IT'S MIDDAY, WEDNESDAY THE 25TH OF JANUARY. THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER DEMANDS ANSWERS AFTER NEW FIGURES SHOW POKIE SPENDING IS ON THE RISE DESPITE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MACHINES. CALLS TO SHORTEN THE TIME BETWEEN WARRANT OF FITNESS CHECKS OVER CONCERNS MANY ARE DRIVING ON OUR ROADS WITH DANGEROUSLY WORN TYRES. PLUS THE BREXIT PROCESS HITS A MAJOR SPEED BUMP. HOW IT COULD AFFECT NZ'S FREE TRADE DEAL WITH THE UK. AHI MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. SPENDING ON GAMING IS ON THE RISE, DESPITE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF POKIE MACHINES IN THE COUNTRY. DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS FIGURES SHOW SPENDING ON GAMING IN PUBS AND CLUBS TOPPED $858M LAST YEAR, $30M MORE THAN IN 2015, BUT THERE WERE 245 FEWER POKIE MACHINES IN THE COUNTRY. INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER PETER DUNNE SAYS HE'S SURPRISED AT THE FINDINGS AND HAS ASKED HIS OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS AS TO WHY THE INCREASE HAS OCCURRED. THERE ARE CALLS TO DECREASE THE TIME BETWEEN WARRANT OF FITNESS CHECKS OVER CONCERNS MANY OF US ARE DRIVING WITH DANGEROUSLY WORN TYRES. THE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION AND TYRE COMPANIES SAY PUBLIC SAFETY'S AT RISK, WITH TYRES COMING IN UNDER THE LEGAL 1.5MM LIMIT. THE AA SAYS THE THREE-YEAR GAP BETWEEN INSPECTIONS ON A NEW CAR IS TOO LONG. WE'D LIKE TO SEE AN INSPECTION REGIME CHANGED TO ONE-YEAR INTERVALS. TYRES ARE THE ONLY THING THAT WEARS ON A VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF THE AGE, AND SO BY THE END OF THREE YEARS, A SET OF TYRES HAS GOT TO BE CHANGED. IN 2014, THE REQUIREMENT FOR WARRANT OF FITNESS CHECKS WAS EXTENDED FROM SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR FOR CARS REGISTERED AFTER 2000 AND TO THREE YEARS FOR NEW VEHICLES. POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN WHO ATTACKED TWO POLICE WITH AN IRON BAR IN HUNTLY OVERNIGHT. BOTH OFFICERS WERE INJURED WHEN THEY WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND JUST AFTER 2AM, AND ONE REMAINS IN HOSPITAL RECOVERING FROM MODERATE INJURIES. A SECOND MAN INVOLVED HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND IS DUE TO APPEAR AT THE HAMILTON DISTRICT COURT TODAY. WELLINGTON POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SERIOUS ATTACK ON A YOUNG MAN IN PARAPARAUMU OVER THE WEEKEND. THE 20-YEAR-OLD NEEDED 200 STITCHES AFTER SUFFERING A LARGE LACERATION TO HIS SIDE. A 32-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN CHARGED OVER THE ASSAULT, BUT POLICE ARE APPEALING TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY SIGHTINGS OF A CRAFT KNIFE OR SIMILAR IN THE AREA AROUND MAZENGARB ROAD. NZ HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF ORGAN DONATION IN THE WORLD WITH SIX OUT OF 10 KIWI FAMILIES SAYING NO. DONOR CAMPAIGNERS SAY WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING AN OPT-OUT POLICY LIKE A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, AS CURRENTLY, NZERS HAVE TO OPT IN. IN PLACES LIKE WALES, CITIZENS ARE AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED DONORS NOW UNLESS THEY SIGN A REGISTER NOT TO BE. I'VE BEEN ON TO THE WALES ORGAN DONOR AGENCY JUST THIS LAST FEW DAYS. AND THEY TOLD ME, IN THIS PAST YEAR, THEIR ORGAN DONOR RATES HAVE INCREASED BY 25% WITH ONLY 