TONIGHT ` IT'S A NEWS STORY WHICH COULD COST THEM THEIR FREEDOM. THE AUSTRALIAN TV CREW COVERING A BOTCHED CHILD RECOVERY OPERATION IS EXPECTED BACK IN COURT IN LEBANON. A VICIOUS DOG ATTACK ON A PREGNANT WOMAN HAS SEEN CALLS FOR TOP-LEVEL ACTION RAMP UP. AND THE AUCKLAND-BORN SKATEBOARDER REWRITING THE RULES OF THE SPORT ONE ROAD SIGN AT A TIME. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. FIRST UP, AN AUSTRALIAN MOTHER AND FOUR AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISTS ARE EXPECTED BACK IN A BEIRUT COURT TONIGHT OVER THEIR ROLE IN A BOTCHED CHILD RECOVERY ATTEMPT. THEY COULD SPEND UP TO 20 YEARS IN A LEBANESE JAIL AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING. MEANWHILE, AN AUSTRALIAN CHILD RESCUE OUTFIT HAS CRITICISED THE NEWS CREW AND THE ACTIONS OF THE RECOVERY GROUP INVOLVED. MONIQUE FISCHER REPORTS. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND IN CLEAR VIEW OF A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA, TWO MISTAKES THAT HIGHLIGHT THIS ALLEGED CHILD SNATCH AS AN AMATEUR JOB. WOULDN'T HAVE THROWN GRANDMA AROUND LIKE A SACK OF POTATOES, TAPPED HER ON THE HEAD SO SHE GOES DOWN, AND WE WOULD NEVER HAVE MANHANDLED THE CHILDREN THE WAY THERE WERE MANHANDLED. THAT WAS JUST VIOLENT. CHANNEL NINE'S 60 MINUTES CREW TRAVELLED TO BEIRUT WITH A CHILD RECOVERY TEAM TO FILM THE STORY OF BRISBANE MOTHER SALLY FAULKNER, WHO IT'S ALLEGED WAS TRYING TO RETRIEVE HER CHILDREN FROM THEIR FATHER. HE TOOK LAHELA (6) AND NOAH (4) TO LEBANON AND REFUSED TO BRING THEM BACK. 'WHY ARE MUMMY'S FRIENDS SO MEAN TO GRANDMA?' THAT'S THE FIRST THING NOAH AND LAHELA ASKED ME. I'M JUST HOPING IT ALL PANS OUT SMOOTH AND EASY FOR SAL. BUT THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS 60 MINUTES PAID MORE THAN $120,000 TO FUND THE FAILED OPERATION. NOW A CHILD RECOVERY SPECIALIST IN TOUCH WITH SALLY FAULKNER IS POINTING THE FINGER AT CHANNEL NINE. WHOEVER HIRED THEM AND WHOEVER DIDN'T DO THE DUE DILIGENCE ` SOMEONE DIDN'T RESEARCH THIS FIRM PROPERLY. THE FIRM ` THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED THREE TIMES IN TWO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. RESEARCH THAT'S COSTING THEM ALL DEARLY; THE ABDUCTION GROUP, JOURNALIST TARA BROWN, THREE CREW MEMBERS, ALONG WITH MS FAULKNER ARE ALL CHARGED WITH HIDING INFORMATION, FORMING A CRIMINAL ASSOCIATION, KIDNAPPING AND ASSAULT. WE RESPECT THE LEBANESE SYSTEM AND THEIR RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE AND TAKE PROCEEDINGS IF THEY FEEL OFFENSIVES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED. LEBANON HAS A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR SALLY. LOOK, ASIDE FROM A SLAP ON THE WRIST AND MAYBE A FINE, I THINK IT'S ALL OVER FOR SALLY. SHE'S GOING BACK HOME. THE CREW? NO, THAT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER. THE ABDUCTION AGENCY? YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE STAYING IN LEBANON FOR A LONG TIME. THE GROUP HAVE ALREADY SPENT A WEEK BEHIND