First Up Podcast Options

5:50 AM.Nathan Rarere spoke with former National Party press secretary and political commentator Ben Thomas. Audio

5:43 AM.The deputy leader of the National Party says New Zealand has been cast aside by Australia, which is now courting Singapore to create a travel bubble while booting out Kiwis who its government has… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.Team New Zealand are now two races up on Luna Rossa after winning both of yesterday's races on the Waitemata Harbour to take a 5 - 3 lead. The first syndicate to win 7 races will take the world's… Read more Audio

5:27 AM.Elon Musk's latest SpaceX Falcon rocket blasted off yesterday carrying 60 more starlink satellites into orbit. Starlink is the network of small communication satellites that have been making that… Read more Audio

5:18 AM.After Team New Zealand's incredible couple of wins, it's the perfect time to be selling America's Cup memorabilia, with plenty on auction site TradeMe. One item featured this week is a limited edition… Read more Audio

5:11 AM.Waitemata Harbour, Auckland waterfront eateries, hotels and public transport are teeming with fans in their tens of thousands for the last stages of the America's Cup. Boaties, hospitality operators… Read more Audio

5:05 AM.Let's go stright to the UK, where the biggest story continues to be the murder of Sarah Everard and the fallout from the Metropolitan police breaking up the vigil this past weekend. From London… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.Joining Nathan Rarere is Anjum Rahman from the Islamic Women's Council of New Zealand which has been tirelessly campaigning to ensure the safety of the country's Muslim community and to put an end… Read more Audio

5:46 AM.On this day two years ago a heavily armed white supremicist opened fire on peaceful worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, murdering 51 people and injuring 40. The attack on the Al Noor Mosque… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.No racing in the America's Cup yesterday - the lack of wind preventing both of the scheduled races from taking place - but Saturday's honours were shared with Luna Rossa winning race one and Team New… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.To the produce section of the supermarket now, Nathan Rarere was joined by our Minister of Fruit and Vegetable, Glenn Forsyth. Audio

5:16 AM.British citizens who were holidaying in New Zealand when the pandemic hit are desperate to remain here until the rampant Covid outbreak in the UK is brought under control - or they get a vaccine… Read more Audio

5:13 AM.To Hawke's Bay now where orchardists are desperate to find more apple pickers. The season is in full swing But with the borders closed, fewer seasonal workers can get here. MSD schemes like "5k to… Read more Audio

5:05 AM.Police in the United Kingdom clashed with mourners on Saturday at a "reclaim the streets" vigil for Sarah Everard, who was abducted and murdered as she walked home from a friend's flat on March the… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.Nathan Rarere spoke with Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck. Audio

5:49 AM.Aucklanders will find out later today whether they are moving to Alert Level 1, having spent three days at level 3 and another 23 days at level 2. Many businesses, though, feel aggrieved that they… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Nathan caught up for a look at the weekend's great buys at the fresh produce markets with our Minister of Fruit and Vege Glenn Forsyth - and there's a tomato glut on with several supermarkets round… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.There's growing frustration over the government's work to match it's promise to tackle the country's suicide rates. A Mental Health Commission report describes frustration over the pace of change -… Read more Audio

5:12 AM.A short drive out south east of Auckland's CBD and you'll arrive at Clevedon Animal farm The farm is home to horses, cows, alpaca, chicken, ducks and is always open for visitors. Owner Lynn Cullecutt… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.Let's begin Friday in Europe, where it's Thursday.. Nathan Rarere spoke with former RNZ reporter Anita Purcell-Sjölund who is our correspondent in Sweden. Audio

5:54 AM.One person who'll be able to get the vaccine a little earlier than most is the Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff, who just sneaks into category 2b as someone who lives in south Auckland and is aged over 65… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.And the Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says the government is flexible about who gets to stand at the front of the queue for the Covid-19 vaccine, after concerns were raised about people like… Read more Audio

5:42 AM.The government laid out its plan for rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, outlining which New Zealanders will be next in line to get the jab. Frontline health workers, people in residential… Read more Audio