TONIGHT ` A WOMAN LIES IN HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES AFTER TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE WHOSE BAG WAS BEING SNATCHED. THE PAIN CONTINUES FOR LABOUR ` THE PARTY LOOKS SET FOR ANOTHER LEADERSHIP BATTLE. WE LOOK AT POTENTIAL CONTENDERS FOR THE CROWN. AND HE HAS A CRACK AT US, OUR POLITICIANS, EVEN OUR WALLABIES! AND OUR ACCENTS. LUCKILY IT'S HILARIOUS. ALL THAT TONIGHT. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. A GOOD SAMARITAN IS UNDERGOING SURGERY IN AUCKLAND HOSPITAL TONIGHT AFTER COMING TO THE RESCUE OF ANOTHER WOMAN WHOSE BAG WAS BEING STOLEN. THE COURAGEOUS 43-YEAR-OLD WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND OUTSIDE A SUPERMARKET ON AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE. AND AS DANIELLE STANBURY REPORTS, NOW POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR YOUR HELP TO FIND THE ALLEGED ATTACKER. THIS IS THE MAN POLICE ARE TRYING TO FIND ` THE ALLEGED ATTACKER CAUGHT ON A SECURITY CAMERA JUST MOMENTS BEFORE THE ASSAULT ON AUCKLAND'S NORTH SHORE. WE'VE GOT AN ELDERLY ASIAN LADY GOING TO THE ATM JUST OUTSIDE THE COUNTDOWN SUPERMARKET ON LAKE ROAD, NORTHCOTE. THE YOUNG GENTLEMEN HAS SEEN HER TAKE SOME MONEY OUT. A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THAT, HE TRIED TO TAKE HER WALLET AND HANDBAG. AND WHEN ANOTHER WOMAN RUSHED TO HELP THE VICTIM, POLICE SAY THE MAN TURNED VIOLENT ` ALLEGEDLY HITTING THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. SHE'S INTERVENED, AND AS A RESULT OF THIS, SHE'S BEEN STRUCK AND THEN FALLEN TO THE GROUND AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE GROUND. SHE IS QUITE SERIOUS ` A FRACTURED SKULL AND PROBABLY A BLEED ON THE BRAIN, AT LEAST. THE POLICE ARE KEEN TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE WITNESSED THE ATTACK. THE ALLEGED OFFENDER'S BEING DESCRIBED AS A MAORI OR PACIFIC ISLANDER TEENAGER. IT'S BELIEVED HE RAN THROUGH THE SUPERMARKET CAR PARK WHEN HE FLED THE SCENE. IN A STATEMENT, COUNTDOWN SAYS AS SOON AS IT HEARD ABOUT THE INCIDENT, IT CALLED THE POLICE AND AN AMBULANCE. IT SAID THE WHOLE THING HAPPENED EXTREMELY QUICKLY AND LASTED ONLY ABOUT EIGHT SECONDS. MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE INTERVENED. HERE WE HAVE AN ELDERLY WOMAN BEING ATTACKED BY A YOUNGER MAN ONE ON ONE, AND MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. A SENSELESS ACT WHICH HAS LEFT A GOOD SAMARITAN FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AND AN EMPTY-HANDED ATTACKER ON THE RUN. DANIELLE STANBURY, ONE NEWS. AND AFTER SEEING OUR STORY ON THE 6 O'CLOCK NEWS, THE FAMILY OF THE ORIGINAL VICTIM GOT IN TOUCH, KEEN TO THANK THE BRAVE WOMAN AND CHECK ON HER CONDITION. BRACE YOURSELVES. IT LOOKS LIKE LABOUR'S HEADED FOR YET ANOTHER LEADERSHIP BATTLE AFTER THAT DIRE ELECTION RESULT. BUT AS POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD REPORTS, THERE ARE STILL MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS OVER THE PARTY'S FUTURE DESPITE A MARATHON MEETING TODAY. SO, LABOUR MPs MET IN HERE FOR SEVEN HOURS