BARS. FORMAL INTERVIEWS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HELD TONIGHT WITH A BEIRUT JUDGE, WHERE THEY'LL DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP THEIR STAY SHORT. MONIQUE FISCHER, ONE NEWS. ANOTHER VICIOUS DOG ATTACK IS SPURRING CALLS FOR TOP-LEVEL ACTION. THE LATEST IN A RECENT SPATE SAW A PREGNANT CHRISTCHURCH WOMAN MAULED BY A STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS. KIM SAVAGE REPORTS. A QUIET AVONDALE STREET; THE SILENCE BROKEN JUST AFTER 8 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT BY BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAMS FROM BEHIND THIS FENCE, PULLING NEIGHBOURS LIKE CORY WHYTE AWAY FROM THEIR TVS AND OUTSIDE FOR A LOOK. THE 36-YEAR-OLD WITNESSED THE STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS ATTACK BUT WOULDN'T BE INTERVIEWED ON CAMERA. HE EXPLAINED TO ONE NEWS HOW HE INTERVENED, BANGING HARD ON THE FENCE TO DISTRACT THE DOG, GIVING THE WOMAN ` HIS NEIGHBOUR'S FLATMATE ` A CHANCE TO ESCAPE INSIDE. THE 23-YEAR-OLD IS NOW IN A STABLE CONDITION IN CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL WITH BITES TO HER ARMS AND LEGS. LAST NIGHT'S ATTACK IS THE LATEST IN A SPATE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, INCLUDING ONE AT EASTER IN WAIUKU. AND LAST SATURDAY IN SOUTH AUCKLAND, DARNELL MINARAPA-BROWN WAS MAULED BY A PIT BULL, HIS FACIAL INJURIES REQUIRING MORE THAN 100 STITCHES. THE RECENT BITES ARE REIGNITING CALLS FOR SOME BREEDS OF DOG TO BE BANNED ALTOGETHER. GOOD DOG. THAT'S A CLEVER DOG. BUT A VISITING UK EXPERT RECKONS LABELLING BIGGER BREEDS 'DANGEROUS' IS UNHELPFUL. YOU COULD ARGUE THAT LITTLE CHIHUAHUAS ARE PRONE TO AGGRESSION. IT'S JUST THE PROPENSITY FOR DAMAGE. JOHN ROGERSON SAYS TRAINING NOT JUST DOGS, BUT THEIR OWNERS, IS KEY. MAKE IT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED. LET'S PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF DOGS, INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW BAD THEY ALL ARE. AS FAR AS THIS LATEST ATTACK GOES, CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS HAVE TAKEN AWAY THE TWO DOGS WHICH WERE FOUND AT THE PROPERTY LAST NIGHT, ALTHOUGH EYE WITNESSES SUGGEST THAT ONLY ONE OF THE DOGS MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK. THE COUNCIL IS STILL INVESTIGATING AND EXPECTS TO KNOW MORE ONCE IT'S TALKED TO THE VICTIM. KIM SAVAGE, ONE NEWS. WE GOT OUR FIRST LOOK TODAY AT THE MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING AND SEXUALLY VIOLATING A 69-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN WEST AUCKLAND. IN THE HIGH COURT TODAY, JADEN LEE STROOBANT (20) PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ONE CHARGE OF MURDER AND TWO CHARGES OF SEXUAL VIOLATION. CUN XIU TIAN WAS KILLED IN HER TE ATATU HOME IN JANUARY. HER FAMILY DISCOVERED HER BODY AFTER THEY RETURNED FROM WORK. STROOBANT WILL STAND TRIAL IN NOVEMBER. ANOTHER BIG BLOW TO A STRUGGLING REGION TONIGHT. 