IT'S MIDDAY. EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY IN GISBORNE WITH PAM SET TO STRIKE THE EAST CAPE. COUNTING THE COST IN VANUATU, WITH HOMES, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES FLATTENED. AND WHAT'S UP WITH MR PUTIN? THE PRESIDENTIAL NO-SHOW SPARKS ALL SORTS OF RUMOURS. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. THIS MORNING AS CYCLONE PAM BEARS DOWN, BRINGING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY RAIN AND LARGE SEAS. THE STORM IS PEAKING AS WE GO TO AIR, WITH AUTHORITIES ON HIGH ALERT. DRIFTWOOD HAS BEEN STREWN ACROSS SOME COASTAL ROADS AS SEA LEVELS START RISING RAPIDLY. ONE NEWS REPORTER REBECCA EDWARDS JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM GISBORNE. WHAT'S THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW? The weather has hit fast and hard. It's the smaller settlements that are taking a hammering. 40 people from around the region have been evacuated. Road closures because of driftwood or an issue. There have been power outages around the region. East Coast Network advised that power will go on and off throughout the day. Part of the state highway 35 has been closed due to a slip. Stay away from beaches and stay out of the water. This hasn't stopped people from getting out and taking a look at this wild weather. Pretty crazy. Intense. It went all through the night. It's rough. ARE THINGS LIKELY TO GET WORSE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS? High tides is not expected to hit until 245. That will pose even more problems. The road will be inundated with the swells at about 9 m. Hopefully the worst of it will pass by about 4 PM this afternoon. THANKS, REBECCA EDWARDS, LIVE FROM GISBORNE. MEANWHILE, AID TEAMS IN VANUATU ARE FACING OF WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION IN THE WAKE OF CYCLONE PAM. PRESIDENT BALDWIN LONSDALE SAID MOST BUILDINGS IN THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HOMES, SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CENTRES, HAVE BEEN FLATTENED. THE BBC'S CHRIS BUCKLER REPORTS. THE TRUE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY THIS STORM HAS STILL TO BE DISCOVERED, BUT WHERE AIM TEAMS HAVE MANAGED TO REACH, THEY'VE FOUND HOMES FLATTENED AND BUSINESSES DESTROYED. THE DEATH TOLL SIMPLY ISN'T KNOWN YET. THE PRESIDENT OF VANUATU HAS DESCRIBED CYCLONE PAM AS A MONSTER. IT'S CERTAINLY TERRIFIED THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ACROSS THESE ISLANDS. IT'S JUST VERY FRIGHTENING. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT MAKES YOU PANIC AND NOT REALLY NO IF I COULD FACE ANOTHER DAY. FAMILIES ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT HOW THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES. MANY CHILDREN ARE AMONG THOSE LEFT EFFECTIVELY HOMELESS. THEY WERE REALLY SCARED. THEY CRIED; I CRIED ALSO. BUT I JUST` I JUST HAVE TO BE STRONG FOR THEM. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. THE AIRPORT IN THE CAPITAL, PORT VILA, IS DAMAGED, BUT THE FIRST FLIGHTS CARRYING AID SUPPLIES HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO LAND. IT WILL TAKE TIME TO REACH THE REMOTEST OF VANUATU'S 65 ISLANDS. THE STORM IS NOW MOVING TOWARDS NZ, BUT IT'S WEAKENED. WIND GUSTS AT THE HEIGHT OF ITS POWER, WINDS REACHED AROUND 300KM/H. IT'S DIFFICULT. I'M PRAYING THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION THEY HAVE ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW. EVEN MY OWN FAMILY ` THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO THEM IS WHEN I LEFT LAST