Morning Report for Thursday 21 February 2019

6:00 AM.Govt rejects suggestions its bound by former Nat's Huawei deal; Three UK converative MPs cross the floor; Last 250 Tasman fire evacuees about to hear if they can go home; Te Matatini kicks off with Te… Read more Audio

6:06 AM.The Blackcaps have completed a three nil series cleansweep of Bangladesh with an 88 run win in the third and final match of the one day cricket series in Dunedin. Audio

6:09 AM.Immigration New Zealand's decisions have been successfully appealed more times in the last year than at any time in its history. New figures show its appeal tribunal allowed 41 per cent of appeals… Read more Audio

6:15 AM.MPs have been told pressures on the mental health system are not sustainable and demand is overwhelming. Members of the ministerial inquiry into mental health fronted up to the health select committee… Read more Audio

6:24 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:50 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

7:06 AM.Pace bowler Tim Southee celebrated his return to the Black Caps with a six wicket haul in the side's comprehensive 88 run over Bangladesh in the third and final one day cricket match in Dunedin… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.The Government insists it alone will decide whether Huawei can be involved in the 5G roll out. It's emerged that under a deal arranged by the previous National government, New Zealand network owners… Read more Audio

7:19 AM.There's more turmoil in British politics with three Tory MPs defecting overnight. Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen all resigned from the Conservative Party to join eight Labour rebels in… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.The remaining 250 people out of their homes because of the Tasman wildfire will know shortly, if they can return to their properties today. Many of those still waiting to go home were at a community… Read more Audio

7:29 AM.Top kapa haka groups will take to the stage in Wellington on Thursday for the national festival Te Matatini Ki Te Ao. Te Reanga Mōrehu o Rātana is the first group to perform at Westpac Stadium this… Read more Video, Audio

7:46 AM.Troy Skinner, the New Zealand man charged with attempting to kidnap a 14-year-old girl he met online, appeared at the federal courthouse in Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday (NZ time). The 25-year-old… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.Immigration New Zealand's decisions have been successfully overturned more times in the last year than at any time in its history. An immigration lawyer says staff turnover, delays in processing and… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Wellington train and bus operators are being put on notice, for failing to provide enough drivers, which will see cancellations continue for months. The capital's train service operator Transdev, and… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.The president of Local Government New Zealand, Dave Cull, says its climate change declaration is purely aspirational and no one is being pressured into signing up to it. On Wednesday, the… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The cream of New Zealand sporting talent will assemble in Auckland tonight for the annual Halberg Awards. Audio

8:11 AM.The chief executive of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre says strict controls can offset any risks with using Chinese company Huawei in Britain's 5G network upgrade. David Bond is a reporter… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.Three Conservative MPs have defected and joined the ranks of the growing independent party. This follows the resignations of seven Labour Party MPs on Wednesday and an eighth on Thursday. The members… Read more Audio

8:24 AM.Government agencies are being accused of not having confidence in Whānau Ora and not getting on board with it. A government review of Whānau Ora shows the approach is working well for Māori and… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.As operations ramp up on the West Coast to re-enter the Pike River Mine, in another small mining town minds are turning to another tragedy underground - the death of 34 men and boys in Kaitangata in… Read more Audio

8:31 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:37 AM.People who've suffered mental distress have rallied in large numbers to tell the government what they think of plans to reform mental health services. Mary O'Hagan says people also want access to the… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Some developers are still nervous about partnering with the government's flagship housing scheme. Yesterday the first major residential developer, Mike Greer, announced it will build KiwiBuild homes… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.Members of a residents group living near Auckland's Eden Park are vowing to put pressure on local government in a bid to save the financially troubled stadium. The area has been fraught with tension… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.Kia rite! Kia mau! will ring out today in Wellington as the National kapa haka competition, Te Matatini, gets underway.The first pool of 16 haka groups from around the country are just starting to… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.It's been two 250 years since the first encounters between Māori and Pākehā in Aotearoa, and it's just been announced a voyage will take place as part of the commemorations. Waka hourua, New Zealand… Read more Audio