it is all go. The mornings are lighting up. Winds are powering up. The Wellington hills are not far behind. A very active 24-hour is ahead. RIGHT NOW IT'S 6 O'CLOCK. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017 BILL ENGLISH FINALLY PUTS A TARGET ON REDUCING CHILD POVERTY. WE ASK CAN IT BE DONE AND HOW WILL IT BE MEASURED? AS THE US CALLS FOR AN END TO 'HALF MEASURES', OIL FROM CHINA KEEPS THE WHEELS TURNING IN NORTH KOREA. AND SHE WAS BADLY HURT IN A HOUSE FIRE, BUT WAS HEATHER BILLS KILLED BY AN INSULIN OVERDOSE AND WHY? KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. BILL ENGLISH HAS MADE A BILLION-DOLLAR PROMISE TO LIFT 100,000 OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY. TO LIFT 100,000 CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME NATIONAL'S PUT A TARGET ON THE ISSUE. POLITICAL REPORTER KATIE BRADFORD TAKES A LOOK AT HOW THAT MIGHT BE ACHIEVED AND HOW IT COULD BE MEASURED. BILL ENGLISH PEDALLING A BIG PROMISE DURING A DAY CAMPAIGNING IN THE WAIRARAPA ` HI. HOW ARE YOU? AFTER ANNOUNCING AT A LEADER'S DEBATE THAT HE'LL INTRODUCE A TARGET OF LIFTING 100,000 KIDS OUT OF POVERTY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. Are you having a good day? HE DENIES IT WAS MADE UP ON THE FLY, BUT NATIONAL HAS PREVIOUSLY DRAGGED ITS HEELS ON INTRODUCING SUCH A PRECISE TARGET. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT TARGET IN A WAY THAT MEANT PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY SEE IT AND BELIEVE IT. OH, LOOK, IT HAS TAKEN NINE YEARS. OF COURSE, GIVEN WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR SOMETIME, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN IT EARLIER THAN TWO WEEKS OUT FROM AN ELECTION. THAT MEANS BOTH MAJOR PARTIES ARE NOW COMMITTING TO REDUCING CHILD POVERTY. WHOEVER OUR GOVERNMENT IS, IF WE CAN GET THE AGREED DEFINITION WITH A TARGETED REDUCTION OF CHILD POVERTY AND A COMMITMENT TO A TIME FRAME TO ACHIEVE THAT, THAT IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR NZ. BUT IT'S HOW PARTIES MEASURE IT AND THEN HOW THEY GET THERE THAT'S THE POINT OF DIFFERENCE. LABOUR SAYS ITS POLICIES WILL DO THAT FASTER THAN NATIONAL'S. WE AGREE THERE IS NO ONE MEASURE. IN FACT, FIVE THAT ARE INTERNATIONALLY USED. OUR PROPOSAL'S BEEN TO PUT THOSE INTO LAW AND THEN TO HAVE TARGETS AGAINST EACH OF THEM. BUT IF NATIONAL REMAINS IN GOVERNMENT, A $2B FAMILY SUPPORT PACKAGE WILL COME IN IN APRIL, LIFTING ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENTS AND CUTTING TAX. THAT IS PEOPLE ON THE AVERAGE WAGE WHERE NEXT YEAR THEY'LL PAY $1000 LESS TAX, AND THAT RECOGNISES THEIR HARD WORK. NATIONAL HOPES THAT IT'LL LIFT 50,000 KIDS OUT OF POVERTY. BILL ENGLISH SAYS IF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT, HE HOPES TO INTRODUCE A SECOND FAMILY TAX PACKAGE SOMETIME BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION. THAT WOULD COST ABOUT ANOTHER $2B, AND THE AIM WOULD BE TO TAKE THE NEXT 50,000 KIDS OUT OF POVERTY. BOTH LEADERS AGREE A RISE IN FAMILY INCOMES WILL BE A KEY MEASURE OF SUCCESS. HOPING TO CONVINCE VOTERS OF THEIR PLANS TO GIVE OUR POOREST A GREATER SHARE OF THE CAKE. KATIE BRADFORD, 1 NEWS. MEANWHILE, JACINDA ARDERN HAS VOWED TO RETALIATE IF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT INCREASES FEES FOR KIWI STUDENTS. LABOUR IS PROMISING TO GET TOUGH IN THE FACE OF DIMINISHING RIGHTS FOR NZERS LIVING ACROSS THE TASMAN. POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE EXPLAINS. LABOUR'S JACINDA ARDERN IS TURNING UP THE HEAT ON THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, WITH A VOW TO GO TIT FOR TAT ON PLANS TO WITHDRAW EDUCATION SUBSIDIES. IT IS A QUESTION OF FAIRNESS. A PACKAGE BEFORE THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE WOULD ALMOST TRIPLE FEES FOR EXPAT KIWIS. IF THOSE RIGHTS ARE REMOVED, WE SHOULD LIKEWISE DO THE SAME FOR OUR SUBSIDISED TERTIARY EDUCATION IN NZ. THAT TOUGH STANCE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR LABOUR, BECAUSE THEY ARE PROPOSING TO PHASE IN THREE YEARS OF FREE TERTIARY STUDY, BUT LABOUR WOULDN'T REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR AUSTRALIANS TO ACCESS WELFARE IN NZ. WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THE MORAL HIGH GROUND THAT IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT IF YOU PAY TAXES, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE BENEFITS. SO WE'RE MAINTAINING THEM IN NZ WHILE WE CONTINUE TO ARGUE FOR THEM IN AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL'S BILL ENGLISH SAYS THE TOUGH TALK ISN'T NECESSARY. THEY ARE NOT PROPOSING CHANGES THAT WARRANT RETALIATION, AND I THINK TALK OF RETALIATION WILL MAKE IT HARDER TO MAKE PROGRESS. KIWI EXPATS ARE DIVIDED ON LABOUR'S NEW STANCE. THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HELP OUR CAUSE. In Australia or to help us access affordable tertiary education. BUT LOBBY GROUP OZ KIWI SAYS ITS NOT HELPFUL AND TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT. IF ELECTED PRIME MINISTER, IT COULD MAKE FOR AN AWKWARD CONVERSATION WITH AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER. JULIE BISHOP HAS ALREADY ACCUSED JACINDA ARDERN OF MEDDLING IN AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. I would find it very hard to build trust with those involved. JACINDA ARDERN WAS BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TODAY BUT NOT BUILDING ANY BRIDGES WITH OUR TRANS-TASMAN NEIGHBOURS. ANDREA VANCE, 1 NEWS. WITH THE TWO BIG PARTIES SURGING IN THE POLLS, WINSTON PETERS HAS BEEN OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SHORING UP HIS SUPPORT. WINNING THE NORTHLAND SEAT IS IMPORTANT FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST SUCCESS, AS JESSICA MUTCH EXPLAINS. WINSTON PETERS, CHECKING UP ON THE RENOVATIONS AT WAITANGI HOUSE IN NORTHLAND,... THEY WERE USED TO PROVIDE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HOUSE. ...AND MAKING SURE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR HIS PARTY ARE SOLID IN HIS NORTHLAND ELECTORATE SEAT TOO. