IT'S MIDDAY, WEDNESDAY 7TH OF DECEMBER. MORE JOCKEYING AND LOBBYING AS POTENTIAL NATIONAL PARTY LEADERS SIZE UP THEIR DEPUTY OPTIONS. SOLID ENERGY TRIES TO PUT THE PIKE MATTER TO REST AND CALLS THOSE TRYING TO CHANGE ITS MIND RECKLESS. AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR BOWLERS? THE BLACKCAPS LICK THEIR WOUNDS AFTER A BIG LOSS IN AUSTRALIA. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMON BRIDGES HAS JUST BEGUN SPEAKING ON THE AHI AHI MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMON BRIDGES HAS JUST BEGUN SPEAKING ON THE STEPS OF PARLIAMENT. LET'S CROSS LIVE TO HIM NOW. A commitment to both strength and stability and change. I'm standing for deputy leadership. I'm in it for keeps. I feel like I have good support. Whilst Bill English offers the strength and stability, I offer strength and rejuvenation. New Zealand wants to see the fact that we have a new government. Simon Bridges has just announced that he will be standing forDeputy Prime Minister. PAULA BENNETT'S STILL NOT SAYING WHETHER SHE WANTS TO BE THE NATIONAL PARTY LEADER. HER SILENCE IS LEADING MANY TO SPECULATE SHE'S OPTING TO GET IN BEHIND FINANCE MINISTER BILL ENGLISH'S CAMPAIGN IN RETURN FOR A DEPUTY POST. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN'S WITH US FROM PARLIAMENT. CORIN, WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR FROM PAULA BENNETT? I think we will hear a very similar thing.. It looks to be the day of the deputies. Simon Bridges has just said he was the deputy role, and he is firmly in support of Bill English. There is in a nod to the backbenches and those who want to see change. That was obviously a key pitch to some of those Mps. I think Paula Bennett is likely to say something today. It's not likely she'll go with the leadership, it was most likely to be the deputy leader. We might start seeing some jockeying for the second position. It'll be interesting to see - Amy Adams is a possible contender. I spoke to a number of backbench Mps on their way into Parliament, and what is very interesting is that while some ministers have backed Bill English, most of them will not say who they are backing. IS CONTEST GOOD FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY? OH, CONTEST IS ALWAYS GOOD. YEP, ALWAYS GOOD. ALWAYS LOVE COMPETITION AND CONTEST. ALWAYS GOOD. I'M STILL CONSIDERING. < ARE YOU TEAM ENGLISH? TEAM COLLINS? NO, SORRY, I CAN'T TELL YOU. I'M JUST STILL CONSIDERING. DO YOU WANT TO SEE A CONTEST, THOUGH? YES. IS IT GOOD FOR THE PARTY TO HAVE A CONTEST? I THINK SO. I THINK IF BILL WERE TO BE THE PRIME MINISTER, HE'D MAKE A FANTASTIC PRIME MINISTER. HE'S A FANTASTIC MINISTER OF FINANCE. BUT I HAVEN'T MADE UP MY MIND YET, SO... I'M IN EVERY CAMP BUT, UH, STILL OUT TO DECIDE. TALKING THINGS OVER WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AS WE ALL ARE. I'M HEARING FROM THE THREE CONTENDERS, AND I'LL BE DOING THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I'M TAKING MY CONSIDERATIONS AT THE MOMENT, SO NOT ANYTHING DEFINITIVE YET. SO, ANY INDICATIONS ON WHO'S IN FRONT? IS BILL ENGLISH STILL THE FAVOURITE? He is. got most of the numbers at the stage he can't take anything for granted. This is a real contests. With the likes of Simon Bridges coming in today backing Bill English, there will be a boost for Bill English. Over the next two or three days, expected to see twist and turns. A WOMAN WAS INDECENTLY ASSAULTED OUTSIDE A HAWKE'S BAY PRIMARY SCHOOL THIS MORNING. POLICE SAY THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT AROUND 8 O'CLOCK WHEN CHILDREN WERE ARRIVING AT FLAXMERE PRIMARY SCHOOL. THEY WON'T CONFIRM WHETHER THE WOMAN WAS A TEACHER OR A PARENT. A MAN (20) HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. POLICE ARE CALLING FOR ANYONE WHO WITNESSED A KNIFE ATTACK ON A TEENAGER IN NELSON YESTERDAY TO COME FORWARD. THE BOY WAS WALKING NEAR AN INTERSECTION IN STOKE WHEN A PASSENGER IN A WHITE TOYOTA GOT OUT WITH A KNIFE AND CUT HIM ON THE ARM. THE ATTACKER'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS HAVING DARK HAIR, WEARING AN ORANGE T-SHIRT AND RED SHORTS. THE TRIAL OF A PROMINENT AUCKLAND ACTOR'S BEGUN AT THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT. THE MAN, WHO HAS NAME SUPPRESSION, HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO SEXUAL VIOLATION AND INDECENT ASSAULT. THE OFFENDING ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED FOUR WOMEN AND TOOK PLACE DURING ACTING CLASSES BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013. THE TRIAL'S EXPECTED TO LAST BETWEEN 10 AND 12 DAYS. SOLID ENERGY'S PENNED AN OPEN LETTER DEFENDING ITS PLAN TO PERMANENTLY SEAL THE PIKE RIVER MINE, REITERATING IT WON'T CHANGE ITS STANCE. THE COMPANY'S DIRECTORS MAINTAIN IT'S NOT SAFE TO RE-ENTER THE MINE, AND SAY ANYONE WHO DISAGREES IS BEING 'RECKLESS'. BUT FAMILIES OF THE 29 MEN WHO DIED IN THE IN THE 2010 EXPLOSIONS ARE PROTESTING NEAR THE SITE AND SAY SOLID ENERGY IS IGNORING 'EXPERT RESEARCH' THAT SHOWS THE MINE CAN SAFELY BE RE-ENTERED. THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE GOT FROM AUSTRALIA` AS SOON AS I'VE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON TO SAY THAT THE JOB CAN'T BE DONE, THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THAT. SO, NO, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, OUR EXPERTS ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR FIELD IN THE WORLD, AND THE PEOPLE THEY'RE USING TOP OF THE PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA THAT HAVE MADE THESE MISTAKES BEFORE. THE MINE IS EXPECTED TO BE PERMANENTLY SEALED BY FEBRUARY. THE BOSS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS HAS APOLOGISED UNRESERVEDLY TO TWO FORMER DIPLOMATS OVER A FLAWED INVESTIGATION INTO LEAKS AT THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY. NIGEL FYFE AND DEREK LEASK ALSO GET AN UNDISCLOSED COMPENSATION PAY-OUT. BUT LARGE SECTIONS OF THE 2013 REPORT, COMPILED BY GOVERNMENT TROUBLESHOOTER PAULA REBSTOCK, HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN. AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY HAS FOUND KIWI 15-YEAR-OLDS' SCIENCE, READING AND MATHS SCORES HAVE DROPPED TO THEIR LOWEST POINT SINCE TESTING BEGAN 16 YEARS AGO. BUT NZ'S OVERALL RANKINGS COMPARED TO THE OTHER 72 NATIONS MEASURED HAVE IMPROVED BECAUSE OTHER COUNTRIES' SCORES DECLINED EVEN MORE. NZ WAS 10TH IN READING, 12TH IN SCIENCE AND 21ST IN MATHS. EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA SAYS THE RESULT IS POSITIVE. IN 2012, THOSE PISA SCORES SHOWED A DRAMATIC FALL FOR NZ. WHAT 2015 TELLS IS WE'VE STABILISED, AND WE'RE HEADING BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE PISA REPORT, CONDUCTED EVERY THREE YEARS, FOUND NZ HAS A BIGGER DIFFERENCE IN ACHIEVEMENT DEPENDING ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS COMPARED TO THE OECD AVERAGE. BUZZ ALDRIN, THE SECOND MAN TO EVER WALK ON THE MOON, IS EXPECTED TO BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES BY THE END OF THE WEEK. AFTER HIS DRAMATIC URGENT TRANSFER FROM THE SOUTH POLE TO CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL LAST WEEK, HE'S NOW HAPPENED ON A FANTASTIC COINCIDENCE. THE STARMAN'S BEING TREATED BY CANTERBURY DOCTOR DAVID BOWIE. HIS DAUGHTER ARRIVED IN NZ YESTERDAY. THE SALVATION ARMY'S WARNING OUR PRISON POPULATION COULD HIT A RECORD HIGH NEXT YEAR, AND THE CHARITY'S CALLING FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO HELP PRISON LEAVERS. THEY SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR INMATES TO REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY. THE SALVATION ARMY'S RECOMMENDING GIVING PRISONERS SIX MONTHS' ACCOMMODATION WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED. WE'RE REACHING A TIPPING POINT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON PRISONS. AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT WORKING PARTICULARLY WELL. SO I THINK IT'S ABOUT ASKING WHERE TAXPAYER MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND IS IT BEING SPENT WISELY? IT ALSO WANTS MORE EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES FOR FORMER PRISONERS. CHILDREN IN KAITAIA HAVE BEEN TREATED TO A SPECIAL VISIT BY SOME OF THEIR SPORTING HEROES TODAY. MORE THAN A THOUSAND CHILDREN WELCOMED THE WARRIORS TO TOWN FOR A SPORTS DAY. THE TEAM KICKED OFF THE FIRST DAY OF A YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN TO HELP KIDS IN THE STRUGGLING NORTHLAND TOWN. THE NZ DEFENCE FORCE ALONG WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES ALSO ATTENDED. US PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP HAS HAD AN UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH REPORTERS AT TRUMP TOWER, USING THE CHANCE TO TAKE A SWIPE AT AN AIRLINE COMPANY. HE'S DUMPING A PLANNED PRESIDENTIAL PLANE BECAUSE THE COST IS JUST TOO HIGH. HERE'S THE ABC'S JANAI NORMAN. STEPPING OUT FROM BEHIND THE GOLD ELEVATOR DOORS AT TRUMP TOWER AND STEPPING RIGHT IN FRONT OF CAMERAS. A RARE APPEARANCE FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, WHO'S REMAINED LARGELY OUT OF FOCUS, BUT TODAY MAKING A BEELINE FOR THE MEDIA. EVERYTHING FINE? WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PEOPLE COMING IN TODAY. ANSWERING QUESTIONS RELATED TO HIS MOST RECENT TWEET ABOUT BOEING BUILDING TWO OR MORE COSTLY NEW 747 AIR FORCE ONE PLANES FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTS. WELL, THE PLANE IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. IT'S GOING TO BE OVER $4B ` IT'S FOR AIR FORCE ONE PROGRAMME. AND I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS. I THINK BOEING IS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A NUMBER. WE WANT BOEING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT NOT THAT MUCH MONEY. OK. THANK YOU. AS HE'LL CONTINUE HIS THANK YOU TOUR LATER TODAY, WE'RE LEARNING MORE DETAILS ABOUT HIS MEETING WITH FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT AL GORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE. TRUMP, WHO ONCE CALLED CLIMATE CHANGE A HOAX, MAY BE CHANGING HIS MIND. A SINCERE SEARCH FOR AREAS OF COMMON GROUND. I FOUND AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING CONVERSATION, AND TO BE CONTINUED. REPORTS SAY TRUMP'S CHILDREN ARE URGING HIM TO CAPITALISE ON THE ISSUE, SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE TO BE A POTENTIALLY DEFINING ISSUE FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, VICE-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, WHO'S KNOWN FOR HIS OFF-THE-CUFF REMARKS, TELLING REPORTERS HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020. WHEN ASKED IF HE WAS JOKING, THE VP SAYING HE'S NOT COMMITTING TO NOT RUNNING. AUTHORITIES SEARCHING THE CHARRED REMAINS OF A CALIFORNIA WAREHOUSE RIPPED APART BY FIRE ARE NOW CONFIDENT THE DEATH TOLL WILL STAY AT 36. THE ABC'S LAUREN LYSTER HAS MORE. TODAY INVESTIGATORS COMING THIS CHARRED WAREHOUSE FOR EVIDENCE OF WHAT SPARKED FRIDAY NIGHT'S DEVASTATING BLAZE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS UNTIL ABSOLUTELY EVERY PIECE OF DEBRIS IS REMOVED FROM THIS