Morning Report for Friday 22 December 2023

8:55 AM.Down on Campbell Island with the albatross and the penguins, there's a ham, a Christmas cake and a team ready to celebrate with a Secret Santa.

Theo Thomspon is the team lead this summer.

He told me… Read more Audio

8:51 AM.RNZ Swedish correspondent Dr Anita Purcell-Sjolund tells us about a time-honoured Christmas tradition involving a giant straw goat. Purcell-Sjolund spoke to Charlotte Cook. Audio

8:49 AM.It's time to cross to some more of our international correspondents to get a taste of what's happening for Christmas on their patch.

Canadian CBC journalist Samuel Wat spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Read more Audio

8:43 AM.Down in the southern hemisphere, we've accepted the wintry Christmas songs that don't make sense.

But when it comes to the Christmas table spread, our seasons have had some input.

While we've kept… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Nearly 60 native birds, including some critically threatened species, have been shot and killed across the country over the past three years.

And the Department of Conservation fears the true number… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.It's nearly Christmas, even in Antarctica! Jenn Davis is "camp mum" to researchers and engineers currently working at Kamb Ice Stream, more than a thousand kilometres from Scott Base.

They're there… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.For the last Christmas messages from our political party leaders, we hear from ACT leader David Seymour, followed by Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. Read more Audio

8:20 AM.Don't be a grinch on the road this summer. That's the word from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi who are asking holiday travellers to take it easy behind the wheel. With the official holiday road… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.A former Corrections officer says she was threatened with the sack when she spoke up about widespread corruption at Rimutaka Prison.

A three-year police investigation into the jail has this week led… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.Hawkers peddling their wares on an Auckland road famous for its Christmas lights seemed undeterred by the council's threats to shut them down.

Residents of Franklin Road in Ponsonby have complained… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.It's been another big year for music Charlotte Ryan, host of Music 101, reflects on the year in music and directs us to some of the great album and single releases of 2023. Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Now we have some more Christmas messages from our political party leaders.

This time it's New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, followed by Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw. Read more Audio

7:48 AM.It's our last programme for the year so we're crossing to some of our international correspondents to look what's been happening on their patch and what might lie ahead.

Washington DC correspondent… Read more Audio

7:43 AM.It's our last programme for the year so we're crossing to some of our international correspondents to look what's been happening on their patch and what might lie ahead.

BBC political correspondent… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.Ingrid and Charlotte share some Christmas cracker jokes sent in by listeners. Read more Audio

7:38 AM.The Christmas holidays are nearly upon most of us so there's peak interest in what the weather is up to.

Holiday makers are curious if they've chosen their destination well and others need to know if… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.Hundreds of migrant workers are unsure whether they can stay in the country after their employer went into receivership on Thursday.

The ELE labour hire and recruitment firm was unable to pay staff… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.The leaders of the six political parties in parliament have all provided us with a Christmas message, which we'll run throughout the programme.

First up are Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, followed… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.Retailers are having a chilly Christmas as customers tighten their budgets to weather the cost of living crisis.

Shoppers are buying fewer presents and saving their cash for food and other daily… Read more Audio