First Up Podcast Options

5:49 AM.A former Minister of Defence says it's time New Zealand provided lethal aid to Ukraine. Ron Mark, who oversaw the country's armed forces between October 2017 and November 2020, says the government's… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.And as you'll have heard Dan Carter is this morning over at Eden Park where he's trying to kick 1598 goals in 24 hours to raise funds for UNICEF. He's been at it since 7 o'clock last night - he took a… Read more Audio

5:38 AM.The cyclone which has developed near New Caledonia is still swirling its way through the Pacific - for an update on its progress, and what effect it might have on our week is weather watcher Philip… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.To the Friday fresh produce markets we head - joining Nathan Rarere is our Minister of Fruit and Veggies, Glenn Forsyth...Fruit of the Week: NZ Limes! Audio

5:19 AM.Since 7 o'clock last night, All Black legend Dan Carter has been kicking for the posts at Eden Park to try and convert 1,598 kicks - which is the record number of points he scored in 112 tests. It's… Read more Audio

5:15 AM.In what could be a world first, tomato beer is on the cards if you're in Auckland this evening, Anthony Tringham is the Chief Tomato Officer for curious croppers who grow interesting and unusual… Read more Audio

5:15 AM.To Africa now where Russian mercenaries are suspected of the slaughter of 300 people in Mali. Joining Nathan Rarere from Ghana is our correspondent Nabil Ahmed. Audio

5:50 AM.It was announced yesterday that all Russian imports to New Zealand will be hit with a 35 percent tariff in response to what our government has described as "abhorrent and reprehensible" atrocities… Read more Audio

5:42 AM.The kiwifruit picking season is about to get underway but a lack of backpackers and seasonal workers has some growers worried their crops might end up on the compost heap. At the peak of the season, 3… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.In Gisborne people are just starting to get over the rains and flooding that stormed through the region a week or so ago. Nathan Rarere spoke with our Local Democracy Reporting progamme correspondent… Read more Audio

5:18 AM.An iwi based call centre in Hastings is pumping out the calls to whanau all over the motu to help them manage Covid. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga is an iwi organisation, providing social and health… Read more Audio

5:14 AM.In Europe France is going to the polls in a presidential election which is looking a lot closer than people were expecting.. Nathan Raree was joined from Europe by our correspondent Anita Purcell… Read more Audio

5:09 AM.To London now, where the world's most famous busker has won a copyright case taken against him.. But first, a controversial increase in the cost of the National Insurance scheme has hit paypackets… Read more Audio

5:54 AM.A painting considered to be one of the finest by revered New Zealand artist Charles Goldie fetched $1.8m at an art auction in Auckland last night. The painting of chief Kamariera Te Hau-Takiri… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.An infectious diseases expert across the Tasman says Australia's Covid rules are unclear as it faces a new wave of Omicron. Most Covid restrictions there have been lifted nationally and while some… Read more Audio

5:36 AM.We're now into the sixth week of Russia's war in Ukraine where evidence of attrocities committed by the Russian military continues to emerge. As Russian forces pulled back from their positions around… Read more Audio

5:26 AM.This week on TradeMe - while new electric cars might still be out of reach for most, the second hand market for EVs is charging. Producer Jeremy Parkinson talks to Ruby Topzand from TradeMe about the… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.In the United States, the military has revealed they have tested a hyper-sonic missile - but kept it to themselves for fear of rising tensions in Europe. Joining Nathan Rarere from California is our… Read more Audio

5:09 AM.In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is being accused of using racial slurs in a bid to demean a Lebanese opponent and an Ozzie icon is being celebrated in the United States.. Joining Nathan… Read more Audio

5:49 AM.And as you'll no doubt have heard, New Zealand will remain at the at the red traffic light setting for at least another nine days due to the stubbornly high number of Covid cases we're seeing in the… Read more Audio

5:35 AM.Unlike most suburbs, Te Atatu has its own weather guy - he is Philip Duncan and he talk cyclones, fires and warm weather with Nathan Rarere. Audio

5:27 AM.We head up to Northland now where it sounds like people are in for an unwelcomed rates rise ... first because of the closer of the Marsden Point oil refinery, and also the Three Waters Reforms. Susan… Read more Audio

5:18 AM.Horrifying reports continue to emerge from Ukraine of the bodies of civilians lining the streets of towns surrounding Kyiv, some of them apparently executed by Russian forces A few weeks ago we spoke… Read more Audio

5:11 AM.In Japan, the foreign minister is making headlines for his trip to Poland to discuss refugees. We discussed this with our correspondent Chris Gilbert in Tokyo, along with an update on the "flower… Read more Audio