Midday Report

The bout of bad weather is still causing disruptions for travelers in Wellington.

On the roads, drivers are being warned of possible flooding and debris, and by sea, all Cook Strait ferries this afternoon have been cancelled.

There are headwinds too on the immigration front, with an impending decision on whether to let an anti-trans activist into the country to hold rallies in Auckland and the capital.

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau spoke to Māni Dunlop.

A veterans group is orgranising for a New Zealander to be with slain soldier, Kane Te Tai's body for his whole journey home to Aotearoa from Ukraine.

The former defence force soldier is believed to have been killed while clearing a trench in the Bakhmut area on Monday.

A veterans support group, called No Duff, is currently working out a plan to get Kane Te Tai to the Polish border to then be returned home to his whanau.

Aaron Wood founder of No Duff, a veterans support group, spoke to Māni Dunlop.

The French government has narrowly survived a no-confidence motion by just 9 votes. It was called after President Emmanuel Macron used contitutional powers to push through hugely unpopular pension reforms last Thursday. This clears the way for the reforms to be implemented including raising the pension age from 62 to 64. It has sparked a fresh round of protests which have been widespread across Paris.

Public health experts are warning Water-borne-related health risks are a particular challenge in Aotearoa as climate change rapidly advances.

In the latest IPCC report, the United Nations warns we're at the tip of the tipping point.

The public health communications centre has also published a briefing warning those climate change impacts are not only damaging to the environment but also human health.

University of Auckland Professor Alistair Woodward wrote the article and spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Hundreds of people in Otago are without power after being buffeted by heavy rain and wind - and that's disrupting the rural water supply in the Clutha District.

Seven weather warnings or watches across Te Waipounamu are still in place.

The wild weather has caused floods and slips, leaving a mangled mess on the roads.

Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan spoke to Māni Dunlop.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 21 March 2023

New Zealand's win over Sri Lanka in Wellington, may have been Black Caps coach Gary Stead's last in charge of the test side.

News from the business sector

Some businesses in Greymouth have been damaged after a tornado tore through the West Coast town late last night.

Parts of Otago are also in the wild weather's firing line, leaving them without power on parts of the Otago Peninsula, Clyde, Clinton and Owaka as well as Dunedin's West Harbour.

The Clutha District Council is also reporting some flooding around the district, including the main street of Kaitangata and in Lawrence.

Several roads around Dunedin City are also closed due to either flooding or trees downed by the storm.

Amy Rossiter from Metservice spoke to Māni Dunlop.

A trans activist says if Immigration NZ let's Posie Parker into Aotearoa, it sends a message to the trans community they aren't protected.

Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, is a UK based anti-trans activist, who is holding rallies in Auckland and Wellington this weekend. Trans-activist

Sally Dellow told Māni Dunlop this debate has caused increased distress in the trans community.