TONIGHT ` THE GREAT ESCAPE. A MASS EVACUATION FROM QUAKE-HIT KAIKOURA. THE BIGGEST MILITARY OPERATION OF ITS KIND IN NZ. BOMBS AWAY. THE AIR FORCE TACKLES A DIRE WATER SHORTAGE IN SHAKEN AREAS FROM THE SKIES. AND A CAPITAL CONCERN. THE QUAKE-DAMAGED BUILDING THAT'LL BE DEMOLISHED, WITH MORE NOW BEING DEEMED UNSAFE. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. FIRST TONIGHT ` CONFIRMATION THAT MONDAY'S EARTHQUAKE EQUALS THE MOST POWERFUL WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST CENTURY. IT'S BEEN UPGRADED FROM A MAGNITUDE 7.5 TO A 7.8. THAT MATCHES THE STRENGTH OF A QUAKE IN FIORDLAND SEVEN YEARS AGO AND ANOTHER IN HAWKE'S BAY IN 1931 ` OUR DEADLIEST NATURAL DISASTER TO DATE. THE REVISED MAGNITUDE MEANS AFTERSHOCKS MAY BE LARGER AND COULD CONTINUE FOR LONGER THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. BUT IT WON'T CHANGE THE HUGE RESCUE OPERATION IN KAIKOURA, WHICH IS NOW AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT. AUSTRALIA, THE US, CANADA, JAPAN AND SINGAPORE ARE OFFERING TO HELP OUT. THEIR SHIPS AND HELICOPTERS WERE MEANT TO BE AT THE 75TH NAVAL ANNIVERSARY IN AUCKLAND. INSTEAD THEY'RE NOW ON THE WAY TO THE SOUTH ISLAND. OUR DEFENCE FORCE REACTION CONTINGENT IS MADE UP OF ABOUT 500 PERSONNEL, FOUR SHIPS AND AT LEAST 11 AIRCRAFT. THE HMNZS CANTERBURY'S EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT LYTTLETON PORT SHORTLY CARRYING ABOUT 450 KAIKOURA EVACUEES. THE DEFENCE FORCE HAS NOW EVACUATED AROUND 600 PEOPLE FROM KAIKOURA BY AIR AND SEA. PAUL HOBBS REPORTS ON THE MASSIVE MILITARY OPERATION. MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT, IT'S MOVING DAY,... HELICOPTER WHIRRS AND IT'S FULL NOISE. WE WILL KNOCK THE TOP OFF THIS IF IT ALL GOES TO PLAN TODAY. AROUND 600 REMAINING TOURISTS WANT OUT NOW. I JUST WANT TO GO HOME NOW, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR WISH. THE AIR FORCE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE AIR OPTION, AND THIS MORNING, THE BIG PEOPLE MOVER ` THE NAVY'S CANTERBURY ` SAILED IN. WE'RE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A HELICOPTER OR THE SHIP. WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. I THINK THE SHIP WILL BE MY WAY OUT. HOPEFULLY. YOU CAN CERTAINLY FEEL THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MOMENTUM. PEOPLE ARE FEELING A LOT BETTER AND A LOT STRONGER AND CAN SEE THE SUPPORT THAT'S POURING IN. THE LINES FORMED EARLY FOR REGISTRATION. IT'S A LOT MORE RELAXED THAN YESTERDAY. I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE LEAVING. THE NUMBER ON THEIR HAND IS THE PASSPORT OUT OF THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE. I WAS HERE AFTER A PERIOD OF RECOVERY. FORMER BRITISH POLICEWOMAN CLAIRE BORLASE LEFT THE FORCE DUE TO POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS. AND THEN I GET THROWN INTO THIS, SO I'VE PROBABLY GOT A PERIOD OF REHABILITATION TO GO THROUGH AGAIN NOW. (LAUGHS) KAIKOURA'S SOUTH BAY WAS SOON INUNDATED. NAVY RIBS ALONG WITH THE COASTGUARD FERRYING EVACUEES OUT TO THE CANTERBURY. WE CAN TAKE UP TO 760 GUESTS IF WE HAVE TO. BUT IT WAS 12 AT A TIME. THIS WOULD BE THE LAST HURDLE FOR THESE BELEAGUERED TOURISTS ` CLIMBING UP THE CANTERBURY'S ROPE LADDER. I WAS ON THE RIB FOLLOWING MY WIFE, SO I WAS ABLE TO GET PICTURES OF SUSAN GOING UP THE LADDER, SO I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN $150 ON A TOUR. THE CANTERBURY HAD PLANNED TO USE ITS OWN LANDING CRAFT TO TRANSPORT EVACUEES TO THE SHIP. IT CAN TAKE 100 PEOPLE AT A TIME, BUT BIG SWELLS HAD MADE THAT TOO DANGEROUS. ON BOARD, THIS WOULD BE A NO-FRILLS SERVICE, BUT WITH PLENTY OF KIWI HOSPITALITY. IT'S FAIRLY AUSTERE, AS YOU CAN SEE, BUT MOST PEOPLE SEEM PRETTY HAPPY. THEY'VE COME ON BOARD WITH FOOD, WATER. AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, IT'S ONLY MATS ON THE FLOOR, BUT THEY'RE WATCHING A BIT OF TV. