IT'S MIDDAY. MARKING 125 YEARS OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE ` BUT THE PRIME MINISTER ADMITS THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. A GLIMPSE INTO THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO WATER REGULATION ` WHAT COULD IT MEAN FOR WATER BOTTLING AND WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR TAP? AND THE TRADE WAR BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA HEATS UP AS PRESIDENT TRUMP ACCUSES CHINA OF TRYING TO INTERFERE IN U.S. ELECTIONS. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 AHI AHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY MARKS 125 YEARS SINCE THE WOMEN OF NEW ZEALAND GAINED THE RIGHT TO VOTE. EVENTS ARE BEING HELD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO REFLECT THE HISTORIC DAY. EMILY VAN VELTHOOVEN HAS BEEN AMONGST THE CELEBRATIONS. A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, REFLECTION AND GRATITUDE. HUNDREDS GATHERED IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND TO CELEBRATE 125 YEARS WHEN WOMEN GAINED THE VOTE. (CONCH BELLOWS) THE COUNTRY'S THIRD FEMALE PRIME MINISTER CALLING ON SUPPORTERS TO THINK ABOUT A FEMALE ROLE MODEL WHO'S INFLUENCED THEIR LIVES. MS ARDERN RECALLED HER OWN PERSONAL CONNECTION WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER DEFIED THE ODDS AND TOOK PART IN A MALE-DOMINATED MARATHON. IN HER LAST LAP, HATS AND HANDKERCHIEFS FLEW INTO THE AIR, AND THE APPLAUSE WAS DEAFENING. SHE WAS, AT THE TIME, THE GREATEST FEMALE PEDESTRIAN IN THE WORLD. SHE WAS ALSO MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER. AN INSPIRATIONAL FIGURE WHO JOINED 25,000 OTHER WOMEN AND SIGNED A PETITION IN 1893. THAT LED TO NEW ZEALAND BECOMING THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO GRANT WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THE STORY OF SOME OF OUR RELATIVES, THE WOMEN BEFORE US, MAY APPEAR UNREMARKABLE. BUT WITHIN THE ORDINARY SITS THE EXTRAORDINARY ` WOMEN WHO JUST GOT ON WITH IT BUT HAD A STORY TO INSPIRE AS THEY WENT. AND IT'S THEIR STORIES THAT ARE NOW HELPING THESE WOMEN SHAPE THE FUTURE. WHEN WOMEN WON THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THAT WAS NOT THE DESTINATION; IT WAS SIMPLY THE START OF A JOURNEY. THE FIRST THING TODAY IS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WOMEN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO WHO HAD THE COURAGE, THE COMMITMENT AND THE RESILIENCE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. BUT WHILE THESE WOMEN FIND COMMON GROUND, THEY ALL AGREE THEIR JOURNEY IS NOT OVER YET. THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT DID TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE EQUAL PAY, AND WE'RE STILL BATTLING FOR THAT. A BATTLE THESE WOMEN ARE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR TO HONOUR THE WOMEN OF THE PAST. EMILY VAN VELTHOOVEN, 1 NEWS. AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE THE PAY EQUITY AMENDMENT BILL TO PARLIAMENT TODAY, SAYING THE BILL WILL ADDRESS PAY DISCRIMINATION IN FEMALE-DOMINATED OCCUPATIONS AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR WORKERS TO MAKE PAY EQUITY CLAIMS. PSA MEMBERS WORKING FOR THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAVE WALKED OFF THE JOB OVER WHAT THE UNION CALLS 'FUNDAMENTAL PAY ISSUES'. WITH MORE, LET'S CROSS TO INDIA LEISHMAN FOR THE LATEST. INDIA. BEHIND ME IS A REALLY LARGE CROWD MADE UP OF THE PSA MEMBERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY. THERE ARE COURT SECURITY OFFICES HERE, REGISTRY OFFICES AND COURT REPORTERS ALL HERE