Morning Report

The government will cap Council rates increases at 4% from 2029, with limited exceptions. It says the move will ease cost-of-living pressures, and get councils to focus on the basics. At the same time the historic city deal between Auckland Council and the Government is under pressure, after the Prime Minister ruled out a bed tax if National is re-elected - the deal committed to consider an accomm...

US correspondent Ira Spitzer joins John to talk about Parton's life.

It's been a record season for kiwifruit company Seeka, meanwhile farmers are busy with lambing and calving but also keeping a watchful eye on the forecast. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

The health system has been given a dire diagnosis at a public meeting where experts and advocates called for more funding for workforce and infrastructure. The 'health of our nation' community meeting brought together clinicians, patient advocates and health leaders to discuss the pressures the system is under. Penny Smith was there.

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

Almost 10 million dollars of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will be spent on reducing the wild goat and deer population across New Zealand's conservation landscapes. There are approximately 1.8 million wild deer and several hundred thousand wild goats across the country, costing farms hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and repair bills every year and invading native...

Minister Stanford on proposed social media ban; Weekly interview with opposition leader; Mackenzie District contemplates revenue without levy; Weight loss drug use driving protein demand; What Labour's tax changes could mean for property prices

A team of researchers at Auckland University of Technology wants to teach AI to recognise the sound of possums to help track down more of the destructive pests. AUT postdoctoral fellow Amin Barzegar spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the technology and its potential.

At Wellington Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, infant mental health is treated as equally important to physical symptoms. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

Mangere Budgeting Services Trust is seeing customers from working families unable to make their pay checks stretch to cover even their basic needs. Lara Dolan, chief executive of the trust, told John Campbell about the increasing demand for food support and the pressures on families.

An early morning sports news update.

An early morning sports news update.

Money correspondent Susan Edmunds looks at the data showing people over 65 are paying 15% of all of the personal tax take.

Impressionable children and their helpless parents fighting a losing battle against some of the world's biggest, most powerful tech giants. Education Minister Erica Stanford let the teens do the talking - broadcasting a snippet of a sit down with some of them during yesterday's announcement.

Originair says the current support arrangement for direct flights will end this week. Originair chief executive Robert Inglis spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the service and attempts to boost demand.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

A Waikato paediatric surgeon has returned from Samoa after leading a team providing life-changing surgery to children. Dr Stephen Adams, Waikato Hospital's head of department of paediatric surgery, spoke to John Campbell about the group of six who performed 26 operations.

The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll gauged voters' views on National's emergency caucus meeting two weeks ago, where a majority of MPs opted to keep Luxon as leader, foiling a bid to replace him. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Labour projects a capital gains tax on property will raise $1.35 billion a year by 2031. Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub spoke to John Campbell about what the tax changes could mean for property investors and prices.

As the number of school leavers with no qualifications soars, some schools are adopting an alternative to NCEA for students who need it. Education reporter John Gerritsen reports on the introduction of the New Zealand Certificate of Foundation.

Tourists visiting Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook use local infrastructure, putting pressure on the ratepayer base. Without the proposed accommodation levy, the region is contemplating how to grow revenue. Mackenzie District Mayor Scott Aronsen spoke to John Campbell about tourism figures and introducing a visitor levy.

A bill being introduced in Parliament on Monday would require platforms to take "reasonable steps" to verify someone's age, as part of a ban on social media for under-16s. Education Minister Erica Stanford spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the bill.