HELLO. WE'VE HAD WARM NORTH-WESTERLYS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THAT WARM, FIRM NOR-WESTER HAD IT AGAIN TODAY. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MIDDLE 20S IN EASTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. AGAIN, WET WEATHER TO THE SOUTH AND THE WEST. BUT A CHANGE TOMORROW. WE'RE TALKING SOUTHERLIES. SOME COLDER AIR STARTS TO WORK IN TO THE SOUTH ISLAND. ALL THE DETAILS ON THAT, AND` OF COURSE, THE LONG WEEKEND ` WHAT'S THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE? ALL THE DETAILS COMING UP. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF 1 NEWS, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. MORE MOURNING IN NORTHLAND AFTER ANOTHER GANG MEMBER IS KILLED. WHICH DRUG IS DRIVING A GANG WAR BEING BLAMED FOR A SPATE OF DEATHS? THERE IS A DRUG WAR HAPPENING, AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT DEAL IN DRUGS ARE THE GANGS. AND SIGNING OUT AFTER A STORMY POLITICAL CAREER, EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA CALLS IT QUITS, BUT WILL SHE STAY UNTIL THE ELECTION? KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. A SERIES OF KILLINGS IN NORTHLAND INVOLVING TRIBESMEN AND THE MONGREL MOB ARE BEING DESCRIBED AS GANG WARFARE. A FATAL SHOOTING IN WHANGAREI YESTERDAY IS THE LATEST IN WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A STRING OF RETRIBUTIONS, AND THOSE ON THE GROUND SAY THE BATTLES ARE OVER THE DRUG P. HELEN CASTLES REPORTS FROM UP NORTH. GANGS ARE FIGHTING TO DEATH IN NORTHLAND, AND THIS BLACK POWER LEADER HAS NO DOUBT WHY. IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH RIVALRY OR RETALIATION. IT'S GOT TO DO WITH, UM, WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF FRIES, P, SOME PEOPLE WILL GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO FIND IT, WHETHER IT'S STANDOVERS. THE LATEST TO DIE, JOHN HARRIS (37), A TRIBESMAN, FATALLY SHOT BEFORE BEING DROPPED AT THIS WHANGAREI AMBULANCE STATION YESTERDAY MORNING. I THINK IT'S A GANG WAR THAT'S PLAYING OUT, NOT JUST IN NORTHLAND BUT IN AUCKLAND AS WELL. PEENI HENARAE'S COUSIN, ALSO A TRIBESMAN, WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN WHANGAREI TWO WEEKS EARLIER. IT'S THE GANG AFFILIATION THAT'S SEEING THE KIND OF RETRIBUTION ACTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS, AND IT'S A SAD THING. THE WHANGAREI SHOOTINGS FOLLOWED THREE OTHER GANG-RELATED KILLINGS IN KAITAIA THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A STABBING AND A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING. THE TRIBESMAN AND MONGREL MOB GANGS APPEAR TO BE AT THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT. THOMAS RAUAHI'S ENTIRE WHANAU IS TIED UP IN THE GANG SCENE; A SCENE THAT'S CHANGED. IT USED TO BE TURF, EH, YOU KNOW, WHY, UM, GANGS USED TO FIGHT, BUT P IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE CAUSES OF TROUBLE. HOW MUCH CAN BE MADE OUT OF SELLING P? OH, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. (CHUCKLES) MARTIN KAIPO'S A FORMER BLACK POWER ENFORCER. HE SAYS P AND RELATED VIOLENCE ARE AN EPIDEMIC IN NORTHLAND IT'S MORE SCARY AND DANGEROUS NOW THAN IT WAS IN MY DAY. WE KNEW CLEARLY WHO WAS THE ENEMY. THERE WERE CLEAR BOUNDARIES. BUT DESPITE THE SPIKE IN GANG ACTIVITY, POLICE ARE RELUCTANT TO CALL IT GANG WAR. THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF BEING DEPLOYED TO NORTHLAND FOR SUPPORT. NORTHLAND'S LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN NZ. THERE ARE GANG MEMBERS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE PEOPLE AREN'T ROTARY MEMBERS. BUT THE GANGS AREN'T SO SURE WITH THE P IT WON'T GO AWAY. PUT IT THAT WAY. HELEN CASTLES, 1 NEWS. THE MAN CHARGED IN RELATION TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A SOUTH AUCKLAND TODDLER IN JUNE CAN NOW BE NAMED AS THE CHILD'S FATHER, GUSTAV OTTO SANFT. THE 2-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT DEAD IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THEIR FAMILY HOME IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. HER 26-YEAR-OLD FATHER ALSO FACES CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A PISTOL AND CANNABIS POSSESSION. HE LOST HIS BID FOR NAME SUPPRESSION LAST WEEK AND WILL REAPPEAR IN COURT NEXT MONTH. SHE'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL, EVEN CONFRONTATIONAL AT TIMES, BUT NOW EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA'S CALLING HOME TIME. MS PARATA WON'T BE STANDING AT NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION, ALTHOUGH SHE'S HAPPY TO KEEP THE EDUCATION PORTFOLIO UNTIL THEN. BUT POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN SAYS HER BOSS MIGHT HAVE OTHER IDEAS. HEKIA PARATA LEARNT EARLY ON... CROWD CHANTS ...THAT REFORMING EDUCATION ISN'T FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED. OF COURSE IT'S CHALLENGING, ABSOLUTELY CHALLENGING, BUT, LOOK, THAT GOES WITH THIS PORTFOLIO. PEOPLE FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT IT. AND THROUGHOUT HER FIVE YEARS AS