Morning Report for Friday 23 April 2021

6:19 AM.The government watchdog has has criticised Immigration New Zealand for an unofficial policy of cherry-picking highly-paid residence applications.

Staff were told informally in 2018 to queue all… Read more Audio

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

6:38 AM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined President Biden at the virtual Leaders' Summit on Climate hosted by the United States overnight.

The summit, held for Earth Day, brought world leaders together to… Read more Audio

6:41 AM.One hundred Wellington bus drivers are on strike today after a breakdown in negotiations for a new collective employment contract.

Tensions went up a notch yesterday when their employer, NZ Bus… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.The RSA is expecting a good turnout of people at Anzac Day events on Sunday, after last year's commemorations were cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Events will be held in towns and cities… Read more Audio

6:47 AM.A political deadlock in Samoa after the recent general election is continuing without a resolution.

Two political parties - newcomer Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi, or FAST, and rival HRRP - both… Read more Audio

6:53 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Read more Audio

7:09 AM.The Royal Commission into historical abuse in care has been told to rein in its skyrocketing spending and now has to work with Treasury to get back on track.

Documents released to RNZ show… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.The Ministry of Health allowed a family to remain in the community for more than two days after escaping managed isolation during lockdown in May 2020.

The case was never reported publicly and was… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.The Defence Force is threatening the jobs of members who won't get a Covid-19 vaccination.

More than 8800 first doses have been administered to uniformed personnel, civilian employees, reserves and… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.The Defence Force is threatening the jobs of members who won't get a Covid-19 vaccination.

More than 8800 first doses have been administered to uniformed personnel, civilian employees, reserves and… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.One hundred Wellington bus drivers are on strike today after a breakdown in negotiations for a new collective employment contract.

Tensions went up a notch yesterday when their employer, NZ Bus… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.In an effort to re-assert global leadership on the issue of climate change, United States president Joe Biden has made a bold pledge.

His administration has promised to slash US greenhouse gas… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.501 deportees want to take a class action lawsuit against the Australian government over their treatment.

The call was made at a meeting held in Auckland last night. It was organised by Filipa Payne… Read more Audio

7:57 AM.Weather forecasters are warning the public to take special care on or near beaches in western parts of the country over the long weekend.

A deep low in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica is expected… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.An opportunity missed for the Wellington Phoenix in football's A-League. Audio

8:13 AM.One hundred Wellington bus drivers who are striking today face an indefinite lock-out from tomorrow when the strike ends.

The Tramways Union and the drivers' employer, NZ Bus, have been in… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.The dragon, the taniwha - and the kangaroo?

In a speech earlier this week Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta used the metaphor of the dragon and the taniwha to describe the China New Zealand… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.Large crowds are expected at Anzac Day services around the country on Sunday after public events were cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Stand at Dawn commemoration started last… Read more Audio

8:29 AM.An aquifer in coastal Taranaki is contaminated with an agricultural chemical at a level that is a risk to human health.

It had been hoped to use the aquifer to augment water supply at Okato, but… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.With New Zealand set to host the women's World Cup in 2023, the female following for football is at an all-time high.

This year's Olympics will also see New Zealand's elite women's team - the… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.The annual muster of the central North Island's wild Kaimanawa horses is due to take place this weekend, with more horses than usual having to be rounded up due to last year's muster being cancelled… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.A new documentary series from James Cameron on whales has captured never-before-filmed whale behaviour across the world including in the waters of New Zealand.

New Zealand Marine biologist Dr Ingrid… Read more Audio

8:55 AM.It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Read more Audio