TONIGHT ` A BRUTAL DAIRY ATTACK LANDS TWO PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES, SPARKING FRESH CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP PROTECT SHOP OWNERS. WORLDWIDE OUTRAGE AT AMERICA'S CONTROVERSIAL CHILD-SEPARATION PRACTICE, BUT DONALD TRUMP THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. PLUS, THE BLACKCAPS RETURN TO THE HALLOWED MCG TO PLAY THE BOXING DAY TEST AGAINST AUSTRALIA IN 2019 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 32 YEARS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 A 16-YEAR-OLD MALE IS IN CUSTODY TONIGHT A 16-YEAR-OLD MALE IS IN CUSTODY TONIGHT AFTER AN ATTACK ON DAIRY WORKERS IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF GREY LYNN LAST NIGHT. A MOTHER AND HER ADULT SON ARE IN HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAS SPARKED FRESH CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT HELP FOR DAIRY OWNERS. LAURA TWYMAN REPORTS. AN UNPROVOKED AND VIOLENT STABBING. THIS IS HORRIFIC AND HORRIBLE, AND NO ONE DESERVES THIS. I SAW THE GUY. HE WAS BADLY INJURED IN THE STOMACH AND THE BACKSIDE OF THE SHOULDER. HIS MUM WAS ALSO INJURED. I SAW ONLY THE FOREHEAD WAS DAMAGED, BUT COMPLETELY BLEEDING. THE MOTHER AND SON UNDERWENT SURGERY TODAY, BOTH NOW IN A STABLE CONDITION. THE FAMILY IS VERY SHATTERED AT THIS STAGE. TONIGHT THE TEENAGER THOUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE IS IN CUSTODY. POLICE SAY HE TOO HAS UNDERGONE SURGERY AND CHARGES ARE IMPENDING. HOWEVER, ARE NOT OVER. WE BELIEVE THERE WAS A SECOND OR THIRD PERSON OUTSIDE, BUT THAT'S STILL PART OF OUR INVESTIGATION. POLICE SAY THEY'RE FOLLOWING STRONG LEADS IN THEIR INVESTIGATION BUT WANT TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN NEARBY THIS DAIRY AT ABOUT 7 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. THE OFFENDER WAITED FOR CUSTOMERS TO LEAVE THE DAIRY BEFORE ATTACKING, FIRST STABBING THE MALE AT THE COUNTER AND THEN HIS MOTHER (62) WHO CAME TO HIS AID. A MAN WORKING IN THE NEIGHBOURING STORE SAW THE OFFENDER LEAVE. I SAW THE GUY FULL OF BLOOD IN HAND, AND THE KNIFE. POLICE LATER FOLLOWED A TRAIL OF BLOOD TO LOCATE THE WEAPON. 175 FOG CANONS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT VULNERABLE DAIRIES ACROSS NEW ZEALAND IN THE PAST YEAR. BUT THERE'S CONCERN THAT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. WE WILL HOLD THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE HAPPENINGS COS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE OUT THERE. IN THE MEANTIME, INCIDENTS LIKE THESE ARE MAKING MANY OWNERS FEEL UNSAFE. EVERY DAY IT STARTS WITH THE FEAR FOR EVERY SHOP OWNER IF HE OR SHE IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT. LESS VULNERABLE KIDS IN CARE, MORE WORK WITH WHANAU ` THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE CHILDRENS MINISTER, WITH AROUND 6000 CHILDREN NOW IN CARE, 60% OF THEM MAORI. BUT THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, WITH 99,000 FURTHER CHILDREN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING HELP AT SOME POINT. MICHAEL CROPP REPORTS. TOO MANY KIDS ARE GOING INTO CARE. IT'S GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE TRUE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE MORE CHILDREN IN CARE THAN WE