Morning Report Essentials for Wednesday 19 February 2025

On today's episode, the Privacy Commissioner will now investigate whether Census and Covid-19 vaccination data shared with Manurewa Marae was misused for election purposes, Russia and the US have concluded their first direct talks since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine 3 years ago, and Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr was named Sportsman of the Year, ahead of kayak cross Olympic gold medallist Finn Butcher, triathlete Hayden Wilde, footballer Chris Wood and the jockey James McDonald.