT FORTUNATELY NONE OF THE INJURIES APPEAR TO BE LIFE-THREATENING. OFFICIALS SAY IT SEEMS A MECHANICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE EMPTY TRAIN TO LEAVE THE YARD ON ITS OWN ACCORD. THE RETRIAL'S BEGUN FOR AMERICAN WOMAN AMANDA KNOX AND HER FORMER BOYFRIEND FOR THE MURDER OF A BRITISH STUDENT. THE PAIR WERE JAILED FOR THE KILLING, BUT THEIR CONVICTIONS WERE OVERTURNED TWO YEARS AGO. ITALY'S SUPREME COURT ORDERED THE RETRIAL, SAYING THE ACQUITTALS WERE FLAWED. THE BBC'S GEORGE ALAGIAH REPORTS. KNOX'S FACE AS SHE WAS ACQUITTED AFTER FOUR YEARS IN JAIL. BUT NOW, AS SHE TRIES TO REBUILD HER LIFE BACK HOME IN AMERICA, AN ITALIAN COURT HAS BEGUN A RETRIAL. SHE'S REFUSED TO APPEAR. IN A RECENT INTERVIEW, SHE SAID, 'I WAS IMPRISONED AS AN INNOCENT PERSON. 'IT'S COMMON SENSE NOT TO GO BACK.' MEREDITH KERCHER WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE FLAT SHE SHARED WITH AMANDA KNOX IN PERUGIA IN 2007. SHE WAS 21. SHE'D BEEN STABBED REPEATEDLY. AMANDA KNOX SAYS THAT, AT THE TIME OF THE KILLING, SHE WAS WITH RAFFAELE SOLLECITO, HER THEN-BOYFRIEND. OUTSIDE COURT TODAY, THE LAWYER FOR THE KERCHER FAMILY SAID HE'S CERTAIN THE PAIR ARE GUILTY. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) TRANSLATOR: WE'RE CONVINCED BECAUSE WE KNOW THE TRIAL VERY WELL. WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT THEY ARE GUILTY AND THAT THEY WERE PRESENT AT THE CRIME SCENE. THE RETRIAL WAS ORDERED BY ITALY'S HIGHEST COURT, BLAMING WHAT IT CALLED DEFICIENCIES AND CONTRADICTIONS IN THE DECISION TO ACQUIT. IF AMANDA KNOX IS FOUND GUILTY FOR A SECOND TIME, ITALY MAY WELL WANT HER EXTRADITED. A SPATE OF CAR BOMBS ACROSS IRAQ'S CAPITAL HAS KILLED AT LEAST 51 PEOPLE. THE BLASTS TARGETED MARKETS AND CAR PARKS IN BAGHDAD'S MAINLY SHIITE NEIGHBOURHOODS. MANY OF THE EXPLOSIONS WENT OFF DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. LABOURERS GATHERING BEFORE WORK WERE BELIEVED TO BE AMONG THE BOMBERS' TARGETS. ONE OF TWO HUGE LOTTO PRIZES HAS BEEN CLAIMED THIS MORNING. AN AUCKLAND MAN WHO DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A WESTIE HAS LAID CLAIM TO THE LARGEST EVER INDIVIDUAL LOTTO WIN OF $33M. HE SAYS HE HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT THE PRIZE WAS UNCLAIMED AND CHECKED HIS TICKET JUST IN CASE. THE WINNER OF LAST WEEK'S $22M BIG WEDNESDAY PRIZE HAS YET TO COME FORWARD. SHE'S BACK ` STILL COUNTING THE CALORIES AND ALCOHOL UNITS AND AGAIN WITHOUT THE MAN OF HER DREAMS. AFTER 15 YEARS, THE NEXT INSTALMENT IN THE LIFE OF BRIDGET JONES IS ABOUT TO BE PUBLISHED, AND DON'T EXPECT HER LIFE TO BE ANY LESS DRAMA FILLED. THE BBC'S WILL GOMPERTZ REPORTS. GO, GO! GO, GO, GO! OH, OK. BRIDGET JONES IS BACK. JESUS CHRIST. BUT NOT HER LEADING MAN. 'MAYBE THIS WAS THE MYSTERIOUS MR RIGHT 'I'D BEEN WAITING MY WHOLE LIFE TO MEET. YOU REMEMBER BRIDGET. 'MAYBE NOT.' THEY DID GET MARRIED AND HAD KIDS, BUT MARK DARCY IS DEAD, AND BRIDGET IS ONCE AGAIN A SINGLETON. DARCY'S DEATH HAS ALREADY CREATED PLENTY OF ONLINE COMMENT ABOUT THE NEW BOOK. BUT BRIDGET JONES WOULDN'T BE BRIDGET JONES IF LIFE WAS PLAIN SAILING. SHE THRIVES ON CRISIS. NOVELISTS THRIVE ON DRAMA. ALTHOUGH, AS A MAN WHO RETIRED THE MUCH-LOVED INSPECTOR REBUS DISCOVERED, READERS DON'T ALWAYS APPROVE. READERS HAVE MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE ATTACHED TO THESE CHARACTERS SOMETIMES