NEED. INSTEAD THE MINISTER SAYS MORE INTENSIVE INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO START WORKING WITH FAMILIES EARLIER. INTENSIVE INTERVENTION CAN KEEP CHILDREN IN THEIR HOMES IF WE STEP IN AND WALK ALONGSIDE THE FAMILIES IN A VERY INTENSIVE WAY. ALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND LOCAL RESEARCH INDICATES THAT IF CHILDREN ARE WITH LOVING WHANAU, THEN THAT'S WHERE THEY GET THE BETTER OUTCOMES. THOSE WHO WORK WITH VULNERABLE FAMILIES SAY NGO'S NEED MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. WE KNOW CHILDREN WANT TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY, AND WE WANNA GET OUT THERE AND SUPPORT THEM, BECAUSE WE SEE GREAT OUTCOMES WHEN WE DO THAT. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE APPLAUDING THE MOVE, SOCIAL WORKERS ARE APPLAUDING THE MOVE, SAYING A CHILD CAN SUFFER LIFELONG HARM IF IT'S REMOVED FROM ITS FAMILY. BUT THEY WARN THE MINISTRY WILL NEED MORE STAFF TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN THEIR FAMILY HOME. EARLIER, ORANGA TAMARIKI ADMITTED IT'S BEEN TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW FOSTER FAMILIES VIA TRADE ME, ADVERTISING CHILDREN NEEDING FOSTER HOMES, IN AT LEAST ONE CASE BY LISTING THEIR AGE, GENDER, IWI AND INTERESTS. WE DO HAVE TO APOLOGISE. THE ADVERT WAS PUT UP WITH THE BEST INTENT, BUT IT WAS INCORRECT. THE MINISTRY SAYS IT'S NOW REVIEWING IT'S PROCESSES. MICHAEL CROPP, 1NEWS. NURSES HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL WALK OFF THE JOB IF THE DHBs DON'T IMPROVE THEIR PAY OFFER. THE NURSES UNION DELIVERED A FORMAL STRIKE NOTICE TO DHBs TODAY, WARNING OF 24-HOUR STRIKE ACTION FOR THE 5TH AND 12TH OF JULY. THEY'LL ONLY WALK OFF THE JOB IF NO RESOLUTION IS REACHED IN MEDIATION THIS FRIDAY. DHBs SAY THEY'RE WORKING ON CONTINGENCY PLANS, ENSURING EMERGENCY AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. THE UNITED STATES HAS ANNOUNCED HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, CALLING IT A CESSPOOL OF POLITICAL BIAS. THE CONTROVERSIAL MOVE COMES AS THE COUNTRY'S IMMIGRATION CRISIS DEEPENS AND LAWMAKERS STRUGGLE TO FIND A SOLUTION. THE CHANNEL NINE'S CHARLES CROUCHER REPORTS. ON THE MEXICAN BORDER, 2300 CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS, WALKING IN SINGLE FILE, SLEEPING IN ROWS OF TWO. CHILD INTERNMENT CAMPS! THAT'S WHAT I SAID ` CHILD INTERNMENT CAMPS! CHILD INTERNMENT CAMPS! THAT'S WHAT I SAID ` CHILD INTERNMENT CAMPS! WHAT COUNTRY IS THAT?! PARENTS ARE NOW BEING DEPORTED WHILE CHILDREN REMAIN. IN WASHINGTON, DONALD TRUMP HUGS THE FLAG, ARGUING AGAINST HIS ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY... I DON'T WANT CHILDREN TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS. ...AND THEN FOR IT. AND WHEN YOU PROSECUTE THE PARENTS FOR COMING IN ILLEGALLY, WHICH SHOULD HAPPEN, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CHILDREN AWAY. THE PRESIDENT WAS IN EMERGENCY MEETINGS WITH REPUBLICANS AMIDST GROWING DISSENT,... WHY ARE WE SEPARATING THE CHILDREN? ...SPURRED BY IMAGES AND SOUNDS FROM THE BORDER TODAY. (CHILD CRIES) SOBS: PAPA! YESTERDAY THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CRITICIZE THE POLICY IS UNCONSCIONABLE. TODAY AMERICA CRITICIZE THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL FOR TOO