Morning Report for Wednesday 7 February 2024

8:53 AM.Many Wellington dog owners are surprised to learn their four-legged mates are not welcome on city beaches over summer.

So, on a hot day when a pup needs to cool their paws in the surf, they might… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.The owners of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are looking into removing the electric plugs, to avoid the Government's new road user charges.

One owner in rural Marlborough says if he doesn't, it… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama has spent the night in jail after being charged with abuse of office.

Bainimarama's former attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and the country's… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Dozens of firefighters are returning to a fire near Waipara this morning, to make sure there is no chance of it re-igniting.

Reporter Niva Chittock spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Read more Audio

8:38 AM.Three southern mayors are pleading for the Government to offer real answers to a looming decade of big rate hikes, now the cost of three waters is back on their books.

The coalition Government has… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.The number of prisoners kept at special Department of Corrections units, is increasing after a slump during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Former prisoners describe verbal abuse and inhumane treatment at the… Read more Audio

8:18 AM.A Tai Tokerau kaumātua has praised ACT Party leader David Seymour for doing what few have been able to do, unite all Māori. 

Earlier this year, at the hui hosted by the Kiingitanga at Tūrangawaewae… Read more Audio

8:11 AM.Labour has defended its record on delivering for Māori over the past six years, saying it takes time to rectify decades of under-resourcing.

Leader Chris Hipkins was joined by several of his MPs at… Read more Audio

7:51 AM.Christopher Luxon has had his first Waitangi as Prime Minister.

Tens of thousands turned out at the Treaty Grounds this year where tensions ran high.

David Seymour was heckled over his treaty… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.The Black Caps are in a commanding position in first test against South Africa.

They finished day three at 179/4, a massive 528 runs ahead, thanks mainly to Kane Williamson's second century of the… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.
Activist and former MP Hone Harawira has told the Government it will not succeed if it tries to pass laws to strip the Treaty of its mana, or to belittle te reo Māori. 

Harawira, who spoke at… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.Wednesday marks one year since New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage in West Papua.

Phillip Mehrtens, from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air, when he landed his… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.Messages of support from across the world have come in for King Charles after his diagnosis with cancer.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says 'thankfully' the cancer was caught early.

King Charles… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.Canterbury is on alert after two vegetation fires in the past few days. Up to 60 firefighters tackled a fire near Waipara in the Hurunui District late Tuesday.

Fire and emergency says 15 brigades and… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.Māori leaders are promising to carry the message from Waitangi on through the year, to ensure the protection of Te Tiriti. 

Thousands travelled to the Treaty Grounds for the annual commemorations and… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.Tensions were high at the pōwhiri for the Government at Waitangi.

At one point there was even a suggestion that prime minister Christopher Luxon might not be able to speak, because of vocal… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.A Māori rights activist says protest action against the government's policies is far from over.

The coalition was received at this year's Waitangi commemorations with anger about its contentious… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.More than one thousand people took part in one Waitangi tradition, the hīkoi onto the treaty grounds.

The march began five days ago at Cape Reinga with numbers growing along the way.

Hikoi leader… Read more Audio

6:41 AM.Waitangi commemorations have many traditions, one being a hīkoi. 

This year over a thousand people were part of the march onto the treaty grounds.

They echoed a call that has gone out again and… Read more Audio

6:14 AM.The medical laboratory workers who collected, processed, and reported our Covid-19 tests went on strike on Monday after months of collective bargaining.

Seventy percent of Covid tests were processed… Read more Audio

6:10 AM.New research suggests the planet has already exceeded 1.5 degrees of warming, the threshold parties to the 2015 Paris Accord agreed not to pass.

The scientists in the study examined centuries-old sea… Read more Audio