Morning Report for Tuesday 30 November 2021

8:53 AM.A species of tropical bees has evolved an extra tooth for biting flesh.

That's not all, these bees from Costa Rica have also developed a gut that closely resembles that of vultures.

This makes them… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.Ashley Handley is the stablehand who's been responsible for the day-to-day care of Probabeel, New Zealand's Thoroughbred of the Year, in Australia.

Now they're both winners - she's just been named… Read more Audio

8:48 AM.Twenty-thousand tonnes of mussels are booked to be dropped into Ōkahu Bay as part of an ambitious Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei plan to replenish seabeds that have over the past century been severely depleted.

8:44 AM.Days of rioting and looting in the Solomon Islands have roiled the capital Honiara leaving at least three people dead.

Chinese residents in the city appear to have fared the worst. Some have told RNZ… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.The head of a South Auckland health service says she's seeing little evidence that lessons have been learned from deaths in home isolation.

Health officials have apologised after an independent… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.The Black Caps' first test against India ended in a draw.

Cricket commentator Bryan Waddle spoke to Corin Dann. Read more Audio

8:24 AM.A young woman whose nude photos were posted on a porn site without her permission fears the perpetrators of online sexual abuse don't realise their actions could have consequences.

As sharing… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.National MPs are descending on the capital today to elect a new leader.

It follows the dumping of Judith Collins in a vote of no confidence.

RNZ understands it's a two horse race between former… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.Waikato businesses are relieved to be entering the orange light on Friday but nearby in Rotorua there is disappointment at being given the red light.

Further South in Nelson, a new Covid-19 case has… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.A racehorse who doesn't like getting her feet wet has been voted this year's New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year.

Probabeel is a friendly, dark-coloured mare who loves food, and she's gained… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.Vital hospital building projects in Auckland are being delayed for months by questions over fire designs - and especially the safe evacuation of smoke-filled rooms.

Stroke, rehabilitation and baby… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.Vaccination events in Taranaki are being shifted indoors or abandoned as vaccinators come under physical and verbal attack from people opposed to the jab.

The District Health Board says police are… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.Gisborne locals say allowing music festival Rhythm and Vines to go ahead would be an open invitation for Covid-19 to arrive in Tairāwhiti.

Currently the lowest fully vaccinated region, Gisborne will… Read more Audio

7:39 AM.The tourism industry is grappling with the prospect of its new normal being years away with billions of dollars lost by then and many more hurdles ahead - including its latest, the Omicron variant.

… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.Fire and Emergency is urging double-vaccinated people to train up as new volunteer firefighters to help fill a void created by the unvaccinated.

A Covid-19 vaccine mandate is now in place for… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.National Party MPs meet on Tuesday at 3pm to elect a new leader.

RNZ understands it's a two horse race between former leader Simon Bridges and Christopher Luxon, with support for the latter firming.

7:20 AM.The union for police officers says gun violence is now a daily occurence for officers and the job is becoming increasingly risky.

Three officers were shot in West Auckland yesterday and another was… Read more Audio

7:14 AM.Health Minister Andrew Little says officials will make a 'human judgement' rather than set specific criteria for regions to shift down in the traffic light system.  

However he says any shifts… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.In just three days Aucklanders go red as the Covid-19 traffic light system comes into force bringing with it the long awaited freedoms like going to a bar, a restaurant or a movie.

The city went into… Read more Audio

6:50 AM.A Waka Ama championship that attracts thousands of paddlers to compete for the coveted national sprint title has been cancelled due to fears it could become a superspreader event.

For the first time… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.Businesses in Tauranga are relieved to have escaped the red traffic light heading into the region's busy summer season.

From Friday the city and the western Bay of Plenty will be in the orange light… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.The entire South Island has been given the orange light under the new Traffic Light system so life on the mainland can almost get back to normal.

From this Friday new freedoms will allow mingling… Read more Audio

6:13 AM.Covid-19 cases in Waikato are on the rise - but the region has scraped through with an orange traffic light rating.

So has Waikato's high vaccination rate saved it from the red light?

Hamilton Mayor… Read more Audio

6:08 AM.New Zealand has been painted Red and Orange ahead of the new Traffic Light System which kicks in on Friday.

The Prime Minister revealed her colour scheme for the regions in her post cabinet news… Read more Audio