CLOUDY IN THE NORTH AND LONG SUNNY SPELLS OF THE sOUTH TODAY wITH A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TAKING CHARGE FROM tUESDAY. IT'S SHAKING UP TO BE A ROCKY RIDE IN THE LEAD UP TO cHRISTMAS, But it's starting to look like the weather will come to the party. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. WILL IT FLUSH OUT DRUG USERS? POLICE ARE TO START TESTING WASTE WATER TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHO'S USING ILLEGAL DRUGS. GIRLS DON'T GET MARRIED. IT'S INSANITY. BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP HER FROM HAVING NINE HUSBANDS. WE LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE OF CELEBRITY ZSA ZSA GABOR ` THE ORIGINAL KIM KARDASHIAN. RIDING INTO MORE CONTROVERSY ` A BIG BACKLASH AGAINST INFAMOUS DRUG CHEAT LANCE ARMSTRONG. WHAT'S HE HERE TO PEDDLE? KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. POLICE WILL SOON BE ABLE TELL HOW MUCH ILLEGAL DRUG USE IS TAKING PLACE IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. IN A FIRST FOR NZ, POLICE TODAY BEGAN TESTING WASTEWATER IN OUR TWO BIGGEST CITIES TO FIND OUT WHICH DRUGS AND HOW MUCH OF THEM ARE BEING TAKEN. WHILE THE TESTING WON'T BE TRACED BACK TO INDIVIDUALS OR RESULT IN CHARGES, THEY'LL PROVIDE POLICE WITH VITAL DATA. LORELEI MASON EXPLAINS. IT'S AN ILLICIT ACTIVITY WHICH GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. BUT SOON POLICE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL EXACTLY HOW WIDESPREAD HARD DRUG USE REALLY IS EVERY TIME RESIDENTS IN AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH VISIT THE SMALLEST ROOM. VISIT THE SMALLEST ROOM. IT'S GONNA GIVE US AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE ILLICIT DRUG USE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE TESTING. POLICE HAVE COMMISSIONED ESR SCIENTISTS TO COLLECT PUBLIC URINE AND FAECAL SAMPLES FROM AUCKLAND'S ROSEDALE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND ITS CHRISTCHURCH EQUIVALENT... THE DRUGS ARE DISSOLVED IN THE WATER. ...SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, ONE WEEK A MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IT GOES INTO THE TOILETS, THROUGH THE STORM WATER SYSTEM, AND WE COLLECT IT AT THE END. AND EXAMINE THEM IN THE LAB USING MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS. OUR DETECTION LIMIT IS ABOUT ONE PART PER TRILLION. IF WE WERE TAKING THE ROAD FROM KAITAIA DOWN TO BLUFF, THE WHOLE WIDTH OF THE ROAD, WE'D BE LOOKING FOR ONE SINGLE STONE 1CM WIDE, AND WE CAN DETECT THAT EVERY TIME. THE FIVE DRUGS CHOSEN ` METHAMPHETAMINE, COCAINE, HEROIN, ECSTASY, AND PVP ` ALSO KNOWN AS BATH SALTS. ALTHOUGH OUR MOST WIDESPREAD ILLEGAL DRUG IS NOT INCLUDED. THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH MARIJUANA, SO WE'VE CHOSEN NOT TO TEST FOR MARIJUANA ON THIS OCCASION. THE ONE-YEAR PILOT FOLLOWS ON FROM SIMILAR STUDIES IN AUSTRALIA, THE UK AND EUROPE. IT'LL COST $220,000, PAID FOR BY REVENUE RAISED FROM THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDS RECOVERY ACT. POLICE ARE FAIRLY NON-COMMITTAL ABOUT WHAT THEY'LL DO WITH THE RESULTS, SAYING ONLY THEY'LL PROVIDE INFORMATION DATA, MEASURE EDUCATION EFFECTIVENESS AND INFORM STRATEGIES AROUND ENFORCEMENT. BUT THEY SAY ONE THING'S CERTAIN ` THE PUBLIC, EVEN THE LAWBREAKERS, HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS FROM THIS TESTING. TESTING WHICH, IF PROVEN USEFUL, COULD SEE THE TRIAL EXTENDED TO EXAMINE WHAT'S GOING DOWN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. LORELEI MASON, 1 NEWS. ONE OF THE MOST INFAMOUS DRUG CHEATS IN WORLD SPORT IS IN NZ, BUT THE BREWERY THAT BROUGHT LANCE ARMSTRONG HERE WON'T SAY WHY. LION BREWERY REFUSED TO SAY HOW LONG HE'S HERE FOR AND WON'T COMMENT ON NEGATIVE REACTION TO THE DISGRACED CYCLIST. ARMSTRONG'S PUT A CALL OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PEOPLE TO JOIN HIM FOR AN EARLY MORNING CYCLE AROUND AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT TOMORROW. 'LAY OFF HIM; HE'S NOT AN AXE MURDERER.' A FORMER KIWI TRIATHLON CHAMPION COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF LANCE ARMSTRONG LATER IN SPORT. CHRISTMAS, THE SUMMER TOURIST SEASON AND ROAD WORKS ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S GETTING BUSIER THAN USUAL IN AND AROUND AUCKLAND AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS SPENDING $1M A DAY ON UPGRADING ITS EVER-STRETCHED INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE OF ITS NEW FEATURES ` A BIOSECURITY EXPRESS LANE. PAUL HOBBS CHECKED IT OUT. A BOTTLENECK AT BIOSECURITY. BUT FOR RETURNING KIWIS AND AUSTRALIAN VISITORS, THIS NEW GREEN LANE WILL SPEED THINGS UP. THE AIM IS THAT THOSE PASSENGERS THAT HAVE GOT NOTHING TO DECLARE GET IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT MIGHT BE A BETTER PASSENGER EXPERIENCE, BUT DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SLIP THROUGH ANY BIOSECURITY THREATS. THERE'LL BE MORE SNIFFER DOGS ON DUTY, AND THE INCREASED SPACE WILL BRING TIGHTER CONTROLS FOR AT-RISK PASSENGERS. IT ALLOWS US TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF X-RAYS AVAILABLE, SO IF ANYTHING, THE SCRUTINY HAS TIGHTENED UP TO A LEVEL. IT'S ALL COME ABOUT AS VISITOR NUMBERS ARE AT A RECORD HIGH. OVER SUMMER, MORE THAN 150 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE EXPECTED DAILY. THAT'S MORE THAN 30,000 PASSENGERS, UP 15% ON THIS TIME LAST YEAR, CAUSING THE AIRPORT SEVERE GROWING PAINS. WE'RE DOING A NUMBER OF MAJOR, MAJOR