IT'S MIDDAY. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN ` NATIONAL MPS PUT FORWARD THEIR CASES TO LEAD THE PARTY, AS THE CAUCUS PREPARES TO VOTE TOMORROW. EXPECT LONG DELAYS COMMUTE ` A RAIL STRIKE SPELLS DISRUPTION FOR AUCKLANDERS. PLUS ` THE BLACKCAPS TAKE OUT ENGLAND IN SPECTACULAR FASHION IN THEIR ODI SERIES OPENER. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JOHN GIBBS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018. AHIAHI MARIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. TOMORROW WE WILL KNOW WHO WILL BE THE NEXT LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. AMY ADAMS, STEVEN JOYCE, SIMON BRIDGES, JUDITH COLLINS AND MARK MITCHELL HAVE ALL PUT THEIR HANDS UP FOR THE TOP JOB. BILL ENGLISH HAS REMAINED TIGHT-LIPPED ON WHO HE'S BACKING, SUGGESTING THE VOTE FROM THE CAUCUS COULD COME DOWN TO THE WIRE. JORDAN OPPERT HAS MORE. FROM THE MOMENT BILL ENGLISH ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION, SPECULATION OVER WHO WOULD REPLACE HIM AS LEADER OF NATIONAL HAS ENCIRCLED THE PARTY. BUT THE WAIT WILL OFFICIALLY BE OVER WHEN CAUCUS MEMBERS CAST THEIR VOTES TOMORROW. AND IT'S A CLOSE RACE BETWEEN THE FIVE CANDIDATES JOCKEYING FOR THE LEADERSHIP POSITION. SIMON BRIDGES SAYS HE REPRESENTS THE BROADCHURCH AND HE'S NOD FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTY. BUT WE GO INTO THAT ROOM TOMORROW NOT KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE WILL DO IN THE PRIVATE OF THAT BALLOT. BUT, LOOK, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, ABOUT WHERE I'M AT. AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GREAT VISION FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO. BUT HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. NATIONAL STALWART STEVEN JOYCE SAYS HIS EXPERIENCE PUTS HIM IN GOOD STEAD FOR THE TOP SPOT. MY EXPERIENCE, PROBABLY, IN TERMS OF BEING AT THE TOP OF GOVERNMENT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE ME BRING TO BEAR IN THE LEADERSHIP. MARK MITCHELL'S ONE CANDIDATE WHO'S COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND SAYS CAPITALISING ON HIS INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE WILL HELP NEW ZEALAND COMPETE ON A GLOBAL STAGE. IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I WAS GOING TO REALLY PICK, IT'S THAT I'VE GOT A BIG INTERNATIONAL CAREER. I'VE HAD A BIG BUSINESS CAREER INTERNATIONALLY. SO I KNOW WHERE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND I KNOW WHERE OUR RISKS ARE AS A GOVERNMENT. BUT ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE FOR THE NEW LEADER WILL BE TAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT AND CRACKING DOWN ON JACINDA-MANIA. AMY ADAMS SAYS SHE'S GOT THE FIGHT IN HER. YEAH, LOOK, I'VE GOT NO DOUBT IN MY ABILITY TO BE PRETTY TOUGH AND STERN. I THINK THERE'S MANY PUBLIC SECTOR OFFICIALS WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY ABILITY TO BE TOUGH. JUDITH COLLINS IS NO STRANGER TO CRITICISM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HER STRAIGHT-TO-THE POINT PERSONA, BUT SHE SAYS THAT'S CRUCIAL WHEN HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT. I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE. AND I ALWAYS THINK THAT IF YYOU'RE IN PARLIAMENT JUST TO AGREE WITH PEOPLE, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG JOB. BUT IF THERE'S ONE THING THEY ALL AGREE ON, IT'S BEING IN A POSITION TO GOVERN WHEN THE 2020 ELECTION ROLLS AROUND. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS. THIS WEEK COULD BRING COMMUTER CHAOS TO AUCKLAND AS A TRAIN STRIKE COINCIDES WITH THE RETURN OF UNIVERSITY FOR THE YEAR. RAIL WORKERS ARE CARRYING OUT A BAN ON OVERTIME, FORCING AUCKLAND TRANSPORT TO RESHUFFLE TIMETABLES FOR PEAK-HOUR TRAVEL. LAURA TWYMAN REPORTS. 30,000 AUCKLANDERS USE THE TRAIN EVERY DAY. I DEFINITELY RELY ON THE TRAIN TO GET TO WORK ON TIME. BUT FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, RAIL WORKERS ARE IMPLEMENTING AN OVERTIME BAN, AND TIMETABLES HAVE BEEN RESHUFFLED TO SUIT. IT'LL MEAN AT PEAK TIMES ON MOST TRAIN LINES, SERVICES WILL RUN EVERY 20 MINUTES INSTEAD OF EVERY 10. IN MARCH MADNESS TIME IT COULDN'T BE A LOT WORSE, TO BE HONEST. AS WE ALL HAVE OUR SET TRAIN TIMES. I USUALLY DRIVE TO PARNELL AND PARK THERE AND TAKE THE TRAIN. I WAITED 20 MINUTES, PRETTY MUCH, THERE. THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION'S A RESPONSE TO AUCKLAND TRANSPORT AND TRAIN OPERATOR TRANSDEV'S PLAN TO INTRODUCE DRIVER-ONLY TRAINS, REMOVING THE TRAIN MANAGER ROLE AND PUTTING DRIVERS IN CHARGE OF OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS. IT'S A HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK, AND WE'RE REALLY SURPRISED THAT TRANSDEV AND AUCKLAND TRANSPORT WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH IT. IN PLACE OF TRAIN MANAGERS WOULD BE A LARGER TEAM OF ROVING TRANSPORT OFFICERS, THOUGHT TO HELP FUTURE-PROOF AUCKLAND'S RAIL SYSTEM. BUT THE RAIL WORKERS UNION SAYS THIS WILL LEAVE SOME TRAINS VULNERABLE, WITH THE DRIVER AT TIMES THE ONLY STAFF MEMBER ON BOARD. BUT TRAIN OPERATOR TRANSDEV SAYS THIS WON'T BE AN ISSUE. AT SOME POINT YES, YOU MIGHT EXPECT THAT THE 8 O'CLOCK FROM ONEHUNGA WILL NOT HAVE A STAFF MEMBER ON BOARD IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER CAUSE COMMUTERS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO, AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. WHEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN STEP ON BOARD AND DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND, WITH ALL PARTIES AGREEING THE LATEST MEETING WENT WELL. WE HAVE MOVED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. WE HAVE NO FORCED REDUNDANCIES ON THE TABLE. WE'VE ASKED THEM TO WORK WITH US IN CONSULTATION. THE NEXT MEETING IS SET DOWN FOR WEDNESDAY. AND IF NEGOTIATIONS ARE A SUCCESS, THE UNION WILL DROP THE STRIKE. IF NOT, FULL-DAY STRIKES ARE ON THE CARDS. AUCKLAND TRANSPORT SAYS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION FOR PASSENGERS, THEY'RE ADDING EXTRA CARRIAGES TO THE SERVICES THAT ARE RUNNING, MEANING THEY CAN CARRY 900 PASSENGERS EACH. THEY'RE ALSO ENCOURAGING AUCKLANDERS TO PLAN AHEAD AND WHERE POSSIBLE, CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS FOR THEIR DAILY COMMUTE. LAURA TWYMAN, 1 NEWS. OVERSEAS NOW, AND SYRIAN AIRSTRIKES HAVE CONTINUED DESPITE THE UN ORDERING A