IT'S MIDDAY. MORE DETAILS EMERGE OF THE NEW ZEALANDER SHOT IN THE NECK AFTER TRAVELLING TO THE UNITED STATES TO MEET A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL. THE US SUPREME COURT BACKS TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN. WHY THE PRESIDENT IS CALLING IT A TREMENDOUS VICTORY. AUSTRALIA HEADS HOME, BUT ARGENTINA SURVIVE. ALL THE ACTION FROM A NAIL-BITING MORNING AT THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP. CAPTIONS BY ANTONY VLUG AND CHELSEA BRADY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 A NEW ZEALAND MAN HID OUTSIDE A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL'S HOUSE CARRYING A KNIFE, PEPPER SPRAY AND DUCT TAPE FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN. 25-YEAR-OLD TROY SKINNER FLEW TO THE US LAST WEEK TO MEET THE GIRL AT HER VIRGINIA STATE HOME AFTER EXCHANGING MESSAGES WITH HER ON A GAMING APP. SKINNER IS CHARGED WITH BREAKING AND ENTERING WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT RAPE, ROBBERY OR MURDER WHILE ARMED WITH A DEADLY WEAPON AND FACES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT. 1 NEWS US CORRESPONDENT REBECCA WRIGHT EXPLAINS SKINNER WAS SHOT BY THE GIRL'S MOTHER WHEN HE TRIED TO BREAK IN. HE SPOKE FIRST TO HER MOTHER THROUGH THE BASEMENT DOOR. THEN HE TOLD HER THAT HE HAD BEEN HITCHHIKING FOR 30 MILES AND THAT HE NEEDED HELP. SHE TOLD HIM TO GO AWAY. SHE SENT HER DAUGHTER IMMEDIATELY UPSTAIRS TO GET HER HANDGUN AND AMMUNITION. AND BY THE TIME SHE GOT UPSTAIRS AS WELL, HE WAS TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THEIR GLASS DOOR WITH A LANDSCAPING STONE. THE LOCAL SHERIFF SAYS THE GIRL'S MOTHER WARNED SKINNER SHE HAD A GUN AS HE TRIED TO BREAK INTO THE HOUSE. SHE TOLD HIM NUMEROUS TIMES, 'I'M ARMED. I HAVE A WEAPON. LEAVE.' AND IT WASN'T UNTIL HE SMASHED THE DOOR WITH THE BRICK AND REACHED HIS HEAD AND SHOULDERS INTO THE DOOR TO UNLATCH IT THAT SHE FIRED THE GUN TWICE AND HIT HIM ONE TIME IN THE NECK. SKINNER IS NOW IN A SECURE WARD AT HOSPITAL IN POLICE CUSTODY. IT COULD SOON BE EASIER FOR THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR TO EMPLOY WORKERS FROM OVERSEAS, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY. THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD MEAN COMPANIES CAN GO THROUGH GET FOREIGN WORKERS THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE COUNTRY IS 30,000 WORKERS SHORT OF WHAT'S NEEDED TO BUILD NEW HOUSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THE INDUSTRY IS PARTICULARLY SHORT OF PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS. ONE PERSON HAS DIED IN A HOUSE FIRE IN THE AUCKLAND SUBURB OF PAPAKURA THIS MORNING. THE FIRE SERVICE WERE ALERTED JUST BEFORE 3.30. THE ASSISTANT AREA COMMANDER SAYS CREWS FROM RIGHT ACROSS THE REGION WERE CALLED TO HELP FIGHT THE BLAZE. ON ARRIVAL, THE FIRE SERVICE FOUND THE HOUSE BEHIND ME WELL INVOLVED IN FIRE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS ALMOST COLLAPSED. THE BRIGADE HAS MADE THE FIRE UP` MADE THE CALL UP TO GET MORE FIRE APPLIANCES HERE. WE'VE HAD APPLIANCES FROM CLEVEDON, PAPAKURA, MANUREWA AND OTARA HERE. THE FIRE HAS SINCE BEEN EXTINGUISHED AND FIRE INVESTIGATORS WILL WORK ALONGSIDE THE