6% OF THE POPULATION OPTING OUT. AND THEY HAVE A POPULATION SIMILAR TO NZ, SO IT'S WORKING WELL FOR THEM. CAMPAIGNERS SAY REGARDLESS OF THIS POLICY, NZ NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE A REGISTER OF THOSE WHO WANT TO BE DONORS. A STUDY'S FOUND PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND DEPUTIES ARE LACKING SUPPORT FROM SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. THE FINDINGS SHOW PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS, EXCESSIVE WORKLOADS AND ARE AT RISK OF BURNING OUT. MORE THAN A QUARTER WORK MORE THAN 60 HOURS A WEEK, WITH THE MAIN CAUSE OF STRESS BEING THEIR WORKLOAD. THE NZ EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE SAYS IT'S A MAJOR HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK THE GOVERNMENT MUST ADDRESS. THE WORLD-RENOWNED HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT STUDY DUBBED 'THE DUNEDIN STUDY' NOW HAS A NEW HOME, WITH SECRECY A MAJOR FACTOR IN ITS DESIGN. TO PROTECT THE IDENTITY OF THE NEARLY 1000 STUDY PARTICIPANTS, THE NEW BUILDING HAS A PRIVATE ENTRANCE AND CAR PARK ALONG WITH A DISCREET STREET FACADE. THE FACILITY WILL BE USED FOR RESEARCH AND INCLUDES SPECIALIST INTERVIEW AND TESTING ROOMS. WE ARE AT PAINS TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY AND ANONYMITY OF OUR STUDY MEMBERS, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM. THE STUDY HAS CLOSELY FOLLOWED THE PARTICIPANTS BORN IN DUNEDIN IN THE EARLY 1970s WITH FINDINGS BEING USED INTERNATIONALLY TO SHAPE HUMAN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND POLICY. IN AN HISTORIC JUDGEMENT, THE BRITISH SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT PARLIAMENT, NOT THE GOVERNMENT, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO START THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE UK OUT OF THE EU. SO WILL THIS DELAY THE BREXIT PROCESS AND NZ'S FREE TRADE DEAL WITH THE UK? EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING REPORTS. THE WORLD'S MEDIA WAITED AS THE SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCED WHO HAD THE POWER TO PUSH THE BREXIT BUTTON. TODAY BY A MAJORITY OF EIGHT TO THREE, THE SUPREME COURT RULES THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT TRIGGER ARTICLE 50 WITHOUT AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT AUTHORISING IT TO DO SO. THE SUPREME COURT SAID LEAVING THE EU WOULD CHANGE UK LAW AND THE RIGHTS OF UK CITIZENS, WHICH MEANS PARLIAMENT MUST BE CONSULTED. OF COURSE THE GOVERNMENT IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME. BUT WE HAVE THE GOD FORTUNE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE EVERYONE, EVERY INDIVIDUAL, EVERY ORGANISATION, EVEN GOVERNMENT, IS SUBJECT TO THE RULE OF LAW. IT WAS A LONELY FIGHT FOR GINA MILLER, THE BUSINESSWOMAN WHO TOOK THE FIGHT TO THE SUPREME COURT. NO PRIME MINISTER, NO GOVERNMENT CAN EXPECT TO BE UNANSWERABLE OR UNCHALLENGED. PARLIAMENT ALONE IS SOVEREIGN. DESPITE THE RULING, THE GOVERNMENT WARNED IT WAS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP BREXIT. SO THERE CAN BE NO GOING BACK. THE POINT OF NO RETURN WAS PASSED ON JUNE 23RD LAST YEAR. LEGISLATION WILL BE TABLED WITHIN DAYS, AND OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE PLANNING AMENDMENTS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL CONFIDENT IT WILL MAKE ITS MARCH 31ST DEADLINE, HELPED BY THE