IT'S MIDDAY. THREE FAMILY MEMBERS STRUCK DOWN IN HOSPITAL ` THE CAUSE OF THEIR MYSTERY ILLNESS IS STILL UNKNOWN. POLITICAL TURMOIL IN ZIMBABWE AS SOUTH AFRICAN LEADERS HOLD CRISIS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE. PLUS, AUCTIONED OFF FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED SUM. THE ICONIC DA VINCI ARTWORK THAT WAS LOST FOR CENTURIES. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017 AHI AHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING INTO THE UNKNOWN ILLNESS WHICH HAS LEFT THREE MEMBERS OF THE SAME WAIKATO FAMILY IN A VEGETATIVE STATE IN HOSPITAL. STRUCK DOWN AT THEIR HOME A WEEK AGO, THE CAUSE IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. EMILY VAN VELTHOOVEN HAS THE STORY. THREE MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY, SUDDENLY STRUCK DOWN WITH A MYSTERY ILLNESS. SUBI BABU, HER HUSBAND SHIBU, AND HIS MOTHER WERE RUSHED TO HOSPITAL A WEEK AGO, AND HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE SINCE. DOCTORS REMAIN PERPLEXED AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. BUT FAMILY FRIENDS SAY A MEAL THEY ATE TOGETHER COULD BE THE CAUSE. THROUGH A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, BECAUSE THE CHILDREN DID NOT HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THE PARENTS HAD. THEY WERE PUT TO BED EARLY. SO IT'S AFTER THAT THAT THEY COOKED THE WILD BOAR, AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THEY HAD THAT THE CHILDREN HADN'T HAD. AND ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AFTER THEY HAD IT, THE STARTED TO THROW UP. SHIBU'S MOTHER, BEING 62, PASSED OUT FIRST. SHIBU RANG THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HE PASSED OUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE CONVERSATION. ALL THREE REMAIN IN A VEGETATIVE STATE. ONE IN THE WAIKATO HOSPITAL, ON THE HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT. THEY HAVE PERIODS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. BY CONSCIOUSNESS WE MEAN EYES OPEN, BUT NO RESPONSE. THEY DON'T TALK, THEY DON'T SPEAK. AND THEN THEY GO INTO A TOTALLY VEGETATIVE STATE AFTERWARDS. THERE ARE SPAMS, WHICH ARE INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS, OF HANDS AND FEET, MORE LIKE CONVULSIONS MORE THAN ANYTHING. IT'S COMPLETELY INVOLUNTARY. SOME MEDICAL EXPERTS ARE DIAGNOSING THE ILLNESS AS BOTULISM, BUT OTHERS BELIEVE THE WILD BOAR MEAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CAUSE. I THINK WE'RE JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS THAT IT IS WILD BOAR MEAT THAT CAUSED THIS. I MEAN, MEAT CAN CAUSE BOTULISM, BUT IT HAS TO BE BASICALLY STORED BADLY, AND IT HAS TO BE IN A SEALED CONTAINER WITHOUT ADEQUATE REFRIGERATION. AND ALSO, IF SOMETHING IS COOKED THOROUGHLY, IT DOES KILL THE TOXIN. THIS MORNING THE FAMILY REMAIN IN A STABLE CONDITION, BUT, WITH NO DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT MADE THEM SICK, DOCTORS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO START A TREATMENT PLAN. WE CAN SEE WHAT IT'S DONE TO THE THREE ADULTS. WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD'VE DONE TO THE CHILDREN. WHICH JOJI SAYS IS THE ONLY SILVER LINING. EMILY VAN VELTHOOVEN, 1 NEWS. AUSTRALIA'S IMMIGRATION MINISTER HAS EDGED OPEN THE DOOR FOR SOME OF THE MANUS ISLAND REFUGEES TO BE RESETTLED IN NEW ZEALAND. IN AN INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT, PETER DUTTON SAID A DEAL BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS POSSIBLE, AND AUSTRALIA COULD NOT STOP IT. BUT MR DUTTON SAID IT WOULD BE AGAINST AUSTRALIA'S WISHES, AND PUT AT RISK THE TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONSHIP. EARLIER THIS WEEK PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN SAID THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IS TO WORK WITH AUSTRALIA. TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS NOW, AND CRISIS TALKS ARE BEING HELD IN ZIMBABWE AFTER ITS LONG-TERM LEADER ROBERT MUGABE WAS PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST BY THE MILITARY. OFFICIALS FROM NEIGHBOURING SOUTH AFRICA ARE MEETING THE 93-YEAR-OLD AND ALSO ZIMBABWE'S GENERALS WHO DENY THERE'S BEEN A COUP. THE BBC'S SHINGAI NYOKA HAS MORE. IT LOOKS LIKE NORMAL LIFE ` THE DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK, CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL. BUT LOOK MORE CLOSELY. TANKS ON STREET CORNERS, AND WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, DELICATE AND INTENSE HORSETRADING OVER ZIMBABWE'S FUTURE IS TAKING PLACE. AND HERE'S THE EVIDENCE THE FIRST IMAGES OF ROBERT MUGABE SINCE HE WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST. IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT THE 93-YEAR-OLD STILL LOOKS IN CHARGE. ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SHOT IS AN ENVOY FROM SOUTH AFRICA. AND HERE HE IS WITH CONSTANTINO CHIWENGA ` THE GENERAL MANY BELIEVED ORDERED THE TAKEOVER. REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEIGHBORING AFRICAN STATES HAVE ARRIVED IN ZIMBABWE TO FACILITATE A DEAL THAT COULD DETERMINE WHETHER PRESIDENT MUGABE STAYS OR LEAVES. ROBERT MUGABE'S POWER IS IT BEING AWAY. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE UNLESS HE RESIGNS OR AGREES TO A HANDOVER PLAN. ALTHOUGH THE ARMY HAS SET THINGS GOING, ZANU PF, THE PARTY MUGABE CREATED, MIGHT FORCE HIM OUT. EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, MUGABE'S FORMER DEPUTY AND BELIEVED TO BE BEHIND IT, HAS SEVERAL CARDS HE COULD PLAY. HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE WAR VETERANS ` THE INFLUENTIAL GROUP WHO MUGABE IN POWER ` WHO NOW APPEAR TO HAVE TURNED AGAINST HIM. THE OTHER POWER GROUPS THAT WILL BE KEY IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS ARE THE PARTIES YOUTH AND WOMEN'S LEAGUE. THE MILITARY WANT TO ENSURE THAT HIS DEPARTURE IS DONE BY THE BOOK. MUGABE NEEDS TO BE PERSUADED TO RESIGN. THAT IS THE OBVIOUS ROUTE TO TAKE. ZIMBABWE'S ONCE AGAIN AT THE CENTER REGIONAL CRISIS TALKS. AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE, A NATION WAITS. MUGABE MAY BE 93 YEARS OLD, BUT HE IS STILL A SHREWD, SHARP AND, SOME WOULD SAY, CUNNING NEGOTIATOR ` THE ULTIMATE COMEBACK KID. ELSEWHERE, THE GREEN PARTY IS BEING ACCUSED OF 'HORSE-TRADING' THE US SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON HAS CALLED FOR A CREDIBLE AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE PLIGHT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ROHINGYA MUSLIMS WHO'VE FLED MYANMAR BECAUSE OF A VIOLENT CRACKDOWN BY THE AUTHORITIES THERE. 800,000 PEOPLE HAVE CROSSED FROM MYANMAR INTO NEIGHBOURING BANGLADESH. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DESCRIBED THE CRISIS AS 'ETHNIC CLEANSING'. THE BBC'S JUSTIN ROWLATT REPORTS. FROM THE BOAT, YOU CAN SEE TENTS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TRAPPED ON THE BEACHES. SOME 60 PEOPLE ARRIVED ON THIS RAFT MADE OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS LASHED TOGETHER WITH ROPE. ONE BIG WAVE COULD'VE BROKEN IT APART. YET BABIES AND GRANDPARENTS MADE THE JOURNEY. THEY TELL THE SAME, NOW FAMILIAR, STORIES OF VIOLENCE AND HORROR. 'THEY KEPT US FROM THAT BEACH FOR A MONTH AND A HALF,' SHE SAYS. 'WE HAD SO LITTLE FOOD. 