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How are pubs across the central South Island faring in 2026 - and what do their futures look like?

The warmer weather means it's time to turn my attention back to the garden, bringing in the crops ready for harvest and preparing my seedlings for the coming season too.

Electoral Commision chief executive Karl Le Quesne chats about rural voters, and how they can turn out to the polls in October.

A wrap of news from RNZ's Rural news desk.

Country Life checks in with the Electoral Commission about rural voting enrolments and turnout, gets stuck into a spring tidy of Gianina's garden, and visits pubs around the lower South Island to learn what makes a publican.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Jenni Giblin and Mike Yardley. First up, is it ethical to use AI in a political attack ad? The question was raised by a Taxpayers Union hit piece on Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Massey University Marketing Analytics Professor Bodo Lang gives his two cents. Then, for another round of The Panel's soapbox, transport engineer and inner-cit...

Checkpoint producer speaks to Lisa Owen about Grant Solley, a West Auckland man whose therapy goats put smiles on people's faces wherever they go.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the National Health Service releasing new guidelines on single-sex spaces, as well as a new figures revealing just how much the cost of living has been costing British households over the past five years.

Business news for 16 October 2026.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has expressed his dismay at the draw for next year's Rugby World Cup. Rennie worried the bracket would see a repeat of the 2023 tournament, where two of the world's best went home before the semi-finals. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Suspected copper thieves have caused a major internet outage in parts of the Bay of island. It's affecting about 750 homes and businesses in the wider Russell area and means they are unable to take electronic payments. The outage is the second major one in a week. It's causing issues heading into the weekend and is another blow to business that have had a slow winter. Rikki Kinnaird is the co owne...

A business that catches wild crayfish to order and delivers them fresh the next day, has won a top food award. Tora Collective took out gold in the primary sector section of the NZ Food awards. The company catches premium seafood off the South Wairarapa coast, the kaimoana goes into natural packing and arrives at its destination the next day. Tora Collective's co-owner, Claire Edwards spoke to Lis...

It appears to be a tale of two stations for businesses in Auckland's CBD following the opening of the long-delayed City Rail Link. One month has passed since the gates opened with two new station - Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu - added to the existing rail network. While some businesses say they're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, others have been left wondering if the years of distru...

A court case has laid bare the enormous power imbalance between dancers and a Wellington strip club where they worked; ultimately finding them to be employees and not contractors, as claimed by the business. The five women took an employment case against Calendar Girls after they were effectively fired for challenging changes to their work conditions. Cherida Fraser from the Aotearoa Sex Workers C...

All the top stories and other headlines from the day

More than 100 years ago, a group of Kiwi soldiers toiled 20 metres below the streets of the historic French town of Arras during World War One. A group of carvers from Te Puia, the NZ Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, some of whom whakapapa back to those soldiers, have been working on a special carving. A delegation from Arras tavelled to Rotorua today to receive the Waka Maumahara. Waikato Bay of...

Police a targetting a big weekend of womens sport hoping to attract new talent to their ranks, whether it be fans or players. They're running an ad campaign around the Tauihi womens professional basketball league, with the announcer shout outs during the games. Police recruiters will also be at the Black Ferns game in Hamilton tomorrow. Assistant Commissioner Jeanette Park spoke to Lisa Owen.

After winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, the Silver Ferns are preparing for their next big examination. The Silver Ferns are about to take on Australia, a side that is notoriously hard to keep down. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Rodeo Cowboys Association plans to fight proposed animal welfare rules that could end some events. If adopted, changes to the Code of Welfare for Rodeos would mean cattle used in rope and tie, and steer wrestling events must stay standing after being brought to a stop. At the moment they can be taken to the ground. Lyal Cocks from the Rodeo Cowboys association spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about a lockdown put in place to protect chickens from bird flu in Victoria being lifted, despite the disease still spreading among wildlife. As well as a dispute between a Tasmania ferry crew and their employer which relates to a nasty gastro outbreak earlier this year.

A shocking increase in the power bill for a marae that converted to solar energy has raised concerns about installers and regulation. The monthly power bill for Taranaki's Owae Marae has rocked to as much as $2000 a month, up from about $400. That's despite installing a solar system on its wharekai to save money. Matt Newman from Rewiring Aotearoa spoke to Lisa Owen.

In the years after World War II, while Europe was in turmoil, New Zealand was embarking on an unprecedented period of growth. As the babies boomed, also 5000 displaced people from states like Lithuania, Hungary and Poland arrived on our shores ready to get to work. This weekend some survivors, and their descendants, are gathering in Palmerston North to mark an often overlooked chapter in Aotearoa'...

The latest RNZ Pacific news.

Following her cellist brother Sheku, pianist Isata Kanneh Mason is the second member of the supremely talented English musical family to visit Aotearoa this year.

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.