Morning Report for Thursday 19 November 2020

8:56 AM.It's almost Christmas in New York but this year the famous Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree isn't bringing much festive cheer.

As the giant Norway spruce was unwrapped after its two day journey… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.The chief executive of Summerfruit New Zealand warns there is no quick fix for growers and producers who are under pressure from a powerful supermarket industry.

A government investigation is… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.It's the top of the islands, both north and south, leading the way in the latest figures that measure New Zealand's regional economic activity.

While metro regions are struggling to shake off the… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.South Australia has introduced a strict lockdown for the next six days, in a bid to quickly crush a cluster of 22 known infections in Adelaide.

Health authorities are concerned that the city might be… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.ACT's plan to roll back gun legislation is facing the cold, hard facts of political reality.

Pro-gun policies helped ACT achieve an election surge - but Labour's new police minister is firm that no… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Read more Audio

8:23 AM.Iwi opponents to ironsand mining say the Crown is once again trying to restrict its rights over the foreshore and seabed.

Trans-Tasman Resources has been in the Supreme Court this week in a bid to… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.Today marks ten years since a massive explosion ripped through the Pike River mine.

Twenty-nine men from the West Coast and around the world remain entombed there. In the wake of the tragedy families… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has not missed his opportunity to take a dig at their doubters after they clinched rugby league's State of Origin series last night. Read more Audio

7:51 AM.On Wednesday we heard from Tourism minister Stuart Nash, who said the New Zealand government would actively pursue high-value tourists while at the same time dissuading freedom campers and backpackers… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.RNZ's text line lit up yesterday after new Tourism Minister Stuart Nash told Morning Report that he wanted to ban tourists hiring vans without toilets.

The minister also wants greater focus placed on… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.New Zealand's regional economies have bounced back from Covid-19 better than expected Figures to September produced by Infometrics show an economic activity bounce in regions such as Tasman and… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.The government has ratcheted up its Covid-19 defences another notch, announcing a range of new testing measures for border workers.

The rules - which apply at all international airports and ports -… Read more Audio

7:30 AM.The Education Ministry is advising schools not to practise violent offender drills with their students because they might cause fear and anxiety.

It also told them that teachers cannot stop parents… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.Thursday marks ten years since a massive explosion ripped through the Pike River mine. 29 men from the West Coast and around the world remain entombed there.

A Royal Commission identified a total… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.Aucklanders are waking up to new Covid-19 restrictions this morning, with mask wearing now mandatory on all public transport. 

So how compliant are the passengers of Tāmaki Makaurau this morning?

… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.New Zealand has a new agreement to purchase a vaccine for Covid-19, provided it works.

The government has signed up to buy enough doses of a Janssen Pharmaceuticals vaccine for the entire population… Read more Audio

7:11 AM.The government has reached an in-principle agreement to purchase doses of a Covid-19 vaccine for the entire population.

If all goes to plan, the first doses - up to 2 million - would be delivered in… Read more Audio

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

6:42 AM.Late plans to widen and extend the motorway where Transmission Gully merges with State Highway 1 have been labelled a band-aid solution.

The Transport Agency will shortly call for tenders to build an… Read more Audio

6:41 AM.Aucklanders catching public transport this morning will need to have their masks handy, as the new Covid-19 rules are now in force.

Children and young people under the age of 12 are exempt, as are… Read more Audio

6:38 AM.The government has reached an in-principle agreement to purchase doses of a Covid-19 vaccine for the entire population.

The agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica is subject to the vaccine successfully… 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

6:18 AM.The number of young people seeking mental health services in Kāpiti has tripled since lockdown.

That's according to Kāpiti Youth Support which helps close to 80 percent of people in the area aged… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.Christchurch principals are doubtful about official advice that they should not practice lockdown drills with their pupils.

The Education Ministry says drills for violent situations could cause fear… Read more Audio