DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. TODAY PROMISES THE WORST CONDITIONS SO FAR. WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THE AUSSIE BUSH FIRES. THE INDUSTRY SAYS WE'RE PREPARED, BUT COULD OIL DRILLING HERE BE DISASTROUS? AND THE AUSSIE PRIME MINISTER'S AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE, BUT HIS LESBIAN SISTER'S JUST GOT ENGAGED. THE PRESSURE'S ON FOR BUSH-FIRE FIGHTERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. HOT, DRIER AND WINDIER WEATHER'S IN STORE, AND AUTHORITIES WARN ANYONE WHO DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SHOULD GET OUT. IT'S HOPED BACK-BURNING OPERATIONS CARRIED OUT OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS DURING MILDER CONDITIONS WILL SAVE HOUSES AND LIVES. WITH THESE EXTREME FIRE DANGER RATINGS, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE LEAVING DECISIONS TO THE LAST MINUTE. I CANNOT REITERATE ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING THROUGH THAT BUSH-FIRE SURVIVAL PLAN, HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IT IS YOU'RE GOING TO DO. EXHAUSTED FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DELIBERATELY COMBINED TWO OF THE THREE MAIN FIRES IN A BID TO BETTER CONTROL THEM. ALL SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTRES IN THE REGION ARE CLOSED TODAY AMID FEARS NEW FIRES COULD SPARK UP. MEANWHILE, A BOY (11) HAS APPEARED IN COURT. HE'S ONE OF FIVE CHILDREN ACCUSED OF DELIBERATELY LIGHTING FIRES. AND SHOP OWNERS IN THE TOWN OF SPRINGWOOD SAY THIEVES HAVE BEEN TARGETING BUSH-FIRE DONATIONS. GIFTS OF BOTH MONEY AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR FIRE VICTIMS ARE BEING COLLECTED. MORE THAN 200 HOMES HAVE BEEN RAZED IN THE FIRES. ONE NEWS AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT STEVE MARSHALL HAS BEEN WITH FIRE FIGHTERS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. STEVE, HOW CRUCIAL IS TODAY IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THESE FIRES? Today is D-day in the battle of the Blue Mountains. We have just seen a shift change of firefighters. They are handing over to the day Crews. The wind is picking up, which is very bad news. This is no good for the firefighters who are doing their best to contain the blazes. Lightning strikes and rain have done nothing to help the firefighters. One or two other fires perhaps starting from those lightning strikes. TWO COOK ISLANDS SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN HIT BY SUSPICIOUS FIRES 15 HOURS APART, CAUSING WELL OVER $1M WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE FIRES FOLLOW A WAVE OF ARSON ATTACKS WHICH HAVE LEFT RESIDENTS ANXIOUS. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER IS IN RAROTONGA AND FILED THIS REPORT. RAROTONGA HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF A RAFT OF SUSPICIOUS FIRES. THEY'VE DESTROYED HOMES, BUSINESSES AND GUTTED TWO SCHOOLS. NO LIFE HAS BEEN LOST YET. THE EXHAUSTED FIRE CHIEF IS TAKING THE BLAZES SERIOUSLY. MOST START WHEN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS LAND AT RAROTONGA'S AIRPORT, WHICH MEANS THE ISLAND'S ONLY FIRE SERVICE IS TIED UP THERE AND UNABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY. IT IS A BIG WORRY FOR ME, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT HAVING A DESIGNATED FIRE SERVICE FOR THE ISLAND INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE AIRPORT. EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING THE CATHOLIC-RUN