BUILDING, EVERY AREA HAS BEEN SEARCHED. WITH AT LEAST THREE DOZEN BODIES RECOVERED AFTER THAT FIRE, MOST OF THE VICTIMS, IN THEIR 20S AND 30S, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOW WORKING ON A CRIMINAL PROBE. WHEN YOU LOOK INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. THE DA SAYING MURDER CHARGES ARE A POSSIBILITY, AND INVESTIGATORS NOW PIECING TOGETHER HOW SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE WERE LIVING AT THIS ARTIST COLONY, KNOWN AT THE GHOST CHIP. IT WAS A HELL HOLE. IT WAS A DEATH TRAP. ACCORDING TO CITY LEADERS, THE WAREHOUSE WAS COMPLETELY UNINHABITABLE, LACKING THE PROPER PERMITS FOR RESIDENTIAL LIVING. JUST LAST MONTH, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WERE FILED FOR BUILDING VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION AND BLIGHT. BUT SOME RESIDENTS, LIKE MAXOR, WHO PAID $750 A MONTH TO LIVE THERE, SAID HE NEVER FELT UNSAFE. THERE'S A LOT OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. COS WE DIDN'T HAVE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM. NOW THIS MAN, THE ALLEGED LANDLORD OF THE BUILDING, COMING UP FOR HIS ROLE IN THE GHOST CHIP. THEY'RE MY CHILDREN. THEY'RE MY FRIENDS, THEY'RE MY FAMILY. NOW POLICE ARE ALSO INVESTIGATING THE BUILDING OWNERS, AND WE'RE HEARING CONCERNS IN THE BAY AREA ABOUT MORE PLACES LIKE THIS. ONE COUNCILMAN TELLING ABC NEWS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 200 OTHER WAREHOUSES IN THE CITY THAT ARE NOT UP TO CODE. GERMANY'S LEADER'S CALLING FOR A BAN ON THE BURQA. CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL TOLD HER CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY AT ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT THE FULL-FACE VEIL WORN MAINLY BY MUSLIM WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED 'WHEREVER LEGALLY POSSIBLE.' SHE SAID SCHOOLS, COURTS AND OTHER STATE BUILDINGS SHOULD NOT TOLERATE THE GARMENT. THE PARTY'S EXPECTED TO PASS A MOTION THIS WEEK PROPOSING THE BAN, AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME MRS MERKEL HAS ENDORSED THE IDEA. ANOTHER BRITISH FOOTBALL CLUB HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP IN A CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL. SO FAR 450 PEOPLE SAY THEY WERE ABUSED DATING BACK AS FAR AS THE 1970'S. THE BBC'S DAN ROAN REPORTS. ANOTHER DAY, YET ANOTHER FOOTBALL CLUB CAUGHT UP IN THE CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL ENGULFING THE GAME. QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS THIS MORNING ADMITTING IT HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF HISTORICAL ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST FORMER CLUB EMPLOYEE CHRIS GEILER. GEILER WAS EMPLOYED BY THE WEST LONDON CLUB FOR 30 YEARS, WORKING IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND AS CHIEF SCOUT. HE LEFT IN 2003 AND DIED THE FOLLOWING YEAR. QPR'S ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AS THE FA REVEALED THAT SENIOR BARRISTER CLIVE SHELDON, QC, WOULD TAKE OVER AS HEAD OF ITS INTERNAL REVIEW INTO CHILD SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS. THE GOVERNING BODY ALSO CONFIRMED MORE DETAILS. THE REVIEW WILL COVER THE PERIOD FROM THE 1970S TO 2005 AND AIMS TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE FA AND CLUBS KNEW AT THE TIME. IT WILL ALSO LOOK AT WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN AND WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. THE INVESTIGATION IS IN TO THE WAY THE FA SOUGHT TO DEAL WITH ALLEGATIONS AND WHY MORE WASN'T DONE TO FOLLOW UP ON INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE FA. YESTERDAY, AS THEY LAUNCHED A TRUST FOR VICTIMS, FORMER CREW