IT'S MIDDAY, WEDNESDAY THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA ANNOUNCES SHE WON'T BE STANDING IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. CORIN DANN'S STANDING BY WITH THE DETAILS. IT'S BEEN REVEALED CONCERNS ABOUT DAME LOWELL GODDARD'S LEADERSHIP OF THE UK'S INQUIRY INTO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE WERE REPORTED MONTHS BEFORE SHE QUIT. PLUS ` A FAMILY HOME TURNED INTO A GAS CHAMBER. THE DISTURBING NEW DETAILS IN THE SUSPECTED MURDER-SUICIDE OF A FAMILY OF FOUR IN SYDNEY. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. KIA ORA. IN BREAKING NEWS THIS AFTERNOON, ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MOST SENIOR CABINET MINISTERS WON'T BE STANDING IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA HAS CONFIRMED IN THE LAST 20 MINUTES THAT SHE WON'T CONTEST THE 2017 ELECTION. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN'S AT PARLIAMENT. CORIN, WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US? This was a surprise. We were not expecting her to announce that she was stepping down. She said it is the right time for her and her family. She will give a media briefing shortly. She only ever wanted to be the education minister and had no designs on another portfolio. She has been through some big changes since 2011. There are changes around decile funding and per-child funding at the moment. She has come to a bit of a natural end after seeing those through. It is still a big blow for the government. She is a high-profile minister and at times controversial and has frustrated those in the education sector at times. A top performer for the government. SO THERE'LL BE A CABINET RE-SHUFFLE. ANY IDEA ON THE TIMEFRAME AND LIKELY CANDIDATES? If we do see a reshuffle it will be at the beginning of next year. She will likely be there up until the election. Nicky Kay may be able to take over. It does give John Key the opportunity to free up that front bench and bring in some fresh talent. THE MAN CHARGED IN RELATION TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A SOUTH AUCKLAND TODDLER IN JUNE CAN NOW BE NAMED AS HER FATHER, GUSTAV OTTO SANFT. MR SANFT IS CHARGED WITH THE MANSLAUGHTER OF HIS 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, WHO WAS SHOT DEAD IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THEIR FAMILY HOME IN FAVONA ROAD. THE 26-YEAR-OLD ALSO FACES CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A PISTOL AND POSSESSION OF CANNABIS FOR SUPPLY. HE LOST HIS BID FOR NAME SUPPRESSION LAST WEEK AND WILL REAPPEAR IN COURT NEXT MONTH. FORMER NZ HIGH COURT JUDGE DAME LOWELL GODDARD HAS HAD HER LEADERSHIP QUESTIONED IN FRONT OF A BRITISH SELECT COMMITTEE. FOR 16 MONTHS, DAME GODDARD WAS CHAIR OF THE INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, BEFORE SHE RESIGNED IN AUGUST. NOW IT'S HER BEHAVIOUR THAT'S BEING QUESTIONED. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING REPORTS FROM LONDON. SHE WAS ONCE THEIR LEADER ON THE CHILD-SEXUAL-ABUSE ENQUIRY, BUT TODAY THIS PANEL OF EXPERTS APPEARED IN FRONT OF A HEARING TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THEIR DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP WITH DAME LOWELL GODDARD. THE PANEL HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP THAT WERE BEING EVIDENCED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE ENQUIRY. DAME LOWELL WAS THE THIRD HEAD OF THE TROUBLED ENQUIRY BEFORE SHE ALSO RESIGNED. THE NEWEST CHAIR MUST NOW EXPLAIN TO A SELECT COMMITTEE WHAT WENT WRONG. