Morning Report for Thursday 15 February 2024

8:51 AM.Organisers say Southern Field Days is back and better than ever with a record number of exhibitors.

The biennial event in Waimumu, in the Gore District, was cancelled twice during the pandemic.

… Read more Audio

8:47 AM.The Flying Doctor Service has a new $3 million air ambulance based at Nelson Airport.

The service flew 1,276 missions across the country in the year to last June, with more than half of those from… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.The Government is pushing ahead with its plan to index benefit rates to inflation, a move forecast to save it 670 million dollars over the next four years.

In 2019, the Labour-led government linked… Read more Audio

8:39 AM.The Emergency Management and Recovery Minister, Mark Mitchell, was in Christchurch assessing the scale of the Port Hills fire first-hand.

Mark Mitchell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Read more Audio

8:27 AM.A leaked draft Cabinet paper shows the Government is looking into allowing more overseas investment for build-to-rent housing.

The coalition has already said it will amend the Overseas Investment Act… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.The fire raging on Christchurch's Port Hills has spread south into the Selwyn District Council area.

It, along with Christchurch City, declared a state of local emergency yesterday to help… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.Wildfire scientists have taken samples of the soil, moisture and fuel sources near the fire in the Port Hills, to help predict how the blaze might spread.

The Crown research institute for forestry… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.Fire fighters say no homes have been lost in the Port Hills blaze in Christchurch that's forced the evacuation of 80 properties.

The fire covers 630 hectares and has crossed the boundary into the… Read more Audio

8:09 AM.Firefighters are continuing to battle the major blaze in the Port Hills.

It's now 630 hectares in size and has a 12 kilometre perimeter.

Reporter Charlotte Cook spoke to Corin Dann. Read more Audio

7:52 AM.Many new primary school teachers feel 'unprepared' for teaching maths, according to a new report by the Education Review Office.

The ERO found almost a quarter of new primary school teachers are not… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.The axe is hovering above Wellington City Council services as the meeting on its long term plan kicks off this morning.

A 15.4% rate increase, shutting down a pool, selling Wellington Airport shares… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.KiwiRail is beginning the process of cancelling its contract with an overseas boat builder for two new Interislander ferries.

The Government declined a request for more funding to buy the ferries and… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.Fire and Emergency's Ben Mosby addressed the public in a media conference on the Port Hills fire in Christchurch.

  Read more Audio

7:27 AM.Dame Lisa Carrington bagged herself a Halberg hat-trick at the annual sport awards in Auckland on February 14.

The Olympic and world champion kayaker won the Supreme Halberg sports award for the… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.Another hot and dry day is forecast for Christchurch as the fire in the Port Hills continues to burn.

MetService Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Our reporter Charlotte Cook was half-way up Worsley Road as smoke continued to billow over the Port Hills in Christchurch.

Cook spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss Read more Audio

7:09 AM.The fire on Christchurch's Port Hills has continued to spread Wednesday night.

On Wednesday evening, Fire and Emergency said it was about 100-hectares in size.

But embers, carried by the strong hot… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.As the fire started raged along the Port Hills yesterday, soot affected the high voltage lines and caused the circuits to trip at the Bromley substation in Christchurch.

The local lines company Orion… Read more Audio

6:43 AM.The fire on Christchurch's Port Hills continues to rage Thursday morning.

The blaze, which broke out near the top end of Worsleys Spur road just after 2pm Wednesday, has burnt through 100-hectares of… Read more Audio

6:25 AM.Latest news from Radio New Zealand's business team. Audio

6:22 AM.A Wairoa resident says his community has not lost, but gained, through the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Val Irwin - or Papa Val, as he is known to locals - joined the memorial hīkoi following… Read more Audio

6:12 AM.The fire on Christchurch's Port Hills is burning under the high voltage power lines that connect Ashburton and Christchurch.

Transpower says it thinks a build-up of soot affected transmission… Read more Audio

6:08 AM.The fire on Christchurch's Port Hills continues to rage this morning, fanned by a nor'west wind.

The blaze, which broke out near the top end of Worsleys Spur road just after 2pm yesterday , has burnt… Read more Audio

6:06 AM.Dame Lisa Carrington was the big winner at the Halberg sports awards last night in Auckland. Read more Audio