Morning Report Podcast Options

7:43 AM.Wellington City councillors have voted for the Town Hall redevelopment to be completed despite a huge budget blowout.

Councillors considered four options on the building's future, with 13 councillors… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.The police use of surveillance technology allowing them to collect footage of vehicle number plates is being challenged in court by defendants.

At the heart of the arguments is whether the tech… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.A senior police inspector has defended the lower priority given to an emergency call alerting them to threats from the Christchurch terrorist.

It came during the second day of the Christchurch… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.After wreaking havoc on Vanuatu's northern provinces, Cyclone Lola has been downgraded to Category 1.

The cyclone first made landfall on Tuesday, and due to communications outages, the full scale of… Read more Audio

7:12 AM.The UN's secretary general Antonio Guterres says he is "shocked by misinterpretations" of his comments about Israel's bombardment and blockade of the Gaza strip.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.Conditions on the roads over the next few days are expected to be unsafe in areas due to adverse weather.

Severe weather warnings will make driving more dangerous on Thursday.

Waka Kotahi journey… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.Summer's just around the corner but the weather has other plans on Thursday as warnings for heavy rain, snow and severe gale northwesterlies are in place across New Zealand.

MetService has issued… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.The world's most common banana variety is facing possible extinction, stoking concerns of a worldwide shortage.

A fungal disease called the Panama Disease tropical race 4, or TR4, is spreading to… Read more Audio

6:11 AM.The UN's secretary general Antonio Guterres says he is shocked by what he says are "misinterpretations" of his comments about Israel's bombardment and blockade of the Gaza strip.

On Wednesday… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.Visitors to the Taranaki Garden Festival this year are being encouraged to go a bit troppo.

Long famed for its rhododendrons and magnolias, it's taking a step closer to the equator and embracing… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.Tropical cyclone Lola is pelting Vanuatu this morning, having made landfall on the country's eastern Pentecost Island.

The ferocious wind gusts - forecast to reach up to 205 kilometres per hour -… Read more Audio

8:31 AM.The University of Otago this morning has named Moana Theodore as the new director for its famous research programme, the Dunedin Study.

The Otago epidemiologist is only the third director the study… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.Records are set to tumble this coming weekend when respective three-time champions New Zealand and South Africa meet in the World Cup final.

And there may be a few records set in local ticket sales… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.The government's cyber security arm, CERT, is urging consumers to be especially cautious when responding to online or text offers from anyone - including legit financial services.

The warning comes… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.After Sunday's four-wicket loss to hosts India in the Cricket World Cup, the Black Caps face Australia this Saturday.

And with South Africa and Sri Lanka also still to play, former Black Cap Ronnie… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.The All Blacks pack have improved dramatically from last year and even from the start of the World Cup, with the players crediting forwards coach Jason Ryan for their lift in performance.

They'll… Read more Audio