TONIGHT ` IS THE CAPITAL SET TO FOLLOW AUCKLAND'S SUPERCITY LEAD? RECOGNITION FOR THOSE WHO FACED THE HORRIFIC CARTERTON BALLOON TRAGEDY. AND A SMALL MAN WITH THE HUGELY ANNOYING SONG HAS OVERSHADOWED KIM KARDASHIAN'S DERRIERE. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. YOU'VE GOT UNTIL MARCH TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON WHETHER WELLINGTON AND THE WAIRARAPA SHOULD FOLLOW IN AUCKLAND'S FOOTSTEPS AND BECOME A SUPERCITY. IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL YET, BUT ACROSS THE AFFECTED REGION, THE PLAN'S ALREADY GOT PLENTY OF PEOPLE UP IN ARMS. DANIELLE STANBURY HAS THE DETAILS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. JUST LEAVE WELLINGTON AS WELLINGTON. IT'S AN IDEA WHICH IS ALREADY PROVING ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CONTROVERSIAL. QUITE PATRONIZING AND INSULTING TO OUR RURAL PROVINCIAL AREA. WE SEE OURSELVES AS HAVING A STRONG COMMUNITY OF INTEREST THAT IS DIFFERENT TO THE METROS. IF IT QUAKES LIKE A DUCK, WADDLES LIKE A DUCK, IT IS A DUCK, AND THIS IS THE AUCKLAND MODEL DRESSED UP. WITH A POPULATION OF JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION BELIEVES GREATER WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA NEEDS JUST ONE COUNCIL WITH ONE MAYOR. THESE COUNCIL STRUCTURES DO NEED ONGOING SCRUTINY. IT DOES SEEM A LITTLE MORE HIERARCHICAL THAN COLLABORATIVE. 95 COUNCILLORS WOULD BECOME 21. THEY'D BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH-LEVEL DECISIONS, WHILE NEWLY ESTABLISHED LOCAL BOARDS WOULD LOOK AFTER COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES. LOCAL BOARDS WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE REALLY DIFFICULT, BIG, HAIRY LOTS OF EXPENDITURE LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SEWERAGE PLANT, THE ROADS, THAT SORT OF THING. # WITH MY KANSAS CITY BABY... # BUT RESIDENTS IN WAIRARAPA FEAR THEY'LL BE LEFT OUT IN THE WIND. WE HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH WELLINGTON EXCEPT THE THROUGH THE HILL. WE'LL JUST BE LEFT OUT LIKE SMALL TOWNS ARE. LOOK AT AUCKLAND. HOWEVER ONE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THINKS A SUPER CITY WILL GIVE THE REGION A BOOST. IT WILL END UP HAVING BETTER SERVICES BETWEEN EACH SIDE, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE FOCUSES. WE'LL GET MORE TRANSPORT GOING. WAIRARAPA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED AREAS IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY A CASE TO BE MADE THAT WE WOULD PAY MORE RATES IN THE LONG TERM IF WE WEREN'T PART OF A LARGER ORGANISATION. WAIRARAPA'S THREE MAYORS WANT THE PROPOSAL TO GO TO A REFERENDUM, WHERE THEY THINK IT'LL GET VOTED OUT. THE PLAN WOULD COST $30M TO IMPLEMENT OVER EIGHT YEARS, BUT THE COMMISSION CAN'T SAY WHETHER RATES WILL COME DOWN, IF JOBS WILL GO OR EVEN IF THERE WILL BE SAVINGS. DANIELLE STANBURY, ONE NEWS. RECAPTURED KILLER AND CHILD ABUSER PHILLIP SMITH IS ON A HUNGER STRIKE AT AUCKLAND PRISON, CLAIMING HIS DIGNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY. SMITH WAS FLOWN BACK FROM BRAZIL UNDER POLICE GUARD LAST WEEKEND. HIS LAWYER VISITED HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEN AND CLAIMS HIS CLIENT'S BEEN LOCKED IN HIS CELL FOR 23 HOURS AND HASN'T EATEN FOR THREE DAYS. HE'S HAD HIS HAIRPIECE REMOVED. HE'S HAD HIS GLASSES REMOVED, AND HE'S BEEN STRIPPED OF HIS DIGNITY, HE