Morning Report

US space agency NASA has called time on its Mars Rover, Opportunity. The robot known as 'Oppy' and its twin robot, called Spirit, landed on Mars in January 2004 with the goal of investigating whether… Read more Audio

A thick dust cloud that's been causing problems with visibility and air quality in the south east of Australia is expected to arrive in New Zealand later on Thursday. MetService says it will be blown… Read more Audio

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will reopen the Christmas Island detention centre which closed in October last year. It comes in response to a government defeat in Parliament, when a… Read more Audio

Council officers in the Far North have seized the dogs they suspect attacked an elderly man in Kaikohe this week. Jim Morgan - who's 95 - was bitten on the hip by one of two unregistered dogs that… Read more Audio

Officials in Papua New Guinea are looking for nearly 300 cars imported for November's APEC summit that have gone missing. The police have even gone as far as creating a special unit to recover the… Read more Audio

After a bad week for wildlife, Forest and Bird says the government should crack down on fishing companies and ban trawlers from fishing in waters where endangered species live. This week four… Read more Audio

Hanmer Springs in north Canterbury is going smokefree for six months, starting Thursday. In a New Zealand first, public property in the town centre is going smoke and vape free, including on… Read more Audio

A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

Former comedian turned mental health advocate Mike King has been named the New Zealander of the Year. Mr King has been working with health professionals and charities to bring issues like depression… Read more Video, Audio

Earlier we spoke to Chris Hipkins about the proposed merger of polytechnics in New Zealand. He says it will create efficiencies, save money and end the financial woes. The new entity would also become… Read more Audio

Back to the Education Minister's proposal to merge the country's 16 polytechs. Earlier we spoke to Chris Hipkins who said the merger will create efficiencies, save money and end the financial woes of… Read more Audio