IT'S MIDDAY. ANDREW LITTLE'S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ` HE'S STEPPING DOWN AS LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY AFTER DISMAL POLL RESULTS. HE'LL BE REPLACED BY JACINDA ARDERN, WITH KELVIN DAVIS AS HER DEPUTY. A SHAKEUP AT THE WHITE HOUSE TOO ` CONTROVERSIAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI STEPS DOWN AFTER JUST 10 DAYS IN THE JOB. NGA MIHI O TE AHIAHI KI A KOUTOU KATOA. GOOD AFTERNOON. THERE'S BEEN A BIG SHAKEUP IN THE LABOUR PARTY. FIRST, ANDREW LITTLE ANNOUNCED HE'S STANDING DOWN AS LEADER. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY THE NEWS THAT JACINDA ARDERN WILL TAKE HIS PLACE, WITH KELVIN DAVIS AS DEPUTY. IT'S THE PARTY'S RESPONSE TO PLUMMETING POLL RESULTS. LABOUR IS ABOUT TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE. WE WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF THAT. BUT FIRST LET'S TALK TO OUR POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN, WHO'S LIVE IN WELLINGTON. AN EXTRAORDINARY MORNING, 48-hour's and politics with labour choosing its fifth leader in opposition to take on national. We are excepting Jacinda ArDern, the new leader of the labour party, and Kelvin Davis. They will make their first comments. It came after Andrew Little opened the door to giving up their leadership in that interview with me a couple of days ago. It has been chaotic. It has been fraught. Mps have been concerned about the polling, about Andrew Little's response. He decided this morning that the time was up and he would step aside. I'VE JUST CONFIRMED TO THE LABOUR CAUCUS THAT I WILL STEP ASIDE AS LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE POLL RESULTS THAT CAME OUT LAST WEEK ` AN INTERNAL POLL, THE COLMAR BRUNTON POLL, THE REED POLL ` WERE DISTURBING AND VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING. IN THE END, AS LEADER, YOU HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, AND I HAVE, AND I DO. This was a decision and a little talk of his own bat. He was not put under any pressure. You could see it was something that was no longer tenable, given his comments over the last one in four hours. The most important thing for this difficult situation, a party in chaos, is that they have done this in a clean way. With his resignation, and Jacinda is unopposed. There is no coup, no vote put up. She was able to take this leadership. She is 37 years old. She is going to be running an election campaign for eight weeks. It is going to be a game changer. The style and change will change. We will bring you their press conference shortly. THANKS, CORIN. SO WITH JUST UNDER TWO MONTHS TO THE ELECTION, HOW ARE VOTERS TAKING THE NEWS? I THINK IT'S A BIT SAD. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE GUY, BUT I'M NOT REALLY SURPRISED. SEVEN WEEKS OUT, I THOUGHT, 'IS IT BEST TO GO TO THE ELECTION 'IN THAT POSITION THEY'RE IN NOW?' CAN THEY GET ANY BETTER? CAN THEY GET ANY WORSE? WHO KNOWS? THIS CLOSE TO THE ELECTION, PEOPLE WILL THINK THEY'RE IN CHAOS AND PEOPLE WILL DECIDE NOT TO VOTE FOR THEM. WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED. BUT WHOEVER TAKES OVER ` IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I THINK SHE'S A FRESH FACE AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED RIGHT NOW. THEY NEED SOMEBODY BRIGHT AND MAYBE SOMEBODY NEW. I THINK SHE'S GOT THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE PARTY FORWARD. I LIKE JACINDA; I LIKE WHAT SHE SAYS. THEY HAVEN'T GOT MUCH OF A LINE-UP, HAVE THEY? I MEAN, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A SOFT SPOT FOR JACINDA ARDERN, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE'S READY FOR IT. I THINK SHE REPRESENTS THE NEW YOUNG FACE OF NEW ZEALAND, AND SHE'S GOT A FRESH, INNOVATIVE APPROACH. VERY BOLD MOVE THAT THEY'VE MADE. IF IT'LL PAN OUT FOR THEM ` ONLY TIME WILL TELL. ANDREW LITTLE'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY SIGNALS A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE LABOUR PARTY. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS TAKES A LOOK BACK AT HIS CAREER AND AHEAD TO WHAT THIS MEANS FOR LABOUR WITH AN ELECTION THAT'S JUST EIGHT WEEKS AWAY. ANDREW LITTLE BEGAN HIS LEADERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2014. IT IS TRULY A GREAT HONOUR TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED THE LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY. BUT TODAY HE TOLD THE COUNTRY HE'S STANDING DOWN. I WILL STEP ASIDE AS LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY. AND ADMISSION JUST DAYS AGO TO 1 NEWS SPELT THE BEGINNING OF THE END. I'D BE LYING TO YOU IF I SAID I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. ANDREW LITTLE'S TIME LEADING LABOUR HAS BEEN SHORT. GREEN PARTY CO-LEADER METIRIA TUREI'S BOMBSHELL BENEFICIARY FRAUD IS BEING BLAMED BY SOME MP'S FOR TAKING VOTES FROM LABOUR. WITH A UNION BACKGROUND, LITTLE AIMED TO BRING BACK A 'KIWI DREAM' STANDARD OF LIVING, FOCUSING ON HOUSING, EDUCATION AND HEALTH POLICIES AND TAKING A HARD LINE ON IMMIGRATION. WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS. WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE. SUPPORT FOR THE PARTY IS AT ITS LOWEST IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS, ACCORDING TO POLLS. SOME POLITICAL COMMENTATORS SAY A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP COULD BRING MORE VOTES. THE SITUATION FOR LABOUR IS IN SUCH DIRE STRAITS. THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW. THEY NEED A CIRCUIT BREAKER. THEY'VE BEEN STARVED OF OXYGEN. CHANGING THE LEADER AT THIS POINT WOULD CERTAINLY GAIN THEM SOME OXYGEN. THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THEY FACE. ANDREW LITTLE STILL HAS UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR HIS PARTY AHEAD OF THE ELECTION. IN THE END, THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RUN A GOOD CAMPAIGN. BUT FOR NOW, LABOUR HAS SOME SERIOUS WORK TO DO. THESE BILLBOARDS, PUT UP ONLY RECENTLY, ARE ONE OF THE MANY CHANGES TO COME, WITH JUST OVER 50 DAYS TO GO. KATE NICOL-WILLIAMS, 1 NEWS. WE'LL BE ACROSS THIS STORY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FOR YOU ON 1 NEWS AT 6. ASSOCIATE MINISTER OF HEALTH PETER DUNNE IS MEETING THE CHIEF CORONER LATER TODAY TO ASK WHY THE CHEMICALS FOUND IN A DEADLY BATCH OF SYNTHETIC CANNABIS ARE BEING KEPT SECRET. THE DRUG HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE DEATHS OF NINE AUCKLANDERS THIS MONTH. NEW ZEALAND DRUG FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE ROSS BELL SAYS THE MORE THAT'S KNOWN ABOUT THE DRUG, THE MORE CHANCE AGENCIES HAVE TO STOP ITS DEADLY GRIP. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN AUCKLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE PEOPLE LIVING ROUGH. HOMELESS PEOPLE, VERY VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS TO COPE WITH LIFE. SO IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO SAY, 'HEY, KIDS, DON'T DO DRUGS,' WE NEED TO PUT PROPER RESOURCES IN PLACE, PARTICULARLY TREATMENT RESOURCES, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE BECAUSE THIS SUBSTANCE MAY NEED A SPECIFIC TREATMENT. New Labour leader Jacinta Dern is addressing the press. Thank you for joining us. I want to start by giving a brief statement. We will allow time for questions at the conclusion. I give my thanks to Andrew Little. His announcement today and the situation we have found ourselves and is not what anyone expected. In my time working with Andrew, I know one thing to be true he is loyal to labour. I thank him for her support and his work over