Midday Report

The Prime Minister is delivering a pre-Budget speech in Auckland, where he has ruled out imposing a cyclone levy.

Chris Hipkins said the government will instead cut its own costs and borrow more to cover the recovery bill - that will run into the billions of dollars.

Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Charlotte Cook.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 27 April 2023

News from the business sector

Police are praising the courage of those who came forward after being drugged and sexually assaulted at a Christchurch bar and restaurant.

Two men have been convicted of dozens charges spanning a period from 2017 to 2018, which include rape, sexual violation, indecent assault and drink-spiking.

The men, whose names are currently suppressed, used a WhatsApp group to discuss their crimes and filmed an explicit video.

Detective Inspector Scott Anderson explained the work that has gone into getting these convictions.

The Police Association has rejected findings from an investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority, in which it found that an officer was not justified in shooting an armed man in Auckland in February 2021.

Tangaru-Norere Turia, who was 34 and a 501-deportee from Australia, died after being shot three times outside a Papatoetoe property.

He had been holed up in a house for a number of hours before coming out with a shotgun, and had previously fired shots into a neighbouring home.

The IPCA said the officer gave Mr Turia no time to comply with the request to drop his weapon.

Charlotte Cook spoke to the IPCA's principal operations advisor Warren Young

There are reports from teachers that some small children have been mahandled and locked outside until they wet themselves, at a raft of early childcare centres across the motu.

Early childhood teachers say audits rarely pick up bad practices, and many leave because they are so distressed by what they have seen.

Megan White, head teacher and manager at a community-based centre in Wellington spoke to Charlotte Cook.

She rejects the claim that teachers are afraid to complain, and says poor practice reflects broader issues with industry conditions.

The Government has just unveiled how much tax the wealthiest New Zealanders pay Inland Revenue has opened its books on 311 of the wealthiest New Zealanders, and found on average, they're paying a much lower tax rate than other New Zealanders.

RNZ's political reporter, Giles Dexter, spoke to Charlotte Cook.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 26 April 2023