Midday Report

Palestinian New Zealanders are vowing to keep protesting despite an incident yesterday when a young boy was hit by a shovel in Auckland.

The nine-year-old spent the night in hospital after being hit when he was leaving the protest in central Auckland on Sunday.

Organisers of the Auckland Pro-Palestine rally say they are "deeply saddened" a child was injured.

Maher Nazzal spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

Farmers are being told to check their paddocks of maize and sweetcorn in particular for the crop-destroying moth fall armyworm well into summer.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

New Zealand golfer Steven Alker is closing in on a nearly $2 million payday in the final tournament of the US seniors circuit for the year.

Bridget Tunnicliffe has sports.

A slower second half and tougher economic conditions have dented the ANZ Bank's full year profit.

Gyles Beckord has the business news.

Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon's chances of attending APEC looks slim to none, as coalition talks stretch into this week.

Instead, it will be someone from the caretaker government representing the country in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, advanced voting has opened on Monday in the Port Waikato by-election, due to the death of ACT Party candidate Neil Christensen.

RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

An Interislander ferry has been left with a large hole in it after hitting a wharf in Wellington.

It's the second Cook Strait ferry to smash into the wharf and receive a hole in less than a week - it also comes on top of a string of problems with ferry operations this year.

Reporter Ashleigh McCaull spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

Known for its trout fishing, waterfalls and the largest freshwater lake in Australasia - Taupō has officially taken out the top title - for the most beautiful town in Aotearoa.

It won the supreme award in the Kiwi charity competition - Keep New Zealand Beautiful. 

Other notable mentions included Awanui in the Far North which won Best Tiny Town, and Tauranga which nabbed Most Beautiful Large City 

The winners were judged on their environmental and sustainability efforts - but according to the judges there is no place like Taupō.

Taupō mayor David Trewavas spoke to Charlotte Cook.

ACT leader David Seymour has met with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters for another ten-minute meeting at New Zealand First's temporary offices.

On Thursday, it was Peters visiting ACT's headquarters at Parliament, but on Friday it was Seymour heading across the road.

It's now been seven days since the special votes were counted revealing the National Party would need both ACT and New Zealand First to form a government.

Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Charlotte Cook from Parliament.

A new study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal has found heart attack patients presenting at urban hospitals receive more timely care than those at rural or smaller urban hospitals.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

The Black Caps are on track to face hosts India in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals in Mumbai.

Felicity Reid has sports.