EDUCATION MINISTER, SHE'S FACED PLENTY OF CHALLENGES. THERE WAS THE NOVOPAY DEBACLE, CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL CLOSURES AND PUSHBACK OVER BIGGER CLASS SIZES. THEY OFTEN SAW HER BUTTING HEADS WITH TEACHERS' UNIONS. SHE HAS ACHIEVED SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF WHERE THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. ONE OF HEKIA PARATA'S AIMS HAS BEEN TO LIFT THE PERFORMANCE OF MAORI AND PACIFIC STUDENTS. SHE IS A MINISTER THAT ALWAYS WANTED TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE THAT SHE BELIEVED THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WASN'T SERVING AS WELL AS IT COULD. THIS YEAR SHE LAUNCHED A NEW AMBITIOUS REFORM PLAN TO OVERHAUL THE DECILE FUNDING SYSTEM. SHE SAYS THAT'S ON TRACK, AND IT'S TIME TO SIGNAL HER DEPARTURE. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO PUT IN PLACE A REASONABLY COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF REFORM, AND I THINK THEREFORE, AT THE END OF THAT, I WILL HAVE MADE MY CONTRIBUTION, AND IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE ELSE. JOHN KEY HAS BEEN DROPPING HINTS ABOUT MINISTERS NEEDING TO THINK ABOUT MOVING ON TO MAKE WAY FOR FRESH TALENT IN A POSSIBLE CABINET RESHUFFLE, BUT WHILE MS PARATA'S DEPARTURE WILL GIVE HIM THAT ROOM TO MOVE, IT'S UNLIKELY HE WOULD HAVE WANTED SUCH A SENIOR MINISTER TO GO. SHE'LL DEFINITELY STAY AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT UNTIL THE ELECTION. SHE MAY WELL STAY AS A MINISTER UNTIL THE ELECTION. I HAVEN'T MADE THAT CALL YET. AS FOR LIFE AFTER PARLIAMENT? I HAVE NO PLANS BEYOND COMPLETING MY EDUCATION WORK PROGRAMME, AND THEN THE GREAT BLUE HORIZON BECKONS AFTER THAT. SHE SAYS SHE WON'T BE TAKING A DIPLOMATIC POSTING. SHE SAYS THE ONE SHE'S LEAVING HAS BEEN HER DREAM JOB. CORIN DANN, 1 NEWS. STILL NO VERDICT TONIGHT IN THE GABLE TOSTEE MURDER TRIAL IN AUSTRALIA. THE JURY OF SIX MEN AND SIX WOMEN IS DELIBERATING FOR A THIRD DAY AFTER YESTERDAY TELLING THE JUDGE THEY COULDN'T REACH A VERDICT. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS IS IN BRISBANE AND JOINS US NOW. We are seeing some development in the case. Right now the jury have passed the judge another note. It is another question. Quarters adjourned while the judge considers how to answer the question. It's the first time a seen the jury today. They been deliberating for 11 hours after returning to court late yesterday and saying they were having difficulty reaching a verdict and felt they weren't able to. The judge said them back to make a decision. We're standing by to find out what the question was. We'll bring you the development as they happen. THANKS. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS IN BRISBANE. THE CONDUCT OF NZER DAME LOWELL GODDARD HAS BEEN QUESTIONED IN FRONT OF A BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. FOR 16 MONTHS THE FORMER HIGH COURT JUDGE HEADED A HUGE AND HIGH-PROFILE INQUIRY INTO CHILD SEX ABUSE IN THE UK. IT'S NOW BEEN REVEALED THERE WERE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HER BEHAVIOUR MONTHS BEFORE SHE RESIGNED IN AUGUST. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING JOINS US LIVE FROM LONDON. This enquiry has been in disarray since it was first set up. During her tenure communication between her and the panel was so bad at one point that there to bring in a conciliator. SHE WAS ONCE THEIR LEADER ON THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ENQUIRY. NOW THIS PANEL OF EXPERTS IS ABOUT TO APPEAR 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 29TH OF JULY. HOWEVER, TWO MONTHS EARLIER, THE HOME OFFICE DIRECTOR GENERAL WAS TIPPED OFF BY A PANEL MEMBER BUT AGREED NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. YESTERDAY BRITISH HOME SECRETARY AMBER RUDD TOLD THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 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. APART FROM THAT POSSIBLE APPEARANCE, EMMA, WHAT MORE CAN WE EXPECT FROM THIS COMMITTEE HEARING? Theresa May is expected to answer questions later today. They are unhappy over Amber Rudd because she said the reason for the resignation was that she was on sick. So Mps feel they have been misled. THANKS, EMMA. A DELIBERATE STRATEGY TO DELAY AND UNDERPAY CLAIMS. THAT'S THE ALLEGATION AGAINST GOVERNMENT-OWNED INSURER SOUTHERN RESPONSE BY A GROUP OF 40 POLICY HOLDERS WHO ARE SEEKING TO TAKE CLASS ACTION. IT'S THEIR SECOND APPLICATION FOR JOINT ACTION, AFTER THE FIRST BID WAS REJECTED. ALI PUGH WAS IN COURT. MARCHING BACK TO COURT ONCE AGAIN. 