Morning Report Podcast Options

7:40 AM.Businesses in the central North Island are at odds over how the closure of the Desert Rd will affect them, with one business-owner saying he could lose tens of thousands of dollars as a result. CEO of… Read more Audio

7:34 AM.Consultation is open on a proposed rewrite to the Arms Act. The review was agreed as part of the National and ACT parties' coalition agreement and promises to systematically review the Act - which has… Read more Audio

7:26 AM.Aucklanders returning to work are facing much longer commuting times, thanks to a month-long rail shutdown which started on Boxing Day. Reporter Lucy Xia has more. Audio

7:25 AM.Donald Trump's interest in Canada and Greenland is being closely followed across the arctic. Journalist Sam Wat, who is based in Nunavut - the northernmost territory of Canada, close to Greenland… Read more Audio

7:15 AM.Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds which fuelled the infernos around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week. AP's International Affiliate correspondent Phillip… Read more Audio

7:11 AM.The New Zealand Dollar is trading at a more than two-year low compared to the US Dollar, and it will put severe pressure on consumers. Business reporter Nona Pelletier has more. Audio

7:09 AM.The head of Otago's rescue helicopter is dipping into his own pocket to provide a $10,000 reward to catch whoever stole critical medical supplies from a rescue helicopter. Tess Brunton has more. Audio

10:00 AM.On today's episode, at least 16 people are dead and over 12,000 buildings have burnt down from the deadly fires burning Los Angeles, an advocate for abuse in care survivors is calling on the… Read more Audio

8:57 AM.Lupa Pizza, in the UK city of Norwich, is charging customers £100 - about $220 NZD - to order their Hawaiian pizza on deliver app Deliveroo in an effort to dissuade customers from buying it. The… Read more Audio

8:53 AM.Parents are starting to raise concerns about the price of uniforms ahead of the start of the new school year. Otago University's Johanna Reidy spoke to Paddy Gower. Audio

8:41 AM.An advocate for abuse in care survivors is calling on the government to hurry up and announce its plans for redress. Ken Clearwater spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio

8:37 AM.After a gruelling nine-day tournament, New Zealand has crowned two new national chess champions. Grandmaster Gabor Nagy from Hungary and 16-year-old FIDE Master Felix Xie both finished first on seven… Read more Audio

8:32 AM.An update on what's happening in the sports world with Ben Strang. Audio

8:26 AM.A conservation initiative focused on protecting the endangered whio - or Blue Duck - says the aggressive trapping of rats and stoats has helped to successfully fledge over 120 chicks in the Waioeka… Read more Audio

8:20 AM.Consultation on a proposed bill that would determine how the Government makes regulations closes on Monday, January 13. Auckland University's Emeritus Professor Jane Kelsey spoke to Paddy Gower. Read more Audio

8:15 AM.Thousands of firefighters are working desperately to contain deadly wildfires raging across Los Angeles. New Zealand's Consul-General Katja Ackerley spoke to Paddy Gower. Audio

8:10 AM.At least sixteen people are dead and over 12,000 buildings have burnt down from the deadly fires burning Los Angeles. Journalist David Farrier spoke to Paddy Gower. Audio

7:54 AM.The first day of the Australian Open served up disappointment for some tennis fans, with five singles matches called off due to rain. Tennis correspondent Dave Worsley spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio

7:46 AM.US special counsel Jack Smith, who led two federal cases against president-elect Donald Trump, has resigned. New York correspondent Sally Patterson spoke to Paddy Gower. Audio

7:44 AM.Kiwis can expect the cool summer to continue for at least another week. Meteorologist John Law spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio

7:40 AM.One kiwi currently living in Los Angeles says she's "constantly on edge" whilst the deadly fires continue to spread. Kiwi music artist and tour manager Poppy Tohill spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio

7:37 AM.From Monday morning, the Desert Road will be closed for approximately two months. The closure is part of Waka Kotahi's Tirau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project. Waka Kotahi regional manager of… Read more Audio

7:33 AM.Abuse in care survivors are calling on the government to announce its long-awaited plans for redress. Timothy Brown has more. Audio

7:25 AM.Many Aucklanders will be returning to work on Monday, but they won't be able to use train services until later this month. Auckland Transport's Director of Public Transport Stacey Van Der Putten spoke… Read more Audio

7:21 AM.Police have confirmed that two people who fell, one fatally, from a Coromandel Cliff over the weekend were both under-18. Thames-Coromandel mayor Len Salt spoke to Paddy Gower. Audio