Midday Report

A political commentator is warning the threat of a second election could deter people from casting a vote in the first place.

National has suggested a second election could be needed, if it fails to reach a governing arrangement with New Zealand First after Saturday's vote.

The New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says National is panicking because his party is rising in the polls.

Labour's Grant Robertson also thinks National is panicking about its potential coalition arrangements.

University of Auckland lecturer in politics Lara Greaves spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The death toll is continuing to rise in a recently-fuelled conflict between Israel and the Gaza strip.

The Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday night New Zealand time.

More than 35 hours later, about 700 Israelis are known to have been killed in the fighting, and more than 400 people have been killed in retaliatory air strikes by Israeli forces into Gaza.

Thousands have been wounded on both sides, and both have confirmed that many Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas.

University of Waikato International Law Professor Dr Al Gillespie told Charlotte Cook that the complicated conflict will continue to escalate

A trio of artists say it was a huge undertaking to paint a seven-storey mural to honour the first wahine Māori to get a degree at Oxford University. 

As part of the ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival, the Dreamgirls Arts Collective spent nine days hanging off the side of the building in order to pay tribute to Mākereti Papakura.

Kai tahu Artist Xoe Hall spoke to Charlotte Cook about the huge job

Flights are cancelled, passengers are stranded and workers are standing in the rain outside Queenstown Airport as authorities deal with a bomb threat.

Police say the terminal was cleared as a safety precaution shortly after half-past eight this morning when they received reports of what looked like explosive device.

People have been told to avoid Queenstown Airport until further notice.

RNZ's Southland-Otago reporter Tess Brunton is in Queenstown

Thousands of voters could miss out on their right to vote in next week's general election (Saturday October 14) as hundreds of polling booths - especially in remote locations - will be closed on election day.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

The All Blacks have stormed into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 73-0 rout of Uruguay, running in 11 tries.

Stephen Hewson has sports.

Air New Zealand continues to carry a heavy post-Covid financial burden on its books. It's given customers two more years to redeem Covid credits, worth more than $200 million.

 

Kim Moodie has the business news.

One of the owners of a dairy in Auckland's New Windsor suburb remains in hospital in a serious condition after a stabbing yesterday.

A 24-year-old man is due in the Auckland District Court today following the attack, which left the two owners with injuries.

Members of the public in the shop managed to hold down the attacker until officers arrived.

Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal spoke with Charlotte Cook.

A man remains in serious condition in hospital after being shot at an adult entertainment club in Auckland's central city overnight.

Police were called to One-33 club on Vincent Street just before 2am.

RNZ reporter Jordan Dunn spoke to Charltote Cook.

Frustration is growing at Wellington City Council after a meeting to discuss the future of the Reading Cinema building was held behind closed doors.

The Courtenay Place complex, which was built on private land, has been closed since 2019 after it was deemed earthquake prone.

Reporter Ashleigh McCaull has been out and about to find out what Wellingtonian's think about the derelict building. 

McCaull spoke to Charlotte Cook.