LONG, THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A PROTECTOR FOR TOO LONG, THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A PROTECTOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS AND A CESSPOOL OF POLITICAL BIAS. IT'S ANOTHER SHIFT AWAY FROM INTERNATIONAL ORDER. NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS EVER WITHDRAWN. THE US GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS CAUSED NOT JUST GRIEF AMONG OPPOSITION POLITICIANS AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS BUT ALSO A WELL-KNOWN US TV HOST. THIS HAS JUST COME OUT FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. THIS IS INCREDIBLE. READS: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN SENDING BABIES... (VOICE BREAKS) AND OTHER YOUNG CHILDREN... MM. (CHUCKLES WRYLY) (TUTS) ...TO AT LEAST THREE... (TUTS) ...TO AT LEAST THREE... (SNIFFLES) OOH. (EXHALES) ...THREE TENDER-AGE SHELTERS IN SOUTH TEXAS. LAWYERS AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS D... (SOBS) I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE TO HAND THIS OFF. YEAH. (BREATHES DEEPLY) SORRY. THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT. SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LAST WORD WITH LAWRENCE O'DONNELL. HE IS LIVE IN BROWNSVILLE TEXAS. FAIRTHE RIPPLE EFFECT FROM THE RECENT BIG EARTHQUAKES ROCKING THE THE RIPPLE EFFECT FROM THE RECENT BIG EARTHQUAKES ROCKING THE IS NOW STARTING TO HIT SOME HOMEOWNERS HARD. ONE WELLINGTON WOMAN'S JUST HAD HER HOUSE INSURANCE INCREASE BY $5000. THIS FOLLOWS TOWER INSURANCE USING NEW RISK-BASED PRICING, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE LIVING IN EARTHQUAKE-PRONE AREAS PAY A LOT MORE WHILE OTHERS PAY LESS. MEI HERON EXPLAINS. URSULA EGAN'S LIVED IN THIS KARORI HOUSE FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. SUDDENLY, SHE'S BEING ASKED TO PAY $7000 TO INSURE IT. IT'S OVER 300%. THAT IS WAY, WAY ABOVE ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. TOWER INSURANCE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S IN A HIGH-RISK AREA. WE HAVE MADE NO CLAIMS. WE'VE HAD NO DAMAGE DONE AS A RESULT OF ANY OF THE EARTHQUAKES, EITHER IN CHRISTCHURCH OR THE KAIKOURA. SO I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW THEY CAN JUSTIFY INCREASING IT THAT MUCH. INSURANCE COMPANIES PAID OUT $3B IN THE KAIKOURA EARTHQUAKE TWO YEARS AGO, WELLINGTON ACCOUNTING FOR TWO-THIRDS OF THAT COST. THE COUNTRY HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT WELLINGTON IS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH RISK. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS APPLYING A SPECIFIC PRICE TO THAT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT RISK LOOKS LIKE. IN MARCH TOWER ANNOUNCED IT WAS INTRODUCING RISK-BASED PRICING. IT MEANS CUSTOMERS IN HIGH EARTHQUAKE-RISK AREAS ` WELLINGTON, NAPIER AND GISBORNE ` COULD SEE A PREMIUM INCREASE. CUSTOMERS IN AUCKLAND, TARANAKI AND NORTHLAND ` LOW EARTHQUAKE RISK REGIONS ` WILL SEE A DECREASE. THE POSITIVE SIDE IS THAT 97% OF OUR CUSTOMERS WILL BE GETTING A DECREASE. 