Morning Report Podcast Options

7:28 AM.The Government yesterday unveiled its long-awaited plans to reopen the country to the rest of the world.

From 28 February, vaccinated New Zealanders in Australia will be able to self-isolate and skip… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.The Covid-19 Response Minister says there could well be "quite significant" rates of Covid-19 in the community once returning New Zealanders can self-isolate at the end of the month.

In just over… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.The MIQ lottery is about to end - and thousands of New Zealanders are on their way home.

Those stuck in Australia are first in line when the border starts to open in just over three weeks.

A… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.The leader of Islamic State has been killed in an overnight US special forces raid in northern Syria.

The operation targeted an IS safe house in the rebel held Idlib province. President Joe Biden… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.Australians and other travellers who don't need a visa will be the first tourists allowed back in with a promise they'll have bags on airport carousels no later than July, while other international… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.Tourist operators are keen to roll out the welcome mat for international visitors but say the current isolation rules will keep many away.

The Prime Minister has unveiled a five stage plan for… Read more Audio

6:15 AM.The Government's announcement on when the border will open for New Zealanders has been met with relief by many of those who've been stranded overseas.

Sinead Aldrich, an occupational therapist, left… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.The government's plan to re-open the border allowing people to bypass what the Prime Minister is describing as the anguish of MIQ is being shot down by the opposition as both too slow and too fast.

… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.Next month New Zealand hosts the women's Cricket World Cup.

It's almost 50 years since the first tournament.

Reporter Jimmy Ellingham looked back at the 1973 edition and its highlights, on and off… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.A growing number of young New Zealanders are heading overseas: sick of waiting for the pandemic to end and preparing to roll the dice with Covid-19.

Migration figures show there have been more people… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development is the latest economic authority to predict New Zealand faces the risk of a large fall in house prices.

The OECD's latest survey offers a… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.An historic agreement that recognises Māori interests in radio spectrum has been signed at Parliament. 

The agreement, designed in partnership with the Māori Spectrum Working Group, is a chance to… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.Community lawyers say the government is effectively blocking scores of Afghans from escaping the Taliban in their country.

They say there has been slow processing of some visas, and worse still, no… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.The NZOC is relieved a New Zealand athlete who tested positive for Covid-19 in Beijing has since tested negative.

In order to enter Beijing, team members must provide two negative Covid-19 tests… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.Residents in Buller continue to be warned evacuations are very possible in coming days.

The heavy rain is expected to ramp up today and continue through to the weekend.

A state of emergency is in… Read more Audio

8:12 AM.The government is looking to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme that will offer ACC-like payments to people who lose their jobs because of redundancy or illness rather than just accidents.

It… Read more Audio

7:58 AM.For the first time in its 34-year history, the West Coast's Wildfoods Festival has been postponed.

Festival organisers say it hasn't been cancelled, only put off until 11 March next year.

Festival… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Scientists are working on a groundbreaking screening test that could predict the risk of four cancers from samples collected from a routine cervical screening.

Researchers say the test will be a game… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.Boosters are being bolstered around the country, with the wait time between second and third doses shortened to 3 months.

More needles are going into more arms and the bravest of us can feel a little… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.The US President Joe Biden has approved sending troops to Romania, Poland and Germany as tensions build up at the Russia Ukraine border.

Around 2000 soldiers will be sent from North Carolina, to… Read more Audio