TONIGHT, A FAMILY TRIP TURNS TO TRAGEDY ` TWO ADULTS ARE KILLED, BUT THREE CHILDREN SURVIVE A HELICOPTER CRASH NORTH OF KAIKOURA. JOE BIDEN'S FINALLY OFFICIALLY DECLARED THE WINNER IN THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BUT HIS RIVAL IS STILL REFUSING TO CONCEDE. AND WHAT TO DO IF THERE'S ANOTHER COVID-19 OUTBREAK THIS SUMMER ` WHAT TO PACK TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS HOLIDAYS. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JOHN GIBBS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2020. KIA ORA. GOOD EVENING. A SOUTH ISLAND FAMILY IS GRIEVING TONIGHT, AFTER A HELICOPTER CRASH JUST OUTSIDE KAIKOURA KILLED TWO ADULTS AND SERIOUSLY INJURED THREE CHILDREN, ONE OF THEM IN ICU, THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION NOW ASKING FOR ANYONE WHO WITNESSED ACCIDENT TO COME FORWARD. IMOGEN WELLS REPORTS. THE WRECK OF A HELICOPTER WHICH CRASHED INTO SHALLOW WATER AROUND 60KM NORTH OF KAIKOURA NOW THE SCENE OF AN INVESTIGATION. TWO PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES HERE IN THIS AIRBUS HELICOPTER EC120. JOSHUA KING (15) WATCHED IT ALL UNFOLD. I JUST SAW IT GO DOWN, SPRINTED DOWN HERE, WENT OVER BY THE CRASH AND JUST HELPED OUT AS MUCH AS I COULD. WE ALL JUST HEARD A BANG, YOU KNOW, HITTING THE GROUND, AND WE ALL CAME RUSHING OUT. LOCALS DESPERATELY SEARCHING THE DEBRIS FOR SURVIVORS. HELPED GET THE BODIES OUT, HELPED GET THE PEOPLE OUT, AND TRIED TO GET THEM ON THE BEACH, KEEP THEM SAFE, KEEP THEM WARM. THE HELICOPTER WAS ON ITS SIDE, BITS AND PIECES EVERYWHERE AND PEOPLE SCREAMING INSIDE THE HELICOPTER. THE WEE GIRL WAS JUST CRYING AND SAID, 'MUM,' ASKING AFTER MUM. ONE RESIDENT HELPING MOVE THE WRECKAGE FURTHER UP THE BEACH, AWAY FROM THE INCOMING TIDE. IT WAS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE WATER, SO I GRABBED THE TRACTOR AND HOOKED THE CHOPPER ON TO THE TRACTOR AND PULLED IT UP THE BEACH FURTHER, SO THAT IT WAS OUT OF HARM'S WAY. ON BOARD, A FAMILY OF FIVE FROM KAIAPOI, TAKING THE HELICOPTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH UP TO THE KEKERENGU RIVER NORTH OF KAIKOURA, WHERE IT'S BELIEVED THEY WERE GOING TO A POPULAR LUNCH SPOT. HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN AT THE STORE ` HELICOPTERS COME IN AND LAND, AND THEY HAVE A FEED, AND THEN THEY GO AGAIN. BUT I THINK HE WAS ON HIS WAY IN ` JUST LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ON HIS WAY IN, AND THEN IT JUST TURNED WORSE. THREE CHILDREN SURVIVED THE CRASH, BUT FIRST RESPONDERS WERE UNABLE TO SAVE THE TWO ADULTS. ONE FELLA WE DRAGGED OUT OF THE HELICOPTER WAS DECEASED WHEN WE DRAGGED HIM OUT. IT'S NOT A NICE THING, SO NO ONE ENJOYS THAT AT ALL. THE CHILDREN WERE AIRLIFTED TO WELLINGTON HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITIONS. TWO ARE NOW STABLE, BUT ONE IS IN ICU, WITNESSES DESCRIBING THEIR INJURIES AS TRAUMATIC. WE GOT THEM OUT AS FAST AS WE COULD, AND WE TRIED TO KEEP THEM AS WARM AS WE COULD. POLICE OFFICERS TONIGHT STILL COMBING THROUGH THE EVIDENCE, AND TOMORROW, A TEAM FROM THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION WILL BEGIN THE TASK OF FINDING OUT WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH. IMOGEN WELLS, 1 NEWS. EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL BE MONITORING A FIRE ON CHRISTCHURCH'S PORT HILLS OVERNIGHT, THE