RNZ - All Programmes

The top stories and other headlines at midday

Today Liz takes a look at historical land covenants and where they fit with rapidly changing planning rules. Increasingly, the courts are being asked whether some of these covenants have outlived their purpose as neighbourhoods, infrastructure and planning rules change - and rezoning alone does not wipe covenants away.

Emma Galloway on how to get back to the garden, or even to get started for first-timers, and then what to make with the produce grown.

Kathryn, Neale and Brigitte discuss recent events in politics, including latest polling that suggests NZ First is gaining support. 

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Keiller has the latest on suspicious deaths in Christchurch, including the homicide of two men in Phillipstown over the weekend and the discovery of missing man, Braydon Hepworth's body. She also has more details about the copper thieves hitting pivot irrigators and the city's hiphop summit comes to an end.

Kiran Dass reviews two books: Stations by Louise Kennedy (Bloomsbury Publishing), and The Vivisectors by Missouri Williams (HarperCollins).

The author of a new book on New Zealand's birds believes there are few countries as connected with its bird life as this one. Robert Vennell is a curator in the Natural Science department at Auckland Museum and in Songs of the Birds he explores how birds have been used as food, medicine, tools, and looked upon for comfort, to predict the future and understand weather patterns. Aotearoa is dominate...

Christopher Luxon spoke to John Campbell; David Seymour on ACT's plan to cut debt and spending; Dr Lara Greaves discusses Maori electorate race; Letitia Harding on New Zealand's respiratory health burden

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Saudi capital airport hit by second Houthi strike in two days; New Israel election poll shows Eisenkot leads Netanyahu, but both blocs without clear path to 61-seat majority; and Flydubai attacker began a 'drift towards extremism and terrorism' in Australia, UAE says. Sebastian Usher is Global affairs correspondent at BBC News, bringing us news from the Middle East

If you can't imagine the sound of a dog barking or hear your inner voice, you're not alone. 

Gail Gillon, who founded Better Start Literacy Approach, discusses the results the programme has achieved since it was first introduced in schools in 2021.

Labour has promised to tackle the cost of living, with policies including breaking up supermarkets, offering free prescriptions and doctor visits, freezing fuel taxes and capping public transport costs, all while restoring pay equity. Opponents have claimed their plan is largely uncosted, with National saying there is a multi billion-dollar gap in Labour's fiscal plan. Labour's finance spokesperso...

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

We crossed the tasman to speak to our Australia correspondent, Emma Cropper

So each year a select group of the West Coast's youngest and brightest are offered scholarships to help them study and then bring those newfound skills back home. Economic development charitable trust Development West Coast has just awarded six tertiary student scholarships for this year, each worth up to $32,500 Four years ago, Molly Williams was among the recipients. She's now one year away from...

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

Would you be able to access government support for rest home care if either you or your partner needed it? It's an issue that money correspondent Susan Edmunds is frequently asked about in her weekly column and on the No Stupid Questions podcast. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Christopher Luxon says there are serious dangers associated with artificial intelligence, but is sticking by the coalition government's strategy that takes a light touch to regulating it. Labour is promising to dump the strategy if elected. Phil Pennington reports.

The children of Hokitika Primary School are on the hunt for their next principal. But the West Coast can have its challenges when attracting people to move into the area. But to talk about what it takes to get people to come, we're joined by school board parent representative Owen Kilgour.

The ACT Party says its fiscal plan will have New Zealand reaching surplus sooner, with $12.4 billion less debt by 2031. To do so, it is proposing to gradually raise the age of superannuation, reduce foreign aid spending and disability benefits, and ax a number of ministries. ACT leader David Seymour spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Christopher Luxon spoke to John Campbell.

Donald Trump says it's time for Ukraine to elect a new leader, after the US President announced a deal to get diesel from Russia. Trump suggested Volodymyr Zelensky hasn't done enough to end Russia's war with Ukraine, adding the Ukrainian President was to blame for high diesel prices because of his army's strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Otago University Associate Professor James Headley,...