IT'S MIDDAY. A LIFE-OR-DEATH DECISION ` THE EUTHANASIA BILL PASSES THE FIRST READING, SO WILL THE PUBLIC GET TO HAVE THEIR SAY? TO THE U.S., AND IT'S BAD NEWS FOR TRUMP AS THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY SHRINKS. AND THE GREAT CHRISTMAS RIP-OFF? FIND OUT WHAT THOSE HAMPERS ARE REALLY WORTH. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017. AHIAHI MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. NEW ZEALANDERS COULD GET THE FINAL SAY ON WHETHER TO LEGALISE ASSISTED DYING IN A REFERENDUM TO BE HELD AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2020 ELECTION. ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR'S END OF LIFE CHOICE BILL PASSED ITS FIRST READING IN PARLIAMENT LAST NIGHT. THAT BILL WILL NOW HEAD TO A SELECT COMMITTEE FOR CLOSER SCRUTINY. MICHAEL CROPP REPORTS. THOSE LIVING WITH A TERMINAL ILLNESS COULD SOON BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHEN TO END THEIR LIFE. SUPPORTERS OF A BILL LEGALISING ASSISTED DYING SAY THAT CHOICE ALLOWS THEM TO DIE WITH DIGNITY IF THEIR SUFFERING BECOMES UNBEARABLE. OPPONENTS SAY IT UNDERMINES THE SANCTITY OF LIFE. OUR ROLE IS NOT PRINCIPALLY TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING; OUR ROLE IS TO ENSURE OUR SOCIETY HAS A SET OF LAWS TO PROTECT THOSE WHO MOST NEED PROTECTION. EARLIER THIS YEAR, A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, AFTER HEARING THOUSANDS OF SUBMISSIONS, CONCLUDED VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA WAS VERY COMPLICATED, VERY DIVISIVE AND EXTREMELY CONTENTIOUS. BUT ACT'S LEADER, DAVID SEYMOUR, SAYS GIVING VOTERS THE FINAL SAY IN A BINDING REFERENDUM WOULD TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF SOME PARLIAMENTARIANS. IT WOULD BE BINDING. THE WAY IT WOULD WORK IS THE BILL WOULD GO THROUGH PARLIAMENT. THEN HAVING BEEN VOTED ON BY MPs, THERE WOULD BE A QUESTION AT THE END. THIS BILL BECOMES A LAW ONLY IF THE MAJORITY OF NZERS VOTE FOR IT. AND SO AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, THERE MIGHT BE AN EXTRA BOX TO TICK. TWO PREVIOUS VOTES ON SIMILAR LEGISLATION WERE BOTH DEFEATED IN PARLIAMENT IN 1995 AND 2003. BUT EUTHANASIA OR ASSISTED DYING IS NOW LEGAL IN AROUND 10 COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS SEVERAL U.S. STATES, AND FROM NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE LEGALISED IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. AND WHILE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND RULES UNDER WHICH SOMEONE MAY CHOOSE TO END THEIR LIFE VARY OVERSEAS, IN NEW ZEALAND, IT WOULD BE CONFINED TO THOSE WHO ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD, TERMINALLY ILL AND AWARE OF WHAT EUTHANASIA IS. IN JULY, A 1 NEWS COLMAR BRUNTON POLL ASKED IF A TERMINALLY ILL PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM A DOCTOR TO END THEIR LIFE. 74% SAID YES, 18% NO, AND 9% WERE UNDECIDED. FOR THAT REASON, MR SEYMOUR IS CONFIDENT HE'LL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC. 65% OF POLITICIANS VOTED FOR THIS BILL, BUT 75% OF NZERS CONSISTENTLY SAY THEY WOULD LIKE CHOICE. LET ME PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE ` ONLY 40% OF NZERS WATCH THE ALL BLACKS. 