HE WAS UNCEREMONIOUSLY FIRED. BUT THE DUMPING OF FBI BOSS JAMES COMEY BY DONALD TRUMP HAS MANY ASKING IF THERE IS A COVER UP. A DAMNING REPORT INTO A WATER CONTAMINATION OUTBREAK WHICH SAW THOUSANDS HIT WITH A GASTRO ILLNESS. A LOBBY GROUP DEMANDS CHANGE AFTER A WOMAN IS SUED BY HER ELDERLY PARENTS OVER UNPAID LOANS. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS STUNNED WASHINGTON, FIRING THE MAN WHO MANY SAY HELPED HIM WIN THE ELECTION. JAMES COMEY WAS TERMINATED FROM HIS ROLE AS FBI DIRECTOR TODAY, JUST HOURS AFTER HE WAS ACCUSED OF MISLEADING CONGRESS ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON'S EMAILS. CRITICS ARE NOW QUESTIONING THE TIMING OF THE FIRING AND THE REASONS BEHIND IT. CHANNEL NINE'S LIZZIE PEARL HAS MORE. HE'S SAID IT BEFORE, AND TODAY DONALD TRUMP SAID IT AGAIN ` 'YOU'RE FIRED' ` THIS TIME TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, JAMES COMEY. THIS IS PART OF A DEEPLY TROUBLING PATTERN FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THE REASON ` MR COMEY'S HANDLING OF THE HILLARY CLINTON EMAIL SCANDAL AND HIS DECISION TO BREAK WITH FBI PROTOCOL, WADE INTO POLITICS AND GO PUBLIC. FIRST, THE FBI DIRECTOR CHASTISED HILLARY CLINTON AS 'CARELESS' IN HANDLING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. THEN HE VERY PUBLICLY REOPENED THE CASE JUST 11 DAYS BEFORE THE VOTE. JAMES COMEY WAS FIRED WHILE HE WAS HERE IN LOS ANGELES. BUT HE DIDN'T RECEIVE A LETTER OR EVEN A PHONE CALL. HE SAW HE WAS SACKED ON TV. AND THE IRONY HERE ISN'T LOST. DONALD TRUMP HAD THE MOST TO GAIN FROM MR COMEY'S ACTIONS INVOLVING HILLARY CLINTON, AND AT FIRST, TRUMP PRAISED HIM. NOW THEY'VE GOT HIM FIRED. WROTE THE PRESIDENT. LAST WEEK, THE FBI DIRECTOR SAID HE FELT 'MILDLY NAUSEOUS' THE PROSPECT HE AFFECTED THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION. TONIGHT HE'S LICKING HIS WOUNDS. JAMES COMEY WAS HEADING A SECOND INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN COLLUDED WITH RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION. NOW DONALD TRUMP WILL GET TO APPOINT A NEW HEAD OF THE FBI. UNDERSTANDABLY, QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S MOTIVE. THE COMEY CASE IS DRAWING COMPARISONS TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCANDALS IN AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY. IN THE '70S, PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON SACKED THE PROSECUTOR PROBING HIS CONNECTION TO AN ATTEMPT TO STEAL SECRET DOCUMENTS AND WIRETAP PHONES. NIXON TRIED TO STOP THE FBI INVESTIGATING THE CRIME, DESTROYED EVIDENCE AND FIRED UNCOOPERATIVE STAFF MEMBERS. THE WATERGATE SCANDAL LED TO NIXON'S FORCED RESIGNATION IN 1974. SERIOUS FAILINGS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE HANDLING OF LAST YEAR'S HAVELOCK NORTH WATER CONTAMINATION. THE FIRST OF TWO REPORTS ON THE OUTBREAK FOUND DYSFUNCTION BETWEEN LOCAL COUNCILS AND A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DISTRICT'S WATER SUPPLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISASTER. LISETTE REYMER REPORTS. SOME ANSWERS AT LAST. