IT'S MIDDAY. AN EMERGENCY FUND TO FILL A DESPERATE NEED ` THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE. WE'RE LIVE FOR THE LATEST. SOCIALLY ISOLATED ` WHY LONELINESS WILL BE THE CHRISTMAS THEME FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND IT'S BIG BIRD ` THE DISCOVERY ON AN OTAGO BEACH THAT HAS SCEINTISTS EXCITED. CAPTIONS BY JULIE TAYLOR AND JAKE EBDALE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017 THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVING TO PLUG A LOOMING TEACHER SHORTAGE NEXT YEAR WITH A $9.5M FUNDING INJECTION. THE MONEY WILL IN PART GO TOWARDS RECRUITING OVERSEAS TEACHERS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO PLANNING TO SLASH A BONUS PAYMENT TO NEW TEACHERS WHO WORK IN LOW DECILE SCHOOLS. POLITICAL REPORTER ANDREA VANCE JOINS US LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT. SO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING. This 9 � million dollar fund will be used to recruit teachers from Ireland, Canada and the UK. They will mainly be in Auckland where it they are needed the most. There will be further measures announced in next year's budget. There is a catch ` new teachers have been promised a bonus if they had agreed to work on low decile schools for three years. That has now been slashed. ANDREA, WILL THAT BE ENOUGH? It is a bit of a sticking plaster measure at the moment. The government has inherited this teacher shortage in Auckland. One in five Auckland School say they are going to be short at least one teacher heading into the New Year. In the long term, what they say is they need measures to encourage more teachers to stay in the profession. THANKS. ANDREA VANCE, LIVE FROM WELLINGTON. EDUCATION EXPERTS SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TEACHERS TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY NEW TESTING MODEL AFTER THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED THE DEMISE OF NATIONAL STANDARDS. LET'S GIVE TEACHERS BACK THE TIME TO TEACH ` THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. LET'S HAVE THE ARTS, SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY ` THE REALLY RICH, BROAD CURRICULUM BACK IN SCHOOLS. IF THAT'S WHAT REPLACES NATIONAL STANDARDS, WE'RE ON FOR A WINNER. SOME IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR ARE WELCOMING THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO GET RID OF SCHOOL DONATIONS AND INSTEAD OFFER $150 PER STUDENT PER YEAR BUT ARE CONCERNED THE KITTY IS GETTING TOO LOW TO FUND IT. WELL, I THINK THE SITUATION IS THAT WE'VE HAD MANY YEARS OF NEGLECT, SO IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY START ADDRESSING AND HONESTLY LOOKING AT WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD BE GETTING ` NOT JUST SCHOOLS, HEATH AS WELL AND OTHER AREAS AND SO FORTH. BUT, YEAH, IT'S TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY TIME TO LOOK AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO AFFORD IT, BUT THAT'S THEIR CHALLENGE, NOT OURS. THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THE ESCALATING SALARIES OF STATE SECTOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES. IT COMES AS A REPORT OUT TODAY BY THE STATE SERVICES COMMISSION FOUND IN THREE CASES CEOs WERE GIVEN PAY RISES ABOVE WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED. STATE SERVICES MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS IT SHOWS THE REINS NEED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE CHILDREN'S MINISTER SAYS SHE'S YET TO MAKE A DECISION TO RENEW FUNDING FOR THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY KIDSCAN. THE CHARITY SAYS IT RECEIVES $350,000 FROM THE MINISTRY FOR CHILDREN BUT THAT EXPIRES NEXT JUNE, AND WITHOUT