Morning Report

Psychologist joins calls for compulsory helmets on e-scooters; ICU doctor calls for more RSV vaccination funding; Bernard Hickey on why OCR rise will hit those already suffering; Queenstown farmer funds wheelchair lift for Wellington family; Developer revives controversial Arrowtown housing project

A wildly successful fundraising campaign has raised the standard of cancer care for the thousands of New Zealanders served by Palmerston North Hospital by supplying the funds for a state-of-the-art surgical robot. The campaign, run by the Palmerston North Hospital Foundation, raised over $2.5 million in just six months, and it is now hoped the robot will be installed in the hospital by Christmas....

A new paper being offered by Otago University summer school is aiming to better prepare students for the workplace, but encouraging the use of AI. Tech business consultant Rachel McBride is behind the paper's design and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Last year there were just 108,000 apprentices and trainees, the fewest in the past 15 years and 50,000 fewer than a high set in 2022. Numbers fell again at the start of this year and industry insiders say it is not good for future skill needs. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Interest rate rises aren't popular with most borrowers, but it's particularly tough if you're paying off a loan that's larger than your home is worth. Prices have been flat since their fall from their COVID peak in most parts of the country, which has left some first-home buyers in a tricky spot. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The developer behind a contentious housing project near Arrowtown plans to submit a fresh fast track application this month, after an assessor of projects under the scheme said there wasn't enough information for experts to make a decision. Developer Kurt Gibbons, director of Ridgeburn Limited spoke to John Campbell.

The head of New Zealand's professional body for engineers is calling for greater accountability when risks are identified by experts after the tragedy at Mauao in January, where six people died in a landslide. Geotech engineers had repeatedly warned of the risk of deadly landslides. Richard Templer is the CEO of Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau. He was also the former chief executive of Mana...

The Prime Minister is set to meet with his counterparts at the Pacific Island Forum's annual leaders meeting in Palau today. Lillian Hanly spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A dad who had to lift his teenage daughter from her wheelchair up the stairs to their front door no longer has to, thanks to the generosity of a Morning Report listener. Dinson Thomas spoke to John Campbell.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Reserve Bank Governor, Anna Breman says falling house prices were contributing to Kiwi households feeling nervous about spending. John Ross, managing director of Professionals Lower Hutt has been in the industry for over 40 years and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A damning Crown review has found longstanding systemic failures at the top and missed warning signs ahead of the catastrophic failure at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant in February, disaster, which has since spewed billions of litres of untreated sewage into Cook Strait. Reporter Mary Argue has been speaking to people on the south coast.

A series of earthquakes near Milford Sound last night come as flash flooding in Nepal focuses attention on the risks from natural hazards at Piopiotahi Milford Sound. DOC's Southern, South Island Director Aaron Fleming spoke to John Campbell.

Psychologist Chris Parsons has joined the growing chorus of health professionals calling for compulsory helmets on e-scooters. In February, ACC figures provided to Morning Report showed that claims for e-scooter injuries on the rise, with children and young people among the most affected. Parsons spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

Iran has accused the United States of committing a war crime, claiming a US strike hit a wedding party. Iran says four people were killed, including a toddler. BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Independent analyst and editor of The Kaka, Bernard Hickey, believes the Reserve Bank's decision to raise the OCR 25 basis points to 2.75 ensures even deeper economic scars will be etched into unemployed young people and other vulnerable demographics. Hickey spoke to John Campbell.

A poor arable harvest this year, import competition and weak returns paired with high costs are hurting New Zealand's arable farmers, meanwhile wine giant Delegat is reporting strong sales, despite challenges facing the sector. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

Stats NZ is reporting total alcohol consumption per capita fell to its lowest point on record over the past year, the lowest in the OECD. Adam Burns reports.

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

An ICU doctor is joining the calls to fund RSV vaccines for our most vulnerable populations. It follows research from public health experts saying a programme could free up thousands of hospital beds, and a survey showing overwhelming public support. Dr Alex Browne, an ICU physician at Nelson Hospital and a Member of the College of Intensive Care Medicine spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.