Midday Report

There are more claims New Zealand isn't meeting its human rights obligations because of the excessive number of Māori and Pacific people in prisons, and the way those in custody are being treated.

Amnesty New Zealand and transformational justice group JustSpeak say fresh data released by the The Human Rights Measurement Initiative show minimum entitlements aren't being met.

JustSpeak executive director Aphiphany Forward-Toua spoke to Gyles Beckford.

More human remains have been found inside Pike River Mine during the ongoing invesigation into the 2010 explosion, which killed 29 men.

Police have just announced the development, saying recent imaging from borehole drilling shows the remains of two -- and possibly three -- miners in the crib room area, although police aren't able to identify them.

Anna Osborne, who's husband Milton died in the Pike River Mine explosion, spoke to Midday Report.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 23 June 2023 New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has had her struggles in the first round of the PGA Championship in New Jersey.

News from the business sector

The red heavy rain warning for Tai Rawhiti is expected to remain in force until Sunday morning.

But it's not the only region experiencing a bout of severe weather - there are orange rain warnings in place for Hawke's Bay, Taihape, Manawatu, Nelson and Marlborough too.

Metservice meteorologist Andrew James spoke with Gyles Beckford.

Tai Rawhiti is preparing to face another deluge this afternoon, after heavy rain yesterday caused severe flooding and slips, cutting off the small town of Te Karaka and forcing some people into evacuations centres.

The region is under a state of emergency.

Heavy rain has just set in again, and to continue right through until Sunday.

Gisborne mayor, Rehette Stoltz, spoke to Gyles Beckford.

A New Zealand-founded company that's started a worldwide push for a shorter working week has been named one of Time Magazines 100 most influential companies.

4 Day Week Global hits the list alongside corporate glitterati like Tiktok, Space X and Kim Kardashian's Skims brand.

It was co-founded by New Zealander Andrew Barnes in 2018 after he introduced the four day week - with five day pay rates - at his estate management firm.

He spoke to Rowan Quinn.

Metservice has extended its orange weather warning for Tairāwhiti until midday on Sunday, with heavy rain expected to batter the region right through until the end of the weekend.

A warning was already in place until six o'clock tonight, but the region's now being warned to expect heavy rain to fall right through until the end of the weekend.

Metservice meterologist, Andrew James, spoke to Rowan Quinn.

Industry body Federated Farmers says it doesn't support wide-spread amalgamation of councils as recommended in a new report calling for an overhaul of local government.

Andrew McRae has the rural news.