Morning Report for Thursday 7 March 2024

8:54 AM.A breakthrough has been made for a bird on the brink.

The world population of the critically endangered Fatu Hiva monarch has risen thanks to Auckland Zoo and the Polynesian Ornithological Society.

… Read more Audio

8:52 AM.A new report is calling for an urgent overhaul of the aged care system saying older people are struggling to access services.

The Aged Care Commissioner's study shows some people are getting stuck in… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.An Auckland University professor says the devil will be in the detail for the gang patch legislation, expected to be introduced to Parliament on Thursday.

Auckland University associate professor… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.A free speech advocate says a professor who described the Government as a "death cult" on a social media platform, should be allowed to make those comments, but should expect consequences if she does… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.A mining industry lobby group says it is looking forward to the Government's unveiling of a proposed bill to 'fast track' consenting aimed at improving the speed of approval for major infrastructure… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.One week on from the proposed shutdown of Newshub, TVNZ staff are bracing themselves for more bad news.

Staff have been told to watch their inboxes for information about the future of their news… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.About 3000 families are currently living in motels, 800 of them for twelve weeks or longer and half of them are children.

The Government wants motels to be a last resort for emergency housing.

But… Read more Audio

7:55 AM.It could be handbags at ten paces at Webb's auction house this Sunday when six rare handbags go under the hammer.

The iconic Hermes Birkin handbags are on display in Auckland through the week and… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.There's been a 93 percent rise in cocaine use in the 2022-to-23 period according to the Drug Foundation.

Meanwhile, seizures by police and customs as large as three tonnes have become more common… Read more Audio

7:40 AM.A housing support manager is delighted by the Government's commitment to move whānau with children out of emergency housing sooner.

Under the new plan, families who've been living in emergency… Read more Audio

7:37 AM.Experts say the cost of driving on a toll road needs to rise, even double, to make it worthwhile to open more.

Research shows the charges in place at just three highways are way lower than in other… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.The government will introduce a bill on Thursday to establish a 'fast track' consenting regime, aimed at improving the speed of approval for major infrastructure projects.

Regional Development… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.Nikki Haley has exited the race to become president of the United States, after winning just two races on Super Tuesday.

In a repeat of 2020, it leaves President Joe Biden to face his predecessor… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.The government's gang crackdown could backfire, driving up rates of gang membership, increasing domestic violence and making it harder to exit gangs, according to expert advice from justice officials.

7:15 AM.The Coalition is hoping private landlords will come to the rescue as it aims to end the blight of emergency housing.

It announced the start of its promised overhaul on Wednesday, including cracking… Read more Audio

6:45 AM.The government is already facing criticism for its plan to get families with children out of emergency housing quicker.

The new plan will put whānau with children at the top of the social housing… Read more Audio

6:18 AM.Another hundred wild kiwi are about to be released into the hills near Wellington.

The first of the kiwi will arrive on March the 18th. Capital Kiwi Project founder Paul Ward spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.