HELLO, THE INTENSE STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO LEAVE ITS MARK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS TIME TO CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS WITH RAINFALL TOTALS TO PARTS OF CANTERBURY WELL OVER 50, TO EVEN 100MM OF RAIN ` MONTHLY RAIN TOTALS IN THE SPAN OF A COUPLE OF DAYS. STRONG WINDS, TOO, BUT THIS IS THE LAST GASP. WE'RE KICKING IT OUT THE BACK DOOR. MUCH QUIETER WEATHER IS FINALLY ON THE WAY. ALL THE DETAILS COMING UP. RIGHT NOW, IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. A TOWN UNDERWATER. FROM THE AIR, HUNDREDS OF HOUSES FLOODED AS A RIVER BREACHES ITS BANKS, SWAMPING EDGECUMBE IN THE BAY OF PLENTY. ON THE GROUND, DRAMATIC PICTURES AS A TORRENT OF WATER SURGES INTO TOWN, FORCING THE EVACUATION OF HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS. WE CROSS LIVE FOR THE VERY LATEST. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. THE RAIN MAY'VE STOPPED, BUT THE FLOW-ON EFFECT FROM DEBBIE'S DELUGE CONTINUES TO CAUSE MAJOR WOES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AN ESTIMATED 2000 PEOPLE ARE TONIGHT SPENDING THE EVENING AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES, SWAMPED BY FLOODWATERS. THE WHOLE OF THE BAY OF PLENTY TOWN OF EDGECUMBE IS RIGHT NOW UNDERWATER AFTER THE RANGITAIKI RIVER BURST ITS BANKS. THERE'VE ALSO BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEARBY WHAKATANE RIVER. SAM KELWAY IS IN WHAKATANE AND JOINS US SHORTLY. FIRST LET'S GO TO JESSICA MUTCH IN EDGECUMBE. JESS? This is as far as we can get into town. The road is blocked off. This is the road that goes up to the bridge over the river. It is a state of emergency here. This is a one in 500 year flood. We have been able to see the damage first and today by being here on the ground and in the. THE RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. EDGECUMBE IS AWASH. FROM EARLY THIS MORNING, AUTHORITIES KNEW THE BAY OF PLENTY TOWNSHIP WAS IN TROUBLE. AFTER 48 HOURS OF SEVERE RAIN, THE RANGITAIKI RIVER BULGING BEYOND ITS LIMITS. UPSTREAM, A SOLITARY DIGGER AT WORK TO CREATE AN OUTLET FOR THE COURSING WATER, TRYING TO PREVENT IT GUSHING FURTHER INTO THE TOWN. A VAIN EFFORT AS THE WATER WON OVER. THE BROWN SOUP BREAKING OVER BARRIERS INTO THE BOWL OF EDGECUMBE, SWAMPING GARDENS AND HUNDREDS OF HOMES. THE RIVER RAN INTO ROADS, MAKING THE TWO COMPLETELY INDISTINGUISHABLE IN PARTS. 1600 PEOPLE GIVEN THE ORDER TO GET OUT AND GET OUT QUICKLY. HOUSE IS GONE, BUT FAMILY IS SAFE. THAT'S THE MAIN THING. I GOT OUT STRAIGHT` SOON AS I SAW IT COMING DOWN MY ROAD, I WAS OUT. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST. AT 8AM, THIS WALL LOOKED NO MATCH FOR THE WATER BEHIND IT. BY 12, THE WALL WAS GONE. WE HAD TO EVACUATE. THE HOUSE IS TOTALLY FLOODED NOW. THE MATAHINA DAM WORKING OVERTIME. THE COUNCIL SAYS THIS WATER VOLUME IS BEYOND ITS DESIGN CAPACITY. WE'VE GOT TWO TEAMS AT THE MOMENT UP THE AT THE DAM, WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING EXTRACTED. FARMS ARE UNDERWATER. THESE COWS LEFT STRANDED BY A MOAT. FROM UP ABOVE, YOU GET A SENSE OF JUST HOW BAD THE FLOODING IS. THE OTHER THING IS THE SMELL. EVEN FROM UP HERE, THERE IS A STENCH OF WET SOIL. GETTING OUT THE PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE AND PETS. THIS TRUCK TRYING ITS LUCK TO GET ACROSS TOWN. THE CARS TAKING A SLOW PATH OUT OF HARM'S WAY. GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL IN HOUSES AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE ARE GETTING TO THEM. A LOT OF THE LOCALS BOUGHT THEIR EQUIPMENT IN, WHICH IS REALLY HELPING OUT. AS ALWAYS, A CLEAN-UP WILL FOLLOW AND A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES, THAT'S DAYS AWAY. JESS, STILL A BIG NIGHT AHEAD FOR THE AUTHORITIES THERE IN EDGECUMBE? A lot of emergency services will be here monitoring the situation and monitoring the water levels throughout the night. It also be tougher residents. When we flying over it was waterlogged, the homes. And when they go back in a few days time, they will see just how damaged their homes are and whether they will be liveable again. We will be had throughout the evening and keep you updated. THANKS, JESSICA. THOSE EVACUATED FROM EDGECUMBE WILL SPEND THE NIGHT IN WHAKATANE. WHILE THEY'RE SAFE AND SOUND, THE STATE OF THEIR SOAKED HOMES WILL BE HEAVY ON THEIR MINDS. SAM KELWAY WAS THERE AS THEY ARRIVED. SAFE NOW, BUT MANY ARE STILL SHAKEN BY THEIR EXPERIENCES. THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE, COS I CAN'T SWIM. WHAKATANE'S WAR MEMORIAL HALL NOW A MAKESHIFT EVACUATION CENTRE. I THOUGHT, 'WELL, I'D ONLY BE OUT FOR THE DAY,' BUT THEY TELL ME IT'S GOING TO BE 72 HOURS, SO THAT'S A BIT OF A SHOCK. YOU CAN SEE SOME HAVE ARRIVED WITH THEIR CATS, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO SORT THAT OUT AND GET IT NICE CLEAN. 