DEMANDING PAY INCREASES. THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAS OFFERED A 5% PAY INCREASE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THEY HAVE SAID THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. AND THEY ARE PUSHING FOR 13%. I SPOKE TO STRIKE ORGANISER BRENDAN LANE EARLIER. WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING FOR SIX MONTHS AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY ON THE TABLE TO MAKE IT WORK. THAT IS WHY WE ARE OUT HERE. HOPEFULLY THE MINISTRY WILL COME TO THE TABLE WITH A BETTER DEAL. THE STRIKERS FINISHING UP WITHIN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL BE HEADING OFF TO THEIR OFFICES. WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST IN OUR BULLETIN AT 6 O'CLOCK TONIGHT. WATER REFORM IS SET TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL WATER NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE, WHICH BEGAN IN HAMILTON THIS MORNING. INDUSTRY LEADERS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL GET THE CHANCE TO HEAR AND LEARN FROM A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS. MINISTER OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT NANAIA MAHUTA IS LEADING THE REFORM PROGRAMME AND SAYS THE HAVELOCK NORTH ENQUIRY HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING WATER QUALITY ASSURANCE IN NEW ZEALAND. IF WE CONSIDER THREE WATERS IN TOTAL ` THAT'S DRINKING WATER, WASTE WATER AND STORM WATER ` THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED TO THE CONSUMER IF WE WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US AROUND REFORM. THE CONFERENCE RUNS UNTIL FRIDAY. IN ORDER TO AVOID LARGE BUILDING FIRES, RESIDENTS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING NETWORK IN RESPONSE TO THE WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL REVEALING NEARLY 50 BUILDINGS HAVE CLADDING SIMILAR TO WHAT FUELLED THE GREENFELL TOWER FIRE. ROSEMARY KILLIP SAYS WHILST THE COUNCIL SEES NO RISK, IT'S A REMINDER TO TENANTS TO THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE ASSESSMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE ON WHAT THE BUILDING'S BEEN USED FOR, HOW OLD THE CLADDING IS, WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE BUILDING'S HISTORY ANYWAY. AND AGAIN, FOR PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT BEING SAFE WITH THEIR BEHAVIOUR. LOTS OF BLOCKED EXITS DON'T HELP, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO ` TO WATCH FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY. AS AUSTRALIA'S STRAWBERRY CRISIS DEEPENS, POLICE ARE WARNING COPYCATS THEY WILL FACE HARSH PUNISHMENT FOR PUTTING NEEDLES IN FRUIT. AUTHORITIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES ARE NOW INVESTIGATING MORE THAN 20 INCIDENTS OF NEEDLES FOUND IN STRAWBERRIES AND THREE INVOLVING APPLES AND BANANAS. SUSPECTED COPYCAT INCIDENTS IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY AND ARE VERY UNHELPFUL TO AUTHORITIES AND WILL BE TREATED AS FOOD CONTAMINATION ` WHICH, AGAIN, IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE WHICH CARRIES 10 YEARS' JAIL. MANY GROWERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DUMP STOCK, WHILE OTHERS HAVE INSTALLED METAL DETECTORS ON THE PRODUCTION LINE. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS WARNED CHINA ABOUT TRYING TO INTERFERE IN THE UPCOMING U.S. MID TERM ELECTIONS WITH TRADE TARIFFS. THE TRADE WAR BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS HAS HEATED UP AFTER CHINA ANNOUNCED RETALIATORY TARIFFS ON $90B OF AMERICAN MADE GOODS. THE BBC'S JOHN SUDWORTH HAS THIS. IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE IN THE CONTAINER BUSINESS IN THE U.S. AS MORE AND MORE GOODS POUR IN FROM ABROAD ` BUT IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE DEFICIT, AND DONALD TRUMP, FROM WELL BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT, HAS RAILED AT THE UNFAIRNESS OF TRADE BETWEEN THE US AND CHINA. BECAUSE CHINESE ACTION IS ALREADY TAKING ITS TOLL ON EXPORTERS. FARMERS ON LAND AND FARMERS OF THE SEA ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS. FOR POLICY-MAKERS HERE IN CHINA, EVERY LINE IN THIS LATEST AND EXTREMELY LONG LIST OF U.S. TARIFFS WILL READ AS PROOF OF A REAL THREAT TO THE VERY ECONOMIC MODEL ON WHICH THIS COUNTRY'S SUCCESS HAS BEEN BUILT ` EXPORTS AND STATE BACKING FOR INDUSTRY. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN SWIFT. TRANSLATOR: CHINA HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO RETALIATE IN ORDER TO FIRMLY DEFEND OUR LEGITIMATE INTERESTS AND THE GLOBAL FREE TRADE ORDER. IN 2017, CHINA IMPORTED $130B WORTH OF US GOODS. THE FIRST ROUND OF TARIFFS THIS YEAR HIT $50B OF THAT TRADE. AND TODAY, ALMOST ALL REMAINING IMPORTS ` $60B WORTH ` WERE TARGETED. BUT WHILE CHINA MAY HAVE FEW OPTIONS LEFT, MANY U.S. BUSINESSES DON'T THINK THE TRUMP TARIFFS ARE WORKING. WE HAD A SURVEY RECENTLY. ONLY 6%, CURRENTLY, WERE RECONSIDERING MOVING BACK TO THE U.S. SO THE U.S. IS HOPING FOR JOB CREATION. WE DON'T REALLY SEE THAT HAPPENING. IT'S THE GRIM PROSPECT OF ECONOMIC PAIN WITH NO POLITICAL GAIN. THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SCANDAL AGAINST U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE CONTINUES TO ROCK THE WHITE HOUSE. BRETT KAVANAUGH HAS DENIED ACCUSATIONS HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A WOMAN WHEN THEY WERE BOTH IN THEIR TEENS. TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SPOKEN OUT IN SUPPORT OF MR KAVANAUGH, SAYING ` QUOTE ` 'HE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS.' THE ABC'S JONATHAN KARL IS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE LATEST. TONIGHT, CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD WON'T SAY WHETHER SHE WILL APPEAR ON CAPITOL HILL MONDAY TO TESTIFY ABOUT HER ALLEGATION THAT SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH ONCE TRIED TO ASSAULT HER. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOW EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE PERSONAL TOLL ON KAVANAUGH AND HIS FAMILY. I FEEL SO BADLY FOR HIM THAT HE'S GOING THROUGH THIS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. THE PRESIDENT DID NOT SAY DR FORD'S NAME TODA, NOR DID HE EXPRESS ANY CONCERNS ABOUT HER OR HER SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. BUT HE HAS SHOWN UNCHARACTERISTIC RESTRAINT. HE HASN'T SAID WHO HE BELIEVES, INSISTING 'BOTH DESERVE TO BE HEARD.' WE SHOULD GO THROUGH A PROCESS, COS THERE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A LITTLE DOUBT. DR FORD IS NOW A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR IN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE IN HER HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK IN THE EARLY 1980'S, AROUND THE TIME SHE SAYS A 'STUMBLING DRUNK' KAVANAUGH 'PINNED HER TO A BED' AT A PARTY, GROPING HER AND TRYING TO TAKE HER CLOTHES OFF. SHE TOLD THE WASHINGTON POST ` SHE SAYS A FRIEND OF KAVANAUGH'S, MARK JUDGE, WAS ALSO IN THE ROOM. BUT IN A STATEMENT TONIGHT TO THE SEDATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, JUDGE SAYS ` JUDGE KAVANAUGH EMPHATICALLY DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS. DEMOCRATS