Midday Report

The Opportunity Party is on the cusp of making it into parliament, according to recent polling data, sitting just under the 5 percent MMP threshold. The party has claimed it can work with either a National or Labour led government. But yesterday Christopher Luxon ruled them out. Opportunity party leader Quilae Wong spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A man has been arrested in Russia on accusations of spying for New Zealand. Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, said it had identified and stopped the illegal activity of a Russian citizen suspected of committing treason. Otago University Associate Professor James Headley is an expert on Russian foreign policy and international relations and spoke to Guyon Espiner.

David Seymour discusses new ACT Pharmac policy; Southland mayor discusses new AI data centre plans; New documentary about Jim Anderton to screen at film festival.

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

A new documentary called Last Man Standing, about the life and political career of Jim Anderton is screening at the NZ International Film Festival. Matt Robson worked on the film and worked closely with Jim Anderton in parliament. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.

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 wants a one-year pause on consents for new AI data centres, until stronger rules and regulations are put in place. The policy comes as Data Grid has consent to build a data centre in Southland. Southland Mayor, Rob Scott spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The ACT Party has announced a new policy ahead of this year's election, giving Pharmac a larger slice of the health budget. David Seymour wants to push out Pharmac's budget to 12 percent of the total health budget by 2033. Seymour spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Felicity Roxburgh responds to Trump's latest tariffs on NZ; Campaign spotlights medicines patients can't access; Rose Horowitch on why fewer people are reading.

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

In America, gambling has officially become a more common leisure activity than reading, with 57 percent of adults placing a bet over the past year. Fewer than half had read a book of any kind. Rose Horowitch is a staff writer for the Atlantic and her feature - The End of Reading - is going viral. Horowitch spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Weekly chat about the week in politics with Patrick Gower and Guyon Espiner.

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

This weekend, Auckland's Shed 10 is hosting the Forbidden Pharmacy. The installation shows the medicines that patients may need but can't access because they are not funded by Pharmac. Blood Cancer NZ CEO Tim Edmonds is one of the key players in the campaign and spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The Trump administration claims New Zealand is one of 60-plus countries not doing enough to stop forced labour. As a result, a new tariff takes effect at 4pm today. Felicity Roxburgh, Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Political Editor Jo Moir discusses Stuart Nash resignation; AI controlled drone missile that could reshape modern warfare; Latest news from the United States.

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

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

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

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Earlier this month, a drone powered by artificial intelligence, launched a missile in the Mojave Desert in the United States, in a test that experts say could reshape modern warfare. WJ Hennigan has written about this. He covers national security for The New York Times. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Stuart Nash resigned as a New Zealand First candidate last night after calling the National MP Katie Nimon the laziest MP he'd come across, when she had taken time off for maternity leave. Stuart Nash said last night that a private message he had sent became a "significant distraction" and led him to resign from NZ First. But Labour is asking where that leaves the Prime Minister, who the party say...