Midday Report

The race is on to find New Zealand's Miss World contender.

Aotearoa is on a unusually fast paced audition plan to find an unmarried, childless woman aged between 16 and 27 to send for an all-expenses paid trip to compete in Miss World in India.

This weekend a panel of 15 judges will assess potential contenders for the crown in a rapid-fire selection process held in Auckland.

But rest assured it's not about parading round in your togs.

Pageant organiser Nigel Godfrey spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Emergency department doctors say a lack of properly trained security staff over summer hindered rather than helped in the waiting rooms.

Hospital ED's received just under $6 million from the government before Christmas to hire 200 security guards until the end of this month.

Overcrowded waiting rooms have become increasingly unsafe as hospitals struggle with high demand.

The College of Emergency Medicine's Dr Kate Allen says well-trained security have been great, but others have left doctors and nurses feeling unsupported.

Allen spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Māori kiwifruit growers, which has 42 growers mostly around Bay of Plenty, sent three containers of fruit to Hawaii and this year they're planning to send 16 as they plan to ramp up their exports.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

The Black Caps will go into Sunday's first test against South Africa with a specialist spinner in Mitchell Santner.

Stephen Hewson has sports.

The national grid operator Transpower wants to see greater investment in flexible, fast starting generation to cope with peaking demand. 

Gyles Beckford has the business news.

Iwi leaders have met with Government representatives wanting more clarity on how ACT's Treaty Principles Bill might progress through parliament.

The prime minister and other members of his cabinet arrived in Kerikeri today to meet the 74 iwi groups at the National Iwi Chairs' Forum.

Christopher Luxon has stressed National has no intention of supporting the Treaty Principles beyond its first reading in parliament, but iwi leaders are not so convinced.

Political reporter Anneke Smith spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick is running for the Co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

It was largely expected she would go for the position after James Shaw resigned earlier in the week.

Chlöe Swarbrick spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Iwi leaders from across the motu have arrived in Northland for the annual meeting of the iwi chairs forum.

The hui in Kerikeri comes after the Hui aa Motu at Tūrangawaewae and ahead of what's expected to be a lively Waitangi Day.

On Friday, key government representatives will attend, including the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and ACT leader David Seymour.

Māori issues reporter Pokere Paewai spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins have gone into their first meeting with their Australian counterparts in Melbourne.

The pair travelled to Australia Wednesday night for the significant sit-down, where it's expected conflicts in the Middle East and AUKUS will be among the topics discussed.

Political reporter Katie Scotcher spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Fertiliser use is down as cash-strapped farmers look to reduce spending where they can.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.