PROJECTS TO UPGRADE THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT, AND WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $1M A DAY. THEY INCLUDE BUILDING A NEW TAXI WAY, A NEW AIRCRAFT STAND, IMPROVING TWO REMOTE AIRFIELD STANDS FOR LARGER PLANES. INSIDE THE TERMINAL, THERE'LL BE MORE SERVICE COUNTERS AND CHECK-IN KIOSKS. STILL, PROBLEMS REMAIN JUST GETTING TO THE AIRPORT. THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY ROADING PROJECTS ON MAIN ROUTES TO THE AIRPORT, MAKING FOR SOME ADDED DELAYS. THE OVERALL ADVICE IS TO GIVE YOURSELF AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES TO FACTOR IN TRAVEL AND LONGER CHECK-IN LINES. THE GREEN LANE INNOVATION WILL AT LEAST MAKE GETTING HOME EASIER, AND MORE INNOVATIONS ARE PLANNED. IN A FEW YEARS' TIME, POTENTIALLY WE COULD HAVE ELECTRONIC SENSORS IN A FEW YEARS' TIME, POTENTIALLY WE COULD HAVE ELECTRONIC SENSORS THAT WILL BE DETECTING WHETHER YOU'RE CARRYING ANY FOOD PRODUCTS ON YOU. IN THE MEANTIME, THESE MACHINES AND THESE GUYS WILL BE WORKING OVERTIME. PAUL HOBBS, 1 NEWS. A BIG MOVE FOR THE NEW PRIME MINISTER. NATIONAL HAS DECIDED NOT TO STAND A CANDIDATE IN THE MT ALBERT BY-ELECTION TO BE HELD EARLY NEXT YEAR. IT COMES AS HIS DEPUTY, PAULA BENNETT, FACES UP TO A BIG NEW WORKLOAD. AS POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD FINDS, SHE'S NOT AFRAID TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGE HEAD ON. SHE'S THE NEW MINISTER FOR EVERYTHING ` POLICE, WOMEN, TOURISM, CLIMATE CHANGE, STATE SERVICES, PLUS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. I'M SOMEONE THAT LIKES HARD WORK AND GETTING STUCK IN. FORMER PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY AND POLICE MINISTER JUDITH COLLINS HAD PROMISED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON THE BEAT. JUDITH COLLINS HAS DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK IN THE PORTFOLIO. I INTEND TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT SHE IS DOING, AND SO IN THAT CONTEXT, I COULD SEE US STILL BEING ON THE TRACK. SO A HINT, BUT NOT A PROMISE, BEFORE SHE'S SWORN IN TOMORROW. AND THERE'S ANOTHER REASON SHE WANTED TO COMBINE THE PORTFOLIOS OF POLICE AND WOMEN. FOR ME, FAMILY VIOLENCE AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ARE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT ARE YET TO BE FULLY ADDRESSED FOR WOMEN, AND SO I SAW THE SYNERGY IN THEM. BUT WILL SHE MISS SOCIAL HOUSING? SHE'S FACED INTENSE PRESSURE AS HOMELESSNESS HAS SOARED. IT'LL NOW BE LOOKED AFTER BY AMY ADAMS. SHE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE HARD WORK TO DO. I MEAN, IT'S NOT AN EASY SOLVE, AND THERE'S NOT ONE SOLUTION. THERE'S ALSO NOT JUST ONE MINISTER. IN FACT THERE'S NO LONGER A HOUSING MINISTER, FULL STOP, AND THAT HAS SOME CONCERNED. I DON'T ACTUALLY NECESSARILY THINK WE NEED A SUPER HOUSING MINISTER; WHAT I JUST THINK WE NEED IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO COORDINATE ITSELF. NICK SMITH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING, BUT LEONIE FREEMAN SAYS THAT MEANS THE DOTS AREN'T CONNECTED. HOW DOES LENDING POLICIES? HOW DOES IMMIGRATION? HOW DOES INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION? WHERE DOES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEBATE SIT? THE PRIME MINISTER'S ANNOUNCED THE MT ALBERT BY-ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 25, AHEAD OF THE GENERAL ELECTION. BUT IN AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL MOVE, BILL ENGLISH SAYS NATIONAL WON'T BE STANDING A CANDIDATE IN THE SAFE LABOUR SEAT. THE MOVE SUGGESTS THE GOVERNMENT WON'T GO TO THE POLLS EARLY. BUT THE PRESSURE WILL STILL BE ON THESE NEW MINISTERS AND THEIR NEW PORTFOLIOS TO SHINE IN ELECTION YEAR. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS THE HORSE-RACING FRATERNITY IS IN SHOCK AND SAFETY OFFICIALS AND POLICE HAVE LAUNCHED INQUIRIES INTO THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH KILLED SOUTHLAND JOCKEY REBECCA BLACK. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT GORE RACECOURSE LATE YESTERDAY WHEN BLACK'S MOUNT 'POINT PROVEN' FELL DURING A RACE. A HORSE TRAILING BLACK IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE ALSO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. WE'LL LOOK TO SUPPORT THE INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE REALLY DO WANT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF JOCKEYS AND ANIMAL WELFARE AS WELL IN OUR SPORTS, SO WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN. REBECCA BLACK (40) IS SURVIVED BY THREE TEENAGE CHILDREN, TWO OF WHOM WERE AT THE RACE MEETING YESTERDAY. AFTER DAYS OF FALSE STARTS, THE FIRST BUSLOADS OF EVACUEES FROM EAST ALEPPO HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REBEL-HELD TOWN OF AL RASHIDEEN. THE DEAL TO MOVE CIVILIANS OUT OF THE CITY COLLAPSED ON FRIDAY, BUT THIS AFTERNOON THE EVACUATION WAS ALLOWED TO GET UNDERWAY. AROUND 500 PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM CHILDREN, WERE ON THE FIRST BUSES TO ARRIVE AT AL RASHIDEEN, WHERE AID WORKERS WERE WAITING FOR THEM WITH FOOD AND WINTER CLOTHING. THIS FOLLOWS A BREAKDOWN IN THE EVACUATION PROCESS AFTER BUSES SENT IN TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE WERE ATTACKED. THE BBC'S QUENTIN SOMERVILLE REPORTS. AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR! RIVAL FACTIONS ATTACKED BUSES THAT WERE MEANT TO FREE TRAPPED, SICK AND INJURED IN SHIITE VILLAGES. ONLY WHEN THEY ARE FREED WILL THE REGIME ALLOW CONVOYS TO AGAIN LEAVE EASTERN ALEPPO. AND ONLY AFTER ALEPPO'S MISERY WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS SALVATION. THIS IS THE ATMEH CAMP IN IDLIB. EVACUEES ARE BROUGHT HERE. WHEN THEY ARRIVE, THEY HAVE NOTHING. THE BUSES THAT BRING THEM ARE SO CROWDED, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR LUGGAGE. BUT HERE, THERE IS RELIEF. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: ROCKETS, RUSSIAN JETS AND WAR PLANES ALL BOMBING US, BARREL BOMBS DROPPED OVER US. WE KEPT FLEEING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. THERE WAS HUNGER, POVERTY AND SLEEPING IN THE STREETS. AND FINALLY THE RED CROSS GOT US OUT. SHE MADE IT HERE WITH HER TWIN GIRLS AMINAH AND FATIMA. THE CAMP MAY BE CROWDED, BUT HERE THE SISTERS CAN BREATHE AGAIN. TRANSLATOR: IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS IN ALEPPO. THERE'S NO BOMBING. WE HAVE NEW FRIENDS WALKING AND PLAYING TOGETHER. THERE WAS A FOOD SHORTAGE BACK THERE, BUT WE'RE EATING MORE HERE. WE HATED LIFE, BUT HERE WE'RE EATING BISCUITS AND EVERYTHING. AND THAT'S WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE. EVERY MINUTE, EVERY HOUR OF THE CEASEFIRE THAT IS LOST IS ANOTHER MOMENT OF LIFE DENIED TO THE CHILDREN OF ALEPPO. IT'S HOPED THE EVACUATION OPERATION WILL SEE ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE LEAVE THE CITY. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE NOVEMBER EARTHQUAKES, THERE IS UNRESTRICTED TWO-WAY ROAD ACCESS IN AND OUT OF KAIKOURA. THE KAIKOURA INLAND ROAD, ROUTE 70, OPENED FULLY THIS MORNING. CREWS HAVE CLEARED MORE THAN 50 SLIPS AND STABILISED AND REPAIRED DAMAGE ALONG THE ROAD. TO GET AROUND ONE OF THE MOST UNSTABLE AREAS, KNOWN AS THE WHALEBACK SECTION, A NEW DIVERSION ROAD WAS BUILT. AND THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IS ALIVE AND WELL IN KAIKOURA. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN DONATING GIFTS, TIME AND SERVICES TO HELP MAKE THE SEASON A FESTIVE ONE FOR THE TOWN'S FAMILIES. SAM CLARKE REPORTS. FOR THE KIDS OF KAIKOURA, SANTA CAME EARLY THIS YEAR, AND TO A DIFFERENT TUNE. BUT WITH ROADS BLOCKED AND CHIMNEYS DOWN, EARLIER IS BETTER THAN NOT AT ALL. THANK YOU FOR COMING, SANTA! TODAY'S EFFORTS WERE A COLLABORATION BY VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALL WITH ONE GOAL. WE ALL WANTED TO HELP IN A DIFFERENT WAY. AND SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS, IT MUST BE SO HARD FOR PARENTS TO BUY PRESENTS. WHEN WE FIRST MET THE YOUNGEST OF THE ORGANISERS, THEY'D ALMOST FILLED THIS SHIPPING CONTAINER WITH DONATED GIFTS. THAT PILE ONLY GREW. IT WAS HEART-WARMING TO THINK PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN TIME AND MONEY TO PAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE'S PRESENTS. TURNS OUT WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HAND OUT FOR PRESENTS IN NZ, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET IN RETURN ` MORE THAN 4000 GIFTS ` A DECENT HANDFUL FOR EVERY KID IN KAIKOURA. THE EXCESS WILL GO TO OTHER AFFECTED AREAS LIKE WAIAU AND CHEVIOT. HERE YOU ARE, DARLING. THE KIDS ` THEY'RE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THEIR HAUL. LEGO! I GOT A BADMINTON RACQUET. WHICH ONE'S YOUR FAVOURITE OUT OF ALL OF THESE GIFTS? UM, ALL OF THEM. AS FOR THE PARENTS, THEY'RE A FEW GIFTS HEAVIER, AND THANKFUL FOR IT. IT'S REALLY AWESOME. REALLY AWESOME. WE'RE PRETTY LUCKY. BECAUSE WE'RE A SMALL COMMUNITY, I THINK WE'RE GETTING WELL LOOKED AFTER. IT'S AMAZING THE GENEROSITY FROM AROUND NZ. JUST TO GIVE THESE KIDS A BOOST IS AWESOME, SO, THANKS, NZ. SO FROM EVERYONE ENJOYING THEIR EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS HERE IN KAIKOURA... ALL: THANK YOU, NZ! AND SAM JOINS US NOW FROM KAIKOURA. SAM, THE OPENING OF THE INLAND ROUTE PLAYED A PART IN GETTING THOSE PRESENTS THROUGH TODAY. SOME GOOD NEWS FOR RESIDENTS. This close to Christmas, any news is good news. The opening of the inland route is definitely some good news. We are expecting more news With the State Highway going to Christchurch opening for unrestricted access. It means for the first time in more than a month, they can come and go as they please. For this region, it is about a lot more than that ` Opening these roots means getting visitors into town, And it's important to reopen For the tourism in this area. The area behind me would usually be full of tourists. Just five days up from Christmas, People are focusing on what is really important, Which is the gifts and generosity which is flooding into town. THANKS, SAM CLARKE, IN KAIKOURA. A TENT FOR A BEDROOM, A LONG DROP FOR A TOILET AND NEVER-ENDING AFTERSHOCKS. ONE MONTH ON FROM THE 7.8 MAGNITUDE QUAKE, LIFE'S PROVING CHALLENGING FOR RESIDENTS OF WARD IN MARLBOROUGH. BUT AS KIM SAVAGE REPORTS, ONE LOCAL HERO IS WORKING HARD TO KEEP A SMILE ON EVERYONE'S FACES. WHAT BETTER CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION THAN THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL? (PLAYS CHEERFUL PIANO TUNE) ESPECIALLY AFTER A TRYING FOURTH TERM FOR WARD SCHOOL. THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, AND WE'RE LIKE, 'REALLY? OK.' THE SMALL COMMUNITY SHATTERED BY LAST MONTH'S EARTHQUAKE. SOME ARE STILL LIVING IN TENTS. THE CRACKS ARE STILL MAKING DRIVING FRUSTRATING AND SEVERAL PROPERTIES RED-STICKERED. BUT HELPING TO LIFT SPIRITS IS THE SCHOOL'S SECRETARY AND BUS DRIVER, CANDI CALLAGHAN. YOU NEED A CAMP MUM. SHE'S THE BACKBONE OF