First Up for Thursday 14 December 2023

5:52 AM.Finally to politics, and there were crowds yesterday outside Parliament to protest the new government's repeal of smokefree laws. Meanwhile the new government passed its first piece of legislation -… Read more Audio

5:46 AM.One of Aucklands most iconic restaurants has changed hands after 50 years, but the business is staying in the family. Ollie's Diner in Royal Oak has been serving up ice creams, thickshakes and hotdogs… Read more Audio

5:36 AM.Auckland's Council is getting the word out this summer about the threat to our ecosystem of imported - and released - pets. Auckland is home to a plethora of exotic animals that started life as… Read more Audio

5:26 AM.We head to Ashburton to catch up with local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask. Audio

5:16 AM.To Africa now, joining First Up from Ghana for the last time in 2023 is our Africa correspondent Nabil Ahmed Rufai. Audio

5:05 AM.We begin this morning in the UK, joining us from London is Ellie Jay. Audio