Morning Report for Friday 18 July 2025

10:00 AM.In today's episode, a South Auckland principal is warning that a third of teenagers in communities like his could leave school with no qualifications; New Zealand wine brand Villa Maria putting cancer… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.Singer Daphne Walker has died aged 94. Walker was best known for songs likes 'Haere Mai (Everything is Kapai)' popular in the 1950s. Music historian Chris Bourke spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

8:48 AM.Listen to our weekly political panel. Audio

8:43 AM.An afternoon of tasting whisky might sound like fun to many people, but it's a serious business at the New Zealand Spirit Awards in Wellington. Ellen O'Dwyer went along to find out what it involves. Audio

8:39 AM.The Phoenix will be challenged for support when they play their first pre-season game in Wellington on Saturday. Barry Guy reports. Audio

8:35 AM.How does our sporting fanwidth get tested this weekend? Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:26 AM.The Crown says on the evening of January 24 last year, murder-accused Julia DeLuney simply lost control. Reporter Kate Green spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:19 AM.New Zealand wine brand Villa Maria putting cancer warning labels on its wines exported to Ireland, but in New Zealand industry lobby group the Alcoholic Beverages Council doesn't want the cancer… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.A South Auckland principal is warning that a third of teenagers in communities like his could leave school with no qualifications. Papakura High School principal Simon Craggs spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

8:11 AM.Legislation aimed at getting local councils to keep their costs down has passed its first reading coinciding with this year's Local Government conference in Christchurch. Political reporter Russell… Read more Audio

7:57 AM.The All Blacks are looking to make it three from three in their final test against France on Saturday night. RNZ rugby reporter Joe Porter and AFP journalist Florian Soenen spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:48 AM.Kiwis have growing concerns about the use of AI, especially when it comes to big companies using their data. One New Zealand's Chief Data and AI Director Summer Collins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

7:43 AM.Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to settle a multibillion-dollar lawsuit with a group of shareholders over how top executives at Meta handled repeated privacy violations by Facebook. Wedbush Securities… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.Villa Maria, one of New Zealand's best known wine brands, is putting cancer warning labels on wines exported to Ireland - nearly a year ahead of a law making the labels compulsory. Guyon Espiner… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.Of the 500 homes still without electricity, most are in the Kaipara Harbour Coastal settlement of Tinopai. Northpower chief operating officer Mike Gibbs spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:27 AM.The UK government is giving 16-and-17-year-olds the right to vote. BBC Political Correspondent Rob Watson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

7:20 AM.A new forecast is painting a slightly rosier picture for the country's economic outlook. Infometrics' Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:17 AM.A principal is warning the number of school-leavers with no qualifications is likely to spike significantly in poor communities this year. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports. Audio

7:13 AM.A top New Zealand rower who was arrested in the US following a skirmish at a post-regatta celebration fled from Police while he was being questioned over an alleged assault. Sports correspondent Dana… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Severe gales in Northland in the past 12 hours have downed trees and powerlines leaving hundreds of households without power. Local resident Brigid Roberts spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

6:54 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

6:47 AM.The Tasman District has lifted its latest State of Emergency. Mayor Tim King spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

6:44 AM.Severe gales caused havoc in Northland on Thursday night with downed trees taking out powerlines and leaving hundreds of homes without power. Reporter Natalie Akoorie spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

6:40 AM.This weekend the All Blacks go for the clean sweep, and the Lions and Wallabies kick off their test series. Audio

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

6:25 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:20 AM.Astronomers have, for the first time, caught the exact moment a new solar system starts to form. Purdue University assistant professor, astronomer and lead researcher Merel van 't Hoff spoke to Corin… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.They're being called blocks of yellow gold, and whether that be cheese or butter - they're getting most of the blame for blowing out the weekly food budget. Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean… Read more Audio

4:07 AM.Coastal weather report. Audio