'THE ARMY SHOT MY HUSBAND, BLINDING HIM IN ONE EYE.' 12,000 PEOPLE WILL BE GIVEN FOOD AT THIS ONE FEEDING STATION TODAY. IT IS BASIC NUTRITION ` JUST RICE, LENTILS AND A LITTLE OIL, BUT IT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU ALIVE. THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 800,000 ROHINGYA REFUGEES HERE. NO WONDER THEY'RE CALLING THIS PLACE THE MEGA CAMP. AND EVERY DAY, IT GROWS AND GROWS. THINGS ARE GETTING MORE ORDERLY. THE MEGA CAMP IS GETTING ROADS AND BRIDGES. (PEOPLE CHEER) THOUSANDS OF TOILETS HAVE BEEN DUG IN JUST THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND GEOPHYSICISTS USE DRONES TO HELP FIND AQUIFERS DEEP UNDERGROUND. HOW IMPORTANT IS CLEAN WATER IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS? CLEAN WATER IS FUNDAMENTAL TO EVERYTHING HERE. WITHOUT THAT, WE WILL HAVE OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE ` CHOLERA, TYPHUS ` WITHIN DAYS OR WEEKS AT THE MOST. BUT THE TRUTH IS, THIS IS STILL BASICALLY A GIANT OPEN-AIR PRISON. SOLDIERS GUARD THE ROADS OUT OF THE CAMP, REFUGEES AREN'T ALLOWED TO LEAVE, AND THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO MYANMAR. DESPITE ALL THE EVIDENCE OF ATROCITIES, EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE MYANMAR GOVERNMENT ISSUED A REPORT THAT EXONERATED ITS ARMY FROM ANY BLAME. NEW ZEALAND IS JOINING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD IN A BID TO PHASE OUT THE USE OF COAL. THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE TO POWER PAST COAL IS MEETING AT THE INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN GERMANY. NEW ZEALAND GREEN PARTY LEADER JAMES SHAW SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT WE DO OUR PART TO CUT EMISSIONS. NEW ZEALAND EMITS LESS THAN 1% OF THE GLOBAL TOTAL, BUT IF YOU ADDED UP ALL OF THE COUNTRIES THAT EACH INDIVIDUALLY EMITS 1% OR LESS, THEN, TOGETHER, WE ARE UP TO A QUARTER OF THE GLOBAL TOTAL. SO COMBINED, WE CAN MAKE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE THAN CHINA OR THE US, OR THE EUROPEAN UNION AND SO ON. SO BEING SMALL DOESN'T ABSOLVE US RESPONSIBILITY. WE EACH INDIVIDUALLY NEED TO DO OUR PART. THE GROUP IS PROMISING TO SUPPORT CLEAN POWER SOURCES AND RESTRICT FINANCING FOR COAL POWER STATIONS. ELSEWHERE, THE GREEN PARTY IS BEING ACCUSED OF 'HORSE-TRADING' AND ABANDONING ITS PRINCIPLES OVER THE SO-CALLED WAKA JUMPING BILL. THE BILL WOULD STOP MPs FROM STAYING IN PARLIAMENT IF THEY WANT TO LEAVE THEIR PARTY. THE GREENS HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO THE POLICY THE PAST, BUT LEAKED EMAILS REVEAL THEY'VE TOLD LABOUR THEY'LL SUPPORT THE BILL IN RETURN FOR A NATIONAL PARIHAKA DAY. I THINK THIS IS THE ONE THAT THE GREENS ARE REALLY IN TROUBLE WITH, BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING. AND IF THEY DO DECIDE TO VOTE FOR IT, EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE VERY SUSPICIOUS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT, 'YES, WHAT ELSE ARE THE GREENS WILLING TO TRADE AWAY 'IN TERMS OF THEIR PRINCIPLES?' I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW POLITICS OPERATES. BUT THERE IS THAT RISK, OF COURSE, THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE FAITH IN POLITICS. THREE WHANGANUI SCHOOLS AND A PRE-SCHOOL WENT INTO LOCKDOWN THIS MORNING AFTER A REPORT OF A MAN CARRYING A GUN. POLICE WERE ALERTED TO THE SIGHTING IN THE SUBURB OF TAWHERO JUST BEFORE 8 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. DESPITE AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH, NO ONE MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION WAS FOUND AND POLICE WERE STOOD DOWN. TO AUSTRALIA ` AND WHEN IT COMES TO LITERACY, BOYS ARE BEING OUT-PERFORMED BY GIRLS AT EVERY LEVEL OF SCHOOL. SO TO INTRODUCE YOUNG MALE STUDENTS TO THE JOYS OF SHAKESPEARE OR JANE AUSTEN, TODAY'S TEACHER'S ARE HAVING TO GET CREATIVE. THE ABC'S NATASHA ROBINSON REPORTS. IT'S ONE SCHOOL'S REMEDY FOR DISTRACTION ` 20 MINUTES OF READING, FIRST THING EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING. WE BEGAN TO NOTICE A