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT. I'M SORRY TO HEAR THEY'RE BOTH TO BLAME. IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET THE ANSWER. A SCATHING REPORT POINTING THE FINGER AT BOTH THE HAWKES BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR FAILING TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND AN INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS. A HIGHER STANDARD OF CARE NEEDED TO BE EMBRACED AKIN TO THAT APPLIED IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE OR AVIATION, WHERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE COULD SIMILARLY BE ILLNESS, INJURY OR DEATH. IT'S THOUGHT THREE PEOPLE DIED AND AROUND 5,5000 PEOPLE BECAME ILL WHEN HAVELOCK NORTH'S WATER WAS CONTAMINATED LAST YEAR. SOME LOCALS ARE STILL SAID TO BE FEELING THE EFFECTS. OUR COMMUNITY EXPECT TO HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER. SO I'VE TAKEN TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GET US THROUGH THIS CRISIS. I'M FRONTING UP HERE TODAY, BUT I DIDN'T PERSONALLY CAUSE THE CONTAMINATION. THE CONTAMINATION HAPPENED WHEN HEAVY RAIN CARRIED SHEEP FAECES INTO THESE WATER BORES, WHICH THE REPORT CLAIMS THE COUNCILS FAILED TO KEEP SECURE. THE VERY SAME BORES ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE CAUSED A SIMILAR GASTRO OUTBREAK IN 1998. THE LESSONS THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN LEARNT FROM THAT EARLIER CONTAMINATION HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN. AS THE MAYOR, LAWRENCE YULE, HE SHOULD BE RESIGNING. HE SHOULDN'T BE INSTEAD STANDING FOR HIGHER OFFICE TO BE ELECTED FOR PARLIAMENT. FOR NOW, ALL COUNCILS ARE ON NOTICE. ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEED ` IMMEDIATELY, NOT WAIT TO STAGE TWO, IMMEDIATELY ` CHECK THEIR PROCESSES. THERE IS NOTHING MORE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY THAN CLEAN WATER. STAGE TWO OF THE INVESTIGATION WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT IN DECEMBER. LISETTE REYMER, 1 NEWS. AN INVESTIGATION'S BEEN ORDERED INTO THE DESTRUCTION OF CHILDREN AND BABIES GRAVES AT AN AUCKLAND CEMETERY. TOYS AND FLOWERS WERE SCATTERED; CROSSES LEFT IN PIECES AFTER LAWN MAINTENANCE WORK TORE UP THE MANUKAU MEMORIAL GARDENS. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. ========== CLIP SND UP key time key time LW: ONE NEWS IT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE TRANQUIL SCENE THAT USUALLY GREETS PARENTS HERE. FOR THAT MUM TO WALK UP TO THIS AREA TO VISIT HER CHILD AND TO SEE THAT DAMAGE AND BE WONDERING WHAT SHE WAS GONNA COME ACROSS WHEN SHE REACHED HER GRAVE, IT WAS INCREDIBLY UPSETTING FOR HER. MOWING CONTRACTORS DOWNER'S LEFT ADORNMENTS STREWN ACROSS THREE ROWS OF GRAVES. THE USUAL PRACTISE IS TO MOVE THEM ONTO THE CONCRETE STRIP BEFORE THEY MOW. AND DOWNER'S HAVE BEEN OUR CONTRACTORS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS IN THE PAST. THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. 170 BABIES AND CHILDREN UNDER 12 LIE HERE. THE COUNCIL ESTIMATES TOYS, LIGHTS AND CROSSES AROUND 50 GRAVES ARE DAMAGED. THE COUNCIL'S HEARD FROM THREE FAMILIES SO FAR AND EXPECTS TO HEAR FROM MORE AS NEWS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE SPREADS. DOWNER'S HAS APOLOGISED, AND A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE HERE WITH FLOWERS TOMORROW FOR ANY RELATIVES WHO WANT TO VISIT. THE COUNCIL SAYS THOSE WHO'VE BEEN IN TOUCH ARE UPSET, ANGRY AND DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION. WE ABSOLUTELY, UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISE TO THE FAMILIES. IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. DOWNER'S IS NOW INVESTIGATING, PROMISING ANSWERS FOR BOTH FAMILIES AND COUNCIL WHO CAN'T ACCEPT LOVED ONES BEING TREATED LIKE THIS. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. DOWNER'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE TONIGHT ANNOUNCED FRESH FLOWERS WILL BE PUT IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF THE GARDENS AND A $10,000 DONATION WILL BE MADE TO STARSHIP HOSPITAL. A 34-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IS IN HOSPITAL AFTER A POLICE PURSUIT IN OAMARU ENDED BADLY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS HER MANGLED CAR AT THE BOTTOM OF A BANK OFF STATE HIGHWAY ONE. POLICE SAY SHE WAS TRAVELLING AT SPEED AND FAILED TO STOP FOR THEM. SHE THEN CROSSED THE CENTRE LINE, CRASHING AND ROLLING DOWN THE BANK. THE INDEPENDENT POLICE CONDUCT AUTHORITY WILL BE ADVISED. A DAUGHTER'S BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUED BY HER ELDERLY PARENTS FOR MORE THAN $360,000 IN UNPAID LOANS. NOW LOBBY GROUP GREY POWER IS CALLING FOR AN AGED CARE COMMISSION TO STOP VULNERABLE RETIREES BEING PREYED ON. YVONNE TAHANA HAS MORE. I USED TO BE TOUGH. (CHUCKLES) MARIAN WARIN DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE LIVING IN PERTH WITH HER SON OR TO BE IN COURT BATTLING HER DAUGHTER. I'M A BIT OLD FOR ALL THIS. THE TAURANGA GRANDMOTHER AND HUSBAND TREVOR LENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THEIR DAUGHTER COLLEEN WARIN FOR PROPERTY DEALS. IT'S ALMOST PUT MY PARENTS INTO SLAVERY. THEY'VE BEEN FORCED INTO ISOLATION, BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD NO MONEY AT ALL. I THINK THE FAMILY'S BROKEN. MARIAN STARTED SENDING LETTERS FROM 2012, ASKING FOR REPAYMENT, BUT NO MONEY WAS RECEIVED. SHE COULD'VE PAID A LITTLE BIT A MONTH, COULDN'T SHE, ANYWAY, COS SHE'S GOT A GOOD JOB. SHE'S AN ACCOUNTANT. COLLEEN WARIN'S LAWYER SAYS SHE NEVER DENIED THE MONEY WOULD NEED TO REPAID. THE ONLY DISPUTE WAS OVER TIMING, AND SHE WANTED IT BE KNOWN THAT THE LOANS FOLLOWED HER MARRIAGE BREAKUP. THE LOBBY GROUP GREYPOWER SAYS IT'S OFTEN DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT OF BAD LOANS TO CHILDREN. IS WHAT'S CALLED INHERITANCE IMPATIENCE, WHERE THE CHILDREN REASON THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR PARENTS' MONEY ANYWAY, SO WHY CAN'T THEY HAVE IT NOW? IT WANTS AN AGED CARE COMMISSION THAT'D HAVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION POWERS TO HELP AVOID COSTLY COURT CASES. THE GOVERNMENT'S OPEN TO THE IDEA, GIVEN THERE'RE AROUND 2000 ELDER ABUSE COMPLAINTS A YEAR. I KNOW SO MANY CASES WHERE SENIORS HAVE FELT IT'S THEIR FAULT SOMEHOW. THEY GET CONFUSED. I WOULD URGE THEM TO SEE LAWYERS WHO CAN HELP THEM. THE HIGH COURT'S ORDERED COLLEEN WARIN TO REPAY NEARLY $370,000, PLUS INTEREST. MARIAN WARIN NOW HAS ONLY HER PENSION TO LIVE ON AND SAYS SHE NO LONGER SPEAKS TO HER DAUGHTER. SHE'S WARNING PARENTS TO GET LEGAL ADVICE BEFORE LENDING TO CHILDREN. DON'T BE DUMB PARENTS. (CHUCKLES) YVONNE TAHANA, 1 NEWS. IT'S TWO YEARS LATE AND OUT OF DATE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S FINALLY RELEASED ITS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY MEASURE. THE TOOL SHOWS WHETHER ITS MORE OR LESS AFFORDABLE FOR RENTERS AND FIRST HOME BUYERS ACROSS NEW ZEALAND. NO SURPRISE ` THE RESULTS REVEAL BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME IN AUCKLAND WAS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER. BUT THE STATISTICS ARE ONLY FROM BETWEEN 2003 AND 2015. THOSE RESULTS THEMSELVES, AN 18-MONTH LAG, YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME, AND A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. BUT THIS IS VERY MUCH A TREND SERIES. THE MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE SAYS IT HOPES TO RELEASE MORE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER ELECTION. EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL NOW BE ABLE TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF CELL PHONE CALLERS THANKS TO NEW TRACKING TECHNOLOGY, THE MOVES DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED GET HELP FASTER. BUT QUESTIONS ARE BEING RAISED OVER WHAT COULD BE DONE WITH THE INFORMATION. HERE'S EMILY COOPER. IRAENA ASHER CALLED 111 ASKING FOR HELP BEFORE DISAPPEARING AT A PIHA BEACH IN 2004. THE CORONER SAYS IT'S MOST LIKELY SHE DROWNED. IRENA'S LIFE MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THIS THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WAS AVAILABLE ` A TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WILL PINPOINT A PERSON TO WITHIN 6M OF THEIR EXACT LOCATION. IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO CALLS FOR SERVICE A LOT QUICKER, IT'S A REALLY, REALLY SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 80% OF CALLS TO 111 WERE MADE FROM A MOBILE PHONE. BUT POLICE SAY 1800 OF THOSE WERE FROM A CALLER WHO DIDN'T KNOW, OR COULDN'T SAY, THEIR LOCATION. SO POLICE HAD TO GO THROUGH PHONE COMPANIES TO GET THE INFORMATION. THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL BYPASS THAT, AND CALL-CENTRE STAFF SAY IT'LL MAKE THEIR HIGH-PRESSURE JOBS EASIER. IF SOMEONE CALLS TRIPLE ONE IN DISTRESS AND THEY CAN'T GET THE WORDS OUT, OR THEY'RE UNABLE TO CLEARLY` THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH COMMOTION, OR THEY JUST CAN'T EVEN TALK, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO FIND THEM AND GET HELP TO THEM. BUT THIS EASY ACCESS TO PEOPLE'S LOCATION RAISES PRIVACY ISSUES. THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER HAS AMENDED THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION PRIVACY CODE TO PUT BOUNDARIES IN PLACE AND ENSURE THE TECHNOLOGY IS USED ONLY FOR WHAT IT'S MEANT TO. THE PHONE'S LOCATION SERVICES ARE SWITCHED ON ONLY WHEN THE CALL IS MADE. ALL LOCATION DATA WILL BE DELETED AFTER AN HOUR, AND ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE INFORMATION. AND POLICE AND THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAIN IT WON'T BE USED TO TRACK CRIMINALS. ITS GOT STRICT M.O.U. AROUND WHAT IT'S USED FOR, AND THAT'S LOCATING SOMEONE WHO IS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IT IS NOT USED FOR GETTING THE PERPETRATORS OF CRIME THROUGH WARRANTS FOR ARREST. POLICE SAY RECENT SITUATIONS IT'S BEEN USED IN INCLUDES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS, BOATING ACCIDENTS, AND MISSING PEOPLE, PROOF, THEY SAY, THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL ONLY BENEFIT