florist ariana laing 11:10:01:07 all our flowers are stored in fridges and we won't be able to make bouquets pharmacist raewyn taaffe 11:07:42:10 it's a lost day for us because we still pay our staff but it's very limited what you can do and you still don't have the turnover coming in the door. W1 36 C2.5 G 0 petrol station shot. THIRTY TWO THOUSAND HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT WERE WITHOUT POWER FOR AROUND 12 HOURS TODAY. W2 16 C2.5 G 0 THIS TAKEAWAY SHOP IRUNNING ON WHAT GAS THEY HAD LEFT AND THERE WERE EMPTY SEATS AT THE LOCAL RESTAURANT... restaurant man a whole day no customers at all.. and there's still money, bills to pay of course. THE OWNERS SAY THE LOSS TO THEIR BUSINESS IS HUGE restaurant woman "it will be thousands for sure, all the deserts we have to chuck away, everything with milk.. meat and fish too." grab business owner "it's hurt the town and it's hurt all the 14 YEARS LATER, A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND FOR BILL ENGLISH. HE HAS DONE IT UNCONTESTED. NO VOTE ON MONDAY, HE'S NOT WORRIED. HE GOT THERE THE WAY HE WANTED. SO, THE NUMBERS HAVE REALLY GONE THE FINANCE MINISTER'S WAY. HIS LEADERSHIP RIVALS KNOW THEY CAN'T BEAT HIM. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT 50% OF CAUCUS SUPPORT BILL ENGLISH AS THE LEADER, AND THEREFORE, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE HAS WON. I HAVE JUST BEEN UP TO CONGRATULATE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF NZ, BILL ENGLISH. WHILE IT APPEARS THAT I'M LIKELY TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CAUCUS ON MONDAY, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE MAKING PRONOUNCEMENTS... AS AN ASSUMED LEADER OF THE PARTY. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION OF FELLOW CANDIDATES. HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO REFLECT ON IT. DISCUSSING HOW AN ONGOING NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WILL OPERATE. I EXPECT TO BE TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE. I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT IF I'M ELECTED LEADER, STEVEN JOYCE WILL BE FINANCE MINISTER. I'M VERY EXCITED. ENGLISH IS OPENING THE BOOKS, BILLIONS MORE SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE. WE WILL SHOW A RISING PLANE OF SURPLUSES. THAT WILL MEAN A FAMILY SUPPORT PACKAGE. THERE IS A RANGE OF OPTIONS ABOUT HOW SURPLUSES CAN FLOW THROUGH. BILL ENGLISH DIDN'T TAKE TAX CUTS OFF THE TABLE TODAY. THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH NEED OUT THERE. MR ENGLISH GETS TO ANSWER THAT AND OTHER OPPOSITION CHALLENGES AS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER COME MONDAY, HAVING NOW SEEN OFF THE CHALLENGERS WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY. CORIN, BILL ENGLISH GETTING HIS CLEAR PATH TO THE PREMIER HOUSE, BUT STILL A LOT OF INTEREST IN DEPUTY? IF WE LEARNT ONE THING FROM THIS, WITH THE TWO RIVALS, IS THAT THE CAUCUS WANTS REJUVENATION. THAT HAS TO BE REFLECTED WITH THE DEPUTY. SIMON BRIDGES HAS PITCHED, BUT PAULA BENNETT IS PART OF THE INNER CIRCLE. ENGLISH WILL HAVE TO MAKE HARD CALLS ABOUT HIS CABINET. SO NOW IT'S AN INTERESTING RACE FOR THE DEPUTY. SIMON BRIDGES AND PAULA BENNETT ARE BOTH DIGGING IN. I'M QUIETLY CONFIDENT. I'M IN IT TO WIN. I'M FRESH; I'M INVIGORATED BY THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH CONTEST, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A FAIR CONTEST. BOTH WANT THE JOB WITH BILL ENGLISH AS PRIME MINISTER. WHEN I LOOK AT SIMON, I THINK WE DO NEED TO COMPLEMENT THAT WITH SOME GENERATIONAL CHANGE. I KNOW HIM ` HE'S GOOD FRIEND; HE'S A FELLOW TAURANGA MP, AND I THINK HE WILL COMPLEMENT BILL REALLY WELL. I THINK PAULA BENNETT WOULD OFFER I THINK PAULA BENNETT WOULD OFFER A GOOD COMPLEMENTARY PERSON TO GO WITH BILL. I'M VOTING FOR BILL ENGLISH AND PAULA BENNETT. ALSO IN THE 'PAULA BENNETT FOR DEPUTY CAMP' ARE JUSTICE MINISTER AMY ADAMS AND BACKBENCHER NUK KORAKO. ON SIMON BRIDGES' TEAM IS INVERCARGILL'S SARAH DOWIE AND TODD BARCLAY. IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE A LOT CLOSER THAN THE LEADERSHIP RACE. I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES ARE PUTTING FORWARD DIFFERING VIEWS ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS, AND THEY'VE GOT DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND MERITS, AND I THINK IT'LL BE CLOSER. PAULA BENNETT'S ALREADY AN ASSOCIATE FINANCE MINISTER, SO OFFERS STABILITY THERE, BUT SIMON BRIDGES OFFERS A FRESHER FACE, AND WITH MANY IN NATIONAL'S CAUCUS LOOKING FOR REJUVENATION, HE MAY SEEM A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT. BOTH CANDIDATES WILL SPEND THE NEXT THREE DAYS ASKING COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORT. I'M TALKING TO AS MANY AS I CAN. I'VE GOT A NUMBER THERE WHO ARE REALLY KEEN TO BACK ME. I'LL JUST KEEP HAVING THOSE AND KEEPING THEM PRIVATE. BILL ENGLISH ISN'T SAYING WHO HE WANTS. NEITHER IS THE GUY WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS. THE COOL THING IS ` THEY ARE BOTH OUTSTANDING. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. ONE THING SEEMS CERTAIN, THOUGH ` WHOEVER GETS THE JOB, CAUCUS WILL BE EXPECTING THEIR ATTENTION MORE OFTEN. