RNZ: Morning Report

Finance minister Nicola Willis has ended the year on a high with a surprise 1.1% increase in GDP for the most recent quarter; Gloriavale's leaders have announced they'll challenge the forced closure of its school; Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh; One News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and former All Black captain Taine Randell discuss this weekend's sport action.

Before they head off for summer, the Morning Report team asked the leaders of each of the political parties what their message to New Zealanders was this Christmas.

We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Country Life producer Gianina Schwanecke tagged along with a rural postie making the rounds ahead of Christmas.

Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity. Auckland Council's Park & Community Facilities General Manager Taryn Crewe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Government is providing financial support for schools facing large bills for replacing carpet, curtains and other items because they've had contaminated asbestos sand on site. Lynda Stuart, Principal of May Road School and a member of NZEI Union spoke to Corin Dann.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

Savings account rates generally aren't offering enough interest to keep up with inflation. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Corin Dann.

We hear from Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, along with ACT Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.

One News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and former All Black captain Taine Randell discuss this weekend's sport action.

The airports are preparing to welcome travellers from near and far with today set to be Christchurch Airport's busiest day yet. Auckland is also gearing up for a busy day - it expects about 29,000 people to walk through its terminals today. Kim Baker-Wilson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Time for some more Christmas messages from political party leaders. We hear from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

The Government is shutting down its road cone hotline early, saying it's done what it needed to do. Dave Tilton, chief executive of traffic management firm Parallax spoke to Corin Dann.

Some principals say the Education Review Office isn't giving schools in poor communities enough credit for the challenges they face. Jason Miles, Vice President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

The latest market updates and news from RNZ's business team.

Morning Report producer Georgie Hanafin asked Christmas grocery shoppers in Christchurch about some of their non-negotiables for Christmas dinners. RNZ Cookbook, Kathy Paterson spoke to Corin Dann.

Gloriavale's leaders have announced they'll challenge the forced closure of its school. Liz Gregory from the Gloriavale Leavers Supporter Trust spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The parents of a 13-year-old who died by suspected suicide after contacting multiple helplines are pleading for better information sharing by crisis services. Ruth Hill reports.

Finance minister Nicola Willis has ended the year on a high with a surprise 1.1% increase in GDP for the most recent quarter. Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray spoke to Corin Dann.

An early morning update from RNZ's business team.

We've got some Christmas messages from the political leaders at Parliament to bring you throughout the programme. First up we have the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Labour leader, Chris Hipkins.

Sixteen people remain in hospital across Sydney following the Bondi Beach attack. RNZ's Charlotte Cook reports from Sydney.

Community volunteers and emergency services are bracing for a surge of young partygoers as New Year hotspots fill up across the country. Harm-reduction group Red Frogs' National Media Liaison, Shannon Thomson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

European Union leaders are meeting to discuss using frozen Russian assets to fund a loan to help Ukraine's war effort. Correspondent William Denselow spoke to Corin Dann from Brussels.

News from the rural farming sector.

An early morning sports news update with Nathan Rarere.

The retail, construction and manufacturing sectors are cautiously optimistic about recent growth in the country's economy. Delphine Herbert reports.

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

It's been a busy week in economic and business news, with fresh GDP figures showing the economy grew in the September Quarter, and the new Reserve Bank Governor releasing her first major monetary policy message this week. Gareth Kiernan, Chief Forecaster and Director at Infometrics spoke to Corin Dann.

The police union says frontline officers are being verbally abused and spat at in the wake of the Jevon McSkimming scandal; Firefighters are questioning a police decision not to send a helicopter to rescue a teenage girl stranded on a Coromandel cliff. Police later apologised, saying they mistakenly believed she was dead, but emails suggest cost may have been a factor; The Ministry of Health isn't renewing its contract for the country's online Flu Tracking surveillance tool; For more than 40 years, Bernard Egan has been tasked with the job of being Santa's helper. Listening to Christmas wishes and taking notes from kids back to Santa; Children at Auckland's Starship Hospital have been given a rare chance to light up one of the city's most recognisable landmarks, the Sky Tower.

Enthusiasts from as far as Australia, joined a convoy of the little cars from Christchurch to a working farm station in Canterbury's Avoca Valley, for the annual Great Honda City road trip The event's creator, Jared Campbell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Ministry of Health has decided not to renew its contract for the online FluTracking surveillance tool. Pretoria Gordon reports.

The government is returning more than 3000 hectares to Maori in the top of the South Island, along with 420-million dollars in compensation. Attorney-General, Judith Collins spoke to Corin Dann.

An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.

Market Update for 18 December 2025

The country's biggest bank says it's seen an increase in people wanting to shift from floating to fixed rates over the past week. Money correspondent, Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Primary school principals are warning teachers will struggle to teach the Government's new curriculum in classes that include children from multiple year groups. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

The alleged Bondi shooter has been charged with 59 offences, including one terrorist act and 15 counts of murder. RNZ's Charlotte Cook spoke to Corin Dann from Bondi.

A foundation born out of tragedy is helping young sportswomen compete on the world stage. Tania Dalton is a former Silver Fern who died in 2017, aged 45, after suffering a brain aneurysm. Her husband Duane set up the foundation in her memory. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Black Caps are expecting the Mt Maunganui pitch to be more spin-friendly than any other surface they've played on during the test series against the West Indies.

Renewable energy advocates say it's madness thousands of new piped gas connections are being put into houses every year despite dwindling supply. Climate Change Correspondent, Kate Newton reports.