Morning Report for Wednesday 18 December 2024

10:00 AM.On today's episode, the death toll from Vanuatu's 7.3 earthquake is expected to rise because concrete buildings have collapsed with people inside in the capital Port Vila, and the Treasury's half-year… Read more Audio

8:58 AM.A Christchurch teenager's project to improve tracking methane from space has won him the Prime Minister's Space Prize. Year 12 student Cairo Akehurst spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:51 AM.Former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot will soon be reunited with of one his most treasured possessions. Rugby reporter Joe Porter has more. Audio

8:46 AM.A review of early childhood regulations says poor compliance in the sector is putting children at risk of harm. Amanda Coulston from Kindergartens Aotearoa spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:41 AM.Health New Zealand says vaccination rates for whooping cough are approaching 60 percent, but Maori and Pacific communities still lag behind. Health New Zealand Public Health Service national director… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere. Audio

8:33 AM.Market Update for 18 December 2024. Audio

8:26 AM.The Chief Ombudsman says the Department of Corrections needs to make major changes to the way it runs the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit at Auckland Prison in Paremoremo, citing concerns over the… Read more Audio

8:19 AM.The political year is wrapping up, Parliament sits for the last time on Thursday. There has been a flurry of legislation passed through the House, and the government's half-yearly fiscal update has… Read more Audio

8:15 AM.The New Zealand Red Cross says it's on standby to support colleagues in Vanuatu. New Zealand Red Cross secretary general Sarah Stuart-Black spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio

8:10 AM.New Zealand is ready to provide assistance to Vanuatu if needed, after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake near the capital Port Vila on Tuesday, damaging buildings and infrastructure. Foreign Minister Winston… Read more Audio

8:06 AM.The Black Caps coach Gary Stead says they owed departing veteran Tim Southee and their fans a performance they could "be proud of" as they secured an emphatic victory in the final test against… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.The Black Caps have farewelled Tim Southee with a consolation win against England. Former Black Cap and Cricket Commentator Peter McGlashan spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:52 AM.New research shows retirees are cutting down on shopping, avoiding social events and even skipping doctors' appointments to save money. Felix Walton has more. Audio

7:47 AM.The Chief Ombudsman says the Department of Corrections needs to change the way it's running the unit that houses some of New Zealand's most dangerous prisoners. Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier spoke to… Read more Audio

7:41 AM.The review of early childhood regulations says a poor compliance monitoring regime is putting small children at unacceptable risk of harm. Education correspondent John Gerritsen spoke to Ingrid… Read more Audio

7:24 AM.The Treasury's half-year economic and fiscal update is universally being described as bad news. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:21 AM.The Vanuatu MetService is advising people near coastal areas to stay on higher ground due to the risk of tsunami from the aftershocks. RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins spoke to Corin Dann. Audio

7:19 AM.A woman caught up in the Vanuatu earthquake says she could hear screaming coming from people trapped in a collapsed building next door. Emma Thompson spoke to our reporter Maia Ingoe hours after the… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.Vanuatu's caretaker Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, says his country is in urgent need of international assistance. Glen Craig is the Chair of the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council and he was having… Read more Audio

7:06 AM.Bowler Will O'Rourke's rise in test cricket's been hailed as one of the key developments in the Black Caps in 2024. Audio

6:54 AM.Business news for 18 December 2024. Audio

6:48 AM.Labour says Finance Minister Nicola Willis' reputation is in tatters after the report, while National says it's Labour's fault the books are so bad in the first place. Labour finance spokesperson… Read more Audio

6:43 AM.The Vanuatu MetService is recommending people near coastal areas stay on higher ground due to a potential for Tsunami triggered by aftershocks. Audio

6:38 AM.An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere. Audio

6:28 AM.News from the rural farming sector. Audio

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

6:15 AM.A new programme aims to save secondary school students from picking up problem gambling habits from video games. Problem Gambling Foundation director of advocacy and public health Andrée Froude spoke… Read more Audio

6:09 AM.The death toll from the earthquake in Vanuatu now stands at 14 and is expected to rise. 200 people have been treated with injuries at the main hospital in the capital Port Villa. Audio

6:06 AM.Blackcaps skipper Tom Latham's convinced the test team's future is looking bright after they claimed a consolation win in their final test of the year. Audio