IT'S MIDDAY. KIWI TROOPS IN TRAINING WITH THEIR AUSSIE COUNTERPARTS AHEAD OF DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ. WE'RE LIVE IN WELLINGTON AT THE LUNDY DOUBLE MURDER TRIAL. AND AFTER ALMOST 20 YEARS, TIGER WOODS DROPS OUT OF GOLF'S TOP HUNDRED PLAYERS. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF MIDDAY, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. UP TO 50 NZ TROOPS HAVE GONE TO AUSTRALIA FOR JOINT TRAINING AHEAD OF THEIR MISSION TO IRAQ. CONFIRMATION OF THE TRAINING ACROSS THE TASMAN COMES AS THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CONFIRMS THAT A FORM OF LEGAL PROTECTION FOR KIWI TROOPS SERVING IN IRAQ HAS NOW BEEN SECURED, ALTHOUGH THE DEFENCE MINISTER WAS BEING COY ABOUT THE DETAILS. WELL, YOU CAN CALL IT WHATEVER YOU LIKE. ALL THAT YOU EVER GET IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE SOLDIERS FROM YOUR COUNTRY UNDERTAKE` THAT THEY'VE UNDERTAKEN TO DO INSIDE THE OTHER PERSON'S COUNTRY. LABOUR IS QUESTIONING WHETHER THE AGREEMENT TO PROTECT KIWI TROOPS IN IRAQ IS STRONG ENOUGH. DOUBLE MURDER ACCUSED MARK LUNDY IS AWAITING HIS FATE, WITH THE JURY IN ITS SECOND DAY OF DELIBERATIONS. ONE NEWS REPORTER JAMES RANSLEY JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM THE HIGH COURT IN WELLINGTON. JAMES, THE JURY HAS SEVEN WEEKS OF EVIDENCE TO CONSIDER. IS THERE ANY INDICATION OF JUST HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE THEM TO REACH A VERDICT? No indication. It is anyone's guess as to how long this will take. The jury has been deliberating for six hours. They have evidence to consider from about 150 witnesses. They have heard testimony from scientists, police officers, former business contacts of Mark and Christine Lundy. They will be considering the validity of brain tissue on Mark Lundy's shirt. Also whether he had enough petrol in his car to carry out the murders. Also the evidence of an inmate with Mark Lundy who claims the accused confessed to the murders while they were in prison together. Mark Lundy denies these charges. He has always denied the charges. No indication as yet as to how long this will take. AMERICA'S CUP TEAMS WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY ABOUT WHETHER TO AGREE TO RULE CHANGES WHICH COULD SEE NZ DROP OUT OF THE COMPETITION. ORGANISERS LAST WEEK PROPOSED PULLING AUCKLAND AS A HOST FOR QUALIFYING RACES IN EXCHANGE FOR SMALLER BOAT SIZES TO CUT COSTS. BUT TEAM NZ HAS ALREADY SAID IT WON'T BE PART OF THE CUP IF THAT'S HOW IT ENDS UP. THERE'S POSTURING GOING ON, FOR SURE. WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, THERE WAS ENTRENCHED POSITIONS WITH LUNA ROSSA, TEAM NZ, AND THEN THE REST OF THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGERS, AND OF COURSE ORACLE, FOR A RADICAL CHANGE TO THE PROTOCOL. TEAM NZ'S GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS DEPENDENT ON AUCKLAND HOSTING THE QUALIFIERS. A MAN AND A WOMAN ARE BEING PRAISED FOR THEIR ACTIONS AFTER SAVING A YOUNG MAN FROM DROWNING IN WELLINGTON LAST NIGHT. THE PAIR HEARD YELLING FROM THE WATER IN A BAY IN EASTBOURNE AND SWAM OUT TO RESCUE THE MAN WHO HAD SUNK BENEATH THE WAVES. THEY THEN PERFORMED CPR BEFORE EMERGENCY SERVICES ARRIVED. IT WAS SPECTACULAR WORK. I MEAN, TAKE YOUR HATS OFF TO THE PEOPLE. THEY DIVED INTO THE SEA, AND RESCUED THE GUY, WHO WOULDN'T HAVE STOOD A CHANCE WITHOUT THEIR HELP. THE YOUNG MAN IS STILL IN A SERIOUS CONDITION IN HUTT HOSPITAL. THE FATE OF A MISSING MAN AND HIS STEPSON IS STILL UNCLEAR AFTER POLICE FOUND THEIR CAR UNDERWATER AT THE BOTTOM OF A CLIFF IN SOUTHLAND. JOHN BECKENRIDGE'S VOLKSWAGEN WAS FOUND BY