HELLO. THINGS CONTINUING TO IMPROVE ON THE WEATHER FRONT. TODAY WE HAD THE LAST GASP OF THE LOW, SITTING, SPINNING TO THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY. SOME CLOUD, SOME LEFTOVER RAIN, A PRETTY KEEN SOUTHERLY MOVING UP COOK STRAIT AT THE MOMENT. THAT'S ALL CLEARING AWAY TOMORROW. THEN WE WELCOME A FAIRLY LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AND SETTLED WEATHER OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. ALL THE DETAILS COMING UP. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. SAVE OUR WATER. PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS CONCERNS MOUNT OVER OUR DIRTY LAKES AND RIVERS AND THE BOTTLING OF OUR WATER FOR OVERSEAS MARKETS. THE HIDDEN COST OF SHOPPING THAT'S COSTING YOU. A MOVE TO CRACK DOWN ON THOSE SNEAKY FEES AND CHARGES. WE TELL YOU WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR. AND SITTING PRETTY IN THE HOPE OF HOOKING THE BIG ONE. HUNDREDS ARE LURED TO THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SNAPPER FISHING COMPETITION. BUT WHO'S REALLY THE BIG WINNER? KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. AROUND THE COUNTRY, NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS, OPPOSING FOREIGN COMPANIES BOTTLING OUR WATER AND SENDING IT OVERSEAS. FROM INVERCARGILL TO WHANGAREI, HUNDREDS PROTESTED IN SUPPORT OF KIWIS' ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE WATER, THE MESSAGE MAKING IT ALL THE WAY TO PARLIAMENT. EMILY COOPER WITH THIS. (CHILDREN SING IN MAORI) THE FUTURE GENERATION RAISING THEIR VOICES IN SUPPORT OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET ` WATER. PART OF A NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST IN 20 TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS NZ OVER FOREIGN COMPANIES BOTTLING OUR WATER AND SENDING IT OVERSEAS. THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES AROUND THE RIGHTS TO WATER AND THE OWNERSHIP OF WATER. HERE IN WHANGAREI, FOREIGN BOTTLING IS CONTENTIOUS. IT'S THE SUBJECT OF A WAITANGI TRIBUNAL CLAIM. IN WELLINGTON, PROTESTORS DELIVERED A 16,000-STRONG SIGNATURE PETITION, CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON EXPORTING WATER. JENNIFER BRANJE DROVE FROM HER HOME IN SOUTHLAND, COLLECTING SIGNATURES. THERE ARE COMMUNITIES IN NEW ZEALAND THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. HER GROUP 'BUNG THE BORE' HAS ALREADY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING STOP A WATER-BOTTLING SCHEME IN ASHBURTON. PROTESTORS HERE TODAY SAY THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT SENDING BOTTLED WATER OVERSEAS; IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF ALLOWING NEW ZEALANDERS ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER. IN CHRISTCHURCH, A BOTTLE OF FRESH CANTERBURY WATER WAS SYMBOLICALLY AUCTIONED OFF. HERE ACCESS TO FRESH WATER IS PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF DAIRY FARMS, IRRIGATION AND DROUGHT. OLIVIA KINGI (12) CAME TO PROTEST WITH HER GRANDAD. IT'S OUR FUTURE THAT'S AT RISK. IN AUCKLAND, THEY TOOK TO THE STREETS. CROWD CHANTS: SAVE OUR WATER! WATER IS AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD THESE DAYS. WE WANT STRONGER PROTECTION FOR WATER IN OUR COUNTRY. IN THE CAPITAL, MINSTER NICK SMITH STAYED AWAY FROM THE PETITION PRESENTATION. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT EVEN PREPARED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND A BAN WHEN THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT IS BOTTLED AND EXPORTED IS JUST SO TINY AND SO SMALL THAT IT WILL MAKE NO PRACTICAL EFFECT TO THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND'S VALUABLE WATER RESOURCES. IT'S 16,000 PEOPLE SHOWING THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE STATE OF FRESH WATER IN NEW ZEALAND, AND THEY'RE RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED. AND JEN BRANJE SHE SAYS SHE'S NOT READY TO PUT A LID ON IT YET. I WOULDN'T SAY THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD. ACTUALLY, I'D SAY THIS IS THE BEGINNING. AND WITH THE PETITION NOW BEFORE PARLIAMENT, THE FIGHT JEN STARTED IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF OUR DECISION MAKERS. EMILY COOPER, 1 NEWS. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN STUNG BUYING SOMETHING FOR AN ADVERTISED PRICE TO ONLY END UP PAYING EVEN MORE WHEN HIDDEN CHARGES ARE ADDED. IT'S FRUSTRATING AND SNEAKY, AND NOW THE CONSUMER WATCHDOG'S CAMPAIGNING TO CHANGE THE LAW TO BETTER PROTECT BUYERS FROM HIDDEN COSTS. ANDREW MORRISON REPORTS. WHEN GRAHAM ROBINSON'S SISTER PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR, HE DECIDED TO BUY SOME FLOWERS FOR THE FUNERAL ONLINE. THEY'RE CALLED WHITE SIMPLICITY. BUT THE TRANSACTION TURNED OUT TO BE ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE. THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT A LOT CLEARER THAN WHAT THEY DO. THE PETALS WEBSITE ADVERTISES THE FLOWERS FOR $59 BUT AUTOMATICALLY UPGRADES YOUR PACKAGE BY $10 AND THEN ADDS ANOTHER $10 SERVICE FEE. WHEN I ACTUALLY PAID FOR IT, IT WAS INFLATED TO 80-ODD DOLLARS. UNBELIEVABLE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. IT'S A PRACTICE KNOWN AS DRIP PRICING, AND A SURVEY BY CONSUMER NZ FOUND 70% OF CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN STUNG BY THESE HIDDEN FEES. AND THE SAME NUMBER WANT RETAILERS TO BE REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE THE FULL, UNAVOIDABLE COST. WELL, WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SNEAKY FEES. CONSUMER NZ ESTIMATES RETAILERS ARE RAKING IN $68M A YEAR FROM THE EXTRA FEES. IT'S GENERALLY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BUYING TICKETS TO SOMETHING, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T GET THEM FOR THE ADVERTISED PRICE. SUE CHETWIN'S LAUNCHED A PETITION TO CHANGE THE FAIR TRADING ACT TO FORCE RETAILERS TO BE UPFRONT WITH THE TOTAL COST. BUT THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS MINISTER ISN'T CONVINCED ANY AMENDMENT IS NEEDED. I DON'T BELIEVE ONE IS NECESSARY AT THIS STAGE, BUT LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE PETITION. SHE SAYS CONSUMERS CAN ALREADY COMPLAIN TO COMMERCE COMMISSION IF THEY FEEL THEY'VE BEEN MISLED. BUT THE COMMERCE COMMISSION ALSO WANTS THE LAW TO BE CHANGED TO REQUIRE RETAILERS TO ADVERTISE THE FINAL, ALL-INCLUSIVE COST, AS IS THE CASE IN AUSTRALIA. GRAHAM NOW PUSHING FOR THE SAME CHANGES HERE, FOR HIS LATE SISTER. SHE WOULD'VE SAID, 'YOU GET INTO IT, GRAHAM. 