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The new National Party leader Christopher Luxon is promising to revitalise the party, saying his relative inexperience in Parliament is an advantage. The former Air New Zealand boss has been elected by the caucus to replace Judith Collins, who lost the job last week after a no confidence vote. Nicola Willis, National's housing spokesperson, has been elected deputy leader. Luxon says they are the fresh faces for a new National Party. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson joins Lisa Owen with her analysis.

Days of rioting and looting in the Solomon Islands have roiled the capital Honiara leaving at least three people dead. Chinese residents in the city appear to have fared the worst. Some have told RNZ they have lost everything and been left homeless. In the meantime, Australia, Fiji and PNG have all contributed police and army officers to help preserve what currently appears to be a fragile calm. RNZ Solomon Islands correspondent Georgina Kekea spoke to Corin Dann.

National MPs are descending on the capital today to elect a new leader. It follows the dumping of Judith Collins in a vote of no confidence. RNZ understands it's a two horse race between former leader Simon Bridges and Christopher Luxon, with support for the latter understood to be firming. Since the weekend many MPs and party insiders contacted by RNZ have all declined to be interviewed ahead of the vote. Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard, and Business New Zealand chief executive Kirk Hope spoke to Corin Dann.

National Party MPs meet on Tuesday at 3pm to elect a new leader. RNZ understands it's a two horse race between former leader Simon Bridges and Christopher Luxon, with support for the latter firming. Politicial Editor Jane Patterson spoke to Susie Ferguson.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

RNZ's Business Editor Gyles Beckford explains how the markets have reacted the new variant.

The Black Caps batsmen must defy history on the final day if they're to beat India in the first test at Kanpur. New Zealand will need to score 280 more runs on a deteriorating wicket to break a winless test run on Indian soil that dates back to 1988. The odds will be stacked against them when they resume their second innings on four for one, having already lost opener Will Young in unusual circumstances. RNZ cricket commentator Bryan Waddle has been watching the action.

New Zealand's Covid-19 outbreak looks to have peaked - but there are warnings a drop off in cases could be short lived. Cabinet will today confirm the country's move to the new Covid-19 Protection Framework - the traffic light system that will mean areas which have been under restrictions are much more open for business. There's already uncertainty about how that will affect case numbers - and now there's more to worry about as the new variant Omicron edges closer to New Zealand shores. Here's RNZ's Health correspondent Rowan Quinn.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team. The NZ Breakers are pushing for the postponement of their opening NBL game, with nine of the team's wider group confirmed to have Covid-19. Their opening game is supposed to be this Saturday.

An update from RNZ's sports team.

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson as a special caucus meeting takes place following the sudden demotion of Simon Bridges by National Party Leader Judith Collins, following an allegation of serious misconduct, some four years ago. RNZ has been told that Simon Bridges apologised to Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean following the incident, after being spoken to by the the-then leader Bill English. This follows prolonged speculation Mr Bridges may be preparing to challenge for the leadership, the process delayed by the party's Auckland MPs having been absent from Parliament during lockdown. Simon Bridges says Ms Collins' behavior was desperate and she'll do anything to retain leadership

National's leader Judith Collins has demoted Simon Bridges after an accusation he made offensive comments to a National MP who RNZ understands is Jacqui Dean. The shock news came in a media release from Collins last night and is after much speculation that Bridges is considering a tilt at the top job. Bridges is accused of making the remarks at a function several years ago - but Collins says she only just learnt the seriousness of the complaint. She says she had no option but to immediately demote the Tauranga MP and strip him of his portfolio responsibilities with the unanimous support of the board. RNZ has approached Jacqui Dean for a response. Bridges will hold a full media conference later today, but told media as he arrived at Parliament this morning that the move by Collins was "desperate". RNZ has calls in to multiple National MPs for comment. PR consultant and a former National Government press secretary Ben Thomas spoke to Susie Ferguson.