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING THAT LOWELL GODDARD REALLY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO SIT ON HER OWN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A PANEL. LAST WEEK THE TIMES NEWSPAPER ACCUSED THOSE CLOSE TO PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY OF COVERING UP ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT. DAME LOWELL SAID THE CLAIMS WERE FALSE AND MALICIOUS. WAS SHE A NIGHTMARE TO WORK WITH, AS SOME PAPERS HAVE SUGGESTED? I WOULD NOT USE THAT LANGUAGE. WHAT LANGUAGE WOULD YOU USE? I WOULD PREFER TO SAY THAT THERE WERE CHALLENGES. DAME LOWELL WAS APPOINTED IN FEBRUARY 2015, BUT THE HOME OFFICE SAYS IT ONLY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS ON JULY 29 THIS YEAR. SIX DAYS LATER, DAME LOWELL RESIGNED. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE HOME OFFICE RECORDS TO SUGGEST ANY OF MY STAFF DEALING WITH THE ENQUIRY WERE AWARE UNTIL IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION ON THE 19TH OF JULY. YESTERDAY BRITISH HOME SECRETARY AMBER RUDD TOLD THE HOUSE OF COMMONS The Home Office director-general was tipped off by a panel member but didn't say anything. SHE HAD ASKED DAME LOWELL TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. BUT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE FORMER HIGH COURT JUDGE AT WESTMINSTER TODAY. THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS ASKED DAME LOWELL TO APPEAR VIA VIDEO LINK. THE GOVERNMENT'S RAISING THE AGE OF STATE CARE FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH AS PART OF A CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY OVERHAUL. 17-YEAR-OLDS WILL NOW HAVE THE OPTION TO REMAIN IN CARE UNTIL THE AGE OF 21, AND THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ADULTS UP TO 25. THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SAYS THE CHANGES ARE A LONG TIME COMING. SO, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT WE PUT THESE VERY DAMAGED, VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT ON THEIR OWN AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE. NO PARENT WOULD DO THAT, AND THE STATE HAS A ROLE AS A PARENT, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE PUT THIS INVESTMENT INTO THEM NOW. THE NEW RULES COME INTO EFFECT IN 2018, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CAREGIVERS. SCENE EXAMINATIONS ARE CONTINUING THIS MORNING AT THE WHANGAREI AMBULANCE STATION AND AT TWO OTHER ADDRESSES OF INTEREST AFTER THE DEATH OF A 37-YEAR-OLD MAN. A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED AFTER THE MAN WAS DROPPED OFF AT THE ST JOHN STATION YESTERDAY MORNING IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING GANG MEMBERS, GATHERED AT THE CORDON, CONSOLING EACH OTHER. A POST-MORTEM WILL BE CARRIED OUT TODAY. A MAN STABBED IN AN INCIDENT AT AUCKLAND HOSPITAL YESTERDAY HAS IMPROVED AND IS NOW IN A STABLE CONDITION AT THE SAME HOSPITAL. THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE NEAR THE MAIN ENTRANCE IN GRAFTON. THE VICTIM IS AGED IN HIS 30S. A 56 YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH WOUNDING WITH INTENT TO CAUSE GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM. THE SALVATION ARMY IS CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE FOR THE 75,000 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO AREN'T IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR TRAINING. IN A REPORT RELEASED TODAY, THE SALLIES SAY MORE RESOURCES ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE BETTER PATHWAYS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY LEAVE SCHOOL. EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO