Midday Report

President Joe Biden is facing media in a rare, solo news conference, his first since his disastrous debate against Donald Trump two weeks ago. It's a high stakes press conference for him as he fields growing calls to step down as the Democratic nominee. His first question from reporters was about his capacity to defeat Donald Trump, but flubbed the answer and accidently referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as Donald Trump. Ben Strang gets the latest from Washington DC correspondent Simon Marks.

On today's episode, we cross to our Washington DC correspondent as President Joe Biden holds a rare, solo news conference. The Tertiary Education Union says a directive for Te Pukenga to hire specific consultants to lead their cost-cutting exercise is unusual and misguided. ACT MP Mark Cameron details his member's bill seeking to stop regional councils from considering the negative impacts of climate change in consenting decisions. And Jibali the giraffe is loaded into a custom-made five metre tall trailer and driven down State Highway 1 from Auckland Zoo to his new home in Hamilton.

On today's episode, David Tamihere's long-time lawyer says he is disappointed by the Court of Appeal's decision to uphold his murder convictions. Interislander's executive general manager denies claims that KiwiRail is covering up details about the Aratere's grounding last month. RNZ reporter Ellen O'Dwyer reports that the three men accused of murdering New Zealander Patricia McKay have appeared in an Orange County Court. And Stats NZ says food prices have dropped for the first time in six years.

Food prices have dropped for the first time in six years, according to new figures released today. Stats NZ says the cost of food has decreased by 0.3 percent in the year to June. Stats NZ's consumer prices manager James Mitchell spoke to Ben Strang.

The three men accused of murdering New Zealander Patricia McKay have appeared in an Orange County Court today. 68-year-old Patricia McKay died outside a Newport Beach mall last week during an attempted robbery when she was hit by one of the alleged offenders' cars. Reporter Ellen O'Dwyer spoke to Ben Strang.

News from the rural farming sector.

The All Blacks have made just one change to the starting XV as they look to seal a series sweep over England with victory in this weekend's second and final test at Eden Park.

Midday Business News for 11 July 2024

The Interislander's Executive General Manager, Duncan Roy, rejects any suggestion that KiwiRail is running a cover up over the grounding of the Aratere ferry last month. This morning, Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters told Morning Report he believed there was a cover up, and KiwiRail should tell the public what happened. Duncan Roy spoke to Ben Strang.

David Tamihere's long-time lawyer says he is very disappointed by today's verdict and believes in his client's innocence. The Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions for the murders of Swedish backpackers Sven Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen 34 years ago. Lawyer Murray Gibson spoke to Ben Strang.