40 SOUTHERN RESPONSE POLICY HOLDERS UNITED IN THE CLAIM THEY'RE VICTIMS OF THE INSURER AND TODAY FIGHTING TO RELAUNCH A $30M CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. YEAH, IT'S BEEN QUITE TRAUMATIC REALLY. VERY STRESSFUL. BUT AS EACH DAY GOES ON, WE'RE A DAY CLOSER. THE GROUP'S LAWYER TOLD THE COURT THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANY ADOPTED A DELIBERATE STRATEGY OF PROVIDING SUBSTANDARD WORK AND LOWBALL OFFERS TO MINIMISE ITS COSTS. IT HAS SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERSTATED THE EXTENT OF THE WORK AND THE COST OF THE WORK. IT HAS MISREPRESENTED THE POSITION TO THE INSURED CUSTOMERS. ALLEGATIONS OF DECEIVING, DELAYING, INTENTIONALLY MINIMISING CLAIMS. THOSE ARE VERY VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. YES. > ONE OF THE 40, ARCHITECT BOB BURNETT, WHOSE AWARD-WINNING HOME STILL STANDS NEGLECTED, SAYS HIS HOUSE WAS MADE WORSE BY SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. YOU CAN SEE HERE WHERE THEY'VE PUT A CROWBAR UNDER HERE AND BROKEN THE FOUNDATION, SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE DAYLIGHT, SO WIND WHISTLES THROUGH THERE. PROBABLY WATER TOO. DO YOU BELIEVE THERE WERE DELIBERATE MEASURES TAKEN TO KEEP COSTS DOWN? ABSOLUTELY. SOUTHERN RESPONSE'S DEFENCE TEAM DENIES ANY WRONGDOING. IT DOESN'T SUGGEST FOR A MOMENT ANYTHING MORE THAN AN IMPERFECTION. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SUGGEST A DELIBERATE STRATEGY. IN A STATEMENT, SOUTHERN RESPONSE CALLED THE CLAIMS THAT THE COMPANY ENGAGED IN A STRATEGY AS AN ABSOLUTE FICTION AND AN EXTRAVAGANT CLAIM TO MAKE. THEY SAY IF ANYTHING, A CLASS ACTION WILL LIKELY FURTHER DELAY THE RESOLUTION OF THESE CUSTOMERS' CLAIMS. THE JUDGE HAS RESERVED HIS DECISION ON WHETHER THE CLASS ACTION WILL GO AHEAD. ALI PUGH, 1 NEWS. THE GRIEVING FAMILY OF A MAN KILLED BY A SO-CALLED ONE PUNCH IS PLEADING WITH THE COURTS NOT TO GRANT HOME DETENTION TO THE OFFENDER. TYRONE PALMER (16) WAS GIVEN 22 MONTHS JAIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT IS FIGHTING THAT AT THE COURT OF APPEAL IN WELLINGTON. ANDREW MORRISON REPORTS. ONE PUNCH IS ALL IT TOOK TO KILL LARAINE AND MIKE'S 40-YEAR-OLD SON MATTHEW ON A SATURDAY NIGHT OUT IN INVERCARGILL. NOT A DAY GOES PAST THAT I DON'T HURT AND GRIEVE FOR MATTHEW. MATTHEW COLEY WAS BLINDSIDED BY TYRONE PALMER (16), INTOXICATED BY A CONCOCTION OF CANNABIS, LSD AND ALCOHOL. HE WAS SENTENCED TO 22 MONTHS FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN AUGUST. NOW HE'S APPEALING THAT AND WANTS HOME DETENTION. IF TYRONE PALMER'S APPEAL IS GRANTED FOR HOME DETENTION, OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BE HANDING OUR YOUTH A LICENCE TO KILL WITH MINIMAL CONSEQUENCES. BUT PALMER'S LAWYER ARGUED THE JUDGE DIDN'T CONSIDER HIS REHABILITATION OPTIONS AT HOME AND HIS ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER CAUSING IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR. THERE IS ALSO PUBLIC INTEREST IN REHABILITATING A 16 YEAR OLD SO THAT HE DOESN'T BECOME A HARDENED OFFENDER. HE HAD STARTED DRINKING FROM ABOUT THE AGE OF 12. HE WAS USING DRUGS. WHATEVER HIS ENVIRONMENT WAS, IT WASN'T STOPPING THAT. THOSE ARE MAJOR RISK FACTORS RIGHT? YES. THE CROWN ARGUES HIS SENTENCE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED, AND HE'LL ONLY SERVE 11 OF THE 22 MONTHS JAIL IMPOSED. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS VOICED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF ONE-PUNCH ATTACKS, AND NZ FIRST IS CALLING FOR A SPECIFIC LAW FOR THE OFFENCE, WITH A MINIMUM OF 8 YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR THOSE THAT KILL PEOPLE WITH A SO-CALLED COWARD'S PUNCH. IT NEEDS TO BE A STRONG DETERRENT MESSAGE THAT SAYS, 'WE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH THIS. 'AND IF YOU DO COMMIT A CRIME LIKE THIS, YOU WILL GO TO PRISON.' MATTHEW'S COLEY'S PARENTS WANT A NEW SYSTEM FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS TO BE REHABILITATED, BUT NOT AT HOME. THERE'S PLENTY MORE WORK TO DO. YEAH. AND I HOPE MIKE'S IS WATCHING. THE JUDGES HAVE RESERVED THEIR DECISION. ANDREW MORRISON, 1 NEWS. CHANGE OR CLOSE ` THAT'S THE MESSAGE TO THE PACIFIC BUSINESS TRUST, WHICH GETS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER FUNDING. ONE NEWS HAS OBTAINED DOCUMENTS SHOWING YEARS OF SERIOUS FAILURE AT THE ORGANISATION SET UP TO HELP DEVELOP PASIFIKA BUSINESSES. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER WITH THIS EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION. THE GLOSSY FACE OF THE PACIFIC BUSINESS TRUST, WHERE BACKS ARE SLAPPED AND THE DIVERSITY BOX IS TICKED, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. I THINK IT WAS IN A SERIOUS SITUATION WHERE IT NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AND HAVE TO BE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THAT OR JUST CLOSE IT DOWN. THE TRUST, A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION, IS FUNDED BY THE MINISTRY OF PACIFIC PEOPLES, RECEIVING OVER 10 MILLION IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT, WE GOT A YEAR'S WORTH OF EMAILS BETWEEN THE MINISTRY AND THE TRUST, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF INTERNAL REPORTS. THIS SHOW A RAFT OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS HAPPENING YEAR AFTER YEAR. THEY INCLUDE NON-ACHIEVEMENT AND WEAKNESSES IN KEY AREAS. A DAMNING REVIEW IN 2012 FOUND, DESPITE SOME SUCCESSES, THE TRUST WAS UNABLE TO FULLY DELIVER WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTED AND URGENT CHANGES WERE NEEDED. THIS NEVER HAPPENED, AND THE MINISTRY KEPT HANDING OVER MORE MONEY. THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT RETURN THROUGH JOB CREATION AND THROUGH BUSINESS SUCCESS. BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE, PAULINE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DATABASE TO PROVE IT. WE HAVE GOT SUBSTANTIAL FIGURES THAT DEMONSTRATE TO US, THAT ARE ALL VERIFIED BY AN AUDITOR, THAT TELL US HOW MANY BUSINESS START UPS WE'VE HAD. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE TRUST HELPED MORE THAN 300 NEW BUSINESSES, BUT THERE'S LITTLE TO NO INFORMATION ON THEM. OVER THREE DECADES THERE'S BEEN VIRTUALLY NO DATABASE. WHAT SORT OF BUSINESSES ARE THEY? DID THEY SUCCEED? WE HAVE NO IDEA, SO WE BASICALLY NOW HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH WITH HAVING A NEW KIND OF AGREEMENT. ITS A FOCUSED AGREEMENT THAT EXPECTS RESULTS. THEY WANT TO SUCCEED. WE WANT THEM TO SUCCEED. THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY WANT THEM TO SUCCEED. THAT SUCCESS WILL BE PROOF IT'S TAXPAYERS MONEY WELL SPENT. BARBARA DREAVER, 1 NEWS. TO THE BATTLE FOR MOSUL, COMING UP, AS IRAQI AND KURDISH FORCES CAPTURE OUTLYING VILLAGES FROM ISIS, EVIDENCE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IS UNCOVERED, ALONG WITH ELABORATE TUNNELS THAT WERE HASTILY ABANDONED. PLUS PRESIDENT OBAMA TAKES AIM AT DONALD TRUMP, TELLING HIM TO STOP WHINING. AND WHY WOMEN'S OUTRAGE OVER TRUMP'S OBSCENE COMMENTS COULD SINK HIS CAMPAIGN. AND A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE FOR A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TURTLE. AFTER A LONG RECOVERY, IT'S ABOUT TO SET SAIL FOR A NEW HOME IN THE WILD. REFUGEES FLEEING THE IRAQI CITY OF MOSUL SAY ISIS ARE DUG IN DEEP INSIDE THE CITY. MOSUL HAS BEEN UNDER THE EXTREMISTS SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2014 AND DISLODGING THEM IS EXPECTED TO TAKE MANY WEEKS. ABC'S ALEX MARQUARDT REPORTS FROM THE FRONTLINE. ADVANCING FORCES ENGAGE IN A FIREFIGHT WITH ISIS TODAY, FIRING FROM THE ROOFTOPS OF ABANDONED BUILDINGS. WHILE INSIDE MOSUL, ISIS PROPAGANDA VIDEOS ILLUSTRATE THE GROUP'S BRAVADO. AS THEY FIRE HEAVY WEAPONS, AND A ROCKET TOWARDS AN IRAQI BULLDOZER. THE FIREBALL WEAVING ACROSS THE DUSTY PLAIN, AND THEN... FROM THE REAR, AMERICAN FORCES ARE ADVISING AND CALLING IN AIR STRIKES. BOOM! THESE BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS TAKING OFF NOW FROM THIS IRAQI BASE. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE IRAQIS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE BACK MOSUL WITHOUT THIS CRUCIAL AMERICAN SUPPORT. ONE BY ONE, ISIS-HELD VILLAGES ARE FALLING. TROOPS CLEARING HOUSE AFTER HOUSE AND MAKING SOME DEADLY DISCOVERIES ` HERE TWO DOZEN MAKESHIFT CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AND BELOW NETWORKS OF TUNNELS. THIS ONE WHERE ISIS WAS APPARENTLY CAUGHT OFF GUARD ` EGGS STILL IN A BUCKET, FOOD IN THE POT. ON THIS BASE, THEY ARE COORDINATING THE APPROACH TO MOSUL, WHICH THEY SAY IS GOING FASTER THAN EXPECTED, BUT WITH THE FORCES FACING AN INTENSE RESISTANCE, NO ONE WANTS TO PREDICT HOW LONG THIS COULD TAKE. AID AGENCIES ARE EXPECTING A MASS EXODUS OF MORE THAN A MILLION REFUGEES FROM MOSUL AS SOON AS FORCES ENTER THE CITY. SYRIA'S FIRST LADY SAYS SHE'S REJECTED AN OFFER OF SAFE PASSAGE OUT OF THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY IN ORDER TO STAY BY HER HUSBAND'S SIDE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIAN STATE TELEVISION, ASMA ASSAD SAYS SHE BELIEVED THOSE OFFERING HER ASYLUM WERE TRYING TO UNDERMINE BASHAR ASSAD'S PRESIDENCY. SHE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRITICISE COVERAGE OF THE WAR. WESTERN MEDIA ORGANISATIONS HAVE CHOSEN TO SOLELY FOCUS ON THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES AND THOSE CAUGHT UP IN REBEL-HELD AREAS, WHEREAS IN FACT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DISPLACED ARE LIVING ACROSS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. ASMA ASSAD SAYS SHE WAS PROMISED SAFETY FOR HER CHILDREN AND FINANCIAL SECURITY IF SHE LEFT SYRIA, BUT REFUSED TO REVEAL WHO MADE THE OFFER. US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS TAKEN AIM AT DONALD TRUMP OVER HIS REPEATED CLAIM THAT THE ELECTION IS RIGGED AND COULD BE STOLEN. THE PRESIDENT SAYING IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED FOR A CANDIDATE TO DISCREDIT THE ELECTION BEFORE ANY VOTES WERE EVEN CAST. IF YOU START WHINING BEFORE THE GAME'S EVEN OVER? IF THINGS ARE EVER 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. HE SAID TRUMP'S RHETORIC WAS NOT BASED ON ANY EVIDENCE. MEANWHILE MELANIA TRUMP IS INSISTING HER HUSBAND IS A 'GENTLEMAN' AND THAT WOMEN WHO'VE ALLEGED HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THEM ARE LYING. BUT AS THE BBC'S NICK BRYANT REPORTS, DONALD TRUMP'S SUPPORT AMONGST FEMALE VOTERS IS IN TROUBLE. WHEN WOMEN ARE UNDER ATTACK, WHAT DO WE DO? STAND