CEASEFIRE. THE SECURITY COUNCIL CALLED FOR A 30-DAY TRUCE TO ALLOW FOR AID DELIVERIES AND MEDICAL EVACUATIONS. BUT OPERATIONS AGAINST JIHADI REBELS AREN'T COVERED BY THE CEASEFIRE, MEANING AIRSTRIKES HAVE CONTINUED. THE BBC'S CAROLINE HAWLEY REPORTS. IN EASTERN GHOUTA TODAY ` A MEASURE OF CALM AFTER A WEEK-LONG STORM OF AIRSTRIKES. IN SMALL NUMBERS, PEOPLE VENTURED OUT FROM UNDERGROUND SHELTERS TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. BUT THERE WERE REPORTS OF AIRSTRIKES CONTINUING IN SOME PARTS OF THE REBEL-HELD ENCLAVE. TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY POST-CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. STILL THERE IS WARPLANE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, STILL SHELLING. BUT THE LEVEL IS LESS THAN BEFORE. THE VOTE LAST NIGHT FOR A MONTH-LONG CEASEFIRE DIDN'T SPECIFY EXACTLY WHEN IT WOULD START OR HOW IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. AND THERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM ` IN EASTERN GHOUTA, IT'S A DISPARATE GROUP OF REBELS FIGHTING THE REGIME. THEY INCLUDE SOME EXTREMIST ELEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO AL QAEDA, AND THE CEASEFIRE DOESN'T COVER THEM. GOVERNMENT FORCES ARE NOW MASSED AROUND THE EDGE OF THE ENCLAVE, WITH REPORTS OF CLASHES AS THEY TRIED TO ADVANCE. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TONIGHT, WE SPOKE TO THE MOST POWERFUL GROUP ON THE GROUND, JAISH AL-ISLAM, WHICH CLAIMS TO HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS TODAY. (SPEAKS ARABIC) TRANSLATOR: THE REGIME IS NOT ABIDING BY THE UN RESOLUTION I CANNOT STAND STILL, AND WATCH, AND NOT DEFEND MYSELF AND OUR FAMILIES IN GHOUTA. IF THERE'S ONE THING ALL SIDES AGREE ON, IT'S THAT THE CONFLICT ` THE AGONY OF SYRIA'S CIVILIANS ` IS VERY FAR FROM OVER. BRITISH POLICE HAVE DECLARED A MAJOR INCIDENT AFTER A MASSIVE EXPLOSION AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN THE CITY OF LEICESTER. THE TWO-STOREY BUILDING HAS BEEN DESTROYED AFTER IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE STILL CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO COULD BE TRAPPED. NORTH KOREA IS WILLING TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE US ACCORDING TO SOUTH KOREA. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREAN LEADERS AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY. BUT THE US SAYS NORTH KOREANS PREVIOUSLY PULLED OUT OF A MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE. A NEW POLITICAL MOVE IN CHINA COULD ALLOW PRESIDENT XI JINGPING TO REMAIN AS LEADER AFTER HE IS DUE TO STEP DOWN. THE CHANGE PROPOSED BY CHINA'S GOVERNING COMMUNIST PARTY WOULD REMOVE A CLAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION WHICH LIMITS PRESIDENCIES TO TWO FIVE-YEAR TERMS. DURING HIS TIME AS LEADER, XI JINGPING HAS OVERSEEN A SHAKEUP OF THE PARTY AS PART OF HIS FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. BACK HERE NOW, AND CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD'S WARNING OF A PARTICULARLY NASTY BATCH OF ECSTASY AFTER NINE PEOPLE WERE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL OVER THE WEEKEND. THE PATIENTS WERE REPORTEDLY AGITATED, HAD