Good evening. A fairly settled into the working week across the country today. Some showers and cloudy spots. There is a trough in the wings plotting a dampner on the weekend. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. JAILED FOR AT LEAST 17 YEARS FOR KILLING ROAD WORKER GEORGE TAIAROA. BUT QUINTON WINDERS' FAMILY AREN'T HAPPY. WE AS A FAMILY WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR MY BROTHER'S FREEDOM AND THIS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. THE TRIAL OF THE PROMINENT ACTOR CHARGED WITH SEXUAL OFFENCES DURING ACTING CLASSES IS SUDDENLY ABORTED. AND JOSEPH PARKER MUSCLES UP AS HE AND ANDY RUIZ FINALLY STRIP OFF AFTER ALL THE TALK ABOUT THE MEXICAN'S DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS. KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. IT WAS A CRIME THAT MYSTIFIED THE NATION. NOW THE MAN WHO MURDERED ROAD WORKER GEORGE TAIAROA WILL SPEND AT LEAST 17 YEARS BEHIND BARS. THE SENTENCING JUDGE TOLD A ROTORUA COURT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE QUINTON WINDERS HAS A PERSONALITY DISORDER, AND THERE'S STILL NO EXPLANATION FOR HIS CRUEL AND VIOLENT ACTIONS. CHRIS CHANG REPORTS. QUINTON WINDERS WAS DESCRIBED BY THE JUDGE AS A LONER, A KILLER. IT WAS AN ENTIRELY UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON AN UNSUSPECTING MAN. IN COURT, GEORGE TAIAROA'S FAMILY SAID THEY'D LOST A GENEROUS, VALUED TAONGA ` A TREASURE. MR TAIAROA WAS SHOT DEAD AT POINT-BLANK RANGE BY WINDERS THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, A WEEK AFTER A MINOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT AT A STOP-GO POINT. THE JUDGE TOLD THE COURT THERE WAS STILL NO EXPLANATION FOR THE TERRIBLE CRIME. JUSTICE TOOGOOD TOLD WINDERS THIS WAS A CALLOUS, CALCULATED CRIME. HE SAID IT WAS A PREMEDITATED, COLD-BLOODED EXECUTION. IN VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS, MR TAIAROA'S FAMILY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MAN THEY DESCRIBED AS A 'SOCIAL BUTTERFLY'. 'I MISS HIM MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS, 'ESPECIALLY ON THOSE SPECIAL DAYS LIKE FATHER'S DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY.' WINDERS AND HIS FAMILY MAINTAIN HE'S INNOCENT. WE AS A FAMILY WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR MY BROTHER'S FREEDOM AND THIS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. BUT THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY WARNED WINDERS THAT IF HE CAN'T ACCEPT HIS GUILT, HE'LL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THE PAROLE BOARD HE SHOULD BE RELEASED AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. IN A SURPRISE MOVE, THE TRIAL OF A PROMINENT AUCKLAND ACTOR CHARGED WITH NUMEROUS SEX CRIMES HAS BEEN ABORTED JUST TWO DAYS AFTER IT BEGAN. THERE ARE HEAVY SUPPRESSIONS SURROUNDING THE CASE. THE MAN'S ACCUSED OF OFFENCES INVOLVING FOUR WOMEN HE COACHED IN ACTING CLASSES. HERE'S JESSICA MUTCH. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TELL YOU THE NAME, THE AGE OR THE ETHNICITY OF THE MAN ACCUSED. HE'S FACING 10 CHARGES OF INDECENT ASSAULT AND TWO CHARGES OF SEXUAL VIOLATION AGAINST FOUR WOMEN BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013. IT'S ALLEGED THE WOMEN WERE ABUSED DURING ACTING CLASSES. ONE OF THE WITNESSES TALKED ABOUT HAVING ONE ON ONE LESSONS WITH THE ACTOR THAT INVOLVED TOUCHING AND KISSING. THE REASON THIS TRIAL HAS BEEN TERMINATED HAS ALSO BEEN SUPRESSED. THE JUDGE TOLD THE JURY... THIS TRIAL WAS MEANT TO LAST FOR 12 DAYS. IT'S NOW BEEN CALLED OFF AFTER JUST THREE. NEXT WEEK THERE WILL BE ANOTHER HEARING TO DECIDE WHETHER NAME SUPPRESSION WILL CONTINUE. THE DASH TO BE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HAS SOCIAL HOUSING MINISTER PAULA BENNETT IN FRONT, ACCORDING TO 1 NEWS SOURCES. BUT HER CHALLENGER, SIMON BRIDGES, BELIEVES HE'LL HAVE THE NUMBERS TO WIN COME MONDAY. POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE HAS BEEN QUIZZING NATIONAL MP'S. THE CONTEST TO BE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WAS HEATING UP, BOTH SIMON BRIDGES AND PAULA BENNETT GIVING IT THEIR BEST SHOT TODAY, WITH PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PHOTO OPS THAT COULD GO BADLY WRONG. IT STARTED OFF FRIENDLY,... SIMON IS A GREAT GUY WITH HUGE TALENT. PAULA AND I ARE GOOD MATES. ...BUT THEN THEIR COLLEAGUES BEGAN SAYING PUBLICLY WHICH WAY THEY'D VOTE. WELL, I ACTUALLY I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT'S THREE NAMES, SO THAT'S THREE OUT OF 58, COS I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR MYSELF. WHAT I OFFER IS SOME CHANGE AND RENEWAL ` A SENSE THAT THERE IS A FRESHNESS, THAT THIS ISN'T JUST A CONTINUATION OF THE JOHN KEY GOVERNMENT. WEST AUCKLANDERS HAVE GOT THE REP OF SHOOTING FROM THE HIP A LITTLE BIT AND SAYING WHAT THEY MEAN. SO HOW ARE THEIR NUMBERS ADDING UP? AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE DECLARED SUPPORT, MRS BENNETT IS A CLEAR FRONTRUNNER. SIMON BRIDGES IS TRAILING, WITH FEWER MP'S PREPARED TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT HIM. REMEMBER ` 30 VOTES WINS IT. THEY ARE TRYING TO POSITION IT THAT THEY HAVE GOT THE BACKBENCH, BUT THAT BACKBENCH CAN SEE I'VE GOT CERTAINLY GOT SOMETHING TO ADD AS WELL. I'M PLAYING TO WIN. I THINK I'VE GOT A GOOD STORY TO TELL. MR BRIDGES ADMITTED IT WAS A TOUGH CLIMB TO THE TOP. BUT HE GOT SOME WELCOME SUPPORT FROM A FORMER LABOUR LEADER WHO KNOWS A LITTLE ABOUT INTERNAL RIVALRY. I THINK A YOUNG GENERATION WOULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR PARLIAMENT, AND SIMON HAS PROVEN HIMSELF. BUT THE MAN THEY'LL SERVE, PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH, WOULDN'T SAY WHO HE WANTS IN HIS CORNER, WHILE THE CANDIDATES DELIVERED A SOFTER PITCH TODAY OVER POLICY. I'LL BRING ALL THAT I AM. I'M MAORI, I'M A WOMAN, I'M AN AUCKLANDER, I'M A BIT LOUDER SOMETIMES. I CAN'T CHANGE WHO I AM. I CLASS MYSELF AS A PRETTY GOOD DRUMMER, AND, LOOK, IF I HADN'T GONE INTO LAW AND THEN POLITICS, WHO KNOWS, MAYBE I WOULD BE ON THE PUB CIRCUIT RIGHT NOW. BUT, COME MONDAY'S DECIDING VOTE, THE DEBATE PROMISES TO BE BOTH STRONG AND HEATED. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. AND ANDREA JOINS US NOW. YOU'VE BEEN ACROSS DEVELOPMENTS. ANY UPDATE ON THE NUMBERS? As he saw there, the public numbers have Paula Bennett well in front. By our counts privately, there are more than 30 Mps who are prepared to vote for Paula Bennetts on Monday. Everyone else, she is prepared to wait for their vote on Monday. She said she was nervous. She doesn't know if she has 30 votes. Both those candidates, Mr Bridges and Mrs Bennett, will be working to shore up votes. THE NEW GUARD IS ON THE WAY, BUT JOHN KEY STILL HAS A FEW OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS TO TICK OFF AS PRIME MINISTER. HE WAS IN CHRISTCHURCH TODAY TO INSPECT THE NEW JUSTICE PRECINCT. MR KEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES IN HIS FIRST TERM AS PRIME MINISTER. HE SAYS IT'S BEEN A SPECIAL DAY IN THE CITY HE WAS BROUGHT UP IN. IT'S VERY POIGNANT THAT THIS IS REALLY MY LAST FULL WORKING DAY AND IT'S BACK IN CHRISTCHURCH. I GREW UP IN CHRISTCHURCH. IT'S BEEN MY HOME. IT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN PRIME MINISTER. THE OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER WILL HAND OVER THE REINS TO BILL ENGLISH ON MONDAY. A PERSON IS DEAD AFTER A BUS AND A VAN COLLIDED ON A MAIN ROAD IN THE CLIP AUCKLAND SUBURB OF BIRKENHEAD AROUND MIDDAY. THE DRIVER OF THE VAN DIED, AND THE BUS DRIVER HAS MINOR INJURES. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS ON THE BUS AT THE TIME. THE ROAD WAS CLOSED AND DIVERSIONS WERE IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. A SPARK FROM A WOODWORKING LASER IS THE LIKELY SOURCE OF A FIRE AT WELLINGTON'S HUTT VALLEY HIGH. FLAMES ENGULFED THE SCHOOL'S TECHNOLOGY BLOCK, WHICH HOUSES THE COOKING AND WOODWORK ROOMS JUST AFTER 11 THIS MORNING. IT TOOK FIREFIGHTERS 20 MINUTES TO GET THE BLAZE UNDER CONTROL. WITHIN SECONDS, EVERYONE WAS ON THE FIELD. IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO WALK OVER THERE, AND YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT, YOU SEE CLASSMATES SCREAMING AND PANICKING, AND YOU REALISE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, AND YOU LOOK OVER, AND THERE'S JUST ASHES AND GREY, HUGE CLOUDS. STUDENTS WERE SENT HOME FOR THE DAY, BUT THE SCHOOL WILL REOPEN ON MONDAY. THE HEALTH OF KAIKOURA'S ECONOMY AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY IS SET FOR A BOOST IN THE WAKE OF THE DAMAGING EARTHQUAKE. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSION OF A SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR BUSINESSES, WHILE HEALTH SERVICES WILL ALSO RECEIVE A CASH INJECTION. SAM CLARKE'S BEEN IN KAIKOURA. THE NIGHT BEFORE THE QUAKE, ANTON EVANS WAS READY TO OPEN THE DOORS ON HIS NEW AND IMPROVED STORE. NOW EVEN IF THERE WERE CUSTOMERS, THEY WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED IN. IT HASN'T BEEN EASY, BUT JUST LOOKING FORWARD, BE POSITIVE. THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME BACK, AND IT'LL BETTER THAN IT EVER WAS BEFORE. THE GOVERNMENTS BUSINESS PACKAGE HAS KEPT THE SHOP AFLOAT. THE CONTRIBUTION OF $500 PER WEEK FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE HAS MEANT THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO LET ANYONE GO. BUT IT'S A LONG WAY OFF BUSINESS AS USUAL. VERY, VERY, VERY BASIC. WE NEED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TURNOVER TO KEEP THIS BUSINESS AFLOAT. MORE THAN 600 BUSINESSES HAVE APPLIED FOR THE PACKAGE. TODAY'S EXTENSION OF ANOTHER EIGHT WEEKS WAS A WELCOME RELIEF. WE'RE GOING INTO THAT PEAK SEASON, WHICH WE MAY NOT HAVE THIS YEAR, AND IT'S KEEPING THEIR STAFF ON THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE, AND THEY WANT TO DO IT, AND THEY WANT TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO, YEAH, AN ABSOLUTE PLUS. IT'S GOOD NEWS. WE'VE GOT TO HELP KEEP THE TOWN TOGETHER WHILE THE ACCESS TO TOURISTS COMES BACK. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED A NEAR $4M HEALTHCARE PACKAGE, WHICH WILL PAY OFF KAIKOURA'S NEW MEDICAL FACILITY, BRING IN MORE STAFF AND EXTEND FREE GP VISITS TO AFFECTED PARTS OF NORTH CANTERBURY UNTIL MID-NEXT YEAR. WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO BARRIER FOR PEOPLE GETTING TO THE DOCTOR AT ALL. IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN AFFORD TO COME UP AND SEE THE DOCTOR OR SEE THE NURSE. THE GOVERNMENT'S ALSO LAID DOWN A SET OF GUIDELINES TO HELP BOOST MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN TIMES OF EMERGENCIES. IT'LL MEAN MEDICAL CENTRES JUST LIKE THIS ONE ARE BETTER PREPARED TO GIVE OUT HELP WHERE IT'S REALLY NEEDED. IT MAY BE A WHILE BEFORE THE KAIKOURA COMMUNITY IS BACK TO NORMAL, BUT THERE'S SOME RELIEF IN KNOWING THEY HAVE SUPPORT. SAM CLARKE, 1 NEWS. THE DEMOLITION OF A QUAKE-DAMAGED BUILDING IN WELLINGTON IS TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED, WITH BAD WEATHER AND MACHINE BREAKDOWNS BEING BLAMED. BUSINESSES NEAR DAMAGED BUILDINGS AROUND THE CITY ARE STILL FACING CHALLENGES, FORCING SOME TO COME UP WITH UNIQUE SOLUTIONS. BRIAR WELLS REPORTS. PIECE BY PIECE, 61 MOLESWORTH ST IS COMING DOWN, CHEWED APART BY A HIGH-REACH EXCAVATOR. BUT 11 DAYS AFTER WORK BEGAN, THE SCHEDULE HAS TAKEN A HIT. WE'VE HAD A FEW ISSUES WITH THE WIND AND THE WEATHER ` THE WELLINGTON WEATHER. THE CHRISTCHURCH CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN SAYING, 'OH MY GOD, I'VE NEVER WORKED IN SUCH A WINDY CITY.' NEARBY WORKERS KEEPING AN EYE ON PROGRESS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO NAVIGATE CORDONS AROUND THE BUILDING. I THINK ONCE IT'S OVER, IT WILL BE A BIT EASIER TO GET TO WORK. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL FINISH BY CHRISTMAS, BUT WE HOPE. THAT'S ALSO WHAT THE COUNCIL'S HOPING FOR, WITH ROADS AROUND THE SITE DUE TO BE REOPENED BY NEXT THURSDAY ` NEWS NEIGHBOURING BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET HAS FACED A BIG DROP IN CUSTOMERS. A LOT OF CUSTOMERS WOULD COME TO US AFTER WORK. WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT. ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF DISPLACED OFFICE WORKERS, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, WHO JUST ARE NOT THERE. WHILE THEY'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN LOWER HUTT HAVEN'T BEEN SO LUCKY, FORCED TO CLOSE WHILE PART OF QUEENSGATE MALL IS BROUGHT DOWN. BUT WITH A BIT OF KIWI INGENUITY, SHOPPERS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR CHRISTMAS FARE AT A POP-UP MARKET IN THEIR CAR PARK. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BILLS TO PAY OURSELVES. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PAY, A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AFTER. BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE COULD BE THREE BIG DEMOLITIONS TAKING PLACE AROUND THE CITY. A PLAN TO BRING DOWN THE QUAKE-DAMAGED READING CINEMA CAR PARK IS STILL BEING FINALISED, BUT INITIAL ESTABLISHMENT WORK COULD GET UNDERWAY ANY DAY NOW. WE'RE GOING TO HELP IN EVERY WAY WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT AREA DEALT WITH AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. NOT QUICKLY ENOUGH FOR THOSE WANTING TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE FESTIVE SEASON. BRIAR WELLS, 1 NEWS. BOXING PROMOTERS WON'T PULL ANY PUNCHES AGAINST INTERNET PIRATES TARGETING TOMORROW NIGHT'S BIG FIGHT, WITH CONFIRMATION TODAY SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ILLEGALLY LIVE-STREAMING JOSEPH PARKER'S LAST BOUT. THEY WERE FINED $100 DAMAGES PLUS COSTS OF MORE THAN $2500 EACH. SKY TV AND DUCO EVENTS PROMISED TO HAVE A LARGER TEAM WORKING THIS WEEKEND TO FIND ANYONE BREACHING COPYRIGHT. THE FIGHT'S SET TO MAKE HISTORY WHICHEVER WAY IT GOES; THERE'S NEVER BEEN A NZ OR MEXICAN WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. HERE'S HOW THEY LINE UP ` PARKER, AGED 24, THREE YEARS YOUNGER THAN RUIZ, AT 6'3" OR 1.93M, HAS A CONSIDERABLE HEIGHT ADVANTAGE. A SLIGHTLY LONGER REACH TOO SHOULD HELP KEEP THE AGGRESSIVE GO-FORWARD MEXICAN AT BAY. AND THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT WEIGHT REVEALED TODAY ` PARKER NEARLY 112 KILOS; RUIZ, 4 KILOS HEAVIER. LET'S LOOK NOW AT THEIR FIGHT RECORD. BOTH CONTENDERS ARE UNBEATEN. PARKER 21 WINS; 18 BY KNOCKOUT ` AN 86% KO RATE. RUIZ HAS HAD EIGHT MORE PRO BOUTS, BUT A MUCH LOWER KNOCKOUT RATE OF 66%. SO RUIZ IS THE MORE EXPERIENCED BOXER, BUT BOTH FIGHTERS ARE CLAIMING TO HAVE THE FASTEST HANDS IN THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION. ANDREW SAVILLE WAS AT THE WEIGH-IN TODAY WITH JOSEPH PARKER'S CLOSEST SUPPORTERS. CHEERING, MAN ANNOUNCES INDISTINCTLY JOSEPH PARKER LOOKED IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE ON THE SCALES TODAY, COMPARED TO HIS OPPONENT THE HEAVYSET MEXICAN-AMERICAN ANDY RUIZ. ONE PERSON LOOKING ON INTENTLY WAS MUM. OH, IT'S A BIT SCARY. WORRIES, BUTTERFLIES. QUITE A DIFFERENT STORY FOR HER SON. YOU'RE LOOKING REALLY RELAXED, REALLY RELAXED. RELAXED? ALWAYS RELAXED. I TRUST IN MY WORK. AND I'M EXCITED, MAN. THIS IS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD. PARKER'S TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY IS GATHERING AROUND THEIR BOY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. HIS TWO UNCLES WILL LEAD HIM INTO THE RING TOMORROW NIGHT, LIKE THEY'VE DONE FOR EVERY FIGHT. DOES IT NOT SURPRISE YOU THAT HE'S GOT TO THIS STAGE? THAT HE NOW FIGHTING FOR A WORLD TITLE? NO, IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME BECAUSE THAT WAS OUR AIM. OUR GOAL WAS TO SET HIGH GOALS SO HE COULD REACH THE TOP. PARKER CAME ON TO OUR RADAR SIX YEARS AGO. A YEAR EARLIER, HE WROTE IN HIS HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK HE WOULD BOX FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE. SOME OF HIS TEACHERS DOUBTED HIM ` YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT IN THE WORLD. AND THEN HE WROTE IT IN THE BOOK, 'I'M GOING TO. 