UP, FIGHT BACK! A PROTEST THIS MORNING OUTSIDE THE TRUMP HEADQUARTERS IN PHILADELPHIA. THERE'S ONGOING OUTRAGE HERE OVER THE BILLIONAIRE'S OBSCENE REMARKS THAT WERE CAUGHT ON TAPE AND THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE REPEATEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WOMEN. WE'RE SICK OF HIM. WE'RE SICK OF HIS COMMENTS. WE DON'T WANT A SEXUAL ASSAULTER AS OUR PRESIDENT. I THINK HE IS A SEXUAL PREDATOR. I THINK HE HAS ZERO RESPECT FOR WOMEN. HE'S ALSO A RACIST. IN THE MIDST OF THIS STORM, A SERENE MELANIA TRUMP ` A WIFE TURNED CHARACTER WITNESS PREPARED TO FORGIVE HER HUSBAND. THOSE WORDS, THEY WERE OFFENSIVE TO ME, AND THEY WERE INAPPROPRIATE, AND HE APOLOGISED TO ME, AND I EXPECT` I ACCEPT HIS APOLOGY, AND, UH, WE ARE MOVING ON. IT'S IN THE AMERICAN SUBURBS THAT THIS ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED, AND HERE FEMALE VOTERS OFTEN HAVE THE DECISIVE SAY. ANDREA SERIO IS STILL VOTING TRUMP AND THINKS BILL CLINTON IS FAR WORSE. I THINK BILL CLINTON IS THE EPITOME ` THE EPITOME ` OF DISRESPECT TOWARDS WOMEN. AND FOR HILLARY TO TOLERATE THAT, SHE'S JUST AS BAD. BUT A NEW POLL IN THE PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS FOUND THAT DONALD TRUMP TRAILS HILLARY CLINTON BY A STAGGERING 43% AMONGST FEMALE VOTERS ` THE KIND OF NUMBERS THAT SPELL DISASTER FOR HIS CAMPAIGN. AND WHILE RECENT NATIONAL POLLS MAY SHOW THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN MEN FAVOURING TRUMP, MOST WOMEN WOULD VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON, AND THAT COULD BE THE DECIDING FACTOR IN THE ELECTION THREE WEEKS AWAY. WEATHER TIME NOW. DAN IS HERE. MORE SPRING WARMTH TODAY, BUT COOLER AND WETTER WEATHER IS MAKING A PUSH INTO THE FAR SOUTH. We can already see that change. That big lump of angry cloud. This big rollercoaster ride of call it here. A knew cold front working its way in a few areas of rain. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ We'll wondering what the long weekend will be like. That will come after sport. STILL TO COME ` THE PAID POLITICAL BROADCASTS YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO WATCH AGAIN. GIVE YOUR PARTY VOTE... ...PARTY VOTE... ...PARTY VOTE... YES, THEY'VE BEEN SCRAPPED. WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT WILL REPLACE THEM. AND FINALLY WELL ENOUGH TO TRAVEL. THE RARE TURTLE THAT'S HITCHING A RIDE BACK TO THE ISLANDS. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` GANG KILLINGS IN NORTHLAND ARE BEING BLAMED ON WHAT'S DESCRIBED AS AN 'EPIDEMIC' OF METHAMPHETAMINE USE IN THE REGION. WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, TWO MEMBERS OF THE TRIBESMAN GANG HAVE BEEN FATALLY SHOT. AND THE EDUCATION MINISTER FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS, HEKIA PARATA SAYS SHE WON'T STAND AT NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS MISS PARATA WILL DEFINITELY STAY ON AS MP UNTIL THEN, BUT HE HASN'T DECIDED WHETHER SHE'LL REMAIN AS EDUCATION MINISTER. COME ELECTION TIME, AND ALONG COME THE POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS' TELEVISION ADDRESSES. WELL, NOT ANY MORE. ONE NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE HAS CONFIRMED THAT SECRET BACKROOM DEALING MEANS THE PARTY LEADERS' ADDRESSES ARE GONE. HERE ARE THE DETAILS AND A BIT OF A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'LL BE MISSING. THE FOLLOWING ARE PAID POLITICAL BROADCASTS YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO WATCH AGAIN. IT'S BEEN A GREAT THRILL FOR ME. WE TALK ABOUT THINGS WE BELIEVE. GIVE YOUR PARTY VOTE... ...PARTY VOTE... ...PARTY VOTE... ...TO UNITED FUTURE. IT'S NOT COMPELLING TV. I'VE DONE ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSH, I'VE DONE ONE STANDING IN A STUDIO WHERE WHITE PAPER COVERED THE WALLS SO IT LOOKED LIKE I WAS STANDING ON A CLOUD, AND I'VE DONE ONE STANDING IN A ROOM WHICH WAS TOTALLY DARK. BUT BROADCASTERS HAVE BEEN COMPELLED BY LAW TO RUN OPENING AND CLOSING ELECTION BROADCASTS. UNTIL NOW, THAT IS, BECAUSE THE POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE DONE A SECRET DEAL TO SCRAP THE SPEECHES AND POCKET THE CASH. I THINK PARTIES NEED TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK OUT HOW THEY WANT TO TARGET THEIR MESSAGE TO THEIR VOTERS. STILL REGULATED, BUT WITH MORE FUNDING AND OPTIONS TO GET IT DONE. IT FEELS SAD, BUT I JUST THINK THEY WEREN'T THAT EFFECTIVE. FRANKLY, NO ONE WATCHES THEM THEM. LABOUR AND NATIONAL WILL GET THE BIGGEST CASH BOOST, BUT THE SMALLER PARTIES ARE ALSO HAPPY WITH THE EXTRA MONEY, WHICH WILL BE RE-ALLOCATED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION. IT'S A QUITE A BIG DEAL FOR US. PARTIES WILL BE TARGETING THE CASH AT A GROWING ONLINE AUDIENCE. THE MAIN TREND I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE HIT NZ IS MORE TARGETED ADS. ONLINE COMMUNICATION ENABLES PARTIES TO TARGET MUCH MORE PRECISELY BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH DATA AVAILABLE NOW. A LAW CHANGE WILL SEE THE PARTY