Midday Report

Supermarket shoppers are seeing a noticeable drop in the price of fruit and vegetables.

Woolworths says the price of some autumn vegetables has fallen as much as 40 percent, and the trend is expected to continue.

Its General Manager Fruit and Vegetables, Ryan McMullen says it's all thanks to the weather.

McMullen spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Gisborne Mayor says members of Destiny Church have long threatened to paint over the rainbow crossing and their actions last night only fuels hatred and division between people.

A group of Destiny Church members blocked off Gladstone Road and painted a layer of white over the crossing Monday evening.

They're opposed to drag queen storytelling and performances for young people 16 and over at the city's library and are expected to protest outside the library Tuesday afternoon.

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has posted his full support.

Rehette Stoltz says the council will not stand for the vandalism and aggression against the rainbow community.

Stoltz spoke to Charlotte Cook.

As part of the European Union Free Trade Deal, some cheese names like feta and gorgonzola will be protected so can't be used by New Zealand producers. 

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

Pole vault star Eliza McCartney feels better than she has for years and she's crediting her new coach for playing a part in that. 

Barry Guy has sports.

Employment confidence has turned positive for the first time in nine months, but workers expect it will get harder to find a job. 

Anan Zaki has the business news.

The union representing hundreds of NZ Post staff will meet with lawyers next week as the company plans for significant job losses.

NZ Post has confirmed it intends to combine its mail and parcel networks, which are currently delivered separately by Posties and Couriers.

Chief Executive David Walsh says this will mean significant job losses, over a long term process.

New Zealand Postal workers union of Aotearoa spokesperson John Maynard spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Government has accused China for the first time of being behind several malicious cyber-attacks against New Zealand's Parliamentary agencies.

It comes after the United Kingdom and United States made similar claims overnight, with both countries sanctioning Chinese individuals and entities.

In a statement the Government said the Parliamentary Service and Counsel Office were both compromised in 2021, but it doesn't believe any sensitive information was taken.

The GCSB would not say what information was accessed but said the hack was identified and contained very quickly.

The minister responsible for the GCSB Judith Collins declined our interview request.

Labour MP Ingrid Leary is the co-chair of the inter-parliamentary alliance on China.

Leary spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A major geomagnetic storm is hitting Earth, and astronomers around Aotearoa are keeping their eyes peeled for the bright lights of Aurora Australis.

The storm was expected to reach severe conditions and is timed perfectly with a full moon. 

Otago Museum Director and astronomer Dr Ian Griffin spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The MP for Banks Peninsula says she will do what she can to keep Sail GP afloat in the south as its chief executive Sir Russell Coutts threatens to pull the event from Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour.

Sir Russell has slammed officials for what he called an "extreme" dolphin policy after racing had to be cancelled on Saturday when endangered Hector's dolphins were spotted on the course.

Banks Peninsula MP, National's Vanessa Weenink, says it was "gutting" to see racing cancelled.

Weenink spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The head of kiwifruit grower group NZKGI says growers are the most positive he's ever seen them at the start of a season.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.