TONIGHT ` A BIG MAN WITH BIG TALENT, AND NOW NEWS STEVEN ADAMS HAS THE PAY CHEQUE TO MATCH. HIS NEW DEAL WITH OKLAHOMA IS WORTH 100 GRAND A DAY. A RECORD RUN FOR THE OWNER OF THE MELBOURNE CUP WINNER. WHY ALMANDIN HAS REWRITTEN THE RECORD BOOKS. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. HE'S BIG, HE'S HAIRY, AND HE'S NOW NZ'S HIGHEST-PAID SPORTSMAN EVER. HE'S BIG, HE'S HAIRY, AND HE'S NOW NZ'S HIGHEST-PAID SPORTSMAN EVER. KIWI B-BALLER STEVEN ADAMS HAS JUST LANDED AN NBA CONTRACT THAT'LL MAKE YOUR EYES WATER. HE'S JUST RESIGNED WITH THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FOR $140M OVER FOUR YEARS. THAT'S AN ALMOST 1000% INCREASE ON HIS ROOKIE CONTRACT OF $13M OVER FOUR YEARS. AT JUST 23 YEARS OLD, ADAMS' WILL EARN 35 MILLION A YEAR, ECLIPSING RUSSELL COUTTS' TAKE, WHO WAS OUR HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETE AT A MISERLY $13M A YEAR. AND THIS STAT WILL HIT HOME. ADAMS' NEW PAY PACK MEANS HE'LL EARN 400 TIMES WHAT THE AVERAGE NZ HOUSEHOLD MAKES ANNUALLY. CURRENTLY AVERAGING 13 POINTS, NINE REBOUNDS AND 3 ASSISTS PER GAME, THE DEAL'S A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE BELIEF THE THUNDER HAS IN HIM. BUT WILL THE BIG BUCKS CHANGE THE BIG MAN FROM ROTORUA? HERE'S JOHN MCKENZIE. THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER SELECTS STEVEN ADAMS. THREE YEARS AGO, STEVEN ADAMS' WAS JUST A 20-YEAR-OLD KID STILL STRUGGLING TO COME TO TERMS THAT HE WAS AN NBA PLAYER. I DIDN'T HEAR HIM. I HEARD 'ST`', AND THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I HEARD. THAT KID PROBABLY NEVER THOUGHT THAT IN JUST THREE YEARS' TIME HE'D BE NZ'S HIGHEST-PAID SPORTSMAN. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. DID YOU EXPECT TO SEE THAT WHEN HE GOT DRAFTED THREE YEARS AGO? WE EXPECTED TO TRY TO MAKE IT TO THE NBA, WHICH WAS THE NUMBER-ONE GOAL. NO ONE WAS THINKING ABOUT $100M, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OUTRAGEOUS, BUT WE'LL TAKE IT. US$100M FOR FOUR YEARS' WORK. ...7FT FROM NZ. IT WORKS OUT TO JUST UNDER 700,000 A WEEK ` MORE THAN MOST ALL BLACKS MAKE IN A YEAR. < IS HE WORTH IT? OH, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. HE'S WORTH EVERY PENNY OF IT. ALL TALK AT ONCE KENNY MCFADDEN'S KNOWN ADAMS SINCE HE WAS JUST 14. BACK THEN HE WAS JUST A BOY PLAYING A FEW GAMES FOR THE WELLINGTON SAINTS. HOW MUCH WAS HE EARNING PER GAME THERE? UH, ZERO. DOUGHNUT. < (LAUGHS) BUT HE'S UNDER NO ILLUSION ` THE KID WHO WAS PLAYING BALL BACK THEN IS STILL DOING IT FOR THE SAME REASON. < SO DO YOU THINK $100M WOULD CHANGE STEVEN AT ALL? NAH, NAH. I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. HE DON'T PLAY THIS GAME FOR THE MONEY; HE PLAY THE GAME FOR THE LOVE OF IT. THE REAL TRANSFORMATION FOR ADAMS WILL BE WHAT TYPE OF PLAYER HE DEVELOPS INTO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF SEASONS... ADAMS. OH! ...WITH $100M OF WEIGHT NOW SITTING SQUARELY ON HIS VERY LARGE SHOULDERS. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS. IT WAS A FINISH FOR THE AGES AT THIS YEAR'S MELBOURNE CUP. PRE-RACE FAVOURITE HARTNELL, RIDDEN BY CHAMPION KIWI JOCKEY JAMES MCDONALD, FOR A FLEETING MOMENT LOOKED IN WITH A CHANCE. BUT IT WASN'T TO BE, AS CHANNEL 9'S DAMIAN RYAN REPORTS. # ADVANCE # AUSTRALIA FAIR. # THE ANTHEM HAD BEEN SUNG, THE JOCKEYS NOT IN THE RACE GRABBED THEIR POSITIONS, AND A NATION STOPPED. GET SET FOR THE MELBOURNE CUP. CROWD ROARS RACING... DEEP INTO THE RACE, 'SECRET NUMBER' DECIDED TO JOIN THEM, WHILE RACE FAVOURITES 'HARTNELL' AND 'JAMEKA' WERE