Midday Report

Kiwis coach Michael Maguire says his side lacked intensity at the start of their opening Rugby League World Cup game against Lebanon.

Stephen Hewson has sport.

NZ First Leader, Winston Peters, denies he is stirring up fear in order to get his party back in to the halls of power, after describing the Government's agenda as "malignant paternalism" and "inverse racism"

At the party's annual conference in Christchurch yesterday, Mr Peters attacked the Government on immigration, crime, climate change and co-governance.

He accused it of ramming a separatist agenda down voters' throats and scattering the seeds of apartheid.

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, says Mr Peters is trying to get headlines and doesn't want to give them gravitas by responding.

Māni Dunlop spoke to University of Auckland politics lecturer Dr Lara Greaves

Vero Insurance is the latest life insurance company to be taken to court by the Financial Markets Authority.

Business Editor Gyles Beckford has te pūrongo pakihi.

KidsCan has launched an urgent appeal for donations to help the record number of children it says need support, with the charity saying whanau are at breaking point.

It's now helping to feed more than 49,000 children every day, as the cost of living reaches record levels.

The appeal comes a day after a south Auckland foodbank was robbed of about $10,000 worth of food on Sunday afternoon.

Hurimoana Dennis is the chair of Te Puea Memorial Marae, which supports whanau in Tamaki Makaurau with food parcels and other social services.

Harakeke or flax fibres are being used to create a new low-carbon composite material which is lighter and stronger than fibreglass.

The company behind the invention, KiwiFibre, says the harakeke fibres are combined with resins to create a versatile product that can be used nearly anywhere very strong plastics are needed: boats, aerospace, and motorsport.

Unlike fibreglass, this is recyclable. And the company says it wants to develop bio-resins using harakeke oil.

Co-founder of KiwiFibre William Murrell spoke to Māni Dunlop about the product.

There's been a 9.6 percent rise in home building costs over the past year, a record according to the Construction Cost Index.

For homeowners, that could mean their home insurance wouldn't be enough to replace their home in case of disaster.

The Insurance Council's chief executive Tim Grafton spoke to Māni Dunlop.

News from the rural farming sector It's peak season for many contractors at the moment, as arable farmers prepare the ground for planting. But wet weather across the Waikato, Manawatu and Wairarapa means many are unable to work. Australia has signalled it might join the global effort to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent before the turn of the decade, but has ruled out following New Zealand's lead of taxing on farm emissions. And just lastly if you have the skills and knowhow to run a 17th century Dutch-style windmill to grind wheat for bread, then Foxton needs you!

Midday sports News for 14 October 2022 The Black Ferns have made wholesale changes to their lineup for their second Rugby World Cup match against Wales in Auckland on Sunday. The Black Caps play Pakistan in the final of the T20 tournament in Christchurch this afternoon.

News from the business sector Manufacturing sector activity eased back to its slowest pace in three months in September. The outgoing boss of Genesis Energy has called out "populist media" for focusing on its bottom line profit. Export incomes are under pressure from weaker global demand, with the regions set for leaner times over the next couple of years.

Climate scientists warned the ski industry two decades that climate change could threaten the viability of some skifields.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts is in voluntary administration after a string of poor seasons.

Climate professor James Renwick told newsroom his report two decades ago suggested North Island skifields would be marginal by 2050.

But the reality of ever-increasing carbon emissions means not enough snow is falling and settling on the slopes of the maunga to keep it open today.

The Tourism minister Stuart Nash says he has no regrets about giving the skifield money while the borders were shut, but, for now, no more public money would go towards the skifield.

Spokesperson for the Ruapehu shareholders and Life Pass Holders group Sam Clarkson spoke to Māni Dunlop.