GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WARM AND SUNNY FOR THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND TODAY, BUT THERE'S A LARGE BANK OF CLOUD LOOMING OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND AND TO THE WEST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. IT'S A RAINY START TO THURSDAY FOR MANY. DETAILS FOR YOU WITHIN THE HOUR. 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. PAULA BENNETT'S IN THE RACE, BUT NOT FOR THE TOP JOB. SHE JOINS SIMON BRIDGES AS CONTENDERS FOR DEPUTY PM ` HOW HER MOVE IS A BIG BOOST FOR BILL ENGLISH. WE CAN'T IDENTIFY HIM ` THE PROMINENT ACTOR ON TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HIS ACTING STUDENTS. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. THOSE VYING FOR THE TOP JOB HAVE SHOWN THEIR HANDS. NOW CONTENDERS FOR DEPUTY HAVE LAID THEIR CARDS ON THE TABLE. PAULA BENNETT AND SIMON BRIDGES ARE BETTING ON THEIR CHANCES OF BECOMING SECOND-IN-COMMAND. THEIR MOVE UPS THE ANTE IN THE RACE TO BE PRIME MINISTER, AS THEY BOTH WANT TO BE DEPUTY TO BILL ENGLISH. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN HAS MORE. NATIONAL'S IN FLUX, AND THE OPPOSITION'S LOVING IT. WHAT A TRIO OF CONTESTANTS WE HAVE IN NATIONAL'S MOST ENTERTAINING REALITY TV SHOW. IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE X FACTOR AS THE Y FACTOR. LAUGHTER Coming up on Te Karere... IS THE REAL REASON THAT NZ'S PRODUCTIVITY IS SO LOW BECAUSE EVERY WORKING-AGE NZER HAS BEEN BORED TO DEATH LISTENING TO BILL ENGLISH? BILL ENGLISH IS USED TO DIGS LIKE THAT BUT PROBABLY DOESN'T WORRY, WITH FANS LIKE THIS. HE'S IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST PEOPLE I KNOW. HE SERIOUSLY IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST PEOPLE I KNOW. AND PAULA BENNETT WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO BE HIS DEPUTY. I JUST LOVE PEOPLE. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, AND IF I CAN PLAY A PART IN THE NATIONAL PARTY IN GETTING OUR MESSAGE OUT THERE FURTHER, THEN THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO. BUT SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. TRANSPORT MINISTER SIMON BRIDGES WANTS TO BE DEPUTY TO BILL ENGLISH TOO. MY VIEW IS THAT BILL ENGLISH IS GOING TO WIN. THAT IS THE PREMISE ON WHICH I BASE MY CANDIDACY ` THAT I WILL BE DEPUTY TO BILL ENGLISH. HIS PITCH? WELL, HE'S YOUNG BUT EXPERIENCED AS A MINISTER, AND HE SAYS HE CAN REPRESENT THE IDEAS, ASPIRATIONS AND AMBITIONS OF NATIONAL'S BACKBENCH MPS. I'LL BE A STRONG VOICE FOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO AREN'T IN CABINET. THEY'LL HAVE VERY GOOD SENSE THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS REPRESENTING THEM. SO WHO WOULD MR ENGLISH PREFER? THE CAUCUS IS HAVING A OPEN DISCUSSION INTERNALLY ABOUT HOW TO PUT TOGETHER SOME NEW LEADERSHIP, AND I'M NOT GOING TO PREJUDGE THE OUTCOME. JUSTICE MINISTER AMY ADAMS IS SEEN AS ANOTHER DEPUTY PROSPECT. LEADERSHIP CHALLENGER JONATHAN COLEMAN SAYS HE COULD WORK WITH HER. I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG TO IMPLY THAT THERE IS ANY TICKET OR ANY PREFERENCE THERE. HE'S SIMPLY INDICATED, IF HE WAS LEADER, HE WOULD WORK WITH A RANGE OF PEOPLE. SO FOUR DAYS TO GO, AND STILL PLENTY OF TIME FOR MORE TWISTS AND TURNS. CORIN'S WITH US NOW. THE CLEAR MESSAGE THERE, CERTAINLY FROM SIMON BRIDGES, SEEMS TO BE ` KEEP JOHN KEY'S STABILITY, BUT ALSO CHANGE THINGS UP. He is tapping into that sentiment among back bench Mps that they don't want Bill English to make cosmetic change but proper change to that frontbench. Paula Bennett is just being herself, she offers that popular style. Bill English is the clear front-runner. It will be difficult for the rivals to match that. BILL ENGLISH, JONATHAN COLEMAN AND JUDITH COLLINS. THEY'RE ALL FIGHTING TO REPLACE JOHN KEY. WELCOME TO IRRELEVANCE. WHAT IS RELEVANT IS WHAT HIS SUCCESSOR MIGHT DO FOR YOU. PRIME MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS SAYS SHE'D DELIVER... MORE POLICE ` EVERYWHERE ` PREVENTING CRIME AND ULTIMATELY MAKING NZ THE SAFEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. AND MORE ROADS TO EASE AUCKLAND GRIDLOCK. THE SOUTHERN MOTORWAY IS LIKE A CAR PARK. SHE'LL PUSH EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO BUILD MORE HOUSES. WE NEED SOME FAST LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH THIS IN THE SHORT TERM. AND LET FEWER IMMIGRANTS INTO AUCKLAND. WE NEED SOME POLICIES THAT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN AUCKLAND AND ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. BUT FORGET TAX CUTS, AND SHE HATES THE NICKNAME 'CRUSHER' COLLINS. I DON'T USE IT MYSELF, AND I DON'T USE IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY ONE-DIMENSIONAL. JUST JUDITH IS FINE. SO, WHAT ABOUT PRIME MINISTER JOHNATHAN COLEMAN? HE SAYS HE'S THE CANDIDATE OF CHANGE, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT HE'LL CHANGE. ON RAISING THE PENSION AGE ` MY POSITION IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. AND THE HOUSING CRISIS ` MY POSITION IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. BUT HE'LL BE CHANGING SOME FACES IN CABINET. THERE WILL BE CHANGES AROUND LINEUP. UNDER PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH, IT WOULD BE BUSINESS AS USUAL. WE'LL BE BACK ON THE JOB WITH THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO NZ. BUT WHILE HE'S QUIET TODAY,... GUYS, YOU ARE NEVER SATISFIED. ...THE FINANCE MINISTER IS SAVING HIS REAL PITCH, THOUGH, FOR TOMORROW. HE'S BANKING ON SHOWING US PLENTY OF FUTURE CASH IN THE COFFERS WHEN HE OPENS THE GOVERNMENT'S BOOKS. ANDREA VANCE, ONE NEWS. SO HOW WILL THE VOTING PROCESS WORK? HERE'S HOW WE UNDERSTAND IT'LL GO. THERE ARE 59 MPs IN NATIONAL'S CAUCUS ` 20 CABINET MINISTERS AND 39 OTHER MPS, INCLUDING FIVE MINISTERS OUTSIDE CABINET. EVERY MP GETS A VOTE, SO THE WINNING CANDIDATE NEEDS 30 VOTES. WITH AT LEAST THREE IN THE RACE, IF NO ONE GETS THOSE 30 VOTES ON THE FIRST SECRET BALLOT, THE LOWEST-POLLING CANDIDATE DROPS OUT AND ANOTHER VOTE IS HELD BETWEEN THE REMAINING TWO TO FIND THE WINNER. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD'S BEEN CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS TO GET A BETTER STEER ON HOW THE VOTE MAY GO. THESE ARE SOME OF THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL PICK NZ'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER. AND HE IS ABSOLUTELY AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. MANY HAVE NEVER HAD THE CHANCE BEFORE, BUT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. STABILITY AND REFRESHING AND RENEWAL. STABILITY FOR NZ AND STABILITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT. TIME FOR CHANGE AND RENEWAL. STABILITY BUT ALSO SOME REFRESHMENT AND SOME RENEWAL AS WELL. THERE'LL BE GROUPS VOTING AS BLOCS, SUCH AS SOME IN THE CLASS OF 2014, WHO BECAME MP'S IN THE LAST ELECTION. THERE'S 15 OF US IN THE CLASS OF '14. WE'RE CLOSE` JUST OVER A QUARTER OF THE CAUCUS. AND WE'RE A PRETTY TIGHT-KNIT TEAM, AND WE CERTAINLY TALK. I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE A FACTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR FORMING A BRAT PACK. I DO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVES WITH A COUPLE OR THREE OTHERS WHO I TRUST. WHILE FEW BACKBENCHERS ARE PUBLICLY DECLARING THEIR SUPPORT,... I WILL BE BACKING BILL ENGLISH FOR THE LEADERSHIP. ...SOME MORE SENIOR MPS ARE. AND RETIRING DEPUTY SPEAKER CHESTER BORROWS ADDS HIMSELF TO THAT LIST. HIS VALUES AND HIS STUFF CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH MINE. BUT NO ONE'S YET PUBLICLY DECLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR JUDITH COLLINS OR JONATHAN COLEMAN. OUR INFORMATION SAYS BILL ENGLISH IS THE CLEAR FRONT RUNNER, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY AS BACKBENCHERS AND OTHER MP'S SEEK TO FLEX THEIR MUSCLES. THAT COULD LEAVE SOME CURRENTLY IN CABINET FEELING NERVOUS. LOOK, WHOEVER BECOMES THE LEADER WILL MAKE THEIR DECISIONS. THAT'S THE REALITY OF BEING A MINISTER, ACTUALLY; OUR JOBS ARE NEVER SECURE. THERE'S NO SECURITY OF JOBS. NO. YES, IT'S A NERVOUS NUMBERS GAME FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. LET'S GO BACK TO CORIN NOW. AS KATIE'S SUGGESTED, A BIT OF INFLUENCE NOW FOR SOME OF THOSE MP'S UNKNOWN TO MANY NZERS. They're really sending a message to Bill English ` don't just make a simple change here. They want to see a pathway and opportunities. It's been 10 years for many of these Mps under a John Key and Bill English team. They're ready for changes. He may have to make some big calls in order to bring through a proper regeneration. We've still got a few days to go. The rivals will be trying to shift the numbers around. You have to think after a day like today that Bill English has got this. THE DEATH TOLL'S EXPECTED TO RISE AFTER A POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE ROCKED INDONESIA'S ACEH PROVINCE. THE 6.5 MAGNITUDE QUAKE DESTROYED DOZENS OF BUILDINGS. THE LATEST REPORTS SAY AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. MANY PEOPLE ARE FEARED TRAPPED IN THE RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDINGS. AT LEAST FIVE STRONG AFTERSHOCKS ROCKED THE AREA, WHICH SUFFERED ALMOST TOTAL DESTRUCTION AFTER THE 2004 QUAKE AND TSUNAMI. THERE IS NO TSUNAMI WARNING AFTER TODAY'S QUAKE. WE'LL BRING YOU MORE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE NEWS HOUR AS FRESH PICTURES AND DETAILS COME IN. A NZ MAN DUE TO BE DEPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A TENSE STANDOFF WITH POLICE AT SYDNEY AIRPORT. VIDEO SHOWS THE MAN HANDING HIMSELF IN TO AUTHORITIES AFTER HE PULLED OUT A BLADE WHILE IN A POLICE VAN AND THREATENED TO HARM HIMSELF. HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND BEFORE BEING SENT BACK TO NZ UNDER AUSTRALIA'S CRACKDOWN ON CRIMINALS. A PROMINENT AUCKLAND ACTOR'S ON TRIAL ON 10 CHARGES OF INDECENT ASSAULT AND TWO OF SEXUAL VIOLATION. FOUR WOMEN LAID COMPLAINTS, THE FIRST WITNESS SOBBING AS SHE DESCRIBED WHAT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED DURING PRIVATE ACTING LESSONS. CHRIS CHANG WAS IN COURT. THERE ARE HEAVY SUPPRESSIONS AROUND THIS CASE UNTIL THE JURY REACHES A VERDICT. WE CAN'T TELL YOU THE MAN'S NAME, AGE OR ETHNICITY. THE IDENTITIES OF THE FOUR COMPLAINANTS ARE ALSO SUPPRESSED. EARLIER TODAY, THE CROWN GAVE ITS OPENING ADDRESS, SAYING THIS IS A CASE CENTRED AROUND INFORMED CONSENT. IT'S ALLEGED THE OFFENDING TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013 AS THE WOMEN ATTENDED GROUP ACTING CLASSES. THE FIRST WITNESS THEN SAID THE MAN OFFERED ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS INVOLVING KISSING AND TOUCHING. THE WOMAN SAID THE EXERCISES PROGRESSED AND BECAME INCREASINGLY INTIMATE. THE DEFENCE SAYS THE FOUR WOMEN KNEW EACH OTHER AND COLLUDED TO BRING THE ALLEGATIONS TO COURT. THE MAN HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST 10 TO 12 DAYS. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF 17-YEAR-OLDS WILL SOON BE DEALT WITH IN THE YOUTH COURT, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY. BUT THOSE FACING MORE SERIOUS CHARGES, LIKE MURDER, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY, WILL STILL BE DEALT WITH IN THE ADULT COURTS. EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT AT THAT VERY SERIOUS LEVEL, 17-YEAR-OLDS WHO COMMIT REPEAT OFFENCES, WHO CREATE A RISK TO SOCIETY OR WHO ARE SEEN AS HAVING NO FURTHER ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE YOUTH SYSTEM WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE ADULT SYSTEM. THE CHANGES WILL COME INTO PLACE BY 2019. COMMUNICATIONS LINKS WITH THE QUAKE-DAMAGED KAIKOURA DISTRICT ARE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE RECOVERY PROCESS. THE OLD FIBRE LINK WAS BREACHED IN AT LEAST NINE PLACES AND QUICK-FIX PATCHING KEPT BEING DAMAGED BY ONGOING SLIPS, SO, AS ALI PUGH REPORTS, THEY'VE GONE AERIAL TO GET IT SORTED. HIGH ABOVE THE BROKEN CLIFFS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND'S EASTERN COAST LINE, THIS HELICOPTER'S FLYING IN A LIFELINE. LAST MONTH'S QUAKE CAUSED UNPRECEDENTED DAMAGE TO THE MAIN FIBRE-OPTIC CABLE THAT RUNS BELOW THE RAILWAY. AND TEMPORARY CABLES THAT CONTRACTORS LAID OUT TO CONNECT THE BREAKS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY RUPTURED BY LANDSLIPS. THE SLIPS ARE FRUSTRATING. YOU PULL CABLE OUT, THINK YOU HAVE IT ALL PREPPED FOR THE NEXT DAY, AND YOU'LL COME BACK AND IT'S BEEN WASHED OUT AGAIN. SO WITH A NUMBER-EIGHT WIRE ATTITUDE, THE TEAM THOUGHT, 'IF YOU CAN'T GO AROUND IT, LET'S GO OVER IT.' WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT GOING UP OVER THE BACK OF THE HILL WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO, SO WE TRIED THAT YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. SO PUTTING THE CABLE OVER THE BACK OF THE SLIPS, JUST HANGING THEM OVER THE TREES INCREASES OUR CHANCE OF REDUCED RISK TO THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION. AND IT TURNS OUT THIS INNOVATIVE AERIAL INSTALLATION TECHNIQUE IS A TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRST. WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS AND BEEN THINKING IT'S WELL TESTED THROUGH WITH POWER, THROUGH THE AERIALS, AND SO I THOUGHT, 'WHY CAN'T WE DO IT WITH OUR FIBRE?' THERE ARE NINE BREAKS IN THE FIBRE CABLE ALONG THIS STRETCH OF COASTLINE ALONE, AND BY THE TIME THESE BOYS ARE FINISHED HERE, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER 84KM OF FRESH CABLE LAID, AND HIGH ON THE TREETOPS, THE CABLE SHOULD LAST AT LEAST A YEAR, UNTIL THE MAIN UNDERGROUND LINE IS FULLY FIXED. SO FAR IT'S A WINNER; SO FAR WE'RE ALL QUITE IMPRESSED. WORK ON THE HILLTOP TEMPORARY LINK WILL BE COMPLETED BY CHRISTMAS. ALI PUGH, 1 NEWS. US PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S BLASTED PLANS FOR AN UPGRADE TO AIR FORCE ONE THAT'S SET TO COST BILLIONS. 'CANCEL THE ORDER' IS HIS CALL, AS HE AIMED HIS ANGER AT AMERICAN AVIATION GIANT BOEING. ABC'S TOM LLAMAS HAS MORE. TODAY AT TRUMP TOWER, THE GOLDEN ELEVATOR OPENS, AND OUT WALKS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT HIMSELF. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? DONALD TRUMP CAME DOWN TO TALK ABOUT HIS LATEST TWEET. WELL, THE PLANE IS TOTALLY OUTTA CONTROL. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS. I THINK BOEING IS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A NUMBER. NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY HE'S ATTACKING BOEING, BUT THE TWEET CAME ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THE COMPANY'S CEO WAS QUOTED CRITICISING TRUMP'S RHETORIC ON CHINA. DURING THE CAMPAIGN, TRUMP WARNED BOEING WOULD SEND JOBS THERE. ...YOUR BOEING PLANT IN, YOU KNOW, THIS AREA WILL BE GONE, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. AIR FORCE ONE, A SUPERCHARGED 747 ` DESIGNED TO BE ESSENTIALLY A WHITE HOUSE IN THE SKY. OUR JOHN KARL GOT A RARE LOOK ` THE OVAL OFFICE, THE SITUATION ROOM, A FULL COMMAND CENTRE. THERE'S 87 TELEPHONES ON THE AIRPLANE. THREE DIFFERENT NETWORKS ` TOP SECRET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO NON-SECURE. BUT THE AIRCRAFT IS 25 YEARS OLD AND IS QUICKLY BECOMING OBSOLETE. BOEING IS TAPPED TO BUILD TWO NEW PLANES, BUT THERE IS NO $4B DEAL. AND THE JETS WOULD LIKE BE FOR TRUMP'S SUCCESSOR, AND THE JETS WOULD LIKE BE FOR TRUMP'S SUCCESSOR, NOT TRUMP HIMSELF. THE PRESIDENT-ELECT NOW ROUTINELY TWEETS ABOUT DEALS WITH SPECIFIC COMPANIES. THERE WAS CARRIER, TRUMP ANNOUNCING THE COMPANY WOULD STAY IN INDIANAPOLIS. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT WHILE... LATE TODAY, TRUMP TWEETED AGAIN, CLAIMING CREDIT FOR ANOTHER DEAL, THIS TIME WITH THE JAPANESE BANK THAT OWNS SPRINT. AGAIN TRUMP DESCENDED TO THE LOBBY, THIS TIME WITH THE JAPANESE CEO. AND HE'S JUST AGREED TO INVEST $50B IN THE UNITED STATES AND 50,000 JOBS. BUT SO FAR, NO DETAILS ABOUT THAT DEAL OR EXACTLY HOW AND WHEN ALL THOSE JOBS WOULD COME TO THE US. A US AIR-FORCE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE MILITARY IS WORKING WITH BOEING TO CONTROL COSTS. WE ALL NEED THEM AT TIMES, BUT HOW NECESSARY ARE THOSE MEDICAL TESTS AND PROCEDURES? STILL TO COME ` A CONTROVERSIAL CLAIM THAT SOME TESTS CAN CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD. HE WAS ONCE A REALITY TV SHOW CONTESTANT. NOW THIS KIWI HAS BEEN CROWNED AUSTRALIA'S STRONGEST MAN AFTER SOME SUPERHUMAN STUNTS. AND HOW OUR TEENS ARE FARING WHEN IT COMES TO SCIENCE, READING AND MATHS. AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY REVEALS OUR STRENGTHS BUT ALSO WHERE WE COULD BE DOING BETTER. Get your child covered for free with NIB Health Insurance. If you're a parent, get NIB's top private hospital plus by December 31 and we'll cover one of your little whippersnappers for free. Hurry - offer ends 31 December. So buy online or call us on 0800 123 NIB. A NEW CAMPAIGN'S BEEN LAUNCHED TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY MEDICAL TESTS AND PROCEDURES. IT'S AIMED AT SAVING MONEY AND GIVING PATIENTS BETTER CARE, BUT SOME DOCTORS ARE WARNING IT COULD PUT SOME VULNERABLE GROUPS AT RISK. ANDREW MORRISON REPORTS. EVERYONE WANTS THOROUGH HEALTH CARE, BUT A RECENT SURVEY FOUND HALF OF NZ DOCTORS BELIEVE MANY TESTS ARE CAUSING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. A LOT OF MONEY SPENT ON TESTS AND TREATMENTS THAT AREN'T BENEFICIAL TO PATIENTS, OR WHERE THE RISKS OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS. SO NZ'S ADOPTED AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO CUT DOWN ON UNNECESSARY TESTS AND TREATMENTS, LIKE X-RAYS AND ANTIBIOTICS, BUT SOME DOCTORS ARE CONCERNED FOR MAORI AND PACIFIC PATIENTS, WHO TRADITIONALLY DON'T QUESTION HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, HAVE HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY. YES, LET'S BRING THIS IN, BUT LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THESE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS GETTING EVEN WORSE HEALTHCARE BECAUSE OF THESE CHANGES. YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT A LOT. THIS PROGRAMME IS ABOUT TRYING TO PROVIDE RIGHT CARE FOR PATIENTS, SO IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT REDUCING CARE; IT'S ABOUT RIGHT CARE. THE CAMPAIGN'S PUSHING TO REDUCE ANTIBIOTIC USE FOR THINGS LIKE SORE THROATS, BUT IT COMES AT THE SAME TIME AS PACIFIC PEOPLE ARE BEING WARNED THAT NOT TREATING A SORE THROAT WITH ANTIBIOTICS CAN BE FATAL. THIS STARTED WITH A SORE THROAT. I THINK IT'S A RISK THAT WE NEED TO MANAGE AND MONITOR REALLY CAREFULLY. CONSUMER ADVOCATES ARE BACKING THE NEW INITIATIVE BUT ENCOURAGING PATIENTS TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS. THIS IS IT'S NOT A COST-CUTTING EXERCISE. IT WILL MEAN THAT IF YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE A CT SCAN, IF YOU REALLY NEED AN X-RAY, THAT YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WILL FEEL CONFIDENT IN PRESCRIBING THAT FOR YOU. BUT THE MESSAGE FROM MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS BEHIND THIS CAMPAIGN ` MORE CARE IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER CARE. ANDREW MORRISON, 1 NEWS. BUZZ ALDRIN, THE SECOND MAN TO EVER WALK ON THE MOON, IS EXPECTED TO BE DISCHARGED FROM CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. AFTER HIS URGENT TRANSFER FROM THE SOUTH POLE TO CHRISTCHURCH LAST WEEK, THE MISSION TO MARS ADVOCATE HAPPENED ON A FANTASTIC COINCIDENCE; THE STARMAN'S BEING TREATED BY CANTERBURY DOCTOR DAVID BOWIE. BUZZ'S MANAGER TWEETED THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS ARE THE GROUP CAN POTENTIALLY HEAD HOME IN A DAY'S TIME. GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL HAS FOR THE FIRST TIME ENDORSED A CALL FOR BANNING THE BURKA. SHE TOLD A CONVENTION OF HER CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION PARTY A FULL VEIL DIDN'T BELONG IN GERMANY AND IT SHOULD BE BANNED WHEREVER LEGALLY POSSIBLE. THE PARTY IS PROPOSING A BAN ON BURKAS IN COURTS, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AS WELL AS DURING POLICE CHECKS. A FORMER NZ IDOL SINGING SENSATION HAS HIT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS ACROSS THE TASMAN, WINNING AUSTRALIA'S STRONGMAN COMPETITION AND BOOKING HIMSELF AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET THE ONE AND ONLY ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. CHANNEL NINE'S DOMINIQUE LOUDON HAS THE DETAILS. WEIGHING 150KG, RONGO KEENE HAS GROWN A FAIR BIT SINCE HE WAS AN ASPIRING SINGER ON NZ IDOL. # AIN'T TOO PROUD FOR ME, BABY, BABY. # I WAS A LOT SKINNIER THEN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE EATEN MYSELF NOW. HIS ENORMOUS MUSCLES OUTMUSCLED SIX OF AUSTRALIA'S BULKIEST WEIGHT WARRIORS AT THE TWO-DAY STRONGEST MAN COMPETITION. HIP-HOP BEAT WE HAD A TO DO A CAR DEADLIFT THAT WAS AROUND 300KG FOR REPS. WE ALSO HAD TO PULL AN 18-TON TRUCK 20M. THESE ARE THINGS THAT NOT NORMAL PEOPLE CAN DO. YOU HAVE TO TRAIN FOR THIS SORT OF EVENT. HIS HEFTY ACHIEVEMENTS EARNED HIM A PRO CARD TO THE ARNOLD CLASSIC, NAMED AFTER ` YOU GUESSED IT... I'LL BE BACK. I GO UP AGAINST THE BEST IN THE WORLD MY PRO CARD, I'VE BEEN WORKING FOUR YEARS FOR THIS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED, THIS WAS A GOAL, AND I'VE ACHIEVED IT. HE'S COME A LONG WAY FROM AN UNSURE COUNTRY KID. DIDN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH. I WAS ADOPTED, SO I THINK THAT GAVE ME THE ROOTS