National MPs are in disarray after their leader Judith Collins dropped a late night bombshell, demoting Simon Bridges over an old complaint about lewd comments. Collins will front to media at 10am on Thursday, along with Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, who it is understood lodged the complaint several years ago. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson spoke to Corin Dann.

An update from RNZ's sports team.

Simon Bridges has been dumped from the shadow cabinet and demoted to the backbenches. The shock news came in a media release from National Party leader Judith Collins just after 9.30pm on Wednesday amid much speculation that Bridges was considering a tilt at the top job. Bridges is accused of making crude remarks of to a "female caucus colleague" in front of other National MPs at a party function five years ago. RNZ understands the MP who laid the complaint is Jacqui Dean. RNZ has been told that Bridges apologised to Dean following the incident. The Waitaki MP has been approached for comment. Collins says she had no option but to immediately demote the Tauranga MP and strip him of his portfolio responsibilites with the unanimous support of the board and the party would not tolerate harassment and intimidation of any person. National Party MP Chris Bishop spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Nine days out from the new traffic light system, the Government is scrambling to pass legislation allowing the scheme to operate, bypassing regular scrutiny. MPs have been called back to Parliament this morning to continue an urgent debate over the proposed law that curbs the freedoms of unvaccinated people. The first two readings were passed under urgency last night. Opposition parties and legal experts say the rushed process is shambolic and disgraceful. Here's RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

An update from RNZ's sports team.

A litigation lawyer says Kāinga Ora - the state landlord - is "unquestionably" breaking the law by not evicting unruly tenants.  An elderly couple living in a state housing complex in Whangārei endured hours of rowdy partying at the weekend that ended in an arrest and car crash.  RNZ political reporter Anneke Smith has more. 

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

The intellectual disability care provider IHC has banned baths at all its facilities following two drownings. Both resulted in prosecutions for IHC - the most recent resulting in a fine of over $500,000. However, both advocates and families say the ban is taking away one of the few joys in some children's lives. RNZ's Ruth Hill reports.

Health officials and government ministers are at odds over whether every covid patient at home gets a critical device which measures their oxygen levels. One GP said even though there was high demand for the pulse oximeters they are not all that easy to get. The Director-General of Health said not everyone gets one, but the Ministry said they do. While Andrew Little said they don't necessarily, and Grant Robertson said they all do. RNZ's Jordan Bond reports.

As the Covid Delta outbreak creeps across New Zealand, the push is on to increase the rural vaccination rate. In the northern Wairarapa town of Pongaroa, a vaccination clinic came to the pub. RNZ's Manawatu reporter Jimmy Ellingham was there

Fathers separated from their children by border restrictions are calling for the Government not to forget them. Split migrant families will spend another Christmas apart - and some are worried if they will even be reunited by the end of next year. RNZ's Gill Bonnett reports.

A man whose wife was in "deep distress" because of Covid-19 symptoms, struggled to know when to call an ambulance because her oxygen readings appeared to be fine. He's isolating at home in Auckland with all seven members of his family. This case illustrates the challenges for people having to make critical medical decisions in self isolation. RNZ's Health correspondent Rowan Quinn filed this story.

A Commerce Commission investigation into the high cost of building supplies is getting the thumbs up from home buyers. But many in the building industry are sceptical it'll make any difference. The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, David Clark, announced the review saying it's clear building supplies make a significant chunk of housing costs. RNZ reporter Kirsty Frame has more.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

Farmers and their townie mates are determined to keep pressuring the Government to back off what they see as unnecessary expensive change. Driving tractors and utes, they clogged streets in all of the main centres yesterday, to have their say on the government's Three Waters reforms. It's the second time the Groundswell group has organised such action - calling yesterday's rally the mother of all protests. RNZ's Conan Young went along.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

All this week RNZ has been celebrating 100 years of broadcasting in New Zealand, the first broadcast having been made on the 17th of November 1921 by Professor Robert Jack from Otago University's physics department. But what of radio's future? James Cridland is a self-dubbed radio futurologist and consultant with radio stations based in Brisbane.