THAN THE AUTHOR DOES. AND THEY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS. THESE CHARACTERS ARE ALIVE FOR THEM. THEY'RE LIKE THEIR BEST FRIENDS, PEOPLE THEY MEET IN THE PUB, PEOPLE THEY LIKE TO HANG OUT WITH EVERY YEAR OR EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. AND SO IF YOU'RE GONNA GET RID OF THEM, YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO BEAR IN MIND, AS STEPHEN KING DOES WITH 'MISERY', THERE'LL BE FANS OUT THERE WHO AREN'T AT ALL HAPPY. I DECIDED TO TAKE CONTROL OF MY LIFE... BRIDGET JONES IS STILL ANXIOUS ABOUT WEIGHT GAIN AND WINE INTAKE BUT NOW HAS A SCHOOL RUN, HAIR NITS AND WRINKLES TO ADD TO HER LIST OF PRESSING CONCERNS,... # HOW CAN I LIVE... # ...INDICATING LIFE IS NOT AS EXCITING AS IT USED TO BE. BUT AUTHOR, PUBLISHER AND BOOKSHOPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL STILL WANT TO READ HER DIARY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. THEN IN SPROT ` AN EARLY MORNING START FOR THE SILVER FERNS IN THEIR QUEST TO WIN THE CONSTELLATION CUP. 1 WITH ME NOW IS CHRIS TIMMS FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. HELLABY HOLDINGS WITH ANOTHER ACQUISITION? YES, NZ INVESTMENT COMPANY THEY HAVE PURCHASED FEDERAL BATTERIES IN AUSTRALIA UNDRAWN DEBT LINES THEY CAN CALL ON THIS IS A NICE FIT FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES MOA, THE BEER COMPANY, HAVE UNVEILED THEIR NEW DISTRIBUTION MODEL? BACK IN AUGUST, MOA UPDATED THE MARKET THAT IT WOULDN'T MEET PROJECTIONS DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENT WAS THE PROBLEM IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN-HOUSE NOW THEY ARE IMPROVING VOLUMES MARKETS UNDER PRESSURE FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE US? FAIR AMOUNT OF POLITICAL POSTURING DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS FEET STUCK IN THE SAND WE WILL FIND OUT TONIGHT MARKETS UNSETTLED WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA AFTER MIDNIGTY AN AUSTRALIAN YACHT CLUB WILL BE THE CHALLENGER OF RECORD FOR THE NEXT AMERICA'S CUP. 8 BASED IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, WILL BE THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN CHALLENGER FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP SINCE 2000 IN AUCKLAND. THE CHALLENGE WILL BE HEADED BY WINEMAKER BOB OATLEY WHO'S OWNED A SERIES OF OCEAN RACING YACHTS CALLED 'WILD OATS', REGULAR WINNERS OF THE SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE. THE CHALLENGER OF RECORD, ALONG WITH THE DEFENDER, SETS THE RULES AND DATES FOR THE NEXT AMERICA'S CUP CHALLENGE. TO SPORT NOW, AND THE SILVER FERNS HAVE LEFT FOR ADELAIDE AHEAD OF THEIR FINAL THREE MATCHES AGAINST THE AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS IN NETBALL'S CONSTELLATION CUP. A LATE CALL-UP TO THE SQUAD, UNCAPPED MIDCOURTER SHANNON FRANCOIS IS AMONG THE GROUP. KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. THERE'S NOTHING TOO STRANGE ABOUT THIS PICTURE. THE SILVER FERNS PACKED AND READY FOR A CHALLENGING TOUR OF AUSTRALIA. SHANNON FRANCOIS JUST DIDN'T THINK SHE'D BE ONE OF THEM. I DIDN'T EXPECT IT WHATSOEVER. I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT YOU COULD CHANGE THE TEAMS IN BETWEEN. SO, YEAH, IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE BUT A GOOD ONE. FRANCOIS'S MID-SERIES CALL UP NO DOUBT A SHOCK FOR HER