Morning Report for Wednesday 20 September 2023

8:56 AM.New research has found tuatara sperm are fast moving and three times longer than the human version.

But the viability of the sperm is hugely variable.

Researchers at Victoria University of… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.Half a century ago, Montana Wines founder Frank Yukich planted the first commercial wine grapes in Marlborough and declared wine from the region would be famous.

He was right - now the world knows… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.Front line Pacific health care providers are frustrated at a lack of political action to address a health system failing Pacific communities.

GPS and primary care nurses say they are exhausted.

And… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Swimmers enjoying Canterbury's open water this summer should check before they dive, or they might risk getting sick.

Environment Canterbury says the number of popular lakes, rivers and beaches… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.A trust involved with caring for kōkako is frustrated by the Conservation Department's approach to pest control.

Most kōkako conservation in Aotearoa is managed by volunteer community groups, who… Read more Audio

8:26 AM.New Zealand is coming second and third in one of the developed world's most deadly competitions for children and adults - obesity.

But a new RNZ investigation by Guyon Espiner, called Off the Shelf… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.A progress report from the United Nations says many countries including New Zealand are falling behind on climate change.

Local experts say New Zealand's emissions target is ambitious and got off to… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.It was the clash of the Chrises, the debate to demonstrate who should be prime minister.

TVNZ's leaders debate last night pitted National's Chris Luxon against Labour's Chris Hipkins.

It was the… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.Health officials will be keeping a close eye today to see how many more reports emerge of a gastro illness in Queenstown.

There have been 15 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium in the tourist town.

A… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.Like a well-oiled - or perhaps solar powered machine, the Green Party co-leaders are used to working together - but not usually in the kitchen.

In RNZ's new political series, Grilled - the top four… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.The first leaders debate of the election campaign was held on TVNZ Tuesday night.

Both leaders, Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Christopher Luxon, rated themselves 8 out of 10 for their… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.Parts of the North Island are likely to see hotter temperatures this week, with a handful reaching around 25 degrees.

The all-time record for September in the North Island is 27.7 degrees, back in… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday (NZ time).

He's expected to use his first speech to the gathering in person to… Read more Audio

7:22 AM.The Waikato Westpac rescue helicopter was forced to make a "heavy landing" Tuesday night after it ran into trouble while on the way to a rescue.

Reporter Lucy Xia spoke to Corin Dann. Read more Audio

7:19 AM.A Rocket lab Electron rocket has failed soon after take-off in Māhia.

Rocket Lab has apologised after an "issue" occurred two-and-a-half minutes into flight at 7 o'clock Tuesday night, after it had… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Two police officers have been injured in Auckland in an altercation with a fleeing motorist.

Reporter Delphine Herbert spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Read more Audio

7:13 AM.The National and Labour party leaders each rated their performance in the first leaders debate an 8/10.

The two faced off in the One News debate Tuesday night, with the tightest exchanges over… Read more Audio

7:11 AM.Top health officials are pushing for sugar and salt limits to be set in food and fast-food portions to be restricted, in an attempt to halt the obesity crisis.

Ministry of Health proposals for a… Read more Audio

7:07 AM.Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon locked horns Tuesday night in their first televised campaign debate - a sometimes scrappy, but ultimately unspectacular affair.

The TVNZ debate saw the Labour and… Read more Audio

6:38 AM.Petrol prices could be set to soar as high as $3.50 a litre with the cost of oil at its highest point in a year.

Brent Crude is edging towards $95 US per barrel. And S and P Global oil analyst… Read more Audio

6:17 AM.A record number of pest traps - more than four tonnes in a single day - have been dropped into the lower North Island.

The Air Force used a NH90 helicopter to do the drop in the Ruahine Range.

The… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.A furious row has erupted between Canada and India, after the Canadian Prime Minister announced potential links between the Indian government and the murder of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil.

… Read more Audio