Morning Report

Chloe Swarbrick discusses increase in threats to; ACC requests for historic patient notes add to GP workload; Lillian Hanly on Labour's response to candidate's gang; Heather Keats previews Labour Weekend's weather

We cross the Tasman to talk to our correspondent Richard Willingham from ABC in Victoria.

For this week's regional spotlight, we're heading to a tiny community called Ross, south of Hokitika. And while Church attendance may be decreasing generally, all pews will be filled this Sunday in Ross's St Patrick's Catholic Church, as it celebrates its 160th anniversary. The building is the oldest surviving structure on the West Coast, Parishioner Biddy Manera spoke to John Campbell.

Business update for 23 October 2026.

If you've stayed in an Airbnb before you might be familiar with it. You're left with a list of chores to do before you leave, and then handed a cleaning fee on top of that. Airbnb is taking some steps to change that. RNZ money correspondent and host of the No Stupid Questions podcast, Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

National MP Paul Goldsmith made a plea to Epsom voters last night, as he faces a future outside of Parliament on current polling. Act's David Seymour has an iron grip on the seat, while Goldsmith is asking for people to do things differently this time around. RNZ political reporter Giles Dexter was at last night's candidate meeting.

1 News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and All Black and Manu Samoa player, Lima Sopoaga join Morning Report for this week's sports panel.

The discovery of a critical weak spot in the way websites are built has forced governments and agencies around the world to shutdown webpages. Researchers working with AI discovered the vulnerability in the programming language used by as much as 70 per cent of the internet. While the fix is relatively easy, many of those affected might not even know they are at risk. Dave Parry, a professor at Mu...

Sick and tired of people driving over pipi beds, fish spawning habitat and seabird nests, a Kawhia based trust is putting poles up to stop vehicles getting on to the beach. Onepu Charitable Trust is blocking Kawhia Beach from tomorrow. Waikato Bay of Plenty reporter Rachel Moore reports.

Hawke's Bay scientists have discovered some rather interesting creatures during their annual survey of the region's rocky reefs. Among them: a little sea hare that can release dye when it feels threatened. Georgina Flowers is a coastal scientist at Hawke's Bay Regional Council. She spoke to John Campbell.

Yesterday's inflation numbers showed petrol prices for the year rose 19 percent. The average cost of 91 unleaded is now sitting at $3.55 on price comparison app Gaspy. As Kiwis look to the long weekend for the chance for a roadtrip, they'll be keeping an eye on the petrol gauge as well. The AA's Terry Collins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Hawke's Bay children are facing a two year wait for community dental check ups, and some have been waiting since 2023. The region is ranked the worst in the country - with more than half of its children still overdue to see the dentist. RNZ Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook has the story.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Business update for 22 October 2026.

The government has announced plans to formally recognise nature-based early childhood education centres. These are centres where children spend most of their time learning and playing outdoors. David Seymour says the plan is to remove unnecessary barriers and clear the pathway for centres to grow Nature education consultant Celia Hogan has been pushing for clearer licensing requirements for outdoo...

In three weeks over September to October, Parliament's specialist security team handled 216 requests, and some form of security response was deployed in almost a third of them. Speaker Gerry Brownlee called the rise "astronomical" and told RNZ he's concerned about the safety of MPs. Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick spoke to John Campbell.

A Christchurch GP says a recent increase in ACC requests for decades worth of patient notes is taking up valuable appointment time. Primary care is under major pressure with strong demand and long patient waitlists. Dr Rachelle Pound, a specialist GP at the Christchurch Doctors practice and a fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A video has emerged of a Labour candidate speaking to Mongrel Mob members about enrolling to vote, and changing the government. Kerrin Leone was in her red Labour jacket, but says the event was a whanau function where some of those present were whanau gang members. Labour leader Chris Hipkins has heavily criticised Green and Te Pati Maori candidates for their recent election campaign visit to a Mo...

Business News for 22 October 2026.

A quarter of patients at one Porirua general practice are diabetic or pre-diabetic. This is a finding of research co-led by Porirua Union and Community Health Service GP, Dr Bryan Betty who says the findings reflect a broader problem in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation. Dr Bryan Betty spoke to John Campbell.

In the United States, the midterm elections are looming. The Republicans currently hold the majority in the House and the Senate, but the Democrats could win back control of one, or even both. The Republicans have been polling badly, making seats which are usually safe for the party, competitive. Correspondent Nick Harper spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Washington.

News from the rural farming sector.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

New Zealand's northernmost Maori seat, Te Tai Tokerau, stretches all the way from Cape Reinga to Auckland's North Shore. It's a hugely diverse electorate with one of the most intriguing contests in the country. Reporter Peter de Graaf asked voters what matters most to them, and who's likely to get their support come election day.

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.