Morning Report for Friday 31 March 2023

8:53 AM.It's time for weekly political panel.

This week we have the New Zealand Herald's political editor Claire Trevett joining RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson. Read more Audio

8:38 AM.Bus drivers throughout the country are getting a pay boost, with three regional councils approving increases this week.

Drivers in Wellington, Christchurch, and Otago - encompassing Dunedin and… Read more Audio

8:30 AM.The Oceanic Manta Ray - Te whai rahi - is soaring ahead on the final day of voting for New Zealand's fish of the year, Te Ika o Te Tau. 

The annual competition is in its third year, celebrating the… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.An independent report says it's likely the design of new NCEA literacy and numeracy tests is unfair on Māori and Pacific teenagers.

The report says the online tests could be harder for students who… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.The National Party's housing and infrastructure spokesperson says the biggest barrier to renewable energy is the planning system.

National's new renewable energy policy plans to double the amount of… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.A court has heard Gloriavale women were entrapped, enslaved and lived in servitude at the Christian community, on the final day of a long-running employment case.

Chief Employment Court judge… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Government's proposal to begin building a new road across Auckland's Waitematā Harbour in 2029 has the Green Party seeing red. 

The government yesterday unveiled five options for the project… Read more Audio

7:57 AM.Controversy continues to circle the Gore District Council, with the relationship between the mayor and chief executive having broken down so much, another councillor will now act as an intermediary… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Thousands of Air New Zealand customers are still waiting on refunds, following the storms that lashed large parts of the North Island over the past two months.

The Auckland floods and Cyclone… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.Heavy dental clinic trailers are still being towed between schools, even after an investigation found their wheel studs are likely to snap off after just 3000 kilometres

The wheels on two trailers… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.If every specialist GP that's aged 65 or over retired immediately, about 725,000 New Zealanders would be without the medical help they need. That's the stark warning from the Royal New Zealand College… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.MediaWorks has called time on its year-old talkback station, Today FM. 

Presenters Tova O'Brien and Duncan Garner spoke their last words on air yesterday morning, calling betrayal on management for… Read more Audio

7:27 AM.Property experts are warning owners of flood-damaged homes in Hawke's Bay to take care when dealing with investment companies wanting to snap up their houses.

A property investment company is… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.The saga surrounding Labour minister Stuart Nash continues - with the government now being accused of a cover-up.

Nash's ministerial career was ended after it was revealed he explicitly discussed his… Read more Audio

7:19 AM.The saga surrounding Labour minister Stuart Nash continues - with the government now being accused of a cover-up.

Nash's ministerial career was ended after it was revealed he explicitly discussed his… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Trucking companies believe a tunnel is the best option for a second Auckland Harbour crossing.

The Government has revealed five options for another link to the North Shore and is promising… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.Public transport advocates say the government is putting the cart before the horse with most of its Auckland harbour crossing proposals. 

The government has unveiled five options for an additional… Read more Audio

6:50 AM.A long list of big names in global technology have signed an open letter calling for a pause in the development of artificial intelligence.

Figures like Elon Musk and Apple's co founder Steve Wosniak… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.Some prisoners at three major prisons have not had any visitors since the pandemic began three years ago.

Now Corrections is promising to reopen the jails to visitors sometime in the next few weeks… Read more Audio

6:23 AM.A huge sunspot has unleashed a blast of solar wind racing toward Earth at nearly 3-million-kilometres an hour. 

It's expected to hit the atmosphere tonight, sparking more spectacular aurora.

… Read more Audio

6:22 AM.King Charles has become the first British Monarch to address parliament in Germany - even speaking German in his address

On the second day of his first overseas trip since becoming king, the monarch… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.Māori housing advocates say Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted stark disparities between Māori and non Māori communities. 

The National Māori Housing Conference in Rotorua scrutinised the impact of… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.Russian authorities have arrested a US journalist on suspicion of spying. 

Evan Gershkovich, an experienced Russia reporter, was working in Yekaterinburg at the time of his detention.

The Wall… Read more Audio