First Up Podcast Options

5:16 AM.As you've just heard, Vladimir Putin is accusing the west - specifically the US - of trying to draw his country into a war in Ukraine.. For more on that, Nathan Rarere was joined by Anita Purcell… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.We begin this morning in the UK where Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hanging in there, in the wake of the Sue Gray report. Our correspondent in London is Henry Riley and he spoke with Nathan Rarere.

5:48 AM.After a stoush which has made headlines around the world, pregnant journalist Charlotte Bellis has been granted an emergency MIQ spot so can come home from Afghanistan. But of course there are more… Read more Audio

5:38 AM.There's a new player in the world of combat sports. Watch out boxing, get out of the way MMA, professional pillow fighting is here and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. This past weekend in… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.When we find out about news from around the universe - we love to speak to James Parr of the Open Space Agency and when we spoke before the show Nathan Rarere asked James about the amazing picture of… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.Just off the coast of Fiordland are a number of predator free islands that are home to some of New Zealand's rarest residents, the kakapo. There are currently around only 200 of the flightless parrots… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.Staying overseas and Qatar is in talks to supply gas to Europe - let's find out more with out Middle East correspondent in Qatar, Alex Baird. Audio

5:06 AM.We head West, joining First Up from balmy Brisbane is our correspondent Pam Corkery. Audio

5:50 AM.Many of us will remember bringing home the pencil case or jewellery box we made in the school wood work class. Imagine instead being able to say you built a house? Well that's exactly what's happening… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.It's the first of February, which marks the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations..which RNZ's World Watch producer and presenter Perlina Lau and her family will be celebrating. We've woken her… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis has been making headlines this week after she was denied a spot in MIQ despite having to rely on the word of the Taliban for her safety. That's one of… Read more Audio

5:22 AM.When you think collectible cars, names such as Mustang, Lamborghini and Ferarri are mentioned. But very rarely Subaru.. This week on TradeMe, an Imprezza, with a price tag that suggests it's anything… Read more Audio

5:14 AM.The fallout continues for music streaming service Spotify after rock 'n' roll great Neil Young ordered it to remove his music from the platform, unless it stops streaming Joe Rogan's podcast. Fellow… Read more Audio

5:11 AM.A month or so ago in Japan, Covid seemed to be all but under control. The Omicron variant has meant that's now pretty far from the case, as Nathan Rarere found out from our Tokyo correspondent Chris… Read more Audio

5:55 AM.We head to Dunedin where we're joined by Heidi Hayward who's principal of Dunedin North Intermediate, which welcomes children back tomorrow. Audio

5:51 AM.There were 103 new community cases of Covid reported in New Zealand yesterday - the second time in three days we've hit triple figures as the country braces for Omicron. It comes as schools around the… Read more Audio

5:46 AM.Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis is having to take the word of the Taliban that she will be safe in Afghanistan after being denied a spot in MIQ. Bellis says she and her photographer… Read more Audio

5:37 AM.In Tonga, people are continuing to clean up the blanket of ash that's covering much of the nation after the eruption and tsunami a little over two weeks ago. Simana Kami is manager of the Oholei Beach… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.It's a public holiday for the northern half of the North Island today - but it's never a day off for fresh produce, with Nathan Rarere is our Minister of Fruit and Veggies Glenn Forsyth. Audio

5:16 AM.Recreational anglers had a bit of a slow start to the summer this year, but those around Auckland's fishing spots might get a few more bites towards the back-end of the season. Keith Ingram from the… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.Let's head Stateside, where the East Coast is covered in a thick layer of snow. From New York, Nathan Rarere is joined by our correspondent Bevan Hurley. Audio

5:51 AM.A teenager who tested positive for Covid-19 after attending the Soundsplash festival says with all the physical contact revellers had at the 3-day festival, it seems inevitable that the virus spread… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.Under the Red Alert level setting many events have had to be postponed, cancelled or changed to accomodate new rules and restrictions, One of those is the world famous Coast to Coast. It's happening… Read more Audio

5:43 AM.The best young chefs from around the world are set to compete at the annual Young Chef Olympiad - which this year is being held on-line. Aotearoa is being represented by Sian Davies who is about to… Read more Audio