the last BS. A sentiment caucus expressed to him also. Following his announcement, I was nominated to be leader. My nomination was unanimously accepted. Calvin Davis was nominated as deputy, and this was unanimously accepted. But that has not weakened my focus, we are determined and step fast. I am lucky to be leader and fortunate to work alongside someone as committed and talented as Calvin and the rest of our team. The steam is about to run the campaign of our lives. Yes, we are an optimistic nation. When you work at the coalface of politics and in the communities as we do, we know and we see every single day, as a country, we can do better than this. We can be better than this. As a party, we have huge aspirations for New Zealand. As a place where everyone has a roof over their head and work, education is free, ideas flourish, where children live not in poverty, and we are world leaders on environment issues. At stake is a chance to build a New Zealand that is better than we found it and to build a future to look forward to. I will use the next 72 hours alongside Calvin and the team to reflect, and to take stock of the campaign plan. additional announcements that I would like to add. You will hear more from me and my team, but you will have no doubt over the agenda that labour is presenting the selection. We will be positive, organise, ready. I am privileged and honoured to be the leader of the Labour Party. I am looking forward to the challenge of the election campaign, where I will get the opportunity to talk to New Zealand about labours plan for a better and fairer New Zealand. This is what Labour has always stood for and under my leadership, it is what we will continue to stand for. I am happy to take questions. Apologies for that. We are having some difficulties. That was political editor Corin Dan. OVERSEAS NOW, AND ACCORDING TO DONALD TRUMP, IT'S A 'GREAT DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE', THIS DESPIUTE NEWS THAT COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI HAS BEEN FORCED OUT OF THE JOB AFTER ONLY 10 DAYS IN THE ROLE. IT COMES AS THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF, JOHN KELLY WAS SWORN IN. THE ABC'S CECELIA VEGA WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. IT WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST, CRUDEST FLAME-OUTS IN WEST WING HISTORY. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, KNOWN SIMPLY AS 'THE MOOCH', FORCED OUT AFTER JUST 11 DAYS ON THE JOB. THE NEW WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN KELLY PUSHING FOR HIS DEPARTURE. SCARAMUCCI, A WEALTHY WALL STREET FINANCIER, HAND-PICKED BY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY, CAST HIMSELF FROM THE START AS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF. I LOVE THE PRESIDENT. I OBVIOUSLY LOVE THE COUNTRY. BUT FROM DAY ONE, THERE WAS BAD BLOOD BETWEEN SCARAMUCCI AND FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF REINCE PREBUS. WE ARE A LITTLE BIT LIKE BROTHERS, WHERE WE ROUGH EACH OTHER UP ONCE IN A WHILE, WHICH IS TOTALLY NORMAL FOR BROTHERS. IT ONLY GOT WORSE. BUT THEN SCARAMUCCI REDEFINED WHAT IT MEANT TO GO OFF MESSAGE, THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR CALLING UP A REPORTER AND LAUNCHING INTO A TIRADE, CALLING PREBUS A 'PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC', THREATENING TO FIRE ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM OVER LEAKS, SAYING... HE ALSO TORE INTO THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF STRATEGIST STEVE BANNON. 