TODAY. THE MAIN THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT IS THAT THERE WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF JUST WHAT WENT WRONG. WHY DID THEY POLL SO BADLY ON SATURDAY NIGHT, AND WHERE TO FROM HERE? DAVID CUNLIFFE CAME OUT AND SPOKE TO MEDIA AFTERWARDS. HE MADE A VERY SHORT STATEMENT, AND HERE'S SOME OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. WE HAVE ALL MADE A DECISION THAT WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF ISSUES TO CONSIDER, AND WE WILL NOT BE COMMENTING ON OUR CONFIDENTIAL CAUCUS DISCUSSIONS EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. SO WE WILL BE MEETING AGAIN IN OUR NEXT CAUCUS MEETING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. LOOK, THE OTHER MAIN THING THAT DAVID CUNLIFFE SAID WAS THAT HE APPOINTED TWO NEW WHIPS. CHRIS HIPKINS AND CARMEL SEPULONI WILL NOW HAVE THE ROLE OF ESSENTIALLY ORGANISING THE PARTY, OF KEEPING MPs IN LINE. THOSE ARE SEEN AS QUITE SENIOR ROLES, AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO GO WITH THEM. HE ALSO HAS PUT A VERY STRICT GAGGING ORDER ON HIS MPs. HE'S ESSENTIALLY TOLD THEM HE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO TALK ABOUT THIS LEADERSHIP BATTLE, ABOUT WHEN THIS NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE MIGHT HAPPEN. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN AND IF THAT WILL HAPPEN AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE LEADERSHIP. BUT A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE FROM DAVID CUNLIFFE THAT HE WANTS THE INFIGHTING TO STOP, NO TALKING ABOUT WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE LEADER, WHO WANTS TO BE THE JOB. THE BIG QUESTION IS, THOUGH, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT TIMES ` CAN THAT ACTUALLY HAPPEN? WILL THAT GAGGING ORDER WORK? FROM PARLIAMENT, POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD. EARLIER, DAVID CUNLIFFE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WEEKEND'S CRIPPLING DEFEAT WHILE ALSO TAKING A SWIPE AT SOME OF HIS FELLOW MPs. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN IS ACROSS THE STORY. DESPITE THE ELECTION DRUBBING, DAVID CUNLIFFE'S IN NO MOOD TO SAY SORRY. I CAN ABSOLUTELY LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR. YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY. INSTEAD FIRING SHOTS AT HIS FELLOW LABOUR MPS WHO'VE GONE PUBLIC IN THE WAKE OF THE DEFEAT. WE MUST STOP THE LEAKS, WE MUST STOP THE INFIGHTING ` IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. BUT SOME MPS ARE ANGRY AND AREN'T PREPARED TO STAY QUIET OVER THE LOSS. ALL I AM DOING IS SPEAKING VERY CANDIDLY ABOUT THE WAY WE SHOULD GO FORWARD, WHICH IS TO OWN OUR DEFEAT AND MOVE FORWARD ON THAT BASIS. ANALYSING WHAT WENT WRONG IS UNDERWAY, BUT DAVID CUNLIFFE SAYS THE PARTY CAN'T SPEND MONTHS 'NAVEL-GAZING'. WE DID THAT AFTER THE 2008 AND 2011 ELECTIONS, AND IT HASN'T WORKED SO WELL FOR US. WE ARE STILL NOT FIGHTING FIT. HE INSTEAD WANTS A FRESH MANDATE THROUGH A LEADERSHIP-SELECTION PROCESS INVOLVING MPS, UNIONS AND THE WIDER PARTY. NOW, THAT LEADER MAY OR MAY NOT BE ME. I WILL HAVE MY HAT IN THE RING, BUT THAT WILL BE FOR THE PARTY TO DECIDE. BUT HAVING REFUSED TO RESIGN, THE ONLY WAY TO TRIGGER THAT SELECTION PROCESS UNDER THE LABOUR PARTY RULES IS TO HAVE JUST OVER 60% OF MPS VOTE NO CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LEADER. YOU ARE SEEKING A NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE. YOU WANT TO BE VOTED DOWN IN YOUR OWN CAUCUS. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO TELL THEM, ISN'T IT? THOSE MATTERS ARE FOR THE CAUCUS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE SPEAKING` REPORTERS ALL TALK TOGETHER BUT SOME SHELL-SHOCKED LABOUR MPS WANT THE LEADERSHIP ISSUE PUT ON HOLD. THE PEOPLE OF NZ HAVE SENT US A MESSAGE, AND THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED, AND I THINK IT WOULD SMACK OF ARROGANCE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER IF WE WERE TO RUSH THOUGH A PROCESS. LOOK, I THINK WE NEED TO REFLECT VERY CAREFULLY ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION, ON THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION, AND I THINK THAT THE LEADERSHIP WILL BE DEALT WITH IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME. BUT DAVID CUNLIFFE IS PUSHING FOR A RUN OFF BY CHRISTMAS. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO GET ON AND FIX THE PROBLEMS QUICKLY. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. OF COURSE, A QUICK SELECTION DOESN'T GIVE HIS RIVALS MUCH TIME TO PREPARE. SO WHO IS LIKELY TO CHALLENGE DAVID CUNLIFFE FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LABOUR PARTY, AND DO THEY STAND A CHANCE? WELL, THERE ARE FOUR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES REFUSING TO RULE OUT A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE ` DAVID SHEARER, THE PARTY'S FORMER LEADER WHO WAS PUSHED ASIDE LAST AUGUST; GRANT ROBERTSON, WHO RAN FOR THE TOP JOB IN THE 2013 LEADERSHIP ELECTION BUT LOST TO CUNLIFFE; DAVID PARKER, THE PARTY'S CURRENT DEPUTY LEADER. HE PULLED OUT OF 2011'S LEADERSHIP RACE; AND STUART NASH, THE NEWLY-ELECTED MP FOR NAPIER, DUMPED FROM PARLIAMENT IN 2011. HE'S THE WILDCARD. MEANWHILE, OVER IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE, HE'S GOT 61 MPs, BUT JOHN KEY'S STILL HOPING TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THREE OTHER PARTIES. TE URUROA FLAVELL'S SET TO BECOME MAORI AFFAIRS MINISTER, WHILE SOLO ACT MP DAVID SEYMOUR'S IN FOR THE ASSOCIATE EDUCATION MINISTER POSITION. THE PRIME MINISTER'S ALSO HOPING TO GET WINSTON PETERS ONSIDE BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION. THE BALL WILL BE IN WINSTON'S COURT WHETHER HE WANTS TO HAVE ANY SORT OF DISCUSSIONS AT ALL ABOUT JUST WORKING ON THE ODD THING TOGETHER. BUT EVEN WITHOUT THAT, LEGISLATION REQUIRES US TO BUILD A SUPPORT, AND WE WILL TRY AND BUILD THAT SUPPORT BEYOND THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY WE ENJOY. ALL 29 NEWLY ELECTED MPs BEGAN THEIR TWO-WEEK INITIATION COURSE AT PARLIAMENT TODAY. THE US HAS RAMPED UP ITS WAR AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS, LAUNCHING