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A pod of orca caused quite a stir in Auckland, after swimming remarkably close to the city's waterfront on Monday afternoon. The animals were spotted moving through the Waitemata Harbour, attracting crowds of whale watchers along the shoreline. Some even swam into Westhaven Marina. But there were some concerns people might be getting a little too close in their excitement. Project Jonah's Daren Gr...

If you're struggling to control the surging spring growth in your lawn and garden, spare a thought for Eden Park's head groundsman Blair Christensen.

A transport lobby group says the closure of the Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3 for nine consecutive nights reinforces the case for an investigation into an alternative detour for when the economic lifeline is shut. Taranaki Reporter Robin Martin reports.

An early morning sports news update.

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

It's OCR week again, and many economists are expecting an increase. But what does that mean for home loans? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been looking at it and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Central Otago's economy is outpacing New Zealand's thanks to the dominance of dairy and other primary industries. But it's an area where once proud farming towns are also struggling with an ageing population and changing identity. In the third of a six-part series called Backroads to the Beehive, South Island Correspondent Tim Brown goes deep into Otago's interior.

South Waikato locals are pleased visitors seem to have heeded their calls to think twice before travelling to a popular tourist spot over the long weekend. More than 100,000 people have visited Putaruru's Te Waihou Blue Spring since last year, and with it came worries about dangerous parking and rubbish dumping. Tirau ward councillor Kerry Purdy has been asking for a temporary closure of the attra...

Labour's former candidate for Tamaki Makaurau plans to run as an independent. Kerrin Leoni resigned from the party after video and photos emerged of her wearing Labour gear with campaign hoardings at a whanau fundraising event attended by Mongrel Mob members. Labour's Tangi Utikere spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Voting is now open, with party leaders using Labour Day to cast their votes. But anyone not already enrolled will not be able to vote. The Electoral Commission says it'll have final numbers by the end of the week, with 92.5 percent of people enrolled as of Friday. National party leader Christopher Luxon spoke to John Campbell.

A long-awaited intensive care unit at Waitakere Hospital is fully equipped and ready to go but has no patients, no staff and no operating budget. There was a lot of excitement when it was announced five years ago as the first intensive care unit for West Auckland. The six bed unit was meant to be open by the end of this year but there is now no set opening date. Reporter Rowan Quinn spoke to Ingri...

Foreign students are making thousands of insurance claims for mental health problems and industry insiders say they need more support. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

The latest news in Samoan language (Gagana Samoa).

An early morning sports news update.

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

New Zealand vets want people to be more aware of the health conditions associated with some breeding practices, and to prioritise health over looks. Some of the features that make dogs look cute can also make their lives uncomfortable, and Kiwi vets are asking owners whether it's worth it. Professor Dan O'Neill from the UK's Royal Veterinary College is a leading expert in the field and is visiting...

Voting booths are now open. Labour Day was a holiday for most people, but not politicians, who hit the booths, streets and hustings, hard. Labour says it will form a government by Christmas, while Christopher Luxon says a coalition will take as long as it takes. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira followed it all.

Strong wind warnings remain in place for Wellington and the upper South Island this morning. Yesterday, the gusts were so strong, people were blown off bikes and car wing mirrors went flying, with a stretch of Oriental Parade closed due to safety concerns. Planes couldn't land and as many as 20 flights were diverted. MetService's head of weather news, Heather Keats spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A lawyer who's specialised in ACC claims for nearly 30 years says it's tougher than ever to get compensation and treatment costs paid. Wellington lawyer Hazel Armstrong is worried about the way ACC is investigating claims. She spoke to John Campbell.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

This morning's top stories and other headlines

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

A report commissioned by healthcare unions says almost half of public health spending is being channelled into the private sector. The report was commissioned by Public Futures Aotearoa, a coalition of healthcare unions including the nurses, senior doctors and the Public Service Association. It says 80 percent of the increase in public health funding over the past three years has gone to the priva...

Israeli voters are preparing to go to the polls for the first time since the October 7th Hamas attacks, Israel's worst security failure, and Israel's invasion of Gaza, estimated to have killed more than seventy thousand people. Correspondent Blake Sifton spoke to John Campbell from Tel Aviv.