65 JOBS ARE ON THE LINE AS CARPET MAKING COMPANY CAVALIER BREMWORTH SHAKES UP ITS OPERATION. WHANGANUI WILL BE HIT THE HARDEST. MICHAEL PARKIN'S ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS. 140 CAVALIER STAFF ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH 65 JOBS ULTIMATELY SET TO GO. 36 OF THOSE ARE GONNA COME FROM THE CHRISTCHURCH PLANT HERE, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE CLOSED ALTOGETHER AND THE OPERATION MOVED UP TO WHANGANUI. BUT PART OF WHANGANUI'S OPERATION IS GOING TO BE SHIFTED TO NAPIER, SO THERE WILL BE JOB LOSSES THERE AS WELL. THAT'S A TOUGH BLOW FOR WHANGANUI BECAUSE CAVALIER IS THE THIRD-LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE TOWN. BUT THIS IS A CONSEQUENCE OF PEOPLE BUYING CHEAPER SYNTHETIC CARPETS RATHER THAN THE WOOLLEN PRODUCT PRODUCED HERE. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S NOT FUN PLAYING GOD WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND THERE'S SOME UNHAPPY PEOPLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO DO THIS TO MAKE US CONTINUE TO MAKE PROFITS IN THE FUTURE. THE DECISION WILL BE CONFIRMED ON THE 2ND OF MAY, BUT THE CEO SAYS AT THIS STAGE THERE IS NO NEED FOR FURTHER REDUNDANCIES. THERE'S BEEN NO SAFE HAVEN FOR JOHN KEY TODAY. THE PRIME MINISTER SPENT THE MORNING AXING MUCH-HATED LAWS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT HE WAS THEN FORCED TO BAT AWAY MORE PROBING QUESTIONS OVER THE PANAMA PAPERS SCANDAL. HERE'S POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN. THE LAW FIRM AT THE CENTRE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TAX SCANDAL IS NOW AT THE CENTRE OF A POLICE INVESTIGATION. MOSSACK FONSECA'S DEALINGS WITH FOREIGN TRUSTS AND SHELL COMPANIES HAVE CREATED POLITICAL HEADLINES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING NZ. SO WHEN JOHN KEY WAS LUNCHING WITH BUSINESS PEOPLE IN WELLINGTON TODAY AND ANNOUNCING PLANS TO DUMP PROVISIONAL TAX FOR SMALL BUSINESS,... WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR LIFE MORE SIMPLE. ...HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS HAD OTHER IDEAS. CAN HE GIVE NZERS A CAST-IRON ASSURANCE, IN RELATION TO THE MANAGEMENT OF HIS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, THAT THE MONEY HE HAS WITH ANTIPODES IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY VEHICLE DESIGNED TO AVOID TAX? I'VE MADE IT QUITE CLEAR IT'S MONEY THAT'S HELD IN MY NAME WITH A NZ TRADING BANK. MR KEY SAYS ANTIPODES TRUST GROUP HASN'T DEALT WITH MOSSACK FONSECA, AND HIS DEALINGS WITH ANTIPODES IS BECAUSE HIS LONG-TIME, PERSONAL LAWYER WORKS THERE AND HANDLES HIS FAMILY TRUST MATTERS. HE'S BEEN MY LAWYER FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS. I DON'T DEAL WITH PEOPLE UNLESS THEY ARE HIGHLY ETHICAL. LABOUR THEN ATTACKED THE APPOINTMENT OF TAX EXPERT JOHN SHEWAN TO REVIEW RULES AROUND FOREIGN TRUSTS HERE. IT CLAIMS MR SHEWAN'S UNSUITABLE AND POINTED TO A 2014 MEDIA REPORT FROM THE BAHAMAS. CAN HE CONFIRM THAT JOHN SHEWAN AND DON BRASH ADVISED THE BAHAMAS THAT ITS FINANCIAL