Morning Report

Seabed mining company withdraws from hearing

April 02, 2024 18:45 - 3 minutes - 3.58 MB

Opponents of seabed mining are furious an Australian company has pulled out of a consent hearing for a controversial project off the Taranaki coast. They fear Trans-Tasman Resources will instead now take advantage of the Government's fast track consenting process. RNZ Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

DIA says it has busted scamming network

April 02, 2024 18:45 - 5 minutes - 5.38 MB

The Department of Internal Affairs says it has busted a criminal network of scammers, which was responsible for the majority of texting scams in Aotearoa last year. The result is an 80 percent drop in the reporting of scams from the public. In a first-of-its-kind operation, DIA officials used search warrants to seize more than 4000 items used by the transnational scammers, including thousands of dollars worth of SIM cards and hardware. DIA manager of digital messaging and systems Joe Teo...

Māori and Pacific people have less in KiwiSaver research shows

April 02, 2024 18:34 - 6 minutes - 5.63 MB

Research out this morning from the Retirement Commission has found Māori and Pacific people are managing to save significantly less in their KiwiSaver accounts than other ethnicities. The research, using fresh data from Stats New Zealand, shines a light on ethnicity for the first time. The commission says the data allows for a deeper look into the forces causing significant differences. Policy lead Dr Michelle Reyers spoke to Corin Dann.

Violence and aggression on rise at hospitals says doctor

April 02, 2024 18:28 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MB

A medical leader says the frightening incident at Wairarapa Hospital over the weekend could happen at any Emergency Department across the country and says boosting security should be an urgent priority. Health Minister Shane Reti says an incident report will be done after a man with a machete attacked a visitor - and he has indicated the Budget may include further funding for security. The chair of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine in New Zealand Dr Kate Allan says violence...

Israeli strike kills seven aid workers

April 02, 2024 18:24 - 7 minutes - 6.96 MB

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted that an "unintentional" strike killed seven workers of food aid charity World Central Kitchen. Among those killed by the Israeli strike were three Britons, an Australian, a dual US-Canadian citizen and a Palestinian. The Prime Ministers of Australia and the UK are demanding answers. The CEO of World Central Kitchen, celebrity chef Jose Andres says the attack is "unforgiveable" and shows that food is being used as a "weapon of war" in...

Reports of kidnapping on Auckland's North Shore

April 02, 2024 18:20 - 2 minutes - 2.5 MB

Three locations on Auckland's North Shore were under police cordon Tuesday night after an alleged kidnapping. According to the police callouts database they responded to reports of firearms offending in Beach Haven, around 7.30am. The New Zealand Herald is reporting they also received a report of an abduction at that location. Police and ambulance services were then called to an address on Mackay Drive in Greenhithe, where the Herald reports a woman was found with moderate injuries. Repo...

Impossible to tell if death was from Covid vaccine or virus says coroner

April 02, 2024 18:14 - 4 minutes - 4.13 MB

A coroner has ruled it's impossible to tell if a 13-year-old boy died from his covid vaccine or a virus. Coroner Robin Kay has released findings into this death on Wednesday, one of four in New Zealand which has been linked to the vaccine. He found the boy died of myocarditis 10 days after receiving his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but the cause of the myocarditis could have been due to viruses found in his heart, rather than the vaccine. Morning Report reporter/producer Ellen O'Dw...

Sports News for 3 April 2024

April 02, 2024 18:06 - 1 minute - 1.13 MB

Sam Whitelock says it's time to spend time watching his children and wife play sport.

Sports News for 3 April 2024

April 02, 2024 18:06 - 1 minute - 1.13 MB

Sam Whitelock says it's time to spend time watching his children and wife play sport.

Business News for 3 April 2024

April 02, 2024 17:57 - 4 minutes - 4.47 MB

Business news for 3 April 2024.