DIVERS IN CURIO BAY YESTERDAY. HE AND STEPSON MICHAEL (11) HAVE BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. POLICE SAY THEY'RE STILL TREATING THE MATTER AS A MISSING PERSONS CASE UNTIL THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE PROSECUTION IN THE TRIAL FOR A KIWI MAN FACING THE DEATH PENALTY OVER DRUG CHARGES IN BALI IS SET TO PRESENT ITS CASE TODAY. ANTONY DE MALMANCHE (52) IS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SMUGGLE 1.7 KILOS OF METHAMPHETAMINE INTO BALI. THE TRIAL'S EXPECTED TO FINALLY GET UNDERWAY AFTER BEING HELD UP SEVERAL TIMES OVER PROBLEMS FINDING A SUITABLE TRANSLATOR FOR THE WHANGANUI MAN. THE DEADLINE SET BY A BLACKMAILER THREATENING TO POISON INFANT FORMULA HAS BEEN REACHED, BUT POLICE ARE REASSURING THE PUBLIC. THE UNIDENTIFIED PERSON OR GROUP WANTED TO HALT THE USE OF 1080. FEDERATED FARMERS AND FONTERRA BEGAN RECEIVING LETTERS IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, WHICH ORDERED THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP USING THE PESTICIDE. POLICE SAY WHILE NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN RELATION TO THE CASE, NO TAINTED FORMULA'S BEEN DISCOVERED EITHER. WE'VE HAD OVER 70 REPORTS OF CONCERN ABOUT PRODUCT. IT'S ALL BEEN CHECKED. IT'S ALL BEEN FOUND TO BE QUITE SAFE, BUT THAT SHOULDN'T DISCOURAGE PEOPLE IF THEY ARE NOT HAPPY. THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS IS THAT IF PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY, THEY COME FORWARD AND LET US BE THE JUDGE. SECURITY HAS BEEN STEPPED UP THROUGHOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF INFANT FORMULA SINCE THE THREATS WERE MADE. OUR WORLD CUP CRICKET FINALISTS ARE DUE HOME THIS AFTERNOON, AHEAD OF A WELCOME CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THEIR HISTORIC CAMPAIGN LATER TODAY. ONE NEWS REPORTER WILL HINE JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM AUCKLAND AIRPORT, WHERE THE TEAM'S ARRIVING EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WILL, HOW'S THIS GOING TO UNFOLD? It won't be long before the team walks through these doors to greet the fans. They are expected just after two p.M. By then, the area will be heaving with fans who want to celebrate the achievements of this team over the last six weeks. Tonight the black caps will turn out at the Cloud for an official ceremony. The doors open at four p.M. It is free entry. The first opportunity to see the black caps will be here. AND OUR WEBSITE WILL BE LIVE STREAMING THE BLACKCAPS RETURN HOME FROM 1.45PM, AS WELL AS THE OFFICIAL WELCOME LATER ON AT THE CLOUD. THAT'S ONENEWS.CO.NZ IRAQI TROOPS BELIEVE THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER TO ISIS MILITANTS SHELTERING IN THE CITY OF TIKRIT. THEY'VE CONVERGED ON THE GENERAL HOSPITAL, AND PLUMES OF SMOKE HAVE BEEN SEEN AS SOLDIERS MOVE BETWEEN HOUSES AND BUILDINGS IN THE AREA. THE BATTLE FOR TIKRIT IS SEEN AS A KEY STEP TOWARDS DRIVING ISIS FROM IRAQ'S SECOND LARGEST CITY MOSUL, FURTHER NORTH. AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE BURIED IN A LANDSLIDE IN INDIA. TWO HOUSES HAVE PARTIALLY SUNK INTO THE GROUND, AND RESCUE WORKERS HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO GET TO PEOPLE TRAPPED UNDER THE MUD. THE LANDSLIDE FOLLOWED THREE DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN IN AN AREA STRUGGLING TO REBUILD AFTER FLOODING KILLED SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE LAST YEAR. AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A MUDSLIDE IN THE AFRICAN NATION OF BURUNDI. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER TORRENTIAL RAIN, WHICH DESTROYED HOMES AND SWEPT AWAY ROADS, HAMPERING RESCUE EFFORTS. AUTHORITIES EXPECT THE DEATH TOLL TO RISE FURTHER. A POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN KILLED DURING VIOLENT PROTESTS IN CHILE. CLASHES BROKE OUT AS PROTESTERS MARKED THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATHS OF TWO BROTHERS KILLED BY POLICE PATROLS DURING THE DICTATORSHIP OF AUGUSTO PINOCHET. HOODED YOUTHS ARMED WITH RIFLES COULD BE SEEN HURLING FIRE BOMBS AT POLICE, WHO RESPONDED WITH RUBBER BULLETS AND TEAR GAS. THE MAIN SUSPECT IN THE TUNISIAN MUSEUM ATTACK HAS BEEN KILLED IN A RAID, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL, TUNIS, TO MARCH AGAINST TERRORISM. THE ABC'S MATT BROWN REPORTS. IT WAS A SHOW OF NATIONAL UNITY WITH A SIMPLE MESSAGE. AFTER THE HORRORS OF THE BARDO MUSEUM ATTACK, TUNISIANS DECLARED THEY ARE NOT AFRAID. CROWD CHANTS 22 VICTIMS WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK, INCLUDING SYDNEY MAN JAVIER CAMELO, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TUNISIANS TURNED OUT TO DEFY THE EXTREMISTS. JUST BEFORE THE RALLY, TUNISIAN OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THEY'VE KILLED THE LEADER OF THE GROUP ACCUSED OF PLANNING THE ATTACKS. GUNFIRE HE AND EIGHT OTHER MILITANTS DIED IN A SECURITY FORCES RAID IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. SECURITY WAS STILL TIGHT WHEN THE NATION'S LEADERS VISITED THE MUSEUM, ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER WORLD LEADERS. BEHIND THE SCENES, THERE WAS SOME TENSION, LEADERS OF THE NATION'S RELATIVELY MODERATE ISLAM GROUP HAD URGED THEIR SUPPORTERS TO TAKE PART IN THE RALLY, BUT LEFT-WING GROUPS ACCUSED THEM OF HYPOCRISY FOR FAILING TO TAKE ON EXTREMISTS WHEN THEY WERE IN POWER. CELEBRITY COUPLE, HOLLYWOOD ACTION-MAN SAM WORTHINGTON AND AUSTRALIAN MODEL LARA BINGLE ARE SET TO BE GRILLED OVER THEIR RUN-IN WITH A NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHER, JUST DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST CHILD. A JUDGE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS ORDERED THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S LAWYER TO QUESTION THE AUSTRALIAN STARS NO LATER THAN THE 10TH OF APRIL. THE PHOTOGRAPHER IS SUING THE NEW PARENTS FOR NEARLY $13M, CLAIMING THEY ASSAULTED HIM LAST YEAR. THERE'S BEEN AN EXTRA-CHILLING THRILL FOR PEOPLE ON A ROLLERCOASTER AT NEW YORK'S CONEY ISLAND. THE CARS STOPPED RIGHT NEAR THE TOP OF THE RIDE, 25 METRES OFF THE GROUND. THE PEOPLE HAD TO BE GUIDED DOWN BY SAFETY CREWS. IT WAS THE FIRST RIDE ON OPENING DAY AT CONEY ISLAND AFTER THE WINTER BREAK. A WOMAN IS DEAD AFTER A WILD RHINOCEROS WENT ON A RAMPAGE THROUGH A CITY IN SOUTHERN NEPAL. THE RHINO CHASED PEOPLE THROUGH A MARKET AREA AND RAN INTO A HOSPITAL, BEFORE GORING TO DEATH A 61-YEAR OLD AND INJURING A NUMBER OF OTHERS. THE ANIMAL'S BELIEVED TO HAVE ESCAPED FROM ITS WILD HABITAT IN A FORESTED AREA NEAR THE CITY. THE FATE OF THE RHINO IS UNKNOWN. BEFORE THEY TRIED THEIR HAND AT BUILDING PYRAMIDS, ANCIENT EGYPTIANS HAD PERFECTED THE ART OF MAKING BEER. ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE UNEARTHED 5000-YEAR-OLD CERAMIC FRAGMENTS OF BEER BREWING VESSELS IN TEL AVIV. IT INDICATES EGYPTIANS SETTLED FURTHER NORTH THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, AND IT SEEMS THEY WERE PARTIAL TO A REFRESHING ALE AROUND 500 YEARS BEFORE BUILDING THE FIRST PYRAMID. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` WHAT THE AMERICAN WOMAN CLEARED OF MURDER IN ITALY COULD BE PLANNING NOW. PLUS IN SPORT ` DISASTER FOR ONE OF THE VOLVO OCEAN BOAT FLEET IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. Dad! Dad! Hey. Hey. Dad! Reduce volume. Reduce volume. Dad! Locate undies. Locate undies. (WHINES, PANTS) Read top stories. Play favourites. ROCK MUSIC New Holden Cruze with voice-controlled MyLink ` what you say goes. AMANDA KNOX, THE AMERICAN WOMAN FINALLY CLEARED OF THE MURDER OF HER FORMER ROOM-MATE IN ITALY, COULD END UP SUING ITALIAN AUTHORITIES. MS KNOX HAD SPENT TIME IN PRISON AND WENT THROUGH NUMEROUS APPEALS BEFORE FINALLY BEING CLEARED. HERE'S THE ABC'S NEAL KARLINSKY. WOMEN CHEER IT'S HARDLY BEEN 48 HOURS SINCE HER DRAMATIC AND FINAL ACQUITTAL ON MURDER CHARGES, BUT THIS MORNING AMANDA KNOX IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING A TRIP THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH MOST WOULD EXPECT ` BACK TO ITALY. ...HER FATHER TELLS ABC NEWS. MORE THAN VISIT. HER ITALIAN LAWYER REPORTEDLY SAYS SHE WANTS TO SPEND TIME IN ITALY WRITING A BOOK ABOUT A TOPIC SHE KNOWS IN TERRIFYING DETAIL, ABOUT THE ITALIAN LEGAL SYSTEM. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE MY LIFE BACK. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. NO LONGER FEARING A 28-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE, KNOX COULD TAKE THE ITALIANS TO COURT AND SUE FOR WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT. BUT WHAT'S MORE LIKELY, ACCORDING TO THOSE CLOSE WITH HER, IS THAT SHE'LL VISIT DON SAULO, A PRISON CHAPLAIN SHE BECAME VERY CLOSE WITH WHILE BEHIND BARS. SHE STILL KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH HIM. IF KNOX DOES RETURN, THE PUBLIC MAY NOT EXACTLY GREET HER WITH OPEN ARMS. BUT AMANDA KNOX SAYS SHE LOVES ITALY. AND SHE WANTS THE REAL VICTIM OF THIS ORDEAL TO BE REMEMBERED AS WELL ` MEREDITH KERCHER, HER MURDERED ROOM-MATE. MEREDITH WAS MY FRIEND, AND SHE DESERVED SO MUCH IN THIS LIFE. I'M THE LUCKY ONE. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT A MOTHER'S EXPOSURE TO TOXINS AFFECTING THEIR UNBORN CHILDREN, BUT NEW RESEARCH HAS FOUND BABIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP ASTHMA IF THEIR FATHER SMOKED PRIOR TO CONCEPTION. THE ABC'S TOM FORBES REPORTS. THE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN, BUT NOW IT'S IMPACTING ON PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER INHALED A CIGARETTE. RESEARCHERS STUDIED THE SMOKING HABITS OF MORE THAN 13,000 MEN AND WOMEN. WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT FATHERS WHO SMOKED, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO STARTED SMOKING BEFORE THE AGE OF 15, HAD CHILDREN WHO WERE 70% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ASTHMA. INTERESTINGLY, THERE WAS NO LINK BETWEEN A MOTHER WHO SMOKED BEFORE PREGNANCY AND CHILDHOOD ASTHMA. NOW RESEARCHERS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW THE IMPACTS OF SMOKING ARE PASSED ON. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE EFFECTS THAT SMOKING HAS ON THE SPERM CALLED EPIGENETIC CHANGES, SO THESE ARE CHANGES; THEY DON'T CHANGE THE DNA, BUT THEY CHANGE THE WAY GENES FROM THE DNA ARE EXPRESSED. RESEARCHERS ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS WHICH IMPACT ON OFFSPRING. WE THOUGHT THAT WELDING WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE SIMILAR EFFECTS TO SMOKING IN TERMS OF IMPACTS ON SPERM DEVELOPMENT. THEIR RESEARCH FOUND IT TO BE TRUE. IT'S A CONDITION THAT STOPS MANY PEOPLE FROM GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP, AND CAN EVEN BE FATAL. NOW A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS HAS COME UP WITH A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO HELP PATIENTS SUFFERING OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA TO GET THE RIGHT TREATMENT. CHANNEL NINE'S GABRIELLA ROGERS REPORTS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY ROSEMARY PEARSON (58) CAN COMBAT HER SLEEP APNOEA. BEFORE USING THE MOUTHGUARD, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STAY AWAKE DURING THE DAY. I WOKE UP WANTING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP AND NOT HAVING ENERGY OR ENTHUSIASM. DURING THE NIGHT, ROSEMARY WOULD STOP BREATHING 93 TIMES IN JUST ONE HOUR. SINCE USING A MANDIBULAR SPLINT, THE NUMBER OF EPISODES HAS DROPPED BY 85%. IT'S IMPROVED OUT OF SIGHT. THE FIRST-LINE TREATMENT, THE C-PAP MASK, IS EFFECTIVE. IT FORCES AIR THROUGH THE NOSE. BUT HALF OF PATIENTS CAN'T TOLERATE IT. THE CUSTOM-MADE SPLINTS DON'T WORK FOR EVERYBODY EITHER. THEY ONLY WORK REALLY WELL FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRY THEM. THE BIG CLINICAL PROBLEM IS THAT WE CAN'T PREDICT WHO'S GONNA GET THAT BENEFIT. USING MRI AND A MAGNETIC GRID, SCIENTISTS ARE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT THE ANATOMY BUT THE PATIENT'S MUSCLE FUNCTION. HERE, WHEN THE SPLINT MOVES THE JAW FORWARD, THE WHOLE AIRWAY OPENS. BUT FOR ANOTHER PATIENT, THE AIRWAY REMAINS NARROW. WE HOPE THAT BY UNDERSTANDING HOW WHEN YOU MOVE THAT JAW FORWARD, HOW THAT CHANGES THE FUNCTION OF THE MUSCLES AND WHERE THE MUSCLES SIT IN THE AIRWAY, WE CAN PREDICT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO RESPOND TO A SPLINT. IT'S HOPED THEIR WORK WILL REDUCE THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA. THE DISORDER NOT ONLY INCREASES THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS. MODERATE TO SEVERE SUFFERERS ARE ALSO 68% MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. THE JOINT LEADER OF THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE HAS BROKEN ITS MAST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT DEEP IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. THE MOMENT CAPTURED ON BOARD ` EVERYONE ON DECK! EVERYBODY ON DECK! DECK LIGHTS! NO ONE ON THE CHINESE-ENTRY DONGFENG WAS INJURED. THE FIRST PRIORITY TO KEEP THE BOAT SEAWORTHY. IT'S ALWAYS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, COS THERE'S A LOT OF BITS FLYING AROUND, AND IT'S PRETTY HARD TO STABILISE THE SITUATION. THE CREW GETTING THROUGH THE NIGHT, BUT UNABLE TO CONTINUE RACING TOWARDS BRAZIL, INSTEAD HEADING TOWARDS ARGENTINA UNDER THEIR OWN SAIL. DONGFENG STILL ASSESSING WHETHER IT WILL OFFICIALLY WITHDRAW FROM THE LEG. TIGER WOODS HAS DROPPED OUTSIDE THE TOP 100 IN THE WORLD GOLF RANKINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1996. THE 39-YEAR-OLD HAS NOT PLAYED SINCE FEBRUARY DUE TO BACK PROBLEMS, MEANING HE'S SLIPPED TO 104TH IN THE RANKINGS. THE AMERICAN SPENT 683 WEEKS AS WORLD NUMBER ONE, MORE THAN TWICE AS LONG AS ANY OTHER PLAYER. BUT HIS LAST MAJOR TITLE WAS IN THE 2008 US OPEN, AND HE LAST TOPPED THE RANKINGS IN MAY 2014 BEFORE SUFFERING INJURY PROBLEMS AND LOSS OF FORM. WOODS HOPES TO RETURN TO PLAY IN NEXT WEEK'S FIRST MAJOR OF THE YEAR, THE US MASTERS. THE CENTRAL PULSE SHRUGGED OFF THEIR SLOW START TO NETBALL'S TRANS-TASMAN CHAMPIONSHIP TO STUN THE WAIKATO BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC IN LAST NIGHT'S MATCH IN WELLINGTON. A STRONG SHOWING BY VETERAN GOAL SHOOT IRENE VAN DYK HELPED THEM PUT ONE OF THEIR MOST CONSISTENT GAMES TOGETHER. THE MAGIC PAID THE PRICE OF A NUMBER OF TURNOVERS. THE PULSE HAD ESTABLISHED A HEALTHY 41-26 LEAD BY THE START OF THE FINAL QUARTER. AND EVENTUALLY TOOK THE HONOURS 49-38 FOR JUST THEIR SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON. AND