SERVICES BE ZERO RATED FOR VAT TO PROTECT OFFSHORE SERVICES INDUSTRY OF THAT COUNTRY? MR SPEAKER, I THINK THEY WENT TO GO AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT GST. JOHN SHEWAN CONFIRMS THAT, BUT REJECTS ANDREW LITTLE'S CLAIMS, SAYING HE MERELY ADVISED OFFICIALS TO FOLLOW NZ'S GST POLICY, WHICH DOESN'T APPLY THE TAX TO FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ` IN LINE WITH MOST TAX JURISDICTIONS. DOZENS OF WORLD LEADERS ARE NAMED IN MOSSACK FONSECA'S PANAMA PAPERS LEAK. JOHN KEY'S ADAMANT HE'S NOT ONE OF THEM. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. A BRITISH BOOKMAKER HAS MADE HELEN CLARK ODDS-ON FAVOURITE TO WIN THE U.N.'S TOP JOB. RIGHT NOW, SHE'S PREPARING FOR A GLOBALLY BROADCAST TWO-HOUR JOB INTERVIEW IN NEW YORK ON FRIDAY MORNING. SEVERAL OTHER CANDIDATES MADE THEIR PITCH TODAY IN WHAT'S BEEN DUBBED SECRETARY-GENERAL X FACTOR. MISS CLARK HAS BEEN GIVEN ODDS OF FIVE TO TWO. TWO KIWI SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN HONOURED FOR THEIR BRAVERY DURING A DEADLY FIRE FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN. BOTH MEN RISKED THEIR OWN LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS DURING THE DEADLY BATTLE OF BAGHAK. DANIEL FAITAUA HAS THEIR STORY. GUNFIRE KIWI SOLDIERS UNDER ATTACK NEAR THE AFGHAN VILLAGE OF BAGHAK. CAPTURED ON HELMET CAM, THE BIGGEST FIREFIGHT FOR OUR TROOPS SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR. I JUST NEED YOU TO SCAN THAT GROUND...! UNDER ENEMY FIRE, LANCE CORPORAL JOHN LUAMANU TWICE CARRIED AN INJURED COLLEAGUE OVER OPEN GROUND TO KEEP HIM SAFE. FOUR YEARS ON AND THE INCIDENT STILL HAUNTS HIM. UM, NAH, IT'S A BIT MUCH` NAH. UM, NAH, IT'S A BIT MUCH` NAH. HIS ACT OF BRAVERY ACKNOWLEDGED WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. LIKE ANY OTHER SOLDIER, WE'RE ALL MODEST. WE DON'T WANNA ACCEPT AWARDS. WE JUST DO WHAT WE DO. A VIEW SHARED BY HIS COLLEAGUE. SGT DAVID DUNCAN RECEIVED THE GALLANTRY DECORATION FOR SAVING THE LIFE OF ANOTHER SERIOUSLY WOUNDED SOLDIER, DESPITE BEING SHOT HIMSELF. I SEE IT AS RECOGNITION FOR ALL OUR EFFORTS ` NOT AS INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION ` FOR THE GUYS THAT WERE IN AFGHANISTAN WITH ME, INCLUDING THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES. LANCE CORPORAL RORY MALONE WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AND KILLED AFTER DRAGGING HIS COMMANDING OFFICER TO SAFETY. THE BATTLE ALSO CLAIMED THE LIFE OF LANCE CORPORAL PRALLI DURRER. BACK AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WORDS OF COMFORT FROM ONE SERVICEMAN TO THE ANOTHER. JUST KEEP GOING, YOU KNOW. DO WHAT YOU DO. JUST BE PROUD OF IT. PRIDE EVERY NZER CAN SHARE. DANIEL FAITAUA, ONE NEWS. VETERANS OF CONFLICTS LIKE THE ONE IN AFGHANISTAN OFTEN SUFFER LONG-TERM MENTAL ISSUES. NOW MAN'S BEST FRIEND IS BEING UNLEASHED TO HELP THEM COPE WITH THE HORRORS OF WAR. ANDREW MORRISON HAS MORE. HELLO, RICA. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A DOG THAT CAN MELT A GROWN MAN'S HEART. SHE'S BEAUTIFUL. SHE LOOKED INTO MY SOUL, AND I THOUGHT, YEAH, I'D LIKE A DOG LIKE HER. RICA IS SPECIALLY TRAINED TO SOOTHE WOUNDED SOULS. I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN THROUGH SOME BATTLES AND CURRENTLY STILL AM GOING THROUGH SOME BATTLES, HEALTH-WISE, EMOTIONALLY-WISE. IT WAS THE 2012 BATTLE AT BAGHAK, AFGHANISTAN, WHEN DION WAS SHOT BY AN INSURGENT SNIPER AND LOST TWO OF HIS FRIENDS. HE STILL SUFFERS CHRONIC LEG PAIN, BUT THE MENTAL SCARS RUN DEEPER. THE GRIEF THAT I WAS FEELING CONSTANTLY AND THE` BECOMING SO INDIFFERENT AND UNSOCIABLE. DIAGNOSED WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, DION'S FIRST IN LINE FOR A SERVICE DOG, USED BY OVERSEAS VETERANS TO EASE ANXIETY AND CALL FOR HELP. THE OTHER THE THING THEY CAN DO IS WAKE PEOPLE FROM NIGHTMARES. THEY CAN BE TRAINED TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS AND TO GIVE THE PERSON A KISS AND A CUDDLE. WHEN HE HAS A DOG, WE CAN GET BACK TO BEING A FAMILY AND BEING HUSBAND AND WIFE, RATHER THAN PATIENT AND CARER. YEAH. ASSISTANCE DOGS LIKE RICA ARE VALUED AT AROUND $50,000 AND CAN TAKE UP TO TWO YEARS TO TRAIN, SO THE RSA WILL USE THIS WEEK'S POPPY APPEAL TO RAISE MONEY FOR DION'S DOG. IT'S HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND DEAL WITH A WOUND THAT'S INVISIBLE. WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVERSEAS IS A REALLY GREAT RESPONSE. LAUGHTER IT'S GONNA BE A GAME CHANGER. AND IF THE TRIAL IS A SUCCESS, MORE VETERANS LIKE DION COULD RECEIVE THEIR OWN CALMING CANINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANDREW MORRISON, ONE NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` A MOTHER'S ANGER AT A PAROLE BOARD DECISION. SHE IS DISGUSTED HER SON'S KILLER IS ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THE REGION SHE LIVES IN AFTER HIS RELEASE LAST YEAR. ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MAN, IN A SPACESHIP TOO SMALL FOR ANY MAN. THE TINY CRAFT SET TO PUSH NEW BOUNDARIES IN OUTER SPACE. AND IS THIS AMERICA'S TOUGHEST GRANNY? HOW A PENSIONER SURVIVED NINE DAYS LOST IN THE WILDERNESS. WELCOME BACK. THE MOTHER OF A CROWN WITNESS GUNNED DOWN BY GANG MEMBERS IS DISTRAUGHT THAT ONE OF HIS KILLERS IS ALLOWED BACK INTO THE TARANAKI REGION WHERE SHE LIVES. IN HER FIRST TV INTERVIEW SINCE CHRISTOPHER CREAN'S KILLERS WERE JAILED 19 YEARS AGO, LIZ CREAN HAS ATTACKED THE PAROLE BOARD DECISION. RENEE GRAHAM MET WITH HER. DEAR MRS CREAN... A LETTER OPENING UP OLD WOUNDS. IT'S JUST BRINGING IT UP AGAIN. 20 YEARS AFTER FATHER-OF-FOUR CHRISTOPHER CREAN WAS GUNNED DOWN BY BLACK POWER MEMBERS AT HIS FRONT DOOR IN NEW PLYMOUTH, HIS MOTHER'S RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING ONE OF HIS KILLERS CAN GET SPECIAL PERMISSION TO RETURN TO TARANAKI TO ATTEND FUNERALS. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE WITH HIS FAMILY AND ATTEND TANGIS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE SOFT WITH HIM. NAH, GET STUFFED. NO. HE CAN GO TO BLOODY HELL. THE LETTER REVERSES AN EARLIER PAROLE CONDITION BANNING BROWNIE MANE, WHO'S NOW 45 YEARS OLD, FROM ENTERING THE REGION. LIZ CREAN SAYS THE FAMILY WAS NEVER CONSULTED. MY NEPHEW CHRISTOPHER, HE COULDN'T ATTEND HIS BROTHER'S FUNERAL. HE COULDN'T ATTEND HIS OWN SON'S FUNERAL BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID. MANE WAS ONE OF FOUR SENIOR BLACK POWER MEMBERS JAILED FOR KILLING CHRISTOPHER CREAN. CHRISTOPHER WITNESSED A GANG STABBING AND BECAME A CROWN WITNESS. POLICE CONSIDERED HIM A HERO FOR STANDING UP TO THE GANGS. THE SENSIBLE SENTENCING TRUST WANTS A REVIEW OF THE PAROLE BOARD DECISION AND THE LAWS THAT GOVERN IT. THE PAROLE SYSTEM, WE FEEL, IS EXTREMELY UNBALANCED. IT IS OFFENDER-FRIENDLY, DISCRIMINATIVE AND INCONSISTENT FOR THE VICTIMS. THE CORRECTIONS MINISTER WOULDN'T COMMENT. IT WOULD BE UNWISE AND, I THINK, CONSTITUTIONALLY UNSOUND FOR US TO DO SO. THE PAROLE BOARD WOULDN'T GO ON CAMERA BUT SENT AN EMAIL, SAYING IT ONLY RELEASES AN OFFENDER ON PAROLE WHEN IT'S SATISFIED THERE IS NO 'UNDUE RISK' TO THE COMMUNITY. CORRECTIONS BACKS THIS. IT SAYS MANE'S BEHAVIOUR HAS BEEN EXCELLENT, POLICE HAVE NO CONCERNS, AND HE SHOWS HE'S COMMITTED TO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY. I'VE GOT GRANDCHILDREN HERE TOO. THEY LIVE HERE. WE'VE GOT FAMILIES. CORRECTIONS SAYS IT UNDERSTANDS THE FAMILY'S DISTRESS, AND THEY'LL BE NOTIFIED IF MANE COMES TO TARANAKI. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. MANKIND'S NEXT GIANT INTERSTELLAR LEAP COULD BE MADE BY SPACESHIPS ABOUT AS BIG AS YOUR THUMBNAIL. SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST BRILLIANT MINDS ARE PLANNING TO SEND 'NANOCRAFT' TO A STAR SYSTEM TRILLIONS OF KILOMETRES AWAY TO SEARCH FOR LIFE. AND AS CHANNEL NINE'S TESSA HARDY REPORTS, IT COULD HAPPEN WITHIN A GENERATION. PROFESSOR STEPHEN HAWKING IS A MAN WITH SO MANY QUESTIONS ON HIS MIND. AT THE FOREFRONT ` COULD WE REACH THE STARS? AND IS THERE ALIEN LIFE? LAUGHTER THE FAMOUS PHYSICIST HAS TEAMED UP WITH RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE INVESTOR YURI MILNER AND FACEBOOK FOUNDER MARK ZUCKERBERG FOR THE $130M PROJECT, BREAKTHROUGH STARSHOT. THE PLAN IS TO BUILD HUNDREDS OF TINY, ROBOTIC SPACECRAFT THE SIZE OF A BUTTERFLY AND WEIGHING LESS THAN PAPER. THEY'LL HAVE A SMALL SAIL AND WILL BE POWERED NOT BY FUEL BUT BY LASER LIGHT AT RECORD-SHATTERING SPEEDS. THEIR DESTINATION ` OUR CLOSEST STAR SYSTEM, ALPHA CENTAURI, ALTHOUGH CLOSE IS STILL A LONG WAY AWAY ` 40 TRILLION KILOMETRES. IT SEEMS THE STARS REALLY COULD BE WITHIN OUR REACH, ALTHOUGH IT WILL TAKE THESE TINY SPACESHIPS 20 YEARS TO GET THERE. AN AMERICAN PENSIONER'S PULLED OFF A FEAT OF SURVIVAL THAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS. THE 72-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AND HER DOG WERE FOUND ALIVE AND RELATIVELY WELL AFTER SPENDING NINE DAYS LOST IN THE ARIZONA WILDERNESS. HERE'S THE ABC'S CLAYTON SANDELL ON WHAT SHE DID THAT SAVED HER. ANN ROGERS (72) WAS DRIVING