OF HARD WORK. IF YOU HAVE A VISION, YOU HAVE A GOAL, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT. THIS WASN'T THE FIRST WIN FOR THE MOUNTAIN FROM MOHAKA. HE'S ALSO WON SINGAPORE'S STRONGEST MAN. RENEE'S HERE NOW WITH THE DAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, AND WE HAVE ONE WET ISLAND AND ONE DRY ONE. YES, THE NORTH ISLAND REMAINED DRY, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF RAIN MOVING, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RADAR, MOVING IN OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN WARNING ON ITS LAST LEGS FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. A COMPLEX TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE PRECEDED BY A MOIST NORTHERLY FLOW IS WORKING US OVER AND IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN DURING THURSDAY. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ. AND GET YOUR WET-WEATHER GEAR READY. IT WILL BE A RAINY START TO THURSDAY FOR MANY. DETAILS AFTER SPORT. STILL TO COME ` THE NOMINEES FOR THE GRAMMY AWARDS ARE REVEALED, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT QUEEN BEY. CAN SHE SMASH THE OPPOSITION? # SLOW DOWN, THEY DON'T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOU. # BACK UP, THEY DON'T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOU. PLUS THE WARRIORS DO THEIR BIT FOR A TOWN TRYING TO OVERCOME TOUGH TIMES. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` TWO SENIOR MINISTERS, PAULA BENNETT AND SIMON BRIDGES, ARE NOW PITCHING TO BE BILL ENGLISH'S DEPUTY IF THE NATIONAL CAUCUS CHOSES HIM AS THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER. SO FAR NO MPs HAVE COME OUT PUBLICLY TO BACK THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES FOR LEADER, JUDITH COLLINS AND JONATHAN COLEMAN. A MAGNITUDE 6.8 EARTHQUAKE HAS HIT NEAR BANDA ACEH IN INDONESIA. AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AFTER SHOPS AND HOMES COLLAPSED, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS NO RISK OF A TSUNAMI. FAMILIES OF SOME OF THE 29 MEN WHO DIED IN THE 2010 PIKE RIVER MINE EXPLOSION WILL CONTINUE TRYING TO STOP THE MINE BEING SEALED. THAT'S DESPITE THE MINE OWNER, SOLID ENERGY, PUBLISHING AN OPEN LETTER SAYING ITS RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT IN 2014 FOUND THAT RE-ENTRY WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS, THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND TO CLAIM OTHERWISE IS RECKLESS. THE LETTER SAYS TWO YEARS AGO THE FAMILIES ACKNOWLEDGED SEALING THE MINE WAS THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION. THE FAMILIES' SPOKESMAN IS CALLING FOR MORE DISCUSSION. THE GLOVES ARE OFF NOW. WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THEM SEAL. WE'RE GONNA STOP THEM FROM SEALING TILL THEY SIT ROUND AND MAKE A PROPER GO OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S ON BOARD WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO THAT'S IT, END OF STORY. THE COMPANY SAYS WHILE IT HAS DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE FAMILIES' POSITION, THE DIRECTORS ARE MOTIVATED BY THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY AND ANY POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE SEAL IN PLACE BY FEBRUARY. IT HAS BEEN MODIFIED AT THE REQUEST OF THE FAMILIES TO BE REVERSIBLE. THERE'S BEEN A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM THE BOSS OF CIVIL SERVANTS OVER A GOVERNMENT REPORT THAT CRITICISED TWO FORMER TOP DIPLOMATS. PETER HUGHES ACCEPTS THE REPORT WRONGLY ACCUSED NIGEL FYFE AND DEREK LEASK OF LEAKING INFORMATION ON NIGEL FYFE AND DEREK LEASK OF LEAKING INFORMATION ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS' RESTRUCTURING. BOTH MR LEASK AND MR FYFE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED A SIX-FIGURE COMPENSATION PAYOUT. I DO RECOGNISE THAT, IN THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, MR LEASK AND MR FYFE WERE TREATED UNFAIRLY AND THAT THIS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT STRESS TO BOTH THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE 2013 REPORT, WRITTEN BY GOVERNMENT TROUBLESHOOTER PAULA REBSTOCK, FAILED TO UNCOVER WHO LEAKED THE SECRET GOVERNMENT PAPERS. A WORLDWIDE STUDY TESTING PROBLEM-SOLVING IN MATHS, READING AND SCIENCE SHOWS KIWI KIDS HAVE RISEN IN THE RANKS. THE LATEST RESULTS FROM THE GLOBAL PISA STUDY SHOW IMPROVEMENTS IN SCIENCE BUT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE IN MATHS. KIM SAVAGE REPORTS. EVERY THREE YEARS, OVER 500,000 15-YEAR-OLDS ARE TESTED IN SCIENCE, READING AND MATHS. 0.236, THANK YOU. THE SCORES ARE IN ` KIWI TEENS ARE WELL ABOVE THE GLOBAL AVERAGE. WE'RE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AHEAD IN OUR SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AHEAD IN OUR READING ACHIEVEMENT AND ABOUT TWO MONTHS AHEAD OF THE AVERAGE IN OUR MATHS ACHIEVEMENT. BOYS DID SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN GIRLS IN MATHS, AND GIRLS DID MUCH BETTER THAN BOYS IN READING. BOTH SEXES DID JUST AS WELL IN SCIENCE. THERE'S STILL A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE MORE AFFLUENT AND THE DISADVANTAGED. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF POVERTY AND RELATED ISSUES AND WHAT THAT HAS ON KIDS AND THEIR CAPACITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOOLING. OF 72 COUNTRIES, NZ'S GONE FROM 18TH TO 12TH IN SCIENCE, FROM 13TH TO 10TH IN READING AND FROM 23RD TO 21ST IN MATHS. MATHS, WE STILL GOT WORK TO DO ON, AND WE'VE KNOWN THAT FOR SOME TIME, SO I THINK IT SHOWS THAT WE'VE GOT, REALLY, A STRONG BASE, BUT WE NEED TO IMPROVE. THE RISE IN THE RANKINGS IS LESS TO DO WITH NZ'S STRONG PERFORMANCE AND MORE TO DO WITH A POOR SHOWING FROM OTHER NATIONS NZ COMPETES WITH, LIKE AUSTRALIA. SINGAPORE, MEANWHILE, IS FIRST IN EVERY CATEGORY. REPORTER: THE EDUCATION MINISTRY SAID THAT RESULTS SHOWED THAT ITS SHIFT TOWARDS APPLIED LEARNING HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE. LESSONS SCHOOLS HERE ARE TAKING ON BOARD. SO AT ANY ONE POINT IN TIME, WE WILL HAVE KIDS LEARNING MATHS IN CONJUNCTION WITH PE OR MATHS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SCIENCE OR MATHS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ENGLISH. A MORE HANDS-ON APPROACH IS PERHAPS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. KIM SAVAGE,... BOYS: WORKED! ...1 NEWS. THE GRAMMY AWARDS HAVE SIPPED ON BEYONCE'S 'LEMONADE', AND THEY LOVE IT, NOMINATING THE ARTIST FOR NINE AWARDS. NOT ONLY IS SHE UP FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR WITH 'LEMONADE', 'FORMATION' IS ALSO UP FOR BOTH SONG AND RECORD OF THE YEAR. # MAMA LOUISIANA. # YOU MIX THAT NEGRO WITH THAT CREOLE, MAKE A TEXAS 'BAMA. # I LIKE MY BABY HAIR WITH BABY HAIR AND AFROS. HER CLOSEST CHALLENGERS ARE DRAKE, RIHANNA AND KANYE WITH EIGHT NODS EACH, BUT HER STIFFEST CONTEST WILL BE ADELE, WHO'S ALSO UP FOR ALBUM, RECORD AND SONG OF THE YEAR. # HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE. # I MUST'VE CALLED A THOUSAND TIMES. BOTH PRINCE AND DAVID BOWIE HAVE RECEIVED POSTHUMOUS NOMINATIONS IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES. THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A STAR-STUDDED BASH HOSTED BY JAMES CORDEN IN FEBRUARY. KAITAIA'S BEEN STRUGGLING THIS YEAR AFTER A NUMBER OF SUICIDES, CHILD ABUSE CASES AND GANGLAND MURDERS. SO A COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN'S UNDERWAY TO BOOST MORALE IN THE NORTHLAND TOWN. HELEN CASTLES WAS THERE FOR THE KICK-OFF. THE KAITAIA COMMUNITY SENT OUT AN SOS. TODAY THE WARRIORS WERE AMONG MANY TO RESPOND, BRINGING SOME RESPITE FOR A TOWN STRUGGLING WITH CRIME AND SOCIAL ISSUES. CHUR, BRO. I'M GONNA GET THEIR AUTOGRAPHS ON MY BAG. YEAH. KAITAIA'S BEEN LABELLED THE MURDER CAPITAL, WITH FIVE KILLINGS THIS YEAR ALONE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 11 SUICIDES IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS. WELL, IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A BATTLE, ESPECIALLY FOR US IN THE FIRE BRIGADE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND I HOPE WE'RE ON THE MEND. MORE THAN A THOUSAND SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM THE KAITAIA AREA ARE HERE, THE DEFENCE FORCE, THE POLICE, THE FIRE SERVICE HELPING LIFT THEIR SPIRITS. ARE YOU GUYS HAVING FUN TODAY? CHILDREN: YEAH! MORALE BOOST, I GUESS. YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN SOME HARD THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON IN THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR KAITAIA, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SPORTS AND DANCING. ZAY HILFIGERRR AND ZAYION MCCALL'S 'JUJU ON THAT BEAT' PLAYS AND THERE WERE TRIPS IN AN OLD WAR PLANE. FOR MOST OF THESE KIDS, IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME IN THE SKY. ALL THESE KIDS COME FROM LOW-DECILE SCHOOLS, MANY OF THEM FROM CHALLENGING BACKGROUNDS. FOR MOST OF THEM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO THEIR SPORTING HEROES, AND THEY'RE PRETTY EXCITED. USUALLY THEY'RE ON TV, BUT... ...NOW YOU GET TO SEE THEM IN REAL LIFE. GETTING MY SIGNATURES WAS THE BEST PART. YEAH, THAT WAS MEANAGE. IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM SMILING, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL KEEP COMING BACK. BOY PERFORMS HAKA THE TEAM MAKING A COMMITMENT TO DO ITS BIT FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT YEAR. HELEN CASTLES, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. AND DO THE BLACK CAPS HAVE ANY ANSWERS? If they do, we need to see them quickly. They had been told to get angry. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE WASH-UP FROM THE ONE DAY HOWLER NEXT AS THE DECISION TO BOWL FIRST AND THOSE LAST OVERS BECOME A VIDEO NIGHTMARE. AND THE BASKETBALL PERFORMANCE WHICH HAS THE NBA IN RAPTURES. PLUS ` THE MAN PLOTTING JOSEPH PARKER'S DOWNFALL ARRIVES, WITH A SLY DIG. IT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD'VE EXPECTED KEVIN TO ALLOW HIM TO DO. WE MIGHT'VE FOUND ANDY RUIZ'S ONLY KIWI FAN. AND THE BASKETBALL PERFORMANCE WHICH HAS THE NBA IN RAPTURES. BUT WHY DIDN'T THIS DISPLAY END IN AN EVEN BIGGER RECORD? IT WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIDINGS HANDED OUT BY AUSTRALIA TO THEIR BLACKCAP COUSINS ` NOT IN THE MARGIN OF VICTORY IN GAME TWO OF THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE SERIES, BUT THE FACT THE AUSSIE BATSMEN FLOGGED THE NZ BOWLERS FOR 378 RUNS. THE BLACKCAPS NOW HAVE TO DUST THEMSELVES OFF FOR GAME THREE ON FRIDAY. KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS FROM CANBERRA. ...ONE OF THAT. 