IT, SOME CHILDREN COULD GO HUNGRY. KIDSCAN HELPS MORE THAN 160,000 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. MATERIAL HARDSHIP IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO ACTUALLY MOVE CHILDREN OUT OF. AND SO THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO FUND ORGANISATIONS LIKE OURS, WHILE THOSE POLICES ARE BEING BEDDED IN, BECAUSE IN-BETWEEN TIMES, CHILDREN ARE GONNA TO GO HUNGRY AND WITHOUT THE BASICS. CHILDREN'S MINISTER TRACEY MARTIN SAYS THE FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFERED THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WHICH EXPIRES NEXT YEAR, AND SHE CANNOT GUARANTEE THE FUNDING WILL BE RENEWED. THE MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO DETONATE A PIPE BOMB IN A NEW YORK SUBWAY TUNNEL POSTED ON FACEBOOK BEFORE THE ATTACK SAYING 'TRUMP, YOU FAILED TO PROTECT YOUR NATION.' AKAYED ULLAH (27) HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TERROR OFFENCES. HE WAS WOUNDED WHEN AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE STRAPPED TO HIS BODY FAILED TO FULLY DETONATE. THREE OTHERS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. POLICE SAY THE BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANT WAS INSPIRED BY ISLAMIC STATE. IT'S ELECTION DAY IN ALABAMA, AND VOTERS ARE HEADING TO THE POLLS TO FACE A CHOICE OVER A REPUBLICAN ACCUSED OF CHILD ABUSE. REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ROY MOORE, WHO'S BEEN ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP, IS FACING ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. A LOSS TO DEMOCRAT RIVAL DOUG JONES COULD SERIOUSLY IMPACT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ABILITY TO GET POLICY THROUGH THE SENATE. THE ABC'S LANA ZAK IS THERE WITH THE LATEST. (CHEERING) THE LATEST POLLS HAVE PUT DEMOCRAT DOUG JONES SOMETIMES BEHIND AND SOMETIMES AHEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, ROY MOORE, AN OUTCOME THAT JUST MONTHS AGO WOULD'VE SEEMED INCONCEIVABLE IN SOLIDLY RED ALABAMA. IT'S VERY EXCITING. I THINK IT'S A VERY CLEAR CHOICE FOR OUR NEW SENATOR, AND I'M EXCITED THAT THERE'S SUCH A GREAT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE RUNNING THIS TIME. JUST 33 DAYS EARLIER, THE FIRST ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WERE MADE PUBLIC AGAINST MOORE, WHO HAS BEEN ACCUSED BY EIGHT WOMEN IN A RANGE OF OFFENCES, INCLUDING SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO OF THEM AS TEENAGERS, ONE AS YOUNG AS 14. MOORE HAS DENIED ALL ALLEGATIONS, ARRIVING TO HIS POLLING STATION ON HORSEBACK TODAY. VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE, AND WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS TURNOUT. THE STATE, THE NATION IS WATCHING THIS. WHILE DEMOCRAT DOUG JONES SHOWED OFF HIS BALLOT,... NOT A SECRET. ..AND SOUNDED CONFIDENT. I DON'T THINK THAT ROY MOORE'S GONNA WIN THIS ELECTION. BUT THE PRO-CHOICE DEMOCRAT STILL FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE WITH MANY VOTERS. I'VE VOTED FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDGES, TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES, SECOND AMENDMENT AND AGAINST ABORTION. LAST NIGHT, BOTH CANDIDATES BROUGHT OUT THEIR SUPPORTERS IN A FINAL FIGHT FOR VOTES. JONES JOINED BY ALABAMA NATIVE CHARLES BARKLEY, WHO CRITICISED MOORE IN A DIRECT APPEAL TO HIS HOME STATE. AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOTTA STOP LOOKING LIKE IDIOTS TO THE NATION. AND MOORE'S WIFE, WHO ATTEMPTED TO BATTLE BACK ACCUSATIONS THAT HER HUSBAND IS ANTI-SEMITIC. FAKE NEWS WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T CARE FOR JEWS. I'M TELLING YOU ALL THIS COS I'VE SEEN IT ALL, SO I JUST WANNA SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT WHILE THEY'RE HERE. ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS IS A JEW. THAT COMMENT NOW RAISING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVANGELICAL JUDGE. FIREFIGHTERS IN CALIFORNIA ARE LIGHTING BACKFIRES TO BURN AWAY DRY VEGETATION IN AN EFFORT TO CONTAIN A MASSIVE WILDFIRE. THE THOMAS FIRE IS NOW LARGER THAN NEW YORK CITY AND IS ONLY ABOUT 20% CONTAINED. THE ABC'S MATT GUTMAN REPORTS. THIS MORNING, THE THOMAS FIRE CONTINUING ITS MARCH TOWARDS THE TOWNS OF CARPINTERIA AND MONTECITO. ON THE GROUND, THOUSANDS OF FIREFIGHTERS ARE MAKING A LAST STAND TO PROTECT HOMES, AND FROM THE SKY, AN ENORMOUS AERIAL ASSAULT. THAT IS THE FOURTH TANKER WE'VE SEEN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AND FLYING RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS. AND, JUST A HALF MILE FROM THERE, WE MET THE CLAFFY FAMILY. THEIR CARS ARE PACKED. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THEY ARE AMONG TENS OF THOUSANDS ORDERED FROM THEIR HOMES AS THE FIRE ADVANCES. A LOT OF FARMERS ARE BEING IMPACTED, AND PEOPLE DON'T REALISE THIS IS ALL AGRICULTURAL LAND. RIGHT. SO IT'S ONLY THAT YOUR HOME IS THREATENED, IT'S THAT YOUR LIVELIHOODS ARE THREATENED. OUR LIVELIHOODS. LITTLE MAISIE IS THE FIFTH GENERATION OF HER FAMILY OF FARMERS TO LIVE HERE. IN TOW ` HER PRIZED POSSESSIONS. I BROUGHT ALL OF MY SEALS. THE FAMILY ARE FLEEING THE ONSLAUGHT OF THE FIRE AND THE NOXIOUS HAZE THAT HAS SHROUDED THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER A WEEK NOW. MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE HAVE SO FAR BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES, MANY UNSURE WHEN OR IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RETURN. A RECORD NUMBER OF EMERGENCY CALLS WERE RECEIVED LAST MONTH ` JUST SHY OF 80,000 CALLS. POLICE RECEIVED NEARLY 20,000 OF THOSE ` THE HIGHEST SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 2003. WITH THE BUSY SUMMER PERIOD AHEAD, POLICE ARE ASKING CALLERS TO BE PATIENT AND ONLY CALL 111 FOR GENUINE EMERGENCIES. A BAN ON PEOPLE TAKING SEAFOOD FROM THE POPULAR NORTHLAND BEACH MATAI BAY HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY LOCAL IWI TODAY. THE RAHUI FOR THE BEACH NEAR KARIKARI PENINSULA WILL BEGIN ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER AND LAST FOR TWO YEARS IN ORDER TO PROTECT FISHERIES. ALTHOUGH THE RAHUI HASN'T BEEN LEGALLY ENFORCED, THOSE BEHIND THE PROJECT SAY THEY'VE HAD PLENTY OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND EXPECT THE BAN TO BE RESPECTED. A NEW TESTING REGIME FOR MANUKA HONEY MAY NOT GUARANTEE YOU'RE GETTING THE REAL THING. THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES HAS DEFINED WHAT 'REAL' MANUKA HONEY IS IN A BID TO PROTECT THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY FROM FAKES. BUT SOME HONEY MAKERS SAY THE RULES CAN STILL BE BENT. WE THINK THAT THERE IS STILL AN ABILITY TO BLEND HONEY THAT'S NOT MANUKA AND END UP WITH WHAT MPI STILL CONSIDER TO BE MANUKA HONEY, AND THAT'S REALLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE HONEY INDUSTRY. MPI SAYS A STICKER SYSTEM WILL IDENTIFY JARS OF PURE MANUKA HONEY OR MULTI-FLORA MANUKA HONEY. A SAD NEW STATISTIC HAS JUST EMERGED ` ONE IN FIVE FRAIL ELDERLY PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND SUFFER FROM CHRONIC LONELINESS. IN A WORLD FIRST, OVER 70,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SURVEYED IN A STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, CHRISTCHURCH, AND RESEARCHERS SAY WITH CHRISTMAS LOOMING, IT'S A TIMELY REMINDER TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF OUR ELDERLY. LISA DAVIES HAS THE EXCLUSIVE STORY. 