GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THE BARBECUE WAS SMOKING FOR MANY KIWI FAMILIES OVER THE WEEKEND, AND WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER, TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO RISE. THIS WEEK BRINGS A BIG SYSTEM IN FROM THE TASMAN SEA IN THE FORM OF A WET AND WINDY FRONT SET TO ARRIVE ON FIORDLAND'S DOORSTEPS ON TUESDAY MORNING, BRINGING HEAVY RAIN TO WESTLAND AND BULLER MIDWEEK. This is the hardest decision I have ever made and I do not know what I will do next. I gave everything I had and I have Left nothing in the tank. WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY? AND BACKING BILL IN PLAIN ENGLISH. JOHN KEY ENDORSES THE MAN HE WANTS TO TAKE HIS PLACE AS THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER. why didKIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. IT'S A KEY TURN THAT'S SURPRISED AND SHOCKED THE COUNTRY, AND THE BIG QUESTIONS ARE WHY AND WHY NOW? JOHN KEY IS QUITTING AS PRIME MINISTER. AND HE'S WASTING NO TIME. IN JUST SEVEN DAYS, THE NATIONAL PARTY WILL CHOOSE A NEW LEADER. WE'VE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE, INCLUDING THE CONTENDERS LIKELY TO GO FOR THE TOP JOB, INTERNATIONAL REACTION AND A LOOK AT JOHN KEY'S LEGACY. WE BEGIN WITH POLITICAL EDITOR. CORIN DANN AT PARLIAMENT. WHAT A MOVE, CORIN. Absolutely. An extraordinary day in New Zealand politics. A huge surprise and many supporters will struggle to understand why have done that given his strong ratings. He and says there is no back story or conspiracy. He wanted to leave on top and has done all he can. POLITICAL BOMBSHELLS DON'T GET MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS. I TOLD MY CABINET AND CAUCUS COLLEAGUES OF MY DECISION TO STEP DOWN AS LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY AND AS PRIME MINISTER. YES, NEXT MONDAY, JOHN KEY STEPS DOWN. 10 YEARS, HE SAYS, IS LONG ENOUGH. FOR OUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AT THE TOP, IT'S A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW. IT'S A LOT OF LONELY NIGHTS FOR BRONAGH, AND I REALLY FEEL I OWE IT TO THE FAMILY TO COME HOME A LITTLE BIT. HE SAYS IT'S ALSO ABOUT BEING HONEST WITH VOTERS. AND I THINK IN REALITY IF I'D GOT THERE AND SERVED SIX MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS I WOULD INEVITABLY, IN THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN, HAD TO LOOK DOWN THE BARREL OF THE CAMERA AND SAY I'M GOING TO STAY FOR A FULL THREE YEARS AND THEN I WOULD HAVE MISLED THE PUBLIC AND DELIBERATELY MISLED THEM, AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY I'VE OPERATED. SOME WILL BE SCEPTICAL. There will always be people backup and they've million conspiracy theories. I encourage people to see it for what it is.� the right time. I'VE BEEN MULLING OVER THIS DECISION FOR ALL OF THIS YEAR. BUT HIS MIND WAS MADE UP AFTER HIS VISIT TO THE UN IN SEPTEMBER. You asked me if I would send for a fourth term. I said I do not feel comfortable looking down the barrel of the camera not being honest. AS FOR HIS REPLACEMENT ` HE BACKS LONG-TIME FRIEND AND FINANCE MINISTER BILL ENGLISH. HE WAS PROBABLY MORE SHOCKED WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM IN SEPTEMBER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE HE'LL BE A FINE PRIME MINISTER. BILL ENGLISH LED NATIONAL TO ITS WORST DEFEAT AGAINST HELEN CLARK IN 2002. HE'S PREVIOUSLY SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAD NATIONAL AGAIN. BUT THAT'S CHANGED NOW. I just never imagined being in the situation. I am not ruling out. We had discussions to be had. JOHN KEY'S BREAKING NEW GROUND. POLITICAL LEADERS DON'T NORMALLY QUIT WHEN THE GOING IS SO GOOD. I THINK AS A PARTY WE'RE DOING AMAZINGLY WELL. AS A GOVERNMENT, WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL, AND I JUST FELT THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME ON TOP TO DO WHAT VERY FEW LEADERS AND PRIME MINISTERS GET THE CHANCE TO DO, AND THAT IS TO TRANSITION TO A NEW LEADER. SO WHERE TO FROM HERE? LOOK, I DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS. I THINK I'LL, I'M A COMMERCIAL GUY. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR ANY POSTINGS OVERSEAS, I THINK YOU'D APPRECIATE. I'LL THINK I'LL` IF I GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO ME, I'LL GO ON A COUPLE OF BOARDS. BY HIS OWN ADMISSSION, HE'S NOT A CAREER POLITICAN. STILL, HE SAYS THIS HAS BEEN HIS HARDEST DECISION EVER. LET'S BE BLUNT, I'VE TAKEN THE KNIFE TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE. NOW I'M TAKING THE KNIFE TO MYSELF TO ALLOW OTHERS TO COME THROUGH AND HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. SO, CORIN, YOU MENTIONED THERE THAT BILL ENGLISH HAS JOHN KEY'S BACKING. DOES THAT MAKE THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION A DONE DEAL? Not quite. There are a lot of discussion to go. Clearly Bill English, having the nod from John Kerry, is in front. He is the stability candidate. There are going to be challenges/ TEAM KEY ` BUT WHAT DOES NATIONAL LOOK LIKE WITHOUT JOHN KEY? IS IT TEAM ENGLISH? DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH IS CERTAINLY THE PRIME MINISTER'S FIRST CHOICE. AND DESPITE