600 HOMES IN EDGECUMBE EVACUATED. THE WHAKATANE MAYOR TAKING TO THE AIR TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I have seen devastation where the bank has breached, the river is flowing straight into houses. EMERGENCY SERVICES, INCLUDING SURF LIFESAVERS STANDING BY. WE JUST SIMPLY GO IN, TAKE IT EASY AND PRETTY MUCH PUT PEOPLE IN THE BOATS AND GET THEM OUT SAFEST POSSIBLE WAY. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TAKING NO RISKS. SCHOOLS CLOSING FOR THE DAY. MORE THAN 6000 STUDENTS SENT HOME. THE RANGITAIKI RIVER RAGING AND THREATENING TO SPILL OVER. THOSE STILL HERE ON HIGH ALERT. I'M PREPARED TO CUT A TRACK. I'VE GOT MY GEARS IN THE CAR. WE'RE ABOUT 5 KILOMETRES FROM WHAKATANE. THIS USE TO BE A PADDOCK. IT NOW RESEMBLES A LAKE. BUT MORE ALARMINGLY, ACROSS THE ROAD THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF TANEAATUA IS COMPLETELY CUT OFF. ABOUT 1 IN A 500 YEAR EVENT. And 30% higher than what the banks were designed for. They performed well. THE WHAKATANE DISTRICT WILL STAY IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY UNTIL AUTHORITIES ARE CONFIDENT EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL. AND SAM'S WITH US NOW. YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE EVACUATION CENTRE MOST OF THE DAY. WHAT'S THE MOOD LIKE? As you saw, a sombre mood. So many who didn't know what they go back to. People had their pets as they grabbed what they could before the floodwaters came through. Where a short drive away and know this area was unscathed, about a kilometre down the road the river is very high and still raging. We spoke to the mayor, and he says there are concern for southern areas, they are hoping to get down there tomorrow to assess the damage and hope that everyone is safe. The message is to keep the community safe and make sure your neighbours are all right. The evacuation centre set up here but I think for the residents around here, they'll be looking to the skies and hoping for no more rain. THANKS. SAM KELWAY IN WHAKATANE. AND TO GIVE A GOOD IDEA OF JUST HOW DEEP THE FLOODWATERS ARE IN EDGECUMBE, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO TAKEN BY LOCAL BRANDON CROWLEY IN A JET BOAT. HE ZOOMS PAST TREES, HOMES AND FENCES WITH THE WATER UP HIGH. BRANDON'S TRAVELLING QUITE FAST, ABOUT 70KM/H, SO HE WOULDN'T CAUSE TOO MUCH WAKE. AND IT'S NOT JUST UP NORTH. THE SOUTH ISLAND HASN'T ESCAPED THE AFTERMATH OF CYCLONE DEBBIE EITHER. HEAVY RAIN'S BATTERED PARTS OF THE EAST COAST, CLOSING BOTH ROUTES INTO KAIKOURA FOR MOST OF THE DAY. SAM CLARKE JOINS US NOW FROM WAIAU. SAM, WHAT'S THE STATE OF THE ROADS? Unfortunately it is yet another setback in a process that needs all the help can get. They are about to close the inland route, and as no surprise considering the damage caused. The public were given brief access about three hours to get in and out, but it is slow going considering. After the earthquake at a version was created around one of the major slips. Today with all of the rain coming down, the river has reclaimed the road, forcing motorists to use the upper road, which is more susceptible to slips. It's a similar story on State Highway one. Days of downpour has triggered landslides, and even the shipping containers weren't up to the job. Many have been pushed on to the roads with tons of debris. Frustration is mounting for road workers who have been working for months to try and secure those roads. But more so for the people, who once again have found themselves trapped. THANKS, SAM. THE STATE OF EMERGENCY'S BEEN LIFTED IN WHANGANUI, WITH THE WORST OF THE WEATHER IN THE REGION NOW OVER. RIVER LEVELS DROPPED OVERNIGHT, WITH NO FLOODING OCCURRING IN LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE CITY. THE 200 EVACUATED RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR PROPERTIES THIS MORNING. IN WELLINGTON, HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT CAUSED FLOODING, SLIPS AND EVACUATIONS. A LANDSLIDE IN NEWTOWN DESTROYING THIS FOOTPATH, RUPTURING A GAS MAIN AND LEAVING A CAR TEETERING ON THE EDGE. ABOUT 20 HOUSES WERE EVACUATED IN OWHIRO BAY AFTER A STREAM BURST ITS BANKS, BUT RESIDENTS HAVE NOW RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES. BUT THERE'LL BE NO QUICK RETURN FOR HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN ROCKHAMPTON IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND. A SLOW-MOVING WALL OF WATER DUMPED IN CYCLONE DEBBIE'S WAKE HAS FINALLY PEAKED IN THE CITY. OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. THE LAST FLICK OF CYCLONE DEBBIE'S FURIOUS TAIL TURNED SUBURBS INTO ISLANDS, SURROUNDED BY WATER THAT MAY BE INFESTED WITH CROCODILES. LOCALS ARE WARY OF THE DANGERS THAT