Midday Report

A law expert says the just-announced Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Government's Covid-19 response, may stretch the workloads of those lawyers who specialise in inquiry work.

This is the third Royal Commission the government has launched since 2017.

One was set up following the Christchurch mosque attacks and the other into abuse in state and faith-based care is ongoing.

Each inquiry requires a huge amount of resource - both financially and in staffing.

The President of the Bar Association, Maria Dew KC, spoke to Katie Scotcher.

News from the rural farming sector.

Brazil showed why they are ranked as the best team in the world with a 4-1 win over South Korea in their Football World Cup round of 16 game in Qatar.

Felicity Reid has sport.

News from the business sector

Workers in the building industry are hoping the Government takes meaningful action following the Commerce Commission's final report into the residential building supplies industry.

The report has found a lack of competition, with rebates paid by major suppliers making it difficult for new or competing products to enter and grow in the market.

It recommends competition should be an express objective of the building regulatory system, among other changes.

The Consumer Affairs Minister, David Clark, spoke to Katie Scotcher.

A hearing is underway at the High Court in Auckland into a dispute over a seriously ill baby.

Te Whatu Ora is asking for the court to take over guardianship of a four-month-old boy, to allow him to have surgery that has been delayed because his parents don't want him to have blood from a Covid-vaccinated donor.

RNZ's Health Correspondent, Rowan Quinn, has been at the hearing and spoke to Katie Scotcher.

A tsunami watch has been cancelled for Samoa and American Samoa, following a 6.7 magnitude earthquake this morning.

The quake struck between American Samoa and Tonga at 8.24am, causing strong shaking.

GNS Science Duty Volcanologist Geoff Kilgour spoke to Katie Scotcher.

New Zealand's hospitality industry has bounced back to pre-Covid levels after two years of muted trading due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest report from the Restaurant Association has found the sector reached record sales of more than $13 billion dollars for the year ended September 2022, with spending in cafes and restaurants in particular returning to levels last experienced before the pandemic.

The Association's chief executive, Marissa Bidois spoke to Katie Scotcher.

News from the rural farming sector

England overcame a slow start to claim a comfortable 3-0 victory over Senegal in the Football World Cup.

Felicity Reid has sport.