Morning Report for Thursday 2 September 2021

6:14 AM.Nearly a third of the world's tree species are at the brink of extinction, a new report warns.

The British charity Botanic Gardens Conservation International, which published the report, says more… Read more Audio

6:20 AM.The homeless outreach centre in Napier is stuck trying to find a home of its own.

It's been closed for some months and nearby businesses say the behaviour of those who still hang out nearby has… Read more Audio

6:43 AM.The government is today scrambling to find enough specialist care for Covid-19 patients in Auckland.

There are 32 Covid-19 patients in hospital, eight of whom are in intensive care, and city health… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.BBC journalist Sarah Rainsford has been told she's been banned for life from Russia, after more than 20 years reporting from Moscow.

She was stopped at the airport after returning from Belarus, where… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.The number of positive delta cases in the community is also putting pressure on MIQ spaces.

The number of cases that now need to be accommodated in MIQ hotels has increased dramatically since the… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.The government is scrambling to find enough specialist care for Covid-19 patients in Auckland, and is transferring some non-Covid patients out of the city to reduce pressure.

Some spinal cord injury… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.A new virtual lottery is on its way for those seeking to book a stay in highly sought after managed isolation, but it's on hold for now, deemed too risky during the current delta outbreak.

It will be… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.Attempts will be made today to recover a remote-controlled locomotive that fell off the Picton wharf yesterday.

The incident, during which a wagon also fell into the harbour, has disrupted… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.Tensions have boiled over this week as MPs grappled with how Parliament operates while alert level restrictions remain in place.

National Party leader Judith Collins has taken umbrage with criticisms… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.Intensive care workers are under pressure from the rising number of Covid-19 patients and the challenges in dealing with the virus.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says intensive care… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.Wednesday's 1pm briefing brought some disappointing news for New Zealanders, with the first daily rise in cases since Sunday.

Seventy-five new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the community, but… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Some of the thousands of university students who are spending lockdown in their halls of residence, are feeling frustrated that they weren't told what would happen to their accommodation payments… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.Lockdown means the return of online fitness classes and workouts in the comfort of your lounge.

During the first Covid-19 outbreak last year, we met a group of Edgecumbe seniors who embraced Zoom so… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The floodwater is receding but 70 homes at Bethells Beach in West Auckland are still cut off after this week's downpour, when a section of road was washed out.

A fire truck had a near miss with a… Read more Audio

8:16 AM.A medical expert says not enough safety precautions are being taken with those crossing the border south of Auckland.

Twenty-three thousand people with exemptions drove out of the city's alert level… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.South Aucklanders turned up in their hundreds yesterday for the country's first drive-through marae-based vaccination centre.

Papakura marae hosted the centre to help local whanau get their COVID… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.Just as thousands of school kids are being forced to rely on computers to connect with teachers, a new study links digital devices to poorer achievement.

The Education Ministry paper says… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.The Salvation Army wants the Government to impose a freeze on rent increases to ease the burden of lockdown.

It says people who were already struggling with both food costs and housing security have… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.Victoria has ditched its Covid-19 elimination strategy as the way out of lockdown, and is instead casting its eye on vaccinations.

The majority of the state's restrictions will stay in place until 70… Read more Audio

8:47 AM.The continued "pause" on MIQ vouchers has been met with anger and frustration from New Zelanders wanting to return home.

Stephanie Kirkness is in London and wants to come home to see her elderly… Read more Audio

8:53 AM.The former head of Auckland's water services says ratepayers face hikes in water charges that are wrong and unnecessary.

Water charges are forecast to double over the next decade, beginning with a 7… Read more Audio

8:57 AM.A pod of seven Orca in the Pāuatahanui Inlet since Saturday have left.   

It's a relief for conservationalists, who were concerned about their welfare.   

Whale Rescue says the silence of lockdown… Read more Audio