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CRUISE DOWN, BUT NOW WE'VE EXPERIENCED IT, AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD ENJOY IT. NEXT STOP ` LYTTLETON. AND THE CANTERBURY IS TONIGHT WELL ON COURSE TO ARRIVE IN LYTTELTON PORT AT AROUND 1AM TONIGHT. THE 1 NEWS TEAM ON BOARD SAYS THE MOOD IS OVERRIDING RELIEF, BUT THERE ARE SOME VERY TIRED PASSENGERS. MOST OF THEM WILL BE TEMPORARILY HOUSED IN UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION ONCE THEY ARRIVE. WE'LL RETURN TO KAIKOURA SHORTLY, BUT NEXT UP, THE QUAKE-STRUCK CAPITAL'S CONCERNS. AFTERSHOCKS ARE STILL ROLLING IN, AND OFFICIALS FEAR THE SHAKES COULD BRING DOWN OR FURTHER WEAKEN ALREADY DAMAGED BUILDINGS. ONE BUILDING'S BEEN CONDEMNED AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE. RYAN BOSWELL HAS MORE. BROKEN BY THE CONSTANT QUAKES AND ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE. THIS HIGH-RISE BUILDING NOW SO DANGEROUS ENGINEERS WANT IT TO COME DOWN PERMANENTLY. WE'RE TAKING A REAL MEASURED APPROACH, BUT WE'RE DOING IT AT REAL PACE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET THINGS MOVING AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. EMERGENCY SERVICES HAVE BEEN PATROLLING THIS AREA FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. THE BUILDING'S TENANTS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS LIVING AND WORKING NEARBY TOLD TO STAY AWAY. THE SITE IS SOON TO BE SECURED AND BROUGHT DOWN PIECE BY PIECE. WE ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS. SO IT HAS ACTUALLY SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. WE HAVEN'T HAD PEOPLE GOING UP AND ASSESSING IT, BECAUSE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GOING IN THE BUILDING. THE ADVICE FROM OUR ENGINEERS IS IT'S A NO-GO ZONE. THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO BE DISPLACED. CAR PARK BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED, AND SOME APARTMENTS IN THE CENTRAL CITY HAVE BEEN EVACUATED. PARTS OF FEATHERSTON ST REMAIN CORDONED OFF, WITH CONCERN THAT GLASS AND MASONRY COULD FALL IN AN AFTERSHOCK. THIS REST HOME RESIDENT (81) HAD JUST 30 MINUTES TO PACK UP. IN MY HURRY, I ONLY GOT TWO PYJAMA BOTTOMS AND NO PYJAMA TOP, SO I CAME WITH HALF A SET OF PYJAMAS. WE HAD TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY, YES. OUR DEFENCE FORCE TOO HAS BEEN TURFED OUT OF ITS HEADQUARTERS. SOME SUGGEST IT COULD BE UP A YEAR BEFORE STAFF ARE ALLOWED BACK IN. WHILE THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES OUR SPIES MIGHT BE SAFE STRUCTURALLY, INSIDE IT'S A MESS. NOW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY NEW BUILDINGS LIKE THIS AREN'T HOLDING UP. TO SAY THEY WILL NEVER SUFFER DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF AN EARTHQUAKE ` THE POINT IS THEY'RE STRUCTURALLY SOUND ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NOT TO BE KILLED INSIDE WHEN THEY'RE IN THEM IF AN EARTHQUAKE TAKES PLACE. IN 2013, STAFF EXPRESSED SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE BUILDING. HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS STILL UNABLE TO GET INTO THEIR BUILDINGS WHILE ENGINEERS ASSESS THE QUAKE DAMAGE. AND THERE'S NO CERTAINTY AS TO WHEN EVERYONE WILL BE BACK TO WORK. BACK TO THE SOUTH ISLAND NOW, AND EVIDENCE TONIGHT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE. THE FIRST ROAD ROUTE INTO KAIKOURA HAS BEEN PARTIALLY RE-OPENED, WITH STATE HIGHWAY 70 FROM CULVERDEN CLEARED FOR MILITARY-STYLE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT. BUT WE'VE FURTHER ILLUSTRATION NOW OF THE MAMMOTH EFFORT NEEDED TO GET SOME OF THE WORST-AFFECTED ROADS BACK OPEN. KIM SAVAGE HAS BEEN TRAVELLING SOUTH DOWN THE EAST COAST TOWARDS KAIKOURA. WHEN THE EARTH MOVED, THE ROAD AND RAIL WENT WITH IT. A CHUNK OF HIGHWAY PUSHING UP MORE THAN 4M INTO THE AIR. KAIKOURA MAY AS WELL BE IN INVERCARGILL RIGHT NOW. LYNDA KITCHINGHAM'S IN CLEAN-UP MODE. BETWEEN HER CLARENCE VALLEY HOME AND HER WORK IN KAIKOURA LIES A BROKEN COAST. A LOT OF CHANGE TO GET USED TO. BUT IT'LL BE GOOD. I'LL GET WORKING. THE TIMEFRAME FOR REPAIRS IS EXPECTED TO BE MONTHS, IF EVER. THE ROAD AND THIS LITTLE STREET HERE AS RELATIVELY NORMAL. JUST ROUND THE NEXT CORNER, IT CAN BE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. THE ROAD CAN BE IN PIECES. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WE'VE COME ACROSS THIS ENORMOUS FISSURE IN THE ROAD. YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT HAS ACTUALLY SPLIT OFF AND SLUMPED DOWN ABOUT A METRE. THE LANDSCAPE HERE IN NORTH KAIKOURA HAS BEEN FOREVER ALTERED. JAGGED LINES AND LIMESTONE SLIPS NOW FEATURE. IT WAS A BIT OF A CREEK BED AND A RIVER AT TIMES AFTER A BIT OF RAIN. BUT, YEAH, IT'S ESSENTIALLY MADE A NEW BRAID ON THE RIVER. LOCALS HERE, LIKE DYLAN SIMPSON, ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT'S LEFT. I FEEL VERY LUCKY. I THINK EVERYBODY'S BEEN LUCKY, TO BE HONEST. EXTREMELY LUCKY. THE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED TO BE ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD. KIM SAVAGE, 1 NEWS. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON TOURISM-DEPENDENT KAIKOURA IS BECOMING CLEARER TONIGHT. THE TOWN'S RESIDENT POPULATION IS JUST OVER 2000 PEOPLE. BUT WHEN THE QUAKES HIT, THERE WERE MORE THAN A THOUSAND TOURISTS THERE. NOW, KAIKOURA'S CHARMS BRING IN JUST SHY OF A MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR, AND THEY POUR $134M INTO THE TOWN. BUT WITH SO MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE AND WITH MONTHS OF WORK NEEDED TO GET THEM OPEN, THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT AT STAKE. VISITING KAIKOURA TODAY, THE PRIME MINISTER PROMISED EMERGENCY FAST-TRACK HELP TO KEEP KAIKOURA BUSINESSES ON THEIR FEET. LISETTE REYMER HAS MORE. IN KAIKOURA, TOURISM IS KING. IF WE HAVEN'T GOT TOURISTS, WE'VE GOT NOTHING. BUT AS THE COASTAL TOWN APPROACHES ITS BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR, ANY REMAINING VISITORS ARE DESPERATE TO LEAVE. WE'RE JUST HOPING TO GET OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN. WITH THE MAIN ACCESS ROADS OUT OF ACTION, KAIKOURA IS EFFECTIVELY CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. IT'S GONE. IT'S USUALLY JUST BUZZING, ISN'T IT? AND THE ROADS ARE JUST ONE ITEM ON A VERY LONG TO-DO LIST. THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY WOULD STAY IN NEED TO BE CERTIFIED. THERE NEEDS TO BE SEWAGE, ELECTRICITY AND WATER THAT, AT THE MOMENT, ARE EITHER MARGINAL OR NON-OPERATIONAL. SOME OF THE