DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. ANOTHER GOVERNMENT HOUSING ANOUNCEMENT, BUT IS AFFORDABILITY SET TO TAKE ANOTHER HIT? STILL ON SHUTDOWN. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR COMPROMISE IN CONGRESS? AND A RIGHT ROYAL RECORD. NUMBER ONE FOR THIS TAKAPUNA TEEN. IN WHAT'S BEEN A STRING OF HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNMENT'S SET TO RELEASE DETAILS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOUSES IN AUCKLAND, USING THE NEW HOUSING ACCORDS THAT FAST-TRACK BUILDING CONSENTS. WITH MORE, ONE NEWS DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR MICHAEL PARKIN JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT. IN AN HOUR'S TIME, LEN BROWN WILL SIGN OFF THE HOUSING ACCORDS THEY WILL ANNOUNCE 300 HOMES A COMBINATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING, SUBSIDISED HOUSING 39,000 HOMES WILL BE BUILT IN TOTAL THEY HAVE PLEDGED TO BUILD 10,000 HOMES EVERY YEAR FOR 10 YEARS EXPECT MORE THANKS, MICHAEL PARKIN, LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT. US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS RIGHT NOW IN TALKS WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS IN A BID TO SOLVE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CRISIS. HE'S ALSO TALKING TOUGH TO WALL STREET, ACCUSING REPUBLICANS OF BEING WILLING TO ALLOW THE US TO DEFAULT ON ITS DEBTS IF THEY LET THE STOPPAGE CONTINUE. THE ABC'S JIM AVILA REPORTS. THE SHUTDOWN IS NOT JUST ABOUT BUREAUCRATS AND TOURISTS. TODAY THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE CIA AND NSA TOLD CONGRESS 70% OF AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS ARE ON THE BEACH, FURLOUGHED. I'VE BEEN IN THE INTELLIGENCE BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS SERIOUSLY DAMAGES OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THIS NATION AND ITS CITIZENS. AT FBI HEADQUARTERS TODAY, 50% OF THE STAFF WERE ORDERED TO STAY HOME. ACROSS TOWN AT THE FDA, ALL SCHEDULED INSPECTIONS OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC FISH, FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND JUICE PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED. AT THE CDC, RESEARCHERS ARE NOT TRACKING OUTBREAKS OF FOOD POISONING. LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE CDC'S SCIENTISTS ARE ON THE JOB. HOME BUYERS APPLYING OR WAITING FOR FHA-BACKED MORTGAGES ARE ALREADY SUFFERING. WE'RE IN THIS HOTEL FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG. IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, THE REID FAMILY LOAN'S STUCK IN THE PIPELINE; AWAITING FINAL APPROVAL FROM GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NOT AT WORK. IN CONNECTICUT TODAY, THERE WAS NO PRESCHOOL PROGRAMME FOR GERALDINE BRYANT'S TWIN SONS. IT'S GONNA AFFECT THEM IN A BIG WAY, ESPECIALLY ACADEMICALLY ` AS FAR AS THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO BE IN SCHOOL. TROUBLE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES TOO. COMMISSARIES, THOSE CUT-RATE STORES ON BASES AND POSTS, HAVE BEEN CLOSED; THE CIVILIAN WORKERS WHO RUN THEM SENT HOME. STOP IT! JUST STOP IT. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FRUSTRATION AT THOSE IN CONGRESS SHUTTING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A POLITICAL POINT. JOHN KEY'S BACK FROM A FLYING VISIT ACROSS THE TASMAN, AND ALTHOUGH RELATIONS WITH OUR AUSSIE NEIGHBOURS ARE FRIENDLY, HE HASN'T GAINED ANY CONCESSIONS FOR KIWIS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA. TONY ABBOTT'S ALSO DECLINED A NZ OFFER TO TAKE 150 ASYLUM-SEEKERS OFF THEIR HANDS. LISA GLASS REPORTS. THEY'RE FRIENDLY ENOUGH; MORE THAN FRIENDLY ` TONY ABBOTT SAYS HE VIEWS NZ AS MORE LIKE FAMILY. NZ IS, UH, IN MANY RESPECTS, UH, AUSTRALIA'S CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP. UH, WE GO BACK A HELL OF A LONG WAY TOGETHER. UH, NZ IS FAMILY. BUT WE'RE THE KIND OF FAMILY YOU DON'T GIVE MONEY TO. TONY ABBOTT'S ADAMANT HE'S NOT ABOUT TO CHANGE WELFARE ENTITLEMENTS, OR EVEN VOTING RIGHTS, FOR THE 200,000 KIWIS LIVING OVER THE TASMAN. I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT KIWIS IN AUSTRALIA IS, UH, THEIR COMMITMENT TO HAVE A GO. THEY ARE 'HAVE A GO' PEOPLE. UH, I WANT EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THIS COUNTRY, UH, TO WORK AND PAY TAXES FROM DAY ONE, AND I'M DELIGHTED, UH, THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT KIWIS HAVE DONE. SO, UH, I'M HAPPY TO KEEP TALKING TO, UH, PRIME MINISTER KEY. OUR VIEW IS THAT WHILE WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR NZERS BECAUSE WE GENUINELY THINK THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT WOULD BE, UH, BEST IF THEY WERE ADDRESSED, IN THE END, WE TOTALLY RESPECT THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE DECISIONS. ANOTHER DISCUSSION POINT: THE FATE OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS. TONY ABBOTT SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO TAKE UP A NZ OFFER TO ACCEPT THEIR ASYLUM-SEEKERS HERE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR NZ'S HELP AND, UM, IF AND WHEN IT BECOMES NECESSARY, UH, OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL CALL ON IT. BUT... OUR DETERMINATION IS TO STOP THE BOATS, AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE STOP THE BOATS IS BY MAKING IT ABSOLUTELY CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT IF YOU COME TO AUSTRALIA ILLEGALLY BY BOAT, YOU GO NOT TO NZ BUT TO NAURU OR MANUS. THE TWO LEADERS WILL SIT DOWN FOR MORE IN-DEPTH TALKS WHEN MR ABBOTT VISITS NZ NEXT YEAR. LISA GLASS, ONE NEWS. KIWI SINGING SENSATION LORDE HAS MADE HISTORY, SNATCHING THE NUMBER-ONE SPOT ON THE US BILLBOARD CHART. LORDE, WHOSE REAL NAME IS ELLA YELICH-O'CONNOR, HAS HAD HER HIT 'ROYALS' HOVERING AT NUMBER THREE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. BRIAR WELLS REPORTS. # WE'LL NEVER BE ROYALS. # ROYALS. SHE'S HAD A DAZZLING ASCENT. # IT DON'T RUN IN OUR BLOOD. THE TAKAPUNA SCHOOLGIRL-TURNED-POP ROYALTY IS NOW AT NUMBER ONE,... # LET ME BE YOUR RULER. # RULER. # ...KNOCKING MILEY CYRUS' SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL 'WRECKING BALL' OFF THE THRONE. # I NEVER HIT SO HARD IN LOVE. # THE MILESTONE COMES RIGHT OFF THE BACK OF THE RELEASE OF LORDE'S DEBUT ALBUM, 'PURE HEROINE'. OUR NEXT GUEST HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HITS ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW, AND SHE'S MAKING HER AMERICAN TV DEBUT WITH US TONIGHT! # AND WE'LL NEVER BE ROYALS. # IT'S A FIRST FOR A KIWI SOLO ARTIST. THE CLOSEST ANY NZ ACT'S GOT IS CROWDED HOUSE. THEY GOT TO NUMBER TWO IN 