THURSDAY. CONTACTING THOSE OUTLYING ISLANDS IS A PRIORITY, ALTHOUGH THERE'S UNDOUBTEDLY A FEAR OF WHAT THEY'LL FIND THERE. AND THE $2.5M DOLLARS OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY PROMISED VANUATU IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO RISE ONCE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE IS KNOWN. VANUATU'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS RESTORING RUNNING WATER AND ELECTRICITY AND REBUILDING HOMES ARE THE PRIORITIES. IN THE MEANTIME, TWO NZ AIR FORCE HERCULES PLANES HAVE ALREADY MADE THE TRIP TO THE CAPITAL PORT VILA. WE SENT HERCULES YESTERDAY. WE'VE SENT SOME PERSONNEL, WE'VE SENT SOME MATERIAL, AND THEN FROM THERE WE'LL GET A PROPER ASSESSMENT OF BOTH THE SHORT`, MEDIUM` AND LONG-TERM THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. ALSO OF CONCERN ARE PEOPLE LIVING ON REMOTE ISLANDS, WHERE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN CUT OFF. FOUR KIWI AID WORKERS REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR, BUT THEIR ORGANISATION IS CONFIDENT THEY WERE WELL PREPARED AND ARE SAFE. WE'RE FEELING CONFIDENT THAT THEY WERE AS WELL-PREPARED AS THEY COULD BE, AND AT THIS STAGE WE'RE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT KNOWS PEOPLE UP IN THOSE OUTER ISLANDS. WE'RE JUST WAITING TO HEAR. A STATE OF EMERGENCY REMAINS IN PLACE IN VANUATU. OXFAM SAYS CYCLONE PAM IS LIKELY TO BE ONE OF THE WORST DISASTERS THE PACIFIC HAS EVER SEEN. AND IN ADDITION TO TWO FLIGHTS THAT HAVE ALREADY LEFT, TWO MORE PLANE LOADS OF AID WILL LEAVE NZ TODAY, ALSO CARRYING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEERS. THE AIR FORCE HAS BEEN USING THE FLIGHTS TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE. IT'S CLEAR THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN TOTAL IN SOME AREAS. SOME ARE WITHOUT ROOFS, AND SOME OF THE STRONGER BUILDINGS STILL LOOK TO BE SOUND, HOWEVER IT'S QUITE HARD TO TELL. JOHN KEY SAYS AID MAY BE SENT TO OTHER ISLANDS HIT BY CYCLONE PAM IF THEY NEED IT. THE BATTLE FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN'S HOMETOWN OF TIKRIT IN NORTHERN IRAQ IS AT ITS PEAK. THIS MORNING THE FORCES FIGHTING ISIS HAVE CLAIMED A VICTORY, SAYING THEY ARE ON THE BRINK OF TAKING THE TOWN BACK. BUT IF THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS IS STARTING TO GAIN TRACTION, IT IS ALSO MAKING ALLIES OUT OF FORMER ENEMIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE UNITED STATES. DITA DE BONI WITH THIS. THIS MORNING ISIS FIGHTERS WERE DRIVEN FROM THE BROKEN TOMB OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. IT SITS SOUTH OF TIKRIT, HUSSEIN'S HOMETOWN. US-BACKED IRAQI FORCES, WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF SHIITE MILITIAS AND SUNNI TRIBESMEN, ENTERED TIKRIT FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK. IT'S THE LARGEST OFFENSE OF THE IRAQIS HAVE UNDERTAKEN AGAINST ISIS AND THE LATEST SIGN THAT, IN NORTHERN IRAQ AT LEAST, ISIS IS BEING PUSHED BACK. BUT THE FIGHT TO BREAK THE MILITANT GROUP'S HOLD ON ITS SELF-STYLED CALIPHATE IS FAR FROM OVER. A KEY PROBLEM FACING THE US ARE THE FIGHTERS IT'S BACKING IN IRAQ, SOME OF WHOM STAND ACCUSED OF BATTLEFIELD ATROCITIES. THE US-BACKED ARMY IS ALSO WORKING WITH IRAN, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY AN ADVERSARY OF THE US. AND THE US IS ALSO STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER ADVERSARY ` SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD. FOR THE FIRST TIME, SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY HASN'T USED THE STANDARD