Midday Report for Tuesday 18 May 2021

12:55 PM.In a world first - a team of Queensland researchers and US scientists have developed a Covid-19 anti-viral therapy that has killed off the viral load, in infected mice, by 99.9 percent. It's been… Read more Audio

12:46 PM.Justice campaigners are hopeful the Ombudsman's investigation into the Department of Corrections will help figure out why so little has changed after countless critical reports and recommendations… Read more Audio

12:44 PM.Farmers and food growers are worried immigration changes will leave them in the lurch when it comes to harvesting, picking and milking. The government says the skilled migrant category will be reset… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.The dairy industry says if the number of migrant workers allowed into the country is slashed - there would need to be a significant transition period. Audio

12:20 PM.A local lithium miner gets new financial backing. Audio

12:17 PM.People are gathering to protest the Napier City Council's decision not to implement Māori wards in time for next year's local elections. Councils have until the 21st of May to decide whether they will… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.The first flight from New Zealand to the Cook Islands should be landing any time now - marking the beginning of a long-awaited two-way travel bubble. There'll soon be daily flights - but that's well… Read more Audio

12:10 PM.The Auckland Council wants to spend an extra $5.6 billion on transport, housing and climate action, as part of what it's calling a 10 year recovery budget. The council has around a $500 million fiscal… Read more Audio