First Up Podcast Options

5:25 AM.To Washington now - and authorities there are under high alert as another conspiracy targets the US Capitol. Earlier this week police received intelligence a violent militia group had discussed plans… Read more Audio

5:50 AM.With New Zealand's borders closed, the timing was always going to be challenging for New Zealand to host the Women's Rugby World Cup later this year. A dozen teams, with up to 50 staff and players… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.The deputy leader of the National Party Shane Reti says that people whose first language is English would struggle to understand the Government's Covid-19 advice, let alone someone for whom it's their… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.It was a double loss day for NZ cricket yesterday as both our Men's and Women's teams lost in a T20 double header in Wellington. Sophie Devine's White Ferns lost by 7 wickets to England, while Aaron… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.New research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has cut fossil fuel emissions by 2.6 billion tonnes in 2020, it's the biggest drop scientists have seen since humans started burning fossil fuels. It's… Read more Audio

5:15 AM.Every week we catch up with the brilliant reporters from the Local Democracy Programme, which is dedicated to covering parts of New Zealand that sometimes get overlooked by the big news outlets.

We… Read more Audio

5:12 AM.Over the year Selwyn Community education in Auckland runs over 600 classes, with about 900 people a week taking classes in pottery, woodworking, and Japanese among other courses on their packed… Read more Audio

5:07 AM.Kamahl Santamaria is our correspondent in Doha and he tells Nathan Rarere about watching the first tentative steps between the new US administration and Saudi Arabia. Audio

5:57 AM.As Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was putting Auckland into a snap lockdown on Saturday night, Destiny Church leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki were packing their bags. The couple left the city for… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.The latest Covid-19 lockdown is set to cost the economy closer to a quarter of a billion dollars. That's according to the latest analysis by ASB bank, which found that the impact would be bigger than… Read more Audio

5:37 AM.It has been a year since New Zealand's first case of Covid-19, with more than a quarter of a million Auckland school students now spending their ninth week learning from home in lockdown. And they're… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.It was an exciting day for Peter Beck's RocketLabs yesterday as they announced the Neutron, an 8 ton re-usable rocket bound for mega constellations. Most of the fascination in New Zealand centred… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.Each week we're having a looking at a unique New Zealand business and this week, there's a buzz about...Mead. It's known as the oldest form of alcohol but now two young entrepreneurs are changing the… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.The Silver Ferns have beaten the Australian Diamonds 49-44 in the first Test of the Constellation Cup in Christchurch. It's the first time the two sides have met in 18 months. It was goal for goal for… Read more Audio

5:12 AM.The new series of the RNZ podcast Healthy or Hoax is available this week, and the first episode features our very own Ellie Jay trying out a Kim Kardashian style waist trainer. Nathan Rarere asked… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.Our Australian correspondent Pam Corkery updates us on the sitting federal Cabinet Minster accused of rape who is likely to break his silence today. Audio

5:53 AM.We had 42 new MPs make their way to Wellington after last year's general election, and here at First Up we've been trying to get to know as many of them as possible. Today we're delighted to be joined… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.As the alert levels were announced on Saturday hundreds of nervous brides and grooms to-be were waiting to hear whether or not their nuptials could go ahead, And it's not just the couple getting… Read more Audio

5:39 AM.We've all had this problem before....what do you do when you need to rehome 30 peacocks ASAP? Well, you call HUHA - Helping You Help Animals - a no kill animal shelter that's one of New Zealand's… Read more Audio

5:35 AM.Netball's Constellation Cup between Australia and the Silver Ferns begins in Chirstchurch tonight. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, fans won't be allowed to watch the four-test series, which will mark… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.A very rare Porsche is up for sale on TradeMe, it's a 911, and it couldn't be more 1973 if it tried. In a beautiful Tangerine orange, this collectable two-seater will set you back nearly a quarter of… Read more Audio

5:17 AM.The Auckland City Mission hopes the homeless will be given priority in the queue for the Covid-19 vaccine. The mission has had to drastically change the way it operates as a result of Auckland's level… Read more Audio

5:13 AM.Fake news entered our collective vocabulary during the Trump presidency, but apparently the concept is nothing new. Reporter Ella Stewart spoke with the Head of Humanties and Creative Arts at the… Read more Audio

5:08 AM.The Duke of Edinburgh has been transferred to St Bartholomew's hospital in London where doctors will continue treat him for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace has said… Read more Audio