'THAT'S MY CHALLENGE TO MYSELF.' SO HE WROTE IT DOWN. AND LOOK WHERE HE IS TODAY. TODAY... AND TOMORROW WILL TELL. PARKER'S MUM WILL ADD THE LAST MINUTE TOUCH TOMORROW NIGHT. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALISE THIS, BUT YOU ARE ALWAYS THE LAST TO HUG JOSEPH BEFORE HE GOES INTO THE RING. YOU WILL DO THAT TOMORROW. WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO HIM TOMORROW NIGHT? ONLY A FEW WORDS, 'I LOVE YOU, SON. 'TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AND GOD BLESS.' THE PARKERS AND THEIR BOY ARE NOW ON THE VERGE OF REALISING A DREAM. IT'S TIME, BROTHER. ANDREW SAVILLE, 1 NEWS IT HASN'T TAKEN THAT LONG FOR BORIS JOHNSON TO MAKE A SLIP. JUST AHEAD ` BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY'S BEEN CAUGHT TAKING A POT AT THE SAUDIS. ONLY PROBLEM IS, HIS BOSS WAS BUSY AT THE TIME FORGING TIES WITH THE KINGDOM. HE WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH AT THE HEIGHT OF THE '60S SPACE RACE. WE LOOK BACK ON THE LIFE OF JOHN GLENN, THE ASTRONAUT THEY SAY WAS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO. BUT MICK JAGGER'S SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. THE ROLLING STONE FOLLOWS A NEW ALBUM RELEASE WITH THE BIRTH OF HIS EIGHTH CHILD AT 73. SOLOMON ISLANDS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN RATTLED BY A DAY OF AFTERSHOCKS IN THE WAKE OF A 7.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE. THE QUAKE HIT THIS MORNING AT 4.30 LOCAL TIME, CAUSING DAMAGE TO SOME BUILDINGS. HOWEVER, NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. NZ CIVIL DEFENCE ISSUED A TSUNAMI THREAT WARNING SOON AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE. IT WAS LATER CANCELLED. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS HAD A VERY PUBLIC TELLING OFF FROM HIS PRIME MINISTER. BORIS JOHNSON ACCUSED KEY ALLY SAUDI ARABIA OF FIGHTING WHAT HE CALLED PROXY WARS. IT COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THERESA MAY VISITED THE SAUDI KING. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING HAS MORE ON THE EMBARRASSING BLUNDER. REPORTER: ARE WE STILL ALLIES WITH THE SAUDIS? BORIS JOHNSON'S NOT AFRAID OF BEING LOUD... WHEN IT COMES TO HIS CHOICE OF RUNNING SHORTS OR VOICING HIS OPINIONS. IS IT WISE TO UPSET THE SAUDIS' FOREIGN SECRETARY? THE QUESTION SPARKED BY A VIDEO THAT'S EMERGED FROM A CONFERENCE IN ITALY LAST WEEK WHEN THE FOREIGN SECRETARY APPEARS TO OPENLY CRITICISE ONE OF BRITAIN'S ALLIES. YOU'VE GOT THE SAUDIS, THE IRAN, EVERYBODY, MOVING IN AND PUPPETEERING AND PLAYING PROXY WARS, AND IT'S A TRAGEDY TO WATCH IT. HIS TIMING WAS OFF. PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY HAS JUST RETURNED FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE SHE MET THE SAUDI KING TO BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP. NUMBER 10 WASN'T HAPPY, STATING... BRITAIN WANTS CLOSER TIES WITH SAUDI ARABIA TO FIGHT TERRORISM. IT ALSO SELLS THE KINGDOM BILLIONS IN WEAPONS AND WARPLANES. THE UK BACKS THE SAUDI-LED COALITION FIGHTING A WAR IN YEMEN, DESPITE GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. HE IS RIGHT TO RAISE THOSE CONCERNS, BUT I THINK I HAVE TO CAUTION HIM THAT HE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY AMONGST OTHER SENIOR FOREIGN SECRETARIES AROUND THE WORLD TO TRY AND BRING THESE TWO PARTIES TOGETHER. WHEN BORIS JOHNSON WAS THE MAYOR OF LONDON, PEOPLE REVELLED IN HIS COLOURFUL COMMENTS AND SPEECHES. BUT THE ROLE OF FOREIGN SECRETARY REQUIRES A MORE SUBTLE TURN OF PHRASE, AND THERE ARE CONCERNS HE'LL SOON LAND HIS COUNTRY IN DIPLOMATIC HOT WATER. ARE YOU ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS? CHILDREN: YES! IT REFLECTS BADLY ON THE PRIME MINISTER. SHE ONLY GAVE HIM THE JOB A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT HE HAS THE CHANCE TO CLARIFY HIS VIEWS WHEN HE VISITS SAUDI ARABIA THIS WEEKEND. EMMA KEELING, ONE NEWS, LONDON A FOOTBALLER WHO SURVIVED THE PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED 19 OF HIS TEAMMATES IN COLOMBIA IS ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. ALAN RUSCHEL THANKED FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SAID HE'D BE GOING HOME TO BRAZIL SOON. THE 27-YEAR-OLD WAS FIRST TO BE PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE AFTER LAST WEEK'S CRASH LEFT HIM WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURES. 71 PEOPLE DIED WHEN THE PLANE WENT DOWN, REPORTEDLY AFTER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. THERE WERE SIX SURVIVORS. TRAILBLAZING ASTRONAUT JOHN GLENN, THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 95. IT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SPACE RACE IN 1962 WHEN GLENN BLASTED OFF, INSTANTLY BECOMING AN AMERICAN HERO. ABC'S DAVID WRIGHT HAS MORE. 10, NINE... HE WAS A PIONEER AND A PATRIOT, LAUNCHED INTO HISTORY WITH THIS ICONIC SEND-OFF FROM MISSION CONTROL. GODSPEED, JOHN GLENN. LATER JOHN GLENN CONFESSED HE ACTUALLY DIDN'T HEAR THAT PHRASE AS FRIENDSHIP 7 LIFTED OFF. ZERO-G AND I FEEL FINE. CAPSULE IS TURNING AROUND. OH, THAT VIEW IS TREMENDOUS. AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SPACE RACE, JOHN GLENN WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH. RT: THIS IS FRIENDSHIP 7 READING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. GLENN WAS EASILY THE MOST FAMOUS OF THOSE SEVEN ORIGINAL ASTRONAUTS. THAT'S HIM SECOND IN FROM THE RIGHT. A DECORATED MARINE CORPS PILOT IN