1987. # HEY, NOW. HEY, NOW. # DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER. # AND KIMBRA GOT CLOSE LAST YEAR. # ...SOMEBODY THAT YOU USED TO KNOW. # BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT ME OFF. # AT JUST 16, LORDE'S THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO TOP THE BILLBOARD CHARTS SINCE TIFFANY 26 YEARS AGO. # I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW. # DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYONE AROUND. # WHAT'S MORE, LORDE CAN BOAST THE LONGEST REIGN FOR A WOMAN AT THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATIVE SONG CHARTS. # ...I'LL RULE, I'LL RULE, I'LL RULE. # LET ME LIVE THAT FANTASY. # OH. # BRIAR WELLS, ONE NEWS. A NORTHLAND POLICE DOG HAS BEEN STABBED IN AN ARMED-OFFENDER INCIDENT NEAR WHANGAREI. POLICE HAD BEEN CALLED TO A HOME AFTER A MAN WAS REPORTED TO BE AGITATED WITH WEAPONS IN HIS POSESSION. THE POLICE DOG GUS SUFFERED A PUNCTURED LUNG IN A STRUGGLE WITH THE MAN, WHO'S NOW FACING CHARGES. GUS IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. IN THE PAST FEW MINUTES, THE JURY DETERMINING WHETHER MICHAEL JACKSON'S CONCERT PROMOTER IS LIABLE IN THE POP STAR'S DEATH HAS FOUND AEG LIVE NOT RESPONSIBLE. JACKSON'S MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN SUED AEG LIVE IN 2010, CONTENDING THE COMPANY'S NEGLIGENCE IN HIRING DR CONRAD MURRAY WAS A FACTOR IN THE SINGER'S 2009 DEATH. THE TRIAL LASTED 21 WEEKS AND INCLUDED DRAMATIC TESTIMONY BY JACKSON'S MOTHER, KATHERINE JACKSON, AS WELL AS HIS SON AND FORMER WIFE. IN ITALY, THE COUNTRY'S AVOIDED A NEW ELECTION AFTER PREMIER ENRICO LETTA WON A CONFIDENCE VOTE. FORMER PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI WAS THREATENING TO TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT BY WITHDRAWING HIS PARTY'S SUPPORT, BUT HE BACKED DOWN WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT SEVERAL OF HIS SENATORS WOULD BACK THE GOVERNMENT. BEST-SELLING AMERICAN AUTHOR TOM CLANCY HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 66. CLANCY, KNOWN FOR HIS JACK RYAN SERIES OF NOVELS, WROTE A STRING OF BEST-SELLING SPY AND MILITARY THRILLERS. SEVERAL OF HIS BOOKS FEATURING CIA ANALYST RYAN WERE ADAPTED INTO SUCCESSFUL FILMS, INCLUDING 'THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER' AND 'PATRIOT GAMES'. POLICE IN THE US ARE QUESTIONING TWO BIKERS WHO FEATURED IN VIDEO FOOTAGE OF A PACK OF MOTORBIKERS WHO HAD A RUN-IN WITH AN SUV DRIVER WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY BADLY BEATEN BY THE GROUP. THE VICTIM OF THE ROAD-RAGE ATTACK WAS BEATEN SO BADLY, HE'S UNLIKELY TO WALK AGAIN. SCIENTISTS SAY MARS MIGHT ONCE HAVE HAD AN ATMOSPHERE SIMILAR TO EARTH, CREATED BY SO-CALLED SUPERVOLCANOES. THEY SAY SUCH SUPERVOLCANOES WOULD HAVE HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE EARLY EVOLUTION OF MARS. THE BBC'S PALAB GHOSH REPORTS. MARS HAS REMNANTS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLCANOES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, NEARLY 15 MILES HIGH ` OLYMPUS MONS. BUT THESE WERE NOTHING COMPARED WITH THE CATACLYSMIC POWER OF THE PLANET'S SUPERVOLCANOES. THE ULTIMATE BLAST FROM THE PAST, EACH ONE MORE EXPLOSIVE THAN A MILLION ATOMIC BOMBS. SENDING UP SEARING HOT ASH, THEY BLOTTED OUT THE SUN. BUT RATHER THAN DESTROY THE PLANET, THEY MAY HAVE BREATHED