LEADERS' MESSAGES VOTED OUT IN TIME FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. GIVING SIMPLE MESSAGES TO OUR MAJOR TOURIST DRIVERS IS THE APPROACH THE NZ TRANSPORT AGENCY'S 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, TOP THE LIST OF FOREIGN DRIVERS INVOLVED IN SERIOUS CRASHES. GERMANS HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST AMOUNT OF CRASHES, DESPITE MAKING UP OUR SIXTH-LARGEST TOURIST MARKET. A RARE TURTLE NURSED BACK TO HEALTH AFTER WASHING UP HALF-DEAD ON A NORTHLAND BEACH IS HEADING BACK TO THE WILD. A GOVERNMENT SHIP HEADED TO THE KERMADEC ISLANDS 1000KM NORTH OF NZ WILL GIVE IT A LIFT HOME. WILL HINE WITH MORE. ALIVE AND KICKING AND READY TO HEAD BACK TO THE OCEAN. BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE WHEN THIS HAWKSBILL TURTLE, NOW NAMED KOHA, WAS DISCOVERED AT DEATH'S DOOR ON A BEACH IN DARGAVILLE IN 2014. WHAT SORT OF STATE WAS HE OR SHE IN BACK THEN? IN REALLY REALLY BAD CONDITION. SO HUGELY EMACIATED, ABSOLUTELY NO ENERGY. IT COULDN'T EVEN LIFT ITS OWN HEAD. HE, SHE, IT ` IT'S HARD TO TELL KOHA'S SEX BECAUSE ITS ONLY A YOUNGSTER, ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD. AS FOR ITS FUTURE LIFESPAN, IT COULD GO ON TO LIVE DECADES MORE. THE HAWKSBILL TURTLE IS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS HUNTED. NOT FOR ITS MEAT, WHICH CAN BE TOXIC, BUT FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL SHELL. IT'S A NICE AND BRIGHT AND SHINY TORTOISESHELL PATTERN, AND IT'S REALLY HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER. KOHA TESTING THE WATERS IN KELLY TARLTON'S MAIN TANK TO PREPARE FOR LIFE BACK IN THE WILD. AND NOW IN FIGHTING FORM. THE WEIGHT WAS REALLY GOOD. HE CAME IN AT 5.5 KILOS ` REALLY THIN ` AND NOW IT'S 10.5KG. A NUMBER OF TURTLES GET WASHED UP ON OUR BEACHES EACH YEAR. SOME OF THEM GREEN TURTLES LIKE THIS ONE. MANY GET RELEASED OFF THE COAST OF NORTHLAND, BUT KOHA'S HITCHING A RIDE BACK TO THE ISLANDS WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WATER AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH. IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A TURTLE ON THE TANGAROA BEFORE, AND ITS QUITE A PRIVILEGE TO BE HELPING THE CONSERVATION OF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES. 22 SCIENTISTS, 20 CREW AND ONE TURTLE DUE TO CAST OFF TOMORROW. WILL HINE, ONE NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND WILL THE KIWIS LEAGUE TEAM MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES TWICE? FROM THE PERTH LOSS, THEY SAY NO. WE'LL HEAR FROM THE KEY PLAYERS NEXT BEFORE THEY HEAD OFF INTO THE LION'S DEN IN ENGLAND. PLUS, THE SAVE THAT HAS THE FOOTBALLING WORLD STUNNED. AND NO PADS, BUT GLASSES. NEARLY 30 YEARS ON, WHAT ENTICED THIS FORMER TEST CRICKETER TO PICK UP A BAT AGAIN. THE HEAT'S BEEN TURNED UP ON NEW KIWIS LEAGUE COACH DAVID KIDWELL AS THE SQUAD FLIES OUT TONIGHT TO DEFEND THE FOUR NATIONS TITLE IN ENGLAND. TODAY PLAYERS WERE HAVING THEIR SAY ON WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE LOSS TO AUSTRALIA IN PERTH, WITH ERRORS MADE ON THE FIELD AND OFF IT. A FORMER COACH HAS ALSO BEEN BROUGHT IN TO TALK TO THE TEAM BEFORE DEPARTURE. MATT MANUKIA HAS MORE. LOOKING TO AVOID ANOTHER FALL, THE KIWIS ARE DESPERATE TO SHED THE BAGGAGE FROM THEIR PERTH EMBARRASSMENT. IT'S AN EASY FIX, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD WORK, I RECKON. NINE OF THE SQUAD HADN'T PLAYED IN SIX WEEKS, SO WOULD A WARM-UP FIXTURE HAVE HELPED? IN RETROSPECT, YEAH, MOST PROBABLY. ESPECIALLY FOR US GUYS WHO HADN'T PLAYED FOR A WHILE. IT MOST PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER. ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR KEY PLAYMAKERS. I'M TO BLAME TOO THERE, MATE. I PLAYED A BIG PART IN THAT. LOOK, WE WEREN'T GOOD IN THAT FACET. JASON TAUMALOLO STILL ISN'T SURE WHY HE WAS LEFT ON THE BENCH SO LONG. THE DALLY M WINNER UNDERSTANDS HIS COACH IS NEW BUT STILL WANTS TO HAVE A CHAT ABOUT IT. NAH, MATE, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO KIDDY YET. OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE TO. WE'LL PROBABLY COME DOWN TO THAT IN THE UK AND TALK MORE ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO BE USED AND THAT. SEE HOW WE GO. COACH DAVID KIDWELL'S ADMITTED TO SOME HARSH LESSONS IN HIS FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB, BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY TO BUILD ON OVER FIVE WEEKS IN THE UK, WHERE THE KIWIS HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIND WINS. THAT WEEK CAN ONLY BE GOOD FOR US. BECAUSE BY THE END OF THE WEEK, ALL THE YOUNGER BOYS WERE ALL CRACKING JOKES AND BEING NOISY AROUND THE PLACE, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT. I THINK THE WAY THINGS ARE HEADING WITH KIDDY IN CHARGE. I THINK IT'S GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. STORM BACK-ROWER KEVIN PROCTOR Is it the 2005 coach? I was the manager. We had the best manager. He arrived just in time to lift spirits. THIS WEEK'S BEEN A HOMECOMING OF