IT'S MIDDAY. FAILING OUR CHILDREN ` THERE'S CALLS FOR AN EDUCATION OVERHAUL, WITH CLAIMS THE NCEA SYSTEM IS LEAVING KIWI KIDS BEHIND. THE PRIME MINISTER'S ON HER WHISTLE STOP TOUR OF THE PACIFIC, ANNOUNCING FUNDING TO HELP WITH RECOVERY FROM CYCLONE GITA. PLUS ` A NIGHT OF GLITZ AND GLAMOUR AHEAD AS HOLLYWOOD GEARS UP FOR THE OSCARS. CAPTIONS BY STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND JUNE YEOW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 AHI AHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. AN NCEA CERTIFICATE IS NOT THE SAME AS AN EDUCATION ` THAT'S THE CRITICISM FROM BUSINESS THINK TANK THE NEW ZEALAND INITIATIVE. THE GROUP HAS PUBLISHED A DAMNING REPORT INTO THE COUNTRY'S SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME, SAYING IT'S LEAVING NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL CHILDREN BEHIND AND NOT ADEQUATELY PREPARING THEM FOR THE FUTURE. MICHAEL CROPP REPORTS. FOUR OUT OF 10 YEAR-12 STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE STAMP OF APPROVAL BY NCEA ARE ACTUALLY UNABLE TO READ, WRITE, AND DO BASIC MATHS. THAT WAS A FINDING OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION IN 2014. SINCE THEN, NEW ZEALAND STUDENTS HAVE CONTINUED TO FALL BEHIND THEIR PEERS INTERNATIONALLY ` ALL WHILE NCEA DATA PAINTS A PICTURE OF CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT. AND THE NEW ZEALAND INITIATIVE IS WORRIED IT'S NOT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER SCHOOL. SADLY, SOME STUDENTS WILL GET TO THE END OF NCEA, THEY'LL HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH FLYING COLOURS LEVELS 1, 2, AND 3, AND THEN THEY FIND THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT SUBJECTS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO GO TO UNIVERSITY. THE LABOUR COALITION IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING NCEA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED IN 2002, WITH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION STARTING NEXT MONTH. NATIONAL'S LEADER SIMON BRIDGES SAYS HE'LL BE SUPPORTING THE REVIEW. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY DOWNBEAT. WE HAVE GOT A VERY GOOD EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT PERFORMS RELATIVE TO OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD. BUT SHOULD WE BE TRYING TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S GOT EXCELLENCE AND GOOD STANDARDS? AND THIS REPORT'S TALKING ABOUT THAT. YEAH, OF COURSE WE SHOULD. THE EDUCATION MINISTER CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS THE FOCUS OF THE REVIEW IS ON STUDENT OVER-ASSESSMENT AND TEACHER WORKLOAD, BUT ANY CHANGES TO NCEA WON'T BE REVEALED UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR. MICHAEL CROPP, 1 NEWS. POLICE ARE TREATING THE DEATH OF A MAN AT A HAWKE'S BAY PUB AS HOMICIDE. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE FLAX BAR AND EATERY IN FLAXMERE AT AROUND 10.45PM LAST NIGHT, WHERE A MAN WAS FOUND WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. HE DIED AT THE SCENE. HE'S NOT YET BEEN FORMALLY IDENTIFIED. RESIDENTS AT A NEARBY RETIREMENT HOME SAY THIS ISN'T NORMAL FOR THE AREA. WE ARE SAFE HERE, BUT THEN WHEN THAT SORT OF A THING HAPPENS, IT'S TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT FOR MY PEOPLE HERE. THEY'RE 67. SOME ARE DEAF, SOME ARE BLIND, SOME CAN'T WALK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE THAT THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. THE PRIME MINISTER'S ON A TOUR OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS THIS WEEK AND HAS TODAY ANNOUNCED A $3M RECOVERY PACKAGE TO ASSIST SAMOA. CYCLONE GITA HIT THE PACIFIC REGION LAST MONTH, CAUSING WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION. THE FUNDING WILL GO TOWARDS REPAIRS TO DAMAGED HOMES, BUSINESSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AS JACINDA ARDERN MET WITH SAMOAN PRIME MINISTER TUILA'EPA THIS MORNING. PROPOSALS TO ARM TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS IN AMERICA IS A TOPIC OF MUCH DEBATE. AND BACK HERE, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS SEEKING FEEDBACK ON A DRAFT FIREARM GUIDELINE IN SCHOOLS. THEY SAY CLEARER CODES OF PRACTICE ARE NEEDED, SO EDUCATION PROVIDERS CAN DECIDE WHETHER WEAPONS SHOULD BE PERMITTED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THEIR USAGE. CONSULTATION OPENS TODAY AND WILL CLOSE NEXT MONTH. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSIDERING AN OVERHAUL OF THE WAY NEW ZEALANDERS CAN LODGE EQUAL PAY CLAIMS, THE WOMEN'S MINISTER SAYS IT'S CRUCIAL THEY MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE. THE JOINT WORKING GROUP ON PAY EQUITY HAS RECOMMENDED CLARIFYING THE PROCESS. MINISTER FOR WOMEN JULIE ANN GENTER SAYS THE MOVE WILL IMPROVE FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE, AS WELL AS REMOVE BARRIERS FOR REPORTING PAY INEQUALITY. THE APPROACH THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WAS SUGGESTING WOULD HAVE MADE IT HARDER, BECAUSE YOU HAD TO START BY COMPARING WITHIN THE SAME INDUSTRY. ABOUT RECOGNISING HISTORIC UNDERPAY BECAUSE IT'S A FEMALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IF WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE GENDER PAY GAP AND GET FAIR PAY FOR WOMEN, WE HAVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE THESE PAY EQUITY CLAIMS. THE GENDER PAY GAP IN NEW ZEALAND CURRENTLY SITS AT 9.4%. WELLINGTON FREE AMBULANCE SAYS IT'S REVIEWED ITS PATIENT TRANSFER SERVICE TO SEE HOW IT CAN RUN THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY. IT COMES AS THE SERVICE HAS ADMITTED IT HAS BEEN RUNNING AT A LOSS IN THE PAST, BUT EXPECTS TO BREAK EVEN FROM THE START OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, DUE TO A FUNDING INCREASE FROM DHBs IN THE WELLINGTON REGION. TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS NOW, AND RESIDENTS OF WAR-TORN SYRIA ARE FINALLY BEGINNING TO FLEE THE REBEL-HELD TERRITORY OF EASTERN GHOUTA. THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOW TAKEN 25% OF THE AREA, SINCE FIGHTING BEGAN LAST MONTH, WITH MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE KILLED. THE BBC JEREMY BOWEN REPORTS FROM DAMASCUS. THESE PEOPLE SAID THEIR ENTIRE VILLAGE WAS MOVING BECAUSE THE SYRIAN ARMY HAD ARRIVED. ONE MAN CURSED THE RUSSIANS AND IRANIANS ` CLEAR ALLIES OF THE REGIME. AIRSTRIKES, HE SAID, INCLUDING BANNED CLUSTER BOMBS HAD NOT STOPPED. TRANSLATOR: IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW. NO FUEL, NO BREAD, NO FOOD, NO WATER. WHERE IS THE WORLD? WHERE ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? WE ARE HUMANS, NOT ANIMALS. 