1 NEWS CONTACTED OTHER INSURERS TODAY. VERO ALREADY USES A RISK-BASED PRICING SYSTEM FOR HOME INSURANCE. AA INSURANCE DOES NOT AND HAS NO INTENTION OF DOING SO. AIG SAID ONLY ITS PRICING IS CONSTANTLY REVIEWED. THE INSURANCE COUNCIL BELIEVES TOWER IS SENDING A WAKE-UP CALL TO HOMEOWNERS AND COUNCILS. SHOULD WE BE CONSENTING TO BUILD HOUSES ON VERTICAL SLOPES IN HIGH-RISK EARTHQUAKE AREAS? IS THAT A WISE THING TO BE DOING? TIM GRAFTON SAYS NEW ZEALANDERS NEED TO REDUCE THEIR RISK. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LOCAL COUNCILS WHO ARE AT THE COALFACE OF MAKING THOSE DECISIONS NEED TO CONFRONT. MEANWHILE, URSULA IS SHOPPING AROUND FOR A NEW INSURANCE COMPANY. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS. CANADA'S PARLIAMENT HAS DECIDED TO LEGALISE THE RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA. THE CANNABIS ACT PASSED WITH AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY VOTING FOR THE CHANGE, AND CANADIANS WILL BE ABLE TO BUY AND CONSUME CANNABIS LEGALLY AS EARLY AS THIS SEPTEMBER. THE COUNTRY IS ONLY THE SECOND WORLDWIDE TO LEGALISE THE DRUG'S RECREATIONAL USE. URUGUAY WAS THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AGO. IN 2015, CANADIANS SPENT AN ESTIMATED NZ$6.5B ON CANNABIS ` ALMOST AS MUCH AS THEY SPENT ON WINE. WOMEN'S REFUGE IS USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP KEEP THE VULNERABLE FAMILIES IT WORKS WITH SAFE. THE ALARMED BRACELET WAS BROUGHT INTO NZ BY A CHRISTCHURCH WOMAN AFTER HER OWN PERSONAL SAFETY WAKE-UP CALL. LISA DAVIES HAS THE STORY. A SMALL DEVICE THAT'S ALL ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE. SO IF WE PUSHED YOUR BUTTON ON HERE,... YES. ...WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT ALL MY GUARDIANS ARE GOING TO GET AN ALARM SAYING THAT I NEED HELP. THE ALARM GIVES THE GUARDIANS A LOCATION AND LETS THEM HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON SO THEY CAN DECIDE WHAT ACTION TO TAKE. THEY ARE LINKED TO HER VIA THIS APP. SHARRON JONES IMPORTED THIS DEVICE FOR HERSELF AFTER SHE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY AND WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY SUMMON HELP. I REMEMBER THINKING THAT, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT HAD I GOT HELP SOONER. BUT IT'S GROWN FROM THERE, AND NOW WOMEN'S REFUGE HAS ROLLED IT OUT IN ALL 44 REFUGES TO BOTH THE WOMEN IT HELPS TO PROTECT AND STAFF. THE SAFELET IS FANTASTIC IN ALLOWING THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITY, TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC, TO BE ABLE TO GET ON WITH THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. SHE HAS HER OWN AND SAYS IT'S INVALUABLE SHOULD A CONFRONTATION ARISE. THEY CAN DO IT REALLY DISCREETLY. PUSH THE BUTTON, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NOT WHAT CAN SOMETIMES BE A TUSSLE OVER THE PHONE TO CALL 111. THIS BLACK BAND IS A DIGITAL SAFETY NET THAT'S GROWING IN POPULARITY. SO, THESE PEOPLE HERE HAVE GOT MY BACK, AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE BACK I'VE GOT. AH, OK. IN THE EVENT THAT` SO I'M GUARDING PEOPLE AS WELL. WATCHING THEIR BACKS FROM AFAR. LISA DAVIES, 1 NEWS. AN INVESTIGATION IS LAUNCHED AT WHANGAREI HOSPITAL AFTER A BABY'S FATHER SAYS A BAG OF 'P' WAS FOUND IN THE CHILDREN'S WARD. TWO YEARS ON, A PRECEDENT IS SET IN AUSTRALIA OVER A WOULD-BE MOTHER AND THE LEGALITY OF WHAT SHE DID AFTER HER HUSBAND DIED. NORTHLAND DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD IS INVESTIGATING A CLAIM A BAG OF 'P' WAS FOUND IN THE CHILDREN'S WARD OF WHANGAREI HOSPITAL. A FATHER OF A 10-WEEK-OLD BABY SAYS HE SAW THE BAG ON THE FLOOR AND WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE KIDS WERE PLAYING NEARBY. HE SAYS HE GAVE IT TO A MEMBER OF STAFF TO GET RID OF, BUT IT COULD HAVE HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE A 5-YEAR-OLD, A 4-YEAR-OLD AND A 10-WEEK-OLD, AND I FEEL THAT IF ANY OF THEM HAD GRABBED IT, I COULD HAVE BEEN GOING TO A FUNERAL TODAY. THE DHB SAYS IT WILL INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED IN BY THE HOSPITAL. A NEW PRECEDENT'S BEEN SET IN AUSTRALIA TODAY, WITH A BRISBANE JUSTICE DECIDING A WOMAN CAN USE SPERM HARVESTED FROM HER DEAD BOYFRIEND TO HAVE A CHILD. IT COMES TWO YEARS AFTER AYLA CRESSWELL DISCOVERED HER PARTNER'S BODY AND HAD HIS REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE REMOVED. AUSTRALIA CORRESPONDENT KIMBERLEE DOWNS REPORTS. A YOUNG COUPLE IN LOVE, UNTIL TRAGEDY STRUCK. JOSHUA DAVIES COMMITTED SUICIDE TWO YEARS AGO. NOW HIS DE FACTO PARTNER AYLA CRESSWELL IS THE FACE OF A LANDMARK COURT DECISION IN AUSTRALIA ` WHETHER SHE CAN USE HIS SPERM AND IVF TREATMENT TO HAVE HIS BABY. A BRISBANE JUSTICE TODAY DECIDING SHE CAN. MY CLIENT'S VERY RELIEVED, BUT THANK YOU. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENT. THANK YOU. MS CRESSWELL'S (25) FIGHT BEGAN SOON AFTER SHE DISCOVERED HER PARTNER'S BODY IN 2016. THE SPERM HAD TO BE REMOVED WITHIN 24 HOURS, WITH PERMISSION GRANTED IN AN EARLY MORNING EMERGENCY COURT SESSION. BUT THE MORE PROTRACTED BATTLE HAS BEEN ABOUT WHETHER SHE CAN NOW USE THAT SPERM. THE COURT HEARING SHE'S GOT THE BLESSING OF BOTH HER AND MR DAVIES' FAMILY. HIS FRIENDS HAVE PROVIDED AFFIDAVITS SAYING HE WANTED CHILDREN. THIS IS A PRECEDENT-SETTING CASE HERE IN AUSTRALIA, AND IT'LL BE WATCHED WITH INTEREST IN NEW ZEALAND. FERTILITY ASSOCIATES HAS TOLD 1 NEWS FERTILITY ASSOCIATES HAS TOLD 1 NEWS WHILE WE DO HAVE INSTANCES OF SPERM BEING REMOVED FROM RECENTLY DECEASED MEN, THERE ARE NO KNOWN CASES WHERE IT'S THEN BEEN USED TO IMPREGNATE A WOMAN IN NEW ZEALAND. THAT'S UNLESS THE WOMAN HAS PRIOR CONSENT. IN NEW ZEALAND, WE'VE HAD A SITUATION WHERE A GUY HAS DIED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO STORE HIS SPERM, WHICH WE HAVE DONE SO. BUT WHETHER OR NOT HIS PARTNER WILL EVER BE ABLE TO USE THAT SPERM REMAINS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COURTS. SO WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE DITCH. THE JUSTICE ALSO DECIDING MS CRESSWELL IS CAPABLE OF RAISING A CHILD ON HER OWN. AND WHILE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK TODAY, THIS TRIBUTE SHE POSTED IN 2016... (SOFT POP MUSIC) ...GIVES A SENSE OF JUST HOW EMOTIONAL THIS LEGAL FIGHT HAS BEEN. KIMBERLEE DOWNS, 1 NEWS, SYDNEY. TO SPORT, FOOTBALL FERNS COACH ANDREAS HERAF HAS BEEN PLACED ON 'SPECIAL LEAVE' LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER 13 PLAYERS LAID COMPLAINTS OVER ALLEGATIONS OF BULLYING. FOOTBALL NEW ZEALAND HAS LAUNCHED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMENCING THIS WEEK. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE HAS MORE. NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL BOSSES FRONTING UP OVER THE FERNS SCANDAL, APPARENTLY BLINDSIDED BY THE PLAYERS' BACKLASH OVER ALLEGATIONS OF BULLYING BY UNDER-FIRE COACH ANDREAS HERAF. THIS WAS A SHOCK, ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK WHILST THERE'S BEEN 13 LETTERS IN THROUGH THE PFA CRITICISING THE ENVIRONMENT, THERE HAS BEEN OTHER LETTERS OF SUPPORT. BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT HERAF FROM BEING PUT ON LEAVE THAT THERE'S A PROCESS OF NATURAL JUSTICE THAT THERE'S A PROCESS OF NATURAL JUSTICE FOR ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED, AND THE REVIEW WILL DETERMINE THAT. ON MONDAY LETTERS WRITTEN BY FERNS PLAYERS WERE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, THE MOST TROUBLING ALLEGATIONS BEING THE INTIMIDATION AND SCARE TACTICS USED BY HERAF. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE INSISTS THAT'S THE FIRST HE'S HEARD OF ANY UNREST. HOWEVER 1NEWS UNDERSTANDS A LONG-STANDING EMPLOYEE VOICED CONCERNS OF PLAYER WELFARE TO NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING THE SPAIN TOUR IN MARCH. A REPORT ON THE TOUR WAS SENT TO MARTIN. THE REPORT COMES FROM THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, OK, WHICH IS A COMPILATION OF ALL OF HIS TEAMS' INPUTS. SO THAT REPORT THAT I HAD HAD NOTHING FROM THE INDIVIDUAL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE IN THE CAMP. THAT REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY HERAF, DOUBLING IN HIS ROLE AS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, LONG-STANDING CAPTAIN ABBY ERCEG ANNOUNCED HER SECOND RETIREMENT. WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG FOR FOOTBALL NEW ZEALAND TO ADDRESS THIS? I WOULD DISAGREE. IT HASN'T TAKEN SO LONG. ONCE WE HAD THE LETTER FROM THE PFA, WITH FACTUAL LETTERS OF EVIDENCE FROM PLAYERS, SO THE COMMENTS OF A FORMER CAPTAIN, OUR MOST CAPPED PLAYER, WASN'T ENOUGH FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER? WE LOOKED IN AT THAT POINT, BUT AT THAT POINT, WE FELT THERE WAS A DISAGREEMENT IN TERMS OF THE STYLE OF PLAY AND THE WAY THEY WANTED TO OPERATE, AND SO THAT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS TAKEN ANOTHER TURN TODAY. THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION HAS INSTRUCTED NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL STAFFERS TO CEASE ALL COMMUNICATION WITH FERNS PLAYERS. 1 NEWS HAS BEEN TOLD HERAF ADVISED STAND-IN CAPTAIN AMBER HEARN NOT TALK ANY FURTHER. I JUST THINK THEY KNOW THE PLAYERS PERSONALLY, AND I THINK WHEN YOU'VE GOT A WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, YOU'VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL. IT'S NOW UP TO AN INDEPENDENT REVIEWER TO UNTANGLE THE MESS NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL FINDS ITSELF IN. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, 1 NEWS. THE BLACKCAPS WILL FACE AUSTRALIA IN A BOXING DAY TEST AT THE FAMOUS MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND NEXT YEAR. THE HISTORIC MCG FIXTURE WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE BLACKCAPS WILL HAVE PLAYED IN ONE OF TEST CRICKET'S MARQUEE FIXTURES IN 32 YEARS. THEIR LAST BOXING DAY APPEARANCE WAS IN 1987 WHEN THE BLACK CAPS CAME AGONISINGLY CLOSE TO VICTORY, ONLY DENIED BY A LAST-WICKET PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CRAIG