COULD BE LAPPING AT THEIR FRONT DOORS. HOMES WERE INUNDATED, AND THOUSANDS FORCED OUT BY A MASS OF WATER SURGING IN FROM THE HILLS. AND AFTER DAYS OF WAITING IN TREPIDATION, THE FITZROY RIVER'S PEAKED JUST BELOW THE PREDICTED 9M. 8.75M IS SUCH A HUGE RELIEF. ACKNOWLEDGING IT COULD'VE BEEN WORSE, THOUGH THIS IS BAD ENOUGH. ROCKHAMPTON'S AIRPORT TODAY WAS MORE RIVER THAN RUNWAY. POLICE HAVE BEEN TRAWLING THE WATERS, WHICH IS REASSURANCE FOR RESIDENTS WHO KNOW FIRST-HAND THAT DISASTER CAN BRING OUT THE WORST. YOU'VE GOT THE LOOTERS GOING ROUND... LAST TIME, THEY GOT INTO MY HOUSE. FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW, PEOPLE HAVE WATCHED THE RIVER LEVEL RISE MILLIMETRE BY MILLIMETRE, AND TODAY WAS NO DIFFERENT. DESPITE ALL THE PREPARATION, THEY KNOW THEY'RE POWERLESS TO STOP IT. IT TAKES MY MIND OFF MY HOUSE AT THE MOMENT. I CANT GET DOWN THERE. I'D LIKE TO, BUT I CANT YOU'VE REALLY GOT NO CONTROL. NO CONTROL. THE FLOOD'S DEPARTURE WILL BE AS PAINFULLY SLOW AS ITS MARCH INTO TOWN. THERE WILL BE PROPERTIES THAT ARE STILL IN SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK, IN JUST UNDER 24 HOURS FROM NOW, THE WATER SHOULD START TO RECEDE. THE WAIT NOW ` TO FIND OUT WHAT IT'LL LEAVE IN ITS WAKE. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. A WARNING TONIGHT THAT TERRORISTS MAY TARGET THIS YEAR'S ANZAC GALLIPOLI COMMEMORATIONS IN TURKEY. BOTH THE NZ AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY'VE RECEIVED NEW INTELLIGENCE AHEAD OF ANZAC COVE CEREMONIES LATER THIS MONTH. THOUSANDS OF KIWIS ATTEND SERVICES THERE EVERY YEAR. TURKEY IS ON HIGH ALERT AFTER A NIGHTCLUB BOMBING IN JANUARY. AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WRANGLING AND DEBATE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY PASSED ITS WIDE RANGING AND CONTROVERSIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT REFORMS. The bill narrowly passed 61 to 60. NATIONAL WAS ONLY ABLE TO PASS THE CHANGES THANKS TO A DEAL WITH THE MAORI PARTY. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN IS WITH US NOW. HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE THESE CHANGES? National says these are the biggest changes in 25 years. They will stream line and standardise the protest the big sales pitch on national was that in the future someone could build a deck and only require the consent of a neighbour. But it's more far-reaching and that. It's about increasing supply of houses an opening up supply of land. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE THAT TODAY WE WILL PASS THIS 250-PAGE BILL INVOLVING 40 SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES AND OVER 700 SPECIFIC PROVISIONS AFTER MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUPS, PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER PARTIES IN THIS PARLIAMENT. CORIN, WHY HAS THE GOVERNMENT TAKEN SO LONG TO PASS IT? It simply hasn't been able to get the numbers. Opposition parties like bits of it, but they claim it puts too much emphasis on development and not enough on environment. They also struggled to get act to back it. It turned to Maori and cut a deal on and consent. That was controversial and Winston Peters will try and repel it. THANKS, CORIN. MORE GAPS IN THE WAY AUCKLAND HEALTH AUTHORITIES HANDLED A TYPHOID OUTBREAK IN AUCKLAND HAVE BEEN REVEALED BY THOSE CLOSE TO A SAMOAN WOMAN WHO DIED. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INFECTED IS GROWING BY THE DAY, WITH 17 CASES NOW CONFIRMED, ONE PROBABLE, AND A FURTHER TWO SUSPECTED. PAUL HOBBS WITH THE LATEST. THE MANUAL ON HOW NOT TO RUN AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAK ONLY GETS BIGGER. CHRISTINA SAGAPOLUTELE IS A FRIEND OF THE SAMOAN WOMAN WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF TYPHOID NINE DAYS AGO. SHE ATTENDS THE SAME CHURCH, AND WAS AT HER HOSPITAL BEDSIDE WHEN SHE DIED. WE WEREN'T TOLD ABOUT HER ILLNESS, NOR WERE WE INFORMED THAT SHE HAD TYPHOID FEVER. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHURCH GAVE HEALTH OFFICIALS THE NAMES OF ALL THE CONGREGATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE HEALTH OFFICIALS WOULD MAKE DIRECT CONTACT WITH OUR CONGREGATION TO REQUEST THE SAMPLES THESE OFFICIALS NEEDED. MORE THAN A WEEK ON, THIS STARTLING FACT... I HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED. THE CHURCH SAYS IT COOPERATED FULLY WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES. THE HEALTH MINISTER'S ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR HE'S NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE HAS HANDLED COMMUNICATION. A PACIFIC HEALTH EXPERT AGREES IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. A PERSON HAS DIED. THERE ARE 12 MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY IN THE HOSPITAL. IT