First Up Podcast Options

5:35 AM.Yesterday, the government released a glowing analysis of the state of New Zealand's economy, with strong tax revenue, lower expenses, and less debt than forecast. But that was before the Delta… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.The Commonwealth Games look set to have a major overhaul with the number of compulsory sports being cut from 16 to just 2. Under a radical new 'strategic roadmap' designed to preserve the event's… Read more Audio

5:14 AM.Parents waiting more than five years for news on a suspended residence programme say they feel invisible after being left out of a major immigration announcement. The Government launched a widespread… Read more Audio

5:05 AM.We begin this morning in Australia and Nathan Rarere spoke with our correspondent Pam Corkery. Audio

5:54 AM.The Government has mandated the Covid-19 vaccine for high-risk workers in the health and disability sector, and school and early learning staff and support people. People working in education have… Read more Audio

5:51 AM.With Auckland school children still unsure when they'll be able to return to class, for many it's not only their education that is suffering ... Children's charity KidsCan has seen a huge surge in… Read more Audio

5:42 AM.The Deputy leader of the National Party Dr Shane Reti will be out vaccinating members of his consituency in Northland this weekend and across super saturday, Nathan Rarere asked him what it has been… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.Have you ever watched the 1pm press conference and thought pah! that's not what I would do...well now is your chance to see what would happen if you were in power. Peter Wills is a science teacher in… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.If a full size helicopter is out of your price range - and a little impractical in the suburbs, perhaps a 1:7 scale flying replica sounds a bit more like you. Well, a radio controlled Bell 407 is one… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.Let's begin in the UK where Boris Johnson is heading overseas for a holiday, and while that is something everyone should enjoy, especially with a new wife and baby - the Prime Minister's holiday is… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.There were 60 new community cases of Covid-19 yesterday - the most in nearly six weeks - while Northland and the Bay of Plenty continued to deal with positive cases visiting their regions. There have… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.Allied Health Practitioners say their patients are unnecessarily suffering because they are unable to deliver face-to-face care. They're calling for level 3 restrictions to change so that more… Read more Audio

5:36 AM.Auckland anglers, divers and boat owners were able to hit the water over the weekend for the first time in seven weeks. Joining Nathan Rarere to let us know how everyone behaved is Coastguard NZ's… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.It's that time of week again - we're joined by our Minister of Fruit and Veg and friend to all the animals, Glenn Forsyth. Audio

5:15 AM.As travel is difficult for us at the moment, a piece of European culture is travelling to New Zealand in the New Year. Michelangelo - A Different View shows off the frescos of the Sistine Chapel and… Read more Audio

5:07 AM.After 107 days in lockdown, New South Wales will re-open for business today. From today in New South Wales ... Retail stores can open to vaccinated customers .. the unvaccinated will only be able to… Read more Audio

5:54 AM.The Government has laid down the vaccination gauntlet, urging people to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible so that the country can have more than a Christmas picnic. The Ministry of Health… Read more Audio

5:49 AM.The Retirement Commissioner says seniors stuck overseas due to the lack of MIQ spots should get an added six months before their pensions are stopped and they're fined. It comes as some older New… Read more Audio

5:46 AM.Have you always wanted to be a postie? New Zealand Post are dealing with record numbers of parcels with a 50 per cent increase in mail in Auckland, and now they are starting a huge recruitment drive… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.A furious Tyson Fury has vowed to knock out Deontay Wilder when the pair fight for the third time in Las Vegas this weekend with Fury's WBC heavyweight title on the line. Wilder suffered a technical… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Joining Nathan Rarere from the Friday markets is our Minister of Fruit and Veges Glenn Forsyth - Fruit of the Week - NZ navel oranges. Audio

5:17 AM.The small predominantly Maori town of Wairoa in Northern Hawke's Bay has hit a roadblock with Covid vaccinations. Although it led the charge in Hawke's Bay and vaccinated quickly over lockdown… Read more Audio

5:14 AM.The King Country rugby team has received a shot in the arm Synonomous with the late Sir Colin Meads, the team will add another All Black captain to their honour roll when Sam Cane turns out for the… Read more Audio

5:11 AM.Ahipara mana whenua are occupying a foreshore land block after a historically significant Pohutukawa tree was partially hacked down. The Te Rarawa group have set up camp on their ancestral land to… Read more Audio