TOWN'S MOST POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE OHAU POINT SEAL COLONY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY WIPED OUT BY THIS LANDSLIDE, AND THESE WHALE-WATCHING BOATS ARE BEACHED AFTER THE QUAKE PUSHED THE SEA FLOOR UP 2.5M. IT'S A DAY BY DAY SURVIVAL AT THE MOMENT. JOHN KEY MET WITH LOCALS TODAY,... HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING? YOU'RE ALL OK? SO YOU'RE ALL FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES? ...REASSURING THEM THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO GET KAIKOURA UP AND RUNNING AGAIN QUICK SMART. IF WE DON'T DO THAT QUICKLY, ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS PEOPLE TAKE IT OFF THE LIST OF PLACES THEY ARE GOING TO GO. A BUSINESS RECOVERY PACKAGE WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW AND IS EXPECTED TO MATCH WHAT CHRISTCHURCH RECEIVED POST-QUAKES. THEY ARE CERTAINLY MAKING THE RIGHT NOISES, TRYING TO REASSURE US. GOING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS. BUT IT'LL TAKE AT LEAST 12 MONTHS BEFORE KAIKOURA IS BACK TO CAPACITY. IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME, A LOT OF TIME. AND WHAT DO WE DO WHILE WAITING FOR THAT TIME TO COME? HOW DO WE KEEP GOING? THE NEXT YEAR IS GONE. TO GET THE ROADS OPEN IS GOING TO BE A MAMMOTH TASK. AND THEN TO GET THE TOURISTS TO START VISITING AGAIN. SO THIS SEASON IS PRETTY MUCH WRITTEN OFF. LEAVING LOCALS TO CROSS THEIR FINGERS AND HOPE THAT TOURISTS WILL RETURN TO GIVE KAIKOURA A SECOND CHANCE. WE'RE GONNA GO HOME AND THEN PERHAPS COME BACK NEXT YEAR WHEN HOPEFULLY YOU WONT HAVE AN EARTHQUAKE. LISETTE REYMER, 1 NEWS. OFFICIALS SAY THE BIGGEST HEALTH RISK IN KAIKOURA IS THE POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF A GASTRO BUG. TEAMS ARE GOING DOOR TO DOOR, CHECKING ON PEOPLE AND GIVING RESIDENTS ADVICE. HALF THE POPULATION OF THE QUAKE-RAVAGED TOWN IS STILL WITHOUT WATER, AND THE BROKEN SEWERAGE SYSTEM COULD TAKE MONTHS TO FIX. FURTHER TO THAT, THE OXIDATION POND, WHERE ALL THE SEWERAGE ENDS UP FOR TREATMENT, IS ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND ONE BANK HAS BREACHED. HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAY ALL WATER SHOULD BE BOILED AND NOTHING SHOULD BE EATEN FROM THE SEA OR RIVERS. THE AIR FORCE IS TACKLING KAIKOURA'S WATER SHORTAGE FROM THE SKY, AIR DROPPING A PURIFICATION SYSTEM AND A GENERATOR NEAR THE TOWN. 5000 LITRES OF DRINKING WATER WAS ALSO SAFELY LANDED, AFTER BEING FLOWN IN FROM WHENUAPAI AIR BASE BY AN AIR FORCE HERCULES. BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES PITCHING IN. THE SMALL NORTH CANTERBURY TOWN OF RANGIORA, WHICH FED THOUSANDS AFTER THE CHRISTCHURCH QUAKES, IS NOW HELPING KAIKOURA. HUNDREDS OF CARE PACKAGES HAVE BEEN DONATED, ASSEMBLED AND DELIVERED BY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP GET THE TOWN THROUGH. SAM CLARKE HAS MORE. MISS LILLY'S CATERING COMPANY IS USED TO SERVING UP TO 400 PER EVENT. TODAY, THEY'RE FEEDING A WHOLE TOWN. WE'VE DROPPED OFF, UM, TWO TRUCK` NO, PROBABLY ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE TRUCKS. IT WAS A FACEBOOK POST THAT TRIGGERED IT, BUT EVEN THE WOMAN WHO STARTED IT ALL DIDN'T PREDICT THE LANDSLIDE OF DONATIONS. WE SHOULD PUT A TROLLEY AT EVERY SUPERMARKET IN RANGIORA, AND IT SOON TURNED INTO ME SIX TRAILER-LOADS EVERY HOUR FROM EVERY SUPERMARKET. THE OLD AND THE YOUNG... < WHY'D YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD TO COME