YOUTH PLAYERS DEMANDED ACTION FROM THE CLUB WHERE THEY SAY THEY SUFFERED ABUSE. SAY SORRY TO US. APOLOGISE, PLEASE. THIS EVENING, FORMER ENGLAND STRIKER MATT LE TISSIER TOLD THE BBC ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AT THE HAND OF HIS OLD SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH COACH, BOB HIGGINS. EVERYONE WAS, KINDA, JUST... NAKED AND THROWN ON THIS BED AND` AND VERY VERY QUICK` VERY VERY QUICK MASSAGE AND... UH... IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. IT'S, UM... VERY VERY WRONG. HAMPSHIRE POLICE ARE LOOKING INTO CLAIMS OF HISTORIC SEX ABUSE AGAINST HIGGINS. HE'S ALWAYS DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE. NEXT YEAR'S GRAMMY NOMINATIONS ARE OUT, AND BEYONCE IS DOMINATING. THE SINGER HAS NINE NOMINATIONS, INCLUDING ALBUM OF THE YEAR FOR 'LEMONADE' AND SONG THE YEAR FOR 'FORMATION', MAKING HER THE MOST-NOMINATED WOMAN IN GRAMMY HISTORY WITH 62 IN TOTAL. DRAKE, RIHANNA AND KANYE WEST HAVE SCORED EIGHT NODS EACH. THE AWARDS WILL BE HELD IN FEBRUARY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, AN AUSSIE HERO BEING RECOGNISED FOR DECADES OF SERVICE TO TV AND FILM. PLUS, THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE TROPHY IS ON ITS WAY BACK TO AUSTRALIA. WHERE DID THE BLACKCAPS GO WRONG? THE ACTOR BEST KNOWN AS CROCODILE DUNDEE HAS BEEN AWARDED ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONOURS IN THE AUSTRALIAN FILM INDUSTRY AT A CEREMONY IN SYDNEY. PAUL HOGAN (77) RECEIVED THE LONGFORD LYELL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN SCREEN. CHANNEL NINE'S MIKE DALTON REPORTS. IT REMAINS ONE OF THE HIGHEST-GROSSING INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS IN FILM HISTORY. AND IT'S BEEN THREE DECADES SINCE THE RELEASE OF 'CROCODILE DUNDEE.' SECOND ONLY TO TOP GUN AT BOX-OFFICE TOTALS THAT YEAR. TWO BEERS, ALL RIGHT? AND 30 YEARS ON, PAUL HOGAN IS BACK IN AUSTRALIA TO RECEIVE THE INDUSTRY'S HIGHEST GONG. I'M GETTING TO THE AGE NOW WHERE I GET A LOT OF GONGS, SO... (LAUGHS) THEY'VE GOTTA GET IN QUICK BEFORE I'M GONE. HOGAN WOULD TAKE HIS NATIONWIDE PROFILE AS THE COUNTRY'S FAVOURITE LARRIKIN IN THE '70S AND '80S AND PARLAY THAT INTO HIS FIRST FORAY INTO FILM, ALTHOUGH ITS SUCCESS WOULD SURPRISE. OH, YEAH, TOTALLY. THOUGHT WE'D HAVE A FAIR CHANCE OF A GOOD HIT IN AUSTRALIA, POSSIBLY IN ENGLAND, AND THAT WAS` THAT WAS ABOUT IT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS THE ODD NIP AND TUCK WHEN THE LINGO BECAME CONFUSING FOR THE SCEPTICS. 'IT WAS TWO AUSTRALIANS TALKING. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.' AS LONG AS I WAS TALKING TO AN AMERICAN, THEY WERE FINE. HOGAN WILL RECEIVE THE AUSTRALIA ACADEMY OF CINEMA AND TELEVISION ARTS' HIGHEST HONOUR ` HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTRY'S SCREENS. THE SUN HAS SET ON THE BLACKCAPS REIGN OF THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE TROPHY AFTER THE BLACK CAPS WERE BLOWN AWAY AFTER A COIN-TOSS BLUNDER. CRICKET REPORTER KIMBERLEE DOWNS ANALYSES THE MATCH THAT SLIPPED AWAY. THAT'S A HALF VOLLEY. A BOWLING EFFORT TO MAKE YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD. A FIELDING DISPLAY TO MAKE YOU WINCE. AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST-INNINGS SCORE TO MAKE YOUR EYES WATER. JUST AFTER LENGTH. IF HE GETS THE RIGHT LENGTH, HE CAN HIT THEM OUT OF THE PARK. IT'S NOT THE STANDARD THAT WE SET FOR OURSELVES. THE BOYS ARE OBVIOUSLY HURTING, AND IT'S NOT A STANDARD THAT WE'RE HAPPY WITH. IT HARDLY MATTERED WHO WAS AT THE CREASE FOR THE HOME SIDE. THEY BELTED NZ'S BOWLERS WITH EASE TO COMPILE A MAMMOTH 378 RUN TOTAL ` THEIR FOURTH HIGHEST EVER. ALL AFTER KANE WILLIAMSON PUT AUSTRALIA IN