COLLEGE LOST ITS NEW WING OF CLASSROOMS WORTH NEARLY $1M. IT'S THE ABSOLUTE SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS AND FUTILITY AND THE ANGER. BUT BY THAT AFTERNOON, HE WAS COMFORTING A FELLOW PRINCIPAL OF AVATEA PRIMARY SCHOOL, WHICH ALSO WENT UP IN FLAMES. SIX CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE LITERACY ROOM, LIBRARY AND COMPUTER CENTRE, AMOUNTING TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. DEVASTATED TEACHERS TRIED TO SAVE WHAT THEY COULD, BUT THE FLAMES TOOK NEARLY EVERYTHING. MOST LOCALS ARE CONVINCED ITS ARSON. I'M ANGRY TOO TO THINK THAT SOME LOWLIFE WOULD DO THIS TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE SO LITTLE AND TEACHERS THAT GET PAID LOW WAGES AND GIVE THEIR VERY BEST. THE FINANCE MINISTER SAYS IF THE SCHOOL FIRES WERE DELIBERATELY LIT, THE DESTRUCTION IN A COUNTRY AS SMALL AS THE COOK ISLANDS AMOUNTS TO AN ACT OF TERRORISM. HEIGHTENED SECURITY HAS BEEN PLACED AROUND SCHOOLS. WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS LOSS. WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION WE POSSIBLY CAN UNTIL WHOEVER CAUSED THIS IS FOUND. THE POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE ARE INVESTIGATING, AND ITS LIKELY NZ WILL BE CALLED ON FOR HELP TO STOP ANY MORE DESTRUCTION. BARBARA DREAVER, ONE NEWS, RAROTONGA. GREENPEACE SAYS NZ'S NOT PREPARED FOR EXPLORATORY OIL DRILLING SCHEDULED TO START IN THE TARANAKI AND CANTERBURY BASINS THIS SUMMER. A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC, BUT INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES ARE ACCUSING GREENPEACE OF SCAREMONGERING. JESSICA MCCARTHY REPORTS. THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL LEACHED THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY FIVE MILLION BARRELS INTO THE MEXICAN GULF AND HAS BEEN DUBBED THE WORLD'S LARGEST ACCIDENTAL MARINE OIL SPILL. NOW A GREENPEACE STUDY IS SUGGESTING AN OIL BLOWOUT IN NZ COULD HAVE A SIMILAR EFFECT, SPILLING OIL FROM TARANAKI UP TO THE HOKIANGA, AND IN THE SOUTH AS FAR AS THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. ITS ALSO BASED ON THE FLOW RATES FROM NZ WELLS, SO THIS IS A MODEL, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IS ONLY A SIXTH THE SIZE OF THE VOLUME OF OIL THAT CAME OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO. ANADARKO, CO-OWNERS OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON WELL, WILL BEGIN EXPLORATORY DRILLING AT RECORD DEPTHS. THE CURRENT DEEPEST WELL IN NZ IS 125M. THIS IS DRILLING AT 1500M, SO IT'S A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF RISK. BUT SCIENTISTS ARE SCEPTICAL OF THE PROJECTIONS PROPOSED. MANY OF NZ'S OIL WELLS DON'T EVEN FLOW NATURALLY, SO CAN NEVER GO INTO THIS BLOWOUT SCENARIO. THEY NEED PUMPS LOWERED INTO THE WELL BORES TO PUMP THE OIL AND GAS. AS YOU GO OUT AND AS YOU DO GET INTO MORE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS, THE SCALE OF YOUR OPERATIONS AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU USE ALL INCREASES PROPORTIONAL TO THAT RISK. A RISK GREENPEACE SAY IS NOT WORTH TAKING. THE BEDROCK OF OUR ECONOMY IS BASED ON PRIMARY PRODUCTION, MANUFACTURING, TOURISM, AND THESE ARE THE SECTORS THAT RELY UPON THAT REPUTATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE OIL WASHING ON OUR BEACHES. ANADARKO IS THE FIRST COMPANY TO BE GIVEN CONSENT TO DRILL AT THESE DEPTHS IN NZ, AND MAY BEGIN WORK IN DECEMBER. JESSICA MCCARTHY, ONE NEWS. OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE 'TOPEC' IS BEING SENTENCED NOW IN THE NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COURT TODAY, MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THREE PEOPLE WERE SWEPT TO THEIR DEATHS OFF PARITUTU ROCK. TOPEC PLEADED GUILTY TO THREE CHARGES OF BREACHING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT AFTER TWO STUDENTS AND THEIR INSTRUCTOR WERE KILLED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO TRAVERSE THE ROCK IN AUGUST LAST YEAR. EACH CHARGE CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $250,000. A MAN WHO ADMITTED MURDERING A MOTHER OF TWO WHILE SHE SLEPT HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO A MINIMUM OF 17 YEARS IN PRISON. AT THE HIGH COURT IN WELLINGTON, ERNEST SMITH (39) PLEADED TO KILLING AMANDA TAUFALE LAST NOVEMBER. THE COURT HEARD HOW SMITH HID IN A ROOF FOR EIGHT HOURS UNTIL HIS FORMER PARTNER WAS ASLEEP, AND THEN CUT HER THROAT WITH A CRAFT KNIFE. WHAT HAPPENED TO MANDY WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING FOR THE FAMILY, AND SOMETHING NONE OF US EVER EXPECTED TO HAPPEN. TODAY'S SENTENCING MEANS THEY CAN NOW PUT THIS VERY DARK PERIOD BEHIND THEM. AMANDA TAUFALE'S TWO BOYS ARE BEING CARED FOR BY FAMILY. SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY FACEBOOK HAS LIFTED A BAN ON GRAPHIC IMAGES, INCLUDING THOSE SHOWING BEHEADINGS. THAT'S BROUGHT CONDEMNATION ON TO THE COMPANY. THE BBC'S RORY CELLAN-JONES REPORTS. IT DOES NOW COME WITH A WARNING, BUT THIS AND OTHER VIDEOS SHOWING HORRIFIC VIOLENCE ARE BEING WIDELY SHARED ON FACEBOOK. AFTER REVIEWING ITS POLICIES, THE SOCIAL NETWORK DECIDED IT WOULD NOT BLOCK THEM, A DECISION CONDEMNED BY THE PRIME MINISTER ON TWITTER AS IRRESPONSIBLE. AND SOME YOUNG FACEBOOK USERS AGREE. BACK IN MAY, A TEENAGER STARTED A PETITION TO CALL FOR THE BANNING OF THE BEHEADING VIDEOS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO LET PEOPLE DEMONSTRATE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT IT. IT'S A SOCIAL NETWORK; IT'S WHERE PEOPLE COME TO SOCIALISE. YOU KNOW, YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ON FACEBOOK, AND NO ONE SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO THIS SORT OF GRAPHIC CONTENT. FACEBOOK SAYS IT'S LONG BEEN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SHARE NEWS AND VIEWS ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL AND VIOLENT EVENTS ` ANYTHING FROM HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES TO ACTS OF TERROR ` AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE WAY USERS TREAT THAT MATERIAL. IN A STATEMENT, THE COMPANY SAID,... BUT THERE'S MOUNTING CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS MATERIAL ON YOUNG FACEBOOK USERS. WHATEVER FACEBOOK SAYS ABOUT SAFEGUARDS AND FILTERS, WE KNOW THAT YOUNG CHILDREN ARE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO GET ROUND ALL THESE, AND I DO THINK IT WILL, OVERALL, HAVE A HARMFUL EFFECT ON YOUNG MINDS. MANY FACEBOOK USERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VIDEOS, BUT AS THINGS STAND, THE COMPANY HAS DECIDED THEY JUST DON'T BREAK ITS RULES. AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS FINALLY COLLECTED THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SAKHAROV PRIZE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN FRANCE, 23 YEARS AFTER BEING AWARDED IT. THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE AND LONG-TIME POLITICAL PRISONER IN MYANMAR TRAVELLED TO FRANCE AND WAS GIVEN A STANDING OVATION AT