Morning Report

An early morning sports news update.

National is progressing its efforts to ban under-16 year olds from social media platforms, but is yet to gather the support of its coalition partners. Political reporter Lauren Crimp reports.

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

The number of New Zealanders using weight loss drugs, also known as GLP-1s, has tripled in the 11 months since they became available. With that increase, there is a rise in demand for quality protein. Weight loss specialist Dr Lara Courtenay spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about what she is seeing in her clinic.

Opportunity Party as kingmaker in new RNZ-Reid Research poll; Queenstown contemplates future of accommodation levy; Weekly interview with Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; Labour releases fiscal strategy with promise to slash debt; Police respond to two accidents in Manawatu over weekend.

We crossed the Tasman to speak to our Australia correspondent, Gavin Coote.

As it marks 40 years of conservation, the Antarctic Heritage Trust is inviting people aged 18 to 30 to travel to the Ross Sea next year. The Trust's Anna Clare spoke to John Campbell about the opportunity.

Economics consultancy Infometrics is forecasting that more than 1400 plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying jobs will need to be filled next year as people retire or move overseas and work picks up after a long downturn. Charlotte Cook reports.

An early morning sports news update.

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

Food prices have increased a lot in recent years. And while the rate of that increase has slowed a little lately, many essential items are selling at record prices - and have increased in price at a rate that's much faster than wages have gone up. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds reports.

Dilworth's former assistant principal, scoutmaster and history teacher Ian Robert Wilson has been in prison for the past five years for sexual offending against boys between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. He owns a home less than 250 metres from a school and kindergarten, and will be allowed to move back six months after his release from prison. Reporter Finn Blackwell spoke to John Campbell abo...

Two men, including a police officer, were seriously injured in two separate traffic incidents in Manawatu early on Sunday morning. Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the injured officer and road safety in the region.

Labour says it will get back to surplus by 2029/30, slash debt and set up an independent Parliamentary Budget Office, if elected. Barbara Edmonds, Labour's finance spokesperson, spoke to John Campbell about the party's fiscal approach.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Morning Report.

With record-breaking demand on Hato Hone St John earlier this month, Wellington Free Ambulance is responding to a high number of mental health callouts alongside seasonal illness requests. Eric Tibbot, Wellington Free Ambulance's general manager of operations, spoke to John Campbell about the pressures on the service.

120 nurses have written to Health NZ chief executive Dale Bramley to draw attention to poor conditions at North Shore Hospital. Rowan Quinn reports.

An early morning sports news update.

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

2026 is again proving to be a tough year for Wellington retailers, but some owners remain optimistic. Rachel Helyer-Donaldson spoke to new Business Central and Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Hayley Horan to find out more.

Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown, spoke to John Campbell about National's decision to rule out an accommodation levy, and the pressures on infrastructure in the region.

National has emerged from weeks of political in-fighting with very little impact on its party polling. While it remains stuck under 30 percent in the latest RNZ Reid Research poll, it went up ever so slightly, while Labour dropped two points. But the combined National-Labour party vote has dropped even lower since July - it's just 61 percent of the total now. Political editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingr...

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

The All Blacks have drawn first blood in four-test series against South Africa with yesterday morning's 33-16 win in Johannesburg. While thrilled with the win at Ellis Park coach Dave Rennie is bracing for a backlash from the Springboks in the second test in Cape Town next weekend. Rugby reporter Joe Porter reports from Johannesburg.

US president Donald Trump is holding firm after plunging the United States and Canada into a trade war. Negotiations between the two countries collapsed late last week, with the US imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Canada. Canada's prime minister Mark Carney has vowed to match them dollar for dollar. Steven Chase who is a Senior Parliamentary Reporter, based in Ottawa for The Globe and Mail, spoke w...