First Up Podcast Options

5:05 AM.Let's begin in the Cook Islands where our defence force will help officials distribute the Pfizer vaccine by plane and by boat to people on outer and remote islands. The vaccination programme began on… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.Let's go now to the Cook Islands where the first tourists in 15 months are waking up about 10 degrees warmer than they would here. The Cook Island bubble is officially open. 297 passengers were… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.Clinical services at Waikato, Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui hospitals are seriously affected by a cyber security incident with all phones and computers down. Waikato District Health Board… Read more Audio

5:43 AM.The first of the godwits have arrived in Alaska having completed the 12-thousand kilometre trip from New Zealand. New Zealand scientists have fitted some of the little birds with tracking devices and… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.This week in Space news China's newly landed Mars rover is likely to roll into action this weekend. Rocket Lab's electron rocket failed to reach orbit after suffering an unexpected engine shutdown… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Now to our NZ made segment where each week where we feature a unique New Zealand business. This week we've been chatting with Felicity Mckenzie owner of Fibre and Florals who makes embroidery kits… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.In the lead up to the games, we're talking to as many Kiwi Olympic athletes as possible to hear how they're preparing for one of the biggest events of their careers. 19 year old Football ferns… Read more Audio

5:08 AM.Crossing the Tasman for our weekly chat with our Brisbane based correspondent Pam Corkery. Audio

5:54 AM.If you've just woken up, the first quarantine free flight from New Zealand to the Cook islands leaves today. It has been over a year since we've been able to visit. Up early and ready to jump on that… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.Thursday's budget is being promoted as a Covid-recovery budget. Inside the lock-up for the first time will be National's Deputy Leader Dr Shane Reti. With a key interest in health, Nathan Rarere asked… Read more Audio

5:44 AM.Solo mums on the benefit say it's tough to make ends meet each week - and more money to lift benefits in this week's budget would be a huge relief. The government has promised to overhaul the welfare… Read more Audio

5:35 AM.The first quarantine free flight to the Cook Islands will leave just before 9am this morning. It will be the first time in almost 14 months that Rarotonga has welcomed tourists. Air New Zealand's… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.Samoa's Supreme Court has thrown out the Head of State's decision to call for a second election to break the political deadlock from April's election Yesterday, the court found that he had no… Read more Audio

5:22 AM.This week on TradeMe's interesting auction list...yet another hand drawn and autographed picture by our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a small plant with a HUGE price tag. But first, producer… Read more Audio

5:13 AM.To Taiwan now where the government has imposed its toughest restrictions so far, as it tries to battle a sudden rise in Covid-19 cases. The self-governing island of about 24 million people off China's… Read more Audio

5:08 AM.To the UK now with our correspondent Alex Cadier where they're slowing reopening. Audio

5:53 AM.Back to the fighting in Gaza now, where former Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett says only Israel will decide when the military operation is complete. The leader of the right-wing Yamina Party… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.After over a year, New Zealanders are finally able to travel to the Cook Islands without having to quarantine. A travel bubble has opened between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Australians heading… Read more Audio

5:44 AM.The Hutch Wilco Boat Show was on over the weekend. It's the oldest in New Zealand and after a year off in 2020, for the first time in 65 years, the show was back with a bang, People from all over the… Read more Audio

5:31 AM.The Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award was given out on Friday, the award is to recognise talented young Maori farmers and growers and to encourage Young Maori to think of farming as a career. Quinn… Read more Audio

5:22 AM.Time for a look at the fruit and veggie market, our Minister of Fruit and Veges, Glenn Forsyth is on the case and he's with us in the flesh! Read more Audio

5:14 AM.The Pacific Dance festival starts tomorrow after a year off during Covid affected 2020 It's the annual festival for modern contemporary Pacific Dance practisioners in New Zealand, and people have come… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.Let's start the week in the Middle East, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said air strikes would continue in Gaza for "as long as necessary" and that ''everything possible was being… Read more Audio

5:51 AM.A Ngapuhi leader met with Webb's Auction House last night to try and secure the return of a musket purported to belong to chief Hongi Hika, which had been due to go under the hammer on Monday. Webb's… Read more Audio