IT'S MIDDAY. A CITY SUFFERING CRITICALLY LOW WATER SUPPLY ` BUT ARE NAPIER'S RESIDENTS TAKING THE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY? WE'RE LIVE IN HAWKES BAY. OUTRAGE OVER CLAIMS THAT FOREIGN MONEY MEANT TO KEEP THE PEACE IN SYRIA IS BEING FUNNELLED TO EXTREMISTS. AND WOULD YOU BUY SUPERMARKET FOOD PRICED FROM 20 CENTS? WAIT... THERE'S A CATCH. CAPTIONS BY STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017 AHI AHI MARIE. NAPIER RESIDENTS ARE BEING URGED TO CONSERVE WATER AGAIN TODAY, AFTER WATER SUPPLY LEVELS REACHED CRITICALLY LOW LEVELS YESTERDAY WITH PEOPLE BEING TOLD THEIR TAPS COULD RUN DRY AT ANY MINUTE. BUT IT APPEARS SOME ARE NOT TAKING THE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY. REPORTER SEAN HOGAN IS LIVE FROM NAPIER. SEAN. BEHOLD HERE IN nAPIER. PEOPLE ARE WASHING THEIR CARS OF SELF-SERVICE CAR WASHES. THEY ARE USING HUNDREDS OF LITRES OF WATER. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE cITY cOUNCIL ABOUT THIS iN THIS VIOLATES THE RESTRICTIONS. They have said that this is a conscious choice by people. As a conscious choice by a citizen to wash their cars And they need to be thinking about whether they are doing their bit for the community. I have just been and a press conference with the Napier City Council And there was some good news. Most citizens have heeded the warnings And taken this restrictions seriously. By mid-morning they were about 80% full tthe infrastructure director at the Napier City Council Said restrictions could be lifted in the next couple days. What is the advice for residents? What he was going to say it was the fact that there were supposed to be water restrictions Till the end of the week But now it looks like they could be lifted in the next few days. They say please don't wash your garden, though for example And no taps on outside And still keep conscious choices And putting buckets in the shower And waited to wash your car for the next couple of days. But they have really been applauding the citizens of Napier For doing a really good job of saving the water currently. These obstructions can be lifted in the next few days. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED AROUND 80,000 STUDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ITS 'FEES FREE' TERTIARY POLICY STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR. THOSE STUDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR FIRST YEAR OF STUDY PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT, WITH PLANS TO EXTEND THAT TO THREE YEARS BY 2024. IT'S AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T STUDIED BEFORE OR HAVE DONE LESS THAN HALF A YEAR OF FULL-TIME STUDY. PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN SAYS IT'S ABOUT MAKING EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE. ORGAN DONORS WILL, FROM TODAY, BE PAID 100% OF THEIR INCOME WHILE THEY RECOVER. THE LIVE ORGAN DONATION LAW IS MEANT TO HELP FAMILY OR FRIENDS WHO DONATE ORGANS TO THEIR LOVED ONES, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DONATE BY GIVING THEM BETTER FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAN THE SICKNESS BENEFIT PREVIOUSLY ON OFFER. THEIR