Tesla first quarter numbers worse than expected

April 02, 2024 17:49 - 3 minutes - 3.01 MB

Electric carmaker Tesla has released its first quarter vehicle production and deliveries report, and the numbers are worse than anticipated. Deliveries fell 8.5 percent from this time last year, and about 20 percent from the end of 2023. Meanwhile vehicle production declined 1.7 percent year on year. The poor numbers set the stage for what analysts expect to be the company's weakest year of growth since at least 2012. Wedbush Securities Analyst Dan Ives spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Early Sports Chat for 3 April 2024

April 02, 2024 17:38 - 4 minutes - 3.87 MB

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Morning Rural News for 3 April 2024

April 02, 2024 17:25 - 4 minutes - 3.9 MB

News from the rural farming sector.

Nearly 1 in 5 drugs checked in 2023 not as advertised: Drug Foundation

April 02, 2024 17:20 - 4 minutes - 4.03 MB

The Drug Foundation says nearly one in five drugs it checked last year were not what people thought they paid for. The foundation says its drug-checking services are testing fifty percent more drugs compared to last year, allowing more and more people to check what's in their drugs and letting them know how to stay safe. Cocaine and methamphetamine are the most likely to be something different to what they were sold as. Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm spoke to Ingrid Hipkis...

Early Business News for 3 April 2024

April 02, 2024 17:20 - 1 minute - 1.61 MB

Latest news from Radio New Zealand's business team.

Sustainable replacement for polystyrene developed in NZ

April 01, 2024 19:57 - 1 minute - 1.61 MB

A sustainable replacement for polystyrene developed here in New Zealand is going commercial. The new technology, ZealaFoam, relies on starch derived from plants like maize, cassava and sugar cane. It has been developed by the Biopolymer Network - a joint venture between AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Scion. These entities will keep a shareholding in a new company that has been set up to take the product commercial, alongside overseas investors. The Biopolymer Network chief execu...

Great Wahine Surf Reunion held in New Plymouth

April 01, 2024 19:54 - 3 minutes - 3.51 MB

Pioneers of women's surfing in New Zealand gathered in Taranaki over the weekend to reminisce, share insights, and for some, to scratch that competitive itch again. The Great Wahine Surf Reunion was held at the New Plymouth Surfriders Club as part of the Easter Masters Surfing Championship. RNZ Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has been at Fitzroy Beach.

NZ woman dies after suspected drug overdose on the Gold Coast

April 01, 2024 19:51 - 2 minutes - 2.34 MB

A New Zealand woman died on Australia's Gold Coast following a suspected overdose during celebrations for her 40th birthday. Queensland police say Danielle Whittaker, who's originally from Wellington, died on Good Friday while partying with friends in an apartment. Brisbane Today Show reporter Andrea Crothers spoke to Corin Dann.

Direct link between hate speech and hate crime: report

April 01, 2024 19:46 - 5 minutes - 5.41 MB

An Islamic organisation wants to know why the Government appears to be ditching the recommendation of the Christchurch mosque terror attacks royal commission of inquiry to outlaw "hate speech" having to do with religious people. The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand has just released a report revealing what the umbrella group says is the "direct link" between hate speech and hate crime. The Government says it will study the new report, but in the meantime, as per the coal...

Children under 5 can now be vaccinated by pharmacists

April 01, 2024 19:41 - 3 minutes - 2.86 MB

A vaccinologist says allowing pharmacists to vaccinate children under 5 years' old will help improve immunisation rates in pockets of the country where they are dangerously low. Pharmacists can now vaccinate babies and preschoolers from six weeks old, including for hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora says the rule change is designed to boost falling childhood vaccination rates, which experts say are at their lowest point in years. Helen Petousis-H...

Sports Chat for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 19:33 - 2 minutes - 2.33 MB

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

OIA papers reveal Oranga Tamariki trying to overhaul old technology

April 01, 2024 19:28 - 3 minutes - 3.14 MB

A multimillion-dollar IT platform vital to safeguard children at risk of abuse has lurched into the danger zone and had to be reset. Oranga Tamariki is trying to overhaul technology so old its frontline social workers and analysts cannot get the information they need. But OIA papers reveal another government IT tangle in the making. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick on Govt changes to emergency housing

April 01, 2024 19:21 - 6 minutes - 5.75 MB

The Green Party is furious at the Housing Minister for refusing to guarantee that the Government's changes to emergency housing won't lead to more homelessness. The Coalition last month announced that officials would take a stricter approach to allowing tenants into emergency housing in the first place. The Greens say more people will end up homeless as a result, and when they asked Chris Bishop to guarantee it wouldn't, he replied, "no Minister can guarantee anything." Green Party co-le...