'I'M NOT STEVE BANNON,' HE SAID, LAUNCHING INTO AN ATTACK SO PROFANE WE CAN'T REPEAT IT ON TELEVISION. HE SAID... THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY SAID THE PRESIDENT, WHO'S USED SOME CHOICE WORDS HIMSELF IN THE PAST, WAS NONE TOO HAPPY ABOUT SCARAMUCCI'S COMMENTS. THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY FELT THAT ANTHONY'S COMMENTS WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR A PERSON IN THAT POSITION. THIS MORNING, FOLLOWING THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF, SCARAMUCCI WAS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, AND TODAY, THE WHITE HOUSE ISSUED A STUNNING SHIFT IN THE CHANGE OF COMMAND. EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT'S OWN DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW, REPORT TO JOHN KELLY. THE US HAS BRANDED VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICHOLAS MADURO A DICTATOR AND SLAPPED HIM WITH FRESH SANCTIONS THAT TARGET HIS PERSONAL ASSETS. THE MOVES COMES AFTER MADURO'S GOVERNMENT WON A CONTROVERSIAL VOTE THAT ALLOWS IT TO RULE WITH VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED POWERS. THE BBC'S KATY WATSON IS IN THE VENEZUELAN CAPITAL OF CARACAS AND SENT THIS REPORT A DAY ON FROM THE VOTE. (YELLS IN SPANISH) FOR PRESIDENT MADURO, THIS WAS A BIG WIN. STATE TV RAN HIS VICTORY SPEECH AT LENGTH. BUT FOR THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO BOYCOTTED THE VOTE, IT WAS A HOLLOW VICTORY, IF THAT. THIS MORNING CARACAS FELT LIKE A NORMAL CITY, PEOPLE GETTING BACK TO WORK AFTER A DIFFICULT WEEKEND. BUT STILL VENEZUELANS ARE DIVIDED. LUIS VOTED BECAUSE, HE SAYS, HE'S HAD ENOUGH OF THE PROTESTS. BUT ADELAIDA DIDN'T. 'AS A VENEZUELAN,' SHE SAYS, 'SHE FEELS SO HURT.' SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT HER FAMILY. THE LATE HUGO CHAVEZ IS STILL AN ICON HERE, HIS FACE A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT HE WAS THE LEADER THAT STARTED VENEZUELA'S SOCIALIST REVOLUTION. BUT HIGH OIL PRICES HELPED SUPPORT HIM. WITH AN ECONOMY NOW IN CRISIS, PRESIDENT MADURO IS LOSING FRIENDS, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD, NOT LEAST IN THE US, WHICH TODAY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON THE PRESIDENT. HECTOR RODRIGUEZ IS A RISING FIGURE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MAN WHO LED THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE NEW ASSEMBLY. HE, LIKE MADURO, BLAMES THE OPPOSITION FOR THE VIOLENCE OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS, BUT SAYS FOREIGN POWERS HAVE MEDDLED IN VENEZUELA TOO. TRANSLATOR: WE'VE SAID BEFORE THAT THE PROBLEMS OF VENEZUELA ARE VENEZUELA'S ALONE. IT'S FOR OUR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR COUNTRY. BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM ` MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BOYCOTTED THIS VOTE. PRESIDENT MADURO SAID TURNOUT WAS 8 MILLION, BUT MANY DOUBT THIS FIGURE AND ACCUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF VOTER FRAUD. (SCREAMING) THIS COUNTRY'S SEEN FOUR MONTHS OF VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS. NEOMAR LANDER (17) WAS KILLED IN JUNE, DURING A PROTEST. EVERY DAY, HE USED TO HEAD TO THE STREETS. NOW HIS MOTHER TELLS ME SHE'S DOING THE SAME. 'FOR ME, THE BEST JUSTICE FOR NEOMAR, AND FOR EVERYONE WHO'S DIED, 'IS TO MAKE SURE WE ACHIEVE WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR,' SHE SAYS, 'FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GO.' STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, A 14-YEAR-OLD'S EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF SURVIVAL ` THE AUSSIE TEEN WHO TREAD WATER FOR TWO HOURS AFTER FALLING OFF HIS GRANDFATHER'S BOAT. AND A NEW COACH FOR THE HIGHLANDERS SUPER RUGBY FRANCHISE. LET'S RETURN TO OUR TOP STORY NOW. JACINDA ARDERN HAS TAKEN ANDREW LITTLE'S PLACE AS LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY. HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY A SHORT TIME AGO. The circumstances may not be what Labour