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. THERE'S ALSO UPHEAVAL IN THE LABOUR PARTY, WITH CONFIRMATION MOUNT ALBERT MP DAVID SHEARER'S LIKELY TO RESIGN WITHIN WEEKS TO TAKE A TOP POSITION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE LOOKS AT WHY THAT'S PROMPTING TALK OF AN EARLY GENERAL ELECTION. AS LABOUR LEADER, DAVID SHEARER WAS ROLLED BEFORE HE COULD TAKE HIS PARTY TO THE POLLS, BUT HIS EXPECTED RESIGNATION COULD NOW TRIGGER A SNAP ELECTION. WITH MAURICE WILLIAMSON WAITING TO GO, DAVID CUNLIFFE WAITING TO GO, NOW SHEARER GONE ` WHETHER THIS MIGHT BE GROUNDS FOR AN EARLY ELECTION, WHICH WOULD MEAN A MID-WINTER ELECTION FOR NZ NEXT YEAR. THAT'S A VERY CLEVER SUGGESTION. WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AFTER SEVEN YEARS IN PARLIAMENT, MR SHEARER'S OFF TO AN EVEN TOUGHER JOB IN JANUARY. HE'S TIPPED TO HEAD THE UN'S PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN WAR-TORN SOUTH SUDAN. DAVID'S PASSION IS THIS INTERNATIONAL TYPE OF WORK. USUALLY, THAT WOULD MEAN A BY-ELECTION, IN THIS CASE, FOR DAVID SHEARER'S MOUNT ALBERT SEAT, BUT HE'S NOT THE ONLY MP WHO COULD QUIT BEFORE PARLIAMENT FINISHES NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MPS RIGHT NOW CONSIDERING THEIR FUTURE. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH AT LEAST FIVE OF THEM WHO ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO RUN THROUGH TO THE NEXT ELECTION. EVERYONE IS REPLACEABLE IN POLITICS; WE KNOW THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE. SO CAN THEY AVOID A BY-ELECTION? WE ARE READY TO GO EITHER WAY. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE AN EARLY ELECTION. NOBODY WANTS A BY-ELECTION. IT'S JUST A WASTE OF MONEY. HERE ARE THE RULES TO AVOID A BY-ELECTION. 5% OF PARLIAMENT MUST VOTE TO LEAVE THE SEAT VACANT, %75 BUT A GENERAL ELECTION WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE HELD WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF MR SHEARER'S RESIGNATION. IF HE LEAVES IN JANUARY, THAT MEANS THE COUNTRY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE POLLS BEFORE JULY. BILL ENGLISH WOULDN'T BE DRAWN ON HIS PLANS. I'M NOT DISCUSSING ANY OF THAT. BUT HE DID LEAD NATIONAL TO ITS WORST ELECTION DEFEAT DURING A MID-WINTER ELECTION IN 2002, AND COLDER WEATHER USUALLY KEEPS DOWN TURNOUT, BUT BOTH NATIONAL AND LABOUR INSIST THEY'RE READY TO GO. WE ARE ALWAYS READY FOR ANYTHING. THANK YOU. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. POWER'S BEEN RESTORED TO LARGE PARTS OF THE FAR NORTH AFTER AN OUTAGE, THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SOMEONE FIRING A GUN AT A TRANSMISSION TOWER. POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING. THE POWER BLACKOUT COVERED THE ENTIRE UPPER TIP OF THE NORTH ISLAND, INCLUDING KAITAIA, KAIKOHE, AND PAIHIA. HELEN CASTLES HAS BEEN ACROSS THE REGION, TALKING TO THOSE AFFECTED. CHRISTMAS IS POWERING AHEAD IN KAITAIA, BUT RETAILERS AREN'T HAPPY. EFTPOS AND OUR TILL PROGRAMME IS OUT, SO WE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY SALES. IT'S A LOST DAY FOR US, BECAUSE WE STILL PAY OUR STAFF. 32,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT WERE WITHOUT POWER FOR AROUND 12 HOURS TODAY, THIS TAKEAWAY SHOP RUNNING ON WHAT GAS THEY HAD LEFT, AND THERE WERE EMPTY SEATS AT THE LOCAL RESTAURANT. JUST A WHOLE DAY ` NO CUSTOMERS AT ALL, BUT THERE'S STILL MONEY, BILLS TO PAY. THE OWNERS SAY THE LOSS TO THEIR BUSINESS IS HUGE. THOUSANDS, YEAH. A FEW THOUSANDS FOR SURE. ALL THE DESERTS WE HAVE TO CHUCK AWAY, TORTES, EVERYTHING WITH CREAM. IT'S HURT THE TOWN, AND I THINK IT'S HURT ALL THE UPPER PART OF NZ. MANY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT CLOSED, AND THE COUNCIL ADVISED PEOPLE TO CONSERVE WATER. SABOTAGE IS SUSPECTED. WE SUSPECT THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE IS FIREARMS. WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS JUST CARELESS, DIDN'T THINK THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS. BULLET CASES WERE FOUND AT THE BASE OF THREE TRANSMISSION TOWERS, AND NORTHLAND POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS UP HERE HAVE MADE THE REPAIR JOB THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE FAR NORTH HAS EXPERIENCED SUCH A SHUTDOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 WIDESPREAD OUTAGES SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR HAS BEEN A GODSEND FOR THIS KAITAIA RESTHOME. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO USE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS; WE GOT HIGH-LOW BEDS; WE'VE GOT HOISTS THAT WE USE TO MOVE PEOPLE, SO WE COULDN'T REALLY FUNCTION. PLUS WE'VE GOT OUR OWN LAUNDRY AND OUR OWN KITCHEN, SO, NO, IT WOULDN'T WORK. BUT THE BLACKOUT DIDN'T MEAN BLACK TIMES FOR EVERYONE. GOOD OLD FAMILY TIME ` BRING OUT THE OLD BAORD GAMES, SO, NO, IT WAS GOOD. NICE DAY. WE HAD A GREAT DAY. WE GOT TO SPEND THE DAY WITH OUR GRANDKIDS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK. BUT THEY'LL BE HAPPY; IT'S BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL TOMORROW. HELEN CASTLES, 1 NEWS. THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN INDONESIA'S ROCKETED TO 102 AS SEARCHERS COMB THE RUBBLE FOR A SECOND DAY. THE SHALLOW BUT POWERFUL QUAKE'S LEVELLED HUNDREDS OF BUILDINGS IN ACEH PROVINCE