400,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN EASTERN GHOUTA ` AN AREA OF FIELDS AND SMALL TOWNS ` ABOUT THE SIZE OF MANCHESTER. MOST OF THEM ARE CIVILIANS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE THE WAR. TRANSLATOR: MY NAME IS AHBED. WHEN THE PLANES SHELLED, I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME. I DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE AMBULANCE. I STARTED RUNNING. THE AIRSTRIKES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY GROUND TROOPS WHO ARE MAKING RAPID ADVANCES. THE STRATEGY SEEMS TO BE TO CUT EASTERN GHOUTA IN HALF. NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE REBEL GROUPS AND THE RUSSIANS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THE OBJECTIVE IS A CEASEFIRE OR THE EFFECTIVE SURRENDER OF THE REBELS. THE BIGGEST REBEL GROUP ` JAYSH AL ISLAM SAYS IT'S REGROUPING AFTER A RETREAT. THE FIGHTING IS STILL GOING ON. FOR THE REGIME, THE PRIZE IS THE END OF THE LAST MAJOR REBEL ENCLAVE AROUND DAMASCUS. (EXPLOSIONS) FOR THE REBELS, THESE ARE DESPERATE MOMENTS. STANDING ITALIANS ARE TAKING TO THE POLLS TODAY IN A GENERAL ELECTION. THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION, WITH THE CENTRE-LEFT GOVERNMENT FACING OPPOSITION FROM A GROUP OF RIGHT-WING PARTIES. THE BBC'S KATYA ADLER REPORTS. CHARMING BUT TROUBLED NAPLES UNHAPPILY ENCAPSULATES THE PROBLEMS AT THE HEART OF ITALY'S ELECTIONS. FALLING LIVING STANDARDS, UNEMPLOYMENT AND MASS IRREGULAR MIGRATION FROM AFRICA. BUT UNCERTAINTY HANGS IN THE AIR TODAY. ITALIANS ARE VOTING FOR CHANGE. THEY'RE JUST NOT SURE WHICH POLITICAL PARTY TO TRUST. TRANSLATOR: I'M SO WORRIED ABOUT ITALY. I SAID A PRAYER BEFORE COMING TO VOTE. TRANSLATOR: ITALIANS ARE ABUSED AND FRUSTRATED. POLITICIANS NEED TO HEAR OUR VOICE TODAY. 4 '=)* NAPLES L IS THE LEADER OF THE PARTY TIPPED TO BECOME ITALY'S LARGEST TODAY. HIS FIVE STAR MOVEMENT CLAIMS TO BE CORRUPTION-FREE AND PEOPLE-FRIENDLY. BUT THE POLITICAL SYSTEM HERE FAVOURS COALITIONS, MEANING THIS FAMILIAR FACE COULD BE KING-MAKER INSTEAD. NAPLES AND THE SOUTH OF ITALY WILL SWING TODAY'S VOTE. SILVIO BERLUSCONI DID SOME LAST-MINUTE CAMPAIGNING HERE ON BEHALF OF A RIGHT-WING COALITION. SO WHAT DOES THIS RATHER CHAOTIC POLITICAL PICTURE MEAN FOR ITALY AND EUROPE? AFTER ALL, THIS IS THE EUROZONE'S THIRD LARGEST ECONOMY. THIS NEAPOLITAN SHOP IS FAMOUS FOR ITS HANDCRAFTED POLITICAL FIGURES. (SPEAKS ITALIAN) 'TODAY ALL ITALIAN VOTERS WILL HELP PAINT 'THIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE LANDSCAPE.' IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DAY OF EXCITEMENT ` A FAMILY HELPING ONE OF THEIR OWN MOVE INTO A NEW HOME. INSTEAD, THEY ARE GRIEVING THE UNIMAGINABLE LOSS OF THEIR BABY GIRL, MAULED TO DEATH BY THE FAMILY PET. CHANNEL 9'S CLARE HUNTER REPORTS. A LITTLE ANGEL ` KAMILLAH ALDERSON-BONEY ` JUST 12 MONTHS OLD. THE TINY GIRL STOOD LITTLE CHANCE WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED BY A ROTTWEILER WHILE VISITING HER GRANDMOTHER. THAT'S HORRENDOUS, SO, YEAH. IT'S JUST VERY SAD. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT. ABOUT 2 O'CLOCK YESTERDAY, IN THE NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES TOWN OF INVERELL, CAMILLA WAS IN THE GREAVES ST HOME WHILE HER GRANDMOTHER WAS MOVING IN. THEN NEIGHBOURS HEARD THE SCREAMING. THE BABY COULDN'T BE SAVED. SHE DIED BEFORE PARAMEDICS COULD GET HER TO HOSPITAL. PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE THE SIRENS WERE SCREAMING. THE LARGE LOCAL FAMILY IS REELING, AND AUNTIE SHARING HER SORROW ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT'S SUCH A TRAGIC INCIDENT. JUST UNIMAGINABLE, AND IT'S REALLY SICKENING. OH, IT WAS CRUSHING. THAT'S CRUSHING NEWS. THE FAMILY OWNED A NUMBER OF DOGS, POSTING THESE PHOTOS ONLINE. AND WHILE POLICE WON'T RULE OUT WHETHER THESE ROTTWEILERS WERE RESPONSIBLE, INVESTIGATORS MAINTAIN THE DOG WAS OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER AND WAS IN THE BACKYARD. SOMETIMES DOGS TURN FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND WE WON'T KNOW. AND I KNOW AS FAMILY, YOU ALWAYS NEED TO BE VIGILANT. FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY HAVE BEEN DROPPING BY TO PICK UP THE OTHER PETS. THEY TOLD 9 NEWS THE LITTLE GIRL'S GRANDMOTHER IS TOO TRAUMATISED TO RETURN AND NEVER WANTS TO LIVE HERE. THE COTTAGE IS NOW MARRED WITH THE MEMORY OF THE DAY A BABY'S LIFE WAS TAKEN BEFORE IT HAD BARELY BEGUN. STAYING IN AUSTRALIA, WHERE SCIENTISTS SAY THE END OF CERVICAL CANCER IS IN SIGHT. EXPERTS THERE BELIEVE THE COUNTRY'S ON TRACK TO ELIMINATE THE DEADLY DISEASE IN JUST DECADES. CHANNEL 9'S STEPHANIE ANDERSON REPORTS. SARAH MAREE CAMERON WAS ONLY 22 WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL CANCER. IT WAS AWFUL. IT WAS HEART-BREAKING. THE RADIO PRESENTER'S MUM AND SISTER BOTH HAD CANCER CELLS DETECTED DURING PREGNANCY. SHE FACED MULTIPLE SURGERIES WITH THEIR SUPPORT BEFORE BEING GIVEN THE ALL-CLEAR IN 2012. IF I DIDN'T HAVE THEM EDUCATING ME ALONG THE WAY AND EMPOWERING ME TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT ME NOW. SARAH MAREE'S CANCER WASN'T CAUSED BY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS OR HPV, BUT THE INFECTION IS BEHIND MORE THAN 99% CERVICAL CANCER CASES, AND NOW EXPERTS ARE CONFIDENT AUSTRALIA IS ON TRACK TO WIPE OUT THE DEADLY DISEASE ALL TOGETHER. WE PREDICT THAT CERVIX CANCER IS GOING TO BECOME A DISEASE OF THE PAST. VACCINATION AND SCREENING ARE KEY TOOLS IN THE FIGHT. A FREE IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME WAS ROLLED OUT IN SCHOOLS IN 2007, COVERING 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD GIRLS. IT WAS EXTENDED TO BOYS IN 2013, WITH HPV ALSO LINKED TO OTHER CANCERS. WE HAVE A NEW VACCINE, WHICH IS WORLD-LEADING, WHICH WE'VE INTRODUCED IN SCHOOLS THIS YEAR. WE REALLY NEED OTHER COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HAVE THE PAIN OF THE JAB IN THE ARM TO PREVENT THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE. BUT WITH RESEARCH ALREADY SHOWING HPV RATES DRAMATICALLY