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND FORGOTTEN. HE'S BEEN THE MP FOR THE REGION SINCE THE 2015 BY-ELECTION, AND HIS BUS IS CLOCKING UP THE KILOMETRES AS HE TRIES TO WIN AGAIN SO HE CAN TAKE MORE NEW ZEALAND FIRST MPS TO PARLIAMENT WITH HIM. THIS IS A TWO-HORSE RACE BETWEEN NATIONAL AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST BOTH HERE AND IN WHANGAREI. HIS POLITICAL RIVALS HERE IN NORTHLAND SAY PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN BEHIND THE TWO BIG PARTIES AND SAY THE DRAMA OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAS SHAKEN THINGS UP. WE'VE SEEN THE POLLS. WE'RE GOING UP AND EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING DOWN WE'VE SEEN THE POLLS. WE'RE GOING UP AND EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING DOWN SO I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THE JACINDA EFFECT IS BEING FELT HERE IN NORTHLAND. I THINK BEFORE, WHEN WE HAD PEOPLE CONSIDERING PROTEST VOTING LIKE THEY DID IN THE BY-ELECTION, I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE GALVANIZING BEHIND THE TWO MAIN PARTIES NOW. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE CAUSE FOR PROTEST IS STILL THERE AND BIG TIME. Wonderful to meet you! Thank you so much! HIS STAR POWER IS STILL IN FULL FORCE ` EVEN FOR 105-YEAR-OLD VOTERS. WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU (LAUGHS) HE'S MAKING BIG PROMISES FOR THE NORTH, INCLUDING SHIFTING AUCKLAND'S PORT TO WHANGAREI AND FIXING THE ROADS. AND HE SAYS THERE'S MORE TO COME. WILL YOU GIVE US A LITTLE HINT? NO. WILL THE PEOPLE OF NORTHLAND BE WELL LOOKED AFTER? WILL THE PEOPLE OF NORTHLAND BE WELL LOOKED AFTER? YES (CHUCKLES). TRYING TO MAKE SURE HE'S WALKING INTO PARLIAMENT AND NOT IN THE WILDERNESS POST ELECTION. JESSICA MUTCH, 1 NEWS. POLITICAL EDITOR CORIN DANN'S WITH US NOW. CORIN, STEVEN JOYCE IS NOT BACKING DOWN ON HIS ACCUSATION OF A CLOSE TO $12B HOLE IN LABOUR'S FINANCES. IS ANYBODY ACTUALLY BACKING HIM NOW? Does not look like it. I have spoken to 5 economists across a wide range. None of them think there is a near $12 billion hole and labours books. This looks like a big own goal for Steven Joyce. These economists do say that they see that labours plan is tight and is going to be a challenge at times but no hole. OK, THE LEADERS HAVE HAD THEIR GOES. NEXT IS A MINOR PARTY LEADERS DEBATE HERE ON FRIDAY, WITH THE ADDED SPICE OF A POSSIBILE LEGAL CHALLENGE. The opportunities party is considering legal action against television New Zealand for being excluded from the multi-party televised debate on Friday. They are on 1% in the polls. Television New Zealand has a criteria for parties outside Parliament that they be at 3% in one or two of the last polls before the debate. I am hearing that they may be considering a judicial review in the next 24 hours to try and get themselves into debate. The head of TV NZ news says they will work through whatever issues arise but they will stand by their criteria. We have seen this before with Peter Dunn and Jim Anderson and Colin Craig. THANKS, CORIN. AND DON'T FORGET ` YOU CAN FIND OUT WHICH PARTY POLICIES ARE MOST IN LINE WITH YOUR OWN VIEWS WITH THE 1 NEWS ONLINE TOOL VOTE COMPASS ON TVNZ.CO.NZ/VOTECOMPASS. CLICK BEGIN AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY. POLICE ARE APPEALING FOR INFORMATION AFTER A BODY WAS FOUND NEAR A CANTERBURY RIVER. THE MAN'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED NEAR THE WAIMAKARIRI RIVER LATE LAST NIGHT AND A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED. Evidence is clear it was a homicide. I cannot comment on the nature of the injuries or anything else at this stage. POLICE CONFIRMED IT IS NOT THE BODY OF MISSING MAN MICHAEL MCGRATH. AN AUCKLAND WOMAN WHO MYSTERIOUSLY DIED SIX WEEKS AFTER HER HOUSE WENT UP IN FLAMES IN 2012, WAS MOST LIKELY KILLED BY AN INSULIN OVERDOSE ` THAT'S WHAT THE CORONER'S COURT IN AUCKLAND HEARD TODAY. HEATHER BILLS' FAMILY WANTS TO KNOW WHO ADMINISTERED THE FATAL DOSE. CHRIS CHANG REPORTS. HEATHER BILLS HAD SUFFERED A LONG AND DIFFICULT MENTAL ILLNESS BEFORE SHE DIED FOUR YEARS AGO. TODAY, HER DAUGHTER ASKED THE CORONER'S COURT TO PICTURE MRS BILLS AS THE FAMILY REMEMBERED HER. THE TEACHER, TUTOR, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, MUM, NANA AND GREAT COOK. NEIGHBOURS RESCUED HER FROM AN EXPLOSIVE HOUSE FIRE AT HER ORAKEI ADDRESS IN 2012. SHE WAS TAKEN TO MIDDLEMORE HOSPITAL. THE CORONER SAID SHE SOMETIMES EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO