Morning Report Essentials for Thursday 15 January

A Waikato regional councillor says rising visitor numbers are damaging the Blue Spring near Putaruru, with rubbish clogging toilets, coins thrown into the water and unsafe parking. He wants an access fee and a share of the international tourist levy to help fund protection and upkeep of the popular site; Signs of rising confidence and a possible peak in unemployment may influence the Reserve Bank's February decision, with potential implications for mortgage rates and borrowers; As vehicle dashboards rely more heavily on touchscreens, concerns are growing about driver distraction. ANCAP says it will reward higher safety ratings to cars that reintroduce physical buttons for basic functions, encouraging drivers to keep their eyes on the road; Streaming services could be forking over cash to support local productions should Labour get into government; While teenagers up and down the motu are opening their NCEA results, they're joined by 10-year old Raymond Hsu. In 2025, Raymond was one of the few, and definitely one of the youngest students to sit both NCEA and Cambridge exams, receiving his first GCSE certificate.