Midday Report

The government is hitting the pause button on local government amalgamations. Wellington City Council had been planning for a Super-City combining councils across Wellington and Wairarapa. Wellington mayor, Andrew Little spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Vanushi Walters discusses Labour's foreign policy announcement; Mark Mitchell discusses National's new FENZ policy announcement; Latest news from Australia.

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

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.

National has unveiled its plan to strengthen fire and emergency services. National's emergency management spokesperson Mark Mitchell spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Labour says it will recognise the State of Palestine. In its foreign policy out today it also says it will place economic sanctions on Israel and ensure the NZ Super Fund and ACC divest from holdings on the UN list of companies operating in the occupied territories. Spokeswoman Vanushi Walters spoke to Guyon Espiner.

On today's episode Corin Dann talks us through the critique of monetary policy in the time of Covid. One in ten New Zealanders has kidney disease, we spend $340 million a year on dialysis machines; Midday Report has first access to the election wish list from kidney specialists. And New Zealand is a lobbying paradise with no regulation for lobbying - the Greens plan to change that. We scrutinise t...

Midday Sports News for 22 September 2026.

The Greens have just announced their plan to crack down on political donations, and make political lobbying more transparent. Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson spoke to Guyon Espiner.

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

News from the rural farming sector.

News from the business sector.

The Australia New Zealand Society for Nephrology has issued an election campaign wishlist to the political parties regarding the number of people in New Zealand with kidney disease. Dr Scott Crawford is a Nephrologist, and spokesman for the Society of Nephrology and spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The government has released a review of the Reserve Bank's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. RNZ business editor Corin Dann unpacked what is said with Guyon Espiner.

Foodstuffs NI boss responds to calls for its separation; The Green Party's plan to restore city centre vibrancy; Latest news from Australia.

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

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.

The Green Party is pledging to restore city centre vibrancy, by letting councils run rental auctions for spaces that have been empty for longer than 12 months. The party is targeting what are known as "ratchet clauses", which prevent the rent going below what a tenant already pays when the rent comes up for review. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick spoke to Guyon Espiner.

National wants to break up Foodstuffs, forcing its New World and Four Square brands to break from Pak'nSave to create a third player to drive down grocery prices through competition. Labour is also wanting to break up the duopoly. Chris Quin, chief executive of Foodstuffs North Island spoke to Guyon Espiner.

On today's episode with Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira, The government's revealed its plan to shake up retirement village repayment rules. Both operators and residents are criticising the plan. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka, and Di Sinclair from the Retirement Village residents Association join Midday Report. It's Friday so we wrap another big week in Politics with Paddy Gower.

Patrick Gower joins Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira to discuss the biggest political stories of the week.