Midday Report

The recruiting of rural general practice doctors from overseas has just received a financial boost. Doctors applying to work in rural primary-care practices can now access a relocation allowance. 

Susan Murray has the rural news.

Black Caps batter Kane Williamson admits he had doubts about his return to the national side for next month's World Cup in India. New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that Williamson, who suffered a knee injury during the IPL in April, will be a part of the 15-player squad when it is named on Monday. 

Felicity Reid has sports.

Banks are wasting no time to boost their earnings and margins by raising popular fixed rate mortgages. Two big lenders, ASB and BNZ, have raised them in the past couple of days. 

Anan Zaki has the business news.

The ACT Party has announced it will prioritise productivity over everything else, if elected.

ACT leader David Seymour has unveiled a policy that would set a target for New Zealand to be one of the OECD's top-10 fastest growing economies, measured by GDP.

It comes the same day as ACT reaches new heights in the Roy Morgan poll - they're up to 18 percent support, behind National on 31 percent and Labour on 24 percent.

ACT leader David Seymour spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Our health reporter Ruth Hill is at the picket line at Wellington Regional Hospital and is with us now.

Thousands of senior doctors and dentists employed at public hospitals across Aotearoa have just gone on strike, forcing 250 planned procedures to be deferred.

Up to 5000 members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists union have walked off the job until 2 o'clock this afternoon, after refusing the latest pay offer.

Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand says it's disappointed it's come to this.

Auckland physician Alexandra Muthu was at the picket line in Waitematā and spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The annnual Burning Man festival in the U.S state of Nevada has turned into a mud-bath after torrential rain.

Thousands of people were stranded at the event. It's one of America's most well-known festivals.

One person who did manage to get out early was New Zealander, Sunniva Holt.

She spoke to Worldwatch reporter Andrew McRae.

Improved dental care looks to be shaping up to be an election issue, with Labour and the Greens now both having released their dental policies.

Labour announced at the weekend it would look to provide free basic dental care for under-30s by 2026, while the Greens have a more extensive policy, with plans to ensure free dental care to all New Zealanders.

Otago University Professor of Dental Epidemiology and Public Health, Murray Thomson, spoke to Charlotte Cook

Merino has been the shining light in the wool industry in recent years - reaching higher prices for growers - however increased costs and a drop in consumer demand has hit the company's balance sheet.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

The Silver Ferns teams to meet England and Australia have been named.

Felicity Reid has sports.