Morning Report for Wednesday 2 August 2023

8:54 AM.Move over steak and cheese, the winner of the 25th Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards champions a pie you wouldn't find in a petrol station.

Tauranga's Patrick Lam of Patrick's Pies won the judge's heart… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.Could rolling dice and slaying dragons be good for your brain?

Two psychology researchers at Massey University are launching a one-of-a-kind lab to investigate the mental health benefits of board… Read more Audio

8:45 AM.A new WHO report shows there are now four countries which have meet all of its anti-smoking best practice measures - but New Zealand hasn't made the list.

It falls short in one area - the promotion… Read more Audio

8:43 AM.Te Pūkenga, Aotearoa's national training organisation, has revealed an $80 million deficit for 2022.

The figure comes from its first annual report covering the 25 polytechnics and training institutes… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Devastating floods have killed at least 20 people in China.

Morning Report producer Zoe Cartwright spoke to our China correspondent Andrew Wood overnight - and he says other parts of the country are… Read more Audio

8:35 AM.Record-breaking rainfall in Northland is worsening the region's long-standing erosion problem. Sediment is smothering stream beds and estuaries and causing dramatic effects on fish, aquatic plants and… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.Electricity companies are being accused of piling hardship on top of hardship by charging customers who can't afford their bills extra fees when they cut off their power.

Advocacy group Common Grace… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.The way Aotearoa deals with crime is exacerbating harms to both victims and offenders, who are disproportionately Māori.

The latest report from the United Nations' Committee against Torture… Read more Audio

8:16 AM.A political spat has broken out over the Government's proposal to extend the period of time asylum seekers can be detained.

National and the Greens both oppose the mass arrivals bill - that will… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.Fans at Eden Park were confused when a fire alarm went off during the US and Portugal match.

The false alarm started sounding during the half time break. Almost 43,000 were at the game, and despite… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.East Coasters are still waiting for action after a report released more than two months ago demanded wide-scale forestry felling be stopped immediately in Tai Rāwhiti and Wairoa.

The Government… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.The National Party has been busy defending its plan to reintroduce roads of national significance, a $24 billion plan the Government says faces a $10 billion hole.

National Party leader Christopher… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.Auckland's mayor says it's time to stop consultants and lawyers charging councils and the Government hundreds of millions of dollars for work they used to do in-house.

Wayne Brown says the "ludicrous… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.More teenagers are leaving school without any qualifications.

That's according to Ministry of Education figures which show 15 percent of students who finished school last year did not achieve any… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.As the election campaign careers toward a contest of conflicting and confusing calculations, there is fresh hope for a different approach - if not this election, then next.

The Labour Party has… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.Severe weather warnings didn't deter thousands of fans from turning up to a FIFA match between Vietnam and the Netherlands in Dunedin last night.

The game came after a dramatic day in Otago with… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.The USA had a big scare hanging on to a nil all draw against Portugal to make it through to the last 16.

Barry Guy has all the results from last night. Read more Audio

7:10 AM.A spectator at last night's football match at Eden Park says she and others started freaking out when the stadium's fire exits locked them inside while a fire alarm was telling them to evacuate.

The… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.South Island and lower North Island residents are waking up to assess the damage after a night of severe gales and in some areas heavy snow.

Severe weather warnings are in place, as a fast-moving… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.A wintry blast has hit the deep south, where weather warnings have been covering most of Te Waipounamu overnight.

Severe gales, wind and snow were forecast, but are expected to ease off this morning.

6:18 AM.A new rule will require all packaged alcohol being sold to have warnings on the label about the harm it can cause to unborn babies.

The food safety agency says the move is supported by advice from… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.A new piece of AI software that predicts when staff might leave will soon be available in Aotearoa.

Sharon Davies, managing director of recruitment marketing agency Talent Propeller, says the… Read more Audio

6:08 AM.Much of the country has been hammered by strong gusts, rain and snow overnight, with delays on roads expected today.

Northwest winds at speeds of up to a hundred and twenty kilometres an hour are… Read more Audio