Morning Report for Thursday 28 July 2022

8:51 AM.Former Nelson MP Dr Nick Smith has announced he'll be throwing his hat in the ring for the region's mayoralty.

The veteran politician retired from Parliament last June, after an inquiry was launched… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.Former US President Donald Trump focused on law and order in his first speech in Washington since leaving office, calling the country a "cesspool of crime".

This comes as his role in the 6… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Overseas travel is back, but a cascade of cancelled flights, missed connections and lost luggage has taken the shine off for many.

How widespread are the problems - and is there anything the savvy… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has been in charge at the Ministry of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic, and now he's leaving his post - one year early.

At the same time, the… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.The chair of the Auckland Council's planning committee is defending a decision to delay voting on a plan to reduce on-street parking spaces in favour of cycling and bus lanes.

That decision was… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.The Education Minister wants the new mega-polytech to make more progress reducing deficits and getting its operating plan in place, as the 1 January deadline bears down fast.

Te Pūkenga - or the New… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.Heart, brain and cancer operations are being delayed as the pressure on hospitals extends to intensive care.

College of Intensive Care Medicine chair Andrew Stapleton says his colleagues around the… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.You can't be an opera singer unless you have an impressive pair of lungs - and know how to use them.

But Auckland-born soprano Christina Orjis had to get professional help to learn how to breathe… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.Taranaki's leading public health dentist says councillors 'gave in to quackery' when they voted to removed fluoride from the New Plymouth water supply in 2011.

Departing health head Dr Ashley… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.Former Reserve Bank chairman Arthur Grimes says there's a lack of knowledge at the bank on how to run monetary policy, and change is needed.

It follows criticism by former Reserve Bank Governor… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.The government's Clean Car Discount Scheme has suffered a blow, after the Vehicle Industry Association withdrew its support.

Chief executive David Vinsen says its thousands of car dealer members have… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.Crusaders coach Scott Robertson says he wants to win a Rugby World Cup for two different nations, and it doesn't matter who he does it for first.

Rumours are circulating the sought-after coach could… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.A review into the hiring of former TV One Breakfast host Kamahl Santamaria released yesterday found there was a lack of consultation with key staff before his arrival, and he didn't even complete a… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Some acute heart patients are waiting weeks in hospital for an operation, too sick to go home but unable to get their surgery.

Hospitals are under huge pressure with staff shortages, Covid-19 and… Read more Audio

6:50 AM.Joelle King and Tom Walsh will be New Zealand's joint flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games on Friday morning.

The ceremony runs from 6am tomorrow morning, with the… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.The Climate Change Commission wants the Government to change the way emissions reductions are calculated, because businesses aren't actually reducing their emissions.

Commission Chair Rod Carr says… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.Two sports will debut at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham - Women's T20 cricket and 3x3 basketball.

One New Zealand athlete - dual international Suzie Bates - knows a bit about both. Bates is… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.Hospitality businesses that exceed present standards of employment and training will soon be able to be recognised.

Under a new scheme they'll be able to apply for a certificate - known as HospoCred… Read more Audio

6:08 AM.A former South Taranaki mayor says its decision to fight all the way to the Supreme Court to fluoridate its water has been vindicated.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield yesterday directed… Read more Audio