US LINE THAT ASSAD HAS LOST ALL LEGITIMACY AND HAD TO GO, SAYING INSTEAD HE WAS EXPLORING WAYS TO RESTART DIPLOMATIC TALKS OVER THE SYRIAN CONFLICT. WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD WITH OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO SEE IF WE CAN REIGNITE A DIPLOMATIC OUTCOME. WHY? BECAUSE EVERYBODY AGREES THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION; THERE IS ONLY A POLITICAL SOLUTION. A POLITICAL SOLUTION THAT WILL, AS EVER, PLEASE SOME AND NOT OTHERS IN A DEADLY WAR SHOWING NO SIGN OF ENDING ANY TIME SOON. DITA DE BONI, ONE NEWS. THREE BRITISH TEENAGERS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ON THEIR WAY TO SYRIA HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO BRITAIN AFTER BEING DETAINED IN TURKEY. THEY WERE HELD BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES AFTER A TIP-OFF FROM SCOTLAND YARD THAT THEY WERE SUSPECTED OF GOING TO JOIN ISIS, AND ARE NOW IN CUSTODY. THE BBC'S CAROLINE HAWLEY REPORTS. HUNDREDS OF YOUNG BRITISH MEN AND DOZENS OF WOMEN HAVE ALREADY JOINED THE SO-CALLED ISLAMIC STATE. THE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STEM THE TIDE OF WOULD-BE RECRUITS. IT'S ALMOST A MONTH SINCE SHAMIMA BEGUM, AMIRA BASE AND KADIZA SULTANA TRAVELLED TO TURKEY AND THEN ON TO SYRIA. NOW ANOTHER TRIO OF TEENAGERS HAS ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW IN THEIR PATH. THIS TIME, THEY FAILED. ONE IS 19. THE TWO OTHERS ARE AGED 17 AND FROM NORTH WEST LONDON. POLICE WERE TOLD ON FRIDAY THAT THEY WERE MISSING AND ALERTED THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES. THE TEENAGERS TRAVELLED FIRST TO BARCELONA, PRESUMABLY TO AVOID AROUSING SUSPICION WHEN THEY LEFT THE UK. THEY WERE ARRESTED WHEN THEY LANDED IN ISTANBUL. A TURKISH OFFICIAL HAS TOLD THE BBC IT WAS TURKISH POLICE WHO TRACKED DOWN THE 19-YEAR-OLD, WHO CONFESSED HE WAS AIMING FOR SYRIA. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHICH CROSSING POINT THEY WERE PLANNING TO USE TO GET INTO IS TERRITORY. BUT AFTER BEING SENT STRAIGHT BACK HOME FORM AN AIRPORT IN ISTANBUL, THEY WERE ARRESTED LATE LAST NIGHT ON SUSPICION OF PREPARING ACTS OF TERROR. MEN SHOUT THIS CONTINUING CONCERN THAT IS GROOMING YOUNG PEOPLE ONLINE, ENTICING DISAFFECTED TEENAGERS WITH THE IDEA OF AN ISLAMIC UTOPIA. AND THE APPEAL, FOR SOME, OF BECOMING PART OF THE SELF-DECLARED CALIPHATE APPEARS UNDIMINISHED. THE BRITISH POLICE NOW BELIEVE THAT AROUND 700 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE UK TO JOIN THE EXTREMISTS. IT'S A SMALL VICTORY FOR THEM THAT THREE TEENAGERS WHO'D BEEN AIMING FOR IS TERRITORY HAVE NOW BEEN THWARTED. EFFORTS TO FIND REMAINING VICTIMS OF A HORRIFIC BUS CRASH IN BRAZIL CONTINUE TWO DAYS AFTER THE BUS PLUNGED MORE THAN 1000FT, KILLING 54. 10 PEOPLE REMAIN IN HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES, AND OFFICIALS SAY MORE BODIES COULD BE FOUND UNDER THE BUS AND IN THE WOODS. THE BUS CRASHED ON A ROAD THAT WINDS THROUGH A POPULAR HIKING AREA ABOUT 950KM SOUTHWEST OF RIO DE JANEIRO. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNKNOWN. A 20-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT OVER THE SHOOTING OF TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN FERGUSON, MISSOURI LAST WEEK. THE MAN ADMITS HE FIRED THE SHOTS, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR HE WAS AIMING AT POLICE. THE TWO OFFICERS HAD BEEN STANDING SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER AS PART OF A LINE FACING DEMONSTRATORS. FERGUSON'S BECOME A FOCAL POINT FOR WHAT PROTESTERS SAY IS RACIALLY MOTIVATED POLICE VIOLENCE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE CASE OF THE MISSING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT. AND IN SPORT ` THE STAR TURN AS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX TERMINATES. MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE APPARENT DISAPPEARANCE OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN. HE HASN'T BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC FOR 10 DAYS, SPARKING RUMOURS OF ILL HEALTH AND EVEN THE BIRTH OF A SECRET LOVE CHILD. CHANNEL NINE'S TOM STEINFORT REPORTS. IT'S 10 DAYS SINCE VLADIMIR PUTIN'S LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE ` A SEEMINGLY RUN-OF-THE-MILL MEETING WITH ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER. BUT IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN THAT'S INTRIGUING THE WORLD AND UNSETTLING RUSSIANS. IN A COUNTRY RENOWNED FOR SECRECY AND SINISTER SOVIET HIJINKS, THE PRESIDENT'S APPARENT DISAPPEARANCE IS CAUSING CONCERN. PUTIN'S PLANNED VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN WAS CANCELLED MID-WEEK, WITH A KAZAKH OFFICIAL SAYING HE BELIEVED THE RUSSIAN LEADER WAS ILL. THE SAME DAY, RUSSIA RELEASED A PHOTO SHOWING THE PRESIDENT MEETING A REGIONAL LEADER. BUT IT EMERGED THE PICTURE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN TAKEN A WEEK EARLIER. LIKEWISE, WHEN THE KREMLIN RELEASED A PHOTO OF PUTIN MARKING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, IT AGAIN WAS REVEALED THE PICTURE HAD BEEN ARRANGED PRIOR. THE RUMOUR MILL IS NOW IN OVERDRIVE, PARTICULARLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SOME SUGGEST THE LEADER'S HEALTH IS DETERIORATING, WHILE THEORIES ARE ABOUNDING ABOUT POTENTIAL PATERNITY LEAVE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A LOVE CHILD, AND THEN SOME OTHER REASONS ARE EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS. THE MYSTERY IS BEING FUELLED BY THE FACT THAT THE KREMLIN IS REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE PRESIDENT'S WHEREABOUTS, BUT OVERNIGHT IT RELEASED NEW FOOTAGE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN IN A MEETING. AGAIN, THOUGH, NO ONE CAN VERIFY JUST WHEN IT WAS FILMED. THE THOUGHT OF TONY ABBOT BEING UNACCOUNTED FOR FOR 10 DAYS IS SIMPLY UNIMAGINABLE, BUT FOR A RUSSIAN LEADER, IT SEEMS ALMOST SUITABLY SURREAL. THE WARRIORS HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE NRL SEASON IN THEIR SECOND MATCH, BEATING THE RAIDERS IN CANBERRA LAST NIGHT. AFTER 26 MINUTES, THE FIRST OF THE WARRIORS THREE TRIES, FROM MANU VATUVEI. IT WAS 6-6 AT HALF-TIME AFTER SISA WAQA WON THIS AERIAL CONTEST FOR THE RAIDERS, BUT THE WARRIORS DOMINATED THE SECOND 40. SAM TOMKINS THROUGH, TAKA GETS HIS FIRST TRY IN THE NRL. WITH VAUGHN. TOWNSEND BALL KICK. IT'S NOT A HIGH-BOMB AT ALL, IS IT? AND` OH, BUT IT'S STILL TAKEN! DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TOO HIGH, BECAUSE HOFFMAN HAS COME OFF WITH THE BALL. THE WARRIORS WON 18-6 AND NOW HAVE THEIR FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON AGAINST THE EELS. ALSO LAST NIGHT, THE RABBITOHS OUTLASTED THE ROOSTERS 34-26 IN AN EPIC ENCOUNTER IN SYDNEY. THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS NOW SIT SECOND ON THE NRL LADDER. THE CRICKET WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW IS NOW SET, AND NZ WILL PLAY THE WEST INDIES IN WELLINGTON ON SATURDAY. THAT'S AFTER THE WEST INDIES BIG WIN OVER THE UAE YESTERDAY. PAKISTAN HAVE ALSO MADE THE LAST EIGHT, BEATING IRELAND IN THEIR FINAL POOL MATCH IN ADELAIDE LAST