SAID. ALL HIS CLOTHING HAVE BEEN REMOVED, AND HE'S JUST GOT A HOSPITAL GOWN ON. SMITH WAS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE WHEN HE ESCAPED OVERSEAS. MR ELLIS SAYS SMITH BELIEVES THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS PUNISHING HIM FOR CAUSING EMBARRASSMENT. TROUBLED AC/DC DRUMMER PHIL RUDD WAS BACK IN COURT TODAY AFTER BREACHING HIS BAIL CONDITIONS. THE 60-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED IN TAURANGA AND, ACCORDING TO EYEWITNESSES, WAS ACTING STRANGELY. RUDD, WHO IS FACING CHARGES OF THREATENING TO KILL AND POSSESSION OF CANNABIS AND METHAMPHETAMINE, WAS EARLIER BAILED WITH STRICT CONDITIONS. TODAY HE ADMITTED BREACHING A NON-ASSOCIATION CLAUSE IN THOSE CONDITIONS. THE JUDGE LET HIM GO BUT WITH ANOTHER CONDITION ` HE MUST NOT USE ILLICIT DRUGS. FOOD SAFETY CAMPAIGNERS SAY NZ BABY FOOD CONTAINS NEARLY 800 TIMES MORE PESTICIDE RESIDUE THAN IN EUROPE. TWO WOMEN ADVOCATING FOR ZERO TOLERANCE OF PESTICIDES IN BABY FOOD TOOK THE FINDINGS TO PARLIAMENT TODAY. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD HAS MORE. (CRIES) BABY MEAL TIMES. NOT THE EASIEST PART OF THE DAY FOR MOST PARENTS. BUT LEARNING PESTICIDES MAY EXIST IN PRE-PROCESSED BABY FOODS, WELL, THAT'S SCARY FOR MOTHERS LIKE LAURA FAINE. I THINK THAT'S HORRIFIC. I'M COMPLETELY HORRIFIED. ALISON WHITE IS PART OF A CAMPAIGN THAT'S CALLING FOR PESTICIDE-FREE BABY FOOD. THEY'VE COMPARED EUROPEAN DATA WITH THAT AVAILABLE IN NZ AND SAY IT SHOWS RESIDUES HERE ARE 800 TIMES HIGHER. ARE THESE PESTICIDES IN BABY FOOD ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM THE PESTICIDES WE SEE IN OTHER FOOD? THEY'RE THE SAME PESTICIDES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY TAKING IN A WHOLE LOT MORE PESTICIDES THAN WE DO BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE EXPOSED RELATIVE TO THEIR BODY WEIGHT. WE ARE AN ORGANIC FAMILY, BUT EVEN THEN I STILL THOUGHT CONVENTIONALLY GROWN AND MADE BABY FOOD WAS SAFE, THE BIG CONCERN IS THE POSSIBLE EFFECT ON A BABY'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. IT CAN AFFECT THEIR INTELLIGENCE, THEIR IQ, THEIR ABILITY TO SOCIALISE. IT'S HARD TO KNOW JUST HOW BIG THE PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF TESTING AND LABELLING. THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES LAST PUBLISHED TEST RESULTS IN 2009. FOOD SAFETY ADVOCATES SAY THAT TESTING SAMPLE IS JUST TOO SMALL. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE TESTING OF BABY FOOD TO FIND OUT HOW BAD THE SITUATION REALLY IS. BECAUSE 32 SAMPLES, 8 SAMPLES OF FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BABY FOOD IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUDGE. THE FOOD SAFETY MINISTER'S PROMISING TO INVESTIGATE. I DO KNOW WE HAVE A WORLD-CLASS FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM IN NZ, AND FOR THAT REASON I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE GOOD SYSTEMS IN PLACE, AND I WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOME ANSWERS. ANSWERS PARENTS WILL BE HOPING OFFER SOME SOOTHING REASSURANCE. KATIE BRADFORD, ONE NEWS. THE BODY OF A FISHERMAN HAS BEEN RETRIEVED FROM AUCKLAND'S HAURAKI GULF AFTER IT WAS SPOTTED BY A PASSING CRUISE SHIP. CREW ON THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE SHIP RADIANCE OF THE SEAS INITIALLY BELIEVED THE MAN WAS ONE OF THEIR PASSENGERS. THE COASTGUARD, POLICE