DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. AN EX-MINISTER THREATENS LEGAL ACTION ` THE SAGA INVOLVING A PARLIAMENTARY JOURNALIST'S EMAILS AND PHONE RECORDS TAKES A NEW TWIST. JAILED FOR LIFE, BUT THE MAN WHO KEPT THREE WOMEN CAPTIVE FOR 10 YEARS INSISTS HE'S NOT A MONSTER. AND A RARE HONOUR ` FIVE KIWI GREATS ARE INDUCTED INTO AN ARTISTIC ELITE. THE PRIME MINISTER'S UNDER MORE PRESSURE TONIGHT AS ONE OF HIS FORMER MINISTERS THREATENS LEGAL ACTION. PETER DUNNE IS FURIOUS EMAILS BETWEEN HIMSELF AND FAIRFAX JOURNALIST ANDREA VANCE WERE HANDED OVER TO A MINISTERIAL INQUIRY. THE OPPOSITION SAYS IT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN KEY'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE SAGA. POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN HAS THE LATEST. IT'S A PARLIAMENTARY PRIVACY BREECH THAT UNTIL THIS WEEK WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO HARD TO BELIEVE. LATE THIS AFTERNOON, REVELATIONS PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES, ALREADY IN THE GUN FOR HAVING RELEASED INFORMATION ABOUT ANDREA VANCE'S MOVEMENTS AROUND PARLIAMENT AND PHONE RECORDS TO THOSE INVESTIGATING THE LEAK OF A GCSB REPORT, HAVE ADDED ANOTHER SERIOUS ERROR TO THE LIST, RELEASING THE CONTENTS OF HER EMAILS TO PETER DUNNE TO THE INQUIRY. AT THE TIME, MR DUNNE REFUSED TO HAND OVER ALL HIS E-MAILS AND SAID THIS AFTERNOON... DEPARTMENT OF PRIME MINSTER AND CABINET BOSS ANDREW KIBBLEWHITE SAYS THE EMAIL TRAIL WAS SENT TO ONE OF HIS STAFF MEMBERS AS PART OF THE INQUIRY. HE SAYS BECAUSE OF THE FORMAT IT WAS IN, IT COULD NOT BE OPENED AND WAS FOLLOWED BY AN URGENT REQUEST FROM AN EMBARRASSED PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES TO RECALL AND DELETE THE EMAIL LOG. I DON'T BELIEVE THE EMAILS WERE UNSEEN, NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT THE TELEPHONE RECORDS WERE NOT KNOWN TO THEM. NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT THE TELEPHONE RECORDS WERE NOT KNOWN TO THEM. THIS SHOCKING TURN BETTER EXPLAINS WHY PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES GENERAL MANAGER GEOFF THORN YESTERDAY QUIT HIS $300,000-A-YEAR JOB. BUT OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE NOW POINTING THE FINGER AT JOHN KEY'S RIGHT-HAND MAN FOR PUTTING PRESSURE ON PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES TO RELEASE MS VANCE'S INFORMATION. THIS HAS GOT THE RICHARD NIXON LOOK ABOUT IT ` PEOPLE GOING DOWN EVERYWHERE, BUT SOONER OR LATER IT GETS TO THE TOP. MR EAGLESON RELEASED HIS OWN EMAIL TRAIL TO REINFORCE THAT HE ONLY APPROVED THE RELEASE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF NATIONAL MPS. AND THE MAN HE SPEAKS FOR IS STANDING BY HIM. ABSOLUTELY 100%. HE HAS ACTED TOTALLY PROFESSIONALLY. HE HAS MY 100% SUPPORT. I THINK I HAVE A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HE'S DONE, AND HE'S DONE WHAT EVERYONE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO DO. THE PRIME MINISTER SAID HE ACTED WITH HIS AUTHORITY, SO IT GOES TO THE PRIME MINISTER. A PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES HEARING WAS ALREADY SET DOWN FOR AUGUST 21ST, BUT THE EVIDENCE IT HEARS WILL NOW BE EVEN MORE CRUCIAL IF PETER DUNNE DOES PURSUE HIS LEGAL OPTIONS. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. A NIGHTCLUB BOUNCER WHO LEAKED SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF A RUGBY PLAYER MARRIED TO PRINCESS ANNE'S DAUGHTER SAYS HE'LL FIGHT HIS CONVICTION. JONATHAN DIXON STILL INSISTS HE DID NOTHING WRONG IN POSTING THE PICTURES OF ENGLAND CAPTAIN MIKE TINDALL AT A QUEENSTOWN BAR. MAX BANIA REPORTS. A CONVICTED MAN, BUT JONATHAN DIXON'S LOST NONE OF HIS SWAGGER, VOWING TO FIGHT THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TODAY. NOW I LODGE THE APPEAL BECAUSE YOU'VE GOTTA APPEAL ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THAT COURTROOM ON THAT DAY IN THAT TINDALL CASE. THE FORMER QUEENSTOWN BOUNCER WOULDN'T SAY WHAT THE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE WAS, BUT HE'S REFERRING TO HIS CONVICTION LAST AUGUST OF ACCESSING A COMPUTER SYSTEM TO DISHONESTLY OBTAIN PROPERTY. NAMELY, THESE CCTV PICTURES OF ENGLAND RUGBY PLAYER MIKE TINDALL, WHO'S MARRIED TO THE QUEEN'S GRANDDAUGHTER ZARA PHILLIPS, WITH A BLONDE WOMAN IN A QUEENSTOWN BAR DURING THE WORLD CUP. YOU ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SOURCING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE, WHICH YOU INTENDED TO SELL TO AN ENGLISH-BASED SOCIETY NEWSPAPER. PROSECUTORS CLAIMED WHEN DIXON COULDN'T FIND A BUYER IN THE ENGLISH PRESS, HE POSTED THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE, WITH HIS OWN COMMENTARY CLAIMING HE WAS TELLING TINDALL OFF. MR TINDALL, YOUR BEHAVIOUR WAS THAT OF SOMEONE UNBECOMING. THE CROWN ARGUED FOR A JAIL SENTENCE OF 12 TO 18 MONTHS, BUT THE JUDGE SAID MR DIXON'S PREVIOUS GOOD RECORD SAVED HIM FROM DOING TIME. WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? YEAH, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I WOULD RELEASE IT, AND I'D GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE DRAMA AGAIN. WOULD I PUT MYSELF IN THE VIDEO? YES, BECAUSE I DON'T HIDE BEHIND ANYTHING. IN ADDITION TO HIS 300 HOURS SERVICE, DIXON WAS ALSO SENTENCED TO FOUR MONTHS' COMMUNITY DETENTION WITH AN OVERNIGHT CURFEW. HE TOLD ONE NEWS HE'D BE DISCUSSING AN APPEAL WITH HIS SOLICITOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAX BANIA, ONE NEWS. THE MAN WHO KEPT THREE WOMEN CAPTIVE IN HIS CLEVELAND HOME CAME FACE TO FACE TODAY WITH ONE OF HIS VICTIMS. AS ARIEL CASTRO WAS JAILED FOR LIFE, MICHELLE KNIGHT TOLD HIM HE FACES HELL FOR ETERNITY. BUT CASTRO, WHO REPEATEDLY RAPED THE WOMEN, INSISTED HE WASN'T A MONSTER. HERE'S OUR US CORRESPONDENT JACK TAME. SHE STOOD BEFORE THE COURT, COMPOSED AND ASSURED, HAVING BEEN DEPRIVED OF SUNLIGHT AND FRESH AIR FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, ABUSED, RAPED AND TORTURED IN THE MOST DEPRAVED ENVIRONMENT. MICHELLE KNIGHT PASSED HER SHACKLED CAPTOR AND TOLD THE WORLD SHE FEELS LIBERATED. I SPENT 11 YEARS IN HELL. NOW YOUR HELL IS JUST BEGINNING. I WILL OVERCOME ALL THIS THAT HAPPENED, BUT YOU WILL FACE HELL FOR ETERNITY. IN A DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS TO AVOID THE DEATH SENTENCE, ARIEL CASTRO PLEADED GUILTY TO 937 CHARGES. HE ADMITS KIDNAPPING MICHELLE KNIGHT, GINA DE JESUS AND AMANDA BERRY AND IMPRISONING THEM IN HIS OHIO HOME. IT WAS MAY WHEN FINALLY THE WOMEN BROKE FREE. MICHELLE KNIGHT HAD SPENT 11 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY. I WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME AND THE OTHER GIRLS EVERY DAY. DAYS NEVER GOT SHORTER. DAYS TURNED INTO NIGHTS, NIGHTS TURNED INTO DAYS. YEARS TURNED INTO ETERNITY. FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE OTHER VICTIMS TODAY ALSO READ VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS... TO ARIEL CASTRO: ...BEFORE ARIEL CASTRO HIMSELF ADDRESSED THE OHIO COURT. CASTRO SAID HE DOESN'T CONSIDER HIMSELF A VIOLENT PERSON, THAT THE VICTIMS WERE AT FAULT FOR TRUSTING HIM WHEN HE OFFERED THEM A RIDE. IN MANY WAYS, THOUGH, THE SENTENCING PLAYED OUT LIKE A MINI-TRIAL. POLICE PRESENTED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CHAINS THE WOMEN WERE LOCKED UP WITH, MOTORBIKE HELMETS CASTRO FORCED THEM TO WEAR TO MUFFLE THEIR VOICES, AND DESCRIBED THE MOMENT THE WOMEN WERE SET FREE. LEGS, ARMS, JUST CHOKING HIM, AND SHE JUST KEPT REPEATING, 'YOU'VE SAVED US. YOU'VE SAVED US.' SHORT OF AN APPEAL, ARIEL CASTRO FACES NO LEGAL PROSPECT OF PAROLE. IN OHIO, IT'S STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR MALE SEX OFFENDERS TO INITIALLY BE SEPARATED FROM OTHER PRISONERS, BUT CASTRO FACES YEARS, IF NOT THE REST OF HIS LIFE, IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. IT'S WHAT HIS VICTIMS WANTED. AS SHE LEFT THE COURT FOR HER NEW LIFE, THE DEATH PENALTY, MICHELLE KNIGHT SAID, WOULD'VE BEEN THE EASY WAY OUT. JACK TAME, ONE NEWS, NEW YORK. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS BEEN CONVICTED AND DISCHARGED DESPITE A JUDGE RULING IT WAS 'HIGHLY CULPABLE' IN A SOLDIER'S DEATH. PVT MICHAEL ROSS DROWNED DURING A TRAINING EXERCISE AT WAIOURU ARMY BASE AFTER HIS LIFEJACKET FAILED TO INFLATE. IN COURT, THE ARMY ADMITTED A STRING OF SYSTEMIC FAILURES LED TO THE 25-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH LAST SEPTEMBER. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS ALREADY PAID THE ROSS FAMILY MORE THAN $240,000 IN REPARATIONS. TWO ORGANISATIONS WHICH DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT FROM LATE-NIGHT REVELLERS HAVE JUST HAD THEIR SAY ON ALCOHOL PLANS FOR CHRISTCHURCH. POLICE AND THE DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD BOTH SUPPORT TOUGHER RULES, INCLUDING EARLIER CLOSING TIMES FOR BARS. MIKE THORPE HAS THE LATEST. THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND POLICE BOTH AGREE, ALBEIT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, THAT CHRISTCHURCH'S PROPOSED LOCAL ALCOHOL POLICY WILL LEAD TO A DOWNTURN IN BUSINESS. THE LONGER A LICENSED PREMISES IS OPEN, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO CONSUME AND DRINK ALCOHOL, AND THAT THEN LEADS TO MORE ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM. WHAT THE POLICE SUPPORT IS A PLAN THAT WOULD SEE SUBURBAN BARS CLOSE AT 1AM AND SELECTED INNER-CITY BARS CLOSING AT 3AM. HAVING A 3 O'CLOCK BLANKET CLOSURE ACROSS THE CITY WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH VIOLENT CRIME. POLICE STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE LATER A LICENSED PREMISE STAYS OPEN, THE MORE OFFENDING IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE. THE POLICE SAY IF A BAR STAYS OPEN TILL 2AM, THE OFFENDING DOUBLES. LET A BAR REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5 ` EXPECT NEARLY NINE TIMES THE RATE OF OFFENDING. THE CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD ALSO SEES A SPIKE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMISSIONS. THERE IS NO DOUBT FROM ANY PERSPECTIVE THAT LESS AVAILABILITY EQUALS LESS CONSUMPTION, AND LESS CONSUMPTION EQUALS LESS HARM. BUT BAR OWNERS BELIEVE THE INJURY TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY COULD BE EVEN WORSE. TODAY I'M AN UNDERTAKER ` THIS COULD BE THE DEATH OF THE CITY. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNCILS ARE CONSIDERING CHASING ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF CHRISTCHURCH. IF YOU DON'T PROVIDE A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE TIME FOR THEM, THEY WON'T STAY HERE. THE PROGNOSIS FOR CHRISTCHURCH'S NIGHTLIFE IS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT YEAR WHEN A NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ITS RECOMMENDATIONS. THAT CAN ONLY BE APPEALED BY THOSE WHO LODGED SUBMISSIONS, AND WITH THAT FIGURE TOTALLING MORE THAN 4000, THIS PROCESS COULD BE FAR FROM OVER. MIKE THORPE, ONE NEWS. POLICE AND THE SPCA ARE AT ODDS OVER WHETHER THREE ACTS OF SEVERE ANIMAL CRUELTY IN SOUTH AUCKLAND ARE LINKED. THREE PETS HAVE DIED IN TWO GRUESOME ATTACKS, AND THERE ARE FEARS PEOPLE COULD ALSO BE AT RISK. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. LIVELY PORTIA DIED A VIOLENT DEATH. HER FAMILY FOUND THE FOX TERRIER'S MUTILATED BODY ON THE BACK LAWN, EARS AND ONE PAW MISSING, FIVE DAYS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED. IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT'S CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MY CHILDREN MISS THEIR DOG. WE MISS OUR FAMILY DOG. THEY'RE NOT ALONE. RESIDENTS AWOKE IN NEARBY PAPAKURA TWO MONTHS AGO TO FIND RABBITS HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HUTCHES AT SEPARATE PROPERTIES AND FATALLY MUTILATED. WE'VE HAD THIS RABBIT FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND ALL OF SUDDEN, HERE HE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, ALL MANGLED, AND IT'S HORRIBLE. THE SENSELESS DEATHS OF THE TWO RABBITS LEFT SHOCKED RESIDENTS IN THIS QUIET STREET ASKING WHY, AND SEVERAL WE'VE SPOKEN ARE TOO FRIGHTENED TO APPEAR ON CAMERA, FEARFUL THE ATTACKER WILL RETURN AND TARGET THEIR OWN PETS. POLICE HAVE CALLED THE ATTACKS GROTESQUE, BUT SAY THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE RELATED. THE SPCA DISAGREES. WE SUSPECT BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE OTHER AND THE MUTILATION, WHICH, AS I SAY, WE DON'T GET THAT VERY OFTEN, I THINK THEY ARE LINKED. BOB KERRIDGE SAYS RESEARCH SHOWS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OFTEN LEADS TO EVEN MORE SINISTER BEHAVIOUR. IF SOMEBODY CAN COMMIT THIS SORT OF CRIME ON AN ANIMAL, THAT IS OFTEN WHERE THEY START. THEIR NEXT TARGET WOULD BE A HUMAN. WE DON'T REALLY FEEL VERY SAFE. I'VE GIVEN AWAY MY CATS, BECAUSE I'M SCARED THEY'RE NEXT. AND ALL PET OWNERS ARE BEING REMINDED TO BE VIGILANT UNTIL THE ATTACKER IS CAUGHT. NICOLE BREMNER, ONE NEWS. KEEPING UP WITH THE DIGITAL AGE IS GOING TO BE MUCH EASIER FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MORE THAN $200M IS BEING SPENT ON A NETWORK TO CONNECT ALL NZ SCHOOLS WITH FAST INTERNET AND UNCAPPED DATA. SHARON FERGUSSON HAS THE DETAILS. A TRADITIONAL WELCOME FOR THE BIG CHIEFS,... DRUMMING ...WHO COME TO MANGERE CENTRAL SCHOOL IN AUCKLAND, BRINGING GIFTS OF TECHNOLOGY. WE NEVER WANT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE LIMITED BY DATA. THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT UNCAPPED DATA. WE ALSO WANT THEM TO HAVE FAST CONNECTIONS BECAUSE WE KNOW AT THE MOMENT THAT SOME OF THEM ARE DROPPING OUT, TEACHERS ARE HAVE LESSONS THAT ARE INTERRUPTED. IT'S HOPED A $211M FUNDED INTERNET NETWORK WILL DITCH THE GLITCHES. ARE THE CONNECTIONS GOOD HERE? OR COULD THEY BE BETTER? THE WIRELESS WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT WAS TAKING TOO SLOW. WE STRUGGLE WITH THINGS DROPPING OUT. THE CAPACITY OF THE LEARNERS KEEPS GROWING. THEY USE VERY DATA-RICH PROGRAMMES. CALLED 'NETWORK FOR LEARNING', IT COMES WITH A PORTAL. THAT'S BASICALLY A SECURE WEBSITE WITH EDUCATION RESOURCES, LIKE APPS AND VIDEO CONFERENCING. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO BEAM DIFFERENT LESSONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BETWEEN SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THAT SOME SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ACCESS, FOR INSTANCE, TO A MANDARIN TEACHER. WE CAN SEE THAT RAMPING UP, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT IN THE FUTURE. IT'S HOPED SEVERAL HUNDRED SCHOOLS WILL BE ON THE MANAGED NETWORK BY MIDWAY THROUGH NEXT YEAR, AND ALL 2500 BY 2016. WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO? JUST REALLY FAST CONNECTIONS AND KIDS GOING, 'OH, IT'S ON, IT'S WORKING,' NOT, YOU KNOW, 'OH, IT'S TAKING A LONG TIME TO START.' (COMPUTER) WOMAN: HI. > ALL: HI. SO, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. > SCHOOLS CAN NOW REGISTER THEIR INTEREST IN GETTING THEIR VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS UPGRADED. SHARON FERGUSSON, ONE NEWS. CHRISTCHURCH'S NEW CARDBOARD CATHEDRAL IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. BISHOP VICTORIA MATTHEWS BLESSED THE BUILDING IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. CONTRACTORS WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR HANDED OVER A SYMBOLIC CARDBOARD KEY TO MARK THE OCCASION. JUST OVER THE MOON WITH JOY. IT IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE CITY, BECAUSE TODAY AN IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT TO THE GLORY OF GOD OPENS. THE $7M CHURCH IS ALREADY BOOKED FOR SEVERAL EVENTS FROM NEXT WEEK. JUST AHEAD ` AN AMERICAN WHISTLE-BLOWER GETS ASYLUM, REVIVING OLD COLD WAR TENSIONS. AND GAY BASHING IN RUSSIA ` A THREATENED CRACKDOWN RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE WINTER OLYMPICS. AMERICAN WHISTLEBLOWER EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS LEFT HIS REFUGE AT A MOSCOW AIRPORT HOTEL AFTER RUSSIA GRANTED HIM ASYLUM. THE MOVE'S ANGERED THE UNITED STATES AND AGAIN PUT THE FORMER COLD WAR ENEMIES AT LOGGERHEADS. THIS FROM EUROPE CORRESPONDENT GARTH BRAY. EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS SLIPPED QUIETLY OUT OF THIS MOSCOW AIRPORT, CREATING PLENTY OF NOISE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. BARACK OBAMA MAY NOW CANCEL A MEETING WITH HIS COUNTERPART VLADIMIR PUTIN NEXT MONTH. WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE THIS STEP DESPITE OUR VERY CLEAR AND LAWFUL REQUESTS. MR SNOWDEN IS NOT A WHISTLE-BLOWER. HE IS ACCUSED OF LEAKING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. THE FUGITIVE ANALYST HAS BEEN ON THE RUN NEARLY TWO MONTHS AFTER US AUTHORITIES REVOKED HIS PASSPORT AND CHARGED HIM WITH ESPIONAGE. HIS FATHER SPOKE ON RUSSIAN STATE TELEVISION BEFORE THE ASYLUM DECISION BECAME PUBLIC. I FEEL THAT RUSSIA HAS THE STRENGTH AND RESOLVE AND CONVICTION TO PROTECT MY SON, TO KEEP HIM OUT OF THE REACH OF THOSE WHO WOULD WISH HIM HARM. EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS LEAKED DETAILS OF THE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE NETWORK THE US RUNS IN CONJUNCTION WITH