Midday Report

With the country in the grip of a fifth wave of Covid-19, stocks of the Covid anti-viral drug Paxlovid are running low. In a joint statement, Pharmac and Te Whatu Ora say there's limited stock due to higher demand and in some areas including northern New Zealand, pharmacies have temporarily run out of stock. Pharmac says it's working to redistribute supplies and is trying to secure more Paxlovid to arrive in March and April next year. Charlotte speaks to Otago University public health professor Michael Baker.

It could be a more frustrating time than usual on the country's roads this holiday season.

The Automobile Association is warning motorists could face more delays due to extensive road maintenance and repairs.

AA Policy Director Martin Glynn spoke to Midday Report.

More New Zealanders say they're experience psychological distress - but smoking and dangerous drinking is declining, in the lastest snapshot of the country's health.

The Ministry of Health has just released its annual health survey that maps the population's health and wellbeing.

Health correspondent Rowan Quinn spoke to Midday Report.

Food and fibre exports are forecast to fall.

Dame Noeline Taurua's sticking to her guns about player fitness.

Has the economy taken a tumble?

Road freight operators are pleased to see the new government holding Kiwirail to account over its Cook Strait ferry project.

Kiwirail was planning to build two custom-made Interislander ferries alongside a major port infrastructure upgrade.

But the new government says a massive budget blow out means it's too expensive.

Kiwirail says it's going back to the drawing board but has suggested it may still build the ferries and then sell them.

Billie Clemens - project and policy advisor for Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand which represents 1200 road freight transport companies, spoke to Midday Report.

The police watchdog has found officers used excessive force in six incidents during last year's protest and occupation of Parliament's grounds.

In a report just released, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has summarised 17 investigations following more than 19-hundred complaints regarding the three week occupation.

It found a police officer's use of a fire extinguisher against protesters on the final day of the protest was in self-defence, but he and other officers were not justified in continuing to spray protesters after they'd turned their backs and were trying to climb down from a column.

Another officer used excessive force in punching an elderly man twice in the head in defence of a female colleague.

President of the Police Association Chris Cahill spoke to Midday Report.

There's some good news coming for New Zealand travellers.

Air New Zealand has revealed it's working with the world's biggest satellite internet service provider, Starlink, to introduce free high speed internet on board its domestic aircraft.

the airline's chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar spoke to Midday Report.

A house in the east Auckland suburb of Point England has been shot at through a window where two school aged children were sleeping last night. 

 

Local residents say it's terrifying.

Reporter Emma Stanford spoke to Midday Report from the scene.