Morning Report for Wednesday 17 March 2021

6:13 AM.More than a dozen European Union countries aren't budging on their suspension of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, because of concerns the drug may cause blood clotting.

The World Health… Read more Audio

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

6:22 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Read more Audio

6:38 AM.Team New Zealand are tantalisingly close to defending the America's Cup and, if the wind blows, will get two more shots at it today.

Fans were left disappointed last night after the race that could… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.New Zealanders who have lived in Australian detention centres say they would rather be in jail, citing brutal treatment and poor access to healthcare.

A deportee, who is now in managed isolation in… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.The government has been warned the Bluff aluminium smelter is at extreme risk of sea level rise, with "catastrophic" consequences including possible fatalities.

A risk assessment to Treasury says it… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.Team New Zealand are on the cusp of victory in the America's Cup.

But it was the wind, and the race committee, that had the final say in an anti-climatic end to race day 6 - leaving the sailors to… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.Team New Zealand need just one more win today to keep hold of the treasured America's Cup.

The defenders yesterday beat Luna Rossa by 30 seconds in race nine on Waitemata Harbour, in one of the… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.The Human Rights Commission wants victims of the Christchurch terror attack to receive compensation. It says the state failed in its duty to protect the basic right to life.

Many who were there on… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.The National Party has launched a petition calling on the Government to establish a trans-Tasman bubble immediately.

The Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says the Government will make a decision… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.The Green Party says bold action is needed to avert the accelerating housing crisis and has released a four point housing plan.

The party is proposing measures to limit property investors, including… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.Kiwibank says tightened Loan-to-Value Ratios may not be having as much of an impact on investor activity as hoped.

LVR restrictions were reintroduced in March, and from the first of May, investors… Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Border exemptions have been granted for 126 cast and crew members of the Disney Broadway production of the Lion King.

The production is due to premiere in Auckland in June. 

The government says… Read more Audio

7:57 AM.New Zealand Defence Force personnel who work in managed isolation facilities have to play by different rules when not at work, depending on whether they are on a NZDF base or out in the community.

… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.Team New Zealand is taking nothing for granted heading into what could be the last day of racing for the 36th America's Cup. Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Environment Minister David Parker says he's still blind on contamination at Tiwai Point despite having had reports running to more than 170 pages for months.

Those reports warn that sea level… Read more Audio

8:17 AM.Team New Zealand are tantalizingly close to retaining the America's Cup.

A win yesterday has left the team with six wins out of the seven needed to take the cup, which leaves Luna Rossa facing a… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.Napier people fear waterways in the city could be at a point of no return if nothing's done to stop their destruction.

Investigations have found there're 400 times the safe guidelines for some… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.The Human Rights Commission says people affected by the Christchurch terror attack are entitled to compensation from the government.

It argues that whanau, survivors and witnesses suffered an extreme… Read more Audio

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

8:42 AM.The Children's Commissioner is even more worried about 15-year-old boy deported from Australia, now that he's had an official briefing.

Judge Andrew Becroft sought information about the case after it… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.The Salvation Army is lukewarm about the idea of an independent body to deal with claims of abuse in the care of the state and churches.

Survivors have been advocating for an independent organisation… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.Amnesty International is urging the Minister of Corrections to order an urgent and independent review of New Zealand prisons.

Kelvin Davis met with Amnesty yesterday to hear demands for a review in… Read more Audio

8:56 AM.A landmark global women's rugby competition has been launched by World Rugby.

The governing body announced it is investing more than $12 million to run a meaningful three-tier championship which will… Read more Audio