Morning Report for Wednesday 21 July 2021

6:13 AM.While the South Island's West Coast and Marlborough copped the worse of torrential rain and floods over the weekend, there was hint of deja vu in the Ashburton district.

The Ashburton River surged in… Read more Audio

6:39 AM.A former trade negotiator is reassuring exporters they're unlikely to face any significant backlash from China which is denying accusations of state-sponsored cyber attacks.

The Government has joined… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.A lawyer representing some Whakaari eruption victims is furious the tourism companies being prosecuted over the tragedy have received hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money.

The 2019… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.A Westport evacuee who's trying to find somewhere else to live wants empty houses up for sale in the town to be turned into emergency accommodation.

Karen Palermo's flat has had water and silt… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.Being held amid a global pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics will be one of the most unique Games in history.

But it's not the only reason the event will be a new experience for many of the New Zealand… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.Jeff Bezos, the world's richest man, has finally achieved his childhood dream of launching himself into space.

The New Shepherd launched at about 1.10am NZ time, returning to earth a total of ten… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.Whakaari / White Island tourism companies charged with breaching health and safety laws have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funding since the tragedy.

Most of the money has come… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.Despite costing the country $293 million, America's Cup organisers are still claiming the event was still a resounding success.

An evaluation report released by the Crown and Auckland Council shows… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.National party leader Judith Collins says the Police Commissioner was wrong to can Armed Response Teams, after two shootings incidents involving police in recent weeks.

Commissioner Andrew Coster… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.Temporary accommodation services in Westport are to be activated for those with homes damaged by severe weather, including extensive flooding.

Flooding beginning last Friday afternoon has left many… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.Many shocked and tired Westport residents are getting mentally prepared for the task ahead of drying out, repairing or replacing their waterlogged homes.

Dozens of houses have been red-listed as… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.After a year-long postponement, and all the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics finally get underway today.

With the football tournaments kicking off two days prior to… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.The Covid-19 vaccination campaign is working its way up one of the most remote reaches of the North Island.

The settlements of the Whanganui River Valley were sealed off by local iwi during lockdown… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.Exporters are hoping China and New Zealand can keep the politics out of their long-standing trade relationship.

The Government has joined a group of United States allies who have pointed the finger… Read more Audio

8:16 AM.In England, residents have found themselves the centre of an experimental "return to normal", after lockdown restrictions were lifted on Monday.

The move is being called a huge gamble, with most… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.Justice advocate and former National Party Minister Chester Borrows says the ACT Party's proposed policy on gangs doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Borrows, a former police officer who was Courts… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.Searches by boat and air have failed to find a pod of orca spotted off Wellington's southern coast.

But conservationists still hope they'll be able to find the pod that abondoned the baby orca Toa at… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.New Zealand produces enough food to feed 40 million people - but many living here still go hungry every day.

That's spurring calls for a national food strategy to "feed the five million first" before… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Is the country's supply of petrol, diesel and jet gas becoming more vulnerable to disruption?

The Government has had advice that goes both ways, just days ahead of a crucial decision on stopping all… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.Almost half of prisoners are being let off internal disciplinary charges while violence against officers is on the rise.

The union representing prison officers says the last few years have brought in… Read more Audio

8:54 AM.A Samoan man who went into state care speaking his native language but came out not knowing a word says it robbed him of his cultural identity.

The man, who is now 48, went into care at 13-years-old… Read more Audio

8:58 AM.A club rugby game in North Otago turned into the ultimate war of attrition, and possibly set a record for our national sport.

The Presidents grade final between Union and Kurow at the tiny settlement… Read more Audio