has planned for this campaign, but that has not weakens my resolve All my focus all my teams resolve. We are determined and steadfast, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to now call myself a leader and equally fortunate to work alongside someone as committed and as talented as Calvin and the rest of our team. AARON MAUGER'S BEEN NAMED AS THE NEW HIGHLANDERS HEAD COACH FROM 2018. THE FORMER ALL BLACK WILL TAKE OVER FROM CURRENT COACH TONY BROWN ON A THREE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE SOUTHERN FRANCHISE. MEANWHILE, THE CRUSADERS AREN'T LETTING THE TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA GET IN THEIR WAY TO BECOMING SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008. TRAINING IN JOHANNESBURG TODAY, THE FOCUS OF THE GROUP IS ON MOST CERTAINLY ON SATURDAY WHEN THE RED AND BLACKS TAKE ON THE LIONS IN THE SUPER RUGBY FINAL. AND ISRAEL DAGG LOOKS TO BE TAKING UP A NEW JOB. THE CRUSADERS WINGER GIVING IT TO HIS TEAM MATES AS THEIR NEW SPIN CLASS INSTRUCTOR. SOME SERIOUS STRETCHING NEEDED AFTER THAT ONE. THE FINAL GETS UNDERWAY AT 2AM SATURDAY, NEW ZEALAND TIME. RYAN FOX HAS EARNED HIMSELF AN INVITE TO NEXT WEEK'S FINAL GOLF MAJOR OF THE YEAR, THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT QUAIL HOLLOW IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE KIWI PICKED THE RIGHT TIME TO PLAY WELL ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR, COMPLETING THREE TOP-10 FINISHES AND MOVING HIS WORLD RANKING TO JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP 100. SPORT IN GENERAL, YOU DON'T PLAY YOUR BEST EVERY WEEK, AND IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A GOOD RUN OF FORM IN THOSE BIG EVENTS AND IT HELPS OPEN SO MANY MORE DOORS THAN IF I'D DONE IN A COUPLE OF SMALLER EVENTS. IT WILL BE FOX'S SECOND MAJOR OF THE YEAR AND HIS FIRST EVER PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. HE'LL BE JOINING FELLOW KIWI DANNY LEE WHO HAS ALSO QUALIFIED AFTER A STRONG FINISH AT THE CANADIAN OPEN. SWIMMER LAUREN BOYLE HAS DECIDED TO CALL IT QUITS ON HER COMPETITIVE SWIMMING CAREER. THE 29-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN BATTLING A HIP INJURY SINCE LAST YEAR AND IS RETIRING AS SHE CAN NO LONGER GET THE BEST OUT OF HER BODY. I can only perform if I can move meet my own standards so it's time to make a change. BOYLE HAS COMPETED IN THREE COMMONWEALTH GAMES AND OLYMPICS, TAKING OUT FIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALS, FOUR COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALS AND A WORLD RECORD. MOEEN ALI HAS WRAPPED UP THE THIRD TEST OF THE ENGLAND, SOUTH AFRICA INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SERIES WITH A STUNNING HAT-TRICK TO FINISH THE PROTEAS TAIL END. SOUTH AFRICA WERE NEVER GOING TO CHASE DOWN THE UNLIKELY TARGET OF 492, AND IT WAS MOEEN ALI WHO WANTED TO END THE DAY EARLY TAKING THE LAST THREE WICKETS IN THREE CONSECUTIVE BALLS ` JUST. Oh, close. Close. Oh. It's been reviewed. It's to be read, what a way to end a test match! ENGLAND WINNING BY 239 RUNS. THEY NOW TAKE A 2-1 LEAD HEADING INTO THE FINAL TEST AT OLD TRAFFORD. ONE OF THE WORLDS BIGGEST FOOTBALLERS, CRISTIANO RONALDO'S BEEN IN COURT, AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF EVADING MORE THAN $23M WORTH OF TAX. THE REAL MADRID STAR HAS DENIED ALL ALLEGATIONS, AND THE 32-YEAR-OLD'S MANAGEMENT TOLD MEDIA 'EVERYTHING IS FINE.' IT COMES AFTER BARCELONA'S LIONEL MESSI WAS CHARGED FOR A SIMILAR OFFENCE EARLIER THIS YEAR. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE 1 NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT 6 WITH MORE ON THE DAY'S NEWS, INCLUDING THE NEW-LOOK LABOUR LEADERSHIP. GOOD AFTERNOON. NGA MIHI KI A KOUTOU KATOA. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017.