1.
GV MRS. LAWSON WITH QUINS (TWO SHOTS)
0.07

2.
SCU QUINS (TWO SHOTS)
0.11

3.
GV PAN QUINS OPENING PRESENTS
0.18

4.
CU PAN TWO MEMBERS OF QUINS FAMILY LOOKING AT PRESENTS
0.29

5.
SCU QUINS PLAYS WITH SOFT TOY
0.33

6.
GV MRS. LAWSON WITH QUINS
0.37

7.
CU QUIN CHEWS TOY
0.40

8.
SCU MR. LAWSON TAKES PHOTO OF FAMILY GROUP
0.44

9.
GV MOTHER AND QUINS
0.50

10.
SV PAN FROM LEE-ANNE TO QUINS
0.54



Initials RGH/V/MGT_AE/GLH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST QUINTUPLETS -- BORN TO MRS. SHIRLEY ANN LAWSON IN AUCKLAND -- THIS WEEK (WEDNESDAY, JULY 27) CELEBRATED THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CHILDREN. THE "BIG" FAMILY GOT TOGETHER WITHOUT MUCH FUSS TO OPEN PRESENTS AND POSE FOR A FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH.

THE QUINTUPLETS -- SAMUEL, LISA, DEBORAH, SHIRLENE AND SELINA -- WERE BORN SEVEN WEEK PREMATURE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLICATIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR.

AFTER THEIR BIRTH IT WAS REVEALED THAT MRS. LAWSON HAD BEEN RECEIVING DOSES OF A HORMONE TO ALLOW HER TO HAVE ANOTHER CHILD. HER OTHER DAUGHTER, LEE-ANNE, WAS FIVE WHEN THE QUINS WERE BORN.

THE DOSAGE WAS STRICTLY CONTROLLED, BUT EXPERIENCE IN NEW ZEALAND HAD SHOWN THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A MULTIPLE BIRTH, BUT NOT QUITE AS MANY AS MR. LAWSON WAS PRESENTED WITH.

MRS. LAWSON SAYS THEY'RE ALL HAPPY BABIES, FULL OF FUN AND HEALTHY. BUT THEY'RE MORE THAN ONE MOTHER CAN HANDLE. MRS. LAWSON HAS TWO NURSES LIVING IN WITH THE FAMILY TO HELP HER COPE WITH FIVE CHILDREN -- ALL NOW AGED ONE.