Midday Report

Elle Chrisp, a mum whose children played with asbestos-contaminated play sand and has been demanding more accountability and long term health monitoring. She spoke to Guyon Espiner following this morning's findings from a study that found airborne asbestos in children's play sand products.

Ombudsman criticises PM office over withheld lobbyist documents; Questions over overseas reach of China's ethnic unity law; Former Trump official on Iran, tariffs and New Zealand.

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

How does the US-New Zealand relationship stand after the Iran War and the tariffs of the Trump administration? Guyon Espiner spoke to American Brigadier General David Stilwel, a veteran of US military and diplomacy.

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.

China's new ethnic unity law comes into effect today and could be used to allow Beijing to target people living in New Zealand. China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion law is designed to create a "shared" national identity among the country's ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans and Uyghurs. But one clause of the law says that people and groups beyond China's borders could be held legall...

The Chief Ombudsman has rebuked the Prime Minister after his office failed to hand over documents supplied to a member of his staff by corporate lobbyists pushing their case for climate change laws. The ruling has just been made by Chief Ombudsman John Allen. RNZ political reporter Lillian Hanly has been following this story closely and spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Community Housing Aotearoa's Paul Gilberd on homelessness; Police raid Brian Tamaki's house to take firearms; The Nord Stream Conspiracy.

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

In September 2022 several devastating explosions destroyed Nord Stream, the $20 billion pipeline carrying cheap Russian gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea. Bojan Pancevski is the award-winning Chief European Political Correspondent of the Wall Street Journal, and the author of the book The Nord Stream Conspiracy. Bojan spoke with Guyon Espiner about his book.

The latest news from the United States with correspondent Lauren Tomasi in Washington DC.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

The government's approach to the homeless is under intense scrutiny right now, with revelations by TVNZ's Q+A show on the weekend that MSD staff had performance targets to reduce emergency housing numbers.

In a Facebook post today the Destiny Church founder said his firearms licence had been cancelled two days ago and police had shown up to his house to take his firearms.

Welcome to Midday Report essentials with Guyon Espiner In this episode: Wuld Act's plan to cut government departments also spell the end of the politically neutral public service? David Seymour fronted up on his plans to allow Ministers to hire and fire govt dept CEOs. Climate activist Mike Smith has filed a court case against the government's plans to prevent companies being sued over their green...

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

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

Hundreds of people cut off by this week's storm will likely be isolated for several days, some without power, and authorities are considering getting food and supplies through by boat or by air. Dame Fran Wilde, Mayor of South Wairarapa spoke to Guyon Espiner.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Climate change activist Mike Smith has filed a court case against the government's plans to prevent companies being sued over their greenhouse gas emissions. Smith spoke to Guyon Espiner.

ACT has outlined a new plan for the public sector at the party's election-year conference in Auckland. Party leader David Seymour spoke to Guyon Espiner.