LEAVES SCHOOL OR COMES TO THE END OF EDUCATION SHOULD EITHER GO INTO TRAINING OR INTO WORK. NZ'S CURRENT IMMIGRATION POLICY ALSO COMES IN FOR SOME CRITICISM FROM THE SALVATION ARMY. IT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG KIWIS INTO AREAS WITH SKILLS SHORTAGES, RATHER THAN RELYING ON MIGRANTS. THE GROUP PURSUING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GOVERNMENT-OWNED INSURER, SOUTHERN RESPONSE, IS BACK IN COURT TODAY. AROUND 40 DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS ARRIVED AT THE HIGH COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH THIS MORNING, SEEKING AN ORDER TO ALLOW THEIR ACTION TO PROCEED. THEIR CLAIM IS THAT SOUTHERN RESPONSE ADOPTED A DELIBERATE STRATEGY TO DELAY AND UNDERPAY INSURANCE CLAIMS. FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT, ACTUALLY. THE LAWYERS AND I HAVE GOT A PRETTY GOOD CASE, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL. I'M HOPING FOR A GOOD OUTCOME. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME WAITING. THE GROUP'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT A CLASS ACTION WAS REJECTED BY THE COURT IN FEBRUARY. SOUTHERN RESPONSE SAYS THE CLAIMS ARE FICTIONAL. GIVING SIMPLE MESSAGES TO OUR MAJOR TOURIST DRIVERS IS THE APPROACH THE NZ TRANSPORT AGENCY IS TAKING AS IT PREPARES FOR ANOTHER BUSY TOURIST SEASON. NZTA RESEARCH HAS FOUND VISITING DRIVERS RESPOND BEST TO SIMPLE, CLEAR MESSAGES HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH DRIVING ON NZ ROADS. AUSTRALIANS ` OUR BIGGEST TOURIST MARKET ` ARE TOP THE LIST OF FOREIGN DRIVERS INVOLVED IN SERIOUS CRASHES. MEANWHILE, GERMANS HAVE THE SECOND-HIGHEST AMOUNT OF CRASHES, DESPITE MAKING UP OUR SIXTH-LARGEST TOURIST MARKET. THE PACIFIC BUSINESS TRUST, FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS, IS ON NOTICE TO PERFORM OR FACE CLOSURE AFTER YEARS OF REPEATED SERIOUS PROBLEMS. 1 NEWS HAS OBTAINED DOCUMENTS UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT WHICH SHOW A RAFT OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE LACK OF A DATABASE OF PASIFIKA BUSINESSES THE TRUST IS MEANT TO HAVE HELPED. A serious situation. We need to be serious about it or close it down. THE WARNING HAS PROMPTED THE TRUST TO RESTRUCTURE AND NOW HAS FIRM GUIDELINES ON HOW IT SHOULD OPERATE. FIJI'S PRIME MINISTER FRANK BAINIMARAMA LANDS IN NZ TODAY FOR HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT HERE AS PM. THE FOUR-DAY VISIT COMES AMID STRAINED TIES BETWEEN FIJI AND NZ, AFTER FIERY EXCHANGES DURING THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM LAST MONTH. MR BAINIMARAMA EXTENDED AN OLIVE BRANCH EARLIER THIS WEEK, THOUGH, LIFTING SEVERAL JOURNALISTS' TRAVEL BANS. BOTH LEADERS WILL ATTEND THE BLEDISLOE CUP MATCH IN AUCKLAND ON SATURDAY. DONALD TRUMP'S STICKING WITH HIS CLAIM THE US ELECTION IS RIGGED, DESPITE FLAT REJECTIONS FROM PEOPLE WITHING HIS OWN PARTY. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT TELLING MR TRUMP TO STOP WHINING, CALLING THE CLAIM UNPRECEDENTED IN MODERN POLITICAL HISTORY. HERE'S THE ABC'S TOM LLAMAS. WITH JUST THREE WEEKS TO GO, DONALD TRUMP HAMMERING HIS MESSAGE THAT THE ELECTION COULD BE STOLEN. THEY'VE RIGGED IT FROM THE BEGINNING. IT'S RIGGED. IT'S A BAD SYSTEM. THEY EVEN WANT TO TRY AND RIG THE ELECTION AND THE POLLING BOOTHS. BUT TODAY, A STERN REBUKE FROM OBAMA. HE'S STARTED WHINING BEFORE THE GAME'S EVEN OVER? IF WHENEVER THINGS START GOING BADLY FOR YOU AND YOU LOSE YOU START BLAMING SOMEBODY ELSE, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE IN THIS JOB. BACKSTAGE BEFORE ONE OF HIS