Midday Report

Midday sports News for 10 May 2023

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The whānau of the boy swept away in the Abbey Caves is at Whāngarei Hospital processing the loss of their son.

The student's body was found late last night after being swept away on a Whangarei Boys High School caving trip, when thunderstorms hit the area.

Whānau gathered late into the night hoping for the return of their son, as police used specialist diving equipment to search for him.

Hapū kaikōrero Hūhana Lyndon was there just after the boy was sadly pulled out of the cave.

The police say the body of the teenager who died during a class trip in Abbey Caves was recovered from the cave itself, after his group made it out safely.

The Year 11 student is yet to be formally identified, but support is being given to his family and the grieving Whangarei community.

Police are still investigating exactly how the boy died.

Superintendent Tony Hill spoke to Max Towle.

Meka Whaitiri insists her Maori constituents will understand her decision to defect to Te Paati Maori from Labour.

The Ikaroa Rawhiti MP told TVNZ her decision was driven by a deep desire to return home.

Meka Whaitiri will make her return to Parliament on Tuesday as an independent MP and intends to make a statement in the debating chamber.

Max Towle spoke to RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch.

Auckland's mayor is awaiting further advice on declaring a State of Emergency.

Wayne Brown said Aucklanders should be on high alert as widespread flooding and torrential rain moves through the region.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue into the evening, potentially through to midnight Tuesday.

Some are already evacuating in West Auckland as roads flood, water laps at the doors of businesses, homes become inundated, and schools evacuate.

State Highway One north of Auckland has been closed by slips and flooding - that's road from Brynderwyn Hills to Waipu and Dome Valley.

Max Towle spoke to reporters Katie Fitzgerald and Rowan Quinn.

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Midday sports News for 9 May 2023.

News from the business sector

RNZ reporter Jordan Dunn spoke to Max Towle about weather in West Auckland as the rain hit.