TWO WARS, HIS WINGMAN IN KOREA WAS BASEBALL LEGEND TED WILLIAMS. SAY AGAIN YOUR INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE. OVER. THE WORLD HELD ITS BREATH FOR HIS MISSION. WHEN HE SPLASHED DOWN SAFELY AFTER THREE ORBITS, HE WAS AN AMERICAN HERO. WELCOME TO WASHINGTON. WELCOME BACK TO THIS PLANET. COLONEL GLENN LATER QUIT THE SPACE PROGRAMME FOR A CAREER IN POLITICS. IN THE US SENATE, HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL ISSUES IN PARTICULAR. HE WAS STILL A SITTING SENATOR WHEN, AT AGE 77, HE RETURNED TO SPACE ABOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY. THE LIFT-OFF OF DISCOVERY WITH A CREW OF SIX ASTRONAUT HEROES AND ONE AMERICAN LEGEND. THE MISSION ` TO STUDY WEIGHTLESSNESS ON THE ELDERLY. JOHN GLENN IS NOW THE OLDEST ASTRONAUT EVER TO ORBIT. THAT MISSION INSPIRED SENIORS AROUND THE WORLD. ONE THING I PROMISED ANNIE THE DAY WE WERE MARRIED, IN ADDITION TO OUR WEDDING VOWS, OF COURSE, WAS THAT I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO KEEP LIFE FROM BEING BORING. BORING HIS LIFE WAS NOT. IN HIS LATER YEARS, JOHN GLENN LIKED TO JOKE THAT SCIENCE HAS YET TO COME UP WITH A CURE FOR THE COMMON BIRTHDAY. HE HAD 95 OF THEM. GODSPEED. JOHN GLENN DIED IN HOSPITAL, SURROUNDED BY HIS CHILDREN AND HIS WIFE OF 73 YEARS. A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN GIRAFFE NUMBERS MEANS THE WORLD'S TALLEST LAND MAMMAL IS NOW THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION. THE POPULATION HAS PLUNGED AS MUCH AS 40% IN THE LAST 30 YEARS DUE TO A LOSS OF HABITAT, POACHING AND CIVIL UNREST IN MANY PARTS OF AFRICA. THERE ARE STILL AROUND 97,000 GIRAFFES, BUT CONSERVATION EXPERTS NOW CLASSIFY THE SPECIES AS VULNERABLE. RENEE'S HERE NOW WITH THE DAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS. AND A BIT OF A DULL, GREY START TO FRIDAY, BUT LOTS OF SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON. YES, LOTS OF CLOUD ABOUT INITIALLY, BUT THAT CLEARED TO SOME LONG FINE SPELLS FOR MANY PLACES. BUT NOT THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, WHERE CLOUD HAS BEEN PACKED IN FOR MOST OF THE DAY. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ AND I'LL BE BACK AFTER SPORT WITH THE RAINMAKER FOR SATURDAY. JUST AHEAD ` THE NURSES WHO'VE BEEN TAKING CHARGE AT A DIFFICULT TIME. COMING UP ` COORDINATING TREATMENT FOR CANCER PATIENTS. A REVIEW FINDS MORE GP'S NEED TO KNOW JUST HOW THEY CAN HELP. AND AN IMAGE BUILT FROM A SKULL ALLOWS THE SCOTS TO GAZE ON THE FACE OF A LEGENDARY KING. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORY ` QUINTON WINDERS, THE MAN WHO SHOT DEAD ROAD-WORKER GEORGE TAIAROA NEAR ATIAMURI THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. THE JUDGE DESCRIBED WINDERS AS A LONER WHO COMMITTED A COLD-BLOODED EXECUTION FOR WHICH THERE WAS STILL NO EXPLANATION. APPOINTING SPECIAL NURSES TO STEER CANCER PATIENTS THROUGH THEIR TREATMENT IS PROVING ITS WORTH, BUT SOME ARE STILL MISSING OUT, ACCORDING TO A REVIEW RELEASED TO 1 NEWS. 70 CANCER NURSE COORDINATORS ARE NOW EMPLOYED IN DHBs NATIONWIDE, SMOOTHING THE WAY FOR A THOUSAND PATIENTS EVERY MONTH. HEALTH REPORTER LORELEI MASON EXPLAINS. HELLO, JACK, HOW ARE YOU? CHRISTCHURCH RETIREE JACK WELCH FOUND OUT HE HAD INVASIVE BOWEL CANCER THREE WEEKS AGO. BUT HE SAYS FROM DAY ONE HE'S HAD A GUARDIAN ANGEL AT HIS SHOULDER ` COLORECTAL CANCER NURSE COORDINATOR DESMA DAWLER. AS SOON AS I CAME OUT OF THE COLONOSCOPY, SHE WAS THERE, AND WE WERE TALKING THAT AFTERNOON. DESMA'S BEEN HIS PERSONAL ADVOCATE AND ORGANISER, BOOKING HIS SCANS, TESTS AND APPOINTMENTS,... WE'LL GO THROUGH WHERE EVERYTHING IS... ...TURNING UP TO MEETINGS WITH HIM, LIKE'S TODAY'S, WITH HIS SURGEON. THE OPERATION INVOLVES MOVING THAT PIECE OF BOWEL. MY WIFE WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING. WE HAD TO WORK OUT WHO IT WAS WE SPOKE TO ABOUT THIS AND THAT AND THAT SORT OF THING. BUT DESMA'S DOING ALL THAT FOR ME. DESMA CARES FOR AROUND 30 PATIENTS AT ANY ONE TIME, ONE OF 70 CANCER NURSE COORDINATORS WORKING IN HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE. SO MUCH OF OUR ROLE IS BEING THAT POINT OF CONTACT AND SUPPORT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS. THE PATIENT GETS MINIMAL VISITS, HOPEFULLY, TO HOSPITAL, GETS THE RIGHT INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT TIME AND BETTER, FASTER TREATMENT. AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW'S NOW GIVEN THE ROLE, ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S $33M INJECTION INTO CANCER SERVICES IN 2012, A TICK OF APPROVAL. BUT WHILE MOSTLY POSITIVE, THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW DID HIGHLIGHT ONE PROBLEM ` THAT NOT ENOUGH GPs ARE BEING MADE AWARE THESE NURSE COORDINATORS ARE READY AND AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR PATIENTS WITH CANCER, PARTICULARLY AMONG MAORI AND PACIFIC COMMUNITIES. THE HEALTH MINSTER AGREES COMMUNICATION COULD BE IMPROVED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT DISTRICT HEALTH BOARDS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE AT THE FRONT LINE OF CLINICAL CARE AND JUST EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT SERVICES THERE ARE AVAILABLE. CANTERBURY HAS FIVE CANCER NURSE COORDINATORS. DOCTORS SAY THEY'RE ALREADY STRETCHED. SOMETIMES ITS SO HARD TO TRACK THEM DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BUSY, SO WE