LIFE INTO IT. MORE THAN 3� BILLION YEARS AGO, IT MIGHT HAVE LED TO THIS ` A MARS WITH A THICK ATMOSPHERE AND RUNNING WATER. THESE VOLCANOES SPEW LOADS OF GAS AND DUST INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. FOR ONE THING, THAT GAS BECOMES THE ATMOSPHERE. SO THIS IS HOW ATMOSPHERES EVOLVE ON PLANETS ` THROUGH VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, ESPECIALLY MASSIVE ONES LIKE THIS. AND IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE ALLOWED THE PLANET TO ARRIVE TO HABITABLE CONDITIONS BY PRODUCING THE CHEMICAL MATERIALS FOR THAT TO EXIST. BY STUDYING PICTURES TAKEN FROM ORBIT, DR MICHALSKI FOUND THESE STRUCTURES, WHICH LOOK LIKE CRATERS, BUT AREN'T. THEY'RE GIGANTIC HOLES IN THE GROUND. THESE ARE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE MARTIAN SUPERVOLCANOES. WHAT'S EMERGING IS A STORY OF A VIOLENT BEGINNING FROM WHICH A HABITABLE WORLD EMERGED. BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENED NEXT TO HAVE LED TO THE DRY AND DESOLATE WORLD WE KNOW TODAY? TRANSPORT MINISTER GERRY BROWNLEE SAYS CONSTRUCTION OF WELLINGTON'S WAR MEMORIAL PARK IS ON TRACK TO FINISH IN APRIL 2015. THE FINAL PROJECT WILL SEE THE STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY 1 ALONG BUCKLE ST MOVED UNDERGROUND, GIVING SPACE FOR THE PARK TO BE CREATED ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING CARILLION. IT'S NOT A SMALL PROJECT, AND IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED IN A VERY TIGHT, CONFINED SPACE. THEY'VE GOT AN EXCELLENT SAFETY RECORD, SO, GIVEN THAT THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ON TARGET, A GOOD RESULT SO FAR. THE PARK'S BEING CREATED TO COMMEMORATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GALLIPOLI LANDINGS AND IS EXPECTED TO COST UP TO $120M. THE FIRST FLIGHT TO THE ICY CONTINENT FOR THE SUMMER SEASON IS HEADING SOUTH. 120 PEOPLE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND NZ ANTARCTIC PROGRAMMES BOARDED THE PLANE EARLY THIS MORNING, WITH PASSENGERS LOOKING FORWARD TO TRAVELLING IN COMFORT FOR A CHANGE ON A NZ DEFENCE FORCE PASSENGER PLANE. A SEASON OPENING IS ONLY CONDUCTED BY, UH, THE US AIR FORCE WITH THE C-17S. THE C-17S WILL BE ARRIVING A BIT, UH, LATER, SO THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HERE THIS SEASON FOR OUR NZAF TO GET THE FIRST FLIGHT INTO PEGASUS RUNWAY. AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY. IT TAKES MOST OF THE YEAR FOR THE DEFENCE FORCE TO PREPARE FOR THE SUMMER SEASON, WHICH LASTS FIVE MONTHS. HIDDEN CAMERAS HAVE CAPTURED THE MOMENT A TIGER CUB WAS BORN AT LONDON ZOO. SUMATRAN TIGER MELATI (5) GAVE BIRTH TO THE CUB ON THE 22ND OF SEPTEMBER AFTER A SIX-MINUTE LABOUR. THE FIRST-TIME MOTHER'S PREGNANCY LASTED JUST OVER 100 DAYS AND WAS KEPT SECRET BY THE ZOOKEEPERS. THE TIGER CUB IS THE FIRST TO BE BORN AT THE ZOO IN 17 YEARS. MOTHER NATURE HAS PUT ON A SPECTACULAR LIGHT SHOW d OVER THE US MIDWEST AS THE AURO 8 BOREALIS, OR NORTHERN LIGHTS, DANCED ACROSS THE NIGHT'S SKY. BRIGHT RED, GREEN, PURPLE AND ORANGE FILLED THE SKY OVER MINNESOTA. THE LIGHT SHOW IS CAUSED BY SOLAR PARTICLES ENTERING THE EARTH'S UPPER ATMOSPHERE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` IN BUSINESS NEWS, MARKET DARLING XERO REPORTS ITS GROWTH TAKE. AND IN SPORT ` RICHIE'S BACK. MCCAW IS NAMED IN THE ALL BLACKS STARTING 15 TO FACE THE SPRINGBOKS. 