Midday Report

The national polytech, Te Pūkenga, is facing a backlash for its plan to cut four hundred jobs.

The mega-polytech has 10,000 employees, and will cut 950 jobs in a major overhaul - but 550 staff members will be re-employed.

The New Zealand Union of Students Associations says tauira have been anxious at the prospect of lecturers leaving part-way through their courses.

The union's president, Ellen Dixon, spoke to Gyles Beckford.

An investigation into the conduct of disgraced Labour MP Stuart Nash has cleared his name of more confidentiality breaches.

Mr Nash was sacked from Cabinet in March for an email he sent to political donors, but a number of other breaches were subsequently found.

One more conflict of interest has been uncovered in Cabinet's review, with another donor and close associate of his being appointed to a government board.

RNZ's deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch, spoke to Gyles Beckford.

The fight to win the farmer vote is well underway, with the ACT Party releasing its primary industries policy at the Fieldays today.

ACT wants to see methane treated differently to carbon dioxide when reporting emissions.

It's policy reiterates the party's promise to scrap the Zero Carbon Act.

And it also ties any emissions price to that of New Zealand's five main trading partners.

Jimmy Ellingham spoke with ACT's primary industries spokesman, Mark Cameron.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 15 June 2023

News from the business sector

The police have seized three guns and six weapons in Ōpōtiki.

Guns, ammunition and weapons were found in five vehicles, and two people have been charged with a raft of offences.

It follows the death of Mongrel Mob Barbarian leader Steven Taiatini.

Finn Blackwell spoke with Jimmy Ellingham spoke from Ōpōtiki.

New Zealand has officially dipped into a recession according to GDP figures released this morning.

The GDP fell by 0.1 percent in the last quarter according to Stats NZ, in line with expectations.

It's the second consecutive negative quarter after the GDP fell by 0.7 at the end of last year.

RNZ's deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch, spoke with Jimmy Ellingham.

Local authorities are being handed back the power to decide what farmland is suitable for conversion to carbon-sink forests.

Forestry Minister Peeni Henare has today announced changes to the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry.

He says these mean fewer pine forests will be planted on farmland.

Former National MP Lawrence Yule spoke to Jimmy Ellingham.

Councils are scrambling to switch over to new age-based discounted fares.

The new ticket prices are set to kick in in two weeks, with most adults back to paying full price.

But children will ride free, and people under twenty-five will keep the current half-price discount permanently.

Councils and transport operators say they haven't been given any help by the government to include the new age-verification requirements in their ticketing systems.

Auckland's Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson spoke to Jimmy Ellingham.