'YOU PULL HIM INTO LINE.' SO OTHER PEOPLE DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT ONLINE TOO. ANDREW MORRISON, 1 NEWS. THE PRESSURE'S MOUNTING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO MODERNISE NEW ZEALAND'S 40-YEAR-OLD ABORTION LAW. EVEN ITS ACT PARTY COALITION PARTNER SAYS THE CURRENT LEGISLATION IS ARCHAIC AND A CHARADE. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN HAS MORE. THERE CAN BE FEW ISSUES MORE EMOTIVE AND DIVISIVE THAN ABORTION. SO WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER DISMISSED THE NEED FOR ABORTION REFORM AT THE WEEKEND,... WE WOULDN'T DO THAT. IT'S A LAW THAT'S STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. ...IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO SPARK DEBATE. THEY'RE AN ARCHAIC CHARADE. WE SHOULD LOOK TO CANADA, WHERE ABORTION IS NOT A CRIMINAL ISSUE. THE HOOPS THAT WOMEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET AN ABORTION ARE DEMORALISING, UNJUST AND UNNECESSARY. IT IS WELL OVERDUE FOR A REVIEW AND FOR A MODERNISATION. THE ABORTION SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE SAYS OUR 40-YEAR-OLD LAWS NEED TO BE MODERNISED. IT SAYS THEY'RE CLUMSY, OUTDATED AND FULL OF INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE. IT EMBEDS SEXIST IDEAS IN THAT IT SUGGESTS OR ASSUMES THAT WOMEN NEED TO BE CONTROLLED AROUND THEIR OWN FERTILITY AND THEIR REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH. ACTUALLY, WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES. ABORTION FALLS UNDER THE CRIMES ACT. IN 2015, THERE WERE JUST OVER 13,000 ABORTIONS. 97% WERE APPROVED ON MENTAL HEALTH GROUNDS. BUT THE JUSTICE MINISTER DOESN'T SEE ANY PRESSING NEED FOR CHANGE. THE LAW IS WORKING BROADLY AS INTENDED. NEITHER DOES THE HEALTH MINISTER. I'M HAPPY WITH THE LEGISLATION AS IT IS AT THE MOMENT. GETTING ANY CHANGE ON AN ISSUE LIKE ABORTION WOULD BE WITH A CONSCIENCE VOTE, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN MP TO DRAFT A MEMBER'S BILL AND GET IT DRAWN RANDOMLY FROM A BALLOT. THERE'S 93 OF THEM WHO COULD PUT A PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL IN THE BALLOT. NOT ONE OF THEM HAS. I WOULD, BUT I CURRENTLY HAVE A VERY HIGH-PROFILE BILL IN THE BALLOT. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ONE OF THEM TO MAN OR WOMAN UP. THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER SAYS LABOUR HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO CHANGE ABORTION RULES WHEN LAST IN POWER. AND ANYWAY, SHE SAYS, THE ABORTION RATE'S FALLING. WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELYU THRILLED ABOUT IS THE PERCENTAGE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. AND THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE IN RECENT TIMES. PERHAPS SO, BUT THAT'S UNLIKELY TO SILENCE DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE. CORIN DANN, 1 NEWS. A HIGH-PROFILE CHILD KILLER HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF TRYING TO MURDER ANOTHER CONVICTED KILLER. STEPHEN ROGER WILLIAMS (42) HAS BEEN SENTENCED IN THE AUCKLAND HIGH COURT TO PREVENTIVE DETENTION. HE'S ALREADY SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR KILLING HIS STEPDAUGHTER (6), CORAL BURROWS, IN 2003. IN DECEMBER, HE ATTACKED NIKKI ROPER, A FELLOW PRISONER AT PAREMOREMO WHO'S ALSO SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER. THE MAN ACCUSED OF ABDUCTING A WOMAN FOUND ASSAULTED AT A WEST AUCKLAND QUARRY A FORTNIGHT AGO CAN NOW BE REVEALED. COLIN JACK MITCHELL'S (59) NAME SUPPRESSION LAPSED OVERNIGHT AFTER HE APPEARED IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT YESTERDAY. IT'S ALLEGED HE ABDUCTED THE WOMAN FROM A CENTRAL CITY SUBURB AFTER THE PRIDE PARADE, AND SHE AWOKE TO THE ACCUSED STANDING OVER HER WITH A BAT. MITCHELL WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY UNTIL HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IN JUNE. THE BANNING CHILDREN FROM DAYCARE IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED IS A HOT TOPIC IN AUSTRALIA AT THE MOMENT. AND IT'S ALSO STIRRED UP DEBATE HERE AMONG OUR POLITICIANS. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD HAS MORE DETAILS AND THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST. THIS IS THE CATCHCRY FROM AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTER OVER VACCINATING CHILDREN. NO JAB, NO PAY, NO PLAY. AS FAR AS MALCOLM TURNBULL'S CONCERNED, KIDS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE IF THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED. SOME SAY IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING HERE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VACCINATION PROGRAMMES ARE WORKING AND AREN'T BEING COMPROMISED BY LARGE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT BEING VACCINATED. THE HEALTH MINISTER SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNDER HIS WATCH. I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT THAT ALL NZ KIDS GET ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. KINDERGARTEN TEACHER SHARON COULTON ALSO DOESN'T THINK A BAN'S THE ANSWER. BUT SHE SAYS DAYCARE CENTRES DON'T ALWAYS KNOW JUST HOW MANY KIDS ARE IMMUNISED. WHAT WE WANT IS REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEALTH SERVICES AND AGENCIES AND EDUCATION AGENCIES. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN WORK EFFECTIVELY TO GET A DATABASE OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED. WELLINGTON PARENTS ARE DIVIDED. 15 YEARS AGO, I WOULDN'T HAVE AGREED. THERE ARE SO MANY REVIVED ILLNESSES ` WHOOPING COUGH, YOU NAME IT NOW. I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO VACCINATE CHILDREN. I'M PRO-VACCINATION. EVERYONE SHOULD BE PRO-VACCINATION, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT KIDS BEHIND BECAUSE THE PARENTS MAKE ONE CALL. THE VACCINATION RATE IS STEADILY INCREASING AND IS HIGHER THAN AUSTRALIA'S. IN 2010, THE OVERALL RATE FOR 8-MONTH-OLDS WAS 83%. IT'S NOW 93%. UNIMMUNISED KIDS CAN BE EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOLS OR DAYCARE IN THE CASE OF AN OUTBREAK OF A VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASE. VACCINATION IS IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS, AND THEY SHOULD BE DOING IT. THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IS STRONGLY IN FAVOUR OF VACCINATION. THE MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT ` GET YOUR JABS. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. 20 BICYCLES THAT WERE DONATED TO A SOUTH AUCKLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM A LOCKED GARAGE. THE BIKES, LIKE THESE, WERE FIRST GIVEN TO DECILE-1 NGA IWI PRIMARY SCHOOL IN MANGERE AS PART OF THE BIKES IN SCHOOLS PROGRAMME. THE BIKES WERE TAKEN OVER THE WEEKEND. I WAS DEVASTATED. MOST OF THE KIDS ARE NOT HAPPY, PRETTY SAD. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO GET THOSE BIKES BACK. SO FAR, 13 HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. IT'S THE SECOND TIME THIEVES HAVE STOLEN BIKES FROM THE SCHOOL. A MAN (32) HAS APPEARED IN COURT CHARGED WITH ASSAULT AND THE ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF A GIRL (3) IN PORIRUA, NORTH OF WELLINGTON. THE ATTACK HAPPENED LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER HE'D CHECKED INTO A RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. RYAN BOSWELL REPORTS. A DAMAGED FENCE AND POLICE PRESENCE ON EXPLORATION WAY IN WHITBY, PORIRUA - EVIDENCE OF A VIOLENT TUSSLE YESTERDAY. IT'S ALLEGED A FATHER WAS FORCED TO FIGHT OFF A MAN (32) TRYING TO ABDUCT HIS DAUGHTER. IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS YOU NEVER THINK'S GONNA TO HAPPEN. THE GUY WAS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON GRABBING HER AND TAKING ME OUT OF THE EQUATION. NEARBY RESIDENTS CAME RUSHING TO THEIR AID. JO ALDERDICE GRABBED THE GIRL. I'M SCREAMING OUT, YOU KNOW, 'LEAVE HER ALONE, LEAVE HER ALONE.' THERE WAS A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED, AND I WAS JUST YELLING, 'RING THE POLICE, RING THE POLICE.' IT'S ALLEGED THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER WERE SET UPON WHILE WALKING HOME FROM KINDY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE ATTACKER HAD JUST BEEN ADMITTED TO THIS MENTAL HEALTH RESPITE FACILITY ONLY 50 MINUTES BEFORE THE ATTACK. I WANT TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY OF WHITBY AND PORIRUA THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION THAT THIS MAN WAS DANGEROUS. THE MAN APPEARED IN THE PORIRUA DISTRICT COURT TODAY, CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULT AND ONE OF ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 14 YEARS IN PRISON. NEIGHBOURS TOLD 1 NEWS THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SERIOUS INCIDENTS INVOLVING PATHWAY RESIDENTS. DIANA KELLY SAYS A DISORIENTATED RESIDENT WAS ONCE DISCOVERED IN HER HOME. THE WOMAN WAS DISTRAUGHT AND SHE LOOKING FOR HER BABY, AND SHE WAS SURE WE'D TAKEN IT FROM HER, AND SHE WAS ABOUT TO... PAY US BACK. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I AM AWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY ARE CURRENTLY EXPRESSING SOME CONCERNS. I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS. THE MAN AT THE CENTRE OF THE ABDUCTION ALLEGATION WILL REAPPEAR IN COURT LATER THIS MONTH. RYAN BOSWELL, 1 NEWS. BRITAIN WILL PULL THE BREXIT TRIGGER BY THE END OF THE MONTH, AFTER TODAY CLEARING THE FINAL HURDLES TOWARDS SEPARATION FROM THE EU. BUT ANTI-BREXIT SCOTLAND HAS THROWN A SHOCK SPANNER INTO THE WORKS BY MOVING FOR A SECOND VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE. 1 NEWS EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING HAS MORE. BREXIT JUST GOT VERY REAL, AND THE STAKES HAVE SKY-ROCKETED. SCOTLAND'S BID FOR A SECOND VOTE ON INDEPENDENCE THREATENS TO RIP BRITAIN APART JUST AS IT PREPARES TO DIVORCE THE EU. I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR SCOTLAND TO BE TAKEN DOWN A PATH THAT IT HAS NO CONTROL OVER, REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR ECONOMY, FOR OUR SOCIETY, FOR OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD, FOR OUR VERY SENSE OF WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY. FIRST MINISTER NICOLA STURGEON'S HAD THAT SINKING FEELING EVER SINCE BRITAIN SAID YES TO BREXIT. SCOTLAND WANTED TO STAY, AND SOME MPS ARE ANGRY WITH THE PROPOSED DEAL. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT SCOTLAND IS GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO THE ABYSS WITH THIS TORY GOVERNMENT. I'M GLAD WE ON THIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE. SCOTLAND'S LEADER WANTS A REFERENDUM BEFORE THE UK LEAVES THE EU, SOMETIME BEFORE LATE 2019. A RECENT POLL SAID SCOTLAND IS EVENLY DIVIDED. BEFORE NICOLA STURGEON CAN HOLD AN INDEPENDENCE VOTE, SHE MUST GET PERMISSION FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT. NOW, THE PRIME MINISTER COULD REFUSE, OR SHE COULD INSIST THE VOTE HAPPENS AFTER THE UK LEAVES THE EU. ONE THING'S FOR SURE ` THE PRIME MINISTER IS RILED. INSTEAD OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON DELIVERING GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND. POLITICS IS NOT A GAME. IT COULDN'T COME AT A WORSE TIME FOR THERESA MAY, WHO'S NOW CLEAR TO PUSH THE BREXIT BUTTON AND CHANGE THE COURSE OF BRITISH HISTORY. PROTESTERS OUTSIDE WESTMINSTER WERE HOPING MPS WOULD SUPPORT THE BREXIT BILL AMENDMENTS MADE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THREE MILLION EU CITIZENS IN THE UK AND GIVING PARLIAMENT A VOTE ON THE FINAL DEAL. BUT THEIR LAST-DITCH CLAMOURS WERE BEATEN DOWN AT THE FINAL HURDLE, WHEN THE LORDS RELENTED. THERE MIGHT NOT BE A REAL VOTE, A MEANINGFUL VOTE, IN THIS CHAMBER, BUT THERE SHALL BE A MEANINGFUL VOTE IN SCOTLAND. CALLS ARE TONIGHT GROWING FOR AN INDEPENDENCE VOTE IN NORTHERN IRELAND TOO, MEANING BRITAIN'S GOVERNMENT NOW HAS A FIGHT ON THREE FRONTS, AND IT'S FAST RUNNING OUT OF ALLIES. EMMA KEELING, 1 NEWS, LONDON. SCHOOLS CLOSED AND THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS CANCELLED. THE MASSIVE STORM BEARING DOWN ON THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. AFTER THE BREAK, WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW CITIES LIKE NEW YORK AND CHICAGO ARE PREPARING FOR THE MAJOR BLIZZARD. ALSO, THE START OF THE JOURNEY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES BATON. THE QUEEN STARTS OFF PROCEEDINGS A YEAR OUT FROM GOLD COAST 2018. BUT WHO'LL HOST THE GAMES IN 2022? AND THEY'RE HOOKED ` THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SNAPPER COMPETITION. HUNDREDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD LINE UP ALONG 90 MILE BEACH TO CATCH THE BIG ONE. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA AND BOSTON WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW, AND THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS IN AND OUT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CANCELLED AS THE EASTERN UNITED STATES PREPARES FOR A MAJOR SNOW STORM. IT'S FORCED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO POSTPONE A PLANNED VISIT BY GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL. ABC'S ALEX PEREZ REPORTS. THE TIME TO PREPARE IS RUNNING OUT. THE MIDWEST GETTING THE FIRST TASTE OF THE SOON-TO-BE MASSIVE LATE-WINTER STORM THAT WILL BURY MILLIONS IN THE NORTH-EAST. OUTSIDE MILWAUKEE, UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW BROUGHT CAR CRASHES, SHUTTING DOWN PARTS OF BOTH INTERSTATE 41 AND INTERSTATE 43. THIS CHAIN-REACTION WRECK INVOLVED THREE SEMIS AND A DOZEN OTHER VEHICLES. THAT STORM IS SET TO COMBINE WITH ANOTHER ONE IN THE GULF AND MOVE UP THE EAST COAST AS A POWERFUL NOR'EASTER THAT EVEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CALLS 'LIFE-THREATENING'. NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS AND OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS IN THE STORM ZONE CLOSE TOMORROW. THIS SHOULD BE A VERY SERIOUS BLIZZARD, ONE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY. AS RESIDENTS STOCK UP ON FOOD AND FUEL ALL ALONG THE NORTH-EAST CORRIDOR. I BOUGHT LUNCH MEAT, SO I'M GONNA MAKE PLENTY OF SANDWICHES. I'M LOW ON GAS, SO I DECIDED TO FILL UP BEFORE. SOME 400 VEHICLES WILL BE TREATING PHILADELPHIA AREA ROADS. ROB MARCIANO IS THERE. THE SALT AND PLOUGH TRUCKS ARE BACKING UP AND LOADING UP. THIS IS PART OF A 50,000-TON STOCKPILE OF SALT HERE IN PHILADELPHIA THAT THEY'LL USE TO TRY TO BEAT BACK THIS STORM. IN BELMAR, NEW JERSEY, HEAVY EQUIPMENT BUILDING MASSIVE SAND BARRIERS TO KEEP BACK THE OCEAN. OUR TWO BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE THE HIGH TIDES ` ONE IN THE MORNING ON TUESDAY AND ONE IN THE EVENING. SOME 60 MILLION NOW IN THE STORM'S PATH. STAYING IN THE US, WHERE THE POLITICAL ROW OVER HEALTHCARE IS HEATING UP. A NEW REPORT SUGGESTS MORE THAN 14 MILLION FEWER PEOPLE WILL HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE BY NEXT YEAR IF THE REPUBLICAN PLAN TO REPLACE OBAMACARE GOES AHEAD. AND THAT NUMBER COULD RISE TO 24 MILLION PEOPLE WITHIN A DECADE. DONALD TRUMP SAYS THE BILL IS JUST THE START OF 'A BIG, FAT, BEAUTIFUL NEGOTIATION'. THERE'S STILL NO EVIDENCE THAT BARACK OBAMA HAD DONALD TRUMP'S PHONE CALLS WIRETAPPED IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTION. PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE THE ACCUSATION VIA TWITTER EARLIER THIS MONTH, SPARKING OUTRAGE AND DEMANDS FOR PROOF. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN UNTIL TODAY TO INVESTIGATE, BUT IT'S ASKED FOR MORE TIME. ABC'S CECILIA VEGA HAS MORE. NINE DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP ACCUSED PRESIDENT OBAMA OF WIRETAPPING HIM, THERE IS STILL NOT ONE CREDIBLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THAT CLAIM. THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF ASKED THREE TIMES TODAY. NO COMMENT. BUT AIDES LIKE KELLYANNE CONWAY, THE COUNSELLOR TO THE PRESIDENT, FIRST SUGGESTING THE ALLEGED SURVEILLANCE ON HER BOSS MAY HAVE GONE BEYOND WIRETAPPING. DO YOU KNOW WHETHER TRUMP TOWER WAS WIRETAPPED? WHAT I CAN SAY IS THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SURVEIL EACH OTHER NOW, UNFORTUNATELY. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WAS`? THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THIS WEEK THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SURVEIL SOMEONE THROUGH THEIR PHONES, THROUGH THEIR` CERTAINLY THROUGH THEIR TELEVISION SETS, UH, ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS. AND MICROWAVES THAT TURN INTO CAMERAS, ETC. SO WE KNOW THAT THAT IS JUST A FACT OF MODERN LIFE. BUT AGAIN, WHERE'S THE PROOF? JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE FOR THESE ALLEGATIONS? NO, OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE FOR THOSE ALLEGATIONS. AND THAT ANSWER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID LAST WEEK. PRESS SECRETARY SEAN SPICER TRYING TO WALK BACK THE WIRETAPPING ACCUSATION ALTOGETHER. THE PRESIDENT USED THE WORD 'WIRETAP' IN QUOTE TO MEAN, BROADLY, SURVEILLANCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. WOMAN: THAT'S NOT WHAT HE SAID. HE LITERALLY HAD IT IN QUOTES. TRUE ` TWO TWEETS FROM THE PRESIDENT PUT QUOTES AROUND 'WIRETAP', BUT IN OTHERS, NOPE, NO QUOTES. THIS IS A TWEET FROM THE PRESIDENT. DOESN'T THE PRESIDENT HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROVE` AND HE DOES. AND I THINK... ...TO MAKE THE EVIDENCE CLEAR? AND WE'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE EXPECT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES TO DO THEIR JOB. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE AN UNFOUNDED ACCUSATION AND THEN ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION AFTER THE FACT. REMEMBER HIS CLAIM THAT MILLIONS VOTED ILLEGALLY IN THE ELECTION? YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. SURE. DONE. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS A TASK FORCE HAS BEEN FORMED BUT NO FORMAL INVESTIGATION YET. OBAMA HIMSELF HAS KEPT OUT OF THE ARGUMENT SO FAR, BUT HIS SPOKESMAN HAS SAID THE ACCUSATION IS 'SIMPLY FALSE'. TURKEY'S SPAT WITH THE NETHERLANDS IS ESCALATING. IT'S NOW ANNOUNCED A RAFT OF POLITICAL SANCTIONS AGAINST ITS NATO ALLY. IT'S CLOSED TURKISH AIRSPACE TO DUTCH DIPLOMATS AND BANNED ITS AMBASSADOR. DUTCH CIVILIANS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE MEASURES. THE DISPUTE STARTED WHEN THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT BARRED TURKISH MINISTERS FROM SPEAKING AT A POLITICAL RALLY IN ROTTERDAM. WEATHER TIME NOW, DAN IS HERE, AND BETTER WEATHER IS ON THE WAY, BUT ONE LAST COOL SOUTHERLY TO GET THROUGH FIRST. WHEN WE SAY COOL, IT WILL HAVE THAT AUTUMNAL FEEL. YOU WILL NOTICE IT IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PRETTY KEEN SOUTHERLY MOVING UP THE COUNTRY. NORWEST WINDS THERE. WAVE CLOUD. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ AFTER ALL THAT, WE HAVE HIGH PRESSURE. SEARCHING OUT THE WAGGERS ` COMING UP COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, WE TAKE A RIDE WITH POLICE TRYING TO CATCH STUDENTS MISSING SCHOOL. AND HOPING FOR THE BIG ONE ` AND THE BIG PRIZE. THE NORTHLAND SNAPPER-FISHING COMPETITION PUMPING MILLIONS INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN TAKING TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST ABOUT ACCESS TO NEW ZEALAND'S CLEAN WATER. AND 16,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION CALLING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP FOREIGN COMPANIES BOTTLING OUR WATER AND SENDING IT OVERSEAS. CHILDREN SKIPPING SCHOOL IN AUCKLAND ARE THE TARGET OF A CRACKDOWN TO ENCOURAGE THEM BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. IT'S A JOINT OPERATION BY SEVERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE POLICE, WHO SAY INTERVENTION'S CRUCIAL, BECAUSE TRUANTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIME. SAM KELWAY JOINED THEM ON THEIR MISSION. COS WHAT'S THE POINT IN BEING ENROLLED IN SCHOOL IF YOU DON'T GO? I WENT YESTERDAY. THEY MIGHT THINK THEY'VE GOT ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT THESE KIDS NEED A LESSON. HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD YOU BE GOING? EVERY DAY. POLICE ACROSS THE CITY ON A MISSION TO PUT AN END TO TRUANCY. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANY KIDS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE SCHOOL-AGED, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANY KIDS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE SCHOOL-AGED, ANYTHING UNDER 16. TARGETING HOTSPOTS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CONGREGATE. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I ALREADY TOLD THE PIG OVER THERE. ATTITUDE ISN'T A CRIME, BUT POLICE SAY THERE'S A CORRELATION BETWEEN WAGGING AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THIS IS ABOUT LOOKING DEEPER INTO ABSENTEEISM AS A PROBLEM, THIS IS ABOUT LOOKING DEEPER INTO ABSENTEEISM AS A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE INTO MOVING AWAY FROM EDUCATION AND INTO WHAT IS OFTEN A LIFE OF CRIME. WELL, IF YOU'RE NOT AT SCHOOL, YOU AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A QUALFICATION, AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, EDUCATION IS REALLY CRITICAL TO HELPING KIDS HAVE CHOICE. THE MINISTRY SAYS A YEAR 11 STUDENT WHO'S ABSENT FOR HALF A YEAR HAS JUST A 20% CHANCE OF ACHIEVING NCEA LEVEL 1. AND AS WE FOUND, SOME PEOPLE ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE. ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT'S UNDER 16, THAT WANTS A RIDE TO SCHOOL? NAH. WHAT ABOUT THIS LITTLE ONE? THAT'S UP THERE NOW? THE ONE THAT JUST POKED HIS HEAD OUT? THIS BOY'S JUST 13. HE'S MISSED A YEAR OF SCHOOL. NOW HIS DAD'S GETTING HIM BACK ON TRACK. I'LL BE SITTING NEXT TO HIM AT THE DESK IF NEED BE, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE HE'S THERE AND JUST BEING RESPECTFUL. HE SAYS PROBLEMS START AT HOME. HOME HAS TO BE SOLID, SEMI-SOLID, TO WANT OUR KIDS TO WANNA GO OUT THERE AND LEARN. AND ALTHOUGH OPERATION 'EYES WIDE OPEN' ONLY RUNS FOR ANOTHER WEEK,... THERE IS NO PLACE TO HIDE. ...THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. SAM KELWAY, 1 NEWS. MORE THAN 800 FISHERMEN ARE LINING UP ALONG NORTHLAND'S 90 MILE BEACH, HOPING TO CATCH THE BIG ONE. THEY'VE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COMPETE FOR FIVE DAYS IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST SNAPPER COMPETITION. AND AS HELEN CASTLES EXPLAINS, IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY. HERE COMES THE COMPETITION. AS DAYLIGHT BROKE, THE DEDICATED ANGLERS WENT IN, AND SOON THERE WERE HUNDREDS. THE ADVENTURE, THE MYSTIQUE OF THIS AWESOME BEACH. SOME ARE HERE TO GET SERIOUS; OTHERS FOR A BIT OF FUN. WE LIKE GETTING ON THE BEACH AND THAT. YEAH, GETTING IN THE SAND. THIS COMPETITION IS IN ITS 35TH YEAR AND HAS A RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES FROM AROUND NEW ZEALAND AND THE WORLD. BEGINNERS LUCK MIGHT BE THE RIGHT WAY TO JOIN THE COMPETITION. I DONE IT 14 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS ON HOLIDAY, MADE SOME GOOD FRIENDS, ENJOYED IT, AND JUST WANTED TO COME BACK. ADRIAN DRIVES UP FROM HASTINGS EVERY YEAR WITH HIS BROTHER JOHN. HE ENJOYS IT. THE PEOPLE KNOW HIM NOW. AND THEY APPRECIATE HIM, THEY SHAKE HIS HAND, THEY MAKE HIM WELCOME. HE BUILT THIS CUSTOM-MADE CHAIR SO JOHN COULD ENJOY THE SURF. IT GETS HIM OUT, MAKES HIM ALIVE. AND THE FUN'S NOT CONFINED TO THE MEN. HUSBAND AND KIDS AT HOME. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, THEY'RE BACK IN AUCKLAND. AND I CAME UP LAST SATURDAY, AND I'LL GO HOME THIS SUNDAY. THE EVENT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR LOCALS, PUMPING MORE THAN $8M INTO THE KAITAIA COMMUNITY. THE COUNCIL TELLS US THAT EACH PERSON THAT'S HERE SPENDS $246 A DAY WHILE THEY'RE HERE; THEY STAY SEVEN TO EIGHT DAYS AT A TIME. LAST YEAR'S WINNER REELED IN AN 8.2KG SNAPPER, BUT THE BIGGEST ON RECORD WEIGHED MORE THAN 12 KILOS. NOW, YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT YOU ANY PICTURES OF SNAPPER. BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY. IT'S TERRIBLE AT THE MOMENT. SO NOTHING SO FAR TODAY. BUT WITH FOUR MORE DAYS TO GO, THE SNAPPER ARE BOUND TO START BITING. YOU NEVER KNOW UR LUCK. THERE'S 800 GUYS AND ONE FISH THAT WINS IT. AND THE ONE THAT LANDS THE BIGGEST ALSO LANDS A $30,000 PRIZE. HELEN CASTLES, 1 NEWS. COMMONWEALTH GAMES ORGANISERS ARE URGENTLY SCOUTING FOR A NEW HOST CITY FOR 2022 AFTER DURBAN WAS STRIPPED OF THE EVENT. IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN CITY, WHICH COULDN'T AFFORD THE HEFTY PRICE TAG. SO COULD A NEW ZEALAND CITY STEP UP? HERE'S JESSICA MUTCH. FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO AUSTRALIA, THE COMMONWEALTH BATON IS NOW ON THE ROAD. IT'LL BE IN NEW ZEALAND IN DECEMBER, ENDING UP IN THE GOLD COAST FOR THE 2018 GAMES. BUT WHERE THE BATON WILL BE HEADING NEXT IS NOW UP IN THE AIR. THE SOUTH AFRICAN CITY OF DURBAN WAS MEANT TO PLAY HOST, BUT, EMBARRASSINGLY, IT'S BEEN STRIPPED OF THE EVENT. THEY JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE FEDERATION. DURBAN WAS THE ONLY BIDDER LAST TIME, SO ORGANISERS ARE NOW URGENTLY LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT ` A CITY THAT CAN AFFORD THE ESTIMATED $700M PRICE TAG. LIVERPOOL AND BIRMINGHAM HAVE SHOWN INTEREST. LOOKING AT AN APPROPRIATE CITY THAT HAS THE RESOURCES, THAT IS ABLE TO HAVE THE FACILITIES AND CAN MAKE THAT PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATE COMMITMENT. SO WHAT ABOUT NEW ZEALAND? WE PLAYED HOST IN CHRISTCHURCH IN 1974. AND AUCKLAND IN 1990. WHAT ORGANISERS ARE LOOKING FOR IS CITIES THAT HAVE FACILITIES THAT ARE READY TO GO, LIKE THE NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE HERE IN AUCKLAND. WE SPOKE TO THE AUCKLAND MAYOR, PHIL GOFF. HE SAYS HE HASN'T BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT THE 2022 GAMES AND SAYS IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR AUCKLAND AT THE MOMENT. WE ALSO SPOKE TO THE MAYORS OF WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH, WHO SAY IT'S NOT ON THEIR RADAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ONE NEW ZEALANDER WHO'S LIFTED A MEDAL AT THE GAMES SAY THE EVENT IS A MUST-HAVE FOR OUR ATHLETES. A FOUR-YEAR CYCLE OF THE OLYMPICS IS A DRAMATICALLY LONG TIME. I ALWAYS LOOK BACK TO, AS A KID, THE INSPIRATION THAT KIDS GET EVERY TWO YEARS, BEING A KIWI ` WE GET THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, AND THEN THE OLYMPIC CYCLE COME ROUND. THE SPORTING BATTLES BETWEEN 71 COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN GOING SINCE 1931. BUT RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO FIND A HOME FOR 2022. JESSICA MUTCH, 1 NEWS. STAYING WITH SPORT, JENNY-MAY ` 33 AND ON DEBUT. HOW GOOD IS NEIL BROOM FEELING RIGHT NOW? HOW NERVOUS MUST HE BE FEELING? Never give up is the story here. MORE FROM THE MAN HIMSELF NEXT. PLUS, THE FUTURE OF TWO RUGBY STARS LOOKS GRIM. IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING KIWI RALLY DRIVER HAYDEN PADDON, YOU WOULD'VE NOTICED HE'S BEEN A BIT OFF LATELY. COULD THIS AFTERNOON'S ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT? THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS ` FIRST THE PLAYERS, NOW THE HIGHLANDERS' COACH TURNS UP TO TRAINING INJURED. AND THE BEAST IS