SORTS FOR THE NEW SILVER FERNS COACH, BUT ALSO A DEPARTURE FOR A TEAM LEADER AS THE FERNS CONFRONT THE FOURTH AND FINAL NETBALL TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA. TOMORROW NIGHT'S GAME IN INVERCARGILL MARKS JANINE SOUTHBY'S FIRST GAME BACK IN THE SOUTH. KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. TRAINING AT A VENUE THAT SUITS THE SILVER FERNS, STADIUM SOUTHLAND ` SMALLER, MORE INTIMATE, IT DRAWS IN A KNOWLEDGEABLE NETBALL CROWD. YEAH, THEY'RE ALWAYS LOUD AND REALLY INTIMIDATING, SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE KIND OF THAT EIGHTH PLAYER OUT ON COURT. SHANNON FRANCOIS WOULD KNOW. AFTER ALL, IT'S HER BASE FOR THE SOUTHERN STEEL. AND FOR HER FORMER CLUB-TURNED-SILVER-FERNS COACH, IT HAS ONE MAJOR BONUS. IT'LL BE NICE TO HAVE FAMILY HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY'LL WATCH ON AS THE FERNS BID TO LEVEL THE CONSTELLATION CUP SERIES, EVEN IF THEIR CHANCE OF ACTUALLY WINNING THE CUP IS REMOTE. CERTAINLY, THE GIRLS ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON THEMSELVES TO REALLY UP THE ANTE AND KEEP THE GAME GOING FOR THE FULL 60 MINUTES. THAT INCLUDES THE TEMPORARILY DEPARTING LAURA LANGMAN, WHOSE CHOICE TO PLAY FOR AN AUSTRALIAN CLUB NEXT SEASON MAKES HER INELIGIBLE FOR THE FERNS NEXT YEAR. IT MEANS TOMORROW'S CLASH WILL MARK THE END OF ONE OF NZ'S GREAT SPORTING STREAKS, AT 141 CONSECUTIVE TESTS SINCE HER DEBUT NEARLY 12 YEARS AGO. I THINK IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL. THERE'S STILL QUITE A LOT OF NETBALL TO GO, SO, NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SAD OCCASION AT ALL. IT'S GONNA BE A HUGE LOSS, SO HOPEFULLY THE YEAR GOES QUICKLY. FRANCOIS AMONG THE MID-COURTERS WHO'LL NEED TO STEP UP IN HER ABSENCE. I SUPPOSE IT PUTS A WEE BIT OF PRESSURE ON ME, BUT I'VE BEEN ENJOYING GETTING MORE GAME TIME AT CENTRE, AND I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AS MORE GAMES GO ON, BUT I'VE DEFINITELY STILL GOT A LOT OF LEARNING TO GO, SO I'LL JUST TRY AND LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN BEFORE SHE LEAVES. NOT TO MENTION TRY AND GET ONE LAST WIN IN BEFORE SHE GOES AS WELL. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS. LYDIA KO HAS GIVEN HER CADDIE THE FLICK AFTER HER WORST FINISH THIS YEAR ON THE LPGA TOUR. KO AND AUSTRALIAN JASON HAMILTON HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. WITH HAMILTON, KO'S WON 10 EVENTS, INCLUDING TWO MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AS WELL AS A SILVER AT THE RIO OLYMPICS, BUT AFTER FINISHING 51ST AT THE WEEKEND'S HANA BANK CHAMPIONSHIP IN SOUTH KOREA SHE TOLD HAMILTON IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE. NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS YET BY THE KIWI GOLFER. THE BREAKERS WILL BE HOPING TO MAKE THE MOST OF SOME INSIDE INFORMATION ON SYDNEY'S NEW STAR SIGNING AS THEY PREPARE TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN AUCKLAND. THE KINGS HAVE RECRUITED FORMER NBA CHAMPION JOSH POWELL, WHO WON TWO TITLES WITH KOBE BRYANT'S LA LAKERS. LATER HE MOVED ON TO HOUSTON, PLAYING IN TRAINING CAMP AND SHARING A LOCKER WITH THE BREAKERS NEW IMPORT. HE'S A SMOOTH PLAYER. SMOOTH IS PROBABLY THE WAY I'D DESCRIBE HIM IN MOST INSTANCES. REALLY COOL OFF THE COURT, BUT ON THE COURT, HE'S A BIG GUY WHO'S GOT GOOD TOUCH. ALSO FEATURING TOMORROW NIGHT, FORMER COACH DEAN VICKERMAN, NOW A SYDNEY ASSISTANT. JUST WANNA BEAT HIM AND BEAT HIM PRETTY HARD TOO. I THINK IF DEANO WAS IN THE SAME POSITION ` WHICH HE IS ` I THINK HE'D SAY THE SAME THING. THEY'LL BE WANTING A MEMORABLE WIN FOR MIKA VUKONA TOO, WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE TEAM, TOMORROW, HE'LL BECOME THE FIRST BREAKER TO PLAY 300 GAMES FOR THE CLUB. DESPITE STRUGGLING TO BACK UP THEIR PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE, AFTER THREE WINS FROM THREE MATCHES, LEICESTER CITY ARE ALREADY EYEING THE KNOCKOUT STAGES OF FOOTBALL'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. THEY HOSTED DANISH CHAMPIONS COPENHAGEN TODAY. BOTH CLUBS NOW FACING SANCTIONS AFTER VISITING FANS LET FLARES OFF INSIDE THE STADIUM. ON THE FIELD, IT WAS MAHREZ WHO MADE THE DIFFERENCE JUST BEFORE HALFTIME. LEICESTER IN FRONT! IT IS MAHREZ. AFTER FRUSTRATION AND FEW OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT IS MAHREZ THAT'S DELIVERED FOR LEICESTER. LEICESTER PRESERVING THEIR 1-0 LEAD RIGHT ON FULLTIME THANKS TO KASPER SCHMEICHEL'S FINGERTIP SAVE. AND THIS FROM TOTTENHAM STOPPER HUGO LLORIS ALLOWED SPURS TO SNATCH A VITAL AWAY POINT AGAINST GERMANS BAYER LEVERKUSEN. BEING SELECTED FOR YOUR FIRST NATIONAL SENIOR SQUAD IS A MASSIVE THRILL FOR ANY ATHLETE, BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU'VE JUST TURNED 16? WELLINGTON CRICKETER AMELIA KERR HAS MADE THE CUT FOR THE WHITE FERNS SQUAD TO PLAY A HOME SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN STARTING IN A FEW WEEKS. KERR IS FROM FINE CRICKETING PEDIGREE. JOHN MCKENZIE EXPLAINS. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE FORMER BLACKCAP, BRUCE 'BAGS' MURRAY, HELD A CRICKET BAT. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HELD A BAT? UH, ABOUT 27 YEARS AGO. THIS IS A SPECIAL OCCASION. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DO THINGS FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE DO. THAT GRANDCHILD IS AMELIA KERR (16). < HAVE YOU EVER BOWLED TO HIM BEFORE? NAH, I HAVEN'T. HE STILL LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, TOO. HERR HAS BEEN NAMED THE SECOND-YOUNGEST PLAYER TO EVER MAKE THE WHITE FERNS CRICKET TEAM. HER FORM IN PROVINCIAL CRICKET TOO GOOD FOR SELECTORS TO IGNORE. SHE'S A REALLY SPECIAL TALENT, AND I KNEW IT'S COMING. A MIXTURE OF LEGGIES, SLIDERS AND GOOGLIES CONFUSING SOME OF THE COUNTRIES' BEST BATTERS SINCE MAKING HER WELLINGTON DEBUT AS A 14-YEAR-OLD. AMELIA SHOUTS OH, BOWLED HER. BEAUTIFUL BOWLING. THAT JUST THREE YEARS AFTER SHE FIRST TRIALLED THE ART IN THE BACKYARD TO HER DAD, FORMER WELLINGTONIAN FIREBIRDS STALWART, ROBBIE KERR. WHEN I SAW HER BOWLING SO ACCURATELY AND THEN BOWLING THAT GOOGLY, I THOUGHT, 'BOY, THIS` THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY.' WHAT'S HER BEST DELIVERY? UH, SHE` I THINK THE WRONG ONE. THE GOOGLY. DESPITE HER AGE, AMELIA'S GOT A PRETTY LEVEL HEAD ON HER SHOULDERS, ALTHOUGH SHE DID STRUGGLE TO CONTAIN HER EXCITEMENT WHEN SHE GOT THE GOOD NEWS. < WERE YOU EXPECTING THAT PHONE CALL? NAH, NOT REALLY. I WAS LIKE, WHOA. PROBABLY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN QUITE THIS SOON, BUT I THINK SHE'S DONE EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO TRY AND GET THERE AS EARLY AS SHE CAN. HER SHORT-TERM GOAL IS TO GET GAME TIME AGAINST PAKISTAN NEXT MONTH, WITH AN EYE AT MAKING NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN ENGLAND. IF SHE CAN DO THAT, SHE COULD FIND HERSELF PLAYING IN THE FINAL AT LORD'S. THE SAME GROUND GRANDDAD ONCE PLAYED ON. < WOULD YOU HEAD OVER TO ENGLAND NEXT YEAR? WELL, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A PENSIONER'S FUND FROM WHICH YOU CAN DRAW FOR THIS KIND OF THING. A FUTURE CERTAINLY BRIGHT FOR A GIRL TURNING HEADS ALMOST AS QUICKLY AS SHE TURNS THE CRICKET BALL. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS. BRUCE MURRAY, WHO YOU JUST SAW, SENT THIS NOTE TO HIS DAUGHTER JO AFTER WE FILMED THAT STORY. HE SAYS, '1 NEWS WANTED ME TO BAT AGAINST 'AMELIA IN THE NETS, HAVING JUST TURNED 76, 'WITHOUT PADS, BOX, THIGH PADS, HELMET, OR THE GLASSES 'I NOW WEAR EVERY DAY. I PLAYED FOR TURN, AND WAS FORCEFULLY STRUCK 'FLUSH ON THE LEFT KNEECAP I TRIED TO DRIVE, AND PUT SOMETHING IN MY 'BACK WHERE IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE. I PULLED A SHORTER BALL 'INTO THE LEG SIDE, THUS DAMAGING MY LEFT WRIST.' BRUCE SAYS, 'I THOUGHT OF ATTACKING BY DANCING DOWN THE WICKET TO HIT 'THE BALL ON THE HALF VOLLEY, 'BUT THANKFULLY REMEMBERED I HAD NO PADS ON, SO I CONTENTED MYSELF BY 'PLAYING AS MANY FORWARD DEFENSIVE STROKES AS I COULD, AND MANAGED TO 'TOTTER OUT OF THE NETS TO HAVE A QUIET SIT DOWN.' BEFORE ATTENDING TO AN INTERVIEW AS THE PROUD GRANDFATHER. THE THINGS WE DO FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN! What a wonderful story and a wonderful day. Good on the both of them. A big exclusive interview. And as Brendon McCullum. We haven't heard from him in a while. Ham on the Chris Cairns trial. COMING UP ` THE INTERVIEW WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. THE WAY IT ALL UNFOLDED AND THE FACT IT BECAME ABOUT ME VERSUS HIM IS SOMETHING I JUST NEVER UNDERSTOOD. AND NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS IN OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. PLUS, TAKE A WALK THROUGH THE NZ GARDEN THAT'S FAST BECOMING A BIG DEAL OVERSEAS. IT'S QUIET. IT'S INTRIGUING. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AROUND THE CORNER. AND THIS LEGO COLLECTION MAY SEEM A LITTLE 'OUT OF THIS WORLD', BUT THERE'S A VERY SPECIAL REASON BEHIND IT. WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS AT SEVEN. Turning much colder. We are okay for the long weekend. First off, decent cloud across the country. This is a super typhoon. Just working its way through. Winds of over 300 km/h. That is aiming towards the northern Philippines in the next 6 to 12 hours. 50 km wide. Our weather is much quieter. This will come to life. We have had the fine weather and a change down spreading north. The only watch for the next few hours over the South. That will is away pretty quickly as the front zips past. See how starts to turn blue? It's invigorates the front. More wet weather for the North and North. Unstable is spreading across the South will bring rain. That high will build on for the weekend. Cloud and rain comes to life. Spread across the central plateau. Thunder to Gisborne in Hawke's Bay in the afternoon. Rain clearing away. A good southerly comes in. Showers for the planes. Thunder with some small hail. Snow level down to 700m. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ That is the life.