First Up Podcast Options

5:15 AM.Time to look at what's trending on social media now.. Here's First Up producer Ellie Jay Audio

5:45 AM.Tonga has banned all imports of mutton flaps as it tries to tackle high rates of diabetes and obesity in the country. The country has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world and its… Read more Audio

5:35 AM.An agreement in principle has been reached for Auckland to take more water from the Waikato River. In an interim measure to help ease the regions drought, the city can now take an extra 25 megalitres… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.The children's charity Barnardos is urging Tamariki and Rangatahi to get involved with its latest art project - Dreams for the Decade. Anyone up to the age of 18 can enter the project, by creating a… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.A petition calling on the government to improve post birth rehabilitation care for women has reached over 15,000 signatures. It's saying that New Zealand is falling behind other countries in the… Read more Audio

5:10 AM.Principals are worried they will be short-staffed next year because foreign teacher are not being allowed into the country. They are hoping the covid-19 border restrictions can be eased for overseas… Read more Audio

5:06 AM.We go to Australia where 36 suburbs in Melbourne are now back in lockdown - in an attempt to stop the state of Victoria's surge in covid-19 cases. Indira Stewart is joined by our commentator in… Read more Audio

5:52 AM.An estimated 1.1 billion plastic shopping bags have been saved from New Zealand's environment since they were banned a year ago. Indira Stewart talks with Eugenie Sage, the Associate Minister for the… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.An estimated 1.1 billion plastic shopping bags have been saved from New Zealand's environment since they were banned a year ago. According to the Ministry for the Environment the big winners are our… Read more Audio

5:38 AM.The alcohol industry says the rise in excise tax is unfair because it was calculated before the Covid-19 lockdown. It's the 1st of July - so the government's excise taxes are rising - including for… Read more Audio

5:34 AM.Christchurch in the middle of winter has proven a real challenge for high jumper Hamish Kerr but the prospects of eventually competing at the Olympics is keeping him warm. Like many athletes Kerr had… Read more Audio

5:24 AM.This week we're talking to a business in rural western Australia, run by New Zealand designer Joy Charlton. Her busines is called 'Te Koha' design, and amongst other custom items she designs, she also… Read more Audio

5:09 AM.New Zealand sailor and yachting commentator Peter Lester says the history of the America's Cup is littered with skulduggery and subterfuge - just not so much in Aotearoa. The Auckland-based Emirates… Read more Audio

5:49 AM.Pharmac says the perception that all it cares about is money and savings is wrong - but admits it needs to do better at communicating that to the public. In the last year, the government's drug-buying… Read more Audio

5:43 AM.The Minister for the GCSB warns New Zealand may have been the target of cyber attacks at the height of covid-19 - and working from home left us more vulnerable. 

It follows a five-fold increase in… Read more Audio

5:34 AM.Education Ministry figures show 101 schools are no longer allowing children to start class on their fifth birthdays. Instead, they're accepting children at the start and middle of each school term, a… Read more Audio

5:32 AM.The healthcare appliance manufacturer, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, says it has been ramping up manufacturing to meet demand for products used to treat Covid-19 patients. The company's full year net… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.This week on Trade Me, a ground breaking, or rather - wave busting boat is up for sale.

The Chevvy powered jet boat is self-righting and perfect for the person who likes to take a bit of a risk in… Read more Audio

5:08 AM.In the UK, covid-19 restrictions are easing in most, but not all parts of the country as our correspondent Henry Riley reports. Audio

5:53 AM.A review of the country's managed isolation system has found it's under extreme stress and unable to respond to increasing demand. In response the government will increase the number of clinical and… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.This week, we continue checking in with those who shared their experiences trying to get New Zealand's drug buying agency Pharmac to fund life saving and extending as part of a series last year… Read more Audio

5:33 AM.New Zealand MMA fighter Dan Hooker fell to a tight decision loss to Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas in the US yesterday. The Aucklander had hoped to advance from fifth position into the top contender spot… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.Joining us now from the fresh produce markets is our Minister of Fruit and Vege, Glenn Forsyth. Audio

5:08 AM.Heavy rock band Devilskin has been one of the first big name artists in New Zealand to announce a tour. The band were due to go on a European tour supporting their new album RED but then Covid-19… Read more Audio