AIR STRIKES ON SYRIA FOR THE FIRST TIME. SYRIA'S OPPOSITION COALITION HAS WELCOMED THE MOVE, SAYING IT WILL HELP STRENGTHEN THE FIGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT ASSAD. CHANNEL NINE'S LAURA TURNER REPORTS. EXPLOSION SHOCK AND AWE IN SYRIA. ROCKETS RAINED DOWN ON THE CITY OF RAQQA, IN WHAT ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST PICTURES OF US AIR STRIKES. WASHINGTON HAS HAD ENOUGH. THE BEHEADINGS OF TWO AMERICANS WE NEVER GOING TO GO UNPUNISHED. IT WAS TIME FOR RETRIBUTION. AFTER ALMOST 200 AIR STRIKES ON IS IN IRAQ, THE PENTAGON ANNOUNCED IT WAS FINALLY TAKING THE FIGHT TO SYRIA. THEY'RE HITTING 20 TARGETS AROUND THE IS STRONGHOLD OF RAQQA USING TOMAHAWK MISSILES, BOMBERS AND FIGHTER JETS. JOINING THEM ARE FIVE ARAB MUSLIM ALLIES ` SAUDI ARABIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, JORDAN, BAHRAIN AND QATAR... GUNFIRE ETHNIC MUSIC ...AND MARCHING TO WHAT CAN NOW ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS FULL-SCALE WAR. ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS SEEN HERE IN THE TERROR GROUP'S LATEST RECRUITMENT VIDEO. THEY'VE BEEN URGED TO ATTACK AMERICA AND ITS ALLIES, WITH AUSTRALIANS SPECIFICALLY NAMED AS TARGETS, AND CIVILIANS ARE CONSIDERED FAIR GAME. MAN SPEAKS IN ARABIC AS AUSTRALIAN WARPLANES PREPARED TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN STRIKES IN IRAQ, DEFENCE MINISTER DAVID JOHNSTON WAS IN BAGHDAD FOR TALKS WITH THE COUNTRY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER. WE ARE SEEKING TO HELP IRAQ IN ITS TIME OF NEED, IN THE FACE OF WHAT IS QUITE ATROCIOUS CONDUCT ` HUMANITARIAN ABUSE, CRUCIFIXIONS, MASS EXECUTIONS, BEHEADINGS. WESTERN LEADERS MAY NOT CALL THIS WAR. IT'S CERTAINLY BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE ONE. AND 130,000 REFUGEES HAVE FLED SYRIA TO NEIGHBOURING TURKEY IN THE PAST FEW DAYS ALONE. WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THEIR STORIES LATER IN THE BULLETIN. IT'S BEEN REVEALED THE ALLEGED GUNMAN BEHIND THE ASHBURTON SHOOTINGS MAY HAVE HAD ANOTHER VICTIM IN HIS SIGHTS. RUSSELL JOHN TULLY FACES FIVE NEW CHARGES AFTER A BRIEF COURT APPEARANCE IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY, INCLUDING THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF ANOTHER WINZ STAFF MEMBER, KIM ADAMS. TODAY'S CHARGES ARE ON TOP OF ONES HE ALREADY FACED FOR THE MURDER OF PEG NOBLE AND LEIGH CLEVELAND, AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF LINDY CURTIS, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE OTHERS INCLUDE INTENT TO INJURE BY LAYING A TRAP AND FIREARM AND THEFT CHARGES. TULLY HAS NOT ENTERED A PLEA AND WILL UNDERGO A PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT BEFORE HIS NEXT APPEARANCE IN TWO WEEKS. MEANWHILE, THE MAN WHO KILLED AN ACC WORKER IN 1999 HAS BEEN REFUSED PAROLE. JOHNNY MANU WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE BEHIND BARS AFTER FATALLY STABBING WEST AUCKLAND WORKER JANET PIKE. MANU HAD A LONG HISTORY OF VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE PAROLE BOARD'S REFUSED MANU PAROLE, SAYING HE STILL POSES AN UNDUE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY. BANKRUPT BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER REALITY TV STAR TERRY SEREPISOS HAS APPEARED IN COURT AFTER BEING ARRESTED AT WELLINGTON AIRPORT OVER CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. THE FORMER OWNER OF THE PHOENIX FOOTBALL CLUB WAS GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS AFTER TWO MONTHS OVERSEAS WHEN POLICE PULLED HIM ASIDE. INLAND REVENUE HAD APPLIED FOR A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST. OBVIOUSLY THE IRD ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOB, BUT, I MEAN, TO ACTUALLY GET ARRESTED FOR CHILD SUPPORT THAT I BELIEVE I DON'T ACTUALLY OWE? MR SEREPISOS DESCRIBES THE SITUATION AS 'LUDICROUS' BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IRD IS ONLY SEEKING A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RELATION TO HIS 19-YEAR-OLD SON. ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST BOAT BUILDERS SAYS IT'S RIDING A WAVE OF SUCCESS THANKS TO ITS UNIQUE NZ DESIGN. SOUTHLAND COMPANY STABICRAFT'S JUST ANNOUNCED A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR ORDER FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE FOR NINE OF ITS VIRTUALLY UNSINKABLE BOATS. MAX BANIA REPORTS. THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO PUT A NEW BOAT THROUGH ITS PACES THAN THE TREACHEROUS WATERS AROUND BLUFF. PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO TEST BOATS, TO BE FAIR. ROUGHEST CONDITIONS IN THE WORLD OUT HERE IN FOVEAUX STRAIT, OBVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE ROARING FORTIES. STABICRAFT VESSELS' REPUTATION AS VIRTUALLY UNSINKABLE HAS EVEN THE AUSSIES TAKING NOTE ` THEIR FEDERAL POLICE ORDERING NINE NEW BOATS TO PATROL THEIR NORTHERN WATERS AND THE VAST SOLOMON ISLANDS GROUP. ROUGH-WATER CAPABILITY IS PRETTY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SEE THAT AS SOMETHING UNIQUE AND SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR THEM WHEN THEY'RE DOING THEIR BORDER PROTECTION, POLICING AND PATROL WORK. THE UNIQUE DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY SIMPLE RIGID HULL INFLATABLES. WE DEVELOPED IT FROM A ROUND TUBE, WHICH WAS THE RIGID-HULLED INFLATABLE, INTO A SHAPE THAT IS ACTUALLY MORE USABLE BUT RETAINS ALL THE INHERENT PROPERTIES LIKE A RIGID-HULLED INFLATABLE. KEY TO THE SAFETY OF THE BOAT ARE THESE FIVE HOLLOW COMPARTMENTS ALONG EACH SIDE. EACH IS INDIVIDUALLY SEALED, SO THAT IF ONE IS BREACHED, IT WON'T AFFECT THE OVERALL STABILITY OF THE BOAT. FROM THEIR INVERCARGILL HUB, THE EXPORT BUSINESS IS BOOMING. I THINK THE INDUSTRY'S PRETTY STRONG, AND WE'RE A LITTLE COUNTRY THAT REALLY HAS TO EXPORT IN ORDER FOR THE COMPANIES TO GROW AND SUCH LIKE. THIS AUSTRALIAN ORDER ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN FOR AN INNOVATIVE BOAT-BUILDING COMPANY IN THE FAR SOUTH. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` (LAUGHS HEARTILY) OHHH. GREG MURPHY PULLS A FAST ONE ON AN AUSSIE LEAGUE STAR, TAKING HIM FOR A RIDE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. AND HOW CHINA'S NEW GLASS WALKWAY ` AN EYE-WATERING 1900M ABOVE SEA LEVEL ` IS BRINGING SOME TO THEIR KNEES. A NZ WOMAN SHOT DEAD ON A LIBYAN BEACH WITH HER BRITISH BOYFRIEND WERE IN 'THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME', A BRITISH INQUEST HAS BEEN TOLD. LYNN HOWIE (46) WENT TO LIBYA TO SEE MARK FANE DE SALIS, WHO WAS WORKING THERE AS AN ENGINEER. THE COUPLE WERE KILLED IN AN EXECUTION-STYLE SHOOTING DURING A TRIP TO AN ISOLATED BEACH ABOUT 100KM FROM TRIPOLI. THEIR KILLERS HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND. AS THE US LAUNCHES A MILITARY ATTACK ON SYRIA, A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS UNFOLDING ON ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BORDERS. MORE THAN 130,000 SYRIAN KURD REFUGEES HAVE FLED TO TURKEY IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. NOW TURKEY'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IS WARNING OF A 'MAN-MADE DISASTER' AS HIS COUNTRY STRUGGLES TO COPE WITH THE INFLUX. THIS FROM CHANNEL NINE'S PETER STEFANOVIC. A FLASHPOINT ON THE BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA. FIRECRACKERS POP KURDISH YOUTHS HURL FIRECRACKERS AND STONES AT TURKISH RIOT POLICE, WHO RESPOND WITH SMOKE GRENADES AND WATER CANNONS. THE KURDS HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE BORDER INTO SYRIA TO DELIVER AID TO THEIR FAMILIES OR JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS. SEVERAL PROTESTERS WERE HANDCUFFED AND ARRESTED, BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP OTHERS FROM TRYING. TRANSLATOR: WE CAME HERE AND WE DELIVERED OUR WIVES AND CHILDREN, AND NOW WE ARE TURNING BACK. WE ARE RETURNING BACK TO FIGHT. WE WILL FIGHT THERE UNTIL THE LAST DROP OF OUR BLOOD. IN THE PAST FEW DAYS TURKEY HAS STRUGGLED TO COPE WITH MORE THAN 130,000 SYRIAN KURDS WHO HAVE CROSSED THE NORTHERN BORDER, DRIVEN OUT OF SYRIA BY FEAR OF THE ISLAMIC STATE. AUTHORITIES EXPECT MANY MORE TO COME AS FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES. SYRIAN KURDS FIRED MACHINE GUNS AT MILITANT POSITIONS IN THE COUNTRY'S NORTH, AND THEY SAY THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS. CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE ORDERED THE EVACUATION OF 250,000 PEOPLE AS A POWERFUL TYPHOON LASHED THE COUNTRY'S EASTERN COAST. TYPHOON FUNG-WONG'S GALE-FORCE WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING, FORCING SHIPS TO SHELTER AND THE CANCELLATION OF HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS. THE 16TH TYPHOON TO HIT CHINA THIS YEAR, FUNG-WONG LEFT A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION ACROSS TAIWAN AND KILLED FIVE PEOPLE IN THE PHILIPPINES. NOW, IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH THE VIEWING PLATFORM AT AUCKLAND'S SKY TOWER, A NEW TOURIST ATTRACTION IN CHINA IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT FOR YOU. THIS GLASS WALKWAY HAS BEEN BUILT ALONG A CLIFF 1900M ABOVE SEA LEVEL. WITH A FORMIDABLE ABYSS UNDERNEATH, IT'S FAST BECOMING