Midday Report

With parliament sitting from tomorrow, farmers want to know what the Government's plan is for the roll-back of rules and regulations it campaigned on last year.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has finished second at the latest LPGA tournament in Florida.

Barry Guy has sports.

The earnings for the country's second biggest supermarket chain, Woolworths, have taken a hit because of weaker trading and the costs of rebranding from Countdown, forcing its Australian owners to take write down the value of the business.

Gyles Beckford has the business news.

United Nations and aid groups are calling for countries to reconsider their decision to suspend funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians.

Ten countries, including top donors the US and Germany, have paused funding following allegations by Israel that some UNRWA staff were involved in the deadly October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel.

New Zealander Hector Sharp works for UNRWA.

He says having countries pull funding is devastating.

Sharp spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Wellington's Mayor has met with the Local Government Minister over the state of the capital's pipes and warned the problems will be felt for decades.

Tory Whanau was summoned to the Beehive by the Minister Simeon Brown to discuss the city's water woes.

Earlier this month the mayor, along with Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy, received a ministerial public dressing down about not providing information to the government amid concerns of an acute water shortage this summer.

Mayor Tory Whanau spoke to Charlotte Cook.

There have been more escapes at a Waikato Sanctuary by a number of wily kākāpō. 

As a result several birds at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, which are part of an historic habitat trial, are being banished back to predator free islands, after escaping over the predator fence.

Kākāpō recovery team lead Deidre Vercoe spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Just a week after a deluge pummelled Westland, closing roads and sparking a local state of emergency, another heavy rain warning has been issued for the region.

The orange warning is due to take effect from 9pm Friday and go through until 9 Saturday morning.

Westland mayor Helen Lash says tourists are being put off visiting and local businesses are taking a hit.

Lash spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The current avocado season will be one to forget with record low volumes of avocados exported, down by more than a million trays so far, with many orchards still recovering after three seasons of terrible weather.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

Black Caps batter Henry Nicholls has been dropped for the upcoming two test series against South Africa.

Stephen Hewson has sports.

The US economy seems to be in a Goldilocks position, not too hot, not too cold, according to new numbers out overnight.

Gyles Beckford has the business news.