Midday Report Podcast Options

12:20 PM.Telecommunications companies have banded together in an attempt to stamp out a relatively uncommon, but potentially devastating type of fraud. Audio

12:17 PM.Two prisons inspected by the Ombudsman have been described as undignified and barren, and the progress made by Corrections as "glacial". Peter Boshier today published two reports following unannounced… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.The Ashburton River Bridge on State Highway One is still closed for testing to find out how bad the damage is. An inland route is now open to heavy vehicles, such as freight trucks, but earlier this… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.The bridge over the Ashburton River is closed again for stress testing to find out whether it will be safe for heavy vehicles to use. Inland detours are in place. Floodwaters have damaged properties… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.Stress testing a slumping bridge, as some drivers take the long way around! Audio

12:46 PM.The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under fire as Victoria's latest Covid cluster grows. Victoria's acting Premier is due to front media today, but a decision on when lockdown restrictions… Read more Audio

12:43 PM.The tennis star Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the French Open after refusing to speak to media after games - a decision that's divided pundits and pros. She was fined about $20,000 for skipping the… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.A medium scale adverse event has been announced for the Canterbury region, unlocking Government support for farmers and growers. Audio

12:28 PM.A three week ban for All Black Damian McKenzie who is pleading guilty to a dangerous tackle charge. Audio

12:18 PM.The government has announced a new aerospace site on Kaitōrete Spit - south-west of Banks Peninsula - in a joint project with local rūnanga. The Crown is stumping up $16 million for the land, which it… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.Officials are still assessing widespread damage throughout Canterbury after the flooding. The Canterbury Emergency Response Manager Janelle Mackie discusses the situation with Max Towle. Audio

12:12 PM.The fallout from Canterbury's torrential rainfall and flooding continues with a crucial bridge in Ashburton now closed. It appears to have slumped and it's being assessed by engineers. Waka Kotahi… Read more Audio

12:44 PM.Melbourne's Covid-19 outbreak is up to 45 community cases - five more have been confirmed today. The ABC's Stephanie Ferrier tells Max Towle health officials are still trying to work out how the virus… Read more Audio

12:42 PM.Dozens of residents are being evacuated at Pines Beach, just north of the Waimakariri River where flooding is threatening low lying homes and properties. Max Towle speaks to RNZ reporter Eleisha Foon… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.Rain is still coming and going in mid Canterbury, mid morning it stopped raining at Mt Somers but it returned again .. however flood waters are receding now on farms where paddocks are further away… Read more Audio

12:28 PM.The New Zealand driver Scott Dixon is philosophical after a muckup in pit lane cost him any chance at a second Indy 500 title. Audio

12:19 PM.Specialty dairy company A2 Milk is denying claims it may have breached stock exchange rules regarding information about its earnings downgrades over the past nine months. Audio

12:17 PM.Nearly 400 millimetres of rain has fallen in parts of the foothills of the Southern Alps. Rivers are overflowing, or are close to doing so, and there are concerns about the stability of some… Read more Audio

12:13 PM.A local state of emergency remains in place across Canterbury, where torrential rain has led to widespread flooding isolating some communities. For more on the situation, we talk to the Canterbury… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.A local state of emergency remains in place across Canterbury, where torrential rain has led to widespread flooding isolating some communities. Nearly 400 millimetres of rain has fallen in parts of… Read more Audio

12:45 PM.Dunedin is excited to be hosting the National bird show for the first time. More than 1400 chickens, ducks, canaries and other birds will be judged over the next three days. RNZ reporter Tess Brunton… Read more Audio

12:42 PM.Australia's federal court has ruled that the country's environment minister has a duty of care to protect children from the climate crisis. Eight teenagers had gone to court to court seeking an… Read more Audio