Midday Report for Monday 19 October 2020

12:46 PM.One of the minority groups not well-represented in Parliament after the weekend's election is our Asian population.

About 5 percent of the 120 MPs are of Asian descent - despite 15 percent of New… Read more Audio

12:44 PM.As well a huge new intake of Pasifika, New Zealand is being touted as the Parliament with the largest proportion of LGBT - or Takatapui - MPs in the world, making up 10 percent of the 120 members.

… Read more Audio

12:42 PM.Parliament today reflected a diverse range of faces - with new MPs from a range of backgrounds entering the Beehive.

There has also been a noticeable increase of Māori MPs coming in to Parliament -… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.There's a pledge to improve the say farmers have on the running of Fonterra.

Maja Burry has te pūrongo taiwhenua. Read more Audio

12:28 PM.Injuries have meant the All Blacks depth has been tested and so far the players have responded well.

Barry Guy has te pūrongo hakinakina. Read more Audio

12:20 PM.Business New Zealand is looking for progress on projects and issues that matter, and better engagement from the new government.

Emma Hatton has te pūrongo pakihi. Read more Audio

12:17 PM.Three Port Taranaki staff are isolating at home after coming into contact with an electrical engineer who tested positive for Covid-19.

The man, from Auckland, wore PPE when he worked on two… Read more Audio

12:14 PM.Labour's leader Jacinda Ardern, has made it clear she wants to form a government as soon as possible - within the next two to three weeks.

With 64 seats and 49 percent of the vote, Ms Ardern says she… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.The Labour Party has welcomed a whopping 22 new MPs to Parliament today.

At the Beehive's entrance this morning, they were greeted by their colleagues and a swarm of media.

RNZ's reporter, Te Aniwa… Read more Audio

12:00 PM.Labour welcomes its new MPs to Parlaiment and Taranaki port workers are tested for Covid.

Nicola Wright has the news. Read more Audio