Morning Report

Iran president says country will never bend to President Trump President Masoud Pezeshkian has given a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Correspondent Mitch McCann who is based at the UN headquarters spoke to John Campbell.

The latest rural news with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

Counselling students say the financial burden of unpaid placements is a huge barrier for people trying to make it into the mental health workforce, and many are dropping out. Alexa Cook reports.

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

Researchers are projecting that nearly half a million people could die globally because of the current so-called super El Nino. Victoria University climate scientist Professor James Renwick spoke to John Campbell.

Weekly Political Panel: Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni; Lillian Hanly discusses Nicky Hager's new book; Police Association responds to new move on order laws; Liz Gregory discusses Gloriavale Trust losing charities status

The world's only known triceratops herd is coming to Auckland Museum. It's a chance to come face-to-face with five fossil skeletons of one of the most iconic dinosaur species. Victoria Travers is the head of audience engagement at the Auckland Museum and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The 15 metre tall Panmure roundabout sign spelling out the suburb's name, stood in the centre of a notorious three-lane roundabout that was for years a car crash hotspot. It is finally being reinstated, although not everyone is happy about where it's going. Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board deputy chair, Tabetha Elliot spoke to John Campbell.

The redrawing of boundary lines means Ashhurst, which is just outside Palmerston North, is now in the Wairarapa electorate. The boundaries were changed late last year to manage population growth across the lower North Island electorates. But locals say they've got no connection to their new electorate. Charlotte Cook reports.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Where do New Zealanders want to work? According to a new survey, the answer is Green Cross Health. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Pahiatua locals have flocked to a public meeting to discuss the state of their teetering healthcare service on Tuesday night. The meeting - one of three planned for the Tararua District - follows the resignation of six staff at the Pahiatua Medical Centre this week, amid concerns about extreme workloads and patient safety. Reporter Mary Argue reports.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

The biggest decision makers in New Zealand's rugby establishment are meeting to chart the course of the game on our shores. NZ Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Investigative journalist and author Nicky Hager has released a new book called Dirty Work, an exposé of the Taxpayers' Union. Political reporter Lillian Hanly was at the launch and spoke to John Campbell.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Business update for 23 September 2026.

Business update for 23 September 2026.

The New Zealand Police will soon have the power to order people to move elsewhere if they are being disorderly, begging or rough sleeping, after the Government's move-on orders legislation passed its final reading in Parliament on Friday. Police Association President Steve Watt spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New firefighters say they're missing out on valuable training by not having live fire training in this country. Last September, the live fire cells in Rotorua's national training centre were closed due to safety concerns. The professional firefighters' union says live fire training should be fundamental while Fire and Emergency says its training combines theory with practical exercises. Tess Brunt...

National has announced it will bring in a school start check to assess whether five year olds have hit certain milestones before they go to school. Claire Southee taught in ECE settings for 12 years and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Campaigners are welcoming Gloriavale's Christian Church Community Trust being stripped of its charitable status. The Charities Registration Board has deregistered the $47 million trust for three years for serious wrongdoing. Liz Gregory, from the Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust, has spent years advocating for this and spoke to John Campbell.

Business News for 23 September 2026.

Formed in 2010, the same year 29 men died in the Pike River mine workplace, following numerous warnings of a potential catastrophe, the Health and Safety Forum is a coalition of 440 business and government leaders with a stated commitment to improve workplace health and safety. Francois Barton, chief executive of the Health and Safety Forum spoke to John Campbell.