Midday Report

News from the business sector

The government plans to build 300 new classrooms so children can learn in better conditions. The Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Education Minister Jan Tinetti told a room of pupils in Wellington about the plans - in a pre budget speech announcing a further 300 million dollar spend. Mr Hipkins said the build would ease the pressure on school rolls. Max Towle spoke to Education Minister Jan Tinetti.

Northland police are investigating the discovery of two bodies at a property in Ruakākā this morning. They were called to a property on Peter Snell Drive. RNZ reporter Lucy Xia spoke to Max Towle.

The transport safety body says until recreational boats and their skippers are regulated the government, policy makers, and regulators are accepting that 15 to 20 boaters are going to die each year. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its final report into the capsizing of a boat in Manukau Harbour in 2021 where three people died. One survived. It says in the dangerous waters of the bar, breaking waves swamped the boat and people not wearing lifejackets were thrown into the water. Alcohol was also a factor. Chief inspector of accidents, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, joins Max.

A deal is getting closer on who will take over the two largest Ruapehu skifields.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which ran the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields, went into voluntary administration in October, owing millions of dollars.

Four bidders have been vying to take over the ski fields.

Mayor Weston Kirton said MBIE has picked two operators, but the government says no decision has been made and is not able to comment because of commercial sensitivity.

Weston Kirton spoke to Max Towle.

Midday sports News for 12 May 2023

News from the business sector

News from the rural farming sector

There are fresh calls for forestry in Tai Rawhiti and Wairoa to be limited in a report by the forestry slash inquiry panel.

It calls the current situation an environmental disaster, and that Gisborne District Council has been too loose in regulations; something the council disagrees with.

The report was commissioned after forestry debris caused extensive damage earlier this year.

A 12 year old boy died at Gisborne's Waikanae Beach after being hit by a log, and 10 year old Juliana Marston fractured her pelvis in two places after being pinned under a large log at Midway Beach.

Her father Clint spoke to Max Towle.

Human remains may have been seen in images taken inside the Pike River Mine, as part of the criminal investigation into the disaster.

Police announced last September they were reopening the borehole drilling operation, with work beginning on 10 additional boreholes in late January.

The police say images show the possible remains near borehole six, where men were believed to be when the mine first exploded.

Advocate Sonya Rockhouse, whose son Ben was killed spoke to Max Towle.