Midday Report

The West Coast is preparing for a serious rain event with the Met Service now warning of up to 62 hours of heavy rain forecast between Tuesday and Thursday.

Orange heavy rain warnings and watches are in place for the Westland District, Otago and Fiordland - along with gale force winds as a front moves in from the Tasman Sea.

MetService has said they could be upgraded to a red warning.

The west coast of south of Hokitika looks set to get the heaviest drenching and civil defence officials have already swung into action.

Westland District Mayor Helen Lash spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Government has announced a crackdown on truancy and school attendance which will include a traffic light system of punishments for students and their parents.

It's one of a raft of changes to try and get kids into the classroom, including daily reporting of attendance and public health guidelines around when students are too sick to attend.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says clear expectations will be laid down for parents, schools, and the Ministry - along with consequences.

Secondary Schools principals association Vaughun Couillault spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A Timaru farmer and travel business owner are calling for the Government to introduce a passenger charter so travel operators are penalised when services are delayed or cancelled.

This comes after Rangitata MP James Meager has called for a more reliable air service to and from Timaru, and Air New Zealand's admission their cancellation rate in the city was too high. Jeremy Talbot says passengers deserve better.

Talbot spoke to Ben Strang.

Sweeping job cuts proposed at the Ministry of Health could see five of thirteen roles in tobacco regulation axed.

The five jobs are proposed to be disestablished after the government made a U-turn on the world-first, 'Smokefree Generation' legislation.

But public health experts say that in repealing smokefree laws, these roles are more important than ever.

Māori health researcher and co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa Professor Lisa Te Morenga spoke to Ben Strang.

White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine says a double series defeat to England isn't how they wanted to end their home summer, but she's confident they'll be better for the experience ahead of this year's T20 World Cup.

Stephen Hewson has sports.

Digital financial services firm Heartland Group has been been given the official nod to buy Melbourne based Challenger bank, which it plans to use as its platform for future growth.

Gyles Beckford has the business news.

The police, and rugby officials, are investigating a Hawke's Bay club rugby match that ended with the away side being shot at as they left the game.

The match between Tamatea and Young Māori Party was abandoned early due to safety concerns regarding members of the crowd.

YMP coach Guy Taylor told Morning Report he was driving a team van when it was rammed by gang members, and two shotgun blasts were fired at the back window.

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is meeting to discuss the incident. Hawke's Bay Police are following strong lines of inquiry as to who attacked the YMP players. 

Sport Hawke's Bay chief executive Ryan Hambleton spoke to Ben Strang.

Fire investigators are sifting through a burnt out lodge in Auckland searching for clues as to what started the blaze.

The fire at the City Garden Lodge in Parnell broke out Sunday afternoon sending people scrambling out of windows to escape.

Police have not yet confirmed whether the fire is being treated as suspicious.

The Council was due to conduct an audit on the building and double check its safety standards tomorrow.

Reporter Jordan Dunn spoke to Ben Strang.

Thousands of young people have gathered in centres around the country - taking part in a School Strike 4 Climate Aotearoa march.

It's not just about concern for the climate; the event is led by a coalition including Toitū Te Tiriti and the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

One of the co-ordinators is Christchurch-based Aurora Garner-Randolph.

Garner-Randolph spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A rat-plagued Dunedin supermarket had caught more rodents since an infestation forced it to temporarily close its doors.

Woolworths South Dunedin, formerly a Countdown, was closed for nearly three weeks earlier this year to deal with the rodents.

More than 20 rats were caught during that period.

Dunedin reporter Tess Brunton spoke to Charlotte Cook.