POLICE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. POLICE ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR A GUNMAN IN LOWER HUTT AFTER A MAN WAS SHOT IN THE SUBURB OF STOKES VALLEY YESTERDAY. HE RECEIVED SERIOUS CHEST WOUNDS AND REMAINS IN HOSPITAL IN A STABLE CONDITION. WITNESSES HEARD GUNSHOTS AND PEOPLE YELLING FOR HELP. POLICE SAY IT'S A FAMILY-RELATED INCIDENT, AND THEY BELIEVE THERE'S NO DANGER TO THE WIDER PUBLIC. ONE OF LABOUR'S LONGEST SERVING MPs, KORO WETERE, WILL BE LAID TO REST TODAY AT HIS FAMILY CEMETERY NEAR TE KUITI AFTER LYING IN STATE AT TURANGAWAEWAE MARAE. THE FORMER MINISTER OF MAORI AFFAIRS DIED ON SATURDAY AGED 83 AFTER A BATTLE WITH PROSTATE CANCER. TE KARERE REPORTER IRENA SMITH HAS BEEN AT TURANGAWAEWAE. Despite the sadness today, his life and achievements were celebrated in prayer and song. Fitting for a man who believed in the importance of Maori and culture and made sure is recognising legislation. He is on his final journey where a public service will be held in the community where he lived and farmed. Those that knew him said his greatest achievement was passing on his knowledge to ensure that his work started lives on and thrives. A SHEEP AND BEEF FARM NORTH OF FAIRLIE IN CANTERBURY IS THE LATEST TO TEST POSITIVE FOR THE CATTLE DISEASE MYCOPLASMA BOVIS. THIS TAKES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INFECTED PROPERTIES TO 43, WITH A FURTHER 72 ON RESTRICTED NOTICE. THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES WILL CONTINUE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THIS WEEK IN NELSON, GREYMOUTH AND SOUTH TARANAKI. TO BREAKING NEWS, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE RESPONDING TO A SERIOUS TWO-CAR CRASH IN WAVERLEY, NEAR WHANGANUI. THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 11 O'CLOCK ON STATE HIGHWAY 3. THE POLICE SAY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE CRITICALLY INJURED AND SOME ARE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLES. POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE AND THREE RESCUE HELICOPTERS ARE AT THE SCENE. STATE HIGHWAY 3 IS SHUT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO AVOID THE AREA. MEANWHILE, ICY CONDITIONS RESULTED IN FOUR CRASHES IN THE SPACE OF TWO HOURS ON TARANAKI ROADS THIS MORNING, AS STRATFORD RECORDED ITS SECOND COLDEST JUNE TEMPERATURE ON RECORD OF -4.5 DEGREES. TEMPERATURES IN AUCKLAND ALSO DROPPED TO CLOSE TO ZERO, AND METSERVICE WARNS THE WORST OF WINTER IS STILL TO COME. METEOROLOGIST GEORGINA GRIFFITHS SAYS THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS IN ALMOST A DECADE AND COULD STRETCH INTO NEXT SPRING. GOOD CHANCE OF A COLD SPRING FOR NZ, AND IF THAT KIND OF PATTERN ` THE EL NINO, WHICH LIVES FAR, FAR AWAY ` KICKS IN, THEN NZ'S USUAL RESPONSE ` IT'S IT'S TRADEMARK ` IS A COLD SPRING. THE US SUPREME COURT HAS RULED IN FAVOUR OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S CONTROVERSIAL TRAVEL BAN. PEOPLE FROM SEVERAL MUSLIM MAJORITY COUNTRIES WERE TARGETED BY THE BAN AND WOULD BE STOPPED FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. LOWER COURTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY LABELLED THE BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE ABC'S TERRY MORAN REPORTS. WITHIN MINUTES OF THE RULING, PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TWEETING VICTORY. IN THE FIVE TO FOUR RULING, THE SHARPLY DIVIDED JUSTICES REFLECTING THE SAME PASSIONS THIS TRUMP POLICY IGNITED FROM THE MOMENT HE ANNOUNCED IT DURING THE 2016 CAMPAIGN. DONALD J TRUMP IS CALLING FOR A TOTAL AND COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF MUSLIMS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES UNTIL OUR COUNTRY'S REPRESENTATIVES CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON. THE TRAVEL BAN THE PRESIDENT SIGNED JUST DAYS AFTER TAKING OFFICE DIDN'T MENTION MUSLIMS BUT TARGETED ONLY MUSLIM COUNTRIES. TODAY THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON ACTUALLY THE THIRD VERSION OF THE TRAVEL BAN. TWO OTHERS BLOCKED BY LOWER COURTS, AND THIS ONE VERY DIFFERENT IN CRUCIAL WAYS. IT WAS ISSUED AFTER A WORLDWIDE REVIEW OF SECURITY PROCEDURES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. IT OFFERS CASE-BY-CASE WAIVERS FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS ` PEOPLE WITH LONG BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS OR CLOSE AMERICAN FAMILY MEMBERS, FOR INSTANCE. AND IT BARRED SOME INDIVIDUALS FROM NON-MUSLIM COUNTRIES ` NORTH KOREA AND VENEZUELA. THE SUPREME COURT RULING WAS A TREMENDOUS VICTORY FOR OUR COUNTRY. THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUED IT WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR THE TRAVEL BAN DID NOT TARGET MUSLIMS, POINTING TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF TOLD DAVID. WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? IS THIS THE MUSLIM BAN? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT` NO, IT'S NOT THE MUSLIM BAN, BUT IT'S COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TREMENDOUS TERROR. PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS HANDED HIS FIRST MAJOR SUPREME COURT VICTORY, WHICH HE CLEARLY ENJOYED. YEAH, THAT'S THE FINAL WORD. THAT'S SUPREME COURT. MEANWHILE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS IN NEW YORK TO PROTEST AGAINST TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN. THEY'RE CALLING FOR THE FREEDOM OF ENTRY INTO THE U.S. FOR MUSLIMS WHO HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY THE BAN. THE AUSTRALIAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE HAS CLAIMED THAT OPPOSITION LABOR MPS ARE DRUNK IN PARLIAMENT, THOUGH SHE HASN'T PROVIDED ANY PROOF. THERE ARE NOW CALLS FOR SHELLEY HANCOCK TO RESIGN. CHANNEL NINE'S CHRIS O'KEEFE REPORTS. IT'S NICKNAMED THE 'BEAR PIT' ` AN UNRULY, UNEDIFYING DISPLAY OF DEMOCRACY. YOU ARE THE SPEAKER OF THIS HOUSE, AND YOU SHOULD TREAT EVERY MEMBER ON THIS SIDE WITH RESPECT! NOW THE SPEAKER, SHELLEY HANCOCK, HAS GONE A STEP FURTHER, ACCUSING THE LABOUR OPPOSITION OF BEING DRUNK IN PARLIAMENT. BUT MS HANCOCK, A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER, WHO HAS BEEN SPEAKER FOR SEVEN YEARS, REFUSED TO GIVE ANY SPECIFICS OF WHO SHE THOUGHT WAS DRUNK AND WHEN. NOT TRUE. IT'S AN OVERREACH. IT'S A DEFENSIVE CONCOCTION, AND SHE KNOWS IT. MS HANCOCK HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BIAS. JUST LAST WEEK, SHE