CONCERNS ME TO CONTINUE TO HEAR THE REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED WITH WELL. IT WAS AT LEAST 2 WEEKS AGO WHEN THE FIRST CASE OF TYPHOID IN THIS CURRENT OUTBREAK WAS DISCOVERED. IT'S TAKEN UNTIL TODAY FOR THE REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE TO MEET WITH PACIFIC COMMUNITY AND HEALTH GROUPS TO FORM A PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY. AND IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY THAT THIS AUCKLAND SCHOOL LEARNED THAT THE DEAD WOMAN'S CHURCH MEETS AT ITS HALL ON THE WEEKENDS. EARLIER, HEALTH OFFICIALS HAD ASSURED THE SCHOOL IT WASN'T INVOLVED. TODAY THE HEALTH SERVICE WAS IN DAMAGE CONTROL. THERE WERE DELAYS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT WE WILL NEED TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF HOW THIS HAS BEEN MANAGED. CHRISTINA SAGAPOLUTELE SAYS THE MISINFORMATION HAS EMBARRASSED THE FAMILY AND SULLIED THE REPUTATION OF THEIR CHURCH. PAUL HOBBS, 1 NEWS. MUCH MORE AHEAD ON 1 NEWS, INCLUDING A FORMER ALL BLACK FRONTING UP IN A FRENCH COURT OVER A COCAINE DEAL. WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT A FRENCH JUDGE TOLD ALI WILLIAMS (35) AS HE CONVICTED HIM. AND HE WROTE THE SONGS THAT MADE THE WHOLE WORLD SING, BUT BARRY MANILOW KEPT HIS TRUE LOVE SECRET. AND AFTER DECADES IN THE SPOTLIGHT, THE SINGER FINALLY COMES CLEAN TO HIS FANS ABOUT COMING OUT. AND CROSSING THE LINE ` THE PEPSI PROTEST AD THAT'S BEEN CAUSING OUTRAGE. KENDALL JENNER GETS CAUGHT UP IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA FRENZY SO BIG, IT FORCED A CORPORATE BACKDOWN AND APOLOGY. RELIEF FOR ALI WILLIAMS TONIGHT. THE FORMER ALL BLACK HAS BEEN FINED JUST OVER $2000 FOR BUYING COCAINE IN PARIS LAST MONTH. THE FRENCH JUDGE'S DECISION CONCLUDES A LEGAL NIGHTMARE FOR WILLIAMS, THAT COULD'VE SEEN HIM PUT BEHIND BARS. OUR EUROPE CORRESPONDENT EMMA KEELING, WHO'S COVERED THIS STORY IN PARIS FROM THE OUTSET, WAS THERE. JAW SET, EYES FOCUSED. ALI WILLIAMS LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE FIELD. ARE YOU CONFIDENT ABOUT THE HEARING TODAY, ALI? BUT IN THIS SCRUM, IT WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WENT DOWN. IT WAS JUST OVER A MONTH AGO, THE FORMER ALL BLACK WAS LAST FRISKED BY POLICE. ARRESTED OUTSIDE A NIGHTCLUB AT 3AM FOR BUYING 2.4 GRAMS OF COCAINE WORTH AROUND $300. A COACH AT THE RACING 92 CLUB CALLED IT AN INEXCUSABLE ERROR. THEY SUSPENDED HIM AND ENDED HIS AMBASSADORIAL ROLE. ALI WILLIAMS REMAINED EXPRESSIONLESS THROUGHOUT THE HEARING. HE HAD TO WAIT HIS TURN IN THE SMALL, HOT COURTROOM WITH ALL THE OTHER DEFENDANTS BEFORE TAKING HIS PLACE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF JUDGE BRUNAUD. WILLIAMS' SAID HE WAS SORRY. THE JUDGE SAID BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRST OFFENCE, HE WOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION EVEN THOUGH HE WAS KNOWN TO BE TOUGH ON DRUG OFFENCES. HE THEN FINED WILLIAMS 1500 EUROS PLUS COURT COSTS. ALI, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME ALI? BUYING CLASS-A DRUGS IN FRANCE CAN CARRY A JAIL TERM, AND FRENCH OFFICIALS ARE CRACKING DOWN. DID ALI WILLIAMS GET OFF LIGHTLY TODAY? I THINK HE'D BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH WHAT HAPPENED. HE WAS FINED 1500 EUROS, SO THAT'S AT THE LOW END. BUT THE FORMER ALL BLACK NOW HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD, WHICH MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL. ONE OF THE POTENTIAL SANCTIONS THE JUDGE COULD'VE IMPOSE WAS TO EXPEL HIM, BUT FOR A FIRST OFFENDER THAT WOULD'VE BEEN SLIGHTLY EXTRAORDINARY. WILLIAMS WOULDN'T SPEAK TODAY AND NEITHER HIS LAWYER OR HIS CLUB HAVE MADE A STATEMENT. ALI, ARE YOU GOING TO HEAD HOME NOW, IS THAT THE PLAN? HIS IMAGE IN FRANCE IS IN RUINS. ALI WILLIAMS WILL HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE TO CREATE A NEW CAREER AND FUTURE. EMMA KEELING, 1 NEWS, PARIS. WE'VE AN UPDATE ON THE CHEMICAL ATTACK IN SYRIA NOW, AND A WARNING ` THE FOOTAGE MAY DISTRESS YOU. THE US SAYS DIRECT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SYRIA'S REGIME IS BACK ON THE TABLE AFTER TOXIC GAS KILLED MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE. US CORRESPONDENT REBECCA WRIGHT REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. THE INDISCRIMINATE HORROR OF A CHEMICAL ATTACK. MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN DEAD AND DYING AFTER A TOXIC CLOUD FILLED VICTIMS' LUNGS WITH POISON. IT'S SHOCKED THE WORLD, BUT WHAT ABOUT AMERICA'S PRESIDENT? THESE HEINOUS ACTIONS BY THE ASSAD REGIME CANNOT BE TOLERATED. MY ATTITUDE TOWARD SYRIA AND ASSAD HAS CHANGED VERY MUCH. IT CROSSED A LOT OF LINES FOR ME. FOR THE FIRST TIME, PRESIDENT TRUMP ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS ARE NOW