Midday Report

A trade expert says New Zealand will need to rebuild and strengthen its relationship with India before a free trade agreement could be reached. Chris Hipkins has accepted an offer from the Indian Prime Ministe rto visit the country to discuss a potential agreement, following a successful meeting in Papua New Guinea yesterday. But AUT economics lecturer Dr Rahul Sen says New Zealand first needs to establish an economic cooperation partnership and rebuild India's trust and confidence.

The stricken cargo ship MV Shiling is currently making the final part of its journey into Wellington harbour. The ship was forced to make a mayday call when it lost power and was left rolling in rough seas off Farewell Spit 11 days ago. It's been anchored in Tasman Bay since, and yesterday was tugged across the Cook Strait. It was due to be about 3 miles off the harbour's entrance at 11am. Charlotte Cook speaks with RNZ reporter Bill Hickman and Wellington's harbourmaster Grant Nalder.

A Coroner's hearing has been told a man who went missing in 2015 with his 11-year-old step-son was very controlling and possessive. John Beckenridge and his son Mike Zhou-Beckenridge disappeared in March 2015 and John's car was later found crashed into the sea in a bay in the Catlins. Their bodies were never found, and the Coroner is now holding a hearing to determine whether the pair are dead or missing. RNZ reporter Rachel Graham has been at the hearing and speaks with Susie.

Papua New Guinea is set to sign a security deal with the United States in Port Moresby today, as it faces what it describes as "challenging" security issues in the Pacific. The deal would give American armed forces access to PNG's territorial waters. Chris Hipkins is in Port Morseby for the US-Pacific summit, and met with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape this morning. RNZ Pacific's Lydia Lewis is in Port Moresby, at Gordon's Market.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 22 May 2023 American Brooks Koepka has won the US PGA Championship for a third time, his fifth golf major.

News from the business sector

A community meeting has taken place this morning with displaced residents from Loafers Lodge, the site of last week's devastating fire. Over the weekend, the mission to recover bodies continued, and formal identification is underway. Five people are confirmed to have died in the fire, with the final death toll expected to be under ten. Loafers Lodge had 92 rooms, and those residents will now be looking for alternative accommodation in Wellington. Southern Ward councillor and deputy mayor Laurie Foon was at the meeting with residents and joins me now.

Teacher unions have suspended all industrial action following a meeting with the Education Minister. The decision follows a meeting on Friday organised by the Minister, Jan Tinetti. Teachers unions and the ministry says the ministry agreed to work urgently on revised offers and the unions agreed to suspend strike notices until May the 30th. Susie Ferguson speaks with RNZ's education correspondent John Gerristen .

Disability advocates are celebrating an end to the Minimum Wage Exemption, which was scrapped in yesterday's budget announcements. The exemption, which the government calls "discriminatory", allowed employers to pay disabled New Zealanders less than minimum wage. The budget also includes making half price fares for Total Mobility services permanent and $863 million to help ease cost pressures on Government disability support services. Dr Huhana Hickey is a disability rights advocate, she speaks with Charlotte Cook.