Devasting flooding in Canada have killed thousands of farm animals with many more are trapped by floods. Larges areas of Canada's British Columbia have been battered by torrentail rain - some areas have seen a month's worth in two days, causing mudslides and major evacuations. Abbotsford, one of Canada's most intensively and diversely farmed areas, was one of the hardest hit. With the latest is RNZ's Canada correspondent, Laura McQuillan.

The Government can't say what it would take for a Kainga Ora tenant to get kicked out of a state home. It denies it has a hard-line 'no eviction' policy despite not evicting any Kainga Ora tenants in the last three years. Families RNZ has spoken to say they are at their wits' end after months of neighbourhood brawls, property damage and even death threats. RNZ political reporter Anneke Smith has more, and just a warning, her story contains violence.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

It has been 100 years since the first radio broadcast in New Zealand. Over the last century, radio has kept us informed, kept us entertained, and kept us company. Former broadcaster and ex RNZ chief executive Sharon Crosbie, and long-serving Newstalk ZB executive Bill Francis who developed talk-back radio in New Zealand and now sits on the RNZ Board, spoke to Corin Dann.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

Discovery is creating new tv channels and will have 5, the most of any free-to-air broadcaster. Andrew says more local content will be produced, though the skew is clearly to reality TV. And Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi has received the final business case on the public broadcasting plan for TVNZ and RNZ but it won't be considered by Cabinet until the New Year.

There is a protest underway in Whangārei this morning against the bringing in of the vaccine mandate for health workers which takes effect today. RNZ reporter Sam Olley is at the protest.

Christmas is typically a time for family and friends to get together - but what if some of your loved ones aren't vaccinated? People up and down New Zealand are discussing what they should do during the festive season. RNZ spoke to some wrestling with the dilemma. Identities have been changed and words are voiced by RNZ staff. Jake McKee reports.

A New Zealander who accused a Korean diplomat of sexual assault two years ago says ACC call centre staff divulged information about his sensitive claim to someone claiming to represent the Korean embassy. The man, whose case made headlines in 2020 and sparked an extradition debate, says he lives in fear it could happen again and is speaking out after RNZ exposed privacy breaches by ACC call centre staff and concerns about inappropriate access to sensitive claim files. Investigative reporter Anusha Bradley has been looking into this.

It's looking increasingly likely the whole country will move to the Covid-19 traffic light system before every District Health Board has hit 90 percent fully vaccinated. The Ministry of Health has advised Cabinet to consider the shift because it will give greater protection than the alert levels. Ministers will make the call on 29 November. There are fears moving before the vaccine targets are met could cost lives. Here's RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

RNZ sport reporter Clay Wilson joins Lisa Owen with the details on what is next on the Black Caps schedule after the T20 World Cup.  

The COP26 climate summit agreement has enraged environmentalists but the consensus from delegates is that it is better then no deal at all. The two-week talks in Glasgow finally wrapped yesterday, more than a day later than scheduled after the detailed talks hit multiple snags. RNZ's climate reporter Hamish Cardwell has more.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

Covid testing centres are getting set up this morning in the Taranaki town of Stratford after the discovery of six positive cases.One patient is in hospital....all six are linked to the Auckland outbreak. RNZ reporter Jimmy Ellingham is in Stratford.

Auckland and Waikato schools can reopen next week but thousands of thirteen and fourteen year olds will have to wait a little longer to get back to the classroom. Some secondary schools in alert level three areas say they don't want their Year 9 and 10 students back until senior students have left for exams. RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

Two Dames have taken aim at the top Family Court judge saying she's ignoring concerns about how whanau are treated. Eighteen months ago, Dame Tariana Turia and Dame Naida Glavish met with Principal Family Court Judge Jackie Moran to talk about whanau experiences in the court. They walked away with a promise of a working relationship but have now joined a growing chorus who say the Family Court is stuck in the past. RNZ political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.

The College of Midwives wants the government to record Covid vaccinations among pregnant people. The Ministry of Health is not budging, citing "privacy reasons" to RNZ. Sam Olley reports.

A brief update from the RNZ sports team.