75% IS HUGE. THE BILL WILL GO TO A SELECT COMMITTEE EARLY NEXT YEAR, WHEN THE PUBLIC WILL BE INVITED TO HAVE ITS SAY. MICHAEL CROPP, 1 NEWS. AN INVERCARGILL POLICEMAN HAS TODAY PLEADED GUILTY TO MURDERING HIS WIFE. BENJAMIN PETER MCLEAN (48) CONFESSED TO SHOOTING VERITY ANN MCLEAN ON ANZAC DAY THIS YEAR. HE ALSO ADMITTED TO THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF GARRY WILLIAM DUGGAN, WHOM HIS WIFE HAD RECENTLY BEGUN A RELATIONSHIP WITH. MCLEAN WILL BE SENTENCED ON MONDAY. ONE PERSON HAS DIED AND ANOTHER IS SERIOUSLY INJURED FOLLOWING A CRASH NEAR LAKE TEKAPO THIS MORNING. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE ON FAIRLIE-TEKAPO RD JUST BEFORE 7AM. MOTORISTS ARE BEING ADVISED TO EXPECT DELAYS. IN JUST OVER AN HOUR, THE GOVERNMENT'S MINI BUDGET WILL BE REVEALED, AND IT'S EXPECTED TO DELIVER SOME GOOD NEWS FOR FAMILIES. NATIONAL'S $2M TAX CUTS PLANNED FOR APRIL 2018 WILL BE REPLACED WITH A FAMILIES PACKAGE AIMED AT HELPING COUPLES AND THOSE WITH YOUNG BABIES. THE DOCUMENT WILL ALSO REVEAL THE GOVERNMENT'S SURPLUS, THE AMOUNT OF DEBT THEY'LL BE TAKING ON TOO. TO THE U.S. NOW, AND IN ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED POLITICAL RACES IN RECENT HISTORY, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS WON A SENATE SEAT IN ALABAMA. DOUG JONES BEAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ROY MOORE, ENDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S 25-YEAR HOLD ON THE STATE. THE UNEXPECTED VICTORY IS A BLOW TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHO'S NOW ONLY JUST LEADING THE MAJORITY. THE ABC'S LANA ZAK HAS THE LATEST. IN ALABAMA, DEMOCRAT DOUG JONES IS CELEBRATING HIS UNLIKELY VICTORY. THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA HAVE SPOKEN. JONES IS THE FIRST DEMOCRAT IN 25 YEARS TO BE ELECTED TO THE SENATE FROM ALABAMA, BESTING REPUBLICAN ROY MOORE, WHO REMAINED DEFIANT LAST NIGHT, NOT YET CONCEDING HIS LOSS. AND REALISE WHEN THE VOTE IS THIS CLOSE, IT IS NOT OVER. MOORE'S CAMPAIGN WAS BESET BY MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT OF TWO TEENAGERS. MOORE HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS, BUT THE JONES CAMPAIGN SAW A TREMENDOUS BOOST BY FEMALE VOTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. BUT MANY POLITICAL WATCHERS SAW IN THIS CAMPAIGN NOT ONLY A FLAWED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, BUT A GREATER REFERENDUM ON PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. SO THIS MEANS THAT CONGRESS IS OFFICIALLY IN PLAY. DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A SHOT TO TAKE OVER THE UNITED STATES SENATE. DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER CALLED ON REPUBLICANS TODAY TO HOLD OFF ON A VOTE ON THE TAX BILL UNTIL JONES IS SWORN IN. IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS TO JAM THROUGH THIS TAX BILL WITHOUT GIVING THE NEWLY ELECTED SENATOR FROM ALABAMA THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST HIS VOTE. BUT THE PRESIDENT, WHO CONGRATULATED JONES ON HIS VICTORY, PLANS TO PUSH FORWARD WITH TAX REFORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AND THE LEADER OF THE PARTY, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD THE SEAT. I WANNA ENDORSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT, TO ME, IT'S JUST VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THIS VOTE. LEADERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAVE ACCUSED THE U.S. OF DELIBERATELY UNDERMINING PEACE EFFORTS, FOLLOWING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION TO RECOGNISE JERUSALEM AS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL. THE HEADS OF 57 MUSLIM COUNTRIES SAY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOVE IS UNLAWFUL. IT FOLLOWS THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S PLEA TO MUSLIM NATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS. BACK HERE NOW, AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN CHRISTCHURCH'S CTV BUILDING COLLAPSE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO QUESTION THE POLICE THIS AFTERNOON. IT FOLLOWS THE DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE ANYONE IN RELATION TO THE TRAGEDY IN 2011. THEY'LL THEN MEET WITH JUSTICE MINISTER ANDREW LITTLE ON SUNDAY, WHO PREVIOUSLY SAID IT 'WASN'T RIGHT' THAT THOSE INVOLVED HAD 'WALKED AWAY SCOT-FREE'. THE PREFERRED OPTION FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP SYNDICATE BASES WILL BE VOTED ON THIS AFTERNOON IN A MEETING HELD BY AUCKLAND COUNCIL. THE LOCAL AUTHORITY HAS EXPLORED A RANGE OF OPTIONS AROUND THE CITY'S HARBOUR TO CREATE A CENTRAL HUB FOR THE EVENT BEING HELD IN 2021. THE FINAL TWO PROPOSALS INVOLVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HALSEY AND WYNYARD WHARVES AND COULD COST MORE THAN $100M. AUCKLAND COUNCIL SAYS IT'S COMMITTED TO STOPPING THE SPREAD OF KAURI DIEBACK IN THE WAITAKERE RANGES, DESPITE VOTING AGAINST FULLY CLOSING THE PARK. THE WEST COAST BUSHLAND IS NOW THE MOST HEAVILY INFECTED PART OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S CONCERNED THE COUNCIL ISN'T DOING ENOUGH. JENNY SUO HAD A LOOK AT WORK BEING DONE TO AT-RISK TRACKS AND ASSESSED THE SCALE OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE SKY. THEIR SKELETONS PIERCING THE LUSH CANOPY OF THE WAITAKERE RANGES, THESE ONCE MIGHTY KAURI STOOD NO CHANCE AGAINST A MALEVOLENT DISEASE. YOU CAN SEE COMING UP THE DIEBACK ALONG THE RIDGE WHERE THE WALKING TRACK FOLLOWS. FOOT TRAFFIC IS BLAMED FOR THE VICIOUS SPREAD OF KAURI DIEBACK. DEAD TREES ARE DOTTED THROUGHOUT THE 16,000-HECTARE PARKLAND, INFECTED AREAS ALMOST DOUBLING IN JUST FIVE YEARS. AS PART OF ITS PLAN TO FIGHT THE DISEASE, THE COUNCIL'S USING A CHOPPER TO FLY GRAVEL INTO AT-RISK TRACKS. SO WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS IMPROVING THE TRACK SURFACE TO TAKE AWAY THOSE MUDDY AREAS, SO PUTTING GRAVEL INTO THOSE PLACES, IMPROVING THE ACTUAL SURFACE OF THOSE TRACKS SO THAT THEY REMAIN HARD AND DRY. 100 TONS OF METAL WILL BE DROPPED ON TWO TRACKS. IN TOTAL, SIX TRACKS WILL GET THE UPGRADE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE COUNCIL'S BEEN SPENDING $500,000 A YEAR ON FIGHTING KAURI DIEBACK, BUT WANTS TO INCREASE THAT TO $10M AS PART OF ITS 10-YEAR BUDGET. THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SAYS IT'S GOOD, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH. MANY WANT THE RANGES CLOSED ENTIRELY, AND IWI HAVE EVEN PLACED A RAHUI, OR A BAN, ON THE LAND. THE ABILITY