Midday Report
Midday Report - Te Pūrongo o te Poutūtanga is RNZ National's midday current affairs programme, hosted by Guyon Espiner. It covers news and issues from New Zealand and around the world.
Episodes
Midday Report Essentials for Friday 7 August
Retail NZ boss discusses new citizen's arrest laws; Latest from Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji; Lillian Hanly discusses the week in politics.
Midday sports news
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Lillian Hanly discusses the week in politics
RNZ political reporter Lillian Hanly stepped in for Patrick Gower on this week's weekly political wrap-up. She spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.
Midday rural news
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Latest from Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji
Political reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira from the annual Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Fiji.
Retail NZ boss discusses new citizen's arrest laws
An amendment to the Crimes Act has passed its final reading in Parliament, and it is not being welcomed by retailers. The changes, including expanded citizen's arrest powers, could take effect within a week. This means members of the public could detain someone for any Crimes Act offence. But Retail NZ says the law could do more harm than good. Carolyn Young, Chief Executive of Retail NZ spok
Midday Report Essentials for 6 August 2026
Welcome to Midday Report essentials with Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira. In this episode: Labour's unveiled a new plan aimed at small business, promising faster payments, bigger tax write-offs, and less red tape. The party's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds joins us. After a decade of construction, Auckland's City Rail Link finally has an opening date - Sunday the 13th of September. I spoke to th
Midday sports news for 6 August 2026
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Doctor Lara Greaves discusses Maori roll enrolment deadline
It is the last day for Maori to switch their electoral roll, from Maori to General, or vice versa. Doctor Lara Greaves, an associate professor in politics at Victoria University of Wellington spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.
Latest news from the United States
The latest news from the United States with Nine News reporter Lauren Tomasi in Washington DC.
Midday rural news for 6 August 2026
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team
Midday business news for 6 August 2026
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown discusses CRL opening
Auckland's City Rail Link finally has an opening date. The train tunnel connection under the CBD will open after a decade of construction. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.
Barbara Edmonds discusses new Labour small business policy
Labour has unveiled a new plan aimed at small business, promising faster payments, bigger tax write-offs, and less red tape. Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 5 August
Brad Olsen discusses latest unemployment figures; Dr Robin Whyman discusses report into Kiwis oral health; The AI technology that's watching babies sleep.
Midday sports news
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Latest news from Australia
The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.
The AI technology watching babies sleep
Artificial intelligence is creeping more and more into our everyday lives, and now, it can help you monitor your baby's sleep. The Nanit smart monitor uses machine learning to track a baby's sleep, logging every time your baby's eyes open, and it gives a nightly "sleep efficiency" score parents can check from their phone. New York Times writer Sapna Maheshwari has had one of these cameras for
Midday rural news
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Dr Robin Whyman discusses report into Kiwis oral health
More than 40 percent of adults say they have unmet dental needs due to the cost of dental treatment. That represents more than 1.7 million people. Those numbers are included in the Dental Association Oral Health Report Card, the country's first ever report on the progress of New Zealand's oral health. Dr Robin Whyman of the New Zealand Dental Association spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Jessica Hopkins reports from scene of police incident in Epsom
Police responded to an incident in the Auckland suburb of Epsom this morning. Reporter Jessica Hopkins spoke to Guyon Espiner from the scene.
Brad Olsen discusses latest unemployment figures
Unemployment numbers are out and they are ugly. Stats NZ jobless data has come in at 5.6 percent for the June quarter, worse than expected and the highest in more than a decade. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen spoke to Guyon Espiner
Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 4 August
Latest from parliament with Craig McCulloch; New report calls for electricity sector reform; Petition calling for mining protection presented at parliament; Philip Duncan discusses icy blast hitting New Zealand.
Midday sports news
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Petition calling for mining protection presented at parliament
Forest & Bird and other environmental groups are presenting a petition calling for the West Coast Denniston Plateau to be protected from coal mining. It's been signed by more than 30,000 people. Campaign leader Scott Burnett spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Latest news from the United States
The latest news from the United States with Nine News reporter Lauren Tomasi in Washington DC.