SECOND MAJOR FIRE IN THE HILLS IN RECENT DAYS. 16 HOMES HAD TO BE EVACUATED AS THE BLAZE RIPPED THROUGH AROUND 16 HECTARES OF LAND. IT'S BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS SPARKED BY A WORKER CUTTING STEEL AT A NEARBY CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE FIRE IS NOW CONTAINED, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WORSENING CONDITIONS. WE ARE EXPECTING SIGNIFICANTLY DANGEROUS WEATHER, AND THE RISK FACTOR WILL JUST GO THROUGH THE ROOF. SO PLEASE JUST MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE JUST EXERCISE AS MUCH CARE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN FIRE RESTRICTIONS COME INTO FORCE IN THE CANTERBURY REGION FROM MIDNIGHT TOMORROW. IT'S OFFICIAL ` JOE BIDEN WILL BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS THE COUNTRY'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE DECLARED HIM THE WINNER. BUT THERE'S BEEN NO CONCESSION YET FROM DONALD TRUMP, AS MR BIDEN GAVE HIS MOST SCATHING CRITICISM YET OF EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE RESULT. CHANNEL NINE'S TIM ARVIER REPORTS. 16 VOTES FOR JOSEPH R BIDEN. (CHEERS, APPLAUSE) STATE AFTER STATE CEMENTING THEIR ELECTION RESULTS. WE MADE IT. (LAUGHTER) AWARDING JOE BIDEN 306 ELECTORAL VOTES, THE SAME NUMBER DONALD TRUMP WON IN 2016. AT THE TIME, PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED HIS ELECTORAL COLLEGE TALLY, 'A LANDSLIDE.' BY HIS OWN STANDARDS, THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT A CLEAR VICTORY THEN, AND I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THEY DO SO NOW. THE PRESIDENT ELECT THEN SLAMMING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN'S EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS. A POSITION THAT REFUSED TO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, REFUSED TO RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW, AND REFUSED TO HONOUR OUR CONSTITUTION. AS THE VOTES WERE BEING COUNTED, DONALD TRUMP SPENT THE DAY HERE INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE. DESPITE THE POLITICAL REALITY, HIS TEAM SAYS THEY WILL FIGHT ON. ONE MAN WHO WON'T BE JOINING THE BATTLE IS DONALD TRUMP'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, WILLIAM BARR, WHOSE RESIGNATION WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE PRESIDENT ON TWITTER TWO WEEKS AFTER BARR DECLARED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD ELECTION FRAUD. BUT WHILE THE COUNTRY SEEMS CERTAIN TO REMAIN POLITICALLY DIVIDED ` TODAY, A RARE MOMENT OF UNITY. SANDRA LINDSEY, AN INTENSIVE CARE NURSE IN NEW YORK, THE FIRST AMERICAN TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST CORONAVIRUS. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE VACCINE. IT SIGNIFIES HOPE. 300,000 AMERICANS HAVE NOW DIED DURING THE PANDEMIC. AUTHORITIES HOPING TO SLOW THE DEATH RATE BY VACCINATING 100 MILLION PEOPLE BY MARCH NEXT YEAR. A NZ NURSE WORKING IN THE UK HAS DIED OF COVID-19 IN LONDON. BARCLAY MASON (56) WORKED AS A SENIOR CHARGE NURSE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AT THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL AND WAS WORKING IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. HE WAS DESCRIBED AS A VALUED COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND. AND A NEW AND FASTER-SPREADING STRAIN OF COVID-19 IS CAUSING CONCERN IN SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND. SUCH MUTATIONS ARE QUITE COMMON, BUT THIS ONE'S HELPED TRIGGER A HARDER LOCKDOWN FOR MILLIONS JUST AHEAD OF CHRISTMAS. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT DANIEL FAITAUA REPORTS FROM LONDON. IT MAY SOUND LIKE CHRISTMAS, BUT THIS SEASON WON'T BE THE MERRIEST, AS PEOPLE SPREAD MORE THAN FESTIVE CHEER. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A NEW VARIANT OF CORONAVIRUS, WHICH MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FASTEST SPREAD IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF ENGLAND. INITIAL ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT THIS VARIANT IS GROWING FASTER THAN THE EXISTING VARIANTS. HE SAYS THE MUTATION COULD BE DRIVING AN EXPONENTIAL RISE IN INFECTIONS IN ENGLAND'S SOUTH-EAST, WHERE AT LEAST 1000 CASES HAVE BEEN FOUND SO FAR, BUT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT PANIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT THIS VARIANT IS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE SERIOUS DISEASE. AND THE LATEST CLINICAL ADVICE IS THAT IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THIS MUTATION WOULD FAIL TO RESPOND TO A VACCINE. LAST WEEK, THE PFIZER BIONTECH VACCINE BROUGHT HOPE AS IT WAS ADMINISTERED IN HOSPITALS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) TODAY, THE FIRST VACCINATIONS IN ELDERLY CARE HOMES. WE'VE ALL BEEN STUCK IN A DARK TUNNEL, AND FINALLY WE CAN SEE A BIT OF LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. IT'S A MAJOR HURDLE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SUPER-COLD STORAGE UNITS NEEDED FOR THIS MEDICINE. BUT IT'S A PRIORITY, WITH AROUND A THIRD OF BRITAIN'S 65,000 DEATHS HAPPENING IN CARE HOMES; THE NEW HOPE ARRIVING AMID AN EXPLOSION OF COVID IN THE CAPITAL. LONDON AND SOME SURROUNDING REGIONS WILL MOVE TO THE HIGHEST TIER OF COVID RESTRICTIONS FROM WEDNESDAY TO SLOW THE SPREAD. PRESSURE IS NOW ON NUMBER 10 TO DROP THE UK'S FIVE DAYS RELAXATION OF RULES OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD, AS HEALTH EXPERTS WARN EASING RESTRICTIONS WILL THROW FUEL ON THE COVID FIRE. ANOTHER BLOW FOR BUSINESSES ALREADY ON THEIR KNEES. IT'S CRAP. THEY MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THOSE BUSINESSES WHO OTHERWISE WILL GO BUST. WE HAVE TO TAKE SWIFT AND DECISIVE ACTION. AGAIN, URGING A DEVASTATED AND EXHAUSTED NATION TO STAY THE COURSE. DANIEL FAITAUA, 1 NEWS, LONDON. BACK HERE, ALL OUR SUMMER HOLIDAY PLANS ARE AT STAKE UNDER NEW GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH COVID-19. HOLIDAYMAKERS COULD BE ASKED TO GO HOME AND LOCKDOWNS ENFORCED IF AN OUTBREAK OCCURS. POLITICAL REPORTER MAIKI SHERMAN HAS MORE DETAILS. WE ALL KNOW SUMMER'S GOLDEN RULE, BUT WITH COVID-19, THERE'S A NEW ADDITION. SLIP, SLOP, SLAP AND SCAN. THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW GUIDELINES FOR OUR FIRST SUMMER WITH THE VIRUS DEALING WITH THE RISK FOR CAMPSITES, LIKE THIS ONE IN WANAKA. IT'S A SMALL VILLAGE, AND THEY CAMP PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER, SO WE'RE VERY AWARE OF WHAT COVID COULD MEAN FOR US. UP TO 2000 PEOPLE WILL BE HERE SOON. IF A PERSON TESTED POSITIVE BUT THE SOURCE WAS KNOWN, A TARGETED RESPONSE WOULD BE LIKELY. THEN WE MAY SAY WE WANT EVERYONE TO STAY IN THAT CAMPGROUND UNTIL WE'VE GOT A HANDLE ON