ON THE ISLAND OF SUMATRA. PAUL HOBBS REPORTS. PANICKED CHATTER NOT ONLY IS IT PAINSTAKING ` IT'S HEARTBREAKING. SEARCHERS PULLING OUT BODY AFTER BODY FROM THE DEBRIS. TRANSLATOR: WE ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE AS SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE STILL LIKELY UNDER THE RUBBLE OF THE BUILDINGS. IT'S AN ALL-IN RESCUE EFFORT ` VILLAGERS, SOLDIERS, POLICE ALONG WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE OFFICIALS. THOUSANDS PRESSED INTO ACTION, FOCUSING MUCH OF THEIR EFFORTS ON THE SEVERELY AFFECTED PIDIE JAYA TOWN OF MEUREUDU, CLOSE TO THE EPICENTRE. SIREN BLARES DEALING WITH THE HUNDREDS OF INJURED IS PROVING PROBLEMATIC. PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM BROKEN BONES AND CUTS ARE BEING TREATED ON MATTRESSES IN HOSPITAL CORRIDORS AND MAKESHIFT TENTS OUTSIDE. BUT IT'S THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN THE AREA, AND IT'S OVERWHELMED. MANY HAVE BEEN SENT TO NEIGHBOURING DISTRICTS WITH BETTER FACILITIES. THIS MAN STILL DOESN'T KNOW IF HIS CHILDREN ARE ALIVE. TRANSLATOR: I HAVE NO IDEA. SOME OF THEM WERE NOT AT HOME. THE QUAKE, MEASURING 6.5 ON THE RICHTER SCALE, STRUCK DURING DARKNESS EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING LOCAL TIME. SUNRISE TODAY SHOWED THE EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION. STUNNED LOCALS CAN ONLY SIT OUTSIDE WHAT WAS ONCE THEIR HOME. DISASTER MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 160 HOUSES, 100 BUILDINGS, 14 MOSQUES 100 BUILDINGS, 14 MOSQUES AND AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE QUAKE HIT THE SAME ACEH PROVINCE THAT SUFFERED A DOUBLE DISASTER ON BOXING DAY 2004 ` A MAGNITUDE 9.2 EARTHQUAKE FOLLOWED BY ONE OF THE DEADLIEST TSUNAMIS ON RECORD, KILLING MORE THAN 160,000 PEOPLE IN THE PROVINCE ALONE. NO TSUNAMI ALERT WAS ISSUED AFTER THIS LATEST QUAKE. PAUL HOBBS, 1 NEWS. GETTING BETTER PROTECTION FROM FALLING OBJECTS DURING AN EARTHQUAKE HAS SPURRED A WELLINGTON INVENTOR TO COBBLE TOGETHER A QUAKE-PROOF DESK. AND YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT. WHILE IT'S STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, TESTING'S BEEN MORE THAN POSITIVE. BRIAR WELLS EXPLAINS. AN OFFICE DESK TAKING ON A BMW... AND A 1.5 TON BOULDER DROPPED FROM A CRANE ` COMING AWAY MOSTLY UNSCATHED. IF YOU WERE INSIDE IT, YOU'D SURVIVE. IT'S A PIECE OF FURNITURE THAT'S HOPED COULD SAVE LIVES. YOU BUILD IT SO THAT IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, WHICH IS, FOR QUAKE-PRONE BUILDINGS, IS THAT THE WALL COLLAPSES OR THE CEILING COLLAPSES. DUBBED THE 'QUAKE DESK', INVENTOR NICK MAARHUIS CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AFTER THE KAIKOURA EARTHQUAKE. IF SOMETHING WAS TO FALL THIS WAY OR THIS WAY, IT HOLDS ITS STRUCTURE, MUCH LIKE A ROLL CAGE. UNDER LESS PRESSURE, STANDARD WOODEN AND STEEL DESKS WERE COMPLETELY CRUSHED. THERE'S NO GUARANTEES WITH ANYTHING BECAUSE THINGS ARE GONNA FALL DIFFERENTLY, AND THINGS ARE DIFFERENT WEIGHTS. IT'S JUST ABOUT IMPROVING YOUR CHANCES. IT'S NOT AN ENTIRELY NEW CONCEPT. EARTHQUAKE-PROOF DESKS ARE ALREADY ON THE MARKET OVERSEAS. CIVIL DEFENCE SAYS WHILE THERE'S NO HARM IN INVESTING IN SUCH ITEMS, THE ADVICE IS STILL 'DROP, COVER AND HOLD'. WHAT I WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE IS PEOPLE RUNNING ACROSS THE OFFICE TO TRY AND DIVE UNDER THEIR QUAKE-PROOF DESK, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE MOST LIKELY TO GET HIT BY OVERHEADS. ONLY ONE QUAKE DESK PROTOTYPE HAS BEEN MADE SO FAR. NICK WILL TAKE ON FEEDBACK ABOUT THE LOOK AND FEEL BEFORE STARTING PRODUCTION. AND DESKS MAY NOT BE HIS ONLY VENTURE. MIGHT DO A BED FRAME, COS THAT'S THE OTHER ONE ` IF YOU'RE IN BED, YOU WANT TO GET UNDER. AN EASY-TO-BUILD SOLUTION ON A BUDGET HE SAYS WILL PROVIDE SOME PEACE OF MIND. BRIAR WELLS, 1 NEWS. REBEL GROUPS PLEAD FOR A CEASEFIRE IN ALEPPO AS THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES THE UPPER HAND. COMING UP ` REGIME FORCES TAKE OVER THE HISTORIC HEART OF THE CITY. PLUS, HE'S BEEN DUBBED TIME MAGAZINE'S PERSON OF THE YEAR. HOW DONALD TRUMP'S WRESTLING CONNECTION IS HELPING HIM ALONG WITH SOME STRATEGIC ADVICE FROM A FORMER POLITICAL RIVAL. THE REAL HEAVYWEIGHT SUPPORT BEHIND A TITLE SHOWDOWN. WE'LL GIVE YOU A CLUE, BUT MUM'S THE WORD AS PARKER AND RUIZ FRONT UP AHEAD OF THEIR HISTORIC FIGHT. A PAKISTANI PASSENGER PLANE HAS CRASHED IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN, KILLING ALL 48 ON BOARD. THE PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT, WHICH WAS BOUND FOR ISLAMABAD, REPORTEDLY HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. THE PILOT SENT A DISTRESS SIGNAL BEFORE THE CRASH. SEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THE PLANE'S BLACK BOX. SYRIAN REBELS HAVE CALLED FOR A FIVE-DAY TRUCE TO ALLOW THE EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM THEIR LAST STRONGHOLDS IN ALEPPO'S OLD CITY, AND IN AN UNUSUAL JOINT STATEMENT, WESTERN NATIONS HAVE CONDEMNED THE SYRIAN REGIME AND RUSSIA FOR CAUSING A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. WITH MORE, HERE'S THE BBC'S LYSE DOUCET. THESE FAMILIES RAN FOR THEIR LIVES ACROSS FRONTLINES, BRINGING THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST WITH THEM. RELIEF TO HAVE SURVIVED THE TERRIBLE FIGHTING IN THE OLD CITY OF ALEPPO BUT FRIGHTENED, NOT KNOWING WHAT COMES NEXT. FOR NOW, BUSES ARE TAKING THEM TO A MAKESHIFT CAMP SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT. BY MORNING, SYRIAN STATE TV HAD NEWS FROM THEIR CORRESPONDENT AT THE GATES OF THE HISTORIC HEART OF THE CITY. ALL OF IT IS BACK IN GOVERNMENT HANDS. THIS IS WHAT ALEPPO LOOKS LIKE IN THE WAKE OF BATTLE. TODAY THE ARMY TOOK US TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD THEY SEIZED TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR TODAY'S BREAKTHROUGH. THE SYRIAN ARMY NOW HAS THE UPPER HAND. BOOMING, HORNS TOOT THE REBELS ARE IN RETREAT. THEY ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, AND THEY ARE FLYING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, SO THEY CANNOT FIGHT ANY MORE. HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE, GENERAL FAWAZ, TO TAKE ALL OF IT? > I CANNOT GIVE YOU A TIME, BUT I THINK IT WILL NOT BE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. YELLING AS FIGHTING INTENSIFIES IN EAST ALEPPO, SO TOO DOES THE PAIN. MORE AND MORE CASUALTIES FROM FEROCIOUS BOMBARDMENT. (SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT WE ARE LIVING THROUGH. NO ONE HAS ENDURED ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS. WE COULD DIE AT ANY MOMENT. ALEPPO ` A SMALL PART OF THIS CITY IS STILL IN REBEL HANDS, INCLUDING HARD-LINE FIGHTERS LINKED TO AL-QAEDA. TODAY PRESIDENT ASSAD SAID THE BATTLE HERE IS A HUGE STEP TOWARDS VICTORY, BUT HE ADMITS THE WAR ISN'T OVER. TO THE BATTLE FOR MOSUL, WHERE THE COMMANDER OF THE US-LED COALITION FIGHTING ISIS ESTIMATES IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND TOUGH FIGHTING TO RETAKE THE CITY. IT'S BEEN SEVEN WEEKS SINCE THE MILITARY OPERATION BEGAN AND IRAQI SPECIAL FORCES CELEBRATED CAPTURING A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD IN EASTERN MOSUL. MEANWHILE, ISIS HAS RELEASED ITS VIDEO OF MILITANTS ENGAGED IN DEADLY CLASHES WITH IRAQI FORCES NEAR THE SALAM HOSPITAL WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE TIGRIS RIVER, WHICH DIVIDES EASTERN AND WESTERN MOSUL. DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN NAMED TIME MAGAZINE'S PERSON OF THE YEAR, A MANTLE HE SAYS HE'S HONOURED TO RECEIVE. AND THE PRESIDENT ELECT'S NAMED A WOMAN WHO FOUND FAME AND FORTUNE WITH WORLD WRESTLING TO A TOP JOB IN HIS ADMINISTRATION. WITH MORE, HERE'S THE ABC'S TOM LLAMIS. 'TIME' MAGAZINE HAS NAMED DONALD TRUMP ITS MAN OF THE YEAR. TRUMP ONCE DECLARED 'TIME' WOULD 'SOON BE DEAD,' DISMISSING ITS LIST OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE AS A JOKE AND A STUNT. 'TIME' DESCRIBED THE CHOICE AS THE PERSON WHO HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE FOR BETTER OR WORSE ON THE EVENTS OF THE YEAR. TRUMP ON THE COVER, DUBBED THE 'PRESIDENT OF THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA'. THE PRESIDENT ELECT CONFIDENT HE AND HIS NEW CABINET WILL CHANGE THAT. TODAY, RETIRED GEN JOHN KELLY CONFIRMED HE'S BEEN PICKED TO BE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY. KELLY IS A 4-STAR MARINE GENERAL AND A GOLD-STAR FATHER. HIS SON, 1ST LT ROBERT KELLY, WAS KILLED IN COMBAT IN AFGHANISTAN. KELLY BECOMES THE THIRD RETIRED GENERAL IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SO FAR. JUST LAST NIGHT, THE PRESIDENT ELECT STOOD WITH HIS NOMINEE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE, GEN JAMES 'MAD DOG' MATTIS. MAD DOG PLAYS NO GAMES, RIGHT? TODAY, A VERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF NOMINEE. TRUMP NOMINATED WWE CO-FOUNDER LINDA MCMAHON TO LEAD THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. THE PRESIDENT ELECT HIMSELF ONCE WRESTLED WITH MCMAHON'S HUSBAND ON TELEVISION. COMMENTATORS YELL, CACKLE AND AS TRUMP ASSEMBLES HIS CABINET, HE SAYS PRESIDENT OBAMA IS WEIGHING IN. A STRIKING STATEMENT, CONSIDERING TRUMP CALLED THE PRESIDENT AN 'INCOMPETENT LEADER' WITH 'DISASTROUS JUDGEMENT' AND 'THE WORST PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY'. THE WHITE HOUSE WON'T SAY WHAT ADVICE PRESIDENT OBAMA IS GIVING HIS SUCCESSOR. TIME MAGAZINE ALSO NAMED HILLARY CLINTON AND RUSSIAN LEADER VLADIMIR PUTIN ON THE SHORTLIST FOR PERSON OF THE YEAR. RENEE'S HERE NOW WITH THE DAY' WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, AND WARM IN THE WEST TODAY. DUE TO LOW CLOUD AND PATCHY DRIZZLE OVER THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, IT WAS WARMER ALONG WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SPOTS UNDER CLEAR AND SUNNY SKIES. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ. SO CONDITIONS START TO IMPROVE FOR FRIDAY BEFORE TURNING TO CUSTARD ON THE WEEKEND. DETAILS FOR YOU AFTER SPORT. STILL AHEAD ON 1 NEWS ` THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SURPRISE ATTACK THAT KILLED THOUSANDS AND CHANGED THE COURSE OF WWII. AND SHE'S THE WORLD NUMBER ONE, BUT NOW LYDIA KO IS PARTING WAYS WITH HER COACH. You might only drive short distances to work each day. You might park securely at work. You may not drive your car to work at all. At Youi, we tailor your insurance premium to how you use or don't use your car. It could save you lots. Call: LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` FINANCE MINISTER BILL ENGLISH IS SET TO BE THE COUNTRY'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER FROM MONDAY. HE'S SEEN OFF TWO OTHER CONTENDERS ` JUDITH COLLINS WITHDREW EARLIER TODAY AND JONATHAN COLEMAN PULLED OUT JUST A SHORT TIME AGO. THE BATTLE NOW IS FOR THE DEPUTY LEADER'S JOB. SERVICEMEN AND VETERANS ACROSS AMERICA HAVE TODAY MARKED THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY. ALMOST 2500 TROOPS WERE LEFT DEAD AFTER THE JAPANESE LAUNCHED A SURPRISE RAID ON PEARL HARBOUR. WITH MORE, HERE'S ABC'S DAVID MUIR. APPLAUSE, CHEERING IT IS A HERO'S WELCOME. ALOHA. AMERICA'S YOUNGEST GENERATION HONOURS ITS GREATEST. SINGING AMONG THEM, STU HEDLEY. YOU GONNA GIVE ME FIVE? AT 95, HIS STORY OF SURVIVING PEARL HARBOUR... THIS IS THE FOURTH GRADE. ...IS STILL CAPTURING YOUNG MINDS. PLANES WERE DIVING FROM EVERY AREA. A SCRAPPY SEAMAN (20), STU WAS PLANNING FOR A PICNIC WITH GIRLFRIEND THAT DAY. STU WAS PLANNING FOR A PICNIC WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND THAT DAY. INSTEAD, HUNDREDS OF JAPANESE FIGHTER PLANES SWARMED THE SKIES, CLOBBERING EIGHT US BATTLESHIPS. WE HEARD, 'BAM!' AND THERE WENT THE ARIZONA, EXPLODING, 32 BODIES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. STU WAS ABOARD THE USS WEST VIRGINIA. ARCHIVE: YOU SEE THE BATTLESHIP WEST VIRGINIA ON FIRE. IT BLEW THE HATCH OFF RIGHT DOWN BY MY FEET. HE DOVE TO SAFETY THROUGH AN INFERNO OF BURNING OIL ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. HOTTEST BREATH OF AIR I EVER BREATHED IN MY LIFE. MORE THAN 2000 OF HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS DIED THAT DECEMBER 7TH. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT: A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY. STU WENT ON TO DEFEND HIS COUNTRY THROUGH 13 MORE BATTLES. 75 YEARS LATER, STU HAS RETURNED TO HAWAII WITH A GROUP OF 15 OTHER SURVIVORS,... ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. ...A JOURNEY ORGANISED BY THE GREATEST GENERATION FOUNDATION. GOOD TO SEE` YEAH. (PLAYS) TODAY A SOLEMN CEREMONY, GRATITUDE FOR THESE PRECIOUS FEW SURVIVORS. FOR THAT AND SO MUCH MORE, STU SAYS HE'S THE GRATEFUL ONE. MANY OF THESE FELLAS SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES. TRULY, THEY ARE THE HEROES, NOT US THAT SURVIVED. AND THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHINZO ABE, WILL LATER THIS MONTH BECOME THE FIRST LEADER OF HIS COUNTRY TO GO TO THE US NAVAL BASE IN HAWAII. A NEW MOTORWAY NORTH OF AUCKLAND, DUBBED BY SOME AS 'THE HOLIDAY HIGHWAY', COULD BE EXTENDED ALL THE WAY TO WHANGAREI. THE FIRST SOD OF THE INITIAL 18-KM SECTION THE FIRST SOD OF THE INITIAL 18KM SECTION FROM PUHOI TO WARKWORTH WAS TURNED IN A CEREMONY TODAY. THE ROAD WILL TAKE TRAFFIC OFF THIS EXISTING ROUTE. WE ARE CLEARLY COMMITTED TO DOING MUCH MORE THAN THAT TO TAKING THIS ROAD OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO WELLSFORD AND INDEED, FRANKLY SPEAKING, GOING FURTHER THAN THAT AS WELL AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO WHANGAREI OVER TIME. THE ROAD IS BEING BUILT AS A PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. AUTHORITIES ARE YET TO DECIDE WHETHER IT WILL BE A TOLL ROAD. MEANWHILE, A NEW BILLION-DOLLAR ROAD EARMARKED FOR AUCKLAND'S INDUSTRIAL SOUTH HAS HIT A SPEED BUMP IN THE FORM OF GROWING OPPOSITION FROM RESIDENTS. THE EAST-WEST LINK IS INTENDED TO EASE THE MOVEMENT OF CARS AND TRUCKS BUT LOCALS WORRY IT WILL CUT OFF THEIR WATERFRONT. WILL HINE REPORTS. IT'S A CONSTANT GO-SLOW IN ONEHUNGA AS TRUCKS NAVIGATE THEIR FREIGHT THROUGH SUBURBAN STREETS AND A SEA OF CARS. AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, IT'S JUST FULL OF TRUCKS GOING NOWHERE, IDLING IN HEAVY, CONGESTED TRAFFIC. THE PROPOSED SOLUTION IS A NEW FOUR-LANE ROAD FROM STATE HIGHWAY 1 AT MT WELLINGTON TO THE SOUTH-WESTERN MOTORWAY. KNOWN AS THE EAST-WEST LINK, IT WOULD RUN ALONG THIS FORESHORE AND COST UP TO $1.85B. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT IT AS AN INDUSTRY. IT IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. BUT SOME LOCALS WORRY THE ON- AND OFF-RAMPS WILL RUIN AN ONEHUNGA WHARF AREA RIPE FOR REVITALISATION. I CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT OF DISSATISFACTION WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT, AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT IN THE PAST, AND I CAN SEE, UNFORTUNATELY, PUBLIC PROTEST AND THINGS LIKE THAT IF THEY DON'T START LISTENING TO US. A CONSULTATION DRIVE HASN'T ALLEVIATED PUBLIC CONCERN. 