AND WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER WERE SENT TO RECOVER THE BODY LAST NIGHT. POLICE SAY THE VICTIM WAS A BOATIE WHO'D BEEN MISSING SINCE TUESDAY. TWO OF THE MEN ARRESTED OVER AN ALLEGED KIDNAPPING APPEARED IN QUEENSTOWN DISTRICT COURT TODAY. FOLLOWING A SIX-DAY MANHUNT ACROSS THE QUEENSTOWN AREA, JOSHUA VEINT (23) AND PITA WILSON (38) FACE CHARGES OF KIDNAPPING, WOUNDING AND SUPPLYING METHAMPHETAMINE. THEY'VE BOTH BEEN REMANDED IN CUSTODY AND ARE NOW SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN INVERCARGILL DISTRICT COURT NEXT WEEK. TWO WOMEN FACE CHARGES OF POSSESSION AND BEING AN ACCESSORY TO WOUNDING. A CHRISTCHURCH KILLING THAT SAW A MAN SET ON FIRE BECAUSE HE WAS SUSPECTED OF BEING A PAEDOPHILE HAS SEEN HIS ATTACKERS JAILED FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS. SHAY WEBSTER (22) AND JASON BARR (44) WERE DRINKING HEAVILY WITH TERRENCE SMITH ON ANZAC DAY LAST YEAR WHEN AN ARGUMENT BEGAN. IT ENDED WITH TERRENCE SMITH BURNT FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS LOWER TORSO. MR SMITH DIED TWO WEEKS LATER IN MIDDLEMORE HOSPITAL. TODAY HIS KILLERS WERE SENTENCED TO A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS IN PRISON, BUT THE VICTIM'S FAMILY SAYS THEIR PUNISHMENT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. OUR LOVED FAMILY MEMBER HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY, AND THE VALUE OF THEIR LIFE HAS BEEN MINIMALISED BY WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A TOTALLY INADEQUATE SENTENCE. POLICE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE SINCE ESTABLISHED THE CLAIMS TERRENCE SMITH WAS A PAEDOPHILE WERE UNFOUNDED. NEW POWERS TO COMBAT SPORTS MATCH-FIXING HAVE PASSED THEIR FINAL STAGE IN PARLIAMENT. THE ANTI-MATCH-FIXING MEASURES AIM TO PREVENT MANIPULATION OF CRICKET WORLD CUP AND UNDER-20S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP MATCHES IN NZ NEXT YEAR. THE NEW LAW WILL MEAN ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE OUTCOME OF SPORTING EVENTS COULD BE JAILED FOR UP TO SEVEN YEARS. EERIE IMAGES TAKEN FROM INSIDE THE QUAKE-DAMAGED CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL HAVE ANGERED THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE. THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY SO-CALLED URBAN EXPLORERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO PRIDE THEMSELVES ON CAPTURING IMAGES FROM ABANDONED SITES. DIANNA VEZICH REPORTS. FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS THE DOORS HAVE BEEN SHUT ON THIS HOUSE OF WORSHIP, BUT NOW TWO AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE SHED LIGHT ON WHAT LIES BEHIND THE BARRIERS. THE STRIKING IMAGES WERE TAKEN BY A PAIR KNOWN AS WILDBOYZ ` A DUO WHO SNAP AWAY AT DERELICT LOCATIONS. THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE SAYS THEY'RE IDIOTS WHO ENTERED THE BUILDING UNLAWFULLY. HERE WAS SIGNAGE, FENCING AND EVERYTHING SAYING DO NOT ENTER A DANGEROUS BUILDING, BUT THEY CHOSE TO DELIBERATELY DO THAT. BUT ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHERS SAYS THEY DID NOTHING WRONG. HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED BUT OVER SKYPE TOLD US HE AND HIS COMPANION SIMPLY WALKED IN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. WE WERE JUST REALLY PATIENT, AND WE JUST WAITED FOR A NICE, QUIET KIND OF