Community housing providers concerned over funding

April 01, 2024 19:18 - 3 minutes - 2.97 MB

Community housing providers are putting the brakes on building desperately needed homes because there's no guarantee of government funding after June next year. The Government pays rent subsidies to community housing providers, which they rely on to operate. But the funding is soon to dry up, leaving providers in the lurch, delaying construction on consented land that's ready to build. Housing reporter Lauren Crimp has more.

Search and rescue operation for missing fisher underway in Hawke's Bay

April 01, 2024 19:12 - 4 minutes - 3.9 MB

A search and rescue operation is underway in Hawke's Bay to find a crew member who fell overboard from a fishing vessel. The person was reported missing at eight o'clock last night, 11 kilometres offshore of Waimārama. Rescue helicopters crews are helping in the search as well as other vessels in the area. Hawke's Bay deputy harbourmaster Adrian Wright spoke to Corin Dann.

PM Luxon on Govt's new 36-point action plan

April 01, 2024 18:55 - 6 minutes - 6.12 MB

The Government has unveiled a 36-point action plan on Tuesday morning, listing projects it's promising to achieve by June the 30th. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Shipping container causing issues in Hamilton neighbourhood

April 01, 2024 18:48 - 3 minutes - 2.96 MB

A shipping container dressed as a house and ruled as public art by the Environment Court is causing angst in a Hamilton neighbourhood. And the stoush between its owners and the council looks set to continue with more legal action, and art, looming. Waikato reporter Natalie Akoorie has more.

Anniversary to mark 160 years since battle of Ōrākau

April 01, 2024 18:40 - 3 minutes - 3.25 MB

Let's go back again to the 160th anniversary of the battle of Ōrākau, where dignitiries have gathered to remember the most famous of the New Zealand Wars. The battle in 1864, which took place east of Kihikihi, involved Māori from Tūwharetoa, Tauranga Moana, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Tūhoe defending the site from more than a thousand British soldiers. About 160 Māori died, along with seventeen British troops. Reporter Pokere Paiwai spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New financial year sees change in benefit payments

April 01, 2024 18:35 - 6 minutes - 6.21 MB

A new financial year has begun and with it comes a change in benefit payments, with a number of payments to New Zealand households increasing. There has been criticism from some sectors that benefit increases are indexed to the consumers price index, rather than average wage growth. And some critics argue a two-percent increase to the minimum wage actually represents a step backwards for those struggling with the cost of living. David Verry from North Harbour budgeting services spoke to ...

Search underway for missing fishing boat crew member off Hawke's Bay

April 01, 2024 18:33 - 2 minutes - 1.92 MB

A search is underway for a crew member of a fishing boat who was lost overboard last night 11 kilometres off the coast of Waimārama. RNZ reporter Ashleigh McCaull spoke to Corin Dann.

Students from Far North school fundraising for global robotics challenge in USA

April 01, 2024 18:28 - 3 minutes - 3.15 MB

The principal of a tiny Far North school calls it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Four kids from Motatau kura are fundraising frantically to represent their region in a global robotics challenge, and their cash-poor but big-hearted community has swung in behind them. Peter de Graaf reports.

Police on Easter road toll

April 01, 2024 18:15 - 5 minutes - 4.75 MB

Overtaking on congested roads, speeding and taking unnecessary risks are some of the reasons police are giving for this Easter's high road toll. They say the weekend serves as a reminder for everything police do not want to see on the roads. Seven people have been killed in crashes over the long weekend. Four people died on State Highway 8 in Pukaki, while another three died in crashes in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tasman. Road Policing Director Superintendent Steve Greally spoke to Ingr...