90 YEARS OLD AND LONELY. YOU DO GET VERY LONELY WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR FRIENDS AND TELEPHONE CALLS ARE FEWER, ACTUAL KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR ARE FEWER. BUT THAT IS LIFE. IN FACT, IT'S LIFE FOR A MASSIVE 20% OF OUR FRAIL ELDERLY. I SIT THERE AND THINK, 'IF ONLY SOMEONE WOULD COME.' TV IS MY FRIEND. THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO CHRISTCHURCH LONELINESS STUDY ASSESSED OVER 70,000 ELDERLY PEOPLE. 15,000 REPORTED EXTREME LONELINESS. IT IS A SAD AND FRUSTRATING STATISTIC. THE GERIATRICIAN SAYS CHRONIC LONELINESS EVEN IMPACTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH. SOME PEOPLE, IT CAN BE MANY WEEKS WHERE THEY'RE NOT GETTING A PHONE CALL, OR ANY NEIGHBOURS VISITING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THEY'RE ISOLATED AT HOME. THE STUDY ALSO LOOKED AT WHICH ETHNIC GROUPS ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC LONELINESS, WITH ASIAN PEOPLE THE MOST LIKELY AT 23%. PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE LONELY AT 17%. AGE CONCERN CANTERBURY SAYS WITH AN AGING POPULATION, THE PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE. I WOULD SAY ITS THE LARGEST ISSUE FACING OLDER PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY. THEY RUN OVER 20 GROUPS LIKE THIS TO HELP. EVERYONE'S GOT A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. THE SPIKE'S BEEN HUGE. SO, JUST IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, ONE OF OUR SERVICES, THE CAFE GROUP SERVICE, HAS SEEN A 440% INCREASE. LIFE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY FOR DON GIBLIN. HE'S ONE OF 60,000 ELDERLY WHO HAVE LOST THEIR DRIVERS' LICENSE. I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE UNLESS SOMEBODY TAKES ME, AND, IF I'M HONEST, I'VE FOUND THAT HARD TO ACCEPT. BUT THIS OUTING IS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I REALISE I'M JOLLY FORTUNATE. YEAH, YEAH. NOW THERE'S A CALL FOR MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO HELP WITH THE GROWING SOCIAL ISSUE. IF I'VE GOT MY FALSE TEETH IN, I CAN SMILE. (BOTH LAUGH) AN ISSUE THAT ONLY INTENSIFIES AS CHRISTMAS DAY APPROACHES. LISA DAVIES, 1 NEWS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` A MAN-SIZED PENGUIN. SCIENTISTS UNCOVER THE FOSSILS OF A GIANT PENGUIN ON AN OTAGO BEACH. FIFA SLAPS A HEFTY FINE ON PERU FOR THEIR WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST THE ALL WHITES. AND CLEARED TO BOX AGAIN ` FIND OUT WHO TYSON FURY HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON. WITH OUR HIGHEST EVER ROAD TOLL STATS, ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNER'S ARE URGING MOTORISTS TO DRIVE SAFELY THIS SUMMER. THEY SAY IT'S CRUCIAL DANGEROUS DRIVING IS REPORTED SO AUTHORITIES CAN ACT OR OFFER ADVICE. ONE CAMPAIGNER SAID THE CURRENT ROAD TOLL OF 354 IS UNACCEPTABLE AND CAN BE AVOIDED. IT'S JUST THE MANNER OF DRIVING. THAT'S MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE RELAXED WHEN THEY GO AWAY, THAT THEY DRIVE DEFENSIVELY, THAT THEY OBEY ALL THE ROAD RULES, THAT THEY'RE NOT IN A HURRY. THE BEACH IS STILL GONNA BE THERE WHEN YOU GET THERE, THE LAKE IS STILL GONNA BE THERE. PEOPLE JUST NEED TO TAKE A CHILL PILL, REALISE THAT IF YOU DRIVE DEFENSIVELY, DRIVE TO THE ROAD RULES, YOU'LL AVOID ACCIDENTS. IT'LL BE TOMORROW BEFORE ROCKET LAB HAS ANOTHER GO AT LAUNCHING ITS NEW ELECTRON ROCKET. WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE HINDERING ANY ATTEMPT TODAY AFTER YESTERDAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT WAS CANNED WITH JUST TWO SECONDS' NOTICE. IT'S HOPED THE ELECTRON ROCKET WILL CLEAR THE ATMOSPHERE AND RELEASE THREE SMALL SATELLITES INTO ORBIT. THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW SPECIES OF ANCIENT GIANT