Morning Report

Business update for 16 September 2026.

Chief Executive of the Independent Children's Monitor, Aroturuki Tamariki, Arran Jones spoke to John Campbell about the Public Inquiry into the Disappearance of the Phillips Children.

The health system has been under significant pressure this winter, with Auckland City Hospital saying it's been worse than expected. Just yesterday, Tauranga Hospital ED staff declared a "state of emergency", saying the ED was running up to 200% capacity, without the staffing needed. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

The Government says it will shortly announce further details on the work it's doing to reform the law surrounding retirement villages. A review of the Retirement Villages Act at the end of last year was intended to "address concerns around fairness and provide certainty to residents and their families." A focus was on delivering faster repayments and stronger protections, but an amendment bill is...

An inquiry into the hospital where killer nurse Lucy Letby worked, has found some babies could have been saved if action was taken earlier. Correspondent Stuart Smith spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from London.

Farmer profits reach 10 year high.

An early morning sports news update.

A family violence expert says multiple government agencies failed simultaneously to allow Tom Phillips to be on the run with his kids for years. A public inquiry has found authorities could have prevented him from disappearing with his children, or brought them home sooner. Political reporter Lillian Hanly reports.

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

Westport communities will be better prepared for floods, thanks to a new forecasting system. It will give authorities the ability to plan evacuations a day or more in advance. West Coast Regional Council hydrology manager Samwell Warren spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Morning Report Essentials Tuesday 15 September 2026.

John Campbell spoke to Culture 101 host Perlina Lau about the biggest night in television.

With the weather getting warmer, yellow-legged hornet hunters will soon learn if their big push to kill the invasive species has been successful. Ingrid Hipkiss spoke to Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand's commissioner for the north, on what people should be looking out for.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Money correspondent Susan Edmunds explains the new data from the Banking Ombudsman.

The University of Otago's largest build, both in size and cost, will open at the end of this week in Christchurch. The building, to be known as Wai Ora, will bring together most of Otago's medical campus into one six-storey building in Christchurch's central city. Rachel Graham reports.

New Zealand's tourism industry has reached a milestone, with the number of overseas visitors arriving in the country two months ago surpassing July 2019 figures. John Campbell spoke to David Beeche, CEO of Queenstown-based tour operator Real NZ, about visitor numbers and sustainable growth.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

With Auckland's City Rail Link now open, many people are contemplating the potential of train travel across the country. John Campbell spoke to Patrick Rooney, one of the founders of train advocacy group The Future is Rail, about where rail infrastructure is most needed.

Political editor Jo Moir joins Morning Report.

An early morning sports news update.

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

There's a call for a global coordinated effort to address the threat of artificial intelligence. John Campbell spoke to John Steidley, researcher at Californian nonprofit Palisade Research, about the growing awareness of the risks associated with the technology.