Midday Report

Midday Business News for 27 August 2024 Trans-Tasman steel products company Vulcan Steel's full-year profit is weaker amid tough trading conditions regarded as worse than the global financial crisis of 15-years ago.

Posties in the capital are refusing to deliver pamphlets containing misinformation about Islamic calls to prayer. The pamphlets, by Better Wellington, claim the council wants the city's mosques to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer through loud speakers -- believed to be a reference to recent District Plan changes which allow mosques to use their speakers on special occasions. It comes as other households in Wellington are being leafletted by cards from the Stop Co-Governance group urging people to "fight back" against "radical Maori taking over our country." Wellington mayor Tory Whanau speaks to Charlotte.

Some prisoners housed in the Corrections' Extreme Risk Unit have spent over 900 days in solitary confinement, considered a breach of international human rights, where the maximum is 15 days. The Office of the Inspectorate found the conditions for the 13 men from the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU), in Auckland Prison were overly and unnecessarily restrictive. The unit houses prisoners who present a high ongoing risk of serious violence, including extremism and terrorism. Chief Inspector Janis Adair, acknowledges additional measures are needed for these prisoners, but says they spent most of their time alone and did not know what they could do to progress out of the unit. Charlotte speaks with Leigh Marsh, the Commissioner of Custodial Services at Corrections.

On today's episode, main roads are closed as rivers and streams around the lower North Island rise, with rain hammering parts of the country, a commuter train on the Kapiti line was hit by rockfall between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay on Monday morning after the area was hit with heavy rain, the Polkinghorne trial has resumed on Monday morning - starting its fifth week, going through the search histories and messages on two cellphones related to the case, and police have provided more details on a violent struggle before the death of a man in Auckland's Blockhouse Bay on Saturday.

Police have provided more details on a violent struggle before the death of a man in Auckland's Blockhouse Bay on Saturday. Reporter Finn Blackwell spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Polkinghorne trial has resumed on Monday morning - starting its fifth week, going through the search histories and messages on two cellphones related to the case. Reporter Felix Walton spoke to Charlotte Cook.

News from the rural farming sector.

Lydia Ko says it'll be a low key celebration following her victory at the British Open at St Andrews this morning.

Midday Business News for 26 August 2024

A commuter train on the Kāpiti line has hit by rockfall between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay on Monday morning after the area was hit with heavy rain. Kiwirail head of metro services Jon Knight spoke to Charlotte Cook.