THE COWBOYS SNATCHED A THRILLING GOLDEN-POINT VICTORY AGAINST THE MELBOURNE STORM IN LAST NIGHT'S NRL BATTLE. THE NORTH QUEENSLAND TEAM WERE LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF HAVING THE WORST START TO A SEASON IN 13 YEARS WHEN THE STORM'S COOPER CRONK KNOCKED OVER A FIELD GOAL LATE IN THE SECOND HALF, BUT THE COWBOYS RALLIED LATE, WITH MATTHEW WRIGHT SCORING IN THE 77TH MINUTE, HELPING CLOSE THE DEFICIT. COWBOY'S JOHNATHAN THURSTON SLOTTING THE MATCH-WINNING FIELD GOAL WITH LESS THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT IN THE FIRST EXTRA TIME PERIOD. THURSTON'S READY ONCE AGAIN. HERE COME THE MELBOURNE STORM CHARGERS. THURSTON'S KICKED. IT'S ALL JT! THE COWBOYS CLINCHING THE MUCH NEEDED VICTORY 18-17. ORGANISERS OF THE NEXT AUCKLAND MARATHON MAY FIND SOME OF THEIR WOULD-BE PARTICIPANTS HAVE A BIT OF A SCHEDULE CLASH. THIS YEAR'S RACE IS SET DOWN FOR THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER. THAT'S THE SAME DATE AND THE SAME TIME AS ANOTHER MAJOR SPORTING EVENT ` THE RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL AT TWICKENHAM. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. AND WHY IT'S QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY, WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR KIDS. WEATHER FOR YOU SHORTLY, BUT FIRST ANOTHER LOOK AT SOME OF OUR TOP STORIES ` NZ TROOPS HAVE BEGUN TRAINING WITH THEIR AUSTRALIAN COUNTERPARTS AHEAD OF DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ. THE NZERS ARE SET TO HELP FIGHT ISIS IN A TRAINING CAPACITY. AMERICA'S CUP TEAMS WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY ABOUT WHETHER TO AGREE TO RULE CHANGES WHICH COULD SEE NZ DROP OUT OF THE COMPETITION. AND LARGE CROWDS ARE ANTICIPATED TO CELEBRATE THE BLACKCAPS AT A PUBLIC GATHERING IN AUCKLAND LATER TODAY. NOW TO THE WEATHER. A COUPLE OF FRONTS MOVE OFF TO THE EAST, LEAVING A SOUTH-WESTERLY FLOW IN THEIR WAKE. THAT WILL GRADUALLY EASE AS A BIG HIGH OVERHEAD KEEPS SKIES MOSTLY CLEAR. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAUSES PARENTS A LOT OF GUILT, BUT A NEW STUDY BACKS UP WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ALREADY THINK ` THAT QUALITY TIME SPENT WITH YOUR KIDS MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN QUANTITY. HERE'S THE ABC'S CECELIA VEGA. IT'S THE CAUSE OF STRESS AND GUILT FOR PARENTS EVERYWHERE. BUT SHOULD IT BE? FINDING TIME TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM IS STRESSFUL. A NEW STUDY FROM THE JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IS CHANGING WHAT PARENTS THINK THEY KNOW ABOUT SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR KIDS. THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT WITH CHILDREN HAS BEEN ON THE CLIMB SINCE 1985. BUT THIS FIRST LARGE-SCALE STUDY OF ITS KIND SAYS IT'S NOT THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND WITH KIDS BETWEEN 12 AND 18 YEARS OLD, BUT THE QUALITY OF WHAT YOU DO TOGETHER THAT MATTERS MOST. THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU DO SHARE WITH THEM, YOU MAKE SURE IT COUNTS. THE AUTHORS CATEGORISED PARENT-CHILDREN TIME IN TWO WAYS. ACCESSIBLE TIME ` TIME WHERE THE PARENTS ARE PHYSICALLY AVAILABLE TO THEIR CHILDREN; AND ENGAGED TIME ` WHERE THE PARENT AND CHILD SPEND TIME DOING SOMETHING TOGETHER. AND IT IS APPARENTLY THAT ENGAGED TIME THAT COUNTS THE MOST. THAT'S YOUR MIDDAY. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE ONE NEWS HOUR WILL BE HERE AT SIX. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY TRACEY DAWSON AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2015