BACK MIDFIELD. ONE AND A HALF TO HARTNELL. AT THE TURN, AND WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT STAKE, IT WAS A DASH FOR THE CASH. WHO'S GOING TO BE THE LAST MAN STANDING? BUT IN THE END, THE RACE OF 24 CAME DOWN TO JUST TWO, 'HEARTBREAK CITY' AND 'ALMANDIN'. WHAT A FINISH TO THE MELBOURNE CUP! ALMANDIN PUTTING HIS NOSE IN FRONT OF HEARTBREAK CITY. THEY HIT THE LINE. ALMANDIN! ALMANDIN WON IT BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN FROM HEARTBREAK CITY! FOR THE JOCKEY, KERRIN MCEVOY, IT WAS A 16-YEAR WAIT FOR HIS SECOND CUP, AND THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE HIM WAS RIVAL BRAZIL'S JOAO MOREIRA. $3.6M FOR FIRST PRIZE AND $900,000 FOR THE IRISH-OWNED RUNNER-UP HEARTBREAK CITY. IMAGINE IF HE'D WON. IT'S ONLY SECOND. I DON'T CARE! I DON'T CARE! AND WE'LL HAVE ALL THE OFF-TRACK RAZZMATAZZ AND FASHION FALLOUT LATER IN THE SHOW. THREE PEOPLE ARE IN MIDDLEMORE HOSPITAL WITH MODERATE TO SERIOUS INJURIES AFTER A CAR CRASHED DURING A POLICE CHASE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND JUST BEFORE 7 TONIGHT. THE PURSUIT BEGAN IN MANUREWA, WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT POLICE SAY WAS STOLEN FAILED TO STOP. THE CAR CRASHED FIVE MINUTES LATER. ONE OF THE SERIOUSLY-INJURED OCCUPANTS WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME. THE INCIDENT'S BEEN REFERRED TO THE INDEPENDENT POLICE CONDUCT AUTHORITY. NORTHLAND WOMEN ARE BEING WARNED NOT TO HOOK UP WITH A DANGEROUS RAPIST ON THE RUN FROM POLICE. JESSIE HEKE-GRAY'S BEEN EVADING CAPTURE FOR A MONTH, AFTER LEAVING HIS APPROVED ACCOMMODATION IN AUCKLAND. HE ALLEGEDLY VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED A WOMAN LAST TUESDAY AFTER MEETING HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND POLICE ARE CONCERNED HE'S ATTEMPTING TO MEET OTHERS THE SAME WAY. POLICE BELIEVE HE'S USING METHAMPHETAMINE AND HAS ACCESS TO FIREARMS. HEKE-GRAY WAS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS JAIL IN 2009 FOR RAPE AND VIOLENCE OFFENCES. ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP FARMWATCH IS ONCE AGAIN ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT OF FAILING TO PROTECT ANIMALS AND THEIR WELFARE, RELEASING THIS FOOTAGE OF A COW IT SAYS WAS ILLEGALLY HUNG BY HIP CLAMPS FOR HALF AN HOUR, FILMED AND GIVEN TO THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. FARMWATCH SAYS THE TREATMENT OF THE COW BREACHES THE DAIRY CATTLE CODE OF WELFARE. IT SAYS MPI HAS TAKEN TOO LONG TO INVESTIGATE. HIP CLAMPS ARE COMMON IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, USED TO HELP COWS UNABLE TO STAND WHILE OR AFTER GIVING BIRTH. BUT THE VETERINARY ASSOCIATION'S GUIDELINES SAY THEY SHOULD ONLY BE LEFT ON FOR A MAXIMUM OF 10 MINUTES. MPI SAYS IT HAS INTERVIEWED THE FARMER IN THE VIDEO, AND A DECISION ON WHETHER TO CHARGE HIM IS IMMINENT. INVESTIGATORS HAVE USED LIFE-SIZED MANNEQUINS TO RECREATE THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE TRAGIC DEATHS OF FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING A KIWI WOMAN, AT DREAMWORLD ON THE GOLD COAST. THEY WERE FILLED WITH WATER TO GET THE EXACT WEIGHT AND STRAPPED TO THE RAFTS. OFFICERS SAY IT WILL BE A LONG AND COMPLICATED INVESTIGATION. NEARLY 300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BUYING ILLEGAL DRUGS ON THE DARK WEB IN AN OPERATION LASTING JUST SIX DAYS. POLICE AND CUSTOMS TRACKED PACKAGES COMING THROUGH MAIL CENTRES LAST MONTH, FINDING COCAINE, METHAMPHETAMINE, HEROIN, LSD, ECSTASY AND CANNABIS SEEDS. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED SIX PEOPLE SO FAR, AMONG THEM A 22-YEAR-OLD ALLEGED TO BE THE MASTERMIND BEHIND WELLINGTON DRUG SITE VIC UNDERWORLD. 66 OTHERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN FORMAL WARNINGS, BUT POLICE SAY INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING. THE OPERATION WAS A WORLDWIDE PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING AUTHORITIES FROM 11 OTHER COUNTRIES. TWO SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY INTO A HELICOPTER CRASH THAT CLAIMED TWO LIVES. THE BODIES OF A PILOT AND A FORESTRY WORKER HAVE NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM THE WRECKAGE IN DENSE FOREST NEAR WHANGAREI. THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF FATAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING ROBINSON HELICOPTERS IS RAISING ALREADY-HEIGHTENED CONCERNS ABOUT THE BRAND. HELEN CASTLES HAS MORE. THERE WAS NOTHING EMERGENCY SERVICES COULD DO, ARRIVING TO FIND THIS, THE SCATTERED WRECKAGE OF A ROBINSON R44. PILOT ALLAN JESSOP AND PASSENGER DEREK HAMMOND, A FORESTRY WORKER, BOTH DEAD. THE DETAILS ARE STILL SKETCHY, BUT WE HAD TWO CONTRACTORS OUT DOING SOME` BOTH SURVEY WORK AND AERIAL SPRAYING. ALLAN JESSOP (42) WAS AN EXPERIENCED PILOT AND KNEW THE AREA. BOTH THESE CONTRACTORS WE'VE USED FOR MANY YEARS. THIS LATEST CRASH HEIGHTENS CONCERNS ABOUT ROBINSON HELICOPTERS. 18 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN 14 CRASHES CAUSED BY MAST BUMPING SINCE 1996. DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN THE ACCIDENT RATE, AND ESPECIALLY ON A SPECIFIC AREA IDENTIFIED AS MAST BUMPING, WHICH IS PECULIAR TO THE ROBINSONS. THAT'S WHEN PART OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE BUMPS THE DRIVE SHAFT OR MAST. THAT WOULD CAUSE A RICOCHETING EFFECT THROUGH THE, UM` THROUGH THE HEAD, WHICH IS ENOUGH, USUALLY, TO MAKE IT DISINTEGRATE, AND IT'S NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. ROBINSONS ARE THE MOST POPULAR HELICOPTER IN NZ. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE AND EASY TO OPERATE. THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURER SAYS IT'S TAKING THE MATTER SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S PROBABLY GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND ASSIST WITH THE INVESTIGATION. WE'LL FULLY COOPERATE WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN NZ. THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION'S ALREADY PUT THE HELICOPTERS ON A WATCH LIST BUT SAYS BANNING THEM WITHOUT ACCURATE RESEARCH WOULD BE A KNEEJERK REACTION, BRINGING MANY TOURISM AND AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS TO A STANDSTILL. IT'S A SAFE AIRCRAFT TO FLY? I'D RECOMMEND THAT MY FAMILY LOOK AT SOME OTHER MEANS. BECAUSE, CRITICS SAY, THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. HELEN CASTLES, 1 NEWS. SOME IRAQI SPECIAL FORCES HAVE REPORTEDLY NOW BREACHED MOSUL'S EASTERN DISTRICTS. ISIS FIGHTERS ARE FIERCELY RESISTING THEIR ADVANCE. IT'S A MAJOR MOMENT IN THE HUGE CAMPAIGN TO LIBERATE THE CITY'S TWO MILLION INHABITANTS FROM A TWO-YEAR ISLAMIC STATE RULE. BUT THE BATTLE WILL ONLY GET MORE INTENSE FROM HERE ON IN. CNN'S NICK PATON-WALSH IS ON THE MAIN FRONTLINES, JUST TWO KILOMETRES FROM MOSUL. THE LAST PHASE OF LIFTING ISIS' DARK CURSE FROM IRAQ BEGINS HERE. BOOM! TRYING TO HIT A SPECTRAL, FLEETING ENEMY, LIST ONLY BY THE GLOW OF MOSUL'S CITY LIMITS... GUNFIRE BURSTS ...BARELY 2KM AWAY. GUNFIRE BURSTS IRAQI SPECIAL FORCES TRAINED