Midday Report

A man who has been charged with threatening an ambulance crew before taking their vehicle and crashing it into a lodge in Hamilton is due in court on Monday.

The 32-year-old man was arrested on Sunday afternoon. He was being treated by the ambulance officers when he became "aggressive and threatening" and they were forced to flee the scene.

Hato Hone St John acting deputy chief executive of ambulance operations spoke to Stu Cockburn.

Access roads have been washed out, there are massive slips on some back country, and fences have been destroyed again - after over 225 millimetres of rain fell in Tai Rāwhiti over the weekend.

Susan Murray has the rural news.

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has expressed concern about Red Bull's continued dominance and questioned whether Mercedes could close the gap next year after Formula One's Abu Dhabi season-ender Monday morning.

Bridget Tunnicliffe has sports.

Kiwi Property Group has reported another half year loss as the value of its property portfolio continues to be affected by soft economic conditions.

Anan Zaki has the business news.

As the new government is sworn in, there are mounting calls for it to reconsider its planned repeal of the country's world-leading smokefree legislation. 

New Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said his coalition government is committed to reducing tobacco use but the legislation to achieve Smokefree 2025 is not workable.

The National Māori Public Health Organisation Hāpai Te Hauora describes repealing the legislation as an unconscionable blow to the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.

Interim chief executive officer Jason Alexander spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The new coalition government led by National Party leader Christopher Luxon is being officially sworn in at a ceremony at Government House.

Luxon becomes the country's 42nd Prime Minister. The official ceremony and granting of ministerial warrants follows the signing of the coalition deal between National, ACT and New Zealand First on Friday.

Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Charlotte Cook.

After weeks of waiting - the primary sector finally knows who it will be working with for the next three years.

Todd McClay who has been National's agriculture spokesperson since March will take on the Agriculture portfolio - and will also be minister of forestry, hunting and fishing and minister for trade.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

The Black Caps all-rounder Glenn Phillips believes his off-spin could come in handy in their two test series in Bangladesh, which begins next week.

Bridget Tunnicliffe has sports.

Property developer Precinct Properties has bought Auckland's Downtown Car Park for $122 million, and plans to spend about $1.5 billion to demolish and redevelop it.

Gyles Beckford has the business news.

The coalition has agreed to proceed with ACT's policy to address principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the agreement includes a pledge to introduce a Treaty Principles Bill.

Political Commentator Shane Te Pou spoke to Charlotte Cook.