Morning Report for Thursday 24 December 2020

6:20 AM.A brief update from the business sector. Read more Audio

7:08 AM.Another new strain of Covid-19 has been detected in the UK, just days after a second new variant caused travel chaos across Europe.  

Two people in the UK have tested positive for the new Covid-19… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.Almost 6000 people are spending Christmas in a managed isolation hotel.

Some of the 32 hotels are running Christmas themed-competitions, or delivering special lunches of turkey and ham.

Reporter… Read more Audio

7:19 AM.Youth offending rates are falling - but Oranga Tamariki says that's no excuse to take the foot off the accelerator.

A new Justice report has revealed offending rates for both children and young… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.A Christmas tradition for Morning Report is to bring you season's greetings from some of the politicians we talk to during the year.

Here's the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Read more Audio

7:22 AM.A Christmas tradition for Morning Report is to bring you season's greetings from some of the politicians we talk to during the year.

Here's the best wishes from the leader of the the National Party… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.Cities around the country are quickly emptying as people head off for the summer break.

And that means delays should be expected on the roads.

Waka Kotahi's Mark Owen speaks to Māni Dunlop.
  Read more Audio

7:40 AM.It's been a huge year for news in the United States, with the Presidential election and Black Lives Matter movement dominating headlines.

The United States look to have another turbulent year ahead… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.Those wanting a Brexit deal for Christmas may get their wish  - a deal is imminent and could be decided within hours.

UK and EU officials are haggling for a deal as we speak.  

Meanwhile Covid-19's… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Gallery owners across the country are reporting an unprecedented surge in art sales since the Covid-19 lockdown ended.

Others say just a fraction of artists are benefitting, as some struggle in the… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.The number of teenagers studying te reo Māori at secondary school has passed 30,000 for the first time.

That's from fresh Education Ministry figures that show enrolment in international languages is… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.Andy Marinos, who has led southern hemisphere rugby's governing body, SANZAAR, for the last five years, has been appointed chief executive of Rugby Australia. Read more Audio

8:10 AM.An even more contagious strain of Covid-19 has been detected in the UK.

Two people have tested positive for the new mutation after coming into contact with cases who had travelled from South Africa.

8:16 AM.As the rush continues towards Christmas, the post-Covid-19 lockdown boom in spending continues.

Year on year, sales are slightly down but week on week, sales are surging. With Black Friday, Cyber… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.A Christchurch lawyer is raising questions after the Ministry of Social Development ordered her client - who is on bail - to be evicted from emergency housing.

Nicola Hansen, who is the president of… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.As always, Christmas Day will be a muted affair for the Black Caps cricketers as they prepare for a Boxing Day Test on home soil.

On form, Kane Williamson's men are firm favourites to beat Pakistan… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.If you're enjoying a beachside holiday this summer you should keep your eyes peeled for a mysterious beach from a 1920s painting.

Christchurch City Gallery purchased "Sentinels" by Thames painter… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:31 AM.A Christmas tradition for Morning Report is to bring you season's greetings from some of the politicians we talk to during the year.

Here is the co-leader of the Green Party and the Minister for… Read more Audio

8:31 AM.A Christmas tradition for Morning Report is to bring you season's greetings from some of the politicians we talk to during the year.

Here's leader of the Act Party, David Seymour, with a chorus! Read more Audio

8:32 AM.A Christmas tradition for Morning Report is to bring you season's greetings from some of the politicians we talk to during the year.

And our final Christmas greeting comes from to the co-leader of… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.Food parcels, presents, Christmas hampers - city missions across the country are being stretched to full capacity.

Demand for help has skyrocketed, building on the big increase in need created by the… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.Germany is in lockdown for Christmas, and hoping to avoid the spread of the new variant which has been detected in the UK.

In 2020 Berlin correspondent Thomas Sparrow also covered Brexit, and in… Read more Audio

8:49 AM.We know it will be a white Christmas at Scott Base, the New Zealand-run research facility in Antarctica, but how do the 31 staff there observe the festive season?

Are they immune from the threat of… Read more Audio

8:54 AM.It's Morning Report's last show before Christmas, so what better way to end the programme than to cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh? Read more Audio