Government announces new list of projects

April 01, 2024 18:11 - 7 minutes - 6.88 MB

The Government has announced its new list of projects it's promising to achieve over the next three months. The action plan contains 36 bullet points to be ticked off by June the 30th. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

Sports News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 18:06 - 1 minute - 1.34 MB

New Zealand's World No.2 Paul Coll has won the London Squash Classic, beating Egypt's Mostafa Asal for his 25th PSA tour title.

Sports News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 18:06 - 1 minute - 1.34 MB

New Zealand's World No.2 Paul Coll has won the London Squash Classic, beating Egypt's Mostafa Asal for his 25th PSA tour title.

Business News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 17:54 - 4 minutes - 4.22 MB

Business News for 2 April 2024.

Business News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 17:54 - 4 minutes - 4.22 MB

Business News for 2 April 2024.

Psychologists rebel against proposed changes

April 01, 2024 17:45 - 3 minutes - 2.93 MB

Thousands of psychologists are rebelling against rule changes that many fear will make it even harder for patients to get help. The registering body, the Psychologists Board, is proposing changes that mean some of them could be restricted in the types of conditions they are able to treat. Critics say patients could miss out, with the country already struggling with a dire shortage of care. Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.

Highest Easter road toll since 2021

April 01, 2024 17:40 - 5 minutes - 5.46 MB

The AA says the Easter weekend's road toll is another tragic reminder that more needs to be done to increase safety on the roads. Six people died in crashes over the weekend, the highest toll since 2021. AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen wants to see a heavier police presence on the roads, and for roadside drug testing to be rolled out urgently. He also wants more research on whether reckless or extreme behaviour in vehicle accidents is increasing. Thomsen spoke to Corin Dann.

Early Sports Chat for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 17:38 - 4 minutes - 3.99 MB

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Early Business News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 17:28 - 1 minute - 1.51 MB

Latest news from Radio New Zealand's business team.

Morning Rural News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 17:27 - 4 minutes - 3.86 MB

News from the rural farming sector.

Property listings back to normal after years of low numbers

April 01, 2024 17:20 - 3 minutes - 3.39 MB

New property listings are back to normal according to realestate.co.nz after years of unusually low listings. That's despite high interest rates and high inflation. In March, new listings were up nationally by 23.9 percent year-on-year and in all regions except Nelson and Bays and the West Coast, while stock lifted back to levels not seen since 2015. Prices meanwhile have remained stable even as demand remains robust. Realestate.co.nz spokesperson Vanessa Williams spoke to Corin Dann.

Sports News for 2 April 2024

April 01, 2024 17:10 - 1 minute - 1.07 MB

England recovered from an early batting collapse to beat the White Ferns by four wickets in the opening one-dayer yesterday in Wellington.

How climate change could impact your favourite foods

March 27, 2024 19:56 - 3 minutes - 3.04 MB

Hold on to your flat whites and your Easter eggs - climate change could be coming for your favourite foods. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, worldwide yields of coffee and cocoa beans could decrease by up to a third by 2050. But it's not all bad news, there are plenty of dedicated professionals in both industries fighting to keep them viable. Morning Report producer Emma Ricketts reports.

Opus Dei coerced girls into years of service: report

March 27, 2024 19:52 - 3 minutes - 3.19 MB

The secretive Catholic organisation Opus Dei is under scrutiny, after the Financial Times reported that girls had been coerced into decades of gruelling service in the order. Women from Britain and Ireland told the newspaper they were groomed to sign up as so-called assistant numeraries, which in reality meant working as domestic servants without pay or holidays. The journalist who wrote the story is Antonia Cundy who says that the women were recruited when they started training at hospi...

Global interest rates 'on cusp' of being lowered: Adrian Orr

March 27, 2024 19:45 - 4 minutes - 4.42 MB

The governor of the Reserve Bank says global interest rates are on the cusp of being lowered by central banks, but consumer and business inflation expectations need to drop further for it to happen. Adrian Orr says New Zealand is like other economies, waiting for the right time to ensure inflation is definitely back under control while not holding rates too high for too long. Orr told business editor Gyles Beckford the inflation tide is turning and the slowing economy is in line with its...

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