SOCIETY. EMILY COOPER, 1 NEWS. THE SPCA SAYS IT'S DISAPPOINTED IN THE SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TO A HAMILTON MAN WHO BRUTALLY ATTACKED A PUPPY AND NEGLECTED ITS INJURIES. EZEKIAL WILSON (29) HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY DETENTION FOR THE ASSAULT, WHICH LEFT THE BULLDOG CROSS WITHOUT A LEG. CHRIS CHANG WAS IN COURT. FLYNNY BOY! FLYNNY BOY! A NEW NAME AND A NEW LIFE FOR A DOG THAT, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, SUFFERED HORRIFIC ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF OWNER EZEKIEL WILSON. THE 29-YEAR-OLD TODAY SENTENCED TO FOUR MONTHS' COMMUNITY DETENTION AND 200 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AFTER THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF THE THEN FOUR-MONTH OLD PUPPY. YOU WERE SEEN HOLDING FLOYD BY HIS THROAT, SHAKING, CHOKING HIM, THROWING HIM TWICE TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THROWING HIM INTO THE REAR OF THE BOOT, THEN PUNCHING HIS STOMACH WITH YOUR CLOSED FIST AT LEAST 10 TIMES. WILSON WAS ADDICTED TO METH AT THE TIME. HE WAS CONFRONTED BY WITNESSES AND CLAIMED THE DOG HAD DEFECATED IN HIS VEHICLE. AND ONE OF THE WITNESSES DESCRIBED YOU AS POURING WITH SWEAT, LOOKING WIRED AND UPSET. THE PUPPY WAS LEFT LAME, X-RAYS SHOWING FRACTURES FROM AN INJURY AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR WEEKS OLD. IT WAS QUITE A SUSTAINED BEATING, PROLONGED BEATING AS WELL, THAT RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO THE PUPPY. AS WELL AS THAT WITH THE AGGRAVATING FACTOR OF AN EXISTING INJURY ALREADY BEING THERE. THE LEG HAD TO BE AMPUTATED, BUT FLYNN'S ADAPTED, KEEPING UP WITH HIS NEW FRIEND AND HIS ADOPTIVE FAMILY. THE JUDGE SAID THIS CASE SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE ` THAT THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE, WHETHER TOWARDS PEOPLE OR ANIMALS, IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. YOUR CONDUCT WAS CRUEL, IT WAS CALLOUS, AND IT WAS INDIFFERENT TO THE PAIN AND DISTRESS THAT YOU WERE CAUSING YOUR PUPPY. WILSON WON'T BE ALLOWED TO OWN AN ANIMAL FOR FOUR YEARS. THE SPCA SAYS THAT'S NO COMFORT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I MEAN, WHAT'S GONNA CHANGE? IN FOUR YEARS' TIME, THIS GUY CAN GO GET ANOTHER PUPPY. JUDGE SAUNDERS DESCRIBED THE OFFENDING AS 'PARTICULARLY VICIOUS', BUT SAYS THERE'S COMFORT IN KNOWING THE DOG IS NOW IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. CHRIS CHANG, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` A TOUGH JOB AHEAD IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. THE ROAD TO A POSSIBLE WORLD CUP THREEPEAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT FOR THE ALL BLACKS TONIGHT. AS AIR TRAVEL TURNS INTO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AT ALTITUDE, ANOTHER PUNCH UP BREAKS OUT ON A U.S FLIGHT. IT'S STILL TWO AND A HALF YEARS AWAY, BUT THE ALL BLACKS KNOW THEY'LL BE FACING SOUTH AFRICA AND ITALY IN POOL PLAY FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP IN JAPAN. THE DRAW WAS MADE THIS EVENING IN THE HOST NATION. THE DEFENDING CHAMPS WILL BE JOINED IN POOL B BY ANOTHER AFRICAN SIDE AND THE WINNER OF A REPERCHARGE MATCH. ALL BLACKS COACH STEVE HANSEN TAKING THE NEWS WELL. YEAH, EVERYONE WILL GET EXCITED BY