BACK ` MANU VATUVEI GETS HIS FIRST START FOR THE WARRIORS. SO WHO IS THE CASUALTY? KIA ORA, WELCOME BACK TO SPORT. AT HIS AGE, MANY WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP. BUT LATER THIS WEEK IN WELLINGTON, OTAGO MAN NEIL BROOM LOOKS SET TO MAKE HIS TEST DEBUT FOR THE BLACKCAPS, 15 YEARS AFTER HIS FIRST MATCH OF DOMESTIC CRICKET. WHILE HE'S TAKING A PRETTY LAID-BACK APPROACH TO THE MILESTONE, HE'S WELL AWARE THIS IS NOT A CHANCE TO BE WASTED. JOHN MCKENZIE REPORTS. AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 33, NEIL BROOM THOUGHT THIS DAY MIGHT NEVER COME. IT FEELS BRILLIANT, MATE. ITS BEEN 135 FIRST-CLASS GAMES. SO IT'S FELT LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S FINALLY HERE ` WELL, HOPEFULLY, ANYWAY. CALLED IN TO REPLACE THE INJURED ROSS TAYLOR, BROOM SHOULD MAKE HIS DEBUT IN CRICKET WHITES ON THURSDAY. IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE AT THE VERY SAME GROUND HE MADE HIS FIRST-CLASS DEBUT FOR CANTERBURY. CAME IN AND SCORED TWO 40S, SO PAID THE BILLS THAT DAY. (LAUGHS) BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT DEBUT, BROOM PLAYED FIRST 15 RUGBY WITH NONE OTHER THAN FORMER ALL BLACKS DAN CARTER AND ADAM THOMSON. SEEMS A LONG TIME AGO NOW THAT I MADE THAT DECISION TO PLAY CRICKET, BUT... I THINK I'VE MADE THE RIGHT ONE NOW. HE SAYS THAT BECAUSE, TO HIM, TEST CRICKET IS THE PINNACLE OF THE GAME. YEAH, IT DEFINITELY IS FOR ME. I THINK I'LL BE A LITTLE MORE NERVOUS GOING INTO A GAME LIKE THIS THAN ANY OTHER GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED. NERVES WHICH COULD BE HEIGHTENED... OUT. HE'S GOT IT, BROOM. ...DUE TO UNDER-PERFORMING IN THE ODIs. OBVIOUSLY PRETTY DISAPPOINTING, PERSONALLY, THAT SERIES, AFTER COMING IN, DOING ALL RIGHT AGAINST BANGLADESH AND AUSTRALIA. THE GUYS HAVE PLAYED AGAINST HIM. IN THE TEAM MEETING, A LOT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM, SO WE'LL HAVE OUR PLANS FOR HIM. BROOM EXPECTS AN ONSLAUGHT FROM THE TOURISTS, ALTHOUGH HE DOES HAVE EXPERIENCE AGAINST BOTH VERNON PHILANDER AND MORNE MORKEL ` ALBEIT 10 YEARS AGO IN AN EMERGING PLAYERS TOURNAMENT IN AUSSIE. I MANAGED TO BUST MY RIB, I THINK. YEAH. (CHUCKLES) THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER ABOUT IT. IF HE CAN CRACK A TON ON DEBUT INSTEAD OF A RIB, IT'LL SHOW ANY DOMESTIC CRICKETER YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LIVE OUT YOUR INTERNATIONAL DREAM. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS. A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE WORLD OF RALLYING TODAY WITH NEWS THAT HAYDEN PADDON'S KIWI CO-DRIVER JOHN KENNARD IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER 12 YEARS IN THE HOT SEAT. KENNARD'S LAST RALLY WILL BE IN FINLAND IN JULY, BEFORE PADDON INTRODUCES A NEW PARTNER. MARTIN TASKER REPORTS. THE HIGHLIGHT OF A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP ` VICTORY IN ARGENTINA ` THE FIRST KIWIS TO WIN A ROUND OF THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP. WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? FANTASTIC. (LAUGHS) ESPECIALLY FOR AN OLD FELLA. THE RECORD-BREAKING CO-DRIVER IS 58 NOW, ALMOST 30 YEARS HAYDEN PADDON'S SENIOR. A PARTING OF THE WAYS INEVITABLE AND ACKNOWLEDGED LAST YEAR. HAYDEN AND I HAVE ALWAYS AGREED THAT IF IT COMES TO A TIME WHERE THERE'S AN ADVANTAGE TO HIM FOR ME NOT BEING IN THE CAR OVER ME BEING THERE, THEN I'M QUITE HAPPY TO STEP ASIDE. I HOPE THAT HAYDEN WOULD BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT TO ME. AND AFTER MORE THAN 100 RALLIES TOGETHER,... SEVEN RIGHT OVER A-T TIGHT AND SHORT FIVE PLUS. ...HE WAS. WE MADE A DECISION LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE. WE KNEW THIS DECISION HAD TO COME AT SOME POINT, AND AS WE BUILD TOWARDS 2018, WE NEED A TRANSITION PERIOD WHERE WE CAN WORK WITH A NEW CO-DRIVER. I THINK IT'LL BE GOOD FOR HAYDEN. HE CAN MAKE SOME MORE GOOD PROGRESS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE AIM FOR BOTH OF US HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GET THAT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY BACK IN NEW ZEALAND. RALLY FINLAND WILL BE THEIR LAST EVENT ` A POIGNANT VENUE, AS KENNARD IS MARRIED TO A FINN, HAS A HOUSE THERE, AND IT'S WHERE HE MARKED HIS 50TH WRC START. I THINK IT'LL BE PROBABLY QUITE HARD IN FINLAND, WHICH WILL BE MY LAST EVENT, TO ACTUALLY LEVER ME OUT OF THE SEATS. PROBABLY GONNA BE QUITE DIFFICULT. BUT OUTSIDE THE CAR, THE PAIR WILL CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER, WITH KENNARD TO BE A KEY PLAYER BEHIND THE SCENES AS THEY CHASE THE TITLE. MARTIN TASKER, 1 NEWS. THE INJURY SITUATION DOWN AT THE HIGHLANDERS IS BECOMING COMICAL. THE LATEST CASUALTY? COACH TONY BROWN, WHO HOBBLED UP TO TRAINING TODAY WITH A KNEE STRAIN AFTER AN INCIDENT PLAYING INDOOR FOOTBALL. AS FOR THE PLAYERS ON THE PARK, THIS WEEK SEES EVEN MORE FRONT-LINE ALL BLACKS IN THE CASUALTY WARD, AS ANOTHER NZ DERBY LOOMS AGAINST THE HURRICANES. MARK HATHAWAY REPORTS. CRUTCHES AND WALKING WOUNDED HAVE BEEN A COMMON SIGHT AT HIGHLANDERS TRAINING THIS YEAR. YEAH, WE DON'T DO THINGS BY HALVES HERE. EVEN THE COACH WANTS TO GET INJURED. BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. TONY BROWN THE LATEST CASUALTY AFTER PLAYING FUTSAL. WHILE MANY CAN SEE THE FUNNY SIDE, THE SOUTHERNERS ARE ON THE ROPES. ALL BLACKS LIMA SOPOAGA AND WAISAKE NAHOLO DON'T YET HAVE A TIME FRAME ON THEIR RECOVERIES, BUT IT'S EXPECTED WE'RE TALKING WEEKS RATHER THAN DAYS. SOPOAGA'S INJURY OPENING THE DOOR FOR EITHER MARTY BANKS OR SUPER RUGBY NEWBIE FLETCHER SMITH AT FIRST FIVE TO FACE THE HURRICANES IN WELLINGTON. HE'S A YOUNG FELLA, AND