Morning Report for Wednesday 19 July 2023

8:55 AM.Would you pay $130 for a burger?

That's one question lucky Wellingtonians will be pondering when  "Burger Wellington" kicks off the programme for in the capital today.

Burger fans will be stuck for… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.An extreme heatwave continues across Europe with no relief in sight, as another heatwave is forecast to arrive next week.

It is anticipated Sicily may break it's previous record of 48.8C - the… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.Some businesses say they are left with increasing insurance costs, staff shortages and mental health stress as rising crime takes a toll.

They say the government needs to introduce more practical… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Kainga Ora has spent $800,000 on lawyers, planners, and architects to help it prepare submissions on Wellington City Council's district plan review.

The state housing agency is pushing for changes to… Read more Audio

8:37 AM.A prominent sports journalist says grandiose ideas helped sink the next Commonwealth Games.

The Australian state of Victoria has cancelled its plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to budget… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.A business that aims to help New Zealanders save money by comparing different prices has its eye on the electricity market.

Consumer New Zealand has the current contract, worth $2.8 million, to… Read more Audio

8:20 AM. The government plans to build two new youth justice units for "high needs" prisoners.

It has left some who work in the youth justice sector wondering whether this is a research based decision, or a… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.Both New Zealand and Australia have rejected claims by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister that they withheld promised financial support.

On arriving back from a trip to China, Mr Sogavare told media… Read more Audio

8:12 AM.FIFA fans may be disappointed to know the Women's World Cup games face a wet and windy start this week.

NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll is warning of heavy downpours, strong wind gusts and potential… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.As insurance payments for flood-affected homeowners comes to an end, the Government is today expected to announce help to pay for temporary housing.

Displaced residents in Auckland and on the East… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.A major study has found no change in children's average maths achievement since 2018.

The National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement assessed 4000 Year 4 and Year 8 children in term 3 last… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.The Government is nervously awaiting the release of the latest inflation figures today with hopes for a decent drop.

Statistics New Zealand will release the Consumer Price Index data for the June… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.American fans are proudly backing their champion Women's Football team at this year's World Cup.

An estimated 15,000 fans are on their way from the US to Auckland for the tournament.

Philadelphia… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.A warning, this next story contains distressing content.

The High Court in Christchurch has heard Lauren Dickason spoke about harming her daughters on three separate occasions before they died.

… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.Transport agency Waka Kotahi is insisting the country's newest motorway north of Auckland is built to last, despite extreme weather triggering a big landslip which is now under urgent repair.

… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.The relevance of the Commonwealth, and the future of the Commonwealth Games, are both under scrutiny after Victoria pulled the plug on hosting the 2026 event.

The Games were set to be held across the… Read more Audio

7:12 AM.Consumer Price Index data is due today and for the first time in a while economists are optimistic.

Several top voices in the field are expecting the pace of inflation to slow below six percent for… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.A New Zealand heptathlete Olympian says Victoria's decision to cancel plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a blow.

The Australian state announced yesterday that budget blowouts led to its… Read more Audio

6:40 AM.Rocket Lab is making progress with its plan to make the world's first reusable small rocket.

Yesterday it launched its 39th Electron mission and successfully returned the rocket to Earth, before… Read more Audio

6:23 AM.Now to the US, where it is believed a soldier who was facing disciplinary action from the US military has defected to North Korea.

News that an American was in custody in North Korea broke overnight… Read more Audio

6:12 AM.Younger teenagers could still end up in the government's newly announced youth justice units, despite the Children's Minister saying he would prefer that doesn't happen.

Two new units located in… Read more Audio