Midday Report for Wednesday 2 September 2020

12:46 PM.The sixth annual Kōanga Festival, which showcases works from new Māori playwrights, begins online today, after Level 2 meant it couldn't be held in Tāmaki Makaurau theatres as normal.

Its director… Read more Audio

12:43 PM.Hamilton businesses say the cancellation of next year's world rugby Sevens tournament has come as a blow.

Both the New Zealand and Australian legs of the series have been cancelled due to the… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.Federated Farmers says its members could be in for a $4.4-billion bill because of mapping errors by the Ministry for the Environment.

Maja Burry has the rural news. Read more Audio

12:27 PM.The Black Caps cricket coach Gary Stead has been re-appointed for a further three years.

Stephen Hewson has sport. Read more Audio

12:20 PM.The prolonged and intermittent closures of hotels, restaurants and restrictions on gatherings has knocked the earnings of the seafood company Sanford.

Gyles Beckford has business. Read more Audio

12:16 PM.Health officials have yet to put their mind to when Auckland and the rest of the country should return to Alert Level 1.

The Director General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, made the admission during a… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.RNZ's reporter, Meriana Johnsen, was at the Supreme Court hearing when the arguments for and against the appeal proceeding were made.

She spoke to Māni Dunlop about the case. Read more Audio

12:11 PM.The Supreme Court has decided the appeal of child sex offender Peter Ellis should continue, despite his death.

Mr Ellis died in September last year, just two months after his application to appeal… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.Peter Ellis's Supreme Court appeal will go ahead. Health officials front up at parliament on alert levels, borders, and testing.

Nicola Wright has the news. Read more Audio