Morning Report

The National Party is promising to trial paperless travel across the Tasman, if it's re-elected. It could mean physical passports are no longer required at the gates, with Australian and New Zealand citizens providing their details digitally before departure, and then relying on smartphones, digital credentials, and biometric technology in their journeys through the airports. Travel Agents Associa...

Councils reassess how they manage natural hazard risks; Urologist shortage forces Southland cancer surgery cancellations; Cancer Society on Southland's urologist shortage; The Warehouse CFO discusses latest financial results; Study examines impact of RATs on winter illness treatment

The Film Commission is scrapping a major source of public funding for ten industry groups. It announced yesterday that a more than $1 million pot divided up among the screen sector bodies will stop from the end of June next year. It means groups like the Screen Producers Guild and the actors' union, Equity, will lose funds. Women in Film and Television - known as WIFT - is also affected. Its Execu...

For most people staring down a sentence for drug-related crime, the result is prison. But, in Auckland, there's another way. As part of our five-part series on meth addiction, RNZ has taken a look inside an innovative court that aims to rehabilitate, rather than incarcerate. Finn Blackwell has the story.

Veteran sports journalist and broadcaster Phil Gifford has died aged 79. Blessed with a laconic turn of phrase and insightful wisdom, he was twice named New Zealand sportswriter of the year, and three times won the sports columnist prize. Fellow sports journalist Tony Johnson spoke to John Campbell.

An early morning sports news update.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

Springtime graduation ceremonies have been taking place across the country, but while the weather may be starting to improve, the climate in the job market for new grads remains particularly bleak. Matthew Theunissen reports.

Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been looking at new data showing how credit scores vary around the country, and between age groups. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Warehouse Group is a revenue monster, $3 billion in sales, but net profit after tax $11.2 million. Stefan Knight, Warehouse Group chief financial officer spoke to John Campbell.

Councils around the country are re-assessing how they manage the natural hazards facing their communities, after an independent report found the six deaths in the February Mount Maunganui landslide were preventable. Selwyn District Council chief executive Steve Gibling spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A full-scale train model allows passengers, accessibility advocates and train crews to provide feedback before the 18 battery-electric trains are manufactured. Greater Wellington is leading the Tuhono programme, and council chair Daran Ponter spoke to John Campbell.

The fiscal debate is back on the campaign trail, as the National Party reboots its claims of a hidden bill in Labour's manifesto. But Labour has fired back, saying there is no bill and National should stop spreading lies. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In the swing seat of Hutt South, a cabinet minister's career is potentially on the line this election. National's Chris Bishop won the seat by just over 13-hundred votes in 2023, having lost it to Labour's Ginny Anderson in 2020. But with National's party vote low - keeping his seat could be key to him remaining in Parliament. So what's the electorate thinking? Mary Argue talked to some locals.

An early morning sports news update.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

From today, drivers, cyclists and e-scooter riders face several changes to the road rules. A's Research & Road Safety Manager, Dylan Thomsen discussed the changes with John Campbell.

Auckland's average asking price has slipped under the $1 million mark for the first time in six years. Data out this morning from realestate.co.nz shows the region's asking price for September was $993,000. Auckland real estate agent Diego Traglia spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal cancer surgeries are being cancelled and patients are being transferred as far as Christchurch after two Southland urologists quit. Health New Zealand has approved pay rates of $3000 a day for locums to fill the gap. Chief Executive of the Cancer Society Southern, Christine Prince spoke to John Campbell.

Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal cancer surgeries are being cancelled and patients are being transferred as far as Christchurch after two Southland urologists quit. Health New Zealand has approved pay rates of $3000 a day for locums to fill the gap. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd reports.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

Researchers have been investigating the impact of using RAT tests to detect influenza, Covid-19 and RSV at GP clinics, to see if they improve treatment and help curb the spread of winter illnesses. Professor Maria Stubbe co-authored the study, she's from Otago University's Department of Primary Health Care and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The heads of some of the world's leading tech companies have signed on to a morally binding series of commitments to undertake AI testing in a safe and responsible way. Connor Leahy is the US executive director of ControlAI, a non-profit organisation focused on controlling potential risks posed by superintelligent AI. Leahy spoke to John Campbell.

Politicians went head to head on some big issues affecting rural New Zealand, last night. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.