400 PEOPLE TURNED UP TO THIS RECENT MEETING. IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, IT'S CONNECTION BACK TO THE WATER. WHY WOULDN'T THEY? WE'RE SICK OF BEING THE POOR COUSIN TO THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR. WE'RE SICK OF BEING THE POOR COUSIN TO THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR. IT'S TIME FOR THE MANUKAU HARBOUR TO HAVE A GOOD GO. THEY'VE PUT FORWARD THIS ALTERNATIVE CONCEPT WHICH WOULD SEND TRAFFIC AWAY FROM THE WATERFRONT. BUT THE TRANSPORT AGENCY SEES PROBLEMS WITH IT. FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S LARGE. IT'S GOT SOME LARGE VIADUCTS, ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS OF THE HARBOUR, TWO ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS, AND SOME OF THOSE VIADUCTS ARE REASONABLY HIGH. IT'S AGREED TO GET THE IDEA INDEPENDENTLY VETTED BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, INTENDS TO LODGE ITS OWN DESIGN PLANS FOR APPROVAL. THAT'S DESPITE PLEAS FROM AN AUCKLAND COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE TO HOLD OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY'LL HAVE THEIR CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR SAY. THE LOCALS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HAVE THAT SAY BUT FEARING THEY'RE NOT BEING LISTENED TO. WILL HINE, 1 NEWS. CHRISTCHURCH'S MAYOR HAS ANNOUNCED THE CITY'S HISTORIC LANCASTER PARK STADIUM IS UNECONOMIC TO REPAIR. LIANNE DALZIELL SAYS A SURVEYOR'S REPORT ESTIMATES IT WOULD COST UP TO $275M TO REPAIR LANCASTER PARK TO INTERNATIONAL RUGBY STANDARD ` WELL IN EXCESS OF THE $125M IT WAS INSURED FOR. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT JUST THE FOUNDATIONS ALONE WOULD BE UP TO $50M ON THEIR OWN, BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. A DECISION WILL BE MADE BY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER TO PREPARE A REPORT ON THE STADIUM'S DEMOLITION, WHICH WOULD COST $20M. MAYOR DALZIELL SAYS A DECISION ON WHETHER TO REBUILD THE STADIUM WHERE IT IS OR ELSEWHERE WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF FUTURE DEBATE. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT, AND IS SLEDGING NOW GONE FROM CRICKET? What will the Aussies do? It might save the black caps. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS LATEST, INTRIGUING MOVE NEXT. ALSO COMING UP ` THE TWO EXTREMES OF BOXING, FROM MANCHESTER TO AUCKLAND. THERE'S NO DISLIKE. THERE'S NO HATRED. THERE'S NOTHING. I THINK WE'RE BOTH CLASS. JOSEPH PARKER SIGNS UP TO A NEW INITIATIVE IN BOXING. PLUS, LYDIA KO MAKES A MAJOR CHANGE, WHICH HASN'T GONE DOWN WELL. AND WE MEET THE NEW AND UNIQUE BACKER OF NZ FOOTBALL. (SINGS AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS PROBABLY WON'T LIKE IT, BUT THE DAYS OF SLEDGING COULD BE OVER. THE SPORT'S LAWMAKERS ARE INTRODUCING A RED-CARD SYSTEM FOR UMPIRES TO SEND OFF ABUSIVE PLAYERS. THE NEW LAWS HAVE BEEN PROMPTED BY A SURVEY OF UMPIRES SUGGESTING THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. AT TEST-CRICKET LEVEL, THIS IS THE WORST EXAMPLE OF A PLAYER ABUSING AN UMPIRE ` WEST INDIES FAST BOWLER COLIN CROFT BARGING INTO KIWI UMPIRE FRED GOODALL BECAUSE HE HADN'T LIKED HIS DECISIONS. WELL, HE HIT UMPIRE FRED GOODALL ON HIS RUN-UP. THE INCIDENT IN 1980 WAS SPARKED BY GOODALL GIVING RICHARD HADLEE NOT-OUT TO AN APPEAL FOR CAUGHT BEHIND IN AN ACRIMONIOUS SERIES. THEY WOULDN'T TALK TO ME. THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY DECISIONS, AND CERTAIN COMMENTS WERE MADE. UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. ONE CAN ONLY WONDER WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. 36 YEARS LATER, IT'S TO AN MCC WORLD CRICKET MEETING IN INDIA RECOMMENDING PLAYERS BE SENT OFF FOR THREATENING AN UMPIRE, ASSAULT OR ANY OTHER ACT OF VIOLENCE. THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE OF UMPIRES, AND 40% OF THEM SAID THEY'D CONSIDERED GIVING UP THE GAME, GIVING UP UMPIRING, BECAUSE OF ABUSE. SUPPORT FOR THE RED CARD CAME, IRONICALLY, FROM A FORMER AUSSIE CAPTAIN, SEEN HERE HAVING A HUGE RANT OVER A DISPUTED CALL ` NOW SEEING THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS. THE MODERN PLAYER NOW UNDERSTANDS THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY AS WELL AS BEING ROLE MODELS AND TRYING TO PLAY THE GAME THE RIGHT WAY FOR YOUNGER KIDS. IN FACT, AUSSIES FEATURE PREDOMINANTLY AS SERIAL ABUSERS IN TESTS ` PONTING'S SUCCESSOR, MICHAEL CLARKE, WITH THIS SPRAY AT ENGLAND'S JIMMY ANDERSON. THEN THERE'S MITCHELL JOHNSON TAKING OFFENCE AT SCOTT STYRIS, WHO'D SMACKED HIM FOR SUCCESSIVE FOURS. AND A BIT OF` OH, HELMET TO FOREHEAD ALMOST LOOKED LIKE. JOHNSON AGAIN UNHAPPY AT KEVIN PIETERSEN BACKING AWAY, LETTING LOOSE WITHOUT ANY IMMEDIATE SANCTION. I THINK CRICKET IS THE ONLY GAME IN WHICH THERE ISN'T THIS POSSIBILITY OF AN IN-MATCH PUNISHMENT OR DETERRENT. THAT WILL CHANGE NEXT OCTOBER IF THE NEW LAWS ARE APPROVED. MARTIN TASKER, 1 NEWS. MEANWHILE, THE BLACKCAPS BRAINS TRUST DIDN'T FRONT THE MEDIA TODAY AFTER THE DISMAL CANBERRA SHOWING AGAINST AUSTRALIA ON TUESDAY. INSTEAD, WICKETKEEPER BJ WATLING FIELDED QUESTIONS ON THE EVE OF THE DEAD RUBBER. WE WANT TO IMPROVE ON THOSE LAST TWO PERFORMANCES. WE WEREN'T AT OUR BEST, AND, YEAH, I THINK IF WE CAN DO A FEW THINGS BETTER AND PUT THEM UNDER SOME PRESSURE, WE'LL BE BETTER OFF FOR IT. AND WE'VE JUST PLAYED BETTER CRICKET AT THE MOMENT. THAT'S NOT TO SAY IT WON'T CHANGE TOMORROW. I THINK THEY'VE GOT WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS. AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF AUSSIE ALL-ROUNDER GLENN MAXWELL IS RECALLED TO PLAY THE FINAL ODI ON HIS HOME TRACK, THE MCG. LYDIA KO'S OVERHAUL CONTINUES WITH THE WORLD GOLF NUMBER ONE NOW DUMPING COACH DAVID LEADBETTER AS SHE ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS A FORM SLUMP. IN OCTOBER KO SACKED HER AUSTRALIAN CADDIE JASON HAMILTON. SHE'S PLANNING AN EQUIPMENT CHANGE, AND NOW AFTER THREE YEARS WITH