Morning Report Podcast Options

8:41 AM.The ambition of politicians is to dominate any debate they get into. And most will tell you they beat their opposition hands down. But would you take the word of a politician? Now there's another… Read more Audio

8:31 AM.Wellingtonians treated to sightings of a rare southern right whale in the harbour can look forward to the creatures coming close to shore more often. The whale first appeared on Tuesday and has been… Read more Audio

8:30 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:27 AM.The government is looking to back out of paying up to $30 million towards the world's largest radio telescope, and two of New Zealand's universities aren't happy. New Zealand is one of the project's… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.The commissioners for children, equal opportunities, race relations and disability rights could be joined by another - a Commissioner for Animals. It's among ideas being considered by the government… Read more Audio

8:16 AM.Bindi Norwell is chief executive of the Real Estate Institute and Douglas Fairgray is director of the consultancy Market Economics. They discuss KiwiBuild criteria and people's eligibility. Audio

8:10 AM.A Napier woman who was turned down for more than 40 private rentals, says she agreed to live in a state home in the middle of a construction zone because she had no where else to go. Demand for state… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The All Blacks captain Kieran Read is confident in his fitness as he returns to Super Rugby tomorrow night. Audio

7:58 AM.New research shows that on current trends, the average New Zealander will be classified as obese within 15 years. And in 20 years, the number of clinically obese people will top two million. The… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.A Chinese billionare has fallen to his death in Provence, in the south of France. French police say Wang Jian was posing for a photo on a parapet in Bonnieux when he fell between 12 and 15 metres. Mr… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.Officials in Thailand say they won't be taking any risks getting 12 trapped boys and their football coach out of Tham Luang cave in Northern Thailand. The group is now having swimming and diving… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.The number of suicide related calls to police have jumped by more than 50 percent in the last five years. Police figures obtained by RNZ News show that on average there were nearly 60 calls for help… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.There are concerns the mysterious illness of a British couple in their forties who are critically ill could be because they were exposed to left over Novichok. Britain's chemical weapons research… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.The government is planning law changes so it can move more quickly to improve drinking water quality around the country. It is the first official government response to the Havelock North Water… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.A report into the law firm at the centre of a sexual misconduct scandal will be made public this morning. RNZ understands it is scathing and gives details of "shocking abusive bullying" and "abuses of… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.Couples earning up to $180,000 will be able to buy KiwiBuild homes, the government has announced. Requiring people to ballot for the homes would help to ensure those on lower incomes still have a good… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.The interest in Kiwibuild homes is already outstripping the number that will be built in the first few years. Housing Minister Phil Twyford announced the scheme will be open to couples with a combined… Read more Audio

7:06 AM.The Northern Stars coach Kiri Wills says her players got tough as they upset the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ netball Premiership. Audio

6:49 AM.Businesses want climate change action, but what to do? Falling NZ dollar helps offset softer commodity returns. Law changes boost credit unions. The latest from subdued  money markets. Audio

6:41 AM.The National Party says the Government's KiwiBuild ballot system is not fair. For the first years of the KiwiBuild scheme, homes will be balloted to give buyers who've registered for the programme an… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:20 AM.An early look at the business news, and a catch up of overnight global financial market action.   Audio

6:13 AM.A lawyer is calling for police recruits to have more suicide risk training after the number of suicide-related calls jumped by 50-percent in five years. Police figures show that last year, on average… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.The Ministry for Primary Industries has had to remove a dozen species from the list of trees it was pushing people to plant as part of its Billion Tree Programme after some were revealed to be pests… Read more Audio

6:06 AM.The Northern Stars have picked up just their second win over the ANZ netball Premiership upsetting the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 56-51 in Auckland. Audio