Midday Report

New Zealand needs to make smarter decisions about how to meet current and future infrastructure needs, according to a report from ASB Bank.

Gyles Beckford has the business news. Read more Audio

Opponents say the government is completely out of line with plans to force councils to hold referenda on their Māori wards.

The coalition has announced that councils which brought in Māori wards… Read more Audio

The future of the Ministry of Health's Suicide Prevention Office is uncertain after the Mental Health Minister admitted plans for its closure were never discussed with him.

Disestablishing the Office… Read more Audio

Nelson is to be the first region in the country to test out the kerbside collection of soft plastics due to a trial by the Packaging Forum.

The mayor Nick Smith says the current recycling scheme… Read more Audio

Mass voluntary redundancies are on the cards as the Ministry for Social Development looks to cut costs as part of the Coalition Government's drive to save money.

Meanwhile the scale of potential job… Read more Audio

A leading sheep farming is giving up selling through wool auctions.

Monique Steele has the rural news. Read more Audio

The White Ferns battle to save a one day cricket series against England.

Stephen Hewson has sports. Read more Audio

The local life insurance market is seeing its biggest deal in years with Australian financial services firm Suncorp selling its New Zealand business Asteron to global insurance group Resolution Life.

The United States is calling on Israel to conduct a swift investigation into the attack on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy which killed seven aid workers.

The head of the organisation has said the… Read more Audio

The Government is moving to make it easier to use building products from overseas, saying it will remove red tape and lower the cost of building.

It's announced it will recognise product standards… Read more Audio

The hunt is on in Rotorua for a statue of a beloved stray dog which has been cut from its base and stolen.

The dog named Harawene roamed an area beside Te Ngae Road which is part of State Highway… Read more Audio

Aotearoa's most capped All Black of all time is calling it quits. Sam Whitelock who debuted for the All Blacks in 2010 and went on to play 153 tests, has announced he's retiring from all professional… Read more Audio