Midday Report

Property investor and development firm Goodman Property Trust is bringing its management back in house as a first step to establishing a large property fund. 

Anan Zaki has the business news.

There have been emotional scenes at the Environment Court in Auckland Monday morning as family members of those who died in the Whakaari White Island eruption began reading out their impact statements.

Six parties are being sentenced following a criminal trial into the 2019 eruption that killed 22 people and injured 25 others.

Reporter Lucy Xia spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A top lawyer who has represented gangs says they will fight back against legislation that would ban patches in public.

The government expects to have the law in place by the end of this year even if it is found to breach the Bill of Rights.

It says police will be given special powers to break up gang gatherings and courts will be able to stop gang members associating with each other.

Criminal Defence Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg KC says it will not work.

Dyhrberg spoke to Charlotte Cook.

From next week, people who lived in Britain, France and the Republic of Ireland during the mad cow disease outbreak of the 1980s and 90s, will be able to give blood.

Restrictions were imposed more than 20 years ago, over concerns about the human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The New Zealand Blood Service has announced they'll be lifted next Thursday, and it's expecting a big influx of new donors.

Its Chief Medical Officer Dr Sarah Morely says they are delighted to open up the restrictions.

Morely spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A former Health New Zealand employee accused of leaking Covid-19 vaccine data has appeared in court on Friday, with dozens of supporters in the public gallery.

Barry Young pleaded not guilty in December to a charge of accessing computer systems for a dishonest purpose.

Reporter Soumya Bhamidipati spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A new study has shown further evidence of inequities in rural healthcare services. Researchers at the University of Otago looked at how patients in rural and urban centres use hospitals and other healthcare services.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

Last season's grand final loss to the Crusaders still hurts for Chiefs loose forward Luke Jacobson. Jacobson has taken over the captaincy of the Chiefs, who lost just one game during the regular season in 2023 before being pipped by the Crusaders in the final. 

Stephen Hewson has sports.

The country's biggest port, the Port of Tauranga, has had a 25 percent fall in its first half profit as cargo volumes dropped and fewer ships visited, knocking its revenue.

Move Logistics first half loss has more than tripled because of difficult economic conditions and weaker customer demand.

Anan Zaki has the business news.

Public transport advocates are calling for an urgent government inquiry into Auckland's rail network after yet another failure on Thursday.

An infrastructure issue brought train services to a halt during the morning commute, bringing more frustration for Aucklanders.

The network has been plagued by delays and cancellations, and last week, dozens of trains were cancelled when the tracks overheated.

The Public Transport Users Association says the rail network is failing commuters and questions need to be asked about how the network is being run.

National coordinator of the association Jon Reeves spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Consumer NZ is calling for fair pricing for domestic air travel. On Thursday, Air New Zealand Chief Executive Greg Foran told Checkpoint the airline has begun to raise domestic fares in response to rising inflation and warned there will be more hikes to come.

It has also said fares could rise further due to the redevelopment at Auckland Airport and increased charges for airlines.

Chief executive of Consumer NZ Jon Duffy spoke to Charlotte Cook.