IT. WE KNOW EACH OTHER PRETTY WELL, SO WE'LL JUST CONTINUE TO GET TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BEFORE WE GET HERE, I GUESS. NEW ZEALAND'S MAIN RIVAL ENGLAND COULD FACE A BIG CHALLENGE, DRAWN ALONGSIDE FRANCE AND ARGENTINA. IN YET ANOTHER CASE OF AIRLINE ANGER, A BRAWL HAS BROKEN OUT ON A US FLIGHT. THE FIGHT BETWEEN PASSENGERS STARTED WHILE THE PLANE IDLED ON THE TARMAC. AND IT COMES AFTER CHAOS ON THE GROUND OF A FLORIDA AIRPORT BECAUSE OF CANCELLED FLIGHTS. THE ABC'S DAVID KERLEY HAS ALL THE DRAMA. ANOTHER SIGN OF CIVILITY DISAPPEARING FROM CIVIL AVIATION. WOMAN: GET OFF OF HIM! A FLIGHT ATTENDANT PLEADING FOR SECURITY AND THE CAPTAIN. STOP IT! (SCREAMS) AND THEN THAT SAME FLIGHT ATTENDANT SLAMMED TO THE FLOOR AS THE TWO MEN CONTINUE TO FIGHT AT THE END OF THEIR FLIGHT TO BURBANK. IN ALL, SOUTHWEST SAYS THREE PASSENGERS WERE INVOLVED BEFORE BEING PULLED APART. ONE ARREST IN THE SUNDAY INCIDENT THE DAY BEFORE THIS. (SHOUTING, SCREAMING) A TERMINAL TURNED INTO A NEAR-RIOT SCENE. (SHOUTING CONTINUES) POLICE IN FORT LAUDERDALE CALLED IN WHEN A CROWD BECOMES ANGRY AND AGITATED THAT SPIRIT AIRLINES IS CANCELLING FLIGHTS AGAIN. THE TRAVEL NIGHTMARE CONTINUED THIS MORNING. LINES OUT THE DOOR; DOZENS MORE FLIGHTS CANCELLED. AMONG THE THREE ARRESTED IN THE MELEE LAST NIGHT WAS JANICE WALL (24). I WAS UPSET, AND THEY TRIED TO SAY I STARTED A RIOT ` FOR BEING UPSET. BOTH THESE INCIDENTS ARE REMINDERS OF THE NOW UNFRIENDLY SKIES. KOREA'S NEW PRESIDENT MOON JAE-IN HAS PLEDGED A CHANGE IN POLICY, PROMISING TO VISIT NORTH KOREA, UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. THE FORMER HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER AND SON OF NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES IS ALSO PROMISING TO UNIFY HIS DIVIDED COUNTRY. MOON MUST ALSO NAVIGATE THE POLITICAL MESS LEFT BY OUSTED PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE, WHO WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY A CORRUPTION SCANDAL. HIS DESIRE FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE NORTH IS AT ODDS WITH THE US POSITION, WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CALLING FOR GREATER PRESSURE ON PYONGYANG. AMERICA'S WORRIED ITS NATO ALLY TURKEY AFTER DONALD TRUMP APPROVED SUPPLYING WEAPONS TO KURDISH FORCES FIGHTING ISIS IN SYRIA. KURDISH FIGHTERS WOULD BE ARMED TO HELP DRIVE THE TERROR GROUP FROM ITS STRONGHOLD IN RAQQA. BUT TURKEY VIEWS ANY KURDISH REBELS AS TERRORISTS AND WANTS THEM TO STOP TAKING TERRITORY IN SYRIA. THE PENTAGON SAYS ITS 'KEENLY AWARE' OF THE CONCERNS. A DOZEN PEOPLE, MAINLY YOUNG CHILDREN, WERE KILLED WHEN A BUS CRASHED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN CHINA. IT WAS TRAVELLING THROUGH A TUNNEL IN SHANDONG WHEN IT'S BELIEVED THE BUS WAS REAR-ENDED, CAUSING THE CRASH. THE CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 3 AND 6 WERE FROM SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA ` STUDENTS AT AN INTERNATIONAL KINDY NEARBY. THEIR TEACHER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT IS NOW STABLE. NZ SOCCER HAS JUST HAD A MAJOR BOOST, WITH CONFIRMATION FIFA'S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP WILL EXPAND ITS NUMBER OF TEAMS, GIVING US A DIRECT ENTRY TO OCEANIA. FROM 2026, THE ALL WHITES' ODDS OF