IT'S MIDDAY. THE WORLD CONDEMNS NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST. BUT WHAT NEXT IN DEALING WITH ITS DEFIANCE AGAINST THE WEST? BILL ENGLISH GIVES HIS DEPUTY A TELLING OFF AND INSISTS EVERYONE HAS HUMAN RIGHTS. AND AN UPLIFTING MOMENT IN AN OTHERWISE DISMAL WARRIORS SHOWING. CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017 AHI AHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. SOUTH KOREA'S HOLDING MAJOR MILITARY DRILLS IN RESPONSE TO NORTH KOREA'S MOST POWERFUL NUCLEAR TEST TO DATE. AND US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN SHINZO ABE ABOUT HOW THE WEST WILL RESPOND. THE ABC'S DAVID KERLEY HAS THIS REPORT. JUST HOURS AFTER SHOWING OFF WHAT'S SAID TO BE A HYDROGEN BOMB CAPABLE OF FITTING ON AN INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILE, SEISMOGRAPHS START DANCING FROM THIS REMOTE SITE ` AN UNDERGROUND NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST SHAKING THE EARTH. (SPEAKS KOREAN) THE NORTH CLAIMED ITS SIXTH NUCLEAR TEST WAS, QUOTE, A PERFECT SUCCESS. BUT THIS WAS ITS FIRST, MUCH MORE POWERFUL, HYDROGEN BOMB TEST. CHEERS GREETED THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN PYONGYANG. SOUTH KOREA BELIEVING THAT THE TEST SUGGESTS A BOMB... KIM JONG-UN'S PROVOCATIVE MOVE MET WITH A STERN RESPONSE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, CALLING NORTH KOREA HOSTILE AND DANGEROUS. A MONTH AGO, THE PRESIDENT THREATENED NORTH KOREA WITH MILITARY ACTION. THEY WILL BE MET WITH FIRE AND FURY. BUT JUST A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, SAYING THAT THAT STATEMENT WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH, HE SUGGESTED KIM WAS STARTING TO RESPECT THE US. A DIFFERENT MESSAGE JUST HOURS AGO. DEFENCE SECRETARY JAMES MATTIS, EMERGING FROM THE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, WAS BLUNT. ANY THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES OR ITS TERRITORIES, INCLUDING GUAM, OR OUR ALLIES WILL BE MET WITH A MASSIVE MILITARY RESPONSE. A RESPONSE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND OVERWHELMING. BUT THE DEFENCE SECRETARY ALSO MESSAGED NORTH KOREA THAT THE US IS NOT SEEKING HOSTILITIES. WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO THE TOTAL ANNIHILATION OF A COUNTRY, NAMELY NORTH KOREA. THAT IS, I SAID, WE HAVE MANY OPTIONS TO DO SO. IN HIS FIRST TWITTER RESPONSE THIS MORNING, THE PRESIDENT ALSO WENT AFTER SOUTH KOREA, WARNING THE US ALLY THAT, QUOTE,... MR TRUMP DID NOT SAY EXACTLY WHAT THAT THING IS. SO JUST WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY? THE ABC'S IAN PANNELL LOOKS AT THE OPTIONS. THIS NUCLEAR TEST WAS SO POWERFUL, IT TRIGGERED AN EARTHQUAKE THAT SHOOK BUILDINGS HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY, FROM RUSSIA TO THIS IN CHINA. BUT TONIGHT IT'S THE POLITICAL AFTERSHOCKS SHAKING THE WORLD. NORTH KOREA'S MAIN TRADING PARTNER, CHINA, WARNING IT TO... RUSSIA ALSO CONDEMNING THE TEST, CALLING FOR... AND SOUTH KOREA SAYS IT'S PRESIDENT MOON WILL SPEAK WITH DONALD TRUMP ABOUT WAYS TO DEPLOY WHAT HE CALLED THE STRONGEST STRATEGIC ASSETS. EARLIER THIS SUMMER, NORTH KOREA PROVED IT HAS MISSILES THAT COULD HIT THE US MAINLAND, ANALYSTS CONCLUDING THEY'VE MADE A MINIATURISED WARHEAD THAT CAN FIT INSIDE. INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED THE NORTH IS MOVING SO FAST IT COULD HAVE A NUCLEAR-TIPPED MISSILE CAPABLE OF HITTING THE US AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE NO GOOD OPTIONS OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT. A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE BY AMERICA COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS, IGNITING A WAR, PUTTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF US TROOPS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. NATIONAL LEADER BILL ENGLISH SAYS HIS DEPUTY, PAULA BENNETT, WAS WRONG TO SAY SOME CRIMINALS SHOULD HAVE FEWER HUMAN RIGHTS THAN OTHER CITIZENS. THE PARTY UNVEILED A DRUG-AND-GANG POLICY FOR A WARRANT IN SOME INSTANCES. BUT MR ENGLISH IS NOW BACKTRACKING. Everyone in nz has human rights. HE SAID MS BENNETT HAS APOLOGISED TO HIM FOR HER COMMENT. A MAJOR POLITICAL POLL SAYS NATIONAL IS AHEAD OF LABOUR, LESS THAN THREE WEEKS OUT FROM ELECTION DAY. THE NEWSHUB REID RESEARCH POLLS HAS NATIONAL ON 43.3%, WITH LABOUR ON 39.4%. THE POLL HAS JACINDA ARDERN AND BILL ENGLISH VIRTUALLY NECK-AND-NECK FOR PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER, WITH MR ENGLISH AHEAD BY JUST 0.2%. 1000 PEOPLE WERE SURVEYED FOR THE POLL BETWEEN AUGUST 22 AND AUGUST 30. THE NATIONAL PARTY'S ACCUSING LABOUR OF MISCALCULATING THE PRICE OF ITS PRE-ELECTION POLICIES BY MORE THAN $11B. NATIONAL'S FINANCE SPOKESMAN STEVEN JOYCE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT HIS PARLIAMENT OFFICE THIS MORNING. THAT HOLE IS OF THE ORDER OF $11.7B AS A RESULT OF FOUR ERRORS AND THEN A FOLLOW ON FIFTH MATTER IN RELATION TO FINANCE COSTS. LABOUR LEADER JACINDA ARDERN HAS JUST SPOKEN ON THIS ISSUE, AND SHE SAYS SHE STANDS BY THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW THE PARTY HAD DONE OF ITS FISCAL PLAN. ENVIRONMENT MINISTER NICK SMITH'S THE TARGET OF ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE PROTEST. IN CHRISTCHURCH, A STATUE OF THE NELSON MP DEFECATING INTO A GLASS OF WATER'S BEEN UNVEILED. THE ARTIST SAYS WATER QUALITY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES NEW ZEALAND FACES AND THAT MR SMITH IS BEING IGNORANT. Part of the trick is this ` if you are in government too long, after a while you think you are God aid I have to discuss things with people He's been there so long he doesn't talk to people any more. ON SATURDAY MR SMITH LAID A COMPLAINT WITH POLICE AFTER RAT POISON WAS RUBBED IN HIS FACE AND HIS FAMILY WAS THREATENED. A 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR IN AUCKLAND. THE CHILD WAS STRUCK OUTSIDE BUMBLE BEE'S CHILDCARE CENTRE IN THE SUBURB OF GLENN INNES JUST BEFORE 8 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. TANIWHA STREET HAS BEEN CLOSED TO ONE LANE WHILE POLICE INVESTIGATE THE SCENE. THE GOVERNMENT'S DRUG-BUYING AGENCY, PHARMAC, IS BEING URGED TO FUND A NEW BREAST