Midday Report for Friday 19 May 2023

12:46 PM.Disability advocates are celebrating an end to the Minimum Wage Exemption, which was scrapped in yesterday's budget announcements. The exemption, which the government calls "discriminatory", allowed… Read more Audio

12:42 PM.Health researchers say scrapping prescription charges will reduce pressure on the public health system. The Budget scrapped the $5 prescription co-payment at a cost of $618.6 million. Professor… Read more Audio

12:35 PM.News from the rural farming sector The main two winners in rural areas are the schools and roading network. Just over $63 million will go towards helping small and isolated schools upgrade their… Read more Audio

12:28 PM.Auckland golfer Ryan Fox surprised himself with his opening round at the US PGA in New York which has him tied for seventh, just two shots off the lead. After failing to fire a shot against the… Read more Audio

12:20 PM.News from the business sector The large retirement village provider Ryman Healthcare has posted a 63 percent drop in net profit against a backdrop of economic challenges, severe weather events and the… Read more Audio

12:16 PM.A man will appear in court this afternoon on two counts of arson in relation to Tuesday's deadly fire, and police are not ruling out further serious charges. At least six people died in the fire at… Read more Audio

12:11 PM.Te Pāti Māori has given the government a scathing review of it's sixth Wellbeing Budget, claiming that the wellbeing of Maori has never been worse off. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says it serves… Read more Audio