DOWN? COS PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE TO BE HUNGRY. ...THE ABLE-BODIED AND OTHERWISE... I'VE STILL GOT THIS ARM. I CAN STILL HELP. ...HUNDREDS TURNED UP TO DONATE AND MANY STAYED. IT'S PAYING IT FORWARD, MATE. IT'S CANTERBURY'S TIME TO SAY, 'THANK YOU, NZ. THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.' WITH FOOD AND SUPPLIES ENOUGH FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ` AND THEIR PETS ` THE NEXT PROBLEM IS GETTING IT TO THEM. HORN BEEPS PACKED TO THE WINDOWS, LOCAL AEROCLUB PLANES JOINED A FLEET OF VEHICLES DELIVERING AID TO KAIKOURA AND THE AREAS WORST HIT BY THE QUAKE. IT'S AMAZING. IT'S JUST COMING TOGETHER. PEOPLE ARE JUST COMING IN DROVES AND JUST HELPING. SENDING A SPECIAL LITTLE CARE PACKAGE TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT NEED IT. SAM CLARKE, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` A PASSIONATE PLEA FROM PIKE RIVER FAMILIES AS THEY MAKE THEIR CASE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR SAFE RE-ENTRY INTO THE MINE. VIOLENCE ON THE AUCKLAND WATERFRONT AS ACTIVISTS LABEL A DEFENCE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE A 'WEAPONS EXPO'. AND THE NEW SUPERSONIC PASSENGER PLANE THAT'LL GET YOU TO THE US BEFORE YOU CAN ORDER A SECOND G AND T. THE FAMILIES OF THE PIKE RIVER MINE VICTIMS HAVE JUST FINISHED AN EMOTIONAL MEETING WITH ENVIRONMENT MINISTER NICK SMITH IN GREYMOUTH. THE MINISTER REJECTED THEIR STANCE THAT THE MINE'S GAS LEVELS HAVE DROPPED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR SAFE RE-ENTRY, ARGUING THAT METHANE LEVELS ARE IN FACT RISING. BERNIE MONK SAYS HE'S HEARTBROKEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT LISTENED TO THE EXPERTS. I'M JUST A BIT PUT OFF BY HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS US, BUT WE'VE HAD THIS FOR SIX YEARS. WE'VE BEEN ALONG THESE PATHS BEFORE, AND WE'VE BEEN MISLED. WE'VE BEEN TREATED BADLY, AND HE'S JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THE LINE OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE JUST GOTTA TAKE EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAY ON THE CHIN. SOLID ENERGY HAS ALREADY STARTED WORK TO PERMANENTLY SEAL THE MINE BUT HAS DEFERRED ITS COMPLETION UNTIL AFTER THIS WEEKEND'S SIXTH ANNIVERSARY. ORGANISERS OF A DISRUPTED CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND HAVE ACCUSED PROTESTORS OF STAGING A SHAMEFUL PROTEST. SEVERAL HUNDRED ACTIVISTS BLOCKED ENTRANCES TO THE ANNUAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE, LABELLING IT A 'WEAPONS EXPO'. BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THE EVENT, AS NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. THE PROTESTORS MEANT BUSINESS; ARRIVING EN MASSE WITH A PLAN THEY QUICKLY PUT INTO ACTION, FORCING POLICE TO RESPOND. MOVE BACK! MOVE BACK! AMID THE CONFUSION, SOME DELEGATES GOT INSIDE BEFORE PROTESTORS TORE DOWN BARRICADES IN FRONT OF THE MAIN DOORS. IT WAS THE PROTESTERS' PLAN TO HAVE THIS ENTRANCE SEALED OFF BY 9 O'CLOCK. THEY'VE SUCCEEDED, ALBEIT 10 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE. POLICE HAVE JUST TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE PEPPER SPRAY THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO USE ON US. THEY CANT ENSURE OUR SAFETY, AND THEY ALSO HAVE TASERS. TENSIONS REMAINED HIGH AS A STANDOFF BEGAN. PROTESTERS: BOO! PROTESTORS SHOWING NO RESPECT TO ARRIVING DELEGATES. ONE EVEN ROUGH-HANDLED TO CHANTS OF 'SHAME'. THEIR