Advertise on podcast: Midday Report

Beachgoers on the Māhia Peninsula in northern Hawkes Bay are being warned about the risk of shark attacks after a Great White ripped a whale from a rescuer who was trying to re-float it. The incident happened as mother pygmy whale and her calf were stranding on Opoutama Beach on Sunday. The shark killed the mother whale and the calf had to be euthanised. Local Police officer Chad Prentice says while sharks are common in the area, this kind of story is not. Prentice spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Legislation scrapping Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, is being described as a nail in the coffin for health equity. As part of its 100-day plan, the coalition government will today introduce a bill under urgency to dissolve the agency. It was set up in 2022 to work in parallel with the Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora to address the marked disparities in Māori health which see Māori die more than seven years earlier than non-Māori. Grant Berghan has worked in Māori health for 35 years and is part of Health Coalition Aotearoa. Berghan spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The country's largest kiwifruit grower, Seeka, says any risks posed by a common agri-chemical can be mitigated.  Seeka representatives spoke about hydrogen cyanamide at an Environmental Protection Authority public hearing Tuesday morning. Sally Murphy has the rural news.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has expressed his gratitude for what Black Caps legend Daniel Vettori has been able to do for him and his side. Stephen Hewson has sports.

A slowing economy and commodity prices have dented the profits of rural services company PGG Wrightson. Anan Zaki has the business news.

Immigration New Zealand has been criticised over a lack of adequate action to stop the risk of abuse to migrants and the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme. The system was brought in to try and quickly address a worker shortage after Covid-19 border closures. The Public Service Commission was asked to review it after complaints some employers were abusing the system with migrants living in overcrowded housing and being left jobless. It's just released its findings. The Migrant Workers Association spokesperson Anu Kaloti spoke to Charlotte Cook.

An armed standoff is underway in the Hutt Valley north of Wellington where police are negotiating with a man who is refusing to give himself up. The incident on High Street in Avalon, saw a number of schools in the area placed into lockdown. RNZ reporter Ashleigh McCaull spoke to Charlotte Cook.

As Ukraine enters its third year of war with Russia, Worldwatch's Charlie Dreaver spoke to Federico Borsari from the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington DC. He told her the lack of ammunition is one of the major challenges the military face. Back here in New Zealand, the Ukrainian community is still working tirelessly to help with war efforts. Yuriy Gladun from the Ukrainian Association of New Zealand tells Worldwatch how the community is feeling two years on.

In ongoing infrastructure woes in the capital, train passengers in the Wellington region are being warned to expect disruption to weekend and public holiday services for at least the next decade. Metlink has told the Greater Wellington Regional Council's Transport Committee that due to the amount of network maintenance required, buses will replace train services regularly on weekends and public holidays, for the foreseeable future. Councillor Thomas Nash spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Students who undertake work placements as part of their training are calling to be paid an allowance, with reports of some students sinking into debt or even poverty while on mandatory placements. While some industries pay their trainees, students studying in healthcare, social work and education do not. A petition has been started for students in these sectors to receive a stipend to help cover living costs. Bex Howells is the spokesperson for Paid Placements Aotearoa. She says up to 45 percent of trainees are dropping out due to financial hardship. Howells spoke to Charlotte Cook.

"Bloody dry" is how farmers are describing current condition, with many offloading stock due to concerns over feed and water levels. Niwa's latest hotspot shows conditions are extremely dry in Nelson, Marlborough, northern Canterbury, northern Otago and parts of Northland, Manawatū-Whanganui, and Wellington.    Sally Murphy has the rural news.

Both the All Black and Black Fern sevens are into the finals of the Vancouver leg of the World Series. Bridget Tunnicliffe has sports.