A HORROR ELECTION DEFEAT IN 2002, HE'S NOT RULING IT OUT. IN THE END THE CAUCUS WILL DECIDE WHETHER MY SKILLS ARE BETTER OR DIFFERENT THAN THEN. OR COULD IT BE TEAM JUDITH COLLINS? ISN'T TIME FOR ANOTHER STRONG WOMAN? I THINK IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO HAVE THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB. OR TEAM AMY ADAMS? SHE'S NOT RULING IT OUT EITHER, SAYING IT'S A DECISION FOR CAUCUS. NATIONAL'S MPS MEET TOMORROW MORNING, AND THEY MUST MAKE THAT DECISION ON THE LEADERSHIP BY NEXT MONDAY. THAT'S WHEN JOHN KEY OFFICIALLY STEPS DOWN. I EXPECT THE LEADERSHIP WILL BE DEALT WITH INTERNALLY, BECAUSE WE CAN SEE STABILITY IS IMPORTANT FRANKLY, WE LEAVE IT TO CAUCUS WE GET ON WITH, AND WHATEVER CAUCUS COMES BACK WITH WE ALL BUY INTO. NATIONAL IS INSISTING THEY ARE TEAM PLAYERS, AND THEY'RE HOPING THERE WILL BE NO BLOODLETTING. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE DIVISIONS INEVITABLY WHEN YOU HAVE A TEAM OF AMBITIOUS AND DETERMINED PEOPLE THERE WILL BE SOME WHO WILL WANT TO SEE THEMSELVES IN CERTAIN ROLES. BUT IT'S CLEAR THE NATIONAL CAUCUS WERE REELING AT THE NEWS. LIKE ALL THE OTHER MPS I WAS` I KINDA GASPED WHEN HE TOLD ME, SO, UM, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I THINK BILL WOULD MAKE A FANTASTIC PRIME MINISTER, BUT I UNDERSTAND HE'S YET TO CONFIRM. AND THE BIG QUESTION ` CAN THE NEXT LEADER WIN AT NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION? THE NATIONAL PARTY'LL BE CLEARLY VERY SURPRISED, BUT I THINK THEY WILL ADAPT TO IT IN TIME. I'M SURE WE'LL BE FINE. OF COURSE, THAT'S FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. SO, YOU'D HAVE TO SAY FROM ANDREA'S REPORT THERE ARE OTHER SENIOR MINISTERS INTERESTED IN MR KEY'S JOB, AND THERE'S A WEEK FOR PEOPLE TO WEIGH UP THEIR CHANCES. COULD THIS GET COMPLICATED? Atco, I think there is no question The Prime Minister will want the sorted and not to get messy. However, wins this, and I think it is most likely to be Bill English, they will be deemed Prime Minister by the 59 members of the national party caucus and not a popular vote. It is not likely they will go to the polls. Things could change over the next wake. PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY WAS ALSO A POPULAR LEADER INTERNATIONALLY, MANY WORLD LEADER THIS AFTERNOON PAYING TRIBUTE. REBECCA WRIGHT TAKES A LOOK AT HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED OVERSEAS. WE ALSO HAVE SOME BREAKING NEWS THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING OUT OF NZ. THE PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY IS RESIGNING. HERE HE IS LIVE. LET'S TAKE A LISTEN. IT WAS BREAKING NEWS RIGHT AROUND THE WORLD. NZ PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY HAS UNEXPECTEDLY ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION, SAYING IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO LEAVE POLITICS. AND THEN PRAISE BEGAN FLOWING IN FOR JOHN KEY FOR TAKING THE UNUSUAL STEP OF LEAVING WHILE HE'S STILL ON TOP POLITICALLY. HELEN CLARK SENT HER BEST WISHES FROM THE UN, SAYING HE'D BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR NZ, AND ACROSS THE TASMAN, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER MALCOLM TURNBULL SAYS HE TEXTED KEY, 'SAY IT AIN'T SO, BRO!' HE WILL BE A GREAT LOSS TO NZ AND A GREAT LOSS TO THE WORLD. JOHN KEY IS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING NATIONAL LEADERS IN THE WORLD TODAY. AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL LEADER JOHN KEY HAS HIT IT OFF WITH. HE WAS THE ENVY OF MANY WHEN HE SPENT FIVE HOURS ON THE GOLF COURSE WITH PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN HAWAII. WELL, IT'S GREAT GOOD TO BE HERE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF NZ, MY GOOD FRIEND JOHN KEY. FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON IS ALSO A FRIEND. AND MORE RECENTLY KEY WAS CAPTURED GOOFING AROUND WITH CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU. WE'RE TOLD HE'S RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF TEXT MESSAGES SINCE ANNOUNCING HE'S LEAVING, AND BACK HERE AT HOME, THE TRIBUTES ALSO FLOWED. TODAY IS A DAY TO SAY TO HIM ABOUT HIS SERVICE, 'THANK YOU FOR SERVING NZ AND FOR SERVING NZ WELL.' TODAY I THINK WE SHOULD JUST REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRIME MINISTER FOR HIS EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE. SO, WHAT'S NEXT FOR JOHN KEY, THEN? I'LL PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT OF SPEAKING INTERNATIONALLY. BUT IT'LL JUST BE A SLIGHTLY QUIETER LIFE AND A CHANCE FOR US TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER TRAVELLING. AWAY FROM THE DEMANDING SCHEDULE OF BEING A PRIME MINISTER. REBECCA WRIGHT, 1 NEWS. JOHN PHILLIP KEY WAS BORN IN AUCKLAND IN 1961 BEFORE MOVING TO CHRISTCHURCH AS A CHILD. AFTER GAINING A COMMERCE DEGREE AT CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY, MR KEY FIRST WORKED IN NZ THEN OVERSEAS IN THE PRESSURE-COOKER WORLD OF INTERNATIONAL BANKING. HE BECAME THE HEAD OF GLOBAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOR INVESTMENT BANKING GIANT MERRILL LYNCH BASED IN LONDON IN 1995. IN 2001, HE RETURNED TO NZ. A YEAR LATER HE ENTERED PARLIAMENT AS THE NATIONAL PARTY MP FOR HELENSVILLE. HE WAS APPOINTED THE PARTY'S FINANCE SPOKESPERSON IN 2004, RISING RAPIDLY IN THE RANKS. IN 2006 HE BECAME NATIONAL'S LEADER, SUCCEEDING DON BRASH, WHO CONTROVERSIALLY RESIGNED THE POST. JOHN KEY BECAME THE COUNTRY'S 38TH PRIME MINISTER WHEN NATIONAL ENDED LABOUR AND HELEN CLARK'S THREE TERMS IN OFFICE IN 2008, MR KEY HOLDING ONTO THE COUNTRY'S TOP JOB FOR EIGHT YEARS. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD LOOKS AT WHAT SORT OF LEGACY JOHN KEY LEAVES BEHIND. There will be a new national led government! HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR, AND SOMETIMES MOST AWKWARD, PRIME MINISTERS THE COUNTRY'S SEEN. HE'S SAILED HIGH IN THE POLLS SINCE BEING ELECTED IN 2008 AND SHEPHERDED THROUGH SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL REFORMS. HE SENT TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN AND FIERCELY DEFENDED DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ. Get some guts! MASS PROTESTS DIDN'T STOP HIM SIGNING THE TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE DEAL, BUT DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY SEEMS TO HAVE KILLED IT. There will be some regrets and one of them is tpp. THROUGH THE CHRISTCHURCH AND NOW THE KAIKOURA EARTHQUAKES, JOHN KEY'S BEEN SEEN AS CALM IN A CRISIS, ALTHOUGH THE PIKE RIVER MINE DISASTER'S TESTED THAT. HE BACKED A NEW FLAG, BUT THE COUNTRY SAID NO. IT'S HARD NOT TO GET BEHIND THIS FLAG DESIGN OF A KIWI BLASTING ACTUAL LASERS FROM ITS EYES. AND DESPITE LISTING BARACK OBAMA AS ONE OF HIS GOLFING BUDDIES, HE'S MADE SOME DUFFED POLITICAL SHOTS. THERE WAS HIS MOMENT ON THE CATWALK,... THE BIG QUESTION FOR YOU, MURRAY IS, DO I LOOK HOT? ...HUMILIATING HEADLINES OVER PULLING A CAFE WORKER'S PONYTAIL... The boys do not pull it, eh? ...AND TWO BIG ELECTION CAMPAIGN SCANDALS, FIRST SO-CALLED DIRTY DEALS LIKE THE CUPPA WITH ACT LEADER JOHN BANKS IN 2011,... I DON'T TELL MY WIFE HOT TO VOTE, SO I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO TELL NZERS HOW TO VOTE. ...AND THEN DIRTY POLITICS AND KIM DOTCOM IN 2014. WHY ARE YOU TURNING RED, PRIME MINISTER? I'M NOT. WHY ARE YOU SWEATING? WINSTON PETERS' WIN IN THE NORTHLAND BY-ELECTION SHOWED NATIONAL UNDER JOHN KEY WASN'T INFALLIBLE. I am notoriously hopeless. AND HE'S STRUGGLED AT TIMES WITH INEQUALITY AND THE HOUSING CRISIS. THE NATIONAL PARTY HAS PUT PARTY POLITICS AHEAD OF HOMELESSNESS. HIS SUPPORT FROM FELLOW NATIONAL MPS, THOUGH, IS WITHOUT QUESTION, ALTHOUGH HIS CLOSEST SUPPORTER'S BEEN A BIT UNKIND TODAY. I DON'T THINK HE'S NEARLY AS MUCH OF AN ATHLETE AS HE THINKS HE IS. HE HAS GOT BALDER AND PUT ON MORE WEIGHT THAN HE REALISES. POLITICS CERTAINLY CAN AGE YOU AND MAKE FAMILY TIME A RARE LUXURY. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. I am joined now by political reporter Katie. Can Labour capitalise? This is a big day for Andrew little. He congratulated John K but also talked about the opportunities that now gives Labour. Because they have despite that brand Key. This is the best news that it happened to her man a long time. Stylistically, Bill English are so different to John key. Both English and little appeal less the public. Them all sensible and stable looking. National will look at how will be the deputy ` you have to look at Paula Bennett and Amy Adams. Do you want a woman in the? It is about time. They want someone to offset Bill English. it helps with Stephen Joyce as a nice solid role and how that there is stability going forward. 10 YEARS AFTER THE COUP, IS FIJI'S MILITARY STILL GETTING AWAY WITH TORTURE? AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS YES, AND THERE ARE CALLS FOR THE MILITARY TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM PUBLIC SECURITY ROLES. THAT'S UP AHEAD. THERE'D BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE THEY CALLED THE GHOST SHIP LONG BEFORE THE FIRE THAT CLAIMED SO MANY YOUNG LIVES. THE ARTISTS' COLONY WAS ALREADY BRANDED A DEATH TRAP. AND THE LONG-RUNNING BATTLE OVER AN AMERICAN OIL PIPELINE COULD BE NEARING AN END JUST AS PROTESTERS WERE ABOUT TO BE THROWN OUT OF THEIR FROZEN STANDING ROCK CAMP. THE BODY OF THE EIGHTH VICTIM OF THE KAIPARA TRAGEDY'S BEEN RECOVERED NINE DAYS AFTER A CHARTER FISHING BOAT CAPSIZED. ALTHOUGH NOT FORMALLY IDENTIFIED, POLICE BELIEVE IT'S MISSING FISHERMAN TAULAGI AFAMASAGA. A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC DISCOVERED THE BODY ON MURIWAI BEACH THIS MORNING. THE FRANCIE SANK WHILE TRYING TO CROSS THE KAIPARA SAND BAR. EIGHT MEN DIED; JUST THREE SURVIVED. SOME IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE CRITICISED THE SKIPPER FOR ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE BAR IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIJI COUP, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES ARE STILL USING TORTURE. FIJI'S GOVERNMENT HAS DENIED THE CLAIMS, SAYING THERE ARE ONLY ISOLATED CASES OF POLICE BRUTALITY. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER WITH THIS FROM THE CAPITAL, SUVA. PUBLIC PROTECTOR OR AGGRESSOR? FIJI'S SECURITY FORCES ARE AT THE CENTRE OF TORTURE AND BRUTALITY CLAIMS. MY HOME HAS BEEN ATTACKED; MY PARTNER WAS ATTACKED LAST YEAR. SHE SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE, AND THIS IS THE LATEST VICTIM OF ALLEGED POLICE VIOLENCE, BEATEN ON THE STREET, IMPRISONED FOR 48 HOURS AND HOSPITALISED. AS A POLICE, HE SHOULD ASSIST US AND HELP US, NOT ASSAULTING THE... PUBLIC. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS TODAY RELEASED A DAMNING REPORT ON HOW FIJI'S SECURITY FORCES GET AWAY WITH TORTURE. THERE'S BEEN FIVE DEATHS IN CUSTODY SINCE 2006. THERE'S BEEN OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES OR BEEN RAPED AT THE TIME, DURING CUSTODY. BUT THE GOVERNMENT HERE DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT AND RECENTLY RATIFIED THE U.N. CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE. IT'S NOT A PHENOMENA THAT'S PECULIAR TO FIJI BUT NONETHELESS A PHENOMENA THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS ALSO IN FIJI QUITE OPENLY AND TRANSPARENTLY. THERE'S CALLS FOR THE ARMED FORCES TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND WITHDRAWN FROM PUBLIC SECURITY. THIS AMNESTY REPORT ON TORTURE COMES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2006 COUP. 10 YEARS AGO ON THIS DAY, FRANK BAINIMARAMA, BACKED BY HIS MILITARY, OVERTHREW THE GOVERNMENT. DESPITE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS, ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS NEED A PERMIT; THERE ARE STILL STRICT RULES AROUND THE MEDIA, AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS RESTRICTED. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FEAR. LIFE IS QUITE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE. FOR PEOPLE HERE IT'S ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IN SAFETY. BARBARA DREAVER, 1 NEWS, SUVA. THE DEATH TOLL FROM A FIRE IN A CALIFORNIAN ART COMMUNE HAS RISEN TO 33, WITH AS MANY AS 30 MORE YOUNG PEOPLE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS HAVE JOINED THE INQUIRY INTO AN UNAUTHORISED DANCE PARTY IN THE WAREHOUSE LOCALS COMPLAINED WAS A DEATH TRAP. ABC'S NEAL KARLINSKY WITH THIS. TONIGHT IN OAKLAND, AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THIS FIRE GROWS INTO THE DOZENS, THE PAINSTAKING SEARCH GOES AROUND THE CLOCK. QUESTIONS ARE NOW MOUNTING ABOUT WHETHER THE TRAGEDY SHOULD'VE BEEN STOPPED LONG BEFORE FRIDAY NIGHT'S INFERNO. THE BUILDING WENT UP FAST AND BURNED FEROCIOUSLY FRIDAY NIGHT. PEOPLE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING HERE; IT ONLY HAD PERMITS AS A WAREHOUSE, YET CODE VIOLATIONS SHOW A HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING ABOUT PEOPLE INSIDE. IT WAS A WELL-KNOWN ARTIST COLONY CALLED THE GHOST SHIP AND FILLED AT THE TIME FOR A CONCERT WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT. MOST OF THE DEAD WERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. PICTURES ON THE WAREHOUSE'S WEBSITE SHOW A MAZE OF MAKESHIFT ART STUDIOS BEFORE THE FIRE. IT IS TRAGIC... TO WATCH SO MANY PEOPLE... PERISH FROM A FIRE FATALITY IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES AND HAVE TO BE STOIC IN YOUR JOB, BE PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR ACTIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HONOURING THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO BRING THEM SAFELY OUT OF THE BUILDING. TONIGHT AN EMOTIONAL BATTALION CHIEF SAYS THE IMPACT IS BEYOND WHAT ANY OF HER FIREFIGHTERS IMAGINE DEALING WITH. I THINK WE WERE SURPRISED AT FIRST TO FIND THAT MANY BODIES WHERE WE FOUND THEM, AND WE ARE LEANING TOWARDS ` BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE BODIES APPEARED TO BE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER ` THAT IT WAS PROBABLY FROM A FALL. THEY WERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND IT CAVED IN. MM-HM. PARTS OF THE SECOND FLOOR, WITH BURNED PIANOS AND OTHER HEAVY OBJECTS, ARE DANGLING PRECARIOUSLY ABOVE FIRE CREWS WORKING METHODICALLY TO RECOVER VICTIMS WITH DIGNITY AND TO MAKE SURE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE BUILDING DOESN'T COME DOWN ON THEM. OAKLAND'S MAYOR TONIGHT PROMISED TO FIND OUT IF THIS CITY'S WORST FIRE IN HISTORY WAS PREVENTABLE. AND OAKLAND OFFICIALS ARE COMBING PUBLIC RECORDS FOR CLUES ABOUT THE BUILDING'S STATE AND ITS FATE. THE US ARMY HAS MOVED TO DEFUSE THE LONG-RUNNING BATTLE OVER THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE, PLANNED TO RUN UNDER A LAKE ON THE MISSOURI RIVER IN NORTH DAKOTA. AS THOUSANDS OF VETERANS ARRIVED AT STANDING ROCK TO SUPPORT PROTESTING SIOUX INDIANS CAMPED THERE, THE ARMY BLOCKED THE PIPELINE'S PROJECTED PATH UNDER THE RIVER, FORCING OFFICIALS TO BEGIN EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE ROUTES. THE MOVE CAME JUST A DAY BEFORE A DEADLINE ORDERING THE PROTESTORS TO LEAVE. JOHN KEY WAS NOT THE ONLY PRIME MINISTER RESIGNING TODAY, ITALY'S MATTEO RENZI PULLING THE PLUG AFTER A PREDICTED HEAVY DEFEAT IN A REFERENDUM ON THE COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTION. IN SHADES OF THE BREXIT VOTE, MR RENZI LOST OUT TO POPULIST OPPOSITION PARTIES, SPEARHEADED BY COMEDIAN BEPPE GRILLO'S FIVE STAR MOVEMENT. THE RESULT POINTS TO A RETHINK OF ITALY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, JUST OVER A YEAR AWAY. HOWEVER, AUSTRIANS HAVE VOTED DECISIVELY IN FAVOUR OF A PRO-EUROPEAN LIBERAL PRESIDENT. ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN INCREASED HIS LEAD OVER FAR-RIGHT OPPONENT NORBERT HOFER, WHO RAN AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION 'AUSTRIA FIRST' CAMPAIGN. THE ELECTION WAS RE-RUN AFTER VOTING IRREGULARITIES SAW AN EARLIER POLL DECLARED INVALID. RENEE'S HERE NOW WITH THE DAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, AND LOTS OF SUNNY SPOTS AROUND NZ TODAY. YES, THANKS TO A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE, HOWEVER, THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND WERE MOSTLY CLOUDY AS A WEAK FRONT BRUSHED UP THE ISLAND, FOLLOWED BY ONSHORE SOU-EAST WINDS. CONVECTION AND CONVERGENCES TRIGGERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND THIS AFTERNOON. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ. AND I'LL BE BACK AFTER SPORT. THE LONG WAIT'S OVER FOR KAIKOURA DAIRY FARMERS. THE INLAND ROAD OPENS FOR TANKERS FOR THE FIRST TIME TO GET THE MILK THROUGH. AND LATER HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER ANDY RUIZ SHOWS HE'S FIGHTING FIT AND JUST AS KEEN TO GET HIS HANDS ON THIS BELT AS JOSEPH PARKER. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THE PRIME MINISTER'S SHOCK RESIGNATION HAS LEFT MANY WONDERING WHY AND WHY NOW, BUT JOHN KEY INSISTS THERE'S NO BACKSTORY OTHER THAN NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO GO, HIS JOB HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON HIS FAMILY AND HE HAS NOTHING LEFT IN THE TANK. MR KEY WILL STEP DOWN NEXT MONDAY AFTER NATIONAL'S CAUCUS HAS CHOSEN A SUCCESSOR. AFTER WEEKS OF POURING THEIR MILK AWAY, KAIKOURA DAIRY FARMERS CAN FINALLY GET IT ON THE ROAD. THE INLAND ROUTE OPENED FOR THE BIGGEST CONVOY YET TODAY, INCLUDING DAIRY TANKERS FOR THE FIRST TIME. SAM CLARKE WAS THERE. WHITE GOLD, THEY CALL IT. BUT FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, SIMON MACKLE HAS BEEN POURING IT ON HIS GRASS. AS A DAIRY FARMER, YOU WORK SO HARD TO PUT IT IN THE VAT, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OUT TO PASTURE. WITH THE ROADS CUT OFF, KAIKOURA FARMERS WERE LEFT MILKING WITH THE ROADS CUT OFF, KAIKOURA FARMERS WERE LEFT MILKING WITH NO PLACE TO PUT THEIR PRODUCE. WHEN YOU'RE WORKING REALLY HARD UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS, SPREADING YOUR PRODUCT ONTO PASTURE IS HARD. BUT TODAY, THE TANKS ARE FULL, AND THE TRUCKS ARE ON THEIR WAY. IT'S AWESOME. IT'S JUST A HUGE WEIGHT OFF OUR SHOULDERS. WE'RE BACK IN THE REAL WORLD. FULLY BRILLIANT. PROGRESS ON RESTORING THE ROCKY INLAND ROAD MEANS TANKERS CAN NOW COME IN TO KAIKOURA AND COPE WITH ALL THE MILK THEY CAN PRODUCE ` SOMETHING FONTERRA HOPES CAN CONTINUE. FROM NOW ON EVERYDAY, WE INTEND TO BE IN TO COLLECT MILK, FROM NOW ON EVERYDAY, WE INTEND TO BE IN TO COLLECT MILK, BUT THAT'S SUBJECT TO WEATHER AND THE ROADS. BEFORE THE QUAKE, THIS REGION WAS PRODUCING CLOSE TO 250,000L OF MILK EVERY DAY. THAT MEANS OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PRODUCT HAS BEEN DUMPED ON TO PASTURE. BUT TODAY WITH TRUCKS ROLLING INTO TOWN, IT'S FINALLY WHERE IT'S MEANT TO BE. FOR ALL THAT, THE DISRUPTION WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT RETURNS. THEIR PRODUCTION WILL SUFFER. THEY WERE ON TWICE A DAY MILKING, AND NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO ONCE A DAY. SO THEIR YEARLY PRODUCTION WILL BE DOWN A LITTLE BIT. BUT AT LEAST THE MILK'S NOW ON THE ROAD, GIVING SIMON MACKLE THE CHANCE TO FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS. SHOULD HAVE A GLASS OF WINE TO CELEBRATE. NAH, IT'S FANTASTIC. WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS. WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS, YEAH. SAM CLARKE, 1 NEWS. DEMOLITION OF PART OF LOWER HUTT'S QUEENSGATE MALL BEGAN TODAY AFTER A SLIGHT DELAY. AN ENGINEER FIRST HAD TO RE-CHECK IF IT WAS SAFE TO DEMOLISH THE CINEMA AND CAR PARK SECTION OF THE MALL. FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S 5.5 MAGNITUDE AFTERSHOCK. IT'S THE SECOND BUILDING IN WELLINGTON TO BE CONDEMNED SINCE THE KAIKOURA EARTHQUAKE OF THREE WEEKS AGO. THE DEMOLITION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE AROUND TWO MONTHS. A MAN WHO RENTED KAYAKS TO TWO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO DIED ON LAKE TEKAPO LAST YEAR HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES LAID BY MARITIME NZ. RICKY JOHN HARTNETT WAS SENTENCED TO 200 HOURS COMMUNITY WORK AND ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $300,000 IN COMPENSATION. ALI PUGH WAS IN THE TIMARU DISTRICT COURT. LAST SEPTEMBER, 11 YOUNG STUDENTS VENTURED OUT ON TEKAPO'S PRISTINE LAKE FOR A GROUP KAYAK. BAD WEATHER SAW THE BOATS CAPSIZE. FREEZING WATER TOOK THE LIVES OF JAMES MURPHY AND DANIEL HOLLNSTEINER. THE FAMILIES OF THE YOUNG VICTIMS FLEW TO NZ TO BE IN COURT TODAY FOR THEIR BOYS, THERE'LL BE NO MORE CHRISTMASES WITH YOU. THERE WILL BE A GRADUATION CEREMONY BUT WITHOUT YOU. THERE'LL BE NO WEDDING. THERE WILL BE NO GRANDCHILDREN. HIS LIFE WAS JUST BEGINNING AND FULL OF PROMISE. HIS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT. EVERY SINGLE REMINDER OF DANIEL PUTS A DAGGER INTO OUR HEARTS AGAIN AND