BOSS AS WELL. THE UNCAPPED 22-YEAR-OLD'S HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM HER PHARMACY INTERNSHIP. I HAVE AN EXTREMELY GOOD BOSS WHO'S REALLY UNDERSTANDING, AND HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES NETBALL AND SPORT AND STUFF, SO HE WAS JUST, LIKE, 'GO FOR IT. IT'S AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY.' SO, YEAH, IT'S REALLY EASY. MORE DIFFICULT ` MAKING HER MARK IN THE FERNS. FRANCOIS MADE THE SQUAD LAST YEAR BUT DIDN'T PLAY. THIS TIME ROUND IT'S HOPED SHE'LL BRING MORE DEPTH TO THE PROBLEMATIC MIDCOURT. THERE'S A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR IN THE MIDDLE. THAT'S THE HARDEST PART OF THE COURT TO PLAY, REALLY, AND WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA BOLSTERING. THAT INCLUDES BEING A DIRECT COVER OPTION FOR LINCHPIN LAURA LANGMAN. SHE'S VERY DOGGED AND ACTUALLY VERY SIMILAR TO THE AUSTRALIAN STYLE, SO THAT'S GREAT IN TERMS OF PREP FOR US. THE STALWART CENTRE ON THE VERGE OF HER 93RD CONSECUTIVE TEST UNTROUBLED BY THE CONSTANT CHANGE AROUND HER. WE'RE WORKING ON OUR LINKS, WE'RE WORKING ON OUR CONNECTIONS, AND EVERY TIME WE GET OUT THERE, WE'RE GETTING MORE CONFIDENCE. LEARNING HIGH ON THE AGENDA FOR BOTH VETERAN AND ROOKIE. I HOPE TO GET SOME GAME TIME, BUT I DEFINITELY DON'T EXPECT IT, SO I'M JUST GONNA TRY AND PUSH IN ALL THE TRAININGS AND SHOW WHAT I HAVE, AND THEN IF I'M REWARDED WITH A TEST OR SOMETHING, THAT'D BE GREAT. NO EASY FEAT IN A TEAM THAT HAS TO WIN TWO OF ITS THREE GAMES IN AUSTRALIA TO RETAIN THE TRANS-TASMAN TROPHY. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, ONE NEWS. THE SPRINGBOKS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR LINE-UP FOR THIS WEEKEND'S RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER IN JOHANNESBURG. FLIP VAN DER MERWE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF STRIKING AUSTRALIA WING JOE TOMANE WITH HIS FOREARM. UNCAPPED LOCK FRANCO VAN DER MERWE HAS BEEN CALLED IN TO REPLACE HIS NAMESAKE. MEANWHILE, THE ALL BLACKS HAVE ARRIVED IN TOWN AND HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE CLASH BY PLAYING A GAME OF PETANQUE. THEY'LL HAVE A PROPER TRAINING RUN TONIGHT. SOUTH AFRICA MUST BEAT NZ BY MORE THAN SEVEN POINTS AND SCORE FOUR TRIES IN THE PROCESS TO WIN THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP AHEAD OF THE ALL BLACKS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND HOW TO SAY 'I QUIT' WITH STYLE. NOW TO THE WEATHER. DULLER GREY SHOWERY CLOUD HANGS AROUND THE TOP OF THE NORTH. A HIGH FROM AUSTRALIA MOVES OVER THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND, BRINGING FINE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ FINALLY TODAY, THIS YOUNG WOMAN DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH AFTER BEING UNDER-APPRECIATED FOR HER WORK AS A NEWS-VIDEO EDITOR. SO SHE MADE THIS VIDEO OF HERSELF DANCING AROUND HER OFFICE AND PUT IT ONLINE IN LIEU OF A RESIGNATION LETTER. SOUNDTRACK: # IF WE UP IN FRIDAY'S, I STILL HAVE IT MY WAY. # GONE. # WE STRIVIN' HOME. # GONE. # WE RIDE ON CHROME. # Y'ALL DON'T WANT NO PROB FROM ME. # WHAT YOU RAPPERS COULD GET IS A JOB FROM ME. # THE VIDEO'S GONE VIRAL, BUT THERE'S NO WORD WHETHER SHE HAS A NEW JOB YET. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JOHN LING AND DESNEY SHAW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013