Morning Report for Monday 11 March 2024

8:57 AM.At the weekend, tens-of-thousands of New Zealanders supported their local growers at the country's 25-or-so Farmers Markets.

The markets, which comprise more than 1000 small food businesses, have… Read more Audio

8:54 AM.A new study has found bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand have distinct regional accents.

When Massey and Otago University researchers compared the whistling patterns of dolphins from Doubtful Sound… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.Fire crews have been wrestling with multiple wildfires across rural north Otago overnight which remain uncontained, forcing some residents to evacuate.

Fire and Emergency was first alerted to the… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The Basin Reserve has seen more New Zealand cricket Test matches, and Test victories, than any other ground.

On Saturday, history was made at the ground when kilikiti, also known as Samoan cricket… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Climate change is no longer a 'strategic priority' under the government's new draft policy statement on land transport.

This means that once in force, Waka Kotahi and other decision-makers would not… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.Principals warn the hundred-million dollars a year they get to maintain school buildings is not enough and flash new classrooms are making the problem worse. 

They say high modern buildings… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.A former addict who spent years in jail says prison rehab programs don't work, and investing in more alcohol and drug treatment courts would help cut crime.

The specialist courts aim to treat the… Read more Audio

8:22 AM.A 67-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a 22-year old man at a Christchurch property last night. 

Police were called to the Hereford Street property after 10 pm, to… Read more Audio

8:17 AM.A Renters United spokesperson says restoring tax deductions for interest on residential investment properties provides a break for property owners, while tenants are left out in the cold.

Luke… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Property Investors Federation says the government's move to restore tax deductions for interest on residential investment properties will improve the rental market.

The federation's president… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.The elite of the film industry is gathering today to walk the red carpet and vie for the best of the year's cinema at the Oscars in Los Angeles.

Director and entertainment journalist Sandro Monetti… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.The Australian cricketers have six wickets in hand with two hundred and two runs required to take the win of the second Test in Christchurch today.

Former Black cap Peter McGlashan says the first… Read more Audio

7:46 AM.The lawyer for the Whakaari White Island owners is calling for an independent public inquiry into the deadly eruption saying government agencies including WorkSafe should be held accountable.

Five… Read more Audio

7:38 AM.Hurricanes management says Saturday's haka was respectful, authentic and appropriate. 

But some bilingual te reo Māori speakers heard Poua haka leader, Leilani Perese, saying the government should… Read more Audio

7:29 AM.More now on the unusually hot temperature in Timaru this morning, where it climbed past 27 degrees at 6am, nearby Waimate was 26.7 and Fairlie was 25 

Metservice meteorologist Clare O'Connor told… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.Private operators instead of police are poised to take over running mobile speed cameras on highways for the first time.

The transport agency says the private company will not be allowed to issue… Read more Audio

7:20 AM.In a widely expected result, Chlöe Swarbrick is now co-leader of the Green Party.

This marks the party's first time with two female leaders, and at just 29 years old Swarbrick is the youngest to hold… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.From April 1 landlords will once again be able to claim tax deductions for interest on residential investment properties.

In effect, this means interest expenses are offset against taxes paid on… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.It's the Oscars today and Aotearoa's Weta FX is up for awards.

The digital visual effects and animation company has been nominated for work on Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol three, as well as for best… Read more Audio

6:46 AM.It's an unusually hot morning in Timaru, where was 25.7 degrees right just before 7am - but it earlier hit 27. 

The temperature there this morning has soared from 19 degrees at 4.30 am to 27.2… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.The government's first 100 days are over and its first new announcement has come with a backtrack on backdating their tax break for landlords.

From next month, interest deductibility for landlords is… Read more Audio

6:20 AM.Visitors to Hamilton gardens can go reptile spotting at Turtle Lake, so named after its population of abandoned pet red-eared slider turtles.

Unfortunately, they are one of the world's worst invasive… Read more Audio

6:12 AM.The India New Zealand Business Council says it's important the government continues developing this country's relationship with India. 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters travelling to India, Indonesia… Read more Audio