Morning Report for Friday 22 September 2023

8:53 AM.Now here's a story kids won't want to miss,

It's the Whitcoulls Kids Top 50 list!

Our Tamariki voted for their most favoured book,

They love emotional tales - not just how they look.

Some books… Read more Audio

8:47 AM.Warriors fans are calling Saturday night's NRL semi-final against the Broncos in Brisbane their biggest game in 12 years. Win it and they'll line up in next week's Grand Final - for just the third… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.The Warriors are one win away from their first National Rugby League grand final appearance in 12 years.

They'll need to beat the Broncos - and the odds - Saturday night in Brisbane to move a step… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Rainfall overnight has caused relief for firefighters battling multiple blazes in the Mackenzie Country.

The first fire broke out at Pūkaki Downs on Wednesday night and a second started Thursday near… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.The main river in Gore, the Mataura, is expected to keep rising until this evening.

RNZ reporter Tess Brunton spoke to Morning Report. Read more Audio

8:14 AM.A Queenstown Primary School is closed Friday after a large slip came down behind it.

Principal Fiona Cavanagh spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss. Read more Audio

8:10 AM.A number of businesses and schools in Queenstown have been told not to open Friday morning due to debris flowing through the centre of town.

The town is in a local state of emergency, with 41 homes… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.While's there's been a bit of a scramble over his tax policy, the leader of the National Party, binds it together when it comes to breakfast.

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

7:52 AM.While attention is focused on economists finding a $500 million-dollar-a-year hole in National's tax plans, a similar-sized hole in climate costings is hiding in plain sight - and it applies to… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.Wellington Hospital's women's health service is under so much pressure it's told GPs to stop referring patients unless they suspect cancer or something equally urgent.

Specialists and family doctors… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.An external Review into Oranga Tamariki's Secure Residences has emphasised the need to prevent future harm to children through specialised care, therapeutic intervention and respect of whakapapa.

The… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.Firefighters were hoping overnight conditions would help them contain two large fires they've been battling in the Mackenzie Country region.

On Thursday night a convoy of about 50 vehicles -… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.Water tankers are on the way to Tuatapere, where the water treatment plant flooded and stopped working Thursday night - leaving just eight hours' worth or water in town's reservoir.

Southland… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.Civil Defence is keeping a close eye on rising river levels.

Tuatapere ran out of water overnight after flooding damaged the treatment plant.

The Mataura River in Gore is contained at this stage… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Gore remains in a state of emergency Friday morning, after Thursday's heavy rain and widespread flooding.

Despite the rain easing, some river levels are still rising.

The District Council says the… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.A local state of emergency has been declared in Queenstown for the next 7 days after a night of torrential rain resulted in the evacuation of 41 homes and the CBD being swamped by torrential rain and… Read more Audio

6:50 AM.Towns right across the bottom of the South Island are dealing with significant flooding this morning.

A regional state of emergency was declared at six-o'clock Thursday night after more than a dozen… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.In Queenstown torrential rain causing landslips and flooding has forced some people to evacuate their properties.

That includes four properties on Reavers Lane where residents were advised to leave… Read more Audio

6:21 AM.Auto workers in the US are striking for better pay - and it might have unexpected consequences for the future of electric vehicles.

The United Auto Workers union is struggling to reach a deal with… Read more Audio

6:13 AM.Drivers should take extra care on the roads on Friday or avoid driving entirely as severe weather sweeps across the country.

Southland road users should avoid any unnecessary travel due to… Read more Audio

6:08 AM.Southlanders have been on high alert for more flooding Thursday night, after more than a dozen Southland rivers set off warnings.

A heavy band of rain is slowly moving up the country, saturating the… Read more Audio