Midday Report

News from the business sector

People in Queenstown may have to keep boiling their water for months because of the current cryptosporidium infection.

The national water authority, Taumata Arowai, has served the council with a compliance notice because the Two Mile water treatment plant doesn't have a protozoa barrier which would keep parasites out of the supply.

Queenstown's mayor has warned it may take some time to get the right equipment to the town and install it at the plant.

Queenstown Primary School principal Fiona Cavanagh, spoke to Charlotte Cook about how they're coping.

The National Party is promising to expand work rights for international students and do more recruiting, from more countries, if elected next month.

The party announced its international education policy in Invercargill this morning. It includes increasing the number of hours international students can work, expanding work rights for students and their partners, and fast tracking visa processing for applicants who pay an extra fee.

National's Tertiary Education spokesperson, Penny Simmonds, spoke to Charlotte Cook

Fonterra has made a record profit with the dairy giant's profit for the year to July was $1.6 billion dollars, a 170% lift on last year. 

Monique Steele has the rural news.

The Black Caps stand-in captain Lockie Ferguson says while the team he'll be leading in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh might be understrength, they still have an important role to play. 

Barry Guy has sports.

The economy has posted stronger than expected growth of 0.9% for the three months ended June.

Gyles Beckford has the business news.

A local resident says the large scrub fire at Pūkaki Downs is getting larger and winds are getting stronger, as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.

Seven helicopters with monsoon buckets are working to try and put out the fire, which has forced six homes to be evacuated as a precaution.

Fire and Emergency's Assistant Commander for mid-South Canterbury, Stephen Butler spoke with Charlotte Cook

An external review into Oranga Tamariki's youth residences has just been released, with the Ministry saying they expect further charges to be laid against some of their former staff.

Since the review got underway at the end of June, there have been 46 complaints made about staff potentially causing harm to young people in care 28 of those have been referred to the Police.

Oranga Tamariki have removed 22 kaimahi from the youth residences since the start of June, and three staff have been charged with criminal offences.

Oranga Tamariki acting chief executive Phil Grady spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Some workplaces are introducing a new kind of happy hour into their schedule this month.

A mental health happy hour involves shutting down worksites for an hour each week to give employees extra time to look after themselves.

Michaiah Simmons from I am Hope and Gumboot Friday told Charlotte Cook how the idea could be put into practice.

Two police officers injured while arresting an offender in Auckland have now been discharged from hospital.

Police say the pair had followed a vehicle that had failed to stop and were in the process of handcuffing a male offender when he lashed out, attacking them with a heavy object.

One officer was knocked unconscious and both suffered head wounds.

President of the Police Association Chris Cahill spoke to Charlotte Cook.