Morning Report for Thursday 3 August 2023

8:58 AM.Interest in birds surged through COVID-19 lockdowns around the world as people found themselves stuck at home.

Using the Google search index, researchers recorded a surge of interest in bird feeding… Read more Audio

8:54 AM.The residential retirement sector is regulated by a 20-year-old Act, and many say it is unfair to residents and their families.

The government is calling for submissions on proposals to ensure a… Read more Audio

8:50 AM.There's some hope on the horizon for the country's elderly, with reform of retirement villages ahead.

The sector is regulated by a 20-year-old Act, and many say it is unfair to residents and their… Read more Audio

8:46 AM.The Crown's key clinical witness in the Lauren Dickason murder trial has conceded Dickason could have been suffering from postpartum depression when she killed her three children.

This is despite his… Read more Audio

8:42 AM.Former members of the Gloriavale Christian Community say the secretive sect is cracking under pressure - and they want it shut down.

Its leader, Howard Temple, appeared in the Greymouth District… Read more Audio

8:38 AM.South Africa and Jamaica have beaten the odds and qualified for the last 16 at the Football World Cup.

South Africa scored a stoppage time 3-2 win over Italy in Wellington, while Jamaica drew nil-all… Read more Audio

8:28 AM.A new chief executive is sweeping through the New Plymouth District Council with a cost-cutting scythe.

The council is facing losing more than a quarter of its senior management staff.

It's part of… Read more Audio

8:23 AM.National Party leader Christopher Luxon has rejected any climate criticism his party has received over its transport policy.

National wants to spend about $25 billion dollars to build a suite of… Read more Audio

8:16 AM.RNZ is promising a full response to findings of an investigation into editorial standards.

An independent panel review was launched in June after an RNZ web reporter was found to have edited wire… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.The Education Minister says a new pay offer recognises teachers as the corner stone of the education system.

Secondary school teachers are being offered a pay rise of about 14.5 percent by the start… Read more Audio

7:54 AM.A fire safety expert says basic building codes would have been breached at Eden Park on Tuesday if doors were locked.

A false alarm which instructed people to evacuate at the US-Portugal game caused… Read more Audio

7:49 AM.Former US president Donald Trump will make his first court appearance over the 2020 election investigation tomorrow.

The latest charges are conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an… Read more Audio

7:36 AM.Radio NZ's board chairperson says the proposed but now scrapped merger between RNZ and TVNZ was intended to be the catalyst for integrating the RNZ digital team with its news team.

Currently, the… Read more Audio

7:28 AM.The Silver Ferns have had been held to an incredible 48-all draw by South Africa at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town this morning.

The tournament hosts came from behind to tie things up on the… Read more Audio

7:22 AM.A new report detailing abuse at a Catholic school and a related community centre in Christchurch describes the institutions as 'hell on earth'.

The Royal Commission has outlined sexual, physical and… Read more Audio

7:18 AM.Secondary teachers have secured a big win after a tough campaign for better pay.

The government has offered a 14.5 percent pay rise over two years.

Education Minister Jan Tinetti says beginning… Read more Audio

7:09 AM.Three Ministers gone - and three percentage points gone from their support base.

That's the tale of the Labour Party's past two months, in which Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has dealt with scandal… Read more Audio

6:44 AM.National is pushing hard for its party vote ahead of the October's election as support for its potential partners grows.

The Newshub Reid Research poll shows National and ACT have the numbers to form… Read more Audio

6:16 AM.South Africa have made history with their first-ever Women's Football World Cup qualifier.

The side, Banyana Banyana, sent Italy packing in a last-minute 3-2 victory in Wellington yesterday.

Thembi… Read more Audio

6:13 AM.The ski fields have had a welcome dusting of snow, with 25 centimetres accumulating on Coronet Peak yesterday.

Cardona had to be closed with snow falling all day and strong winds blowing on the… Read more Audio

6:08 AM.An Auckland community where a dairy worker died in a brutal attack last year, is bitterly disappointed it won't get government funding to prevent street-level crime.

The Sandringham Business… Read more Audio