Morning Report for Monday 26 May 2025

10:00 AM.In today's episode, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has defended the government's budget decisions including changes to Kiwisaver, saying most workers will end up with larger retirement savings, new… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.In front of 29,000 fans at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland FC's dream debut season in the A-League has ended in heartbreak. Auckland FC's Coach Steve Corica spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:49 AM.The unique challenges of building high on a mountain has meant everything including the kitchen sink has to be helicoptered onto the site of a new trampers' hut in Taranaki's national park. Taranaki… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.A youth advocate says young people in crisis will be hardest hit by the Government's new benefit sanctions. Youth advocate and founder of the charity KickBack Aaron Hendry spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

8:38 AM.It's the end of the season for football leagues up North. Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:29 AM.The Black Ferns' emphatic 79-14 win over the USA at the weekend saw several new contenders put their hands up for World Cup spots. Vici-Rose Green spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:24 AM.The New Zealand Association of Scientists is disappointed with the new budget, calling it 'the black hole budget'. Co-President Troy Baisden spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:17 AM.President Donald Trump said he wants the "names and countries" of every international student enrolled at Harvard University. Harvard political scientist Ryan Enos spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

8:12 AM.The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons says outsourcing surgeries to private hospitals will reduce hands-on training opportunities for future surgeons. College of Surgeons New Zealand chair Ros… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.Finance Minister Nicola Willis has defended the government's budget decisions including changes to Kiwisaver, saying most workers will end up with larger retirement savings. Willis spoke to Corin… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.A Hamilton bookstore owner says the actions of a man who keeps vandalising biographies of high-profile New Zealand women is disrespectful. Pennys' Bookstore owner Nichola Carter spoke to Ingrid… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.Auckland FC's dream first season is over after they were knocked out in the A-League semi-finals by Melbourne Victory. Felicity Reid has this report. Audio

7:36 AM.Repairs get underway in Auckland on Monday on an Air New Zealand plane left with a hole after it hit an air-bridge. Air New Zealand's chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:33 AM.MetService warnings and watches are in place for heavy rain and severe gales forecast, particularly for the West Coast. Audio

7:22 AM.New sanctions marking the next phase of the government's Traffic Light welfare system, mean beneficiaries who fail to meet their obligations can have half their benefits restricted to being spent on… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.Auckland Transport is working with fire investigators to find out what caused a bus to catch fire in Epsom on Sunday night. Reporter Jessica Hopkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

7:16 AM.The Health Minister has been warned that outsourcing more elective surgeries will limit training opportunities for future surgeons. Anusha Bradley reports. Audio

7:10 AM.The Green Party is claiming the Government's budget has an uncosted hole of up to $714 million, coming from increased KiwiSaver contributions for public sector workers. Green Party co-leader Chlöe… Read more Audio

6:55 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

6:50 AM.A judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration's plan to strip Harvard University of its ability to enrol foreign students. Politico Senior Legal Affairs Reporter… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.Beneficiaries who fail to meet their obligations could have half their payment restricted to essentials-only for a month or do community work at least five hours a week. Beneficiaries advocate Kay… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:28 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:26 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:19 AM.New Zealand firefighters are heading for New South Wales as it grapples with the response and clean-up of the devastating floods. Fire and Emergency New Zealand assistant national commander Nick Pyatt… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.Russia has carried out the largest air attack on Ukraine since the start of the war. Hundreds of missiles and drones were fired, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more. The BBC's James… Read more Audio