HIS OWN. I NOW HAVE RESPONSIBILITY, AND I WILL HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND CARRY IT VERY PROUDLY. BUT HE OFFERED NO DETAIL OR INSIGHT INTO HOW HIS WHITE HOUSE WILL CONFRONT THEM. IN NEW YORK, AMERICA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS COULD BARELY CONTAIN HER FURY. SHE HELD UP GRAPHIC IMAGES OF THE DEAD, BEFORE SINGLING OUT RUSSIAN SUPPORT OF THE SYRIAN REGIME AND PLEADING FOR ACTION. IF RUSSIA HAS THE INFLUENCE IN SYRIA THAT IT CLAIMS TO HAVE, WE NEED TO SEE THEM USE IT. WE NEED TO SEE THEM PUT AN END TO THESE HORRIFIC ACTS. HOW MANY MORE CHILDREN HAVE TO DIE BEFORE RUSSIA CARES? BUT MOSCOW IS CLAIMING SYRIAN REBELS ARE TO BLAME. RUSSIA'S UN ENVOY SAYING A SYRIAN AIR STRIKE HIT A BOMB-MAKING 'TERRORIST WAREHOUSE' CONTAINING TOXIC SUBSTANCES. IMPLAUSIBLE SAY THE EXPERTS. IF A FACILITY ON THE GROUND WAS HIT BY MUNITIONS DROPPED FROM THE AIR, YOU WOULD GET OTHER MATERIALS AS WELL AS THE PARTICULARLY POISONOUS MATERIALS BEING SPRAYED. AND IT'S NOT ONLY THOSE SHOCKING IMAGES OF ATROCITIES IN SYRIA TESTING THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION. TENSIONS ARE ALSO FLARING WITH NORTH KOREA AFTER IT LAUNCHED ANOTHER BALLISTIC MISSILE, AN ACT OF PROVOCATION, AHEAD OF TRUMP'S SUMMIT WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT, XI JINPING, IN FLORIDA TOMORROW. SO FOR THE PRESIDENT WHO VOWED TO PUT AMERICA FIRST, TWO COMPLEX INTERNATIONAL CRISES HAVE LANDED AT HIS DOORSTEP. REBECCA WRIGHT, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. AND REBECCA WILL BE IN FLORIDA TO COVER THE CHINA-US TALKS FROM EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. HE BECAME A HUGE STAR IN THE 1970S, WITH HITS LIKE 'COPACABANA', AND 'I WRITE THE SONGS'. AT THE AGE OF 73, SINGER BARRY MANILOW IS SPEAKING FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT BEING GAY AND BEING WITH HIS PARTNER FOR 40 YEARS. ABC'S CHRIS CONNELLY REPORTS. # AT THE COPA, COPACABANA. # THE HOTTEST SPOT NORTH OF HAVANA. # THROUGH NEARLY 50 YEARS AS A HIT-MAKER AND AN ENTERTAINER WITH FLAIR, BARRY MANILOW HAS DELIGHTED HIS DEVOTED LISTENERS,... # I CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU. # ...GIVING THEM A STEADY STREAM OF 'EASY ON THE EARS' LOVE SONGS EVER SINCE HIS 1974 BALLAD 'MANDY'. # OH, MANDY. WELL, YOU CAME AND YOU GAVE WITHOUT TAKING, # BUT I SENT YOU AWAY... # NOW 73 AND, HE SAYS, OFF THE ROAD FOR KEEPS AFTER A 2016 TOUR, MANILOW HAS NEWS TO SHARE, REVEALING IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF 'PEOPLE' THAT HE'S GAY AND THAT IN 2014, HE MARRIED HIS LONG-TIME LOVE AND MANAGER, GARY KIEF. BARRY TOLD US THAT JUST LOOKING AT HIS HUSBAND AND SAYING 'I LOVE YOU' IN FRONT OF THEIR CLOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WAS JUST A MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL MOMENT THAN HE HAD ANTICIPATED. # I'M READY TO TAKE A CHANCE AGAIN. # RISING TO STARDOM IN AN ERA WHEN SUCH REVELATIONS WERE THOUGHT TO BE CAREER-THREATENING, MANILOW CHOSE NOT TO SHARE HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATION WITH HIS FANS EARLIER BECAUSE, HE SAYS... # I WRITE THE SONGS THAT MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD SING. # THOSE WHO LOVE MANILOW AND HIS MUSIC HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED. # LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT. WE LEFT EACH OTHER ON THE WAY. # MANILOW'S RELEASING HIS 29TH STUDIO ALBUM LATER THIS MONTH. WEATHER TIME NOW, DAN, ANOTHER DAY WITH SOME STAGGERING RAINFALL AMOUNTS. Unbelievable. The East Coast over 100 mm. 15 mm plaster North Canterbury. The last swipe and then it is going away. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ Can you believe it some snow. Better weather is on the way. STILL TO COME ON 1 NEWS ` WHEN BRANDS GO BAD... THE AD THAT FELL SO FLAT, IT UNITED THE INTERNET. PEPSI'S NOW APOLOGISING OVER IT'S LATEST CAMPAIGN FEATURING KENDALL JENNER. PLUS ` YOU JUST GET USED TO SEEING HIM WITH HIS SHIRT OFF, AND HE LOOKS GOOD. SO IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY FOR US. YES, NO NEED REALLY TO GUESS WHO THE BLUES COACH MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT HERE, AS SBW RETURNS FROM INJURY TO THE SUPER RUGBY COMPETITION. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT ` THE BAY OF PLENTY TOWN OF EDGECUMBE IS AWASH AFTER 48 HOURS OF HEAVY RAIN BROUGHT BY THE REMNANTS OF CYCLONE DEBBIE. THAT RAIN CAUSING THE RANGITAIKI RIVER TO BURST ITS BANKS, SUBMERGING THE TOWN. AN ESTIMATED 2000 PEOPLE ARE TONIGHT SPENDING THE EVENING AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES, WHICH HAVE BEEN SWAMPED BY FLOODWATERS. MAKESHIFT EVACUATION CENTRES HAVE BEEN SET UP IN WHAKATANE. THE FLOODING CLOSING ROADS AND SCHOOLS, WITH MORE THAN 6000 STUDENTS SENT HOME. SOME SMALL COMMUNITIES REMAIN COMPLETELY CUT OFF AND ISOLATED. LANDSLIPS TRIGGERED IN AUCKLAND BY CYCLONE DEBBIE ARE STILL CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR SOME HILLSIDE HOMEOWNERS IN TITIRANGI. THEY'VE BEEN TRAPPED BEHIND A WALL OF MUD AND FALLEN TREES SINCE TUESDAY NIGHT. YVONNE TAHANA PAID THEM A VISIT ON THE OTHER SIDE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE DIGGER TO DO A BIG JOB. WE COULD'VE TRIED TO BANG IN HERE WITH A BIG ONE AND GET THE JOB DONE QUICKLY, BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT A SENSITIVE ROAD LIKE THIS WHICH HAS BEEN DAMAGED, YOU WANT TO PUT THE MINIMUM PRESSURE ON IT THAT YOU CAN. RESIDENTS UP THIS PRIVATE TITIRANGI ROAD HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH NO VEHICLE ACCESS SINCE TUESDAY NIGHT'S TORRENTIAL RAIN BROUGHT DOWN A 15M-WIDE SLIP. ONE HOMEOWNER SHOUTING ACROSS THE MUDDY BARRICADE TO DESCRIBE HOW SHE SENT HER HUSBAND TO INVESTIGATE. IT WAS PITCH BLACK, POURING WITH RAIN, AND HE CAME BACK AND HE SAID 'WE HAVE A PROBLEM.' (CHUCKLES) THERE'S STILL A COUPLE OF HOURS OF WORK HERE TO PUSH THROUGH THIS WALL OF MUD ` A BREAKTHROUGH THAT 18 RESIDENTS ACROSS SEVEN HOMES CAN'T WAIT FOR. IT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY A BIT ANNOYING. CIVIL DEFENCE SAYS WHEN THE ROAD'S CLEARED, RESIDENTS WILL STILL ONLY BE ABLE TO WALK OUT. WE'RE GOING TO BE ADVISING THE LANDOWNERS HERE NOT TO USE THIS FOR THEIR CARS. THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BE COMING IN AND ASSESSING IT BEFORE TOO LONG, I'M SURE, AND THEY WILL BE PUTTING IN A LONGER TERM FIX. WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO BAND TOGETHER AND DISCUSS REALLY WHAT TO DO NEXT, AND HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT REINFORCING IT TO MAKE IT SAFE. PEOPLE ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO CONSERVE WATER AS THE SUPPLY PIPE RUNS ALONGSIDE THE DAMAGED ROAD. MOST SAY THAT WON'T BE AN ISSUE. MY HUBBY BOUGHT A BOX OF BEERS ON THE WEEKEND, WHICH HE DOESN'T NORMALLY DO, SO THAT WAS A BIT OF A STROKE OF, I DON'T KNOW, SERENDIPITY. NEIGHBOURS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A DESTRUCTIVE ACT OF NATURE. YVONNE TAHANA, 1 NEWS. NOW TO THE AD TRYING TO SELL FIZZY DRINK USING THEMES OF POLICING AND RACE. PEPSI HAD ARGUED IT WAS TRYING TO PROJECT A 'GLOBAL MESSAGE OF UNITY, PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING', BUT THE BACKLASH WAS SO FURIOUS IT'S BEEN FORCED TO APOLOGISE. HERE'S ABC'S DAVID WRIGHT. (CAN HISSES) PEPSI'S EDGY NEW WEB AD FEATURES REALITY STAR KENDALL JENNER... # WE ARE THE MOVEMENT # DISARMING RACIAL TENSIONS WITH A SUGARY BEVERAGE. THE SIMILARITY WITH THIS IMAGE TRIVIALISING 'BLACK LIVES MATTER', ACCORDING TO SOME ACTIVISTS. THE DAUGHTER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR TWEETED ` THIS AFTERNOON, PEPSI PULLED THE AD AND APOLOGISED TO BERNICE KING. BUT PEPSI HAS STRUGGLED BEFORE. COME ON, WHICH ONE IS HE? POINT TO HIM. PEPSI ULTIMATELY PULLED THIS MOUNTAIN DEW AD FEATURING A RAMBUNCTIOUS GOAT IN A POLICE LINE-UP WITH BLACK MEN. YA BETTER NOT SNITCH ON A PLAYA. TODAY PAPARAZZI CAUGHT UP WITH KENDALL JENNER IN PARIS. PEPSI DOES HAVE REGRETS, SAYING IT ` (POP MUSIC) # YEAH, IF I... # (CAN HISSES, BUBBLING) KIWI CHOREOGRAPHER PARRIS GOEBEL WORKED ON THE DANCE ELEMENT IN THE AD AND SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHE WAS PROUD OF HER INVOLVEMENT. THAT COMMENT HAS SINCE BEEN DELETED. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. AFTER 18 MONTHS OUT OF 15'S, WILLIAMS' CONDITION COMES IN FOR ATTENTION. WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR CAREER, POSSIBLY? OH, WELL, I HOPE SO. WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST BONUS FOR SONNY BILL DURING HIS LONG BREAK? PLUS, WILL THE MASTERS GOLF START TONIGHT, OR WILL STORMS DOMINATE THE FIRST ROUND? AND GOLDEN TIMES ` WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE WANAKA TEENAGER MAKING A BIG STATEMENT IN SNOWBOARDING. WE ARE TALKING TO LABOUR'S GRANT ROBERTSON. SONNY BILL WILLIAMS WILL PLAY SUPER RUGBY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO YEARS, MAKING HIS DEBUT FOR THE BLUES AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS THIS WEEKEND. IN FACT IT'S WILLIAMS' FIRST GAME OF 15'S SINCE THE LAST WORLD CUP. HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN WILL BE FROM THE BENCH AFTER EIGHT MONTHS OUT THROUGH INJURY. THERE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT SONNY BILL WILLIAMS WOULD RETURN IN GOOD CONDITION. SONNY, WELCOME BACK! YEAH, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK, BRO. BUT EVEN FOR WILLIAMS AND HIS EXACTING STANDARDS, HIS PHYSICAL LOOK IS IMPRESSIVE. HIS FAT LEVELS ARE AT A RECORD LOW. WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR CAREER? POSSIBLY? I HOPE SO. YOU JUST GET USED TO SEEING HIM WITH HIS SHIRT OFF, AND HE LOOKS GOOD. IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY FOR US; EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS TO KEEP THEIR SHIRT ON WHEN HE'S AROUND. TONGUE OUT OF CHEEK, UMAGA SAYS THERE WASN'T ANY REAL THOUGHT GIVEN TO WILLIAMS RETURNING THROUGH CLUB RUGBY. AFTER 13 YEARS AND 250 GAMES IN PRO FOOTBALL, HE KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT. SONNY BILL'S HAD HIS LONGEST BREAK IN A DECADE, EIGHT MONTHS OUT, AFTER RUPTURING THAT ACHILLES TENDON AT THE RIO OLYMPICS. I WAS REALLY DOWN JUST BECAUSE WHERE I WAS, THE OLYMPICS, BUT THEN I CHANGED MY MIND-SET TO, 'OK, THIS IS MY BODY TELLING ME I NEED A BREAK.' HE FEELS A LOT BETTER THAN HE DID PRIOR TO THE INJURY, WITH PLAYING A LOT OF SEVENS, SO HE FEELS STRONG. SONNY BILL SAYS IT'S BEEN TIME WITH HIS WIFE AND YOUNG DAUGHTERS WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN REJUVENATING. WHAT IMPACT DOES HE HAVE OFF THE FIELD WITHIN THE TEAM? HE'S A COMPETITOR. HE'S COMPETITIVE. HE'S POSITIVE ABOUT EVERYTHING. HE REALLY LIFTS THE BOYS IN TERMS OF THAT AND CHALLENGES THEM OFF THE FIELD, WHICH IS GREAT; IT'S WHAT WE NEED. I'M NOT HERE TRYING TO ACT LIKE I'M TELLING THE BOYS DO THIS OR DO THAT, BUT... BUT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT? YES, EXACTLY, I'LL JUST BE ME. THAT MEANS WHATEVER CODE IT IS, SONNY BILL WILLIAMS TURNS UP TO PLAY. IT'S NOT JUST WEATHER WORRIES HERE AT THE MOMENT. THE STORMS AND TORNADO WARNINGS AFFECTING LARGE PARTS OF THE DEEP SOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE CAUSED A FIRST IN MASTERS GOLF HISTORY. WE ARE REQUESTING YOU TO PLEASE EVACUATE THE GROUNDS. PLEASE SEEK SHELTER ACCORDINGLY. THE FAMOUS PAR-THREE TOURNAMENT CANCELLED AND NO WINNER DECLARED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE EVENT'S 57 YEAR HISTORY. THEY MANAGED TO GET ALMOST AN HOUR IN BEFORE PLAY WAS ABANDONED. THIS THE ONLY ACE OF THE DAY FOR CANADIAN MIKE WEIR. ORGANISERS HOPING THE BIG WET WON'T PUT THE SKIDS ON TONIGHT'S OPENING ROUND. ONE PLAYER ALREADY IN DOUBT ` WORLD NUMBER ONE AND FAVOURITE DUSTIN JOHNSON, REPORTEDLY INJURING HIS BACK IN A SERIOUS FALL ON THE STAIRS AT HIS RENTAL HOME IN AUGUSTA. BLACKCAP TOM LATHAM'S ADDING ANOTHER STRING TO HIS BOW, SELECTED TO CAPTAIN THE NATIONAL SIDE FOR THEIR UPCOMING ONE DAY TRI SERIES IN IRELAND. THE APPOINTMENT COMES WITH KANE WILLIAMSON AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PLAYERS SET TO MISS THE START OF THE TOUR DUE TO THE IPL COMPETITION, WHICH IS UNDERWAY. NO ROOM FOR WILLIAMSON, THOUGH, IN THE HYDERABAD 11 FOR THE OPENING NIGHT. DAVID WARNER'S SUNRISERS SETTING A MAMMOTH TOTAL OF 207 FOR FOUR COURTESY OF A YUVRAJ SINGH 50. OH, THAT'S MASSIVE. INTO THE CROWD. HE'S TEEMING IN SIXES AND BOUNDARIES NOW, YUVRAJ SINGH. AND IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE, WHO FELL 36 RUNS SHORT. BIG HITTING WEST INDIAN CHRIS GAYLE MAKING INROADS BUT MISTIMING ON 32. A DRAMATIC DAY IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR HAVE WAITED UNTIL THE 88TH MINUTE TO MOUNT THEIR COMEBACK AT SWANSEA TO REMAIN IN THE HUNT FOR THE TITLE. SWANSEA SEEMINGLY ON THE VERGE OF BEATING SPURS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LEAGUE SINCE 1982 ` UP 1-0 WITH TWO MINUTES OF REGULAR TIME LEFT. SPURS SHOWING WHY THEY'RE SECOND ON THE LADDER, MAKING THE MOST OF SEVEN ADDED MINUTES. AND SPURS HAVE SCORED A SECOND TO TURN THIS ONE AROUND IN ADDED TIME. IT'S A MASSIVE MOMENT IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THE LEADERS. ONE MORE TO RUB SALT INTO THE WOUNDS, CAPPING OFF A 3-1 VICTORY, BUT A 2-1 WIN FOR CHELSEA OVER MANCHESTER CITY IN LONDON KEEPS THEM SEVEN POINTS CLEAR OF THEIR NORTH LONDON RIVALS. RIO OLYMPIAN BRADLEE ASHBY HAS SET A NEW NATIONAL RECORD IN THE 200 METRE MEDLEY AT THE SWIMMING NATIONALS IN AUCKLAND. THE 21-YEAR-OLD BROKE HIS OWN NATIONAL RECORD BY 0.2 OF A SECOND TO ALSO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CHAMPS IN BUDAPEST LATER THIS YEAR. IT IS FANTASTIC. A NEW NZ RECORD. 1.59.54. TONIGHT I KNEW I'D DO A PB, GO UNDER THE TIME. I KNEW I HAD IT IN ME, SO IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING IT TOGETHER. CANTERBURY'S MATTHEW HUTCHINS ALSO BROKE THE NATIONAL 800 METRE FREESTYLE RECORD BY 0.7 OF A SECOND. EIGHT SWIMMERS HAVE NOW QUALIFIED FOR JULY'S WORLD CHAMPS WITH COMPETITION CONTINUING TONIGHT. STEVEN ADAMS AND THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FELL JUST SHORT OF WITNESSING NBA HISTORY TODAY, BUT WILL TAKE THEIR 103-100 WIN OVER THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES. PUSHING FOR A RECORD-BREAKING 42ND TRIPLE-DOUBLE THIS SEASON, RUSSELL WESTBROOK TOOK OVER, SCORING ALMOST HALF OF HIS TEAM'S POINTS. HE'S GOT ALLAN ON HIM. HE'S GONNA PUT IT OVER THE THREE-POINT LINE, AND HE'S GOT IT SCORED. WESTBROOK FOR THREE. THUNDER WITH A TWO-POSSESSION LEAD WITH 14 SECONDS REMAINING. HOW ABOUT THAT KID FROM LONGBEACH? 