OUTRAGE DIRECTED AT A CONFERENCE PROTESTERS CLAIMED WAS A WEAPONS EXPO, AND ALSO THE WARSHIPS VISITING TO CELEBRATE THE NAVY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY. WE'RE OPPOSING PEOPLE MAKING MONEY OFF KILLING AND WAR AND DISASTER. BUT THE CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN SAYS THE DEFENCE SECTOR EMPLOYS 2500 PEOPLE, AND THIS IS A CHANCE FOR SOME OF THEM TO MEET AND SHARE IDEAS. ORGANISERS HAVE LABELLED THE PROTEST AS MISGUIDED AND SHAMEFUL BUT SAY THE PROGRAMME INSIDE IS GOING AHEAD AS SCHEDULED. THEY SAY DEFENCE MINISTER GERRY BROWNLEE SPOKE AS PLANNED THIS MORNING, AS DID A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCE, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE IN PERSON DUE TO EVENTS IN KAIKOURA. PROTESTERS NOW PROMISING MORE DISRUPTION BEFORE THE CONFERENCE WRAPS UP TOMORROW. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. OVERSEAS NOW ` AND SYRIA'S PRESIDENT SAYS DONALD TRUMP WOULD BE A NATURAL ALLY IF HE FULFILS HIS PLEDGE TO FIGHT TERRORISTS. HIS COMMENTS COME AS RUSSIA AND PRO-SYRIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES LAUNCH MAJOR NEW OFFENSIVES IN THE COUNTRY. HERE'S THE ABC'S MATT BROWN. THE EERIE SPECTACLE OF PARACHUTE BOMBS DRIFTING DOWN ON ALEPPO. EXPLOSIONS PART OF A RENEWED OFFENSIVE BY PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD AND HIS RUSSIAN ALLIES TO CRUSH ALL RESISTANCE. ACTIVISTS SAY UP TO 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, AND THE UN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE ACCESS FOR FOOD AID OR MEDICAL EVACUATIONS. MOSCOW HAS DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE LATEST ATTACKS ON THE CITY, BUT THE KREMLIN SAYS IT LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILES FROM BOTH A FRIGATE AND THE LAND TO HIT TERRORIST TARGETS ELSEWHERE. ADDING FIRE POWER, PLANES HAVE BEEN TAKING OFF FROM RUSSIA'S FLAGSHIP AIR CRAFT CARRIER TO HIT TARGETS IN THE PROVINCES OF IDLIB AND HOMS. IN THE WAR TO CONTROL SYRIA, ALEPPO IS THE CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND, AND BASHAR AL-ASSAD NOW VIEWS US PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP AS A POTENTIAL ALLY. IF HE'S GOING TO FIGHT THE TERRORISTS, OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO BE ALLY, NATURAL ALLY WITH THE RUSSIANS, WITH IRANIANS, AND WITH MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. ALEPPO WAS ONCE SYRIA'S ECONOMIC HUB, BUT IT'S NOW DIVIDED, WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN CONTROL OF THE WEST, AND THE REBELS IN THE EAST, WHERE THE UN ESTIMATES THERE ARE STILL A QUARTER OF A MILLION CIVILIANS LIVING UNDER GOVERNMENT SIEGE. GUNFIRE IN IRAQ, THE OFFENSIVE TO RECLAIM MOSUL FROM THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR FOUR WEEKS, WITH COMMANDERS SAYING MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CITY HAS BEEN CLEARED. GUNFIRE IRAQI FORCES SAY NEARLY 1000 IS FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN KILLED, BUT THEY'RE STILL BEING MET BY FIERCE RESISTANCE. AND DONALD TRUMP'S TRANSITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE IS REPORTEDLY HITTING SOME ROAD BUMPS. SOURCES INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS SAY THERE HAS BEEN INFIGHTING AMONG THE TEAM MEMBERS. CNN'S REID BINION REPORTS. THIS WEEK YOU'LL HEAR SOME ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS. DONALD TRUMP SENIOR ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY ON MONDAY