DEFINITELY COULD DO WITH MORE. WE'LL RING YOU AFTER THAT TO TELL YOU... DESMA'S NEXT CALL TO JACK? HOPEFULLY WITH A DATE FOR SURGERY. LORELEI MASON, 1 NEWS NOW, ROBERT THE BRUCE, KING OF THE SCOTS, FAMOUSLY DEFEATED THE ENGLISH ARMY AT BANNOCKBURN 700 YEARS AGO. BUT WE'VE HAD NO CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT ROBERT LOOKED LIKE UNTIL NOW, THANKS TO SCIENTISTS AND HISTORIANS JOINING FORCES TO WORK IT OUT. THE BBC'S LORNA GORDON EXPLAINS. HE WAS ONE OF SCOTLAND'S MOST FAMOUS MEDIEVAL KINGS, WHO USED THE SWORD TO ACHIEVE HIS ENDS. A MAN OF MYTH AND LEGEND. I THINK IT'S A VERY POWERFUL IMAGE. A TEAM DRAWING ON ART, SCIENCE, HISTORY, CREATING WHAT COULD BE THE MOST ACCURATE DEPICTION SO FAR OF ROBERT THE BRUCE, KING OF SCOTS. I THINK THAT HE WAS A CHARISMATIC LEADER. I THINK HE WAS A MAN WHO POSSESSED HUMOUR, COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, A GREAT FIRMNESS OF WILL. ALL OF THESE THINGS, I THINK` I LIKE TO THINK I CAN EXPERIENCE NOW MORE READILY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I CAN GAZE INTO HIS EYES. POWERFUL COMPUTERS WERE USED TO CREATE THE IMAGES OF THE KING. THERE WERE NO PORTRAITS FROM THE TIME, NO WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF HIS APPEARANCE, SO THEY WERE BASED ON A CAST OF HIS SKULL. GIVING A HUMAN FACE TO HISTORY HAS TAKEN TWO YEARS. HE FEELS LIKE A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY NOW BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED WITH HIS FACE AND BUILT IT UP FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, SO I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH HIM. BUT I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING QUITE MOVING ABOUT LOOKING AT HIM. WITH THE CHANGES IN OUR ABILITY TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO GIVE US INFORMATION, WE CAN BE MORE AND MORE ACCURATE IN OUR INTERPRETATIONS. ADDING, THEY HOPE, TO THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ONE OF SCOTLAND'S MOST ICONIC AND HEROIC HISTORICAL FIGURES. ROBERT THE BRUCE WAS A WARRIOR KING. HERE AT BANNOCKBURN, HE LED HIS ARMY FROM THE FRONT. HE FOUGHT WITHOUT MERCY ALONGSIDE HIS MEN AND DEFEATED A MUCH LARGER ENGLISH ARMY IN WHAT WAS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE IN SCOTTISH HISTORY. BRUCE'S PLACE IN SCOTLAND'S PAST HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNISED. NOW AT LAST, HIS FACE IS KNOWN TOO. RESEARCHERS EXAMINING THE KING'S SKULL HAVE REVEALED IT SHOWS THE TELL-TALE SIGNS OF LEPROSY, WHICH IT'S BELIEVED HE WOULD HAVE KEPT A SECRET IN ORDER TO HOLD COURT AND ATTEND MASS. TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT ALMOST HAVE KNOWN ROBERT THE BRUCE NOW. MICK JAGGER HAS BECOME A DAD AGAIN, AT THE AGE OF 73. THE ROLLING STONE FRONTMAN WAS ALONGSIDE AMERICAN BALLERINA MELANIE HAMRICK (29) WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY BOY IN NEW YORK. JAGGER ALREADY HAS SEVEN CHILDREN WITH FIVE DIFFERENT WOMEN, AS WELL AS FIVE GRANDCHILDREN AND A 2� YEAR OLD GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER. OVER TO JENNIE-MAY WITH SPORT. AND MORE ON JOSEPH PARKER. HE LOOKED GOOD AT TODAY'S WEIGH-IN. Ready to get it on ` his words. JOSEPH LOOKING LEAN AND MEAN AND VERY RELAXED AHEAD OF HIS BIG MOMENT, BUT HOW ABOUT HIS OPPONENT? SAV WITH MORE AFTER THE BREAK. PLUS ` IT'S A DEAD RUBBER, BUT THE BLACKCAPS ARE SHOWING PLENTY OF FIGHT IN THE THIRD ODI AGAINST AUSSIE. Out! FROM OLYMPIC TRACK CHAMPION TO WORLD MASTERS TABLE TENNIS CHAMP? WELL, TO BE FAIR, IF ANYONE CAN, SIR PETER SNELL CAN. THE SUCCESS OF KIWI NBA STAR STEVEN ADAMS MEANS NZ ATHLETES ARE ON THE SCOUTING RADAR, LIKE SAM TIMMINS (19) FROM DUNEDIN. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. THE TRADITIONAL PRE-FIGHT WEIGH-IN HAS BEEN HELD. NOW ALL THAT'S LEFT FOR JOSEPH PARKER AND ANDY RUIZ TO DO IS BOX. IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS, THE TWO HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDERS WILL ENTER THE RING IN AUCKLAND, TRYING TO WIN THE WBO WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE. IF TODAY'S WEIGH-IN IS ANYTHING TO GO BY, PARKER, AT THE HEAVIEST WEIGHT OF HIS CAREER, ALREADY HOLDS THE UPPER HAND. ANDREW SAVILLE REPORTS. THE MOMENT ALL FIGHT FANS WERE WAITING FOR. 111.9KG. JOSEPH PARKER IN STRONG SHAPE AND TYPICALLY LAID-BACK. I'M READY TO GET IT ON. HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE NEXT 24 HOURS? WHAT MUST YOU DO IN NEXT 24 HOURS? RELAX, REST AND TURN MY PHONE OFF. HIS OPPONENT, ANDY RUIZ JR, HAS LOST WEIGHT BUT TODAY STILL LOOKED HEAVYSET. DESPITE APPEARANCES, RUIZ KEPT UP HIS CONFIDENT SWAGGER. HOW ARE YOU FEELING WITHIN YOURSELF? YEAH, I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD, REALLY CONFIDENT AND READY TO THROW SOME BLOWS. SEEING RUIZ'S CONDITION WILL HAVE BUOYED PARKER'S CAMP. JOE'S VERY RELAXED, AND HE SHOULD BE; WE'VE PREPARED REALLY REALLY WELL FOR THIS FIGHT. I DON'T THINK` HONESTLY, I SAID TO JOE THE OTHER DAY IN THE GYM, I SAID, 'MATE, I DON'T THINK WE COULD BE ANY BETTER 'AND HAVE PREPARED ANY MORE.' JOSEPH PARKER'S UNCLES WILL LEAD THEIR BOY INTO THE RING TOMORROW NIGHT, AS THEY ALWAYS DO. DO YOU GET NERVOUS AHEAD OF FIGHTS? A LITTLE BIT, YEAH, BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HE'S OK, ANYWAY. THE THIRD MAN IN THE MIDDLE WILL ALSO HAVE AN INFLUENCE AT VECTOR ARENA. TONY WEEKS HAS REFEREED 600 PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS, INCLUDING LAST YEAR'S TYSON FURY UPSET OVER WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO. NOTHING GOES ABOVE THE SAFETY OF THE FIGHTERS. THAT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND AS LONG AS EVERYTHING IS CLEAN, AS LONG AS THE FIGHTERS ARE FIGHTING CLEAN AND CORRECTLY, WE JUST LET 'EM FIGHT. AS SOON AS I HEAR THE BELL RING ` DING-DING! WHAT'S THE SOUND? ISN'T IT 'DONG-DONG'? LAUGHTER THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WILL BE SORTED OUT IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS. IT'S TIME, BROTHER. ANDREW SAVILLE, 1 NEWS. IT MAY BE A DEAD RUBBER, BUT THE BLACKCAPS HAVE FINALLY TURNED UP TO PLAY AT THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND THIS AFTERNOON. 