BY THE US TARGET WITH A TANK HERE... BOOM! ...WHERE THEY ARE ATTACKED FROM DURING THE DAY. THIS IS THE GLOBAL TIP OF THE SPEAR IN THE WAR ON ISIS, AND, AS WE SEE IN THE SAME AREA IN DAYLIGHT, FACING CONSTANT COUNTER-ATTACKS. HERE, THEY CAN SEE ISIS JUST BEYOND THE BERMS. THE INCOMING IS FROM BEHIND IT. A TRUCK THAT POPS UP OPENS FIRE AND VANISHES. GUNFIRE POPS ISIS LESS THAN 1KM AWAY FIRING AT IRAQI SPECIAL FORCES' POSITION. THIS IS A CONSTANT, DAY IN, DAY OUT. DARKNESS HAS JUST FALLEN, DARKNESS HAS JUST FALLEN, AND THE SKY IS ALIGHT WITH FEROCIOUS FIREPOWER. BOOM! ISI HAVE ATTACKED THE BERMS. SUICIDE BOMBERS. GUNFIRE POPS ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES. IT IS CONSTANT, EXHAUSTING, CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE ROOF WE ARE ON. WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW WHERE IN THE TOWN AROUND US ISIS MAY HAVE BROKEN THROUGH. THE MOST INTENSE ATTACK WE'VE SEEN SO FAR TOWARDS THIS IRAQI SPECIAL FORCES POSITION, AND NOW THE TANKS MOVE FORWARDS, IT SEEMS, TO TRY AND STOP THEM COMING DOWN THE ROAD. ISIS, DESPITE BEING IN THEIR END DAYS, STILL ABLE TO CONJURE THE TERROR OF OMNIPOTENCE THAT BEGAN THEIR SAVAGE RULE. JUST AHEAD ` WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE RACE THAT STOPS TWO NATIONS WITH ALL THAT HAPPENED OFF THE TRACK, INCLUDING FROCKS, FASCINATORS AND POSSIBLY OTHER THINGS STARTING WITH F. IT MAY BE AUSTRALIA'S DAY IN THE SUN, BUT THIS YEAR IT WAS A PAIR OF KIWIS THAT TOOK HOME THE MELBOURNE CUP FASHION PRIZE. SISTERS OLIVIA AND CHARLOTTE MOORE CAME IN FIRST AND THIRD PLACE IN THE COVETED FASHIONS ON THE FIELD IN OUTFITS DESIGNED BY THEIR MUM. THEY WERE JOINED BY THE USUAL CROWD OF REVELLERS, INCLUDING A FEW TIPSY BILLIONAIRES AND A BUNCH OF VERY HAPPY PARTYGOERS. CHANNEL 9'S EMILY RICE WITH THIS. THE BOLD, THE BEAUTIFUL, EVEN THE ODD BILLIONAIRE FLOCKED TO FLEMINGTON TO HAVE A FLUTTER IN THE FASHION STAKES. DID YOU EXPECT TO BE LEADING THE FASHION PACK TODAY, GINA? I DON'T THINK I AM. JOCKEY MICHELLE PAYNE POSED BRIEFLY BEFORE HITTING THE TRACK, LAST YEAR'S HISTORY-MAKING WIN STILL SINKING IN. IT'S CRAZY, ISN'T IT? YOU GO FROM BEING A NORMAL JOCKEY ` YOU'RE WORKING REALLY HARD AND EVERYTHING ` TO BEING RECOGNISED EVERYWHERE, SO THAT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE IN ITSELF. THE BIRDCAGE WAS ABUZZ ` SPARKLING FROCKS AND PLAYFUL JUMPSUITS WERE THE STYLE STANDOUTS. COLOUR, COLOUR, COLOUR! LOVING IT! WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BLEND IN AND JUST BE WALLFLOWERS. HEADWEAR PLUMAGE RANGED FROM FEATHERS TO FLOWERS AND PLENTY OF METALLICS. THE WIFE OF HOLLYWOOD ACTOR CHRIS HEMSWORTH WAS DRESSED TO IMPRESS. WE JUST LANDED WITH A HELICOPTER, WHICH IS AMAZING. IN THE PUBLIC PICNIC AREA, THE PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING. IF YOU HAD A FREE TICKET TO THE BIRDCAGE, WOULD YOU GO IN THERE? > OH, NEVER. IT'S SO MUCH FUN OUT HERE. AND THE BLOKES AGAIN APPEARED ON TREND. DID YOU GET YOUR HAIR DONE JUST FOR THE OCCASION? > YEAH. TWO DAYS. BUT WHAT STARTED AS A BLUE SKY RACE-DAY SUDDENLY TURNED GREY. THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE CANTERED FOR COVER AS THE SHOWERS HIT. ENGLISH ACCENT: IT'S LIKE ENGLISH WEATHER, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA CARRY ON THROUGH. THIS IS MELBOURNE. IT'S SUNNY AGAIN. CHEERS TO THAT. ALL CHEER NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER WITH TOM JONES. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY PHILIP MCKIBBIN AND VIRGINIA PHILP.