RALLIES, I ASKED TRUMP FOR PROOF THE ELECTION IS RIGGED. YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND YOU SEE THE KIND OF VOTER FRAUD YOU HAVE, YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR 10 YEARS, AND THEY'RE STILL SO-CALLED VOTING. AND EXPERTS SAY THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE AND THAT VOTER FRAUD IS EXTREMELY RARE. FLORIDA SENATOR MARCO RUBIO DISMISSING TRUMP'S CLAIMS AS PREPOSTEROUS. I PROMISE YOU, THERE IS NOT A 67-COUNTY CONSPIRACY TO RIG THIS ELECTION. BUT TRUMP BRUSHING OFF CONCERNS FROM FELLOW REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN. TRUMP'S CROWD TAKING ON THE SPEAKER, BUT RYAN NOT THE ONLY REPUBLICAN BREAKING WITH TRUMP, SINCE AT LEAST NINE WOMEN ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. MELANIA TRUMP DEFENDING HER HUSBAND. DID THEY EVER CHECK THE BACKGROUND OF THESE WOMEN? BUT TODAY, ONE OF THOSE WOMEN GETTING NEW SUPPORT, SEEN IN THIS PHOTO STANDING NEXT TO TRUMP IN 2005 AT HIS FLORIDA RESORT, MAR-A-LAGO. SHE WAS THERE TO PROFILE THE TRUMPS, BUT SAYS ` TRUMP DENIES IT, BUT TODAY PEOPLE MAGAZINE PUBLIHSED TESTIMONIALS FROM FIVE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO SAY SHE CONFIDED IN THEM SHORTLY AFTER THE ALLEGED ASSAULT. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT THE BATTLE TO RETAKE MOSUL FROM ISIS WILL SUCCEED. THE SECOND DAY OF THE MILITARY OFFENSIVE HAS SEEN IRAQI FORCES BACKED BY COALITION AIR STRIKES TAKING SEVERAL VILLAGES IN THE SOUTH, WHILE IN THE NORTH EAST, KURDISH FORCES ARE CLOSING IN ON THE CITY. THE BBC'S ORLA GUERIN HAS MORE. IN THE DISTANCE, MOSUL ` A CITY IN WAITING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM A BRUTAL REGIME. IT'S THE LAST BASTION OF I.S. IN IRAQ, BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER? AS THE NET CLOSES ON SO-CALLED ISLAMIC STATE, THE RISKS ARE INCREASING FOR THOSE TRAPPED DOWN BELOW IN MOSUL. THERE'S THE DANGER OF COALITION AIR STRIKES. I.S. COULD TRY TO USE THE LOCAL POPULATION AS HUMAN SHIELDS. AND IF AND WHEN IRAQI FORCES MAKE IT INSIDE THE CITY, THEY COULD BE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE. HERE'S WHAT I.S. WANTS YOU TO SEE FROM INSIDE MOSUL. ITS LATEST PROPAGANDA VIDEO PAINTS A PICTURE OF NORMALITY. THE MESSAGE IS ` 'ALL'S WELL.' ANYONE DARING TO SAY OTHERWISE COULD BE BEHEADED. (SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE) 'THANK GOD, EVERYTHING IS FINE,' SAYS THIS MAN. 'IT'S PEACEFUL HERE. THE TV CHANNELS ARE LYING.' BUT SOME IN MOSUL ARE CHALLENGING THE EXTREMISTS. THIS VIDEO, FROM ONE ACTIVIST NETWORK, SHOWS A RECENT ATTACK ON AN I.S. VEHICLE. WE MADE CONTACT WITH THE NETWORK'S FOUNDER OUTSIDE THE CITY. FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, WE CAN'T IDENTIFY HIM. TRANSLATOR: WE HAVE ASSAULT RIFLES AND ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES, BUT WE CAN'T RISE UP UNTIL THE SECURITY SERVICES GET TO MOSUL OR I.S. WILL TAKE REVENGE. SOME ARE FLEEING AREAS NEAR MOSUL AS TROOPS ADVANCE. THERE COULD BE MANY MORE TO FOLLOW IF THEY CAN FIND A WAY. BUT KURDISH SOURCES TOLD US I.S. EXECUTED 15 CIVILIANS IN ONE VILLAGE YESTERDAY JUST FOR TRYING TO ESCAPE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` AN AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY MOURNS AS DISTURBING DETAILS SURROUNDING THE DEATHS OF A FAMILY OF FOUR ARE REVEALED. AND A HUGE BUDGET BLOWOUT. WILL JAPAN ACCEPT THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE'S OFFER TO KEEP COSTS DOWN AS IT HOSTS THE 2020 OLYMPICS? THE JURY IN GABLE TOSTEE'S MURDER TRIAL IS SET TO BEGIN A THIRD DAY OF DELIBERATIONS WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. IT'S STRUGGLING TO DECIDE WHETHER HE'S GUILTY OF MURDERING NZER WARRIENA WRIGHT ON THE GOLD COAST TWO YEARS AGO. AFTER YESTERDAY INDICATING THEY COULDN'T REACH A VERDICT, THE JUDGE TOLD THEM MORE TIME SHOULD HELP. HE'S REMINDED THEM NOT TO FACTOR TOSTEE'S ACTIONS AFTER WARRIENA WRIGHT'S DEATH INTO THEIR DECISION AND GIVEN THEM INSTRUCTION AROUND THE LEGALITIES OF REMOVING A DISORDERLY PERSON FROM YOUR HOME. AUSTRALIAN POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED A FAMILY OF FOUR FOUND DEAD IN SYDNEY, DIED OF GAS POISONING. THEY'RE CALLING IT A MURDER-SUICIDE. UNITED IN GRIEF, THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER THE FAMILY. THE ABC'S JESSICA KIDD REPORTS. STRUGGLING THROUGH THEIR GRIEF, ST LUCY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL REMEMBERED MARIA CLAUDIA LUTZ AND HER TWO CHILDREN. MARIA WOULD NOT WANT US TO BE SAD. SHE WOULD SMACK US ON THE BUM AND SAY STOP. ELIZA AND MARTIN ATTENDED THE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AND THEIR MOTHER TAUGHT SWIMMING LESSONS AND VOLUNTEERED IN THE CANTEEN. SHE TOOK ON SO MUCH AND JUST KEPT GOING AND FOUGHT THE FIGHT FOR EVERYONE. THE PRINCIPAL SAYS MS LUTZ WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE. THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE PERSON. THIS IS SOMEONE VERY VERY STRONG AND VERY VERY CLEVER. POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED MS LUTZ, MARTIN AND ELIZA WERE KILLED BY GAS POISONING, ALONG WITH FATHER AND HUSBAND FERNANDO MANRIQUE. FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS CAME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. MY HEART JUST GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION TO TAKE THEM ALL. THE DEATHS HAVE ALSO HIT SYDNEY'S COLOMBIAN COMMUNITY HARD. ALEJANDRO OSORIO HAD NEVER MET THE FAMILY, BUT STOPPED TO SAY A PRAYER. TO GIVE RESPECT TO THEM, BECAUSE IT'S SOMEONE FROM MY COUNTRY. WE ARE ALL VERY DISTRAUGHT. IT HAS BEEN A SHOCK, OBVIOUSLY, AND ALSO, THERE IS THE FRUSTRATION OF THINKING, 'WHAT CAN I DO?' DETECTIVES FOUND GAS BOTTLES INSIDE THE HOUSE AND RECOVERED A NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM THE GARAGE AND BINS. TOXICOLOGY TESTS ARE BEING DONE TO CONFIRM HOW THE FAMILY DIED, BUT POLICE SAY IT'S CLEAR THEIR DEATHS WERE DELIBERATE. THE BROTHER OF THE MAIN SURVIVING SUSPECT IN LAST NOVEMBER'S PARIS TERROR ATTACKS HAS CALLED ON HIS SIBLING TO SPEAK. LAST WEEK, TWO LAWYERS SAID THEY COULD NO LONGER REPRESENT SALEH ABDESLAM, AS HE WAS REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATION. HIS BROTHER HAS URGED HIM TO TALK, SAYING HE WANTS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPNED BEFORE AND AFTER THE ATTACKS THAT KILLED 130 PEOPLE. ABDESLAM HAS KEPT SILENT SINCE HIS TRANSFER TO A FRENCH PRISON IN APRIL. THE HOUSE WHERE ADOLF HITLER WAS BORN MAY NOT BE DESTROYED AFTER ALL, WITH AUSTRIA'S INTERIOR MINISTER BACKTRACKING ON PLANS TO TEAR IT DOWN. HE'D CLAIMED A COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS HAD DECIDED THE HOUSE SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED. BUT THE COMMITTEE INSISTS NOT, SAYING A DEMOLITION WOULD 'COME CLOSE TO A DENIAL OF THE NAZI HISTORY IN AUSTRIA'. IT MAY INSTEAD CONVERTED SO IT'S NO LONGER RECOGNISABLE, TO STOP IT FROM BECOMING A NEO-NAZI SHRINE. ADOLF HITLER WAS BORN THERE IN 1889. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING MOVING THE ROWING AND CANOEING EVENTS AT THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS TO SOUTH KOREA, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CUT SOARING COSTS. IT COMES AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN TOKYO GOVERNOR, YURIKO KOIKE, AND THE IOC, WHO'S PROPOSED A WORKING GROUP TO FIND WAYS TO AVOID WASTEFUL SPENDING. THE COST FOR TOKYO TO HOST THE GAMES IS JUST UNDER NZ$40M ` CORRECTION: $NZ40B FOUR TIMES THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE AND ALMOST THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN LONDON 2012. WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR, WE CAN WORK WITH THE TOKYO MINITER` THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, AND, WITH OUR EXPERIENCE, REDUCE THOSE FIGURES. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DETAIL BEHIND THEM, BUT THEY SEEM VERY LARGE TO US. TOKYO'S GOVERNOR SAYS SHE'LL REVIEW THE PROPOSED VENUE CHANGES AND MAKE A DECISION AT THE END OF THE MONTH. DAN CARTER HAS CONFIRMED OVERNIGHT HE'S BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING BY THE FRENCH RUGBY FEDERATION IN ITS ANTI-DOPING INVESTIGATION. THE FORMER ALL BLACK TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONFIRM RUMOURS HE'D DONE NOTHING WRONG AFTER FRENCH MAGAZINE L'EQUIPE REPORTED CARTER AND TEAMMATES JOE ROKOCOKO AND JUAN IMHOFF HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR TRACES OF CORTICOSTEROIDS. THE TRIO HAD THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTIONS. CARTER WROTE... 'I LOVE THIS GAME AND OWE SO MUCH TO RUGBY THAT I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING 'INTENTIONALLY TO BRING IT INTO DISREPUTE.' Hekia Parata has confirmed that she won't contest at the 2017 election. I have given 10 years of my life to politics. I have done it with 200% energy and passion. There will be other opportunities. We have an immensely talented caucus and opportunities for others to show their skills and vision for New Zealand's. I genuinely feel I have had the privilege of this opportunity and made the most of it with significant support. You have set some lofty targets for yourself. It is not my plan to leave behind unfinished business. I think the work I have been able to do can show measurable impact. There is still more to do. There will be more to do after I have gone. That is the nature of life. People can always improve on it. I do not want to be greedy for opportunities. Others will want to come along and make their contribution, and that is the obligation ` to do what you can to the best of your ability and then move on and leave the field clear for others. NOW TO THE WEATHER. CLEAR SKY OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, AS A FRONTAL CLOUD HOVERS OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ AND BEFORE WE GO ` EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA'S ANNOUNCED SHE'S STEPPING DOWN AT NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. THE MAN CHARGED IN RELATION TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A SOUTH AUCKLAND TODDLER IN JUNE HAS BEEN REVEALED AS HER FATHER. AND BEFORE WE GO ` NAIL ART IS BIG THESE DAYS, BUT A NEW FASHION TREND OUT OF MEXICO MIGHT BE TAKING IT A BIT TOO FAR. APPARENTLY IT'S BECOME COOL TO GLUE ON SCORPIONS. THESE WOMEN SAY THEY'RE GETTING IT DONE BECAUSE IT'S 'INNOVATIVE AND FUN'. THE WOMAN BEHIND IT IS A SCORPION ARTISAN AND SAYS SHE WANTED TO FIND A USE FOR ONES TOO SMALL TO USE IN HER NORMAL CRAFTS. I might get some. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE 1 NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT SIX. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY IMOGEN STAINES AND PHILIP MCKIBBIN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.