HE'S GONNA DEVELOP INTO AN AWESOME PLAYER. HE'S GOT THE SKILL SET TO BE A REAL QUALITY 10, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF HE GOT NAMED AT 10, THEN HE'D HANDLE IT. A FORMER HURRICANE, BANKS' EXPERIENCE IN THE CAPITAL MIGHT SEE HIM EDGE INTO THE 10 JERSEY. A BIG FACTOR IN DIRECTION FOR THE SIDE WILL BE THE FITNESS OF BEN SMITH, STILL GOING THROUGH CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS. IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCURACY BEING CALLED FOR TO FACE THE TOUGH TEST OF THE CANES. IF WE NAIL OUR ROLES, THE RESULT WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. PRETTY CLICHE, THOUGH. THERE ARE PLENTY OF CLICHES TO DESCRIBE THE HIGHLANDERS AT PRESENT ` FINDING STRENGTH FROM ADVERSITY; WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER. BUT A LOSS ON SATURDAY WOULD JUST RUB MORE SALT INTO THE VARIOUS WOUNDS OF THE SOUTHERN SIDE. MARK HATHAWAY, 1 NEWS. FORMER ALL BLACK DAN CARTER'S DRINK-DRIVING COULD BE JUST THE START OF HIS PROBLEMS, WITH HIS FRENCH CLUB PLANNING A MERGER, MEANING PLAYERS WILL BE DROPPED. PENDING APPROVAL, RACING 92 WILL AMALGAMATE WITH FELLOW PARIS CLUB STADE FRANCAIS FROM NEXT SEASON. THE MOVE IS BEING COMPARED TO THE LIKES OF TOTTENHAM AND ARSENAL TEAMING UP. A NUMBER OF PLAYERS WILL BE LET GO. FOLLOWING THE WEEKEND'S LOSS, WHERE CARTER WAS BOOED BY THE CROWD, THE CLUB'S OWNER HAS TOLD A FRENCH PAPER HE'S DISTRACTED BY PARTYING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AND NEEDS TO REFOCUS ON RUGBY. HURRICANES FULLBACK NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER JUST CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK WHEN IT COMES TO BAD LUCK AND INJURIES. THE LATEST CHAPTER SEES HIM RULED OUT OF ALL RUGBY FOR AT LEAST SIX WEEKS, FOLLOWING A FRACTURE IN HIS FOOT FROM FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAME AGAINST THE CHIEFS. HE'S BEEN GOOD. HE'S ONE OF THE MORE UPBEAT PEOPLE YOU'LL PROBABLY MEET. YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE HIM HERE ON A DAY AND HE'S UPSET OR HE'S MAD OR ANYTHING. SO IT'S TOUGH TO GET A READ ON HIM, WHETHER HE'S IN A BAD SPOT OR NOT, BUT HE'LL BE FINE. IT PROBABLY HELPS THAT HE WON'T REQUIRE SURGERY. BEST-CASE SCENARIO WILL SEE HIM BACK AT THE START OF MAY, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE LIONS' TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND. A WEAKENED MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE CRASHED OUT OF THE FA CUP, THE TROPHY HOLDERS LOSING TO CHELSEA 1-0 AT STAMFORD BRIDGE. ALREADY MINUS STAR STRIKERS WAYNE ROONEY AND ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC, UNITED WERE DOWN TO 10 MEN AFTER ANDER HERRERA WAS SENT OFF FOR COLLECTING A SECOND YELLOW CARD IN THE 36TH MINUTE. CHELSEA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA MAN EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF. OK, HE WINDS UP TO HAVE A GOAL! (CHEERING) CHELSEA BREAK THROUGH. CHELSEA PLAY SPURS IN THE SEMI-FINALS, WHILE ARSENAL FACE MANCHESTER CITY. MANU VATUVEI WILL MAKE HIS FIRST NRL APPEARANCE OF THE YEAR WITH COACH STEPHEN KEARNEY SENDING TUI LOLOHEA BACK TO RESERVE GRADE FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S LOSS TO MELBOURNE. PLAYING IN THE UNFAMILIAR POSITION OF WING, LOLOHEA HAS BEEN TARGETTED OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND HE'S STRUGGLED ON DEFENCE. HIS ABSENCE OPENS THE DOOR FOR VATUVEI TO RETURN AGAINST THE BULLDOGS IN DUNEDIN FOR HIS 226TH NRL GAME. YOU KNOW, I'VE LIKED WHAT MANU'S BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME. HE'S VERY EXPERIENCED, HE'S PLAYED OVER 200 GAMES OF NRL. HE'S DONE THE BUSINESS IN THE PAST BEFORE, SO... KIERAN FORAN'S SHOULDER STILL ISN'T RIGHT, BUT THERE WERE PROMISING SIGNS AS HE TOOK PART IN CONTACT TRAINING. MEANWHILE, CAPTAIN ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK WILL UNDERGO MORE CONCUSSION TESTS WITH A FINAL CALL TO BE MADE ON THURSDAY. A COMEBACK IS ON THE CARDS FOR NRL FOUNDATION CLUB THE NORTH SYDNEY BEARS AS THEY LOOK TO MAKE THE GOLD COAST THEIR NEW HOME. THE BEARS, WHO HAVEN'T PLAYED IN THE COMPETITION SINCE 1999, ARE REPORTEDLY NEGOTIATING A $7M DEAL WITH THE NRL TO TAKE OVER THE TITANS, WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER ITS CONTROL SINCE FEBRUARY 2015. HOWEVER, WORD OUT OF THE TITANS CAMP IS THAT TALK OF A DEAL IS PREMATURE. THANKS, JENNY-MAY. We were just talking about the Commonwealth games and whether they are still relevant. We will work out what sort of future we've got for the Commonwealth games. ALSO COMING UP ` WE'RE FIRST WITH BRAND-NEW STATS ON KIDS' SCREEN USE. AND IF YOU'RE A PARENT OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS. FROM SCREEN TIME TO GETTING OUR KIDS OUTSIDE. WHY IT'S JUST GOT A LOT HARDER FOR KIWI KIDS TO HAVE SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FUN. WHEN I CLOSED MY FARM, I WASN'T DOING IT TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE. I WAS DOING IT TO KEEP MYSELF SAFE FROM PROSECUTION. PLUS, ALL ZEV WANTED WAS A JOB. I JUST NEEDED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A CHANCE, SEE SOMETHING IN ME. AND WHAT ZEV DID WITH THAT CHANCE WILL AMAZE YOU. JOIN US AT 7. Seeing the leaves changing and those lovely crisp mornings this is the incoming high. Some good moist air feeding on. There is a weak front that will fade away by the weekend. We have all this building on. Some harmless cloud to the west. A couple of leftover troughs and some showers. A big high builds in. Some cloud peppering the eastern coast. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ Finally some quiet whether CORRECTION: weather