Guyon Espiner
Covid-19: Government announces fund for South Island tourism coming out of hibernation
The government is announcing this morning the opening of a fund to reboot South Island tourism operations hurt by travel restrictions.
It comes as borders are set to re-open to the world in a matter… Audio
Covid-19: Pensioner told to repay $11,000 to MSD after getting stuck in Australia
A 77-year-old woman has been told to repay $11,300 in pension money because Government border restrictions stopped her returning to New Zealand.
Rae, who asked for her surname to not be used, flew to… Audio
Top Stoires for Thursday 17 March 2022
Today on RNZ National... Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenksy makes a public plea to US President Joe Biden to help his country. The tourism industry welcomes the news our borders are opening, we… Audio
Covid-19: Tourism operators await border announcement
Tourism operators are waiting with bated breath for the government's plans to fast-track the border reopening. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is due to make an announcement today. Queenstown is one of… Audio
Commentator on Simon Bridges' departure
Simon Bridges says he's been seriously thinking of leaving politics since last summer.
The frontbench National MP and former party leader surprised many yesterday by announcing his retirement after… Audio
Tauranga businesses sad to see Simon Bridges go
Corporate Tauranga is ruing the departure of Simon Bridges from the political scene.
The local MP has been seen as a dependable ally of the local businesses. At a national level, Bridges was seen by… Audio
Tourism industry eager for border announcement
As we have been reporting this morning, The Prime Minister is expected to today announce when many Covid-19 restrictions will ease or stop altogether once we're past the peak of Omicron.
That would… Audio
Top Stories for Wednesday 16 March 2022
Today on RNZ National... The National Party has a gap to fill after the shock resignation of former leader Simon Bridges. Four people were killed in an air strike in Kyiv overnight as the invasion… Audio
Christopher Luxon tried to stop Simon Bridges from leaving
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says losing MP Simon Bridges will be a big loss for the party.
The frontbench MP and former leader announced his retirement yesterday, triggering a by-election… Audio
Ukraine invasion: Four killed in Kyiv airstrike
Four people died in overnight air strike in Kyiv on the 20th day of the Russian invasion.
Five locations were targetted, including two large residential buildings, and a metro station.
A 35-hour… Audio
Simon Bridges on resignation announcement
If a week's a long time in politics, then fourteen years can feel a lot longer still.
Simon Bridges, National's MP for Tauranga, finance spokesperson and of course onetime leader, has called it a day… Audio
Magic trumps Mystics in netball premiership opener
Netball's domestic competition has opened with a major upset after last year's defending champions - the Auckland-based Northern Mystics - went down to the 2021's least successful team, the Waikato… Audio
The Power of the Dog continues awards success
Wellington - born film director Jane Campion has continued to soak up international awards for The Power of the Dog.
On Sunday the Directors Guild of America awarded its top prize for feature-film… Audio
Ukraine invasion: More than two million flee invasion
More than two million people have now left Ukraine, with around 250,000 of them currently in Warsaw. Poland can only take so much - and it's warned the European Union it needs more money to help.
The… Audio
Advocates want ban on insurers accessing genetic test results
A top medical researcher says many patients decline vital genetic tests out of fear they could lose their insurance cover because of it.
Auckland University Centre for Cancer Research acting director… Audio
Still plenty of work to do for Crown Commission in Tauranga - Anne Tolley
The government has placed its faith in a Crown Commission to continue governing Tauranga for at least two more years - but the chair says such structures should be used sparingly.
Four commissioners… Audio
Flotilla visits Russian oligarch's Northland property
The Northland property of Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov has been visited by a flotilla of boats, kayakers and stand up paddle boarders protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The group… Audio
Do sharks sleep? the big question
The thought of a shark might keep you awake at night, but do they actually ever sleep?
It's been a long-standing question in the world of science.
A New Zealand scientist said they do - he had been… Audio
Covid-19: study shows vulnerable groups failed in vax rollout
A study released concludes the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in this country has failed Maori and at-risk communities.
Researchers studied the geographical distribution of Covid-19 vaccination… Audio
National pulls ahead of Labour in latest political poll
A new political poll has put National ahead of Labour for the first time since the pandemic began.
The 1News Kantar poll put National at 39-percent support; while Labour dropped to 37-percent -- its… Audio