Morning Report for Thursday 7 April 2022

8:56 AM.People who listen to podcasts are more curious than those who don't, according to new research.  The scientists compared participants' podcast listening habits with how they scored on a scale… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.Kaikōura businesses remain optimistic about the future despite the return of tourists predicted to be still months away.

The borders start reopening from next week.

But for the seaside town renowned… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Māori health and social service providers in Te-Matau-a-Māui or Hawke's Bay are joining forces to support  thousands of struggling whānau to meet their basic needs as Omicron hits the community hard. 

8:41 AM.A study into rib fractures suggests good pain management is necessary to prevent pneumonia and even death.

The research was led by a large group of trainee surgeons working together across 14… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.Kāinga Ora is positive about its First Home Partner scheme, despite taking more than four months to settle a single property.

The progressive homeownership scheme, which launched in early October… Read more Audio

8:26 AM.The occupation of parliament is over, renewed calls for more protests around the capital have resulted in small turnouts but a suggestion on air yesterday that Ashley Bloomfield be knight has resulted… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.The Gisborne District Council is calling on the Government to cover the millions of dollars needed to repair roads damaged by severe flooding in the region last month.

There are still more than 1500… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is to take part in a NATO Foreign Ministers virtual meeting tomorrow morning.

As well as NATO members , Sweden, Finland, Georgia, Australia, Korea, and Japan will also… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.International investigations are underway into Russia's invasion of Ukraine. European Union leaders are denouncing Russia's actions as "massacres, atrocities, and genocides", while US President Joe… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.A formal inquest into the deaths of a New Zealand couple in Tonga found that their deaths was caused by electrocution and likely accidental.

The bodies of Ben Rocky Neill and his wife, Rochelle Neill… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.From today, rangatahi aged 16 and 17 will be able to get a Pfizer vaccine booster shot.

The change makes a further 36,000 people eligible for the third dose.

Covid-19 Pacific Response Co-ordination… Read more Audio

7:44 AM.The country's three top health directors have resigned - including Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

The triple exodus from the Ministry of Health comes as the Omicron outbreak peaks in some regions, and… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.The Motor Trade Association says problems with the new clean-car fee and rebate scheme may be widespread.

A new system calculates hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees and rebates according to a… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.Gun clubs are fired up about new regulations arising from the Christchurch terror attacks.

They warn some will fold because of compliance costs and red tape, forcing hunters and shooters to blaze… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.The tax department thinks high earners are likely to declare billions of dollars less in income after a new top tax bracket was brought in.

It may cost the Government over $100 million in tax… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.That's the warning to civilians in eastern Ukraine, amid fears Russia will intensify attacks there and cut off vital escape routes.

Russia has said it's shifting its military focus to Donbas, which… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.An epidemiologist says Dr Ashley Bloomfield saved thousands of lives.

Dr Bloomfield is stepping down as Director-General of Health at the end of July.

University of Auckland professor Rod Jackson… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.He's the top bureaucrat who's credited with saving many lives as he led the country through the Covid-19 pandemic.

An exhausted Ashley Bloomfield leaves his job as Director General of Health in late… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.The largest genetic study of Alzheimer's to date has uncovered 42 more genes linked to the development of the disease.

The new evidence has been hailed as crucial pieces to the puzzle to how the… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.Fresh sanctions against Russia have been announced overnight, a day after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned speech to the UN Security Council.

The US is sanctioning top… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.The Green Party is pressing the Prime Minister to introduce rent control.

In Aotearoa, almost half of residents rent their home. The party says putting rents on ice would provide time to get costs… Read more Audio