RELUCTANCE IN THE BOYS WITH THEIR READING. IN TERMS OF THEIR CONCENTRATION, IT WAS GOING DOWN AND DOWN. NOW THESE BOYS ARE GETTING THROUGH A FEW BOOKS A WEEK. SOME STUDENTS HAVE EVEN BECOME AUTHORS. SOME OF OUR YOUNG MEN ARE INVOLVED IN NOVELLA PROJECTS ON A SUNDAY, WHERE THEY'RE WRITING 30,000-WORD NOVELS. THE SCHOOL HAS TEAMED UP WITH THE SYDNEY STORY FACTORY, TO HELP STUDENTS PERFORM SHAKESPEAREAN POEMS, AND IT'S REAPING ACADEMIC REWARDS. OUR SCHOOL IS EXCELLING IN THE AREA OF LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR ENGLISH FACULTY IS THE BEST PERFORMING FACULTY ACROSS THE SCHOOL, IN TERMS OF HSC RESULTS. IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY NATIONALLY. IN YEAR 5, ONLY 90% OF BOYS PERFORM AT OR ABOVE THE MINIMUM STANDARD FOR WRITING. THAT'S COMPARED WITH 96% OF GIRLS. AND IN YEAR 12, BOYS MAKE UP ONLY A THIRD OF STUDENTS TAKING HIGH LEVEL ENGLISH COURSES. FOR THE YOUNG MEN ACROSS AUSTRALIA WHO ARE SHUNNING ENGLISH, THESE BOYS HAVE A SIMPLE MESSAGE. I GUESS SHAKESPEARE'S INTERESTING, ALTHOUGH EVERYONE SEEMS TO SAY 'HE SEEMS BORING,' MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE OLD LANGUAGE AND SO, IT REALLY DOES HELP YOU WITH YOUR WRITING. 'ASK ME TOMORROW, AND YOU SHALL FIND`' BRINGING BACK THE BARD FOR A BRAND NEW GENERATION. NOW, CANTABRIANS CAN ENJOY A DAY OFF TODAY AS THEY CELEBRATE THE REGION'S ANNIVERSARY. AND MANY OF THEM ARE EXPECTED TO TURN OUT FOR THE 155TH ANNUAL SHOW DAY. OUR REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT IS THERE NOW. JORDAN, WHAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE DOWN THERE? It might be a public holiday, but thousands of people have turned up here today. Over the three days the show runs Wednesday to today, they are expecting 100,000 people. With me I have Geoff Bone Who is the director. It is great we have auctioneers Midland competitions, This place is full of kids they are playing with Ferris wheels and animals. Ladi-6 is on the stage. It is so nice seeing so many smiling faces. We are here till 5.30 Some of these people work in the horse arenas for 12 or 13 hours, but they are still smiling.They have done a great job. What does it mean to Christchurch to have this massive event? 100,000 people over three days For the economy it is amazing. For the Canterbury rural and city Communities, it brings them together. It means an awful lot. The weather is brilliant so they are spending more action and store. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` GOING, GOING, GONE. A WORK OF ART FROM LEONARDO DA VINCI SELLS FOR AN ASTONISHING AND UNPRECEDENTED FIGURE. PLUS, ALL JOKES ASIDE, COULD THIS BE THE ALL BLACKS STRONGEST SIDE TO TAKE ON SCOTLAND THIS WEEKEND? WELCOME BACK. A 500-YEAR-OLD PAINTING OF CHRIST BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BY LEONARDO DA VINCI HAS BEEN SOLD IN NEW YORK FOR A RECORD NZ$650M. THE PAINTING IS KNOWN AS SALVATOR MUNDI OR SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD. IT'S THE HIGHEST AUCTION PRICE EVER PAID FOR ANY WORK OF ART. THE BBC'S WILL GOMPERTZ REPORTS. AUCTIONEER: WHAT AM I OFFERED HERE? LET'S OPEN THIS AT 70. 70. 75. IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO FETCH AT LEAST $100M. BUT COULD IT GO ANY HIGHER? $200M IS BID. IT COULD. I THOUGHT SO. (AUDIENCE GASP, EXCLAIM) $300M. AND IT DID. $320M. WE'RE STILL NOT DONE. UNTIL... AT $400M, LEONARDO'S SALVATOR MUNDI, SELLING HERE AT CHRISTIES. $400M IS THE BID. AND THE PIECE IS... SOLD. TO GASPS AND APPLAUSE, IT REACHED AN ASTONISHING, UNPRECEDENTED FIGURE FOR A WORK OF ART SOLD AT AN AUCTION. ADD FEES, AND THE PRICE RISES TO $450M, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR A PAINTING THAT IS SAID TO BE IN POOR CONDITION AND HAS HAD QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT ITS AUTHENTICITY. ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE IT'S NOT A FAKE? WE'VE GOT ALL THE SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION. WE'VE DONE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH, AND IT ABSOLUTELY BREATHES LEONARDO ` NOT JUST THE CONNOISSEURSHIP OF SAYING, 'WOW, THAT'S LEONARDO,' BUT HE EMBEDS SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE IN A WORK OF ART. AND IN THIS CASE, A KNOWLEDGE OF ROCK CRYSTAL, WHICH IS WHAT THE SPHERE IS MADE OF. THIS PAINTING IS WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE ULTIMATE TROPHY WORK. THERE IS ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD. SO IF YOU BUY IT, YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO HAS GOT THE LAST LEONARDO DA VINCI IN PRIVATE HANDS, AND YOU HAVE GOT THE ULTIMATE TROPHY. AS TO WHO NOW OWNS SALVATOR MUNDI, WELL, WE DON'T YET KNOW. THAT IS WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE $450 MILLION QUESTION. TO SPORT, AND THE ALL BLACKS HAVE NAMED THEIR STRONGEST SIDE TO TAKE ON SCOTLAND THIS WEEKEND AT MURRAYFIELD. STEVE HANSEN HAS MADE TWO CHANGES TO THE SQUAD THAT PLAYED FRANCE LAST WEEKEND IN PARIS. CODIE TAYLOR STARTS AT HOOKER FOR THE INJURED DANE COLES, WITH ELECTRIC LOOSE FORWARD VAEA FIFITA SLOTTING IN AT BLINDSIDE FLANKER. SONNY-BILL WILLIAMS ALSO RETURNS TO THE SIDE AND TOUCHED ON HIS CROSS-CODE BLUNDER LAST WEEKEND AGAINST FRANCE. IT WAS JUST AN HONEST MISTAKE, JUST LIKE THE REF SENDING ME OFF WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE. YOU KNOW, HE CAME OUT AFTERWARDS AND SAID THAT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE SENT ME OFF. SO THE PENALTY WAS OBVIOUSLY AWARDED, BUT HE SAID THAT HE MADE THAT MISTAKE BY SENDING ME OFF. SO IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S FOOTY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE ALL BLACKS HAVE PLAYED SCOTLAND SINCE 2014, WHEN THEY WON AGAINST THE SCOTS 24-14. KIWI RACING DRIVER BRENDON HARTLEY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS A TORO ROSSO DRIVER FOR NEXT SEASON IN THE FORMULA 1. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND YEAR FOR THE 27-YEAR-OLD, DEBUTING AT THE US GRAND PRIX LAST MONTH, BEFORE SECURING THE WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP ONLY JUST LAST WEEK. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL BE A BOOST FOR HARTLEY AFTER A FRUSTRATING START TO HIS FORMULA 1 CAREER THAT'S BEEN PLAGUED BY ENGINE ISSUES. THE ALL WHITES ARE ON THEIR WAY HOME AFTER YESTERDAY'S DISAPPOINTING 2-0 DEFEAT TO PERU IN THE SECOND LEG OF THEIR WORLD CUP QUALIFIER. THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENSE EVENTUALLY CRUMBLED TO THE PRESSURE AND TACTICS FROM BOTH THE PERUVIAN FANS AND PLAYERS AS THE SOUTH AMERICANS ENDED THEIR 36-YEAR-WORLD CUP HOODOO. RADIO SPORT FOOTBALL COMMENTATOR JASON PINE ADMITTED THE BITTER FAILURE COULD BE COACH ANTHONY HUDSON'S LAST MATCH IN CHARGE OF THE ALL WHITES. THERE'S BEEN A FEW STORIES AROUND ABOUT CONTRACT OFFERS ON THE TABLE FOR HIM. I THINK IT WILL BE A SHAME IF HE LEFT, BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE DOES, BECAUSE HE IS A GUY WHO IS VERY AMBITIOUS, AND HE WANTS TO BE WORKING WITH FOOTBALLERS DAY IN, DAY OUT, RATHER THAN SITTING AROUND ON HIS HANDS, WONDERING WHEN THE NEXT GAME IS GOING TO BE. THE GROUPS OF NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CUP WILL BE DRAWN ON DECEMBER 1ST, WITH PERU CLAIMING THE TOURNAMENT'S FINAL SPOT. MEANWHILE THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX'S ALL WHITES CONTINGENT WON'T MISS OUT ON THEIR SIDE'S NEXT MATCH IN THE A-LEAGUE AFTER THEIR MATCH WITH WESTERN SYDNEY WAS POSTPONED. AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL OFFICIALS POINT THE FINGER AT THE SYDNEY SIDE'S PLAYING SURFACE, WITH FEARS AROUND PLAYER SAFETY. THE BLACK STICKS WOMEN HAVE GOT THEIR GAME FACES ON, READY TO OPEN THEIR WORLD LEAGUE TOURNAMENT AGAINST THE NETHERLANDS TONIGHT. THEIR TASK OF SWEEPING THE WORLD NUMBER ONE SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, AND IN FRONT OF A HOME CROWD, IS AN OPPORTUNITY THEY DON'T WANT TO MISS. