First Up Podcast Options

5:25 AM.It's the time of the week where we have a look around New Zealand and talk to our Local Democracy reporters, this week we have got Steve Forbes on the line who's based in South Auckland. Audio

5:17 AM.A new study out of the UK is highlighting the economic, social and mental benefits - of owning and riding motorcyles. The study, from Oxford Economics shows that around 389,000 jobs are supported by… Read more Audio

5:14 AM.Pacific communities in New Zealand have been told the only way Aotearoa can be sure it's Covid-19 free is if people get vaccinated. This comes ahead of vaccine rollouts in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland… Read more Audio

5:09 AM.Victorian Authorities are warning residents of significant aftershocks following on from the magnitude 5.8 earthquake which shook Melbourne around 9am yesterday, causing significant structural damage… Read more Audio

5:05 AM.We begin this morning in Europe - Nathan Rarere was joined by our correspondent in Sweden Anita Purcell Sjölund. Audio

5:55 AM.We cross now to our producer Ellie Jay who is up early this morning to see how businesses are preparing for their first day of trading for five weeks. Audio

5:49 AM.As Aucklanders head out to order breakfast baps and flat whites for the first time in five long weeks, we wanted to see how businesses are gearing up to trade under Alert Level 3 restrictions. Our… Read more Audio

5:44 AM.Before Peter's headlines you heard about Auckland's vaccine buses and the work that's being done to reach populations which aren't exactly beating a path to the vaccine clinics set up around the city… Read more Audio

5:36 AM.Another mobile bus has been launched - in the hope it can drive up vaccination rates in Tamaki Makaurau and boost low Maori innoculation rates. The Shot Cuzz bus pulled up to the Clendon Pak n Save in… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.Auckland is now at Alert level 3 and for many it doesn't look too different to Level 4 but with the added benefits of contactless delivery and takeaways! And we know that if you are up at this time in… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Barely a week goes by where there isn't some news from space - so, as is our way when the fancy takes us, it's time for our regular chat with James Parr from the Open Space Agency in London. This… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.Former athletes, and a lawyer who has seen it all before, will lead an independent investigation into Cycling New Zealand. It is the second time that the sport's high performance programme has been… Read more Audio

5:11 AM.To Canada now, where Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party has narrowly won the snap-general election - but has failed in its bid to win more seats. Which is always the point when an early election is… Read more Audio

5:05 AM.Let's begin now in that land Girt by sea and filled with Covid. With Nathan Rarere is our correspondent in Australia, Pam Corkery. Audio

5:54 AM.Joining Nathan Rarere is the Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff. Audio

5:51 AM.Auckland will officially move to Alert Level 3 at midnight tonight. Cafes, restaurants and takeaways will be able to open with contactless delivery or pick-up and many hospitality businesses can't… Read more Audio

5:46 AM.More than 31-thousand people tried to book some 3-thousand MIQ spots when the pause on new bookings was lifted yesterday morning. Needless to say, the vast majority missed out. One of them was Mike… Read more Audio

5:35 AM.Nathan Rarere spoke with the deputy leader of the National Party Shane Reti about Auckland's move to Alert Level 3. Nathan asked if he was surprised to learn that a man who's tested positive for… Read more Audio

5:26 AM.This week on TradeMe a crocheted miniature Ashley Bloomfield, lecturn and all.. and Batman is back But first, producer Jeremy Parkinson asks TradeMe's Ruby Topzand about a chip.. Not of the first… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.Auckland's Flower growers and florists are rejoicing at the news that they will finally be able to trade again with the city set to move to Alert Level 3, saving thousands of flowers from going onto… Read more Audio

5:12 AM.To Japan now, where this time every year they check in with the nation's elderly. Monday was Respect for the Aged day - a national holiday, but also an annual occasion for the country to reflect on… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.To the UK first where the Government is considering offering state-backed loans for energy firms. Nathan Rarere was joined from London by our correspondent Hope Bolger. Audio

5:53 AM.Cabinet meets today to review the country's Alert Level settings. But with cases numbers going in the wrong direction for the past couple of days, what are the chances Auckland can leave it's strict… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.At 8 o'clock this morning the new MIQ 'lobby' system opens its virtual doors with 3000 spots on offer to people trying to get home to Aotearoa. There haven't been any MIQ opportunities for people to… Read more Audio

5:44 AM.In June, Rachel Jordan was photographing a wedding in Canterbury when the helicopter she was in suffered a mechanical failure and crashed to the ground. The bride and groom, the pilot and Rachel were… Read more Audio