DIE. IN SPITE OF THIS, HER CONDITION IMPROVED, AND SHE WAS EXPECTED TO MAKE A RECOVERY. BUT HER CONDITION SUDDENLY DETERIORATED. SHE DEVELOPED LOW GLUCOSE LEVELS, THOUGHT TO BE CAUSED BY INSULIN. HYPOGLYCAEMIA LED TO IRREPARABLE BRAIN DAMAGE. I SAT BEDSIDE AS MY MUM TREMBLED, GROANED, AND GASPED TO HER DEATH OVER THREE TRAUMATIC DAYS. MRS BILLS WASN'T DIABETIC AND INSULIN WAS NEVER PRESCRIBED. THE INQUEST AIMS TO ANSWER A NUMBER OF KEY QUESTIONS AROUND THAT SUDDEN DETERIORATION ` IF IN FACT INSULIN WAS ADMINISTERED, WHERE DID IT COME FROM AND WHO DID IT? MY MUM DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE IN HOSPITAL LIKE THAT, AND MY FAMILY DESERVE TO KNOW THE CAUSE AND CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HER DEATH. THE FAMILY SAYS IT'S NOT LOOKING TO POINT THE FINGER. OF DELIBERATE, CARELESS OR UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, WE EXPECT THOSE PEOPLE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS OR INACTION. ANSWERS THEY HOPE WILL BE UNCOVERED OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. WE HAVE WARNINGS TONIGHT THAT NORTH KOREA IS PREPARING TO LAUNCH ANOTHER INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE. THAT WOULD RATCHET UP TENSIONS IN THE WAKE OF PYONGYANG'S LATEST AND MOST POWERFUL NUCLEAR BOMB TEST. SOME ANALYSTS SAY THE NORTH'S TRYING TO BOOST ITS GLOBAL STATUS BY MAKING LONG-RANGE NUCLEAR MISSILES. BUT THE US HAS TOLD AN EMERGENCY UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT LEADER KIM JONG-UN WANTS FULL BLOWN CONFLICT. HE WANTS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS A NUCLEAR POWER. BUT BEING A NUCLEAR POWER IS NOT ABOUT USING THOSE TERRIBLE WEAPONS TO THREATEN OTHERS. NUCLEAR POWERS UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. KIM JONG-UN SHOWS NO SUCH UNDERSTANDING. HIS ABUSIVE USE OF MISSILES AND HIS NUCLEAR THREATS SHOW THAT HE IS BEGGING FOR WAR. THE US SAYS IT WANTS TO AVOID THAT, BUT TOLD THE UN THAT ITS PATIENCE WITH PYONGYANG IS LIMITED. SO WHAT'S NEXT? PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS THREATENED TO CUT TRADE TIES WITH ANY COUNTRY DOING BUSINESS WITH NORTH KOREA ` THAT WOULD INCLUDE CHINA, THE CLOSEST THING PYONGYANG HAS TO AN ALLY. THE BBC'S JONATHAN SUDWORTH REPORTS FROM CHINA'S BORDER WITH ITS PROBLEMATIC NEIGHBOUR. THE WORK GOES ON LATE INTO THE NIGHT. FROM THIS CHINESE OIL DEPOT, NORTH KOREA GETS MOST OF ITS ENERGY PIPED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE BORDER. A DAY AFTER THE NUCLEAR TEST, THERE'S NOT SIGN OF ANY LET UP. A DAY AFTER THE NUCLEAR TEST, THERE'S NOT SIGN OF ANY LET-UP. WASHINGTON IS TURNING UP THE HEAT ON CHINA, INSISTING IT USES ITS LEVERAGE TO GREATER EFFECT. SOME OF THESE DINERS AGREE THEIR GOVERNMENT COULD DO MORE. 'I THINK THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT,' THIS MAN SAYS. 'I HOPE THERE'LL BE NO MORE NUCLEAR TESTS.' 'CHINA SHOULD TAKE CONTROL OF NORTH KOREA, 'THEN THERE WILL BE PEACE,' THIS MAN ADDS. THE CHINESE PRESIDENT, XI JINPING, THOUGH, IS BUSY HOSTING A SUMMIT WITH THE WORLD'S DEVELOPING ECONOMIES. TWO OF THEM HAPPEN TO BE KEY TRADING PARTNERS WITH ` AND OLD ALLIES OF ` NORTH KOREA. AND CHINA'S FOCUS REMAINS, AS ALWAYS, ON A RETURN TO DIALOGUE, NOT ON TRADE EMBARGOES OR MILITARY THREATS. INTERPRETER: USING FORCE TO RESOLVE THE NUCLEAR ISSUE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA IS NOT AN OPTION. WHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD PONDERS THE RISKS OF THERMONUCLEAR WAR, CHINESE CITIZENS ENJOYING THE NIGHTLIFE HERE ON THE FRONTIER WITH NORTH KOREA DON'T APPEAR TOO CONCERNED. CHINA'S VIEW HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT TRADE AND ENGAGEMENT ARE FAR MORE PREFERABLE THAN THE CHAOS AND INSTABILITY THAT WOULD COME WITH THE COLLAPSE OF ITS ISOLATED NEIGHBOUR. SO, LARGE QUANTITIES OF GOODS CONTINUE TO FLOW ACROSS THIS BRIDGE. CHINA COULD SIMPLY TURN OFF THE TAP, BUT FOR NOW, WITH NORTH KOREA ON THE BRINK OF BECOMING A FULLY FLEDGED NUCLEAR POWER, THE OIL FROM THESE STORAGE TANKS CONTINUES TO FLOW. IT TOOK ALMOST SIX YEARS, BUT CHRISTCHURCH'S SELF TITLED OUTCASTS IT TOOK ALMOST SIX YEARS, BUT CHRISTCHURCH'S SELF-TITLED OUTCASTS WILL FINALLY SETTLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON THEIR UNINSURED QUAKE-DAMAGED HOMES. AFTER A LENGTHY AND EXPENSIVE COURT BATTLE, THE REMAINING 16 HOMEOWNERS WILL RECEIVE 80% OF THEIR HOMES' PRE-EARTHQUAKE VALUE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES A MONTH AFTER A HIGH COURT DECISION, WHICH SAID THE GOVERNMENT UNLAWFULLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE UNINSURED DURING THE RED ZONE BUYOUT. THE GROUPS' LAWYER SAYS THE SETTLEMENT IS LONG OVERDUE. They can now go out and buy another house. They can reinvest in a business. Whereas until now, they have been really at sea and under lots of stress and Anxiety. ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAD ALREADY BEEN PAID OUT ON THE FULL VALUE OF THEIR LAND. AN INVESTIGATION'S UNDER WAY AFTER A WHALE WAS DISCOVERED DEAD ON A WEST COAST BEACH WITH ITS NOSE CHAINSAWED OFF. THE GRISLY FIND HAS LEFT BOTH LOCALS AND CONSERVATION STAFF ANGRY AND BAFFLED AS TO WHY IT'S HAPPENED. AND A WARNING ` SOME MAY FIND THE PICTURES IN DONNA-MARIE LEVER'S REPORT DISTURBING. BUTCHERED ON A GREYMOUTH BEACH. OFFICIALS BELIEVE SOMEONE USED A CHAINSAW TO HACK OFF PART OF THE HEAD OF THIS GRAY'S BEAKED WHALE ` POSSIBLY WANTING ITS TEETH. IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THE WHALE HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH. YEAH, WE'RE DISAPPOINTED AND DISGUSTED. IT'S LIKELY THE 5M LONG FULLY GROWN MALE WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN THE ATTACK HAPPENED. GRAY'S BEAKED WHALES ARE USUALLY FOUND IN DEEP WATERS AND ARE THE MOST COMMON SPECIES OF WHALE TO BEACH IN NEW ZEALAND, BUT TAMPERING WITH OR TAKING BODY PARTS IS ILLEGAL. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION IS NOW INVESTIGATING. IT HAS THE POWER TO PROSECUTE AND IS APPEALING FOR PUBLIC HELP. IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE, BUT I GUESS THIS WHALE HAD AN INTERESTING TOOTH IN ITS LOWER JAW WHICH IS PROBABLY WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT. WHETHER THAT WAS IT OR NOT, WE ARE NOT SURE. THOSE RESPONSIBLE COULD FACE UP TO TWO YEARS IN JAIL OR A FINE OF UP TO $250,000. LOCALS WANT THEM CAUGHT. THAT'S CRUEL. I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE CRUEL TO ANIMALS. IF YOU FIND IT ON THE BEACH, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY DOC. IT'S DISGUSTING. OH, I DON'T LIKE THAT, NO. THE PUBLIC ARE BEING WARNED NOT TO TOUCH THE WHALE AS IT MAY CARRY SERIOUS DISEASE. THE REMAINS WILL NOW BE USED BY LOCAL IWI FOR CULTURAL PURPOSES BEFORE IT'S BURIED ON THE BEACH. DONNA-MARIE LEVER, 1 NEWS. THE FLOOD DANGER RISES AGAIN IN HOUSTON. WHY RESIDENTS ARE FACING A NEW CRISIS, FRESH EVACUATIONS AND MORE HOMES BEING INUNDATED. PLUS, THE NURSE ARRESTED FOR PROTECTING HER PATIENT SPEAKS OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE? THE NEWS THAT'S DELIGHTING THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE HARVEY HAS RISEN TO 60. MANY RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON ARE FACING A NEW CRISIS, WITH NEW EVACUATIONS IN THE CITY AS WATER IS RELEASED FROM RESERVOIRS. ABC'S VICTOR OQUENDO IS IN TEXAS. IN WEST HOUSTON TODAY, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS STARTING TO EASE THE FLOW OF WATER FROM THOSE SWOLLEN RESERVOIRS. BUT IT'S TOO LATE FOR THOUSANDS OF HOMES IN ITS PATH ` MANY NOW UNDERWATER. THIS AREA COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIKE THIS FOR ANOTHER FOUR, FIVE, SIX WEEKS. MORE THAN A MONTH, POSSIBLY. FIVE, SIX WEEKS. MORE THAN A MONTH, POSSIBLY. YES, ABSOLUTELY. MORE THAN A MONTH. 85% OF RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON DON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. HOMEOWNERS LIKE BILL AND NINA COTTON, WHO WERE FLOODED BY THAT RESERVOIR. THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE AND WERE TOLD YOU DIDN'T NEED ANY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN FLOOD PLAINS. THEY HAD JUST HOURS TO EVACUATE; FIREFIGHTERS CARRYING NINA'S 90-YEAR-OLD MOTHER TO SAFETY. HARVEY DIDN'T FLOOD YOUR HOUSE. NO. NOT AT ALL. THE CITY MADE A CALCULATED DECISION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SACRIFICE A NUMBER OF HOUSES FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE REST OF HOUSTON. FEMA NOW PAYING FOR THIS HOTEL ROOM, BUT THE COTTONS ARE HOPING THE CITY WILL HELP PAY FOR THEM TO REBUILD. WHERE THE WATER HAS RECEDED, THEY'RE SALVAGING WHAT THEY CAN AND STARTING OVER, BUT IT'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD. WE APPRECIATE THE PRAYERS, WE REALLY DO, (SNIFFLES) BUT WHAT WE NEED IS ASSISTANCE SO PEOPLE CAN (SNIFFLES) GET THE NECESSITIES JUST TO LIVE. AS FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, IT'S A CITY OF 120,000 PEOPLE, AND THE WATER PUMPS ARE FLOODED. ALL WEEKEND, THEY HAD TO BRING IN BOTTLED WATER BY AIR AND BY GROUND. THEY'VE ALSO BROUGHT IN TEMPORARY PUMPS, BUT THAT WATER IS NOT SAFE TO DRINK. THERE'S NO TELLING WHEN THOSE PERMANENT PUMPS WILL BE BACK UP AND RUNNING. THE AMERICAN NURSE ARRESTED BY POLICE FOR REFUSING TO ALLOW THEM A BLOOD SAMPLE FROM A PATIENT, HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE HOSPITAL SHOWDOWN. SALT LAKE CITY POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. WITH MORE, HERE'S ABC'S GIO BENITEZ. WOMAN: STOP! I'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG! VIDEO GOING VIRAL ` A NURSE UNDER ARREST AFTER REFUSING AN OFFICER'S REQUEST TO DRAW A PATIENT'S BLOOD. IS THIS PATIENT UNDER ARREST? MAN: NO. DO YOU HAVE AN ELECTRONIC WARRANT? NO. TONIGHT, NURSE ALEX WUBBELS SITTING DOWN WITH US TONIGHT NURSE ALEX WUBBELS SITTING DOWN WITH US ABOUT THE SHOCKING SCENE CAUGHT ON CAMERA. HE WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE AND TRYING TO WRENCH MY ARMS BEHIND MY BACK. A PATIENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HOSPITAL, INVOLVED IN A DEADLY AND FIERY CRASH, UNCONSCIOUS; THE NURSE TELLING THE OFFICER THERE WAS A POLICY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS AGREED TO WITH THIS HOSPITAL. WITH HER MANAGER ON THE LINE,... DETECTIVE JEFF PAYNE OF THE SALT LAKE CITY POLICE MOVES IN FOR THE ARREST. (SCREAMS) SOMEBODY HELP ME! BUT I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT I THINK ANY NURSE IN THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY WOULD HAVE DONE THE EXACT SAME THING I DID THAT DAY. WUBBELS SAID SHE WAS SIMPLY FOLLOWING ORDERS. THE DETECTIVE SAYS SO WAS HE. I EITHER GO AWAY WITH BLOOD IN VIALS OR BODY IN TOW. THAT'S MY ONLY CHOICE. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW MY BOSS'S INSTRUCTIONS. THAT'S MY ONLY CHOICE. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW MY BOSS' INSTRUCTIONS. TONIGHT, THAT ARRESTING OFFICER AND HIS SUPERVISOR ARE NOW ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. SINCE THE FOOTAGE WENT VIRAL, IT'S EMERGED THE PATIENT THE NURSE WAS PROTECTING WAS A RESERVE POLICE OFFICER. MYANMAR'S LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, IS FACING GLOBAL CONDEMNATION FOR FAILING TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY'S ROHINGYA MUSLIMS. NEARLY 90,000 HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBOURING BANGLADESH DURING A DEADLY MILITARY CRACKDOWN ON THE RELIGIOUS MINORITY. MANY HAVE MADE IT TO CAMPS, BUT IT'S THOUGHT THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES ARE TRAPPED ON THE BORDER WITHOUT FOOD, WATER OR MEDICINE. AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS REMAINED SILENT SO FAR, AND THERE ARE GROWING CALLS FOR HER NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO BE REVOKED. PHILIPPINES FORCES SAY THEY'RE CLASHING WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS THEY MAKE A FINAL PUSH ON ISIS HOLD OUTS. AS THEY MAKE A FINAL PUSH ON ISIS HOLD-OUTS. SOME ARE HOSTAGES AND SOME ARE BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY OF THE MILITANTS, WHO ARE NOW TRAPPED IN JUST A FEW POCKETS THE BATTLE'S RAGED FOR MORE THAN 100 DAYS, WITH THE LOSS OF MORE THAN 800 LIVES, MOSTLY INSURGENTS. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. SAM, A BUSY NIGHT AHEAD? IT IS PILING ON. Here is the front. The first damages along the western coastline. Actually a little bit further north than we thought, so Auckland is now in line for the showers. In terms of thunderstorms, they are offshore at the moment. If you felt like it has been a Wet year, you would be right. These are in millimetres. Hamilton and Dunedin are not far off that yearly average as well. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THE KIWI KIDS STRUGGLING WHEN IT COMES TO WATER SKILLS. WHY SO FEW HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE IN WATER ` THAT'S AHEAD. ANOTHER ROYAL BABY'S ON THE WAY, BUT THERE'S A HITCH FOR THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE. LOOKING AT OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT. NATIONAL'S BILL ENGLISH HAS MADE A $1B PROMISE TO LIFT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME NATIONAL'S PUT A TARGET ON THE ISSUE. IF RE-ELECTED, IT'S PROMISING A $2B FAMILY SUPPORT PACKAGE, INCLUDING LIFTING ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENTS AND CUTTING TAX. LABOUR'S JACINDA ARDERN IS TURNING UP THE HEAT ON THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WITH A VOW TO RESPOND IN KIND TO AUSTRALIAN MOVES TO WITHDRAW EDUCATION SUBSIDIES, BUT LABOUR WOULDN'T REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR AUSTRALIANS TO ACCESS WELFARE IN NZ. A WORRYING LACK OF BASIC WATER-SURVIVAL SKILLS AMONG KIWI CHILDREN IS BEING HIGHLIGHTED IN A NEW STUDY. THE RESEARCH SHOWS MOST PRIMARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN CAN'T SWIM 100M, AND HAS WATER SAFETY ADVOCATES CALLING FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THE WAY CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT. MARK HATHAWAY HAS MORE. KIWI KIDS APPEAR TO BE GROWING LESS CAPABLE IN THE WATER. I THINK THEY NEED MORE LESSONS. I THINK THEY NEED MORE TIME IN THE POOL; THEY NEED A MORE INTEGRATED APPROACH TO WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING. A STUDY LED BY OTAGO UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER CHRIS BUTTON FOUND 62% OF 6- TO 11-YEAR-OLDS COULD NOT SWIM 100M AND FAILED TO RETAIN INFORMATION ON HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE WATER. THE STUDY GROUP WAS RELATIVELY SMALL ` ONLY 48 CHILDREN TAKING PART. THAT IN ITSELF IS A KEY FINDING AND MIGHT REFLECT A BIT OF APATHY TO NZ FAMILIES TOWARDS THIS AREA. WATER SAFETY NZ SAYS THE DATA REINFORCES WHAT IT'S ALREADY SEEING IN ITS DROWNING STATISTICS AND WANTS HIGHER PRIORITY GIVEN TO SWIMMING EDUCATION. WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE; WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE AQUATIC EDUCATION MORE STRUCTURED IN THE CURRICULUM. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SAYS ITS UP TO SCHOOLS TO DECIDE HOW MUCH SWIMMING TO TEACH, AND CHRIS BUTTON THINKS THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN 10 LESSONS A TERM, BUT THE COSTS OF LESSONS AND TRANSPORT CAN ADD UP. THE SCHOOLS DO A GREAT JOB IN GETTING THE KIDS INTO THE SWIMMING PROGRAMS BUT A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE RESTRICTED, AND THE COST MAKES IT PROHIBITIVE. AND WITH ONLY 2% OF DROWNING DEATHS OCCURRING IN A POOL, WATER SAFETY NEW ZEALAND IS FUNDING A SECOND STUDY FOCUSSING ON PLACES WITH THE MOST RISK. THE RESEARCHERS BEHIND TODAY'S FINDINGS WILL RUN TRIALS IN ENVIRONMENTS LIKE RIVERS OVER THE SUMMER, LOOKING AT WAYS TO TEACH SURVIVAL SKILLS IN CONDITIONS LESS COMFORTABLE THAN A TYPICAL SWIMMING POOL. THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE LIMITATION THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING ` MORE SWIMMING LESSONS NEED TO INCLUDE SOME OF THESE KEY SURVIVAL SKILLS. SKILLS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PREVENT A DAY IN THE WATER ENDING IN TRAGEDY. MARK HATHAWAY, 1 NEWS. BABY NUMBER THREE IS ON THE WAY FOR THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE, BUT AS WITH HER PREVIOUS PREGNANCIES, THE DUCHESS IS AGAIN SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MORNING SICKNESS. THE BBC'S NICHOLAS WITCHELL REPORTS. THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE LAST WEEK WITH HER HUSBAND AND PRICE HARRY. NO HINT THEN OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A THIRD BABY FOR WILLIAM AND CATHERINE. KENSINGTON PALACE WAS FORCED TO DISCLOSE THE PREGNANCY THIS MORNING, BECAUSE THE DUCHESS HAD HAD TO PULL OUT OF A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE OF ACUTE MORNING SICKNESS ` THE CONDITION SHE EXPERIENCED FOR BOTH HER PREVIOUS PREGNANCIES. SHE'S NOW RESTING AT KENSINGTON PALACE. ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT, THE QUEEN ` OPENING THE QUEENSFERRY CROSSING NEAR EDINBURGH THIS MORNING ` AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE NEWS. THE BABY WILL BE THE QUEEN'S SIXTH GREAT-GRANDCHILD AND WILL BE FIFTH IN LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE THRONE. (CHEERING) IT'S MORE THAN FOUR YEARS NOW SINCE THE BIRTH OF PRINCE GEORGE IN JULY 2013. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT WEEK FOR HIM. HE'S DUE TO START AT HIS NEW SCHOOL IN LONDON ` SOMETHING HIS MOTHER CERTAINLY WON'T WANT TO MISS. THE COUPLE'S SECOND CHILD, PRINCESS CHARLOTTE, WAS BORN IN MAY 2015. SHE'S FOURTH IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION, AND SHE WILL RETAIN THAT POSITION EVEN IF THE NEW BABY IS A BOY. ON A VISIT BY THE CAMBRIDGES TO POLAND A FEW WEEKS AGO, CATHERINE JOKED ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER BABY WHEN SHE WAS PRESENTED WITH A GIFT INTENDED FOR A BABY. IT DIDN'T SEEM SIGNIFICANT AT THE TIME. TODAY PRINCE HARRY SAID HE WAS DELIGHTED AT THE PROSPECT OF BEING AN UNCLE AGAIN. FANTASTIC. GREAT. VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR THEM. AND HOW'S YOUR SISTER IN LAW DOING? UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN HER FOR A WHILE, BUT I THINK SHE'S OK. THE NEWS THAT THERE'S TO BE A THIRD CHILD FOR THE CAMBRIDGES COMES JUST AS WILLIAM IS BEGINNING FULL-TIME ROYAL DUTIES. SOON THE TEAM OF FOUR WILL BECOME FIVE. KENSINGTON PALACE HASN'T SAID WHEN THE NEW BABY IS DUE, BUT IT MUST BE ASSUMED THAT IT WILL BE AROUND MARCH OF NEXT YEAR. ROYAL-BABY-NAME FEVER'S ALREADY TAKING HOLD, AND ACCORDING TO BRITISH BOOKIE WILLIAM HILL, 'ALICE' IS TOPPING THE GIRL'S LIST AT 10:1, ARTHUR ` THE FAVOURITE BOY'S NAME AT 12:1. ANDREW'S HERE WITH SPORT. THE ALL WHITES SAFELY THROUGH TO THE NEXT STAGE OF WORLD CUP QUALIFYING. MORE FROM THE SOLOMON'S MATCH NEXT. ALSO TONIGHT, THE WESTERN FORCE LOSE THEIR COURT BATTLE TO STAY IN SUPER RUGBY. SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO PEOPLE? THE FORCE NOW LOOK TO FORM A NEW REBEL COMPETITION. PLUS ` THE ALL BLACKS ARE TAKEN TO HEART IN TARANAKI AND OFFERED A SPECIAL 'ROYAL' VISIT. AND WE HAVE THE MATCH OF THE US TENNIS OPEN ` A REMARKABLE COMEBACK BY THE COMEBACK KING. THE ALL WHITES ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL STAGE OF QUALIFYING FOR NEXT YEAR'S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA BUT NOT BEFORE A COUPLE OF HICCUPS. THEY'VE BEEN HELD TO A 2-2 DRAW THIS AFTERNOON BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN HONIARA. THE AWAY MATCH PROVED A TOUGH ASSIGNMENT, GUY HEVELDT REPORTS. PRE-GAME, THE SOLOMON ISLANDS' COACH HAD ALREADY CONCEDED DEFEAT IN THE OCEANIA QUALIFYING FINAL, AND LESS THAN 13 MINUTES IN, IT WAS CLEAR WHY,... MYER BEVAN HAS SCORED FOR NZ. IT'S HIS FIRST GOAL FOR HIS COUNTRY. ...AND WHEN THE SOLOMONS GAVE AWAY A STRANGE OWN GOAL NOT LONG AFTER, THE TIE WAS ALL BUT DEAD AND BURIED. IT WAS A DIFFICULT DAY TODAY. I WAS PLEASED TO GET THE JOB DONE. THE SOLOMONS BAGGED PENALTIES EITHER SIDE OF HALFTIME TO LEVEL THE SCORES. BUT REALLY, THE SECOND LEG WAS PURELY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WHITES COACH ANTHONY HUDSON TO BLOOD SOME YOUNGER PLAYERS AND AVOID MORE YELLOW CARDS OR PICKING UP INJURIES. YOU HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE HOME TEAM. THEY WERE PLAYING FOR PRIDE. THEY GAVE US A REAL TEST. WITH THE EASIER STAGE OF QUALIFYING NOW OUT OF THE WAY, NZ WAITS TO SEE ITS OPPONENT FROM SOUTH AMERICA FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL PLAY-OFF WITH THE NEXT ROUND OF GAMES TOMORROW. WE HAD A FEW PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION. IT WAS TOUGH, BUT I WAS PLEASED TO GET THROUGH TO THE FINAL. JOB DONE FOR NOW, BUT THE ROAD TO RUSSIA 2018 TAKES A SERIOUS TURN FOR NZ. GUY HEVELDT, 1 NEWS. IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO GRAB THE HEADLINES ` THE BARRETT BOYS BACK IN THEIR HOME PROVINCE OF TARANAKI, REPRESENTING THE ALL BLACKS. THE MOMENT WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASING FOR LOCK SCOTT BARRETT, WHO, AFTER PLAYING FOR CANTERBURY, HAS RETURNED TO HIS ROOTS. JOHN MCKENZIE SPOKE WITH HIM THIS AFTERNOON. AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS DOWN SOUTH, SCOTT BARRETT'S BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. MAN: GOOD TO BE HOME? YEAH, NO, IT IS AWESOME. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SUN SHINING. ALTHOUGH INSTEAD OF WEARING HIS NEW PROVINCIAL AMBER-AND-BLACK OUTFIT, CHANCES ARE HIS HOMECOMING WILL BE IN BLACK. YEAH, I THINK IT'LL BE THAT EXTRA BIT SPECIAL. I THINK ANYTIME YOU RUN OUT IN THE ALL BLACKS JERSEY, IT'S A MOMENT WE CHERISH, AND TO DO THAT AT HOME, IT'LL BE THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL. WITH MANY PICKING SAM WHITELOCK TO BE RESTED THIS WEEKEND, BARRETT HAS A CHANCE TO START AT LOCK ALONGSIDE BRODIE RETALLICK. ONE CLUE ` THE PAIR HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AS ROOMMATES FOR THE WEEK. MAN: A FEW OF THE BACKS, THEY'RE ALL ON THEIR PLAYSTATIONS. IS THAT THE SAME IN YOUR GUYS' ROOM? (CHUCKLES GENTLY) YEAH, WE'VE GOT A PLAYSTATION IN OUR ROOM. WE'VE BEEN PLAYING A BIT OF 'CRASH BANDICOOT', ACTUALLY. SINCE HIS ALL BLACKS DEBUT IN CHICAGO LAST YEAR... SCOTT BARRETT! BARRETT! ...BARRETT'S IMPROVEMENT UNDER THE NATIONAL COACHES HAS BEEN IMMENSE. IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO BELIEVE HE'S STILL ONLY 23. THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OUR LOCKS TO KEEP GROWING AND GETTING BETTER, AND OBVIOUSLY WITH BRODIE AND SAM, WE'VE GOT TWO PRETTY GOOD BENCHMARKS, BUT, YOU KNOW, SCOTT'S JUST A YOUNG LOCK GROWING, AND HE'LL GET BETTER AND BETTER. TOMORROW'S A DAY OFF, SO BARRETT WILL INSTEAD PLAY TOUR GUIDE. FEW REQUESTS FROM THE BOYS ` THEY WANNA COME OUT AND HAVE A LOOK AT THE FARM TOMORROW, SO TAKING A VAN DOWN AND SHOWING THEM AROUND. HE SAID HE'S TAKING A FEW BOYS UP TO THE FARM TOMORROW. ARE YOU GONNA GO ALONG? NAH, I NEVER GOT THE INVITE FOR THE ROYAL VISIT (!) YOU GET THE FEELING FOSTER WON'T TAKE IT TO HEART IF HIS YOUNG LOCK LEADS HIS SIDE TO VICTORY IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE HIS OFFICIAL HOMECOMING. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS. THE DOOMED WESTERN FORCE SUPER RUGBY TEAM COULD BE HEADING TO THE COURT OF APPEAL IN AUSTRALIA OR ABOUT TO SET UP THEIR OWN REBEL COMPETITION. THE NEW SOUTH WALES SUPREME COURT HAS RULED AGAINST THE FORCE'S APPEAL TO HALT THEIR AXING FROM SUPER RUGBY. THAT MEANS AUSTRALIA OFFICIALS CAN NOW LEGALLY REMOVE THE PERTH-BASED OUTFIT. (SNIFFLES) (CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK) SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO PEOPLE? YOU GIVE 12 YEARS SERVING A STATE, SERVING A COUNTRY, AND THEY TAKE IT ALL OVER A STUPID LETTERING OF THE LAW, UM, BUT WE'RE LUCKY WE GOT PEOPLE HERE FIGHTING. PITY THAT THEY DIDN'T FIGHT FOR US. THE IRONY IS THE WALLABIES PLAY THE SPRINGBOKS IN PERTH THIS WEEKEND, WITH SOME CALLING FOR RUGBY FANS TO BOYCOTT THE TEST. THE FORCE'S BILLIONAIRE BACKER WANTS TO FORM A NEW SIX-TEAM INDO-PACIFIC COMPETITION. I WILL BE RELEASING DETAILS IMMEDIATELY OF THE INITIAL ADMINISTRATION STRUCTURE AND CAN ASSURE ALL OF YOU THAT DISCUSSIONS HAVE COMMENCED ACROSS THE WORLD AND WITHIN OUR OWN STATE AND COUNTRY. WHO'S PLAYING IN THE COMPETITION, APART FROM THE WESTERN FORCE, REMAINS A MYSTERY. RAFAEL NADAL AND ROGER FEDERER HAVE CRUISED THROUGH TO THE QUARTER-FINALS AT THE U.S. OPEN, BUT THEY'VE BEEN COMPLETELY UPSTAGED TODAY BY A PLAYER WHO'S BEEN CLOSE TO RETIRING SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST FEW SEASONS. THE DAY BELONGED TO FORMER OPEN CHAMPION, FORMER AUCKLAND TITLE-HOLDER JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO, WHO STUNNED ONE OF THE SPORT'S NEW YOUNG GUNS. ABBY WILSON REPORTS. (APPLAUSE, CHEERING, CHANTING) IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS NEW YORK, YOU'D THINK JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO HAD JUST WON IN FRONT OF A HOME CROWD. FIGHT LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (APPLAUSE, CHEERING) AND WHAT A FIGHTBACK IT WAS. IN THE FIRST SET, THE ARGENTINEAN WAS ALL OVER THE SHOW AGAINST DOMINIC THIEM. (SPECTATORS EXCLAIM) OH, WAY LONG. THE INJURY-PLAGUED WORLD NUMBER 28 STRUGGLED WITH HIS EYES AND EVENTUALLY SOUGHT MEDICAL HELP. WHATEVER HE WAS GIVEN STARTED WORKING IN THE THIRD. AFTER JUST FIVE WINNERS IN THE FIRST TWO SETS, SUDDENLY, THERE WAS LIFE. THE ARGENTINIAN IS BACK IN THE MATCH. THE CROWD WAS IN AWE WHEN THE MATCH WENT TO A FOURTH SET AND EVEN MORE IMPRESSED WHEN DEL POTRO THWARTED TWO MATCH POINTS WITH BOOMING ACES. THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP, RIGHT? BY THE TIME HE'D LOCKED IN A DECIDING FIFTH, THE FANS COULD BARELY CONTAIN THEMSELVES. (CROWD ROARS) NO WAY! (INCREDULOUS LAUGHTER) DEL POTRO HIT 31 WINNERS TO THE WORLD NUMBER EIGHT'S 51, BUT STATISTICS DON'T ALWAYS WIN MATCHES. IT'S OUT! (CROWD ROARS) TO TOP OFF THE REMARKABLE VICTORY, HE'S BOOKED A QUARTER-FINALS SHOWDOWN WITH ROGER FEDERER, KOHLSCREIBER IN STRAIGHT SETS. (APPLAUSE, CHEERING) STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE TWO MET IN THE 2009 U.S. OPEN FINAL, WHERE DEL POTRO CLAIMED HIS SOLE GRAND-SLAM CROWN, ALTHOUGH HE FELT TODAY'S PERFORMANCE WAS ALMOST AS WORTHY. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE TROPHY AFTER THESE FIVE MATCHES. (CHUCKLES) HIS NEXT FIGHT WILL BE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS THREE-HOUR-30 EPIC. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS. JUSTIN THOMAS HAS JOINED TIGER WOODS, JORDAN SPIETH AND JASON DAY AS THE ONLY PLAYERS TO WIN FIVE TIMES IN A SINGLE SEASON IN THE LAST 10 YEARS ON THE PGA TOUR. THOMAS HAS COMPLETED A THREE-SHOT VICTORY IN THE SECOND EVENT OF THE PLAY-OFFS IN BOSTON, CARDING A FINAL ROUND FIVE-UNDER-PAR 67. (APPLAUSE, CHEERING) WHAT A YEAR IT CONTINUES TO BE. SPIETH FINISHED ALONE IN SECOND, WHILE EVEN THE CAMERAMAN WAS IN THE FIRING LINE FROM OVERNIGHT LEADER, AUSSIE MARC LEISHMAN, WHO FADED TO FINISH THIRD. AFTER LIMITED APPEARANCES THIS SEASON FOR THE BRISBANE BRONCOS, BENJI MARSHALL SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF AT THE CENTRE OF THEIR NRL PLAYOFF HOPES. INJURED SKIPPER DARIUS BOYD HAS RULED HIMSELF OUT OF THE QUALIFIER AGAINST THE SYDNEY ROOSTERS THIS FRIDAY, SPARKING A BACKLINE RESHUFFLE WHERE MARSHALL LOOKS SET TO START AT HALFBACK. BENJI'S PLAYED PLENTY OF FINALS BEFORE. HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE. THE FORMER KIWIS CAPTAIN RETURNS TO THE WESTS TIGERS NEXT SEASON. THIS SECURITY GUARD MIGHT NOT BE, THOUGH ` CAUGHT NAPPING DURING THE WARRIORS RECORD-SETTING NINTH CONSECUTIVE LOSS ON SUNDAY. OFTEN LINKED TO RUGBY, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY'S THREE-A-SIDE BASKETBALLERS WILL BE TAKING A MASSIVE LEAP WHEN THEY FLY OFF TO CHINA FOR THE WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS NEXT WEEK. WITH BOTH THE LINCOLN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TEAMS WINNING THEIR NATIONAL TITLES BACK IN APRIL, THEY'RE NOW ABOUT TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST. MATT HALL-SMITH EXPLAINS. IN 3X3 BASKETBALL, IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING EVERY SHOT COUNT. WITH JUST A 12-SECOND SHOT CLOCK, ONE SUB AND NO TIMEOUTS, IT'S NO WONDER SOME OF THESE LINCOLN UNI PLAYERS HAVE BEEN GETTING RUN OFF THEIR FEET. YEAH, I'D PROBABLY SAY FITNESS-WISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING MORE GAMES A DAY, RATHER THAN 5X5, WHERE IN A TOURNAMENT, YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE OR TWO GAMES A DAY. 3X3 ` THINK WE PLAYED NINE GAMES AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPS. WITH GAMES JUST 10 MINUTES LONG, IT'S FOLLOWING A SIMILAR PATH TO THE SUCCESS OF TWENTY20 CRICKET AND SEVENS RUGBY. THE ABBREVIATED VERSION'S CLEARLY THE REAL APPEAL IN ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING SPORTS. EVERY TIME THE BALL GOES THROUGH THE HOOP, YOU KICK IT OUT, AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO GET OUTSIDE THE 3-POINT LINE, AND THEN YOU JUST PLAY. SO IT'S A RUNNING CLOCK, AND, YEAH, IT'S REAL QUICK. FOR THE ATHLETES, THE TRIP TO CHINA IS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TRAINING TOWARDS FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS, AND WITH THE SPORT EXPECTED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE OLYMPICS IN 2020, THE PROSPECT OF A MEDAL COULD WELL BE WITHIN THEIR SIGHTS. I MEAN, IT'S A GOAL FOR ALL OF US. I MEAN, OLYMPICS WOULD BE ANY KID'S DREAM. SORT OF A DIFFERENT TO 5X5, SO IT MAY GIVE US MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THE OLYMPICS. DURING THE TOURNAMENT, THE PLAYERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO BE COACHED, AND EVEN THE SIZE OF THE BALLS ARE MODIFIED TO FIT THE FAST-PACED GAME. THEY'RE A SIZE SIX BUT HAVE THE WEIGHT OF A SEVEN. I THINK IT'S MORE FOR GUYS SO THEY CAN DUNK AND DO COOL TRICKS, COS, YEAH, YOU SEE MORE OF THAT IN 3X3, YEAH. SO AFTER WATCHING SOME OF THE BEST YOUNG BALLERS IN THE COUNTRY PULL OFF THEIR TRICKS, I THOUGHT I'D TRY ONE OF MY OWN. EASIER SAID THAN DONE, RIGHT? MATT HALL-SMITH,... (CHEERING) ...1 NEWS. SHE'S GOT THE SAME HAIRDO SHE HAD IN UNIVERSITY. THE PERILS OF BEING THE THIRD CHILD TONIGHT. YES, WE ARE. COMING UP ` FROM METH TO MUSIC. DO YOU FEEL LIKE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE? YEAH. WOW. THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT. THE WILD CHILD TURNED RAPPER WANTING TO STOP OTHERS HITTING ROCK BOTTOM. PLUS, I'LL BE JOINING MIKE AND TONI ON 'SEVEN SHARP' TONIGHT, DEFENDING THE MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS. AND BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS. NEW ZEALAND GROWS 40% OF THE WORLD'S CARROT SEED. IT'S INCREDIBLE STATISTICS. MEET THE MAN ON A MISSION TO GET YOU EXCITED ABOUT SEEDS. SEE YOU IN 10. THE WEATHER IS CERTAINLY COMING IN. FLARING UP WORSE THAN TONI'S HAIRDO THIS EVENING. THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE, TRACKING HIGHER THAN WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. THIS IS THE FRONT THAT PUSHES OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. QUITE STRONG OVER THE NORTH ISLAND. PUSHES ON TO THE SOUTH ISLAND AS WELL. A WHOLE LIST OF WARNINGS. WEST COAST HAS THE WORST. THIS IS WHAT THE FRONT DOES. GETS A PULSE OF ENERGY AHEAD. THE ODD SCATTERED FALL ON THE COASTLINE. SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. CLEARS THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ Because it's such a miserable forecast, one more look at this cute little monster.