SPRAYED THE OPPOSITION IN A FIERY QUESTION TIME, LABELLING THEM 'BLOCKHEADS, BOOFHEADS AND IDIOTS'. I ASK YOU TO WITHDRAW THAT COMMENT, MADAM SPEAKER! THE SPEAKER'S CLOSEST SUPPORTERS DEFENDING HER. SHELLEY HANCOCK IS THE FIRST FEMALE SPEAKER OF THIS PARLIAMENT, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY LUCKY TO HAVE HER. MS HANCOCK HAS NOT MADE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ABOUT ANY MPS DRINKING BEFORE QUESTION TIME. SHE SHOULD WITHDRAW IT. SHE SHOULD APOLOGISE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` HOMES DESTROYED AND THOUSANDS FORCED TO EVACUATE AS WILDFIRES BURN IN CALIFORNIA. THE CANINE THAT PROVES DOGS REALLY ARE MAN'S BEST FRIEND. AND THE BREAKERS BOOK A DATE WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST TEAMS IN BASKETBALL. If you are Maori and 18 or over, you have a choice whether you want to be on the General Roll or the Maori Roll. Your decision is important. But if you haven't decided yet, you don't have much longer, and you won't get to choose again for another six years. If you're still not sure what to do, get in touch today. Now is your time to choose. Mau tonu e kowhiri. RETURNING TO BREAKING NEWS HERE ON MIDDAY, EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE RESPONDING TO A SERIOUS TWO-CAR CRASH IN WAVERLEY NEAR WHANGANUI. OUR WELLINGTON REPORTER MICHAEL CROPP HAS BEEN ACROSS THE UPDATES AND JOINS US FROM OUR WELLINGTON NEWSROOM. What more can you tell us? In the last few minutes police believe there are multiple casualties they were called to the scene just after 11 o'clock. They say as well as casualties there is critical injuries. Some are still trapped within cars. Three rescue helicopters that they are. Diversions are in place in that area. The serious crash unit is in attendance. A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AS THE PAWNEE FIRE RAGES THROUGH THE REGION. ALMOST 12,000 ACRES AND 22 HOMES AND BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE EVACUATED AS FIRE FIGHTERS BATTLE TO TRY AND CONTAIN THE BLAZE. THE ABC'S WILL CARR IS IN CALIFORNIA WITH THIS. TONIGHT FIRE CREWS ARE WAGING WAR AGAINST THE PAWNEE FIRE, WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO ATTACK THE BLAZE FROM BOTH THE AIR AND THE GROUND. OUT-OF-CONTROL FLAMES DESTROYING AT LEAST 22 HOMES AND BUSINESSES. THERE'S A REAL PATH OF DESTRUCTION. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS FOOD TRUCK. REALLY, A STUNNING VISUAL. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE REAL TOLL WHEN YOU TAKE A WIDE LOOK, LOOKING AT THIS HOME, WHICH IS BURNT TO THE GROUND. ON MONDAY, WE WATCHED WITH SHARWIN WARD AS HE BELIEVED HIS HOME WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. I DON'T KNOW. I'VE JUST PROBABLY LOST EVERYTHING I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. TODAY, THOUGH, WE FOUND WARD IN HIS HOME ` STILL STANDING. I'M JUST ECSTATIC. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL THERE. THE FIRE DESTROYED HIS CARS, MELTED A GREENHOUSE, TORCHED HIS SHED, BUT FIRE CREWS BATTLED FIERCE CONDITIONS TO SAVE HIS HOUSE. THEY'RE A BUNCH OF GREAT GUYS, MAN. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY OF THEM. I WISH I KNEW THEIR NAMES. BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY, WITH MORE THAN 30 FIRES RAGING ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. A SPANISH POLICE DOG HAS PROVED THAT HE REALLY IS MAN'S BEST FRIEND AFTER PERFORMING CPR ON HIS HANDLER. PONCHO HAS STOLEN HEARTS AROUND THE WORLD AFTER THIS FOOTAGE OF HIM PRACTICING HIS SKILLS ON AN OFFICER WENT VIRAL. THE LOYAL PUP HAS LEARNED TO JUMP ON THE OFFICERS CHEST AND LISTEN FOR SIGNS OF LIFE. PRINCE WILLIAM HAS CONTINUED HIS FIRST OFFICIAL ROYAL VISIT TO THE COUNTRY AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. HE HAS PAID HIS RESPECTS TO THE 6 MILLION JEWISH PEOPLE KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST AND MET WITH PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. THE BBC'S NIKOLAS WITCHELL REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM. THERE CAN BE FEW PLACES WITH A MORE SOLEMN RESONANCE. WILLIAM CAME TO YAD VASHEM, ISRAEL'S MEMORIAL TO THE 6 MILLION JEWISH PEOPLE KILLED BY THE NAZIS IN THE HOLOCAUST OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. IT IS THE FIRST OBLIGATION OF ANY OFFICIAL VISITOR TO ISRAEL TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS HERE. IN THE MUSEUM, WILLIAM SPOKE TO SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST. TWO MEN WHO, AS CHILDREN, WERE RESCUED ON THE KINDERTRANSPORT TRAINS BUT WHO LEFT THEIR PARENTS BEHIND. THEN, IN THE HALL OF REMEMBRANCE, AS THE CHOIR SANG AN ANTHEM WRITTEN BY A JEWISH PARACHUTIST KILLED IN HUNGARY IN 1944, THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST WERE COMMEMORATED. WE UNITE WITH THE BLESSED MEMORY OF 6 MILLION OF OUR PEOPLE WHO DIED A MARTYR'S DEATH AT THE HANDS OF THE GERMAN NAZIS AND THEIR COLLABORATORS. (MAN SINGS IN HEBREW) WILLIAM LAID HIS WREATH AND STOOD FOR SOME MOMENTS IN SILENCE. THIS FIRST OFFICIAL ROYAL VISIT TO ISRAEL HAS BEEN LONG IN COMING, BUT THE FACT THAT, FINALLY, IT IS HAPPENING IS APPRECIATED. JUST TO SEE PRINCE WILLIAM HERE IS SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPECIAL. FROM YAD VASHEM, WILLIAM WENT ON TO THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND HIS WIFE. A FORMALITY, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE IN THE CONTEXT OF A VISIT WHEN WILLIAM WILL ALSO MEET THE PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP. A VISIT TO YAD VASHEM HAS HISTORICAL RESONANCE. A MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER IS A DIPLOMATIC COURTESY. BUT IT WILL BE WHAT WILLIAM DOES DURING THE REST OF HIS VISIT WHICH WILL DEFINE THE UNDERLYING MESSAGES THAT THE VISIT IS SEEKING TO CONVEY. THAT MESSAGE, CONVEYED THROUGH MEETINGS WITH CROSS-COMMUNITY GROUPS AND HIS VISIT TO THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, IS THAT PEACE CAN ONLY BE FOUND THROUGH COOPERATION. THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM BELIEVED TO BE TRAPPED IN A FLOODED CAVE CONTINUES IN THAILAND, WITH OFFICIALS OPTIMISTIC THEY'RE STILL ALIVE. THE 12 BOYS AND THEIR COACH ENTERED THE CAVE ON SATURDAY WHEN THE ENTRANCE FLOODED. NAVY DIVERS HAVE RESUMED THEIR EFFORTS AFTER FINDING FOOTPRINTS INSIDE A PART OF THE CAVE WHERE THE WATER HAD NOT REACHED. TO SPORT, AND ARGENTINA'S DRAMATIC WORLD CUP SALVATION