ELEVATED HEART RATES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. THE HEALTH BOARD SAYS THE SIDE EFFECTS CAN BE LONG-LASTING, EVEN FATAL, AND ARE REMINDING PEOPLE NOT TO TAKE THE ILLICIT DRUG. FOR THE FIRST TIME, RENTING A PROPERTY IN WELLINGTON CITY WILL COST THE SAME AS IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND. THE LATEST TRADE ME PROPERTY RENTAL INDEX SHOWS THE AVERAGE ASKING RENT IN THE CAPITAL WAS $550 PER WEEK DURING JANUARY. THE NATIONAL MEDIAN RENT PRICE HAS RISEN 4.4% TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF $470 PER WEEK. FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS COMING TO NZ. THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE COUNTRY, AND HE'LL BE SPEAKING AT AN EVENT HOSTED BY THE NZ-US COUNCIL IN AUCKLAND NEXT MONTH. THE SPEECH IS BY INVITATION ONLY, BUT THE COUNCIL HOPES TO INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF NZ VOICES IN THE AUDIENCE. A LOT OF THEM WILL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, DOING BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE SPONSORS. WE'RE ALSO GONNA MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITY LEADERS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, MAORI BUSINESS ` THAT THERE'S A GOOD CROSS-SECTION OF NZ SOCIETY GET TO SEE HIM. ACROSS THE DITCH NOW, AND SYDNEY IS A DESIRABLE LOCATION FOR SCUBA DIVING, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRAWBACKS IS THE HEAVY GEAR. WELL, NOW THERE MIGHT BE A SOLUTION. INTRODUCING THE AIR BUDDY ` A MUCH LIGHTER AND MORE PORTABLE DIVING DEVICE. NINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT PETER STEFANOVIC EXPLAINS. JAN KALDAC IS HEADING OUT FOR A DIVE, BUT HE'S NOT USING A TRADITIONAL AIR TANK. HE'S USING THIS SMALL, ODD-LOOKING PRODUCT THAT HE INVENTED. IT'S CALLED AN AIR BUDDY. IT'S A BATTERY-POWERED PORTABLE COMPRESSOR THAT FLOATS ON THE WATER AND FOLLOWS YOU AS YOU DIVE. IT FEELS CLOSE TO UNDERWATER SWIMMING, RATHER THAN DIVING. BECAUSE THE GEAR THAT YOU'RE WEARING, IT'S VERY SMALL AND VERY LIGHTWEIGHT, SO YOU HAVE A VERY LOW DRAG. HOW IT WORKS IS THIS BATTERY AND COMPRESSOR, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A RED FLOAT, DRAWS AIR FROM THE SURFACE AND PUMPS IT THROUGH THIS BLUE HOSE, RIGHT INTO JAN'S MOUTH. IT ALLOWS HIM TO EXPLORE PLACES, LIKE SYDNEY'S CAMP COVE, WHERE HE CAN BREATH NONSTOP FOR 45 MINUTES AT A DEPTH OF UP TO 12M. IT'S NOT MEANT TO REPLACE SCUBA ` IT'S MEANT TO PLUG THE GAP BETWEEN SNORKELLING AND DIVING. IT'S THE SORT OF THING THAT COULD BE PACKED UP AND TAKEN ON HOLIDAYS, BE USED FOR BOAT MAINTENANCE OR POOL REPAIRS. THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT IT KICKED IN A $100,000 GRANT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT. I THINK THERE'S SOME GREAT SUCCESS COMING AHEAD FOR THIS COMPANY. THIS IS JUST A PROTOTYPE. THE AIR BUDDY IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-PURCHASE AT A COST OF ABOUT $2000. JUST AS A COMPARISON, TRADITIONAL DIVE GEAR, SUCH AS THIS SET HERE, WILL COST ABOUT THIS SAME. THE AIR BUDDY ALLOWS JAN TO COMBINE HIS LOVE OF DIVING WITH HIS LOVE OF ENGINEERING. AND IT MIGHT JUST EARN HIM A FORTUNE. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` SHE'S NO STRANGER TO THE SPOTLIGHT, AND NOW MEGHAN MARKLE'S BEEN LINKED TO A TELL-ALL BLOG ABOUT LIFE AS A HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS. BUT IS SHE THE SECRET AUTHOR? WOMAN ON A MISSION ` MEET THE AUSSIE GRANDMA WHO'S TREKKING ACROSS AMERICA. AND VICTORIOUS OVER CHELSEA ` COULD THIS BE A TURNING POINT FOR MAN U? SHE MAY HAVE GIVEN UP HER LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD, BUT IT SEEMS THE FOCUS ON ROYAL-TO-BE MEGHAN MARKLE'S FORMER CAREER ISN'T GOING AWAY. IT'S BELIEVED PRINCE HARRY'S FIANCE IS BEHIND A BLOG THAT DETAILS THE STRUGGLES OF BECOMING A FAMOUS ACTRESS. ABC'S EVA PILGRIM HAS THE DETAILS. MEGHAN MARKLE TO MAKE HER FIRST OFFICIAL APPEARANCE FOR THE ROYAL FOUNDATION. WEDNESDAY, SHE WILL TAKE HER PLACE BESIDE HARRY, WILLIAM AND KATE. THEY'RE BEING NICKNAMED THE FAB FOUR. SO IT'S THE FIRST OUTING FOR THE FAB FOUR. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A FORUM TO TALK ABOUT THE ROYAL FOUNDATION, AND THE WORK OF THE ROYAL FOUNDATION. BUT IT'S HER FORMER LIFE AS AN ACTRESS THAT'S MAKING HEADLINES. 'THE DAILY MAIL' REPORTING MARKLE IS THE AUTHOR BEHIND THE CONTROVERSIAL BLOG 'THE WORKING ACTRESS.' I CAME IN EARLY TO CARVE OUT AN HOUR TO WORK ON SOMETHING PERSONAL OF MY OWN. THE BLOG, ACTIVE FROM 2010 TO 2012 DETAILING THE LIFE OF AN ACTRESS STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD, AND WHAT REALLY HAPPENS AT CASTING CALLS AND AT FILM SETS. THE BLOG IS NOW GONE. THE BLOG IS NOW GONE. THE ONLY SIGN IT EXISTED, A TWITTER ACCOUNT, WITH LINKS TO POSTS THAT ARE NO LONGER THERE. BUT BEFORE GOING SILENT, THE AUTHOR HINTING AT A NEW ROLE, WRITING ` KENSINGTON PALACE DECLINING TO COMMENT. IT HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED THAT MEGHAN WAS THE AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG. KENSINGTON PALACE HAVE NOT GIVEN ANY COMMENT ON THAT. MARKLE'S FUTURE TODAY ` CHARITY WORK, NO ACTING, NOW THAT SHE'S GIVEN UP HOLLYWOOD FOR HARRY. ARMED WITH A DOZEN PAIRS OF SHOES AND HER BACKPACK, AN AUSTRALIAN GRANDMOTHER (67) IS PLANNING TO WALK THE LENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES. AND SHE HAS A DEEPLY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO SHARE OF WHY SHE'S UNDERTAKING THE MAMMOTH TASK. CHANNEL NINE'S LIZZIE PEARL JOINED HER ON HER JOURNEY. EVERY STEP, EVERY STRIDE IS ONE OF DETERMINATION, GRIT AND ABOVE ALL, HOPE. KAY LEDSON IS A MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER ON A MISSION, WALKING THE ROADS, TRACKS, HIGHWAYS AND LANEWAYS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WITH ONE PERSON ON HER MIND ` HER SON, JOSH. MY HEART WAS BROKEN. I WAS DEVASTATED. BUT I WAS MAD WITH THE HOSPITAL, BECAUSE THEY'D GIVEN UP ON MY SON IN NINE HOURS. 