Midday Report

Higher unemployment is likely on the way amid lower employment confidence as perceptions about job opportunities worsen.

Anan Zaki has the business news.

Vapers looking to quit are struggling to find the help they need.

Te Whatu Ora is directing increasing numbers of people who have never smoked cigarettes but are addicted to vaping, to stop smoking programmes.

But agencies are often limited to helping those who use tobacco.

Director of Action for Smokefree 2025 Ben Youdan spoke with Perlina Lau.

NZ Post is cutting at least 750 jobs over the next five years.

That's about one fifth of its workforce and the cuts will affect staff across the board including posties.

The state owned enterprise says it's responding to the decline in mail and people no longer using the post like they once did.

Perlina Lau spoke to CEO David Walsh.

Final submissions in the coroners court case into the disappearance of John Beckenridge and his step-son are being heard.

The coronial hearing which aims to establish whether the pair are dead or alive, resumed in the Christchurch coroners court this morning.

Our reporter, Adam Burns, is following proceedings and spoke to Perlina Lau.

A direct challenge from Russia's Wagner fighters to Vladimir Putin is showing the cracks in the President's authority.

An extraordinary escalation saw mercenaries seize two major Russian cities and they were preparing to march on Moscow before an amnesty deal, which has meant Wagner fighters and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, must move to neighbouring Belarus.

Stephen Hoadley from Auckland University spoke to Perlina Lau.

The wet weather is having an impact on Gisborne vegetable producers. 

Susan Murray has the rural news.

The Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge says a statue immortalising club legends Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo'unga is not out of the question.

Bridget Tunnicliffe has sport.

Consumer NZ is making moves to get action on supermarkets.

Gyles Beckford has the business news.

As part of its law and order policy, the National Party wants to cut the funding of cultural reports used for sentencing in criminal trials.

Paul Goldsmith says from eight cultural reports being written in 2017 - to 2,500 last year, at a cost of $6 million.

Māmari Stephens, is an associate law professor at Victoria University of Wellington.

Māmari Stephens spoke to Perlina Lau.

Te Tai Rāwhiti has once again found itself partially cut off, following days of torrential rain.

Waka Kotahi says the region has taken a major hit, and many roads have flooding, slips and dropouts.

Importantly, the vital link of State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Opotiki won't be able to open until at least Friday.

Civil Defence Manager Ben Green spoke to Perlina Lau.