Midday rural news
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
New report calls for electricity sector reform
A new report by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Infrastructure Forum is calling for reform of the electricity sector, which it says could unleash $30 billion extra in GDP. Barney Irvine, Executive Director of the Northern Infrastructure Forum spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Philip Duncan discusses icy blast hitting New Zealand
Snow on the sand at Christchurch's New Brighton beach, intersections in central Dunedin blanketed in snow. The cold snap has snapped. Philip Duncan, head forecaster with Weather Watch spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Latest from parliament with Craig McCulloch
Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Midday Report Essentials for Monday 3 August
Qiulae Wong rules out working with Peters as Foreign Minister; Erica Stanford discusses new policies from National and ACT; Latest news from Australia.
Midday sports news
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Latest news from Australia
The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.
Midday rural news
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Erica Stanford discusses new policies from National and ACT
Erica Stanford says she is expanding the onsite training programme for teachers, and will take the money from a relocation grant that aimed to lure teachers from overseas. Stanford spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Quilae Wong rules out working with Peters as Foreign Minister
Now leader Quilae Wong has laid out her first bottom line for coalitions: She is ruling out being part of any government where Winston Peters is the Foreign Minister. Wong spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Midday Report Essentials for Friday 31 July
Craig McCulloch discusses the fallout from Peters'; Sir Brian Roche discusses social media ad review findings; Political chat with Patrick Gower and Guyon Espiner.
Political chat with Patrick Gower and Guyon Espiner
Weekly chat about the week in politics with Patrick Gower and Guyon Espiner.
Midday rural news
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Sir Brian Roche discusses social media ad review findings
A review into the Public Service Commission's social media ads to oppose public service strike action has found it should have handled the post more carefully. The review found the commission was not directed by ministers and did not breach political neutrality. But it did find the commission should have handled its messaging more carefully. Chief executive of the Public Service Commission Si
Craig McCulloch discusses the fallout from Peters’ comments
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is under pressure to sack Foreign Minister Winston Peters for comments telling a Green MP, born in China, who's lived in New Zealand since he was seven, to go back to where he came from. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Midday Report Essentials for 30 July 2026
Welcome to Midday Report essentials with Guyon Espiner. In this episode. China's ambassador has hit back after Foreign Minister Winston Peters told a Chinese-born New Zealand MP to "go back to your own country" in Parliament. Our deputy politcal editor joined me with his assessment. The Education Review Office fears AI is damaging children's critical thinking: but its new report also shows 93
Midday sports news for 30 July 2026
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
MDMA offered as mental health treatment for cancer patients
In 2023, Shannon Gleeson was a 33-year-old corporate lawyer with her life all mapped out; when she received a diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer. Alongside conventional treatment, she took part in a trial giving people MDMA therapy to deal with the existential dread of their diagnosis. Shannon Gleeson joined Guyon to discuss how the treatment changed her life.
Latest news from the United States
The latest news from the United States with correspondent Aaron Pellish in Washington DC.
Midday rural news for 30 July 2026
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news for 30 July 2026
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
ERO fears AI is damaging to children's critical thinking
The Education Review Office says most schools are using artificial intelligence, but, fear it is damaging children's critical thinking. In a new report, it said that AI was becoming part of everyday school life, but, teachers and principals want more formal guidance from the ministry on how to use it. Guyon spoke with Jason Miles.
China Ambassador hits back at Peters' comments
China's ambassador has hit back after Foreign Minister Winston Peters told a Chinese-born New Zealand MP to "go back to your own country" in Parliament. Peters launched his attack during Parliament's general debate on Wednesday following a heckle from Lawrence Xu-Nan. Craig McCulloch gave us the report.
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 29 July
Hobbs sprints to victory at Commonwealth Games; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Aus surgeon pledges money for research; Japan quake: Latest from Tokyo correspondent.