18 YEARS AGO, JOSH WOOD, A BUDDING SNOWBOARDER, WAS DOING WHAT MOST YOUNG SNOWBOARDERS WANT TO DO ` FLY. HE AND HIS MATES BUILT A JUMP, BUT SOMETHING WENT WRONG. JOSH CRASH-LANDED ON A ROAD, SHATTERING THREE VERTEBRAE. HE WOKE UP IN HOSPITAL A QUADRIPLEGIC, TOLD HE WOULD NEVER WALK AGAIN. BUT TO THE SURPRISE OF DOCTORS, HE DID. AND SO JOSH WALKED OUT OF HOSPITAL FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS LATER, AND THEN HE DIDN'T USE HIS WHEELCHAIR WITHIN TWO AND A HALF YEARS. NOW IT'S KAY WHO'S WALKING, ACROSS AMERICA. SHE'S DOING IT BECAUSE SHE WANTS THE WORLD TO KNOW RECOVERY FROM SPINAL INJURY IS POSSIBLE. THE 67-YEAR-OLD IS ONE TOUGH LADY. THE JOURNEY AROUND 7 MILLION STEPS STARTED IN CALIFORNIA IN SEPTEMBER. WITH 32KM EVERY DAY, SHE BATTLES EXTREME HEAT, COLD, TRUCKS, EVEN WILD DOGS. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR? WELL, MY MAIN AIM IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOU CAN GET RECOVERY. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE TEAM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ONCE THE HOST CITY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES, AND ONE OF 16 CITIES KAY WILL WALK THROUGH, TRACKING 5000KM INTO WASHINGTON DC NEXT MONTH. WHILE KAY CUTS A BRAVE PATH, BACK HOME ON VICTORIA'S MORNINGTON PENINSULA, HER GRANDSON AJ IS GROWING UP FAST. HORSIES. WHAT'S A HORSIE DO? AND HER SON, JOSH, HAS A NEW HERO. I'M SO PROUD OF HER. LIKE, I'M JUST CONSTANTLY JUST TELLING HER HOW PROUD I AM OF HER. JOSH PUTS HIS RECOVERY DOWN TO MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BODY, A NEVER-GIVE-UP ATTITUDE AND A MOTHER'S LOVE. YOU KNOW, IT IS A STRUGGLE EVERY DAY. IT'S A FIGHT EVERY DAY JUST TO GET OUT OF BED. BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I HAVE GOT. KAY, THE WARRIOR MUM, HAS LOST 20KG ON HER PATH. SHE'S NOW ON THE HOME STRETCH. THERE'S PLENTY OF BURGER STOPS ON THE WAY TO FUEL UP. I CAN EAT WHATEVER I LIKE NOW. TO SPORT NOW. AND A HEROIC CENTURY FROM ROSS TAYLOR HAS PROPELLED THE BLACKCAPS TO AN ENTHRALLING THREE-WICKET WIN OVER ENGLAND IN LAST NIGHT'S ODI SERIES OPENER. THE BATSMEN STABLISING NEW ZEALAND'S 205-RUN CHASE BEFORE A SMASHING EFFORT FROM THE KIWIS' TAIL ORDER GOT THEM HOME. VICTOR WATERS HAS ALL THE ACTION. AT 27/3, ROSS TAYLOR HAD HIS WORK CUT. THE BATSMAN COMBINING WITH TOM LATHAM TO FRUSTRATE THE ENGLISH BOWLERS AND KICK-START NEW ZEALAND'S RECOVERY. AND AS THE BOUNDARIES BEGAN TO TICK OVER, SO DID THE RECORD BOOKS. ROSS TAYLOR, WHAT A MILESTONE! 7000 ODI RUNS. AND WHEN THEY PASSED THEIR HALF CENTURIES IN THE SAME OVER THE BLACKCAPS LOOKED TO HAVE CLAWED THEIR WAY BACK. TOM LATHAM NOW. ANOTHER 50 AS WELL. BUT WHEN LATHAM GAVE AWAY HIS WICKET CHEAPLY, THE PENDOLUM SWUNG ENGLAND'S WAY AGAIN. AN 18TH ODI CENTURY FROM ROSS TAYLOR THOUGH SNAPPED THE TOURISTS' GRIP. A GOOD NIGHT'S KIP AT HOME PERHAPS THE SECRET TO HIS THIRD ODI HUNDRED AT SEDDON PARK. I THINK OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE I LIVE HERE AND SLEEP IN MY OWN BED IT MUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A EFFECT. BUT ANOTHER TWIST WAS WAITING IN THIS SEDDON PARK TALE. BEAUTIFULLY, BEAUTIFULLY BOWLED. NEW ZEALAND'S RUN CHASE THEN FALLING ON MITCHELL SANTNER'S SHOULDERS. THAT'S GONE. AND GONE A LONG WAY. AND HE TOOK THE CHALLENGE IN HIS STRIDE. BRILLIANT. THROUGH THE LEGS. THE SPINNER ALMOST UNPLAYABLE ALONGSIDE TIM SOUTHEE AS THEY RIPPED THE MATCH AWAY FROM ENGLAND. SKIPPER KANE WILLIAMSON PROUD OF HIS TAIL ORDER BATSMEN. VERY GOOD GAME OF CRICKET. VERY EVEN GAME OF CRICKET. NICE TO GET ACROSS THE LINE BRILLIANT