KNOWN AS 'A NEW SITE TO TEST ONE'S GUTS'. AS THIS MAN DEMONSTRATES. (SOBS, SPEAKS IN CHINESE) PEOPLE LAUGH, GIGGLE CLEARLY THAT GUY DIDN'T ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE, BUT OTHER MORE POSITIVE REVIEWS SAY IT'S LIKE WALKING ON AIR, IF YOU LIKE THAT SORT OF THING. AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE PLAYER CAMERON SMITH HAS HAD A DRIVING LESSON HE WON'T EVER FORGET, AND FROM A KIWI, NO LESS. THE SPORTS STAR WAS INVITED BY HOLDEN TO ENHANCE HIS SKILLS BEHIND THE WHEEL AT A SPECIAL DRIVING DAY IN MELBOURNE. MARTIN TASKER HAS THE STORY. INTO THE CLASSROOM AND A TOUCH OF THEORY FOR CAMERON SMITH, THEN ON TO THE TRACK FOR THE PRACTICAL, THE WOULD-BE WHEELMAN BEGINNING TO LOOK THE PART PUTTING THE BIG V8 THROUGH ITS PACES. ALSO BEGINNING TO LOOK THE PART ` GREG MURPHY, A NECK TATTOO AND A WIG MORPHING MURPH INTO BARRY FORD, SMITH'S PARTNER FOR THE NEXT TRACK SESSION. CAMERON. I'M BARRY. HEY, BARRY. HAVE YOU DONE THE FIRST PART OF THE DAY? JUST COME BACK FOR THIS? YEAH, I DID IT THE OTHER WEEK. WHAT DO YOU DRIVE NOW? I GOT THE GTS. OH, YOU GOT ONE OF THESE? OH SHIT. MIGHT BE A BIT OF A DREAM, I RECKON. WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING, MATE? OH, I BLOODY DRIVE A FORD, EH. THE STORM STAR SHOWS BARRY FORD A FEW MOVES. YOU GIVE THAT A BLOODY BIT OF A GO, DON'T YOU? AND THEN IT'S TIME TO SWAP PLACES. I HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT TO DO. (LAUGHS) AN INSTRUCTOR UP AHEAD GIVES THE ORDERS. KEEP IN CLOSE TO ME, AND WE'LL GET UNDERWAY. BUCKLE UP. ENJOY IT. THAT'S MURPH'S PLAN AS HE SETS UP TO BLAST PAST THE PACE CAR. <BLEEP>, LET'S GO, EH? (LAUGHS) SLOW DOWN, MATE. FAT CHANCE. MURPH FLOORS IT. HOW GOOD'S THIS THING? (LAUGHS) SMITH'S GRIN FIXED, THE LAUGH NERVOUS, AND AFTER A FEW HIGH-SPEED SLIDES, HE'S LOOKING FOR A SICK BAG. (GROANS) MURPH EVENTUALLY SHOWS MERCY. ARE YOU RIGHT THERE, CAM? THANKS, MATE. GREG MURPHY. NO WAY. (LAUGHS) AC/DC 'THUNDERSTRUCK' <BLEEP>ING HELL, YOU GOT ME A BEAUTY. IT WASN'T MY IDEA. THAT'S A GREAT WIG. IT'S GOOD, EH? BRING ON BATHURST. MARTIN TASKER, ONE NEWS. A TALENTED MEXICAN'S PROVING A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN THE ART WORLD. INSTEAD OF PAINT, ARTIST CHRISTIAM RAMOS USES TOOTHPASTE ` UP TO 30 TUBES FOR EACH WORK. HE CAN TAKE UP TO 200 HOURS ON A SINGLE PORTRAIT, IN THIS CASE, THE LATE COMEDY LEGEND ROBIN WILLIAMS. JUST AHEAD ` ALL YOUR WEATHER. AND ` BAD NZ ACCENT: APPARENTLY THIS IS HOW WE SOUND TO THE WORLD, AS AN AMERICAN TV SHOW HAS A CRACK AT US AND OUR ACCENTS. NZ ACTOR DEAN O'GORMAN IS OFF TO NEW ORLEANS TONIGHT TO PLAY KIRK DOUGLAS IN A NEW HOLLYWOOD BIO-PIC. THE NEW ROLE FOLLOWS O'GORMAN'S STINT AS DWARF FILI IN SIR PETER JACKSON'S HOBBIT ADAPTATIONS, AND A STARRING ROLE IN LOCAL TV COMEDY-DRAMA 'THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS'. THE 37-YEAR-OLD'S BEEN CAST IN THE MOVIE 'TRUMBO' ALONGSIDE EMMY AWARD-WINNER BRYAN CRANSTON AND DAME HELEN MIRREN. NOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS YEAR'S ELECTION BUILD-UP PROVIDED AN ABUNDANCE OF COMEDY FODDER. AND