TO PHOENIX TO VISIT HER GRANDKIDS WHEN SHE AND HER DOG GOT LOST SOMEWHERE IN THE WILDERNESS OF EASTERN ARIZONA. THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE COMMUNICATIONS, NO PEOPLE COMING BY. SO ON DAY ONE, THEY SET OUT ON FOOT TO GET A BETTER CELL SIGNAL AND CALL FOR HELP. NOT A SINGLE CLUE, UNTIL DAY NINE ` THIS PAST SATURDAY ` WHEN ROGERS' DOG IS SPOTTED AND THE SEARCH IS BACK IN HIGH GEAR. I WROTE 'HELP' WITH BIG WHITE STICKS AND ROCKS. I NEED FOOD BADLY. FINALLY, THEY FIND HER. WHEN THEY LANDED, I WAS SITTING THERE SOBBING, AND THE OFFICER CAME OVER AND JUST HELD ME WHILE I SOBBED. AND LET ME KNOW THAT MY DOG QUEENIE WAS SAFE, TOO. SHE TELLS RESCUERS SHE AND HER DOG SURVIVED ALL THAT TIME BY DRINKING POND WATER AND EATING PLANTS. AND AFTER ALL THAT, ROGERS WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS BUT WAS RELEASED LATER THAT SAME NIGHT. NOW, WE UNDERSTAND, SHE IS BACK OUT HIKING. A 400-YEAR-OLD PAINTING THAT COULD BE THE WORK OF ITALIAN MASTER CARAVAGGIO HAS BEEN FOUND IN AN ATTIC IN SOUTHERN FRANCE. THE PICTURE HAD BEEN LEFT FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS IN A PROPERTY AND WAS ONLY FOUND WHEN THE OWNERS WENT UP TO THE ATTIC TO FIX A LEAK. IT'S BELIEVED IT WAS PAINTED IN ROME IN THE 17TH CENTURY. IF VERIFIED AS CARAVAGGIO'S WORK, IT COULD BE WORTH NEARLY $200M. AND ON THE SUBJECT OF BIG BUCKS, NAPSTER FOUNDER SEAN PARKER IS SPENDING AROUND $360M TO FIGHT CANCER. THE BILLIONAIRE FILE-SHARING MOGUL'S ESTABLISHING THE PARKER INSTITUTE WHICH WILL TRY TO SPEED UP THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNOTHERAPIES. THE METHOD USES THE BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT CANCER AND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING AREAS OF CANCER RESEARCH. BACK HERE, NZ CRICKET IS ENJOYING TWO BIG ACCOLADES TONIGHT. BLACKCAPS STAR BATSMAN KANE WILLIAMSON HAS BEEN NAMED THE LEADING CRICKETER IN THE WORLD BY PRESTIGIOUS SPORTS PUBLICATION WISDEN. BY SCORING MORE THAN 2600 INTERNATIONAL RUNS LAST YEAR, WISDEN SAYS HE'S 'CONFIRMED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE TALENTS OF HIS GENERATION'. AND WHITE FERNS POWER HITTER SUZIE BATES HAS BEEN NAMED THE WORLD'S LEADING WOMEN'S CRICKETER AFTER SCORING A SIXTH ONE-DAY CENTURY AGAINST ENGLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR. JUST AHEAD ` SOME ARE BORN TO WEATHER; OTHERS HAVE IT THRUST UPON THEM. WE'LL DO THAT AFTER THE ADS. THEN THE KIWI-BORN SKATEBOARDER WHO HAS CHANGED THE GAME BY FREQUENTLY NOT ACTUALLY USING HIS BOARD. Ah, the power bill. Did you know our appliances are responsible for about 30% of one of these? So if you're buying a new appliance, choose one that's energy-efficient. Use the energy rating label to compare models. A two-star washing machine could cost $1200 to run over its lifetime. A four-and-a-half star machine could cost just $380. An Energy Star shows it's one of the most energy-efficient. If we buy and use appliances wisely, we'll all benefit by saving energy and