PENGUIN HERE IS ATTRACTING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION. FOSSIL BONES BELIEVED TO BE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PENGUIN WERE DISCOVERED IN OTAGO, AND NOW NEW RESEARCH IS SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE EXCITING FIND. EMILY COOPER REPORTS. IT WAS TALLER THAN THE AVERAGE MAN, AND SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE THESE GIANT PREHISTORIC PENGUINS HAD VAST BREEDING COLONIES ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. THIS ONE IS UNIQUE. THERE'S NEVER BEEN ONE FOUND LIKE IT BEFORE. ONE OF THE KEY DISTINGUISHING FEATURES IS JUST IT'S SIZE. IT'S JUST ENORMOUS. STANDING AT AROUND 2M TALL, IT WOULD HAVE WEIGHED AROUND 100KG ` FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF THE LARGEST PENGUIN TODAY, THE EMPEROR PENGUIN. THE ANCIENT PENGUINS HAD LONGER, THICKER FLIPPERS AND WERE STRONG SWIMMERS. IT'S BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN THE WORLD'S FIRST PENGUIN, LIVING AROUND 60 MILLION YEARS AGO. THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS REALLY OLD. THIS IS, LIKE, FROM THE DAWN OF THE AGE OF PENGUINS. THE FOSSIL BONES WERE DISCOVERED ON A BEACH NOT FAR FROM OTAGO'S MOERAKI BOULDERS IN 2004. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS I'VE EVER FOUND. THE FOSSILS SAT ON THE SHELF FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND, WHEN THEY WERE RE-EXAMINED, PALAEONTOLOGISTS REALISED HOW EXCITING THE FIND WAS. I MEAN, NZ IS ABSOLUTELY FAMOUS FOR ITS BIRDS ALREADY ` AND ITS GIANT BIRDS ` SO THIS PUTS ANOTHER FEATHER IN NZ'S CAP. THE NEW SPECIES HAS BEEN NAMED KUMIMAMU BICAE ` 'KUMIMAMU' MEANING 'MONSTER BIRD' IN MAORI. THE FOSSILS AND A LIFE-SIZE COMPARISON WILL GO ON DISPLAY AT TE PAPA IN THE NEW YEAR. EMILY COOPER, 1 NEWS. TO SPORT, AND KIWI HEAVYWEIGHT JOSEPH PARKER BELIEVES HE'S ALREADY GOTTEN UNDER ANTHONY JOSHUA'S SKIN WITH WORD THEIR UNIFICATION FIGHT IS CLOSE TO A DEAL. FRUSTRATED AT THE BRITISH BOXER'S UNWILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE OVER A DEAL, PARKER HAS PUBLICALLY CALLED JOSHUA OUT OVER RECENT WEEKS. AN AGREEMENT FOR A BOUT NEXT MARCH NOW LOOKS IN SIGHT WITH JOSHUA'S PROMOTER EDDIE HEARN CONFIRMING A DEAL COULD BE REACHED BY SUNDAY. MEANWHILE, ONE OF THE MEN BACKING PARKER TO BEAT JOSHUA, FORMER WBO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP TYSON FURY, HAS BEEN CLEARED TO RETURN TO BOXING AFTER ACCEPTING A BACKDATED TWO-YEAR DOPING BAN FURY WAS CHARGED IN JUNE LAST YEAR FOR USING A BANNED STEROID BUT BLAMED THE RESULT ON EATING UNCASTRATED WILD BOAR. TO FOOTBALL, AND CHRIS WOOD'S CHANCES OF PLAYING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL NEXT SEASON HAVE TAKEN A BOOST AFTER BURNLEY'S 1-0 WIN OVER STOKE CITY. THE ALL WHITES STRIKER SUBBING OFF LATE IN THE SECOND HALF BEFORE A LAST-GRASP STRIKE FROM SUBSTITUTE ASHLEY BARNES ROCKETED THE CLARETS INTO FOURTH ON THE TABLE. TWO MINUTES PLUS STOPPAGES REMAINING. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) BARNES IS UP THERE. AND BARNES AGAIN! (CROWD ROARS) A SEARING FINISH! IN THE DAY'S OTHER MATCHES, CHELSEA ROMPED TO A 3-1 WIN OVER HUDDERSFIELD TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR PLACE IN THIRD ABOVE BURNLEY. THE MATCH OF THE DAY, HOWEVER, GOES TO CRYSTAL PALACE. THE EAGLES SCORING TWO GOALS IN THE SPACE OF FIVE MINUTES TO FORCE A DRAMATIC COMEBACK AFTER SPENDING ALMOST THE ENTIRE MATCH A GOAL DOWN. HE'S GOT IT IN! (CROWD ROARS) WHAT A TURNAROUND THIS IS FOR CRYSTAL PALACE! THE 2-1 WIN HOWEVER NOT ENOUGH TO LIFT PALACE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE EPL LADDER. MEANWHILE, FIFA HAS FINED PERU'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION MORE THAN $18,000 