THE CEREMONY. SUU KYI HAS PERSEVERED FOR DECADES IN PROMOTING DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR, ALSO KNOWN AS BURMA. AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT'S GOVERNMENT IS CHALLENGING ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S TERRITORIES WHICH HAS PASSED A STATE LAW ALLOWING GAY MARRIAGE, AND IT COMES AS HIS OWN SISTER'S GOT ENGAGED TO HER FEMALE PARTNER. THIS FROM CHANNEL 9'S KERRI YAXLEY. WHEN CHRISTINE FORSTER ASKED PARTNER VIRGINIA TO MARRY HER, SHE KNEW IT WOULD BE A LONG ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE IN THE POSITION, REALISTICALLY, THAT IT'S NOT LEGAL TO GET MARRIED FOR US YET. AND IF HER BROTHER, TONY ABBOTT, HAS HIS WAY, IT WON'T BE LEGAL ANY TIME SOON. IT'S WELL KNOW THAT HE AND I HAVE A DIFFERENCE ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE. BUT THE PM, WHO ADMITS TO FEELING TORN ON THE ISSUE, IS HAPPY FOR HIS SISTER. HE'S ALWAYS SAID, 'WELL, I'LL BE THERE AT THE WEDDING, CHRIS.' IN THE ACT, CELEBRATION AS THE TERRITORY GOVERNMENT LEGALISES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE,... # LOVE IS IN THE AIR. # ...MEANING COUPLES COULD MARRY AS EARLY AS DECEMBER. BUT THERE'S A BIG OBSTACLE IN THE WAY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING A HIGH COURT CHALLENGE. IT WILL ARGUE THAT THE ACT'S LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH THE COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE ACT. BUT EITHER WAY, CHRISTINE FORSTER WON'T BE CROSSING THE BORDER TO TIE THE KNOT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BOTH VIRGINIA AND I THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET MARRIED HERE IN OUR HOME, WHICH IS SYDNEY. THAT IS IN LARGE PART UP TO HER BIG BROTHER. HALLOWEEN IS STILL MORE THAN A WEEK AWAY, BUT MADAM TUSSAUDS MUSEUM HAS KICKED THINGS OFF EARLY BY UNVEILING PUMPKINS CARVED IN THE FACES OF CELEBRITIES. THE WAX MUSEUM IN NEW YORK HAD A MASTER CARVER CREATE LOOKALIKE PUMPKINS OF SINGER LADY GAGA AS WELL AS AMERICAN FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA ` AND, OF COURSE, HER HUSBAND. EVEN ALBERT EINSTEIN MADE AN APPEARANCE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, THE SHAREMARKET AND BUSINESS NEWS. AND IN SPORT, SIR ALEX FERGUSON TELLS US WHAT HE REALLY THINKS ABOUT ONE OF FOOTBALL'S MOST POPULAR PLAYERS. S WITH ME NOW IS ROGER COULTER FROM CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS. THIS ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. FOR MORE, GO TO ONENEWS.CO.NZ AND CLICK ON 'BUSINESS'. NEW RECORD FOR PACIFIC EDGE. WHAT'S DRIVING THAT? Pacific Edge is a bladder cancer diagnostic company. Continues to be the talking point of the market today. It's not new news. They've agreed to join with the company in the States. There are other countries where they can roll this out as well, Spain and Asia. There is strong potential for this company. MIGHTY RIVER QUARTERLY UPDATE. HOW'S IT GOING? They provided an update for the September quarter. Because our electricity system is dominated by Hydro inflows, there is no normal quarter for these companies. Its Hydro generation was the lowest ever in the history of this company. But it has actually been making money. This won't have any impact on the financials of mighty River Power. But it has lost a few customers. It's a reflection of stiff competition in the retail market. IT'S OFFICIAL. LYDIA KO HAS GONE PRO. THE 16-YEAR-OLD TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA JUST