18 MONTHS AFTER THEY LOST TO AUSTRALIA AT THE SAME GROUND IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL, THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST TO SALVAGE SOMETHING FROM THE CHAPPELL HADLEE SERIES. ABBY WILSON REPORTS. HAVING LOST THE TOSS AND BEEN HANDED THE BALL, MANY WOULD HAVE FEARED THE WORST. BUT TRENT BOULT QUICKLY HELPED FANS BREATHE EASY. OUT! GONE AGAINN. AARON FINCH FELL EARLY AGAIN. HE'S MADE JUST 22 RUNS THIS SERIES. STEVE SMITH HAS BEEN MUCH MORE PROBLEMATIC FOR THE BLACKCAPS, BUT NOT TODAY. OUT! HENRY NICHOLLS, WHO'S IN FOR AN INJURED JIMMY NEESHAM, AGAIN PROVIDED SAFE HANDS AS THE AUSSIE CAPTAIN WAS SENT WALKING FOR NONE, THE HOSTS SUDDENLY FINDING THEMSELVES AT 2 FOR 11. THE KIWIS DEFINITELY HAD A POINT TO PROVE, AND IT LOOKED LIKE THEY FINALLY HAD THE MINDSET TO DO IT. FIELDING'S MUCH BETTER. THE INTENSITY'S THERE. WILLIAMSON'S FIELD PLACEMENT EVEN HAD THE COMMENTATORS WONDERING IF PERHAPS HE'D BEEN GETTING ADVICE. I SENSE A BIT OF MCCULLUM! NOT THAT IT WAS BOTHERING DAVID WARNER TOO MUCH. WARNER. FOUR. LOCKIE FERGUSON PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF IN SYDNEY, AND HE VERY NEARLY PICKED UP WARNER'S WICKET, Catching opportunity. NICHOLLS UNABLE TO GET UNDERNEATH IT. AS THE AUSSIES BEDDED IN, IT LOOKED LIKE THAT COULD BE A TURNING POINT, BUT THEN COLIN DE GRANDHOMME STEPPED IN. Out! GEORGE BAILEY GONE FOR 23. THEN MITCHELL MARSH FOR A DUCK. THE GAME RIGHT BACK IN THE BLACKCAPS' CONTROL AS THE AUSSIES SLUMPED TO 4 FOR 73. COMING OFF HIS HUNDRED IN CANBERRA, OPENER DAVID WARNER HELD THE AUSTRALIAN INNINGS TOGETHER WITH HIS 17TH ODI HALF CENTURY. The Aussies looking ominous at 148/4. FORMER AUSTRALIAN ODI STAR PAUL REIFFEL HAS BEEN CLEARED OF INJURY AFTER BEING CLOBBERED IN THE FOURTH CRICKET TEST IN MUMBAI. INDIAN BOWLER BUVI KUMAR'S THROW FROM THE OUTFIELD STRUCK THE 50-YEAR-OLD UMPIRE ON THE HEAD. HAVE TO SAY IT'S A PRETTY ORDINARY THROW, BUT LUCKILY THERE'S NO PACE IN IT, SO SHOULD BE FINE. IT'S MORE SHOCK THAN ANYTHING. THE OTHER FEATURE WAS THE CENTURY ON DEBUT BY ENGLAND'S LATEST OPENING BATSMAN, KEATON JENNINGS, ALISTAIR'S COOK'S 11TH PARTNER SINCE ANDREW STRAUSS RETIRED FOUR YEARS AGO. JENNINGS IS THE LATEST SOUTH AFRICAN-BORN BATSMAN TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND. IN A MAJOR COUP FOR NEXT YEAR'S WORLD MASTERS GAMES, THE ORGANISERS HAVE CONFIRMED OLYMPIC LEGEND SIR PETER SNELL IS COMING TO COMPETE IN AUCKLAND. BUT THE 77-YEAR-OLD SPORTS CHAMPION OF THE 20TH CENTURY WON'T BE ON THE TRACK, AS MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. THIS IS PETER SNELL'S NEW SPORT. THE OLYMPIC 800M AND 1500M CHAMPION TOOK UP TABLE TENNIS SIX YEARS AGO WHEN HEART PROBLEMS CALLED FOR LESS STRENUOUS EXERCISE. MY WIFE, MIKI, AND I HAVE BEEN PRACTISING AND PLAYING FOR TWO TO THREE HOURS, FOUR TIMES A WEEK TO IMPROVE OUR PERFORMANCE IN THE AUCKLAND GAMES, AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THERE. THE GAMES' ORGANISERS ARE, OF COURSE, DELIGHTED. FOR HIM TO HAVE WATCHED THE PROGRESS WITH OUR PREPARATIONS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND JUST TO DECIDE THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME AND COMPETE IN A SPORT THAT HE'S FOUND A LOVE FOR LATER IN LIFE IS JUST FANTASTIC. NATURALLY, SNELL'S ALREADY HAD A TOP-FOUR FINISH IN HIS AGE GROUP STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND HIS TRAINING REGIME IS NO SURPRISE TO HIS FELLOW OLYMPIC CHAMPION, KNIGHT. BIG COUP FOR THE GAMES, BECAUSE PETER HAS BEEN SECRETLY TRAINING BACK IN CALIFORNIA TO COME DOWN HERE AND DO HIS DAMNEDEST, AND, I MEAN, HE WILL. THE TWO LAST APPEARED ONSTAGE TOGETHER IN AUCKLAND FOR A CHARITY EVENT RECALLING THEIR RESPECTIVE OLYMPIC TRIUMPHS. THE CAPTIVATED AUDIENCE INCLUDED ANOTHER OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND CURRENT MASTERS GAMES AMBASSADOR LOOKING FORWARD TO SIR PETER'S RETURN. I THINK IT'S BRILLIANT. AMAZING, ICONIC NZER, OBVIOUSLY, BUT TO SEE HIM COMPETE IN SOMETHING LIKE TABLE TENNIS WILL BE SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING. HE'S BACKING HIMSELF TO DO QUITE WELL, SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO WATCH. SIR PETER ONE OF AN ESTIMATED 25,000 COMPETITORS EXPECTED AT THE GAMES IN APRIL. ORGANISERS ARE HOPING HE'LL BE A RECIPIENT AT ONE OF THE MORE THAN 3000 MEDAL CEREMONIES COVERING 28 SPORTS. MARTIN TASKER, 1 NEWS. AUCKLAND CITY'S EIGHTH TRIP TO THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP IN JAPAN HAS ENDED IN DISAPPOINTMENT. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, NZ'S DOMINANT CLUB SIDE, THE NAVY BLUES, STRUCK THE J-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS IN THEIR OPENING MATCH. AUCKLAND LEAD! AUCKLAND CITY HAVE HIT THE FRONT HERE WITH THE FIRST GOAL OF THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP OF 2016. HE COMES RACING IN, AND A FULL FOREHEAD FROM KIM DAEWOOK HAS PUT AUCKLAND INTO DREAMLAND. BUT THE KASHIMA ANTLERS EQUALISED, AND THE 100TH MATCH IN THE COMPETITION'S HISTORY LOOKED HEADED FOR EXTRA TIME IN YOKOHAMA. HOWEVER, THE JAPANESE CHAMPIONS STRUCK AGAIN TO WIN 2-1 AND ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND. THE BREAKERS ARE OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE NBL BASKETBALL LADDER AFTER SNAPPING THEIR FOUR-MATCH LOSING STREAK. THE HOME SIDE WASN'T CONVINCING AGAINST THE SECOND-PLACED BRISBANE BULLETS AFTER TWICE GETTING OUT TO BIG LEADS AND THEN BEING CAUGHT. HE CAN'T GET THE ROLL. PUT BACK BY KICKERT, AND IT COUNTS. HOWEVER, THE BREAKERS DOMINATED THE FINAL MINUTES TO CLOSE THE MATCH OUT 82-75 AND MOVE TO SIXTH OF THE EIGHT TEAMS. A PLAYER THE BREAKERS PROBABLY WOULDN'T MIND IN THEIR RANKS IS 6'11" DUNEDIN TEENAGER SAM TIMMINS. LIKE BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR STEVEN ADAMS, HE'S A CENTRE, AND HIS DEBUT ON PRIMETIME AMERICAN TELEVISION FOR THE WASHINGTON HUSKIES ENSURED PLENTY OF INTEREST BACK HOME. JOHN MCKENZIE REPORTS. IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS FOR A KID (19) FROM DUNEDIN. NICE MOVE BY THE FRESHMAN TIMMINS! SAM TIMMINS, A FORMER OTAGO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL, PLAYING AND STARTING IN HIS FIRST TELEVISED BASKETBALL GAME ON SPORTS GIANTS ESPN. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY IT DREW AN AUDIENCE BACK HOME. YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SURREAL, BUT IT'S PRETTY COOL. WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE CAN GET TO SEE HIM PLAY. MUM KAREN AND DAD BRENDON ` BE A THREAT, SAM. BE A THREAT. YOU MIGHT RECOGNISE HIM IF YOU FOLLOWED RUGBY DOWN SOUTH IN THE '90S ` BRENDON TIMMINS. HAVE RAISED ONE PRETTY TALENTED, VERY LARGE, 6'11" BALLER. ALTHOUGH AS A FRESHMAN... TIMMINS JUST PICKED UP HIS SECOND FOUL. <BLEEP>. ...HE'S STILL GOT PLENTY TO LEARN. OH WELL, HE'LL BE OFF TO THE BENCH. HIS HEAD'S SPINNING. HE TOLD ME, 'THE GAME IS SO QUICK BECAUSE I'M THINKING SO MUCH 'ABOUT WHAT I'VE GOTTA DO, SOMETIMES I'M FORGETTING WHAT I HAVE TO DO.' WHILE HIS HUSKIES WERE CRUSHED BY ANOTHER WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, GONZAGA, TIMMINS SHOWED FLASHES OF POTENTIAL ` THE TIP IS UP AND IN. POTENTIAL NBA SCOUTS ARE REPORTEDLY ALREADY INTERESTED IN,... ADAMS` OH! ALTHOUGH THAT MIGHT BE AIDED BY SOMEONE OF A SIMILAR STATURE. THE INTEREST FACTOR COMES FROM THAT HE'S FROM NZ AND HE'S BIG. SO THEY LOOK AT THAT, AND THEY PROBABLY THINK, 'OK, IS HE ANOTHER STEVEN ADAMS?' BOTH PARENTS KNOW GETTING THERE ISN'T EASY BUT DON'T QUESTION HIS HEART. WHATEVER HE WANTS` WHATEVER HE WANTS IT TO BE, HE'LL ACHIEVE IT. IF IT COMES, IT COMES, AND IF IT DOESN'T, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF BASKETBALL BEING PLAYED AROUND THE WORLD. OR MAYBE EVEN BACK HOME. FEELS THE BASELINE OPEN. BEAUTIFUL SPIN. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS Looking forward to seeing how that young man does. Looking forward to tomorrow night's fight. You've had your Christmas tree up since June. I haven't, actually. First of December. Do you know what's in your drink? There's a catch. I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE I'VE SEEN IS A WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE. AND A VERY SPECIAL FIELD TRIP FOR THE QUAKE KIDS OF WAIAU. The kids have been super excited. HELLO AGAIN. SO, A FAIRLY SETTLED DAY ACROSS NZ TODAY, WITH A NICE AFTERNOON FOR MANY. CLOUD TO THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND IS LEFT OVER FROM YESTERDAY'S TROUGH. SOME CLEAR AREAS WITH LOW CLOUD OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NZ UNDER A NARROW RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE. BRIGHT CLOUD STRETCHING FROM EASTERN AUSTRALIA TO THE SOUTH TASMAN SEA MARKS A COMPLEX TROUGH WITH EMBEDDED LOWS AND FRONTAL FEATURES. SO THE NARROW RIDGE MOVES OFF TO THE EAST TODAY, ALLOWING THE TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED SERIES OF FRONTS TO MOVE ACROSS NZ TOMORROW AND IS FOLLOWED BY A DISTURBED WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND, BUT THAT SHOULD EASE ON MONDAY. RAIN IN THE WEST AND NORTH WITH SOME HEAVY FALLS AS THE FRONT CROSSES. EASING TO SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON, WITH A CHANCE OF EVENING THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTLAND. A PERIOD OF MORNING RAIN ABOUT CANTERBURY AND CHRISTCHURCH, THEN FINE SPELLS AND A FEW SHOWERS. THE ODD SPOT OF RAIN FURTHER SOUTH BECOMING SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. PATCHY DRIZZLE TURNS TO RAIN WEST OF THE MAIN RANGES, WITH SOME HEAVY FALLS IN PLACES AS THE FRONTS MOVE EAST ACROSS THE ISLAND. RAIN EASES TO SHOWERS BEHIND THE FRONTS, WITH FREQUENT FALLS ABOUT CENTRAL REGIONS. EAST OF THE RANGES, CLOUD INCREASING WITH SCATTERED RAIN DEVELOPING, CLEARING IN THE EVENING. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ SO NOT THE FLASHEST START TO THE WEEKEND, BUT GOOD TO GET THE INDOOR CHORES DONE. ENJOY YOUR FRIDAY NIGHT. Updating the cricket. Nzer 174/4