1 WITH ME NOW IS BADEN CARTER FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. WHAT'S THE MARKET REACTION TO THE US GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN? TODAY LOOKING MORE NERVOUS REALISATION COMING IN FOR AS LONG AS THIS LONGS, IT HAVES GDP IT SHAVES 0.1% OF GDP EVERY WEEK IT LASTS A LOT OF STAKE FOR US REPUTATION THE DEBT CEILING APPROACHING CREDIT RATING FOR DEBT MARKETS AT STAKE XERO HAS RELEASED UPDATES ON ITS SALES GROWTH MEETING EXPECTATIONS? DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT GROWTH 60% RISE IN CUSTOMER NUMBERS COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR THEY ARE DELIVERING ON THEIR SHARE PRICES INVESTORS SHOULD BE HAPPY NZOG ` ONE OF ITS TUI OIL-WELL PARTNERS IS PULLING OUT? NOTHING SIGNIFICANT MITSUI OUT OF JAPAN HAS SOLD TO OTHER PARTNERS NZOG GETTING GREATER SHARE OF REVENUE THEY TAKE OVER MORE OF THE DRILLING AND EXPLORATION BETTER SHARE OF REVENUE THANK YOU, BADEN CARTER FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN RICHIE MCCAW HAS BEEN NAMED IN THE STARTING 15 TO TAKE ON THE SPRINGBOKS IN JOHANNESBURG THIS WEEKEND. MCCAW HAS RECOVERED FROM A KNEE INJURY TO LEAD THE SIDE IN HIS 120TH TEST MATCH. PROP CHARLIE FAUMUINA WILL START IN PLACE OF OWEN FRANKS, WHO HAS SUCCUMBED TO A GROIN INJURY. HOOKER ANDREW HORE WILL ALSO START, WITH RESERVE HOOKER DANE COLES GOING TO THE BENCH. THIS TEAM, WHEN YOU'RE A SELECTO ^ IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT, UM, YOU KNOW, COS YOU'VE GOT CHOICES. AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT FOR HOOKERS COS WE'VE GOT CHOICES. BUT, FOR THIS MATCH, UH, WE THINK HOREY'S THE MAN TO GO. THE SPRINGBOKS HAVE ALSO NAMED BISMARCK DU PLESSIS TO START AS THEIR HOOKER IN THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER. WORLD CHAMPION SWIMMER LAUREN BOYLE HAS CONFIRMED SHE'LL ATTEND THE ASIAN LEG OF THE WORLD CUP CIRCUIT AFTER SHINING IN THE EUROPEAN EVENT. THE 25-YEAR-OLD'S RECENTLY RETURNED TO TRAINING AFTER WINNING THREE MEDALS AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SEPTEMBER. LAST NIGHT, SHE TOOK OUT THE WOMEN'S 400M FREESTYLE AT THE NZ SHORTCOURSE SWIMMING CHAMPS IN WELLINGTON. AND NOW SHE'S GEARING UP ONCE AGAIN FOR HER NEXT BIG COMPETITIONS. THE ASIAN WORLD CUPS WILL BE MY BIGGEST EVENT TILL THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEN NEXT YEAR, UH, WE'VE GOT THE TRIALS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN MARCH. SO THAT'S THE SHORT-TERM GOAL, I GUESS. THE WORLD CUP CIRCUIT BEGINS IN NOVEMBER AND TRAVELS THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE OTAGO VOLTS' CHAMPIONS LEAGUE T20 DREAM IS OVER AFTER THE MUMBAI INDIANS THRASHED THE PERTH SCORCHERS. MUMBAI NEEDED 150 RUNS IN JUST OVER 14 OVERS TO KNOCK THE VOLTS OUT ON NET RUN RATE. THEY DID IT WITH SIX BALLS TO SPARE. THERE'S ONE MORE. AND THAT'S IT. THE VICTORY MEANS MUMBAI QUALIFY WITH GROUP A WINNERS RAJASTHAN ROYALS. THE VOLTS ARE OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT, DESPITE AN IMPRESSIVE RUN OF WINS AND JUST A SINGLE LOSS IN THE TOURNAMENT. IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL ACTION, BAYERN MUNICH HAVE BEATEN MANCHESTER CITY 3-1, WHILE SHAKHTAR DONETSK HAVE SNATCHED A DRAW WITH MANCHESTER UNITED. DAVID MOYES' UNDERPERFORMING SIDE TOOK THE LEAD WITHIN 18 MINUTES THROUGH DANNY WELBECK. TAKING ON HUBSCHMAN. OOH, AT FULL STRETCH, COULDN'T DEAL WITH IT. DANNY WELBECK! MANCHESTER UNITED IN FRONT. BUT, IN A MIRROR-IMAGE GOAL, THE UKRANIAN SIDE LEVELLED IN THE SECOND HALF AFTER UNITED FAILED TO CLEAR. 