Junior doctors are picketing outside hospitals around the country this morning as they strike in support of 300 doctors in line for a pay cut. Natalie Akoorie outside Waikato Hospital, Krystal Gibbens is at Wellington Hospital and Tess Brunton is in Dunedin.

Junior doctors' picket outside hospitals

RNZ National’s flagship news programme known for breaking news stories, incisive interviews with politicians across the political spectrum and newsmakers and commentators from Aotearoa and around the world. There's a lot to talk about in the mornings and Morning Report is covering the stories that matter to the people of Aotearoa.

News

On today's episode, New Zealanders in New Caledonia say they are feeling vulnerable amidst the escalating protests in the country, Foreign Minister Winston Peters joins us, we hear from Auckland mayor Wayne Brown who says Auckland will have the lowest rates increase this year of any metropolitan council in the country, we have our weekly political panel and also cross the Tasman to get the latest from Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Morning Report Essentials for Friday 17 May

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

Kerry-Anne Walsh with news from Australia

Political panel

School bands around the country are gearing up to do their thing this weekend in record numbers, with more than three-thousand participants entered in the Smokefree Rockquest. Rockquest Promotions Group general manager Matt Ealand spoke to Corin Dann.

School bands gearing up for Smokefree Rockquest

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

Junior doctors' picket outside hospitals

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