Morning Report Podcast Options

6:52 AM.Forest and Bird says the government's pledge to clean up the country's waterways is putting the environment at the heart of its recovery to Covid-19.

The Labour Party says the $162 million package… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.Defendants are facing long and stressful waits for jury trials due to a huge court backlog caused by Covid-19.

The Chief Justice was forced to suspend jury trials in March as the country braced… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.A couple stranded in New Zealand say a lack of clear decision-making about reopening Tonga's border has left them and thousands of others in limbo.

Kate Woodward, who is British, and her partner Will… Read more Audio

6:39 AM.Anyone found responsible for deliberately leaking highly sensitive information about 18 people quarantined with Covid-19 could face criminal charges.

RNZ and two other media outlets have reported… Read more Audio

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

6:24 AM.A brief update from the business sector. Read more Audio

6:08 AM.The great English institution - the pub - awoke from hibernation yesterday, after the UK government allowed places that offer hospitality, including pubs and restaurants to reopen.

More than 44,000… Read more Audio

6:06 AM.Valteri Bottas has won an incident-packed first race of the new Formula One season in Austria, as teammate Lewis Hamilton was demoted to fourth following a five-second time penalty. Read more Audio

8:55 AM.It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Read more Audio

8:51 AM.Dire concerns are being raised about the early training ground for future Black Caps.

Those involved in youth cricket are frustrated by what they say is a lack of attention from the national body… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Summer may be a thing of the past especially given the frost most of the country woke up to.

But if you'd like to revist warmer times with a nostalgic BBQ in your puffer jacket, hat and gloves or… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Hamish Thompson, who runs the consultancy 'Heard vs Herd', says politicians borrow such phrases from their counterparts overseas.

Every year he compiles a "vexicon" - a lexicon of vexxing political… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.Despite changes allowing more people to come into the country many couples and families are still stranded on either side of the border.

The government has relaxed the rules so partners and children… Read more Audio

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

8:28 AM.At least five North-Island iwi will be severely affected by new restrictions to protect endangered dolphins.

 The new rules will - from October - extend areas where set-netting and trawling is… Read more Audio

8:24 AM.Chris Hipkins has picked up the health portfolio alongside his Minister of Education role.

Former Health Minister David Clark resigned from the role yesterday after a tumultuous few months.

RNZ… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.Chris Hipkins, the Minister of Education, is now also the Minister of Health - at least until the September election.

He replaces David Clark, who resigned on Wednesday after a tumultuous few months… Read more Audio

8:13 AM.After a disastrous few months for Health Minister David Clark, Jacinda Ardern sat down with him late last week and gave him little option but to give up his seat at the Cabinet table.

She'd already… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.After a three month wait, a date has been set for the sentencing of Brenton Tarrant, the man responsible for this country's worst act of terrorism.

In March Tarrant made a late guilty plea to 51… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.The winter school holidays kick off tomorrow and tourism operators grappling with the loss of international visitors are hopeful that the break might ease their pain.

Graeme Abbot is the general… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.Teachers are using more sick days than usual in the wake of the lockdown.

The Auckland Primary Principals Association says Covid-19 has made people a lot more conscientious about staying home.

The… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.Three influential New Zealand figures are urging the government to make a plan for how the border can gradually be reopened during in the time of Covid-19.

The former New Zealand Chief Science… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.The Carillon Tower at the National War Memorial at Pukeahu in Wellington will remain closed to the public after a new detailed assessment confirmed it was quake prone.

It reveals a third part of the… Read more Audio

7:33 AM.After just a year at the Blues All Black's back Beauden Barrett is off to Japan.

He has reportedly signed a multi-million deal with Japanese club Suntory and will move there in December.

Rugby… Read more Audio