MOMENT, A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPENING. FROM WHERE WE WERE STOOD, THERE WERE NO SIGNS SAYING, 'DON'T ENTER THE PREMISES.' THE WILDBOYZ WORK WITH A WIDER GROUP OF URBAN EXPLORERS. POST-QUAKE CHRISTCHURCH HAS PROVIDED PLENTY OF CONTENT ` THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, THE OLD CHANCERY ARCADE, EVEN AN ABANDONED BROTHEL. OVERSEAS EXAMPLES SHOW A FORMER THEME PARK IN JAPAN AND AN OLD HOSPITAL IN GERMANY. I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S AN ACTIVITY THAT YOU DO FOR THE RUSH OR THE THRILL OF TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE DANGEROUS. IT'S MORE THAT THESE PLACES ARE REALLY INTERESTING, AND YOU KNOW EVENTUALLY THEY ARE GONNA BE LOST. THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE HAS SPOKEN TO BOTH THE POLICE AND CERA ABOUT THE INCIDENT. DIANNA VEZICH, ONE NEWS. ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES ARE CALLING FOR TOMORROW NIGHT'S 'BULLMANIA' EVENT IN WARKWORTH TO BE CANCELLED, BUT THE RODEO ORGANISER SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE UP THEIR OWN MIND ABOUT THE EVENT. HARVEY CARRAN BELIEVES THE CASE AGAINST RODEO IS BASED ON MISINFORMATION. WE'VE GOT ALL THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING. WE'VE GOT` THE SPCA WILL BE HERE FOR OUR EVENT. WE HAVE` WE'RE UNDER EXTREME SCRUTINY HERE. HOWEVER, ANTI-RODEO CAMPAIGNER LYNN CHARLTON DISAGREES AND WANTS AUCKLAND COUNCIL TO BAN RODEOS OUTRIGHT. 'ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING' ` THAT'S HOW FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DESCRIBED ARRIVING AT THE SCENE OF THE CARTERTON BALLOON DISASTER THAT SAW 11 PEOPLE KILLED. TONIGHT THEY'VE BEEN RECOGNISED FOR THEIR EFFORTS THAT DAY IN JANUARY 2012. KRISTIN HALL WAS AT THE CEREMONY IN CARTERTON. IT MIGHT BE THREE YEARS ON FROM THE TRAGEDY, BUT THE MEMORIES OF THE CARTERTON BALLOON CRASH ARE STILL ETCHED IN THE MINDS OF THESE MEN. WHEN WE ARRIVED, THERE WAS A BASKET OF A BURNT BALLOON AND NOTICED SOME BODIES IN THE BALLOON AND ALSO WAS ADVISED THERE WERE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS OF THE BALLOON WHO HAD JUMPED. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WAIRARAPA TO HELP, ARRIVING AT A SCENE THEY DESCRIBE AS TERRIFYING. THEY WERE BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION, AND OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE HAD TO IDENTIFY THEM. MUST HAVE BEEN A HORRENDOUS JOB TO DO THAT. WE HAVE LOST A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OVER IT, BUT THEY'RE GETTING COUNSELLING, AND HOPEFULLY THINGS COME RIGHT FOR THEM. IT WAS NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO NOW, NOT FAR FROM THIS MEMORIAL SITE, THAT THE BALLOON CAME DOWN, KILLING ALL 11 PEOPLE IN IT. THE AWARDS HAVE ONLY HAPPENED NOW BECAUSE FOR MANY IN THE BRIGADE, THE MEMORY WAS STILL TOO RAW. SHOCK FROM THE DISASTER WAS MADE EVEN HARDER BECAUSE MANY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS KNEW THE VICTIMS. ALL OF THE BRIGADE WOULD'VE KNOWN SOMEONE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, LANCE HOPPING. WE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM, SO WE KNEW LANCE, AND SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BALLOON, TOO, WE KNEW. DEALING WITH THE TRAGEDY HAS, HOWEVER, HELPED BRING THE COMMUNITY CLOSER. I OFTEN GO HOME FROM COUNCIL THAT WAY TO MY FARM, AND QUITE