MONEY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM, PEOPLE FROM THE LOWER END OF THE SOCIO ECONOMIC SPECTRUM ` THAT MIGHT BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DONATE AN ORGAN TO THEIR LOVED ONE, SO WE THINK IT'S REPRESENTED A BARRIER TO PEOPLE DONATING KIDNEYS AND PARTS OF LIVERS. AND THAT, IN TURN, LEAVES PEOPLE WITHOUT ORGANS, SO WE THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT MOVE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE DONATING. DONORS WILL BE PAID FROM THE DAY THEY RECEIVE SURGERY UNTIL 12 WEEKS AFTER, WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN RECOVERY. PART OF AN ASHBURTON FOOD FACTORY THAT CAUGHT FIRE LAST NIGHT HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED THIS MORNING. 50 FIREFIGHTERS WERE INITIALLY CALLED TO THE BLAZE. THREE WERE HOSPITALISED WITH BURNS. JORDAN OPPERT IS AT THE SCENE WITH THE LATEST. JORDAN. FIRE CREWS WERE CALLED TO THIS ASHBURTON SITE AROUND 7.30 LAST NIGHT, AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THE FIRE WAS WELL INVOLVED, SO THEY INSTANTLY GOT CREWS FROM WAIMATE RIGHT THROUGH TO CHRISTCHURCH. THE CHIEF FIREMAN HERE THIS MORNING SAID THERE WAS ANYWHERE FROM 55-PLUS FIREMEN AND 20 TRUCKS. THREE FIREMEN WERE BURNT LAST NIGHT. TWO REMAIN IN ASHBURTON HOSPITAL, AND ONE HAS SINCE BEEN RELEASED. NOW, THEY DID HAVE WATER ISSUES TO START WITH, SO THEY HAD TO TAP INTO THE FARMER'S IRRIGATION NEARBY. THEY SAY THEY'RE VERY LUCKY THAT THAT IS A FOOD PLANT, RATHER THAN A FERTILISER, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER BALANCE PROPERTIES, AND THEY SAID THAT USUALLY THERE'S 18 PEOPLE ON SITE, BUT LAST NIGHT THERE WAS JUST TWO. THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE IS STILL UNKNOWN, AND TWO FIRE INVESTIGATORS REMAIN HERE TODAY WORKING OUT THE CAUSE. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE FISH. THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM A NEW REPORT THAT SAYS OUR RELAXED RECREATIONAL FISHING LAWS ARE A MAJOR THREAT TO FISH STOCKS. RESEARCHERS WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN UP THE RULES. MICHAEL CROPP REPORTS. IT'S A POPULAR PASTIME, BUT ITS FUTURE IS IN DOUBT, WITH FISH STOCKS PLUNGING IN RECENT YEARS. NOW A NEW REPORT IS CALLING FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THE WAY WE FISH FOR FUN. THE CRAYTWO STOCK, THAT'S DOWN. THE SCALLOPS AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. BLUE COD. THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE LOOKING LIKE WE REALLY NEED TO GIVE THEM MORE ATTENTION. THE SAME GOES WITH SNAPPER. DR BESS SAYS RECREATIONAL FISHING ACCOUNTS FOR 36% OF THE TOTAL CATCH IN THE COUNTRY. HE WANTS A REPRESENTATIVE BODY TO LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT TO FUTURE-PROOF OUR FISHING LAWS. FISHERIES MINISTER STUART NASH SAYS HE'LL LOOK INTO IT. BUT AN EXISTING FISHING LOBBY GROUP SAYS THERE ARE ALREADY INFORMAL EFFORTS TO LOOK AFTER OUR INSHORE FISH STOCKS AND WE SHOULD KEEP THE FOCUS ON THEM. WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO CONSTRAIN, WE CONSTRAIN. THE PUBLIC HAVE A PROUD HISTORY OF TAKING VOLUNTARY MEASURES TO LEAVE MORE FISH IN THE WATER. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE'RE CONTINUALLY DESIGNING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO HAVE LESS IMPACT. OUR MISSION IS TO ADDRESS OUR POOR BEHAVIOUR AND IMPROVE IT. BUT DR BESS SAYS WITH THE FUTURE OF THE CATCH NO LONGER GUARANTEED, THE TIME FOR VOLUNTARY MEASURES HAS PASSED AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST ACT. MICHAEL CROPP, 1 NEWS. FRUSTRATIONS ARE GROWING IN SOUTHLAND OVER THOUSANDS OF TONNES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE FROM THE TIWAI ALUMINIUM SMELTER BEING STORED IN THE REGION. THE OLD MATAURA PAPER MILL IS THE LATEST LOCATION TO STORE THE WASTE AFTER PROCESSING COMPANY TAHA INTERNATIONAL OPPONENTS SAY IF THE MATERIAL INSIDE GETS WET, IT WILL CREATE A TOXIC AMMONIA CLOUD AND COULD POISON THE NEARBY RIVER. THERE'S BEEN SOME WICKED ACTINGS. I THINK IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY POOR ACTION THAT EVER ALLOWED FOR THIS DROSS TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE SMELTER AND STORED HERE IN OUR TOWN. TOWNS AREN'T FOR DROSS. A CLOSED DOOR MEETING WAS HELD AT THE INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE RECEIVERS TELLING 1 NEWS THEY HOPE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE WASTE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SEVERAL OF AUCKLAND'S BEST BUSHWALKS ARE FACING CLOSURE AS OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH KAURI DIEBACK. MEMBERS OF AUCKLAND COUNCIL ARE MEETING RIGHT NOW TO DISCUSS WHETHER TO CLOSE THE WAITAKERE RANGES, WHICH HAS SEEN 20% OF ITS KAURI TREES INFECTED WITH THE DISEASE. I DON'T WANT FOR MY MOKOPUNA TO READ REPORTS ABOUT THE TREES THAT USED TO BE... THAT USED TO STAND THERE. KAURI DIEBACK DISEASE WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN 2006. THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE. THERE'S BEEN A STARTLING DEVELOPMENT IN THE US, WITH THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWING THE NEWEST VERSION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BAN TO TAKE EFFECT PENDING APPEAL. IT MEANS SOME STATES MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO RULE IN FAVOUR OF THE BAN IN THE FUTURE. THE LATEST MODEL PLACES VARYING LEVELS OF RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM EIGHT MAINLY MUSLIM COUNTRIES. THE INFAMOUS TAPE THAT EXPOSED DONALD TRUMP BOASTING ABOUT GRABBING WOMEN INAPPROPRIATELY IN 2005 IS BACK IN THE HEADLINES. A FORMER AMERICAN TV HOST HAS CONFIRMED HE HEARD MR TRUMP JOKING ABOUT THE BEHAVIOUR. HIS COMMENTS FOLLOW REPORTS THAT THE PRESIDENT IS NOW QUESTIONING IF THE TAPES WERE REAL, AND PRIVATELY TELLING ALLIES THAT THE VOICE ON THE RECORDING WASN'T HIS. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS FULLY ENDORSED AN ALABAMA SENATE CANDIDATE WHO IS EMBROILED IN A CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL. ROY MOORE IS CURRENTLY FACING ALLEGATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH UNDERAGE GIRLS. DESPITE THIS, THE POLLS SHOW HE IS THE FRONTRUNNER. YEMEN'S LONG-SERVING FORMER PRESIDENT ALI ABDULLAH SALEH HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED BY HIS ONE-TIME ALLIES, THE HOUTHI REBELS. IT'S A MAJOR BLOW TO THOSE SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR. JUST DAYS AGO, MR SALEH SAID HE WAS READY TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE SAUDI-LED COALITION FIGHTING IN THE COUNTRY. THE BBC'S JEREMY BOWEN REPORTS. HOUTHI FIGHTERS KILLED SALEH AS HE TRIED TO FLEE SANA'A ` THE CAPITAL ` FOR HIS HOMETOWN. MOBILE PHONE VIDEOS OF HIS CORPSE HAD ECHOES OF THE DOWNFALL OF ANOTHER LONGER-SERVING ARAB LEADER ` LIBYA'S COLONEL GADDAFI SIX YEARS AGO. SINCE SALEH'S DEATH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR COVER, AS SAUDI-LED AIR STRIKES HIT HOUTHI TARGETS. SANA'A'S HARD-PRESSED HOSPITALS TOOK IN MORE PATIENTS. THE WAR WAS ALREADY A MAN-MADE CATASTROPHE. THE UN FEARS THAT NEW POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY AFTER SALEH COULD MAKE IT WORSE. A KEY COMMODITY SUCH AS FUEL AND FOOD ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY, AND WE NEED THOSE TO MAINTAIN OUR SUPPORT TO 7 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A REALLY BAD STATE. AND WITH FAMINE ROUND THE CORNER AND THE CHOLERA RE-EMERGENCE AND THE THREAT OF THAT AGAIN, IT MAKES FOR A VERY TRAGIC FUTURE. FOR ALMOST A WEEK, SANA'A HAS BEEN ROCKED BY YET ANOTHER FRONT IN YEMEN'S WAR. SALEH'S MEN AND THE HOUTHIS FOUGHT FOR THE CITY. THE FIGHTING FOLLOWED MONTHS OF TENSIONS BETWEEN THEM, AND RUMOURS THAT SALEH WAS ABOUT TO SELL-OUT HIS FORMER ALLIES ` THE HOUTHIS. THEN ON SATURDAY, HE ANNOUNCED IT WAS TIME FOR A NEW PAGE WITH THE SAUDI-LED COALITION THAT SINCE 2015 HAS BEEN BOMBING YEMEN, AND TRIED TO DESTROY THE HOUTHIS. SALEH CALLED GOVERNING YEMEN 'DANCING ON THE HEADS OF SNAKES.' HE WAS VERY GOOD AT DOING DEALS WITH YEMEN'S TRIBES, BUT IT LOOKS AS IF HE TRIED TO MAKE ONE DEAL TOO MANY ` SWITCHING SIDES IN THE WAR. AND TO STOP IT HAPPENING, THE HOUTHIS WERE PREPARED TO KILL HIM. THE HOUTHIS ARE A POWERFUL YEMENI FACTION. THEY SWEPT INTO SANA'A IN 2014 IN ALLIANCE WITH ALI ABDULLAH SALEH AND HIS MEN. BUT IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN WHO CONTROLS THESE STREETS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AND ITS ALLIES. THEY SAY THE HOUTHIS TAKE ORDERS FROM IRAN, SO THE CONFLICT HERE BECAME PART OF THE BIGGER CONFRONTATION ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST BETWEEN THE SAUDIS AND THE IRANIANS. YEMEN WAS THE POOREST ARAB COUNTRY BEFORE THE WAR PUSHED IT TO A NEW LEVEL OF MISERY. SALEH'S KILLING COULD CREATE MORE CHAOS, MAKING THE LIVES OF YEMENIS TO BECOME PAWNS IN THE QUARRELS OF MUCH BIGGER POWERS EVEN MORE HELLISH. A FOREIGN AID PROJECT FOR CIVILIAN POLICE IN SYRIA HAS BEEN SUSPENDED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AFTER A BBC INVESTIGATION FOUND SOME OF THE MONEY DONATED WAS DIVERTED TO EXTREMISTS. BRITAIN IS ONE OF SIX COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE BEEN FUNDING THE FREE SYRIAN POLICE, SET UP TO BRING LAW AND ORDER TO PARTS OF THE COUNTRY CONTROLLED BY OPPOSITION FORCES. THE BBC'S JANE CORBIN REPORTS. FOR EIGHT MONTHS IN 2016, BRITISH AID MONEY MEANT TO PAY SALARIES FOR THE POLICE, WAS HANDED OVER BY THEM TO AN EXTREMIST GROUP ` NOUR AL-DIN AL-ZINKI. THE POLICE WE FUND ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ZINKI'S BARBARIC JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH STANDS ACCUSED OF TORTURE AND SUMMARY KILLINGS. THE COMPANY WHICH RUNS THE AID PROJECTS, ADAM SMITH INTERNATIONAL, OR ASI, TOLD US THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF CASH GOING TO ZINKI, AND ASI HAS STRICT GUIDELINES IN PLACE TO ENSURE DETAINEES ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY AND HUMANELY. PANORAMA ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IN 2014, POLICE WERE PRESENT AT THE STONING OF TWO WOMEN IN NORTHERN SYRIA. SOMEONE WHO WORKED FOR ASI IN SYRIA AGREED TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED. ASI SAID THE STONING WAS ONLY FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE COMPANY TOOK OVER THE PROJECT, AND THE MEN WERE NOT FORMALLY OFFICERS, AND HAD SINCE BEEN REMOVED PERMANENTLY. THE FREE SYRIAN POLICE ALSO COOPERATE WITH THE SO-CALLED JUSTICE SYSTEM, AL NUSRA, THE SYRIAN BRANCH OF AL QAEDA. SO HOW DID A BRITISH AID PROJECT EVER GET INVOLVED WITH EXTREMIST COURTS? YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE BEING SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HOMOSEXUALITY. CLEARLY THAT IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE BY ANY STANDARD. THE IDEA THAT BRITISH TAX PAYERS' MONEY WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WILL, OF COURSE, BE WHOLLY ABHORRENT. THE FOREIGN OFFICE HAS SUSPENDED FUNDING WHILE IT INVESTIGATES, BUT SAYS THE WORK IN SYRIA IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL INTEREST, AND IT ROBUSTLY MONITORS ALL AID PROGRAMMES. IT WAS WIDELY EXPECTED THAT BRITAIN AND THE EU WOULD REACH AN AGREEMENT ON BREXIT IN BRUSSELS OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS, BUT IT WASN'T TO BE. IT WAS ALL SMILES BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY AND PRESIDENT OF THE EU COMMISSION EARLIER IN THE DAY, WHO WERE LOOKING TO FINALISE A DEAL, BUT THEN... THIS. BUT ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES, SOME DIFFERENCES DO REMAIN, NEGOTIATION AND CONSULTATION. AND THOSE WILL CONTINUE, BUT WE WILL RECONVENE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK, AND I AM ALSO CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL CONCLUDE THIS POSITIVELY. IT WAS NORTHERN IRELAND THAT PROVED TO BE THE STICKING POINT. THE CONSTITUENT COUNTRY OF THE UK DOESN'T WANT CUSTOMS POSTS REINTRODUCED AT ITS BORDER, AND IS WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE CHECKPOINTS AT PORTS FOR SHIPS TRAVELLING TO AND FROM BRITAIN. AND NORTHERN IRELAND'S POLITICAL PARTY, THE DUP, HOLDS A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AFTER IT SIDED WITH THERESA MAY'S COALITION TO GIVE HER MAJORITY AFTER THE SNAP ELECTIONS IN JUNE. NOW ANY DECISIONS REGARDING BREXIT MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY THE PARTY, AND IT IS ADAMANT IT WANTS TO LEAVE THE EU UNDER THE SAME TERMS AS THE REST OF THE UK. 'WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.' THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM ONE BRITISH SUPERMARKET CHAIN THAT'S BECOME THE FIRST TO SELL FOOD BEYOND ITS EXPIRY DATE, AND AT JUST 20 CENTS AN ITEM. 125 'EAST OF ENGLAND' STORES WILL SELL DRIED AND TINNED PRODUCTS AS PART OF A TRIAL TO REDUCE MILLIONS OF TONES OF WASTED FOOD EVERY YEAR. THE BBC'S SIMON GOMPERTZ HAS MORE. THE SUPERMARKET WHERE THEY'RE BUSTING THE BEST BEFORE DATES. THE 125 EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPS WILL SELL ITEMS BEYOND THEIR DATES FOR JUST 10 PENCE EACH, SAYING 'WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.' WE THOUGHT THIS PRODUCT WOULD LAST QUITE A WHILE IN THE BINS THAT WE'VE SET UP, SPECIAL DISPLAY BINS, BUT IT LASTED A MATTER OF HOURS. NOTHING LASTS MORE THAN A DAY NOW. THE AIM IS TO DO MORE TO CUT THE QUANTITY OF FOOD WHICH IS CHUCKED OUT. THE UK THROWS AWAY OVER 7 MILLION TONNES OF IT EVERY YEAR. AROUND �13B IS EDIBLE. EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OP THINKS IT CAN SAVE 50,000 ITEMS A YEAR. OF THE BIGGER PLAYERS, TESCO SAYS IT PUTS DISCOUNTS ON ITS FOOD CLOSE TO ITS BEST BEFORE DATE AND OFFERS IT TO CHARITIES IF IT DOESN'T GO. SAINSBURY'S DONATES IT TO LOCAL GOOD CAUSES. WAITROSE DOES THAT AND SELLS SOME TO STAFF AT KNOCKED-DOWN PRICES. THE DIRECTOR OF THE ANTI-FOOD WASTE GROUP RAP WELCOMES THE CO-OP'S NEW APPROACH. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD STEP AT THE MOMENT. LET'S FOCUS ON THIS AND SEE HOW THE PUBLIC RESPOND, HOW THEIR CUSTOMERS RESPOND, AND THEN LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT IMPLICATIONS THIS MIGHT HAVE FOR A WIDER ROLL-OUT. SO, AT THE MOMENT, THE 10P FOOD PAST IT'S BEST BEFORE DATE IS ONLY FOR CO-OP CUSTOMERS IN EAST ANGLIA. BUT IF THE IDEA WORKS, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE PRESSURE ON OTHER SUPERMARKETS TO DO THE SAME. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` AU REVOIR TO AN ALL BLACK FLANKER. WHY JEROME KAINO COULD BE LEAVING OUR SHORES FOR FRANCE. WHO IS IN AND WHO IS OUT? THE BLACKCAPS NAME THEIR SQUAD FOR THEIR NEXT TEST IN HAMILTON. MAN: Look around. As the Favourites come out, it begins. Observing with an eagle eye. Mastering the art of stashing. Oh, brilliant move, Gran! Cadbury Favourites. . All right, so, this is Tim. 34-year-old male. RTC. Multi-vehicle... VOICES OVERLAP I think about the car crash a lot. I know he caused it and I reacted the best way possible. But it's hard to let it go. SOMBRE MUSIC When I asked what had happened to him, the doctors said he really wore the impact ` any more and things would've been much worse. They said he was lucky ` lucky I wasn't going any faster. Thank you. SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES It's OK. MUSIC CONTINUES It's OK. TO SPORT NOW, AND BLACKCAPS SELECTORS HAVE CONTINUED TO ENTRUST THEIR FAITH ON ROOKIE WICKETKEEPER TOM BLUNDELL AFTER HIS HEROICS ON DEBUT AGAINST THE WEST INDIES. BLUNDELL OUSTING REGULAR WICKETKEEPER BJ WATLING ONCE AGAIN AS HE CONTINUES TO RECOVER AFTER A NIGGLING HIP INJURY. BLACKCAPS COACH MIKE HESSON ADMITTING BLUNDELL'S TIDY EFFORT WITH THE GLOVES AND UNBEATEN CENUTRY WAS TOO HARD TO IGNORE. WE'VE ALWAYS SHOWN A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ENCUMBANTS. BJ WATLING HAS BEEN A WORLD-CLASS PERFORMER OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR US. Blundell shows us that he deserves more opportunities in time. MEANWHILE, BLACKCAPS BOWLER TIM IS ALSO RETURNING TO THE SQUAD