Midday Report

The hospitality industry is being hit hard by cost of living pressures and a noticeable drop off in customers.

In a survey by the Restaurant Association, 35 percent of businesses highlighted customer downturn as the most pressing issue as many struggle to stay afloat.

Just in the past few weeks, several high-profile restaurants in Auckland and Wellington have shut their doors.

Restaurant Association general manager Nicola Waldren spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

A post-mortem is being held on the body of a 66-year-old man found dead in a house in the Auckland suburb of Ellerslie on Monday.

At this stage police are treating the death as a homicide and are continuing to hunt for the man's wife 67-year-old Mei Han Chong.

She was last seen at the property at the weekend. Reporter Rayssa Almeida is outside the house and has been speaking to locals.

Almeida spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

East Coast farmers are facing more heavy rain, but no reports of any major damage so far, after the heavy deluge around Wairoa overnight - although there are reports farmland has slipped and some farms are cut off.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins has labelled Glenn Maxwell's match-winning double century against Afghanistan the best ODI innings ever.

Stephen Hewson has sports.

Sky TV has terminated discussions about a potential take-over, after rejecting a bid that fell short of expectations.

Anan Zaki has the business news.

Residents in northern Hawkes Bay are mopping up once again after a night of very heavy rain caused flooding around the region.

In Nūhaka, north of Wairoa, three homes were evacuated, and three people had to be rescued from their cars.

There are also reports of several landslips and farms being cut off due to surface flooding on roads.

The main highways around Wairoa have now reopened, but Waka Kotahi says people must drive carefully.

Wairoa resident Michelle McIlroy, who lives by the Wairoa River, is still out of her house after Cyclone Gabrielle.

McIlroy spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

A Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry has been forced to return to Wellington after it hit a wharf on departure Wednesday morning.

A hole was reportedly noticed in the vessel as it left the Harbour approaching the Cook Strait.

The passengers were able to safely disembark the ferry once it returned to port.

Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

There's outrage in bird circles over some high-level foreign interference in Forest and Bird's popular Bird of the Century competition.

American celebrity talk show host John Oliver has thrown his weight behind the Pūteketeke or Australian crested grebe - and he's out to win.

It's understood more than 10,000 people flooded the Forest and Bird website Monday night to vote for the Pūteketeke.

Team Kiwi is crying foul.

Save the Kiwi campaign executive director Michelle Impey spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands starts on Tuesday - the largest annual gathering of pacific island leaders including NZ and Australia.

The theme is Our Voices, Our Choices and Our Pacific Way.

Pacific Correspondent Eleisha Foon spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Zespri board advisor and former prime minister Sir John Key met with China's foreign minister today where he brought up illegal plantings of gold kiwifruit.

Monique Steele has the business news.