Midday Report

There are concerns a vacant Dunedin boarding house that was destroyed by fire Friday morning may have been used by homeless people.

The Fire Service was alerted to the blaze at the house in Phillips Street early Friday morning.

Six fire trucks and a command unit worked to extinguish the blaze and protect nearby properties.

South Island reporter Samantha Gee spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

Various government agencies remain tight-lipped over the death of a baby in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taita.

Two-year-old Ruthless-Empire Ahipene Wall's death is being treated as a homicide after a post-mortem showed he died from blunt force trauma.

Oranga Tamariki won't say whether it was involved with the whanau.

Police are releasing few details, except to say they are in contact with three family members who are of interest in the investigation.

And the Corrections Department isn't commenting on reports that a person living in the house was facing multiple violence charges.

Ward councillor for Taita Naomi Shaw spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

Wild weather is moving up the country with a cold blast bringing heavy rain, gales and snow to low levels across Te Waipounamu the South Island on Thursday. Winds reached 140 kilometres per hour Thursday morning, downing trees and cutting power for more than 2,000 households in North Canterbury. State Highway One near Waipara is closed due to a large truck being blown over. A number of businesses in Hanmer Springs haven't been able to open without power, and the council has shut all walking and biking tracks for the day. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa operations manager Bobby Harpur spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

A Muslim community leader is calling on Winston Peters to take a good look at himself, after sharing inaccurate information about the Christchurch terror attacks.

On the social media platform X last night - the New Zealand First leader accused Dame Jacinda Ardern of "an appalling lack of transparency".

A timeline of what the government knew was widely reported at the time and addressed by Dame Jacinda herself the day after the attacks.

RNZ has approached Peters for comment.

Federation of Islamic Associations spokesperson Abdur Razzaq spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

On-going consent delays are causing issues for farmers with the Canterbury Regional Council is failing to approve consents within certain timeframes.

Sally Murphy has the rural news.

Springboks flanker Kwagga Smith says their two previous games against the All Blacks this year won't mean much come this weekend's final.

Barry Guy has sports.

Officials and aid agencies in Vanuatu are still trying to get a full picture of the damage caused by Cyclone Lola and are standing by to begin a major relief effort. Homes and schools have reportedly been destroyed and roads are inaccessible.

There are serious concerns for communities in the far north where communications are still down.

Soneel Ram is with the International Federation of the Red Cross in the capital Port Vila.

Ram spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

The Israeli Ambassador says he would welcome any discussions with the New Zealand Government, but is yet to receive any contact from the caretaker ministers.

In a rare interview, Ambassador Ran Yaakoby, has told Midday Report that he has been in touch with foreign officials, but nothing more.

It comes after the former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, along with other renowned global leaders known as The Elders, spoke out about the conflict.

Clark condemned the horrifying attacks on Israel, and acknowledged it has a right to defend itself, but added Israel's actions are not proportionate at all.

Yaakoby, rejects the notion that Israel's retaliation is disproportionate.

Yaakoby spoke to Charlie Dreaver.

The Whanganui District Council has voted to establish two Māori wards for the 2025 and 2028 local elections.

It's hoped the move will allow Māori to be fairly represented on the council.

Mayor Andrew Tripe spoke to Ben Strang.

Auckland business owners want a bylaw changed that would allow the council to trespass people when they're deemed to be a risk to public safety.

It comes as owners say antisocial behaviour is out of control, with rough sleepers and those drinking or dealing drugs needing to be moved on.

Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson spoke to Ben Strang.