IT. SUMMER PLANS MAY HAVE TO CHANGE, AND WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A COVID KIT, WITH THINGS LIKE MEDICINE AND A FACE MASK. SOMETIMES THINGS DON'T GO TO PLAN. JUST MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN FEED THE CAT OR THE DOG AND JUST WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO. KIWIS ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO TURN ON BLUETOOTH IN THE COVID-TRACER APP AND SCAN QR CODES, INCLUDING AT SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS, LIKE RHYTHM AND VINES. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. THEY'VE PROVIDED A COVID TOOLBOX FOR PROMOTERS SUCH AS OURSELVES TO PLUG IN TO, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATING THE PUNTERS. AN OUTBREAK AT A LARGE FESTIVAL IS SEEN AS A WORST-CASE SCENARIO, WITH POTENTIAL FOR SPREAD NATIONWIDE. CLEARLY, IN THAT SITUATION, WHERE WE HAVE NZERS DISPERSED RIGHT AROUND THE MOTU, THAT REQUIRES A NATIONAL RESPONSE. A LONG-TERM STAY, THOUGH, ISN'T LIKELY. ALMOST CERTAINLY, WE WOULD BE ASKING PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOME BASE, BEFORE WE WENT UP ALERT LEVELS. THERE'S MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES IF A SUMMER RESURGENCE OCCURS, AND A $350 PAYMENT PER WORKER IF THEY HAVE TO WAIT AT HOME FOR TEST RESULTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF CHILDREN AND OTHER DEPENDANTS. MEANWHILE, DOWN AT THE CAMPING GROUND, THEY'RE ALL SET. WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. WE'RE PREPARED FOR IT. WE'VE GOT ALL THE SUPPLIES WE NEED. IT'S EXCITING FOR US. COUNTING DOWN TO WHAT'S HOPED WILL BE A COVID-FREE SUMMER. MAIKI SHERMAN, 1 NEWS. THE AUSTRALIAN ACTOR CRAIG MCLACHLAN IS FREE TO RECLAIM HIS ROLE AS THE STAR OF THE STAGE AND SCREEN AFTER BEING ACQUITTED OF INDECENTLY ASSAULTING FOUR OF HIS FEMALE CO-STARS. A MAGISTRATE SAID SHE BELIEVED HIS ACCUSERS, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO FIND THE ACTOR GUILTY. CHANNEL NINE'S KELLY FEDOR EXPLAINS. DO YOU WANNA STAND HERE, GUYS? HIS CO-STAR BY HIS SIDE, CRAIG MCLACHLAN. DELIVERED HIS LINES. NANCY AND I AREN'T GOING TO SPEAK IN ANY DETAIL TODAY. WE WILL CERTAINLY DO SO IN THE IMMEDIATE NEW YEAR. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE HAVE A LOT TO SAY. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW STAR IN A JOVIAL MOOD AFTER HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF INDECENTLY ASSAULTING FOUR WOMEN IN THE 2014 PRODUCTION. WHILE THE MAGISTRATE DESCRIBED THE FEMALES AS BRAVE AND HONEST AND SAID THEY DID NOT CONSENT TO THE TOUCHING AND KISSING, MCLACHLAN EGOTISTICAL, SELF-ENTITLED SENSE OF HUMOUR MAY HAVE LED HIM TO BELIEVE THEY WERE. WE'VE MAINTAINED A DIGNIFIED AND RESPECTFUL SILENCE FOR THE PAST ALMOST THREE YEARS. AND PUT OUR TRUST IN THE LAW, AND HERE WE ARE TODAY. FELLOW ACTOR JOHN JARRATT, WHO WAS HIMSELF FOUND NOT GUILTY OF A SEX OFFENCE, ARRIVED SOON AFTER, PRESUMABLY TO LEND SOME SUPPORT. I DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO YOU (BLEEP) ANY MORE. MCLACHLAN SUED FOR DEFAMATION IN SYDNEY AFTER SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT THAT CASE WAS PUT ON HOLD PENDING THE VICTORIAN CHARGES. NINE NEWS UNDERSTANDS HIS TEAM HAS ALREADY MOVED TO RESUME THAT FIGHT FOR DAMAGES. THE CASE LISTED HERE ON FRIDAY. GO AND ENJOY CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR FAMILIES. WE'RE GOING TO THIS YEAR. STAY SAFE. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR AND` I THINK SHE'S GOING TO GIVE ME A SMOOCH. I AM. STILL TO COME ` THE AMERICA'S CUP VILLAGE IS OFFICIALLY OPENED, WITH RACING JUST DAY AWAY, BUT COULD THE WEATHER FORECAST THROW TEAMS SOME CURVEBALLS? PLUS ` YOU WONT GET A SNOWY CHRISTMAS DOWN UNDER, BUT YOU MIGHT GET SOME SEA FOAM. - Oi, see youse later, eh. (CHUCKLES) - Laters. (CHUCKLES) - Oh, OK, see ya. - I'll catch ya later. (CHATTER) (CAR ALARM CHIRPS) (INTRIGUING MUSIC) (LOCK THUDS) - Oh. (INTENSE MUSIC) (CAR THUDS) (HORN BLARES) (LIGHTS CLICK OFF) (POLICE RADIO CHATTER) (LIGHTS CLICK OFF) (METAL CRUNCHES) (POLICE RADIO CHATTER) - (GASPS) ` Oh no. Oh no. - (HORSE WHINNIES) (KEYS CLATTER) (LIGHTS CLICK OFF) (INTENSE MUSIC) (CHUCKLES) THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST BANK IS CRACKING DOWN ON PROPERTY INVESTORS IN A MOVE TO REIN IN RUNAWAY HOUSE PRICES. ANZ WILL NOW REQUIRE A 40% DEPOSIT FROM INVESTORS BORROWING MONEY TO BUY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, UP FROM THE CURRENT 30%. THERE ARE NO CHANGES FOR OTHER HOUSE BUYERS INCLUDING FIRST HOME OWNERS. NEW ZEALAND'S BIGGEST LENDER SAYS IT'S EXPERIENCED A RECORD TWO MONTHS OF HOME LOANS, WITH MORE THAN 32% GOING TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY INVESTORS AND JUST 18% TO FIRST HOME BUYERS. KATIE BRADFORD HAS MORE DETAILS AND REACTION. OUR BIGGEST BANK HITTING INVESTORS WHERE IT HURTS ` FROM TODAY, TO BORROW FOR A HOUSE FROM ANZ, PROPERTY INVESTORS CAN ONLY BORROW 60% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. IT'S NZ'S HOTTEST TOPIC AT EVERY BARBEQUE YOU GO TO, RIGHT? MAYBE I'M GOING TO BORING BARBEQUES. THE HOUSING MARKET AT THE MOMENT IS VERY STRONG, AND WE THINK THIS IS ONE WAY OF PERHAPS JUST REBALANCING IT A LITTLE BIT. THE LOAN-TO-VALUE RESTRICTION IS BEING BOOSTED FROM 30% TO 40%, BECAUSE ANZ IS WORRIED IT FAVOURS INVESTORS OVER FIRST-HOME BUYERS. IT'S STILL NICE TO SEE SOME FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT WELL, WHAT'S NOT JUST IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF US, IN REGARDS TO PROVIDING A GOOD DEAL, BUT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CUSTOMERS? IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME THAT IT CAME IN. THE RESERVE BANK ABOLISHED LVRs EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT WHEN THE MARKET STARTED HEATING UP, IT AGREED TO LOOK INTO REINSTATING THEM ` MOST BANKS PROACTIVELY INTRODUCING THEM ANYWAY AT THAT 30% MARK. THIS AGENT SAYS IT'S THE STRANGEST YEAR HE'S SEEN IN THE HOUSING MARKET. THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM OVERSEAS, BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER PEOPLE GETTING BACK INTO PROPERTY AND SEEING IT AS A GOOD INVESTMENT. ABOUT 40% OF THE PROPERTY MARKET IS MADE UP OF INVESTORS. AT THE MARGINS, THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO AFFECT SOME PROPERTY INVESTORS, FOR SURE, SO IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THE HEAT OUT OF THE MARKET, BUT IT'S POSSIBLY NOT QUITE AS BIG A CHUNK OF THE MARKET AS WE MAY THINK. BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY INVESTORS IT TAKES OUT OF THE MARKET, THE GOVERNMENT'S AGAIN BEEN CALLED ON TO DO ITS BIT. SO, WE'RE DOING OUR BIT. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, PARTS TO THIS PUZZLE. AS IS THE RESERVE BANK. IT'S CAUSED A LITTLE LUCIFER FIRING UP MORE OF A FIRE, IN REGARD TO THE PROPERTY MARKET VIA LOWER AND LOWER INTEREST RATES. BUT IF YOU THINK OF SOME OF THE KEY DETERMINANTS, IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PROPERTY MARKET, IT'S SUPPLY; IT'S THE TAX SYSTEM. ANZ THINKS 40% HITS THE RIGHT NOTE, GIVEN THE EXPONENTIAL HOUSE-PRICE GROWTH. WE THINK 40'S PROBABLY ALMOST THE NEW 30. IT SENDS A BIT OF A SIGNAL IN REGARDS TO, LOOK, THIS IS NOT AN ASSET OR AN INVESTMENT WE THINK IT'S LOW RISK, SO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE SKIN IN THE GAME. THOSE WITH SKIN IN THE PROPERTY GAME BEING SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE. THE AMERICA'S CUP TEAMS HAVE BEEN WELCOMED AND THE EVENT VILLAGE IN AUCKLAND'S VIADUCT IS OPEN. RACING'S NOW JUST A MATTER OF DAYS AWAY. BUT WHILE THE EVENT HAS ALREADY OVERCOME SO MANY OBSTACLES, THERE STILL MIGHT BE MORE PROBLEMS TO CONTEND WITH. ABBY WILSON EXPLAINS. IF THESE SAILORS WERE AT HOME, THINGS WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT. (CHANTING IN TE REO) INSTEAD, THEY'RE ENJOYING THE SUN AND RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SAILS. I DON'T SEE A FACE MASK. I DON'T SEE ANY SOCIAL DISTANCING. BY NOW, THE TEAM SHOULD HAVE ALREADY RAISED IN TWO WORLD SERIES, BUT COVID PUT AN END TO THAT. INSTEAD, THIS WEEK'S EVENT AND THE CHRISTMAS CUP ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. IT'S THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HAD TO RACE, YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS. SO, YEAH, WE REALLY WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND GET INTO IT, SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TEAMS. NONE OF THE TEAMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE OPERATING AT FULL SPEED JUST YET. THE CHALLENGERS HAVE UNTIL JANUARY TO GET READY FOR THEIR SELECTION SERIES, WHILE TEAM MUSICLAND WON'T RACE AGAIN UNTIL THE CUP IN MARCH. A KEY FACTOR IS THIS WEEK'S FORECAST IS FOR LIGHT WINDS, WHICH MAY SUIT SOME BOATS MORE THAN OTHERS. WE SET A BOAT UP FOR BERMUDA THAT WENT WELL IN THE LIGHT. THE FORECAST WAS FOR IT TO BE LIGHT, IT WAS. THAT'S LUCKY TO A POINT, AND IT WAS GONE. NOW, PEOPLE WILL DO THAT HERE TOO, TEAMS WILL DO THAT. SO YOU'VE GOT TO HIT THEM IN THEIR CONDITIONS, WHICH YOU MIGHT GET BEFORE YOU REALLY KNOW. LIGHT WINDS HAVE ALREADY DISRUPTED PRACTICE RACING THIS WEEK AND COULD DO THE SAME FOR THE REGATTA. SOME TEAMS HAVE CHOSEN TO SPEND EXTRA TIME IN THE SHEDS, FRUSTRATING THE SAILORS. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET BETTER IS THROUGH SAILING. SOMETHING THESE SAILORS HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF THIS YEAR. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE THIS LONG TO FINALLY GET RACING THESE BOATS. BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERYONE, COVID'S GOING TO INFLUENCE THE CALENDAR A FAIR BIT. BUT NOW THE START LINE IS IN SIGHT. THE VILLAGE IS OPEN NOW. ALL THEY NEED IS MOTHER NATURE AND A LITTLE BIT OF WIND TO COME TO THE PARTY. HOPEFULLY THERE'S NO RAINING ON THIS LONG AWAITED PARADE. ABBY WILSON, 1 NEWS. STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH WILD SEAS HAVE CAUSED A FREAK WEATHER PHENOMENON IN AUSTRALIA. SEA FOAM HAS ENGULFED THE SAND OUTSIDE