HELLO. IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING DAY TODAY, A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE THE REASON WHY. SOME SCATTERED CLOUD, THE ODD LITTLE SHOWER. THINGS ARE CHANGING, THOUGH. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, SOME MORE ACTIVE WEATHER, SOME MORE ACTIVE FRONTS. THAT SPELLS WIND AND RAIN. AND, YEAH, CHRISTMAS IS NEXT WEEK. HOPEFULLY MOTHER NATURE WILL GET THINGS SORTED OUT. ALL THE DETAILS COMING UP. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. STOCKING UP ON FUEL AND GAS. IT'S BARBECUE TIME AS 40,000 EAST COAST RESIDENTS GO WITHOUT POWER FOR A SECOND DAY. WE CROSS LIVE FOR THE VERY LATEST. I'M OFFERING TO BE ON THE FIRST PARTY BACK IN. BIG TALK AS WINSTON PETERS OFFERS TO BE THE FIRST TO RE-ENTER PIKE RIVER MINE AS VICTIMS FAMILIES TAKE THEIR FIGHT TO PARLIAMENT. # THERE'S NO NEED TO PRAY. IT'S OK. YOU'RE WELCOME. HA! # AND SINGING UP A STORM AT THE AMERICAN BOX OFFICE. THE BIG KIWI CONNECTION TO THE MOVIE 'MOANA'. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. POWER IS TONIGHT GRADUALLY RETURNING FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE GISBORNE DISTRICT. THE PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS, AND PEOPLE ARE BEING URGED TO BE PATIENT. CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO RESTORE ELECTRICITY AFTER A FATAL PLANE CRASH DAMAGED POWERLINES IN A REMOTE AREA. IT'S LEFT 20,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITHOUT POWER SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING. BRIAR WELLS IS IN GISBORNE AND JOINS US NOW LIVE. SOME RELIEF FOR RESIDENTS THERE, BRIAR? Definitely. We've just had someone come out of the hotel to tellers that the power has finally come back on. The lights have just switched on in the past 5 min. The company said Powell was likely to return to the region at 5.30. CORRECTION: power. It's a gradual process. WITH SCHOOL AND WORK CALLED OFF FOR THE DAY AND NO POWER, THE SIMMONS FAMILY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS, PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. ONCE THE FREEZER'S STARTED THAWING OUT, AND WE GET FRUSTRATING, BUT AT THE MOMENT IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG. JUST SOME OF THE 40,000 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE BLACKOUT AFTER AN AGRICULTURAL PLANE CLIPPED POWER LINES AND CRASHED IN DEEP DENSE BUSH NORTH OF WAIROA YESTERDAY MORNING, KILLING THE PILOT AND HIS COWORKER. LINES CREWS WORKING NON-STOP THROUGH THE NIGHT AND ALL DAY, TRYING TO FIX THE DAMAGED POWER LINES. MUCH OF THE BATTLE WAS GETTING MACHINERY TO THE STEEP SITE, POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS NOT HELPING THE SITUATION. LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN MADE THINGS STAND DOWN. THE UNCERTAINTY OF JUST WHEN THINGS WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL CAUSED GRIDLOCK AT PETROL STATIONS, ABLE TO OPEN AFTER GENERATORS WERE DELIVERED. EVERYTHING ` ICE, GAS BOTTLES, PETROL ` THE WORKS. IT'S QUITE EXCITING FOR THE KIDS. AND WE'RE JUST DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO LET THEM OPEN PRESENTS EARLY. FOR THOSE DESPERATE FOR A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AND SOME LUNCH,... GOOD TO GET SOMETHING IN THE STOMACH, EH, OTHER THAN WEET-BIX AND SPAGHETTI. ...RELIEF TEAMS WERE CALLED IN, BARBECUES AND SAUSAGES IN TOW. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN PLAN FOR, SO SUDDENLY IT JUST THROWS EVERYTHING OUT. IN TOWN MOST RETAILERS WERE CLOSED. THOSE DETERMINED TO STAY OPEN WERE FORCED TO WORK IN THE DARK. THIS IS A TERRIBLE TIME, BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THIS IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST WEEKS OF THE YEAR, OF COURSE, SO IT WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL ALL COME BACK IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN ISSUE. AUTHORITIES SAY MOST ARE FARING WELL BUT ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CHECK IN ON THEIR LOVED ONES AND NEIGHBOURS. IF PEOPLE HAVE GOT NEIGHBOURS WHO THEY THINK MAY BE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT THINGS IN TERMS OF TURNING OFF THEIR APPLIANCES AND THAT KIND OF THING, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE, POP ACROSS THE ROAD OR HOP NEXT DOOR. I'D LIKE TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS OF TERM. WOULD BE GOOD IF IT CAME BACK ON TODAY, BUT WE'RE FINE. AN EARLY START TO THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS. AND WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE VICTIMS OF THE PLANE CRASH? The bodies of the two men have been retrieved from the crash site and taken to Palmerston North for a post-mortem. Police will not be naming them until formal identification has taken place. I have spoken to locals who said they knew the pilot, who was a lovely, experienced guy. Crash investigators have been at the scene today. THANKS. BRIAR WELLS IN GISBORNE. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN AFTER AN 18-MONTH-OLD BOY WAS KIDNAPPED FROM HIS HOME IN ROTORUA OVERNIGHT. THE TODDLER WAS FOUND SAFE AND WELL THIS MORNING AFTER HIS FATHER, JAMES KIFF, POSTED ON FACEBOOK TO SAY HE'D BEEN ABDUCTED FROM HIS BED. THE ARRESTED MAN (17) IS NOT KNOWN TO THE BOY'S FAMILY AND WILL APPEAR IN ROTORUA DISTRICT COURT TOMORROW MORNING. GENUINE OR JUST POLITICAL HOT AIR? WINSTON PETERS HAS OFFERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO RE-ENTER THE PIKE RIVER MINE. THE NZ FIRST LEADER MADE THE PLEDGE TO VICTIMS' FAMILIES WHO TOOK THEIR BATTLE TO PARLIAMENT TODAY. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD HAS THE DAY'S EVENTS. PIKE RIVER FAMILIES CAME TO PARLIAMENT WITH A NEW PLAN TO RE-ENTER THE MINE ENTRANCE OR DRIFT AND NZ FIRST'S LEADER WINSTON PETERS WAS BACKING THEM. I AM THAT CONFIDENT IN THE EXPERT ADVICE THAT YOU HAVE THAT I'M OFFERING TO BE ON THE FIRST PARTY BACK IN. THIS CAN BE DONE, AND IT CAN BE DONE SAFELY. NOT ONLY DO THE FAMILIES SAY THEIR RE-ENTRY PLAN'S SAFE, THEY SAY IT'S ESSENTIAL. WE DON'T WANT A CRIME SCENE SEALED UP. WE WANT JUSTICE, AND WE WANT THIS DRIFT REOCCUPIED. BUT THE NEW PRIME MINISTER ISN'T SWAYED BY WINSTON PETERS' PROMISE. I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY. THERE'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THERE, AND HE SHOULDN'T TRIVIALISE IT. WE WANT THEM TO LISTEN TO US. IT'S ALL ABOUT GOING DOWN THE DRIFT. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GOT THE WRONG IMPRESSION THINK THAT WE WANT TO DO THE WHOLE MINE. BERNIE MONK HAS BEEN THE FACE OF THIS FIGHT FOR SIX YEARS. I'M ON MY 12TH CEO AND MY EIGHTH GOVERNMENT MINISTER AND NOW MY SECOND PRIME MINISTER, AND I'VE HAD IT RIGHT UP TO MY EYEBALLS. THE OTHER PIKE RIVER FAMILIES WERE MADE A PROMISE, AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD KEEP THAT PROMISE. ONE OF THE DEMANDS FROM THE PIKE RIVER FAMILIES HERE TODAY IS THAT AN ENTIRE NEW ENTITY IS SET UP TO RUN THE PIKE RIVER MINE. THEY WANT IT TAKEN OUT OF THE HANDS OF SOLID ENERGY ONCE AND FOR ALL. BUT THEY SAY IT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WHOEVER OWNS IT DOESN'T MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE. MR ENGLISH DIDN'T MEET THE FAMILIES TODAY BUT SAYS HE WILL. I'M HERE TOMORROW AS WELL, IF HE WANTS TO COME AND MEET ME. THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SAYS THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE EITHER, ALTHOUGH ENVIRONMENT MINISTER NICK SMITH IS HAPPY TO KEEP TALKING. I'VE MET WITH BERNIE MANY TIMES, AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO BERNIE AGAIN. AND THE FAMILIES SAY THEY'LL MEET AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY AND WAIT AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET IN THERE. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. THE STAND-OFF WAS JUST ONE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH FACED IN HIS FIRST DAY LEADING THE GOVERNMENT. AS POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN REPORTS, MR ENGLISH WAS ALSO GRILLED ON CHILD POVERTY AND ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF ONE OF HIS CABINET MINISTERS. PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH ` UNDER FIRE IN PARLIAMENT AND UNDER PRESSURE CHOOSING A NEW CABINET. IT'LL BE A BALANCE ` REWARDING LOYALTY WHILE ALSO SATISFYING AN AMBITIOUS BACKBENCH. IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE. THE MINISTRY WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT SUNDAY FOR A SWEARING IN ON TUESDAY. ONE MINISTER'S JUMPED ALREADY. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER'S STEPPING DOWN AT NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. I CAN'T SEE MYSELF IN THIS POSITION FOR FOUR YEARS, A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AND MY FAMILY CERTAINLY HAD A ROLE TO PLAY. THE MP FOR AUCKLAND'S MAUNGAKIEKIE ELECTORATE STRUGGLED WITH THE PRISON FIGHT CLUB SCANDAL WHEN HE WAS CORRECTIONS MINISTER. BUT HE INSISTS THERE'S BEEN NO PRESSURE. HE DID THE JOB WITH REAL PRIDE AND RESPECT. THAT DECISION MAY HAVE EASED THE PRESSURE A BIT FOR MR ENGLISH. BUT IT WAS NO EASY FIRST DAY AS PRIME MINISTER IN PARLIAMENT. PIKE RIVER FAMILIES WERE WATCHING AND OPPOSITION PARTIES WERE REMINDING HIM OF JOHN KEY'S PROMISE TO RE-ENTER THE MINE IF POSSIBLE. WHY WILL HE NOT ` TO QUOTE THE PRIME MINISTER ` GET SOME GUTS AND DO THE RIGHT THING? IT IS SIMPLY NOT THE RIGHT THING FOR A POLITICIAN TO OVERRIDE WORKPLACE SAFETY. BUT HE WASN'T JUST CHALLENGED ON PIKE RIVER. A NEW REPORT ON CHILD POVERTY GAVE OPPOSITION PARTIES FRESH AMMUNITION. WILL HE SIGN UP TO ANDREW BECROFT'S TARGET OF REDUCING CHILD POVERTY BY 10% IN THE NEXT YEAR AND TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO GET THERE, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR MORE EMPTY WORDS, JUST LIKE WE DID FROM HIS PREDECESSOR? THE HARD BIT WITH DEALING WITH CHILD POVERTY IS THE SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS AND THIS GOVERNMENT IS ADDRESSING THAT IN A MORE FOCUSED, THOROUGH AND TRANSPARENT WAY THAN ANY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. MR ENGLISH HAS ONE MORE DAY OF THIS BEFORE PARLIAMENT ENDS FOR THE YEAR. BUT STAY TUNED FOR HIS NEW-LOOK CABINET ON SUNDAY. CORIN DANN, 1 NEWS. AS CORIN MENTIONED, A NEW CHILD POVERTY REPORT IS OUT, AND THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER SAYS IT'S TIME TO STOP PLAYING POLITICS AND TAKE A UNIFIED APPROACH TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THIS COMES AS A BASIC CHECKLIST REVEALS JUST HOW MANY KIWI KIDS ARE GOING WITHOUT. NICOLE BREMNER EXPLAINS. A PORT IN A CHRISTMAS STORM. AUCKLAND'S CITY MISSION'S A BEACON ONCE AGAIN FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE NEEDING HELP TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING OUTSIDE SINCE THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING. THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS IS ALWAYS BUSY HERE. MONEY'S SO TIGHT FOR PARENTS LIKE MIKA THAT EVEN THE BASICS ARE SLIPPING OUT OF REACH. THE PRICES ON THOSE MILK POWDERS AND STUFF. NAPPIES DON'T COME CHEAP. THIS LEVEL OF HARDSHIP'S APPALLING CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER ANDREW BECROFT, WHO SAYS WE'RE FAILING TO LIFT CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY. OUR UNDER-18-YEAR-OLD GROUP IS ONE OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGED ` IN FACT, WORSE-PERFORMING THAN MANY COMPARABLE COUNTRIES. AND LITTLE'S CHANGED IN 20 YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA, WHICH USES A LIST OF 17 ITEMS TO MEASURE MATERIAL HARDSHIP. IT SHOWS 14% OF ALL UNDER-18-YEAR-OLDS GO WITHOUT SEVEN THINGS ON THE LIST AND 8% GOING WITHOUT NINE OR MORE, DEFINING 85,000 CHILDREN AS SUFFERING EXTREME MATERIAL HARDSHIP. THE SIMPLEST ITEMS MAKE UP THE LIST. IT INCLUDES OWNING TWO DECENT PAIRS OF SHOES, HAVING TO BORROW MONEY OR STRUGGLING WITH BILLS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, BEING UNABLE TO AFFORD FRESH PRODUCE AND MEAT, PUTTING UP WITH FEELING COLD AND POSTPONING A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR. I GUESS POLITICIANS WILL ALWAYS WADE IN AND TRY TO SCORE POINTS ON THIS, BUT WE'VE GOTTA BE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK, AN AGREED CONSENSUS. WHETHER YOU HAVE A LOW INCOME OR WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE HARDSHIP FIGURES, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME PEOPLE, SO IT'S A VERY COMPLEX AREA. BUT MIKA BLAMES THE HIGH COST OF LIVING. FOOD AND DRINK IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. WAGES AREN'T GOING UP. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. KNOWING THE MISSION WON'T TURN YOU AWAY IS THE ONE BRIGHT LIGHT FOR MANY THIS CHRISTMAS. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. AND NZ RESEARCH THAT'S TRACKED THE LIVES OF 100 KIWIS OVER 40 YEARS SHOWS DISADVANTAGE IN CHILDHOOD CAN PREDICT COSTLY OUTCOMES IN ADULT LIFE. THOSE WHO SCORED POORLY IN TESTS AT AGE 3 TENDED TO LEAD POORER LIVES, WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE SICK, DEPENDENT ON WELFARE OR INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. WITH MORE, HERE'S THE BBC'S PALLAB GHOSH. THEY'RE ONLY 3, BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM NOW WILL DETERMINE THE COURSE OF THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. WOMAN: OH, THIS IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD, GUYS. IT'S JUST ONE STUDY OF PEOPLE IN NZ, BUT RESEARCHERS SAY THAT IT'S LIKELY TO BE RELEVANT IN THE UK AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, AND THE MESSAGE IS TO INVEST MORE IN CHILDREN WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG RATHER THAN THE RISK OF FAILED LIVES LATER. IF A CHILD IS OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT AT AGE 3 AND NOT READY FOR SCHOOL, THEN THEY FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND. A NEW STUDY INDICATES THAT THOSE WHO FALL BEHIND EARLY ON WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GO ON TO HAVE DISMAL LIVES. IN THE JOURNAL 'NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR', THEY FOUND THAT THOSE WHO HAD LOW TEST SCORES WHEN THEY WERE 3 WENT ON TO ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 80% OF CRIMES, REQUIRED 78% OF PRESCRIPTIONS AND RECEIVED 66% OF WELFARE PAYMENTS. I WAS DRINKING. I WAS DRINKING. I WAS DRINKING. I WAS DRINKING. ILARIO HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF PRISON FOR DRUGS OFFENCES. LIKE MANY, HIS PROBLEMS STARTED EARLY ON IN LIFE. HIS FATHER WAS AN ALCOHOLIC, AND HE'D STARTED ON THE SAME COURSE BY THE TIME HE WAS JUST 8. ILARIO IS PROOF THAT PEOPLE CAN TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND IF THEY'RE GIVEN SUPPORT LATER IN LIFE. THANK YOU TOO. HE NOW OWNS HIS OWN CATERING BUSINESS. THOSE INVOLVED IN REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES SAY THAT THEY OFTEN SEE THAT THINGS START GOING WRONG FOR OFFENDERS WHEN THEY'RE VERY YOUNG. MAYBE WE DO NEED TO BECOME A BIT MORE DIAGNOSTIC IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED FROM THE EARLIEST YEARS SO THAT MAYBE WE COULD PREVENT THEM GOING DOWN THIS ROUTE OF GETTING INTO THESE VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH CRIMINALITY, DRUG USE AND ALSO THE OTHER HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED IN THE STUDY. READY? NICE AND SLOW. SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS HAVE EXPANDED THE PROVISION OF NURSERY EDUCATION. BUT THE NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THEY MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN'S LIVES. THE RESEARCHERS USED DATA FROM THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY STUDY, WHICH BEGAN IN THE 1970s. THE PROCESS FOR CLAIMING INSURANCE AFTER THE KAIKOURA EARTHQUAKES HAS BEEN SIMPLIFIED. INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL ACT AS AGENTS FOR THE EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION AND ASSESS ALL CLAIMS FROM THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS, REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE CLAIM. THE CHANGE IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE DOUBLE-HANDLING BY THE INSURERS AND EQC THAT FRUSTRATED MANY AFTER THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES. NEARLY 17,000 CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED SINCE THE KAIKOURA QUAKES. HOMEOWNERS HAVE UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY TO DO SO. IT'S NOT OFTEN HOLLYWOOD AND POLYNESIAN CULTURE COME TOGETHER, BUT THAT'S THE COMBO MAKING WAVES IN THE NEW DISNEY BLOCKBUSTER, 'MOANA'. THE MOVIE, SET IN THE PACIFIC, HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE AMERICAN BOX OFFICE BY STORM. NOW IT'S HAVING ITS NZ PREMIERE. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER IS THERE AND JOINS US NOW. FROM THE RED CARPET. Sadly one of the big stars, Dwayne Johnson, is not here tonight. That's because the movie opened in the US last month. We've got Cook Islandsers playing in the background. Many New Zealanders involved in this film. MOANA HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF A DISNEY HIT, PACKED WITH ACTION,... DRAMATIC MUSIC ...HUMOUR... DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. ...AND DRAMA. MOANA! I'VE GOT YOUR BACK. BUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT IT'S ALSO PACKED WITH ALL THINGS PACIFIC. PACIFIC PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY GET IN BEHIND THIS MOVIE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OF US IN THERE. BUT SOME CRITICS FELT THERE WAS FAR TOO MUCH OF MAUI, ACCUSING DISNEY OF INDULGING IN STEREOTYPES. I HAVE TO SAY, I'M DISAPPOINTED BY THE WAY HE'S BECOME A BUFFOON. BUT BEFORE THE FILM WAS MADE, A DISNEY TEAM TRAVELLED TO TAHITI, SAMOA AND FIJI TO GET CULTURAL ADVICE. WE KNEW IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO VISIT THESE PLACES, AND SO WE WENT TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS TO TALK TO EXPERTS. EVEN SO, THE PROCESS WASN'T SMOOTH. COMPOSER OPETAIA FOA'I SAYS THE WORLD OF DISNEY SOMETIMES CONFLICTED WITH THE PACIFIC WAY, REQUIRING COMPROMISE. NOT JUST MYSELF. THERE WERE OTHERS FROM THE PACIFIC REGION THAT STOOD UP AND SAID, 'LOOK, WE REALLY SHOULDN'T DO THIS. 'WE SHOULD DO THIS.' AND THOSE INVOLVED SAY THE END RESULT IS SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN. DISNEY HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO COME IN AND RESPECTFULLY PUT OUR CULTURE IN JUST ABOUT EVERY HOME AROUND THIS PLANET. WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH THAT IS DOING FOR OUR CULTURE. MOANA BOASTS A CAST OF BIG NAMES, INCLUDING SOME HIGH-PROFILE KIWIS. I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A PROUD MOMENT. DISNEY IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST STORYTELLERS, AND THEY'VE BEEN WISE ENOUGH TO SENSE THAT, ACTUALLY, THE PACIFIC IS ACTUALLY A GREAT PLACE TO MAKE A STORY. SO FAR THE MOVIE'S MADE WELL OVER $200M AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN. Joining me now is one of the big stars of the film, Temuera Morrison. The world knows your work. What was it about being an island's chief that really gripped your heart? It was the whole thing ` All things Polynesian. We are part of the bigger picture here. It's a story about us, Polynesian, and is inspirational for our young tamariki. Good to play a young man for a change. Hello to you, Ashley, at home! Anyone who wants to watch the film, it will be in cinemas on Boxing Day. A great relaxing way to recover from Christmas. THANKS, BARBARA. THE FRONTRUNNERS IN THE GOLDEN GLOBES ARE COMING UP, AND IT'S A MUSICAL THAT'S LEADING THE PACK. THE SONG AND DANCE SPECTACULAR FEATURING RYAN GOSLING WITH EMMA STONE. AND THE RETURN OF THE POLITICIAN LAILA HARRE. FROM THE ALLIANCE TO THE INTERNET PARTY, NOW HAS ANOTHER PARTY IN HER SIGHTS. AND THE LUNCHBOX DEAL WORTH $660M. HOW A KIWI BUSINESS WITH HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IS NOW BEING SOLD TO AN AMERICAN COMPANY. 1 Installing a solar-energy system can cost many thousands of dollars, so will the numbers stack up for you? This is Dr Alan Wood from the University of Canterbury. His team has developed a calculator that will help you decide. Alan? The calculator crunches the numbers for you. It takes into account things like whether you're at home during the day and using power, as that can make quite a difference. So it's easy to use? Absolutely. For more information, visit energywise.govt.nz ONE OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 'SADISTIC' TORTURE AND KIDNAPPING OF AN AUCKLAND TEENAGER HAS BEEN SENT TO PRISON FOR THREE YEARS AND TWO MONTHS. THE VICTIM, WHOSE SURVIVAL WAS DESCRIBED AS MIRACULOUS, HAD BEEN LEFT FOR DEAD BY THE ROADSIDE. WILL HINE REPORTS. JACLYN KEATES TODAY APPEARED FOR SENTENCE FOR HELPING KIDNAP AND ATTACK SOMEONE SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. THE COURT WAS TOLD THE TARGET WAS TAKEN FROM CENTRAL AUCKLAND BY A GROUP IN MAY AS A RESULT OF A GRUDGE. THE VICTIM, THEN 19, WAS STRIPPED NAKED, BOUND WITH PLASTIC CABLE TIES AND BEATEN. HER HAIR WAS CUT OFF WITH A PAIR OF SCISSORS. HER HANDS WERE HELD DOWN AND STOMPED ON, BREAKING ONE OF HER FINGERS. SHE WAS ALSO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, THOSE DETAILS TOO GRAPHIC TO REPORT. THEN, ABOUT 18 HOURS AFTER BEING ABDUCTED, SHE WAS TAKEN TO THIS ISOLATED SPOT IN DOME VALLEY, NORTH OF AUCKLAND, BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. THERE SHE WAS BEATEN SOME MORE, THIS TIME WITH A HAMMER. SHE WAS LEFT TO DIE, AND THAT SHE SURVIVED IS NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS. KEATES' LAWYER SAID HIS CLIENT HAD FACED UP TO HER DEMONS AFTER INITIALLY DENYING INVOLVEMENT. SHE INVITED