HAS BEEN FOLLOWED WITH REPORTS DIEGO MARADONA HAS BEEN LEFT HOSPITALISED. THE ARGENTINE LEGEND HAD EARLIER WITNESSED ONE OF THE WORLD CUP'S MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS. VICTOR WATERS HAS ALL THE ACTION. AFTER A HELLISH WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN, IT TOOK A THUNDEROUS BANG TO WAKE ARGENTINA UP FROM THEIR NIGHTMARE. THEY'VE GOT THEIR GOAL! (CROWD CHEERS) ARGENTINA LIVES ON! WHAT A MOMENT HERE! MARCO ROJO'S LATE WINNER LIFTED THE WEIGHT OF A NATION OFF CAPTAIN LIONEL MESSI'S SHOULDERS. AS NEWS CAME IN ICELAND HAD FALLEN TO CROATIA, ARGENTINA'S GREAT ESCAPE WAS COMPLETE. HARD TO BELIEVE HOW DIFFERENT THINGS LOOKED EARLY ON. IS THIS THE OPENER? YES, IT IS! THAT'S WHAT THEY CAME TO SEE. MESSI BROKE HIS RUSSIAN DROUGHT WITH A STRIKE WORTHY OF FOOTBALL'S GODS. DESPITE THEIR HALFTIME LEAD, THE SKIPPER KNEW HE NEEDED TO MARSHALL THE TROOPS, BUT MESSI'S WARNING FELL ON DEAF EARS. MOSES SCORES FOR NIGERIA! THEY'RE LEVEL. THE AFRICANS HIT BACK, AND THE WHOLE OF ARGENTINA IS STUNNED HERE. 1-1, AND THE TWO-TIME WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS WERE FACING AN EARLY TOURNAMENT EXIT. THE ARGENTINEAN CATASTROPHE THEN LOOKED COMPLETE AFTER ROJO'S HANDBALL. OR WAS IT? NOT A DELIBERATE HANDBALL BY ROJO. AND ARGENTINA ` MASSIVE SIGH OF RELIEF FOR AN ENTIRE NATION. BUT THE SOUTH AMERICANS RODE THEIR LUCK AND WERE REWARDED WITH A HEROIC VICTORY. NIGERIA'S WORLD CUP DREAM OVER, BUT MESSI'S LIVES ON. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. AND ARGENTINA WILL NOW FACE FRANCE IN THE ROUND OF 16 AFTER THEIR 0-0 DRAW WITH DENMARK. THE DANES WILL MEET CROATIA AFTER THEIR 2-1 VICTORY OVER MINNOWS ICELAND. BUT IT IS CROATIA WHO CAN FINISH IT NOW! IN STYLE! ELSEWHERE, AUSTRALIA'S FAINT HOPES OF MAKING THE KNOCKOUTS GUERRERO SCORES. PAOLO GUERRERO. THE SOCCEROO'S 2-0 DEFEAT SPELLED THE END OF THEIR CAMPAIGN AND THAT OF THE SOUTH AMERICANS. VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREES HAVE DOMINATED WORLD CUP DISCUSSION WITH THE UPSTAIRS OFFICIALS INFLUENCING A RAFT OF RESULTS. THE BBC'S RICHARD CONWAY LOOKS JUST WHY THE NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME SO CONTROVERSIAL. FOOTBALL AT EVERY LEVEL IT'S PLAYED RELIES ON DECISIONS. FROM MOSCOW PLAYGROUNDS TO WORLD CUP STADIUMS, IT REMAINS A GAME OF JUDGEMENTS. IF THIS GETS GIVEN, THIS WILL BE A JOKE. BUT EVEN WITH TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE, OR VAR AS IT'S KNOWN, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ESCAPING THE CONTROVERSY. LAST NIGHT, PORTUGAL'S CEDRIC SOARES APPEARED TO HANDLE THE BALL LATE INTO THE MATCH AGAINST IRAN, BUT WAS IT DELIBERATE AND THEREFORE A PENALTY? AFTER LISTENING TO THE VAR AND REVIEWING THE FOOTAGE HIMSELF, THE SPOT KICK WAS AWARDED. OH, HE'S GIVEN IT. OH MY GOODNESS. THE REFEREE RETAINS THE FINAL DECISION, BUT MANY CALLS REMAIN SUBJECTIVE AND OPEN TO INTERPRETATION, WITH OFFICIALS STILL IN THE FIRING LINE. VAR UNDERWENT A TWO-YEAR EXPERIMENT PRIOR TO THE WORLD CUP, WITH FOOTBALL'S GOVERNING BODY, FIFA, INSISTING ON ITS INTRODUCTION TO INCREASE FAIRNESS. CHECK COMPLETED. AT A LOCATION ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MOSCOW, A CENTRAL HUB OF