Midday Report

Midday sports News for 11 April 2023

The Football Ferns say breaking their eight-game goal drought has been a confidence boost ahead of their international against Nigeria tomorrow morning.

News from the business sector

Two tornados have hit parts of New Zealand today - after two others battered parts of the country at the weekend.

Fire and Emergency says a tornado hit Taranaki just after one this morning, lifting a roof off a house in Waitara.

At 5.30 this morning a second tornado damaged 8 homes in Paraparaumu's Nikau Valley - again ripping off rooves, and lifting one house off its piles.

One person was taken to hospital after the sleepout they were in was destroyed.

RNZ reporter Kirsty Frame spoke to Max Towle.

An epidemiologist says scrapping the 7-day Covid isolation period would lead to more cases and deaths in the short term, but long term - the risks are minimal.

The government is today deciding whether to relax the remaining restrictions.

Some business leaders want all of them gone ... but Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says every option is on the table and a decision will be announced this week.

Max Towle spoke to epidemiologist, Professor Michael Plank.

It's a big day for Fiji - not only for the media but all of Fiji.

What has been described as a draconian law suppressing media freedom has been repealed.

The editor in chief of Fiji times - the longest serving newsroom -  Fred Wesley - spoke to Perlina Lau.

New Zealand Police have arrested a 30-year-old man as part of a major international operation cracking down on an online marketplace which sells stolen personal information.

Detective Inspector Stuart Mills told Charlotte Cook about the arrest.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 6 April 2023 The Black Caps one day skipper and New Zealand's most prolific runscorer Kane Williamson has been all but ruled out of the world cup in India in October.

News from the business sector

The Government has announced a twenty-five point seven million dollar boost for RNZ after scrapping the public media merger.

The funding will go towards maintaining and expanding RNZ's service, including as a civil defence lifeline.

Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson told Midday Report about the decision.