Morning Report

An early morning sports news update.

While the country grapples with a shortage of GPs and long wait times in primary care, a new GP clinic has opened in Lower Hutt. Family-owned Riverside Medical hopes to fill this gap. Sammy Carter reports.

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

The South Island has seen prolonged downpours and heavy snow, with more than 300 millimetres of rain recorded around Franz Josef. MetService's head of Weather, Heather Keats spoke to John Campbell.

Mayor of Auckland on bed tax, city deal, rates cap; Sealord CEO on seafood demand and laws governing fisheries; Auckland port turns ship around with record profits; Launch of manifesto to reduce child poverty; Children's hospital deals with spike in winter flu cases.

Visitors to the Mackenzie District are seeing icebergs surge into the region's turquoise waters. Charlie Hobbs, owner of Aoraki Mt Cook Guiding Company, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Street performers say a crackdown on busking outside Auckland's busiest train station is hurting the city's vibe. Felix Walton reports.

The final of the national secondary school choir competition, The Big Sing, gets underway at the Christchurch Town Hall today with winners announced on Saturday night. Keiller MacDuff went along to rehearsals.

Correspondent Nick Harper spoke to John Campbell about the tributes pouring in for Dolly Parton.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Money correspondent Susan Edmunds looks at how rates have been rising and who is paying the biggest bills.

The latest Westpac Economic Overview predicts a fall in the unemployment rate, with economic growth forecast to rise to 3 percent in 2027. Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Major changes to the laws governing fisheries - covering how much can be caught, what can be caught, and who is able to have input into those decisions - have been paused until after the election after a swell of public criticism. Sealord CEO Doug Paulin spoke to John Campbell about the debate behind sustainable fishing practices.

Porirua GP Dr Bryan Betty says it's not too late for vaccinations to make a significant difference in the country's battle against a brutal flu season. He spoke to John Campbell about the late season and the expansion of vaccine coverage.

Residents and leaders on Wellington's South Coast want more transparency on the Moa Point water treatment plant meltdown, over six months after the disaster occurred. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch on Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment officials found in contempt of Parliament.

An early morning sports news update.

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

New Zealand's gender pay gap is at 5.3% in the June quarter, slightly up from the same time last year when it was 5.2%. That's according to the latest numbers from Stats New Zealand, which compares the median hourly earnings between men and women. Jo Cribb is the founder of Still Minding the Gap, an advocacy group. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New Zealand has approximately 170,000 children living in what's defined as "material hardship" and more than 350,000 children in financially insecure households. The Child Poverty Action Group has launched a manifesto to reduce child poverty. Lyn Amos, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, spoke to John Campbell about the group's challenge to political parties.

The National Party this week ruled out a bed tax, despite the city deal with Auckland committing to exploring one in 2027. It comes as the government announces a rates cap from 2029. Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about what the changes could mean for Auckland.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

Starship Hospital is deferring less urgent cases to cope with a spike in young children with flu symptoms. Pharmac has announced it will fund the flu vaccine for all children under five for next year's flu season. Currently - for children at least - only those under 4 who have been hospitalised for respiratory illnesses are eligible for no-cost jabs. Starship Hospital respiratory paediatrician Dr...

Hundreds of people are feared dead after a flash flood and mudslide on the Nepal-Tibet border. Entire villages have been swept away. At least 95 people have been killed, and hundreds of others are missing, including foreign tourists. The BBC's Global Affairs Correspondent, Anbarasan Ethirajan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.