SAY THE FBI SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGED ASSAULT. THE PRESIDENT COULD ORDER AN UPDATED BACKGROUND CHECK, BUT TODAY, HE SAID THE FBI DOESN'T WANT TO CONDUCT ONE. I DON'T THINK THE FBI REALLY SHOULD BE INVOLVED, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA BE INVOLVED. JUST GOOD FRIENDS, OR MAYBE SOMETHING MORE ` SESAME STREET CLARIFIES BERT AND ERNIE'S RELATIONSHIP. SHE WROTE ABOUT HOW TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND ` NOW SHE'S ON TRIAL FOR DOING JUST THAT. AND GOALS GALORE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AS LIONEL MESSI NETS ANOTHER RECORD. THAT'S COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK. THE MAKERS OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION SHOW SESAME STREET HAVE STEPPED IN TO CLARIFY THE RELATIONSHIP OF TWO OF ITS CHARACTERS. THE SEXUALITY OF MUPPETS BERT AND ERNIE HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF SPECULATION FOR SOME TIME, AND A WRITER ON THE SHOW REVEALED HE ALWAYS WROTE THE ROOMMATES AS A GAY COUPLE. BUT IN A STATEMENT SESAME WORKSHOP, WHO PRODUCES THE SHOW SAID, LIKE ALL OF THE SHOW'S PUPPETS, THE PAIR DO NOT HAVE A SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND ARE JUST BEST FRIENDS. IT'S A CASE OF LIFE IMITATING ART FOR A US AUTHOR AND NOW ACCUSED KILLER. NANCY BROPHEY WROTE A STORY SEVEN YEARS AGO CALLED 'HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND'. NOW SHE'S IN COURT ACCUSED OF DOING JUST THAT. CHANNEL NINE'S ROBERT PENFOLD HAS THE STORY. STRANGER THAN FICTION? YOU BET. AND HERE'S THE PROOF, WITH NANCY BROPHY, THE WOMAN WHO WROTE A STEAMY ROMANCE PAPERBACK ABOUT A WIFE KILLING HER HUSBAND TODAY VIA VIDEOLINK CHARGED IN A REAL COURT WITH THE MURDER OF HER REAL HUSBAND. DAN BROPHY WAS A POPULAR, LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHEF AND LECTURER WHO, BACK IN JUNE, WAS FOUND SHOT DEAD IN THE KITCHEN OF HIS COOKING SCHOOL IN PORTLAND, OREGON. MY NAME IS DAN BROPHY, AND I'M THE LEAD INSTRUCTOR IN THE T2 KITCHEN. NO EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED TODAY, ALTHOUGH PROSECUTORS ARE WELL AWARE OF HER MURDER-MYSTERY NOVELS. AND IN 2011, SHE ALSO WROTE AN ESSAY CALLED 'HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND'. IN IT SHE WRITES... THEIR NEIGHBOURS ARE FINDING IT HARD TO BELIEVE. I WOULD HOPE THAT SHE'S INNOCENT. NANCY ISN'T THAT TYPE OF PERSON, PERIOD. LOCK, STOCK, BARREL. IN THE DAYS AFTER THE MURDER, THE COMMUNITY GATHERED AROUND HER AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CHEF BROPHY, THE ALLEGED KILLER IN THE CROWD ACCEPTING THEIR LOVE AND SYMPATHIES. IN THAT SAME ESSAY SEVEN YEARS AGO, SHE WROTE ABOUT BEING MARRIED TO DAN BROPHY ` THERE'S AN AWARD-WINNING THRILLER SHOWING IN AUCKLAND THIS WEEK ` NOT AT THE MOVIES, BUT ON THE STAGE. A MAORI PLAYWRIGHT AND DIRECTOR ARE BEHIND THE PLAY, CALLED CRADLE SONG, WITH THEY SAY A GENRE THAT'S FAIRLY NEW TO KIWI THEATRES. LAURA TWYMAN REPORTS. IT'S SCENES LIKE THESE THAT MAKES YOU SIT ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT ` WHERE THE DOOR SLAMS, A SHADOW CROSSES THE SCREEN, OR SOMETHING JUMPS OUT. BUT VERY RARELY DO THOSE MOMENTS HAPPEN IN THE THEATRE. PLAYWRIGHT ALBERT BELZ IS HELPING CHANGE THAT. GO... AWAY! HIS NEW PLAY 'CRADLE SONG' IS OPENING AT AUCKLAND'S Q THEATRE THIS WEEK. AND WHILE AUDIENCES ARE NOT LOOKING AT A SCREEN, THEY REACT IN THE SAME WAY. YOU'D HEAR WHISPERS, OR YOU SEE OUT OF THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE SOMEBODY HIDING UP IN THE CORNER OF THEIR SEAT. AND ON THE