ME TO COME TO THE PRISON TO GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS TO PLEAD GUILTY, TO SEEK RESOLUTION. SHE ADMITTED CHARGES OF KIDNAPPING, ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON AND INJURING WITH INTENT. THE VICTIM'S MOTHER SOBBED AS HER DAUGHTER DETAILED THE TORMENT INFLICTED BY HER CAPTORS. THE YOUNG WOMAN TOLD THE COURT THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO DIE. SHE REMAINED COMPOSED AS SHE READ HER STATEMENT BUT LATER BROKE DOWN AS THE JUDGE RECOUNTED HER ORDEAL. THIS WAS A PARTICULARLY CRUEL, SADISTIC AND SUSTAINED ATTACK ON A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS FROM THE OUTSET COMPLETELY AT THE MERCY OF YOUR GROUP. FIVE OTHER PEOPLE ALSO FACE CHARGES AND WILL GO ON TRIAL IN FEBRUARY. WILL HINE, 1 NEWS. A BRITISH BACKPACKER IN AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN RESCUED BY POLICE AFTER SENDING DESPERATE TEXT MESSAGES TO ENGLAND, PLEADING FOR HELP. MARY KATE HEYS TEXTED HER FATHER IN MANCHESTER WHEN A MAN SHE CLAIMS WAS IN A 'MANIC STATE' REFUSED TO LET HER OUT OF HIS CAR. THE 20-YEAR-OLD SAYS SHE WAS SNATCHED FROM MOOLOOLABA ON QUEENSLAND'S SUNSHINE COAST AND TAKEN ON A TWO-HOUR ROAD TRIP TO GYMPIE BECAUSE HER ABDUCTOR SAID HE WAS BEING CHASED BY ALIENS. SHE WAS RESCUED AFTER SENDING HER LOCATION TO HER FATHER VIA GOOGLE MAPS. IN INDIA 10 PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER CYCLONE VERDAH SMASHED INTO THE SOUTH EAST COAST TODAY. THE CYCLONE MADE LANDFALL ABOUT 15KM FROM THE CITY OF CHENNAI, WHERE THE WINDS OF UP TO 130KM/H FLIPPED THIS CAR ON TO ITS ROOF. ACROSS TOWN, A BUS SUFFERED THE SAME FATE AS IT WAS APPROACHING ITS TERMINAL, WHILE TENS OF THOUSAND OF PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES. THE RUSSIAN-BACKED SYRIAN ARMY SAYS IT'S ON THE VERGE OF RE-TAKING THE CITY OF ALEPPO. REBEL FIGHTERS HAVE HELD EASTERN ALEPPO FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS, BUT ARE NOW WITHDRAWING, LEAVING BEHIND SCENES OF UTTER DESTRUCTION. THE BBC'S LYSE DOUCET REPORTS. EXPLOSIONS A BRUTAL BATTLE FOR A MAJOR CITY ` THE LAST NEIGHBOURHOODS HELD BY THE REBELS IN EAST ALEPPO ARE UNDER INTENSE FIRE. BOOM! TODAY MORE AREAS FELL TO THE SYRIAN ARMY AND ITS RUSSIAN AND IRANIAN ALLIES. GENERAL ZAID AL-SALEH SHOWS A GROUP OF JOURNALISTS THEIR LATEST ADVANCE IN THE DISTRICT OF SHEIKH SAEED. 'THE BATTLE IS AT AN END,' HE SAYS. ONLY 10% OF EAST ALEPPO IS STILL IN REBEL HANDS, BUT VICTORY COMES WITH A HEAVY PRICE ` SO LITTLE IS LEFT NOW. (SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: WE WILL REBUILD IT. IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE YOUTH WHO DIED. WE CAN REBUILD THE STONE, BUT WE CANNOT REBUILD HOMELAND. AS THE FIGHTING INTENSIFIES, THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ARE FLEEING FRONT LINES, INTO THE WEST OF ALEPPO. SOME SPEAK OF COMING UNDER FIRE FROM REBEL FIGHTERS AS THEY TRY TO ESCAPE. ONCE THEY MAKE IT OUT, YOUNG MEN GET TAKEN IN BY SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES. THERE'S GROWING CONCERN THAT MEN ARE GOING MISSING. THE ARMY SAYS IT HAS TO DO IT. TRANSLATOR: THE MEN WHO CAME OUT OF THE AREA GET TAKEN IN FOR QUESTIONING. WE NEED TO CHECK WHO THEY ARE AND WHETHER THEY HAVE DONE MILITARY SERVICE. IF THEY HAVEN'T, WE PUT THEM IN THE ARMY. GUNFIRE ALEPPO HAS BEEN AT WAR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. THIS IS THE WORST OF IT. FRANTIC EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO TRY TO GET THE MOST VULNERABLE OUT, INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN. THE FIGHTERS WANT AN EXIT TOO. THOSE TALKS ARE ALSO GETTING NOWHERE, AS THE SYRIAN ARMY CLOSES IN ON VICTORY. AND UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON HAS CALLED ON ALL SIDES, PARTICULARLY THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT, TO PROTECT CIVILIANS. THE MAN WHO'S REPLACING BAN KI-MOON, ANTONIO GUTERRES OF PORTUGAL, HAS BEEN SWORN IN AS THE NEXT SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS. IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, THE UN'S NINTH SECRETARY GENERAL PROMISED TO HELP BROKER PEACE IN THE WORLD'S CONFLICTS AND TO REFORM THE ORGANISATION'S BUREAUCRACY TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE MODERN WORLD. MR GUTERRES WILL OFFICIALLY TAKE OVER THE JOB ON JANUARY THE 1ST. HOLLYWOOD'S FOREIGN PRESS HAVE SPREAD THE LOVE IN THEIR NOMINATIONS FOR JANUARY'S GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS. THE MUSICAL ROMANCE LA LA LAND'S TAKEN THE LEAD WITH SEVEN NOMINATIONS. # ONE MORE DREAM THAT I CANNOT MAKE TRUE. # WHILE COMING OF AGE STORY MOONLIGHT ALSO SHINES WITH SIX. THE PEOPLE VERSUS OJ SIMPSON TOPS THE TELEVISION NOMINATIONS WITH FIVE. THE NIGHT MANAGER AGAIN JUST ONE BEHIND. WEATHER TIME NOW. DAN IS HERE. AND A FINE-LOOKING DAY TODAY, BUT IS THERE YET ANOTHER CHANGE ON THE WAY, DAN? Summer is just stumbling along, and it's really going to go off the edge again. The cloud is from the next front starting to work its way in. Look at the sheet of cloud spreading in across the country. Because of that south-west flow, if you had some shelter from it, you didn't do too bad. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ How about some fine-looking Christmas weather? Can't see it quite yet. COMING UP, SHE'S BEEN A POLITICIAN OF MANY STRIPES. COMING UP NOW LAILA HARRE WANTS TO BECOME AN MP AGAIN. WHO FOR? WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS SHORTLY. AND THE POWER OF PLASTIC. A 660 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL TO SELL A KIWI BOX MAKER. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` ELECTRICITY IS GRADUALLY BEING RESTORED TO AROUND 20,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN GISBORNE AND THE EAST COAST AFTER EMERGENCY LINE REPAIRS. THE LINES WERE DAMAGED AFTER A TOP-DRESSING PLANE CRASHED INTO LINES YESTERDAY MORNING, KILLING TWO PEOPLE. WINSTON PETERS HAS OFFERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO RE-ENTER THE PIKE RIVER MINE. THE NZ FIRST LEADER MADE THE PLEDGE TO VICTIMS' FAMILIES, WHO TOOK THEIR BATTLE TO PARLIAMENT TODAY. THEY BELIEVE THEIR RE-ENTRY PLAN IS SAFE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT CONVINCED. SHE'S A SEASONED CAMPAIGNER WHO'S JOINED MORE POLITICAL MOVEMENTS THAN MOST IN PARLIAMENT. MOST VOTERS WILL REMEMBER LAILA HARRE CAMPAIGNING AS LEADER OF KIM DOTCOM'S INTERNET PARTY IN THE 2014 ELECTION. NOW SHE'S CONFIRMED TO 1 NEWS POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE THAT SHE WANTS TO BE A LABOUR CANDIDATE AT NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION. VETERAN CAMPAIGNER LAILA HARRE'S EMBRACING HER OLD POLITICAL ROOTS. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE BACK. SHE'S RETURNING TO THE LABOUR PARTY FOLD MORE THAN 30 YEARS AFTER QUITTING AND TWO YEARS AFTER HER ILL-FATED LEADERSHIP OF THE INTERNET PARTY. IN TERMS OF THE EFFECT IT HAD ON MY OWN PERSONAL REPUTATION, I DON'T THINK I COULD AVOID REGRETTING IT. AND SHE'S NOT JUST RE-JOINING LABOUR; SHE'S BEEN TALKING TO THE PARTY ABOUT STANDING FOR PARLIAMENT ONCE AGAIN. THE LEFT, I GUESS, HAVE CONSOLIDATED AROUND LABOUR AND THE GREENS, AND LABOUR I THINK ARE REALLY STRONGLY RECONNECTING TO THEIR ROOTS, AND THEY ARE MY ROOTS IN THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT. SHE SEES IT AS SORT OF WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN. THE TIME ISN'T RIGHT FOR NEW POLITICAL PARTIES. I'M AS BIG A FAN OF ANDREW LITTLE AS ANYBODY WITHIN THE LABOUR PARTY, AND I REALLY DO THINK THERE IS THE PROSPECT OF DELIVERING A LABOUR VICTORY. LAILA HARRE FIRST JOINED LABOUR IN 1982. SHE LEFT IN THE ROGERNOMICS YEARS, COFOUNDING THE ALLIANCE, WHICH WENT INTO COALITION WITH HELEN CLARK'S LABOUR GOVERNMENT IN 1999. I'VE NEVER REALLY FELT STRONGLY RECONNECTED TO A POLITICAL PARTY SINCE THE ALLIANCE, AND I AM REDISCOVERING THOSE CONNECTIONS IN LABOUR, WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO BE. AS A MINISTER, SHE PUSHED THROUGH 12 WEEKS' PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, AND SHE SAYS THAT FIGHT ISN'T OVER. A MAJORITY OF OUR PARLIAMENT VOTED TO INCREASE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TO 26 WEEKS, AND BILL ENGLISH VETOED OUR PARLIAMENT. AND WHILE SHE ENJOYS DISHING UP SEAFOOD IN HER AUCKLAND RESTAURANT, SHE'D RATHER BE DISHING IT OUT TO THE BILL ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. I CAN'T SIT BACK AND NOT BE INVOLVED. LABOUR SAYS SATISFYING THAT POLITICAL HUNGER DEPENDS ON SUPPORT FOR MS HARRE'S NOMINATION. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. AND FORMER LABOUR LEADER DAVID SHEARER'S JUST GIVEN HIS FAREWELL SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT. HE STARTED WITH A LIGHT-HEARTED LOOK AT HIS POLITICAL CAREER. AND MY ACHIEVEMENTS DO LOOK A BIT LEAN. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN GOVERNMENT. I WASN'T IN CABINET, AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO BE PRIME MINISTER. AS THE SONG GOES, 'REGRETS, I HAVE A FEW.' IT'S BELIEVED MR SHEARER'S HEADING TO A TOP JOB WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. A BY-ELECTION'S POSSIBLE IN HIS MOUNT ALBERT ELECTORATE, GIVEN PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH HAS INDICATED HE WON'T CALL AN EARLY ELECTION. AN AMERICAN COMPANY HAS BOUGHT THE SISTEMA PLASTIC-CONTAINER MAKER AND AGREED TO KEEP ITS OPERATIONS IN NZ. THE $660M DEAL GUARANTEES THE JOBS OF 700 STAFF FOR 20 YEARS. HERE'S JESSICA MUTCH. 34 YEARS AGO BRENDAN LINDSAY STARTED SELLING PLASTIC LUNCHBOXES HE MADE IN HIS GARAGE IN CAMBRIDGE. NOW SISTEMA HAS GROWN INTO THIS, AND HE'S SELLING IT FOR $660M. AH, OF COURSE IT MAKES YOUR MIND BOGGLE. AMERICAN COMPANY NEWELL HAVE BROUGHT IT, BUT THE DEAL MEANS THEY HAVE TO KEEP MANUFACTURING IN NZ FOR 20 YEARS. I DID NOT WANT TO BE THE GUY THAT SOLD ANOTHER NZ BUSINESS AND IT ENDED UP BEING TAKEN OFFSHORE OR BROKEN UP. TWO YEARS AGO, NEWELL REFUSED TO KEEP THE KIWI JOBS, SO THE DEAL WAS OFF. THEY SAID, 'ARE YOU MAD? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? 'YOU'RE MAD.' I SAID, 'I'M ALLOWED TO BE MAD. IT'S MY BUSINESS. MR LINDSAY DECIDED TO SELL RATHER THAN GO TO A PUBLIC LISTING ON THE NZ STOCK EXCHANGE. BUSINESS NZ SAYS IT'S A SHAME BUT IS GLAD THE KIWI JOBS ARE STAYING ANYWAY. IT GIVES LONG-TERM SECURITY FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND, OF COURSE, MEANS THAT A GREAT BUSINESS STAYS BEING DONE IN NZ. EARLIER IN THE YEAR, SISTEMA WAS CRITICISED BY THE ETU UNION FOR LONG HOURS ON THE MINIMUM WAGE. IT HOPES TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE NEW OWNER. SISTEMA NOW HAS MORE THAN 700 STAFF AND SELLS PRODUCTS IN 90 COUNTRIES. IT HAS OFFICES IN PLACES LIKE AUSTRALIA, THE UK AND IN FRANCE. BUT BEFORE ALL THIS, MR LINDSAY SLEPT IN HIS CAR WHEN HE WENT ON SALES TRIP. MY WIFE USED TO MAKE LITTLE PACKETS OF MINCE FOR ME, AND I USED TO HAVE COLD MINCE ON TOAST FOR MY