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. HE'S JUST AFTER LENGTH. HE GETS THE RIGHT LENGTH. CROWD ROARS HE CAN HIT 'EM OUTTA THE PARK. HESS AND KANE CAME OUT AND MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY WEREN'T ALL THAT HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE, AND THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH TOO. I THINK WE KNOW BY OUR OWN STANDARD THAT THAT'S NOT THE SORTA PERFORMANCE WE WANNA BE PUTTING OUT ON THE PARK. IT HARDLY MATTERED WHO WAS AT THE CREASE FOR THE HOME SIDE. THEY BELTED NZ'S BOWLERS WITH THESE TO COMPILE A MAMMOTH 378-RUN TOTAL ` 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 WEARING SPIKES AND THE WICKET, WE JUST FELT WITH THE CONDITIONS AND WEARING SPIKES AND THE WICKET, IT SORTA FELT A LITTLE BIT SORTA TACKY, AND, YEAH, IF WE HAD MADE THOSE EARLY INROADS, THINGS COULD'VE 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, WITH A CATCH BEHIND. CHEERING 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... WHACK! CHEERING NOW, HEAVED AWAY. YEAH, HE'S GOT PLENTY ON THAT. ...THE SCOREBOARD PRESSURE WAS OVERWHELMING, AND WICKETS STARTED TO FALL WITH REGULARITY. WILLIAMSON'S DEPARTURE ON 81 WITH MORE THAN 13 AN OVER STILL REQUIRED ALL BUT HANDED AUSTRALIA THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE TROPHY. SHOUT AT EACH OTHER, GET ANGRY WITH EACH OTHER, GO OUT AND BE AGGRESSIVE AGAINST THE AUSSIES, COS IF THEY JUST ROLL OVER AND DIE LIKE THIS, IT'S 3-0. THE STRUGGLE NOW IS TO FIND SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR IN A DEAD RUBBER IN MELBOURNE ON FRIDAY. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS. THE TRAINER OF HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER ANDY RUIZ BELIEVES THIS WEEKEND'S TITLE SHOWDOWN WITH JOSEPH PARKER IN AUCKLAND COULD BE ONE OF THE BOUTS OF 2016. CALIFORNIA-BASED ABEL SANCHEZ HAS ARRIVED FROM THE STATES VIA RUSSIA, OF ALL PLACES. SANCHEZ HAS TRAINED VARIOUS BOXERS TO 17 WORLD TITLES. HE'S CONFIDENT HE'LL HAVE 18 AFTER THE WEEKEND. MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN JOSEPH PARKER AND ANDY RUIZ EXTENDS TO THEIR TRAINERS. THEY AGREE ON THE TYPE OF BOUT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE ON SATURDAY. I THINK WE HAVE TWO GUYS THAT ARE FINALLY GOING TO SHOW US WHAT HEAVYWEIGHTS ARE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO FIGHT LIKE ` NOT THE WRESTLING THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. SANCHEZ AND PARKER'S MAN, KEVIN BARRY, DO DISAGREE ON ONE THING ` PARKER'S USE OF A SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST LEADING INTO THE WBO TITLE SHOT. NO, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD'VE EXPECTED KEVIN TO ALLOW HIM TO DO. IF THEY REQUIRE A PSYCHOLOGIST, MAYBE I'M NOT THE RIGHT COACH FOR THEM. THE 61-YEAR-OLD'S THE RIGHT COACH FOR MANY, THOUGH, NAMED AS AMERICA'S TRAINER OF THE YEAR FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. SANCHEZ FLEW IN TODAY FROM LA. HE WAS IN MOSCOW JUST LAST WEEKEND, TAKING A RUSSIAN CHARGE TO A WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE. WHEN YOU KNEW ABEL WAS TAKING ON ANDY, DID THAT CHANGE YOUR MINDSET, OR CHANGE YOUR TACTICS? OH, NO, I ACTUALLY SAID AT THE TIME I APPLAUDED ANDY FOR THE DECISION, BECAUSE I KNEW HE'S GIVING HIMSELF EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SHAPE. WHILE PARKER WILL HAVE HOME BACKING THIS WEEKEND, WE'VE FOUND AT LEAST ONE KIWI CHEERING ON ANDY RUIZ. AUCKLAND MAN HECTOR TUKUITONGA HAS BEEN A RUIZ SUPPORTER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. IT FEELS GOOD, MAN, TO HAVE SUPPORTERS AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NZ. MANY HAVE BEEN CAPTIVATED BY RUIZ'S WEIGHT LOSS ` CLOSE TO 15 KILOS. IT'S BEING DOWNPLAYED BY HIS TRAINER. WE DIDN'T RUN A FAT FARM. WE RAN A GYM THAT REQUIRES HIM TO WORK HARD AND LOSE WEIGHT A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME. THEY MIGHT NOT BE FIGHTING, BUT THESE TWO MEN WILL HAVE A MAJOR INFLUENCE THIS WEEKEND. LIFE AFTER ERNIE MERRICK COULD LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX. THAT'S IF TODAY'S PRACTICE IS ANYTHING TO GO BY. THE CLUB HELD A JOVIAL FIRST TRAINING RUN WITHOUT MERRICK THIS MORNING, AS THE PLAYERS TRY TO MOVE PAST A DIFFICULT COUPLE OF DAYS. ALL YELL EXCITEDLY IT'S BEEN TOUGH. IT'S BEEN PROBABLY THE MOST` THE TOUGHEST TWO DAYS I CAN REMEMBER FOR A WHILE. YOU GET GOOD RESULTS, YOU GET BAD RESULTS, BUT IT'S... IT'S A GAME OF FOOTBALL, AND IT'S ERNIE'S DECISION TO STEP ASIDE. IT'S` YOU KNOW, IT'S PEOPLE'S LIVES. PERHAPS ERNIE ALSO HAD A 'NO SWEARING' POLICY DURING HIS TIME IN CHARGE, WITH TODAY'S RUN NOT ONE FOR THOSE EASILY OFFENDED. COULD BE JUST A BUILD-UP OF HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN LATELY. PERSONALLY, IT'S THE BEST PART OF MY JOB. WE'LL SEE IF THE NEW STRATEGY WORKS SATURDAY NIGHT AGAINST THE CENTRAL COAST IN HAMILTON. A HAT-TRICK FROM LUCAS PEREZ HAS HELPED ARSENAL FINISH TOP OF THEIR GROUP IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH A 4-1 CRUSHING OF SWISS TEAM BASEL. THE GUNNERS OPENED 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. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO COUNT THE PASSES HERE. OZIL. AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD BALL. HERE IS GIBBS! AND PEREZ IS THERE AGAIN! CROWD ROARS TWO FOR LUCAS PEREZ! TWO FOR ARSENAL! PEREZ MADE 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. BAYERN MUNICH STRIKER ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI ENDED THE UNBEATEN RUN OF TABLE-TOPPING ATLETICO MADRID WITH A BRILLIANT FREE KICK. IT IS LEWANDOWSKI! IT IS FANTASTIC! HE CAN DO NO WRONG. A WONDERFUL FREE KICK FROM ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI. BAYERN IN SECOND PLACE, JOINING ATLETICO IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGES. THE NBA'S BEST ARE CALLING IT A PERFORMANCE THAT WON'T BE SEEN AGAIN IN BASKETBALL. GOLDEN STATE'S KLAY THOMPSON IS STILL COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE 60 POINTS HE SCORED IN RECORD TIME AGAINST INDIANA, PUTTING A QUESTION MARK OVER WHICH OF HIS TEAM'S SUPERSTARS DESERVES TO BE CALLED NUMBER ONE. THEY WERE 29 MINUTES HE'LL NEVER FORGET. 60! 60 FOR KLAY THOMPSON! CONSIDERED TO BE GOLDEN STATE'S THIRD OR EVEN FOURTH BEST PLAYER, LAST NIGHT KLAY THOMPSON WAS DEFINITELY NUMBER ONE. MORE THAN DURANT! MORE THAN CURRY! WHAT A NIGHT AT ORACLE! THAT MANY POINTS IN SO SHORT A TIME HASN'T BEEN DONE SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SHOT CLOCK ` WE'RE TALKING WAY BACK IN THE '50S. I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. TO BE ON THE TEAM AND BE AT THE GAME, BE ON THE SIDELINE TO WATCH IT, IT WAS AMAZING. ONLY THREE OTHERS HAVE HIT THE 60 MARK IN THE LAST DECADE, BUT NONE OF THEM DID IT WITH ZERO TURNOVERS. THOMPSON SHOT 21 OF 33 FROM THE FLOOR, WITH EIGHT BOMBS FROM LONG RANGE. SCORING AT TWO POINTS PER MINUTE, HE DRIBBLED THE BALL JUST 11 TIMES, AND ` GET THIS ` HE HAD THE BALL IN HIS HANDS FOR A TOTAL OF 90 SECONDS. THAT'S A FEAT THAT I'D PUT MONEY ON PROBABLY NEVER BEING TOUCHED EVER AGAIN IN THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. NEITHER STEPH CURRY NOR KEVIN DURANT HAVE SCORED 60 BEFORE. THE EXPERTS NOW QUESTIONING WHO THE BIGGEST STAR AT GOLDEN STATE IS. SO KLAY'S A BETTER OVERALL PLAYER THAN STEPH CURRY? YOU DON'T THINK SO? YES, I DO! STEPH AIN'T EVEN IN THE SAME STRATOSPHERE. BUT THOMPSON HAD BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND AT PRACTICE TODAY. I SAW THE HIGHLIGHT, AND, UM,... IT WAS A GREAT GAME. NO TIME TO GLOAT AS HE GETS READY TO GO AGAIN AGAINST THE CLIPPERS TOMORROW. MATT MANUKIA, 1 NEWS. NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S TENNIS SLUMP HAS CLAIMED A MAJOR CASUALTY. THE SERBIAN HAS SPLIT WITH HIS COACH OF THREE YEARS, BORIS BECKER, AFTER FAILING TO WIN A TITLE IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, COSTING HIM HIS WORLD-NUMBER-ONE RANKING. DJOKOVIC WON SIX OF HIS 12 MAJORS DURING HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE GERMAN MULTIPLE GRAND-SLAM WINNER. HE HASN'T REVEALED WHETHER BECKER WILL BE REPLACED. DJOKOVIC AND TENNIS COULD GIVE WAY TO A SPORT LIKE CHEERLEADING AT FUTURE OLYMPIC GAMES. YES, CHEERLEADING HAS RECEIVED PROVISIONAL RECOGNITION AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT BY THE IOC COMMITTEE. AFTER THREE YEARS, IT CAN APPLY TO BECOME PART OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES SPORTS PROGRAMME. NEARLY 4.5 MILLION REGISTERED ATHLETES, SO REALLY A LARGE PARTICIPATION SPORT, STILL WITH GROWING POPULARITY. OBVIOUSLY A YOUTH FOCUS ` VERY STRONG IN SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY AND SIMILAR LEVELS. MUAY THAI KICK-BOXING HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN PROVISIONAL APPROVAL, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RECOGNISED OLYMPIC SPORTS TO 37. I suppose the gymnastics is there, why not cheerleading? Synchronised swimming, whatever you want. When we think helicopter parents... ALSO, A QUESTION FOR YOU ` WHICH OF THESE DOGS DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST DANGEROUS? WE'LL HAVE THE ANSWER AT 7, AND IT MAY SURPRISE YOU. PLUS, A SPECIAL SURPRISE FOR THE PARENTS WHO HELPED THEIR DAUGHTER BATTLE THE UNTHINKABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DANIELLE! LAUGHTER It is not so much champagne and canapes. It we are eight the ITM media fishing awards. HELLO AGAIN. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE KEEPS SKIES RELATIVELY CLEAR OVER THE NORTHEAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, BUT ALL EYES ARE ON A BROAD AREA OF CLOUD STRETCHING FROM CENTRAL AUSTRALIA, ACROSS THE TASMAN SEA AND OUT TO THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, WHICH IS GENERATED BY A COMPLEX TROUGH WITH EMBEDDED LOWS AND FRONTAL FEATURES. SO OUR CALMING RIDGE PACKS ITS BAGS AND RECEDES TO THE EAST AS THE TROUGH SPREADS OVER THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. THE TROUGH WEAKENS AS IT SPREADS NORTH OVER THE REST OF NZ TOMORROW. A NORTHERLY FLOW STRENGTHENS OVER US ON FRIDAY AS ANOTHER TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. SOUTH ISLAND ` FINE OR BECOMING FINE IN THE WEST AND OVER THE SOUTH THROUGH TO NORTH OTAGO. A FEW SHOWERS ABOUT REMAINING AREAS IN THE NORTH AND EAST AND CLEARING AT NIGHT. WINDS ARE MAINLY LIGHT OR DYING OUT. NORTH ISLAND ` RAIN SPREADS EAST ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND OVER THE COURSE OF THE MORNING, THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH REMAINING RAIN TURNING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON, CLEARING IN THE EAST FROM EVENING. NORTHERLY WINDS. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ hunker down like these guys. Try to stay dry. that is your weather. That is one useful Wednesday.