MINUTES AGO TO CONFIRM THAT SHE'S NOW A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER. ONE NEWS REPORTED EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT THE NORTH SHORE TEENAGER WOULD TURN PROFESSIONAL BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. IN A VIDEO RELEASED TODAY, KO PAIRED WITH ALL BLACK STAR ISRAEL DAGG TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OFFICIAL. WELL, IF YOU CAN BEAT ME, YOU CAN DEFINITELY HANDLE THE PRESSURE OF GOING PRO. MUST BE TIME NOW. QUIETLY: OK, I'LL DO IT. WHAT? I'LL DO IT. DO WHAT? TURN PRO. RIGHT NOW? LIKE, THIS MOMENT RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW? YEP, RIGHT NOW. RIGHT THIS SECOND. YES! YES! (LAUGHS) KO WON FOUR PROFESSIONAL EVENTS AS AN AMATEUR, INCLUDING TWO CANADIAN OPEN TITLES, AND ALSO CAME RUNNER UP AT THIS YEAR'S FINAL MAJOR, THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. SHE'S TURNED DOWN MORE THAN $1.2M IN PRIZE MONEY, BUT TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS FROM NOW ON SHE'LL POCKET IT ALL. HER FIRST PROFESSIONAL EVENT WILL BE THE CME GROUP TITLEHOLDERS EVENT IN FLORIDA NEXT MONTH. IN CRICKET, PACE BOWLER NEIL WAGNER'S MAIDEN FIVE-WICKET HAUL HAS KEPT DAY TWO OF THE SECOND CRICKET TEST AGAINST BANGLADESH ON AN EVEN KEEL. RAIN HAS AGAIN HALTED PLAY, WITH NZ 107/3 IN REPLY TO BANGLADESH'S FIRST INNINGS OF 282. WAGNER CLAIMED 5/64, AND LEG-SPINNER ISH SODHI FINISHED WITH CAREER-BEST FIGURES OF 3/59. IT'S ACROSS THE LINE. IT'S GONNA BE CLOSE. AND UP GOES THE FINGER. KANE WILLIAMSON WAS FORCED OFF THE FIELD AFTER HE DUCKED INTO A VICIOUS DELIVERY FROM RUBEL HOSSAIN, BUT COURAGEOUSLY CAME BACK ON AFTER BRENDON MCCULLUM WAS DISMISSED. TO FOOTBALL, AND IT WAS A BUSY RUN OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION, WITH CHELSEA, CELTIC AND ARSENAL ALL PLAYING, WITH ARSENAL TAKING ON LAST SEASON'S FINALISTS. THIS FROM THE BBC'S NATALIE PERKS. ARSENE WENGER WELCOMED LAST SEASON'S RUNNERS-UP TO THE EMIRATES ON HIS BIRTHDAY. BORUSSIA DORTMUND, THOUGH, WERE FAR FROM THE PERFECT PARTY GUESTS. ARSENAL EQUALISED THROUGH GIROUD, BUT AFTER FAILING TO SCORE LAST WEEK FOR POLAND AGAINST ENGLAND, ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI SHOWED JUST WHY FORM IS TEMPORARY. AND ARSENAL'S FIRST DEFEAT IN 13 GAMES MEANS GROUP F JUST GOT INTERESTING. CHELSEA FARED MUCH BETTER AGAINST SCHALKE. FERNANDO TORRES CELEBRATED HIS 100TH START WITH TWO GOALS. AND HAZARD'S FLOURISH SENT THEM TO THE TOP OF THE GROUP ON GOAL DIFFERENCE. ROOTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THEIR GROUP, DEFEAT TO AJAX TONIGHT WOULD ALL BUT CONDEMN CELTIC TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELIMINATION. IF EVER THEY NEEDED THAT FAMOUS PARKHEAD ROAR. FANS GOT THEIR MOMENT WHEN ANTHONY STOKES WAS BARGED OVER ON THE CUSP OF HALF-TIME. YOUNGSTER JAMES FORREST HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF SCOTTISH GAME. HIS CLASSY AND COMPOSED FINISH CERTAINLY LIT UP CELTIC PARK. A FORTUNATE DEFLECTION DOUBLED AJAX'S TROUBLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY LEFT CELTIC'S AMBITIONS IN A MUCH HEALTHIER STATE. 