Morning Report for Wednesday 19 May 2021

6:08 AM.KiwiBank's chief economist Jarrod Kerr says he would love to see both house prices and rents fall.

The Finance Minister Grant Robertson yesterday signaled that the brunt of the Government's housing… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.A cyber security expert warns the cyber attack on Waikato District Health Board could lead to patients information being shared on a website.

The attack appears to be a type of ransomware called… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.An image of a prison inmate in a high-vis jumper probably isn't what you think of when you hear the word 'conservation.'

But behind the gates of Tongariro Prison in Turangi that is precisely what you… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.There were scenes of jubilation in Hastings yesterday after the council decided to add Māori wards for next year's local body elections.

But just a few hours earlier in twin city Napier it was a… Read more Audio

6:51 AM.A recently retired supermarket worker with more than 40 years experience, believes adding pharmacies to stores has increased the danger faced by staff.

Anne Coulthard has worked in supermarkets in… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.Patients who've had their surgery cancelled because of the cyber attack at the Waikato District Health Board are anxiously waiting to find out how big the disruption will be.

The ransomware attack… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Waikato DHB is still grappling with the effects of a cyber attack on its IT systems.

The ransomware attack struck on Tuesday morning and saw hundreds of outpatient proceedures cancelled and locals… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.The government is dampening down expectations of any major new housing measures in tomorrow's Budget, saying it announced most of its plan to cool prices in March. 

The Finance Minister has promised… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.A woman who suffered anxiety and depression after a former partner shared a sex video on one of the world's largest pornography sites, has been denied help from ACC because the abuse isn't recognised… Read more Audio

7:29 AM.A sharp plunge in her rating as preferred Prime Minister has heightened uncertainty about the political fortunes of National Party leader Judith Collins.

It comes after a sustained attack on the… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.A New Zealand nurse who cared for the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he had Covid-19 has resigned because of a lack of respect for National Health Service workers.

Jenny McGee has told a… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.Businesses in Rarotonga are hoping the first plane load of tourists to fly into the Cook Islands in over a year are ready to spend up large.

Locals have been campaigning hard for the two-way travel… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.Surgery and several hundred outpatient appointments have been cancelled because of the cyber attack at Waikato DHB.

Dr Deborah Powell, national secretary of the Resident Doctors Association and the… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Irish health systems were the target of two cyberattacks last week, thought to be carried out by a gang using the same ransomware that has taken down the Waikato DHB.

Donal O'Donovan is the Business… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.Despite growing calls for Hamas and Israel to agree a ceasefire, the rocket attacks and air strikes show no sign of abating.

In fact violence has increased today on the ninth day of conflict.

So far… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.Climate activists have an urgent wish-list for tomorrow's Budget but fear they'll only be disappointed.

They say while the need for action on climate change has never been greater, they doubt the… Read more Audio

8:12 AM.Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins is still optimistic all New Zealand adults will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of the year, despite a major report suggesting otherwise.

A review by the… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.Calls are being made for tougher penalties on so called coward punches, after a mixed martial artist was left critically injured following an assault on Symonds Street in central Auckland.

… Read more Audio

8:24 AM.All of the Waikato DHB's internal IT systems including computers, phones and pagers have now been unoperational for more than 24 hours, leaving some patients awaiting surgery unsure when they'll get… Read more Audio

8:34 AM.New environmental data at the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter shows sea level rise is destroying bores drilled in the beach within metres of where 100,000 tonnes of hazardous waste is stored.

Coastal… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.On the ninth day of conflict between Israeli military and Hamas forces, Palestinians have called a general strike against the escalating violence.

Firefighters are working to subdue a large blaze in… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.The government has pumped $200 million into Māori job initiatives over the last year - and lifting Māori incomes and skills is one of the priorities for Thursday's Budget.

Iwi and Māori business' say… Read more Audio

8:47 AM.Waka ama paddlers training near Gisborne suspect dirty river water is giving them rashes, infections and sores.

One possible explanation is the untreated sewage that flows into the river during heavy… Read more Audio

8:54 AM.A group of inmates at a Central North Island prison have become eco-warriors.

Paihere, as they're known inside Tongariro Prison, are growing tens of thousands of native trees in an on-site nursery.

… Read more Audio

8:54 AM.To Germany now, where the fifth and final suspect in Dresden's priceless diamond heist has been brought to justice.

It's been described as the biggest art heist in modern history, in 2019 thieves… Read more Audio