Morning Report for Friday 13 August 2021

8:56 AM.It's Friday so we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:52 AM.Some iwi are worried the government's proposed water reforms could undermine - and possibly unravel - their treaty settlements. Iwi with water-based settlements, like Waikato-Tainui and Te Arawa, fear… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The Bledisloe Cup goes back on the line tomorrow night, when an All Blacks win over Australia at Eden Park would make it 19 series wins on the trot, since 2002 - back before iPhones were on the scene… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The streets of Samoa are being adorned with red flags, put up by residents to signal they want to be vaccinated. It's part of a government Covid-19 initiative, providing door-to-door vaccinations, to… Read more Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:28 AM.Delays in getting police clearances are forcing independent midwives to work weeks on end without pay, or not work at all, until they're approved. The New Zealand College of Midwives is hearing… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.After last week's loss, the Wallabies must break a 35 year losing streak at Eden Park if they're to have any chance of winning the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in nearly two decades. After a near… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.Monday's blackout has led to a war between power companies fighting to find who's to blame. Electric Kiwi and Haast Energy say Genesis and Contact have abused their market dominance by not providing… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.By the middle of next year, the government says there'll no longer be such strict measures protecting the border, with vaccinated travellers allowed to skip managed isolation and quarantine in certain… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.All Blacks coach Ian Foster says his side is "desperate" to wrap up the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park and start the Rugby Championship strongly - he just hopes some more fans will be there to see what… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.The Taliban continues to take over parts of Afganistan, and now the US State Department is also admitting the beginning of the end in Kabul and is starting to pull US personnel out. The seizure of… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.The risk of breathing in asbestos during the Waikeria Prison riot earlier this year may never be known because Corrections rushed to clean equipment before testing it. Corrections has confirmed there… Read more Audio

7:42 AM.A crucial question is whether border relaxation will happen before the Government has vaccinated children under sixteen. The risk of the Delta also means schools face immediate shutdowns, if the… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.The map to reopen New Zealand to the world is ready - but can we vaccinate enough people by the start of 2022 to make it possible? Many remain anxious about the prospect of preparing the return to… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.The fight over the number of seats at Christchurch's new multi-million dollar stadium is over with councillors back-tracking on their decision to slash 5000 seats. The council's U-turn comes as new… Read more Audio

7:23 AM.Independent midwives are being forced to work for weeks on end without pay because of delays in getting police clearances - some are even being told they can't practice. They say they're having to… Read more Audio

7:19 AM.If a major disaster happened in New Zealand today, the Defence Force's ability to respond would be significantly compromised, mainly due to its security role at managed isolation hotels. Top officials… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.At least 60 to 70 percent of the entire New Zealand population would need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to ensure the risks of any home self-isolation plans are managed. That's the advice… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Hundreds of workers returning from overseas will soon be able to skip a stint in a MIQ hotel and isolate at home instead. It's part of the Government's long-awaited plan to re-connect New Zealand with… Read more Audio

6:54 AM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

6:46 AM.The government is worried children at schools that don't enrol foreign students are missing out. It says most schools with paying international students are high-decile and their fees - $150 million… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.The Defence Minister admits there's a serious situation with the reduced ability of the defence force to respond to a major disaster. The Chief of Defence Force is also warning about the impact of the… Read more Audio

6:39 AM.Business leaders are praising the Government's new pilot scheme which will allow vaccinated travelling workers to isolate at home. Companies and other organisations wanting to send staff overseas will… Read more Audio

6:34 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:24 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

6:16 AM.It's a strange story of espionage - involving three nations. A British man has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for Russia. German federal prosecutors said the man worked at the British… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.The Green Party is worried about the Government's plans to let some vaccinated New Zealanders travel to medium risk Covid-19 countries and then self-isolate at home on their return. A pilot programme… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.Independent midwives are being forced to work for weeks on end without pay because of delays in getting police clearances - some are even being told they can't practice. Some are taking on part time… Read more Audio

6:00 AM.NZ workers returning from overseas can soon skip MIQ stay; Hendy: 60-70 percent Covid-19 vaccination rates needed; NZDF not ready for disaster due to Covid-19 MIQ commitments; Delays in vetting… Read more Audio