HELLO. HIGH PRESSURE FURTHER NORTH GAVE MUCH OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY A DECENT LOOKING DAY. TEMPERATURES EASILY CLIMBING UP TO AROUND 20 OR THE LOWER TWENTIES. FURTHER SOUTH, THOUGH, A SOUTHERLY HAS BEEN WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH, KNOCKING EASILY 5 DEGREES, 6 DEGREES OFF THE TEMPERATURE AND THAT'LL HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR WEEKEND. A COOLER START TO THE WEEKEND, THERE'LL BE A FEW SHOWERS AROUND AS WELL. 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. CHILDREN WILL LEARN ABOUT TODAY. IT IS A TRULY HISTORIC MOMENT. OPENING THE DOOR TO A HUGE P SMUGGLING OPERATION ` CUSTOMS MAKE A $170M DOLLAR BUST. WE REVEAL WHERE THE DRUG HAUL WAS HIDDEN. THE RUNNY GOLD LOCKED AWAY LIKE CIGARETTES AT SUPERMARKETS ` HOW MANUKA HONEY'S BECOME A TARGET FOR STICKY-FINGERED SHOPLIFTERS. AND COULD THIS BE THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH FOR JOSEPH PARKER'S CHANCE FOR A WORLD TITLE FIGHT IN NZ? KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. IT'S BIG, SIGNIFICANT, AND NZ'S PLAYED A HUGE PART IN GETTING IT OVER THE LINE. JUST CONFIRMED THIS AFTERNOON ` THE WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE RESERVE IN ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE AND PRISTINE AREAS ON THE PLANET. LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. HERE'S ANTARCTICA, NZ'S SCOTT BASE HERE, AND THIS IS WHERE THE NEW SANCTUARY WILL BE, COVERING A MASSIVE 1.55 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETRES OF THE ROSS SEA. IT'S KNOWN AS "THE LAST OCEAN", MOSTLY UNTOUCHED BY POLLUTION, OVERFISHING AND INVASIVE SPECIES. NZ AND THE UNITED STATES FIRST PUSHED FOR THE DIVISIVE PROPOSAL, WHICH BIG FISHING NATIONS, LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, JAPAN, CHILE AND NORWAY ORIGINALLY OPPOSED. NOW, AFTER YEARS OF WRANGLING, IT'S FINALLY A DONE DEAL. AND TO SHOW JUST WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS IS, HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE WITH MORE DETAILS AND REACTION. ANTARCTICA'S ROSS SEA ` THE WORLD'S LAST TRUE WILDERNESS. AND IT'S GOING TO STAY THAT WAY, PROTECTED AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE SANCTUARY. CHILDREN WILL LEARN ABOUT TODAY. IT IS A TRULY HISTORIC MOMENT. IT'S A MASSIVE STEP FORWARD, A HUGE WIN. NZ AND THE UNITED STATES LED THE FIGHT, A FIGHT THAT'S LASTED SIX YEARS, WITH TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN 24 COUNTRIES PLUS THE EUROPEAN UNION. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE TO GET 25 COUNTRIES TO AGREE. THE ROSS SEA IS HOME TO DOLPHINS, WHALES AND PENGUINS. IT'S ALSO THE MAIN FISHERY FOR ANTARCTIC TOOTHFISH, AN EXPENSIVE DELICACY THAT FISHING NATIONS, LIKE RUSSIA, WANTED TO STAY ON THE MENU. THERE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A WORSE TIME TO BE DO A DEAL WITH RUSSIA. CRUNCH TALKS ON THE SANCTUARY TOOK PLACE BETWEEN US SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY AND RUSSIA'S SERGEI LAVROV LAST MONTH, BUT THE NEGOTIATIONS CAME RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE, WITH CHINA ONLY COMING ON BOARD IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. FROM DECEMBER NEXT YEAR, MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETRES OF THESE PRISTINE WATERS WILL BE OFF-LIMITS TO FISHING. THERE'S A CATCH ` AND THE CATCH IS THAT THE PROTECTION IS TIME LIMITED. YES, MARINE SANCTUARY STATUS WILL BE REVIEWED AFTER 35 YEARS. BUT IT'S STILL SIGNIFICANT, AND THE STORY'S GONE GLOBAL, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME COUNTRIES HAVE REACHED A DEAL ON A SANCTUARY IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. I THINK THAT HAVING SET A GOOD PRECEDENT HERE, WE'LL GET SOME AGREEMENTS IN PLACE QUITE QUICKLY, BUT WE SHOULDN'T EXPECT ALL OF THIS TO BE PLAIN SAILING AND CERTAINLY WON'T BE. IT'S HISTORIC BECAUSE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IT IS THE START OF THE PROTECTION OF THE HIGH SEAS. AND NEXT YEAR, THREE MORE ANTARCTIC SANCTUARIES WILL BE UP FOR NEGOTIATION. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. CUSTOMS HAS MADE ITS BIGGEST EVER METHAMPHETAMINE SEIZURE, 170 KILOS OF THE CLASS-A DRUG FOUND HIDDEN INSIDE 10 SHIPPING CONTAINERS IN AUCKLAND. A 24-YEAR-OLD HONG KONG NATIONAL HAS APPEARED IN COURT CHARGED WITH IMPORTING THE DRUGS, AND CUSTOMS ISN'T RULING OUT MORE ARRESTS. PAUL HOBBS REPORTS. ON THE FACE OF IT, IT WAS JUST ANOTHER SHIPMENT FROM CHINA, 10 CONTAINERS WITH SLIGHTLY QUIRKY CONTENTS. IT WAS A COMBINATION OF SCAFFOLDING AND TISSUE PAPER. BUT STASHED INSIDE THE DOOR PANELS THE REAL CARGO. NO, NOT CHINESE TEA, BUT 176KG OF METHAMPHETAMINE, WITH A STREET VALUE OF $170M. IT'S A CLEVER CONCEALMENT. USUALLY DRUGS ARE CONCEALED WITH PRODUCTS COMING ACROSS THE BORDER, BUT THIS TIME THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE CONTAINERS, SO IT'S BEEN QUITE A CHALLENGE. CUSTOMS SAYS THE SMUGGLERS PACKED UP THE METH