NZ, AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE UK. HERE IN LONDON, ONE OF EDWARD SNOWDEN'S SUPPORTERS IS VOCAL, DESPITE REMAINING UNDER EFFECTIVE HOUSE ARREST HERE AT ECUADOR'S EMBASSY. JULIAN ASSANGE'S WIKILEAKS ORGANISATION IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE TRAVELLING WITH EDWARD SNOWDEN, NOW AT LARGE IN RUSSIA, WHILE HE'S JUSTIFYING THE WHISTLE-BLOWER'S ACTIONS. EDWARD SNOWDEN'S ACTIONS ARE ALSO CLEARLY A REACTION AGAINST NATIONAL SECURITY EXTREMISM. WITH THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK SUPPOSEDLY FREE TO MOVE AROUND RUSSIA, THERE'S SURE TO BE MORE SCRUTINY OF NZ'S SPYING ALLIANCES. GARTH BRAY, ONE NEWS, LONDON. AND THE US WILL CLOSE SEVERAL OF ITS EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES AROUND THE WORLD ON SUNDAY BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE BEING CAUTIOUS AFTER RECEIVING AN UNSPECIFIED THREAT. THE ABC'S KAREN TRAVERS REPORTS. TONIGHT US OFFICIALS ARE WARNING ABOUT A SPECIFIC THREAT ` CREDIBLE, SERIOUS AND CLEARLY AIMED AT AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. BEGINNING SUNDAY, AMERICAN EMBASSIES OR CONSULATES IN OVER A DOZEN COUNTRIES WILL BE CLOSED, INCLUDING EGYPT, IRAQ AND KUWAIT. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS HAVE LED US TO TAKE THIS PRECAUTIONARY STEP. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS HAVE LED US TO TAKE THIS PRECAUTIONARY STEP. A SENIOR US OFFICIAL TOLD ABC NEWS THERE IS A SPECIFIC THREAT ` ANOTHER US OFFICIAL ADDED... THIS IS THE FIRST MASS CLOSING OF EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DUE TO AN INTELLIGENCE THREAT SINCE 2002 ` THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS. THE DEPARTMENT, WHEN CONDITIONS WARRANT, TAKE STEPS LIKE THIS TO BALANCE OUR CONTINUED OPERATIONS WITH SECURITY AND SAFETY. NORMALLY, THE DECISION TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS AT EMBASSIES WOULD BE MADE BY AN AMBASSADOR, BUT THIS TIME WASHINGTON IS ORDERING THE CLOSURES. FOR NOW, THEY'RE JUST SET FOR SUNDAY, AS US INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS WORK TO GET MORE SPECIFICS. CONCERNS ARE MOUNTING OVER THE TREATMENT OF GAY ATHLETES COMPETING AT NEXT YEAR'S WINTER OLYMPICS IN RUSSIA. THE COUNTRY'S SPORTS MINISTER'S WARNED THAT COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS WHO OPENLY FLAUNT THEIR SEXUALITY WILL FACE FINES, ARREST AND DEPORTATION. ABC'S KIRIT RADIA REPORTS. IN JUST OVER SIX MONTHS, RUSSIA HOPES TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN SOCHI. BUT TODAY THE RUSSIAN SPORTS MINISTER WARNED THAT ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS COULD BE TARGETED IF THEY VIOLATE THE COUNTRY'S NEW ANTI-GAY LAW, THREATENING FINES, DEPORTATION AND EVEN JAIL. JUST SPEAKING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AROUND MINORS OR DISPLAYING SYMBOLS LIKE A RAINBOW FLAG IN PUBLIC ARE ILLEGAL SINCE THE LAW WAS SIGNED IN JUNE. BUT JOHNNY WEIR, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND OPENLY GAY AMERICAN FIGURE SKATER, SAYS THE LAW ISN'T GOING TO STOP HIM. I'LL TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WON'T STOP BEING MYSELF. I WON'T STOP BEING JOHNNY WEIR, THE GAY, FABULOUS ICE-SKATER PERSON WALKING DOWN THE STREET. HOMOPHOBIA IS RAMPANT IN RUSSIA. GAY-RIGHTS DEMONSTRATIONS ARE USUALLY MET WITH VIOLENCE. POLICE OFTEN IGNORE THE ATTACKS AND ARREST THE PROTESTERS. ACTIVISTS SAY IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY PERMITTED TO ATTACK THE PEOPLE. COULD YOU AND I BE ARRESTED > FOR TALKING IN PUBLIC RIGHT NOW ABOUT YOU BEING GAY? > YES, I CAN BE ARRESTED. IN THE US, ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT ON PRODUCTS LIKE RUSSIAN VODKA AND SOME EVEN ON PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPICS. SO FAR, THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS REMAINED SILENT ON THIS LATEST WARNING. ZIMBABWE'S PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE 'FREE, HONEST AND CREDIBLE', ACCORDING TO AFRICAN OBSERVERS WHO MONITORED THE POLLING. PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE'S PARTY IS CLAIMING VICTORY IN THE ELECTION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN REJECTED AS A 'HUGE FARCE' BY PRIME MINISTER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI. BUT AFRICAN UNION OBSERVERS SAY INCIDENTS OF ALLEGED RIGGING COULD NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME. STAY WITH US. I'LL HAVE YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK. AND A SPECIAL EVENING FOR FIVE KIWI GREATS JOINING AN ELITE ARTISTIC CIRCLE. IT'S AN ELITE CIRCLE LIMITED TO 20 OUTSTANDING LIVING ARTISTS. AND TONIGHT FIVE GREATS JOINED THEIR NUMBER, RECEIVING THE ICON AWARD ` THE COUNTRY'S GREATEST ARTS HONOUR. SARAH BRADLEY HAS THE STORY. OK, HERE WE GO. FIVE OF OUR GREATEST ARTISTS WERE IN HOT DEMAND AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. GEOFF MURPHY IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS FILM 'GOODBYE PORK PIE', BUT IT IS ANOTHER HE IS MOST PROUD OF. I'M PROUD OF 'UTU'. I THINK 'UTU', PARTICULARLY ON THE RECUT AND REISSUE, HAS COME UP REALLY WELL. ARCHITECT IAN ATHFIELD WILL BE FOREVER NOTED FOR THIS WELLINGTON HILLSIDE HOME. ARCHITECTURE'S A VERY TOUGH PROFESSION, AND IT'S NOT OFTEN CALLED AN ART, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE BASTARDS IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY. JACQUELINE FAHEY HAS BEEN RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP FEMINIST ARTISTS, BUT SHE IS MOST INTERESTED IN THE PRESENT. MY LATEST NOVEL, ALWAYS THE LATEST THING. DR CLIFF WHITING IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF ART AND HERITAGE IN THE NATION'S MARAE. BUT IT WAS DAME KIRI WHO WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW AND IS SOON TO BE STAR OF ONE OF THE MOST-WATCHED TELEVISION DRAMAS IN THE WORLD, 'DOWNTON ABBEY'. IT WAS AN AMAZING TWO DAYS OF THIS VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE ` WITH DAME MAGGIE SMITH AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAST. IT WAS REALLY QUITE AMAZING. (SINGS OPERATICALLY) THE ART ICONS ARE LIMITED TO ONLY 20 LIVING ARTISTS AT ANY ONE TIME AND ARE CONSIDERED THE ARTS FOUNDATION'S HIGHEST HONOUR. BUT DAME KIRI SPOKE MUCH CLOSER TO HOME. THOMAS TE KANAWA AND ELENOR TE KANAWA, MY PARENTS, WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO GIVE ME THIS LIFE, I THANK THEM EVERY DAY. THE ARTS FOUNDATION SAYS THE MANA OF EACH MEDALLION GROWS AS IT IS PASSED ON. SARAH BRADLEY, ONE NEWS. NOW TO THE WEATHER. A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE MAINLAND, WHILE A MOIST EASTERLY FLOW MOVES DOWN THE NORTH ISLAND. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM THE TEAM ON TONIGHT. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY DESNEY SHAW AND JESSICA BOELL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013