Morning Report for Friday 23 July 2021

6:18 AM.The high profile trial of police killer Eli Epiha is coming to a close. Epiha admits murdering Constable Matthew Hunt in Auckland in June last year but denies the attempted murder of Constable David… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.In the US, the Bootleg wildfire in Oregon has grown into a monstrous complex with its own weather system.

On the other side of the States, New York City has woken up to an intense red sunrise, the… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.Nearly 3000 requests for emergency housing were rejected by the government in 2020 - a figure the opposition National Party says represents a genuine crisis.

Social Development Minister Carmel… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.A decision will be made today about whether the entire trans-Tasman travel-bubble will be closed.

Cabinet convened a special virtual meeting yesterday to discuss the pause, and its decision about… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Fiji is suffering from ever more Covid-19 deaths, including two pregnant women.

The country has had a week in which the daily figure of cases has topped 1000. Fiji now has more than 15-thousand… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.Unions want all workers to be eligible for paid sick leave from their very first day of employment.

From tomorrow, minimum sick leave entitlements double from five to 10 days - but it won't benefit… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.Contact Energy and Meridian Energy are looking to build the world's first large-scale green hydrogen plant in Southland.

A report for the two companies says a plant is feasible once electricity… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.Christchurch's decision to cut the capacity of its new stadium is being labelled as one the city will come to regret.

The city council voted yesterday to reduce the number of seats in the arena from… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.A former student of Wesley College has spoken emotionally of physical abuse, including severe beatings, bullying and extreme violence at the boarding school near Pukekohe.

William Wilson, who is now… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Muslim, Jewish and disabled communities say government silence on hate speech laws is allowing misinformation to flourish.

The Justice Minister Kris Faafoi has gone to ground since announcing his… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.It's that delicious time of year again as connoisseurs search for New Zealand's best pie.

Dozens of judges from across the country ogled, touched, smelt and, of course, tasted more than 4000 pies for… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.During nearly forty years as police officer in South Auckland, Alf Filipaina never once felt the force needed to be armed.

Now he's changed his mind.

Retired from the police and serving as a Manukau… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.An organiser of last week's farming protest says they are still unsure if the government is listening to their demands - and warns more action will be taken.

More than 50 protests were held around… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.A deal to shut down and clean up at the Levin landfill near the tiny beach settlement of Hokio is now floundering.

It is one of the country's most controversial rubbish dumps, contaminating a stream… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.New Zealand won't field men's and women's teams at this year's Rugby League World Cups in England - citing Covid-19 safety concerns.

The New Zealand Rugby League last night joined Australia in… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Their goal is 100 percent, but aged care and retirement village operator Radius Care is nevertheless celebrating vaccination numbers just over half of that.

Radius Care has 22 locations around New… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.Consumer New Zealand has a message for those who feel they're getting dud service from their insurance company -... complain.

A damning Financial Markets Authority report condemned the industry's… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.A protest is being held this morning outside Auckland Council calling for the revoking of a resource consent for a marina on Waiheke Island.

Protesters have been at Putiki bay for more than three… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Read more Audio

8:56 AM.Researchers have concluded the sparrow-sized South Island Robin, or Toutouwai, is among a handful of birds endemic to New Zealand that will thrive if we one day become predator-free.

They know this… Read more Audio