ON A WICKET THAT TRADITIONALLY FAVOURS THE TEAM THAT BATS FIRST. WE JUST FELT WITH THE CONDITIONS AND WEARING SPIKES IN THE WICKET, IT SORT OF FELT A LITTLE BIT, SORT OF, TACKY. AND IF WE HAD MADE THOSE EARLY INROADS, THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, AND THAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND IT. IT WAS ALWAYS AN UNLIKELY CHASE. BUT WHILE MARTIN GUPTILL WAS AT THE CREASE, THERE WAS HOPE. PAT CUMMINS PUT A DENT IN THAT ONE. THAT'S OUT. LITTLE CATCH BEHIND. WILLIAMSON AND JIMMY NEESHAM COMBINED FOR A HARD-FOUGHT THIRD WICKET STAND OF 125; NEESHAM WITH A CAREER-BEST 74, DURING WHICH HE ALSO COPPED A NASTY BLOW TO THE FOREARM FROM A 147KM/H MITCHELL STARC DELIVERY. THE BOWLER WAS UNSYMPATHETIC. AND WHILE THE SKIPPER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE UP FOR HIS COIN-TOSS BLUNDER,... NOW HEAVED AWAY. YEAH. HE'S GOT PLENTY ON THAT. ...THE SCORE BOARD PRESSURE WAS OVERWHELMING, AND WICKETS STARTED TO FALL WITH REGULARITY. WILLIAMSON'S DEPARTURE ON 81 WITH MORE THAN 13 IN OVERS STILL REQUIRED, ALL BUT HANDING AUSTRALIA THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE TROPHY. THE STRUGGLE NOW TO FIND SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR IN THE DEAD RUBBER IN MELBOURNE ON FRIDAY. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS, CANBERRA JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER SIGNING A FOUR-YEAR COACHING EXTENSION, BLACK STICKS MEN'S COACH COLIN BATCH HAS RESIGNED AS HEAD COACH. BUT GET THIS ` IT WASN'T HIM WHO ANNOUNCED IT. IT WAS OUTGOING PHOENIX FOOTBALL COACH AND GOOD FRIEND ERNIE MERRICK. I GOT A TEXT FROM COLIN BATCH, WHO IS THE BLACK STICKS NATIONAL COACH. A FRIEND OF MINE, AND HE RESIGNED AS WELL, AND HE IS TAKING OVER THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM, I BELIEVE. MAYBE I HAVE SPOKEN OUT OF TURN. LAUGHTER MAYBE HE HASN'T RESIGNED YET. WELL, BREAKING NEWS. HOCKEY NZ CONFIRMED BATCH'S DEPARTURE. IT'S UNDERSTOOD HE'S TO TAKE UP A POSITION WITH AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY. A HAT-TRICK FROM LUCAS PEREZ HAS HELPED ARSENAL FINISH TOP OF ITS GROUP IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH A FOUR-ONE CRUSHING OF BASLE IN SWITZERLAND. THE GUNNERS OPENING THE SCORING IN THE EIGHTH MINUTE WITH PEREZ CALMLY FINISHING OFF A SLICK MOVE. THE SPANISH STRIKER WAS AGAIN IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME TO NET AN ALMOST CARBON COPY SECOND FOR THE UNBEATEN LONDONERS JUST EIGHT MINUTES LATER. CONTINUE TO COUNT THE PASSES THERE. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD BALL. IT IS! PEREZ IS THERE AGAIN! TWO FOR LUCAS PEREZ! TWO FOR ARSENAL! PEREZ MAKING IT THREE AFTER THE BREAK WITH ARSENAL TOPPING THE GROUP AHEAD OF PARIS ST GERMAIN, WHO WERE HELD TO A DRAW BY BULGARIAN SIDE LUDOGORETS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. KATE AND WILLS GET CHRISTMASSY. DOUBLE JUMPER ANYONE? NOW TO THE WEATHER. HEAVY RAIN AND GALE NOR WESTER WARNING FOR THE WEST COAST AND LOWER NORTH ISLAND. RAIN EASES TO SHOWERS AS A SOUTHERLY CHANGE PUSHES THROUGH. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ FINALLY AT MIDDAY, THESE OUTFITS WORN BY THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY AREN'T GOING TO MAKE ANY BEST-DRESSED LISTS. THE WAXWORK STATUES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ARE DRESSED FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON AT MADAME TUSSAUDS IN LONDON. THE QUEEN'S JUMPER HAS A CORGI ON IT WHILE WILLS AND KATE HAVE BEEN MOVED TOGETHER TO JOINTLY WEAR A LARGE DOUBLE JUMPER. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND ALANA DRAYTON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016