DESCRIBING POSITIVE RELATIONS IN TRUMP'S TRANSITION TEAM. VERY WELL, ACTUALLY. EVERYBODY'S GETTING ALONG REALLY WELL. BUT SOME INVOLVED IN THE TRANSITION PAINT A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE; ONE SOURCE DESCRIBING THE PROCESS AS A 'KNIFE FIGHT'. PITTING THE INTERESTS OF ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS AGAINST TRUMP LOYALISTS ON KEY WHITE HOUSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY POSTS. MAINSTREAM CONSERVATIVES ARE REPORTEDLY BACKING JOHN BOLTON FOR SECRETARY OF STATE OVER TRUMP ALLY RUDY GIULIANI. MEANWHILE, TRUMP'S CHOICE OF STEVE BANNON FOR CHIEF STRATEGIST ROLE HAS CREATED AN UPROAR, IN PART BECAUSE THE FORMER BREITBART CHIEF'S ELEVATION IS BEING PRAISED BY WHITE NATIONALISTS. TRUMP'S TEAM WENT ON THE DEFENSIVE. WHAT I THINK IS FRUSTRATING IS WHEN WE SEE SO MUCH NEWS COVERAGE, PARTICULARLY ON THIS NETWORK, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE ISSUES THAT DIVIDE US FOLLOWING THE ELECTION. I THINK THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE. UNDER BANNON, BREITBART HAS BECOME A PLATFORM FOR THE ALT-RIGHT MOVEMENT, AN AMALGAM OF WHITE NATIONALISM, MISOGYNY AND ANTI-SEMITISM. FOR HIS PART, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS CALLING ON AMERICANS TO GIVE TRUMP A CHANCE AS HE PREPARES TO STEP IN TO THE OVAL OFFICE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LET HIM MAKE HIS DECISIONS, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO SEND SOME SIGNALS... OF UNITY. I THINK HE'S GONNA TRY AS BEST HE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DELIVERS. JUST AHEAD ` BUCKLE UP AND ALL ABOARD THE NEW SUPERSONIC PASSENGER PLANE, GETTING YOU THERE FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND. A PROTOTYPE FOR A NEW SUPERSONIC PASSENGER JET HAS BEEN UNVEILED. THE PROJECT, BACKED BY BILLIONAIRE SIR RICHARD BRANSON, PROMISES TO REDUCE FLIGHT TIMES BY HALF, MEANING YOU COULD FLY FROM AUCKLAND TO LOS ANGELES IN JUST SIX HOURS. CHANNEL NINE'S PETER STEFANOVIC WITH THIS. FUTURISTIC, AERODYNAMIC, AND WHEN IT'S FLYING WILL BE VERY VERY FAST. THIS SUPERSONIC JET, CALLED THE BABY BOOM, IS THE NEXT INCARNATION OF THE CONCORDE. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PROJECTS IN AEROSPACE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. EVEN BEYOND AEROSPACE, FOR THAT MATTER. IT'S JUST A PROTOTYPE FOR NOW, ABOUT A THIRD THE SIZE OF THE AIRLINER THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE BUILT. THE FINISHED PRODUCT WILL HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR... BUT THE BIG SELL IS FLIGHT TIME. IT'LL TRAVEL AT... THAT'S LA TO SYDNEY IN SIX HOURS ` HALF THE CURRENT TIME ` OR LONDON TO NEW YORK IN JUST THREE HOURS. TICKETS WILL START AT ABOUT $7000. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DOABLE. THERE'S NO REASON WE CANNOT DO THIS RIGHT NOW. UNLIKE THE CONCORDE, THERE ARE NO AFTERBURNERS, WHICH WILL IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY. PILOTS WILL TEST THIS MODEL NEXT YEAR, BEFORE PRODUCTION OF THE REAL THING BEGINS IN A FEW YEARS' TIME. AND BY THE EARLY 2020S, THE AIRLINER WILL ENTER THE MARKET AND HIT THE SKIES, MAKING THE WORLD A MUCH SMALLER PLACE. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER. G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE'S 'THIS AIN'T LIVING' FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY JESSICA BOELL AND KATE PARKINSON. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016