Summer Report for Friday 17 January 2020

8:55 AM.A new feature by music streaming service Spotify, generates the puuuurfect playlist for you to enjoy - with your pet. Read more Audio

8:51 AM.For those of you still soaking in the sun and getting a late holiday dip, scientists are reminding people to check the water before they swim.

There are about 740 recreational swimming spots around… Read more Audio

8:44 AM.New research shows Maori have less access to early stage diagnosis for some important cancers like breast and colorectal cancer, which means worse survival statistics.

However, for some others, such… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.We are getting to crunch time at the ASB Classic Men's tournament in Auckland, with the semi-finals set to get underway today.

The tournament's top three players have all been knocked out ahead of… Read more Audio

8:34 AM.A Taupo woman has described the shock and concern in her small community after a house caught fire on the weekend with a family inside of it - which they believe was deliberately lit.

Police are… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.Freedom camping hot spots in the south, such as Queenstown Lakes and the Mackenzie districts, were under siege only a few years ago.

But authorities say the introduction of bylaws, the… Read more Audio

8:25 AM.A social work agency in Hawke's Bay has been turning away applicants because it can't afford to pay them enough.

Other non-government agencies report serious problems with retaining and recruiting… Read more Audio

8:21 AM.Neurologists are trying to better understand why people with epilepsy are dying suddenly.

The Chief Coroner has launched an inquiry into whether a switch to a new brand of the lamotrigine epilepsy… Read more Audio

8:17 AM.Police are investigating a series of arsons around Lake Taupo in which five properties were set alight at the weekend, including one with a family inside.

Fires were lit on the eastern side of the… Read more Audio

8:07 AM.The Earthquake Commission says it hopes most of the remaining Southern Response claims will be settled by the middle of 2020.

Over 200 claims were handed over to EQC from Southern Response at the end… Read more Audio

7:56 AM.The Waka Ama national sprint champs have now been on for a week, with the finalists gearing up for tomorrow.

The atmosphere at Lake Karapiro in Waikato has been electric with thousands of spectators… Read more Audio

7:50 AM.Thirty-four New Zealand Defence Force personnel have been digging in on Kangaroo Island, helping their Australian counterparts clean up after bushfires swept through the area.

They've been clearing… Read more Audio

7:48 AM.Prince Harry has been back on Royal duty - carrying out his first public engagement since he and his wife Meghan announced they want to step back as full-time Royals.

The Duke of Sussex hosted the… Read more Audio

7:45 AM.Maori are missing out on early diagnosis for some important cancers like breast and colorectal cancer - and that means worse survival statistics.

However, for some others, such as lung cancer, there… Read more Audio

7:35 AM.An under-staffed social work agency has been turning away applicants because it can't afford to pay them enough.

The struggles at Birthright Hawkes Bay and other agencies have intensified due to the… Read more Audio

7:33 AM.A tip-off from overseas law enforcement agencies put Customs on the tail of a teacher who is now facing charges after child sexual abuse images and videos were found on his phone.

The 40-year-old man… Read more Audio

7:25 AM.It's been described as a "serious, solemn and historic day" in the United States as the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump has officially begun.

The US Senate minority leader, Chuck… Read more Audio

7:17 AM.The Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is defending the decision to keep Kiwi troops in Iraq, saying New Zealand is not about to cut and run.

Tensions in the region have heightened this month since… Read more Audio

7:05 AM.The new head of Southern Response has admitted the organisation has not treated some Canterbury earthquake claimants as well as it should have, and has offered an apology.

RNZ has tried for months to… Read more Audio