First Up Podcast Options

5:50 AM.Community leaders in South Auckland are praising a Samoan Niuean student for overcoming extraordinary circumstances to pursue her education. Te'i Tuiasau, a 4th year student at Manukau Institute of… Read more Video, Audio

5:35 AM.Where should you invest your money in a low interest rate environment? Here's our business reporter Nona Pelletier with an answer. Audio

5:25 AM.Standing in for our regular expert Glenn Forsyth who is on a well-deserved holiday - is Ian Reisima from MG Marketing which is a co-operative of growers who grow, distribute and sell fresh vegetables… Read more Audio

5:47 AM.The ancient remains of a giant parrot have been found in a fossil-rich area of Central Otago. The "truly gigantic parrot" dubbed Squawkzilla by the scientists who found it, was estimated to be up to a… Read more Audio

5:43 AM.Generally it's only on the rugby field where the Welsh and Kiwis have a rivalry - but now it's a battle over another kind of surface, that's causing consternation in the south. Baldwin Street in… Read more Audio

5:38 AM.How far can interest rates fall after, in a surprise move, the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate to 1 percent? Here's our business reporter Nona Pelletier with an answer. Audio

5:24 AM.Last week we told you about a New Zealand woman tackling the longest certified foot race in the world. In 51 days, 9 hours and 20 minutes Harita Davies ran 3,100 miles - just shy of 5000 kilometres -… Read more Audio

5:54 AM.There are calls for sweeping changes to the horse-racing industry after two horses died in a single day at a Rotorua meet. Racehorses 'Assign' and 'Not Usual Delight' were euthanised after taking part… Read more Audio

5:50 AM.Just hours later, there was a second shooting in the US where nine people were killed in Dayton, Ohio New Zealander Phoebe Davis is living in Dayton, currently on a research residency. We often like… Read more Audio

5:35 AM.This morning Edward asks why doesn't the US go the World Trade Organisation -- the WTO -- to press home its claims that China is a trade cheat. Here's business editor Gyles Beckford. Audio

5:10 AM.As we've been reporting here on First Up - for nine consecutive weeks mass protests have taken place in Hong Kong. Over the last few days the action's ramped up - with a call for a general strike… Read more Video, Audio

5:49 AM.An Australian flying school with a legacy for training many of the Pacific region's first indigenous pilots has closed its doors after almost half a century of operation. Gil Layt's Flying school, run… Read more Audio

5:44 AM.When you think of a chandelier, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely crystal - the last thing you'd think about is fruit and veg. But that's exactly what hung from the ceiling at the… Read more Audio

5:10 AM.To Hong Kong, where protesters have taken to the streets for the fifth day in a row. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled as well as trains and roads shut down across the city in the biggest day of… Read more Audio

5:54 AM.The forecast snow has finally come, with snow falls to low levels in the south of the South Island and snow in the mountainous regions of the upper south and North Islands. But snow isn't the only… Read more Audio

5:48 AM.To the US now, where two mass shootings have taken place in less than 24 hours. The first, in the Texas border town of El Paso, saw 20 people killed and more than two dozen injured, after a gunman… Read more Audio

5:45 AM.Former All Blacks' captain and coach Sir Brian Lochore died over the weekend aged 78. He has praised throughout the country by sporting figures and the public as one of the very greatest figures in… Read more Audio

5:25 AM.We ask Glenn Forsyth about cold winter weather affecting supplies of produce. Audio

5:14 AM.Cancer care could overwhelm the entire health system, if the wrong plans are put in place. That's from the Cancer Society, who are welcoming the announcement the government will fund 12 new radiation… Read more Audio

5:53 AM.To the US, where a tenacious 11-year-old reporter has become the star of the second round of Democratic debates. It all began when Jaden Jefferson secured an interview with democratic presidential… Read more Audio

5:40 AM.A New Zealand woman is taking on the 'Mount Everest' of ultramarathons - running 3,100 miles - which is just shy of 5000 kilometres - in 52 days. It's the world's longest certified road race and it's… Read more Audio

5:23 AM.Avocado theft is on the rise in the Bay of Plenty - earlier this week police alerted residents to be "vigilant" when buying avocados of "unknown origin". On the case is our resident Fruit and Vege… Read more Audio

5:54 AM.A British farmer who shares snippets of life on his farm has gone viral. A video of what he calls 'morning rush hour' has been viewed more than 2 million times on Twitter Each morning Chris Franklin… Read more Video, Audio