Morning Report for Thursday 5 January 2023

8:56 AM.While many are enjoying what's left of the sun for this holiday season, hundreds of people are opting for an indoor activity. The one-hundred-and-30th national Chess Congress is in full swing in… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.The ASB Classic women's tennis tournament has been battered by wet weather - and more is forecast. Yesterday, five first round singles matches had to be concluded on indoor courts, behind closed… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.Bakeries are starting the year in a scramble as the nationwide egg shortage shows no sign of easing. A ban on battery caged hens has left some supermarket shelves empty and prompted cartons to be… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.A new house price report shows the end of the property market downturn is further away than predicted. CoreLogic's latest House Price Index says interest rate rises in the first half of this year will… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Advocates are urging caution in the water, with the number of people drowning reaching a fourteen-year high. 93 people drowned in New Zealand waters last year. And nine people drowned during the… Read more Audio

8:34 AM.Tens of thousands of people have lined up to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict the Sixteenth, XVI whose body is lying in state in the Vatican. Benedict died on Sunday at the age of 95 in the… Read more Audio

8:24 AM.Former US President Donald Trump has urged fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives to elect his ally Kevin McCarthy to lead the chamber. McCarthy, a congressman from California, who has… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.Health experts believe the government's decision not to impose mandatory pre-departure tests for international travellers is the right call. It follows growing global concerns about the Covid case… Read more Audio

8:12 AM.More holiday spots are bracing for bad weather across the northern parts of the country. Last night, MetService issued heavy rain and strong wind warnings for the next few days. This is leaving… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.A group of New Zealand tourists say they're grateful to be alive after what they describe as a horrific helicopter crash in Australia. Two helicopters collided in the Gold Coast on Monday near Sea… Read more Audio