AFTER MISSING THE FIRST TEST ON PATERNAL LEAVE, WHILE THERE'S ALSO ROOM FOR PACEMAN LOCKIE FERGUSSON. MEANWHILE, FRESH FROM HIS DOMESTIC CRICKET DEBUT FOR CANTERBURY, BEN STOKES HAS BEEN TIPPED TO JOIN ENGLAND'S ODI PROVISIONAL SQUAD AFTER THE ASHES BY BRITISH MEDIA. THE 26-YEAR-OLD ALL ROUNDER APPEARS CLOSER TO KNOWING IF HE WILL FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR A STREET BRAWL AFTER HIS ENGLAND TEAMMATE ALEX HALES WAS CLEARED FROM THE INCIDENT. ACROSS THE DITCH IN ADELAIDE, AND AUSTRALIA ARE STILL IN CONTROL OF THE SECOND ASHES TEST WITH A 268 RUN LEAD, DESPITE A LATE NIGHT COLLAPSE GIVING ENGLAND HOPE HEADING INTO DAY FOUR. AUSTRALIA'S SKIPPER, STEVE SMITH, PAYING DEARLY FOR NOT ENFORCING THE FOLLOW-ON, AS HIS SIDE LIMPED TO STUMPS AT 53/4 AFTER THEIR BOWLERS HAD EARLIER BLITZED ENGLAND FOR 227. REPORTS OUT OF FRANCE HAVE SUGGESTED VETERAN ALL BLACK JEROME KAINO IS IN TALKS WITH FRENCH CLUB TOULON. IT'S CLAIMED THE 81-TEST LOOSIE WILL MOVE AFTER THE NEXT SUPER RUGBY SEASON WITH THE 34-YEAR-OLD STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN A STARTING SPOT IN THE ALL BLACKS THIS SEASON. THE MOVE WOULD SEE KAINO JOIN UP WITH FORMER TEAMMATES MALAKAI FEKITOA AND MA'A NONU. THE EYES OF THE SPORTING WORLD WILL BE ON THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE'S UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT ON WHETHER IT'LL BAN RUSSIA FROM THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS. THE IOC IS UNDER HUGE PRESSURE FROM INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS AND FELLOW ATHLETES TO COMPLETELY EXCLUDE THE OLYMPIC POWERHOUSE OVER ALLEGATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL DOPING. 25 RUSSIANS HAVE NOW BEEN IN THE LAST MONTH FOR DOPING DESPITE MOSCOW STRONGLY DENYING THE ALLEGATIONS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. BEFORE WE GET TO THE WEATHER, HERE'S A REMINDER OF THE SPECTACULAR SUPER MOON FROM TODAY, LIVE ORGAN DONORS WILL BE PAID 100% OF THEIR INCOME WHILE THEY RECOVER FROM SURGERY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED AROUND 80,000 STUDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT'S 'FEES FREE' TERTIARY POLICY STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR. BEFORE WE GET TO THE WEATHER, HERE'S A REMINDER OF THE SPECTACULAR SUPER MOON NEW ZEALANDERS WERE TREATED TO LAST NIGHT. IT SHONE 30% BRIGHTER THAN THE MOON ON AN ORDINARY EVENING AND HAPPENS WHEN THE MOON IS CLOSEST TO EARTH DURING ITS ORBIT. IT ISN'T THAT RARE. A SUPER MOON WOULD HAPPEN ROUGHLY EVERY 14 MONTHS, AND THEY COME IN GROUPS. SO THIS IS THE FIRST ONE OF A GROUP OF THREE, SO WE HAD ONE LAST NIGHT, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP OVER THE NEXT MONTH. NOW, IT'S FRENCH. IT'S FURRY AND VERY, VERY CUTE. FRANCE'S FIRST BABY PANDA HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN GIVEN THE NAME YUAN MENG, MEANING A DREAM COME TRUE. ITS NAME WAS BESTOWED BY CHINESE DIGNITARIES AND FRANCE'S FIRST LADY AT A ZOO SOUTH OF PARIS. TRADITION DICTATES THAT ANY PANDA BORN IN CAPTIVITY IS NAMED BY CHINA. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REST OF TODAYS WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.