Midday Report

A new year, and a new Prime Minister.

After more than 5 years as New Zealand's Head of Government, Jacinda Ardern this morning went to Government House to advise the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro that she was resigning.

Charlotte Cook reports.

Surf's up as one of the world's most spectacular - and dangerous - sports events has made a welcome return in Hawai'i after seven years.

Fans gathered on the shores at Waimea Bay to watch The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.

Surfing columnist at Honolulu's Star-Advertiser newspaper Mindy Pennybacker told Charlotte Cook it was worth the wait.

Aviation Security officers removed more than 190,000 batteries from passengers' bags last year.

That figure included about 10,000 vapes taken from checked-in baggage.

Other items that must not be checked in, but carried onto the plane include powerbanks, airpods and airpod chargers, and loose or spare batteries.

Aviation Security Service group manager operations Karen Urwin told Midday Report's Charlotte Cook what happens to the confiscated devices and why lithium batteries are so risky.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 24 January 2023.

News from the business sector

Emergency services are tackling what remains of a large scrub fire burning in steep terrain near Murchison for a second day.

Authorities say the blaze on SH65 - the main inland route between Christchurch and Nelson - is largely contained but four helicopters will continue to douse the flames.

The hot summer continues to dry the land across the South Island - creating the perfect conditions for fires.

Fire and Emergency West Coast district manager Myles Taylor spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The political pilgrimage to the Rātana Pā settlement just south of Whanganui has begun. 

It's the first in-person celebration in two years, marking the 150th birthday of founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.

Party leaders for National and Te Paati Māori are due to speak shortly. 

RNZ's Māori news director Jamie Tahana spoke to Charlotte Cook from Rātana

India is behind in confronting its mental health problems.

Dr Kaaren Mathias from the University of Canterbuy, helped run mental health programmes in a northern part of India where there are just eight government psychiatrists for 10 million people.

A mental health researcher - she has 15 years of experience working in low-income communities in India.

She spoke to Worldwatch's Max Towle.

Labour's Carmel Sepuloni has made history several times, first when she became New Zealand's first MP of Tongan descent in 2008.

And now 15 years on, she's about to become the first deputy prime minister of Pasifika descent.

Pacific Community Advocate Melissa Lama spoke to Charlotte Cook.