AGAIN. RICKY JOHN HARTNETT RAN THE KAYAK-RENTAL BUSINESS AQUANORTS. TODAY HE PLEADED GUILTY, ADMITTING HE FAILED TO TAKE ALL PRACTICABLE STEPS TO ENSURE NO ACTION BY HIM HARMED ANY OTHER PERSON. MARITIME NZ'S SUBMISSION HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL FAILINGS BY RICKY HARTNETT, THAT HE HAD NO QUALIFICATIONS OR LICENCE TO BE OPERATING THE BOATS AT THE LAKE, THAT NO ADEQUATE SAFETY DEMONSTRATION WAS GIVEN TO THE GROUP BEFORE THEY LEFT AND THAT HE FAILED TO CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES AT SEVERAL CRITICAL POINTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE ACCIDENT. RICKY HARTNETT'S DEFENCE COUNSEL SAID HE'S DEEPLY REMORSEFUL, BUT THE GROUP VENTURED BEYOND THE KAYAK OPERATING AREA, AND THE SUDDEN GUSTY WINDS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN FORESEEN. WHAT WAS NOT OBVIOUS WAS THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WEATHER THAT OCCURRED AND WHICH TIPPED THE VICTIMS INTO THE LAKE. JUDGE DAVID SAUNDERS SENTENCED RICKY HARTNETT TO 200 HOURS OF COMMUNITY WORK AND MORE THAN $300,000 OF COMPENSATION TO THE FAMILIES AND SURVIVING VICTIMS, MONEY THE FAMILIES SAY WON'T BRING THEIR BOYS BACK. ALI PUGH, 1 NEWS. A PHOTOGRAPHER SAYS RALLY ORGANISERS OFFERED HIM MONEY NOT TO PUBLISH PHOTOS OF A $20M MCLAREN CAR AFTER IT RAN OFF THE ROAD NEAR QUEENSTOWN AT THE WEEKEND. FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES ALLAN WAS FIRST ON THE SCENE ON SATURDAY, AND SAYS PEOPLE DRESSED IN MCLAREN CLOTHING WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT HIS PRESENCE. I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN THE FIRST OFFICIAL PERSON CAME UP TO ME. HE JUST SAID, BASICALLY, HOW MUCH TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM GO AWAY? AN AUSTRALIAN MAN (63) WAS CHARGED WITH CARELESS DRIVING AND REMANDED TILL JANUARY 16TH. ANDREW'S HERE, AND A DAY OF UPHEAVAL IN SPORT AS WELL. MORE ON THE PHOENIX' PREDICAMENT IN A MOMENT. ALSO TONIGHT ` WE GO LIVE TO CANBERRA. HOW DO THE BLACK CAPS TURN IT ALL AROUND AGAINST THE DOMINANT AUSSIES? PLUS, WE GET OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF ANDY RUIZ TRAINING IN AUCKLAND. I'M NOT THE KINDA GUY THAT... LIKES TO TALK <BLEEP>. RUIZ JR LAYS DOWN THE LAW AND NABS THE BELT ON A UNIQUE DAY. AND IT'S BEEN A BAD DAY ALL ROUND FOR FOOTBALL MANAGERS. I DON'T MAKE` I DON'T COMMENT. NO COMMENT. NO. WE HAVE OUR OLD MATE JOSE AND HIS FESTIVE WALK-.OFF WELLINGTON PHOENIX FOOTBALL COACH ERNIE MERRICK'S KNOWN FOR HIS DRY SCOTTISH SENSE OF HUMOUR, BUT NOT EVEN ERNIE COULD HAVE FORESEEN THE BIZARRE SITUATION WHERE HE QUITS THE TOP FOOTBALL JOB IN THE CAPITAL ON THE SAME DAY AS JOHN KEY STEPS DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MERRICK, HE'S NOT BOWING OUT AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME. HERE'S JOHN MCKENZIE. ENRIQUE HAS THE POWER! IT'S THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK. AS ERNIE MERRICK CONTEMPLATES ANOTHER TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE... A 2-0 LOSS TO ADELAIDE LEADING TO ERNIE MERRICK WALKING AWAY AS HEAD COACH OF THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX THIS MORNING ` A DECISION THAT'S SHOCKED HIS FORMER VICE-CAPTAIN. I'M BLOWN AWAY, AND IT'S A SAD DAY BECAUSE ERNIE'S BEEN A BIG PART OF THIS CLUB. THE DECISION COMES 12 MONTHS AFTER MERRICK SIGNED A THREE-YEAR EXTENSION TO HIS CONTRACT. SINCE SIGNING, MERRICK'S WIN-LOSS RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF ` 30 WINS, 15 DRAWS AND 45 LOSSES. THAT INCLUDE 10 LOSSES IN THE CLUB'S LAST 12 GAMES. CUTS IT BACK! IT'S THOSE LOSSES, MERRICK SAID IN A STATEMENT, HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I JUST GENUINELY BELIEVE ERNIE'S GOT HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF HIMSELF, AND HE FEELS LIKE HE CAN'T TAKE THIS ANY FURTHER. THE CLUB IS STACKED WITH TALENT. IN THE OFFSEASON, THEY SIGNED ONE OF THE A-LEAGUES TOP GOAL-SCORERS IN KOSTA BARBAROUSES AND BRAZILIAN TEAMMATE GUI FINKLER, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION, DID THE PLAYERS HAVE HIS BACK? IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, OTHER PLAYERS I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO I WOULDN'T KNOW, BUT IN GENERAL, I KNOW THAT THE TEAM STILL HAD HIS BACK. CLUB INSIDERS TOLD 1 NEWS MERRICK HAD BEEN CONSIDERING THIS DECISION IN RECENT WEEKS. THE PHOENIX DIDN'T WANT TO COMMENT ON CAMERA TODAY, INSTEAD SAYING THEY'LL FRONT-FOOT THE ISSUE TOMORROW, WITH MERRICK AND CHAIRMAN ROB MORRISON. AS ERNIE POINTED OUT, THAT MAYBE IT JUST NEEDED A CHANGE, AND SOMETIMES CHANGE IS GOOD. BUT FOR ME, IT'S DEVASTATING THAT HE LEFT. BUT FOR ME, IT'S DEVASTATING THAT HE LEFT. ASSISTANT COACHES CHRIS GREENACRE AND DES BUCKINGHAM WILL TAKE OVER IN THE INTERIM, WITH NO TIMETABLE YET SET FOR WHO'LL WIND UP REPLACING THE AFFABLE SCOTSMAN. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS. MEXICAN HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER ANDY RUIZ HAS STAGED A RARE AND BRIEF PUBLIC WORKOUT AHEAD OF HIS WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN WITH JOSEPH PARKER THIS WEEKEND. CUTTING A RELAXED AND SMALLER FIGURE, RUIZ IS ADAMANT HE'S DONE ENOUGH TRAINING AND HAS THE SKILLS TO BEAT PARKER AND FULFIL A LIFELONG DREAM. PRAY TO GOD THIS WILL BE MINE. CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK ANDY RUIZ CERTAINLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY HANG-UPS TOUCHING THE WBO HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BELT. LAST WEEK JOSEPH PARKER AVOIDED ANY CONTACT WITH ONE OF BOXING'S PRIZED POSSESSIONS. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE WON IT ALREADY BY HOLDING IT LIKE THAT? NO, YOU KNOW, FIRST WE GOTTA DO THE HARD WORK ON DECEMBER 10. MOST OF THE TRAINING HARD WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED. RUIZ WENT THROUGH A BRIEF WORKOUT TODAY POOLSIDE AT HIS CENTRAL AUCKLAND HOTEL. THE BARREL-CHESTED MEXICAN SAYS HE'S LOST CLOSE TO 15 KILOS FOR THE BIGGEST BOUT OF HIS CAREER. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF SEEING HIM TODAY? HE LOOKS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. I KNOW HE'S BEEN AT BIG BEAR FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS TRAINING AT ALTITUDE. ABEL SANCHEZ ` ONE OF THE BEST TRAINERS IN THE WORLD ` HE'S STRIPPED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WEIGHT. HE'S COME TO FIGHT. RUIZ CERTAINLY CUT A DIFFERENT SHAPE TODAY COMPARED TO SOME OF HIS PREVIOUS FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS. WE'VE HAD TO PUSH HIM TO GET TO WHERE` HE'S JUST GOTTA GO FURTHER AND FURTHER, BUT HE'S DONE ALL THAT. THE AFFABLE 27-YEAR-OLD HAS TRAVELLED HERE WITH A SMALL ENTOURAGE INCLUDING MUM AND DAD. WHEN HE STARTED AT 6 YEARS OLD, WE BEEN SUPPORTING HIM. ME AND MY WIFE, WE'VE BEEN` TRAVEL WITH HIM EVERYWHERE. WHILE THE RUIZES ARE TRYING TO CREATE MEXICAN HISTORY, THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF KIWI CHANGE ON A DAY THE PRIME MINISTER STANDS DOWN. ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T KNOW. MAYBE THIS IS THE IMPACT YOU'VE HAD ON OUR COUNTRY? YEAH, MAYBE. PEOPLE ARE RUNNING SCARED. (CHUCKLES) IN FIVE DAYS' TIME, ANDY RUIZ WILL LOOK TO SHOCK NZ AGAIN. THE BLACKCAPS COACH HAS LABELLED HIS SIDE'S FIRST-UP DEFEAT IN THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE SERIES AS 'FRUSTRATING'. THAT'S PROBABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT AFTER MISSED CHANCES HELPED RUIN NZ'S NIGHT IN SYDNEY. THE TEAM'S ALREADY HEADED TO CANBERRA FOR GAME TWO. KIMBERLEE DOWNS JOINS US LIVE FROM THE AUSSIE CAPITAL. there is not a lot of time for them to linger on last night performance. Guptill was overshadowed by Stephen Smith. He made the most of multiple lives. DEPARTING SYDNEY AND PROBABLY TRYING NOT TO THINK OF THE 'WHAT-IF'S'. WHAT IF THIS CATCH WITH STEVE SMITH ON 13 HAD GONE TO HAND? WHAT IF HE'D BEEN GIVEN OUT LBW ON 14? WHAT IF NZ TO REVIEW THE NOT OUT DECISION? I WAS PRETTY GLAD THEY DIDN'T REVIEW IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS OUT! BALL TRACKING SHOWED IT WAS. THE BLACKCAPS WRONGLY SUSPECTED HE'D MANAGED TO GET SOME BAT ON IT. I THINK SOMEONE SAID I'D HIT IT FROM POINT. I RECKON I HEARD SOMEONE SAY I'D HIT IT, AND I THINK THEY JUST RAN WITH THAT. I THINK I LOOKED AT MY BAT AT ONE POINT AS WELL, JUST TO THROW THEM. LAUGHTER JUST TO THROW THEM. LAUGHTER MARTIN GUPTILL WAS FIELDING AT POINT AT THE TIME BUT CLAIMED HE WASN'T INVOLVED. SMITH WENT ON TO MAKE THE HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE AT THE SCG ` A CAREER-HIGH 164. HIS SIDE'S EFFORTS AIDED BY SLOPPY FIELDING AND POOR DISCIPLINE WITH THE BALL FROM THE BLACKCAPS. WE JUST LET THINGS SLIP WITH SEVEN OR SO OVERS OF A BIT OF SEARCHING BOWLING, SO, YEAH, THAT WAS FRUSTRATING. CHASING 324, NZ DID MANAGE TO STAY ON TOP OF THE RUN RATE, COURTESY OF MARTIN GUPTILL'S SCINTILLATING DISPLAY. THE OPENER SMASHING HIS WAY TO JUST THE SECOND ODI CENTURY BY A KIWI AT THE SCG. YEAH, I THINK I'LL TAKE THAT ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. IT WASN'T AN EASY TASK OUT THERE. AUSTRALIA HAVE A VERY GOOD BOWLING LINE-UP. IF ONLY HIS COUNTRYMEN COULD'VE OFFERED SIMILAR RESISTANCE. OH DEAR. OH DEAR! THOUGH BJ WATLING DID SUCCUMB TO AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER. WHO ELSE BUT THAT MAN SMITH. SURE HE FACEPLANTED, BUT IT WAS THE KIWIS WHO HAD TO TAKE IT ON THE CHIN. AND ONCE GUPTILL DEPARTED FOR 114, THE RESISTANCE WAS BROKEN LIKE A COLIN MUNRO BAT, WITH REPAIRS URGENTLY REQUIRED. Black CaPS captain Kane Williamson joins me now. PLENTY OF TALK ABOUT THAT DECISION NOT TO REVIEW. As captain, how much does that weigh on you? it was pretty hard lesson. It was hard for us to move past. Hopefully we do a better job of it. Would you see as the most significant changes that need to be now? If we reflected on last night, we have to put the result behind us quickly and move on. There are some things we want to be better. We need a bit more clarity with the ball under pressure. We still expect a bit more from ourselves. Speaking about the ball, we did see Lockie Ferguson debut. Can expect to see him again tomorrow? There are not many people in our country who can reach those speeds. He bowled very well. They cashed in on the ongoing war. CORRECTION: ball he is a lot better then those stats. Kane Williamson, they do. Mike Hesson said that Tim Southee is a strong contender to play