IN ROUGHLY HALF-KILO BAGS AND FROM THE TOP RAMMED THEM DOWN INTO THESE PILLAR CAVITIES. THESE LENGTHS OF STRING ATTACHED SO THEY COULD JUST PULL THEM OUT. BUT THEY DIDN'T COUNT ON CUSTOMS AND ITS INTELLIGENCE NETWORK LEADING TO THE SHIPMENT BEING INTERCEPTED, CUSTOM'S BIGGEST EVER P BUST. A 20-YEAR-OLD HONG KONG NATIONAL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HIS ROLE IN THE DRUGS' IMPORTATION. THIS ARREST WAS A CULMINATION OF A 16-MONTH INQUIRY INTO A COMPANY WE BELIEVE WAS ESTABLISHED PRIMARILY FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPORTING METH INTO NZ. WITH THE INVESTIGATION ONGOING, CUSTOMS WON'T ELABORATE ON THE SCOPE AND SIZE OF THE SYNDICATE BEHIND THE SHIPMENT. BUT SAYS IT'S MADE A TELLING BLOW AND IT ISN'T RULING OUT FURTHER ARRESTS. PAUL HOBBS, ONE NEWS. INSPECTOR HURIMOANA DENNIS, THE POLICEMAN WHO FRONTED TE PUEA MARAE'S HOMELESS PROGRAMME, AND A FELLOW POLICE OFFICER HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING OVER AN ALLEGED INCIDENT AT THE AUCKLAND CITY STATION LAST YEAR. DENNIS ALSO FACES AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF KIDNAPPING IN RELATION TO ANOTHER ALLEGED INCIDENT AT AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. DETAILS OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE OFFICERS WERE LEAKED VIA PAULA BENNETT'S OFFICE THIS YEAR. BOTH MEN ARE EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT NEXT WEEK. TO AUSTRALIA, AND A BUS DRIVER'S DIED IN BRISBANE AFTER BEING SET ALIGHT BY A PASSENGER WITH NO APPARENT MOTIVE. POLICE SAY THE PASSENGER ENTERED THE BUS AND POURED A FLAMMABLE LIQUID ON TO THE 29-YEAR-OLD DRIVER BEFORE SETTING HIM ALIGHT. NINE PEOPLE WERE INJURED AFTER THEY WERE TRAPPED IN THE SMOKE-FILLED BUS. A TAXI DRIVER HEARD THEIR SCREAMS AND KICKED IN THE DOOR TO FREE THEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO APPARENT MOTIVE. NONE. IT'S NOT A ROBBERY, WE'RE NOT ALLEGING A ROBBERY. IT'S A SENSELESS NEEDLESS TAKING OF A YOUNG LIFE OF A PERSON WHO'S ACTUALLY GOING ABOUT SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING TRANSPORT. A 48-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THE ATTACK DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE TERRORISM RELATED. THE MAN WHO LOST HIS ONLY DAUGHTER AND YOUNGEST SON IN THE DREAMWORLD ACCIDENT HAS DELIVERED A HEARTBREAKING STATEMENT ABOUT HIS FAMILY'S LOSS. SHAYNE GOODCHILD ALSO THANKED THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND OUTPOURING OF LOVE. HE ALSO VOWED TO SEEK ANSWERS TO WHY HIS LOVED ONES WERE TAKEN IN SUCH HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. RUTH WYNN-WILLIAMS IS ON THE GOLD COAST AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. A PUBLIC MEMORIAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD HERE TODAY POLICE PUT A STOP TO IT PARK STAFF WERE ALLOWED TO RE-RENTER. WITH THEM WAS THE CEO DEB TURNER WHILE IT WAS GOING WITH A CROWD OF MEDIA, THE FAMILY SPOKE FRONTING UP IN A WAY NO FATHER SHOULD HAVE TO. ON TUESDAY SHAYNE GOODCHILD LOST HIS DAUGHTER AND HIS SON, KATE GOODCHILD AND LUKE DORSETT. TO SAY, 'THIS IS NOT FAIR' DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS OUR DESPAIR. KATE'S PARTNER OF 15 YEARS, DAVE TURNER, STOOD BY, BUT DIDN'T SPEAK. HE WAS AT DREAMWORLD ON TUESDAY, HOLDING KATE GOODCHILD'S BABY DAUGHTER, WATCHING ON AS THE THUNDER RIVER RAPIDS RIDE WENT FATALLY WRONG. OUR DARLING EVIE IS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD AND FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE WITHOUT HER MOTHER, AND HE MUST BE A ROCK FOR HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER, EBONY, WHO SAW HER MUM'S LIFE TAKEN. OUR DARLING EBONY IS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD. EVIE AND EBONY HAVE NOT ONLY JUST LOST THEIR MUM ` THE DEATHS OF LUKE AND ROOZI HAS ALSO TAKEN AWAY TWO UNCLES WHO ALSO LOVED AND CHERISHED THEM. ON THE GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST THEME PARK OPENED ONLY FOR STAFF TO ATTEND A MEMORIAL SERVICE. THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR ` THIS TRAGEDY BELONGS TO DREAMWORLD TOO. IT'S INCREDIBLY MOVING, INCREDIBLY MOVING. OUR PEOPLE ARE ALL HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THESE TRIBUTES THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT HERE. AFTER A DAY OF FIERCE CRITICISM, INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS OF DISRESPECTING THE FAMILIES OF THE FOUR PEOPLE KILLED, ARDENT LEISURE CHIEF EXECUTIVE DEB THOMAS ALMOST APOLOGISING. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IF I HADN'T HANDLED IT AS WELL AS I COULD, WE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING IN TERMS OF HOW WE APPROACHED IT THROUGH THE POLICE. LATE YESTERDAY THE THEME PARK BOSS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING SHE'S DONATING MORE THAN NZ$170,000 OF HER ANNUAL BONUS PACKAGE TO THE RED CROSS. IF THE FAMILIES ARE WATCHING, I'VE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF THEM, AND WE WILL LOOK AFTER THEM. TODAY SHAYNE GOODCHILD MADE NO COMMENT ABOUT DREAMWORLD, BUT THERE IS ONE THING HIS FAMILY WANTS. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN AUSTRALIA, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG. WE WANT TO KNOW WHY OUR LOVED ONES WERE TAKEN FROM US IN SUCH HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. NO ONE WANTS THOSE ANSWERS MORE THAN WE DO. IN THAT INCREIDBLY DIFFICULT STATEMENT, GOODCHILD SENT AMESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FMAILY OF THE NZ WOMAN AND HER YOUNG SON WHO WAS ON THE RAFT DREAMWORLD IS CLOSED INDEFINITELY THANKS, RUTH. 65-YEAR-OLD EUTHANASIA ADVOCATE SUSAN AUSTEN'S APPEARED IN A WELLINGTON COURT CHARGED WITH IMPORTING A DRUG USED FOR SO-CALLED ASSISTED DYING. THE SEDATIVE PENTOBARBITONE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS NEMBUTAL, IS A CONTROLLED CLASS-C DRUG IN NZ. IT WAS ONCE USED TO EUTHANISE ANIMALS HERE, BUT IS LESS COMMON NOW. AUSTEN'S COURT HEARING COMES A DAY AFTER POLICE DEFENDED A FAKE BREATH TESTING CHECKPOINT IN LOWER HUTT TARGETING EUTHANASIA SUPPORTERS. SHE IS CHAIR OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA SOCIETY. AND THE SELECT COMMITTEE LOOKING INTO WHETHER TO LEGALISE VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA VISITED THE SOUTH ISLAND TODAY, HEARING 200 ORAL SUBMISSIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH. SUBMITTERS WERE EMOTIONAL ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DEBATE. YOU'VE SORT OF GOT TWO SORTS OF ARGUMENTS ` ONE THAT'S STRESSING CHOICE, SO INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, AUTONOMY AND DIGNITY; AND ANOTHER SIDE THAT'S TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ` YOU KNOW, CAN YOU IMPLEMENT A EUTHANASIA LAW AND ACTUALLY STILL PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY, SO QUESTIONS ABOUT COERCION. IN TOTAL, AN UNPRECEDENTED 1800 PEOPLE WILL GIVE THEIR SUBMISSIONS IN PERSON. A DRAFT REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE BEFORE PARLIAMENT NEXT YEAR. CHECKS ON THE POLICE VETTING SERVICE ARE PROMPTING A LAW CHANGE TO CLARIFY WHAT INFORMATION POLICE CAN AND CAN'T GIVE OUT ABOUT PEOPLE. POLICE VETTING PROVIDES CRIMINAL RECORDS AND OTHER INFORMATION TO APPROVED AGENCIES SUCH AS CHILD CARE OPERATORS. BUT A REVIEW'S FOUND PROBLEMS WITH SOME CASES. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN HAS MORE. THOSE WHO LOOK AFTER OUR MOST VULNERABLE MUST BE VETTED BY POLICE. THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH THEM NEED TO BE SAFE TO WORK WITH THEM, AND THE POLICE VETTING SYSTEM IS ONE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE SURE THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE WORKING. BUT POLICE SAY DEMAND FOR VETTING IS GROWING AND IN SOME CASES, GETTING MORE COMPLICATED. WE GET OVER 500,000 VET REQUESTS PER YEAR, AND OF THAT 500,000, APPROXIMATELY 200 SIT AT WHAT WE WOULD DESCRIBE AS PERHAPS AT THE MARGINS, AND THEY ARE REQUESTS WHICH INVOLVE INFORMATION THAT WE HOLD WHICH IS REALLY IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOT SURE WHETHER IT SHOULD BE RELEASED OR NOT. SO POLICE ASKED THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER AND THE INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY TO REVIEW THE PROCESS. AND THEY'VE FOUND THAT WHILE MOST APPLICATIONS RUN SMOOTHLY, CHANGES ARE NEEDED. AT THE MARGINS, WE THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF RISK, BOTH FOR POLICE AND FOR CANDIDATES. RISK COMES WHEN POLICE VETTING TURNS UP INFORMATION THAT CAN'T BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED. FOR EXAMPLE, POLICE TELLING AN EMPLOYER THAT A COURT SUPPRESSION ORDER EXISTS ON SOMEONE MIGHT BE A WORRY, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY SIMPLY BE TO PROTECT THE PERSON'S IDENTITY AS A VICTIM OF CRIME. SO WE'VE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION THEY SHOULD BE USING AND WHAT SORT OF CHECKS THEY USE, IF THAT INFORMATION HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED IN A COURT THE WAY CRIMINAL CONVICTION HAS. THE REVIEWERS NOW WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO PASS NEW LEGISLATION THAT GIVES POLICE GREATER CLARITY AND CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T RELEASE. AND THE POLICE MINISTER AGREES. IT WILL, I BELIEVE, HAVE TO BE MOST LIKELY A CHANGE TO THE POLICING ACT, AND WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT. I'VE ASKED POLICE A FEW WEEKS AGO TO START THAT WORK. FOR SOME, THOUGH, THE BIGGEST BUGBEAR IS THE TIME IT TAKES FOR POLICE VETTING. TIMELINESS IS AN ISSUE. POLICE ARE AWARE OF THOSE CONCERNS AND HAVE COMMITTED MORE MONEY TO VETTING SERVICES THIS YEAR. CORIN DANN, ONE NEWS. HELEN KELLY HAS BEEN FAREWELLED TODAY AT AN EMOTIONAL PUBLIC MEMORIAL IN WELLINGTON. UNION LEADERS AND WORKERS CAME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD RYAN BOSWELL WAS AT TODAY'S SERVICE. THEY CAME IN