THE SCHOOL. SHE REALLY DOES NEED SOME RECOGNITION. FINALLY, THE TIME FOR RECOGNITION HAS COME,... SOMEONE SAID RECENTLY THAT SHE WAS OUR TOTARA TREE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I TEND TO AGREE. ...RECEIVING NO LESS THAN A STANDING OVATION AT THE SCHOOL PRIZE-GIVING. AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE, SHE LEFT HER OWN HOUSE AND LEFT HER FAMILY WITH HER PARTNER THERE LOOKING AFTER THEIR CHILDREN, AND SHE FILLED UP THIS WHOLE HALL WITH MATTRESSES AND FED PEOPLE FOR THREE DAYS OUT OF HER OWN FREEZER. SO WE LIVED ON VENISON AND PORK AND THE WHITEBAIT THAT WAS IN THE FREEZER. STATE HIGHWAY ONE HITS A DEAD END ABOUT 50KM SOUTH OF WARD. LOCALS HERE HAVE HAD TO ADJUST TO THIS ROUTE GOING FROM BEING FULL OF TRUCKS AND TRAVELLERS TO BEING VIRTUALLY EMPTY. THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE OUT OF ACTION TOO. THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET OUR HOUSES FIXED AND THE FUTURE OF JOBS AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH OUR ROAD. SO CHRISTMAS MAY BE CHALLENGING, BUT FOR THIS HARDY COMMUNITY, THERE'S STILL SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR. I SUPPOSE WE'RE JUST... THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. THAT'S THE MAIN THING. AND OUR FAMILIES ARE ALL SAFE. KIM SAVAGE, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` JORDAN'S FIGHT AGAINST HOME-GROWN EXTREMISM IS DEALT ANOTHER BLOW, WITH TOURISTS CAUGHT UP IN A SHOOTING SPREE THAT'S LEFT 10 DEAD AS A MEDIEVAL CASTLE'S THE SCENE OF A DRAMATIC SHOOTOUT BETWEEN POLICE AND THE GUNMEN. FIERY SCENES ON ICE-COVERED MOTORWAYS IN THE U.S. A TANKER TRUCK SKIDDING OFF THE ROAD, FLIPPING AND BURSTING INTO FLAMES, CAUSING A 70-CAR PILE-UP. PLUS, SHE WAS THE KIM KARDASHIAN OF HER DAY ` FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS, DRIPPING IN DIAMONDS AND WITH HER FAIR SHARE OF HUSBANDS. ZSA ZSA GABOR HAS DIED, JUST SHY OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY. A CANADIAN WOMAN IS AMONG NINE PEOPLE KILLED DURING A SHOOTING ATTACK IN JORDAN. AFTER FIRING AT POLICE, GUNMEN MOVED INTO AN ANCIENT CASTLE POPULAR WITH TOURISTS IN THE CITY OF KARAK. FOUR OF THE GUNMEN WERE EVENTUALLY KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES, BUT THEIR MOTIVE IS STILL UNCLEAR. THE BBC'S SECUNDER KERMANI REPORTS. SIRENS WAIL ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS RACING THROUGH THE STREETS OF KARAK. THEY'RE RESPONDING TO A SERIES OF SHOOTINGS IN AND AROUND THE TOWN BY SEVERAL GUNMEN. MEN SHOUT THE SECURITY FORCES THEMSELVES SEEM TO BE THE MAIN TARGET, AND THEY DESPERATELY TRY TO ESTABLISH WHO'S FIRING AND FROM WHERE. BANG! BANG! THE ATTACKERS FLEE TO A MEDIEVAL CASTLE. POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES CLOSE IN ON THEM AT THE TOURIST ATTRACTION. GUNFIRE BUT THE GUNMEN USE THE TOWERS TO FIRE DOWN ON A NEARBY POLICE STATION, SENDING THOSE INSIDE DUCKING FOR COVER. BANG! PANICKED SHOUTING IN THE 12TH-CENTURY CITADEL, TERRIFIED TOURISTS RUSH TO SAFETY. THERE WERE INITIAL REPORTS OF HOSTAGES BEING TAKEN, BUT ALL THOSE TRAPPED SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FREED. ONE CANADIAN IS AMONGST THE DEAD. THE REST ARE ALL JORDANIAN. TONIGHT, THE POLICE OPERATION DREW TO A CLOSE WITH A NUMBER OF THE ATTACKERS SAID TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. VICTIMS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITALS ACROSS THE CITY. (SPEAKS ARABIC LANGUAGE) TRANSLATOR: I SAW ABOUT THREE OR FOUR INJURED WITH MY OWN EYES. ONE HAD AN INJURED LEG AND ANOTHER A BACK INJURY. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'VE DISCOVERED SUICIDE BELTS IN THE GUNMEN'S HIDEOUT, LABELLING THE ATTACKERS TERRORISTS. JORDAN HAS EXPERIENCED ATTACKS BEFORE, THOUGH NOTHING LIKE ITS NEIGHBOURS. THIS IS ANOTHER BLOW TO THE COUNTRY'S REPUTATION AS AN OASIS OF RELATIVE STABILITY. ISIS SAYS IT'S BEHIND A SUICIDE BOMBING IN YEMEN WHICH HAS KILLED AT LEAST 48 SOLDIERS AND WOUNDED MORE THAN 80. THE SOLDIERS WERE QUEUING UP TO RECEIVE THEIR SALARIES IN THE PORT CITY OF ADEN WHEN THE BOMBER STRUCK AFTER IMMERSING HIMSELF IN THE CROWD. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF ISIS ATTACKS ON ARMY RECRUITS IN ADEN, WITH NEARLY 50 SOLDIERS KILLED AT THE SAME MILITARY BASE LAST WEEK. AN INDONESIAN AIR FORCE PLANE HAS CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAINOUS AREA OF PAPUA, KILLING ALL 13 PEOPLE ON BOARD. THE HERCULES C130 IS SIMILAR TO THE ONES THE NZ AIR FORCE USES AND WAS ON A SUPPLY MISSION IN THE REMOTE REGION WHERE LAND TRAVEL IS OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH ISN'T YET KNOWN. MORE THAN A DOZEN DEATHS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON THE ARCTIC WEATHER THAT'S SLAMMING THE COUNTRY. HUNDREDS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS AN ICY BLAST SAW TEMPERATURES DROP AND ROADS FREEZE. THIS TANKER CRASH IN BALTIMORE WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA BY A MOTORIST WHOSE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN. IT WAS PART OF A NEARLY 70-VEHICLE PILE-UP THAT LEFT TWO PEOPLE DEAD AND MORE THAN 20 INJURED. AND RECENT HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS BEING BLAMED FOR CAUSING A HUGE TREE TO FALL ON TO A BRIDAL PARTY AS THEY WERE TAKING WEDDING PHOTOS IN A PARK. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND FIVE OTHERS HURT WHEN THE 30M EUCALYPTUS TREE TOPPLED OVER. FIREFIGHTERS SCRAMBLED TO CUT THEM FREE, USING CPR ON ONE VICTIM. A GIRL (4) HAS BEEN RUSHED TO HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. RENEE'S HERE NOW WITH THE DAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, AND CONDITIONS ARE CLEARING THE COUNTRY. YES, WENDY. A FRONTAL BAND OF CLOUD LIES OVER THE NORTH ISLAND, WHILE THERE IS CLEARANCE BEHIND THE FRONT, ESPECIALLY OVER THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. AND TOMORROW IS SHAPING UP TO BE FILLED WITH SUMMER SUNSHINE AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TAKES CONTROL. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ I will be back after sport with a good dose of sunshine. SHE WAS THE ORIGINAL HOLLYWOOD SOCIALITE, BETTER KNOWN FOR HER LOVE LIFE AND SHARP WIT THAN HER ACTING CAREER. GIRLS, DON'T GET MARRIED. IT'S INSANITY. YOU HAVE TO BECOME THEIR SERVANT, LOOK AFTER THEIR HOUSE, AND THEY CHEAT ON YOU. WHO THE HELL NEEDS THAT? ZSA ZSA GABOR HAS DIED AGED 99. WE'VE GOT SOME OF HER BEST MOMENTS COMING UP. PLUS, INFAMOUS DRUGS CHEAT LANCE ARMSTRONG RIDES INTO TOWN AT THE INVITATION OF ONE OF OUR TOP BREWERIES. Your reward points can be a passport to travel, but when you try to use them, you may find they don't all go the distance. For example, the same number of membership rewards points from American Express that will get you to a ball game in LA... ..may only gets you part way with other cards. Just part of the altogether more rewarding service we deliver daily. American Express. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` POLICE HAVE BEGUN TESTING WASTEWATER IN AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH ILLEGAL DRUG USE IS TAKING PLACE IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TELL WHICH DRUGS ARE BEING USED AND HOW MUCH, BUT THE DATA WON'T BE ABLE TO BE TRACED BACK TO INDIVIDUALS. PLUS, THE FIRST BUSLOADS OF EVACUEES FROM EASTERN ALEPPO HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REBEL-HELD TOWN OF AL RASHIDEEN. AROUND 500 PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM CHILDREN, HAVE BEEN GREETED BY AID WORKERS WITH FOOD AND WARM CLOTHING. IT FOLLOWS A BREAKDOWN IN THE EVACUATION PROCESS AFTER BUSES SENT IN TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE WERE SET ALIGHT. ZSA ZSA GABOR ` THE ACTRESS AND SOCIALITE HAS DIED AGED 99. THE HUNGARIAN-BORN BEAUTY WAS THE KIM KARDASHIAN OF HER DAY, EMBODYING THE HOLLYWOOD CONCEPT OF CELEBRITY. SHE HAD AN OUTLANDISH PERSONALITY, MULTIPLE MARRIAGES AND AN EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE. THE BBC'S NICK HYAM REPORTS. ZSA ZSA GABOR MAY HAVE BEEN A GREAT BEAUTY, BUT SHE WAS NEVER A GREAT ACTRESS. I KNOW EVERYTHING. I HEARD THE VERDICT. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO COME HERE. I MUST TAKE THAT RISK, AND SO MUST YOU. HER SCREEN CAREER WAS UNDISTINGUISHED, THOUGH IT DID INCLUDE CAMP CLASSICS LIKE THE TRULY TERRIBLE 'QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE'. IF YOU MUST GO, PROMISE ME YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO ME. I DON'T WANT TO` HER GREATEST ROLE WAS AS HERSELF ` ONE OF THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL CELEBRITIES ` FAMOUS FOR SIMPLY BEING FAMOUS. SHE WAS RICH; SHE WAS GORGEOUS; SHE WAS OUTRAGEOUS, AND SHE ATE MEN FOR BREAKFAST. HER LAST MARRIAGE, IN 1986, WAS HER EIGHTH, OR NINTH, IF YOU INCLUDE AN ILLEGAL CEREMONY CONDUCTED AT SEA. WOMEN DON'T EVEN GET MARRIED ANY MORE TODAY; THE JUST HAVE LOVE AFFAIRS. AS I WAS RAISED IN A CONVENT, THEY JUST HAVE LOVE AFFAIRS. AS I WAS RAISED IN A CONVENT, I THOUGHT YOU HAVE TO GET MARRIED, LEGALISED, WHICH WAS DUMB. BUT NOW I JUST BELIEVE MYSELF TO LIVE IN SIN. IT'S WONDERFUL. GIRLS, DON'T GET MARRIED. IT'S INSANITY. YOU HAVE TO BECOME THEIR SERVANT; YOU HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEIR HOUSE, AND THEY CHEAT ON YOU. WHO THE HELL NEEDS THAT? IN 1989, SHE WAS BRIEFLY JAILED FOR HITTING A HOLLYWOOD TRAFFIC COP TWICE HER SIZE. SHE WAS WELL INTO HER 70S, THOUGH DURING THE COURT CASE, SHE WAS ACCUSED OF DOCTORING HER DRIVING LICENCE TO DISGUISE HER AGE. BY THEN HER FILM CAREER HAD COLLAPSED INTO SELF PARODY. HERE SHE IS WITH FRANKIE HOWERD. EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, I GET LUMPS IN MY THROAT. BUT SHE NEVER LOST A CERTAIN INNOCENCE, NOR HER WIT. SHE ONCE SAID, 'I'M A MARVELLOUS HOUSEKEEPER. 'EVERY TIME I LEAVE A MAN, I KEEP HIS HOUSE.' ZSA ZSA GABOR WAS THE MIDDLE OF THREE SISTERS. HER YOUNGER SISTER EVA STARRED IN THE SITCOM 'GREEN ACRES'. THREE TEENAGERS REMAIN IN HOSPITAL IN A SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER CRASHING THEIR CAR WHILE FLEEING FROM POLICE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND THIS MORNING. OFFICERS WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY SPOTTED IT DRIVING DANGEROUSLY IN PAPATOETOE, AND A SHORT TIME LATER, IT HIT TWO PARKED CARS AND FLIPPED. THE DRIVER AND FOUR YOUNG PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. IT FOLLOWS ANOTHER SERIOUS CRASH LAST NIGHT IN WHANGANUI WHERE A STOLEN CAR ` CARRYING SEVEN YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 AND 16 ` HIT A POWER POLE. ONE OF THEM IS STILL IN INTENSIVE CARE. IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE BIG ISSUES WHICH HAVE MADE HEADLINES IN 2016. FROM THE BIG SHAKE TO THE BIG BAKE AS GLOBAL TEMPERATURES KEPT RISING, SCIENTISTS HAVE HAD PLENTY TO DEAL WITH. AND WHILE MUCH OF IT MADE FOR BLEAK READING, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WINS. RYAN BOSWELL HAS