2-1 THE FINAL SCORE. STILL WITH FOOTBALL, HIS NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH MANCHESTER UNITED. UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT THIS YEAR, SIR ALEX FERGUSON HAD SPENT 27 YEARS WITH THE CLUB. NOW HE'S PUBLISHED AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. THE BBC'S DAVID BOND REPORTS. MANCHESTER UNITED ` CHAMPIONS. HE'S THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND FEARED MANAGER IN FOOTBALL HISTORY, BUT NOW SIR ALEX FERGUSON IS HAVING TO ADJUST TO LIFE WITHOUT THE TROPHIES AND THE ACCLAIM. IN AN INTERVIEW TO ACCOMPANY THE RELEASE OF HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, HE SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO GO OUT AT THE TOP. IN A WAY, I'M RELIEVED. I'M RELIEVED THAT WE WON THE WEEK AS MY LAST ACT. THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO GO OUT AS A WINNER. AND I THINK, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MY TIME HAD COME. IN HIS BOOK, FERGUSON IS DAMNING ON THE STATE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL. HE SAYS THE TEAM WILL NEVER WIN THE WORLD CUP UNTIL COACHING AND TECHNICAL ABILITY IMPROVE. WHEN IT COMES TO DAVID BECKHAM, ONE OF HIS FORMER STARS, HE PULLS NO PUNCHES. FERGUSON SAYS BECKHAM'S SALE IN 2003 TO REAL MADRID WAS PROMPTED AFTER THE PLAYER HAD BECOME DISTRACTED BY HIS MARRIAGE TO VICTORIA. SHE WAS AS BIG STAR. SHE WAS A, YOU KNOW, POP STAR, AND... HE MAYBE LACKED A FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEEDED AT UNITED. COS I'M A FOOTBALL MAN. I'M ONLY INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON THE PITCH, YOU KNOW. WHATEVER HE DOES NEXT, SIR ALEX FERGUSON KNOWS NO BRITISH MANAGER IS LIKELY TO EMULATE HIS GLITTERING ACHIEVEMENTS OR MATCH HIS DOMINANT PRESENCE. NZ DRIVER HAYDEN PADDON IS FIZZING AFTER HIS FIRST PRACTICE SESSION IN HIS NEW CAR AHEAD OF THIS WEEK'S SPANISH RALLY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME PADDON AND NAVIGATOR JOHN KENNARD HAVE BEEN IN A WORKS CAR, THEIR FORD FIESTA FROM A QATAR-BASED TEAM, TAKING ON THE SPORT'S SUPERSTARS AROUND THE SEASIDE RESORT OF SALOU IN CATALONIA. THE FOUR-DAY RALLY PROVIDES A REAL TEST AS THE CARS RACE ON MIXED SURFACES GRAVEL AND TARMAC. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND THE ROYAL TOUCH FOR A BRITISH THEATRICAL INSTITUTION. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ 50 YEARS AGO, A YOUNG QUEEN ELIZABETH OPENED LONDON'S NATIONAL THEATRE. 800 PRODUCTIONS LATER AND ON THE EVE OF HER GRANDSON'S CHRISTENING, SHE WAS BACK THERE FOR THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS. THIS FROM THE BBC'S WILL GOMPERTZ. THE QUEEN BACKSTAGE AT THE ROYAL NATIONAL THEATRE 50 YEARS AFTER THE CURTAIN WENT UP ON ITS FIRST PRODUCTION ` SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET, WITH PETER O'TOOLE AS THE DANISH PRINCE. VANESSA REDGRAVE'S FATHER, MICHAEL, PLAYED CLAUDIUS IN THAT PRODUCTION. IT WAS IMMENSELY EXCITING. IT WAS A WONDERFUL VENTURE ALREADY TO HAVE BEGUN THE COMPANY. AND LAURENCE OLIVER, JOAN PLOWRIGHT, EXTRAORDINARY ACTORS. LAURENCE OLIVER WAS THE NATIONAL THEATRE'S FOUNDING DIRECTOR. HIS BRIEF WAS TO PRESENT A REPERTOIRE OF CLASSICS ALONGSIDE NEW PLAYS BY CONTEMPORARY WRITERS, SUCH AS TOM STOPPARD AND SAMUEL BECKETT. I MEAN, IT WAS A DREAM. OF COURSE, IT BEGAN IN THE 19TH CENTURY. YOU KNOW, 'WE OUGHT TO HAVE A NATIONAL THEATRE. 'THE FRENCH HAVE GOT THEIR COMEDIE-FRANCAISE,' ETC. IN THE LAST DECADE, THE STATE-FUNDED INSTITUTION HAS BECOME A MORE ASTUTE COMMERCIAL OPERATION. 'WAR HORSE' AND 'ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS' TRANSFERRED TO THE WEST END AND BROADWAY, HELPING TO DOUBLE THE THEATRE'S ANNUAL INCOME TO �87M. BUZZ WHAM, WHOEVER THOUGHT OF THAT? THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND DESNEY SHAW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013