Midday Report

A New Zealand woman has developed a world first treatment for head lice which has nabbed her a top United Nations health science award.

It uses a biofluorescent powder which makes the lice eggs, or nits, easier to spot by making them glow.

Its creator, entrepreneur and mum Kate Ricketts spoke to Charlotte Cook.

A property expert is warning rental prices could continue to rise throughout the year.  

Trade Me's latest Rental Price Index shows the national median weekly rent surged to $630 in January, up 0.8 percent on the previous month.

Trade Me's Property Sales Director Gavin Lloyd says he can't see any signs of a let up.

Lloyd spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Several gold kiwifruit growers are selling their high value, sought-after, gold kiwifruit licences and quitting the industry.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

Rachin Ravindra's star status continues to soar after the young all-rounder produced another top performance in the Black Caps six wicket loss to Australia in the first T20 in Wellington. 

Barry Guy has sports.

Air New Zealand has reported a 39 percent drop in first half profit as demand constraints eased from the highs of last year, and is warning of a challenging period ahead. 

Anan Zaki has the business news.

The Health and Disability Commissioner is concerned about the country's ability to treat cancer patients on time, now and in the future.

The Commissioner has just published a follow-up report on wait times at Te Whatu Ora Southern after finding delays were so bad some cancer patients were told they were likely to die before seeing a specialist.

Health and Disability Commissioner Morag McDowell spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The latest child poverty statistics from Stats NZ show over 23,000 more children are going without household essentials since 2022 due to the rise in the cost of living.

Seventeen-point-five percent of children are living in households with less than half of the median disposable income after household costs, up by around three percent on last year.

One in eight children are living in households experiencing material hardship, meaning they are likely going without fresh fruit and vegetables, doctor's visits, and good pairs of shoes.

That was up two percent on last year.

Mana Mokopuna Children and Young People's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Work to open up the Waiau River mouth away from Southland properties has resumed on Wednesday after being paused for safety reasons.

A state of emergency which was declared earlier this month after rapid erosion from the sea and river threatened properties in the Bluecliffs village, was extended on Wednesday.

The urgent work had to be put on hold due to challenging conditions. Southland Civil Defence Group Controller Simon Mapp says the channel could be opened as early as Thursday.

Mapp spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Green MP and Pasifika Communitiy advocate Fa'anānā Efeso Collins has died after collapsing during a charity run in Tāmaki Makauru Auckland. 

Collins was taking part in the ChildFund Water Fun event at Britomart to support local communities in the Pacific on Wednesday morning.

The New Zealand-born Samoan man is survived by his wife and two children. 

The staunch advocate for the poor was elected to Parliament last year after being ranked eleventh on the Green Party list.  

In 2022, Collins contested the Auckland mayoral election, coming second to Wayne Brown; before that, he was a Manukau ward councillor on Auckland Council.

Launched in Wellington last night, beekeepers plan to revive the industry with a strategy which aims to double honey exports to a billion dollars by 2030.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.