Morning Report

Aucklanders are being encouraged to fix rather than throw away their broken items. New Zealand's first permanent repair hub has opened in Kingsland, where people can work alongside professionals to repair everything from shoes and clothing to small electrical appliances. Brigitte Sistig, co-founder of Repair Network Aotearoa and behind the new venture. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Job listings rose 6.5 percent in the April to June quarter, according to data from TradeMe. South Island listings rose 15 percent on the previous quarter while North Island listings were up two percent. Retail NZ's CEO Carolyn Young spoke to John Campbell.

Labour's grip on a southern stronghold could be loosening this election, with six candidates vying for the Otago seat of Taieri. The electorate used to be called Dunedin South but was renamed in boundary changes in 2020 that saw the seat claim a more rural area to the city's south. Labour narrowly held onto Taieri at the last election, with National, New Zealand First and the Greens all making gai...

An early morning sports news update.

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

The Reserve Bank is about to do something it doesn't do all that often - increase interest rates in the run-up to an election. Will it matter to voters? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been looking at this and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Police are investigating a potential breakthrough in relation to the 21-year-old cold case killing of Auckland woman Katrina Jefferies. It comes as a never before seen police report reveals that about a decade ago police recommended a suspect be charged with murder, but the Crown later found there was "insufficient evidence" to support the charge. RNZ National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood spok...

Paul Goldsmith and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

As advance voting gets underway, National's grip on Waitaki faced a vocal test in Wanaka last night, before about 200 locals. Six political candidates clashed over regional infrastructure, energy costs, and environmental policy at a summit organized by sustainability organisation Wao Aotearoa. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd was there.

It's hoped that lives will be saved thanks to a new pilot programme putting AEDs - automated external defibrillators - in some police cars in the Wellington region. Dr Erica Douglass is the executive medical director of Wellington Free Ambulance, and emergency medicine consultant at Wellington Hospital. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

With voting booths now open, polls suggest both major parties could be lucky to crack 30 percent come election day. The latest 1-News Verian Poll has National on 29 - down three from last week, whilst Labour remain steady 27. Complicating who could make up parliament is the chance of an overhang depending on results for the minor parties. RNZ's Political Editor Jo Moir spoke to John Campbell.

An early morning sports news update.

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

A group of dog walkers have lost their High Court battle with Auckland Council. Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia had applied for a judicial review of the Puketapapa Local Board's decision to get rid of a popular off-leash section at Monte Cecilia Park, despite 900 submissions and a petition signed by 1000 people against the move. Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia spokesperson Jonathan Sweeney spoke to Ingrid...

A security guard who worked the long weekend at Christchurch's One New Zealand Stadium says the heat inside the sun-baked venue was unbearable and unsafe. Reporter Adam Burns has more.

A Christchurch mum who bought play sand contaminated with asbestos says the Commerce Commission's decision to enforce more safety checks on the products must be rolled out more urgently. Elle Chrisp bought four kilograms of contaminated sand for her young twins to play with last year, before the nationwide recall. She spoke to John Campbell.

Labour wants to introduce a rent-to-buy scheme for public housing tenants, and make it easier for them to save a deposit. Under the policy $100 of rent would be set aside each week, so tenants could save $5,200 a year towards a deposit. Proceeds from the sale will then be used to build three more public houses. Labour is also promising to expand the First Home Loans scheme, lifting the income cap...

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

There are grand plans to make the Hamilton to Auckland Te Huia train an hourly service, and build a new station in the heart of Waikato's largest city. The Waikato Regional Council transport committee is considering a draft proposal, but the price for any possible changes could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Warren Maher, chair of Waikato Regional Council spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Israelis have been casting their ballots in record numbers - as they head to the polls for what many are viewing as the most consequential election in decades. It will determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu secures another term, after a combined 19 years in power. Thomas Helm, Jerusalem correspondent for The National, a Dubai-based English language news organisation spoke to John Campbell.

Some respite for Southland farmers and growers, battling one of the wettest seasons in almost half a century, meanwhile warmer conditions could also make for an early cherry harvest. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

A consumer watchdog says new rules requiring testing for asbestos contamination are a positive move, but most shoppers would expect testing is already happening. Luka Forman reports.

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

If the prevailing attitudes from economists and financial markets are to be believed, we could be seeing another hike in the official cash rate today... just 10 sleeps from election day. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr spoke to John Campbell.