STAGE, HORRORS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SEND EVEN MORE CHILLS THAN THEY DO AT THE MOVIES. WE'RE NOT RESTRICTED TO THE SPACE WHERE THIS HAPPENS. WE HAVE A TEAM OF FIVE ON STAGE, BUT THE TEAM OFF-STAGE WORKING THE SPECIAL EFFECTS IS TWICE THAT NUMBER, ALMOST ` FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH THE OTHER SENSES. THE FUN THING IS GETTING TO PLAY WITH ALL THE TRICKS ` HOW CAN WE SNEAK UP ON PEOPLE? HOW CAN WE DO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO EXPECT? (GASPS) (CRYING) (BABY CRIES) WITH A MAORI PLAYWRIGHT AND DIRECTOR, THEY PLAY'S CHALLENGING THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF MAORI WORK. THE STEREOTYPE, THE ARCHETYPE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHAKE SHACKLES OF. WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT MAORI THEATRE, YOU OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT JACK THE RIPPER, FOR EXAMPLE. YOU OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT AN IRISH HORROR PLAY. BUT THESE ARE ALL MAORI PLAYS THAT ARE IN THE MIX AT THE MOMENT. THIS SHOW IS ABOUT YOUNG TRAVELLERS ON THEIR BIG OE. SET IN THE LATE-'90S IRELAND, IT'S FAR FROM TRADITIONAL. BUT REST ASSURED... (DOORS BANG) NO! ...IT WILL MAKE YOU SQUEAL. LAURA TWYMAN, 1 NEWS. SPORT, AND NOELINE TAURUA HAS TASTED HER FIRST SUCCESS AS SILVER FERNS COACH, WITH VICTORY OVER SOUTH AFRICA IN TAURANGA. NEW ZEALAND BOUNCED BACK AFTER DEFEAT IN THEIR QUAD SERIES OPENER TO ENGLAND WITH A VASTLY IMPROVED PERFORMANCE. SHOOTER MARIA FOLAU BLITZED THE PROTEAS WITH A CLINICAL PERFORMANCE, COMPLETING 35 OF HER 37 SHOTS. THE MUCH-NEEDED 61-37 WIN DELIGHTED NEW COACH NOELINE TAURUA. YEAH, I THINK ALTHOUGH YOU'VE GOT A GAME PLAN, SOMETIMES, INTUITION NEEDS TO COME AS WELL ` SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE ` WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BACK UP AGAINST AUSTRALIA. ALL BLACKS FANS HAVE BEEN WARNED THEY BETTER GET IN QUICK FOR TICKETS TO NEXT YEAR'S RUGBY WORLD CUP. TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON IN NEW ZEALAND, WITH HALF A MILLION TICKETS ALREADY SOLD IN PRE-SALES WORLDWIDE. OFFICIALS SAY SEATS FOR GAMES INVOLVING HOSTS JAPAN AND TRADITIONAL POWERHOUSES ARE REACHING UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND. A GOAL IN THE DYING MINUTES HAS SEEN LIVERPOOL STEAL A THRILLING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH AGAINST PARIS SAINT GERMAIN. THE FRENCH CHAMPIONS HAD RALLIED BACK FROM TWO GOALS DOWN TO PULL LEVEL LATE ON AGAINST THE REDS AT ANFIELD. BUT JUST WHEN ALL HOPE WAS LOST, SUBSTITUTE ROBERTO FIRMINO CAME TO THE RESCUE. FIRMINO. (CROWD ROARS) OH! HE'S WON IT FOR LIVERPOOL! HE COULD VIRTUALLY SEE NOTHING YESTERDAY, IN TRAINING, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT ` THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HIS VISION THERE. PREMIER LEAGUE RIVALS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WEREN'T AS FORTUNATE, SPURS UNDONE BY A SPIRITED INTER MILAN SIDE WHO CAME FROM BEHIND TO WIN 2-1. IT WAS MUCH EASIER GOING FOR THEIR POOL OF DEATH RIVALS BARCELONA. MESSI HAD THE BALL WHERE HE LOVED IT. IT'S A GLORIOUS FREEKICK. LIONEL MESSI STROKED HOME A RECORD EIGHTH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HATTRICK AS THE CATALANS DESTROYED DUTCH SIDE PSV EINDHOVEN 4-0. THE FOOTBALL FERNS WILL HAVE A NEW COACH WITHIN TWO MONTHS AS THEY SEEK TO RECOVER AFTER A TUMULTUOUS YEAR. NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL SAYS AT LEAST ONE FORMER PLAYER WILL BE AMONG THE CANDIDATES TO FILL THE VOID LEFT BY CONTROVERSIAL FORMER COACH ANDREAS HERAF. THE