Midday sports news with Joe Porter
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Japan quake: Latest from Tokyo correspondent
Tokyo correspondent Chris Gilbert has the details as rescuers race to find survivors after a major earthquake in the Kumamoto prefecture.
Latest news from Australia
The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.
Midday rural news with Monique Steele
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news with Jeffrey Halley
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Aus surgeon pledges money for research
Canberra vascular surgeon Gert Frahm-Jensen is pledging to donate every dollar he earns from Kiwi patients towards research tracking outcomes of a controversial surgery dividing doctors. Meanwhile, Health NZ is warning people against travelling overseas for operations for multiple abdominal vascular compression syndromes. Reporter Anusha Bradley spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira about the debat
Hobbs sprints to victory at Commonwealth Games
Zoe Hobbs has sprinted her way into New Zealand sporting history, winning gold in the women's 100m. Our reporter Adam Burns is over in Glasgow covering the Games.
Several dead and missing after powerful Japanese earthquake
WorldWatch's Niva Chittock with the latest developments from Japan.
Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday, 28 July 2026
On today's episode Russia arrests a man it claims was spying for New Zealand's intelligence agency the SIS, we heard from Russian foreign policy expert - James Headley. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has ruled out working with the Opportunity Party: leader Quilae Wong joined us with her response. nd the godfather of Human Rights - Kenneth Roth - on the Trump administration's attempts to dis
Midday Sports News for 28 July 2026
New Zealand has its first gold of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with swimmer Lewis Clareburt winning the men's 200m butterfly.
Kenneth Roth on protecting the International Criminal Court
American Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he wants to dismantle the International Criminal Court. New Zealand is one of the 125 countries that has signed up to the ICC, which investigates and tries individuals accused of genocide and war crimes. Kenneth Roth, an American attorney, was the executive director of Human Rights Watch from 1993 to 2022 - and is often dubbed the Godfather of Huma
Latest news from the United States
The latest news from the United States with Nine News reporter Lauren Tomasi in Washington DC.
Midday Rural News for 28 July 2026
News from the rural farming sector.
Midday Business News for 28 July 2026
News from the business sector.
Opportunity Party leader Quilae Wong speaks to Guyon Espiner
The Opportunity Party is on the cusp of making it into parliament, according to recent polling data, sitting just under the 5 percent MMP threshold. The party has claimed it can work with either a National or Labour led government. But yesterday Christopher Luxon ruled them out. Opportunity party leader Quilae Wong spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Russian foreign policy expert discusses Kiwi arrest
A man has been arrested in Russia on accusations of spying for New Zealand. Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, said it had identified and stopped the illegal activity of a Russian citizen suspected of committing treason. Otago University Associate Professor James Headley is an expert on Russian foreign policy and international relations and spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Midday Report Essentials for Monday 27 July
David Seymour discusses new ACT Pharmac policy; Southland mayor discusses new AI data centre plans; New documentary about Jim Anderton to screen at film festival.
Midday sports news
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
New documentary about Jim Anderton to screen at film festival
A new documentary called Last Man Standing, about the life and political career of Jim Anderton is screening at the NZ International Film Festival. Matt Robson worked on the film and worked closely with Jim Anderton in parliament. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Latest news from Australia
The latest news from Australia with correspondent Amanda Copp in Canberra.
Midday rural news
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team.
Midday business news
The latest news from RNZ's business team.
Southland mayor discusses new AI data centre plans
The Green Party wants a one-year pause on consents for new AI data centres, until stronger rules and regulations are put in place. The policy comes as Data Grid has consent to build a data centre in Southland. Southland Mayor, Rob Scott spoke to Guyon Espiner.
David Seymour discusses new ACT Pharmac policy
The ACT Party has announced a new policy ahead of this year's election, giving Pharmac a larger slice of the health budget. David Seymour wants to push out Pharmac's budget to 12 percent of the total health budget by 2033. Seymour spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Midday Report Essentials for Friday 24 July
Felicity Roxburgh responds to Trump's latest tariffs on NZ; Campaign spotlights medicines patients can't access; Rose Horowitch on why fewer people are reading.
