Midday Report

Excitement is building for the Warriors' must-win rugby league semi-final against the Newcastle Knights at Mount Smart tomorrow night.

It's the first time the Warriors have hosted an NRL finals game since 2008, and hype for the team has reached what seems like an all-time high.

The Warriors' biggest fan, Sir Peter Leitch, spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Farmers we've spoken to say it was a great debate at Mystery Creek that will help many decide their final vote for next month's election.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

France, with 12 changes from the team that beat the All Blacks, showed a worrying lack of discipline and a certain nonchalance as they laboured to a 27-12 victory against an inspired Uruguay in their second World Cup game in Lille.

France were never fully in control and only sealed the win only in the final minutes. 

Barry Guy has sports.

The manufacturing sector has contracted for a sixth month in a row and is at its lowest point since the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, outside of the Covid-19-period.

Kim Moodie has the business news.

The ACT Party has just announced its welfare policy, saying abandoning people to a life on welfare is a waste of human potential.

The party is promising to axe welfare benefits for people who refuse treatment for drug addictions or illnesses that prevent them working.

It says people with addictions who refuse treatment could lose their entitlement to the supported living payment, which is for people with conditions that permanently restrict their ability to work.

Tai Rāwhiti Beneficiary Trust co-ordinator Shelley Hannah-Kingi spoke to Charlotte Cook about her reaction to the policy.

The National Party has announced it will introduce new visas to attract high-paid foreign tech experts, if elected.

It says it has plans to award up to five-hundred work visas a year to recent graduates from the top one-hundred universities.

RNZ's Deputy Politicial Editor, Craig McCulloch was at the announcement and spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Labour is again having to fend off criticism about spending habits at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

The National Party has slammed the ministry for spending nearly $53,000 on four post-budget breakfast events in May, at an average cost of $76 per head.

It comes after the Public Service commissioner criticised the Ministry in August, after it spent nearly $40,000 on a farewell for its departing chief executive last year.

RNZ reporter Jemima Huston spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Motorists in many parts of the country will be feeling the pinch with petrol prices creeping above three dollars a litre in some regions - and getting alarmingly close to that mark in others.

Gaspy, which monitors fuel prices right across Aotearoa, says the national average for 91 unleaded petrol is currently sitting at about $2.97.

One of Gaspy's directors, Mike Newton, spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Several blocks in central Wellington are sill without water, hours after a pipe ruptured.

Wellington Water issued an alert just before eight o'clock this morning to say the outage affected Waring Taylor Street to Queens Wharf and through to Hunter Street.

Wellington reporter Krystal Gibbens spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The $44 million given to remove silt and woody debris after Cyclone Gabrielle is starting to run low and crews working to remove it have been told to slow down. Silt recovery taskforce lead Darren de Klerk acknowledged the slow-down is sitting tough with some growers. 

Monique Steele has the rural news.