NEW TACTICIAN WOULD DEBUT AT NOVEMBER'S OCEANIA NATIONS CUP. THE TENNIS UMPIRE WHO GAVE AUSSIE NICK KYRGIOS A MID-GAME PEP TALK DURING THE US OPEN HAS BEEN BANNED FOR HIS ACTIONS. MOHAMED LAHYANI HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR TWO TOURNAMENTS BY THE ATP TOUR. OFFICIALS SAID THE MOROCCAN-BORN SWEDISH UMPIRE COMPROMISED THE IMPARTIALITY REQUIRED OF AN UMPIRE. EMBATTLED RABBITOHS STAR SAM BURGESS HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE AUCKLAND SEXTING SCANDAL. THE LEAGUE'S INTEGRITY UNIT IS INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS THE RABBITOHS STAR SENT A WOMAN LEWD IMAGES VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. CHANNEL NINE'S NEIL BREEN EXPLAINS. THE SILENCE SAID IT ALL. UM... (CAMERAS CLICKING) SAM BURGESS FACED THE CAMERAS BUT SAID NOTHING AS HE ADDRESSED THE NUDE FACEBOOK CHAT SCANDAL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. THE SCARS OF FOOTBALL WERE EVIDENT ON HIS FACE. NOTHING COMPARED TO THE SCARS AT HOME. WHAT HURTS ME THE MOST IS, UM,... SEEING MY WIFE UPSET ABOUT WHAT'S... YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OUT THERE. AND OBVIOUSLY, UM,... I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT. BUT I'M NOT ANGRY, YOU KNOW. AND LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHY I'M COMPLETELY HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND BE AS OPEN AND HONEST WITH EVERYTHING. PREGNANT WIFE PHOEBE LET THE WORLD KNOW SHE WAS SUPPORTING HER HUSBAND VIA THIS INSTAGRAM POST LAST NIGHT. A SHADOW REVEALED SAM TOOK THE PHOTO. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH PROCESS TO GO THROUGH ` THE FAMILY TOGETHER ` BUT I'M FORTUNATE, UH,... THAT I'VE GOT A STRONG WIFE. UH, I'VE GOT... YOU KNOW, A WIFE WHO LOVES ME. I'VE GOT FAMILY; I'VE GOT GREAT FRIENDS. REGARDING THE ON-GOING NRL INVESTIGATION, BURGESS REPEATED THE SAME LINE OVER AND OVER. WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO PUBLICLY MAKE NO COMMENT, UM, SO I'M GONNA DO THAT. BUT HE STRONGLY HINTED THERE WAS MORE TO THE STORY. I'M HAPPY FOR THEM TO GET TO THE TRUTH ` I REALLY AM. I'D LIKE THE FULL TRUTH, YOU KNOW, TO BE FOUND. SO SAM, WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE IT COMPLETED BY? AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ` I THINK, HOPEFULLY, WITHIN 24 HOURS, 48 HOURS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED. DESPITE BEING CLEARED BY THE COURTS OF AFFRAY, BEN STOKES' ALTERCATION OUTSIDE A BRISTOL NIGHTCLUB CONTINUES TO HAUNT HIM. THE ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD HAVE CHARGED THE CHRISTCHURCH-BORN ALL-ROUNDER WITH BRINGING THE GAME INTO DISREPUTE. THE CRICKETER HAS CONTINUOUSLY DENIED THE CHARGES, AND CLAIMS HE WAS DEFENDING TWO GAY MEN FROM BEING ASSAULTED. STOKES AND TEAMMATE ALEX HALES WILL FACE A HEARING IN DECEMBER. 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. EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY TO MARK 125 YEARS SINCE WOMEN WERE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE. AUTHORITIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES ARE NOW INVESTIGATING MORE THAN 20 INCIDENTS OF NEEDLES FOUND IN STRAWBERRIES. AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS WARNED CHINA ABOUT TRYING TO INTERFERE IN THE UPCOMING U.S. MID TERM ELECTIONS WITH TRADE TARIFFS. 'EXPECTATIONS' BY DUNEDIN-BORN SAHARA SKYE PLAYS OUT YOUR WEATHER. (SAHARA SKYE'S 'EXPECTATIONS') THANKS FOR WATCHING FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM. E NOHO RA. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND MAEVE KELLY