CABLES AND SATELLITE DISHES CONNECTS EVERY WORLD CUP VENUE. AND IT'S FLICKED INTO THE BACK OF THE NET... SO FAR, OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN BUSY. SPAIN BENEFITTING FROM A REVIEW LAST NIGHT. GOAL IS GIVEN. BUT THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM FOR THE DECISIONS THAT SOME BELIEVE WERE OVERLOOKED. KANE LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEEN WRESTLED TO THE GROUND. THE PLAYER'S NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THE BALL. VAR HAS DEEPLY DIVIDED OPINIONS, BUT ARE THE STAKES NOW TOO HIGH TO PLAY WITHOUT IT? IS IT PERFECT? NO. IS IT GOING TO IMPROVE? YES. AT SOME POINT, YOU GOTTA PULL THAT BAND-AID AND RECOGNISE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN 'OUCH MOMENT'. THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO BE AN 'OUCH MOMENT'. THE GAME GOES ON, SO TOO THE BIG DEBATES AROUND FOOTBALL'S BIGGEST MOMENTS. FOOTBALL FERNS CAPTAIN ALI RILEY HAS SECURED A MOVE TO ONE OF FOOTBALL'S BIGGEST CLUBS ` CHELSEA. THE DEFENDER WILL JOIN THE WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE AND FA CUP DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AFTER SEVEN SEASONS PLAYING IN SWEDEN. THE 30-YEAR-OLD IS SET TO COMPLETE HER TRANSFER TO THE LONDON SIDE NEXT MONTH. IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED THE NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS WILL FACE THE PHOENIX SUNS IN A PRESEASON CLASH LATER THIS YEAR. IT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME A KIWI SIDE'S GONE HEAD-TO-HEAD AGAINST NBA OPPOSITION. BREAKERS GENERAL MANAGER DILLON BOUCHER SAYS IT REFLECTS THE QUALITY OF BASKETBALL IN THE NBL AND WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK THIS SHOWCASES THE LEAGUE, SHOWCASES THE STRENGTHS THIS LEAGUE IS GOING TO, AND I THINK PLAYERS COMING DOWN HERE, IT'S GONNA BE A BIG CARROT FOR THEM AS WELL AS FOR IMPORTS TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PLAY NBA TEAMS IN THE PRESEASON. THAT CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING FOR THEM AS WELL. THE GAME WILL BE HELD IN ARIZONA ON OCTOBER THIRD. PLANS TO CROWN AN UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION MAY HAVE STALLED. THE WBA HAS ORDERED ANTHONY JOSHUA TO SIGN A DEAL TO FIGHT ALEXANDER POVETKIN OR RISK LOSING THEIR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE. THE ORGANISATION SAY THEY'VE LOST PATIENCE WITH TALKS BETWEEN JOSHUA AND WBC CHAMP DEONTAY WILDER TO UNIFY THE BELTS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. RECAPPING OUR TOP STORY HERE ON MIDDAY, AND POLICE FEAR MULTIPLE FATALITIES IN A SERIOUS TWO-CAR CRASH IN WAVERLEY, NEAR WHANGANUI. THE POLICE SAY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE CRITICALLY INJURED, AND SOME ARE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLES. STATE HIGHWAY 3 IS SHUT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO AVOID THE AREA. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER AT YOUR PLACE WITH STAN WALKER'S 'THANK YOU'. (STAN WALKER'S 'THANK YOU') THANKS FOR JOINING US. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY ANTONY VLUG AND CHELSEA BRADY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.