Morning Report for Friday 25 February 2022

8:53 AM.GP's fear there will be spats over RATs.

They say demand is high for rapid antigen test and doctors may struggle to meet mistaken public expectations that the tests are already there for all to use.

8:51 AM.One team is trying to make history, while the other is trying to avoid it in the second cricket test between New Zealand and South Africa set to start in Christchurch later this morning.

The Black… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.Helensville could become home to a solar farm that's almost as big as the town itself.

The 100-hectare project has met fierce opposition from a group of locals, preparing to fight tooth and nail to… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Early childhood centres are worried they will run out of teachers as omicron spreads.

They say there is already a teacher shortage and many services will not be able to find enough relievers to stay… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.There are fears phase three will see GPs and rural healthcare providers in crisis with an already stretched workforce dealing with large numbers of patients self-managing Covid-19 at home.

Many rural… Read more Audio

8:35 AM.Stocks in Russia plummeted following the country's attack on Ukraine, forcing the temporary suspension of the Moscow Exchange.

Russia's currency, the rouble, has also hit record lows following the… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.New Zealand and the rest of the world are on high alert following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Among those watching closely are Otago University-based professor of international relations Robert… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.The Ukraine community in Aotearoa is on edge following the Russian invasion of their homeland.

Yuriy Gladun is chair of their association's Northern region.

He's expecting a bitter conflict that… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.The former All Black and rugby league player Va'iaga Tuigimala has died, aged 52.

Popularly known as Inga the Winger, Tuigimala was a fan favourite with his barrel chest and ability to bump off… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.New Zealand's outlook for the next couple of months is predictable - Covid-19 case numbers will skyrocket, and then just as quickly fall away again.

It's a sharp curve that's been seen everywhere… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.The government has announced a significant boost in the number available with millions arriving in the country over the weekend.

By Monday, the totally supply of rapid antigen tests will be more than… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.An Auckland GP says she feels like she's in battle, and testing centres have described chaos as Omicron charges through the city.

There were nearly 4000 new cases in Auckland yesterday - a number… Read more Audio

7:22 AM.Russian forces have launched a full invasion of Ukraine - a massed assault by land, sea and air - the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II.

Cruise and ballistic… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.Russian forces have launched a full invasion of Ukraine - a massed assault by land, sea and air - the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II.

Cruise and ballistic… Read more Audio

6:50 AM.Pharmacies are inundated by people phoning to ask how and when they can buy a rapid antigen test, or RAT.

Many have stocks of the tests but these are earmarked for priority groups who get them for… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.Omicron cases are surging, but so is the number of rapid antigen tests that the government has to hand.

Over the past two days, 5.2 million rapid antigen tests arrived in the country, with a further… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.Less doom and gloom - that's the plea from the Employers and Manufacturers Association as the country enters Phase 3 of the Omicron response.

Alan McDonald, the group's head of advocacy and strategy… Read more Audio

6:17 AM.Ukrainians are fleeing the country as fears of missiles and airstrikes grow.

People not leaving have been advised to seek shelter and - many have taken refuge in metro stations their cities are… Read more Audio