TO SIMPLY CLOSE THE RANGES IS A COMPLEX, DIFFICULT AND UNENFORCEABLE THING TO DO. SO WE'VE CLOSED 13 TRACKS, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE CLOSURE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS OF ANOTHER 22. MEMBERS OF THE WAITAKERE COMMUNITY NOT GIVING UP. OH, WE'RE GOING TO LEAD ON THIS. TE KAWERAU MAKI PLACED THE RAHUI. WE'RE SUPPORTING THE RAHUI. AND THEREFORE WE'RE GOING TO LEAD, AND HOPEFULLY, THE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL FOLLOW. VISITORS WE SPOKE TO TODAY WILLING TO SKIP THEIR SUMMER HIKES. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT. IT'S, LIKE, NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST IMAGE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, TO HAVE OUR NATURE AND GREENERY. IN THE MEANTIME, THE COUNCIL WILL CONSULT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ANY FURTHER TRACK CLOSURES, TO ADDRESS A TOWERING PROBLEM THAT CAN'T BE IGNORED. JENNY SUO, 1 NEWS. A WELL-KNOWN SEA LION'S RETURNED TO DUNEDIN TO GIVE BIRTH. MUM-TO-BE JOY IS ONE OF 17 FEMALES SPOTTED AT ST KILDA BEACH. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS SHE'S PREGNANT WITH ANOTHER PUP, JUST MONTHS BEFORE HER PREVIOUS BABY SADLY DIED. LOCALS ARE WELCOMING JOY'S RETURN. IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE TO THEM, THEY CAN CHARGE AT YOU, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. JOY IS REALLY JUST FINDING SOMEWHERE TO REST. RESIDENTS IN A SMALL NORTH QUEENSLAND TOWN ARE BEING DRIVEN 'BATTY' BY SWARMS OF FLYING FOXES. BUT IT'S NO LAUGHING MATTER AS THE BATS HAVE FORCED PARK CLOSURES AND ARE SPARKING HEALTH CONCERNS. HERE'S OUR AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT KIMBERLEE DOWNS. HANGING BY THE HUNDREDS,... (SCREECHING) ...PLAGUING THE SKIES, PUTTING THE LOCALS IN A FLAP. WE CULL KANGAROOS. WE CULL CROCODILES. WE CULL OTHER THINGS. AND THE REASON WE CULL THINGS IS TO KEEP THEM AT A MANAGEABLE LEVEL AND SO THAT THEY DON'T BECOME A MENACE TO SOCIETY. IN CHARTERS TOWERS, POPULATION APPROXIMATELY 8000, FLYING FOXES SWOOP IN EVERY YEAR. BUT THIS TIME RESIDENTS SAY THERE ARE MORE THAN EVER, AND IT'S DRIVING THEM BATTY. IT'S ACTUALLY THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES. IT IS. 200,000 BATS IN AND AROUND OUR CBD, WHICH IS HORRIFIC FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S A DESCRIPTION ALMOST REMINISCENT OF A HITCHCOCK FILM. POSSIBLE. DO NOT MAKE A SOUND UNTIL I TELL YOU TO. BUT WHILE THIS ISN'T QUITE 'THE BIRDS',... (SQUAWKING) ...IT IS 'THE BATS', AND THAT'S 'BAT' ENOUGH. FOR SOME, IT'S MEANT THE IRRITATION OF PARK CLOSURES; FOR OTHERS, DAILY CLEANING DUTIES. THE STENCH IS NASTY AND THEY'RE KEPT INSIDE A LOT, WORRIED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THEIR FAMILIES. US, AS RESIDENTS, HAVE CHILDREN THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEM GO OUT US, AS RESIDENTS, HAVE CHILDREN THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEM GO OUT INTO THEIR OWN PLAYGROUND. BUT EXPERTS SAY THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH OF A RISK, AS LONG AS THESE WINGED TORMENTERS ARE LEFT ALONE. THEY RECKON THE INFLUX IS BECAUSE THE BATS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE REGION'S FLOWERING EUCALYPTUS, BUT THAT THE NUMBERS AREN'T TOO UNUSUAL. REALISTICALLY SPEAKING, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A RISK TO HEALTH. HENDRA VIRUS IS ONE WHICH PEOPLE MENTION A LOT, BUT IN REALITY, THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH DEALING WITH HORSES RATHER THAN BATS. EXPERTS ALSO SAY IF THEY'RE LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES, THE BATS WILL MOVE ALONG IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, MAYBE EVEN DAYS. WHILE THE LOCAL COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS, INCLUDING REMOVING TREES, PUTTING UP NETS OR RELOCATING THE FLYING FOXES. OPTIONS WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY COME TO FRUITION, BUT IN THE SHORT TERM, CHARTERS TOWERS RESIDENTS CAN ONLY LONG FOR BETTER DAYS TO HURRY UP AND ARRIVE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT, OR IS IT? WHY THE CHRISTMAS HAMPER MAY NOT BE ALL ITS CRACKED UP TO BE. WELCOME BACK. CHRISTMAS HAMPERS MAKE GREAT GIFTS, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE HARD TO BUY FOR. BUT WHEN YOU ADD UP ALL THE ITEMS INSIDE, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED BY WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING. CHANNEL 9'S KATE CREEDMON REPORTS. FOR THOSE HARD-TO-BUY-FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, A CHRISTMAS HAMPER MAY SEEM LIKE THE PERFECT GIFT. EVERYONE LIKES FOOD AND DRINK. YEAH. PROBABLY SOMEBODY AT WORK, LIKE THE BOSS OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT THAT I THINK IS WORTHY OF IT. BUT ARE THEY WORTH THE MONEY? A 9 NEWS INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED SHOPPERS ARE PAYING A PREMIUM FOR THE PACKAGING. IN FACT, IN SOME CASES, WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO PURCHASE AND WRAP THE HAMPER OURSELVES. WHAT THESE HAMPER COMPANIES OFTEN DO IS MARK UP PRETTY COMMON ITEMS AND THEN CHARGE YOU A WHOPPING PRICE PREMIUM FOR PUTTING THEM IN A BASKET. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHAMPAGNE TRIPLE TREAT FROM THE HAMPER EMPORIUM WILL SET YOU BACK $229. IT CONTAINS A BOTTLE OF BOLLINGER, MOET AND PIPER. BUT IF YOU PURCHASED ALL THREE FROM DAN MURPHY'S, YOU'LL SPEND 150.85. A BIG W COOLER BAG HAMPER COSTS $50. BUT WHEN WE SEARCHED FOR THE SAME ITEMS ELSEWHERE, WE FOUND THEM ALL FOR $28.70, WHILE DAVID JONES' SPARKLING SELECTION HAMPER COSTS 199.95, WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF $70.26. THOSE PAYING OFF HAMPERS ALSO NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE FINE PRINT. LAST YEAR, CHRISCO WAS FINED $200,000 BY THE FEDERAL COURT FOR CONTINUING TO TAKE MONEY FROM CUSTOMERS' ACCOUNTS EVEN AFTER THE LAY-BY WAS COMPLETE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VALUE ON OFFER, THEY'RE A BIT OF A RIP OFF. TO SPORT NOW, AND BRITAIN'S MOST SUCCESSFUL ROAD CYCLIST, CHRIS FROOME, IS FIGHTING TO CLEAR HIS NAME AFTER IT EMERGED HE FAILED A DRUG TEST. THE FOUR-TIME TOUR DE FRANCE CHAMPION IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE CYCLING OFFICIALS AFTER IT WAS REVEALED HE HAD DOUBLE THE ALLOWED LEVEL OF LEGAL ASTHMA DRUG SALBUTAMOL IN HIS TEST SAMPLE. THE BBC'S DAN ROWAN REPORTS. HAVING COME TO DOMINATE CYCLING'S