Midday Report

Tributes flow for Dolly Parton who died today at the age of 80. She was a huge influence on artists both internationally and from Aotearoa, Guyon Espiner talks with local country star Suzanne Prentice.

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Guyon Espiner talks with Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan as the company powers back, posting a profit of $130 million for the past 12 months.

A top ministry boss has been found in contempt of Parliament for deliberately misleading MPs about a bungled multi-million-dollar IT project. But the Privileges Committee has not recommend any further punishment. Craig McCulloch joins Guyon Espiner to discuss.

Welcome to Midday Report essentials with Guyon Espiner. Today, we heard from our reporter Luxy Xia who was in court this morning as the leader of a fringe religious group was sentenced to more than 10 years for the manslaughter and kidnapping of his 70-year-old follower: found wrapped in black rubbish bags in Auckland's Gulf Harbour in 2024. We looked at the 3 options for time-of-use charging for...

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sport team.

Dr Cassandra Mudgway is Senior Lecturer Above the Bar, at the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Law and says social media harm exists but the Government's proposed ban on under-16s on social media might not be the answer.

The latest news from the United States with Nine News reporter Lauren Tomasi in Washington DC.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

Guyon talks with Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson who talked about the first phase of the congestion charging scheme.

Guyon Espiner talks with reporter Lucy Xia after sentencing in the case of the body in the bag found in Auckland's Gulf Harbour in 2024.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins on party's campaign slogan; Auckland Councillor Richard Hills on National nixing bed levy; Study shows NZ not following tobacco guidelines.

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

A new study shows New Zealand isn't following international guidelines keeping tobacco interests out of health policy - Guyon speaks with study author Dr Melissa-Jade Gregan.

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.

An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.

The latest news from RNZ's business team.

The National Party is to run on a platform of No New Taxes - ruling out a plan for a bed tax articulated only weeks ago. Guyon spoke with Auckland Councillor Richard Hills.

Labour has unveiled its election slogan today: Better Starts Now. It comes as National launches a massive attack on Labour over tax and a new RNZ poll has both major parties languishing around 30 percent and relying on Opportunity to form government. Guyon spoke to Labour leader Chris Hipkins.

More than half the vineyards in Gisborne are being ripped up, after New Zealand's largest wine producer cut its supply of grapes from the region, GisVin general manager Hamish Jackson told Guyon Espiner the local sector faces a loss of about $19.5m. Plenty of doom and gloom out there on the economic front. But BNZ has just put out numbers saying we may have hit peak misery. BNZ's chief economist M...

An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.

Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced $31 million to correct what she called the "failed experiment" of open-plan classrooms at 90 schools. But the New Zealand Institute of Architects is challenging the Ministers' claim. Guyon Espiner talks to the Institute's president James Blackburne.