Morning Report for Monday 18 March 2024

8:52 AM.That's the sound of the winners of the 2024 NZ Pipe Band Championships, the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band, performing on Saturday afternoon.

About 1500 people took part in the competition… Read more Audio

8:41 AM.Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she cannot confirm that the Government will be able to deliver tax cuts in July as outlined in the coalition agreement.

Willis told Morning Report the rollout is… Read more Audio

8:27 AM.The annual Maadi rowing regatta has started on Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.

More the 100 secondary schools are competing.

RNZ has this morning reported in the past there have been "ethically dubious"… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.After months of conflict in Gaza, UN figures show close to 2 million people have been displaced and are facing starvation as Israel continues its military attacks.

Some manage to leave, but they must… Read more Audio

8:16 AM.More than half a billion dollars of science funding is coming to an end with no more in sight.

Researchers are warning that's going to leave scientific research in a perilous state, with many… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Finance Minister Nicola Willis is refusing to guarantee tax cuts will happen in July.

Willis says she cannot confirm that the Government will be able to deliver tax cuts in July as outlined in… Read more Audio

7:53 AM.Thousands turned out to New Plymouth's international music festival - WOMAD - to take in artists from around the world this weekend.

RNZ presenter Charlotte Ryan was there for the first two nights.

… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.People who've suffered acute mental breakdowns fear the health system won't be ready to fill the gap when police withdraw from crisis callouts.

The Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, has… Read more Audio

7:47 AM.Auckland University researchers says it's alarming that one in ten people continue to use opioids three months after surgery.

They say use of the drugs for that long brings a range of risk factors.

… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.The deputy prime minister, and leader of New Zealand First, Winston Peters says the government is facing a fiscal hole of $5.6 billion.

Despite that, Peters is adamant he won't compromise on the… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.It's the biggest secondary school sports event in the Australasia with 130 schools, 2500 rowers, and a whole lot of silverware up for grabs.

The annual Maadi Regatta gets under way on Lake Ruataniwha… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.Researchers warn they are facing falling off the edge of a cliff when more than half a billion dollars of science funding comes to an end with no replacement in sight.

They say they can't wait until… Read more Audio

7:16 AM.New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has signalled he won't compromise on the roll-out of his party's election commitments.

Peters told supporters yesterday during his state of the nation speech… Read more Audio

7:13 AM.Councils, calling for government help to invest in flood protection, are frustrated they've been sent back to bureaucrats for more talks.

They say a $200 million investment now would save lives and… Read more Audio

7:10 AM.New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has signalled he won't compromise on the roll-out of his election commitments, despite warning the government is short billions of dollars.

Already one… Read more Audio

6:48 AM.Russia has gone to the polls, with people voting in the presidential election over the weekend.

A former Soviet and Russian diplomat, Rouben Azizian, who's now a professor of defence and security… Read more Audio

6:42 AM.Regional councils are pleading with the Government to more rapidly invest in flood protection.

They want Cabinet to invest about $200 million to help update the ageing flood protection network.

The… Read more Audio

6:19 AM.Top athletes were on show at the national championships over the weekend, with eight members of the successful World Indoor squad taking part.

Held at Wellington's Newtown Park, the championships saw… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for greater international cooperation to fight synthetic drugs, like Fentanyl, while Colombia has announced its support for a public health-focused… Read more Audio