MCDERMOTT AND MIKE WHITNEY. I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE SELF-ESTEEM OF A CRICKETING NATION TO PLAY IN THE BOXING DAY TEST MATCH. IT'S ONE OF THE PINNACLE EVENTS OF THE CALENDAR, AND I KNOW THE PLAYERS ARE VERY EXCITED, AS WILL THE FANS BE. IT'S SET TO BE A HISTORIC SUMMER THAT WILL SEE NEW ZEALAND PLAY ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA AND INDIA. JUST AHEAD ` A WEATHER FORECAST TORVILL AND DEAN WOULD DANCE TO. AND HAS OUR ENVIRONMENT GONE TO THE BIRDS? AND HAS OUR ENVIRONMENT GONE TO THE BIRDS? NEW NUMBERS ALARM SCIENTISTS. A 10-YEAR SURVEY OF BACKYARD BIRDS HAS SHOWN A DRAMATIC DROP IN SOME OF OUR PRECIOUS WILDLIFE. KIWI SCIENTISTS SAY OUR ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING AND OUR BIRDS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM. BUT IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS FOR BIRDWATCHERS. JENNY SUO REPORTS. THE BIRDS IN OUR BACKYARD ARE TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING, AND SCIENTISTS SAY WE SHOULD LISTEN CAREFULLY. BIRDS ARE OUR BAROMETER FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND IT WOULD INDICATE THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE IN TERMS OF PEST AND PREDATOR CONTROL AND CREATING GOOD HABITATS. LANDCARE RESEARCH FACILITY GATHERED 31,000 SURVEYS OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD FROM VOLUNTEERS WHO RECORDED BIRDS THEY SAW IN THEIR GARDEN. IT FOUND WHILE GREENFINCH, TUI AND KERERU HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN NUMBERS, SOME OTHERS HAVE DRAMATICALLY DECLINED. THE NUMBER OF SILVEREYE SPOTTINGS HAVE ALMOST HALVED. IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THAT THE DECLINE IN SILVEREYE IS A RESULT IN WARMER WINTERS, MEANING THAT THE SILVEREYES DON'T NEED TO COME INTO GARDENS TO FIND FOOD. LANDCARE RESEARCH SAYS WE NOW NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ARE OCCURRING, BE IT URBANISATION OR USE OF POISONS. OUR BIRDS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM. THE KERERU, SO, THEY PLAY A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SEED DISPERSAL. AND THERE ARE SOME SEEDS OF OUR NATIVE PLANTS THAT ONLY THE KERERU CAN DISPERSE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE SIZE OF THEM. BUT WORK IS BEING DONE TO SAVE SOME OF OUR MOST THREATENED BIRDS, AND IN SOME CASES BRING THEM BACK FROM EXTINCTION. IT WAS THOUGHT THERE WERE NO MORE SOUTH ISLAND KOKAKO, BUT A PUBLIC APPEAL FOR SIGHTINGS HAS LED TO MORE THAN 100 REPORTS OF THE ANCIENT BIRD. FIVE FROM THE HEAPHY TRACK. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN REPORTS AROUND THE REEFTON AREA. IT'S OUT THERE. WE JUST NEED THAT PHOTO. IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN HELP BIRDS WHO ARE MAKING APPEARANCES IN OUR BACKYARDS. GET OUT THERE AND PLANT LOTS OF NATIVE TREES, THINGS THAT PROVIDE BERRIES OR NECTAR. FOR THESE SORT OF URBAN BACKYARD SPECIES, BUT DOGS ARE A REALLY BIG PROBLEM FOR THE MORE COASTAL SPECIES. SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THESE TREASURED VISITS. JENNY SUO, 1 NEWS. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER WITH JJ CALE. (JJ CALE'S ' ') FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY GLENNA CASALME AND CHELSEA BRADY