FACT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GIVE THE SCOTTISH, NORTHERN IRISH OR WELSH ADMINISTRATIONS A VOTE. THE DECISION IS LOOMING FOR SCOTLAND. ARE WE PREPARED TO ALLOW OUR FUTURE TO BE DICTATED BY A WESTMINSTER GOVERNMENT THAT'S GONE DOWN A PATH I THINK THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND DO NOT WANT TO GO DOWN. IF SCOTLAND TAKES ITS FUTURE INTO ITS OWN HANDS, A SECOND INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM COULD BECOME A REALITY. A COMPLICATED KNOT HAS NOW BECOME A POLITICAL BIRD'S NEST. JUST HOW MUCH WILL THIS DRAG OUT WHAT WAS ALREADY AN ACRIMONIOUS DIVORCE, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN NOW FOR NZ'S FREE TRADE DEAL WITH THE UK? NZ CAN'T MOVE UNTIL THE UK-EU DEAL IS DONE. IT COULD BE A LONG WAIT. EMMA KEELING, 1 NEWS, LONDON. JUST A DAY AFTER SCRAPPING THE TPP TRADE DEAL, DONALD TRUMP HAS APPROVED TWO CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINES BY EXECUTIVE ORDER. THE PRESIDENT'S ADVANCED THE KEYSTONE XL AND THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINES, MAKING GOOD ON HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. THE DECISION CASTS ASIDE EFFORTS BY BARACK OBAMA TO BLOCK THE TWO PIPELINES OVER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAKOTA PIPELINE STALLED LAST YEAR AMID PROTESTS OPPOSING IT BEING BUILT ON NATIVE AMERICAN LAND. MEANWHILE, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BACKED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REPEATEDLY DEBUNKED CLAIM THAT MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS VOTED IN THE ELECTION. BUT EVEN TOP REPUBLICANS SAY THERE'S STILL NO EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT. THE ABC'S LANA ZAK REPORTS. THE QUESTION OF FALSE CLAIMS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SEAN SPICER MAINTAINED THE PRESIDENT'S BELIEF IN A REPEATEDLY DEBUNKED CLAIM THAT MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COST THE PRESIDENT THE POPULAR VOTE. THE PRESIDENT DOES BELIEVE THAT. HE HAS STATED THAT BEFORE. I THINK HE'S STATED HIS CONCERNS ` VOTER FRAUD AND PEOPLE VOTING ILLEGALLY DURING THE CAMPAIGN. AND HE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT BELIEF BASED ON STUDIES AND EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE PRESENTED TO HIM. BUT IN FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS, SPICER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY CONCRETE EVIDENCE BESIDES A 2008 STUDY THAT LOOKED AT VOTER REGISTRATION. THE STUDY'S AUTHOR SAID IT FOUND NO VOTER FRAUD. THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT SECRETARIES OF STATES HAVE ALL DISPUTED THOSE CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD, AND EVEN ELECTED REPUBLICANS HAVE DISTANCED THEMSELVES. I'VE SEEN NO EVIDENCE TO THAT EFFECT, AND I'VE MADE THAT VERY, VERY CLEAR. THE WHITE HOUSE IS STILL STRUGGLING WITH QUESTIONS OF FACTS AND HONESTY. IN THE SENATE TODAY, MICK MULVANEY, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PICK FOR BUDGET DIRECTOR, WAS ASKED ABOUT INAUGURATION CROWD SIZE. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE CROWD ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS BIGGER THAN THE CROWD ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. ONE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE MULVANEY WILL EMBRACE FACTS IF CONFIRMED. THIS IS A EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S TEAM, ON SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD, WANTS TO EMBRACE A FANTASY RATHER THAN A REALITY. MEANWHILE, IN SUPREME COURT NEWS, SOURCES TELL ABC THAT NEIL GORSUCH, AN APPEALS COURT JUDGE JUST 49 YEARS OLD, IS THE LEADING CONTENDER TO FILL SCALIA'S VACANT SEAT. WE HAVE OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES, AND WE WILL PICK A TRULY GREAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE. ISRAEL'S ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD 2500 MORE HOMES IN JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAYS THE MOVE WAS IN RESPONSE TO 'HOUSING NEEDS'. PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE PLANS UNDERMINE PEACE HOPES. THE SETTLEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. IT'S THE SECOND SUCH ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK OFFICE. CHINA'S ASSERTED ITS SOVEREIGNTY OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION VOWED TO PREVENT CHINA FROM TAKING TERRITORY IN THE REGION. CHINA SAID IT WOULD REMAIN FIRM TO DEFEND ITS RIGHTS. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAD REFUSED TO TAKE SIDES IN THE DISPUTE. SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A RESCUE HELICOPTER CRASH IN CENTRAL ITALY. THE CHOPPER CAME DOWN IN THICK FOG AFTER PICKING UP AN INJURED SKIER IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. SOME WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A LOUD EXPLOSION BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CRASHED. THE ILL-FATED RESCUE WASN'T RELATED TO AN AVALANCHE THAT BURIED A HOTEL NEARBY, WHERE ANOTHER SIX BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND OVERNIGHT. THE BODIES OF FOUR MEN AND TWO WOMEN HAVE BEEN LOCATED IN THE RUBBLE, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEAD TO 16. MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR, AND RESCUERS ARE STILL HOPEFUL SOME MAY HAVE SURVIVED FOR THE PAST SIX DAYS IN AIR POCKETS. SO FAR 11 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE RUBBLE ALIVE. MT EVEREST IS SET TO BE RE-MEASURED TO ASSESS WHETHER IT CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE 2015 NEPAL EARTHQUAKE. THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCED AN EXPEDITION WILL BE SENT TO THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PEAK IN TWO MONTHS. IT'S THE SECOND TIME IT'LL BE ASSESSED AFTER SATELLITE DATA INDICATED THE QUAKE IMPACT MAY HAVE REDUCED ITS HEIGHT. THE HIMALAYAS DROPPED BY AROUND 1M AFTER THE 7.8 EARTHQUAKE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN IN HOLLYWOOD. LA LA LAND HITS A HIGH NOTE AS WE LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S OSCAR NOMINATIONS. AND MITCHELL JOHNSON PRODUCES ONE OF THE GREATEST BOWLING DISPLAYS EVER SEEN IN BIG BASH LEAGUE HISTORY. AUSTRALIAN FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTAIN A RAGING, WIND-DRIVEN BUSH FIRE THREATENING A NEW SOUTH WALES TOWN. A 26-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN CHARGED, SUSPECTED OF STARTING THE BLAZE. CHANNEL NINE'S KELLY FEDOR REPORTS. THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN HAVE HAD ANOTHER DAY OF BIG FIRE AND STRONG WINDS, AND SUSPICIONS IT'S NOT JUST NATURE AT WORK BUT SOMETHING MUCH MORE SINISTER. THE FOURTH BLAZE IN OR AROUND KURRI KURRI IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, THEIR HOMES AGAIN OVERSHADOWED WITH GIANT CLOUDS OF SMOKE RISING OVER FAST-MOVING, ROARING SHEETS OF FLAME. THEY'RE FRIGHTENED. PRETTY VICIOUS. STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD HERE. SO IT WAS PRETTY VICIOUS. YEAH, IT'S TERRIBLE, THOUGH. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ONCE AGAIN ON THE FRONT LINE ON ANOTHER SCORCHING DAY. AS WIDE AREAS OF BUSH WERE ANNIHILATED BY THE BLAZE, FIRE CREWS HAD TO SET UP A DEFENSIVE LINE CLOSE TO HOMES AS SEVERAL STREETS IN THIS TREE-LINED TOWN CAME UNDER THREAT. IT WAS EXHAUSTING, AND AS THE FIRE REACHED ITS DANGEROUS PEAK, OVERWHELMING. THEY DID GOOD LAST WEEK, SO I'M SURE THEY'LL DO ANOTHER GOOD OB THIS WEEK. IT WAS SOON CLASSIFIED OUT OF CONTROL AND WATER BOMBERS WERE CALLED IN. THE CONVERTED MILITARY PLANES MADE A SERIES OF RUNS OVER BURNING BUSH. LOCALS ARE NOT JUST SCARED, THEY'RE ANGRY TOO. THEY'VE HAD STRONG SUSPICIONS THEY HAVE A FIREBUG IN THEIR TOWN AND THAT THIS AND POSSIBLE EARLIER BLAZES WERE DELIBERATELY LIT. EVERY TIME OF THE DAY LIKE THIS IT HAPPENS, YOU JUST KNOW. SO THERE'S GOTTA BE. FRIENDS OF OURS NEARLY LOST THEIR HOME UP IN NORTHCOTE ST LAST WEEK. EVEN WHILE FIREFIGHTERS WERE GRADUALLY BRINGING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL, AN ARREST WAS MADE, POLICE DETAINING AND BEGINNING TO QUESTION THE 26-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT. THIS YEAR'S OSCAR NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, AND MERYL STREEP HAS BECOME THE FIRST TO RECEIVE 20 NODS DURING HER CAREER. THE MUSICAL FILM LA LA LAND HAS DANCED AWAY WITH 14 BIDS, ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER. HERE'S THE BBC'S WILL GOMPERTZ. UPBEAT MUSIC THERE'S NOTHING HOLLYWOOD LIKES MORE THAN A FILM THAT PUTS IT CENTRE STAGE. SO NO GREAT SURPRISE LA LA LAND, THE MUSICAL ABOUT TWO WANNABES MAKING THEIR WAY IN TINSELTOWN, HAS 14 NOMINATIONS. IT WILL GET A RUN FOR ITS MONEY FROM MOONLIGHT, BARRY JENKINS' COMING-OF-AGE DRAMA WHICH GETS EIGHT NOMINATIONS AND SEES MAHERSHALA ALI GETTING A NOD AS BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AND A CRACK-ADDLED NAOMI HARRIS ONE FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS. SOME BOYS CHASED HIM IN THE CUT. HE'S SCARED MORE THAN ANYTHING. I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW! SHE WILL BE UP AGAINST VIOLA DAVIS, WHO PUTS IN A POWERFUL PERFORMANCE IN FENCES, DIRECTED BY AND STARRING DENZEL WASHINGTON, WHO'S NOMINATED IN THE BEST ACTOR CATEGORY. BEST PICTURE? HAS TO BE LA LA LAND. IT'S COMPLETELY IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN. IT'S GLORIOUS, IT'S ROMANTIC, IT'S DANCING ON AIR, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE CINEMATIC CRAFT THERE. OK, BEST ACTOR? HAS TO BE, I THINK, CASEY AFFLECK IN MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. IT'S A REAL NUANCED PERFORMANCE. BEST ACTRESS? I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE NATALIE PORTMAN WIN THIS FOR JACKIE. I THINK IT'S A COOL, ELEGANT, CLEVER PERFORMANCE. MERYL STREEP'S NOT GONNA GET IT, THEN? ABSOLUTELY NOT. OK! BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR? I'D LIKE TO SEE MAHERSHALA ALI WIN THIS FOR MOONLIGHT. HE'S PLAYING A DRUGS KINGPIN, BUT AGAINST ALL ODDS HE'S TENDER, HE'S FATHERLY. IT'S QUITE A SURPRISE. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS? I WOULD LIKE NAOMI HARRIS TO WIN THIS FOR BRITAIN, FOR MOONLIGHT. IT'S A GREAT SURPRISE. AND THEN FINALLY, BEST DIRECTOR? DAMIEN CHAZELLE REALLY DESERVES THIS FOR PULLING ALL THE STOPS OUT ON LA LA LAND. WE'LL FIND OUT IF SHE'S RIGHT AT THE OSCAR CEREMONY NEXT MONTH, WHEN THERE'S EVERY CHANCE THAT POLITICALLY CHARGED ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES COULD PROVIDE SOME OF THE NIGHT'S BEST PERFORMANCES. TO SPORT. ROGER FEDERER HAS EASED INTO THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN SEMI-FINAL, BEATING THE MAN WHO KNOCKED OUT WORLD NUMBER ONE SIR ANDY MURRAY IN JUST 92 MINUTES. THE FOUR-TIME CHAMP FEDERER TOOK APART MISHA ZVEREV IN STRAIGHT SETS ` 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 ` TO REACH HIS 13TH SEMI-FINAL. CHEERING WHAT A CLASSY PERFORMANCE BY FEDERER. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. HE'LL TAKE ON FELLOW SWISS STAN WAWRINKA, WHO ALSO CRUISED INTO THE SEMI-FINAL AFTER A STRONG PERFORMANCE AGAINST JO-WILFRIED TSONGA. TO PERTH NOW, WHERE MITCHELL JOHNSON WOUND THE CLOCK BACK TO PROPEL HIS PERTH SCORCHERS IN TO THE FINAL OF CRICKET'S BIG BASH. THE FORMER AUSTRALIAN SHOCK BOWLER RETURNED THE MOST MISERLY FIGURES IN BBL HISTORY AS HE DEMOLISHED THE MELBOURNE STARS. HERE'S STEPHEN STUART. WHEN MITCHELL JOHNSON'S FIRST BALL ` NOT A VERY GOOD ONE ` GRABBED THE OPENING WICKET, THE ALARM BELLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RINGING FOR THE MELBOURNE STARS, WHO HAVE A TERRIBLE SEMI-FINALS RECORD. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, JOHNSON HAD BEEN INEFFECTUAL AS THEY LOST TO THE STARS AT THE WACA. BUT LAST NIGHT, THE 35-YEAR-OLD WAS DINING OUT ON ENGLISH IMPORTS. IT'S IN THE AIR AS WELL! IS THAT ANOTHER GREAT CATCH? YES! TWO FOR NOUGHT ` MAKE THAT THREE AS KEVIN PIETERSEN FAILED TOO. THE FIRST ONE. YOU CAN PUT AN X NEXT TO IT. HAVEN'T MADE IT THROUGH UNSCATHED. COURAGEOUS CAPTAINCY. JOHNSON BOWLED OUT HIS FOUR-OVER SPELL, FINISHING WITH TWO MAIDENS, THREE FOR THREE. A CLAP FOR THAT MAN. HIS NAMESAKE WAS IMPRESSED, WHILE THE BLACKCAPS ARE PROBABLY JUST RELIEVED HE'S NOT COMING HERE THE AUSTRALIAN ODI SQUAD LATER THIS WEEK. I JUST DON'T FEEL THE PRESSURE AT THE TOP, AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THAT NEW BALL IN MY HAND. AND IF IT SWINGS, IT SWINGS. THE STARS STAGGERED TO 136 OFF THEIR 20 OVERS. AND SHAUN MARSH CELEBRATED HIS AUSTRALIAN RECALL WITH A BOUNDARY-LADEN UNBEATEN 56, HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE HALF CENTURY. THE SCORCHERS CRUISED HOME BY SEVEN WICKETS AND IMAGINE THE PROSPECT OF JOHNSON THUNDERING IN AT BRENDON MCCULLUM AT THE SAME VENUE ON SATURDAY IF THE BRISBANE HEAT WINS ITS SEMI TONIGHT. STEPHEN STUART, 1 NEWS. HE'S DOMINATED FORMULA 1 FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS AND TURNED IT INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPECTACLES IN WORLD SPORT. BUT NOW BERNIE ECCLESTONE IS NO LONGER IN CHARGE. HE'S BEEN REPLACED BY NEW BOSS CHASE CAREY, WHO'S UNVEILED HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF FORMULA 1. THIS FROM THE BBC'S DAN ROAN. ARCHIVE: THERE'S BERNIE ECCLESTONE, THE TSAR OF FORMULA 1. HE'S BEEN A DRIVING FORCE LIKE NO OTHER. ENGINES ROAR HAVING RULED FORMULA 1 WITH AN IRON GRIP FOR DECADES, BERNIE ECCLESTONE TRANSFORMED IT INTO A GLOBAL COMMERCIAL PHENOMENON. OH MY GOODNESS! THIS IS FANTASTIC! AT TIMES, IT SEEMED AS IF HE'S GO ON FOREVER. BUT WITH A MULTI-BILLION-POUND AMERICAN TAKEOVER CAME A SUDDEN CHANGE IN DIRECTION. AND TODAY, F1'S NEW BOSS