THE FIRST OF OUR 'YEAR IN REVIEW' SERIES. KAIKOURA WAS DEVASTATED AFTER A MAGNITUDE 7.8 EARTHQUAKE STRUCK ON THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER. THE SEABED AROUND THE COAST WAS UPLIFTED, ROADS WERE RIPPED OPEN, AND AT LEAST 80,000 LANDSLIDES LEFT RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS STRANDED. PARTS OF WELLINGTON CITY WERE CLOSED AS BUILDINGS WERE CHECKED AND OTHERS PULLED DOWN. THE GOVERNMENT HANDED OUT CASH TO HELP THOSE IN NEED AND GAVE CIVIL DEFENCE THE POWER TO DEMAND EARTHQUAKE ASSESSMENTS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS. IN AUGUST, HAVELOCK NORTH WAS HIT BY A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. A CONTAMINATED WATER SUPPLY LED TO OVER A THIRD OF THE SMALL TOWN GETTING GASTROENTERITIS. THREE DEATHS WERE LINKED TO THE OUTBREAK, AND AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE CONTRACTED SERIOUS LONG-TERM ILLNESSES. AN INQUIRY IS UNDER WAY TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK AND WHO'S AT FAULT. MOSQUITOES BUZZ MOZZIES WREAKED HAVOC WITH THE ZIKA VIRUS. THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE GRABBING GLOBAL ATTENTION AS IT SPREAD RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT SOUTH AMERICA. IT WAS DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION. THE BRAZIL OLYMPICS STILL WENT AHEAD, BUT SOME ATHLETES CHOSE TO STAY AWAY. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE, THE ROSS SEA HAD A WIN AS IT WAS GRANTED MARINE PROTECTION. THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO THE NO-FISH PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD BY NZ AND THE UNITED STATES. THE 1.55-MILLION-KM2 SANCTUARY IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST. NZ ALSO BECAME THE 63RD COUNTRY TO RATIFIED THE PARIS AGREEMENT, PROMISING TO REDUCE EMISSIONS TO 30% BELOW 2005 LEVELS IN 14 YEARS. SCIENTISTS SAY MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE. WITH SEA ICE IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLES RETREATING EVEN FURTHER WHILE TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO CLIMB, 2016 WAS THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD ` SOMETHING TO PONDER OVER THE SUMMER BREAK. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT ` Are there any more sportsmen here? If you want to get someone who splits public opinion, get him. ALSO TONIGHT, MORE ON THE LAWSUIT ABOUT TO STRIKE NRL LEAGUE. PLUS, AN ALL BLACK COMEBACK CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH AT THE SAME TIME THE NEW CRUSADERS CAPTAIN IS CHRISTENED. AND MAHE DRYSDALE REVEALS HIS NEW CHALLENGE AWAY FROM ROWING. LANCE ARMSTRONG'S PRESENCE HAS BEEN FELT HERE, EVEN MORE THAN ARMSTRONG HIMSELF PROBABLY EXPECTED. THE DRUGS-TARNISHED CYCLING STAR ARRIVED YESTERDAY, COMING HERE TO FILM A TV COMMERCIAL FOR A BREWERY. SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN IN A FEEDING FRENZY TODAY WITH ARMSTRONG SPLITTING PUBLIC OPINION AGAIN. FORMER TRIATHLON WORLD CHAMPION RIC WELLS IS SURPRISED BY THE LANCE ARMSTRONG BACKLASH. WE ALL KNOW LANCE ARMSTRONG'S A CHEAT. I KNOW WHAT HE'S DONE. I DON'T CONDONE IT. I DON'T LIKE IT. BUT HE'S DONE IT, AND YOU JUST MOVE ON. WELLS RACED AGAINST A TEENAGE ARMSTRONG IN TRIATHLONS BACK IN THE LATE 1980s. I KNOW HIM, AND HE'S NOT A BAD GUY. HE'S NOT AN AXE MURDERER. HE'S NOT AN ADOLF HITLER. HE'S JUST A CYCLIST THAT ROSE TO THE TOP IN A CROOKED SPORT ANYWAY. ARMSTRONG HOLDS A PUBLIC RIDE EARLY TOMORROW MORNING HERE ALONG AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT. AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THOUSAND ARE EXPECTED TO TURN UP. IRON MAN GREAT CAMERON BROWN AND HIS SON RODE WITH ARMSTRONG YESTERDAY. BROWN HAS SINCE FACED A SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH. OF ALL THE ATHLETES, CAM BROWN IS THE MOST HONEST. HE'S A GUY I REALLY LOOK UP TO AND ADMIRE FOR HIS INTEGRITY. IT'S UNCOMPROMISING. HAS HE BEEN UPSET ABOUT IT? OF COURSE HE HAS. CAM'S A REAL GENUINE GUY, AND SO HE TAKES WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HIM TO HEART. CAMERON BROWN FROM AUCKLAND! CAMERON BROWN POLITELY DECLINED TO COMMENT ON CAMERA TODAY, SAYING HE'S RECEIVED TOO MUCH NEGATIVE REACTION. OTHERS IN AUCKLAND CYCLING CIRCLES RODE WITH ARMSTRONG THIS MORNING FROM THE CENTRAL CITY TO THE WAITAKERES. SOME EVEN APPROACHED DRUG-FREE SPORT NZ TO SEEK THE OK TO RIDE ALONGSIDE THE AMERICAN. BUT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS HAVE SINCE BEEN DELETED. WHEN APPROACHED BY 1 NEWS, MANY DECLINED TO COMMENT, SOME FEARING THEY AND THEIR CYCLING BUSINESSES WOULD ALSO FACE A BACKLASH. I'M PROBABLY GETTING TOO OLD. I DON'T GIVE A RATS ANY MORE. AND SO PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS. WHICHEVER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S NO DOUBT LANCE ARMSTRONG CONTINUES TO BE A POLARISING FIGURE. HE WAS LEFT PARALYSED BY A SICKENING TACKLE IN 2014, AND NOW FORMER NEWCASTLE LEAGUE FORWARD ALEX MCKINNON IS PLANNING TO SUE THE NRL FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE 24-YEAR-OLD'S BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR SINCE THE ACCIDENT. HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NOW SENT A LETTER TO THE NRL, ADVISING THEM OF THE UNPRECEDENTED LEGAL ACTION. IT'S ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DANGEROUS TACKLE, MELBOURNE'S JORDAN MCLEAN, IS BEING PERSONALLY SUED. YEAH. I REMEMBER THE WHOLE THING. I REMEMBER IT, YEAH. THE ONE THING