Wild winds are proving the enemy of emergency services. Gusts are fanning fires around the country with power lines toppled and trees ripped up by their roots. A local state of emergency remains in place for Canterbury with wind gusts up to 150 kilometres an hour expected. Tens of thousands of properties are without power at the top of the South Island and bottom of the North. Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Ken Cooper spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about the fallout continuing for Prince Andrew following the publication of Virginia Guiffre's memoir, as well as a British grandmother convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia being returned to the UK after moe than a decade.

Kaikoura is bracing for destructive winds to fan flames that have already destroyed five homes and multiple buildings. The area is under red strong wind warning from tomorrow morning with gusts of 140 kilometres an hour. Assistant National Commander at Fire and Emergency Ken Cooper spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The wild weather is playing havoc on sport around the country and the Black Caps are not immune. The Black Caps started their home 'summer' of cricket at the beginning of this month. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has declared a local state of emergency for the Canterbury region. Fire crews are racing to put out a handful of large fires in Kaikōura before wind that's been hitting large parts of the country pick up again tomorrow, five homes have already been destroyed in Kaikōura. Wind warnings for central and southern parts of the country for Thursday have been upgraded to "red" level. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand's drug spend is less than half that of other comparable countries according to a new report by the Institute of Economic Research. It also found Aotearoa spends the highest percentage of its health budget on services like hopsitals & specialists. That top end spend is apparently not reflected in key health outcomes. NZIER principal economist Sarah Hogan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Kaikōura is bracing for destructive winds to fan flames that have already destroyed five homes and multiple buildings.The area is under an orange strong wind warning from tomorrow morning with gusts of 130 kilometres an hour, but MetService says there's a high chance it will upgraded to a rare red warning. Evacuated residents will be able to return home from five o'clock tonight, but must be prepared to leave. Keiller MacDuff reports.

A contentious bill tightening the test for Māori to win customary marine title has passed its third reading, sparking fiery protest across the country. The protest even made its way to the steps of Parliament, drawing the ire of its speaker. Maōri news journalist Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira reports.

Thousands of parents will be juggling childcare and work during tomorrow's mega strike with many schools closed. It's estimated more than a hundred thousand people including teachers, principals, school support staff, health care workers including senior doctors, nurses and dentists will walk off the job over their pay and conditions. Kelly Club offers day and after school care in 76 places around the country and is now offering a strike day programme. Founder and managing director Paul Jamieson spoke to Lisa Owen.