CURUMMBIN BEACH on THE GOLD COAST FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAY ` THE BUBBLES REACHING 1M HIGH IN SOME PLACES. THE FOAM IS EXPECTED TO BE WASHED AWAY AS THE HIGH TIDE MOVES IN. SHE'S THE STAR OF OUR $10 NOTE, AND OUR MOST FAMOUS CAMPAIGNER FOR NZ WOMEN BECOMING THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO GET THE VOTE. NOW KATE SHEPPARD'S HOME IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS A MUSEUM. TE WHARE WAIUTUUTU, KATE SHEPPARD HOUSE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN CHRISTCHURCH. JOY REID REPORTS. IF WALLS COULD TALK, THESE WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF STORIES TO TELL. IN FACT, INSCRIBED INTO KATE SHEPPARD'S FORMER DINING ROOM, THE EPICENTRE OF THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, ARE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR THE FEMALE VOTE. ISN'T THAT AMAZING? MAJOR CHANGE FOR NEW ZEALAND, MAJOR CAMPAIGN, AND IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE. THE STORY OF EQUALITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN THIS VERY ROOM ` THE 270 METRE LONG PETITION WAS PASTED TOGETHER HERE, BEFORE BEING TAKEN TO PARLIAMENT. THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED. A FEMALE PRIME MINISTER NOW STANDING INSIDE IT 127 YEARS AFTER NEW ZEALAND WOMEN BECAME THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. AND AS YOU WALK THROUGH THIS SPACE, YOU CAN ALMOST IMAGINE THE GATHERINGS, THE PLANNING, THE SCHEMING. THE HOUSE WAS BOUGHT BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR FOR $4.5M. IT'S BEEN TRANSFORMED FOR VISITORS, AND TODAY, IN THE FEMINIST PIONEERS BACKYARD, IN FRONT OF A FEMALE-DOMINATED CROWD, IT WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED AS A MUSEUM. WELL, IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT YOU CAN STAND IN THE PLACE WHERE HISTORY IS MADE. HER GREAT, GREAT NIECES, IMMENSELY PROUD. SHE ALWAYS TOLD HER THIS WOMAN WAS QUITE FAMOUS. WELL BEFORE SHE BECAME... WE KNEW WHAT SHE HAD DONE FROM A SMALL, FROM VERY YOUNG AGE. NOW THEIR GREAT, GREAT AUNT'S LEGACY HAS BEEN PRESERVED AND PROTECTED. SO MUCH BUSINESS HAPPENED HERE. WITH FUNCTION AND MEETING ROOMS STILL TO BE ADDED, IT'S HOPED THE PLACE THAT BIRTHED WORLDWIDE SOCIAL CHANGE, WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE. JOY REID, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` YOUR WEATHER, AND ANOTHER FINE DAY FOR MOST OF US. PLUS THE MASS TURTLE HATCHING ` THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AS THESE BABIES SEARCH FOR WATER. FINALLY TONIGHT, IT'S BEEN DUBBED A TURTLE TSUNAM ` THOUSANDS OF TURTLE HATCHLINGS HAVE EMERGED ON A PROTECTED AREA ON A SANDY BEACH IN BRAZIL. THE BABY VERSION OF THE GIANT SOUTH AMERICAN RIVER TURTLE MAKING A DASH FOR A NEARBY RIVER ` AROUND 71,00 ON ONE DAY ALONE. THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY IS STUDYING THE MASS HATCHLINGS TO HELP PROTECT THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES. ALL SAVED TO LIBRARY TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER NOW WITH CORDUROY AND 'I'M SO BORED.' ('CORDUROY'S 'I'M SO BORED') (BRIGHT INDIE POP MUSIC) THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. PO MANAHAU, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JOHN GIBBS CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2020