Midday Report

What Israel's Pacific Islands Forum partnership means for NZ; Former National minister questions Luxon's Opportunity stance; Wellness and recovery become big business for gyms.

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

The fitness industry is booming at the moment, and wellness and recovery is a growing part of what gyms are offering, alongside traditional exercise spaces. Les Mills New Zealand chief executive Brett Sutton spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Polling shows The Opportunity Party set out to make it into Parliament and it also shows that both the left and right bloc would need them to form a government. National's leader, Christopher Luxon has ruled them out. Former National minister, Jonathan Coleman thinks the current leader may have got it wrong. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Israel has joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a partner. The move comes after an intense diplomatic push by Israel in the Pacific, which has also seen Papua New Guinea and Fiji open embassies in Jerusalem with Samoa promising to follow. But with accusations of genocide in Gaza, sanctions by New Zealand on Israeli Ministers and a International Criminal Court arrest warrant in place for Prime Minis...

Today: Labour's answer to the ED crisis: Ayesha Verrall is live on Labour's new health policy out today. We're at the Supreme Court with Scott Watson in a final bid to clear his name for the Hope-Smart murders more than three decades on. Plus all the latest in polls, policies and promises from the campaign trail - as the neck and neck race for the Beehive enters the final stretch.

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

A new poll out this morning has put the election on a knife-edge and Opportunity not far above the 5 percent threshold. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The latest news from the United States with Nine News reporter Lauren Tomasi in Washington DC.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

A hearing which could be Scott Watson's last chance to quash his convictions got underway at the Supreme Court today. RNZ's Ellen O'Dwyer is covering the case and spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Health is emerging as one of the key battlegrounds in the election campaign. Labour has unveiled its plan to tackle ED waiting lists today. Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Today: More details have emerged about the visit from Green and Te Pati Maori MPs to a Mongrel Mob gang pad. One of those MPs was Te Pati Maori MP Oriini Kaipara. In a video of her speech she promises to "restore mana" to gang members, Oriini Kaipara joined Guyon Espiner to explain. Labour says it will ban social media for under-16, set up an online watchdog to fine tech giants and allow people to...

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

National is promising to make it a crime to remain silent and not disclose information relating to a child being murdered. National's Justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says the right to remain silent is a fundamental principle but it should not be absolute when a child has lost their life and no one is talking. But what would the implications be for our justice system? Paul Goldsmith spoke to Gu...

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Labour says the big technology companies have too much power over what we see and their algorithms are designed to keep us scrolling. So Labour's plan is to ban social media for under-16, set up an online watchdog to fine tech giants and allow people to opt out of the algorithm and get posts only from accounts they follow . Labour tech spokesman Reuben Davidson spoke to Guyon Espiner.

More details have emerged about the visit from Green and Te Pati Maori MPs to a Mongrel Mob gang pad. One of those MPs was Te Pati Maori MP Oriini Kaipara and footage of her speech at this hui has been circulating on social media today. In the speech she promises to restore mana to gang members. Oriini Kaipara spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A top economist says the recovery is here - but card spending data out today is weak and retailers say they are entering the peak trading season under real pressure. Gareth Kiernan from Infometrics explains what's going on. A Taxpayers Union ad made with AI depicts Chris Hipkins as a home invading thief over the Capital Gains Tax. Have attack ads gone too far: Political scientist Claire Robinson w...