CANCER DRUG. IT SLOWS DOWN CELL DIVISION AND GROWTH, INCREASING INCURABLE PATIENTS' LIFESPANS. BUT IT COMES AT A COST OF AROUND $70,000 A PATIENT PER YEAR. AND WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WITH LOTS OF WOMEN THAT IT'S A DESPERATE SITUATION. AND WOMEN MORTGAGE THEIR HOMES, THEY SELL THEIR HOMES. THEY HAVE BEEN GOING OVERSEAS TO ACCESS THIS TREATMENT IN THE PAST. AND IT REALLY JUST PUTS HUGE STRESS ON FAMILIES. SO IF A DRUG IS PUBLICLY FUNDED, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR INCOME IS, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS IT. A CANTERBURY COMPANY HAS COME UP WITH A NEW WAY TO PROTECT WAREHOUSE WORKERS AND VALUABLE STOCK DURING BIG EARTHQUAKES. THE SYSTEM, WHICH ACTIVATES AS SOON AS THE GROUND STARTS SHAKING, HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY TWO MEN WHO EXPERIENCED FIRST-HAND THE TRAUMA OF THE CTV BUILDING COLLAPSE. LISA DAVIES HAS THE STORY. A BIG EARTHQUAKE HITS, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR AVERAGE WAREHOUSE BUT THE SAME SIMULATION OF A 6.5 SHAKE SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE THE PALLET RESTRAINING SYSTEM COULD MAKE. ONCE, BASICALLY, THE SHAKING STARTS, FROM THE SEISMIC EVENT, THE PRODUCT WILL ACTIVATE. (LOUD RATTLING) JUST LIKE THAT. BUT EFFECTIVE. (CHUCKLES) THE IDEA DIDN'T COME EASILY. WE HAD MANY FAILURES, AND OUR ENGINEERING TEAM HAD MANY PROTOTYPES, BUT WE FINALLY CAME UP WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE IS A SIMPLE, COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION ASHTON HOW WAS ONE OF MANY WHO RUSHED TO HELP AT THE CTV BUILDING AFTER ITS COLLAPSE ON FEBRUARY 22ND. HE SAYS THAT'S MADE HIM DETERMINED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT CAN SAVE LIVES. WE WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY HELPS PEOPLE. IT'S A POSITIVE COMING OUT OF A NEGATIVE, DEFINITELY. YEP. IT'S A SMALL THING, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG THING. WHEN A PALLET LIKE THIS IS FULLY LOADED UP, IT CAN WEIGH AS MUCH AS A TON, SO IT'S CERTAINLY WELL WORTH MAKING SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO FALL. PRETTY UGLY SITUATION WHEN SOMETHING COMES OFF A RACK. NOT A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN GO FOR COVER. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THESE WAREHOUSES AFTER A MAJOR QUAKE. WE ALL KNOW WE CAN REPLACE EQUIPMENT, BUT WE CAN'T REPLACE PEOPLE. THERE'S A PATENT ON THE PRODUCT IN NEW ZEALAND, THE STATES AND JAPAN,... (MACHINE WHIRRS) ...AND NOW THEY'RE GEARING UP TO TAKE THEIR POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING IDEA TO THE WORLD. LISA DAVIES, ONE NEWS A WEEK AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY DEVASTATED LARGE AREAS OF THE US GULF COAST, THERE'S ANOTHER MAJOR STORM BREWING IN THE AREA. HURRICANE IRMA IS CURRENTLY A CATEGORY THREE, AND ITS TRACK IS BEING DESCRIBED AS UNCERTAIN. MEANWHILE SOME OF THE AREAS HARDEST HIT BY HARVEY ARE STILL PICKING UP THE PIECES, AS THE ABC'S VICTOR OQUENDO REPORTS. A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY IN WEST HOUSTON TONIGHT ` HUNDREDS IN FLOODED HOMES NOW UNDER NEW MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS. THE CONTROLLED RELEASE OF TWO MAJOR RESERVOIRS IS EXPECTED TO RAISE WATER LEVELS EVEN HIGHER. IF YOU'VE GOT WATER IN YOUR HOME, I'M REQUIRING YOU TO EVACUATE. THIS WOMAN FLED HER HOME ON MONDAY. THIS IS IT BEFORE. TONIGHT IT'S FLOODED. WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO END AND HOW IT'S GOING TO END. OFFICIALS NOW CUTTING POWER TO THOUSANDS TO REDUCE THE DANGER FROM ELECTROCUTION. CARS SUBMERGED, THEIR ROOFS DAMAGED BY BOAT PROPELLERS. RESIDENTS HERE ARE BEING TOLD THE WATER WON'T RECEDE FOR WEEKS. WHAT'S YOUR HOUSE LIKE NOW? PROBABLY IN 7FT OF WATER. TOTAL DEVASTATION. AND TONIGHT THAT CHEMICAL PLANT JUST OUTSIDE HOUSTON IN DANGER OF MORE EXPLOSIONS. THE COOLING SYSTEM BROKEN; NOTHING PREVENTING OTHER REACTORS FROM OVERHEATING. THROUGHOUT THIS DISASTER, ACTS OF KINDNESS ON DISPLAY. ACADEMY SPORTING GOODS OPENING ITS DOORS TO MORE THAN 1000 RESCUERS. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FIRST LADY MELANIA BACK IN TEXAS FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK, THIS TIME CONNECTING WITH HOUSTON FAMILIES DISPLACED IN THE DISASTER. AS TOUGH AS THIS WAS, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL THING, I THINK, EVEN FOR THE COUNTRY TO WATCH AND FOR THE WORLD TO WATCH. IT'S BEEN BEAUTIFUL. (WOMAN SINGS HYMN) AND TODAY A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS HEALING WITH HOPE. MILLIONS OF MUSLIM PILGRIMS HAVE TRAVELLED TO MECCA IN SAUDI ARABIA TO PERFORM THE FARWELL CIRCLING OF KAABA. THE CIRCLING IS THE LAST RITUAL PERFORMED BY MUSLIMS IN MECCA'S GRAND MOSQUE, ISLAM'S HOLIEST SITE. SAUDI AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE TAKEN PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT A REPEAT OF A STAMPEDE TWO YEARS AGO WHERE 800 PEOPLE DIED, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. ISIS WAS SECRETLY DIRECTING WOULD-BE EXTREMISTS IN ENGLAND TO MURDER PEOPLE AT BOTH LONDON BRIDGE AND WESTMINSTER NEARLY A YEAR BEFORE EACH ATTACK. REPORTERS TO TERROR MANUALS WHICH SHOWED HOW BEST TO DRIVE A CAR AT CROWDS AND ATTACK VICTIMS WITH KNIVES. THE BBC'S NICK BEAKE REPORTS. INDISCRIMINATE MURDER ON THE STREETS OF LONDON ` EXACTLY THE KIND OF ATTACKS SO-CALLED ISLAMIC STATE HAD BEEN CALLING FOR. OUR INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE GROUP WERE NOT ONLY INSPIRING SUCH PLOTS, BUT ISSUING DIRECTIONS TO TARGET BOTH WESTMINSTER AND LONDON BRIDGE. LAST SUMMER, OUR UNDERCOVER REPORTER MADE CONTACT WITH I-S RECRUITERS ACTIVE ONLINE. THE AUTHORITIES WERE FULLY AWARE OF OUR COMMUNICATION. AFTER INVITING US TO TALK ON A SECRET MESSAGING SITE. I-S AGENTS PINPOINTED WESTMINSTER, PROMISING 'IF YOU SUCCEED WITH AN ATTACK THERE, 'IT WILL BE HUGE AND DAMAGING.' HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A VERY GOOD TARGET BECAUSE IT WAS CROWDED, WITH DISBELIEVERS AND CIVILIANS. HE TOLD ME TO JUST KILL ORDINARY PEOPLE AND THAT IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE A VERY COMPLICATED PLAN. WITH HINDSIGHT, THE INSTRUCTIONS LOOKED LIKE A BLUEPRINT FOR THE WESTMINSTER ATTACK EIGHT MONTHS LATER. KHALID MASOOD USED A CAR TO MOW DOWN PEDESTRIANS, AND THEN STABBED A POLICEMAN TO DEATH. IN JULY 2016, WE WERE ALSO IN CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER I-S HANDLER WHO HAD ANOTHER TARGET. 