THAT STICKS WITH ME LYING THERE IS THAT WHOLE CROWD JUST LOOKING AT ME WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS I REALLY DO REMEMBER, BUT I THINK I'VE ONLY SEEN THE CLIP ONCE OR TWICE, OF THE TACKLE, AND I DON'T THINK I'LL BE WATCHING IT AGAIN. MCKINNON RECEIVED THE MAXIMUM IN COMPENSATION FROM THE NRL FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT ` MORE THAN $500,000 ` BUT THE CONTINUING MEDICAL COSTS TO CARE FOR HIM ARE ESTIMATED AT UPWARDS OF $20M. STILL ACROSS THE TASMAN, WHERE AUSTRALIA HAS SURVIVED A HUGE SCARE AGAINST PAKISTAN IN THEIR DAY-NIGHT TEST IN BRISBANE. SO MUCH FOR THE TOURISTS CAVING IN ON THE FINAL DAY AS THEY TRIED TO ACHIEVE A RECORD FOURTH INNINGS RUN CHASE OF 490. ASAD SHAFIQ, WHO'D BEEN A COMPLETE FLOP IN NZ, COMBINED WITH TAIL-ENDER YASIR SHAH TO KEEP THE HOSTS OUT FOR 22 OVERS AS THEY EDGED AND SLASHED TOWARDS THE BIGGEST CRICKET UPSET OF THE YEAR. THE PAIR BOTH POSTED HIGHEST TEST SCORES AS THEY PUT ON 71 RUNS FOR THE NINTH WICKET. MITCHELL STARC FINALLY REMOVED THE CENTURY-MAKER. THAT'S OUT. IS IT? YEAH. WHAT A DELIVERY FROM MITCHELL STARC. YASIR WAS RUN OUT JUST FOUR BALLS LATER AS AUSTRALIA WON BY 39 RUNS. SAMOA CONTINUES TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF JOSEPH PARKER'S HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING TRIUMPH, TODAY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. THE WBO CHAMPION DROPPED IN ON ONE OF HIS RELATIVES, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE PRIME MINISTER. AND HE PROMPTLY DECLARED A HALF-DAY HOLIDAY FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND A PARKER VICTORY PARADE ON WEDNESDAY. VERY HUMBLING FEELING BEING HERE AND SEEING ALL THE SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. I'M GRATEFUL FOR SAMOA IN PUTTING INTO THE FIGHT AND ALLOWING TO MAKE THE FIGHT HAPPEN IN NZ. BUT CONFIRMATION PARKER'S FIRST TITLE DEFENCE WON'T BE HAPPENING IN SAMOA. SEVEN YEARS AFTER HE LAST SCORED A GOAL FOR THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX, SHANE SMELTZ HAS PUT PEN TO PAPER TO RE-JOIN HIS FORMER TEAM AT 35 YEARS OF AGE. THE CLUB ANNOUNCING THE SIGNING OF THE FORMER A-LEAGUE GOLDEN BOOT-WINNER THIS MORNING, A DEAL INTERIM COACHES CHRIS GREENACRE AND DES BUCKINGHAM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE THE DEPARTURE OF FORMER COACH ERNIE MERRICK. AS I SAY, IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE HAD TO WORK QUITE HARD ON AND WORK QUITE QUICKLY, COS, NO DOUBT, THERE WERE LOTS OF OFFERS FOR SHANE WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PLAYER, SO WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE SIGNATURE. GREENACRE SAYS SMELTZ WILL TRAIN WITH THE TEAM TOMORROW AND EXPECTS HIM TO PLAY A BIG PART IN THE CLUB'S NEXT GAME AWAY TO NEWCASTLE ON BOXING DAY. SMELTZ SCORED 21 GOALS IN JUST 39 APPEARANCES FOR THE NIX BETWEEN 2007 AND 2009. YOU KNOW IT'S SILLY SEASON IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WHEN THE CHRISTMAS JUMPERS START APPEARING IN THE CROWD. MANCHESTER CITY LOOKED LIKE THEY'D PUT THEIR JERSEYS ON BACK-TO-FRONT, BUT THAT WAS A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR INJURED MIDFIELDER ILKAY GUNDOGAN. CITY DEFINITELY BACK-TO-FRONT EARLY ON; ARSENAL TAKING ADVANTAGE. CITY'S SECOND HALF MUCH BETTER THAN THEIR FIRST. AND SANE! STERLING. THIS STRETCHES ARSENAL, FORCES GATHERING IN THE MIDDLE. STERLING! CROWD ROARS NEVER MIND THE FORCES IN THE MIDDLE. HE'S A ONE-MAN WRECKING FORCE! CITY HOP INTO SECOND PLACE, BUMPING ARSENAL DOWN TO FOURTH. NINE MONTHS AFTER SUFFERING A SERIOUS SHOULDER INJURY, ALL BLACKS WING NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER IS CLOSE TO A RETURN. THE HURRICANES' WORLD CUP STAR INSISTS HIS SHOULDER IS BACK TO 100%, AND EVEN OFFERED US A DEMONSTRATION TODAY TO PROVE IT. JOHN MCKENZIE REPORTS. IF THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS WHETHER NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER'S SHOULDER HADN'T FULLY RECOVERED, THIS SHOULD PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE. WE WERE LOOKING FOR A MALTESE CROSS, BUT HE DIDN'T PULL IT OUT TODAY., SO HOPEFULLY HE'LL GET IT DONE NEXT WEEK. IN FACT, HIS AND THE REST OF THE TEAM'S SHOULDERS MIGHT EVEN BE STRONGER THAN BEFORE, THANKS TO A NEW TEAM GYMNASTICS ROUTINE. YEAH, IT'S PRETTY HARD YAKKA, SORT OF GETTING THE SHOULDERS BURNING, AND THE CORE KIND OF HAD A BIT OF A WORKOUT TOO. GYMNASTICS IS A BIT OF A TREND AT THE MOMENT. OLYMPIC SHOT PUTTER TOM WALSH SAYS HE TOO HAS TAKEN UP THE SPORT TO IMPROVE HIS FITNESS. AND WHILE MILNER-SKUDDER MAY NEED A FEW MORE LESSONS TO MASTER IT, HE'S FEELING CONFIDENT ABOUT FINALLY GETTING BACK ON THE FOOTY FIELD. YEAH, PRETTY MUCH ALREADY GOT THE CALENDAR, TICKING OFF THE DAYS. NINE MONTHS AFTER INJURING HIS SHOULDER AGAINST THE BLUES, HE INSISTS IT WON'T CHANGE HIS APPROACH TO THE GAME. YEAH, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, BRO ` JUST GET THE BALL AND HAVE A CRACK. AND WHILE THE FOOTY FIELD'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO THE MAT, THE SHOULDER HAS ALREADY STOOD UP TO ITS FIRST TEST ` A TACKLE FROM HARD MAN NGANI LAUMAPE AT TRAINING. TO HAVE A FELLA LIKE HIM RUNNING AT YOU AND YOU'RE STILL INTACT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S TRACKING PRETTY WELL. MILNER-SKUDDER WILL GET HIS FIRST PROPER CRACK BACK ON THE PITCH DURING FEBRUARY'S PRE-SEASON. AND IF THERE'S A SILVER LINING TO TAKE FROM HIS TIME ON THE SIDELINE... WELL, I THINK HIS MEDIA SKILLS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF. SO HE'S CERTAINLY VERY GOOD IN THAT SPACE NOW. MILNER-SKUDDER THE FIRST TO ADMIT HE'D RATHER DO HIS TALKING ON THE FIELD. NAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LINE. I THINK WANNA GET BACK INTO PLAYING SOME RUGBY. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS FELLOW ALL BLACK SAM WHITELOCK'S ABILITY TO HANDLE PRESSURE WAS PUT TO THE TEST TODAY. THE VETERAN LOCK'S FIRST MEDIA CALL AS THE NEW CRUSADERS CAPTAIN WAS ALMOST A WASHOUT. SPRINKLERS HISS OOH-HOO! LAUGHTER THAT'S A SETUP. THAT IS A SETUP. I WON'T SAY TOO MUCH. I THINK THERE'S NO POINT WASTING WORDS, SO I HOPEFULLY LEAD BY MY ACTIONS AND GO OUT THERE AND PLAY WELL, AND THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO LEAD IN MY POINT OF VIEW. AFTER PUTTING HIS BODY ON THE LINE FOR SEVEN SEASONS, WHITELOCK IS HOPING HE CAN FINALLY WIN A SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST MAHE DRYSDALE KNOWS HOW QUICKLY YOU CAN LOSE FORM. HE'S ALREADY BEEN REMINDED OF THAT AFTER BEING THRASHED AT THE BILLY WEBB EVENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SO AS HE CONTEMPLATES A YEAR AWAY FROM THE SPORT HE LOVES, IT'S ALL ABOUT NEW CHALLENGES. ABBY WILSON CAUGHT UP WITH DRYSDALE TODAY IN CAMBRIDGE. THESE DAYS IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW FAST MAHE DRYSDALE CAN ROW BUT HOW WELL HE CAN READ A BEDTIME STORY. QUACK-QUACK! AND THE CHANGE IN PACE IS ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT. PROBABLY IN THREE MONTHS, I'VE LOST A MINUTE OVER 5K. PROBABLY IN THREE MONTHS, I'VE LOST A MINUTE OVER 5K. AND THAT IS QUITE SHOCKING, I GUESS. SO TO COUNTERACT ALL THE STORY-READING, DRYSDALE HAS SIGNED UP FOR OTAGO'S MOTATAPU MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE, KEEN TO IMPROVE ON HIS 2014 RIDE. GOING UPHILL, I COULD KEEP UP WITH EVERYONE. AND ON THE DOWNHILL, THERE WAS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PASSING ME. THIS TIME THE SINGLE SCULLER WILL BE PART OF A NEW TEAMS EVENT, ALTHOUGH HE'S NOT KEEN ON PAIRING UP WITH A CERTAIN ROWER TURNED CYCLIST. I DON'T WANT SOMEONE THAT I'M GOING TO BE UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH! FOR DRYSDALE IT'S A WAY OF KEEPING FIT AWAY FROM ROWING. ALTHOUGH HE'S HARDLY REMOVED FROM THE SPORT ` THE OLYMPIC MEDALLIST IS PART OF A NEW ATHLETE LEADERSHIP GROUP WHICH MEETS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK. I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THIS YEAR TO SPEND TIME WITH THE ALL BLACKS, AND A LOT OF THIS IS VERY SIMILAR, I GUESS, TO WHAT THEY DO. ONE OF A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO COME OUT OF THE POST-RIO REVIEW. ROWING IS A VERY TRADITIONAL SPORT. THERE'S A LOT OF OLD-SCHOOL APPROACH, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE FINAL PART OF ADJUSTING TO A MORE PROFESSIONAL ERA. HELPING ROWING ADJUST AS HE ADJUSTS TO A NEW CHAPTER IN HIS OWN LIFE. LET'S TAKE YOUR MEDAL OFF. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS Knowing his determination, he will do well. Toni, you got a bit of a surprise for Mike. It's the 2nd to last night on the show. That announcement tomorrow. It's not my highlights of the year? ALSO TONIGHT, WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL GUEST. I AM MEANT TO BE HERE, EH? LIKE, IT IS ME, EH? (LAUGHS) ELIZA McCARTNEY'S WITH US LIVE IN STUDIO. AND THIS IS THE PAPAKURA ST VINCENT DE PAUL. SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED HERE. WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MAKE IT RIGHT. AND ENTER THE LIFESTYLE OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS RIGHT HERE IN NZ. WE DO LUXURY TOURISM BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. WE'RE INSIDE ONE OF OUR MOST EXPENSIVE HOTELS AT 7. HELLO AGAIN. A BAND OF FRONTAL CLOUD STRETCHES FROM THE NORTH TASMAN SEA ACROSS THE NORTH ISLAND AND TO THE SOUTHEAST OF NZ WHERE IT CURLS INTO A SWIRL OF CLOUD MARKING A LOW TO THE SOUTH OF STEWART ISLAND. HIGH PRESSURE LIES TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY AND ALSO OVER THE CENTRAL TASMAN, KEEPING SKIES RELATIVELY CLEAR THERE AND OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. SO THE FRONT OVER THE NORTH ISLAND WEAKENS AS IT MOVES TO THE NORTH OF NZ TODAY. A RIDGE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST TO LIE OVER THE COUNTRY TOMORROW, CLEARING SKIES, THEN IT RETREATS TO THE NORTH ON WEDNESDAY AS A TROUGH PRECEDED BY NORTHWESTERLIES MOVES ON TO THE LOWER SOUTH ISLAND. THE ODD SHOWER OVER FIORDLAND, OTHERWISE A VERY NICE DAY ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND. FINE OR BECOMING FINE AS AREAS OF MORNING CLOUD IN THE WEST AND THE FAR SOUTH CLEAR. NORTHWESTERLIES ABOUT FIORDLAND AND NORTHEASTERLIES DEVELOPING IN THE EAST. OTHERWISE LIGHT WINDS AND SEA BREEZES. LOOKING GOOD IN THE NORTH TOO. JUST A FEW CLOUDY PERIODS NORTH OF AUCKLAND AND SOME AFTERNOON CLOUD DEVELOPING OVER EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY. ELSEWHERE LONG, FINE SPELLS, LIGHT WINDS AND SEA BREEZES. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ AND IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS BUT BETWEEN YOU AND I, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A RIDGE MAY JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS DAY BRINGING SOME CLOUD BUT MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS TO MANY. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. Thank you Renee.