Morning Report for Tuesday 21 January 2020

6:06 AM.Roger Federer showed no sign of rust despite a lack of match practice ahead of the Australian Tennis Open as he launched his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title with a straight sets win… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.The National Party suspects dirty politics are at play after three laptops were stolen from its Auckland headquarters, but a business next door was victim to the same crime a couple of months ago.

… Read more Audio

6:17 AM.A team of New Zealand Salvation Army members have been helping in a New South Wales community devastated by the fires, where they've been caught up in the thick of it.

Wellingtonian Gerry Walker is… Read more Audio

6:20 AM.A brief update from the business sector. Read more Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Read more Audio

6:45 AM.Trade Minister David Parker heads to London today to meet his British counter-part in pursuit of an ambitious agreement as early as possible following the UK's exit from the European Union.

Mr Parker… Read more Audio

6:47 AM.There's been a surge of people volunteering to become firefighters in Australia since the bushfire season started last year.

In the space of a bit over two months, more than 25,000 people volunteered… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Read more Audio

7:06 AM.Roger Federer proved he doesn't need to play in warm-up tournaments to find form as he launched his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title by hammering Steve Johnson in straight sets in the… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Water cuts are looming in pockets of the country that are drying up fast.

Councils in some areas are assembling dry-weather crews, farmers are now giving extra feed to stock, and Northland kiwi birds… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.New Zealand firefighters returning from the front lines of Australia's bush fires say there are lessons to be learned back home.

It comes amid growing fears, including from the government, that… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.The National Party suspects dirty politics are at play after laptops were stolen from its headquarters, but a business next door was victim to the exact same crime a couple of months ago.

An employee… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.Construction workers from China caught in an employment scam say they were promised fair treatment by the Immigration Minister, but instead have been asked to leave the country.

The workers had their… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.Māori leaders are seeking an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over the government's handling of the Māori Party's flagship Whānau Ora policy.

The government announced the major funding increase for… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.National is calling for the Auditor-General to investigate Shane Jones's involvement in the bid by NZ Future Forest Products Limited for $15 million of PGF funding.

They also say Shane Jones has… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.Fire and Emergency New Zealand has apologised after a false tsunami warning in the Bay of Plenty on Sunday night, blaming a legacy siren and IT system which it has now patched.

Sirens began wailing… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.Cyclone Tino is set to make waves on the East Coast of the country this week - and surf lifesavers will be keeping a close-eye on the conditions.

Big swells and rips are forecast for beaches on the… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.Third seed Roger Federer is keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite his strong start at the Australian Tennis Open. Read more Audio

8:10 AM.A landmark ruling from the United Nations human rights committee says it is unlawful for governments to return people to countries where their lives might be threatened by the climate crisis.

The UN… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.Record low rainfall in Northland has the region on the brink of drought but it's not the only region facing a particularly dry summer.

Water restrictions have now been imposed in parts of Waikato… Read more Audio

8:24 AM.US Pro-gun campaigners are gathering in Richmond for a rally that the Virginia authorities fear could turn violent. .

State governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency ahead of the protest… Read more Audio

8:30 AM.Senior National MPs Paula Bennett and Paul Goldsmith have suggested the thefts could be politically motivated.

So if someone were wanting to steal party secrets, how likely is it that they could… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.The Mayor of Whanganui says he accepts responsibility for delays in the construction of the Upokongaro Cycle Bridge on State Highway 4 - a crucial link in the Mountain to Sea and National cycleways.

… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.A young Auckland University student has realised a dream - creating an "earth sandwich".

Etienne Naude and a counterpart in Spain have placed slices of bread on precise points, either side of the… Read more Audio