1-1 THE FINAL SCORE. TASMAN HAVE UNDERLINED THEIR PREMIERSHIP ASPIRATIONS WITH A RECORD 64-28 THUMPING OF WAIKATO IN NELSON. TAKING JUST FIVE MINUTES TO OPEN THE TRY-SCORING, CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS TASMAN QUICKLY BUILT A 33-7 HALF-TIME LEAD. ...JUST HAVING A DISCUSSION IN BACK PLAY. MARSHALL WITH A KICK THROUGH, CHASING. MARSHALL! SPECIAL. TASMAN FINISHED IN STYLE, WITH LIAM SQUIRE CROSSING THE LINE ON THE STROKE OF FULL TIME. THE EIGHT- TO FOUR-TRY WIN ENSURES TASMAN WILL HOST A SEMI-FINAL IN JUST OVER TWO WEEKS' TIME. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND THE CAMPAIGN TO BRING THIS LASSO-WIELDING HEROINE TO THE BIG SCREEN. NOW TO THE WEATHER. WE'VE GOT A WAVY BAND OF HIGH CLOUD SNAKING ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND. FINE AND SUNNY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE NORTH ISLAND, ALTHOUGH STILL SOME CLOUD IN THE SOUTH-WEST. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ WHEN IT COMES TO SUPERHEROES, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE ALL HAD THEIR BIG SCREEN COMEBACKS. BUT WHAT ABOUT WONDER WOMAN? PASSIONATE FANS HAVE MADE A SHORT FILM TO TRY AND CONVINCE FILM BOSSES TO MAKE A MODERN FEATURE FILM ABOUT THE SUPERHEROINE. THE ABC'S CHRIS CONNELLY REPORTS. JAZZY THEME MUSIC FOR MORE THAN 34 YEARS, EVER SINCE THE END OF CHARISMATIC LYNDA CARTER'S TV SERIES,... MAY I HAVE A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE, PLEASE? ...IT'S AS IF WONDER WOMAN HAS BEEN IN THE WITNESS-PROTECTION PROGRAMME. NOW, SUDDENLY, THAT AMAZONIAN ICON KNOWN FOR HER BULLETPROOF GOLD CUFFS, HER INVISIBLE PLANE AND HER LASSO OF TRUTH IS BACK, ALL THANKS TO THIS 2� MINUTE SHORT, FROM AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANY, WITH 2.5 MILLION HITS AND COUNTING ON YOUTUBE. PART OF THE INTENTION WAS TO SHOW THAT THERE IS AN AUDIENCE FOR THIS CHARACTER. PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WONDER WOMAN IN HER OWN FEATURE FILM. THERE'S NO BIGGER FEMALE SUPERHERO THAN HER. SO, WHEN ANYTHING IN THIS GENRE SEES TO MINT MONEY, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY A MOVIE STUDIO HASN'T TAKEN A WONDER WOMAN PROJECT OUT FOR A SPIN. A LOT OF HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS HAVE TRIED TO BRING WONDER WOMAN TO THE` THE BIG SCREEN AND THE SMALL SCREEN, AND IT'S BEEN VERY TOUGH. VETERAN TV WRITER-PRODUCER DAVID E KELLEY DID SHOOT A SMALL-SCREEN PILOT, BUT IT DIDN'T GET PICKED UP. AS FAR AS OBSTACLES TO A FEATURE GO, COULD IT BE SEXISM? A MALE SUPERHERO CAN GET MANY CHANCES AT BAT TO BE A MOVIE OR A TV SHOW. WOMEN SUPERHEROES, REALLY, GET ONE CHANCE. LIKE HALLE BERRY'S CATWOMAN, OR JENNIFER GARNER'S ELEKTRA. FOLLOWING LYNDA CARTER MAY BE LIKE FOLLOWING SPRINGSTEEN IN NEW JERSEY. BUT THIS VIRAL TRAILER'S CREATOR IS CERTAIN IT CAN BE DONE, AND WITH STYLE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT SIX. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JOHN LING AND RICHARD EDMUNDS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013