AFTER THEIR FANS WERE SEEN SHINING LASERS AT THE ALL WHITES PLAYERS DURING DURING LAST MONTH'S WORLD CUP PLAYOFF. A GREEN LASER WAS VISIBLE ON THE FACES OF ALL WHITES PLAYERS DURING THE 2-0 DEFEAT IN LIMA LAST MONTH. WEST INDIES BIG HITTER CHRIS GAYLE HAS SENT OUT A WARNING TO THE BLACK CAPS BEFORE NEXT WEEK'S ODI SERIES OPENER IN WHANGAREI. GAYLE SMASHING AN INCREDIBLE 146 OFF 69 BALLS FOR HIS SIDE, THE RANGPUR RIDERS AGAINST THE DHAKA DYNAMITES IN THE BANGLADESH PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL, WHICH INCLUDED A RECORD 18 SIXES. THE 38-YEAR-OLD ALSO BREAKING THE RECORD BOOKS IN BECOMING THE FIRST PLAYER TO REACH 20 CENTURIES IN THE T20 FORMAT. FORMER NEW ZEALAND SKIPPER BRENDON MCCULLUM GETTING A FRONT-ROW SEAT AT THE CREASE WITH THE WINDIES ALL ROUNDER, THE KIWI PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE TO GAYLE HOWEVER WITH A HALF CENTURY. TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND THE ROYAL BATTLE ` THE FORCE RE-AWAKENS FOR THESE JEDI KNIGHTS. YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. THE GOVERNMENT'S INJECTING $9.5M TO RECRUIT OVERSEAS TEACHERS AND HELP EASE A LOOMING TEACHER SHORTAGE. EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH OBTAINED BY 1 NEWS REVEALS ONE IN FIVE ELDERLY IN NEW ZEALAND SUFFER FROM CHRONIC LONELINESS. IT'S TIME FOR THE ROYAL PREMIERE OF THE LATEST STAR WARS FILM, 40 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST MOVIE BEGAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FILM FRANCHISES IN HISTORY. PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY WERE ON THE RED CARPET, AND IN A FIRST FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY, IN THE MOVIE. THE BBC'S LIZO MZIMBA WENT TO CHECK IT OUT. THE STARS OF STAR WARS ` CINEMA ROYALTY. ON THE RED CARPET WITH ACTUAL ROYALTY. PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY, SUCH FANS OF THE SAGA DURING FILMING, THEY SECRETLY PLAYED CAMEOS AS STORM TROOPERS, MUCH TO THE EXCITEMENT OF THE CAST. IT WAS GREAT. FANTASTIC. PHENOMENAL. AND THEY DID AN OFFICIAL VISIT AS WELL. THEY GOT IN THE X-RING AND STUFF, SO IT WAS FUN. ALL JUST ONE MORE INDICATION THE SERIES HAS MADE SINCE ITS RETURN. ONE KEY FACTOR IN THE RECENT SUCCESS OF STAR WARS HAS BEEN THE EXPANSION OF ITS OWN UNIVERSE WITH RESPECT TO ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION OF BOTH RACE.. AND GENDER. I THINK IF MOVIES START A CONVERSATION, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR REFLECTION OF SOCIETAL CHANGES AND PROGRESS. STAND BY. AND ACTION. SHOT HERE IN THE UK AT PINEWOOD STUDIOS, THE FILMS ARE AMONG SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE EVER MADE. ENSURING THEY CONNECT WITH 21ST CENTURY AUDIENCES IS CRUCIAL. IT'S FIVE YEARS SINCE SOME QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF DISNEY PAYING AROUND $4 BILLION FOR LUCASFILM AND THE RIGHTS TO KEEP MAKING STAR WARS FILMS. THE FIRST NEW MOVIE MADE $2 BILLION AT THE GLOBAL BOX OFFICE, AND NOW THE DEAL IS LOOKING LIKE ONE OF THE BETTER HOLLYWOOD BARGAINS. TELLING A WONDERFUL STORY, CREATING CHARACTERS THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT. WE PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE THINGS INSIDE THESE MOVIES, AND HOPEFULLY THEN SHAREHOLDERS AND BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT ARE HAPPY. BUT WE ALWAYS START WITH THAT. (CHEERING) THE STRATEGY HAS ENSURED CONTINUING ADULATION FROM FANS... LET THE PAST DIE. ...AND HELPED DISNEY CONSOLIDATE ITS POSITION AS HOLLYWOOD'S TOP STUDIO. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REST OF TODAY'S WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY JULIE TAYLOR AND JAKE EBDALE. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017