LEADBETTER, THAT RELATIONSHIP IS OVER AS WELL. SIMON'S GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO THROW SOME SWING TECHNIQUE AT HER, WHICH, YOU KNOW... JUST SOME DECISION-MAKING. CHANGING THE CADDY WITH THREE WEEKS TO GO AND SO ON, WHICH TO ME, WAS A CRAZY DECISION ` I DON'T KNOW WHOSE DECISION THAT WAS, WAS A CRAZY DECISION ` I DON'T KNOW WHOSE DECISION THAT WAS, IF IT WAS HERS OR HER PARENTS', I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT SEEMED NUTS. HE'S THE SECOND COACH TO WORK WITH THE 19-YEAR-OLD, WHO PARTED WAYS WITH LONG-TIME MENTOR GUY WILSON IN 2013. ORGANISERS OF THIS WEEKEND'S WBO HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT HAVE CONFIRMED THE BOXERS WILL BE DRUG-TESTED AFTER THE BOUT. THE SANCTIONING BODY HAS ORDERED TESTING IN TITLE FIGHTS, WHILE JOSEPH PARKER HIMSELF HAS SIGNED UP TO A VOLUNTARY TESTING AGREEMENT. THE MAIN PRE-FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD TODAY BUT NOT IN TYPICAL BOXING FASHION. BOTH BOXERS AND THEIR CAMPS CERTAINLY CUT RELAXED FIGURES TODAY ` JOSEPH PARKER AND HIS TEAM IN THEIR NUMBER-ONES, ANDY RUIZ CHILLED AS WELL. IN FACT, THE ONLY HEAT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS MILD. A LOTTA PEOPLE ARE UNDERESTIMATING ME ` THE WAY I LOOK OR HOW I AM. KEVIN BARRY: I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT WE'RE NOT ESTIMATING ANDY. THE BOXERS' FAMILIES ALSO JOINED THE MUTUAL RESPECT CLUB, PARKER AND RUIZ POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH EACH OTHER'S MOTHERS. WHEN DO YOU START DISLIKING HIM? (CHUCKLES) THERE'S NO DISLIKE. I S'POSE SOME PEOPLE CAN'T WEIGH UP THE FACT THAT YOU ACTUALLY QUITE LIKE ANDY... YEAH. ...AND ON SATURDAY YOU'RE GOING IN THERE TO KNOCK HIS BLOCKS OFF. NO, I MEAN, THERE'S NO DISLIKE; THERE'S NO HATRED; THERE'S NOTHING. I THINK WE'RE BOTH CLASS. I THINK BOXING'S ONE OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE YOU HAVE TO SHOW A LOTTA RESPECT. THE STAR OF THE WELL-PATRONISED SHOW WAS VETERAN PROMOTER BOB ARUM. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY. APPLAUSE, WHISTLING ARUM KEPT PROCEEDINGS UPBEAT. YEAH, I KNOW IT'S RINGING, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT. CELL PHONE RINGS IT ALWAYS RINGS. (CHUCKLES) LAUGHTER SO WHAT IF THE FIGHT ENDS IN A DRAW? MAYBE WE'LL DO A REMATCH AT CHRISTCHURCH, I DUNNO. THEY HAVE AN ARENA? LAUGHTER LET'S ROLL AGAIN NEXT WEEK. AWAY FROM THE LIGHTER SIDE AND THE USUAL STARE-DOWN, THE PROMOTERS HAVE CONFIRMED BOTH BOXERS ARE SUBJECT TO DRUG TESTS. IT'S MANDATORY THAT OUR GUYS ARE CLEAN; IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. YOU CAN CONFIRM BOTH BOXERS WILL BE TESTED POST-FIGHT ON SATURDAY NIGHT. BOTH BOXERS WILL BE TESTED POST-FIGHT, YEAH. UNLIKE A NUMBER OF OTHER WORLD-RANKED HEAVYWEIGHTS, PARKER AND RUIZ HAVE SIGNED UP TO VADA, THE VOLUNTARY ANTI-DOPING AGENCY. THE WEIGH-IN TAKES PLACE TOMORROW. SPARKS ARE UNLIKELY THERE AS WELL. WHILE IT WAS ALL VERY ORDERLY IN AUCKLAND, IT WAS ANYTHING BUT BETWEEN TWO RIVAL HEAVYWEIGHTS AHEAD OF THEIR BRITISH TITLE FIGHT IN MANCHESTER. DERECK CHISORA AND DILLIAN WHYTE DON'T LIKE EACH AND WERE BUSY TRADING VERBALS WHEN CHISORA LOST THE PLOT. I AM THE BADDEST ... THERE'S EVER BEEN. JOSEPH PARKER WASN'T BUYING IN TO A REPEAT OF THAT. THERE'S GOTTA BE RESPECT, AND WHEN YOU HAVE MORE RESPECT, I THINK YOU'LL BE BETTER IN THE RING. AND IN ANY CASE, PARKER SAYS THE TABLES AT THE AUCKLAND FUNCTION WERE TOO HEAVY TO TOSS. NZ FOOTBALL HAS SECURED A MAJOR BOOST WITH FUNDING FROM A NAME WHICH IS BECOMING FAMILIAR IN KIWI SPORT. JAPANESE PHILANTHROPIST DR HARUHISA HANDA AND HIS INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY HAVE SIGNED ON FOR THREE YEARS. ISPS, IS THE NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR FOR THE NZ MEN'S GOLF OPEN, ALSO SUPPORTING OUR OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC TEAMS. ITS FOUNDER HAS LOFTY DREAMS FOR FOOTBALL HERE. ITS FOUNDER HAS LOFTY DREAMS FOR FOOTBALL HERE. MY IDEA OF FUTURE FIGURE IS WHEN IT COMES TO NZ ` OH, VERY STRONG COMPANY. RUGBY AND FOOTBALL, BOTH, STRONG COUNTRY. (SINGS PASSIONATELY) THE JAPANESE BILLIONAIRE ALSO INDULGED IN OPERA AT TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, ONE OF HIS OTHER PASSIONS. WARREN GATLAND HAS UNVEILED HIS ASSISTANTS FOR NEXT YEAR'S LIONS TOUR HERE. INTERIM WALES BOSS ROB HOWLEY AND IRELAND DEFENCE COACH ANDY FARRELL ARE JOINED BY NEWCOMER STEVE BORTHWICK. BORTHWICK CAPTAINED ENGLAND ON THEIR 2008 TOUR HERE. HE'S NOW THE ENGLAND FORWARDS COACH. BORTHWICK THOUGHT HE'D MISSED THE CHANCE TO BE INVOVLED WITH THE LIONS. I THOUGHT THE OPPORTUNITY INVOLVED PASSED, SO NOW, TO BE ASKED TO BE INVOLVED AS PART OF THE COACHING TEAM ` AS ANDY SAYS, IT'S A PRIVILEGE. IT'S AN HONOUR. IT'S VERY HUMBLING. AS ANDY SAYS, IT'S A PRIVILEGE. IT'S AN HONOUR. IT'S VERY HUMBLING. THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION FORMER FIJI SEVENS COACH BEN RYAN COULD BE NAMED IN A SPECIALIST ROLE WITH THE TEAM, BUT GATLAND ISN'T GIVING ANYTHING AWAY. JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE SPEAK TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND GET THEIR PERMISSION AND RELEASE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. THERE'S ALREADY A FEELING OF CONFIDENCE AFTER STRONG PERFORMANCES FROM THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TEAMS IN THE END-OF-YEAR TESTS. BEING AN ATHLETE TAKES DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE, BEING AN ATHLETE TAKES DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE, BUT IF YOU'RE FROM QUAKE-AFFECTED KAIKOURA, AT THE MOMENT, IT ALSO TAKES A BIT OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. SAM CLARKE HAS ONE YOUNG ATHLETE'S STORY. ALICE FISSENDEN (11) HAS A DREAM. I WANNA GO TO THE OLYMPICS AND WIN. (CHUCKLES) BUT THINGS MOVE AT SLOWER PACE WHEN YOU'RE TRAPPED IN KAIKOURA. WE CAN'T GET ANY PRACTICE OR TRAINING A TRACK, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT GRASS HERE. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH FACILITIES IN KAIKOURA. SHORT-TERM, HER GOAL IS A TOP THREE AT THE COLGATE YOUTH ATHLETIC GAMES, SOMETHING SHE'D USUALLY BE TRAINING FOR WITH HER COACH IN BLENHEIM, BUT WITH THE ROADS CUT OFF, BIG COUSIN GRACE WILL HAVE TO DO. IT'S FUN, BECAUSE I HAVE SOMEBODY TO, LIKE, TRY AND CATCH. MUM, EMMA, SAYS GETTING BACK IN TO SPORT WAS IMPORTANT AFTER THE QUAKE. IT WAS GREAT FOR HER JUST TO HAVE THAT LITTLE BIT OF NORMALITY BACK WHEN LIFE EVERYWHERE WAS JUST CRAZY FOR US. EVEN THOUGH THE GRASS IS A LITTLE LONGER HERE AT ALICE'S SCHOOL, AND THE LONG-JUMP PIT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS, THEY'RE MAKING IT WORK. SET. (CLAPS) GRACE ISN'T ALICE'S ONLY ROLE MODEL, THOUGH. I LIKE USAIN BOLT AND SHELLEY-ANNE FRASER-PRYCE. BUT IN HER EYES THERE'S ONE ATHLETE ABOVE THEM ALL. MY FAVOURITE IS ELIZA MCCARTNEY. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TRAINING REALLY REALLY HARD AND THERE'S JUST SOMEONE WHO'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. ELIZA MCCARTNEY, ARE YOU THERE? I AM. HELLO. (GASPS) HELLO! A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A BIT ABOUT TRAINING. I JUST WANTED TO SAY VERY GOOD LUCK TO YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN AND TRY YOUR HARDEST, AND I'M SURE IT'LL GO REALLY WELL. A BIT OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS PINT-SIZED SPRINTER, WHO'LL BE SPRINGING OFF THE BLOCKS WHEN THE ROADS OPEN AGAIN. SAM CLARKE, 1 NEWS. Nice touch, Eliza. Good on you, Alice. LAUGHTER I use Colgate, if that helps. Seven sharp is coming up. Tim Olsen is becoming a boxing coach. ALSO TONIGHT ` WE ALL KNOW THAT POKIE MACHINES ARE ADDICTIVE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ROOMS THEY'RE IN? TONIGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW GAMING LOUNGES ARE DESIGNED FOR ADDICTION AND WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STEP IN. PLUS THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS THAT GO INTO CRAFTING AN AWARD-WINNING HOUSE. THERE'S SOME SWEAR WORDS? NO. NO. (CHUCKLES) YEAH, RIGHT (!) AND WHY THIS UNIQUELY KIWI SONG... # TUTIRA MAI NGA IWI. ...IS CAPTIVATING KIDS AROUND THE WORLD. MORE AT SEVEN SHARP. HELLO AGAIN. THE SOUTH ISLAND CONTINUES TO CLEAR UP TOMORROW, WHILE CLOUD IS EXPECTED TO LINGER ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND, BRINGING WITH IT A RISK OF SHOWERS FOR MOST PLACES. HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE SAT CAM. EXTENSIVE BRIGHT FRONTAL CLOUD LIES OVER THE EASTERN NORTH ISLAND, EXTENDING ACROSS UPPER SOUTH ISLAND INTO THE LOW WEST OF BULLER. DULL LOW-LEVEL CLOUD LINGERS ABOUT WESTERN AREAS DULL LOW-LEVEL CLOUD LINGERS ABOUT WESTERN AREAS AND BACK INTO THE TASMAN SEA. CLEARER SKY OVER THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND UNDER AN ADVANCING RIDGE. CLEAR ALSO ACROSS THE REST OF THE TASMAN SEA UNDER A HIGH. THE FRONTAL SYSTEM CONTINUES DRIFTING ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT AND ALL BUT FADING AWAY TOMORROW AS IT STRUGGLES THROUGH A RIDGE LYING FURTHER TO THE EAST. NOT A GREAT DEAL OF WIND AROUND TOMORROW, AS SHOWN BY THE LACK OF ISOBARS OVER THE COUNTRY, SO LOW CLOUD LEFT OVER FROM THAT FRONTAL SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO LINGER OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NZ. MEANWHILE, A STRENGTHENING NORTH-WEST FLOW DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TOMORROW AHEAD OF AN ACTIVE TROUGH RACING ACROSS THE TASMAN SEA. CLOUDY IN THE EAST AND THE NORTH WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS, BUT CLOUD MOSTLY CLEARING IN THE MORNING AND BECOMING FINE. SUNSHINE ELSEWHERE APART FROM AREAS OF MORNING CLOUD. HOWEVER, CLOUD INCREASING IN THE WEST WITH DRIZZLE DEVELOPING ABOUT THE FIORDLAND COAST. NORTH-EAST WINDS STRENGTHENING IN THE SOUTH. MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE WEST WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS, BUT SHOWERS CLEARING THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE MORNING. CLOUDY ALSO IN THE EAST WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS, THEN AN AFTERNOON FINE SPELL DEVELOPING. HEAVY AND POSSIBLY THUNDERY SHOWERS ARE THEN LIKELY TO BUBBLE UP OVER THE NORTH-EASTERN INTERIOR OF THE NORTH ISLAND TOMORROW AFTERNOON WITH THE HEAT OF THE DAY. GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ SO, THE GARDENS GET A GOOD WATERING. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING. That is one way of looking at it. Terrible news with a winning smile.