Morning Report for Tuesday 21 December 2021

8:55 AM.The Silver Fern railcars used to be the height of luxury, gliding between Auckland and Wellington.

Now, it's fair to say, they've seen better days.

Manawatū reporter Jimmy Ellingham found out what… Read more Audio

8:53 AM.Three Auckland marae are teaming up to run Christmas drive-throughs, giving away parcels to whanau in desperate need of holiday cheer.

Together with Auckland City Mission, Maori providers are filling… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.A major scientific advance into rheumatic fever has found it can be caused by strep infections of both the throat and skin.

Doctors already knew strep throat caused by group A streptococcus bacteria… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.South African cricket has been rocked by news two of its greatest players of the modern era will be investigated following allegations of racism.

Former captain Graeme Smith is now the country's… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.New South Wales' daily Covid-19 count is breaking records.

The state reported more than 2500 cases yesterday.

Health officials believe the majority of the cases are Omicron.

Melbourne University… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.The massive fire fighting operation in Northland has swung into action again this morning as crews try to contain the massive scrub fire that is threatening homes.

It's north of Kaitaia near the… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.Health officials are stressing the severity of catching Covid-19 is far greater than the risks of any reaction to the vaccine.

This is in response to the death of a 26-year-old man, now believed to… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.The Waitangi Tribunal's scathing has concluded the government's Covid-19 response and vaccine rollout put Māori at risk. 

The Tribunal says Cabinet's decision to go against official advice and not… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.If you see a serious crime, you should report it, right?

Especially if you're a public servant. You'd think so, but it appears the nation's spies are exempt.

The Inspector-General for Intelligence… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.Fiscally conservative democrat West Virginia senator Joe Manchin has withdrawn his support the President's $1.75 trillion infrastructure plan called Build Back Better.

With the senate split 50-50… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.Inmates at Waikeria Prison say they had to share one faulty phone between 80 prisoners for months and wait up to four hours at a time to call their family.

The working phone often cut out mid call… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.More than two dozen families in a Far North township have been evacuated to a local school as firefighters work to contain a large scrubfire.

Amanda McManus moved to the area just three weeks ago -… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.A father-and-daughter duo have dared to go where few New Zealanders have before - flying the length of the country in a glider.

Taking advantage of yesterday's high winds, Terry Delore, a world… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.A seasoned ICU nurse who has a job offer with Tairāwhiti DHB is stuck in South Africa with no way of getting here.

Rena - who has 16 years' experience in intensive and critical care - can't even plan… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.Containment lines protecting houses from a large scrub fire in the Far North held overnight and no homes were damaged.

The 2000-hectare fire north of Kaitaia is threatening to reach the coastal… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.The Waitangi Tribunal has found the government's Covid-19 response and vaccine rollout put Māori at risk. 

The Tribunal held an urgent hearing early this month, and has this morning released its… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.The Waitangi Tribunal has found the government's Covid-19 response and vaccine rollout put Māori at risk. 

The Tribunal held an urgent hearing early this month, and has this morning released its… Read more Audio