Midday Report Essentials for Thursday 5 February 2026

Powhiri, protest, and politics. Leaders and dignitaries were welcomed onto the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi as we went to air. We crossed live to our acting political editor for the latest; The CEO of Wellington Water joined us to explain what was being done to limit an environmental disaster in Wellington after the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant shut down and spewed tens of millions of litres of raw sewage into the South Coast; On a brighter note, we crossed to the Laneway Festival in Auckland, where our music whizz Tony Stamp took a vibe check and walked us through the lineup; And, "Democracy dies in darkness" was the catch cry of The Washington Post. So why was its billionaire owner turning off the lights for hundreds of staff at the famous newspaper? Our correspondent Laura Taglianetti had the latest.