OFTEN YOU SEE PEOPLE STOPPED OR SOME FLOWERS HANGING ON THE FENCE, SO QUITE POIGNANT REMINDERS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED. AND ALTHOUGH THESE MEN SAY THEY'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY, THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE FINAL STEP TO MOVING ON. KRISTIN HALL, ONE NEWS. DAMNING FOOTAGE OF THE COSTA CONCORDIA CAPTAIN ABANDONING SHIP ` THAT'S COMING UP NEXT. PLUS ` FURY ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK AS POLICE ARE CLEARED IN YET ANOTHER BLACK MAN'S DEATH. # OPPA GANGNAM STYLE # AND A SIGH OF DISBELIEF CAN BE HEARD FROM KIM KARDASHIAN THANKS TO THIS VIDEO. THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S LAUNCHING A CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF ERIC GARNER, THE BLACK MAN WHO WAS PLACED IN A SO-CALLED CHOKEHOLD BY A WHITE COP. THAT'S AS ANGRY PROTESTORS TAKE TO THE STREETS OF NEW YORK, FURIOUS THE POLICE OFFICER ESCAPED CHARGES OVER THE DEATH. THIS FROM CHANNEL NINE'S DAVINA SMITH. I DIDN'T SELL ANYTHING. IT STARTED WITH SHOUTING AND QUICKLY ESCALATED. DON'T TOUCH ME, PLEASE, <BLEEP>. DON'T TOUCH ME, <BLEEP>. ERIC GARNER, ACCUSED OF SELLING CIGARETTES, REFUSED TO BE ARRESTED AND WAS THEN SUDDENLY TACKLED TO THE GROUND AND PUT IN A CHOKEHOLD. HIS FINAL MOMENTS PLAYED OUT ON THE SIDEWALK OF A BUSY NEW YORK STREET, AND TODAY A GRANT JURY VOTED NOT TO INDICT DANIEL PANTALEO, THE POLICE OFFICER WHO HELD HIM DOWN. JUST HOURS LATER, THE STREETS OF NEW YORK FILLED WITH PROTESTERS, CLOGGING ROADS AS THEY SCREAMED FOR JUSTICE. AND THE POLICE WERE READY AND WAITING, CARRYING AWAY SOME DEMONSTRATORS BEFORE IT GOT OUT OF HAND. (MAN) MEGAPHONE: IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE ROADWAY, YOU WILL BE PLACED UNDER ARREST. JUSTICE HAS NOT BEEN SERVED. GARNER'S FAMILY WERE DISGUSTED WITH THE DECISION THAT NO ONE WILL PAY FOR THEIR SON'S DEATH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT VIDEO THEY WERE LOOKING AT. EVIDENTLY, IT WASN'T THE SAME ONE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS LOOKING AT. A CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION IS NOW UNDERWAY INTO THE CASE, WHICH HAS DISTURBING ECHOES OF THE MICHAEL BROWN TRAGEDY. JUST DAYS AGO, THE TOWN OF FERGUSON, MISSOURI ERUPTED AFTER A POLICE OFFICER ESCAPED CHARGES FOR KILLING THE UNARMED BLACK TEENAGER. THE RACE ISSUE RESONATES THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND NOW RESTS UNCOMFORTABLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. WHEN ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT BEING TREATED EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW, THAT'S A PROBLEM, AND IT'S MY JOB AS PRESIDENT TO HELP SOLVE IT. VIDEO APPEARS TO SHOW THE CAPTAIN OF THE COSTA CONCORDIA PREPARING TO FLEE THE SINKING SHIP WHILE HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS REMAINED ON BOARD. FRANCESCO SCHETTINO IS SEEN STANDING NEXT TO A LIFEBOAT. HE'S EARLIER CLAIMED THAT FAR FROM ABANDONING HIS SHIP, HE SLIPPED INTO A BOAT AND WAS TAKEN ASHORE. HE'S FIGHTING A HOST OF CHARGES, INCLUDING MANSLAUGHTER. THE SHIP STRUCK ROCKS OFF THE ITALIAN COAST NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO, KILLING 32 PEOPLE. NASA IS PREPARING TO LAUNCH A SPACECRAFT TONIGHT DESIGNED TO CARRY HUMANS DEEPER INTO SPACE THAN EVER BEFORE. THE CRITICAL MISSION COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR MANNED FLIGHTS TO MARS AND REIGNITE THE SPACE RACE. CHANNEL NINE'S ROBERT PENFOLD HAS MORE. IT'S NASA'S BIGGEST THUMBS UP YET THAT IT'S BACK IN BUSINESS. ON TOP OF THAT GIANT DELTA IV ROCKET IS THE ORION CAPSULE, CAPABLE OF CARRYING SIX ASTRONAUTS INTO DEEP SPACE. ALTHOUGH FOR THIS TEST LAUNCH, INSTEAD OF PEOPLE, IT WILL BE PACKED FULL OF COMPUTERS AND SENSORS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THIS NATION IS GONNA LAUNCH A SPACECRAFT INTENDED TO CARRY HUMANS BEYOND THE EARTH ORBIT. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. DURING ITS FOUR-AND-A-HALF-HOUR TEST FLIGHT, IT WILL TRAVEL OUT NEARLY 6000KM INTO SPACE THEN TWO LAPS AROUND EARTH BEFORE A FIERY RE-ENTRY AND, ALL GOING WELL, WILL DROP GENTLY INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF MEXICO, WHERE THE US NAVY IS WAITING TO PICK IT UP. THIS IS STAGE ONE OF THE BIGGER PLAN TO TAKE ASTRONAUTS WAY PAST THE SPACE STATION TO BEYOND THE MOON AND PERHAPS MARS. AND IF ANYONE NEEDS REMINDING OF THE DANGERS, IN JUST THE LAST MONTH, A ROCKET HEADING TO THE SPACE STATION EXPLODED ON TAKE-OFF. AND THEN THERE'S THE VIRGIN GALACTIC CRASH, WHICH KILLED ONE OF ITS PILOTS. BAD THINGS HAPPEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT WE JUST SAY, 'OK, THAT'S LIFE. LET'S PRESS.' THE FIRST ASTRONAUTS ARE DUE TO FLY IN THE ORION IN 2021, THOUGH THERE'S STILL THE UNSOLVED PROBLEM OF HOW PEOPLE WOULD COPE ON THAT LONG TRIP TO MARS AND BACK. A TRIP TO MARS REALLY DEPENDS ON PLANETARY ALIGNMENT, BUT IN FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS, IT TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO GO FROM EARTH TO MARS. AGAIN, DEPENDING ON ALIGNMENT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO STAY AT MARS FOR UP TO A YEAR, AND THEN IT TAKES SIX MONTHS TO COME BACK. SO A ROUND TRIP, FROM THE TIME YOU LEAVE TILL YOU GET BACK, IS ABOUT A TWO-YEAR INVESTMENT. 2014 LOOKS SET TO BE THE HOTTEST YEAR EVER RECORDED ACROSS THE WORLD. GLOBAL TEMPERATURES WERE MORE THAN HALF-A-DEGREE HOTTER ON AVERAGE, AND IT'S BEING ATTRIBUTED TO GREENHOUSE GASES. SCIENTISTS HAVE TRACKED GLOBAL TEMPERATURES COMPARED TO THE LONG-TERM AVERAGE. THEY SAY OF THE 15 WARMEST YEARS, 14 OF THEM HAVE OCCURRED THIS CENTURY. THEY BELIEVE WE'RE NOW IN AN ERA WHERE NEW RECORDS ARE FAR MORE LIKELY. A LAWYER'S CALLING FOR BILL COSBY TO WAIVE THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS AND LET THE WOMEN WHO CLAIM HE SEXUALLY ABUSED THEM GO TO TRIAL. LOS ANGELES ATTORNEY GLORIA ALLRED IS CHALLENGING BILL COSBY TO GIVE HIS ALLEGED VICTIMS A CHANGE TO MAKE THEIR CASE AND GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR HIS NAME. THREE WOMEN HAVE TODAY SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THEIR ALLEGATIONS JUST A DAY AFTER ANOTHER WOMAN BEGAN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE COMEDIAN (77). IN RECENT WEEKS, MORE THAN A DOZEN WOMEN HAVE ACCUSED COSBY OF DRUGGING AND SEXUALLY ABUSING THEM. ACTRESS MERYL STREEP HAS REVEALED THERE ARE STILL THINGS SHE'S SCARED TO DO ON CAMERA. FOR HER NEW FILM 'IN THE WOODS', A MODERN TWIST ON SOME OF THE POPULAR BROTHERS GRIMM FAIRY TALES, THE THREE-TIME OSCAR-WINNER HAD TO SING, WHICH SHE SAYS WAS TERRIFYING ` AND HER FELLOW CAST MEMBERS AGREE. THE FIRST DAY WE WERE RECORDING, MY SONG WAS UP FIRST. (LAUGHS) # STAY WITH ME. # 'SHALL WE START? MERYL, WHY DON'T YOU?' PEOPLE