Midday Report Podcast Options

12:16 PM.Nationwide rental prices increased nearly 10 percent in the year to the end of June.

But in some regions it's leapt even higher - prices in Hawke's Bay have gone up 20.4 percent; Bay of Plenty's up… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.Many of the country's district health boards have longer waitlists for youth and children seeking outpatient mental health services than adults.

More than 2000 youth and children around the country… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.Thousands of young people waiting for mental health help. And red or orange - the government's deciding the summer settings. Audio

12:46 PM.The Auckland City Mission is working overtime to deliver Christmas spirit to those who need it most. It expects to provide about nine thousand parcels of food this year, and if all someone wants for… Read more Audio

12:44 PM.A special Waitangi Tribunal hearing into the Government's response to Covid-19 is coming to an end - after a week of submitters saying Māori have been failed at nearly every stage of the pandemic.

… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.Despite the proposals coming under criticism from environmental groups and the Climate Change Minister, the Agriculture Minister is describing them as a good first step. Read more Audio

12:28 PM.A challenging day ahead for England's cricketers in the Ashes. Read more Audio

12:20 PM.Tourism Holdings on the move with an Australian deal. Read more Audio

12:16 PM.After two High Court judicial reviews and a judge advising the Ministry of Health to review its decision - the details of unvaccinated Māori have been released to the Whānau Ora commissioning agency.

12:10 PM.The man who murdered police officer Matthew Hunt and tried to kill his colleague has been jailed for life - with a minimum non parole period of 27 years.

Eli Epiha shot at the two officers in a West… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.Emotions run high as constable Matthew Hunt's killer is sentenced to at least 27 years in jail.

Karen McCarthy has the news. Read more Audio

12:46 PM.The Director-General of Health is in front of the Waitangi Tribunal today - where the urgent hearing into the Government's Covid-19 response continues.

Claimants so far have described the Government… Read more Audio

12:43 PM.The government intends to ban cigarette sales as part of its Smokefree 2025 plan.

It's hoped to become law by late next year -- with a transition period to make smoked tobacco products less appealing… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.Parliament's Primary Production Select Committee has been hearing submissions on the Government's plan to ban livestock exports by sea in 2023. Audio

12:28 PM.England seek redemption on day two of the Ashes. Audio

12:20 PM.Ebos makes a billion dollar takeover move. Audio

12:17 PM.Sugar that was recalled from supermarkets in early November due to low levels of lead contamination, mistakenly made its way back onto shelves in the North Island.

People who may have bought these… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.The contact-tracing system missed most of its targets over the first two months of the Delta outbreak.

That's according to an interim report released by the Ministry of Health.

Ideally, at least 80… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.Young New Zealanders will never be able to legally buy cigarettes.

That is a cornerstone of the latest Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 action plan, launched by the government this morning.

RNZ's deputy… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.The next step towards a smokefree generation. A botch-up returned recalled sugar to supermarket shelves. Audio

12:54 PM.The race to become the next Tongan prime minister is down to two, after the caretaker prime minister pulled out of the race.

Nominations close next Tuesday, before a vote happens at a special meeting… Read more Audio

12:48 PM.A Covid-19 modeller believes cases will rise again when Auckland's border reopens. 

And he's recommending unvaccinated people get tested after they travel, as well as before as the law requires.

… Read more Audio

12:43 PM.Fake identity cards are being used by some people to claim diplomatic immunity from covid vaccination mandates.

The Education Ministry has warned schools and early childhood centres not to accept the… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

12:26 PM.The England cricketers are going into the Ashes series with a nothing to lose attitude. Audio