DECLINING, SPECIALISTS SAY AUSTRALIA COULD EFFECTIVELY BE CERVICAL CANCER-FREE IN JUST 30 YEARS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` REMEMBERING A SPORTING LEGEND. TRIBUTES TO SIR ROGER BANNISTER, THE FIRST MAN TO RUN A FOUR-MINUTE MILE, WHO'S DIED AGED 88. IN SPORT, KIWI SHANE VAN GISBERGEN CLAIMS THE OPENING WEEKEND OF THE SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP IN ADELAIDE. PLUS, IT'S THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD. SO WHO WILL BE THE WINNERS AND THE LOSERS AT THE 90TH ACADEMY AWARDS? AUCKLAND TRAIN OPERATORS TRANSDEV HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE RAIL AND MARITIME UNION FOLLOWING TALKS OVER PROPOSALS TO CUT STAFF. DISCUSSIONS RESUMED TODAY FOLLOWING AN OVERTIME BAN BY RAIL WORKERS. IN A JOINT STATEMENT, THE GROUPS SAID THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND THAT BOTH PARTIES ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING SAFETY ON THE NETWORK. SIR ROGER BANNISTER, THE FIRST MAN TO RUN A MILE IN UNDER FOUR MINUTES, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 88. HE MADE ATHLETICS HISTORY AS AN AMATEUR ATHLETE IN 1954 WHEN HIS SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT MADE THE RECORD BOOKS. THE BBC'S JOE WILSON LOOKS BACK AT HIS REMARKABLE LIFE. COMMENTATOR: ROGER BANNISTER (25), THIRD FROM THE LEFT. THERE ARE SOME MOMENTS OF SPORTING HISTORY WHICH BECOME PART OF THE WORLD'S HISTORY. HE'S DECIDED THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT MOMENT. WHAT ROGER BANNISTER ACHIEVED IN 1954 WAS LIKE A LUNAR LANDING FOR 20TH CENTURY SPORT. BANNISTER'S OLD FRIEND AND RIVAL, CHRIS CHATAWAY, IS IN THIRD PLACE, WAITING HIS TIME TO TAKE OVER AS PACER. TO RUN A MILE AND STOP THE CLOCK BEFORE IT REACHED FOUR MINUTES ` IN 1954, THIS WAS A MAGICAL NUMBER ` A BARRIER OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, A FEAT THAT WOULD REDEFINE WHAT WAS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. AND IT WOULD FALL TO A YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENT TO ACHIEVE IT. GIVES WAY TO CHATAWAY. BANNISTER, A SUPERB TACTICIAN, HAS SUFFERED SOME CRITICISM IN THE PAST FOR ADOPTING HIS OWN RATHER UNORTHODOX TRAINING METHOD, BUT THEY'RE PAYING DIVIDENDS NOW. AT THIS POINT, IT BECOMES QUITE PAINFUL. I OVERTAKE CHRIS CHATAWAY AND BEGIN THE FINISH. AND HERE HE COMES. BANNISTER GOES STREAKING FORWARD WITH ABOUT 250 YARDS TO THE TAPES. EVERY STRIDE COUNTED. THE TAPE BROKE AT 3 MINUTES, 59.4 SECONDS. (CHEERING) AND BANNISTER HAS DONE IT. NO, HE'S OUT ON HIS FEET. HIS COACH AND TEAM MANAGER TELL HIM HE'S ACHIEVED HIS AMBITION. IT MIGHT HAVE FELT LIKE THE WORLD STOPPED WHEN THAT CLOCK STOPPED. FOUR-MINUTE MILE WAS A SPORTING CATCHPHRASE EVERYONE RECOGNISED. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED AND DELIGHTED. IT WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT TODAY, AND I THINK I WAS VERY LUCKY. THERE WAS CERTAINLY A FEELING OF IT BEING A NATIONAL EVENT AND SOMETHING OF A LANDMARK FOR THE COUNTRY. SIR ROGER BANNISTER WAS KNIGHTED IN 1975. ATHLETICS WAS ONLY A SMALL PART OF HIS LIFE. HE REGARDED HIS WORK AS A NEUROLOGIST AS MORE SIGNIFICANT. WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE, HE DESCRIBED THE GENTLE IRONY THAT A NEUROLOGIST SHOULD FIND HIMSELF WITH A NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION. TRAINING, FOR ROGER BANNISTER, IN ATHLETICS HAD BEEN HALF AN HOUR A DAY ON A CINDER TRACK. THE WORLD'S FIRST FOUR-MINUTE MILER WAS ALSO PERHAPS SPORT'S LAST GREAT AMATEUR. AND MODERN DAY MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER NICK WILLIS HAS PULLED OUT OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES THROUGH INJURY. THE 34-YEAR-OLD KIWI TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONFIRM HIS STRESS FRACTURE IN HIS LOWER LEG HAS FAILED TO HEAL IN TIME FOR THE GOLD COAST GAMES NEXT MONTH. THE 2006 1500M GOLD MEDALLIST SAYS HE WILL NOW TURN HIS FOCUS ON THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS. SHANE VAN GISBERGEN HAS CLAIMED THE OPENING WEEKEND OF THE SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP IN ADELAIDE. THE NEW ZEALANDER TOOK OUT RACE TWO OF THE ADELAIDE 500 AHEAD OF DAVID REYNOLDS AND GARTH TANDER. WELL DONE, SHANE VAN GISBERGEN. 300 POINTS. FOUR TIMES THE WINNER ON THE STREETS OF ADELAIDE IN THE LAST FOUR RACES. AFTER THE EMPHATIC VICTORY, THE HOLDEN DRIVER MADE SURE TO REMEMBER HIS TEAMMATE JAIMIE WHINCUPP, WHO FAILED TO FINISH HIS FIRST RACE SINCE 2013. THAT RACE WAS` JAIMIE'S CAR WAS AMAZING. WE DEFINITEY DETUNED OURS TODAY, TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER, AND IT WAS A LOT WORSE AND WE HAD TO FIGHT OFF SOME CARS IN THE END, BUT, YEAH, SHAME TO NOT HAVE WON TWO FOR THE TEAM, BUT PERFECT WAY TO START ` TWO WINS. THE SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP NOW TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO MELBOURNE AT THE END OF THE MONTH. THE ALL BLACKS SEVENS WILL FACE THE AUSSIES FOR FIFTH PLACE AT THE WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT IN LAS VEGAS AFTER NARROWLY BEATING THE ENGLISH. KIWI DEBUTANT NGAROHI MCGARVEY CONTRIBUTING TWO STELLER FIRST-HALF TRIES TO PUT THE ALL BLACKS IN FRONT AT HALF-TIME. MCGARVEY-BLACK SCRORES ONE, AND NOW HE GETS ANOTHER. DESPITE A LATE COME-BACK FROM THE BRITS, THE KIWIS MANAGED TO HOLD ON AND PIP THEM AT THE FINISH. FINAL SCORE 19-14. MANCHESTER CITY HAVE MOVED WITHIN FOUR WINS AWAY OF CLAIMING THE PREMIER LEAGUE AFTER EDGING CHELSEA 1-0 THIS MORNING. AFTER A SCORELESS FIRST HALF, A LAPSE IN CONCENTRATION FROM CHELSEA'S DEFENCE SAW THE SKY BLUES SNEAK AHEAD. THE CONFUSION OF HAVING CHRISTENSEN THERE. THAT'S DAVID SILVA. AND AT THE FAR POST COMING IN, BERNADO SILVA. A MATTER OF 36 SECONDS INTO THE SECOND HALF AND CHELSEA HAVE CRACKED. THE WIN GIVES CITY AN 18-POINT LEAD AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE WITH NINE GAMES LEFT. BUT AS MANCHESTER REACH DIZZYING HEIGHTS, ARSENAL CONTINUE TO PLUMMET. LOOKING FOR MURRAY. HE'S PEELED AWAY! THAT MAKES IT 2-0! AND THE TORMENT DEEPENS FOR ARSENE WENGER AND FOR ARSENAL! THE GUNNERS SHOT DOWN BY BRIGHTON HOVE ALBION 2-1 TO HAND THE SEAGULLS THEIR FIRST WIN OVER ARSENAL SINCE 1982. ITALY'S TOP TWO DIVISION FIXTURES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF ITALIAN INTERNATIONAL DAVIDE ASTORI. THE DEFENDER WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS HOTEL ROOM AFTER A SUSPECTED HEART ATTACK. HE WAS 31 YEARS OLD. THERE'S BEEN CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR ONE CRICKETER IN THE SHEFFIELD SHIELD IN AUSTRALIA. VICTORIAN BATSMAN WILL PUCOVSKI WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY A BOUNCER DURING THEIR GAME AGAINST NEW SOUTH WALES. THE BOWLER OF THE BALL WAS SEAN ABBOTT, THE SAME PLAYER WHO FATALLY STRUCK PHILLIP HUGHES FOUR YEARS AGO. ABBOTT WAS IN TEARS AFTER THE INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH LUCKILY THE BATSMAN ONLY SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. TO THE UCI TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, WHERE A KIWI TEENAGER HAS IMPRESSED IN THE OMNIUM EVENT. CAMPBELL STEWART (19) MANAGED TO SECURE FIFTH PLACE ON THE PENULTIMATE DAY OF COMPETITION IN THE NETHERLANDS. WHILE SOMEONE CAMPBELL HOPES TO EMULATE IN THE FUTURE IS RIDER JEFFERY HOOGLAND. THE DUTCHMAN HAD TO BE CARRIED FROM HIS BIKE AFTER LEAVING NOTHING IN THE TANK TO CLAIM GOLD IN THE MEN'S TIME TRIAL. AND FINALLY, THE WAIT IS OVER FOR HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR AS STARS OF THE SILVER SCREEN GATHER FOR THE 90TH ACADEMY AWARDS. THE ABC'S MARCI GONZALEZ HAS BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT WHO THE BIG WINNERS AND LOSERS MIGHT BE AT THIS YEAR'S OSCARS. (REPORTERS CLAMOUR) THE FLASHBULBS, THE FASHION, THE GRAND FINALE OF THE AWARDS SEASON. THIS IS WHAT YOU DREAM ABOUT. BIT SUPREME. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE MOMENT. HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST NIGHT ABOUT TO BEGIN. WARREN, WHAT DID YOU DO?! JIMMY KIMMEL BACK TO HOST THE 90TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS AFTER LAST YEAR'S UNFORGETTABLE BEST PICTURE MIX-UP. I'LL BE HONEST, IT'D BE FUNNY IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NEW SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT THERE COULD BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF SURPRISE WITH THE BEST PICTURE CATEGORY THIS YEAR. MANY EXPECT 'THE SHAPE OF WATER' WITH THE MOST NOMINATIONS AT 13 TO WIN THE TOP PRIZE. BUT WITH VOTING CALCULATIONS DONE DIFFERENTLY FOR BEST PICTURE THAN THE OTHER CATEGORIES, MANY THINK THERE COULD BE AN UPSET. THE SHAPE OF WATER CERTAINLY IS A FAVOURITE, BUT 'GET OUT' WITH A GOOD CHANCE TO PULL A SURPRISE. EXPERTS SAY THE OTHER BIG CATEGORIES ARE MORE PREDICTABLE. THE FAVOURITES INCLUDE GARY OLDMAN FOR BEST ACTOR, SAM ROCKWELL FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, YOU, GET OVER HERE. ...HIS CO-STAR IN THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, THE TOP CONTENDER FOR BEST ACTRESS, AND FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MANY EXPECT ALLISON JANNEY I MADE YOU A CHAMPION. ...TO TAKE HOME OSCAR GOLD. 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. THERE ARE RENEWED CALLS FOR AN NCEA OVERHAUL, WITH THE LATEST REPORT CLAIMING THE SYSTEM IS FAILING KIWI KIDS. 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 STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND JUNE YEOW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.