Midday Report for Friday 13 August 2021

12:46 PM.The government's plan to gradually reopen our border has been given a tentative thumbs up by rest home operators. The New Zealand Aged Care Association says any prospect of getting more nurses and… Read more Audio

12:44 PM.Calls for a stand-alone agency to manage the country's new approach to Covid-19 have been dismissed by the Minister, Chris Hipkins. Yesterday the Government set out a plan to ease open the borders… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.The fall out over a software programme used to audit land use consents could see Hawkes Bay farmers going to court. Audio

12:28 PM.A star winger's return boosts the Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup hopes. Audio

12:20 PM.An analyst says Air New Zealand's finance delay makes sense. Audio

12:17 PM.A man who murdered his partner and left her body in a burning car in south Auckland has been jailed for at least 12 years. Palmer Edward Marsters has been sentenced to life imprisonment, after earlier… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.Māni Dunlop also spoke to the Film Commission's chief executive, David Strong who says while Amazon's departure is a huge hit for the industry, there are other projects in the pipeline. Audio

12:11 PM.Amazon Studios is taking production of the Lord of the Rings television series offshore, after just one season. The company has spent more than $NZ 650 million so far, and was going to be eligible for… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.Middle Earth is moving abroad - We speak to the Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash, and the Film Commission. And the government dismisses calls for a stand-alone Covid agency. Audio