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE CAUGHT UP WITH THEM. IT TAKES A LOT OF STUDY AND PREPARATION TO TAKE DOWN A WORLD NUMBER-ONE SIDE ` HOMEWORK THE BLACK STICKS WOMEN DON'T MIND DOING. YEAH, WE PLACE A LOT OF VALUE ON MAKING SURE WE KNOW OUR OPPOSITION REALLY WELL, AND, YUP, WE'VE BEEN DOING LOTS OF HOMEWORK ON THEM. SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE READY. THEIR FIRST POOL PLAY SHOWDOWN IS AGAINST THE NETHERLANDS ` A BIG TASK FOR THE WORLD-NUMBER-FIVE KIWIS. FOR SOME IT'LL BE THE START OF THEIR FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT. BUT FOR OTHERS IT'S A SHOT AT REDEMPTION AFTER COMING SO CLOSE TO GETTING THEIR FIRST EVER TEST MATCH VICTORY THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED. IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT! IT'S IN! AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE WON! IT MUST HAVE BEEN VERY TIGHT ON TIME. I KIND OF HAD AN INKLING IT WAS POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG. IT FELT TOO LONG, AND I SORT OF THOUGHT THEY MIGHT REFER IT, AND SO EVERYONE WAS CELEBRATING, AND I WAS THINKING LIKE, 'OH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN.' AND IT WASN'T IN. THE BLACK STICKS LOST THE MATCH BY JUST 0.2 SECONDS. ABSOLUTELY GUTTED. THEY CAME SO, SO CLOSE. WE'VE PLAYED GAMES AGAINST THEM WHERE WE'VE SOMETIMES ONLY HAD THREE GOAL SHOTS THE WHOLE GAME. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT OR COMPETE WITH NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A BIT BETTER THAN THAT. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE'S ALREADY FEELING THE PRESSURE. THEIR MOST CAPPED PLAYER, EVA DE GOEDE, HAS CONFIRMED SHE'S OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT DUE TO INJURY. BUT EVEN WITH THE DEPTH IN THEIR SQUAD, THE DUTCH ARE EXPECTING A CHALLENGE. THEY ARE GROWING AND THEY ARE VERY STRONG, PHYSICAL TEAM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALWAYS WARY OF AND AWARE OF. AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE. WITH SOME THOROUGH SCOUTING AND THE HOME CROWD ON THE BLACK STICKS' SIDE, THE KIWIS BE THE ONES TO LOOK OUT FOR. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. TO GOLF, AND LYDIA KO HAS MADE A RED HOT START IN THE LPGA'S SEASON ENDING TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN FLORIDA. KO GRABBED AN EAGLE ON THE 17TH, TO SIT TIED FOR THIRD IN THE TOURNAMENT, ONE SHOT BACK FROM THE LEAD AT FIVE UNDER 67. THE KIWI GOLFER WOULD RISE TO SIXTH ON THE OVERALL-SEASON MONEY LIST IF SHE MANAGES TO KEEP HER POSITION ON THE LEADER BOARD FOR THE REST OF THE EVENT. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. DOCTORS WAIT FOR TEST RESULTS AFTER AN UNKNOWN ILLNESS LEFT A WAIKATO FAMILY UNRESPONSIVE IN HOSPITAL. SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO FORGE A DEAL IN ZIMBABWE AS POLITICAL UNREST GRIPS THE COUNTRY. AND THE ALL BLACKS HAVE NAMED THEIR STRONGEST SIDE TO TAKE ON SCOTLAND THIS WEEKEND AT MURRAYFIELD. IT'S FRIDAY, SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW YOUR AFTERNOON WEATHER LOOKS. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THANKS FOR WATCHING. ENJOY YOUR FRIDAY. HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND. CAPTIONS BY STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND GLENNA CASALME CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017