TOLD ME WHY IT WAS THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE MAN HE'S REPLACED. HE CALLS HIMSELF A DICTATOR. HE'S` HE'S RUN IT AS A ONE-MAN DICTATOR FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THE SPORT NEEDS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE. FROM SECOND-HAND CAR SALESMAN TO TEAM OWNER AND THEN F1'S ALL-POWERFUL COMMERCIAL RIGHTS HOLDER, ECCLESTONE'S RISE IS UNIQUE. SMALL IN STATURE BUT NOTORIOUSLY RUTHLESS, THE 86-YEAR-OLD'S DEAL-MAKING BROUGHT HIM FAMOUS FRIENDS AND BILLIONS IN THE BANK. BUT THERE WAS ALSO CONTROVERSY. MOVE OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE I GET UPSET. SOME COMMENTS CAUSED OFFENCE, AND WAS FORCED TO SETTLE A BRIBERY CASE IN 2014. OH MY GOODNESS! THIS IS FANTASTIC! RECENTLY, THE SPORT HAS LACKED SOME OF THE THRILLS OF THE PAST, AND AMID DRAMATICALLY DECLINING TV AUDIENCES, ONE TEAM BOSS TOLD ME F1 NOW NEEDS A REVAMP. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS OF OUTRIGHT RACING ENGAGING WITH THE FANS, ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC. WE NEED TO USE ALL THE PLATFORMS, ADDITIONAL PLATFORMS AVAILABLE, HAVE A MARKETING CAPABILITY TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE RIVALRIES, OF THE STARS. WE'VE GOTTA MAKE OUR EVENTS LARGER THAN EVER. WEEK-LONG EVENTS, CITIES AT THE TRACKS, BETTER MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE SPORT AT THE CENTRE OF IT. BUT I'VE TALKED ABOUT 21 SUPERBOWLS, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. PLUS THE WELSH DINER BLINDED BY AN ANGRY CHEF'S CHILLI ATTACK. SO WHAT FIRED HIM UP? YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. FIGURES SHOW SPENDING ON GAMING IN PUBS AND CLUBS IS GROWING, TOPPING $858M LAST YEAR. THIS COMES DESPITE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF POKIE MACHINES. A DAY AFTER SCRAPPING THE TPP TRADE DEAL, US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS MAKING GOOD ON MORE CAMPAIGN PROMISES, GIVING THE GREEN LIGHT FOR TWO CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINES. PLUS, IN AN HISTORIC JUDGEMENT, THE BRITISH SUPREME COURT HAS INTRODUCED A SPEED BUMP IN THE UK'S EXIT OF THE EU, RULING THAT PARLIAMENT HAS TO VOTE TO START THE PROCESS. NOW TO THE WEATHER. RAIN FOR THE SOUTH AND STRONG GALES FOR THE NORTH. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ NOW, ALLIGATORS ARE KNOWN FOR BLENDING INTO THEIR SURROUNDINGS, BUT THERE'S ONE TYPE OF CROC THAT MIGHT NEED TO HEAD FOR THE SNOW. 'PEARL' THE ALBINO ALLIGATOR HAS BECOME AN INTERNET SENSATION, SHOWING OFF HER SNOW-WHITE SKIN AT A WILDLIFE PRESERVE IN FLORIDA. ONLY AROUND THREE IN EVERY MILLION ALLIGATORS ARE BORN WITH THE GENETIC ABNORMALITY AND ARE EXTREMELY ENDANGERED. PEARL IS 10 YEARS OLD AND THE STAR ATTRACTION AT THE PARK. BEFORE WE GO, A CUSTOMER HAS ENDED UP IN HOSPITAL AFTER FEELING THE BURN OF AN ANGRY CHEF IN THE UK. DAVID EVANS AND HIS WIFE WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THEIR CURRY, CLAIMING THE MEAT WAS TOUGH AND RUBBERY. SO WHEN ASKED, THEY TOLD THEIR WAITER. THE CHEF'S RESPONSE WAS TO HURL A BOWL OF CHILLI POWDER IN MR EVANS' FACE. THE FEISTY CHEF HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CLAIMS HE WAS ACTING IN SELF DEFENCE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE 1 NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND ALEX WALKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017