BIGGEST RACE, CHRIS FROOME'S ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS THE PRE-EMINENT FORCE IN HIS SPORT. BUT THE BRITISH STAR NOW FACES A FIGHT TO SAVE HIS REPUTATION. IT WAS HERE, DURING HIS HISTORIC VICTORY AT SPAIN'S GRAND TOUR, THE VUELTA, IN SEPTEMBER, THAT THE TEAM SKY RIDER WAS FOUND TO HAVE EXCEEDED THE PERMITTED LEGAL LEVEL OF THE ASTHMA DRUG SALBUTAMOL. FROOME SAYS ON DOCTOR'S ADVICE, HE DID INCREASE HIS DOSAGE DUE TO ASTHMA, BUT IN A STATEMENT TODAY, HE SAID... RIDERS CAN TAKE SALBUTAMOL UP TO A CERTAIN LIMIT, RIDERS CAN TAKE SALBUTAMOL UP TO A CERTAIN LIMIT, BUT FROOME'S URINE SAMPLE SHOWED TRACES TWICE THE PERMITTED AMOUNT. IN A STATEMENT, TEAM SKY BOSS SIR DAVE BRAILSFORD SAID... IF YOU'RE DEHYDRATED, YOUR LEVEL'S GONNA BE HIGHER. ALSO THE SPEED THAT HE CAN METABOLISE THE SALBUTAMOL THROUGH HIS SYSTEM ` IF HE DOES THAT FAST, IT'S GONNA INCREASE THE LEVEL IN HIS URINE. SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY, 'IF I TAKE FOUR PUFFS, I KNOW MY SALBUTAMOL LEVEL WILL BE THIS 'IN THE URINE.' SCRUTINY ON TEAM SKY HAS INTENSIFIED OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH MANAGEMENT GRILLED AT A PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING AND A UK ANTI-DOPING INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS ALL DENIED AND NOT PROVEN SURROUNDING A MYSTERY MEDICAL DELIVERY TO SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS IN 2011. 2018 WAS MEANT TO BE THE YEAR FROOME WOULD ATTEMPT TO SEAL A REMARKABLE FIFTH TOUR DE FRANCE TRIUMPH. INSTEAD, WITH THE THREAT OF A BAN AND THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF HIS SPANISH TITLE BOTH NOW HANGING OVER HIM, FROOME'S RIDING INTO AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. THE COXSWAIN WHO GUIDED NZ TO ITS MOST FAMOUS OLYMPICS ROWING VICTORY, SIMON DICKIE, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 66. HE WAS PART OF THE ROWING EIGHT WHICH WON GOLD AT THE 1972 MUNICH GAMES. FOUR YEARS EARLIER, DICKIE'S CREW CLINCHED NZ'S FIRST EVER ROWING GOLD IN THE MEN'S COXED FOUR AT THE MEXICO CITY OLYMPICS. TO THIS MORNING'S ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION, AND ALL WHITES SKIPPER WINSTON REID HAS HELPED WEST HAM FUSTRATE ARSENAL AT LONDON STADIUM. THE KIWI STARTING FOR THE HAMMERS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR FIGHT TO AVOID RELEGATION, EARNING A HARD-FOUGHT POINT AFTER A 0-0 DRAW. A DISALLOWED GOAL FOR A HANDBALL DENIED LIVERPOOL A WIN AGAINST WEST BROMICH ALBION WHILE MANCHESTER UNITED BOUNCED BACK AFTER THEIR DERBY DEFEAT AGAINST LEAGUE LEADERS MANCHESTER CITY. Ball and. He needed that. THE 1-0 WIN AGAINST BOURNEMOUTH SECURING SECOND SPOT FOR THE RED DEVILS. STAYING WITH FOOTBALL, AND 12-TIME EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS REAL MADRID HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MAJOR SCARE IN THEIR FIFA WORLD CLUB CUP SEMI-FINAL AGAINST UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SIDE AL JAZIRA. REAL MADRID WERE FRUSTRATED BY A TERRIFIC GOALKEEPING EFFORT AND TWO DISALLOWED GOALS BEFORE THE HOSTS TOOK A SHOCK LEAD. ROMARINHO SCORES! MADRID THEN VERY NEARLY GOING TWO GOALS DOWN BEFORE AL JAZIRA'S GOAL WAS RULED OFFISDE. CRISTIANO RONALDO