tomorrow. THANKS, KIM. KIMBERLEE DOWNS WITH US FROM CANBERRA. WE DID PEG ONE BACK AGAINST THE AUSSIES, WITH V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPION SHANE VAN GISBERGEN CAPPING OFF HIS SEASON IN STYLE BY WINNING THE FINAL RACE OF THE YEAR IN SYDNEY. EVEN WITH THE TITLE IN THE BAG, THE KIWI WASN'T HOLDING BACK, HOUNDING POLE-SITTER GARTH TANDER FOR 20 LAPS BEFORE SLIDING BY. DOWN THE INSIDE GOES VAN GISBERGEN. GETS IT DONE AT TURN ONE ` NO CONTACT, NO DRAMA. VAN GISBERGEN'S PACE GAVE HIM AN UNTROUBLED RUN TO THE LINE AND AN EIGHTH WIN OF THE SEASON TO GO WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SHANE VAN GISBERGEN IS THE WINNER ON THE STREETS OF SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK. IT'S PRETTY AWESOME. IT'S A LIFE-TIME GOAL, AND TO FINALLY ACHIEVE IT IS PRETTY SPECIAL. SO I WANNA COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND TRY IT AGAIN. PRETTY EXCITING YEAR, AND THANKS SO MUCH TO THESE GUYS. THEY'VE HELPED ME SETTLE IN AND COME AWAY WITH THE FRUITS. THE NEW CHAMPION WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO INDULGE IN HIS POST-RACE PASSION, THE TYRES DEFINITELY PAST THEIR USE-BY. TO THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, AND LIVERPOOL HAS CRASHED TO A HUMILIATING DEFEAT, BEATEN BY BOURNEMOUTH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE CLUB'S HISTORY. THE REDS LED 3-1 THIS MORNING WITH A LITTLE OVER 15 MINUTES TO PLAY, ONLY TO SELF-DESTRUCT. AND FRASER! CROWD ROARS FRASER. AND COOK! CROWD ROARS HE'S COMING INTO RANGE, STEVE COOK. OH! CROWD ROARS AND IT'S AKE! OH MY GOODNESS. THE 4-3 LOSS LEAVES LIVERPOOL FOUR POINTS BEHIND LEADERS CHELSEA ON THE LADDER, WHILE EVEN FURTHER BACK IS MANCHESTER UNITED, AFTER THEY ALSO BLEW A LATE LEAD TO EVERTON. CROWD ROARS PENALTY. LEIGHTON BAINES. CROWD ROARS SCORES FOR EVERTON! UNITED MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO WAS CLEARLY UNHAPPY BEING QUIZZED ABOUT HIS SIDE'S SIXTH DRAW FROM THEIR LAST EIGHT OUTINGS, STORMING OUT OF THE POST-MATCH MEDIA CONFERENCE AFTER JUST ONE QUESTION. Strange day all-round, really. we finally have a co-host of Seven Sharp who looks good. I was talking about Hosking, not you, Tony. Really happy to have you on the show tonight. Andy Ruiz also on the show tonight. BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY BIG NAMES ON THE SHOW TONIGHT. WE CHAT TO COLDPLAY, AND IT TURNS OUT THEY WERE LUCKY TO EVEN MAKE IT INTO NZ. IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH CUSTOMS HERE, IT'S LIKE HEAVEN. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. IT'S LIKE GETTING BACKSTAGE PASSES TO PARADISE. PLUS, THE WOMAN BEHIND JOHN KEY'S BIG DECISION. SHE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Hello, Mr Teasell. Come on through. Let's do the hearing test. Alright. (BEEP!) WOMAN: Hi, baba. It's your daughter. (LAUGHS) You're my best friend. You know that. Yes. You told me recently how isolated a lack of hearing makes you feel. Mmm. And that's not fair. I want you to be able to recognise my voice when I call. (SOFTLY) Yes. Something as little as a free hearing check can make a big difference. HELLO AGAIN. IT'S BEEN A SUNNY START TO THE WORKING WEEK FOR MOST OF US. BUT CLOUD OVER THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND IS ASSOCIATED WITH A WEAK FRONTAL FEATURE. MAINLY CLEAR SKY ELSEWHERE OVER THE COUNTRY. BUT A LARGE FRONTAL CLOUD BAND OVER THE TASMAN SEA IS APPROACHING SOUTHERN NZ. SO THE RIDGE OVER NEW ZEALAND RECEDES TO THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT THEN DRIFTS AWAY TO THE EAST ON WEDNESDAY. WEAK FRONTAL ACTIVITY AFFECTING CENTRAL NZ MOVES OFF TO THE EAST THIS EVENING TOO. MEANWHILE, FRONTS MOVE ON TO SOUTHERN NZ FROM THE SOUTH TASMAN SEA LATE TOMORROW MORNING THEN BECOME VERY SLOW-MOVING NEAR THE SOUTH COAST. A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN FOR THE WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY AS A FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST. IT IS JUST A WATCH AT THIS STAGE, BUT I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT ONE. RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE WEST DURING THE MORNING, WITH SOME HEAVY FALLS. HOWEVER, BULLER GETS A CLOUDY, DRIZZLY DAY. THICKENING CLOUD OVER THE SOUTHEAST SECTION WITH SOME BRIEF, LIGHT MORNING RAIN. MAINLY FINE ELSEWHERE. NORTHERLY WINDS, BUT A LIGHT SOUTHERLY CHANGE IN THE SOUTH FROM EVENING. MOSTLY CLOUDY OVER WELLINGTON AND KAPITI. BUT SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND WITH ISOLATED AFTERNOON SHOWERS INLAND. NORTHERLIES IN THE SOUTH, LIGHT WINDS AND SEA BREEZES FURTHER NORTH. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE LIES OVER THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE HEAVY RAIN FEEDING INTO THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. THE HIGH THEN MOVES AWAY TO THE NORTH ON THURSDAY, WITH RAIN OR SHOWERS FOR MOST, WHILE A TROUGH MOVES SLOWLY NORTHWARDS OVER SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL NZ. A NORTHERLY FLOW STRENGTHENS ACROSS NEW ZEALAND ON FRIDAY, THEN A FRONT CROSSES EASTWARDS OVER NZ ON SATURDAY. AND THAT IS YOUR WEATHER. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING. THANK YOU.