DINNER. WE WERE JUST SO BROKE, AND, IF YOU LOOK AT IT NOW, I GUESS THERE IS NO MORE SLEEPING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE PLAN NOW IS CHARITY WORK AND REINVESTING IN NZ COMPANIES. ITS GOING A BE A VERY DIFFICULT DAY, THE FINAL DAY. YEAH. A FEW EMOTIONS AFTER THREE DECADES. JESSICA MUTCH, 1 NEWS. JM SPORT - FORMER COACH OF AUSSIE TENNIS BAD BOY NICK KYRIOS COMES HOME.. WHILE SIMON REA IS STILL VERY FOND OF KYRIOS, THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID FOR FORMER AUSSIE CRICKET COACH MICKEY ARTHUR, NOW IN CHARGE OF PAKISTAN FOR THE UPCOMING TEST SERIES. IM NOT BEATING AROUND THE BUSH WHEN I SAID THE TEAM WASN'T CLOSE CAPPING OFF A REMARKABLE YEAR. FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR CRISTIANO RONALDO IS NAMED THE BEST ON THE PLANET ` AGAIN. AND MARTIN TASKER CHECKS UP ON THE GOLFING MARATHON MAN. IT'S LESS THAN A DAY SINCE BRAD KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. WHILE WORKING FOR TENNIS AUSTRALIA HE MADE HIS NAME AS COACH OF TENNIS BAD BOY NICK KYRGIOS, AND NOW KIWI SIMON REA IS HEADING HOME TO TRY AND HELP BUILD OUR TENNIS STOCKS AS THE NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE SPORT. ABBY WILSON REPORTS. WATCHING THE SUPREMELY TALENTED NICK KYRGIOS CAN BE A ROLLERCOASTER OF HIGHS AND LOWS. IMAGINE COACHING HIM. IT WAS A REALLY CHALLENGING PERIOD FOR ME AS A COACH BUT A PERIOD OF ENORMOUS GROWTH FOR ME AS WELL, AND I MISS IT, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF FUN OVER THE JOURNEY TOGETHER. KIWI SIMON REA WAS IN THE COACH'S BOX AT WIMBLEDON WHEN THE AUSSIE TEENAGER BEAT THEN-WORLD-NUMBER-ONE RAFAEL NADAL TO MAKE THE QUARTER-FINALS. A DREAM WIN FOR THIS TEENAGER. SINCE THEY PARTED WAYS SHORTLY AFTER, KYRGIOS' BEHAVIOUR HAS DETERIORATED. I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T LOVED BEING A BYSTANDER TO SOME OF WHAT'S GONE ON, FROM A DISTANCE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S A GOOD PERSON THERE, AND I DO BELIEVE IN POSSIBILITY FOR NICK. IT'S POSSIBILITY THAT'S BROUGHT THE FORMER DAVIS CUP PLAYER HOME TO AUCKLAND AND A NEW ROLE AS THE HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR AT TENNIS NZ. I'M A KIWI THROUGH AND THROUGH AND PROBABLY SPENT TOO LONG WORKING FOR THE ARCH-ENEMY OVER THE DITCH, SO IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES THAT EXIST HERE. IT WILL BE QUITE A TRANSITION FOR REA. FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, HE'S BEEN WORKING FOR ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST SPORTING ORGANISATIONS, WITH AROUND 300 STAFF. HE COMES BACK TO TENNIS NZ, WHO HAVE JUST 12 EMPLOYEES. HE'LL SPEND THIS WEEK FAMILIARISING HIMSELF WITH KIWI TALENT AT THE NZ CHAMPS. BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY NO ONE QUITE LIKE KYRGIOS HERE. I THINK IT'S NOT EASY FOR A YOUNG PERSON THAT'S EXPERIENCED A METEORIC RISE THAT HE HAS, AND I THINK HE'S STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS, WHAT HE WANTS TO BE ALL ABOUT. REA HOPES HE CAN HELP THE SPORT HERE FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET MORE YOUNG TALENT TO THE TOP. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS. DAY-NIGHT CRICKET IS SET TO TAKE MORE INROADS INTO THE TRADITIONS OF THE GAME WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT PERTH WILL HOST THE FIRST EVER PINK BALL ASHES TEST NEXT DECEMBER. BUT RIGHT NOW THE AUSTRALIANS ARE CONTEMPLATING FACING PAKISTAN IN THE OPENING TEST IN BRISBANE THIS THURSDAY, WHICH WILL ALSO BE UNDER LIGHTS. HERE'S CHANNEL NINE'S COREY NORRIS. IRONICALLY AT THIS GROUND FIVE YEARS AGO, MICKEY ARTHUR BEGAN HIS SHORT AND CONTROVERSIAL STINT AS AUSTRALIA'S COACH. HE NOW RETURNS VERY MUCH THE ENEMY WITH A BURNING DESIRE TO STICK IT RIGHT UP 'EM. YEAH, OF COURSE. OF COURSE THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT FEELS THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE HONEST IF I SAID OTHERWISE. WHILE ARTHUR IS ADAMANT THIS THREE TEST SERIES ISN'T ABOUT HIM, HE COULDN'T RESIST A SWIPE AT HIS FORMER TEAM. I'M NOT BEATING AROUND THE BUSH WHEN I SAY THE TEAM WASN'T VERY CLOSE DURING THOSE TIMES, BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS. AND HE DIDN'T MIND HAVING A DIG AT AUSTRALIA'S YOUNG EVOLVING CURRENT SQUAD. AUSTRALIA PROBABLY AREN'T AS STABLE AS WHAT WE ARE. I THINK THEY ARE SORT OF PROBABLY STARTING AGAIN. THE AUSSIE'S COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT ARTHUR'S PRE-TEST TALK. WE'RE A NEW GROUP. I'M NOT REALLY CONCERNED WHAT MICKEY ARTHUR IS DOING TO BE HONEST. WE'RE WORRYING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND OUR GROUP. LYON'S HOPING HE WON'T MISS OUT ON A CALL. WE SPOKE` CELL PHONE RINGS DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT? CELL PHONE CONTINUES RINGING GIDDAY, DAVID. SORRY, WE'RE IN A PRESS CONFERENCE. LAUGHTER CHEERS. DISMISSING ANY SUGGESTION HE'D BE CARRYING THE DRINKS ON THURSDAY, THE GABBA IS STATISTICALLY HIS BEST WICKET IN THE WORLD, ENDING ANY TALK OF A FOUR-PRONGED PACE ATTACK. WELL, I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING. THIS IS MY SIXTH TEST MATCH, AND EVERY YEAR YOU GUYS SEEM TO WRITE THAT, SO I'M CONFIDENT IN PLAYING. I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. THE PINK BALL AND DAY-NIGHT CRICKET ISN'T THE ONLY FIRST FOR THE GABBA. LUCKY FANS WILL GET TO TAKE A DIP RIGHT HERE ON THE BOUNDARY, AND BE THE ENVY OF THOSE OUT IN THE MIDDLE. IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING PLAYING UP HERE IN THE GABBA FOR THE TIME IN A PINK BALL TEST, SO, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BOYS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. KIWI CRICKET FANS ARE ALSO SET TO BENEFIT FROM THAT ASHES SERIES OVER THE 2017 TO 2018 SUMMER DOWN UNDER. AFTER THE ASHES, ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA WILL JOIN THE BLACKCAPS IN A SEVEN-MATCH T20 TRI-SERIES, WITH FOUR GAMES TO BE PLAYED HERE, INCLUDING THE FINAL AT EDEN PARK. IT DOES MEAN, THOUGH, THERE WILL BE NO CHAPPELL-HADLEE ODI SERIES. CRISTIANO RONALDO'S PICKED UP FIFA'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR 2016, WINNING THE PRESTIGIOUS BALLON D'OR FOR A FOURTH TIME. RONALDO RECEIVED THE AWARD IN PARIS AFTER A YEAR IN WHICH HE HELPED REAL MADRID TO AN 11TH EUROPEAN CUP/CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE. RONALDO SCORED THE WINNING PENALTY IN A SHOOTOUT AGAINST ATLETICO MADRID. HE ALSO CAPTAINED PORTUGAL TO THE EURO 2016 CROWN. GOLFING MARATHON MAN BRAD LUITEN IS RECOVERING TODAY FROM HIS RECORD-BREAKING 13 ROUNDS OF GOLF IN 12 HOURS. THE NEW WORLD RECORD HOLDER, WHO RAN MORE THAN TWO MARATHONS AROUND HELENSVILLE GOLF COURSE, WINDING DOWN IN THE ONLY WAY HE KNOWS ` BY GOING RUNNING. SERIOUSLY. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. LOOKING ABSURDLY SPRIGHTLY, BRAD LUITEN LOPES AROUND AUCKLAND'S VICTORIA PARK THIS AFTERNOON, NOT PREPARED TO MISS OUT ON HIS OTHER CHALLENGE OF RUNNING A MINIMUM 10 K'S A DAY. WHAT ACHES MOST? ME LEGS, MY HAMSTRINGS, MY ITBS, MY QUADS ` EVERYTHING ABOUT MY LEGS, YEAH. AND HOW DO YOU SORT THAT OUT? JUST RUN. (LAUGHS) JUST TRY AND RUN IT OFF. AND HE'S NOT JOKING. INSPIRED BY BRITISH MARATHON RUNNER RON HILL, WHO'S RUN A MILE EVERY DAY SINCE 1964, BRAD IS AT 712 OF A THOUSAND 10K DAYS. WHY? SET MYSELF GOALS. JUST LIKE YESTERDAY, SOMETHING HARD TO ACHIEVE. FEEL PROUD TO DO IT. I'VE GOT HEAPS OF RUNNING GOALS I WANT TO HIT, SO I KNOW IF I KEEP TRAINING HARD, I'M GOING TO HIT THOSE GOALS. AS HE DID LATE YESTERDAY,... CHEERING ...PUTTING ASIDE THE PAIN AND PUTTING HIS WAY TO THE RECORD, BUOYED BY ADRENALINE AND A LITTLE ARMY OF SUPPORTERS TO GET HIM ACROSS THE LINE. CHEERING, WHOOPING OH, IT WAS SO HARD. I AM NOT GOING TO LIE. FIRST 10 ROUNDS WERE EASY, THEN IT JUST GOT HARD AS. ROUND 11, ROUND 12 ` HARD. 13 ` HARDEST. BUT THAT WAS THE RECORD ROUND, SO THAT GOT ME THROUGH, AND THEN THE LAST THREE HOLES TO GET 237. HAPPY. MENTION HAD BEEN MADE OF HIS OTHER WORLD RECORD, 10K ON CRUTCHES, AFTER A BROKEN LEG STOPPED HIM RUNNING. THAT WAS EASY COMPARED TO THIS. THAT'S ONLY AN HOUR, 13. THIS IS NEARLY 12 HOURS OF PAIN. THE PAIN EASED BY THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LIFTING THE OLD RECORD OF 221 HOLES OF GOLF IN 12 HOURS BY 16 HOLES. ROUND NINE WAS THE BEST, COMPLETED IN 44 MINUTES AND JUST 84 STROKES ON THE PAR 71 COURSE. THE NEXT CHALLENGE? I DON'T KNOW. GETTING UP THE STAIRS FOR A BEER. LAUGHTER I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA DO THAT, BUT I'M GONNA TRY. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE'S RAISED AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR THE BOWEL CANCER CHARITY. MARTIN TASKER, 1 NEWS. AND THAT'S IT FOR SPORT SHORT AND SWEET HE SHOULD REST FOR A MINUTE IT IS THE BEST STORY OF THE YEAR 660 MILLION DOLLARS STARTED IN GARAGE ALSO TONIGHT ` THE DENTAL DOWNSIDE OF A SO`CALLED DIETARY WONDER. THIS LOOKS HORRIBLE. THIS LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN GUZZLING COKE. PLUS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFULLY MIXING FAMILY AND BUSINESS. NICK, WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING IN A BAND WITH YOUR DAD? I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANY DIFFERENT. AND SHOWCASING NZ. IT'S JUST A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE TO BE. WE'RE ON SET WITH THE STARS OF THE LATEST AIR NEW ZEALAND SAFETY VIDEO. SEE YOU SOON. 1 Installing a solar-energy system can cost many thousands of dollars, so will the numbers stack up for you? This is Dr Alan Wood from the University of Canterbury. His team has developed a calculator that will help you decide. Alan? The calculator crunches the numbers for you. It takes into account things like whether you're at home during the day and using power, as that can make quite a difference. So it's easy to use? Absolutely. For more information, visit energywise.govt.nz SO MUCH FOR FINE SUN AS WE WORK OUR WAY TO CHRISTMAS NOT JUST WEATHER DOWN SOUTH NEXT STORM COMING IN SOME HEAT AHEAD OF IT BUT UP TO TROPICS THINGS ARE GETTING GOING COULD BECOME FIRST CYCLONE OF SEASON IT'S ALL GOING ON WE HAD OUR QUIET SPELL HEAVY RAIN TO WEST COAST STRONG WINDS FOR CENTRAL AREAS 150MM OF RAIN WEST COAST RANGES WARM FRONT SPELL OF RAIN TO NORTH ISLAND BIT OF BREEZE OF SORTS COLLECTION OF FRONTS TO WEST COAST THAT PUMPS TO WARM AIR TO EAST COAST SEE QUITE A FEW 20S TOMORROW WARM FROM COME THROUGH CENTRAL WESTERN AREAS STRENGTENING WIND SPELL OF RAIN HEAVY ON WEST COAST SCATTERED SPOTS OR TWO FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ That's the main front. All the red is the stronger winds. The front slides its way north. How about a break? There it is. Saturday is a good-looking day. The new system coming in. Look at the heat in Australia. We are into the season. Hopefully some picnics, bbut mother nature is still throwing some spanner in the works. That is one use this Tuesday.