IT SEEMS LOCAL FUNNY PEOPLE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO NOTICED. AN AMERICAN TV SHOW'S ALSO HAD A BIT OF FUN AT OUR EXPENSE. HERE'S 'TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER'. THERE WAS ALSO VOTING THIS WEEK IN NZ. NOW, YOU MAY KNOW IT AS THE HOMELAND OF LORDE OR THAT PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPIER THAN YOU GO ON VACATION. NOW, ON SATURDAY THEY RE-ELECTED THEIR PRIME MINISTER, JOHN KEY, DESPITE A TURBULENT CAMPAIGN WITH A MAJOR SCANDAL THAT ENGULFED HIM EARLIER THIS WEEK. RAP SUPERSTAR EMINEM'S BECOME THE LATEST TO TAKE POTSHOTS AT OUR GOVERNMENT. WHY IS EMINEM GETTING INVOLVED? AUDIENCE LAUGHS IS HE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOUTH ISLAND'S RISING WALLABY POPULATION? IF SO, GOOD FOR YOU, EMINEM. THOSE THINGS ARE GIANT RATS WITH POUCHES. THEY MUST BE STOPPED. UNLESS SOMETHING ELSE WAS BOTHERING HIM. IT'S ALL OVER THIS CAMPAIGN AD. ...IN THE NATIONAL PARTY'S ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT. NZ IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT, SAY EMINEM'S PUBLISHERS, IS THAT THE NATS DIDN'T ASK IF THEY COULD USE THE SONG. THAT'S RIGHT. THE RULING PARTY OF NZ WAS ACCUSED OF RIPPING OFF... (KIWI ACCENT) EMINEM. AND, UH, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW ANGRY THAT MUST HAVE MADE... (KIWI ACCENT) EMINEM. I'D GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT NZ HAS MADE AN... (KIWI ACCENT) ENEMY OF... (KIWI ACCENT) EMINEM. BUT PERHAPS THE REASON IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION IS THAT THE PARTY'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER HAD THIS BRILLIANT LEGAL DEFENCE. WHAT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGALITY OF YOUR CAMPAIGN SONG? > OH, WE THINK IT'S PRETTY LEGAL. I THINK THESE GUYS ARE JUST HAVING A CRACK AND HAVING A BIT OF AN EYE FOR THE MAIN CHANCE COS IT'S AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. 'PRETTY LEGAL'? THAT IS NOT A CONCEPT THAT EXISTS. THAT'S LIKE BEING SORT OF DEAD. I WANT TO SEE THAT MAN AS A DEFENCE LAWYER. 'YOUR HONOUR, MY CLIENT PLEADS PROBABLY NOT, YEAH, PROBABLY NOT. 'JUST HAVING A CRACK.' SO, THERE'S PROBABLY A FEW POLITICIANS RIGHT NOW QUIETLY ASKING THE QUESTION POSED IN YOUR WEATHER MUSIC TONIGHT. HERE'S MIKA. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ # DO I ATTRACT YOU? DO I REPULSE YOU WITH MY QUEASY SMILE? # AM I TOO DIRTY? AM I TOO FLIRTY? DO I LIKE WHAT YOU LIKE? # I COULD BE WHOLESOME. I COULD BE LOATHSOME. A LITTLE BIT SHY. # WHY DON'T YOU LIKE ME? WHY DON'T YOU LIKE ME WITHOUT MAKING ME TRY? # I TRIED TO BE LIKE GRACE KELLY, # BUT HER LOOKS WERE TOO SAD. # SO I TRIED A LITTLE FREDDY. # I'VE GONE IDENTITY MAD. # I COULD BE BROWN. I COULD BE BLUE. I COULD BE VIOLET SKY. # I COULD BE HURTFUL. I COULD BE PURPLE. # I COULD BE ANYTHING YOU LIKE. # GOTTA BE GREEN, GOTTA BE MEAN. GOTTA BE EVERYTHING MORE. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. PO MARIE ATU RA. CAPTIONS BY JESSICA BOELL AND GLENNA CASALME. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.