money. WELCOME BACK. OUR LAST STORY TONIGHT'S ABOUT A KIWI SKATEBOARDER WHO'S MAKING REGULAR BOARDING LOOK STALE, UNIMAGINATIVE AND JUST PLAIN BORING. RICHIE JACKSON ALSO HAPPENS TO LOOK LIKE A CHARACTER IN THE MUSICAL 'HAIR' ` IN A GOOD WAY. JACK TAME WENT TO L.A TO MEET A MAN DEDICATED TO EXPLORING SKATEBOARDING'S PSYCHEDELIC FRONTIER. # JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHEN YOU DON'T WANNA WAKE UP. # I GO FOR THE EMPTY SPACES. YEAH. YOU KNOW, THE VOIDS. THE UNEXPLORED SPACES IN SKATEBOARDING ARE THERE. THEY'RE EASY TO FIND TOO. RICHIE JACKSON HAS CHANGED THE GAME WITH HIS ANARCHIC INTERPRETATION OF STREET SKATING. IT'S REALLY AS SIMPLE AS THINKING, 'THAT WOULD BE FUN,' OR, 'THAT WOULD BE COOL.' AND IT'S NOT THAT FUN OR COOL FOR ME TO PURSUE DOING SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE HAS ALREADY MASTERED. # WHERE ARE YOU NOW? # SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED ONLINE LAST MONTH, THIS VIDEO HAS RACKED UP THREE MILLION VIEWS. IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO MAKE, BUT RICHIE JACKSON IS BEING CELEBRATED BY THE BIGGEST NAMES IN SKATEBOARDING FOR HIS ULTIMATE, UNSULLIED, PURE ORIGINALITY. I'M SURPRISED THAT YOU ARE EVER SATISFIED WITH YOUR CREATIONS. WHEN DID I EVER SAY THAT I'M SATISFIED? (CHUCKLES) WELL, YOU'VE PUBLISHED IT. RIGHT. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS EVERY TRULY FINISHED; I THINK IT'S ONLY ABANDONED. I GET TO THE POINT WHERE I'M LIKE, 'THAT'S IT. JUST PUT IT OUT. WE'LL START A NEW ONE.' THAT ACCENT IS A CALI-KIWI MASH-UP. RICHIE JACKSON WAS BORN IN AUCKLAND. TAKAPUNA HOSPITAL, I BELIEVE. HE LIVED ON THE NORTH SHORE UNTIL HE WAS 12, THEN AUSTRALIA, AND NOW THE STATES. I'M GLAD THAT YOU'VE CLAIMED ME. YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW SKATEBOARDING TO APPRECIATE THAT GLIDING DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS WITHOUT A BOARD IS NOT ESPECIALLY EASY. AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A FASHIONISTA TO KNOW THAT RICHIE JACKSON LOOKS LIKE A MEMBER OF LED ZEPPELIN CIRCA 1969. # OH! # WANNA WHOLE LOTTA LOVE! # AND AFTER A WHILE, YOU GET SICK OF BEING EMBARRASSED ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOKED THREE YEARS AGO EVERY THREE YEARS. YEAH. SO I'M LIKE, 'LET ME JUST TAKE SOMETHING 'THAT'S STOOD THE TEST OF TIME, IS ALREADY, ON THE FACE OF IT, 'EMBARRASSING, AND WE'LL JUST DO THAT.' RICHIE'S ON TO HIS NEXT SKATING PROJECT NOW, HIS NEXT CREATION. AND JUST LIKE THE BIRDS IN THOSE BEAUTIFUL SKIES ABOVE HIS CALIFORNIAN HOME, WHEN RICHIE SKATES, THE OPTIONS, AS EVER, ARE LIMITLESS. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A BIRD MAKING A NEST ` IT'S CREATING A PIECE OF ARTWORK, WHETHER IT KNOWS IT OR NOT. YOU ASKED ME IF I APPROACH IT LIKE AN ART. I THINK, WHETHER YOU DO OR NOT, IT'S GONNA END UP AS ART. NOW TO TOMORROWS WEATHER WITH CAMEO. NOW TO TOMORROWS WEATHER WITH CAMEO. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY TARIQA SATHERLEY AND JESSICA BOELL.