Midday Report

Rishi Sunak will be the UK's next Prime Minister, and the first one of Hindu descent.

The former treasurer took out the Conservative Party leadership after his would-be rival, Penny Mordaunt, dropped out of the race just minutes before nominations closed.

The 42 year old was vocal about his Indian heritage throughout the campaign. 

Sandeep Singh a journalist for the New Zealand paper - The Indian Weekender - says Mr Sunak's representation in such a powerful office is causing an ecstatic reaction among the community.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 25 October 2022 Crusaders back Leicester Fainga'anuku returned to New Zealand yesterday due to family reasons - and will be replaced for the rest of the end-of-year tour.

News from the business sector

A new campaign's being launched to encourage families to anonymously dob in young people who they think are involved in crime. 

It comes after an uptick in some youth crimes this year.

Business associations say retailers are increasingly worried they could be hit by a ram raid, or a smash and grab, and that more should be done. 

Crime Stoppers' chief executive Hadyn Smith spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Patients in need of urgent care are waiting longer than they have in years to be seen in hospital emergency departments.

The latest figures, to June this year, show the falling numbers of people being seen within six hours of arriving at an ED.

Nationally, just three-quarters were seen within six hours; but in MidCentral it's dropped to 55 percent.

The National Party's health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The country's teenagers have again recorded poor results in a trial-run of new NCEA literacy and numeracy tests.

Just 34 percent of students who attempted the writing test passed - similar to last year's results. 

The tests become a compulsory part of the NCEA assessment in 2024.

RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen spoke to Māni Dunlop.

The books have been opened on the parlous financial state of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited at a meeting of creditors this morning.

Voluntary Administrators were appointed recently, and the company's future is still uncertain. 

RNZ reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Māni Dunlop from outside the meeting being held at the Whakapapa skifield.

News from the rural farming sector

Kiwis rugby league coach Michael Maguire wants to see a much more settled performance from key combinations in their second World Cup game against Jamaica on Sunday morning.