EXCLAIM THAT WAS REALLY NOT FAIR. I THINK IT'S QUITE SCARY, AND I'D ALWAYS SANG PRIVATELY. MERYL STREEP PLAYS A WITCH IN THE FILM, WHICH SHE ADMITS IS A ROLE SHE'S LONG AVOIDED FOR FEAR OF BEING TYPECAST FOR EVERMORE. REMEMBER THIS? PSY'S 'GANGNAM STYLE' # OPPA GANGNAM STYLE. # BECAUSE TRY AS WE MIGHT TO FORGET IT, THIS IS THE VIDEO # OPPA GANGNAM STYLE. # PSY'S 'GANGNAM STYLE' BECAUSE TRY AS WE MIGHT TO FORGET IT, THIS IS THE VIDEO THAT'S FINALLY BROKEN YOUTUBE. YES, WHERE KIM KARDASHIAN FAILED, PSY'S SUCCEEDED. HIS 2012 HIT 'GANGNAM STYLE' IS STILL SO POPULAR ON YOUTUBE THE TECHNOLOGY THE WEBSITE USES TO COUNT VIEWS HAS HAD TO BE UPGRADED. HOW MANY VIEWS, YOU ASK? A NUDGE OVER TWO BILLION AND COUNTING. JUST AHEAD ` A THING WE LIKE TO CALL THE WEATHER FORECAST. THERE WILL BE LINES AND NUMBERS. AND BOOT CAMP FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WEAR BOOTS ` OR MUCH ELSE, FOR THAT MATTER. SUMMER'S MEANT TO BE COMING ` SOMETIME ` SO WHAT BETTER TIME TO KICK-START YOUR FITNESS REGIME? YOU'RE IN LUCK ` A NEW BOOT CAMP'S JUST BEEN OPENED IN TURANGI. BUT AS SARAH WELLS REPORTS, IT'S FOR A TWO-LEGGED CREATURE OF A DIFFERENT KIND. ALL CHEER GETTING THEIR FIRST TASTE OF THE REAL WORLD. THIS ENCLOSURE HAS BEEN BUILT TO HELP ENDANGERED WHIO DUCKLINGS COPE WITH MOVING FROM THEIR BREEDING ENCLOSURES TO THE WILD. IT'S LIKE A WHIO BOOT CAMP, WHERE WE TEACH THEM TO SWIM AND BE HARD AND GET THEM TONED AND FIT AND READY TO GO OUT INTO THE BIG BAD WORLD. THERE ARE FEWER THAN 2500 WHIO LEFT. PREDATORS ARE THE MAIN PROBLEM, BUT THEY ALSO LIVE IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS. SOME OF THESE RIVERS THESE DUCKS LIVE IN ARE VERY TURBULENT AND ROUGH RAPIDS. A SIMILAR ENCLOSURE OPERATES IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. THIS FACILITY COST AROUND $150,000 TO BUILD OVER SEVEN MONTHS WITH THE HELP OF INMATES FROM THE LOCAL PRISON. THEY WENT DOWN ESPECIALLY AND BROUGHT ALL THE ROCKS BACK AND HAND-PLACED THEM ALL, SO IT'S A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE GOT WITH DOC. THE DUCKLINGS WILL SPEND AROUND THREE MONTHS IN THE BOOT CAMP ENCLOSURE BEFORE BEING RELEASED ON TO A WILD RIVER LIKE THIS ONE. DOC HOPES THAT BY THEN THE DUCKLINGS WILL BE ABLE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. SARAH WELLS, ONE NEWS. BEFORE WE GET TO OUR WEATHER ` SYDNEY RESIDENTS ARE BRACING THEMSELVES FOR MORE BAD WEATHER AFTER BEING HAMMERED BY A HUGE STORM THAT SPARKED FLASH FLOODS AND CAUSED CHAOS AT THE CITY'S MAIN AIRPORT. THOSE FLIGHTS THAT DID MAKE IT THROUGH HAD TO DODGE LIGHTNING ON APPROACH, BUT THE FIERY STRIKES DIDN'T MISS THIS ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION IN PYRMONT, SETTING OFF A BLAZE WHICH BURNED FOR MORE THAN A HOUR. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE IT STARTED TO MELT A NEARBY PARKED CAR. IT COULD'VE DONE WITH SOME OF THIS WATER. TORRENTIAL RAIN FROM THE STORM QUICKLY FLOODED SEVERAL MAIN ROADS AND DOZENS OF PROPERTIES. FORMER FACE AND KEYBOARD LEGEND IAN MACLAGAN DIED TODAY AGED 69. HERE IS YOUR WEATHER AND HIM IN HIS DAY JOB. FACES' 'STAY WITH ME' # IN THE MORNING, DON'T SAY YOU LOVE ME, # 'CAUSE I'LL ONLY KICK YOU OUT OF THE DOOR. # I KNOW YOUR NAME IS RITA, # CAUSE YOUR PERFUME'S SMELLING SWEETER # SINCE WHEN I SAW YOU DOWN ON THE FLOOR. # GUITAR! THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY TOM WILSON AND SARAH MAIAVA