PARTNERSHIP FROM THOSE TWO, BUT ALSO MICH SATNER TO GET US HOME. ANOTHER SPECIAL HAMILTON NIGHT FOR TAYLOR AND THE BLACKCAPS AS THEY LOOK TOWARDS WEDNESDAY'S REMATCH. VICTOR WATERS, 1 NEWS. KIWI SNOWBOARDER ZOI SADOWSKI SYNOTT LED OUT THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC TEAM AT LAST NIGHT'S CLOSING CEREMONY NEW ZEALAND COMPLETED THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL WINTER OLYMPICS EVER WITH TWO BRONZE MEDALS. MEANWHILE, NORWAY FINISHED TOP OF THE MEDAL TABLE WITH 14 GOLDS AND A RECORD 39 MEDALS IN TOTAL. TO FOOTBALL, AND MANCHESTER CITY HAVE CLAIMED THE ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP FINAL THIS MORNING, AFTER TEARING APART ARSENAL'S DEFENCE WITH TWO GAME-CLINCHING GOALS IN THE SECOND HALF HE FINISHES IT ONCE AND FOR ALL! MEANWHILE, CROSS-TOWN RIVALS MANCHESTER UNITED RECLAIMED SECOND SPOT IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE, COMING FROM BEHIND TO TAKE A 2-0 VICTORY OVER CHELSEA. RUMOURS OF A RETURN TO RUGBY LEAGUE FOR SONNY BILL WILLIAMS ARE BEING LAUGHED OFF BY THE ALL BLACKS. SYDNEY MEDIA HAS GONE INTO OVERDRIVE, SUGGESTING WILLIAMS IS HEADING BACK TO THE ROOSTERS FOR NEXT YEAR'S NRL COMPETITION. BUT AN ALL BLACKS SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE SPECULATION IS RUBBISH, WITH SBW A FIRM PART OF THEIR PLANS FOR THIS SEASON AND 2019. WILLIAMS DIDN'T TRAIN WITH THE BLUES TODAY DUE TO A MINOR INJURY, TO DISMISS THE LATEST RUMOURS. NAH, I THINK WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK, MATE. I'M SURE, ESPECIALLY WITH SONNY, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE STUFF LIKE THAT. IT'S UNCLEAR IF WILLIAMS WILL BE FIT TO PLAY THIS FRIDAY NIGHT FOR THE BLUES AGAINST THE CHIEFS. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY, I'LL BE BACK WITH THE AFTERNOON WEATHER. YOUR WEATHER'S NEXT, BUT FIRST LET'S LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES. THE RACE IS ON ` ONE MORE DAY UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHO WILL REPLACE BILL ENGLISH AS LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. AND DISRUPTION TO AUCKLAND TRAIN SERVICES AS STAFF CARRY OUT A BAN ON OVERTIME, FORCING TIMETABLES TO BE RESHUFFLED. AND THANKS TO ANOTHER CLASSY ROSS TAYLOR CENTURY, THE BLACK CAPS HAVE PULLED OFF AN ODI WIN AGAINST THE ENGLISH. AND SOME SPORTS NEWS JUST IN ` A CONSORTIUM OF TWO FORMER NBA PLAYERS AND A CO-OWNER OF PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE SWANSEA WILL BECOME MAJORITY SHAREHOLDERS OF THE NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS. THE NEW OWNERS WILL TAKE OVER FROM PAUL AND LIZ BLACKWELL ON MARCH THE 1ST. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. # my baby, please don't leave me now. # kiss me till the sun goes down. # please don't leave me now. # kiss me till the sun goes down. # kiss me till the sun goes down. # goes down, goes down. # kiss me till the sun goes down. (RAPPING) # my baby, # please don't leave me now. # THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY. FROM THE 1NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY FAITH HAMBLYN AND JOHN GIBBS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.