Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 18 February 2026

New cancer meds are in the offing as Pharmac ups access to leukemia drugs: Minister David Seymour on the impact of this and how belives it refects a cultural shift: patitent advocates going from fighting Pharmac to being consulted over new medicines;New Zealand's infrastructure woes: should more tolling and congestion charges be part of the mix - Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and later the Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick offer their solutions.