SOLIDARITY, HUNDREDS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, WANTING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR MATE HELEN KELLY. WHEN UNION RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, STAND UP, FIGHT BACK. FOR MANY HERE, THE LIFELONG UNIONIST GAVE THEM THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT. AND EVERYBODY OUT THERE, THIS LADY IS A LEGEND. WELLINGTON'S MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE WITH 2500 SEATS WAS NEAR PACKED TO CAPACITY. NO ONE SAYS, 'MATE' LIKE HELEN, DO THEY? WELL, MATE, WE MISS YOU? WHILE OTHERS GATHERED IN AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH TO WATCH THE MEMORIAL SERVICE ON BIG SCREENS. HAVING HER IN MY CORNER MADE ME BRAVER. THE HEAD OF THE AUSTRALIAN UNION MOVEMENT REMEMBERING A CONTROVERSIAL TRIP TO FIJI WITH HER FORMER COUNTERPART. AT THE END OF THE FOUR HOURS THAT WE WERE DETAINED BY THE FIJIAN AUTHORITIES, I WAS SO SORRY FOR THE FIJIAN AUTHORITIES. APPLAUSE WHILE THE BATTLES SHE FOUGHT HERE FOR WORKERS RIGHTS NOT FORGOTTEN. ALWAYS HEALTHY DEBATES. YOU'D NEVER DIE WONDERING WHAT HELEN THOUGHT, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS RESPECTFUL, AND I ENJOYED OUR ROBUST DISCUSSIONS. HELEN KELLY'S SON DYLAN PERFORMED. WHILE HER HUSBAND DESCRIBED THE 52-YEAR-OLD AS THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. SHE WOULD DROP WHATEVER SHE WAS DOING TO HELP OTHERS. I REMEMBERING ABANDONING OUR TRIP TO THE EAST COAST AND DRIVING STRAIGHT TO AUCKLAND WHEN THE PORTS DISPUTE FLARED UP. THOSE WHO HELEN KELLY MENTORED ARE NOW READY TO PICK UP THE MANTEL. WE WILL CONTINUE HER WORK AND CONTINUE RELENTLESSLY TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE GOOD OF OUR MOVEMENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR SAY AYE, AYE! MOTION CARRIED AND FOR THE WOMAN WHO NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING FOR HER BELIEFS... ...THE FINAL WORD WAS LEFT TO HELEN KELLY. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE KIND, AND THAT MIGHT BE COMPLETELY NAIVE, BUT IT WOULD MAKE A HELL OF A DIFFERENCE. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. COMING UP ` CELEBRATING FREEDOM FROM ISLAMIC STATE, PESHMERGA FIGHTERS LIBERATE A VILLAGE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. BUT THE ROAD THERE IS A DANGEROUS ONE, AND THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER. PLUS ` THE MICHELLE FACTOR COMES INTO PLAY FOR HILLARY. FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS U.S. ELECTION CAMPAIGN, TWO POWERFUL FIRST LADIES SHARE THE SAME STAGE. AND A GIANT BRONZE BEAUTY IS UNVEILED OF A MUCH LOVED QUEEN ` THE ROYAL FAMILY JOIN FORCES TO REMEMBER THE LATE QUEEN MOTHER. IRAQI TROOPS AND KURDISH FIGHTERS ARE CONTINUING THEIR DRIVE TOWARDS THE ISIS CONTROLLED CITY OF MOSUL. THE MILITANTS ARE FIGHTING BACK WITH SUICIDE BOMBERS. THE BBC'S ORLA GUERIN SENT THIS REPORT FROM THE LIBERATED VILLAGE OF FAZLIYA. WE ENTERED HOSTILE TERRITORY, TAKING THE BATTLE TO I.S. WITH KURDISH PESHMERGA FIGHTERS. THIS WAS THEIR SECOND ATTEMPT TO FREE THE VILLAGE OF FAZLIYA. LAST WEEK THEY FACED HEAVY RESISTANCE. WE'RE HEARING QUITE A BIT FO OUTGOING FIRE. THE TROOPS ARE TRYING TO GAUGE HOW MUCH RESISTANCE IS IN THESE VILLAGES. THIS WAS THE ANSWER. BOOM! A MASSIVE ROADSIDE BOMB JUST AHEAD. IT WAS ONE OF FOUR ON OUR ROUTE. THEN THE PESHMERGA MOVED TO CONFRONT A SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMBER. THEY HAVE TO CHECK HIM FOR EXPLOSIVES WITH THEIR BARE HANDS. THIS TIME THEY WERE LUCKY. JUST A CIVILIAN. WE ARRIVE IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A DESERTED VILLAGE. LOCALS START TO EMERGE, TENTATIVELY, TO OFFER THANKS. AT LAST, FREEDOM AND RELIEF. 'THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT,' HE SAYS. 'IT'S ALL OVER.' THE MOMENT OF VICTORY FOR THE PESHMERGA AND, FOR SOME HERE, OF REBIRTH. 'I CAN'T FIND WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW HAPPY I AM,' SAYS HALAD. 'IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN.' INSHALLAH, INSHALLAH. AS THIS WOMAN THANKS THE PESHMERGA, I.S. MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT NOT FAR AWAY. DISTANT GUNSHOTS HELPING TO SECURE THE VILLAGE IS ALAN DUNCAN, A VOLUNTEER SNIPER FROM SCOTLAND. HE'S FOUGHT WITH THE PESHMERGA SINCE 2014 AND HAS BEEN PART OF THE RECENT PUSH AGAINST I.S., OR DAESH. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE CHEERING NOW WERE PROBABLY DAESH. THEY'VE JUST GOT BACK IN THEIR COMMUNITY SO THEY HAVEN'T GONE AWAY. EVEN AS THEY CELEBRATE, THE TROOPS KNOW THEIR ENEMY COULD SOON RE-EMERGE. A PESHMERGA COMMANDER SAID MANY OF THE ISIS FIGHTERS ESCAPED THE VILLAGE THROUGH UNDERGROUND TUNNELS. WITH JUST 12 DAYS BEFORE AMERICA VOTES FOR ITS NEW PRESIDENT, HILLARY CLINTON HAS RECEIVED A CAMPAIGN BOOST FROM THE STAR POWER OF FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA. AND MRS OBAMA DIDN'T HOLD BACK WHEN IT CAME TO ENDORSING A FORMER FIRST LADY AS THE NEXT COMMANDER IN CHIEF. THE BBC'S NICK BRYANT REPORTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA. CROWD: (CHANTS) HILL-A-RY! HILL-A-RY! THIS IS THE SOUGHT OF ENTHUSIASM, THESE ARE THE SORT OF CROWDS YOU DON'T OFTEN WITNESS OUTSIDE A HILLARY CLINTON RALLY. SOME HAD CUED FOR SEVEN HOURS. # EVERY GIRL IS A PRESIDENT. # BUT THE HEADLINE ACT WAS NOT SO MUCH THE FORMER FIRST LADY AS THE PRESENT ONE. I'M HERE TO SEE MICHELLE OBAMA. I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY HILLARY CLINTON? HILLARY CLINTON TOO, BUT MICHELLE TOO. MICHELLE'S THE MAIN ONE I WANNA SEE, BUT I'M VOTING FOR HILLARY. CHEERING WARM, TRUSTWORTHY, WITH THE CHARISMA OF A ROCK STAR. MICHELE OBAMA HAS PERSONALITY TRAITS THE CRITICS SAY ARE LACKING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. BUT HILLARY CLINTON KNOWS IT MAKES POLITICAL SENSE TO BE UPSTAGED. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING HERE WITH OUR MOST AMAZING FIST LADY ` MICHELE OBAMA. CROWD CHEERS THEY'RE MEMBERS OF AN EXCLUSIVE SISTERHOOD, THE FIRST LADY CLUB, AND THEY'RE DETERMINED TO PREVENT DONALD TRUMP FROM OCCUPYING A WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON, THAT, BETWEEN THEM, THEY'VE LIVED IN FOR ALMOST 16 YEARS. HILLARY, SHE SAYS, IS THE ONLY ONE QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT. SHE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO THE PRESIDENCY THAN ANY CANDIDATE IO OUR LIFETIME. YES, MORE THAN BARACK, MORE THAN BILL. SO SHE IS ABSOLUTELY READY TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF ON DAY ONE. AND, YES, SHE HAPPENS TO BE A WOMAN. CROWD CHEERS MICHELLE OBAMA HAS LONG BEEN A RELUCTANT POLITICAL WARRIOR, BUT NOT IN THIS ELECTION. SHE'S BECOME THE DEMOCRATS' MOST EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGNER. THANK YOU ALL. GOD BLESS. THEY TALK ABOUT THE 'BIG MO' IN U.S ELECTIONS, THAT ALL IMPORTANT MOMENTUM, BUT PERHAPS A NEW PHRASE SHOULD ENTER THE POLITICAL LEXICON ` 'THE MICHELLE EFFECT.' MICHELLE OBAMA'S MOST RECENT APPROVAL RATING WAS 64%, 10 POINTS BETTER THAN HER HUSBAND, WHILE MRS CLINTON'S APPROVAL RATING IS 43%. QUEEN ELIZABETH HAS PAID TRIBUTE TO HER MOTHER, UNVEILING A STATUE IN HER MEMORY. THE 3M BRONZE SCULPTURE IS THE SECOND CASTING OF ONE IN LONDON, DEPICTING THE QUEEN MOTHER AT THE AGE OF 51. THE STATUE'S IN THE MAIN SQUARE IN POUNDBURY, AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL TOWN UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE PRINCE OF WALES' LAND NEAR DORCHESTER. WEATHER TIME NOW, AND THE WINDS HAVE BEEN PICKING UP A BIT TODAY, DAN? THEY HAVE. NORMALLY MEANS A WEATHER SYSTEM IS COMING IN BUT IT MEANS AMAZING CLOUDS TOO STABLE AIR BLOWING UP CONDENSES AND FORMS A CLOUD, THERE'S A STACK OF PANCAKES A SOUTHERLY CHANGE WORKING UP THE WEST COAST THESE BLOOD RED SHELLS HERE , LOOK OUT FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ DECENT WEATHER COMING FOR THE WEEKEND STILL TO COME ` THE STICKY FINGERED THIEVES WITH A TASTE FOR HONEY. I'VE BEEN USING MANUKA HONEY FOR YEARS. YES, IT'S NOT JUST CELEBRITIES WHO ARE AFTER THE SWEET SPREAD. AROUND THE WORLD, IT'S IN HOT DEMAND. AND BACK TO THE HEARTLAND ` SPORTS STAR VALERIE ADAMS' NEW QUEST FOR THE PACIFIC. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` AFTER YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS, ROSS SEA IN ANTARCTICA IS TO BECOME THE WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE SANCTUARY. FROM DECEMBER NEXT YEAR, MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETRES OF THESE PRISTINE WATERS WILL BE OFF-LIMITS TO FISHING. AND IN AUCKLAND, CUSTOMS HAS MADE ITS BIGGEST EVER METHAMPHETAMINE SEIZURE. 170KG OF THE CLASS-A DRUG WERE FOUND HIDDEN INSIDE 10 SHIPPING CONTAINERS. A HONG KONG NATIONAL (21) HAS BEEN CHARGED OVER HIS ROLE IN THE DRUGS' IMPORTATION. A WARNING NOW TO HOLD ON TO YOUR HONEY POTS. THE BLACK MARKET FOR NZ'S MANUKA SUPPLY IS THRIVING, WITH POLICE INTELLIGENCE WORKING HARD TO TRACK DOWN CRIMINAL GROUPS BEHIND THE THEFTS. AND, AS REBECCA WRIGHT REPORTS, SUPERMARKETS ARE EVEN HAVING TO LOCK AWAY THE HIGH QUALITY HONEY. KOURTENAY KARDASHIAN SWEARS BY IT. I'VE BEEN USING MANUKA HONEY FOR YEARS. AND NOW THIEVES AROUND THE WORLD ARE CATCHING ON TO MANUKA TOO. A NEW CRIME WAVE HAS HIT SYDNEY, WITH SHOPLIFTERS STEALING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF MANUKA HONEY. YES, THIS HONEY IS ON THE MONEY. STICKY FINGERED THIEVES EVERYWHERE ARE STEALING DOZENS OF JARS AT A TIME WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING HERE AT HOME TOO. ON ONE OCCASION IN OTAHUHU, WE LOCATED 200 LITRES OF MANUKA HONEY. IN ASIA, STORE SECURITY HAS HAD TO BE BEEFED UP IN RESPONSE TO SHOPLIFTER DEMAND. AND THEY HAD SECURITY THERE IN TOKYO. THE SECURITY GUY, OBVIOUSLY, HIS DAY JOB WAS SECURITY. HIS NIGHT JOB, HE WAS PROBABLY A WRESTLER ` HE WAS HUGE. AND IN CHINA, DECOY JARS ARE USED ON THE SHELVES INSTEAD OF REAL ONES. IN THE SUPERMARKET, THEY HAVE IT LOCKED IN A CABINET. IN OTHER PLACES, THEY'LL JUST HAVE AN EMPTY BOTTLE ON A SHELF. AND SOME SUPERMARKETS HERE HAVE ALSO HAD TO REMOVE THE HONEY FROM THE SHELF. WE KNOW OF AT LEAST TWO SUPERMARKETS WHERE IT'S BEEN LOCKED AWAY AND HAS TO SPECIALLY REQUESTED AT THE CHECKOUT. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT ALL THE BUZZ IS ABOUT, WELL, A TOP-TIER JAR OF MANUKA HONEY CAN RETAIL FOR AROUND $250. IT'S PRODUCED BY BEES WHICH FEED OFF THE MANUKA BUSH AND HAS POWERFUL ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES. IT'S WORTH A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT'S VERY SOUGHT AFTER. YOU KNOW, IT'S WELL ADVERTISED AS HAVING BEEN SUCH A GREAT PRODUCT, AND IT'S VERY VALUABLE. IT'S HUGE IN CHINA, SO DEMAND WILL ALWAYS OUTSTRIP SUPPLY, KEEPING PRICES AND ITS ALLURE FOR SHOPLIFTERS HIGH. REBECCA WRIGHT, ONE NEWS. SHOT-PUT STAR VALERIE ADAMS IS TAKING HER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNING SKILLS TO THE PACIFIC IN A BID TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S HEALTH. SHE'S BEEN APPOINTED NZ'S FIRST SPORTS AMBASSADOR TO THE REGION, AND SHE'S HEADING THERE NEXT WEEK. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER REPORTS. IN PACIFIC RUGBY, GRASS IS OFTEN A BONUS AND LACK OF IT CAN BREED A TOUGHNESS THAT CAN INSPIRE FEAR. TO BE HONEST, THEY'RE PRETTY TALENTED BEASTS, REALLY. I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE. (LAUGHS) I'M NOT SMALL. I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE. (LAUGHS) I'M NOT SMALL. VALERIE ADAMS, A HOUSEHOLD NAME PACKED WITH TALENT, IS GOING BACK TO HER ROOTS. VALERIE ADAMS WILL BE HEADING TO SAMOA AND TONGA NEXT WEEK WHERE SHE'LL BE CONDUCTING SPORTS CLINICS FOR ELITE ATHLETES AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING MORE CHILDREN INTO SPORT. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE LIVES OF KIDS IN THE REGION, GETTING THEM INTO HEALTHY, SPORTING ACTIVITY, GETTING THEM TO THINK ABOUT THEIR OWN FUTURES AND HOW THEY LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES, SHE CARRIES THAT MESSAGE BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE I'VE EVER HEARD. NZ'S COMMITTED $10M FOR A RUGBY AND NETBALL PROGRAMME IN FOUR PACIFIC COUNTRIES. IT'S ABOUT GETTING CHILDREN HEALTHY AND MOTIVATED. FOR NZ'S NEW PACIFIC SPORTS AMBASSADOR, THIS IS PERSONAL. I AM TONGAN. I'M FROM THE PACIFIC, SO IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP MY PEOPLE, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, JUST TO MAKE THAT ONE CHANGE THAT CAN GIVE THEM A BETTER LIFE IN THE FUTURE, THEN I'VE DONE MY PART. HER YOUNG SPORTS FANS APPROVE. SHE'S DOING GREAT STUFF FOR THE PACIFIC. I APPRECIATE THAT COS I COME FORM FIJI AS WELL. WHAT SHE'S DONE IS REALLY AMAZING. IT'S INSPIRATIONAL. PACIFIC SPORT GRAPPLES WITH A LACK OF RESOURCES SO TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ARE CRUCIAL. WE'VE GOTTA WORK WITH THE GRASSROOTS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THE GROUND. FOR VALERIE ADAMS IT'S ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN A REGION CLOSE TO HER HEART. BARBARA DREAVER, 1 NEWS. STAYING WITH SPORT, AARON SMITH BACK INTO THE ALL BLACKS ENVIRONMENT, COACH STEVE HANSEN WELCOMING SMITH BACK INTO THE SQUAD, SO WILL WE SEE HIM PLAY ON THE TOUR? I'D SAY SO. SO YEAH. HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER JOSEPH PARKER'S MINDERS LOOK SET TO SEND HIS WORLD TITLE FIGHT TO THE U.S. WHY THEY WITHDREW THEIR APPLICATION FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING, NEXT. AND I LOVE THIS STORY ` WHAT LENGTHS WOULD YOU GO TO TO HELP OUT THE OPPOSITION? THIS GUY BROKE THE LAW. THIS CHARMING YARN NEXT. KIA ORA, WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. THE ALL BLACKS ARE EN ROUTE TO CHICAGO TONIGHT FOR THEIR END OF YEAR TOUR, AND THEY'VE WELCOMED BACK THEIR MOST TALKED ABOUT CURRENT ALL BLACK, HALFBACK AARON SMITH, AFTER HIS TOILET TRYST. TAMATI RIMENE-SPROAT HAS THE STORY. AARON SMITHS SLIPPING BACK INTO THE ALL BLACKS AFTER A THREE-WEEK STAND DOWN, AND EMBRACED BY THE COACH. I'D SAY SO. HE'S THE BEST HALFBACK IN THE WORLD. BUT NOT GIVING TOO MUCH AWAY AS TO WHEN HE'LL SLIP BACK IN TO THE NUMBER 9 JERSEY. WELL, WE HAVEN'T PICKED THE TEAM YET, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. HE WASN'T SO COMPLIMENTARY ABOUT THE PROVINCIAL UNIONS' COMMENTS ABOUT FRINGE ALL BLACKS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE MITRE10 CUP FINAL. WE TOLD THE PROVINCIAL UNIONS RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING WHAT THE STORY WAS. IF THEY GET SELECTED, THEY'VE GOTTA COME, AND SO THERE'S NO POINT WHINING ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET SELECTED AND YOU'RE IN THE FINAL WE WANT THEM TO PLAY. YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE. EXCEPT, MAYBE, THE BARRETT FAMILY. WITH BIG BROTHER BEAUDEN JOINED BY TWO OF HIS SIBLINGS. I STILL HAVEN'T COME TO TERMS WITH IT. JUST SO EXCITED BY, YOU KNOW, GOING AWAY ON TOUR WITH TWO BROTHERS. JUST SO EXCITED BY, YOU KNOW, GOING AWAY ON TOUR WITH TWO