Midday Report

Leaders and dignitaries have been welcomed on to the Treaty grounds at Waitangi. RNZ Acting political editor, Craig McCulloch spoke to Guyon Espiner from Waitangi.

The capital faces an environmental catastrophe after the shutdown of the Moa Point treatment plant. Wellington Water CEO Pat Dougherty spoke to Guyon Espiner.

More New Zelaanders are out of work with unemployment rising to its highest level in more than a decade. Auckland and Wellington are hit hard as people lose their jobs in the cities. We unpack the job stats with a top economist; Weighing the pros and cons of public funding for weight loss drugs, Pharmac Minister David Seymour joins us live. And Facebook sounds quaint. Moltbook is social media for...

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

It's been dubbed social media for AI and has whipped the tech world into a frenzy over the last week. On Moltbook, bots chat to each other, complain about humans and happily post their memes - much like humans do. Josh Vial, the co-founder of programming bootcamp Dev Academy Aotearoa spoke to Guyon Espiner.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from Australia with Nine News political reporter Amanda Copp in Canberra.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

A Pharmac advisory panel has provisionally recommended funding the weight loss drug Wegovy, or chronic weight management in people with high BMIs and associated conditions. Pharmac Minister David Seymour spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The unemployment rate has risen to 5.4% in the three months ended December. ANZ senior economist Miles Workman spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 3 February 2026

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Helen Clark heads an international initiative of 50 countries who have signed up for greater transparency in mining: we hear her concerns about New Zealand's talks with the US over access to critical minerals and rare earth materials. She talks to Guyon Espiner.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from the United States with our correspondent Laura Taglianetti.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

South Island iwi powerhouse Ngai Tahu is heading north for a rare appearance at Waitangi Commemorations this year. Ngai Tahu says it is responding to calls from the late Maori King for kotahitangi or unity. Ngai Tahu leader Edward Ellison joins Guyon.

The government says it will make it cheaper and easier for young people to get their driver's licence in the first major changes to the driver licensing system in 15 years. Transport Minister Chris Bishop joins Guyon to discuss the changes.

New Zealand is in talks with the US about the supply of rare and critical minerals, as Donald Trump seeks to reduce America's reliance on China for materials it sees as pivotal for tech innovation and national security: So, what does NZ have to offer? We talk to the CEO of Minerals New Zealand; The clean-up is underway after a tourist boat ran aground outside Akaroa Heads on Banks Peninsula on Sat...

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Forget Spotify Wrapped: the real verdicts are coming in for best song, best album and best new artist of the year. The 68th Grammy Awards are underway right now in what is dubbed the biggest night in music. CNN's Stephanie Elam on the red carpet at the Crypto. Com Arena in LA spoke to Midday Report.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from Australia with Nine News political reporter Amanda Copp in Canberra.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

The recovery operation to move the Black Cat Cruises catamaran which is beached in Akaroa is underway today. Andy Thompson is the Department of Conservation operations manager for the Mahaanui District spoke to Guyon Espiner.