45 POINTS, 10 ASSISTS BUT HE FINISHED WITH JUST NINE REBOUNDS. THE 55-YEAR-OLD RECORD REMAINS SAFE UNTIL AT LEAST SATURDAY, WHILE THE THUNDER SOLIDIFIED THEIR SPOT AS THE WESTERN CONFERENCE'S SIXTH SEED HEADING INTO THE PLAYOFFS. RIGHT, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE PLIGHT OF THE IRISH NATIONAL WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM FROM LAST NIGHT, THREATENING TO STRIKE OVER LACK OF PAY AND CONDITIONS. ONE OF THEIR COMPLAINTS ` HAVING TO CHANGE IN PUBLIC TOILETS IN BORROWED TRACKSUITS ON THE WAY TO MATCHES. THE SIMPLE WAY TO RESOLVE IT WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY KEEP A TRACKSUIT, WHICH WE FEEL ISN'T A BIG ASK. I THINK IT IS SMALL ISSUES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE. WELL, THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS. A SPORTSWEAR COMPANY IN COUNTY DONEGAL'S OFFERED TO OUTFIT THE TEAM WITH THEIR OWN TRACKSUITS. AN OFFER, IT SEEMS, YET TO BE MADE BY THE NATIONAL BODY. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER STEPHANIE ROCHE ` YOU SAW HER TALKING THERE. THIS GOAL FOR HER CLUB LAUNCHING HER ON TO THE WORLD STAGE IN 2014 WHEN SHE BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE FINALIST IN FIFA'S GOAL OF THE YEAR AWARDS. AFTER A CAREER BREAKTHROUGH WIN IN EUROPE TWO WEEKS AGO, SNOWBOARDER ZOI SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT HAS MADE IT BACK HOME TO WANAKA. HER WORLD CUP SUCCESS NOW PLACES THE TEENAGER FIRMLY IN THE FRAME FOR NEXT YEAR'S WINTER OLYMPICS. MARK HATHAWAY REPORTS. WINTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, BUT FOR NOW THERE'S A CHANCE FOR ZOI SADOWSKI SYNNOTT TO REFLECT ON HER BREAKTHROUGH YEAR. THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SEASON, I'D BEEN RISING THROUGH THE RANKS. I GOT A FOURTH, A THIRD, A SECOND, AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A FIRST, SO I REALLY WANTED TO GET THAT. HER WIN AT THE LATEST WORLD CUP EVENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AGAINST COMPETITORS OFTEN TWICE HER AGE, LAUNCHED SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT UP TO THIRD IN THE LATEST INTERNATIONAL SKI FEDERATION SLOPESTYLE RANKINGS. NOW BACK IN WANAKA, WITH EXTRA MOTIVATION TO HIT THE GYM IN THE OFFSEASON, NEXT YEAR'S WINTER OLYMPICS IN SOUTH KOREA IS SUDDENLY A REALISTIC GOAL. ALL THE RESULTS THAT SHE GOT THIS SEASON HAVE DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTED TO HER QUALIFYING POTENTIALLY FOR THAT EVENT, SO IT'S EXCITING TIMES, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. ONLY JUST TURNED 16, SADOWSKI SYNNOTT'S QUICKLY LEARNING ABOUT LIFE AS AN ATHLETE. A BIG THING TO GET STRONG IS YOUR CORE ` ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. AND ALSO YOUR LEGS. THOSE ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. AND ALONG WITH HER GROWING PHYSICAL STRENGTH, MENTAL STRENGTH IS ALSO A BIG PART OF THE EQUATION. SHE'S JUST SUPER DETERMINED, VERY HARD WORKING, AND SHE'LL TAKE A KNOCK LEARNING NEW TRICKS, BUT THEN JUST HOPS UP, LAUGHS, SMILES AND CARRIES ON WITH IT. THERE'S PLENTY OF SUPPORT AND PRIDE ON THE HOME FRONT. WE KIND OF KNEW SHE WAS A GOOD SNOWBOARDER, AND SHE'S PUT THE WORK IN OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, AND SHE JUST LOVES IT. THE MAJOR GOAL FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON HERE ` PERFORMING WELL AT THE WINTER GAMES IN WANAKA, WITH A HOPE OF EARNING A SPOT ON NEXT YEAR'S WINTER OLYMPIC TEAM. MARK HATHAWAY, 1 NEWS. COMING UP ` THEIR NAME IS, WELL, TO THE POINT. WE CALL OURSELVES THE 'GET SHIT DONE' TEAM. AND THE WORK THEY DO IS LITERALLY SAVING LIVES. AND WE'RE AT THE CHRISTCHURCH BOTANIC GARDENS FOR A LESSON ON HAUTE COUTURE. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, TREAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN EQUALLY. BUT WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY HARD FOR THIS ARCHITECT. STAY TUNED FOR SEVEN SHARP. WE'LL BE GLAD TO KICK THIS THING OUT THE BACK DOOR. THERE'S A GOOD UPPER TROUGH DRIVING THIS THING. THIS CLUSTER HERE IS SOME HARMLESS SHOWER CLOUD THAT WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN SEE THE YELLOW, MORE INTENSE PARTS OF THE STORM. THIS TIME YESTERDAY, THE WHOLE NORTH ISLAND WAS RED. BY ABOUT MIDNIGHT, ALL OF THIS IS GONE. A COUPLE LITTLE SHOWERS COMING THROUGH. A FEW SHOWERS OVER THE COMING DAYS. STILL A FEW LITTLE SHOWERS, BUT THEY'RE THINNING OUT. SOUTH ISLAND, SAME SORT OF THING. WE CLEAR THE CLOUD AWAY. JUST A FEW SHOWERS. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