THEN RESTORED ORDER FOR MADRID BEFORE WELSH STAR GARETH BALE CRUSHED ANY THOUGHT OF A FAIRYTALE UPSET. LOS BLANCOS WILL NOW FACE BRAZILIAN SIDE GREMIO IN THE FINAL THIS WEEKEND. ENGLAND'S CRICKETERS WILL BE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR ASHES HOPES ALIVE TODAY AS THEY TAKE ON AUSTRALIA IN THE THIRD TEST IN PERTH. THE TOURISTS NEED AT LEAST A DRAW TO AVOID A SERIES DEFEAT AT A GROUND THEY HAVEN'T WON AT SINCE 1978. THE BBC'S ANDY SWISS HAS THE STORY. IN ONE OF THE MOST ISOLATED CITIES IN THE WORLD, ONE OF THE LONELIEST PLACES FOR ENGLISH CRICKET,... (CHEERING) ...THE WACA IS WHERE SO MANY ASHES DREAMS HAVE DIED. SO MANY DECADES OF DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ENGLAND'S PLAYERS AND THEIR FANS. BUT HERE, A TEAM TRAILING ON THE PITCH AND IN TURMOIL OFF IT, KNOW THEY NEED SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE HISTORY. IT'S A REAL CHANCE TO FLIP THE DYNAMICS OF THIS SERIES, AND IF WE DO COME AWAY 2-1 FROM THIS GAME, THEN IT DOES BLOW THE SERIES WIDE OPEN. (CHEERING) WELL, FOR ENGLAND OVER THE YEARS, THE WACA HAS NORMALLY LIVED UP TO ITS NAME. THEY'VE LOST THEIR LAST SEVEN TESTS HERE, AND THEY'VE ARRIVED FOR THIS ONE WITH NOT JUST THEIR CRICKET BUT THEIR CONDUCT UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT. THE LATEST BAR ROOM INCIDENT IN WHICH BOWLER JIMMY ANDERSON HAD A DRINK POURED OVER HIM HAS GIVEN AUSTRALIA'S HEADLINE WRITERS ANOTHER FIELD DAY. AND SOME BELIEVE THE CULTURE OF THE TEAM NEEDS TO CHANGE. THEY DO BEHAVE LIKE STUDENTS. YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GO OUT, THEY THINK THEY'RE STUDENTS. THEY'RE NOT; THEY'RE ENGLAND CRICKETERS. THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THEY DRINK TOO MUCH. IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO THE TEAM ` THE PERFORMANCE LEVELS, THE OFF-FIELD ANTICS ` I WOULD BE STAGGERED IF ENGLAND GOT A VICTORY THIS WEEK. THIS WILL BE THE LAST ASHES TEST OF THIS ATMOSPHERIC GROUND, FOR SO LONG, AUSTRALIA'S WESTERN STRONGHOLD, BUT FOR ONE FINAL TIME, IT COULD WATCH THE SUN SET ON ENGLAND'S HOPES. TO BOXING, AND AUSTRALIAN WELTERWEIGHT JEFF HORN SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED HIS WBO CROWN AGAINST BRIT GARY CORCORAN LAST NIGHT IN BRISBANE. IT WAS HORN'S FIRST FIGHT SINCE HIS FAMOUS UPSET OVER THE LEGENDARY MANNY PACQUIAO IN JULY, ALTHOUGH LAST NIGHT'S TKO VICTORY IN THE 11TH ROUND TESTED THE 29-YEAR-OLD'S RESOLVE. HORN'S TITLE DEFENCE PUTS HIM IN LINE FOR SOME BIG MONEY FIGHTS AGAINST SOME OF THE SPORT'S BIGGEST NAMES NEXT YEAR. TO SOME BREAKING NEWS NOW AND AUCKLAND COUNCIL HAS VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE WYNYARD BASIN DEVELOPMENT AS THE PREFERRED OPTION FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP. TALKS WILL NOW CONTINUE TO DETERMINE THE COST OF THE PROPOSAL. MORE ON THIS IN THE 1 NEWS HOUR AT 6. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. (GENTLE PIANO MUSIC) (HAMMER THUDS) (SAW WHIZZES) (CHUCKLES) All right. You ready? (GASPS) (GENTLE MUSIC SWELLS) So that's how he's getting in. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JULIE TAYLOR. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. 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