Morning Report

A Dutch environmental group is lodging the first complaint of its kind through the European Commission, which could suspend trade. University of Canterbury political scientist Professor Bronwyn Hayward spoke to John Campbell.

Nicola Willis discusses Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update; Political Panel: Paul Goldsmith and Arena Williams; Chloe Swarbrick discusses rise in polls; Jo Moir and Corin Dann discuss pre-election fiscal update.

With every household in the country throwing away an average of 32 kg of food a year, the government's putting a little extra into initiatives trying to curb the waste. Three organisations will share $1.7 million as part of the National Food Waste Reduction Programme. The "Love Food Hate Waste" campaign is one of the three recipients. Project Manager Sophie Wolland spoke to John Campbell.

From today the free bowel cancer screening age starts lowering from 58 years old to 56. The latest change is a phased roll out, happening region by region, and means another 200,000 New Zealanders are eligible for a free home test. Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in Aotearoa. More than 1,200 people die from it annually, and yet when it's caught early, it's one of the most...

Punters, pundits and politicians are eyeing one of Auckland's most competitive electorates as a bellwether for the rest of New Zealand. In 2023, Maungakiekie's party vote was the closest to New Zealand's overall result - making it a seat to watch. Felix Walton has more.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Diesel prices are pushing up again, and there's a warning we might see the impact when we're shopping for food. But how much and when? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been looking at it and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

More than 170,000 young people aged 18 to 24 are not enrolled to vote in this year's general election. The Electoral Commission told RNZ yesterday just 61 percent of young people are enrolled, down from 77 percent at the 2023 election. RNZ spoke to students about what's putting young people off voting, and why they think their voices matter. Maori News journalist Layla Bailey-McDowell with this re...

National's Paul Goldsmith and Labour's Arena Williams spoke to John Campbell on Morning Report's political panel.

Piriwiritua Rurawhe, Adrian Paki Rurawhe's first cousin and family spokesperson spoke to John Campbell.

The government's finances are looking rosier than expected - in part because of higher tax take because of inflation. Joining us now to break it all down is RNZ's Political Editor Jo Moir and our Business Editor Corin Dann.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Councils around the country are looking to follow Auckland in scrapping postal voting for local elections. Auckland councillors have voted to bring back in-person voting for the 2028 local elections, becoming the first council to use polling booths since 1992. Local Government New Zealand wants that change rolled out nationwide. South Wairarapa mayor and Chair of LGNZ's Local Government System Ref...

Kaikohe is the so-called 'Meth Capital of New Zealand' - but a rehabilitation program run on a shoestring budget is changing lives. In the third instalment of RNZ's Meth Toll series, Serena Solomon and Jessica Hopkins followed a registered nurse who works seven days a week, helping hundreds fight meth addiction. Jessica Hopkins filed this report.

Tauranga City Council's chief executive Marty Grenfell has stepped down six weeks after a damning review found January's deadly landslide was preventable. In the report, retired High Court judge Paul Davison outlined a systemic failure where responsibility for the risk fell between different parts of the council and no one was ultimately managing it. But no one person was ever held responsible. Sa...

Higher tax revenues are helping the Government's books, with the Treasury yesterday unveiling rosier than expected forecasts. The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update is picking a return to surplus in the 2028/29 financial year, with deficit predictions also lower in the years leading up to it. Treasury says uncertainties remain, particularly from the risk of further oil shocks from the Middle...

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

From tomorrow, Auckland Transport as it currently is will cease to exist, with many of its non-public transport functions moving under the control of the city's councillors and local board members. The changes will give local boards some new powers to make decisions on local roads including setting speed limits, closing roads for events, managing parking and creating cycleways. East Auckland-based...

Russia has continued to ramp up its attacks on Ukraine, including in the capital Kyiv. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says multiple regions have come under attack this week. BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Paul Adams, who is in Ukraine spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New Zealand's farming industry representatives are set to present their case to the US over its investigation into lamb exports, meanwhile America is still likely a year away from herd rebuilding it's beef herd. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

Now that Labour's got its hands on the government's books, the pressure's piling on for them to explain how it'll pay for its promises, particularly pay equity. But it's not the only political party on notice. National will need to explain where it plans to cut costs if it wants to make the rosy projections a reality, and while Nicola Willis has raised the possibility of tax cuts, economists are s...

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