Midday News for 1 June 2021

The closure of a major state highway bridge in Canterbury has effectively cut the east coast of the South Island in two. The Prime Minister says the top post-flood priority is to restore the Ashburton district's roading network. Members of National's senior leadership team say they didn't know outgoing MP Nick Smith was under investigation over a spat in his office last year. The defence team at the trial of three Taranaki police officers charged with the manslaughter of a man in custody has elected not to give any evidence or call any witnesses.