NIGHT. SARFRAZ AHMED SCORED HIS FIRST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL CENTURY, HELPING PAKISTAN CHASE DOWN IRELAND'S 238 WITH ALMOST FOUR OVERS TO SPARE. BIG SHOT THIS TIME. GETS IT INTO THE GAP. THIS WILL SCUTTER AWAY. THERE IT IS AT LONG LAST. OH, HE CAN CELEBRATE NOW. HE MUST HAVE BEEN REHEARSING THIS FOR A LONG LONG TIME. PAKISTAN'S SEVEN-WICKET WIN COMPLETED THE QUARTER-FINALS PICTURE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE THIS. PAKISTAN WILL PLAY AUSTRALIA IN ADELAIDE. THE OTHER MATCHES ARE SOUTH AFRICA-SRI LANKA AND INDIA AGAINST BANGLADESH. IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, THE LEADERS CHELSEA HAVE DROPPED TWO POINTS AT HOME AGAINST SOUTHAMPTON. THEY STARTED WELL ` THIS EARLY GOAL FROM NUMBER 19 DIEGO COSTA PUT THE BLUES IN FRONT. BUT THE LEAD WAS CANCELLED OUT BY A DUSAN TADIC PENALTY, AND IT ENDED 1-1. CHELSEA STILL LEAD MANCHESTER CITY BY SIX POINTS AND HAVE A GAME IN HAND. IN THE LATER GAME WAYNE ROONEY KNOCKED HIMSELF INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AGAIN. THE MANCHESTER UNITED STAR WITH THE KILLER BLOW AGAINST SPURS AT OLD TRAFFORD. HE'S KEPT GOING. WAYNE ROONEY. BRILLIANTLY DONE! CHEERING YES, A GIFT, BUT IT NEEDED UNWRAPPING, AND WAYNE ROONEY WAS THE MAN! HE'S HIT THE CANVAS WITH A SMILE. UNITED ARE A SOLID 4TH IN THE LEAGUE BUT NINE POINTS BEHIND CHELSEA. THE FORMULA ONE SEASON IS UNDERWAY WITH THE SMALLEST OPENING FIELD IN OVER 50 YEARS. THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX HAD A PREDICTABLE RESULT, BUT THERE WAS AN ALL-STAR TURNOUT ON THE PODIUM AFTERWARDS. THIS REPORT FROM PATRICK GEARY. FROM THE TOP DRIVER TO THE MOST JUNIOR MECHANIC, RACE ONE IS THE CULMINATION OF MONTHS OF WORK. IT COSTS MILLIONS OF POUNDS JUST TO MAKE THE GRID IN FORMULA ONE. TWO TEAMS DIDN'T GET THAT FAR. 15 CARS EVENTUALLY GOT STARTED ` FEWER THAN ANY FIRST RACE SINCE 1963, AND THAT FIGURE WOULD SOON DWINDLE FURTHER. PASTOR MALDONADO TOOK THE FIRST EXIT ON THE SECOND CORNER. WHEN THE DUST AND SMOKE CLEARED, IT REVEALED THE TWO MERCEDES DUELLING IN THE DISTANCE ` LEWIS HAMILTON AND NICO ROSBERG, LAST SEASON'S ONE-TWO, THIS RACE'S ONE-TWO. THEIR CARS WERE ON ANOTHER PLANE, AND THEIR BATTLE HAD A FAMILIAR VICTIM. AND LEWIS HAMILTON WINS ROUND ONE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX! HAMILTON'S CONFIDENCE WAS SUCH THAT HE CAN EVEN TAUNT THE TERMINATOR. CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, MAN. I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALLER. I THOUGHT` HE WAS TALLER ON THE TERMINATOR. I'M NOT WEARING MY HIGH-HEELS. (LAUGHS) A FORMER MR UNIVERSE AND THE CURRENT WORLD CHAMPION, FOR HIS FELLOW DRIVERS, HAMILTON WILL SEEM THE SCARIER PROSPECT, AND, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM, HE'LL BE BACK. BACK HERE ASSISTANT BREAKERS COACH PAUL HENARE HAS LANDED BASKETBALL'S TOP JOB AS HEAD COACH OF THE TALL BLACKS. HENARE'S APPOINTMENT COMES AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S RIO OLYMPICS, WITH THE TALL BLACKS FAILING TO MAKE THE GAMES SINCE 2004. I was straight into it. In a home and away series against Australia, we feel confident of giving ourselves a good chance of qualifying next year. THE FORMER TALL BLACK (36) BEAT PERO CAMERON TO THE JOB, WHO REMAINS AS ASSISTANT. HENARE REPLACES NENAD VUCINIC, WHO STOOD DOWN AFTER LAST YEAR'S WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN. FINALLY IN SPORT, WE HAVE SOME SPECTACULAR IMAGES OF A RACE CAR, TRAVELLING AT OVER 400KM/H, THAT SUDDENLY SNAPS IN TWO, AND THE DRIVER JUST WALKS AWAY. HERE'S THE