Morning Report for Thursday 25 June 2020

8:57 AM.The economy is fragile, but it could be worse: That's from the Reserve Bank, which left the official cash rate and zero point two five yesterday.

Governor Adrian Orr is leaving the door open to lower… Read more Audio

8:57 AM.An old bit of railway lying next to the tracks damaged some of Wellington's commuter trains meaning last night and this morning.

Buses are replacing trains on the Hutt Valley and Melling lines and… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.At the tail end of Alert Level 4, those who lost work were more likely to feel depressed and alone, and people in essential roles were more stressed and angry.

Remarkably, family relationships were… Read more Audio

8:47 AM.Despite a spike in the number of jobseekers, Whanganui is confident domestic tourism will help it ride out the worst of the economic downturn caused by Covid-19.

At the end of last month there were… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Unemployment in the top of the south has doubled to more than 4000 since late March, but it's less "the now" than it is the future that business and local government leaders are worried about.

The… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.Commercial fishers say new rules to protect some of the rarest dolphins in the world are a kick in the guts for a sector already struggling due to Covid-19.

The government is beefing up fishing… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.Families who were on the cusp of gaining residence when coronavirus struck are in despair they may lose their immigration dream at the final hurdle.

Skilled workers have lost jobs or been on reduced… Read more Audio

8:24 AM."My body my choice" but when it comes to giving birth, what if a woman's choice is to have a caesarean section?

Caesareans that don't have a medical reason are not funded by the health system, the… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.Wellington apartment owners are pleading for an urgent review of the ruin they say is facing them under earthquake strengthening rules.

They're also calling on the government to exclude home owners… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.Mayor of Hamilton Paula Southgate says she's received more abuse in recent days than in 20 years of politics.

Vitriolic emails have even referred to lynching - all because of the removal of the… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.There's bad news for schools struggling with the teacher shortage - the number of new teacher trainees has been falling, despite last year's pay settlements.

Education Ministry figures show new… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.The Carillon bell tower at the National War Memorial is stronger on top and weaker at the bottom - exactly what engineers have warned could lead to a total collapse.

That's despite six years of… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.In the US, interstate travellers arriving in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut from states with spiking infections rates will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

The travel advisory currently… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.Māori academics are questioning how a government funded research body selected five projects under its programme to promote Māori knowledge, yet none of them are led by tangata whenua. 

Science for… Read more Audio

7:31 AM.Prisoners serving a sentence of less than three years will now be able to vote in September's general election.

The prisoner voting bill passed its third and final reading last night, but after a… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.Wellington's train commuters are being asked to work from home today if possible.

A piece of rail lying next to the tracks damaged a number of commuter trains yesterday causing chaos when all… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.Heavy rain, wind and thunderstorms have been lashing the upper North Island over night.

Sandra Goudie, mayor of Thames Coromandel, speaks to Corin Dann. Read more Audio

7:21 AM.The Government is refusing to say how many foreigners have come into New Zealand under the essential worker exemption.

Several hundred people have given the okay to enter the country, but the… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.There's been a dramatic change to the criteria for having a covid-19 test  - and it means a lot fewer people will get one.

The Ministry of Health will no longer require people with any cold or cough… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.There's been a dramatic change to the criteria for having a Covid-19 test - and it means a lot fewer people will get one.

The Ministry of Health will no longer require people with any cold or cough… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Read more Audio

6:49 AM.Te Ohu Kaimoana says it’s concerned for the wellbeing of fishers affected by the Government’s Hector’s and Māui Dolphin decision.

Ministers yesterday announced restrictions on methods of fishing in… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.Immigrants who were tantalisingly close to gaining residence when coronavirus struck fear their dreams might be faltering at the final hurdle.

Among the 32,000 skilled migrants waiting for up to 18… Read more Audio

6:43 AM.Those who work at the country's borders are in line to get tested for Covid-19 tests a lot more often, but they are yet to hear details of how the government's new regime will affect them.

The… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.There's been a dramatic change to the criteria for having a Covid-19 test - and it means a lot fewer people will get one.

The Ministry of Health will no longer require people with any cold or cough… Read more Audio

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

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

6:08 AM.St John Ambulance is cutting 100 jobs in a bid to save $30 million.

The service, which gets about 70 percent of its funding for the Government, says it was facing a large deficit for the coming year… Read more Audio