RNZ - All Programmes

We're going to start the show with a discussion about the cost of living. According to many polls, it's your biggest concern in the lead up to the general election with rising living costs and flat wage growth leaving many struggling to afford the basics. Politicians are promising very different solutions to get the economy back on track, but what we wanted to know was how did we get here? and why...

Kia ora, welcome to Midday Report essentials . In todays episode: Kerrin Leoni resigns from the Labour Party after video shows she campaigned with Mongrel Mob members, and Chris Hipkins says racism on the right is a factor in the gang scandal. RNZ political editor Jo Moir joined me on whether it could cost him the election. The fiscal fights continue: the Greens say NZ First's campaign promises ad...

This week President Trump's envoy stood in St Petersburg and called Vladimir Putin a humanitarian. With the lifting of sanctions on Russia and harsh criticism of Ukraine President Vlodamyr Zelensky questions are being raised about whose side America is now on. Guardian journalist and author Luke Harding has a new book on the conflict called Betrayal. Harding spoke to Guyon Espiner.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

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

The Green Party has released its fiscal plan, promising to increase health spending by $3 billion each year. Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Labour MP Kerrin Leoni has resigned as Tamaki Makaurau candidate after video emerged of her campaigning with Mongrel Mob members. Political Editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The top stories and other headlines at midday

Christchurch is the centre of the NZ sporting universe this week.

Justine Smith and Donna Brookbanks with a lighter take on some recent stories.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Kaitlyn has the latest on what is happening with the Cathedral Cove track, a dispute over the proposed felling of a protected tree, the new freight and logistics hub opened at the Port of Tauranga, meth testing increases after law changes and success for Tauranga's Men's Volleyball.

Chris Tse reviews two poetry collections: Salt Quilt by Airini Beautrais (Te Herenga Waka University Press), and I Do Know Some Things by Richard Siken (Penguin Random House).

Kerrin Leoni, has resigned as a Labour candidate for Tamaki Makaurau. This comes after a video merged showing her campaigning with gang members. RNZ political editor Jo Moir.

Sociologist Maryam Aslany says there are still roughly two billion people out there living as peasants in her new book Peasants: Makers of the Modern World she argues that these small-scale farmers are essential to the global economy. 

Chloe Swarbrick discusses increase in threats to; ACC requests for historic patient notes add to GP workload; Lillian Hanly on Labour's response to candidate's gang; Heather Keats previews Labour Weekend's weather

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in India, while Japan carries out a first mission to Mars' moons to collect samples. 

Gaming is set to take centre stage this Labour Weekend with an international e-sports test match between New Zealand and India. E Blacks team leader Jonathan Jansen and player Sam Johnson

WOMAD is returning to Taranaki in next March, following a year off this year amid rising costs, Drew James is the newly-appointed executive director. 

Earlier this week Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie was convicted for his role in the murder of 191 people - all but one of them children. It once again drew attention to the devastating consequences of coercive control. But cults and high-control groups aren't always in remote places led by charismatic religious figures, or international stories making headlines. They can be much closer to home,...

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

We cross the Tasman to talk to our correspondent Richard Willingham from ABC in Victoria.

For this week's regional spotlight, we're heading to a tiny community called Ross, south of Hokitika. And while Church attendance may be decreasing generally, all pews will be filled this Sunday in Ross's St Patrick's Catholic Church, as it celebrates its 160th anniversary. The building is the oldest surviving structure on the West Coast, Parishioner Biddy Manera spoke to John Campbell.