First Up Podcast Options

5:28 AM.It's time now for us to catch up with one of the reporters from the Local Democracy Reporting programme who've been keeping us up to date with news from all corners of Aotearoa. This morning we're… Read more Audio

5:12 AM.Nathan Rarere spoke with our correspondent Kamahl Santamaria in Doha as the death toll from Israeli air strikes and Palestinian rockets continues to climb. Audio

5:09 AM.We head to Europe to catch up with our correspondent Anita Purcell-Sjölund in Sweden. Audio

5:52 AM.The government was in crisis talks with workers' unions yesterday over its public sector so-called pay freeze, which has been met with fierce opposition. The public sector unions have warned of… Read more Audio

5:49 AM.A couple of months ago we visited James, a 5 year old who has an unusual obsession ... with a vacuum cleaner called Henry. If you're unfamiliar, Henry is a bright red vacuum cleaner with a smiling… Read more Video, Audio

5:44 AM.We head to the United States where the Republican party is attempting to oust one of the few critics of Donald Trump in the party. House Republicans could vote today on whether Representative Liz… Read more Audio

5:34 AM.The government is to introduce firearms legislation preventing certain people from accessing, being around, or using firearms, in a bid to combat gun crime. It will allow authorities to impose a… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.Each week we're talking to a unique New Zealand business and this week we've been chatting to Lesley Whyte. Lesley runs 'women in photography' working with absolute beginners and intermediate levels… Read more Audio

5:15 AM.An Auckland-based charity says people suffering the effects of Covid-19 weeks if not months after recovering from the initial virus are in desperate need of support and funding. ME Auckland, which… Read more Audio

5:09 AM.Let's head to Australia where Nathan Rarere is joined by our correspondent Pam Corkery. Audio

5:50 AM.The National Party's deputy leader Shane Reti says we risk losing our doctors and nurses at the time we need them the most due to the public sector pay freeze revealed last week. Earlier this week… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.The West Coast town of Reefton could soon claim the title of the safest place in the country from Covid-19. Due to its isolated location, West Coast District Health Board decided that it would make… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.Thousands of beds in managed isolation will be made available over the coming months for skilled and critical workers. The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement yesterday saying about… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.This week on TradeMe - two cars with around 100 years between them - a 2020 electric Honda and a 1920s racecar.. But first, a pretty cute fundraising effort for Queens Park School in Christchurch… Read more Audio

5:16 AM.A disability advocate says they need the Covid-19 vaccine now so that they have a fighting chance. According the Covid-19 New Zealand website, if you have a disability or underlying health condition… Read more Audio

5:10 AM.To the UK now where we're joined by our correspondent Henry Riley who tells us about the post election re-shuffle in the Labour party's ranks and the Covid-19 alert levels are reducing as lockdown is… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.New Zealands Indian communities have raised tens of thousands of dollars and obtained oxygen and other medical equipment to help with India's relief effort. Nathan Rarere spoke with the president of… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.Calls for repatriation flights from India are growing as kiwis stuck there become desperate and scared. In the past day India has recorded more than 403-thousand new cases and over 4-thousand deaths… Read more Audio

5:37 AM.The Tokyo Olympics are fast approaching ... it's 74 days to go until the games begin. In the lead up, we're talking to New Zealand's Olympic athletes as they prepare for the event they've prepared… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.And we head now to the fresh produce markets with our Minister of fresh fruit and veggies, Glenn Forsyth. Audio

5:12 AM.An aviation expert believes new technology that detects disturbance in radio waves could find the final resting place of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Weak Signal Propagation or WSPR is employed in… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.Hutt Valley High students did their school work on the steps of parliament yesterday in the hope decision makers will replace their mould-riddled classrooms The school closed more than a dozen… Read more Audio

5:44 AM.Flights from New South Wales to New Zealand are now on pause after a person with no known links to the border tested positive for coronavirus. Covid-19 response Minister Chris Hipkins announced last… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.Joining Nathan Rarere for a look at what's good in the fresh produce market this week is our minister of the fruit and veges, Mr Glenn Forsyth. Audio

5:15 AM.There's a "Cool Mum" on the comedy scene in Christchurch - award winner Jo Ghastly presents what could be best described as a motivational seminar, engaging the audience in her parenting challenges… Read more Audio