RNZ: Morning Report

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report; The mother of a girl who ate a potentially mouldy school meal is disgusted students were served gone off food; The World Health Organisation has updated its guidelines for their treatment of obesity - and is now recommending GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, alongside behavioral therapy; With the country set to miss its Smokefree 2025 target, the government is exploring legalising oral nicotine pouches; For today only, registered charities or schools donated to via Givealittle will receive the full amount, with the crowdfunding site waiving its usual 5% fee.

For today only, registered charities or schools donated to via Givealittle will receive the full amount, with the crowdfunding site waiving its usual 5% fee. Givealittle chief executive Lythan Chapman spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Parents of some children at Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch have expressed concern after some pupils were served meals covered in mould. Reporter Adam Burns spoke to Corin Dann from outside the school.

Would-be swimmers have been told to be vigilant about the quality of the water they're diving into this summer. Elaine Moriarty is the acting chief scientist at Environment Canterbury and spoke to Corin Dann.

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

Market Update for 2 December 2025

Single women are turning to reverse mortgages as a way to get more cash flow in retirement - and some commentators say it may sometimes be because the adjustment to a "single" pension rate is too tough. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

As summer ramps up, so does the heat on Auckland's invasive yellow-legged hornet population. To date, 29 queens have been found in Glenfield and Birkdale. Victor Waters reports.

With the country set to miss its Smokefree 2025 target, the government is exploring legalising oral nicotine pouches. Professor Janet Hoek is co-director at ASPIRE Aotearoa, a University of Otago research centre, and spoke to Corin Dann.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

European media is reporting that New Zealand driver Liam Lawson will retain his Formula 1 seat in 2026.

In Auckland, businesses near the new Ikea store are steeling themselves for a stampede to the homeware giant's opening on Thursday. Amy Williams reports.

The World Health Organisation has updated its guidelines for their treatment of obesity - and is now recommending GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, alongside behavioral therapy. University of Auckland's Professor Peter Shepherd spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The mother of a girl who ate a potentially mouldy school meal is disgusted students were served gone off food. Rebecca Mckenzie, whose 12-year-old daughter Aurora ate one of the meals spoke to Corin Dann

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

A group that advocates for driver education and licensing wants the Government to show its commitment to that cause - by ring-fencing money from speed camera fines. Wendy Robertson is the national director of the Driving Change Network and spoke to Corin Dann.

Labour says some corporate owned GP clinics don't prioritise community needs. It announced a new cheap-loans policy to help GPs and nurses to buy or set up their own practices. Cecilia Robinson is the founder and co-chief executive at Tend Health and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Health NZ management is accusing nurses of failing to honour their commitment to provide so-called "life preserving services" during a partial strike. Ruth Hill reports.

Mayors are warning we may be charged for libraries and see price hikes for other council services as the Government puts a cap on rates rises. Gisborne District Council mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Corin Dann.

Reports in Europe claim New Zealand driver Liam Lawson will remain in Formula 1 in 2026.

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

By 2029, annual increases on local council rates will have to stay between 2-4%, a target which some Mayors warn will hamstring councils. Local Government Minister Simon Watts spoke to Corin Dann.

More than 1000 people have been killed in a major flooding disaster across South East Asia. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, have all suffered large-scale devastation after monsoon rains and cyclones. BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss

News from the rural farming sector.

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

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

Mayors say complying with a 4% limit on rate rises will require trade-offs. They warn it could mean a hike in fees for parking, libraries, pools and going to the local tip. Russell Palmer reports.

Let's catch up with what's been going on around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

New research predicts New Zealand will be short more than 11,000 retirement units within the next 8 years - with that growing to 23,000 by 2048. Paula Bishop, chief executive of Village Guide spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Tall Blacks fell to a narrow loss to Australia in the second and final match last night in Wellington, with the Boomers guard Davo Hickey hitting a buzzer beater to seal a 79-77 win.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Morning Report; Doctors will be able to apply for loans of up to half a million dollars to buy into or start a practice under a proposed policy from Labour; From today, a group of patients with breast and lung cancer will be the first to be able to receive taxpayer-funded medicine in private clinics; Plans to reopen the abandoned Waiwera Hot Springs in North Auckland will move ahead today - with the team behind the revival lodging resource consents; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

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

A rising Christchurch ballet star is poised to take another big leap in her career, after being selected as a candidate for Switzerland's prestigious Prix de Lausanne. RNZs Jean Edwards reports.

Plans to reopen the abandoned Waiwera Hot Springs in North Auckland will move ahead today - with the team behind the revival lodging resource consents. Waiwera Thermal Springs Property LP director, Craig Mitchell spoke to Corin Dann.

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

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

New Zealand's minimum wage is high by international standards, compared to our median wage. We're sitting at fifth in the world for minimum wage compared to the average, and commentators say change will be needed if we want to avoid "bunching" at the bottom of the pay scale. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Police have praised community owned high-tech cameras that were used to catch suspects in two killings. But the volunteer group involved can't afford to keep running the crime fighting kit. RNZs Phil Pennington reports.

From today, a group of patients with breast and lung cancer will be the first to be able to receive taxpayer-funded medicine in private clinics. Pharmac's manager in charge of pharmaceutical funding, Claire Pouwels spoke to Corin Dann.

Doctors will be able to apply for loans of up to half a million dollars to buy into or start a practice under a proposed policy from Labour. Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verall spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Morning Report.

A survey of more than 30,000 year-10 students has found vaping rates have dropped from a peak in 2022. Emeritus Professor Robert Beaglehole spoke to ingrid Hipkiss.