Morning Report for Thursday 14 October 2021

8:54 AM.If you're in Auckland and have always dreamed of taking a business class seat on Air New Zealand, now's your chance.

The airline is converting one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets into a vaccine… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.Covid-positive people who are low-risk may be able to isolate at home from as soon as next week.

This latest announcement by Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has rung alarm bells for some… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Legal aid is supposed to provide access to justice for those without enough money, but its strict rules about income levels are shutting out many.

Some single parents earning minimum wage and… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.Almost three months after floodwaters ravaged the coastal town of Westport, 140 people remain in temporary accommodation, living in cabins, motels or with friends and family.

Around 450 homes remain… Read more Audio

8:26 AM.The Climate Change Minister admits that progress on slashing the country's atmospheric emissions is slower than he'd like.

The Government has issued a consultation document containing ideas for… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.A chorus of rage and disappointment has met the release of a government document on how to slash climate emissions.

Described as a consultation document, the paper includes ideas from Ministers and… Read more Audio

8:14 AM.The Coroner's report says the accident that killed 11-year-old Hannah Francis was largely the driver's fault, but there were other factors too. She recommends regulators take another look at making… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.After eight weeks in lockdown, Auckland's foodbanks are under serious strain as more whanau struggle to make ends meet.

Organisations are running low on food and other resources to pass on to the… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.Science teaching expert Michelle Dickinson says a lot of those she has spoken to are confident about getting a Covid-19 vaccination once their questions have been answered.

Dickinson, also known as… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.Cases of Covid-19 in the Waikato are continuing to pop up. 

While vaccination rates across the region are improving - some areas are lagging behind.  

Just 40 percent of the eligible population in… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.The Ministry of Health is defending the government's new Covid-19 records website and app, which an IT security expert has raised questions about.

By the end of the year, people will be able to… Read more Audio

7:44 AM.RNZ podcast 'The Unthinkable' has taken out gold at the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Awards at the same time the government promises to do more for families who lose a baby. Read more Audio

7:36 AM.Skiers were unknowingly a "knife edge" away from catastrophe on bus trips down Mt Ruapehu, but the risk was only revealed after a crash that killed 11-year-old Hannah Francis.

The details are in a… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.Star Trek star William Shatner has finally been where no 90-year-old has been before.

The launch took place just before 4am, NZ time, aboard the rocket of American billionaire Jeff Bezos - who… Read more Audio

7:22 AM.The Thames-Coromandel mayor is refusing to get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

Sandra Goudie is waiting to have the Novavax jab instead, but Medsafe is yet to approve it in Aotearoa.

Sam Olley reports:

7:15 AM.A Pasifika health leader says getting some Covid-19 positive people to isolate at home could work - but not for everyone.

Collin Tukuitonga, who's a public health associate professor at the… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.The government is on the verge of allowing Covid-infected people who are deemed low-risk to isolate at home.

Experts say the move indicates health authorities are expecting cases to escalate and that… Read more Audio

6:52 AM.Mayor John Carter is "fuming and frustrated" at the actions of two women, who he says are effectively holding the Far North to ransom.

Te Tai Tokerau will remain at alert level 3 until at least… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.The National Party is backing plans to allow some low risk Covid-19 cases to isolate at home, but spokesperson Chris Bishop is worried about how much planning has been done.

Covid-19 Response… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.The government is changing tack to allow Covid-19 infected people to quarantine at home, as modelling suggests cases could overwhelm managed isolation spaces.

A worst case scenario model, based on 90… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.Māori climate change advocates are urging the government to be more ambitious after the release of a consultation document which it says will help shape the plan to reduce emissions. 

The document… Read more Audio

6:13 AM.The Thames-Coromandel mayor is refusing to get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

Sandra Goudie wants the Novavax shot instead.

The government has made a pre-purchase agreement for 10.7 million doses of… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.The ACT Party's fully in support of moving towards quarantining people at home, and in fact would like it extended further.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says low risk cases who can… Read more Audio