ABC'S MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO. OVERNIGHT, A DRAG-RACING SUPERSTAR MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED A HORRIFIC CRASH AFTER HIS ROCKET-FUEL-POWERED CAR SNAPPED IN HALF AT 262 MILES PER HOUR, SENDING THE DRIVER FLIPPING DOWN THE TRACK AT A NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION RACE IN FLORIDA. WATCH AS DRIVER LARRY DIXON IS LAUNCHED OVER 20FT INTO THE AIR,... OH! WHOA. HOLD ON! ...SMASHING INTO THE CONCRETE WALL AND TUMBLING DOWN THE RACEWAY TO THE HORROR OF ONLOOKERS. EMERGENCY CREWS RUSHED TO THE SCENE EXPECTING THE WORST, BUT DIXON, INCREDIBLY, WAS NO WORSE FOR WEAR, WAVING TO THE CROWD AS HE WALKS AWAY FROM THE MANGLED WRECKAGE ` HIS SPIRITS HIGH DESPITE HIS BRUSH WITH DEATH. THE BEST I CAN TELL IS THAT THE FRONT HALF BROKE. (LAUGHS) I MEAN... CAPTAIN OBVIOUS. GOSH, IT WAS UP IN THE AIR FOR A LONG TIME. THIS SCENE IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR FOR THE CHAMPION DRIVER, WHO SURVIVED A SIMILAR ACCIDENT ON A MEMPHIS TRACK IN 2000. HIS CAR, CAPABLE OF GOING FROM 0 TO 100 IN UNDER A SECOND, CATAPULTED OFF THE GROUND... MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! ...WHILE COMPETING IN ONE OF THE FASTEST RACES IN THE WORLD, LEAVING DIXON SERIOUSLY INJURED. CREDITING UPDATED SAFETY FEATURES, DIXON IS GRATEFUL HE ESCAPED THIS CRASH UNHARMED. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND THE HIGH COST OF FAITH, ACCORDING TO ONE AMERICAN PASTOR. WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES ` CYCLONE PAM IS NOW LASHING THE NORTH ISLAND'S EAST COAST, FORCING MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE TO BE EVACUATED IN THE GISBORNE DISTRICT. THAT FOLLOWS WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION IN VANUATU, WHERE AN UNKNOWN NUMBER HAVE BEEN KILLED AND TENS OF THOUSANDS LEFT HOMELESS BY CYCLONE PAM. NOW TO THE WEATHER. SEVERE WARNINGS FOR GALES. HEAVY RAIN AND LARGE SEAS ARE IN PLACE FOR NORTH-EASTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AS A MORE RAGGED CYCLONE PAM PASSES EAST CAPE. IT'S NOW A VERY DEEP LOW. A WEAKENING COLD FRONT'S MOVING SLOWLY OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ AN AMERICAN MEGA CHURCH IS DRAWING CRITICISM AFTER ITS POPULAR PASTOR, WHO ALSO APPEARS ON NZ TELEVISON, ASKED HIS FOLLOWERS TO BUY HIM A BRAND NEW GULF STREAM JET. THE COST ` $65M. HERE'S THE ABC'S LINZIE JANIS. IF ALL OF OUR EXISTING PARTNERS WERE TO SOW $300 EACH... AN ATLANTA-BASED MEGA CHURCH IS UNDER FIRE FOR ASKING ITS MEMBERS TO DONATE $65M SO IT CAN BUY A NEW PLANE FOR ITS HUGELY POPULAR PASTOR, CREFLO DOLLAR. IN A VIDEO APPEAL, WORLD CHANGERS INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS THE GULFSTREAM JET IS NEEDED FOR DOLLAR TO SPREAD HIS MINISTRY AROUND THE WORLD AFTER THE CHURCH'S CURRENT PLANE BROKE DOWN. BUT TONIGHT THE CHURCH IS APPARENTLY BACKING DOWN, TAKING THE APPEAL OF ITS WEBSITE, TELLING OUR ATLANTA AFFILIATE, SWB, THEY ARE REASSESSING THEIR CAMPAIGN, BUT THEY MAINTAIN THEY NEED A NEW PLANE. DOLLAR IS CONTROVERSIAL FOR HIS SO-CALLED PROSPERITY GOSPEL, CLAIMING JESUS WAS RICH, AND IF HIS FOLLOWERS DONATE TO THE CHURCH, RICHES WILL COME TO THEM TOO. IF YOU DON'T KNOW NO BETTER, YOU'LL STAY IN THE GHETTO ALL YOUR LIFE. BACK IN 2008, DOLLAR JUSTIFIED HIS PLANE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR DAN HARRIS. I'VE GOT TO HAVE A PLANE TO FLY AROUND THIS WORLD AND BE BACK HERE TO PASTOR TWO CHURCHES ` ONE HERE AND ONE IN NEW YORK. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY IMOGEN STAINES AND SARAH MAIAVA