QUALIFYING HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, AND THE FINANCIAL GAINS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS. JOHN MCKENZIE REPORTS. CAST YOUR MIND BACK SEVEN YEARS. THE BALL IS GOOD! ACTUALLY, LET'S GO BACK ONE FURTHER TO THE MOMENT THE ALL WHITES QUALIFIED FOR THE 2010 WORLD CUP. WE'RE COMING TO YOU, SOUTH AFRICA! BASICALLY, FOOTBALL WORLD CUPS ARE AS BIG AS IT GETS IN THE SPORTING WORLD. THAT'S WHY TODAY'S NEWS THAT FIFA WILL EXPAND THE TOURNAMENT FROM 32 TO 48 TEAMS IS HUGE FOR NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL. IT'S FAIRER. I THINK WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS EVERY CONFEDERATION NOW CAN BE REPRESENTED AT THE WORLD CUP, WHICH IS WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE. WHILE SELECTION IS NO CERTAINTY, IT DOES BECOME A LOT EASIER. THE ALL WHITES ONLY NEED BEAT THE REST OF OCEANIA, AND THEY'RE IN. WELL, COMPARE THAT TO WHAT WE POTENTIALLY FACE THIS YEAR ` IF WE GET THROUGH TO THE FINAL OF OCEANIA, WE'RE FACED WITH A HOME-AND-AWAY SHOOTOUT WITH SOMEONE LIKE ARGENTINA, SO THE FIFTH-RANKED TEAM IN SOUTH AMERICA. A NEW STRUCTURE FORMER ALL WHITES SKIPPER DANNY HAY WISHES HAD BEEN AROUND A LITTLE BIT SOONER. OH, ABSOLUTELY. IT PROBABLY WASN'T QUITE SO EASY BACK IN MY DAY, COS WE HAD AUSTRALIA IN OCEANIA. ALTHOUGH, HE'S MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEND A HAND TO YOUNG FOOTBALLERS LIKE THESE ONES, WHO BY 2026 ` THE FIRST YEAR THE NEW STRUCTURE WILL TAKE PLACE ` COULD HAVE A VERY REAL CHANCE OF PLAYING ON THE SPORT'S BIGGEST STAGE. IT'D BE PRETTY COOL, YEAH. I'D LOVE TO GO TO THE WORLD CUP, REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND. THE ONLY THING REALLY BAD ABOUT THE NEWS ` IT WON'T HELP OUR ODDS OF THE NATIONAL TEAM QUALIFYING FOR NEXT YEAR'S CUP IN RUSSIA. JOHN MCKENZIE, 1 NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` AS THE WEATHER STARTS TO JACK IT IN, WE'LL HAVE GRAPHICS WITH LINES AND MUSIC. THEN, ONE TEEN, ONE TWEET AND A MOUNTAIN OF NUGGETS. HOW DID HE DO IT? GIRL: One day, my mum went looking for something. She didn't have a map or anything. She said she was following her heart. It led her to strange lands. It took her up mountains and down into dark caves. She even looked for it in her sleep. She went further and further. Then one day, my mum, she found it. If she can find it, so can you. THE REQUEST SEEMED CHEEKY AT BEST. THE BAR WAS SET AT A RIDICULOUS LEVEL, AND YET IT ALL REALLY DID HAPPEN. AMERICAN TEEN CARTER WILKINSON USED TWITTER TO ASK FAST-FOOD CHAIN 'WENDY'S' HOW MANY RETWEETS HE'D NEED TO QUALIFY FOR A YEARS SUPPLY OF NUGGETS. THE FAST-FOOD CHAIN REPLIED SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY ` 18 MILLION, TO WHICH WILKINSON SAID 'CONSIDER IT DONE.' AND INCREDIBLY IT WAS. THE FEAT BLITZED THE PREVIOUS RETWEET GOLD STANDARD OF 3.4 MILLION WHEN ELLEN POSTED A PIC OF HER WITH HER FAMOUS MATES. WENDY'S MADE GOOD ON THE CHICKEN AND DONATED $100,000 TO A CHARITY FOR GOOD MEASURE. NOW TO TOMORROW'S WEATHER WITH IRON HORSE. FOR WEATHER, SEE TVNZ.CO.NZ (IRON HORSE'S 'ROCKET MAN' PLAYS) THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING, GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY JEAN TENG AND JUNE YEOW. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017