First Up Podcast Options

5:26 AM.Tess Brunton reports from the neighbourhoods around Otago and Southland, this week she tells us a lovely story of an iconic Peter Pan statue. Audio

5:16 AM.Alex Baird reports from the Middle East where the Rafah border has once again closed Audio

5:11 AM.Snowboarder Dane Menzies is in Italy for his first Winter Games, he will be one of the first to compete on Friday. Audio

5:54 AM.Mangawhai has had the cheapest petrol price in the country since September, producer Jeremy Parkinson finds out why. Hint: competition!! Audio

5:48 AM.The six nations kicks off Friday morning NZ time, with defending champions France hosting Ireland. Nathan Rarere talked with rugby writer Will Slattery Audio

5:24 AM.All sorts of things get donated to Op Shops around Aotearoa... even human remains. Nathan Rarere talks with Vinnies Bay of Plenty area manager Lorna Edlin. Audio

5:15 AM.The French government finally passes a budget, Anita Purcell-Sjölund reports from Europe Audio

5:52 AM.A new reporting system for schools and $900 uniforms - Nathan Rarere talks with Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour. Audio

5:47 AM.Kunal Gupta is a researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau Auckland Bioengineering Institute and he's developing an app he thinks will help rangatahi with mental health struggles Audio

5:24 AM.It's been hot and sticky in the north, Phillip Duncan from Weather Watch tells us why. Audio

5:15 AM.Jeffrey Epstein's still causing grief on both sides of the Atlantic, Ellie Jay reports on the latest from the UK Audio

5:53 AM.North Shore's Wairau Valley residents are looking forward to the regeneration of the area affected by 2023's Anniversary Day Floods Audio

5:48 AM.Artemis II is on the launch pad getting ready for the first moon mission in 53 years - James Parr explains why to Nathan Audio

5:23 AM.Glenn Forsyth tells us how 2026 is shaping up for fresh fruit and veggies exporters Audio

5:14 AM.Katherine Firkin reports from the USA where millions more Epstein files have been released Audio

5:52 AM.Pokemon cards are an investment phenomenon, but the popularity of the cards is attracting a criminal element. Ke-xin Li has the story. Audio

5:48 AM.The US Federal Government looks like it's pulling back operations in Minnesota - Zach Montellaro has the details Audio

5:44 AM.What's causing trees to explode in the USA? Joe Zeleznik from the University of North Dakota has the answer about frost cracks. Audio

5:24 AM.It's a potato party at the markets this morning - Glenn Forsyth has his report and the Fruit of the Week - NZ Cherries Audio

5:15 AM.Reports of gunfire and explosions in Niger and a silent Senegalese TikTok star sells his company for more than a billion dollars, Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports from Africa. Audio

5:51 AM.Willow-Jean Prime makes her first appearance on First Up for the year - she talks education and political polls Audio

5:48 AM.Wellington's Great Big Waterfront Clean Up kicks off today, organiser Naiomi Murgatroyd talked with Nathan Rarer''e' Audio

5:27 AM.There's a kiwi-pocalyse up north - and a lot of mud - Peter de Graaf reports. Audio

5:18 AM.The US builds up its military presence in the Persian Gulf - Alex Baird reports from Doha Audio

5:53 AM.Tongan community leader and former food safety regulator Melino Maka voices concern over non-regulated meat. Audio