'LONDON BRIDGE', HE WROTE. 'USE TRUCK, AXE, ANYTHING.' WE WERE DIRECTED TO TERRORIST GUIDES ON THE SO-CALLED DARK WEB. ONE OF THEM SHOWN HOW TO USE A VEHICLE. THE OTHER SHOWED HOW TO USE KNIVES AND HOMEMADE BOMBS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. THERE WAS A DESCRIPTION OF HOW TO CREATE A FAKE SUICIDE VEST AND HOW IT CAN BE USED TO STOP THE POLICE FROM ATTACKING YOU IF YOU ARE STANDING NEXT TO CIVILIANS. THE INSTRUCTIONS BEAR ALL THE HALLMARKS OF THE CARNAGE NEARLY A YEAR LATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THERE'S ANGER FROM AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIANS AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BARNABY JOYCE PREPARES TO LEAD THE COUNTRY WHILE HIS BOSS IS OVERSEAS. PRIME MINISTER MALCOLM TURNBULL IS IN SAMOA FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM, BUT OPPOSITION LABOR MP'S SAY THEY'LL STAGE A WALKOUT IF MR JOYCE IS IN CHARGE. CHANNEL NINE'S FIONA WILLAN REPORTS. THE PRIME MINISTER IN PERTH SHOWING OFF HIS SHOOTING ARM. BUT SOON HE'LL BE LEAVING BARNABY JOYCE TO CALL THE SHOTS. THE NATIONALS LEADER WILL BE ACTING PM THIS WEEK WHILE MALCOLM TURNBULL IS AWAY AT THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM, BUT LABOR SAYS THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING THE COUNTRY WHILE QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER HIS CITIZENSHIP. WHILE EVER A DOUBT REMAINS OVER BARNABY JOYCE'S ELIGIBILITY TO BE SITTING IN THE PARLIAMENT, HE CANNOT BE THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER. BARNABY JOYCE SHOULD BE PUT ON THE BENCH UNTIL THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND HIS STATUS IS RESOLVED. WHEN PARLIAMENT RESUMES THIS WEEK, THE OPPOSITION IS THREATENING TO ACT OUT. I AM SHAKING IN MY BOOTS. THERE'S EVEN TALK SOME MPS WILL STAGE A WALK-OUT DURING QUESTION TIME. IF LABOR CHOOSES TO WALK OUT OF THE PARLIAMENT, WELL, THAT WOULD BE GOOD NEWS. FIRST IT WILL INCREASE THE AVERAGE IQ. IF THE LABOR PARTY WANTS TO RUN THESE JUVENILE STUNTS IN PARLIAMENT, THEN I THINK FRANKLY, THE PUBLIC JUST LOOK AT THAT WITH CONTEMPT. THE TURNBULL GOVERNMENT INSISTS IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR BARNABY JOYCE TO STEP IN. HE IS THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA ` CLEARLY, SIMPLY, ABSOLUTELY. AND SAYS IT WILL ONLY BE FOR 24 HOURS. THANK YOU. THE HIGH COURT WILL START TO HEAR THE CITIZENSHIP CASE IN MID OCTOBER, BUT IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE WE KNOW IF BARNABY JOYCE'S ELIGIBLE FOR PARLIAMENT. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S CONFIDENT THE COURT WILL RULE IN HIS FAVOUR. BUT LEGAL EXPERTS SAY IT'S NOT A GUARANTEED SLAM DUNK. NOR WAS THIS. BUT MALCOLM TURNBULL IS IN GOOD COMPANY. THIS WAS FORMER PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD IN PAKISTAN MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. RESCUERS IN CHINA HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT TO RETRIEVE A TRAPPED TODDLER WHO HAD FALLEN DOWN A DEEP WELL. A DOZEN EXCAVATORS AND BULLDOZERS WORKING AT A NEARBY CONSTRUCTION SITE PITCHED IN TO HELP IN THE OPERATION. CREWS SENT DOWN OXYGEN, FOOD AND WATER TO THE BOY WHO WAS 12 METRES UNDERGROUND. MIRACULOUSLY AFTER 10 LONG HOURS, THE CHILD WAS PULLED OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH. WALTER BECKER, FROM THE POPULAR US BAND STEELY DAN, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 67. HE WAS THE LEAD GUITARIST OF THE GROUP, WHICH HE FORMED WITH HIS FRIEND DONALD FAGAN IN HIS EARLY 20S. # ARE YOU REELING IN THE YEARS. # STOWING AWAY THE TIME. BECKER HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM AN UNDISCLOSED ILLNESS AND HAD NOT APPEARED WITH THE BAND DURING CONCERTS IN JULY. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` KNOCKED OUT OF THE US OPEN. WHICH GRAND SLAM TENNIS SUPERSTAR'S COMEBACK ENDS? A VIEW FROM THE TOP AS DRAMATIC MANOEUVRING NOTCHES UP A GEAR AT THE F1 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX. MARIA SHARAPOVA'S BOWED OUT OF THE US OPEN, GOING DOWN TO ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA. THE 2006 US OPEN CHAMPION GRINDING THROUGH THE FIRST SET TO TAKE IT 7-6, BUT IT WAS A STRONG FIGHT BACK FROM THE 16TH SEED TO TAKE THE NEXT TWO SETS AND THE MATCH, ENDING SHARAPOVA'S RETURN TO GRAND SLAM TENNIS. WHAT A SHOT. THAT WAS OUTRAGEOUS. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SLICE. THIS WAS ON PURPOSE ` THE SIDE SPIN, HOW LOW SHE KEEPS IT, HOW SHORT IT IS. THE SIDEWINDER. SEVASTOVA WILL NOW GO UP AGAINST AMERICAN SLOANE STEPHENS IN THE QUARTER FINALS. MEANWHILE, VENUS WILLIAMS IS ALSO THROUGH TO THE QUARTER FINALS AFTER HER THREE SET VICTORY OVER SPANIARD CARLA SUAREX NAVARRO. KIWI DRIVER SCOTT DIXON HAS FINISHED SECOND AT WATKINS GLEN IN THE LATEST INDY CAR RACE. THE 37-YEAR-OLD FINISHING BEHIND WINNER ALEXANDER ROSSI. THE PODIUM FINISH CLOSING THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAP, DIXON JUST THREE POINTS OFF THE LEAD WITH ONE RACE REMAINING. LEWIS HAMILTON'S TAKEN OUT THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX IN DOMINANT STYLE AND WITH IT TOOK THE LEAD IN THE DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. HIS TITLE RIVAL, SEBASTIAN VETTEL, FINISHED THIRD FOR FERRARI, AT WHAT WAS HIS TEAM'S HOME RACE. BBC'S PATRICK GEAREY REPORTS. LEWIS HAMILTON DIDN'T NEED THE DRUM ROLL. HE KNEW MONZA WAS HIS MOMENT. STARTING IN FRONT FOR A RECORD 69TH TIME, HIS JOB WAS TO STAY THERE. THE BIGGEST THREAT WAS THE START. JUST STAY CLEAR, AND THE REST WOULD SORT ITSELF OUT. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN IN THE SCRAMBLE BEHIND. RACES CAN DEFLATE IN SECONDS. WATCH OUT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER, SEBASTIAN VETTEL IN HIS FERRARI. UP FROM SIXTH ON THE GRID TO THIRD IN THE RACE. THE MORE PLACES HAMILTON COULD PUT BETWEEN HIMSELF AND VETTEL, THE MORE POINTS HE'D LEAD THE STANDINGS BY. JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT LOOKS EASY, THE CIRCUIT REMINDS YOU IT ISN'T. FOR THE MOST PART, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK UP TO SEE DRAMATIC MANOEUVRING. BUT ON THE RUNWAY DANIEL RICCIARDO WAS TAXIING, BUT THEN HE TOOK OFF. INTO FOURTH, INTO A CHASE WITH VETTEL. HE NEVER CAUGHT HIM, AND NO ONE WAS CATCHING HAMILTON, WHO CRASHED THE PARTY IN FERRARI COUNTRY. TODAY THE CAR WAS FANTASTIC AND REALLY A DREAM TO DRIVE. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS THAT CAME OUT TODAY. GRAZIE A TUTTI. AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK HERE NEXT YEAR. THE AMORE WASN'T MUTUAL FROM FERRARI FANS, BUT HAMILTON CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE LOVE. HE NOW LEADS THE DRIVER STANDINGS BY THREE POINTS. THE WARRIORS HAVE ENDED THEIR SEASON BREAKING THE RECORD FOR THE MOST CONSECUTIVE DEFEATS IN A ROW. THE AUCKLAND CLUB NOTCHING UP THEIR 9TH STRAIGHT LOSS OF THE SEASON, LOSING TO THE TIGERS AT LEICHHARDT OVAL. RUBBING SALT TO THE WOUND WITH THIS RUNAWAY TRY JUST BEFORE HALF TIME. AND VAUGHN PASSES. TIGERS ON THE RUN. AND THAT WILL BE SWEET. LOOK AT THE REACTION OF THE FORMER WARRIOR SCORING THE TRY. THE WARRIORS LEAKING IN FIVE TRIES ON THE WAY TO THE TIGERS' 28-16 VICTORY. MEANWHILE, A BLOW FOR THE DRAGONS, WHO WERE LOOKING TO EARN A FINALS SPOT. GOING DOWN TO THE BULLDOGS 26-20. THE LOSS SEES NORTH QUEENSLAND MAKE THE TOP 8. AND FORMER KIWIS CAPTAIN BENJI MARSHALL HONOURED HIS YOUNGER BROTHER'S NRL DEBUT BY LEADING A POWERFUL FAMILY HAKA FROM THE STANDS IN SYDNEY. JEREMY MARSHALL-KING (22) CAME OFF THE BENCH FOR THE TIGERS IN THEIR WIN OVER THE WARRIORS. (ALL PERFORM HAKA) BENJI WILL SOON BE JOINING HIS BROTHER, SET TO RECONNECT WITH THE TIGERS IN 2018. THE KIWI CONTINGENT AT THE BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS HAVE FAILED TO REACH THE PODIUM. TIM PRICE THE BEST OF THE KIWIS ON 'RINGWOOD SKY BOY', FINISHING FIFTH OVERALL AFTER THE FINAL SHOWJUMPING EVENT. SO 50.5 PRICE FINISHES ON. HE'LL BE PRETTY PLEASED WITH THAT GIVEN RINGWOOD SKY BOY'S PATCHY RECORD. FIVE TIMES WINNER ANDREW NICHOLSON WAS PLACED EIGHTH ON HIS NUMBER ONE HORSE NEREO. UP NEXT ON MIDDAY ` ENJOY THE SUNSHINE BECAUSE SHOWERS ARE COMING. I'LL TELL YOU TO WHICH PLACES. YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. NATIONAL PARTY LEADER BILL ENGLISH SAYS HIS DEPUTY, PAULA BENNETT, WAS WRONG IN SAYING SOME CRIMINALS HAVE FEWER HUMAN RIGHTS. AND THERE'S BEEN INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY FOLLOWING NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST, WITH US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CALLING THE MOVE HOSTILE AND DANGEROUS. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ BEFORE I GO I'D LIKE TO WISH OUR BREAKFAST LINE UP PRODUCER JULIE CLOTHIER ALL THE BEST. THIS IS JULIE'S LAST SHIFT AS SHE IS IS GOING ON MATERNITY, SO FROM ALL THE TEAM BEHIND BREAKFAST AND 1 NEWS MIDDAY, THANK YOU JULIE. AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017