BROTHERS. YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ALONGSIDE ONE OF THEM IS JUST SO SPECIAL, SO TO HAVE TWO LITTLE BROTHERS ON THE TEAM COMING ON BOARD, SOMETHING YOU'D NEVER REALLY DREAM OF, SO IT'S PRETTY COOL. ALSO FRESH, THE ALL BLACKS NEW JERSEY UNVEILED TODAY, WHICH IS BEING HAILED AS THEIR TOUGHEST YET. I KNOW A FEW OF THE BIG LADS SHOWING A BIT OF BELLY BUTTON ` THEY QUITE LIKE THAT, SO THE NEW JERSEY PREVENTS ALL OF THAT STUFF. < THE BUILDERS' CRACK? YEAH, SO NAH, IT'S A GOOD JERSEY. NICE AND COMFY, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU CAN GUARANTEE THIS ROOKIE CANT WAIT TO PULL IT ON. TAMATI RIMENE-SPROAT, 1 NEWS. SO, STEVE HANSEN PUTTING THE PROVINCIAL UNIONS IN THEIR PLACE, AS IF OTAGO NEEDED ANY FURTHER AMMUNITION AHEAD OF THEIR PROMOTION FINAL AGAINST NORTH HARBOUR TONIGHT. LET'S GO TO OUR REPORTER IN DUNEDIN, MARK HATHAWAY. WELCOME TO THE STADIUM. NORTH HARBOUR V OTAGO TONIGHT. IT'S GREAT TO SEE BOTH TEAMS WITH A CHANCE TONIGHT. BEN, ANDREW CAME IN EARLIER IN THE WEEK. HE'S GONNA START ON THE BENCH. IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC HIM BEING BACK. DOES HE KNOW EVERYTHING? CAN YOU PICK UP THE CALLS IN THAT SHORT A TIME? HE CAN. HE'S SLOTTED STRAIGHT BACK IN. IF HE GETS 20 MINUTES, HE'LL GO AS HARD AS HE CAN. OTAGO ARE THE FORM SIDE. NORTH HARBOUR HAVE GREAT PLAYERS. THEY CAN MATCH WITH ANYONE. THIS IS YOUR LAST NIGHT BEFORE JAPAN. WHAT WILL YOU DO THERE? TO JUMP ON THE PLANE COULD BE A STRETCH. OTAGO ASSISTANT COACH. NOT THE BIGGEST CROWD. 10,000 OR 11,000 IN PRE-SALES. WE'RE HOPING FOR AN OTAGO VICTORY. THANKS, MARK HATHAWAY LIVE IN DUNEDIN. THE CHANCES OF JOSEPH PARKER'S WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT BEING STAGED IN AUCKLAND ARE FADING BY THE MINUTE FOLLOWING THE PROMOTER'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW ITS BID FOR GOVERNMENT FINDING. DUCO EVENTS NOW SAY IT'S 80% LIKELY THE EVENT WILL BE HELD IN AMERICA, ALTHOUGH THE DOOR'S NOT COMPLETELY SHUT YET. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. THE DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED IN AUCKLAND TODAY BY A DIRECTORS DOUBLE ACT. WE'VE STUDIED THE REACTION OF THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA AND THE POLITICIANS AND IT'S CLEAR IT HAS BECOME POLITICAL DYNAMITE. A REAL POLITICAL FOOTBALL. WE HAVE DECIDED TO WITHDRAW OUR APPLICATION TO MAJOR EVENTS NZ. TO STAGE JOSEPH PARKER'S BIG NIGHT IN AUCKLAND ON DECEMBER THE 10TH, DUCO WERE LOOKING FOR UPWARDS OF $1M FROM THE MAJOR EVENTS FUND. WITH GLOBAL EXPOSURE, VISITOR NUMBERS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BEING THE PAYBACK FOR THE GOVERNMENT. BUT ADVERSE PUBLIC OPINION WON OUT. JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, HALF OF THEM ` THERE WERE A LOT OF HATERS AND WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO BECOME PARIAHS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY JUST FOR THE SAKE OF GETTING SOME GOVERNMENT MONEY. WE DON'T WANT TO BE DIVISIVE WITH THIS, HENCE WE WANT IT TO BE AN ALL-INCLUSIVE NZ EVENT WHERE WE GET BEHIND THE HOME GUY AND CHEER HIM ON ` IF WE CAN GET THIS EVENT HERE. WITH PARKER'S OPPONENT ANDY RUIZ LIKELY TO DRAW HUGE MEXICAN SUPPORT IN CALIFORNIA OR TEXAS, THE SAFE BET FOR DUCO WOULD BE TO HEAD FOR THE STATES AND TAKE THE MONEY. WE CAN QUITE EASILY WALK OFFSHORE, TAKE NO RISK AND SEE THIS THING GO WELL. BUT WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS HERE FROM AN HISTORICAL POINT OF VIEW. WE LIKE THE FACT THAT JOSEPH PARKER, WHEN HE WALKS OUT, GETS A MASSIVE CHEER FROM THE PACKED-OUT STADIUM AND WE ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION AS TO WHETHER WE CAN DO IT IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY. WE COULD WORK OUT THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A SMALL LOSS. WE MIGHT DECIDE TO DO IT ANYWAY JUST FOR THE HOME ADVANTAGE, TAKE THE WIN AND THEN THE NEXT FIGHT WOULD BE GIGANTIC. SO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, DEAN AND I WILL MAKE A CALL IN THE COMING DAYS. DEADLINE FOR A DECISION IS 5 NOVEMBER. MARTIN TASKER, 1 NEWS. LYDIA KO HAS SNAPPED HER FORM SLUMP, ROARING UP THE LEADERBOARD IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE LATEST LPGA TOUR EVENT IN MALAYSIA. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE STARTED THE DAY TIED FOR 30TH, BUT REELED OFF A STRING OF BIRDIES. SHE'S PICKED UP ANOTHER BIRDIE. NOW THERE'S ANOTHER, SO FIVE-UNDER ON TODAY'S ROUND. THE KIWI WAS UP TO A TIE FOR FIFTH, BUT STRUCK DISASTER AT THE FINAL HOLE, FINDING THE WATER AND FINISHING WITH A DOUBLE BOGEY, WHICH DROPPED HER BACK TO TWO-UNDER FOR THE ROUND AND THE TOURNAMENT. TO FOOTBALL, AND WELLINGTON PHOENIX HEAD COACH ERNIE MERRICK IS STAYING RESILIENT, DESPITE THE CLUB LOSING ITS FIRST THREE MATCHES. MERRICK SAYS HE'S FULLY FOCUSED AHEAD OF MONDAYS' GAME AWAY TO HIS FORMER CLUB, THE MELBOURNE VICTORY, ALTHOUGH THE SAME MIGHT NOT BE SAID FOR HIS PLAYERS. IS SOMEBODY GONNA TELL THOSE GUYS TO MOVE AWAY AND STOP BANGING? YOU KNOW THE FIRST TWO GUYS, COULD THEY MOVE AWAY? LIKE, I'M TRYING TO DO MEDIA HERE, AND EVERYBODY'S JUST STARTED. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ON THE BENCH. THE PHOENIX HAVEN'T GONE TOO FLASH THE PAST COUPLE OF SEASONS IN THE SAME FIXTURE, ALTHOUGH WHAT COULD BE EVEN WORSE IS THE CLUBS LUCK OFF THE PITCH IN MELBOURNE. IT'S FUNNY. THERE'S THREE OR FOUR TIMES WE'VE FOUND WE'VE BEEN BLOCKED ON OUR WAY INTO ETIHAD. WE GOT FINED FOR IT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A TROLLEY THAT BROUGHT US. WE'VE HAD A BUS THAT DIDN'T TURN UP. IT'S FUNNY HOW THESE THINGS KEEP HAPPENING. IT'S ALL PART OF THE GAME FOR ME. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT KEEPS HAPPENING. YES, LAST YEAR, THE CLUB HAD TO CATCH TAXIS TO THE GAME, BECAUSE OF THAT BUS NOT TURNING UP, WHILE PERHAPS THE WORST OF THE LOT ` IN 2013, ERNIE MERRICK'S MELBOURNE HOUSE ACTUALLY BURNT DOWN WHILE THE NIX WERE IN TOWN. EXCITEMENT'S BUILDING AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S 60TH EDITION OF THE COUNTRY'S PREMIER CYCLING EVENT, THE TOUR OF SOUTHLAND. THE TERRAIN AND THE WEATHER COMBINE TO MAKE IT A SPECIAL OCCASION, ONE STILL REMEMBERED BY A THREE-TIME WINNER FROM 50 YEARS AGO. HERE'S GEORGE BERRY. TINO TABAK'S OLD WOOLLEN CYCLING TOP IS AN EXAMPLE OF JUST HOW MUCH THE SPORT HAS CHANGED, YET STAYED THE SAME. THEY OFTEN SAY YOU CANT MAKE A RACEHORSE OUT OF A DONKEY, BUT YOU'VE STILL GOT TO PUSH THEM PEDALS AROUND. ASIDE FROM THE BREATHTAKING SCENERY AND AT TIMES ITS UNFORGIVING BRUTALITY,... IT'S NOT ALWAYS SUNSHINE AND HOT THERE, IS IT? (LAUGHS) ...IT'S SOUTHLAND'S FARMING STOCK... THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR THE TOUR OF SOUTHLAND. ...THAT THE THREE-TIME TOUR WINNER BELIEVES IS THE SECRET TO ITS LONGEVITY. AT TIMES I HAVE, ACTUALLY. THOUGHT BACK INTO THE OLD DAYS, WE GOT BILLETED OUT AND WE MET UP WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE. AND WHILE IT'S EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS,... IN MY PERIOD, WE DIDN'T HAVE TEAMS, IT WAS AN INDIVIDUAL RACE SO YOU CAN SORT OF WORK FOR EACH OTHER. FOR SIX DECADES, THE ICONIC RACE HAS BEEN THE STARTING POINT FOR MANY BLOSSOMING CYCLING CAREER, INCLUDING THE MAN THEY CALLED THE BLOND, WHO WAS UNSTOPPABLE IN 1965, '66 AND '67. IF THAT HADN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN SOUTHLAND, I PROBABLY MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE TO EUROPE. SOUTHLAND HAS GOT SOMETHING VEER VERY SPECIAL, COME SUNDAY, ANOTHER 120 RIDERS FROM SEVEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WILL LINE UP ON THIS YEAR'S START LINE FOR THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THAT SPECIAL SOMETHING AND CREATE SOME MEMORIES OF THEIR OWN. THEY'LL KEEP IT GOING FOR ANOTHER 60, I RECKON. GEORGE BERRY, 1 NEWS. HANDS UP IF YOU'D TRAVEL MORE THAN A FEW HOURS TO SEE YOUR FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM. WELL, WHAT ABOUT 36 HOURS, AND BY TRAIN? BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS YOUNG GUY FROM INDIA DID, JUST SO HE COULD BOWL A FEW DELIVERIES TO OUR VERY OWN BLACKCAPS BATSMEN. 36 HOURS ON THE TRAIN, HIDING FROM THE TICKET OFFICER. YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST ULTIMATE DEDICATION FOR US, AND WE, OBVIOUSLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP THAT HE'S GIVEN US OVER THE PAST ODI SERIES. AND THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU. YES, THE KIWIS REWARDING YOUNG NET BOWLER SOURISH CHAUDHARY WITH JUST A FEW PIECES OF BLACKCAPS KIT, ALTHOUGH PERHAPS THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR HIS TRAIN TICKETS, SO NEXT TIME HE DOESN'T HAVE TO HIDE FROM THE TICKETING OFFICER. HONESTLY, THAT IS SUCH A CUTE STORY. BIG ELECTION? ALSO TONIGHT ` WE'RE WITH A SPECIAL BUNCH OF STUDENTS CELEBRATING GRADUATION IN A SPECIAL KIND OF WAY. STUDENTS: JUMP! OH! PLUS HERE WE ARE BACKSTAGE WITH THE PARIS SHOW THAT SHOWED OUT IN LAS VEGAS. WE'RE EXCITED! AND HE'S THE MASTER OF DRIFTING, SO WHY'S 'MAD MIKE' NOW ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW? FIND OUT IN 10. HELLO. SOME TYPICAL SPRING WEATHER THIS WEEKEND. STORMS ACROSS THE TASMAN. IT WILL KICK BACK THE TEMPERATURES. ROAD SNOW WARNINGS EASING AWAY. KEEP AN EYE ON THE HIGHER ROUTES. WE HAVE RESIDUAL TROUGHS. SHOWERS DURING THE DAY. THE STRONG SOUTHERLY AIR STREAM EASES AWAY. FIRST TROUGH EASES BACK. SHOWERS TO THE EAST EASE AWAY. SHOWERS FOR THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTH AND EAST EASE AWAY. COULD BE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. CHILLY IN A FEW SPOTS. YOUR DAY IS PRETTY GOOD. THERE ARE SHOWERS TO EASE AWAY. THE ODD ONE BY THE END OF THE DAY. AFTER THE SHOWERS DIE AWAY, IMPROVING. LOOKING AT THE EAST COAST, A FEW SHOWERS. THUNDER COMING OFF THE RANGES. A LITTLE CLOUD. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ These chaps are going to be chilling out. Thanks very much, Dan.