Morning Report

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

New Zealand Cricket is defending its decision to pursue a new domestic T20 league instead of having an NZ team join Australia's Big Bash. NZ Cricket's President and former Blackcap Mark Greatbatch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

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

An early morning sports news update.

We've heard a lot about land tax and capital gains tax heading into this year's election. But, what if you don't own a house? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been looking at what might lie ahead for renters and spoke to John Campbell.

The people of Hamilton East are a microcosm of the nation's voters. Waikato reporter Rachel Moore hit the streets of Hamilton East to chat to the locals.

The on-going closure of Piha campground is expected to be resolved later this month, with the Waitakere local board set to vote on the camp's future. The campground's been shut over winter while the council looks into flood risks. Camp manager Fiona Anderson isn't the only one nervously awaiting the decision. Surfing New Zealand says they'll likely have to move the Surfing nationals from Piha this...

Concerns about rising violence within Hamilton's CBD have brought to light a much broader issue around mental health and homelessness. Last week a person was stabbed in the city centre, and locals fear the situation is only going to get worse. Some have blamed a nearby shelter, something Hamilton's Mayor strongly disagrees with. Joanne Turner, chief executive of the shelter Te Whare Korowai Taanga...

The game Path of Exile and its sequel are now played by tens of millions of people around the world. It's also one of New Zealand's most successful games ever, as the local video game industry booms, earning more than a billion dollars in revenue in the past financial year. Meanwhile its two developers continue to run their business from West Auckland, with a staff of 265 based in Henderson. Manag...

Tawhaki National Aerospace Centre wants to launch large rockets from its base near Christchurch a dozen times a year, as it attempts to tap into the burgeoning world space launch market. Tawhaki Chief Executive John Holt spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

With the election campaign now in full swing, all parties are setting their sights on the big prize, Auckland. It's the country's largest and most prosperous city - a former minister once said when the city coughs, the whole country shivers - and with well over half the population living in it, Auckland is a must win zone. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira has been based in Auckland for th...

An early morning sports news update.

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

David Tamihere walked out of Auckland's High Court yesterday, a free man. The Crown solicitor concluded there was no longer enough evidence to support Tamihere being retried over the killing of two Swedish backpackers - Heidi Paakkonen and Urban Höglin, in 1989. David Tamihere spoke to John Campbell.

One of Waikato's most popular tourist spots might be shut this summer because of traffic and toilet issues caused by a surge in visitors. Visitor numbers at Putaruru's Blue Spring and Te Waihou Walkway doubled to 100,000 in the last year, overwhelming local facilities. Late last month, the Government announced $675,000 of funding to improve infrastructure at the spring. Tirau Ward councillor Kerry...

The first sod has been turned on a 260 metre long bridge on a particularly vulnerable part of the infamous State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook was there.

New Zealand First has unveiled its party list for the 2026 election. Party leader Winston Peters spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

A new report says the Government's decision to make it more difficult to enter emergency housing could potentially pose dangerous implications for women and children escaping family violence. Sophie Beaumont,a researcher and development advisor for Women's Refuge spoke to John Campbell.

Israel is marking three years since Hamas launched its October 7th attack. Correspondent Blake Sifton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Tel Aviv.

New Zealand's primary industries could benefit from artificial intelligence - but new industry-led research suggests they're some of the least prepared to take it up, meanwhile a new report recommends genetically-modified organisms, released into the environment, should be subject to existing strict guardrails. Rural News on Morning Report with Gianina Schwanecke.

An early morning sports news update.

Politicians have been relentlessly focused on Auckland this election campaign, heavily weighting their time in the city. Home to a third of the population, it's where elections are won - and lost. Political reporter Lauren Crimp has the Tamaki Makaurau campaign story.

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

Residential construction costs have risen at the fastest pace since 2022 according to Cotality's Cordell Construction Cost Index which shows costs rose 1.7 percent in the September quarter. Building Industry Federation chief executive Julien Leys spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.