First Up Podcast Options

5:43 AM.As of midnight last night, everyone south of Auckland has moved to alert level three. But what are the differences between level three and four? Our report Ella Stewart asked microbiologist Siouxsie… Read more Video, Audio

5:33 AM.Many West Auckland residents are currently facing the double-whammy of dealing with an Alert Level 4 lockdown and homes that were badly damaged by yesterday's floods. So how do people go about making… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Well its an exciting morning for those who got sick to death of cooking every single meal over Level 4, with all of New Zealand that isn't called Auckland or Northland moving to Level 3 And while… Read more Audio

5:15 AM.President Joe Biden is preparing to address the people of the United States within the next hour, a day after the very last American serviceman boarded a plane out of Kabul. The US invaded Afghanistan… Read more Audio

5:10 AM.To Afghanistan now where the Taliban are celebrating victory in the wake of the last American soldiers leaving the country after an occupation lasting almost 20 years. On the ground in Kabul is al… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.First Up this morning we head to the land girt by Sea where Nathan Rarere is joined by correspondent in Brisbane, Pam Corkery. Audio

5:51 AM.Nathan Rarere asked deputy leader of the National Party Shane Reti whether Education Minister Chris Hipkins should move the school holidays so students don't spend any longer than necessary at home. Audio

5:45 AM.With Auckland to stay in a Level 4 lockdown for at least two more weeks, the prospect of children remaining out of school for two whole months appears increasingly likely. To explain ... if after a… Read more Audio

5:37 AM.Locked-down Kiwis have rallied to answer a call for clothes and shoes for Afghan evacuees. Dozens of Afghan nationals escaping the Taliban have either arrived in the counrty or are due to in the… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.To the southern United States now where former Hurricane Ida has cut a violent swathe across large parts of Louisiana.. Nathan Rarere is joined by our correspondent in the US, Ira Spitzer. Audio

5:24 AM.This week on TradeMe one of America's most iconic and UGLY vehicles And a mansion straight out of someone's vision of France. But in Hamilton. But first, TradeMe's Ruby Topzand updates producer Jeremy… Read more Audio

5:10 AM.With the gym and team sports off the cards at the moment ... due to some kind of pandemic, or something ... many people aren't being as active as they usually are. And needless say, not all of our… Read more Video, Audio

5:06 AM.We start the programme in the UK today, Nathan Rarere speaks with our correspondent Henry Riley in London. Audio

5:49 AM.Over the past two weeks more than 500 people have received the news that they've contracted Covid-19, with 34 of them so unwell that they have needed hospital treatment. It's prompted people who've… Read more Audio

5:43 AM.Kiwis holidaying in the Cook Islands say its a pretty good place to wait out the storm, while New Zealand remains in lockdown. Since the opening of the travel bubble in May, kiwi tourists have been… Read more Audio

5:31 AM.Michael Johnson has been on the Paralympics podium three times over the past 17 years, but a fourth, at the last Games in Rio, has motivated the 47-year-old para shooter to keep honing his craft. The… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.Joining Nathan Rarere from the locked down markets is our Minister of Fruit and Veg Glenn Forsyth - leafy greens in high demand. Audio

5:13 AM.Why is a blue jacket listed as an "essential item" for delivery during Alert Level 4 but a red jacket not? It's one of the anomolies we found when trying to find out what can and can't be delivered… Read more Audio

5:09 AM.The Chinese city of Nanjing is well on the way to becoming the first in the world to completely eliminate the Delta strain of covid-19. More than 100 million tests have been undertaken in the wider… Read more Audio

5:52 AM.To Afghanistan now where at least 13 people are confirmed dead and more than 50 injured in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport. Nathan Rarere spoke with Kiwi journalist Charlotte Bellis who is working… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.The organisers of Auckland's Homeshow are asking the Government for a level 2 exemption so the event can go ahead in November. The show, which has been postponed for the third time in the past year… Read more Audio

5:37 AM.As you've heard this morning, a suicide bomber has killed at least 50 people at Kabul airport in Afghanistan - which in many ways elevates the importance of our next story.. A group of Afghan… Read more Audio

5:28 AM.The All Blacks left New Zealand for Australia last night to play their final Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies before their Northern tours to the USA and Europe. Due to the pandemic and… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Joining Nathan Rarere from the Friday fresh produce markets is our Minister of Fruit and Veg, Glenn Forsyth - fruit of the week, banana. Audio