Midday Report

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has broken the record for wins in a Formula One season with a comfortable victory in the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Stephen Hewson has sport.

An investment analyst says rival bidders may emerge for mobile donations company Pushpay, after two big shareholders made a billion dollar offer on Friday.

Anan Zaki has the business news.

A Rotorua motel owner says the emergency housing system is set up for failure.

Alpin Motel's Joanne McCracken is just one of several people to speak at a hearing on emergency housing in the city, organised by Rotorua Lakes Council.

The hearing is set down for two days with local businesses, housing advocates, clubs and associations all set to have their say.

RNZ reporter Rayssa Almeida is in Rotorua and spoke to Michael Cropp.

There's some disappointment that the Government's planned alcohol law reforms don't go further.

The government wants to change the rules to stop liquor stores and supermarkets tying up councils in expensive legal battles, by removing the ability to appeal liquor decisions.

But critics say the announcement, made yesterday by Justice Minister Kiri Allan, doesn't go far enough, with no mention of looking at the drinking age, nor restricting alcohol marketing and sponsorship.

Ms Allan says a second phase of alcohol law reforms will be made in March next year,

Communities Against Alcohol Harm spokesperson, Dr Grant Hewison, spoke to Michael Cropp.

A group of protesters are picketing outside the Iranian embassy in Wellington, condemning the country's brutal crackdown of demonstrations against the regime.

The protesters say more than 240 people, including 32 children, have been killed in Iran in the past six weeks since unrest erupted after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who was detained by the Islamic Republic's morality police for flouting restrictions on women's dress. 

RNZ political reporter Anneke Smith spoke to Charlotte Cook from the protest.

Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ has released its plans for the next two years as it figures out how to replace 20 individual district ones that existed under the previous structure.  

The interim plan has a strong focus on improving the numbers and the wellbeing of the country's 240,000 health professionals 

RNZ reporter Tom Kitchin was at the report's launch in Taupō and spoke to Charlotte Cook.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 28 October 2022 The T20 World Cup could lose one of the pre tournament favourites after tonight's game between Australia and England at the MCG.

News from the business sector

Soldiers on the front line in Ukraine say they have no idea why only the body of the American man killed alongside Dominic Abelen is being repatriated but not the New Zealander.

Joshua Jones was killed alongside New Zealand soldier Dominic Abelen in August when they tried to take over a Russian trenchline. 

On Wednesday his body was handed back to Ukrainian forces during an agreed cease-fire. 

A friend and fellow soldier of Joshua Jones spoke to Charlotte Cook.